The driver politely woke Zell first by tapping on the window leading to the backseats, and from where the rest were awoken with Squall being last. Groggily he looked out the window, nearly going cross-eyed at the odd building they arrived at. It was long, covered in opaque colored glass with four… ramps on the roof? What the hell were ramps on the roof for?

Once all were out of the car, Squall spied the Aide's own vehicle. He swore that if they didn't have Zidane here, he'd go on a rampage; that thought was cut off when he saw Edea climb out of the back of that car and wave to them. The group went toward her like preschool children rushing their teacher, although Squall and Rinoa hung back a bit.

"I am here to see you off," Edea said once Squall approached.

"Off?" he frowned.

"This is the Lunar Gate," Edea explained, holding a hand out to the peculiar building. "From here they will launch you into space."

"Ellone is in space?" Irvine asked. "Wow, that's snazzy. That's one way to keep her from sorceresses!"

Edea had the good humor to smile. "Indeed, it was something not even Ultimecia probably thought of. I have good reason to believe you will be very safe there, Squall, along with Zidane and Ellone."

"I hope so." Squall said, crossing his arms. Space? Good Hyne, could this whole mess get any weirder?

Squall felt as if he just jinxed himself, but none the less they followed the pathway to the building's entrance. Once inside, a woman approached them and bowed deeply in respect. When she rose, she had that pasty fake smile all secretaries used, and Squall frowned at her. Nonetheless, she greeted them, stating they were expected and asked for them to follow her. The entire group moved through the building following the woman, all but Squall looking around and marveling as white-coated scientists and blue-clothed techs bustled here and there.

Going through a door opened to a huge room, where a large glass tube heading up was the predominant fixture. A man in a lab coat approached and the woman bowed her farewell before going back the way they came.

"Are you the ones taking off?" the man asked.

Squall eyed the pipe, and then looked at the man. "Yes."

"Okay, this way." He indicated to the tube, and as they followed he explained the procedure, "First, we need you to enter the capsule inside the pipe. There, you'll undergo the 'cold sleep' process, which is exactly what it sounds like. Once that process is complete and you're considered stable, your capsule is loaded into the booster and launched. You should arrive by the time you wake up, so leave it to staff to guide you."

They stopped in front of the pipe and he turned to Squall, giving him a look. "Esthar is technologically superior to the world, but there is always risk no matter how perfect. If you're ready, let me know, but I understand if you need to let this sink in."

That's a waste of time. "Let's do it." Squall nodded.

"We have room for three more, since the boy with the tail has already been loaded in." the scientist put his hands in his pockets. "Such a strange boy, I tell you. Not remotely human."

"Don't talk about Zidane like that," Squall snapped, making the man jerk back at his sharp tone. Before anyone could admonish him, he turned around. "Matron, I know you still have business with Dr. Odine, and until he figures out a solution, you want someone around." Edea smiled and nodded, so Squall went on with his orders, "Then I'm appointing Zell as your escort. Zell, something happens to Matron, I'll kill you."

Zell smirked despite the threat, as if it were a joke. Joke's on him, Squall wasn't kidding. "Hey, don't worry, Squall. I'll do myself in if I let anything happen to Matron!"

Edea placed an appreciative hand on Zell's shoulder, giving him a look of gratitude. "Thank you, Zell. I have a great sense of security with you by my side."

Squall looked to Irvine. "Irvine, you and Selphie accompany him. That gives you a melee, a ranged, and a caster and item supplier." Irvine nodded his consent and Squall looked to the remaining two. "Rinoa, Quistis?"

"I'm with you!" Rinoa immediately said, and after a moment of thinking, Quistis nodded.

"Then those who are going," the man instructed. "Enter the capsule one at a time."

Quistis went in first, turning around and waving farewell just as the capsule closed and shot up the pipe. Another came from below, opening when Rinoa approached. Her wave was a little more enthused before she too entered and was taken up. Squall looked at those staying behind, knowing this wasn't some final farewell, but why did it feel so foreboding?

"Don't worry about us," Edea encouraged. "Please, give Ellone my regards."

The man also held something out to Squall—an envelope. "Give this letter to Piet," he instructed. "From there you'll see Ellone."

Squall nodded, took the letter and marched into the capsule. Unlike the girls, he didn't wave or even turn back. The capsule enclosed him in darkness and he felt it rise up the pipe. A sort of frame suddenly encased him and all sorts of monitors and lights flicked on, making Squall tense in reflex. A gas was filtered in, and though Squall tried to remain calm, he couldn't resist holding his breath for as long as possible.

He was never good at holding his breath, and once he inhaled the stuff, he was out like a light.

The scratchy voice of some asshole brought Squall out of it, as well as the sensation of being thrown into a fire. The process was too quick to cause pain, and as the frame released him the top of the capsule opened. Still somewhat out of it, Squall just floated up into the air and let himself sway. He saw Rinoa and Quistis in the air as well, and…

Zidane! Squall was instantly awake and tried to move toward the floating thief. Gravity was not on his side and Squall couldn't consistently control his direction.

"Lock on to rotation ring unit," a voice echoed and Squall tried to look over his shoulder only to log roll uncontrollably. "Lock engaged. Generating artificial gravity."

Slowly all four were seemingly guided to what looked like a walk way. Squall found it disorientating when his feet touched what was a wall… although now it was a floor. But he was still sideways and… aw hell, this was weird.

Once the gravity field was securely in place, the door opened to reveal a tall, blond man with an ankle-length white lab coat. Rushing by him to Zidane was a man with a giant red cross on his gray and green uniform, signifying his medical expertise. Squall tensed, but when the medic merely checked him over and didn't do anything else, he turned to the guy in the coat. His nametag said 'Piet' and Squall dug into his pocket.

"Here," Squall said as he approached Piet. "This is a letter of introduction."

Piet took the letter, opening it and skimming over the words. As he did, the medic finally poked Zidane's chest. "Wow," the medic muttered. "What is he, fourteen, fifteen? Is he dead?" he made the move to grab him.

Squall whirled around, and although it made him feel dizzy due to the freakish angle they were standing, he still managed to look imposing. "Don't touch him!"

The medic jumped at Squall's hostile tone, and Rinoa tsk'd at him. "Squall," she scolded, even as the mercenary ran to Zidane and picked him up, holding him protectively from the medic. "He's just trying to help!"

Quistis rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Yes, Squall…" she drawled. "Try to be a little friendlier."

Squall turned to scowl at them but Piet seemed done with the letter, finally speaking. "I understand the situation," he said. "Let's get him to the med lab and we'll talk there. Please, follow me."

The three followed Piet out of the room, the medic catching up to the scientist's side after getting yet another glare from Squall. Although Zidane's tail hung limply in view, neither Piet nor the medic said a word as they led them down the hallway, then turned a sharp left into a door set in an iron turquoise wall. Squall paused outside of the door, and Quistis sighed heavily.

"Be a little more trusting," now that she was awake, Quistis was properly bossy. She entered the room first, and Rinoa hung back.

"Go," Rinoa called to him. "I don't wanna get too close, remember?"

Squall sighed and followed after Quistis. Inside was a bed with medical supplies everywhere, and Piet with the medic stood like guards to another door. Quistis turned to face him and pointed to the door, and without a word Squall went through. This room was much larger, the floor, walks and ceiling transparent to show the beauty of space. It was a bit creepy, with a single bed in the center.

None the less, Squall couldn't argue if he wanted to be taken to Ellone. He gently placed Zidane in the bed, and while the medic had his back turned to operate a console on the wall, Squall took the chance and pressed a quick kiss to Zidane's forehead.

I'll get you back. Squall swore and raised himself just as the bed activated. A metal cover rose up from the foot of the bed to halfway, and a shimmering glass top filled the rest.

A set of numbers, indicating inside temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, flashed on the glassy surface. Squall saw how stable they were, and still had to wonder why Zidane was sleeping if he was 'okay.'

Piet entered the room and nodded with satisfaction when he too saw the numbers. "I've talked to my crew," he said to Squall. "Everything will be alright. Let's go to the control room."

"I'm not here to sight-see," Squall frowned. "Where is…"

"Please, sir, patience." Piet cut in. He left the room, and the medic from before stood on standby near the door.

As Squall passed by him, he gave the man a hard glare. "You better not do anything to hurt him," Squall hissed.

The medic held his hands up. "Alright, alright. I get it; you're his knight in shining armor, chill."

Squall glared again before exiting the room, finding Quistis and Rinoa waiting. The women offered encouraging smiles, and Squall's shoulders sagged. He was so close, but these people kept…

"Piet went that way," Rinoa pointed out the door. "Let's go catch up."

The trio walked down the long hallway, Rinoa unable to keep her eyes off the windows and transparent ceiling. She loved the stars, and to be this close was like a romantic dream come true. Quistis made a point to smile and politely greet anyone who walked by or noticed them, while Squall pretty much sulked the entire way. He wanted to get Zidane awake. Everything would be okay once he woke up, and Squall could go back to feeling less insane.

Rinoa paused at a large window, eyes shining. "Can I wait out here?" she asked. "I can't get enough of this view…!"

Squall glanced at Rinoa, and then shrugged. "Keep an eye on the med lab." He more or less ordered, but Rinoa waved him off. Her eyes were now trained on the strange, immense object not too far from the base. It looked like a jewel with massive, slender wings. Men in space suits floated around it, as if inspecting.

Leaving her to her wonder, Quistis and Squall moved on down the hall. At its end was a staircase to the left and a sharp right turn—Quistis questioned a young woman where Piet might have gone, and the woman pointed to the right. Squall nodded his thanks and went through the door there, revealing the control room of the base.

Quistis couldn't help but race to the front. "My goodness!" she cried. "Look at how close we are to the moon!" she pointed.

One of the men at the console rolled his eyes. "This is no time to be impressed. Look at the monitor."

The blond woman looked to her right. "This one?"

Squall couldn't help his own curiosity, coming up behind Quistis and peering over her shoulder as the monitor flickered to life. It focused on the moon, and then zoomed in. A large dark red stain seemed to be… moving on the surface. The camera zoomed in again, then again. Squall couldn't help taking a step back.

The hell is this?

Quistis had a hand held up to her mouth, eyes wide. "Monsters…"

The man who spoke before chuckled. "Didn't you learn in school that the lunar world is a world of monsters? Notice how they're all gathering at one point? History's about the repeat itself—the Lunar Cry is starting."

"Lunar Cry?" Quistis frowned. "The phenomena that destroyed the Centra continent… monsters, billions of them, dropped from the moon."

Squall barely recalled that lesson and he cringed. "Where are they dropping?"

The controller grinned arrogantly. "There's an object on Earth called the Lunatic Pandora—it draws the Lunar Cry to it. It used to be mounted at Tear's Point and could force a Lunar Cry. But since the president's election, the Lunatic Pandora was sunk into the ocean, so the Cry will hit the ocean. Most of those monsters will drown."

"It's natural," Piet said from his point nearby. "It occurs no matter what we do, and so we try to contain and control it as much as possible."

Piet looked at Squall, nodding to him before jerking his head back toward the door. "Ellone's room is on the second floor, you're clear to see her."

Squall practically bolted out of the room, Quistis chasing after him after getting over the short-lived shock. His footsteps thumped heavily against the stairs as he climbed them, and he ignored anyone walking by. He paused at a side door, but when someone came out with a space suit on Squall moved on; the pause let Quistis catch up and she scolded him the entire time to the last room at the end of the hall. Squall went right in, not caring if he was barging in. There, seated on a bed, was none other than Sis, perched properly like a lady. She still wore her blue blouse and white skirt, as well as the green shawl hanging from her arms. When she turned to look at him, Squall stopped, remembering all the times he spent with her at the orphanage.

She always looked at me like she knew more than I did. Squall was counting on that belief to be a fact.

"Squall, Quistis," Ellone said, softly but happily. "I'm so happy to see you again."

Quistis smiled from behind Squall, and Squall went right up to her with a smile of his own. "Me too." He answered, and he did mean it. Now that he knew she was Sis… it was so… nice. Nice to be reunited again.

Ellone nodded, and then held a hand up in an offering of peace. "I'm so sorry. I got you involved in so many things… so much hardship."

"It's alright," Squall said. "I understand what you were trying to do… were we of any help?"

"Yes, of course! Thanks to you guys, I was able to see how much I was loved…" Ellone sighed. "I couldn't change the past… but just seeing it was more than enough. Thank you."

"I… would like your help, Sis." Squall muttered. "You said you can't change the past… I want to find out for myself. Take me to Zidane's past, so I can find out what happened. Maybe warn him… protect him."

Ellone gave Squall an unreadable stare, and he tensed as she said nothing for several agonizing seconds. Finally, she stood so she was a little closer to his eye level. "You want to save him. You don't want to lose Zidane."

"…yes." Squall whispered. I can't lose him. Not again.

"Squall, I'm sorry. I can't." Ellone looked away, apologetic and almost ashamed. "I told you I can only send people I know in the present into people I knew in the past."

"Please, try," Squall was nearly begging. He'd throw aside his prized pride and dignity if he had to. "I brought Zidane with me; he's in the med lab. Come with me?"

Ellone looked at him and forced a smile. "Alright, I… I'll try."

As they made their way toward the med lab, Quistis took this chance to speak to Ellone now that Squall made his request. The women chattered merrily about something, but all Squall could think of was Zidane. He was going to fix everything and protect Zidane like he promised… whenever he made that promise. As sad as it sounded Squall didn't remember when or where he made that particular oath, but he knew he made it and had to uphold it. With Ellone, he could finally…

Everyone froze as the entire base suddenly lit up in red, an alarm sounding out. As panic began to rise, a voice echoed throughout the base, "Red Alert! Red Alert! All units report to the med lab, stat!"

Squall felt as if the oxygen was vacuumed out of the entire base, and he grabbed a fistful of his shirt over his chest. Med lab, where Zidane was!

"I'll check it out!" Squall announced, whirling around. "Quistis, take care Ellone. Sis, go wait in the control room just in case."

Ellone paused, and then nodded. "Be careful." With Quistis she made a dash for the control room, and once they were out of sight Squall hightailed it to the med lab.

The damn hallways were far too long for Squall's liking, but after rushing past panicky workers and staff, he finally made it. Just as he approached the entrance to the med lab opened, and the medic from before was flung out. Squall skidded to a stop and covered his mouth and nose, eyes wide as he saw the man's face. His eyes were gouged out, lips torn off and nose twisted ninety degrees. Blood poured from his scalp, and Squall could smell it no matter how hard he tried to block his mouth and nose.

Squall looked up when he heard the door open again, shock and disbelief on his face as Rinoa walked out, her upper body heavily swaying side to side as if in deep sleep. Her entire body shimmered as if surrounded by phantom illusions of herself, and in her hand…

"Rinoa?" Squall demanded, racing to her when he realized she dragged the still comatose Zidane by the foot.

When he came within arm's reach, however, Squall heard a high-pitched screech before he was thrown back several feet behind Rinoa. His back slammed hard into the door leading to the capsule retrieval chamber, and his head hit the door hard. He saw stars for several seconds, and by the time he oriented himself, Rinoa was already close to the control room.

Rinoa? Squall ran down the hall, trying to ignore the screaming pain in his head. What happened to you? What's going on?

Rinoa entered the control room and once more Squall tried to approach. Piet stood in Rinoa's way, screaming about how she needed to stop, that Adel's seal controls were here and tampering would result in her freedom. Apparently that was Rinoa's wish, and with some power Squall didn't know she had, everyone to tossed to the perimeter of the room and pinned by invisible magic. Despaired, Squall watched as she dropped Zidane's ankle, ambled to the console, and hit a button.

"Adel's Tomb: Level One Seal Deactivated." The computer reported.

Rinoa turned, walking out of the room and pausing only to grab Zidane's ankle again. When the door closed behind her, the magic vanished, and everyone fell to the floor taking huge gulps of air. While held, none could breathe—one woman had already passed out from lack of air.

Squall scrambled to his feet, but a monitor caught his attention. Turning to see it, the amount of monsters that filled it astonished him. Looking out the window, Squall could see a visible patch of blood-red coloring on the moon's surface.

"The Lunar Cry…" Squall murmured.

"We have to stop her," Piet gasped, holding his chest. "If she's trying to free Adel, she'll have to go out there. The Level Two seal is on the Tomb itself…"

Squall raced out the door. Rinoa could not go outside! What the hell was wrong with her? Remembering when he had saw a man in a spacesuit come out of a room, Squall sprinted upstairs, nearly tripping over several steps in his haste. At the top, a pair of workers huddled in a corner, a woman weeping.

"Did you see a girl come by, dragging a guy by his ankle?" Squall demanded.

The man comforting the woman nodded. "Yeah, she went into the locker room…"

Squall headed for the room the man pointed at, barely hearing the woman wail, "The Cry's gonna hit Esthar! My little boy…!"

When he entered the locker, Rinoa was already dressed in a space suit. The suit she dragged with her, he could only assume was Zidane. Seeing a man knocked out in the corner, Squall quickly stripped him of his suit, but by the time he made it out of the airlock chamber he saw Rinoa and Zidane exit the space station just as the gate shut.

No! Squall felt panic rise in his chest, threatening to give him a heart attack. How the hell could this happen! It… it has to be Ultimecia…

Squall went back inside, not even discarding the space suit and racing back to the control room. Right before the stairs, a trio of men in space suits stood, and Squall skidded to a halt.

"We must evacuate! President, please!"

The man addressed as President waved them off. "Forget about me, just go!"

The two shook their heads and together grabbed him, forcing him down the stairs. Squall couldn't see the President's face with the suit on, but he could tell the man was looking at him.

"Hey, you!" The President shouted as he tried to fight his Aides. "Take care of Ellone!"

Squall followed them down, the three breaking off to a separate area when the mercenary went for the control room. Ellone and Quistis were pressed up against the windows, screaming as they saw Rinoa float toward Adel's Tomb. Squall shoved himself between them to look, and to his horror, he watched Rinoa deactivate Adel's Tomb just as the Lunar Cry began. A pillar of monsters shot out from the moon, the force of it blowing Rinoa away as it engulfed Adel.

Squall shouted when Rinoa let Zidane go, the two separating into different directions: Zidane further into space, and Rinoa hurtling back toward the Lunar Base.

"Squall!" Quistis yelled, and he knew. Piet rushed in from a side chamber, demanding they follow.

"Five minutes!" Squall called, once more leaving the control room. Rinoa was just outside of the base—he could get to her soon if he hurried. He heard footsteps, and by the sound the heels made he could assume it was Quistis.

He raced back to the locker room and out the airlock. Quistis worked the console inside the locker room, operating the outer gate. When Squall got close, she opened it; he activated the boosters of the suit toward the aimlessly floating form of Rinoa, who was slowly approaching the base. It took half his fuel, but Squall made it to her, snagging her by the arm and spinning them around back toward the gate. He could hear the Lunar Cry's screeching monsters, almost feel the pull of it. If he didn't hurry, they'd get sucked into the Cry. As it was, it seemed the Lunar Base was going to be lost.

He barely made it back into the gate and Quistis shut it after him. Still pulling Rinoa, who seemed unconscious now, Squall was forced to give one good push off the gate and strain back toward the airlock chamber. He frantically jammed the button for his boosters, the things sputtering with one last push to get him across.

Once there he practically threw Rinoa to the ground when they left the airlock. She didn't get up, and Quistis hefted her up with a glare to Squall.

"We gotta go," Quistis said, even though she knew Squall was probably giving her a dirty look now. "The Base'll get swallowed soon, we gotta go!"

Squall growled, but that was a truth he couldn't and didn't have time to deny. Helping Quistis they made their way back to the control room as fast as possible, where Ellone waited near a lift.

The four rode it down to the escape pod chamber, where Piet was anxiously waiting at the last one. Once all five were inside, Piet launched them out of the base away from the Lunar Cry just as it engulfed the base. Everyone had fallen to the ground when the takeoff happened, as none were quick enough to load themselves into the holding chamber. Quistis held onto Rinoa, and Squall turned to Piet.

"Turn this thing around," he demanded, somehow still looking intimidating in a space suit. "We have to get Zidane!"

"I can't," Piet said. "This thing is automatic. I'm sorry but, the boy is a lost cause."

"What?" Squall reached for him, but Ellone grasped his arm with both of hers, stopping him. "Turn this thing around!"

Piet turned away, not bothering to repeat himself. Squall's brain was screaming Zidane's name until it was the only thing he heard—didn't hear Ellone try to calm him, didn't hear Quistis call for him to look at Rinoa. Squall didn't care about anything but Zidane, who was…

He whirled to Ellone, eyes imploring her. "Ellone, please!" he was now begging. "Zidane's going to die out there! Help me, Sis! I never… I never felt this way before in my life. I know I can't go on without him—can't go on with the knowledge I didn't save him when I could!"

Ellone bit her lower lip, and then grasped one of Squall's hands in hers. "We'll try." She whispered, closing her eyes.

"You sure about this?" Zidane asked nervously, tail swishing like an agitated cat. He looked around the foliage.

"Course," Irvine grinned. "What, you scared?"

"Man, of course I am. I have no idea what the hell is in here." Zidane frowned a bit. "Why did you drag me in here anyway?"

"To watch my back as I find this 'secret area' Balamb supposedly has."

"… do I even wanna know…" a roar cut Zidane off and his eyes widened. "What was that?"

"Oh shi…"

Squall shook his head furiously, and Ellone's eyes scrunched tighter shut as she attempted again.

Rinoa, walking as if half asleep, slowly approached Seifer's body at the bottom ground. He, too, seemed heal. Rinoa dropped to her knees next to him…

… "Ultimecia!" Zidane hissed. "What do you think you're doing?"

Ultimecia… inside Rinoa? Squall thought. Yes, there, he saw the ghostly appearance of a woman… a woman he recognized. That gray hair styled in demonic horns, that red dress, those black feathered wings… Yes, he knew that bitch. Zidane! Can you hear me?

"Well, well, well… it seems you have done the impossible, crossing worlds… but it only further cements my theory."

Squall watched as Zidane bowed his head, hand over his heart… heard Ultimecia scream, the illusion vanishing, and Zidane and Rinoa hit the ground. But then he heard a crystalline chime…

Crystal… Suddenly Squall's eyes snapped open just as Ellone fell to the ground. "Ellone?"

"Did you see?" Ellone gasped. "Did you change it?"

"No… I couldn't change it. Ellone, can you send me a little closer? To… to when Rinoa went crazy on the base?" Squall implored her with his eyes.

Ellone suddenly smiled, lifting a hand and gently touching his cheek. "Those eyes of yours…" she murmured. "Curious, innocent, puppy dog eyes. I bet Zidane was thinking of them before he went into a coma."

"Ellone…"

"All right, Squall. This will be risky, but…" she closed her eyes again, and Squall felt the sensation as usual. But this time, it was a bit different… more sinister.

Rinoa hummed as she gazed at the stars, almost obliviously happy. Eternal night, always seeing the stars… if she went to an Estharian school, maybe she could find work on the Lunar Base? She giggled, but her eyes once more were drawn to Adel's Tomb that floated almost serenely. It was remarkably beautiful for a tomb…

"Excuse me!" Rinoa whirled around as the medic from before waved at her from the med lab. "Can you help me, please?"

She nodded, jogging over to him and following him inside the lab. She felt a little nervous when entering Zidane's room, but the medic didn't notice, going to the console and unlocking the bed.

"I know that guy would have a cow, but…" the medic turned to Rinoa, who stood next to the door. "All the other medics are on break and the jerks won't help me, and I need a hand to do a thorough physical assessment."

"Is… that necessary?" Rinoa asked.

The medic heaved a sigh. "It is, and I wanted to do it earlier, but that guy you came with… jeez. I take it he's the guy's boyfriend or something?"

"Er…"

"Hey, it's okay if he is. Not like he's Estharian, you foreigners were all considered weird anyway." The medic grabbed a stethoscope off a rack. "Can you hold him upright for me? I promise this won't take long."

Rinoa's mind was a flurry of thoughts (Squall couldn't keep up with them, but he did notice how she was scared as hell for the crystal) but she knew medical exams were extremely important. It couldn't hurt so long as he didn't take his time…

She approached Zidane and carefully lifted him up. When his head flopped over, hitting her chest, the man put on the stethoscope and began to listen to his lungs. But Rinoa suddenly didn't see the med lab room or the medic—it was all replaced with a familiar, orange crystalline setting. A huge platform, made of crystal with her in the middle, and on either side…

"Zidane!" Rinoa cried in alarm just as he sailed over her head, daggers out. Whirling toward his destination, Rinoa didn't know the woman in red.

The woman waved her hand and a trio of axes vaulted from behind her toward Zidane. He dodged and the woman vanished… reappearing behind Rinoa. She tensed as she felt hands on her shoulders, the woman leaning close to her.

"Well hello," the woman purred. Zidane landed, and his shock was clear. "I'm glad you finally reunited him to his body. Thank you."

Suddenly the world went dark and the platform shattered. Zidane plummeted and Rinoa was left suspended in the woman's hands…

"Squall!"

Squall's eyes snapped open and he surged to his feet. Ultimecia had taken a hold of Rinoa… and tried to get rid of Zidane before he woke up. He practically attacked Rinoa, making Quistis scream in shock; pulling off Rinoa's helmet and unzipping the suit, Squall jerked it open just enough to pat her pockets. The left one, he felt… shards?

Sticking his hand into her pocket, Squall retrieved orange-colored shards of crystal. Once exposed to the air, they shattered into dust. Despair choked Squall and he gripped the glittering dust in his palm, bringing his hand to his head and tried not to openly sob.

"Squall…" Ellone whispered. "Squall… one more. I'm going to send you to Zidane, to the nearest past, to the closest present to the future."

She put her hands on his shoulders, and Squall once more felt that relaxing sensation. This time, there was nothing sinister, just the same sense of being lulled to a peaceful sleep.

Zidane didn't want to open his eyes, not liking how he felt as if he were free falling and yet… not falling. He was suspended in the air, just floating, encased in some weird tomb-like thing that talked to him. He didn't understand… where was he?

'Am I gonna make it?' Zidane opened his eyes just a crack, seeing endless darkness dotted with endless, far away points of light. Stars… he was in the sky?

He saw the planet near him… no, not near, very far. Too far to get to, and even if he could, would he survive the fall?

'Can't do anything…' Zidane closed his eyes as the suit thing peeped at him, signifying the end of 'life support' or whatever. 'Just drifting… like I was in the crystal before waking up… Damn. I lost to Ultimecia… I really am helpless.'

He didn't even have the energy to curl himself into a ball, just letting himself go. However long he spent asleep, his soul in his crystal… now he was back. And he was going to probably die. Zidane began to feel short on breath, couldn't quite get enough air.

'I failed.' His mental lament held every bit of despair he felt, every colossal inch. 'Cosmos, I failed. Squall… I'm sorry.'

He couldn't breathe anymore. Couldn't think anymore. It felt as if he were drowning, except there was no water, just…

"Zidane! It's Squall, can you hear me? Zidane!"

Great, now he was hallucinating. But still… would Squall's voice be so horrible to be the last thing heard?

"You're not hallucinating, Zidane! Listen to me, please, don't give up!"

Was that really Squall? Zidane forced his eyes opened, and through his slowly failing vision he saw Squall's ring floating in front of his face.

'Squall…?'

"Listen to me. There's a panel, a sheet of thin metal on your chest. You need to pull it off and push the button underneath."

Zidane could barely move, but he did as the voice instructed. The panel floated away from him, and once he pushed the button, he could suddenly breathe. He took in a deep breath, feeling his senses returning.

"I'm coming for you, Zidane."

Squall opened his eyes to see Ellone staring at him. She had heard his declaration, and nodded her understanding. She knew what he was going to do… what he had to do. He didn't say a word to Piet or Quistis, just rising to his feet and grabbing onto the exit handle.

Immediately Quistis got up, going to him. "Wait! Come back!" she cried as Piet cursed him. She tried to grab his foot, but her own ankle was snared.

Looking down, she saw Rinoa was awake, tears in her eyes. "Let him go," Rinoa half-whispered, half-sobbed. "He has to fix what I did wrong…"

Quistis looked up as Squall passed the airlock barrier, closed it behind him, and then opened the pod entrance. She watched helplessly as he disappeared into space, where she knew he'd never return from. Quistis fell to the ground, covering her face with her hands and ignored all around her. What should have been a visit to Sis became a funeral.

Zidane… where are you? I gotta find you, no matter what…

He already had depleted the primarily fuel tank of his boosters, and when he switched to reserve, he saw that he could only use them four times. This was suicide, hopeless and stupid, but Squall didn't care. The war-world was the same and they still prevailed in face of it all… this was no different. Although no Goddess watched over him, Squall still believed. Had to, or else he'd go crazy right then and there and they really would die.

Squall kept his cool, going in the direction he felt was the right one. He didn't know why, but it felt right, and he only had his heart to guide him. It would lead him to Zidane… it always did in the past. He kept looking for that space suit, knowing his own oxygen wasn't going to last that long. Had to find Zidane, had to…

Squall looked to the left and he floundered trying to turn when he saw Zidane floating there, almost as if… yes, he was floating toward him! Flipping helplessly, Zidane was making his way to him, but far too slowly. Squall used up all of his suit's fuel to get to Zidane, maneuvering himself so he remained perfectly aligned with him. He reached out, stretching his arms, a sort of desperation filling him as he inched closer and closer. So close, so close…

When Zidane's back impacted Squall's chest his arms immediately wrapped around the smaller body and held him tightly. Held him close as possible with the suits and closed his eyes as he felt the immediate release of desperation, freedom from the insanity and the engulfing sensation of relief.

"Zidane…" Squall's voice came from the speakers of his suit, and Zidane opened his eyes. "I'm sorry…"

Zidane's arms rested on Squall's and their hands linked tightly. "No… I am." Zidane muttered, the speakers amplifying his voice to be heard. "I failed to keep Ultimecia back. She…"

"I know. And I don't care. What matters right now is you." When he felt Zidane jerk from surprise, Squall held him tighter. "It's not everything… but I remember, Zidane."

Zidane squeezed his hands but said nothing; Squall assumed he was overwhelmed and couldn't blame him. Waking up to floating in space had to be a bit on the traumatizing side. But now what? They were both low on oxygen, Squall had no fuel and he assumed Zidane didn't either… did they just sit here and die together?

Help me. For once Squall called out. I'm at the end of my rope. Give me something.

Squall felt Zidane release one of his hands, but before he could grasp it back, the thief pointed in the distance, toward the moon. Squall squinted against the light of the sun, barely able to make out a… shape. Something was flipping toward them… it looked like a spaceship.

Well, thank you.

Squall watched the ship, daring to hope. It was rather menacing in nature, like a fierce dragon spiraling after them, colored a blood-like hue that made Squall think of that poor medic on the Lunar Base. As it came toward them, Squall pulled Zidane close as a wild gamble came to mind. But was it so wild if it was the only thing left to do?

"Hang on, Zidane…"

Turning them a bit, Squall tried to guide them toward the spaceship, hoping it was as close as it appeared or moving faster than he figured. Luckily, within a few minutes it was in reach, and Squall grabbed onto a handle he spied. He pulled their bodies closer to it and, when Zidane also grabbed the handle, Squall punched the glittering console. A doorway opened, and Squall ushered Zidane in, quickly following right before the door shut.

They floated down into what appeared to be an airlock room. Looking at a meter on the wall, Squall was shocked to see the ship had a massive supply of air. Hope rising, he guided Zidane out of the airlock and into the locker room where a gravity field was already in place. There, Squall hesitantly took off his helmet, and when he breathed in the air he nodded to Zidane, who struggled with his helmet.

Squall actually chuckled when Zidane huffed in annoyance and he helped the thief remove the helmet. After getting out of his own suit, Squall continued to assist Zidane out of his. Once free of the suits, Zidane stepped away from Squall, who gave him a confused and almost hurt look.

"You said you remembered…" Zidane muttered. "Does that mean…?"

"Yeah…" Squall awkwardly hooked his thumbs on the loops of his pants, looking at the ground. "I remember… us."

Zidane rubbed the back of his head uneasily. "Wow, we have a lot to talk about, don't we?" he tried to laugh, but it sounded force. What exactly was he supposed to say now? Scream his feelings and run into Squall's arms? As if…

"We do," Squall agreed, going up to Zidane. As much as he wanted to embrace him, he settled for placing a hand on Zidane's head. "First, let's make sure we're actually lucky before we get comfortable. This was way too perfectly timed."

"Always so pessimistic," Zidane stuck his tongue out at Squall, who snared it with his thumb and forefinger. "'Eh!"

"Is that any way to treat your savior?" Squall scolded, but let his tongue go as a thought came to him. "But, Zidane, your crystal… I saw the shards with Rinoa, aren't you…?"

"I got it," to prove his point, Zidane held his hand out, the crystal materializing quickly and rather easily. "Manifestations are kinda like copies, they can break but the real one's always safe."

Well, that was a simple solution to what he thought was a complex problem. Thus assured, Squall rummaged through the suits, finding his gunblade within the secret back storage he had placed it in. He checked its ammo, and as he did, Zidane patted himself down and noticed his lack of weaponry.

Before Squall could say something to assure him, the blond crossed his wrists and held his arms out, closing his eyes. A moment later, twin lights erupted from his palms, and when his hands closed the lights melded into the shape of daggers, then faded, leaving the very weapons in their wake. Squall eyed them, not entirely sure what to say of the whole trick. Zidane opened his eyes, saw Squall's look, and winked at him.

"I got full access to my crystal now," the thief said triumphantly. "So, let's go." Zidane was out the door before Squall could say a word.

The brunette frowned. Why was he avoiding the issue now? Squall remembered, shouldn't Zidane be a little… happier? But given what all transpired, plus whatever happened inside the crystal world, maybe Squall should try and be less selfish. He followed Zidane, finding the blond crouching on a walk way.

Zidane turned to him and motioned for him to drop down, and before Squall could ask a roar sort of sound rang out. The mercenary dropped and slowly crawled to Zidane, peering over the edge as he heard the heavy, thumping footsteps. Below them, the creepiest thing since Odine walked beneath them—its elongated head was a deep purple color, dotted with three eye-looking orbs in it, the body black and stooped over with a long, teeth-lined appendage sprouting from its chest. It seemed to have three long, bird-like legs and two limp, skinny arms.

"What the hell is that?" Zidane whispered.

"I don't know," Squall watched it seem to look around before going back to wherever it came from. "Looks like a freakish experiment gone wrong."

"And unfriendly. So now what?"

"Let's try to sneak by," Squall muttered, both rising to their feet. My junctions are secure, and who knows what skills Zidane's got now that his crystal's working. So even if we fight… we should be all right.

He spotted a door at the end of the walkway, and keeping his step light as possible, went for it. However, it didn't automatically open, and there was no manual console on this side. Zidane peered at the door, running his hand along it, but there was no key hole or cracks far enough to slip a pin in. It was a dead end.

"Guess we have to go down…" Squall muttered, eying the stairs. "You ready?"

"Always." Zidane beamed at him confidently, and Squall fondly remembered that look.

He pushed aside the memories though; there were far more pressing matters now. Once he felt they were safe, they had a lot to catch up on. The pair carefully headed down the stairs, stooping (well, Squall stooped, Zidane was short enough not to) as the monster-alien-thing seemed to mindlessly wander around. Looking from the staircase, Squall could see a large door similar to the one upstairs; it was a gamble if it was locked or not, but…

"Fight or dash?" Squall muttered.

"Dash."

Squall vaulted over the staircase the same time Zidane did, and when their feet met the ground the monster whirled around and gunned right for them as they gunned for the door. It opened upon their approaching and they flung themselves through so it would close on the monster.

Unfortunately a red version of the alien thing was seemingly waiting for them, and the hallway they entered was far too narrow to escape. It charged at them, Zidane opting to use his aerial expertise to jump high over it while Squall was forced to throw himself at the wall, narrowly escaping the jaws of the thing.

It turned, intent on keeping Squall pinned, but Zidane reversed his jump and was now coming at the beast. His left foot impacted on the head and sank in, making Zidane practically squawk in shock and twisted his body to get his foot free. The thief landed on the thing's protruding mouth/muzzle/whatever the hell that was and held on, the creature starting to flay around.

Squall casted Haste on himself, using the boost to climb up the wall. He kicked off and launched himself at the monster, embedding his gunblade to the barrel into its back. He pulled the trigger until all of his ammo was emptied into it and the thing slumped over, Zidane flipping off just before it impacted.

As Squall struggled to free his weapon, Zidane shrugged. "Well, that was easy."

Finally jerking the gunblade free, Squall swung it to flick off the goo. "I'm going to assume every room has one," he muttered. He spotted a door to the left and, gunblade ready, approached it. He could see another door across the hall, but he also heard the shuffling footsteps of a monster.

Squall grabbed Zidane's hand and raced across the hall, looking over to see another purple alien run for them from the back of what seemed to be the ship's hangar. They skidded through the door, and when a roar immediately to their right went off Squall pushed Zidane behind him protectively.

Sitting on what seemed to be a lift, a green version of the alien sat, but it also appeared to be stuck. It struggled to free its large limbs from the handles of the lift, roaring its frustration. Squall set it aflame with a Flare spell, and as it smoldered, he went across to the large door across from the lift.

"Security lock released." Echoed a robotic voice, and when the door opened, it revealed the bridge they initially were on.

"Lovely," Squall muttered sarcastically. He turned around to see Zidane curiously poking the burnt corpse with his dagger.

"You know," Zidane muttered. "The first one we saw was purple, then we killed a red, then we saw another purple. Now here's a green one. So say there's two of each color…"

"Let's hope they don't make a rainbow," Squall grunted, reloading his gunblade with ammo. "I'm sure it won't taste very good."

"Er, what?"

"Modern day cheap joke. Let's go."

Zidane frowned at 'modern day' but followed Squall to the door on the left of the lift. As soon as Squall opened it, however, both men gave out cries of surprised as Squall's sword arm was snared by an alien's maw and he was dragged into the room.

"Squall!" Zidane raced in and once more jumped at the thing's head. This one, yellow in color, was apparently smarter than the others. It flung a Thundaga spell at Zidane, who was still unaccustomed to this world's magic and skills.

The shock of the spell made Zidane fly back, hitting the wall above the door. He fell to the ground with a thump, and Squall struggled with the monster, calling Zidane's name. Zidane's body sizzled and had little sparks coming from it, and after a moment he groaned and tried to get up.

Seeing Zidane hurt was enough to spark Squall's rage. If the thing wanted his arm so bad, it could have it—Squall twisted his arm to point the gunblade down its 'throat' and let loose a volley of shots. Either bullets or the vibrations of the blade made the creature let go, but Squall wasn't finished. Once his mangled arm was free he swung wildly at the creature, infusing random elements into his weapon each swing and pulling the trigger.

When enough energy from the magic built up, Squall hopped back a step and spun, sending the magic in a half-circle wave at the creature. It split the thing in half, and lifeless it fell to the ground. Sure it was dead, Squall turned to rush to Zidane's side just to watch him rush to his.

"Your arm!" Zidane gaped when he neared. Looking down, Squall saw the leather sleeve was shredded, as was most of the flesh under it. He could see his muscles in some places, and… hell, that was his bone under all the blood.

The pain just then settled and Squall hissed, dropping his gunblade. He struggled to remove his jacket, and once he realized the intention, Zidane assisted him. A puddle of blood poured from the jacket and Zidane dropped it on instinct; Squall set about trying to calm himself and push through the pain so he could properly access his reserves. Para-magic worked so long as the mind was clear, but pain clouded the mind easily, and damn did this hurt.

Squall reached into his reserves, grabbing a Curaga spell and casting it on his arm. Typically, wounds like this were treated by doctors before magic, but this was obviously not the typical scenario. Squall could only hope that thing's saliva wasn't poisonous or caused infections. Four more Curagas erased the pain and damage, but if there was something microscopic, Squall would have to wait for it to manifest.

He looked at his jacket with a sigh. "Well, that's ruined."

"You got spares, I'm sure," Zidane said candidly, but his eyes reflected his worry and concern, especially since he couldn't stop looking at Squall's arm.

"I'm fine," Squall assured him, picking up his gunblade and stabbing the tip of it into the monster's body. It didn't even twitch.

Spying a console nearby, Squall passed the rows of seats to get to it. Pressing a button at random, a report flickered on.

"Monsters breeding on the ship…" Squall read aloud. "Eight independent monsters… can be killed through regular combat, but must be done systematically…" his eyes skimmed the rest of the report, then he swore.

"What?" Zidane asked, coming up to him. He took the change to really inspect Squall's arm, just to assure himself.

"The monsters are mated pairs," Squall grumbled. "By color, like you said. If you don't kill one's mate, it'll be revived."

"So the red one and green one we killed…"

"Yeah." Squall hit the console. "Best to get started."

Zidane frowned, not wanting to put Squall in danger again, but they didn't have a choice.

Zidane lost count of the possible hours they spent here by the time they finally slew the last beast, the second yellow somehow getting by them to the locker room. It fell to the ground with a scream, and like the others when both were killed, its body turned to ash. The blond crumpled to the ground in relief, and even though Squall casted a cure spell on him, he didn't want to move. He was so tired…

Zidane let out an indignant sound when Squall scooped him up, carrying him back toward the lift that was locked. "H-hey!"

"Don't complain," Squall said, but there was a hint of affection in his voice and it made Zidane bite his tongue.

They crossed the bridge, through the door and when Squall approached the lift, he could hear the lock disengage. Stepping on it, it rode up into the cockpit, both men staring in awe at the room. Squall carefully set Zidane down and the blond excitedly ran to the front, looking around.

Squall's amazement was cut short when he realized he had to fly this thing. How the hell was he going to manage that? He went to the nose of the pit, staring at what seemed to be the flying controls and already felt lost. What the hell did those handles do? Steer? Then what about the…

"Squall," Zidane called, pointing to a console he hadn't realized started beeping. "It's… trying to talk."

Squall furrowed his brow, walking to the console. He could hear static and a faint voice; he slowly pushed up a dial, hoping it was the volume. It must have been, the voice came through loud and clear.

"This is Esthar Airstation. Ragnarok, do you read? Ragnarok, do you read? This is Airstation, do you copy?"

Zidane looked at Squall, excitement in his eyes. He may not understand the technology, but he recognized a positive sign when he saw it. Squall stared at the console for a few moments before finally replying, "This ship is the Ragnarok?"

The voice sounded elated and shocked. "Whoa! Ragnarok? Really? You're in space, right?"

Squall felt like facepalming. "Yeah but, I have no idea where we are."

"Roger that! We can track you from here! Wow… it's been seventeen years, Ragnarok!"

Squall didn't have the patience for a reunion, especially since he wasn't exactly the original crew. "Can we make it back?"

"Leave it to us! You should have enough fuel."

Zidane waited near the back as Squall followed the voice's instructions, something about data entry and something. He watched Squall go back to the pilot's seat, touching a screen. It flickered on, and when Squall announced he was in place, the voice from the console rattled off codes that went right over Zidane's head. Squall input the things on the console, then at the behest of the voice, hit one last button.

"Done," Squall announced.

"Congratulations, you're home free, Ragnarok. And…" Squall leaned forward a bit, ready to enter more data. "From all of us at Ground Control, we wish you Godspeed."

Squall actually smiled as he leaned back. "Thanks." He looked over his shoulder at Zidane, who gave him a shaky smile.

Zidane meant to go to him, but as soon as he took a step he suddenly floated in the air. Alarmed, he made a grunting sound and began to spin in place, unsure of how to move. Squall pushed himself off the seat and toward Zidane, enfolding him in his arms. He meant to push off the wall near Zidane to go back to the seats, yet… he just held onto the blond and floated in the air with him.

"Squall…" Zidane muttered, looking anywhere but up. "You shouldn't…"

"Shut up with all this 'you shouldn't' crap," Squall muttered. "Maybe I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I remember and I feel…"

Zidane wrapped his arms around Squall, burying his face into his chest and inhaling his scent. The guy needed a shower, but hell, so did Zidane and he couldn't complain. How long, since coming to this world, did he long to be here in Squall's arms? He closed his eyes and couldn't resist pretending they were in a world where being together was… okay.

"We're gonna make it back, right?" Zidane mumbled as they lazily log rolled in the air. Weightless, no burdens, free…

"We can only hope."

Zidane's pretending didn't last, the truth too crushing. His eyes closed tighter to block the possible tears. "When we get back… we won't be able to stay together."

"Bullshit." Squall pulled Zidane away a bit so he could see his face, and the thief slowly opened his eyes. "Zidane, you told me once when something makes you happy for just a moment… it's worth it. I remember… how happy you made me. Maybe I sucked at expressing it, but you did."

"But once I'm…" Zidane couldn't finish the thought, not when Squall looked at him like that. "I want to stay here with you."

Squall gave him a soft smile. "And I want you to stay."

"Can we stay together?" Zidane knew the answer to that question, but he wanted Squall's answer.

"I don't see why not."

Zidane smiled. "Well, we have a lot to talk about…"

"You know what? I talked the entire time you were in dreamland. I'm sick of talking. Everything is talk, talk, and more talk. It's time I made up my mind."

"Er, about what?"

The look Squall gave him made Zidane a little nervous, but he didn't protest when Squall leaned closer to him. Zidane closed his eyes when their lips brushed, his hands balling up Squall's shirt in impatient anticipation. Squall's embrace grew crushing when they kissed, but Zidane reveled in it, daring to kiss back. Squall was hesitate at first, but when he closed his eyes and let his feelings go, nothing felt wrong about the act. When Zidane shyly opened his lips, Squall dove in.

Zidane all but melted in Squall's arms as the kiss deepened, wrapping legs and tail around Squall as if he were a lifeline. Squall curled up around him the best he could, trying to cover each inch of Zidane's body with his, wanting to have as much of them touching as possibly. One hand drifted up to the back of the blond's head and tugged out the hair tie, the golden locks gently floating free in the gravity-less room.

When Squall's fingers grasped his hair Zidane let loose the frenzied emotions he corked inside himself since his arrival to this world. To his delight, Squall met his passion with his own, fire mixing with fire as their mouths moved against each other's, tongues dancing and reacquainting with each other. It was so strange to Squall, that his first kiss was not only with a man, but with a man he had kissed before. The warm mouth he so eagerly explored was familiar and new, exciting and comforting, sparking something in him he was sure he never felt before and had been suppressing for ages.

They gasped air between deep kisses, neither wanting to stop. Squall's hands began to prove adventurous, one gliding down to remember the curves and turns of Zidane's smaller, lithe body. Zidane's excitement was obvious as he also began to once more feel Squall, hands roaming over crinkling leather and soft cotton. If they weren't suspended in the air, Zidane was sure they'd…

Squall ended the kiss abruptly with a deep inhale, both of their eyes snapping open to see each other's red faces and shimmering eyes. Zidane panted a bit, swallowing some air before running his tongue all over his mouth to savor Squall's taste.

Squall lifted one hand to lightly touch his own lips. "I have no idea how to describe what I just did." He murmured.

"You said no more talk." Zidane's arms were around his neck, pulling him back down to his lips. "So don't stop this time…"

They kissed again, fevered with emotion all over again. Through the kiss Zidane expressed how much he missed Squall, how much he yearned for him those painful days of being so close yet so far. Squall kissed back with the relief of having Zidane awake and back to normal, with the apology of being so ignorant and the promise of more to come. Zidane clung to that promise as tightly as he did Squall, wanting to believe it, wanting it to come to pass while also wanting this moment to stand still. This present was perfect; he needed nothing else.

Squall's back gently bumped the floor and one hand lashed out, grabbing the seat to prevent them from bouncing. Kiss broken once more Zidane lifted himself up a bit, adjusting his body so he straddled Squall's waist, also bracing himself on the seat behind Squall to prevent himself from floating back up. He paused, looking over Squall's face, wanting to burn the half-lidded, almost lusty but loving look his mercenary was giving him into his mind.

Zidane couldn't help it. He said no more talking, but he had to say it. "I love you," his voice was strained, as if the words were afraid to come out.

Squall sat up a bit and began to kiss and nibble along his neck, making the thief arch his back, tail wrapping around Squall's thigh and squeezing as excitement began to rise. He slowly worked his way from Zidane's collarbone to his ear, where he pressed a kiss.

"I love you." Squall breathed, and he enfolded Zidane in his arms once more. The words felt right, proper, perfect. Yes, they were true, the emotion spiking higher than ever now that they were expressed in words.

Zidane hugged him just as tightly, resting his chin on Squall's shoulder. He glanced out the window, at the world they were rapidly approaching. They were going to be together after this, up til the bitter second he left. After this, after hearing those words, he couldn't pretend to just be friends. He hoped Squall thought the same.

And if not, well, Zidane was quite skilled in convincing his mercenary of things.

Author's Notes: Jeez this chapter was long. But yay, our favorite monkey and lion are together again, n'aww~ Now they can go on dates and hold hands and do bad stuff and—oh wait, not really. D'oh.

I re-wrote this chapter about 3-4 times, but I dunno if it's just me or the scene I was trying to replicate. The space scene is really hard to make… not so… cliché/perfectly timed/obvious? We touched a bit on what happened to Zidane (So no, Kupo Lady, Zidane wasn't possessed nor made a Sorcerer XD) but a fuller explanation is in the next chapter, so please hold your questions concerning that til after ch.9 =)

xJuneii – I love Mommy!Edea. Despite how 'scary' she looks all Sorceress'd up, she still manages to be the momma Squall always needed. XD And I loved Zell's hotdog addiction too! It was so quirky and weird, you had to love it! But despite being a jerk, let's hope Irvine learns to tolerate this new change in Squall. Not like he lost Selphie or anything, right?

Wingsong5555 – Well, everything is fine for them while they're in space =)

Reiken – I'm curious, what three things did you think was going on with Zidane, Rinoa, and the crystal? And was what was said thus far of it one of them? =)

Thanks to all readers and reviewers, as always =) I hoped you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did!~ Oh, and because I've been on such a Squall/Zidane high, would you guys like a few extra/bonus scenes that kinda go along with the Magnet 'verse? They don't impact the actual story much, mostly just character interaction, kinda like fillers (like a few scenes of what happened during the times they were traveling or off-scene interactions and the like). I'd add them to the story itself but I think it'd be easier to make 'em separate, like omakes or something. Other readers might get annoyed if they have to go re-read chapters just to find bonus scenes XD (Or I would, but I'm lazy so...)