.:XI:.

Time was taking its toll on Esthar. Their technology was great, but their paranoia was even greater.

Against the wishes of President Laguna Loire, Esthar launched an attack on Galbadia, following the orders of Doctor Odine and his fellow researchers.

Sorceress Trithonia, seeing this as declared war, launched an attack of her own. Across the sea, between both lands, near the Horizon Bridge, the two countries collided in an arms race and eventually a battle.

Trithonia's troops came off relatively easy, due to excellent strategic planning. The sorceress was a master of game plan.

Eventually, something had to come to a halt. President Loire requested an audience with the sorceress, to discuss matters.

Laguna sat back in his chair, still waiting in this Galbadian Palace to speak with the feared sorceress, Trithonia.

I gotta negotiate peace...I GOT TO. She's got more of a control on things than I do. Even if it means handing over Odine, then I'll have to. Though I don't relish handing her a weapon that could destroy us all...He thought, as a guard came back.

He stood up, his own escorts looking apprehensive.

The Galbadian guard cleared his throat. "The Sorceress will see you now."

Laguna swallowed nervously, and walked down the carpet, inside, seeing her straight away.

Trithonia, looked at him. "My informant tells me...that you did not order this attack on us, President?"

He shook his head. "No. I did not. I absolutely forbade this action. Dr. Odine, one of our leading researchers, and leading authorities in Esthar, ordered the attack.

"You know of Odine?"

She nodded, her red eyes glinting. "Oh yes. The sorceress hater."

Laguna swallowed again. "We only wish to negotiate peace. Esthar wishes not to be disturbed by anyone, by all means."

"You have two choices, Laguna Loire." The words rolled off her tongue like honey.

He nodded. "And they are?"

"One. You will hand Odine over to me, to be executed. Or two, you will hand yourself over to pay your country's debt."

He paled slightly. "If I were to do so...what would happen?"

"You would become my...personal, assistant, until I feel that the lives of my troops were sufficiently paid off."

"You won't kill Odine?"

"No. If you comply." She answered, smirking.

He glanced at the floor, thinking really hard. He was going to hate every minute of this...but he had to do it. He couldn't just let Odine die, no matter how much of a scum he was. "I'll do it. Just let me tell my men to send a message to my aide, Kiros."

She nodded, her face full of absolute glee. He'll do.

He winced, telling his guard the message: to tell Kiros to stand in for him until he got back, and if anything happened to him, to maintain the city shields at all costs.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

Lucrea finally rose from her bed, relatively better, at least enough to be getting along with.

It had been many days, in fact, an entire fortnight before she was able to move again without shivering.

They'd managed to get a couple more allies, and by sheer luck, found Odin once again. He agreed immediately to help them.

She started to change into her new attire, the battle outfit she'd been saving. She had added something special to it.

Carefully taking the pattern that Zell had given her, she had embroidered Seifer's cross into her clothing.

Smirking to herself, she pulled on the ribbed sleeveless shirt, and then her gloves.

The shirt clung to her upper body, and split at the bottom of the front, spreading back and reaching down to her heels, like a black cascading curtain.

Taking the pendant, she carefully placed it around her neck, smiling to herself, and promptly took her gloves off momentarily to spike up her hair, washing her hands, pulling the gloves back on, and moving out, heading for the cafeteria for something solid to eat.

She got in line just in time, to get a good hotdog, and started to eat, sitting by herself, as no one she knew was in the room at the moment.

"But Rajin, where the HECK is Fujin? What happened to my welcoming fanfare?" Seifer grumbled, leaving Rajin for a while, and spotted Lucrea. "Gotta go for a while..." He smirked, and went to sit next to her, leaving Rajin shaking his head.

"Whatever ya! We have to find her eventually!" He called, turning to leave.

Seifer sat down at the table, eyes trailing to the insignia he recognized as his own, as she finished her hotdog.

"Like it?" She asked, looking at him.

"...How...how?"

She giggled. "I got Zell to make me a pattern, and this." She gestured to the pendant.

He reached out, smirking, and scooped it up gently off of her chest. "...Fine craftsmanship but...chicken-wuss touched my coat? Now he'll pay." He growled.

She stood up. "Come on..." She tugged at his hand.

He raised a brow. "What? Where?"

"Garden's dropping us off at Mother's old orphanage for a while by ourselves, while they go to Esthar. They said it was important, but they don't want me in the way..." She sighed. "I'm hating this sorceress thing."

He nodded. "Ah I see. Well, at least you have me?"

She laughed. "Yes. Yes I do. Let's go then."

They ran outside, to the ruined house and watched as the Garden pulled away moments later, off to Fisherman's Horizon.

She skipped down to the beach, near the lighthouse, before sitting on a large rock, looking back at him.

He followed, gunblade in hand as per usual, sticking it in the sand, before settling beside her.

The sun was just beginning to set, and she was watching it.

She sighed. "I guess we never really get to enjoy the little things anymore..." She tilted her head to one side, wrapping her arms around herself.

He nodded. "That's very true. But we have to keep looking forward, and have as little regret as possible for the past."

She glanced at him, and moved into his lap, leaning her head against his shoulder.

He smiled, lifting his arms, and holding her. "Don't let yourself worry about any of this. We'll come out fine, she can't win."

"Do you always know the right thing to say?" She asked, closing her eyes.

"..." He thought about that momentarily. "No. But I guess I did a moment ago."

"I wish that things like this could last forever..."She looked up at him. "Don't you?"

He watched the sunset, the red, pink and gold blending into the sky.

"Yes...it can't...but yes."

She looked up at him, some meaning in her eyes, and he looked back down, a small smile still tugging somewhat at his lips.

"Don't ever leave me." She pleaded softly, their foreheads touching slightly.

"I won't. Not even if we're ripped apart, you have a part of me." He answered, feeling warm somewhere down in the region of his chest. It felt strange; unfamiliar, and yet, welcome.

The sun had nearly set as their lips met, the last light of evening streaming past the two of them before shading the ground in darkness, unknown to them.

He pulled back, watching the last of the horizon, slowly disappearing, and she did as well, the silence deepening, not in awkwardness, but in mutual understanding.

He would find out who the Sorceress was, he was sure of it. But the consequences that would arise next would be catastrophic to the grid of his world...


Gah...O.o; I hope you don't think this character is a Mary-Sue, because for your information, there are certain things a mary-sue needs to fall under in order to be, a mary-sue.

One: The character is you.

Most certainly not. I'm a total pessimist to be honest, and she seems to be relatively normal, despite the sorceress bit. And if you wonder why I made her a sorceress, the potential runs in the family, and once one becomes a sorceress, especially at a young age, it is essential that they are taught the rights and wrongs of the magic they can then weild, which is why she was sent away. The relationship makes sense, explains why she wasn't around during the FFVIII game, because all known sorceresses were in danger. There. She's not a mary-sue, that's the bottom line, and if you think she is, then don't read my fic. It's as simple as that.

Whew! For those of you who like this story, I present chapter 11. Read, review, and of course, enjoy.