Note: I do not own Star Ocean: Till The End of Time.

Rating: R- sexuality, violence, and language

Parring: Albel/Nel centered relationship.

Basher: None; though Maria may seem bitchy at times in my opinion.

Two years had passed since the incident involving the creator trying to destroy the sphere world. The heroes now live a peaceful lives; Fayt returning to Earth along with Sophia. Maria giving up being captain of Quark to live a more simple life. Mirage and Cliff had even found themselves quitting Quark. Albel remains serving the King of Airyglyph as

Nel remains serving the Queen of Aquios.

Chapter 1:Unfavorable Partnership

The scene comes in with Nel Zelpher entering the hearing room. She noticed two Airyglph knights stood to the left side. Her emerald eyes glancing at the two as she walked towards the foot of the steps. Kneeling down on one knee before the Queen of Aquios bowing her head slightly she looked up. She noticed her majesty seemed rather hesitate to speak and Nel just simply spoke in a proper matter "Yes your majesty?"

"Lady Nel, the King of Airyglph has asked for our kingdoms help. He requesteda runologistfromAquios."

Nel paused, she figured where this was going. She just simply shook her head.

"I see, your majesty. But what for, may I ask?"

"He needs the help of the runologist. A strange disturbing threat was written in a letter sent to him two weeks ago. It threatened the kingdom of Airyglphs destruction if they did not retrieve a certain item"

"A item?"

"Yes, it is called the dagger of the moon. Hidden in the ancient temples located in the Sea to the west."

Nel got up from kneeling and her right hand rested on her waist. She simply glanced back at the two Airyglph knights. They seemed to have a look of determination over their faces as she looked back towards her queen She had another question to ask; she wanted to know exactly who she was planning to send to Airyglph. As if before Nel could speak once again her question was to be answered without even stating it.

"I would like to send you."

Nel figured much; she just gave a light nod. She could not back out of the mission and found it that she could only be do good for this task. The red head Aquairan once again bowed her head to her majesty and looked up. But for the matter is Nel still disliked Airyglph not because of past events of the war but also personal feelings. Standing straight and putting her right hand on her waist she was to answer the Queen.

"I accept."

"I am glad, please the Airyglph knights will escort you back to Airyglph. Once there you'll learn more about this mission from the King." the Queen said while she got up from sitting. She walked down the steps and stood before Nel. Reaching for the young red head's hand she slipped a small piece of paper. Nel looked down at her hand with the a small piece of paper in it she looked at the Queen questionably.

"Please, give that to the king of Airyglph" the Queen said.

"Yes your majesty" with that Nel put the piece of paper in her pocket. She walked over towards the two Airyglph knights that now stood at the entrance. The one gave her a slight nod as they left the hearing room. As they made it outside of Aquios two sky dragons hovered about over the ground; Nel panicked. Did she have to ride a sky dragon as well as she watched as the knights climbed upon their sky dragons.

"Please Lady Nel, climb on." the one Airyglph knight said indicating behind him.

Nel paused but just let out a small sigh, she walked cautiously over towards the dragon. The knight pulled her up to sit behind him. With that the sky dragons took to the air; Nel grabbed reluctantly tight to the knight. She did not like flying on dragons it was not height she feared but how she flew on dragon that could easily drop her. Her emerald eyes closing as they sped up a bit and she bit her lip wishing that Apris gave her a safe ride.

"Erm, Lady Nel. We arrived in Airyglph." the voice stirred through her mind. Her one eye opened and soon did the other. She laughed nervously while hoping off the dragon and her hands dusted the back of her dress. She looked up at the gates that lead towards the castle of Airygph. The two knights walked over towards the gates and went inside once the two guards moved aside.

Nel walked behind them as they made their way up the steps that lead towards the room where the King sat. She saw him; he looked the same as ever and beside him was his newly queen. She smiled there was one person she was happy to see. The Queen was once the head of the ruinologist engineering back in Aquios.Elena noticed Nel and a smile appeared across her lips as she saw Nel approach the two.

"Ah, Miss Zelpher. I am quite satisfied you were chosen" said King of Airyglph. He looked towards the two knights that brought her here. He gave them a waving gesture to leave but before they could exit the king requested of something for them to do. The knights paused and turned back looking at there king. Arzie smiled warmly while looking at them he paused for a second and spoke "Please find Albel, I am in need of his presence."

Nel just shook her head and blinked her emerald eyes. Did the king had just say Albel this caused her to give off a small sigh. The ex-captain of the Black Brigade was for this mission as well and this she rather disliked. She watched as the two knights walked out and she looked towards the king. She decided to ask him a question on the mission while they waited for Albel to arrive.

"What am I to do for this mission?"

"Ah, I will give a brief detail once Albel arrives."

Nel's head held low to that answer she just glared at the ground. Footsteps could be herd from behind her. A sudden stop was several feet behind her and reluctantly she turned around to see Albel the Wicked. The man looked the same and his usual skinny pale self; his face looked as if he was annoyed. She figured it was probably because she was here in his presence.

"Yes, your majesty?" he said through gritted teeth. His scarlet eyes narrowed towards the Aquarian his clawed hand laid on top of his sheathed crimson scourge. His foot tapped against the ground as if he was not patient for the answer. "Well?" he asked looking towards the king as he gently trusted his hand against his crimson scourge. The King simply cleared his throat for he knew this would be a rough time explaining to Albel that he had to work along with a Aquarian.

"Well Albel; I want you to go with Ms. Zelpher to a under sea cavern temple. Remember that threat I received a week ago. It requested a item called the dagger of the moon; doing much research it was found in the cavern temple under the sea." the king said.

"Ah. But why need this Aquarian scum?"

"Figure much that you would say that; we are in need of her runology methods."

"Bah. Why this maggot though?"added harshly.

"Listen Nox, I was chosen by the Queen. Don't like it well that is fine by me. We both know are feelings about one another. A mission is a mission and we'll just have to grint are teeth to deal with it." Nel said as she whipped around glaring at him.

The King sighed as he just shook his head; he knew the two were probably incapable of working together without bickering on this mission. He cleared his throat to get the two to turn their attention to him once again. Once they faced him he had to tell the rest of what they had to do in order to get to the cavern temple. But his lips went in a frown when he notice Nel yanked on Albel's right pigtail because he insulted her about her father.

"Oi, please can you both settle this for later."

They both stop and looked towards the king once again.

"Thank you. Tomorrow, you both will go to Kirlsa and go to a dock. There a boat will be waiting with a captain named Ferioth. He will help you get to your destination; for what he claims he has been there."

"Been there? Bah. Probably lying just to get paid" Albel said in his a nasty comment.

"Yes well; I did agree to pay him. But he won't get paid until the dagger is retrieved and back here by two weeks" the King added which only caused Albel to growl.

"Two weeks!? How the hell do you expect us to find a damn dagger in some ancient temple by then?" he snapped.

"I trust you both will find it. Sides we got Greeton members helping you. Captain Ferioth is a Greeton and his crew members will help you." added the king.

"Greeton..." Nel said and looked towards the king. She wondered why would Greeton get involve with Airyglph. Greeton barely even got involved with any other parts unless it was trading needs for marketing. This was indeed turning out odd; she never even crossed a sea yet alone rode a boat before. Albel seemed rather confused himself for he didn't even know about this little agreement between the kingdoms.

"Yes. Greeton has lend are help. They seem to be having trouble in their area and wish of something of ours. But that won't settle until the dagger of the moon is found. So please tonight you rest here in the castle. Tomorrow is a long day; so you both are dismissed." the King said with a wave of his hand to indicate their able to dismiss from where they were.

"Bah.." was Albel had to say as he made his way out of the room. Nel let out a sigh as she started to follow close behind him. She didn't even know where she was suppose to sleep but she figured she'd just go sleep at the Inn. Albel paused and turned around to face the Aquarian giving off a small growl. "The quest rooms are that way; stop following me maggot!" he said coldly while turning away he continued on.

Nel narrowed her eyes "Sorry; I was going to the Inn. I rather be somewhere else then sleeping under the same roof as you" she shot back at him. He just simply gave off his usual word "Bah" he didn't bother to continue. He could careless if the woman slept outside of the castle and froze to death. His metal claw hand took hold of his crimson scourge as he kept on walking back towards his own chamber to get some sleep. Nel sighed as she made her way for the front doors but a voice called from behind her.

Elena stood there "Nel, I have a chamber waiting for you." she said with a soft smile. She lead the young red head towards a room. Nel looked in and smiled it had a bed big enough for two; she notice a lot of blankets. Being how cold it was in Airyglph she was thankful there was a lot of blankets. "I made sure the maid put a lot of blankets. I am sure your more use to Aquios weather"Elena said.

"Thank You" Nel said toElena and watched as Clara left. She entered the room and sat on the bed. While pulling off her boots she got under the covers and laid back on her pillow. She sighed looking towards her frost colored window "Nox..once again were partners.." she simply said quietly to herself. Her emerald eyes closed trying to fall asleep and dismiss all these new information and feelings of the mission.

Albel was as well laying on his bed and looking up at his ceiling. He had to once again work with that Aquarian scum. She annoyed him so even when they worked together back when Fayt was here in Elicoor II. Her appearance was much the same only her ruby colored hair gotten longer he smirked thinking for a bit "Looks more like a girl then a tomboy now..." he chuckled darkly to himself. Albel then gave off a small yawn and closed his eyes "Well Aquarian scum..partners again"he said before he fell asleep.

:Sneak Peak

Chapter 2: Abduction

Albel and Nel have met with the captain. Without their knowing Ferioth is actually a pirate and a well known one in Greeton. So what are they being abducted or what? Can Albel and Nel even work together? You just got to stay tuned for the next chapter 3

Author:

Kitsune-Li: Well that is it for chapter 1. Hopefully I'll get reviews and enough courage to continue this fic. Sorry if anyone seems a little OOC and don't worry! Fayt and Co. will be in the later chapters!! So hope to see some reviews and to see you next time 3