Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII and all it's characters belong to Squaresoft.



Seifer quickly sped down the road, along with many other cars that were on their way to the parade as well. Everyone was eager to meet the new "ambassador", Edea, who was supposed to bring peace to all the continents. Little did they know what was really in store for them when everything actually began...

He glanced over at Alexia, who was in the passenger seat. She was staring straight ahead and wringing her hands in an uneasy manner, with her sniper rifle resting on her lap. "Hey... you okay?" he asked gently.

She threw him a halfhearted smile to reassure him. "Yeah I'm fine. Just a little... nervous I guess." She couldn't remember if she'd told him that she'd never actually sniped a human before. Sure, she had used her sharpshooting skills on monsters and things of the sort, but never a human, although she knew eventually she'd be required to. After all, it was her job.

The parade would start in Galbadia and travel to Deling City, where the President would introduce the Sorceress as the new peace ambassador. At that time, both Seifer and Alexia were to proceed to the roof of the highest buliding in the city, where she would take aim and take down President Deling after he was out of the crowd's sight. Then, the parade was to continue to Balamb and Edea would go into Garden and meet with the headmaster. Once again, Alexia and Seifer were to remain out of sight, but in an area that would leave her with an open shot. Two people dead in one night, all because of her.

She felt her shoulder being shaken, and she turned to face Seifer. "Lex, you gotta stop zoning out on me, honey. Now come on, let's go. We have to be set up in less than ten minutes."

She simply nodded and got out of the car.

Her mind was clouded; frozen in thoughts that swirled like a whirlwind. Killing was a sin against Hyne...a terrible sin. Could she ever forgive herself for doing this? Would dreams haunt her for the rest of her life? She couldn't know, but she had to follow her heart. And her heart told her to do what Seifer asked her to.

Alexia could understand Deling. He wasn't the greatest of leaders, he was an enemy of Edea's secretly, and he had to expect being assassinated one of these days. But Headmaster Cid? She'd met him on one occasion, and he was the sweetest man in the world to her. Could she really bring herself to kill him?

"Alexia Krycek!"

The voice broke her out of her third reverie. She sighed in a shuddering way, and knew it was time to focus. Seifer was getting angry with her.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming." She grabbed her rifle, and followed Seifer up to her position. She placed her weapon at the top of the building looking down on the platform Edea was supposed to be on, and watched the crowd, now tiny dots beneath her, cheer like maniacs.

Her heart pounded in her chest like never before. Vinzer Deling took to the platform, and flipped the microphone on. Her hands shook fervently, but she willed herself to make them stop quivering. You're a sniper, Lex, this is your job. You picked it, now go through with what you have to do.

Alexia sat herself down on the cold, cement rooftop and sighed. Seifer walked along the edge a bit, a self-righteous smirk plastered on his face. After surveying it all, he finally plopped down beside her, taking her still trembling hand in his own.

"Well... this is it," he said. "You sure you're okay? You're gonna be able to do this? You've been acting a little strange lately..."

Alexia was about to come off with a smart remark, but she held her tongue. "I don't really have much of a choice right now, do I?" she asked blandly. Hm, still sounded smart...

"Not really." In his mind, Seifer smacked himself on the forehead. He didn't want to come right out and say that if she didn't do it, Edea would kill her, but he hadn't wanted to sound so cold-hearted either.

Alexia almost couldn't believe what she'd just heard. No comforting words, or even a reassuring smile came from him. She shook her head, realizing President Deling was stepping away from the podium and out of the crowd's sight. It was now or never...

She lifted up the sniper rifle and peered down the scope. Slowly, she moved the weapon until Vinzer Deling's skull was right at the center where the crosshairs met... and pulled the trigger.

Immediately, Alexia closed her eyes after the trigger was pulled. She'd kept them open as long as it took to take the shot, but didn't want to see the result. She heard Seifer gasp beside her, and knew it had to be pretty bad.

"Oh Hyne..." he whispered, his gaze still fixed on the fallen figure. All that was left of Vinzer Deling was his body...the rest was covered in blood.

Without looking at the scene on the stage, she turned away. She grabbed Seifer's hand, and led him off the cement building. They were to catch up with the Sorceress on her float, and they were to do it quickly, before the audience noticed Deling's body.

Heading down the concrete stairs, she watched Seifer ahead of her.

"Hyne Seifer...I can't believe I just killed someone..."

She said it so softly she wasn't sure he'd even hear her, but he stopped in his tracks to look back at her.

He stared her square in the face and spoke softly, but hurriedly. "You did what you had to do Lex. You know that. I'm really proud of you."

She smiled a little and anxiously fidgeted with the weapon in her hands. "Thanks. That really means a lot to me to hear you say that Seifer."

He gave a nod and pointed out to the float. "We'd better get moving. We don't have much time before people start to get suspicious."

Alexia nodded her agreement, glad to be getting away from the area where she'd just taken someone's life from for the very first time. She allowed Seifer to take her wrist and lead her down to the street and along the back of the large crowd in the direction of Edea and the start of the parade.

Edea was seated on the throne-like chair that was set up atop the heavily decorated float. So much time and work had been put into it all, and for what? It was just designed to hitch a ride to the next place where another life was to be taken.

"Did you do it?" she quickly whispered to Seifer. He gave a nod and she smirked a little. After glancing over at Alexia, she told them to go back to their appropriate positions on the float and await their eventual arrival on Balamb.

As they passed through the gates, Alexia couldn't help gazing at the beauty of this city. The sculpted buildings were carved in the most intricate of shapes, and for the most part, it was a clean city.

As she ogled upwards, however, cold steel slammed down in front of them, blocking the float from going any farther down the streets of Deling City.

Alexia raised an eyebrow at the scene before them. Who had done that? She took a sidelong glance at Seifer, who was glaring out at the night.

Suddenly, she heard the roar of an engine coming up the street. This couldn't get more puzzling. A robin's egg blue colored convertible screeched beside the gates, and a good-looking guy who looked to be about her age jumped out of it.

He sported a leather that looked to be a little too short for him, but was still appealing. Her mouth formed an, "O," at his looks, but she made sure Seifer couldn't see.

The nameless, good looking guy raced up to the float, easily making his way through the steel bars, and scaled the side of the float. He stood in front of them, and Alexia couldn't help but stare.

Seifer's hand went back to protect her, and she felt a little alarmed. Why would she need to be protected from this guy? But as he started to talk to him, she realized they knew each other.

"Hey, it's Puberty Boy! I figured you'd show up pretty soon."

Alexia wrinkled her nose. Puberty Boy? What kind of name was that? She tugged on his sleeve to try to get his attention, but he ignored her.

"So, you've become the Sorceress's Lap Dog?"

With a mocking glare thrown the nameless man's way, Seifer gave her a look to say, "I'll handle this."

But Squall continued before Seifer could make a move.

"I see you've got the Lap Dogette with you, as well."

Alexia's jaw dropped. It looked as though someone as good-looking as this guy was had no manners whatsoever. She was about to say something back to him, but Seifer stopped her with a glare.

"Don't get her involved in this, Squall. Now what are you doing here?" Seifer snarled.

So, his name was Squall. Alexia looked back and forth from Squall to Seifer, and Seifer to Squall. She didn't know how they knew each other, but apparently, things weren't all peachy keen between them, and with the way Seifer was, she knew it wouldn't be pretty.

"Seifer, what's going on?" she finally decided to ask, keeping one eye on Squall and the other on her fiance.

"I told you, I'll take care of this," he whispered harshly.

She raised an eyebrow. It appeared that Seifer had a few things that she didn't know about. Very important things. "You'd better tell me right now Seifer. Who the hell is he, and what the hell is he doing here?"

Squall interuppted her interrogation with a question on his own. "Seifer, why are you doing this? Can't you see you're just a puppet in all of this, that you're being used? And turning against your home this way..." He shook his head. "I never thought you would do something like this Seifer. I knew you were bad, but I never thought you were capable of *this*."

Seifer laughed rather loudly at the words. "This really isn't any of your business. I'm living my dream, my romantic dream, and there isn't anything you can do to ruin it! I'm the Sorceress's Knight, and whatever Edea wants, I see to it that she gets. Somebody like you can't stand in my way."

Squall couldn't believe what he was hearing. Seifer was stubborn, he knew that, but he didn't think he was stupid.

Alexia watched as they traded the insults. She could see the look of pure hatred Seifer was wearing, but couldn't understand this Squall person. He hadn't even bothered to introduce himself to Alexia properly, he just gave a nasty comment. Yet he was voicing the point she'd been trying to make to Seifer all those times they'd fought about Edea.

What history did they have? Why were they so intent on sizing up one another? She couldn't tell. Some past event between them had to be setting them off, but she'd never know unless Squall or Seifer gave her some explaination.

With a sigh, Squall could see no other choice but to fight Seifer. He quickly looked at Alexia, and then back to Seifer. "I hate to do this in front of her, but it's time we end this, Seifer."

Alexia couldn't have been more confused. They were going to fight now? On the Sorceress's *float,* for Hyne's sake?

Shouting now, she said, "Would someone PLEASE explain to me what's going on!?"

Squall looked at her as if she had just grown another head.

Seifer turned to her once more. "Alexia, I told you, just wait a minute while I finish this out, and I'll explain, okay?"

Childishly, she stomped her foot. "No! I want to know now, dammit!"

He made a motion for her to be quiet, but Squall interrupted. "Aren't you going to at least tell her, Seifer? She deserves to know why I'm here, doesn't she?"

His voice was quiet, emotionless. She noted the tone, and wondered what kind of personality he possessed. Still waiting for an answer from Seifer, she tapped her foot impatiently.

"Well?"

Seifer still said nothing, silently fighting with himself about how to explain he and Squall's history. Instead, Squall took it upon himself.

"Fine, if you won't, I will. Alexia, isn't it? You see that scar on your boyfriend's forehead?"

Alexia nodded, still incredulous, wondering where this was going. "Has he ever told you where he got that?"

This time, she shrugged. "He said it was in a battle a long time ago. Why?"

Squall chuckled dryly, pointing to the one on the bridge of his nose, almost identical to Seifer's, yet going in the opposite direction on his face.

She scoffed. "Quit talking in riddles and get to the point. What does any of this have to do with the scars the both of you have?"

"Well first of all, he's the one who did this to me, so in return, I did the same to him," Squall said simply.

Alexia looked confused. "And...?"

"And, we've basically been enemies ever since. Or rivals, if you prefer."

"And since he's an almighty SeeD now, he wants to stop Edea," Seifer said, cutting into the conversation.

Seifer balled his hands into fists. Simply being around Squall made his blood boil, and the fact that Alexia was so intrigued by what he was saying only made him angrier. He'd seen the way she looked at him when he'd first shown up, only he didn't say anything to her about it.

Alexia became lost in thought again. She understood mostly everything now, thank Hyne. Like why Squall had even shown up, and why Seifer hated him so much. But what did Squall mean when he said he and Seifer had to end this? Was he really talking about killing Seifer? Well she wasn't about to let that happen. She wouldn't stand around and watch some stranger murder the man she loved right in front of her eyes.

"So come on Puberty Boy," Seifer said as he hopped down off the side of the float. "I've been waiting for this time to come for a long time now. Show me what you got."

"Seifer, what do you think you're doing?" Alexia asked as she began to panic, watching him swing the gunblade in a menacing manner.

"You heard the man," he told her. "We gotta end this."

Alexia jumped down as well and grasped his arm. "Seifer, come on. Think about this, you could get seriously hurt. I wouldn't even put it past this guy to actually kill you. What am I supposed to do if that were to happen?"

He gave her a look and gently shoved her away from him. "Nothing's gonna happen to me," he said coolly.

She watched him go, pain filling her expression. She wanted nothing more than to simply keep him safe by her side, no Edea to be jealous of, no Squall to be rivals with. And as she stared on at them, her eyes fell on this mysterious stranger. She knew he was a SeeD at Balamb Garden, thanks to Seifer's smart remark, and knew he and Seifer didn't get along. But there was something missing from their history. From his history. There had to be logic and reason for that stoic face. But what on Hyne's green land could it be?

As she pondered these thoughts, both men loaded their weapon. As she saw when she squinted, a large beast was engraved into the side of his gunblade, although she couldn't make out exactly what it was. Seifer pointed his Hyperion at Squall's almost identical weapon, and there seemed to be a sort of spark between them. Some kind of power that existed when the two were together. Something told her that if they were to join forces, they alone could create a hell for their enemy.

"You ready to go down, Squall?" Seifer asked, his sword motionless in his steady hand. Squall's eyes focused, and Alexia took a step back, fearing what was about to happen.

Without saying anything in return, Squall made the first move. He brought his gunblade down upon Seifer's, which was ready to counter already. The clang of metal upon metal grated on Alexia's nerves, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

Squall withdrew, preparing for another strike, and Seifer laughed contemptuously. "You'll have to do better than that to stop me, Squall!"

Alexia's heart pounded. She didn't want either of them to fall. As cliche as she knew it was, didn't these two know how to play nice? Couldn't they just be friends? Silently, she said a prayer for their safety.

Seifer went in this time, but Squall was ready. Backing off, Seifer decided to call in the reinforcements. He brought his gunblade up and yelled, "Fire Cross!" A spout of fire shot over at his opponent, knocking him backward. While Squall was blindsided, Seifer went in, swiping his gunblade on Squall's shoulder. A cry of pain erupted from him, and Alexia's heart sunk in her chest. One way or another, she knew this fight wouldn't end in a pretty way, no matter who the victor was.

Alexia found it hard to watch the brutal, yet somewhat graceful scene play out in front of her, but she had to keep her eyes locked on them. She couldn't bring herself to shut them out in the darkness of her own eyelids, no matter how much she really wanted to. It was almost as if the entire battle had been rehearsed, and the both of them knew exactly what the other would do next. It was almost eerie at how perfected everything was.

Sparks flew from the blades as they came in contact with each other multiple times in the air between them, sending screeching sounds through the heavy atmosphere. She was still amazed by the fact that Edea hadn't come yet to see what the commotion was.

Her thoughts seemed to have been formed too soon, as a very upset looking Sorceress emerged from the front of the float, her eyes wild with anger and her face twisted into a horrid scowl. "You!" she cried as a slender finger pointed toward Squall. Seifer, after seeing Edea had arrived, immediatly backed off of his rival, breathing heavily, sweat forming on his forehead.

He glanced over at Alexia and smiled proudly, as if he were trying to say "Did you see what I did? Aren't you proud of me?" She just glared at him and shook her head. Did he think almost killing someone, and almost getting himself killed as well, was really going to impress her?

"What do you think you are doing?!" Edea exclaimed.

Squall held his weapon up high again, remaining in a fighting stance even after Seifer had withdrawn. "I'm stopping you, that's what I'm doing," he said lowly.

Suddenly, Edea turned to Seifer, an equally irritated look on her elegant face. "And you... You were supposed to prevent this!"

Seifer's self-righteous appearance faded dramatically, and quite visibly. He said nothing as his emerald eyes lowered to the ground.

Even so, Edea continued bitterly. "You are a pathetic excuse for a Knight, Seifer Almasy. I cannot believe the fate of my life and everything I am set to achieve has rested in your worthless hands."

Alexia stared piteously at her fiancee below them. He couldn't bring himself to meet Edea's furious eyes, and she knew he had taken quite a blow to his bursting ego. Squall merely stood, looking on at his now weak rival.

As silence prevailed over the scene, two other people her age raced up to join Squall. She couldn't fathom where all these people were coming from. Were they all SeeD's? He must have one hell of an army behind him. They just kept appearing out of nowhere.

"We're comin, Squall!" a high pitched voice called, and two girls ran up to his side. "That Sorceress is goin dowwwwn!"

Squall didn't seem as enthusiastic as the perky brunette stridled up beside him, and a slim figured, raven haired girl as well. The raven one nodded in agreement with the perky girl, and both seemed to know Squall well.

Edea snickered at the sight. "You are going to fight me? We will see how far you get, young ones. Knight, see to it that this never happens again, or you will be banished from my realm forever. Please excuse yourself for now."

Alexia waited for a signal for her to follow him, but recieved none as he sulked away. She watched the three fighters walk up on the float, and thought it best to move out of the way.

Edea made no notion that she needed help. Squall, as well as the two girls that had joined him, looked fully prepared to take on the Sorceress, and vice versa.

Almost immediatly, weapons began slashing, swinging and flying, and various magic spells were cast.

The backlash of a strong Firaga spell sent even Alexia, who had been standing a good distance away, flying backwards, painfully hitting the ground.

Edea gave the girl a quick glance. She couldn't take the chance of Alexia getting hurt. With Irvine gone to Hyne-knew-where, she was the only chance Edea had at getting rid of Headmaster Cid... without getting caught.

"Alexia, I want you to go with Seifer," she commanded.

Alexia hoisted herself up from the ground, wincing at the pain that shot up and down her spine and nodded. She turned and headed in the direction the Knight had gone.

"Who was that Squall?" the raven haired girl murmured.

"Apparently Seifer's new girlfriend."

Alexia came upon Seifer in a dishonorable state, or at least, he would've thought so. His face was buried in his hands. She only hoped he wasn't crying; that would kill her. "Seifer...?"

She lightly touched his shoulder, but he flinched away, and she gasped quietly. He'd never done that before, and it hurt immensely. "I...I just wanted to make sure you're okay..."

He said nothing, and merely stalked away, his dark boots ringing throughout the area. She didn't know where he would go, there were only so many places in a closed gateway, but she figured it best to leave him alone for now. He'd just been humiliated in front of Squall, and he needed time to recover. Looking away, she picked at a nail, unsure of what to do. So, intent on finding out what was happening with Squall's battle, she eavesdropped to the best of her ability from where she was.

She wasn't surprised to hear streams of magic spells and Guardian Forces being called out by the three fighters. The two feminine voices were the most distinct, and she could hear Edea fighting back.

She climbed half-way up the float to sneak a peek at the battle up close, and came face-to-face with a dark leather boot, a buckle adorning the top. A slender leg led up to the face of one of the women, Alexia didn't know her name.

Her eyes widened a bit at the shock of the close object to her face, but she ignored the girl, hoping she wouldn't be noticed. She watched as Edea stopped their attacks, and began to conjure a spell in the air.

Suddenly, a great block of ice appeared above her head, causing Alexia to gasp. She made a forward motion with her thin hands, and it raced toward Squall. Before she had time to think about acting on it and trying to save him, it plunged into his stomach area.

The girl next to her turned and let out a scream, and she watched in astonishment as he fell backward, off the float, and toward the cement ground next to her.

Alexia couldn't stop her jaw from dropping. She also couldn't stop her stomach from turning itself over in her gut. How could Edea have done something like that? Or rather, how could Seifer let her do something like that?

The raven haired girl turned to face her. Aparently, she'd known she was there the entire time. Hate filled her dark eyes as she stared coldly down at her. "This is all your fault!" she shrieked before racing over to Squall's fallen form.



Review please!!!