Author's note: Sorry if I only updated now. I had so many things to do. But now that exams over, I'm free again! Phew, anyway, read on and REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW. It would really help me but if in any way you see it ugly, please don't flame me.
Disclaimer: Characters of Final Fantasy 8 belong to Squaresoft. No infringement is intended.
Strife
"How was the recon?" Quistis asked as she trailed off to the pile of papers that were stacked on her desk. She didn't care as to look at Squall, who in response, wasn't looking at her as well. They weren't mad with each other, but maybe this is what you can call "inured to the situation". As always, Squall's cold interior never failed to affect someone so much.
"Nothing unusual. We just found a corpse with some kind of note with him." Squall said in his usual monotonous voice. He seemed unalarmed by the situation even though it may pose some kind of danger to him and to the garden. Quistis could only snicker at his statement.
"Right, nothing unusual. I'll send some people to investigate about it." She said sarcastically. A thin smile curled on her lips, which were rather teasing Squall's abnormal calmness.
"Where's Maria?" She asked as she finished fixing the papers on her desk. She looked at Squall who shouldered his weapon and tapping it repeatedly in his shoulders. He must be really bored, for she never saw Squall doing this gesture. Squall's vision was on the cloud-obscured sky, seemingly ready to release the rain suspended in it.
"Deciphering the possible meaning of that note." Squall replied sharply as he put his gunblade down and continued looking through the window. "She's good at doing those things. You need not worry about that."
"Let's hope so."
________________
"Oh, no…" Maria said hopelessly as she continued looking at the note. She has been staring at it for a long time, but it still didn't reveal any clue at all. She already scanned into her computer for enlargement but still nothing happened. She looked drained and really hopeless. It was if the next thing that she could do was to tear that note apart. But of course, she wouldn't do that. Not until she knew what that wicked thing meant.
"You rejoiced even if the war is not yet over…. now you will feel defeat and you shall see your end…Bid farewell to your beloved sanctuary…. What does this mean?!" She complained, pulling her hair in an act of total frustration and anger. She had been able to translate and decipher everything -- From encrypted letters and inscrutable hieroglyphics in a piece of rock. Now, something as simple as this, she could not solve. She knew very well that it could be a death threat. But by whom?
While trying to fathom her thoughts, Maria fell asleep, leaving her computer on and all that stuff still piled up in her desk. Even as she dozed off to sleep, she was still thinking of that note covered with blood."
_____________
The place was vast, yet in contained nothing. All that can be seen is scraps of metal scattered around. The sky was again, obscured by clouds. But even as clouds intruded upon the sky, no light was to be seen. Literally, no sun or moon, or any heavenly body was in the sky. The darkness in the place in one word was eternal.
Maria found herself in the middle of the desecrated place. Standing around and trying to investigate anything wouldn't do her any good so she started to wander around. There she could see scraps of metal, burnt out and it looked almost as a huge disaster made whatever the metal comprised the way it is now. But there was something striking about the pieces of metal. Some kind of striking resemblance to something… That metal painted blue…the paint job had some kind of familiarity in it. It was…it was --
"Balamb Garden!" She shouted as she found her senses coming back. She hurriedly stood up and dashed out of her room, not minding if her hair was frizzy or not. The idea just made her so excited. Thanks to the wonders of mind manipulation. It proved effective to think over something before heading into slumber.
But even before she could go and tell her comrades about this, an announcement over the PA was said. Squall was speaking, indicating that it was something urgent.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves for a battle against Galbadia. I know this is of sort notice but it seems that we have been ambushed. Fortify all exit and entry points. Those whose ID number is even, proceed to the front gate. Those with odd numbers, proceed to the quad. All students whose ID number ends with an eight, take care of the junior classmen. Irvine, Zell, Selphie, Rinoa, protect the 2F classroom. They'll probably try to enter through there again. Exercise caution at all times. "
"What am I supposed to do?" Maria asked herself while watching everyone running around and getting themselves ready for battle.
"Too late…and it's all my fault…" She blamed herself for concentrating on the possible encryptions rather than the true meaning of the note. Now, no one is full prepared for this. Just because of her.
The clashing of blades and loud cries can be heard now. She drew her long katana from its sheath in her back. It was still in good shape after a long period of retirement. She hurriedly ran towards the 2F classroom, hoping that she could stop this chaos.
____________
"I'm going out now. Stay here." Squall instructed the headmistress as he hurriedly ran to the elevator.
"What about Maria? I don't remember you giving her an order."
Squall stopped for a moment. He really had forgotten to tell the young sorceress instructions. Seeing that she can be responsible for her own safety, he decided not to worry about her.
"She can manage by herself. She's a SeeD." He said emphatically as he continued to go to the elevator. As the door opened, Squall was surprised to see Zell who was rarely catching his breath. The look on his face proved that he had to say something urgent.
"Hey… The students can't hold it much longer…they're stronger…much stronger than before!" Zell said, almost screaming as he conveyed the message.
Squall shook his head in hopelessness. This attack was beyond their knowledge. Squall estimated that they only had a 20/80 chance of winning. And is ever they did win, the garden would be weakened so much that they won't be able to fight off another attack if ever another one happened. Things weren't going really good. What else can happen next?
"Have another thing for ya. The soldiers were saying something about finding the sorceress. Maria is the only sorceress here so she can be in real danger!"
"Damn it!" Squall cursed as he quickly exited the area. He was wrong to have let her alone. Now, she's in danger. Curse those Galbadians.
_____________
"This is endless!" Irvine complained as he replaced his shotgun with new bullets. It has been around the twentieth time he's done this -- summing up to about a hundred and twenty. "This is really tiring. One more and I'll start firing at their stupid hearts!" Irvine complained once more as he shot off two soldiers at the shoulder.
"Be quiet!" Rinoa scolded him as she launched her pinwheel at the soldiers, intentionally hitting them on the wrong spot as to keep them alive. Selphie has been doing the same, hitting the soldiers squarely at the knee to render them immobile. The routine turned out to be good, but their stamina won't keep up. Soon, they were outnumbered.
"Bummer!" Selphie cursed as soldiers came in to them. The three of them were standing back-to back, leaning on each other for support. They had no energy to fight anymore. They could only hope that someone would wipe those soldiers out.
"Blizzaga!"
As soon as the spell was cast, ice formulated on the ground, sending the soldiers slumping down to the ground. They tried to stand up but eventually kept sliding down. For a moment, they were hilarious to look at.
"Are you all right?" Maria asked as she went to them, not minding if soldiers were following her.
"Maria, you shouldn't be here!" Irvine yelled at her. He had an angry look on his face that she hasn't seen for a long time. She was frightened and took no hesitation t follow. She quickly turned back, not noticing that there was a soldier behind her.
" Behind you!" Shouted Rinoa. But it was too late. A soldier had caught Maria.
In a quick act of reflex, she reached for her concealed dagger with her free arm. She quickly unsheathed it and did an upward thrust that hit the soldier in the chest up to the face. She marked a blood vertical line into the soldier. She hit the staggering soldier again with an elbow to the stomach, sending the soldier to the ground. Picking up her fallen katana, She went to check out the classrooms, an act that she did, disregarding Irvine's warning.
So, she went to the classroom. The classroom had been badly damaged with everything inside it destroyed. She wanted to punish those Galbadians so much. She wouldn't mind as much to show a little sorceress power. She wondered why the soldiers weren't entering through the classroom anymore. It was weird, for the garden could still keep up with their attack if they don't send reinforcements now. So where are those cursed soldiers?
Then the vision around the classroom darkened. Was the entrance of the classroom being crowded or was it just her imagination? She turned back. To her surprise, a bunch of soldiers were there, as though they were waiting for her. She was cornered.
"Damn it…Leave…me….ALONE!!!" In an act of pure fury she unconsciously sent of a Tornado spell to the soldiers, sending them to the wall. Some were able to fend off her attack. They wasted no time and ran to restrain her. Maria wasn't able to fight them off now because they got a hold of both of her hands. They dragged her out towards the emergency exit that they forcibly opened.
Maria closed her eyes to wipe off the fear that was building up in her and thought if anything could prove useful to her escape. She had tried to commune with her guardians but found it ineffective. They must've cast a silence spell on her. It was hopeless… She was going to be captured… Visions of what they might do to her flashed in her mind. Maybe they'll try to seal her or to extract her power…it didn't matter to her now. All that she could think about was the garden…. What'll happen to garden?
Then she could hear another blade clashing. She kept her eyes closed. Maybe it was a student who tried to help her but eventually got beaten up…Too bad….
But she could feel those hands grabbing her arm go away. She opened up her eyes and saw the soldiers fallen. Then she looked at who her savior could be.
"You should take care of yourself." Squall scolded her. He quickly returned his gunblade to its sheath and grabbed Maria roughly by the hand. " It's time to hide somewhere safe."
As they fled, she could only thank her savior silently.
___________________________