(Someplace Else, Normal POV)

Nothing could be seen but several human forms lying in blackness. One by one, they slowly came to and stood up or looked around uncertainly. The last one to stand was Hunter, and he gazed warily out into the blackness.

"Is it over?" he asked quietly, slowly standing up straight and joining the others. Giving a relieved look, he waved his hand. "Let's go! Let's go back to our time!"

Glowing portals began to flow sluggishly around them, each showing different memories from their lives as the floated by. Some were of different points of view of the Inauguration Ball, a couple were of the Dollet Mission. Some showed the reunion in FH, or battles they face in the past.

One showed in slow motion, the ice blade that pierced Shane in Deling City, and Kapri paled as tears formed in her eyes and the image showed his pained gaze as he slowly fell backwards.

Marah frowned deeply at an image of the jailor in the prison, beating Dustin.

Tori let a few tears fall as an image of Blake, failing the Dollet mission, passed by, and his reaction, and then several memories of him betraying them.

Dustin kept his eyes closed, refusing to look at the memory of fighting their Matron, or when he was convinced Garden was done for.

Hunter's eyes narrowed dangerously at an image of Kelly being held captive by Taylor and Eric, only to relax as they let he go. He was half tempted to run into that memory and go to her, but barely held back, knowing it wasn't a good idea.

"Where are we supposed to go?" Dustin asked in confusion, his eyes narrowed in confusion as he looked through the hundreds of memories as they floated by.

Marah frowned nervously as a look of uncertainty filled her. She eyed longingly, several images of Trabia Garden before the missile attack, but bit her lip and looked to Dustin who was watching their memories, lost deep in thought. Taking a step away from the portals, she stayed closer to his side, refusing to be swayed. "Careful." she said quietly. "Don't fall into the wrong time."

"Time... Place..." Kapri looked through the memories, focusing on all the ones that included Shane. Gasping silently at the image of their kiss in space, she felt tears streaming down her chin as she looked around. "Who I want to be with..." Frowning, she looked around more wildly. "Guys, where's Shane?!"

Everyone began to look around, and Kapri's eyes caught sight of a memory of her mocking him in FH and how she hugged him. Becoming more frantic, she took a step forward, before stopping, as an image of the flower field crossed slowly in front of her. "I wanna go there! Where Shane and I promised!" she cried, racing forward and jumping into the portal.

The others cried out immediately, and followed after her, jumping into the same portal, and each praying that Shane was all right.

Coming out in the flower field, Kapri immediately noticed that nothing had changed. Well, almost nothing. Miko was standing at the back of the orphanage in a long navy blue gown with her hanging down her back. Her gaze was happy and pained at the same time as she gazed on the people in the field.

Looking around again, Kapri frowned deeply, feeling her heart clench painfully. "Shane!"

There was no response. He wasn't there.

Looking back and forth wildly, Kapri began to run through the flower field, intent on finding him, no matter what. "Shane!" She looked around as she ran, feeling like she was being tugged. Biting her lip as she stopped a moment, she looked to the dark, cloudy sky. "Let's go home! Where are you?!"

(Somewhere Else, With Shane)

...Where am I?

Shane looked around in confusion as she slowly opened his eyes and sat up.

He was in the middle of a lush green forest, and frowned deeply as he slowly stood, shaking his head to clear it befoe he began to stagger.

"Shane! Where are you going?!"

Spinning on the spot, he watched as the younger version of him ran onto the back porch of the orphanage nearby, and bit his lip as he recalled what was going on. The younger version of him spun angrily to the building and he glared at the younger Miko as she exited after him.

"I'm gonna go find Sis!" the younger version of him shouted.

This had taken place a few days after Kelly left the orphanage. He'd decided he wanted to go out and find her.

"Shane!"

Ignoring her, the younger Shane turned and took off into the woods, while the older Shane watched with a frown before turning back to Miko.

Matron... Why was he here? What was he supposed to do and where was everyone else? Where was Kapri...?

The scene grew foggy and Shane blinked as he shook his head, trying to see clearly as he stumbled forward. When the image cleared, he was standing right on the back step of the orphanage and Miko was approaching him.

"Excuse me, but have you seen a little boy run by?" she asked politely, though there was a mysterious gleam in her eye.

Frowning a little, he looked over his shoulder at the woods. "Don't worry. He won't go anywhere."

Nodding, she smiled a little before sending a pained glance to the woods and crossing her arms over her chest lightly. "I think so, too. Poor boy."

There was a flash of purple smoke and Ultimecia appeared, stagering weakly up to Miko as Shane turned and drew his gunblade.

"You're alive?!" he demanded harshly.

Frowning, Miko stepped to his side. "...The sorceress?" she questioned knowingly.

Nodding absently, he glared at the sorceress. "Yes Matron. We had defeated her, but..." As the sorceress approached, he took a step forward defensively. "Matron, stand back!"

Gently lifting a hand, she placed it lightly on his arm and stepped past him, looking at the weakened sorceress. "It's ok. There's no more need to fight. That sorceress is just looking for someone to pass her powers on to. I know, for I am one. In order for a sorceress to die peacefully, she must pass on her powers. I will accept them. I don't want one of the children to have to carry this burden." she stated softly as she walked forward and knelt in front of the sorceress.

"I...can't...disappear yet." Ultimecia stated weakly.

Sheathing his gunblade, Shane frowned as he watched Matron accept the powers, in the form of several lightning bolts. "Matron!" Racing forward, he dropped to his knees at her side as Ultimecia faded away.

Smiling gratefully as he helped her to stand, Miko looked at him curiously. "I am fine. You...called me Matron. Who...are you?"

"A SeeD. A SeeD from Balamb Garden." he answered honestly.

This, she frowned to, as something he couldn't identify came to her eyes. "SeeD? Garden?"

"Both SeeD and Balamb Garden are your ideas." he stated with a frown. "Garden trains SeeDs. SeeDs are trained to fight and defeat the sorceress."

"What are you saying?!" she demanded harshly as a light came to her eyes. "You're...that boy from the future?!" Shaking her head, she took a step back. "You do not belong here! You must return!"

I would if I knew how. he thought in confusion. But...how? "...Matron?"

The younger Shane raced back into the picture with tears trailing down his cheeks and panting heavily. "...I can't find Sis..."

She was long gone by then. Shane thought as he watched the memory play on.

"Am I...all alone?" Turning to the older Shane, he shivered and frowned at him. "Who's he?"

"Nobody you need to know." she stated firmly, taking his hand and stepping back. Turning to the older Shane, her gaze warmed slightly. "Do you know how to get back to where you came from? Do you know where to go? Will you be all right?"

I...don't know. He thought uncertinaly, resolving to be strong. Saluting her, he nodded. I'll be ok, Matron.

The scene faded to black, and soon changed into a desolate desert that stretched on for miles. Not one living plant or animal could be seen, but for the vultures circling in the sky. The sky itself was dark and cloudy, giving him a foreboding feeling as he looked around, seeing only mountains, miles away from him in every direction.

What...do I do? Closing his eyes, he immediately thought of Kapri and his eyes snapped open again as he began to walk through the dry desert, shaking off the faint hunger and thirst pangs he was beginning to feel, and hitching up his gunblade a little, becoming more aware of it's weight.

But...I'm not alone... Stopping, he looked around as everything seemed to darken. If I call out, they'll answer.

"Where is everyone?!" he shouted loudly.

"Shane..."

Looking around, he frowned as he took a step forward, sure he heard Kapri's voice, but not seeing her. "Kapri! Where are you?!"

Echoing silence enveloped him as he looked around again and began to walk, feeling doubt creep into his heart. "Dustin! Hunter! Tori! Marah!"

Still no answer. Stopping again, his eyes narrowed and he felt a pang of hurt in his chest as he hitched up his blade again, noticing that it kept getting heavier.

...Am I...alone? Kapri...? I want to hear your voice.

Closing his eyes, he frowned and concentrated hard, recalling all the memories he could of Kapri and straining to hear her voice.

Which way do I go?

He felt a strong energy surge through him and shook his head as he began to walk again, making his way through the empty desert and constantly looking around for some sign of what to do and where to go.

I can't make it back...alone.

A faint pain tugged at his heart as he began to run as fast as he could. "Kapri?!" he yelled as tears flooded his eyes. He ran in a single, random direction and ran as long and fast as he could.

"Where are you...?"

Her voice, but she wasn't there. What was going on?!

Am I...all alone again? Where...am I?

Soon, the image changed from the barren wasteland into a massive green field, that went on for miles in every direction, but for the golden, sandy beach behind him. The sky was green and the cloud a dark grey. Stopping his run, Shane sighed deeply as he realized he'd have hours if not days of walking to do. Starting off, he made the best pace he could and stuck to it.

Nothing happened. He just kept walking and walking and nothing seemed to change. Any sign of civilization was still miles away. The only thing that changed was that the sky had darkened considerably as the grey clouds turned to an almost black and seemed to overwhelm the sky.

After what felt like hours, Shane's steps became shorter, and his pace slower, as he wiped sweat from his face and gazed exhaustedly at the vast plains in front of him. Sighing again, he placed a hand on the hilt of his gunblade and began to stagger on, determined to keep going.

A strong wind blew as the sky darkened even more, and he soon saw a cliff approaching. Making his way to it, he looked over the edge and felt his heart drop painfully to see the endless river of Time Compression below him. Looking back, his eyes widened in shock and horror to find another endless river of compression behind him as well.

No place to go, he felt his hope fade away and collapsed to his knees, panting heavily for breath as he felt hot tears of frustration build up in his eyes. Burying his face in his knees, he closed his eyes and let the tears trail down his face as he thought about the others.

Am I...stuck here?

(With Kapri, Normal POV)

Still running through the flower field, Kapri grasped the chain around her neck briefly and shook her head. "Where are you?!"

Tori, Marah and Dustin had gone back to Garden, which had been brought back while they were gone, to see if he was there, and Hunter was searching the rest of the island alone.

Missing for hours, since they got back, no one had given up on him.

They wouldn't.

Racing through the vast flower field, Kapri soon found herself at the edge, by the stairs that led down to the old campfire they once told her about. Raising her hand to her neck, she closed her eyes and grasped his ring as a single tear fell down her face, falling off her chin to land on her hand.

Please... she silently begged who or whatever was listening. I need him...

There was a surge in her and she opened her eyes, feeling the wind rustling the feathers of her Angel Wing ultimate attack as she looked again to the sky, following a small white ball of light as it disappeared amongst the massive, thunderclouds, that slowly began to darken and grow more threatening.

(With Shane)

Still sitting in the same place, he frowned and lifted his head from his knees, ignoring the wet trails on his cheeks as he slowly looked into the ominous sky. The dark clouds parted a little as a single, glowing, white feather slowly drifted from the heavens, towards him.

Lifting his hand, he watched quietly as the feather fell to rest gently in the palm of his hand.

There was a powerful surge inside him and he closed his eyes, seeing Kapri in the middle of the flower field as the Angel Wings spread from her back. When he opened his eyes, he found himself there, staring at her back, the wings gone. The sky was a deep orange, and as he slowly stood up, he frowned deeply.

Something wasn't right.

"...Kapri?"

His eyes narrowed in confusion when his soft call of her name went ignored. There was no chance of her not hearing it, since he was right behind her, so what was going on?

Finally, she turned to him and he felt his eyes widen in horror, when instead of her beautiful blue eyes and teasing smile, he saw nothing distinguishable. Her face was swirled eerily, making it impossible to recall how she looked.

The scene quickly changed into a surge of images that passed so quickly, it was hard to keep them straight.

Blake glaring at him triumphantly as he fell from the float in Deling city, after being shot by Miko's ice blades. Miko's blank stare. Kapri was there, and she turned to him in horror, but again, her face was blurred.

Next, it was Kapri hanging on for dear life, on the side of Garden. He felt his heart leap in panic and tried to reach forward to grab her hand, but then he saw that her face was once again blurred and he paused, frowning deeply.

Then, she was in the space suit, standing in the locker room, looking at him through the window as he stared at her. Shivering and blinking in confusion, he felt his frown grow that her face was still blurry.

Closing his eyes tightly, he shook his head violently. "Stop it!" he yelled, opening his eyes and finding himself back at the ball at Garden. Everyone was dressed elegantly, and he noticed Tori and Dustin walking around, across the room, but their faces were blurred. Blinking back frustrated tears, he looked to where he knew Kapri would be standing and saw her in the short red dress, her back to him. Pointing to the sky, she slowly turned and he cried out in horror and panic as her face was once again obscured from view.

The scene changed to the presidential palace and he frowned when the same blurred face was shown.

Then, suddenly, the scene changed back to the dance, and Kapri's face was clear, but transparent.

"Shane..."

Her voice came to him weakly and he felt a tear run down his cheek as the scene switched back to the Presidential Palace, only this time, the whole of Kapri was transparent.

It was like she was fading.

"Kapri!!" He yelled desperately as he looked around wildly.

Different views of the Presidential Palace flashed by him and he blinked and creased his forehead as Kapri was shown again, but her face was much more horribly blurred. The scenes kept repeating, Kapri's form disappearing from view or turning horribly blurred, and he felt dizzy, closing his eyes to try and focus. He felt sick to his stomach and barely able to stand.

"...Shane..."

Shaking his head, he swallowed thickly and hesitantly opened his eyes to find himself back at the dance, but this time, Kapri wasn't there. She appeared for a moment, turning to smile at him, then disappeared. Appearing again, briefly, she was transparent and turned to walk towards him before fading away again.

Seeing a small object float by him, he frowned and narrowed his eyes, focusing on it. It was his ring. His Griever ring. Frowning, he watched as it floated to Kapri's spot, flickering once as Kapri was shown, clinging to the chain as she looked around uncertainly, and then faded again.

The Dollet mission was shown, and he saw Tori's face, glaring defiantly at the machine as she unleashed the machine gun on it. Dustin waving 'come on' and Marah's frantic look.

Kapri's face as he fell from the float in Deling.

Back in Dollet, Marah was seen, waving down at him and Dustin before she took a shaky step forward and tumbled down the cliff, to their level, rubbing her head and sticking her tongue out before she hopped back to her feet.

Hunter was seen goofing off in Galbadia Garden and pacing back and forth in front of them before he joined their group.

Dustin doing his martial arts in the hallway of Garden just before the Dollet mission.

The Ragnarok was seen, firing it's guns at Lunatic Pandora.

Kapri, letting her hair blow freely in the wind on Balamb Garden's 2nd Floor deck, when it first became mobile, but again, her face was blurred.

Blake dragging Kapri away, towards Adel's chamber, and then finding her standing alone in the hallway, looking lost in thought. Her face was clear, as was the smile when she turned to him.

Then it changed to a pained look from Kapri, who was on her knees, reaching for him as he fell from the float in Deling. She faded away and came back, as if struggling to remain there.

There was an explosion and he was reliving as he drove a car into the gate, running and climbing up the float until he stood in front of the seat there, but as he turned to where Miko and Blake were supposed to be, he was greeted with Kapri standing alone, in the Balamb Dance floor, in her red dress, holding the chain with his ring on it, looking scared.

Kapri...

Reaching for her as he longed to hold her, he watched as she smiled and walked towards him, appearing and disappearing again and again until she disappeared and didn't come back.

No, come back!

Shaking his head violently, Shane cried out in pain and collapsed to a knee as he closed his eyes tightly, feeling drained and so lost.

He saw the images of his friends, passing by quicker and quicker. The moments they shared, the battles and discoveries they made.

Then, he saw Kapri running through the memories, like she did in the Memorial. Racing to his arms, but where her face should have been, a black, empty hole stood. It changed again, to a close-up of her in the space suit, but...

The glass of her helmet shattered...

NO!!!

Head shooting to the sky, Shane felt his heart break and screamed as loud as he could as a single, final tear slipped from his eyes and he fell back onto the ground. Dropping flat to his back, his head rolled limply to the side and his eyes slowly closed, as the single feather he held, slipped from his hand to land on the ground and fade away into nothing.

....I'm...sorry.

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...As I thought. This chapter was more than long enough, Still got another one yet to come, so don't send a mob after me just yet. I just have to finish it.

Hope you liked it. I won't post a preview for the next chapter because I don't want to give away what happens. That...and I'm being lazy. (Ducks as a frying pan of doom is thrown at my head) Hey! Watch it!

R+R please

Thank you.

Tenshi

P.S. I don't own it. Happy? (Pouts and runs off to cry)