Hello everyone! Yes, feel free to pass out now because I am alive. Drowning in work but I'm alive. Why the huge break? Writer's block, loads of college assignments and too many things to count, including my lack of computer for a month or so. Anyway, I am trying to get all of this back on track, I am back to writing and even began the Sequel which is odd because I'm missing the final scenes of SL. Nevertheless I am back, here's the new chappie and I hope you like it. I'll do a huge effort to make sure the next one comes sometime next month but, as I'm struggling with projects, it would be a bit hard. Have a bit of patience with me.

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Rea: I'm still waiting.

Eris: For what?

Rea: Still waiting.

Aria: She's being confusing again.

Rea: And waiting.

Tanathos: Maybe she took too many pills.

Rea: WAITING!

Bellona: She owes absolutely nothing at all bar the huge amount of OCs that litter these pages and most of the plot.

Rea: (pats dragon) You all suck. But not my pretty little dragon. Who's her mother's pretty dragon?

Aria: She's being creepy again.

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Welcome to fiftieth-fifth chapter of Second Life. Bloody hell, this is still going and going and going...

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3rd Person POV

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Ariadne's steps were as quick as she could force them to be in the middle of the whole mess. Her hair had fallen from the tight braid she had done earlier, a cure had been cast over the aching injury as she ran, too tired to even think about casting a more powerful spell, too focused to even try to think of other think other than her mission. If she did stop to think, she would probably pass out from that action only. Thinking was bad a thing to do in suicide missions.

– "Alex!" – Her scream crossed the air like a knife. Probably not the smartest thing to be done, as she was calling the attention both to herself and to her friend. The mob had chosen Caraway and the black haired Galbadian as the targets for the day so they were pretty much surrounded and Ariadne could see no way to join them.

– "Guys" – She called quickly – "Need help, need it fast. Clean me a path."

– "Aria…"

– "Now Red" – Her tone booked no arguments – "We don't have time." – He knew she wouldn't stop now. Even with the constant pleads of her guardians she wouldn't stop. Lieutenant? What a curse her own friends had placed upon her.

– "Aria?" – Her head wiped to the side only to meet Lara's concerned face

– "Oh shit" – Aria thought with a sudden urge to bang her head somewhere. She had just got rid of one protective friend only to smack headfirst into another one. – "Just great. Next time how about I just beg to be put out of the game?" – Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked to her friend.

– "I am not going anywhere except our next destination."

Lara smiled slightly, her hand beginning to reflect the shine of whatever spell the girl was ready to cast. – "I am not dumb enough to stop you from doing anything Aria" – She said calmly – "But I am not letting you go anywhere like that."

And with a not so gentle hand she patted the injury throbbing in the girl's arm. Ariadne bit her lip with a strength that was already becoming all too familiar making the other girl frown.

– "Why can't you just allow us to be with you Aria?" – Lara sighed softly, her hand barely touching the wound – "Stop trying to do all by yourself. You don't have to. This is our country remember?"

– "Could you give me that lesson when we aren't about to be killed? I'm sure I would appreciate it more." – Another pat on the injury by Lara, another muffled long string of curses by the former earthling – "Why in Hyne's name do I have to deal with sadistic creatures?"

Ariadne glared as hard as she could to her friend, before turning her eyes one more to the battalion attacking the two men, Gina still behind them joining in the fray every time her protective work could be put aside for some moments. On the other side Aria could hear the sounds of the recently arrived Galbadian Seeds, shouts and curses filling the stale air as the battle moved on. Her eyes were drawn to a particular point of the field and the smallest smirk crossed her lips.

– "Not again" – Groaned Sacred – "Don't Aria. Last time…" – Ariadne didn't bother herself to listen to the rest. She wasn't about to let any past accidents get in her way. Especially when she knew exactly what she was doing…maybe.

– "Oh no, you don't" – Lara's hand grasped her arm with a lot more strength than the one probably needed, making her wince in pain – "Stop running ahead of us." – The other brunette said sternly not seeming the least concerned.

– "I know you Aria. I know how you tend to try and keep us out as if we were little children that need to be coddled. But we're grown men and women, warriors for more years than yourself. Now trust us. Besides, I wouldn't allow you to leave my sight with that injury." – Ariadne almost sulked, the deep frown crossing her face telling much more than any words she could have spoken. She had enough to deal with from her guardians whose voices she couldn't stop discard. Now she seemed condemned to deal with her friends playing babysitter as well.

– "They're channelling Lugh. They simply have to be." – The girl thought as Lara prodded her wound, kindly this time.

– "Cura." – Was the single word that left her lips leading to a surprisingly fast mending of the tissues. The skin was still tender, showing that the wound was very recent, the colour still a faint red, marring the tanned tone. But there was no more blood leaving it. Ariadne literally gaped.

– "How come I can't do that with my healing magic?" – She asked. Lara actually smirked.

– "Because my Cura can kick your Curaga's ass anytime, anywhere." – Aria froze for a second then smiled dryly.

– "Please do me a favour Lara and don't act like Sasha." – She said simply – Or even better. Stop acting like me."

– "I will make sure to follow that advice Aria." – Was the calm reply as the other girl turned back to her more peaceful demeanour.

– "Now that's more like it." – The lieutenant stated with slight relief as she began to walk away – "Come on, if you wanna come then do what I do and prepare yourself to one hell of a bumpy ride."

Ariadne stalked over the battleground like a woman with a mission and her frown seriously warned the ones on her way that crossing her path on that moment would be a bad idea. Of course there were idiots that did forget to turn the light bulb on. Those ended up meeting only her fist and the very hard handle of the single katana she carried. Even that one was placed on its sheath the second she reached her goal.

Several bikes rested haphazardly on the floor where they had been dropped upon the arrival of the galbadian forces, no guards or men to keep them safe from anyone that came by. She understood that that had been the last thing any of them would have thought in the mist of all that had taken place and appreciated it.

– "This is your plan?" – Aria didn't even look at her friend as she grabbed the nearest to her and pulled it to a standing position. Her arm complained with the motion but she ignored it with an almost experienced abandon.

– "Do you have any other idea?" – She straddled it and frowned slightly as she began making the direct connection. It took but a moment for the bike to start humming loudly. Lara didn't say a thing. It wasn't as if her friend would listen at the moment and it was the best shot they could take at the moment, even if the Galbadian refused to admit it. Instead she chose to get the bike next to her and do the exact same thing. Ariadne almost smiled in joy when she drove forward.

Adrenaline cursed through her veins as she made the vehicle move between the soldiers in direction of the one she needed to save her city. One that had no clue of his role in her plan. Eyes widened in surprise, men and women jumping to get out of her way as fast as they could.

– "Aria?" – Yelled Alexander.

– "Last time I checked, yes." – She said quickly almost running a soldier over to get to them. – "General, get on." – There was a moment of silence in which Caraway looked at her as if judging what the hell she was thinking. Ariadne could almost picture what he was seeing.

Her totally dishevelled self, covered in blood and probably mud, as well as the dust that had filled the entire area. If she joined the tiny pieces of cabbage that were stuck to her skin and hair, she could understand why he was thinking twice about joining her. The problem was that she didn't give a damn.

– "Are you going to fucking start moving?" – Aria asked harshly – "Or you can just wait there until we all get killed. Your choice." – It wasn't. Not really. The way the four Galbadians stared at him yelled loudly there was no way he would be allowed any other choice other than join her. Not after all they had done to their city to get him out. - "Now! Lara can't keep them away much longer" – Ariadne pointed with her weapon towards the other girl, whose own bike had stopped to allow her to raise her arms to the sky, a huge shimmering shield glowing barely two meters away.

From the outside countless spells kept hitting without a break making her wince from time to time. Alexander clenched his fists giving a murderous look to the general. He knew how hard that kind of spell craft was and, as good as Lara was at them, he would not allow her to suffer. Caraway just nodded before getting behind her. Aria almost winced when she felt how close his body was to hers. It seemed her anger towards the man translated into something akin to involuntary disgust.

– "Great" – She thought again with a huge urge to get herself knocked out for a century – "Now I can't even control my reflexes. Probably will be possessed again next. How about that for an idea Hyne?" – The Seed pushed those thoughts out of her mind. As always, she had more important things to worry about than the fact she could barely touch the man without wanting to smack him.

There was a moment in which everything seemed to stand still to her eyes. Aria breathed deeply, not bothering with the corrosive smell of the weapons and the touch of raw magic so near. Then it all moved again and she knew she had to move as well. With a brisk movement of her wrists, Ariadne turned the machine on and felt the strength of the engine beneath her.

Two soldiers barely had time to get out of the way before the bike almost hit them. Ariadne barely noticed. Her eyes followed the streets, the patterns she had known so well for the several years she had spent there. She knew her destiny well.

– "Caraway?" – Aria yelled over the wind rushing into her ears – "Clean the way." – It sounded so wrong, even to her that had said those words.

But the General knew what she needed, knew what she had asked for him to do. In a single moment the sword was once again in his hands. And it was not a second earlier. As the sole rebel-General, so to speak, he was a major target and it seemed everyone in the freaking battleground wanted to win a promotion.

Suddenly Ariadne found herself with a major X mark on her back and only a well placed Shell stopped the brunt of the attack from hitting. The sound of other bikes suddenly made itself known all too close to them for comfort.

– "You are being chased" – Aria struggled not to growl.

– "Why thank you Red" – She snarled back, pushing the bike to the side to avoid the brunt of a Comet spell normal Galbadian soldiers shouldn't be able to do – "I hadn't noticed that small little detail."

– "You are most welcome." – Sacred was saved from yet another remark because, at that moment, one of the bikes managed to reach them. Caraway's sword slashed blindly, almost cutting one of the two men's head and Aria's arm in the way.

– "Look at where you aim that thing General" – She screamed, struggling to make herself hear over the racket. – "Where's Lara?" – Aria risked a glance behind her and flinched as if she had been burned.

Her friend, joined by Alexander, was being pushed back as if to make sure she wouldn't interfere – "Hyne, I just know you hate us right now." – The Seed hissed. Her brow furrowed as she struggled to avoid the hits the soldier by her side kept giving her. He was obviously more used to it than her. Aria's features contorted in a scowl as she was nearly driven out of the road.

She could not deal with power hungry fanatics that wished to get higher on the hierarchic chain by killing any Seed at the moment. Didn't they see she was with one of their own? A round of bullets was her answer. The bike swerved quickly to the right as her hands lost control for a second, eyes closing in reflex as her leg exploded in pain.

– "Shitshitshit…" - She continued to mumble curses, the only way she found to push her pain away and concentrate on not getting them both killed. Emerald eyes rolled quickly from side to side and narrowed. – "I've had it" – Aria whispered – "Caraway! Protect!" – He didn't speak but the spell did surround them both with its silvery surface. She didn't waste any time.

– "Firaga!" – Her favourite brand of magic left as easily as ever, the flames that never stopped once to both intimidate and awe her, hitting the opposing bike with violence, forcing it against the wall with a strident sound. Aria smirked in a vengeful way, feeling her injury throb painfully. Yes indeed. They had deserved every bit.

Besides…they would live.

– "Pity" – Commented Sacred. She raised an eyebrow as she went back to concentrate herself on the road.

– "Dear Hyne Red, what the hell am I teaching you?"

– "That I hate just as much as you when you get hurt…and that revenge's acceptable in certain occasions." – She had to start thinking in private before her guardian become totally and completely corrupted. Ariadne shook her head as she noticed her thoughts wandering. She recognized that event. It seemed that the blood loss was once again affecting her and this time there was no Lara to knock her over the head. – "Left or right?"

– "Forward then right" – The bike turned abruptly to follow the instructions. Ariadne could barely remember that place but soon enough the tall building of the City Hall showed in front of her eyes – "And now for the end of this game." – It would be over soon.

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My POV

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Have you ever tried being stabbed, shot, chased like a rabid animal, insulted, betrayed all in the space of two hours? Let me just say something then.

It is not pleasant.

And that's the greatest understatement I ever said in my whole freaking life. The only thought that keeps me going is that this won't take much long to be over. That's the only thing keeping my eyes open and body moving. After…I'll see what will happen. Until then…someone turn off my nervous system.

The pain is annoying the hell out of me.

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3rd Person POV

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It didn't take too long until the large metal gates of the City hall showed themselves in front of them. – "The gate is closed" – Ariadne didn't even bother to answer to the man sitting behind her.

– "Beckerman!" – Shouted the general, apparently trying to make himself hear over the noise of the shotguns that were still sounding loud and clear.

– "I heard you!" – She said simply, making no movement to change direction – "I am just deciding to ignore you for the moment." – The gate came closer but Aria didn't even move her hand towards the brakes. Instead she took one hand away from the bike and raised it in the air – "Flare!"

Ariadne rarely used any fire magic above the level Firaga. She rarely needed it and it took quite a bit of strength to cast that spell without any consequence. But, for some wonderful accident of chance, the sudden tiredness that she was expecting to feel didn't happen.

– "Miracles do happen."

– "Depends on the point of view" – Sacred's voice grumbled softly. That was answer enough as to why she was alright. Aria would have frowned and stopped to inquire her guardians as to why it seemed that their connection had expanded almost to the point of reflex but, unfortunately, if she tried she would end up seven feet under with a memorial saying something relative to "Dead by pure stupidity".

Guards appeared in front of her but she paid them no mind, maneuvering the bike through them and directing it to the central door. A hand grasped her waist with more strength than she thought wished or necessary – "Think in your country girl" – Aria hissed mentally – "You need the guy alive. Do not kill him."

Another Flare left her body and, this time, she felt her energy dwindling, not taking a moment to think about it. A small wince crossed her body but not from her. It seemed the general didn't like bikes too much. That or climbing stairs on one wasn't something he did everyday. – "Conference room?" – Ariadne didn't need to look back to see the frown in his face.

– "Second floor, third to rig…" - The word was cut down as the bike moved upwards. She could barely remember the last time she had been in that place. One mission she was sure Caraway hadn't allowed as it had involved the resistance of Zaed. – "Left!" – The Seed followed the command unconsciously.

Her mind seemed only to register the path in front of her. The way for her to put an end to everything. And behind her was the man she needed to do so. Just as much a pawn as she was. Both jailed by their choices and hurt by their actions.

Of course he didn't have the Hyne-forsaken bullet digging into her muscle. She stopped the bike in the middle of the hallway as an unexpected obstacle appeared. A small glint of tiredness filled her heart as she saw the goal of their journey.

It was so close…and if Taur didn't stop singing the worst rendition of "So Far away" she had ever heard she would have to find a way to kill him. Permanently. With a frown she turned the machine off and stared at the group denying them passage.

– "Beckerman" – Called an all too familiar voice. Ariadne's lips twitched in a slight smirk as a sudden hilarity overtook her.

– "You know something Tanner?" – She asked as if, in that moment, she didn't have to worry about the dozen men or so in front of her and that were out for her blood. – "We so gotta stop meeting like this" – Brown eyes regarded her severely.

– "You tend to be pushed against me lieutenant"

– "Already heard?" – The Seed continued calmly pushing herself off the bike while containing a pained grimace. Caraway did the same. – "Sounds like a freaking joke even to me. Anyway…" – All lightness seemed to vanish from her countenance, cool emerald eyes wide and unblinking.

– "We have reached a small impasse Tanner. What are you going to choose?" – The Commander frowned but didn't answer while Ariadne waited patiently. She had known him for a long time, courtesy of Stef's brother, and he could pride himself in being one of the few soldiers she could stomach. Loyal and trustworthy, a soldier in the truest sense of the word, bound to honor and duty. – "Which duty will you pick?" – Aria thought, hand reaching towards the back pocket of her pants and the device stored inside. He seemed somewhat awkward, his expression tense as if he was fighting an invisible enemy.

– "What are you going to do?" – Tanner asked sending her question back. Aria shrugged lightly. Stephanie was right. Wherever she was tired or hurt she did act like a scatter-brained nuisance. The day she admitted that she would make sure to look for a nice deep lake to throw herself in.

– "What I have to do" – The Seed said simply – "Not much more to it, really." – Aria frowned as unknown sounds reached her ears and had an urge to groan out loud. She couldn't believe more problems were on their way. Her leg gave a sharp twitch of pain as she leaned on it, ready to try and unsheathe her weapons the second they were needed.

Of course considering the way she was feeling that second could be turned into minutes…hours…or just days because Aria was likely to pass out sometime soon. She sent a look back to her companion and frowned inwardly.

Caraway was silent, his features just as frozen as always. – "Either he doesn't want to put his ass on the line and I will kill him or he just wants to give Tanner a chance to choose whether he kills us or not" – Ariadne thought, feeling the sarcasm on her own words hit her – "Which of them the worst I wonder." – For a moment Ariadne could almost feel Taur holding back his not-so-witty comment and thanked him for that. She couldn't deal with that on top of everything else.

Tanner didn't move for what seemed to be an eternity before finally stepping to the side. – "Commander?" – Asked one of the soldiers, presumably his second in command.

– "Stand down" – The older man ordered sharply, eyes still dissecting the two in front of him. – "I am not sure of what you wish to do here Beckerman" – Tanner continued in a softer tone. – "But the truth is that everything I saw you do lately was to the good of Galbadia and Galbadia Garden. General…" - He bowed his head slightly – "I am still yours to command." – Ariadne knew there was a reason for her to like the older soldier. Aria's hand turned away from the small comm. and the alarm she had been ready to press.

– "Are you hearing anything?" – Asked the General turning away from the now arguing Galbadians. Aria frowned. Besides Tanner yelling something about chain of command she could not manage to hear much of anything. – "Someone's coming" – Continued Caraway pulling himself away from her and unsheathing his sword. Without a word he raised his arm and pulled a katana out and placed it in her hand.

The red-crystal covered metal shone for a second while he touched it, not recognizing its owner but otherwise showed no animosity. Soon enough it had returned to its normal blood red hue. Steps echoed in stairs, the sound of weapons and chains, harsh breathing of several persons. Ariadne's eyes widened, sea-green bright and surprised, as familiar faces met them.

A kind smile, a caring expression, a mischievous twinkle, hard blue eyes shining dangerously

– "Oh. My. Hyne" – Whispered her numbed mind – "You hate me so much it's not even a joke."

– "Where should we send your body?"

– "Shut up Taur."

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My POV

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Color me surprised please. And here I was thinking they actually would have the slightest bit of sense in those heads. When I say we can handle it means we can handle it with no babysitters being needed. Don't they trust me…don't they trust us enough to fight for ourselves?

We are not children. We have been trained and…

Hell, this is our country!

And I'm sounding like a stupid brat with a temper tantrum. Alright, so I didn't want them involved. They had enough in the last months. I had a debt with Galbadia and Galbadia Garden. They only have grudges between them. What are they doing here? There are answers I could really pass without knowing.

Next item in list: Not get killed. Again.

That item seems to be repeating itself on my list too many times.

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Done with this chapter everyone. I hope it wasn't too boring and I'll make an effort to make the next ones slightly more interesting. Nevertheless I think you know the drill. Please REVIEW!!!!!! Opinions, comments and suggestions are more than welcome.

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Next Chapter: FINALLY they return! And we see the power of the media.

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See ya all soon

Reyavie