FINAL FANTASY: Reality Conflict

By _Laguna

I

Midgar City
Meteor was gone. And all that remained of Midgar was chaos and ruins.
When the Highwind, the ship that Cid Highwind had stolen from under Rufus' nose was blown out of the crater in the far Northern Border by a Lifestream energy eruption, Cid had pulled the Emergency' handle and ejected the cockpit out of the rest of the airship assembly. Two long and sleek wings had extended to keep all that remained of the craft airborne.
When flying over Midgar, Barret had pointed out of the window and had asked : « What is that ? »
Cloud had stepped up to the window and had also taken a look. « Lifestream. » he had merely said.
The energy had come to the surface on various places after Holy's failure to stop Meteor and had converged around it like a web. Meteor disappeared after the Lifestream energy attack, saving the world. Aeris' wish had been fulfilled.
Another one that had bit the dust was the Shinra. President Shinra had been killed by Sephiroth who had returned for reasons unknown at that time. Rufus, his son, had taken his place at the head of Shinra. But he too failed to beat Cloud and the others. He died in an attack staged by Weapon, the planet's defense system'. This was a massive creature that could wreck a lot of havoc. A few shots of the high density energy Weapon had launched had hit the office building at the top of Midgar City.
But before Weapon's attack, Rufus had manged to bring the Junon Cannon from Junon to Midgar and fired a Mako energy shell at the far Northern Border where Sephiroth was hiding under a massive energy shield. The blast killed Weapon and destroyed the shield.
Sephiroth himself was gone too. Cloud had defeated him after a devastating fight deep in the bowels of the planet.
Cloud now knew who he was. He was Cloud Strife of Nibelheim, former member of Shinra and not a failed lab experiment.
That was what Hojo had seen him. An experiment. He had pointed out that Cloud was nothing more than a flawed Sephiroth clone, a failed combination of Jenova cells and Lifestream energy. Created to obey him, Hojo of Shinra.
But with the help of his friends and especially Tifa, he had retaliated.
Cloud Strife of Nibelheim was who he was and would still be until the end of his life.
Near Midgar, the remaining part of the Highwind settled on the ground with roaring engines. A hatch opened and everyone stepped out.
« Jes' look at this place. » Barret complained. « Ruined. »
« A small price for global freedom, Barret. » Tifa replied. « You should be happy to still be alive. »
« Yeah. » Barret harrumphed. « But what if » he stopped and looked around desperately.
« Barret ? Something wrong ? » Cloud asked.
« Watch out. He's going crazy. » Red XIII said silently. His real name was Nanaki, son of Seto, the protector of Cosmo Canyon.
« You're telling me. » Cid whispered back.
« Marlene ? Where's Marlene ? » Barret began to search. After five minutes, he stood up straight and yelled at the top of his lungs : « Marlene ! »
He sighed when he heard nothing. Only the silence after a devastating event.
« Relax Barret. I'm sure she's somewhere safe. » Tifa tried to calm him.
« The whole city is wrecked ! » Barret complained and kept yelling and searching for his beloved little girl, his daughter.
An hour later, he heard something. « Daddy ! Over here ! »
He ran in the general direction from where he had heard it. A bit further he saw her, making her way through the rubble of what had once been Midgar. Aeris' mother came a bit later. Barret placed his daughter on his broad shoulder while she giggled in pleasure.
« Where's Aeris ? » Aeris' mother asked.
Cloud shook his head. « She didn't make it. » he said and explained it all. Of how she had prayed for Holy to stop Meteor, of how, in the City of the Ancients, Sephiroth had descended from above and killed her. He told her everything.
« I kept warning her » she muttered.
But Cloud reassured her. « She saved us all. »
« How ? »
« The Lifestream energy attack, did you see it ? »
« Yes. »
« Well, I have a gut feeling that that was Aeris' work. » Cloud pointed out. « Somewhere deep down inside I can feel it. She did save us all. »
« So, what do we do now ? » Vincent Valentine asked.
« Let's look for a place to sleep. » Cait Sith suggested.
« Yeah, » Cid said yawning. « I'm tired. »
« We can go through Sector 7 to my house. It opened up after the attack. » Aeris' mother said.
Barret felt as if someone had rammed an icicle through his heart.
Sector 7 !
The place where Biggs, Jesse, Wedge and all the others of the AVALANCHE faction had perished when president Shinra had ordered the Turks to rig the Sector 7 support pylon with explosives and detonate them. The result was that the entire upper part of Sector 7 came down and crushed the rest of that sector which lay beneath the upper part. Thousands were killed, of which most members of AVALANCHE. Cloud, Barret and Tifa had barely escaped with their lives. Barret had been boiling with rage for being unable to protect his friends, his colleagues with whom he had shared everything. Now, the only thing he could do was remember them. For his friends he could do no less.
Marlene sensed there was something wrong. « Daddy, what is it ? »
« Do we really have to go through that wretched Sector 7 ? » he asked, trying to keep his voice at an even tone.
Tifa also remembered what had happened in Sector 7. « Is there another way ? » she asked Aeris' mother.
« There is. But it's a big detour. »
« Fight the pain, Barret. » Could said. « Let's go visit their last resting place. For Biggs, Wedge and Jesse. »
Barret sighed. « All right. » he growled. « For them. »
They all followed Aeris' mother towards Sector 7.

Like every other part of Midgar, Sector 7 was a warzone. Barret looked around him with troubled eyes while passing through it. His left hand squeezed itself into a fist. On his other arm, he had a gun element grafted on it. For wanting that arm to have a purpose too.
In the distance, a Mako Reactor still sporadically functioned at 10 % efficiency and illuminated the dark sky with a blue-green glow.
Barret stopped and picked something up. A red piece of cloth. Jesse's bandana.
« What's that ? » Vincent asked.
« This bandana was Jesse's. » Barret replied.
Tifa put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. « A memento of past adventures. »
« Yeah. » Barret sighed.
« Are we there yet ? » Cid yelled from way back.
« No. » Barret growled. « Let's move. »
They all resumed their journey through Sector 7. The rest of the journey went without incident and soon they found themselves at their destination where they all went to sleep.

The next day, Cloud was the first to wake up. He got up and moved to the door without waking the others and stepped outside. A thin bank of fog covered the ground. The morning air was chilly.
He looked around him at the devastation caused by Meteor and wondered about what was to become of Midgar. No doubt it would be torn down. The people didn't want much memories of the Shinra and so Cloud concluded that the city would disappear bit by bit.
In the distance, sticking up into the air in a 40 degree angle, he saw the big barrel of the Junon Cannon or the Sister Ray, a name given to the cannon by Scarlet, one of the executives of Shinra.
But what held his attention was the reactor which was still functioning at 10 % efficiency.
Tifa, Barret, Vincent and Cait Sith joined him.
« What are you thinking about, Cloud ? » Tifa asked.
« See that Mako Reactor over there ? »
« Yeah. What about it ? » Tifa replied.
« It's still working. It has to go off line. Permanently. »
« Good idea. » Cid said as he, Yuffie, Red XIII and Barret came a few moments thereafter. Yuffie had gotten rid of her airsickness now that she was on solid ground. « But how ? »
« We'll think of something. » Cloud said and ran ahead to the reactor. The others followed. Marlene stayed with Aeris' mother at Barret's request.
It was the Sector 8 Mako Reactor which still functioned. The reactor housing was largely ripped open, showing the core deep within.
« Okay. » Nanaki, a.k.a. Red XIII said. « What do we do now ? »
« We find the reactor controls and shut this thing down. »
« Right. »
They all split up and began to search. After half an hour Cid yelled : « They're fried ! »
« Crap. » Cloud cursed as they all rejoined. « This reactor has to go off line somehow. »
« I think it'll have to wait. » Yuffie said and pointed to the sky at dark clouds gathering overhead. A light rain began to fall.
« Great. » Barret complained. « That's all we needed. Rain. »
But then something happened no one was prepared for.
The reactor core flared up and sent a spike of blue-green high into the air. The entire team turned to watch. Then a lightning bolt followed by a second and a third streaked down and hit the energy spike. A huge crack of thunder rolled through the air and threw everyone off their feet.
« What the hell was that ? » Cid asked.
« How should I know ? » Cloud replied over the now howling wind.
« Guys ! » Tifa yelled and pointed to the reactor.
The triple stream of lightning bolts followed the energy spike downward. Near the ground something opened. It looked like a gap in the air and had the characteristics of a vacuum cleaner. It began to suck everything in that was within range, even Cloud and his friends.
Everyone searched for a handhold. Due to the force of the phenomenon, they all hung almost horizontally.
« What is this ? » Red XIII asked.
« I don't know ! » Cloud answered. « I think it's some kind of interference between the lightning and the Lifestream energy ! »
« I say it looks like a black hole ! » Cid said.
« Maybe so ! But hold on ! »
« Geez, I can't hold on much longer. » Cid growled.
« Cloud ! » Tifa called out. Cloud turned his head towards Tifa who was beginning to slide away. « I'm losing grip ! »
« Try to hold on ! » he yelled back over the howling wind.
But Tifa lost her grip and was sucked into the hole while screaming in fear.
« Tifa ! » Cloud yelled while reaching out at nothing but air. « I'm going after her. » Cloud said, his mind made up and let himself be sucked in.
« Cloud, get back here ! » Barret ordered. But Cloud had already vanished into the phenomenon. « Hothead. »
Nanaki also lost his grip and spiraled away into the hole. « Help ! »
« When is this going to stop !? » Yuffie said griping. « I'm getting airsick again ! »
The pipe where Cid was holding on to broke and he too was caught in the pull of the phenomenon. « Craaaaaaappp ! »
Cait Sith had wedged himself between two pieces of concrete and remained immobile. Thanks to his strength, Barret was able to hold onto his handhold. Yuffie had crawled behind a piece of stone wall. Vincent had taken cover at the first sign of trouble.
The wind died down as the hole closed. Barret slammed face-first onto the ground.
« I wonder where they went. » Cait Sith said.
« So do I. » Barret replied. « I just hope that hothead Cloud has everything under control. »
Yuffie said nothing. She was still behind the wall, barfing her brains out.
But what no one knew was that the giant robot machine the Shinra had built to crush Cloud and the others was pulled in too from a different angle.

II

Balamb Island
Things were quiet on Balamb Island. A calm sea breeze wafted across the beaches, gently stirring up sand. In the forests, birds sang, giving the island the likes of a paradise.
Balamb Garden was back in its old spot at the end of the road that led to it from Balamb Town. SeeD members, candidates for SeeD and students helped repairing their Garden, their home.
The bridge, from which the Garden was piloted by Nida when it had become mobile, had transformed again into headmaster Cid's old office.
Squall Leonhart, SeeD member and Balamb Garden's Commander, finished his report. « Repairs are going steady. I estimate Garden will be fully restored in about a day or two. Maybe less if we work hard. »
« We don't want to strain our students, Squall. » Cid replied from behind his desk. « We go as fast as we need to go. No need to rush things. »
Squall nodded.
« You should go help too. » Cid said. « A good commander helps his colleagues. »
Me helping ? Give me a break. I was assigned to be Garden's Commander. That's all. I hate sudden career changes he thought.
« Squall ? »
Whatever. « All right, sir. »
Squall turned and headed out the twin wooden doors and stepped into the elevator which took him to the ground level.
Balamb Garden still had scars showing from the clash between their Garden and Galbadia Garden, which had also become mobile. The battle had been terrible. Many SeeDs were lost. But they succeeded in beating the Galbadians and their Garden. Hopefully they had learned their lesson.
As he walked out of the lift when it reached the ground level, he met up with Xu. « We still need to do a patrol of the nearby forests. »
« That's right. » Xu replied. « I totally forgot. I'll get someone on it right away. »
« Good. »
« I'll have whoever it'll be report to Quistis when it's done. » she said and moved off.
Rinoa Heartilly happened to be around and she had heard it. After Squall had moved out of hearing range, she ran up to Xu. « I'll do it. »
« What ? »
« Scouting the nearest forest. I want to do something too. »
« Okay. But be careful. It's pretty dangerous out there. »
« I'll be fine. » Rinoa said and ran to the front gate. I'm going to make Squall proud of me.

Somewhere on the ocean, near Balamb Island
A small sailing ship ploughed through the cerulean blue waves of the ocean. The little ship only had one passenger. Two actually, if you counted the bird sitting on the bow.
Duncan Skywalker stared over the wide ocean. His coat lay on the floor and was steering the ship towards Balamb Island. Talinn, the daughter of the chief of Dyenso Village in Neron Continent had told him about this island and he had decided to take a look. Neron Continent actually occupied most of Grandini Forest. That region was known to everyone as Grandini Forest. But the locals called it Neron Continent.
As he was sitting there, in his white T-shirt and blue jeans with red belt and black boots, life seemed perfect.
His weapons also lay on the floor of the ship, his Daïkatana and the two matching daggers Boras, the Chief of Dyenso Village, had given him as a token of his gratitude for saving his village and perhaps the world of a man named Jennai. Jennai was a madman who wanted to control everything in sight. He also had built a space station at the other side of the planet, hanging over Neron Continent. Skywalker and some villagers had found the two dragon statuettes that would summon the Celestial Dragon. This creature had helped them destroy Sigma Station. Duncan had done the rest.
Now Jennai was dead and the world safe. At least, for now.
« We're nearly there. » he said to Shirrah, his winged companion. Shirrah was a little falcon he had rescued when he had first arrived in the forest where Dyenso Village was located.
They arrived at Balamb Town and Duncan moored the little ship to a nearby pier. He grabbed his sword and the daggers and put them away. The sword in the sheath on his belt and the daggers went in the side of his boots. After that, he put on his long black coat, adding another dimension to the mysteriousness that already surrounded him. With Shirrah on his arm, he went into town, buying various things such as items for on the road which he might need, some supplies for his medicine bundle, and so on.
But then, he sensed something was about to happen. Something unnatural. He sensed a high spike in the Lifestream.
Something weird had just happened. For now, he had to guess what had happened. Skywalker ran out of the town and headed for the place where it had happened.

Balamb Island
In the forest Rinoa was heading to, the air seemed to waver and open up. First, Tifa was blown out. Then came Cloud, followed by Nanaki and Cid. They landed hard on the ground. The hole closed.
« What a ride. » Cid Highwind said. « I sure can't pull this off with Tiny Bronco. » Tiny Bronco was the name of the airplane he had tended to so lovingly before Cloud and the others had made use of it against his will. But he had gotten something else instead : the Shinra airship he unofficially had christened Highwind.
« Where are we ? » Cloud said while getting up and rubbing his head.
« I have no idea. » Tifa said. « This doesn't look like Midgar. »
« I think I hear the sea. » Red XIII pointed out.
« That must mean that we're on an island. » Cloud deducted.
« I guess so too. » Tifa agreed. « I hope Barret and the others are okay. »
« Sure they are. » Cloud reassured her. « But what we have to do is figure out where we exactly are. »
« How do we proceed ? » Cid asked.
« By the most basic strategy there is, Cid. » Cloud pointed out. « Explore. »
Cloud took point and headed through the forest, searching for civilization.

Near Deling City, Galbadia
The Galbadian army had been dealt a heavy blow. Their attempts to overpower the world had failed, even under the command of the Sorceress, Sorceress Edea. Or Sorceress Ultimecia, to be more exact. She had been manipulating Edea all along from her timezone, unable to cross over into this time. She was searching for Ellone, who had the mysterious power to let people she knew experience the past. When Rinoa had inherited Sorceress powers, Ellone had sent both Ultimecia, Sorceress Adel's and Rinoa's conciousness into the past, setting Time Compression in motion from within the bowels of a machine named Lunatic Pandora. Once arrived in Ultimecia's reign, Squall and the others had fought the last, deciding and final battle. A battle against Ultimecia. SeeD won, but they were trapped within the folds of time. Thanks to Rinoa, the timeflow was returned to normal. Now, the Galbadian army was worthless and without interest.
Near Deling City, a hole similar to the one that had appeared on Balamb Island opened and a machine in the form of a big robot crashed onto the ground. The lettering which was still partly visible pointed out that this machine belonged to something called Shinra'. The shattered canopy opened and the machine's only occupant crawled out. He was a fat fellow with a black beard and a horse laugh.
The man waggled to the nearest Galbadian base and went in.
They look like Shinra soldiers he said to himself. He watched as the base's personnel amused themselves with games, doing the laundry, fixing doors, doing anything that kept them from being bored to death.
He looked up at the blue sky. Have I found the Promised Land ? The Shinra executives had been looking for way to get into the Promised Land before Cloud had stopped Shinra attempts. This land was rumored to have unlimited supplies of Mako energy.
Someone stepped up to him. « Who the hell are you ? » Private Biggs asked.
« Your new commander. » the man clarified.

Forest close to Balamb Garden, Balamb Island
As the man rounded up his new army in Galbadia, Rinoa Heartilly had begun her solo scouting mission. Looks good she said to herself as she proceeded through the foliage. Squall will be so proud of me when I report that the forest closest to Garden is secure. I would want to see his face. She giggled. Hopefully no difficulties she thought.
But she was wrong.
A bit further leaves ristled. Rinoa saw it and slapped her weapon, the Pinwheel, on her forearm. She was fully on the alert because Angelo, her trustworthy dog, was still in Garden.
All was silent again. Maybe it was false alarm Rinoa reasoned. Yeah, that's got to be it.
But that changed as a Grendel who had found its way onto the island in a way unknown to the locals rushed out of the bushes. This one, however, was a different one, for the surge of the hole that had brought Cloud and his friends to Balamb Island had changed this Grendel's genetic makeup. Instead of blue scales among green ones, this one had red scales.
The creature's talons whizzed past her face as she sidestepped its attack. She whirled around to face the Grendel and fired her Pinwheel. It hit the Grendel right behind his neck. The creature cried out in pain but stayed on its paws.
Impossible Rinoa though. Such a blow would have been an instant kill.
The Grendel shook its head and came at her again.
Rinoa caught her Pinwheel and held up her arms in defence. She cried out in pain as she felt the searing pain as the Grendel's talons slashed her upper right arm and everything went black.

Duncan Skywalker reached the forest and ran in. It had to be around here somewhere. He stopped and looked around as he heard a scream echo through the forest. That made him pick up his pace and run even faster. Shirrah followed his master from high in the air.
Skywalker reached a clearance in the forest where he found a girl lying on the ground, wounded and a creature looming over her. She had a nasty gash in her upper right arm.
He didn't hesitate one moment. He rushed over and kicked the Grendel clear in the side of its head. Then, he took his Daikatana and assumed a defensive position.
The Grendel recovered from the momentary dizziness and attacked its new adversary. Skywalker ducked away as the talons flew by and sliced nothing but air.
Then, Duncan whirled and lunged out with his sword. He hit the Grendel in the side and the creature ran off, bleeding.
« And stay away ! » Duncan yelled after it.
He scratched the scar that ravaged his right cheek, going from his ear to his chin, a memento of a fight from which he had barely walked away with his life. What have we here ? Pretty girl, wounded and very much unconscious.
He rammed the point of his blade into the soil so it would remain upright and lowered himself onto one knee and examined the gash. Along the wound's edges, there were traces of green. Poison. Crap !
He took his medicine bundle and started to treat the gash. But didn't hear someone sneak up to him from behind.

Cloud and the others also heard Rinoa's cry. Acting on instinct, they ran through the bushes towards the place from where it had come. As usual, Cloud took the lead while the others followed in a single file.Then, Cloud ran around a tree, stopped and thought to have seen Sephiroth ?
The only thing he had seen was a streak of black disappear behind a tree. Had he also come along with them somehow ? As far as Cloud knew, Sephiroth was dead. He had beaten him deep in the bowels of the planet. Could he have survived and risen again to be a threat to the world once again ?
Cloud didn't take any risks and took his Buster Sword from his back.
« Cloud ? » Tifa asked. « Something wrong ? »
« I don't know. » he replied. « I think I saw Sephiroth. »
« Sephiroth ? We beat that guy. » Cid retorted. « He's gone. »
« I'll be sure of it when I see it with my own eyes. » Cloud inched his way forward and looked around the tree the black streak had disappeared behind.
What he saw was a man in a long black coat bending over a girl lying on the ground, doing something to her arm. His back was turned towards them. Next to him, the point of it buried in the ground, was a long, slightly bent sword. And Cloud knew Sephiroth had also had a long and slightly bent sword.
« Sephiroth. » Cloud hissed. Tifa looked over his shoulder and her breath caught in her throat.
« Is that ? »
« Sephiroth. » Cloud finished. « Yeah. Stay here. »
Cloud inched his way towards the man he took to be Sephiroth. Somehow he sensed that something wasn't right. He turned his head and got a whack from the flat side of Cloud's sword. He slumped to the ground, KO.
« He doens't look like Sephiroth. » Red XIII pointed out.
« Maybe so. But he could've altered his appearance to deceive us. » Cloud said.
« What now ? » Cid asked.
Cloud saw the upper part of Balamb Garden through the foliage and pointed to it. « We take them there. »

III

Balamb Garden
As a visitor, Ellone walked through Garden. She had asked Laguna to bring her to Garden because she wanted to see how Squall and the others were doing. And from what she saw, they were doing just fine.
The Cafeteria was up and running again, the Library was cleaned up and the Infirmary was back in tip-top shape. The other parts of Garden were being tended to. Selphie was busy rearranging the Quad. She had another festival plan brewing in the back of her mind. Irvine kept an eye on the repair crew in Training Center while Zell was nowhere to be found. Except in the Cafeteria, she noticed, checking the quality of the hot dogs.
Quistis kept a list of those who had gone out to scout the nearby forests.
She looked up as she heard a commotion at the entrance to Garden and went over to check it out.
« What seems to be the problem ? » Quistis asked as she arrived.
The SeeD posted there explained it to her. « These people want to speak to the commander. I told them he's busy. But they seem to be persistent. »
Quistis turned to the new arrivals. « I'm Quistis Trepe. What brings you here ? »
Cloud introduced himself. « I'm Cloud Strife. » And gestured to his friends. « Tifa Lockheart, Cid Highwind and Nanaki, or Red XIII if you will. »
Cloud stepped back to reveal Rinoa. « We found her in the woods. »
Quistis knelt beside Rinoa. « My god, Rinoa. » She turned to the SeeD guarding the gate. « We have to get her to Dr. Kadowaki. »
Cloud and the others helped to bring Rinoa to the Infirmary. Once arrived there, the doctor ordered to put Rinoa on a bed and started her diagnose.
« We believe he's the trouble of all this. » Cloud said, pointing to Duncan's unconscious form. Quistis' eyes narrowed. She ordered some SeeD members to take him to a windowless room in the Dormitory and lock him up. The SeeDs took him and moved off. Quistis told Cloud they could wait in the Cafeteria.
What is Squall going to say about this ? Quistis wondered.
As if he had sensed something was amiss, Squall appeared in the door frame. « Where's Rinoa ? »
Quistis said nothing and pointed to the bed. Squall saw it and ran towards his beloved Rinoa. « Oh god, no. »
Dr. Kadowaki looked up. « Do you people mind. »
« Sorry, doc. » Squall tried to keep his voice even.
« Why don't you wait outside ? I'll let you know when I'm done. »
Squall nodded and went out with the others. Outside the Infirmary, he was updated on the latest developments in the woods.
Squall only listened with a half ear because he was worried about Rinoa.
After an hour, Dr. Kadowaki came out of the Infirmary.
« It'll take some time. I suggest you get some rest. »
Squall went off to the Cafeteria to meet the new arrivals while the others went back to their posts.

Cloud, Tifa, Cid Highwind and Red XIII sat in a corner of the Cafeteria. Cloud had gone to the counter at Zell's suggestion and gotten himself a few hot dogs. As Zell had told him, they were good.
« You should try these hot dogs. » Cloud said. « They're great. »
Tifa took one too. « Yeah, you're right. »
« Guys, heads up. » Red XIII said. « Here's the commander. I think. »
Cloud turned to look at the entrance to the Cafeteria where Squall appeared. He looked around and saw the four and came over.
« I hear you want to discuss something with me ? »
« That's right. » Cloud said and wanted to start but saw the absent look in Squall's eyes. « You okay ? »
« Hm ? Yeah, I'm fine. »
« Okay then. Have you seen the man with the long black coat ? »
« I think so. »
« He's to be considered very dangerous. Sephiroth has been a threat to the world once and he might try again. Watch out when dealing with him. »
« I'll keep that in mind. Anything else ? »
« That's about it. But we had nothing to do with that girl. »
« I hope she recovers. » Tifa said.
« Me too. » Squall said silently. « Well if that's all, I'll be on my way. Got a lot of things to do. You're welcome to stay here. I think we can clear some guest rooms in the Dormitory if you like. »
« Gladly. » Cloud said.
« Then that's settled. » Squall replied and went back to the main corridor of Garden.

Infirmary, Balamb Garden
Dr. Kadowaki and her medical staff were working feverously to purge Rinoa's system from the red Grendel's poison. To monitor her lifesigns, she was hooked to a diagnostic device that kept giving a readout of her heartbeat on a small screen. But it wasn't good news. With each passing minute, her heartbeat slowly slowed down. The staff kept working till the bitter end.
Until the screen showed a line.
« Hell. » Kadowaki cursed. « Cardiac arrest. CPR ! Now ! »
A nurse came at her with two small metal plates. She placed them on Rinoa's chest. « Clear ! »
Everyone stepped back as the nurse sent an electric shock through Rinoa. No effect. The power was upped a bit and the nurse tried again. « Clear ! »
Another shock. Still nothing.
After five minutes of futile attempts, Kadowaki gave up. « She's gone. »
« How are we gonna break it to Squall ? » a male nurse asked.
« I'll do that. » the doctor said absently. « You guys take a break. »
The staff went out, leaving the doctor and Rinoa's lifeless form in the Infirmary.
« Rinoa girl, you picked one hell of a time to go down. » she said.
Then she got up and went out where she ran into Squall who was coming to check on Rinoa.
« I'm sorry Squall. » the doc said and shook her head.
Squall felt as if someone had taken his gunblade and rammed it through his heart and turned it around. The world around him seemed to shatter as if it were made of glass and Rinoa's death was the stone that broke it.
« C Can I ? » he tried to say. Kadowaki nodded and he ran inside.
He knelt beside the bed while his eyes filled with tears.
« Say it ain't so. » he asked to the ceiling. « Please say it ain't so ! »
« We couldn't fight the poison. » the doc said from in the door frame.
Squall got up and ran outside. Kadowaki couldn't blame him.

Outside Balamb Garden
Squall ran outside into the open fields while tears streaked his face. He passed a thick wooden pole that served no purpose. Squall took his gunblade and started to mutilate the pole to cool his rage. With each passing minute, the pole got more and more cuts and holes from Squall's heavy attack. Splinters and pieces of wood flew everywhere.
Then, it seemed the blade became to heavy to hold up. The point buried itself in the ground as he knelt before it, still holding onto the handle. Memories came back.
The first time in the ball room she had stepped up to him and just said : « You're going to like me. » And his blunt reply : « I can't dance. »
When they confronted the Sorceress during her parade. His chest was pierced by an icicle the Sorceress had thrown at them. While he fell off the ledge, he had seen Rinoa reach for him.
In Trabia Garden, Irvine said to Rinoa : « I understand. Someone you love might disappear before your very eyes. »
Seifer in Lunatic Pandora, holding on to Rinoa : « The Sorceresses united. Watch this, Squall. » Rinoa and Sorceress Adel had been fused into one entity. Squall and the others had beaten the Sorceress and saved Rinoa...
Now, it seemed that he was all alone again. He looked up to the clear blue sky, as a wolf howling to the full moon. « Rinoa ! »
And then, the SeeDs of Balamb Garden heard a sound they had never heard before.
Squall crying.

Dormitory, Balamb Garden
In the windowless room the SeeDs had locked him into, Duncan Skywalker regained consciousness.
Where am I ? What happened to Shirrah ? Why am I locked in here ?
He looked around the bare room. Just a bed with a matrass and glowing strips on the walls to provide illumination.
Clever he thought. To prevent me from escaping. Hmhm, no window. Yeah boys, I might crawl out.
He walked to the door and listened. Only one guard, if his hearing didn't fail him.
He turned as he felt something else. Someone just had lost his/her life. He sensed it descend into the Lifestream.
That's got to be that girl. Morons. I might've saved her if you boneheads hadn't knocked me out cold.
He knocked on the door. « Hey, care to let me out of here ? »
« Not a chance. » the SeeD guard replied. « Now shut up. »
« Okay. » Skywalker said and tried another trick of the mind. « But I think I smell gas in here. »
He heard the guard say « What ? » and him opening the door. Swiftly he placed himself near the hinges of the door so when it swung open, he would be hidden from view.
The door opened and the guard stormed in. « Hey, where »
He couldn't say anything more as Skywalker lunged out and pressed some nerve bundles on his shoulder. The guard sunk to the ground.
« Sorry buddy. » Duncan said. « But I have something important to do. »
Skywalker ran through the arching main corridor. SeeDs saw him and sounded the alarm. Five of them came after him. He picked up the pace and the SeeDs following lost terrain.
Some other SeeDs made a barricade. Skywalker stopped and assessed the situation. The others behind him were gaining on him. He looked around and saw a cable dangling over the barricade. He leapt up, grabbed the cable and swung over their heads. Duncan dropped to the ground and ran again.
Outside were more SeeDs. And because of the alarm, they were on guard. They came at him and tried to grab him just as Duncan used a bench as a springboard an launched himself over the SeeD soldiers. While he somersaulted through the air, behind the SeeDs a patch of blue-green appeared. Duncan fell in and the hole closed while the SeeDs wondered where he'd gone to.

Dormitory, Balamb Garden
In his room, Squall took his journal and started writing.
It finally happened. Rinoa's gone and I won't forgive myself. What was she doing in that forest all by herself ? Did Xu have something to do with it or was she acting on her own accord ?
I can't seem to concentrate anymore. Nothing matters anymore. Rinoa's death has left an emptiness deep inside me. If I had known this day would come then I'd never have allowed her to go. What'll Zone say about this ?
Squall looked out the window, unable to concentrate and closed the journal.
He put his elbows on the table and placed his head in his hands.
Why Rinoa ? Why ? God, it's so lonely without you.
Angelo came in through the partially open door. The dog stopped next to his chair and laid his head on Squall's leg. Squall looked down at the dog.
« If I had known, I'd intervened. » he said to the dog.
If. Always that same word over and over again, if'. It's as if the whole world is made out of if's.
Angelo also had that sad look in his eyes. Angelo and Rinoa were partners. He found things for her and was a companion for her in times of need. Now, that function was as good as worthless.
Squall got up and knelt before Angelo. « You and I both know her the best. Let's never forget her. »
Angelo barked once, indicating he had understood.
Somehow, Squall felt a lot better.
Squall got to his feet and moved to the door to check on their prisoner. The source of all this mess.

IV

Deling City, Galbadia
The fat Shinra executive had freshed himself up. He came out of the small office building to check on his new troops. The Galbadians were training hard once again in the military part of the city. He looked upon them with contentment.
Private Biggs came up to him and saluted. « Sir, before we spring into action there's something I need to tell you. »
« What is it. » he asked.
« There's another army. One composed of mercenaries. They have their base on Balamb Island in a structure called Balamb Garden. »
« Interesting. » the Shinra man said.
Biggs filled him in.
« I see. » the man said after Biggs was done. « We'll deal with these SeeDs later. Now we proceed with our primary mission. To build the first Mako Reactor. »
« Where do we build it, sir ? »
« Near uhh » he took his map. « Near a town called Timber. »
« Oh great. Not again. » Biggs muttered.
« What was that, private ? »
« Nothing sir. As soon as the men are ready, we set out. »
« Good. I want to get this thing built as soon as possible. Then we start the Neo Midgar Project. »

Inside the Lifestream
As if he was skydiving, Duncan soared downward into the depths of the planet's Lifestream, searching for someone's essence.
C'mon, it's go to be here somewhere.
He had his arms and legs spread out to keep his speed steady. All the while he kept searching.
After dying, the spirit went into a state of transition before it was absorbed into the Eternal Union and was lost forever.
Where are you. Come out, come out wherever you are.
He looked around like a hawk on a hunt. It had to be here somewhere. He was nearing the place of where it would happen and
There ! There it was.
A blue point of light no larger than a star, shining brightly as tiny rays spiked in every direction. He held his arms and legs parallell to his body and picked up speed and reached the big ball of light before the little star. He righted himself up and stopped.
There came the little blue star. Before it entered the blinding border ot the afterlife, Sywalker held his hand in front of it. Then came his other hand and sealed it between his hands.
Gotcha. You're not going anywhere. It's not yet your time, my dear. You're going to make someone happy again.
As he went back to the surface, along the way he had a look in her mind and experiences.
He saw the battles, the joys, sorrows, hate, pain, despair love and affection towards only one person : Squall Leonhart.
Now that he had it, there was no need to rush things and kept looking.
Well well, two lovebirds. He sighed. That was just like him and his wife.
This was the Lifestream. As he could have a look in Rinoa's mind, so could she and took the chance.
What she saw was a happy man, married to a beautiful woman. Building their house single-handedly, growing their own food, producing their own electric power.
Until it came to a brutal end as his wife died in a car accident. Rinoa then saw a broken man, his world shattered, his life changed. In her mind's eye she saw the ice cold light blue eyes of his. Only a powerful surge of emotion could have caused this and his bond with Nature to increase.
To lose someone like this
The connection was severed as Skywalker resurfaced.

Balamb Garden
Squall had his hand on the handle of his gunblade while walking to the Dormitory. Along the way, he met up with Irvine, Zell and Selphie.
« Where is he ? »
« Who ? » Irvine asked.
« The one they brought in here and locked up in the Dormitory. »
« Oh him. Take the right corridor when you're in the Dorm. It's the last room. There's no window. » Selphie said.
« What are you gonna do ? Kill him ? » Zell asked.
« If I have to. He's got to pay for what he did to Rinoa. » Squall said through clenched teeth. Then, he moved off to the Dormitory where he saw that the prisoner's door was wide open.
Squall drew his gunblade and ran towards the room where he found the guard who was waking up.
« Where the hell is he ? »
« I don't know, sir. He hit me in the neck. After that, I don't remember anything. »
« Shit ! » Squall cursed and ran back to the main corridor where he learned that he had run outside and then had mysteriously disappeared.
« It's as if he disappeared off the planet. » a SeeD member said.
« Yeah, it gives me the creeps. » another SeeD commented.
« Guys ! » a female SeeD student said and pointed ahead at Duncan Skywalker walking towards them. He had his hands together as if praying. Through the slits between his fingers, blue light spiked outward. They saw him go to the Infirmary.
« Oh no, you don't. » Squall said and ran after him.
Skywalker had meanwhile reached the Infirmary and walked in.
« What the bloody hell are you doing here ? » Dr Kadowaki asked.
He looked at her with his ice cold eyes. « Stay out of my way. » he said. « For now. »
Squall stormed in, followed by the others. Cloud, Tifa, Red XIII and Cid Highwind were there too a bit after the others had arrived.
« You stay away from Rinoa, you hear me ? » Squall threatened.
« You're in no position to make threats, boy. » Duncan said flatly without taking his eyes off Rinoa. « What's her condition ? »
« Very dead. » Kadowaki said.
« Then what do you care ? » Duncan asked Squall.
« I care for her ! » he almost yelled.
« I know. Thats why I'm doing this. » Duncan said and turned his head towards the people in the door, eyeing them with his light blue eyes, cold as ice. Squall was astounded because this man knew about him and Rinoa, Selphie recoiled, Quistis made a face, Zell kept his features even although underneath, he was scared shitless.
« Those eyes. » Cloud muttered. « Commander, you've got to stop him. Sephiroth's dangerous. »
Squall moved over to stand between the stranger Cloud took to be Sephiroth and Rinoa. « I won't let you touch her. »
« Who said anything about touching ? » Duncan said with a smirk and opened his hands. The tiny star floated up between Squall and Skywalker.
« What is that ? » Kadowaki stammered.
« Her essence. » Duncan replied. « Watch closely. »
They all watched as the little blue star floated over to Rinoa's remains and lowered itself onto her chest. Then, it entered her body with a brilliant flash of pure white light.
« Nothing changed. » Kadowaki said after their sight had cleared.
« I beg to differ, dear doctor. » he walked over to Rinoa, ignoring Squall's threats and knelt beside the bed. He placed two fingers on her neck and felt a pulse. Yes, she's back. Without saying anything, he pressed a nerve bundle. Rinoa's eyes flew open as she drew in a lungfull of air and lapsed back into unconsciousness. But she was back. That was the main thing. Then, he treated the gash with the remaining Lifestream energy that had come along when he had caught Rinoa's essence.
Squall stared disbelievingly at the gentle rise and fall of his beloved's chest. The gunblade clattered to the ground as he rushed over and touched her cheek which felt warm. « How ? » he stammered as Skywalker got up.
« Don't ask. » he said. « But people are not who they appear to be. » he said with a look towards Cloud. « Well, I guess it's time for me to get my butt back into that room. »
Duncan moved off with Quistis and a bunch of SeeDs in tow while Squall remained with Rinoa.
As Duncan left the Infirmary, a smile formed on his face.
Quistis locked the door and put two SeeDs to guard the door and went back.
Inside, Duncan sat on the ground, cross-legged, crossed his arms in front of him and closed his eyes.
Why did you do it ? the oh-so-familiar bodiless voice asked when he crossed over into the dream-state'.
« It was not yet her time. » Skywalker replied in his mind. « Her and her boyfriend's destinies are intertwined. »
Do I detect a hint of personal feeling towards all this ?
« I wanted to keep him from experiencing the same I had experienced when Charlene died. If I hadn't brought her back, he would've gone mad. »
He almost had gone mad I see you've got a good reason to have done this. Very noble.
The voice disappeared and he opened his eyes.

Infirmary, Balamb Garden
« Not only is she back, the gash on her arms is gone. » Dr Kadowaki said. « This goes way over my head. I sure would want to know where he got the knowledge. »
Squall still sat beside Rinoa who was still out. His eyes twinkled again. « Any idea on when she'll wake up ? »
« I have no idea, Squall. » Kadowaki replied.
« What was that blue-green glow ? » asked a voice. They all turned to see Ellone standing in the entrance to the Infirmary.
« I wish I knew. » Irvine said.
« I think he hasn't got any harmful intentions. » Tifa said.
« Tifa !? » Cloud protested. « That was Sephiroth. »
« Cloud, you're seeing ghosts. » Tifa said. « Sephiroth is gone. This man looks like Sephiroth because of his coat and sword. But he isn't Sephiroth. »
« Whoa, what's this all about ? » Ellone interjected. « Someone fill me in. And whose dog is this ? » she asked while looking at Red XIII.
« Miss, I am not a dog. » Nanaki said and explained everything.
« I see. » Ellone said after Red XIII was done. « Why don't we go talk to him ? »
Squall thought it over, then got up. « Okay. »
Ellone stopped him. « You stay here. Rinoa might wake up. »
Squall nodded and stayed with Rinoa. « Be careful. »
Ellone turned and went to the Dormitory.

Timber
After SeeD's intervention, the town of Timber had been declared independent. The townspeople picked up their lives again after the Galbadians had withdrawn. The resistance factions had disbanded but the members of those factions who were friends, stayed in touch. And that proved to be useful.
Before they actually knew it, the Galbadians were back. They cut off every major route to the town and put up ID stations.
It was two days now after Rinoa was saved. In those two days, the Galbadians had started the construction of the Mako Reactor.
And in those same two days, the resistance factions had banded together again.
When the Galbadians had rode into town, the fat executive had climbed up a Galbadian car and addressed the people that had gathered. « This town is now under Shinra control ! We are going to build a Mako Reactor nearby and provide this town with power by using this new reactor. Believe me, it's a great source of power ! »
Every action was monitored by the Galbadians, every movement, every sound, everything. For security reasons, was the answer the people had received as to what they were doing. The Shinra man was naive enough to believe the townspeople might sabotage the reactor.
The reactor was almost complete. The Shinra man had pressed the soldiers to finish construction as soon as possible. So Biggs had been a real bully and kept the soldiers working.
« How are we doing, private ? » he asked Biggs.
« Almost done, sir. » Biggs reported. « The core seals are being placed at this very moment. »
« Good. I don't want anything to go wrong. Do you hear me, private. Nothing. »
« Yessir. » Biggs replied, saluted and ran off to check on the soldiers' progress.

V

Dormitory, Balamb Garden
Together with Quistis, Zell, Irvine, Tifa, Red XIII, Cid Highwind and Cloud, Ellone went to the Dormitory to have a word with this stranger who had mysteriously brought Rinoa back.
Once they were in the Dormitory, they took the right corridor and walked to the last room which had no window. Quistis told the SeeD guards they could take a break.
Skywalker looked up as he heard the door being unlocked. Though he was resourceful and could use almost anything to help him escape, he stayed in the room. Something told him that this situation wasn't normal.
The door opened and everyone stepped in. Cloud eyed Duncan through narrowed eyes. But then Duncan caught sight of Ellone.
« Ellone ? »
« Duncan ? » she stared at him. « What are you doing here ? »
« Well, I was in the neighborhood and I was told that this island was worth a visit. »
« You two know each other ? » Irvine asked.
« Yeah. » Ellone said. « I met him in Esthar. »
Skywalker sat down on the bed. « Something strange is going on. »
« Like what ? » Zell asked.
« Right after I arrived in the harbor, I sensed a surge going through the Lifestream. »
When he heard that, Cloud kept his ears open. « Some hole formed and sucked us in. »
« What did it look like ? » Duncan asked.
« Why do you want to know this ? » Cloud asked, suspicious.
« Call it curiosity. »
Cloud explained how he, Tifa, Red XIII and Cid were pulled into a portal-like phenomenon that had opened after three strikes of lightning had hit a Lifestream energy spike.
« The RBB Experiment. You did it. » Skywalker couldn't believe it.
« Say what ? » Tifa asked.
« What you described sounds like a portal between realities. » Duncan explained. « When I was in the Western Regions, a scientist was conducting an experiment : the RBBE. The Reality Border Breakthrough Experiment. Unfortunately, the scientist died in a lab explosion. »
« So what you're saying is that these four people came from another reality ? » Ellone asked.
« Not only another reality, but one that is parallell to this one. »
« You just lost me. » Irvine said.
« Picture this. » Duncan said. « The room we're in now is this reality. The room next door is another reality, parallell to this one. You still with me ? »
Everyone nodded.
« The situation you described about the hole opening after the lightning impacts, is similar to making a hole in the wall separating the two rooms, stepping through and close it after you. »
« Now I get it. » Zell said.
« How's the girl ? » Duncan asked, changing the subject.
« Still out, but alive. » Quistis replied.
« Good to hear. She's the commander's girlfriend, right ? »
« How do you know about Squall and Rinoa ? » Irvine asked astounded.
« It's because of the Lifestream. » Cloud explained all about the stream of energy that brought life to the planet. When you managed to get down there with somenone, your minds were linked.
« Fascinating. » Ellone said.
« The Lifestream and myself are linked. » Duncan explained.
« Which means ? » Cid inquired.
Duncan eyed them, curious about their reactions. « Nature is mine to influence. »
Everyone gaped at him, then laughed. He couldn't blame them. After all, they were just teenagers in a military hierarchy.
« You're kidding, right. Heheheh. » Irvine asked, half laughing.
But Skywalker remained deadly serious. « No, I'm not. »
He got to his feet. Quistis moved in to block his path. « And where are you going ? »
« I'm gonna check on the girl. » Duncan's eyes stared deep into Quistis' eyes.
« But we're coming along. » she said in a measured voice.
« Suits me fine. As long as you people don't get in the way. »
Skywalker walked out of the room with the others in tow.
« He reminds me of the old Squall. » Zell whispered to Irvine.
« Yeah, totally. » Irvine whispered back.
They wound their way through the main arching corridor to the Irfirmary. Once arrived there, the group went in.
Squall wasn't there. Probably inspecting the repair team on the higher levels.
Still lying on the bed, in rays of sunlight, was Rinoa. Duncan walked over and knelt beside the bed. He placed two fingers on her neck. Still a strong pulse. Good. She's a fighter.
« Her life spirits seem to be fully replenished. » he said and tapped her lightly on the cheek. « Rinoa, wake up. »
A few minutes later, she opened her eyes. Through a blurry vision, she saw someone looming over her. « Squall ? » she asked in a low voice.
« No, not him. » he gently said. « I somewhat got into this mess all because of a misunderstanding. »
Her vision cleared. Kneeling beside the bed she saw the same man she had seen in her dream'. « So, it wasn't a dream ? »
« No. » Duncan replied. « It wasn't. »
He looked behind him at the others who stood there gaping with their mouths wide open. « What ? »
« This is amazing. » Kadowaki said and pressed the intercom. « Squall, could you come down to the Infirmary, please ? »
« What for ? »
« Just get down here. It's important. Kadowaki out. »
Rinoa crawled off the bed and tried to stand up but sunk to her knees. With Duncan's help she remained upright. « Take it easy. One step at a time. »
« Okay. » Rinoa said and managed a few steps. « This dream' I had I saw you in it. »
« As I said before, it wasn't a dream. We were in the Lifestream. Because of that, our minds were linked. I could look into yours and you into mine. »
The door whooshed open and Squall stepped in. « What is so Rinoa ? »
He ran over and hugged her. Now that she was in Squall's hands, he could let go.
« Geez, I missed you. »
« Squall, take it easy, you're choking me. »
« Sorry. » He loosened his grip.
Duncan was flooded with memories of him and Charlene.
« Squall. »
« Yes ? »
« Don't be too hard on him. » Rinoa said silently. « He's gone through a lot. He lost his wife. He wanted to spare you the same experience and brought me back. »
Squall looked at Duncan standing a few meters away, lost in memory. That explains the ring on the piece of string around his neck he thought.
« Mr. Skywalker, I want to thank you for bringing Rinoa back. It seems we misjudged you. »
« Forget about it. People always happen to do that when they see me. I'm not the type that holds a grudge. »
Squall guided Rinoa out of the Infirmary.
« Go easy on her for a while. » Duncan said. « She has to get used to the surroundings again. »
« Will do. » Squall replied with a nod.

Timber
Zone and Watts eyed the newly built Mako Reactor from behind a corner of a barrack.
« I wonder if the Galbadians have gone mad. » Zone said. « It's not like them to build something like this. Unless they are up to something. »
« Who knows. » Watts replied. « But I have never seen that fat bozo in my life. »
« There have to be plans of that thing somewhere. » Zone said pondering.
« Duck. » Watts warned and pointed over his shoulder at a Galbadian scouting party coming closer.
« Hell. » Zone cursed and crawled behind a set of barrels. Watts ducked under a large piece of cloth. They heard the rattle of the soldiers' boots coming closer and move on.
Zone waited till he didn't hear the soldiers anymore before coming out. He poked his head over the rim of the barrles and scanned the surroundings. The soldiers were gone. He elbowed Watts.
« Watts, they're gone. »
Watts crawled from under his hideout. « What now ? »
« We have to warn someone. » Zone explained. « But first, I'd like to get my hands on some of the plans of that reactor. »
Zone ran from hiding place to hiding place to the small building that held the plans.
When he got there, he first looked through the small window. No one. Great. He looked around so no one could bust him and went in. He went to the desk on which the plans lay and started to search.
Bingo ! After shoving a few other plans aside, the ones of the Timber Mako Reactor lay before him. He quickly rolled them up, put them away and rearranged the table so no one would notice that the plans were gone. But a more thorough search would reveal they really were gone.
Zone ran out in time and hid in the nearest hiding place to see the fat Shinra executive walk to the small barrack.
Aw man Zone swore in the back of his mind. He waited till the man was in the building and ran at full speed back to Watts in a straight line. The two of them made their way back into the maze of narrow passageways as the Shinra man stormed out and yelled there were saboteurs in their midst.
But the Galbadians were idiots if not complete morons. They would never find the two in the maze which only they and the resistance members knew as the back of their hand.
« Who are we gonna take these plans to ? » Watts asked.
« SeeD. » Zone said.
Watts' eyes brightened. « Balamb Garden. »
« Exactly. Let's go tell Squall. He'll help us out. »
« And we'll see our princess again. »
« That too, my friend. » Zone said and clapped his buddy on the back. « That too. »
The two friends ran to the Timber train station where the met up with a member of the Timber Wolves, one of the myriad resistance factions known to exist within Timber. He'd get them out of town.

Back at the barrack, the Shinra man yelled for Biggs to get down there as soon as possible. He was boiling with rage.
« Sir ? » Biggs asked as he arrived at his new commander's side.
« The blueprints of the reactor are missing ! »
« Must be one of the resistance members. » Biggs said pondering.
« Or that mercenary army you mentioned a few days ago. Could this be their work ? »
« No sir, I don't think so. It's not like SeeD to steal plans. » Biggs replied.
« Find the blueprints. »
« But sir, there are a great number of resistance factions in Timber. It's impossible to investigate all of them. »
« I don't care if it's impossible or not ! » the Shinra man raged. « I want those plans back ! »
« Yessir ! » Biggs saluted and ran off to issue orders.
The Galbadian army split up to seek out resistance members and question them.