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Its time to be nice after murdering a dozen thieves and kidnappers. So from Mars we head east to Herlie.
This woman lives in the west of the town square.
Her daughter is bedridden with a terminal case of TheAnime disease. Which was first discovered in Victorian England, its symptoms being a faint cough. At least her imagination is strong.
Rena leaves town and comes back to do some Private Actions (PAs). (Hitting the Square button before entering town.)
Going right back to the sick girl's house.
This text box claims it was Ashton saying it, but it was Rena. Star Ocean 2 is an early Playstation game, so instead of Woolsey we get Daravon doing the localization.
This PA requires you recruit Ashton if you're playing as Rena. Claude will need to wait to recruit Bowman to resolve it. But wrapping it up as a chivalrous dragon knight is nicer than as a pharmacist following the Hippocratic Oath.
Tactical Stealth Eavesdropping.
Oh, I though I'd lost my handkerchief.
One of the things about this game is the popups like this. Maybe endearing the first time or two, but on replays it overstays its welcome.
Uh... My name is Ashton. Now don't lose it again.
OK.
Bye now.
That's right.
Is traveling fun?
For those who've never seen Star Ocean 2 before, Ashton joins the party since Rena or Claude decide to ignore their quest to investigate the Philosopher Sorcery Globe and come back to the starting dungeon because some random NPC says there's a monster. Ashton is already fighting a two-headed dragon when they show up and distract him. The dragons possess him when his back is turned and demands they fix it. Claude/Rena agrees and you completely skip doing the quest because he's already joined and either way he comes to enjoy the dragon's company to help break the curse that in no way makes his life and combat abilities better.
Oh.
Eleanor sees through his shit. Girl would give her pigtails to get twin dragons.
Why do you ask that?
of my house. If I can't see things for myself, I want to at least hear about them.
Ashton is kind of an oblivious goon.
You regain control of Rena here, talking to Ashton continues the quest.
Oh, Rena. What good timing. I was just about to go looking for you, Rena.
Hey, Rena. Can you cure Eleanor's disease wit your powers? Having to stay in bed your whole life is so sad.
Again for those who haven't played, while magic is fairly common amongst the people on this world, Rena is the only one who knows curative magic.
You're right. I'll try it.
Yes, what is it?
It's OK. Don't worry...
Rena uses recover!
It's not very effective.
It's no good... I can't cure her with my powers.
That's too bad.
Sorry.
Don't worry about it, its not your fault.
Our?
But rather than that, I was really happy to be able to talk with you and your friends.
We're done here. Just pretend that Ashton actually tells Eleanor about some adventures while we leave town. Like about the succubus who tried to prevent us from getting a cup, or about that one really interesting barrel.
When leaving one of the party will usually try and convince you to continue on with plot.
Leaving town and doing another PA will proceed with Eleanor's story.
this doesn't look good.
Oh, Rena! Eleanor, Eleanor, she...
Calm down, Ashton! What about Eleanor?
Eleanor, she suddenly began moaning in pain...
I see. It may be useless, but I'll do what I can. Ashton, you get a doctor, quickly.
Rather than transcribe this one, I'm leaving this screenshot in to show how goofy the text box spacing is at times. This short sentence takes up 2 lines, 3 if you include it scrolling Ashton's name off the top.
! Why did such a thing happen to my child...
That's terrible! Is there nothing that can be done?
Unfortunately... there is almost no chance of the girl being saved.
Fortunately for Eleanor, million to one chances succeed nine times in ten.
Almost none?
That's right.
Ah... well, no. But that is 100% impossible...
Tell me! What cold be done to save the life of Eleanor?
Metox that is said to cure any malady. Perhaps if we had that herb...
Expel is the planet we're on right now, none of the people in this room know that there are other worlds so there's no need to specify whose legend this is. So just a goofy translation that could just be rephrased "There's the legendary herb called Metox."
I don't know. Unfortunately, the name Metox only appears in legend. It may not really exist...
Says the doctor looking right at someone whose been cursed with 2 dragons poking out of his shoulders.
As true today as it was when it was first said... just a few seconds ago. As much as I like this game, I can definitely understand why people don't when the localization is really bad.
Advance FORWARD!
Ahem, sorry.
Ohhh, ohh...
Are you awake?
Why is it so dark? Is it night already?
Huh!? Big brother, your voice is strange. You sound like you're crying.
Oh, it's nothing.
I'm sure since she's smart enough to realize she's fighting a losing battle with countless doctors, she's just saying this for Ashton's benefit.
I'm glad... I had a really scary nightmare. It was a dream where brig brother and Mommy and everyone went away. I was all alone...
Even if she is smart, she's still a kid.
It's all right. That won't happen. That'll never happen...
Sure. Sleep tight.
Good night, big brother... zZ
I don't know for certain... but... according to legend it grows only on the mountain peak touched by the breath of the phoenix.
The mountain peak touched by the breath of the phoenix?
Rena?
There's no use in our sitting around and worrying. It's a gamble, but let's go find that medicinal herb called Metox.
Yes... that's right. Come on! Let's go, Rena!
Since Rena is the player character she's taking the lead. Ashton is sort of a fatalist in the game. His luck is bad (not just story based, but his Luck stat is terrible) he makes the party go through the process of breaking his curse, and just generally lets things take their course. Rena has her share of being a passive damsel in distress, but she's quite motivated when she needs to be.
Eleanor's mom really likes hogging dialogue boxes that would be better served for bigger lines 
The doctor is inaccessible.
The mountain peak touched by the breath of the phoenix, I wonder where that might be?
If I actually did Ashton's quest, I'd have already been there.
We're on the east side of the Cross Continent. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized it was literally a cross. 
Anyway, we need to head for the east arm, towards that desert on the landmass.
These are the Lasguss mountains. The second to last step in Ashton's quest to (not) break the dragon's curse is to climb to the top and fight the Mountain King, a giant bird called Xine.
While the legends say the herb is on the peak (the left path), it's actually near the foot of the mountains, so we head right.
There's a little rustling sprout in that crevasse.
Come, Rena. Let's go back to Eleanor.
Yes.
Even if you skipped everything besides getting Ashton probably wouldn't be too hard, you'd probably end up fighting 3 or 4 fights of enemies a little tougher than the Silva drift you got Ashton from.
It doesn't happen often, but sometimes PAs take control immediately. Definitely appropriate when it's legitimately a matter of life and death.
Shock and disappointment, the Ashton Anchors story.
Did you get the Metox?
Yes, here it is.
Amazing! I never imagined that you would really get it.
Quickly, give it to Eleanor...
Yes, of course.
Good thing the doctor knows how to administer the medicine spoken of only in legend. Dosage? Applying it as a poultice or orally? The more the better and just snort it up her nose.
We cut to the first floor, where Ashton is pacing.
We did everything we could. We have to leave the rest up to the doctor.
The doctor walks down the steps. He's not doing any of the emotion bubbles so we have to wait to find how things turned out.
How is she?
Really?
I'll just go upstairs for a little.
I think I will stay with her for a little longer.
Whew. I'm so relieved.
Let's head up stairs to see how our hard worked paid off.
Rather than the Metox, it may have been her own strong desire to meet all of you again that saved her life.
Yeah, screw you too doc, didn't see you crossing the continent both ways, up hill, in the snow to save her.
No actual physical reward for this. Most PAs just effect relationship values that factor into who pairs with the main characters in the end. This one also gives Ashton an ending with his 'sister'.
We leave Herlie one more time, and either just swing by with the whole party or as another PA and we see Eleanor and her mom just being happy.
and 
all around, is Happy End. as long as you exclude the disc and a half of content that is almost completely sad