The Knights
A Final Fantasy VIII Fanfiction by efli riLvcuE
All characters copyright Square, dontsuemepleaseimskint
The moon hung low over the mountains of Centra, and shone on the great temple of Hyne. Torches were arrayed around the great circular courtyard, and in it stood a crowd of people. Guards stood round the edge of the courtyard, and a crowd of figures looked down from the balcony. Not all were human - tonight was a night of great importance, and for a few hours at least, an uneasy truce had been called between the monsters, guardian forces and humans. Dragons stood shoulder to shoulder with humans, who jostled creatures straight out of myth. All eyes were on the figures in the centre of the courtyard.
Three tall armoured figures stood to one side, seemingly radiating danger, even though they weren't armed. No weapons were allowed in the Temple of the Creation. One swathed in red robes, and with a veil over his face, finally broke the silence.
"Where the hell are they?" He said irritably.
The tall silver armoured figure glared down at him and snorted "You're hardly one to complain about absences Gilgamesh. This is the first time you've been to the Temple in five years. Even when duty called you last year, you didn't come. Me and Seoman had a bet going whether you'd come or not."
The final figure, dressed in black armour, smiled and said, "Needless to say, Odin lost. That reminds me, you still owe me 50 gil, friend."
Odin glared at him, then turned back to Gilgamesh "So why haven't you been to Centra for five years Gilgamesh?"
Gilgamesh glared up at Odin, and said through gritted teeth, "I'm a Knight Questor Odin. A crusader. It's in the bloody job description that I'll be away for years at a time. Besides, you could probably defend Centra single-handed, Eh Odin?"
Odin was on the verge of a retort when a fanfare sounded. The three knights moved to make a triangle in the great courtyard. Down the stairs came three women, and behind them came a man. However, all eyes were fixed on the figure behind him. A robed figure nine-foot tall, surrounded by guards. Every person watching caught their breath in fear, or tightened their grip on their weapons. This creature had nearly wiped out the human race. The creator, who wanted to destroy what he had made. It was the great god, Hyne.
The three women took their positions near their knights, while the man and Hyne moved towards the middle. The man turned to face Hyne and rapped his staff on the floor three times. When there was silence in the temple, he spoke in a booming voice that carried all round the temple "Hyne, creator god, you are charged with genocide. You have tried to wipe out the human race. The high ladies and knights of Centra, Dollet and Esthar have called you to trial in this matter. As lord of Balamb, I remain neutral in this matter, but I do condemn you for your actions. You have said you will pronounce your sentence yourself. This is your right if the court agrees with you."
Hyne cleared his throat, and spoke in a quiet voice that still seemed to carry as far as the lord's "I offer humanity my surrender. I will take myself to a place far away and never come back. As some kind of restitution to humanity, I will give you half of my body and all the power in it."
A low murmur went round the temple. Hyne was offering them the powers of a god? The murmurs grew in volume till the lord rapped his staff on the floor. He cleared his throat and said, "The court will consider Hyne's sentence. High priest of Hyne, Otarin will act as defence counsel."
Hyne went back to his cell under guard, and the lord of Balamb spoke again "This court is adjourned for one hour, while the counsels discuss Hyne's sentence."
The court filed upstairs, into the main complex of the temple. The crowds were left wondering what the court would decide, and in the monsters case, whether it was worth breaking the truce to get a bite of lunch…
Chapter One
2000 years later
Squall Leonhart strode through the hallways of Balamb Garden. Checking his watch, he grimaced 'Late again'. He finally reached the lift and pressed the button marked 3F. A tinny voice came out of the lift's speakers "Please state name and rank".
Squall suppressed a sudden urge to cut the speakers in two with the blue gunblade hanging from his belt. "Squall Leonhart, Balamb Garden Commander." The lift whirred and moved up to the top floor. Squall checked his watch again 'Only three minutes late. The headmaster will understand'. The lift reached the third floor and Squall stepped out. A cooling breeze rolled off the open water that Balamb Garden was sailing through. Squall took a deep breath and stepped into Balamb Garden's boardroom.
He breathed a little easier when he saw who was sat around the table. Cid was at the top of course, with Edea next to him. Zell, Quistis and Selphie were sat near the top, all looking uncomfortable with their new decorations of rank. Squall's breath caught again when he saw that Martine of Galbadia, McKenzie of Trabia and Haldana of the white SeeDs were also sat round the table. Quistis saw the look on his face and gave him a nervous smile. She obviously didn't know what the meeting was about either. Cid waved Squall to his seat and cleared his throat. What he said took Squall completely by surprise. "Squall, you and your friends saved the world, and fulfilled SeeDs true purpose. Your friends have been rewarded for this, but you haven't. After much discussion, we have decided that since garden must take on a new role, you should be at the forefront of it. There is one thing that Garden has lacked for a long time, mainly because of a good leader. You have proved yourself an excellent leader, and you have certain qualifications that make you ideal for this job. We are proud to announce that you will be the first Master of Esthar Garden."
Squall sat back, stunned. "Why me?" he said, in a dazed voice.
Martine replied "You opened relationships with Esthar, and performed a job for them that succeeded beyond their wildest expectations. You've guaranteed good relations between Garden and Esthar for years to come. This is a reward for that as well."
Squall still looked amazed "But I can't…I…I only just graduated for a start."
Cid smiled "You also just saved the world. I think that's all the qualifications you need."
Edea spoke for the first time. She spoke so rarely at these meetings that Squall forgot she was there, and started when she said "They'll always be a place for you at Balamb Squall, but you're the only one qualified to do this. Please take it Squall."
Squall felt his heart sink. He couldn't refuse what Matron asked him, especially since he nearly killed her. Grudgingly, he agreed. "Alright I'll take the job."
Cid smile grew into a grin from ear to ear. "I knew I could rely on you Squall. Now we're going to make Esthar Garden capable of making SeeDs, so we're transferring several students there. Including Rinoa." Cid reached for Edea's hand, and Edea took it and gripped it. Some thoughts were still painful for the Head of Garden. "We wouldn't dream of separating you from your sorceress."
Squall let the talk of construction and administration wash over him, stunned at being promoted to Garden's highest rank.
***
Gilgamesh sat staring into a bowl of water. Instead of seeing the bottom though, he was studying Squall and how he had reacted to the news. The red-robed knight smiled and drew a finger over the bowl, and it was just a bowl again.
Footsteps made him look up, and he saw figure he had never expected to see. He gasped.
"Seoman?"
The figure stepped into the light, and stared at Gilgamesh with a face full of anger. "Yes Gilgamesh, it's me. Back from the dead."
A Final Fantasy VIII Fanfiction by efli riLvcuE
All characters copyright Square, dontsuemepleaseimskint
The moon hung low over the mountains of Centra, and shone on the great temple of Hyne. Torches were arrayed around the great circular courtyard, and in it stood a crowd of people. Guards stood round the edge of the courtyard, and a crowd of figures looked down from the balcony. Not all were human - tonight was a night of great importance, and for a few hours at least, an uneasy truce had been called between the monsters, guardian forces and humans. Dragons stood shoulder to shoulder with humans, who jostled creatures straight out of myth. All eyes were on the figures in the centre of the courtyard.
Three tall armoured figures stood to one side, seemingly radiating danger, even though they weren't armed. No weapons were allowed in the Temple of the Creation. One swathed in red robes, and with a veil over his face, finally broke the silence.
"Where the hell are they?" He said irritably.
The tall silver armoured figure glared down at him and snorted "You're hardly one to complain about absences Gilgamesh. This is the first time you've been to the Temple in five years. Even when duty called you last year, you didn't come. Me and Seoman had a bet going whether you'd come or not."
The final figure, dressed in black armour, smiled and said, "Needless to say, Odin lost. That reminds me, you still owe me 50 gil, friend."
Odin glared at him, then turned back to Gilgamesh "So why haven't you been to Centra for five years Gilgamesh?"
Gilgamesh glared up at Odin, and said through gritted teeth, "I'm a Knight Questor Odin. A crusader. It's in the bloody job description that I'll be away for years at a time. Besides, you could probably defend Centra single-handed, Eh Odin?"
Odin was on the verge of a retort when a fanfare sounded. The three knights moved to make a triangle in the great courtyard. Down the stairs came three women, and behind them came a man. However, all eyes were fixed on the figure behind him. A robed figure nine-foot tall, surrounded by guards. Every person watching caught their breath in fear, or tightened their grip on their weapons. This creature had nearly wiped out the human race. The creator, who wanted to destroy what he had made. It was the great god, Hyne.
The three women took their positions near their knights, while the man and Hyne moved towards the middle. The man turned to face Hyne and rapped his staff on the floor three times. When there was silence in the temple, he spoke in a booming voice that carried all round the temple "Hyne, creator god, you are charged with genocide. You have tried to wipe out the human race. The high ladies and knights of Centra, Dollet and Esthar have called you to trial in this matter. As lord of Balamb, I remain neutral in this matter, but I do condemn you for your actions. You have said you will pronounce your sentence yourself. This is your right if the court agrees with you."
Hyne cleared his throat, and spoke in a quiet voice that still seemed to carry as far as the lord's "I offer humanity my surrender. I will take myself to a place far away and never come back. As some kind of restitution to humanity, I will give you half of my body and all the power in it."
A low murmur went round the temple. Hyne was offering them the powers of a god? The murmurs grew in volume till the lord rapped his staff on the floor. He cleared his throat and said, "The court will consider Hyne's sentence. High priest of Hyne, Otarin will act as defence counsel."
Hyne went back to his cell under guard, and the lord of Balamb spoke again "This court is adjourned for one hour, while the counsels discuss Hyne's sentence."
The court filed upstairs, into the main complex of the temple. The crowds were left wondering what the court would decide, and in the monsters case, whether it was worth breaking the truce to get a bite of lunch…
Chapter One
2000 years later
Squall Leonhart strode through the hallways of Balamb Garden. Checking his watch, he grimaced 'Late again'. He finally reached the lift and pressed the button marked 3F. A tinny voice came out of the lift's speakers "Please state name and rank".
Squall suppressed a sudden urge to cut the speakers in two with the blue gunblade hanging from his belt. "Squall Leonhart, Balamb Garden Commander." The lift whirred and moved up to the top floor. Squall checked his watch again 'Only three minutes late. The headmaster will understand'. The lift reached the third floor and Squall stepped out. A cooling breeze rolled off the open water that Balamb Garden was sailing through. Squall took a deep breath and stepped into Balamb Garden's boardroom.
He breathed a little easier when he saw who was sat around the table. Cid was at the top of course, with Edea next to him. Zell, Quistis and Selphie were sat near the top, all looking uncomfortable with their new decorations of rank. Squall's breath caught again when he saw that Martine of Galbadia, McKenzie of Trabia and Haldana of the white SeeDs were also sat round the table. Quistis saw the look on his face and gave him a nervous smile. She obviously didn't know what the meeting was about either. Cid waved Squall to his seat and cleared his throat. What he said took Squall completely by surprise. "Squall, you and your friends saved the world, and fulfilled SeeDs true purpose. Your friends have been rewarded for this, but you haven't. After much discussion, we have decided that since garden must take on a new role, you should be at the forefront of it. There is one thing that Garden has lacked for a long time, mainly because of a good leader. You have proved yourself an excellent leader, and you have certain qualifications that make you ideal for this job. We are proud to announce that you will be the first Master of Esthar Garden."
Squall sat back, stunned. "Why me?" he said, in a dazed voice.
Martine replied "You opened relationships with Esthar, and performed a job for them that succeeded beyond their wildest expectations. You've guaranteed good relations between Garden and Esthar for years to come. This is a reward for that as well."
Squall still looked amazed "But I can't…I…I only just graduated for a start."
Cid smiled "You also just saved the world. I think that's all the qualifications you need."
Edea spoke for the first time. She spoke so rarely at these meetings that Squall forgot she was there, and started when she said "They'll always be a place for you at Balamb Squall, but you're the only one qualified to do this. Please take it Squall."
Squall felt his heart sink. He couldn't refuse what Matron asked him, especially since he nearly killed her. Grudgingly, he agreed. "Alright I'll take the job."
Cid smile grew into a grin from ear to ear. "I knew I could rely on you Squall. Now we're going to make Esthar Garden capable of making SeeDs, so we're transferring several students there. Including Rinoa." Cid reached for Edea's hand, and Edea took it and gripped it. Some thoughts were still painful for the Head of Garden. "We wouldn't dream of separating you from your sorceress."
Squall let the talk of construction and administration wash over him, stunned at being promoted to Garden's highest rank.
***
Gilgamesh sat staring into a bowl of water. Instead of seeing the bottom though, he was studying Squall and how he had reacted to the news. The red-robed knight smiled and drew a finger over the bowl, and it was just a bowl again.
Footsteps made him look up, and he saw figure he had never expected to see. He gasped.
"Seoman?"
The figure stepped into the light, and stared at Gilgamesh with a face full of anger. "Yes Gilgamesh, it's me. Back from the dead."
