My first review for chapter 2: Appears!
You're right. This is more than pretty good. A bit disoriented though :) Keep it up :)
Throne of Black Thorns

Disclaimer:

Warnings:

Chapter 3: Natural
Seifer was dragged into the office where the red haired soldier sat waiting for him. She wasn't wearing the soldier uniform she had been in when she ordered him here, but rather now she wore a simple black dress with her hair combed back in a more attractive manner, her tanned face still cold and hard like ice.

"I'm glad you could come here tonight Mr Almasy. Please, take a seat." She offered him the seat opposite her.

The soldiers stood at the door as he walked to the chair. "I was hardly given a choice." He frowned as he sat.

The feelings I love like this are overflowing...
I want to be with you even if I'm sad
Your back is becoming hazy, where are you headed?
When I felt love on my lips,
I believed, that you are here...
I watched the fleeting, dispersing snow
The last view was white and oppressive...
If these frozen fingertips can reach you once more
Our footprints will disappear as if never left behind...

Seifer frowned as he listened to the song playing in the background. It mentioned snow, was it a way to get him to tell them where she was going? Or did the red head already know where she was going?

"You don't have to worry Mr Almasy. We don't want to hurt the woman. We want to bring justice."

"And how do you propose you do that? If you didn't want to hurt her then why the hell did you bring all your weird ass soldiers here?"

"It was a necessary precaution."

"For what? I know she's strong and all but she ain't able to take out the whole army by herself..."

"Mr Almasy, calm down. The woman you know as Quistis Trepe is quite a threat to Gaia. We need to neutralise her before it repeats, we know-"

"You know nothing you weird ass bitch!" Seifer slapped the table standing standing in anger.

"Be seated Mr Almasy."

"Who the hell are you to order me around?"

"It is none of your concern Mr Almasy, now be seated before I am forced to take serious action."

He leant across the table into her face, "And what kind of 'serious action' might that be?"

"Commander."

The two turned to look at the door. "Master?!" The red head bowed her head as a man wearing predominantly red with black hair and orange tinted glasses stepped into the room towards them.

"I see you have managed to capture one of them." He looked around for someone. "He is inferior and without her, he is of no use to me. Where is she?"

"Master, we haven't found-"

"Well hurry up and find her. IF we fail to find her before THEY do, then everything is doomed to repeat itself."

Seifer watched how red - the name he'd given to her - visibly lost all her authority when this 'Master' spoke, or even when he was in the room.

"But Master! We don't know where she is!"

"Then you will find her. Both of you will find her."

"Master! You can't! You know what will-"

"Nothing will happen Commander. I will send you out when the first darkness shows over the horizon. I expect a report from you every 3 days. If I don't receive one..." He left the sentence hanging and Red's head drooped considerably "Should you find her, then you must bring her to me at once."

"Yes Master."

"Get some rest Commander. You will need all your strength to face her."

Quistis sat on a rock jutting out above the dusty surface of the ground. The night sky fascinated her. She listened to the voices on the wind and began to sing the song with them from a memory that had begun to surface.

"Who are you? Let me hear your name?
Nothing, nothing, can't recall.
Where am I, the real me?
Rain in my eyes.

Tell me why? How long I was there?
Somebody, Somebody tell me
Broken glass heart, anxious heart.

Labyrinth in a deep forest,
Perhaps it's a trick of the God of Time,
I have no place to return,
I'm lost, alone.

But now, I met you
Forever, Forever let's be friends
It would be nice to dry tears
Don't leave me alone.

Pieces of memory float to the dream
Someday, Someday I'll find them.
Where is it? The real world?
Cold moon.

I'll make a wish on
Twinkling of a far away star,
In my heart, I hear an echo
oh your gentle voice.

Who are you? Let me know your name?
Someday, someday, I won't recall
Where am I, the real me?
Please, find me.

Don't forget me
Someday goodbye alone."

"BEAUTIFUL."

Quistis jumped and spun around to find Fujin standing on the rock behind her. "Fujin, you scared me for a minute there. What are you doing out here?"

"SONG. WHO?"

"Who was the song about?"

"FOR. ABOUT."

Quistis tilted her head gazing past Fujin to the stars, "I suppose it's about me..."

"TROUBLE."

"Yes. But we all have our troubles. And we handle them differently. Like Squall would say nothing. Seifer would always speak his mind let everybody know what bothered him-"

"NEGATIVE."

"What do you mean negative? Seifer did always speak his mind-"

"SEIFER. IDIOT."

"He wasn't an idiot. Unable to follow orders yes, but I don't think that makes him an idiot."

"NEGATIVE." Fujin lowered herself and sat beside Quistis. "SEIFER. HIDDEN."

"You're telling me he hides things?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"What does he hide?"

"EVERYTHING."

Quistis rolled her eyes. "You're not going to tell me are you? Don't want to betray Seifer."

"SEIFER. CONFUSED."

"He told me that he was confused, but he wouldn't tell me what it was about..." Quitsis leant back on her arms and stared at the stars pulsing with life.

It's so peaceful here...Like...
Like something you've felt before?
Yes.
This is the first time you've been here though.
Yes.
But it isn't.
That's what it feels like.
Your past, your present and your future have all been messed up. They're all intertwined.
Is this why...I feel like this?
Yes.

"ULTIMECIA. YOU."

"That's what he's confused about?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"I can understand why he'd be so confused about Ultimecia, she did leave him confused, but I'm nothing to be confused about."

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"Fujin...Why do you only speak one word at a time?" Quistis waited for a response but didn't receive one.

"FA-"

Quistis looked at her only to find Fujin had lowered her head and was staring into her lap. She felt immense sorrow radiating from her and was tempted to comfort the girl who always appeared to be the strongest of mind out of the disciplinary committee but didn't for fear that she'd get kicked like Raijin who seemed to have developed some sort of limp since she'd seen him last. Fujin stood as began listening carefully. Quistis had heard the noises Fujin was hearing now almost an hour ago.

"ENEMY." Fujin grabbed Quistis' arm and pulled her onto her feet. "RUN!" The two girls began to run towards the cave Raijin and Zell were sleeping in. "RAIJIN! WAKE!" Fujin kicked him making him wake up immediately.

"I was having a good dream ya know!"

"ENEMY! ZELL! WAKE!" She kicked him too while Quistis was busying herself by sorting out the GFs she and Zell had.

She handed Zell Quezacotyl then continued sorting he other GFs. There was Shiva...It was still most compatible with her. She kept it, junctioning it to herself. Pandemona was most compatible with Fujin so she handed the GF to Fujin who quickly junctioned it to herself.

"I won't need one ya know?" Raijin explained holding his rod.

Quitsis nodded a silent understanding and handed one more to Zell.

"ENEMY. CLOSE."

Quistis stood and looked around at her companions. If they were to fight, they would have to get out of this cave. "We've got to get out of this cave."

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"I know a way out back." Zell said. When confronted with Quistis' confused look, he shrugged. "I found it when Raijin and I were looking around a while ago."

"They not normal enemies. They might be waiting for us."

"It's pretty well covered. I don't think they'd realise it was there." Zell shrugged.

A flare was thrown into the cave landing only a moment away from Quistis' feet. She stepped back further into the darkness making as little noise as she could. A black soldier ran into the cave receiving a wallop from Raijin's rod. There were a few shouts and more ran into the cave only to receive the same treatment. He stormed out of the cave, his rod held up high.

"Get the hell outta here!"

"RAIJIN! IDIOT!" Fujin ran out to join him. "OUT!" She ordered Quistis and Zell before they could protest. Zell started out but Quistis held him back and Fujin turned to look at him. "ZELL. STAY! QUISTIS. HELP."

Zell nodded. "Zell, where's this exit?"

"This way." Zell began to lead them to the back of the cave when Raijin was flung back towards them.

"Hurry up! One of those super soldier people ya know?"

Quistis looked over her should and saw the outline of a soldier approaching. "Fujin!" Zell screamed towards the soldier and appeared to slam straight into a wall. He slid to the ground out cold.

"There you are. It didn't take very long to find you after all."

Quistis stepped back taking hold of her whip, cracking it before the soldier. "You...I knew I should've gotten rid of you when I had the chance."

"Now now, that's not a very nice thing to say to the one holding your lover hostage." The red haired soldier pulled Seifer towards her putting him between the two women.

"He is not my lover you crazed woman!"

"Crazed? Just because I've seen the future doesn't mean that I am crazed. You never liked me. And I always used to think you were the only person in the world, that you were the Ultimate woman. You always looked down on me as though I were the dust that covered your boots at the most inconvenient times. And now I'll finally be able to get back at you through your lover."

"How many times do I have to say it? SEIFER IS NOT MY LOVER SERAS!" She yelled stepping passed Raijin who groaned and slowly stood to join her.

Fujin ran passed the two and also joined Quistis and Raijin who were obviously on the war path. Zell eventually opened his eyes feeling refreshed for some reason he wasn't sure of because he was the only one with healing magic. He saw Quistis looking particularly pissed and jumped out of her way as she went head on with the soldier before them.

"My dear Quistis Trepe. You misunderstand my intentions."

"I understand them completely. You want to destroy me before anything happens."

"Then you know about your future too don't you?"

"I know that you aren't in it anywhere." Quistis lashed out with her whip only to find it being slashed to pieces. When she was charging Shiva, Seras pushed Seifer into the range. "Stop hiding behind him!"

"Why? You did it."

"I never used Seifer as a shield for myself!"

"No, but you used him."

Quistis frowned. "Seifer...I'm sorry but I've got to do this." She released Shiva.

The ice queen appeared before them and broke out of her glacial prison. Diamond dust was released. Seras stumbled back releasing her grip on Seifer. Fujin seized the opportunity to grab Seifer and pull him back to their side. Seras glared at them then put two fingers to her mouth and let out an ear piercing whistle. A group of six soldiers appeared carrying a box, a very long box at that. They put it down and continued to pant from exhaustion. Seras grabbed the box, flipped the lid open and pulled out gun parts.

"Zell, how the hell do we get out of here?" Quistis demanded backing away from Seras and the gathering number of soldiers behind her.

"Come on. This way." He began to lead them out through to the narrow paths through the back of the cave.

Fujin began towards the front where Zell was when Seifer groaned. "Eh..." His eyes opened and he saw Fujin carrying him. "I can walk myself. I don't need to be carried Fujin."

Fujin nodded and unwrapped her arms and joined Zell. Raijin was far behind making sure that there were no unwanted guests approaching. "Are you okay Seifer?"

"Come on Instructor. You know that an attack of Shiva isn't going to hurt me." He grimaced.

She stood with her hands on her hips, "And I suppose that's why you're leaning against the rocks. Seifer, why don't you just talk to me?"

"Why should I talk to you about anything?"

"Don't answer questions with questions."

"Yeah yeah, I know that already." He searched through his pocket for a potion to find nothing. "Hyne. Just my luck isn't it?"

"Let me help."

"You haven't got any potions."

"Need a hand there?" Zell asked coming back to them.

"Let me handle it Zell. I've got to get used to this sort of thing."

"Yeah, but you don't have anything and Shiva ain't exactly your kinda healer..."

"That's my point." She put her hand on Seifer's chest. "Curaga."

A gentle warmth filled Seifer's body, the pain of Shiva's attack died. "How did you do that?"

"I'm a sorceress."

"They were right?"

"Yes. Now hurry up. We've only got a little while before-"

"Outta time already Quistis. Out of time." Seras appeared behind them, the enormous gun on her shoulder. "You shouldn't have bothered to heal your lover Mr Almasy, he only slowed you down."

"Seras...You've changed. But not for the better. The dead rose."

Seras' face distorted in rage. "Prepare to be neutralised Quistis!" She pulled the trigger but Quistis didn't move.

Her jaw set in determination, she put her hands before her and cast firaga at Seras. The fire spell hit the woman at the same time the shell hit Quistis. The two seemed like a mirror image of the same person being blown backwards landing on their backs and not moving. Fujin, Raijin, Zell and Seifer stepped towards Quistis then backed off unsure of what had happened and whether the shell would effect them. Time passed at a crawl it seemed before either stirred. Seras groaned and sat up to find Quistis still on the ground unmoving.

"Mission accomplished."

"Don't get so cocky Seras..."

"Huh?"

Quistis lifted off the ground and stood facing Seras who looked paler than she did when Seifer saw her first.

"That was a direct hit! That should've..."

"I told you that you wouldn't defeat her so easily..."

"Master!"

"Seras, you have failed me this time. I will make sure that you don't the next time." He walked over to Quistis who stood frozen in an unemotional state staring at the man who approached soundlessly. "You know who I am don't you." It wasn't a question, but it wasn't quite a statement.

"Yes. You're from my dreams."

"Yes. I have only one question for you. Do you want your future to happen the way it is going to?"

"Yes."

"You will die."

"Everybody dies."

"Yes. But aren't you afraid of your death?"

"Yes."

"You can stop it."

"I won't."

"Why?"

"That's three questions."

He chuckled and walked away. "I will come for you again in time. But I will never leave your side."

"I know."

"Come Seras."

"But Master-"

He grabbed her arm and they vanished along with all the soldiers into darkness. Quistis fell to her knees then to her chest. Seifer scrambled to her side before her head could hit the rocks. "Trepe!" He pushed her back onto her knees, his hands gripping her shoulders tightly so she wouldn't fall again.

She smiled at him weakly. "I'm glad you're alright Seifer." Her blue eyes closed and her head tilted forward.

"QUISTIS. TIRED."

"Well, I think it might be somethin more than tired ya know? She did get hit straight on by that thing...Whatever it was." Raijin added.

"She can't just die! We need her alive."

"They said that there were others searching for her. And if they found her before they did, then everything would be doomed to repeat itself." Seifer frowned as he stood and slung Quistis over his shoulder. "I don't trust either of these people trying to find Quistis. Sure, she might be a sorceress but that doesn't give them a reason to kill her. We've got to keep her safe. Away from all of them that are trying to find her."

"What if she's like Rinoa, a really powerful sorceress but doesn't know it yet?" Zell added.

"It still doesn't mean they can kill her without a fight. She might even be the only way to stop the war."

"What war?" Zell asked.

"That weird Master guy and Seras were talking about a war that will happen within the month."

"You think Quistis has something to do with it?" Zell frowned.

"She might. That could be why they're looking for her. A sorceress on their side would be the most powerful weapon anyone could want right?"

Zell, Raijin and Fujin nodded. "Come on. I know just the place to hide her." Zell insisted.

"If you're gonna say Balamb forget it. That'd be the first place they'd look."

Raijin and Fujin nodded. "COME."
"Where are they?!" He slapped her once more only to find no matter how much he hurt her, she wouldn't answer. "You know who she is! She will destroy everything we live for!"

"She is what we live for."

He grabbed a handful of her black hair and tugged on it hard, several strands breaking from her head. "She is the ultimate problem. The cause of everything that happens here."

"Hey you fat, ugly, ass jerk! Leave her alone!" Selphie screamed from her prison.

He turned to face her with a sly smirk on his face. "Aren't you just the most adorable little thing?"

"Leave her alone!"

He glanced at the cowboy who was struggling to release himself from the bonds that chained him to the wall. "Oh ho? What's this? The cowboy and the spunky girl?"

"Irvine, Selphie, you have to remain calm. There's no telling what he will do to you if you continue to act like this."

"But Matron-"

"I'm alright. Just a few bruises..."

He turned around and slapped her hard knocking her out. He cracked his knuckles and turned back to Selphie and Irvine who were both struggling to get out of their bonds. "Where is she?" He asked raising his fist to Selphie.

"I don't know!" She screamed and spat in his face.

He wiped the spit off his face and produced a knife cutting into her shoulder. "Where is she?"

"I don't know!"

"Wrong answer." He slashed her dress at the waist cutting through her skin at the same time.

"Selphie!" Irvine tried to check if he had a GF junctioned or even any magic, but they had taken it all away from him when they'd found them.

His eyes narrowed. "Maybe I'm taking the wrong approach here..." He walked over to Irvine. "Where is she?"

"I don't know man..." Irvine growled. "If I could get to my gun you'd be splattered against that wall there."

He kicked him in the ribs, the crack was audible and Selphie cringed. "Irvy!"

"Sephie! I'm alright...I'm alright..."

"I will ask you both once more, where is she?"

"I don't know!" Irvine shouted as best he could.

He went to hit him once more when Selphie gritted her teeth, "Shumi!"

He turned to face her in victory. "Thankyou." He walked away leaving them alone in the room unguarded.

Selphie looked down, at her feet the man had dropped the key. She looked around to see if he would come back or if there were any cameras planted in the room. When she found none, she began to wriggle.

"Selphie, what are you doing?"

"Irvine, I think I can get us out of here..."

"How? We don't have any magic..."

"Just trust me would you?" She caught the key between her feet.

Now I've got to get it to the locks...

She tried to swing her feet up to her mouth so she could get the key between her teeth but she wasn't quite that flexible and she'd formed a cramp in her stomach. "Eh...This is hard work..."

"Selphie, we're not getting out of here in a hurry, believe me."

"I am going to get us out!" Determination filled her voice as she continued to try.

She bent her knees to try roll them up to her chest and received another pang of the cramp making its home in her stomach. She decided to give it a rest, the cramp winning.

"I thought I could get us out of here..."

"Don't worry Sephie...We will...Just not yet."

Groan. Edea's eyes opened and focused on Selphie.

"Matron. Are you alright?"

"Of course I am dear." She shook her head and sighed. "If only we had some way to warn Squall and Rinoa..."

"I'm trying..."

"I have an idea. Matron, do you have any of your old sorceress powers left?" Irvine asked.

"Of course not. I transferred everything I had to Rinoa dear."

"Anything at all! I'm sure not everything could be transferred to her, there has to be something remaining inside you. Something that is part of you that can't be denied."

Edea smiled. "You always have hope. That's what I loved about you all..."

Irvine's hope faded. "There's nothing?"

"Just one thing...But I'm afraid I don't see how it could be of any use to us now."

"What is it?"

The smiled grew larger, "I can make flowers bloom and make them last longer than usual."

Irvine let his head fall. "So that's why the flowers in Cid's office last so long?" Selphie asked.

"Yes dear. You are observant aren't you?"

Selphie smiled.

"Wait, can you make flowers appear or something like that?" Irvine asked, a new idea forming in his mind.

"Why yes dear. But, why?"

"Anywhere?"

"Provided I know where it is yes. Anywhere at all, any kind of flower. I've always like jasmine myself." Edea sighed.

"What flowers does Quistis like?"

"My...I'm not sure. I wasn't even sure that she liked flowers for that matter. Irvine dear, what are you proposing?"

"You know where Squall and Rinoa are hiding away don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"Then can you make flowers appear there?"

"What sort of flowers would you like dear?"

"Peach blossoms!" Selphie suggested.

"Peach blossoms...Yeah peach blossoms! That ought to remind them of Quistis!" Irvine agreed.

"Certainly." Edea closed her eyes picturing the house the two were staying at.

"Squall, look at this..." Rinoa tugged him outside and pointed to a peach blossom growing suddenly up the side of the house.

"I didn't know you put peach blossoms in here..."

"I didn't. But there's one growing...It reminds me of something...I have to go shopping for more peaches."

"More peaches? Don't you have enough of them already?"

"Squall..." A frown crossed her face.

"It's dying." He pointed to the peach blossom, which was shrivelling up.

"But it just started growing...You think it's trying to tell us something?"

"You mean other than you've got to go shopping?"

"Yes. I'll check it out." Rinoa put her hand on the blossom and saw Quistis being chased by soldiers in black. "Quistis is in trouble."

"She's a big girl. She can look after herself."

The vision continued. Quistis was killed. "Not this time she can't. Whoever is chasing her is going to kill her..." Edea, Irvine and Selphie were bloddied and tied up in Cid'' office. "We've got to go to Garden."

Squall raised his eyebrow. What does she want to go to Garden for? She knows I left after Ultimecia...

"Squall, if you don't talk to me I'll never know what's going on in your head."

There she goes again, she's always doing this...

"Squall!" She stood with her hands angrily on her hips and a frown plastered on her face. "I mean it. We have to go to Garden. They're in trouble."

"Alright. We'll go..."

"Yay!" She hugged him tightly and ran inside.

I can't believe I'm doing this again...I swore I'd never go back to Garden. Why Hyne are you doing this to me?

"Did it work?" Selphie asked trying once more to grab the key with her mouth.

"I believe so."

"Great! But ah, how long before they get here?"

"I'm not sure."

"So we'll be stuck here for however long they decide to take."

"Something along those lines."

"They could be forever. Where were they hiding anyway?"

"They were not hiding. They were simply building themselves a new life."

Irvine grunted. "Y'know, having broken ribs and hanging like this isn't exactly my kinda fun..."

Selphie squeezed her eyes closed tightly to stop the tears, "You'll be okay Irvy, you've gotta be."
"Perhaps this might help..." Edea's eyes closed and a flower bush began to grow.

The thorns grew larger as the vine got closer to him, but to his amazement they never touched his skin. They opened the locks on his wrists then died. He stumbled to the ground gasping in air. "You could've done that from the beginning and you never told us?!"

"I wasn't sure that I could control its path. I was shocked that I didn't end up killing you instead." Edea admitted.

"Irvy! Stop stickin around and get me outta here!" Selphie ordered while squirming madly.

He joined her side, taking the key off her, unlocked the locks keeping her prisoner and was smothered by Selphie's arms locking him into a tight embrace.

"Eh! Selphie! Too tight! Too tight!!"

"Oh, yeah..." She released him from her death grip then grabbed the key from him and went to Edea. After moments of silence Selphie shifted uneasily. "Why are they after Quisty?"

"Because of who she really it."

"Well who is she?"

"You will find that out for yourself when you face her."

Selphie frowned. "I suppose she's a sorceress overall huh?"

"You could call her one."

"Could call her one?"

"I suppose you could call her the 'Ultimate' sorceress."

"She's stronger than even that biatch Ultimecia?"

"Not yet. She's still learning everything."

"But she will be?"

"Most definitely."

"Wow..." Selphie sighed. "How long before they get here? I'm hungry." She looked to Irvine, "And Irvy's in pain."

"I'm fine." He insisted fearing another of her hugs.

She walked over to him. "Fujin kick!" She kicked him hard in the shin receiving yelp of pain for her efforts.

"What was that for?"

"For being a macho man."

"But why a fujin kick? They hurt man!" He rubbed his shin gingerly.

"Cause."

"I can gell you're there. Come out." Quistis ordered.

Seifer approached her, "What are you doing alone?"

"Sometimes solitude is the only way to feel everything."

"Including cold. Here." He took off his jacket and held it out for her.

"I'm fine Seifer, really. You need your jacket more than I do." She turned to look up at him and smiled.

"And here you are telling me not to be heroic..."

"I'm not being heroic Seifer. I am not cold."

"Of course not. You're Shiva's second, you don't feel the cold."

She kicked him sharply in the shins causing him to lean down to rub his leg. She grabbed hold of his shirt and held him at her face level. "You listen here Mr Almasy, I hear one more smart comment from you and you'll get hit so hard you won't know which way is up."

"And what are you going to hit me with? Your 'save the queen' lying in a mess somewhere?"

"All SeeDs are trained for unarmed combat Seifer...Of course you wouldn't know that now would you?"

"What're you gonna do? Bitch slap me?"

She released him from her grip. "I hate you Seifer."

"Oh, you broke my heart Instructor." He put his hand to where his heart beat, frowning, "You broke my heart."

She spun around, "That's enough Seifer! All you do is mock me and I've had enough!" She flung her fist at him only to meet with the hardness of his hand which grabbed it easily and yanked her towards him.

"I told you you wouldn't be able to hurt me." His arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

"Let me go!" She ordered struggling to get out of his grip.

"No."

"Let...Go." Her will started diminishing as though being drained from her at rapid speed.

"No."

"Let..."

"No."

"Seifer..."

"Yes?"

"I...Hate you."

"I know."

He leant down and peered into her bright blue eyes, searching for the unspoken answer to his unspoken question. He placed his lips onto hers. An incredibly icy chill swept throughout his body followed by an intense burning sensation. Kisses with other women had never felt like this...The intensity grew more as the kiss deepened. Quistis felt troubled, she didn't want the kiss to end, but it had to. A searing pain in her head sorted the matter out. She pulled away with her head in her hands, trying to claw out the cause of the paint.

"Instructor?"

She writhed in agony before releasing an ear-splitting scream, a shockwayve like ring exploded from her body.

"Wha-" Zell, Fujin and Raijin had all run from their campsite to find what the scream was about when Seifer was thrown backward into them. "What the hell happened?"

"I dunno!" Seifer growled at Zell who started for Quistis, "One minute she's fine, the next she's spaced out! Like that!"

"LIE!"

"Not entirely. She did just scream in between the two points and throw me back a good 100 metres to have a nice soft landing on Chicken-wuss here..." Seifer patted Zell's head as he walked back to Quistis' position.

She stood floating, much like float had been cast on her. Her hair was like a golden halo, blue eyes closed, arms out as though she were hanging on a cross, though there was no pain in her face. They noticed then that wings seemed to have sprouted from nowhere on her back, one black, one white. Her hair was slowly losing its colour from gold to white. Her feet touched the ground sending out golden pools of light, her eyes opened to reveal midnight coloured eyes which stared at the group coldly.

"My name is Deajus. I am a messenger." Her voice was soundless, yet they could hear its iciness as though she'd spoken.

"What do you want?"

"I bear a message from Hyne."

"That's great, where's Quistis?"

Where am I? Is this some sort of dream?
This is no dream child.
Then what is it?
This is your future...
Quistis was thrown into a battle field, she was fighting her own friends.
Squall, Rinoa, Selphie, Irvine, Zell...None of them want you here anymore.
This isn't true.
Why do you deny it? It is your future.
They're dreams. What I see here isn't real, I can choose if it comes true, I make my own destiny.
Your destiny has already been marked.
No...
I will show you.
Quistis was hauled into the sky wher she watched another battle raging beneath her. Squall, Rinoa, Selphie, Irvine, Zell and herself were fighting Ultimecia.
What's this got to do with anything? This is my past!
This is your future.
Squall ran for Ultimecia and made the final blow. Quistis turned and ran from the group crying.
This isn't true. Why would I cry over her defeat? She tried to kill us! She used us!
Is that how you see it?
Huh?
She never used you...Never hurt you.
In her own way she did.
How? What did she do to you?
She hurt us all. By hurting them, she hurt me.
But you're alone. You're more of a lone wolf than Squall.
I've been alone much of my life. One learns to accept it, get used to those sorts of things.
Do you know who you are?
Quistis Trepe.
Do you know who YOU are?
I don't understand...
Learn about yourself, learn about your enemies and you will discover everything in due time...You may return now. My message has been delivered.
Message? What message?
I am not your enemy. I am a friend.
How can I know that you're a friend and not a crazy voice I created again in my head for comfort?
How comforting can a voice like me be?
I suppose that's true...

"Quisty! You alright in there?" She saw Zell's worried face and almost jumped.

"Zell, yes I am fine. What happened? I was told that a message was delivered...What message? Who delivered it?"

"You did."

"Me? How could I have delivered it?"

"Well it wasn't you exactly..."

"What do you mean?" She frowned and crossed her arms.

"DEAJUS."

"She's some sorta messenger angel or something ya know?"

Quistis put her head in her hand and shook it. "This is getting more confusing as the day goes by-yeek!" She grabbed a handful of her hair and stared at it. "What happened to my hair?!"

"A side effect?"

"It's..."

"It suits you ya know?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

Zell nodded enthusiastically while Seifer simply folded his arms and walked away. Quistis looked at his back as he vanished from sight and shook her head. "Is there something wrong with Seifer?"

"Uh...Well...You see..."

"I look like her don't I? The hair."

"There is an odd resemblance between you both..." Zell admitted.

Quistis frowned slightly, the 'odd resemblance' didn't put her at ease either. "This must be what he meant..." She muttered to herself beneath her breath. "I'm going to check on Seifer-"

"Maybe you shouldn't go ya know? I mean, you do kinda...Well ya know." Raijin put his hand on her shoulder causing her to stop midstride.

Seifer shook his head. It was too much of a coincidence. He didn't believe in them, and yet one was right in front of him. The messenger Deajus had warned him that his past, present and future were all intertwined, but he didn't understand what she'd meant. She was after all female, and women never made sense.

"SEIFER. UPSET. WHY?"

He turned to face Fujin with her arms crossed, Zell standing behind her slightly to her left. They had grown particularly close during the few days they'd been together...Almost like...

Stop being stupid.
It is true though, don't you feel it?
I do, that's what scares me.
I didn't know you could ever be scared Almasy.
I can...And I am.

"Nevermind." He growled before continuing to walk off.

"You hurt her." Zell yelled.

Seifer stopped, then turned to look over his shoulder to the blonde boy standing with his arms folded across his jacketed chest. "Maybe it's for the best."

"You're leavin? Just cause something happens to her, which makes your brain go haywire, you hurt her and leave her? Only a bastard would do that."

Seifer glared at Zell. "Are you trying to piss me off Chicken wuss? Cause I swear you've called me a bastard many times Zell." He strode purposefully off leaving Zell standing in shock.

"He called me Zell..."

"AFFIRMATIVE."

Seifer continued walking after he'd reached their camp, all he held in his possession was Hyperion and the waters drawn from the soldiers from Balamb. He had plenty of waters...He heard footsteps pounding behind him furiously, whoever it was was running after him.

"Go away." Seifer growled before Quistis ran in front of him. Her long hair swaying gently before her porcelain face.

"Why are you leaving?"

"I have things to do." He lied.

"Seifer...I remind you of her, I know. But please, don't just leave because of bad memories. You're beginning to act like..."

Act like who? Yourself?
I suppose so.

"Act like who Instructor? I'm acting like who?" His voice was filled with dare.

"I will make a deal with you Seifer..."

"I will not make a deal with you Instructor. I am not-"

"If you can't stand me so much, then why?"

Seifer knew what she asked. He turned away for fear that he may betray himself to her. "Because you are easy."

Quistis closed her eyes tightly, tears threatening to fall, her icy strength froze them before they could come to show. "Leave."

"I intend to Instructor."

"Why don't you run to me like you did to her?" Her voice seemed not to belong to her causing him to spin around in shock.

Sure enough it was Quistis standing there, her eyes so icy they sent his body cold just looking at them. She had changed, there was no denying it, she no longer seemed somewhat angelic, she'd lost that angel light...

"Why don't you run to me like you did to her?" Seifer still couldn't answer. "I want an answer Seifer!"

"Because I will not become a slave again."

"I'm not asking you to be a slave Seifer. I am asking you to be with me."

"I will not become a slave again."

"I just want you to help me Seifer. Why can't you understand that?"

"You never wanted to help me. Not once in your conceited life Instructor. You always proved me wrong somehow, bending the rules for Puberty boy but never allowing me over them. He failed the pre-requisite for the exam and you let him hurdle over it." He saw Quistis' reaction, he'd hit a nerve. "It's sad that a woman such as yourself could do something so stupid."

"Enough Seifer."

"No, I've only just begun!"

"Please Seifer! Just stop!"

He noticed that she had completely broken down and now knelt in the dusty surrounds, her hands across her face, tears freely falling. She rarely cried, he knew that...And it was he who'd brought her to the tears that had lay dormant for many years. "Instructor...Understand me."

"I can never understand you Seifer..." She raised her gaze, "And I suppose I never will." The tears had turned into ice, frozen onto her face. She looked even more like the ice queen Shiva...Or Deajus even. "If you must leave because of me, then let me go."

"Stop being heroic."

"I mean it Seifer. If I am the cause of your pain, tell me and I will leave. I am still supposed to be at Shumi...Even if I am almost a week later than I was supposed to be." She laughed a little then sighed, waiting for his answer.

"You've always been my pain Instructor...But you've also been the one to relieve it."

"Then what do you propose we do about your confliction?"

Seifer paused, unsure what she meant. "What do you mean?"

"Should I leave?"

"No!"

"Then should I stay with you all?"

"I cannot answer that Instructor. Why do you ask me these questions?"

"Why must you avoid them?"

"Don't answer questions with questions Instructor."

She laughed once more. "At least you paid attention in my classes. That's the least I could ask for."

He opened his mouth to talk once more when his voice died in his throat. Her eyebrow raised, "Yes Seifer? You have something to ask me?"

"You know, being a sorceress has its bad points."

"How do you know this Seifer?"

"You can read my mind!"

"I'm not so sure that I would want to do that...I don't think I'd handle what I found there...Wouldn't I?"

Seifer flushed. "I suppose not...But you might like what you found in there too."

She smiled. "Then you won't do anything particularly rash will you?"

"Depends."

"You won't run off in the middle of the night because you think the cover of darkness will hide you from me?"

He opened his mouth once more to find his voice vanish. "How?"

She only grinned and offered him her hand. "We have to move on Seifer. I need you here with me."

He looked at her outstretched arm, his dreams flashing once more in his mind. The woman was Quistis. "I need you too." He took her hand and grasped it tightly as though letting it go would mean her death.

Fujin and Zell stood looking at the scene before them. "You know, they look kinda cute together...Although I hate to admit it of course. I don't like Seifer, I don't think I ever have or ever will...But Quisty seems to be happy. As long as she's happy, then I think I can let her bad choice of men go."

Fujin nodded. "AFFIRMATIVE."

"How bout you and I..."

Fujin kicked him sharply in the shin. "I get the point..." He rubbed his shin and frowned. "That's one nasty kick you've got there..."

"AFFIRMATIVE."

A/N
So, you think you know what Quistis' secret is? I'll give a fan art of anybody's choice to the person who guesses first, and a few selected ones from then on.

So...You all still interested? Send me some reviews...Talking about reviews...

Jeangab057: I'm glad you still liked Chapter 2 even if it was a li'l weird...I hope this one made a little bit more sense...Probably not...most of it was written when I was half asleep on the train... -_-

Pierson: Can you guess the secret? I'll give you a clue...It isn't right in front of you yet...Hope you keep reading...

Frost: trust me, she's not just a sorceress...Tis boring eh? Her secret is far more interesting than that...

a: Well...Thanks. Simple and straight to the point eh? Hope you keep reading, if not, thanks for reading up to here...

Selphie-almasy13: You really like it? That makes my day when someone says they like good Seiftis' then say mine's good. awwww...

Quistis88: Hey, I might actually have a follower of my story! Wow. I went and had a look at your story - as you probably figured out from my review...^_^; Body doubles are great huh? Ahem. Hop you liked this chapter, actually, I hope this turned out as 'easy' to understand as the last chapter was.

NieA: Descriptions...Hm...I'm not sure how they went in this chapter...As I said to frost, I tend to be trying to sleep when writing this on the train...-_- The manga's coming...rather slowly but tis coming. Just had to fix up character designs ya know? Quistis isn't quite finished 'tweaking out' just yet. Just in remission for a chapter now. As for Oboreru, I'll re-read that and find a pic to draw then send it to ya like I said I would.

Now...The next chapter will reveal just a little bit more about her secret...Of course, you're all welcomed to try guess her secret...But I can't guarantee you'll get it...Anyway...
Arigatou Minna-san!