Hello everyone! Yes, I know I took an awful time to continue this story but I haven't been able to write for a huge amount of time. I finally get to it and what happens? It's an exam season. So here's the new chapter and I promise the next one won't take so long to get out. I thank everyone that reviewed here and I'll reply to the reviews shortly. And now the disclaimer which I do not own either. Thank Serene Angel Wing for the craziness.
Episode one – What happens when you don't have an idea for a Squalphie fic
(Inside a cupboard)
Selphie: How 'bout I lead a mission where I get to blow Galbadia to SMITHEREENS?
Sen: Er ... (looks an empty cup of coffee)
Squall: Selphie, how juvenile can you be? If you bombed Galbadia, then the radiation would kill us all.
Selphie: FINE then, be a party pooper!
Squall: I wasn't aware that we were having a party.
Sen: Hey! Squall! You're supposed to like her, you know!
Squall: I have to disagree. For the purpose of your story and to get as many reviews as possible, you twisted my personality so I would fall for Selphie, which, should I remind you, would never happen because-
Selphie: Because what? Because WHAT? You'd prefer that btch Rinoa? Or that prude Quistis? Huh? Huh? HUH?
Squall: ...Please let me out of here.
Sen: Aw, you like her at heart, you just won't admit it because you have too much pride, that's all. Right?
Squall: ...Whatever.
Sen: Hey, I could just leave you in that cupboard ... and bring more coffee.
Squall: Fine! I do like her ... a little.
Sen: (smirks in triumph) That's 15 to 0 Mr Leonhart.
Selphie: (is drinking more coffee) huh?
Squall: Dammit.
End of Episode one
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Reyavie: I own absolutely nothing except for my own original characters, most of which don't have everything alright in the head. I also own the plot occurring after the original game and this huge pile of notes I'm supposed to read. And my copy of Diablo II.
Tanathos: She has a huge amount of pride in those.
Eris: Jealousy is a very bad thing cousin.
Tanathos: (gaps) I don't (chokes)
Reyavie: There, there (pats his head). I totally understand big brother.
Ghost: Quite a dysfunctional family…chapter ahead, please.
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Welcome to the fiftieth-forth chapter of Second Life! I'm alive!
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Galbadia, Deling City
Ariadne had the distinct feeling that Hyne had lied to her. Indeed she should have done something particularly bad to the first sorceress that ensured that her life would be filled with all sorts of the amazing things that happened to her. Aria winced as she felt a rock digging into her spine as she fell to the floor.
– "Oh my life's just peachy" – She hissed, standing up. The man in front of her had the nerve to smirk.
– "That was…kind of a big mistake" – Muttered Minotaur blandly.
Ariadne didn't even bother answering as a grey blade got all too close for comfort. She ducked out of its path before swinging her right blade upwards in a wide arc, only to make it collide with the man's arm. The Seed forced herself not to listen to the cry of pain that soon followed, before smashing the other blade's handle on the back of his neck. He didn't have time to let out a grunt as he fell unconscious. A single look was spared to make sure he was out cold before she turned around her attention to the fray once more.
Sasha and Derek could not be seen anymore. The first thing Alex and herself had done had been call the maximum of attention towards themselves. Meaning that they had screamed like two idiots of some Middle Ages movie before proceeding to start the whole ruckus. It had worked. Ariadne hoped with all her being that it had worked. Because thinking that Eliza could die…was something that made her stomach twist and turn with fear.
– "Behind you" – Warned Sacred. Aria dropped to the floor as a blade whizzed by the place where her neck had been barely seconds before. Another stone dug deeply into her leg as she did so.
Ariadne was beginning to feel that killing whoever had decided to blow up the entire square was an idea not to let go so easily. She snapped her head to the side, katana moving upwards to stop the new attack, the impact making the rock beneath her scream its presence quite loudly on her nerves. But the worst happened when emerald eyes followed her katana's surface and met dark orbs.
– "Kenward" – The voice that left her lips could barely recognized as such, a mix of growl and hiss, something that clearly told the whole anger that she was feeling, a hatred threatening to consume her.
– "Been a while Beckerman" – The General gave her a cocky grin, the only mark of what she had done barely two hours before being nothing more than a faded mark on his nose, indicating the touch of a strong healing spell. An urge to smash it again came to her heart and hands, fingers slowly curving around even more tightly on the handles of the two weapons.
Ariadne was shaking slightly and she couldn't say if it was because of that same anger or just the small fact that she was struggling to stop a blade from hitting her face single-handedly.
– "Indeed" – She brought her free one upwards and smacked the opposing sword as hard as she could. The momentum gave her time enough to roll away and turn to face him, an attack position that nearly drove her to her knees when she supported herself on her almost completely numb leg. Blood started to flow bringing back movement and the pain Ariadne was expecting. Only the first one was acknowledged for the moment.
– "I should have imagined you would be the cause for this small commotion" – Continued Kenward calmly, as is if they weren't in the middle of a fight, as if she hadn't been the one to attack him…as if the pity act he had done earlier had been nothing more than that. An act. – "Well done though Beckerman. I actually thought that you would have trusted me earlier. After all you didn't even kill Martine."
– "I'll make sure not to do the same mistake with you" – Her teeth sank into her lip to stop the words from leaving. Instead she smiled dangerously, eyes narrowing with the same familiar emerald hue.
– "I never trusted easily" – Aria stated coldly – "I was not going to start with a traitor" – Her right arm moved upwards, holding her katana parallel to her line of sight while the other rested in front of her body – "How about we stop this useless babbling?"
Kenward shrugged before placing his Galbadian sword ready to attack. Ariadne raised an eyebrow slightly as her eyes analyzed the weapon. It seemed familiar, too close to the ones she had faced countless times…but there was something off with it. As if her memory was trying to point her a small detail her eyes couldn't see.
– "Enough nonsense" – Aria jumped to attention when the blade suddenly moved, too quickly.
– "Something's wrong!" – The right blade moved just as quickly to stop it from hitting her face before she rolled around herself in a fluid movement to attack with the second. It was stopped easily by a second blade, thinner than the first one had been. Ariadne's eyes widened slightly in surprise. – "Where in Hyne's name did that come from?" - Kenward just smiled.
– "You didn't think I would allow you an unfair advantage did you?" – He actually made a small displeased sound as if he was speaking to a mere child.
– "Patronizing son of a bitch" – Ariadne thought, containing the small burst of anger – "I'll give you the unfair advantage" – He had known. He had known all along someone from Galbadia Garden would come. Most importantly he had known she would come.
– "But how?" – Aria ignored Taur's question leaving it for much later. She could not afford to let herself worry with something so small at the moment. Her life seemed a much bigger priority.
– "For once you think that" – Stated Sacred calmly. Too calmly. A mental growl was his answer as Ariadne avoided yet another lunge of the strange weapon. Strange, because it was all too similar to her own and yet not. She fought against her own sensei with weapons equal to hers so Aria knew what to expect partially. Especially after using them for so long. Weaknesses were just as natural to her as strengths.
But that had been too long before and Kenward was not using twin blades as she was. He was using something very akin to a Galbadian sword and then that thinner and much fragile looking blade. Something that made his style seem totally unbalanced. It was an easier target nevertheless.
Aria began to move, taking special care into placing more strength behind her motions each time she stopped the smaller blade. The adamantium that had been collected by her own hands seemed to do wonders on what appeared to be mithril. Unfortunately Ariadne had forgotten she was in the middle of a battle, with more people than the one she was facing. That was why her face contorted in surprise when something came crashing against her back pushing her towards her opponent…and his still intact blade.
– "This is so going to hurt…"
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Ariadne gasped in pain, fighting to open her eyes. But as her eyes opened the only things she saw were numerous black spots filling her line of vision. The Seed had to agree. Kenward was an idiot, someone she really wanted locked in an extremely dark and uncomfortable room, in lots of pain preferably, but he was a cunning bastard.
The second he had seen Ariadne be pushed towards him, he had raised the Galbadian sword, facing her, and had made a clean swipe all along her left arm. Her bloody katana rested now on the floor near the place where she had let it fall. Aria was beginning to develop an even stronger hatred for her knees. They seemed to be meeting the floor all too many times in the last hours.
– "Well, isn't this amusing" – Kenward's voice was soft, showing signs of weariness, but filled with assurance and an ability to grit her nerves to the point where Aria was feeling as if she could claw his eyes out with her bare nails. – "A Seed at my feet. What an honour. Did you actually believe that you would manage to invade the city and leave just like that?"
– "What's with all the idiots that are trying to take over something and long speeches?" – Ariadne thought mentally rolling her eyes – "If he begins to cackle I'm throwing up." – She winced again, the pain rolling in waves through her arm, feeling how close she was already to that action. Suddenly the late snack, that had been their last meal the previous day, seemed extremely heavy to her stomach and all too eager to leave.
– "Don't pass out!" – Snapped Sacred harshly – "Keep yourself awake!"
– "Please Aria" – Minotaur's voice was anxious, filled with a fear he couldn't hide – "Just listen to us" – Ariadne blinked rapidly, urging her body to obey her guardians. Her left arm hung, useless by her side, blood slowly dripping, its warmth barely managing to make itself felt in her chilled fingers. She closed her right hand tightly, using it as an anchor to reality.
– "Curaga" – Ariadne whispered as lowly as she could, feeling the gentle energy of the magic wash over her.
– "Blood" – She thought with a shudder – "How about stopping anytime soon yes?" – A groan fought to leave Aria's lips before it was pushed down with fierce determination. By now she should be in shock, not be feeling anything at all.
– "You fall so easily Beckerman" – Kenward continued – "After hearing so much about you from the little kid I expected better."
– "Little kid?" – Her mind stored that for posterior use before testing the answer of her members. Her left arm still hurt like bitch but her legs were stinging with the familiar feeling of pins and needles, announcing the blood's returning once again. Ariadne closed her eyes for barely a second. – "This is it." - Eyes opened
– "Shut up" – She stated, voice free from any pain, any of the fear she was feeling…only determination and disgust could be felt. – "Just shut up."
Aria stood again, watching detachedly as soldiers began to arrive to help their companions, how Alex and Caraway were fighting back to back, them that had never met each other, how Gina was shielding them from any major magic attacks while moving her long sword with almost unbelievable ease.
– "Let's end this" – Ariadne pulled her left arm back, out of the way, emerald eyes following Kenward's movements. She tensed for a second before jumping ahead, the single blade on her hand already sweeping through the air. The smaller sword parried it as Kenward flowed with her move. That didn't stop her.
Ariadne knew only one thing. If she stopped now she would die and she wouldn't be the only one. She ignored everything around her, the screams, the pain, the dust filling the air…in a moment's notice, Aria had smacked the rapier like weapon away from him. The thin metal was bent, its previous form lost after the vicious hits the girl had inflicted on it. Kenward's dark eyes met hers for a second. Beads of sweat rolled down his tanned skin and his breathing was the same as hers, quick and somewhat forced.
– "Aria!" – Her head snapped to the side, hearing the extremely welcome voice of Stephanie. A smile crossed her lips unwillingly but was quickly wiped away. The only thing Aria felt was a sudden blow to her stomach as she was tackled, her head beating against the stall that had been behind her, bringing stars back to her line of vision. Her breathing constricted as a hand grabbed her neck and squeezed painfully. – "Stupidstupidstupid…"
– "Quite frankly Beckerman" – Came Kenward's voice – "I grew tired of this game" – A small chocking sound left Ariadne's throat while she left the katana she still had only to claw uselessly his larger hand.
– "Aria!" – The screams in her head made it all worse, the pain growing by each oxygen-deprived second.
Emerald eyes closed, images flashing behind them. It was her family, the one she had left behind for another world. It was her present family, her aunt and sister that had been there to pull her up every time she had fallen, her friends, the ones she would die to defend, it was…
- "I'll fulfil my promise" – Aria had said those words…she hated breaking promises…
- "Giving up?" – Her mind whispered.
– "We'll fall together then" – Answered a soft memory. Ariadne frowned as she realized what she was about to do.
– "I'm not kneeling over…and dying because…of you" – Ignoring the pain once again she clawed with more strength, forcing her injured left arm to move searching for something, anything that could serve to help. – "Argh! I'm not asking that much! – Her fingers touched something soft and Aria struggled to grasp it.
She opened her eyes, seeing Kenward's face. A disgusting grin was spread over his face, an almost sick pleasure he seemed to be taking from what he was doing
– "I am not dying by your…hands" – She thought savagely – "I am not!" – Aria yanked her left arm upwards with all her strength and hit his face with whatever she had grasped. Air filled her lungs as soon as his hand let go and she allowed a desperate coughing to leave her as she struggled to grasp her katana and vision at the same time. Then she looked at her hand…
- "I am never eating cabbage again" – Aria muttered seeing the vegetable that had saved her life. A grim expression overtook her face as she turned to Kenward again as he stood up shakily.
– "I am not dying either" – The Seed punched his face without even moving her blade – "I am not letting go of all I've done" – A swift kick against his stomach made him double over, struggling for the same air he had denied her – "I am not giving up."
Her knee crashed against his face, making him fall like a sack of potatoes to the floor. Dark eyes that had just moments before shown something akin to madness seemed confused.
– "I am so bloody sick and tired of all of you" – Ariadne stepped on his chest with her foot and pressed hard – "I am so sick of having to fight because of you. I am so sick of all this shit!" – Her katana rose in the air – "And you know what?" – Her eyes hardened.
– "I am ending this" – The blade fell and a scream of pain echoed in the air.
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- "Aria! – Stephanie ran as fast as she could, searching for her friend. One second Ariadne had been in the middle of the fray, she had seen the brunette fighting but after she had disappeared in the mass of struggling bodies and wayward spells. Stef almost hit herself for her stupidity. Her teachers would have had a fit if they had seen what she had done. She had placed her best friend in danger because she could not contain her stupid mouth.
– "Breathe Stef" – Whispered the grave voice of Tiamat in her worried mind – "You won't be able to do anything like that. And you'll endanger yourself."
The blonde grimaced, smacking one soldier away from her path. As much as she hated to concede, her Guardian did have a point. She would not be able to help, neither her country nor her friend, dead. Stephanie ran across the battleground, stumbling over a couple of soldiers already unconscious while making some rather painful groans leave them, sounds lost in the middle of the commotion.
– "Stef!" – She turned around to Lara's stern expression. A spear pointed to the extreme end of the field, the one where the stands for the market were usually placed every Saturday. Her throat nearly constricted in that one second, as she saw now a familiar red blade rise in the air in the hands of its owner before dropping quickly.
– "No, Aria" – Stephanie whispered as she ran even faster than before at the thought of what was about to happen. Her friend never wanted to kill, she had always hated that, going to extremes to not do such a thing.
The blonde remembered the first mission Aria had returned from. She had found the sea-green eyed girl closed on her room, tears falling from her eyes uninterruptedly, while she looked at her hands like they had betrayed her. It had been a murderer, one of the many walking around Galbadia. It didn't matter. And now…Stephanie shook her head forcibly. What had to be done just had to happen. Nothing else to it…
- "Right?" – She sighed mentally before beating another soldier on the stomach with the pole of her glaive. Without even thinking, she pivoted on her right foot and dealt an extremely hard blow to his jaw. The sound of broken bones was impossible to ignore. But she did so, continuing in search of her friend.
– "Aria?" – Stef called gently.
Ariadne was kneeling on the floor, head bowed and her stained brown hair hiding her face from view. A large gash crossed her left arm, blood sliding slowly through her skin, staining all the fabric it found on the way. Her bloodied hands were grasping the weapon as a lifeline and the equally blood-covered blade didn't move an inch, stuck as it was on the man under it. It had crossed the shoulder, a position where no vital organ would have been affected. Stephanie almost smiled, the urge pushed behind because of the seriousness of the situation.
– "Aria?" – She repeated as her friend showed no sign of having listened. The dark head moved slowly as Ariadne raised it slowly.
– "I don't think I'm living past twenty by the way this is going" – A small twitch of her lips told the blonde girl that she was ok…Stef had an urge to hug the hell out of her.
– "Never ever disappear on us like that, girl" – She said fiercely. Aria pulled herself upwards, hands pulling the blade out with an almost sickening jolt, followed by a groan of pain from the unconscious man.
– "Next time I'll make sure to write on your schedule that I'm going to get myself in one of my usual messes" – Was the almost too calm reply. A disgusted glance was given to the moaning figure at her feet.
– "You're wounded" – Stephanie whispered as her eyes fell on the large gash on Aria's arm. Said girl didn't even twitch.
– "The pain is enough to tell me that Stef, but next time I need to hear the obvious I'll ask you" – Ariadne took a deep breath as she walked to her other weapon, sheathing the first one slowly. The instructor frowned. She hated when her friend stopped giving some importance to her well-being in battle. The blood kept flowing, showing no spell had been cast.
– "Then I'll continue with the obvious and will say that you aren't going anywhere like that" – Stef communicated simply, golden-brown eyes hard as she looked around for Lara, the appointed healer of the group. Of course the second she turned to see her best friend she was nowhere in sight.
– "I am going to kill her."
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My POV
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For a moment I was ready to kill him. It would be so easy. Just turn my aim slightly to the side and the hit would have pierced the heart. He wouldn't have felt a thing. Or I think he wouldn't have felt a thing. It's not like I stabbed myself to death to see if one felt pain or not.
Ok, blood loss talking.
Would anyone blame me if I had though? After all, this is a war. One among our own people, fought because of nothing more than greed but a war nevertheless. Would anyone blame me if I had killed someone that had tried to kill me seconds before?
His family perhaps…his friends…myself.
There's nothing worst than looking at the mirror everyday and see what it reveals to us. I didn't…I still don't want to see a murderer looking at me. I did what I thought to be right. It's the way I've chosen to live all this time and I know…I know if I had killed him I would have killed a part of myself.
The one that saw that as a cold blooded murder.
And I'm not what my mirror would show. I'm not.
This is not revenge. This is not justice. Not any poetic ballad or something people will want to hear later just as it was done. This is war and I'm just a player in a game far greater than myself. But I am not going to destroy myself over it…now ask me if I feel guilty over the falling of my blade and I'll answer the only way I know.
Hell no!
You rip what you sow after all…
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And here it is everyone! I hope it wasn't that bad. As always reviews are very welcome because, as much as it is interesting to know people do read this story, knowing their opinion is much better. So comments, suggestions and all that fun stuff and let me know. REVIEEEEEEEWWW!
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Next chapter: Just what is so important with a city hall anyway? And we see the return of our favourite characters as well.
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See ya all soon
Reyavie