Rest in peace, Evil Sorceress!

[Stella]

Adel was dead. It was all she had ever wanted and now it had happened. The sudden lack of adrenaline was exhausting. Stella smiled up at her Guardian Force and petted his azure scales for a moment before un-summoning him. He left in a whoosh of feathers and light leaving her feeling lonely all of a sudden.

She started looking down at her wounds. Damn, she had gotten royally messed up today with all the damage she had taken. It was seriously amazing that she was still standing. Without the heart pumping clash of battle it felt as if she might tumble at any moment.

Stella's head snapped up as someone spoke.. to her. Odd... She felt like such an outsider here. Who the hell were all these people? They obviously knew each other...

Stardust. Of all the people here to approach her she never would have guessed it would have been her. For a moment Stella stared at her guns amazed at how strange they looked in someone else's hands.

"Yes, they are mine... must have dropped them in all the excitement" Stella said giving Stardust a grin. She reached out and gently took them from the girl and tucked them away into their holsters inside her jacket. She brushed some of her hair away from her face and felt wetness. Drawing her fingers away she noticed blood staining them.

"You know... I'd love to celebrate as much as the next person... but don't you think we should worry about getting out of here first?" Stella said softly to Stardust casting a long glance at the others.

[jaimelewis]

"Lawric!" Jaime beamed at her now-conscious friend as he attempted to sit up. She knew he was okay now, if he could manage to smile back at her. Nothing a good, hearty meal couldn't cure, she decided.

"Where are we? Are we safe?" He asked them quietly, his smile gradually fading.

"Yes we're safe! We'll be safe for a long time! Adel's dead Lawric! We're in her tower, the SeeDs and us were trying to kill her by ourselves but we had a really hard time, then the three sisters appeared and granted us wishes, that's how we got you back! They let us have one of you back..." She stopped her blabbering, suddenly filled with a pang of guilt. "But...we lost Able and Signe." She bit her lip, trying not to cry. "I'm glad you're back Lawric."

[stardust]

I think I agree with Stella Stardust? Being friendly? o.O It's kind of like when she randomly decided to be friends with Reese hahah
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Stardust's eyebrows eased when she saw Stella grin at her and took her guns. Even if the sisters had replenished their health, it looked like they were still as dirty as they were when they were on the verge of dying. She was as bloody as Stella.

"You know... I'd love to celebrate as much as the next person... but don't you think we should worry about getting out of here first?" Stella said softly to Stardust casting a long glance at the others.

/Good point./ Diwata acquiesced.

Stardust swung her gaze to the others and felt her nerve twitch. "Well, that wouldn't have been a problem is someone didn't trash that airship Zacko brought."

/Ever thought that the plane was already done for when Zacke got his hands on it?/ Diwata added.

"Hey you guys!" It was Jun. "Come over and introduce yourselves to Mr. Gate-crasher here!" She waved at them, ushering Zacke forward with a hand around his shoulder. At this moment, Jun looked like a kindergarten teacher ushering the snotty new kid in. Stardust grunted.

"When I said Zacko, I'm referring to that guy." She spoiled his introduction for Stella. "Zacke. He was in time out from the mission. Sorta." She tossed Stella a hi-potion. She was planning to throw it away, but Stella looked like she needed it more than her. "He's a know-it-all, but don't let me stop you from associating with him." She'd seen jerks way worse than him, afterall. She remained in her spot to just watch the others introduce themselves.

[vanesse]

As soon as Jaime ended her words, Vanesse glomped Lawric. "Geez, I thought you wouldn't wake up!!" she said gleefully in attempt to divert the attention from Able and Signe. She didn't want this reunion to be a cryfest. It had to be happy. Happy. "Welcome back!" She pulled away. "Once we get down from here, Jaime will make us a feast. She'll give you Deo's share too! And Deo said it was okay to have no share."

/When did he say that??/ Vanesse laughed.

"Hey you guys! Come over and introduce yourselves to Mr. Gate-crasher here!" She turned to where Jun was. It was the new blonde guy's introduction session. "That includes you too, new guy." Jun looked towards Lawric's direction. "When you're all done with you reunion that is."

Vanesse stood up and cleared her throat. "I'm Vanesse Hope Yanagi!" She waved without thinking. "But you don't have to remember all that. Van is enough." She grinned at him. "Ohh, andd...We're not SeeDs just so you know." She scratched her cheek apologetically, glancing at her teammates from below her.

[Lawric]

Lawric blinked, watching Jaime rattle off a string of words so fast that they could very well be in another language. She had a tendency to do that when she got excited. Trying to kill Adel... SeeDs... wishes...? She suddenly stopped, her smiling face faltering a little. "But... we lost Able and Signe." She bit her lip with a slight frown. "I'm glad you're back Lawric."

He frowned a little. Lost... ?

He had opened his mouth to express his confusion, when Van took a dive straight into him from where she sat, throwing her arms around him tightly. "Geez, I thought you wouldn't wake up!!" she exclaimed with a laugh.

Lawric smiled a little in her embrace. "I don't even know why I was out." he mumbled. They were being... really emotional. How seriously hurt was I? he thought to himself. He felt no pain at all. What had happened?

"Welcome back!" She pulled away. "Once we get down from here, Jaime will make us a feast. She'll give you Deo's share too! And Deo said it was okay to have no share."

He looked between his ecstatic female friends, and finally decided that he would wait 'til another time for a full explanation. Battle with Adel? he glanced around briefly, having a hard time believing she could be dead. Had he fallen during the battle? He had absolutely no recollection of it.

New guy? One of the female SeeDs was beckoning for them to come and introduce themselves to someone. Van stood up and introduced herself happily. Friendly, as always. He didn't really feel like meeting someone new at the moment, he barely even knew where he was and what was going on. Then again, if SeeD were present, and one of them was telling him he should meet someone, maybe he should comply and meet the person. It might be someone important?

He pushed himself to his feet alongside Van. The guy replied back to her that his name was Zacke, and he was a nobody. Lawric rolled his eyes a little, and at those words decided to postpone his own introduction for now. He had something slightly more important to attend to.

"Jaime... have you seen Nauthiz around?" he looked at the area surrounding them.

---

o.o I'm guessing Ediendelle did not bring is axe back to life too.... noooooo >.<

[Zacke]

HAHAH Zacko XD

---

"Hey you guys! Come over and introduce yourselves to Mr. Gate-crasher here!" Jun placed a hand on his shoulder and frantically beckoned everyone over. He blinked. Wha?! Jun! I didn't mean right now! She smiled at everyone, oblivious to his reaction. "That includes you too, new guy. When you're all done with you reunion that is."

He reached back and scratched the back of his head nervously. What was he supposed to say to these people. 'Hi, my name is Zacke, and you need to know me RIGHT NOW because I'm extra-special.'

/It doesn't sound like something you would normally have a hard time saying./

He caught a dirty look Stardust shot in his direction. She was talking to that gun-toting girl. Probably telling her not to associate with me because 'I'm a lowlife.' he thought, annoyed. One of the girls sitting next to that "new guy" stood up and announced her introduction from the other side of the room. He smiled back and listened. She was a cute little thing. Seemed pretty nice.

"But you don't have to remember all that. Van is enough." She grinned at him. "Ohh, and... We're not SeeDs just so you know."

How did civilians get caught up in this mess? he briefly wondered.

"Erm, nice to meet you Van! I'm Zacke." he glanced around at a few of the other people he didn't know. "Zacke Mercutio. I'm nobody important, just your average SeeD." he flashed a grin. "So umm, I guess we should get out of here... go report that we killed Adel." He looked back at Jun, speaking slightly more quietly now. "What state is Garden in on the lower floors? Are things okay?"

[Gemma Ridean]

"What state is Garden in on the lower floors? Are things okay?"

"I believe most dangerous activities and hostile fiends have been neutralized. Granted, everything's pretty shaken up, but overall stablized."

It's probably best not to mention the exploded heart in Commander Leonhart's desk yet.

Delicately lifting up the arm that was draped unceremoniously over her shoulder, Gemma walked over towards Jun and the nunchuck wielding blonde. She smiled somewhat shyly at the young man. "Sorry. Didn't mean to be eavesdropping."

Realizing that she might have interrupted an intimate conversation between close friends, she suddenly became extremely self-conscious. Soon, her face grew warm and her cheeks flushed furiously. Not knowing what else to say, she awkwardly stuck out her hand.

[Zacke]

ahh Gemma is cute XD

---

"I believe most dangerous activities and hostile fiends have been neutralized. Granted, everything's pretty shaken up, but overall stabilized."

Zacke turned his head at the response. A girl approached them. She wore her hair pinned up and, despite her disheveled appearance due to their recent battle, she carried herself with a certain air of grace. "Sorry. Didn't mean to be eavesdropping." She smiled shyly. There was a slight pause, and she acted as if she wasn't sure what she should say or do. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she thrust one hand forth abruptly. He smiled. What's with all these pretty, nice young ladies? It definitely wasn't what he had been used to while working on this mission.

He took her hand gently with a friendly nod, wanting her to be at ease. "No worries, I wasn't trying to speak with her privately or anything. Nice to meet you, I'm Zacke." he started to ask her what her name was, but the nagging image of Rinoa and Polaris at the corner of his peripheral vision distracted him. Polaris seemed to be trying to calm her down or something, and she was still sitting there without clothing.

He flashed Gemma and Jun an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I'll be right back... " he stepped away and turned, headed for Rinoa.

As much as he wanted to avoid "Tomoe" at this particular moment, he couldn't help but feel obligated to help Rinoa. She was their Headmaster's wife, afterall. It was their job as SeeDs to take care of her, right?

/What are you planning now?/

Rinoa was a lady. And his mother had raised him to be chivalrous and considerate in all his encounters with ladies. As awkward as this was going to be, he couldn't help but feel that it was just the right thing to do. If no one else was offering anything up to her, he needed to step up and do it.

He slowed as he got closer and pulled off his boots one at a time, dropping them to the ground. Holy Hyne... He avoided looking anywhere in Polaris' vicinity as he unzipped his pants. I can't believe I'm doing this. He pulled them off quickly, sort of wanting to just get it over with. After all, once they were off, they were off. He balled the jeans up and held them in one hand, standing there in his tee and a red and white striped pair of cotton boxers.

Dropping down to kneel before the Sorceress, he avoided looking in all other directions. "Mrs. Leonhart... ?" he offered, feeling considerably foolish.

Oh well. he thought, stroking his suffering ego. No one else was going to do it.

As much as he liked to tell himself he didn't really care, he could feel his face started to get sort of hot. Suddenly wanting back out of Polaris immediate vicinity, he placed the pair of faded blue jeans down before Rinoa's knees. He smiled in what was meant to be a comforting way, rose, and stepped back.

Turning around, he made his way back over to Jun and Gemma, grabbing his boots up off the ground as he did so. He paused before them and scratched the back of his head. Hyne, what kind of impression am I making here?

"Sorry about that," he smirked, shrugging. "So um," he cleared his throat and focused his attention on Gemma. "What was your name?"

/You are such an idiot./

[Stella]

Edited because I pulled a Quis and didn't read other posts well enough ^_^

---

She caught the hi-potion easily downing it in a few gulps the warmth spreading over her body.

"Thanks" she said giving Stardust a weary smile.

Stella was about to say more to Stardust when out of the corner of her eye she saw the new blond guy, Zacko or whatever, walk over toward Rinoa. Then much to her horror he started to unzip his pants.

"Oh my..." Stella whispered thankful that he was wearing a pair of boxers underneath. Well at least he had nice legs, could have been worse. Then she shook her head as he handed Rinoa his jeans.

Well at least he made an effort. That much couldn't be said for the rest of the people standing around promptly ignoring the naked sorceress. Someone needed to help the poor woman get dressed though. She gave Stardust a nod and then headed over to the Commander's wife.

"Here you are" Stella whispered to her helping Rinoa sit up a little and slip her very thin pale arms into the jacket someone had given her.

"Come on Mrs. Leonhart, let's get you in those jeans" With a glance at the other woman near by Stella slowly helped the silent Rinoa to her feet. It was almost as if she was still in shock or something. The jeans were a bit big on her but they did the job. Stella zipped the jacket carefully for Rinoa trying to avoid her big brown eyes that seemed like they would fill with tears at any moment.

"Right, I know we all want to meet each other and are happy to be alive and all that. But right now all I want is to sit in a bathtub for a hundred years" She called out to everyone as she let Rinoa lean on her.

"Don't worry Mrs. Leonhart, it's all over" Stella whispered reassuringly to the sorceress resting on her arm.

[junkuroki]

Jun realised she might have picked a wrong time to ask people to introduce themselves to Zacke, chatising herself for it. There were lots of other things to consider too, like the fact that they were all exhausted and sporting injuries that needed mending. It was just that, this was one of the rare times that they had an occasion to celebrate about, and it truly was something worthy of celebrating, she couldn't help but try to prolong it. Who knows what else they would have to face after this?

"Right you are, Stella." Jun smiled at the woman after she called out at everyone. At least there were still a few calm heads that didn't lose themselves to the madness in the aftermath of the battle. "We do need to inform Headmaster Leonhart that his wife is safe. He's probably adding some worry lines to his face now as we sp--" she couldn't finish what she intended to say, for Zacke had walked back towards her and Gemma. He was clad only in a T-shirt and.... eye-catching red-and-white striped boxers

"Oh for goodness' sake Zacke....AHAHAHHA!" She burst out laughing, leaning on Gemma slightly when her bout of unending laughter rendered her weak in the knees. "S...Sorry Gemma...I can't help it. Zacke!" She coughed/hacked violently, trying to forcefully end it, her shoulders shaking with the effort. "I know you're a fine example of gallantry but you don't have to demonstrate it to that extent!" She rolled her eyes at Zacke, grinning to show that she was joking, then raised her glance at the rest of her male teammates. "Can any of you macho men lend him a jacket or something? I'd lend him mine but it'd only do nothing to keep him warm."

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Lex >__<...sorry I made Zackie's boxers brilliant blue haha >.< If it's wrong I'll edit!

Sorry I must've been so exhausted my brain pulled a Quis on me >.< And you know how Zackie was always our star stripper on Cotton Candy Milkshake XD *waves banners*

[jaimelewis]

Jaime shook her head sadly at Lawric.

"No I haven't seen Nauthiz, Lawric. I'm sorry." Her eyes drooped guiltily to the ground. "I'm sorry. We should've asked for it together with you but we didn't think about so much." She glanced towards Van helplessly, pleading at her friend for help. "But we'll find it! Don't worry, it'll turn up somewhere! We'll torture some Dotna if we have to find out where!" She blurted out, smiling nervously to try placating Lawric. "And maybe we can ask the SeeDs for help!"

[Gemma Ridean]

"Oh for goodness' sake Zacke....AHAHAHHA!"

Gemma's eyes widened and she nearly choked as the tall man named Zacke suddenly reappeared beside them, clad in peppermint striped boxers and a skimpy tee-shirt.

The last time Gemma had seen a male with such little clothing on was when Jax was 5 years old. [He would run around their front lawn in his birthday suit, shooting neighbors with a plastic toy gun while Gemma she chased after him with his swimming trunks.]

"I know you're a fine example of gallantry but you don't have to demonstrate it to that extent!" cackled Jun, who was nearly gasping for breath at this point.

Titling her head quizzically after hearing Jun's words, Gemma looked over the young man's shoulder to see Rinoa slowly pulling on a pair of oversized jeans. Her eyes flicked back and forth between the two and she realized where the pants had come from.

Meanwhile, the pants' previous owner seemed to be trying his best to divert attention away from his unseemingly attire.

He grinned sheepishly and said, "So...um..what was your name again?"

The fact that the young man was still speaking to her, despite his current "state" made the situation even worse.

She knew that her face was probably beet red by now as she tried to avert her eyes away from the lower half of his body.

Gazing towards the ground, she stammered, "H-Hi...I'm Gemma Ridean."

Glancing behind her, she spotted Jax crouching on his heels in the corner near Stella and Stardust. "Um...I-I-I think my brother can..um..lend you a...jacket. You know...if you're...cold...."

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Not a problem Lex! I wanted to revise this post anyways!

[lexa]

my my you're all so eager to undress him >D


haha as funny as it is... I kinda don't want him to be THAT nakey. do you guys mind editing?

[Zacke]

nooooooo no worries! it's really no biggie!! >.< *huggles*

poor Jun and Gemma -_- *shakes head at Zacke*

---

"Oh for goodness' sake Zacke....AHAHAHHA!" Jun immediately busted out into a fit of high-pitched laughter, leaning on Gemma for some support when it became too much to bear. Zacke immediately flashed a wide grin at her reaction. "I know you're a fine example of gallantry but you don't have to demonstrate it to that extent!" she exclaimed. Jun was probably one of the only people who could laugh at him that loudly and blatantly without damaging his pride.

Well... he thought, a bit sheepish, standing there with a stupid grin plastered to his face.

His gaze shifted to Gemma, who stood there seemingly shocked into speechlessness. Where her face had been pink before--it was now glowing bright red. Part of him was very amused by her shyness, and the other part of him felt sort of bad for making her so uncomfortable. "H-Hi...I'm Gemma Ridean." she stammered, her eyes averted downward. She was obviously avoiding looking in certain places. It was somewhat adorable.

"Can any of you macho men lend him a jacket or something? I'd lend him mine but it'd do nothing to keep him warm." Jun called out between giggles.

"Um...I-I-I think my brother can..um..lend you a...jacket. You know...if you're...cold...." Gemma offered, fighting to get the sentence.

"Ahh, girls, that's okay, I'm fine." he said with a wave of his hand and a laugh. He crossed his arms. "I'll be okay until we get Rinoa something of her own to wear."

/This is probably the worst first-impression you've ever made. And that speaks volumes./ Iris' voice echoed dryly.

He smirked, locking his gaze on the bashful Gemma again. "It was nice to meet you Gemma. I'm sorry your first memory of me has to be associated with my candy-cane striped boxers. I guess you'll never forget me, right?" he laughed.

He turned away, meaning to address the entire room. Despite his laughable appearance, he stepped right into "Captain Zacke" mode, undaunted by the looks on anyone and everyone's faces. "Anyway, I'm sure we can take care of any remaining introductions later. We should get Rinoa back to Mr. Leonhart, and make our report." He made his way over to where Stella was helping Rinoa, and--as usual--just assumed the others would follow his lead.

"Lead the way." he said.

[Lawric]

He pursed his lips in disappointment. He couldn't see it anywhere in the vicinity. "I'm sorry. We should've asked for it together with you but we didn't think about so much." Jaime went on.

He paused in his search and looked from her to Van. Asked for it? This entire scenario was ridiculously confusing. He didn't have a clue as to what the hell was going on, and now Nauthiz was missing. "But we'll find it! Don't worry, it'll turn up somewhere! We'll torture some Dotna if we have to find out where!" Jaime added, speaking hurriedly and trying to comfort him.

Lawric managed a half-hearted smile. "It's okay. I guess it'll turn up."

A shrill string of laughter erupted on the other side of the arena, and Lawric paused to look in that direction. It was coming from a tiny dark-haired woman. Her laughter was contagious, and he felt himself smirk a little, wondering what was so amusing to her. He quickly found it--a man with blonde hair standing close by, wearing a pair of boxers.

He blinked, his smirk fading completely. All... right.

Finally he looked away, baffled to the point of exasperation. "I think it's probably best that I just stay close to you guys and fly under the radar until I grasp what has actually happened to me and what's going on. I am... really lost." he said, looking between each of his friends.

This total lack of awareness was starting to make him nervous.