AN/ I know it has taken FOREVER for me to update this story. Truth being, as much as I like it and where I want to go with it, I'm having trouble getting it to come together. Hopefully, I will eventually find the flow I had when I first started it and get it going more in-depth. Thank you to those patient people who have been waiting. Here is the reward for that patience.

Diablos walked up to Seifer, holding his hands out before him. "GIVE THE CHILD TO ME." He gently took her from Seifer. "YOU COME WITH ME." He reached down and lifted Seifer from the ground as well before taking to the sky with them both cradled in his arms.

"THE REST OF YOU CLIMB ON." Bahamut lowered down. Hesitantly, they took purchase on him. Squall, Quistis, and Zell rode in his arms as the others squeezed onto his back. Once they were seated and holding on, he likewise took to the air.

Terentia was right. The Guardian Forces had gotten them to the island in half the time it would have taken to wait on the Ragnarok and travel there. Diablos and Bahamut landed, setting everyone down but Terentia. Bahamut then took to the air, circling a couple times before flying away.

"What are we looking for?" Squall asked as he looked around.

"LET HER." Diablos finally set Terentia down. Her eyes were bright, like neon. She walked forward as if in a trance. Diablos followed close behind, the others behind him. She finally stopped, spreading her arms. Her hair waved about her as her feet left the ground. "I WARN YOU, YOU MAY SEE SOME DISTURBING CHANGES IN HER APPEARANCE." As if on command, wings very similar to his own erupted from her back, as did a very similar tail. Pointed teeth clenched in her mouth. Her skin took on a paler hue. Her fingers and toes lengthened and became clawed. Her pupils overtook the rest of her eyes.

The ground beneath and around them began to shake, to tremor. A dark cylindrical object erupted from the sands. The front slid open to reveal a tall black clad man with long silver hair. His hands clutched around a long thin sword against his chest. His eyes flew open at the same time her feet hit the sands. She was back to 'normal'.

"Sephiroth," she whispered before taking off at a run toward him. She was halfway there when something slammed into her, sending her flying end for end across the desert, the others watching. Everyone instantly had their weapons out and ready.

"SOMEONE HELP SEPHIROTH. I'LL HELP TERENTIA." Diablos flew to her aide. Squall ran to help Sephiroth. As Diablos neared Terentia, he saw a flash of metal. He knew she was well enough to fight, at least, but she still needed help. Just out of reach of the huge black shadowed figure, he hit the shell of a spell. He flew backwards, landing beside Squall and Sephiroth. "HURRY, SEPHIROTH. YOU MUST HELP HER AS I CANNOT."

Sephiroth, though still weak, instantly took to his feet, running sword in hand. As he got behind the figure, a flash from ahead blinded it enough for him to go undetected. He looked up to find Terentia in her Chaos form, sword clinched in clawed hands. He took his chance, jumping high into the air and bringing his sword down across the spine of the creature. A roar pierced the air as the creature took to the air and fled.

Diablos flew to Terentia, knowing she would need calmed down and he was least likely to be harmed by her until she was. He had a bit of trouble getting the Chaos to recede, and when it did he had to catch her limp body. She had passed out. Her body had been through too much in the last hour.

Sephiroth ran to her side as Diablos gently placed her on the sands. "Tia?" He swept her hair back from her face. The others came to stand around them. Tia? Can you hear me? He gently questioned her mind.

Roth?

Wake up, Tia. Let me see your beautiful eyes.

The others. They are okay? She sounded tired.

They are fine. Your large friend seems anxious for you to wake. May I ask this noble guardians name?

Diablos? She could not be certain he was the one he meant, but he was the she was closest to. She slowly blinked her eyes open. Sure enough, there stood Diablos looking down at her. "Diablos, we must go. I... need to talk to everyone... but... not here. I'll summon..."

"The Ragnarok is almost here," Squall interrupted her. "I called it to pick us up on the way here. Riding in Bahamut's arms is an experience I will not repeat." He had his arms crossed and his usual serious expression on his face.

A few minutes later the ship arrived. "I'LL TAKE MY LEAVE." Diablos bowed to Terentia then disappeared. Sephiroth gently picked her up as the others made for the Ragnarok. He followed.

"Highwind would like this ship," he commented as he boarded. He looked down at Terentia.

"Especially since it can go into space." She gave Sephiroth a small smirk. "I think I can stand now."

"Are you sure?" He made no move to set her now struggling form down.

"Put me down, Sephiroth, or I'll cut off your precious hair." She gave him a stern glare. Her eyes flashed momentarily.

"Alright but don't bitch at me when you fall over." He sat her down and stepped back when he knew she was steady. She hmphed and walked farther into the ship. He smiled at her antics. She would never change. Her pride was probably strong than even his own. And stubborn... She was the most stubborn, hard headed... No, the second most stubborn, hard headed person he knew. That's what I get for letting her spend so much time with Highwind. He shook his head and followed her. The others were giving him odd looks and seemed reluctant to get too close to him. Once a crazed maniac, always a crazed maniac.

Sephiroth's eyes jerked up as the ship lurched on lift off. They landed on Terentia as she lost her balance and began to fall. Before he could react, she once again landed in Seifer's arms. "This is becoming a bad habit of yours, Panthea." Seifer straightened her up. He did not let go until he was certain she would not fall over again. When he did let go, he did so slowly.

"What can I say, Almasy? You're always standing too close to me." She smiled at him ruefully.

"I was just walking by. Last time I was too close because you attacked me for no reason." His voice took on a low edge when most would have risen.

Squall knew if she kept at him, there was going to me a fight. "Seifer, cool down," he warned the blond. Seifer glared at him before starting toward Rajin and Fujin again.

"Let him, Leonhart. I'm sure I can take him." Terentia's eyes flashed. She was ready and willing to fight despite, and probably because, of what she had just been through. The fight had not been satisfactory, the creature was still alive.

"Terentia." Sephiroth knew the look in her eyes.

"I'd love to see you try and take me." Seifer beared down on her.

She looked him dead in the eye. "When we set down, Boy," she snarled up at him.

"You're on, Doll," he growled back. Only millimeters were between their faces. Everyone stood ready to break them apart. However, before a fight could break out, something slammed into the side of the Ragnarok. Seifer and Terentia, like everyone else, were thrown to the floor. They rolled across the ship come to a stop with Seifer's weight pressing down on her. He looked down and noticed her eyes closed. "Panthea, you alright?"

She slowly opened her eyes. "I will be when you get off me," she wheezed. He rolled to the side and stood.

Groans and grumbles sounded from around the room. "What was that?" Zell asked as he sat up.

"Obsidian Weapon," Terentia answered quietly. She stared at the ceiling making no move to stand. She blinked in surprise as a black gloved hand appeared before her face.

"You just going to stay down there?" Seifer asked. He smirked at her.

"Thanks," she replied as he hauled her to her feet.

"So, is this Obsidian Weapon what you were suppose to fight when you woke?" Seifer asked as he stepped back. The others crowded closer to her, Sephiroth attached himself to his sister's side.

"Not exactly. He was awakened by the one you speak of." She walked away from them, to a window.

"Who or what awakened this Obsidian Weapon?" Squall inquired. If something was strong enough to control the monster...

Terentia shook her head. She had not been awake long enough to figure that out. "I don't know."

"Tia, perhaps you wouldn't mind tell me what exactly is going on?" Sephiroth looked very serious. He made Squall look almost cheerful. She idly wondered how Cloud would look, likely even less happy.

"After they tricked us and stuck is in those... tubes, they did the same to some monster or something they could not defeat. We had already been scattered. They did not have a way to find us, so they 'froze' it, too. They had hopes that we would all awaken and kill it."

"So," he started angrily, "not only did they steal our lives and dreams, they stole any future we could ever have. We have no choice in this!" His eyes pulsed. "I should have wiped those bastards out when I had the chance."

"Perhaps." Terentia sighed and turned to face them again. "We have to find the others. Father is so far away I can't feel him, but I can feel a few of the others from Trabia. We'll start there tomorrow. I... I need to lay down." As the words left her mouth, her eyes rolled back and she pitched forward. As was becoming habit, as he said, Seifer caught her. However, this time he had to rush forward, as did several others. He was just lucky enough to get there first.

He eased Terentia to the floor, gently turning her to her back. "Does she usually drain so quickly?" He looked to Sephiroth.

"No, but she seems to be under great stress and I do not believe she as been awake very long. She wants to find her father and will be prone to over doing things until she does."

Seifer nodded. "Seems I'm going to spend a lot of time catching her. I'm starting to get use to it." His voice was not distinctive. He lifted her into his arms. Year ago, no one would have dreamed of me doing this. "I'm taking her down to a bunk. How long before we reach Trabia?"

"Another fifteen minutes, at least, if we didn't receive any damage from..." Selphie was cut off as the Ragnarok was slammed yet again. Seifer lost his grip on Terentia, and she flew from his arms and into Sephiroth. As they all hit the floor, Seifer landed on top of the siblings. He rolled over and check Terentia, who had been jarred conscious to a small degree. Then he stood. "Squall, if this keeps up, we'll go down."

"I'm aware of that," Squall bit out as he glared at the blond.

Terentia looked at her brother. "You are strong than I am. Let me guide you. You must call for assistance."

"I just woke..."

"We must!" She told him urgently. "Or we may all die in a crash."