Summary: (AlbelNel…and Lieber?) Lieber finally forgets about Maria after she tells him off when he asked her out……Oh! But what's this? He has found a new girl and that is…..Nel Zelpher? What will Nel do and what's this? Albel's jealous? Read to find out!
Chapter 1 : Partner…?
Nel was walking to the audience chamber since the Queen has called her. I hope her majesty's not trying to send me to another vacation again…..sure she appreciates that Her Majesty is sending her on a vacation since the war between Aquaria and Airyglyph ended, but she still thinks that there are still missions to be done. She reached the audience chamber and went in.
"Hello, Lady Nel. I have summoned you here to invite you to upcoming ball. Lady Clair will be with you there and I have also invited Fayt and the others along." The queen said.
Nel was quite happy that the queen didn't ask her to go to another vacation, but she also didn't like the fact that she had to go to a ball, even though she would meet Fayt and the others again……
"Lady Nel, I have also invited the King of Airyglyph, and Sir Albel Nox too." Her majesty said. She continued. " I hope you will agree to come as I would want you to." She finished.
Nel was thinking about what she was going to do if she was going to the ball. She was also listening to Her Majesty speaking, and when she heard Albel Nox, she died of shock. "Y-your majesty, did I hear wrong? Did your majesty just say Albel Nox?" The queen chuckled. "What is the matter Lady Nel? Do you still hate Sir Albel? My, why do you still do?" She asked. Nel was a bit pale then. "N-no your majesty. I apologize for my outburst."
"Very well. Please do come to the ball. I have set up your dress. It is in your room." The queen said. "Thank you for doing all these things for me, your majesty." Said Nel. "Not a problem, Lady Nel, I just want to make you beautiful. Well then, you are dismissed." Said her majesty.
Nel left the audience chamber and went to her room to see her dress. When she reached her room, she saw Clair waiting outside her room. "That was quite a long audience with the queen, Nel." Said Clair. "Sorry Clair. By the way, why were you waiting for me?" Asked Nel.
"I want to see your dress the queen gave you. I think it will be so beautiful because mine was beautiful. It's a light shade of green." Said Clair as Nel and her went inside Nel's room.
"Oh, well I don't know if mine is beautiful…" Said Nel. "Of course it has to be beautiful Nel. The queen herself chose it just for you, you know." Said Clair. "I know that, Clair, but I don't really like dresses….Even though I wear a skirt." Said Nel, trying to tell Clair an excuse not to go to the ball even though she knew it's not going to work. "You just don't want to go to the ball right? Trust me, this ball is going to be fun…..for you." Said Clair. "What do you mean "for me"? Aren't you going to have fun too?" Asked Nel. "Well, I suppose so…..but I'm worried if my father might chase after some guy I don't know and tell him to marry me." Said Clair with a face mixed with a tint of anger and worry. "I mean, you know how my father is, Nel. He won't stop searching for a guy and this ball might be his chance to find a whole bunch of guys to marry me." She said shaking her head. Nel chuckled. "Sorry Clair, but I'm quite glad my father's not like that, even I he's gone now." After Nel finished talking, she opened her cupboard to see a red dress that matches her eyes and hair. "Dear Apris, it's so beautiful." Said Clair. She took out the dress and tried it on Nel. "Nel, it's perfect for you! I must say, the queen is so good at choosing a right dress for you!" Clair said excitedly. "You'll look so beautiful in the ball!" Nel was just surprised that for once she agreed with Clair. She started to think going to the ball isn't so bad after all. "Maybe I should go to the ball…" Started Nel, but she was cut off by Clair. "See I told you that you should!" Clair was acting kind of like a high school girl. At least that's what Nel thought. Nel was thinking most of the time though……"ummm…Clair? Do I have to dance in this ball? I don't think I want to dance.." Nel said uneasily. "Well, I don't think you have to, because I don't think I am." Clair replied. Nel looked relieved. "You don't want to dance? Well that's bad…you should,you know." Said Clair, with a small smile on her face. "But you're not, so I don't have to either," Said Nel. She continued. "Besides, I don't even have a partner and neither do you." Clair wore a face with amusement shown on it. "What about a certain Glyphian man? You know who I'm talking about." Said Clair. "What are you talking about, Clair? I don't like Albel!" Said Nel, with a small blush on her face. Wait, why am I blushing? I can't possibly like Albel, do I?
"Nel…Nel….ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?" Shouted Clair, right next to Nel's ear. "Nel woke up from her daydream, looking shocked. "S-sorry Clair, I didn't mean to space out."
"It's ok, Nel….but what were you thinking about?" Asked Clair. "N-nothing Clair, just things…" Nel said with a tiny bit of nervousness in her voice. "Oh I know, you were thinking about Albel, weren't you?" Asked Clair with amusement in her voice. "No I wasn't Clair, how can you say that, it's not like you!" Nel burst out. "If you say so Nel.." Said Clair in a teasing voice. Nel was going to protest again, but she decided to just forget about it. So, she just changed the subject. "So, Clair, if you're not going to dance, what are you going to do?" Asked Nel. "I'm going to be busy trying to run away from the guys father is going to pick for me, right?" Said Clair. "Oh, I see."
Then, they heard a knock on the door. "Come in," said Nel. Tynave and Farleen came in. "Lady Nel, Visitors have arrived, they are waiting in the conference room." Said Tynave. "Who is it, Tynave?" Asked Nel. "They are Master Fayt and the others, Lady Nel." Answered Tynave. "And Albel's there too!" Said Farleen, in her high pitched voice that Nel has gotten used to for a long time already. "Alright, I'll come there in a minute." Said Nel. "Yes, Lady Nel," Said both Tynave and Farleen.
"Well, Clair, are you coming with me to meet Fayt and company?" Asked Nel. "No, it's ok, I'll meet them later. I have to do some things first." Said Clair, shaking her head. "Tell them my greetings." "Alright, later then." Said Nel.
Clair went out with Tynave and Farleen first, and minutes later Nel went out after putting back her dress in her cupboard. As she was on her way to the conference room, she was thinking about what she was going to talk about to Fayt and the others, how they are doing, what they have been doing, and so on. She didn't realize that she had just passed the door to the conference room and the presence of a certain Glyphian. "Where are you going, Zelpher?" Asked that said man. Nel was taken out of her thoughts.
"W-what?"
"I said where are you going?"
Nel turned her head to face the man. "Albel?"
"No, Luther. Who else do you think it is?" Said Albel with a normal scowl on his face.
"Why are you standing outside here?" Asked Nel.
"Those fools inside are talking about stuff I didn't want to know so I left." Albel said.
"I see." Said Nel, and she opened the door to see Cliff and Fayt arguing with each other.
"What do you mean I can't get myself a girl?" Cliff shouted.
"I bet you're jealous because I have Sophia and you have no one!" Said Fayt with a grin on his face.
"How can I be jealous of that? I can always get myself a girl!" Shouted Cliff.
"Cliff, Fayt, stop this right now or else…." Mirage said with a hint of anger in her calm voice.
Nel smiled. It felt good to see her friends again ever since they defeated the creator or Luther as his real name is.
Fayt and Cliff sat down immediately at the warning of Mirage's voice. Sophia was blushing a lot. Fayt sat next to Sophia while Cliff sat next to Mirage. Maria was sitting next to Mirage too and Nel took a seat next to Fayt while Albel was just standing near the door.
"So, how is everyone?" Asked Nel with a smile on her face. "As you've just heard our argument just now, Fayt has just got himself Sophia," Said Cliff.
"Well that's good to hear, I had a feeling things will turn out that way." Said Nel.
"Thanks Nel, what have you been doing since we left?" Asked Fayt.
"Nothing much since all those things happen…but the usual, nonetheless." Replied Nel.
"Well, we were all quite excited that the queen has invited us to the ball." Said Sophia, giggling.
"Yeah, but why are they having a ball anyway? What's the occasion?" Asked Cliff.
"It's a celebration of Aquaria and Airyglyph to have stop the war," Said Nel. "That is what I think it is."
"Well that's nice to hear, it's a good sign." Said Maria. "I hope none of this war will ever occur again."
"As do all of us." Said Nel.
Albel just stood next to the door with his eyes closed. Nel saw this and knew that he wasn't asleep so, even though she didn't like him very much before, asked him, "What have you been doing Albel?"
Everyone looked at Albel expecting an answer. "Why do you care, Zelpher? It's none of your business." He answered with a scowl on his face.
"Can't I be friendly? And everyone wants to know too," Said Nel, a bit irritated.
"Like you, ever since the war has stopped and "the creator" has been destroyed, nothing much has happened and I haven't done anything."
"I see, well I guess everyone is tired from the trip, right? Your rooms are the usual as before, I'll call you guys when dinner is ready." Said Nel.
"Alright, later Nel." Said Cliff. He went out first, with Mirage.
"Are you tired Sophia, we can go to our room and take a nap if you want to." Said Fayt, being his usual self whenever he's with Sophia. "I am a bit tired, I guess I should take a nap." Said Sophia. She bowed and left the room with Fayt who said "Later.". Maria decided to go look around the city.
Nel was about to go out of the room to tell the queen that Fayt and the others have arrived when Albel said "Zelpher, you got a partner for the ball?"
Nel froze. "W-what? A-a partner?" She said shocked.
"Yes, a partner. Do you have a partner for the ball?" Asked Albel with a smirk on his face.
Author's Notes : Ok, this chapter isn't nice at all. I make this story sound nothing like a Star Ocean fanfic. I understand if this story is long and not interesting, because I guess I'm not good at writing stories and this is my first. Please tell me what you think of it and I understand if it's really bad.