Disclaimer: I don´t own Final Fantasy VIII, but I´d love to own Squall jajajaja
Unexpected Destiny
Chapter 6: Para-magic
By CelestialRage
Selphie´s emerald eyes were full of empathy for her friend. As far as she knew, the students from Galbadia Garden didn´t train on magic and GFs as Balamb´s or Trabia´s did. In fact, the Galbadians relied more on technology and weapons than on para-magic, while Balamb´s primarly concern was to teach their students how to channel energies as powerful as those from GFs. Trabia was a little behind from Balamb in magical use and development, but this didn´t mean they couldn´t use these forces properly.
After briefly considering their options, the brunette smiled encouragingly "Don´t worry. Look, I´ll lend you one of my GFs and then we´ll get you some magic. But... about the weapon, well... I don´t think that´ll be easy to replace."
The raven-haired smiled back at her friend´s offer "Thanks, Selphie. At least you´ve solved a part of my problem."
Where do I get a weapon?
And even if I get one, I´ve never used a real gun, only the ones used to play Time Crisis or House of the Dead arcade games, let alone any other kind of weapons like swords or whips.
Rosie was really worried. If she didn´t have a weapon then she would be in trouble, for she would only have her magical stores to rely on. That was, of course, if she actually knew how to use para-magic. On the other hand, provided that she managed to get a hold of a weapon, she´ll also be in trouble, because everyone would be able to notice she was absolutely clueless on how to use it.
Any way she was screwed.
"Okay, first things first." Selphie´s voice broke the raven-haired´s reverie as the brunette positioned in front of Rosie before taking her right hand. "I´m going to lend you Quetzalcoatl, kay?"
Rosie nodded slightly, a little scared of what would happen next. Her eyes widened when a bright flash enveloped Selphie´s smaller frame in a green and yellow light before quickly travelling the lenght of her arm. As it touched Rosie´s skin, she felt a jolt of electricity. The shock was painful but thankfully, brief. The raven-haired looked amazed as the energy slid all the way up her right arm before finally blinding her momentarily by the same flash she had seen when this odd experience began.
Immediately after the light receded, Rosie felt as though her mind had divided in two: one part remained her own, but in the other she could hear the alien thoughts of the GF now junctioned to her. It was an extremely eerie feeling, to share her mind with other being. The sensation quickly increased when the Guardian "spoke" in a language she didn´t know and the raven-haired amazingly found she could understand what it was saying.
"There, it´s done" said Selphie letting go of her friend´s hand. "How do you feel?"
Rosie frowned a little, moving her hands to support her head. "To be honest, odd... It´s my first experience junctioning a GF."
The brunette giggled "It´s a normal feeling, don´t worry you´ll get used to it." Selphie smiled brightly and then said "Well, we should get you some para-magic... but, where?"
"Mmmm... how about the Training Center?" Rosie suggested.
The tiny cadet shook her head "No, it´s too dangerous to go if you´re not prepared."
"But there are only grats in there... and a few T-Rexaurs, of course, but we could run from them." offered the raven-haired shrugging.
"Only grats? How can you be so sure?" Selphie frowned. That didn´t sound possible, The monsters in Trabia Garden´s Training Center went from Mesmerizes to Blue Dragons, and they were quite difficult to defeat.
Rosie smiled "Well.. when Squall and I were going towards the cafeteria I overheard some students talking about the Training Center´s wildlife, that´s why."
Furthermore, I´ve played this game like 4 times and I can assure you there´s nothing else there.
Selphie considered her friend´s words. Maybe there are T-Rexaurs to make up for the grats, otherwise it would be way too easy training there. She sighed and finally nodded "Okay, if you´re so sure, then we should take a shot." The brunette started her way towards the door
"C´mon, let´s retrieve my equipment. Then we´ll head for the Training Center."
ooo ooo
Quistis folded her SeeD uniform and laid it neatly on her bed. Now attired with her casual clothes – a reddish zip-up vest, matching long skirt and high black boots – the instructor retrieved her weapon from the small case she kept below her bed. The Slaying Tail, a black whip made from grat tentacles, strong yet very flexible and quite deadly since a sharp-looking blade was attached to the tip of the whip, ready to rip appart great amounts of flesh.
She sighed.
Hyne, was she tired!
But it couldn´t be helped, she had to guide Squall and the new girl, Rosie, through the Fire Cavern challenge. Of course, the blonde knew she was only backup and since there were 2 students taking the test simultaneously, she would only intervene on extreme circumstances.
Double checking that all her equipment an magic were in order, Quistis fastened the coiled whip to the black belt dancing around her hips and walked out of the room.
ooo ooo
Squall nodded as doctor Kadowaki gave him the last part of her extensive, yet always useful, medical advice. He bid the woman farewell and turned to leave. As he walked through the hall connecting the infirmary with the main body of Balamb Garden, the brunet mentally checked the goods he had delivered: 5 potions, 3 eyedrops, 4 antidotes and a couple of Phoenix Downs, just in case he or his partners suffered a great amount of damage. What he wondered now was how come magic could almost resuscitate the death and yet couldn´t cure a facial scar?
It was beyond him.
He was walking in the main hall towards the Front Gate, when stormy eyes detected a couple of familiar frames entering the Training Center.
ooo ooo
Selphie and Rosie walked down the wide corridor, the raven-haired´s gaze lingering in the green plaque displaying the facility´s name.
The girls had gone to the brunette´s room to retrieve her red, oversized nunchakus – which amazingly were heavier than Rosie had thought given her friend´s body frame – along with Selphie´s magical stores. Although poor, the brunette happily shared with her friend the few spells she had.
When Selphie told her to draw the magic she presented her, Rosie was completely appaled. How the hell was she supposed to do that? She was still getting used to the Guardian´s uncomfortable presence in her mind and she couldn´t begin to figure how she could use the powerful entity´s energy in her benefit.
Suddenly, the alien voice from Quetzalcoatl grew louder and she could tell the GF was trying to reasure her, telling her not to be afraid.
"Just let me handle it." – the reverberating voice said – "Concentrate on the energy the human in front of you holds."
Shrugging inwardly, Rosie returned her attention to her friend´s frame. Dark eyes narrowed in concentration as she focused her entire thoughts on the brunette. To her surprise, several bolts of multicolored light emerged from Selphie´s body, travelling towards her.
Just as when she had junctioned Quetzalcoatl, the raven-haired´s body was enveloped in a bright hue, which slowly faded, leaving her a sensation she didn´t know could exist. Her hands clutched ebony strands of hair as the overwhelming feeling left her breathless. The raven-haired panted as her brain´s temperature increased to a point Rosie feared it would melt away. However as soon as it had raised, the heat dissapeared, this time the cool sensation made the raven-haired clench her teeth as the temperature dropped almost to the point of freezing.
Someone make it stop!! I´m going to die!
As if on cue, the terrible pain vanished - not even leaving the normal ache it´s overwhelming nature incited - making Rosie blink in confusion at the abrupt relief.
"What was that?" she asked the brunette in front of her.
"You drew a few blizzards and fires, that´s all." replied Selphie smiling.
The raven-haired´s eyes widened in disbelief.
They were just blizzards and fires?!
I don´t want to know what would happen to my brain if I draw blizzara or fira, nevermind blizzagas and firagas or something stronger like ultima...
I guess that´s why SeeDs train so hard, you must be quite strong to resist junctioning GFs and drawing more powerful magic, I guess it must be the same to cast it.
Completely oblivious to her friend´s inner turmoil, Selphie grabbed her small item pouch and cheerfully said "Well, now we´re settled, so let´s go!!"
So there they were...
In the front gates of the Training Center.
Rosie looked around astonished, she had never imagined the place to be that big. Both girls were surrounded by an exotic-looking jungle, which served as shelter for the monsters that roamed the place. There were electrical fences on both sides of the road, which suddenly reminded Rosie of Jurassic Park, and oddly of the T-Rex that ate some of the cast from the movie.
Deciding that wasn´t the best time to think of what a T-Rex can do with a human body, Rosie focused only on the task at hand: she needed more magic and, of course, some practice before the Fire Cavern challenge.
They walked on the small bridge that conected the Training Center´s main area with which appeared to be a safety zone, just where the thick metallic doors stood.
Looking around, the raven-haired detected the spot she was searching for: a small area which shinned slightly: a drawing point. And if her memory didn´t fail her, she could draw more blizzards there, magic that would prove quite effective in her upcoming battle with Ifrit.
Rosie started walking towards the draw point. Selphie, whose attention was suddenly drawn from her surroundings to the movement by her side, called her out "Heeey! Where are you going?"
"I saw a draw point over there. I want the magic it has, it could be useful." Rosie answered, her back still facing the brunette as she slowly approached her goal.
"Okay, but be-"
Selphie didn´t have the chance to finish as a sudden blow to the back of her head rendered the yelping brunette unconscious.
Having heard Selphie´s cry, Rosie turned around only to find a grat looming over her friend´s unresponsive form.
"SELPHIE!!" the raven-haired cried out as she ran towards the brunette. The grat, sensing the approaching human was about to ruin its meal, moved in front of its catch, the tentacles moving in Rosie´s direction.
She came to a halt as a long, whip-like limb wrapped itself around her right wrist. The grat hissed triumphally and pulled its new prey towards it. Rosie tried to resist but the mutant plant was quite strong. She fell forwards, landing flat on her face before being dragged a couple of feet towards the grat. The raven-haired used all her strenght to turn face up and started kicking the plant with all her might.
Unfortunatelly, the monster wasn´t about to let an easy meal slip past its tentacles.
I have to do something or we´ll be doomed!! If only I could use the magic I´ve stored!!
The sound of her Guardian´s voice boomed in her head once more. "Focus your energy towards your target and will to release the spell of your choice. Use your willpower, that´s the key."
Rosie focused on the grat in front of her. The plant resumed its pulling on its prey and she lost her concentration. The top of the gigant plant opened to reveal two rows of razor sharp teeth, the monster emiting a shrill victory cry as it dragged the raven-haired closer. Suddenly afraid, Rosie willed all her strenght towards the grat, instantly noticing the warmth enveloping her being. Just when the mutant plant was about to wrap up its prey so it could eat her, Rosie closed her eyes, a whisper leaving her lips.
"Fire."
The word had barely been spoken when the grat shrieked in pain, its entire frame twisting and turning as powerful flames enveloped its form. The tentacle holding Rosie captive released its grip on her wrist and the raven-haired didn´t think twice before quickly crawling towards Selphie and dragging the brunette out of harm´s way as she witnessed – half in awe, half in horror – the monster being slowly consumed by the fiery flames.
Recovering her breath once the shrill cries extinguished along with the grat´s life, Rosie shook Selphie awake but despite her insistance, the brunette didn´t respond. Afraid for her friend´s well-being , the raven-haired started dragging the petite girl towards the entrance, where she could leave her safely and call for help.
Much to her dismay, another grat appeared on her left side, apparently drawn by its fellow monster´s shrieks. Its tentacles started moving towards the girls as low, venomous and menacing hiss left its frame. Frowning, Rosie focused her energy again, warmth filling her senses once more, though this time it was stronger. The raven-haired could actually feel the fiery sensation centring especially on the tip of her fingers and once the energy seemed to have reached its critical point, she extended her hand towards the grat.
"FIRE!!"
Instantly, the second grat was consumed by flames, shrieking painfully and thrashing about.
Astonished and heaving a little, Rosie looked down her fingers, half expecting to see little flames on their tips.
So that´s how you channel magic. It´s awesome!!
But also so tiring... I´m spent.
Another shriek from the agonizing monster shook the raven-haired out of her brief reverie. She resumed dragging the unconscious Selphie towards the safety zone and was 20 feet away from it, when a sudden loud roar made her jump out of her skin.
What she had feared the most had finally happened: the jungle around her shook slightly as a huge T-Rexaur made its way towards her.
Wide-eyed, Rosie stared at the gigantic lizard as it emerged from the thick foliage with another thunderous roar. The creature was gargantuan: almost 30 feet tall and more or less 15 long. Its jaws parted and the raven-haired´s heart made a somersault at the sight of several, long sharp teeth.
There was no way she could defeat the prehistoric monster, not with her poor magic resources and lack of a weapon, much less alone and tired as she was.
The hungry eyes of the T-Rexaur focused on her and Rosie could feel her heart beating insanely in her chest, its cadence clearly heard inside her ears. Adrenaline filled her veins and cold sweat ran down her forehead as she experimented real fear for the first time in her life. Her heart skipped a beat when the monster approached with long, heavy steps, opening its jaws widely this time and displaying better its huge teeth.
Rosie´s grip on Selphie hardened as she closed her eyes and cringed, waiting for the gigant reptile to finish its work.
A sudden, painful roar made the raven-haired open her eyes, the dark orbs widening again as they settled on the dark-cladded figure in front of her. Squall´s position allowed her to spare a quick glance at his gunblade, Rosie´s awe increasing when she noticed the thick, dark crimson liquid dripping from the sharp blade. He had sliced the monster´s upper jaw, making the T-Rexaur a nice, deep gash.
The brunet turned his head enough to see Rosie sideways, his voice raising above the trashing monster´s pained and angry roars "You alright?"
She nodded still dumbfounded and muttered "Yes.. thanks."
Quickly, Squall took Selphie´s limp body from Rosie´s grip and shouted "C´mon, while it´s distracted!" with that, he started running towards the safety zone. The raven-haired hot on his heels.
The giant lizard tried to follow them but Squall, who had reached their goal, pressed a red button on the control panel next to the metallic doors. As Rosie entered the safety zone, an electrical field formed behind her, cutting the T-Rexaur´s advance and discharging 300,000 volts through it.
The monster landed heavily on its side, groaning painfully while thin columns of smoke left its charred and paralyzed body.
The metallic doors closed with a bzzz sound.
They had escaped.
ooo ooo ooo ooo O ooo ooo ooo ooo
Author´s note:
I was going to update this chapter yesterday, but due to an electrical failure it was impossible. Thanks to all who have reviewed this story, it means a lot to me. I hope you are enjoying it. And of course, thanks for all the suggestions on how to develop further situations :D.
Keep reading and reviewing, please!!