Star Ocean: Till the End of Time 2

Prologue

S.D. 772: Two weeks after the destruction of Luther, the Creator, six months after the Vendeen Conflict.

It was perhaps the greatest feeling in the world.

Fayt and Sophia dodged quickly to the side, avoiding the flood of people passing them by, searching frantically for their families that were awaiting their return. There was heavy mix of laughter and crying. Fayt felt both sadness and happiness in his heart as he watched—happiness as he watched the families become re-united, sadness when he thought about the families that didn't show up, knowing that their loved ones were never coming back.

"Oh Fayt, I'm so happy," Sophia said. Fayt nodded, but when he saw her skin color, he couldn't help but feel worried for her.

"Sophia, your turning pale! Are you tired? There were so many people you could barely sit! I'm sorry, I should've given you my place!" he said quickly. Sophia looked up at him and grinned, shaking her head.

"No, it's okay. I'm just a little tired."

"Fayt! Sophia!" a woman called.

Fayt turned his head down the long hallway of the star port, half unbelieving. Two women and one man, whom he recognized immediately, were running full speed toward them.

"Mom! Dad! Aunt Ryoko!" Sophia called. She turned to Fayt, whom raised an eyebrow. "Well come on, I can't wait for you forever!" She dashed for them. Fayt jerked once in surprise, then grinned to himself, chasing after her toward their parents.

"I'm so glad the two of you are okay!" Fayt's mother said, embracing him more tightly than he would've preferred.

"Yeah, mom…urg…we're…ack…okay, sheesh!" Fayt said, chuckling as she let go. She put a hand on his face and scanned him.

"Wow, you've grown, Fayt!" she said, half gasping. "And it's only been six months."

"Yeah, but it seems like it's been forever, neh?" Sophia's father said, smiling. For an old man, he looked relatively youthful, especially with his spiked orange-red hair.

"You two did it!…I…I…" Ryoko started saying before breaking into tears, hiding her mouth with her hand. Fayt and Sophia shook their heads.

"We understand, auntie," she said, still beaming. "It's over, and that's all that matters."

"We still don't expect you to forgive us…" Sophia's mother said.

"Mrs. Esteed," Fayt began, pausing. She looked at him, clearly nervous. "It was better than dying, that's for sure. Besides, we each only had to use it once. Well, Sophia more than me and Maria so…"

"How was Maria?" Mr. Esteed asked, interrupting. Fayt nodded.

"Good, s'far as I know," he replied. "She was happier than she had been in a while, but still the tough leader. I expect that she won't stop being a leader of some sort even since Quark disbanded."

"You'd make a good leader, Fayt," Sophia said brightly. He shook his head, turning slightly scarlet.

"Nah, I'm done with politics for a while," he said, making them all chuckle. Soon, the gate started to grow overcrowded, and they made their way for the transport ship outside.

"Well, Earth is destroyed," Mr. Esteed said sadly as they boarded the bright, white interior of the small ship and as they sat down. "Well, not the entire planet, mostly just cities. The population dropped from forty-five billion to about forty billion."

"What!" Fayt cried, wishing it weren't true. Mr. Esteed nodded gravely, his face sullen. The ship detached itself from the docking bay and set a course for the planet far below. Many people were talking excitedly.

"We're lucky it wasn't more, considering the fire-power of those Enforcers," Ryoko said. "The planetary shield took a huge hit from those things, but it managed to hold off as much off as much as it could."

"Right…" Sophia said, becoming upset. Fayt looked at her for a moment, then looked away, thinking to himself.

"We will be arriving on Hyda IV

The transporter soon passed through the atmosphere and began descending into the slightly damaged city and set down at another large gate. As they exit onto the metal platform, Fayt couldn't help but enjoy being back on a planet within the Federation. Ships reflecting the setting sun raced a few hundred yards away from them, the multicolored city lights and electronics blinking brightly. Amidst the circle of labeled transporters, Mr. Esteed pointed to the one that lead to the hotel he had booked—immediately, Fayt recognized it as the same numbered hotel as the one they had stayed at previously.

"It's almost like we're starting where we began…only not," Sophia said, trying to be optimistic. Fayt nodded, thinking about his father. I'm sorry, dad…I'm glad that the universe wasn't deleted, but…I couldn't find a way to bring you back. Thanks, he prayed. Despite being atheist, now, especially since what occurred, he hoped that there was some kind of afterlife, where everyone who had died deserved to be. Since the whole experience, he couldn't help but wonder if it was even possible not to exist, that thought was an unstoppable phenomenon. So, as a result, he figured there was definitely a sort-of afterlife out there.

Fayt gazed outside his room's window toward the crystal-blue ocean, his thoughts escaping as he listened to the distant sound of the waves breaking on the sandy beach. I could certainly use a vacation, that's for sure.

The door to his room beeped. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and said, "Come in!" It rushed upwards, revealing Sophia, dressed in a new shirt and jeans with a smoothie cup in her hand.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey, what's up?" Fayt asked. She walked over next to him and brushed strands of loose hair out of her eyes.

"I wonder if what we did is right…we destroyed the Creator…an unforgivable sin," she said slowly, looking up at him as she set down the cup.

"Sophia, why're you doubting yourself now?"

"Because…because…I don't know…it's just, it's been stuck on my mind for a while."

"You can't start doubting what we did and dwell on it!" Fayt said. Sophia shook her head.

"It's just that…well, it's a constant revolution. Righteousness, greed, violence, destruction, hope, life, death, heroes…it's a constant fact that history repeats itself, but this was nothing like that. It just seems…out of place," she said, her voice growing softer.

Fayt closed his eyes for a moment and thought about it. "Well, you can't dwell on the past, can you?" he asked her finally. He pulled out his Holy Blade, which he had gladly synthesized more orichalum into. He knew it wasn't the strongest sword, but it felt the most comfortable with him. "The only thing we can do is put it in the back of our minds and keep looking forward, right?"

Sophia smiled up at him. "Your right, sorry."

"What're you apologizing for?"

"Nothing, nevermind," she said. A single tear left her eye.

"Huh? What is it?"

"It's just when…when I think about everyone who died…it's sad. But I guess your right."

Fayt nodded, silent. The sun touched the horizon, painting the sky a deep orange color, mixing beautifully with the pure white clouds.

"Fayt?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks for everything…remember when you thought I was unhappy with you?" she laughed quickly. "That I was unhappy with my 'prince'?"

"Er…" Fayt grunted, sweat dropping. Oh grea, I almost forgot about that embarassing little stunt. "Yeah…"

"It was the first time anyone had said that to me, even if you didn't understand what I was talking about at Castle Aquaria. It made me very happy," she said. Fayt turned a bright scarlet.

"Sophia!" Fayt said, watching her come closer.

"I…I love you," she said. Fayt turned from scarlet to red, trying to stop it. Luckily, so was she. He smiled, relaxing.

"Me too," he said softly.

Her arms made her way around his neck, closing her eyes and moving towards his own. Still nervous but with new found courage, he kissed her, embracing her around her waist. He collapsed backward onto the couch with her on top, feeling a warmth he never known before.