Chapter 46: Lionheart
Leon is within his room to get a psychic link from Umiko. "Hey Leon, I have two more people who will join us. Faris and Lenna," Umiko said.
"Good, we need all the help we can get," Leon said as he is sitting at his desk to see his Gunblade lying on the table to have a pit of guilt buried within his own heart. "Rinoa is alive and she is working with Drake and Seifer," Leon said as he dwells into his mind to remember a memory from his first meeting with Rinoa within a Radiant Garden military inauguration ball for the new recruits.
-Flashback Begins-
16 year old Leon aka Squall is minding his own business to hold onto a glass of cold punch. All the new recruits have their dates with them for they are dancing in the middle of the room. "Like I need that," Squall said to himself but looks at the glass feeling quite lonely despite his anti-social nature.
"Squall, you need to chill out and enjoy the scenery," a young woman's voice said as he turns around to see a young blond haired woman appear beside him with her wearing an orange evening gown which shows off her slender frame. Her long blond hair tied into a bun in the back of her head and her red colored glasses framing her head.
"Quistis, enjoying yourself teacher?" Squall asked as despite Quistis's young age she is a magical child prodigy and the youngest combat instructor in the Garden Defense Force's history.
"Just enjoying the good punch here, some of my fans are gashing over me," she said for the two of them look over at the male and female recruits were cooing at her presence.
"We love you Quistis," her Fanclub said at the same time.
"It's nice to be wanted, how does it feel to be part of the Defense Forces?" Quistis asked.
"Seems not that special," Squall said trying to act cool but Quistis can see right through him.
"Oh; you wanted to be part of the defense forces. Make your life fighting for the weak and defenseless, right?" Quistis asked.
"Yeah I did say that. I wanted to join so no one can live without their parents again from these crazy wars we are having with the neighboring city states like Wutai and terrorist groups like AVALANCHE," Squall said.
"Right, nicely said. Well I am off, we are going to have a special guest come in and give the fresh recruits a speech," Quistis said as she goes off leaving Squall behind alone once again.
Squall closes his eyes for he wanted this to be over fast. "Hello, there cutie," another woman's voice who is cheerful unless Quistis's stoic tone. Squall looks up to see a very beautiful young woman around his age who has long dark brown hair matching her chocolate brown eyes. She is wearing a white halter dress fitting her slender figure to approach him with curiosity in her girlish face.
Squall looked confused for this girl is talking to him. "You talking to me?" he asked as the girl sizes him up to see him wearing a sleek black suit.
"Yep, you seem to be the hottest guy here," she said as she stares at his face for Squall moves his gaze somewhere else. "My name is Rinoa, what is your name tall, dark and handsome?" she is flirting with him sporting a bright friendly smile.
"Squall," he said as the music is getting more flared for the couples are dancing in the middle of the hall.
"Hey Squall, we should have a dance together," Rinoa said.
"I can't dance," Squall said trying to get out of it but Rinoa takes his hand to drag him onto the dance floor.
"Oh; come on silly, just follow my lead," Rinoa said as Quistis looks on to have a smile on her face.
"Oh, Squall got himself a pretty one to dance with," she thought as the music blurs into the background with Rinoa and Squall are both engaged in waltz dancing holding their hands together and matching their movements with the music and themselves.
They fall and rise with them becoming quite in sync in their movements as everyone else is checking them out. "Oh, we have a crowd watching us," Rinoa said as Squall wanted to focus on Rinoa's pretty face while they dance away without worry.
Within 10 minutes, they finished with loads of people clapping at their great performance. "Well that was one way of breaking the ice," Squall said.
"Yes, with style," Rinoa said to playfully taking a bow for him.
"So, you part of the defense forces?" he asked.
"No, I am here for a friend who is. I am her guest," Rinoa said.
"Oh, I see," Squall said as Quistis comes over to see Squall enjoying himself.
"So, you are not so gloomy now, guess it worked," Rinoa said with a big grin as Squall's face turned to a smile as well.
"Well you seem to be having fun," Quistis said in a playfully manner.
"Is she your girlfriend?" Rinoa asked.
"No, she is my combat teacher," Squall said.
"Yes, I am his teacher and I am happy to see he hooked up with a pretty girl," Quistis said.
"Oh, he got a keeper," Rinoa hugs him tight as Squall looks embarrassed by this.
"I didn't agree to this," Squall said as Rinoa holds onto his arm tighter.
"Well you can't shake me off that easily big guy," Rinoa said as Squall just rolls with it for he did like the girl.
"Oh; the guest is here to give a speech," Quistis said as there is a tall silver haired man clad in black and a very long sword on his hip,
"Sephiroth, the top Soldier and Ansem the Wise's golden boy," Rinoa said as Squall looks onto to feel his power even from a distance.
"He is impressive," Squall said as Sephiroth grabs the microphone for his calm voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Recruits, I will make this speech short. We have troubles ahead for Radiant Garden, we have threats coming from all sides. Like Wutai, terrorists and the dark creatures called the Heartless, we must combine our strength to fight for our world and keep it safe," Sephiroth said as everyone clap their hands for his straight to the point speech with Sephiroth continuing
"I have faith that with your help weeding out these problems. Soldier can't do this alone; the Defense Forces like you all are necessary to protecting this world from all threats external and internal. Go forth recruits and make us proud," Sephiroth said as he finished his speech to go on his way.
"He is a ray of sunshine," Quistis said dryly.
"Everyone has to do their part to save Radiant Garden from this crazy nightmare," Squall said.
"I will wish you luck, I wonder would you like to go on a date with me?" she asked pointing her slender finger at her face with a smile.
"Sure, why not. Could be fun," Squall said as Rinoa pokes him on the nose.
"Great, let's enjoy the rest of the day," Rinoa said as they enjoy the rest of the night.
-Flashback Ends-
"I got to save her from Drake's hold, I must save her," Leon said as he sees Celes coming in with a message from Hope.
"Leon, Hope found a Keystone's location in the Wonderous Valley," Celes said.
"Okay, time to find this thing," Leon said as he goes with Celes to see Umiko and the others coming in with Faris and Lenna. "So, you are our newest recruits. I am Leon, the leader of our little group," Leon said to shake hands with Faris who is out of her pirate outfit to be in a blue tunic with white leggings and brown boots along with her long purple hair let loose.
"Good to meet you, I hoping to bust up some Heartless and the bastards that kill off my homeworld," Faris said.
"Well sit back and relax here in the 7th Heaven. Lightning and Minfilia will ease you into our ranks. Riku, you ready to go on another mission?" Leon asked.
"Yeah, I am good. You are going after the last Keystone," Riku said.
"Yes, you, me, Celes, Locke, Terra and Hope will go on this one," Leon said.
"Good luck Riku and Leon, keep the others alive," Umiko said as they both nodded. Terra comes in to give Riku a big hug.
"Riku, you came back," Terra said to kiss him on the cheek.
"Yeah, we manage to find one of the Keystones and now its time to get the last one," Riku said.
"Oh right, we need to meet Hope at the ruins in the valley," Terra said as she, Terra, Leon and Celes place up Locke to go into Riku's gummi ship to head for the world of Wonderous Valley.
Within the gummi ship, Leon looks onto an old ring in his hand with Riku coming into the room. "Hey Leon, we are going to hit the world in 30 minutes," Riku said as he sees the scarred face man deep in thought at the ring. "Something wrong, oh great leader?" Riku asked in a joking manner for Leon snaps out of his daze.
"Oh Riku, you are here. I didn't see you there," Leon said to hold the ring tightly.
"What are you looking at?" Riku asked.
"Oh; this was a promise ring, I gave another one to Rinoa a long time ago," Leon said.
"She was your girlfriend in the past right?" Riku said.
"She still is, when I found out about Rinoa being alive. I was first confused and then happy, I thought I lost her during the Heartless Invasion. Now I can get a second chance to free her from Drake's hold," Leon said.
"Well we all lost something to those monsters. You know I had a crush on Kairi once," Riku said as Leon look on with interest at this sudden change in topic.
"How so?" he asked.
"Well Kairi was so mysterious and came to our islands out of the blue. It was more curiosity turning into fascination, There was something about her that was special that you can't ignore," Riku said.
"Yeah that sounds like Rinoa all over again. With Kairi being a Princess of Heart and Rinoa being powerful Witch," Leon said.
"Yep but I knew that Kairi only had eyes on Sora. On that beach, they made an unbreakable connection. Their hearts were destined to be intertwined with each other and with that Paopu Fruits they shared, it's made official," Riku said.
"I see, on that day within the ballroom. I felt the same way about Rinoa, I never felt more comfortable with someone before," Leon said to look deep at the ring. "Now you are interested in Terra who is also quite mysterious as well," he said.
"Yeah, she is different," Riku said.
"Indeed, keep her close or she will disappear without you knowing it," Leon said.
Elsewhere Terra is talking with Celes and Locke within the living room. "Well how is your love life with the silver haired wonder boy?" Locke asked lightly to make the young woman blush.
"Oh, it is going well," Terra said sounding sheepish.
"Don't put her on the spot like that Locke," Celes said coolly.
"Just curious," Locke said.
"So; Terra, did you and Riku make it official yet?" Celes asked with Terra looking meek about it.
"Not yet but I will soon before we head off to fight Drake," Terra said to hang her head.
"Well you better do it soon, Riku is a handsome young man there will be other women seeking him out," Celes said as Terra felt her heart skip a beat at the thought of Riku being with another woman.
"I know," she said as Locke changes the subject.
"I can't wait to go into those sweet ruins. There is going to be a bunch of treasure, I can taste it in my bones," Locke said to lean back into his chair just imagining the goodies locked up in the ruins.
"Gee, you sound like a thief to me," Riku joked to come into the living room as this offended Locke.
"Oh gee, I am a Treasure Hunter, not a thief. There is a clear difference," Locke said to insisting on the idea.
"Sure; there is," Riku acting dismissive of this to sit beside Terra. "We are getting close to the world soon," Riku said.
"Hey Riku, how long did you know Umiko for?" Locke asked.
"Oh, I have been with her for over two years now. I became her latest student helping me use the Keyblade's power," Riku said.
"I see, you mention you fought your dark clone right?" Locke asked.
"Yeah Dark Riku or he calls himself Shadow now. He can wield a Keyblade now and is working with a new master. I need to find him before he can do more damage," Riku said.
"Feeling your dark side," Locke looks at the Phoenix Magicite on the back of his hand feeling her power flowing through him. "I know what you mean, more than you can imagine," Locke said as his cheerful tone dimmed looking at the Esper.
"Leon is pretty bummed out by the lose of Rinoa," Riku said.
"I can relate, we all loss someone quite important," Locke rubs the Phoenix Magicite tenderly. "Oh Rachel, I am coming for you soon," Locke said as Celes looks at Locke to be worried about him despite her cool demeanor.
"You sure this would work? You been looking for that Magicite for awhile now?" Celes asked as her professional tone break for a moment to place his hand on Locke's.
"It has too, I need to know if its worth it or not," Locke said as Riku looks on with confusion.
"Am I missing something?" Riku asked.
"Well I will tell you later after this mission is done," Locke said as they get close to the world.
On top of a building Angel aka Rinoa is looking at the sky in wonderment. "Angel, do you see anything that looks like the stones?" her leader said on her earpiece.
"No sir, it's not here in this area. There are more ruins, I'm going to seek them out, it will be found Master Drake," Rinoa resumes the search for she summon Heartless to swarm the buildings.
"Rinoa, we got trouble on the horizon. You found that stone yet?" Seifer asked on the radio.
"Yeah but I have to open these doors. Keep me posted," Rinoa said.
"Copy that," Seifer cuts off the radio for he utters a devilish smirk for him to head off. Rinoa pulls out her wings from her back to take flight to see over the area with her own Gunblade in hand.
"Squall, I can sense you. Come to me for it is fate we are together again," Rinoa said.
Soon enough the five exit out of the gummi ship via warp point to be nearby a group of ruins for they see a young man in his early 20s sporting short silver hair and green eyes. He is wearing a long-sleeved yellow and white coat with a light blue necktie, gray pants and black boots,
"Ah you guys have come. You must be Riku, I am Hope Estheim. Please to meet you, Light told me about you and your friends Sora and Kairi," Hope said.
"You found the Keystone?" Leon asked as Hope nods his head.
"Yes, I can detect the energy deep within the ruins. Follow me," Hope said as they go into the nearby ruins to descend into the depths.
Within the Leon's own mind, he remembers the times he and Rinoa had gone onto date deep within their year long relationship.
-Flashback Begins-
Within the biggest park in Radiant Garden, Squall is now 17 years old just becoming an officer in the Defense Forces. He is sitting on a bench waiting for his girlfriend to arrive with him listen to his MP3 player as he pat his jacket pocket holding something quite important.
"Hey there handsome, sorry I was running a bit late," Rinoa said to tap his shoulder for Squall looks behind him to see the petite young woman wearing a simple white sundress fitting her slender frame and her long brown hair kept loose dancing against the wind.
"You look beautiful," Squall said looking dumbfounded by her beauty and losing his serious demeanor. Rinoa giggles at this to see he is sporting a goofy expression.
"You look so silly," Rinoa said as Squall relax and shares in her laughing.
"I guess so," he said as the young woman sports a blush on her white colored face and put her skinny arm around his own.
"Thanks, I look only this good for you. Come on, we got to set up this picnic for our date," Rinoa said to hold a basket of goodies for the day.
"Let's go," Squall said as they go through the big park to see families having fun, children playing on swings, couples enjoying their company and people walking their pets.
"This is so nice. Speaking of nice, you are looking pretty sharp today," Rinoa said as Squall is wearing a white shirt with a black leather jacket along with black jeans and grey sneakers.
"Not as nice as you," Squall flirted as Rinoa's cheeks feel warm at his sweet comment.
"You know how to treat me well, Squall," she said with big blue eyes filled with longing for him.
"Just speaking the truth," he said as the wind is getting harsher with Rinoa's skirt brushing against the wind.
"Man, it's very windy out here," Rinoa said with her thin arms raised above her head.
"Yeah, it's like that sometimes," Squall said as he looks to see Rinoa's skirt is about to get blow up but he grabs the helm of it to pull it down. "Oh boy, that was close," he said.
"Oh thanks, always the gentlemen. I don't want some pervy weirdo getting panty peeks," Rinoa said to kiss him on the cheeks to pull out a blanket to lay it out on the grass. The couple sits down as she pulls out a fruit salad in a large container, some cold strawberry juice in a bottle and handmade BLT sandwiches.
"You made all this?" Squall asked.
"Yep, all freshly made by yours truly," Rinoa said as Squall grabs a BLT and takes a bite out of it. A smile creeped up on Squall's face with Rinoa's face brightening up to see her boyfriend's rare smile.
"This is delicious," he said as his taste bubs are going wild.
"I knew you would like it," Rinoa said.
"Yo, nice seeing you guys here," a husky voice said as Rinoa and Squall see his senior members of the Defense Forces Sazh Katzroy and Barret Wallace along with a newcomer who is a brown skinned Miqo'te with white hair, white car ears and a white furry tail.
"Hey there Barret, who is that?" Squall asked about the Miqo'te woman.
"I am Y'shtola Rhul, I am here as an advisor to fight the Heartless. After the defeat of the terrorist group, the Heartless are becoming more fierce with their attacks on your fine city," she said with some sort of accent.
"We are taking her to see Ansem the Wise and getting her into our ranks in the Defense Forces. She is very powerful Sorceress who has a lot of experience fighting the Heartless out there," Sazh said.
"Also, good work Squall for getting your promotion. We should go out to the buffet, my treat," Barret said.
"That would be nice, can Rinoa come along too?" Squall asked as Barret has a smirk on his broad face.
"Hey, your old bird can come as well. The more the merrier, we need more good men like you to help defend our homes in these dark times," Barret said.
"Well Squall, we will hook up later. Enjoy your date," Sazh said as the trio go off towards Ansem's castle.
"Good knowing you Squall, hope to see you again," Y'shtola said as they disappear into the distance.
"Interesting people coming here on our little world," Squall said.
"Things are getting crazy lately, after Sephiroth killed the leader of the AVALANCHE. Our energy reactors are safe and we can focus on the Heartless now. With your promotion, we will feel safer," Rinoa said.
"I hope so, anything can happen. That is why I want to give you this," Squall said to pull out a small box from his jacket pocket to reveal two silver rings. Rinoa's brown eyes widen at this surprise.
"Squall, are those promise rings?" she asked.
"Yes, we been together for awhile now and I want us to be committed to each other. What do you say?" he asked as he sees his girlfriend jumping up to hold her. "What is wrong, are you okay?" he asked for Rinoa's tears are of joy.
"I am so happy Squall, I wanted to hear that from you. Yes, of course. I will be yours and yours only," she said as Squall holds her hand to slip the ring on her finger. "Perfect fit," Rinoa said as Squall puts on his own ring to match her own.
"I am your knight Rinoa and I will protect you," Squall said to kiss her hand.
"Thank you, well let's continue our picnic. This is better than I thought," Rinoa said as her chest is burning with pure passion for Squall as they enjoy each other's company,
-Flashback Ends-
Leon looks at his promise ring hanging from his neck for courage floods into his body and heart to find resolute. "I will find you Rinoa and bring you back to us," Squall thought as the ruins are getting dim.
Hope cast a spell to make six balls of light to circle around each of them. "This should help," Hope said as they noticed someone is waiting for them.
"So, you come for me," a familiar voice said as Rinoa appears out of a dark portal to greet them. Leon is stunned to see her truly alive in the flesh but his waves of courage empower him to press onward.
"Rinoa, we am going to save you. Whatever you like it or not," Leon said to wield his Gunblade.
Rinoa gathers darkness into her hand for the portal to react as a massive Heartless Darkside appears before them. "If you want to save me, you have to work for it. Now you all die," Rinoa ordered as the Heartless slam its fist into the floor making it collapse having the six people falling into the hole going deeper parts of the ruins.
Meanwhile Leon is on the dusty floor to see he is alone. "Damn it, anyone there. This is Leon," he said into his radio piece.
"Oh Leon, this is Celes. We are fine together but you are missing," Celes said.
"Well I am fine, we will meet up at the Keystone's location," Leon said.
"Right, meet up later," Celes said to cut off the radio.
Leon walks through the rocky path seeing a large area in view. "Alright the light ball reached here," Leon takes his Gunblade from his back moving inside the temple area seeing the large pictures on the walls etched with images of the Goddess Cosmo and Kingdom Hearts shining about her.
"Interesting, Kingdom Hearts was a gift from the goddess to protect the realm of light from being overcome from the denizens of the Dark Realm," Leon sees images of the Heartless drawn on the wall attacking the people who served the Goddess.
"Squall, long time no see," a voice which made the swordsmen's heart bleed with hate.
"Seifer, how dare you show your face after what you done," Leon draws his weapon with a harsh tone echoing throughout the building as Seifer comes out of the shadows meeting Leon with a cocky grin.
A tall blond haired man appearing the same age as Leon wearing a white trench coat and a black outfit underneath wielding his own Gunblade Hyperion. "I didn't do anything, it was your weakness that cost that woman's fall," he said
"Your betrayal led to that outcome, now where the fuck is she now?!" Leon demanded with his heart on fire for this man.
"If you want to know so badly, defeat this Heartless and find me deeper in the ruins," Seifer rushes away as a large Behemoth Heartless crashes from the ceiling emitting a powerful shockwave knocking Leon around the marble floor.
Leon stops by digging his blade into the floor seeing the beast roar a terrible sound for Leon swing his blade unleashing an energy sickle striking into the Heartless's head. The attack leaves a big wound with black liquid seeping out of it. "Out of my way," Leon leaps away from the Heartless's claw. "Seifer, I'm coming for you," Leon thought
Leon fighting the Behemoth with him severely wounding the beast as the Heartless unleashes a blast of Thundaga showering the area around it zapping Leon several times. Leon is on his knees for he powers up his blade with energy.
Leon leaps away from the claw of the Behemoth and now he sees an opening making his move. "Taste this, Rough Divide," Leon's body explodes with energy as he jumps up and slashes the beast multiple times leaving deep scars across the monster's face making it roar in pain.
Leon jumps forward and uses a powerful upward slash slicing through the Heartless's head for a large pillar of energy to explode into the Heartless destroying its body making it disappear. Leon is on the ground out of breath but continues to move into the next room where the dark portal is.
"What a good show, I should give you a prize," Seifer said sarcastically as he rushes in to engage with Leon parrying his strikes as Seifer fires a fireball from his palms hitting Leon in the chest setting up an explosion knocking him on the ground.
Leon quickly gains his footing as he unleashes energy sickles with Seifer evading the attacks for the sickles cut through pillars. "Face it, you gotten soft Squall," Seifer taunted as Leon isn't pleased with this.
"Don't call me that," Leon slashes at Seifer and knocks Seifer's Gunblade knocked out of his hands with Leon's own Gunblade on Seifer's neck. In the corner, Fujin summons her Chakram and casts a powerful tornado using her Chakram as a catalyst for it tears through the building to slam into Leon.
Leon regains his balance to see Seifer, Fujin and Raijin get into combat stances. Seifer gets back his Gunblade for he prepares himself for a fight.
"We will not go easy on you 'Leon'," Seifer said using his new name in a mocking way.
Leon drinks an Elixir to restore his health and energy to be back in full power. "I will free Rinoa with the help of the others, I will deal with all three of you myself," Leon said as the four clash within the underground ruins.
Elsewhere Riku, Hope, Celes, Locke and Celes are in a large cavern to see Rinoa on top of a building for Riku can sense something isn't right here. "Leon, we found her," Riku said on the radio to hear the echoes of battle within the earpiece.
"Good, capture her and snap her out of it," Leon said.
"I am a servant to my master Drake. Prepare yourselves," Rinoa said as she shoots several fireballs to smash onto the broken buildings. The five manage to avoid her spells with Hope grabbing his boomerang to power it up with magical energy.
"A boomerang, seriously?" Riku questioned as Hope only smiles to toss it around the building Rinoa is standing on top of. Celes and Locke power up from their Magicites and Terra transforms into her Esper form.
Celes summons a wall of ice to block her fireballs to scatter her wall to launch them at Rinoa. "Ice Pulse," Celes gathers cold energy into her sword and fires a beam of ice with Rinoa emitting a barrier to protect herself.
Rinoa is using her Witch powers with her wings spreading out of her back as she gains a big boost in power. "Megaflare," she flings an orb of flames with Terra using her own Megaflare. The two spell collide and cancel each other out with Hope grabbing his flying boomerang to cast his spell.
"Gravity Well," Hope creates a dome of high gravity around the building to entrap Rinoa unable to move.
"Well, that was handy," Riku said taking back what he said before.
"I can use my boomerang to cast area of effect spells for more precision," Hope said with Celes, Locke and Terra coming in to attack the Witch.
"Shiva, lend me your strength. Blizzaza," Celes said as she cast a huge blast of ice to hit Rinoa to get a direct hit causing lots of damage.
"Eat this, Flaming Rave," Locke kicks Rinoa in the chin and let out flame enchanted stabs for he repeatedly thrusting into Rinoa's body pushing her back with each stab until he thrusts both daggers at once to knock her back.
"Firaza," Terra lobs two huge fireballs to pepper the building to reduce to nothing but two large craters that rocked the whole cavern. Rinoa barely manages to survive by using a barrier at the last minute to protect herself.
Rinoa still can fight on with her shooting several Ruinga spells to head for the others. "Runic," Celes absorbs the incoming spells to empower her next spell. "Blizzaza," Celes' spell became even more powerful to smash through all of Rinoa's spells to hit her trapping her in ice.
Riku powers up his Keyblade to toss his weapon Rinoa to hit her with Stop Raid to freeze her in place and breaking her out of her icy prison. "Umiko said she is brainwash but what is the method?" Riku wondered as Rinoa cast Esuna to get rid of the time spell on her.
"Thundaga," Hope is conjuring lightning bolts from the ceiling to keep her off balance.
"Riot Blade," Terra's furry arms glow blight as she swings them unleash a barrage of magical crescents to slice through the caverns. Rinoa gets hit several times with Terra casting Graviza to hit her with an orb of gravitational energy to pin her to the ground.
"Locke help me with this," Riku said to charge up his next attack.
"You got it kid," Locke said as he powers up from his Phoenix Magicite.
"Dark Aura," Riku goes at lightning speed to dash into Rinoa multiple times from all directions. Riku reappears above Rinoa to slam onto the ground to unleash a pillar of dark pillar to knock the Witch up into the air.
"Nice moves, my turn. Mirage Dive," Locke wielding both of his daggers disappears from view using his sheer speed. Rinoa regains her balance to try fighting back by shooting at him but only hitting afterimages of him instead.
Locke appears behind her as he unleash two powerful slashes to leave critical damage making her fall back onto the rocky floor below.
"Oh; damn it, Curaga," Rinoa uses a healing spell to restore her body back to full health but her bodysuit is wreaked beyond repair. Riku noticed something above her chest which looks like a machine built like the slave collar Terra used to have before.
"Terra, look at that," Riku said as Terra looks at the device imprinted onto Rinoa's chest.
"Yes, that is Magitek alright. Drake is controlling her for sure, I will get it off her," Terra said as a wave of energy knocks them all away with Rinoa empowering her body..
"I am done playing now. I will kill you all now, Ultiga," Rinoa floats high into the air with her angel wings spread and the whole area shakes from her raw power. She conjures a huge ball of blue and green energy and flings it at the five.
"Celes, you got this. Faithga," Hope empowers Celes' magic power by a large amount as Celes raises her blade.
"Runic," Celes' blade glows bright as her blade clashes with the powerful spell to push her back. She manage to absorb the spell into her blade as she sports a small smirk with Rinoa looking dumbfounded by this.
"How is this possible, you manage to take in my most powerful spell," Rinoa is left confused and frighten by this.
"This is impressive," Riku said looking awestruck by this.
"Celes' unique ability. Her Runic attack allows her to nullify any magic spell when it hits her enchanted blade and draws in its power for herself in order to use in her next spell," Hope said.
"Ice Pulse," Celes fires a massive beam of ice with Rinoa using all her power in her barrier but it rips right through it and strikes her down. Rinoa is in sheer disbelief, by this second defeat.
"No, how can I lose again," Rinoa said as her body is suffering sheer cold. Terra goes up to her body to see the device to grab hold of it and use a Thunder spell to let out a powerful shock to destroy it freeing her from Drake's control.
"Leon, we manage to save Rinoa and now she is free from Drake's control," Riku said on the radio with Leon dealing with all three of his opponents at once.
Leon felt a great weight off his chest as he knocks away Seifer's blade with Fujin and Raijin closing in. Seifer delivers a kick to Leon knocking him into an old metal beam as Leon defends against the duo's attacks.
Leon forces them back to fire swarms of fire spells with the others dodging his barrage with Leon leashing out energy crescents at Seifer.
Seifer manages to dodge a few attacks but getting slammed with the last few and the flat edge of Leon's Gunblade slamming into Seifer launching him in the wall.
Leon delivers hard blows with his Gunblade striking Raijin's body repeatedly until Leon uppercuts him into the air and bashing back down to the floor. "Aeroga," Fujin unleashes a wave of wind with Leon leaping over it to kick at Fujin's head to be beside her boss.
"I'm not done yet," Seifer gets back up as he is releasing waves of dark energy ripping through the old machinery blowing them away. Seifer dashes towards Leon shroud with darkness slashing Leon like a maniac and dives his sword into the ground unleashing pillars of darkness causing serious damage.
Leon shoots a fireball with Seifer for him to dodge but Leon shoves him into a metal beam bashing his head into it. He kicks him across the head leaving him on the floor with Leon catching a rushing Raijin in his Gunblade and tosses him into the ground.
Seifer blows them away with a powerful shockwave with Leon jumping over it to clash blades with Seifer. "Squall, like what happened with Rinoa?" Seifer taunting him as Leon pushes Seifer away as he thrusts his Gunblade forward for Seifer to block with his own.
"What did you do to her?" Leon demanded.
"I got a nice little makeover," Seifer pushing Leon's emotional limits as Leon forces back Seifer as he gathers fire energy into his blade and unleash a huge fire twister engulfing Seifer within the fiery maelstrom. Seifer trapped with Leon trading out slashes and blows to further weaken Seifer.
Leon charges up his blade with it extending into a giant sword bursting with power. "This ends now Seifer," Leon slams his weapon into Seifer unleashing a massive explosion rocking the whole underground apart. The attack sends the three flying across the cave for they are severely wounded all three of Seifer's gang.
"Well I guess you are right," Seifer said as the rocky floor collapses with all three of them falling into the darkness below.
Leon looks on from a distance to have another weight taken off his shoulders. "It's over, so over," Leon said as he withdrawn his Gunblade to go further into the ruins to see the others at an altar.
"Hey Leon, look what we got," Locke said to show Rinoa peacefully sleepy clad in a simple white robe.
"Rinoa," Leon said as Riku takes the Keystone off the pedestal.
"Well we got the Keystone and Rinoa is saved. This is a pretty good day," Riku said.
"Indeed, it is," Terra said as Rinoa begins to wake up for Leon looks upon her to see her beauty has not changed despite being the same age like Leon is now.
"Squall, is that you?" she asked in her normally cheerful voice.
"Yes, its me," Leon said as Rinoa pulls him into a deep hug.
"Oh Squall, I missed you so much. Everything before was like a dark haze clouding my mind and now everything is clear again," Rinoa said.
"I am so glad," Leon said to hold the hug.
"Oh Squall, I am here now and we are together again," Rinoa said to show her promise ring still in her finger with Leon putting on his own ring as they share a tender moment.
"So, Leon let's go back home," Riku said as Leon looks at the young Keyblade wielder with a small smile to hold Rinoa in his arms.
"Its Squall, Squall Leonhart. I am Leon no more, let's go," Squall said as they go for into their Gummi Ship to fly off back to Traverse Town.
A/N: Quistis and Rinoa are characters from FF8, Barret is a character from FF7 and Hope being a character from FF13.