What was this about if it takes 10 years to finish you will? ;)

Yes, it was enjoyable! And now we’re up to 2.5 kids - 3rd girl expected in January!

Just take it as a supreme compliment that I don’t actually have this story bookmarked - I just remember it exists. Try to get the next one out before I have baby #3?

Welcome back, dear!
I just finished the chapter and I have to say you're a master of little details. I love the way you insert this little tidbits (like the Shumi lore or how they got the not-very-shumi names) here and there to make the world feel more real, more alive. I love that! I think it's the best quality a writer can have and you exploit it marvelously.

I like that Rian acknowledges his and Schala's "relationship" (because it's not official or anything yet. Go Seifer! lol) is on unnamed terms. I love that he is self conscious and wants to give her as much space as she needs in order to not feel smothered by him. I enjoyed the way you split the characters, going from Schala's little quest to the gang's exploration of the village. I had forgotten most of the stones sidequest and this was a refreshing take on it, especially the water stone. I remember it took me forever to get that one LOL Thanks for the memories. :)

Sorphan as always is a sweetheart. I love that kid so freaking much!

And I can't wait to read the next installment. I'm incredibly glad and grateful that the Muses have visited you and I hope we can enjoy more of your amazing work. Keep it up!

Love ya tons!

Can't wait for the next update. Just stumbled onto this story and it is amazing. Please continue it.

Wow… this… I just don't have the words to describe how wonderful and dynamic this chapter is. I love the way you kept changing perspectives from the teen SeeDs to their younger selves. I loved the differences between kid Schala and teen Schala, the contrast is amazing. I love the fact that she's her own guide through the maze of her memories. The way her friends' POV entwine with hers and add little details to her own story is great. Normally this is a long scene, with lots of exposition and can become tedious if not handled correctly, but you totally nailed it.

Awwwww, Seifer and Schala under a tree… lol sorry, couldn't resist XD Seifer is so goddamned cute! He's head over heels for her since he was 4! I love it! And I'm still rooting for him, no matter what Rian says. He's cute, but c'mon! It's SEIFER ALMASY we're talking about here! What he wants, he gets. Yeah, it hasn't exactly been working with Schala (yet), but I'm still hopeful he'll be able to realize he needs to drop the "ass" act.

I demand a lovely, hopelessly romantic and cute one-shot focused on how and when Seifer carved that SxS. I need it.

Overall, a wonderful chapter again, my dear. You always deliver :)

I know it's been long, but hopefully you'll find in your heart of hearts to continue.

Love ya lots (but you already know that)!

This chapter is awesome! I absolutely love the small details, like the design of Albert's tomb, the gang's outfits, the explanation about the Garden's floating system (I suck at physics, so this was very enlightening), the little interactions between the characters, ranking from the sad to the really cute. I was so bummed by the fact that Trabia was partially destroyed :( I can totally understand how Sorphan feels. The reunion was so bittersweet, it broke my heart.

What kind of make it up for the chapter's general sad feel were the Inara-Sorphan and Connor-Zan interactions. Even as one-sided as Connor-Zan might be… for now, I hope! I really want those two to get together :)

Totally loved the little sneak peeks we get of Seifer's activity, especially the fact that he warns the almirant not to trust him. I hope that comes back to bite him in the ass later XD

Oh, and the new Trabian Headmistress sounds so awesome! ;) (bwahahahaha) I love that you added Annie to the cast. Can't wait what her decision might be. BTW, Vergil? Loved it! *thumbs up*

The way you tied up how they get to the courtyard after helping to keep Trabia safe from the monsters is actually very well thought up. I liked it a lot.

As always, this was a very fun, very long (not that I'm complainning!) read. Now, I'm off to the next one.

Love ya!

WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *glomps*

Two chappies! I mean, not that it makes up for.. I dunnooo.. years?! I mean.. I got my master's, a big kid job, and had a baby. For shame on you!

But STILL. Superb work! I'm just excited. :D

Teeny thing. I believe you mean "for all intents and purposes" where you say "to all intends and purposes."

I just love that you put your own spin on what is happening in-canon. The whole orphanage scene was heartwarming (little Seifer! *-*); I feel like this is the calm before the super-bad storm. I can't wait for it!

Yes, I meant all these Garden-characters. I really should read the whole fic up till now again, but since I am working now, my free time seems to have dwindled down to barely anything. Maybe during vacation time. :)

The first paragraph being written, I can't wait to see what you will make of the Shumi-sidequest (and Winhill. How could I forget mentioning Winhill last review?), which, honestly, was always quite boring for me, what with all the running back and forth between Shumi village and FH. Since I have come to know you as a superb subplot-er, this should be good. (Also, I wouldn't worry too much about the dialogue. For reasons stated above, I never looked too closely, but as far as I can remember, it was mostly running through the village, 'Laguna! Laguna!' by the Moombas, and something about hands by the village Elder. ;-) Canon is not so very riveting here.)

Odin I have anticipated for quite a while. He would go well together with Schala, I think - they could snark at each other, and he would still only arrive when he feels like it, which Schala would mentally comment on all the time. (Imagine him coming out for two gnats, when previously he left Schala and party on their own for a Malboro, or Behemoth, telling Schala to 'find something challenging" for him... XD) Except he would be annoyed by Seifer because reasons, and because he makes Schala sad, and would try to teach him a lesson - well, we know how well that goes. And then comes the even snarkier, but somewhat bumbling, Gilgamesh, who doesn't give a flying fish about any expectations anyone might have for him, and really only fights because he would be bored otherwise.

GF cameos are always good! And Cerberus is coming up, who I have the headcanon for that really, he is just an affectionate, misunderstood puppy, who would ask for mental bellyrubs all the time.

I'm so excited for the next chapter(s), thank you for giving us this awesome AU!

elu

Another fantastic job on for this great story! I really liked the details you added to this touching trip down memory lane that they all took together and I always loved this scene both here and in the game really brings out good character depth from Inara/Irvine. Also liked that little interacting between Schala and Rian where even without words they have a understanding of one another. And as always before saving the world it is the perfect time for side-quests! so they can have a little fun before everything gets really intense in the battle between Gardens and facing of aginst the woman who raised them. I also believe that the most evil cliffhanger coming in the transition between disc 2 and 3 will also be one of the biggist twists from the original game if things will go how I think it will (which I will keep to myself just incase someone reads the comments). I really look forward to seeing more of this amazing story and I might just have to go back and reread this story and play the game in the near future SrgntDrew out!

Oooooooooooooh!

Here it is :) I'm quite happy now. Especially with the thickening plot, Seifer being all puppet-y but internally revolting and such.
(Psst, let me interpret this chapter as I want. He's totally fighting against Ultimecia. Totally.)

As you might have guessed, even 1.5 years later I'm still firmly on Team Seifer. I loved this chapter, even though I must admit I have next to no idea anymore who these OCs are. Still, so enjoyable!
(That bit about the Magus Sisters, though? That was just sad. I assume those weren't just statues?)

Loved all the LP foreshadowing. To be honest, I can't wait for Disc 3. All the Esthar-awkwardness to come! Now, I know that there is not much main plot left for Disc 2, but will you include the optional stuff that would be doable now? Tonberry, and Odin, the Shumi village quest... Chocobo forests? ;-D Please say you will include Odin, just so we can get that one kickass Gilgamesh-scene. (Plus, more non-FF8 GFs would be a treat. Somehow, I think Inara would get along well with Ramuh, or Rian with Valefor.)

In all, it is great to have this fic back. I will be anxiously waiting for more!

The best, elu

It is so good to see this story once again! I have missed it so since it is easily one of my favorite on the site easily in the top 10 of all time for me! It did not disappoint at all and was worth the long wait! And now we start to enter one of my favorite parts of the game from the orphanage scene the epic battle between the Gardens and the moving to Estar after I can't wait to see them unfold and how they will be affected with the changes already made! I just can't wait keep up the great work and hope to see more of this soon!
This is SrgntDrew over and out until next time with a shotgun salute!

Uggh Seifer is insufferable now. Can't stand that he's reverted to his game self. At first when he became a SeeD and actually went back for his team I had high hopes for him and a potential romance between him and Schala. Now I've completely forsaken the idea. He's too far gone. Seifer in the game didn't turn good till the very end and in the movie at the end he was seen fishing and no longer with Garden. I guess I'm a little more open to Rian x Schala now.

I'm still totally on Seifer's side even though his actions are kinda making me worry, so hope someone snaps him out of it or else bad things may happen. I liked her telling a joke and making him laugh but hmm. I love the banter and history that Schala and Seifer have, they get each other like no other.

I adored the fight scenes as always you do them very well! I love this story and oh so happy you haven't abandoned it and left it in the cold. I so want to read the soreress Edea scene when someone becomes sorceress! I so so wanna know!

Sorry that this isn't as long as I would always want my reviews to be and sorry that its so damn late! It's 1 34 AM and I really should sleep before the nephew and my puppy want me awake and on the world of living.

Loved the chapter, all the drama, the fighting and banter! Team Seifer all the way! -waves imaginary flag-

Bwahaha really? South Park? ;)

I thought it was brilliant you brought up the fuel source for the Gardens. They didn't bring that up in the game, did they? I can't remember. The Grav lift is pretty awesome too.

And Ha Ha, Schala got attacked by Sorphan. XD

My husband knows I read this and love it, I told him, "Yeah! It got updated! You don't understand, this is so good! It's like reading a bestselling novel while they're writing it!" ;)

I got so bummed about no updates, I started rereading this thing again. Hurry it up! :P But at least this was super long.

oh god really a kenny joke -_- I'm just glad you updated though.

It is so nice to see another awsome chapter for this amazing story! sure the wait was long but it as always was worth it! and I love the little moments between Schala and Rian because everyone needs someone they can let there garud down with. I think the game needed a couple more of those moments! until next time SrgntDrew out!