Disclaimer: I don't own Sotet, it belongs to square.
A young girl of brunette hair grabbed the arm of one with blue hair loudly yelling, "FAAYYT! C'mon! Please?" She turned her head with her mouth turned in a pout, "Aunt Ryoko, can you get his attention?"

Fayt final turned his head, speaking in a tone, trying not to sound annoyed, "Sophia calm down."

"You said you would come with me though, " Sophia said in a rather soft voice.

The older woman who did not have so vibrant blue hair, called Aunt Ryoko by Sophia turned her head away in a smile, "I'll leave you two alone awhile."

Sophia couldn't let go of Fayt's arm as she tried to convince her Aunt Ryoko to stay, "Please you can't go! Fayt won't listen to me!"

She was already too far away to hear the shrill call of Sophia. She finally let go of Fayt's arm and sat down on one of the seats nearby. Fayt felt the pull on his arm dissipate and he turned to look at Sophia who looked exasperated on the couch.

He took a seat next to her, speaking in a gentle tone, "What's wrong Sophia?"

She didn't mean to burst out but she did, "YOU PROMISED YOU'D COME WITH ME TO ELICOORE II! CLIFF, MIRAGE, AND MARIA EVEN PROMISED TO SHOW UP!"

Fayt gently took the hand of Sophia, leading her to a transport, "All right, let's go then."

Sophia's eyes bright as she broke into a wide grin, "REALLY?"

He nodded and stepped into the transporter. Sophia followed him.


-On board the Transfer Ship-

Sophia jumped happily up and down, not being able to wait to get to Elicoor II to see those who she had saved the Galaxy with.

A perky little voice came from behind Sophia and Fayt, "HEEEEY!"

They turned and Fayt gave a small wave of his hand, "Hey Peppita."

"Peppita are you going to Elicoor II, too?"

Peppita danced in circles before them, "Uh huh!"

Sophia suddenly gave a concerned look, "Did you come by yourself?"

Peppita smiled brightly, "Nuh uh!"

She ran away from them for a few moments just before dragging an older woman who seemed to be the same age as Fayt even with the same hair color over.

Sophia gave the young woman a hug as Fayt said, "Uh..hey Maria."

Maria gingerly returned Sophia's hug not really being the type to give them, just a little surprised.

"Hey you guys," was all that escaped her mouth then.

Peppita had her arms out and her bangles clinging together, as hyper as ever. She suddenly needed to speak to Fayt alone so Sophia took a seat, starring out into the starry ocean, occasionally glancing at Peppita to make sure she stayed out of trouble.

"So Fayt, have you heard anything from them yet, " Maria said in a hushed tone.

Fayt shook his head in a disappointment. Maria let out a slightly annoyed sigh speaking, "Well there's more now. I'm not exactly sure what we should do."

Fayt said, "We should tell Sophia. I can't hide this from her for long."

It was Maria's turn to shake her head, "She should not be involved with this."

His eyes widened, "How can that be? She is the same as us!"

She put her hand to her chin as if she were thinking, "NO!"

He started to turn around, "I'm telling her right now." Maria grabbed his hand, bringing him back to look at her.

Sophia turned her head to glance over at Peppita and she saw Fayt and Maria's faces pressed together. She turned away quickly unsure what to make of this. She tried to shake her head of thoughts of what they could be doing.

Her own voice played in her head, "They are together now…But how can this be…? …Fayt never cared about…. He was just using you until he met some one worthy of him….Fayt's my friend though."

Then there was a soft hissing sound. "This is nothing! Lies!"

She turned back to look at the two, looking to be still lip locked, she turned her head away, forcing her gaze into the stars once more.

Peppita jumped into the seat next to Sophia, "Hey, see anything cool? Huh?"

Sophia concentrated on the stars not wanting to think.

Peppita saw a constricted look in her face, almost sadness but something she was trying to force away. She turned to look at Fayt and Maria, breath entangled. She shook her head and went back to Sophia.

Sophia's eyes were watering behind the emerald orbs she was trying to stop from tearing up.

She softly patted her back, not being able to do more.

--BING-- "Now disembarking on Elicoor II, please pick up your luggage at the transporter nearest your destination. Thank you."


A young king almost in a pleasant mood because he was to wed in the near future called to his side his faithful underling, "Woltar, will you please retrieve Albel?"

The old man nodded saying quickly, "He should be in the dungeons as in his normal rounds to check up on the men."

The king shook his head a little, "The man doesn't seem to think the other soliders can do anything correctly."

"Vermin. That's all you are, little worms who can't seem to do anything."

A young man with an arm covered in an armored claw traveled down the dank cells below the Airyglyph castle. Pieces of many Elicoorians lay beneath these stonewall.

Young men called out in roll call, "Present Captain Nox!"

At the start of the corridor an old man that had seen many years and Captain of the Storm Brigade called out, "Albel! The king would like to see you."

The young captain rolled his eyes, walking arrogantly back toward the entrance, katana in hand.

King Airyglyph XIII sat in his throne with a tired air about him.

Albel gave a rough sigh, speaking to him in a tone like this happened quite a lot, "Yes?"

The King gave a formal cough as if he were clearing his throat, "Albel, you are captain of the Black Brigade as is well known to most. Vox was the captain of the Dragon Brigade but sadly he is no longer with us. No one suitable enough can be found at this moment but one."

Albel gave a flick of his hair to make it go behind him, placing his claw above his katana as he rolled his eyes, knowing what was coming next. He was to be given a solider to train under him.

The King continued disregarding his movements that would be a look of rebellion if the king did not know it was his nature to act this way, "You are to be promoted to Captain of the Dragon Brigade as well as to stay the Captain of the Black Brigade. I hope you are pleased with this development." A hearty laugh from the king came just after this.

Albel nodded and turned away from the king muttering gruffly under his breath, "More maggots…." He shook his hair and walked away.

As Albel made his way down the staircase an odd sight was to behold. In the door way stood the leader of the Aquaria's Secret Legion. Albel gave a dismissal signal and a shrug but something caught his eye.

It was she who had made him look at her for that mere second that he could figure out why could not stop starring.

Nel watched him carefully, "Albel we are to meet the others in the usual place."

He gave her a raised eyebrow and said in an arrogant tone, "Others? Usual place? What nonsense only spoken by low worms who need such a code."

Nel glared at him, standing to her full height of 5'7" now. "Do not give me such words for you know exactly who I mean and where. You know it well for, for a time you were with them and I traveling to see such things never though possible," was spoken to him in a harsh tone.

He gave her a thoughtful look. "Ah yes how could I not forget? Fayt's stoic manner, the large empty headed man, a very upbeat young girl who I clearly remember sadly, the little Menodix with the large ego, that one who is in constant thought always with something she has to do, to figure out, the old Aquarian who thinks he is still skilled, the fighter girl, much like the empty headed man, and of course the girl Fayt courts, that girl with those large green eyes…" his voice softened a bit almost to a whisper that could almost not even be heard by himself, "…. those warm green eyes…."

Albel's mind snapped back when his gaze was caught starring at Nel but his mind was a bit gone off.

Nel rolled her eyes waiting for him to come back to common sense.

"Go, I shall meet the "others" in the "usual" place, " he spoke as old memories flooded in to his mind.

Just as Nel turned to leave something inside

Albel's eyes flickered to make him run behind her, grabbing so her back pressed against him.

She felt his breath upon her neck as he whispered, "My sweet, stay for a bit longer." She fingered the hilt of one of her daggers but something stopped her. She felt his hand up the inside of her thigh dangerously close to her clit.

His hand moved in a circular motion that made her fidget and her voice came out in a soft tremble, almost moaning, "Noo…" She tried to get away from him but her will was succumbing to the motions of his hand.

Albel smirked as he felt her tense body relax almost instantly in his arms.

Her will had almost diminished as she tried to speak the words, "No, not again, " but it came out more as a whisper.

He merely laughed softly for he could still make her tremble at his touch. He let go and her body stood limply almost falling if not for Nel's will to not look stupid.

She knew she had shown weakness as she turned her head giving him a soft glare.

He only laughed as she walked proudly out of the doors not letting him see her anger.

After Nel was out of sight Albel looked at his hand and he thought of the soft touch of her skin. He liked toying with her but still he had a sense of guilt in the back of his mind he could not get rid of. Not as much as he'd like to admit it, even to himself he felt empty inside.

His thoughts wandered and noticed that he had not felt this feeling all the while as he traveled with Fayt and the others. The more he thought about it and scanned his memories and thoughts he realized that it was only filled by the air of mystery Nel had around her.

He licked his lips almost not being able to be seen by the others as he thought of the taste of Nel. There was something else, not only Nel, that warm smile that could only be given by one alone and no other. He fought himself for thinking this way.

His mind echoed, "Your needs can no longer be fulfilled by the deaths of others."

His voice that was his previous way of thinking, "NO! All I need is to become powerful, no more. That will suffice."

His mind hissed at him as he gave a loud growl making the passing soldiers look at him with a raised eyebrow. He glared at them, nearly biting their heads off for that look as he sauntered off by himself to think more though that would anger him more.

Nel walked along the Traum Mountains angered by herself for showing weakness especially toward Albel. She hated him because he made her feel this way. She hated him because she had once loved him and believed he was the best for her. She was hated him because she was wrong and she had cared for him.

She could stand for this no more. She decided she could not be left alone with Albel in the same room again. She though to herself that she would need someone to always be present so that nothing like that would happen and so that she could keep herself from falling apart.


All this was stirring in her mind and before she knew it she was already standing before the door to the headquarters in Arias. Before she could knock a young woman had already opened the door giving her a warm welcome in. An old man stood there with a smug look on his face.

Just as Nel opened her mouth, he spoke, "You would like to know why I feel so happy?"

She said, "Adray, why not?"

He smiled more broadly, "Clair has decided to be wed!" She turned at the young woman whose hair was naturally gray not because she was getting on.

She put her hands on her hips, "Father would you mind letting me tell her about the news?"

Nel interrupted her, "Clair, is this true?"

"Yes," as she looked down as her face reddened.

The other Aquarian soldiers were not aware of this but once they heard they all circled around them congratulating her.

"So who's the lucky man," whispered on of the young women trying to contain her excitement.

Clair slowly said, "Well…it is to be Lord Lias of Airyglyph."

Adray spoke suddenly, "Great inventor," he said in a softer tone like a secret, "and I heard his specialty is smithery."

There was a soft "ooing" sound from the surrounding officers.

Nel spoke with a hint of a formal manner in her voice, "Well Clair congratulation. I wish you happiness on your marriage."


Thanks for reading please review.