(insert disclaimer here) I don't own the characters, I'm just playing with them for a while. (Square owns them and everything FF related) Thoughts are in italics, GF speech is italic bold. Everything else I think is pretty obvious...

Pandora's Box

Fujin daydreamed while Seifer and Raijin discussed Seifer's dream. Somewhere he had read about the Sorceresses having had knights. That was what he wanted, and Raijin thought this was cool except for one small problem – "Hey, boss, how can you be a Sorceress' knight with no Sorceress?"

"Um … I don't have that figured out yet. That's why it's still just a dream. But it'll happen. I just gotta wait." Personally, Fujin thought this dream was pretty silly, but she'd never say that to Seifer. At least he had a dream … and an interesting one at that.

Raijin had a dream, too. But his was much more ordinary than Seifer's – he just wanted the sexy wife, maybe a couple kids, nice place, nice car – normal 15-year-old male dreams. Fujin envied her 'brothers' their dreams, however grand or simple. Not being one to feed herself on illusions about her looks or her charms, she had decided just to focus on being a good soldier and that was all.

She did have an imagination, though. And right now it was coming up with thoughts of Seifer waving a sword in full plate armor riding an armored chocobo. Not realistic at all, but still very entertaining! So Fujin sat there, drinking her coffee, listening to the boys talk, with a smile and a faraway look.

" … ya know. Right, Fuj?" Hearing Raijin say her name snapped her focus back to the table. "Shit! They're gonna ask me what I was thinking and Seifer won't find it funny. Seifer's smug, Raijin needs backup." "AFFIRMATIVE" "I'll figure it out later …"

"Ah, you guys." Seifer rolled his eyes. "No romance, I'm telling you. Squall probably has more romance than you, and he hasn't even discovered girls yet!" He gestured over his shoulder at a young man eating alone and studying.

"Watch that one," Pandora's voice whispered.

"Him?" Fujin snorted. "He's a mouse. No threat."

"Not to you … but to Seifer …"

She dismissed the GF's concern. "He's a year younger and has no drive. No problem."

"He just hasn't found his inspiration yet." And with that, the GF dropped the conversation.

The Posse finished their lunches and headed out towards the training area for a workout. Zell Dincht was just coming out from what had clearly been a good session for him. Fujin stopped and watched him for a moment as he executed a spectacular back flip – which, unfortunately, sent Raijin sidestepping into Seifer. "HEY!"

"Whoa, sorry. Didn't see you come up. Oh, hey!" he smiled at Fujin. She smiled back and nodded. "Just so you guys know, I think I heard the 'Rex waking up. Watch yourselves in there."

Raijin snorted. "We got it, no problem. After all there's three of us and one of him, ya know?" Fujin nodded in agreement.

But Seifer had to have the last word. "So, the 'Rex is up. We can take him. Little chicken-wusses like you need to watch out. Come on, Fuj, Rai, let's go." And he headed through the doors.

Turning to follow Seifer in case the 'Rex was up, Fujin looked over at Zell. His fists were clenched and he was almost shaking with anger. She smiled at him and shrugged, and headed into the pseudo-jungle, Raijin right behind her. "I hope Seifer didn't notice, or he'll never ease up on him."

Seifer was waiting on them. "Did I get a rise out of him?"

Raijin nodded. "Yeah, he's pretty pissed. But no big, ya know?"

Fujin didn't reply, but Seifer didn't seem to notice, being quite pleased with himself. The 'Rex was indeed awake. Seifer and Raijin grinned at each other. "Now here's a challenge," Seifer said with a wolfish grin and readied his gunblade. Raijin shifted his feet to brace for battle. Fujin was having second thoughts as she readied herself to strike. The 'Rex seemed really angry …

"Let me do this."

"But Seifer …"

"Will get one of you killed today. Yes or no, child. Will you let me do this?"

"Killed? Yes!" "DO IT" she said.

She saw her 'brothers' sweptoff their feet by the monster. "DO IT!" she screamed to the GF as the beast turned to Raijin, who still hadn't stood back up. Then her vision went hazy. "What the hell!"

"Just watch and learn," Pandora told her. The girl watched as her body seemed to change. She didn't feel any different, but continued to watch as she drew in a breath strong enough to engulf the T Rexaur. She could feel it, confused, angry, rolling inside of her, unable to tell up from down. Then, when it was about to rage and tear apart her insides, she blew it back out, exhaling strongly enough to slam it into the ground. Then she realized her body had returned to its normal state. "Now you can handle it," the GF told her.

She shook herself and readied to attack. But Raijin still wasn't up and Seifer was staggering. "No, we can't. Not now." "SEIFER! GO!" she yelled to him, and ran to try to drag the other young man out of range. The 'Rex still hadn't recovered its full balance yet, but she couldn't budge Raijin. She whirled at something touching her shoulder.

"Watch the 'Rex, I got him," Seifer told her as he wrestled Raijin mostly upright. She turned back to the monster as Seifer headed the other way. The 'Rex seemed to be nearly recovered, so she fired at its eyes. Missing both eyes when the monster turned its head, she still managed to distract it for the split second she needed to make sure the other two were clear. Then she ran for it.

The T Rexaur tried to come after them but could not get around a couple of steel beams, so the Posse made it through the doors. Seifer let Raijin slide to the ground and leaned on the wall. Raijin moaned and opened his eyes. "Hey, wha' happened?"

Seifer sat down on the floor. "Well, we got our asses kicked right away. Then Fujin kicked ass." He sounded impressed. "What was that thing anyway?"

"PANDORA" she told her confused friends.