A/N: A little intro to this story – I have had it in my years for years. It came to the point that I decided to put it out there anyway and with that, "The Lionheart" was born. That story still exists in my profile and even though I have a little affection for it, I am not proud of what I did. There are many errors, many mistakes and it doesn't have the best flow. It also has the evident mind of a young girl (I was 13-14 back when I started if I am not mistaken). After all these years, I have decided to re-write the whole thing and properly finish it. "The Lionheart" will stay where it is, but I will not touch it anymore. Part of me wants to see how much I can evolve after all these years.

"Liberi Fatali- The Fated Children" is my second chance to this story. This time around, I have a more mature approach to a lot of events and to my writing. It will seem like a Mary-Sue to some, but I promise, it couldn't be far from the truth.

Without further do, on with the show.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Square Enix.

Capítulo Um -The Beginning

Eighty years ago, Centra Empire, Hyne Temple

"HURRY!" a voice, in the middle of the chaos shouted. People were screaming everywhere, fire in every house, monster's attacking everyone in sight. Above this hell, the giant moon wasn't white anymore. It's was now red, with a blue circle in the middle.

The Lunar Cry.

The Centra Empire had his days counted. Or hours, was the right word. People were running, in their rich clothes, children's were trying to awaken their fallen parents, others were crying. In the Temple of Hyne, in the Great Hall, the Priest and Priestess, with their arms raised, were chanting.

"Win dain a lotica

En vai tu ri

Si lo ta…."

"The Children?" Where are The Children?" a woman, in her twenties asked, completely scared.

A group of six persons, three Priest and three Priestess, three dressed in simple white robes, the others in light blue, approached, leaded by an old Priest, dressed with a rich robe. One woman, with blond hair and green was pulling a two-year dark skinned boy with light brown hair and dark eyes in his hands, a man, with orange hair and blue eyes was holding hands with a also two-year blond-brown with chocolate eyes girl, while other man, whit black hair and blue eyes had a baby girl, with only a year, dark brown hair and silver eyes in his arms. The woman in her twenties gave them a faint smile, glad that they were ready. The dark-skinned boy turned to the woman who was leading, and asked what was happening, why did she woke him up.

"Later my dear, later." was her only reply.

The boy turned to the blond-brown girl, eyes widened in fear, while the girl turned to him and held closer to the man who was holding her hand.

"Is the portal ready?" the old Priest asked.

"Yes." The woman replied. "We are ready." And bowed to the old man.

"Follow me." He said, and all of them followed him.

In the middle of the Great Hall was a pedestal with four stones in each point of the square. The four stones, helped by the Priest and Priestess, were emitting a bright glow, that transformed in a blue void.

A portal.

The two men and the woman that were holding the three children's approached the void. Then, they stopped and turned to their superior. The old man gave each of them a bag, kissed every children in the forehead, giving them his blessing, and then descend the pedestal, joining the others.

"Take good care of them." The old man told them. "These child are precious to all of us. Protect them at your life cost. Give them a good and a happy childhood. Accomplish what Hyne asked us, until the promised day. Fahram."

"Fahram." They all chanted back.

Tears were surging in the boy, the girl, the woman and the old man. The shakes of the outside monster's reached the Temple and the chanting increased his volume. There was no time to waste, and knowing this, the two men and the woman turned and directed themselves to the portal, with the three children's still in their grasp. The old man continued to look, until slowly, the void started to weaken and the chants slowly extinguished. We closed his eyes, tears falling. This was the end, for him, and for the great Empire of Centra. But Hyne had told him concrete orders.

Send The Children to a new world, Earth. They must grow up in safety. Hard times approach this place. Protect them, even at one's life cost. These Children have great doing in the future.

The old man tightened his grip. He wouldn't see that future. But know, the only thing he wanted, was for the children to be okay. And he knew they were. A hand touched his shoulder.

"Father?" the teenage Priestess asked "We should get going."

He sighed. "Indeed my dear. Let us go." He took one last glance to the moon, the monster's falling from it.

Earth.

It must be a beautiful place. He thought. Then, he turned around and joined the other's to their last service to Hyne.

The floor and the ceiling crumbled few seconds after the door where the man had just entered closed. Screams and the chaos could be heard while the Lunar Cry hit the Centra continent. In one minute, everything would be over.

The Centra Empire disappeared.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

She stared absently to the ceiling of the classroom, the book open in front of her, a pencil in her mouth, which she was them entertaining herself moving it up and down with her lips. The teacher's voice came from far away.

She was daydreaming. Again. The dream that had assaulted her for days was still fresh in her memory. The screams, that blue void, a warmness around, everything crumbling…..

"Don't you even dare it, jerk." The warning was directed to the boy seated in the desk next to her. He grinned.

"I didn't do anything." He said, still grinning like a fool.

"Yet." was her reply. She wasn't in the mood for him. In reality, she never was. "Go bug anyone else."

He was about to reply when a soft voice came from her left.

"Any problems sis?"

She turned to my partner, friend, and sister.

Dannyellla Blueriver. Seventeen years old, chocolate eyes, blond-brown hair.

They weren't real siblings, but just plain and simple best friends. The started when they realised they were too much alike. Same height, same hairstyle, same looks. Apart from the hair and eye colour. They seemed like day and night, complete opposite of each other. Thet were together since God-know-when.

Katrin smiled, no light reaching her silver eyes.

"Nah" she told the other girl "Everything under control."

They were interrupted by the teacher asking the boy about the American revolution.

"Busted", Katrin snickered, going back to the analysis of the ceiling.

The only conclusion she had reached was that it was damn dirty.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Dan was pleading, even begging Katrin, for not to go in the same bus as he was going. As usual, she paid no attention to her. They were late, and the only bus that the two girls had was the same that he was catching.

The him in question was Dannyella's little crush, Elton Freelife, a teenager of seventeen years old, dark-skinned and brown haired young man, who was currently seating in front of the girls when they entered the bus.

Katrin had done it on purpose. The delay was no misfortune and she was hoping that her friend would get the hint.

Come one, take the chance.

Katrin was trying very hard to not laugh at the nervousness of Dannyella and at the same time trying to enjoy the journey when the bus had suddenly come to a halt. Apparently, there was an accident right ahead.

"Bummer..." she muttered, relaxing against the chair. "Let's hope it doesn't take long."

That was when everything went weird. And wrong.

Sudden pain struck her in the stomach, like someone had punched her and her vision blurred, dark spots all around. On her left, Dan had curved, her hand reaching for her belly, her face showing pure agony. In front of girls, Elton had the same symptoms. Suddenly he fainted, his head hitting hard the glass. On her left, Dan had already passed out.

She couldn't say anything as darkness overcame her and she fainted.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

She could hear a faint sound, like a wave, but she attributed it to her imagination. Trying to move, she realised her body wasn't responding. In a sudden panic, Katrin opened her eyes.

A blue sky greeted her, making her squirm her eyes. Slowly, she could feel her body again. Trying to move her hands and legs, she stood up. Her whole body seemed like it weighted a few tons.

Have I gotten that fat?!

With a moan leaving her lips, she managed to finally get on her feet. The scene that greeted her made her widen her eyes.

There was a blue-ish sea right in front of her!

Blinking, she looked around. Close to her, seating on a rock, was a man. Dark haired with blue eyes that watched her calmly. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and blue jeans. Katrin wasn't really sure what to do, but the man at least wasn't giving her weird vibes. Before she could say again, the man smiled.

"Awake are we?" his voice was low, soft and gentle, like a breeze.

No you duh. It's just your fricking imagination.

"Language Katrin."

Katrin stopped her slow movements. How on earth...It almost seemed like she had read her mind! R had she said that out loud?

"No, you thought it nice and clear."

"Wow… what on earth man?! Are you like… a telepath or something?" He chuckled then, shaking his head. "Well you could be. I believe anything now!"

"...What about other worlds? Do you believe in them?"

"What? As in, life after death and stuff? Well, I'm not religious, so I…." he was laughing. Again. Katrin raised an eyebrow. The guy was weird.

"No, I don't mean that type of world. I mean parallel worlds." He looked at her. "Do you?"

Katrin looked at him in disbelief. A parallel world huh? Now that would be interesting. In her mind popped Narnia, and the Golden Compass, and…. And the dam man was laughing again! He was sure reaching the first place in her top ten of the weirdest things.

"Rinauld Cost. Ring a bell?" he said, calmly.

"….Should it?"

He sighed, the smile never leaving his lips

"Come on Kat, you spent a few of your life there. At least in the world where it belongs to…." seeing that the girl wasn't getting it, he tried another approach "It's in one of your favourites games. Give it a try."

Was he mocking her? He surely had to… One of her favourites games…

Then it hit her.

"Final Fantasy VIII…. What does that have to do with anything-"

The man rose to his feet, and his arms wide open.

"It's where we are."

It took her seconds to assimilate that information.

It's WHAT NOW?!

She looked around. Sure thing, she could only see sea, and sand, and in the far, far away, a forest. Sure, they weren't in her city any-more, but that didn't mean they had landed in God-knew-where. She looked back to the man that was still looking at mher, and with his dam faint smile.

"Ok, spill it up." she crossed her arms, her stance defensive. He raised an eyebrow. "Where's the camera?"

"What camera?" he asked, now confused.

"This gotta be a TV Show. You know the ones that usually prank us, and shit." she said, now looking around. He shook his head and smiled.

"This isn't a prank, Katrin. This is reality." Again his arms opened, gesturing for their surroundings. She looked at him for a second.

"You are kidding right?" Katrin asked. He chuckled, approached, and grabbed the girls hand. For the first time in her life, Katrin didn't pull away. Somehow, it seemed like she knew him for ages. He tugged a little.

"Come on." He said in a cheerful tone. Katrin, bewildered as she was, just followed.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

She had the perfect notion that her mouth was opened, eyes widened, and that she just stood there stunned by that vision. On her left, the man from before was looking at Katrin, smiling, and still holding the girls hand. It had taken almost three hours through green grass to reach where they were. And seeing the enormous building she was seeing, Katrin had only one desire.

To pinch herself. To hit my head in wall. To do something that could tell her she wasn't dreaming and that what she was seeing was real.

Balamb Garden stood magnificent in front of the young girl.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Katrin observed the gigantic blue building in front of her, her mouth slightly opened. Balamb Garden was bigger than she had expected it to be. She wasn't sure how long she had stood there, stunned by that strange, yet familiar, vision. The ring floated above, and Katrin could hear the bell ringing, calling the students to class. Yes, she was astonished. Who wouldn't be?

"Is this real?" she asked to the man she knew was still right beside, slowly.

"Yes it is." the young girl could almost see his smile.

Katrin couldn't believe it. The man was still holding her hand, like the girl was some kind of child that didn't know how to walk by herself. Katrin hated when people treated her like she was a child.

"You should get going." He said, his voice still soft and calm. "They are waiting for you."

"They?" Katrin asked, raising an eyebrow. But he just smiled.

"I think you will need this." He said handing her a small bag. From where he had took it, she didn't had the slightest idea. He let go of her hand and Katrin explored the interior of the bag. In there she found a wallet, a card with her name on it, ID and age, with the Galbadian Garden symbol, and a letter, addressed to Cid Kramer, Balamb Garden Headmaster. Katrin frowned. Now that was pretty weird.

"You should hurry." His voice seemed pretty close, and when Katrin turned, she noticed how close he was. Too close. She tried to raise her head without really telling him how uncomfortable she felt. He smiled, and placed a hand on her head. "I will be here." Then he kissed her forehead, and vanished into a blue light.

Katrin didn't even had the opportunity to ask him his name.

-It's Bahamut.-

Surprised, and somewhat scared, she looked around, searching for the source of the soft voice, founding no one but herself. Still not trusting in what she saw, she tried to stay alert.

A low chuckled was heard…. In her head.

-Don't be scared, Little One. I'm the man from before.-

-So….-she wasn't even sure where to start. Losing her mind wasn't such a weird chance. -Are you like…. In my head?-

-Yep!-

-…This is dam weird….-

-If I were you, I would get used to it. You are going to spend a lot of time in this world.-

She sighed.

-But… I want to go back….-

-You can't.- he replied.- Not yet, anyway.

Katrin sighed again.

Never a good sign…

With no other option, she headed towards the Headmaster's office.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Hands in her pockets, in a relaxed posture, she could almost past as a normal person in here. But looking around and seeing dozens of child's and teenagers dressed with the Balamb Garden uniform, some of them carrying weapons, Katrin felt slightly out of her own ambient. Slowly, and catching every single detail of the interior of the Garden, she walked to the elevator that would take her to the Headmaster office. At least, that was what Bahamut had told her to do.

She had just pressed the third floor button, when a high pitched voice reached her hears.

"Don't let it close!"

She looked to see a petite brunette running to the same elevator Katrin was, and, being the nice person she was, the girl held the doors for her to enter. The girl kinda of flied to the inside, and Katrin had to suppress the urge to laugh when she almost hit the opposite wall. After all, it was rude to laugh of someone that we don't even know! But when the brunette raised her emerald eyes to Katrin, she knew who exactly the other girl was. Well, at least in tiny little pixel version.

Presenting to you, Selphie Tilmitt.

She panted, catching her breath.

She must have really run to get here in time.

"Take it ease." Katrin told her. "I don't want you to die here."

She giggled for what she had said.

"Thank you." She said, catching more breath. "I thought I couldn't catch it in time." And she smiled.

"In a hurry, are we?" Katrin said, her back now against the wall.

"Well, yeah, I need to get to homeroom soon, or else I will be in big trouble." Katrin couldn't hold it much longer and chuckled. Selphie was funny! Especially with the expressions she was doing. She laughed too. "The name's Selphie. Selphie Tilmitt." She said, holding out a hand for the other girl.

"Katrin Nightroad." Katrin shook it and she giggled.

"Funny name." they both laughed, as the lift had just reached second floor. "Well this is my stop. Not coming?" she asked, turning to Katrin. The other girl just shook her head.

"Nah. Gotta go to the Head office."

"Well then, see you later." And she left. Katrin smiled, thinking about whatsheI knew would happen next. Slowly, she reached the Headmaster office doors. In the desk outside, was Xu. As soon as the elevator stopped, emitting a loud PING, she raised her head to watch newcomer.

"Do you have any business with the Headmaster?" she asked Katrin.

Her only response was handing Xu the letter. She took it, watched the Galbadia Garden symbol, and nodded. "You may enter." And returned the letter to Katrin. The younger girl simple smiled, went to the doors and knocked.

"Come in." came a kind voice from the inside. Katrin slowly entered and her silver eyes meet with the kind blues of Cid Kramer ones. He smiled. "What can I do for you?"

It took her seconds to register the office. It was big, with old wooden furniture, the huge glass window behind the old man, and the beautiful desk where he was seated. Katrin walked to his desk handing the letter. He read it carefully and raised his head to her.

"We were expecting you, Miss Nightroad." Katrin raised an eyebrow. They were? Bahamut had told her that before, but is still seemed pretty dam weird to her.

"Your luggage arrived yesterday." He continued, not even disturbed by her reaction. "This is your cadet ID card." He said, handing Katrin a blue card, similar to the black one that she still had in her bag. "Your dorm is in the back. Your luggage is already there." Katrin looked to the back of the card. Sure thing there was a 32 in the back. "Present yourself at 1600 in the front gate for depart for the Field Exam."

Field Exam? I was going to the Field Exam?

"Sure thing sir." Katrin said, grinning. Cid chuckled, amused by the girls words.

"Until there you have plenty of time to prepare yourself. Dress accordingly." He added with a strange tone, like he was warming her or something. It took her a few seconds to understand what he meant with accordingly.

Right, the uniform.

"Don't worry sir, I will be there in time." she said, giving him a small smile. He smiled back, then sighed.

"It's good to have you finally here, Miss Nightroad…" he said slowly.

That statement caught her off guard.

Finally? What does he mean by finally?

"Dismissed." He said, and her only reaction was to give him the SeeD salute that she had seen so many times before. And seeing that she had no more business in there, Katrin left.

In the elevator, Katrin recalled everything that happened so far, and, no matter how many times she thought about it, that whole situation still seemed pretty weird to her. She left the elevator without really noticing it, and headed in the dorms direction, when a voice called her. A voice she had heard minutes before.

"Katrin!"

She turned to see Selphie running, again, in her direction. This time, however, she didn't reach Katrin panting. Well, that was a start. "Where are you going?" she asked the other girl.

"To the dorms." Katrin told her.

That's where my feet were taking me right?

"I'm going too!" she said, in that cheerful voice of hers. Katrin smiled, seeing that energy. "We can go together. What's your dorm number?"

"huh…" Katrin picked up the card Cid had given to her. "32." Now, where the heck was that room?

"Mine is 27!" she said cheerful.

"Do you know where your room is?" Katrin asked, seeing a chance to reach her destination without losing, or making fool of herself.

"huh…. Yeah…" she seemed a little by the sudden question. Katrin smiled again.

"Good. Because you are going to tell me where it is, since I don't know it." She seemed even more confused.

"Aren't you a Balamb Garden student?"

"Nope." Katrin smiled. She sure is innocent. "I'm a Galbadian transfer."

"Oh…ok." Her cheerful smile had returned. "Come on then. I will show you then."

And they were off, talking about all kind of stuff.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Katrin stared at the small room. Just one single bed a small, a really small desk, and an also small wardrobe. In the floor were four bags: two of them had her clothes, the other was a laptop bag and the last seemed some kind of weapon case, with the words Wing Goddess written on it. Her curiosity took over and she opened it, to find a bow. A silver with parts of it in emerald bow. Confused and surprised, she traced the fines lines of the bow and the material, which she didn't know what was, was smooth and soft. A holder with arrows caught her attention too, since the points of the arrows weren't made of any iron or stuff, but from stone, and by the looks of it, magic stone. There were five kind of arrows: blues, red, yellow, gray and green. She noticed near these ones, that there was normal arrows made of iron, with a paper next to them, with her handwriting saying for stealth/assassination only.

Now that is interesting. Assassination?

Next to the bow, she noticed a belt with knives and daggers on it. Carefully, she picked it up, analyzing it.

-It´s to put it around your leg.- came Bahamut soft voice.

-Leg?- she asked, confused.

-In the thigh.-was his only reply. Curious as she was, Katrin tried to put the belt around her tight, but the dam thing was too tight. She cursed.

-Without your pants of course!- came Bahamut voice, and she could swear that he had mentally rolled his eyes.- You use it under your skirts and dresses.

Swearing again, Katrin took off her pants and tried the belt. It fitted this times, with all of the daggers and knives at hands reach, completely hidden in her inner thigh, without doing much confusion while she alked. That's when one thing that Bahamut had said hit her.

Dresses and skirts?

She went to one of the bags and sure thing Katrin found there dresses, skirts and leggings. She raised an eyebrow. Sure thing, she liked that kind of clothes, but for SeeD? Shrugging it off, Katrin looked to the bed, where the Balamb Garden uniform was packed, waiting for her to dress it. Looking around, she noticed that atop the desk was a paper, with her name on it. Curious again, she picked it up, and read it carefully.

Name: Katrin Nightroad

Age: 16

Date of Birth: 4th May

Blood Type: A

Height: 5'5''

Eye colour: silver

Hair: dark brown and curly

Howetown: unknow

Specialization: assassination and stealth abilities

Weapon: Bow (with magical arrows); daggers; knives

...

The paper continued with various comments about herself, but was the specialization that caught her eye.

Assassination and stealth abilities.

So, I am supposed to be an assassin. Sweet.

She felt in my head a strange sensation. It seemed that Bahamut wanted to punch her for thinking such things. Not that she was favouring killing human beings, but she had to admit, they were usually the ones with more style.

Putting the paper aside, she looked at her watch. She still had plenty of time, and didn't know what to do in the meanwhile. Sure, she could look around the Garden, but then what? Her eyes fell on the case and a little voice in the back of her head, told her that she was really in need of training a little.

After all, it's been years since I went with grandpa

She got dressed again, picked the quiver, the bow and left the room, headed towards the Training Cetner.

As soon as she entered the humid place, Katrin noted that the place really did seemed like the Jurassic Park.

With that in mind and the hidden fear of encountering a T-Rexaur, she entered the humid forest.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-

She reached her room hours later.

Her whole body ached, the muscles not used to that movements anymore. Right then, she just wished for a shower.

A warm and welcome shower. I am pretty sure I must stink like hell.

Dragging herself into the room, picking the uniform, a body gel and a shampoo from the bag, Katrin headed towards the bathroom. Under the shower, she felt her whole body relaxing. She could feel Bahamut inside her head but this time, his connection seemed a little...off.

Must be sleeping.

As usual, she took her sweet time in the shower. Looking towards the watch that was in the sink, she noticed she only had fifteen minutes to be in the front hall. Fixing her hair in a tress, she dressed the uniform and got out. Before leaving, she picked the bow and quiver and headed towards the front hall, lowly praying to any gods that could hear her.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Next in "Liberi Fatali- The Fated Children": The Field Exam, dogs, snakes….

AN. Now there. First chapter up and running. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Hope you give this story a chance. See you in the next chapter (I hope)