I looked out the window, thought consuming me, somewhat worried about the upcoming mission. I was wearing a long sleeved, hooded Linkin Park shirt and cargo jeans, with part of my hair in a ponytail, the other half down. Seifer kept his distance, which didn't surprise me. Selphie sat next to me, beaming as usual, and Seifer and Squall sat on opposite ends of the train car, shooting evil looks at each other. Men and their inflated egos… If looks could kill, they'd both be dead. I glanced at my laptop.

S_Loire- Hello?

Sarah21- yo! ~.^

S_Loire- Sup?

Sarah21- not a lot. I haven't got a single letter from you yet! (offended tone*) got a boyfriend yet?

S_Loire- Dunno

Sarah21- What's dat supposed to mean?

S_Loire- Means I DUNNO. I can't tell whether I have a boyfriend or not. I know I have a boy who's my friend, but I don't think he's my boyfriend… I dunno.

Sarah21- Hahaha… Sierra's got a boyfriend! Hahaha… : )

S_Loire- Shut up. Boyz suck. : P

Sarah21- (snickers*) whats his name?

S_Loire- none of ur bizness….

Sarah21- for really

S_Loire- Seifer Almasy

Sarah21- OMG?! Ur not joking?! Didn't sef say he wuz cold? How'd u thaw him out? I bow to you for having the guts to brave the ice monster!

S_Loire- He's not an ice monster! He's actually quite nice.

Sarah21- I thought u said boyz suck and boyz r stupid.

S_Loire- they do : P

Sarah21- Hahaha…. Whatever (grins evilly, smirking, laughing*)

S_Loire- I'm on a mission so u just shut up fat head Sarah.

Sarah21- I'm hurt.

S_Loire- u'll hurt worse if u don't shut up about dim-witted sucky boyz

Sarah21- I'll talk to you later, 'migo.

S_Loire- bye

Sarah21 logged off

I sighed, annoyed, and shut my laptop. Sometimes Sarah could be so totally maddening… I groaned, frowning. It must be a headache. My mind felt blurry, like I was watching a movie instead of truly thinking, and I felt disconnected from the world. I felt my lips move, but it was all muddled. I couldn't compute a word I was saying, which seemed quite out of place, but my mind was so detached I couldn't figure out why. I pushed off the feeling, and for some reason terror rose on my throat. Suddenly everything was normal again. Everyone was looking at me, as I just noticed.

"What?"

"Sierra, what were you just saying?"

Sefie looked scared, Seifer shocked, and Squall like he was ready to pull a limit break on me.

"I d-dunno…"

Seifer shook his head, got up, and walked over to her.

"Seriously?" his blue eyes were grim, and he seemed to be dreading my answer.

"Yes."

"What did it feel like?"

"Like I was…" I searched for the right word, "being controlled. A puppet. Everything was blurry. I couldn't control myself, and I couldn't understand anything."

Selphie looked like she was going to pass out.

"Sierra… you know what this means, don't you?"

"Uh… no?"

"That could mean… a sorceress…" she looked alarmed.

Terror gripped my heart. My mind raced. Just like my dream… my nightmare… Was I a monster? I'm in SeeD, an organization designed to assassinate sorceresses… when I might've just gotten possessed by one? This must be a sick joke… it has to be… right?

"What did I say?" I was afraid of the response, but I had to know.

"Wake up from your dream, my children. There is no cradle. Wake up from your dreams, fated children. The dream is not going. Arise. Discover the truth Burn with truth Scorch the world of evil. Burn with truth Set fire to the world of darkness. Goodbye, children,

From the days of destiny"

"… What does it mean?"

"You also said… 'Prepare for my reign, for it is coming. Then you shall have the fated choice, under which one path lies death but honor, the other power, life, and being cast away from all civilized humanity. It is each your choice to make. Only one path is correct. Soon you will meet me in my true form. Until then, I leave you with the choice…' And you snapped out of it."

"…" I had no idea what to say. 

"Let's not say anything about this to anyone." Sefie declared.

Squall gave his affirmation, his eyes shaded. He seemed to be remembering things that were better left alone in the back of his memory. Seifer nodded vigorously.

"It was probably nothing. As long as it never happens again, you're good to go, Sierra. Now, everyone promises that this info doesn't leave this train car?" she held out her hand.

Seifer put his in, me next. Squall, detached, made sure his hand wasn't near the others, but at least he put his hand in at all.

The train screeched to a stop, and everyone was silent as we filed off. A tall, thin girl with attractive blonde-brown hair and blue-gray eyes stood waiting for us.

"Hello. You must be the SeeDs from Balamb Garden?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am."

"Okay. I'm to lead you to the base. My name is Starla Irvette."

"Nice to meet you, Starla."

"You as well." She smiled, and set off in long strides so we couldn't be spotted and identified by any Galbadian soldiers. It took about ten minutes to reach the base. I shrugged off the odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. When we arrived and went inside, Starla turned around abruptly, startled.

"Did you feel that?"

"Feel what?" I asked.

"That… it was a wave of evil energy. It was radiating from something in the room. Didn't you feel it?"

"No…"

I felt Seifer's eyes on me, and my face turned red at the unspoken accusation. He thought she was sensing me, didn't he? Why else would he stare at me? It isn't me!

"Well, anyway," Starla shrugged, "We're here and that's what I was sent to make sure of." She saluted us, "Good luck on your mission, and I hope I see you soon. Bye."

"See ya."

I turned away from Seifer, not sure what the emotions were churning inside. Was it anger? Anger that Seifer would even consider me evil? Fear? Fear of Seifer hating me because of the event? Or was it something else? I couldn't help but notice that the name Seifer kept popping up in nearly every thought. That would have to change. I scowled and closed my eyes. I hated it when things didn't make sense.

"Well… um… we should all rest up before going to get briefed for more information."  Sefie declared.

Without a word I turned towards a room and shut the door behind me. I fell backwards on the bed, and suddenly I realized exactly how exhausted I was. Whatever had happened had drained my energy completely and totally. I let a comforting sleep overtake me, and to my pleasure, I had no more dreams to haunt me. It had been quite a day…