(Forget it. Just shoot.)

Tensing, Ultimecia sat back in the throne, waiting for more... she was not disappointed.

(My bullet... The Sorceress... I'll go down in history. I'd change the history of Galbadia... Of the world!)

Bullet? An assassin? Growling inwardly, she fumed angrily at the one who would dare try such a thing... she didn't even notice the gates slam shut on either side of her float, or Seifer dashing about demanding an explanation.

(It's all too much!)

The assassin was a timid young boy, probably about seventeen or eighteen, which placed him at the age of any minor military office. His hesitation showed his lack of experience and the innocence that his nation, whichever it may be, had failed to drain from him.

(Enough! Just shoot!)

Was it coming? No, the assassin was still too timid...

(I can't dammit!)

She could sense the inner turmoil of the one who held the gun much more easily than she could determine the identity of his companion... only one thought leapt to mind: SeeD. Standing to face her hated opponents, she looked about wildly, not even caring for the simple trap that had been devised to contain her.

(Irvine, calm down. Everyone's waiting on you. I don't care if you miss. Whatever happens, just leave the rest to us. Just think of it as a signal; a sign for us to make our move.)

(Just a signal...)

(Please, Irvine...)

It was coming. As if in slow motion, she could see the bullet tear through the gap between her and the presidential palace where it originated. As the flash of the rifle dissipated, she could see the missile's cylindrical form move toward her, pushing through the air with an unearthly screech. Almost amused with the weak onslaught, Ultimecia held out Edea's hand, a shield deflecting the bullet as it careened into it. Looking back to the roof of her home away from home, she saw someone jump down and enter the crowd. It was the SeeD. His tortured, chaotic thoughts were like a beacon that she could use to sense his approach. Turning away from the crowd, Ultimecia sat back in her chair and motioned to Seifer, who knelt before her instantly.

"We will be having a visitor soon," she said with a slight smile. "Be ready for him."

"I shall not fail you, m'lady," Seifer said, rising and checking his gunblade before the inevitable battle. "It must be him," he said casually. Ignoring the comment, Ultimecia focused her powers for the upcoming fight, ready to step in should Seifer somehow lose. Thought flowed through her mind, remembering that the SeeDs in this era were much more powerful than the malnourished fops she had faced in her own time. This, coupled with the fact that her own abilities were not as strong in Edea's frame made it much more apparent that she would have to be careful.

A jarring crash signified the arrival of her would-be assassin. Sitting back, she waited calmly as he climbed onto the float and drew his gunblade. Looking into his eyes, Ultimecia could see something that she had forgotten... something troubling. For a moment, she was quite content to let Seifer handle the introductions, as she was simply taken aback at what now stood before her. This foe seemed so familiar, and yet she knew that she had never seen him before. The eyes held so much pain, as if he had lost something very dear to him in his life... something he never was able to put behind him. Ultimecia's Sorceress spirit was crying out in disbelief, as though her inner-self knew something that it would not tell her conscious mind. She could not make the connection, no matter how hard she tried, and all she could do was watch as Seifer engaged the one he obviously knew very well.

"Well," Seifer chided, his gunblade also at the ready, "this is how it turned out."

The SeeD said nothing at first, his fierce eyes ablaze with the tumultuous emotions that sent shivers even then down Ultimecia's spine. When he did speak, it was as if someone were shouting at her to remember something... something that had faded into mere subconscious litter through her further application of her own powers.

"So, you've become the Sorceress' lap dog?" The spite with which he cast the words upon Seifer fell like a hail of needles upon Ultimecia's soul, for the first time forcing her to feel within the usually protective confines of Edea's mind. Outwardly, she did nothing, but inwardly, she shivered through the void. What was happening to her?

"I prefer to be called her Knight." Seifer replied, and at the mention of that hallowed title, Ultimecia relaxed slightly. Yes, her Knight... her one true constant until the end... she could rely upon him to bring her honor and victory.

"This has always been my dream," he added, and without another word, they rushed at one another, their words lost in the reverberations of their steel blades. She looked on, their swordplay equally deft and skilled, their discipline both unparalleled. Seifer at first seemed to be the quicker of the two, his desire to please his Sorceress driving him to push himself beyond his limits. Bringing the blade in for a close strike at the SeeD's abdomen, he missed, but immediately reversed the strike and caught his opponent's right arm. Sensing his elation, Ultimecia wanted to warn Seifer not to be overconfident... yet she would never chide her Knight while he was in combat. All she could do was watch as he displayed the magnificence she had waited to see, a magnificence that was meant for her and her alone.

However, just as she had expected, Seifer began to get sloppy, his strikes becoming more and more showy, more daring, and less and less effective. As he spun about in a dramatic attempt to bring down a killing blow, the SeeD was able to easily strike back, knocking her Knight to the ground with a swift punch to the forehead. Had this been any other fight, Ultimecia might have laughed at the sheer absurdity of what she saw. They were like two children playing, not yet ready to put aside their toys and mature. Seifer fell back, and he looked about himself in a daze.

"I...lost...!?" he asked himself more than anyone around him. Disgusted, Ultimecia stood, looking over her fallen Knight with a sense of inept disappointment.

"You're losing it, Seifer," the SeeD said, almost with a disappointment to rival Ultimecia's. Regardless, she paid him little heed and stepped forward, her eyes blazing with hatred for the symbol of true evil that stood before her. How dare he defeat her Knight... and so easily!

"A SeeD." she spat, Edea's voice echoing with the force of Ultimecia's now timeless loathing. "Planted in a run down Garden..." The wind whipped wildly as she spoke, as if to herald the ancient powers under her command. From within the very earth about them, the dark forces she heralded moaned in agony as she called them forth, a force beyond the limits of time itself. Stretching the souls of the bygone Sorceresses to her bidding, the very air crackled with the power of her inherited might. There would be no vulgar displays of supremacy... no merciful attacks; she would end this SeeD for all time.

Then, from behind, there came a voice that tore through the air like a beacon of unwelcome light, a force that fought back the dark powers that haunted the very land about them. "I can fight if I'm with you! That's why I'm here!"

Shuddering, Ultimecia looked on as the young girl in the blue outfit clambered onto the float next to the SeeD and stood stoically by him. So, she had survived her demons after all... most impressive.

Then, a more familiar presence... one that had been so hesitant at first to pull the trigger. A tall young man in a long beige trench coat sauntered next to the SeeD, holding a rifle in his hands. On his head he wore a cowboy hat: a ridiculous statement to make in such a period. Standing together, they presented to Ultimecia what was most insulting in any form, and that was opposition without fear. The insolent, arrogant SeeDs believed that they would win!

"I have to redeem myself," the gun-toting SeeD commented, and he cocked his rifle, pointing it toward the Sorceress. Facing down the belligerent warriors in front of her gave Ultimecia a sort of twisted courage, building within her a sense of rage that seemed indescribable to her. Why did she hate these SeeDs so much? Why was their presence any more irritating than those before or after them?

"...the accursed SeeD..." she cooed, and threw her hands to either side, a vortex of energy materializing above her head. Making a wrenching motion with her fist, she pulled at the life force of each of the SeeDs, drawing in their strength to feed the void above her. Satisfied with her own abilities and further complacent with the immediate weakening of her opponents, she began her attack.

The gunblade carrier managed enough energy to run in at the Sorceress once before he was struck down by a blast of fire. Cackling, she waved the SeeD away, sending him crashing into his companions. It was far too easy!

"Impudent SeeDs!" she cried, and with her next onslaught, she pelted her attackers with blades of ice, teasingly zapping them with lightning, and once again bringing forth her vortex to claim their energy.

(Please stop this!)

(NOT NOW!!)

Ultimecia was amazed at how well the SeeDs had survived her attacks. Their defenses must have been immeasurably better than those offered by the SeeDs in her own era. In fact, as she looked them over and prepared to strike once more, the leader stood again, propped up by his gunblade.

(Insolent fool...)

(Leave him alone!)

Edea was given no heed. Rage coating the body she inhabited with gathered powers and arcane energy, Ultimecia/Edea began to glow. Raising her hand into the air, she produced several large blades of jagged ice. Then, with an almost nonchalant movement, she sent them hurtling toward the SeeD, catching him in the shoulder and pushing him off of the float. As she did so, Ultimecia felt a small, almost unnoticeable twinge of guilt... as though she had just killed a part of herself. Silken cape streaming behind her, she rushed to the side of the float and pushed the girl in blue out of the way, looking down at the dying SeeD. He was already unconscious, but his heartbeat still pounded in desperation in her ears. Seifer, having recovered from his humiliating defeat, stumbled over to his Sorceress's side and knelt, his ego dashed to bits with his failure.

"Rash fool," Ultimecia whispered with almost an air of pity. Raising her hands, she cast another spell, this one healing the wound she had caused. Dumbfounded, the girl in blue looked at the Sorceress with concerned eyes. Looking back, Ultimecia was drawn to her eyes, all of her powers useless against the innocent stare that held her enthralled.

"Rinoa!" the other SeeD said with desperation in his voice, "we have to get out of here now! The soldiers are coming!"

Still they stood there, looking at one another. All the girl known as Rinoa could do in response to the wordless stare was nod, gulping slightly as she then looked down at the fallen SeeD. Something was happening... a connection she could not understand. Who was this girl?

"You... love him, don't you..." Ultimecia knew not why she uttered the words... only that there was a reason, a sort of unseen bond that made her ask. It would have lasted forever, perhaps, had not Rinoa's companion grabbed her arm and hauled her away, running through the bars and into the trees that lined the gate. Shaking her head, Ultimecia looked down at her attacker and asked of the motionless form, "Who are you?"

The gates were then raised, and her soldiers entered, all quickly surveying the area. Some of them helped Seifer down, the assistance immediately brushed off by the arrogant youth. Others hauled the SeeD to his feet and dragged him over to a stretcher. Still more soldiers saw to their Sorceress, forming a protective barrier around her.

Having regained her composure, Ultimecia snarled at her soldiers, berating their tardiness during her encounter with the SeeDs.

"Where were you idiots?!" she screamed, motioning for them to take the SeeD away, trying desperately to put him out of her mind. Then, looking about her at the raised bars, she asked, "Who is responsible for this?"

As if in answer to her question, three other youths were led out of the gate's maintenance door just to her right. They were bound at the wrists, one of them struggling fiercely with his bonds, the other two quietly awaiting what would happen next.

"We found these SeeDs in the gate tower, Excellency," one of the soldiers said briskly, pushing the male to the ground. "They were responsible for the gate. Unfortunately, the other two have escaped with a stolen armored car. We are in pursuit as we speak."

Stepping down gracefully and eyeing the SeeDs, Ultimecia turned her attentions to the one that must have been their leader, the one lying limply on the stretcher.

"Take them to D-District and have them incarcerated," she said quickly. "Find out what they know about SeeD and relay all of this information to me. Use any means necessary to ensure success in this endeavor..."

The soldiers were quick to respond, hauling the prisoners away quickly. Seifer, still embarrassed by his poor performance, stayed a step back from the Sorceress and bowed his head until she gestured for him to approach her.

"Yes, my Sorceress?" he asked, kneeling again.

"My Knight," she cooed, brushing his head absently, "I wish to give you another chance to redeem yourself..."

Seifer stood and kissed her hand. "Thank you, my Sorceress, what would you have me do?"

"Your mission is two-fold," she began. "First, you are to find out what these SeeDs know... you will interrogate each of them until their purpose becomes clear to me. Then, you are to take my military and scour the world for any young girl that goes by the name of Ellone. She may be anywhere from nine to nineteen years old. When you find her, you are to bring her to me, is that understood?"

Seifer nodded and gulped, the weight of his responsibility very apparent to him.

"I shall relay the proper command to the heads of the military relinquishing them of their command. You may choose others to help you run their ranks."

"Thank you for this honor, my Lady," Seifer said, and he backed away four steps before turning to begin, eager to please the one the world knew as Edea.

"Find her," Ultimecia called after him, "so that I may truly begin..."

Chapter 46

As Ultimecia settled into her new role as ruler of Galbadia, she quickly made many changes. For one, she eliminated the need to go through the military advisors in order to engage in war-like activity. Aside from this, she had also organized the military into the most efficient search party in history, coordinating efforts with Galbadian military posts throughout the known world. Although she had no idea what Ellone Loire looked like, since no pictures were ever made available in historical texts, she found that she could focus her efforts on any child that seemed to have a penchant for magical enterprises, and her own Sorceress's abilities would help her to do just that. It was inevitable, she assumed, that she would find Ellone and be able to use her fabled gifts for her own designs.

There was also the matter of finding Adel, without whom there would be no time compression. Somehow, Ultimecia knew that the key to the end lay in harnessing the powers of Edea, Adel, and Ellone... as if finally she had been receiving the guidance she had always sought for. In the back of her mind, she could still hear her grandmother's voice, their lessons replaying themselves in her mind during their training sessions. Often, she would sit in her chambers and simply recall those words, searching for the clues she needed to unlock the powers of time and the void. It wasn't until one night, that she was drifting into sleep that she finally felt a familiar presence... one from the past that was so strong she could not ignore it. It seemed not aware of her presence. Bolting from her bed, she raced to Junction Machine Ellone and stepped within, struggling to keep the presence within her mind. As she connected, she could hear it say something unintelligible... something dark...

Overjoyed, she knew that she had finally found Adel.

"What... who is there? Who is trying to speak to me?"

"Hello, Sorceress Adel. I am very glad to meet you. I have heard so much about you..."

"You know nothing of me, whoever you are..."

"I know you better than you think..."

"Who are you?"

"Your new master."

"I have no master save myself. I am a Sorceress! I am THE Sorceress!"

"Hahahaha... such idiocy from one who supposedly holds the gift of the revered Hyne..."

"Who are you to question me? Who are you to interrupt my slumber and pass judgment on me?!"

"Slumber? Slumber indeed... you are a prisoner... captured by a mere human! An accidental ruler now holds your lands, withdrawing your plans for world conquest. Even now I can see your thoughts as you struggle in vain against the man-made power that binds you! Captured... like an animal... by a mere mortal..."

"I remember that man..."

"Indeed you should... he is Laguna Loire, the President of Esthar..."

"President?!"

"Hahahahahaha! Yes, President! You have been in containment for some time now. I am sure that you have seen him yourself..."

"The one who floats by me each time the moon passes the earth... yes, I have seen him. I see his wretched face even as I sleep."

"I am sure you would find it most rewarding to pay him his due."

"I have dreamt of little else."

"Well, my dear, dear Adel, that time is nearly upon you... that is, if you listen to me and do exactly as I say."

"And who are you?"

"I am the future..."

"You are a Sorceress, too?"

"I am..."

"What do you plan to do?"

"The same as you, although you didn't even know what you were looking for at the time."

"What are you talking about?"

"You had Ellone Loire for a time, did you not? You were drawn to her for some reason."

"Indeed... I feared that my time was nearly up... I needed an heiress to my powers."

"That is only what you thought."

"What?"

"Ellone Loire is very special indeed, but her gift expands beyond the power of the Sorceresses. She can see beyond the flow of time, just as Dr. Odine had found out in his experiments."

"Odine knew of this?!"

"Indeed he did... the result of those experiments was the creation of a machine that you yourself tried to use with failure... one that I now use."

"Junction Machine Ellone?!"

"Indeed."

"But how?"

"Dear, dear Adel... that is for me to worry about. For now, I need to speak with you about something very important. Have you ever heard of time compression?"

"I only know that it is impossible."

"Hmhmhmhmhm... For you alone, maybe..."

"What are you trying to say?"

"If I free you from your prison... you must make me a promise."

"And what would that be?"

"I will free you, and in turn you will grant me control of your mind in the past eras... and you will junction with another Sorceress named Edea. I will bring her body to you..."

"For what ends?"

"You will see, in time... you will see..."

Chapter 47

What Adel told Ultimecia shocked her more than she knew. Apparently, Adel had also attempted time compression, and was very close... until Laguna Loire and Dr. Odine thwarted her efforts. To say that it was impossible, Ultimecia gathered, was more a result of the ancient Sorceress's inflated ego than anything else. She knew that she could do it, and this time she had the know-how of Adel behind her.

"The Crystal Pillar is needed..." Adel had said, but not even Odine knew that. "He only assumed that it was the source of my powers, the foolish whelp. No, the Crystal Pillar is a conduit of energy... something that you must find. It is encased inside a giant shell of Estharian origin called Lunatic Pandora."

Well, Lunatic Pandora could wait, Ultimecia knew. Without Ellone, none of this would work, for it was Ellone who would get Ultimecia far enough into the past to change history. She had to act fast, though, for she could feel Edea's body begin to give way under the stresses of the possession. The mortal frame would not last long. It was within the time that she pondered these thoughts while in the past that she was interrupted by a loud knocking at her chamber door. Seifer burst in without word, the look on his face that of disgust and self-loathing. Dropping to his knee, he greeted his Sorceress and arose, a mixture of anger and fear coating his features.

"What is it, Seifer?" Ultimecia asked.

"The SeeDs..." he began, unable to continue. Gulping for breath, he looked as though he had just run two miles.

"What about the SeeDs?" she asked, knowing that it could not be good news. She sat up, looking her Knight over with eyes glazed, like one whom has just awaken from a trance.

"They have escaped, my Sorceress..."

Standing quickly, she slapped Seifer, the blow sending him reeling. He looked up, eyes teary, and knew that he had let her down once more. Not even paying him any heed, Ultimecia began to pace the room.

"They will be certain try to hinder my efforts... I should have deployed the missiles yesterday."

She continued to pace, her mind racing as she thought of possible ways that they might strike back. Certainly, they would go back to their Gardens and...

"Their... Gardens..." she said, a smile suddenly crossing her lips. "Indeed! Hahahaha! Why had I not thought of this sooner?"

She motioned for Seifer to stand, which he did quickly, bowing his head to hide his moist eyes.

"My Sorceress? Your command?"

"Get me the Garden Master of Balamb Garden, Norg. I wish to speak with him..."

Seifer nodded and quickly scampered out of her sight, eager to comply with whatever menial task might circumvent her anger from him. Within moments, Edea had a private link with the leader of the Garden she had not yet control over. Creeping back into her chambers, Seifer sat down and watched as his Sorceress talked with a giant, almost blob-like being on a small screen.

"EDEA KRAMER?" the beast asked her, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"Norg," Ultimecia began, "I am distressed to learn that your Garden was responsible for an attempt on my life. I know that you were responsible for this..."

The deep, guttural moan that erupted from the screen in protest was an obvious lie, but she allowed Norg his chance to dig himself deeper into a hole... in doing so, he would have no choice but to comply with her wishes.

"NO, MY LADY, YOU MISUNDERSTAND... I WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE... NOT RESPONSIBLE..."

"Spare me your lies, Norg," Ultimecia said, "I know it was you..."

He made as if to protest, but she held up a finger silencing him from making any such move.

"But... I am going to give you a chance to redeem yourself."

Elated by this saving grace, Norg ignored all pretenses and asked eagerly "WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO?"

Smiling, Ultimecia said, "I would find it to be a generous act of faith if you were to kill those SeeDs that made the attempt on my life... as well as the headmaster of the Balamb Garden, Cid Kramer."

"YOUR HUSBAND?!" Norg interjected in astonishment, "I HAVE LONG WISHED TO DO SO... BUT TO HEAR THIS COME FROM YOU..."

Smiling inwardly, Ultimecia enjoyed hearing the astonished tone come from the proud Shumi. Waving the monitor away, she ended the conversation, fully confident that the fear-motivated Norg would accomplish his task.

"Seifer..." she called without looking back at him, "are my missiles ready yet?"

"Yes, my Sorceress, they are."

Waving her hand, a large, holographic map appeared before her, outlining the major cities and locations of the world. Two large, yellow dots shone brighter than the others: Balamb and Trabia Gardens.

"Those are our targets, Seifer," she said. "Strike Trabia first... we want to give Norg a chance to kill the SeeDs if they arrive."

Bowing low, Seifer left quickly, glad to once again be in the Sorceress's favor. Sealing the door behind him with a magical incantation, Ultimecia sat in her throne and left Edea's body to the cerebral crown. In time, she would have to return... but certain things needed to be attended to in her own era.