AN: Yet another randomly begun fic. SxS - with plot!

Disclaimers: ff8 characters are © Squaresoft

Warnings: Angst, language and SxS

I let the plaintive moans of souls lost in time compression wash over me as everything fades to black. This form is awkward and cumbersome, but less unnerving for them than anything else more, human. I have to admit, my appearance has mainly been governed by my memories of the time when I stood in front of me, feeling more scared and more determined than I ever had before.

"I am Ultemecia..." I speak directly to their minds, no need to worry about the speech impediment this way. "Time shall compress..." But it won't. I have already decided how this will end. At least if this way fails, I have given myself another chance to set events straight. "All existence denied..." Including my own. Specifically my own. I don't want to think that I will rise again and cause all this suffering anew.

I cast Hell's Judgement on them, and it brings them both to their knees. Before either can think of using their limit break, or cure magic or items, I cast Blizzaga on Irvine. The cowboy goes down, a vaguely surprised expression on his face. I see myself drink an elixir as I scatter Irvine's soul to the winds of time, to join the others. Instantly I can hear his voice added to the moans that rise and fall around us.

"Reflect on your childhood." I casually block a probing strike from lionheart. "Your sensation, your words, your emotion." Even as my earlier self's mind begins to unconsciously drift, my own is drifting with it. "Time, it will not wait..." I won't go through this again. This anguish, this pain. I won't let Edea inflict this on me, simply because she is afraid that time will splinter and fragment if it is not adhered to with perfect rigidity. "No matter how hard you hold on..." I know that it won't. And I also know that I am stuck in this eternal loop of aloneness, fear, uncertainty, sorrow and anguish unless I break the cycle forever. "It escapes..." I can see yellow settle across my earlier self's skin as he casts aura on himself. "And..."

I make no attempt to block the attack. Neither the initial attack, which pierces my chest, nor the multitude of strikes that follow, which reduce flesh and bone to tatters.

As he backs off, I smile, I try to laugh, but all that emerges is blood.

There's no pain.

That surprises me.

I thought it would hurt.

But it doesn't.

It's cold though.

So cold.

And dark.

Where have all the stars gone...?

AN: Sorry, 'nother teaser chpt... But the end is nigh, honest, my muses just want to drag it out and build the tension. Plus, like chpt09 it just felt right to break there...

Redrum: next chapter, hope u like, even tho its another teaser ;)

Guesto-chan: thankie, I shall :)

S. Wing: I'm glad I've managed to hook 1 reader at least *glomps* not too far to go now *sniffs* I smell lemons!!

Lady Yuskreven: :p I feel privilaged that u kurse me ;) and just to tempt ur wrath even further, have another teaser... hehehehe