MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Alright, I am slightly late…

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Bellona: loud bout of coughing

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VERY LATE!!! (glares) Don't get muses. They hate you and laugh too much about your mistakes. Anyway, I'm back with a new chapter. I actually think it's not that bad, which is a new one for me. I hope you all like it and all that fun stuff. THANK YOU all of you who reviewed. That leaves me jumping like crazy every time there's a new comment about my story. Thank you. Next chapter should be around some time around late January, beginning of February due to exams.

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Ghost: To her infinite sorrow…

Eris: And to our horror,

Tanathos: After a huge fit.

Bellona: Crying.

Aria: Screaming.

Ghost: And generally seeming a lunatic.

Bellona: Reyavie realized she didn't receive Final Fantasy on Christmas. She owns nothing at all.

Rea: I hate you all.

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Welcome to fiftieth-sixth chapter of Second Life. Can you believe I am STILL writing?

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3rd POV

The silence was so thick Ariadne had the feeling that if she tried to move she would not be able to. Her eyes rolled over the different faces. They seemed to have battled to make their way there. All had their weapons unsheathed and ready to be used, not to mention eagerly, much more than her battered brain and body would allow her to. For a moment she was totally lost in what to do.

– "Flee?" – Minotaur said matter-of-factly.

Aria's curse clearly said that she could pass without hearing his jokes. She didn't need much to know that she was in deep problems. So Ariadne dealt with it the only way she knew. Pushing it back so she could focus on the much more important things. The life-threatening ones.

– "I should have expected you to come" – The Galbadian commented lightly, trying to keep the suffering tone well away from her voice. Besides, it wasn't as if she didn't expect that particular event to take place. – "I only thought the others would make sure to not stay behind."

And indeed several members of the group were missing. She could not see the yellow clad form of Selphie or the cocky grin Irvine sported at all times. There was no sheepish expression denouncing Zell's presence and who knew where the rest of the Balamb crew was.

– "They are downstairs" – Was Squall's cool comment. By the sounds reaching them it was obvious the rest of the Seeds weren't having tea and cookies with the Galbadian force. That brought her suddenly to reality. She didn't have time for this or herself. She had others to take care of…and their feelings would have to wait. Simple as that.

– "Right" – Sacred added dryly – "Simpler would be impossible."

– "Stop impersonating Taur, Red" – Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance – "One wannabe comic-relief is enough for me."

– "Maybe you should begin by explaining just what you are doing here in the first place?" – Suddenly Aria found herself between a wall and a very hard place, wondering just how close to Spanish inquisition the scene would look to a observer with the lightest trace of historic education. Just sheer will kept her from taking a step backwards and take cover behind the taller form of the Galbadian General. Which would have been pathetic.

– "Mission." – And that answer was definitively award deserving, probably for the most vague answer ever said. – "Which we have to continue if you don't mind. Maybe…"

– "Maybe we should get going?" – Edea walked forward, her calming presence reason enough to keep them all silent and in non-rant mode. Her expression wasn't exactly peaceful and the curiosity was almost blatant, however, she distinctively held more patience that any of the others. – "I believe this matter should be addressed later."

It wasn't a question. Mother's privileges or not, even Squall backed away though his gaze promised a long questioning when they weren't in danger. Even knowing she would be into it later, Ariadne could only think that, former sorceress or not, a statue should be made in Edea's honor. Maybe saying something like "For saving Aria's ass, more than once, due to unmeasured curiosity." The words sounded stupid even to her.

– "I agree with that completely" – Maybe it would be best for her to remain silent as five words granted her the sharpest glares she had seen in the last months. Silent could be quite pleasant, yes. Her comm. choose that exact moment to begin its incessant ringing. – "Any more problems and I'll go nuts" – Aria thought with a mental sigh – "Nope, can't deal with more of those."

– "Yes?"

– "Where the bloody hell are you Beckerman?" – Aria's mind divided itself at that moment. Half wanted to kick Seifer's ass from there to Trabia while the other wanted no more than hug him for having the greatest sense of opportunity on the face of Gaea.

– "On my way to the others" – She answered calmly – "The question is where you are. You were supposed to bring your team here."

– "Someone had to clean up after your mess lieutenant." – Seifer drawled – "Couldn't get out of jail without destroying causing a civil war, could you Beckerman?"

– "Oh shut up, you idiot" – Interrupted another voice – "You spent the last half an hour saying you were bored and I won't even start in the party you almost threw when the go signal was given."

– "Nobody really asked you instructor."

– "Tough luck." – Continued Stephanie – "Aria, Gregor just called. Everything is ready."

– "Pass him to me." – Ariadne ignored the way the conversation between the two blondes, if one could call it that, continued.

– "We're waiting for you lieutenant" – The male voice was no-nonsense like but, from it, a great deal of satisfaction was heard – "All's in order."

– "And range?" – She asked without missing a beat.

– "From Deling to Timber, Esthar and Dollet passing through Balamb" – Replied Gregor – "Heck, even Centra would pick it up if it wasn't a complete wasteland." – The Seed could barely believe that something was finally going alright.

– "Thank you Gregor, we'll meet you in a minute. Stef, stop arguing nonsense and get yourself here. Almasy, get me Sasha and join the guys from Balamb. I want this place cleaned of enemies, you got that?" – The long string of orders was cut short by an unexpected connection to their links, followed by an even more snappish voice.

- "He doesn't need to get anyone" – Interrupted her friend's voice from another line. The sharp breathing and somewhat chocked voiced indicated her tiredness and the quick steps, that she was running like there was no tomorrow. – "'Liza will be fine" – Sasha managed to say among the rounds of shooting that kept flying around her. – "Two broken ribs, right arm in four places, internal bleeding and more scrapes and bruises than I can count but she will live." – The footsteps stopped.

– "The kid was a fucking spy." – She concluded with her usual bluntness. There were some rather interesting insults coming from the other sides of the line that Ariadne felt no interest in dwelling in. Betrayal had become the word of the day before the conquest of the Garden but hearing not every little traitor had been found out was a huge blow to their confidence in each other.

– "I know." – The lieutenant answered, as if what had been said was nothing more than a random greeting. – "Kenward gloats too much." – All the voices fell silent allowing the sounds of the battle outside to sweep in.

– "Did you kill him?" – Aria didn't answer – "She didn't" – Shrugged Sasha – "He must be crippled somewhere. Seifer, you ass, there's a whole platoon behind you."

– "Move it Beckerman!" – Was the last thing Ariadne heard before the line went dead. – "That's it. Gregor, get half of your platoon to their location." – She ordered sternly – "Stef, I want you here stat."

– "Yes, ma'am!"

– "Caraway?" – No one answered. Aria turned back, ready to start with a very interesting description of what would happen if he didn't follow her immediately until she saw his expression.

The General was staring at this daughter, back straight and stern posture. His eyes, however, gave him away. There was a glint of relief in their depths, a spark of happiness he couldn't hide. Rinoa wasn't behaving in a similar way though. At that time, her attitude was so much like Squall in brooding mode that Aria had to push back a stupid, not to mention extremely unwelcome, thought of how much time the two were spending near each other. Or if it was possible for the opposite to happen.

– "I hate my mind with a passion." – Her eyes fell on one, then to the other and finally, back again.

– "For the wonderful reaction I'm being presented with I believe I can say there will be no tearful reunion." – Ariadne interrupted dryly – "Then how about we get a move on before the whole rest of the bloody Galbadian army joins us?"

Calling that an order would be the greatest understatement in the story of Gaea. She should have had the time to talk to her friends, to say all the words that were beating around in her mind. She should have had the time to be with her family, with the ones fighting in the ground level, to end the stupid fight they were all in. She should. But her people were first in priorities list.

There was no other choice.

The girl finally moved, forcing herself to ignore the pain shooting through her leg as she dragged it behind herself. The sadistic curiosity that kept making her wonder just how many bullets had managed to get in was also pushed back. Caraway moved when she did, his eyes turning sharply away from Rinoa to meet Tanner's. There were no words. The Commander just nodded in agreement with whatever he had read from that movement. Then the General's eyes dark brown eyes were on hers with the same strength as ever.

– "What now?" – Ariadne's hand tightened around her weapon with an almost bruising amount of pressure.

– "Now." – She began, a slow smirk appearing on her lips, one that usually spelled mischief – "You prepare your best bullshit General." – Sea green eyes glinted with faint amusement. – "You're going to be on TV."

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My POV

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The plan wasn't nothing to complicate in essence. A group had been sent to Dolet, another to Zaed and a last one to Zendric's edge.

The first one had the easiest task so to speak. Clean the communication's tower, including any visitors any of us would prefer to not see, and put it up and running in case anything had been destroyed over the last months. Easy enough I thought.

Apparently I was right in that small bit, at least.

That was one of the reasons that made me not send anyone of the gang there. I like to have people I can trust on watching my back in case I place myself on one of my messes. That's another one of the reasons why discovering the truth about that little piece of shit bothered me so much.

A spy for Kenward, of all people. And because of him, Eliza got hurt. Because that little piece of shit sold himself for some thing I really couldn't care less. He's probably getting something very close to death when I get my hands on him.

Bypassing that, the group from Zaed would signal Zendric's edge to act. Taking over the truck was easy, entering the city trivial. All of that went to hell the second I found out Caraway had been sentenced to death in little less than two days. As much as I hate him, I cannot deny he's one of the few I trust with the command of a military force without having to expect them to shoot me on the back the second I turn around.

And the soldiers look up to him, for some odd reason I can't possibly imagine. Even Tanner for Hyne's sake.

My plan?

Make him the politician he could have been. He should have been. Make him walk forward and show himself to the people for us, be the symbol of an alternative. Not give him the power.

Hell, I'm not that stupid.

But show someone that the people know and respect. I can only hope there are some people actually willing to listen.

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3rd Person POV

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The press room was full to the brink with activity when Aria dragged herself in leading the small group. Several Seeds walked around, their uniforms proudly displaying their rank despite the danger of capture and even death for the status only. Their features, however, held relief when the group squeezed in, hope slowly growing in eyes, which had been consumed by duty, not faith in their future.

– "Glad you managed to get in here in one piece, lieutenant." – A man came forth slowly. He was blond, extremely so, almost to the point where it made him seem an albino, dark blue eyes hard and strong, a deep contrast with his pale complexion.

– "Sorry for the delay Gregor." – Ariadne forced a very small smile, placing her weapon slowly on its sheath, knowing that, for the moment, it wouldn't be needed. – "Is everything ready?"

– "When the general is, so are we." – It was very easy to see Caraway wasn't one of Gregor's favorite people. There was a disdainful glint in his eyes, common to most of the Seeds present. – "Take him away."

Ariadne had an urge to say that they were not supposed to kill him yet but held the, rather stupid, comment from leaving her mind, teeth sharply digging into her lower lip to avoid any problems.

– "Control room on the right, lieutenant." – Continued Gregor – "Lara should be arriving soon." – She gave him a pointed look when he took a small glance at her leg. Aria didn't need his comments in addiction to the others' especially when those comments weren't going to make her life any easier. – "We will take over from here."

Hyne, why couldn't they all stop acting like overprotective parents taking care of a single child? The girl nodded sharply nevertheless, watching as Caraway was lead to the next room. Strangely enough, Rinoa followed without a word or a comment, for or against it.

- "Weird. Did someone hit her on the head?"

– "Aria." – Scolded Sacred.

– "No, seriously." – Continued the Seed – "She wouldn't be caught dead ten meters away from the guy and now she isn't allowing him out of her sight? Allow me to find it odd."

– "Allowed, now go take care of those wounds before you faint from blood-loss." – Her good sense prevailed.

– "See you all in a bit." – Aria said with false cheer before slipping away as fast as her injuries allowed, door closing after her. She looked calmly behind, as if expecting someone to follow her, but that stopped as Edea's gentle voice was heard, saying how they should join the other Seeds in a place where they wouldn't bother.

As long as they didn't bother her, Aria wouldn't mind if they did a ball on the top floor while appreciating the view. Dragging herself towards the chair behind the giant wooden desk and falling on it was all but the first step. Her leg was throbbing in pain and she could barely summon strength enough to her mind and arms to take care of it before it infected completely.

Ariadne allowed her head to fall behind slightly as to rest it against the chair, one hand trying to reach for one of the multiple knives she had been forced to carry, only to pierce the fabric of her pants deeply, ripping it apart without the smallest bit of care. It wasn't as if it would have any use later on.

Or as if she actually cared about it, at the moment.

So distracted she was, that the girl didn't even notice when the door opened, announcing the entrance of a spectator.

– "I hope you know that you cannot do that by yourself." – Aria raised her head from the fabric with a horrible thought of having to change her job because she obviously couldn't be a spy anymore. How could someone fail to hear that Hyne-forsaken buckle he wore all the time?

– "I guess I'll just have to prove you wrong then." – She said simply, pushing his comment aside to continue. In three large steps he was in front of her, hands grasping her wrists with almost bruising strength.

– "I'm beginning to tire of the way you keep refusing to allow anyone's help."

– "Well aren't we a hypocrite? And I am beginning to tire of the way you keep thinking I am a masochist that can't take care of herself. Even?" – Ariadne threw back mockingly, hands pushing away from his hold only to continue her healing. She had been wrong.

She hadn't been shot once but thrice. Three different wounds marred her skin and, with the luck she was having, they had hit the muscle at least once. The good news was that no major blood vessels had been pierced. She couldn't appreciate it as much in that particular moment.

– "Yay!" – She thought dryly – "Fucking bastards that just had to use fucking guns because they can't freaking hold a fucking sword without cutting themselves on the handle."

Aria had no way to know if the bullets had remained in the flesh and closing the wounds with them inside sounded a very stupid thing to do. Now that she thought of it, so was bleeding all over the place.

– "Blood-loss you is really amusing." – Commented Minotaur. There was a very angry, and thoroughly impossible to ignore, dark look sent by Sacred, carrying something akin to the strength of a truck.

– "Brother!" – He hissed slowly.

– "Yes, yes, I know." – Dismissed Taur – "Shut up, think and don't forget to shut up."

– "You forgot keep silent."

– "Stop it! Both of you!" – Silence fell on her mind immediately. Maybe it was the way her mental voice had seemed exhausted that had pushed them into it but the fact was that the only thing she could feel was regret and worry. And annoyance, couldn't forget that. – "Sorry guys."

– "Don't." – Interrupted Sacred – "We were being childish…just take care of your wounds." – She loved those brothers, even in their worst moments.

– "Let me see." – Ariadne opened her eyes slowly, barely aware that she couldn't remember when she had closed them.

– "Huh?" – Squall didn't even acknowledge her answer, simply pushing her hands aside.

– "Let me see." – He repeated tonelessly.

– "I can…"

- "I don't care if you can or cannot Aria." – The Commander interrupted without changing his tone – "For once keep quiet and allow me to interfere before I make it an order."

– "As if you needed my permission." - Ariadne found that she couldn't continue to argue, tiredness filling her limbs and mind. Even if half of her mind whispered he didn't have the right to order her to move a finger, never mind allow him to do anything to her.

– "Your dagger." – The girl barely nodded, simply placing the blade she was still holding on his hand. She could only feel her leg freezing, a sure sign he was numbing her flesh, most probably with something not stronger than a Blizzard. The second she managed to care, she would thank the fact she couldn't feel pretty much anything in that. Something poked around in her wound for a moment but Aria was only called to attention when a piece of fabric was stuck into her mouth and a voice ordered – "Hang on."

It was the only warning she had before piercing pain shot through her leg, traveling up her body. Aria screamed. As loudly as she could, uncaring if the fabric managed or not to muffle the sounds, until tears came to her eyes and she wished she could pass out. A small part of her mind acknowledged that, even without the fabric, she wouldn't be able to scream. The strong magic of a Stop spell was constricting her movements to the point of paralysis.

She was sure she called him of anything and everything her mind could think of but, in the mist of the pain, she couldn't really remember. Moments passed, seeming centuries to her pained brain, before the tissue was taken from her mouth and the soft warmth of a healing spell touched her wound, slowly lulling it to a deep numbness far more comfortable than the one before. A hand touched her face, barely moving even when her tears fell upon it. – "I had to take the bullet out before I could stop the blood."

– "Well, next time knock me out, you bloody butcher." – Aria took her head away before placing it on her hands, breathing pained and harsh. – "No wonder you weren't chosen to any medical team."

- "Any other injury you care to inform me of?" – There was a very strong urge passing through her limbs that almost made her curse him on the spot. Why did he have to ignore all her words ninety-nine percent of the time was something she couldn't understand.

– "No, daddy dearest." – A hiss and a very annoyed look would have to be enough for the moment before going back to her previous position. There was a movement by her side just before… - "Just what the fuck is wrong for everyone to poke that bloody wound?"

Ariadne grasped the tender skin of her arm, fierce emerald eyes trying to burn a whole through him before they turned their natural, calmer color. She would never admit it, not to him, not to anyone, but she did need rest. Both her mind and body were weary, each aching painfully for different reasons.

Her body would recover given time Aria couldn't spare at the moment. The rest of her…when she saw Eliza again, made sure with her own eyes her friend would be alright, that no harm would come to the other girl.

– "Care to rephrase your answer?" – Ariadne ignored him. She was in no hurry to have a shouting match and was clearly sick of being handled like she was china, or so she thought of it at any rate. The conversation might have continued for quite a while if the sound of steps approaching had not broken their stare war.

The door opened sharply allowing Gregor's entrance. Aria almost jumped away from her seat, feeling a sudden fear something else had happened. But if that was the case why would he be smiling almost smugly? Why would he be looking at her as if celebrating a victory? Why was he silent Hyne damn him?

– "He's better than I gave him credit for." – He finally said, apparently tired of waiting for a question that Squall wouldn't ask and Ariadne didn't want to make. The officer walked to the closed window and opened it completely, the brightness of a protect spell leaving his hands as he did so. And with the fresh air came something else Ariadne had not heard through the bulletproof windows.

Were those…screams?

She walked as quickly as she could, almost jumping in one sole foot as her wounded leg seemed to have gone numb on her and her jaw promptly fell. Her eyes had widened to an almost impossible amount and Gregor was quite sure he had never seen her that surprised ever since she had destroyed one pillar of the Training Grounds and ended up with half of the classroom above falling in front of her. Her expression would be just too amusing in any other moment.

– "Now, I am proud of saying I am a Galbadian." – Gregor said calmly. Ariadne could only nod in amazement.

Hundreds, thousand of persons filled the streets, screaming to the skies, singing as loud as they could, a sea of voices where the word freedom could be heard clearly. Grey uniforms showed in the middle of the crowds and Aria knew then that the prison had been opened, the political prisoners made by the regime joining their companions in their celebration with the same strength even if some were injured and tired due to their ordeal.

The army seemed powerless to do anything against the human wave in front of them. It was composed by their parents, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. People they could not bear to take down. So weapons were slowly lowered and soon enough, soldiers could be seen among the marching people.

- "Just how long did I spend in here licking my wounds?" – She thought, still too confused with what had happened, even though it was partially what she had planned. If you can't beat them find a way to make them not want to fight. However, never in her wildest dreams, she had imagined people would stand up to fight in that way.

– "One hour, twenty-seven minutes, forty-one seconds, fifty-…"

- "I get the point Red, thank you." – Aria interrupted dryly.

– "He's much better than I thought he would be." – Commented Gregor. The two other Seeds in the room knew he was speaking of Caraway but only she knew why.

– "Not exactly." – A small smile was tugging her lips as if she was trying to imprint the images in front of her into her memory. – "He will be a good politician, I have no doubt of that. He has the presence and the way to convince people…but this…" – Her hand moved quickly, waving in the crowd's direction.

– "This is us. This is the people of our country not him. This is their will not his. This is the difference." – Both Galbadians fell silent as they watched the cheering crowd but soon Aria was brought to the present by a large hand resting on her shoulder.

– "It was a good work." – She smiled at Squall, a relieved and thankful smile – "You still need to get that wound fixed." – The girl rolled her eyes. He really did know how to ruin a moment. – "Come." – For once Ariadne didn't fight against him. Relief had overtaken her and huge sense of pride but not in anything she had done. Her pride went to those people marching on the streets with nothing but their souls and courage as defense. – "It was indeed a good work." – She thought softly – "Only not ours. Not only ours."

– "Bloody hell Squall, would you mind to stop poking that stupid wound?"

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And another chapter done. This one didn't take nearly as long as the last ones to get online now did it? (crickets chirp) Right. Don't answer. As always, comments, suggestions, random ideas are eagerly awaited. REVIEW!!!

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Next chapter: When things seem to go right, they turn incredibly wrong. Murphy should get a life.

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See ya all soon,

Reyavie