Tales of Destiny

A Country Boy's Heart

The one true saving grace; innocence of the heart, purity of the soul. Step back from the edge of despair and return to the world. In the basking warmth of purity, one shall turn away from elitist wishes of domination and destruction, and return to the true bountiful utopia. This utopia need not be artificially created, it is sown when the errors of one's life are corrected. When that happens, one will live in peace and prosperity, forevermore.

-Atamoni's Teachings, Book 1: Atonement 5 : 13

So it had come to this. Another of Stahn Aileron's trusted allies had turned against him in the name of a perfect world. First it was the Victim of Fate, Leon Magnus. Then it was Rembrandt, the eccentric old man of the Gilchrist Mansion. Then came Baruk, a simple businessman from the Calvaleese branch of the Lens Corporation. And now...

"Why?! Why did you side with Hugo?!" Stahn screamed at the older woman kneeling down before him. His Swordian, Dymlos, shook in turn with the boy's trembling hands.

Ilene Rembrandt, the very same Ilene Rembrandt who had befriended young Stahn and his ragtag group of heroes in Fitzgald, the very same Ilene Rembrandt who took Stahn on a date to view the town of Neuestadt (much to Rutee's dismay), was now standing in defeat before the group.

"Hugo wants to create a perfect world using the Eye of Atamoni, why can you not see this Stahn? The world we know now is full of war, corruption, and murder."

"That doesn't justify you trying to smother away the surface with something like the Aethersphere!" Philia Felice's Swordian, Clemente, shouted. "What you're doing is no better! In fact it's worse!"

"Ilene, stop it, please." Stahn pleaded. "I know there's alot of problems with our world, but that doesn't give anyone the right to destroy it all in the name of their ideals. If there's something wrong, we'll work together and make it right."

"You think you people can change the world?" Ilene asked, her breath coming in short spurts due to the beating she had just taken from her former friends.

"I'm not saying WE by ourselves can do it, but if everyone can unite, things will get better! Don't you think so, Ilene?"

Ilene thought about the boy's words for a few moments, putting her battered hands to her chin.

"You're so naive Stahn...there's no way something like that could ever happen..."

"We won't know until we try!" Stahn yelled.

"...You're right Stahn. But if you want to do what you say, then you'll need to disable the Mirror Shield."

"We need Igtenos for that..." Garr muttered.

"It is possible for you to repair your Swordian in this facility. Go, do what you wish, what you do beyond this place holds no importance to me anymore..."

"Ilene?" Stahn said.

Ilene took a few steps backwards and pressed a button near a door. The door opened, leading into a wide open sky and the unforgiving ground below.

"Ilene!" Stahn screamed again.

Ilene turned back to the group, tears beginning to well in her violet eyes. They stopped on one person: Stahn.

"Ilene!!!" Stahn yelled even louder.

"I really didn't want to see you like this...Goodbye...Stahn..."

Ilene took another step back and began to totter into the opening. Stahn made a dash for her, but was halted by Rutee grabbing his arm.

"No Stahn!!" Cried Rutee.

"Let me go!!!" Stahn yelled at Rutee. With a hard shove, he broke free of Rutee's hold and coldly shoved her to the ground. Rutee made a desperate cry to try and stop Stahn from doing something so foolish, but the headstrong youth would not listen. Stahn slid to the door's entrance and reached out with his caring hand...

Ilene had closed her eyes as she left the edge of the platform and began to fall. But her tears just would not stop coming down. She could see the hurt and shock on Stahn's face the second before she took the leap. It wounded her very deeply inside to betray Stahn, but there was no choice left now.

The boy was so trusting of her, his chivalrous nature had won her over.

He was like a knight, as a certain someone had pointed out.

Ilene couldn't bear to look Stahn in the eyes after her unjust actions. To see that same forgiving look of kindness Stahn always had was too much for her.

I'm not worth the love of such a wonderful man... Were the words that faded into the sky...

Ilene Rembrandt, the traitor who sided with Hugo, would be erased from history with a faithless jump into the abyss. The figurehead of the Fitzgald Branch of the Lens Corporation; easily forgotten, easily replaced. Ilene's sins and her feelings of betrayal tore at her heart as she felt the sting of the air against her soft skin. With one last thought of Stahn, Ilene prepared for death's sweet embrace, but in her one moment of hesitation before taking her life unto herself, Stahn was able to just barely take hold of her hand. Ilene opened her eyes when she felt something close around her wrist. She looked up and saw Stahn's blonde hair cascading down onto her arm, tickling her every sense. At first she thought she was already dead, and was being greeted by a mercifcul angel that bore much resemblance to the young boy she held so dear to her. But this was not the end for Ilene Rembrandt, and she soon realized that was the case.

"Stahn...why...?" Ilene stuttered. With a mighty pull, Stahn lifted Ilene back into Helraios. Before she could say another word, Stahn pressed the button that controlled the door leading to the ground below. It slammed shut tightly, and Stahn then destroyed the switch with a mighty swing from Dymlos. He turned to Ilene.

"I'm not going to let you die Ilene."

"What good am I...?" She said in disgust. "I couldn't stop you from interfering with Hugo...I'm a worthless excuse of a woman..."

"You're not worthless Ilene, don't say that." Stahn reassured, setting Dymlos on the ground and kneeling at her side. "Everyone has a purpose. Hugo instilled his own twisted purpose and ideals on you. He fooled you into thinking what you were doing was right. He used you Ilene, and I'll make him pay for that."

"Stahn..." Ilene whimpered.

"I said we can make the world better, but if you're not there, it just wouldn't be the same, you know?"

Rutee bowed her head and turned away.

"Is something the matter Rutee?" Atwight asked of her mistress.

"Nothing...just...leave me alone Atwight..." Rutee said as she sat down, turned away from everyone else.

Ilene looked into Stahn's innocent eyes. In his eyes she felt no hatred of what she had done to them. Even though she went along with Hugo's plan to destroy the world below the Aethersphere, Stahn didn't care. To him, Ilene was no enemy, she was just Ilene, one of his good friends. It was unknown whether it was his stubborn nature, or just his boundless compassion for others, but whatever it was, he never wanted to see people die, especially not someone as important to him as Ilene.

"Ilene, I know it'll be hard, but I'll try my best to make everything better, so please...don't throw your life away like this." Stahn said.

Ilene then lost all sense of composure and fell into Stahn's waiting arms, crying her eyes out like a little child. Her tears soaked Stahn's white armor as he gently stroked her silver hair.

"It's alright Ilene..." Stahn cooed softly.

"Rutee?" Philia finally spoke when she saw Rutee hadn't shown much emotion, even though Stahn had saved Ilene from an untimely death. Rutee was curled up, her head between her knees. The Priestess could almost hear what sounded like quiet sobs coming from the girl.

"Is everything ok Rutee?" Philia asked, but got no answer.

While comforting Ilene, Stahn looked up and saw Rutee wrapped up in a tight little ball. He removed his arms from around Ilene as she finally began to regain her mental stability. Stahn turned to Garr, who nodded and began to comfort Ilene with some words of how one can atone for past crimes. Garr was never a very vindictive man; any friend of Stahn's was a friend of his, regardless of what they had done.

Stahn moved over to Rutee, placing a hand on her shoulder. He smiled lightly, but Rutee didn't even acknowledge it. It soon faded, and Stahn was beginning to get a little worried about her. Rutee's complexion looked a little pale, and her hair was matted to her foreheard, most likely from perspiration from battle. Atwight was sitting at her side, but the Swordian never once said anything. Stahn couldn't see Rutee's eyes, as she was still hiding her face, but he could tell something was wrong. He almost wanted to laugh, to perhaps try and crack a joke to make her feel better, but even he knew when and when not to make any such gestures. Now was not one of those times, so all he did was offer his kind words to his comrade in arms.

"Hey, you ok?" Stahn asked his friend.

"I'm fine..." Rutee said.

"I'm sorry I shoved you Rutee, I just..."

"It's ok Stahn...I'm not mad..."

"Are you sure?" Stahn inquired.

"I'm alright, I'm just...happy...that you saved Ilene."

Rutee uncurled herself and looked at Stahn, her eyes were red from crying. Stahn cocked his head in confusion.

"See?" She said, pointing to her eyes. "They're tears of happiness."

"They are? How can you tell?" Stahn asked innocently.

"They just are ok?! Jeez! Can't you see I'm fine?! I swear you country boys are so thick!" Rutee yelled as she wiped her eyes with her hands, trying to regain her own composure. Stahn backed off slightly, seeing that the Rutee he knew was beginning to show through again.

"Umm...ok then...and I'm NOT a country boy thank you very much." He said.

"Yeah yeah...whatever." Rutee said with a light snicker. Calling him that always made her laugh. It was almost her pet name for him, but Rutee wouldn't dare say that aloud.

"Thank you Stahn...you've done so much for me..." Stahn heard Ilene choke out behind him. He turned around to face her.

"Don't mention it Ilene, can you walk?"

"I think so..." Ilene said. She started to get up, but fell back to the ground with a meak yelp.

"I'm sorry, my knees are still weak...it all happened so fast."

"It's ok Ilene, here, let me help you." Stahn said, moving back over to her. He knelt down next to her once again and gently placed one of his hands around her waist, trying to help her to her feet.

Garr looked to Stahn, then at Rutee. He closed his eyes and sighed, silently brooding to himself.

I know you're just trying to help Stahn, but you're hurting someone without even knowing it...

Rutee wanted to cry again so much now it hurt. Once more she had blown off Stahn's affections, just to upkeep her own image as the moneygrubbing, couldn't-care-less-about-the-country-boy-leader Lens Thief. She wanted to cry her eyes out right then and there and let herself be the one to be comforted by Stahn. To just feel the immeasurable warmth of being held in his arms was something no material possession, be it a mountain of gald or a Draconis full of Lens could compare to But no, Rutee had missed her chance once again, and now Stahn went back to comforting her.

"Everyone, we should focus on the task at hand here." Dymlos spoke up. "We need to get Igtenos repaired."

"You're right Dymlos." Stahn said. "Everyone, are you ready?"

After getting a nod from everyone (except Rutee, who just remained quiet as she stood, wiping away her stray tears), Stahn looked down at Ilene, who was still having a bit of trouble getting up.

"Stay close to me Ilene." Stahn ordered. "Once we get out of here I'm taking you to Liena. Lilith and Grandpa will take good care of you, I promise. Once this is over, you can start making up for the wrongs you've committed. I know there'll probably be some people who will still be angry with you, but...I...er...uhm...that is..."

Stahn could feel his face turning red a bit as he tried to say what he was about to say.

"I'll...protect you, so don't worry about a thing." He finally managed to squeak out.

"Thank you..." Ilene whispered.

Stahn took hold of Dymlos with his right hand and gently helped Ilene to her feet with his left. His hand closed around Ilene's, and she returned the embrace by clasping it tightly. The second their hands coiled around each other's, Rutee felt what seemed like a knife stabbing into her heart and then being twisted thousands upon thousands of times. Seeing Stahn like this: so warm and caring for another woman; that hurt Rutee more than even the death of her brother. Stahn had always been there for her, from the time they first met in the cavern near Janos, up to Emilio Katrea's final words, that same naive country boy with his unbreakable spirit for justice was always there to lend a helping hand. But now it seems like that hand was enveloped in another, one that was not hers...

It had to be her...why couldn't it have been me...? Why Stahn...?

If it's because of all the times I made fun of you...I'm sorry...

I never wanted to drive you away, it's just...my way of showing how much I care about you...

Please...

...you can't love her...

...if you do...

...who will love me...?

And so the group continued on their journey to stop the maniacal madman Hugo from completing the destruction of the surface world.

Stahn Aileron: the country boy with a heart as big as the planet itself.

Garr Kelvin: the handsome and dashing King of Phandaria.

Philia Felice: the Straylize Priestess with a firm belief in the teachings of the Goddess.

and Rutee Katrea: the jeering, callous, and heartbroken Lens Thief.

Author's Notes: Just my own look into what might have been if Stahn had somehow managed to save Ilene. This is far from over though. The next segment will take place after the end of the game. Will Stahn and Ilene live happily ever after while Rutee slowly withers away in the background? What could possibly draw Stahn's attention away from one of the people he holds most dear to him?

Misc. Note: All Tales of Destiny characters, events, etc. belong to Namco.