Chapter 14: Battle For Garden With High Stakes
When they stepped on the bridge, Nida handed Squall the binoculars and pinted a direction.
"There, northwest. Take a look."
With a frown, Squall did and what he saw wasn't about to make him smile. He put the binoculars away and stared the way he saw the boats.
"What do you think?" Nida asked.
"What do YOU think?" Squall asked back.
Nida turned to the horizon.
"From their spead and direction, I'd say they'll be here by noon."
"So you say think they're coming here too..."
There was a dozen of military like vessels heading straight to Balamb Garden. But from the look of the flags they were showing, it must have been a new military force because neither Squall nor Nida ever saw something like that.
Squall folded his arms.
"Do you know if there were any mission scheduled for today?"
"No, everyone should be here."
"Great, so everyone will have to fight."
"So you think it's imperative that they'll attack us?"
"Afraid so. Annonce it: that everyone must prepare dor a battle to defend Garden, to junction GFs and lots of magics and take medecines. Every single SeeD will have to fight. Even the committees and students will have their part of job to do."
"Man, Squall! Is it gonna be THAT bad?!"
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
Squall got back to the cafeteria as fast as he could, Nida's message preceeding him. Before quiting, Nida asked everyone to gather in the mainhall, around the directory.
The SeeD leader had to force his way into the cafeteria, through the students going the opposite way. His gang was standing up, waiting for him.
"What the hell's going on?"
"We're under attack," Squall said. "I got a bad feeling about this fight."
He looked at everyone and took a deep breath.
"Gackt, you're gonna be in charge of the Quad. Miaka, Zell, Rachel, Irvine, Audrey and you too Seifer are on the Quad too. I'll send you more people. I'm taking Carole, Quistis, Selphie, Xu and Nida to the front gate with me. Go get your weapons quick! And don't forget to junction."
"Yes, sir!" Everyone exclaimed with a salute.
Carole stepped forward.
"But Squall, if I go with you..."
Squall opened his mouth but Quistis cut him.
"He wants to keep you close to him in case your recovery would only be temporary."
Quistis looked at Squall with a smile and the face he granted her told her she guessed right one more time. Squall shrugged.
"Let's go to the main hall first," he said.
"Hey, Squall!" Raijin called. "I wanna help too, ya know!"
"AFFIRMATIVE!"
"You won't have to fight but you're gonna be helpful."
Audrey took two large steel rings from the back of her belt and crossed them in front of her.
"This is gonna be a great day!" she said.
"Indeed," Squall agreed.
He turned to Dave holding Quistis' hand.
"And Dave, you're not forced to stay if you don't want to."
Dave took his sword out of its sheat.
"I'll be glad to help."
"Then you're with me too."
They hurried out of the cafeteria. Squall climbed the stairs and turned to the huge crowd, asking for silence.
"Everyone, this is gonna be hard. A dozen unknown military vessels are heading this way and it's gonna be very ugly. The SeeDs will fight and I'm asking the candidates, the committee members and the others to make the hallway an infirmary. I'm asking for volonteers to do this. No one's forced to do it but like the time Galbadia Garden attacked us..."
Seifer felt his heart miss a beat at the memory (he was the one leading that last attack for those who don't know or remember) but Squall didn't even look at him.
"This is not a mission: it's a battle to protect our Garden, our home. Will you help preserve it?"
A wave of cheers accompanied with raised fists followed his words, making Garden vibrate under the feet. Squall nodded with a smile, his hands on his hips.
"I was expecting no less than that from all of you. Now listen..."
Squall separated the SeeDs in two parts: the smallest group to the Quad and the rest to the front gate. Considering the enemy was coming by sea, maybe they wouldn't attack the Quad.
"Good luck, everyone. Let's move!"
Everyone separated and headed their respective areas. The candidates started to go around Garden to gather sheets and potions to turn the hall into an infirmary for the wounded. Of course, no one was hoping there would be wounded people during the fight.
Outside Garden, Squall decided to separate the big team into three smaller to be more effective.
"I'll lead the middle team, Quistis the right and Carole the left."
"But, Squall..." Carole started.
He comfortingly placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I know you can do it, I believe in you."
He rested his forehead on hers for comfort. They closed their eyes.
"Alright, I'll do it. I'll do my best."
"I'm sure you will..."
Dave was placed in Quistis' team, Selphie in Carole's and Nida and Xu in Squall's.
The vessels came ashore and flying armors got out of it, heading up. At least they wouldn't get in Garden with the Quad being guarded.
Hundreds of creepy and strong looking soldiers came out of the vessels and headed to Garden. The SeeDs took their weapons out, ready. The soldiers stopped a moment, swords sheated. They were all wearing black armorr except for one standing in the front. He was wearing a red armor.
The team leaders, standing side by side, held their breath. Carole suddenly turned to Squall.
"Squall place someone else to lead your team!"
"Why?"
"I got a bad feeling about this... I feel that something will happen to you!"
Her eyes were showing sincerity and great fear.
"Don't worry, I promise to be extra careful."
"Then I'll watch your back."
"No. If you do that, you'll be careless and you could get hurt. Don't worry, I'll never make you sad. Be careful too."
"Okay..."
The red armored soldier unsheated a sword and raised it.
"Death to all SeeDs!" he yelled.
The soldiers all took their weapons out and ran to the SeeDs with screams.
"Don't let them near Garden!" Squall said.
The SeeDs ran to meet the soldiers. It was a clash of metal when the soldiers swords met the SeeDs weapons. While they were fighting, the leaders tried to know who the soldiers were and why they attacked all of a sudden. They were renegades from different lands who all swore to destroy SeeD. They just happened to start with Balamb which was the most powerful Garden. With SeeDs and Gardens out of the way, there would be no one to stand in their way of becoming rulers of the world.
In the left team, some SeeDs rumored that Carole had no leadership qualities at all, that she was placed leader only because she was Squall's girlfriend. Carole overheard it and felt sad, losing her self-confidence. Selphie happened to be near too. When she had a moment, she went to Carole.
"Don't listen to them," she said.
"How can I lead a team if they don't trust me?"
"Hey, I believe in you and I'm sure Squall does too. That's why he put you in charge. His feelings for you made that he'll sometimes watch if you're doing fine but Squall never mixes duty with personnal life."
"You're sure?"
"Hey, even if I don't remember too well, I still grew up with him. I know him, that's all."
"Thanks, Selph."
"You're welcome," Selphie said with a smile. "Now pay attention. You wouldn't want Squall to worry about you, would you?"
"Of course not!"
"Good!"
Selphie went back into the fight and a soldier decided to attack Carole. Feeling better than ever, she took him on.
The soldiers were brought down one after the other but unfortunately, SeeDs were wounded also. The students not fighting were walking on the battle field to take the wounded SeeDs into the hall-infirmary to threat their wounds. When she happened to be near a wounded SeeDs, Carole was taking him inside for treatment and she asked the others to do the same if they could. Defend Garden and take care of the wounded SeeDs was her plan. Seeing that, Squall and Quistis decided to do the same, following her example.
Looking at the soldiers and the SeeDs, Carole felt something was wrong. They only have swords! She thought.
SeeDs had magics and GFs while the soldiers only had swords which disadvantaged them. Why would they come to fight trained fighters without magics? There was definately something behind this. Carole searched for Squall and from his thoughtful frown, she knew he was thinking the same thing. Something's wrong.
The soldiers were killed one after the other but there seemed to be no end to this. There seemed to always be more soldiers coming from the vessels.
"How many are they?" Carole asked herself slashing through an armor.
"Aargh!" someone screamed behind her.
She turned around and saw a SeeD from her team in bad shape. A girl was trying to protect him from a soldier willing to finish him. Carole kneeled by his side.
"What's wrong?"
The guy turned to her with pain on his face that turned to surprise.
"Here," Carole said taking his arm around her neck. "I'll take you in."
"Ow," the guy complained holding his left bleeding side with his free arm.
Taking him away, Carole turned to the girl.
"You'll be okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks for helping him."
"Hey, it's my job!"
When Carole stepped in the hallway, someone came to help her carry the wonded SeeD to a couch. Then Carole could see there was a lot of wounded SeeDs. A little too much for her taste. Seeing the students had worst injuries to take care of, she proposed to take care of the guy herself. The candidate thanked her and went to help someone else.
Carole asked him to take his jacket off so she could check the cut on his side. She cleaned it then bandaged it.
"Why not use magic or a potion?" the guy asked.
"We must save them for major injuries. Yours isn't very deep so you should be fine."
There was a silence while Carole was finishing with the bandage.
"I'm sorry," the guy said.
Carole looked up.
"About what?"
"For thinking you were a bad leader. You're not heartless like me..."
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm a new SeeD and up to now, I thought SeeDs were cold and emotionless. I see that I was wrong."
"I can't balme anyone for thinking I'm privileged because I'm Squall's girlfriend and I can't force them to believe in me. The least I can do is to do my best to earn their trust and respect by myself."
"I assure you you got mine!"
"Thanks. What's your name?"
"Johnny."
"Well, Johnny, until we meet again..."
She smiled and headed back to the battlefield.
"A great heart..."
Carole fought again and again, in great shape despite the two months she spent in her lonely dark and silent world. Squall has tried to help her keep fighting but she was awkward and feeling dizzy so she gave up. But her deaf and blind state did have an advantage. She developped a sixth sense. Not only could she guess who was coming her way from the vibrations on the ground in garden, she knew when somebody was behind her on the field. It was like a signal, a bell in her head. Thanks to it, she managed to avoid a lot of deadly strikes.
Maybe the soldiers were only using swords but they were really full-fledged swordsman.
The left team's leader was only suffering from minor cuts when she heard a girl call for help. Carole quickly got rid of an annoying soldier and ran to the way she heard the call, recognizing the voice.
"Selphie!" Carole called. "Where are you?"
"Here!"
Carole turned her head and saw a hand waving to her through some fighters. Luckily Selphie had enough strength to move away from the soldiers.
Carole sheated her gunblade and kneeled besides Selphie.
"It's not so bad," Selphie assured. "But I don't think I can fight anymore."
She had a nasty cut in her leg.
"I think you're right. Come on, I'll help you to a safer place."
Carole helped Selphie who gritted her teeth not to scream when she put her foot on the ground so she had to keep her foot in the air.
She was rested on a couch and someone came to help her.
"Take care of your leg. I'm still not done yet."
She was about to get up when Selphie caught her arm. Carole turned her head.
"Kick their asses for me, okay?"
"Sure. Take care."
And Carole ran out of Garden once more.
"Ow! It hurts!" Selphie exclaimed.
"Sorry..."
The fight kept going, everyone doing their very best, defeating the enemy and rescuing the wounded. But you can't fight forever... Carole was growing tired, everyone was. There wasn't three teams anymore, only one scattered all around the place, trying to stop the soldiers from entering in Garden.
Inside, the candidates were ready to fight just in case. The wounded SeeDs also if need be. The outside fighters were hoping that wouldn't be necessary.
Breathing hard, covered with sweat and feeling tired, Carole carelessly let her guard down a moment and a soldier took advantage of it to slash her, making a nasty cut in her leg.
"Kyaaa!" she yelled dropping onto the ground.
She dropped her gunblade and held her wounded leg, painful tears filling her eyes as she was gritting her teeth.
"I've been watching you for a moment, waiting for a moment of carelessness to attack you. I'm not gonna spoil it!"
He raised his sword aver his head. Carole tried to reach for her gunblade but it was too painful.
The soldier was about to strike when a cracking sound stopped him. He stiffened and widened his eyes. Then he fell forward, just in front of Caroel. She looked up and saw Quistis standing behind the spot the soldier was standing on earlier, her whip in hand. She rolled it up and walked to Carole.
"Are you alright?" she inquired with concern.
Carole took her hands off her leg, showing the bleeding wound. Quistis kneeled by her side.
"Let's go in," she said. "I'll give you something for that."
She took Carole's arm around her neck and pulled her on her feet. Carole felt like fainting from the pain in her leg but she couldn't scream. It would've put the both of them in danger. They were vulnerable. Luckily, Carole had a chance to grab her gunblade. She would rather die than leave it behind.
Quistis made her way in Garden, the other SeeDs watching their back seeing the wounded girl.
Squall caught a faint glimpse of the situation but didn't have time to focus on it. He was busy with two soldiers who decided to team up against him after he defeated the red armored guy. Some soldiers seemed lost after that which was making Squall think the soldier could have been their leader.
In Garden, Quistis managed to find an empty couch to rest Carole on. She was on the verge of fainting. Quistis placed her hands over the wound.
"Curaga!" she called.
A light wrapped around the wounded girl. The bleeding stopped and the wound closed. The spell even released Carole from most of her weariness.
"Wow!" Carole exclaimed looking at her hands. "It's amazing!"
She looked at her leg.
"My leg is alright too! What an incredibly powerful cure spell!"
"It's Curaga. But the effect is just temporary. You'll have to rest to be sure your wound doesn't reopen."
Carole took her jacket off.
"I'm going back. Thanks a lot, Quistis. I owe you my life."
"Wa... wait! Didn't you hear what i just said? You have to settle down!"
The girl got up, not listening.
"I'll settle down when things are settled here! Thanks again, Quistis!"
And Carole ran outside for another time, Quistis tracing her. The blond haired girl looked at the jacket left on the floor and shook her head, sighing disapprovingly.
The fight continued for some time but it seemed like hours to the SeeDs. The soldiers were slowly retreating or being killed. They didn't even have cure spells to heal their wounds. The only magic they used were some stones which weren't very powerful even meteor or ultima stones which never worked at all.
A different looking soldier wearing a black and red armor appeared in the front line. He spread his arms.
"Stop!" he ordered.
Instantly, all the soldiers stopped fighting. Seeing the enemy wasn't moving anymore, the SeeDs stopped too. Everyon turned to the new soldier. Unlike the others, he wasn't wearing any helmet.
Carole made her way to Squall who's face was covered with sweat, soaking his hair.
"How's your leg?" he whispered.
"It's fine. Quistis gave me a Curaga," she answered placing her hand on Squalls back.
He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. Carole looked at him with concern.
"You're ... hurt!"
"It's nothing," he answered. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not," Carole insisted facing him. "You never used any potions or magic on yourself?"
"Don't have any left... Used them all on wounded SeeDs."
"You used them all?!"
"Shhh..."
The soldier made a move with his hands and every other soldiers retreated behind him. Squall wanted to walk in front of the SeeDs but Carole stopped him.
"Who's the leader here?" he asked the SeeDs. "Bring him to me now!"
"Guess I'll have to go..." Squall said.
"No," Carole said blocking his way with her arm.
"But..."
"Wait a moment," she insisted.
While Squall looked back at the soldier, now thinking he must have been the leader, Carole was reaching for the back of her neck.
"What's wrong?" the soldier asked impatiently. "Is the leader a coward? I have a deal for him which is gonna put an end to this killing."
"I must go..."
"No!"
Carole moved in front of him and placed something in his hands.
"You're in no shape tp fight," she said with a smile.
She closed her eyes and quickly brushed his lips with hers and walked through the SeeDs to the front with her gunblade tapping ehr leg. Squall opened his hand and stared at the silver eagle in his hand. Then he brought his head up to trace Carole.
"Wait!" he called making a step.
Someone caught his arm.
"Don't!"
Squall turned his head and saw Quistis.
"She wants to protect you..."
"I'm losing patience!"
"I'm here!"
Carole got out of the crowd and faced the soldier. Nobody tried to stop her.
"I am the leader of SeeD," she lied.
"A girl?! I'm surprised.Then you must be very strong."
"What do you want?" Carole asked frowning.
"As I said, I want to make a deal."
"Who are you?"
He grinned.
"I'm the leader of the Renegades of course!"
Carole arche dan eyebrow.
"But I thought the guy with red armor was..."
"Oh, no! He was the commander of the fighters but I am the head of this group."
"What is your deal?"
"So you want to know..."
He pointed a nasty and deadly looking sword at her.
"I want a duel to death! Leader of the Renegades versus the leader of SeeDs! Winner takes all! If I win, we'll use the Garden as our base. If you win, which I doubt, we'll retreat."
Squall made a move to interfere but Quistis stopped him once again.
"What do you say?"
Carole frowned and took her gunblade out.
"Sounds fair enough to me. Shall we begin?"
The Renegade jumped, bringing is sword down and Carole blocked it over her head. She swung her weapon to make him go backward a little before thrusting forward, but he dodged.
Squall couldn't believe she said she was the leader. He couldn't believe nobody said it was a lie. He knew not many people trusted Carole but none revealed her identity.
The fight was breathtaking. Both fighters were skillful and for a mometn, they seemd equal but the soldier was a bit better. And Carole knew it.
She managed to dodge the deadly shots but too closely. Her pants were soon covered with cuts, making wonder how they could still hold together from the quantity of them.
Suddenly, the soldier thrusted forward. Carole placed her gunblade in front of her but the soldier slashed from top to bottom, taking the gunblade from her hands. She fell on her butt from the shock and stared up when the soldier brought his sword down on her, cutting her top in two. She just had the time to place her arms across her chest before everyone would have been able to see a little too much.
"Now, to end this fight!!"
From the way he raised his sword, it was clear he wanted to cut her head off. She shut her eyes, waiting. He brought his sword down.
"Stop!!" someone yelled in the crowd. "That's enough!"
The soldier looked up and Squall came out.
"I'm the leader, Squall Leonhart. This girl is just an ordinary SeeD."
The soldier was grinning evily.
"I was wondering if you would show up. I knew from the beginning this girl wasn't the real leader."
"She just wanted to protect me thinking I was too weak to fight."
"Tss..."
The soldier went to carole and grabbed her arm to get her up on her feet. Her top fell...well what was left of it and she only had one arm to hide herself. The soldier pulled her away and placed her in one of his men's guard.
"Leave the girl some dignity!" Squall exclaimed taking his jacket off.
The soldier didn't object. Squall helped Carole put an arm after another in the sleeves. Luckily it was bigger on her than on Squall she didn't have to zip it. Besides she didn't have the time to do it because the guard took her arms behind her back. You could almost see something but she didn't care. Still, their eyes or actions never betrayed their relationship. It would only have endangered the both of them. The enemy would threaten Carole to hinder Squall.
The fight started and Carole feared for Squall. After all, he was hurt but it appeared that the fight she had with the Renegade weakened him to Squall's actual level.
Squall jumped around the Renegade, trying to pierce his defense while the soldier was studying Squall's moves. Bith were nervous, knowing it would be hard.
Looking at Squall dodging attacks and striking, Carole didn't notice her hands were held by the same hand behind her back. She noticed when a hand brushed the skin of her stomach, going up under the jacket to her chest.
"Hey, back off!" she said freeing one of her hands to take the unwelcomed one off her.
Her guardian was pretty tall and big. No wonder the leader placed her in his hands. But now he wanted something and would get it. He wrapped an arm around her, sticking her arms each side of her and moved his hand to her chest.
"Stop it!" she hissed.
Her hands were free to her elbows but the guy was tronger than she expected. All she could do was stop him but she couldn't pull his arm away. He slowly got to her chest and grabbed a handful of her breasts.
"No!!" she screamed taking his hand off her.
Squall stopped fighting and turned around.
"What's wrong?" the Renegade asked. "Are you concerned about what happens to this girl?"
"Like anyone in Garden," Squall answered. "I care for everyone."
"Really? But do you care for your own life?"
He thrusted forward and Squall clashed his gunblade onto the sword to devy its way. He tried to move some way he could watch the soldier with Carole but he couldn't concentrate on the fight and watch in the same time. So he decided to trust Carole would be able to take care of herself.
The tall guy tried another move on Carole.
"Cut it out!" she said.
"Be gentle, girly," he whispered in her ear. "Come on, I haven't seen a female body for months."
He caught her breasts again.
"Stooooop!" she yelled.
"Carole!" Squall exclaimed turning to her.
That was a big mistake. His face couldn't lie. It wasn't just casual concern on his face but personal one.
"Don't tell me you have feelings for that girl?" the Renegade asked.
"N, no! Not at all!"
"No use lying!"
He turned to his man with an evil smile and slashed the air in front of him.
"Kill the girl," he ordered.
"No wait!" Squall tried to interfere.
"What a shame," the soldier said.
He took out a dagger in his free hand and raised it over Carole's head.
"Kyaa!" she screamed.
"Nooo!" Squall yelled.
Something whistled close to Carole's ear and the soldier stiffened, widening his eyes. His arm around Carole dropped and the one with the dagger too, dropping onto the ground. There was a rope around his neck with a ball at the end. Carole could recognize that rope anywhere: it was Miaka's. There were some of the Quad's team standing behind the soldier.
The guy collapsed and Carole quickly closed the jacket.Then she hurried to her friends.
"Miaka!" Carole exclaimed jumping in her arms.
The asian girl took back her weapon and helped her friend to the other SeeDs.
"Daïjoubu ka?" she inquired.
"Y...yes, thank you."
Squall felt relieved. He culdn't bear losing her like that.
"What are you guys doing here?" he asked.
"The soldiers retreated so we headed here," Zell explained.
"I left some SeeDs there in case," Gackt said.
Squall nodded approvingly before looking at Carole with concern.
"Are you okay, Carole?"
She lifted a thumb at him with a smile.
"It's okay, Squall. Teach that guy a lesson!"
"Yeah!"
Squall frowned with a smile (try doing that!) and literally flew to the renegade who lost his smile and confidence seeing the SeeD coming at him so fast. He barely blocked him. Knowing Carole was safe, Squall could focus on the fight and give it everything he had.
Miaka was standing close to her friend with Gackt. Rachel was back along with Audrey and Seifer. Irvine was looking around.
"Where's Selphie?" he asked worried.
"Inside," Carole told. "I took care of her injury but I think she stayed to give a hand. Lots of people were wonded."
"Then I'll go too."
Irvine left.
Squall was dominating the fight now. The Renegade was really no match for him. Squall was stronger, faster and more skillful than the enemy. He would win and the Renegade knew it... How could he be overpowered now? They were even a moment ago and now...? Could the feelings he had for that girl be his source of power?
The Renegade was grinning even though he was losing the fight. He pushed Squall away and stood in front of him, facing him his palm. Squall waited, wondering what he was preparing.
"Don't you wonder why my soldiers didn't use any magics?"
His hand started to shine meanly and Squall made a step backward.
"Because I'm the only one to have some!"
And he unleashed an Ultima spell on Squall which threw him on his back a few meters back. He stood on his elbows, shaking his head to snap out of the surprise. He really wasn't waiting for an Ultima. It caught him off guard and he could barely stand. He was wrapped in a fog but he managed to roll aside and avoid the deadly tip of sword coming at him. It buried in the ground instead of his chest.
Squall got up, breathing hard and faced the Renegade taking his sword.
In the crowd of SeeDs, Squall's friends were holding their breath. Especially Carole who was now staring at the situation in horror.
The Renegade laughed evily.
"Now I'm stronger! I'll finish you off now!"
"We'll see about that!"
The blades clashed on each other's.
Miaka was trying to comfort Carole who still had her hands over her mouth, her heart beating a strange way. There was only fear on her face.
"Come on, he's doing fine!"
Carole shook her head and clenched her fist on her heart.
"No... it's that feeling I had before the fight, that bad feeling... I must have forgotten about it eventually but..."
As she looked at Squall crossing swords with the Renegade, she gave a fearful frown.
"It's growing," she said with a trembling voice. "Oh, Squall... he won't make it..."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Zell asked. "He's winning!"
Squall slashed non-stop a few times not giving the enemy a second to block or dodge or even defend himself. After the eight blow, Squall stepped backward, catching his breath. His Renzokuken sure did some damage to the soldier but lucky for him, Squall didn't finish with a Lion Heart. Already using the strongest gunblade of all was enough.
The soldier dropped his sword and tried to keep his balance but the major wounds and cuts all over his body soon overcame him.
"No... no way..."
And he fell on his back. Squall closed his eyes and sighed from relief and exhaustion. His hair was sticking with sweat and he was feeling very tired. Were it not for the limit break, maybe he wouldn't have made it.
Squall turned to the SeeDs who started cheering and applauding, carole along even though she didn't seem to be feeling too good. Squall just wanted to run to her and hold her in his arms to feel he was still alive. He was only looking at her smiling face and he smiled back. But her smile suddenly disappeared and her mouth slowly opened as her eyes widened in horror. Squall started to worry too until she pointed at him.
"Squall, watch out!!"
The SeeD turned around, swinging his gunblade but he suddenly stopped, stiffened.
"Urgh..."
"Kyaa!"
The first was a moan of pain from squall when his stomach was pierced by a dagger in the Renegade's hand. He was standing on his knees in front of Squall, an evil smile on his face twisted with pain.
The second was a yell from Carole as if she was the one to be pierced. She even felt as if she's been. She shared everything with squall: joy, sorrow, pleasure and pain.
Everything has turned silent. Miaka was firmly holding Carole to stop her from running to Squall. It seemed like no one was breathing.
Squall dropped the Lionheart and reached for his stomach, folding himself at that level. He moved backward, his legs shaking as he freed himself from the dagger. He held his wound but the blood was going through his hands. As he tried to stop the life liquid to leave him, his eyes narrowed painfully and his mouth half-opened as he breathed hardly.
The Renegade raised the dagger totally covered with Squall's blood. Some rolled down the hilt and on his hand. He withdrew his head backward and bursted out a maniachal laugh.
"There shall be no winner to this fight!"
The dagger sheated itself in his chest, breaking the armor. All signs of life vanished from his eyes and he collapsed. He was gone for good...
Squall staggered a few steps backward then stopped and turned his head. His blurry eyes searched the crowd of horrified people, all paralized to make a move. He blinked and found who he was looking for. He could clearly see her terrified face while everything else around was blur, invisible to him. He was seeing nobody but her.
Looking back at him with a fist clenched on her heart, the other one to her mouth, she shook her head. He gave her a painful smile before his legs gave way beneath him and he collapsed on his back. Then something snapped in her and no one, not even an army of enemies could have stopped her. She didn't feel Miaka's arms releasing her as she ran to the man she loved, her eyes filling with tears of fear.
"Squall!!" she called.
She dropped onto her knees by his side and looked at him, not knowing what to do. She carefully placed an arm under his neck and placed his head on her thighs. He still had his hands clenched on his wound and she could see he was still alive... for now.
"Squall, please give me a sign, say something," she pleaded.
A tear rolled down her cheek and landed on Squall's cheek. Then he half-opened his eyes and locked them on hers.
"I..." he started.
"Shh," she said placing her palm over his mouth. "You did great, really..."
Further ahead, the soldiers without any leader were heading back to the shore. There wasn't anything left for them to do.
"And where the hell do you think you're going?" Zell asked frowning madly at the soldiers.
Him and some of his friends were all standing between the soldiers and the vessels, pointing their weapons at them with revengeful faces. The soldiers all dropped their weapons and placed their hands behind their head. They were surrendering.
"If he dies..." Zell trailed off a threatening way.
Carole wanted Squall to move his hands from his stomach so she could see but he stubbornely didn't want to move them.
"Please, Squall let me see it..."
Then he was to weak to stop her.. She almost stopped breathing when she caught sight of the blood stained t-shirt around the mark left by the dagger. It was very deep and the blood didn't seem to want to stop flowing out. She shut her eyes and pressed her own hand on it. Please, God, let him live, she pleaded.
She looked around for help but no one could do anything. The battle has been fierce and their were no cure spells or medecines left.
"Come on Squall," she begged wrapping her other arm around his shoulders. "Stay with me, I need you!"
Then she started crying freely, her tears mixing with the blood staining the ground.
Squall lifted a trembling hand to her face, rubbing the bottom of her eye with his thumb.
"I know it'll... sound pathetic... or that I'd... say it to anyone... that anyone'd say it... but... can't find anything better..."
He paused to take a deep breath and almost choked with it. A bloody trickle came out from the corner of his lips as he blinked slowly.
"I love you... like... I never loved... before..."
Carole released his wound and reached fot the hand on her cheek instead, closing her eyes.
"You're right, it's pathetic... But I love you too Squall. I want to hear you say more things like that, you can't leave me like this, please!"
His other hand reached for the silver eagle around his neck then he reached for the platinum Griever, managing to take it off. He showed it to her.
"I'll always be with you... You know... I think your recovery has a price... my life..."
"What are you saying?! No, no way! You're not dying, you hear? You can't!!"
She didn't realize yet but her bad feeling was gone. It wasn't a feeling anymore but a reality.
"I... I love you..." his voice trailed off.
His hand slipped form her face, leaving a trace of blood on her cheek. His eyes closed and his head turned aside as he died in the arms of his lover. Carole widened her eyes when she felt something explode in her body. It came up as she shook her head and finally reached her lips.
"Noooo!!" she yelled wrapping her arms around him.
She held him tight against her as if it could bring him back. She cried loudly, rocking him like a baby, calling his name.
That's when an unexpected couple appeared, coming from Balamb town.
"N... nani?!" Miaka said.
"What is it?" Gackt asked.
She poited the town's way with quiet surprise. Gackt frowned and turned his head then his face gave the same surprise than Miaka's.
"What the?" Zell exclaimed.
"Masaka!" Miaka exclaimed.
"Ri... Rinoa?" Quistis said.
Rinoa was walking towards Squall and Carole, adam close behind. Her eyes were showing sadness but they were shedding no tears as if she knew. There was concern and fear too but she looked like she knew this would happen. She stopped a few meters away and Adam stood by her side.
"Adam,¸" she said emotionless. "Take her away."
"Rinoa?"
When she remained silent, he just nodded and walked to his friend. Her tears melted his heart as he thought Squall was her first love. He crouched behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders but she didn't seem to notice.
"Come, carole. Come with me."
He tried to pull her up but she shook her head, shutting her eyes.
"No! I won't leave him!"
"Come on," he insisted pulling harder.
She let go of Squall gently to try and free herself from her friend's grip but that was what he was waiting for. He pulled her up on her feet and held her tight.
"Let go! I wanna stay here!"
She tried desperately to free herself but without a word, Adam took her away.
"No! No, no..."
Her attepts weakened and she stopped protesting. She looked up to Adam's face. She bursted into tears and burried her face in her friend's chest. Adam closed his eyes and hugged his friend, carressing her hair to try and comfort her but her knew this was not much comfort.
Carole turned her head to Squall when Rinoa kneeled by his side, right where Carole was a moment ago, just by the blood stained ground under Squall.
"What is she doing?" she asked with a hoarse voice.
Rinoa turned her head to Carole.
"I'll use my powers for what I have them for..."
"W, what?" Carole asked turning to Adam.
"She said the same thing back in Timber..."
[Scene fades to Timber some time ago]
Rinoa and Adam were walking in town. Rinoa was silent for a moment and Adam could see there was something wrong. He was about to ask when Rinoa suddenly stopped and looked up to the horizon as if she was listening to something. She turned around and headed to the train station.
"What,,, what's going on, Rin? Where are you going?"
"Balamb Town."
"Why?" he asked going after her.
She remained silent a moment then spoke up.
"Something is going to happen... I must go. It's time, the time has come for me to use my powers for what I have them for..."
"Huh?"
Rinoa didn't seem to want to say more so Adam just followed her to the train station where they headed for Balamb.
[Scene fades back to the battlefield]
Carole didn't seem to understand more that her friend.
"Just trust her," Adam said with a smile. "I know she'll do something good, trust her."
Everyone stared at Rinoa. She had her eyes closed and her hands together in front of ehr. She was frowning like she was making a big effort. A white light appeared and envelopped her in a white aura. She leant a little forward and two white wings spread out of her back, scattering feathers around. She placed her hands over Squall, over his wound. Some light came out of her hands and covered Squall completely. It lasted a few minutes then the wings vanished and the light along. Rinoa was almost out of energy so she collapsed. Adam released carole and hurried to Rinoa, Carole just behind.
"Rinoa!" Adam called.
She managed to stand but Adam had ro help her up.
"Are you alright?" he asked with concern.
"Y...yes..."
She lifted her head, her face was covered with sweat and looked at Carole.
"Wha... waht did you just do?" the girl asked.
Rinoa smiled weakly.
"I closed his wound. The body is like a machine and the soul is the pilot. If the machine is damaged and stops functionning, the pilot leaves it. It's repaired now, but only you can call the pilot back. You're the only one able to bring him back."
"Me?"
Rinoa nodded.
"If your feelings are strong, he'll come back."
She nodded to Adam, closing her eyes and he helped her lean on him. Then they walked away.
"B...but," Carole started tracing them.
Then she turned to Squall's form resting on the ground. Could it be true? Would he come back?
She kneeled at the same spot again and placed her arm under Squall's neck. His face was still white as a sheet but she could see his wounds were all healed. The blood was still staining his t-shirt, but it was dry, just like the trail of blood Squall's hand left on her face, like the blood covering the hand she used to try and stop the blood.
She stroked his face with her free hand. He was cold.
"If there's any chance..."
She leant over him.
"Squall? Can you hear me? You... your body's repaired," she said jokingly. "Rinoa went through all the trouble of coming here and help you but... it seems I'm the only one who can call you back..."
Around the place, the couples were all holding each other hopefully.
"You... you have to come back, Squall. To Garden, to your friends, to me... I... I love you Squall..."
She lowered her head and kissed his cold lips. They slowly warmed up and she was kissed back. She opened her eyes and saw the crystal blue eyes looking back at her.
"How could I leave you? I promised I'd never make you sad..."
"S... Squall!"
She bursted into tears again and threw herself in his arms, holding him tight.
The others SeeDs all jumped around, shouting hurrays and clapping.
Miaka was crying from relief in Gackt's arms. Zell wrapped an arm around Rachel's shoulders. Quistis closened up on Dave who took her hand.
Carole was crying with relief to see her beloved alive and she still couldn't believe it.
"Squall... Squall... oh, Squall," she called non-stop.
Squall got up with Carole but once they were, she still wouldn't let go. But he didn't mind. Holding her back was making him feel good, it was so good...
People were happily jumping around them but Squall wasn't listening. He looked up to Balamb Town where Rinoa was heading. The sun was just over her. It was incredible to think the fight lasted all the afternoon and part of the evening.
Rinoa sudenly stopped waslking and turned around. Her eyes met Squall's. She smiled at him and turned away, Adam's arm wrapped around her shoulders. Squall traced her a moment then thanked her silently. He closed his eyes and buried his face in Carole's hair still holding him tight.
Rinoa was feeling proud. She felt like it always was her purpose as a Sorceress: to bring Squall back from the dead even though she did only half of the job. The image of that girl crying and Squall hugging her was carved in her mind as a reward for her actions. She sudenly felt sad and regretful. She even surprised herself at wondering if she did the right thing by dumping Squall, wondering if she still had feelings for him.
The special bond between Squall and her never vanished, that's how she knew something would happen and why she left Timber to go to Garden. But that wasn't love, not anymore.
The bond between Squall and Carole was strong, strenghtened by their love. Nothing comparable to what once was between them. The bond was still but love was no more. Then she thought the way she was feeling for Adam wasn't comparable either. She smiled at how relationships can all be the same and different in the same time.
Maybe it would have been their that Squall and Rinoa should have been together but the stars don't know everything about life and nothing about a human heart... unless someone, somewhere, did something to go against fate...
NOTE: Liked it??? But wait! It's not over yet!!! A cute epilogue is coming!!! Like my boyfriend said: Happy end for everyone!