Author's Notes: I know you all loved the first chapter, because I did. This was one of my first attempts at a very dark, foreboding fic with an unexpected hero, and it was good. This chapter isn't as great, but I had to add back story, so you know. Next one is gonna be a lot better. So… Enjoy.

Firefly-Dreams: No, I did not kill off Squall, but later you're gonna wish that I did. Let's break it down, White SeeDs good, Black SeeDs bad. Seifer/Nida White. Kiddies Black. Easy huh? And Seifer needs to work on his newfound emotions. He's not THAT sad is he? thinks Whatever you say hun.

Ignes Fatui: hugs Yes, my newest Reviewer! This chapter is for you sweetie or hun… shrug

Note: Jan 8, 2006 added page breaks because of flow problems. Easier to understand where thing breaks now. Still blame for this.

Chapter 2: Shattered Dreams

"This place is so different…" Nida said with a frown.

"That happens when the president is in hiding and when fear rules the world, not to mention the fact you weren't here for 15 years… Oh, and SHE doesn't like this place much, it musters too much resistance."

The two of us moved quickly through the crystalline streets that no longer shone as they should. Very few walked the streets alone, so hidden beneath our Estharian robes we blended in far better than I would have alone as a SeeD. For a day Nida and I had held our tongues, not wanting to jinx our luck. Yet it was a relief to finally break the vow of silence.

"We shouldn't go straight to the harbor," Nida said with a frown, "We need rest before risking such a trip."

"Then where are we going to go?" I asked with a frown. Though Esthar was a resistance city, they were unlikely to protect us.

"Just follow me," Nida said with a sigh.

For hours I followed the former Balamb SeeD's lead. Eventually we came to the outer rim of the city, nearest to the harbor. Nida seemed to know the streets well, and lead me to a rather small house, just fifty years from the city's limits. The man rapped on the door several times and then rang the bell. There were the sounds of loud footsteps and some swearing before the door opened. The sight that greeted me choked off my breath nearly as much as the bear hug I found myself in.

"RELEASE!" a sharp command came from a female behind my captor.

Nida chuckled as I tried to struggle from the larger man's grip, "Man Fuu, you don't need to shout."

"Sorry," the woman said with a laugh, "Rai, let him go."

Raijin released me with a smile, "Come in, ya know?"

For a moment I lag, trying to breathe, sucking in the air that my body so desperately needed. When I was finally ready, I followed Raijin in, seeing as Nida and Fujin had already gone in.

"What are you doing here?" Fujin asked as I sat down near Nida in the living room.

"We're heading for the SeeD training grounds in Centra," Nida offered as Raijin returned from a trip to the kitchen with coffee for us.

Taking the cup of hot swirling liquid in hand, I sigh in relief, "I'm heading there. Nida is following me like a lost puppy."

"And you're not ditching me. I won't let you do it alone."

"Hold on, ya know?" Raijin said with an annoyed sigh, "Maybe you should tell us what is going on."

"The Black SeeDs are after me," I spoke, and then corrected myself, "I mean us."

"Shit! Who did they send after you Seifer?" the albino woman asked.

"Quistus, Selphie and Zell most recently. They raided the bridge safe house with a dozen Trackers just to get at Seifer."

"Then you're heading to Centra to defend yourself?" Raijin questioned.

"No," I said, glaring at my coffee mug, "It's time for me to make a stand…"

"Finally?" Fujin asked with a sigh. When I responded with a confused look she continued, "We've been waiting for you to get it together enough to fight. Been keeping ourselves fit this whole time."

"Wait…" I began, only to be cut off.

"No Seifer, you wait and listen. Even though we've been apart nearly 15 years we're still a posse. We're fighting with you. And don't pull a Squall and claim you can handle it. Nida's been preparing us for many years. Hell, we work hard and get away with more because SHE doesn't know we're White SeeD too. So… Before you make up some lame excuse, spill it. Where have you been all these years?"

"It's a long story…" I said to Fujin and the others.

"We've got time…"

"Hyne, nothing is biting!" I growled at my friends while watching the yellow and orange bobber.

"Yes! Check it out, ya know?" Raijin shouted. I looked up to see him holding out his line, a large orange Balamb Fish jerking around on the hook in an attempt to get free.

I jumped up from my crouching position and threw my pole down on the dock, "Shit!"

"STOP!" Fujin commanded the large teen, who was now doing a celebration dance. When he didn't listen, she turned, put a foot on his lower back and pushed him off the dock.

Raijin landed with a loud splash and I roared with laughter. While he swam back to the dock, a shadow passed over us and continues on. I look up and smile at the Garden as it passes far over our heads. Sometime tonight the three of us were going to go to the party so we can make our amends with the heroes and Edea. Still, wasn't like any of them wanted to see my face.

"You guys gonna help me out or what?"

"You didn't say 'ya know'…" I joked with a wink.

"Seifer!" someone cheered my name and ran over, attaching herself to my arm.

"Sefie, let him go, it's not a good way to greet a friend!"

"Friend? Where have you been cowboy? Just a week ago you were aiming to put a bullet between my eyes!" I said in a mock hurt tone.

"Never thought I'd see you again Seifer," Irvine said in a serious tone when Selphie released me.

"I'm just here because our lion insisted," I sighed as I searched faces for Fujin and Raijin.

"Odd," Selphie said, a frown on her bright face, "I thought Squall told us Rinoa wanted to see you."

The name sent a tremble through my body, a need to flee almost over-taking me. Rinoa was a sorceress, even if only faintly, and I didn't want to deal with her. Though she was too innocent to do something bad, sorceresses were forever more something to avoid, all but Edea…

"Whatcha got there?" I asked Selphie, who had raised a camera to capture my likeness forever.

"Camera. Just put new batteries in. Missed Squall and Rinoa kissing though. Twenty years from now we'll remember this night as the best of our lives," she happily announced, "And we'll wanna relive it!"

"I hope you're right," I said, unable to understand the fear I held of the future.

"Well, you should go see Squall now," Irvine said with a smile.

"Hold on," a familiar voice bade Irvine.

Selphie and Irvine parted to allow a welcome face closer, "Matron."

"My dear Seifer," she said with a gentle smile, "We must talk alone."

"Well, I guess I'll see you kiddies later," I said with a wink, "Be sure to have Chicken-wuss and Quisty with ya, maybe even my posse if you can find them. And… Nida…"

The last name confused the two highly, but they didn't object. They departed and Matron, my only true lady, guided me to a quiet place. Now she looked so much like the woman who had raised us as children. Edea 'Matron' Kramer now had a frown gracing her delicate features.

"What is wrong my lady?" I don't think I shall ever give that title for her up.

"You're in danger."

"I know, that is what I deserve if it protects you Edea."

"Avoid Rinoa my knight…" Matron said in a quick whisper and then grew silent.

The reason she rushed things was obvious after a moment… "Almasy."

"Leonheart," I shot back to the only man that could ever beat me in a fight."

"I'm sorry," he said, voice level.

"For what?"

"Taking Rinoa."

"You can have her Ice Princess. I'm through with sorceresses," I growled.

"Whatever," he commented, shame that he couldn't get past his old attitude, "Rinoa wants to see you."

"No fucking way. See ya 'round Leonheart."

"Five years later Rinoa came to me, wanting a knight besides Squall, she wanted two. Figured she had the right to since the last of Edea's, my Mistress's, powers has gone to her when Matron died. I remembered my lady's warning and fled… And here I am."

"Still doesn't explain it all… Why did the others save her?" Nida sighed, "And how did we escape?"

"I don't know Nida. I'm not sure I want to. Why did you leave Balamb?"

"She killed my fiancé," Nida said, looking away from me, "Had Squall kill her."

"Nida, I'm so sorry…" Fujin said softly, "So… It's agreed then? We're going to take that bitch out?"

I sighed and looked around at my friends. Four people would not be enough, "Sure, why not? But we'll need more… And I have a good idea who to start with… Ellone Loire."