A/N: Oh dear…I finished Ch.5, but I couldn't frickin' download it because FF.Net's server was being tested…I was going crazy for a couple of moments, then realized, what the hell, I'll just write Ch.6 while I wait for FF.Net to clean itself up. Phew! So, Seifer and Kyonae are assigned to the same squad…just the two of them. It's bound to be trouble…
Chapter Six: Sa-Shenu, The Protector of Eternity
They drove to Balamb in one of the Garden's cars. Quistis was there because she was the SeeD instructor in charge, Squall, Zell, Irvine and Selphie were there because they had to go on the mission too, and Rinoa was there just for the purpose of keeping Kyonae and Seifer from strangling each other.
Her job was easy. They didn't talk to one another at all. Kyonae sat across from him next to Irvine and Squall. Seifer sat next to Rinoa and Selphie. Zell was shadow boxing, and Quistis was driving.
"Sooo…." Rinoa started. "Kyonae…how's your family? Have you heard from them lately?"
"I wouldn't know. I've never seen my family."
"Oh, I'm sorry…"
"It's okay. It's not your fault. You didn't know."
Many silent moments went by, and only the sounds of Zell's fists swishing in mid-air could be heard.
"Hyne, do you have to do that, Chicken Wuss? It's frickin' annoying."
"Screw you, Seifer. I'll do what I want." He kept shadow boxing, beating the hell out of an invisible opponent.
Soon Seifer became very irritable. "Dammit, Chicken Wuss!!! Knock it the hell off!" He stood, making his way to Zell. Being taller than the martial arts specialist, he posed a considerable threat, especially with his Hyperion tucked away in his coat.
"Seifer!" Kyonae snapped, standing up. Suddenly Seifer felt a subtle, irresistible urge to sit down. He went back to his seat as obedient as a dog. Kyonae sat down also, as did Zell.
"Frickin' psycho idiot…thanks, Kyonae," Zell said, still a little jumpy.
"Seifer, you'd better get your act together if you want to be a SeeD," Selphie scolded. "Remember, if you don't pass this time, Cid's gonna kick you out of Garden!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Seifer waved away the comment. But, in truth, he really was worried. He really wanted to be a SeeD, but he always seemed to ruin it for himself. (Okay, Seif, just cool it,) he told himself. (Just keep your mouth shut, follow Kyonae's orders, as hard as it'll be, and get through the exam. You can do this. Look at them all, so stuck on themselves. They don't think you can do it. They think you're gonna screw up. Prove them wrong.)
He'd prove them all wrong.
Seifer looked up to see Kyonae staring at him. "What's your problem?" he snapped. She had had a thoughtful look on her face, but the look turned sour and she turned away, talking to Irvine, who had his arm around her shoulders as he was trying to charm her. Squall rolled his eyes.
"So, Kyonae…"
They drove to the dock and were loading onto the Squad B sub. Kyonae went back to the car to get her gunblade, which had somehow come loose from her belt. However, she accidentally caught a conversation going on between Squall and Rinoa, who were behind the car.
"Squall, I can't let you leave. I'm too worried about you."
"Rinoa, I'll be fine. You don't have to be worried about me. I've gone on more dangerous missions than this one, I'm sure."
"Anything could happen, Squall! What if something happens to you, and you can't come back to me?"
Squall remained silent for a few moments, a warm look in his eyes. "Rinoa…you're so beautiful…what in the world could possibly keep me away from you?"
"Oh, Squall…" she hugged him tightly, smiling.
"Now I'll be just fine. Don't worry. Go shopping or whatever girls do when they're bored, okay? I love you." He kissed her gently on the lips and hugged her one last time. "I gotta go."
As Squall made his way around the car, Kyonae held the open door and slammed it loudly, as if she had just come back a second ago. She tried to look innocent. "Oh, there you are, Squall! We were looking for you. I forgot my Talon in the car, so I just came back to get it. Let's get going, they're calling us."
Squall looked at her suspiciously for a moment, then ran ahead to the sub, Kyonae following him.
Xu greeted them as they shoved off. "Hello again. Wow, it sure has been a long time, huh, Quistis?"
"Yes it has. You know Squall and Zell, right? Well, these are our other SeeDs, Irvine Kinneas and Selphie Tilmitt, and our new SeeD candidate, Kyonae Falcona. You already know Seifer."
"Pleased to meet you, Kyonae, Irvine, Selphie. Oh, hello, Seifer," Xu said a little less pleasantly. "He's not squad leader again, is he?"
"No, that would be Kyonae," Quistis answered. Kyonae saw Seifer's mood darken even more. People didn't even seem to bother to talk behind his back anymore…they just did it in front of him…
"Well, that's good. Anyway, everyone be seated so I can tell you the situation and objective."
Everyone sat down, and Xu began:
"Last night, around 22:00 hours, the city of Osiria was attacked by a military force unknown to Balamb Garden. At approximately 2:00 hours, a request for SeeD was made. They are a rich city and have offered us much money to eradicate this unknown force from their environment. They have a strong army as well, but there are far too many of the unknown force to take on alone, plus, it is rumored that they have released a monster in the city. That's why the request was made.
"Your objective: To eliminate all of the unknown military force, retrieve hostages and bring them to the Community Center, and, if there is a monster, destroy it. Failure is not an option, and also, the order to withdraw takes priority. Be ready. We expect fierce battle as soon as we disembark. This military force is stronger than the Galbadian was. It won't be an easy win. Be careful, and Seifer, for the love of Hyne, don't be an idiot this time." With that, she left through the sliding door to the cockpit.
Squall sat back, confident but worrisome. The mission wasn't going to be as easy as he had expected. But it couldn't be any worse than what he'd already been through…could it?
He looked to his side to see Kyonae, who, strangely, was doing the same thing he did whenever he was extremely worried about something: her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands, with that dark, brooding look…
"Kyonae?"
She snapped her head up, looking at him. "Yes?"
"You okay?"
"What? Oh…yes, I'm fine. Just thinking." She looked over to Seifer. "Could you go topside and see how close we are?"
"Why don't you do it?" he replied churlishly without thinking.
"Seifer! That was an order from your squad leader!" Quistis reminded him, a cold look in her eye. "You are to do what-"
"No, Quistis, it's fine," Kyonae insisted, standing up. "I'll do it. I was just asking, is all."
"Are you sure, captain?" he said, raising an eyebrow with a rude smirk on his face.
"I'm sure. If you went up, I'd be tempted to swerve the sub," she replied darkly, perturbing him with a smirk of her own.
The time of day had come when the sun and moon shared the same sky, which was an explosion of reds, oranges, pinks, blues and deep violets. The sea wind whipped through Kyonae's hair ferociously. To the left and right of her were many SeeD subs, to the back, the white frothy water of the sea as they ripped through it.
And ahead of her, Osiria City.
The once peaceful city was now in total chaos; one could see it even from a long distance. Flashes of light littered the beach, sending fire and smoke up in their wake. Sounds of screams and gunfire were as plentiful as the fish in the sea they were now sailing through.
All of a sudden, it seemed as if she were flying, fast, right toward the city, leaving the sub behind. She was zipping through the city, ducking and weaving through the mixture of bombs and buildings. She suddenly stopped in the middle of the city, in a dark alleyway, where something huge was waiting, darker than dark, its huge red eyes gleaming murderously…
Her mind snapped back like a rubber band, and she found herself back on the top of the sub, breathing hard from the exhilaration of 'flying', and her knuckles white from clenching the railing too tightly. So, there was a monster…
She saw a white speck in the multicolor sky, flying right toward her, and landing on her outstretched arm. "My friend…you came," Kyonae smiled.
The white falcon tilted her head at an angle, her deep, humanlike blue eyes sparkling intelligently in the sunset. (I always come, Kyonae, when you need me. Have you not seen the monster?)
"I have. If I need you-"
(Then I shall come to your aid. I could do no less for you. Kyonae, please be careful. I feel there is more than what seems to be afoot. Watch yourself, and watch over Seifer Almasy.)
"Seifer?" Kyonae asked bitterly. "Why?"
(Please understand. I tell you only what I feel is right. I know not what will happen, but you must watch over him. Will you do that for me?)
"…Of course, my friend. I would do anything for you," she said finally, stroking the noble bird under her beak. "Even protect my enemy."
(Isn't your enemy the unknown force right now?)
"Well, yes. Why?"
(If Seifer fights against them as you do, he cannot be your enemy. Despite your differences, if you both fight against the same force, you both remain on the same side. Do I speak the truth, or the words of a hatchling?)
"No, friend. You speak neither truth nor nonsense. You speak wisdom. You are right. Until the battle is done, we are on the same side. Thank you. Now go and hide, and I will call for you if I am in trouble."
(Good luck, Kyonae.) The falcon gave a piercing cry and took off back into the multicolor sky.
Just then the hatch opened and Irvine climbed up. "Kyonae! We're going to be landing any moment now. You should come back down so you don't get bucked off."
She turned to him. "Are you going into battle also?"
"Sure I am, Kyonae. But hey, don't worry about little old me. Actually, I'm more concerned about you. Are you going to be alright out there?" There was worry in his lovely violet eyes.
"I'll be fine." She lowered her eyes shyly. "I never got to-"
"Whoa, Kyonae! We better get down!" he suddenly cried. The shore wasn't far away. Without another word, they climbed back down the hatch and prepared to land.
****
The sub scraped against the beach and lurched to a stop. The doors opened and Irvine, Zell, Selphie, and Squall ran off to join the battle. "Good luck, guys!"
"Kyonae, Seifer, make sure your GF's equipped before you head into battle! Stick together; teamwork is of the utmost importance!" She ran off to battle as well.
"Let's go!" Kyonae cried, pointing her Talon straight ahead. "Do you have your Guardian Force?"
"I forgot it," he replied.
"That's all right, we'll use mine!" She ran off into the clash of enemy, SeeD and Osirian soldiers, her eyes glinting fiercely. Seifer followed, that old excitement running through his veins. He was on the battlefield again, his one true home.
And by the look on Kyonae's face, it was hers too.
***
Immediately they were attacked by plenty of the enemy soldiers, all black uniforms and wielding large swords. They didn't have a chance against the skilled gunbladers. Seifer laughed as he swiped the Hyperion at several enemies at a time, slaying them all. Kyonae spotted an Osirian family being pushed into a truck by at least a dozen enemy soldiers, the children crying in fear. "Oh, no you don't…" she ambushed the soldiers, practically slicing them in half with the sharp blade of her Talon.
"Cool!" one of the little boys exclaimed, before his mother's hands went over his eyes.
A SeeD came instantly, gave her thumbs up, and began guiding the family toward the Community Center.
Kyonae and Seifer fought side by side, defeating everyone that came their way. At one point, a bunch of soldiers got hold of her gunblade, and started closing in on her.
Bad idea.
Wham! Kick! Punch! Kyonae began kicking ass with swift karate like moves that Seifer thought only Zell could know. When everyone except the guy holding the Talon was on the ground, the soldier dropped it and began running for his pathetic life. Seifer picked it up and threw it to her.
Kyonae caught the Talon by its handle, and pulled the trigger. The gun part of it went off, catching the soldier right in the back. "Ugh!"
(Wow!) Seifer thought, following her deeper into the city. But as they fought their way, the blond gunblader began to notice there were less and less soldiers to fight, until the streets were deserted. "Kyonae, aren't we supposed to be on the outer rims, fighting the military force?"
Kyonae shook her head. "We fought the soldiers. Now we go for the monster."
"The monster? We don't even know if it exists! It was just a rumor."
"It exists, I know."
"Oh, Yeah? How? Are you some kind of psychic?"
Kyonae didn't answer him.
They came to the City Square, where they found a stout middle aged woman trying to fight off two enemy soldiers with a wooden pole she found lying on the ground. She was in a rage that Kyonae had never seen in a woman her age.
"Where'd ya put her, ya bastards? Where did you take my daughter?"
Seifer and Kyonae rushed forward and easily dispatched the brutes. The woman dropped her gunblade in shock. She could have fought off two soldiers with swords, but two soldiers with gunblades…? She dropped to her knees and cried.
Kyonae sheathed her gunblade and knelt down beside the woman gently. "No need to worry, madam. We're SeeD candidates dispatched from Balamb Garden. We're here to help."
Hearing this, the woman's eyes went wide and she threw her arms around Kyonae sobbing. "Thank the gods above-SeeD has come at last-you have to help me, sweet child-"
Seifer looked at the scene with a wistful look. This woman was spilling her heart out to Kyonae, complete strangers to each other, and yet Kyonae was showing complete sympathy; patting the woman's back gently as she tried to calm her, as if they were old friends. Was that what helping people was all about? Feeling the other's pain, and trying to overcome it together?
The woman rubbed her red eyes, explaining her situation. "Those bastards took my daughter from me. Those two stayed to keep me here, and one with a yellow badge took her away. Her name is Nevina and she's the light of my life. They said they were going to feed her to a snake!" Tears sprang anew in the mother's eyes.
Kyonae's eyes went wide, as if she had just figured something important out. "The monster…" she murmured to herself. She took the woman's arms in her hands. "We'll find your daughter, madam, and bring her back safely, I promise you."
"Oh, thank you, you sweet child!" She kissed Kyonae on the cheek as if she were the woman's daughter. She leapt up and kissed him as well, as if he were her son.
Just then, a Seed member ran up. It was Squall. "Need help?"
Kyonae looked relieved to see him. "This woman needs to be brought to the Community Center. We're going deeper into the city; several soldiers took her daughter hostage. If you could bring her, it would be of great help."
"I'm on it. Come with me, madam." Squall led her away, a worried look on his face. Kyonae carried the same expression.
"Come on, Seifer," she said finally. "We are to find the monster, destroy it, and bring back the girl."
***
It was dark now, and the moonlight was their only beacon of comfort. Seifer was beginning to get irritated. "Do you even know where you're going? We've been walking for at least an hour now."
"Osiria is an extremely large city, Seifer, and very old. In fact, it was founded in ancient times, and was thought of as a place where their gods resided. They said that if their gods became angry, a plague a terror would wash over the city and the great Iaret would be summoned to eat evil hearted people and unsuspecting children who were separated from their parents."
"How ironic," Seifer said dryly. "What the hell's an Iaret?"
"In ancient Osirian language, it means cobra." Kyonae stopped short, looking around. "Hear that?"
"No. I don't hear a thing."
"Exactly."
All of a sudden, a crumpled figure flew in the air before them from an alleyway, hitting the pavement hard. It was hard to tell what it was at first, but it was definitely a human body. "Sir…Madam…are you all right…?"
Kyonae approached the figure cautiously, Seifer right behind her. She rolled the figure over with her foot.
It was the bloody remains of a mangled enemy soldier, a bright yellow badge pinned to what was left of his chest.
"Aaaaaaaaahh!" Kyonae screamed, backing up into Seifer's arms, who screamed also. Both felt the need to vomit, but kept it down.
"For the love of Hyne…who the hell could possibly do something like that to a human being?" he gasped, looking away.
Kyonae heard a sharp hiss fill the air, coming from the alleyway the body had flown out of. "I don't think we're dealing with a 'who' here, Seifer…more like a 'what'…"
They turned their heads slowly towards the alleyway, where a dark shadow was slowly advancing out into the moonlight.
"HOLY SHIT!!!" Seifer shouted.
It was huge black snake, at least 20 feet tall but 50 feet in length. It had blood-red eyes with slitted pupils, fangs at least a foot long and dripping with a mix of blood and venom, and great wing like flares.
"Iaret…" Kyonae gasped.
The cobra hissed greatly in rage. Its territory was being invaded. It struck the ground angrily, scaring them back. Then it attacked.
Seifer and Kyonae had their gunblades at ready. They repeatedly slashed at the giant snake, sending sparks from the weapons scraping against the stonelike scales. They barely left a scratch.
"Try to get it under the belly!" Kyonae shouted, going for its tender underside. But the snake was clever. It grabbed the young woman by her legs with its tail and shook her violently, the Talon falling from her grasp and landing somewhere in the alley. The tail crept around her entire body, tightening a bit each second…Kyonae was going to be strangled…
Seifer attacked the underbelly, leaving a great gash spurting blood. But it didn't seem to bother the Iaret. To it, it was merely a paper cut. And it just made the Iaret even angrier.
HIIIISSSSSSSSS!!!
The cobra struck Seifer with a bunt of its head, sending him flying. Dazed, he staggered to his feet and was considering running for it, but then he looked over to Kyonae, who was hanging upside down, choking for air as the Iaret constricted the life out of her.
"H-help me, Seiii-f-er-"
Determined, he ran back, but was yet again struck down. His anger level reached its peak; his blood ran hotter than molten lava…
"DAAAMMNNN YYOOOOUUU!!!"
He swung his Hyperion around extremely fast, a green electric ball of energy procuring from it. The energy ball flung itself at the snake, which was thrown back momentarily while Seifer sliced and diced it as best he could…
But it rose again, and made a sound that sounded suspiciously like laughter, as Seifer dropped to his knees, too weak to fight.
Kyonae's vision was going blurry, her lungs about to pop. She was about to be crushed like a mouse. The pressure was too great. She struggled her arm free from the cobra's grip and held her fingers to her mouth, omitting a sharp whistle then crying out into the night with as much force as she could…
"SA-SHENU, I SUMMON YOU!"
Everything seemed to stop for a moment as Kyonae ran out of breath, her eyes rolling back in her head. It was too late…it was all over…maybe if Sa-Shenu came quick enough she could save Seifer…
Seifer tried to catch his breath, down on his knees. Kyonae had gone limp in the snake's grasp. Was she…? She had to be. Her face had gone white, her free arm drooping like a wilted flower…then the snake tossed her up and swallowed her whole.
"KYONAE! OH, SHIT!"
The snake was ready to finish him now, its fangs bared and in striking position, its flares waving furiously…
Suddenly, a great white blur distracted the Iaret, flying right between them. It stopped in midair, and Seifer saw it a beautiful white falcon, about ten times a falcon's normal size. She gave a piercing cry. It was so beautiful, it had to be a she.
The Iaret stared curiously at this creature, which kept swooping in and out of range of its fangs, as if taunting it. Then she dived down and sank a razor sharp beak into its fleshy underside, leaving a gigantic gash. The giant black cobra hissed in rage, snapping at the bird. It forgot Seifer completely. It wanted the falcon now.
Then the bird stopped flying, suspending herself in midair as she spread out her wings to a good 20 feet, and cried. A pure white light filled the atmosphere, till Seifer could do nothing but hear the Iaret's painful shrieking hiss…he felt a strong wind kick up with the force of a tornado…and yet Seifer felt strangely at peace, and stronger than ever…
The light died, and the night returned. Everything was silent now. Fear returned to Seifer's heart, and the sense of weakness filled his aching muscles again. The cobra lay dead in a twisted coil, its mouth and eyes wide open in frozen terror.
Thus was the wrath of Sa-Shenu, Kyonae's Guardian Force.
Seifer returned to his senses, and got up, running toward Kyonae. Sometime during Sa-Shenu's attack Kyonae had been spat out, lying in a crumpled heap.
"Kyonae? You okay?" he asked hopefully, shaking her shoulder briskly.
Kyonae groaned painfully and rolled over, her eyes trying to focus on him. She was still very pale, and covered in blood and snake slime. "Did Sa-Shenu come?"
"She sure did," Seifer scratched his chin, gesturing toward the dead Iaret. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she nodded. "Could you help me up, please?
Seifer stretched out his hand to her and pulled her up, but his knees gave way, very weak himself.
"Seifer!" Kyonae said in surprise. "Here, I think I have something…" She dug into her pocket and pulled out one healing Potion. "I only have one…" She looked at it for a minute, then handed it to him. "Here."
He took it gratefully and took a deep swig, drinking the whole thing in one gulp. He suddenly felt energized and strong again. Then for the first time in what seemed like his entire life, he said, "Thank you."
Kyonae looked a bit surprised as she pulled him to his feet. "So, now you're being polite, huh? Did you hurt yourself?"
"Ha, ha, I'm in stitches, really," he said in a sarcastic tone, but it faded quickly. "But seriously, thank you."
"No problem," she shrugged it off, searching the skies. "Where'd Sa-Shenu get to…?"
Immediately the beautiful white falcon descended from the dark night sky, now her normal size, and perched on Kyonae's forearm. "Seifer, here's your hero. Her name is Sa-Shenu, my loyal friend and Guardian Force. Without her, we would've been snake food." She stroked her gently under the beak, and then Sa-Shenu took off, disappearing into the night.
"Now, we need to find the girl. Seifer, you check over there and I'll check over here. Hopefully she'll still be alive."
Seifer ran off to the other alley while Kyonae went into the one the Iaret had had come from.
The alley was dark, darker than necessary, and the young woman could barely see anything. Soon she came across her gunblade, and sheathed it. "Nevina? Nevina, are you in here?"
A frightened girl's voice answered seconds later. "Wh-who are you? P-p-please don't hurt m-me!"
"I'm not going to hurt you," Kyonae said soothingly. "I'm a SeeD candidate from Balamb. I'm here to help."
"SeeD? I h-h-heard of them! You're the good guys!"
'That's right. Now where are you? I can't see a thing…"
"I'm right here!" A warm body bumped into her. Kyonae picked the small girl up into her arms. "That man took me from my mommy and brought me here, but the big snake ate him instead of me! Then that woman told me to stay here until someone came to help.'
"What woman?" Kyonae asked, confused. "Who are you talking about?"
"I believe…that would be me…" a smooth, rich feminine voice sounded from deeper within.
An alarm rang in Kyonae's head. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Why, Kyonae Falcona…I'm hurt…you of all people should know me…but I do not blame you…it has been a very long time…"
"Show yourself!" she ordered, pulling Nevina behind her. "I want to see who you are!"
"Why should I? You know my face. Look deep inside of yourself, Kyonae…you know what I look like."
Kyonae froze, scared. She knew that voice…
"You have grown so much, my dear…in heart and body…I admire your courage. I knew my snake would draw you near. You could never refuse a mother's tears…isn't that right, Kyonae?"
"No…no…"
"Come with me, Kyonae…you yearn to, deep inside…your mind is telling you to step back, but your heart is telling you to come near…let me make the choice, and spare you the lost energy…you're very weak from your fight…such an amazing fight…let me heal you…"
"NO!" she screamed, grabbing Nevina and running as fast as she could out of there, back into the moonlight.
"Kyonae? Is that you?" Seifer's voice called from down the street.
She ran for his voice, carrying Nevina, her eyes so full of tears she ran into him.
"Whoa! What the hell is wrong with you? You blind or something? Kyonae, are you crying?"
Before she could answer, they were ambushed by at least 50 enemy soldiers, who jumped out of their hiding places in the darkness of the buildings and alleyways. There were too many of them to fight. They were surrounding them, coming in for the kill.
"You are to come with us, or die," their leader said.
"Try us!" Kyonae cried, pulling out her Talon. But she was weak, and the gunblade felt like lead in her hands. She dropped to her knees her head hanging.
"You can't give up, you're a SeeD!" Nevina pleaded, trying to pull her up. Seifer stepped between Kyonae and the leader, ready to fight. "Wanna make something of it, pal?" he smirked evilly.
"We have orders to bring her to our city," the leader said, "and we will not let an amateur like you stand in our way. Step aside."
"No, I don't feel like it," Seifer replied rudely.
"Then I have no choice but to kill you." The man swiftly raised his gunblade, ready to strike.
But the sword never touched Seifer. It dropped from the soldiers shaking hand, and the others did the same. A strange sound filled the air, causing the soldiers great pain. They were holding their heads in agony, howling with indescribable pain, dropping to their knees, begging for mercy. The torture was so great they fainted from it, and when the last soldier had fallen, Seifer turned to Kyonae, who was still on her own knees, head hanging, completely still.
"Is she o-o-okay?" Nevina asked.
"Kyonae?"
She looked up, sighing, a strange glint in her eye that wasn't there before. "I'm fine," she answered, standing up and looking around. "What happened?"
"You tell me," Seifer said, following her gaze. "Come on, let's go. You sure you're okay?"
"Yes," she assured him, though in truth they were both bloody messes. "You okay, Nevina?"
"Yup," she smiled.
"Good, let's go. Man, we'd better pass for this, huh, Kyonae?"
"What? Oh yeah, yeah. We'd better," she smiled weakly. That strange glint was still there…
Suddenly an Osirian soldier appeared. "Hey! Do you need help!"
The battle was over. The mob of disheveled SeeDs and Osirian soldiers threw their heads back to the moon and cheered.
Even Squall joined in the cheering as Irvine, Zell and Selphie lifted him up on their shoulders so everyone could cheer for their captain. The Osirian soldiers did this to their captain as well, and Squall and Captain Motep shook hands. "Well done, my friend," he congratulated Squall. "You helped us win the battle."
"No problem, Captain," Squall assured. "You fought greatly as well."
"One question-I feel that two people who fought against the evil are not among us. Where is the man and the girl that was with you?"
Just then a messenger ran up to them. "Captain Motep, we have just received information! The Iaret had been summoned to the city!"
"What? The Iaret? No! Where?"
"We found it just past the City Square! Sir, it has been slain!"
"Who could possibly slay the Iaret?" the captain mused.
"We found these two just down the street of where the monster was! They say it was them."
Squall forced himself down from the shoulders of his comrades. Advancing toward them through the crowd at a limp, were Kyonae, Seifer, and a little girl. Kyonae was very pale and bleeding and covered in slime, her arm slung around Seifer's shoulders; Seifer looked relatively fine.
"Kyonae!" Irvine gasped running forward. "What the hell happened?"
Kyonae looked very disoriented, very tired, and not very aware of her surroundings.
"Everyone out of the way, SeeD instructor coming through!" Quistis pushed her way into the circle. "She needs to get back on the sub, both of you do-"
"NEVINA!!!"
The stout woman rushed forward, sweeping the six-year-old up into her arms. "Oh, Nevina, I was so worried! Did they hurt you?"
"Nope! I got rescued by SeeD!" Nevina replied, smiling, pointing at Seifer and Kyonae.
"Oh, thank you so much, both of you." She looked adoringly at both of them. "You don't know how much Nevina means to me. I'll always remember you two."
Kyonae smiled faintly. To her the woman was speaking another language; her ears weren't working properly. But she understood the tone.
"Come on," Squall said. "We'd better get back onto the sub." He took Kyonae's arm and slung it around his own shoulder, and together they embarked onto the submarine home.
A/N: Sorry it was so long! I had a lot of ideas! Don't get mad at me. So, what'd ya think, huh? Please read and review!
