Author's Notes: I'm back. Don't you love me? You better. I've had a lot of stress lately, so be glad I even wrote a chapter. If I don't reply for a while I have a good reason, just don't ask. Okay? I'm not being very nice, so don't ask… I should find some pain killers, but I'm too lazy to… Now let me have my quiet.

Firefly-Dreams: Thanks for enjoying my dream sequence. I liked the odd Ellone/Seifer idea, it just seemed to fit. Glad it seemed sad, because that is what I was going for. I hope you cried… Not because it's mean, but because that is what I was going for. Enjoy.

Phoenix-of -the-darkness: Sorry, I can't kill her until the end hun… Weird though that you would reply to my fiction. A phoenix name replying to a story by a phoenix name… Oh, the omens in this.

Chapter 4: Even Playing Ground

Everyone jumped to attention as we entered the briefing room together the next morning. What an odd sight it must be for Nida, Xu, Fuu and Rai to see us like this. Where Ellone was one timid, she stood confidently before the White SeeD leaders, her Katals hanging from her sides. Now Elle really looked like her adoptive relatives of Squall and Laguna, just as brave and commanding. Beside the completely composed military woman I had to look odd. Years ago the cocky and arrogant Seifer Almasy had diminished because of the war. My hair, while short, was longer than it was in my teenage years and my normal smirk rarely graced my features. Then again, I still looked good in white and I managed to keep a healthy appearance through everything. With a nod from Ellone the assembled men and women relaxed and took their seats, all waiting to hear why the two most famous fugitives and two spies from Esthar were doing among their ranks.

Before I took my own seat and allowed Ellone to start with the briefing, I cleared my throat. "Before we give you numbers and strategies and all that stuff, I'd like to thank you all, and ask for a moment of silence for those who lost their lives for us, to ensure the success of the mission and to free the world."

The silence that I was rewarded with was so complete that I honestly feared that I had lost my hearing. It was as if someone had hit mute on the universal remote of life. Then someone began to hun, and all eyes turned to Nida. Though he was the youngest leader of the White SeeD resistance, he was also one of the most respected and beloved. More than I could ever be, he was truly the fitting replacement for the Squall of our past. I'm slightly jealous to say he turned more heads than I ever did, or Quistus and Rinoa could have. Like Xu, he had slender features, slightly exotic in their appearance. His sea-green eyes betrayed his Dollet heritage, but the darker hair and paler skin tone gave him the delicate look of a porcelain doll. With all of this was a feline sense of grace and balance and a body that was small and strong, yet reminiscent of a female's, just like Squall's had been. Yet what endeared him most to people was his brave heart, strong mind and musical voice that could charm even the Sirens to their deaths. The notes that came from him now were clear and sweet, an old Ballad of Hyne that had been written during the earliest documented war with a sorceress, long before the so called 'First Sorceress War' of my childhood.

Most present were moved to tears by the music, and even I shed my tears in response. Yet the sob that escaped Ellone's lips was what halted the song. Not once since Rinoa's ascent had Elle been known to cry, for at first she had Laguna, and then Kiros, and finally, me, to keep her strong. Something told me that her thoughts were upon her 'mother' Raine, and how the woman would have reacted has she lived to see this horrible day. Yet so much would be different then, and maybe worse. Who would time have chosen to step up then? It would not be the Lion, for he wouldn't have been around, and it wouldn't have been me. I was only strong because of Squall.

Once the tears had been shed the time had come for the real purpose. I move away to my seat, officially turning it all over to my wife. Ellone quickly regained her composure and cleared her throat.

"My fellow SeeD, the time has come for liberation," she said, her voice grave, "We will be free and the world will be righted. We will fight the Black SeeD and the Sorceress. We shall shape the future. We will be the generation that frees the Black SeeDs so that when time compression comes in the future, they will not be there to stop those who would rise up to clear the way for the heroes! Our children will not see oppression like ours!"

"But how?" Watts asked. Long ago he and Zone had joined the White SeeD to repay them for everything, and still they fought, even though they were closer to Rinoa than any other person that was both alive and free.

"We get an even playing ground," I cut in, once again standing, "For years all have questioned when I was going to make my move, and here is the answer!" With those words I threw Hyperion onto the table.

"One on all five Black SeeD?" Zone questioned.

"Two on five," Nida declared, tossing his staff onto the table and, by doing so, himself into the fight, "Seifer should not have to fight alone."

"Three," Xu said, lifting her sickles to the table. That I should have seen coming. She would not leave Nida to die.

"He's not goin' without us, ya know?" Raijin winced as Fujin kicked him under the table.

"Five on five," I announced triumphantly, "An even playing ground."

"Six on six," Ellone said to everyone's shock. She had taken her Katals in hand and held them loosely, "You forget about Ultimecia and I'll be damned if you leave me out of this."

I couldn't help but smile at this. Seems that we ALL have grown up. It is likely we'll die, but we will fight anyway. Now all we needed was a game plan and a prayer… Before this is over, all of us will be facing one of those Black SeeDs in combat. Ellone will probably face her brother, so I fear, and I Ultimecia. Xu will probably face Quistus, Fujin would meet Irvine, Nida against Selphie, and Raijin would have to take Zell on… Dear Hyne help us.