Disclaimer: Star Ocean: Till the End of Time belongs to the wonderful people at Tri-Ace. I am making no money off of this story.

Warning: This fic is Rated R for a reason. Some scenes in this chapter are very bloody, particularly this first one. If this kind of thing offends you, then please read another story.

For those of you who still want to read the fic, but want to skip all the gore, just skip the paragraph in the beginning here that starts with "Albel's nose."

Another Warning: This fic will eventually be Fayt/Albel, but that won't come for a long time yet. If that kind of thing offends you, then please don't read this story.

Author's Notes: This story will be an Epic. It starts during the events on Hyda IV and will likely go on well past the end of the game. For the first few chapters, it may seem like a novelization of the game, but it is NOT.

I had better go before this AN gets longer than the actual story!

Catch Me When I Fall From Grace Ch. 1 - Cutting Edge of Notion

part1

Falling Angels

'Albel...Albel sweetie...Where are you?' He reached blindly through the swirling mist toward the woman's voice. Jagged trees waved twisted branches outward to him. 'Child, where are you? Mommy's looking for you, love. Come find me. . . I love you.' Albel began running through the white fog. His arms and his clothing were being shredded by the thorns and branches of the strange plants. He had to find her! The woman's voice continued on, searching. 'You were always such a nice boy, weren't you. Never getting in trouble or going out to play and getting lost in the hills. Any mother would be lucky to have such a good little freak.

"Mommy!" he called out to her. In his panic he tripped.

'Mommy was ever so surprised when Sir Woltar brought you home. Then he told me that Father was dead...And then he showed me your arm...And your heathen claw...True followers of Apris don't have CLAWS...Claws are for monsters, child, demons... You're a demon, aren't you child?

The woman's voice became a shriek. Demons aren't welcome in my home...Evil children must be punished...He covered his ears against the onslaught, but more voices joined in.

Fallingdownmymonstermypuppetburnthieffleshfallingoffbonefallingoffthesoulandfeatherl esswingsspreadfreakfallingintodarknessyouaredeathfindyourangelfallingblooddrippingo ffpristinewingsburnedfleshrippingoffyourarmdiefiendblackdragonfailure

Albel's nose began to bleed. Soon blood was rising in his throat, choking him. His eyes were unfocused and he squinted at his hands. They looked black. When Albel tried to push himself off of the ground, the burned flesh of has hands slid off, like the skin of an orange. He stared blankly at the muscle and bone that was revealed where the charred husk of his skin had been. It was just like when Father had died.

Burnunworthythingnolovenoaffectiononlypaingiveonlyhatereceiveloathingfearyourangel willcomemonsterangelwillcomewatchwaitlistenhearfeathersfallingoffbroken wingsdestructiondon'tdestroykillmaimhurtbreakdestructionhewillcomegivelovebringhap pinessdon'tkillmonster

Then his mother whispered his sentence. 'Die.'

Albel Nox screamed

and woke up. "Damn," he swore softly under his breathe. He knew he wouldn't fall back asleep for at least several more hours after that dream, and he really needed the rest. He had been training the newest batch of soldiers even harder than usual, and it was catching up to him.

'Must be getting old,' he thought to himself. Then the image of Woltar in his clothing crossed his mind and he scowled in disgust. 'Only a few hours before dawn. I should go and get some breakfast before all the flies wake up and gorge themselves on the food.'

He stood up groggily and took his clothes out of the chest at the foot of the bed. As the cold air hit his skin he wearily considered crawling back into the bed and staying there until the maids came around to light the fire, then decided that it was a weak thing to do. He winced when his toes hit the cold stone floor. 'I wish I could have stayed in Kirlsa.' One handed, he pulled on his skirt and tossed his shirt on to the bed. He sat down in the carved wooden chair in front of his desk and started pulling on his stockings. Then, still shirtless, he quickly combed his hair.

While he was slipping his shirt on, the fabric rubbed on the tender flesh of his arm. He hissed. It was impossible to put his shirt on with his claw covering his arm, but without the metal contraption the tender scarring was vulnerable. And wrapping his arm in bandages every morning just so he could get dressed easily was out of the question.

Albel put on his boots and his armor, then a warm cloak to fend off the chill, and slipped off into the cold stone hallways of Airyglyph castle.

"Albel, you're finally here. Good." It was never a good sign when Arzei was waiting for him in a deserted hallway. "I see you woke up early. Plagued by nightmares again?" Albel wondered briefly why the King couldn't have waited for him somewhere else, like in a room. Albel wisely avoided the comment about nightmares. Honestly, couldn't the mind his own business. 'Always egging me on, never giving me a moments rest…' Albel thought darkly.

"I see you're up just as early as I am." he sniped, to which the King responded, "Ah, I have yet to go to sleep." Albel frowned.

"So you've been up since sunrise yesterday? Don't be a fool Airyglyph, if you don't rest you might overlook something worth investigating. An Aquarian plot." Albel growled a bit, twitched his claw, and generally tried to look threatening. 'The blasted fool.'

"So you haven't heard the rumors." The King looked grave. "Well, I suppose that's all right. We'll be discussing it in the conference this afternoon."

"Rumors?" The King was apparently keeping something from him.

"Nothing really big. I'm not surprised you haven't heard, you don't talk to anybody, anyway. Not the gossiping type I suppose. But really, Albel, if you found yourself someone nice to settle down with, I realize you're a military commander and don't have time for relationships, but even just a friend…" By this time Albel had started to continue down the hallway again. "Wait, come back here."

Albel wandered back and let the King prattle on about his love life. The man had been obsessed with his short list of acquaintances since he moved into the castle. Always "find yourself a girl" this, and "be more approachable" that. He was leading a war! He couldn't afford such distractions!

"Albel, listening to people when they're talking to you is not only something you should do for friends, it also can reveal information about possible threats and such. If you were to pay attention for once, you would have realized that I just revealed the subject of the conference later accidentally, but because you weren't, you'll have to wait.

Albel frantically sifted through the bits of dialogue in his head searching for whatever it was that the King had just said. He sighed when he realized that he had no idea what it was.

"See, you should be more aware of your surroundings." The King sounded smug, as if he had just won an important battle against Albel the Wicked. "As I was saying, you should go get some breakfast before the rest of the castle gets up, avoid the rush."

"That was the plan before you interrupted me," Albel snarled at the King, who smiled pleasantly at the swordsman. "If you are quite finished." Albel turned his back on the King and swept off down the hallway toward the kitchens.

Arzei stood in the cold stone hall and chuckled. "Keep your eyes open, Dark Prince." He smiled and went to his chambers.

Albel opened the door of the musty kitchen. Smells of roasting sausage and bread immediately assaulted his senses. He looked around warily, some of these maids liked to push themselves on him whenever the opportunity arose. Thankfully he spotted an older woman with steel grey hair in a harsh bun, and a clean apron. 'Finally, one who won't try to slip love potion into my cider.'

He decided that tact might be the best way to go in this situation. He didn't want this competent cook getting offended and leaving the castle. He walked towards the counter where she was working. "Excuse me." The woman looked up from her chopping and turned around to face him.

"And what will you be having this morning, Sir?" she asked curtly. Before he could respond he was cut off.

"Oh, Sir Albel! What will you be having on this fine morning?" A young girl in a pink skirt with a tattered green scarf bounced up to him. Albel realized she must have been hiding behind some barrels or something. "Would you like soup, flat cakes, bacon, bread, cheese…" the girl began listing off items of food as she skipped around the kitchen. Albel groaned when he realized that the girl was thrusting her breasts out, and wiggling her hips as she walked. 'Probably trying to look attractive, as if I would ever take any interest in that fool.' He leaned casually against the door frame. Then the girl's elbow hit a cooking pot.

"Eeack! Oh no!" Albel watched as the girl spilled the boiling water on her foot. "Owwww! Ow-ow-ow!" She shrilled in pain dramatically. "Oh, won't somebody help?" she hopped around a bit for emphasis. " Oh, Sir, could you possibly walk me to the healer? I fear I've burnt my foot rather badly." she simpered.

The older women, fed up with her antics, dropped the knife she was using and swooped down on the girl and grabbed her by her arm. "Silly girl," she scolded her, and pushed the girl past him and out into the hallway. With the girl far away from the Captain, the older cook turned to him. "If you would excuse me for just one minute, m'Lord. Discipline is indispensable when dealing with these children. I will only be a short while." And without so much as a "by your leave" she swept into the hallway to face the vapid girl.

Albel stood inside the kitchen and listened with delight to the old woman's lecturing.

"What in the name of Odd-Eye are you thinking! His Lordship does not need a literal explanation of every food in this castle! Not only have you wasted his valuable time, you've made a fool of yourself in the process." Albel smirked. "What would Miss Leara think? You are supposed to be graceful, composed not a bumbling harlot!"

The girl whimpered a bit, but the older woman continued on. "Shamelessly throwing yourself at him! And what is he supposed to think of such behavior! Leave now, and I want three scrolls on this by lunch time!" The young girl scuttled off down the hall and the woman stepped back into the room.

"I am sorry for her abominable behavior, Lord. Hot cakes, isn't it?" Albel didn't ask how she knew what he normally ate. He just nodded his head, and she whirled off to the griddle.

part2

Catch a Snowflake

Albel wrapped the thin red cloak tighter around himself and looked down at the city stretching out below him. It was tempting to just let his feet slide off of the thin ledge of rock, and fall down past sharp spires into the icy moat water. Instead he stepped back and on to the more solid stones of the tower.

"Its freezing," he said aloud, even though he was alone. The cold mountain air of Airyglyph seeped into every crevice, and poured in through every open window. It was the type of cold that clawed its way in through your skin and made you bones ache.

Albel always felt so much older in this city.

He caught a drifting snow-flake in his mouth. It was an almost automatic reaction, left over from his childhood in Kirlsa. Snow was rare in the northern town, and children would spend hours outside in the freezing weather, just to run around in the few flakes that fell. Sometimes the snow would even last until late the next morning, but it was always gone by noon.

Airyglyph was also much more humid than Kirlsa. In Kirlsa it could read 102' on the thermometer that he had bought from the craftsman's guild, but still be bearable. In Airyglyph a day over 75' would be torture.

The low humidity also made the air so much cleaner, at least in Albel's eyes. It had bight to it. The breeze either cooled you, or froze you. Here, the air was muggy, and the wind wasn't refreshing.

"It's just to cold to be outside," he muttered.

Albel, lost in his thoughts, stood out on the tower for half an hour more, until the conference was about to begin. Then he walked down the crumbling staircase and shook the snow out of his hair and off of his cloak.

part3

A Meeting

"Woltar, have your men found any more of the Aquarian spies?" the King turned to the old man.

"No, m'Lord. We've searched the castle and the outlying barracks, but there has been no evidence of the remaining three."

"Good, keep at it. If they're hiding, we need to find them. It could be crucial to the future of Airyglyph." The King fell silent, and then murmured, "why would a peaceful nation like Aquaria send assassins?"

"They're trying to catch us off guard m'Lord. They know you won't sit idle like the previous kings while your people starve. It's a preemptive strike, so to speak." Vox took a swig from his carved goblet then continued. "If we strike now, we could defeat them. Even with our shortage of supplies, our soldiers are strong. They understand the risks. Aquaria's army, on the other hand, is weak. They've grown soft in their lush green fieldsthey're like cattle."

"Even so, I would like to speak with their queen before we do anything rash. It could simply be an upstart magistrate, or Sanmite. They certainly don't like us, and if Consul Marbidrean wanted our land, what better way to get it. Send in assassins that look like they're Aquarian, or hire freelance Aquarian assassins. Then when our Kingdoms go to war, side against us and take the spoils."

"A good theory, but what could we do if that were the case?" Woltar leaned forward and put his hand on one of the many maps. "If we ignored this in fear that it was a Sanmite plot, Aquaria could win the upper hand and attack during the winter." Woltar crinkled the map he was leaning on. He straightened the parchment before continuing. "What would we do then?"

"Woltar's right, for once," Vox began. "If we let this go, it could spell disaster to the Kingdom of Airyglyph. If we tried"

Albel cut him off, "Somehow, Arzei, I doubt that's the case. Sanmite's previous Consul was a Glyph hater, but Marbidrean has been unusually timid toward us."

The King nodded, "Marbidrean is afraid of our dragons." Albel snorted at the thought of a military leader being afraid of a common species of animal. The King continued, "He wouldn't attack us."

"Then why did you suggest it?" Vox interjected.

"I was merely demonstrating that there might be more to this than we think. Rushing in head first is the surest way to get a concussion." Arzei lifted his goblet and took a sip. "In any case, we should give this some thought tonight and meet again tomorrow. We have other matters to discuss."

This wasn't the answer the others were looking for. Vox stood up and slammed his goblet down on the table. He began shouting. "Arzei, don't you dare change the subject on us! This was an Aquarian plot! We should retaliate now, before they realize their subjects were captured!" Albel broke in.

"A swift retaliation would be best. Smash the insects before they multiply."

Woltar winced at the shouting. "M'Lord, tomorrow may be a bit late. Perhaps we could meet again later tonight?" His question was drowned out by Vox's shouting.

"If we don't strike now, you could be killed! What are you thinking? Are you insane?"

"Vox, sit down," the King calmly commanded. Albel was staring rather intently at him, and Arzei fidgeted a bit at the strength of his gaze. Vox continued ranting.

"I will NOT sit down! Arzei, if you don't do something about this NOW, then, so help me, I'll kill you!" The room fell silent. Then the King spoke.

"Vox, if you don't sit down now and calm yourself I shall have you removed from this room and tried for treason." The King smiled grimly as Vox sat down. No one wanted to be locked up for treason. The torture was enough to make even the most stalwart man pale in fear. "As I said, we have other things to discuss."

Vox rigidly righted his now empty goblet. Arzei caught movement from the corner of his eye. He turned and watched with some amusement as Albel removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. Ever protective, Albel. Not that he would ever admit it.

"Woltar, how are the winter rationings going?"

"Very well, m'Lord. Kirlsa has a slight surplus, which will be shipped to Airyglyph tomorrow. It should arrive within the month. Darcheim is sending it's extra food to Mendelv. They have had an especially bad farming year, and even with the surplus on its way, I doubt the town will make it through the winter."

"Good, but I fear it won't be enough…With such political intrigues, the people will start to fret."

"Then we keep it a secret." Woltar looked pointedly at Vox. "They'll be oblivious if we keep a low profile." Vox snarled at the thinly veiled insult.

"Still, I worry. The rumors and gossip have already begun, and with the Church of Apris in turmoil, people will grow suspicious. It won't be long before they connect two and two together and realize that Apris is falling apart from the inside." The King of Airyglyph looked down at his cup for a minute. The council was silent.

"People know that there are skeletons in everyone's pantry, things that they want to keep hidden. It's the same with any institution. Apris is split in two, and it is likely that some dirty secrets will be revealed. Still, we mustn't judge. Yes, Woltar?" The King allowed Woltar to speak.

"Sir, if I may? The Kingdom of Aquaria has long been at peace with Airyglyph. Even with this latest attack, might it not be possible to obtain food from them? The Aquarians are nothing if not just, and their religion decrees that they help the needy." Woltar paused for effect. "They would not let our citizens starve."

"The old fool has a point," Albel spoke. "The followers of that false god are very charitable. We could easily manipulate themuse them to our advantage."

"Now you're thinking." The King smiled deviously. And the scheming began.

"Albel, would you stay behind, please." Albel paused at the door. Other than Vox's outburst, the meeting had been very uneventful. He had no wish to prolong it. "I wish to speak with you, alone," the King shot a pointed look at Woltar, who was gathering up the scattered maps of the region.

"Good day, m'Lord," Woltar scurried out the door.

"Have a seat, Albel." The King gestured to the seat to his right, a place normally reserved for the highest ranking officer, Vox. Albel took a step toward the King, and then hesitated. It would be against protocol to sit there, yet he doubted Arzei would care either way. Still, there was always the chance that this was a test.

Arzei might be kind, but he was an intelligent man and capable ruler. If Albel sat in that chair, Arzei might see it as a sign that Albel was unhappy with his rank. Or it might be seen as disobedience toward the royal line. Of course, it could always be seen as a show of trust, and wasn't the offer just that? A show of trust?

After some consideration Albel walked over to the King and sat down. "Good," the King smiled. Albel suddenly felt very unsettled. What was so good about it? He had merely sat down. 'Damn that cunning bastard,' was the thought that whispered through his mind.

"I suppose you're wondering what I wanted to talk to you about. Well, it's the same thing I'm always pestering you about." Albel started to push himself out of the chair. "Don't leave yet, this is an important topic. And anyways, you haven't been dismissed yet." Albel sat back down and settled for glaring at the King. Arzei didn't pay him any mind.

"Albel, you're a military captain, you're twenty-four, and you're attractive. People throw themselves at your feet. There are probably hundreds of girls in Airyglyph who would settle down with you no matter how horribly you treated them. Why won't you just pick one and…produce an heir…?" Arzei trailed off at the dark look Albel was sending his way.

"Produce an heir? And contaminate this desolate rock with more of the rabble? Don't be a fool. We don't need heirs, we need food."

"I know that, but a little compassion might be nice sometimes." The King leaned forward.

"Why is it you've never been with a girl? Are you afraid?" Albel shifted uncomfortably. The King, sensing he was on the right track, continued. "You don't even like girls, do you? It would certainly explain a lot."

"Don't be" Arzei cut off the protest.

"Albel, I don't care. In fact, I would prefer that you look at women as the enemy. We are fighting against Aquaria, after all. It is a country run by women."

"Fighting against them? I thought we were 'considering' fighting against them."

"Don't play that game with me, Albel. You know as well as I that an assassination attempt was made, and we have to retaliate! And quite changing the subject!" Albel decided not to point out the fact that it was Arzei who had changed the subject to begin with.

"Fine."

"Good. Back to the original subject. Was I right? Do you really…go for the other side?" Arzei leaned forward with interest, as if he would somehow not hear the answer in the deathly quiet room.

"Yes," was the whispered response. Albel seemed to diminish with this pronouncement. Arzei suddenly felt very guilty about prying. It was clearly a subject that Albel wasn't comfortable with.

"Really," the King said softly. He hadn't expected Albel to actually answer the question, much less so passively. "I thought so. If it makes you feel any better…me, too." At Albel's questioning, still timid look, he clarified, "I mean I go the other way, too."

"I…see," was the incredulous response. The King, sensing the awkward mood, swiftly changed the subject.

"Will you be staying in Airyglyph this winter?"

"It is unlikely. I am training an army in Kirlsa, and the frigid winters of this city don't suit my lifestyle." Albel spoke rather tersely, and Arzei suspected that it was out of annoyance for the quick change in subject.

"As cold as it is here, it is beautiful. I've been hoping you might eventually be persuaded to stay with us for a little…umm…visit." The King grew hopeful. " Would you perhaps come down for a while? We have plenty of spare rooms in the castle, and we always have space ready for Captains such as yourself."

"I think not."

"I see. Well, do write us this year."

"You know I won't. You know…" Albel lifted his claw vaguely.

Yes, King Arzei did know. He knew how self-conscious Albel was about his claw, how he could no longer write. He also knew that there was an arm beneath the cool metal; a scarred and burned arm, but an arm. Everywhere Albel went, the rumors flew. Albel had been training since he was two years old. Albel had decapitated his mother when he was a boy. Albel the Wicked had never spoken to anybodyhe was mute.

Arzei knew all of the rumors, but he also knew the facts. Albel was left-handed, but his left arm had been badly burnt by a magical fire. Magical wounds rarely healed without the aid of runology, and the runologists had all fled Airyglyph long ago. The claw was a shield. It protected the swordsman from further injury.

"All right." The King broke the awkward silence that had fallen. "Well, I suppose tomorrow is our last meeting before both you and Woltar leave for Kirlsa. Perhaps I'll see you off."

"That is not necessary."

"But it is polite. And it is customary among friends." Arzei was relieved when Albel did not say anything about the 'friends' comment. "You may go. I shall see you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sire." With those departing words and a slight bow, Albel stood up and headed for the door.

End part one

Yeah, I rewrote it. It needed it. The Chapters have been renamed, too. This one is 'Cutting Edge of Notion,' which is the battle theme of SO3. Ch. 2 is 'Collapse of Frailty, which I thought fit well 'cause Fayt sticks up for himself rather than just smiling and nodding at Sophia. Ch. 3 (Albel again) will probably be 'The Divine Spirit of Language,' and Ch.4 (which is planned to be Arzei) will most likely be 'Chrysanthemum in Winter.'

I can't wait!