"Spiraling Fates", a Star Ocean: The Second Story fanfic
by D. Mintaka Peal
Author's note: This fic was borne partly of my curiousness to explore what would happen if all the characters - all twelve - were together. Mainly it had been intended Opera and Ashton though I've switched viewpoints often and focuses. I'm also focusing a bit more on the Wise Men... err... a lot more that the game wanted to. But curiosities being what they are, expect the unexpected anyway. The purpose of this fic is to alter the whole of SO2 reality in the end, at least partly.
There already is quite a bit of deviation form the story of SO2, with all new situations, and more on MY take on the Wise Men. If something about the way I handle this bothers you, feel free not to read. Do not flame me for any couplings I may do. No yaoi (or yuri) will be in this fic. Some graphic battles may occur - such is its nature. Language (kinda, I'll *try* to keep it down and limited, but no promises) too. ^^ That should cover it. Oh, and...
Expect obvious spoilerage for SO2 - deviations or none! Expect diversions from fact (er, see above). And expect weird humor from time to time because that's all I have, er, and dry humor. And serious moments. Off into the star ocean we go! --------
Chapter 1: Oops, we Forgot About Ashton!
Linga was a quiet town, Ashton could tell that much was true. And quite un- barrel-y at that. So far in his meanderings he had only counted three, or had it been four? They had already gone to the linguist, Keith, and handed over the papers that apparently Celine, Rena, and Claude had found. They were taking a break before going back to Bowman's - partly because Rena had wanted to go shopping.
He paused to reflect on everything, and realized that they had passed Mars after the incident that had caused Gyoro and Urunrun to be attached to him. He frowned slightly, wondering how and why it had happened, but his musing was interrupted when Urunrun decided to squawk in his ear.
"Gah, what is it?" he asked, slightly irritated. He followed the dragon's gaze to see Claude walking over. 'Makes sense,' Ashton though, as Urunrun had a special fondness for Claude it seemed at times. "Oh, hey Claude, what's up?"
"Bored, partly," Claude said, putting his hands in his pockets. "Partly looking for everyone because Rena's almost done shopping."
"Ah," Ashton said, running a hand through his short brown hair. "That would make sense." He felt a bit uneasy about asking about going back to Mars before going back to Lacour to see the king. He really wanted to see if there was a way to exorcize the dragons, but he didn't want to hold everyone up. Sure, they had been the cause of his troubles, but this whole Sorcery Globe expedition was kind of important. "Ummm, Claude? Do you think we could go back to Mars and see if the elder has anything about exorcisms?" he blurted out.
Claude's blue eyes widened, caught off-guard by the swordsman's question. It dawned on him that they hadn't stopped there before heading to Lacour, and that his question wasn't unreasonable. "Geez, I'm sorry Ashton," Claude said apologetically, "we didn't stop there earlier, did we?"
"No, but it's ok if its unreasonable," Ashton said, feeling a bit embarrassed about asking like he had. He could feel the stares of Gyoro and Urunrun and shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. "I can always go alone..."
"No no," Claude said, his blonde hair swaying as he shook his head, "We got you into this mess, so we're going to help you. You are a friend, you know, and friends help each other." Before the conversation to go any further, Rena called out to the two, a bag in her arms with things poking out.
Claude started following after Rena, but Ashton held back a moment. 'Friends?' He hadn't really thought of that, despite them all having traveled together as much as they had. He'd never thought about it, nor had it crossed his mind. He was originally along to free himself of being possessed, but that ambush on the way to Mars and Herlie had thrown the group off enough that they had forgotten about Mars entirely. He quickly started walking to catch up before anyone noticed him lingering behind.
+~+
That night brought many strange dreams to Ashton, and more uncertainties than he cared to admit. Somehow he had been growing accustomed to Gyoro and Urunrun, but once the looks began anew, he felt overly conscious of the two and his thoughts would return to exorcising the demon dragons. If only people didn't seem to care about his differences so much...
Barrels of course, didn't care, and this comforted his mind enough for him to finally fall asleep, counting the round, useful wooden containers until he slumped back into dreamland, sleeping on his side since it was a bit uncomfortable to be on his back with two dragons.
Morning revealed the addition of Bowman Jean, the pharmacist who had helped them the day before. His style was martial arts, much like Rena's choice of combat (though she mainly stuck to her spells), but the addition of medicinal knowledge was an asset to the group. Though personally Ashton wanted to meet up with that girl they had seen the day before. She was nice, and seemed like the perfect person. The lady of his dreams. Of course, she was a bit young, but then, what was age but a measurement?
His thoughts were interrupted by a prodding of Gyoro's head into his ear, forcing his attention back to the fact everyone but Nineh - Bowman's wife - was gone! He flushed slightly in embarrassment and asked her, "Excuse me, where did everyone go?"
"They went to go take care of some things before leaving town. They'll meet at the gate." With that, Nineh went back into the store.
"Aaawrooo..."
"I know, I was thinking," he replied, reaching up to pat each dragon on the head to soothe them. It seemed a good enough way to keep them happy enough not to fight over his head like they did, but still. He felt someone staring again, and turned to look. That carrot-topped girl was standing there with that... thing.
"Umm... hi." She wasn't looking so much at him, but Gyoro and Urunrun. He, likewise, was looking more at the 'Bobot' than her. He still could not fathom how it worked, nor exactly what it was. Claude had mentioned radio- controlled something... but what was 'radio-controlled' and what did it mean?
"Hi," he said, finally looking up to meet her gaze. I really didn't catch you're name yesterday..." 'Geez, I must sound like a dork!'
"Oh, its Precis," she said, looking into his green eyes. Ashton was sure he would have passed out just then if it weren't for the sudden noise emitted from the thing in her arms. "Oh, Bobot, why must you act up now?" she said, setting the thing down. "I'm sorry for staring," she said, "its just..."
"The dragons," Ashton sighed, "I know. I was fighting them, and then I got distracted by the others and they possessed me somehow. We were going to go to Mars and find out how to separate us."
"Oh."
Ashton dug the pointed toe of one boot in the ground for a moment as silence fell. "What is that, anyway?" he asked suddenly, curiosity winning out with the urging of a need for conversation. He pointed at Bobot, bouncing around near by.
"That's Bobot. He's a thing I made. He's really useful, at least when he's not running off and making me look foolish." Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"I didn't think you looked foolish yesterday," he said, looking up at the sky. "If anyone looked foolish at anytime, it was me after I initially got possessed. And even now I do."
"No you don't," Precis said, standing up. Bobot bounced around her. "I don't think those dragons change anything about you really. You still look really capable, and you don't seem to be evil. I don't see why being possessed is such a big deal anyway. Or why making things like Bobot is a big deal..."
'We're a lot alike in ways - both judged for something about us,' he thought. "I don't think its a big deal - he's kind of like a useful tool, right? And tools had to be made by someone, right?"
Precis smiled and jumped in the air. "Awww, come on, we gotta go to my house now! You're the first person to say something like that! Its so nice to hear someone with a level head around this town." She grabbed his right arm suddenly and began leading him towards the southern half of Linga. On the way down he spotted Celine and also thought he saw Claude in the Skill guild, but he was trying to listen to Precis talk. Hopefully they would at least remember to wait for him...
Author's note: This fic was borne partly of my curiousness to explore what would happen if all the characters - all twelve - were together. Mainly it had been intended Opera and Ashton though I've switched viewpoints often and focuses. I'm also focusing a bit more on the Wise Men... err... a lot more that the game wanted to. But curiosities being what they are, expect the unexpected anyway. The purpose of this fic is to alter the whole of SO2 reality in the end, at least partly.
There already is quite a bit of deviation form the story of SO2, with all new situations, and more on MY take on the Wise Men. If something about the way I handle this bothers you, feel free not to read. Do not flame me for any couplings I may do. No yaoi (or yuri) will be in this fic. Some graphic battles may occur - such is its nature. Language (kinda, I'll *try* to keep it down and limited, but no promises) too. ^^ That should cover it. Oh, and...
Expect obvious spoilerage for SO2 - deviations or none! Expect diversions from fact (er, see above). And expect weird humor from time to time because that's all I have, er, and dry humor. And serious moments. Off into the star ocean we go! --------
Chapter 1: Oops, we Forgot About Ashton!
Linga was a quiet town, Ashton could tell that much was true. And quite un- barrel-y at that. So far in his meanderings he had only counted three, or had it been four? They had already gone to the linguist, Keith, and handed over the papers that apparently Celine, Rena, and Claude had found. They were taking a break before going back to Bowman's - partly because Rena had wanted to go shopping.
He paused to reflect on everything, and realized that they had passed Mars after the incident that had caused Gyoro and Urunrun to be attached to him. He frowned slightly, wondering how and why it had happened, but his musing was interrupted when Urunrun decided to squawk in his ear.
"Gah, what is it?" he asked, slightly irritated. He followed the dragon's gaze to see Claude walking over. 'Makes sense,' Ashton though, as Urunrun had a special fondness for Claude it seemed at times. "Oh, hey Claude, what's up?"
"Bored, partly," Claude said, putting his hands in his pockets. "Partly looking for everyone because Rena's almost done shopping."
"Ah," Ashton said, running a hand through his short brown hair. "That would make sense." He felt a bit uneasy about asking about going back to Mars before going back to Lacour to see the king. He really wanted to see if there was a way to exorcize the dragons, but he didn't want to hold everyone up. Sure, they had been the cause of his troubles, but this whole Sorcery Globe expedition was kind of important. "Ummm, Claude? Do you think we could go back to Mars and see if the elder has anything about exorcisms?" he blurted out.
Claude's blue eyes widened, caught off-guard by the swordsman's question. It dawned on him that they hadn't stopped there before heading to Lacour, and that his question wasn't unreasonable. "Geez, I'm sorry Ashton," Claude said apologetically, "we didn't stop there earlier, did we?"
"No, but it's ok if its unreasonable," Ashton said, feeling a bit embarrassed about asking like he had. He could feel the stares of Gyoro and Urunrun and shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. "I can always go alone..."
"No no," Claude said, his blonde hair swaying as he shook his head, "We got you into this mess, so we're going to help you. You are a friend, you know, and friends help each other." Before the conversation to go any further, Rena called out to the two, a bag in her arms with things poking out.
Claude started following after Rena, but Ashton held back a moment. 'Friends?' He hadn't really thought of that, despite them all having traveled together as much as they had. He'd never thought about it, nor had it crossed his mind. He was originally along to free himself of being possessed, but that ambush on the way to Mars and Herlie had thrown the group off enough that they had forgotten about Mars entirely. He quickly started walking to catch up before anyone noticed him lingering behind.
+~+
That night brought many strange dreams to Ashton, and more uncertainties than he cared to admit. Somehow he had been growing accustomed to Gyoro and Urunrun, but once the looks began anew, he felt overly conscious of the two and his thoughts would return to exorcising the demon dragons. If only people didn't seem to care about his differences so much...
Barrels of course, didn't care, and this comforted his mind enough for him to finally fall asleep, counting the round, useful wooden containers until he slumped back into dreamland, sleeping on his side since it was a bit uncomfortable to be on his back with two dragons.
Morning revealed the addition of Bowman Jean, the pharmacist who had helped them the day before. His style was martial arts, much like Rena's choice of combat (though she mainly stuck to her spells), but the addition of medicinal knowledge was an asset to the group. Though personally Ashton wanted to meet up with that girl they had seen the day before. She was nice, and seemed like the perfect person. The lady of his dreams. Of course, she was a bit young, but then, what was age but a measurement?
His thoughts were interrupted by a prodding of Gyoro's head into his ear, forcing his attention back to the fact everyone but Nineh - Bowman's wife - was gone! He flushed slightly in embarrassment and asked her, "Excuse me, where did everyone go?"
"They went to go take care of some things before leaving town. They'll meet at the gate." With that, Nineh went back into the store.
"Aaawrooo..."
"I know, I was thinking," he replied, reaching up to pat each dragon on the head to soothe them. It seemed a good enough way to keep them happy enough not to fight over his head like they did, but still. He felt someone staring again, and turned to look. That carrot-topped girl was standing there with that... thing.
"Umm... hi." She wasn't looking so much at him, but Gyoro and Urunrun. He, likewise, was looking more at the 'Bobot' than her. He still could not fathom how it worked, nor exactly what it was. Claude had mentioned radio- controlled something... but what was 'radio-controlled' and what did it mean?
"Hi," he said, finally looking up to meet her gaze. I really didn't catch you're name yesterday..." 'Geez, I must sound like a dork!'
"Oh, its Precis," she said, looking into his green eyes. Ashton was sure he would have passed out just then if it weren't for the sudden noise emitted from the thing in her arms. "Oh, Bobot, why must you act up now?" she said, setting the thing down. "I'm sorry for staring," she said, "its just..."
"The dragons," Ashton sighed, "I know. I was fighting them, and then I got distracted by the others and they possessed me somehow. We were going to go to Mars and find out how to separate us."
"Oh."
Ashton dug the pointed toe of one boot in the ground for a moment as silence fell. "What is that, anyway?" he asked suddenly, curiosity winning out with the urging of a need for conversation. He pointed at Bobot, bouncing around near by.
"That's Bobot. He's a thing I made. He's really useful, at least when he's not running off and making me look foolish." Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"I didn't think you looked foolish yesterday," he said, looking up at the sky. "If anyone looked foolish at anytime, it was me after I initially got possessed. And even now I do."
"No you don't," Precis said, standing up. Bobot bounced around her. "I don't think those dragons change anything about you really. You still look really capable, and you don't seem to be evil. I don't see why being possessed is such a big deal anyway. Or why making things like Bobot is a big deal..."
'We're a lot alike in ways - both judged for something about us,' he thought. "I don't think its a big deal - he's kind of like a useful tool, right? And tools had to be made by someone, right?"
Precis smiled and jumped in the air. "Awww, come on, we gotta go to my house now! You're the first person to say something like that! Its so nice to hear someone with a level head around this town." She grabbed his right arm suddenly and began leading him towards the southern half of Linga. On the way down he spotted Celine and also thought he saw Claude in the Skill guild, but he was trying to listen to Precis talk. Hopefully they would at least remember to wait for him...