Disclaimer: I still don't own them.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS

Part Four

The Triumph

When Ellone loosed a gurgling scream and clutched at her chest, the SeeDs who had been standing guard sprang into action. But they couldn't figure out what was wrong; the girl was thrashing in her chair, moaning in pain, blood dripping from her lips, while Squall sat on his bed, his body twitching but otherwise still.

"What the hell?" Zell hissed. He took Ellone in his arms, searching her body for whatever was hurting her. "It's her gift! Something must have gone wrong!" He turned to one of the SeeDs behind him. "Quick! Bring Dr. Kadowaki!"

"Why is she bleeding?" the other young SeeD Zell had been partnered with asked.

"I don't know! C'mon, Elle, snap out of it!"

"What's wrong with the commander?"

Zell turned to Squall and frowned. Squall had put his hands to his temples and was moaning. His glazed eyes spared with red in their depths.

Zell sat Ellone gently on the floor, then reached through the bars and used a Thunder on Squall. The commander cried out, then seemed to jerk awake. Behind Zell, Ellone's moaning stopped. Her eyes fluttered open, and her breathing slowed from harsh rasps to something closer to normal. Tears drenched her cheeks.

She met Zell's eyes, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly as she struggled to speak. Then her eyes rolled up, and her body fell limp against the floor..

* * *

"And that's why Squall is like this," Ellone concluded softly. It was several hours later, and the girl had barely recovered her strength. Her hands still trembled as she took a drink of water.

Once again, Squall's closest friends had gathered in the headmaster's office, this time with Rinoa in attendance as well.

Rinoa turned to Edea. "I don't understand - how did you stop Squall's curse before? And why didn't you tell us?"

"Because I can't remember," the older woman said miserably. "I've worked with Guardian Forces as well; I can't recall Raine giving me Squall. All I know is what Ellone told me later about Raine's death.

"Can you help me make a similar barrier?" Rinoa asked hopefully.

"I couldn't begin to guess how," Edea said softly. "I don't know how Adel could have done this or how it can be contained. And the barrier was broken once; it could be broken again."

"We have to stop it," Ellone said. "It's powerful. I've never had anything use my gift against me before. And I never want anyone to suffer like Nida again."

Ellone wouldn't say more on her near death experience. It had shaken her to see the man she thought of as a younger brother in this condition. Squall had killed Nida. Ellone didn't think she'd ever look at Squall the same way again. And how must poor Rinoa feel? The young woman was pale and expressionless, her voice toneless when she spoke.

"It would help if we had Raine," Edea said quietly. "She was the curse's target; she may be useful."

"Is she still alive?" Ellone's face lost its desolate look. Edea shrugged helplessly.

"I haven't heard anything from her, that I know of," Edea said sadly. "We must assume the worst."

"It could take months to analyze the spell Adel used," Rinoa said dully. "Assuming it can be broken."

"Perhaps we should find a way to just contain the thing inside Squall for now," Edea said. "At least, until we find a more permanent cure. We can't take the chance that Squall can escape. We know what will happen then."

No one had anything to say to that.

* * *

Rinoa fretted in her hospital bed until Dr. Kadowaki agreed to bring Edea to speak with her. Rinoa was supposed to be resting, but she had an idea and wanted to share it with the former sorceress as soon as possible. Squall needed her, and she wasn't helping him by sleeping.

"What is it?" Edea asked, taking a seat next to Rinoa's bed.

"I was trying to think of a way to contain Squall's violent urges, and I was wondering if gemstones could do the job."

"Gems?" Edea arched her brows. "Certain kinds have been known to hold magic."

"Yes! Like the Ultima or Aura Stones! Maybe we - well, I - can use some of the stones to create a barrier. Quistis said it's vulnerable to magic, so perhaps I can create a magical field using stones to keep the beast in place."

Edea nodded thoughtfully. "Setting spells on stones would save the effort of finding a way to set one on a human. And the beast may not be able to break free from an external barrier."

Rinoa's face fell. "But it could take time. I need to study some of the stones and see how they work. I've never done anything like this before."

"I can offer you some help. I have the experience, if not the power," Edea said.

"Great! Let's get started!" For the first time since the attack, Rinoa actually felt cheerful. She'd help Squall overcome this!

* * *

Squall was trying - and failing - to get some sleep on the narrow bed when Rinoa came to see him. He frowned when he noticed she was alone and on her feet, meaning she must have snuck out of the infirmary. Squall pulled himself off the bed and wearily went to the bars, noticing he was no longer guarded. She must have sent them away. Stupid.

"You shouldn't have come," he hissed.

"Why? It's the afternoon." She reached through the bars and took his hands in hers. "We have an idea how to contain it," she said excitedly.

"Don't tell me about it," Squall snapped.

Rinoa's face fell. "I thought you'd be glad."

"Rinoa, this thing is damned smart. It's not just unfocused killing urges - there's an intelligence behind it. It figured out how to use Ellone's powers against her. And it's been trapping my mind at night so I can't see what it's doing. If you tell me your idea, it may think of a way to defend against it!" He wrapped his hands around Rinoa's, nails digging into her wrists. "Rinoa, I want you to promise me something."

"Anything," she said faintly.

"Don't say that. You may not want to make this promise once you hear it. If your idea doesn't work, I want you to kill me."

"Squall, no!" Rinoa said desperately. Tears filled her eyes.

"I. I don't want to live like this." His nails dug deeper. "I killed Nida. I could kill you, and I have no way of stopping myself. Please," he said plaintively, clinging to her hands so hard he drew blood. "You're the only one powerful enough to do it properly. Kill me if you can't contain the beast. Please!" There was a desperate quaver in his voice, and Rinoa was startled at the sadness in his steel blue eyes.

"I'll do it," she vowed. "You're right. No one should live like this. If my idea doesn't work, I'll destroy you." Her face had gone cold and hard as marble as she limped away.

Squall had never heard that note in her voice before and realized with astonishment that she had meant what she had said.

* * *

Rinoa was working feverishly. She had asked the others to gather different magical stones for her, and was breaking down their spell components to see how they were set in the stones, with Edea's patient guidance. The two now had some ideas for what to do with the stones, and now only needed time to figure out what spells to set.

It was time Rinoa wondered if they had left. Squall had sounded so desperate when she'd last seen him. She had to make this work before it was too late!

* * *

It was patient. While the beast hated being confined, it knew something that the humans who guarded it by night did not: It was almost free.

But it knew the others were up to something, especially the woman of power it had injured. That much it had gathered from her conversation with its increasingly broody host.

It had to get free. It had to destroy her, to take her heart in its mouth and revel in her screams. It would not be contained again!

* * *

"Rinoa, lay down!" Dr. Kadowaki's voice was stern as the young woman gave a frustrated snarl and slammed her fist against the desk, where a collection of multicolored stones glowed softly on the surface. Her hands were shaking with the strain she'd placed herself under these past few days and the last few spells she'd used had gone awry.

But she wouldn't give up! "I can't," Rinoa snapped, her voice tense. "I promised Squall I'd help him!" She picked up a length of black leather, reinforced by metal strips and fitted with sockets for the stones. It was a collar, to be used for keeping the stones on Squall and the beast. It had been designed to fit to his neck tightly, but with releases to make the collar longer in case the transformation itself couldn't be contained, as Edea suspected. While he would likely still assume wolf-form, it was just the killing rage Rinoa wanted to stop for now. Just enough to keep him from hurting others until she could find a true cure.

"Rinoa, you'll do Squall no good if you set the incorrect spells," Dr. Kadowaki said, more gently. "You need to rest. Your body still isn't well enough to take this."

Rinoa sighed and dropped the collar. The doctor was right; there was no way she could continue in her present state. She hobbled from the doctor's desk, which she'd claimed for her workspace, and lay on her bed.

Despite her earlier protests, she fell asleep immediately.

* * *

Tonight! It would be free tonight! It knew just the right time: right after midnight, when the weary prey watching it would be tired and waiting for their relief. Sometimes, they would even fall asleep.

How foolish of them.

It pricked one ear, listening to the gentle snoring of the two people who were failing in their duty. They had been alert the first week or so, but had become complacent when the creature showed little sign of violence. Except for its strange fits when it would ram itself into the wall as if in frustration. They couldn't know that an air vent ran right behind that wall, and that the wall was weakened from its pounding. The walls were very strong, unlike the door to its host's room. The cell was made to contain the full fury of a magical attack. But everything wore down over time, and under its constant barrage, the wall would no longer take the attack.

It was a shame there was no access to the air vent outside the cell; it would dearly love to rip the throats out of these sleeping guards. Maybe it would come back for them later.

As the guard's light snores slipped into something deeper, the creature's mouth curled in a mockery of a smile. Now was the time!

Swiftly, silently, the creature leaped at the wall, ramming its shoulder into the weak section, which cracked and broke inward. Without staying to learn if its negligent guards had heard the noise, it slipped into the air ducts and began to make its way through the Garden.

* * *

Rinoa was jolted awake by a backwash of emotions: Rage, stronger than it had been the past few nights, coupled with a fierce triumph. It could only mean one thing. The creature had broken free!

Rinoa forced her battered body off the bed and went to Dr. Kadowaki's intercom to sound the alert to Quistis, whom she knew had a night shift. Then her eyes fell on the heap of stones and the collar nestled in a box on the desk.

It had to be tonight. With the creature on the loose, there was little chance of imprisoning it again. She had to finish the collar tonight! She took a glowing blue stone in one hand, and softly began to chant the words of a spell, forcing her tired mind to get every word, every inflection, just right. There was no longer any time for mistakes.

* * *

Jory was cleaning the kitchen. He didn't want to be there, but his antics had gotten him a detention, and his punishment was to clean the large kitchen, all night if he had to. And he had the feeling that was how long it would take, since the place looked as if it had never seen mop or broom. They'd done this on purpose, he suspected. It was cruel of the kitchen staff to leave a mess to teach him a lesson, but he had to admit it was working. Jory never wanted to clean this place again.

A soft scuffling sound interrupted his thoughts. Oh, great, this place has mice. They probably want me to get rid of them, too. The sound seemed to come from above him, in the air vents. With a scowl, Jory grabbed his broom and smashed the end into the vent on the ceiling, not caring if the dented it. It was doubtful the sadistic old hag who ran this place would bother to look up anyway.

Jory knew he'd made a mistake when the broom broke through the vent. And he knew he was in bigger trouble when the broom stuck, despite his determined yanks.

And when a large, taloned hand broke through the vent and grabbed him around the throat, Jory knew whatever trouble he'd been in before suddenly didn't matter.

* * *

The alarm that called Garden to arms was rarely sounded, but all the SeeDs responded like the trained professionals they were. This included the two guarding Squall's cell, who had arrived at Headmaster Cid's office with frantic expressions. They would be scolded later; right now, there was an emergency and all hands were needed.

"Stay in groups," Quistis said, "and keep spells on hand at all times. Do whatever you can to stun the creature, but do not kill it."

"Absolutely no one is to be alone, and I want several volunteers to take the students outside the Garden. We will hunt the creature down; no one is to stop until we find it and have it back under control," Xu added.

"You know what to do," Headmaster Cid added. "Good luck."

As the SeeDs left the office, Quistis pulled Irvine aside. "I want your team to retrieve Rinoa. Squall could go after her again."

Irvine nodded and went off, followed by Zell and Selphie.

* * *

It watched as it quietly made its way through the vents. The Garden was alert, but no one seemed to have thought of checking the air vents yet. Good. Then they hadn't found the bodies it had hidden. It had found another, a staff member who was guarding the gate, and taken care of him before the alarm had sounded.

Now it was making its way to where it knew the woman of power was recovering. It would take great pleasure in killing her. Maybe it would torture her before eating her before disposing of her.

* * *

"Rinoa! Come on!" Irvine said frantically. Rinoa looked up from where she was setting the final stone in the collar.

"Where is it?" she asked.

"I don't know! But we need to get-" He broke off as a scratching noise sounded above his head. Irvine shoved Selphie and Zell back behind him, gesturing frantically at Rinoa to follow him out. Rinoa ignored him, lengthening the collar between her fingertips. She had to get it on him now!

The creature broke through the vent with a cry, landing between Rinoa and Irvine. Its head glanced between them, clearly torn at who to go after. When Irvine raised his gun, the creature's claws lashed out and ripped it away. Then it grinned and turned to Rinoa.

"Irvine! I need to get this around his neck!" she cried.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Zell demanded.

"Distract it!"

Zell and Selphie stepped into the room and fanned out, providing the undecided creature with multiple targets. Now it looked clearly confused as it watched their hands glow with uncast spells. Which would it attack?

For a moment, its back was to Rinoa. With a cry, she clumsily leaped onto the creature's back. It jumped sideways, struggling to dislodge her, its claws trying to grab onto her. But Rinoa held on as well as she could, using magic to help hold grip. Then she looped the collar around the creature's thick neck.

It screamed as if wounded, and Rinoa dropped off its back as it began to thrash around. The others backed to the side of the room as it clawed at the magical collar, but was unable to mar its magically strengthened surface. The creature threw itself onto the floor and rolled madly about. Then, suddenly, it slammed its head into the floor and fell limp.

"It. knocked itself out?" Irvine said in disbelief. "I thought the thing was damned near invulnerable?"

"The collar weakens it," Rinoa whispered.

"Do we have it?" Selphie asked. "Is it contained?"

"I don't know." Rinoa whispered as she slumped weakly onto the desk, watching the creature's shallowly breathing form. "I just don't know."

* * *

"We shouldn't be here," Squall stated firmly. He stood in the knee-high grass with his arms folded across his chest. His face was carefully neutral, but Rinoa could sense his edge of fear. He'd killed three people, and didn't want to kill her as well. The collar, he said, had kept back the anger that plagued his human form, but he wasn't sure yet if it would hold back the beast, which was stronger at night. "If this doesn't work, I may attack you again. Or I may escape and head towards Balamb. We should do this in a confined area with the rest of SeeD on guard."

"But you don't want them to see you this way," Rinoa said softly. "And I'm a sorceress; now that I know what to expect, I can stop you." A grim look crept across her face. "Permanently, if I have to. And if it comes to that, I don't want anyone around to stop me."

Around them, the wind whispered through the grass, and soft clouds streaked the darkening sky. It was too lovely an evening to be thinking about something like this, Rinoa thought sadly. She watched as Squall tugged at the collar ringing his neck, fiddling with the straps to make sure it would be loose enough to fit after his transformation. Then he pulled off his white shirt and crouched low in the grass.

"All set" Rinoa asked. Squall waved her away, but Rinoa wanted to be nearby, in case Squall went wild. He was incredibly fast; if she wasn't close, she could lose him.

The sky faded from brilliant scarlet to purple, and then to the deep blue of night. As the first stars began to appear in the sky, Squall's body stiffened as he was caught in the throes of transformation.

Chestnut fur rippled over his body in a wave, covering his changing musculature. His face began to elongate, and his ears became pointed and shifted to the top of his skull. A groan rattled through his pointed teeth as he tried to suppress his screams. Rinoa took a step forward, in time to see a tail break through his torn pants. She stopped as Squall rose slowly from all fours, his blue eyes glittering in the dark as he turned to face her. She held her hands ready, the words of a spell poised on her tongue.

Instead of the enraged leap she was expecting, the wolf-creature continued to stare at her silently. It cocked its head uncertainly, then its jaws dropped in a canine grin and it lifted its fist in triumph.

"Squall?" Rinoa asked, moving closer. "Is it you?" The creature was unable to speak, but gave a non-threatening growl. Rinoa's face split into a grin, and she wiped away tears she hadn't known she'd shed. "Then you're in control? Yes!" she cried happily, moving towards Squall confidently. She held out a hand towards his ears, still ready to cast a spell if this proved to be a trick, but doubting it. She ran her hand through Squall's sleek fur, laughing in delight.

She grabbed his muzzle, pulling his elegant head down to meet her eyes. "I know it's not a cure Squall, but it's a start. I think it'll be all right, after all!"

The End.

I know. You wanted more death and destruction and instead you get. a happy ending? Well, if you think it's going to stay happy, raise your hands. glares at everyone with raised hands Don't you know me better than that by now? Then again, you haven't read "Moonbound" yet.

For those of you who want carnage, well, this is the first fic in a story arc, and killing off all the characters in the first story makes things difficult. There will be about four stories that I know of, my muses are making up for years of neglect by giving me story ideas in bulk. The first part of the sequel, "Moonbound," should be uploaded tomorrow. Enjoy.