Ahaaahhhh… I just realized that the first chapter was indeed too short and I owe it to all of you to come forth with the second chapter! I have lots of ideas and wonder what you all will think of them. Oh, and thank you very much to Zoiben for being the first to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Ocean: Till the End of Time or any of the characters.

Chapter Two:

False Pretense

Nel then jumped on her target, quickly pinning his legs and arms with her own while turning him over only to find- Albel the Wicked. Upon which a slow smirk was already forming on the man's handsome face. The woman cursed under her breath as she looked straight into the red eyes of a man she had not been expecting. 'Yes, it is too soon for King Azrei to prepare for an assassin, why is Albel here? Ugh… How could have I underestimated them?' the Crimson Blade wondered as she tightened her grip.

"It's only you, Albel, now what I am I to do?" her voice held a bit of sarcasm, as her own mouth formed a matching smirk.

"What do you mean, fool? Of course it would be me! Did you really expect the King to be here at the ready for you to plunge your daggers into him?" Albel replied as he bore into her eyes, preparing to capture any emotion she would let slip. He watched her fidget under his stare and let his smirk widen, yes, he had a plan for her after all. If he was to taint the Nox lineage with Aquarian blood, then it would at least be from a formidable wench. Sweat began to form on her brow, yet she didn't say a word. Something was wrong- she had not been planning to kill the King- her surprise and lack of response gave him that much information. 'But why are you here, worm?' Albel inched his face closer to hers, and when Nel moved backwards, he took the opening. Albel quickly wrenched himself free from her slippery hands and placed a kick to her stomach with enough force to wind her. He then wrestled the red head over in a heartbeat, keeping one hand around her neck, and the other to hold both of her hands above her head. Nel had yelped as he kicked her stomach, and proceeded to curse herself for her overreaction.

"Why are you really here? You know I won't ask again," The white and black haired man slowly posed the question as he released her neck and used the free hand to grab a hold of his katana, the Crimson Scourge, and place it to her neck.

"I want to end the war," Nel spat, struggling against Airyglyph's strongest warrior. She had remembered him being strong when she had battled at his side during their quest with Fayt Leingod and the others, but it had never been used to weaken her in particular. Nel wondered who would come out victorious if they would fight.

"Yes, I know that, you idiot. I meant for you to tell me exactly how you planned on ending the war," Albel said with rising anger in his voice. He did not like being so close to the "maggot," or so he called those who he believed to be inferior to himself. If she had a plan that included ending the war without killing King Azrei, then he wanted to know. As much as he disliked the King, he respected the man's ability to rule, and the passion he had for power. Nox found that he did not want the King dead- not only would it wreak havoc upon Airyglyph, but if the war ended peacefully, he would not have to take an Aquarian witch for a mate. No matter how much he enjoyed the thought of blood, death, and terror, his pride would never overcome the embarrassment of a tainted line.

"And why should I tell you? You traitor! Did it mean nothing to you that we fought together to save our world? Did it mean nothing that I saved you…?" What Nel said was true. She had saved Albel before, and he knew it. Confusion clouded her mind as she tried to come up with various reasons why the warrior before her had not yet killed her. Could he possibly also be interested in ending the war? If so, what would lead such a bloodthirsty man to give up what he loved to do best?

"My priorities regarding the war have changed," Albel decided to tell her the truth, after all, he knew that it would frighten her, "King Azrei has decided a punishment for me. He ordered me to taint my lineage with Aquarian blood, and if you do not tell me how you plan to end this war, I swear to any god that will hear me that I will choose you to hold the next Nox heir. Do you understand?"

Nel's eyes widened in shock as she carefully watched his face for any lies and discovered that what he was saying was the truth. If she told him what her plans included, he might not want to help her either way. However, if she told him that the Goddess was carefully watching over her and had whispered the plan into Nel's ear, then he might listen. Telling Nox the entire truth would have dangerous consequences if he decided to betray her, but if he- for that god-awful reason- decided to back her, then her plan to secure the Kingdom would be made a lot easier. The young woman closed her eyes for a moment to re-live what had happened after she left her Kingdom of Aquios and successfully infiltrated the King's tent.

The red-haired woman hid behind trees and bushes, her senses flaring, knowing that if she got caught, then her whole Kingdom would be in peril. Before her was the encampment of the entire Glyphian army, all three divisions were present, with the Black Brigade at the very front. 'How will I get through? How will I get through…?' she pondered, sweat forming at her brow from concentration. If she was captured, then she would definitely not be able to get to the King. The most she could expect from capture would be to meet with interrogators, be tortured, and then have a nice chat with her executioner before he laid his axe on her throat.

You need to get close to the King, young Nel. You are not going to kill him, as that would merely set off his advisors to carry out what is so close to happening already. You are going to have to play the game of politics, while mixing some female intuition and charm. I know you are not going to want to do this, but remember that the Kingdom of Aquios is in your hands. You alone have the power to save thousands of lives.

"Yes, I know… I am prepared to do what must be done to save the Queen, and save my loved ones. I am honored for your advice, my Lady," Nel replied quickly. She had been shocked to hear the voice of the Goddess again, after not hearing from her for hours. The young woman had picked up on the grave tone the Goddess had taken, but did not believe that her orders would be so difficult to carry out.

We will end the war without further bloodshed. Nel Zelpher, I will get you as far as the King's tent, after which you are to negotiate the release of the prisoners In Airyglyph. He will be unwilling to release them, but you will tell him that Aquios will peacefully surrender if our loved ones are released.

"No… that can't be, we cannot just surrender. I would let all of my people down, I will be seen as a traitor if I…" the woman argued with her Goddess, while wishing Fayt and her friends would return in order to correct what had happened once they had left. Not even a year of peace had passed before Airyglyph decided to break the negotiated commitment, and put the Kingdom of Aquios in a dire position.

Stop. You will not be a traitor if you do end up saving our people from being incarcerated in the enemy's lands in ever present danger. They all have loved ones in the city who need them present for support. It will be much easier for them to deal with invasion. Besides, just because we surrender this once, does not mean that we will lose everything.

Nel was quite for a while, contemplating the seriousness of her mission, and wondering if she would have the knowledge to be a good negotiator. In order for this plan to work, she would have to cover all of her bases, think quickly, and attempt to outwit her enemy without letting on that she had. And so, after her short reverie, she responded, "Your will is my own, I will do all that I can to secure those in Airyglyph."

It all made sense to her now. She needed Albel, and Albel needed her. For the first time since they worked together to fight the invaders from 4D space, they needed each other once again. Sighing, and hoping that her plan would work, Nel opened her mouth before she could stop herself.

"I need you to surrender to me-" The words barely escaped her lips before Albel's hold turned into a painful grip.

"You expect ME to give in to YOU? Aquarian wench who do you think I am?" he started, glaring down at her with his crimson orbs.

"Yes, Albel, I know. Loosen your hold or I will leave you to taint that precious lineage of yours! I have a plan, and if you would only act in a civil manner then I wouldn't hesitate to tell you," Nel responded, biting her lip at the end to keep her from saying anything more that would compromise her position. Albel maintained both his glare and strong grip just seconds longer before letting her go and moving into a cross-legged position before her. "Go on."

"Alright, this is how it goes," said his enemy while she positioned herself in a similar fashion before him, "- if you let me capture you, then you will be leverage. I know that your men will not fight if you are not at their side. They are more loyal than dogs." At this, Albel issued a low growl and moved almost as if to jump on her once more. What she had to say was important, however. "The Glyphian army will not fight without your men- you and your Brigade are their confidence and drive in battle- and don't tell me otherwise as I have personally studied your forces. I will then give King Azrei a total of ten days to stop the war and give back the prisoners he is holding in Airyglyph. I know he will refuse, and so I will change the negotiation. We will peacefully surrender as long as you let our people go. Of course, you will go back to Airyglyph as well, with me as leverage so that my people will not attack once we have our full forces back. As for your honor and reputation, we will tell the King that a powerful runological spell was used on you to keep you sleeping. Once secured in your Kingdom, you will be punished by the King, but not harshly as you will have won the war either way. He will force you to take me as your mate, and I promise you that you will never have to even see me. Hopefully he will bore of you before he expects a child, but if not; I will fake the pregnancy and take an orphan child."

Albel thought everything over for a while, mulling over the logic behind the whole plan. It was dangerous as it assumed a whole lot, but what other choice was there besides having to take another as a mate and be forced to actually taint his blood? When and if he would be ready to have an heir, he could simply take up a mistress and birth the true Nox descendent. Yes, it would be quite a deceptive ordeal, one which no one could ever know about. Was he really about to give in to Aquarian scum just so that he would not taint his lineage? Yes. Yes. Yes. There were many in the Glyphian aristocracy who would love to see the end of the Nox line. So much property and riches up for the taking. But there were some questions he still had.

"I know that you will be going with me to Airyglyph, but will that really hold your Queen from rebelling once your Kingdom has the full force of your witch army?" He asked, wondering why she held such importance with the nobility.

In spite of her better judgment, Nel once again told Albel the truth, "I am to be the successor of our current Queen." The words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. It was then that she realized that what she had said had not been her will. It was the Goddess speaking through her, and she then understood the gravity of the mission, and why she had always been able to sense the Queen. Upon acknowledging these words, Albel's eyes widened and a smirk once again took its place upon his handsome face.

"Well then, that is a whole different story, young Nel," he said as he raised his gauntlet and traced her jaw line with cold metal. "What will then happen when it is your turn to take the throne?"

"I will escape to Aquios and be the head of government. I promise you now that I will not cause problems for your country; however, by the time that I come to be in my 3rd year of reign, I shall force our sovereignty from Airyglyph. Do not worry, we will keep providing aid as long as you do not fight us. Yes, my plan is a quick fix for a deep rooted problem, but I am afraid that is all we have to choose from. Your King has really backed us up in a corner, and as you can see, we are all being forced to make decisions we would otherwise never have conceived acceptable," was the Crimson Blade's reply. It had been true, that she was to make one of the most important sacrifices for her country. She was to pretend to be the inferior of the man who her people hated and feared. Would this then place her in the same position as his? Or would it bring her unparalleled respect? All of these questions would have to wait.

"Well then, how do you want to do this, girl? It must look believable. If I were to arrive in your country unscathed and whole, not only would my people wonder, but yours would as well," he said as he leaned to the side and dropped past her onto the bed, taking the time to stretch himself out before folding his arms behind his head comfortably.

"I know," and her red eyes were the last thing Albel the Wicked saw before darkness enveloped his sight.

Well, at least we can say they meet now! And we also have a plan of action! Thanks to all of you for being so patient… I just got done with finals so I should at least be able to crawl along with this piece of work. Finally!

The next chapter should be up very soon.

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