The stage has been set, the seeds have been defeated and the new era has begun. Squall and his companions now find themselves locked in a conflict beyond their wildest fantasies.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, places, or things from final fantasy 8. They are the rightful property of Square soft. This fanfic is simply for fun. No profit is made from it.
EMPEROR OF DARKNESS
CHAPTER 5:
THE DECLARATION OF WAR
"Bartender!"
The bartender had been busy all day. As was common this time of the week, the bar was very crowded. Many people frequented his bar. Some were lawyers, others were construction workers, there were even plenty of veteran Galbadian and Dollet soldiers. But mostly, his bar was made up of vagabonds that had given up on life and turned their backs to society. Thus with the extensive commotion all around him, it was quite plausible that he couldn't hear that someone was calling his name amongst all the ruckus. However, in all actuality, he did hear his name being called. To his misfortune, this particular character had been calling his name for the past five minutes. The bartender pointedly chose to ignore him and continue about his business. Unfortunately, this man would not be deterred, and whether he believed the bartender couldn't hear him above all the commotion or not, as he walked past, the man finally grabbed him by the collar so that he would have to face him.
The bartender didn't seem at all disturbed by this. If anything, he seemed annoyed at the interruption. "Can I help you with something?" He asked in an irritated tone of voice.
The man's eyes blazed with an unbridled fury, which he barely contained. "I've been calling you for five minutes straight." He said, pronouncing each word slowly and meticulously. "Now, I want another drink on the double. And make it a spicy one this time. I'm sick of this crap you call liquor."
The bartender let out a long wended sigh that had the expression 'this is going to be a long day' written all over his face. "I'm sorry buddy all I can give you is a coffee and maybe tea if you like. The liquor is off limits to you now. That was your last drink."
The man nearly pounced on the bartender as he bared his teeth seething with rage. "What did you say? I am paying good money for you to keep the shots coming. Now you do as I say!" Each of his words came slow as he struggled with the overwhelming anger pent up inside of him.
The bartender simply shrugged and broke away from his hold. "Look buddy, I'm only gonna tell you this one more time. The answer's no. 'N' 'O'. It's policy. I can't let you have over two drinks when you have a ward with you."
The man blinked for a minute then glared back at the bartender. "What ward? I don't have any ward. I'm here by myself."
The bartender just rolled his eyes as if he heard that line a million times before. "Look pal, your name is Almasy right? That young girl over there told me all about you. Policy stays the same. You can't have over two drinks when in the company of a child."
The man who was Seifer Almasy grew flustered and angry at this. "Oh come on! You don't actually buy into this do you? I don't even know that girl! Let me tell you something. That chick has been following me around for the past several days and I haven't been able to lose her since. She's stalking me and stuff. If anything, you should be kicking her out!"
Just then the girl in question came up alongside Seifer and sat down in the seat next to him. "You silly, your always saying stupid stuff like that." Dawn said, beamed with a smile on her face. "Now why don't you stop lying to the nice bartender man and let's just leave. Besides, this place smells really bad and you shouldn't be drinking that stuff."
Seifer's eyes flared with anger. He had had enough of this girl's childish antics. He was about to draw the line just then and cause a scene, when suddenly Dawn gave him a cold stare and squeezed his hand ever so slightly letting him know that if he caused a scene he would draw in a lot of unwelcome attention. Attention that someone in 'his' position didn't need. Seifer sneered in anger and disgust, then turned around and stormed out of the door. Dawn simply smiled then followed after him.
Five feet out the door, Seifer spun around to face her. He had an angry look on his face. "Ok look, Just who the hell do you think you are?" He wore a look that could shoot daggers and he would have brandished his gunblade had he stilled owned it.
Dawn simply shrugged off his question but he could see that there was something in those bright blue eyes of hers that she was hiding. "You will tell me who you are right now!"
"Or you'll do what?" Dawn fired back angrily. "What will you do? Fight me? Ha! You don't even have a gunblade anymore! You're pathetic and harmless. A sorry excuse for the man you once used to be!"
"Shut up! You know nothing about me, Understood? NOTHING! Now leave me alone!" Seifer turned around and stormed down the ally way.
However Dawn was not done yet. She roughly grabbed his arm and spun him back around to face her. "Look at yourself Seifer! Can't you see what's happening to you? You, who were once one of the most confident men on earth, are now reduced to this shallow pathetic worm who only finds solace in his next glass of liquor. You are disgusting! You are not the Seifer Almasy everyone knew you as!"
Seifer was becoming extremely angry at being constantly reminded of how much he had changed and wouldn't sit idly and take it anymore. He roughly yanked his arm away from her grasp then pulled her forward so that she could look into his eyes. "Now you listen to me 'little girl'! You don't know anything about me! I don't want to return to the man I used to be! You got that? That man is long dead! Do yourself and everyone else a favor and leave it that way alright?"
"Why? Why don't you want to reclaim your former confidence? Why not correct the errors of the past and strive for the future? Why do you want to remain content with simply spending the rest of your life, living in anguish and despair?"
Seifer regarded her for a moment then began to laugh. He laughed a good hearty laugh that almost sounded maniacal to Dawn's ears. "Why, you ask?" He said after sufficiently regaining control of his composure. "Because I fear myself, ok! I fear ill let my pride take over and ill be manipulated! Do you know what that's like 'little girl', to be manipulated? It's pretty interesting actually. You see, it's set up so that you can only perceive things one way, the manipulators way. Everything you do, you fully believe is right until you know the truth. When the dirty deed is done and the blood is stained on your hands, that's when you wake up and smell the beans. That's when you realize 'Hey, I've just been manipulated. I've just been played and used.' Do you know what it's like to wake up from a terrible dream where you have massacred hundreds of innocents? You become appalled by your own actions but you are comforted because you feel so good, you feel so complete, that it must be a dream. Only then, do you wake up and notice that it wasn't a dream at all! 'This' is my nightmare 'little girl'! 'This' is my reality every waking day of my life! I had everything I wanted, so I thought. I had attained knighthood, I had attained an army, I had been given everything I ever wanted in life; a place, a purpose, a reason to keep living the way I was. Do you know what it feels like to have all that come crashing down on you? To finally understand that that feeling of comfort and contentment you just felt was only an illusion? A fabricated fantasy constructed just so you could be used for evil purposes?"
Seifer was becoming more and more adamant with each word he spoke until, finally, he was screaming in an angry fit. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FINALLY REALIZE THAT YOU'R PARENTS WERE RIGHT TO ABANDON YOU? TO KNOW THAT YOU REALLY ARE WORTHLESS AND THAT YOU WILL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING? EVER! TO REALIZE THAT ALL YOU DO IS CAUSE GRIEF AND PAIN FOR EVERYONE AROUND YOU SO THAT LIFE WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU JUST DISAPPEARED?"
Seifer finally broke down. He fell to his knees, overcome by all the pent up emotions that had plagued him in life. He didn't care if the girl saw the fresh tears in his eyes now. He didn't care if his attire was dirty and smelly. He didn't care if the old sweater and sweatpants he was wearing were torn, dirty, and smelly. He didn't care if the blanket around his shoulders was old and reeked of liquor. He no longer cared about pride. For he knew now that he had none. He had nothing. And everyday he convinced himself that it was better this way.
Dawn looked at him with great pity and sorrow. She wanted to reach out to him and tell him otherwise. She wanted to comfort him somehow but she knew that this was a very fragile emotional breakdown he had just gone through, and the wrong action could lead to detrimental effects. So instead, she just stood back and let him recover in his own good time. Finally, Seifer regained control of himself. And when she looked into his eyes, she simply wanted to weep for this lost soul. His eyes were so lost, yet at the same time, they seemed as if they were, only now, beginning to see the true light. Seifer turned his head away and stood abruptly. He turned around and began walking away.
"Wait!" Dawn blurted out, not really knowing what else to say.
"Please, leave me alone now." Was Seifer's only quiet reply before disappearing into the distance.
****
Screaming filled his ears. He couldn't see anything. He couldn't tell were he was but he could hear people screaming all around him. Screams of victory mixed in with screams of fear and anguish. "Where am I?" He called out into the distance. His only answer was the increasing sounds of anguish. People began to scream even louder, so loud that he felt his ears would burst at any moment. Then he let out his own wail; a wail of confusion and fear. Then suddenly everything was quiet. His vision slowly began to return to him. Yet everything was far too quiet. He looked around frantically as his vision came back to him. He immediately leapt to the side as the first thing he saw was the sharp tip of a gunblade heading towards his face. He looked to his opponent only to realize that it was none other then his long time rival, Seifer Almasy. To his amazement, he looked down to notice that he too was holding a gunblade. He swung at Seifer viciously but just as the sword was about to strike his body, his adversary vanished. The air then grew cold and he looked up into the sky to see the face of Ultimecia laughing down at him. She opened her huge hands to grab him and he screamed out in helplessness.
****
Squall's eyes opened wide as he realized that he was laying in Balamb Garden's medical facility. He scanned his surroundings and surveyed all the many tubes coming to and from his arms. He tried to get up out of the bed then winked in pain and fell back down. He turned his eyes to the source of the pain and noticed that his chest was wrapped and bandaged up. Slowly, his memories began to return to him. He closed his eyes in sorrow and frustration as tears began to well up in his eyes.
"Squall?"
Squall turned his head towards the voice immediately. Suddenly a wave of emotions engulfed him. He closed his eyes to hold back the tears. The thought of never being able to see Cid or Caraway played over and over again on his conscience. He had failed them, he had failed Garden and worst of all, he had failed Rinoa. The thought was too much for Squall to bear. "Rinoa… I- I'm so sorry. I could do nothing. It's all my fault. I failed. I-"
Rinoa didn't want to hear anymore of what Squall had to say. The memories hurt too much and the thought of Squall taking responsibility for it was too overwhelming for her. She walked over to his bed and wrapped him in her arms as he sobbed. "shhhhh, don't say anything Squall, please? It's going to be all right. One way or another, we'll get through this. We will."
Squall relaxed a little and let Rinoa's words comfort him. 'No matter what happens,' he thought to himself. 'Everything will be all right. All of us will be just fine… all of us…' Just then Squall's mind reeled back to that fateful duel in which the seeds lost. He was comforted to know that Rinoa was ok but he had no idea what became of everyone else. He wanted to believe Rinoa's words that everything would be ok in the end but there was always a struggle for peace. Someone had to 'make' it ok. He felt responsible for the failure of defeating Zeilak. 'Never again.' Squall thought to himself with new found determination. If some one had to make things ok again, he would be that somebody. He would bring the peace in which Cid died for. He would ensure that this threat was defeated once and for all.
To Rinoa's utter shock, Squall broke away from her grasp then violently yanked out the blood transfusion cords. "Squall! What are you doing!" Rinoa shrieked in surprise.
Squall simply started at her for a moment as he continued ripping tubes from out of his arms. "Rinoa… please tell me. How long have I been out?"
Rinoa was shocked at how sudden Squall's mood change was but she answered his question accordingly. "Squall you've been out for three days. I was able to get us to Balamb Garden. After the parade everything started going haywire all over the world and Xu was forced to give the order to move Balamb Garden into hiding. It was awful, you were bleeding so bad when we got here and Dr. kadowaki was saying all kinds of horrible things like you wouldn't make it through the first night. It was terrible, the whole medical team had to use so many Curaga and Full life spells on you and you needed all sorts of blood transfusions."
Before Rinoa could finish, Squall raised up his good arm and brought his hand to her lips to quiet her. "I know Rinoa. I'm sorry to worry you about that. But please tell me. How are the others? How many did we lose?" Squall held his breath in fearful anticipation. He dreaded her answer but he just had to know. Better to hear it now and get it over with then to prolong his anguish.
Rinoa lowered her head and tears began to seep from hey eyes. A minute passed before she finally gathered her emotions enough to tell him. Squall… Edea is dead. Sh- she sacrificed herself at the last moment. I didn't want to leave her but she told me to Use my magic to get us all to safety. She wouldn't let me stay with her. She-" Rinoa couldn't finish as she broke off into a sob.
Squall closed his eyes tight, too overcome with emotion to think clearly. 'So I failed yet again.' He thought to himself. 'I let yet another person I love die.' As he began to fall further into depression another voice began to echo in his mind telling him he couldn't dwell in anguish. He had to move on and avenge the death of his foster parents. He didn't want to listen but the voice was adamant until finally he gave in and decided that he had to be strong for everyone, now more then ever. Slowly he collected himself and trained his eyes on Rinoa once more. "What about the others? How many of us made it back?"
Rinoa took a while to recover her own troubled thoughts before answering. "Quistis and Zell are still out cold. They had taken the worst of it. Irvin was injured pretty bad but he'll be fine. Selphie's up and around. She's visiting him in the other infirmary right now."
Squall nodded his head crisply. "That doesn't sound like such a bad idea right about now. Let's go join her."
"No Squall you can't! What about your injuries? You were hurt so bad! I don't want you to laps into another fever." She looked down and could feel the tears threatening to burst forth once more. She had thought she had run out of tears, ever since that incident with Edea but she was wrong. Talking with Squall again and retelling the events of the past few days had reawakened many horrible memories and she just couldn't take it anymore. "I don't want to lose you Squall… Especially not now…"
Squall looked at Rinoa with sympathy and love in his eyes. "You won't Rinoa. You'll never lose me. I'll always be by your side. Forever."
The young couple just stood there, lost in each other's eyes. The love they shared was clearly evident as they gazed at one another. 'This may be the only chance I get.' Rinoa thought to herself as she continued to stare at Squall with love in her heart. 'I may not get another chance. I have to tell him now.' "Squall?"
Squall was still gazing off in her eyes as if lost in a trance and only vaguely replied. "Yes?"
Rinoa's hands began to tremble. "Squall, I know I should have told you this before, but I just kept holding it off thinking the best time would be after the ceremony. Squall… I'm pregnant."
Squall's eyes opened wide. 'Pregnant! He could hardly believe it. They had both wanted a child and they were more then ready for the challenge. However that was then and now the situation was drastically different. Squall was overjoyed that he would be a father but at the same time he was devastated that such a wonderful thing would happen at a time like this. Squall smiled and kissed Rinoa passionately. Rinoa wrapped her arms around her husband, carefully avoiding his injury.
After a while Squall broke away then looked at Rinoa with determination in his eyes. "Rinoa, our child won't grow up in a terrible time like this. I swear to you that I will make things right. I won't let Zeilak win. I won't let him destroy our child's future."
Rinoa looked up at her husband with equal intensity and love. "You won't be alone Squall. We will do this together. All of us are behind you."
Squall nodded slightly. A grin still played on his lips as the idea of being a father kept swirling in his mind.
The trip to the Infirmary was uneventful as neither Squall nor Rinoa could sort through their jumbled emotions. Squall was extremely happy about being a father but at the same time, he was devastated at the loss of his foster parents. He couldn't push away the idea that somehow he was responsible for their deaths. Rinoa was having similar problems. She was excited about being pregnant however her sorceress powers were becoming more then she could bear and they frightened her, not to mention that she also had to deal with the tragic death of her father. On top of that, the one person who might have been able to help her with her growing powers, had died to save her life.
Thus, neither of them said anything to the other as they walked down the halls to check on their friends. Much to their dismay, when they entered the room, the scene was less then encouraging. Zell lay on one side of the room with a respirator diligently pumping air into his lungs. His face was all bandaged up and there were many tubes jutting out from his arms. Quistis was comatose in a bed next to him. Although she didn't have a respirator, she was also similarly bandaged. Her head was completely wrapped up. She was also bandaged around her neck, arms, and legs where she had been burned by coils. Squall had to forcefully turn his gaze away from his companions. The very sight of them made his blood boil for revenge. He couldn't bear the sight of his friends in such a horrible condition.
On the other side of the room, Irvin lay on a bed staring mutely up at the ceiling. Selphie was sitting in the corner not too far away. Her torso was bandaged up but otherwise she didn't look like she was that injured. To Squall's surprise, she was comforting a hysterical Sarah who was crying in her arms.
Squall slowly made his way over to Irvin. The young man made no response to his presence until Squall was standing right next to him. "How are you holding up over there Irvin?"
Irvin's eyes suddenly widened in surprised shock at Squall's voice. "Squall! Your awake!"
Selphie and Sarah immediately looked up upon hearing this. They had all thought Squall was still comatose in the other infirmary. Irvin just couldn't believe his eyes. Just yesterday, the young seed General was barely clinging to life and now he was not only awake but up and about and selflessly asking how 'they' were doing. Selphie and Sarah immediately ran to where Squall and Irvin were, laughing and crying with tears of joy. Sarah put on a brave front but she was still burdened by Zell's condition. Selphie gave him a big hug. "Welcome back Squall!" Squall winked in pain as she slightly brushed his injury with her hand. However, he put on a brave smile none the less. "I'm fine Selphie, but how about the rest of you? How are you all holding up?"
Irvin had a morbid look on his face. "We've been better…" He said dejectedly.
Much to Squall's surprise, Selphie had a similar expression on her face. "Yeah, they creamed us out there and we couldn't do nothing about it."
Rinoa walked over the where Selphie was standing and put her hand on the girls shoulder. "Selphie there was nothing any of us could have done." Irvin became furious at this remark! "SHIT MAN! We were totally unprepared! How the hell could we let ourselves get beat like that? We're seeds for crying out loud! We should have been ready for anything! And we lost like amateurs! I mean we totally f#@&*ed up!"
Squall flinched slightly. He knew all too well about their failure. It was his fault. He was responsible. This is what Squall kept telling himself and Irvin's outburst did nothing to sooth that agonizing belief. Rinoa saw the hurt expression in her husband's face and immediately tried to add her support. They all needed encouragement at this time or else they would fall into a fit of depression. Rinoa was sure of this. She herself had suffered such ailments back in her time serving with the forest owls.
"Stop that Irvin! You all did the best you could!"
"Oh yeah? I doubt that 'they' would agree with us on that one!" Irvin protested, shoving his index finger in the direction of Quistis and Zell. "Hell we were pathetic out there! We couldn't do a damn thing. I literally had to 'watch' as Selphie was nearly beaten to 'death' in front of my very eyes! Don't you even dare say we did our best! If Selphie would have died… be- because of me and my damn cowardice! I – I couldn't even -…" Irvin couldn't finish as he was too overcome with emotion. The thought of what might have happened had Edea not acted selflessly for them troubled Irvin beyond belief. He couldn't control his emotions anymore and shut his eyes tightly as tears seeped from them. Selphie felt a huge lump in her heart and sat next to him, trying to comfort him the best she could.
"Irvin…" She said quietly. "There was nothing you could have done. It wasn't cowardice. That sniper would have killed you if you broke cover!"
"THEN LET ME DIE DAMNIT!" Irvin screamed, surprising everyone in the room. "At least then, I would have known that I had at least 'tried' to save them!" He continued to look towards Quistis and Zell as he spoke. Sarah silently cringed every time Irvin made reference to his fallen comrades. 'Please don't say it.' She prayed silently as she listened to Irvin's ranting with growing apprehension.
Irvin continued raving relentlessly. " I should have died! I should have spilled more blood for my friends! At least then I would have felt like I'd done more then I had! At least then –"
"Irvin stop it!" Squall commanded silently. He could take the accusations. He could take the ridicule of his comrades cause he felt he deserved every single drop of it and more. But he saw what it was doing to Sarah and desperately wanted his friend to stop before he said something he would regret.
"Or what? Huh, leader man? What about you? Don't you understand what I'm feeling? Don't you feel the least bit responsible for what has happened to your comrades? YOUR FRIENDS? ARE YOU THAT HEARTLESS? ARE YOU THAT COLD THAT YOU CAN'T REALIZE THAT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WERE DYING OUT THERE? ARE YOU THAT HEARTLESS THAT YOU DON'T CARE THAT THERES A VERY GOOD CHANCE ZELL AND QUISTIS MAY DIE THIS VERY DAY LYING IN THOSE BEDS OVER THERE?"
"JUST STOP IT!!!!!!" Sarah screamed crying hysterically. "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! PLEASE JUST STOP IT!!!"
Before anyone could react, Sarah ran out of the room crying her heart out. Selphie shot Irvin a reproachful glance then ran after Sarah.
Irvin looked shocked, finally realizing what he had just been saying. He slowly lowered his head in shame. Rinoa glanced at Squall and Irvin, one after the other then finally decided that this was something they needed to work out by themselves. So she quietly left them alone to follow Selphie and Sarah.
A few minutes of silence passed between the two men as they sat alone in the infirmary. Irvin's eyes were shut tight and his firsts were clenched. Squall barely caught sight of this as he stared off into space. He was seated next to Irvin. Finally Irvin worked up the courage to speak. "Look, man, I didn't mean what I said earlier. I guess the pressure's just getting to me or something. I just wish there was some way we could have prevented this, ya know?"
Squall shot Irvin an irritated glance. "Sarah is the one you should be apologizing to. I, on the other hand, fully deserve your contempt."
"Come on Squall, don't do this man! I said I didn't mean it! I was just angry and looking for a target to vent my frustrations at." Irvin's voice was becoming frantic now. He didn't want Squall to take the blame for what had happened. He knew that it wasn't Squall's fault. It wasn't anyone's fault but he refused to accept that last little bit of information. Like Squall, he also blamed himself for what had happened.
However, Squall was unruffled by Irvin's protest. "You spoke with your heart Irvin, that's as truthful as it gets."
Anger suddenly flared in Irvin's eyes. "Look Squall, your the best leader I've ever had the pleasure of serving under. If anyone screwed up, it was me! Thats why I'm feeling so bad! I screwed up!"
Squall rolled his eyes in irritation at the way the conversation was going. Self-ridicule was something Squall hated to converse about. "Regardless, this is getting us no where. Irvin all I can tell you is that I'm sorry. But mark my words, I'll get revenge on those bastards! For all of us!"
"I'm with you on that one Squall." Irvin agreed, nodding his head. "It's gonna be payback all the way next time..." Irvin glanced at his comatose companions and his resolve crumbled slightly at the sight of them. "But still… we screwed up pretty bad huh?"
Squall trained his eyes in the same direction as his seed companion. After a moment, he nodded painstakingly. "… Yeah, we did."
****
After searching high and low through the corridors on Balamb Garden, Selphie finally found Sarah crying pitifully on Selphie's bed in the room they used to share three years ago. Selphie slowly walked over to her friend and sat at the foot of the bed.
"Sarah? Do you want to talk about it?" Slephie asked quietly.
At the sound of her best friend's voice, Sarah threw her arms around her and cried into her shoulder. Selphie silently stroked her friend's hair as she continued to cry. After a few moments, Sarah cautiously broke away from their embrace. "Selphie, I'm so sorry, I – I'm-"
"Shhhh there there Sarah. I understand how you're feeling. Irvin just lost control for a moment there. It was wrong, I know, but I guess everyone's stressed out given the circumstances."
"I just hate is Selphie! I just hate it all! I mean I don't know if Zell is going to make it through, A-and I'm frightened. I'm scared for his life and I'm scared for our child! Selphie I don't think I can handle this without Zell… I love him so much, the thought of losing him…" Sarah couldn't finish, as another fit of sobbing seized her.
"Sarah I know. But don't you worry, everything's gonna be fine. Just you wait and see. Zell's a fighter. He'll make it through."
"B-but everyone, even Irvin and Doctor Kadowaki, they're all skeptical of his recovery."
"Kadowaki is just stressed out Sarah. She's at a breaking point right now and she's just finding ways to vent, and the same with Irvin. Everyone's just really stressed out now Sarah. But listen to me, there is something you can do for Zell. Something that speaks louder then words and actions combined. You can believe in him Sar, Believe in his ability to survive. His ability to overcome this obstacle. That's what he needs right now Sarah. Your loving care and support."
Sarah just stared at Selphie mutely for a moment. "Your right Sephy. I've been so cynical during this whole ordeal when the best thing I should be doing is supporting him. I love Zell and yet I've already given up on him. I should be ashamed of myself."
"No Sarah, don't be ashamed. Your scared just like we all are. We all care for Quistis and Zell very deeply and we are all hoping for their full recovery. We just have to have confidence in them. It's easy to overlook something like that when we are so stressed out like this."
Sarah stared at Selphie in a way that Selphie thought her friend had just seen a ghost or something. "Selphie… you've really changed over the past three years. At first I was surprised when I heard that you, of all people, were an instructor yet now I find it easier to accept. You really have a knack with helping people through their problems. Thank you. I knew there was a reason why you're my best friend on earth."
Selphie giggled lightly. "Oh shut up you. Us friends have to stick together you know?"
Sarah was going to say something more, however, just then the door slid open and Rinoa stepped in. "I'm sorry am I interrupting anything?" Rinoa asked hesitantly.
Selphie and Sarah just giggled delightedly confusing Rinoa even more. At the expression on Rinoa's face, the two former roommates laughed even more. Soon, Rinoa began to join in as she found the sight of the two laughing girls to be quite amusing. 'Bless you selphie. Whatever you told Sarah, must have worked wonders to get the girl to laugh like this.' Rinoa thought to herself as she continued to laugh outwardly.
Slowly the laughter died down to short, controlled giggles. "So, feeling any better Sarah?" Rinoa asked after reigning in her last giggle.
"A little bit." Came her short reply.
"Well a little is better then nothing right?" Selphie peeped in. "Here's an idea. Why don't we all head down to the cafeteria. I'm sure they have good food at this time. After all, its still 8:00am. Why don't we go down there and get some grub and at the same time we can each eat a hotdog to show our support for Zell's recovery right?"
Sarah suppressed a giggle at this. She always found the sight of Zell eating hotdogs extremely amusing. And now that Selphie had brought it up again, ton's of fond memories came flooding into her mind.
Rinoa and Selphie stared at her with warm smiles on their faces. Sarah simply laughed. For the second time since her return to Balamb Garden, Sarah gave out a genuine laugh of pleasure. It felt great to have such caring friends. It was good to be home. "Well what are you two waiting for?" Sarah asked with a grin on her face. "We better get going or they'll run out of hotdogs." With that they all laughed and started for the door.
However as soon as they hit the halls, a loud voice came over the P.A.
"ATTENTION, WOULD GARDEN GENERAL LIONHEART, MRS. LIONHEART AND SEED MEMBERS IRVIN KINNEAS, AND SELPHIE TIMULT, PLEASE COME TO THE BRIDGE IMMEDIATELY."
"What the heck?" Selphie said in surprise. "What the heck do they want to see us for?"
"It must be important." Rinoa replied, already making her way towards the elevator. "We better get moving. Sarah you come with us too ok?"
Sarah nodded briskly and promptly followed the two girls up the steps to the elevators.
****
Once they entered the office formally used by Cid, Rinoa immediately noticed the grim faces all around the room and prepared herself for the bad news. Squall's demeanor was impassive as always yet due to his recent injuries, he was slightly slumped over. Irvin also seemed slightly paler then usual. He wore a frown on his face. Whatever was going on was definitely not a good thing.
"Irvy? What's going on?" Selphie asked.
Irvin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye yet said nothing.
"What's the matter with everyone all of a sudden?" Sarah asked, becoming more and more nervous by the second.
"You shouldn't have brought her here." Irvin muttered then resumed his silence.
Rinoa had had enough. She was fed up with this stupid cat and mouse came the two men were playing with them. "Squall what is going on?" Rinoa demanded forcefully.
Squall looked at his wife and saw she was wearing on of those 'you'll do what I say now or there will be hell to pay' look's.
Cringing inwardly, Squall prepared for the worst and answered his wife with clenched teeth. "The bastard is giving an announcement. Were assuming it's an official declaration of war."
Rinoa's continence suddenly shifted to an impassive visage of iron. "But that doesn't make any sense." She said. "He already made his public speech to the world."
"Yeah." Selphie piped in. "Didn't he, like, already prove his intentions the first time?"
Squall simply shrugged. "I guess he wants something a little bit more classy this time."
Irvin glared daggers at his commander. He knew Squall despised the man just as much as the rest of them but he couldn't swallow the way Squall had worded that last statement. It made that monster sound too humane.
Squall shrugged off Irvin's look and glanced back at the Television sitting in the center of the office. "It's starting." He said as the picture showed the image of Emperor Zeilak walking up to the podium.
****
It was a particularly windy day for a speech, however that was just the kind of element Zeilak loved the most. Passing judgement on all while, at the same time, surrounded in an environment of chaos. Zeilak loved the ironic implications of it all. He basked in the misery and strife of others. He would teach them the meaning of the word.
Zeilak hated repetition, however it seemed fitting to him to be able to officially televise his first strikes. He wanted to invoke even more fear and turmoil into the hearts and minds of his victims. He wanted to give them a war they would never forget and he felt that the start of his campaign should be commemorated with a monumental speech.
"Fellow citizens," He called out with heavy sarcasm seeping from his voice. "I come here today, not to reiterate the pledge that I have given you three days ago, but to show you a small amount of the momentous power I shall proceed to exert over you. You see, it seems that I have been too merciful with you and it has resulted in the escape of the seeds from my new citadel. I will have you know that I will not excuse such an action and certain parties can and will be punished for this heinous act. Behold, I bring before you now, the epitome of salvation and despair!"
As if on cue, a huge metal plaque rose from the ground for all to see. The plaque rose up to 12 feet in height and was shaped in the symbol of an ogre's face with cross bones beneath it. Lying over that, former sorceress Edea hung loosely chained onto it. Each arm cuff was connected to either horn emblazoned on the ogre's background face. Her feet dangled freely. The mere sight of her made many people in the audience gasp out in mixed emotions of pity, fear, and revulsion. Edea's face was matted in bruises and blood. Her eyes had been slit, forever blinding her from the world. Parts of the bones in her arm jutted out from her skin and festered with maggots in the open air. Her tattered dress hung loose around her shoulders. Her legs were bruised and battered and a few of her toes had been severed from her feet.
"This is how I handle treason! This is my way of dealing with those who oppose me! Before you now, lye's a woman who first came to you as a threat, possessed by the powers of Ultimecia. Then later, she revealed herself to be a patriot of goodness. To this, I offer my deepest contempt! I spit upon such justice that would harbor this woman to sway so far from my ideals. Her act of selflessness in saving her seeds has earned her a place in the mercy of my hands. As you can see, that was a fatal mistake. This is the price of freedom in my new order! There will be no insubordination!"
With a flick of the wrist, Edea was immediately engulfed in flames. She screamed in agony as her flesh slowly melted from the intensity of the flames. Zeilak let loose a maniacal laugh as she continued to whither in agonizing pain. Then little by little, she slowly began to burn to ashes until eventually there was nothing left except for the hanging cuffs, now dangling loose, free of the force of Edea's weight.
"I show you now that my word is law! Those who oppose me shall suffer. Now shudder as I allow you an extension of my power."
On cue to his words, The missile silo located at the Galbadian Airbase, immediately came to life and exposed thousands of warheads ready to be launched.
"As you can see, I've been busy these past three days. I've noticed that there has been a shortage of missiles at the airbase so I've taken the liberty of adding my own." Zeilak spoke in a humored tone of voice.
"Those who survive my carnage shall live as my slaves! Bear witness all, as I show you the end of your world and the beginning of mine!"
The missiles launched fiercely from their restraints, each heading for a different location, all targeting every town, city, and state in the world. In the dreadful midst of silence only one sound could be heard in the distance; the sounds of laughter coming from the maniacal ruler who would usurp the remains of a dying existence and pose to claim all.
Well, yet another chapter is complete in my insanely long fic. I know you all must thing I'm nuts or something the way I'm portraying this threat now but I'm trying to make this a good story. Well I hope you all liked this chapter. I know it was kinda slow but I'll pick up the pace soon. As always thanks for reading and please review!
-Cordis