A/N: Okay I'm going through phases on this, I'll update when I feel like it, but if you really, really, really want me to update soon I'll make a special effort after getting five reviews.

DISCLAIMER: Opps, forgot this first time I uploaded. Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Squaresoft, not me but I came up with the idea for this story so DO NOT STEAL!

THE CORRUPTION OF POWER

CHAPTER 1 – A Needed Reunion Between Old Friends

Ellone glanced at herself in the mirror for one last time, and then to ensure every-thing was satisfactory stopped to examine herself fully. She smoothed over the folds in the red silk and reached up to re-adjust the purple chopsticks holding her hair into a bun.

She had bought the dress from Itixe, although only really being recently being acknowledged as a village, Itixe already had an amazing reputation for enchantment. How that reputation had been forged seemed evident in the way the light flowed over the dress. It caught the setting sun in ways that as she moved it looked like flames were flickering up the length of the material and made her plain brown hair look so much more than it was.

Leaning a bit closer to the mirror she checked that her make-up was in order. She was satisfied with her eyelashes; she had used a toothbrush to make sure her eyelashes hadn't clumped together. Her eye shadow was a light brown as was her lipstick, and it made the way the light caught on her dress seem even more effective. Those both looked fine too. "How are you holding up in there Ellone?"

"Fine Uncle Ward, I'm coming." She said straightening herself back up again and for the last time running her hands over any folds that may have dared to form while she was checking over everything and struggling, she restrained herself from touching her hair or her make-up again.

Further restraining herself from cynically glaring at herself in the reflection, she stepped back from the mirror and went to open the door. Closing the door behind her, she stood ready for judgement from her two guardians.

"How do I look, you don't think the make-up is to much, he's not going to think I'm a punk because of all of it is he? What about the dress, it's meant to be nice, but I don't know, do you think it reveals too much or if it…"

"Don't worry, everything will be fine Ellone, you look picture perfect."

"Thanks Uncle Kiros, but it's been such a long time and I know he's called and stuff." Still young enough to get away with saying that word. Kiros mused. "And I guess I just really don't want to disappoint him."

"Laguna's Laguna." Ward chuckled. "I really wouldn't worry about it, he wouldn't have changed a bit, not even after all this time. As for you, he loves you and even if you had bright purple make-up on and a dress that cost far too much for the amount of material it had, he wouldn't stop loving you."

Ellone smiled resigning. It was true, Laguna couldn't change for the world and she knew he cared about her, after all, he when through the whole of Esthar looking for her.

Slowing her mental worries for herself Ellone examined her two guardians. The occasion wasn't anything so formal that Kiros and Ward felt compelled to wear tuxes but none-the-less they had both made an effort to look good. Kiros had his hair re-braided back tightly with a couple of oriental beads and threads weaved into it and both he and Ward were both in formal clothing.

Ellone's stomach started to churn again as the three made their way down the stairs and further down to the restaurant. While she was scanning the tables Kiros and Ward were chuckling to themselves about their little escapades with her father. Ellone's eyes visibly lit up when she saw him and she gracefully ran her way across the hall to him, her eyes watering ever so little.

Of course Ward was right. The other two made their way down to the restaurant and met up with the journalist, who while waiting had managed to catch the attention of one of the waitresses. Now he was scratching the back of his head, smiling uncontrollably in attempt to hide how nervous he was. After the exchange of greetings and hugs, and the waitress wondering off, the four caught up on the events of the past eight months and ordered huge amounts of food for which Laguna insisted on paying for.

Unfortunately he couldn't stay forever, he had to leave for Timber before the morning and after a final coffee the group grudgingly said their goodbyes.

That night Ellone lay awake, it wasn't as though the beds were uncomfortable, though she did miss her bed at home, it was just that she was thinking too much. It was great to see Laguna, to see that he was rekindling his career as a journalist and that it was going well, it was just… he was so selfish, he hardly ever checked up on them! Okay he had taken the time to see them today and he had genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself, but she wished that he were around more. Okay, maybe now that she was older being crowded by a father figure was embarrassing, but still, she wished that he was around more, maybe not babying her but just knowing that he was around would have made her feel more comfortable. And she knew that there were times that Kiros and Ward would much rather be out fighting monsters or just having a good time with her father than watching over her.

She was silently pondering, though the thoughts in her head could have drowned out any noise. Still, she heard the door buzz when and incorrect code was entered. She got up, pulling back the duvet and cautiously called out. "Uncle Kiros, Ward?"

There was silence and Ellone sat and waited. It could just have been someone who had accidentally gone to the wrong door and had now worked that out, but because of memories from her childhood she had suddenly become very jumpy. Despite these memories she managed to lie back down and get to sleep. The little event had made her loose her trails of thought and although she was now thinking about something else, this trail of thought wasn't strong enough to keep her from sleeping.

In the middle of the night Ellone woke up needing a drink. She pulled back the duvet and swung her legs over the edge rubbing her eyes in preparation for the bathroom light that… was already on? She was certain that it was off when she went to sleep and as far as she knew she didn't sleep walk.

Slowly she climbed out of her bed and made her way to the bathroom, not really knowing what she'd do if there was someone there, but hoping that she could just get her drink and go back to sleep. "Hello?" she called out nervously.

Great Ellone, let the strange person know that you're awake. But the noise that she expected to come from the Bathroom came from behind her. She heard the swish of something slicing through the air and then her grasp on reality slipped.