Chapter 10
Adventures of Almasy and Lee – Capture of the GF (Part II)
Rubielle lowered her head self-consciously, especially under the freezing stare Shiva pinned her with. And even though she did not show it, she could equally sense the two mortal stares, glittering with hungry interest directed at her. Just because she had just declared "Don't mention Ifrit in front of me!" so voraciously a second ago.
"Ifrit is a worthless piece of trash." She said with a false note of contempt in a superficially airy voice. "He is now serving under a useless boy, who is often compared to a rooster by his peers, and I am inclined to believe said boy's liver is as weak as his nickname suggests. Ifrit is now the laughing stock of our community! Do not compare such a loser to an esteemed being such as myself!" She smirked, unaware of the hate glare directed her way by one of said mortals, or the similar smirk on the other's.
She let fly a burst of black flames towards Shiva. The Blizzaga Goddess' ravishing face registered mild surprise upon contact with the searing tongues that licked hungrily at her skin, barbequing it to a blackened shade. She quickly recovered, curing herself with a little sprinkle of Blizzaga powder before launching her counterattack immediately.
"Blizzaga Shower!" Shiva flung out her arms, commanding a sheet of ice to hover over the flame-wielding Rubielle.
She paused.
"I've been taking lessons from Siren." She said with a wicked smile.
Then she opened her mouth, and the next thing they knew, a shrill, continuous sound emitted from the deep confines of her diaphragm and sent everyone covering their ears for protection.
The sheet of ice shattered and descended upon Rubielle, the crystalline shards, although tiny in shape, were akin to a million frigid pricklings lodged onto every inch of her body. Only it stung her so badly she could only twitch like a maggot, too sapped of energy to do anything else. The onslaught of Blizzaga-induced shivers stabbed her to the core, her heart, quelling a major portion of the dark fire that fuelled her energy.
Just as Shiva returned to Kyra's mind once again, the duo wasted no time in dashing back to face off with Rubielle, who was rendered numb and defenseless by Shiva's retaliation, unable to lift a finger to cast a fire spell to cure herself.
"Shiva!" From the way she uttered the name of her arch-nemesis, it was clear that Rubielle was far from accepting her defeat in the hands of the icy GF.
"YOU! Sore-loser of a GF! I heard what you just said about Zell! I won't take that lying down!"
Kyra balanced her ball on one palm, while placing the other over it, and muttered a short phrase over the ball. A translucent glow rose above and around the ball, forming a protective shield capable of fending off the fiercest of flames. A crackling sound perpetuated the air. A split second later, giant spikes protruded from the ball's surface, carrying an icy mist over the air simultaneously.
She tossed it into the air and kicked the ball with a loud thump of her foot, letting it sail towards Rubielle.
The ball latched itself firmly onto Rubielle's left chest, groveling deeper into her flesh where the spikes had pierced her flesh and aimed for a very specific spot – her heart.
With a low guttural growl, Rubielle plucked it away savagely just before it could disappear wholly within her, ignoring the fierce and yet at the same time numbing pain to her fingers each time she touched the spikes.
She managed to pull the ball out, but two of its spikes had snapped, and were stuck too deeply into her chest to be extracted.
"No fair!" Rubielle whined like the sore loser she was, tossing the ball away and clutching at her chest where the spikes were attached. "You didn't announce your move before attacking!"
Kyra merely grunted.
Announcing your move when you're planning a surprise attack is something only idiots like you would do. Not only does it waste time, it takes away the element of surprise. Kiss my ass.
"Triple!" Seifer's yell penetrated her thoughts. A fuchsia ring of light encircled Kyra. She could feel a slight tugging within her mind, her sensors communicating to her brain the expansion of her spiritual capacity to thrice its original size.
"Blizzara!"
"Blizzaga!"
Within the next few minutes, Rubielle could barely move her lungs to change her breath, let alone fend off or counter the mini blizzard-storm created by the rapid, seamless succession of the spells. Holding up a feeble arm to block the coldness from her face, she squinted through the ice, shooting a vengeful glare at her assailants.
Rubielle crashed to the ground, silent and unable to move save for the little spasms channeling through her body. After a bout of sporadic twitches, she finally closed her eyes and laid still after a heavy shudder.
"You think we finished her off?" Kyra turned to Seifer. "Pathetic fight, though. All it took was Shi—"
She did not get to finish her sentence. A searing hand slapped across her front and pushed her off the ground, at the same time poking through her like a spear through wild boar flesh. She only stopped when she banged against the rocky wall, her body crumpling haplessly on the ground like a piece of unwanted paper.
Seifer was hit by the same wave of heat, but only suffered from a little push generated as an aftershock. The attack itself dealt no real damage, courtesy of his heat-absorbing junctions, something which Kyra's mid-level magic could not handle.
"Not bad, little boy." Rubielle grinned menacingly, taking her time to get onto her feet. Which meant she had delivered her limit break while lying down, quite a feat by any standards. "To be unaffected by my limit break, Infernal Shockwave. It has been known to burn even the strongest of boulders to ashes, and yet you look none the worse-for-wear, if only a little dusty."
She smirked. "I would've gladly accepted you as my charge. I can see that you are not just any ordinary Cadet or SeeD. But that one—" She pointed a sharp fingernail at Kyra. "—Unless she can convince me by beating me without the help of Shiva, I shall not follow her willingly."
"Thank you for your compliment. But my purpose here is to act as her support, not to acquire a GF myself. As for your challenge, it only goes to show how afraid of Shiva you are." Seifer smirked outwardly, but inside, the temperature of his blood had long been raised to the boiling point and beyond. He never took kindly to anyone calling him a boy, especially since it dug up memories he would rather bury forever.
The adrenaline-pumped fury rushing through his veins provided the pulsating energy he needed for his ultimate move, without the need of an Aura spell or even a single scratch from Rubielle against him. It had never taken long to provoke him into limit-break readiness, really. Much shorter than it took for normal people, perhaps due to the anger-management issues Kyra had cheekily pointed out.
I am no boy… He gritted his teeth, summoning an offensive spell without so much as a warning glance. He bombarded her with Blizzaga instead of his usual Firaga magic, in consideration that the Firaga would only heal Rubielle.
Rubielle seemed to be prepared for the Blizzaga this time. From the time Seifer finished his speech, she placed her sensors on the alert for sudden movements. The moment her skin sensed the slightest change in temperature, she had seen it coming
She thrust out a hand to counter his Blizzaga with a burst of Firaga, billowing smoke perpetuating the air as the two opposing elements clashed against each other.
But she had never seen Seifer at his best, and would not anticipate that the spell was only a smokescreen for the other part of his attack.
Demon Slice. He narrowed his gaze at Rubielle, swiping his knife in a circular motion in the air, before launching his body and knife in a whirlwind motion towards the enemy. His Hyperion sparked off beautiful swirls of light in the smoky air, the sharpness of its blade catching a glint in his steely blue eyes as it sliced through her flesh in relentless yet stunning spirals.
He finished it off with one last strike, powerful enough to lift her slightly into the air and plummet to the ground with an earthquake-worthy boom.
"Save some for me, Master Almasy." A female voice piped up behind him.
"About time you woke up." Seifer was somehow glad he didn't have to waste his time and magic inventory in reviving her.
"I accept your challenge, Rubielle." Kyra said, her voice low but threatening.
"Ah. At least you got my name right. Show me what you've got, little girl."
Kyra did not reply to her taunt.
She released the charging current in her bloodstream, a force she had held back in anticipation of the precise moment to let go. It gushed wildly, galloping about like a stallion in search of the perfect plains. The exaltation garnered from its furious channeling was almost too overwhelming, quickening her breath to near-hyperventilation status.
And then it happened.
The milky glow that surrounded her in a cloak-like aura, positively empowering her with the charge it was giving off.
The ball flew high. She jumped even higher, above the ball's peak of flight, aided by the powerful thrust given by her internal current. She swung her arm round and round for momentum, somersaulting towards her ball and flipped it towards Rubielle with every ounce of strength she had, down to the last little crackling current of latent energy.
As had happened with the T-Rex, Rubielle's chest, where Kyra had specifically aimed the ball at, appeared to groove inwards as if it was supported by malleable plaster instead of bone. Of course, it was met with much more resistance than the T-Rex could offer, but Kyra persisted, willing the ball to push against the resistance with an almost deranged concentration.
The force driving the ball against Rubielle seemed to be linked to her will, groveling harder against the Guardian Force's chest.
Rubielle scratched and pushed against the ball, shrieking and growling simultaneously, her mind attempting to find an explanation as to the reason her chest was denting inwards without her consent. Her body, her muscles, her flesh… it was reacting against her!
It didn't help that the icy mist surrounding the ball stung her badly.
"AHHH!!! What is this thing! Why can't I get it off!" She screamed.
Her scream escalated into ear-drum tearing proportions.
The ball finally made a breakthrough, bursting into her chest cavity with a wet sound of tearing skin and muscles, followed by the shattering of bone marrow.
"Blizzara Explosion!" Kyra shouted.
A shockwave erupted from within the Guardian Force's chest. Long spikes of ice protruded from her chest, through her back, and one particularly thick one piercing through her throat.
A rivulet of maroon trickled from a corner of Rubielle's mouth.
A quiet prelude to what was about to happen.
She hacked violently, a shower of blood bursting out of her mouth to splatter all over the surrounding air.
Suddenly the internal structure of her body was exposed for all to see.
A huge hole extending from her mid-chest to abdomen yawned wide in Seifer and Kyra's vision, blood and innards dripping from the mangled mass that was previously her torso.
"You…" Rubielle gritted her teeth, glaring at Kyra before collapsing facedown, the impact of her falling body making several wide cracks on the shaking ground.
Kyra stepped forward tentatively, prodding Rubielle with her boot. The GF's head lolled about unresponsively.
"Does this mean I win?" Kyra turned back to look at Seifer, grinning smugly with an expression that clearly revealed her expectation of his praise.
"I suppose so." He said blandly, letting her expectations down without so much of a second thought. "But you've taken up a hell lot more time than necessary."
She's got a good move with that ball of hers yet.
"Wake up! You have yet to pledge your loyalty to your grand highness!" Kyra ignored his criticism, shaking Rubielle's shoulder roughly to rouse her back to consciousness.
The GF emitted a small moan.
"Fine. You have defeated me without Shiva's assistance. I shall keep to my promise…. On one condition."
"What?"
"I will not tolerate sharing the same space with that Prima Donna."
"Oh yeah. Seifer said you're afraid of her. That shouldn't pose a problem."
"I am NOT afraid of her. I'm just not in the mood for another conflict." Rubielle gestured tiredly. "I've had enough fighting for today."
"Whatever you say." Kyra sniggered, and closed her eyes briefly, unjunctioning the Ice Goddess as she did.
"There, you can go in now."
Rubielle bowed towards her new charge, and performed a small ritual before disappearing to take up occupancy in Kyra's mind.
Rule number one, Rubielle.
Oh, setting rules so soon, eh?
I believe for us to become the invincible team we aspire towards, we have to set some ground rules first. You list yours, I list mine. Agreeable?
Fair enough.
Rule number one… never talk ill of Zell in my presence. And I mean never. That is paramount to committing the highest act of disloyalty in my books.
Ahhh…
Kyra could detect a hint of understanding in her tone. She realized then that Rubielle was not as difficult to get along with as she had anticipated based on first impression.
I suppose I should do the same for Ifrit too then.
I can't care less about Ifrit. Rubielle replied in a quiet tone.
If you say so...
Kyra paused, trying to keep a lid on the various questions running through her mind. She was almost certain that there was something about Rubielle and Ifrit that wasn't so simple, and Rubielle was hell bent on keeping it under wraps. But she chose to respect Rubielle's unspoken but evident wish for secrecy.
But I have to warn you Don't grow too comfortable staying in my mind. You may be transferred to Seifer shortly, if everything goes to plan.
Oooh I like that boy. Rubielle quipped.
Kyra laughed.
I don't suppose you'd be willing to divulge the reason?
Don't worry. You shall discover in due time, IF you're attentive enough.
"Are we done wasting time already?" Seifer tapped his foot in annoyance, turning sharply with a swish of his trench-coat.
For the past minute Kyra had only been standing at one spot, staring off into air and doing nothing else, except for that one laugh, but he knew that she was probably conversing with the new GF.
"Don't forget we're still under timing."
Kyra blinked at the sound of his voice, turning to look at him in a confused manner.
"Oh right. Let's go then." She grinned, before turning and walking ahead of him towards the returning path.
Their journey back was much faster than their entrance, unobstructed by the habitants of the cavern. Their capture of the Cavern Mistress had sent a most effective deterrent to any which dwelled in the cave. The beasts had apparently grown brains and decided to give these two intruders a wide berth.
Of course, Kyra holding up her Blizzara-protected ball and waving it around helped to speed things up tremendously.
They burst out of the cavern fifteen seconds later, short of breath and heavy of sweat.
Kyra fell to the ground, lying haphazardly and uncaring of the dust coating her skin and clothes.
"Wake me when we're ready to go." She muttered, shutting her eyes with little effort.
"Five minutes twenty two seconds." Quistis read out the time on her stopwatch. "Not bad. I'm impressed."
"It would've been faster if she used her move earlier, or if she hadn't wasted time 'bonding' with the new GF."
Kyra's eyes flipped open, the glowering fire in contrast with the rest of her limp body.
"Mr Almasy! Did you not know what the term 'limit break' means? It means it only comes when one is suitably injured, provoked, or aura-ed! Not everyone is like you! Not everyone has anger-management problems! At least I don't! So don't go around expecting everyone to be able to generate a limit break just like that!" She stopped, trying to catch her breath from the too ambitious bout of ranting. "I saw no earlier cause for its usage before she used her Infernal whatever!!!"
"You mean, you had to use your limit break?" Quistis raised an amused eyebrow. "Neither Squall nor I had to use ours when we acquired Ifrit."
"Well, I wouldn't have to use it if she hadn't insisted I beat her without Shiva's help. Speaking of which… I have to return Shiva to you, Instructor Trepe"
Kyra sat up, and closed her eyes, pushing a palm out towards Quistis' direction.
A bright sapphire-tinted glow lifted from Kyra's body, floating over to Quistis. Quistis accepted the transfer by similarly holding out a palm, allowing the glow to enter her body and settle itself within her mind.
What do you think of her, Shiva? Quistis asked upon re-junctioning Shiva.
The girl is nothing exceptional. But she has two rather strong spiritual entities by her side. Dangerous, yet useful if manipulated correctly. A double-edged sword, if you may.
And what about the new Guardian Force?
Shiva snorted lightly, and Quistis could detect a mild contempt as she spoke.
As weak as her brother was, although she did manage to wound the surface of my hair.
Mmmph… maybe. If she's so easily defeated by a two-week old cadet.
Exactly.
Quistis turned towards her students.
"Alright. Let's head back to the Garden then."
"Oh… erm… you guys go ahead. I need to build up my compatibility with my new GF. Heh." Kyra grinned sheepishly at Quistis.
Seifer stared at her suspiciously. He found her manner unnatural and stinkier than Balamb Fish.
She quickly shifted her glance away.
"No, really. I don't usually have a chance to run around in the wilderness. It'd do me good to bond more with Hyne's natural resources. And maybe I can draw more spells while I'm at it." She poked Seifer at the side.
"Ow! What do you think you're doing?"
Discreetly, she pointed and gestured furiously at Quistis, who had turned her head to look towards another direction.
"I don't understand." Seifer shook his head, scowling fiercely at her, just as Quistis turned back to look at them.
"Excuse us a second." She smiled at Quistis through gritted teeth, and pulled him aside. Quistis quirked an eyebrow, puzzled by their behavior but decided against asking them.
"This is a rare chance for you to be alone with Quistis Trepe. Make sure you make full use of it!" She whispered harshly.
Seifer's eyebrows clashed together at her words.
"What the fuck are you talking about? Don't waste time on meaningless shit!"
"I hardly call that meaningless! And really, I need to build up a rapport with Rubielle. Now go." She pushed him towards Quistis. "AND DON'T SQUANDER IT!"
"You really don't need us with you, Kyra?" Quistis turned and called out to her.
"No, no! Go ahead! I'll be fine. I did acquire a GF by myself, you know!"
"Yeah, yeah, BRAG about it. Who was the one who almost died inside! You were just lucky that I was there to attack your GF for you while you were unconscious!"
"Yes yes, you're my life savior! I shall lick your boots when we get back to Garden, but for now just shoo! Go away! Ahh, there's a bitebug! Don't you just hate those? I'll be your bug exterminator… now go!" She waved them off, pointing towards a bug hovering at least six metres away.
She smiled fondly as she watched the two blonde heads bobbing together, walking towards the direction of Balamb Garden, completely forgetting about the bitebug nearing her.
I'm surprised. I thought he was your love interest.
Oh please! HIM? Get your eyes checked! What would I see in a brash man like him?!!
Why not? He's tall, handsome, handles himself extremely well, and not to mention he saved your ass from getting fried after you fell dead to my Infernal Shockwave.
HELLO! I saved myself, alright?
Sure you did. I guess you're lucky though. If you pitted yourself against that lady, you lose right from the start.
Hehehe. Why so?
Are you blind? The chemistry between them is so intense even their auras are attracted to each other!
That's what I thought too! Hahahaha. That's why I let them go back first!
Smart girl.
But of course.
What I don't understand is, how you can choose that Dintch Boy over him.
RUBIELLE!!!
Alright, alright. Rule Number 1, is it? At least you won't be facing such stiff competition from the likes of Quistis Trepe.
"That's where you're wrong…" Kyra muttered aloud, creasing her brow as she thought of something that obviously bothered her.
"HIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK!!!!" She yelled, splattering the bug with her ball, the force applied a tad too much for the extermination of a mere bitebug. The spinning ball created a bare tuft in place of the lush green grass that had previously grown there.
Rubielle was quick to catch onto her changed temperament, and wisely kept any comments to herself.
Kyra curved her lips with a little smile. Rubielle's little act of consideration had not gone unnoticed by her.
Let's run a few rounds before we go back, shall we?
Whatever you wish for, Lady Kyra.
Pleaseee do not call me that. It's uber weird. Just Kyra will do, thank you very much. I have a feeling we will get along very well, Rubielle.
I concur.
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"So…"
"So!"
Both of them lifted their heads in surprise of hearing the other's voice mingling with his/her own.
"You first." Quistis smiled and nodded politely.
"Okay. So does this mean that I am absolved of the obligation of tutoring Kyra from now on?" Seifer went ahead with his question, not stopping to think that it would have been more polite to offer Quistis the chance as well.
"Why are you so anxious to be rid of this obligation? Are you scared of her, or you find yourself unable to handle her the way you wanted?" She asked in a laughing tone, lifting her eyebrows questioningly.
"Scared? Me? This is Seifer Almasy you're talking to! Not some chicken-livered imposter! Why should I be scared of anything?" He lifted his arms up in an exaggerated manner. "I just think she's a fucking thorn in my ass that I want to be rid of as soon as possible!"
"Mind your language, Seifer Almasy. We're still on a field trip, and I have the authority to punish you if I should deem fit." She stared sternly at him. "But seeing that you've behaved yourself rather well lately, I will not pursue the matter. As for the absolving of your obligation… that'll have to wait until we get back to Garden, and I shall announce the results in front of everyone."
Seifer restrained himself from spouting some smart-assed comment or insult to her words. Not because he was afraid of any punishment that she might deal to him, but only a couple of Kyra's cheeky lines were now encircling his mind. As badly as he wanted to shake them off, they stuck to his thoughts like chewing gum on public benches.
"Find out her inner-layer expression!"
"This is a rare chance for you to be alone with Quistis Trepe. Make sure you make full use of it!"
"DON'T SQUANDER IT!! IT!!! IT!!!"
Seifer scowled and shook his head, trying not to let the sounds influence him, but to little avail.
His little action only caused Quistis to peer at him in concern.
"Are you alright, Seifer?" She asked, automatically assuming that he had been shaking his head due to discomfort.
"Yeah." He answered gruffly, keeping his gaze stoically at the path in front.
They trudged their way through the plains, occasionally battling any beasts stupid enough to obstruct their path. No word was exchanged between them for a spell, with only the treads of their boots against the grass and sounds of nature peppering the air.
Quistis cleared her throat, attempting to break the awkward silence.
"So… do you think you can pass the SeeD Exam this time?"
Seifer turned his head to look at her, taken aback that she had breached the subject, an extremely sensitive subject as far as he was concerned, so suddenly. Her tone seemed almost casual, but he knew it took quite a bit of guts to say it, especially since it would surely bring up memories she would've liked to write away herself.
"I don't need your reminders about my failed attempts." He muttered lowly, turning his gaze back to its original activity of staring straight ahead.
"Good. You know this is your last chance. Don't jeopardize it by disregarding your orders this time." Quistis continued staring at him.
"What a fine way to encourage your student, Instructor Trepe." He whipped his head towards her and smirked. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, a little 'I'm sure you can do it' would have achieved a much better effect than telling me not to jeopardize my chances? Who in their right fucking mind would want to fail?'
He lengthened his strides, easily stretching the distance between them
"But of course!" He lifted his arms in the air, throwing his head back as he laughed loudly towards the sky. "It's Seifer Almasy we're talking about. He doesn't deserve encouragement. All he deserves are demerit points, detention, and being guinea-pig for my shift-the-problem-students-around operations!! He will never ever pass the Exam! I am just wasting my time, but I will play Good Instructor and ask him if he thinks he will pass the SeeD exam anyway!" He altered his voice into a squeaky tone, obviously mocking Quistis by trying to imitate her.
Quistis frowned, quickening her speed to catch up with him.
"Why do you always have to be so objectionable?"
"Only because I don't know how to curry your favour, My Dear Instructor."
"What are you talking about? That's two entirely different matters! All I'm asking of you, is to follow your orders and not attempt to boost your pneumatic ego further by trying to prove yourself as the superior one!" Quistis paused, taking a breather from her rant before continuing. "SeeD is about teamwork, Seifer. Not just individual achievement. If every SeeD were act like you, then Garden would've been eliminated from the mercenary institution market a long time ago."
"You speak as if you know me so well. You fit me in this little pigeon-hole in your head, and start assuming such and such reason for every behavioral pattern I display. Well let me tell you, Instructor, not everyone appreciates being fed under your analyzing machine." He stopped, swatting a few bitebugs away with a mere swish from the handle of his gunblade.
"The least of all me." He held her gaze coldly, his pupils seeming to harden and freeze over.
Quistis found she couldn't look away.
"I'm not analyzing you."
I'm trying to understand you.
She blinked.
Where did that come from?
He continued looking at her, but his expression seemed to soften a little.
"I won't fail this time. This much I can promise you." He muttered, before averting his eyes, and heading towards the Garden again.
Quistis was left staring at the flying dust in his wake, turning his words over and over in her mind.
He… made me a promise? The corners of her mouth twitched a little. She didn't know how to react to his promise. Her heartbeat experienced a little irregularity when she tried to run his words through her mental lie-detector to ascertain if he really meant it. Or if this was even the Seifer Almasy she knew of.
But really, how much do I know him?
Seifer was by then only a tiny figure in the distance, for at full speed only few could rival the distance his never-ending legs could cover.
"Damn that guy. Does he ever spare a thought for his shorter-legged companions?" She grumbled to herself.
If he did he wouldn't be Seifer Almasy.
True, Shiva. Sad but true.
She trotted after Seifer with wind blowing through her hair and the morning sun illuminating her golden hair.
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A/N: Well, there you have it. Kinda abrupt ending to the chapter, but if I don't end it here, it's gonna run into nightmarish length. And since it's so abrupt, I'll try and make it up to you by posting the next chapter faster hopes lazybumtism doesn't assault her again
Thanks to all who reviewed the last chappeh. I'd like to individually thank all of you with wild gushes of praise and gratitude, but the mind is hardly functioning now, sorry.
Till the next time,
Tulip