Author's Notes: Okay... Yes... I know that the last chapter was short people! It is not my fault, but that was all that was left in that chapter. Sadly my next one, this one, is relatively short as well. Good news? The chapter after this is a double lemon with a side of lemonade, and VERY long. This chapter does get something done that I've been trying to do for many chapters, but sadly it won't be explained until later... Aren't I just an evil authoress? Buckle up all; because this chapter is gonna jerk you around good.

Silver-Nex: See above regarding the shortness of chapter.

Firefly-Dreams: Yes... a cat.... Sure.... And it's a VERY big thing. Try going to the sites if you can... Because now the Fanfic site is gonna have a bit of a preview of the prequel about Crysil Mercale and my first fanart! It's a picture of Drew Leonheart AKA Drewel and it totally rocks. The guy that did it, Alex-san, is my pride and joy. Worship his skills. Maybe I should ask him to do Reyn too... Yes... Um... Seifer is evil. Corin is cool, getting a pic of him done by Alex, and soon a pic of Nida by my friend Brittany. And as for the GF connection... Well, you'll learn soon enough.

Alicia/Vamp3: I'm not gonna tell you that just yet.

Finally, to everyone, even you two that read my fics but don't review (what a crime!!!!) I have two requests... If any of you is REALLY good at HTML and website design... I could use help with my Fanfic site. If any of you are up and coming artists or have boredly doodled a picture of any of my charries, well, share them, as I'm gonna add an art section and any art would be prettyful... I was just talking to my friends today about how warm I feel inside now that I have my first fanart... Makes me feel what I think my favorite author must feel... 'Cept she has tons of fan art, is a better writer and even has fanfics based on her fanfics!

Chapter 7: Hours Grow Shorter

Reyn

"Lady Rinoa, it seems that the SeeD forces are attacking our base in Esthar," I heard my own cold voice slip from my lips. I can barely stand the sound of my own words anymore.

"I see. They are probably after Odine's machine. That is easy enough to understand. Don't worry about it, I'll deal with them myself," Rinoa replies with false love in her voice.

When Rinoa disappears through a black portal I hiss in pain. Whenever she does that stupid spell I feel a cold hand pulling at my heart, trying to rip it out. Right not I know I'm strong enough to deal with this, but soon I won't be able to last. Hyne, why she choose me as her knight? Why did I tell my parents that I'd go along with their damn plot? Pain, all I ever get is pain. Despite her words I know that she doesn't care about me. Corin and Rhiale love me and they don't cause pain like this.

"Reyn?" Drew asked as he came up to me. He could probably handle this pain a whole fuck of a lot better than I could, so why me?

"Reyn, it's time to prepare," he said, gently touching my shoulder.

With his help I stand, not knowing when I had fallen to the floor in the first place. Yes, it was time. Squall had been specific about it. There was no way we could fight Rinoa here and now, it would scar the future, ruin the past and destroy our present. 'The fight,' Seifer would say, 'has to take place when, not where.' It was time to do something that some could say we've done before.

Drew

"Come on Reyn, you know the plan," I hissed at the younger teen.

"Right, right, right," Reyn mumbled as he regained his balance. Being the knight of Ultimecia was hard for him; her magic was slowly killing him.

"Do they really think that this will work?" the blonde asked.

"I'm not sure, no one has actually done it that we know of," my words were whispered with some hesitation.

"But they..."

"Went through time compression," I cut him odd, "They never did this..."

Suijin

At a turtle's pace Rhiale finishes messing with Odine's 'Ellone' Machine and begins to hook up a small device to it. Already Squall and Seifer were showing a bit of fatigue at the constant assault Rinoa's troops were launching. The two won't last forever in this fight and they are clearly outnumbered. Still Rhiale works far too slow to really do any good! Those soldiers are fighting harder than one would expect, as if the sorceresses themselves were right behind them... In fact, was that Rinoa's face I just spotted?

"Squall, got a little problem here," the silky voice of the poisonous female came, "You see, you're supposed to be dead. You're really a very naughty knight. But I will discipline you, and then you'll stand by Reyn as my new knight! Come to me my lovely angel, you will help me rule the world!"

"Sweet words from a bitter mouth and a sour heart," Seifer hissed as he dispatched the last of this group of troops.

"I am not weak to your call anymore Rinoa!" Squall shouted at the witch.

These words obviously angered the sorceress, who lunged forward to attack the former knights. It was a furious fight, blades and spells went back and forth, and it was hard to tell who was winning. At least Rinoa stood as victor over Squall and Seifer, who were on the floor and bleeding badly. Now Fiera and I are the only ones left to guard Rhiale. More than likely we are all going to die here today trying to stop Rinoa.

Then everything changes... A brilliant light fills the room and all those within it. Warmth and a sense of safety flood through every limb, every cell, every fiber of my being and I feel stronger just being in this warm light. As quickly as the brilliance fades a new power peaks, dark and foreboding. A strong sense of silence and bravery filled me as two beings rose before me and the girls. Once I would have doubted it, but now I truly believe in the power of these two heroes. Carefully Squall the large, jet black feathery wings stained with his blood, burned on edges and sprinkled with ice from Rinoa's ice spells. At his side stood Seifer, his own angelic wings purer than new fallen snow and free from any damage Rinoa had inflicted upon their bodies.

"You always said I was your angel Rinoa, but you never knew just how right you were... Love," Squall taunted as he seemingly grew twice his real height.

Again light flashed in the room, this time leaving fully healthy and pissed off GFs guarding us. There is not doubt in my mind that these two, Squall and Seifer, are really Darus and Valen. Now wrapped in darkness and death, Squall raises his gunblade through all of the tattered and ripped leather and pointed it at Rinoa. Seifer followed his lover's example, the clothes he wore moving like liquid around his hand, and smiled evilly. Behind me Rhiale had gone back to her work, nearly finished, and Fiera was watching this all with a dropped jaw.

"You! YOU'RE... NO! You serve Drew and Reyn! You serve me!" Rinoa shrieked at the two.

"No," I spoke, not understanding why, "They serve themselves and each other. You cannot place a collar on them like dogs, or like you do upon others!"

"The boy is right... We are our own Rinoa," the calm and majestic voice of Valen came. "We serve our sons and the future. We know what you intend, and we're going to stop you!"

"YOU CAN'T STOP ME!" Rinoa yelled, "YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST AND SURVIVE LIKE MYSELF AND RELLA!"

"We're not changing it," Darus said, voice dripping with malice, "We beat them once, and now we go to do what we've already done!"

Now I feel a tugging at my body and mind. Behind me, I note while trying to check on Rhiale and Fiera, is a portal... Already they have disappeared into it. Valen and Darus turn their backs on Rinoa, heading towards it.

"Step through Suijin. You will be safe," Valen said softly, "The world will be safe while we are gone."

"Gone where?" I ask as Rinoa rages and send spells at us, spells which fade away when they come close to the two.

"Into the past," Squall said before unceremoniously pushing me through the portal.

All that registers next is the two following me, and telling me to concentrate upon Balamb Garden... Then all is darkness.