Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII it is copyrighted by Square Enix and all other associates.

Nighthill and RadiantKeybladeFantasy, what can I say? Your both amazing and totally my heroes for the awesome support. Thanks supersonique for adding me to your favourite authors and following my story. Thank you to all my other followers and favouriters (you know who you all are) and to everyone who reads this. I hope so far it's awesome, I wanna give a great game some justice in how I write it and add my extra twist to it. Read & Review.

A/N: I'll add some of Quistis' thoughts in here because she's our temp leader of the gateway team, might prove for some interesting dialog. Plus Zell and Irvine get their thought shown in the game; I think Quistis could use a little spotlight too.

Chapter XIV – Speeches, Sacrifices and Secrets

Caraway led them outside to the front of the mansion, giving them the mission briefing as they walked around Deling. "I'm sure you know about the Galbadian government reaching an agreement with Sorceress Edea." Caraway explained.

So the sorceress' name is Edea…

Caraway began leading the SeeDs and Irvine from the mansion. "There is going to be a ceremony tonight to commemorate the event."

Edea…

Caraway walked onto the street and passed the bus stops going south. "It'll be held at the Presidential Residence. During the ceremony, you will spilt up into two teams and get into position."

They were now standing in front of the Presidential Residence, Caraway kept walking west towards the sidewalk along the outside of the half circle shaped road.

"The gateway team will enter the gateway and stand by. The sniper team will stand at the front of the Presidential Residence until the ceremony is over. This is where the sniper team will wait, right here, where I am standing."

So, we're gonna divide into two teams the sniper team and the gateway team.

"That's the Presidential Residence. Once the ceremony ends, a parade for the sorceress will begin. That's when the gate will open. Lay low until then. The parade may be cancelled if there is any commotion. We must avoid that at all cost. Once the gate opens, the sniper team will move out. With the parade drawing the crowd and the guards' attention, it should be rather easy to move about. The sniper team will head for the roof of the residence. In the corridor by the sorceress' room, there is a hatch that leads to the clock tower. There's a clock tower there housing a carousel clock. You'll find the sniper rifle there. Stand by in the clock tower until exactly twenty hundred hours." Caraway moved towards the gate now, "The parade will begin by the gate. The sorceress will be riding on the parade vehicle. After it leaves the gate the vehicle will turn left. Like this." Caraway ran towards the left showing what he meant exactly.
"This way. The parade will circle once around the city along the outer road and return to this space." Caraway said standing on the right side now, "It will return on this side. Then it will turn right…" Caraway moved towards the upper road that led to the gateway, "…and head this way. Here's where the gateway team comes into play."

Caraway led the young teens towards the gateway now, showing them exactly what to do. "At exactly twenty hundred hours, the parade will pass under the gateway." Caraway moved to stand under the gateway there was a door on the side of the wall that led inside the gateway. "At this point, the gateway team will operate the console to drop the gates. The sorceress will be trapped inside the gateway. At twenty hundred hours, the carousel clock will rise out of the roof, carrying the sniper team up as well. There will be no obstruction between the sniper team and the sorceress. Take the open shot… BANG! That is all. Now we wait. You're free to go anywhere. Go check out the city if you wish. Just one thing. Stay out of trouble."

Who do you think we are? …We're not like your daughter.

"We are SeeDs." Squall deadpanned.

Caraway starred at the boy for a minute. "Report to my residence when you're ready. We'll hold a final meeting then. After that, we'll proceed with the operation." Caraway then turned and walked away.

The SeeDs wandered around for a bit before heading back for the final meeting with Caraway then they could proceed with the assassination. They found themselves back in the same room as before. Irvine was sitting on one of the end tables and Quistis was back on the same green couch. Squall, Selphie and Zell were just standing idly when the general walked back in.

"It's time to form the teams." Caraway stated, "The sniper team and the leader of this operation will form the sniper team. The leader's role is vital."

…What does he mean?

"If the plan fails for some reason…" Caraway turned and looked at Irvine, "…or should the sniper miss…" Irvine waved his hand dismissively, he wouldn't miss.

Caraway was looking at Selphie and had his back to Squall. "…the leader must carry out a direct assault against the sorceress. The plan was devised carefully, because we intend this to be a covert operation. But our ultimate goal is to eliminate the sorceress, and we must achieve this at all cost. Even if they uncover our identities. So, who's going to led the operation?"

Squall was looking at the ground when all his other team members turned their gazes on him, seems the decision of the leader was unanimous, Squall looked up. "I will."

"Fine. I'll leave the rest up to you." Caraway said nodding.

…The sniper team is decided.

"Irvine and I will make up the sniper team. The gateway team will be…" Squall glanced around at his fellow SeeDs picking all of them.

Zell pumped his fists with excitement, he had his hands raised and clenched at his sides.

"Whoo-hoo!" Selphie cheered.

"Roger." Quistis said standing up from the couch.

"Let's DO IT!" Zell yelled enthused.

"So who's gonna be the leader for the gateway team?" Selphie asked.

Zell started shadow boxing, he couldn't contain his excitement. He wanted to be the leader. Squall looked at him and sighed. Sorry. Zell.

The brunette turned and looked at Quistis. "Instructor Trepe… Quistis Trepe, you're in charge." Zell hung his head and sighed in disappointment.

"Ok! Leave it to me." Quistis said nodding.

"Ok. Let's begin." Caraway replied, he turned and left with Squall and Irvine.

Quistis walked over to Zell and Selphie, they would be the gateway team. "We're on your team, instructor. Let's kick some ass!" Zell said with a smile.

"Whoo-hoo!" Selphie cheered.

Quistis walked over and opened the door; she couldn't even go through before a blue clad body slammed into her knocking her back slightly.

"Hi!" Rinoa greeted, "Finally got out of there! Did that man say something?"

Zell crossed one of his legs over the other. "No, not really."

Rinoa looked around the room trying to spot the familiar sullen brunette. "Where's Squall?"

We don't have time for this. We have to get to the gateway and make sure this mission is completed for everyone's sake.

Quistis stepped forward and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm sorry Rinoa but we have to get going."

Rinoa put a hand out asking for them to stop. "Hold on a sec." she reached into the pocket of her blue skirt and pulled out a small bangle. "Take a look at this! This is called an Odine Bangle. I found it in that man's room."

"Odine!?" Zell called knowing the name.

"Whatcha gonna do with it?" Selphie asked.

"It's supposed to supress the sorceress' powers." Rinoa said walking towards the desk at the back of the room, "But, it's effects are still unknown. So I don't think they're going to use it for this mission."

"If it's Odine brand, it should be pretty effective!" Zell told Rinoa, "They're number one when it comes to magical goods."

Quistis chuckled softly to herself. This is ridiculous. What are we gonna do with a bangle? Ask the sorceress to wear it?

"Right! Right!" Rinoa replied turning to face the blonde brawler.

Quistis turned around and looked at Rinoa; she put a hand over her heart. "So what exactly do you want to do with it!? Are you planning to have the sorceress put it on!?" Quistis ran a hand through her blonde bands and stalked towards Rinoa, "Who? When? How?" she demanded.

Rinoa put her hands on her hips. "That's what we're going to discuss!"

"We don't have time for that." Quistis said sternly causing Zell to back up a bit as if his teacher was scolding him for running in the halls. "Squall and Irvine are already standing by. We have an operation to carry out, too." Quistis swung her arms down at her side. "You understand, don't you? This isn't a father-daughter quarrel. This isn't a game."

Quistis turned and stalked from the room, Rinoa turned her head to the side and put a hand around her back to rest on her opposite arm. Selphie sent Rinoa an apologetic smile and followed after Quistis. Zell gave Rinoa one last look and followed after this two female team mates.

Rinoa turned her back to the door. "Who said this was a game…?" she dropped to the floor squatting, "I understand what's going on…" Rinoa put her legs out in front of her, slightly bent at the knees. She rested her chin on top of her knees. "It's not like I don't have a plan…"

Squall was walking out of the mansion with Irvine following behind him. Caraway was waiting for the sniper team before heading to the Presidential Residence for the parade.
"I'll make the first charge when we make the full-on attack. I'll try to buy some time." Squall told Irvine in case the shot didn't work.

"That won't be necessary… I'll get the job done." Irvine said confidently.

Quistis led her team outside the mansion, she could see Squall's back. Rinoa didn't distract them as long as she had thought. She urged her team to catch up so they could take their position. The SeeDs and Caraway walked through the mansions gate and onto the street. Quistis went ahead with Zell and Selphie; it would take them longer to get to the gateway.

Squall was still walking with Irvine and Caraway, they walked onto the street it was crowded with people awaiting the parade.

"So like… Is it true that SeeDs aren't supposed to question their mission?" Irvine asked.

Right. Irvine isn't a SeeD. There are times I'd like to know myself. Like…now for example. But…

Squall didn't answer he just followed after Caraway, they walked across a bridge located on the opposite side of the street. The path they took before was blocked by Galbadian soldiers, they would have to go around.

"What do you care?" Squall asked.

"So like…if you knew that your enemies were pure evil, you'd get more fired up to fight them, right?"

…An enemy that is pure evil?

Squall kept following Caraway. Quistis was ahead of them, they walked along a small path that went through a small park; the gateway could be seen in the distance.

Right and wrong are not what separate us and our enemies. It's our different standpoints, our perspectives that separate us. Both sides blame one another. There's no good or bad side. Just two sides holding different views.

They were now at the gateway; the streets were packed with people. Caraway led them over towards the door he had shown them earlier.
"The gateway team will wait inside the gate until twenty hundred hours. You can enter through this door. The sorceress will pass through the gateway at exactly twenty hundred hours." Caraway explained, "In that instant, lower the gates using the control console located on the top floor and trap her inside the gateway." Caraway nodded at the gateway team and began to walk back towards the Presidential Residence.

Quistis and her team entered the gateway and disappeared from sight. Squall and Irvine followed Caraway; they walked along the crowded sidewalk towards the place they would wait before sneaking inside the locked gates of the Presidential Residence. Once they reached the spot Caraway had taken them to earlier he turned and looked at the two young men behind him.

"You two will wait here."

"General, why has the sorceress decided to have such an extravagant parade?" Squall asked earnestly.

Why would she wanna make such a public appearance? Wouldn't that make her more of a target?

"She wants to establish her place in Galbadia Garden, since she has chosen it to serve as her base."

So that's why Galbadia Garden wants her out… Martine did mention this earlier that she wanted to use it. Now she actually will put a claim on it.

"It's starting." Caraway announced, "I'm returning to my residence. Good luck." Caraway turned and left.

Quistis and her team were waiting inside the gateway, the blonde leader quickly stepped back outside causing her two team mates to follow. …Maybe I was too harsh. She only wanted to help us and I yelled at her…we still have some time. I should go apologize.

"Instructor, what's up?" Zell asked looking at the troubled expression on her face.

"Maybe I was too hard on her…"

"Too hard?" Zell asked confused.

Quistis turned and looked at Zell. "I'm going to go apologize…"

"You mean…Rinoa?" he asked hoping for clarification.

"But..but… We can't just leave our post!" Selphie exclaimed.

"We still have time until twenty hundred hours. You two wait here." Quistis then began to walk away.

"We can't just…" Zell said wearily.

Selphie turned and ran after Quistis leaving Zell alone. "Hey, wait up!" he called after them and ran to catch up.

Quistis led them back the way they had come in the direction of Caraway's Mansion. Up ahead a bit in front of them was Caraway, he was also heading back apparently. They approached the gate and went through and walked towards the door and went inside, Quistis led them back towards the room Rinoa would be.

Caraway walked into the room he had his meeting with the SeeDs in, he saw Rinoa sitting on the floor with her back to him. He just found out she had broken out of the room he was keeping her quarantined in until the mission was over with. Rinoa noticed a presence in the room and glanced over her shoulder at her father. She rested her forehead against her bent knees and waved a hand dismissively over her shoulder, telling her father to leave.

"It'll be chaos out there soon. You'll be safe here." he said trying to explain himself to his only child.

Rinoa waved her hand again trying to dismiss the man; Fury Caraway just sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. He turned and left his daughter alone. He turned and looked at the electronic lock beside the outside of the door. Fury entered in a combination that would lock the door from the outside so Rinoa wouldn't be able to escape this time. She would be safe.

Once her father had left, Rinoa began to climb to her feet; she began to hear a strange beeping noise. She knew right away what it was.

"Oh no! He's gonna lock me in!" she quickly turned and ran over to the still open door, she grabbed onto her necklace for courage, "I… I can do it…" she nodded and ran out before the door could lock on her.

Quistis quickly ran into the familiar room, she wanted to apologize quickly and then get back to their post. "Rinoa, I'm sorry I…" Quistis said to nobody, Rinoa wasn't in the room.

The strange beeping became frantic and Quistis began to look around for the cause of the beeping. Suddenly the door they had just come through slammed shut as the automatic electronic lock activated sealing them inside the room, with no exit. Quistis ran over to the door and tried to open it but it was locked. Zell and Selphie just stared at the door in shock; they wouldn't be making it back to their post now.

"Did we get…locked in?" Quistis asked confused.

"…That Caraway guy!?" Selphie said stomping her foot.

"We're smack dab in the middle of a family quarrel here!" Zell complained.

If we're locked in the room that Rinoa was supposed to be in…where did she go? What happened? I'm worried now.

Quistis shrugged and sighed. "This is bad. I'm worried about Rinoa, too."

"What do you mean?" Zell asked.

Quistis hung her head. "Rinoa's probably on her way to see the sorceress as we speak. She wanted to help us…"

Rinoa managed to get inside the Presidential Residence, being the General's daughter did have its perks sometime. She walked over and saw a truck with some stacked boxes, she could climb up them and jump onto the ledge and get inside. Once inside she could find the sorceress and get her to put on the bangle as a gift and then seal her powers. If she couldn't use her magic then Squall and the others would have no problem defeating her. Rinoa approached the first box and pulled herself up onto it.

"I'm not a SeeD, but…" she spoke aloud to herself hoping for it to give her more courage.

Rinoa walked across the two boxes and climbed up onto the bed of the truck and moved towards the back where there were more crates stacked sort of like a staircase. She pulled herself up onto the next one.

"I can do this…"

Rinoa then stood on top of the crate she just climbed on and moved to the next one, she only had to climb this one and another, then she could jump onto the ledge. She climbed the next crate.

"This isn't some kind of game…"

Rinoa stepped onto the next crate and pulled herself up the last crate that was level with the ledge she would have to jump onto. Rinoa steadied herself and took a deep breath; she jumped off the crate and landed smoothly on the large ledge. She ran along the edge, past a large window to a metal ladder tucked along the side of the building. Rinoa climbed up the ladder and stood on a small ledge located near the top of the window. She climbed up onto another ledge that would leave her standing on the roof next to the large balcony with a podium the sorceress would make her speech on. Rinoa quickly moved onto the balcony and into the building she just had to find the room the sorceress was in.

After wandering around for a bit Rinoa finally had located her. The sorceress sat in a chair with her back to the young girl. There were transparent silk curtains draped throughout the small room. Rinoa had her arms crossed behind her back; she was holding the bangle in her right hand.

"Umm… Excuse me…" she was nervous being around this powerful and dangerous woman. Rinoa had never done anything like this before, she was scared. "I'm…the daughter of, um…Galbadian Army's, um…General Caraway. I…thought I'd…come pay my respects… You know…'cause of my father and all… So, I…um…brought you a small gift. Please…"

Rinoa heard no reply from the silent woman and began to walk closer to her. Once she reached the back of her chair there was a bright blue light and the force knocked Rinoa across the room and onto the floor; she was laying on her side. Rinoa sat up and stared at the woman's still sitting form, suddenly her arm began to quiver and then start shaking. Rinoa glanced down at her arms and tried to get her muscle to stop violently shaking. She felt a strong force yank her up and into the air, she was dangling in the air being held up by the same arm was that shaking. Rinoa felt a slight pain in her chest and put a hand over her chest.

"Ugh."

Rinoa head was jerked back and her body that was being suspended dropped roughly to the ground. The long black hair was flowing from the back of the sorceress' headdress began to shorten in length until it was able to be concealed inside. The red pointed face mask that hid her face also began to melt away into the sides of her headdress. The sorceress opened her yellow eyes and rose from her chair, Rinoa began to climb to her feet as well. A large decorative gold half circle sprung from the woman's shoulders and two long pieces of the same transparent silk were attached and followed behind the woman. She held her hands up in the air, her amber eyes hidden behind purple coloured eye lids. She ran her hands down her body and opened her eyes and began to walk forwards towards the closed doors that led to the balcony. Edea held out a hand and materialized the door and stepped through it with ease, she then stepped out onto the balcony and approached the podium. President Deling was standing beside the podium waiting for her.

Meanwhile back on the ground in front of the Residence the sidewalks were being even more crowded as people craned their necks to view the sorceress as she made her way to the podium.

"Here she comes." Irvine told Squall who was still standing beside him.

Edea walked up and stood in front of the podium, a familiar dark haired girl dressed in light blue was following behind Edea. Rinoa was swaying slightly from side to side; she was in a daze or trance of some sort.

Irvine quickly turned to look at Squall. "H…Hey… That girl…!"

Squall looked up at the podium and saw her. "Rinoa…?" he asked confused.

"…Lowlifes." Edea said into the microphone starting her speech she glanced down into the large crowd that had shown up for the celebration, "…Shameless filthy wretches. How you celebrate my ascension with such joy. Hailing the very one whom you have condemned for generations. Have you no shame?"

Deling sighed and put a hand to his head, this wasn't the speech he had expected from Edea.

"What happened to the evil, ruthless sorceress from your fantasies? The cold-blooded tyrant that slaughtered countless men and destroyed many nations? Where is she now?" Edea asked raising her arms. , "She stands before your very eyes to become your new ruler. HAHAHAHA."

Deling began to walk towards Edea and stand at her side.

"A new era has just begun."

"E-Edea… Are you alright?" Deling asked not recognizing the woman before him, her golden eyes were cold and ruthless, "Ede…!"

Edea jerked her arm out and her claw like fingers sunk into Deling's chest, a dark purple vapour began to surround him. "This is reality." Edea lifted the man into the air, "No one can help you. Sit back and enjoy the show."

The crowd began to cheer and hoot for their new ruler as she brutally slaughtered their former life-long president that nobody liked. Edea then flung Deling's lifeless body behind her and a strange yellow like substance bubbled around him.

"Rest assured, you fools. Your time will come. This is only the beginning" Edea flung her arms into the air, "Let us start a new reign of terror. I will let you live a fantasy beyond your imagination." she then spun around and began to walk back into the building, leaving Rinoa alone by herself. Edea stood inside the building next to the small hatch Caraway had mentioned. "Let us end this ceremony with a sacrifice." she put her hands together and conjured up some of her magic and then raised her hand in the air.

At the gate there were two bronze covered iguana looking monsters placed on the front of the gate, acting almost as gargoyles. They began to come alive, their hearts beating soundly in their chest, their reptilian like eyes opened and their bodies were no longer bronze; they were alive. The creatures began to scale up the side of the gate and then spring off the wall and onto the ground. They ran through the crowd and sprung onto the balcony where a daze young woman stood. Rinoa heard a strange noise and looked up, the trance she had been in was over. She watched the two lizard's land in front of her. She was the sacrifice.

Irvine shook Squall's shoulder. "Hey, hey, hey, she's in trouble big-time! We've gotta go help Rinoa." he said desperately.

Squall brushed his hand off. "The parade hasn't started yet. The gate's not open."

"You've gotta be kidding!"

Quistis moved over towards the window and looked outside, they were still stuck inside the mansion.

"Oh no! It's starting!" she turned and looked at Zell and Selphie, "We need to get out of here, quick."

Zell was bouncing around while Selphie was staring at a painting on the wall.

"There's somethin' fishy about this painting…"

Quistis leaned closer and studied the painting; it was of a young beautiful woman she was holding a wine glass in her hand. Quistis turned around and saw a shelf beside the door that had a bunch of the same cup. Next to the shelf was a statue of woman, she looked very much like the same woman in painting.

I wonder…hmmm?

Quistis walked over and took a glass off the shelf and moved to the statue, she placed the glass in the woman's hands. The arms of the statue dropped and it turned to the left revealing a hidden passageway, Zell ran over to stand beside Quistis.

"NO WAY!" he shouted.

Selphie also walked over and joined them. "Pretty sneak-y!"

"Let's go." Quistis said.

"But we don't even know where it leads!" Selphie pointed out.

"No use stayin' here!" Zell countered.

Quistis nodded and led them through the dark passageway they had just opened; they had to get out of here and back to the gate. If they didn't close it then the sorceress wouldn't be trapped and the assassination plot would most definitely fail. This was their only hope of even attempting to make it back in time.

Please…don't let us be too late…