Disclaimer: All Final Fantasy 8 characters, places, and things all belong to Squaresoft and other involved companies. I own none of them. This fanfic is strictly for the fun and enjoyment of others and myself. I make no profit from it.
Time is of the essence. Squall, Irvine and their friend Renix are trapped in an unknown area of Garden. And Garden itself is under heavy attack. Can Rinoa hope to lead the seeds to victory without the support of their General? So begins the next chapter…
EMPEROR OF DARKNESS
CHAPTER 11
Disturbing Behavior
"XUUUUU! Xu where are you?" Nida called out. He was currently roaming the second level. Although the Garden was still under heavy fire, he stubbornly continued to take the risk. Unheeded by each jolt he felt as the ship was continually pummeled, Nida kept his mind solidly focused on one objective.
He continued to walk further and further into the narrow corridors. This hallway was normally not accessible to any Residents at Garden unless they were high officials however in this state of panic, it was used to hold one particularly rebellious seed.
Nida finally reached the end of the hallway and started towards the last room. His heart thundered at the sight of it. The door was smashed in and it seemed as if the floor was pushed up into the room, crushing everything inside. To make matters worse, the ceiling had, likewise, caved in.
Clinching his fists, Nida ran up to the door and forcefully pried the entrance loose. "Xu! Are you in here Xu? Are you ok? Please answer me!"
He listened intently and heard a low moan from under the surrounding rubble at the center of the room.
"Uhhh…"
"Xu! Xu is that you?" Nida asked anxiously. "Just hold on, I'll get you out!"
With all of his might, he pushed up on the huge blocks of rubble, and shoved them out of the way. His hands began to bleed as he relentlessly continued to pry the wreckage away. Finally he lifted the last stone away to find Xu lying in a small makeshift cubby hole. It looked as if she had made a last ditch effort to protect herself from the falling wreckage but didn't anticipate suffocation.
Nida quickly pulled her out of the hole and lay her on his lap as he desperately tired to awaken her. "Xu! Wake up Xu! Please!" He lightly slapped her face to get her to wake up. Slowly her eyes began to seep open.
"Uhhh… Am I still… alive…?"
A smile pulled on Nida's lips as he saw that she was coming to. "Xu everything's gonna be alright. Just rest now."
"Nida…? Where… where are we?"
"At Balamb. We were under attack. We still are actually. It looks like Galbadia finally tracked us down at last."
Xu's eyes snapped open immediately. "What? What's happened to everyone else? Where's Squall and the rest?"
Nida looked down, stubbornly averting his eyes away from Xu's face. "T- the General is dead. I saw it all from the vid-monitors when I tried to contact him after the first strike. The whole bridge was destroyed… Nobody survived. All that's left are you, me and the rest of the personnel on this floor."
Xu shook off the last traces of fatigue and tried to stand up. "I knew it! We have to get to the others! If we don't do something, everyone's going to die!"
"Xu don't rush yourself. Please understand, General Lionheart had the right idea. If we had hidden ourselves in a corner we would have been in a worse situation then now. Please Xu, I don't want to have to detain you like before…"
Xu glared angrily at Nida's words. "You won't have to! Just point me to where everyone else is. I'll go by myself!"
Xu felt her hand being yanked as she tried to walk past him. "Please, Xu… You don't know what you're doing! Just trust in Squall's wishes. He had the right idea."
Xu roughly yanked her arm free of Nida's grasp. "What do you care what I think anyway? Why don't you just leave me alone and let me do what I have to do!"
Nida couldn't look at her. He spoke silently with his head down. "I… I just care about you Xu. I don't want to be your enemy…"
Xu's eyes widened in shock. She had always liked Nida but she had never assumed he liked her so much. Her heart softened and she dropped to her knees along side him. "Nida… I … I don't know what to say…"
Nida just sat there for a while looking out into space. "… I don't want to fight you anymore Xu…" He said quietly.
Xu nodded slowly. Her eyes threatened to burst forth with tears of emotion. She hugged him softly. "You don't have to fight me anymore Nida. You don't…"
Xu slowly lifted his head so that his eyes were locked with hers. "Nida… Nida I don't want to be the enemy of Garden. I just want to help. I don't want to fight any of you. Especially you…"
Nida closed his eyes against the wave of emotions assaulting him. Their faces were dangerously close. He could feel the soft caress of her breath on his cheeks. Her sparkling eyes danced with intensity and emotion in front of his face. "Xu…" He muttered softly.
"I just… I just need you to stand by me Nida… If I make a move… will you support me?"
Nida's face showed hurt and sorrow. "Xu, … please, please don't ask me to betray Squall's trust…"
She slowly cupped Nida's face in her hands. He was so close, so very close to her now. "Nida… I need your support… please… Nida I need you…"
Finally their lips met. It was a soft passionate kiss. Nida felt as if he was in ecstasy. He had always wanted to do this. He had longed to have Xu this close to him ever since he had first laid eyes on her. This was a moment he never wanted to end. However, slowly in did end and their lips parted.
"…Nida…?" Xu, asked, her voice still raw with emotion.
Nida opened his eyes softly and stared at Xu with a look of determination. "… Ok Xu… I'll stand by you. No matter what happens, I'll stand by you. I swear it."
****
BOOM
Commander Tarvisand smiled gleefully as the Garden took yet another direct hit. This was the best moment of his life. Ever since the second sorceress war he had always felt a grudge towards Garden. During the battle of the Gardens, he had been in command of one of the units who failed miserably. Everyone under his command perished and he inevitably was demoted. Ironically, it had been Seifer's decision to strip him of rank. It was at that very moment that he developed a deep enmity for Garden and Seeds in general. He despised Seifer Almasy the most. Even though the man was The General of Galbadia at the time as well as a traitor to Garden, he was still a Seed in Tarvisand's eyes. Every chance he got, he would glare at the hated man. That had been the start of his incessant growth of hated for all Gardens, which had grown immensely over the three-year gap. All Seed's ever did for him was ruin him.
Now he was basking in his moment of triumph and glory. The hated 'former' General of Galbadia had disappeared. It was rumored, much to his satisfaction, that he was dead. And now the Seeds were at the palm of his hand. He let out a maniacal laugh as the Garden took another direct hit.
"That's it men! Burn it all! Kill all of them! Leave no one standing! Burn them all! Burn them in the fires of my vengeance!"
The Galbadian contingent sent to destroy Balamb Garden was, by no means, a small force. The Squadron of soldiers was made up of 5 platoons. Not to mention, they also had the support of a Ragnorak. Emperor Zeilak had allowed them to use seven Galbadian tanks as well. To Tarvisand, these armaments were more then enough to crush his most hated enemies.
And crush them, they did. Already the Garden had sustained heavy bombardment towards the engine and thruster areas. The whole propeller section was demolished. The bridge was now incinerated. And huge chunks of the body of the flying fortress were burned or torn apart. They were literally gutting the ship were it stood. However, Tarvisand wasn't satisfied yet. He raised his second in command over the communications frequency he had set up in the tank he was in.
"Lt. Weston, the time has come for operation B. Charge the fortress now. If they did have any defenses at all, then they are most likely destroyed by now. Attack!"
The line was full of static but a hazy voice rang out over the communications disruptions. "Copy that Commander. We're on our way."
Tarvisand sat back languidly in his fortified tank and opened another monitor to view the havoc his troops were about to create. An insane smile crept up to his lips.
Two platoons of Galbadian soldiers rushed forth preparing to storm the wrecked Garden from the front. Suddenly, to Tarvisands surprise, a huge bright light filled the screen of his monitor, nearly blinding him.
"Shit!" He seethed as he quickly switched off his monitor then opened the canopy of his tank. Tarvisand grit his teeth in rage as he viewed the sight before his eyes.
Quezolcot soared high into the air raining down showers of electric death towards the approaching platoons of Galbadian Soldiers. A huge thundering roar of explosions reverberated all around the area followed by another flash of blinding light.
"Arrghh! Damnit!" Tarvisand seethed. He yanked his head away from the searing light of the explosion. Once it died down, he opened his eyes and looked back towards the field. He was completely flabbergasted. The smoke slowly cleared revealing the horrific scene ahead. The whole two Platoons of Galbadian Soldiers along with the entire field around them were all decimated. There was nothing left but a huge crater. Slowly the walls to the entrance of Balamb Garden came crashing down and Tarvisand received yet another rude awakening. Right before his very eyes where hundreds of seed troops standing poised and ready for battle. Tarvisand was completely outraged. In only a matter of minutes, His greatest moments of victory had been transformed into his worst nightmare.
****
Rinoa smiled faintly. Her plan had worked. She anticipated that sooner or later those Galbadian soldiers would want to come in for the kill. And that was the exact time she had wanted to attack them. After using Quezolcot, they had sufficiently reduced the strength of the Galbadian contingent. Her only hope now was that they would be able to stay on the upper hand and not have to risk losing any more lives to these horrible Galbadian demons.
As she scanned the horizon, she noticed that the tanks were lining up for a full out attack. Banishing all thoughts of concern for the future, she focused her mind on the present.
"Seeds this is it!" She called as she took her place at the head of everyone else. "Lets give this one all we've got! FOR CID, EDEA, ALL OF GARDEN… AND SQUALL! SEEDS ATTACK!"
Suddenly the grounds burst into a relentless war zone. The seeds charged forth, boosted by their memories of all those they had lost. The Galbadian tanks rolled forward and fired multiple shots towards the huge armada of seeds.
Rinoa immediately flung her arm forth, creating a shield to deflect the long distance attacks. 'There's no turning back.' Rinoa thought to herself as she allowed her powers to lift her up high into the air, overseeing the battle below. Finally the two sides met and only blood and steel followed. Many seeds fell. However, many more Galbadians fell as well. Rinoa randomly attacked multiple Galbadian units here and there. Wherever the seeds needed the most support, she would unleash a monstrous GF to flay the Galbadian soldiers to ashes.
****
The battle continued to rage on. Blood continued to be spilt. Fatigue was finally starting to wear Rinoa down to the point of no return. It had been three hours into the battle now and still it was a bloody haze of destruction down below. Her shoulders sagged heavily as she continued flying through the air observing the seeds progress. They had successfully managed to destroy all of the Galbadian tanks save one. Much of that progress was due to her efforts however. She would shield the seeds long enough for them to immobilize the tanks and thus destroy them. The last tank still stubbornly remained a safe distance away so as to avoid getting involved in the battle.
Bullets and steel now rang in the air along with the random spurts of explosions as hand grenades went off. Rinoa had done everything she could but now she was completely spent. She had still not recovered from her head injury and now she was beginning to feel lightheaded. She once again glanced towards the ground looking for Selphie in the huge crowd of death. After a moment she spotted her friend. Selphie was doing well as she had expected. Selphie would continuously use her limit break, fully unleashing her magic spells on her opponents. If she didn't do that, she would simply let her nunchucks do the rest and they proved lethal to any oncoming Galbadian soldier foolish enough to attack her head on. However, there were times when she would call upon the mighty powers of her GF Siren.
Rinoa's eyes began to droop as she passed in and out of consciousness. 'I can't fall now! The battle hasn't been won yet! I must… continue… Just hold on… a little longer Squall…'
Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise.
SHOOOOOOM
"The Ragnorak! Shit I had completely forgotten about it!"
Rinoa flew forth, mentally pushing her fatigue away as she charged forth towards the flying battle ship. She silently wondered why it had concealed itself until now. However, upon flying closer to the ship, she received her answer.
The weapons systems came to life aiming towards her. The Seeds had never been the target for the Ragnorak all along. She was the real target. The brains behind the seat must have be biding his or her time until she became exhausted from the battle, then began the attack run. Rinao bobbed and weeved right and left as she continuously dogged each one of the Ragnorak's attacks.
Rinoa flew right alongside the haul as the ship was going in the opposite direction. Her eyes blazed a fiery red as she unleashed a huge orb of energy from her hands and tore a wide gaping hole out from the side of the ship. Slowly her head began to spin again, causing her to lose focus. Once it gained sufficient distance, the ship turned back around to face its victim as she soared listlessly towards the ground. The huge auto cannons opened up and the ship prepared its attack.
BRAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPA
Huge bullets sped her way. Rinoa only vaguely saw the approaching danger from exhausted, half-closed eyes.
'I'm sorry Squall…I guess I didn't have what it took to lead your seeds to victory. It looks like I've failed you…'
Rinoa closed her eyes, as the bullets flew closer. 'Don't worry my love… we'll be together soon… and then we can spend an eternity in bliss without a care in the world…'
"So it's true? You are giving up already?"
Rinoa shuddered mentally at that familiar, wicked voice.
'Damnit Ultimecia! Leave me alone! Let me die in peace damn you!'
"We both know there can be no peace as long as 'he' still exists! You will only be running away from your problems!"
'I don't care! I just don't care anymore! I want to be with Squall! Just let me be with Squall…'
"What you find on the other side may not be so appealing…. So you will just run away?… again?"
'Shut up!'
"If it is your will to die and give up on the world then so be it Rinoa Lionheart! You will be dooming all to an eternity of misery and blood shed!"
'……."
"But also know this… You will be dooming your unborn child as well… yes your unborn child who has yet to even see the wonders of this world! Would you deny him his freedom of will too?"
'……no……NO'
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rinoa screamed as she immediately came to and swiftly flew out of the way of the approaching bullets. With almost inhuman rage, she rushed forth towards the speeding Ragnorak and summoned forth even more power. Her hair and eyes blazed red as huge goblets of energy began forming around her whole body.
In retaliation, the Ragnorak opened up on her with its full arsenal of weaponry. The main cannon fired round after round however, they only seemed to disintegrate upon impact with her glowing aura of energy. Bullets were sprayed but they too became ineffective to this being of pure energy before them. The engines roared from the rear of the massive ship as it desperately charged towards her. The two hands of the Ragnorak came to life as they charged forth to impale her.
Rinoa let out an inhuman roar then blazed forth head on towards her target. The fighting below momentarily stopped as they all observed the incredible event that was taking place in the skies. Rinoa charged in, then ripped straight through one of the approaching claws, destroying it on impact. She didn't stop and she continued her coarse and soared right into the cockpit of the ship and before long came out of the other end leaving a tail of fire, explosions and destruction in her wake. The ship reverberated with multiple explosions before finally erupting into a ball of immense flames. Rinoa stood back, watching her handiwork with a deep frown on her face. One sentence silently drifted from her lips. "I will never deny him…"
Okie dokie! That's it for chapter 11! Yikes, Rinoa going nova and Xu and Nida having some secret love affair!?! And that's just the beginning! Well, what did you all think? Love it hate it? Let me know! As always, thank you all so much for reading and please review! J
-Cordis