Yep, I got another chapter up. Now please drop all weapons to the floor and proceed ahead without causing any damage to authoress. (Ghost attempts to smack Reyavie's head. Rea smirks while Bellona stops chewing on something for a moment) She got care of a strange looking object that came by two days ago (Rea shrugs). It seemed cylindrical or something weird like that and did lots of bips. Weird. Anyways I DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY! Yes, the blasted disclaimer again. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. Annoying thing. So let just get this started.

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Announcements:

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1. This time it is a real one. Please I request of all my current readers to have some patience with my updating as I'm not with the greatest amount of time either to write long things or too just plain write really. School can be a pain. No, correction. School is a pain. (Ghost begins cheering as he does not have to face nightmare. Reyavie shows allowance. Movement stops).

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To my reviewers:

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Hibeki – You review again even though I was evil and forgot to do so to yours. I'm really sorry for that. Glad to know you liked last chapter but I didn't want you to hurt Nina but her sister, Anna (a.k.a major-b&$#) character which I hate 'cause she annoys the hell out of me. And I have updated see? So read on ;)

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Daine – Hey there! Welcome to this reviews' answering corner now nicknamed RAC 'cause I'm lazy. It's great to know that you liked it and I really hope I'm not sent in there. Even with all the great things I would probably get killed five minutes after. I have a healthy appreciation for my health. So I'll just stay in my somewhat delusional world. Thanks for the compliment though.

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SLy – Heya sly! Yep, that was indeed a BIG mistake which I will correct as soon as I can. Thank you so very much for finding that BIG mistake and congrats for discovery. Oh my God…you had to store something in your brain? That's unforgivable. I'm so sorry my dear reader. I will try to keep that from happening (Reyavie nods seriously). And sorry but Ghost died many years ago so you can't take him to court or destroy my computer screen (Ghost smirks) but do not worry 'cause he will be punished (Rea turns and grins evilly)

You're babysitting Eris (Ghost turns even more pale and runs/floats away). Imagine all you want but there's no way I will put flower fields and pink bunnies. Scary things. Should I pity your sister then? (Rea raises eyebrow). Anyways Ariadne is stubborn and she'll do what she wants. You'll have to read to know more. So hope you like this chapter.

P.S – That was a joke? It sounds like the elephant jokes (How do you know there was an elephant in a fridge? By the footsteps on the butter). There's no real reason to laugh behind it but there's a whole lot of these.

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Meepills – Hey again! Welcome back! And yes, Aria bites. You do not annoy that female without payback. I won't allow it. And Squall needed to be reminded she isn't the average girl. Happy to know you liked that image.

Yay! You won the game! And I will look for that book as soon as I finish reading the last Harry Potter (sometime today actually) and "Eldest". If this is semi-normal I think I can handle it for a bit. You sound like a friend of mine though. She's way too hyper for her own good.

And I have thoroughly hit Thanatos which is why he will not join us today. That and because Bellona thinks he's a bad influence. Something about how he improves my ability to torture. (Rea shrugs). And yes, I do live relatively near Spain but still far from France. About languages I speak, read and write fluent Portuguese and English, can understand well Spanish (either written or spoken) as well as speak it somewhat (though I won't comment on accents) and I can scratch a bit of French. Reading it is fine, talking and writing is a nightmare.

To end this try reddish-green and weird name for a cat. Though I have a cannibal fish (eats all others) named Loki so can't really talk. Cheers and hope to read from you soon;)

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Roric Dante – And another new reviewer reaches RAC (Bellona claps drowning Ghost's calls for help). My little cousin is scary. Anyways welcome and thank you ever so much for your review. I'm really happy to know that you consider SL so but you should allow us to read your story too. Sometimes readers can see things we cannot which is why reviews are so important. Nice to know you like Aria too. And I've updated already see? (Rea waves) Sorry for the delay.

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Serene Angel Wing – Heya Sen, my dear sociopath. Welcome back once more! (Reyavie grins as Bellona salutes with wing). Yes, that does happens with the word please when one is completely review addicted and who doesn't learn things? I learned I can't walk outside without Bellona. She still hasn't eaten your dog but it WAS close. (Rea hands over whining Rottweiler to airport person).

No prob with the gummybears and alright! That was great revenge. The reset command is the best! But Aria is corrupting Sacred. And I'm really glad you liked it. I'm really afraid of how people will react with the next chapters 'cause they are all my doing so all words of encouragement are welcome (Rea grins).

I made Aria a very people connected person. As she lost so much so soon I've tried to show how she reached for others but never forgetting her roots. Hence her connection to the two crazy brothers. And Squall is just really emotionally repressed. Laguna just needs to think every once in a while. And who takes advice of older beings most of the times? I know I don't.

Anyways you got a pitbul? I'm really scared…not. I have Bellona (Said red dragon smiles showing teeth. Large teeth.) And you got a sister that needs to see reality. Take her to the window and tell her that's the world. Next thing she'll be asking you cash like my cousin.

ARGH! Bagpipe! You poor girl! It's like slow torture for you. And their dog is now in heaven which seems more merciful than said home. Pasco will arrive in a few hours though. Take care

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Welcome to the thirtieth-six chapter of Second Life. And we keep counting and counting and counting…

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3rd Person POV

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Ariadne stalked into Balamb's cafeteria like a woman with a mission not noticing anyone around her as she did so. Emerald eyes told quite clearly to everyone in range that trying to stop the Galbadian Seed would a very, very stupid thing to do.

So it wasn't that hard to understand why most students got out of the way as the uncontrolled train, known as Aria to many, entered the room literally fuming.

Her darkened eyes rolled over the talking mass of students and Seeds until she found a particular blond head…one that apparently had seen her and that was slowly edging away.

– "Don't you even think about it Stephanie McAllister." – Sasha that was sitting next to the blond smirked.

– "Busted."

– "And you too Sasha" – Continued Ariadne walking to their table and resting her hands on its surface – "Or do you actually think that I don't know that you were in this as well?" – Josh looked at Peter that was by his side and the two, who actually didn't have anything to do with whatever had pissed off the newcomer, muttered a dual.

– "Busted" – Aria simply smacked Josh's head without even looking. Her other hand placed a paper on the table with maybe a lot more strength than the one needed.

– "Stephanie" – Ariadne started choosing not to hear the muttered comment about "full names" and "deep shit" – "Do you have any idea of what this is?" – She pointed to the paper that was still underneath her hand.

– "A piece of paper?" – Stef answered-asked slowly.

– "Thank you so much for pointing the obvious" – Aria's eyebrow twitched slightly in annoyance.

– "Yo! Aria!" – Josh touched her wrist gently in a practiced movement. She glared at him moodily.

– "Just what is happening?" – He asked still in the calm tone one uses with crazy people.

– "Happening?" – Ariadne repeated incredulously – "Not what is happening Josh. More like what happened." – The Trabian raised an eyebrow before snatching the paper from her.

His eyebrow rose even more until it almost reached his hairline. His lips twitched once…twice…thrice…

- "Dare laugh and I swear I'll use you as a practice target" – Growled Ariadne – "Now, who had this brilliant idea?" – No sound was heard except for the students' voices and Josh's really bad attempts to choke his laughter. They weren't working at all.

– "Well…?" – Her eyes narrowed, shifting from one girl to the other, while she waited for an answer.

– "What's going on?" – Interrupted a male voice. Ariadne stopped glaring at both for a moment so she could acknowledge Selphie and Irvine's arrival. Then she went back to staring to her two friends.

– "What's wrong? Did something happen?" – Asked Selphie.

Another snort from Josh, another growl from Aria.

– "I am going to kill you Josh" – He didn't appear fazed at all with the threat.

– "You have been telling me things like that ever since you were six" – He said absently looking at the paper – "I'm not going to believe it more now than I did then."

– "You were threatening him when you were six?" – Blurted Stef out-of-nowhere. Aria glared again. – "Shutting up now."

– "Can someone please explain what in Hyne's name is happening here?" – Interrupted Irvine recognizing the sure signs of an exploding Ariadne. Even more silence before…

- "She's a lieutenant." – Informed Josh bluntly. If said silence could be cut they would need a chainsaw to do it.

– "She's a what?" – Asked Irvine as calmly as possible

– "A lieutenant" – Answered Ariadne with a warning glint in her emerald eyes – "They made me a bloody lieutenant. I am a fucking Seed member." – The last part was directed sorely for the two girls.

– "There is no way in hell that I'll stay behind a desk ordering others around the world to get killed or worse."

– "And that's why we chose you for this" – Was Stef's now calm reply despite her the fact that she couldn't keep still on the chair – "We aren't going to make you do that. We just know that you are a good leader. We need that in battle."

- "No." – She said as she saw Aria about to open her mouth to speak – "The council has voted it and it has been approved by all. Basically suck it up Lieutenant Beckerman." – Anymore strength and Ariadne's hands would have broken the table.

– "I so want to hit you right now" – She closed her eyes forcibly, trying to relax – "Ok, I'm going to my room, scream at the walls and then train a couple of hours to digest this. I'll see you all later." – And Aria left, a hand on her forehead obviously nursing a severe headache.

– "That was weird" – Commented Selphie.

– "But fun. I half expected her to blow up something" – Continued Sasha – "What do you think she will do when she finds out about the kids that want to learn to use her weapons?" – Josh gave up in trying muffling his laughter.

– "I have some suggestions for you" – Said Pete – "I don't know Aria very well but one, don't go anywhere unarmed, two, don't go anywhere she is, period and three, find a bomb shelter."

– "And you raised her Seed level?" – Asked Josh as soon as he got his breath back and continued to read the paper – "You do want do die young, don't you?" – Sasha buried her head in her crossed arms and groaned loudly while Stef smiled a bit.

– "She'll get over it and if not…" – The blond girl shrugged – "We can always use Stop and run the other way. Of course she can use a Reflect and then we would be screwed but…"

- "By all that is sacred someone shut her up" – Growled Sasha – "I really don't want to know about my future demise. If I have to die do grant me the pleasure of ignorance." – Selphie looked at all of them and said the one piece of logic that had waited to be said the entire time.

– "You are all crazy." – Josh chose that moment to begin laughing again.

He had just discovered that some unnamed Seed had taken the liberty of filing her for a new room in the officials' wing as well as a new office. He couldn't wait to know how she would react to that.

Good thing that, for once, he wasn't to blame for anything.

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- "I have half a mind to kill them for this" – Emerald eyes began to slowly turn to the familiar sea-green as the adrenaline faded from her system.

– "Why are you so angry about this Aria?" – Asked Minotaur speaking for the first time about the subject since they had reached the Training Grounds of Galbadia Garden.

– "It's not like you don't deserve the position" – Added Sacred.

– "I don't, ok?" – She replied angrily, placing the two katanas in their sheaths before entering the Sanctuary. – "You know perfectly well that to raise a level we must apply to a bunch of tests and pass with flying colours. I didn't. They bent the rules just because I was their friend. I don't want that, alright?" – With a practiced ease she jumped on the reconstructed benches only to grab the edge of the ceiling of the TG. Then she pulled herself upwards into her own refuge.

– "They didn't" – Stated Sacred seriously as Ariadne took off her gloves. She barely left them now.

The marks on her hands were still an angry red and Aria knew enough of healing to know that they would remain like that for quite a while. Her jacket was placed behind her head as she lowered herself to the ground not bothering with covering her body against the sunlight. She had had enough of looking like a ghost.

– "So you say" – Ariadne finally answered.

– "Aria, stop that already" – Began Minotaur – "You wanted tests? What do you call what you have doing these past months? A vacation?"

– "No" – Sea green eyes closed slowly – "I call it pure stupidity. Next time I want to get myself in this messes rant at me."

– "You ignore us" – Commented the older brother dryly – "It would be useless. But Taur is right Aria. You have given enough proofs that you are indicated for the job. So do stop the self-commiserating."

– "Tone down the long words Red" – She yawned quietly as the warmth of the sun surrounded her. – "Still can't handle them well." – A sense of peace filled her mind and body as she began…slowly…drifting.

– "Beckerman?" – Her eyes opened in alarm as she woke from her trance-like state. –"Beckerman?" – The male voice called again making her scowl in annoyance. It seemed that she was still cursed.

– "I am not here" – Ariadne muttered wondering just why everyone seemed to want to annoy her even more when she was already pissed off. No answer was given for a moment before…

- "Then I suppose the voice I just heard is an echo" – Continued the voice. Aria snorted lightly.

– "Nope" – She answered shielding her eyes from the bright sun as she sat – "Just the part of my personality that's stupid enough not to ignore you. Look above Almasy" – Green met green.

He seemed well enough, for once wearing the Seed student uniform, just the one from Galbadia Garden and not the one from Balamb. There was no sign of a sneer on his expression.

– "How did you know I was here?" – Ariadne asked when Seifer finally spotted her. He gave her a questioning look and she sighed before moving to the side to allow him to join her.

– "I saw you come in" – Seifer answered coolly – "And then followed the trail of dead beasts. You weren't really subtle. Not a good thing for a spy."

– "Even spies have bad days" – Aria crossed her legs and supported her head on her hand. – "So…wanted something?"

– "Blunter and blunter every day" – Sighed Sacred.

Seifer didn't seem too hurried to give her a reply but she hadn't passed the last months with Squall and Quistis without learning to deal with those silent thinking pauses they all seemed so fond of. Using all that experience she diverted her annoyance back to her friends and began planning very inventive ways of getting them back.

– "Why?" – Seifer could have been talking to nothing at all as he didn't seem very inclined to even look at his companion.

Ariadne didn't pay it any mind as she stopped the plans involving her computer, a small virus and her friends.

– "Did you see what she did to me on the day of the attack of Galbadia Garden?" – Aria asked back. A small nod. – "Then you know why. She had no right. We're no one's puppets."

– "And you helped me even with all that happened? All that I did?" – Aria looked at him at last, a grim smile on her lips.

– "I still can't ignore when people need my help. But if you insist I will do my best to kick your ass next time." – Seifer scoffed before muttering something that sounded too much like "as if" to be ignored.

– "And the people in the Garden?" – Aria continued – "How did they take your presence?" – A gloved hand messed his hair distractively.

– "At first badly" – Seifer looked at her appraisingly – "You are cared a lot by the students. It took a verbal trashing by Munroe and McAllister and most of them left us alone. Somehow they found out you had sent us and at least we stopped being visibly harassed." – A frown marred her expression as she heard those words.

Ariadne hadn't been expecting sunshine and daisies but for the situation to require a scolding by both Stef and Lara…it could only mean that it had been pretty bad.

– "They seemed to have accepted us now." – Seifer concluded. – "And you Beckerman? Heard that you got yourself up to the neck in trouble." – Another wry smile, sea green eyes turning once more to the red marks on her hands.

– "You can say something like that" – Silence occupied the small pause before Seifer smirked lightly as he watched her hands. – "I suspect you already know why she seemed so interested in you so I won't press but…" - He fell silent one more time.

– "Doomtrain is saying that you should not dwell on the marks that the war has left in you. They are proof that you have succeeded where others didn't. I say raise your head and continue your way. This…" - He tapped lightly one of the injuries.

– "Matters nothing in the long run. You lived. She didn't." – Aria turned her head slightly, an amused glint in her sea green eyes.

– "Interesting philosophy Almasy." – A small smile crossed her features lightening her stern expression. – "Thanks for it, nevertheless. So…what are you going to do? Go back to Balamb Garden?" – Now that was something she was curious about. Even after staying in Galbadia Garden for the last month or so Balamb had been his home for years.

– "Already want to throw me out lieutenant?" – Seifer asked dryly, a distinct change to an almost mocking tone on the last word. If looks could kill he would be seven feet under in an instant.

– "No." – He continued apparently giving up in raising her temper – "I'll be staying. I needed this. Other environment, a new life…besides I really don't think I could take orders from Leonhart." – A faint shrug.

– "I don't want to screw up a second chance." – Aria could just imagine Squall as Seifer's instructor. She wouldn't give them more than thirty seconds before they unsheathed their gunblades.

Someday she would have enough guts to tell the two of them how alike they were… but not before she had prepared the Ragnarok to escape to the opposed hemisphere.

– "You won't" – Seifer looked at her as if she was a nutcase.

– "I won't what?" – He asked calmly. Aria smirked slightly.

– "Screw up" – She answered standing up – "You won't. If there is one thing we have in common is that we always fight." – Arms crossed over her chest, eyes closed and her face rose to catch the sunlight.

- "We live fighting and we fall fighting. I'm a warrior. That's the only way for me to live. The only way I want for me 'cause…if I ever gave up…what would remain behind wouldn't be me…nothing more than a shell, you know?" – Sea green eyes opened as Ariadne crouched next to him.

– "Would you be the same if you ever gave up?" – Light green eyes seemed reserved, hard to read…but she knew that in time she would learn. That in time she would really forgive him. That in time he would forgive himself.

– "Well, time to train" – Aria said pulling her gloves on – "On your feet." – Now Seifer's look clearly told her that he was trying to reach a conclusion about her sanity.

– "What do you call what you did barely half an hour ago?" – A brown eyebrow rose slowly.

– "That I call my frustration release" – She informed – "It was that or deafen Stef, Sasha and Alex, cause I'm damned sure he's in this as well. What we will do now will be training."

– "We?" – Seifer repeated.

– "We" – Confirmed the girl with a small nod – "To be very blunt I will say that there is no Seed with a specialization in gunblade practice currently in Galbadia Garden. So I am going to make sure that you become one of us. Or are you going to pass the opportunity to show that I can't wipe the floor with your ass?" – One thing Aria did know about the former sorceress's knight was that he was, in no way, someone that would let a challenge unanswered.

– "Are you up to it?" – Seifer dared back coolly looking at her up and down. Ariadne just smirked amusedly, a spark of defiance on her already darkened emerald eyes.

– "We'll see that in a few moments now won't we?" – Lugh had told her that she was really Ariadne. A guide.

– "Time to live up to my namesake then" – Aria thought as she jumped down followed by the other warrior. – "This is my way."

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My POV

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Crazy. That's a word that's been crossing my mind a lot on the last days. As in how crazy all of my friends are.

Come on…they made me a lieutenant.

ME.

The girl that spent more time outside classes than actually listening to the lectures. The girl that did everything she could to make most of her teachers' lives hell…well, I think I can't be blamed for that one. Hyne, I hate military.

Anyways, what in Hyne's name were they thinking? Wait. They obviously weren't thinking. Damn. This is one thing I will not be able to rid myself of.

Though I am concerned with who will take the headmaster's place in the Garden. The council seems to be doing a great job but they aren't this place's owners.

Maybe this rank will help us, after all. If only to minimize the damage. Yeah, maybe it will not be that bad if I can use it to our advantage. Now going back to the crazy part. A name that I will probably be called a lot in the future.

Subject: Almasy.

How can I trust him…help him…forgive him? A pertinent question. One that not even I have the exact answer to. But one thing I know.

To find your own path in life after you lose the one you always followed before is hard. Painful. Frightening.

Almasy would never ask for help. He would rather eat a Marbolo before lowering himself to do such a thing. So I offered my help. I'm trying to show that he can move on. That grudges and hurtful memories can be forgiven and forgotten.

That doesn't mean that I'm going to make his life easy though. He's a student here so I'll treat him as such. Just with a lot of extra trainings to give me opportunity to kick his ass.

He can fight really well against opponents like Squall or Raijin that depend basically on their strength but still has a long way to go before he can beat opponents that fight based on speed and agility.

Yep, this is going to be fun. Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right? There's no wrong in having fun while doing it. Ok, so I did develop a sadistic streak. Sue me, then.

I just have to discover why he seems almost scared of Clare…and why do I have the feeling that Stef and Sasha are behind this.

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3rd Person POV

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- "Working hard?" – Ariadne raised her head from the pile of folders, which had been dropped in her new office during the morning, when she heard the familiar voice.

Sea green eyes found Quistis observing the room that Aria was occupying at the moment. It couldn't be simpler. Several shelves filled with books and folders, several chairs and a wooden desk covered with files and a computer. There were no personal touches except for the frames that Aria had already brought to the room, resting peacefully on the table.

– "I am going to kill them" – Ariadne said matter-of-factly – "But not before I torture them. Hyne! And I thought I had a lot of work a few days ago." - The Galbadian Seed sighed heavily before closing the folder that she had been reading and really taking a look at her all-but-blood older sister.

It didn't seem a social call. Not by the look on Quistis's face. As normal and controlled as the former instructor was Quistis, somehow, never realized the fact that she had the habit of fiddling with the sheath of her whip when something was wrong.

– "What happened?" – Aria asked controlling the sudden urges of panic that were already touching her mind. Quistis took a place on one of the chairs, back straight and calm. Too calm.

– "We seem to have another problem" – The blonde began – "Sorceresses. Rinoa isn't one anymore. We do not know who has received the power." – Ariadne's mind entered in overdrive.

– "It worked" – She thought disbelievingly – "It bloody worked. But…"

- "Explaining that will be a really big problem" – Completed Minotaur.

– "She does not need to hear that" – Scolded Sacred – "I suggest you go back to Gaea. Your sister is calling your name." – Aria blinked before narrowing her eyes to hear Quistis's next words.

– "Squall has called a meeting" – She continued – "I came here to warn you. Conference hall in Balamb Garden. The place where Norg was when we arrived after the mission in Deling city." – Ariadne stood from her chair, a pensive frown etched on her expression.

– "And here I was, thinking about how to address the subject" – Aria crossed her arms – "I really hope you have nothing to do with this, Hyne."

– "Aria" – Called Quistis – "Are you alright? You seem…distracted" – Quistis barely hid a movement of surprise when Ariadne turned to her. It wasn't fear or rage that filled the emerald eyes in front of her. It was determination.

– "Give me half an hour" – Asked Aria placing the black sheaths of her katanas on her back before grasping her communicator – "I have to call the others before I join you guys." – The older girl nodded with a forced smile as concern began filling her.

The war seemed to have taken a lot of everyone but Aria seemed to collect more and more burdens as time passed. Quistis stopped her with a small touch on her arm.

– "You do know that you can count on me if you need help, don't you?" – The blond asked gently.

Sadness, concern, fear and thankfulness all flickered in Ariadne's expression. Soon enough Aria was hugging Quistis strongly but there was something else behind the action.

– "Yeah" – Came the soft answer as the galbadian let go – "Yeah, I know" – And she left without another word. Only then Quistis realized the last feeling she had read from her sister.

Despair.

Can this be considered another cliff-hanger? Can I tell you safely that it will not be the last one? (Bellona rolls eyes. Rea glares) Ok, I've ended here for now. Don't forget that reviews are always great to read and I need some incentive during the oh-so-wonderful time of classes. So be nice and REVIEW! If you noticed any error or mistake please warn me so I can correct them and suggestions are, as always, welcomed.

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Next chapter: Hand/face meetings, conversations, a cat gets out of the bag and coffee…

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See ya all next week (I hope)

Reyavie