Hi everyone! Here's the newest chapter of Second Life which is severely late but I'm also in severe problems with college so sorry. But I managed to finish it with the not so helpful help of my wavering mind. As always I DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY! Something everyone should already know. (Rea rolls eyes and glares at wall) Writing that every week is depressing. But Ariadne and all the OCs are mine, fruit of my work, product of my mind so you can't have them.

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Announcement:

Updating date has changed to FRIDAY! Apparently it's easier for me to do this when I don't have to classes in the next morning. This chapter's delay was a special case as I was cut down from my net so you had to wait.

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Reviews' answer hall…

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Omega Gilgamesh – Hey Omega and welcome to Second Life. Yes, that was the way I found to make Aria already connected to that world before the whole thing began. Besides I didn't want to make her suddenly appearing out-of-nowhere, learning how to fight from a weird accident of chance and not influence something besides the main plot. I hope I managed it. Wit you say? (Rea smirks) Thanks for that. Some people say that it just drips sarcasm in certain parts which is one of my own traits. I haven't read anything of you yet as my own time is short but I'll try to do it soon. Normally authors can't classify well their own works. Thanks for pressing said review button. It helps me each time someone does it.

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SLy – Hi again Sly! Wow! I managed to get into top five! (Reyavie grins while fireworks are thrown behind her. Explosions are heard). Thank you so much for that. It's great to know that people like what I write. 10 times until your computer stopped being stubborn? (Rea winces) Sounds like mine on a really bad day. Though sometimes it's only the internet explorer annoying the hell out of me. And…huh…if you were angry because of that cliffhanger then I'm sorry but you'll suffer from a rage attack when you finish this one. (Bellona crouches behind Rea grinning threateningly). About your questions they are answered in this one. But a clue first. Why was the Meva Ysimad destroyed?

Animania is really cool. We have it here too, once every year. A pity I can't go every time. I would probably leave with half the books after me. Icecream is good. Eat the whole box and don't let anyone touch it. It would be a bad thing to see you without anything sweet on system after reading this. (Rea nods with a small flinch). Anyways go ahead and until later.

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Hibeki – Sorry, yes I certainly took my time. I explain everything above. Glad that you liked it so much and Seifer is not the best but I like him and I didn't want to make him go to jail so he's here. Here's my update and sorry for the delay once more. Hope you like it.

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Meepills – Not a cliffhanger you say? (Reyavie muses thoughtfully as Ghost begins laughing then chokes. Rea gives weird look). I had no idea ghost could choke. Anyways I supposed you wouldn't be happy but quite frankly…this chapter is worse. Much worse. But next chapter's better. Jail and Seifer? No way. At least not because of being controlled by crazy schizophrenic sorceress. And paperwork…Fire anyone?

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! (Rea hands over giant box of chocolate and vaunilla icecream). Hope you had fun and congrats also for kicking the other team to oblivion. And school work just keeps adding and not disappearing as much as I try to make the opposite. It sucks and I hate it. But who doesn't? Thanks for invitation though. Seems that you had a great time with all the animals and stuff.

Those languages are easier for me 'cause my mother language (a.k.a Portuguese) is a latin one which means that there are a lot of words that are very similar. When I have some extra time I'll make sure to try and find those books but as I finally bought Eldest (and it's a really big book that's currently being read on the bus while on the way to college) I'll have to wait a bit.

You are like Aria on those times? That's interesting…I swear I'm not a stalker and that I really live on another continent. (Ghost begins chocking again and falls to the floor. Rea raises eyebrow). A friend of mine told me she could definitively see my character in this as it dripped sarcasm every now and then. I have no clue why she would say such a thing. (Smiles innocently). Read on now and good luck to next games.

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Serene Angel Wing – Hey Sen! I'm great, just drowning in work as usual. Hope you're okay too and not being tortured by evil cousins. They're a plague I tell you. Mine wants me to sing Disney's movies songs. (Rea winces before grinning). Happy you liked the last chapter and I am trying to keep as it interesting as possible. You can keep using those same words that I won't mind one single bit. I'm not too sure how long it will take to end SL. I'm betting around 15 or so chapters. I'm still writing the last part of the story and I have no time right now to do it. About curiosity just be careful about weird boxes and strange gifts out-of-season and you'll be fine...I think.

Aria's temper had to make an appearance. She hadn't blown up at someone like that ever since forever. It was just wrong to leave it without making a comeback. And she's not the only to threaten and or maim people it appears. Do not worry, you're definitively not alone in that (Thanatos appears from somewhere and points at sister). Thanks for the warning about the mistake. I'll try to correct it soon but…(Rea points at pile of undone work).

I really liked to know that you laughed while reading this. I am a somewhat hard judge of some chapters and have no clue at how readers will react to them (example: next one). I'm happy you enjoyed it. Well, I can state that you are definitively funny but not that you aren't smart or sharp. Aren't you smart enough to use sharp objects in reach as defence? See?

I'll be waiting eagerly for your updates. I really like your stories (you, being a certified great Squalphie writer) and understand how hard is to pass through those writer's block. So keep writing 'kay?

P.S – Thanks for the chocolate coffee beans. They are my addictions mixed. ALRIGHT! (Rea hides in private stash while ignoring whining and pleas for help. Gives giant box of lollipops as thanks)

P.P.S – Don't let Pasco run away again alright? I like living and Bellona's hungry.

i like cheese – Hey to you too (Rea waves). I welcome you to this hall and thank you for your review. Knowing that you love it is great. I'll try to keep up to your compliments then and can only hope you review again to tell me what you think. If not then simply read it without worries. I know how not having time is common nowadays.

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Rae Anderson – AH! YES! Someone likes coffee like me! Hey Rae! Good to see you back. Yes, coffee is the best and I'm an addicted. Damn…sorry about your computer. I'm really hoping to be able to read your stories soon. I'll wait patiently then. (Rea dodges yet another fridge). I ALREADY HAVE ONE! Your parents never told you it's not nice to throw things in…to a house? It will give me a cardiac arrest soon enough. And that's one evil laughter too…

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Welcome to the thirtieth-seven chapter of Second Life. (Leaves Ghost to stop playing dead.)

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- "Are you sure?" – Asked Josh as he followed Ariadne through the hallways of Balamb Garden.

She was wearing her normal mission clothes, black trousers and a black top as well as her weapons, only this time gloves weren't covering her hands and her hair spilled over her back in soft waves. Her stride was determined and no-nonsense like.

– "Josh" – Aria began calmly halting momentarily, the threat in her voice understandable even to a barely born chocobo – "If you dare asking me again if I am sure may Hyne help you because I will hurt you severely" – Aria moved once more, annoyance showing clearly in her features.

She wasn't definitively known by her patience and Josh, even being one of her best friends and all, was testing it severely. Enough for her to wish that she could place him under Stop and leave him standing in the middle of the hallway.

Unfortunately Ariadne needed him with her at the moment. As a proof, as a pillar of strength when her own began to fail her, as a friend. But she did not need him to massacre what little tolerance she still had left.

– "But…" - Aria stopped again, turned around and raised an eyebrow.

– "Josh, do you see this?" – She pointed to her closed hand – "This is my fist and this…" - Then between his eyes – "Is your face. They will meet very shortly with a lot of strength if you don't stop this bloody inquiry…right now."

Josh wanted to bang his head against a wall at that moment. Just why he got stranded with stubborn and stone-headed friends was something completely incomprehensible to his mind.

– "I'm just worried okay?" – Her eyes softened as her stance turned slightly less threatening. Slightly.

– "I know" – She answered – "Hyne, I know Josh. But…" - Aria raised a hand, taking her hair of her face, and smiled grimly – "If I don't do this I'll lose my nerve. I hid so much, for so long, only because of my fear Josh. So much. I was so afraid of losing my future that I tried to forget my own past." – She shook her head and her eyes turned hard once more.

– "I won't do that anymore. They deserve the truth…and, after all, my future is mine. I'll make my own path." – Josh just looked at her, dark eyes evaluating and serious, and then…

– "Please tell me that your stubbornness is not genetic so I can have a small degree of hope that one day it will go away" – He said dryly. A corner of her lips turned slightly upwards.

– "But seriously" – Joshua continued – "I know how you care about their opinions...and how afraid you are of their reactions. Please, just remember that it wasn't your fault and you didn't have any other choice. I'll be there when you need me, alright?" – He caressed her hair caringly, choosing not to comment about the faint glimmer of fear he could see in her eyes telling him she had severe doubts on what was about to happen.

– "Just how do you plan to do this?" – He finally asked, throwing her a metaphorical rope to get out of her amounting problematic thoughts. Ariadne sighed in frustration.

– "Don't have a fucking clue" – Was the tense answer – "I can't exactly arrive there and say Hey, I'm not a Gaean. Anyone wants coffee?" – Aria could just see the reactions she would obtain with that small sentence.

Half of her mind was betting a loud "WHAT!" would be the first word to be spoken. The other half thought "ARE YOU CRAZY?" would be far more probable.

– "Hyne" – Aria thought despairingly – "I'm nuts. I'm betting with myself…I'm arguing with myself."

– "That you are" – Confirmed Minotaur cheerfully – "But don't worry. We are used to it." – Any other day she would have answered to Taur with a sarcastic comment thankful for the defusing of the situation. But not when she was with her nerves beneath her skin and feeling like she should be really, really, far away from that place.

– "Brother" – Whispered Sacred – "Do me and Aria a favour and shut up." – She felt their connection expand and felt the soft reassurance pass along it. It was clearer and more comforting than any words.

– "Hey" – Called Josh gently – "You there, Aria?" – She smiled. A true smile.

– "We will always be here" – Murmured Sacred. She wasn't alone.

– "It depends. My brain seemed to have run ahead of me for a moment" – Ariadne said jokingly before narrowing her eyes slightly – "Say only now? and I swear I'll smack you." – He scowled vaguely before closing his mouth.

– "So…are we going to face the music?" – Aria gave him a mock-scared glance.

– "Believe me Josh" – She said as they began walking once more to the elevator, his arm around her shoulders – "Music and that group shouldn't be mixed…ever."

– "I take you speak from personal experience so I'll just believe you" – The door chimed as it closed behind them and the tense atmosphere returned. Josh's arm increased its strength searching for his own reassurance.

– "We are so screwed" – Whispered Aria.

– "Think it like this" – Stated Josh – "If they attack at least you know this place well enough to find us a way to escape." – She raised an eyebrow.

– "The conference hall has no windows and the ventilations are no bigger than 25 cm2. – The Galbadian informed dryly. Josh blanched.

– "You're right. We're screwed."

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- "Hey Aria, Josh" – Called Stef as soon as they got out of the elevator – We were wondering if you two had gotten yourselves lost on the way here" – Ariadne rolled her eyes as she walked to the round table that, somehow, had taken the place of the pile of rubble Norg had left behind.

– "In case you have forgotten you were the one that got lost going from the train station in Deling to the bloody shopping alley" – She replied easily.

– "Language Aria" – Scolded Christine. Ariadne absently thought she would probably hear that same phrase on her deathbed.

– "Sure Aunt Chris" – She placated, knowing fully well that the warning would have the same result as the ones before it.

With the same calmness that characterized her actions in battle Ariadne took one of the places between Quistis and Stef, Josh by her side. Only then she allowed a quick analysis of the room. It wasn't too different from the last time she had been there to investigate if Norg had left anything worthwhile behind him.

No more rubble, annoying lights or monk-look-alikes. An improvement if she had ever seen one. The large table was completely occupied, the Balamb Garden group to a side and then the Galbadians to the other.

Peter, Josh and Aria made the connection between the two groups. Christine, present due to Aria's own insistence, was sitting next to Eliza, a vague questioning look on her expression, and next to her where both Edea and Cid. The former sorceress gave Aria an encouraging smile as if she knew what was about to happen.

She probably did.

Ariadne blamed the Hyne-forsaken mother sense the older woman seemed to have. By her side where the most unexpected persons, also there due to the sea green eyed girl's summon. Seifer, Raijin and Fujin. If they were feeling lost in the middle of some very unfriendly faces neither of them showed any reaction.

– "Are we waiting for someone else or we just came here to glare at each other?" – Aria loved Sasha to bits, really. She was a great friend to have around.

But her bluntness could really take a vacation sometimes. Eliza covered Sasha's mouth with her hand and gave all the present an apologizing glance.

– "Ignore her" – She said dryly – "Her mouth acts before asking her brain for permission." – Sasha got free of the censuring hand and opened her mouth to speak but…

- "Don't even think about it" – Interrupted Stef before an insult round began – "We do have important subjects to discuss. You can continue later." – Silver eyes narrowed before an amused smile twisted her lips.

– "Yes ma'am."

– "Forget later" – Countered the other girl with an annoyed tinge born from the mocking tone on her friend's voice – "Bypass insults and just hurt her. I can't reach her from here." – Ariadne massaged her temples nursing a rapidly appearing headache.

– "Damnit!" – Cursed Sasha when a metal bullet smacked against her head – "What was that for Almasy?" – The blond rewarded her with his infuriating smirk.

– "Only doing what Instructor McAllister ordered O'Connor."

– "And since when do you follow orders?" – She shot back ignoring the "Here they go again" muttered by Lara. – "Oh wait. You did that really well under…"

- Enough! – Silence fell abruptly as eyes turned to Ariadne.

– "All of you be quiet!" – She hissed – "You are bloody Seeds not children. Stop behaving like bloody idiots." – Even more silence followed by the proper chastised expression on Stef and Sasha's faces. Seifer merely dropped the smirk.

– "And she wonders in relation to why we raised her rank" – Muttered Alexander – "Maybe you should begin now Commander" – He continued raising his voice tone.

– "I believe I am not the only one concerned with the hasty summoning. If we could begin…" - Aria felt her hand being grabbed by one of Josh's and forced herself to calm down.

– "You are too tense Aria" – Whispered Sacred – "Normally you would not have blown up that way."

- "Well this isn't exactly what I would call a normal situation 'Red" – She said containing her irritation.

- "Understandable though" – Added Minotaur – "Not that it wasn't a great interruption. I think some actually jumped in their chairs. Good work!" – Aria gave them a mental smile before returning her attention to the other occupants of the room.

The tension that she had felt ever since she had entered the hall only seemed to have increased.

– "Oh Goodie" – She thought sarcastically – "This is getting better and better. I think we'll need Aunt's help before I even begin." – Edea stood up, her black dress floating gently around her form, redirecting all the attention towards her.

– "I would like first to welcome all of you here" – Edea began gently – "I gather most of you don't know what is happening so I'll try to be brief. I, as I'm sure all of you are aware of, was a sorceress until barely months ago." – The situation was too serious for interruptions but some dry looks and rolls of eyes clearly screamed "understatement".

– "I lost those powers when I was defeated in Galbadia Garden" – Josh's hand gripped Aria's more strongly as he felt a shiver pass through the girl's body. – "And they chose another woman to become the sorceress. It is the cycle. It chose Rinoa." – The brown haired girl received then the brunt of the glances of the present.

– "Huh…well…"

- "Coordinated" – Commented Sacred

– "Hush" – Came Aria's silent command.

– "I became a sorceress that day" – Began Rinoa slowly – "But I remained in stasis. I think that's the best way to refer to it."

– "Either that or dead to the world" – Introduced Minotaur

– "Be quiet" – Ordered Ariadne with a mental glare.

– "When I woke up…" - Continued Rinoa – "I mean, really woke up"

– "Not possessed I presume" – Added Sacred yet again

– "Couldn't you bloody presume in silence?" – One day Aria would understand why her guardians loved to intervene with stupid comments in the most inappropriate moments. Rinoa paused, apparently searching for the right words.

– "The power that I had received is something we can't really ignore" – She explained a bit more confident. – "It's always there in the back of our minds, like a touch of something we can't name. I felt it as soon as I woke up. And, even with the little time I had them, I learned to push them back, ignore them. I was afraid that would allow Ultimecia more power over me."

– "So ignoring the problem would make it go away" – Said Minotaur dryly – "She made a nice job there".

– By Hyne, will you two be quiet! – Aria finally snapped mentally.

– "I kept it like that except in battle" – Rinoa's voice started once more, carrying a tinge that Aria couldn't really identify. Sadness…longing…? – "I stopped that when we came back. I had pushed them back as always and nearly forgot about them. Yesterday I tried to call upon them and they didn't answer."

– "Just why did she call upon them?" – Asked Sacred. This time Aria didn't tell him to shut up. It was an interesting question.

– "I am no longer a sorceress" – Rinoa finished – "Just how and why I don't know. I don't even know who the new sorceress is."

– "And now the hell begins" – Aria could almost see Minotaur crossing his arms and looking around at her companions – "Call us the second they go nuts." – Worry could be perceived in several faces, fear of another war so soon after the last one.

– "This is why we called you" – Squall's voice broke everyone of their stupor, a touch of strength that called immediate attention. – "We do not know who the next sorceress is or even where she is. According to what Matron has explained to us Rinoa shouldn't had lost her powers except in death or severe weakness. Which means that we have a very dangerous situation on our hands."

– "This is it" – Thought Ariadne. The hand in hers almost hurt with the strength that was being applied but she ignored it. A deep breath passed through her lips as she gathered all her determination.

– "I'm so damned screwed." – With a grim smile she touched briefly the Celtic knot she carried on her neck. Merely days before it had been a very different amulet…

- "No, we don't" – Her voice broke the thick silence, so calm that aria could almost swear that it belonged to someone else.

– "We don't?" – Echoed Rinoa – "Do you know who got my powers?"

– "No" – Was the curt answer.

– "Then how can we not expect a threat Aria?" – Asked Stef – "Sorceresses on the last years seemed to have it for normal people. No offence" – She completed looking to Edea and then to Rinoa."

– "None taken" – Reassured the older woman – "But Ariadne what do you mean?" – Sea green eyes found golden-brown and her lips curved with bitter amusement

– "Simple" – Her turn to crush Josh's hand – "There is no threat because there is no sorceress." – A loud bang was heard. Apparently Zell had hit his head on the table.

– "Please don't tell me the guy fell asleep" – Begged Eliza with a despairing glance.

– "Nope" – Reassured Selphie with a grin – "He's wide awake."

– "My head hurts" – Grumbled the blond – "You are all confusing me." – Sasha sighed loudly.

– "Hyne, they are all lunatics" – Eliza took it upon herself to smack the girl's head.

– "Children" – Aria's lips twitched in faint amusement as Edea gained the presents' attention more easily with her calm tone than herself would have with a scream.

– "Please continue Aria" – Squall's voice was the same cool tone it had ever been but Ariadne could have sworn he sounded almost…tired. – "How is it possible that there isn't another sorceress? We know that the power is passed from woman to woman. There's no way for it just to disappear." – Aria cocked her head slightly, a slight smirk on her lips.

– "Those were the rules of the game" – She said calmly, sea green eyes strangely blank. – "But to every rule there is a loophole. Follow my train of thought for a moment" – Josh fought not to roll his eyes. If she became any more dramatic he would probably die of a heart attack before he became twenty-five.

– "You are a guardian with a lot of power that wishes to retire, tired of wars, human stupidity, well, you get the picture" – Aria almost winced. Next thing she knew and she would be acting like the crazy woman.

– "So you choose to give power to several women so they can take your place. Human woman. Capable of making mistakes, of craving power. Wouldn't you be stupid if you did not have a safeguard against such an event?" – A small pause as her words began to be assimilated.

– "I suppose you want us to say yes, right?" – Asked Irvine.

– "As always your intelligence astounds us Kinneas" – Countered Stef – "So you're saying there is a way to get rid of the sorceress's powers. Got it."

– "No" – Everyone looked at Quistis. The instructor was shaking her head – "She said there was a way. If there aren't any more sorceresses then that means the way was used." – And she had said that as if it was completely obvious. Zell banged his head again being ignored this time.

– "So what kind of safeguard was it?" – Inquired Selphie that seemed just a wee bit too interested. When Aria ended the whole thing and if she actually survived she would have to ask the Trabian exactly how much sugar she had ingested before the reunion.

– "Meva Ysimad was the name that it was given" – The Galbadian informed – "Literally means "Life amulet". It served as a connection between the sorceresses and Hyne herself. If broken…"

- "The connection would be lost as well" – Completed Cid – "Interesting" – The tone in which that interesting was spoken could have been used to describe shoelaces with the amount of enthusiasm in it.

– "But wouldn't that work as a two-bladed sword?" – Continued Eliza – "It was a danger as well." – Ariadne was really beginning to develop a serious headache.

That and loss of blood circulation on her hand. She gave Josh a pointed look and he lightened the hold, a sheepish expression on his face. Aria received questioning glances as she grumbled something that seemed too much like "crazy", "whole lot" and "cursed" while rolling her eyes.

– "Yes 'Liza" – Ariadne finally answered – "If a sorceress searched for power the Meva Ysimad could be broken. That would stop the threat but on the wrong hands it could take a last line of defence. So one person was chosen to bear the power to do that choice." – Edea's eyes locked with hers and understanding passed.

There was no blood-red amulet on Aria's neck.

– "Why wasn't it used before?" – The question behind that one was much more important. Why had she been forced to carry that burden? Why hadn't anyone put an end to it?

– "A sorceress killed one of the bearers and took the amulet from him" – Aria's voice carried the same sadness she had felt when Hyne had told her the tale of the boy. Of how he had fallen…he had been so young…

- "She then sent it to another world, another dimension, hoping that a bearer would never be chosen again in a magicless world." – Only then Aria noticed that she had placed her foot in her mouth without even realizing it.

– "I am so in deep shit" – She thought as recognition passed through several faces. – "I'm such a bloody idiot."

– "Bearer?" – Repeated Squall – "That was the name Ultimecia called you by…"

- "Wait, wait, wait. Hold all the chocobos my people" – Requested Sasha – "What exactly do you mean with another world?"

Well, she was already on the edge of the cliff. It was time for her to give the final steps and fall. Sea green eyes found dark ones belonging to her oldest friend. His hand gave another comforting squeeze.

– "Some of you have known me for more than four years" – Aria began as calmly as she could manage at the moment – "Some of you have lived with me during that time, studied with me, fought with me…and even against me" – Seifer smirked at that. – "But never have I told you much about my past or my home. Mainly because I was afraid." – She took a deep breath before looking at all of them separately.

– "My name is Ariadne Scylla Beckerman, daughter of Kenneth and Igraine Beckerman, sister to Lugh, chosen bearer to the Meva Ysimad and…I was not born in this world." – A fly could have been heard in the deadly silent room only to be broken by Joshua's dry voice

– "You forgot to offer them coffee" – Ariadne swore in that moment that if she lived through the following moments she would kill him.

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And what is this? A cliffhanger! Yes, it is. Even I can see it! So how about you tell me what you thought of it mhmm? Comments, random words, suggestion and/or mistakes found and please let them on that small review box ok? So REVIEW!

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Next chapter: Reactions, decisions and the reason for the last category this story was placed in…

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See ya all next Friday

Reyavie