Disclaimer: All character, places, vehicles, and whatever else I missed we originally created by Sqaure Enix.

FINAL FANTASY VIII

THE CATASTROPHIC ERA

Synopsis

Once again the shadows of war is engulfing the world in enormous cloud of fear, vexation, and sorrow. The once Great Nation Of Galbadia is once again the rising power of the world lead by the newly appointed President Alexander Vexx. The man with the golden tounge is preaching of Galbadia's rebirth and glorious climb to reclaim the pride that was stolen from it. His goal on the outter shell maybe the restoration of Galbadia leading to the invasion of Timber; but in his inner core is something more disturbing as he is after a power within the planet that will enable him to enslave all humanity.

In an effort to halt Alexanders political march toward the restoration of Galbadia a varity of nations Esthar, Balamb, DOllet, Timber and the newly implanted Global Mecca World Government go through great lengths to end Galbadias rise to its Apex; as Alexanders words engrave Galbadias once great pride into the populations memory.

Squall along side his comrades must prove hes the leader the nation of Balamb declears him as he contents with a dying relationship, endores a conflict exceeding the Socereress incident unwinding in a spirwaling downward vortex of war, rivals, an enormous powerful political figure, and they're struggle to keep thier friendship intact through out the ordeal.

CHAPTER 1: GALBADIA'S LETHAL GAMBIT

Balamb is no longer an island occupied by a small town at its edge, but over the two years it has grown into an incredible city at the same time keeping the Balamb tranquility. The island of Balamb is now divided into four areas. The first area is the beach area where the citizens go and relax enjoying a sunny beach day that seems to be ever lasting. The second area is the residental area this spans from the beach engulfing two fourths of the island. The houses are blue and white the classic Balamb colors that has been through out the years. The third area is the market area that takes another one forth of the island. The market area is an collection of stores housing goods from all over the world.

The fourth area is the presidental buildings. Its ten buildings near the mountains of Balamb in an over head view they make the shape of a star. Balamb now has its own President and senate that controls diplomatic policies through the newly implanted peace keeping orginization Global Mecca. The President Of Balamb was picked within the Senate and his name is Trent L. Bravado even though never seen by the public eyes he has made wise decision that has improved greatly the economy of Balamb. There are many rumors in the air to why President Bravado of Balamb has not been seen by human eyes; from being deformed to being he doesn't exist and is a government conspiracy. Squall Leonheart the Commander and Cheif of the Balamb Military Army is going to find out himself as he has a meeting set up with the President.

Squall is now in the Residental Area of Balamb hailing a Taxi from the Balamb Taxi Service seeing thoughs are the only vehicles able to drive by law. It was a law implanted and enforced to ensure the fresh Balamb air wasn't polluted by the toxic fumes. Squall raised his hand as a Taxi drove by than out of the corner of his eye near the Presidental Buildings was an object in the air. Squall turned around to see an blue airship belonging to Timber assend into the air and flew from the boundaries of Balamb. Squall saw the airship to the horizon and it disappear. (Thats a Timber Royal Airship; this must be connected to the meeting I'm suppose to have with the President) Squall than heard a loud noise that brought him back to reality and out of his deep moment of thought. It is the hunking of the Blue Taxi that stopped near him. Squall ran to it and got in. The Taxi than drove off to the presidental buildings.

The Taxi makes it to the presidental buildings and it stops right front of them. Squall hands the Taxi driver the amount of Gil it cost for the ride. Squall looked at the buildings through the window before getting out. They all were similar to eachother. All of them blue and white with a blue tube through the middle of each building connecting to eachother. Each one has the shape of a Palace with a swirling cone pointing upward into the skies. Squall took the handle of the door and opened it. Squall got out of the Taxi closed the door and walked up on the side walk as the Taxi drove off leaving a light trail of exhaust.

On the side walk starts a path way to the left, right, and middle buidings that lead to the other buildings behind them. A man looking to be in his mid thirties with White SeeD suit and bandana with medals of many colors on his left chest walks up to Squall. The man walked up to Squall and soluted as Squall did the same and they both rested. "Commander Squall, I am the Cheif Respresentive for the Balamb Presidental Sector, my name is Victs." He informed Squall which all this was new to him. Squall has never been in the Presidental Buildings. Squall replied back to him.

"Very well, your directing me to the meeting with the President?"

"Yes sir, its right this way please follow me." Victs insisted, as he turned around and walked down the middle pathway.

Squall followed him looking at the buildings and the nicley fresh cut lawn surrounding all of them. They made it to the first building in the middle which as an automatic sliding glass door which opened once they got to it. Victs walked inside the building and inside had Squall dumb-founded as he see an hanging glowing golden Globe illuminating the whole lobby in a magnificent light. The respresenitive kept walking straight as Squall stared and looked in amazement. Squall saw Victs wasn't waiting up and continued behind him.

Victs walks out the back door that has the same automatic sliding glass machine as the front door. Squall is of course with him every step of the way. In the back Squall gets the view of the other Palace looking Presidental buildings. Victs stopped suddenly. "I must warn you we have aquired technology that nobody but one other nation has."

Squall looked at him strangley, "What country? Everything is pretty much the same aside from Esthar."

"Correct." Victs said knowing Squall would get the picture.

"How did you aquire technology from Esthar? They have sealed themselves from the outside world because the unstability."

Victs smiled, "With Global Mecca's help of course. President Loire was pleased with the creation of the peace keeping government and put his trust in them. When Global Mecca informed President Loire we were signed under the peace keeping government he supplied the exact amount of technology we asked for. They're slowly getting Esthar out of its shell there might actually be another nation signed under Global Mecca soon."

Squall looked on in disbelief, (So Laguna even trust Global Mecca? I must be the only person who doesn't. They're nothing but another corrupt government to me.)

Victs expected something out of Squall but didn't get it so he continued, "Lets carry on."

Victs started walking but than disappear suddenly as a deforming wave bent the surrounding buildings and ground. Squall was a little shocked but knew Esthar technology. Squall followed as the outside surroundings disappeared into an enormous room painted Purple and Black. In the middle is an enormous pod with two orbs built in on the sides of it. On left orb is blue and the other orb on the right green. Squall has seen this before... Victs said "Squall meet the Former President of Balamb..."

The pod opened up "Norg..." Victs than said.

Squall couldn't believe his eyes as he saw the enormous Shumi snearing down at him from the distant. Squall was speechless remembering his distant battle with him two years ago. Squall muttered out, "W-WHAT WHAT IS THIS???"

Victs answer with two more questions, "The meeting was with the President Of Balamb was it not? Than why ask that question?"

"How can this be?" Squall still in shock beyond all belief.

Norg opened his mouth and spoke, "PHSSS! IF IT WASN'T FOR ME ESTABLISHING BALAMB GARDERN WHERE WOULD YOU BE NOW! I GAVE BIRTH TO THIS PLACE I WILL ALWAYS BE IN CHARGE!"

Squall than laughed, "What so this is President Bravado? Mmmm. THey did said Trent looks like a hideous monster." Squall continued, "So how exactly did you survive that beating we gave you two years ago?"

Norgs waved his arms furiously, "THAT IS OF NO IMPORTANTS NOW! THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES IN HAND! HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE NATION OF GALBADIA!"

"Galbadia?" Squall asked confused, (Galbadia is just a run down nation now what threat do they pose?) Squall said to himself

Norg saw he wasn't getting it, "EXPLAIN!"

Victs turned toward Squall and explained "Alexander Vexx the President of Galbadia is a political revolutionist with ideals that pose a great threat to Timber, Balamb, and the world. President Vexx has the nation of Timber on edge advocating the restoration of Galbadia back to its zenith of cilivization... and this means the recapturing of Timber and the whole continent that Galbadia was founded on. This is a big deal because letting Galbadia having control of its own military along with Timbers and Dollets military will be more than enough to take over Balamb. After that they could start the process of taking over Trabia, shumi, and than Centra and Esthar... Far fetched but with Alexanders extremist ideals of Galbadism thats what we believe he will try to accomplish."

"Thats why the Timber Royal Airship was here wasn't it?" Squall asked.

"Correct, they have came to us with a devised plan to take out President Vexx without it erupting into an war on a catastrophic level." Victs explained.

"How would we even have a chance of stopping Galbada militarily with out a war... I don't see that happening if infact they are as much of a threat you saw they are." Squall said in disbelief...

"YOU FOOL THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS NOT A THREAT WHEN IT COMES TO GALBADIA! THEY HAVE ALREADY PLAYED GAMBIT IN WINNING THE UPCOMING WAR FOR WORLD DOMINATION! EXPLAIN TO THE IGNORANT ONE!" Norg finished

Victs once again informed, "Galbadian has increased communications with Fishermans Horizon..." Squall interupted when Victs mention Fisherman Horizon.

"Thats where I must come in the Mayor of Fishermans Horizon would never accept anything of Galbadia, and when it comes to anything to do with a war... Or a war on this scale your talking about... Nice try." Squall respounded.

"I assure you Squall you speak logic but what if Galbadia told the Mayor this was going to happen and being as close as they are to Galbadia they know they would get hit also... So what if they joined with Galbadia to promised that when this conflict does happen Fishermans Horizon isn't caught up in all the ruckus and destroyed. Makes sense to me the last thing the Mayor would want is harm to his city and citizens. A coward some may say. There has been a increased communications between FH and Galbadia. Galbadia has been unloading enormous containers we believe to be missles as a lot of strange activity as been cited in FH by the people. Building under the Mayors Salor Glass thats around his dwelling." Victs finished,

Squall almost convinced, "So how does Timber plan on stopping Galbadia?"

"Galbadia is just the tail of this increasing threat... Vexx is the head... Timber has suggested that we'd take the lesser route that would cause an war. Assassinate Vexx!" Victs informed.

"... NO! That strickly goes against Balambs ethics. That is out of the question!" Squall shot back furious as he continued "You will not have any of my soldier partake in something so cowardly and horrible!"

"YOU IGRNORANT CHILD! THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION WE HAVE! IF WE DO NOT KILL THIS TYRANT OFF THE TAIL WILL BECOME THE HEAD AND THE HEAD A GOD OF THE WORLD! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE!!! YOU WERE QUICK TO TAKE THE MISSION IN GALBADIA TWO YEARS AGO..."

Squall interupted Norg, "Thats before I had command over Balambs military power and thats before I realised how evil Galbadians tatics were... Never will I let my Garden be apart of something like that... end of discussion!" Squall started to walk away steamed.

"YOUR GARDEN??? I ESTABLISHED IT AND YOUR GOING TO LET GALBADIA DESTROY IT YOU BASTARD!"

Squall walked out still hearing Norg yelling at the top of his voice (Why do you care so much about it? You were going to hand it over to Galbadia on a silver platter once before.)

--------------BALAMB GARDEN-------------

Squall returns to Balamb Garden from the City Of Balamb. Squall was starving because of the confritation he had with Norg. He already had a lot of unanswered questions he wanted answered. Squall took this off of his mind as he made his way to the Cafeteria. (DAMN! RINOA! I FORGOT ABOUT OUR DATE TODAY!!!) Squall scared himself as this isn't the first time he had put work before Rinoa. Running the Garden is almost a full time job. Squall made it to the cafeteria. It was full as it was the students lunch hour. The new Plasma TV was on a soap opera as some of the students ate and watched the TV. Other talked in a loud cluttering of voices. Squall than spotted Rinoa walking over to Squall with a mad look on her face...

"Rinoa I..." Squall was interupted,

"You promised! And I actually had the nerve to believe that fake speech about how it was going to be less work and more time for US!" Rinoa yelled making a scene.

"I'm sorry Rinoa, it slipped my mind theres just so much I have to do."

"It??? Whos it? I slipped your mind. I made you the most important thing in my life because you are. I even stayed at the Quad for an hour just hoping you would remember to come back for me... but you never came back. I keep believing you because I feel I can trust you but at the end you keep making something else more important than me... Why?" Rinoa asked,

"Understand I was put in a position I didn't want to be in..." Squall was again interupted.

"OH GROW UP! ITS NOT ABOUT YOU! ITS ABOUT US! You always have a sob story... You might be more open but you look at yourself always as a victium even when your not. I got stood up more than once by you... Your not the victium DAMN IT!" Rinoa yelled steamed as she walked out of the cafeteria.

Squall looked on as Rinoa left he was also peeved at her for not understanding. Squall looked to see if he could find anybody he knows in the Cafeteria. He was no longer hungry he really wanted to sit as he felt the everyone in the lunch room eyes were watching him. He spots a girl waving her hand yelling "Over here, over here." Squall notices its Selphie sitting at a table with Irvine. Squall forces a smile and waves back still vexed at Rinoa. Selphie waved at him than sat down next to Irvine hugging him while he ate and watched the plasma TV. Squall sat down at thier table on the opposite side.

"Well at least one relationship is going well, What have you two love birds been up to?" Squall asked,

"Ahhh you know the same ol... We've been doing good better than you are with Rinoa." Irvine couldn't help to bring up as he continued, "You know every since Balamb signed with Global Mecca your work load has pretty much tripled... You need to have a time out for Rinoa."

"Multi tasking is what you should practice at..." Selphie added, "Wemon are great at it you men need to learn the same. Like you Irvine your spending to much time at the gun range. Its me or the range... Your picking me! So the gun range is off limits to you buddy!" Sephie said with a smile.

Irvine than responded, "Rats! I can multi task with wemon and wemon... so why can't I do it with guns and wemon." Irvine added.

Selphie in a serious tone... "Well have fun multi tasking with yourself tonight in a singal dorm!"

"Ah dang! Thanks Squall." Irvine said annoyed.

Squall busted out laughting "Your welcome at least I'm not the only one."

"Whats so funny man?" Squall heard as he turned around to see Zell walking up to them. Zell takes a seat uninvited. "So whats crackin'?"

"Oh nothing you would know about?" Selphie said making Squall and Irvine giggle.

"WHA- WHAT! WHAT IS IT? TELL ME!" Zell yelled,

"When your older." Selphie added, the three start laughing even more.

"TCH. Fine. Whatever I don't care. I didn't even wanna really know anyways." Zell pouted.

Which made the three laugh even more. Quistis than spotted the group laughing together and of course she wasn't surpised seeing Zell take the blunt of the jokes. She walked over and asked "So what are you all making fun of Zell for now?" Quistis asked.

"Its nothing I just told them a really funny joke thats all" Zell said sounding annoyed getting up from the table...

"Oh Zell calm down you know we're..." Quistis didn't finished as what came on the plasma TV captured her attension.

The Plasma TV showed a military force invading the town they knew as Timber as the new reporter there said trying to speak over the huge military veichles.

"What you are now witnessing is Galbadians enormous military advance into the Heart Of Timber meeting heavy resistance. Force after Force occupying the once peaceful city now turning it into a war zone that looks similar to hell itself... This is the biggest occupying force in one nation since the Esthar invasion of DOllet 20 years ago... This is truley a horrific and historical sight we are seeing today!"

Everyone in the lunch room watched on as she kepted talking and seeing the unending force of Galbadian military vehicles and men surging into Timber. Squall looks on at the images ignoring the words that the woman said and thought to himself in his head. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Rinoa. He turns back around to see her home town in shambles as tears fills her eyes. (Galbadia you have gone too far... This time around