Chapter 8 - The Eternal Flame


	A punch hit the wall creating a little crack in it. "Aaarghh!!! I'm tired waitin'!",
 Zell was shouting like crazy. "The president will see you now...", said a man humbly. 
"Finally!!!", Selphie sighed. They all went in to meet the president of Esthar. Who was 
now Ellone. The first female president in the world. Laguna had left the post and went to
 chase his dreams as a Dream Chaser with his old friends Ward and Kiros. "Hi, all!", Ellone
 greeted cheerfully, although still a bit sad about Squall's recent death. "Hello. Sorry for
 troubling you, but...", Quistis said. "Please, don't be so formal...we are friends. Umm, can
 we go straight to business?", Ellone said interrupting Quistis. They told about the situation
 as briefly as they could. "My what a coincidence!", said Ellone, "Our scientists just created 
a shuttle that can travel onto the moons surface." Zell jumped up "Yessss!!!" Ellone smiled
seeing Zell so enthusiastic, although Squall was dead and said, "Don't get exited. You know,
moon's surface is full of monsters! There's no ship that has a hull so strong it could take
all the monsters." Zell turned his head down, "Aww, hey! How 'bout the Ragnarok?!", he rose up
gloriously exaggerating his feelings a bit. "Calm down.", Quistis said as if she was still an
instructor. "He's true, ya know. How about the Ragnarok?", Selphie asked. "Well, it just might
with a few modifications. I'm not totally sure. I'm not an engineer, you see.", Ellone replied.
 "It would actually and quite well, but the problems not the Ragnarok taking damage, but how
you get through the monsters yourselves...", a voice of a man filled the room. Everyone turned
to see who this man who just interrupted them was. Everybody except Ellone. She knew that voice.
 That familiar and warm voice. "Uncle Laguna!!!", she yelled surprised. "Sir Laguna!!!",
Selphie said joyous. Laguna looked a bit puzzled. "Sir...?", he wondered in his head. Selphie
smiled. And Laguna didn't trouble his head with that anymore. He approached the SeeD party
with a smile. "Hiya, all!", he said hiding his sadness about Squall and Rinoa's death. "Laguna?
 Yo whatcha doin' here?", Zell asked. "I...erm, overheard your conversation.", Laguna said.
"But I thought you were out chasing your dreams.", said Irvine. "I am. An' I came here because
only the president of Esthar, that's not me, can help me. It's about the bird of revival,
Phoenix.", Laguna answered sitting down and explaining his side of the story.
- "It started after you attacked Ultimecia. You had bought some time for our world.",
he began.
- "Yeah, then what?", Selphie asked.
- "I started to feel like I was never gonna meet Raine again. So I started a foundation
 which helped people finding their dreams. I believe there's no hope so I wanted to find
 Raine again, with the power of Phoenix.", he explained.
- "I can't believe it! We're looking for it too!", Irvine said.
- "The power of Phoenix can only be used once.", Laguna said with a darkened face.
Everybody opened their eyes wide. Laguna stood up.
- "So I guess, we're enemies now.", he said.
- "No...", Quistis looked horrified.
- "We can't be. Stop being selfish, Laguna!", Selphie said. She had stopped calling him a
 'sir'.
- "No! No way, man.", Zell looked at him, stunned.
- "It can't be helped.", Laguna said, "I wanna see Raine..."
- "What do you think you're doing, uncle.", Ellone asked.
- "I'm gonna revive your mother, Ellone. That's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna be the first
 in moon. Not for being the first in moon, though. I'm gonna find the Phoenix and use it
 on Raine.", Laguna said, determined to save Raine.
- "That's not what my mother would want!", Ellone said, "She wouldn't want it that way...
uncle Laguna..."
Laguna felt pain inside his heart growing. "First Julia dies...without me on her side...then
...Raine...too...if I wake her up...we'll die together...", Laguna said softly. Everybody
seemed to understand what he was talking about. "It's sad that you weren't by their side when
 they died, but that isn't the answer.", Ellone said. "She's right.", said Zell. "So...",
Laguna began, "It seems like I'm the loser to the end...because I'll leave the Phoenix to
you..." Zell walked to him. "Hey calm down. You're not a loser even if I thought so the first
time I saw you in that dream.", Zell tapped his shoulder. "Yeah...in fact you would have been
the loser, if you had done like you wanted to...", said Irvine. "Okay, guys. But I'm comin'
with you! An' Kiros and Ward too!", Laguna smiled. "That's the way to go, Sir Laguna!", Selphie
said with pure joy in her voice.
	Dr. Kadowaki stood up trying to cheer Kasumi, "He's okay with me. Besides, he needs the
care of a doctor now". Kasumi tried to smile to Dr. Kadowaki, but failed. Kasumi walked out of
the infirmary in Balamb Garden. Tenacious T awaited her. "So. Is he gonna be fine, ya know?",
Tenacious Toby began this time because he had missed two turns to speak after his brother.
"Yeah, but I want to be by his side.", sighed Kasumi. "You'll get yer chance, ya know.",
Tenacious Terry started. "Yeah, cheer up now. The Phoenix will help us, ya know.", Tenacious
Toby continued. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but I need to be alone for awhile.", she
said walking away  from the two musical brothers. Kasumi headed for the quad to find relaxation.
 The Garden wasn't flying since Gale passed through. The hole in the infirmary was sealed quite
 clumsily with a few planks of wood and the Hexadragon had caused some damage to the Garden too.
 So the view from the Quad wasn't too breathtaking, but managed to keep Kasumi's mind off of
things for a while. A cool breeze blew through Kasumi's hair. She thought of what Alundra said.
 "Don't lose hope. I know your real name, it's not Kasumi...", she replayed the scene in her
mind. The Dream Walker looked always cheerful and pepped up, although he walked in nightmares
 for living. She wondered, "Was Alundra hiding something about himself...too? What he said 
before he left. He asked where the Phoenix lives. Why did he need that info...?" She didn't 
want to think anymore. She went to sleep.
	A space-shuttle prepared for its launch. It was enormous. Seven people inside
 of it were having a conversation. "So how are we gonna find this moon shrine of Phoenix?", 
Zell asked. "I know about this shrine more than you because I've been studying the legends.",
 Laguna said. "There is a small cave in the northern region of moon. Well, not so small.
 Ragnarok fits in there. Anyway we'll be needing space suits for stepping out of the Ragnarok
 because moon has no air." Quistis looked him a bit confused. There was something in that 
sentence that defied logic. "Ho-how do monsters breathe there then?" Laguna looked her back, 
"How am I supposed to know! I don't care!? Maybe they don't need air!? Anyways once we enter
 the shrine we can remove our suits. There's supposed to be a magical field generating air 
and keeping it there too". Kiros was sharpening his blades, "Yeah, unfortunately the field
 doesn't keep the monsters away so it appears we have to fight them. All kinds of." Zell 
was happy he was a bit bored in the Training area's monsters now. "Any new kinds of them?", 
Irvine asked. "There has to be...", Kiros answered. "Once we find the pedestal all of us have
 to step on it. It scans our intentions and releases a power.", Laguna said. "So then we have 
the Phoenix?", Selphie asked. "I'm not sure...none of the legends I heard, talked about the 
thing that happens after that. Maybe they'll test us. Maybe Phoenix will appear. I don't
honestly know." The shuttle was already quite close to the moon. "Prepare the Ragnarok,
 people.", Laguna said. The shuttle landed on the surface of moon, which was practically
 nothing, but monsters. The Ragnarok took off from the shuttle and so Squall's friends went 
searching for the shrine of Phoenix to revive Squall's rival, Seifer.
	"Kasumi...Kasumi...sorry I left you like that...", Seifer said to himself sobbing.
 He was all alone. In the prison of his mind. No one heard him so he could speak out loud.
 "I...I'm gonna wake up and face Ultimecia...I'm gonna face Gale...I'll win him...", he
 desperately cried out in that dark stone chamber. "I'll wake up...I'll wake up...because 
I love you Kasumi, not just your voice, not because I loved Rinoa's voice...I'll wake up...
I'll wake up...I have to...I have to see you again...I have to tell you this..." Dr. Kadowaki
 looked astonished at the monitor showing Seifer 's conditions. Seifer jumped up. "Kasumi!!!",
 he shouted. "I...I love you!!!", he kept on, noticing Kasumi wasn't around. "She's...she's
 not here?", Seifer thought as he had lost the control of his body again. "Kasumi, where are
 you...?", Seifer was in his stony prison again. Dr. Kadowaki couldn't believe her eyes. For 
one moment Seifer had been in alive, then he had fallen again. "He was shouting for Kasumi...",
 Kadowaki thought trying to contact Kasumi right away. She was sleeping.
	Laguna and Irvine rushed in front of the others. They were opening the way for
 the rest of their friends with their guns. It was no use fighting the monsters in
 space suits. Dodging was difficult and one slash would have resulted into death.
 The others simply chanted spells to keep the monsters out of their backs occasionally 
healing them and sometimes killing them. Like Kiros said there was all sorts of monsters 
in the moon. They felt like they had been running forever, but now they saw a huge shrine 
standing in front of them. "What are ya waiting for get in!!!", Irvine yelled through the 
radio. "Yeah we'll hold the rest off!!!", Laguna shouted shooting a Grendel between its eyes.
 He pulled the socket(it's called a socket, right? I have no clue. I'm not into weapons myself.)
 of a grenade and threw it in the middle of some Bombs. It produced a chain reaction that kept
 the monsters away for a while. Then Laguna ran through the magic field too. The others were
 already inside without their suits. "Phew. That was quite a run.", Selphie said. "Laguna, are
 you sure they can come through this barrier? They don't seem to want to.", Quistis said 
worried. "They can believe me. This is the source of the monsters. They keep respawning because 
of Phoenix.", Laguna said with a lecturing voice. "But you said that the powers of the Phoenix
 can be used only once.", Irvine said. "It's true. Well part of it.", Kiros said. "After we 

take it by entering the pedestal it will work only once.", Laguna continued. "We're wasting
 time. Let's move out.", Zell said punching the air. A monster roared right in front of them.
 It was a Behemoth. They were surprised of its size. How had it managed to get in. Laguna 
pulled out his machine gun to shoot. A series of clicks were heard. "Shoot! It's empty!", 
he shouted. Quistis flung her whip hitting the Behemoth in the eye. It was blinded. Then
 Zell leaped next it punching its face. "Hey, lemme try!", Kiros shouted. He hadn't fought 
for years since Laguna became Esthar's president. Kiros strode close to the Behemoth spinning
 like an expert dancer. The Behemoth roared in pain and Ward threw his gigantic anchor into 
the beast's stomach. They went forward and met various monsters like Jelleyes, Geezards, Blue
 Dragons and many others. Then they arrived to a chamber which had two paths to take. They 
didn't hesitate for a  second.
They split up in two groups. The one with Laguna, Kiros, Ward and Quistis ensuring Laguna 
wouldn't change his mind, took the path on the right. The rest, meaning Zell, Irvine and 
Selphie took the one on the left. "Life is death. Death is life. Capture the light and you
 will find salvation.", Quistis read a plate on the wall. "What does that mean?", Laguna 
asked. "We'll see.", Kiros said. They entered the next room. Zell, Selphie and Irvine came 
to a chamber in which a bright red and yellow light burned opposite to them. "Is that the 
light the plate was talking about?", Quistis asked. "It must be. Let's touch it.", Selphie
 said. Ward, Laguna, Kiros and  Quistis approached the light. "Shit! This floor's moving us 
back. I can't reach it.", Zell said, "I can't even jump to it the distance is too great." 
Laguna hit the ground frustrated, "Damn it! I can't reach it. This is one hell of a puzzle!" 
Irvine looked around. There seemed to be floating something else in the air than just the 
light. Some kinds of shadows formed walls here and there. "I think I've got the answer.", 
said happily. "So basically that light is responding to our movements?", Zell asked. "Yeah, 
I think we need to move so that the light gets caught in those shadow walls.", Quistis 
explained. They tried their time and finally managed to grab the light. "Phew, that was
 frustrating.", Selphie sighed. The room was illuminated and soon it was so bright no 
one could see anything. Then the light disappeared leaving a door behind. Again no hesitation,
 every one stepped through it. They came to another chamber where they met each other again,
 and a new monster called Emerald Dragon. They fought it and beat the monster. Then all of
 Squall's friends stepped in a gigantic hall which was lighted by fire and fire only. They 
didn't have a clue how long and how in general the flames had burned, but none of the torches 
had lost its fire. A big statue of a bird was standing in the middle of the hall. The burning 
flames gave the statue a red and yellow color and it seemed as if the bird was alive. They 
found the pedestal in front of the statue and went closer. The pedestal was strangely, not
 in colors of fire but white with a scent of violet in it. Laguna as a man of words understood
 this quite quickly. It symbolized the Phoenix's egg. Everyone went to stand on it in turn and
a light emanated from the pedestal. First it was Ward, then Kiros after it Laguna then Selphie
 and after her Irvine. After him Quistis. Zell stepped in as the last. Unlike the others Zell
 was surrounded by fire not light. The hot fire licked Zell and he immediately jumped backwards
 avoiding any burns. A vague image of a man reflected from the fire. He looked young, but was
 obviously something more. He wore a dark green jacket and a white T-shirt. He had pants of 
the same color as his jacket. His gloves looked a bit odd to Zell. His hair was dark and his 
look was sharp. Quistis felt something weird inside her. "My, he looks handsome.", she thought.
 The man's bandanna was white also. He stepped out of the fire immediately transforming solid.
 He looked at Zell and spoke with a low voice. It reminded Zell of Gale. "I am Kyo Kusanagi.
 I fan the eternal flame of victory.", he said raising his fist. Zell understood the gesture 
immediately. This Kyo was asking him to fight. "Alright you, whoever you are! It's a fight!",
 Zell raised his fists. "Hmm...", Kyo thought out loud. "I'm on fire..." he too took his
 fighting stance and the duel had begun. Zell was jumping up and down to pump up his adrenaline
. Kyo was just breathing. Both of the fighters took a step closer to one another. They started
 exchanging punches and kicks. Kyo knocked Zell down with his elbow. Then he lifted his foot up
 high dropping the heel down to the ground. Zell rolled out of the way and punched him in the 
stomach. Kyo was blown a bit backwards because of the hit. He waved his index finger at the
 naughty, naughty Zell and ran towards him. Zell had no time to dodge and took in the hit Kyo
 executed with his elbow in his stomach. Before he noticed it Zell was in the air lifted by Kyo.
He did it with one hand. Quistis was captivated by Kyo's grace movements, although her friend's
 life was in danger. Kyo yelled something illegible and an explosion shot Zell in to the wall.
 Kyo didn't seem to be hurt from the explosion. Even his glove was unscathed. Zell either
 hadn't received any damage from the explosion Kyo had some how created. But he was hurt
 from the hit against the wall. Kyo waited for Zell to get up. "So you're a fair guy, huh?",
 Zell thought in his mind. He stood up. "If I perform any Limit Breaks here...My Final Heaven
 is out of the question...maybe Different Beat...?" Kyo said something illegible again. It 
seemed like he was taunting Zell. Quistis snickered in her mind. "Could this guy be...? From 
that lost civilization?", Zell thought to himself and jumped closer. He was surrounded by some 
blue mist and Kyo watched him a bit stunned. Was that mist dangerous. Kyo missed Zell and he
 retaliated...with a Punch Rush followed by a Mach Kick then he lifted his foot ready to drop
 his heel. Kyo was knocked down by Zell's Heel Drop, but he immediately jumped up counter-att
acking with an elbow smash. He drove his elbow smash a little further and jumped up in a 
spinning motion. Kyo's arms were pointed upwards. His fist hit Zell again and a fireball 
spun around him. That too rose in a spiral motion and it hit Zell the third time before
 Zell found his back against the wall again. All this happened very fast. Somewhere in the 
back of her mind, Quistis found Kyo resembling a Phoenix. "Could he be the Phoenix...? That 
way he executed his move. Knocked down. Rising up with flames...", she thought. Zell coughed
 some blood. "Shi-!!! His moves are so powerful...even my Limit Breaks aren't match for them.",
 Zell calculated coughing out some more blood. "Zell!!!", Selphie screamed, worried of Zell. 
It's okay!", he said calmly jumping up. He raised his fists again. Kyo was wearing out
 of executing those moves. He huffed. Zell was exhausted after he had to endure those
 moves Kyo just pulled out. He was breathing louder. "You're good.", Zell complimented 
Kyo. He looked Zell and smiled. They just stood there breathing. A few minutes passed. 
Then both of them lashed out at the same time and pulled a roundhouse. The kicks deflected 
each other. Kyo swept the floor with another kick but Zell parried by hopping over it. Then 
he did it instead. Kyo's hop was a bit more advanced he kicked at the same time, but he hit 
of course, because Zell was in a crouch. Then Kyo threw a series of punches at Zell, who dodged
 them all. Zell did the same thing at Kyo, who too dodged all the punches. It was a smooth duel
, almost as if it was a choreography. After a while Zell managed to hit Kyo in the face. Kyo
 seemed angry and he had this look telling "I'm gonna end this now!". Kyo's hand gathered some
 fire above his fingers. Zell looked him in awe. "This guy creates fire with his fingers?", he 
thought. Zell came closer to kick him. A small ember dropped down on the floor bursting out a
 lot stronger. A fire pillar rose with tremendous speed and power stunning Zell. Kyo unleashed 
a deadly series of spinning punches and strikes. The flameball that had dropped the small ember
 was following Kyo's fist. It doubled his hit rate and so every blow he delivered hit twice. 
Then he stopped for a split-second. He shouted something and performed the uppercut he had
delivered once before. Zell dropped down on the floor growling in pain. "Noo!!!", Selphie
 cried out. "Curaga!!!", Irvine said casting the actual spell with it. Kyo knelt down. He
 had used his strongest move. He shut his eyes. Quistis was now scared of herself. She was
 still thinking about Kyo, and now that he shut his eyes revealing his long, curved eyebrows,
 Quistis couldn't control herself anymore. She walked closer to him. "Hey, umm...are you okay...
?", she asked shyly. Kyo opened his eyes turning his dark brown eyes to look her. Quistis
blushed. "Fire is the strongest of elements...", he began,  continuing "Fire can burn or cure...
" Quistis looked him confused. "Yet fire, if allowed to burn freely it shall extinguish itself 
quickly...", he said with a low enticing voice, he, himself wasn't aware of. "I fan the eternal
 fire. The eternal flame of victory...for power leads to destruction...one's life means another'
s death...death itself lives through life...either way there always remains a victor...that is
 what keeps my fire burning...that fans the eternal flame of victory...so...I grant you the
power of Phoenix...for my fire has burned out...", Kyo explained, "He is worthy...the one I
fought...Zell, I presume..." Quistis looked at him, "Are you going to leave?" she asked a bit 
sadly. "That depends...", Kyo smiled. "Yo, depends on what?", Zell said happily now that he 
was cured. Kyo looked at Zell then back at Quistis. Their eyes met. "...it depends on are you
 going to take me with you..." Kyo smiled at Quistis.
*Authors note: For those who know Kyo Kusanagi, I'm sorry for
altering him a bit. And for those who did not...well I altered him a bit.
 He can be found at least in these following games: King of Fighters '95 to '98,
 Capcom vs. SNK(that is exactly what its name implies so you'll find some others too),
 Capcom vs. SNK 2(duh!) and many others I haven't seen. Oh, for those who know him and
 couldn't find the moves by my descriptions. Well, the uppercut spin-whatsoever is called
 Fireball. I'm not sure about its Japanese name or anything. It's his anti-air attack. And
 the flame pillar dance was supposed to be Final Showdown his Super Special or Super Combo
 in Capcom terms. The elbow-smash-in-stomach-raise-up-explode was Crescent Slice or was it?
 You know the one pressed with a half circle backwards and kick. He starts running and stuff.
 I don't know his story exactly so I don't have a clue what I have changed.*


Chapter 9 - Fusion


	Squall's friends and Kyo, the Phoenix left the big hall where the big statue of Phoenix 
was located. In that instant the shrine of Phoenix transformed. "Wha-what's happening?!",
 Selphie asked a bit afraid. "I forgot to tell...if I leave the hall of Phoenix...which I
 just did. The dimensions next to ours will merge with this one.", Kyo explained. "Wha-what?!
 Why?", Zell asked. "So I can reach the city of sun!", Kyo said. "Don't you know the song of
 Phoenix? It should be passed on to every generation. So that those who seek me shall find me.
 How did you find me?", Kyo asked amazed. "Well, yeah. We know the song...sorta...", Zell 
explained as the scene where he had cursed the song flashed through his mind. "Anyways. This 
is now part of some other dimension so the way back may not be so easy.", Kyo said speaking
 more fluently now. "Well, let's get going!", Laguna opened his mouth. "Is...is...that a 
monster...?", Selphie pointed her finger towards a big gigantic head. "Oh, man! That's gross.",
 Zell said. "That's uglier than a Hexadragon. Blizzaga!!!", Irvine shouted chanting a spell on 
the monster. The spell bounced back at Irvine, "Aarghh!! A natural Reflect?!" Quistis whipped 
the monster and Zell scurried close to it kicking the thing. The gigantic head made a noise then
it cast Holy on itself. The Holy bounced off at random hitting Ward. Ward made no sound, but
everyone could see that he got angry. Everyone except Laguna and he took a shot before Ward.
Ward lifted his massive anchor to his shoulders and threw it piercing the monster. The monster
collapsed and vaporized. Ward lifted his anchor proudly and they went on.
	Kasumi woke up at one of the couches in Balamb Garden. Since she wasn't a
SeeD or even a student in Balamb Garden she couldn't sleep anywhere else. She was
still a bit drowsy and saw a thin boy sitting right next to her. She moved away,
but then she recognized him as Tim. "Oh, hi Tim." Tim looked at her and said hello
too, then he asked, "Where's Mr. Almasy? I haven't seen him since that time he and Mr.
Zell argued." Kasumi looked at him kindly. "He's sleeping, Tim.", she finally answered.
"Sleeping? Are you sure he's not dead?", Tim asked. Kasumi looked surprised. What did Tim
 know about death. Had he maybe witnessed his parents death. Was that the reason why he
 was like that. Kasumi answered, "No, Tim. He's just very tired...and he wants to sleep.
" Tim looked at her again. "Then can we go see him when he wakes up?", he asked like a little
 child. Kasumi answered, "Yeah, when he wakes up we'll go see him...I promise." Tim thanked
her and went off. Kasumi smiled.
- "Excuse us, but could you tell me where is this?", a grey-haired man asked. He wore a
bandanna and had a dark blue little jacket and pants. He had a bunch of other people and a
snowman-like creature around him.
- "Hmm, are you going to a masquerade, or something?", Kasumi looked at the funnily dressed
people. They looked like they had come from...Kasumi wasn't sure.
- "What do you mean?", the grey-haired asked again.
- "Well, your costumes are great, don't get angry.", she answered, but realized a second
later that these people were not joking.
- "Well, hello there! Have we met before? I'm dying to know if I'm your type.", another man
interrupted the grey-haired one.
- "Tee hee. Was that flirting?", Kasumi giggled.
- "Indeed it was! Well?", the blonde man with incredibly blue eyes who had barged into the
 conversation said proudly.
- "Hahhahhah! That was funny. You're the worst I've ever seen.", Kasumi laughed out loud.
- "What?! Are you laughing to me? The great, and may I add young king of Figaro!", the man 
said a bit hurt.
- "Stop it, Edgar. Look I've been a little impolite. My name is Locke, and seriously this 
building came out of nowhere. The monsters out on the world changed a bit too. We have no 
idea of what has happened.", Locke, the grey-haired man said.
- "Huh?", Kasumi looked them seriously now, "So you're not going to a masquerade? This is 
real? Oh my! What has happened?"
- "Like Locke said we don't have the foggiest.", the young king of Figaro said. "I am king

 Edgar.", he said trying to kiss Kasumi's hand.
- "Brother, try to act serious for once.", a muscular man looking a bit like the king said 
to Edgar grabbing his arm, and said "I am Sabin. His twin brother."
The rest of Locke's friends introduced themselves too. Kasumi had a hard time remembering 
them all. "Lessee, the woman with green hair is Terra...the lady in white looking like her 
is Celes...umm, that yeti-thingy is Umaro...gosh, at least the moogle's easy to remember...Mog",
 Kasumi tried to memorize. "This is a bit insulting but the Gramps with a punk hairdo is Strago.
..her grand-daughter Relm is the little girl...that Bedouin dude is Gogo...and that ninja is Shadow...",
 Kasumi was looking everyone of them very carefully. "The one with that ancient katana blade 
was Cyan...umm, the scar-faced gambler with silver hair...Setzer??? And that kid who's 
behaving like an animal...", Kasumi tried to concentrate on remembering his name. In vain. 
Then the boy howled, "Uwaooo!!! I'm Gau!!!" Kasumi smiled "...and Gau..."
She stood up. "My name is Kasumi. You're in Balamb Garden on Balamb continent. Come on, 
follow me. I think this is serious so we've gotta go talk to Mr. Cid." The party seemed 
amazed of the name. "Cid, you jest, my sweet bird.", Edgar asked with a royal tone. "Huh? 
What does he mean to you?", Kasumi wondered. "He was a scientist, a one studying Espers! He
 was my father. Now he's dead.", Celes said turning her head down. "Oh, I...I'm sorry.", 
Kasumi apologized. "I wonder what Espers are...?", she wondered in her mind. Then she just
 couldn't resist asking. "Excuse me, but the curiosity's killing me. Umm, what are Espers?", 
she blurted politely. Terra rolled her eyes and was opening his mouth, but was interrupted 
by Edgar. "I'll tell you what Espers are. And a whole lot more, if...gah!", he was pushed
 by Terra to the side. "I'll tell you what Espers are child, but after we've talked with 
this Cid, okay?", she said. Kasumi nodded. They arrived to the lift. "Well this is the lift.
 I'm not sure if we manage to all get in at the same time.", Kasumi said. "Wow, this 
technology!", Edgar said looking at the lift and started examining it. "Hmm...maybe I
 could utilize it in Figaro castle...", he muttered now totally captivated by the lift.
 Sabin snickered. Kasumi began explaining, "Using the lift is very easy. Just push the 
number of the floor you want to go to. Headmaster Cid is on the third floor. I guess I'll
 come with you guys." Just then the young king's eyes flashed. "Come my darling. Let me make 
you soar above the sky!", he said theatrically swiping his cape. Kasumi giggled at Edgar's 
terrible 'come-on's. Locke as the clear leader of the bunch ordered the groups. Umaro and Mog 
were clearly going together, because Mog was the only one who could talk to Umaro. Gau was a
 bit wild too, so someone calm had to come with him. Locke remembered Cyan shared something
 with Gau. The others didn't matter except that Locke was going to take the lift with Celes,
 his beloved. "I think the elevator can take four of us", Kasumi said. A crazy up and 
down-hullabaloo started. Soon headmaster Cid and Nida were looking at a huge bunch of people
 filling his office. They took time to introduce themselves, but finally it was done. Then the
 group explained what had happened. They thought it was Kefka's deeds, but it looked like 
they were wrong. Everyone was looking very confused when suddenly a massive whale-like machine
 landed near Balamb Garden.
	The gigantic whale-like machine was mostly black. Then it opened its mouth and a red 
dragon-like airship flew out of it. "Ragnarok...", Kasumi thought. "That's Ragnarok...",
 Kasumi yelled happily. She took the elevator down and ran out of the Garden as fast as she
 could. "What?!", Edgar looked around, "That oh-so-beautiful Kasumi is gone! Oh my Goddess!",
 he wasn't mourning for too long as he already approached Terra. "Terra! My sweet canary, want
 to blow me a kiss?!" Terra looked at him happily and then suddenly exploding into a cold, 
hard slap on Edgar's royal face. "My, you are feisty! You can use my Desperation Move, Royal 
Shock?! But you didn't hurt me at all.", Edgar rubbed his cheek, taunting. Terra didn't answer.
 No, she smacked the other cheek. "Look what you've done!!! You made me blush!!!", Edgar 
revealed both of his red cheeks to Terra speaking in his royal and a bit snob tone. Terra
 turned away smiling.
	"Zell!!! Did you find it!?!?", Kasumi ran screaming the question from afar. "Yeah!!!",
 Zell jumped high up to express his feelings. She reached Zell hugging him. "Uhh, excuse me..
.who are those people." Kasumi pointed at a group of people. They were like picked straight out
 from a fairy tale. "Oh, them?!", Zell asked. "They saved us and, well...I'll explain inside." 
Irvine came smiling at Kasumi with Selphie on his arms. "Hey all of you! Come inside with us!!",
 he shouted waving his free arm.
	Locke watched the mass of people walking towards this building the people called a 
Garden. Sabin stepped next to him. "Who do you think they are, Sabin?", he asked. "I sure 
don't know. That one Kasumi just hugged...he looks like a fighter, maybe I can learn a few
 more Blitzes from him. And look at that man, Locke! He's just like a Dragoon in our legends!",
 Sabin said. "Yeah, and that guy in white...do you think he's a holy knight...you know a
Paladin...", Locke asked back. "This is all like a dream.", Sabin looked down at the people
 now walking in from the front gate they had just come in. Cid listened to their conversation.
 He too was confused for the few times in his life. Who were this people that barged in just
 recently. He turned to Nida saying, "Nida, now I'm truly in a big trouble. How am I supposed
 to change NOW?!" Nida smiled at his joke. Cid was joking to the time Squall had found out
 that this Garden could fly.
	All the people had gathered to the Quad. This was the only place with enough space.
 Kasumi was looking at all the people gathered in the place. On her left-hand side there
 sat the people she had met before. Locke and his companions. On her right-hand side there
 was sitting the young king of Figaro still trying to flirt with Kasumi and then a bunch of
 people she hadn't met before. There was a radiant man in a shiny white and silver cape.
 With him there sat a young woman. She could tell they were in love. Then next to them there
 sat another young woman with bright green hair. They were loose not like Terra's. Then next
 to her there was a man with a scarf in front of his face. He reminded Kasumi of that ninj
a with Locke. Shadow. Then after it the circle closed. A bit more isolated from the others 
there stood a man in an emerald green armor. He had unmasked himself revealing a blonde-haired
 young man's face. His helmet looked like a dragon's head. Kasumi looked at Edgar. He was just
 smirking. "A penny for your thoughts...", he said, Kasumi looked Edgar amazed. "What's a penny?
" Edgar laughed at Kasumi's stupid question. He explained that long long ago people used pennies
 as money with the Gils. "A hundred pennies make one Gil", he said. Kasumi looked at Edgar even
 more amazed. At first she had thought that Edgar was a total jerk with the most idiotic punch
 lines anyone had ever used. Now she understood Edgar was doing it intentionally, on purpose.
 Behind that gigolo mask there was a sophisticated young man given the responsibility to rule 
over Figaro. Kasumi wondered how Figaro was like. But then her thoughts were interrupted. 
Everyone was going to introduce themselves.
- "I am Cid and I am the headmaster of this Garden. We have no idea what has happened, but
 Zell's party seems to know the answer. First we may be better off introducing ourselves.",
 he explained.
- "I am Kasumi. I'm a Dream Chaser", she said.
- "Yo, there. I'm Zell. They call me the Machine...", Zell explained to be interrupted.
- "Hey that's my line. They call ME the Machine when it comes to love or mechanics.", Edgar
 said winking to Kasumi and waving his cape dramatically.
- "Shut up, Edgar! I'm Locke. Locke Cole. I'm a treasure hunter.", Locke said.
- "I am Celes. Empire's first mage warrior", Celes stood up next to Locke.
- "I'm Sabin. That guy's twin brother. I'm a bit younger, though.", Sabin said pointing at
 Edgar.
- "I'm Terra. Half an Esper.", she said. No one seemed to know what an Esper was except all
 Locke's friends.
- "Uwaooo!!! I'm Gau!!!", Gau howled.
- "I'm Mog. And this is Umaro, he can't speak.", the moogle introduced itself and the snowman. 
Everyone seemed amazed.
- "A moogle that talks?! Cuuuute!!!", Selphie said, "Hi everybody, I'm Selphie! I'm a SeeD."
- "I am Cyan. I was a samurai.", Cyan said rubbing his moustache. Kasumi looked at him in awe
 was that man a samurai. The one from that forgotten civilization.
- "And I'm Edgar. The great, and may I add young and strong king of Figaro!", Edgar said
 dramatically moving his arms in the air.
- "I'm Shadow. I'm a bounty hunter and this is my dog, Interceptor.", the dark ninja said.
- "I am Strago! I can use all the skills monsters possess, but I think I'm retired.", the
 old man said.
- "And I'm his grand-daughter! My name is Relm. I'm gonna be an artist when I grow big! By
 the way may I draw all of your portraits, after this introduction", Relm said.
- "No, no, no! Anything, but that!", the whole group of Locke's friends said together.
- "My name is Gogo. Mimic extraordinaire!", the guy in glittering, colorful clothes said.
 He was all covered by them. Even Locke wasn't sure of his gender.
- "I am Setzer. My profession is gambling.", the man with a lot of scars in his face said.
- "What kind of profession is that?!", Selphie asked, but was ignored by everyone except
 Irvine who gave him a hug.
- "My name is Cecil. I am a Paladin.", the vibrant man in a white and silvery cape stood
 up introducing himself. Locke's jaw dropped.
- "I'm Rosa. I'm a white mage.", the woman next to Cecil said. Everyone looked at her.
- "Excuse me, but what's a white mage?", Kasumi asked.
- "What? Don't you know? In the world there exists different kinds of magic. White is the
 one that heals in some way and black magic is the one that damages. There is also grey magic
 they create abnormal statuses.", Terra explained.
- "Actually there's only white and black. I am Rydia. I was a black mage, but I'm a summoner
now also.", the green-haired young woman told.
- "No there are more than just those.", Locke said then realizing what might have been
happening.
- "Please, calm down. Let's finish this introduction and then see.", Cid suggested.
- "Yeah, let's. I'm Irvine. I'm a master sharpshooter and a SeeD.", Irvine said.
- "I'm Edge. I'm the prince of Eblan. Our kingdom consists of ninjas. You look like one
of them, Shadow.", the short-haired man with a scarf in front of his face said.
- "My name is Kain...I'm a Dragoon.", the emerald-armored man with a spear in his hand said.
Locke and Sabin looked at him with stunned expressions as they had looked Cecil.
- "I'm Laguna. I'm the president of...umm, Dream Chasers' Society?", he said a bit confused.
Laguna was already getting used to his presidential life in Esthar.
- "I'm Kiros and this is Ward. I'm afraid he has lost his voice. We are both Laguna's friends
and assistants.", Kiros explained.
- "My name is Quistis. I'm also a SeeD.", Quistis said.
- "Well, hello there!", Edgar made an incredible leap across the circle to Quistis. 
"Do you want to..."
- "EDGAR!!!", Terra stopped him from blurting out a very dirty joke about seeds(yeah,
 be happy if you can't get it. Seeds...)
- "Well I guess here's everyone.", Cid said.
- "Wait a minute I'm still left.", Kyo said with his low charming voice again.
The young man in dark green clothes stood up. Quistis looked at his graceful moves again.
 Edgar noticed immediately that Quistis was totally in to him. "My name is Kyo Kusanagi...
I'm, huh?", he was interrupted by Cyan. "Might thou sayest thine name again?", he asked with
 a bit oldish accent. "I'm Kyo...Kusanagi.", Cyan looked at him very sharply. He had heard
 the name before. "Thou art from a famous clan...but I cannot recall it." Kyo shrugged his 
shoulders, "So the old man knows about me...?", he thought. "In any case...like I said I'm
 Kyo. And I'm also flame of rebirth...Phoenix.", he explained. "I was summoned here by...uh?",
 Kyo was interrupted again. "You're not the Phoenix. I have seen her. She's a bird with fiery
 flames all over her. I can summon her.", Rydia said. "So what? I exist in all dimensions. For
 the flame of victory is eternal. But in time I will have to move. So what you have seen is, 
but a shadow of me. My symbol, the Phoenix.", Kyo said explaining. Quistis was just listening
 to his low vibrant voice and felt warm inside. "I've also been to the next dimension. But 
then I came back here for my shadow here became weaker than in others. My shadow here is the
 item called Phoenix Pinion. Now show me the one I need to revive.", Kyo demanded. "He must
 be brought here where there is enough space.", Kyo said.
	Seifer was brought by Tenacious T and put in the middle of the Quad. Kyo
 looked down at him and his long, curved eyebrows showed again. Quistis looked 
at him silently. What was going to happen. Would this man move onto the next dimension
 after Seifer woke up. Was he going to vanish leaving nothing else than his shadow like
 in the other worlds. Seifer's body started floating in the air. Kyo shut his eyes,
 concentrating. He too let his feet out of the ground, floating. "Is the flame inside
 you great enough?", Kyo asked Seifer in his mind. No answer. Kyo's dark green jacket
 was on fire. He seemed not to care. Rydia stared at Kyo. He ignored her. Kyo was totally 
concentrated on reviving Seifer. "He's gonna leave...he's gonna go...", Quistis thought 
desperately. She didn't know what was happening. It felt like Quistis was only interested
 in Kyo's looks. She simply wanted him. Nothing more. She felt afraid of that. Kyo was now
 almost totally in flames. His jacket looked scruffy. The fire was starting to get to it.
 "Nooo!!! Stop it!", Quistis yelled. Kyo looked at her with his now fiery eyes. He floated 
down slowly. Seifer's drop was not so nice. But Kyo managed to grab him before he hit the 
ground. Quistis ran to him touching his arm. It was still warm. "Where will you go after 
this?", she asked. "Life is death. Death is life. Like I said. All power leads to destruction.
 Either I will live and somebody else dies or that somebody else lives and I shall perish.",
 Kyo explained. Quistis felt terrified. The words all made sense now. Kyo had said these in 
the moon, but Quistis thought it was just some blabber. "Now it makes sense...he's gonna die...",
 Quistis thought. "I will be reborn in the next dimension after this...", he said to Quistis.
 "I know you've got the hots on me...", Kyo said forgetting all his mysterious tones. He said
 it like a regular man, with an unexpectedly low voice. Quistis was becoming desperate, "Don't
 leave..." Kyo looked at her and smiled. "That would be selfish. You stopped Laguna reviving
 Raine and now you want me to stay...", Kyo said. Quistis wondered how Kyo knew about that,
 but didn't think of it too much as she was already begging him to stay again. Kasumi felt 
angry, but also had compassion. Locke was thinking about Kyo's words. Then his mind wandered
 off to Rachel. Would her have life been the death of Locke? He felt confused. "That doesn't
 make sense...no...", Locke felt angry. It didn't make sense. Every thought in Locke's mind 
fought against it. "I don't believe it! I can't believe it.", Locke convinced to himself. 
Then he realized why he felt hurt. The sentence held truth. "If I fight to protect the world...
Kefka will die. But...the world will live...?" Locke was determined now. "Quistis! Let him go! 
It's for the sake of this world. If you care for anything...uh?" Kyo interrupted him. "Locke,
 I know your urge to protect. Believe me. I'm not the universal power. I'm simply a law in 
which I believe myself. To eternal flame of victory. There is are other powers. Your belief
 is one. Stay true to your thoughts, mine doesn't hold true to you. There is another way to 
revive him. This dimension fused with three others not two. From the third dimension which 
is closest to this came a group of mortals like you. Like you they too defy their fate. To 
protect what is precious. Look for a group led by a blonde young man. His hair is spiky and
 blonde. He carries a big sword called the Buster Sword. Seek for a man named Cloud Strife.
 You'll know him from his eyes. My shadow there is strong enough to wake this man up.", Kyo
 explained. Quistis looked overflowing with joy, "You're going to stay?" Kyo looked at her
 grinning. Then he opened his mouth to speak normally again, "It depends..." Quistis looked 
at him. Their eyes met again. "Depends on what?" Kyo smiled again. "It depends on if you love
 me.", he said with his low voice. Quistis hugged his athletic body. It was still warm. But
 it was comfortably warm. Quistis felt loved. Squall's death didn't hurt so much anymore. She 
felt like a child, not a grown-up woman she was. But she smiled. "I'm not human, you know.", 
Kyo whispered. "Yeah, I know...", Quistis whispered back. "But don't I still look hot?!" Kyo
 joked. Quistis giggled remembering Edgar's desperate attempt to court her, "...Yeah..."


Chapter 10 - Clouds and Gales


	A weak breeze blew through Highwind's deck. A man with blonde hair watched the landscape below them. It was almost completely changed very suddenly. "Cloud, I can't think of any reason for this? Can you?", a young woman walked towards him. She had a dark-brown hair and she looked beautiful. "No, Tifa. I can't think of anything. Maybe Sephiroth blew us into another world? No, but this happened so suddenly. Sephiroth would've insulted us in some way before doing this. Seriously, Tifa, I don't have a clue.", he answered. "Let's go inside, Cloud. It's freezing cold out here.", Tifa said. "Heh, no wonder...you're so dressed up.", Cloud muttered. Tifa gave him a playful slap. The only one on the deck was burping out everything she could. "Yuffie, aren't you coming inside", Tifa asked. "No, I'll stay here...Urp!!!", the young female ninja answered. "Suit yourself...and I mean it, heh.", Cloud commented. "Cloud, you perv-!!!", Tifa slapped him again. Cloud was just laughing. They went inside.
	Kasumi was looking out of Ragnarok's window. She was starting to lose hope. They had checked many towns including the ones that just appeared. Then a grey airship appeared somewhere far off in the horizon. Kasumi suggested, "Let's go see that ship there. Maybe they know this Cloud." Selphie yawned, "Okay, Kasumi." She felt a little tired now that they had just come back from the moon and off searching some guy around the world again. Edgar was diligently studying and analyzing the Ragnarok's internal structure. He was the only one from Locke's group in there. His excuse was: "I'm dying to know about her(Ragnarok's) abilities and yours too if you just..." at this point Edgar was 'Royal Shocked' again by Kasumi.
	"Huh?! Whatta hell is that?", Yuffie looked at the big, red dragon-like airship approaching them. Yuffie was frozen. Then she encouraged herself by saying: "They might have more Materia. They might have more Materia." And she was ready to battle. "My sweet bird, you can't go outside yourself! What if you'll get blown by the wind?!", Edgar was terrified. The only way out of Ragnarok was the door in its stomach and a small hatch in the airlock(That's how Squall and Rinoa got in, remember.?. It was too hard maneuvering the Ragnarok so that the big door would have been opened so they had to use the small hatch. Kasumi would have to jump from Ragnarok to Highwind. "Nay, I will do the job!", Edgar pounded his chest. Kasumi slapped him. "What if you'll die because of the blowing wind. Your beloved Seifer won't see you or you him anymore. I will do it.", Edgar said seriously. Kasumi looked at him. "Besides I wanna see what 'she' is capable of. You stay here. Zell, my boy keep your eyes on her.", Edgar said and waved good bye. "I'll tell them to land you, do the same when you see them landing." Edgar took the elevator down and walked to the airlock. "Here goes nothing. No...not nothing...I am the king of Figaro! Here goes the king of Figaro! And should something happen to me all the women in the world shall come and grieve...hahah, I've got nothing to lose!", he thought to himself.
"Yaaaa!!!", Edgar jumped. He managed to grab the edge and cried out for help. Yuffie grasped his hands, but then something in her rose up along her throat. "Burp!", and Edgar was got his face full of 'vomit'. "I...I'm terribly sorry!!! I can't stand these air flights!!!", Yuffie apologized and helped him up. "Eww!!! This...is terrible!", Edgar shouted, and had a better look at Yuffie. "Oh my Goddess...why are you ladies from other dimensions so arousing? Is it the clothes?", Edgar asked rubbing his chin and lifting his other eyebrow, forgetting what had just happened. "Uhh, I think you should wash your face.", Yuffie said sorry about what just happened. She didn't have time to think of Materia. Edgar followed Yuffie inside the airship, Highwind. She took him to the nearest toilet. "Hmm...interesting ship you've got here.", Edgar said to Yuffie who didn't look so well. "Well, it's not mine. It's Cid's.", Yuffie said. "Cid, you 'jest, my sweet chestnut haired beauty?", Edgar asked. "Is there a Cid in every dimension?", he thought to himself. "Yuffie, what happened did you see that big dragon thing?!", Tifa came from the bridge. "Oh my Goddess...speaking of chestnut-haired beauties!!!", Edgar's jaw dropped. "Who's this droolin' foo'?!", Barret barged into the conversation. Edgar stood up. "Ahem...I've come to ask you one question. Do you know a man named Cloud Strife? Please, I must speak to him.", Edgar asked politely with a strange glare in his eyes. He was staring at Tifa. Tifa was about to answer, but was interrupted by Edgar. "Before you answer. Could you reveal me your...name?", Edgar said, he was about to say something much dirtier, but then he thought of the consequences. The girl looks like a fighter like Sabin. "Sure. I'm Tifa...Tifa Lockheart.", she answered smiling although Tifa didn't like the way Edgar looked at her. "Tifa...Lockheart...", Edgar chanted in his mind. Tifa took Edgar drooling behind her to the bridge. "This isn't fair...Tifa gets all the guys...I was starting to like him...", Yuffie thought to herself. Edgar met Cloud and told him to land right away. "Listen you (%%¤"(!!! This is my SHIP, the Highwind, and I'll...STOP STARIN' AT TIFA!!!", Cid yelled angrily. Edgar was all around Tifa swearing his immortal love for this goddess. Cloud pulled out his famous Ultima Weapon and raised it with one hand over to Edgar's neck. "Don't touch her! You sick, weird pervert!" Edgar turned to him turning serious. He pulled another sword with a same blue light glowing as Ultima Weapon and swept Cloud's sword away from his neck. "This is the matter of whole world. Land now because time is running out." he was pointing his sword at Cloud's neck now. "That sword...it looks just like my Ultima Weapon.", Cloud noticed. "This the Atma Weapon. We killed off the other Atma Weapon that was a horrid beast. Now land.", Edgar explained. "Let go off, Cloud!!!", Tifa shouted in anger. "Surely, my goddess!!! Your wish is my command!!!", Edgar put his arm around Tifa and she couldn't do a thing. "Stop touching her or I'll cut your head off!!!", Cloud growled. Yuffie had just come on the bridge to see what all the ruckus was all about. Edgar let his arms off Tifa and Cloud calmed down. "Do it Cid! Land. We may have a chance to get Sephiroth. You heard what he said.", Cloud ordered. Cid nodded reluctantly and told the pilot to land the Highwind. Edgar smiled happily.
	Both people on Ragnarok and Highwind came out. Kasumi was the first one out of the Ragnarok and came to Cloud pleading for help. Cloud was puzzled. "I'll just have to hand over the Phoenix-Materia?! Why?" , he asked. "It's the only thing that can revive Seifer! We need Seifer to prevent time compression!", Kasumi explained desperately. "What!? There's someone else threatening the world?!", Cloud asked. "Yes, Ultimecia! She's a sorceress! And...", Kasumi explained when suddenly a small whirlpool appeared close to them. "Whatta hell is that?! Is it a natural phenomenon here?!", Cloud asked his eyes open wide. Then the answer came with a low manly voice, "...Kinda! Hahhahhaa!!! I'm back!" It was Gale. "Who the hell are you?", Cloud asked angrily. "I am the dark lion warrior...the greatest sorceress's knight ever...My name shall strike fear into your heart...I am Gale Leonhart!", Gale answered flaunting . He wasn't cool-headed like the first time Kasumi met him. "Doesn't say anything to me?", Cloud said. "What? Are you sure? Don't you know my name? I thought my first time here would've been enough?", Gale said surprised. "Well, I'm actually just sight-seeing.", Cloud said raising his Ultima Weapon. "Oh? Care to try against the famous local specialty? Meet...Griever!", Gale said and suddenly a massive lion was floating by his side. "I-is that a summon?", Cid asked dropping his cigarette. "A summon?! What's a summon? I know I summoned him here, but people this is Griever! The mightiest Guardian Force in the universe! Come on! Don't you recognize it?", Gale asked a bit upset. "Frankly, Gale, I don't give damn. You can't be any worse than Sephiroth.", Cloud said. "Sephiroth? Who's he? Enough of the babbling, wanna taste some pain?" Cloud sneered. "Bring it on!" They both lashed out roaring and started to fight with their swords. Gale with his Guardian Blade and Cloud with Ultima Weapon. Gale's gunblade wasn't as heavy as Cloud's sword so he managed to sever Cloud in his thigh. Cloud countered. His blow was a heavy one and Gale tried to dodge it. He wasn't used to fight against someone with so big sword so his dodge wasn't big enough. The slash opened a cut in Gale's right arm. "Very good! I suppose you're not a SeeD!", Gale taunted. Cloud didn't know what a SeeD was and his mind stopped to think about it for a split-second. It was enough for Gale. A split-second of distraction gave Gale the time he could slash Cloud another time. Cloud shouted and kicked Gale in the stomach sending him a couple of meters away. He healed himself and strode to Gale hitting the ground. Gale had rolled out of the way sticking his black-edged Griever in Cloud's side. "Hah!", Gale sneered. Cloud fell on his knees. Gale was about to strike Cloud on the back, but Cloud swept his legs. Gale lost balance. Cloud jumped away healing himself again. "You have some strange magic with you! Whatta hell is Cure3???", Gale asked. Cloud didn't answer. Gale snickered healing himself too. "Curaga!", Cloud looked him even more stunned than Gale was at Cloud's spells. "Griever! Show him your power...Shockwave Pulsar!", Gale was lift in the air again. Shockwave Pulsar didn't hit only Cloud, but every one else too. The dealt damage was severe, although it had hit at least more than ten persons. They were all in pain. "Khehehe! This is great! You're all alive. Much stronger than future SeeDs! Here comes the second one...", Gale laughed out loud. "My goddess he is strong...", Edgar thought then rising up and summoning his Esper. It was Palidor. "Sonic Wing!", and a huge bird flew past them. "Jump on it!!!", Edgar shouted. They got on the back of the humongous bird and it flew away. "Huh?", Gale looked around. Shockwave Pulsar missed. "Yess!!! It worked!", Edgar shouted happily. "This is Palidor. My Esper. Soon it'll head back, that's when you pounce on that Gale.", Edgar explained. "Darn, it! If only that dragoon was here he might double the damage. Gah! This shall do." Palidor headed back towards Gale and his Griever. "Where the heck did they go?", Gale was glancing around him. He looked everywhere except up. Then it struck him like a lightning.  Edgar and Cid took the first jump. Edgar struck Gale and Cid took on Griever. Then almost immediately after them came Barret and Yuffie. Gale didn't have time for any retaliation.  Kasumi and Cait Sith pounced on Gale and Griever. The relentless wave of attacks landed on Gale and his Griever until the last one had stunned Gale. "Wow! This is absolutely great! You almost got Griever, except that...he can't die!!!", Gale flaunted uncontrollably. Cloud was fed up with Gale. His limit was full. "You! Why can't you just shut up!", Cloud growled furiously. Gale stared at him a moment then he sneered, "Well, by all means try!!! Try shut me up!" Cloud looked at him with fierce eyes. "My pleasure..." Cloud exploded dashing towards Gale. He started slashing and cutting Gale in every direction and way possible. After some merciless slashing Cloud jumped high above Gale and raised his sword into an overhead strike. It looked like his first Limit Break Braver. Then Gale collapsed down onto the ground. "Very well, I'll do as told...", Gale whispered. Cloud looked down at him and turned to walk back at his new friends. "I think I can defeat this sorceress of yours", Cloud said to Kasumi smiling. "Yeah, but I love Seifer!", Kasumi said almost crying. "Oh? In that case I'll give it to you.", Cloud said remembering the girl he had lost, Aeris. "Yes! Cloud you are strong...but forget that I have the Guardian Blade...My soul is bonded with Griever's...you heard what I said about Griever didn't you...he can't be killed...so I can't be killed...hehhehheh...", Gale said laughing. Cloud turned around. "Curaja!!!", Gale shouted. All of them including Kasumi were astonished. Light-balls in every color of the rainbow spiraled around Gale rejuvenating him. He stood up smirking. "Look, Cloud my wounds just shut up. I did what you told me to, hahahahaah!" Gale was standing there totally healed and looked like he was cast with a Regen spell at the same time. The only thing that indicated his near death experience was his clothes that were all torn here and there. "Now, care to try again?", Gale sneered. Gale seemed like a maniac to Kasumi. He had changed almost totally from the time Kasumi saw him the first time. Suddenly Tifa noticed a strange baby blue bright light coming behind Gale. "What's that?", Tifa pointed behind Gale. "Oh, come on! I don't fall for pathetic tricks like that!", Gale said. "Suit yourself...I mean it.", Cloud said smirking back. Then something went past Gale. He just noticed that something had appeared in front of him and before he could conclude that came behind him the ground beneath him exploded. "My Final HEEAAVEENN!!!!", Zell shouted sending Gale in the air. This time Gale had flown really high up. "Come on let's run for it!!!", Zell yelled. They started running into their airships. Gale dropped down before their airships had the time to start their engines. Cid was starting to lose his temper as well. "That ¤#"%&U¤!!! I'm gonna kick his sorry ass!!!! Highwind!!!" Cid raised his hand calling for his greatest Limit Break the Highwind. Soon Gale was surrounded by a hoard of rockets. The rockets all exploded on him with an amazing accuracy. "Hah?! Was that your best Limit Break!!! Well...", Gale fell onto his knees. "Curaja!", he shouted. Gale stood up again and cast Triple over himself. "Now let's see you under pressure!!! Water! Water! Aaargghh!!!", Gale's head was bursting up again. "No. Not now...", and Gale growled and evaporated in thin air again. Ragnarok and Highwind flew to Balamb Garden.
*Author's note: Yeah, so here I go again with another long-maybe-not-so-long author's note. Umm, first of all for those who don't know, Cecil & Co. are from FF4 or FF2 or something. I know the game as FF4 so to me it's that one. I can't remember the details and if I explained it, it would take me another...yeah, whatsoever. Locke & pals are from FF6 or FF3, I guess? To me it's FF6. My PS is European. The rest of the world...I don't care. Except for that Wild Arms 2 which never came here. Curse you, Sony! And bless you too! Umm, I guess Cloud and his friends don't need any introductions, but in case they do, they're from FF7. If you didn't know you've missed something big. Not to offend you, of course. And for those who know and who didn't know but just noticed I skipped FF5(I don't honestly know what part this is in the rest of the world). The main reasons are that I simply hated the game. Yeah, it sucked monkeys! Look at that terrible attempt to curse the game. The game is exactly as pathetic. And I couldn't have dealt with anymore characters. Actually this is already tiresome. For those who loved FF5 and think I'm offending them, I'll just have to say: Screw you! The villain's name is X-Death which itself gives me the creeps because I don't know any cornier ones. And the story comes alive just when the game is ending. The Job-system was pretty good. But, ya know it reminds me of Job. The poor tormented guy found in Bible. Gah, now I'm offending religions. Please forgive me and carry on!*


Chapter 11 - Rise of Hyperion


	"Kasumi...I love you...Kasumi...", Seifer had been shouting for months in his stony 
prison. Or at least it felt like it. Seifer was devastated. He had reached consciousness 
after the first one, two times. Those two times only Dr. Kadowaki was looking at him. "Kasumi
 didn't abandon me...she's just looking for a cure...It has to be...", Seifer thought. He had 
lost hope...almost.
	Seifer's body was still lying at center of the Quad. Everyone was there looking the one 
they expected to beat the sorceress. Cloud handed the Materia over to Kasumi. "How do you use 
one of these?", Kasumi asked. Just then Kyo interrupted, "Let me handle this. Give me the 
Materia." Kasumi gave Kyo the Materia and Kyo stared at it for a while. He raised the Materia
 high over his head and concentrated. Then his fingers started creating fire above them again.
 As the flame ball blazed the Phoenix Materia lifted itself in the center of the ball. 
The fireball blazed stronger. Cloud stared at Kyo in amazement, "That's not how I use it...",
 he thought. Suddenly the smoke rippled and it transformed into a beautiful fiery bird. It was 
the Phoenix. The bird was transparent and after it crowed a few times it soared high above. 
Then it came down going through Seifer. Seifer blazed up in flames and the bird rose up from 
his chest. Seifer's body started floating. Then the burn stopped and the Phoenix crowed again. 
Seifer opened his eyes, "Kasumi...I love you...", he whispered weakly. Kasumi ran to hug him,
 but Kyo pushed her away with his other hand. Kasumi fell down. "He's not done yet...", Kyo 
said, "Knight...you are summoned back to life...will you stay or go back to live your afterlife..."
 Seifer raised his head. "Afterlife? What afterlife? I'll stay!", Seifer said a bit weakly, but loudly.
 "Then welcome back...", Kyo said falling to his knees. The Phoenix evaporated in thin air 
leaving only some embers and smoke to remind people about it. Quistis ran to Kyo and Kasumi 
ran to Seifer. "Seifer! You woke up! I love you!!!", Kasumi hugged Seifer kissing him all 
over. His skin was warm, but not burned or too hot. "I love you too!!!", Seifer said hugging
 her. Then he noticed someone clapping. Suddenly the whole quad was filled of rhythmical 
claps. "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!", everybody shouted along the claps. Then Edgar said, 
"Yes, do kiss her or I'll do it for you!", and waved his hand at Kasumi. Seifer stared at
 Kasumi with an adoring look. Then they kissed each other. Then the whole quad was all a one 
'whoopee'. Suddenly a strange urge ran through Seifer. It was something no human could fight
 against for too long. "Shi-!!!", Seifer started hopping around. "I gotta go find a toilet!!!
 Fast!!!", Seifer dashed through the people watching him. All of them started laughing 
uncontrollably, even Kain. Seifer had been in a sleeping-state for weeks. It was a miracle
 he didn't wet his pants a single time during it.
*Author's note: I'm apologizing everyone who has any relatives or friends
 who have fallen in 
coma. I think I'm going a bit too far with this coma stuff and actually don't 
have much info on it so please forgive me, if I've insulted you in any way.
 Or worse...in EVERY way. SORRY!*
	Seifer clashed his sword into Cloud's in a low arc. Cloud pushed the
 blades off of each other and kicked Seifer on to the ground. He brought his
 sword close to Seifer's neck saying, "I won." Seifer looked at his Mako eyes
 and said, "Are you sure? Watch , my hand.", Seifer Fire Crossed him in the 
chest throwing Cloud into the woods of Balamb Garden's Training Center. A few 
twigs cracked and Cloud leapt out of the bushes. They were honing Seifer's rusty 
skills. Then Kain, the silent Dragoon, came out of nowhere. Seifer looked up and
 sidestepped. He spun around kicking the spear that hit the ground. Kain fell off
 on the ground with a thud. Sabin threw punches using his Pummel-Blitz technique.
 Seifer managed to dodge all except one of them. He accidentally swayed right in
 front of it. He was blown a bit backwards. Then he turned to see Cecil's calm eyes. 
"Brace yourself...", Cecil whispered and silently slid closer to Seifer. Their eyes 
met and their blades clashed. Seifer's gunblade was upside down Cecil's Ragnarok(no, 
not the airship!) was sideways. They pressed on each other were thrown a bit backwards
 after the climax. Seifer roared and strode towards Cecil hitting his Ragnarok furiously
 many times and finally pulled the trigger as their blades met. The bullet was a special
 one Irvine had given as a gift. "This pierces defenses...", Seifer remembered him saying.
 It worked in a gunblade in a different way. The bullet exploded without coming out of the
 gunblade. If timed correctly the impact that the explosion gave to the other sword was tripled
 and it blew Ragnarok out of Cecil's hand's. Hyperion lashed the air stopping right in front
 of Cecil's nose. Seifer's reflexes had sharpened a lot after he quit drinking and started
 training again. Seifer smiled. Cecil didn't, but he complimented Seifer. "Remember, Seifer,
 the sorceress uses magic as her weapon, not the physical attacks.", Irvine reminded. Seifer
 nodded. He opened his gunblade to take out the armor-piercing bullet. "I think I'm ready guys!
", Seifer exclaimed. Cloud looked at him. "We have our matters to take care of, Seifer.
 Sorry we can't help you." Now that the worlds had merged together a multiple threat existed.
 It wasn't just Ultimecia who had to be killed. There was a cavern which had appeared in the
 middle of the sea. Cloud knew what cavern it was. Sephiroth was waiting him and the others
 there. A high tower built of debris and something else from the other dimensions old world 
stood tall in the center of the world map. It was the deal Locke, Terra, Edgar, Sabin and 
their friends had to take care of. Kefka with his lunatic streak was threatening the world 
with his Light of Judgment. Then in the moon awaited Cecil's brother Golbez and a Lunarian 
who had controlled him, Zemus. Seifer's job was to go to the future and kill sorceress 
Ultimecia, who was threatening all existence through time compression. They hadn't yet 
figured another way to take a trip to the future. The last time, Zell and his companions 
had managed to go there and out by sheer luck. Zell actually had totally forgotten how he
 did it.
	"Seifer, I need you here immediately", Cid announced through the intercom(Was it an 
intercom? Damn, I'm starting to forget words). Seifer and the others heard his announcement
 and made their way to his office and the bridge of Balamb Garden. Cid looked at the huge 
bunch of people again. It was the whole group that saw Seifer wake up. Cloud, Tifa, Cid, Red
 XIII, Barret, Yuffie, Vincent, Cait Sith, Cecil, Rosa, Rydia, Edge, Kain, Locke, Celes, 
Terra, Edgar trying to kiss Terra, Sabin smacking Edgar for what he was trying to do, Gogo,
 Relm, Strago, Setzer, Umaro, Mog, Cyan, Gau, Shadow, Laguna, Kiros, Ward, Zell, Selphie,
 Irvine, Quistis, Kyo and Kasumi. "This is nerve-wrecking...", Cid thought to himself. 
"Where is Seifer?!", Cid asked with a loud voice. No answer. Everyone was looking around 
themselves. Suddenly a bell rang signaling that the elevator was being operated. "Uhh...?
 Guys, which was one you was Seifer again?", Seifer asked sarcastically. It was his only 
side that was a bit rusty anymore. "Seifer...I have a message from Esthar. Ellone found out
 a way to take you to the future.", Cid said forgetting all about the crowded room. He was
 talking to Seifer and him only. Seifer was still in the lift. The doors were closing and 
he was brought back to present. Seifer dashed through the closing gap and made past it. He
 bumped into Kasumi. "Uh, sorry. Who's Ellone?!", he asked. The whole crowded room turned 
facing to Seifer. They had found out from Zell and his friends what had happened between
 Seifer and Squall and everything. There was no reason why not. They were going to stay
 here anyway. And they read the news too. Ellone had been the president of Esthar for quite
 a while. Seifer looked puzzled. "Wha-what're ya lookin' at?!", he asked them all. They all
 answered in the same time too. "Ellone was the one you took to Lunatic Pandora! And she's
 Esthar's president now. Laguna left it to her.", they replied pointing their hand at Laguna
 who was taking some time looking at who they were pointing at. "Oh yeah, right. Me.", Laguna
 muttered a bit embarrassed. Seifer dug his mind for a moment and seemed to remember Ellone. 
Oh...? Thanks...Hey Cid can I take your airship?", Seifer asked. "Hell no, you brat!!! 
Even if Cloud was giv-...oh!", Cid stopped realizing who Seifer was meaning. "You are 
permitted. Oh, Seifer one more thing.", headmaster Cid said. "Yeah. I'm listening...shoot 
it.", he replied. "You are now a SeeD. Congratulations!", Cid exclaimed happily. "A SeeD?!
 How the hell!? I'm supposed to do the written and the field test!", Seifer asked loudly 
with a mixed feeling of confusion and happiness. "Don't you remember? You passed the written
 test long time ago...", Cid explained, "You only kept failing the field test because you 
thought it was funny to beat Ifrit time after time on the aftertime. But I'd say you survived
 from a much fierier place. We all do remember your awakening." Suddenly it all came back to
 him. He had stayed at the Garden a longer time he remembered. "Yeah, it was during the first
 years...I passed the written test before Squall came...", Seifer reminisced. "Well, thanks 
Cid! Really appreciate it.", he murmured and took the elevator down. Then Kasumi remembered 
something important. "Seifer wait!", the lift's door closed before Seifer had time to stop it.
 Luckily Edgar was there to save the day. He proudly went pushing the people aside. "Do not
 worry, my sweet bird! I'll handle this one.", Edgar covered the button table and fiddled
 with it a few seconds. He had overridden the system and the lift was coming up again. The 
door opened with Seifer in it. Kasumi walked in and the door closed again. "Hehhehheh, soon
 enough..." , Edgar snickered. The elevator's door opened again with Seifer and Kasumi in a
 passionate kiss. They both blushed. "Umm...", Kasumi couldn't say another word out of her 
mouth. The elevator closed again. This time it went down. Seifer and Kasumi stepped out.

	"So, what was that important thing you needed to tell me about?" Seifer asked. Kasumi 
wrapped her arms around him. "Yeah, well, I promised Tim we'd come to see you after you woke
 up.", she said. "That reminds me...I haven't seem him for a while. He wasn't there when I 
woke up.", Seifer said a bit worried. "Maybe you just didn't notice him, 'cause you ran like 
hell!", Kasumi joked giggling., but turning serious, "Yeah, I didn't see him there either." 
They walked around Balamb Garden looking for Tim. Kasumi started to look a little worried.
 Seifer stopped two female students asking them if they had seen Tim. No clue. Seifer asked 
the next students. "Yeah, I think I saw that retard in the Cafeteria.", one of them answered.
 Seifer was turning mad of the word they used about Tim, but he controlled himself and walked
 away. No thanks were heard. They arrived the Cafeteria and saw Tim gobbling hot dogs. "Oh,
 hello Mr. Seifer and Ms. Kasumi!", Tim raised his hand greeting Seifer and Kasumi. Seifer 
laughed. "Hey, Tim, I'm not that old just call me Seifer. And her Ms. Seifer... ", Seifer 
joked. Kasumi blushed and slapped him playfully. "Hehhehheh...so Tim where were you when I
 woke up?", Seifer asked. Tim looked him with a strange look. "I...I...I didn't know I was 
supposed to look at you in the morning...", Tim answered a bit unsurely. Seifer turned to 
Kasumi, "Huh? He didn't know?" Kasumi whispered into his ears what she had suspected. Seifer
 sat down, but jumped up again. "Ladies first.", Seifer said pulling a chair for Kasumi. Then
 he sat down again smiling. "Oh, forget it.", Seifer said. "So Tim. Tell me how you like this 
Garden.", Kasumi asked. "This is a marvelous place. I love these hot dogs. But sometimes people
 come speak to me. I don't like them.", Tim said. "Why don't you?", Seifer asked. "We-well,
 I can't see them.", Tim said afraid. Seifer leaned to the table a bit more curious, "Oh?
 When can you see them?" Seifer asked. Tim looked unsure and said, "In the night...and
 sometimes when I eat hot dogs." Seifer rubbed his shaved chin and frowned. "How do they
 look like?", Kasumi asked suspecting Tim was seeing his parents' ghosts. All the
 psychological ideas Alundra had lectured had made her curious too. Tim looked very
 scared now. He hesitated telling them. "You don't have to if you don't want to.", 
Seifer said calmly. "There was a man with a lot of black clothes and a woman who looked
 like a sorceress. She had a long black hair and...", Tim was very scared to tell. Seifer
 looked very curious now. He had heard stories of this Gale in black and the sorceress could
 be Ultimecia. Then again this description matched someone else too. Those someone's burned
 stronger in Seifer's mind again. "Rinoa and Squall...", Seifer thought. He hadn't actually
 seen Ultimecia because she contacted him mainly by manipulating someone else. "Hmm...",
 Seifer frowned and lifted his hands from the table. Tim was looking very relieved after 
Seifer wasn't interrogating him about them anymore. Seifer rose up of the table and helped 
Kasumi up too. "Tim, where was your dorm again? Can I spend a night in there? You can use
 mine.", Seifer asked. Tim was looking even more relieved, "Yes..." If it was Ultimecia and 
Gale Seifer was taking a big risk, but if they were Squall and Rinoa Seifer didn't have any 
idea of what to think. "Seifer! Wait!", Kasumi said grabbing his arm. "What about me?", she 
asked with innocent eyes. "What about me...what about me...?", ran around Seifer's mind and 
he finally answered, "You can have the bed I'll take the floor.", and smiled. "
But not tonight...we'll have to go to Esthar.", Seifer said now remembering where he had
 to go. He had to face Ultimecia...
*Author's note: Darn it! Are we coming to the end or who are the mysterious couple haunting
 Tim. I just made the excuse for Tim's absence and this blurted. Sometimes my stupidity just 
surprises me...What could happen next...? Hmm...go on!*


Chapter 12 - The End of Beginning


	Ellone was patiently waiting in her room. She had been waiting for Seifer and his 
friends for 20 minutes. It wasn't a long time, but it felt like eternity. She took a glance
 at the man waiting in the same room. He was pretty handsome, but his head was covered by 
his fringe(did I use the right word?). The man was the one who had told her about his idea
 of how to travel to the future. He needed Odine's help in it, and also Ellone's too. "You 
may enter.", Ellone heard and knew who was coming. The SeeDs now including Seifer, and 
Kasumi(not a SeeD) walked in. They were staring at the man sitting on the couch relaxed. 
"Uh? Alundra...?", Kasumi said amazed. The man with red hair and a pony-tail stood up. "Hi,
 again!", he said with a happy-go-lucky tone. Seifer looked at him, "I didn't have the chance
 to thank you..." Alundra smiled and replied, "You don't need to. Thank me after you've
 returned from the future." All of them looked at him surprised. "What was that supposed
 to mean?", Selphie asked. "I'll take it from here Alundra.", Ellone said standing up too. 
"Umm, Alundra has an idea on how to send you to the future.", Ellone started. "Dr. Odine has 
created a device that amplifies psychic powers. As you know I had powers that sent you to the
 past and Alundra has the ability to walk in dreams. So...", Ellone was interrupted. The door
 opened once more with a strange-looking man barging in. "Hello, everybody. Remember me?", a 
man with black moustache said. "Doc Odine?!", Zell said gladly. "Yes, zis iz me. Odine. Come, 
come I'll zhow you my grand plan!", Odine exclaimed gesturing them all to follow. They went 
along Odine to another building. "Zis iz my new laboratory!", he said raising his hands high 
in the air. "But there iz no time for zis now. Here iz ze devise.", Odine pointed at a 
complicated looking device with his odd accent. "Sinze I waz in a hurry I had no time to make
 it look more elegant, but it zhould do zust as well.", Odine apologized and suggested Alundra
 and Ellone to walk closer. Alundra walked closer, Ellone hesitated a bit because of her 
childhood memories and stepped closer too. "Now, grab ze hands of each other. Chop, chop",
 Odine clapped and flashed some of his terrible pronunciation again. "Don't worry, doc.
 I've done this before.", Alundra said calmly. "What?!", the others shouted in amazement.
 "Oh! Not this. I'm meaning grabbing the hand and saving something again.", Alundra said 
realizing their amazement. "Oh, that...", Quistis said laconically. "No time to waste! Now
 concentrate to zink of the future.", Odine said. "What will that help?", Alundra asked.
 Odine looked like he was losing his temper, "I would gladly explain it, but time iz running 
out!" Alundra started focusing. "Then what?!", Zell asked. "Now take zis device", Odine said 
offering Seifer a shining light orb. "The hell's this?!", he asked confused. "It takes you to
 ze future. Let it loose and everyone look at it.", Odine ordered. Seifer released it and the
 orb started floating. "You must keep it with you all ze time, Seifer.", Odine reminded. Then
 they all started staring the orb. The orb started to grow larger in their eyes and soon Odine
 saw the light swallowing them. "Good bye...friendz.", Odine said silently. Alundra and 
could step away from the machine.
	Seifer woke in a strange dark place. "I was the first one waking this time...heh.", 
Seifer thought and woke up the others lying on the floor. He looked at Kasumi a little longer
 before waking up. Kasumi looked like an angel. Seifer couldn't do anything but adore her. 
Then he touched her with his hand. The black leather touched her cheek and she recovered 
consciousness. "I think we need to get going.", Seifer kissed her and helped her up. He 
would've otherwise left Kasumi at Balamb, but was afraid that Gale might come back and do 
something horrible to her. So he took her with him just to be sure. And if Seifer couldn't 
win, they would at least die together. Zell was leading since he had been here before. Then 
he had a hard time remembering where they had to go. "Lessee...umm, were in this room where a
 lunatic sorceress attacked us...I think she's gone.", Zell thought out loud. "We'll have to
 go forward, Zell.", Quistis reminded. So they went forward. "These are future SeeDs...?", 
Seifer asked looking at one girl. She was cut in half...by a gunblade. Seifer looked at her 
eyes. She had rolled them around. Sudden rage filled Seifer, but he couldn't help her anymore.
 He was sure that it was Gale's gunblade...or Guardian Blade as he had heard. "This girl was 
cut by Gale...", Seifer finally blurted. "Once I'll find that bastard...", Seifer closed his 
eyes in rage. Kasumi grabbed her arm and tried to soothe him down. "We need to go over this 
chain to reach Ultimecia's castle.", Quistis said. Seifer took a look across the ravine to the
 evil's den. A dark castle came into his sight. "Castle...a place where knights lived...", 
Seifer thought. "Castle...a place where souls of chivalry and honor dwelled...", Seifer thought.
 "That castle is an insult against all the principles of...", Seifer thoughts were interrupted
 by his responsibilities. "Let's go!", he yelled over to the castle. They started taking
careful steps on the quite wide and thick chain. Seifer stopped. "Wait! What are these odd
portals?", he asked. "Oh, those. They lead back to the other world. Umm, you can't get into
any towns though. I don't know is it the real world or what the heck it is. But everything
we get there is...", Zell lectured, but was interrupted by Seifer, "Okay got it. Move on!" 
hey finally crossed the chain and reached Ultimecia's castle's gates. "Yo, wait!", Zell stopped
 Seifer from stepping in. "That place removes all our abilities we receive from GFs! We can't
 use anything but attacks!", Zell explained. "Oh? What's the big deal. I never use them!",
 Seifer boasted. "In fact I don't have any GFs with me at all!", he said. "What?!", Irvine 
yelled furiously. "We thought you took them all for us. We don't carry a single one with us
 either.", Quistis sniffed already losing hope. Kasumi looked them all giggling a bit. 
"What!?", Seifer asked. "How funny. I knew Seifer didn't carry any GFs, but I took all the 
ones we have along any way. Seifer want one?", Kasumi said saving the whole team. "No thanks.
 You're better off with them.", Seifer snorted. "Man, how can you still be alive without any 
GFs?", Zell asked junctioning Bahamut to himself. "Easily, remember Anacondaurs, Zell?", Seifer
 asked. "Huh? Them...what about them?", Zell asked recalling the one they had to fight in 
Dollet. "They're the only ones I fought before all this.", Seifer explained. "Whatta?!", Zell
 hopped backwards. "But I'll tell it all to you later. There's nothing to be told though.", 
Seifer said calmly. "Are you done?", Seifer asked. "Done!", they all answered. Kasumi got more 
GFs since she wasn't as experienced as the others. They had checked Seifer's compatibility 
with GFs while they were junctioning them. "Hey, Seifer! Ya wanna know how much GFs like you?",
 Irvine threw a question. "Lemme guess, they'd leave me if you guys weren't along.", Seifer
 replied. "That is...", Irvine said trying to extend the end of the sentence. "Totally wrong!!!
", Selphie exclaimed loudly and joyfully. Quistis continued, "They all love you more than any 
of us. Everyone, even Eden likes you with full capacity." Seifer opened his eyes wide of 
surprise. "Whatta?! What's going on!?", he asked upset. "Come on! Junction one! How about 
Bahamut?", Zell asked. "Bahamut...king of Guardian Forces...king of Dragons...the mighty 
Bahamut...?", Seifer thought. "The answer is...no!", Seifer said turning to push open the 
massive doors leading to Ultimecia. A cold breeze blew and some mist covered their shoes. 
"This is it...", Seifer said not bothering to turn around. They stepped through. "Wait!!!",
 Zell pulled him out and the rest followed him too. "Seifer. That castle also takes off your
 Limit Breaks!", Zell notified. "Hmph. Then...no I won't...I still won't junction them...",
 Seifer said angrily. "Everytime we beat a monster we can release an ability.", Quistis said.
 "Then the first one we'll free is the Limit Break. I'll take care of the rest.", Seifer said.
 "Now let's go. If there's still something tell it inside.", Seifer said stepping in.

	They arrived to the stairs that branched into three ways(you know in the beginning?). 
A monster was waiting them. "Shit! I guessed right. Ultimecia put new monsters here. We'll
 have to unlock them all again!", Zell shouted angrily and punched the floor. The monster
 didn't move. Seifer went closer. "Don't go near it, Seifer!", Kasumi screamed. Seifer came
 to a safe distance and talked to it. "What's your name monster?", Seifer asked arrogantly.
 The monster was about his size except wider and longer. It had long fangs and red eyes. It
 stared Seifer coldly. It had a white fur, but the tips of its hair was violet. "I am Tiden...
holder of time...thou shall writhe in agony.", and Tiden roared like mad. The others ran by his
 side. "Seifer!!!", Kasumi yelled. Tiden leapt to slash Seifer but he dodged and countered. 
Tiden growled and ram Seifer down the stairs. He was a bit stunned, but before Tiden had time
 to finish him Quistis lashed her Save the Queen on its back. Tiden concentrated on Quistis
 and rammed her too. Quistis was stopped(the abnormal status). And Zell jumped on the ledge 
of the stairs and pounced on Tiden. He kicked its head.  Tiden growled again and licked itself.
 Its lick made it a lot more nimble and agile. Tiden was leaping to get Irvine now and it
 slammed Irvine with its powerful paw. Irvine was slowed and confused. Kasumi just stood there 
watching. Then Tiden turned its head revealing its fangs at Kasumi. "Stop it!!!", Selphie cried
 out. Tiden was still quicker than usual because of its lick and it lunged forward ramming Zell 
who tried to protect Selphie and Selphie herself. Then it turned to Kasumi, the weakest of the
 team. Something tore its neck open with a boom. Seifer's gunblade was stained with blood and 
Tiden fell down. "Which ability would you like to release, brave ones.", Tiden asked with a 
smile on its face now. It was free of Ultimecia like Seifer now was. "Limit Break", Seifer 
said. Tiden's corpse faded away leaving a bright light. The light spiraled up and floated 
through Seifer's pocket. He wondered why it went there and realized it after he took the light
 orb out of his pocket. "So...we gotta move on...", Seifer said and put the orb back into his 
pocket. Kasumi looked like she was bursting into tears. She had feared for her life, that 
moment Tiden leapt at her. Seifer understood this and wrapped his arms around her. "Don't be
 afraid. I'll protect you.", he said calmly. Kasumi put her head on his chest and felt its 
comfortableness. "Yeah, but I'm slowing you down. I'm useless in battle.", she sobbed. "You're
 not useless. You're the one who made us come this far. Without you I wouldn't be standing 
here.", Seifer consoled her. "You're so sweet...", Kasumi whispered. The others looked at them
 feeling sympathy. Just a few weeks ago they were still loathing Seifer for what he had done.
 Now he was totally different. Quistis recalled Kyo's charming eyes again. His sweet, low and 
enticing voice. Then Selphie broke the silence, "Oh, get a move on you two!!!" Then Irvine 
grabbed her by hips, "What's the matter, Sefie? Need some manly chest of mine?", he asked with
 a playful tone in his voice. Selphie looked at him for a while, "Oh, Irvy! I love you too!!!",
 and she hugged him tight. Seifer and Kasumi laughed. "Okay, let's move on!"
	All the next monsters Seifer defeated easily by Fire Crossing them and unleashing his
 Twin Dream. Kasumi had slapped him, because she thought it sounded a bit pervert. Seifer
 didn't understand so she let it be. Zell was totally stunned of Seifer's new Limit Break.
 It killed every monster off with two strikes. Then Zell remembered something they couldn't
 defeat the last time. "There's one monster we couldn't take the last time...", he started. 
"Relax, I know. You're meaning the Omega Weapon, right?", Seifer said. "Yeah! How did you
 know?! It was really tough! We had to run for it!", Zell said. "I've heard of it. My Twin
 Dream can't take it...I think. Care for a try?", Seifer asked. "No!", Quistis said. "It's
 too dangerous!", Irvine shouted too. "I wanna see it. And since you could escape it I can
 too.", Seifer said. "We've freed all our abilities so we can face it!", Seifer explained. 
"That's too risky.", Selphie said. Kasumi tried to change Seifer's mind too. "Seifer
 if you care for the world or me...", Kasumi started. "Damn it!", Seifer cursed. "Hey
 what's this?", Irvine grabbed a piece of paper. He started laughing out loud. "What's
 so damn funny?", Seifer asked still a bit angry. Irvine gave it to Selphie and she 
snickered too then it was passed to Zell and then to Quistis who gave it to Kasumi and 
Seifer read it. "Umm...WHAT!? 'Death awaits you. Surrounded by hoard of monsters the 
king of monsters and the essence of the end await. Not here anymore but in the core of 
the new moon. Signed Omega Weapon' I can't believe this! AAARGGHH!!!! How the HELL did 
it write this? And how the hell did it escape Ultimecia!?", Seifer was going berserk he 
slashed the air with Hyperion. After a few minutes he calmed down. "Okay...let's go kick 
Ultimecia and Gale's butt!", Seifer said and they moved on.
*Author's note: Yessss!!! I am done with this one. You know Tiden the monster is my
 invention and mine alone, mwahahaa. Except for the name. It was my friends idea though,
 but the name was completely for a different purpose. It's Swedish and it means time. No
 I'm not Swedish! But we're forced to learn it all the time. In case you don't know what 
I'm talking about then forget it. If you do, then you know how I feel. Not! Most of us hate
 studying Swedish but I don't. What am I talking about??? This is personal. Umm, read on.
 And sorry for not giving the Omega Weapon fight. Yes, I know it was a crappy excuse to make 
it write why it's away, but...(dramatic sigh)...the place where it is now is a lot cooler,
 right?*


Chapter 13 - Maybe I'm a Knight


	A woman was sitting on her thrown. She looked wicked and evil. Beside her was her knight,
 kneeled and humble. He was Gale...the dark lion. "SeeDs! SeeDs! Kurse all SeeDs! You are like
 vermin!", Ultimecia started. Seifer was beginning to think the Anacondaur had a better English.
 "Gale. Kill those that oppose Me.", Ultimecia commanded. Gale remained silent and jumped a
 high somersault landing in front of Seifer. "Are you her old knight?", Gale asked. Now he was 
calmer like he used to be the first time Kasumi saw him. "You're her knight now?", Seifer asked
 back. "Yes. She still regards you as her best since you killed off the lion warrior destined
 to slay her.", Gale answered a bit jealous. "Heh.", Seifer snickered, "Yeah, and now I'm comin'
 for her!", Seifer said, in the back of his mind he was thinking something else, "Lion???
 Destined to slay her?" Gale flashed his wicked eyes at Seifer, "I would done it twice as fast!"
, he said raising his voice. "But I have to admit...you did it the way I couldn't imagine.",
 Gale sneered. Seifer's eyes widened. He knew what Gale was talking about. "Killing of her
 woman like that. He just couldn't take it. And you even had feelings for that pesky sorceress,
 heh. That's plain cruel, hahah! I admire your cruelty.", Gale said losing his calm mood. Seifer
 looked at his wicked eyes. He was laughing. He was enjoying himself. That bastard admired the 
way Seifer had acted. He clutched his Hyperion tightly and raised it pointing at Gale's neck. 
"You're no Leonhart", he growled silently. Gale looked furious, "What do you know?! You know 
nothing!!! Hahahaa! Your ultimate rival was fighting on the wrong side!!!", Gale said amused.
 "What are you talkin' about?!", Zell asked his fists raised. "Shut up, lowly SeeD!", Gale
 shouted, "Or should I say the right side! That lion was fighting for the sorceress, yes, 
but the wrong one! He was supposed to be the sorceress's knight! It was fate!", Gale told 
that struck amazement not just in Seifer, but everyone else too. "Wha-what?", Selphie could 
hardly get a word out of her mouth. Seifer looked at Gale angrily, "Tell me what you are 
talking about!!!", he roared. "It was fate that this lion was meant to offer his services 
to a sorceress. Didn't you notice the change in him? That harlot sorceress was enticing him. 
He was acting like an idiot before was he not!?!", Gale blurted. Everyone except Kasumi
 remembered immediately Squall. The way he was before Rinoa. Distant. Elusive. Socially
 retard almost. What Squall had been skillful in was fighting. Nothing else. Even after he
 had fallen in love with Rinoa. Seifer was going to fall on his knees after he heard that fact.
 But something inside him stopped him. He wasn't sure was it his pride or something else. He 
wasn't sure about anything anymore. Then he found it. Something to be sure about. Seifer loved 
Kasumi. He was sure about that. And then he managed to grasp another thing too. Rinoa was not
 a harlot. Seifer burnt with rage. Suddenly the girl cut in half by Gale flashed in his mind. 
Her were eyes rolled into the back. As if they were seeking a place where the pain would hurt 
a little less. Just a little less. Gale's maniacal face flashing through his mind. 'I admire 
your cruelty'. Seifer wasn't cruel. He didn't mean it. Gale enjoyed it. Gale was a sickening
 sight to Seifer. He found something very familiar about Gale. He couldn't find it yet, but 
something... Then Kasumi stood before his eyes. It was the day Seifer woke up from his coma.
 Kasumi told about Gale that time. She was scared to death. It all came back to Gale. He was
 snickering, "What's the matter? A lion got your tongue?!", Gale taunted. "Just shut the f***
 UP!!!", Seifer severed Gale's arm unexpectedly. Gale growled. But he healed himself in no
 time. Then Seifer began, "Firstly Rinoa was NOT a harlot!", Seifer slashed, Gale dodged.
 "Secondly I don't like the way you treat SeeDs!!!", Seifer roared missing again. "You make
 me sick!!!", Seifer slashed again. Gale managed to dodge once more. "I was just doing my job.
 Like you...", Gale sneered. Then it struck Seifer like a lightning out of a clear sky. Seifer 
figured out what was so familiar about Gale...Seifer had been like that once. Seifer felt like
 he wanted to fall down on his knees again. He couldn't. But he was frozen. He detested Gale
 the minute he saw him. He detested himself. Then he fell on his knees. "I'm just like Gale...
just like...Gale...", Seifer watched his hands. Ultimecia was smiling, but she didn't interfere
 yet. Kasumi was crying and Selphie comforted her. Zell couldn't stand idle anymore. 
"Hey, Seifer! Are you...hkk!!!", Zell looked down at his stomach. Gale had plunged his 
gunblade in him. Zell watched at his own blood flow out. Gale was smiling evilly, 
"Take that, lowly SeeD!!!" Zell growled in pain as Gale turned his blade in Zell's stomach.
 Then he pulled it out. Zell roared and fell down holding his stomach. He was slowly losing 
consciousness. "Urk...Seifer...get him for me...", Zell whispered. Seifer watched his friend
 dying. He couldn't accept it. "I...I won't have it, Zell...I won't have this anymore...", 
Seifer stood up. "I won't have it! I'm a SeeD too. And I'm proud of it.", Seifer said
 raising his Hyperion. Gale looked satisfied. At last he could test the powers of this 
knight. This knight Ultimecia regarded as her best. Gale raised his Guardian Blade with 
Griever appearing by his side. Seifer wasn't stunned at all. He had heard everything about
 his friends. The others tried to heal Zell desperately. Zell was still groaning, fighting
 for his life.
Seifer brought his other hand forward and created a ball of fire. Gale was doing the same
 except that his was an icy blade. "Fire Cross!". "Peist Pierce!" They shot them with enormous,
 but exactly the same speed. The blade and the ball nullified each other. Gale looked amused 
and strode closer to slash. Seifer unleashed his Limit Break. "Spirit of Phoenix!!!", Seifer
roared and was lifted in the air. A barrier shield burst around him blowing Gale backwards to
his back. Seifer's Hyperion blazed in flames and a Phoenix rose up from the smoke. This one
was transparent too and it quickly flew through, Zell reviving him. The Phoenix flew back to
 Seifer and moved behind him. Then it spread its wings, grew larger and raised Seifer's
 abilities. Gale was furious. He activated his Limit Break too. The Leonharts' famous
 Lionhart. Gale dashed next to Seifer giving him a sweep in an uppercut motion. Seifer
 was flung higher in the air Gale following him. Then Gale started slashing relentlessly
 at Seifer. The Phoenix behind him covered Seifer with its wings. When Gale released 
final diagonal blow at Seifer. Seifer lashed his gunblade against his. He pulled the 
trigger with unseen speed and the explosion that occurred flung Griever, Gale's Guardian
 Blade, out of his hand. Seifer retaliated slashing Gale even higher in the air. The Phoenix 
released itself from Seifer's back and flew around him. Seifer unleashed a merciless 
slash-combination Cloud had taught him. It resembled a bit like the Limit Break of his own
, Omnislash. Seifer roared with pure hatred and cut Gale in the air. Every slash that hit
 threw Gale a bit higher. The gigantic specter of Phoenix flew with enormous speed piercing
 Gale along Seifer's cuts. Then after soaring for awhile the Phoenix flew higher up and
 Seifer flung his gunblade overhead, waiting for the moment. Then the Phoenix came down 
and Seifer pulled his arms slashing one more slash at him. The slash and the Phoenix 
stopped a moment before Gale's head at the same time and they all dropped back down. They
 dropped down to the ground and Hyperion cut Gale in half. The Phoenix immediately following
 his blade burnt Gale's wounds. He wasn't able to roar in pain. He couldn't, he was cut
 in half. All Gale did was sweep his hand aside ready for Curaja, but it was too late.
 Even that came delayed. His muscles twitched and he evaporated once more. Not because 
Ultimecia was calling for him. But because the effect of Seifer's slashes came a bit 
delayed. He had slashed every particle of Gale turning him to nothingness. Seifer dropped
 down exhausted and the Phoenix faded away crowing to victory. But victory was far, far
 away. Seifer had used his greatest Limit Break in Gale. Ultimecia's knight. The source
 of evil was still there. Seifer shut his eyes and passed out. Something in his mind was
 still hesitating. Did Gale really die. Gale had said that he can't die as long as Griever
 is still alive. What could it mean. Ultimecia stood up...
*Author's notes: Well, things are coming to an end. Or are they? Notice how clumsily I
 named Seifer's ultimate Limit Break. Yeah, I'm sorry for abusing Squall's character 
and the name Leonhart, but it just all clicked in my mind when it came to this point. 
Did you think this was all planned? No-ho-hoo! I didn't think any of this until now. 
It all just oozes out of me. I was improvising. And to those who're asking why the hell
 Seifer's Limit Break was the Spirit of Phoenix I'll just say one thing. If you wanna know...
wait for my next fanfic. I will tell you that in the next one. Depending on will there be a 
next one...and the second reason is that I don't have space to blabber it here. Or maybe I'm 
not patient enough and I'll explain it in this one. I just haven't figured a way yet. But with 
a idiotic-anything-that-comes-into-mind mind like this, I doubt it will be hard. So...death 
awaits, the next chapter doesn't...*


Final Chapter - Queen of Darkness


	Ultimecia was standing. She tried to smile evilly hiding her wrath and disappointment
on Gale. These SeeDs were stronger than anyone she had met before. Only one could surpass
these ones in power. He was the young lion killed by her former knight. The young man called
 Squall Leonhart. This man possessed the Griever of his family and Lionhart the most damaging 
Limit Break ever seen. But then again what she had witnessed moments ago was against this fact.
 Seifer had obliterated Gale away with his Limit Break. And Gale indeed was a Leonhart, he
 could unleash Lionhart. But that wasn't enough. Ultimecia wondered what enough was. Then what 
was enough if not that. Kasumi tried to heal Seifer, but in vain. Zell was in top shape thanks
 to the Phoenix. The others hadn't interfered with the duel of Seifer and Gale so they were 
unharmed. Now Seifer was unconscious and left were Zell, Quistis, Selphie, Irvine and Kasumi.
 Ultimecia grinned. She knew what she could do now.
	Ultimecia raised her hand in order to lose Seifer in the sands of time. The little 
angel appeared over him. "Seifer!!! Noo!!!", Kasumi screamed. Seifer's Hyperion dropped out 
of his hand. His body was lifted and lost in the sands of time. Kasumi cried over his Hyperion.
 Seifer was lost. What now. They wouldn't win for sure. Ultimecia released her evil, but 
ridiculously stupid laugh. "You are doomed, SeeDs!", Ultimecia laughed some more and cast 
Demi on Zell. It hit him. Zell jumped close to her to beat her up. Irvine shot her. And 
Selphie hurled her shinobou in her face. Kasumi was still crying. She had lost Seifer two 
times now. This time even Phoenix couldn't bring him back. Nothing could...nothing, but death 
of Ultimecia. Kasumi grasped Hyperion and raised it up. "You took away my Seifer!!! Now I'll 
take you away!!!", Kasumi said encouraging herself. She had never used a gunblade before. 
Irvine stopped his shooting and ran to Kasumi. Quistis Drew a Demi out of Ultimecia and cast 
it immediately on her. It worked. "Kasumi wait!", Irvine said. "Do you know how to use this?",
 he asked. Kasumi knew the principles, but wasn't skilled in it. Irvine took the gunblade out
 of her hand and opened it. He took the armor-piercing bullet out of it. "This was an AP bullet.
 Seifer used it on Gale. No we have throw it away.", Irvine explained chipping it over his 
shoulder. "Hey, Irvine stop babbling and come help us!", Zell shouted while casting Cure on 
himself. "This is serious, Irvine!!!", Quistis shouted. Irvine ignored them. "Here take these 
bullets. They are normal bullets. These you don't need to care about. They'll come out once 
you shoot them. When you slash pull this trigger here", Irvine lectured pointing the trigger.
 "Here", Irvine gave Hyperion back to Kasumi, "You can do...!?" Irvine was in a Maelstrom. 
He fell onto his knees, huffing. He couldn't draw out his Limit Break. "Irvine?!", Kasumi 
asked. She had to drag Hyperion. "Do-don't worry about me...get her.", Irvine coughed. 
Selphie couldn't fight anymore. She rushed over to Irvine and healed her with Curagas. 
Kasumi lifted the heavy Hyperion up in the defensive position. It was a little bit 
different than Squall's. She had seen Cloud use it. Her arm leaned on her bent leg. 
Then all she had to do was hold it tight and keep it pointing diagonally upward. 
'Did you really think I could hold this thing if not in this posture?', Kasumi recalled 
Cloud saying. In fact he could, but then there was no power in his slashes. Ultimecia 
laughed and raised her arm to cast Firaga. Kasumi raised the Hyperion and slashed her. 
She fell onto her knees and laughed again. "This was nothing...Now I will summon Griever, 
the mightiest GF in universe. Kwahahaa!!!", Ultimecia laughed with a high-pitched voice. 
She vanished and a massive black lion came down floating. It was unlike Gale's Griever. It 
looked more evil, but not much. It also was bigger and sent there only to launch its 
devastating Shockwave Pulsar. Before it could act Irvine finally launched his Limit Break, 
Shot. He chose Pulse ammos and fired deadly waves at Griever. Griever growled many times and 
then Kasumi came closer flinging Hyperion overhead to Griever's chest assisted by Selphie's 
Float-spell. Griever howled in pain and decided not to attack with Shockwave Pulsar. Ultimecia 
would've looked disappointed but was nowhere to be seen. "Now I shall junction Griever into 
myself!", a voice echoed. Griever deformed into a strange ball and rippled turning into a sort 
of Ultimecia-Griever. It looked horrid with its two heads. One was Griever's own head and 
above it Ultimecia's head, laughing. Zell almost fainted seeing Ultimecia's head laughing 
uncontrollably. Selphie cast Meltdown on the monster. Quistis used her Limit Break and decided
 to execute Mighty Guard just in case. Zell too freed his Limit Break, Duel. He started with a
 Punch Rush and continued with a Booya. Then he Punch Rushed again following with a Booya. He
 did this combo all the time and inflicted damage more than if he had started using more 
advanced techniques. He called these tactics the Bum Rush.
*Author's note: This thing really works in the game and it really packs more punch than that
 lousy My Final Heaven. Frankly I think Different Beat looks cooler and is more effective than
 My Final Heaven. And Bum Rush is Sabin's best Blitz. It looks terrible but does devastating 
damage to any creature regardless of defenses and levels. It doesn't ignore them, but it doesn't
 matter. Yeah, I know that some people call this Duel-tactic the Armageddon Fist, but hey think
 about it. Bums aren't very rich are they. And Zell uses only two attacks very quickly. 
It's poor like a bum and it's very quick like a rush. So I suggest that it should be called 
the Bum Rush not Armageddon Fist. Bum Rush even sounds cooler...Armageddon...c'mon! There's
 nothing cornier than that with the exception of the name X-Death. Besides it fits with my 
fanfic perfectly. Zell met Sabin, right? I'm a genius, WAHOO!!!*
Ultimecia-Griever shrieked and roared, respectively. They retaliated with a swipe of 
Griever's paw. It hit everyone. Luckily it didn't manage to do much damage because of 
Quistis´s Mighty Guard. Selphie cast Float on Kasumi and she was raised into the air 
again. Zell and Irvine kept Griever's paws busy so it wouldn't have time to slash Kasumi. 
Selphie cured them all and threw an Ultima stone at Ultimecia-Griever. They shrieked/roared 
again and Ultimecia's head opened its dizzy eyes. Kasumi was floating in front of her. "For
 Seifer!!!", she screamed with rage and plunged Hyperion through her face then Kasumi pulled
 the trigger in it and Ultimecia's head exploded. No blood bursted. Nothing stained Kasumi's 
face to make her regret. Nothing. Then glimpses of light started to show through Ultimecia
 Griever. Kasumi landed down to be complimented by her friends. Kasumi's eyes were wet. Seifer
 was still gone. Ultimecia had been defeated. Griever's corpse faded away with awesome light
 effects that captivated Zell and the others too.
Suddenly rays of darkness surrounded them. Whirling, spiraling rays of darkness surrounded
 them. Little spots of light started to appear here and there. Distant and far. They were 
stars, reflecting hope and the ones that were lost. Distant and far. They were surrounded by 
space. Then one bigger light shone not far from them. It was above them. Kasumi thought at
 Seifer. Was that light Seifer. Then the answer came. Weird organ-like things started swirling 
around the light. Zell was shivering. That thing gave him the creeps. Soon the organs had
 formed a shell that resembled a bit like a woman's body. The light that shone was shining 
in the socket where the head should've been. Kasumi realized it wasn't Seifer's star. 
"Ultimecia...", Kasumi thought. The form that was in front of them struck fear in their 
hearts. "I am Ultimecia Extreme...", it said with a woman's voice. But the voice wasn't 
high-pitched anymore. It sounded like a man's voice. "I am nothing and I am everything...",
 it kept on. "I am the Alpha and the Omega...the beginning of destruction...and the end of
 everything...", it said with that scary voice. The voice was scary because there were no 
feelings found from it. It was not said with lust to destroy. The voice had no blink of any
 emotion in it. No hate or love. No hope or despair. Nothing. It just informed Kasumi and her
 friends of  their upcoming doom. Like it was meant to be. Like their fight that was 
everything to them, was nothing to her. Then the woman's body moved one of its limbs 
apparently being her arm. "Apocalypse...", said the voice again with no vigor or any of
 its relative. It the magic spell struck them with unbearable power, but none of them
 fainted. Irvine healed Selphie with Curaga and she did it on Quistis she moved on Zell
 and he healed Kasumi. They got in full condition again. The Ultimecia Extreme waved its
 hand again. This time it used a move that left all in critical condition to be eliminated
 by any move. Selphie unleashed her Slot Limit Break and couldn't think nothing else, but
 The End. So she performed The End. Ultimecia was teleported into a flowery field where 
birds sang and everything was peaceful...The End.
Ultimecia died again. The space around them collapsed and sucked into her.
 She vanished. Kasumi, Selphie, Zell, Irvine and Quistis were floating in white space. 
"What's this place?", Zell wondered. "It's the light orb that Odine gave me.", Seifer said.
 They all turned to him. "Seifer?!", Kasumi screamed in amazement. "Hi! Umm...missed me?",
 Seifer smiled sadly. Kasumi ran to him over nothing and hugged him. She placed her head on 
his chest again. She didn't need anything else. All she needed was Seifer's comfortable chest.
 Seifer ran his ungloved hand through her hair. "I'm sorry for everything...", he whispered. 
Selphie and Irvine were hugging too. Zell looked at them a bit sadly. He was alone. Quistis 
was alone too. They glanced each other. They were both alone. A strange feeling rose inside 
of Zell. "Naah...", they both sighed at the same time. Seifer and Kasumi were smiling. "Come
 on. Let's head back to our time.", Seifer said. Kasumi handed over his gunblade. Seifer 
looked at it. "Thanks. You see. You weren't useless.", Seifer said calmly. She nodded her 
head. "Oh, Seifer. My name isn't actually Kasumi.", she said. "What?!", Seifer stared her in 
disbelief. The others did it too. "What do you mean?", Quistis asked. Kasumi didn't look
 insecure anymore. "My real name is Sini.", she said sighing, "It didn't go with my surname 
at all. So I picked a name from the names of that lost civilization.", she explained. Seifer
 laughed. "Oh, yeah? I know at least two things it goes with!", Seifer snorted. Sini looked 
him with asking eyes. "How about this one? Sini and Seifer.", Seifer smiled irresistibly. Sini
 smiled too. "Or how about...Sini...Almasy?", Seifer said with a mysterious asking tone. Sini's
 smile turned into overflowing joy. They looked each other in the eyes. "Yes...", Sini 
whispered and they kissed. "How 'bout you Ms. Tilmitt? Wanna change it in Mrs. Kinneas?",
 Irvine joked. Selphie nodded and Irvine blushed. He wasn't expecting that. They started
 kissing too. Then Zell and Quistis felt alone again. They looked at each other. "Naah...",
 again. Then they all laughed out loud and prepared for a trip to home in the past. "So 
Leonhart family was deemed to live their life serving a sorceress. I'll find out what it's 
all about someday...", Seifer thought and held Kasumi's hand. They concentrated on returning 
back to the past. Then it all faded. They were in Esthar again.
The End...NOT!
*Author's note: Yes, this is the end or not the end it's for all of you to decide.
 Or is it now? I don't have an email address so you can't comment me or anything,
 bwahahaa!!! So I guess there will be another fanfic. Seifer will go digging the roots of 
Squall's family. That's my start scene. Everything that comes after it will be improvised. 
Just like this. So...some die-hard fans may have noticed that Ultimecia wasn't all the same
 like in the game. And I didn't remember that I'll-leave-you-all-with-1 HP-move's name. 
My excuse is that I can't remember all of this. I've only borrowed this from someone so I can't
 remember everything, but I'll buy it someday. And Sini is an insider's joke. She's my first 
big love. That wasn't exactly what she thought about, but what the heck. The name sounds
 exotic enough although it really isn't. And she won't remember me anyway. So to all the
 Sinis who are reading this: Can you remember a little dark-haired guy embarrassing himself 
all for you? He wore glasses. And was a total jerk. Well it was me! And now to how you can
 criticize my work of art. Umm, I think my friend won't mind if you email it all to him. 
Now I just have to start looking for a friend...what? Where did they go? I'm all alone...Naah.
 By the time I'll get this some darn way on the Net, some address(hopefully mine) will be
 right after this arrow-> (is there a www in this one?) galeleonhart@fantasysquare.com*