Disclaimer: I don't own starocean
Karin: This is getting out of hand... look how many chapters you have!
It's not a lot.
Karin: IT IS!
... oh...
Sophia Esteed placed the luggage on the floor. Maria was nowhere to be found, and neither was Fayt. She tried looking all over the palace but could not find them. Finally, a technician from the Loeinguard told her that he saw them out in garden.
Sophia thanked the technician and headed for the garden. However, just as she was about to step out into the light, she stopped. She saw Fayt, leaning against the tree, but with Maria in his arms.
The two held each other tightly, as though nothing could break them apart. Sophia did not want to believe the scene that was before her. She had known that Maria and Fayt had feelings for each other, but she did not want to believe it. She liked Fayt as well, as much as Maria, maybe more. She loved Fayt, since their young childhood days.
She never denied that emotion, yet Fayt had never noticed. Sophia, with rage bruning in her, did not notice that she grew a hatred towards Maria. Without realizing it, she had wished that Maria would not exist, that she did not meet Fayt at all.
Sophia wanted Fayt to look at her the way he was looking at Maria now, the way he was holding her, the way he wispered into her ear to make her laugh. Why wouldn't he do that for her? Why Maria? Why her? What was so different about Maria that Fayt liked about? Fayt pressed his lips against Maria's, shocking Sophia though he did not know it.
Sophia could not stand the sight any longer, running back into the castle. She did not care where she ran, for how long. All she wanted to was to away from that scene. Tears blurred her vision as she ran into a room and cried on the bed. After a good five minutes, she got up. She found herself back in Fayt's room. Maria's luggage still on the floor where Sophia placed it.
By some unknown reason, Sophia's body opened Maria's luggage. Sitting right on top, was a small red book. On the cover it read:"My pain". Sophia took the book and flipped it open. The page she turned to, was an entry years back.
"'Today, i'm going to see papa go to work! I'm so happy! I get to be with papa at work for the first time!'"
Sophia knew that Maria's parents were dead, but she continued reading. The next entry.
"'Why? Why did papa have to die? Why? Why did mama say that she wasn't my mother? Who am i? Why did all of this happen to me? Why? I wish i could just die right now.'"
The next entry.
"'I was picked up by some strange people. They look friendly, but they're not my parents. I don't have a home anymore. I don't have anyone. The friendly lady said it was okay to call her big sister if i wanted. I don't know what to do anymore. Where are papa and mama? Is this all just a dream?'"
Sophia stopped. She only knew that Maria lost her parents and is in search for her real parents, but Sophia never knew how and why or when Maria had lost her parents. She continued to read, but flipped more pages.
"'I have decided to find my true parents. Mirage told me there was no use in just dragging my feet. I should get to the point. I will hack into the Federation database, starting with my mother's research, that is, if i can call her mother.'"
The next entry.
"'I found something, after two days, i finally found what i was looking for. But it is more horrible than i can imagine. An experiment? Genetic engineering? Why me? What did they do to me? I feel this pain that i never felt before, a hole that can never be filled. I don't know what to do anymore.'"
Sophia stopped reading and got up. It was dangerous to read such a book in a place with many people still walking about.
She took the book out of the room and out into the town. She found a nice spot by a tree by the lake and rested there. It was more quiet than inside the castle and more peaceful. Sophia focused back onto the book. Sophia knew the feeling of realzing that they were just experiments, scientific studies, done by their own parents. But it must have pained Maria the most for she found it on a ship full of strangers.
Sophia found out when they were on the moonbase, but Fayt was there to comfort her. Maria, however, did not someone to lean against and cry on. Sophia continued to read.
"'I did more indepth searching. I want to know why. Why did they do this to me? Was mother involved? Was there anyone else? I found one more thing. A boy. Fayt Leingod, Professor Leingod's own son. Professor Leingod is the head scientist of this project and i can't believe he did that to his own son! Were there such monsters in the world? I found that this Fayt is the same age as me. So far no pictures were found. I will continue to search. Did this boy know more than i did? Was i the only one who did not know about this project?'"
The next entry.
"'I found this Fayt. He has quite the history, basketball captain, forward. Apparently, he made quite a name for himself in the gaming community. I found a picture of him. Blue hair, same as me. Was it possible? That i am related to him? No, it couldn't. Our eyes were different. Still, i must admit, he is quite good looking. I still wonder if he knows. I must try to find him, but Cliff most likely won't waste the time to go. there must be something.'"
Sophia sighed. So, Maria had thought she found some hope, in Fayt. The next entry.
"'I don't know what happened, but i managed to destory the federation ship, the invisible. I don't know how, but i managed to. I tested it after i woke up. Apparently, i am able to change the matter of objects. This is quite incredible, but was this the power of the experiment? I don't want to know it. Still, i am suddenly made the captain of the Diplo. What a strange turn of events. Now, i can go find this Fayt Leingod.'"
The next entry.
"'I found him on a federation ship, running away from some Vendeeni ships. It looks as though the vendeeni are aware of his powers. Apparently, he isn't but i can't be sure. I sent Cliff and Mirage to go pick him up. The Eagle stands out less than the Diplo. I just hope we can get to him before the Vendeeni does.'"
The next entry.
"'Extraction complete, but we encountered a problem. The Eagle was shot down over Elicoor II. We are in bound for the planet. I just hope that Fayt will alive and well. There is much we have to talk about.'"
Sophia thought about it. Maybe Maria really did expect something from Fayt. Something only she could see. The next entry.
"'We are in orbit above Elicoor II. It is only a matter of minutes before i teleport down. According to Cliff, Fayt's powers manisfeted itself during the war. It took down an entire Vendeeni battleship with one attack. It simply disappeared. Is this his power? What is it? What is this horrible feeling that i am getting? His power is purely destructive, yet his profile is a complete contradictory of it. I must speak to him as soon as possible.'"
The next entry.
"'Fayt is a nice person to be with. He cares for the people around him, whether they were strangers or not. He does not seem to remember about his powers. The news of his powers did shock him, as i would have expected. Now we're on the same boat. I had a long conversation with him. It feels as though i can talk about anything with him. Strange.'"
So Maria saw Fayt as a nice person.
"'I don't know what i am feeling. There is this strange sense of familiarity whenever i'm around him. I have never felt this before. It excites my heart whenever i see him and i find it hard to control myself. Fayt seems to be an extraordinary person. He is caring, smart, kind, handsome. It is hard to believe that a destructive symbol is imbedded within him. After the defeat of Crosell, i wanted to talk to him again. I tried looking for him but instead, he found me. It appears that he was interested in his own symbol. No doubt that he wants to understand.'"
Sophia held her breath. Maria had already fallen in love with Fayt. It seemed like an innocent sort of love, where both sides don't even know their own feelings. The next
entry.
"'We managed to get off Elicoor II. I would have never expected to survive that battle. Where did that beam come from? Fayt was equally puzzled. This is a case we cannot over look.'"
Maria only stated Fayt's name among everyone who was with them.
"'We were about to jump when a transmissions from the Aquaelie and the Vendeeni came in. They had Fayt's father and a girl. Apparently, Fayt is familiar with this girl, and i doubt they are siblings. I will aid Fayt as much as i can. After all, we still have much to talk about.'"
Sophia felt uncomfortable reading about herself, but continued.
"'We managed to rescue Fayt's father and Dr. Esteed's daughter, Sophia. I was right, Fayt and that girl did have a relationship. It appears that they were childhood friends. I'm feeling this burning rage whenever i see her with him, but why is that? There should not be any reason for me to feel so. After all, if Fayt and this girl are together, what right do i have, a stranger among them, to split them apart? I... don't know what to do.'"
Sophia noted that this page was rough, and certain faint outlines of circles were present on the pages. Sophia knew what it was. Tear drops. Maria was crying when she wrote this page. Did jealousy really hurt? Sophia sighed. She wanted to stop reading, but her hands turned the page.
"'This Sophia seems to be a nice girl, maybe we could be friends. I don't have many friends, after all and the crew on the Diplo all treat me like some royalty. Maybe i could get closer to this girl. She looks very pretty though, i think she may be prettier than me. At least i'll try not to break Fayt and Sophia apart. Fayt seems to care a lot for her. It makes me envious of her. But i have a duty to do. I have a crew to look after and i have to get to the bottom of all of these mysteries that keep appearing.'"
Friend? Sophia never knew that Maria was that lonely. She must have felt like an outcast even though she was made captain of the Diplo. Did Maria give up on Fayt already? Then why?
"'Fayt seems to be intent on talking with me more often. Each time he spoke he had a slight red tinge in his cheeks. He looks cute like that. But what about Sophia? It made me happy, but i'm worried about Sophia. It would be nice to be friends, but if i am a rival as well, then i wouldn't know what to do. Mirage isn't helping much. Who can i talk to?'"
"'Fayt talked to me again. It's amazing how well we can connect. I want to try to get another chance to talk to him again. I wonder if i can talk to Sophia about this. I don't know how she'll react.'"
"'Fayt worried me by almost getting himself killed. My heart pounded hard but i knew he would alright. I wonder if Sophia felt the same thing.'"
"'We found out the terrible truth about our existence. I don't think Fayt took it too well about finding out our identities. I don't know how to calm him down. Maybe Sophia can, she knows him better than i do.'"
"'Defeated the creator. Everything is over. Everything. All of the fighting, all of the wars, everything. We are starting to go our own ways. I don't want it. I hate it. I want to stay with Fayt, but that would be selfish of me. I have my own path to follow as well, i have learnt that from Fayt. He is brave and strong, i know he will always be there. It is too bad i couldn't spend more time with Sophia, i thought i really knew her. I hope things go well for the two of them.'"
More outline of circles on the page. Sophia sat there, tears rolling down her cheeks. She never knew, that Maria was always alone, that she wanted someone to talk to. And everytime she talked about Fayt, she would mention Sophia's name as well. Sophia hated herself for ever feeling jealous of Maria. She should feel jealous of Fayt instead.
"She's perfect, Fayt. Take good care of her."
Sophia smiled. A slight breeze blew past the book, flipping just one page. Sophia noticed and looked at the page.
"'I finally understand what this feeling is. I really do like Fayt. I feel sorry for Sophia, but i... i don't want to be away from Fayt. I think Fayt likes me too, the way he talks to me, how he saved me more than times than he saved himself. What is he thinking? He worries me too much. I have to talk to him about this, and of Sophia. To Sophia, i'm sorry.'"
Sophia stopped reading, closing the book.
"That's alright Maria, you two were meant for each other. I won't butt in. I feel... like i want to know you better too, Maria."
AN: Yes, it may seem like Maria is OBSESSED with Fayt, well, that's good, i think... so the love triangle for this one has been solved, pretty fast, isn't it?