Part Eight
Everyone sat in the briefing room. Laguna had a picture on the monitor of Ultima weapon, "Alright. In exactly fifteen hours this," Laguna tapped the monitor with his pointer, "Is going to attack Esthar and there is no way Esthar defenses can hold it off. Are there any ideas."
Quistis was watching the Ultima weapon walk through the desert outside of Esthar, "Couldn't we try the dragon breath cannon on the ship? It might slow him down a little."
"No good. His armor is far too strong for something like that. It would probably glance off that giant sword of his."
"Could we fire the cannon at his front legs and trip him over, buying us some time, maybe?"
"I've seen him levitate. That won't last long even if it does work."
Zell was tapping his fingers on the desk in front of him, "Why don't we all just power up our GF's and pound the hell out of him?"
"You can try if you want. You'd be surprised how little it would do. He's at least three times larger than our biggest GF. He could crush Shiva under his foot if you tried to fight him like that. Even with the elven of you."
Kiyoko stood up, "I know him!"
"What?" Everyone was surprised, "You know that thing?"
"My people called that thing the ultima Devil. It used to terrorize my people."
"Of course! Black SeeD found ultima weapon in the same place they found Kiyoko."
"It was terrible. Entire armies died at the hands of that thing. There was one felious who could stand against it. He was our village elder. He had this ancient GF, even back then. It had no name and no visible form but it was powerful."
"Then how do you know it was a GF?"
"Because he used it once when Ultima devil attacked. It lifted them up into the sky. We never saw either of them again. Years later a comet crashed into the valley. Our people thought it was elder falling back to earth. They sent me and three warriors to the valley to investigate."
Laguna brought up a map of the world, "The research lab they found you in was in the middle of the ocean."
"It was a valley back then. The sea level must have risen a lot since then."
Irvine was listening intently, "So what did you find?"
"You have to realize that the journey took six months. We found a small cave near the crash site. Inside were a series of cave paintings. We figure elder wrote them before he died. He explained that the ultimate GF he was using couldn't hold ultima weapon forever. He sent ultima weapon into the icecaps where he would hopefully be frozen forever. To make sure he placed the ultimate GF into ultima weapon to guard it forever."
Squall crossed his arms, "There's a chance Black SeeD stole the GF. You know how they are about dissecting things."
"GF's have been sealed inside monsters before. We found Leviathan inside Norg." Rinoa was thinking out loud, "Maybe one of us could draw it from ultima weapon. All we have to do is get close enough."
Kiyoko shook her head, "Won't work. Ultima weapon has to be stunned first."
Laguna was a little mad about having the spotlight stolen, "And how do we stun him? We could throw all the bad stat magic at him and he'd just keep walking."
"There is a spell that will stun him. Its called ultima."
Everyone stood up, "That's insane! Ultima is forbidden magic. It doesn't even exist anymore."
Laguna used the pointer to move the map, "Actually, there is a single place to find an ultima draw point. It's in the Shumi village."
Squall was more surprised about the shumi than the ultima, "But the shumi are a myth! They don't exist."
"That's what they said about the felious."
Kiyoko thought to herself, "I remember the shumi! They lived far north of our tribes but they were usually nice people."
"This is insane! Ultima, shumi, they don't exist! Maybe in Kiyoko's time you could walk up to a hole in the ground and order three ultima and a bag of french fries but now days you can't."
Everyone was looking at Zell, "You got a better idea?"
"No."
"Then sit down." Laguna punched a wall console, "Kiros, are the new maximum heat engines working?"
"We haven't tested them yet."
"Are they at least on board?"
"Yes."
"Good. Head for the old Shumi Village."
"Shumi? Sir, I know you tell stories about that place but, uh, how should I put this? Have you been sniffing jet fumes? Everyone knows that place doesn't exist."
"Just go to the coordinates, if there isn't a Shumi Village I own you a coke. Okay?"
"Locking in course now."
* * * *
Kiyoko sat in her room by herself. She kept thinking about Roc, "Murderer? Kitina?" She began to wonder who it was she had come to know over the past few months. Roc had been quiet but always friendly. He had helped Zell in his prank war against Seifer. He had fought a t-rexauris in Balamb Garden just to prove he could. He had laughed. Now Roc was cold and calculated. He had tricked Kiyoko into a trap. He had laughed with the huntsman at her capture. He had almost crippled Zell. This was not the same Roc. It couldn't be.
Lydia walked into the room, "Roc has not completely turned his head away from the light."
"What?"
"I've spent the last three hours with Roc trying to figure out what happened to him. I have probed his mind and I cannot find what Kitina did to Xanna Hashedo's mind. We must face the possibility that this is the way he really is. If that is the case then we have no right to change his mind."
"What do you mean we don't have a right to change his mind. That's not the real Roc. I know it."
"For all we know this is how he acts normally and the diamond hawk altered his mind."
An idea popped into Kiyoko's head, "What if Kitina didn't change Roc's mind, she suppressed Diamond Hawk?"
"That could be. The problem is, I don't know how to bring the Diamond Hawk's mind back into power."
Kiyoko remembered the Shumi, "The felious have had dealings with the Shumi before. Maybe they could help."
"Yes. If anyone could help it's them."
* * * *
The Red Dragon set down near a large mountain range. The thrusters melted the two feet of snow that had built up on the ground. The rear hanger opened up. Squall, Rinoa, Laguna, Kiyoko and Lydia were all wearing Heavy fur coats. They were rolling a stretcher with them. Roc was strapped down and Lydia had both hands on his face. Unlike the others Roc was not wearing a coat. His body could handle cold weather a lot better than the others could.
Rinoa was shaking from the cold, "So, where is the Shumi Village?"
Laguna was using a pair of binoculars, "I'm not sure. Years ago my plain crashed near here. The Shumi took me in and saved my life. I had to stay with them for a long time. The village is a large dome built into the mountain." Something caught Laguna's eyes, "There. I see it. Let's go."
Lydia was focusing to keep Roc from using his ice body, "How much time until Esthar is attacked?"
Squall checked his watch, "Just over twelve hours."
* * * *
Laguna approached the large dome, "The door isn't visible from the outside. But there's a small black panel on the side. We can speak to the Shumi from there. These guys don't like large numbers, that's why there only a few of us. Rinoa, we need a true sorceress to handle ultima. Kiyoko, maybe they'll remember the felious. Lydia, we need someone to keep Roc from going critical."
Rinoa found the small black panel, "Is this it?"
Laguna walked up to the panel. He placed one hand on either side then started pressing buttons. A gurgling voice came from the panel, "Go away. Humans bring destruction. We seek peaceful life."
"Elder? Is that you? This is Laguna Loure. We're freezing our butts off out here! Can you let us in?"
There was a long string of hissing and gurgling, "Laguna, you may come in, I bid you welcome. Your friends are also welcome here." The wall beside the black panel folded back and opened.
Laguna stepped inside, "It's okay. We're in. Common you guys. It's a lot warmer inside." Squall and Lydia shrugged and wheeled the stretcher inside.
* * * *
Inside the weather was warm, almost tropical. Everyone was quick to take off their coats. Lydia made sure to keep at least one hand over Roc's head. Laguna stood in front, "Guys? I know you're there."
A door opened. Two shumi walked out. Rinoa and Squall took a step back, "They look like Norg." Squall whispered.
Laguna shushed Squall, "That's not a very nice thing to say."
The two Shumi bowed as a greeting, "Laguna. It has been a long time. Why have you returned to the shumi?"
Laguna didn't act the least bit afraid of the two shumi. He walked right up to them and started talking, "My home town is about to be attacked by this really nasty piece of work called ultima weapon."
The two shumi seemed to be fully alert at the name ultima weapon. "Ultima weapon has returned. The elder must be informed."
"Oh, the elder is still around. Hey guys, let's get going."
Everyone stepped into a large elevator, "A small organization called black SeeD dug him out of the ground and woke him up. See the cat girl over there? She's probably the last felious alive."
"We remember the felious race. They were hunted down and killed by early humans. This is one of the reasons we do not like humans."
"Anyway. We learned that the only thing that can stun ultima weapon is an ultima spell. That's why we need to borrow the sacred draw point."
"You should speak to the elder about that."
The elevator stopped. Two sliding glass doors opened into a forest paradise. The two shumi walked up to a large dirt road, "This is the way to the elders mansion. By the way, why is that man strapped to a bed?"
Lydia was the one to answer that question, "This man has physically bonded with a guardian force. He will try to escape if I don't keep him like this."
"Physical bonds to a GF? The elder must be informed about this."
* * * *
The elders hut was quaint by Squall's standard but it was cozy enough for a shumi. Squall and Laguna were first to walk inside. The elder was sitting in a chair, "Come in, have a seat. When I heard Laguna had returned I was most excited. What brings you to this village."
Squall took his seat. Diplomacy was not his strong suit. Laguna remained standing, "I have a favor to ask of you."
"Laguna, our village will always remember your kindness. You have but ask."
"My city is in danger. The ultima weapon has been released and we need to use your ultima draw point."
"The ultima draw point is our most sacred of places and ultima is the most dangerous of forbidden magic. I cannot allow anyone to have that kind of power. No one can control ultima. It would take a sorceress to handle that kind of power."
"Rinoa! Could you come in here for a moment." Rinoa walked inside, "Say hello to our sorceress. Rinoa Heartilly has received the power of a sorceress named Adel. She is our friend and I trust her."
"Very well. You alone may use the ultima draw point. I just prey that you can stop ultima weapon."
"There's another problem." Laguna held up his hands defensively, "A small problem. The black SeeD have learned how to physically bond a human and a GF together. One of them is outside strapped down to a stretcher because we can't stop him."
"The art of guardian force bonding is an ancient secret we had hoped would never again be used. In the old days the felious, who I notice you have also brought with you, and the shumi used this technique only in the most dire of situations."
Squall almost jumped out of his chair, "You mean there's a way to do it without using technology?"
"Correct." The elder held up a small pendant on a necklace, "This item was created by five sorceresses ages ago. Any creature wearing this will bond with his guardian force."
"The problem with Roc is, he used to be good. He helped us fight, then something happened to him and he turned evil."
"A guardian force's nature becomes that of the host. Two individual minds become one. Personality and desire change as memories blend together. Was this person sinister before he was bonded?"
"Yes." Kiyoko had been listening through the door the whole time. She deiced to walk in and sit down, "He was a black SeeD long before he got bonded. After the bonding his personality changed into the Roc we know."
"And now he has changed back you say? This is a problem. What is his guardian force?"
"Diamond Hawk."
"An ancient GF. This is interesting. The diamond hawk's personality must have been suppressed by some outgoing desire of the host. This problem is easy to fix. Leave him with us for two hours and he shall be cured."
Laguna was looking at the pendant, "I have an idea. Elder, can I borrow that pendant for a while."
The elder held out his long hand and gave Laguna the pendant, "Take it. You may leave your friend with our healers. My helper will take your sorceress to the draw point. I would speak to the felious alone."
Squall got up, "You got it. And thank you." Laguna and Squall walked out of the hut.
* * * *
Rinoa stood before a small pit, not more than three feet around. One shumi was watching, "This is the ultima draw point."
Rinoa put her hands over the hole in the ground, "I can feel the magic power. Would you mind telling me how this happened?"
"Centuries ago ultima weapon himself attacked this area. He fired a breath laser at this spot. Rumor has it the beam was so strong it cut down to the lower mantle where magic energy is still pure. That magic slowly leaks up to the surface but only in small amounts."
Rinoa focused on the draw point. She could faintly see a green mist hovering in the pit, "I've got it." Rinoa inhaled. The mist flowed up into her hands then around her body. Finally the mist entered her mouth and nose. Rinoa could feel the ultima power flowing through her. Her eyes glowed white, "Ultima is the ultimate power." Rinoa blinked and fell back.
The shumi managed to catch her, "Are you all right?"
"Yes. It's just a lot to handle. I got about twenty ultima casts. Thank you. I'll be fine. I have to go talk to Squall."
* * * *
Squall and Rinoa were sitting outside the elder's hut. "So, did I miss much?" Rinoa was trying to make conversation because Squall had that odd look on his face.
"Not really. Laguna is out for a walk with the sculptor he used to play cards with. Kiyoko is telling her life story to the elder. I'm just kind of bored. Did you get ultima okay?"
"Yes. I'd say about twenty of them. So, do we have a plan for the fight with ultima weapon?"
Squall held up a communicator, it was hissing static, "Quistis and Kiros are working on it but I can't tell. There's no reception down here."
"Squall?"
Squall and Rinoa looked up from their conversation. Squall drew his gun blade and Rinoa readied her northern light. Roc was leaning against a tree, "Is that you?" Roc was dazed. He stood up and took a step forward. Squall was ready to strike him down, "What's wrong? Oh, yes."
Roc started to lean over. Lydia got under his arm and caught him, "He's still a little weak from the therapy."
"Some kind of therapy. What was it, shock treatment?"
"Spiritual therapy. Roc has regained his composure and his since of honor. He knows what he did when he worked for the black SeeD."
"I'd just like to…"
Squall hadn't lowered his sword yet, "I swear to god if you apologize to me I will beat you to within an inch of your life."
"I am not ready to apologize yet. Someday I will ask your forgiveness but not yet. I have done terrible things since Kitina turned my mind. Now I will help you any way I can."
"Alright. When we were in black garden we heard something about operation D. What is operation D?"
"The black SeeD found ultima weapon some time ago. They knew it's destructive power and they finally found a way to handle it. You saw the missiles go off during your attack. That was to start the countdown. The moment the missiles hit Esthar Mar Cava would make his demands. At that moment Ultima weapon would start moving. I suppose you've probably figured that out already. Here's something you don't know. You may think the bonding process involves some very large machine at a bunch of candles or something. It doesn't. They studied GF for a very long time. A GF has a solid state and a spirit state. They have a laser cannon that causes pain in a GF and forces them into spirit mode. If a human can occupy the space the GF is in when the ray is active, then stay there as the ray is turned off the GF will be forced into the human's body."
"So you mean that a GF man like you can be created anywhere?"
"Here's another thing you don't know. After years of research, black SeeD learned Ultima weapon is a GF."
"A what!" Lydia almost let Roc fall when she heard this, "That's impossible! There must have been some mistake."
Roc stood up, "There is no mistake. They are going to select someone to bond with Ultima weapon, this will make him immune to the ultima spell. They're going to do this five minutes before ultima weapon reaches Esthar so the people can watch. After that there will be no stopping it."
"We have to act fast. You're better, we've got ultima and there's only eight hours left before Esthar gets attacked. Let's get back to the Red Dragon."
Roc finally stood up straight, "Good. I want to pay back those black SeeD for what they did to me."
* * * *
Everyone watched the shumi press the buttons that opened the service elevator. When the doors opened a human was standing on the platform, "Do you know how hard you are to track down?"
Kiyoko took a fighting stance, "Huntsman!"
Roc realized he wasn't carrying his swords, "Dantares! I'll kill you for what you've done to me."
"Oh, you're on their side again? Oh well. Kitina said it wouldn't last forever."
Squall drew his gun blade, "What wouldn't last forever?"
"If I told you that you'd know everything, wouldn't you?" Huntsman grabbed the Shumi and put a crossbow to his head, "When I heard about a felious I was surprised but I never thought I'd have a chance to kill a shumi. These guys are legendary."
"Leave him alone! I'm still your first choice for targets."
"Yes Kiyoko. I guess you are."
"I have a bet for you. The shumi homeland is a giant forest. You give me five minutes to run into the forest and then come after me. If you kill me, I'm dead. If I kill you, you're dead."
"Sounds like fun. I don't usually gamble with animals…"
"I am not an animal!"
"Tell you what. You take Roc with you. I want to kill the traitor too."
Roc removed his black coat, "I accept."
Kiyoko nodded, "So do I."
Huntsman put up his crossbow, "Five minutes. I'm starting the count."
* * * *
Roc was looking up at the tree branches, "I bet we could hide up there."
"What do you mean we? The only reason you're here is because he wanted us both."
"What are you talking about? I only accepted because I know we could work together."
"We used to. I don't know you anymore. The Roc I know would never kidnap me, cripple Zell or any of the other lousy stuff you've tried on me."
"Look I…"
"Not in your right mind. Yes, I know. I heard you explain it already."
"Then you were not listening the first time. I hate the black SeeD. I reject everything they ever taught me. It's me, the old Roc. Why do you not believe that?"
"Imagine how easy it was to turn you evil the first time. What will it take to do it again? Some chick in a black SeeD uniform walks up to you, you're ready to change sides? I don't know. None of us trust you anymore."
Roc's body grew in size and developed ice coating. Roc's wing spread in front of Kiyoko. Kiyoko gave a small yip and jumped back as the sight of an arrow sticking out or Roc's icy wings, "I just saved your life. You may want to start running now."
Kiyoko climbed up to a tree branch about ten feet up, "Let's split up. He can't track us both." Roc turned back into a human and ran through the forest leaving Kiyoko to move through the trees.
* * * *
Huntsman was standing beside a tree. Roc has seen his last arrow coming, "I know you Roc. You're going to try to distract me by running off somewhere. You know I want Kiyoko and I know you'll do anything to protect her." Huntsman loaded another arrow in his crossbow, "I can track Kiyoko in the trees just as easily as I can track you on the ground."
Huntsman ran to where Kiyoko and Roc had been standing. In the forest he could move at very high speeds. To him the forest was home and in the forest nothing could stop him. Huntsman put both hands on the tree. Effortlessly he climbed to the branch Kiyoko had been sitting on. Huntsman sniffed the air, "I know where you are. Once you are my trophy I will kill Roc for sport."
* * * *
Roc stood in the center of a small clearing he had made. Ice covered the ground where he had torn down trees and trampled the landscape. Here he was out in the open, huntsman could easily see him from the trees, "Where are you?" Roc's eyes scanned the trees, "You want to kill me, I'm right here." Roc wasn't even in his ice body. He wanted huntsman to think he had a chance. He had gone to no trouble to hide his tracks or conceal his passing through the forest. Even though any effort to do so could easily be seen by a skilled hunter like him. Roc spread his arms and legs, flexing his muscles, "I know you're here. Why aren't you attacking me?" Roc jumped to full hawk, "You have gone after Kiyoko. I can see that."
Roc saw a tree that looked about the right size, "If I'm actually inside the shumi's weather dome, the air here must be circulated differently. If I can just..." Roc ran up on of the trees he had knocked over. He then jumped up the limbs of a large tree he hadn't knocked over. In mid jump he spread his wings. Luck was with him, his wings caught an upward current of air. Now Roc could fly upward and fly without loosing altitude. This was no time for celebration. Kiyoko was in trouble.
* * * *
Kiyoko was standing on a tall tree branch looking all around her. She was scared of huntsman. If he found her there would be no way to loose him in the forest. Kiyoko finally leaned against the tree trunk, "I guess I'm just nervous. He's probably after Roc." Suddenly the tree Kiyoko was standing on shook. Kiyoko looked down at the ground. Huntsman was standing at the base of the tree with a large glowing blue axe blade.
"Timber." Huntsman smiled sadistically as the tree started to fall over.
Kiyoko looked around frantically. She saw another tree branch and jumped. Kiyoko was to focused on huntsman to notice that there was a rope hanging around the tree. As Kiyoko put her weight on the branch the rope tightened around her leg. Huntsman yanked the rope at the base of the tree. Kiyoko fell off the branch. She was now hanging from that branch about three feet above the ground.
Huntsman walked up to her, "With your long legs you can't reach up and cut the rope with your claws. Tell me, what do you think of my enhanced snare trap?"
"I think you're an ass hole." Kiyoko made a swing at huntsman. Huntsman was just out of her reach.
"I invented this trap. Your own weight is what set the trap and it's set up to throw you off balance. I knew where to set it because I knew that was the only branch you would jump to. Animals do, after all, enjoy a since of security."
"I'm not an animal!"
"I will admit. Having Roc act as a decoy was a clever plan but Roc did not understand my priorities. I want him for work, I want you for sport." Huntsman showed Kiyoko his glowing axe, "It's a thermal blade. I picked it up just for this occasion. I like to skin the bobcats I catch. Especially cute little kittens like you." There was a loud falcon's cry, "What? Already? It is to soon." Huntsman jumped back. He jumped into the air and kicked off the base of a tree. Kiyoko watched him jump through the air and finally land in a tree branch. Then he began jumping from blanch to branch effortlessly.
"I always wondered how he kept up with me. He must have the reflexes of a cat, and the enhanced senses. That's the only way he could have found me."
Roc landed beside her, "I'm sorry I am late."
"Whatever, just cut me down!" Roc jumped into the air and cut the rope with his ice claw. Kiyoko fell to the ground just missing an arrow fired from the trees, "He was going to kill me at long range, that coward. Roc, we have to kill him together."
"We used to fight well together. Can you trust me enough to do so again?"
Kiyoko watched the trees, "I think I can."
* * * *
Kiyoko was moving from branch to branch. She was using her sense of smell to track huntsman. She cold see Roc flying overhead. He was keeping a close eye on her. Finally Kiyoko saw the huntsman ahead of her. He was leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. There were only a few branches between them and huntsman wasn't running.
Kiyoko jumped to the next branch. The moment she touched the branch it gave away. There were large cut marks in the base of the branch. This could only mean one thing; a trap. Kiyoko could not survive the fall and there was no way she could catch herself.
Huntsman looked down at the falling Kiyoko, "Finally, I have won. I have beaten the animal."
"For the last time, I am not an animal!" Roc was flying toward huntsman. He and Kiyoko were holding each other's hands. Kiyoko did a sharp kick. Huntsman was hit square in the chest. He fell back.
Roc flew past. Kiyoko squealed, "That was fun!"
"Yes. He wasn't even looking at me the whole time."
Kiyoko looked back, "Damn! He caught a branch before he fell. He's just hanging there."
"Do you trust me?"
"You know I do Rocky."
Roc spun around. He was making another pass. This time he flew closer to the branch huntsman was hanging from. Roc moved his hands forward. Kiyoko let go. She put both feet on the branch huntsman was hanging from and jumped ahead. Roc was right behind her. He used his ice talons to cut the branch on either side of where huntsman was holding. There was no recovery this time. Huntsman fell to the ground. Roc quickly moved forward and caught Kiyoko who had just run out of momentum from her jump, "That was very cool!"
Roc was only holding Kiyoko with one hand now, "That was a good move. Where should I put you down?"
Kiyoko looked down, "Huntsman is getting up! That's not possible! Even I couldn't survive that kind of a fall."
"He is a GF man. We have incredible healing power. I could survive that fall. So could he. We're going down there." Roc saw Kiyoko was nervous about a fight with huntsman, "Don't worry Kitty. We can handle him. Huntsman uses traps and technique. He can't handle us both in a fair fight."
"Then let's get him!"
* * * *
Kiyoko landed on the ground just ahead of huntsman, "Where do you think you're going?" Huntsman turned around to see Roc land behind him, "You're got getting away after all the time you spent hunting me down."
Roc was in full Hawk, "When you get to hell, tell Kitina I said hi." Huntsman fired an arrow at Roc with his crossbow. The arrow glanced off his ice shell, "What do you think you're doing now? Arrows don't work on me. You need machine gun ammo at least."
Kiyoko snuck up behind huntsman and kicked the crossbow out of his hand, "Not so tough without your toys."
"Kiyoko! Get me a shot at his chest."
Kiyoko grabbed huntsman's shoulder and spun him around. Kiyoko punched him in the face several times. Kiyoko did a tackle and wrapped her hands around his waist. She leaned back, lifting huntsman into the air, "We felious are really strong too!" Kiyoko spun around. Her back was now facing Roc and huntsman was looking right at him. He was two feet off the ground and his chest was just over Kiyoko's head.
Roc's ice talons got bigger, "Good enough." Roc lunged at huntsman. His open hand passed over Kiyoko and hit huntsman in the chest. Roc continued moving. He pounded huntsman against a tree. There was a sharp exhale.
Roc let go and stepped back, "I just crushed his rib cage. He won't be moving for a while. You can finish him if you want to."
Kiyoko drew her six-inch claws, "I'd love to."
Roc turned away as Kiyoko ripped her claws into huntsman's chest. Roc was again an honorable person who did not enjoy killing. For Kiyoko it was a matter of revenge.
* * * *
Roc was walking out of the forest. He had one sword over each shoulder, "I really didn't like him."
Kiyoko was skipping around Roc, "That was great! He let me drop, but you caught me!"
"We caught him by surprise."
"Then I kicked him!"
"I like that move where you lifted him up…"
"Then you clobbered him!"
"You've got a good kick with those long legs of yours."
"And you're good at killing stuff!"
"He was always to calculated. He always had his mind on business. He needed to relax a little."
"Before I killed him!"
"At least you didn't try to eat him."
"The felious have never eaten a human. We hunted apes but that's totally different."
"You scare me sometimes."
"I know Rocky!"
"Damnit don't call me that."
Roc and Kiyoko walked out of the forest to see Squall and Rinoa staring at them intently, "We won. Let's get back to the Ragnarok, we've got a weapon to kill."
* * * *
Roc had gotten a cold reception from everyone on the Red Dragon. Zell and Irvine in particular didn't trust Roc. Zell actually had to be restrained. Seifer had been watching from a distance. He only smirked at Roc and said, "You'll get used to it."
Roc hadn't answered but he knew exactly what Seifer was saying. At the moment Kiyoko and Lydia seemed to be the only ones who really understood Roc. Even Squall and Rinoa were keeping their distance.
Laguna called a meeting in the briefing room. Roc sat with Lydia and Kiyoko on either side. Laguna brought up a picture of ultima weapon on the view screen, "In the past your magic techniques have been easy. You might say you've been acting on autopilot. You have but think of the spell and your GF hits the single target. Today you will forget all that. This thing is big. Different spells and summons will be cast at different places. I've received information that a black SeeD armored tank has been dispatched to meet ultima weapon and an airship is being readied with the GF laser. Squall, you and Seifer will be in charge of dealing with the armored car. Use GF's breaks, anything. A GF cannot be bonded if there is no human to bond with it. The Red Dragon will deal with the airship. I think we can handle it. Kiros assures me that it will be no match for us. Rinoa."
"Yes."
"You will stand in the head of the dragon and cast ultima on the monster's lower head."
"Lower head?"
"The face that isn't on the human torso. We think that'll shake it long enough to draw this nameless GF from it. At this time we will fire the dragon's breath, hopefully destroying it."
Roc had his arms crossed, "What do I do?"
Zell stood up, "How bout going to hell for starters!"
Roc stood up, "I don't think I deserve that! I've given critical information to this operation."
"Bull shit! How do we know this nameless GF even exists?"
"Because Kiyoko told me."
Quistis tried to mediate, "Why don't we just have Roc stay on the Red Dragon. That way someone can keep an eye on him."
"I will not be treated like a child! Either put me in this fight or I'll say to hell with all of you!"
"Where 'ya gonna go? Back to the black SeeD? Leave him on board the Red Dragon and I'll bet the fusion reactor freezes over."
Roc flexed. He was ready to go mid hawk, "I take offense to that!"
"Fine! Go full Hawk, prove me right."
Selphie was getting ready to speak. Zell half expected Selphie to stick up for Roc. She was always helping out the underdog, "I think Zell is right. Let's put him in the brig until this fight blows over."
Roc pounded the table, "For the love of god will you shut up! The only reason you're here is because Irvine won't be without you."
Selphie ran out of the room crying, "That's not true!" Irvine quickly ran after her.
Laguna broke his pointer over the table, "I am trying to conduct a briefing here. I will have you all sit down and shut up. Roc, I have plans for you. Zell, don't worry. We are all tense but I will have order. Now listen. Here's the rest of the plan…"
* * * *
Outside Irvine found Selphie leaning against the wall crying, "Is it true?"
Irvine stopped I his tracks, "What?"
"Is the only reason I'm here because you asked Squall to bring me?"
"No, that is not true. Roc was just pissed off at Zell. Selphie, Squall chose you for a reason. You are a great hacker. You got into Esther security defense force computers. All of Balamb garden couldn't do that. You can remain cheerful in the most tense situations. Squall and Seifer certainly can't do that. You are the only thing keeping this team from killing each other."
"Really?"
"Yes. And by the way, Zell will swear I'm kissing butt but I think you could have beaten 17 in miss swimsuit 2001. Besides, if you hadn't asked us to come we never would have known about the black SeeD. You are a valuable member of this team."
"I am, aren't I?"
"Besides, nobody throws a party quite like you."
Selphie dried her eyes, "It is time for another fall festival."
"And, I'll beat an apology out of Roc later."
"Thank you."
* * * *
Roc and Lydia stood in the rear cargo bay. He was watching the monitor, "So, let me get this straight. We actually have to get on ultima's back and start trying to break the armor?"
"That is correct."
"While he's trying to hack and slash us to bits?"
"That is correct."
"Have you heard the expression snow balls chance in hell?"
"I have."
"You know they're don't trust me. They're trying to get me killed."
"Does that really matter?"
"No. I guess it doesn't."
* * * *
Laguna saw Ultima weapon come into view, "Damn. That thing is close. I'd say it's about fifteen minutes away from Esthar. Whatever they're going to try they'll be doing it soon."
Kiros was sitting in the pilots seat, "Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?"
Laguna stopped, "Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to? Just make sure Squall and the others are ready to drop."
"I can see the tank moving in."
Laguna walked over to the elevator and pressed a few buttons. The elevator started making a humming sound Laguna knew all to well. He put on a head set, "Rinoa. Are you there?"
"I'm here. I can see Squall, Seifer and the others on the ground. I've almost got a clear shot at Ultima weapon."
Laguna was standing on the deck above the bridge. He was hanging on to the rail so he wouldn't fall. It was very windy up there.
"I'm casting!"
Laguna nodded, "Good."
* * * *
Rinoa focused her power on ultima, "Just one shot. That's all I need." A summoning ring appeared around Rinoa, "What? Why now?" Rinoa's eyes glowed green, "Ultima ascension!" From legends Rinoa had heard in the past ultima was a thick green mist that swallowed everything it touched. This time there was no mist. There was a massive green Needle.
Rinoa watched the needle hit ultima square in the face. There was a moment's pause and ultima weapon stopped in its tracks. Rinoa heard Laguna yelling orders, "Roc! Lydia! Quickly, while it's still stunned."
Rinoa saw Roc and Lydia approach. Lydia was holding someone in her hands, it was Quistis. Somehow Rinoa could see Lydia casting a spell. Quistis was about to use a break, "Degenerator?" A black beam of light came from Quistis. The beam was burning a hold in ultima's armor. Rinoa wasn't to surprised when the beam stopped, ultima's armor was barely scratched. Rinoa saw Lydia cast a spell. When Lydia let go of Quistis she floated to the ground. It was slower than a parachute but a parachute could get shot at. Roc and Lydia tried their brand of magic. Roc would freeze a fixed point on ultima's armor and Lydia would hit it with her holy light. Finally the armor cracked.
This was when Rinoa noticed the strangest thing of all. A white radiance seemed to be glowing from the crack. The light churned and writhed like some prisoner trying to get out. Finally the light broke away and came at the Red Dragon.
"Is that the nameless GF? The question is who drew it?"
On the ground Seifer stood before the armored tank. He blew a burst of fire at the truck then charged. His gun blade made a large cut in the armor. "So, that's a fire cross. Seifer used to brag about his break back at the garden but he almost never used it." Rinoa watched soldiers pile out of the truck and start fighting Seifer, Squall, Zell Fujin, Raijin and Kiyoko had just joined the fight. The match was six on twenty, the black SeeD didn't stand a chance.
Rinoa looked to the sky to see a hover ship, like the one they had encountered in Esthar was coming close. It was in stealth mode but for some reason she could see it. She mashed the button on the wall that opened a frequency tot he bridge, "Laguna! The air ship is coming!"
Kiros answered, "Laguna stepped out for a moment. What air ship? I can't see anything."
"It's there at two o'clock! What do you mean he stepped out?"
"He's on the flight deck, just above the bridge. I think he had a stupid idea."
"Sounds like it. What should I do?"
"Get back up here."
* * * *
Squall cut down the last black SeeD, "I think that's it." Squall looked up at the Red Dragon, "What are they doing? They stunned Ultima, we killed any human they could use for the bonding, what's left?"
Quistis had just landed on the ground after that float spell, "I think there's something up there we can't see. Roc did say there'd be an air ship with the GF laser. The question is, where?"
Everyone was watching the sky. Roc and Lydia weren't landing, they were still moving around in the air trying to find something.
Roc stopped and hovered in midair, "What's he doing?" Everybody watched from the ground as Roc launched a wave of ice at something unseen. There was a flickering of electricity as a large air ship came into view. Rinoa had been correct all along. The ship was in stealth mode.
"What in the hell is that?" A small door opened in the side of the ship and fired a laser of it's own. Roc was hit. Everyone watched him fall from the sky. Lydia swooped down to catch him.
"She's to low. They'll never be able to get that high without a boost from a ship. And there's no way se can go very high carrying Roc."
Another laser came from the under side of the ship. This one aimed at the now stationary ultima weapon. A single soldier dropped from the air ship. He didn't have a parachute and he was diving head first. "What is he doing? He'll be splattered when he hits the ground."
There was a blinding flash of light the moment the soldier touched ultima weapon. Everyone had to look away from the light. Finally the light faded and the dust cleared. Ultima weapon was gone.
* * * *
Kiros and Rinoa both stood up in their seats, "What happened?" Kiros started typing on the keyboard furiously, "External camera, right forty two degrees, down twenty seven degrees. Zoom in, magnification, three hundred percent."
An image appeared on the monitor. Mar Kava Odine was standing in a small crater made from the impact, "What's he doing out here? It doesn't make since."
Rinoa's eyes narrowed, "It makes perfect since. Who ever bonded with ultima weapon would have limitless powers. He couldn't trust any of his soldiers with that kind of power, he had to do it himself."
"Does that mean that light we saw was him bonding with the GF? We didn't destroy it fast enough. There's nothing we can do."
Rinoa started typing, "First, we blow up that air ship."
Kiros rotated the Red Dragon to line up with the air ship, "Fire the dragon breath. We'll have a small victory if nothing else."
* * * *
Laguna stood on the flight deck. He watched the dragon breath fire. Until now he had been frozen in a state of shock. He had been standing up there so he could draw the nameless GF from ultima but this was no ordinary GF. A normal GF had a physical form, this creature was pure energy. It was nameless, formless, timeless. It was thousands upon thousands of years old. This GF was a driving force behind evolution, behind life. Somehow it was sharing some of its knowledge with Laguna. Laguna's mind was so busy dealing with this new presence he was not worried about moving. Finally he chose a name, Eden, a symbol of man's desire for perfection. That was basically what this GF was, perfection in physical form accept for that there was no physical form. Laguna was finally out of his state of shock, "I know it all now. Good god, it all seems so simple."
Laguna watched Ultima bond with Mar Kava, "He's stronger now. Eden alone won't work. There is only one way." Laguna pulled the shumi's necklace, "Fight fire with fire." Laguna tied the necklace, "Now what?"
Laguna was answered by an incredible surge of energy. He could feel Eden's mind getting closer to his own. They were bonding. Laguna was being overpowered by the flood of knowledge that was now close enough to touch.
Laguna remembered what the Shumi had told him in private, "A GF and a human don't just share bodies when they bond. His personality, his desires would become yours. You would no longer be Laguna Loire. This is why Roc calls himself Roc instead of Xanna Hashedo. He understands that the bonding process isn't that simple. You may keep that necklace but remember, accepting a GF into your body is one thing but your mind is another."
Laguna stood straight up, he didn't look any different but he felt different. He knew everything about ultima weapon, "Mar Kava!"
They were a long distance away but somehow Mar Kava could hear him. Laguna could see Mar Kava looking up at him, "Who in the hell are you?"
"Don't you recognize me? I have kept you contained in a state of living death for the past ten thousand years. You should know me."
The two's hatred for each other stretched beyond time and space. When one talked the other could hear perfectly, "During my long slumber I dreamed of killing you and having my revenge."
Mar Kava flexed his muscles, he was going mid ultima. His skin turned black and he grew pieces of armor so thick his black trench coat was ripped off. He grew a strange black helmet over his head. Mar's lower half grew to look like that of a bear. Wings spread from his back and a giant blade formed in his hand. He now stood ten feet tall, "I will have my revenge!" Mar Kava jumped into the air. As bulky as he was now and as oddly placed as his wings were it was a wonder he could fly at all but he could fly. He was coming straight for the Red Dragon.
Laguna's eyes narrowed, "That will be enough of that." Laguna flexed. His body radiated white light and a silver blade grew in his hand, "Eden has no absolute form. So long as I know this there is nothing I can't do." Laguna jumped off the flight deck. He wasn't afraid of falling now. He hovered down to meet Mar Kava.
The two crossed swords the moment they were close enough. They were now face to face and both spinning around each other, "I will not allow you to destroy this city for your petty reasons."
"You have not changed Eden. Your light hurts my eyes."
"And your breath brings tears to mine." Laguna kicked off Mar Kava. The two were still circling in the air about six feet apart. Laguna pushed one hand forward and threw a bolt of energy at Mar Kava. Mar held his sword in front of him to block.
"Your attacks are meaningless to me." Mar opened his mouth and spit a green mist at Laguna. Laguna was quick to realize that this was an ultima spell. Laguna flew at Mar with his sword held in front of him. The glowing blade cut the mist.
"How can you stop an ultima spell like that. Ultima is pure magic energy!"
"Eden is a being of pure energy, your petty magic cannot defeat me."
Mar stopped, "Then it is time to take this fight up a notch." Mar grew fifty feet in height. His armor grew thicker and became more defined. "If Eden has no physical form what are you going to turn into? A ball of light?"
Laguna rushed Mar. He drove his sword through the armor in several places. Mar was too large to have any chance of hitting Laguna at this speed. Laguna jabbed his sword into ultima's side and ran the blade along his armor leaving a massive cut. Laguna flew away from Mar to get enough distance to avoid a counter strike. Laguna was shocked to see the wounds heal themselves.
Laguna groaned, "I can't even touch him. I have no choice but to try to go full Eden." There was a bright light and Laguna was gone.
Mar laughed, "You fight and now you run away? You are a coward Eden. I will destroy Esthar to force you out of hiding."
"No body's hiding." Mar looked up at the sky. A huge summoning ring stretched across the sky. The center was right over Mar's head.
From the Red Dragon Rinoa was watching the sky, "It looks like the summoning ring I use to evolve magic but oh so much bigger."
A needle of light came downward and speared Mar in the chest. The light seemed to spread over the now stunning weapon.
Rinoa could faintly see Laguna's body clinging onto Mar. There was a moment's pause. The beam of light that now had Mar speared reversed into the summoning ring and burst out the other side of the ring, into space. When the beam left Mar went with it. The only thing left was Laguna hanging in mid air.
Laguna was almost unconscious. When Eden had left it took most of Laguna's energy with it. Finally he fell. There was no GF keeping him in the air. It seemed wrong now. After being part of a force so large Laguna felt weaker and alone.
He felt himself lighten. Lydia had her arms around his waist, "You did a very noble thing. I had to save you. My only question is why didn't you go with it?"
Laguna held up his hand. He was holding the GF necklace, "I took it off when I figured out what Eden was doing."
"Who is Eden?"
"Eden is the GF I bonded with. He told me many things. I can't remember most of them. I do know that last time he tried to throw ultima weapon into the sun ultima was too strong. Now that ultima weapon was newly bonded he was weakened and after centuries of feeding off that damned thing Eden was stronger than ever. He needed me to put up a fair fight. Now they're both on their way to the sun and Ultima's never coming back."
"What about this Eden?"
Laguna watched the giant summoning ring fade away, "He'll be back. I can feel it."
"What do you plan to do now?"
"I've got a city to run. The people will need someone to calm them down after that scare. It's not every day the mayor saves the world."
"Pride is one of the deadly sins, ya know."
"I only joke. We all did it together."
* * * *
Everyone was back on the Red Dragon. Squall was slouched in his seat "I can't believe it's over. Black garden's in ruins. We wiped out every last one of them. We sent Ultima weapon back to hell. I'd call this a full work day."
Laguna was sitting beside him in a similar fashion, "Esthar is saved. I'd call this a day in the life as mayor."
Even Seifer was sitting with them, "Ya know, you losers don't do to bad. I gotta hand it to you. You guys did save the day, with a little help from us of course."
Squall groaned, "We did make a pretty good team."
Laguna hadn't moved in the last few minutes, "Kiros is taking us back to Esthar. Once we get off we'll program the autopilot to take you out of Esthar. From there you can go anywhere you want."
Seifer was still thinking about Eden, "Are you sure you don't remember anything Eden told you when you were bonded?"
"For the last time, no!"
* * * *
Three days passed. The journey home was a quiet one. Squall was typing in command codes for Balamb garden. A small dock opened on one side, "I never thought I'd be so glad to see the garden again."
Quistis was copiloting, "I can imagine what Xu's been up to as a substitute teacher. The kids have probably had a block party while we were gone."
"I say let them. Class will be back in session once you crack that whip of yours. I'll have a mountain of paper work waiting for me."
"I'll bet Zell and Irvine will be happy to get back to get class."
"Sure they will. How can they goof off in class if they're on a field trip?"
"Selphie's already on the Internet trying to organize another ball."
"Let here. They boost moral a lot. Besides, I still remember the party where I met Rinoa. Computer, begin docking sequence."
* * * *
Everyone was happy to be back home. Zell and Irvine stopped at their dorm rooms first to unpack. Selphie went up to the computer lab to check her web site. Squall and Quistis got in the elevator and invited Kiyoko and Roc to join them.
The four of them watched the garden's lobby area as the elevator started going up. When they got to the second floor Quistis saw one of the classrooms. There was a caricature of her with devil horns whipping a student, "Squall. I'll catch up to you later. I have to go put the fear of god into the freshman."
Kiyoko started giggling, "I finally get that joke! The freshman!"
Roc rolled his eyes, "You sure have some interesting artists in your classes here."
The elevator stopped on the third floor. Squall walked up to the double doors and swung them open. Xu was sitting in his chair with her feet up on the desk. She fell out of her seat when Squall walked in, "I hope you enjoyed your little stay in my office."
Xu stood up and saluted, "Nice to have you back sir."
"As a senior, don't you have a class to get to?"
"Yes sir." Squall smirked as she ran out of the room. Squall picked up his chair and sat down. He pulled one of the pens on his desk and put his gun blade into the hidden drawer. "Now. Kiyoko, Roc, we've been working together for a long time now. I think you have what it takes to enter the senior class."
Kiyoko jumped up and hugged Roc, "Did you hear that? We'll be seniors!"
Roc had a serious look on his face, "I cannot accept."
Kiyoko stopped, "Why now?"
"Look at Zell and Irvine. They still don't trust me. I can't live like that. I don't deserve to earn their trust again. I've done to many terrible things. When the shumi stabilized my GF I remembered everything I didn't want to tell you before. Did you realize I knew where black garden was the whole time I just chose not to tell you because I was running away from my past?"
"Seifer figured it out before I did."
"I did it because I was a coward. I was running away from my past."
"I'm willing to forget all that."
"I am sorry but I am not."
"Then I have another offer for you. If you are so intent on doing good I think you'll find this interesting. Remember when we first met? I was in Deling City on business. Rinoa's father finally approved the construction of Deling garden. We need someone to supervise construction then take over as head master."
"Headmaster?"
Kiyoko grinned, "Headmaster Rocky! I like it."
"Damnit don't call me that. Uh, That would be wonderful. I could do a lot of good that way."
Kiyoko was tired of not being talked to, "I want to be a senior! I can hang out with Zell!"
"What about me?" Lydia was standing in the doorway.
"Funny. I have a button to disable the elevator to this floor when I don't want to be disturbed."
"I know."
"I guess you can be a senior or help Roc as an inspector."
"There are a lot of seniors here. I would love to help with the new garden."
Roc looked around, "What happened to Seifer?"
"He disappeared when we landed." Squall wasn't to surprised, "He gave back the three GFs he borrowed. He said he didn't need them. I have a feeling we'll see him again."
* * * *
The next morning Squall's voice came on over the intercom, "Good morning students of Balamb garden. This morning Inspector Trepe and I have returned from our vacation. Everything will be back to normal. The students responsible for the graffiti on the walls will be found and punished." Irvine was sitting in the back of a classroom listening to the radio on his walk man. He took off the headphones when Squall started talking.
"We would also like to welcome a new student. Kiyoko Kitty will be joining our ranks in the senior class. I trust all students will be helpful in showing her around." Quistis looked up from a card game she was playing with Jack in the commons area. Quistis looked up from her game.
"For those of you in Balamb garden card club, there are two new members being added. Though I won't tell you their names they have chosen the names Duce and Ace." Kiyoko was in the library with Rinoa studying Macbeth for a class tomorrow. Kiyoko smiled. She was Duce, Zell was Ace.
"We are pleased to announce the plans for a fall festival have already begun and you can all thank Selphie Tilmitt for donating her time." Selphie was standing on the stage giving orders to Roc and Lydia who were flying over the door hanging the streamers. They all stopped when they heard the announcement. Selphie beamed.
"Finally, we are proud to announce the construction of Deling Garden will begin in one month. We are pleased to announce the new headmaster will be Xanna Roc Hashedo. The chief inspector will be Lydia Angelica Gabriel. Thank you." Roc had taken a break from helping Selphie. He and Lydia took a drink from the punch bowl.
Lydia was standing beside him, "I will be honored to work with you."
"I just hope I can make up for all the wrong I've done."
* * * *
Squall leaned back in his chair, "Life goes on." Squall pulled out a few writes up slips, "I almost forgot. Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Xu did cut class to go see the miss swim suit contest. I'll tell them later."
The End
Authors notes: Thank you for taking the time to read this story. I know it's really long but I am told it's worth it. Even though I've played and beat the game I did not watch the final ending movie. My computer crashed. If anything in that movie makes any of this story not make since, I'm sorry. You may notice that in this story everyone used their GF and their limit break accept for Laguna and his party because I have no idea what they are. Many of your have gotten mad at me for being so mean to Selphie. I'm sorry, I just can't stand her. You will notice that Quistis and Kiyoko did not tell her to shut up during the story. I was going to but the overwhelming Selphie support stopped me. I also tried to give her a happy ending. There!
As for the ending with Laguna using Eden, I know that Eden has a physical form but anyone who's used Eden should know this. What the hell is that thing? It's a hornet's butt sticking out of a summoning ring with giant wings. I just didn't know so I played it off as a source of energy.
Finally there is a contest. In this story I have hidden eleven lines from songs in the story. All of them were said by one of the characters. One of these eleven is in chapter one when Irvine sings lines from Kid Rock's Cowboy. That one's on me. The other ten are in the story. These lines aren't all the refrain of a song but they are memorable lines, I guess. I know this is a lame prize but the first one to leave a review with all eleven (counting the kid rock one) will get their name on my favorite author's section and a story in my favorite story section. I don't really know anything else to give. In the review please say the line, name of the song and the group who recorded it. One of the songs was redone by another artists, I'll accept either artist. Kiyoko Kitty, Duo Kitty and Kat are exempt from this contest because they know the answers, and they're already on my favorite author section. This is kind of a strange contest but I thought it was funny. Thank you for reading, please review and good hunting.
Everyone sat in the briefing room. Laguna had a picture on the monitor of Ultima weapon, "Alright. In exactly fifteen hours this," Laguna tapped the monitor with his pointer, "Is going to attack Esthar and there is no way Esthar defenses can hold it off. Are there any ideas."
Quistis was watching the Ultima weapon walk through the desert outside of Esthar, "Couldn't we try the dragon breath cannon on the ship? It might slow him down a little."
"No good. His armor is far too strong for something like that. It would probably glance off that giant sword of his."
"Could we fire the cannon at his front legs and trip him over, buying us some time, maybe?"
"I've seen him levitate. That won't last long even if it does work."
Zell was tapping his fingers on the desk in front of him, "Why don't we all just power up our GF's and pound the hell out of him?"
"You can try if you want. You'd be surprised how little it would do. He's at least three times larger than our biggest GF. He could crush Shiva under his foot if you tried to fight him like that. Even with the elven of you."
Kiyoko stood up, "I know him!"
"What?" Everyone was surprised, "You know that thing?"
"My people called that thing the ultima Devil. It used to terrorize my people."
"Of course! Black SeeD found ultima weapon in the same place they found Kiyoko."
"It was terrible. Entire armies died at the hands of that thing. There was one felious who could stand against it. He was our village elder. He had this ancient GF, even back then. It had no name and no visible form but it was powerful."
"Then how do you know it was a GF?"
"Because he used it once when Ultima devil attacked. It lifted them up into the sky. We never saw either of them again. Years later a comet crashed into the valley. Our people thought it was elder falling back to earth. They sent me and three warriors to the valley to investigate."
Laguna brought up a map of the world, "The research lab they found you in was in the middle of the ocean."
"It was a valley back then. The sea level must have risen a lot since then."
Irvine was listening intently, "So what did you find?"
"You have to realize that the journey took six months. We found a small cave near the crash site. Inside were a series of cave paintings. We figure elder wrote them before he died. He explained that the ultimate GF he was using couldn't hold ultima weapon forever. He sent ultima weapon into the icecaps where he would hopefully be frozen forever. To make sure he placed the ultimate GF into ultima weapon to guard it forever."
Squall crossed his arms, "There's a chance Black SeeD stole the GF. You know how they are about dissecting things."
"GF's have been sealed inside monsters before. We found Leviathan inside Norg." Rinoa was thinking out loud, "Maybe one of us could draw it from ultima weapon. All we have to do is get close enough."
Kiyoko shook her head, "Won't work. Ultima weapon has to be stunned first."
Laguna was a little mad about having the spotlight stolen, "And how do we stun him? We could throw all the bad stat magic at him and he'd just keep walking."
"There is a spell that will stun him. Its called ultima."
Everyone stood up, "That's insane! Ultima is forbidden magic. It doesn't even exist anymore."
Laguna used the pointer to move the map, "Actually, there is a single place to find an ultima draw point. It's in the Shumi village."
Squall was more surprised about the shumi than the ultima, "But the shumi are a myth! They don't exist."
"That's what they said about the felious."
Kiyoko thought to herself, "I remember the shumi! They lived far north of our tribes but they were usually nice people."
"This is insane! Ultima, shumi, they don't exist! Maybe in Kiyoko's time you could walk up to a hole in the ground and order three ultima and a bag of french fries but now days you can't."
Everyone was looking at Zell, "You got a better idea?"
"No."
"Then sit down." Laguna punched a wall console, "Kiros, are the new maximum heat engines working?"
"We haven't tested them yet."
"Are they at least on board?"
"Yes."
"Good. Head for the old Shumi Village."
"Shumi? Sir, I know you tell stories about that place but, uh, how should I put this? Have you been sniffing jet fumes? Everyone knows that place doesn't exist."
"Just go to the coordinates, if there isn't a Shumi Village I own you a coke. Okay?"
"Locking in course now."
* * * *
Kiyoko sat in her room by herself. She kept thinking about Roc, "Murderer? Kitina?" She began to wonder who it was she had come to know over the past few months. Roc had been quiet but always friendly. He had helped Zell in his prank war against Seifer. He had fought a t-rexauris in Balamb Garden just to prove he could. He had laughed. Now Roc was cold and calculated. He had tricked Kiyoko into a trap. He had laughed with the huntsman at her capture. He had almost crippled Zell. This was not the same Roc. It couldn't be.
Lydia walked into the room, "Roc has not completely turned his head away from the light."
"What?"
"I've spent the last three hours with Roc trying to figure out what happened to him. I have probed his mind and I cannot find what Kitina did to Xanna Hashedo's mind. We must face the possibility that this is the way he really is. If that is the case then we have no right to change his mind."
"What do you mean we don't have a right to change his mind. That's not the real Roc. I know it."
"For all we know this is how he acts normally and the diamond hawk altered his mind."
An idea popped into Kiyoko's head, "What if Kitina didn't change Roc's mind, she suppressed Diamond Hawk?"
"That could be. The problem is, I don't know how to bring the Diamond Hawk's mind back into power."
Kiyoko remembered the Shumi, "The felious have had dealings with the Shumi before. Maybe they could help."
"Yes. If anyone could help it's them."
* * * *
The Red Dragon set down near a large mountain range. The thrusters melted the two feet of snow that had built up on the ground. The rear hanger opened up. Squall, Rinoa, Laguna, Kiyoko and Lydia were all wearing Heavy fur coats. They were rolling a stretcher with them. Roc was strapped down and Lydia had both hands on his face. Unlike the others Roc was not wearing a coat. His body could handle cold weather a lot better than the others could.
Rinoa was shaking from the cold, "So, where is the Shumi Village?"
Laguna was using a pair of binoculars, "I'm not sure. Years ago my plain crashed near here. The Shumi took me in and saved my life. I had to stay with them for a long time. The village is a large dome built into the mountain." Something caught Laguna's eyes, "There. I see it. Let's go."
Lydia was focusing to keep Roc from using his ice body, "How much time until Esthar is attacked?"
Squall checked his watch, "Just over twelve hours."
* * * *
Laguna approached the large dome, "The door isn't visible from the outside. But there's a small black panel on the side. We can speak to the Shumi from there. These guys don't like large numbers, that's why there only a few of us. Rinoa, we need a true sorceress to handle ultima. Kiyoko, maybe they'll remember the felious. Lydia, we need someone to keep Roc from going critical."
Rinoa found the small black panel, "Is this it?"
Laguna walked up to the panel. He placed one hand on either side then started pressing buttons. A gurgling voice came from the panel, "Go away. Humans bring destruction. We seek peaceful life."
"Elder? Is that you? This is Laguna Loure. We're freezing our butts off out here! Can you let us in?"
There was a long string of hissing and gurgling, "Laguna, you may come in, I bid you welcome. Your friends are also welcome here." The wall beside the black panel folded back and opened.
Laguna stepped inside, "It's okay. We're in. Common you guys. It's a lot warmer inside." Squall and Lydia shrugged and wheeled the stretcher inside.
* * * *
Inside the weather was warm, almost tropical. Everyone was quick to take off their coats. Lydia made sure to keep at least one hand over Roc's head. Laguna stood in front, "Guys? I know you're there."
A door opened. Two shumi walked out. Rinoa and Squall took a step back, "They look like Norg." Squall whispered.
Laguna shushed Squall, "That's not a very nice thing to say."
The two Shumi bowed as a greeting, "Laguna. It has been a long time. Why have you returned to the shumi?"
Laguna didn't act the least bit afraid of the two shumi. He walked right up to them and started talking, "My home town is about to be attacked by this really nasty piece of work called ultima weapon."
The two shumi seemed to be fully alert at the name ultima weapon. "Ultima weapon has returned. The elder must be informed."
"Oh, the elder is still around. Hey guys, let's get going."
Everyone stepped into a large elevator, "A small organization called black SeeD dug him out of the ground and woke him up. See the cat girl over there? She's probably the last felious alive."
"We remember the felious race. They were hunted down and killed by early humans. This is one of the reasons we do not like humans."
"Anyway. We learned that the only thing that can stun ultima weapon is an ultima spell. That's why we need to borrow the sacred draw point."
"You should speak to the elder about that."
The elevator stopped. Two sliding glass doors opened into a forest paradise. The two shumi walked up to a large dirt road, "This is the way to the elders mansion. By the way, why is that man strapped to a bed?"
Lydia was the one to answer that question, "This man has physically bonded with a guardian force. He will try to escape if I don't keep him like this."
"Physical bonds to a GF? The elder must be informed about this."
* * * *
The elders hut was quaint by Squall's standard but it was cozy enough for a shumi. Squall and Laguna were first to walk inside. The elder was sitting in a chair, "Come in, have a seat. When I heard Laguna had returned I was most excited. What brings you to this village."
Squall took his seat. Diplomacy was not his strong suit. Laguna remained standing, "I have a favor to ask of you."
"Laguna, our village will always remember your kindness. You have but ask."
"My city is in danger. The ultima weapon has been released and we need to use your ultima draw point."
"The ultima draw point is our most sacred of places and ultima is the most dangerous of forbidden magic. I cannot allow anyone to have that kind of power. No one can control ultima. It would take a sorceress to handle that kind of power."
"Rinoa! Could you come in here for a moment." Rinoa walked inside, "Say hello to our sorceress. Rinoa Heartilly has received the power of a sorceress named Adel. She is our friend and I trust her."
"Very well. You alone may use the ultima draw point. I just prey that you can stop ultima weapon."
"There's another problem." Laguna held up his hands defensively, "A small problem. The black SeeD have learned how to physically bond a human and a GF together. One of them is outside strapped down to a stretcher because we can't stop him."
"The art of guardian force bonding is an ancient secret we had hoped would never again be used. In the old days the felious, who I notice you have also brought with you, and the shumi used this technique only in the most dire of situations."
Squall almost jumped out of his chair, "You mean there's a way to do it without using technology?"
"Correct." The elder held up a small pendant on a necklace, "This item was created by five sorceresses ages ago. Any creature wearing this will bond with his guardian force."
"The problem with Roc is, he used to be good. He helped us fight, then something happened to him and he turned evil."
"A guardian force's nature becomes that of the host. Two individual minds become one. Personality and desire change as memories blend together. Was this person sinister before he was bonded?"
"Yes." Kiyoko had been listening through the door the whole time. She deiced to walk in and sit down, "He was a black SeeD long before he got bonded. After the bonding his personality changed into the Roc we know."
"And now he has changed back you say? This is a problem. What is his guardian force?"
"Diamond Hawk."
"An ancient GF. This is interesting. The diamond hawk's personality must have been suppressed by some outgoing desire of the host. This problem is easy to fix. Leave him with us for two hours and he shall be cured."
Laguna was looking at the pendant, "I have an idea. Elder, can I borrow that pendant for a while."
The elder held out his long hand and gave Laguna the pendant, "Take it. You may leave your friend with our healers. My helper will take your sorceress to the draw point. I would speak to the felious alone."
Squall got up, "You got it. And thank you." Laguna and Squall walked out of the hut.
* * * *
Rinoa stood before a small pit, not more than three feet around. One shumi was watching, "This is the ultima draw point."
Rinoa put her hands over the hole in the ground, "I can feel the magic power. Would you mind telling me how this happened?"
"Centuries ago ultima weapon himself attacked this area. He fired a breath laser at this spot. Rumor has it the beam was so strong it cut down to the lower mantle where magic energy is still pure. That magic slowly leaks up to the surface but only in small amounts."
Rinoa focused on the draw point. She could faintly see a green mist hovering in the pit, "I've got it." Rinoa inhaled. The mist flowed up into her hands then around her body. Finally the mist entered her mouth and nose. Rinoa could feel the ultima power flowing through her. Her eyes glowed white, "Ultima is the ultimate power." Rinoa blinked and fell back.
The shumi managed to catch her, "Are you all right?"
"Yes. It's just a lot to handle. I got about twenty ultima casts. Thank you. I'll be fine. I have to go talk to Squall."
* * * *
Squall and Rinoa were sitting outside the elder's hut. "So, did I miss much?" Rinoa was trying to make conversation because Squall had that odd look on his face.
"Not really. Laguna is out for a walk with the sculptor he used to play cards with. Kiyoko is telling her life story to the elder. I'm just kind of bored. Did you get ultima okay?"
"Yes. I'd say about twenty of them. So, do we have a plan for the fight with ultima weapon?"
Squall held up a communicator, it was hissing static, "Quistis and Kiros are working on it but I can't tell. There's no reception down here."
"Squall?"
Squall and Rinoa looked up from their conversation. Squall drew his gun blade and Rinoa readied her northern light. Roc was leaning against a tree, "Is that you?" Roc was dazed. He stood up and took a step forward. Squall was ready to strike him down, "What's wrong? Oh, yes."
Roc started to lean over. Lydia got under his arm and caught him, "He's still a little weak from the therapy."
"Some kind of therapy. What was it, shock treatment?"
"Spiritual therapy. Roc has regained his composure and his since of honor. He knows what he did when he worked for the black SeeD."
"I'd just like to…"
Squall hadn't lowered his sword yet, "I swear to god if you apologize to me I will beat you to within an inch of your life."
"I am not ready to apologize yet. Someday I will ask your forgiveness but not yet. I have done terrible things since Kitina turned my mind. Now I will help you any way I can."
"Alright. When we were in black garden we heard something about operation D. What is operation D?"
"The black SeeD found ultima weapon some time ago. They knew it's destructive power and they finally found a way to handle it. You saw the missiles go off during your attack. That was to start the countdown. The moment the missiles hit Esthar Mar Cava would make his demands. At that moment Ultima weapon would start moving. I suppose you've probably figured that out already. Here's something you don't know. You may think the bonding process involves some very large machine at a bunch of candles or something. It doesn't. They studied GF for a very long time. A GF has a solid state and a spirit state. They have a laser cannon that causes pain in a GF and forces them into spirit mode. If a human can occupy the space the GF is in when the ray is active, then stay there as the ray is turned off the GF will be forced into the human's body."
"So you mean that a GF man like you can be created anywhere?"
"Here's another thing you don't know. After years of research, black SeeD learned Ultima weapon is a GF."
"A what!" Lydia almost let Roc fall when she heard this, "That's impossible! There must have been some mistake."
Roc stood up, "There is no mistake. They are going to select someone to bond with Ultima weapon, this will make him immune to the ultima spell. They're going to do this five minutes before ultima weapon reaches Esthar so the people can watch. After that there will be no stopping it."
"We have to act fast. You're better, we've got ultima and there's only eight hours left before Esthar gets attacked. Let's get back to the Red Dragon."
Roc finally stood up straight, "Good. I want to pay back those black SeeD for what they did to me."
* * * *
Everyone watched the shumi press the buttons that opened the service elevator. When the doors opened a human was standing on the platform, "Do you know how hard you are to track down?"
Kiyoko took a fighting stance, "Huntsman!"
Roc realized he wasn't carrying his swords, "Dantares! I'll kill you for what you've done to me."
"Oh, you're on their side again? Oh well. Kitina said it wouldn't last forever."
Squall drew his gun blade, "What wouldn't last forever?"
"If I told you that you'd know everything, wouldn't you?" Huntsman grabbed the Shumi and put a crossbow to his head, "When I heard about a felious I was surprised but I never thought I'd have a chance to kill a shumi. These guys are legendary."
"Leave him alone! I'm still your first choice for targets."
"Yes Kiyoko. I guess you are."
"I have a bet for you. The shumi homeland is a giant forest. You give me five minutes to run into the forest and then come after me. If you kill me, I'm dead. If I kill you, you're dead."
"Sounds like fun. I don't usually gamble with animals…"
"I am not an animal!"
"Tell you what. You take Roc with you. I want to kill the traitor too."
Roc removed his black coat, "I accept."
Kiyoko nodded, "So do I."
Huntsman put up his crossbow, "Five minutes. I'm starting the count."
* * * *
Roc was looking up at the tree branches, "I bet we could hide up there."
"What do you mean we? The only reason you're here is because he wanted us both."
"What are you talking about? I only accepted because I know we could work together."
"We used to. I don't know you anymore. The Roc I know would never kidnap me, cripple Zell or any of the other lousy stuff you've tried on me."
"Look I…"
"Not in your right mind. Yes, I know. I heard you explain it already."
"Then you were not listening the first time. I hate the black SeeD. I reject everything they ever taught me. It's me, the old Roc. Why do you not believe that?"
"Imagine how easy it was to turn you evil the first time. What will it take to do it again? Some chick in a black SeeD uniform walks up to you, you're ready to change sides? I don't know. None of us trust you anymore."
Roc's body grew in size and developed ice coating. Roc's wing spread in front of Kiyoko. Kiyoko gave a small yip and jumped back as the sight of an arrow sticking out or Roc's icy wings, "I just saved your life. You may want to start running now."
Kiyoko climbed up to a tree branch about ten feet up, "Let's split up. He can't track us both." Roc turned back into a human and ran through the forest leaving Kiyoko to move through the trees.
* * * *
Huntsman was standing beside a tree. Roc has seen his last arrow coming, "I know you Roc. You're going to try to distract me by running off somewhere. You know I want Kiyoko and I know you'll do anything to protect her." Huntsman loaded another arrow in his crossbow, "I can track Kiyoko in the trees just as easily as I can track you on the ground."
Huntsman ran to where Kiyoko and Roc had been standing. In the forest he could move at very high speeds. To him the forest was home and in the forest nothing could stop him. Huntsman put both hands on the tree. Effortlessly he climbed to the branch Kiyoko had been sitting on. Huntsman sniffed the air, "I know where you are. Once you are my trophy I will kill Roc for sport."
* * * *
Roc stood in the center of a small clearing he had made. Ice covered the ground where he had torn down trees and trampled the landscape. Here he was out in the open, huntsman could easily see him from the trees, "Where are you?" Roc's eyes scanned the trees, "You want to kill me, I'm right here." Roc wasn't even in his ice body. He wanted huntsman to think he had a chance. He had gone to no trouble to hide his tracks or conceal his passing through the forest. Even though any effort to do so could easily be seen by a skilled hunter like him. Roc spread his arms and legs, flexing his muscles, "I know you're here. Why aren't you attacking me?" Roc jumped to full hawk, "You have gone after Kiyoko. I can see that."
Roc saw a tree that looked about the right size, "If I'm actually inside the shumi's weather dome, the air here must be circulated differently. If I can just..." Roc ran up on of the trees he had knocked over. He then jumped up the limbs of a large tree he hadn't knocked over. In mid jump he spread his wings. Luck was with him, his wings caught an upward current of air. Now Roc could fly upward and fly without loosing altitude. This was no time for celebration. Kiyoko was in trouble.
* * * *
Kiyoko was standing on a tall tree branch looking all around her. She was scared of huntsman. If he found her there would be no way to loose him in the forest. Kiyoko finally leaned against the tree trunk, "I guess I'm just nervous. He's probably after Roc." Suddenly the tree Kiyoko was standing on shook. Kiyoko looked down at the ground. Huntsman was standing at the base of the tree with a large glowing blue axe blade.
"Timber." Huntsman smiled sadistically as the tree started to fall over.
Kiyoko looked around frantically. She saw another tree branch and jumped. Kiyoko was to focused on huntsman to notice that there was a rope hanging around the tree. As Kiyoko put her weight on the branch the rope tightened around her leg. Huntsman yanked the rope at the base of the tree. Kiyoko fell off the branch. She was now hanging from that branch about three feet above the ground.
Huntsman walked up to her, "With your long legs you can't reach up and cut the rope with your claws. Tell me, what do you think of my enhanced snare trap?"
"I think you're an ass hole." Kiyoko made a swing at huntsman. Huntsman was just out of her reach.
"I invented this trap. Your own weight is what set the trap and it's set up to throw you off balance. I knew where to set it because I knew that was the only branch you would jump to. Animals do, after all, enjoy a since of security."
"I'm not an animal!"
"I will admit. Having Roc act as a decoy was a clever plan but Roc did not understand my priorities. I want him for work, I want you for sport." Huntsman showed Kiyoko his glowing axe, "It's a thermal blade. I picked it up just for this occasion. I like to skin the bobcats I catch. Especially cute little kittens like you." There was a loud falcon's cry, "What? Already? It is to soon." Huntsman jumped back. He jumped into the air and kicked off the base of a tree. Kiyoko watched him jump through the air and finally land in a tree branch. Then he began jumping from blanch to branch effortlessly.
"I always wondered how he kept up with me. He must have the reflexes of a cat, and the enhanced senses. That's the only way he could have found me."
Roc landed beside her, "I'm sorry I am late."
"Whatever, just cut me down!" Roc jumped into the air and cut the rope with his ice claw. Kiyoko fell to the ground just missing an arrow fired from the trees, "He was going to kill me at long range, that coward. Roc, we have to kill him together."
"We used to fight well together. Can you trust me enough to do so again?"
Kiyoko watched the trees, "I think I can."
* * * *
Kiyoko was moving from branch to branch. She was using her sense of smell to track huntsman. She cold see Roc flying overhead. He was keeping a close eye on her. Finally Kiyoko saw the huntsman ahead of her. He was leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. There were only a few branches between them and huntsman wasn't running.
Kiyoko jumped to the next branch. The moment she touched the branch it gave away. There were large cut marks in the base of the branch. This could only mean one thing; a trap. Kiyoko could not survive the fall and there was no way she could catch herself.
Huntsman looked down at the falling Kiyoko, "Finally, I have won. I have beaten the animal."
"For the last time, I am not an animal!" Roc was flying toward huntsman. He and Kiyoko were holding each other's hands. Kiyoko did a sharp kick. Huntsman was hit square in the chest. He fell back.
Roc flew past. Kiyoko squealed, "That was fun!"
"Yes. He wasn't even looking at me the whole time."
Kiyoko looked back, "Damn! He caught a branch before he fell. He's just hanging there."
"Do you trust me?"
"You know I do Rocky."
Roc spun around. He was making another pass. This time he flew closer to the branch huntsman was hanging from. Roc moved his hands forward. Kiyoko let go. She put both feet on the branch huntsman was hanging from and jumped ahead. Roc was right behind her. He used his ice talons to cut the branch on either side of where huntsman was holding. There was no recovery this time. Huntsman fell to the ground. Roc quickly moved forward and caught Kiyoko who had just run out of momentum from her jump, "That was very cool!"
Roc was only holding Kiyoko with one hand now, "That was a good move. Where should I put you down?"
Kiyoko looked down, "Huntsman is getting up! That's not possible! Even I couldn't survive that kind of a fall."
"He is a GF man. We have incredible healing power. I could survive that fall. So could he. We're going down there." Roc saw Kiyoko was nervous about a fight with huntsman, "Don't worry Kitty. We can handle him. Huntsman uses traps and technique. He can't handle us both in a fair fight."
"Then let's get him!"
* * * *
Kiyoko landed on the ground just ahead of huntsman, "Where do you think you're going?" Huntsman turned around to see Roc land behind him, "You're got getting away after all the time you spent hunting me down."
Roc was in full Hawk, "When you get to hell, tell Kitina I said hi." Huntsman fired an arrow at Roc with his crossbow. The arrow glanced off his ice shell, "What do you think you're doing now? Arrows don't work on me. You need machine gun ammo at least."
Kiyoko snuck up behind huntsman and kicked the crossbow out of his hand, "Not so tough without your toys."
"Kiyoko! Get me a shot at his chest."
Kiyoko grabbed huntsman's shoulder and spun him around. Kiyoko punched him in the face several times. Kiyoko did a tackle and wrapped her hands around his waist. She leaned back, lifting huntsman into the air, "We felious are really strong too!" Kiyoko spun around. Her back was now facing Roc and huntsman was looking right at him. He was two feet off the ground and his chest was just over Kiyoko's head.
Roc's ice talons got bigger, "Good enough." Roc lunged at huntsman. His open hand passed over Kiyoko and hit huntsman in the chest. Roc continued moving. He pounded huntsman against a tree. There was a sharp exhale.
Roc let go and stepped back, "I just crushed his rib cage. He won't be moving for a while. You can finish him if you want to."
Kiyoko drew her six-inch claws, "I'd love to."
Roc turned away as Kiyoko ripped her claws into huntsman's chest. Roc was again an honorable person who did not enjoy killing. For Kiyoko it was a matter of revenge.
* * * *
Roc was walking out of the forest. He had one sword over each shoulder, "I really didn't like him."
Kiyoko was skipping around Roc, "That was great! He let me drop, but you caught me!"
"We caught him by surprise."
"Then I kicked him!"
"I like that move where you lifted him up…"
"Then you clobbered him!"
"You've got a good kick with those long legs of yours."
"And you're good at killing stuff!"
"He was always to calculated. He always had his mind on business. He needed to relax a little."
"Before I killed him!"
"At least you didn't try to eat him."
"The felious have never eaten a human. We hunted apes but that's totally different."
"You scare me sometimes."
"I know Rocky!"
"Damnit don't call me that."
Roc and Kiyoko walked out of the forest to see Squall and Rinoa staring at them intently, "We won. Let's get back to the Ragnarok, we've got a weapon to kill."
* * * *
Roc had gotten a cold reception from everyone on the Red Dragon. Zell and Irvine in particular didn't trust Roc. Zell actually had to be restrained. Seifer had been watching from a distance. He only smirked at Roc and said, "You'll get used to it."
Roc hadn't answered but he knew exactly what Seifer was saying. At the moment Kiyoko and Lydia seemed to be the only ones who really understood Roc. Even Squall and Rinoa were keeping their distance.
Laguna called a meeting in the briefing room. Roc sat with Lydia and Kiyoko on either side. Laguna brought up a picture of ultima weapon on the view screen, "In the past your magic techniques have been easy. You might say you've been acting on autopilot. You have but think of the spell and your GF hits the single target. Today you will forget all that. This thing is big. Different spells and summons will be cast at different places. I've received information that a black SeeD armored tank has been dispatched to meet ultima weapon and an airship is being readied with the GF laser. Squall, you and Seifer will be in charge of dealing with the armored car. Use GF's breaks, anything. A GF cannot be bonded if there is no human to bond with it. The Red Dragon will deal with the airship. I think we can handle it. Kiros assures me that it will be no match for us. Rinoa."
"Yes."
"You will stand in the head of the dragon and cast ultima on the monster's lower head."
"Lower head?"
"The face that isn't on the human torso. We think that'll shake it long enough to draw this nameless GF from it. At this time we will fire the dragon's breath, hopefully destroying it."
Roc had his arms crossed, "What do I do?"
Zell stood up, "How bout going to hell for starters!"
Roc stood up, "I don't think I deserve that! I've given critical information to this operation."
"Bull shit! How do we know this nameless GF even exists?"
"Because Kiyoko told me."
Quistis tried to mediate, "Why don't we just have Roc stay on the Red Dragon. That way someone can keep an eye on him."
"I will not be treated like a child! Either put me in this fight or I'll say to hell with all of you!"
"Where 'ya gonna go? Back to the black SeeD? Leave him on board the Red Dragon and I'll bet the fusion reactor freezes over."
Roc flexed. He was ready to go mid hawk, "I take offense to that!"
"Fine! Go full Hawk, prove me right."
Selphie was getting ready to speak. Zell half expected Selphie to stick up for Roc. She was always helping out the underdog, "I think Zell is right. Let's put him in the brig until this fight blows over."
Roc pounded the table, "For the love of god will you shut up! The only reason you're here is because Irvine won't be without you."
Selphie ran out of the room crying, "That's not true!" Irvine quickly ran after her.
Laguna broke his pointer over the table, "I am trying to conduct a briefing here. I will have you all sit down and shut up. Roc, I have plans for you. Zell, don't worry. We are all tense but I will have order. Now listen. Here's the rest of the plan…"
* * * *
Outside Irvine found Selphie leaning against the wall crying, "Is it true?"
Irvine stopped I his tracks, "What?"
"Is the only reason I'm here because you asked Squall to bring me?"
"No, that is not true. Roc was just pissed off at Zell. Selphie, Squall chose you for a reason. You are a great hacker. You got into Esther security defense force computers. All of Balamb garden couldn't do that. You can remain cheerful in the most tense situations. Squall and Seifer certainly can't do that. You are the only thing keeping this team from killing each other."
"Really?"
"Yes. And by the way, Zell will swear I'm kissing butt but I think you could have beaten 17 in miss swimsuit 2001. Besides, if you hadn't asked us to come we never would have known about the black SeeD. You are a valuable member of this team."
"I am, aren't I?"
"Besides, nobody throws a party quite like you."
Selphie dried her eyes, "It is time for another fall festival."
"And, I'll beat an apology out of Roc later."
"Thank you."
* * * *
Roc and Lydia stood in the rear cargo bay. He was watching the monitor, "So, let me get this straight. We actually have to get on ultima's back and start trying to break the armor?"
"That is correct."
"While he's trying to hack and slash us to bits?"
"That is correct."
"Have you heard the expression snow balls chance in hell?"
"I have."
"You know they're don't trust me. They're trying to get me killed."
"Does that really matter?"
"No. I guess it doesn't."
* * * *
Laguna saw Ultima weapon come into view, "Damn. That thing is close. I'd say it's about fifteen minutes away from Esthar. Whatever they're going to try they'll be doing it soon."
Kiros was sitting in the pilots seat, "Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?"
Laguna stopped, "Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to? Just make sure Squall and the others are ready to drop."
"I can see the tank moving in."
Laguna walked over to the elevator and pressed a few buttons. The elevator started making a humming sound Laguna knew all to well. He put on a head set, "Rinoa. Are you there?"
"I'm here. I can see Squall, Seifer and the others on the ground. I've almost got a clear shot at Ultima weapon."
Laguna was standing on the deck above the bridge. He was hanging on to the rail so he wouldn't fall. It was very windy up there.
"I'm casting!"
Laguna nodded, "Good."
* * * *
Rinoa focused her power on ultima, "Just one shot. That's all I need." A summoning ring appeared around Rinoa, "What? Why now?" Rinoa's eyes glowed green, "Ultima ascension!" From legends Rinoa had heard in the past ultima was a thick green mist that swallowed everything it touched. This time there was no mist. There was a massive green Needle.
Rinoa watched the needle hit ultima square in the face. There was a moment's pause and ultima weapon stopped in its tracks. Rinoa heard Laguna yelling orders, "Roc! Lydia! Quickly, while it's still stunned."
Rinoa saw Roc and Lydia approach. Lydia was holding someone in her hands, it was Quistis. Somehow Rinoa could see Lydia casting a spell. Quistis was about to use a break, "Degenerator?" A black beam of light came from Quistis. The beam was burning a hold in ultima's armor. Rinoa wasn't to surprised when the beam stopped, ultima's armor was barely scratched. Rinoa saw Lydia cast a spell. When Lydia let go of Quistis she floated to the ground. It was slower than a parachute but a parachute could get shot at. Roc and Lydia tried their brand of magic. Roc would freeze a fixed point on ultima's armor and Lydia would hit it with her holy light. Finally the armor cracked.
This was when Rinoa noticed the strangest thing of all. A white radiance seemed to be glowing from the crack. The light churned and writhed like some prisoner trying to get out. Finally the light broke away and came at the Red Dragon.
"Is that the nameless GF? The question is who drew it?"
On the ground Seifer stood before the armored tank. He blew a burst of fire at the truck then charged. His gun blade made a large cut in the armor. "So, that's a fire cross. Seifer used to brag about his break back at the garden but he almost never used it." Rinoa watched soldiers pile out of the truck and start fighting Seifer, Squall, Zell Fujin, Raijin and Kiyoko had just joined the fight. The match was six on twenty, the black SeeD didn't stand a chance.
Rinoa looked to the sky to see a hover ship, like the one they had encountered in Esthar was coming close. It was in stealth mode but for some reason she could see it. She mashed the button on the wall that opened a frequency tot he bridge, "Laguna! The air ship is coming!"
Kiros answered, "Laguna stepped out for a moment. What air ship? I can't see anything."
"It's there at two o'clock! What do you mean he stepped out?"
"He's on the flight deck, just above the bridge. I think he had a stupid idea."
"Sounds like it. What should I do?"
"Get back up here."
* * * *
Squall cut down the last black SeeD, "I think that's it." Squall looked up at the Red Dragon, "What are they doing? They stunned Ultima, we killed any human they could use for the bonding, what's left?"
Quistis had just landed on the ground after that float spell, "I think there's something up there we can't see. Roc did say there'd be an air ship with the GF laser. The question is, where?"
Everyone was watching the sky. Roc and Lydia weren't landing, they were still moving around in the air trying to find something.
Roc stopped and hovered in midair, "What's he doing?" Everybody watched from the ground as Roc launched a wave of ice at something unseen. There was a flickering of electricity as a large air ship came into view. Rinoa had been correct all along. The ship was in stealth mode.
"What in the hell is that?" A small door opened in the side of the ship and fired a laser of it's own. Roc was hit. Everyone watched him fall from the sky. Lydia swooped down to catch him.
"She's to low. They'll never be able to get that high without a boost from a ship. And there's no way se can go very high carrying Roc."
Another laser came from the under side of the ship. This one aimed at the now stationary ultima weapon. A single soldier dropped from the air ship. He didn't have a parachute and he was diving head first. "What is he doing? He'll be splattered when he hits the ground."
There was a blinding flash of light the moment the soldier touched ultima weapon. Everyone had to look away from the light. Finally the light faded and the dust cleared. Ultima weapon was gone.
* * * *
Kiros and Rinoa both stood up in their seats, "What happened?" Kiros started typing on the keyboard furiously, "External camera, right forty two degrees, down twenty seven degrees. Zoom in, magnification, three hundred percent."
An image appeared on the monitor. Mar Kava Odine was standing in a small crater made from the impact, "What's he doing out here? It doesn't make since."
Rinoa's eyes narrowed, "It makes perfect since. Who ever bonded with ultima weapon would have limitless powers. He couldn't trust any of his soldiers with that kind of power, he had to do it himself."
"Does that mean that light we saw was him bonding with the GF? We didn't destroy it fast enough. There's nothing we can do."
Rinoa started typing, "First, we blow up that air ship."
Kiros rotated the Red Dragon to line up with the air ship, "Fire the dragon breath. We'll have a small victory if nothing else."
* * * *
Laguna stood on the flight deck. He watched the dragon breath fire. Until now he had been frozen in a state of shock. He had been standing up there so he could draw the nameless GF from ultima but this was no ordinary GF. A normal GF had a physical form, this creature was pure energy. It was nameless, formless, timeless. It was thousands upon thousands of years old. This GF was a driving force behind evolution, behind life. Somehow it was sharing some of its knowledge with Laguna. Laguna's mind was so busy dealing with this new presence he was not worried about moving. Finally he chose a name, Eden, a symbol of man's desire for perfection. That was basically what this GF was, perfection in physical form accept for that there was no physical form. Laguna was finally out of his state of shock, "I know it all now. Good god, it all seems so simple."
Laguna watched Ultima bond with Mar Kava, "He's stronger now. Eden alone won't work. There is only one way." Laguna pulled the shumi's necklace, "Fight fire with fire." Laguna tied the necklace, "Now what?"
Laguna was answered by an incredible surge of energy. He could feel Eden's mind getting closer to his own. They were bonding. Laguna was being overpowered by the flood of knowledge that was now close enough to touch.
Laguna remembered what the Shumi had told him in private, "A GF and a human don't just share bodies when they bond. His personality, his desires would become yours. You would no longer be Laguna Loire. This is why Roc calls himself Roc instead of Xanna Hashedo. He understands that the bonding process isn't that simple. You may keep that necklace but remember, accepting a GF into your body is one thing but your mind is another."
Laguna stood straight up, he didn't look any different but he felt different. He knew everything about ultima weapon, "Mar Kava!"
They were a long distance away but somehow Mar Kava could hear him. Laguna could see Mar Kava looking up at him, "Who in the hell are you?"
"Don't you recognize me? I have kept you contained in a state of living death for the past ten thousand years. You should know me."
The two's hatred for each other stretched beyond time and space. When one talked the other could hear perfectly, "During my long slumber I dreamed of killing you and having my revenge."
Mar Kava flexed his muscles, he was going mid ultima. His skin turned black and he grew pieces of armor so thick his black trench coat was ripped off. He grew a strange black helmet over his head. Mar's lower half grew to look like that of a bear. Wings spread from his back and a giant blade formed in his hand. He now stood ten feet tall, "I will have my revenge!" Mar Kava jumped into the air. As bulky as he was now and as oddly placed as his wings were it was a wonder he could fly at all but he could fly. He was coming straight for the Red Dragon.
Laguna's eyes narrowed, "That will be enough of that." Laguna flexed. His body radiated white light and a silver blade grew in his hand, "Eden has no absolute form. So long as I know this there is nothing I can't do." Laguna jumped off the flight deck. He wasn't afraid of falling now. He hovered down to meet Mar Kava.
The two crossed swords the moment they were close enough. They were now face to face and both spinning around each other, "I will not allow you to destroy this city for your petty reasons."
"You have not changed Eden. Your light hurts my eyes."
"And your breath brings tears to mine." Laguna kicked off Mar Kava. The two were still circling in the air about six feet apart. Laguna pushed one hand forward and threw a bolt of energy at Mar Kava. Mar held his sword in front of him to block.
"Your attacks are meaningless to me." Mar opened his mouth and spit a green mist at Laguna. Laguna was quick to realize that this was an ultima spell. Laguna flew at Mar with his sword held in front of him. The glowing blade cut the mist.
"How can you stop an ultima spell like that. Ultima is pure magic energy!"
"Eden is a being of pure energy, your petty magic cannot defeat me."
Mar stopped, "Then it is time to take this fight up a notch." Mar grew fifty feet in height. His armor grew thicker and became more defined. "If Eden has no physical form what are you going to turn into? A ball of light?"
Laguna rushed Mar. He drove his sword through the armor in several places. Mar was too large to have any chance of hitting Laguna at this speed. Laguna jabbed his sword into ultima's side and ran the blade along his armor leaving a massive cut. Laguna flew away from Mar to get enough distance to avoid a counter strike. Laguna was shocked to see the wounds heal themselves.
Laguna groaned, "I can't even touch him. I have no choice but to try to go full Eden." There was a bright light and Laguna was gone.
Mar laughed, "You fight and now you run away? You are a coward Eden. I will destroy Esthar to force you out of hiding."
"No body's hiding." Mar looked up at the sky. A huge summoning ring stretched across the sky. The center was right over Mar's head.
From the Red Dragon Rinoa was watching the sky, "It looks like the summoning ring I use to evolve magic but oh so much bigger."
A needle of light came downward and speared Mar in the chest. The light seemed to spread over the now stunning weapon.
Rinoa could faintly see Laguna's body clinging onto Mar. There was a moment's pause. The beam of light that now had Mar speared reversed into the summoning ring and burst out the other side of the ring, into space. When the beam left Mar went with it. The only thing left was Laguna hanging in mid air.
Laguna was almost unconscious. When Eden had left it took most of Laguna's energy with it. Finally he fell. There was no GF keeping him in the air. It seemed wrong now. After being part of a force so large Laguna felt weaker and alone.
He felt himself lighten. Lydia had her arms around his waist, "You did a very noble thing. I had to save you. My only question is why didn't you go with it?"
Laguna held up his hand. He was holding the GF necklace, "I took it off when I figured out what Eden was doing."
"Who is Eden?"
"Eden is the GF I bonded with. He told me many things. I can't remember most of them. I do know that last time he tried to throw ultima weapon into the sun ultima was too strong. Now that ultima weapon was newly bonded he was weakened and after centuries of feeding off that damned thing Eden was stronger than ever. He needed me to put up a fair fight. Now they're both on their way to the sun and Ultima's never coming back."
"What about this Eden?"
Laguna watched the giant summoning ring fade away, "He'll be back. I can feel it."
"What do you plan to do now?"
"I've got a city to run. The people will need someone to calm them down after that scare. It's not every day the mayor saves the world."
"Pride is one of the deadly sins, ya know."
"I only joke. We all did it together."
* * * *
Everyone was back on the Red Dragon. Squall was slouched in his seat "I can't believe it's over. Black garden's in ruins. We wiped out every last one of them. We sent Ultima weapon back to hell. I'd call this a full work day."
Laguna was sitting beside him in a similar fashion, "Esthar is saved. I'd call this a day in the life as mayor."
Even Seifer was sitting with them, "Ya know, you losers don't do to bad. I gotta hand it to you. You guys did save the day, with a little help from us of course."
Squall groaned, "We did make a pretty good team."
Laguna hadn't moved in the last few minutes, "Kiros is taking us back to Esthar. Once we get off we'll program the autopilot to take you out of Esthar. From there you can go anywhere you want."
Seifer was still thinking about Eden, "Are you sure you don't remember anything Eden told you when you were bonded?"
"For the last time, no!"
* * * *
Three days passed. The journey home was a quiet one. Squall was typing in command codes for Balamb garden. A small dock opened on one side, "I never thought I'd be so glad to see the garden again."
Quistis was copiloting, "I can imagine what Xu's been up to as a substitute teacher. The kids have probably had a block party while we were gone."
"I say let them. Class will be back in session once you crack that whip of yours. I'll have a mountain of paper work waiting for me."
"I'll bet Zell and Irvine will be happy to get back to get class."
"Sure they will. How can they goof off in class if they're on a field trip?"
"Selphie's already on the Internet trying to organize another ball."
"Let here. They boost moral a lot. Besides, I still remember the party where I met Rinoa. Computer, begin docking sequence."
* * * *
Everyone was happy to be back home. Zell and Irvine stopped at their dorm rooms first to unpack. Selphie went up to the computer lab to check her web site. Squall and Quistis got in the elevator and invited Kiyoko and Roc to join them.
The four of them watched the garden's lobby area as the elevator started going up. When they got to the second floor Quistis saw one of the classrooms. There was a caricature of her with devil horns whipping a student, "Squall. I'll catch up to you later. I have to go put the fear of god into the freshman."
Kiyoko started giggling, "I finally get that joke! The freshman!"
Roc rolled his eyes, "You sure have some interesting artists in your classes here."
The elevator stopped on the third floor. Squall walked up to the double doors and swung them open. Xu was sitting in his chair with her feet up on the desk. She fell out of her seat when Squall walked in, "I hope you enjoyed your little stay in my office."
Xu stood up and saluted, "Nice to have you back sir."
"As a senior, don't you have a class to get to?"
"Yes sir." Squall smirked as she ran out of the room. Squall picked up his chair and sat down. He pulled one of the pens on his desk and put his gun blade into the hidden drawer. "Now. Kiyoko, Roc, we've been working together for a long time now. I think you have what it takes to enter the senior class."
Kiyoko jumped up and hugged Roc, "Did you hear that? We'll be seniors!"
Roc had a serious look on his face, "I cannot accept."
Kiyoko stopped, "Why now?"
"Look at Zell and Irvine. They still don't trust me. I can't live like that. I don't deserve to earn their trust again. I've done to many terrible things. When the shumi stabilized my GF I remembered everything I didn't want to tell you before. Did you realize I knew where black garden was the whole time I just chose not to tell you because I was running away from my past?"
"Seifer figured it out before I did."
"I did it because I was a coward. I was running away from my past."
"I'm willing to forget all that."
"I am sorry but I am not."
"Then I have another offer for you. If you are so intent on doing good I think you'll find this interesting. Remember when we first met? I was in Deling City on business. Rinoa's father finally approved the construction of Deling garden. We need someone to supervise construction then take over as head master."
"Headmaster?"
Kiyoko grinned, "Headmaster Rocky! I like it."
"Damnit don't call me that. Uh, That would be wonderful. I could do a lot of good that way."
Kiyoko was tired of not being talked to, "I want to be a senior! I can hang out with Zell!"
"What about me?" Lydia was standing in the doorway.
"Funny. I have a button to disable the elevator to this floor when I don't want to be disturbed."
"I know."
"I guess you can be a senior or help Roc as an inspector."
"There are a lot of seniors here. I would love to help with the new garden."
Roc looked around, "What happened to Seifer?"
"He disappeared when we landed." Squall wasn't to surprised, "He gave back the three GFs he borrowed. He said he didn't need them. I have a feeling we'll see him again."
* * * *
The next morning Squall's voice came on over the intercom, "Good morning students of Balamb garden. This morning Inspector Trepe and I have returned from our vacation. Everything will be back to normal. The students responsible for the graffiti on the walls will be found and punished." Irvine was sitting in the back of a classroom listening to the radio on his walk man. He took off the headphones when Squall started talking.
"We would also like to welcome a new student. Kiyoko Kitty will be joining our ranks in the senior class. I trust all students will be helpful in showing her around." Quistis looked up from a card game she was playing with Jack in the commons area. Quistis looked up from her game.
"For those of you in Balamb garden card club, there are two new members being added. Though I won't tell you their names they have chosen the names Duce and Ace." Kiyoko was in the library with Rinoa studying Macbeth for a class tomorrow. Kiyoko smiled. She was Duce, Zell was Ace.
"We are pleased to announce the plans for a fall festival have already begun and you can all thank Selphie Tilmitt for donating her time." Selphie was standing on the stage giving orders to Roc and Lydia who were flying over the door hanging the streamers. They all stopped when they heard the announcement. Selphie beamed.
"Finally, we are proud to announce the construction of Deling Garden will begin in one month. We are pleased to announce the new headmaster will be Xanna Roc Hashedo. The chief inspector will be Lydia Angelica Gabriel. Thank you." Roc had taken a break from helping Selphie. He and Lydia took a drink from the punch bowl.
Lydia was standing beside him, "I will be honored to work with you."
"I just hope I can make up for all the wrong I've done."
* * * *
Squall leaned back in his chair, "Life goes on." Squall pulled out a few writes up slips, "I almost forgot. Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Xu did cut class to go see the miss swim suit contest. I'll tell them later."
The End
Authors notes: Thank you for taking the time to read this story. I know it's really long but I am told it's worth it. Even though I've played and beat the game I did not watch the final ending movie. My computer crashed. If anything in that movie makes any of this story not make since, I'm sorry. You may notice that in this story everyone used their GF and their limit break accept for Laguna and his party because I have no idea what they are. Many of your have gotten mad at me for being so mean to Selphie. I'm sorry, I just can't stand her. You will notice that Quistis and Kiyoko did not tell her to shut up during the story. I was going to but the overwhelming Selphie support stopped me. I also tried to give her a happy ending. There!
As for the ending with Laguna using Eden, I know that Eden has a physical form but anyone who's used Eden should know this. What the hell is that thing? It's a hornet's butt sticking out of a summoning ring with giant wings. I just didn't know so I played it off as a source of energy.
Finally there is a contest. In this story I have hidden eleven lines from songs in the story. All of them were said by one of the characters. One of these eleven is in chapter one when Irvine sings lines from Kid Rock's Cowboy. That one's on me. The other ten are in the story. These lines aren't all the refrain of a song but they are memorable lines, I guess. I know this is a lame prize but the first one to leave a review with all eleven (counting the kid rock one) will get their name on my favorite author's section and a story in my favorite story section. I don't really know anything else to give. In the review please say the line, name of the song and the group who recorded it. One of the songs was redone by another artists, I'll accept either artist. Kiyoko Kitty, Duo Kitty and Kat are exempt from this contest because they know the answers, and they're already on my favorite author section. This is kind of a strange contest but I thought it was funny. Thank you for reading, please review and good hunting.