I am the only that's really pissed off at ffnet? 'Cause not being able to log on sucks big time. Anyways WELCOME BACK! Really hope everyone is having a good week so far. So let's babble a bit. As always I am forced to say that I DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY. As if anyone needs for me to say that AGAIN! But I do own Aria and all OCs that have a tendency to appear every now and then. They are all mine. You can't have them (AH AH AH…cough…damned pollution). And I this week I have a really good reason to be happy about this fic. Yes my dear readers, we have reached the 20th chapter of this story. I never thought I would write this far but I can tell you that I still have a lot to go.

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REALLY IMPORTANT A.N - Now I believe I have a request for all of you that are reading this. Do any of you remember that small amulet Aria always carries with her? Yes? Well…I need a name for it so I would be very pleased if you could help me out. Well let's go on then…

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To my reviewers:

Cybele – WOW! That's the first thing that came to my mind after I read your review. I absolutely LOVED IT. So let's see if can comment everything. First of all thank you for the correction of the grammar that you warned me about. I have already corrected the errors except for the last one 'cause I'm waiting if someone finds anymore. Thanks a lot :) . Indeed I'm going to change a bit of the plot from now on. After all I couldn't leave everything exactly the same. I wouldn't be able to do it with Aria in the story. About your questions I'm really sorry but those will only answered in about oh…five or six chapters ahead I think. It's already written and it gave me a lot of trouble. I guess you'll have to wait a bit for that. And all the comments you made about their family and so…well it's a really tough problem isn't it? Aria doesn't know the answer as well…I DO (Reyavie laughs evilly). I cannot tell you yet though. Anyways, exams huh? Don't I know that problem. Good luck to you. You'll see that everything will turn out alright. Well I guess that's that. Thank you once again and I hope to read from you soon. OH…one more thing. I can't tell you how happy I was from knowing that this is one of your favorite stories. That left me grinning insanely for a while…wait…I think that was because of the chocolate I found in the closet. My mom should already know that I always manage to find chocolate. Nevertheless thank a bunch for that. Here's my newest chapter. Enjoy.

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Welcome to twentieth chapter of Second life (I'm so proud…sniff)

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Someone was shaking her. Really shaking her. Her eyes opened to see a pair of brown ones.

– "A reason why I shouldn't punch your nose in?" – The guy that had been trying to wake her up jumped back.

– "Still threatening people?" – Came Squall's familiar voice. Ariadne sat on the floor and grinned weakly.

– "What can I say Commander of mine? It is an excellent way to pass messages through" – The way she said it actually seemed as if she had meant every word.

– "From you that isn't surprising" – She didn't bother herself arguing about the comment.

– "The list is enough for a couple of hours already" – She thought as she rose from the cold ground. Squall was picking Rinoa up, the fragile girl seeming as a doll in her unconscious state.

– "I actually think you enjoy your arguments" – Commented Sacred.

– "Yeah, like foreplay" – Added Minotaur. Ariadne stopped frozen in her tracks.

– "Tell me you didn't say what I think you said" – Something like a slap resounded on her mind.

– "He did but he won't repeat it" – Sacred's voice had a distinct pleased undertone – "Won't you little brother?" – And that had been a distinct treat.

– "Gee...hold your chocobos Bro. I just thought they were being painfully obvious and…"– Another slap – "I'm shutting up right about now."

– "What is wrong with you?" – Squall was looking at her and for a moment he seemed almost concerned.

– "Nothing" – Ariadne answered quickly – "Sorry for that. Let's get going" – Another look as if he knew she was fooling him before he followed the engineer.

– "Can I say I told you so?" – Asked Minotaur.

– "No" – She really loved when Sacred bashed 'Taur in his sugar-high moods.

– "Are you coming?" – Ariadne walked behind him choosing to ignore 'Taur's comments about her "crappy taste". Apparently he wasn't on a sugar high. His hormones were attacking. She didn't even know that GFs had hormones.

– "It seems dad's adage fits well in here. We're always learning" – Her steps were silent as she entered the small observation room and just then…her mouth opened slightly as she looked outside.

For a moment she forgot she was supposed to be afraid of heights, that she was supposed to be as far from Elone as possible and that she should be making her report. All her attention was in the beautiful darkness meshed with small lights and Gaea in front of her.

– "Damn…it's so beautiful" – Her gloved fingers rested on the immense observation panel as she watched the planet. A chuckle almost left her lips caused by a sudden hilarity.

– "When would I ever have thought that I would be here of all places?" – A smile crossed her lips slowly.

– "Aria?" – She turned to Squall calmly as if that whole beauty had mellowed her flaring temper. And it had.

– "Guess that to calm you down we only have to bring you to the moon" – Commented Minotaur sarcastically – "Why didn't we think that earlier?" – And the calming peace disappeared in an instant.

– "Can't you remain silent, brother?" – Scolded Sacred.

– "Aria? Are you alright?" – Squall's voice was as emotionless as ever from her point of view but a small part of her knew that he meant the words. After all she had been zoning out for the past twenty minutes.

– "I'm sorry" – She said walking to the door – "Come on or we won't have any time left" – He followed her without comments to the next room and watched her as she sat on one of the infirmary beds.

– "So from what Zell and I could gather" – She started pulling her gloves off – "That guy had been infiltrated in Esthar from quite some time at the orders of Delling. Fifteen years. His parents were from there so he had no problem in getting in. Money did the rest. His position made him perfect as a spy. He has free access to the laboratories" – Squall frowned as he supported himself on the wall.

– "What did he want?" – Ariadne raised an eyebrow.

– "Information obviously. But to be more specific, technology. What do you know about the state of Galbadia's economy?" – He nodded slightly for her to go on – "Well most of it was based on importations…that was about ten years ago. At least that was what I was told. However that changed when Delling came to power. People didn't ask much at the time. They never do when something is going right. Basically Galbadia was stealing information. It worked rather well despite the fact that most of it was weaponry. Anyways in the last times the guy had only been taking information about…take a wild guess" – A slightly amused smile curved her lips.

– "The sorceress's investigation that Odine's made" – He answered easily. All his posture spoke of the leader he had become. Ariadne knew that even if he couldn't see others could. Maybe that was why he was one of the best.

– "Indeed. But Ellone's report was there as well." – Continued Aria – "And that right now must be in Ultimecia's hands. At least no new reports will be sent. Zell and I took the guy to the guards of the city. They won't let him out without your permission."

– "My permission?" – She shrugged at his reaction – "You're more reliable. I was kinda lost in that department as I didn't know where the president was. And I wouldn't leave that to Odine either. Quite frankly…I just don't trust him." – She jumped away from the bed where she had been perched on and crossed her arms thoughtfully.

– "Don't think I can be blamed though after I heard what he did to those kids he put his paws on." – He didn't comment as usual. He never did when she said what was in her mind.

– "We better go then" – He finally said beginning to walk to the door – "We need to talk with El…"

"Hang on a bit" – The word was barely heard but he stopped nevertheless. – "I need to talk to you first" – She had uncrossed her arms that were falling limply by her sides. Her sea green eyes seemed sad somehow.

– "I'm sorry Squall" – That was everything he hadn't been expecting. A shouting match, yes. A scolding was pretty much certain but never that.

– "You don't have to apologize" – Ariadne smiled bitterly and took a few steps to him. A pale hand almost touched his face where a small purple mark could be seen. If she noticed the way he backed away from the movement she didn't say a word.

– "I think it's quite obvious" – She said calmly – I was out of line… - Her hand descended slowly while cold blue eyes analyzed her carefully.

– "It was my fault as well. But I didn't need you…"

"Stop" – Her smile was bitterer than ever as she interrupted his tirade – "You'll say something that you'll regret and then I'll do the same thing. You never need anyone. I never need anyone. We can continue this stupid argument through hours. That's not the question." – He sighed in frustration, eyes for once easy to read.

– "It's always the same thing, isn't it?" – Her smile turned vaguely amused.

– "You can say that. Just…stop going by yourself. Stop leaving all of us behind. Especially when it is to make us climb cliffs. What?" – She asked when he rolled his eyes.

– "I almost fell of that Hyne forsaken cliff." – No sting was present in her words. – "So forgive me? – He didn't smile but a moment she could swear she had seen his lips twitch a bit.

– "If you do the same" – Was his answer. A smile appeared on her face.

– "You're on Commander. Now let's go talk with Ellone. Or even better…" - She added after a few seconds – "You talk, I listen and ignore her. I really don't want to argue with anyone today." – She turned to the door but froze when she heard a small chuckle behind her.

– "So all we need to do to calm you down is bring you to the moon?" – Squall passed her by, a faintly amused look in his face – That would have been useful sometime – Her jaw would have dropped if she hadn't heard something similar not long before.

– "You're nuts. That has to be the only explanation. You're totally and completely nuts." – She shook her head as she walked beside him, sea green eyes flickering every now and then to her side

– "And, by Hyne, so am I."

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- "Take me to her" – Ellone's words took Ariadne from her trance. Not a single word had left her lips ever since she had entered the room and all that Ellone had received from her had been cold emerald glances. Squall hadn't pressed her to intervene and for that she was thankful. Besides the conversation had nothing to do with her.

The Commander passed by her with a small nod so that she would follow them and she did so only to halt when a hand touched her arm. Her expressionless gaze turned into a downright back-off glare when she realized it had been Ellone to touch her.

– "I'm sorry" – She took her arm away quickly before taking a deep breath and continuing to the door.

– "Sometimes sorry doesn't cut it." – Aria said coolly.

– "But a small torture session would" – She briefly wondered if one could get shrinks for GFs as she heard 'Taur's words. Her attention however was brought sharply to the present when red lights began to flash and a siren rang annoyingly.

– "It's the medical area." – His voice was calm but the concern was obvious.

– "Go see what it is" – Was her reply – I'll take Ellone to the control room. Join us there." – She grabbed the older girl's arm and tugged gently.

– "Be careful Commander" – She said teasingly – "The others would kill me if something happened. After torturing me, maiming me and thoroughly kicking my ass" – Ellone looked from one to the other completely lost and neither gave her time to understand. Squall gave Aria a short nod before running down the hall while the Galbadian dragged the girl to the larger room.

It was pandemonium inside. People were screaming about some thing or another only increasing the headache that was beginning to form in her head.

– "Shut UP!" – Silence. – "Now stop acting like a bunch of incompetent fools and get to work" – Ariadne smirked when some hurried to do as she had said and the smirk only got wider as the officer in charge gave her a small approving nod.

– "Sometimes I'm really thankful of having lived with Alex" – She thought before walking to a computer. Her eyes scanned the contents quickly and she sighed.

– "That was something I didn't want to be right about. The Lunar cry…It's hitting Esthar."

– "Even so people in Esthar have a lot more means of defense Aria. They will be alright." – Leave to Sacred to say what she needed to hear.

– "Aria!" – She jumped when Squall came into the room, the alertness in his stance obvious.

– "What in Hyne's name are you wearing?" – Yes, she was still random. But he was wearing an astronaut's suit.

– "That doesn't matter right now Aria" – Both of them looked outside where another figure in a similar suit was dismantling a metal structure. In it a red haired woman could be seen.

– "We're in deep shit" – Ariadne whispered as the structure was overthrown by the mass of monsters that had been falling from the moon – "Really, really deep" – Her eyes turned once more to the computer to see the results she had predicted.

– "What are you doing?" – Came a scream behind them – "We have to go to the escape pods" – That took her out of her stupor. She looked around wildly just to see that her and Squall were the last ones in room.

– "Thanks a lot Ellone" – She grumbled under her breath – "Let's move Squall." – He was just standing there as if frozen and as quickly as the moon had calmed her, her temper showed itself again.

– "Squall!" – It even got worse when she realized she couldn't hit him with the helmet he had on. So she did the next best thing. Smacked the front of said helmet and dragged him by the arm to the small pod where Ellone and the other guy were before shoving him into a protector. A deep scowl had overtaken her expression while she did the same, teeth biting her lower lip with a strength that seemed enough to bruise.

– "Aria…" - Sacred's voice was soft and caring – "Calm down. Close your eyes a bit and breathe. Soon it will be over" – She did so even as her stomach rebelled making her control the urge to vomit everything she had eaten over the last…seventeen years or so of her life.

That was worse than the cliff had ever been. When she had fallen from the Garden in Balamb it had been different. Barely twenty meters and the water had waited for her. But twenty million kilometers? A very different situation. Join the rest of the story and she was bewildered in how she hadn't at least passed out.

– "Wait…I want to pass out. Argh!" – She opened her eyes slowly and freed her abused lip as she watched Squall get out of the protection. Ellone had fallen from hers as well, sweat glistening on her skin as she too seemed closed to unconsciousness. Ariadne forced herself to stand straighter and left her place as well.

– "Are you alright?" – She nodded faintly to where the other male companion was as she saw Squall fall to the floor.

– "Just peachy" – Her hand rose to her forehead, warm meting the ice of her own flesh. – "Esuna" – Her sickness passed and she sighed softly.

– "How's he?" – She asked approaching the other two. Ellone gave her a startled glance but she ignored it easily.

– "I've showed him the way" – Said the older girl – "He has to make this on his own." – The frown was still firmly etched on the Seed's face.

– "As always." – She murmured – "And you call me a stubborn fool." – Her hand touched his face gently as if she had forgotten her audience and muttered a healing spell under her breath before letting go.

– "Any of you two need some cures or esunas?" – She asked looking at them both, her Seed attitude overshadowing whatever feelings she was experiencing. She received two shaking of heads and nodded before sitting beside the unconscious warrior, hands pulling her gloves on.

It took barely two minutes for Squall to wake up and when he did she could see his eyes confused for a moment before they narrowed in determination. He sat quickly before standing up.

– "Thanks sis" – He gave Ariadne a fleeting look and a small nod before he approached the hatch. Aria felt her throat constrict as she watched him but she knew that nothing would show on the outside. Without really pausing to think she stood as well and grabbed his shoulder to make him stop. Her eyes were hard and stern when he looked at her.

– "Don't you dare die on me Leonhart" – Blue met emerald and then he smirked lightly taking her hand away.

– "Don't count on it" – And then he let go disappearing so quickly that she would have thought it to be mere seconds. But she didn't say a thing as she turned to Ellone. Didn't say a thing as she helped the girl to her place and closed the protection. Didn't say a thing as she took her own place. Didn't say a word…

"Aria…?" – She didn't answer.

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My POV

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I knew it from the start.

I was a foreigner in this world, someone that had been brought for some unknown reason, or just a really strange whim of a God somewhere, to the place where I was now.

I knew that I had to be careful in my steps. In what I did to influence the world that I was living in. I knew…

I bloody knew all of that. I knew. But I was stupid. I'll be such until I die.

Why didn't I keep myself away? Why didn't I stay at Galbadia Garden?

I could have helped the others and I could be there now, laughing with my friends, talking about some unimportant thing, keeping Stef out of the kitchen before she destroyed another oven…not here.

Not here in an escape pod about to crash to Gaea, not here feeling my stomach twist and turn with every shake of the capsule…not here feeling something clawing to get out of me, the will to scream or cry like a little kid as I watch the one guy I should have never come close to…that I should had never…watch as he faces death for another.

Oh mom, you were right. No rocks can hurt like this, no blades can cut deeper.

It hurts so much…but it is my fault. All my fault.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid …

Hyne, what have I done that was so wrong? If it was that bad then I'm sorry. I'm fucking sorry, alright?

Just…tell me what I did wrong…just forgive me and let this pain rest a bit.

I just can't hold this forever. But I'll try for now. Don't have a lot of choices really. That's kinda becoming the trademark of my life.

Just…forgive me quickly ok…? Cause all rocks begin to crack someday.

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3rd Person POV

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Ariadne opened her eyes as soon as she felt the capsule stop, jumping away from her protection.

– "Aria?" – They were so worried. She could feel through their bond so easily.

– "I'm sorry guys" – She thought gently – "I didn't mean to concern you" – Two snorts resounded on her mind. She smiled as she noticed that Minotaur hadn't been the only one.

– "Silly girl" – She didn't know what she would do without them.

– "What can I say?" – She joked softly – "That won't change. Now we better do something productive" – Ellone was only passed out but the guy…well, the injury on his head would give him a good headache when he awoke.

– "Cure" – She frowned when she realized her low level healing magic was beginning to get rarer. She always liked to have a lot of those for small cuts and injuries so that she wouldn't have to waste the higher level magic. That meant a trip to Balamb. Her feet lead her to Ellone and she shook her slightly.

– "Wake up! We have to get out of here" – The girl's eyes opened slowly as if she was still drowsy.

– "We have to move" – Continued Ariadne pulling her away from her seat – "A pod falling wherever it fell is bound to gather attention" – She supported the girl's frame against her own and almost dragged her to the hatch.

– "But what about him?" – Ellone asked when Aria made a signal for her to follow. – "He's not in danger here. You are. And lots of it." – Her moves were precise as she jumped outside and grabbed Ellone's hand to help her do the same. Only then did she expand her attention to encompass more than her immediate surroundings only to see the one place she hoped not to see at the moment.

– "Holy shit! I really pissed off Hyne for some very weird reason." – They had fallen in Galbadia's desert…next to a certain prison…and too close to the approaching soldiers. Ellone shivered as she saw them appear making Ariadne's eyes narrow.

She didn't like the girl. She had done something that would take a long time to forget and forgive and Aria felt that easily. But she was scared…she was defenseless…and she had already suffered so much.

– "Don't be afraid" – Ariadne whispered to her companion. Her hands moved to her back sliding the blades out of their sheaths. Red crystal shone in sunlight – "It will be alright. I promise." – Her arms moved to a familiar stance as all of her concentrated on the upcoming fight.

The company stopped in front of the two allowing a quick analysis. They were about twenty, all of them of the Galbadian army, so all of them capable of magic.

– "Ariadne Beckerman" – Said the leader. – "Long time no see." – Long brown hair and dark brown eyes. Characteristics easy to find in Galbadia but the small scar in his temple gave him away. She had been there when a younger student had made him that.

– "Indeed Tanner" – She answered – "But in that time you weren't following the orders of a madwoman. Things change, don't they?" – She could have sworn he was sad about the situation.

– "They do. I wish they hadn't. Will you surrender Beckerman? You and your companion will not be harmed." – A brown eyebrow rose.

– "Do you really believe I would go down without a fight?" – He gave her a small smile.

– "I would never think of it. I'm sorry Beckerman" – The soldiers passed by her commander and her hands gripped even more the soft hilts of her new blades.

– "I'm not going down that easily" – She thought fiercely as she ducked the first sword aimed at her head.

– "Get behind Ellone" – She screamed. Her right arm twisted forcing the blade to slide by the opponent's, slashing the arm that it found in the way before a kick took him out of her way. But another was already on his place.

– "Help me guys" – She didn't need to say anything else. Her connection with the two brothers flared to life and in seconds she had the command on her lips.

– "Brotherly Love" – Her scream crossed the field as the two brothers came into the physical plane. But she didn't stop to watch as she threw herself into another group that hadn't been on the brothers' path.

– "Look out!" – Ariadne punched another opponent before turning around sharply in answer to the warning. A sword entered her line of vision. A single thought crossed her mind.

– "This is it" – Darkness.

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There. Done for now. I'm really happy with how this chapter turned out. Hope everyone liked it. Anyways I'll have to do something now that my mind is begging me to do. Wait a bit, I have to remember…ah yes. RREEEEEEEEEEEEEEVVIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Everyone got that? So please don't forget to say something about my story. Suggestions, errors and the answer to my question above are awaited enthusiastically. Now I have to go because my math book is calling. That thing is evil I tell you…

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Next chapter: How do you tell a family that has possession of several pointy objects that a member is missing…? Without a tank?

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See ya all next week

Reyavie