Title: The mysteries of the night
Chapter: 1/??
Author: Ichigoxhime
Subject: Final Fantasy VIII
Rating: PG 15
Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy or its characters. However I do own this work of fiction.
Summary: Squall, Zell, Selphie, and Quistis are sent to Galbadia city to investigate some mysterious activities. While there they meet up with the Galbadian general's daughter, Rinoa and the sharp shooter, Irvine, and together they try to solve the mystery of the Tomb of the unknown king and how it's related to what is happening at night in Galbadia.
Notes/CC?: This is the first Final Fantasy fic I've written in a few years, hope it's ok. In this fic, Seifer was never at Balamb Garden and the sorceress war never happened, so I guess it's an AU FFVIII fic.
*****
The darkness of the night bought many things in Deling city, the capital of Galbadia. It was a time when people gathered in the bar of the Galbadia hotel to drink and listen to the songstress, or haunted the pavements of the main high street to challenge other people to a game of cards. It was generally a very busy, happy, friendly atmosphere. Of course there were muggings and fights, these things came with every large city, but mostly the people were calm.
However, just recently, strange things had been happening around the city's outskirts. People had been killed. Not just killed but totally mutilated. Their limbs had been ripped from their bodies, and all their blood drained as if sucked away by a vampire. On the outskirts of the city, people knew not to leave their houses after dark. The attacks were even beginning to affect the inner city. Less people were to be found in the high street, they much preferred to be safe and locked up in their homes as soon as darkness fell. Although the invisible terror hadn't penetrated the inner city yet, it was only a matter of time, and no one wanted to be out when that happened.
*****
It was a peaceful morning at Balamb garden. Students and SeeDs were beginning to awaken to the sound of birds chirping outside their windows. Squall Leonhart had already been up for over an hour. He always got up at six every morning as he liked to spend at least an hour training before he gave in and had breakfast.
He preferred the training centre in the early mornings as it was usually empty from other students and the tougher monsters seemed to be dawn creatures. However, all he had found this morning were grats. He wiped some sweat from his forehead then disappeared into the lush greenery that filled the training centre. He was determined to get at least one good fight before leaving.
Zell Dincht was completely the opposite. He hated mornings. He could sleep till noon if his alarm let him. Right now he was laying on his back in bed sleeping like a baby. The bed covers were twisted all around him apart from one leg which had escaped, and his mouth was open as he made small snoring noises.
In the cafeteria Quistis Trepe sat at a table drinking a large mug of strong black coffee. Opposite her was her lover, the dark haired Chinese girl, Xu. Xu was quietly eating a piece of toast while Quistis talked about the lesson she had to teach later that morning. Quistis was a tall, beautiful blonde haired woman who was admired amongst her students.
Selphie Tilmitt had just stepped out of the shower and was brushing her teeth while trying to hum a cheerful little song. She was the type of person that was always cheerful and happy, and although some people found her annoying she was always there to cheer someone up they were feeling sad.
"I wonder what I'll do today"
She sang as she continued to get herself ready for the day ahead.
"This is headmaster Cid speaking. Can Quistis Trepe, Squall Leonhart, Zell Dincht and Selphie Tilmitt report to my office immediately. I repeat can Quistis Trepe, Squall Leonhart, Zell Dincht and Selphie Tilmitt report to my office immediately."
The headmaster's voice floated through the garden via the intercom.
Squall was still in the training centre when he heard the announcement. He finished killing the grat he was fighting then left the training centre to go to Headmaster Cid's office. Maybe he was finally being sent on a decent mission.
He thought about the other names the headmaster had said. He recognised two of them. Quistis Trepe was his instructor before he passed his SeeD exam, and Zell Dincht had been on his team during the exam. He wouldn't call either of them his friends. The girl was nice enough, but she was an instructor and nothing else. The boy he found annoying. He thought Zell was loud and clumsy. The kind of guy that got fired up at the smallest thing. Not the kind of person Squall wanted as a friend. Not that Squall wanted any friends. He was happy to be a loner, losing himself in work and battles.
Quistis looked up with concern when she heard her name mentioned on the intercom.
"My class –"
She started but Xu silenced her and placed a hand on her knee.
"Don't worry about it, I'll cover for you. No doubt whatever Headmaster Cid has to say it'll be important if he's asking to see you right before your lesson is due to begin."
Quistis nodded and smiled.
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks Xu."
She quickly finished her coffee and stood up.
"I should go right away"
She gave her lover a quick kiss then left the cafeteria to go to Cid's office on the third floor.
Selphie stood still in the main corridor of the first floor of garden when she heard the announcement. She was about to return some library books on the healing powers of cactuars, but those books were quickly forgotten as she listened. She bounced on her feet as her name was mentioned then almost ran all the way to the elevator. She was definitely curious to find out what was going on.
In the dormitories Zell continued to sleep…
*****
It was twenty minutes later that Zell burst into the headmaster's office, having been informed by the library girl that he had been called to see headmaster Cid. He was out of breath and his usually perfectly styled hair was all over the place. He gasped out an apology as he tried to get his breath back, and realised the whole room was staring at him.
Squall had a hand on his hip and pissed off expression on his face. Cid had refused to tell them why he had called them until all SeeDs were present. Squall didn't appreciate having his time wasted.
"Now Dincht has graced us with his presence I will explain why I have called you to my office"
Cid said, hiding a smile with the papers he was holding in one hand.
"As you may or may not be aware…"
He looked at Zell as he said the words may not.
"…Deling City has become victim of a bout of mysterious killings. These are no ordinary killings. The corpses are left with no blood and their limbs are ripped from their bodies. I am sending you to Deling city to get to the bottom of these crimes and to kill the culprit. Your train will leave Balamb Station at 11.00. When you reach Deling you are to report to General Caraway's mansion. He will be expecting you. I have booked you into Galbadia hotel for the duration of your stay. I expect you to report back to me every evening at 19.00."
He went on to give them more details of their mission. Zell bounced from one foot to the other. He couldn't wait to get to Deling. He had heard so many brilliant stories about the great city and had never been further than Dollet himself.
Squall listened intently. This was the first important mission he had been assigned to and he didn't want to mess up. Quistis on the hand wondered what would happen to her class and her relationship. She knew that her and Xu were strong, but if she was away for too long she would miss her lover terribly.
Eventually Cid was finished.
"You're dismissed"
He said.
"You have two hours to prepare and pack until the car will be ready to leave to take you to Balamb. Instructor Trepe could you stay behind please. I have a few extra words for you"
Quistis nodded and stayed sitting, twisting her hands together in her lap as the others left Cid's office. Squall was the first one to walk out as soon as Cid has said they were dismissed. He didn't have a lot of things he needed to do to prepare, he just didn't want to stay in that stifling room a moment longer.
As Zell was leaving to go get some breakfast from the cafeteria he felt a hand on his arm. Turning his head he saw the sparkling green eyes of Selphie peering at him and he grinned.
"Can I join you for breakfast?"
She asked and he nodded.
"Sure Sefie"
They walked together to catch the elevator down to the bottom floor. The pair had been friends since they had done a small mission together a few months before. They got on so well because they were both hyper and childish. Sometimes people would mistake them for a couple which would make Zell cringe and yell yuck and Selphie would giggle and kiss his cheek to embarrass him.
Cid waited until he and Quistis were alone before revealing why he'd asked her to stay behind. He knew that his words were going to hurt the sensitive blonde but he really had no choice.
"Quistis"
The blonde looked at him silently.
"I know you are worried about what will happen to your classes while you are away on mission. Well the truth is I have already found your replacement."
"That's good, I won't have to worry about them while I am in Deling –"
Before she could go on Cid interrupted her.
"Please let me finish"
Quistis fell silent and nodded.
"After a lot of thinking about this, I have decided it's for the best that I revoke your teaching licence."
"But headmaster! I -"
"No I've made up my mind. It is better for me to have you as a regular SeeD that I can send on missions such as this one. The results from your students have been getting steadily lower and I feel the person I have chosen to replace you will be a better teacher to our students"
Quistis refused to look at him and Cid sighed. He knew there was no way this could have a good outcome.
"I'm sorry, Quistis. You can leave now"
The blonde stood up and hurried out of the room, still not looking at Cid. The middle aged man closed his eyes and sighed again. A Moment later a calming voice filled the room as the scent of a familiar perfume drifted under his nose and warm comforting arms went around him.
"Don't think too much on it, you've done the right thing"
Cid turned and looked into the eyes of a beautiful dark haired woman, his wife Edea.
"I know. I just hope she won't hate me too much"
He said and Edea silenced him with a slender finger placed delicately on his lips.
"None of our children could possibly hate us"
*****
As the train pulled out of Balamb Squall unlocked the door to the SeeDs' compartment. Every train that travelled to and from Balamb had a special compartment reserved for any SeeDs that might be travelling. Squall walked in and sat on a plush couch. Zell followed him and jumped on the couch with a grin. Squall rolled his eyes and sighed. Being with Zell and Selphie he would feel like he was with a group of children.
The room was decorated elegantly with plants and extravagant wallpaper and even had a pair of beds against one wall of the room should anyone need to sleep.
Quistis walked into the room and sat down. She had not said a word to anyone since they'd left the garden. Her mind was consumed with what had happened in the headmaster's room after the others had left. Was she really that bad a teacher? She had thought she'd been doing a good job with her students and they all loved her. It didn't make sense.
Selphie had stayed in the corridor outside the room. She was looking out a window, although there was nothing to look at as the train had gone into a tunnel that led under the sea to take them to the right continent for Deling City. Her voice drifted into the compartment as she sang a little song about trains that she had just made up.
Squall stared at the ground and tried to block out the sound of Zell's voice as he talked animatedly about the newest issue of some magazine that he loved. The trip to Deling would be a long one. A very long one.