Disclaimer: I don't own SOTET, it belongs to Square/Tri-Ace.

A/N: Well, this one is more tragic then anything. I'm posting a lot cause I want to finish out this story soon and I've got a plan.

PART 16

Fayt walked towards the edge on the far side of the building where no one had gone. He sat alone, letting the wind wisp through his azure hair. The cold night air finally getting to him and a night unlike the many past, his mind was clear. It was void of all feelings apart from regret.

He closed his eyes, facing toward the sky, taking in the air. There was gruff voice on the inside, obviously Adray's from the manner of speaking. His words cut through the air, "Restoration."

But Fayt knew that it was stupid to hope because it was too late for her to be revived. He heard a voice from the inside, "Out of the way worms."

There was more laughter seeping into his ears, Mirage and Cliff joining those voices. They had been saved by Adray's apparent expertise. But the sweet sound he longed for did not come, though he had hopped, had waited for.

"Oh Sophia…I'm sorry. I couldn't stop her… I don't even know how Maria did what she did," he muttered beneath his breath.

"Well, she probably altered your feelings for me towards her," a soft voice whispered.

He whipped his head around, seeing the sage eyes watching him with care. "Sophia!" He cried out, standing up.

He tentatively placed his hand out, touching the soft skin, burning with warmth under his hand.

She closed her eyes and leaned against his palm as he cupped her face.

He watched in awe, taking her slowly into his arms, holding her tightly against him. "I can't believe you're ok. I love you, please don't ever doubt that in me…"

He tilted her chin towards his; bent on giving her a sweet kiss to make sure it was reality.

"Fayt, I love you, too," she murmured as his lips came towards hers.

Fayt closed his eyes and the warmth dissipated. She was gone, nothing was there but the haunting sensation of her body fitted against his. It had merely been his imagination. She wasn't there at all, never was standing next to him and never said those words of returned affection for him.

Nel watched the revitalizing Albel, returning to his life. He was returning back to her. She gazed his form, taking in a gulp of air that he had lacked before. A smile had gone to her lips, painted into a smile.

Albel groaned, "What time is it worms?" He rubbed his eyes and shook the hair from his head. He was still in pain, but he would live.

She had jumped upon his body, planting a kiss that she had so longed for upon Albel.

"I guess this means no. But that's ok. I don't think we're that compatible anyway. Me and Mirage have got a home on Quark to go back to." Cliff said, tiredly.

Mirage smiled at him, still gripping his, "I'm sorry Nel."

He shook his head, "Nel's a strong girl. But this does feel kinda weird, almost cliché, the girl next door was always the one for me."

She said, "I think that's the first time, I've ever heard you use that kind of word before."

"I'm not stupid, I'm just a picky artiste."

Though unexpected as it was, he did no such thing to return it, merely pushing her away from him.

There was a clear look of apathy in his eyes for her. He raised an eyebrow in angered suspicious, "Woman what the hell do you think you are doing?"

Nel blinked, "Albel…I…just thought…"

She stopped, obviously assuming too much. She had made the mistake of letting him go and he had forgotten about her now. She glanced at Cliff who seemed to be watching her out of the corner of his eye.

Cliff looked away completely, now, gripping tightly to Mirage as he shook his head that had only been noticeable by the intent gaze of Nel.

She stood up, letting a small symbological spell to return her clothes to their normal. She stiffly pulled her scarf over her mouth to resist from saying anything else that may hinder her reputation even further.

Albel watched, amused without sympathy. "Not one of us will say a word, we'll just leave this situation to your description."

Mirage and Cliff nodded, while Nel felt a little better that no one either from Aquaria or Airyglyph had seen this demeaning demonstration of rejection, on that would have severely lowered her reputation.

She took a few steps out of the way, intending to go the direction of Fayt, knowing perhaps how she was feeling since he had lost both Sophia and Maria. But she knew it was worse on him because they had both died and he had not had been able to see the truth.

"Damn that wench. Where is she off to now?" He grumbled beneath his breath.

He scanned the area, seeing her body limp against the wall. He slowly reached her, examining her carefully. He felt her pulse that ceased to be now.

'What the hell happened? Someone is going to severely feel my wrath. They shall be tormented with the desire to die but shall suffer at my hands. Because of this, I will make sure no one involved with this lives. I will make sure she is avenged.'

Albel touched her head gently, letting his clawed fingers run through the still silky strands of tawny hair. He could smell Fayt's breath upon her lips, still moist but she was cold as if she had died before. And now he would cause pain to Fayt as well, for placing his lips upon her dying breath as the last thing she knew.

He glanced at the slightly moving rubble, kicking it with all his might into the next wall, imbedding it deeply within the marble.

"I'm sorry we couldn't save Sophia."

"It's not your fault, it's mine," he said, turning to see Nel standing forlornly.

"Where's Cliff? Albel?" He asked tentatively, not really sure what to expect.

"Cliff's made a decision to be with Mirage and Albel…we don't seem to be quite compatible any longer. No one seems to be faithful…"

Fayt turned around, "I'm sorry for you. If this hadn't happened then I'm sure you and Cliff would be engaged right now. I guess I'm to blame for this as well." He sighed, watching the waves lap up upon the cliffs.

Nel took a seat next to him her arm over her propped up knee, "Yes, it does seem quite sad but this does feel freeing. Does it not? The wind with no strings attached? We do have Apris to thank for this after all."

He laughed, "Yes, praise be to Apris," he recited, much like he had known them to say constantly when they were on their journey the first time he and Cliff met Aquarians.

There was a calm serenity around the two, a connection much like that Albel and Sophia had when each had know heartbreak. The two had known loss, a mysterious thing; love can be between people that seem most unlikely.

But the two were yet to be aware of this, just finding the silent comfort.

Without thinking Nel asked, "Fayt, how about a walk on the beach? It should clear our heads."

He nodded, finding her thoughts exactly, following her lead.

Mirage spoke, "So when do we get to go home. You said it depended on what happened tonight."

Cliff looked at her, grinning as he remember what he had said to her earlier, "We can go home now if you want."

A gracious smile spread across her face, leaning into him as they walked. She gave a soft wave to Peppita, mouthing the words of good luck to her as she turned her head back.

"Too the ship then." She said, nodding to him Cliff. Her free hand going to wipe the single tear that exited from her eyes. A last motion of sympathy for the dead girl.

He placed an arm around her shoulder, finding it best to leave Sophia in the hands of Albel. Each took one last glance at the now dead girl's body beside what was left of Maria.

"So I guess, Lieber will be sad to hear about Maria's death. You tell him about ok, Mirage? I don't want to deal with him." He said, slightly groaning just thinking about.

And the last words before they left the reception room deserted were ones all knew well to escape her lips, "Roger."

This caused an echoed back laugh from Cliff, "Yeah, none of that any more. There's no need to take orders from me because I'm not your leader anymore." And their voices faded after that.

Peppita looked over Sophia's body, clicking her tongue lightly. She cried, sobbing into Sophia's pale ivory dress that would have been so beautiful if she had not stained it with her crimson blood and died in it.

"Sophie! It's all that Maria's fault. At least she's gone now, right?" She said, trying to sound hopeful.

Though water kept coming profusely from her eyes, she sniffed, standing straight for a moment. She realized that Adray and Roger would have been told of the news. And she might as well go, not having anything better to do, unless she was to stay and keep crying.

But she knew Sophia wouldn't have wanted her to keep crying if there was still something more to do, more to play, and of course more to laugh.

With her back straight she took her leave in the direction of where the Elicoorians had taken refuge away from the reception area. All the while, trying to prepare herself to relay the events that had just gone on from Maria's change to Maria 'and' Sophia's death.

'I can't believe this weak wench died. She shouldn't have died on me. I wouldn't have let her. And doesn't that maggot, Fayt love her? Shouldn't he have protected her while I was incapacitated? What kind of hero was he to her? What hero did she see in Fayt? He had done nothing more then take the glory of saving the universe even though it was with all their help.'

He knelt down beside Sophia once more, propping her head on his lap, staring down at her closed eyes. There was really nothing he could do and for once he felt weak and the odd feeling of regret washed over him. He had lost, not only was this a great blow to his pride, but it had hit his heart and soul more then he could have ever thought. And the realization dawned upon him.

'I love this worm, don't I? But love is for fools… Have I become one of this weak hearted scum? Why else would I feel this way? This is a strange and ignorant emptiness that I dislike. What is this pain or sensation? If this is one of those sayings that only the vermin say in their last words called heartbreak and loss of the heart. I must be sorely mistaken because that is impossible.

I cannot love such a thing; dead now and nothing can change that. Not even if I carried a stupid piece of fresh sage, it would not help her. There needs to have been something I could have done, something that could make this different. But what is there left?'

"I hope that worm, Maria rots in hell," he growled, loudly.

The pronounced anger in his voiced rang through out the stone. And a voice answered him.

"Do you really wish that of me? Or do you just dislike me since I stole Sophia's life for my own personal gain?"

There was more movement in the rubble that he had passed off to be more then a natural occurrence. But rising from the broken pieces of stone was indeed the one and only, known as Maria Traydor, ex-leader of the Quark.

She stood, gripping her gun. She shook her dark azure hair of dust and grime that had collected while she bided her time below, just waiting for them to leave. She would kill them one by one so that it was easier on her and take Fayt back under her control.

Albel glared at her, taking up his Katana, readying it, "This time you will die for you've done something that not even I would have wished upon my worst enemy."

A/N: What would you rather see? Albel vs Maria? Sophia vs Maria? or Albel+Sophia vs Maria? I won't continue to write the 17th part unless I get four suggetions, preferably something that doesn't come out with a tie.

Thanks for reading, please review.