Chapter 21
"Zell, what are you doing here?" asked a confused Selphie.
"I'm here to fight baby!" Zell and Irvine high-fived.
"No time for that now. Lets get to Balamb." Said Quistis. "The team is assembled there waiting for our orders."
"Lets not keep them waiting then!" Zell sprinted of towards the entrance to Balamb. The others followed.
By the sea front were assembled a group of two hundred SeeDs, many of them highly qualified. Quistis stood in front of them all. Self appointed leader; the others let her take that position.
"Can I have your attention please!" she shouted. Immediately every SeeD there turned around to face her. "Thank you." She coughed. "The enemy shall be arriving anytime soon. Here is the plan. SeeDs, whose last ID number is even, take the West Side by the hotel. You shall be lead by Selphie and Irvine. SeeDs, whose last number is odd, you can take the East Side by the station. I shall lead you. Students whose ID ends in zero, are to evacuate the town under the orders of Zell. Does everyone know what to do?" there were mummers of agreement. "Check your junctions and GF." She gave them a few moments to check. "Now go!" she shouted. "And good luck!"
Soon enough the Seeds were spread out in an orderly line along the coast. Zell's party of twenty SeeDs were knocking on doors, evacuating all inhabitants. Zell knocked on the door of his own house.
"Ma! Ma!" he rapped on the door. "Ma! Get out!" the door opened. Ma Dincht threw her arms around her son.
"Oh I'm so glad it was you. I heard all the commotion and thought it was those pesky Galbadians again."
"It is. They're heading right towards us. We're are evacuating the town."
"Oh, alright. Just let me pack some…" Zell grabbed his mother's arm.
"No time to pack. You have to leave now!"
"But…"
"No buts!" he almost dragged her out the house. "Go with those SeeDs. They will take you to Garden. You should be safe there."
"What about you?"
"I'm staying to fight."
"Oh Zell. You be safe you hear!" again she hugged him. "Don't do anything stupid."
"I wont mom."
"Sir," said a young SeeD with ginger hair as he saluted him. "We have all the civilians assembled. What are you orders?" Zell looked at his mom.
"Mom, you go with this man here, I promise you'll be ok." Reluctantly she let her son go, and joined the other townspeople. "Take them all to Balamb Garden. They should be safe there."
"Sir!" he saluted and turned. Zell watched as all the inhabitants of his hometown were ushered out of the archway. Zell ran down to the sea front and stood next to Quistis.
"What now?" he asked.
"Did you get all the civilians out?" he nodded. "Now, we show them they can't mess with us."
************************
Back at garden, Squall was nervously pacing up and down the bridge.
"Nida, what's the ETA?"
"Four minuets."
"Four minutes? And have they evacuated the town?"
"I believe so. They are bringing the civilians here."
"Right." He rubbed his head. Cid entered the room.
"I have reports from the intelligence room. They've been picking up radio-waves." He handed over a piece of paper to Squall. He read it out loud.
"Sixteen small interceptors, four war-frigates, two attack cannons, and one battle cruiser." He looked up. "We can take them." [I]I hope…[/I]
"What's the news from the sea front?" asked Xu. "Do they have a visual?"
"I'll check." Squall held up the back of his wrist to his mouth. "Alpha team, this is base. Do you read over?" he heard static, then Quistis's voice.
[I]"This is Alpha team, we copy over."[/I]
"Alpha team, do you have visual? Over."
[I]"Negative base, we do not have a visual, repeat, no visual. Over."[/I]
"Over and out." He looked up and shook his head.
"I'll try Beta team." He held up his mouthpiece again. "Beta team, this is base do you copy over?" after a similar conversation, he once again shook his head. "Where the hell are they?"
*******************
"General!" shouted the grey haired figure. Caraway scuttled into the captain's room. "Give the order, take of the kloak."
"Right away."
*********************
Zell looked out to sea. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"I don't get it. Where are they?" Quistis shrugged.
"I don't know. But hey, if they don't want to show their faces, fine by me." It was deathly quiet. The waves gently hit the sea wall below. A flock of seagulls flew by. The wind whispered in the tress. Nobody made a sound. They were awaiting the arrival of the non-existent fleet. Then, the quietness was broken, by a sound of motors and rushing water, quietly at first, then getting louder and louder. "What the…?" Just at the moment she said that, she noticed that the sea was beginning to get rather choppy. Triangular waves pointing towards the coastline where being thrown up along with ocean spray, as if something was pushing it.
"Huh?" said Zell.
[I]"Alpha this is Beta."[/I] Shouted Selphie's voice from Quistis's wrist. [I]"Quistis, do you see that?"[/I]
"Yeah I see it."
[I]"What the Hyne is it?"[/I] Before Quistis could reply, behind the waves seemed to shimmer with silver. Loosely translucent shapes began to form, and then a fleet of ships took shape.
"Holy shit…" said Zell.
[I]"Quistis, Zell, what the hell is it?"[/I]
"I think," said Quistis into her wrist, while looking at Zell, "that is our fleet." Quistis pressed a button on the miniature intercom. "Base, base, come in base, this is Alpha team. We have a visual! Repeat visual! Over."
[I]"We see it."[/I] came Squall's voice over the intercom.
"They're coming straight towards us!" shouted Zell. "They're gonna crash into us!"
"You're right." Said Quistis. "Alpha team! Retreat! Retreat!" the ninety SeeDs under her control obeyed her orders and ran away from the coast as quickly as possible. She spoke into the intercom. "Beta Team, retreat!"
[I]"Way ahead of you there Quistis!"[/I]
The ships came closer and closer to the sea wall, at an alarming rate of acceleration.
"It's going to crash!" shouted a SeeD. But before they crashed, they heard a 'whoosh' and the sound of an ignited fire. Not looking behind, Quistis noticed it began to rain. Nothing in itself, but there hadn't been a cloud in the sky. But now the sky turned dark. Quistis looked up and saw the dark underbelly of the ships flying above her. The 'rain' was the seawater dripping off the underside. She ran even faster. She could feel the heat of the flaming exhaust on her face, and the slipstream was blowing about her hair.
"Everyone, get to Garden! Now!" she shouted.
**************************
"Hahahahaha!" The sorceress stood leaning on her desk looking out the window. "Fools! Look how you run!" she turned to face Caraway who was stood behind her. "Kome here! Look at that. Isn't it wonderful?" He came over and looked trough the window. Below the SeeDs scurried about like ants.
"Yes, I suppose so." While she looking out the window Caraway snook a quick glance at the sorceress. She had long grey hair, and on her face, veins had started to show on her cheekbones. These had been covered up with red and black tattoos. Her lips were bright red, and her eyes a shade of gold.
"What are you looking at?" she shouted at Caraway.
"Nothing."
"You think you kan look upon a sorceress?"
"I…Uh…" but before he could come up with an answer, the sorceress pointed out one finger, and sent him flying across the room in a ball of fire. In a crumpled heap in the corner, he curled up in agony.
"You will pay for your insolence." She looked at him writhing on the floor. "Is there something wrong general?"
"Ughhhhh…" he moaned.
"Get out of my sight. You mortals sicken me!" Caraway crawled to the door, and left on his hands and knees.
"Fool." She whispered to herself gazing out of the window once more.
********************
"I don't get it." Said Squall, looking over at Balamb through binoculars. "What are they doing?" he held up his intercom. "Quistis, what is going on?"
[I]Squall, get out of there! They're heading straight toward Garden!"[/I]
"Oh no!" he looked out. The ships were approaching fast. They would arrive in less than three minutes. "Nida, can we fly Garden away?"
"Negative. It will take at least twenty minutes to warm up the engines, and even then we wouldn't be able to outrun them."
"Shit, were going to have to stay and fight!" Squall pressed the button for the main Garden intercom on the bridge's control panel. "Attention all students! This is your commander. We are under attack. The only way they are getting in is through the main gate. I want all SeeDs assembled there ASAP. We cannot let them in. All joiner classmen are to go to the dorms. It will be safe there. SeeDs at the front gate, await my orders, I shall come immediately."
"Squall…" said Cid, who was looking very worried at the prospect of his Garden under attack by the Galbadians again.
"Sir!" Squall said as he saluted. "They are not getting in. I promise."
"Go fight for us. And be careful." Cid said as he saluted back.
"Yes sir." Squall rode the elevator down to the ground floor, and ran to the garden exit. All the SeeDs were assembled there. Most of them were rookies, they had only been SeeDs for a few months at most. All of the best SeeDs were in Balamb. Many of them were not in uniform. "Whatever happens," he shouted, "Stop them entering at all costs!"
"We'll die for this Garden commander!" shouted one young SeeD. The rest cheered in agreement. [I]I hope I doesn't come to that…[/I] he thought to himself.
The ships were fast approaching. As they flew over the Alcauld plains, the interceptors landed, and travelled the rest of the short distance on wheels. Behind the war-frigates loomed the ominously large battle cruiser, where the sorceress was, most probably thought Squall. It travelled much slower than the rest, due to its large size. The interceptors landed first, each as large as an average bus. They screeched to a halt, and four doors in each one opened. Out of two doors came five Galbadian soldiers each, from the other two doors came a motorcyclist. The SeeDs on the front line went forward and attacked first. Squall, stood on the steps was about to charge forward, when he noticed a small capsule be released from the hefty battle-cruiser.
"I'm ready to fight!" shouted Nida who followed him from the bridge.
"Me too. " said Xu who was stood behind him.
"Good. You two take control of things here. I have to deal with something." there was no time for questions. Squall ran of in the direction of the quad, leaving Xu and Nida in control of things on the battleground.
********************
The Sorceress, Caraway and three Elite Soldiers were aboard the emergency escape pod. One of the soldiers was at the dashboard, manoeuvring the pod to land in the open aired quad.
"Do you think they saw us?" asked Caraway.
"Impossible. They would be to busy fighting."
"Hmmm." Said Caraway quietly to himself.
"What was that General?"
"Nothing, your Highness."
"Good. If I thought you were questioning me…"
"We are ready to land your Highness." Interrupted one of he soldiers.
"Very well, land us over there."
***********************
Squall ran up to the quad. When he arrived he heard a thud, and was just in time to see the pod land. Three Elite Galbadian Soldiers exited, followed by Caraway.
"You!" they shouted in unison at each other.
"Guards. Capture him!" The three soldiers attacked together. They were a lot tougher than the usual Galbadian cannon fodder, but once Squall had aura and Renzokukened them they fell easier than a pack of cards. "Uh, uh…" stuttered Caraway. Squall walked over and grabbed him by the throat.
"I should've known you'd be behind this!"
"Ugh…" he gagged. Squall loosened his grip slightly. "Let me explain…"
"I don't want your explanations. Where is Rinoa?"
"Rinoa is gone…"
"What? Dead?" he nodded. Before Squall had time to give an emotional response, Caraway was lifted out of his grip and floated across the room. When he had landed on the floor, he ran out of the Quad. Squall noticed the Figure that had come out of the pod.
"You!" he shouted. "We killed you!" the sorceress just laughed.
"Mere mortal. You will never understand." Squall unsheathed his Gunblade and was prepared to fight.
**********************
At the front gate, things were going bad. Many of the SeeDs had fallen, and there were still many Galbadians. The SeeDs were outnumbered almost three to one.
"What can we do?" shouted Nida
"We can't give up. We have to protect Garden, or die trying." Replied Xu as she cast a firaga spell on a soldier. "I'm going over there, they need some help." She said motioning towards a group of three SeeDs surrounded by six Galbadian soldiers. Nida nodded and focused his attention on a motorcyclist headed directly for the gate.
When Xu arrived, she immediately hit one of the soldiers with a sharp left hook to the nose. She cast thundaga on another soldier while simultaneously kicking another in the shin. The relived SeeDs started a counter attack. Xu grabbed hold of one of the soldiers who was about to cast a spell on one of the young SeeDs. He turned instead on focused the spell on her. She hit the floor as icicles surrounded her, filling her with the most intense cold. She was lay on the floor, and the soldier raised his sword in the air. She was too week to fight back, and so accepted the inevitable. She thought about all the things that she was going to miss. She thought about Nida, and how he would cope without her. In that split second, her entire life flashed before her eyes. However, the attack did not come. She looked up and saw the body of the Galbadian soldier lying on the ground. Behind was stood Irvine, rifle in hand blowing of the smoke from the double barrels.
Back up had arrived. The more experienced SeeDs who had been sent to Balamb had turned up at just the right moment. The tables had now turned in their favour.
*********************
Squall stared at the sorceress, and she stared back.
"You bitch. You killed Rinoa!" he shouted. He circled her with his Lionheart in the attack position.
"True, Rinoa is dead."
"Aggggghhhhhhhhh!" he screamed as he lunged at her with his Gunblade. She mealy pointed a finger and sent him spiralling across the room. His Gunblade flew up into the air and he had to roll out of the way to miss it. He stood up as best he could and picked up his sword again.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." She said shaking a finger. She walked over to him and leaned down, hands on knees and turned her head slightly. "And I thought you were supposed to be the sorceress knight. You let your sorceress down sir knight."
"I'll kill you!" once again he lunged, and once again he was thrown back. The sorceress paced the room.
"Squall Squall Squall." She said. "I thought more highly of you. I never thought you'd give up so easily. Squall concentrated for a moment. Then, with the little power he had left, he cast his only apocalypse spell on the sorceress. After the attack, she fell to the floor.
"You shall pay for that." She said in a calm voice. She threw a ball of fire towards him, and he dived out of the way, so that it just missed him. Again, another ball, and he ran to avoid it. She paused, and closed her eyes for a moment. Squall took this opportunity to charge at her. But as he reached her, she disappeared. His Gunblade sliced thin air. Then all turned dark. A million bats swarmed together and formed a great black orb. From this orb descended a familiar being.
"Diablos?" Squall stuttered. The mighty demon thrust his hand inside the black orb, and with all his might threw it down on to Squall. Pain tore through his body; his head felt as if it would explode under the sheer gravity of it. It subsided, and in the face of the beast, Squall could almost see pity. Then Diablos as suddenly as he arrived burst into a cloud of a thousand bats and disappeared. Squall was transported back to the quad, and fell to the floor, barley conscious.
********************
Outside, the battle was nearly over. The SeeDs now outnumbered the Galbadians four to one.
"Come on you scum!" shouted Zell. He charged toward a soldier who had cornered a young SeeD. Once swift punch to the face and he ran away clutching his nose.
Selphie used her cunning. She ran away from a group of soldiers looking very scared. They followed, and she backed herself up against a wall. [I]Ok, now look real scared.[/I] she said to herself.
"No, please don't hurt me!" she shouted as she cunningly cast aura on herself without the guards noticing. In her mind, she cycled through her limit breaks. She now had about six or seven soldiers surrounding her. [I]Please let this work, please let this work…[/I] She crouched down in a ball on the floor.
"Come on come on come on." She quietly chanted holding her head in her hands. The soldiers stood there confused. "Yes!" she stood up, and threw her hands in the air. "The End!" she shouted. The soldiers disappeared, and upon their return moments later, all collapsed to the floor. Irvine looked over and saw Selphie biting her nail, surrounded by seven dead Galbadian soldiers. He sighed, smiled, shook his head, and continued firing rounds at a motorcyclist.
The end of the battle was in sight.
***********************
General Caraway had searched the Garden, high and low, but there was no trace of her anywhere. Only one thing for it he thought.
The door opened to the elevator, in what used to be Cid's old office.
"General Caraway, what a lovely surprise." Cid said mockingly. "Why am I not surprised you are behind this?"
"Where is she."
"Why don't you sit down hey?" Cid walked over to a small cabinet and turned his back on Caraway. "Drink? Brandy, whisky…" Cid heard a click behind him. He turned to find Caraway pointing a gun at his head. "Maybe not then." He continued to pour himself one.
"Just tell me, and I'll pull back the troops. Call them off, let you be."
"You never made any sense did you?" said Cid, taking a sip of his whisky.
"If you would co-operate…"
"How can I co-operate if I don't know what, or who you want?" Cid said, never breaking his eye contact with the General.
"The girl, what is her name? Yannie. Yannie Ocaspe. The sorceress wants her."
"Sorceress? Sorceress who?"
"Just Sorceress to you. Now, where is she?"
"She isn't here." He said swishing the whisky in his glass.
"Where?" Cid shrugged. He was about to raise the glass to his mouth, when Caraway shot at it, sending shards of glass and whisky everywhere.
"Never liked that vintage anyway." He said calmly and collected.
"Are you going to help us or…" he was interrupted by his radio that was attached to his belt.
[I]"General we have to retreat. There's too many. We can't take them. I repeat, we are retreating over![/I]
Caraway picked up his radio and spoke into it. Glaring at Cid, he said. "Understood. Over and out." He put he radio back on his belt. "It seems we have underestimated this little academy of yours." Cid couldn't help but smile. "Come with me!" he shouted as he grabbed Cid's arm, and forced the gun into the small of his back. "The sorceress will deal with you."
***********************
The sorceress stood menacingly over Squall. He was curled up in a ball. He was drifting out of consciousness fast, and had a battle to hold on. Something shimmered around her neck as she knelt down, but he couldn't focus clearly on it.
"You shouldn't make promises you kan't keep." She said, almost in a whisper.
[I]What does she mean?[/I]
"You said, 'Even if you bekome the worlds enemy, I'll still be your knight.' Remember?"
[I]How does she know this?[/I]
"Well, here I am, the world's enemy. Where are you?"
[I]Try to focus on it…[/I]
"I will be here, waiting, so, if you kome here, you will find me." She moved her head to only a few inches away from his head. "I promise."
[I]What is that?[/I]
"Promise…"
[I]Familiar…[/I]
"A broken promise."
[I]Two rings on a necklace? No…[/I]
"Rinoa!" he cried out.
"Rinoa died a long time ago. Only the sorceress remains."
"Why?"
"Shh now." She placed a finger on his lips. "No more talk."
"Rinoa…" he lost his battle with conciseness.
"Zell, what are you doing here?" asked a confused Selphie.
"I'm here to fight baby!" Zell and Irvine high-fived.
"No time for that now. Lets get to Balamb." Said Quistis. "The team is assembled there waiting for our orders."
"Lets not keep them waiting then!" Zell sprinted of towards the entrance to Balamb. The others followed.
By the sea front were assembled a group of two hundred SeeDs, many of them highly qualified. Quistis stood in front of them all. Self appointed leader; the others let her take that position.
"Can I have your attention please!" she shouted. Immediately every SeeD there turned around to face her. "Thank you." She coughed. "The enemy shall be arriving anytime soon. Here is the plan. SeeDs, whose last ID number is even, take the West Side by the hotel. You shall be lead by Selphie and Irvine. SeeDs, whose last number is odd, you can take the East Side by the station. I shall lead you. Students whose ID ends in zero, are to evacuate the town under the orders of Zell. Does everyone know what to do?" there were mummers of agreement. "Check your junctions and GF." She gave them a few moments to check. "Now go!" she shouted. "And good luck!"
Soon enough the Seeds were spread out in an orderly line along the coast. Zell's party of twenty SeeDs were knocking on doors, evacuating all inhabitants. Zell knocked on the door of his own house.
"Ma! Ma!" he rapped on the door. "Ma! Get out!" the door opened. Ma Dincht threw her arms around her son.
"Oh I'm so glad it was you. I heard all the commotion and thought it was those pesky Galbadians again."
"It is. They're heading right towards us. We're are evacuating the town."
"Oh, alright. Just let me pack some…" Zell grabbed his mother's arm.
"No time to pack. You have to leave now!"
"But…"
"No buts!" he almost dragged her out the house. "Go with those SeeDs. They will take you to Garden. You should be safe there."
"What about you?"
"I'm staying to fight."
"Oh Zell. You be safe you hear!" again she hugged him. "Don't do anything stupid."
"I wont mom."
"Sir," said a young SeeD with ginger hair as he saluted him. "We have all the civilians assembled. What are you orders?" Zell looked at his mom.
"Mom, you go with this man here, I promise you'll be ok." Reluctantly she let her son go, and joined the other townspeople. "Take them all to Balamb Garden. They should be safe there."
"Sir!" he saluted and turned. Zell watched as all the inhabitants of his hometown were ushered out of the archway. Zell ran down to the sea front and stood next to Quistis.
"What now?" he asked.
"Did you get all the civilians out?" he nodded. "Now, we show them they can't mess with us."
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Back at garden, Squall was nervously pacing up and down the bridge.
"Nida, what's the ETA?"
"Four minuets."
"Four minutes? And have they evacuated the town?"
"I believe so. They are bringing the civilians here."
"Right." He rubbed his head. Cid entered the room.
"I have reports from the intelligence room. They've been picking up radio-waves." He handed over a piece of paper to Squall. He read it out loud.
"Sixteen small interceptors, four war-frigates, two attack cannons, and one battle cruiser." He looked up. "We can take them." [I]I hope…[/I]
"What's the news from the sea front?" asked Xu. "Do they have a visual?"
"I'll check." Squall held up the back of his wrist to his mouth. "Alpha team, this is base. Do you read over?" he heard static, then Quistis's voice.
[I]"This is Alpha team, we copy over."[/I]
"Alpha team, do you have visual? Over."
[I]"Negative base, we do not have a visual, repeat, no visual. Over."[/I]
"Over and out." He looked up and shook his head.
"I'll try Beta team." He held up his mouthpiece again. "Beta team, this is base do you copy over?" after a similar conversation, he once again shook his head. "Where the hell are they?"
*******************
"General!" shouted the grey haired figure. Caraway scuttled into the captain's room. "Give the order, take of the kloak."
"Right away."
*********************
Zell looked out to sea. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"I don't get it. Where are they?" Quistis shrugged.
"I don't know. But hey, if they don't want to show their faces, fine by me." It was deathly quiet. The waves gently hit the sea wall below. A flock of seagulls flew by. The wind whispered in the tress. Nobody made a sound. They were awaiting the arrival of the non-existent fleet. Then, the quietness was broken, by a sound of motors and rushing water, quietly at first, then getting louder and louder. "What the…?" Just at the moment she said that, she noticed that the sea was beginning to get rather choppy. Triangular waves pointing towards the coastline where being thrown up along with ocean spray, as if something was pushing it.
"Huh?" said Zell.
[I]"Alpha this is Beta."[/I] Shouted Selphie's voice from Quistis's wrist. [I]"Quistis, do you see that?"[/I]
"Yeah I see it."
[I]"What the Hyne is it?"[/I] Before Quistis could reply, behind the waves seemed to shimmer with silver. Loosely translucent shapes began to form, and then a fleet of ships took shape.
"Holy shit…" said Zell.
[I]"Quistis, Zell, what the hell is it?"[/I]
"I think," said Quistis into her wrist, while looking at Zell, "that is our fleet." Quistis pressed a button on the miniature intercom. "Base, base, come in base, this is Alpha team. We have a visual! Repeat visual! Over."
[I]"We see it."[/I] came Squall's voice over the intercom.
"They're coming straight towards us!" shouted Zell. "They're gonna crash into us!"
"You're right." Said Quistis. "Alpha team! Retreat! Retreat!" the ninety SeeDs under her control obeyed her orders and ran away from the coast as quickly as possible. She spoke into the intercom. "Beta Team, retreat!"
[I]"Way ahead of you there Quistis!"[/I]
The ships came closer and closer to the sea wall, at an alarming rate of acceleration.
"It's going to crash!" shouted a SeeD. But before they crashed, they heard a 'whoosh' and the sound of an ignited fire. Not looking behind, Quistis noticed it began to rain. Nothing in itself, but there hadn't been a cloud in the sky. But now the sky turned dark. Quistis looked up and saw the dark underbelly of the ships flying above her. The 'rain' was the seawater dripping off the underside. She ran even faster. She could feel the heat of the flaming exhaust on her face, and the slipstream was blowing about her hair.
"Everyone, get to Garden! Now!" she shouted.
**************************
"Hahahahaha!" The sorceress stood leaning on her desk looking out the window. "Fools! Look how you run!" she turned to face Caraway who was stood behind her. "Kome here! Look at that. Isn't it wonderful?" He came over and looked trough the window. Below the SeeDs scurried about like ants.
"Yes, I suppose so." While she looking out the window Caraway snook a quick glance at the sorceress. She had long grey hair, and on her face, veins had started to show on her cheekbones. These had been covered up with red and black tattoos. Her lips were bright red, and her eyes a shade of gold.
"What are you looking at?" she shouted at Caraway.
"Nothing."
"You think you kan look upon a sorceress?"
"I…Uh…" but before he could come up with an answer, the sorceress pointed out one finger, and sent him flying across the room in a ball of fire. In a crumpled heap in the corner, he curled up in agony.
"You will pay for your insolence." She looked at him writhing on the floor. "Is there something wrong general?"
"Ughhhhh…" he moaned.
"Get out of my sight. You mortals sicken me!" Caraway crawled to the door, and left on his hands and knees.
"Fool." She whispered to herself gazing out of the window once more.
********************
"I don't get it." Said Squall, looking over at Balamb through binoculars. "What are they doing?" he held up his intercom. "Quistis, what is going on?"
[I]Squall, get out of there! They're heading straight toward Garden!"[/I]
"Oh no!" he looked out. The ships were approaching fast. They would arrive in less than three minutes. "Nida, can we fly Garden away?"
"Negative. It will take at least twenty minutes to warm up the engines, and even then we wouldn't be able to outrun them."
"Shit, were going to have to stay and fight!" Squall pressed the button for the main Garden intercom on the bridge's control panel. "Attention all students! This is your commander. We are under attack. The only way they are getting in is through the main gate. I want all SeeDs assembled there ASAP. We cannot let them in. All joiner classmen are to go to the dorms. It will be safe there. SeeDs at the front gate, await my orders, I shall come immediately."
"Squall…" said Cid, who was looking very worried at the prospect of his Garden under attack by the Galbadians again.
"Sir!" Squall said as he saluted. "They are not getting in. I promise."
"Go fight for us. And be careful." Cid said as he saluted back.
"Yes sir." Squall rode the elevator down to the ground floor, and ran to the garden exit. All the SeeDs were assembled there. Most of them were rookies, they had only been SeeDs for a few months at most. All of the best SeeDs were in Balamb. Many of them were not in uniform. "Whatever happens," he shouted, "Stop them entering at all costs!"
"We'll die for this Garden commander!" shouted one young SeeD. The rest cheered in agreement. [I]I hope I doesn't come to that…[/I] he thought to himself.
The ships were fast approaching. As they flew over the Alcauld plains, the interceptors landed, and travelled the rest of the short distance on wheels. Behind the war-frigates loomed the ominously large battle cruiser, where the sorceress was, most probably thought Squall. It travelled much slower than the rest, due to its large size. The interceptors landed first, each as large as an average bus. They screeched to a halt, and four doors in each one opened. Out of two doors came five Galbadian soldiers each, from the other two doors came a motorcyclist. The SeeDs on the front line went forward and attacked first. Squall, stood on the steps was about to charge forward, when he noticed a small capsule be released from the hefty battle-cruiser.
"I'm ready to fight!" shouted Nida who followed him from the bridge.
"Me too. " said Xu who was stood behind him.
"Good. You two take control of things here. I have to deal with something." there was no time for questions. Squall ran of in the direction of the quad, leaving Xu and Nida in control of things on the battleground.
********************
The Sorceress, Caraway and three Elite Soldiers were aboard the emergency escape pod. One of the soldiers was at the dashboard, manoeuvring the pod to land in the open aired quad.
"Do you think they saw us?" asked Caraway.
"Impossible. They would be to busy fighting."
"Hmmm." Said Caraway quietly to himself.
"What was that General?"
"Nothing, your Highness."
"Good. If I thought you were questioning me…"
"We are ready to land your Highness." Interrupted one of he soldiers.
"Very well, land us over there."
***********************
Squall ran up to the quad. When he arrived he heard a thud, and was just in time to see the pod land. Three Elite Galbadian Soldiers exited, followed by Caraway.
"You!" they shouted in unison at each other.
"Guards. Capture him!" The three soldiers attacked together. They were a lot tougher than the usual Galbadian cannon fodder, but once Squall had aura and Renzokukened them they fell easier than a pack of cards. "Uh, uh…" stuttered Caraway. Squall walked over and grabbed him by the throat.
"I should've known you'd be behind this!"
"Ugh…" he gagged. Squall loosened his grip slightly. "Let me explain…"
"I don't want your explanations. Where is Rinoa?"
"Rinoa is gone…"
"What? Dead?" he nodded. Before Squall had time to give an emotional response, Caraway was lifted out of his grip and floated across the room. When he had landed on the floor, he ran out of the Quad. Squall noticed the Figure that had come out of the pod.
"You!" he shouted. "We killed you!" the sorceress just laughed.
"Mere mortal. You will never understand." Squall unsheathed his Gunblade and was prepared to fight.
**********************
At the front gate, things were going bad. Many of the SeeDs had fallen, and there were still many Galbadians. The SeeDs were outnumbered almost three to one.
"What can we do?" shouted Nida
"We can't give up. We have to protect Garden, or die trying." Replied Xu as she cast a firaga spell on a soldier. "I'm going over there, they need some help." She said motioning towards a group of three SeeDs surrounded by six Galbadian soldiers. Nida nodded and focused his attention on a motorcyclist headed directly for the gate.
When Xu arrived, she immediately hit one of the soldiers with a sharp left hook to the nose. She cast thundaga on another soldier while simultaneously kicking another in the shin. The relived SeeDs started a counter attack. Xu grabbed hold of one of the soldiers who was about to cast a spell on one of the young SeeDs. He turned instead on focused the spell on her. She hit the floor as icicles surrounded her, filling her with the most intense cold. She was lay on the floor, and the soldier raised his sword in the air. She was too week to fight back, and so accepted the inevitable. She thought about all the things that she was going to miss. She thought about Nida, and how he would cope without her. In that split second, her entire life flashed before her eyes. However, the attack did not come. She looked up and saw the body of the Galbadian soldier lying on the ground. Behind was stood Irvine, rifle in hand blowing of the smoke from the double barrels.
Back up had arrived. The more experienced SeeDs who had been sent to Balamb had turned up at just the right moment. The tables had now turned in their favour.
*********************
Squall stared at the sorceress, and she stared back.
"You bitch. You killed Rinoa!" he shouted. He circled her with his Lionheart in the attack position.
"True, Rinoa is dead."
"Aggggghhhhhhhhh!" he screamed as he lunged at her with his Gunblade. She mealy pointed a finger and sent him spiralling across the room. His Gunblade flew up into the air and he had to roll out of the way to miss it. He stood up as best he could and picked up his sword again.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." She said shaking a finger. She walked over to him and leaned down, hands on knees and turned her head slightly. "And I thought you were supposed to be the sorceress knight. You let your sorceress down sir knight."
"I'll kill you!" once again he lunged, and once again he was thrown back. The sorceress paced the room.
"Squall Squall Squall." She said. "I thought more highly of you. I never thought you'd give up so easily. Squall concentrated for a moment. Then, with the little power he had left, he cast his only apocalypse spell on the sorceress. After the attack, she fell to the floor.
"You shall pay for that." She said in a calm voice. She threw a ball of fire towards him, and he dived out of the way, so that it just missed him. Again, another ball, and he ran to avoid it. She paused, and closed her eyes for a moment. Squall took this opportunity to charge at her. But as he reached her, she disappeared. His Gunblade sliced thin air. Then all turned dark. A million bats swarmed together and formed a great black orb. From this orb descended a familiar being.
"Diablos?" Squall stuttered. The mighty demon thrust his hand inside the black orb, and with all his might threw it down on to Squall. Pain tore through his body; his head felt as if it would explode under the sheer gravity of it. It subsided, and in the face of the beast, Squall could almost see pity. Then Diablos as suddenly as he arrived burst into a cloud of a thousand bats and disappeared. Squall was transported back to the quad, and fell to the floor, barley conscious.
********************
Outside, the battle was nearly over. The SeeDs now outnumbered the Galbadians four to one.
"Come on you scum!" shouted Zell. He charged toward a soldier who had cornered a young SeeD. Once swift punch to the face and he ran away clutching his nose.
Selphie used her cunning. She ran away from a group of soldiers looking very scared. They followed, and she backed herself up against a wall. [I]Ok, now look real scared.[/I] she said to herself.
"No, please don't hurt me!" she shouted as she cunningly cast aura on herself without the guards noticing. In her mind, she cycled through her limit breaks. She now had about six or seven soldiers surrounding her. [I]Please let this work, please let this work…[/I] She crouched down in a ball on the floor.
"Come on come on come on." She quietly chanted holding her head in her hands. The soldiers stood there confused. "Yes!" she stood up, and threw her hands in the air. "The End!" she shouted. The soldiers disappeared, and upon their return moments later, all collapsed to the floor. Irvine looked over and saw Selphie biting her nail, surrounded by seven dead Galbadian soldiers. He sighed, smiled, shook his head, and continued firing rounds at a motorcyclist.
The end of the battle was in sight.
***********************
General Caraway had searched the Garden, high and low, but there was no trace of her anywhere. Only one thing for it he thought.
The door opened to the elevator, in what used to be Cid's old office.
"General Caraway, what a lovely surprise." Cid said mockingly. "Why am I not surprised you are behind this?"
"Where is she."
"Why don't you sit down hey?" Cid walked over to a small cabinet and turned his back on Caraway. "Drink? Brandy, whisky…" Cid heard a click behind him. He turned to find Caraway pointing a gun at his head. "Maybe not then." He continued to pour himself one.
"Just tell me, and I'll pull back the troops. Call them off, let you be."
"You never made any sense did you?" said Cid, taking a sip of his whisky.
"If you would co-operate…"
"How can I co-operate if I don't know what, or who you want?" Cid said, never breaking his eye contact with the General.
"The girl, what is her name? Yannie. Yannie Ocaspe. The sorceress wants her."
"Sorceress? Sorceress who?"
"Just Sorceress to you. Now, where is she?"
"She isn't here." He said swishing the whisky in his glass.
"Where?" Cid shrugged. He was about to raise the glass to his mouth, when Caraway shot at it, sending shards of glass and whisky everywhere.
"Never liked that vintage anyway." He said calmly and collected.
"Are you going to help us or…" he was interrupted by his radio that was attached to his belt.
[I]"General we have to retreat. There's too many. We can't take them. I repeat, we are retreating over![/I]
Caraway picked up his radio and spoke into it. Glaring at Cid, he said. "Understood. Over and out." He put he radio back on his belt. "It seems we have underestimated this little academy of yours." Cid couldn't help but smile. "Come with me!" he shouted as he grabbed Cid's arm, and forced the gun into the small of his back. "The sorceress will deal with you."
***********************
The sorceress stood menacingly over Squall. He was curled up in a ball. He was drifting out of consciousness fast, and had a battle to hold on. Something shimmered around her neck as she knelt down, but he couldn't focus clearly on it.
"You shouldn't make promises you kan't keep." She said, almost in a whisper.
[I]What does she mean?[/I]
"You said, 'Even if you bekome the worlds enemy, I'll still be your knight.' Remember?"
[I]How does she know this?[/I]
"Well, here I am, the world's enemy. Where are you?"
[I]Try to focus on it…[/I]
"I will be here, waiting, so, if you kome here, you will find me." She moved her head to only a few inches away from his head. "I promise."
[I]What is that?[/I]
"Promise…"
[I]Familiar…[/I]
"A broken promise."
[I]Two rings on a necklace? No…[/I]
"Rinoa!" he cried out.
"Rinoa died a long time ago. Only the sorceress remains."
"Why?"
"Shh now." She placed a finger on his lips. "No more talk."
"Rinoa…" he lost his battle with conciseness.