·º°º·.·º°º·Chapter 3·º°º·.·º°º·

Squall starred at the blue skinned woman unsure of what to say. Unsure of what to feel. He thought he had given up on love, now that Rinoa was gone. But now here was someone who had broke all the rules of her society to save him. To make him a legendary Guardian, the stress of it was almost too much to bear.

Gilgamesh glared down at Shiva his red eye stirring with thought. Shiva looked back her chin tilted up a bit, filled with pride and beauty. It was the first time Squall had ever thought she was beautiful.

"You will be permitted to take Squall to prepare for his test, while we decide your punishment" Gilgamesh said at last his voice booming over the dome. Shiva nodded her head, and spun on her heel striding from the room. She left tiny ice crystals spider webbing across the floor in her wake. Squall had no choice but to follow her, through what looked like a sold wall into another white marble room.

Two couches sat against the far wall swathed in white lace material. Shiva walked over and primly sat down on one crossing her legs. She folded her hands in her lap and stared at her with her unforgiving ice blue eyes.

"What must I do to prepare?" Squall asked.

"Say good-bye to your human self" She said softly her voice tinkling across the room much like the shards of ice she always threw.

"I shall change upon becoming a Guardian Force then?" Squall asked. She only nodded a chiming noise surrounding her as she moved. She made her own music every time she moved, from the ice that was always settled around her.

"Why do you say you love me?" He asked boldly still not sitting down. Squall was tense every muscle tight in his frame.

"I have loved you ever since the first time we junctioned. I was always there, watching over you. During your whole journey, and your emotions. I knew your thoughts, you feelings. It is hard not to fall in love with a man such as you, Squall Leonhart" she replied her voice full of sorrow. He frowned his brow creasing downward.

"What about Rinoa?" Squall asked suddenly.

"She was your first love, I never interfered. It pleased me to see you so happy" Shiva whispered. He nodded turning to look away for the blue woman. There was a loud clash from beyond the wall and Shiva stood up tossing her head back.

She led the way through the wall, into the white domed room once again. Squall gunblade rose from the floor at the center of the sunburst pattern.

"We have decided your punishment, ice queen" Siren said, as Squall walked over to stand before his gunblade.

"I am ready," Shiva said squaring her shoulders.

"You are no longer allowed to interact with humans as a GF, for an extended period of time" Gilgamesh said his powerful voice booming over the marble room. Shiva look as if she had been physically wounded, tears coming to her eyes that immediately froze on her cheeks. Squall couldn't help but feel sad for her, wanting to reach out and take her hand.

He shook the thought off instead opting to tuck his hands behind his back. Shiva at last nodded primly, and went to stand behind Squall.

"It is time for your test, Squall" Ifrit said his voice burning with fire, eyes glowing like cinders.

"I'll do whatever I have to, to continue helping our world" Squall said the words coming from his heart. It amazed him when a smile actually spread across Ifrit's horse like face.

Gilgamesh pulled a thin dagger from his boot and tossed it to him. Squall caught it easily looking at the thin silver blade.

"Your test is simple. You must kill her," Gilgamesh said pointing behind him. He turned around to see Rinoa standing behind him.

She was everything he remembered. Her porcelain face, her chocolate eyes. Her brown hair with its highlights, flowing blue duster. She smiled at him and pointed at the sky, memories flooding back to him. For that moment all he knew was pain. He could not kill the one he loved.

Had loved. She was all ready dead.

Floating through space, her breath ringing in his ears. Her life hanging on by a sliver of hope. Floating through the stars to save her.

Love…

Facing against Ultimicia, the last time she had stood strong and beautiful. The last time he had really loved her.

HAD loved.

With a scream Squall lurched forward driving the blade into her heart. Red blood blossomed out across her chest quickly staining her clothes.

"I love you" she whispered one of her hands coming up to clasp her rings. In a mimic of her gesture he reach up to the silver chain hanging on his neck. The two rings clink together inside his hand.

Suddenly her image dissipated no blood to drip on the pure white marble. Squall turned back around to look at the guardian forces perched in the thrones. He threw the blade, it skittering across the marble to land at Gilgamesh' feet.

"The deed is done" Squall said.

"Do you feel no remorse?" Siren asked looking down at him.

"She was all ready dead, I have mourned her for two years. No longer will I continue to morn her in my own death" Squall said staring at the blade lying on the floor.

"You passed" Gilgamesh said. Excitement rushed through Squall at the words. He would be a GF; he could go on helping the world.

Then all he knew was pain as he dropped forward to the ground.

Fur. He was covered in golden fur.

Squall climbed out of the large bed he was lying on. The ground was much further down than normal. He moved across the room his footsteps heavy and hard. A huge mirror was mounted across the wall.

As he gazed in it he saw a tauny monster glaring back at him. A lions face, with tall ears. Wings drooped from his back, colorless and huge.

He was Griever.

Squall closed his eyes tightly. He was the GF that would eventually work for Ultimacia, only to be killed by himself.

"It is a cruel fate the world chooses for us, is it not?" Shiva's voice came from behind him. He turned to look at her, his voice a deeper baritone now.

"Did you know this would happen?" he asked.

"No, I never would have allowed it" she whispered stepping closer to him. She was shorter then him now, her blue eyes staring up into his constant stormy gray ones.

"This changes everything" he whispered.

"You are still Squall inside" she whispered back placing a hand on his shoulder.

"There was one thing I learned in my lifetime. All you have is this moment. You and I standing here now, and tomorrow that may gone" he said.

"It is thousands of years before the rise of Ultimacia" Shiva whispered.

"I know, but I will not let this moment pass me by" he said leaning down to softly place his golden lips against her blue.