Chapter Six
Rinoa sat on the edge of the bed, nervously fingering Griever. The radio and headset lay by her side. Zell glanced over by her.
"Relax. They'll call." The radio crackled to life.
"Ragnarok to Rinoa, Ragnarok to…" Rinoa snatched up the radio.
"Rinoa here. Quistis?"
"Yes. Where are you?" Quistis asked.
"We're at the hotel."
"Ok. We're a couple of miles out of the city. Have you heard from Squall yet?"
"No."
"Alright. We should be there in half an hour. Ragnarok out." Quistis turned off the radio.
"You going to get in touch with Squall?" Selphie asked.
"No." Quistis answered. "They're fine."
On the train to Deling City…
Squall scowled at the scenery passing by.
"You ok?" Irvine asked.
"No." Squall ran his fingers through his hair.
"Rinoa, huh?" Irvine blew out a breath. "Listen man, I don't want to say this, but…"
"But what?" Irvine bit his lip.
"I'm probably not the only one who's thought of this, but with these rumors, somebody is bound to try something."
"You don't think I know that?" Squall snapped. Unfazed, Irvine continued.
"All I'm saying is, we are running out of options."
"I know." Squall ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm just praying that the others had better luck than us."
One hour later, at the Deling City hotel…
Zell paced up and down the length of the room.
"Now you're beginning to make me nervous." Rinoa said. A knock sounded on the door, interrupting Zell before he could say anything. Going over, he put one eye to the peephole.
"Who's there?"
"Us!" Zell opened the door to see Quistis and Selphie standing there.
"Quistis!"
"Hey!" Rinoa and Zell poked their heads out of the door. Squall and Irvine were walking down the hallway towards them.
"Irvy!" Selphie squealed, running into Irvine's arms." "You're alright!" Squall strode over to Rinoa and kissed her before she could say anything.
"Woo! Hey, hey, hey!" Zell catcalled.
"Shut up, Zell." Squall said, holding Rinoa in his arms. He looked down at her. "Everything go okay?"
"No." Rinoa shook her head. "We hit a dead end over here."
"Same with us." Quistis said. "Huh?" Irvine said, turning around.
"Laguna said that we could use the Ragnarok, but he couldn't seal off the Sorceress Memorial."
"Why?" Squall asked.
"Umm…" Selphie looked towards Quistis for help.
"Squall, you'd better sit down for this." Quistis said.
"What is it?" Selphie took a deep breath.
"Esthar wants to bring Rinoa over to them so that they can seal her away."
"WHAT?"
"Why?"
"Rinoa hasn't done anything!"
"Laguna's trying to stop it, but he's not to sure he can." Squall clenched his fists in fury.
"Here's one thing. They're not getting her!"
"Oh my…Rinoa!" Squall whirled around. Rinoa's eyes were wide, she was clutching her chest, and her breath was coming out in short pants. Then, her eyes did a slow roll to the back of her head, and she fainted. Squall dashed forward and caught her before her head struck the floor.
"Not another one! Rinoa!"
"Put her on the bed. Zell, go get a cold washcloth, Irvine, see if you can get a candy bar, preferably chocolate." Quistis snapped, her instructor training kicking in. Squall gently ran his hand over the unconscious Rinoa's hair.
"How did things go over on your end?" Quistis asked quietly as she accepted the cold washcloth from Zell and put it on Rinoa's forehead.
"Not good. Not good at all." Squall answered.
"We'd better head back to Balamb Garden, then." Selphie said.
"Radio the Garden, and tell them to meet us near Matron's house." Squall said.
In Another World, at that same second…
"Leonhart, if you do not get your hands off of me!" Rinoa exclaimed. Her husband was trying his very best to talk his wife into extending their vacation a little while longer.
"C'mon. Just one more night. Candlelight, nice soft music, a romantic dinner…"
"The last time I let you talk me into something like that, I ended up giving birth nine months later!" Rinoa said, shoving Squall away from her. "And besides, I have to teach tomorrow! What is everyone going to think when I come in late?"
"Oh oh. Do you think they know where Raine came from?"
"Squall! Get off!
"Uh uh. I love you, Rinoa."
"Ahh…Squall…"
"If you two are done necking like teenagers now…" Embarrassed, Squall and Rinoa pulled apart and sheepishly looked over at Zell.
"Hey Zell."
"In case you did not notice, we are now at Balamb Garden. Or were you too busy trying to do something else?"
"Shut up." Squall said. Laughing, Rinoa jumped up and gave Zell a hug.
"It's nice to see you. How did everything go?"
"Let's see. Your daughter apparently made repeated attempts on I.J.'s life, the last one being assault with a tennis ball with intention to smack sense into him…"
"Did it work?"
"Squall!" Rinoa said reproachfully. Huffing, she blew out a breath. "I'm going to surprise Raine."
Inside Balamb Garden…
Raine rolled her eyes. Her idea of Magic class was actually practicing the spells you learned, not being stuck in some boring classroom listening to a teacher drone on about how to use it. Not that she really needed the class, because she had already mastered several types of the different magic that SeeD used, including Life, Support, Fire, Ice, and Thunder, from when she was younger. Her only problem now was trying to learn Time/Space Magic, and Forbidden Magic. Sighing, she plopped her head on the desk. A student came in, and gave the teacher a note.
"Hmm, ok. Will Raquel Lavone, Anita McKinney, Robert Bastian, and Raine Leonhart please report to the Headmaster's office now please."
"Oh oh." Raine thought. "What's going on?" She got up and followed the other three students out of the classroom.
Inside the Headmaster's office…
"Rinoa!" Quistis leapt up and gave her friend a hug. "How was the vacation?"
"Fine. I'm feeling better than I have been in months." Raine and the other students came in. As Rinoa turned, Raine's eyes widened.
"Mom!" She dashed forward into her mother's arms.
"Raine! Ooohhh, I missed my baby so much!"
"Are you feeling any better? How was your vacation? Where's Dad?"
"Whoa, hold it, hold it." Rinoa laughed, pulling away. "First, I am feeling much better, second, the vacation was great, and third, your dad is still outside." She turned to Quistis. "What did you call her up here for anyway?"
"Right." Quistis said. She turned towards Raine and the other students, who immediately stood straight and saluted.
"This concerns your training exams. Since you're signed up for higher- level training exams, which are normally reserved for seniors, I have your exam times. Raquel and Robert will be going on the first exam this afternoon. Anita and Raine, you need to check back with me for your exam times, as they have not been determined yet."
"Yes Headmaster."
"Dismissed." Quistis said. The students saluted again and left, Raine staying behind.
"Go, Raine. I'll see you later." Rinoa said. Raine nodded and left the office. Quistis turned back to face Rinoa.
"So, will this mean you won't be sick anymore?" Rinoa's eyes narrowed at that.
"I don't know, Quistis. Now that I can look at the past months from a clear point of view…I get the feeling that something is wrong."
"Something's wrong? With what?" Quistis asked.
"I don't know…Call it sorceress intuition, but something's not right." She fingered Griever at her throat. "Do you mind if I take a little more personal time off? I'll still teach my classes and everything…"
"Sure. Like I said, the training exams are coming up. We're going to have our hands full plotting out scenarios for the students to go through unless Galbadia tries to pull something funny…"
"What are the exercises for this year, anyway?" Rinoa asked.
"Well, the one this afternoon is an invasion of Balamb. The students have to go in, free the town, and drive out any enemy forces they run into. Of course, the instructors will be marking for judgment, conduct, etc…"
"The usual." Rinoa said with a grin. She blew out a breath. "I'm going to go unpack, and settle in. Then…"
"Then what?" Quistis asked.
"Then I am going to figure out what the heck is going on." Rinoa said as she left the office.
In the present, several hours later…
Rinoa blinked sleepily. She was in her own room in Balamb Garden. Looking over to the side, she saw Squall dozing in a chair beside her bed. That simple little act touched her in the heart deeply.
"Watching over me, huh?" she murmured. Squall blinked as he awoke.
"Rinoa? How are you doing?"
"Fine now." She turned her head to the side. "I guess this is the only place where I can be safe right now…and even here, I'm putting everyone in danger."
"No!" Squall said, moving onto the bed. "No, Rinoa."
"Yes, I am. I can tell that you and Irvine going to Galbadia Garden didn't come up with any solutions either. And my father says that Setzer is on to me…" Squall couldn't say anything.
"Maybe I should go to Esthar and let them do what they want. Seal me away…"
"No!" Squall said forcefully. He gripped Rinoa by the shoulders. "That is never going to happen to you as long as I live. Never!" Rinoa's head turned to the side. "Look at me." He put his hand under Rinoa's chin and turned her head. "Remember when we rescued you from the Sorceress Memorial, and we talked in Matron's garden? I remember thinking something I should have told you, but I never did. So I'm going to say it now." He took a deep breath. "Rinoa, even if you did become the world's enemy, I would still be your knight. That's how much I love you." Rinoa was struck speechless.
"Squall…" she said softly, raising a hand to his cheek. Before they could kiss…
"Hey Squall…Yikes!"
"Yes Zell. What is it?" Squall asked.
"Oops…sorry. Anyway, we have radio contact with Galbadia Garden. And you're not going to believe what they have to say."
"A party?" Quistis, Irvine, Rinoa and Selphie said at the same time.
"Cyan wants to have an inter-Garden celebration to help promote better relations between us. " Squall said.
"Sounds good to me!" Selphie chirped.
"We could use a little break…" Quistis said.
"But what if it's a trap?" Xu asked.
"Right now, all Cyan can do is bluff. A good majority of the students are on to him. Something's going to happen soon." Squall replied. Rinoa looked down at the ground.
"Um, what about me?"
"Don't worry. Nobody's going to blow your cover." Nida said, surprising everyone.
"Huh?" Rinoa said. Nida turned around.
"A lot of people on the Garden think you're pretty cool. They're impressed on how you were able to get control of your powers in such a short time and under such extreme circumstances. Not to mention that you saved the lives of half of the student population during that fight with the Galbadian ship. And, nearly every single girl here wants to know just how did you end up getting the most unattainable guy on Garden to be your boyfriend."
"Hey!" Squall protested. Rinoa smiled.
"Thank you, Nida," she said. Zell rubbed his hands together.
"Well then. Let's make this party one for the record books, shall we?"
"You said it!" Irvine agreed.
"It's at 7 p.m. tonight. Formal dress." Xu said.
"That means we have to wear our uniforms." Quistis said. Rinoa winced. Squall noticed the look on her face.
"What's wrong?"
"I just remembered, the only dress I have is my white one, and I've worn it a couple of times already. I don't have anything else."
"I like it." Squall said.
"Who cares what you like, somebody needs to go shopping!" Selphie said.
"I might have something in my closet that might fit you."
"Matron!" everybody exclaimed. Edea walked in.
"If you want to leave on time, I suggest you start getting ready now."
"She's right." Squall said, looking at his watch. "We don't have a lot of time."
"Let's go and get you ready." Edea said, gently nudging Rinoa towards the door.
In Deling City…
"An inter-Garden party." Setzer said, looking at his computer screen.
"Yes, sir. I was informed that they would be here at seven."
"They must have that Estharian airship." Setzer muttered to himself.
"Sir?"
"Nothing. Proceed with the plan." He turned off the computer.
"If you want to attend, I have a devastatingly simple plan." Julia said, appearing next to him.
"Which would be?"
"Let us disguise ourselves as SeeD officers and attend the party. No one will recognize us, and you will be able to get a much better measure of your enemy."
"And you would get a better measure of that sorceress they have." Setzer retorted. Julia smiled.
"You read my mind. She won't be much of a problem once I'm done with her, don't worry." In fact, she won't even be alive at all! Julia thought. With that Lunatic Pandora and her powers, I'll be able to return to my own world and take revenge for what was done to me!
"Hold still!" Edea said. She was on her hands and knees, adjusting the hem to a navy blue dress that Rinoa had on.
"Sorry Matron. It's just…"
"Just what?"
"I've got this feeling…like I've stepped into a pool of freezing cold water." Edea straightened.
"Have you had that feeling before?" Rinoa shook her head.
"Probably nothing…" she murmured. "Stand up." Edea ordered. Rinoa obeyed. The dress was strapless, and then columned down to the ankles. Her hair was pinned into a bun, with several silver combs placed in strategic locations.
"You look good." Edea said. Rinoa smiled.
"Squall's probably going to get the shock of his life when he sees me in this," she said.
"Why not? Have a little fun. You and your friends of all people need it."
"Thank you, Matron." Rinoa said. Edea smiled.
"Hurry up and leave, Cinderella, before your carriage leaves you behind." Rinoa picked up the skirt and hurried out of the room.
On the Ragarnok's bridge…
"Where is she?" Squall said, pacing up and down.
"Relax, loverboy." Irvine said. Rinoa stepped into the room.
"I'm here," she said. Squall whirled around, and his jaw dropped.
"I…I…I…wow!" Everybody started to snicker.
"You know, you are turning this odd red color." Zell remarked.
"Stop teasing him and start the ship already." Quistis said. She winked. "We'll just tease him later."
In Another World…
Rinoa bit her lip. She had unpacked, settled in, and jumped straight into the task at hand. Which was seeing if anyone or anything had the same feeling she had.
"Darling?" Squall came in. "What's going on?" Rinoa tapped the computer with a pencil.
"I called the Esthar Garden and asked them to please send me any data regarding any unusual phenomena for the past six months."
"And?"
"And, look at what I found." She tapped a couple of keys and a graph came up. Squall leaned forward.
"All I see is a line going up," he said.
"That line, represents the level of magiwaves over the past six months. It shows that they have been rising above normal levels for quite a while." Rinoa said.
"So what does that mean?"
"It means, genius, that my theory is correct." She got up and walked into the kitchen.
"What is your theory?" Squall called. Rinoa came out with a bottle of water.
"That these magiwaves and something else are the reason why I've been so sick for the past couple of months," she said. Squall started. Slowly he turned around to face his wife.
"They are…?" Rinoa nodded. Squall walked over and enfolded her in a hug.
"If I can figure out what that second factor is, then maybe I can prevent this from happening again." Rinoa said.
"Anything I can do?" Squall asked. Rinoa shook her head no.
"Tomorrow I need to get in touch with Ellone. My powers don't extend to time, and I want to ask her if she's felt anything lately."
"You think she can help?" Squall said.
"At least, she can probably give me some answers." Rinoa said. She pulled away. "I have to get back to work on this."
"Don't stay up all night now!" Squall called to her retreating back. Rinoa turned.
"Why? You have something better in mind?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Now that you think about it…" Squall said, hurrying after her.
In the present…
"It's nice that you were able to attend." Cyan said. Squall nodded in reply, his eyes darting around the room.
"This little meeting should help us to…clarify some things."
"Clarify what?" Squall said.
"Oh, just rumors. Rumors that could be…damaging."
"Right." Squall said. His eyes landed on Rinoa, who was leaning against one of the walls. She was looking slightly pale, and as he watched, she raised a hand to her chest.
"Excuse me for a minute," he said. As he walked past the buffet table, a man and a woman appeared.
"Hmph. That was easier than I thought." Setzer said.
"It 's a party. Of course security is lighter." Julia said. Dressed as SeeD officers, they blended in perfectly among the crowd.
"Cyan said that the teenagers who defeated Ultimecia were going to be here."
"And I will show you them now." She turned. "See the blond-haired boy with the tattoo on the side of his head? That's Zell Dincht. The small girl beside him is Selphie Tilmitt."
"The martial arts master and the cheerleader." Setzer murmured.
"The tall woman speaking with the boy with the ponytail is Quistis Trepe, the boy is Irvine Kinneas."
"The sharpshooter." Julia let her glance roam around. When it landed on who she was looking for, she smiled.
"And last but not least. The couple by the pillar." Setzer turned to look. In his field of vision, he saw a tall, handsome boy slip an arm around a girl, who was dressed in a navy blue strapless dress.
"That wouldn't be…" he said.
"Yes. Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly. Or in this case, the knight and his sorceress." Julia said. As she watched, Rinoa put a hand to her head, as if she was in some sort of pain.
"Rinoa, what's wrong?" Squall asked. Rinoa shook her head.
"Squall, something's not right…Let's go. Now."
"We can't leave, we barely just got here!" Rinoa turned to him.
"Squall…if you could feel what I'm feeling, you would want out too." Squall put his hand on her face.
"It's…you're cold!" His eyes widened as he felt her forehead, then neck. "You're like ice!"
"It's what I'm feeling." Rinoa said. Squall looked around.
"Here, you're going outside." He led her to the balcony.
Zell scanned the room. Nothing interesting had come up yet. His eyebrows rose as Squall led Rinoa out to the balcony.
"Wonder what that's about?" He thought. Turning his head, he looked the other way just as Setzer and Julia moved closer to the balcony door.
Outside…
Rinoa took a deep breath. Outside, away from all the negative vibrations, she was beginning to feel much better. Closing her eyes, she let the night breeze flow over her. Opening them again, she turned her head to see Squall looking at her.
"Problem?" She asked. Squall took her hand and pulled her close to him.
"You're beautiful," he said softly. Rinoa blushed.
"Squall, what you said today…" "Hush." Squall murmured, placing a finger on her lips. Putting his arms around her, he bent his head and kissed her. They stayed like that for a couple of seconds, and then broke away.
"Are you feeling any better?" He murmured close to Rinoa's ear. Rinoa smiled softly.
"Yeah." They stayed together for a while, gently swaying to the music coming out onto the balcony. Involuntary, Rinoa's arms tightened around Squall's waist.
"It's okay. I'll protect you. I'll find some way to keep you safe." Squall said.
"If you had your way, I would be someplace where nobody could find me or I couldn't find them." Rinoa said. They danced in silence some more for a while.
Inside…
Julia smirked. By being outside, Rinoa was doing exactly what she wanted her to do. Clenching her hand into a fist, she concentrated, and then unclenched it. Outside, ominous-looking clouds rolled over Galbadia Garden.
"Hey Irvine!" Selphie called. She waved him over to the window. Curious, Irvine walked over.
"What the…" He gaped at the approaching storm. "What the heck is this?"
"I don't know. It just came up a couple of minutes ago." Selphie replied. Together, they both looked out at the sky. Outside, Rinoa and Squall had noticed the same thing as well.
"Looks like it might rain…" Squall said. Rinoa narrowed her eyes.
"That came up entirely too fast for a storm," she thought. Focusing, she called to the power within her and sent it up into the clouds.
"Rinoa?" Squall said. Rinoa didn't hear him.
"This isn't a natural storm. Something or someone called it up." Opening her eyes, she turned to Squall.
"We need to get out of here. Now. That's not a regular storm that's coming!" Julia smiled.
"Too late…" A strip of lighting blazed down from the sky and stuck the Garden, causing the lights to flicker and go out. Almost immediately, the auxiliary generators started up, turning the power back on.
"What are you doing?" Setzer hissed.
"Our enemy is not as tight in the corner as you think they are. Therefore, if I force Sorceress Rinoa to call upon her powers, and use them publicly, and if someone should get hurt…"
"Galbadia Garden would go after Balamb Garden and demand that they hand her over!" Setzer exclaimed.
"Or, you could do something else." Julia said calmly.
"What?" Setzer said.
"You could send your forces to attack Balamb Garden, take the sorceress by force, and leave evidence implicating Galbadia Garden. Then you would have two Gardens fighting against each other, leaving things open for you to come in and take control."
"Yes, that sounds good, but what about the third one?"
"Trabia Garden is too far away. By the time they even make it down here; it will be too late. Balamb and Galbadia Garden would have destroyed each other. And since they're still recovering from that missile attack…"
"It would be easy to eliminate them." Setzer murmured, nodding his head. Meanwhile, Squall and Rinoa had hurried inside to meet Zell and the others.
"Where did that lighting come from?" Zell demanded.
"We need to leave. Something's about to happen." Rinoa said. She looked around.
"What?" Quistis asked.
"I don't know, but trust me, we have to leave."
"I'll tell Cyan something." Squall said. "Keep an eye on her," he told Zell and the others.
"I'll go get the Ragarnok ready." Selphie said. Rinoa pushed back a stray strand of hair that had fallen into her face. Glancing around the room again, her gaze fell on a tall black-haired woman.
"She looks familiar…" she thought. As if she had felt Rinoa's gaze, the woman turned around and stared directly into her eyes. Almost instantaneously…
"Ahh!" As pain exploded in her chest, Rinoa bent down, nearly doubled over.
"Rinoa?" Zell asked.
"Get me out."
"Huh?" Irvine said.
"Get me out NOW!" As Rinoa spoke, several balls of lighting came out of nowhere, flying about the ballroom.
"Whoa!" Zell ducked as one whizzed by his head, barely missing him. He and Irvine grabbed the gasping Rinoa by the arms and headed for the entrance. Julia noticed this.
"Oh no. You're not leaving yet!" She thought. Raising a hand, an energy ball formed immediately. "Hah!" She threw the ball at Rinoa. Squall saw the ball headed towards Rinoa's unprotected back.
"Zell! Irivne! Get her down now!" He yelled as he ran towards them. Irvine and Zell noticed the ball heading their way, but were too late. It struck Rinoa on her back, throwing her face forward and revealing something else.
"What's that?" One student asked, pointing at Rinoa's back. On her back, feathers were starting to appear.
"Her wings! Oh no! If Cyan sees those, she's dead!" Squall thought. Propelling himself forward, he managed to pull Rinoa up by her shoulders.
"C'mon!" Irvine shouted. Moving quickly, Squall and Zell managed to get the unconscious Rinoa outside.
"It's the sorceress!" Somebody shouted.
"Help me!" Squall grunted. Irvine picked up Rinoa and ran into the Ragarnok, Squall and Zell not too far behind.
"Quistis! Tell Selphie to move it!" He called. The Ragarnok lifted off into the air, turned, and then headed into the night.
Squall examined Rinoa. Her wings had come out fully, and as he watched, they faded and disappeared, leaving only feathers that quickly disappeared as well.
"What the heck happened?" Quistis said, kneeling beside him.
"Something caused her to lose control of her powers. She was telling me something wasn't right all night…"
"You think she knew she was going to lose control?" Quistis said. Squall shrugged.
Beneath them, Julia looked up as the Ragarnok turned and flew off.
"Get ready, little SeeD's." she thought. "You're about to have another war. And you won't be able to win this one so easily!" Setzer came up beside her.
"I was just notified that Balamb Garden is at the Cape of Good Hope. My troops can be there in under 3 hours."
"Wait for daylight." Julia said. She turned. "But I need one little favor."
"What is it?"
"I want your promise that you will keep Balamb Garden completely occupied. Give them no chances to recover." Her eyes narrowed.
"Why?" Setzer asked.
"Squall Leonhart is Sorceress Rinoa's knight. He will be by her side no matter what. Or if he isn't, one of his friends will. I need her completely isolated."
"That shouldn't be a problem." Setzer said. "I can take care of that easily."
"Good." Julia said. "Then, let's get a move on."
Rinoa sat on the edge of the bed, nervously fingering Griever. The radio and headset lay by her side. Zell glanced over by her.
"Relax. They'll call." The radio crackled to life.
"Ragnarok to Rinoa, Ragnarok to…" Rinoa snatched up the radio.
"Rinoa here. Quistis?"
"Yes. Where are you?" Quistis asked.
"We're at the hotel."
"Ok. We're a couple of miles out of the city. Have you heard from Squall yet?"
"No."
"Alright. We should be there in half an hour. Ragnarok out." Quistis turned off the radio.
"You going to get in touch with Squall?" Selphie asked.
"No." Quistis answered. "They're fine."
On the train to Deling City…
Squall scowled at the scenery passing by.
"You ok?" Irvine asked.
"No." Squall ran his fingers through his hair.
"Rinoa, huh?" Irvine blew out a breath. "Listen man, I don't want to say this, but…"
"But what?" Irvine bit his lip.
"I'm probably not the only one who's thought of this, but with these rumors, somebody is bound to try something."
"You don't think I know that?" Squall snapped. Unfazed, Irvine continued.
"All I'm saying is, we are running out of options."
"I know." Squall ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm just praying that the others had better luck than us."
One hour later, at the Deling City hotel…
Zell paced up and down the length of the room.
"Now you're beginning to make me nervous." Rinoa said. A knock sounded on the door, interrupting Zell before he could say anything. Going over, he put one eye to the peephole.
"Who's there?"
"Us!" Zell opened the door to see Quistis and Selphie standing there.
"Quistis!"
"Hey!" Rinoa and Zell poked their heads out of the door. Squall and Irvine were walking down the hallway towards them.
"Irvy!" Selphie squealed, running into Irvine's arms." "You're alright!" Squall strode over to Rinoa and kissed her before she could say anything.
"Woo! Hey, hey, hey!" Zell catcalled.
"Shut up, Zell." Squall said, holding Rinoa in his arms. He looked down at her. "Everything go okay?"
"No." Rinoa shook her head. "We hit a dead end over here."
"Same with us." Quistis said. "Huh?" Irvine said, turning around.
"Laguna said that we could use the Ragnarok, but he couldn't seal off the Sorceress Memorial."
"Why?" Squall asked.
"Umm…" Selphie looked towards Quistis for help.
"Squall, you'd better sit down for this." Quistis said.
"What is it?" Selphie took a deep breath.
"Esthar wants to bring Rinoa over to them so that they can seal her away."
"WHAT?"
"Why?"
"Rinoa hasn't done anything!"
"Laguna's trying to stop it, but he's not to sure he can." Squall clenched his fists in fury.
"Here's one thing. They're not getting her!"
"Oh my…Rinoa!" Squall whirled around. Rinoa's eyes were wide, she was clutching her chest, and her breath was coming out in short pants. Then, her eyes did a slow roll to the back of her head, and she fainted. Squall dashed forward and caught her before her head struck the floor.
"Not another one! Rinoa!"
"Put her on the bed. Zell, go get a cold washcloth, Irvine, see if you can get a candy bar, preferably chocolate." Quistis snapped, her instructor training kicking in. Squall gently ran his hand over the unconscious Rinoa's hair.
"How did things go over on your end?" Quistis asked quietly as she accepted the cold washcloth from Zell and put it on Rinoa's forehead.
"Not good. Not good at all." Squall answered.
"We'd better head back to Balamb Garden, then." Selphie said.
"Radio the Garden, and tell them to meet us near Matron's house." Squall said.
In Another World, at that same second…
"Leonhart, if you do not get your hands off of me!" Rinoa exclaimed. Her husband was trying his very best to talk his wife into extending their vacation a little while longer.
"C'mon. Just one more night. Candlelight, nice soft music, a romantic dinner…"
"The last time I let you talk me into something like that, I ended up giving birth nine months later!" Rinoa said, shoving Squall away from her. "And besides, I have to teach tomorrow! What is everyone going to think when I come in late?"
"Oh oh. Do you think they know where Raine came from?"
"Squall! Get off!
"Uh uh. I love you, Rinoa."
"Ahh…Squall…"
"If you two are done necking like teenagers now…" Embarrassed, Squall and Rinoa pulled apart and sheepishly looked over at Zell.
"Hey Zell."
"In case you did not notice, we are now at Balamb Garden. Or were you too busy trying to do something else?"
"Shut up." Squall said. Laughing, Rinoa jumped up and gave Zell a hug.
"It's nice to see you. How did everything go?"
"Let's see. Your daughter apparently made repeated attempts on I.J.'s life, the last one being assault with a tennis ball with intention to smack sense into him…"
"Did it work?"
"Squall!" Rinoa said reproachfully. Huffing, she blew out a breath. "I'm going to surprise Raine."
Inside Balamb Garden…
Raine rolled her eyes. Her idea of Magic class was actually practicing the spells you learned, not being stuck in some boring classroom listening to a teacher drone on about how to use it. Not that she really needed the class, because she had already mastered several types of the different magic that SeeD used, including Life, Support, Fire, Ice, and Thunder, from when she was younger. Her only problem now was trying to learn Time/Space Magic, and Forbidden Magic. Sighing, she plopped her head on the desk. A student came in, and gave the teacher a note.
"Hmm, ok. Will Raquel Lavone, Anita McKinney, Robert Bastian, and Raine Leonhart please report to the Headmaster's office now please."
"Oh oh." Raine thought. "What's going on?" She got up and followed the other three students out of the classroom.
Inside the Headmaster's office…
"Rinoa!" Quistis leapt up and gave her friend a hug. "How was the vacation?"
"Fine. I'm feeling better than I have been in months." Raine and the other students came in. As Rinoa turned, Raine's eyes widened.
"Mom!" She dashed forward into her mother's arms.
"Raine! Ooohhh, I missed my baby so much!"
"Are you feeling any better? How was your vacation? Where's Dad?"
"Whoa, hold it, hold it." Rinoa laughed, pulling away. "First, I am feeling much better, second, the vacation was great, and third, your dad is still outside." She turned to Quistis. "What did you call her up here for anyway?"
"Right." Quistis said. She turned towards Raine and the other students, who immediately stood straight and saluted.
"This concerns your training exams. Since you're signed up for higher- level training exams, which are normally reserved for seniors, I have your exam times. Raquel and Robert will be going on the first exam this afternoon. Anita and Raine, you need to check back with me for your exam times, as they have not been determined yet."
"Yes Headmaster."
"Dismissed." Quistis said. The students saluted again and left, Raine staying behind.
"Go, Raine. I'll see you later." Rinoa said. Raine nodded and left the office. Quistis turned back to face Rinoa.
"So, will this mean you won't be sick anymore?" Rinoa's eyes narrowed at that.
"I don't know, Quistis. Now that I can look at the past months from a clear point of view…I get the feeling that something is wrong."
"Something's wrong? With what?" Quistis asked.
"I don't know…Call it sorceress intuition, but something's not right." She fingered Griever at her throat. "Do you mind if I take a little more personal time off? I'll still teach my classes and everything…"
"Sure. Like I said, the training exams are coming up. We're going to have our hands full plotting out scenarios for the students to go through unless Galbadia tries to pull something funny…"
"What are the exercises for this year, anyway?" Rinoa asked.
"Well, the one this afternoon is an invasion of Balamb. The students have to go in, free the town, and drive out any enemy forces they run into. Of course, the instructors will be marking for judgment, conduct, etc…"
"The usual." Rinoa said with a grin. She blew out a breath. "I'm going to go unpack, and settle in. Then…"
"Then what?" Quistis asked.
"Then I am going to figure out what the heck is going on." Rinoa said as she left the office.
In the present, several hours later…
Rinoa blinked sleepily. She was in her own room in Balamb Garden. Looking over to the side, she saw Squall dozing in a chair beside her bed. That simple little act touched her in the heart deeply.
"Watching over me, huh?" she murmured. Squall blinked as he awoke.
"Rinoa? How are you doing?"
"Fine now." She turned her head to the side. "I guess this is the only place where I can be safe right now…and even here, I'm putting everyone in danger."
"No!" Squall said, moving onto the bed. "No, Rinoa."
"Yes, I am. I can tell that you and Irvine going to Galbadia Garden didn't come up with any solutions either. And my father says that Setzer is on to me…" Squall couldn't say anything.
"Maybe I should go to Esthar and let them do what they want. Seal me away…"
"No!" Squall said forcefully. He gripped Rinoa by the shoulders. "That is never going to happen to you as long as I live. Never!" Rinoa's head turned to the side. "Look at me." He put his hand under Rinoa's chin and turned her head. "Remember when we rescued you from the Sorceress Memorial, and we talked in Matron's garden? I remember thinking something I should have told you, but I never did. So I'm going to say it now." He took a deep breath. "Rinoa, even if you did become the world's enemy, I would still be your knight. That's how much I love you." Rinoa was struck speechless.
"Squall…" she said softly, raising a hand to his cheek. Before they could kiss…
"Hey Squall…Yikes!"
"Yes Zell. What is it?" Squall asked.
"Oops…sorry. Anyway, we have radio contact with Galbadia Garden. And you're not going to believe what they have to say."
"A party?" Quistis, Irvine, Rinoa and Selphie said at the same time.
"Cyan wants to have an inter-Garden celebration to help promote better relations between us. " Squall said.
"Sounds good to me!" Selphie chirped.
"We could use a little break…" Quistis said.
"But what if it's a trap?" Xu asked.
"Right now, all Cyan can do is bluff. A good majority of the students are on to him. Something's going to happen soon." Squall replied. Rinoa looked down at the ground.
"Um, what about me?"
"Don't worry. Nobody's going to blow your cover." Nida said, surprising everyone.
"Huh?" Rinoa said. Nida turned around.
"A lot of people on the Garden think you're pretty cool. They're impressed on how you were able to get control of your powers in such a short time and under such extreme circumstances. Not to mention that you saved the lives of half of the student population during that fight with the Galbadian ship. And, nearly every single girl here wants to know just how did you end up getting the most unattainable guy on Garden to be your boyfriend."
"Hey!" Squall protested. Rinoa smiled.
"Thank you, Nida," she said. Zell rubbed his hands together.
"Well then. Let's make this party one for the record books, shall we?"
"You said it!" Irvine agreed.
"It's at 7 p.m. tonight. Formal dress." Xu said.
"That means we have to wear our uniforms." Quistis said. Rinoa winced. Squall noticed the look on her face.
"What's wrong?"
"I just remembered, the only dress I have is my white one, and I've worn it a couple of times already. I don't have anything else."
"I like it." Squall said.
"Who cares what you like, somebody needs to go shopping!" Selphie said.
"I might have something in my closet that might fit you."
"Matron!" everybody exclaimed. Edea walked in.
"If you want to leave on time, I suggest you start getting ready now."
"She's right." Squall said, looking at his watch. "We don't have a lot of time."
"Let's go and get you ready." Edea said, gently nudging Rinoa towards the door.
In Deling City…
"An inter-Garden party." Setzer said, looking at his computer screen.
"Yes, sir. I was informed that they would be here at seven."
"They must have that Estharian airship." Setzer muttered to himself.
"Sir?"
"Nothing. Proceed with the plan." He turned off the computer.
"If you want to attend, I have a devastatingly simple plan." Julia said, appearing next to him.
"Which would be?"
"Let us disguise ourselves as SeeD officers and attend the party. No one will recognize us, and you will be able to get a much better measure of your enemy."
"And you would get a better measure of that sorceress they have." Setzer retorted. Julia smiled.
"You read my mind. She won't be much of a problem once I'm done with her, don't worry." In fact, she won't even be alive at all! Julia thought. With that Lunatic Pandora and her powers, I'll be able to return to my own world and take revenge for what was done to me!
"Hold still!" Edea said. She was on her hands and knees, adjusting the hem to a navy blue dress that Rinoa had on.
"Sorry Matron. It's just…"
"Just what?"
"I've got this feeling…like I've stepped into a pool of freezing cold water." Edea straightened.
"Have you had that feeling before?" Rinoa shook her head.
"Probably nothing…" she murmured. "Stand up." Edea ordered. Rinoa obeyed. The dress was strapless, and then columned down to the ankles. Her hair was pinned into a bun, with several silver combs placed in strategic locations.
"You look good." Edea said. Rinoa smiled.
"Squall's probably going to get the shock of his life when he sees me in this," she said.
"Why not? Have a little fun. You and your friends of all people need it."
"Thank you, Matron." Rinoa said. Edea smiled.
"Hurry up and leave, Cinderella, before your carriage leaves you behind." Rinoa picked up the skirt and hurried out of the room.
On the Ragarnok's bridge…
"Where is she?" Squall said, pacing up and down.
"Relax, loverboy." Irvine said. Rinoa stepped into the room.
"I'm here," she said. Squall whirled around, and his jaw dropped.
"I…I…I…wow!" Everybody started to snicker.
"You know, you are turning this odd red color." Zell remarked.
"Stop teasing him and start the ship already." Quistis said. She winked. "We'll just tease him later."
In Another World…
Rinoa bit her lip. She had unpacked, settled in, and jumped straight into the task at hand. Which was seeing if anyone or anything had the same feeling she had.
"Darling?" Squall came in. "What's going on?" Rinoa tapped the computer with a pencil.
"I called the Esthar Garden and asked them to please send me any data regarding any unusual phenomena for the past six months."
"And?"
"And, look at what I found." She tapped a couple of keys and a graph came up. Squall leaned forward.
"All I see is a line going up," he said.
"That line, represents the level of magiwaves over the past six months. It shows that they have been rising above normal levels for quite a while." Rinoa said.
"So what does that mean?"
"It means, genius, that my theory is correct." She got up and walked into the kitchen.
"What is your theory?" Squall called. Rinoa came out with a bottle of water.
"That these magiwaves and something else are the reason why I've been so sick for the past couple of months," she said. Squall started. Slowly he turned around to face his wife.
"They are…?" Rinoa nodded. Squall walked over and enfolded her in a hug.
"If I can figure out what that second factor is, then maybe I can prevent this from happening again." Rinoa said.
"Anything I can do?" Squall asked. Rinoa shook her head no.
"Tomorrow I need to get in touch with Ellone. My powers don't extend to time, and I want to ask her if she's felt anything lately."
"You think she can help?" Squall said.
"At least, she can probably give me some answers." Rinoa said. She pulled away. "I have to get back to work on this."
"Don't stay up all night now!" Squall called to her retreating back. Rinoa turned.
"Why? You have something better in mind?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Now that you think about it…" Squall said, hurrying after her.
In the present…
"It's nice that you were able to attend." Cyan said. Squall nodded in reply, his eyes darting around the room.
"This little meeting should help us to…clarify some things."
"Clarify what?" Squall said.
"Oh, just rumors. Rumors that could be…damaging."
"Right." Squall said. His eyes landed on Rinoa, who was leaning against one of the walls. She was looking slightly pale, and as he watched, she raised a hand to her chest.
"Excuse me for a minute," he said. As he walked past the buffet table, a man and a woman appeared.
"Hmph. That was easier than I thought." Setzer said.
"It 's a party. Of course security is lighter." Julia said. Dressed as SeeD officers, they blended in perfectly among the crowd.
"Cyan said that the teenagers who defeated Ultimecia were going to be here."
"And I will show you them now." She turned. "See the blond-haired boy with the tattoo on the side of his head? That's Zell Dincht. The small girl beside him is Selphie Tilmitt."
"The martial arts master and the cheerleader." Setzer murmured.
"The tall woman speaking with the boy with the ponytail is Quistis Trepe, the boy is Irvine Kinneas."
"The sharpshooter." Julia let her glance roam around. When it landed on who she was looking for, she smiled.
"And last but not least. The couple by the pillar." Setzer turned to look. In his field of vision, he saw a tall, handsome boy slip an arm around a girl, who was dressed in a navy blue strapless dress.
"That wouldn't be…" he said.
"Yes. Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly. Or in this case, the knight and his sorceress." Julia said. As she watched, Rinoa put a hand to her head, as if she was in some sort of pain.
"Rinoa, what's wrong?" Squall asked. Rinoa shook her head.
"Squall, something's not right…Let's go. Now."
"We can't leave, we barely just got here!" Rinoa turned to him.
"Squall…if you could feel what I'm feeling, you would want out too." Squall put his hand on her face.
"It's…you're cold!" His eyes widened as he felt her forehead, then neck. "You're like ice!"
"It's what I'm feeling." Rinoa said. Squall looked around.
"Here, you're going outside." He led her to the balcony.
Zell scanned the room. Nothing interesting had come up yet. His eyebrows rose as Squall led Rinoa out to the balcony.
"Wonder what that's about?" He thought. Turning his head, he looked the other way just as Setzer and Julia moved closer to the balcony door.
Outside…
Rinoa took a deep breath. Outside, away from all the negative vibrations, she was beginning to feel much better. Closing her eyes, she let the night breeze flow over her. Opening them again, she turned her head to see Squall looking at her.
"Problem?" She asked. Squall took her hand and pulled her close to him.
"You're beautiful," he said softly. Rinoa blushed.
"Squall, what you said today…" "Hush." Squall murmured, placing a finger on her lips. Putting his arms around her, he bent his head and kissed her. They stayed like that for a couple of seconds, and then broke away.
"Are you feeling any better?" He murmured close to Rinoa's ear. Rinoa smiled softly.
"Yeah." They stayed together for a while, gently swaying to the music coming out onto the balcony. Involuntary, Rinoa's arms tightened around Squall's waist.
"It's okay. I'll protect you. I'll find some way to keep you safe." Squall said.
"If you had your way, I would be someplace where nobody could find me or I couldn't find them." Rinoa said. They danced in silence some more for a while.
Inside…
Julia smirked. By being outside, Rinoa was doing exactly what she wanted her to do. Clenching her hand into a fist, she concentrated, and then unclenched it. Outside, ominous-looking clouds rolled over Galbadia Garden.
"Hey Irvine!" Selphie called. She waved him over to the window. Curious, Irvine walked over.
"What the…" He gaped at the approaching storm. "What the heck is this?"
"I don't know. It just came up a couple of minutes ago." Selphie replied. Together, they both looked out at the sky. Outside, Rinoa and Squall had noticed the same thing as well.
"Looks like it might rain…" Squall said. Rinoa narrowed her eyes.
"That came up entirely too fast for a storm," she thought. Focusing, she called to the power within her and sent it up into the clouds.
"Rinoa?" Squall said. Rinoa didn't hear him.
"This isn't a natural storm. Something or someone called it up." Opening her eyes, she turned to Squall.
"We need to get out of here. Now. That's not a regular storm that's coming!" Julia smiled.
"Too late…" A strip of lighting blazed down from the sky and stuck the Garden, causing the lights to flicker and go out. Almost immediately, the auxiliary generators started up, turning the power back on.
"What are you doing?" Setzer hissed.
"Our enemy is not as tight in the corner as you think they are. Therefore, if I force Sorceress Rinoa to call upon her powers, and use them publicly, and if someone should get hurt…"
"Galbadia Garden would go after Balamb Garden and demand that they hand her over!" Setzer exclaimed.
"Or, you could do something else." Julia said calmly.
"What?" Setzer said.
"You could send your forces to attack Balamb Garden, take the sorceress by force, and leave evidence implicating Galbadia Garden. Then you would have two Gardens fighting against each other, leaving things open for you to come in and take control."
"Yes, that sounds good, but what about the third one?"
"Trabia Garden is too far away. By the time they even make it down here; it will be too late. Balamb and Galbadia Garden would have destroyed each other. And since they're still recovering from that missile attack…"
"It would be easy to eliminate them." Setzer murmured, nodding his head. Meanwhile, Squall and Rinoa had hurried inside to meet Zell and the others.
"Where did that lighting come from?" Zell demanded.
"We need to leave. Something's about to happen." Rinoa said. She looked around.
"What?" Quistis asked.
"I don't know, but trust me, we have to leave."
"I'll tell Cyan something." Squall said. "Keep an eye on her," he told Zell and the others.
"I'll go get the Ragarnok ready." Selphie said. Rinoa pushed back a stray strand of hair that had fallen into her face. Glancing around the room again, her gaze fell on a tall black-haired woman.
"She looks familiar…" she thought. As if she had felt Rinoa's gaze, the woman turned around and stared directly into her eyes. Almost instantaneously…
"Ahh!" As pain exploded in her chest, Rinoa bent down, nearly doubled over.
"Rinoa?" Zell asked.
"Get me out."
"Huh?" Irvine said.
"Get me out NOW!" As Rinoa spoke, several balls of lighting came out of nowhere, flying about the ballroom.
"Whoa!" Zell ducked as one whizzed by his head, barely missing him. He and Irvine grabbed the gasping Rinoa by the arms and headed for the entrance. Julia noticed this.
"Oh no. You're not leaving yet!" She thought. Raising a hand, an energy ball formed immediately. "Hah!" She threw the ball at Rinoa. Squall saw the ball headed towards Rinoa's unprotected back.
"Zell! Irivne! Get her down now!" He yelled as he ran towards them. Irvine and Zell noticed the ball heading their way, but were too late. It struck Rinoa on her back, throwing her face forward and revealing something else.
"What's that?" One student asked, pointing at Rinoa's back. On her back, feathers were starting to appear.
"Her wings! Oh no! If Cyan sees those, she's dead!" Squall thought. Propelling himself forward, he managed to pull Rinoa up by her shoulders.
"C'mon!" Irvine shouted. Moving quickly, Squall and Zell managed to get the unconscious Rinoa outside.
"It's the sorceress!" Somebody shouted.
"Help me!" Squall grunted. Irvine picked up Rinoa and ran into the Ragarnok, Squall and Zell not too far behind.
"Quistis! Tell Selphie to move it!" He called. The Ragarnok lifted off into the air, turned, and then headed into the night.
Squall examined Rinoa. Her wings had come out fully, and as he watched, they faded and disappeared, leaving only feathers that quickly disappeared as well.
"What the heck happened?" Quistis said, kneeling beside him.
"Something caused her to lose control of her powers. She was telling me something wasn't right all night…"
"You think she knew she was going to lose control?" Quistis said. Squall shrugged.
Beneath them, Julia looked up as the Ragarnok turned and flew off.
"Get ready, little SeeD's." she thought. "You're about to have another war. And you won't be able to win this one so easily!" Setzer came up beside her.
"I was just notified that Balamb Garden is at the Cape of Good Hope. My troops can be there in under 3 hours."
"Wait for daylight." Julia said. She turned. "But I need one little favor."
"What is it?"
"I want your promise that you will keep Balamb Garden completely occupied. Give them no chances to recover." Her eyes narrowed.
"Why?" Setzer asked.
"Squall Leonhart is Sorceress Rinoa's knight. He will be by her side no matter what. Or if he isn't, one of his friends will. I need her completely isolated."
"That shouldn't be a problem." Setzer said. "I can take care of that easily."
"Good." Julia said. "Then, let's get a move on."