Chapter 6
I've crossed the last line
From where I can't return
Where every step I took in faith betrayed me
And led me from my home.
Sarah McLachlan
Sweet Surrender
Nida Kisargi sat next to Adalia's bed, staring at her sleeping form. Seifer and the Forest Owls
had left the room a few moments before to give Nida a little privacy. A stray wisp of hair fell
onto Adalia's face, and Nida tenderly brushed it off. Nida looked toward the ceiling, and sent a
silent prayer to Hyne. 'Hyne, if you're really up there, please let Adalia wake up. She's only
been out an hour or so, but I miss her so much already. Please, I'll do anything if you let her
return to this plane of existence . . . to me.'
Adalia moaned, and Nida reached over and grabbed her hand, as if to try to coax her back.
Adalia opened her eyes, and looked straight into Adalia's. "Welcome back." he said softly.
Adalia's eyes filled with tears, and she reached over and held Nida in her embrace. Her tears
spilled over when she recalled what Nida said just a few moments, the reason why Hyne had
brought her back to this place. Adalia remembered the conversation that took place only
minutes before with the one who created this planet.
~Flashback~ "Adalia, why didn't you slay the Angel Wing when you had the chance? If you
did, you would have been back here by now." Hyne told her.
"I couldn't have killed her; she's the Commander's significant other. It would be betraying
him!" Adalia argued.
"So? Do you remember what he did not too long ago? He tried to capture you and that SeeD of
yours. Had you not gotten away, he would have sent you off to another continent where they
would have imprisoned you and sealed your powers."
"But if his heart was into sending me away he would have sent me away with that horrible
detective man. Instead he let me stay long enough to get away. His heart is a true one."
"And this SeeD? If I didn't know better, I'd think you didn't kill the Angel Wing so you could
still be with him."
"Nida's . . . he's special to me. And I would never hurt him."
"I'll make you a deal, Adalia. If you kill the Angel Wing, I shall make sure that Nida doesn't
come to any harm."
"You mean that?"
"Yes, but I must warn you. If Nida choses to follow you on this mission, I can't be responsible
for what happens to him, or you. I'm the reason you got away from that Garden incident in one
piece, but I cannot keep intervening all the time. You must finish this quest yourself."
"But Hyne, you know that he will follow me. This isn't fair!"
"My will must be done, Adalia, or there will be dire consequences. You have no idea the actions
you chose could lead to . . ."
"I don't care what they lead to, as long as Nida and I can stay together!"
"Alright, alright. I'll make a new deal. Only if Nida pledges his loyalties to me can he be hurt
on this new mission."
"Ok, fair enough. Can I see him?"
Hyne moved her arm in a circular motion, and a picture of Nida appeared, kneeling beside
Adalia's sleeping form. " . . .Please, I'll do anything if you let her return to this plane of
existence . . .to me."
"No!" Adalia whirled around and faced Hyne. "You made him say that! You tricked me!"
"You are wrong, Adalia." Hyne said softly. "You made him say that."
And with that Adalia had awaken to Nida, weeping for she knew that Hyne had forsaken them.
"Adalia, what's wrong?" Nida asked, looking her in the face.
"I'm...I'm just so happy to be back." she whispered. Nida smiled, then kissed her gently.
"So am I Adalia, so am I."
Suddenly, a jolt from the train jarred them out of each other's embrace. Nida fell back to the
floor with a thud, then sat up slowly, wincing and rubbing his back. "What was that?"
"I don't know, but I think we should investigate." Adalia said, pushing off her blanket and
standing up. If Hyne wasn't going to protect them anymore, Adalia figured they should find
trouble before trouble finds them.
Nida stood up and pulled out his broadsword, then stepped out of the room to where the Forest
Owls were.
Rinoa stepped up to them, her Shooting Star out and ready for action. "Do you guys know what
that was?"
"No, but we're going to find out." Nida said grimly.
Rinoa nodded. "Ok Forest Owls, you guys, Seifer, and the mayor are headed for the back of the
train, while Nida, Adalia and I are heading for the front. If you guys find trouble, call on us for
backup."
"Wow, you just are totally kicked into leader mode today. Ok guys, let's move out." Zone said,
his usual stomach aches gone.
The trio made their way through the passenger cars with nothing out of the ordinary, but ran into
a problem when they reached the passenger car closet to the engine.
"Why does this have to be one of those old-fashioned trains?" Nida groaned when they reached
the coal car.
"I didn't think this was one of the old school trains when we boarded." Rinoa said, puzzled at
this unforseen obstacle.
"It doesn't matter." Adalia said, her eyes starting to flash yellow. Suddenly, all the coal that was
inside the car was lifted into the air, and hovered there, the same speed as the train yet never
moving.
"Well, alright then, let's go." Nida said as they jumped into the coal car. They walked through
endless clouds of dust until they finally reached the other side. They jumped onto the engine,
and were shocked by what they saw.
The conductor lay on the ground dead, a trickle of blood seeping from a gunshot wound to his
head. Facing them was the detective, his pistol loaded and pointed right at the three of them.
"Don't f*cking move." he ordered, but then on a second thought, said: "Drop your weapons."
Rinoa and Nida obliged, slowly putting down their weapons and rasing their hands to the sky.
Adalia just stood there, her eyes growing a deeper and deeper yellow by the seconds.
"Don't even think about casting a spell, bitch, or else this lad right here," the detective pointed
his gun towards Nida, "Won't be around to see the sun set."
"Who are you?" Rinoa asked, having no recollection of ever seeing the man before in her life.
"I'm John Wallace. My mission is to avenge my family by getting rid of all the sorceress that
live in this world. And since you're here too," John indicated Rinoa, "My dream for peace will
come true. Only when all the sorceresses are dead can I rest in peace."
"But why kill us? We didn't do anything to you!" Rinoa said, though not entirely sure if Adalia
had done anything to this man's family or not.
John was confused for a few moments, his brain fuzzy because of his lack of sleep. "Your kind
did!" he spat out after finally remembering the answer to the question.
"Confusion!" Adalia yelled suddenly, casting the only spell she knew that would prevent him
from doing harm as well as saving him from harm himself.
John suddenly grew confused, and wondered what he was doing here, pointing a gun at these
people. Suddenly a vision came to him, and his confusion left. John began to laugh. "I don't
have to kill you here, all will be accomplished in due course." And with that said, John shot
himself, his body falling off the engine of the train on to ground below.
The coal floating in the air suddenly came crashing down as Adalia sat down hard. The only
person she knew that could send visions to people was Hyne, and he definitely wasn't lying
about having a vision.
"Adalia, are you alright?" Nida asked, looking into her eyes with his own which were clouded
with concern.
"I'll be fine." Adalia said, yet she wondered if she ever would.
* * * * *
After what seemed like a million train changes and the long ride back, Rinoa, Adalia and Nida
stood outside of Balamb Garden. The Forest Owls, Seifer and the mayor had returned to
Timber, whereupon the mayor had immediately declared war or Galbadia, with Dollet as their
ally.
It had taken a lot of convincing on Rinoa's part to get Nida and Adalia anywhere near Garden,
but there they were, standing outside of Garden. But something was missing.
"Something's wrong." Nida said, stating the obvious. "There's no activity, no noise coming
from the Garden whatsoever. You usually have to get pretty far away before you can hear
yourself think."
"We have to get inside and see what's wrong." Rinoa said before hauling ass towards the
entrance of Garden. Nida and Adalia followed, matching Rinoa's frantic pace.
When they got inside, they were greeted by a sullen-looking Quistis. "Quistis, where is
everybody?!" Rinoa asked, starting to feel hysteria closing in.
Quistis looked past her, towards Nida. "Nida, you did this. And that must be the sorceress
Adalia beside you, correct?"
Nida was dumbfounded. "What are you talking about?" he asked Quistis, a twinge of fear
creeping into his voice.
"Follow me." was all she said as she walked briskly towards the elevator. She got in and hit the
button for the top floor, holding the door open for the trio. They stepped in and she let go of the
door. Silence reigned the whole elevator trip to the office, making Nida and Rinoa feel very
uncomfortable. Adalia was fine with it; she didn't know what she would have said to the strange
'Quistis' woman anyway.
They got off at the Commander's office, and Quistis walked over to stand beside Squall. Squall
was sitting in his desk with his head in his hands. Selphie and Irvine stood to one side of him
while Quistis stood off to the other. Squall lifted his head, and his spirit was instantly lifted by
what he saw before him.
Rinoa ran over and gave Squall the warmest embrace one could ever hope to receive, followed
by tons of kisses all over his face. Squall returned each and every one of them, and only stopped
when he saw Nida and Adalia standing there, looking awkward.
"Do you two have any idea of what you've done?" Squall began slowly, his voice void of any
emotion.
Nida and Adalia just looked at each other, wondering what he was talking about. "Look out the
window." Squall commanded. Nida and Adalia walked around his desk, past a disgusted Irvine
and a murderous-looking Selphie, to the big bay window that faced the Balamb Plains.
Bodies littered the ground, piled so thick that in some place they were over five feet high. Not
an inch of the grass below wasn't stained with blood from the conflict. "What happened?"
asked Nida, feeling sick.
"War happened." Squall stated bluntly. "Esthar just suddenly attacked, even though I thought
we had settled our differences on Adalia's stay here. We had no warning, and there are only 12
students left, including every one in this room."
Nida glanced around the room. If Squall was including Nida and himself, then that meant that
there was only 6 other students that made it. But someone in the room was missing. "Where's
Zell?" Nida asked, hoping the answer wasn't what he thought it was.
"Zell Dincht is dead. He died an honourable death on the battlefield." Squall said.
Rinoa immediately burst into tears, followed by Selphie and Quistis. Even Irvine had to wipe a
few away from his eyes. "How . . . why?" Was all that Nida could manage to say.
"You want to know why?" Quistis suddenly burst out, "It's because of that sorceress bitch! If
she had never came to this Garden, then everyone would still be alive!"
Adalia took a step back in shock. ' This is the work of Hyne. I was a fool to go against her
wishes. Maybe if I had killed Rinoa then this would have never happened.' Adalia looked over
at Rinoa and studied her. 'No, if I had killed Rinoa then Nida, Seifer and I would have never
escaped from Galbadia Prison.'
"Why are you even here?" Irvine asked quietly, most of his face hidden under his cowboy hat.
"There must be a reason. Your fate and Nida's seems so intricately intertwined. We have
actually heard a lot about you, Adalia."
"How did you find out about Adalia?" Nida asked, getting defensive.
"The mayor of Timber is practically creating his own religion with her as his god. I think he was
quite taken by her appearance, and now he's telling all these stories about her over national
television." Selphie said quietly.
"How would he get those?" Adalia asked. She looked over at Nida and saw that his head was
hung.
"Umm . . . well . . .while you were out on the train, the mayor was asking about you. I figured I
could trust him, so I told him some things and . . . well . . ." Nida just trailed off.
Adalia smiled at him. He was so cute. Adalia quickly grew serious, for this was no time for
those thoughts. "You wish to know why I'm here?"
"Yes, it might explain a few things." Squall said dryly. Adalia noted that she shouldn't say
anything to offend Squall at the moment for he looked quite angry.
Adalia looked over at Nida, who then seemed to grow a bit pale. 'I know she's here because of
Hyne,' Nida thought to himself, 'But even I don't know the purpose of her visit.'
"I was originally sent here on a mission to assassinate Rinoa." Adalia started, and was rewarded
by a look of horror on Rinoa's face and Squall tightened his grip around her, a look of pure evil
dawning on his face.
"Who wanted you to assassinate Rinoa?" Quistis asked, just barely keeping her emotions in
check.
"Hyne." Adalia said flatly, knowing they wouldn't believe her.
"Hyne?" Squall asked, but was then interrupted by Irvine before he could say anything more.
"Man, and I thought people were bad when they went crazy, but this is even worse. Sorry to
break it to you Adalia, but the Great Hyne's been gone for more than one thousand years." Irvine
said, a mocking tone to his voice.
"You are right there, Hyne did leave one thousand years ago, but she didn't go all that far."
Adalia agreed, feeling a headache start to come on.
"Really? Then do tell, where is she?" Irvine sneered.
"I don't have to take this!" Adalia suddenly snapped. She was sick of the treatment she was
getting just because she was a sorceress. She was telling the truth, dammit! Adalia turned on
her heel and started to stalk out, but was stopped by Nida grabbing her arm.
"Adalia, please, just bear with us. We only want to know what is going on." Selphie said before
Nida could put in his two cents. Nida nodded, then straightened up and let go of Adalia.
Adalia rubbed her arm where he had grabbed it. 'He was so aggressive when he grabbed my arm.
What is going on?'
"The moon. She lives on the moon." Adalia said finally after a moment of silence.
Irvine snorted. "I can't believe this," he said as he turned around to gaze out te window.
"It makes sense." Adalia argued. "Think about it. The place is so overrun with monsters that no
human would dare to go there. And it the perfect vantage point, she can watch the world evolve
and lend a helping hand when it's needed."
Squall closed his eyes, and seemed deep in thought. When he finally opened them, he addressed
Adalia. "You are the cause of most of the problems down here, if not all. If Hyne sent you here,
then that must mean you were with Hyne. If we send you up to the moon, will all this chaos
end?"
"No. It will only end when Rinoa is dead." Adalia said, gazing at Rinoa.
"Or when you are!" Adalia looked over and saw Irvine leaping at her, a poker from the nearby
fireplace aimed straight at her heart. She ducked and rolled, and Irvine flew over her. He got up
and began to swing it at her in a rage, and Adalia was just barely missing getting hit each time.
Adalia felt her power surge, and she released an Ultima spell at Irvine.
Irvine flew backwards into the wall, where he crumpled up into a little ball. "Irvine!" Selphie
screamed and ran over to him.
"Dr.! We need you up here, quick!" Squall shouted into the intercom. Selphie, meanwhile, was
over trying to revive Irvine, casting Cure, Cura, Curaga, and any other spells she knew that might
help him in his condition.
Quistis glared at Adalia and reached for her whip, but then remembered how fast Adalia had cast
that Ultima spell. She might be fast, but Adalia was faster, and Quistis didn't really want to be
in Irvine's position.
The doctor arrived a few moments later, several other students following her and wheeling a
stretcher. "Help me put him on here." she ordered the students. They lifted Irvine onto the
stretcher, then began running towards to Infirmary, Selphie trailing along at Irvine's bedside.
All eyes landed on Adalia's trembling form, and nothing was said for what seemed like eternity.
"I think," Squall began slowly, not wanting to upset the sorceress. "That we should try to get
some rest tonight, then try this again in the morning." Squall had stood up slowly while he
talked, Rinoa silently slipped an arm around his. 'Even Ultimecia wasn't as powerful as this
sorceress,' Squall thought, glancing at Adalia. 'We are in way over our heads this time.'
"I have a plan." Adalia said quietly, causing all in the room to look at her.
Squall sighed deeply. "Save it until tomorrow Adalia, we are through here." Adalia nodded,
and, with tears beginning to cloud her vision, walked out of the office.
* * * * *
Adalia sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. After she had left the office, she had come
straight to the room where she had spent her brief previous stay before. No one had come in to
check on her or talk to her, and it was nearly midnight. Adalia was feeling terribly lonely.
Suddenly the door opened and Nida stood in the doorway, a solemn look on his face. "Nida!"
Adalia said excited, standing up. "Why didn't you come to see me sooner?"
Nida said nothing just walked over and sat down beside Adalia. "Adalia," he began slowly. "I
have something to tell you."
"Yes, what is it?" Adalia asked, suddenly having sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"We can't do this anymore." Nida said simply, without emotion. "We've killed so many people
with our actions, and now we're endangering others. I'm sorry Adalia." Nida looked into her
eyes, and saw the hurt that she was trying hard to find. "We can't be together anymore. I'm
sorry." And with that Nida stood up and strode out of the room, trying hard not to obey the
impulse to run back into the room and embrace her and tell her that everything would be all
right. Adalia just sat on her bed and said nothing, silent tears beginning to spill down her
cheeks.
___________________
Author's Notes: Sorry all for the lack of updates, but I've been sick for what seems like ever!
Also, I didn't put in the doctor's name because I honestly don't remember it. Ciao for now!
I've crossed the last line
From where I can't return
Where every step I took in faith betrayed me
And led me from my home.
Sarah McLachlan
Sweet Surrender
Nida Kisargi sat next to Adalia's bed, staring at her sleeping form. Seifer and the Forest Owls
had left the room a few moments before to give Nida a little privacy. A stray wisp of hair fell
onto Adalia's face, and Nida tenderly brushed it off. Nida looked toward the ceiling, and sent a
silent prayer to Hyne. 'Hyne, if you're really up there, please let Adalia wake up. She's only
been out an hour or so, but I miss her so much already. Please, I'll do anything if you let her
return to this plane of existence . . . to me.'
Adalia moaned, and Nida reached over and grabbed her hand, as if to try to coax her back.
Adalia opened her eyes, and looked straight into Adalia's. "Welcome back." he said softly.
Adalia's eyes filled with tears, and she reached over and held Nida in her embrace. Her tears
spilled over when she recalled what Nida said just a few moments, the reason why Hyne had
brought her back to this place. Adalia remembered the conversation that took place only
minutes before with the one who created this planet.
~Flashback~ "Adalia, why didn't you slay the Angel Wing when you had the chance? If you
did, you would have been back here by now." Hyne told her.
"I couldn't have killed her; she's the Commander's significant other. It would be betraying
him!" Adalia argued.
"So? Do you remember what he did not too long ago? He tried to capture you and that SeeD of
yours. Had you not gotten away, he would have sent you off to another continent where they
would have imprisoned you and sealed your powers."
"But if his heart was into sending me away he would have sent me away with that horrible
detective man. Instead he let me stay long enough to get away. His heart is a true one."
"And this SeeD? If I didn't know better, I'd think you didn't kill the Angel Wing so you could
still be with him."
"Nida's . . . he's special to me. And I would never hurt him."
"I'll make you a deal, Adalia. If you kill the Angel Wing, I shall make sure that Nida doesn't
come to any harm."
"You mean that?"
"Yes, but I must warn you. If Nida choses to follow you on this mission, I can't be responsible
for what happens to him, or you. I'm the reason you got away from that Garden incident in one
piece, but I cannot keep intervening all the time. You must finish this quest yourself."
"But Hyne, you know that he will follow me. This isn't fair!"
"My will must be done, Adalia, or there will be dire consequences. You have no idea the actions
you chose could lead to . . ."
"I don't care what they lead to, as long as Nida and I can stay together!"
"Alright, alright. I'll make a new deal. Only if Nida pledges his loyalties to me can he be hurt
on this new mission."
"Ok, fair enough. Can I see him?"
Hyne moved her arm in a circular motion, and a picture of Nida appeared, kneeling beside
Adalia's sleeping form. " . . .Please, I'll do anything if you let her return to this plane of
existence . . .to me."
"No!" Adalia whirled around and faced Hyne. "You made him say that! You tricked me!"
"You are wrong, Adalia." Hyne said softly. "You made him say that."
And with that Adalia had awaken to Nida, weeping for she knew that Hyne had forsaken them.
"Adalia, what's wrong?" Nida asked, looking her in the face.
"I'm...I'm just so happy to be back." she whispered. Nida smiled, then kissed her gently.
"So am I Adalia, so am I."
Suddenly, a jolt from the train jarred them out of each other's embrace. Nida fell back to the
floor with a thud, then sat up slowly, wincing and rubbing his back. "What was that?"
"I don't know, but I think we should investigate." Adalia said, pushing off her blanket and
standing up. If Hyne wasn't going to protect them anymore, Adalia figured they should find
trouble before trouble finds them.
Nida stood up and pulled out his broadsword, then stepped out of the room to where the Forest
Owls were.
Rinoa stepped up to them, her Shooting Star out and ready for action. "Do you guys know what
that was?"
"No, but we're going to find out." Nida said grimly.
Rinoa nodded. "Ok Forest Owls, you guys, Seifer, and the mayor are headed for the back of the
train, while Nida, Adalia and I are heading for the front. If you guys find trouble, call on us for
backup."
"Wow, you just are totally kicked into leader mode today. Ok guys, let's move out." Zone said,
his usual stomach aches gone.
The trio made their way through the passenger cars with nothing out of the ordinary, but ran into
a problem when they reached the passenger car closet to the engine.
"Why does this have to be one of those old-fashioned trains?" Nida groaned when they reached
the coal car.
"I didn't think this was one of the old school trains when we boarded." Rinoa said, puzzled at
this unforseen obstacle.
"It doesn't matter." Adalia said, her eyes starting to flash yellow. Suddenly, all the coal that was
inside the car was lifted into the air, and hovered there, the same speed as the train yet never
moving.
"Well, alright then, let's go." Nida said as they jumped into the coal car. They walked through
endless clouds of dust until they finally reached the other side. They jumped onto the engine,
and were shocked by what they saw.
The conductor lay on the ground dead, a trickle of blood seeping from a gunshot wound to his
head. Facing them was the detective, his pistol loaded and pointed right at the three of them.
"Don't f*cking move." he ordered, but then on a second thought, said: "Drop your weapons."
Rinoa and Nida obliged, slowly putting down their weapons and rasing their hands to the sky.
Adalia just stood there, her eyes growing a deeper and deeper yellow by the seconds.
"Don't even think about casting a spell, bitch, or else this lad right here," the detective pointed
his gun towards Nida, "Won't be around to see the sun set."
"Who are you?" Rinoa asked, having no recollection of ever seeing the man before in her life.
"I'm John Wallace. My mission is to avenge my family by getting rid of all the sorceress that
live in this world. And since you're here too," John indicated Rinoa, "My dream for peace will
come true. Only when all the sorceresses are dead can I rest in peace."
"But why kill us? We didn't do anything to you!" Rinoa said, though not entirely sure if Adalia
had done anything to this man's family or not.
John was confused for a few moments, his brain fuzzy because of his lack of sleep. "Your kind
did!" he spat out after finally remembering the answer to the question.
"Confusion!" Adalia yelled suddenly, casting the only spell she knew that would prevent him
from doing harm as well as saving him from harm himself.
John suddenly grew confused, and wondered what he was doing here, pointing a gun at these
people. Suddenly a vision came to him, and his confusion left. John began to laugh. "I don't
have to kill you here, all will be accomplished in due course." And with that said, John shot
himself, his body falling off the engine of the train on to ground below.
The coal floating in the air suddenly came crashing down as Adalia sat down hard. The only
person she knew that could send visions to people was Hyne, and he definitely wasn't lying
about having a vision.
"Adalia, are you alright?" Nida asked, looking into her eyes with his own which were clouded
with concern.
"I'll be fine." Adalia said, yet she wondered if she ever would.
* * * * *
After what seemed like a million train changes and the long ride back, Rinoa, Adalia and Nida
stood outside of Balamb Garden. The Forest Owls, Seifer and the mayor had returned to
Timber, whereupon the mayor had immediately declared war or Galbadia, with Dollet as their
ally.
It had taken a lot of convincing on Rinoa's part to get Nida and Adalia anywhere near Garden,
but there they were, standing outside of Garden. But something was missing.
"Something's wrong." Nida said, stating the obvious. "There's no activity, no noise coming
from the Garden whatsoever. You usually have to get pretty far away before you can hear
yourself think."
"We have to get inside and see what's wrong." Rinoa said before hauling ass towards the
entrance of Garden. Nida and Adalia followed, matching Rinoa's frantic pace.
When they got inside, they were greeted by a sullen-looking Quistis. "Quistis, where is
everybody?!" Rinoa asked, starting to feel hysteria closing in.
Quistis looked past her, towards Nida. "Nida, you did this. And that must be the sorceress
Adalia beside you, correct?"
Nida was dumbfounded. "What are you talking about?" he asked Quistis, a twinge of fear
creeping into his voice.
"Follow me." was all she said as she walked briskly towards the elevator. She got in and hit the
button for the top floor, holding the door open for the trio. They stepped in and she let go of the
door. Silence reigned the whole elevator trip to the office, making Nida and Rinoa feel very
uncomfortable. Adalia was fine with it; she didn't know what she would have said to the strange
'Quistis' woman anyway.
They got off at the Commander's office, and Quistis walked over to stand beside Squall. Squall
was sitting in his desk with his head in his hands. Selphie and Irvine stood to one side of him
while Quistis stood off to the other. Squall lifted his head, and his spirit was instantly lifted by
what he saw before him.
Rinoa ran over and gave Squall the warmest embrace one could ever hope to receive, followed
by tons of kisses all over his face. Squall returned each and every one of them, and only stopped
when he saw Nida and Adalia standing there, looking awkward.
"Do you two have any idea of what you've done?" Squall began slowly, his voice void of any
emotion.
Nida and Adalia just looked at each other, wondering what he was talking about. "Look out the
window." Squall commanded. Nida and Adalia walked around his desk, past a disgusted Irvine
and a murderous-looking Selphie, to the big bay window that faced the Balamb Plains.
Bodies littered the ground, piled so thick that in some place they were over five feet high. Not
an inch of the grass below wasn't stained with blood from the conflict. "What happened?"
asked Nida, feeling sick.
"War happened." Squall stated bluntly. "Esthar just suddenly attacked, even though I thought
we had settled our differences on Adalia's stay here. We had no warning, and there are only 12
students left, including every one in this room."
Nida glanced around the room. If Squall was including Nida and himself, then that meant that
there was only 6 other students that made it. But someone in the room was missing. "Where's
Zell?" Nida asked, hoping the answer wasn't what he thought it was.
"Zell Dincht is dead. He died an honourable death on the battlefield." Squall said.
Rinoa immediately burst into tears, followed by Selphie and Quistis. Even Irvine had to wipe a
few away from his eyes. "How . . . why?" Was all that Nida could manage to say.
"You want to know why?" Quistis suddenly burst out, "It's because of that sorceress bitch! If
she had never came to this Garden, then everyone would still be alive!"
Adalia took a step back in shock. ' This is the work of Hyne. I was a fool to go against her
wishes. Maybe if I had killed Rinoa then this would have never happened.' Adalia looked over
at Rinoa and studied her. 'No, if I had killed Rinoa then Nida, Seifer and I would have never
escaped from Galbadia Prison.'
"Why are you even here?" Irvine asked quietly, most of his face hidden under his cowboy hat.
"There must be a reason. Your fate and Nida's seems so intricately intertwined. We have
actually heard a lot about you, Adalia."
"How did you find out about Adalia?" Nida asked, getting defensive.
"The mayor of Timber is practically creating his own religion with her as his god. I think he was
quite taken by her appearance, and now he's telling all these stories about her over national
television." Selphie said quietly.
"How would he get those?" Adalia asked. She looked over at Nida and saw that his head was
hung.
"Umm . . . well . . .while you were out on the train, the mayor was asking about you. I figured I
could trust him, so I told him some things and . . . well . . ." Nida just trailed off.
Adalia smiled at him. He was so cute. Adalia quickly grew serious, for this was no time for
those thoughts. "You wish to know why I'm here?"
"Yes, it might explain a few things." Squall said dryly. Adalia noted that she shouldn't say
anything to offend Squall at the moment for he looked quite angry.
Adalia looked over at Nida, who then seemed to grow a bit pale. 'I know she's here because of
Hyne,' Nida thought to himself, 'But even I don't know the purpose of her visit.'
"I was originally sent here on a mission to assassinate Rinoa." Adalia started, and was rewarded
by a look of horror on Rinoa's face and Squall tightened his grip around her, a look of pure evil
dawning on his face.
"Who wanted you to assassinate Rinoa?" Quistis asked, just barely keeping her emotions in
check.
"Hyne." Adalia said flatly, knowing they wouldn't believe her.
"Hyne?" Squall asked, but was then interrupted by Irvine before he could say anything more.
"Man, and I thought people were bad when they went crazy, but this is even worse. Sorry to
break it to you Adalia, but the Great Hyne's been gone for more than one thousand years." Irvine
said, a mocking tone to his voice.
"You are right there, Hyne did leave one thousand years ago, but she didn't go all that far."
Adalia agreed, feeling a headache start to come on.
"Really? Then do tell, where is she?" Irvine sneered.
"I don't have to take this!" Adalia suddenly snapped. She was sick of the treatment she was
getting just because she was a sorceress. She was telling the truth, dammit! Adalia turned on
her heel and started to stalk out, but was stopped by Nida grabbing her arm.
"Adalia, please, just bear with us. We only want to know what is going on." Selphie said before
Nida could put in his two cents. Nida nodded, then straightened up and let go of Adalia.
Adalia rubbed her arm where he had grabbed it. 'He was so aggressive when he grabbed my arm.
What is going on?'
"The moon. She lives on the moon." Adalia said finally after a moment of silence.
Irvine snorted. "I can't believe this," he said as he turned around to gaze out te window.
"It makes sense." Adalia argued. "Think about it. The place is so overrun with monsters that no
human would dare to go there. And it the perfect vantage point, she can watch the world evolve
and lend a helping hand when it's needed."
Squall closed his eyes, and seemed deep in thought. When he finally opened them, he addressed
Adalia. "You are the cause of most of the problems down here, if not all. If Hyne sent you here,
then that must mean you were with Hyne. If we send you up to the moon, will all this chaos
end?"
"No. It will only end when Rinoa is dead." Adalia said, gazing at Rinoa.
"Or when you are!" Adalia looked over and saw Irvine leaping at her, a poker from the nearby
fireplace aimed straight at her heart. She ducked and rolled, and Irvine flew over her. He got up
and began to swing it at her in a rage, and Adalia was just barely missing getting hit each time.
Adalia felt her power surge, and she released an Ultima spell at Irvine.
Irvine flew backwards into the wall, where he crumpled up into a little ball. "Irvine!" Selphie
screamed and ran over to him.
"Dr.! We need you up here, quick!" Squall shouted into the intercom. Selphie, meanwhile, was
over trying to revive Irvine, casting Cure, Cura, Curaga, and any other spells she knew that might
help him in his condition.
Quistis glared at Adalia and reached for her whip, but then remembered how fast Adalia had cast
that Ultima spell. She might be fast, but Adalia was faster, and Quistis didn't really want to be
in Irvine's position.
The doctor arrived a few moments later, several other students following her and wheeling a
stretcher. "Help me put him on here." she ordered the students. They lifted Irvine onto the
stretcher, then began running towards to Infirmary, Selphie trailing along at Irvine's bedside.
All eyes landed on Adalia's trembling form, and nothing was said for what seemed like eternity.
"I think," Squall began slowly, not wanting to upset the sorceress. "That we should try to get
some rest tonight, then try this again in the morning." Squall had stood up slowly while he
talked, Rinoa silently slipped an arm around his. 'Even Ultimecia wasn't as powerful as this
sorceress,' Squall thought, glancing at Adalia. 'We are in way over our heads this time.'
"I have a plan." Adalia said quietly, causing all in the room to look at her.
Squall sighed deeply. "Save it until tomorrow Adalia, we are through here." Adalia nodded,
and, with tears beginning to cloud her vision, walked out of the office.
* * * * *
Adalia sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. After she had left the office, she had come
straight to the room where she had spent her brief previous stay before. No one had come in to
check on her or talk to her, and it was nearly midnight. Adalia was feeling terribly lonely.
Suddenly the door opened and Nida stood in the doorway, a solemn look on his face. "Nida!"
Adalia said excited, standing up. "Why didn't you come to see me sooner?"
Nida said nothing just walked over and sat down beside Adalia. "Adalia," he began slowly. "I
have something to tell you."
"Yes, what is it?" Adalia asked, suddenly having sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"We can't do this anymore." Nida said simply, without emotion. "We've killed so many people
with our actions, and now we're endangering others. I'm sorry Adalia." Nida looked into her
eyes, and saw the hurt that she was trying hard to find. "We can't be together anymore. I'm
sorry." And with that Nida stood up and strode out of the room, trying hard not to obey the
impulse to run back into the room and embrace her and tell her that everything would be all
right. Adalia just sat on her bed and said nothing, silent tears beginning to spill down her
cheeks.
___________________
Author's Notes: Sorry all for the lack of updates, but I've been sick for what seems like ever!
Also, I didn't put in the doctor's name because I honestly don't remember it. Ciao for now!