That was then and this was now. In the last decade Seifer had felt himself growing older yet with that age came renewed strength. Around him prowled the creatures of Amelia's creation, normal monsters infused with her powers creating the Red Giant from an Iron Giant, Catoblepas from a Behemoth, Gargantua from a Vysage, Lefty and Righty. A Torama became the Sphinxaur that guarded the main stairway. Then Trauma and Krysta two monsters from her own mind, whereas Tri-point was an amalgamation of numerous dragons. However she fulfilled her earlier wish by enslaving Tiamat, Bahamut's brother as her own GF but she let him roam free in the Clock tower, enigmatically alluding to a much stronger GF.
Seifer not being particularly religious had further reason to avoid the Chapel these days since Amelia had awoken the Omega Weapon that slumbered there.
Seifer was aware that Amelia's destiny was slowly coming to pass and he was having dark thoughts about his own path. He would never turn his back on his adopted daughter, especially now that Garden was turning their attentions towards her castle, now it rose into the sky and loomed under constant black clouds which mirrored Amelia's inner turmoil. He would forever be her Knight but he knew when the time came he wouldn't be there for her. They had never mentioned coming across a middle aged man in Ultimecia's castle which led him to believe that he would be dead before they came to her. Amelia's dress style had become more exotic, dark and brooding as if she was trying to wear her emotions on the outside as well as in.
Four more years passed and Amelia finally began her plans, sending her mind and thoughts back in time to trigger her latent soul in Edea and starting in motion the events that would lead to the arrival of Squall and the others.
In her hand she held a small silver object, the reason why the white SeeDs were laying her castle to siege. Seifer knelt beside her as she ran her hand through his short now greying hair, soothing him as the blood staining his gloves disturbed him.
In her free hand she held Squall Leonhart's ring, that bearing the emblem of Griever the ultimate GF. To acquire it Seifer had to sneak back into Balamb and confront his one time friend. However Squall had been unwilling to relinquish his beloved ring, not realising what power lay within it and so Seifer had to kill him in cold blood, tearing the ring from his corpse.
And now Balamb Garden were seeking revenge having been dormant for so long and they were led by a young man who Seifer knew couldn't exist at this time... surely not?
The door to Amelia's chamber burst open as a figure in a black trench coat stepped into the room, brandishing a malevolent black gun-blade covered in red jagged lines and dried blood. His long brown hair streaked with blond speckled with perspiration whilst his faded black clothes were torn from battle.
'You'll die Almasy!' he roared his mismatched grey and blue/green eyes flaring in anger.
Seifer looked up at the figure. 'But you're dead!' he retorted in disbelief.
'You wish!' the figure snarled and started running towards Seifer and Amelia.
Seifer stood and drew his Hyperion Dos, dropped from Amelia's throne and squared up to the figure. 'How can you still be alive Crave?' he asked him as his cool blue eyes looked into the fiery hell of the figures.
'You don't have the right to speak my name!' Crave snarled and brought his gun-blade down on Seifer who deflected it with his own.
Seifer knew he was going to die, here and now at this man's hands. He had been no match for him in his youth and even with the strength he had gained in his age, the blows Crave was attacking with still surpassed him. Seifer continued to parry the blows which were getting closer and closer to hurting him every time as he wondered just exactly who Crave was and why he was here now and why he was there then.
Their duel took them closer to Amelia who attacked Crave with a Firaga spell. Crave gave her a snort of contempt as the flames billowed around him without even singing his coat. He then brought his sword across and down slashing Seifer across the chest, deep red blossoming on his white top as it spread rapidly. Hyperion Dos slid from Seifer's grasp as he dropped to his knees whilst he could hear Amelia's screams behind him. He turned his head to her to utter his goodbye's and willed her to be strong as Crave pounced on him bearing him down onto his back.
'Cura.' Crave whispered softly and the pain lessened although Seifer was aware that blood was seeping from the slight diminished wound.
'You don't get to go that easily.' Crave snarled and drew a dagger from inside his coat stabbing frantically away at Seifer oblivious to Amelia's screams of rage and pain.
Seifer felt his body slowly becoming numb and his sight faded away slowly. It was then he realised who he was looking at and grabbed Crave's shoulder tightly.
'I'm sorry... I wish I hadn't had to kill him.' he uttered softly and was unable to say more as Crave viciously brought the blade down on his throat severing his neck as he spat in reply to his words.
'Apology not accepted.' Crave said dryly as he rose from Seifer's corpse and turned to face the pained Amelia.
'I see you can understand my pain, Ultimecia... or should I call you Amelia?' Crave sneered.
Amelia replied with another blast of magic which again harmlessly passed Crave by.
Crave grinned and stepped closer. 'Forget it... your powers can't hurt me. I have some Sorceress blood in me... strangely enough it's a fragment of your own power.' He told her.
'Who are you?' Amelia asked stepping back and sitting on her throne.
'Crave Leonhart, son of Squall Leonhart and Quistis Trepe. The man your knight here murdered and the woman he devastated. Plus I have something else of my father, something that an old love passed onto him when she was killed and somehow was passed to me. I bear the crest of my Soul Mother Rinoa Heartilly and honour her by bearing a blade in her memory. You couldn't understand what my life has been like. Sure you lost your parents too but you were born to a loving family. I was born of necessity, born to be a heartless warrior, to seek out you and Seifer Almasy and destroy by any means necessary. I loved my father, wanted to make him proud of me, wanted him to show me some kind of emotion but ever since your parents were killed he locked himself away inside. Was basically a robot... except when my mother was around but he distanced himself from her and me as you grew stronger... maybe he wanted me to be like him, stronger maybe, to prepare me for when he died so that I could avenge him and maybe put an end to you for good.' Crave told her taking a small dark orb from his pocket.
Amelia leant back from him looking at the orb curiously. 'You intend to kill me with that?' she smirked.
'In a way... with this I can go back to before all this started and stop it before you are born.' Crave grinned and ran a thumb over the orb so it glowed red. 'See you in hell!' he sneered and faded away before her eyes.
When he had gone Amelia smiled to herself. She knew from Seifer's memories that Crave failed in his task and besides if he had succeeded she wouldn't be here now thinking this, she had no need to stop him.
Outside the halls rang with yells of pain and sounds of battle as the remaining SeeDs fell to her guards. She walked slowly down to Seifer's body and knelt by him, stroking the hair on his severed head and looking into his blank blue eyes. She was hurt deeply by seeing him die, having spent so long with him, loving him like any daughter loves a father, but she smiled to herself as she knew he would live on. She dipped Squall's ring into his blood, which was drawn into the metal which glowed red briefly. Griever was now awakened, his form filled with Seifer's soul. Her beloved Knight would protect her to the end just as he promised.
Seifer's body faded as she stood slipping the ring onto her finger, feeling the warmth of his loving soul against her skin as she closed her eyes sensing that her biological father and the others would be arriving in her realm soon and she'd accomplish her dreams after all these years.
He came back to his own time, sprawled on his back surrounded by lumps of tortured masonry and corpses. Ultimecia's castle was just a pile of rubble and he could hear a soft voice in his head once more.
'It didn't work.' the soft feminine voice told him.
Crave ran a hand along his cheek and noticed his scar hadn't reappeared. 'Not the way I had hoped no...' he replied to the voice.
He sat up, the folds of his coats sliding off him. 'He sent me away, I thought this was what he would have wanted.' He muttered to himself.
'Maybe he would've just wanted you to try just so you'd understand that this was how things have to be. He really did love you.' The voice told him.
Crave glanced at the remains of the castle. 'So she's dead huh? Lucky her, at least her torment is over. I guess it's strange really a part of her and a part of me will keep going round and round in that cycle and yet I'm the one who's left to escape it and move on.' He said softly.
'But can you?' the voice asked him.
Crave stood and a female figure materialised beside him, her hair pale blue and she was dressed in blue denim jeans, blue denim jacket and a purple top.
'Well what is there left now? The world is in tatters after Amelia and Garden is just hollow after my father died.' Crave replied to her.
'What about your mother?' the girl reminded him.
'She's more hollow than I could ever be. She loved him for so long, so much, through so many things but now he's gone she can't cope with life. She can't bear to look at me anymore because I remind her so much of him.' Crave sighed.
'Well we could travel the world, try and bring some hope back into it for those who are left.' The girl replied.
'Kinda hard to do that when you have no hope yourself.' Crave said dryly.
'For me?' the girl said softly, her blue eyes looking into his imploringly.
Crave grinned. 'For you Shiva I'd do anything. So long as you're with me all the way.' He told her slipping an arm around her and drawing her in.
'I promise... my dear Crave Leonhart.' She told him and kissed him softly.
Crave broke away from the kiss and looked around sadly. 'So long Angelo.' He sighed.
'We can get you another one.' Shiva told him smiling.
Crave raised his eyebrow sarcastically. 'Are you joking!? It'd never be the same.' He told her laughing.
Shiva snuggled up to him as they started walking away and Crave turned to look at the castle one more time.
'So long Amelia, I guess you'll never get the chance to rest in peace like I might.' He thought sadly as he walked with Shiva to find a place on this decayed world he could truly call Home.
Authours Note: Well that's it. It's finally over. If you haven't already read Fistful of Notes and wondering what happened to Crave when he went back to stop Amelia, you'd better read it now. Anyways R&R me on what you think about my take on Ultimecia!