Sarriss: +looks around + So here it is... Deiling city, just before the witch's parade...

The sun was setting, and the crowd was gathering in the large street. The brown haired girl was slowly walking to the place where the chariots were. She entered the big hangar, closed firmly the doors and came near a small chariot, full filled with flowers: ... black roses. There was on it a strange mechanism that could hide someone behind something that looked like black feathers of leaf. It was prefect to hide herself from the witch and the crowd and make a splendid entrance. Sarriss smiled and touched the engine.

Sarriss: +smiling + ... perfect...

Suddenly the doors open themselves, and woman dressed in black appeared. She was followed by a young man, wearing a gray coat. The girl quickly hid herself from them, she mustn't be seen by Edea nor Seifer. The two climbed on the chariot, and strange music began to be played.

Sarriss: +whispers + The beginning...

* * *

Laguna: Seifer! It took too long... we've thought that something was going wrong.

Ellone nodded, watched the man getting back on his feet, he had red eyes. And anger some feeling that looked like anger or maybe sadness could be seen on his face.

Seifer: Ellone, you still could send someone in the past?

Ellone: Yes, why?

Seifer: the witch Aphrodite, ... she has sent her to Edea's parade... +looks down +

Ellone: Aphrodite? Never heard of her.

Laguna: So that's why she wanted to head for Deiling City!

Ellone: Well... Let me try...

The young woman closed her eyes and joined hands together like a prayer. She concentrated herself on the only fact to send him truly in the past. Seifer's body began to shimmer, in a white light... and finally disappear as Ellone reopened her eyes.

* * *

He found himself near a small house, which looks like to be in Dollet's city. He could hear the noise of a woman, screaming at someone.

Woman: Stop acting like that you little rat! I don't want see your face anymore!!!

Little girl: B... but Mother...!

Seifer: +thinks: What am I doing here?! +

Woman: Stop calling me "Mother"! I won't allow you as my daughter anymore, you're too WEAK for me. And I can't stand WEAK people...

Little girl: +starts to cry + I... I... Mother, please...

Woman: +really angry + I've told you that you're not my daughter anymore ! +hits the girl violently+ My name is "Mrs APHRODITE" for you!

Seifer: +thinks: Huh? What's going on?! +

Man: You should stay away from here, since now Sarriss...

Sarriss: sob... sob...

Aphrodite: Now GO!

He could hear the sound of little foot steps and Seifer stepped away from the window, and came accidentally near the entrance of the house. The door opened quickly as a small girl, from about 11 years old ran off from the house. But she bumped into the young man.

Sarriss: +crying + Excuse me...

The young man watched her as she was running to the port. So that was what happened to Sarriss in earlier? Is that why she entered Balamb Guarden ? Well, surely...

He had would like to cheer up the girl, but something in his mind told him to let her go, without saying anything. Only to do not affect the "future"...

* * *

The fair haired boy suddenly reappeared in the corridor of Deiling's hotel, at the second floor.

Laguna: So how was it?

Seifer: Well... +to Ellone + You didn't send me in the good time, it was too far away.

Ellone: Ok, let me try again...

* * *

He looked all around himself and saw that he was in a wonderful guarden. Not too far from him was a girl... Sarriss, this time she was about 16-17 years old. She's surrounded by flowers. She picked one of them... a white rose... Seifer could hear her saying:

Sarriss: +looks at the flower + White rose, symbol of love and purity... my favorite...

The wind began to blow highly, and a woman suddenly appeared in front of the girl. She's dressed all in white, with a long dress and a veil on her face. She walked to Sarriss, who was misunderstanding what was happening.

Woman: I'm Aphrodite the sorceress, ... this flower belonged to me...

Sarriss: +scared + Y... yes...?

Aphrodite: Destined child... you were raised in the light of life... let me show you the darkness of death...

The witch raised her hand, but Seifer decided to protect the girl. The witch threw a fire ball at Sarriss...

Seifer: +yells + NO!!!!

It happened so quickly that Sarriss wasn't able to see anything, she had closed her eyes, afraid of being killed, but... the noise of a sword pushed her to open them... Seifer was just between the brown haired girl and Aphrodite, and with his gunblade, he struck back the attack to the caster. the sorceress shook her fists and took a look at Sarriss.

Aphrodite: +pointing at the girl + Very well. Then as you took away the petals of my rose, I will take away life from you.

She walked away and disappeared in roses' petals. Sarriss suddenly fell down on her knees, and the young man quickly came near her.

Seifer: +looks worried at her + Are you going to be ok?

Sarriss: I... I hope so... +tries to smile + Thank you for saving me.

Seifer: It was a pleasure... +looks away + but don't be surprised, the worse is coming... +disappears+

* * *

Ellone: It wasn't still the right place?!

Seifer: Yes, but it didn't matter, I've ...

Laguna: No time to lose! Ellone, this time you mustn't do any mistake.

Ellone: Yes, Uncle Laguna.

Laguna: +looks seriously at Seifer + And don't forget Seifer, the girl isn't the same as before. You must save her from this "Aphrodite"...

Seifer: Yeah.

This time, a gate like Aphrodite's one appeared in the corridor. Seifer walked to the portal and entered it. He felt his body being broken into millions of piece, and a blinding flash lighted the area. when everything came back to normal, Seifer was in the streets of Deiling city, in the middle of the crowd.

Seifer: +thinks: now let's hurry! +

He looked all round him and realized in horror that the parade has already begun. Edea's chariot was now heading for the big Arch. He ran to Edea's chariot, even if he could see a little one just behind Edea's. Seifer didn't have any souvenirs of this one, the most strange thing, was that no one was on the engine. He continued to run, but what will he be able to do? History mustn't be change, and it was nearly the time to trap the witch into the big Arch. Seifer could see himself, on the chariot with Edea.

But 7 o'clock p.m. rung and the gates fell down, catching the two inside the arch. Seifer stopped, and looked at the other chariot, who was still moving, there were still dancers everywhere. It stopped when it was just in front of Edea. He could clearly see all the roses and some kind of big metallic wings and heard a strange sound of a engaged mechanism. The wings put themselves on the side of the chariot, letting everyone see a young and beautiful girl. She had long brown hair and was dresses in a dark red, and black, her clothes were giving her something magical. Edea looked carefully at her, not even moving of her throne. The "other" Seifer was still near the witch, watching strangely the new comer. Sarriss came near the edge of the chariot and smiled. She looked at Edea in her eyes.

Sarriss: Good evening, Edea the witch.

Seifer: +to Edea + Do you want me to take care of her?

Edea: ...

Sarriss: My... no, I'm here to ask you something for Aphrodite's future, another sorceress. She wanted an alliance with you, to reign on this world. Together you could fight, together you will win.

Edea heard all Sarriss' words, without any expressions nor words. She looked once more at the girl, with her imposing silence. And finally, raised her hand, a small crystal ball appeared in Sarriss' hands.

Edea: Take this to your mistress, as a present.

Sarriss: What is it?

Edea: A powerful G-force, ... Cronos...

Sarriss: +smiles + Mh...

Edea: Tell her that I want to meet her... soon...

Sarriss: Good...

Seifer (future): Sarriss! Stop this!

Edea: What?!

Seifer (past): Huh?!

Seifer quickly jumped on the little chariot and looked at Sarriss.

Sarriss: +laughs + Wow! TWO Seifer... that's a surprise!

Seifer (past): how could this be?!

Edea: ...

Seifer (future): Sarriss! Look at what you're doing! You're acting like a puppet!

Seifer (past): But who's this girl?! And why is there another ME!?

Seifer (future): +to the OTHER Seifer + You'll understand later... +looks firmly at Sarriss + Please Sarriss, stop doing things the wrong way...

Sarriss: +looks down + ...

Edea raised her hand and screams could be heard. Two young people flew from a high building, to Sarriss' chariot.

Seifer (future): Squall! Rinoa! Are you fine?

The two were laying on the ground, unconscious. The hit of their body with the ground was too hard, surely they were having broken bones.

Seifer (future): Sarriss, what have you done? You've been used as a simple doll.

Sarriss began to cry.

Sarriss: +cries + I... I don't know what's happening to me... I need help...

The young man took her in his arms, she was still crying.

Sarriss: How could I've done all these things? I don't know where I am anymore... help me, Seifer...

Seifer (past): +shocked + Huh!? What am I doing with this girl!?

Seifer (future): Sh... that's ok...

Sarriss lowered her head and looked at Seifer with her big pretty eyes.

Sarriss: ...or maybe I do...!

She quickly got off her dagger of her waist and plunged it violently into Seifer's back. He could hold back a awful scream of pain, and fell down at Sarriss feet. the girl smiled.

Seifer (past): What have you done to Me!? I mean... Him!?

The brown haired girl, touched the blood on the small blade... hot, and fluid. She had aimed very well this time. She was proud of herself, her job was done.

Sarriss: You see... I only love power... and you're, WEAK! +laughs +

Seifer (past): +gets angry + WHAT?!

The girl kicked hardly the young man who was laying down near her. She couldn't hold back her happiness, and laughed as never before. But Aphrodite appeared.

Aphrodite: Well done, my child. Now... Kill them!

Sarriss: ...

Seifer (past): Hey! You're not going to kill me!?

Aphrodite: +pointing at the "future" Seifer + But kill him FIRST!

Sarriss: No way! I want to rule the hole world myself!

She ran to her mother, trying to kill her with the diamond knife, but the witch evaded the hit and pulled out the pendant from Sarriss' neck. the girl fell down on her knees. She opened her eyes, and looked all around her. She remembered it all... the party, the dagger... her mother... everything.

Her sickness got her again, and she knew that it'll be the last night for her. She raised her hand and cast some magic around her.

Sarriss: +low + C... Curaga...

Aphrodite: You're trying to save your poor existence? How sweet...

Squall and Rinoa quickly got up and went fighting against Edea. Meanwhile, the other witch was gathering power in her hand.

Aphrodite: My dear daughter, ... so sad is it that you can't live any longer...

Sarriss: Mother... why having done this to me?

Aphrodite: You would have been useful, but... I can't let you live anymore !

She raised her hand in Sarriss' direction, to throw all her strength on her, but Seifer quickly got up and hit mortally the sorceress with his gunblade. Then he reached Sarriss and took her in his strong arms.

Seifer: Bring us back, Ellone!

The blue gate opened, as Aphrodite was dying, and transformed into white dust.

Aphrodite: It's... not... o over... yet...!

Seifer didn't even look at her, and entered the magic portal that close itself just after letting them pass.

* * *

Everyone was around Seifer and Sarriss, they were happy that everyone had come to an end but sad, because of the brown haired girl's health. The girl was still in Seifer's arms, like she was too ill. She weakly opened her eyes, and tried to speak.

Sarriss: +hardly breathing + I... I'm sorry, everyone...

Irvine: Doesn't matter, now it's all over.

Sarriss: Yes... even for me... +coughed strongly +

Seifer: +worried + Sarriss!

Sarriss: It's ok, ... s ... soon I'll be gone...

Rinoa: +looks down + Sarriss...

Sarriss: +looking at Seifer + W will you miss me?

Seifer: Sarriss, don't say that! I... I love you! I won't forget you even in a whole millennium.

Sarriss: +tries to smile + Thank... you...

A tear fell down her on face.

Seifer: I promise. I will protect you, Sarriss. Until the day, where you'll be healthy again... and after...

Sarriss: ... An oath...?

Seifer: +tries to smile + Y... yeah...

Sarriss: +coughed hardly + J... je t'aime, ... mon chevalier...

She slowly closed her eyes and let her head rest on his chest... it was over... They all look down, about to cry, but Seifer couldn't hold back his pain and tears fell down on Sarriss. He would have like to scream and let the entire world hear him, but the silence caught him. He was still holding her, as the warmth was getting away from her.

Seifer: +cries + Sa... Sarriss...

They all decided to get out off the hotel, until Seifer will come back from it, he needed loneliness, but not Sarriss'... outside...

Selphie: +looks down, wiping away a tear from her face + So it's ended...

Rinoa: Sad story... for a poor... Ill Rose...

End of An ill rose