DISCLAIMER
Don't own FF8, or else you'd be seeing sequals of games after it. Chi!
Chapter VIII: Playing With the Big Boys
Ebony's P.O.V.
" I still can't believe that you're a leader..." Inuakki grumbled under his breath, none of our teammates hearing him but me. We (Rose, Inuakki, and I) were the only ones without the uniform on, so we are easy to spot, though you don't need to wear one for this. " You couldn't rule an army of wet teabags..."
" You know that I can hear every word, and can give the 's' word anytime?" I said smugly as I reached the vehicle first. " Well, I don't know how to drive yet, and Inuakki's certainly not someone to trust behind a wheel-"
" Hey!"
" -so who here can?"
Grant grinned as he took the seat, saying, "I can, I've gotten my license last week!"
" Good enough for me," I replied as I took the passanger front seat. I watched as Rose and Denzal climb into their vehicles (both in the driver's seat) and waited for the others to get in. Rose may not have her official license, but she is great at handling anything on wheels. You'll have to go see her on a motorcycle.
" Hey, why is these animals-"
" Not animals! We're just as intelligent as you - even more than that!" I heard Dranzer remark as he literally tried to divebomb one of Rose's teammates. Rose stopped him by taking the blow herself and restrained him.
" Don't mind him," she replied cooly as she gave a hidden glare at Dranzer. " They have sworn their lives to be with me as long as they live, breath... and keep up with me. I don't know much about this, but I think it's just to hold up their honors."
" It is NOT!"
" That's it, you're getting extra hours at training."
" NO! NONONONONONONONONO-"
" Gawddamn it, Dranzer, shut-up!" Phoenix shouted at him, along with the other animals.
" Tell us something, are they always that crazy?" Linny asked me.
" The animals, yes. Rose, no, since she refuses to act silly. Her guardians took it upon themselves to fill in the hidden personalities of her as she was before we started traveling."
" Why?"
" Ah, sorry, I made a promise to her," I said with a smile. " And don't even run to Inuakki - he doesn't even know why."
" Fine, whatever you say. Just lead well so that we all pass," Grant remarked as he took off fast for the doors, before the other cars could even move.
" Feh, it's not like I wanna know, anyway," Inuakki grumbled.
' Yeah, you're only saying that because Rose nearly glared you to death after you asked her about her life,' I thought with a smirk. With a quick look behind us to make sure that the others were out, Grant sped up on the road.
Arriving at the habor, we quickly parked and filed onto the docks in front of Xu. She directed which group was getting on what ship, and we've gotten the last one. The ships lurched forward as we were now heading for our destination.
" The monsters are quickly swarming towards the town of Winhill, so we must act swiftly to save the houses and crops. The people had evacuated an hour ago, so you can concentrate on defeating all of the monsters without worrying about the citizens. Stick together as a group unless you have to split up for some reason. Now, the monsters are actually much more intelligent than the others, which is very unusual in their case. They have organized their groups, guarding all enterances and attacking any who approaches the town."
" Uh, excuse me, but monters are not organized," Asheily said with a scrowl.
" That's what all humans think about other species that isn't human," Inuakki retorted. " You think that a cat isn't smart? Then how does it catches its meal? Yes, the creatures from the moon may always be attacking towns and people, but that's because of the need to elinimate the threat to their survival, just like you do to them."
" Inuakki...?" I said, wondering where all that knowledge came from. I mean, honestly, you don't hear anything smart from him except smart-alec remarks at someone who rubbed him the wrong way, or annoyed him.
" What!" he snapped at me.
" Jeez, and for a minute there, I thought you've gained some knowledge..."
" Stupid, what was that suppose to mean? You are such an annoying wrench!"
" SIT!"
BOOM
" ... should we ask what just happened?"
" Gawddamn wrench... grumble grumble... I'm much smarter than her, she shouldn't dare keep doing this..."
" Sit, and no, don't bother asking," I said with a smug look as Inuakki met metal again.
" DAMMIT WOMAN!"
Seifer's P.O.V.
" Man, what the hell happened to you?" I asked Inuakki as he walked out of the ship after nearly twenty minutes later and reached the shore near Winhill. His face was bruised and red.
" Shut-up human, or else you'll meet my claws..." he grumbled as he ignored everyone in his group, as well as avoiding Ebony as much as he could.
" He has been sat by Ebony," Rose said as she shook her head. " He has to keep opening his big mouth..."
" Ah yes, I remember now," I said with a laugh. " So leader, we better get moving and ready for a fight."
" Don't worry, I'll make sure you have some fun with the monsters," she said with a smirk.
At Xu's signal, we raced at the town where there were many groups of monsters waiting for us. They gave roars of challange as they charged at all three of our groups. Denzal and Ebony ordered their teams to split and round the monsters while they were busy.
" Seifer, Derick, Sam, and Ahira, take out the front line of the attacking force!" Rose shouted as she stopped one of the Anacondurs and killed it before it could even attack. " Danny, you're with me on taking on any that tries a sneak attack!"
" Yes, ma'am!" all but me said as we quickly assaulted the monsters with Fira and Thundaga magic. Rose and Danny went after any monster that has splitted with the main group, doing good progress of wiping them all out. We managed to get into the town and took out more groups. That was when the monsters suddenly swarmed all around us...
" Ah shit, what now?" I asked Rose as she and Danny fell back to us to not get picked off.
" Unleash Diablos when you can, once they group up even more," she said, looking a little pale from exhaustion... and pain. I know for the fact that she hadn't been hit once, but what's wrong with her?
" WATCH OUT!" Ahira cried out as an army of Caterchipillers' launched themselves from the roofs, the Bite Bugs swooping with them. Ebony's group were sending arrows and magic at them, with Inuakki leaping at them and cutting them in half with his Iron Reaver Soul Stealer attack. We did attack as well, though our magic were quickly being all used up.
Rose shot out at the desending monsters, her rod glowing slightly white.
" You're not killing us so easy!" she yelled as she stabbed many in a few seconds, all of them suddenly turning into dust of purified sand. One of the largest of Anaconduars hissed at her as they turned their attention to her instead. " Yeah, so what if I'm her?" she growls at the apparent leader. It hissed some more before sending many more at her and us. One nearly bitten my arm off, but Rose was suddenly in the way, showering all of us with wind and... feathers?
" You finally showed your true self, we wondered when!" Ebony shouted at Rose, who has white wings, a golden-brown horn, and a white cheetah tail.
" Yeah yeah yeah," Rose shouted back as she pried the Anaconduar's mouth off and away from her. " Stop gawking Seifer and summon!"
" Summon! Right!" I said as I snapped out of my wonder and brought forth Diablos, who formed out of what seemed like bats, then a blob of black mass.
" Once more, I have been brought forward for battle," Diablos growled with some excitment. " The creatures shall become nothing once more, I can assure you Seifer."
" Just make sure to have some fun!" I said as I smirked at the monsters, who all halted in their tracks.
" Gravija," Diablos said as he pulled all gravity from the planet itself and launched it at the monsters, who most were gone after the dust have cleared. The last ones were retreating away from the site. Then something weird - again - happened. A burst of light shot in front of them, and this time, it wasn't Rose or Inuakki. It stood on the hind legs, tail lashing everywhere. It looks like a cat, really. " Ah. Madeen, I never expected to see you for a much longer time."
" Talk can come later," Madeen growls as she launched the enemies into the sky. " Terra Homing," she said as they were trapped within a globe of light and were gone in an instint. After that, she turned to us and walked over. " You humans have greatly improved, as well as the half-dog demon. I am greatly impressed," she said as Diablos disappeared back to wherever he goes to, though his presence was in my mind as usual.
" A-are you a Guardian Force?" one of the others asked nervously.
" Of course. And the animal guardians of this 'Rose' has asked of my help. I believe one of you are the 'master' I am willing to serve, so I have agreed to help."
" Well, you know who it is?" Inuakki said impatiantly.
" Be calm, young one. I know who it is, and it is the girl with wings."
" What?" Rose said, beyond disbelief. " Hey, it's nice and all that I can be this 'master' thing, but I don't want to be responisble for someone else."
" Do not worry, for I shan't be a problem. You are not responsible for my well-being, but I shall help you while you make me stronger." She turns to Ebony. " One is looking for, what I believe, is you. As well as you," to Inuakki. She walks over to Rose and puts a claw on her forehead. " Summon when you need me." She then turns into an orb and goes off where I guess all GF's goes to wait.
" Greeeaaaat..." Rose said, looking like a normal human again. " More people to worry about..." She sighs as she sits down on the ground from exhaustion and the poison from the Anaconduar, making all jump from surprise and worry. " Damn this ability to feel all's pain..."
" C'mon Rose, let's just get back to the ship," Ebony said as she pulls Rose back up, who just complies and follows. Rose's comrades followed her with new respect, me along with them. She's more surprising and confusing than any I've met. Guess there's more to know of her than I thought. I just hoped that Rose wasn't going to pass out from the poison that was meant for me.
Sounds like I have given Rose everything, huh? Well, not really. She's not a Mary Sue, gawddammit! I mean, geez, she seems like it, but she isn't invincible. Get the drift? Okay, now on with the story!
