To all the readers...I'm so sorry it's taken so long for a chapter update. Things have been crazy and it's left me little time for other things. But finally, Chapter 4! And thanks for reading and reviewing, i appreciate it a lot.

In our last chapter, Victoria had succeeded in the capture of Squall, Seifer and now Rinoa. Zell is now emotionally distraught at what Victoria said to him about Seifer, and Quistis has come up with a theory of her own. Now, Chapter 4!

"What's obvious Quisty?" Selphie asked looking puzzled.

"Selphie really! I mean Victoria wanted Squall to get to Rinoa. She needs Seifer for protection but wont let Squall go because he knows where she's hiding out," Quistis explained.

"But Quistis, if she's a sorceress, why can't she simply cast a memory erasing type spell? That way Squall won't remember where she is?" Laguna asked.

"That's what she needs Rinoa for! She's only been able to cast mediocre spells such as transportation and gravity defiance. But she hasn't really been able to do big stuff cause she needs Rinoa's powers. She was never a strong sorceress to begin with!" Irvine pointed out.

"That makes sense. Well, you know what this means. Mission time!" Selphie exclaimed.

"But we're going to have to get Zell," Quistis said. "Irvine!" Selphie and Quistis said at the same time. "Oh boy, I should have seen that comin'. Fine I'll go. Hyne," Irvine said heading towards Zell's room.

"Hey you ok in here Zell?" Irvine asked opening the door. "What in Hyne's name are you doing Zell!" Irvine screamed as he saw Zell.

"I just can't take it anymore. I can't! I can't live like this. I hurt Seifer; don't have the slightest idea where to start looking for him. Damn it! He doesn't want to see me any more. What have I done?" Zell said between sobs.

"Zell, you were ready to end your life? You haven't even tried to get an idea of where to look. Well listen, you clean your self up and get ready to leave. We're splitting up to look for him. We'll find him ok?" Irvine said giving him a pat on the back.

"Thanks man," Zell said going to the bathroom.

"Esthar Airstation to Ragnarok. Come in Ragnarok." "This is the Ragnarok, We read you loud and clear. All Systems on line, to infinity and beyond!" Selphie said.

"Um, Selph?" Irvine asked confused.

"I've always wanted to say that!" Selphie said.

"Ground control check, all systems are go. Good luck team. Yeah kick some butt! Be careful!" Laguna threw in at the end.

"Let's go save Seifer, Squall and Rinoa. Zell?" Quistis said fastening her seatbelt.

"Yeah, let's kick some sorceress ass," Zell said. They finally took off.

"First stop, Deling City. Irvine, you sure you'll be ok by yourself?" Selphie asked.

"Of course pretty lady, I've got my Exeter and your love. I'll be ok," Irvine said kissing her before he departed the ship.

"Remember to call if you find out anything Irvine!" Quistis screamed to him. Irvine tilted his hat, gave Selphie a wink and gave everyone two thumbs up.

"Well, Here we go, Deling City. Oh boy," Irvine said. He hadn't been very fond of the idea of searching by himself, but he had to prove somehow that he could be ok without everyone's help. He arrived at General Caraway's house. "Well, here goes nothing," Irvine said, ringing the bell.

"Ah, Mr. Kinneas. I take it you're not here for a card game?" the general said, greeting him.

"Not this time sir, I'm here on official SeeD business. Rinoa, Squall and Seifer are in trouble. Then again it wasn't exactly official," Irvine said, taking a seat.

"Rinoa? What happened Kinneas? I want to know everything," Caraway said taking a seat himself.

Irvine explained everything, from Squall's actions to Quistis's theory. Caraway's face grew firm and angry. He picked up his phone.

"Yes, this is the General speaking, I need all the information that we have on Victoria Laine, immediately. Rinoa's in trouble," he said, hanging up.

A few minutes later, what seemed to be another army official came in the room and handed a manila folder to the general. He left as quickly as he came. General Caraway turned to Irvine and gave a heavy sigh.

"I trust you and the others will return her to safety. Seifer and Squall too of course. Listen to me Kinneas…Irvine. I already lost one girl in my life and I refuse to lose the other one. So, good luck," he said walking him to the door.

"Don't worry, we'll get them back, promise," Irvine said leaving.

He called the Ragnarok. "I've got the information, and it looks like we'll be finding Victoria faster than we thought,"

Zell arrived in Galbadia Garden, hoping to find the answers he needed. "If she's here, I'll kick her ass my damn self," he said walking towards the entrance.

"Excuse me, but you need clearance from the sorceress to pass," a guard said by the front door.

"So she's here? Well then, let me through! I have quite a bone to pick with her," Zell said trying to walk past him.

"Ah, ah, ah, not so fast buddy, besides, you really think we're gonna let you pass now that we know you're trying to hurt her? Nice try," the guard said pulling out his rifle.

"Oh so now you want to fight? Let's go then!" Zell said putting up his fists.

"Wait for us Zell!" Selphie said running towards the fight.

"Yeah, we would like a piece of the action, if ya don't mind," Irvine said, taking out the Exeter.

"I wouldn't mind it myself," Quistis said, whipping out her Save the Queen.

After a few minutes of fighting and with the help of Zell's limit, the group quickly advanced into the building. They finally arrived at the auditorium.

"This is a little old," Irvine said, looking around.

"A little? Talk about a creepy case of Déjà vu," Selphie said.

Quistis took a seat in one of the chairs. "This is so sad it's almost pathetic."

"For Hyne's sake Victoria, show yourself. I mean really, couldn't you be a bit more original?" Zell said, now even more enraged than he was.

Just then, a malicious laugh came from the center podium. "Hmm…incompetent fools. How dare you insult me? You see Zell, you may degrade my ways, but it is I who has emerged the victor. I have your leader, your sorceress and your lover. Well, former love. He is nothing to you now. Look at him, defenseless and you took so long to save him. You could have helped him Zell. Now there's nothing you can do," Victoria said, throwing Seifer's body to the ground in front of the SeeDs.

Zell ran to his side. "Seifer, Seifer it's me, please say something. I'm so sorry for letting this happen..." He burst into tears and stood up from Seifer's unconscious body. He raced up the stairs and lunged for Victoria when a force of blue light acted as a force field and knocked him away.

"You damned fool. When will you learn? Do not mess with my new powers. Rinoa has been of great use to me. Her powers, some of which even she hasn't unleashed yet, they swarm through my body as we speak. And she, well, she's been spending her time in solitude, but you can all see her in her pity now," Victoria said as she transported Rinoa to the middle of the auditorium and dropped her to the floor. Rinoa's eyes shot open as she impacted the ground.

She looked up and saw her friends around her. "Guys, you're here…but, it's too late, she's too powerful," Rinoa said, looking as if she'd been through many a battle with Victoria already.

"No, that's where you're wrong. I will defeat her; I will get her for this. I refuse to let her…um, I think we have a problem," Zell said, his expression suddenly alarmed.

"What is it?" Quistis asked. "Oh boy," she said, when she saw what Zell already had.

Irvine turned around and dropped his Exeter on the ground. "Victoria…she's gone…"

Well, chapter 4 complete! I hope it wasn't too bad this time, I tried, really. I mean flames always welcome, constructive criticism never hurt anyone. R&R!