Disclaimer: I don't own starocean. done deal.

The skies turned red as flames consumed the clouds. Screams echoed through the streets. Blood ran thick on the grass. Karin's team had taken up position on the roof of the castle. They had ten piston distortion partical cannons armed and ready, and all only one person controlling using an advance computer system. Aiming, reloading and firing were all in the hands of one person.

Karin herself and the remaining team took up positions with rifles of all sorts. Though it was not surprising that Karin's team was an all female team. Hyujin's team were getting ready right in front of the gates with Nel's team. The square was filled with soldiers and fighters running abck and forth, finding equipments and getting into position. Fayt was discussing something with Fuin when Maria came up.

"Okay, that's good. Oh, i see you're wanted. I go get this done."

Fuin nodded and left. Fayt turned and faced Maria.

"Maybe you should stay inside."

Fayt said, worried.

"I'm fine, i can take care of myself. Besides, i was already in this mess long before, there's no way i'm backing out now. More importantly, what about you?"

"Me? I can handle it fine."

"Really? Then what if i do this?"

Maria leaned forward and flicked at his forehead. Fayt jumped backwards.

"Ouch! What did you do that for?"

"See? You're still injured."

"I can handle it."

A sudden beep came on his communicator. Fayt flipped it open and a familiar face appeared.

"FAYT!"

The brown haird girl screamed over the speakers.

"Sophia! I can hear you clearly, you know?"

"Fayt! Oh my god, i heard about the excutioners. They have appeared on Vanguard III, Styx and the moonbase!"

"What? Wait a minute, aren't they-?"

"Yes! They were coordinates we used to transport ourselves from 4D space into the eternal sphere. This is bad. They started appearing in the thousands!"

"Where are you right now?"

"I'm in orbit of Elicoor II."

"You're here! What are you doing here!"

A new face popped up. A blue haired woman stared hard at Fayt.

"MOM!"

"Fayt Leingod, i demand an explaination for your actions."

"Look, mom, i'm busy right now."

"Don't you talk back to your mother like that. You listen to me young man, or you are so grounded!"

"Mom, your making a scene."

"I am your mother and i will make a scene if i have to. If your father was still alive, i swear he would-"

"He would agree with my decisions."

Fayt was getting tired of this coversation. Ryoko Leingod pursed her lips.

"I'm just glad your still alive, Fayt. Come back in one piece, you hear me? I'm teleporting down with supplies and Sophia."

"What! No, mom, there's a war going on! You can't just come down here."

"I know what i am doing. I'll be down in five minutes."

"I'll be out by then."

"Then let me hear that you promise you will be make it back in one piece."

"Oh right, i promise."

Fayt sighed. He had no reason to die, after all. Not yet anyway. Ryoko blew a kiss and the screen went blank.

"Oho? That was your mother?"

Maria smirked.

"So what?"

"She looks kinda nice."

"Trust me, she's worst than Adray."

"Did someone call me?"

Adray popped up from nowhere behind them.

"No, not really."

Fayt replied, not surprised by his tricks anymore.

"Right, then let's get some ass kicking done!"

Adray went away, singing some weird song that sounded no different from him snoring away.

"Right let's do this."

Fayt said, heading towards the front gate with Maria by his side.

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The war waged on, soldiers rushing foward to hold the gate. Commanders shouting commands, for if there was a chance that their loved ones would be saved, no matter how slight, they would give it their all. For the sake of their futures. Fayt watched as everyone got into positions. A roar sounded from the hills. It was time. Crosell was here and there was no time to spare.

"Men! There is only one thing i want all of you to know!"

Woltar said above the clashes and explosions.

"Our lives and all of those we cherish are on the line! We will NOT let these invaders just waltz in here and expect us to bow down! We will NOT let these creatures to destory all that we hold dear!"

The cheers of the soldiers echoed throughout the town. If an excutioner were to come, they would not hold back.

"All of you are brave lads, and i am wrong to ask you to fight in a battle where your life may be at stake, so i am giving all of you this advice. Stay alive. Not for me, not for the country, but for yourself and your loved ones. That is all. MOVE OUT!"

Woltar signaled his troops and masses of dragons took to the skies. Woltar got onto a dragon himself but Fayt stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

He asked the old general.

"To battle of course. I will join my men in combat, for i will not cower behind the scenes like Vox did. I will face the threat myself. I thank you Fayt, for everything that you have done for me and Nel. I cannot thank you enough."

Woltar smiled and took his dragon to the skies as well. Fayt clenched his fist.

"Don't die, old man."

He muttered. He turned back to the castle and shot the flare gun. The bright light flew into the night sky, illuminating the darkness. Bright beams from the castle roof fired towards the enemy.

"NOW!"

Fayt commanded. Gin and Jin's men lept over the walls and attacked the enemies head on. Fayt jumped down and drew his sword. He charged forward, dodging a claw, cutting upwards, taking out the excutioner's arm. Fayt jumped up and brought his blade crashing down on the creature's skull, cracking it and slicing right through.

Another ten rushed at Fayt. He focused his energy onto his sword. Dark energies flowed around him, causing the ground around him to turn dark red. Free flowing energy paralzyed all enemies who stepped into the area, constricting their movements. Just as the energy in his blade was fully gathered, Fayt initiated a skill that defied logic.

He disappeared in a flash and reappeared behind the enemies, his blade enlarged with the dark energy, cutting horizontally across the torsoes. Ten fell where they stood. Fayt stood up, panting. He looked around him, soldiers, Airgylph and Aquarias were fighting side by side. Fayt watched as men and women alike, fell before the might of the excutioners. Hyujin had charged through and Fayt could only hope for his safety. Maria ran up to Fayt with the reinforcements that flowed out from the main gates.

"Fayt!"

"Maria! Get down!"

Fayt pushed her down, just as a claw swept just above his back. Fayt got up, cursing. He flung his sword at the creature and the blade flew and imbedded itself in the creature's abdomen. The creature screeched in pain but Fayt took no notice. He jumped up and grabbed onto the hilt of the blade. He used the blade's hilt as a ground and jumped up once more to the creature's head.

He brought out his laser weapon and activated it. The small stick glowed as it's projectors created an image of a sword, as specified by Fayt, and solidified. Fayt sent the weapon crashing downwards, cutting through the creature's head. A cry came from the behemoth as it crashed into the ground. Fayt grabbed his mithril sword and rushed over to Maria.

"You alright?"

"I'm sorry, Fayt."

She looked downwards. Fayt could not stand this at this particular moment. He forced her to look at him.

"Look, there is nothing to be sorry about, just make sure you stay alive. You must stay alive, not only for yourself, but stay alive for me as well, is that clear, Maria?"

Maria sat there, shocked by his words, but nodded.

"Good. Now get up."

Fayt pulled her up. He tossed her a laser pistol from his belt to her.

"What is this for?"

"You may need it. I'll be coming back for that pistol, you hear me?"

Fayt said, running off to join the front. Maria wanted to call him back, but the words would not come. She cursed herself for her cowardness. She may never see him again. Tear rolled down her eyes as she clutched tightly onto the pistol. His scent was still warm.

"What will i do, once you have left me as well?"

She wimpered. A cry came from above as a soldier fell from the sky onto the ground with a bone breaking sound. He no longer moved. Maria looked up as an excutioner had gripped onto a dragon and snapped it into two. Then, it locked its sights on Maria. It came screeching from the sky, diving downwards. Maria rolled away as the creature crashed into the ground. It got up almost immediately, shaking the debris off itself. Maria forced herself to focus. She pocketed the pistol and drew a laser assault rifle. The creature roared as it reared back for an attack. Maria did not give it any chances. She fired at the creature, forcing it to flinch, but it did not sustain much damage.

"Damn."

She cursed, ejecting the empty cell cartridge and slamming in another one. She fired on and on, reloading when needed but not even a scratch was evident. The creature roared, swiping its claws at her. She jumped up and landed on the creature's hand. She ran up its arm and jumped onto its head. She pointed the gun at the creature's eye, firing a shot into it. Blood rushed from the wound and the creature cried out as it flung it's head around in agony. Maria was disengaged from it during this point and landed onto the ground.

She shook her head from the shock and rolled away just in time as the creature brough its foot down. Maria fired a couple more bursts from underneath, and the creature finally fell. Maria got up and shot extra shots into its head for safe measure. She slung the weapon her her shoulder as she ran over back to the gate where the supplies were waiting. Maria could see Sophia and Fayt's mother helping out. Though it was dangerous out on the battlefield, it was supplier's job to keep the battle going and Maria knew that Fayt's mother and Sophia were tougher than they look. Sophia spotted Maria running up to her and waved.

"Maria! Over here!"

Maria ran over to where Sophia was.

"What weapons do you have? This one doesn't have much punch."

"You want to trade?"

"No, just give me something new and extra ammo for this one."

"Right, let's see, Loincord type pulse assualt rifle and some pulse cartridge, and also, let's see what type of gun you have there... a Genosic emfier assault rifle, that would make it a type 'B' cell cartridge. There you go."

Sophia gathered a bunch of ammunitions and gave Maria another assualt gun.

"Thanks."

Maria said, slotting the extra cartridges into her belt.

"Oh yeah, do you know where Fayt is?"

"He's out there, and don't worry, he's fine."

Maria reassured her.

"I don't i would be the one who needs to be reassured."

Sophia winked.

"Huh?"

Maria looked puzzled. Sohpia sighed.

"The two of you are exactly the same. Anyway, you better get back out there."

"Right."

Maria nodded and ran out once again. Ryoko Leingod looked with great interest.

"Who is she?"

She asked, thinking she looked very familair.

"Maria, Maria Traydor, one of your experiments."

Sophia said simply. Ryoko winced at that word but she had gotten quite used to the criticism.

"Maria... Traydor?"

Ryoko thought about it. Then,

"No, it can't be..."

AN: Sophia knows of how Maria and Fayt feel to one another, but she still likes Fayt, LATER, things would come to a close on this small triangle.