Chapter 2 : So The Threat Is Revealed…
The following days went by like months to the gang. They knew what they had to do and they didn't like it one bit. But waiting for the two Sorceresses to start leaving was killing them.
But the day came. One morning, Coran got up without a word and left her room. Seifer has been sleeping lightly to be sure not to miss her. He didn't bother putting his coat on, only his cross shirt and his pants along with his boots and followed her. Coran was bare feet and only wearing a large t-shirt. Luckily she didn't go to bed naked.
Knowing Rinoa has spent the whole time in Garden, he was almost expecting her as he walked the way down the hall. In fact, she was in front of him, just behind Coran.
"Seifer!"
The blond guy turned around to see Squall coming to him. He was trying his best to put his boots on and walk in the same time. His hair was a mess. Seifer could have laughed but it was not really the right time for that.
"I guess this is it," Seifer said.
"No kidding! I wonder if this time they'll get there or wake up half-way."
"We'll find out soon enough."
The two boys followed their Sorceresses, not thinking about warning the others. They were afraid to lose the girls would they lose even a minute.
Both Coran and Rinoa were walking at the same pace. Both looking straight in front of them but not seeing anything. Their eyes were blank and still. Blind, they were walking as if there was someone else inside them. Squall and Seifer were following and they were nervous. They were more worried about their girlfriend's sake than their own.
The girls stepped outside Garden and walked to the back side of it where the Ragnarok was parked.
"You don't think they're gonna take that?" Seifer asked.
"I don't know but if they do, we'll have troubles telling the others where we're going..."
The Sorceresses stopped in front of the hatch. Rinoa was standing there while Coran went to open it. Then they both stepped in, followed right away by Squall and Seifer.
"Shouldn't we stop them?" Seifer asked.
"No. The plan is to follow them wherever they go. They we'll think of something."
"Nice plan..."
The hatch was closed behind the guys, startling them. Who closed it and how?
The girls, walking side by side, headed for the elevator. Squall and Seifer stepped on it just before it went up. The girls didn't seem to notice anything.
On the bridge, the girls walked to the pilot and co-pilot seats but didn't sit down. They just stood behind the seats and poited their fingers to the panels. Buttons were turned and levers pulled. The Ragnarok took off and they didn't touch anything! They were moving it with their will alone.
"Where are we going?" Seifer asked looking at Squall.
But the SeeD leader was just as lost as he was.
"How should I know? They are the ones being controlled, not me!"
"What can we do?"
"If they let me do it, I'll contact Garden. The alarm was on so probably they already know the Ragnarok is gone. We'll call and tell them to switch Garden to mobile mode."
"Are you sure about that? It wasn't done since it was pulled out of the water."
"It didn't break when it was pulled out, it won't now. I'll just tell them to get ready and wait for my next call... If those two will let me do it..."
Squall slowly walked to the side panel allowing communications. He kept his eyes on his sister and his girlfriend for any sign of agressivity. But they both remained motionless as Squall turned the panel on.
"Leonhart here, does anyone read me? Balamb, do you read?"
"SQUALL!!"
Squall jumped backward and Seifer was startled. Squall took a peek at the girls but they seemed deaf along with blind. They didn't care at all.
"Selphie don't yell like that," Squall answered.
"We've been worried sick about you! When we realized the Ragnarok was gone we thought right away it could be you. Are Coran and Rinoa with you?"
"Yeah and I don't have the slightest idea where they're taking us. I don't know how long I have so listen."
Squall exposed his plan to Selphie.
"All right! We'll do as you say. When you call back, we'll be ready."
"I just hope I'll have the chance to call back... Over."
"Roger! We'll be waiting! Over!"
Squall turned away from the panel and looked at Seifer who was standing behind Coran. There was something strange on his face. Like he wanted to hold her tight but wasn't sure if he should.
"Seifer..." Squall called.
The blond guy was so deeply concentrating he was startled.
Squall arrived and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"She's not dead, just asleep."
"Yeah... I know but... I can't help it!"
Seifer clenched his fists and shut his eyes.
"It makes me mad knowing that someone is toying with their lives!"
"Then let's make sure they will not be endangered."
Seifer nodded with a frown of determination. Then both knights turned to the window to see where they were heading.
"We keep going in the same direction," Squall said after a while. "Where are we going??"
"Look!" Seifer said pointing at something.
Farther, ground started to show its face. That continent was familiar to Squall. Then he started figuring where they were going when the Ragnarok started slowing down.
"The Centra continent..."
"But why? There're just ruins here!"
"At least we know where we're going!"
Squall quickly went for the panel and called Garden again.
"Already? I wasn't expecting your call so soon, honey!" Selphie joked.
"Get Garden moving south! Head for the Centra continent right away! As fast as you can, push it's limit to the max!"
"What if it doesn't hold on?" Selphie asked in a worried tone.
"It will! Now hurry, we're almost there!"
"You're the boss!"
The comunication was stopped and Squall started praying they would get here real soon. Whatever was waiting for them was bad news, he could feel it. Maybe it was because of his link with Coran. Somehow, she was aware she was moving against her will.
"The ruins," Seifer said.
Squall hurried to him and looked through the window. They were coming down close to the centra ruins. What was there? Since they got Odin from that place, there shouldn't have been anything else!
The Ragnarok landed then the girls walked back to the elevator in the same time. The guys couldn't do anything but to follow.
They walked to the ruins where a surprise was waiting to greet the newcomers. In the central place where there was te statue of a Sorceress and her Knight, scattered around it were standing about a dozen girls with just as many guys standing behind them, probably boyfriends. All the guys seemed to wonder the same thing than Squall and Seifer: what's going on?
The other girls were just like Coran and Rinoa: like zombies.
Coran and Rinoa walked to two empty spaces as if they were meant for them.
Squall and Seifer did as the other guys and placed themselves behind their Sorceress.
All guys were worried about their friend. They were Sorceress with unrevealed powers since they were too small. But still, who would have thought there were others?
A sudden light appeared on top of the statue, calling everyone's attention, even the girls's but only their face were up, their eyes weren't seeing anything.
The light faded and a form appeared.
"What the..." Seifer started in a whisper.
The form was of a girl. She didn't seem real because you could see through her, but also because of her look. She was undescribable, beyond human, surreal. [sorry for the lack of description, I really don't know how to describe her! Sorry!]
Her face was clear and when she placed her eyes on the crowd surrounding her, those not in a trance could guess she was wise beyond her looks because she didn't seem very old to them. She was wearing clothes unknown in this world.
"Who..." Squall's voice trailed off as he was unable to speak.
Steps came from the entrance of the ruins, calling their attention. Selphie, Zell, Irvine and Quistis arrived.
"We made it!" Selphie exclaimed.
Then they caught a glimpse of the scene.
"What the hell...?"
"Where are all these girls coming from?"
"And who's that?"
The strange girl turned to the group and bent her head aside.
"Oh! I didn't expect my Sorceresses to come with such a crew!"
Her voice was soft but cold in the same time. Someone who would have lived peacefully all his life would have been comforted by that voice but not Squall and his friends. They faced evil often enough to recognize it when they were in front of it.
"But then again, I'm glad to see there are other people to witness my grand coming back!"
Zell frowned and started punching the air.
"Who the hell are you, anyway?" he asked in a mad tone. "Your Sorceresses?"
"Can't you tell? I'm your mother, your creator and these girls mentor," she said pointing them with a wave of her hand.
They start showing strange faces as she keeps talking.
"I was the very first Sorceress ever!"
"You... you don't mean...?" Squall started not believing it.
"Yes! I'm Hyne!"
I'll leave you hanging... mwahahaha!