Disclaimer: I don't own any of the final fantasy 8 characters… so don't sue. However, I own the original characters that will place there.
"Squall Leonhart; please proceed to the headmaster's office."
Squall sighed. It has been 2 years since their battle with Ultimecia and things went back to normal… well, almost. Squall is still the commander of Garden, and so often does he go on missions. And also every now and then, he teaches Gunblade training to the students.
Squall then walked from the Quad where he had been to the lobby where the elevator is. Once he was there, a woman came by. She was wearing black shirt and shorts with a blue sleeveless coat going down to her legs.
"Hello, Rinoa dear." Squall said as he went up to her and kissed her on the cheeks.
"Hello, Squall dearest." Rinoa replied with a hint of playfulness in her tone. Squall couldn't help but smile. Then, they held their hands together. Anyone who saw this would notice the golden Griever rings that their ring fingers wore, indicating they are now married.
"So the headmaster asked for you." Rinoa asked.
Squall nodded. "It's been a while since he had asked me to his place."
"Hey, can I come?" Rinoa said. "It has also been a while since I went there. Back when I became SeeD." She then tried to remember what happened then. After the battle with Ultimecia, she had asked Cid if she can become SeeD. At first, he hesitated. But seeing the determination in her eyes, Cid gave her make-up classes so that she can join the field test, which she passed with flying colors. Her SeeD rank was even higher than when Squall became SeeD.
Squall then smiled. "Sure, I could use company. Who knows what Cid is up to?" Rinoa then smiled and went along with him, their hands holding. Once the elevator car came, they went in and to the third floor where Cid's office was. They were greeted by Xu, who was currently with someone Squall and Rinoa knows.
"Hey, Xu. Hey, Zell." Rinoa was the first to speak. Zell was still wearing his outdoor attire and didn't notice the Commander and his wife until he and Xu heard Rinoa.
"Oh, hi guys." Xu said, waving her hand. Zell, being his usual self, went up to them.
"Wazzup, guys?" Zell asked, making a high-five with Squall, which by that Rinoa chuckled.
"Cid called me, Zell." Squall replied and looked at Xu, who nodded and pressed Cid's number.
"Headmaster," Xu said. "The commander is here. He brought along Rinoa."
"Fine, fine. Tell them to come in." Cid's voice was heard.
Squall didn't need to be told twice, and went to the door where the office was. It still hasn't changed. Well, if you call the cockpit at the top of the room change, then it has. Yes, Balamb Garden is still mobile… and so is Galbadia's. Sometimes, the Garden meets up with the other Gardens to organize some events like the inter-Garden competitions and sometimes they meet up to have a massive ball for the graduates of SeeD.
Squall and Rinoa then went behind the elevator leading to the cockpit and then stood in front of Cid's office table. They found Cid staring at the window and both of them saluted.
"At ease," Cid said, facing them. Both of them then dropped their hands and sat the chairs in front of the table. Cid then seated himself at his chair before continuing. "I probably know what you're thinking. What am I up to…?" This received a snicker from Squall and a chuckle from Rinoa. "Well, then. I have received information that another Sorceress has been spotted." Both of them were shocked.
"I thought I was the only Sorceress in the world." Rinoa said.
"I thought also that." Cid replied. "That is why I need you, Squall, to investigate." Squall then nodded. "Oh, bring the team back. I figure it would take all of you to defeat this Sorceress, seeing the report you gave me on Ultimecia." Squall nodded while Rinoa sighed. Squall heard her sigh and raised his eyebrow, to which Rinoa smiled.
"Well, then. Off you go." Cid then said. "Don't worry. I'll have Xu contact Selphie and Irvine. You take care of Zell and Quistis."
Squall nodded and wrapped one arm around Rinoa as they went outside his office. There they saw Zell still talking with Xu.
"Hey, Zell. Come with us. We have a mission to take." Squall said, surprising Zell.
"A-a…a mission?" Zell asked, before jumping up. "Oh yeah! Finally!" Squall just glared at him, making him stiff and just saluted and followed them.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Okay, class dismissed." Quistis said in front of the students, who stood up and saluted.
"Goodbye, Instructor." The students said and went out of the classroom. Quistis just smiled and sighed. Yes, she had gone back to being instructor after the Ultimecia battle. Cid had given her license back after the last SeeD field test. She couldn't be happier. At last, she's instructor again! She then sighed again. She suddenly remembered Squall, who was now married to Rinoa. She was happy for them, but she couldn't ignore that pang in her chest… the pang of jealousy. She sighed again…
"When can I find mine?" She thought as she logged out of her terminal.
"Instructor Quistis…" a familiar voice sounded. She then turned around to find Squall, Rinoa and Zell. She then smiled and saluted.
"Hello Commander, it's nice to see you." She said. Squall returned the salute and let his hand drop to his side. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"We have a mission to take." Squall said. "It is concerning another Sorceress."
Quistis sent the same reaction as Zell did, making Rinoa chuckle. "I thought Rinoa's the only Sorceress now."
"That's what we thought." Squall replied. "That's why we need to investigate."
"What about you Rinoa?" Quistis asked. She noticed Rinoa was a bit scared of another Sorceress and the fact that the other one might come for Rinoa to get her powers.
Rinoa just nodded. "I want to find if there is another Sorceress. I don't want her to dirty the name of the Sorceresses. It's already dirty as it is."
Quistis nodded and turned to Squall. "I'm sure Cid can have someone replace me."
Squall nodded. "We'll just wait until Selphie and Irvine to come. They shouldn't take to long. You should wear your battle outfit and meet us at the lobby."
Quistis nodded and they all went outside.
OOOOOOOOOO
"So, we are all here." Squall said. A few minutes earlier, Selphie and Irvine came. As usual, Selphie gave them all big hugs while Irvine just tipped his hat to everyone. Then they waited for Quistis to come.
"Hi, Quistis!" Selphie said and gave her a big hug.
"Hello, Selphie." Replied Quistis and turned to Irvine. "Hello, Irvine." Irvine just tipped his hat. "Hello, Quistis."
"How's your honeymoon?" Quistis then asked. Selphie then held Irvine's hand, their wedding rings touching.
"It was great! Irvine is such a sweet!" Selphie said, cuddling Irvine.
"Anything for my sweeter Selphie!" Irvine replied, making Selphie cuddle more.
"Well then, I see everyone is here." Cid said, as he walked towards them. The group then saluted, to which Cid returned, and stood near him before he continued. "The report said that they found the Sorceress lairing at Odin's throne at the Centra Ruins. I want you to go there and investigate, if there is a sorceress there, eliminate her if proved hostile. Understood?"
"Yes, headmaster." Squall replied. "Okay, let's get to the Ragnarok."
OOOOOOOOOO
When they arrived at the ruins, they noticed that it had a dark glow surrounding it.
"Whoa," Zell said. "Totally weird."
"Odin…" Squall muttered then faced the group. "Let's move out."
The group then nodded and went to the third floor, battling tonberries and some monsters that weren't there before.
"Gee, those guys weren't here before." Rinoa commented as they finished a battle with a Behemoth.
"Yeah," Irvine said. "Dang critters. Now my Exeter's scratched." He then touched the deep scratch that was in the middle of the barrel. "Good that it's not that deep." He then sighed.
"Odin…" Squall muttered as the group was in front of the door to Odin's throne room.
"Squall," Rinoa said, as she came beside him. She knew what happened to Odin, being sliced by Seifer. Heck, they barely survived battling Seifer. Good thing Gilgamesh was there.
Squall gave Rinoa a half-smile and started towards the door. The group then followed and saw a woman, sitting on Odin's throne. She wore a purple gown with streaks of gold near the red trimmings. Her eyes were surrounded by black streaks reaching her chin.
"SeeD…" the woman said and stood up.
"Who are you, Sorceress?" Squall said, unsheathing his Gunblade and pointing it at the Sorceress.
"Yes, I'm a Sorceress. My name is Maine." She then stood up. "You better remember that name. 'Cause it will be the last name you'll encounter." She then put her hands upward. "Gravija!"
All of them saw a dark ball growing larger. They all evaded when the ball dropped to them.
Squall then stood up. "SeeD… attack!"
The group wasted no time and attacked with their weapons. Squall went up to Maine and began to slash her continuously, but the sorceress kept on evading. Soon, all of them regrouped opposite Maine.
"Her defense is strong." Quistis said after performing a scan on Maine.
Maine smiled. "Puny SeeD…" She then waved her hand to the side and a huge air wave charged towards them. All of them braced for the attack, but to their surprise the wave hit a green barrier surrounding them. Squall turned to Rinoa, who had her angel wings out.
"Rinoa…" Squall muttered. Rinoa smiled at him and then looked at Maine, who made a smug.
"Another Sorceress…" Maine said. "You have a tremendous power… power I would like very much."
"Let's see you take it." Rinoa said as she flew up and blasted her with attack spells that looked powerful than it meant to be. Maine then smiled then swatted the spells like they were paper.
"Is that your power?" Maine said and formed a crimson ball on her hands. "Try mine!" she said as she threw the ball towards her. Rinoa swatted the ball, but was exhausted after that and fell to the floor.
"Rinoa!!" Squall said and felt his limit break. "Maine!" he said before charging to perform his Renzokuken.
Maine then smiled. "Pest…" she then formed a sword in her right hand and charged at Squall. To his surprised, she managed to block each of his attack. It also surprised the others.
"Squall's limit break is being negated." Quistis said. Irvine couldn't take this anymore and put bullets in his Exeter. He then aimed at Maine. "Armor Shot!" he cried before shooting a blast of white energy towards Maine, who just kicked Squall away.
Maine saw this and jum away, the ray hitting Odin's throne. All were astonished.
"Such skill…" Zell said, his jaw dropping.
Maine then grinned. "Now, I will finish you. Mega-Petrify!" she then waved her hands to where Quistis, Selphie, Irvine, and Zell were. Then, a grey ray shot out of her hand and charged towards them. The four were too late to react and got blasted by the ray. Once, the ray passed them, they were turned into stone.
"Guys…" Rinoa said and tried to stand up, but her body was weak. "No…"
"Now, Sorceress…" Maine said as she walked towards her. "I'll take your power."
"No, you will not." Squall then stepped out and went in front of Rinoa. "I will not allow it."
"And how will you do it?" Maine then raised her right hand. Squall then levitated and struggled. Maine then began to make a fist, making Squall reach for his neck… as if he was strangling.
"NO!" Rinoa said and tried to get up, but her legs failed her. "Squall!!"
"Nothing will stop me…" Maine said and grinned, continuing to strangle Squall.
"Maine Mailstrom!" A voice shouted out. Maine turned around and went pale. She dropped her arm, dropping Squall in the process. Squall looked up to see a levitating man with red hair and about his height. He wore a red polo with gold buttons and black pants, and a brown cape covered him with gold material covering the stitches. (AN: if you don't understand my description… it's like the wizard clothing in Ragnarok) He carried a staff with a translucent orb settling at the top.
"Justice!" Maine screamed and made an air wave towards him, to which he blocked with his staff. Maine was shocked.
"Your soul is not worthy of the powers you have. I now shall put justice towards you!" The man said, his expression blank.
"NO!! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!!!" Maine then hugged herself and screamed as black aura surrounded her. "Taste my attack!" She then released herself from the hug before a huge dark ball appeared. She then threw the ball towards the man. The man was hit squarely and a large explosion was created. Smoke then surrounded the place where the man is.
Maine laughed maniacally. "Justice, how'd like that?" She then laughed again.
"It was not pleasant, Maine Mailstrom…" the voice of the man was heard, cutting Maine's laughter. "Now time to finish this."
The next thing Maine witnessed was a wooden tip piercing her from behind, the man was landing behind her. Her face showed shock and pain.
"You have been judged…" The man said as he began to mutter an incantation. Then, wisps of white grey light went out of Maine and formed a ball on the man's palm. As the wisps were coming out, Maine kept screaming. And as the last wisp went out of her, Maine collapsed to the floor.
The man the sighed and pulled his staff off of Maine's body. He then muttered words and white wisps came out of the orb, traveling towards them petrified people. As soon as the wisps went into the four, the petrified state was gone and they all collapsed to the floor.
Squall who had witnessed this, struggled to kneel and look up to the man.
"Who…who are you?" Squall said.
The man looked at him. "My name… is Kail. Kail Stormfire."
His name was the last of what Squall heard as darkness clouded his senses.
AN: Whew, wow that was done. I always wanted to write this but since i was busy, i nver got the time. Anyway, please R&R! Arigato Gozaimasu!!!