Author's Note: This is a collaboration between Ceara Ivory and myself. We do not own Final Fantasy VIII

Tears Of The Moon

Disc 3 Part 1:

Holy Hell

Airlia looked out of her window of her cell glaring at the land below her. While it may not seem like a cell because it had a soft bed, a small bathroom adjacent to it, a desk and other things a normal room might have… it was still a cell. Her door handle was made from synthetic magic that burned if she touched it. Her window had bars on it to prevent her escape. That bastard had known what he was doing when he released her mother… knowing she would die. She glared at the green earth below and wished it would wilt away so that the people would no longer have livestock to feed off the grass… would no longer benefit from the fruits and vegetables. She remembered finally in her grief about Odin's pendant and put it around her neck. It was the only thing she had left of her mother… and part of her father. Either he saw her grab it and didn't care or she hid it well as she tucked the pendant along with the one Tess made, under her shirt. "Tess… find me soon please… Send me a sign…" She said softly as she sat on the bed, her knees drawn to her chest as she put her head to them and cried again for the pain of losing her mother. "Seifer… I'm sorry… it was all for nothing my love… all for nothing that I came here…"

Meanwhile, Selphie had the idea that maybe walking around and simply beating up the guards they ran into was a bad way to get this started. "We need to do this carefully or they could use Laguna against us." She had reasoned. Thus they had backtracked to retrieve the uniforms of the four guards they had dispatched on the way to the surface.

They wandered the city until they finally saw a sign on a bus stop. "TO PRESIDENTIAL PALACE"

"Hey I think this is what we're looking for," Zell said. They hopped on the bus that came by and rode it all the way to the large palace.

Once there, they moved swiftly and quickly. A simple thought from Tess sent the guards or aides they passed into a deep slumber which would only wear off when she willed it.

They were debating whether to start searching rooms when another aide ran up to them. "We need your help. The 'President' is starting to resist again!"

The four looked at each other. This was the chance they had been waiting for. "Again?" Squall faked an indignant sigh. "Let's get this over with."

"Yeah," Zell agreed. "I've got an important date this morning."

Tess and Selphie just barely managed to stifle giggles at the boys' acting skills. The four hurriedly followed the aide to a large room. They could protesting inside.

"No, I'm telling you I won't do it! I will not order an attack on innocent people!" A tall man with long brown hair protested. "Get your real leader to do it. I won't!"

"Not even knowing we have your friends' lives in our hands?" Another man asked.

The man whirled on the aide. "You haven't even shown me my friends today! How do I know you didn't kill 'em in the night huh? Look, just kill me and get it over with because I'm not doing it!"

The other aide looked at the four. "He needs a little persuasion to make him see reason."

A flick at the door made it shut and lock tight. The two aides and the man jumped while Tess removed her helmet. "Actually, we agree with the President."

Aide 1 gasped and pointed a finger at the woman. "You're a sorceress! You're outsiders!" He pulled out a phone that was flung away from him in the next.

Tess smiled sweetly, yet Squall knew it was anything but sweet. "You two gentlemen look terribly tired. Have you not slept recently? Here, let me tuck you in." She waved her hand, casting her deep sleep spell over them.

Laguna stood, trembling and frightened. He was thin and pale. His brown hair had the tell-tale signs of a man who had been through far too much. "Who are you?"

Squall removed his disguise. "It's okay, we're here to get you out and home to Ellone." He noticed shock on the other man's face when he looked at him. "I'm Squall. This is Tess. Selphie. And Zell. You're safe now."

Laguna fell to the floor in a mixture of emotions that scoured his body and mind. "Kiros and Ward?"

"They're already on their way to Balamb with Ellone," Tess said. "Here, put this on." She gave him her disguise. "Zell and Selphie are going to take you to join them. You're safe now, it's all over."

Laguna's chest tightened and he felt tears well up in his eyes as he sobbed. It was all over. They were really here to help him. Good girl Ellone, good girl…

Zell and Selphie helped him to disguise himself and helped him up. "We don't really have time to be all relieved and shit." Zell said. "We have to go before they notice anything is up."

Tess came over to them. "No one will notice anything." She waved her hands over them casting a barrier spell to protect them. "Get him back to Balamb quickly. And watch for the fireworks. It's gonna be big."

Laguna let himself be taken from the palace. He wanted to stop and breathe the fresh air of freedom, but until he was safely away from Esthar, he wasn't really free yet. They had to go.

After they were gone, Squall saw Tess' demeanor change. She was quietly looking out the window and he could feel her fuming. "Are you alright?"

"Tell me Squall... What is it about sorceresses that make people hate us? Hate us even to the point of holding an innocent man hostage!" She slammed her fist against the wall. "Hate us to the point of tricking people like you into trying to kill us! Hate us to the point that we have to practically hide who we are if not hide ourselves away entirely?"

Squall came over beside her. "I don't know. I know stories. The legend says that the Great Hyne created the world and it's people. Then she went to sleep. Hundreds of years later, she woke to find humans had grown so vast in number that if they wanted to they could overthrow her. She got scared and tried to kill the children... They rose up and defeated her and she agreed to a truce. In a promise she gave up half of her power to the humans but she kept the stronger half of herself and have that piece to select elite humans... Sorceresses."

"Then because of that fairie story!? It's not right Squall! It's not fair!" She trembled with unused rage and tears.

Arms went around her and she realized Squall was trying to give her comfort. "No, it's not fair. But you'll change it. You and Airlia and Edea... Adel too... You'll change how the world sees sorceresses of all strengths and powers and abilities. You'll change it."

Tess turned into his arms and wept despite herself. "I'm tired... I'm so tired of it... Of all the fighting and hatred... Sometimes I just want to give up my powers and rest..."

"Don't do that," Squall told her. "It's hard and it's long but one day the battle will be over and it will all be worth it. At least you don't have to fight it alone. I'm here and I'll help you."

Seifer growled as he raced along the fire cavern and back to the Garden once the Galbadians had left with Airlia. He hated how powerless he was to stop it, how powerless he was to protect her after telling her finally how he felt. The fact that she felt the same had made his heart soar in joy. He looked at Odin who shared a similar anger. Once he was in Garden, he saw the new tunnel and turned to Edea. "Please, wait here. I'll be right back, Odin and I will be trying to see where the others are. To let them know of Airlia's captivity so we can mount a rescue. And I will end it. I promise."

Edea looked at him and saw the white hot anger simmering there that she recalled from when he was a child. She nodded. "I will be with Cid if you need me for anything."

The pair nodded as they left, Irvine remaining behind with her as protection. The pair raced along the hall to find Ellone with two men who were exceptionally weak. Odin frowned. "So many hurt by the actions of a few stupid humans. Airlia, Adel, hold on a little more. Please hold on a little more." However grief swarmed over Odin's heart as he realized what it meant. His tears would wait, and his sword... Zantetsuken would drink of much blood in the coming battle. He turned to his horse, "Sleipnir, take these humans back to Garden. They are too weak to continue on their own while rest, food and sunlight will help them regain their strength." He helped the two men up while Ellone sat on the end. "Have them eat from Airlia's garden when they are stronger, her fruit and vegetables will be of much use to their bodies."

She looked at the eidolon, "You're Odin, aren't you? Thank you for your help." He nodded as his horse raced back towards the Garden.

Odin let out a scream of rage. "I was too late for my Adel... My sweet wife... She held on long enough to hold her daughter just once. Now I must ensure Airlia is safe, and free before I can join my wife. She will need your comfort Seifer. Don't ever hurt her. Understand?"

Seifer nodded as they continued down the tunnel to see two of the the others coming back with a ragged looking man who had barely seen better days then the men sent towards Garden already.

Tess eventually calmed her tears and forced herself to focus. "We need to get ready... A battle is coming..." She told him.

"The shield is down! Repeat the shield is down!" Shouts from outside the palace were heard.

Tess took a deep breath and looked at Squall. "Adel is dead... Poor Airlia..." She heard footsteps outside the door followed by pounding.

"President! The shield has fallen!" A voice called.

Squall got into position with his gun blade. Tess unlocked the doors and the soldiers came in. They were stunned to see her and Squall and not their president.

"Your President is free now..." Tess stated. "And your pitiful city is mine!" Tess felt a whirlwind lift her up.

"Ahh it's a sorceress! A sorceress!" The lead soldier cried with fear.

Seifer glared into the tunnel as Selphie came over to him. "We've got Laguna, but Tess and Squall stayed behind."

Odin nodded, "We will join them in their battle. Get this poor man to the others. Laguna, eat of Airlia's garden. Her fruits and vegetables will help restore your health because of her… abilities."

Laguna nodded, recognizing the man. "I'm so sorry… I didn't want any of this."

Odin removed his helmet for the first time, and they could see angry yellow eyes more clearly as he shook his head. "This is not your fault. Martine was jealous of my love for Adel… That's why he was able to incite the riot of the bigots of Esthar. Now he has my daughter and I fear for her. I can only hope that now… now it will finally be over with his death. Go and regain your health my friend." He put his helmet back on, covering his wooden brown hair as he turned back to Seifer. "Let's go."

Racing through the tunnel they found a few of the guards were down but the city above… was both massive and in utter chaos. He drew his gun blade. "Let's find our friends then we can get Airlia back. I will take extreme pleasure in dispatching that bastard Martine!"

Airlia watched as some of the grass at the edge of the city seemed to wither away. A dirty smirk came to her lips as she giggled. "You killed my mother Martine… I will make it so this land can't be beneficial to you anymore… Now it's time to feel the angry wrath of this sorceress." She turned to a little bit of dirt near her. "I wonder… hm…"

She went over to it… "I'd love to have some of my chilis for blinding… Please…" She urged it to grow and watched as it came to her almost instantly. She plucked several ripened chilis and put them in her pocket before urging it away. Somehow she wasn't surprised when someone hammered on her 'door.' Glaring at it, she spoke calmly, "What do you want now Martine?"

His voice came out, grating over every nerve. "Time to wield your powers sorceress."

She raised a delicate eyebrow. "Time to wield it? Why would I help you? You killed my mother."

He chuckled, "Either you help me, or I will disfigure you and dump your broken body before your little boy toy. Then you will be helpless to watch me kill him!"

Airlia shrugged even though he could not see it. She knew what was going on. "Very well Martine. Let's go and I will show this world why they fear sorceresses." Right, I will show you all that your fear of us is stupid and bigotry morelike. A farming sorceress is nothing to be frightened of.

Tess was about to start wailing on the soldiers when Squall had a thought. "Wait!" He put up his sword as a shield. "Aren't you loyal to your president?"

The first soldier growled. "Of course we are! We're not gonna let you get away with harming him!"

"We didn't harm him! These two assholes did!" Squall kicked the aides. "We shipped him back to where he'll be safe."

Tess lowered herself. "How dare you hold a man hostage? Force him to be your figurehead and take the blame for your wickedness!"

The first soldier looked briefly at the second in question who could only shrug. "We've never seen him being forced to do anything. I'm not saying you're lying, do not misjudge me. I'm just stating what I've seen with my eyes and heard with my ears."

The second soldier nodded in agreement, "He's always looked at us with smiles and nods of welcome. Would a prisoner do that?"

Tess trembled with rage and anguish. "If he was trying to protect the lives of two friends he held as close as brothers! They forced him to be your president to hide what they are doing! And... And they hurt him! They abused him! They took away a little girl's father! Just like you took away my best friend's mother!"

The second soldier looked at her questioningly, "Who are you talking about? We've never taken a mother away from a child."

Squall growled. "What about Adel? Adel and Odin? Remember them?"

The second soldier shook his head, "I'm only twenty sir. All I know of Adel is that she abused her power and they had to overthrow her. That's all the adults would tell me." He looked at the other officer, "Do you know anything of Adel?"

The first soldier nodded, "I was about twelve when it happened, but I was never told that she had a daughter. Just that she put a spell over Martine that killed him. They had to lock her away afterwards."

Tess snarled with anger and her aura threatened to get away from her. "Lies! Bold faced lies! My best friend's lost her mother because of that asshole!" She screamed.

The first soldier frowned as he stepped backwards a step. "I do not lie! I know only of what my parents would tell us. So you're saying Senator Martine… is alive?"

Another voice rang through clearly, "Yes and he has my daughter prisoner. Now do I have to cut through any of your soldiers or are you going to talk some sense into these morons?"

The second soldier turned to see a very tall and angry man in glistening gold armor and a tattered cape. "Are you… Odin then?" It was easy to put two and two together.

The man nodded, "Aye, I am Odin. Seifer is here with me on official business. Are you going to tell them to back down then."

The first soldier took charge, "Release them immediately. Now if you want the support of those of us who didn't know that Laguna was a prisoner, then show me he is okay."

Tess pointed at the window to show Laguna walking slowly down the hall with Zell and Selphie helping showed Laguna's face upclose to show how sick he was. "Well? Does that look like a willing president?" She wept for the man. "All because of your hate for sorceresses!"

The two soldiers ran to the window to see the broken man and cringed as the first one spoke, "What the hell!? We didn't do that to him! I would never force him to be somewhere he didn't want to be… Alright, I'll gather those like me… those who had no knowledge that Laguna was a prisoner. I've… I've always been cautious about who I make friends with. And I think I know how to identify the ones who were in on this. I've see a strange pin on some of their lapels. I always thought it was something about their rank and age… But now, I'm not so sure."

Tess nodded and added. "Gather the loyal ones quickly. Lock up the rest. We'll need an army... And lock these assholes up while you're at it." She sat on the floor, holding her legs in a position Squall remembered from Rinoa. Tears trailed down her cheeks.

The two guards nodded as they hurried out to gather their allies and to deal with the others who abused Laguna. Seifer stepped forward with a frown. "They surrounded us on our way back to Garden. Airlia went with them to prevent a chance of Galbadia finding it. She said to show you this… that you would know how to find her." He held out a simple silver ring.

Quietly Tess stood and took the ring. After looking it over she handed it back. "Put it on. You are her chosen. Put it on..." She trembled until Squall came to calm her.

"It's alright..." Squall promised. "Everything will be alright..."

Tess' breath hitched. "It's my fault. If we had gotten here sooner we could have saved her but I had to rest... I'm so sorry Airlia..." She let the sobs loose a second time.

Seifer frowned, "It's not your fault. It lays with me… I should have done more to protect her… I should have shown them what led me to take that test three times to become a SeeD…" He put the ring on and was hit with a well of emotions… pain, sorrow, anger… "Tess, what does it mean that the emotions are growing stronger?"

Tess shook but forced herself to answer. "She's coming closer. Martine is bringing an army... I don't know what he hopes to gain by attacking his own people but fine by me... Let him hang himself. I'm sorry I couldn't save Adel... She was moved just before we got there. If I had only been quicker..."

Odin shook his head, "This is not your fault dear. Do not blame yourself. I know that my daughter wouldn't want you to do so. Adel has suffered for the last sixteen years in her prison. I could feel her agony every day. I had to stand by and watch from afar – helpless to save my own love from the people who turned on her, imprisoning her in a device that was essentially a pool of draw magic. Those… bastards… they were torturing her every day within that device. Still she didn't let go until finally she was released and reunited with Airlia. She was unable to carry on – giving up her powers to Airlia… However I do not think the powers will flourish as Martine wants them to." He chuckled bitterly.

Tess chuckled from Squall's arms. "Well he did just get himself the best gardener in the world."

Seifer shook his head, "I'm still going to kill the bastard. No more chances for Martine to hurt her ever again… or anyone else." I will free you my love… I promise.