Leaving Home
Ultie looked around her. The walls were olive blue, the bed was white, the chairs were black…
Her new home.
She had offered to move out not long after her parents wedding. Her mother was opposed, but her dad
knew what Ultie wanted… her own place with Cid. She was growing up.
They made a happy compromise. She stayed in Deling City, only an hours' walk from her parents. They
knew where she was then, at least.
Ultie smiled at Cid and held his hand. Her mother had decorated it. It was perfect. She opened up the
cream curtains and looked down over the city below; over to the old Careaway Mansion, her home… over to
the presidential palace, his home… They were finally together.
He came up behind her. "No regrets?" he asked her, placing his arms round her petit waist. She turned back
to him smiling. "None, my love. We're finally together. Alone."
He smiled mischievously at her, pulling her closer. "You don't think your parents are going to interrupt us
this time, do you?"
"I hope not. That event could have caused me years of therapy!"
He laughed at her and kissed her fondly. "Cid and Ultie forever." he whispered like a child.
"Cid and Ultie forever."
Mecia looked around her. The walls were dank and grey, covered in bullet holes, dust had settled over the
rotting furniture
Her new home.
She could not stay in Deling, Cid could see that. She was broken by the death of Yuna, and something
else plagued her. She had become agoraphobic; the mere thought of venturing out into the City petrified
her. She had become even paler and more withdrawn.
He had brought her to Winhill, the most secluded place he could think of. They had found an abandoned
house to live in, and now called themselves Nida and Lagune Careaway. Their middle names and their
grandfathers name. Easy to remember.
He turned and looked her. She had picked up a picture from the mantelpiece, and was muttering to herself…
something like "Who is it, mother?"
He sighed and took their bags up the creaking stairs. Maybe it was too late… maybe she had lost her mind…
She looked closely at the photo… it seemed familiar to her somehow, though she knew she had never seen
the child…
"Who… who is it mother?" she mumbled aloud, hoping she would get a response.
"Why, that is Ellone child. A most tragic figure indeed…"
Ellone… my name…
"Yes. You were named after both her and your grandfather. She was to be Adel's successor, but she
escaped, and so I was born to take her place…"
A… back-up?
"Yes. Poor dear Elle. She died over fifteen years ago at the hands of that odious Odine who called himself
my father… Elle holds the secrets of compressing time…
Compressing time…
"It will be important to you one day, my love… don't forget…"
Ultimecia woke in the arms of Cid. He was silent as he slept. Life had been so peaceful and perfect since
they had moved into the flat.
Suddenly she heard a knock at the door. Cautiously she left the bed so as not to wake her sleeping prince.
She pulled on her robe and answered the door.
A small man in odd clothing answered the door. "Excuse me, but are you Ultimecia Almasy?"
She was startled by his appearance, but managed to say "Yes, yes I am…. Would you like to come in?"
The small man scuttled into the living room, a small moomba following him and dragging a case. "I am most
pleased to have found you, mistress Ultimecia. Y'see, long ago when my father was still alive, he started
research on Ellone, research which was to prove very useful to us, but very dangerous as well…"
"Excuse me for asking" butted in the confused girl. "But who are you?"
"The small man slapped his forehead and groaned. "Silly me! I'm always forgetting my manners! My name is
Zeitgeist Odine. You are my neice! I am dreadfully sorry I did not introduce myself, but I was so excited that
I finally found you after travelling all the way from Esthar-"
"Esthar! Did president Leonheart-Loire send you?"
The small man looked up and smiled at her "Why yes! The President was very enthusiastic about me
meeting you. He told me you were living with his son and gave me the address and now I am here! But
anyway, now to business…"
He sat himself down on the black couch and began to tell her his story.
"Long ago, when the president was only just older than you, they faced a foe beyond the imagination of any
human… she was a sorceress called Ultimecia. Now, I know this is going to confuse you, but you mustn't
interrupt in the slightest… that sorceress was you"
Ultie inhaled sharply. Her. But…why?
"Now, after the defeat of the evil Ultimecia, my father decided to look up the ancestry of that same
sorceress. He discovered much to his dismay, that she was his own granddaughter. So to prevent you from
being born, he sent his own daughter into space, never to be released. However, it was soon found out by
Ellone that you would pose no threat to our world if you were born from your mother, but if Aadeane
remained in space then you would be born from a surrogate, the Angel Wing sorceress-"
"Rinoa…" Ultie mused, still numb from shock.
"Exactly!!! And you would inherit both powers, which is very very dangerous amounts. But as you are, you
shall only inherit your mothers power, and therefore shall exist as a very helpful member of society. Now,
onto the important bit."
Zeitgeist stood up and went towards Ultie. "Myself and vice president Ellone wish to investigate the
sorceress power as it is transferred from one to another. She wishes to see you and your mother as the
switch takes place, if it will be possible…"
"But wont my mother have to be dying?"
Zeitgeist shifted uncomfortably. "Technically yes, but it has happened after great injury."
Ultimecia lept from her seat. "I cannot have my mother die in public, so harshly! She deserves a private
death, like others… I cant even believe I am having this conversation! Get out of my house!"
Zeitgeist remained calmly where he sat. "Of course, I anticipated your reluctance, so I brought
reinforcements." he clapped twice and five burly Esthar soldiers entered. "I trust you will not be too
embittered."
She could see no way out. "Cid!!" she screamed as the soldiers restrained her. Zeitgeist laughed at her "You
don't think we didn't think of him! He is… resting now, Ultimecia"
She screamed out again, as one of the soldiers knocked her unconscious with his ray gun…
Mecia woke in the arms of Cid. He was restless again, muttering in his sleep.
She left him and wandered down to the kitchen… it was always so cold here…
"They're coming, Ultimecia…"
Who…?
"Esthar are coming to you… she remembers… she wants to stop you in your quest for right…"
The tall man opened the door silently. He knew who was coming.
"Raijin?"
The tall man nodded. He hadn't seen the woman for… almost thirty years. She'd aged well.
"You know why I'm here."
He nodded again. To find Ultimecia, the one who caused all this trouble… the one who put them all through
hell.
"She's here" he said sharply. He sounded like Fujiin…the late Fujiin Dincht…
The woman smiled and took his hand. "Thank you. Esthar offers you its humblest praise."
Esthar… the country that destroyed Ellone…
He shut the door on the woman. He prayed he would not see her for at least another thirty years.
Mecia started to cut some bread from the stale ration to take to Cid. The knife trembled in her hand… she
had become a wreck since her death…
She heard a knock at the door. She put down the knife and went to answer it.
A mature blond woman stood on her doorstep. "Greetings" she said in a voice like liquid honey. "Are you
Ultmecia Leonheart?"
Mecia blinked and started slowly. "No, I'm Lagune Careaway. Can I help you at all?"
The blonde woman looked into the brown eyes… a good liar for someone so young… but it was her, she knew
it.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, miss-"
"Mrs." butted in Mecia sternly.
Mrs… "My apologies. I was informed that she resided here."
Ultimecia stepped back and looked at her closer… something familiar about her…
"I know an Ultimecia, if that would help?" she blurted out. Why did she say anything?
The woman smiled. "That would be very helpful, Mrs Careaway."
Mecia gestured for the woman to come in, and she did so. "We knew an Ultimecia in Deling City. Daughter
of the president, I went to school with her.""Is that so?" toyed the woman as Ultimecia went back to slicing her bread. "I hear the young girl was exceptionally clever… almost supernaturally…"Mecia dropped the knife. She knew about the power? "Do not let them win, Mecia-san"
I wont, mother.
She picked up the knife slowly, "Butterfingers!" she exclaimed confidently, noting the dubious look on the woman's face. I wont let her win, don't you worry Mother.
"So, I suppose you know all about her disappearance, Mrs Careaway." she continued, wandering the house… Elle's old house…
Mecia's face was blank. "I had no idea! It's nothing bad is it?"
The carefree look on the woman's face disappeared. "I tire of this game. Ultimecia, you will return with me to Esthar immediately."
Mecia's eyes widened with fear… no….
"But I don't understand! My name is-"
"I know your face Ultimecia. I faced you for the sake of the world…" What did she mean? "-I don't want to have to do that again… don't resist, I have reinforcements, and I don't particularly want to get your brother involved in this."
Ultimecia's heart sank… she could not put him in danger also…
She took the woman's hand and left.