BLACK RAIN

As you know, I, like yourselves, don't own any of these characters…etc except the imagination we have to give them stories of their own.

"The eyes are a passageway to the soul" – Elder Shumi

Chapter 14 – The Story Of Her Eyes

(Rinoa -?)

Rinoa eyes open fully. She stares at the ceiling. A small moan utters from her mouth. No sooner than that happens than a face appears over her head. It's a Shumi. Easily recognisable for the long faces and shovel like hands.

Shovel hands? Faces? I knew it was them, it just wouldn't come to me… she thinks as she stares back at the Shumi.

"You are awake at last! Great! This is progress!" he shuffles away and speaks to a Moomba. The Moomba dashes out of the door. The Shumi turns back to Rinoa.

"My name is Medic, Miss Rinoa, I am glad you are up now."

"Thank you – " she cuts off. "How do you know my name?"

"The Elder recognised you from the last time you were here" the Medic says. "Elder told us you came here before but Medic did not see you."

"I see." Rinoa answers. She sits up gently and looks around. The house is small and cosy looking. There is a huge cupboard dominating one side of the room. It is filled with various pieces of equipment and there are various liquids in glass vials.

"I'm in the Shumi village" she mutters to herself. This is verified when the Elder walks through the door. He hasn't changed at all from the last time Rinoa saw him.

"Welcome Miss Rinoa, I am happy to see you are awake. Your ordeal was something else I must say."

Rinoa is about to say 'thank you' but says something else instead.

"How did you know that?"

The Elder walks over to a seat located next to the bed and sits down.

"The eyes are a passage to the soul. Your eyes told me everything."

Rinoa says nothing. She looks at the Elder, straight into his eyes, but quickly looks away.

"How did you get here exactly? The guardians at the door told me an unusual story. Though I believe them, I would like to hear your version if possible."

"I must have thought of this place when I went through the gate… I can't remember…" she trails off.

"But I am grateful for your help."

The Elder smiles. "Think nothing of it, Miss Rinoa. You have other things to worry about. You are worrying about them right now."

Rinoa is spooked by the accuracy of the Elders words. The Elder sits quietly as Rinoa, who can't help herself, tells the Elder what happened in the Lunatic Pandora. Finally the Elder speaks.

"I know what you went through, but it sounds more horrifying from the way you said it." He falls silent for a moment. "So the enemy of time is already here…"

"You mean Ultimecia? Yes she is…" Rinoa also falls silent. She can't help but think of Squall and Quistis… a sorceress?

"You worry about your friends, especially the one you love. You found out a secret about a friend of yours. I assure you it will help her for the better. If any I would say that this changes everything."

"What do you mean? Asks Rinoa, looking at him. Again she shivers, as if the Elder can read everything about her.

"I know what you are, and I also know what she is. The two of you combined will face the enemy together. But there will be a test, I feel. A test that will determine what happens in that final confrontation." He sighs. "A shadow is slowly developing over the world. And you and her are the only ones who can make it recede and disappear"

Rinoa stares at the blankets. She stammers slightly as she speaks.

"What do you mean?"

"War, my dear. War. The third Sorceress War is going to happen. The one where the enemy of time finally rises."

(Squall – Esthar Palace)

Squall sits on the roof of the palace alone, looking out over the city. The sun sets slowly over the horizon. Squall watches. He doesn't think, merely sits there, staring off into the distance. He doesn't even move when he hears a door open behind him. He still looks ahead when the person sits down next to him.

"Squall, what's wrong?" asks Quistis.

Squall says nothing.

Quistis looks at him. She looks away at the sunset too, and sighs. The sun creeps slower to the horizon. The sky slowly turns a soft red colour.

"So you know now. What you are," Squall says. Quistis jumps. She looks at him. Squall is looking at her. A look of (concern?) on his face.

"Yes, I do. I am a sorceress, Squall but I – "

"I know what you are. I know everything about you." Squall says. He looks away again, back at the sunset.

"What do you mean everything?" Quistis asks, her face curious. "Squall?"

Squall turns around, so he is facing her. "Yes, Quistis. Everything."

"Can you please tell me what you mean?" she asks. She looks into his eyes. A small jolt runs through her. A feeling. It seemed familiar, but… also distant. The two of them stare at each other.

"When the Pandora exploded, I died." Squall says flatly. "And when I died. I saw someone."

Quistis stares at him, mouth partially open. She is about to say something when Squall puts his hand up. He places it on her hand gently.

"I've stared. I would like nothing more than for you to sit and listen to what I have to say. It's entirely your choice what you want to believe, because I believe it all. After I have told you everything, I'll let you decide what you want to do."

Quistis says nothing. She continues to stare into his eyes. Her whole being tells her to listen and believe him. The same feeling runs through her again. It doesn't feel like love. More like a connection…

"Yes, please tell me."

Squall sighs slightly. "I saw a man. He told me everything about Ultimecia. A sorceress with an incredible ability. An ability like Ellones. Except she can see into the future. And with this ability, she has been planning since she was able to use it, to destroy us and rule the world."

Squall looks into Quistis eyes. A feeling runs through him. Normally he would ignore it. But this feeling can't be ignored. She must be told he thinks.

"He also told me where she came from, and her family. She was a child of a sorceress. It was the only recording of a sorceress giving birth in 100 years. Not only that…" he looks away, then back. "It was also the only recording of a sorceress giving birth to more than one child, as the sorceress had two children. Two twin sisters. Ultimecia was one. And you were the other."

Quistis blinks. Her mouth is open further now. She blinks some more.

"I knew… somehow I always knew…," she says. She looks away, out towards the sunset. "Ever since I sat on the Ragnarok and Rinoa showed me her power. Ever since I saw Ultimecia in the Pandora, I always thought and knew…"

"Quistis?" Squall asks. Quistis turns back to him.

"When I saw Ultimecia, I said to myself that I knew her from somewhere. Now I know."

"Yes" Squall says. "You and her were together until you were 5 years old. Your father took you away because he knew what Ultimecia was, and what she could do. Your father placed you into the orphanage. Under Cid and Edea. Edea also knew what you were, and took steps to ensure you forgot what you were."

Quistis face turns to shock. "Forget! Why?" she asks, a slight sound of fear in her voice.

"Because Ultimecia would find you, and either destroy you, or ask you to join her," Squall says. "And also it was planned by this man and your father. Your father agreed and carried it out. He told Edea, and she carried it out too."

Quistis says nothing. A small tear runs down her cheek.

"Quistis?" Squall asks quietly. She gets up. Squall also gets up. To his surprise, she throws her arms around him and buries her face in his chest. Squall can't help but put his arms around her as she begins to sob softly. She can't help herself as she cries, trying to hold back the tears and failing.

"What happened to my father?" she asks between sobs.

"He was destroyed by your sister. Ultimecia found out what he did to save you, then killed him. She never found out where you went because the man made sure of it."

Quistis looks up at him; her tears are still streaming down her face.

"Who's this man your talking about?"

Squall looks at her. "Would you believe me if I told you?"

Quistis nods her head. "I'll believe you. I'll always believe you."

Squall smiles slightly. "It was the Great Hyne, Quistis. He told me everything because he saw it all happen. He also told you that you were a sorceress. But Ultimecia had already knocked you out before you could do anything about it."

Quistis stares at him. She has stopped crying. She hugs Squall closer. Squall keeps his arms around her.

"That's who that man was then you saw in your dream" she says quietly.

"Yes. He's been watching you since you were born. He was the one who told your father to take you to the orphanage. He's the one who made sure you forgot about who you were, for your safety and the worlds."

"Safety from me?"

Squall nods his head. "Yes. You don't know it, but I do. You are the most powerful sorceress there is. It's a toss up between you and Rinoa. Ultimecia is close, but nowhere near as close as you two. Most of Ultimecias powers didn't come to be when she was born because of this ability."

Quistis shudders as she lets out a long breath. She breaks off from Squall and turns away slightly. "So I'm destined to fight her? Is that it? I'm the only one besides Rinoa who can destroy her."

Squall nods his head. "That's not all."

Quistis looks back at him. She is silent as Squall tells her the next part.

"We could have destroyed her for good in the Pandora. But certain… things… happened that prevented it."

"Such as?" she asks. Squall doesn't reply. Quistis walks up to him and places a hand on his arm. He turns around and looks into her eyes again.

"Just as you are destined to fight Ultimecia, I was destined to be your Knight."

(Rinoa – Shumi Village)

A horrible feeling races through Rinoa's body.

"War? Sorceress war?" she asks the Elder. The Elder nods his head slowly.

"I don't know if it will happen, but it seems to be that way. Though from what I know, coupled with what you told me. It seems that it might either not happen at all, or play out differently."

"It won't happen," Rinoa says sternly. "I'll see to it."

"You have a good soul, but your emotions are making you confused, I understand your wings changed colour, what will happen when you really let go?"

A chill runs through Rinoa. "I don't know" she whispers.

"You must think… very carefully and clearly about what you must do." Says the Elder. "As your choices now may effect the future. There is a dark cloud starting to emerge. How big it grows and what happens depends on you, your friends and the choices you all make."

"What do you suggest?" she asks him.

"I suggest you get to your friends, and fast. I feel there is not much time."

Rinoa takes the elders hands.

"Thank you. For everything."

"No, no need. As you must go now. I hope you shine on all of us and rid us of all the darkness. You are a sorceress, but a good one. I have never encountered a good sorceress before. This is a sign for all of us. But remember, just think of what may happen if you let loose when you get upset."

Rinoa nods her head sternly. She thanks the Medic. A gate forms in front of her. Closing her eyes, she concentrates on a place close to where the Pandora was.

(Lunatic Pandora Wreckage)

She materialises out of the gate and gently lands onto the ground. The gate vanishes. Looking around, she whistles at the sight. She clasps a hand around the two rings around her neck. A look of worry is on her face as she walks through the wreckage. She stops at an unusual sight. A perfect circle of debre is here. There are markings, as if something was sitting here previously. There are footprints in the ground. She notices something white sitting in the circle. She picks it up and looks at it.

It looks like a piece of Seifers coat she thinks. Something tells her to turn around.

A man in a black cloak is standing there behind her. Face covered by the hood.

"Who are you?" she asks sternly. The man removes the hood. Rinoa face immediately fills with shock as she looks back at the person.

"Hello Rinoa."

(Caves)

She stands at the edge of the cliff and looks outward. They are amassing here, under the cover of the trees. Thousands of them. She is summoning them here. She learned how to do this by a sorceress who had an amazing ability to talk to animals and monsters. She had taken her powers and by doing so learned the ability. Now she summoned them. A noise only they could hear. Trees were swatted out of the way, knocked down, trampled on and burnt to nothing as they marched, almost like an army to her location.

I will destroy you all she thinks to herself. And these monsters can help. The Pandora may be no more, and The Lunar Cry may no longer be able to happen, but no matter, because when I am ready, there will be no need.

She hobbles back into the cave. She looks at the machine. Somehow it was untouched in the fight with Rinoa. She stares at it. The machine, 3 feet high, with a helmet designed to sit on the head. The letters, in red are at the top. The silly fools missed it. The letters 'JME'.

I will get you Rinoa. I will destroy you and you too Quistis. Then the world will be mine. No sorceress will be able to stop me…