Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………. (Clock begins to ring annoyingly before a hand rises to smack it. Loud cursing follows). Hey everyone (Rea yawns, blinking away the sleep) Sorry but I'm currently in a hibernation phase. It ends this weekend. Think with me: Allowance plus holidays plus real cool places to go. (Reyavie grins widely). Sooooo I'll just say again the same thing that I have been saying ever since I began posting this story. Guess what? Square-Enix still hasn't given me the rights to FF VIII so I STILL DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY. Except Aria of course. And Josh. And Stef. And Alex…and all the OCs that my mind has designed and included in the original plot. So there!
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A.N – After these last weeks I have been accepting names and votes to choose a name for Aria's amulet. The voting, as I have said in the last chapter, ended this week. So the result is…………Meva Ysimad – Meaning Life amulet in Al-Bhed and submitted by Angel of Apocolypse.
Thank you very much for the name AoA! And thanks to all that have submitted other names and voted as well ; )
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Answers to my reviewers:
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Missy Pom-Pom – Heya! Welcome to this review corner. It's really great when I get a review where readers say that they are enjoying my story. So worthwhile, huh? Glad that you think so. See? I've already updated. One every week so you won't be left hanging…for too long that is. Thanks for your vote and your review and I hope that you'll like this chapter as well. Have fun.
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Rae Anderson – Hi again! Happy to know that you still like my story. Those comments are the ones that give me more will to write and help to surpass those pesky little things called writer blocks (hatethemhatethemhatethem…). Anyways, damn, your situation is really similar to mine before my parents gave me my computer. I couldn't write cause most of the time my bro would be there. I know that's kinda hard. So thank you for taking your time to leave me a review. I really appreciate it. Here's my newest chapter then. Enjoy.
CrystalParadise – Hey Crystal! Just to ask you to say something if you and your family are ok. I watched the news about what happened in Egypt this morning and I know you went there for your holidays. Take care ok?
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Welcome to the twenty-seventh chapter of Second Life. Rea dozes against chair…
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- "Shockwave Pulsar" – Energy filled the small room making its occupants shield their eyes from the strong light. Ariadne whistled as the creature they had been fighting vanished into dust.
– "Bloody hell Quis" – She deadpanned – "Where and when did you get that and why wasn't I informed?" – Quistis gave her a really uncharacteristic smug smile as she walked away from the fuming pile that had been a monster barely moments before.
– "You were making your capturers sorry they ever met you and we were looking for you. Never asked" – She answered simply – "Found the next demon?" – Aria took a small paper from a pocket where a hasty drawing of a map could be seen and both Zell and Quistis walked forward to look as well.
– "Apparently it's on the next room" – She answered crossing the small X that had been drawn with a pencil that Quistis had given to her. Ariadne had almost rolled her eyes when the instructor had taken it seemingly from out of nowhere with a small look on her face that had just yelled "See how good it is to be always prepared?" – "And I think the others got another demon out of circulation. Fire." – A small flame appeared on her hand making her companions sigh in relief. – "Magic is unlocked."
– "That means that were missing how many?" – Asked Zell. The Galbadian tapped the sheet thoughtfully.
– "I would say probably two." – She had the very strange feeling of being on a scavenger hunt, something she could barely remember having done.
– "And if I'm not mistaken we're missing Draw and Abilities. Any idea on why we can summon our GFs?" – Aria placed the map carefully on her pocket once more and grabbed her weapons.
– "According to that Pryce girl they can't because of some kind of shield. Shouldn't we be affected as well?" – Somewhat surprisingly Zell was the one to answer.
– "Don't think so" – He mumbled – "We weren't here when it was cast. So why should it affect us?" – Both girls looked at him in amazement making him turn an impressive shade of red.
– "Now this is something I had yet to see" – Murmured Quistis – "Well done Zell" – If he got any redder someone would have been able to fry an egg on his face.
– "Yeah" – Continued Aria with a smirk that clearly said that she was enjoying the situation far too much – "Next thing we know and we'll have Irvine spouting dimensional theories or something. I can't wait to tell this to the others" – Zell crossed his arms in what could have been an annoyed gesture but that, combined with the pout he was sporting, didn't get the wanted effect.
– "Are we going to kill the monster or what?" – He grumbled loudly passing by the two – "But if you want, you can stay here laughing like hyenas" – Aria chose not to look at Quistis knowing fully well she would start laughing as soon as she did.
– "We better go then" – She whispered about to follow her friend but stopped when she noticed her sister had stayed behind.
– "Quis? What's wrong? You ok?" – Crystal blue eyes shone lightly in what could only be considered concern.
– "You are hiding something" – Quistis's voice was calm and certain, showing that she was able to read the younger girl just as well as Aria could her. – "What is bothering you, sis?" – That moment Ariadne felt the same urge she had felt countless times over the years. The one to tell everything she had been through. The one to trust someone with her story. But that wasn't the right time or place…
- "I can't tell you yet Quis" – Aria answered softly – "Not yet. I'm sorry." – And she was. Regret flowed through her as easily as the thoughts of her future had merely hours before. And none of them would leave her anytime soon.
– "I'm sorry" – Ariadne repeated shaking her head. She felt Quistis touch her shoulder tenderly and raised her eyes to meet her sister's light blue ones.
– "You are going back home, aren't you Aria?" – She asked. A note of almost desperation could be heard. Aria muffled the urge to wince as she heard those words keeping it behind an impassive expression.
– "Don't worry about that Quis. Of course I am." – Her false cheer drew a single flash of fear through her sister's eyes but Quistis didn't press it. Thankfully.
– "I won't ask again what is consuming you Aria" – She finally said, hands playing absently with the long chain of her whip – "I won't force you to answer. But listen to me sister" – Quistis hugged her strongly, her taller form protective and caring.
– "I will always be here for you. I will always care for you. And you will always be my sister. Never forget that." – Aria hugged her back as if in a trance.
Mixed feelings were taking over her mind and heart. Love and caring, hope and fear, indecision and selfishness. They meshed and fought against the others until she could barely hold a train of thought.
– "I don't have the right…I…" - Ariadne swallowed forcibly as she tried to take as much strength from the contact as possible – "I don't deserve her. I don't deserve them…"
- "Stop it Aria. Right now!" – Sacred's voice interrupted her tirade sharply, his tone showing the displeasure he was feeling as he heard her thoughts. She did.
– "Now we should go" – Quistis let her go and smiled slightly – "We have a war to finish" – Ariadne just watched her walk away still lost in her thoughts.
– "This is your life Aria" – Continued Minotaur – "Your choices should be your own to make. Stop thinking as if you owe them the way you'll live your life" – The hand grasping a blade tightened around the handle to the point where anyone would be able to see her dead-pale hands if they weren't covered by the black gloves.
– "My life…?" – A grim smile crossed her lips – "My choices…? I have always prided in doing them by myself. I thought it made me strong…" - She sighed as she followed her two companions – "But I only hurt myself then." – Another sigh, now in distinct aggravation – "How can I be asked to choose when I'm not the only one on the line?" – And yet another question unanswered.
– "Guess what Squall?" – Aria thought with bitter amusement as she joined her friends in battle – "I really don't have all the answers. You only need to ask the wrong questions."
– "Oy Aria!" – Zell's yell broke through the battlefield – "A little help maybe?" – She proceeded to take all her frustration on the demon. Her problems could be solved later. Much later.
– "Of course I am indeed."
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- "Are you sure?" – Aria would have rolled her eyes if she had been in another place and hour.
But she WAS in the middle of a huge hole, she WAS holding to a chandelier with the greatest death grip her hands could achieve and she WAS about to fall.
– "Zell" – She hissed – "Put that damned plank underneath me or I swear I'll have your heart as a snack" – Quistis pushed him forcibly out of the way, kicking the wooden plank as hard as she could. The improvised bridge covered the remains of the destroyed floor leaving a slightly shaken Ariadne to regain her balance.
– "Next time I am definitively staying home" – She grumbled – "I don't think my heart is going to survive anymore of this. Now what's the reason why you found so necessary to come here Quis?" – Here, being the library that the instructor had insisted to see before they joined the others. And here being the last place she would think essential to visit.
– "And what does that have to do with the fact that you just entered a room without analysing it first?" – Murmured Sacred
– "Hey! I was hanging from a rope, you know? Besides Zell was the one to push me" – She almost pouted but the most dignified part of her turned it into a really strange mix of whine and annoyance.
– "Aria" – Minotaur sighed distinctively in her mind – "You're degenerating."
– "Long word Taur" – She said dryly – "Did it hurt?" – A hand tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
– "Back to Gaea yet?" – She barely gave Zell a glance as she watched Quistis raid the shelves in search for Hyne knew what
– "Yes" – Aria answered calmly – "But I have a question for you Zell. What will I do when I resolve myself to remember that I almost got thrown down a hole? And what will happen to the one that almost got me thrown down said hole?" – She could have been deaf that she would still be able to hear the loud gulp that followed her questions. He didn't answer. Ariadne loved when her threats got through.
– "Quis! What are you doing?" – The older girl didn't even turn from the books as she continued with her unknown task.
– "You should know better than I Aria" – Came her answer as she threw most of the books to the floor – "Know your enemy. I need to find something, anything…to understand. I just…" - More books found their way to the carpet.
Aria had the distinct feeling that they were placing a big flashing sign with the words "WE ARE HERE" with all the noise.
- "And that will help with what?" – The Galbadian asked as she walked forward, passing through the piles that were complicating her passage – Come on Quis. History time will not help this time. – She seemed to be ignored as the instructor continued her search. Zell gave Ariadne a despairing glance, just as clueless in what to do as her.
– "Quisty, just stop that" – He tried calling – "The others must be already expecting us." – The instructor stopped her movements and turned to her two friends.
– "Don't you want to know?" – She asked sadly – "Don't you need to know? What happened to bring her to this point? What drove her to hurt us so much?" – Silence filled the library as the three looked at one another. And then suddenly both Zell and Aria answered at the same time.
– "No"
– "I don't" – In any other moment they would have laughed with their own answers but the matter was just too serious for such a thing.
– "Why?" – Quistis had halted her search completely, hands by her sides as she waited for the reply. Another look exchanged between the wrestler and the Galbadian ending with the man's short nod.
– "Quis" – Aria sighed deeply as she looked around her – "What good would it do? Do you really want to know what brought her to hurt others? How would you be able to fight if you knew that she had been as hurt as we have? How would you be able to hurt her as well?" – She shrugged slightly – "Sometimes ignorance is bliss." – She raised an eyebrow before unsheathing a blade as fast as she could.
– "Sometimes. Quis, I wouldn't move if I were you. Zell?" – Aria saw him move very, very slowly to the side while raising his fist to strike. And, just as slowly, she walked forward to grasp her sister's arm, pulling her away of the giant snake that had been ready to attack.
Zell punched it as hard as he could, making it hit the shelves behind with the momentum of his attack.
Shelves that had been very close to one another.
Shelves that were, at the moment, falling over the ones behind and warning all the demons within a mile of their location
– "Anyone opposes to getting out of here?" – He inquired while flinching when the last shelf fell.
– "I think our job here is done" – Commented Aria in a tone that could have dried the whole Balamb Sea. – "If, for some reason, Ultimecia had failed in discovering where the hell we were she got a really great clue now. Let's move" – She tried to leave but Quistis's hand had a tight grip on her arm.
Ariadne raised an eyebrow as she looked to the other girl that had all her attention fixed on a single point. A huge book that was laying on the floor where it had been dropped. A book named "Sorceress wars: Chronology and layout. An extensive study".
– "Quis?" – Aria heard a deep breath being drawn before the instructor let go her arm.
– "Ignorance?" – Zell touched Quistis's shoulder trying to gather her attention
– "It wouldn't change a thing Quisty" – He said, too wisely for the Zell they had known for the last years, or months in Aria's case. – "I would still hate her for what she has done." – He almost glared at the book – "It wouldn't change a thing" – Aria cursed as some very familiar sounds reached her ears coming from the hallway.
– "Moving now? As in right now?" – Her blades flashed as she ran to the door before another curse was heard. – "That's it. I've had it. Quis. That's bloody enough." – Her voice had changed into a strong commanding tone, the one she had used in the middle of the battle in Balamb or Galbadia, the one she knew herself capable of using to make others listen to her. She needed it now more than ever.
– "You will stop this instant. We have been given a mission and we are still fulfilling it. I am not going to let us die here because of this, got it?" – She could see the change in Quistis's eyes as she turned away from the book. Resolution shone in every movement and action.
– "You are right." – The instructor finally said – "Her past is our future and I won't let a shadow rule my life. Now let us move. The others must be worried." – And she gave them a small reassuring smile to show that she had not been hurt by their actions. Ariadne could have sighed in relief.
– "So…tower now?" - Zell's eyes widened slightly as he jumped over the hole and looked outside.
– "Unless you wish to wait for the reception committee. But I strongly disagree with that" – Aria had to bit her lip with a very sudden urge to laugh.
The weirdness of the situation was finally hitting and hearing Zell speaking as…well, as Sacred, was enough to freak her out.
– "Yeah, sure…whatever." – Ariadne had a brief thought in how she seemed to be using that word a lot on the last days – "Let's go" – And for once no one said anything, simply rushing to their goal. Besides…she had a promise to fulfil…and her revenge as well. She wasn't perfect after all. Not even close.
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- "Sorry for our lateness Commander" – Ariadne smiled openly when she saw that the rest of their group was healthy and thoroughly confused with her before-battle-cheeriness. Usual.
– "It was Zell's fault." – She ducked from the light smack that had been about to hit her head in an automatic movement before smirking to her friend – "It was" – Zell scowled cracking his knuckled distractedly.
– "Well, I wasn't the one that almost fell down a bloody hole" – He sent back. Aria raised an eyebrow in a deliberately slow movement.
– "Should I remember whose fault was that?"
– "Not unless we wish to start another argument" – Interrupted Quistis with her very instructor-like attitude. – "Now stop that or I'll have you both taking care of the younger years as soon as we get home" - Both Seeds felt silent as if they weren't on a castle in the future but instead on the Garden in the past.
Aria really had to know who had been the incompetent fool that had considered Quistis unfit for a teaching position. Then she would introduce him to an interesting thing called intelligence. It was good to see Quistis back to normal after what had happened barely minutes before.
– "We were delayed Squall" – She declared too calmly ignoring the coughs coming from her two companions.
– "And the understatement of year award goes to…" - One day Aria would learn to shield TV shows from Minotaur.
– "We expected that" – Informed Selphie with a grin.
– "We heard the noise" – Completed Rinoa without bothering to hide the smile that would be bordering in full blown laughter if she didn't know better. Aria glared briefly at the two blondes.
– "That's it. I'm really going to drill secrecy and silence into your stubborn heads when we get home. I can't believe you were caught in the missile base only because of a wrongly made salute Zell."
– "I believe you'll have enough work for a lifetime with Stef and the others Aria" – Commented Irvine. – "But that can be left for later. Just call us to watch the show then" – She smiled enjoying the small conversation that had just been ended.
Because it had been about the future. It had brought a glimpse of a future she could have, something she could aim for. Her eyes strayed to Squall's stern and, as always, too serious face.
Strangely Ariadne could read multiple emotions flashing every now and then on it. Confusion, a bit yeah, worry, that came out in waves, determination, she would have to be scared if she was the one against him and…fear…concern?
Aria looked at Quistis, searching for something that would tell her that she wasn't the only one noticing it, but her sister was talking quietly with the rest of the group about some thing that she wasn't particularly interested in. She turned back to Squall before touching his arm discretely.
– "Worried?" – The girl asked softly. No immediate answer. She didn't press it. If Quistis and Squall had something very obvious in common was the fact that they both took their sweet time answering to questions. She no longer took any thought before waiting.
– "Do you really believe that we will make it?" – He always, always, answered her questions with another question. Annoying but ignorable.
– "Yes…no" – Squall gave her a somewhat amused look. Ariadne rolled her eyes for the second time in less than five minutes.
– "No. I don't believe we will make it" – She continued – "I know we will make it. All of us. We're going to finish this and we're going home. Count on it Commander" – Her hands pulled the gloves to their original place, hiding the marks that had been made when in Lunatic Pandora, as she noticed that he had been looking at them.
– "You sound too sure." – His eyes narrowed and soon she couldn't read a thing in them. – "I hope you're right." – Aria smirked, gripping his arm lightly before letting go as if she hadn't done a thing.
– "Oh, you of little faith. Come on. Let's end this." – Aria unsheathed her blades, readying herself to join the others when…
- "Why those words?" – A smile reached her lips as she looked at the sentences she had requested to be carved on the blood red crystal.
– "Do you know anything better to protect?" – Ariadne could play the same game after all. – "Coming or are you going to let us have all the fun?" – Then he did something she would ever remember. He actually rolled his eyes in exasperation.
– "Great" – Sacred's voice carried the exact same feeling as the Commander – "You drove another out of his mind."
– "Good job Aria" – Finished Taur. – "I'm very proud of you" – She discarded the following argument to hear Squall's voice as he passed by her.
– "That also doesn't work well as a stress reliever" – Aria laughed out loud under the others' confused expressions. Who would have thought that he was better than her at that?
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My POV
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I finally got a conclusion that I had never acknowledged before. My life is just too bloody weird.
I am just too damned weird.
Have you ever seen someone laugh to tears when about to face an enemy? Well now you have. The words lovesick fool never seemed more appropriate and the sad thing is…I'm the one they're related to.
Sincerely I can't understand why I keep deluding myself but I guess…
I guess that whatever fragment I can retain from a dream is better than nothing…right?
I remember reading a phrase once, it was something like "If I feel happy with an illusion do not be so cruel as to take it away from me". I remember thinking of who would ever be happy with just that.
An illusion.
Ironic, isn't it?
Josh will have a heart attack with this. After all I was the one that had to bring Anne back to Earth when she got that huge, and I mean HUGE, crush on Lugh. (wince)
Do you know how (wince) hard it is to hear things about your own brother that you really, really could pass without hearing?
It's horrifying. Scary. Almost sickening. Oh, the horror.
Well back to Josh.
I can almost see his face if I tell him what has happened. Hell, knowing him he probably already suspected it when we went to Esthar. And that is scary. He shouldn't be allowed to read me that way. Of course I could do that too when we were both home. It helps when you know someone since birth.
Wonder if I can still do that? Wow…randomness is at full work today. I'm not too sure why.
I think it's because that it will end today. Good or bad, it doesn't matter. This battle is the last, the war is going to end here.
I think I'm just…relieved.
The waiting, the journey to get here was worse than the actual battle will be, I think.
I was always an act-now-think-later kind of girl and having to wait in the sidelines is not my thing. There is a reason why I'm a spy after all. Well, that and a strategist but that one is confidential. So now I'm going to concentrate myself in ending this as I have said to Quis. There's no need in worrying before I'm certain that I'll survive this. And when this is over then I can worry about the future.
Because, from what I can see, mine is hard to grasp. How do you tip a balance knowing that either choice will make you lose something you hold dear?
I don't know too.
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(Tanathos comes into the room with a balloon on his hand and a small pin….Reyavie falls from chair when it blows before grabbing her new printer and throw it at his head. Rea groans when he faints at her door). I am so not carrying anywhere. Anyways the chapter has reached its end and so has this story for this week. More on the next.
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So everyone that's reading this. Yes, ALL of you. You do know what I want you to do don't you? REVIEW! So press that little button downstairs and tell me what you're thinking of the story and this particular chappie. Any mistakes that you might have found or suggestions that you might have and please let me know alright? REVIEW everyone!
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Next chapter: And our favourite (Tanathos coughs loudly. Rea gives him a strange look before continuing) sorceress comes into play. Yes, she-who-loves-to-mess-with-other-people's-lives finally makes her appearance. Friendly conversations ensue... (Another dual cough).
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See ya all next week
Reyavie