Okay I'm unsure what I am doing. My fingers are working by them selves as I sit here. Every now and then I get the urge to do a fanfic. Why I have no clue. Mostly it's because of the amazing hours I spend playing a video game only to end up beating it and having that empty feeling of what happens next. I guess that why every one writes. To tell the world their version of what events will unfold after 'the end'. Now, I do Resident evil fics but this is my first Star Ocean one and it will most-likely be the last I'll ever do. I do hope all you out there enjoy it. Oh yeah... Pairings… Because every one loves pairings. So, if you don't like the pairing you can run away now because I'm stuck on them. MirageXCliff, FaytXSophia, AlbelXNel, Gosh why do Nel and Albel have to be my favorite characters. Ahem there might be more pairings but that is all my twisted mind could come up with.
The Beginning of the end
Chapter 1
Two figures walked in the dead of the night. It was one of the coldest times of the year in Airyglyph and because it was night, no one dared venture out in the cold. That is no one except two cloaked men. The town was silent as the two men approached the entrance to the aqueducts. No one ever ventured here for rumors of monsters that lurked in the ducts kept most people away. This is exactly what the two men wanted.
Pausing only for a moment outside the taller of the two men walked in drawn forth a touch from under his traveler's cloak. With a quick whisper of some ancient spell the torch lit as a small fire bolt blasted forth from his opened palm.
"Ready?" The taller man's raspy voice echoed just above the wind-chill.
"Yes, but it all seems too easy." The smaller man replied.
A cold smile appeared on the taller man's face as his eyes remained hidden under his cloak. "What do you expect? It's the middle of the night, in the coldest weather known to this part of the planet. People would be crazy to travel in this weather."
The smaller man shiver before nodding "Alright lets get this over with and get to Aquios. I hate cold weather"
The taller man didn't even reply, instead he turned and entered the aqueduct. His smaller companion followed only a few steps behind. The sounds of monsters and shifting ice were the only ones besides the men's footstep that could be heard. Either wanted to face what was deeper in the cave so the taller one stopped as soon as their feet where over the thick later of ice that had water under it. The smaller man tapped his foot against the ice and then looked at the taller one.
"It's pretty deep. I say at least 5 feet thick. How are we going to get to the water?" The smaller man asked.
"You worry too much Vincent. Do you think we didn't think of this already?" The taller man said with a smirk.
Holding the touch up above his head; the taller man then began to whisper another spell. This one was a lot like the one he had used to light the torch, but its effect seemed almost 10 times more effective. Out of the man's palm roared a wave of fire that instantly started to melt the ice. The smaller man watched in awe as thick mist filled the air of evaporated water as the man worked. After a minute or two there was a hole in the ice about the size of a basketball.
"See, don't you worry so much" The taller man said as the flames disappeared from his palm.
The smaller male stared into the pool the taller man had created. "This will do" he said with a nodded before reaching into his cloak.
Pulling out a silver and glass kidney flask the smaller man held it up to the torch. The green color liquid inside it swished it around and had remained unfrozen even in the extreme temperatures of the Airyglyph weather. Carefully the smaller man uncapped the flask.
"Are you sure that is enough?" The taller man said uneasy. "We are going to need at least a quarter of the population to be infected to cause a mass panic."
The smaller man chuckled. "Now look who is worrying. Fear not, this is more than enough to infect more then half of the general population. In our hotel room I got more if you don't feel that it's enough."
"Alright, they will not even see it coming."
The smaller man nodded before dumping the whole contents of the flask into the ice cold water. Instantly the water took to the substance and it was gone. The smaller man capped the flask and placed it back into his cloak.
"Let's get out of here. I wouldn't be surprised if I had frost bite by now." The smaller man said wrapping his cloak more tightly around his body.
"Huh. Well one down one more to go. Tomorrow we head to Aquios!" The taller man said before turning and exiting the caves.
The smaller man nodded and followed…
It had been 2 years… Well not exactly two years; it had been 2 years, 1 month, 14 days, 6 hours, and 35 minutes, but who had been counting? It had been that long since Luther, since the rebirth of everything, since everyone went their separate ways. After the defeat of Luther it had only taken 2 days before the group that had saved the universe had split up. Each of them going there own way.
They were all such good friends by the time everything was over, but friendships where broken the instant the Diplo took off carrying Fayt, Cliff, Mirage, Maria, Sophia and Peppita. Nel, Albel, Roger and Adray watched the ship disappear out of sight before giving each other one last glance and disappearing back to their own places. Nel walked back to Aquios with Adray but he was summoned away almost the instant he returned to investigate who knew what Lasselle wanted him to do.
Since then Nel had only seen him twice. Once trying to marry Clair off again… The second time was after he had returned from a mission and they caught each other right after Nel was to attend an audience with her Majesty. Needless to say they hadn't spoken practically at all.
Reflecting back on it all, it seemed nothing more than a dream. A dream that had lasted for 3 months 2 years 1 month 14 days 6 hours and 35 minutes ago, but no one was counting were they…?
"Fire bolt!"
"Silence!"
To late the spell had already been cast. In an instant Farleen came face to face with 3 balls of fire that where homing in upon her. She was able to barely avoid 1 of them but the other two hit her dead on. She ended up on the ground her outfit slightly singed.
Nel sighed before lending a hand out to help her subordinate up. They had made much progress since their last evaluation but they still need a bit of fine tuning. At least they could stand up to almost anything.
"I applaud you're chose of spell but if you want it to be affective you should use it as soon as you realize you're enemy is a spell caster." Nel said.
Farleen nodded. "Yes, Lady Nel." Farleen said in her normally high pitched voice.
Nel returned back to her defensive position, unsheathing her dagger in one hand and keeping her other hand upon her short sword. "Now let's try this again."
"I don't think that would be a good idea Lady Nel." Tynave said pointing to a guard that was headed their way.
Nel looked up, indeed there was some one heading there way. By his fast movement she could tell whatever it was it was more then likely urgent. Nel let out an inward sigh and sheathed her dagger. The soldier had bowed politely to the Ladies before he spoke.
"Lady Nel your presence is required in the conference room right now. Our Majesty has visitors that bring disturbing news." He said.
Nel could see the interested looks on Tynave and Farleen's faces. Sure, it was common to have meetings but what was this disturbing news. Nel had to admit it raised her curiosity as well.
"Thank you, Tynave, Farleen you are dismissed for the rest of the day." Nel ordered.
"Thank you Lady Nel" Tynave said.
"Thank you Lady Nel. You are going to tell us what happens right?" Farleen asked.
Nel shrugged then folded her arms. "Well if the new is that grave I would think you'll more then likely find out…"
With a nod Tynave and Farleen walked off. Nel watched them go a second before turning and heading off to the castle. It wasn't that long of a walk for the trio had been training in the gardens. The feelings of disturbing news weighted on her mind on the whole way to the castle. As far as she knew everything was going great. The threats of war had dissolved after Rozaria had married the Airyglyph king Arzei. The economy was stable; weather was good and crops were not in short supply at all.
As she approached the door of the conference room Nel shook her thoughts aside and stepped in. She bowed instantly at the door.
"Nel Zelpher reporting in as requested" Nel said.
"What took you so long Zelpher? Don't tell me that maggot of a guard couldn't find you"
Nel's muscles tensed. She knew that voice all too well. Looking up slowly she spotted him with that annoyed look on his face sitting on the other side of the conference table.
"Nox…." Was all Nel could say, as she gritted her teeth. What was he doing here?
"Lady Nel, will you please sit down? I have a lot to hear from our Airyglyph friends" The Queen said in a gentle voice.
Nel nodded and sat down. Around the table were the Queen of Aquios, Albel Nox, and the King of Airyglyph. Nel made notice of the fact that Lasselle was not here. This only made Nel's curiosity rise further.
"Alright, Airyglyph you may begin" The Queen said.
Arzei paused "What about Lasselle?"
Albel nodded as well "Yes, where is the maggot?"
The Queen folded her hands in her lap. "I'm afraid he is unable to attend this meeting for he has fallen ill"
"Fool, he has been infected! I knew they couldn't help us!" Albel said all of a sudden.
Albel sudden outburst made Nel raise an eyebrow. What the heck was going on? The Queen nodded and cast her gaze at Albel.
"I require you to explain before I can fully understand" Her words where calm.
"Albel calm down, this might be a fluke." Arzei said trying to calm down his general.
"Bah" Was all Albel had to say in reply before he folded his arms upon his chest.
"I'm here to reveal nothing but grave news I'm afraid." The Airyglyph king started with a deep sigh.
"Go on" The Queen said.
"I don't know if you have been informed, but my Kingdom is currently in a dire state. A plague has broken out among the population. It happened so rapidly, only 3 weeks has passed since the first case was reported. It takes only a few days before the ones that are infected die" He paused before continuing his eyes were set painfully upon the table "it's spreading so fast that already half of my people are infected or dead… Rozaria has got it, and I don't think I will return to see her alive. We are here to ask for help. This manor is serious and with so many people passing through our kingdoms I'd dread to have it happen to Aquaria. I ask for you're countries help to combat this disease"
"I see… Our Kingdom will help any way possible. I'll send some of our kingdoms best doctors to assist… "The Queen started but was unable to finish for Lasselle burst into the room.
"Forgive me your Majesty…." Lasselle wheezed in the door way before erupting into a coughing fit.
It was clear Lasselle was very sick. His eyes where bloodshot, he had trouble breathing and the weirdest part was his skin has turned a pasty yellow color. In an instant Albel was up on his feet and in a flash his Crimson Scourge was drawn and pointed at Lasselle.
"He has been infected! Maggot leave now or I'll disinfect you myself!" Albel said fury in his voice.
Nel reached for her dagger. If Albel made one move towards Lasselle she would be there to stop him.
"What? Lower you're weapon in the presence of her Majesty" Lasselle said fear echoing in his voice along with the wheezing cough.
"Explain yourself!" The Queen said instantly.
Arzei nodded "Yes he is infected. The signature of the disease is yellow skin along with flu like symptoms" The King confirmed.
"Surely you must be joking… This is nothing more then a meer cold" Lasselle said as he swayed back and forth looking more than a little dizzy.
The Queen looked at Lasselle. "Lasselle, please return to your room. Even if it is nothing but a cold you are still in no condition to attend this meeting."
Lasselle gave a defeated sigh then coughed "Very well your Majesty"
Lasselle disappeared threw the door again. His coughing echoed down the hall as he left. Nel was beginning to worry now. If this disease had infected Lasselle how did it get here? Now Nel's curiosity had shifted onto the more morbid subject.
"Albel another outburst from you like that and I'll be forced to send you out of this conference." The Airyglyph king said to his general.
"Bah… I don't see what good it will do. It's clear these maggots are infected. Soon they will be as helpless as our own people fool." Albel said glaring at his King.
The Queen sighed. "Nel will you show Lord Albel to a guest room please, the King and I will discuss the matter at hand alone."
"Understood" Nel said standing up "Come on Nox lets go"
Albel got up without his normal tongue and followed Nel as she got up. They walked silently out of the room. Nel started to walk down the hall, Albel's foot steps could be heard from behind her.
"So have you heard from any of the worms?" Albel asked breaking the silence between the two.
"If I recall they are your friends too" Nel responded.
Albel was silent for a moment. "Doesn't matter, they left us behind any ways"
Nel couldn't argue with his statement "Yes, they did"
Again they walked in silence. Nel had first hated Albel after he was forced to join their party that long time ago; as they traveled together Nel slowly grew to respect him. His skills in battle were more than useful, and when they traveled he had begun to show every one respect. Now it seemed short lived… Was he back to Albel the wicked?
"Here it is" Nel said signaling to the room Fayt and Cliff had stayed in,
Albel paused at the door then looked at Nel. "I wish that maggot was back… I still got unsettled business with him"
"Really?" Nel said putting her hands on her hips.
"Yes, I still have to show that maggot who is the better swordsman"
It figured Albel would say something like that, and here Nel thought he had something actually intelligent to say. Nel turned and started to walk out before she was stopped by Albel's words.
"They are not coming back are they?"
"I really wish I could answer that" was all Nel could reply before she added. "It doesn't look like they will does it?"