The Resolve of Our Mission

My Star Ocean Fanfic Disclaimer: Things I will clarify for Star Ocean 2 and/or Blue Sphere and/or EX: I was raised with the PS1 version, so names and any dialogue will be taken from that version (save for the names of the Ten Wise Men, which I prefer their original Japanese names that were later used in the PSP remake). Things to clarify for Star Ocean 1: I am used to the SNES emulated version, so I'm sorry if I tend to jump between translations for things. Again, I much prefer the Japanese naming conventions here.

Things to clarify for Star Ocean 4: None, except my love for Sera and "Stab the Sword of Justice"'s remix...

3 is so completely awful that I refuse to awknowledge it anywhere outside this sentence.

Summary: Dias and Rena discuss their failures after attempting Floor 12 of the Cave of Trials / Maze of Tribulations. Fluff.

A/N: None.

Dias' head was swimming and as feeling returned to his limbs he could feel his fingers gripping the sand, which was warmed by the heat of the day. He groaned as he sat up and looked around. Sixteen eyes were looking at him: Claude, Celine, Bowman, Opera, Ernest, Chisato, and Rena.

"Thanks," Dias replied. He knew the feeling of passing out all too well from his last three years of training. His mind reflected back to that morning when the group had set foot into the Cave of Trials- the mysterious pyramid he and Chisato had discovered. Dias wore a smile most of the way as they climbed through the 11th floor, fighting a dragon that resembled a sickly looking Psynard. When they returned, though, they had discovered floor 12 could only accept two participants and Rena had her own way of doing things.

"I'm going," she demanded at the entrance to the cavern.

"What?" Dias breathed, unable to comprehend such a demand. Rena had been thrusted into the reserves back before they attempted the fields at Dias' own behest and she was quite literally, a third of their strength. "No."

"I'm tired of taking a backseat, Dias. Let me do this."

He tsked as there was no fighting her. "Fine. But take me with you if you must take someone. I guess I can prove to myself that I can protect others."

What a mistake that had been. Again, this assanine cavern had tricked him. Everything had gone well at first when Dias played it safe, but he found himself growing cocky and when he felt Rena met the minimum requirements he charged in alongside her.

Next thing he knew he was back at the top of the fortress, desperate to catch a breath.

"When you two didn't return, darlings, we sent Bowman and Opera down to retrieve you," Celine explained, her hand still firmly on Rena's shoulder.

Dias turned away as he climbed to his feet. He walked away quickly, finding some private space on a sandy dune. Night was coming upon them. There wouldn't be a second trip anytime soon. Besides, as he stared down at his shaking hands, he wasn't sure he could do it again.

He heard the telltale footsteps of his so-called little sister and explained himself before things got messy, "I let you down."

This stopped her and she made a noise, then she continued next to him and tried to stare into her friend's forlorn face. "No, Dias..."

"Those fucking slugs swallowed me. I don't remember anything."

"I should have avoided them... instead I got as cocky as you and got swallowed up myself. We're both to blame."

"We just wasted all that time and energy and we don't even remember anything..." Dias breathed. "You're useless again."

"...useless?" Rena breathed.

"That's not what I meant. I just felt like we were on the same page. I... I didn't think you had that potential, Rena. I'm sorry."

Rena was a little hurt but she forced a smile, "Dias... I understand."

"I can't go back with you. I believe I said when I felt my time was spent with your group I would leave. That time is now."

Rena grabbed his arm before he really made good on that promise. "No, Dias! We need you more than ever. You're the one who got us through the Ten Wise Men, remember? You're the one who said we could do anything... even this... whatever the Hell this is."

"Tria's game," Dias chuckled.

"Please. Let me try again. This time we'll take things slower," Rena said. For a moment she felt like she sounded like one of Opera's dimestore romance books and chuckled. This caught Dias' attention and their eyes met for a moment. "You know... I was so happy when you joined us. Reflecting on that, I wish you had done so sooner. In fact, maybe, someday, we could go on our own adventure, just the two of us...?"

"Rena..."

"Maybe I'm tired. Let's go stay at the inn in Arlia. I'm sure seeing everyone would do you some good."

"...right. Tired. Let's go join the others... we'll try again in the morning. Together."

Rena smiled and took his hand, leading Dias back to the group once more. Then she stopped suddenly, "Oh... uh, you know how we climbed all those floors...?"

"Of course. I was under the impression that was the challenge of that tiny Hell."

"...uh, turns out you can skip to the 9th level. We found a crack on the first floor... it's a bit of a harsh landing, but it works..."

"...I hate wasting time," Dias grumbled, running his hand over his face.