I HOLD NO CLAIM TO ANY OF THE ORIGINAL FINAL FANTASY 8 CHARACTERS! NOTHING! :(

Chapter Nineteen

Trust

"Yo, Squall, are you even listening to me?"

The teen shook his head and turned to Zell. "What?"

The blond rolled his eyes. "Should have known."

"Give him a break," Rinoa hissed at him. "He's worried."

"Yeah, well, so am I! We should be thinking of a plan instead of day dreaming."

"Both of you, shut it." Keiran growled.

The Squad had found a way inside Galbadia Garden. The moment that Keiran told them what had happened, Squall and Lurena both shot off faster that bullets to get to the other garden. They weren't exactly sure if this is where Lucas had brought Lucia, but this was the only shot they had at the moment. If they weren't here, then they could still get some answers.

"The Sorceress should be here somewhere," Irvine commented.

"If you want to back out, you'd best do it now," Alena commented, looking at her gun. "'Cause after this, there's no turning back."

"I doubt any of us are leaving after coming this far." Quistis replied.

"Our mission is to find Lucia as quickly as possible," Lurena told them, glaring down the hall. "The witch can wait until later."

"Our mission is to take care of the Sorceress, though." Irvine commented. "Shouldn't we-"

"I don't care what the rest of you do," Squall cut him off. "I'm going after Lucia."

They all looked at him. "But-"

"Stop fighting and just listen. Either way we go," Rayna began. "We'll get answers. If we run into Lucas we get answers. If we find Lucia, we get her back. If we run into the Sorceress we still get answers. Either way we go, we shall get what we want so just calm down and think instead of getting all worked up. Lucia might be young but she does know how to take care of herself."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Keiran took the first step forward. "Let's go."

Believe it or not, the halls were bare. Not one soldier was around and when they ran into Fujin and Raijin, they refused to fight. The two of them were tired of all of this just as much as they were and asked them to take care of Seifer and knock some sense into him for them.

"Okay, I'm starting to get a bit nervous now," Rayna commented. "Where is everyone?"

"It is a bit odd that there's no one around, not even any type of guard. They didn't use all their men against the garden already, did they?"

"Who knows?" Keiran shrugged his shoulders. "All I care about is finding Lucia."

"Maybe that's just it," Alena began. "Maybe the Sorceress feels safe with just Lucas and Seifer."

"Seifer's a puss compared to that monster," Lurena growled. They all looked at the older woman. It was very clear that she was still furious with the previous student.

"All right," Squall paused outside of the main room what seemed an hour later. "We have searched everywhere else and found signs of nothing. They must be in here, which means-"

"We get it, Squall, we're ready for a fight; don't worry." Kieran told the other teen. "All we have to decide is who's going to take care of Lucas and who's gonna take Seifer."

Squall thought for a moment. "Keiran, Lurena, the three of us can handle Lucas. I want the rest of you to take care of Seifer."

"I don't think so," Rayna hissed. "I'm getting in on this fight with muscle-man, too! It was my friend that he took!"

"Don't worry, Squall," Zell gave a grin. "Rayna can fight with you. The five of us can handle Seifer no problem."

"Should we make a team for the Sorceress too?" Alena asked, a hand on her hip.

"If she's there with Seifer and Lucas then she'll fight only after we kick ass. And with that, we'll join together and fight her then." Zell replied.

"Or if they all attack together, then we'll join together then and rock all three of them at the same time. Now let's go!" Keiran kicked the door in and led the way inside.

~Bang you head

To hell and back

Shaking the Ground

Of Moria~

"So…this is the girl." Edea's voice sent an unsettling feeling down Lucia's back. "Tell me, Lucas, what makes you think that she'll be better than the other girl? Why did you fight me so hard to get this one instead of taking the easy route and getting the General's young daughter?"

Was she talking about Rinoa? Or was it Rayna? The only General she knew was their father…

"Because, dearest, you know that I like one with fire," Lucas grinned. "And she will be stronger than that foolish child. The woman in blue will never amount to the strength you need while this Little Flower here…she can surpass it. All you need is here, you need only trust me. As always."

That answered that. Rinoa wore blue, Rayna didn't.

"Don't you feel special?" Seifer's voice made Lucia turn from the Sorceress and Lucas to the other teen close by.

"Should I?" She grunted, glaring at him.

"Oh, don't look at me like that." Seifer told her.

"How can I not after what you did, traitor?"

"Traitor? Me? I wasn't even a SeeD. How can you-"

"I'm not talking about to the Garden, you moron! I was talking about towards my sister!" She shouted at him.

"Still, I am not a traitor. I offered for Lurena to come with me. In all sense, she betrayed m-" He was cut off by a fist to the face.

"Never utter my sister's name again, you bastard!" Lucia roared at him. "If you do, I shall rip your tongue out!"

"As I said," Lucas grinned at the Sorceress. "One with fire. Don't you think she befits you more?"

Edea stared at the younger woman for a moment before turning her eyes to the door as it was flung open. "We shall see."

"Lucia!" Lurena cried, looking at her baby sister as she led the others inside the room.

"Lurena," Lucia went to take a step forward but Lucas held out an arm, blocking her off. She stopped and hung her head, turning away as he whispered something to her.

"Get away from my sister, Lucas!" Lurena growled, her blade held in her hand. Lucia gave a wince. Seeing her sister in such a rage…

"I'm afraid not," Lucas replied. "Your sister and I have a deal, you see. Her cooperation for your safety. Be careful on your next moves now," He told her with that grin of his.

"Shove it, you old cod!" Keiran roared at the man. "You and I both know that you won't keep to your word. You may be able to trick a little girl, but you won't be able to trick me!"

"And don't think about joining them," Zell took a step forward, pointing a finger at the other man. "You're mine, Seifer!"

"Oh, you guys shouldn't have…" Seifer began with that smirk on his face. "I was gonna come visit you at my old home."

"Shut up." Squall hissed at him.

"Did you guys come to fight Matron? After all that she's done for us?"

"You mean he knows?" Rayna raised a brow as the talking continued.

"It appears so." Alena nodded.

"Lurena…" Seifer looked at the teacher. "You can still join us, you know. Your sister's here. Why not come with her?"

"It's too late, Seifer." Squall told him. "You can't mess with us anymore. To us, you're just another enemy, like one of those monsters."

"You're comparing ME to one of them?" Seifer looked at the ceiling. "I ain't no monster. I am one of the Sorceress' Knights. And look at you. Attacking like a swarm. You guys are the mon-"

"Oh, shove off," Alena hissed. "And let's put an end to this!"

"You'd best be glad that Lucas-boy here is my target," Keiran told the blond as he pulled out his lance. "Or else you'd be getting your ass kicked by me."

"Oh, you're dragging me into this, are you?" Lucas sighed. "Did you not learn last time, boy?"

"Keep running that suck of yours, big guy. I'll just knock you down!" Keiran led the attack. Lucia knew that Zell and the others were fighting Seifer and she had no idea what the Sorceress was doing at this moment; all she cared about was Lucas verses the ones important to her.

Keiran had gotten better since their last fight with Lucas but Lucas was still clearly playing with them. With all of them. She didn't know how it was possible! Rayna and Squall and Lurena and Keiran…he was toying with them; they couldn't even land a hit. This man, whatever Lucas was, wasn't human. Not anymore. He was a monster. There was no way that the others would win; not at their current state; ever maybe. Lucas kept to his word and didn't land a blow on them but Lucia could tell that he was itching to…

"How…how can this be?" Keiran gasped, staring up at the man. "What are you, you crazy bastard?!"

Lucas gave a grin as they all stared up at him. "To be the Head Knight of the great Sorceress you have to be the best. That is what I am. You didn't honestly think that you were going to be able to defeat me, did you little man? You're net even a quarter of my true power."

"I don't care what you are," Lurena told him. "Just give me back my sister!"

"I'm afraid that I cannot do that. You see, she-" the man was cut off by a blade coming in from his side view. He barely had time to dodge the fatal blow but it caught him across the side of his face. As the warm, thick liquid poured over his skin he turned his head, eyes wide.

"Lucia…" Lucas stared at the young woman, the blood running down his face. He watched as her blade shook in her hands but she tightened her grip, trying to let her fear be secret.

She gave a wince at the look he gave her before clearing her throat. "What kind of person would I be if I just stood there and let you attack those important to me?"

Lucas stared at her for a moment longer before a grin spread across his face. "I would have it no other way, My Little Flower. This will give me a chance to show you just how strong your Knight can be."

"What's up with all this knight bullshit?" Keiran asked.

"Don't ask me," Rayna replied.

Squall readied his Gunblade as the man rushed at him but Seifer's cry brought them all to a halt.

"This can't be. Why?!" Seifer cried out. They all watched as Seifer fell to his knees and The Sorceress stood up.

"Worthless child." Edea glanced at Lucas and gave a small toss of her head.

"Of course," the man nodded. They then watched as Edea sunk into a black hole in the floor and Lucas, like always, just disappeared.

Lucia had only two seconds to give a sigh of relief before Lurena bulldozed into her. She had her air knocked out of her but gave a small smile. "That worried, Lurena?"

"Of course I was!" She gave a wince as her sister smacked her in the back of her head. "Don't ever do something stupid like that again! When Keiran came and told us that Lucas had taken you, I was so worried!"

"It was to keep you safe!" Lucia replied with a firm voice. "And if asked to, I would do it again."

Lurena stared at her sister for a moment before pulling her into a firm hug. "Stupid little sister,"

Lucia gave a chuckle. "I learned it from you."

"Nice shot," Keiran gave a grin to the girl. "I hadn't been expecting you to attack him."

"Which also means that an attack like that won't be useable next time," Rayne told her brother.

"Speaking of which, where did they go?" Zell asked them.

"They headed down for the auditorium," Irvine told them. "Let's go!"

Lucia had almost forgotten that this was Alena and Irvine's Garden before they were assigned to help assassinate the Sorceress. Of course they would know where everything was.

Squall watched as Lurena grabbed her sister by the wrist and led her out of the room after the others as they head for the said auditorium. He was glad that Lucia was back safely with them but for some reason he had a frown on his face. He had wanted to say something to her but the others had beaten him to it.

~Set your mind straight, Leonhart,~ He told himself. ~And worry about the Sorceress and her Knight.~

A strange sound began to go off as Edea broke through the ceiling of the Auditorium and landed on the podium before them beside Lucas. "So the time has come." She called out. "You're the legendary SeeD destined to face me?"

~What is she talking about?~ Squall asked himself, staring up at the woman.

"I must say that I am impressed…An impressive nuisance. Your life ends here, SeeD." Seifer moved up beside Lucas again. "Worthless fool."

"Don't be so mean, dearest." Lucas gave a grin. "Give him a chance to redeem himself."

She gave a 'hmph' and tossed her hands in the air. "All SeeDs must perish!"

Seifer, still beaten up from the previous battle, was easily knocked out in the first minutes of the battle but Lucas and Edea were monsters. Especially when working together. Edea had powerful magic and her Maelstroms were horrid; it sent Zell flying halfway across the auditorium and into the wall. That sent Rayna into a rage though and she landed a blow in Lucas' face, giving Keiran his turn to let his mouth run as he attacked the woman. Lucas seemed to grow stranger here but as Edea was attacked he seemed to lose himself and get sloppy. Squall and Lurena quickly took advantage of this…

"That is enough!" the Sorceress roared and tossed her hands in the air again, releasing a strange, purple light that engulfed the room.

"Lucia!" Lucas wrapped his arms around her yet again as the bright light continued to blind them all. She struggled to get away but his grip was too tight. "Do not fear," He whispered to her. "Just do as I say and trust me." His arms began to fall weak. "Trust me."

Lucia kept her eyes shut but felt Lucas' arms slip away moments before his body collapsed at her feet. Unsure of what to do, she knelt down and found his body with her hands, eyes still closed. He was still breathing but…just what was going on?

Squall squinted through his eyes and watched as Lucas collapsed at Lucia's feet. He was shocked, unsure of what had just happened. Had Edea killed her right-hand man? He then felt his heart quicken as Lucia collapsed herself. He feared she had hit her head too hard and was up in seconds, running for her.

"Lucia!" He slid down beside her, picking her up in his arms.

"Lucia!" Lurena had followed him and began to check her sister all over. "She seems to be okay. Perhaps she's just tired from all this stress and fighting."

"Or maybe this bastard did something to her!" Keiran growled, giving Lucas a sharp kick to the side. Lucas gave a grown as he began to come too again. "I say we kill him and kill him now."

"I agree," Alena nodded. "Before he gets back up again to kill us all."

"Ugh…what's…" Lucas blinked as he stared up above him. His eyes grew wide at all the faces glaring at him and he began to crawl away. "Who the hell are you?! Where am I? What are you trying to do to me?" He then glanced at the girl Squall still held. "Is she…all right?"

"Don't think you can trick us, Lucas." Selphie growled. "We won't fall for it!"

"What are you talking about?" He asked, looking between them all.

Rayna raised a brow. "You don't think…"

Keiran's mouth fell open. "There's no way in hell that-"

"Squall, Quistis, Selphie," This voice gave them a scare as they had forgotten that the Sorceress was still above them; Seifer had disappeared. She looked worn to hell. "Irvine, Alena, Zell. Lurena…Lucia…You've all grown so much…and become so strong…I have waited for this day to come. And also feared this day would come. Is today a joyous day? Or an odious day?" She began to look around furiously. "Where is Ellone!? Have I protected Ellone!"

Rayna and Keiran exchanged a look with the others. "What the hell is going on?"

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