Disclaimer: I don't own anything of SOTET, it's all Square's stuff.

A/N: It's been taken me so much time for me to update because I just hadn't had any inspiration and for the fact that no one likes my pairings, well complains about them. It's still kinda undecided and I like doing things very unconventionally, like the weird pairings mixed with the normal ones. It's a lot more interesting to write that way. Here's the next one and sorry for the long wait if any of you still care to read this.
Nel glanced to Cliff's face, occasionally, and his face was strained and his breathing was almost normal. She limped with his body all the way back to Arias.

Guards outside of the mansion saw Nel, her body bruised but the blond man she had with her was a worse condition. They opened the door, Tynave rushed, "Lady Nel!" She turned away to call back, "Farleen, Lady Nel is badly injured and she has the engineer from Greeton!" Another female's voice echoed inside, "All right, just bring them up to their rooms!"

The auburn haired girl grabbed on to Cliff's other arm, hauling him inside and up the stairs with Nel. When he was put in a bed a doctor was called. Nel stood over, slightly shifting uneasily.

The doctor came in a rush, mending his cuts and wounds. His breathing was softened and he eventually stopped shaking. He had lost a lot of blood and it was feared he may not survive but since he was Klausian, his body seemed to already start healing on its own.

There was a thump that made Tynave and Farleen turn to look when they saw Nel on the ground. Her injuries were not serious but she had come with a fever. They assumed she had received on the way to Airas from the Bequerel Mountain Path, carrying Cliff.

They set her in a different room; her temperature rising quickly and her body already had a thin film of sweat. Her breathing became erratic and her magenta hair stuck around her forehead. In this state she murmured incoherent words and phrases. The doctor couldn't do much; her fever had become serious in a short amount of time.

She kept gasping about how cold she was but she kept sweating nonstop. She rolled over while Farleen was assigned to watch over her while Tynave was to look after Cliff for the time being.

"My, my, Lady Nel…Clair's wedding is to be held in a few days and you are the maid of honor…you must get well," Farleen was speaking to her while she lay. Runelogy to this point only seemed to hinder her condition.

Maria came unusually quickly to visit Nel. Fayt followed behind about an hour later murmuring, "Maria, I couldn't find you." She smiled at him in a loving gaze, "I'm sorry, I thought I could pick up some medicine for Nel." He placed his hand to his hair, pulling his fingers through.

"Farleen, I was wondering if Fayt and I could see Nel, alone," Maria had spoken curtly. Farleen complied and led them in, closing the door and waiting outside. She heard whispers inside but only of Fayt and Maria, occasionally hearing the mention of Nel's name.

They exited rather quickly but as they left Nel's eyes opened slowly. Farleen went in, smiling, "You're awake. Whatever those pair did, they did well." The doctor checked her condition and she seemed to be recovering more quickly and her state would suffice to attend Clair's wedding in the Aquarian Castle's Chapel.

Mirage had quietly made her way into Cliff's room to see him while the others were concentrated on Nel's sudden improvement. She knocked but there was no answer, "Cliff. I need to speak to you." Still no answer, but she dared to try the doorknob. It clicked opening softly, creaking slightly.

Cliff was laying on the bed, almost looking harmless in his sleep. He occasionally groaned, turning over. Sweat could be seen dripping down his forehead but he was shivering.

"Cliff…what happened?" She murmured as she stepped closer to his body, pulling up a stool next to his bedside. She took a wet washcloth from next to the bad, wiping his head of the sweat. She watched, as he seemed to be in so much suffering. She quietly spoke to him, "You're in really bad shape. Who or what could have done this?"

There was a flicker of his eyelids as he turned to lie on his back. They slowly opened, but winced, "Albel." He looked at Mirage, hovering over his body. His voice was hoarse, as he spoke, "Yeah, I don't think he liked when Nel chose me over him." He coughed a bit, trying to laugh. "Poor Sophia, she's standing up to him all by herself. That girl's will is stronger then Fayt gives her credit for."

She opened her mouth, intent on asking for specific details but even speaking seemed to be taking a lot out of him. She merely said, "You really took a beating."

"Just like your dad." He said; his voice was raspy as if he was reminiscing.

She laughed out at this; "You were black and blue for days." She brushed his blond hair away from his face, reapplying the rewet cloth.

He forced a small smile at her; the cool cloth relaxed him as he gazed at the ceiling. He mind was dozing and he seemed to have been losing his mind, "Mirage…this is why I like you…you're beautiful and just great." And he had gone into a deep sleep but he had stopped tossing and turning, only wincing occasionally.

Mirage continued to watch him, keeping silent all the while. She heard footsteps coming towards them. She wriggled on a seat for a moment, slipping the cloth in the water and squeezing the bits of sweat out.

Fayt and Maria gently rapped on the door. The door gently swung open as the stepped him. Maria looked worried; surprised the door had been slightly ajar. Fayt said, "Hello? Anyone in there?"

Maria looked inside and saw Mirage placing the cloth upon his head.

Mirage turned her head to look at them. "Fayt, Maria, I just came by to see how Cliff was doing." She said simply, standing up quickly to face them. She gave them a smile, unsure of Cliff's words but quite content with them. Her feet could be heard stepping across the room.

Fayt returned her smile, "Hey, Mirage."

Maria looked into Fayt's eyes for a moment. He placed an arm around a split second after she looked at him. A smile had suddenly lit upon her face as well. "Fayt's doing terribly and Nel is just recovering now."

Mirage winced at the name; nodding and walking just passed them. "I'll see you guys later. I have to go check on the ship."

Maria walked towards Cliff's body, studying it intently. "Fayt, he's had nearly complete recovery. He never healed this quickly without the help of the Diplo's health maintenance staff.

"Cliff is Klausian after all." He added quickly before she was to change the subject.

Maria shrugged and walked out of the room, disappointed hinted in her eyes. Fayt followed behind her quickly, shutting the door.

Peppita had wandered back down the Mountain path alone. She had disposed of the small creatures with a laugh or two. Her giggles rang throughout the mountainside as she skipped. She sang, "Fayt and Maria; Cliff and Nel sittin' in a tree; K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" And it continued as she continued her dance-like aerial assaults on the ground.

Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, sneaking back to the battlegrounds.

The ground had been ravaged with pieces of the large boulders broken perfectly upon the ground. Pieces of clothing had littered the dirt among the dried blood and moist air. The clouds were turning more then a dark gray, the air and sky implying the approaching weather.

Sophia released a breath she had been holding. She ran towards the limp figure lying on the ground. She knelt down beside him, brushing his hair, "Albel…Albel?" Nothing had answered her.

"Aw….you don't look so evil when you're asleep." She placed her hand to his forehead, checking his temperature, "Oh wow, you're burning up!"

She placed her staff at his temple, gathering energy within a circular pattern glowing at the tip of her staff. She mumbled, "Restoration."

Albel coughed, just leaning back. Groaning could be heard echoing from his voice. He was alive but he couldn't feel anything but the ice that was piercing his every fiber, the sweat rolling down his forehead. It was torment but he knew he had survived worse.

Then the feeling the heat and cold released from his body. Warmth spread throughout his fingertips but the weakness made him feel vulnerable and he didn't like it. He wanted to open his eyes but he was not even given that much energy to do so.

He heard mumblings just outside his senses now. He couldn't make out the first set of words but the next were clear and soft, "It wasn't enough. Just one more… Healing."

He opened his eyes, seeing clear sage hues. He mumbled, "Damn annoying smile." He recognized her immediately, growling softly. He felt sustained with energy, sitting up. He pushed her hovering body away from him, "Get away worm."

Tiredly, Sophia said, "You're all better. It took just about the rest of my mental power to heal you all the way as best I could."

He rolled his eyes, muttering, "Wench, I should have been left to die. I was weak."

"That wouldn't have been nice. I'm sure Nel wouldn't have liked if you died." She commented, sure he was still in love with her.

He stood up, looking around, ignoring her for the moment, "No."

His eyes immediately pinpointed a small pink figure dancing her way down the path. He groaned, "Another annoying maggot."

She stood up, looking around, "Wher..? Oh I see. PEPPITA! OVER HERE!" Her voice had yelled her last words.

Peppita hobbled towards them. She grinned, widely, "HEY SOPHIA!" Peppita had hugged Albel's turned away form, "ALBELLY!"

He wedged himself off of her, walking away to lean against the rock that sat comfortably in the middle of the road, "Stupid worm."

She just laughed, "I'm going to find Mirage! She can't be all by herself, she needs me!"

"Peppita? Why were you limping?" Sophia said with concern. She eyed her leg, worried.

"Nothing much. It only kinda hurts to walk." She said, still cheerful.

Sophia placed her staff to her leg, a blue sigil made its form visible. She mumbled, "Healing. Ok, that should be better. You can't get all the way to the Quark ship with that limp. It's not good for you." Her finger wagged at her.

Peppita hugged her, and skipped off to Albel. She clung to him for a moment and as much as she pestered him and he tried to get her off, she succeeded from getting hauled off of him.

And then Peppita was off, Sophia waved at her leaving, "Remember to be back in time for Clair's wedding!" Albel merely made a sound, "Hn."

Albel saw the tiredness if Sophia's body. He saw her leaning backwards and forwards just after healing Peppita's wound. He mumbled and against his will he stepped behind her. On command Sophia's body fell backwards, her back leaning on his.

He looked down at her, smile still upon her face even in this state. "Wench." He grumbled as he lifted her up on his back.

As he walked he pondered why she had suddenly fell.

"It took just about the rest of my mental power to heal you all the way as best I could."

"Healing. Ok, that should be better. You can't get all the way to the Quark ship with that limp. It's not good for you."

"Stupid wench knew what she was doing. Only a weakling would purposely put herself in this state for others. There's no strength in giving help to someone else if you would make yourself powerless." He muttered. He reached in for a piece of fresh sage; he had been given just in case and fed it to her.

She started to breath again but her body was still in a weak condition, still without power and her mind away.

Occasionally he looked at her sleeping face, softening his gaze. 'This is better. Girl should keep her mouth shut more often. It makes her a lot more desire worthy.'

His mind would wander, thinking about the fire that burned within Nel's eyes. He hadn't seen the fire in such a long time, especially when it had held a different look. He hated it, it seemed to mock him and that is what had turned her away from him, but he felt in just that moment, he saw what had drawn him to her in the very beginning.

He spit on the ground, "Makes me sick."

Sophia was mumbling in her tired state, "Fayt…Maria…why?"

He listened intently on her words, curious to know her dreams. Those words made him laugh, careful to do it softly so that he could keep her in the quieter state, then the optimistic purity that she held often.

"Albel…?" His name spilled from her lips.

He groaned; he had awakened her now, "What wench?" She didn't answer him and she seemed to be asleep again.

A/N: Well, that's the end of this part. There's still a chance for all those normal pairings, I'm just trying to build up the drama. Thank Kuririn and Ceres for their review who urged me to continue.