Chapter 13: Not Meant To Be Faize looked over across the lounge as Albel cursed again. Things were not going well. Even the simple task of picking up a cup was difficult for his beloved, and Albel was afraid to touch any of the three children, albeit two were still in the development canisters. They had managed to move the 'mirror', which was now in a contained box in the storage room of the Calnus 2. Currently, the ship was traveling to Roak, where they would let Crowe and Elena and their son, Daniel, off. Daniel was an amazing child. He was already four months old, and had the strength to crawl across the floor with amazing speed. For that matter, Arumat and Reimi's children were often right along with him, while Fyral would sit there and watch with a slightly disinterested look. The boy was more interested in his blocks and carved wooden animals than in the other children. Mericle sat on the couch, watching the children. She was actually doing fairly well, and into the third month of her pregnancy. It was showing, too, and Reimi and Elena had actually been very good about helping her if she had any questions. "Albel, love, are you alright?" Faize asked as he walked over. He saw the problem. Albel had broken another cup in an attempt to just get a drink. "I'm not alright." Albel snapped. "Sorry. It's just that this is more frustrating than training those maggots back in the Black Brigade." "Maggot." said Fyral. "He's so much like you." Faize said with a smile. "Need some help?" "I need a stronger glass." Albel replied. "What about the metal ones?" "The brown bitch said not to use them, since I've dented them all." "It's better than breaking the rest of them." Faize left for the kitchen, returning with one of the metal cups. "If Reimi bothers you about these, tell her I'll get new ones later." Albel nodded and sighed. He looked over at Fyral, who was playing with his chubby carved dragon. The boy did look a lot like him, and was a bit of a loner like he'd been, too. Still, there were small traits of Faize in the child. The boy had those pretty orchid eyes, and he had pointed ears like the Eldarian did. There was also the odd time that, totally unaware, the boy would use symbology, a trait Albel knew he didn't have. The question was how the two that remained in the development capsules would fair. Would they be like Fyral, or would they look different? Albel had been wondering for a while, now, so he stood, looking at the chair when he heard a screeching sound. Ok, it wasn't that bad, there was only a small hand print in the metal back plate, so he was getting better at this. "Faize?" "Hmm?" "When with the other two be ready?" he asked. "Soon." Faize replied. "I was actually on my way to see how they were doing. Want to come along?" Albel nodded and followed, noticing that Edge was in the item creation room as they passed through. There were a few others in there, and it was them that came when Faize suddenly cried out in misery. The Eldarian was leaning over one of the two containers that held the other children, and he was crying in frustration. It wouldn't open, and the light inside had gone dark. Those were bad signs already, but Faize couldn't get it to open any way he tried. "Move." said Albel. He took a deep breath and grabbed the top of the canister, pulling it clean off the rest of it so Faize could get at the child inside. That was when Faize screamed, pulling the little girl from the canister, and cried. Bitter, sad, and remorseful tears. "What's going on?" Edge asked, stepping in. "Faize?" "She's gone." Faize sobbed. "She's gone." He looked down at the lifeless body. "She never got a chance." Edge looked over at Myuria as the older woman walked over and tilted Faize's face up to look at her. "She did have a chance." Myuria said. "You gave her one when you tried to have her. It's just, she went on to wait for you, instead of the other way around." Faize turned to look at the last container, even as Myuria took the body and gently wrapped it in a sheet. He was almost afraid something was wrong with that one as well. Carefully, he touched the sensor pad, and the tube refused to light up. Before anyone could say anything, Albel gripped the canister, tearing it open as well. Faize again scoped the contents up, but this time, there was a small cry. "Faize?" Albel asked. "He's alive." Faize looked at him, tears in his eyes. "He's alive. Look." He carefully showed Albel the little child that was coughing in his arms. "Albel, he's alive." Albel nodded and carefully tried to put his arm around Faize. He noticed the wince of pain, however, and pulled back. "I'm sorry." Faize nodded. "What do we call him?" Albel looked at the child. Unlike Fyral, who looked a lot like Albel, this one looked more like Faize, with long green hair tipped gold at the ends. His face was pale, but when he blinked at them for the first time, those eyes were like blood-red rubies. The child's ears were pointed, though, just like Fyral's were. "You name him." he said. "Is something wrong, Albel?" Faize asked. "Everything." Albel replied. "It's been three months since leaving my home, and in that time I've broken seventy-three cups, twenty-two doors, seven chairs, and five limbs of various crew-members on this ship. There are several other things I've damaged, including the wall of our room. And I've noticed, even if the others don't, that the other children here don't belong." Crowe nodded. "You noticed, too, huh?" "What do you mean, Crowe?" Edge asked. "My son power crawls, and he breaks almost any toy he touches that isn't made of cloth. Reimi and Arumat's do the same." He sighed. "I told Elena, and she wants to talk to Nel Zelpher about it." "About what?" Reimi asked. "I noticed my kids weren't normal, but I thought at first that I'd passed on some sort of Muah abilities. I guess it wasn't that simple, huh?" She turned to look at Arumat. "We were going to ask that she and Fayt take Daniel." Crowe said, fiddling with his fingers. "Elena cried at first, but we can see no other way. He was born on Elcoor 2, in the year 772, and that's where he belongs." Reimi looked up at Arumat. "What do you want to do?" she asked. There was a crash from the lounge, and Arumat sighed. "We should probably make similar arrangements, Reimi." he said. He kissed her forehead. "We can always make more, love." Edge rolled his eyes. "Just keep it down this time when you do." he said. Faize looked at Albel. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "I'm going back." Albel said. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to control this, and before I tear this ship to shreds trying, I'm going to go back where I belong." "Then I'll go . . ." "No." said Albel. "You belong here, Faize." "But . . ." "I'm not making you stay because I want to." Albel said. "I'm making you stay because you need to." "But, Albel . . ." Tears began to fall. "Faize, if there was any other way, I'd stay, or take you, but I can't. The people of Elcoor fear and hate you, and I can't place that burden on you. Before we left, I received a message. It said to be rid of you, or they would kill you." Faize looked at Albel, then over at the mirror that was stored nearby. "Can it wait until we reach Roak?" he asked. Albel nodded. "Your captain said we'll be there tomorrow." Faize nodded. "It's all the time I need." he said. "Can you come with me for a moment?" Albel nodded and followed him to their room. "What is it, Faize?" "Take one." Faize said, tears in his eyes again. "What?" "Our children. Somehow, they can exist on either side without a problem. I'm asking you to take either Fyral or Seoul." (Pronounced Soul) Albel looked at the child that lay in Faize's arms still, then over at Fyral, who was sleeping on the bed. "Just one question. Why Seoul?" "It's an older Eldarian name, meaning 'together with love'. I thought it would suit." Albel looked again at the green-haired child. "Seoul." he said. "You keep Fyral." Faize nodded and put the child down in the bed next to Fyral. "Alright. I'll make sure a few things are packed for him before you leave." `~`~`~`~O_O~`~`~`~` Albel looked at the mirror, then down at the children around him. Through that mirror was his home, and the place these children had been born. He'd promised Crowe, Arumat, and Reimi that even if Fayt and Nel said no, he'd keep them together and safe. And that meant the Nox house was going to get very full. Looking at Faize, he nodded. Faize walked over and placed Seoul in Albel's arms. "Take care." he said, giving Albel a kiss. The Glyphian nodded and herded the children through, looking back one last time at his lover before he was gone. Faize dropped to his knees, grabbing Fyral to keep the child from following. "Stay here, Fyral." he said. "Daddy!" the boy cried. "Just stay." Fasize sobbed, holding the boy close. "I can't loose you, too." Fyral stopped his struggles and looked up at Faize. "Ok." he said softly, putting his little arms around his remaining parent. Edge and Arumat placed the mirror back in it's holding container, sealing it. Reimi whimpered, and Arumat went to hold her. Their own children were gone, and yet, they still had some hope. Reimi had discovered just that morning that she was pregnant again. Crowe and Elena had that same hope. Faize stood, taking Fyral with him. The last shred of his beloved Albel, and he was going to protect him as much as he could. "Faize?" Edge asked. "How far to Limerus?" Faize asked. "A weeks travel." Reimi replied. "Why?" "I don't belong in the world of technology anymore." Faize replied. "I'm taking Fyral and going to stay there." "Alright." Edge replied. "If that's what you want." A.N. - This is the last Author's Note regarding my game, and to be honest, I'm actually feeling good about playing it. While I'm still not that good at the combat, I'm actually doing better at leveling up than I thought I'd be. At this point, I'm at Level 35, and Reimi has the stone sickness. My goal before leaving Roak is to be Level 40 or higher, and I'll be putting brief updates on my actual author's page after this. Thank you to everyone who bothers to read these things at the end. As a character note, when I first heard Serah calling for help, I noticed something. She doesn't sound the least bit concerned that she's been captured. It's almost like this is a regular occurrence for her. And when Faize is talking about matter transference to the others, trying to explain it, and the girl says that she's never seen anyone so excited, he's blushing! You can actually see a bit of pink on his cheeks! It happens again when she gives him the cloak and tells him it's "not at all flattering". He blushes and laughs with her. You can see he's made some kind of connection with her. :)