15
CHAPTER 15 – RUINS IN THE SNOW
The vast field of flowers stretched on for untold acres in every direction. Innumerable petals of brilliant yellow shone in the beaming midday sunlight, all appearing as if bestowed with a heavenly splendor. It was a breathtaking sight to behold, a rare display of nature's true beauty left undisturbed by man, save for a pair of worn white stone buildings erected in the distance. Laguna sucked in a breath of crisp spring air through his nostrils as he continued to admire the marvelous landscape, now more thankful than ever that he had never been susceptible to pollen allergies. It might very well have been the most tranquil place in the world; at the very least it was beyond anywhere else he had visited thus far in his tenure as a travel journalist, and a perfect locale as any to cap off his career.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been content to take his time, basking in the wonderful scenery for the remainder of the day before taking his leave to write his report. These were far from normal circumstances, however. He realized that for every moment he stood idly by in the midst of such awe inspiring beauty, Ellone remained in captivity, subjected to who knows what kind of treatment from her kidnappers with each passing day. Had only his boss in Timber been as understanding, he would have already been on his way into Esthar with Kiros and Ward at his side. A desperate need for additional traveling money to make the journey comfortably had necessitated he undertake one final assignment. The thought of returning to Winhill to ask Raine to spare some of her own savings had crossed his mind, and yet he could not in good conscience bring himself to do so; he knew that she would undoubtedly need every gil to support herself in his absence. Moreover, he had sworn to her that he would return with their daughter, a promise he intended to keep. To face her again without Ellone at his side would be unacceptable.
Finally tearing his focus away from the wonder before him, Laguna cut across the field of flowers toward the solitary settlement on its rim. Even at a distance, its architecture implied it to be a remnant from the age of the Holy Dollet Empire; its stone pillars were unmistakably reminiscent of the Tomb of the Unknown King outside of Deling City. It appeared to have been long since abandoned, its formerly sterling facade ensnared by thick ivy and overgrowth in the however many years since its construction. He could not guess as to what purpose this quaint hamlet might have served in its time, situated on a lone island so far south of the capital as it was. As he drew closer, he noted the top of a lighthouse poking out over the main building, and realized he was indeed approaching the island's northernmost edge. He had rented a motorboat from the coastal city of Torama roughly thirty miles northeast, coming ashore on the eastern side.
Only as he brought his eyes back down to survey the ground level did he suddenly realize the building was not abandoned after all. A lone woman outfitted in a plain black dress knelt before a quaint garden on the rim of the flower field, tending to the assortment of produce growing within the enclosure. Her long flowing hair perfectly matched her dark, drab attire, the only contrast coming via her slender pale arms. A small wooden basket hung from her left, presently filled with several tomatoes, a single ear of corn, and two heads of lettuce. By the time he had drawn close enough to count, she had taken notice of his approach and raised her head to him. She was quite young, likely in her early-to-mid twenties, green-eyed and remarkably pretty. He halted in his tracks as her mouth furrowed into a frown, and put one arm up to indicate he came in peace.
"Hi," he casually greeted her with a smile. Her frown did not waver.
"Hello," she returned the greeting with an apprehensive tone. She gingerly set her basket down and raised herself from her knees, brushing off the residual dirt from her dress.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," Laguna bashfully apologized, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. "I didn't realize anybody lived all the way out here."
"May I ask what exactly brings you to this island?" she bluntly put forth the question he had been expecting. Laguna lowered his arm and cleared his throat, preparing to put forth the best air of professionalism he could in his explanation. It was very clear to him that this woman was not one who took kindly to unsolicited visitors.
"I'm a travel journalist," he began formally. "I work for a fairly well known publication company, Timber Maniacs. Perhaps you've heard of it?"
"I can't say that I have," she answered frankly, her eyes drifting to the soil beneath her plain black shoes. "But then, it's been so long since I've been back to the mainland, it shouldn't be surprising. My husband is the one who keeps me up to date with everything that's going on in the world, and even then, only when he comes home on his vacations."
Laguna could not help but feel slightly taken aback by her admission. The notion that she had lived for so long confined to this single island was difficult to fathom. Though a part of him had likewise longed to remain in Winhill indefinitely in the time since he had first arrived, it had been a desire wholly contingent on having Raine and Ellone there to come home to every day.
"You mean… you live here all by yourself?" he delicately asked. "That… must get very lonely."
"It does," she affirmed with a sigh.
"To be fair," Laguna quickly fumbled for something to rid the conversation of such a depressing overtone. "If I was surrounded by all this every day, I probably wouldn't want to go anywhere else, either."
"You didn't answer my question," she reminded him, bringing her eyes back up to face his. "Why have you come here?"
"Well… like I said, I'm a journalist. I've been traveling all over for the last year or so, writing articles about all the different places I've been to, and publishing them through Timber Maniacs. Due to some… unexpected family circumstances, I'm going to have to temporarily put my career on hold. The problem is, I'm a little short on funds, so I asked my boss if he could give me my yearly bonus in advance. He told me I have to give him one more article before he'd be willing to make an exception like that, so I had to find somewhere new to cover, fast. I'd never been out to this island before – even though my home's just a couple hours north from the shore on the mainland – and I figured it'd be as good a place as any to wrap things up. And I have to say, it's completely blown my expectations out of the water."
The young woman did not respond immediately, instead appearing to size him up as her gaze flickered over his body. Laguna remained completely still, wondering just what could be going through her head.
"I see," she finally murmured lightly, turning her head away. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but… could you please find somewhere else to write your article about? Suffice it to say, I have my reasons for keeping myself distanced from the mainland, and I just know that having this island publicized will only bring unwelcome attention."
Laguna's tongue caught in his throat as he fought to process the refusal. On one hand, he could sympathize with her aversion to any potential large scale tourism, even if he could not understand why she seemed so intent on self-isolation. It was for that very reason that he had decided against writing an article about Winhill. With Ellone in dire need of rescuing however, and his chances of ever seeing her again slipping away by the day, he could not afford to waste time searching for another locale.
"I can understand why you'd be wary of that sort of thing," he attempted to negotiate. "But I really need to get this assignment finished as soon as possible. This family situation I'm dealing with is a very serious one."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but my answer is final," she brushed his concerns off. She reached down to retrieve her basket of fresh produce and swiveled on her heel to start back to her house.
"I ask that you please respect my wishes. I'm sure the few days it will take you to find some place else won't hurt. Good day, sir."
"Wait!" Laguna blurted out in a frenzy. "Please, I'm begging you! You don't understand! I desperately need to get moving now! I need to find a way into Esthar as fast as I can!"
"Esthar!?"
The woman in black suddenly stopped in her tracks and swung back around at frightful speed. Her face, previously so calm and unfazed, now showed only disbelief.
"Why in the world would you ever want to go there?" she incredulously asked him.
He hesitated before answering, pondering if he truly ought to be divulging something so personal to a complete stranger. It was not for fear that she would tell anyone; her self-admitted devotion to keeping away from the world at large assured him of that, nor did she seem untrustworthy. It was the principle of the matter which he found himself hung up on. Having already carried such hefty emotional baggage himself for the previous two weeks, he did not wish to place it on the shoulders of anyone else without good reason. After a moment's deliberation, he deemed that if there was a possibility it could help convince her to let him write his article about the island, it was worth a chance.
"A couple of weeks ago, Esthar sent a detachment of soldiers to my town. They… they took my daughter away."
"Your daughter!?" the woman repeated hysterically, now wide-eyed with shock. "They… don't tell me… she was taken to be Sorceress Adel's successor, wasn't she?"
"That's what I think, too," he sighed, tilting his head down to his boots. "And I'm determined to get her back, no matter what the cost. That's why I need to get a move on as quick as I can. Who knows what they've been doing to her all this time? I miss her… so, so much. I just wish I could hear her voice again…"
Tears began to well up in his eyes, Laguna only barely finding the strength to keep himself in control of his emotions. He knew if he allowed a single droplet to fall to the ground, so too would he be plunged back into the all-encompassing despair Kiros had managed to snap him out of.
"I… I understand," the woman finally murmured. Laguna craned his neck back up, noticing she too appeared distraught at having learned of his predicament.
"I've always longed to have children of my own. My husband and I have tried before, but… it's just not possible for us. I truly do envy the bond shared between a parent and their child, and can't even imagine just how painful it must be to have it ripped apart at the seams. I'm so sorry."
"I never thought I'd get to know what that bond's like, either," he spoke again, wiping the watery residue from his eyes. "It's strange, really… just a few years ago, I never could've seen myself as a father, or even an adoptive one. I was an unmotivated slacker, the guy who wanted the easy life. All I ever thought about was pursuing my own interests. Living life on my own terms, day in and day out, without any care for the future. But… ever since Ellone came into my life… suddenly I know exactly what it means to love someone unconditionally, and how putting that person's happiness and well-being over your own can really be the most rewarding thing of all. All along, I was looking for something to give my life real meaning, and I found it. I'd do anything for her, as if she were my own blood. As far as I'm concerned, she is!"
He stared into her eyes intensely, feeling his heart begin to pound as a righteous pride flared up inside him. In a sudden flash of intuition, he knew exactly the words this young woman had been waiting so long to hear spoken to her.
"There are far too many orphaned children out there, suffering. I've seen it firsthand plenty of times, back when I served in the army. So, if you really feel like there's a hole in your heart… maybe taking one or two in will give you the fulfillment you're looking for. It was the best decision I ever made, and it's made me the man I am today."
She stood before him in silence, tears now welling in her own eyes. A moment later, it became clear she did not possess the same emotional resilience as he did to hold them back.
"I… I think you might be right," she stammered, the watery trails beginning to streak down her face. "It's been miserable living here all by myself. I've been here for so long… keeping myself shut off from the rest of the world… just letting my life pass by without purpose. But… maybe now I can find that purpose… by making a difference in other's lives."
Laguna smiled contently as she began to wipe away her tears with her free arm. For an instant, he recalled his last night spent with Julia, when she had told him of the inspiration he had given her to follow her dream of becoming a singer. He could only hope he had offered this young lady similar encouragement to pursue her own calling, and likewise reap the fruits of whatever it might bring her.
"I've changed my mind," she finally spoke, a smile of her own taking shape on her lips. "Write as much as you want about this place. Who knows? Maybe by the time word gets around to people… I'll have something to show them when they get here. Thank you so much. You've no idea how much you've helped me today. I really do hope you get your daughter back."
"I will," Laguna affirmed with certainty, flashing her a thumbs up. "And once I do, you can bet I'll bring her here to see the flowers. She'd love it."
The woman smiled, her face radiantly beaming as though she were touched by the same divine gift as the golden field seemed to be.
"I'll be looking forward to meeting her…"
"Man, did I miss these things!"
Squall raised his eyes from the cup of coffee and the remains of his early lunch resting on the cafeteria table. Zell had appeared by his side, presently sinking his teeth into a fresh hot dog smothered with relish and evidently unable to contain his excitement. It was undoubtedly not his first in the week since the Garden had managed to restock on food from their private supplier in Balamb, thought his sheer elation could have easily fooled most. Squall had been thankful moreso for a return to the standard portion sizes he was familiar with, without the need for increasingly sparse rationing among the student body. Although life as they had all known it would likely never be the same again, such a small yet significant return to normalcy was welcome.
"You'd think it was a gourmet meal," he muttered to himself with annoyance.
"Might as well be, the way we've been eating around here up 'till now," he insisted, taking the seat opposite him without waiting for an invitation. "Plus before, when we were undercover, making our way out to Fisherman's Horizon. Really makes you appreciate the little things in life. I can only imagine what it must be like for the new arrivals, after what they've been through."
"Or the survivors at Trabia," Squall quietly concurred. "Provided there are any left at this point."
Fujin and Raijin had reportedly kept to their word with remarkable efficiency; within the span of a single day, Balamb had been completely cleared of any trace of Galbadian occupation. According to the accounts from the SeeDs dispatched to survey the aftermath, the liberated townspeople had already begun celebrating in the streets upon their arrival. The remaining Garden loyalists holed up in the town had likewise come out of hiding, and promptly been shuttled back aboard later that same night along with the first shipment of provisions. If any defectors had remained behind to renege on their newfound knighthood, none dared to admit their short-lived act of treason.
Squall's mind had been fraught with uncertainty during his own squad's trip back to the Garden. Despite his own skepticism, he sincerely hoped that the pair would indeed be able to convince Seifer to turn back from his delusional madness. Whether or not they were successful would largely determine the next course of action for SeeD to take. Should he refuse to come to his senses, would the army be dispatched back to Balamb as quickly as they had vacated? In which case, the question was raised as to which would be the more prudent option: to remain stationary on the small island nation until the time they returned, or to set course for regions unknown in search of the mobile Galbadia Garden.
A third option, and the one which had ultimately been decided upon had been presented to him immediately upon his return. He had been approached by Rinoa and Selphie together, both of whom had pleaded for him to put in a word with the commandant to head north to where Trabia Garden had stood. Regardless as to the latter's affiliation with the academy, he understood that their alliance necessitated that SeeD act accordingly to ensure any survivors were extracted. He had mentioned as much to Xu when he had given her his squad's report, only to learn that it had in fact been the next order of business on the agenda all along. And so, after another two days spent stationed outside of Balamb to finish resupplying, and four more on the ocean bound for the northern continent, the Garden now gently crested across the Bika Snowfield. Its frosty plains passed on by through the cafeteria windows, still coated with snow even in the throes of spring time. The mere sight was enough to cause Squall's body to experience a subliminal chill, thereby making his steaming hot coffee all the more satisfying.
"Must be rough living up here in the winter," Zell observed the frigid scenery as he scarfed down the last of his hot dog. "Even now, it's gotta be uncomfortable without heating. I guess we've just gotta hope those guys were resourceful enough to keep themselves alive this long."
"That's given anybody survived the missiles to begin with," Squall reminded him, recalling the confirmation the White SeeDs had given of the strike's success.
"I just don't get what's going on here," Zell threw his hands up. "So, the sorceress is the headmaster's wife, and helped him establish SeeD in the first place, right? None of us knew anything about her for all these years – or at least I didn't – and now all of a sudden she just up and decides she wants to burn it all down? It doesn't make any sense."
"We didn't know about her," Squall agreed, gripping his coffee cup tighter. "But somehow, that guy did… and I'm convinced Seifer must have, too. It's the only explanation I can think of for how he could throw his entire life away to serve her without any reservations."
"I still think he's been brainwashed," Zell offered his own take. "You saw what happened to everyone else in the square that night."
"I don't think so… he still acts too much like himself. The civilians that night were all practically mindless zombies. He's too self-aware to be just another one of them. When I think about the way he spoke to me in the prison, and based on the story Collin told us… there's got to be something he knows that none of us do. Well, all except one of us."
Irvine had yet to provide the explanation he had promised Squall in Balamb, on the grounds that it was something all in their immediate retinue needed to hear. Though he had begrudgingly accepted the condition in the heat of the moment, he had expected the talk to come within a matter of days at the most. It had already been a full week, with seemingly no attempt whatsoever on the sharpshooter's part to organize such a gathering.
"Yeah, I keep bugging him to tell me what's up on the side," Zell admitted. "He just tells me it's 'not the right time, yet'. The suspense is killing me. Why's he have to be so cryptic about it?"
"Maybe he needs a little incentive," Squall menaced, setting his coffee back down on the table and rising up out of his chair. What little patience he had for Irvine's shiftiness had finally worn out.
"Hey, take it easy!" the blonde rose to meet him. "It's not that big a deal. We're gonna be at Trabia soon, anyway, right? It'll be the perfect opportunity to get everyone together in one place. So, let's just cool it for the moment."
Quickly stifling the temptation to storm out of the cafeteria in search of the sharpshooter, Squall eased himself back down into his seat at Zell's request. He realized that their imminent arrival would indeed be an ideal time to organize their entourage. Moreover, as the newly ordained commandant-to-be, he now more than ever needed to maintain professional composure in front of his subordinates.
"As soon as we're all together on the ground, he's talking," Squall swore.
"Sure thing," Zell acceded to his intentions. "Just do me a favor and try to keep it civil when it happens."
"If you insist," he replied, taking another sip of coffee to calm himself.
"Cool. Oh, and if you'd be willing to do me another… do you think I could borrow that ring of yours?"
Squall resisted the urge to spit all over himself in surprise, fighting to keep the coffee on its intended course down his throat. When he had successfully managed to down it, he shifted his gaze to the ring in question, worn on his left hand resting on the table. The custom-made silver band was adorned with the face of a lion in mid-roar, the very same design as that on the pendant around his neck.
"Why?" Squall asked, his eyebrows raised in confusion.
"It just looks kinda cool," Zell nonchalantly brushed aside his question. "I promise I won't lose it, or anything. Please?"
"Not until you tell me what you need it for," he refused; the blonde's apparent naivete unsettled him, as did the unmistakable air that he was hiding something.
"Oh, come on, just trust me, will ya!? I'm not going to do anything weird or dangerous with it. I promise I'll give it back in a few days, good as new. So, just humor me this once, alright?"
He intuitively knew that Zell was up to no good, and that he ought to simply ignore whatever shenanigans he needed his ring to achieve. Knowing full well how relentlessly pestering he could be however, and that it was in fact only a minuscule piece of jewelry he was asking for, he reluctantly brought his hand up, and slipped the ring off of his finger into the palm of his right.
"I want this back with not so much as a scratch on it," he explicitly warned as he extended his arm out across the table.
"No problem," Zell beamed, catching it in his gloved hand as it was dropped from Squall's grasp. Rather than sliding it onto one of his own fingers, he instead placed it into a pocket on the fore of his jacket and pulled the zipper to ensure it would not fall out.
"Thanks, man," he grinned, rising from the table to take his leave as abruptly as he had strolled up. "Well, I've got some stuff to take care of before we arrive. I'll see ya when we touch down, I guess."
First Selphie, then Irvine, and now him… I am getting so sick of people keeping secrets from me…
It was less than two hours before the devastated Trabia Garden finally came into sight. The destruction had been visible from the command bridge well before Balamb Garden had begun its landing procedure. The demolished and charred remains of the looming academy towered above all else in its vicinity, the shards of its shattered flotation ring appearing to be stuck into the snowy earth all around. Its dimensions were comparatively smaller to its Balamb and Galbadian counterparts by Squall's estimation, though no doubt had still played host to a student body numbering in the thousands. It was obvious to all that the number had been utterly decimated, though with the aid of a set of binoculars, he had managed to glimpse a reasonably large gathering of tiny specks scatter all over the premises at their approach.
Satisfied to learn that there were indeed survivors left for them to rescue, he had followed Xu's lead back down the elevator and to the parking garage. The outgoing first-response team had assembled as they had been ordered to over the intercom, and begun piling into their designated transports, the tires of each freshly equipped with snow treads so as to better traverse the surrounding terrain. Squall's usual entourage stood among them, all outfitted in their formal Garden attire; whether it were for the sake of professionalism or simply a means to better keep themselves warm, he could not tell. Even Irvine was dressed in a standard blue cadet uniform, having been abdicated to him in lieu of having no other clothes besides those he had appropriated at Fisherman's Horizon. He caught sight of Selphie as she filed into her vehicle, and noticed her face had taken on a dour look unlike any she had shown before.
This is going to be one of the hardest days of her life…
Once all of the operatives had boarded their assigned transports, the motorcade swiftly rolled out of the garage and across the snowy plains. Seated in the passenger side of the commandant's leading vehicle as he was, Squall watched as the wide ring of scorched earth drew ever closer through the windshield. Though he had never visited Trabia Garden before, he could imagine its surroundings had been quite picturesque before tragedy had struck. The charred and splintered remains of dense forestry dotted the outer rim of the academy, bisected by the jagged and cracked roadway leading through. The transport jerked and lurched every which way as its treads painstakingly fought to surmount each and every crag along the way.
Before long, the ruined arched gateway leading onto the premises came into view. A congregation of survivors, all outfitted in matching grey cadet uniforms akin to Balamb's blue variant stood beneath, weapons drawn to form an impassible roadblock. The sole exception came by way of a lone, dark haired and middle-aged man standing at the fore, outfitted in what must have at one time been an elegant robe; its color had become faded with the accumulation of so much grime, wrinkled and evidently having gone without a proper cleaning for an extensive time. Xu gradually began to brake as they closed the gap, and finally came to a complete stop before the apprehensive crowd. Squall threw open the passenger-side door and followed her out onto the ruined roadway, just as the motorcade to their rear slowed to a halt and put their respective vehicles in park.
"Commandant Xu Adrastia of SeeD, at your service," she loudly introduced herself to the crowd, offering up the familiar salute. "We're terribly sorry about how long it's taken for us to make our way up here, but rest assured, we're ready and willing to assist in whatever way we can."
The restless murmuring among the gathered Trabia cadets swelled in volume, seemingly comprised of equal parts relief and unease. Appearing to take her at her word, most began the process of holstering, sheathing, or otherwise stowing away their weapons. As Squall momentarily craned his neck back over his shoulder to see his fellow SeeDs and cadets emerge from their transports to join the gathering, the robed man opposite them predictably stepped forward to meet Xu.
"Headmaster Dodonna," he cordially introduced himself with a handshake. "It's quite alright. I understand Balamb Garden must have had its own share of struggles over this last month. Please, forgive us for the less than warm welcome just now. When we first saw you coming this way in the distance, we thought… well, we'd gotten word in about the sorceress' takeover of Galbadia Garden, and how it's been somehow mobilized. I could hardly believe it when I first heard it, but to actually see such a thing firstha-"
"Ami!"
Squall spun on his heel in the direction of the cry. Selphie raced forward across the cragged roadway, paying little heed whatsoever to her footing. She stumbled several times, yet largely managed to maintain her speed all the while. A second girl from the Trabia side yelped her own name in return, and likewise sprinted forward to meet her friend. The two collided in the middle just several feet from Squall's side, and wrapped each other in a tight embrace. Under usual circumstances he would have found himself wincing in disgust at the girl's lack of professionalism in such a situation. As the two remained locked in their hug however, he understood it was only a natural reaction. This was her home, and to see a close friend safe after such a horrifying ordeal would surely carry the same emotional resonance for anyone. It was the same for him when he had discovered the missile base infiltration team had indeed survived.
You're sure as hell never going to see me give any hugs, though…
"Perhaps it would be best if we discussed these matters somewhere more private," Xu suggested aloud. "I'm sure all of the transfer students would appreciate some time for catching up. Wouldn't you say so, Leonhart?"
Squall's focus shot back around to the commandant and Trabia's headmaster. He solemnly nodded in agreement, and waited patiently as the two promptly gave their respective factions leave to mingle and provide assistance where needed. Both parties began to disperse and trail off in all directions. Some gathered around the parked vehicles to chat, others started inward through the arched entrance to the ruined campus. Dodonna beckoned Xu and Squall to follow his lead onward, which the two were quick to oblige. Although he had assumed the commandant's mention of moving their discussion elsewhere would have implied a return to Balamb Garden, where the two headmasters would be at leisure to speak with one another, his curiosity as to the state of the premises had been piqued all the same.
"I assume the casualty figures must have been catastrophic," Xu raised the all-important question as they passed on through and started ahead toward a small ruined courtyard.
"It could have been far worse," the headmaster spoke with a dour look on his face. "Some of our scouts stationed out west on the Hawkind Plains spotted the missiles en route here, and sent us a transmission as quickly as they could. We ordered an evacuation as soon as we got the word, but… well, it just wasn't enough time. We managed to get maybe a little less than half of the student body clear of the blast radius."
Casting his gaze all around as he listened, Squall took in the ghastly state of the ruined Trabia Garden. Legions of small tents had been erected all across the expanse of scorched earth, trailing onward to the demolished fountain set before the collapsed entrance to the academy. Untold numbers of students bearing both Trabia and Balamb uniforms ducked between them, carefully maneuvering their legs over all manner of debris scattered and embedded into the ground. A series of far larger tents had been erected on the far end of the camp, which he assumed to be the kitchen and mess hall based on the number of people presently entering and exiting. He imagined the current lay of the land to be of a similar persuasion to what Collin had told him of his days spent on the Balamb waterfront, albeit on a far wider scale, and in the midst of conditions far less hospitable.
"The government in Trabia has offered us all the support they can give," Dodonna continued. "After the dust finally settled, we gathered up all the wounded to the best of our ability, and had as many as we could shuttled off to the hospital in the city. We moved the rest to what's left of the gymnasium; it was just about the only building on the premises with much of roof still intact. The number of deaths since then far outweighs the amount who have recovered. Rather than working to rebuild our home, the healthy students have been spending most of their days digging fresh graves to add to our ever growing cemetery."
"We'll take aboard as many wounded as we can and set them up in our infirmary," Xu promised him. "As for the rest of your student body, I'll have to speak with Headmaster Cid to determine just how many we can reasonably bring with us. It's highly unlikely we'd be able to comfortably house everyone here."
"I wouldn't dream of imposing on you to such an absurd degree," he clarified for them. "In fact, my only request for the moment is that you stay here to assist us in the coming battle."
"Battle?" Squall repeated, stopping in his tracks.
"Indeed," Dodonna sighed heavily. "It has become clear that the sorceress will not stop until she has conquered every last refuge of free civilization to exist. Dollet has fallen, and it seems she has now turned her eye to the north. My scout regiments to the west have been keeping me informed of the army's current movement. Galbadia Garden was last sighted moving due north on the continent, headed toward Shumi Village. Once they have finished there, Trabia will surely be next. It may only be a matter of days, perhaps a week. We stand as the last line of defense, but with our numbers so vastly decimated, there's simply no way we can hope to fend them off on our own.
"Then it falls to us," Squall declared on the spot. "If we combine our forces, there may be a chance that we can halt their advance. It's a long-shot, but it might be our only shot. If we fail, there won't be another army with the manpower or training to stand in their way, especially against the magic of the sorceress. We need to make sure it ends right here."
He looked to the Trabia Garden headmaster for approval, finding his eyes had widened in surprise at the emboldened assertion. It was only then he that realized just how brashly he had spoken aloud his thoughts, and how he had likely even undermined the commandant's authority in the process. He awkwardly turned his head to Xu at his side, and hastily stammered to correct his lapse in judgment.
"T-That is… if the commandant deems such action necessary."
"You just about took the words right out of my mouth," she smirked to him with satisfaction, before turning back to Dodonna. "Apologies, sir. This is my protege, the next in line for the rank of commandant. And it sounds like he's antsy to up and take over already."
Squall cast his eyes downward in embarrassment, unable to believe just how frequently he had been placing his foot in his mouth as of late.
"Well, he's certainly got the right spirit," the headmaster continued with the teasing. "So, I take it that means you'll help us?"
"All decisions of this magnitude need to be cleared with Headmaster Cid first," Xu explained. "But I'm going to just come right out and say, consider it done. First things first, let's start by getting all the wounded we can aboard the Garden. We'll then begin formulating our battle plan, putting weapons into the hands of any Trabia students without them, and setting up a perimeter."
"Excellent!" Dodonna clapped his hands together. "I'll go tell the attendants in the gymnasium to get a move on it. If you could send some of your vehicles around to the side entrance to assist, we can get started right away. Thank you so very much."
The headmaster took his leave with a gracious bow, turning and starting across the ruined courtyard in the direction of a large derelict building in the distance. Squall turned back to Xu once again, feeling obliged to follow up on apologizing for his previous show of disregard.
"Sorry about that," he guiltily muttered. "I didn't mean to step on your toes like that."
"Tact is the last thing to be hung up on in a situation like this," she told him bluntly. "Decisiveness is what we need right now. You were right when you said there's no other army that can stand a chance, especially now that they've got their very own regiment of GF users. This is going to be the fight of our lives, the one we've been training all this time for, even if we didn't know it. SeeD's last stand against the sorceress."
Squall listened in silence, only then fully understanding the true severity of the matter. Should they succeed in fending off the Galbadian army's advance and bring Edea's reign of terror to an end, they would in fact fulfill the very aspiration the organization had been founded so long ago to carry out. History would remember their collective bravery for centuries to come, if not longer. Should they fail however, the sorceress' conquest would continue unabated, spreading across the globe until before long Ellone would have nowhere left to run to. Squall still had no clue as to what Edea sought to achieve by exploiting her mysterious gift, but knew he could not allow it to come to pass.
"We all need to be sure we're mentally prepared to face this head on," Xu continued. "Without any reservations or regrets. It's a leader's responsibility to make sure their subordinates remain focused and ready for anything in times of great stress. So, 'Commandant' Leonhart… do you know anyone in your immediate circle who might need that kind of support right now?"
Squall knew exactly what she was alluding to before she had even popped the question.
"Permission to take my leave, Commandant?" he saluted.
"Granted. Make me proud."
