(Little girl enters room and sits in front of computer before looking at door and raising eyebrow. Reyavie enters armed with Ariadne's katanas. Little girl frowns slightly and Rea hides weapons…very close by). Hey everyone! This week we have a special guest! My little cousin Eris!
#Diz olá aos leitores Eri!#. Say hello to the readers Eri…(Eris looks at Reyavie innocently).
#Porquê?# Why? (Rea sniffles).
#Porque eu te estou a pedir. Não queres ver-me triste pois não?# Because I am asking you. You don't want to see me sad, do you…? (Eris shakes head before waving at screen with a grin).
#Olá a todos!# Hello to all! (Then turns back to Reyavie).
#E agora? # And now? #Agora temos que dizer que EU NÃO POSSUO NADA NESTA HISTÓRIA!# Now we have to say that I DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY! (Eris frowns again).
#Porquê#? Why? (Rea smacks forehead before whispering something at Eris. Said girl waves again before leaving room yelling for Thanatos. Reyavie smirks once more before turning to file). She's in that age…either that or it's the family gene pool already showing. Anyways Ariadne and whatever OCs that are featured in this story are my creations. Go search for your own. (A "HELP" is heard from the other side of the house.) Opps…
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Announcements: (This means that I would like you to read this everyone)
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1 – First of all I have finally created something that seems like a homepage (Thanatos appears at door with Eris and glares muttering a "yuppie". Eris drags him away. Rea watches grinning.) So if, for some very weird reason, I fail to update you can check there because the updates are a lot faster than the profile pages. Other than that any comment you want to leave is welcome.
2 – And I have also created a C2 (Ghost cheers because apparently Thanatos is being ordered around by a girl whose height doesn't reach his knees). There you can find stories that include original characters and introduced into any FF plot. Check it out cause there are excellent pieces of work there. I would request (beg actually) that if someone would not mind becoming staff please warn me 'kay?
3 – And last it is…the dreaded voting pool. Hang on everyone! Is not that bad! Honest! I have been asked about if I would or would not write a sequel to this story…And I'm still not sure. If I did I would probably make it a crossover with FF X but with my mind…well it would have my usual weird twists every now and then. So how about you give me your opinion mm'mm?
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Answers to my reviewers:
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DarkerLink – Heya to you! Welcome to Second Life's review hall! Wow! Read it all in one day? And you really liked it? That's so cool! Thank you so much! Those kinds of comments are really great to keep me from even thinking in giving up writing. I'm glad you like Aria but she doesn't seem a little insane…she is a little (cough) insane. Fun? I sure hope so.
Thanks also for the error you warned me about. You were right. I was wrong. I admit it. I wave the white flag. I submit the castle. I…(Eris enters room and slaps Rea's head before leaving again) am shutting up right about now. Evil little cousins…nevertheless hope you like this chappie.
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SLy – And another new reviewer! Hi and welcome to you! It was great to know that you love this story and about the fav thing as well. Don't worry about that. Believe that your words are already enough. See, the new chapter is already here. Every Thursday there's an update except if something out of the ordinary happens ok? Read on then…
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Meepills – (Rea hides behind desk while grabbing the katanas). Hi? You know something? You're scarier when you're on pills. It's just…way too calm. Then how about you put those pills down? (Reyavie puts katanas away still freaked out). I'll pass the offer thanks. If I calm down I won't be able to run awa…forget that. (Rea coughs before continuing). So you are sure you haven't called anyone? That's very nice…I like living and all.
Ok, I'm going to stop rambling. Thanks for your review. I loved it as always, bar death threats and pill effects, and it's great to know that you liked the chapter as well. So here's the end to the journey to Earth with no cliff-hanger this time (note that last part). I went sightseeing in exchange rates and found out that the Euro is a bit higher than the dollar but not by much. The escudos are no longer used in Portugal but when they were 200 escudos were the same as one 1 euro.
Thanks for the luck but right I will need it all to end college. So here's mah new chappie. Go read and then tell me what think…please? (Rea grins and waves before hiding katanas)
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Lisa – Hey! A new reviewer! Welcome to Second Life Lisa. Here's your chocolate tablet because one of your options is the correct one. (Rea punches chocolate through CD-Rom while Thanatos and Eris give her freaked out looks). If you go to the last chapter before continuing you'll see that most of the last sentences are hints to the guy's identity. But you got it right and that's what matters. Thanks for the review. It's always great to know that people like my writing. Hope I can continue to be able to say so. Enjoy the chapter.
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Shadray – Wow! Another new reviewer! Welcome to you too. It was very nice for you to review my story. It's a different style than yours but I think it works all the same (yours is really cool…weird but cool). To say the truth I had never read a fall-into-Galbadia before too. That was why I wrote it. I had only read a fall-into-Balamb and that's really good (It's on my C2. You should read it if you like the style). I'm happy to know that you're enjoying the story and you can bet that I appreciated the review. (I've already explained the whole "-" in my review. I hope you have understood why I use them.)
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Serene Angel Wing – Heya! Good to see you back ;) And you still wonder about that? (is matuerer even a word? Rea frowns before shrugging). I don't really. Every time I tried I would remember the sugar-high in pixie sticks Selphie that you described me. That takes all the doubts away. I think your mom is still trying not to blame it on the genes but tough luck.
Parents are guilty!
I am not a crazy, sarcastic psycho because of others. I managed that by myself. This doesn't sound very good does it? But anyways…I didn't see the Texas Chainsaw massacre but the words "Chainsaw" and "Massacre" don't inspire me a lot of confidence (Rea slowly pulls katanas closer and then raises eyebrow), Sanity? Well, yours is fading. Mine left a long time ago. It went away with my brain when I was two. This sure explains a lot huh?
I'm really glad you liked the chapter. From now on I'll have to trust that I can write without the aid of the plot. Until now I'm being able to do it. Can only hope you like the rest of the story. And I have no clue about the spelling. I count with my faithful Office Word Correction and Grammar…faithful…right (Rea coughs loudly). Believe that I'm a lot gladder that you are reading it.
What would I do without my weekly dosage of hyperactivity? I have no clue at all. And your relatives are coming for the next holidays? As in Christmas holidays? As in all the holidays? God, I pity you. (Not that I have another option. You're holding a bloody baseball bat). But I think you should put the bat away, breathe deeply and then ask meepills for her pills. They stopped her from maiming me so I think you'll need some. If not you can always save some money and visit me in Portugal. Lisboa, or Lisbon, is a cool city (maybe I'm biased but I was born here so can I be blamed?). Well, I'm going to stop rambling for now. Go ahead. I promise there is no Cliff-hanger in this chapter. I won't say anything about the next (Reyavie grins). See ya soon.
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And welcome to the thirtieth-one chapter of Second Life. Well I'll be damned. I lived through this week. (Eris appears at door and unleashes secret weapon…puppy dog eyes. Rea sighs before following)
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Her brother was older. Not as in old, just older. Every part of the child he had been once seemed to have evolved into the adult that was in front of her. Still taller that her, Ariadne realized with a mental pout, strong, tanned from the sun.
His dark green eyes shone softly with the confusion she could read easily making her almost smile. It wasn't easy to shock Lugh to silence. His hair was now short, spiked up slightly giving him an even more youthful appearance. Basically she doubted he could walk on the streets without turning heads.
– "Medea, go inside" – He didn't even turn his eyes from her. Aria could almost feel the shock beginning to vanish. Which meant...
– "I'm doomed"
– "Yes you are" – Taur sounded way too happy with that. The little girl that had been addressed as Medea frowned.
– "But Papa..." - Sea green eyes turned from her brother to the girl. She so had not heard that.
- "My congratulations Aria" – Said Sacred with also too much amusement in his voice for her taste. – "You are an aunt." - Lugh gave his supposed daughter a stern glance and she stopped. Aria couldn't hide a small smile.
That had never worked with her. At least now Lugh knew that it wasn't the glare that was wrong. She had just been too damned stubborn to back down from their arguments.
- "Now Medea" – And he had actually called the little one after Greek mythology.
Laughter was pushed back forcibly before she ended up in hysterics. To know that the one that had spent half of his childhood complaining about his name had done something like that…she bit her lip to stop the chuckles.
Medea looked from her father to the young woman and scowled before stomping, somewhat noisily, inside. Some things never changed…and it seemed their family genes were some of them. All amusement faded when brother and sister went back to their silent visual struggle.
She didn't know what to say.
Ariadne had replayed her speech about a million times during the years she had spent away…what she would say when she returned. But as Aria actually found herself like that…she finally understood something. She had never thought she would actually go back. It had been a hope…one to keep her going, to not let her give up. But those fantasies were now reality.
– "You are dead" – Aria snapped from her thoughts as if cold water had been dumped on her. Lugh just looked, his features empty and disbelieving…as if she was merely a ghost. And to him it seemed that she was.
– "The car exploded" – He continued expressionlessly – "They weren't able to take you and Josh out. You burned with the car. You are dead." – Ariadne had an urge to cover her ears, to not hear about what had happened…about the pain she had caused.
– "Lugh…"
- "No" – Her brother interrupted – "You're dead. You're not here. My sister is dead" – It seemed that the situation was going to be even more complicated than what she had anticipated.
– "And who do you think I am Bro? A ghost? An apparition?" – She said not giving him time to answer – "I am Ariadne. I am your sister. Remember how I didn't speak with you for a week because you had had a fit over the first time I went out at night? Or that time you took me out when I won my first tournament in kendo? Have you forgotten the bracelet I gave you when I was ten 'cause I thought that you should have something of mine always with you?" – Ariadne smiled sadly as she struggled to remember more things from that time. But she had been young and memories had faded…guilt flared through her connection with the brothers and not only hers.
– "Lugh…big brother…it's me." – He just stood there as if he couldn't believe whatever she had said. As if he couldn't believe she was really ok.
So Aria did the only thing the most emotional part of her was begging her to do. The same thing she had done in the dream Ultimecia had attempted to break her with. She walked to the taller man and hugged him with all the strength she could muster ignoring all her pains and aches, all her pain. The one inside hurt her more than anything else.
Lugh had frozen in her arms but Ariadne didn't care. It was her brother. Her family.
– "Say something you bloody idiot" – She hissed to his chest – "Do you think that I wasn't hurt too you bas…" - Her rant was stopped abruptly when two arms crushed her against him, cutting effectively her air supply.
Tears fell from Aria's eyes as she heard her brother's voice repeat her name over and over again. Safe…she was safe. No movement was made to stop the tears that were still flowing from her eyes or to free herself from the bone crushing hug she had been caught in.
Safe…
- "I'm sorry" – Her eyes opened when Lugh changed his mantra – "I'm so sorry Ari. I'm so sorry."
– "What?" – Ariadne raised her head from his chest to look at his pained face – "Why are you asking sorry for Bro?" – She asked softly – "You did nothing wrong. I was the one that wasn't here when you needed me" – His arms relaxed slightly as he let go to look at her more attentively. A small smile was curving his lips as he did so.
– "You're wrong" – His eyes narrowed slightly as he saw the small wounds that Hyne had disregarded to hide – "You've changed" – Lugh continued completely out of the blue choosing to drop the subject for the moment. – "More than you're allowing me to see." – His hand ruffled her hair in a costumed movement that no one had done to her since she had left…and, just as she had done years before, Aria slapped his hand away but now with a grin.
– "Now, now big brother. None of that" – Lugh smiled once more as he caressed her face softly. Ariadne could see his mood sobering little by little.
– "What happened to you Ari?" – Now that was a loaded question if she had ever heard one.
– "I fear she will have to answer that inside" – Interrupted a by-then already familiar voice.
Hyne had returned, her too joyful grin firmly in place. Aria could almost see Lugh entering protective mode. At least she wasn't the only one that thought the woman was weird…and scary. She sighed with a barely contained roll of eyes.
– "I really hope you have good news. Cause I sure as hell could do with some." – Ariadne stated firmly, not allowing her weariness to show through her tone.
– "As well as a few years of sleep" – Commented Sacred – "Are you aware that your energy is nearly spent?"
- "I'm trying to keep myself standing" - She bit back sarcastically – "What would ever make you think that I would notice that?"
– "That's not a good way to welcome someone Ariadne" – The sorceress actually pouted. It took all of Aria's control for her not to start banging her head on a wall. Or even better, Hyne's.
– "And I would care because?" – Aria said exasperatedly but with a hidden amusement as she remembered Stef saying the exact same words not too long before. As if she needed more proofs that she learned a lot from the Gaeans. – "Forget it. Lugh…" - Ariadne turned to her brother with a really apologetic look on her expression.
– "Can we get inside? This is a really, and I mean really, long story. Ignore her" – She had never been more relieved by seeing a glare. The sorceress was just too unnaturally cheerful for the sake of her sanity.
– "You have a lot to explain Ari" – Dark green eyes were stern as the surprise passed, the joy being relegated for later. She smiled as if she had been waiting for that.
– "You too Bro" – The Seed replied easily, passing through the small door that lead to her former home – "For example, what had you been drinking before you named your kid "Medea"?"
- "Yep" – She thought as she saw her beloved older brother roll his eyes skyward – "Some things will never change. Thank…Hyne? Nah…"
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The silence in the room was so thick that Ariadne had a really stupid urge to take a katana out and attempt to cut it. She had been under more oppressing and stressing silences and glances but the fact that it was her own brother doing the staring was a bit more than enervating.
– "Can you please just say something?" – Aria whispered calmly – "Scream, throw a fit…I don't know…just do something." – She wished more than anything that Quistis was there with her or Christine.
– "Ironic" – Came an unwelcome thought – "I need family to deal with my family." – A hand grasped her shoulder in an unexpected comforting touch.
For once the sorceress seemed serious, the guardian she was supposed to be. Lugh finally took his head from his hands fixing his green eyes on his sister's.
– "You are not joking are you?" – He asked straitening himself on the couch. His expression was weary, as if he was being spent just by the sheer effort of trying to understand what he had been told.
– "So you are telling me that you were sent to another planet because of that" – Lugh pointed angrily to the pendant that shone innocently on her neck – "Became part of a group of mercenaries, fought for four years" – Aria chose not to interrupt her brother's rant to say that she had only been in missions for two years and that the rest had been training.
– "Entered a bloody war, almost got yourself killed for who-knows-how-many-times" – Her brother continued – "And you're telling me you are returning to that?" – Now that was definitively the brother she remembered. Her tired mind really couldn't deal with it at the time but she forced herself to concentrate nevertheless.
– "Bro" – Ariadne sighed deeply before opening her eyes. Pale green was beginning to creep into their normal colour. – "I am not joking in any way." – Gloved hands pulled the bag she had been carrying to take the two blades and placed them neatly on the coffee table in front of her. The black sheaths Fenwick had made for her previous blades already showed the signs of use but remained in good condition.
– "Gaea is real" – Aria continued sternly – "Everything I told you is real." – She raised a hand in an instinctive movement – "Fire" – A flame engulfed her hand for a moment making Lugh almost jump from his seat. Hyne's hand left her shoulder and pushed her own down.
– "Leave the demonstrations to me Ariadne" – The sorceress said gently – "Any more of that and you'll have to rest for a bit" – Understatement. Translation: You'll be knocked out for a month. Aria rolled her eyes before turning to her shell-shocked brother.
– "Magic is real big brother. Everything I told you about did happen" – Another sigh left her lips as Aria watched Lugh grab one of the blood-red blades. Its crystal hue shone softly as it was uncovered by the sheath, showing the words she had had ordered to be carved on its surface.
– "You are not joking" – He stated as he cleaned something Ariadne was praying not to be blood.
– "Duh" – Added Minotaur. The girl shook her head slowly in answer.
– "Why?" – His voice was barely above a whisper. Aria stood from the chair she had been sitting on and knelt in front of him. A hand rested lightly on his.
– "I dreamt for a long time with the day I would return home Lugh – Ariadne's voice was strong but wistful. – "A long time indeed…but I grew up there Bro. I learned there. I became who I am there." – She sighed yet again but her eyes carried conviction
– "I passed through some very hard times Lugh, that's true. I'll be the first one to say that I didn't enjoy some of them one single bit but you know…" - A small smile curved her lips as she caressed his face slowly – "I have pride in what I achieved. I am happy that I helped Gaea and its people. And I want to continue to do so. A war occurred there Bro. Reconstruction is beginning and more help will be needed. I'll be needed."
Another pause as she searched for the words to make her brother understand what she was trying to say. What she was feeling.
– "When I first arrived I can't say I was happy about it. Hell, I practically destroyed the first room they got me" – Her smile widened with amusement as Aria remembered the fit she had had after the first shock had passed.
Curiously enough Stef had appeared then and congratulated her for being the first person to earn a detention on the first day without even placing her feet on one class.
– "But I fought to do something with my life" – Ariadne continued softly now playing distractively with her brother's larger hand – "I fought to find my place. I have a home now, friends, family…I have a future there Lugh. I have hope there." – Silence fell once more between them but Aria knew better than to break it.
– "You do have some diplomatic abilities after all" – Commented Sacred – "I was about to despair." – Strong arms went around her in a quiet protection and then it was Lugh's time to sigh.
– "You grew up so much, little sister. I'm sorry I wasn't there." – She snorted faintly in scepticism.
– "You couldn't fight to save your life Bro." – To that he didn't have a way to reply.
Apparently the time where he had thrown the biggest fit known in the story of their home about the ten thousand reasons to why he wouldn't be going to kendo school had not been forgotten. She had recorded that on tape. And hidden it. He still didn't know where.
– "It's ok Lugh" – Ariadne continued breaking his very weird path of thought. – "You don't have anything to be sorry for. You helped me. You and mom and dad…even if you weren't there with me, you helped me." – She made a pause before freeing herself a bit from the hug – "Do you understand why I need to go back?" – Lugh scowled
– "Yeah" – He answered moodily – "But do you have to go now? Mom and Dad will be back in five or six days…" - A really large part of her wanted to accept but the most logical knew that if she waited any longer she would not be able to go back…or would begin to doubt her decision.
– "I can't" – Aria's head turned to the sorceress that, thankfully enough, had not yet intervened. Hyne also nodded.
– "We have to go" – Her voice was faintly remorseful – "I can't hold the time stream forever." – Ariadne raised an eyebrow in concealed surprise but didn't comment.
The woman did have some very weird traits but she was the first sorceress after all. If that didn't meant power what would? Aria nodded standing up and grabbed her katanas to place them quickly on the bag. Then pale green eyes found her brother's form once more.
– "Tell them all that I have said Bro and…damnit. Just wait a bit" – She walked to a table and opened drawers randomly in search for who-knew-what.
Lugh winced slightly as his sister destroyed all the signs that actually there had been some kind of organization there. Ariadne ignored him as she found a paper sheet and a pen before beginning to write. Her handwriting was still round and aligned but more fluid than the one she had had years before. Lugh found it strange to see the countless small differences in his sister and how easy it was for him to find them.
His eyes widened as he remembered something before bolting of the room. Hyne and Ariadne exchanged a brief confused look but resigned themselves to silence. The only sounds on the house were the gentle scratching of the pen as Aria wrote, the pen almost flying over the paper with her worry. If Hyne could see the tears she was trying to clean hastily as the girl did so, she didn't comment.
– "But papa…" - It was the small girl's voice, Medea. According to Lugh her name wasn't really his fault. Apparently Anne had the same tastes as their mother. And Ariadne couldn't wait to tell Josh that tiny bit of information. She would never live it down if Anne had caught her.
– "Come on 'Dea. I just want you to meet someone" – Ariadne smiled sadly, signing the letter she had just finished writing, before turning to the door. Her brother was there and on his arms was Medea. Two pairs of dark green eyes watched her, one sheepish and one slightly scared.
– "Remember when I told you about Aunt Ari?" – Whispered Lugh to his daughter – "Well, she came to visit us."
– "He just had to make my life more problematic, didn't he?" – Aria thought as she watched the confusion on Medea's face
– "You said she was in heaven" – Stated the girl matter-of-factly as if asking "were you lying?". Ariadne smiled again.
It depended on the point of view. Gaea was home now…and to one its home is heaven right?
– "I got a special permission" – She said softly – "Now can you give me a hug before I go?" – It took Aria even more strength to let go of the little one. Because she had never met her and she was giving up the chance to. With all of that Ariadne never noticed the camera that her brother was holding in his hands. Or the picture he had just taken
– "Ariadne?" – The girl sighed as she heard the sorceress's voice before kissing Medea's forehead gently.
– "You going back to heaven?" – She asked with a dose of innocence she would never relate to someone raised by her brother and Anne. But she was a kid after all. Aria smiled when that small question brought her back on track. She was loosing much, yes, but she had much there as well.
– "I guess so." – The Seed answered softly – "I guess I am." - As soon as Medea jumped from her arms she found herself being crushed once more by her older brother. Ariadne closed her eyes, trying to engrave every little thing about him in her memory.
– "No tears dear mistress" – Whispered Minotaur – Save them for later. "You have to be strong now." – She could almost see Sacred nod in agreement.
Lugh was crying. She could count the times he had done so in one hand.
– "Ariadne" – Called Hyne once more – "We really have to go. We still have to pick someone up." – A shuddering sigh left her lips before she saw Lugh smile shakily.
– "Take care little sister" – He said softly as slowly, so very slowly, the arms around her relaxed…before letting go altogether. – "And send a message by the sorceress there in case anyone hurts you. Maybe she can give me a lift so I can hit someone" – Yes. Some things really didn't change.
– "Just take this with you" – He continued pushing a small pack to her hands – "So you don't forget us."
– Ariadne! – The Seed hugged him again with even more strength as her mind whispered for her not to let go, ignoring the sorceress's voice for just one more precious moment.
– "Give the letter to mom and dad." – She requested trying to keep her voice steady – Tell them I'm sorry. That I love them both. Take good care of Anne and Medea and if you even dare to think about calling your next kid Zeus or something…I'll…come back just to kick your ass. – Hyne smiled nostalgically as she watched them both. It was a painful decision and one it wasn't hers to make.
– "Love ya Ari" – Whispered Lugh. The Seed smiled through the tears that were threatening to blind her.
– "Love ya too Bro." – And then they both let go of each other at the same time. Time had run out.
Hyne's hand grasped Aria's arm strongly as soon as the girl reached her side. And then the sea green eyed warrior smirked as she remembered something.
– "My room. – She informed – "Third drawer in the desk. The bottom-left. There's a book in there. Read it."
– "Hang on now" – Instructed Hyne. The last thing Ariadne saw was her brother's smile before everything around her vanished once more into darkness.
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My POV
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It's done. Part of the hard part is over…oh damn. That didn't make any sense at all. I'm just too bloody tired to even make correct sentences. All that's left now for me to do is to get back.
Is it too much to ask for a bloody bed?
I just want to go back. I have to rest. I need to get my bearings back. The floor beneath my feet I guess.
It was hard…It was so hard to say goodbye. But it's done. I wonder what he will say when he finds my scrapbook. Oh that would be priceless. Damn. I wish could open a little portal so I could see his face when he reads some of the things I did to him over the years.
And by all that is sacred! He married Anne! I would hear her say "I told you so" a thousand times if I had not been in Gaea.
And them having a kid…argh. Bad thoughts! Really bad, horrifying thoughts.
Think clean…sleep, yeah that's great. Really need to sleep. They obviously don't do to that often.
ARGH! My sanity is leaving. But damn the kid's cute. Once more I don't know what happened to their genes…
(don't think about it, don't think about it, don't even dare to think about IT)
…to have such a cute kid. I wish I could see her grow up…no.
No more wishes. This was my choice. No turning back. No second thoughts. What I do need to think about right now is getting home.
Home. I really have one now.
Does that mean that I can make the new headmaster's life hell for the sake of homecoming? I'm quite sure Sasha and Stef will love to help if we have to deal with another blasted guy from the military.
Cause there's no way I'm leaving Earth to be stranded with a dictatorship. Another war anyone?
Wait a bit…why in Hyne's name do I always see the worse aspects of a situation first?
Wait again…I should stop saying in Hyne's name.
Come on. Would anyone sane continue to say such things about a sorceress that seems like Selphie and Stef on sugar highs? Thought so.
Alright! I have ended the chapter for this week everyone. See? I told you. No evil cliffhanger this week. So how about telling me what you think of it? Any errors and mistakes you might have found please warn me about them because I often can bypass them. Suggestions, comments or just plain randomness are welcome. Please REVIEW! (loud crash is heard somewhere in home. Rea winces). At least I can say it wasn't my fault this time…Honestly I mean…
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Next chapter: We find something that was lost and finally say goodbye to several elements…
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See ya all next Thursday
Reyavie (Another crash echoes. Rea raises eyebrow). I better go before Thanatos and Eris bring down the house.