1

Greek Fire

Don't look back,
The time has come,
All the pain has turned to love.
Were not submissive, we're not aggressive,
But they think that we can't defend!
Stand up, join us;
Modern Crusaders alive.
We have the power to face the futere,
'Cause we are the fighters
Just fighting for our rights.

"Modern Crusaders" by Enigma

The doors to the recovery ward flung open, and through them came a visitor marching to where Dr. Karrion was conversing with one of the nurses.

He saw who had come in. "Well, good day sir. May I ask what brings you…" His visitor decked him in the eye before he could finish. The blow sent him sprawling backwards into a bed.

"You moron!" Nida shouted at him in New Galbadian. "You called in for SeeD?" His soft Alcauldian accent was still noticeable.

"Well…yes." Dr. Karrion explained as he got up off the floor, rubbing the swelling that was growing under his eye. "I had to show dat I did everyting I could." He stumbled with his footing. "Don't worry, we sent a team out to finish them."

Nida gave the doctor a cocky glance, one that got the nurse present to back off a few steps. "Sorry to say this Dr, Karrion. But your 'team' got flushed by THREE SEEDS." He held up three fingers in front of him. "One girl, one guy, and one highly dangerous MENTAL PATIENT!"

"Wah…? I'm sorry sir, we had no idea dat…we blinded Squall...we can get a better party after dem, right away!"

"No need." Nida dismissed his statement with a wave of his hand. "I've changed my mind. Tell your kronies they can kill anybody who gets in their way, but I want Squall alive!"

"Alive?" The doctor started with disbelief, still covering his eye. "Does your Moter know about dis?"

"Oh please." Was the SeeD's cocky response. "After I'm through with all this, that sewer rat will be congratulating me."

Dr. Karrion began to tremble, he knew what Nida's Mother was capable of, especially if angered. "By alive, does dat mean, in mint condition?"

Nida thought about that for a second. "Either or. But I'd prefer if he weren't. It's not like I made SeeD by sharpening my pike on human bones."

§

From the horizon behind came more shadows with huge jet packs on their backs. A small army had come after them.

And we're sitting ducks! Rinoa thought with heightened worry.

Still staring out towards the oncoming, Squall was surprised when Rinoa yanked him by the shoulder, pulling into the car. She led him to a large bit of crates and cargo it held, shoving him behind them.

"Stay here, and don't come out." She ordered Squall.

What? "I can fight Rinoa!" He protested.

"Not in your condition. Stay here, and I'll call you if we need that Guardian Force of yours."

He was appalled by her remark. "What?! I can do more then call a GF!"

Rinoa started to run back to the crowded car, only turning around to assure herself that Squall would stay put. "No Squall, you would not stand up in mêlée." Funny she would say that to a tried and true warrior. She wasn't even sure she could stand up in mêlée! At least, she knew she could stand up. Squall was about to head on after her, fallowing the sounds of her hurried footsteps until he heard a thump on the roof above him. He crouched down behind the boxes and whatnot, listening intently as the thumps gathered more footfalls.

As fast as she could, Rinoa entered the car where the rest where, still crowded around each other. Sly was barely able to fit. It was hard to get a word in with all the talking. Eventually, Rinoa shouted out that the Galbadians were tailing them. Absolute panic swept out.

Seifer, whom had hid by one of the corners, unsheathed Perish, heading to the door that led out of the car.

Rinoa stopped him. "What do you think you're doing Seifer?" She spoke in Alcauldian.

"Oh, what does it look like!" He scowled back. "I'm going to test this new blade out on the field! FUJIN! RAIJIN!" He called to his lackeys. Obediently, they came, pushing through the crowd. Raijin held up his staff, and Fujin, her pinwheel. Rinoa saw no need to keep them back. The three left the car.

With Seifer climbing the ladder of the car first, he was met with a horrid surprise when a dagger zinged past his cheek, burying itself in the roof in front. Looking behind him quickly, Seifer saw that there were already three people closing the distance.

He hauled himself up, brandishing Perish. "Müra skrati ðnava? Üressi nir!" You wanna fight? Come get me!

One of the attackers, wearing only street clothes, jumped over to his car, brandishing his own short staff. The attacker swung it at Seifer, nearly knocking him off the train. The two others fallowed, bringing their weapons out. All Seifer could do at the moment was block them with Perish. A tricky thing, since Perish was still very heavy in his hands. Raijin and Fujin fallowed quickly, evening out the score, but more of the assailants were dropping from they sky. One look up, and Seifer could see they were using Galbadian turbine jet packs, with the attackers being dropped by Galbadian soldiers!

The huge numbers of attackers were thickening rapidly. It was surprising that so many could stand on the moving train without shoving someone off. Seifer and his posse were nearly pushed off the edge themselves by the wave of weapons and numbers before them.

From below them, Quistis, Selphie, and Zell stepped out, amazed at how the rooftops looked to be crowded with people.

Selphie lifted up her hand, as if reaching for something. "Malthun!" Aero A small twister of wind congregated by those that had swamped the top of the ladder. The small spell of wind was not lethal enough to kill them, but it blew the balance of those it hit, toppling them. Those that were nearest to the edge fell right off. Quistis looked down in shock as she saw one of the attackers hit the tracks. The train jumped violently as it ran over his body. Several others were thrown off, some of which caught the end of the roof. Raijin was one of those few fortunate people, but shivered as he heard the screams of those who weren't so lucky.

From further down in the front of the train: the passenger cars, several people heard the commotion, but thought it only birds. As for the bump, it did not pass their minds too much, probably just another small rock on the tracks.

The three SeeDs plunged into the fight. Many of the attackers didn't see them until they had gotten completely on the roof.

Inside the car, all the noise from them died down as the fight continued. Angelo growled softly by Rinoa's heels, but managed to compose herself. Irvine aimed his gun at the roof. He fired, the live bullet going right through the roof.

The bullet nearly hit Quistis in the foot. "Vjassirêl, Irvine!" Irvine, watch it!

Not hearing her over the din, he fired again. This time, the bullet hit one of the attackers in the leg. In pain, she stumbled, not being able to see Fujin before she cut her head off. The body was eventually tossed over by the mêlée. Irvine fired several more times. Two of them hit attackers, but, it was not long before one of the attackers took out his own handgun and fired into the car. The bullets hit two Forest Owls, and Deacon. One of the Forest Owls, Brine, fell dead, for he had been shot right in the middle of his bald head.

It would have not taken that shot to realize that it was no longer safe standing around waiting to be shot themselves. Everyone, excluding Sly, fanned out into the next car ahead of them. Irvine had to brace himself to a wall in order not to get swept away in the tide of Forest Owls.

The last of the assailants seemed to have dropped, but circumstances upon the train were getting rather harsh. Seifer, although he managed to swing the cumbersome Perish, had been slashed in several places; his blood was making the train roof slick. It was Selphie whom healed his wounds quickly with magic, before he was assaulted again. Fujin stopped fighting only to help her brother up.

An attacker found no obstacle approaching her back, stabbing her in the shoulder. She screamed with the sudden agony, heard by the company, heard by those below, but disregarded by passengers as more birds. Jumping to her aid came Quistis, flailing her whip at the attacker. The hit was successful, and the attacker was pushed into the mêlée again. Aiding Fujin, they both managed to pull Raijin's heavy body up. Quistis wanted to check the stab wound on the other woman, but knew that then was not the time.

None of them, not even their own team, saw a couple of the assailants sneaking away to the back of the train.

Still huddled behind the cargo, Squall nearly flinched when he heard the fighting start, heard the shots, felt the bump from the fallen body. Some of the items from their cargo jumped loose.

"Squall! The bottles are breaking!" Squeeked Strychnine. She sounded rather panicked that the contents may be poisonous.

Depends on what's in the bottles. Squall assured.

"They're a funny script, but I know them!"

You can read?

The contents were written on them in Dollet script, and Strychnine read them off: Neatiquéla: quicklime. About to reach out to locate that bottle, Squall was stopped by a pair of loud thuds at the very back of the train. He hid his head in reaction as two of the assailants entered the car. Both of them were armed.

"Inwa'ooqall machatahuk ikoo?" See anything? One of them asked the other.

"Éooiqwí, banach ía qwinpannut." Relax, they'll be here. Replied the other.

"Nhuké toosakumin iqappínm ía qwichannu! Hanaq qilla ukulkwé achwaa!" Those damn Owls better be here! I'm not going way empty handed!

The more temperamental of the duo flailed his hand around the car. "Nyqalloo!" Search this place! The two began to shuffle around the cargo. Squall held his breath the best he could.

"Take them out Appalling Pace!" Cloak demanded. "This is just annoying!"

Oh, damn! He scowled at the voice. Not now! Leave me your forwarding address and I'll get back to you!

"Get Strychnine! Liquefy the bastards!" Squall found it hard not to agree with the logic.

Irvine had clamoured onto the train's roof several cars away from the fight. He took aim with a much better view, taking out two of the attackers, only to have four of them zero in on him.

Rushing towards him, they had their daggers and hatches raised. Irvine attempted at shooting one of them, but the rest advance regardless, confident that the sniper would falter at close rang. They would not be far off on that assumption. Irvine held still as they neared, not moving at all, just sitting…. and pacing himself. Closer to him, the assailents could have sworn they saw something flash in his eyes like a swinging lantern.

One of the attackers jumped as soon as a small, dark hole materialized in front of him, too dark to be a hole in the roof, and to regular to be a natural imperfection. The remaining three received a nasty surprise when a little bald green thing popped out of that hole, a scalpel in one hand and a lantern in the other; a dirty brown woollen robe covered its body. The little creature's eyes were glowing a steady and haunting yellow. The three attackers scrambled away from the tiny thing in fright, but the little creature proved to be faster then what they thought, landing on the back of one of the attackers and stabbing him in the back. Not having any other reason to be around, Toneberry disappeared back into its hole.

Several of the Forest Owls, including Rinoa, had refused to stay below, just waiting for another bullet shower. Red Hawk nearly fell off the moving train when he recognized the attackers.

"Forest Bears!"

"Forest Bears?" Irvine started. "Who're the Forest…"

"Questions come later!" Snapped Rinoa, running off with Angelo, Red Hawk, Brix, Mordechai, Spytz, and two others by the name of Grouter and Markus, behind her.

The two Forest Bears that had witnessed Toneberry, returned to the fight with fanatic cries. Many of the group stopped. Zell took full advantage of this. Decking a few of the Bears to their deaths. He was stained with his blood and the blood of others, reeking of death and sweat. So far, they were putting up a good fight for being so desperately outnumbered. Zell took a shot at a larger of the Bears in front of him, only to have his fist stopped by his gigantic hand. Looking up, he gasped in awe and shock as the face of the giant mercenary glared down at him, the same one from the Domane house thought to be dead. Through all this, the grassy forest plains bellow the tracks gave way to beach, and gave way to ocean.

With a sadistic smile on him, the mercenary grabbed Zell by the neck, lifting him upwards as before. That time, he did not boast by giving a simple one liner, but threw Zell across the tops of the cars, landing only a couple of feet away from a startled Irvine, and hitting an even more startled Rinoa.

Still inside the car, the two of the Forest Bears continued to rummage as Squall listened in on them from behind a smaller crate, his limbs feeling soft and spongy as he tried his best to keep them firmly in place. One of the Bears, some guy with smokey red hair and a left arm that was completely missing, started to move towards him, a dagger at his side. Squall shivered on his position, the miniscule cramp in his stomach that had been twirling around started to recede, but that still left him with very few open options, and even less debate as Cloak was continuing to criticize his lack of action.

The Bear pushed the crate aside, spilling out its contents of naptha, a substance that was used to waterproof canvas. Since he had no sense of smell, Squall was not hindered by the reek, as for the two Forest Bears…

"Hey, Virn!" Shouted the one armed stranger to the other Forest Bear, his smile nearly blinding as he looked down at a very sickly looking human being. "Look what I found."

The one named Virn came over at the mention of his name. "Not our problem. Looks like it'll keel over soon anyway."

It?! Screeched Squall inwardly. Was he that bad that it was hard to discern his gender? Or were they just that ignorant? Stupid jackasses! I'm goddamn male! How'd you like to be 'its' just as soon as I rip your nads off?!

"Atta boy! Two eyes and an ear for an eye!" Cheered Cloak. As if agreeing with her, Squall began to snarl like a mad badger.

"Behind you!" Snapped Strychnine. "They are standing right behind your back!" Squall turned around with close directions form his GF, looking directly up at the enemy. Hazy, dead eyes rendering their spines a'shivering.

The two Forest Bears backed off a few steps. "Damn! This persons must be rabid!" The one armed Bear assumed.

"We should kill it and throw it in the water before someone is infected." Agreed Virn, obviously more concerned then his partner.

One-arm came in fast, straddling Squall's hips with is hands. While attempting to struggle vainly, Virn held out his hatchet, aiming to smash his head. As the dinted and rusted old blade of the small axe came down, Squall's hands came up, grabbing Virn's arm. The intense grip surprised the Bear greatly as the spindly white fingers locked around bone with all the power of eagle's talons. Faster then One-arm could catch up, Squall threw Virn against the opposite wall, busting crates and splintering the side of the train, a little more force, and he could have thrown the Forest Bear clear through the car.

Snapping his back into an arch, he grabbed One-arm by the neck, forcing him to let go of his waist. Swinging him over his head, he slammed One-arm against the floor, breaking several crates and their contents. Weird coloured fluids that probably reeked something fierce flooded all around One-arm, even solids spilled out, mixing with the liquids.

Gaining a little composure, Virn leapt forward with his hatchet at defence. Squall disarmed him merely by slapping the small axe out of his hand. Surprised at the lack of his weapon, he looked down into his empty hands only to have Squall deliver a nasty left hook to his chin. While still stumbling backwards, he was rammed into the floor. Both Strychnine and Cloak were giving directions to where he could snatch his hatchet, and he found it. Virn didn't stand a chance as the SeeD started hacking away at his neck.

Seven hacks, and Virn's head was only holding onto his body by several sinews of muscle. Beside him, One-arm was still unconscious, and was most likely dead. Just to make sure, Squall swiped the dagger that was held fast in the only hand of the Forest Bear, and dircted by Cloak, buried the blade into his forehead.

If you're not dead, Sneered Squall, then you're too stupid to realize it.

Puddling around his bare feet were the fluids and powders of quicklime and nappha, and some, not-so flammable. Passenger cargo was most likely in smaller compartments under the passenger cars, so the cargo that had just been smashed were industrial or commercial goods. They came with labels of all sorts of symbols and languages, but most of them; Strychnine could read. All of the ones recognizable to her, she deciphered to him.

The car held an emergency fire hydrant by the door. Squall, feeling around with his hands, took the heavy red object off its stand and proceeded to empty it. Foam soon covered the entire floor, along with the chemicals. Once empty, Strychnine lead him to the unbroken bottles and untarnished bags of the chemicals and powders she recognized, and mixed them into the empty fire hydrant.

Rinoa pushed Zell off of her unceremoniously, concerned for the lesser experienced Forest Owls who had gotten in the fight. She used whatever healing spell she could concoct on short notice on her visible team. Unlike everyone else, she did not have to recite the spell's names, they obeyed the very whim of the Sorceress.

A couple of Forest Bears threw more daggers. Though easily dodged, they were met with two Bears. One was a blond woman with a mace, and the third was a dark brunette girl, only around fourteen or some, who had a large hook. The mace woman came up right in front of Rinoa, raising her weapon above her. It was an easy block for the sorceress to make, but had froze under the pressure. The mace was spiked with hideous looking stakes that looked like they could rip out part of her brain. In short, it looked painful. It was all in her to scream and cover her head, just like she would have. But no, she had seen a lot of gore in the past…she had lost count for the longest time. But she was a sorceress, she didn't have to hide, didn't have to scream, didn't have to run away. She could do it.

Looking up at the mace for a quick glance told her otherwise. Oh, how she hated blood, especially if it was her own.

Damn! Even dogs don't cower like this! She told herself in distaste.

The blonde brought her mace down. In reaction, Rinoa shouted in high earnest. "Down girl!" Her palm was flung before her, as if the opposer would back down. Oddly, she did, her mace slipping from her fingers that arched in arthritic fashion. Her head snapped back as she let out a yelp, her tongue flickered out of her mouth, her teeth barred in a snarl, even as she folded her rabidly thinning arms against her cracking ribs. Rinoa was caught in a gasp as she stared at the girl shrinking before her. Her teeth started to elongate, grow sharp, her ears grew much bigger, her eyes started to become large and beady, and her hair started to fall out. A cloud of green magic appeared around the shrinking victim, lifting to reveal a Chihuahua dog yipping at her, human clothes still hung over the small dog's back.

I didn't know I could do that!

The dog leapt at her, but was tackled by an ever-vigilant Angelo. The small Chihuahua was no match for the larger, and she was forced to flee, her hairless tail dangled between her legs as Angelo held her head up high. Irvine saw what Rinoa had done, and was both in awe and terror. She had just turned a human being into a dog! For a split second, he had let his guard down, and the other girl dug the end of her hook into his left shoulder.

Oblivious to what happened, Irvine screamed as the rusted metal impaled muscle and bone. He flailed his hands about. The younger girl let go of the hook, staring proudly at it, still stuck in the shoulder of the enemy. Her victory was very short lived, as her head was smashed into the car roof with a very heavy fire hydrant, a heavy spray of blood and bone showed all around, soaking train, hydrant, and Squall. He lifted the fire hydrant up; staring blindly forward at the mêlée two cars down with a cold glare that could inflict worse damage then just turning someone into a dog. Rinoa had to admit, she was sure glad that he wasn't staring at her like that, even if she knew he wouldn't be able to see her. What a lucky shot that was to hit his target on first try. Or was it luck at all? All the while, Zell had gotten to Irvine's side, pulling out the lodged hook. Irvine cried out again as he felt the hook separate from his torn shoulder.

"Hey man." Started Zell with concern, throwing the hook away. "I can heal the flesh wound, but I don't know about that bone…"

"It's fine." Irvine wheezed, putting a hand on his aching limb. "As long as this thing doesn't get infected."

Rinoa moved away a little as Squall stepped forward, stern and regal, not even a hand was held out to feel for obstacles. The fire hydrant, he held out in front of him. Not a single one of the fighter's were aware of his intentions, nor his presence. Rinoa was about to let Squall go ahead with whatever he had in mind, until she remembered who else was in the brawl.

"Squall! Wait…!" She held her hand out as to grab him and pull him back, but it was of no avail. Squall shot his chemical concoction out in the form of Greek fire. The fire sprayed forth as it were merely just of water, hitting anyone who was unlucky enough to be closest to him. Most of those on fire leapt off the train and into the sea. Many of the Bears flung themselves over the rail of the roof and into the car below to escape the spray of Greek fire.

"They're gone now," Strychnine began to him, "but stay where you are. The fire is chemical, and it's leaping!"

The spray started to drip through the bullet holes in the roof. Sly warked and flapped franticly about before he got the best idea to head where the rest of the Forest Owls were. Behind him, the floor started to ignite.

Before Squall was laid a carpet of greasy chemicals and leaping flames, completely separating him from the others.

"The freaks are running scared." Cackled Cloak. "See. Who needs eyes." Her insane laughter was contagious, and Squall unknowingly joined her.

Though it seamed they were outmatched by sheer power, the Forest Bears remaining on the top of the train did not back off, but stared directly at Squall and vice versa. But none with more determination then the huge mercenary. He laughed at the fire before him, stepping forth to challenge it. The flames, though violent, did not hurt him.

"Someones coming." Strychnine warned. "The fire isn't hurting him."

Squall was scared for a second, but only for a second, before hitting him with another splash of Greek fire. The chemicals soaked him, holding their fire fast to him, but he was not flailing in the least. Rinoa, Zell, and a crouching Irvine shuddered as they saw a man cloaked in violent fire walk towards them, even Angelo whimpered, hiding behind her owner. Squall stood firm, emptying the contents of the fire hydrant. He threw the empty canister away, unknowingly hitting the man in the face. That mercenary was knocked onto his back by the blow. For a second, he was hidden by the fire, but slowly climbed to his feet. Faithfully, Zell leapt to Squall's side, ready to fight the living fire ball if need be.

He did not come any closer then the middle of the flames.

Strychnine warned her Father of this. "He's in the center of the fire. Just standing there. No, wait..."

Holding his hands up high, the flames engulfing his body leapt upwards to form a geyser of fire. The thin bottle neck of flame danced and flickered about as it swelled in two places, coming together to explode in a shower of sparks, revealing a slight feminine figure.

The figure boasted a body much like the slim and saucy ice maiden Shiva. But her hair leaped upwards from her head. Her hands and feet were covered in glowing brimstone, her skin was charred red, and her eyes were a deep maroon. The woman was not doubt a Guardian Force.

Strychnine screached as she appeared. "Harboured Will!"

"Damn Harboured Will!" Cursed Cloak.

No wonder the fire didn't hurt him. Thought Squall, seemingly knowing what a 'Harboured Will' was. He probably hiked his stamina with enough fire magic to make himself immune to he heat, or absorb it!

The mercenary no longer had a fiery coat about him, but still hung wet with chemicals. He shouted an order to his Guardian Force, and she willingly gathered to her embers and leaping fire. Her brimstone hands glowing even brighter. Irvine and Zell braced themselves for an inevitable hit of roaring fire, while Rinoa shielded her dog as best she could from the blast, giving her a shell barrier to keep as much of the fire off of her as well.

The fire maiden released her ball of wicked flame. Futiley, Irvine held his hands out in front of him, expecting a rather hot and heavy blow.

A fast moving snake-like, punk of a beast came in between them and the fire ball, stopping it with a breath of dark green electricity that sprayed out of its skeletal maw.

This is unexpected. Thought Zell, looking at the back of the creature. "Hey, Squall," he started towards the scraggly boy. "Didn't know your new GF could counter like that."

"I didn't summon her." Replied Squall rather quietly, still looking at forward. The fire GF continued to pour her power into her inferno ball, straining from the effort. Strychnine's own countering electricity overpowered the inferno ball, enveloping it in green sparks impossibly dim for electricity. Giving up, the fire maiden let go of her attack, letting it get swallowed up in the green. She then, disappeared back to her host.

His surprise attack was botched. The mercenary cursed in Valoo towards Squall. The fires around him began to die down, but he did not leap for an attack.

"No figgn' way he's goinna summon that bitch again!" Cloak yelled. Squall concurred with her, holding up both his hands, palms facing upwards. A beam of light shot up from his left palm, and a flame of eerie green, black, and purple shot up from his right.

The Forest Bears present were too awe struck to move. But, the foreigners knew what was to be expected, even the Forest Owls present were sceptical, and they flung themselves into the car bellow.

With no offerable weapon, Squall knew that he had to rely on his magic. Two spells, he held at the ready, two spells he had made a notorious combo.

"Ylþ!" Zombie! The first spell he threw like a ball, striking the mercenary right in the face. His skin began to rot at the touch, his hair grew greasy and pale. The impressive muscle mass he held began to dwindle, leaving him a slimey stick of morbid flesh and bone. Even the smell grew unpleasant with decay. Squall smiled at the mere thought of deathly white eyes, glaring at him angrily. The enemy opened his mouth to reveal his yellowed and rotting teeth, most likely attempting to curse at him some more, but the sound was muffled and scratchy.

He loved the zombie spell. He considered it more devastating then the forbidden spells, and more horrible then the sickly feeling that a demi spell could give someone. For it was truly devastating to have your very life force ripped from you without being killed, leaving a hallow husk that left one in pain and uncertainty.

One more spell remained. "Sræ!" Life! Life. A spell used to bring the unconscious back to consciousness, or, in the case of the undead monster, kill them.

And kill, it did. The zombiefied mercenary took a screeching leap at Squall, only to fall over limp at his feet, the remaining flame died out with him, as the corpse smoked and leaked a nasty smell. Zell nicked the man in his festering face to see if he was really dead. It wasn't like he was alive by any means.

The two sides had become more even. The Forest Bears had lost much of their numbers, and those left standing were not in the best shape. But, unlike the defeat of Ursula, they did not run off. Everything and everyone but the wind and the train stood still in the shock and the intense sea breeze, until another brawl was heard breaking out below. The Forest Bears that had jumped into the car below had started up with the Forest Owls. Highly concerned, Rinoa was the first to get up, heading for the ladder closest to her. Her way was blocked only by five Forest Bears, two of them held out hatchets, one had a javelin, a third had dagger, and the forth was a smaller girl with a spiked flail mace in hand.

Rinoa backed up, nearly falling off the edge of the train. The hatchets flew, both of them at Squall, each of them in turn shouted in alarm as he dodged them at such close range. One stray hatched had the misfortune to hit another of their fellow Bears, while another just lodged into the train roof. Taking the opportunity, Fujin grabbed the weapon, prying it out of the roof with little effort. She, in turn, threw the hatchet. With only one eye, her aim was not so precise, as it was aimed at the back of Squall's head. He dodged that hatchet as well, clearing the way for the weapon to lodge itself into the forehead of its former wielder.

A series of shots rang off from near Quistis. A remaining Forest Bear still had a gun, and he aimed it at Squall. He dodged all three shots. The gunner who fired stared at him wide eyed, quite sure that only the Devil himself could have dodged that number of bullets at such close range. Squall held out his hand again, a fierce, glowing ball of orange materializing above it.

Kiss my ass. Squall thought bitterly. "Arrifüsa!" Meltdown!. A great rush of radiation and fission energy swept towards the Bear, and, without a Guardian Force on him, the gunner was well nuked. Zell fallowed in behind, sending his own spell of meltdown, though he knew he didn't have nearly as many in stock as Squall had, and probably never would, that spell literally smelled awful.

"He's the strong link!" Shouted the girl with the flail mace. Shouting that, she leapt towards him, hitting him in his side with her weapon, flinging him towards the edge of the moving train. He would have gone over if it weren't for Irvine, who diligently caught him as he was sliding his way. His arm was badly wounded, and he hoped that no bones were broken.

It was then that the girl was recognized. Zell saw it first, saw the red hair, saw the pigtails, saw the candidate uniform, and the odd amber coloured, nearly transparent, sickle sticking out of her forehead like a horn.

"Dina? Where the hell did you come from?"

§

The Forest Owls could only go so far. Getting into the passenger's cars would get them caught, and they were lucky enough that hadn't happen already. They considered themselves even more lucky for the safety until several Forest Bears flooded into the car via door or windows. At a serious disadvantage of most of them not having a single weapon on them, they were only surprised for a second, counting their odds good as their enemies already looked too beat.

Three Bears were brought down fast by the simple punches of Cody, but they did not give up. The Forest Owls met them in an all out rumble, the broken Bears with their knives and hatches against the much healthier Forest Owls with their bare fists. Punches were thrown and scars were delivered. Sadly, one Owl: Danois, fell, stabbed too many times. His death was not entirely in vain, as the four deaths of Forest Bears was enough to avenge him. The fight wasn't just between the two rivalling groups, as the Moomba felt compelled to quell the fight.

Diving in, the sight of the three alien creatures was enough to make the Bears stall to stare at them. Bishop led the Moomba, indicating that he wanted no more bloodshed. Skilfully, each Moomba batted, snapped, and flailed their mighty paws at the advancing Bears, as well as any duel faced by any two humans. It was too bad the Bears were looking for a fight. Finally, Deacon was forced to kill a Bear by ripping his face off.

Other Bears topped the smallest Moomba, only to have the other two pull them off, flinging them out the windows both broken and not. Sly warked and cawed at the scene before him, it was not certain, but it seamed he was cheering for the Moomba.

§

"Dina? Where the hell did you come from?"

His question lead her to his presence, her mace twirling around on its chain at skull crushing velocity. Zell dove in at her, carefully timing his moves as to get a good kick at her without getting hit by the mace. Dina saw his move before he could read her, and she blocked his kick by whacking him in the hip. Zell was flipped over, hitting his temple against the train roof. She smashed the head of the mace down at him. The brawler rolled over, nearly getting his head crushed in with the roof that was recently under his head. Irvine aimed his gun, only to have Dina knock it out of his grasp, the flail had a longer reach then he thought. The gun flew off into the sea rushing past them.

Oh crap. Irvine thought with a shudder. Not only had he lost his best gun, but he was also rendered weaponless, and magic was not his strong point.

Quistis and Selphie charged Dina head on, weapons in front of them. Quistis nimbly jumped over the flail as it was flung low to trip her up, but was not in time to block the wicked left hook Dina had ready for her, Quistis' place was immediately filled by Rinoa. Dina winded Selphie with the head of her weapon before she had time to lift her nunchaku. Rinoa narrowly dodged the spinning flail head, but preferred to keep to the support of the brawl. She gave all her allies protective spells and more, as well as herself. Raijin took his stance beside the sorceress.

The oaken staff of the behemoth brute blocked her fearless attacks effortlessly, but he did not foresee the much smaller Dollet red head falling to her knees gracefully, tripping him up by swinging her slender leg under him. By the time Fujin had gotten to the fight, Quistis had gotten her bearings. She flung her pinwheel at Dina only to have the red head block it with her weapon, and tangle Quistis' whip on the chain of her flail.

Getting groggily to her feet, Selphie readied a spell. "Naènka!" Thundara. Turning away from the two taller women, Dina cast her own spell: "Guar!" Shell! A rounded sheild of partial opaque, sparkling pink unfolded around her. The naènka did hit her, but not with as much ferocity as it would have, thanks to the shell spell around her.

Zell got up to a crouch, attempting to trip her, the same way she tripped Raijin. Only, Dina jumped over his leg, surprising him by kicking him in the face while she was still up in the air. Irvine hoped she didn't see him as he was slinking down over the ladder into the train below, wincing at the feel of sting of his wounded shoulder.

Fujin's pinwheel had only clattered to the car that was behind the fight. In any attempt to get it, she was blocked by Dina, as well as having said girl block or dodge every other physical technique thrown at her. She had to admit, if she was just a candidate, then she was a shoe-in for SeeD.

Seifer still stood several feet away from the fight, looking in awe and disgust at such failing attempts. Neither of the SeeDs landed any hit on the red head, whom was just a piddly candidate. It was almost painful to watch, as if her defeating the very people he had disliked, excluding Raijin and Fujin, was an insult.

Dina finished up blocking more hits from the trio that was Quistis, Raijin, and Selphie, until she came face to face with an arrogant Seifer. The girl surprised him by kicking him in the face. He fell backwards, rubbing his sore chin.

Dammit! She's fast. He thought. Dina twirled her mace around to get a good momentum before she smashed it down on Seifer, attempting to bash his face in. He rolled away just in time, as the head came down, smashing completely through the train. Several more times this happened before Seifer flung his feet into her stomach. The nimble girl foresaw this and grabbed him by the calves, propelling herself over him. She landed smoothly just a foot away from his head.

What gives! What are you on girl?! Getting to his feet quick, he took to what he knew best: the gunblade. He swung Perish before him, the blade still heavy in his grasp. It was not hard for Dina to dodge all the attacks. Unexpected, she flung the head of the mace in such a way at Perish that she snagged it, pulling out of his hand easily. Perish landed several feet away from, closer to Squall.

"It's Perish. Take it." Goaded Cloak. "It's still yours. Isn't it?"

No one else seamed to want to get between Seifer and Dina, although the obvious was that he was in a serious situation, without any suitable spell, or a Guardian Force for help, he was completely at the mercy of the girl and her flail.

Dina swung the flail vertically downwards, each time, causing Seifer to back off as to avoid the head of the weapon. The girl twirled her weapon above her head. Spinning fast enough, Dina sent the head down hard over Seifer's skull. In reaction, Seifer held his hand up over his head, darn well aware that the motion would not help at all.

His ears were met with a rather musical 'ping', quite the funny sound to make for metal breaking bone. He looked up only to see that Dina was sending another hit towards his face. The head fell with a 'ping' again, hitting a nearly invisible shield that glowed a soft blue for an instant as it made contact.

Damn! Who cast that?! He growled inwardly, his head was okay, but his pride had been hurt.

The protect spell would not hold forever, and with the vicious blows from the mace, it would collapse very soon. Seifer was resorted to his fist, but Dina blocked them all with only one hand. She slapped him across the face once, twice, three times, after the sixth time, Seifer was forced to fall to the ground.

It seamed no use, the girl must have been a mind reader. That was the only way she could have acted before a move from either of them was made. That theory was put to the test when Zell came running at her again, his own fist raised. Dina merely stepped out of the way before he had even made his move to jump her. Once his back was turned due to the wild punch, she struck him in the back with her mace. Zell was sent sprawling towards the ladder, his back was not broken thanks to his own Guardian Forces, but would bruise fiercely.

Selphie and Quistis took one more charge at Dina, but the red head hit them fast and hard. Fujin and Raijin had to back off, what with being in the same situation as Seifer. Dina ran after them before the two even made a serious attempt at fleeing.

"Hey! Carrot Top!" Squall shouted, pointing a gnarled finger outwards, supposidly towards at Dina. She turned to look at him, fathoming that Fujin and Quistis were not a big concern. That distraction gave them enough time to make their escape.

Squall continued his insults. "Bet you feel high and mighty now, picking on SeeDs ten times your experience level!"