A Sorceress's Gift
A FFVIII fanfiction
~*~
Zell stared at the village. It was a scrappy village filled with elders, women and children. He looked around, small children were huddled together, whispering about him. Women walked around carrying buckets of water, or laundry. An old woman approached him, her back hunched, the wrinkles in her face pulling it down into a long pout. "Y-you must be the SeeD we asked for," she grunted. Her voice was harsh and unkind.
He nodded slowly, his eyes closed.
"The, the monster... it's killed most of the men in the village," she explained.
"I know, I've seen the pictures."
"The men in our village train in forms of battle, the women fish and do work... we can't rely on the woman to fight."
His attention suddenly grew greater. "Train? You mean--"
The woman tapped at his leg angerily with her staff. "I mean, they've been trained in forms of martial arts and sword fighting. Even their skill wasn't enough!" Then she started poking his chest with a long bony finger. "We asked for SeeDs because they have magic," she added.
"Right, magic of course ma'am. We also have the protection of Gaurdian Forces," Zell replied tapping the side of his head.
The old lady wasn't listening anymore. She was walking away from the village making gestures with her long fingers to have him follow her. He stood still for a moment and then started walking, his mind working overtime. 'No way, trained? Fighters? They've been fighters all along... fuck, and I'll bet Squall knew the whole time... haa haa, fuck you Rinoa, I told you he wanted to kill me.'
Ifrit growled.
Zell paused and looked up to see the large cavern coated in snow and ice. There was no blood against the ground, it was all covered by recent snowfall. The woman pointed and hissed, "He's in there... kill him and you get your pay."
The class A SeeD nodded and cracked his knuckles. He tightened the straps of the his Ehrgeiz, and tapped at his boots. He heard the woman clear her voice behind him. He froze and she pointed and seemed to growl, "What are you waiting for?"
"Nothing ma'am," he said and bowed in apology.
The cavern was a good 10 degrees lower than the outside, and he shivered, and continued onward, the dim beam of his flashlight his only source of light. He felt something under his foot, soft and congealed. His shined his light downward.
'Blood.'
He traced the light along the floor and walls. Dark red blood was streaked against the stone walls, pooled in gelatinous puddles on the floor. 'Fuck,' he thought and stepped out of the puddle. His foot now squished with every step.
'I'll just keep going... maybe I can just let this creature kill me... make Squall happy right? I'd do anything to make him happy... what am I thinking!? I'd die just so that man can have his jollies? I don't like him anymore..! Not anymore..! That was years ago!"
His thoughts were caught off abruptly as he reached a opening. A creature sat hunched in the far corner. Zell stepped back, dropping his flashlight as his head began to pound. He groaned, clutching the sides of his head. It seemed far worse now than ever. He tried to keep his attention focused on the creature, who was starting to stir.
He saw, through the indirct light, wings snap outwards. They were bat-like and shiny... almost like Bahamut's. The flexed, pressing against the walls, obviously they were too big for their confines. A hiss echoed through the hollow, but he couldn't hear it... his heart was pounding against his ears.
The creature stood up. It was shaped like human, only taller, and thinner... almost serpentile. It snarled and stared at him with glowing, golden eyes. It moved with a kind of grace and it slinked towards him. Zell recoiled, his hand raised, ready to summon Ifrit... but the pain in his head kept distracting him. The creature closed in on him.
'This is it for sure... I'm gonna die without a fight... just because my brain is exploding..."
He felt a soft finger caress his cheek, and the pain subsided. He blinked and looked at the creature.... no... human? Zell reached out and touched him. Nothing about the man seemed to be evil... but he was... "Are you as sorcerer?" he asked quietly.
The winged man backed off and flicked his wrist. Lights danced off the walls and came to a rest, casting a bluish glow across the floors and walls. Zell stared at him, surprised by his beauty. He looked delicate, almost fragile in shape and form- his wings, too large for his body. His face was beautiful, yet scarred from his harsh condition, black curls were etched across his cheeks, and arms. He wearing shreds of clothes, his shirt hanging from strings, his pants seemed to be ripped away at the knees. "B-b-b-brother..." he whispered, his voice velvety yet strained.
"Brother!?" Zell snapped, jumping backwards in shock and dismay.
The man stumbled a bit and fell to his knees, his head knocking against the ground. "Brother... one who can li--" He paused and looked at him, his breathing shallow. "You're so powerful... but... you haven't discovered it yet..."
"What are you talking about!? Stop playing with me! I came here to destroy you!"
"Destroying me... will make you no better... let me help you... my body is deteriorating anyway... I can't survive here in this world..."
"This world?"
"Time compression... time compression... it was going to help us... but when our sister was destroyed... we were tossed around, unable to return to our home. My body was not made for this time... the only way this body can survive... is on human flesh."
Zell held out an arm. "Then why don't you eat me?"
The sorcerer wings snapped out and pushed his hand away. "I said human flesh," he grunted.
"I am hu--"
"You are a decendent of Hyne... born with powers... blessed by death..." The sorcerer stood up and seemed to glide towards him. He wrapped his arms around Zell and they touched foreheads. "You're far more powerful than me... than the bitch that killed our sister..."
"I'm not--!"
His fingers were tracing the black tattoo on his cheek, sending jolts of ice and heat through his body. "Do you know what this is?"
"A tattoo!"
"No fool, it's a symbol of your power... do you remember when you got it?"
Zell reached into the depths of his mind, asking Ifrit to return him his memories. Only a rumble in his throat was the GF's reply. "I-- I don't, it's been there as long as I can remember..."
"Of course... because it's grown.. as your strength grew... your mark grew... you've great unreleased power now."
"Power...!? No! I'm not a sorcerer.... Rinoa is! Not me! I'm just a SeeD, just an instructor...!"
The winged sorcerer was whispering into his ear, "Let me help you... I'll help you release this magic... just let me... let me junction myself unto you."
"You're not a gaurdian force!" Zell cried, trying to push him away.
"Your headaches... they're from the magic unreleased in your body... it will kill you eventually... if you don't let me help.just let me... allow me to be... to be junctioned with you. I'll help you..."
"NO!" Zell pulled away and blasted the sorcerer with a Firaga spell.
"Fine... if you don't believe me... kill me....let the magic fester inside you... until you lose sight of who you are..."
The blonde haired SeeD cracked his knuckles and hissed, "I'll be much obliged."
~*~
Zell stumbled out of the cavern, covered in blood. A few children screamed, taking shelter behind their mothers' skirts. The old woman gave him a once over and cried, "He's alive! He's killed the demon!"
No one touched him to thank him, but he did recieve his pay and was sent on his way. He started slowly towards the train station on foot, noting that the student that drove him had left already. The ride back seemed undeniably slow, and his entire body ached, unfortunately his headache kept him from being able to cast a cure spell. In Balamb the people stared at him, unable to recognize him. The blood was drying, plastering his hair to his forhead. He decided against visiting his mother and getting some tending too.
Zell fought his way to Garden. 'I wonder, 'who he's going to give his powers too...' was his last thought... before he collapsed at the entrance.
~*~
"See? And all that time, he was afraid he was going to die. Did you know, Squall? He thought you wanted to kill him." Rinoa held on tightly to her boyfriend's arm as they stood over Zell in the infirmary.
"Kill?"
She nodded. "Something about a kamikaze mission..."
Dr. Kadowaki pushed through them and shook Zell awake. "C'mon now, you're a SeeD, you can't sleep the whole time."
"My head fuckin' hurts..."
"Well, I'm not surprised," the doctor replied, her hands on her hips.
"No.. it's been fuckin' hurtin'... it's like my brain's exploding..."
"Excuse me!? Why haven't you told me this!?"
Zell looked away, an arm draped over his head. "Cuz," he replied, "I thought it didn't matter."
"Commander Leonhart, Rinoa... would you please leave me with this stubborn paitent? I--"
He sat up and pushed the elderly doctor aside. "Look, I'm fine now. It only hurts sometimes. I got it all taken care off, alright? It's good! I'm fine!" he snapped.
"Are you sure?" Dr. Kadowaki and Rinoa asked in unison.
"I'M FINE!" Zell pushed his way past Squall and stormed out of the infirmary.
Halfway between there and the training center, his steps slowed to a stop. He held his head in his hands for a moment. 'What... what... happened to me? I'm not usually like that... could it be-- no! Ha... that damn sorcerer was fuckin' me with.' he thought and contninued onward.
The training center was filled with grats, like usual, but every now and then a student, or SeeD would stumble across a T-rexsaur... or the newly added grendels. Zell took no time at all to waste a few weak insects and pick up in sleep powder in the process. He wasn't about to let a headache stop his training. He had an idea, he was going to start training with the pain. As he encountered another grat he thought, 'I'd really love to be here with Squall right now... like we used to do years ago.'
"Instructor Dincht! We missed you today!"
He looked and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Hey girls," he greeted casually.
Kichi neared him and caressed his cheek in another attempt to seduce him. Zell grabbed her wrist and pushed her away slightly. "Kichi, if you really want to date me... pass the field exam, okay?"
She blinked and her eyes widned. "Are you telling me... you'll go out with me.. if I'm a SeeD?"
Zell didn't nod, he just smiled and turned away. 'Poor girl... she thinks I like girls... maybe... maybe I could? It's not like anyone else in this place is like me,' he thought.
He heard her squeal and run away with her friends giggling excitedly. Zell shook his head and stiffled a laugh.
"Ah, Dincht fans?"
"Haa haa, like the Trepies are any better? I seem to remember you being asked out by girls and guys?"
"Oh Zell..." Quistis shook her head.
"What!?"
"You're so cute sometimes... and I think that mission did you some good."
"What do you mean?"
"Squall and I were actually the ones that planned to send you on a mission... one that called for only one SeeD."
Zell whirled around, his eyes flashing. "YOU?"
The older woman backed off slightly and raised her hands in innocence. "Look Zell, you definately had no way to use that energy of yours... and you were starting to become withdrawn! It was for your own good!"
"My--Own--Good!? DO you have ANY idea what I FOUGHT!?"
"A gaurdian force. Did you obtai--"
"It was a FUCKIN' SORCERER!!"
Quistis fell to her knees in shock, a hand clutched to her chest. "Z-z-zell, you're kidding me..." she insisted, her voice sounded she was about to cry. "I-- I had no idea.."
"H-h-h-hey now... It's good! I didn't die! See? I'm fine!" Zell said, once again trying to make up for his change in mood. He squatted next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "C'mon Instructor Trepe, don't feel bad."
She reached over and held his hand. "I'm sorry, that's the last time I'm going to send you on a mission!"
"Hey! I had some fun! It was better than grading papers!" He grinned and helped her to her feet. "Now... lets say two Instructors discuss how they're going to divide their students for the next field exam!"
*****
author's notes: geez... no one wants to read this...! I need help with a summary perhaps? Geez.. it sucks cuz it sounds lame! Oh well...
anyway... the constant change in Zell's personality is giving me a headache.
Zell: *holds head* You're tellin' me...
Tasuki: *glares at Zell* I hate you.
Zell: Eh!? What's your problem!?
Tasuki: Hikari's MINE. She supposed ya be writin' stories about Chichiri and I!!
Zell: Go yell at her, not me!
Tasuki: It's YER fault she likes ya so much!
Chichiri: N-n-no da....
Squall: .... whatever.
Hikari: @(O.o)@;;
A FFVIII fanfiction
~*~
Zell stared at the village. It was a scrappy village filled with elders, women and children. He looked around, small children were huddled together, whispering about him. Women walked around carrying buckets of water, or laundry. An old woman approached him, her back hunched, the wrinkles in her face pulling it down into a long pout. "Y-you must be the SeeD we asked for," she grunted. Her voice was harsh and unkind.
He nodded slowly, his eyes closed.
"The, the monster... it's killed most of the men in the village," she explained.
"I know, I've seen the pictures."
"The men in our village train in forms of battle, the women fish and do work... we can't rely on the woman to fight."
His attention suddenly grew greater. "Train? You mean--"
The woman tapped at his leg angerily with her staff. "I mean, they've been trained in forms of martial arts and sword fighting. Even their skill wasn't enough!" Then she started poking his chest with a long bony finger. "We asked for SeeDs because they have magic," she added.
"Right, magic of course ma'am. We also have the protection of Gaurdian Forces," Zell replied tapping the side of his head.
The old lady wasn't listening anymore. She was walking away from the village making gestures with her long fingers to have him follow her. He stood still for a moment and then started walking, his mind working overtime. 'No way, trained? Fighters? They've been fighters all along... fuck, and I'll bet Squall knew the whole time... haa haa, fuck you Rinoa, I told you he wanted to kill me.'
Ifrit growled.
Zell paused and looked up to see the large cavern coated in snow and ice. There was no blood against the ground, it was all covered by recent snowfall. The woman pointed and hissed, "He's in there... kill him and you get your pay."
The class A SeeD nodded and cracked his knuckles. He tightened the straps of the his Ehrgeiz, and tapped at his boots. He heard the woman clear her voice behind him. He froze and she pointed and seemed to growl, "What are you waiting for?"
"Nothing ma'am," he said and bowed in apology.
The cavern was a good 10 degrees lower than the outside, and he shivered, and continued onward, the dim beam of his flashlight his only source of light. He felt something under his foot, soft and congealed. His shined his light downward.
'Blood.'
He traced the light along the floor and walls. Dark red blood was streaked against the stone walls, pooled in gelatinous puddles on the floor. 'Fuck,' he thought and stepped out of the puddle. His foot now squished with every step.
'I'll just keep going... maybe I can just let this creature kill me... make Squall happy right? I'd do anything to make him happy... what am I thinking!? I'd die just so that man can have his jollies? I don't like him anymore..! Not anymore..! That was years ago!"
His thoughts were caught off abruptly as he reached a opening. A creature sat hunched in the far corner. Zell stepped back, dropping his flashlight as his head began to pound. He groaned, clutching the sides of his head. It seemed far worse now than ever. He tried to keep his attention focused on the creature, who was starting to stir.
He saw, through the indirct light, wings snap outwards. They were bat-like and shiny... almost like Bahamut's. The flexed, pressing against the walls, obviously they were too big for their confines. A hiss echoed through the hollow, but he couldn't hear it... his heart was pounding against his ears.
The creature stood up. It was shaped like human, only taller, and thinner... almost serpentile. It snarled and stared at him with glowing, golden eyes. It moved with a kind of grace and it slinked towards him. Zell recoiled, his hand raised, ready to summon Ifrit... but the pain in his head kept distracting him. The creature closed in on him.
'This is it for sure... I'm gonna die without a fight... just because my brain is exploding..."
He felt a soft finger caress his cheek, and the pain subsided. He blinked and looked at the creature.... no... human? Zell reached out and touched him. Nothing about the man seemed to be evil... but he was... "Are you as sorcerer?" he asked quietly.
The winged man backed off and flicked his wrist. Lights danced off the walls and came to a rest, casting a bluish glow across the floors and walls. Zell stared at him, surprised by his beauty. He looked delicate, almost fragile in shape and form- his wings, too large for his body. His face was beautiful, yet scarred from his harsh condition, black curls were etched across his cheeks, and arms. He wearing shreds of clothes, his shirt hanging from strings, his pants seemed to be ripped away at the knees. "B-b-b-brother..." he whispered, his voice velvety yet strained.
"Brother!?" Zell snapped, jumping backwards in shock and dismay.
The man stumbled a bit and fell to his knees, his head knocking against the ground. "Brother... one who can li--" He paused and looked at him, his breathing shallow. "You're so powerful... but... you haven't discovered it yet..."
"What are you talking about!? Stop playing with me! I came here to destroy you!"
"Destroying me... will make you no better... let me help you... my body is deteriorating anyway... I can't survive here in this world..."
"This world?"
"Time compression... time compression... it was going to help us... but when our sister was destroyed... we were tossed around, unable to return to our home. My body was not made for this time... the only way this body can survive... is on human flesh."
Zell held out an arm. "Then why don't you eat me?"
The sorcerer wings snapped out and pushed his hand away. "I said human flesh," he grunted.
"I am hu--"
"You are a decendent of Hyne... born with powers... blessed by death..." The sorcerer stood up and seemed to glide towards him. He wrapped his arms around Zell and they touched foreheads. "You're far more powerful than me... than the bitch that killed our sister..."
"I'm not--!"
His fingers were tracing the black tattoo on his cheek, sending jolts of ice and heat through his body. "Do you know what this is?"
"A tattoo!"
"No fool, it's a symbol of your power... do you remember when you got it?"
Zell reached into the depths of his mind, asking Ifrit to return him his memories. Only a rumble in his throat was the GF's reply. "I-- I don't, it's been there as long as I can remember..."
"Of course... because it's grown.. as your strength grew... your mark grew... you've great unreleased power now."
"Power...!? No! I'm not a sorcerer.... Rinoa is! Not me! I'm just a SeeD, just an instructor...!"
The winged sorcerer was whispering into his ear, "Let me help you... I'll help you release this magic... just let me... let me junction myself unto you."
"You're not a gaurdian force!" Zell cried, trying to push him away.
"Your headaches... they're from the magic unreleased in your body... it will kill you eventually... if you don't let me help.just let me... allow me to be... to be junctioned with you. I'll help you..."
"NO!" Zell pulled away and blasted the sorcerer with a Firaga spell.
"Fine... if you don't believe me... kill me....let the magic fester inside you... until you lose sight of who you are..."
The blonde haired SeeD cracked his knuckles and hissed, "I'll be much obliged."
~*~
Zell stumbled out of the cavern, covered in blood. A few children screamed, taking shelter behind their mothers' skirts. The old woman gave him a once over and cried, "He's alive! He's killed the demon!"
No one touched him to thank him, but he did recieve his pay and was sent on his way. He started slowly towards the train station on foot, noting that the student that drove him had left already. The ride back seemed undeniably slow, and his entire body ached, unfortunately his headache kept him from being able to cast a cure spell. In Balamb the people stared at him, unable to recognize him. The blood was drying, plastering his hair to his forhead. He decided against visiting his mother and getting some tending too.
Zell fought his way to Garden. 'I wonder, 'who he's going to give his powers too...' was his last thought... before he collapsed at the entrance.
~*~
"See? And all that time, he was afraid he was going to die. Did you know, Squall? He thought you wanted to kill him." Rinoa held on tightly to her boyfriend's arm as they stood over Zell in the infirmary.
"Kill?"
She nodded. "Something about a kamikaze mission..."
Dr. Kadowaki pushed through them and shook Zell awake. "C'mon now, you're a SeeD, you can't sleep the whole time."
"My head fuckin' hurts..."
"Well, I'm not surprised," the doctor replied, her hands on her hips.
"No.. it's been fuckin' hurtin'... it's like my brain's exploding..."
"Excuse me!? Why haven't you told me this!?"
Zell looked away, an arm draped over his head. "Cuz," he replied, "I thought it didn't matter."
"Commander Leonhart, Rinoa... would you please leave me with this stubborn paitent? I--"
He sat up and pushed the elderly doctor aside. "Look, I'm fine now. It only hurts sometimes. I got it all taken care off, alright? It's good! I'm fine!" he snapped.
"Are you sure?" Dr. Kadowaki and Rinoa asked in unison.
"I'M FINE!" Zell pushed his way past Squall and stormed out of the infirmary.
Halfway between there and the training center, his steps slowed to a stop. He held his head in his hands for a moment. 'What... what... happened to me? I'm not usually like that... could it be-- no! Ha... that damn sorcerer was fuckin' me with.' he thought and contninued onward.
The training center was filled with grats, like usual, but every now and then a student, or SeeD would stumble across a T-rexsaur... or the newly added grendels. Zell took no time at all to waste a few weak insects and pick up in sleep powder in the process. He wasn't about to let a headache stop his training. He had an idea, he was going to start training with the pain. As he encountered another grat he thought, 'I'd really love to be here with Squall right now... like we used to do years ago.'
"Instructor Dincht! We missed you today!"
He looked and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Hey girls," he greeted casually.
Kichi neared him and caressed his cheek in another attempt to seduce him. Zell grabbed her wrist and pushed her away slightly. "Kichi, if you really want to date me... pass the field exam, okay?"
She blinked and her eyes widned. "Are you telling me... you'll go out with me.. if I'm a SeeD?"
Zell didn't nod, he just smiled and turned away. 'Poor girl... she thinks I like girls... maybe... maybe I could? It's not like anyone else in this place is like me,' he thought.
He heard her squeal and run away with her friends giggling excitedly. Zell shook his head and stiffled a laugh.
"Ah, Dincht fans?"
"Haa haa, like the Trepies are any better? I seem to remember you being asked out by girls and guys?"
"Oh Zell..." Quistis shook her head.
"What!?"
"You're so cute sometimes... and I think that mission did you some good."
"What do you mean?"
"Squall and I were actually the ones that planned to send you on a mission... one that called for only one SeeD."
Zell whirled around, his eyes flashing. "YOU?"
The older woman backed off slightly and raised her hands in innocence. "Look Zell, you definately had no way to use that energy of yours... and you were starting to become withdrawn! It was for your own good!"
"My--Own--Good!? DO you have ANY idea what I FOUGHT!?"
"A gaurdian force. Did you obtai--"
"It was a FUCKIN' SORCERER!!"
Quistis fell to her knees in shock, a hand clutched to her chest. "Z-z-zell, you're kidding me..." she insisted, her voice sounded she was about to cry. "I-- I had no idea.."
"H-h-h-hey now... It's good! I didn't die! See? I'm fine!" Zell said, once again trying to make up for his change in mood. He squatted next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "C'mon Instructor Trepe, don't feel bad."
She reached over and held his hand. "I'm sorry, that's the last time I'm going to send you on a mission!"
"Hey! I had some fun! It was better than grading papers!" He grinned and helped her to her feet. "Now... lets say two Instructors discuss how they're going to divide their students for the next field exam!"
*****
author's notes: geez... no one wants to read this...! I need help with a summary perhaps? Geez.. it sucks cuz it sounds lame! Oh well...
anyway... the constant change in Zell's personality is giving me a headache.
Zell: *holds head* You're tellin' me...
Tasuki: *glares at Zell* I hate you.
Zell: Eh!? What's your problem!?
Tasuki: Hikari's MINE. She supposed ya be writin' stories about Chichiri and I!!
Zell: Go yell at her, not me!
Tasuki: It's YER fault she likes ya so much!
Chichiri: N-n-no da....
Squall: .... whatever.
Hikari: @(O.o)@;;