Hey everyone! I'm here! My house wasn't destroyed…though not for the lack of trying. My cousin is way too energetic for her own good (just how are kids able to do that…without coffee?). Leaving that behind I'll just say the same thing I have said ever since I've started this story. I DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY! I think that idea is already well present in everyone's mind. But Ariadne and the whole group of OCs that were introduced into the plot are all mine you hear? Mine! Anyways…
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Before I go ahead to the reviewer's answers I would like to remind everyone that I'm still accepting replies to the two questions I've made last chapter which are:
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1. Sequel? Yes or no? (crossover and probably made with FFX)
2. Need some authors that would not mind to become staff for my C2. Please warn me if anyone's interested.
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To my reviewers:
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Meepills – You're back! You are still seriously freaking me out. Are you sure you are supposed to take those pills? (Rea raises eyebrow). They sound something really suspicious. And I suppose school has already started for you. Yeah, September isn't the best month for any student. My own begin this Monday. My birthday is this Monday. Me doomed.
But I am happy you liked the chapter (freaked out yeah but happy) and Medea too. She was based on my little cousin when she's not in her devil mood (rare). And if you thought Hyne was insane before you're going to love this chappie (Reyavie smirks). But you have a mini Hyne at home! And one in denial…Poor you (Rea winces). There's no worst thing really. And she tried to climb a wall! That's it. Keep her very far away from chocolate. She sounds like a walking, living hazard. But who doesn't say that about siblings?
About to how to call me…? Well, I already have a nick but I suppose Kali would be best (everything but perfect so elf is out, I'm more a fire and earth girl and only peaceful when depressed. Besides I'm evil as you so kindly put it some times so…I think it fits). I don't know about Medea.
I have a thing for meaning of names (my real one for example means God's gracious gift. Thanatos said he didn't want to know what was the curse and asked since when I was gracious. Brothers…) but the only one I have for Medea is "Middle child" in Latin. Maybe you found the meaning in Greek? And yeah, my Bro is going to be my death one of these days. The aptest nick I've ever given someone. Ok, I'll continue if I don't see any snipers as I walk down the street, promise. Still thinking about the sequel thing… but now go take those pills. The damage is already done anyways. Then read the real chapter ;)
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hibeki – Welcome back Lisa! I'm really glad you began posting your own stories and it was no problem to review it. I know how hard is to begin in something like this. But we learn bit by bit. Thanks for the compliment and also for adding me to your favourite stories. It's great to know that someone enjoys what I write. Here's the newest chapter. Hope you like it.
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SLy – Hey there! Happy to know you loved that chapter (Reyavie hands over tissue). It was supposed to be sad. She was saying goodbye after all. I tried to make it as much realistic as possible (note the possible part. Sorceresses, magic, dimensional travel can't be classified as such right? Pity.)
Wow! You really think that about my way of writing? That's really…(Rea blushes heavily). Thank you so much. I'm still thinking about the sequel but I do have some ideas already. It will all depend in the time I'll have and just how well I can write it. I'll wait for more opinions before I actually make a decision. But I'll have to say one thing.
I don't live in the USA. I'm Portuguese therefore I live in Portugal, Europe. That doesn't bring you good news time wise. Apparently Australia has an advance of ten hours in relation to Portugal. So the best thing for you to do is to open my profile, get to my homepage and see the entries. As soon as I post a new chapter I'll warn it there.
This means that even if you can't see it in the profile page you just have to change the number in the address of the web page. I hope this helps…and keeps that poking stick far away from me. Thank your sis for me. Yeah, I think that green eyes are cool but brown eyes are not boring (I'm Mediterranean which means dark brown hair and eyes so on…) Flying cows? Where did that come from? (Rea chuckles). Enjoy the chappie.
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Rae Anderson – Rae! You reviewed me again! Thanks for that! Happy that you think that about this and it is chapters. I'm still writing. What can I say? My life just needs a bit of fantasy every now and then. Your dad finally is working on putting that computer on? Alright! That's really cool. I'll be ready to read your story as soon as you post it. Till then.
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And welcome to the thirtieth-two chapter of Second Life. I'll be at the end of this…
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3rd Person POV
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- "Humph!" – Ariadne glared at the laughing sorceress feeling the situation all too familiar.
A portal. A dimensional journey. The floor. Laughing crazy woman. Too familiar.
Only then she noticed she was once again wearing her blood stained and ripped clothes. – "Fuck! Is it a bath, clothes and rest too much to ask for?" – She thought as she rose unsteadily.
– "Where in the seven hells are we and for what bloody reason?" – Clouds, a desert all around them and no sunlight. Ariadne was inclined to think that she had been brought to hell. That thought didn't seem to be too unpleasant if she could at least lie down and pass out.
– "To pick someone up" – That had to be the strangest answer Aria had ever heard in her entire life. That didn't seem a place where anyone sane would be.
– "What are you talking about?" – The weariness had returned and, obviously, her snappish mood as well. Hyne grinned as if the whole bad humour was something amusing.
– "Have you forgotten that whole game you played about a million times?" – She asked all too cheerfully for the Galbadian's temper – "If you did then I must remember that there is a person that gets lost in the time stream." – Ariadne frowned deeply as that information sank in.
– "Yeah. Squall does." – Was the firm answer – "But Rinoa comes for him so…"
- "Rinoa would have come for him" – Interrupted Hyne now serious. – "If they had gone to Edea's house but a certain Seed was up to her neck in trouble. They didn't want to lose precious time." – Ariadne felt her throat constrict as the consequences of her presence, or absence, on that particular time fell on her mind.
– "Then let's go" – She ordered as she ripped the bag open and placed the black sheaths on her back where they belonged. The small package that Lugh had given her was hastily put on the pack she still wore on her waist.
– "Where to? I can't find my way between piles of dust so I suggest you know how" – It seemed that the Galbadian Seed had returned to stay. – "As in right now." – Hyne smiled again with the lack of patience the woman was showing especially when a brown eyebrow rose as if questioning her delay.
She could see the weariness on the girl's stance, the way she was forcing herself to keep pushing forward and the way concern and despair were plainly showing in her stern emerald gaze even as she tried to hide it.
– "Keep going straight in that direction" – The sorceress instructed – "I'll meet you after a bit. Just touch the Meva Ysimad." – Aria's eyes widened.
– "You're joking aren't you?" – The girl asked incredulously – "You're not going to fucking leave me in the middle of nowhere searching for someone are you?" – Ariadne was not seeing a grin on the sorceress's face. She could not be seeing it. Because if she was that meant that someone would pass through extreme physical harm.
– "I'll be seeing you" – And with the snap of the fingers that Ariadne was learning to hate Hyne disappeared once more.
– "Tell me she didn't leave me in the middle of nowhere" – She begged mentally.
– "She didn't leave me in the middle of nowhere" – Silence in her mind. A loud hit.
– "By the stars you are an idiot" – Grumbled Sacred – "You better start walking Aria, before you faint here." – Ariadne swore under her breath as she began walking, vaguely in the direction Hyne had indicated her, while thinking in all the different ways she could make the sorceress pay for the little amusement she had obtained through her.
At that moment the Earthling turned Galbadian could be considered everything but happy.
Ariadne pulled her coat more around her form as she walked. The cold was biting and harsh, passing through each and every rip in her clothes, and the empty desert reminded her strangely of Centra. Lifeless and empty. But at least in the destroyed continent there had been sunlight something she was missing dearly at the moment.
She sighed, a sound that seemed a scream in the silence of wherever she was, while fumbling with her black gloves uncomfortably.
– "I'm not liking this one bit guys" – Aria thought sadly – "I understand why she needs me to do this but…"
- "What's on your mind Aria?" – Asked Minotaur gently – "Besides us that is" – Ariadne was positive her guardian was trying to do the best he could to take her mind off things. A pity that that didn't seem to work.
– "I'm taking her place" – Even her mental voice was worn out – "I don't want that. I want my own destiny. My own fate. I don't want him…"
- "To care for you because of a debt?" – Completed Sacred. She smiled grimly.
– "Something like that." – Another sigh as she knelt to see the footprints marking the otherwise immaculate floor. Another pull on the gloves that were beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable on her injured hands.
– "Walk" – She thought dryly – "As if haven't been doing that lately." – Ariadne pulled herself to her feet once more and scowled.
– "I knew there was a reason why I loved her stubbornness" – Commented Taur way too optimistically for the situation.
– "Besides the fact that she is the only one whose stubbornness surpasses yours?" – The Seed chuckled under her breath with the mock-sweet tone the older GF had used before she continued walking.
Aria's feet stomped noisily on the sand as she walked, something that would horrify her if she had enough strength to care about such things at the moment, and every now and then she had to pull the tresses of her unrecognisable caramel brown hair of her eyes.
– "I am going to kill that idiot" – Aria grumbled – "The guy could just have remained on one place but noooo…he just had to make my life worse. As if I didn't have enough problems as it is. Bloody idiot. I don't know what I see in him."
The girl wasn't too sure of how long she continued rambling. Ariadne only knew that her feet kept walking, her lungs kept functioning and her eyes continued locked with the path in front of her. She would never live it down if someone saw her like that.
But everything in her froze as Ariadne finally found what she had been looking for. A small smile crossed her lips as she sat tiredly next to the unconscious man. She pulled the gloves off her hands in a harsh movement to show burned skin.
Deep marks could be seen on her palms but the only reaction they got from the Seed was a bitter grimace. Aria touched his chest softly, feeling it move slowly up and down in a permanent cadence, reassuring and calming to her frazzled nerves. Relief flooded her mind and heart as soon as she realized he was alright. Her hand found its way to his and caressed it softly before her other grabbed her am…no…the Meva Ysimad.
– "Found him" – Ariadne whispered tiredly – "Now would be a good time for you to help." – No answer – "I'm not joking. I'm dead tired, want to sleep and my hands hurt like bitch. Help. Now." – Hyne actually had the nerve to chuckle in her mind.
– "You'll have to wait a few moments Ariadne. I'll be there as soon as I can." – Ariadne briefly wondered if one could kill, or at least maim severely, an immortal.
And then she wondered what Hyne was doing that was so important to leave the two of them stranded in that place with no way to return home. Her knees were pulled to her chest and she hugged them, resting her head while allowing pale green eyes to close. Ariadne was so tired that she barely noticed the small movement in the hand she still held in hers. But she did notice when said hand gripped hers in a very painful gesture for her burned skin.
– "There are bloody less painful ways for you to warn you're awake, Commander" – Aria hissed while trying to bit down the swearing that was straining to leave her lips. The pressure diminished, enough for her to ignore the remnants of the pain and see a pair of dark blue eyes opening slowly.
Confusion was the first thing she was able to read. That and pain. She forced a smile into her face as she pulled herself to her knees. It was like Taur had said before. She could be weak later.
– "Welcome back to the world of the living Commander" – Sea green eyes looked to her surroundings, an eyebrow raised – "Or not. How are you feeling?" – She tried to pull her hand away to help him to sit but the Seed seemed as if he would have none of that. His eyes were fixed on her, the confusion still present.
– "Aria?" – They narrowed slightly as if their owner couldn't believe she was there – "Alright?" – At least he wasn't totally out of it.
– "Yeah. How are you feeling?" – Ariadne repeated carefully with a small smile.
– "Like shit probably" – Answered Minotaur.
– "Shut up Taur" – She reached with her other hand to caress his face gently managing at last a reaction. Blue eyes gained the familiar stern look, a hint of coldness always present.
– "Where?" – Aria smiled when she saw him going back to the man she knew. After what they had been through she wasn't too keen on seeing everyone changed beyond repair.
– "Sorry but I don't have a clue" – She answered smirking – "But nowhere seems accurate. Now do I have to repeat myself again?" – That would have awarded her a roll of eyes for sure if they were in any other situation. So he just glared briefly. Nothing unusual.
– "Head" – Squall finally said.
– "Now we are getting somewhere. 'Red?" – She called – "Do you think there's any problem in magic usage in this place?"
– "As long as you keep it light" – Came his instructions – "First and second level Aria. Do not push yourself." – The Galbadian rolled her eyes before muttering the spell under her breath.
Ariadne had learned enough from her aunt during her years in Galbadia Garden to know that she was reaching magical exhaustion really fast but looking at his pained form she couldn't bring herself to care.
– "It isn't working as it should" – Aria sighed worriedly – "I think you should try to rest for a bit. I'll stay awake. Our lift should be here in some time" – Silence fell between them. A silence so thick that Ariadne couldn't move herself to break it.
– "Lift?" – It seemed that that had taken about five minutes to sink in his tired mind.
– "Indeed. Now rest." – The hand in hers gripped a little harder but not enough to harm her. Ariadne opened the eyes she had closed not too long before to look at him. Squall was attempting to sit tugging slightly on her hand as a support.
– "Hyne! Can't you, just for once, do what I tell you?" – She pulled her hand away and dragged herself to her feet to help with the slow movements. He didn't refuse her help.
- "A lift?" – The Commander began with distinct incredulity in his tone – "How…?" – Then he really looked at her and Ariadne had the feeling she had just placed herself in more problems. – "How are you here?"
– "Wow!" – Added the younger guardian – "The one sentence that he manages to finish and it is the one that you would give a hand not to answer. He is good."
– "Long story" – She said simply – "Didn't I tell you to rest?"
– "Stop evading my questions" – And there they went again – "How are you here? How did you find me?"
– "That would be up to me to answer" – Interrupted a now familiar voice that for once actually made it on time. Squall fell silent as he watched the unknown woman that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
She grinned at him and waved merrily. He gave Ariadne a disbelieving look that, at the moment was shaking her head and muttering something about "idiots" under her breath. After a moment she raised her head and sighed deeply looking between the two.
– "Squall" – Aria gestured towards the newcomer in an I-really-don't-have-anything-to-do-with-this way – "Meet Hyne."
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- "I believe that your friend Joshua was correct when he said that you really need to improve your presentations. That was terrible." – Ariadne didn't want to believe that the first sorceress was whining.
She looked at Squall and had to contain the urge to laugh. Yep. She was. But seeing the gob smacked look on the Commander's face made it strangely worthwhile. It was not everyday that one could watch such thing. It appeared the reaction of a Gaean to Hyne was even more amusing than she could have ever predicted.
– "And I care because?" – The Seed rolled her eyes before she pushed herself to her feet. – "The others?"
– "Oh, they're fine" – Hyne waved off her concern as if it was nothing. – "Though they are ready to tear the Garden apart looking for you two. So, are you going to do it here?" – Aria raised an eyebrow.
– "Will you be able to take us home afterwards?" – Squall looked at both of them in what could only be named as bewilderment. She would never let him live that down.
– "What are you talking about?" – Hyne waved him off as well.
– "In a minute Commander, sir" – Ariadne's teeth sank deeply in her bottom lip as she struggled not to laugh. At last, she wasn't the only one to deal with that.
– "Ignore her" – Aria said with her familiar smirk – "She doesn't have all the material up here" – Her injured hand tapped her temple lightly – "But she is going to bring us home Squall. Trust me on this." – It seemed the headache that he was suffering halted for a moment the will for him to argue.
That or he had just given up and chosen to give her a chance no matter how futile he thought it was. Either the reason Squall kept silent, cold blue eyes fixed on the sorceress with an untrusting gaze, an equally cold expression on his face.
– "Well?" – Continued Ariadne – "I can't exactly throw our ticket home away can I?" – Hyne finally chose to stop pouting, apparently realizing that they were two people were it had less probability of working, if at all.
– "Do it now" – The sorceress instructed – "I'll take care of the rest. And talking about that. Aura." – Even as the magical energy filled her body Aria had to pull every ounce of strength she still had left.
– "Can you do it Ariadne Beckerman?" – There was no laughing tone on Hyne's voice, no playful glint in her eyes – "This is your last chance. There's no going back after this."
– "That's enough" – Squall almost dragged himself upwards before placing himself between the two women facing Hyne. – "I don't know who you are or what are you planning but…" - Whatever he was about to say was stopped by Aria's hand on his shoulder.
– "Oy. Hold the Chocobos Commander" – Her expression was weary but her posture stern – "She's trustable" – She winced when he raised an unconvinced eyebrow.
– "Ok, not so trustable but she isn't out for our blood. Really." – But she was scary when she attempted puppy-dog eyes. – "I thought I asked for you to trust me in this…"
- "And what is this you keep talking about?" – Squall shot back irritably – "Are you going to tell me after you end up dead?" – Ariadne glared, emerald appearing quickly as she prepared to bite his head off…
- "By the stars" – Interrupted Hyne with a smile – "You two are so cute." – Emerald turned sea green while dark blue searched for something in her expression that would tell him that he had not heard that. Aria looked at the sorceress and sighed.
– "I'm going to take a long vacation after this." – She said as calmly as possible while unsheathing a blade – "Hyne, please stop freaking us out. Squall, this is my bloody choice. I believe we already had a shouting match over this. I'm not going to die over this and if I do…well you can kill her…I think" – The slight annoyance the discussion sparked served for Ariadne to draw whatever strength she still held. Otherwise she doubted she could even attempt something like that.
– "And she calls me scary…" - Whispered Hyne with an amused smile – "You whould do well in stop glaring Commander. She's doing what she must do. And sacrificing a lot with it." – Squall watched as the Seed pulled the amulet she always wore in her neck in a vicious movement before throwing at the ground.
– "What is she doing?" – He asked once more as the golden hue, which had overtaken the girl's body after the spell, changed to the more familiar red of her aura. The katana on her hand seemed to burn as magic filled it and then…
- "Blood and honour, spirit and life" – The blade rose slowly, the two hand grip stronger than usual in her style of fighting. Her voice shook for a moment.
– "A circle of four" – A small tear fell slowly over her skin, its trail marring the dirt and dust it had acquired.
– "I am sorry" – The katana twisted abruptly, its dangerous edge turning to the ground where the amulet shone innocently.
– "Phoenix's Flame" – Aria closed her eyes as the blade went down. She could feel everything. The smooth hilt of her katana, the warmth of the enchantment around her, the wind against the blade and the moment of contact.
Two auras clashed together, locked in an invisible battle. Ariadne's fiery one opposing one that seemed older than time, older than the Earth beneath her feet, older than the stars themselves. And she doubted for a second she could even touch it…but in that second, that single moment, Aria felt something else. A crack in that shield, a failure in that force so strong.
With a last effort she pulled all her strength towards it, all the magic she still held against that single point…and it broke beneath it. The Meva Ysimad and her blade finally touched and then, as a spider web, small tendrils shot from the breaking point until a distinct sound of glass breaking was heard.
Her eyes opened slowly permitting her to see the pieces of what had once been a memory of a home she once had. Ariadne fell on her knees unable to keep herself standing.
– "I am sorry." – Hyne walked to her quickly, for once a concerned and serious expression on her face, as small tears followed the first one on the girl's face…
– "Oh dear" – She murmured – "I feared this. Magical exhaustion."
– "You feared this?" – Hissed Squall approaching as fast as his own injuries could allow it. – "But you did not stop her did you?" – Ariadne was breathing harshly, burned hands on the floor, the pieces of her amulet digging on her skin and the single blade she had unsheathed by her side, shining vaguely on the darkness of the place.
– "Aria…" - A gloved hand touched her chin gently but all her attention was on getting air into her lungs. – "Aria calm down."
– "You calm down you bastard" – She thought callously as the headache pounded in her head – "Shit. Fucking hell. She could have bloody warned me!" – An arm circled her waist as to offer her support but her main priority at the moment was still oxygen.
– "What are you doing?" – Came Hyne's distressed voice – "You cannot help her with magic now."
– "Then how do you plan in helping her?" – Aria would have hit her head on the floor if that wouldn't only increase her headache.
– "Are they actually arguing?" – Taur's soft voice carried a deep incredulity.
– "Stop…" - She had to force the word out of her lips but it seemed enough as the arm around her tightened slightly.
– "I'm not going to hurt her Commander. This will help her to breathe for now" – Exasperation flowed from Hyne's tone. – "Hey Ariadne. I know that you probably are feeling like throwing up but you have to drink what I am going to give you alright?"
– "I cannot believe she said that" – Sighed Sacred – "Try to swallow whatever she is trying to give you Aria." – Her head was raised slowly and a vial was placed at her lips. Burning liquid forced its way down her throat as she fought to not spit everything out.
– "Better?" – Pale green eyes opened and glared as much as its tired owner could.
– "Go…ell" – Aria croaked before coughing painfully. She felt a hand pulling her hair away from her sweat covered forehead.
– "Can you breathe better now?" – It was Squall's voice. Ariadne just nodded and tried to stand up. The arm around her waist gave her the support her failing legs could not.
– "Will you explain this later?" – She gave him a weak smile and nodded once more before looking at a smiling Hyne.
– "She's sadistic" – Deadpanned Minotaur – "Gaea is doomed" – Aria was too tired to laugh.
– "Home…" - She whispered.
– "Please take me home. Take us home. I just want to rest. Is it too much to ask for?"
– "No, it isn't" – Answered Hyne gently. The girl's eyes narrowed.
– "Get the fuck out of my head." – The first sorceress laughed as Squall gave her what could vaguely be perceived as freaked-out glance.
– "Well…" - Continued Hyne – "Time to go. Last stop Balamb Garden. Oh Commander, hold on to her. Dimensional and temporal hopping don't agree well with Ariadne" – Squall didn't comment as he passed one of Aria's arms over his shoulder to stop her from falling. So he was in a good position to hear her chocked remark.
– "Lunatic…woman" – He agreed completely.
– "Say goodbye to the time stream kids."
– "Oh brother…" - Was the last thing Aria thought as the world around her faded into nothing.
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- "For all that is sacred" – Ariadne yelled quite loudly in her mind. As, apparently, her throat had been severely hurt by the potion that was all she could do instead of swearing quite loudly at the sorceress as her mind was pleading for her to do.
– "I swear she's doing this on purpose" – She was once again on the floor and she wasn't the only one. Well…she wasn't exactly on the floor.
– "If he dares call me fat when I get my strength back I'll kill him" – Hyne was looking at her, a calm eyebrow raised and a smile on her lips that said quite clearly that she was having way too much fun with the situation. But then she looked in front of her. A giant silver and blue structure met her weary eyes.
Balamb Garden.
– "It…over" – Squall moved behind her, shifting her form so he could sit, and sighed.
– "Yeah." – He whispered – "We're home" – Silence fell only broken by the sounds of the nature around them, the waves crashing against the coast of Fisherman's horizon.
– "Come on. They must be waiting for us. We need to get you to Kadowaki"
– "Says the guy that's probably as bad as I am" – Aria really wanted her voice back. Without any comment she let him help her up but stopped him when he began walking to the city. Hyne was still there, a happiness Ariadne could only begin to understand in her eyes.
– "Thank…you" – She began slowly as she tried to drag the words out – "Tak…care…them?" – Hyne smiled more widely.
– "Do not worry Ariadne" – She said kindly – "I will watch over them. With the good work all of you have been doing I'm afraid I'll be out of job soon. Besides my constant presence isn't really necessary." – And the girl understood also that smile that seemed to have taken its permanent place on the older woman's face.
She was free. That made a tired smile curve Aria's lips as well.
– "Everything will be alright" – Hyne said simply before hugging her gently – "You'll do fine." – She ruffled Ariadne's hair slightly, making the Seed scowl for a moment, and backed away allowing the Commander to give Aria the support she required to keep standing.
– "I'll be going now." – She raised her hand before she stopped looking at the girl. – "Ariadne?" – She called quietly. Sea green eyes locked with light brown.
– "I have nothing to forgive you." – Another smile probably resulting of Aria's confused and then slightly sad expression. – "See ya." – And she disappeared, a wide grin on her face, leaving them both alone.
– "That's……crazy…uardian" – Muttered Ariadne. Squall frowned, cold blue eyes fixed on the place where the sorceress had vanished.
– "Indeed." – He said simply – "Let's go then. Can you hold on until we arrive?" – She smirked lightly trying to keep her eyes open. Not that she needed them, as she was being guided by Squall, but she was sure that if she let them close she would be asleep in less than nothing. Aria found out then that his shoulder served quite well as a pillow.
– "Choice?"
– "Not really" – Was his answer – "Warn me if you feel worse" – Aria contained the urge to roll her eyes. Didn't even have energy to that. So both of them struggled through the fields, the girl grumbling mentally over the distance Hyne had thought appropriate to leave them.
– "Thank you" – Squall whispered unexpectedly after a while. She opened her eyes a bit more, showing pale green orbs that carried a hint of questioning, with a fleeting curse to whatever had been given to her.
– "For coming for me." – He clarified. Ariadne smiled a bit with the sentence that she remembered having said not too long before.
– "Goes…round…omes…round" – Her hand caught the one that was around her waist keeping her steady and she gripped it lightly as her eyes closed completely – "Welcom…" - His frown returned as she finished.
– "Try not to talk. You'll get worse."
– "Ok, so he's talking more 'cause I can't answer" – Aria thought absently – "That's good to know."
– "He's worried" – Stated Sacred.
– "And he's got a guilt complex the size of Galbadia" – She added, her exhaustion clearly showing in her tone. – "Get some sleep guys. You must be wearing down all your energy to speak with me."
– "And she complains about the guy" – Grumbled Minotaur. But they did as she said without any more comments. Probably because it was her energy supporting theirs.
– "Squall! Aria!" – Screams filled her ears as she finally realized that they had arrived to the giant structure. Her eyes opened with painful slowness to see something she had wished to see with all her heart. It was Quistis and with her Zell and Selphie. All battered, hurt, tired but okay.
They were okay.
Once again relief filled Ariadne's heart as Squall pulled her as gently as possible towards the others. She barely noticed when she was pulled to a hug by her very concerned sister. She could only notice that they were all safe…protected…home.
It was with a smile that Aria allowed unconsciousness to finally take her.
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And this chapter has ended. Obvious no? And you know something else? My birthday is on Monday! So how about you be nice and REVIEW! As always I appreciate all corrections you find that need to be made as well suggestions and opinions. So review ok?
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Next chapter: Consequences of battles and all kinds of conversations take place…
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See ya next week everyone
Reyavie (Goes away to grieve over return to school)