The Return of Ultimecia

Author: SoulOfFlame

Chapter 12: Betrayal

~*~Soul~*~: Back again! Okay here's the deal! I realize that I confused some people with the two Seifer thing, and the weird thing about Fujin and Rajin. If you are confused then please read Chapter 6 and the following: When Seifer was trapped in the Antediluvian Realm, Ultimecia cloned him. There are three evil spirits name Uweigulu, Enzuria, and Nye. Uweigulu possessed the clone of Seifer while Enzuria possessed the REAL Fujin, controlling her mind and body. Nye did the thing to Rajin, controlling his mind and body. But there is only one Fujin and Rajin. There are two Seifers because he is too powerful to be controlled. Oh and to avoid further confusion, thoughts and telepathic conversations will now be italicized.

Disclaimer: Same as the previous chapters.

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A small smile played upon Tempest's lips. There was no longer any doubt in her mind that the Sacrosanct Guardian could be any other than the boy in front of her. Despite her reservations about this boy, he had the traits of his father. He had the shining blonde hair and passionate jade eyes, not to mention the fiery spirit of a warrior running through his veins. This boy would turn out to be a great man like his father if he was given the proper guidance.

"So you think that this is funny?" He asked in an irritated tone. This egotistical young woman had just shown him the destruction of the world and struck him to the core with fear, and she was smirking at him? Seifer didn't see what was so funny.

"What I think is funny and what you think that I think is funny are more than likely two entirely different things Seifer Almasy." Tempest replied in an uninterested tone. She turned her pale eyes on him and Seifer shivered. He hated that stare, and how it made him feel like she could see his soul. He felt completely exposed to her when she looked at him like that.

"Oh forgive me for being rash in my drawing conclusions." Seifer muttered mocking her proper and verbose manner of speaking. Tempest arched a delicate eyebrow at Seifer upon hearing his remark, but chose to ignore it. Damn she acted like the stuck Instructor Quistis had been. She still was that way in some respects, but she had begun to loosen up around her friends at least.

"If you're through mocking me then we should leave. Time is short and we have many things to do before we can set out on the tasks set before us." Tempest explained as she turned to leave. She waited long enough for Seifer to rise; grumbling uncouth remarks as he reluctantly obeyed. She then proceeded to walk through the realm to the edge where Quistis had left. Once they reached the edge of the Antediluvian Realm, Tempest paused and turned to Seifer again. She waited for him to catch up to her and to regain control of his breath before continuing with her statement.

"Now, before I release you from this place, I have to tell you something. You may not want to hear this, especially from me, but you need to know." She paused, as if waiting for Seifer's authorization before continuing. He slowly nodded his head and she nodded curtly before continuing. "You see, you are not merely who you appear to be. You have certain ... abilities that you will need to awaken and exercise in order to help those you seek. These must be done yourself, but I am here primarily to help you begin awakening your powers." Seifer looked her over skeptically before begrudgingly accepting her words as truthful.

"What do you mean by powers? Like ... magic and spells?" He asked not quite understanding what she meant. Tempest nodded slowly and tried to gather her thoughts into words.

"Yes, in a certain manner. You see Seifer, there is a long history behind what you have been destined to accomplish, and the road will not be easy. You will have many trials and obstacles on your path to glory. But along the way you must be prepared to sacrifice anything for your objective." Tempest explained. Seifer's mind flashed back to the days of serving Ultimecia nearly four years ago. He had been eighteen then, and he had slaughtered many innocent people to accomplish what he had thought was his objective. He wasn't sure he was willing to do that again.

"I see your thoughts and doubts and understand your fears." Tempest continued. Seifer opened his mouth to argue that he had no fears, but knew it was a lie and that she had already seen he was afraid.

If Puberty Boy could see me now ... Seifer thought with a laugh.

"Seifer, I do not mean for you to kill those who are innocent, or for you to take control of any cities or towns. This is not an operation of domination. You are trying to save the world from certain destruction; do you understand what I am telling you?" She asked.

"Yes." Was all Seifer gave as a reply. He understood what he had to do, even if it wasn't exactly what this woman was telling him now. He had to rise against Ultimecia and defend the world. It was his duty to defend the people from harm and to correct the mistakes he had made before. It was his chance at redemption.

"Good, then take this. It will help you when you can unlock its secrets." She handed Seifer a small golden pendant on a thin gold chain. The pendant was a symbol that Seifer couldn't understand. Tempest pressed it into his palm and looked into Seifer's eyes with hope and pain in her eyes. Seifer did not understand why she looked at him like that, but he did understand he had to do what she asked of him.

"I won't let you down Tempest. I will help your Queen." He said. Tempest smiled at him gratefully and nodded.

"Thank you Seifer Almasy, I owe you more than I can ever repay. I will be in touch to help guide you along the way. If ever you need me, just call out my name, and you shall find me." Tempest said with her eyes shining with gratitude. She watched as Seifer walked out of the Antediluvian Realm and into the darkness of the cavern, following the path Quistis had taken a few hours before, and then turned back and vanished into the air.

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"What the hell took you so long?" A young woman in her mid-twenties was leaning against the stone wall of a large castle. She had long, straight, light brown hair that she wore in a high ponytail and large green eyes. She wore a circlet in her hair similar to Tempest's that was made of oak. Her elfin ears poked out from the two strands of hair that fell and framed her lightly tanned face. Her attire consisted of an outdated archer's outfit apparently from medieval times, which was many shades of green and trimmed with gold. She also held an oak staff with a large green crystal on the top. "You should have been back hours ago!" The young woman snapped.

"These things take time Kirishiin." From the air, Tempest appeared and descended onto the stairs beside her sister. She brushed off her gown and looked at her younger sister for her message. "Well what did you want to tell me?" She asked.

"What makes you think I wanted to tell you something?" Asked Kirishiin leaning languidly on her staff.

The fact that I can read your mind. Tempest replied telepathically. She smirked as her younger sister rolled her eyes.

So? I can always just not think. I wasn't thinking about that anyway! Kirishiin replied in a childish manner. She thought about her words for a moment and confused herself.

Fine, if you weren't here to tell me something then why were you here when I arrived? Tempest inquired not feeling up to dealing with her sister's stupidity at the moment. This child wasn't worth her time, and she had important news to relate to the others.

I was out here because Akane told me to wait here for you and tell her when you arrived. I don't think she's too happy with you right now. Kirishiin replied in an annoying tattletale voice. Tempest rolled her eyes and tried to walk past her immature little sister. Kirishiin stopped her by side stepping and blocking her path.

"Kirishiin get out of my way!" Tempest demanded. The younger elfin girl refused to move and sighed idly to annoy her sister. Tempest narrowed her eyes menacingly.

"Oh ... all right!" Kirishiin said exasperatedly. She turned and vanished into the air with a small rustle of leaves straying behind her. The leaves quickly turned to gold and lay there dead. Tempest rolled her eyes and vanished silently into the building.

Inside the castle was a lavishly decorated room full of rich tapestries and old, archaic items. There was a large wooden table at the center of the room with four seats spaced far apart from one another on the sides, and one at the head. In this fifth seat, sat a woman older than Tempest of Kirishiin. She glanced up at the two upon their arrival with her deep navy blue eyes and then back to the tabletop in lack of interest. A tanned hand brushed a few stray strands of light blonde hair out of her face as she waited for the meeting to begin. Tempest looked at the new woman in disgust that she should have the audacity to sit at the head of the table. The older woman rolled her eyes and rose; revealing a tight navy blue gown that faded to a lighter blue at the bottom and flared out in what resembled waves. She raised her hand in the air and a cobalt staff rose to meet her grasp. She sat down in what was apparently her proper place and looked to Tempest to be sure she was satisfied although it was clear she didn't care.

"If you three are done, we have things to discuss." A voice said. A fourth woman waltzed into view and ended all of the silent arguments trading between her three younger sisters. Tempest looked away at the floor, refusing to acknowledge her embarrassment, and Kirishiin silently walked over to her seat. The woman, whom Tempest had been silently feuding with, kept her gaze elsewhere.

The fourth woman wore a crimson dress with black trim that wrapped around her body and seemed to cling to it for support. She had black hair with several shades of red and gold shimmering in it. Her amber eyes were stern and cold, yet held a fire all their own. Her deeply tanned skin made her seem dark and gave an air of mystery. She held a tall staff with a garnet crystal on the top that resembled a flame. She waited for Tempest to sit down before slowly walking to her seat.

"I hope you all realize just how much we have at stake here." Said the scarlet clad woman solemnly. She remained standing next to her seat, but did not make a movement to take it. She looked at her sisters in disgust and disappointment.

"I realize Akane." Said Kirishiin meekly. The woman silenced her with a glare, before continuing.

"Each one of you was given a task and how many of you have accomplished it? One! Out of three simple tasks, one has been accomplished!" Akane raged. The three younger sisters held their tongues and gazed silently at their older sister. It was Tempest who cautiously broke the uncomforting silence that followed.

"Akane, my dear sister, I have accomplished my task. I just arrived from doing so. It took longer than expected; the boy was being difficult. I only just convinced him." Tempest explained.

"Two of four is still a failing grade Tempest." Akane said bitterly. "Sorceress Ellone asked simple things of us! Why is it that only Tempest and myself accomplished the ones we were assigned? Kirishiin you have done nothing but stand there all day and wait for Tempest to return!" Akane reprimanded her youngest sister.

"But Callisto told me that you wanted me to wait for Tempest and send her to you when she got back!" The youngest girl whined in her own defense. Akane turned her gaze to the silent woman clothed in sapphire and arched an eyebrow.

"Well I didn't tell her to do that until after I thought she had accomplished her task. What do you take me for exactly Akane?" The blonde woman asked folding her arms and rolling her eyes.

"Then what did you spend the day doing Callisto? You failed to accomplish your task as well!" Akane raged.

"I did no such thing. I did as I was asked! I had the girl attacked in the Shadows." Callisto replied icily.

"You were supposed to do it yourself Callisto." Tempest reminded her in a rude tone. Callisto glared at her sister.

"And you are supposed to respect your elders Tempest!" Said Callisto angrily.

"Whatever, I found that idiot Guardian and sent him off to help "My Queen" with the vision Sorceress Ellone wanted, and so now he'll rush off to help the girl and we can capture both of them easily." Tempest said proud of her efforts. "I had him eating out of the palm of my hand. He actually believes that he's going to stop Sorceress Ellone single handedly and redeem himself." Tempest let out a cruel and mocking laugh.

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~*~Soul~*~: Whew done again! I tell ya I had a major writer's block on this chapter but thanks to Water-Lily43 and her awesome chapter, I was inspired to write another chapter. (I am not kidding either.) Anyways, I am tired and sick or I'd take the time to individually thank my reviewers. I know that's no excuse but I didn't want to stall any longer putting up this chapter. I love you all and thank you for your comments. I will thank you all next chapter when I have the consciousness I promise!

~*~Soul~*~