Disclaimer: I don't own SOTET, it belongs to square yadie yadie ya..

A/N: There's not much fluff in this part, but there is the whole part about Sophia thinking about Fayt. More transition, basically.

THE AUTHOR NOTES AT THE END ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SO READ THEM IF YOU DECIDED TO CONTINUE READING THIS STORY! (Thank you.)

PART 9

Cliff rolled over in his bed, his musty blonde hair soaked with the moist cloth that had fallen off his forehead. He buried his face deep into the pillow, letting the pillows recede from his body.

Groaning, "Damn…I feel like I had a hangover. Say Mirage what happened and how long was I out?"

A soft trembling voice answered him, "I'm sorry Cliff, Mirage isn't here. She hasn't come to see you. You have just had an encounter with Albel the Wicked and Lady Nel is recuperating in just the other room. Though I can tell you, you've been asleep since yesterday afternoon."

He opened his eyes and a young woman with violet hair stood with her right fist crossing over her left chest. She seemed very timid as she bowed and left the room.

He waved, "Give Nel my best, Farleen." As the door clicked he mumbled, "And that's supposed to be one of the Secret Legion."

Cliff sat up, yawning and stretching. With a single glance outside the window he could tell it was already mid-morning. His body turned as his hand ran through his hair, sitting over the edge of the bed.

"Must be in Arias…at least this place hasn't gotten worse. Still bleak as always." He said gruffly.

Getting to the edge of the bed he shakily stood up to his full towering height. At first he swung from wobbled, trying to regain balance by holding the edge of the bedpost before removing his hand altogether. He crossed the room in a slow stride, opening the door and glancing from side to side. His feet carried him to the next room over where Nel lay still asleep.

He loomed over her body, brushing strands of magenta away from her face. He smiled, muttering, "At least you're ok."

Nel rubbed her cheek against his hand, whispering, "Albel…"

Cliff looked appalled at those words that had so easily escaped her lips. He took back his hand, intent on watching her for a moment before he would wake her up and demanding an explanation.

Mirage looked over the setting sun, glancing over Peppita, "We should get to Peterny quickly. I have some Fol left over, how about you?"

The girl frowned, "I've only got a little left. I spent it all on the stage for our troupe. And I really really really really really want to get pretty new dress for Clair's wedding." She paused, "Mirage, you could use something, too!"

"What I'm wearing is fine." She said, shrugging, not ever really putting too much effort into what she wore, a basic uniform always seemed fitting for everything. And until now she never thought about it before.

"It's not. Have you ever been to a wedding before?" She asked suspiciously.

"No, what does that matter?"

She drawled on, "Well, you need to look nice, especially since your one of the bridesmaids with me, Sophia, and Maria. I overheard that Nel got to be the Maid of Honor, she's sooo lucky!"

Peppita had let it slip that she had known about the positions from reading the notes slipped between Nel and Clair that she wasn't supposed to know about.

"And how do you know this?" Her voice, hinted at already knowing her answer.

"Um…I wasn't reading the secret notes between Nel and Clair, promise." She said, trying to cover the nervousness in her voice.

"All right." Mirage took this answer lightly. She inwardly laughed, but took a concerned glance down upon her clothing. "I guess I should get something more appropriate…and something for you as well."

She squealed, "YAY SHOPPING!"

Mirage sighed; knowing full well how long a night this was going to be, spending the night in an inn with Peppita that she had not missed so much.

There was a long but easy road ahead, as they left, closing the distance between Samnite Steps and Peterny. A journey that would consist of much speech, especially on Peppita's part and Mirage having to listen to the continuous speech.

He loosened his arms just before forcing her into a better position upon his back, muttering incoherent grumbles under his breath. He had gone through a very busy and awfully cheery Arias, receiving many odd stares, carrying the weakened girl upon his back.

He glared at them all, telling them all with the crimson eyes that once almost all feared. Now they just hinted to everyone the danger within him, not to be crossed but still they did not freeze in sight of him, instead just carrying on and avoiding his gaze.

This was once the infamous Albel the Wicked, not fallen from a high status of being the terror of Airyglyph. They still knew of his name but the fear he had instilled into all those whom looked upon him had almost completely gone. They feared him to an extent that he was powerful, but he could do nothing more any longer because of the peace that had fallen between the two formally warring countries.

Albel wished so much to have a Fresh Sage handy but his history of normally winning his battles had made it clear to him to never keep one even for emergency. His arrogance had caused him humiliation beyond what could have been the held item of the reviving herb, in which now he spited himself for.

His mind had toiled long at himself; mentally slicing his arrogance up into thin slices as the reached the gates of Peterny, and those he knew well for crossing so many a times ago. The guard smiled and bowed his head lightly, releasing the opening of the gate to him. He was eager to drop the girl in The Front Door Inn, the burden of such a task had ripped bits of what little was left of his pride.

He had gone to the western part of Peterny, slipping through the door carefully, as not to wake her. When the light had shined upon him, those of the owner had jumped back; a familiar fear had glinted in their eyes that had brought back to him the old traditions that he had upheld for so long.

"I need two rooms for this wench and I, here," he said gruffly.

Their voices trembled, "Um…Albel the Wicked…we have a single room for 150 FOL, a special discount for you."

"Hurry up worms, it doesn't matter," he said without a care in the world, his concentration distracted and wrapped in the hope that he would have to have Sophia with him any longer then he had to.

"Yes…100 discount, right this way sir." They said with their hands shaking just as much as their voices. "I hope two beds are all right, Sir... We apologize for not having two rooms available, we had guests come just before you two."

He pushed the fearing man out of his way, stepping into the richly furnished room. He slammed the door shut, examining the room quickly, "This is will do for now."

Albel receded the covers, dumping Sophia's body upon the bed. He glared at her sleeping body, smile still in place as when he glanced at her last, "One night."

He stepped out of the room temporarily to the workshop, making good of his time while she was asleep, he could improve not only his katana but his claw as well.

Peppita had fallen asleep once her head had touched the covers; the night had fallen quickly asleep. Mirage had made the decision to leave and stock up on goods while she was still awake and had a chance before tomorrow and all her Fol would be spent on clothes Peppita would be drawn to.

She had quickly left the inn, stepping out in the dusky, almost pitch black town. Though she was able to catch the glimpse of someone still awake, the metal shining of his or her outfit was enough for her to squint to see whom.

"Albel, is that you?" She called out, unsurely.

His head swept around, "Who's out there!" His hand had caught the hilt of his Katana, ready.

She was reassured with the unforgiving voice immediately of whom it was, "Mirage Koas, ex-pilot of the Aquaelie."

He had continued to walk to the workshop when she had sped up her pace to stand just behind him.

"What brings you here? Peppita and I are staying in the 'Front Door Inn.'" She said out of a hint of curiosity.

He continued to move, speaking, "You two are the maggots who stole the other room then. I am just here to see to it that Fayt's precious Sophia is unharmed for I would detest the nagging he would graced me with if I had not done so."

Mirage had walked passed him, towards the center of the town, "If you say so."

The door had slammed from what she heard, a smile drawn upon her face as she entered the forum. She glanced around at the closing shops, able to get a few items before the she returned to the Inn.

"Weak fool has no idea what she speaks of," he mumbled, staring into the burning fragments of fire that his claw had been molded into. A few items scattered in arms reach about him, his hand hovering over them to place in with his weapon.
Sophia stirred, rolling about the covers. She opened her eyes, glancing around dimmed lighting. She stared out the window; clear stars twinkled beneath her gaze. She smiled, remembering all those planets and stars she had passed.

She siphoned off to the side of her bed, sitting up but keeping her blanket wrapped around her body. Her heart felt heavy in her chest, yet was completely empty.

'I wish…Oh how I wish…there was a hero knight and shining armor for me. All those fairy tales, every girl is considered and supposed to have one, right? Where's mine? Fayt…I wished you had noticed me then, and I thought you did…but you didn't because I was wrong. Who do I go to now to talk about how bad my life's been going? My best friend? Fayt, that's you. Who do I go to talk to now?'

She could only continue to stare outside the window in wonderment of how the stars could be so elegant that she admired even in her despairing moment. And for a moment everything was pushed away as her hand went from out of the covers to reach for the window in hopes of grasping a star to wish upon like in so many stories that had been told to her as a child.

Though most adults had told her they were just stories and nothing more. She even came to that conclusion as well in the end but she wanted to desperately have them and so she believed in them when it seemed childish. She didn't mind, she would always desire to be one of those princesses in the love stories, always secretly hoping the impossible, for her to take that role.

Sophia laughed softly to herself, trying to imagine a prince charming to come and sweep her away from the clutches of all evil that would try to harm her.

"Strong, brave, sweet, and always there to save me in the nick of time!" She exclaimed to herself, her voice had been wistful. Her eyes had closed to attach an image to the person, hands going over her heart.

The image of Fayt came to her thoughts, dressed in massive amounts of ridiculous metal that would not suit very well to be even called armor. A helm over his blue hair that some strands strayed from, his thumb under his visor to lift it up and to smile at her with his emerald eyes.

Her hands found their way around her pillow, holding it tight to her body, bending down to shed the tears that she had held back for so long. A whimper came from her lips and the tears abruptly stopped but she didn't understand why. She couldn't cry, she felt sad but there was something warming herself, giving her bits of happiness for nothing.

She stood up and just laughed, and she continued to laugh, though she tried to keep herself quiet. She had no idea what, but she just wanted to smile again, and there was something that was opening her up so that she felt she could again. Her mind trailed to the thought of the sobbing self that was she a few minutes ago, and she knew it wasn't her.

She rose from her spot, smiling; a familiar essence had returned to her sage eyes that she had lost a few days ago. Creeping out of her room, she had gone to see the stars in all their glory in the night sky, a task she wouldn't have done before because of the danger she knew she might cause herself, but she wasn't afraid anymore.

Nel groaned, rolling over. The fever had cut but the aching tiredness had still tugged at her body. She opened her eyes, to see Cliff sitting atop the stool next to her. She smiled at him, even though he didn't seem to be aware that she was awake now.

"Greetings," She said in almost a whisper, not sure of what time of day it was and others could be sleeping.

He turned to her, eyes burned with slight anger. He choked out the words, "Do ya know you talk in your sleep? Said some interesting things."

She didn't understand what he meant but tried to soothe his anger, "Cliff, you must be tired." She had scoot over in the full bed she laid in, implying for him to come to under the covers with her but he did no such thing.

He continued a glare at her, "No, how 'bout I tell ya what ya said in your sleep?"

Thank you for reading, please review.

A/N: Well, ya see, I didn't update very quickly this time because I got horrible reviews. As long as someone tells me something good about what I write, I will continue and update fairly quickly but getting something like "Intresting, but u have issues." isn't very nice. It's one thing to make a comment about the story but to make a comment on me is very offending. Person, doesn't even know me. If you like this story and wanted me to continue writing you can thank the anon. reviewer 'Kukuri'.

Also, I put in slight revised chapters in the rest of the story. There are only a few tidbits of change but nothing drastic along with it being easier to read. But there's one major fix that's, there's only a full day left(tomorrow in the story because it's night) and the next day is Clair's wedding by the end of this chapter, just be aware of that.

Here are my opinions on Star Ocean:

I hate Maria, she sucks and I hate her with a passion which will be made quite obvious in the later chapters, but that's too much information as it is about the story.

Sophia is MY favorite character(female) so I do resent some of the opinions, people are entitled to them and I can't change them like no one can change mine. So if you make a negative comment about Sophia in a review, I will completely disreguard it.

Lastly, as much as you may wish for my story to change it won't. No offense, because I love Albel and Nel is my second favorite female character but I almost hate the pairing because it's so overused. It's too unoriginal and not fun to write because most people only write Albel/Nel in the SOTET stories. And it kinda bothers me that the only positive reviews I get are the anon. ones.

Most of the signed reviews aren't good enough inspiration for me to want to write more because they don't say anything works or are completely negative to what I write. And I ask myself, implying to them, "Then why do you read it if you hate it so much?"

All right, I'll shut up now.