Thanks for the reviews for my previous chapter. I'll now continue Chapter 2 of `Fate of the Stars'.

CHAPTER 2

Kin Conflict

When Squall awoke, he was on a bed in the Garden's infirmary. Dr. Kadowaki was bandaging his stomach area. Looking up at Squall, she said,"Squall...you have sustained almost major damage to your stomach. Please don't do too much exercise at the moment."

Squall blinked and crystals of tears rolled off his cheeks. "But...doctor! Rinoa!"

Dr. Kadowaki smiled. "Yes, I know you want to save Rinoa, but you have to understand your health. Irvine, Zell, Quistis, Seifer and Selphie are heading towards Ultimecia Castle at this point."

Squall gasped. "BUT doctor! They don't know the graveness of the situation right now! Gary can kill all of them in one blow!" After saying this, Squall clutched his stomach in pain.

Dr. Kadowaki gestured Squall to lie down and he did. "Is that so...now Squall. I want you to rest and I'll come back in a few hours to give you another dose of medicine."

She left the ward and Squall was left alone thinking.

"I must save them..."he thought.

Ultimecia Castle....

The five SeeDs were making their way through the castle. Irvine smiled at Seifer. "Hey Seif! Why did you follow us to search for Gary and Rinoa.?"

Seifer smiled back. His personality had changed ever since he returned from the final conflict. "I guess...I don't want Rinoa to die." Zell and Selphie looked at Seifer. He was totally different from how he was.

Suddenly, a behemoth appeared in front of them. "CRAP! Get your weapons out! We'll take care of this monster!" ordered Quistis.

In the Infirmary, three hours later...

Dr Kadowaki walked into the room. "Now...Squall wake up and take two spoonful of this antibiotic." When she saw the empty blood-stained bed, she let go of the tray which held the medicine. It hit the floor with a clatter. "That's just like you Squall..."

SLASH! Seifer's swordsmanship was no match for the behemoth. It fell to the ground, shriveled. "HA!" Seifer raised his hyperion. "I still haven't lost my skills."

Selphie wondered if Seifer was boasting. Boast or not, it was obvious. Seifer was a good swordsman. "We better make haste. I think we're closing in with Gary."

The party advanced into the room where they fought Ultimecia a few years back. "Where is that bastard?!" yelled Zell.

Quistis suddenly spotted two circle-like glowing objects speeding towards Irvine. "Irvine! Get down!" Startled, Irvine knelt to the floor and the fireballs combusted the floor nearby. He looked at the direction from where the fireballs came from. Gary was sitting on the throne.

Gary chuckled and echoes filled the room. "I knew you would come. Where's Squall? I was planning to kill him right here where he killed my mother" The words `my mother' were said with a sad tone. Quistis looked at him and knew that he deeply loved his mother and will revenge her.

"Damn you! Where's Rinoa!" Seifer yelled.

"Want her?" Gary jeered. He snapped his fingers and Rinoa fell to the floor unconscious. "Rinoa!!" Seifer cried. He ran towards Rinoa. "NOO!! DON'T!!" yelled Selphie. Too late, Seifer crashed into a physical barrier Gary had conjured and tumbled backwards. Blood trickled from his mouth. He was unconscious.

"DAMN YOU!" roared Irvine. He took out his Exeter and blasted a few pulse ammo into Gary. The surprise attack caused Gary to stumble backwards.

He touched the blood which flowed from his hand and smiled. "Pulse eh? I'll show you pulse...with a DIFFERENT WEAPON!!" Gary took out his red gun-blade and it glowed yellow with pulse energy. He swung his gun-blade and pulse waves emitted in ripples blasting Irvine high into the air. Gary then jumped up into the air and slashed Irvine down to the ground. A THUMP! Echoed through the room as Irvine hit the floor.

"Irvine!" yelled Zell, Quistis and Selphie. Quistis quickly used the spell `Wall' to protect them. Zell's fighting spirit glowered inside him as he looked menacingly at Gary. "Well, Chicken Wuss? Wanna have a go?" mocked Gary.

Zell clenched his fists and unleashed Final Heaven on Gary. Gary had disabled the barrier so that he could fight the SeeDs. Each blow Zell dealt was blocked thoroughly by Gary. Gary smiled and he positioned his blade to counter. However Zell noticed his move. Quickly he jumped backwards as Gary thrust his sword. Without sparing Gary any time to recover, Zell unleashed another Final Heaven. Gary was knocked backwards into the wall in which he made a crack in when he smashed into it.

"How's that, sucker!" Suddenly Zell was slashed in the hand. Gary had awakened. He yelled, "Quistis! Selphie! Take Rinoa!" Gary glowered at him, his shirt stained with blood. "No one...will defeat me!" In one powerful punch, Zell was knocked off the platform on which the throne stood. Quistis and Selphie just looked on dumb-founded.

Gary gleamed at the two ladies. "ULTIMA!!" Green light filled the room and excruciating pains shot through their body. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Selphie screamed. She fell to the floor and Quistis followed her a second later.

"Now...I will destroy...YOU ALL!!" Gary prepared for Apocalypse.

KRRTTTT!!

Gary's eyes opened wide. A blue gun-blade stuck out in front of his chest. As the gun-blade was pulled back in, Gary turned around and saw Squall. His eyes were full of hatred and anger. "RENZOKUKEN!!" Squall unleashed an eight-hit sword combo. Gary cried aloud. The pain was unbearable.

He thought to himself, "No...I can't lose! I promised Mother I would revenge her!"

Suddenly, a voice rang through his head. "My child, I will give you my power..."

Gary stood up. Immediately, wings sprouted from his shoulders. Ultimecia had given him the power to evolve into the darkened arch-angel, the most powerful dark creature. Gary glared at Squall and Squall's body combusted.

"GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" cried Squall in pain. He was able to put out the flames but his stomach was hurting like never before. Knowing he had to retreat Squall concentrated his mind on the fallen party of SeeDs and before Gary's chi blast could reach him, he had teleported away together with the rest of the SeeDs.

Gary smiled. "Now...I'll destroy the Garden! THE WORLD!!!" Gary's voice rang throughtout the castle.

Yep, that's the second chapter. Is it better than the first? I don't know. Chapter 3 coming soon.