Zell looked around at the amount of people around Trabia and shook his head in amazement, he knew that there were over three thousand training to be SeeDs in various gardens but seeing them all together in one place gave him pause. He looked across at Delta and smiled ruefully. 'I guess this is well over half of your students?' He asked and she shook her head as she stared at the rows of people wearing red bands, most were tied up, two or three were sobbing quietly. A few of the more serious cases who had been caught in the crush had been taken across to see Dr Kadowaki in Balamb garden. One poor girl had been trampled to death in their frantic rush to get into Trabia.
'They are over half of Trabia's population yes, but Trabia isn't mine anymore. I gave it up. I want to be a regular SeeD again.' Zell looked across at her and sighed with a nod.
'I guess it's up to you, who are planning to have replace you?' She glanced at him.
'Well, in the future I was planning on ceeding it to Roo. But I wouldn't give it to her right now, she can handle the clean up afterwards. Right now, you seem to be doing okay.' He stared at her with narrow eyes, she made every pretence of not seeing him.
'Oh please you aren't serious.' He said to her.
'Serious about what?' A playful voice came from behind him, he turned in shock and threw his arms around the woman behind him. 'Ow... Zell... Zell! I need air.' Rinoa cried out, when he let go she began surruptiously rubbing her ribs.
'What are you doing here?' He asked.
'What you think if you were in trouble we'd not come? We don't trust you enough to extricate yourself from a situation.' She said with a laugh and wink.
'Funny Rinoa... Where's Squall I really need to talk to him.' She bit her lip and then shrugged.
'Me and Quisty sent him and Seifer to go and retreive Selphie.' Zell didn't know which bit of that news he should deal with first, the fact that he was going to save Selphie or the fact that Seifer was with him. 'We figured that, them both being sorceress' knights at one point or another then it was probably the best combo.' Zell felt the colour drain from his cheeks.
'Rinoa, he's not that kind of soceresses knight. He has powers, he could control the minds of half of Trabia, over half! I thought you had a plan... He's in danger.' It was Rinoa's turn to go pale. 'Where are they?' She opened her mouth but she couldn't speak, Zell spotted Quistis and sprinted over to her. 'Squall, Seifer, where are they.... where did you send them?'
'Selphie was being held in Shiva's cave.' She said to him.
'Damn, you set minimal guard on the prisoners, then move everyone off towards the cave, I expect you to have everyone ready within the next ten minutes!' He looked around. 'Jill, you're with me. Move girl.' With that he was gone and Quistis stared at him and the willowy black haired girl that sprinted after him. He began harrying people to get ready to go into battle.
'And he thinks he's not fit to be a leader.' A dark haired woman said next to her. 'I'm Delta Wistanley.' Quistis could only nod in bemusement.
*
Squall skidded to a stop and Seifer beside him. The man sitting next to Selphie had his gunblade at her throat, she was looking at him and she smiled. He couldn't believe it, even at this juncture she trusted him to get her out of this mess. 'Let her go.' He said to the man who began to laugh.
'No.' He said with a grin. 'Why is it that you think I will listen to you? We haven't exchanged customary threats yet.'
'Oh god, Squall please kill him, I can't stand any more of his smart arse comments.' Selphie said with a groan, Badier slapped her round the head, being careful not to slit her throat by accident.
'Well, you're looking decidedly more healthy than when we last saw you.' Seifer told her.
'Enough cure spells will do that to you.' She said weakly. 'But you know there's this little slice I have through my stomach, it's kind of a pain, but you know, no rush.' She narrowed her eyes. 'What are you doing here?' Squall saw the look on Badier's face.
'What do you want?' He asked Badier.
'Apart from you to die? I'll let you know at another point in time, it's more fun to let it play out and see what happens.'
'This is all a game to you.' Squall realised.
'Everything is a game, if you look at it the right way.' He stood and took his blade away from Selphie's throat. 'Besides I can beat you any time I want, where's the fun in just merely fighting?' It was at that point Seifer lunged for him, Badier held his hand out and Seifer screamed before flying to the floor in a heap. 'Now that was interesting. Care to join him?'
*Enough monster!* Diablos came from behind the archway to the cave, his impressive red and black hide glittering like oil in the light. Badier's face lit up and Selphie cried out in horror. Badier tilted his head slightly and Squall heard the GF grunt in surprise, Diablos took two slow shuddering steps towards the man and fell on his knees. Badier crossed the room to his computer and initiated a search.
'So, you're Diablos? You wouldn't know how long I've been looking for a gravity GF, you guys are rare you know?' He walked across to the kneeling Guardian Force and put his hand on his head, Squall was shocked that Diablos just didn't reach up and tear off the guys arm. Squall made a run for Selphie, jumping over Seifer's prone body in the process. He could feel Badier's eyes flick to him as reached her, Squall couldn't help himself when he turned to face him. He swallowed hard when he saw the flames dancing in the true knights eyes.
'I can't believe you brought a GF.' He heard Selphie choke out from behind him. Diablos stood and turned staring at Squall with bright dark eyes, the fires that burned in them made his breath catch in his throat.
'Diablos, would you deal with Mr Leonhart please?' Squall couldn't move as Diablos pointed to him, the gravity centre that was gathering at the tip of his finger could be seen as well as felt and Squall grunted in pain as it barrelled into his chest. The crushing pain in his ribs sucked the air from his lungs and he could feel his face contorting in fear. He sucked in whistling breaths through gritted teeth and suddenly the pain was his whole world, nothing excisted apart from the excrutiating pain. When it stopped he fell to the floor in a groaning heap, his legs had turned to nothing and when he opened his eyes all he could see was blue. When the brown haired head poked into view he had to concentrate to remember the name that attached to it.
'Selphie?' No that couldn't be right he was supposed to be saving her... wasn't he? He felt her soft hands on his forehead, he glanced away from her and to a large block of ice, a slick trail of red lead away from it. Blood, somehow it seemed important that he remember that... It was something to do with Selphie, he looked at her, she was talking in gentle words to him.
'Please be okay Squall.... Please.' Her face was incredibly pale and her eyes had a feverish cast to them. He watched as she was yanked up by her wrist, the confusion into which he was plunged was terrifying, he clawed his way to some understanding again. The kick in his ribs sent a wave of agony through his spine and sent his pain receptors jangling.
'Would you damn well stay confused!' An insistant voice snapped at him, it was important that he disreguard that voice for some reason. The pain awoke his mind more than anything else, he watched the situation helplessly, everytime he moved a piece of the confusion gained a foothold. The brown haired man bundled Selphie into blankets even though she was fighting him with all her might... granted her might wasn't that much and the more she struggled the more of that red stuff dripped onto the floor. Diablos was huddled in ball on the floor his wings erect. 'You can go back to the elemental plane, I'll call you when I need you.' He picked up Selphie in his arms, his face twitched in discust at the blood soaking the blankets then he moved away to the door of the cave. It was then Selphie began screaming.
'He wants Rinoa Squall! Please wake up, help her!' The name dragged at him through the waves of confusion. Rinoa, he knew that name, yet it still eluded him. When he finally grabbed hold of it, he screamed in rage, but when he tried to move he blacked out due to the pain.
*
Quistis glanced across at Zell, his face was caught up in a frown, dried blood still encrusted a large gash in his cheek and he moved with a purpose she hadn't seen from him before, they had moved towards the ice cavern before the ten minute time limit set by Zell, he had given her an approving nod and she surprised herself by feeling pleased. It was a large procession of students and SeeDs, possibly the largest gathering of them ever. They moved off towards the ice caverns with a purpose, Zell had insisted that they be aware of the danger and that they could have the choice to come with them or not. But all given the oppertunity came, none wanted to miss out on the oppertunity to say that they had been at the fight with a true sorceresses knight. As the procession moved away Zell had taken command, it had surprised her that she had let herself allow it, she had always liked responsibility but when Zell had ordered her she had obeyed. She looked at him specutively, maybe it had just taken conflict to bring the leadership qualitites out in him. Irvine and Rinoa walked beside her, Rinoa with a strained look on her face and Irvine quietly contemplating Zell. The obvious anxiety that was writ there made her worried and when he spoke what he said didn't make any sense to her.
'He really does care about her doesn't he?' he said quietly, almost under his breath.
'Wha?' She asked, fingering her save-the-queen absently.
'Zell, he cares about Selphie a lot... I'm a fool.' He shook his head and looked across at Zell with feeling in his eyes.
'I'm not getting you.' Quistis said.
'I am.' Said Rinoa and she slid her arm around Irvine's waist, he put his arm around her shoulder, hugged her slightly and planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head. 'Yes, he's does. But no you aren't a fool, things happen, things change.' He sighed.
'Why do I always lose something when they do?' He asked sliding the peak of his hat further over his face.
'Change is never a loss, it is change only.' Quistis remarked primly, then she saw the look Rinoa gave her. 'Sorry, probably not the right thing to say.' She said and Irvine smiled.
'No actually, you know, I think that helps, I'm not really into that metaphysical stuff, but... you know sometimes Quistis, you give better advice when you don't understand what's happening.' He flashed a grin at her. 'Excuse me.' He removed himself from their company.
'Did I miss something?' Quistis asked Rinoa who looked at her with a mysterious smile.
'All the time.' She replied and began to laugh.
*
Author's note~ Next chapter will probably be the penultimate chapter, it will probably be a long one as well so give me a little time to churn it out. Most people asked for a happy ending... so I think I will do that ^_^ , besides I don't want to depress myself too much *giggle* Anyway please R+R. Okay... Buhbye. M.