Thunder rumbled overhead

Final Fantasy VIII –

Prologue: Unfinished Business

Thunder rumbled overhead. Lightning flashed in the dark clouds. I threw my Revolver gunblade, generic and heavy, into the air in a display of the duel that would follow, and Seifer did too. His blue eyes arrogantly smirked at me from across the makeshift arena and a confident grin spread across his face, his short blonde hair gently waving in the growing wind. Rain fell and began to darken his gray overcoat. Revolver landed, spinning, tipfirst, sinking into the ground with a loud slicing sound. Seifer picked up his Hyperion, with its old rapier-styled blade, and pointed it at me, as if he was indicating the loser.

Anger filled me, and I grabbed Revolver by the handle, swinging it horizontally at Seifer's head. He dodged to the right and down, the blow missing his head by inches. We circled one another, his eyes staring into mine as we began to truly fight. Seifer spun gracefully, trying to bring Hyperion's blade to my neck in a fancy display, but I blocked it easily before swinging at him twice. The first swing was deflected, and the second missed entirely, and as I spun around to continue facing him, he took the spare moment to extend his hand and wave for me to come back, mockery spread across his face. He then pressed a light attack, a couple of easy swings I could deflect easily before I brought Revolver down with all of my strength. Seifer blocked, but I could feel him beginning to tire on the other side of the clashing metal.

Seifer pressed a sudden, desperate attack, quick slices at my head whistling through the air, though his attacks were nowhere near as precise as I knew he could be. I evaded them easily enough, and then ran into the opening as he widened up, bringing Revolver down once, twice, both times hitting Seifer's gunblade, feeling his defense softening. I brought it down a third time, but Seifer managed to temporarily disarm me, swatting Revolver into the air. My reflexes, however were in tune with the battle, and I caught Revolver with a quick side jump, catching the weapon in midair before charging Seifer.

Seifer extended an open hand towards me, fire being conjured within his palm. I recognized the magic, and brought up my blade to defend myself from the attack, but when the fire shot forth and connected with it, I was still knocked onto the seat of my pants. As I worked to stand up, I saw a shadow cover me, and I realized Seifer was already over me. A crazy rage was etched into Seifer's eyes, an expression of victory on his face as he brought his weapon above his head and brought it down, hard. A flash sparked, and blood flowed forth onto the ground. I couldn't see for a moment before I realized blood was in my eyes. I was still alive. Rage glazed the world red, and I lost control of my body. I felt my arms move, and heard the hammer of Revolver bang as the trigger forced the hammer to hit the concussion cartridge, and saw the blade connect with Seifer's brow. The red glaze of the world gave way to darkness, and I felt myself fall into its embrace.