Chapter 6: Last Resort
Akuma sighed.
"I knew it..."
Maureen looked at him with an amused smile.
"Of course you knew! Can't you see the future?"
The old GF looked at her.
Usually, the future always moves because it can always be changed. But this part was still... The rest is moving, I can't tell what's gonna happen...."
"Aren't you excited?"
The mermaid girl seemed pretty excited herself.
"What makes you so happy?"
"If Hyne succeeds, the world ends, so does my life... But not my memories! I've been happier in the past weeks, than in the last 300 years!"
"Maybe... But I don't think the other GFs agree with that. After all, this is the world they worked together to make. To see it destroyed only because of one person's will isn't really fun."
"I guess so... I just hope Coran and Squall'll be alright!"
"The Little Magic Girl..."
"You knew from the first time you met her this would happen, right?"
Akuma nodded silently.
"And for Squall?"
"He also has his part to play... The fate of this world will depend on Coran's reaction towards it... She can still change everything..."
Squall was walking to his room, rather running. He wasn't thinking about Zell he nearly killed, about Rinoa wooried about him, Seifer powerless in fron t of what happened to Coran, not even thinking about what just happened to him... Just about a way to save Coran and stop Hyne from 'remaking' the world.
When he got to his room, he locked himself in and started pacing around like a starving lion. He started doing what he used to do best in the past: think.
He had three days to stop Hyne... three days to save his sister... His sister he wasn't able to help... He took the ring and went to see Hyne so Coran would be safe... He didn't even know what he would have done with her, he just wanted his sister safe... Now she was gone...
Squall took his head in his hands and shut his eyes tight as he felt pain in his heart. He fell on his knees and let out a desperate cry.
"Coran!"
He couldn't protect her from Hyne... He didn't keep his promise.
"I'm sorry..."
He tried not to think about that. The more he was thinking about what he didn't or couldn't do, the less time he had to think about a way to save her.
Two days went by and he still hasn't found anything. He kept his room locked to everyone, even Rinoa, refusing to eat or to sleep, knowing Hyne wasn't sleeping, just growing stronger.
He couldn't think of anything! It was not like when she was possessed by her dark self and could fight back, they merged! They were one!!!
The morning of the second day, Seifer went to Squall's room.
"Are you dead in there?" He asked jokingly. "Come on, Squall open up!"
He waited and the door was opened. Seifer was almost scared by what he saw. It was Squall but he looked ten years older! He had dark eyebags, his eyes were swollen and his cheeks carved in. He looked like a zombie but Seifer decided not to tease him about that. The frown of concern on his face discouraged him from ding it.
"Found anything? You've been here for two days! The world's gonna be history before you find enything!"
Squall let Seifer in. The blond guy went to sit on Squall's bed while Squall just faced him gravely.
"I'm afraid I don't have a choice," he said a fatal way.
Seifer was afraid he knew what he was going to say next.
"I'll have to kill her..."
"You're not serious?!" Seifer exclaimed getting up.
Squall waved his arm away.
"I don't have a choice! Since I started thinking two days ago, that idea found its place in my mind and wouldn't leave it! I tried to think of another way, but..."
His arms fell each side of him and he lowered his head.
"To save the world and everyone I care for, learned to care for..."
He couldn't finish his sentence, it wouldn't come out of his throat. He had to sacrifice Coran so the world would be saved. He had to sacrifice Coran to save her in the end.
Seifer was frowning and shaking his head, shocked, refusing this idea.
"I can't believe it! You'd sacrifice your own sister? Just like that?!"
"There's no other way!" Squall nearly yelle at Seifer in a desperate tone.
As he said it, Seifer could see tears shining in the corner of Squall's eyes. He didn't like the idea more than him. It was his sister after all, the only family he had a link with since Laguna wasn't always there with them.
Seifer closed his eyes a moment.
"Tch..." he said with contempt.
He walked to the door then stopped.
"I can't believe it... Well I sure won't help you kill the girl I love!!" he said not even turning around before leaving the room.
Squall sat heavily on his bed and took his head in his hands... Would he be able to do it? Could he do it? He had to, he knew he had to, but... What would Coran say if she saw him now?
"Come on, now, Squall! Cheer up! You're my brother and no one can take that from us! We can die, our souls are tied together, like soulmates! Hey, don't tell Rinoa I said that!"
He pictured her smiling face as he thought of these words. They rang so much like her voice in his mind he wondered if she wasn't around to say it or maybe she said that before? He couldn't remember if she ever did.
"Hum... Squall?"
Squall looked up and saw Zell in the door frame, holding a tray with food. He looked a bit concerned. Then Squall realized he was crying. He wiped the tears away from his eyes, thinking Coran wouldn't want him to cry.
"Sorry..." he said as he got up.
Then he did as she would want: cheer up.
"Hey, are you feeling better?" he asked.
Zell might be a bit dumb sometimes but he wasn't fooled. He could see something was bothering his friend.
"Yeah!" he still answered raising his arms. "Coran's magic did part of the job and DR Kadowaki did the rest."
Squall suddenly took on a sorry face.
"I'd like to say I'm sorry, Zell... For what I did to you, because I know I'm responsible but I don't remember doing it! It was like... watching a movie! It was my hands hitting you, my mouth threatening to kill everyone, my feet moving around but..."
"It's okay, man. I know you're not responsible Hyne was manipulating you..."
Squall frowned with curiosity looking at Zell. He seemed to have something on his mind as well. He handed him the tray. Squall didn't look hungry but he still took it and ate everything. He felt a lot better after that.
"I have to confess to you I doubted you Squall..."
"What do you mean?"
"The morning you left, I thought you joined Hyne so you'd live once she would have destroyed the world. I thought you were selfish... The others all believed in you, especially Coran. She got mad at me, real mad... for a moment she looked like her other self..."
Zell looked at the floor and clenched his fists.
"She was the only one to take your part so when she threatened me to hurt me if I'd badmouth you again... You know what I told her? What was the very last thing I told her?"
Squall figured Zell wasn't waiting for an answer, only to find the will in him to say what he had to say.
He looked back at Squall with shame in his eyes.
"I... I told her she wasn't better than Ultimecia or Hyne! I said it just like that!!!"
He looked so desperate Squall wondered if he wouldn't start crying like when he was a kid... But Zell was a grown up now, he wouldn't cry... Not really.
"I didn"t even apologized to her! Nothing! Now she's gone and it's all my fault!!"
"What are you saying?! She didn't merge with Hyne because of you!"
"I feel like she did... Because I said these awful things, she merged with Hyne to save you, making her much and much better than any other Sorceress! Better than me... She must have laughed at me... Look Zell! Think Hyne would do that to save someone? Am I not better than them?!"
Squall placed a comforting hand on Zell's shoulder.
"I'm sure she's not mad at you. She already forgave you. She treated your wounds, right?"
"..."
"I left so she'd be safe but then she takes the ring from me and still merges with Hyne... I did all this for nothing. She must have been pretty mad at me."
"Yeah..."
Squall took a deep breath and looked at Zell.
"Now I want you to do something for me. Go get the others and gather near the Ragnarok. We're leaving."
"You thought of something?" Zell asked as he lightened up.
Squall nodded but with no smile which caused Zell to lose his.
"What... is it?"
"I'll kill her..."
Zell jerked back as if he's been shot by a Thundaga spell.
"What?"
"There's no other way..."
Zell figured Squall didn't want to say more about that, that it was painful for him just to say it so he went to do as he was asked.
"Zell!" Squall called. "Don't bother going after Seifer, he's not coming."
"He already knows?"
"Yeah... Came in before you..."
Zell just nodded and left.
Squall went to his case and took his gunblade out. The Lionheart was shining. To think that he'd have to bury it in his sister's chest.... He felt an unpleasing shiver travel through his body. He shut his eyes and tried to focus to keep his determination from faltering. Then he headed outside himself.
Zell was really quick. When Squall stepped in front of the Ragnarok, everyone was alreasy there, weapon in hand, waiting for him. Except for Seifer, of course.
He stopped in front of them and placed his gunblade on his shoulder.
"Let's go," he simply said.
He entered the ship and everyone followed.
He went to the pilot seat and Rinoa sat next to him, like the first time they ever set foot in the Ragnarok. The others all sat behind without a word. Except for Zell, they didn't know what was going on. He kept silent, thinking Squall would tell them himself or maybe someone would ask.
"Hey, Seifer's not coming?" Irvine asked.
"No," Squall answered simply again.
Quistis looked at the others and they all shrugged except for Zell who simply avoided her gaze. He wasn't gonna tell everyone Squall was dealing with the idea of killing his sister!
The elder girl got up from her seat as Squall started to fly the ship towards the Centra ruins.
She went to Squall's seat and placed her hands on the back of his seat.
"What's the plan? If you don't fill us in, we can't do much."
Rinoa looked at Squall with an empty face like she already knew what he wanted to do. After all, she could read his mind.
"You'll be my back-up," Squall said.
"Back-up?" Irvine exclaimed. "What for?"
"In case I fail..."
"Fail what?" Selphie asked.
"Killing Hyne..."
Quistis moved back, withdrawing her hand from Squall's chair. They all hoped Squall had a killer idea to save everyone and everything but not that kind of 'killer' idea!
"What?" Quistis said unable to say anything else.
"No way?!" Selphie exclaimed jumping off her seat. "You don't really want to kill Coran, do you???"
Squall lowered his head. Everyone objected, everyone but him... Only him wanted to do it... Was there really no other way?
"I don't have a choice!" he said in a desperate tone.
From the waves of sorrow they could detect in his voice they knew he didn't enjoy it.
"You'll do it if I fail... I'll attack her but if I hesitate a little too long, she won't hesitate to kill me so you'll have to do it. I want to try myself so if I... kill her, I'll carry her death on my shoulders alone..."
Rinoa simply place her hand on top of his and kept silent. She knew she couldn't say anything to ease his mind. Squall was facing the biggest dilemma of his life.
Quistis looked at him a moment then went back to her seat.
"Well, now I get why Seifer didn't come," Irvine said.
The rest of the flight was in silence until they reach the Centra continent and the ruins. Squall landed the Ragnarok as close as he could then they got off.
Squall went first and insisted for everyone to stay back, including Rinoa so Hyne wouldn't be able to get them all if she'd want to attack.
In front of the statue, Squall frowned. He felt pain in his heart, but his determination was strong.
"Hyne! Show yourself to me, now!!"
She did. Realizing she was more Coran than Hyne, Squall felt his will waver a bit.
She smirked.
"You're early," she said with that voice that was his sister's.
"I will destroy you now, Hyne! Since you're not at full power yet, it shouldn't be too hard."
Squall forgot one little thing: he wasn't at full power either. After all, he hasn't slept for two days!
She chuckled.
"I don't need all my strength to beat you!"
She smiled.
"Do you really want to kill your sister, my dear brother?"
"I am not your brother!!" Squall yelled really mad. "My sister is dead and it's to free her spirit I've come her! I'm gonna kill you all by myself!!"
"Then why did you bring all your friends?"
"In case I fail... If I succeed, I'll carry the burden of my sister's death alone! I killed her! I promised her I wouldn't let anything happen to her and I failed... Now she's gone so I'll kill you and save her!!"
He took his gunblade in his hand in fighting position.
"It's just you and me, Hyne!!"
She had a strange face.
"She's not alone," a voice said.
Everyone looked at the statue. The voice came from behind and Squall was afraid he recognized it.
"No..."
The first thing they saw was the tip of a gunblade, then the arm holding it and the person the gunblade belonged to.
"Seifer..."
He walked to the front of the statue, his eyes on Squall. Those eyes were not empty or blank, they were Seifer's and so was his face. He wasn't controled, it was really him.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!" Hyne laughed with pleasure. "I won't fight you, my Knight will!"
"Your Knight?" Squall repeated bringing his eyes back on Seifer.
Eyes full of questions.
"I told you I wouldn't help killing her," Seifer reminded. "I still want to believe that there is another way to save Coran and the world in the same time."
He swung his gunblade out.
"If you insist, you'll have to get through me first!"
"Seifer! I already told you I didn't like the idea more than you!! I don't want to kill a friend too!"
But then Squall held his gunblade with two hands.
"But if I must do it to save the world, I won't hesitate!"
Seifer poited his gunblade at Squall and frowned.
"I'd rather sacrifice the world than stand back and watch the girl I love being killed!" He said swinging the gunblade backwards.
"Because life isn't worth living in a world where she wouldn't be!!"
He dashed Squall who quickly brought his Lionheart up to block Seifer's blow. He knew he couldn't talk Seifer out of this so he'll fight... He doesn't have the choice!
Seifer swung the gunblade across Squall who barely moved back to avoid it. Seifer had a frown on his face. He was serious but so was Squall.
Squall trusted then swung aside when Seifer moved to dodge it but he blocked. The clashing sound of the gunblades hitting each other was echoing throughout the ruins.
"Yaah!" Seifer screamed as he swung from top to bottom. Squall blocked it over his head.
Then he pushed Seifer away, putting all his weigth on his weapon. Seifer jumped aside and Squall nearly lost his balance, giving Seifer an opening on his arm. Squall extended his leg and Seifer tripped on it. Both got up in the same time and faced each other for a while, walking around. Both had their fighting instincts really sharp. Last time they fought each other was on the Quad the day Squall fell in the sea and nearly died. But it was nothing compared to the fight they were having now! Now they were serious! Each wanted to kill the other!
They moved toward each other at the exact same time. They crossed their gunblades between them, each pushing on it, baring his teeth.
Hyne was smiling, pleased. This was really amusing her. But it wasn't amusing the others at all! If they'd keep going, one of them would be killed for sure!
Rinoa grabbed her ring. Usually, she was holding on to Squall's but if was Coran who had it now. Hyne...
Squall's mind started to wander which wasn't to good during a fight. He wondered waht would happen if he'd kill Seifer? He'd fight Hyne... Would he ever be strong enough, he'd kill her... Then what? He'd probably die.... Either from sorrow through his link with Coran or he'd kill himself. He'd probably go crazy after killing both Seifer and Coran so either he'd kill himself in his madness or do it as a punishment because he'd never be able to face his father and tell him he killed her... He'd die either way he wins or loses.
He knew Seifer wasn't manipulated by Hyne. He was fighting for Coran, for his love so Hyne didn't see the use of taking control of him. Seifer was serious. He was fighting Squall for his love, fighting a friend. While Squall was fighting a friend and his sister to save the world... He didn't have a chance in a fight for feelings. He started thinking about his own feelings about this. He knew he couldn't do it, he wouldn't be able to.
He started lacking the effort to fight back then he completely stop, so did Seifer, looking at him curiously. Squall dropped his gunblade and spread his arms.
"Kill me," he said.
The others were surprised but they didn't know what to do. They couldn't interfere, they could never interfere between these two. Even though they were now friends, they were still rivals. Always were, always will.
Seifer looked at Squall in silence and curiosity.
"Huh?"
"I can't do it," Squall said. "And I started thinking that... Maybe Coran placed that idea in my mind from the beginning. She'd rather die at my hand than live forever as part of Hyne after destroying the world.... It's not a good idea.... I know I wouldn't be able to live with that on my shoulders so I want you to kill me Seifer..."
Seifer remained motionless for a while then pointed his Gunblade at Squall. The others all held their breath, stunned with fear.
But Seifer smiled and lowered is weapon.
"I know there is another way to save Coran than to kill her. Besides, she'd be really mad at me if I'd kill you."
"You're right," Squall said with a smile. "I was stupid to think that it was the only way."
"Not your fault... Well, we might as well join the others and quickly think of another plan."
Rinoa sighed with relief and smiled seeing the fight was over without any losses. But on top of the statue, Hyne wasn't smiling at all, rather annoyed. She was mad things didn't turn out the way she wanted them to. But then her frown changed for a smirk. She poited her hand towards Seifer who froze. He frowned and his arms started to shake a bit.
"You okay?" Squall asked with concern.
All of a sudden, at incredible speed, Seifer's arm was brought up towards Squall. Unfortunately, that arm was the one holding the Hyperion. It went straight through Squall's stomach so deep the tip pierced through his back.
Squall stiffened and his face twisted with pain.
Seifer stared at that with wide eyes filled with horror.
"Kyaaaaaa!" Rinoa yelled.
The others stood just as horrified as Seifer was. But behind him, Hyne was showing a pleased smile.
Seifer slowly took a step back, bringing his gunblade out of Squall's stomach just as slowly. Stained with his blood, the Hyperion was dropped on the ground out of Seifer's trembling hand. Squall jerked when the gunblade went out of him and reached for the wound on his stomach, looking at Seifer with pain all over his face. He was not accusing him, he knew it wasn't his fault.
Squall looked up at Hyne, looking down at him a disgusted way.
"Co...ran..."
He collapsed. With high fear, Seifer caught him. That was the signal for the others to join them. Rinoa kneeled down and placed Squall head on her thighs. Under him, the ground was slowly being stained by blood.
Rinoa was crying, Selphie sobbing in Irvine's arms, Zell was on his knees on Squall's other side so was Quistis with tears silently rolling down her cheeks. This wound was too serious to treat it with magic, there was nothing to do.
Somehow, all of them knew who was responsible for this. Hyne was responsible for willing to change the world. But to Seifer, Coran was responsible for not being able to overpower Hyne. He really thought she was stronger than that. Not being able to stop Hyne from ending the world was a thing but not being able to stop her from stabbing Squall!!! He felt responsible too for being manipulated by her but to him, it wasn't Hyne who did it, it was Coran.
He spun around and shot her with deadly eyes, filled with tears of rage.
"Coran!!"
She was smiling calmly at him as if everything was well.
"Why did you do it, Coran?"
"Now, with the only threat to my life being dead, I can wait for my powers to be whole again along with my dear Knight."
"I'M NO KNIGHT TO ANY EVIL SORCERESS!!!!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "I already told you that in the past!!!! I wanted to defend you because I thought my presence would bring Coran back!!!"
He lowered his head and clenched his teeth along with his fists.
"But it seems I was wrong... It's true: Coran's gone..."
"It's... not...true," Squall objected with a hoarse and painful voice.
Everyone looked at him with hope that he might be fine, but a second look at his lethal wound told them it was just a matter of time until he'd die.
"Coran's... not gone... She gave...me the idea to kill...her... It's my fault for... being weak, unable...to do it...It's not...Coran's fault..."
He brought his head up, gritting his teeth as he tried to focus his blurry sight on Hyne who was looking back at him indifferently. He raised a trembling hand as if he was trying to catch her.
"Coran...come...back...."
Then his arm fell and the pain took him over. He was dead. Rinoa hugged him and cried like when she found him in the time compressed world and he was dead... Except now, he was in the real world so she couldn't bring him back.
The tears Seifer only had in his eyes were shed. Somehow, he couldn't stop crying. They were tears of sorrow and fury...
As Squall died, Hyne suddenly lost her smile and her face turned white. Something was wrong.
Seifer spun around to her.
"Coran!! You killed your own brother!!!"
Hyne reached for her chest and started breathing faster. She clenched her heart and lowered her head.
"Squall....Squall...."
Then she looked back at him. Her eyes started filling with horror and tears as her face twisted with pain. It was as if Coran realized what she just did. She held her head in her hands and started shaking it slowly.
"No, Squall... it can't be... It can't be!"
Suddenly, something snapped in her. She spread her arms each side of her and yelled at the top of her lungs. Yelled with pain and sorrow. Her powers seemed to explode at that moment. A gigantic wave of energy spread from her, all around, blowing the others away along with the centra ruins. Most of the continent was blown away.
It stopped when she stopped yelling. She dropped on her knees and tried to catch her breath but her sobs and tears flowing non-stop on her face were choking her. Her look was different but she still had the wings and the dress. Her face was different. Coran came back. Her link with her twin broken by his death shattered her heart and the pain called her back. She was still feeling this pain all over her body, inside, in her heart. It also called her powers out and caused this.
She got up, trembling and without a word to look at what she's done. Rinoa was blown away still holding Squall. A bit farther, Zell, Quistis, Irvine holding Selphie. Closer to her, Seifer. Their torn up clothes were a good sign to their status: they were all dead. The strength of her pain was too much for them to handle. She killed them all... Squall first with Seifer's hand.
She lowered her head again and started sobbing.
"Why me? Guys... please.. forgive me... Squall..."
She shut her eyes. It seemed the only way her pain would be eased would be for her to snatch her heart from her chest and squeeze it hard.
"Don't... cry..." a voice said real low.
Coran raised her head with wide hopeful eyes. It was Seifer's voice. She hurried to him.
"Seifer!!" she called.
Once she was on her knees by his side, he turned his head to her. He looked terrible. His eyes were dead and he couldn't move anymore. It was a wonder how come he was still alive.
"It... alright, Coran... It's not ... your fault... How could...you... overpower... the creator..."
"Seifer, I'm so sorry!! I should have been able to stop her!!"
"Don't worry... no one'll hold... a grudge.. against you... Now....you're the... most power...powerful being alive...you can do what...you want..."
She even got Rinoa's powers but she didn't realize that yet.
"You...can...be ruler of... the world!"
He said that in a funny tone and with a smile but Coran didn't see what was so funny about that...
"Whatever you decide.... I'll be with you... I'll always...be..."
He took a deep breath that caused his to cough out blood. Coran started crying again. Since it was because of her powers he was like that, she couldn't do anything not like in the past where it was the contrary.
"I'm... sorry.... for saying you...were resp...onsible for Squall... It's not true... I am... For not...being able...to save you from...Hyne and resist...her manipul...ation..."
"No..." she said as she rubbed his cheek full of blood. "I'm responsible for giving myself to her willingly... I did it to protect Squall and I ended up killing him... He must be mad at me..."
"No... He knew you...wanted him...to kill you but...he couldn't do it... I think he...wanted to die... He asked me to ...kill him.... He knew this ...would break the link... between you two.... and bring you back... Now... that you have the power... you can do...what you want... end this world or rule...it forever... whatever you...want, I'll always...love you..."
He blinked slowly and a tear ran down his cheek, making a trace through the blood.
"I wish... I could... see you...touch you...one last time..."
Coran took Seifer's hand and brought it to her face, not caring it was stained with blood. Seifer smiled then died.
Coran's face is free of all emotions as Seifer's words find their way in her mind. She got up and looked around. Her friends' bodies, reamains of the Centra ruins... She could even feel that part of the world was blown away.
"I will do it.. I'll carry on Hyne's will since she's part of me..."
She didn't want to rule what was left of the world. She didn't want to leave alone for all eternity knowing she was responsible for her loneliness. So she would do it. But she didn't want to end the world, she wanted to restart it. A world with no monsters to fight, no Sorceresses, no magic, no GFs... A world where humans could only rely on themselves to live in peace.
She spread her wings which weren't the same anymore, they were more like angel wings, dark blue wings with white strands covering them, huge wings, strong enough to lift her up over the ground. She raised both her arms over her head and took off. She closed her eyes, concentrating.
She let her feelings take her over which would help her do it as it should be. A new chance for everyone.
She could feel her friends' presence around her then she knew she was doing the right thing.
"We'll meet again in the future... and we'll be friends again..."
A red light surrounded her. It was getting brighter and brighter, bigger and bigger then the whole planet turned red. Cracks of fire appeared all over the surface. Then it exploded! Pieces of the planet were scattered accross space. As each piece was moving slowly away from each other, everything went backward, like someone recorded it and played it back. The pieces were coming all back together. The Earth was on fire, lava exploding all over the world. Slowly, it started to cool down. Slowly, seas and grass replaced fire and rocks. Until the continents we once knew were completely gone, replaced by the ones we know today, ready for a new beggining. For new people and old ones to start over again...
Note: Finally! The last chapter's done!!! I really didn't expect it to be so long, I'm really sorry!! But there's still a nice epilogue coming. It's been waiting for nearly two years to be put in!! I wrote it before writing The Forgotten Guardian Force!!!
So, what do you think? Did I miss something? Was it good? Was it bad, any comments at all!!!