("Skye! Skye, are you okay?")
("I dunno....")
("Where are you? What happened?")
("... I...")
("You've got to wake up...! Some one's coming to rescue you!")
Skye blearily woke up, eyes dark and confused, the drug affecting her mind, but not as much as it had earlier. It was slowly wearing off. She stood up on wobbly legs, wondering briefly if she would be trapped in this room forever. There was a shriek that tore into her, and she winced. So did a figure standing in the doorway. She tried to recognize him, and it hit her suddenly with a blow. Squall! It was Squall. He hurried quietly over to her.
"Skye! Are you okay...?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"Good. We have to get out of here. Surely some one will notice you're gone, and what I did to the guards..."
"To late."
Skye spun around, and her eyes locked onto the cold eyes of the Sorceress. She gasped and stumbled back into Squall. Echo's cold, colorless eyes cut deep into them. She crossed her arms, smirking.
"Think you can escape me, insolent fools? My power is a thousand times greater." She screeched suddenly, rage flowing from her in a violent stream. Without a word Squall stepped in front of Skye.
"Trying to protect the insignificant little girl, eh? You can't protect her, you idiot! You couldn't protect Rinoa… could you?"
Squall flinched, his nerves of steel wavering.
"I knew it. Hmm… Skye… don't you even see? You haven't even noticed!"
"Noticed…?"
"He loves you. Squall Leonheart, who swore he would never love again, is in
love with you. And he will lose yet another person he loves…"
"I won't let you hurt her!"
"You let Rinoa die. Who's to say you can stop Skye from dying? She's the last hope you have and you know it. And deep down… you know you can't save her."
"Stop it!" Squall cast Aura on himself, allowing him to use limit breaks. He attempted Lionheart on her. She suddenly cast a protect/reflect spell… and somehow bounced the attack back on him. He winced but went right back by casting cura on himself.
"You can't hurt me…"
"Who's to say?" she prepared to summon. Squall's heart sank. He knew what she was summoning… and it was going to seal their fates.
"ECHO! Listen! Why are you doing this?!" screamed Skye.
"Die and go to hell, Lionheart!" cackled Echo darkly and manically.
There was a horrid roar, and the sound of flapping wings. Squall dove into action. He summoned Carbuncle, protecting himself and Skye both. The Deathborn appeared before them. He tore into action immediately. It roared and batted him away like he was a fly despite the fact he was a level 99.
"Finish him off." Said Echo nonchalantly, almost bored.
It held its razor sharp claw above Squall, pinning him down, an inch above him. He squirmed beneath it. It was going to impale him. He felt sick. The Deathborn lowered its claw slowly. Squall gasped and closed his eyes. He was completely powerless to do anything at all. It skewered him, stabbing into him painfully. He yelled, then went completely numb. He could still move, but every second he was getting weaker. He was loosing too much blood way too fast. He didn't have a chance. Everything was going black…
"No!" Skye yelled.
He was rapidly recovering. Skye was enveloped with a liquid diamond light. It swallowed her whole, making her sparkle and shimmer. Squall reached out for her, eyes wide. I won't lose her! God, I believe… I do… If you want to earn my full trust, don't take her from me…Skye reappeared, transparent. She smiled at him, tears shining on her face. Suddenly the pain was gone. The Deathborn disappeared. Squall stumbled up, forcing his legs, which felt like rubber, to move. He reached out to Skye, touching her hand… or attempting too. His hand went right through hers.
"Skye…?!"
"My mission is finished. I've got to go home. I don't want to leave you either. And I left you with a last gift: life. I hope you remember me and the lesson I taught you. Please… don't forget me." She dropped a small locket into his hand and disappeared. He fell to his knees. No… He opened the locket. It sparkled brightly and shimmered, multicolored. He shook it into his palm. Behind it were two photos. One was of Squall and Skye; the other was of Rinoa and Squall. He put the sparkling dust back into the locket and slipped it into his pocket. Also a note was in his hand. He hadn't even realized it was there at first. He unfolded it gingerly.
Squall,
This is Stardust. You can make one wish on it… but you can't bring back Rinoa. She's been gone far to long. Use it well.
Love,
Skye Heartily
There was a scream of rage and agony. Squall looked abruptly up. Echo was being held by the arms by Selphie and Zell.
"Cast stop on her!" commanded Selphie. Squall quickly did so, running up to them and the stopped sorceress.
"Where's Skye…?"
"Let's go… I'll tell you on the way back." Squall realized how exausted he was not only physically but emotionally. He followed them out. One wish…right? I think…I know what to use it for.
.
