Phenomenon

Battle of the Gardens

Galbadia Garden crept closer to Balamb, the distance between the two schools continuing to close at a consistent pace. In a scene oddly reminiscent of the year before, the Galbadian Army stood at the front of their flying base as they readied their weapons for another assault on Garden. Commander Fury Caraway stood at the head of the Army, his arms placed calmly behind his back while he stared ahead towards their target.

Deling stared out over the army from the Headmaster's office with Doctor Odine beside him. Despite his seemingly calm demeanor, the tyrannical president fought hard to contain his enthusiasm. Finally, after all of this time and careful planning, his plot was now complete. The troops stood calm and strong, their defenses solid and their resolve like steel while they awaited their command for action. The moment he had been waiting for was now upon them: SeeD stood ready to fight against the powerful Galbadian Army, once again, led by the brave and confident young Commander Leonhart. All of them, naïve as they were, would instantly be swept into the tide of battle, completely unaware that their endless endeavors to defend their home were pointless, nothing more than a clever ruse to distract them from the true intent. By the time Commander Leonhart's Army would realize the truth, it would be too late, especially considering there was a card that had yet to be put into play. Galbadia's special weapon, the crucial, final piece of the plan, still stood in wait, the exact moment of use slowly approaching. It was all just as he had imagined, a plan crafted perfectly in the mind of the sly president. A smirk formed on his face, Deling already able to sense the sweet taste of victory at the mere thought.

"It's showtime." he said, an amused look on his face.

Charging through a heavy, metal door, Squall and Rinoa quickly made their way through the halls of Garden as the moment of battle neared. Hand in hand, the SeeD led the raven-haired sorceress down a long, empty corridor deep in the recesses of the school. It was an area unfamiliar to Rinoa, the whole of the vicinity bearing a dark, almost damp appearance. It was much like the MD Level in a way, but a bit more dull and chilling, the sight sending a brief shiver down the sorceress' back as they continued forward.

Finally arriving at their destination, Rinoa watched as Squall rapidly inputted a code into a keypad and a door suddenly slid open beside them.

"Get in." he muttered. He sounded almost stern, managing nothing more than a quick glance at her as he had spoken.

Without a word, Rinoa hurried inside, the monotonous appeal of the place immediately grabbing her attention. It really did appear to resemble a prison of sorts: the air was cold, the walls and floor a solid, grey color, and a small bed sat against the back. The only source of lighting was a single, luminescent lamp that hung tightly from the ceiling. The whole room emitted an eerily desolate scene.

For a moment, she hesitated, nearly reconsidering her earlier words. When she had requested to be locked up, she had no idea that Squall would take it so literally. She had thought he may put her in one of the dorms with tight security outside her door – she had never imagined she would be put in complete solitude deep under Garden.

Still, she couldn't exactly complain. This was what she had asked for, begged Squall to do, and though he had clearly been disinclined, he had still merely given her what she had wanted. She couldn't afford to go back on her word - this truly was the best way to keep herself, and everyone else, safe from the danger she now posed. As long as she was tucked away, safe and tight, nobody else would suffer because of her.

"Squall." she said, turning around to face him with an apologetic look in her eyes.

Squall didn't respond as he stood in the doorway, dropping his head at the sound of her voice and closed his eyes just before shutting the door between them. He stood there in silence for a moment, a look of utter regret forming on his face as he placed his palm on the door and hung his head. He hated himself for what he had just done. While he was certain no one could find Rinoa down here, just the thought that he had actually chosen to conform to her order filled him with resent and shame. He felt like he was abandoning her, a thought that brought an unshakable sense of guilt over the SeeD towards such an action. It was the one thing he had told himself, and her, that he would never do – and he could only wonder what had happened to make him go against that promise. He couldn't believe he was actually going through with it, but it was what she had suggested, after all - and despite every instinct telling him otherwise, he had found himself unable to deny her request. So long as she was down here, locked behind those solid, steel doors, she was safe – he had to believe that. It was the only thing that prevented him from opening them back up and yanking her out again.

"...Take care of yourself." he begged in his head, curling his fingers into the cold doors.

He then tore off down the hall without looking back, leaving Rinoa behind as he quickly began making his return to the main floor.

Outside, the battle between SeeD and Galbadia was now officially about to commence. Commander Caraway kept a straight face, his back still turned towards his troops as he raised his hand in anticipation of the moment and the soldiers immediately braced to attack.

Deling couldn't help but grin at the sight below his window as he felt his stomach jump with excitement, knowing they were now only moments away from the final phase of his plan. He stared out at Caraway keenly, watching in delight as the Commander threw his hands out and the army immediately began their onslaught without hesitation.

"Attention, soldiers," Deling commanded, his voice ringing in their ear pieces, "I want the sorceress! I don't care what it takes. Take them down, kill them, if you must, but bring me that girl!"

The soldiers silently obeyed the president's command as they descended upon Balamb in droves. Meanwhile, Deling watched the scene unfold with great arrogance, a faint laugh emitting under his breath as he glanced at Odine.

"Sit back and watch, Doctor," he said, smugly, "The fun is just beginning."

Immediately upon landing, the Galbadian Army charged towards the front gate in a massive swarm. The students of Garden stood in opposition of the relentless soldiers, led by Zell and Selphie who stood at the head of the group, both holding their weapons prepped to fight as they stared ahead at the oncoming army. Zell smacked his fists together in anticipation of the imminent struggle, a smirk forming on his face as he could feel the adrenaline start to flow through his body already.

"Here they come!" he hollered.

They all stared ahead intently at the massive wave of soldiers rushing toward them. Seeing they were indeed vastly outnumbered, some of the students could feel their nerves rattling and their hearts pounded heavily in their chests from the intensity of the moment. However, upon glancing at Zell and Selphie, the determined look in the SeeDs' eyes and their bravery in the face of battle, especially with soldiers far more advanced than them, the students were able to shake off their doubts and hesitations. This wasn't the time to let fear grab hold; the moment to run away had passed. Though it was certain to be a tough fight, with Zell and Selphie's courage and leadership, and Squall's strength and command, they knew there was at least a chance. It was now or never. With Squall's words ringing in their ears and the soldiers closing in drastically, they regained their confidence, standing behind Zell and Selphie as they braced for the massive onslaught.

"Stand your ground! We can do this!" Zell shouted over the students.

He glanced at Selphie, the petite, young woman bearing an intense, almost spiteful expression in contrast to her usually chipper and friendly disposition as she held her Nunchaku tight. She glanced towards Zell, nodding her head in agreement with his words before looking ahead again, eyeing the Galbadian soldiers with a surprising ferocity.

The soldiers finally breached the threshold of the entrance to Garden and the battle instantly ensued. Swords swung violently while the sound of bullets echoed through the first floor hallways and spells flew through the air, chaos erupting in seconds as both armies fought their hardest to take each other down.

His blood pumping rapidly from the intense struggle, Zell was fueled with undying energy. He swung his fists hard, taking out a Galbadian soldier with one blow and immediately struck down another that attempted to charge him. He then jumped into the air, performing an aerial double-kick and knocking down a third one.

"Yeah, baby!" he cheered, arrogantly, "Bring it on!"

A few feet away, Selphie followed her rambunctious friend's antics: swinging her Nunchaku swiftly, she whipped a Galbadian soldier hard in the face, knocking him off his feet. She then proceeded to whirl her weapon over her head once in a rapid motion, stretching it out again to smack another to her right in the same fashion. Sensing an attack from behind, she immediately switched hands, turning halfway around before unleashing a wide blow to her left and taking down another adversary.

Over at the Quad, the battle was no less chaotic. Hundreds of paratroopers descended upon the area endlessly, while the students below did their best to prevent them from setting a single foot on ground. From powerful thunder spells to vicious fire spells, and the sound of guns ringing in the air, they maintained their defensive priorities while asserting a decent offensive strategy as they worked to bring down the soldiers as fast as possible.

Irvine Kinneas valiantly led the charge. In hopes of catching the soldiers off-guard, he had climbed atop the stage structure and now fired consecutive shots at the invading army while managing to maintain his balance. With each shot fired, he immediately pumped the gauge and initiated another one, his superior marksmanship showing brilliantly through his flawless execution and timing.

Seeing their assault was hindered by the opposing students, and angered by such audacity, the Galbadian soldiers promptly proceeded to fire back with their weapons while they continued to approach the ground.

Due to their high numbers, the army was exceptionally difficult to defeat. While some were successfully shot down in the crossfire, any whom managed to touch down immediately proceeded to continue on foot, running boldly and quickly with weapons in hand as they charged towards the students aggressively.

With each Galbadian taken down, two more students fell, the Garden rapidly consumed further by complete bedlam as both sides struggled greatly to achieve victory.

Seeing his efforts were becoming less effective as the battle continued aground, Irvine quickly jumped to the stage below to continue his rapid assault. Now at closer range, he assisted the students by easily picking off the opposing army with a single shot each. His heart beat frantically, the sniper fueled with adrenaline, and anger from his fallen comrades, as he worked quickly to take down the Galbadian soldiers.

"Damn! This is endless!" he muttered to himself, "Squall, where the hell are you?"

Squall finally returned to the main floor of Garden, rushing off the elevator as soon as the doors opened only to be greeted by complete disarray. Stretching out as far as he could see, the chaos that was the battle between Garden and Galbadia covered the whole floor before him. Students and soldiers fought hard and valiantly, both sides using all of their strength and ability to bring each other down. Fighters stood in gridlock, their weapons clashing against one another in a heated struggle, neither side willing to give up; a firaga spell trailed heatedly along the ground towards its target, exploding in a massive burst of fire as it struck a Galbadian soldier - and in another area, a missile was fired into the crowd just before detonating a powerful blast that sent several students ricocheting through the air.

In the midst of it all, Squall caught a glimpse of Zell and Selphie, both caught in the endless battle as they fought tirelessly, side by side with the other students to protect themselves and each other. It truly was a harrowing conflict, a battle that amounted to numerous casualties in nearly an instant for both sides.

Squall could only stare and watch in shock at how fast it had intensified, the SeeD momentarily stricken with guilt for having not been there sooner to assist his comrades.

A Galbadian soldier swung his sword at Zell, the SeeD quick to respond by crossing his arms in front of his face and holding back the attack. Glancing back, he took notice of Squall, a look of gratitude and delight coming over his face while he stood in tight gridlock with the opposing soldier.

"Yo! Squall!" he shouted loudly over the ruckus, "A little help here?"

"Huh?" Squall asked, snapping out of his morose phase as he lifted his head towards Zell.

The blond finally managed to garner enough strength and immediately shoved the Galbadian soldier off of him, doing his best to stay ahead of the game as he continued to be overwhelmed by the enemy.

"Right." Squall thought, nodding his head in understanding.

Without another thought, he immediately whipped out his Lionheart and proceeded to rush headlong into the battle, joining up with his friends as he now entered the ever-intensifying conflict.

He rushed toward a single soldier, jumping high into the air as he lifted his gunblade above his head and brought it down hard on the adversary. The soldier was immediately knocked off his feet and Squall proceeded to perform a double blow: slashing once to his right, hard, and then quickly unleashed another blow to his left, taking down two more enemies.

"Where the hell have you been, man?!" Zell yelled between blows, "It's been hell in here!"

"Forget about it, I'm here now." he replied, a bit angered by the SeeD's remark.

At those words, he swung his gunblade as hard as he could, taking down three soldiers at once with a single, powerful strike.

"Where's Rinoa?!" Zell asked, remembering he hadn't seen her since the battle started, or heard her name in the announcement.

Squall's face dropped at the blonde's question, the young Commander briefly consumed with anger and shame again, as he thought about Rinoa deep below Garden, sitting in solitude while she waited for him to return. His emotions towards the matter, and Zell's prying, only fueled him with more stamina and strength and he began beating out his aggressions on any oncoming soldiers daring to challenge him.

"Don't worry about it, she's fine." he said, sternly, having just struck down another soldier.

"Squall! Incoming!" Selphie shouted, alarmingly.

Squall and Zell looked ahead to see fighters clearing out of the way as three soldiers came riding up on motorcycles at rapid speed. Their faces and teeth clenched, the soldiers stared ahead intensely at Squall and his friends as they rode straight towards them.

The trio stood side by side, each ready to continue fighting as the soldiers drew nearer every second. Squall stared ahead fiercely, his Lionheart held tight by his side as he prepared to strike, his eyes meeting those of the leading soldier as they burned with a heated intensity.

"On my mark!" he ordered.

Zell and Selphie nodded in unison and they all waited for the enemy to get close enough. Students and soldiers continued to clear the way as the bikers continued towards the trio, the distance between the teams closing rapidly as both prepared for the moment of contact.

"NOW!" Squall shouted.

At his words, they all three struck at once, each making contact with a different soldier as they thrust their weapons at them with all of their might, knocking the men onto the ground hard. The vehicles, now without a driver, immediately fell onto their sides and slid along the ground before crashing into a distant wall in a pile of debris.

The bikers now out of the way, the other students and soldiers closed the path again as the conflict continued at full force. Within moments, Squall, Selphie, and Zell found themselves surrounded by another wave of soldiers and continued utilizing their full skills to take them out.

In a surprising turn of events, Squall was soon caught off-guard when two soldiers grabbed him from behind.

"Squall!" Zell shouted.

The SeeD didn't respond, or fret – instead, proceeding to lift his legs and kick the single soldier back. Then, breaking free of the others' grasp, he quickly turned around and thrust his gunblade at them with another powerful blow, taking both out at once.

From his spot in the Galbadia Garden Headmaster's office, Deling stared outside again, watching with an eerie pleasure at the sight of Squall fighting beside his troops. How hard and determined the SeeD fought, yet still maintaining such great confidence and stamina was quite intriguing to the malevolent president, the whole display only making him feel more confident about the success of their plan. Everything was coming together exactly as he had envisioned – if not, better. With Squall so distracted by the battle alongside his comrades, there was no one to stop him from obtaining the final key in his endeavors. Galbadia's victory, and the fall of SeeD, was finally upon them.

"Well, it looks like our dear Commander Leonhart has finally decided to join the fray," he sneered, "I hope you are enjoying the show, Doctor; the best is yet to come."