A/N: What? I had another writers block thing.

Chapter Six

We had formed teams due to Squall's 'logical' thinking. Quistis had to get invisibility, why I had no clue, so she was on that team. She had stated that the only way to beat the Bogies was with magic, so Rinoa was going to use her magic against them. Selphie is highly skilled in healing, so she was our medic for the other people out there. So, what about the rest of us? Raijen and Irvine were going to help Selphie. Squall and Fujin were going to help Rinoa. I was happily with Quistis, but then again, Zell was along for the ride.

There was one problem, which I had just thought up as team one, Squall's team, was heading out. "Question!" I yelled out.

Squall turned angrily towards me. "What?" Rinoa asked with her innocent doe eyes.

"How the hell are we going to attack them if we can't even see them?" Quistis hung her head, looking out the small cover. People soared around as if float was cast upon them.

"That's it!"

I turned to look at Quistis. "What's it?" Irvine asked.

"Aim for the students that are in the air." Squall shook his head, walking quickly over to her. "It's the only way to spot them out. Aim off of the students."

"It actually is the only way," I said, standing up for her. She turned to look at me, smiling softly. "We'll just have to aim higher." Zell nodded along.

"Use Water so it drenches them. That way, we can still spot them!" For once, I actually agreed with Zell. Squall sighed and nodded his head.

"Rinoa, do you have a good enough," Squall started to say before he was interrupted by his love.

She sighed softly, lifting up her arm. "I did not practice six years with this and not have good aim, Squall!" Suddenly, she bounded out from under the stage, followed by Fujin and Squall. Selphie smiled at us and raised up her thumbs.

"Quistis, will you tell us why you need this spell as soon as we're done?" she asked quickly.

Quistis smiled and shrugged a bit. Selphie soon giggled and bounded out the stage. "Do I get a kiss for good luck?" Irvine asked Quistis.

"No, but how about a nice slap?" she said smugly.

He left, and it was down to the last group. I turned towards Quistis, eyeing her softly. She pulled out her whip softly, the chains and leather tickling my fancy. I quickly shook the thought away as she slipped part of her whip into my belt hook on my pants. "Well, Quisty, I always knew you were a freaky little girl."

Zell quickly stood up for her. "For your information, this is to keep us together. If you were paying attention rather than stripping Quistis with your eyes!"

"Listen little man, it's called a joke so fuck off."

Quickly, Quistis came in between us. "Stop it!" I looked at her as she looped her whip into her belt hook as well. Then she did the same to Zell. "This way, we won't get separated and no one gets hurt."

I smirked my evil grin and looked down at Zell. "That is if short man can keep up." He glared at me and raised her fist at me. "Anyway, why do you want this so badly, Quistis?"

"For reasons I'm not going to tell you," she snapped. I rolled my eyes and pulled the group out. When we stepped out there, it was pure and senseless horror. People were thrown and tossed around like rag dolls. People were decapitated, their heads floating around like mindless ghouls. I was disgusted and terrified. "Quistis?" There was no response. "How dangerous are these things?"

She was silent for a while. "They're usually just pranksters."

Zell laughed softly. "You call this a prank? Hyne..."

I slowly felt a tug and as I turned around, I saw Zell floating in mid-air. "Zell?"

Quistis turned around as well, and leapt back. "Zell!"

He looked around, horror etched across his face. "Help me!" he screeched loudly. The Bogy's giggle echoed into our minds. I decided to take action and yanked down on Quistis' whip. Quickly, we felt a cold air pass through us. It was Quistis' smart thinking to cast fire on the beast. It lit up into flames the disgusting and large body seen. I gasped loudly, shocked at the hideous face. "Quistis, hurry up and draw!" I heard Zell shout. She nodded and a green mist surrounded her. We saw a white circle float towards her and she gasped at the feeling. We both waited for her to say anything.

Slowly she began to lift into the air, her whip snapping off of us. Her once cold, ice like eyes now glittered with fire. Zell and I looked around, the group no where in sight. I stepped closer to Zell, quickly fastening the whip with his end of the whip. She spun around, flames crawling up her body. She had a menacing look upon her face. The once invisible Bogies were now lighted as she spun slowly around, the flames trapping her.

An evil cackle filtered the air. I stepped back as I realized it was from my love. She settled into the ground, her blonde hair now flames, her eyes now rubies, her skin tanned. "Fools," she spitted out. "Did you really believe Quistis was that stupid?"

Zell and I turned to look at each other. "Who...are you?" I asked.

"Quistis, this isn't funny," Zell muttered.

Silently, she grinned and raised her finger. The once full of screaming air now still. I knew what was going on. I knew exactly what was going on. I stepped back, pulling Zell with me. "Run!" I finally screamed. I spun around running, dragging Zell behind me. Soon, an inferno circled us, blocking off our only escape path. I looked around as the chrome glittered flames across each wall. I turned around, facing the strange fire devil.

"My name is Pyralis." I stepped away from the inferno, staring deep into her eyes. "I am the Evil Spirit of Fire."

"Where's Quistis!" Zell shouted. She laughed evilly. "What have you done with her!" I quickly covered his mouth.

She cackled and flames spurted from her nails. "Quistis is being used as our...messenger to the world." I growled softly, her flames dancing in my green eyes. "Don't sass me, boy! It's your own fault for putting that into her possession."

Quickly, Zell hooked onto the collar of my neck. "What did you give her!"

"Back off! I just gave her a crystallized, peach colored rose!" I pushed him away and again, Pyralis cackled. I could feel the heat of her fiery body pulse against mine.

"That crystallized rose is not just any rose you ignorant fool!" I turned and looked at her. "That rose has been around since the day of Hyne! It was the first living thing in this world, and the owner is the last to die!"

I stepped over to her, but quickly I felt the heat pulsing from her. "Then let me take her place!"

Zell gawked at me. Pyralis cackled evilly again. I glared, unknowing of what I had stirred. "We like her. She's feisty and has Blue Magic."

"Touch her and die!" Zell shouted. He truly did feel for her, just as I felt for her.

"Oh, is that a challenge little boy?" I finally decided to show, prove, and honor Quistis.

"Listen, bitch!" She flew back some. "He's more of a man than you'll ever know! We're up for the challenge if you promise Quistis will not be harmed!"

I was finally going to prove to everyone that I was as noble as Squall. She grinned. "Fine. You'll meet up with my sisters later on in this quest. If you're able to make it to our fortress and defeat us all, we'll give you the rose and Quistis' life."

I nodded. "I want this is writing," I gritted through clenched teeth."

She grinned and snapped her fingers. A burst of flames blew up in front of my face. "Sign on the dotted line, boys. It won't burn you." I nodded and wrote my name in the air with my fingers. She was right, it didn't burn. Zell followed my example and sighed softly. Quickly, the flame scroll rolled up and dissipated in the air. "By the way, it shall just be you two since you are so brave," she said with bitterness. "You'll meet up with my sister, Nen, sooner than you think."

With those last words, flames cascaded up into the heavens. I slowly untied the broken whip and tossed it to the ground. I saw the people I knew since I was little run up to us. "Are you two ok?" Rinoa asked. "Who was the flame woman?"

"We'll explain everything in the Ragnarok," Zell mumbled.

I sighed and decided to give them a taste of the story. "Let's just say, we're going on quite a quest."

I was finally going to live up to my dream to save the woman I love, to be her knight in shining armor, to risk my life to save the world.





A/N: It's about time for a little bit of action! The story about the rose will progress! Trust me, this is getting better by the minute! And we're no where near the climax! ~cackles~