Chapter 1: After narrowly averted apocalypses
Cloud Strife, veteran of countless battles, savior of the planet, was enjoying a relaxing day in his new house. Built for him through the joint efforts of the North Corel Mining Guild and the Neo-Midgar citizen recognition committee, this spacious house sat on an island south of the planned site of Neo-Midgar. He sat in a chair on the spacious porch letting the sea relax him. His thoughts drifted pleasantly along the course of nature, marveling at how quickly it had recovered from the narrowly averted disaster only weeks before. His work of clearing out the remaining monsters from the more remote places of the world was almost done, and he would finally be able to forget his worries.
There was a soft sound from the corral nearby, holding his prize gold chocobo, as it shifted restlessly in its pen. Cloud ignored it, shifting his thoughts to the puzzle that held his attention more and more often. What had the ancients left behind besides the white and black materia that had not surfaced? Why had they left at least one weapon of such horrible power that didn't discriminate between threats and innocents intact? And most importantly, was there something about Jenova which made it so powerful, and those with her cells strong that was still alive? Doctor Hojo had performed so many experiments with Jenova that something might have survived, but all of his records burned in Midgar.
Cloud had been to the Ancient City many times after Seperoth was killed, searching for answers, but nothing revealed itself.
The PHS rang inside the house. Cloud groaned and got up. He stepped into the house and turned it on.
"Hello?" Cloud asked.
"Cloud," a cheerful voice answered, "This is Reeve, how are you?"
"All right I guess, any new news?" Cloud replied. He had had no real contact with the world in a few days, but he knew that many things could change in just a few days.
"Well, Neo-Midgar is coming along nicely now, the survivors of the first Midgar are helping out and we already have the groundwork for the city set. Barret has finally finished repairs and the coal mines in North Corel are up and running again." Reeve replied.
"That should make him happy," Cloud said.
"Also there are reports of Monsters near what's left of Mideel, that's kind of why I called." Reeve said slowly, "Since it is in your back yard I thought you might want to check it out. Could just be the natural wild life again though."
Cloud understood. He hadn't seen much of the others since Meteor had been stopped. They could take care of themselves and there weren't that many monsters left. There had been several panicked calls after locals had spotted wolves and other natural wildlife returning to what had once been their homes. "Sure Reeve, I'll check it out. My chocobo could use the exercise." Cloud said.
"Thanks Cloud, call if you need anything." Reeve said as he hung up.
Cloud grabbed his armor and the PHS. Then he opened the cabinet that held his swords. Picking his buster sword out he randomly selected a few pieces of materia and headed out. He swung up onto his chocobo and started out. The buster sword rode easily on his back. Cloud liked using it, it could be used just as effectively as the Ultima weapon with just a little more skill, plus there really weren't many monsters left that took much effort to kill.
The Gold chocobo sped across the ocean and quickly arrived at the pit that marked Mideel. An old man was the first to notice him. He walked up uncertainly as Cloud dismounted.
"Hello my boy," the man said, "were you sent to deal with the monsters?"
"That's right, where are they?" Cloud said, glancing around.
"They were seen just outside of town, and. . ." He stopped speaking and stared passed Cloud.
"What?" Cloud started, then his reflexes, still sharp from his battles took over. He drew the buster sword and blocked, just as a tentacle shot out aiming at his exposed back. Cloud grunted with the force of the impact and stepped back to re-position when he got he first look at the creature. It was swinging two tentacle arms ending in what looked like leaves with mouths. Its main body looked like a flower with legs and another mouth. Cloud had never seen anything like it.
The monster swept in with its tentacles in a fury of blows that forced Cloud back a few paces. Cloud jumped in and struck, but did little damage. Then the creature stopped and Cloud felt a sudden wash of energy wash over him, then everything faded out. Recognizing the darkness spell, Cloud immediately checked his materia. To his dismay he had only grabbed three orbs. He quickly cast Quake 3 to try to buy himself some time to find an eye drop. The monster just kept coming. Cloud then used Sense to try to find a weak spot. The creature started to swing its tentacles faster, and Cloud started to take hits. Then the sense activated. He saw, . . . nothing. The sense could only tell him that the monster was new and that it was immune to the Earth elemental. Finally finding the eye drops, cloud used them and spun to face his adversary. In from of him were two more of the monsters.
Cloud groaned and dove into the fray.
* * *
Tifa looked around the house and bit her thumb. Where was Cloud? She was more than a little concerned about him, considering that he had retreated to this refuge, isolating himself fighting and putting people off with completely believable excuses. Having finally talked Cid into flying her out to Cloud's new house, Tifa was not about to leave without seeing him.
She ducked her head out the door and yelled out to Cid, "He's not here, and his Weapon chest and materia cabinet are open."
"His Chocobo is gone too," Cid said from just of the porch, "I thought I'd check on it, considering how much it ate while it was aboard." His lips curled up into a smile, "sometimes I think he talked to that thing more than he did to all of us."
Tifa nodded in agreement, "I know what you mean, he opened up more towards the final battle, but now that he isn't carrying the world on his shoulders he clams up." It had been a long fight and now that it was over Tifa had hoped to have a chance to talk with Cloud when they weren't living in fear. "We can come back later," Tifa said after a little thought, "There isn't anything in this world that Cloud can't handle himself. We'll just make the supply run out to the Mideel refugees."
Cid nodded in agreement, "I've been wanting to try out the new engine rotation assembly myself," he grinned, "I'll bet we can be back here before Cloud."
Tifa laughed, "That's one bet I won't take, I know you and that ship!" Cid had been forced over the course of the battles to first shed the propellers and then much of the ship in favor of speed. Now that he had some free time and the backing of Reeve and Shinra Cid had re-built the ship so it could rotate engine parts without loosing the ability to use them.
They climbed up the rope ladder and on to the main deck. "Take the ship up!" He yelled to the pilot.
Immediately the ship rose high enough that the house beneath them looked like little more than a model. Cid himself stood by the controls and shifted the newly installed lever down one notch. The engines stalled, then a grinding sound was heard as the propellers folded and retracted as small bays opened up and jet engines came out. They ignited and the ship, which had started to drop, raced forward toward the mako pit.
* * *
Cloud was being worn down, and he knew it. His stamina was slipping away from him as blow after blow slipped past his guard and his sword slowed. The monsters continued in on him, and Cloud worried that he might not get out of this alive.
All the refugees had fled as soon as the monsters attacked, which was the only smart thing for them to do. The monsters seemed content to finish him before moving onto easier prey.
Recoiling from yet another hit Cloud thought that he heard a distant whine over the sounds of battle. Ignoring it Cloud felt sudden despair as the monsters closed in for the kill. Knowing that this was likely to be the end, Cloud readied himself for their rush. Just as they were almost upon him, Cloud felt a sudden warmth from the center of his being. He was surrounded by light and his wounds began to pain him less. Cloud recognized the effects as those of a Full-Cure materia being cast on him.
Then he saw a sight that made his heart leap. Slowly descending to touch the ground was the massive fire breathing Ifrit. Cloud stepped quickly away as Ifrit reared back and unleashed his hell fire attack, engulfing the creatures. Suddenly coming back to himself Cloud prepared to face his foes, only to find that they had been incinerated during the attack.
Turning, Cloud saw the Highwind descend and land near the mako pit. Before it touched the ground a figure jumped and started running for him. Great, Cloud thought to himself, now they want me to play hero again. Smiling a smile that went no further than his mouth Cloud faced Tifa as she ran up. Slightly behind her came Cid, having waited for his ship to land before joining them.
"Thanks for the assist, I don't know what those things were, but they were tough. The sense couldn't make anything out of them other than an immunity to earth," Cloud said surveying the area.
"The crew is offloading the supplies," Cid said, "We'd better go and tell the refuges that the threat has passed."
Cloud looked up, "Reeve called about monster sightings, but I didn't know what to make of them. If these monsters are here where are others like them, and how did they get here?" Cloud asked.
"Slow down Cloud," Tifa said, "First let's just see if everyone's all right before we start making larger problems for ourselves. She glanced at Cid as they started towards the camp. His glance returned her own feelings, not again. . .
* * *
The babble of voices and rattle of plates met Squall's ears as he entered the cafeteria. He looked around and spotted Zell trying valiantly to obtain a hot dog out of the lunch line. Smiling, an expression that came more easily to his face now, he moved out of the doorway and began working his way up the line.
His thoughts drifted past the immediate realities of the room to his new job as the head of SeeD. Headmaster Cid stayed to instruct but after Squall had returned from time compressed space and tried to return control, Cid wouldn't hear of it.
"Squall, you are the example of a true knight and have surpassed any battle skills that can be taught here. I'd love to continue to run the instructional areas of the Garden, but you must now determine what course to take. Whether we become mercenaries again or something else, you are the one who will lead us."
After that speech there was little Squall could say and reluctantly took up the role of Garden Master in its new authority. There had been very little in the way of job offers so far, which pleased everyone. The few that had come were either foolish and unprofitable (There had been one Galbadian officer who tried to hire SeeD to retake Timber) or more reasonable but still problematic (The clearing of locations in Esthar from monsters). Rinoa had been supportive and, more importantly, having grown up in a military family had been able to offer advice on the different governments.
Finding himself at the front of the line Squall selected his meal looked out into the crowd for a place to sit.
"Hey Squall! Over here!" Zell waved him over to a table occupied by Selphie and Ivrine. They moved around so that Squall had a place to sit. "I can't wait until Galbadia Garden is back up and all the rest of their students can go back. It's crowded here." After the battles between Gardens Galbadia Garden had taken so much damage from the battle and the occupying troops that it was under serious repair at Fisherman's Horizon.
"I'd rather have some peace here too, but just be glad that they have a Garden to return to." Squall replied. "By the way, Ivrine, are you going to transfer permanently here or go back to Galbadia?"
"I'm still thinking about that," Irvine replied, "It's hard to believe that it's only been a week since we defeated Ultimecia. I'm still sorting out what happened."
Squall nodded, "I know, it's-" He broke off as the intercom broke in.
"Would Squall, Zell, Selphie, and Irvine please report to the headmaster's office immediately."
Glancing over at the others Squall stood, leaving his lunch and started toward the central elevator.
* * *
After the intercom sounded Rinoa left the library and hurried up to the headmaster's office. When she arrived she found Cid waiting.
"I suppose that you want to know what's going on Rinoa," he said as he turned. "When the others arrive I'll tell you, but I have your father breathing down my neck to return you."
"My father can wait, he just doesn't understand that I've grown out of his martial law." Rinoa replied angrily, thinking of when she had returned with Squall to her father's house and had been locked in.
"I know that," Cid said gently, "But he does have an army and if he doesn't get some sort of response out of you, he's likely to use what's left of it."
The doors opened behind Rinoa and the others arrived. She knew without turning that Squall was there. His lazy wolf stride matched well with Zell's eager step and Selphie's cheerful walk. Irvine's cocky march seemed to fit him as well. Cid turned to them and waved them over to some chairs. The office had been repaired around the bridge and now had some semblance of order.
"I suppose you all wonder why you're here," Cid started, "Well, as you're all old hands at this I'll come straight to the point. There are monsters attacking the Winhill area that are stronger than anything that we predicted out of the lunar cry. Quistis is on her way to the motor pool to get you a car, but due to the wide area of attacks you'll have to split into two teams."
Selphie raised her hand. "I can take the Ragnarok out with two others and we can cover a lot of ground."
"Good, why don't Zell and Irvine accompany you," Cid replied.
"Then I'll head to the motor pool," Rinoa said rising. Cid had done everything in his power since she had arrived at Balamb Garden to keep her from harm. He seemed to have mellowed a bit, but he was still playing the role of the overprotective father.
"Just remember what I told you earlier, he doesn't seem to need much of an excuse to go off Rinoa," Cid replied in a warning.
Squall looked curiously at her.
"I'll tell you later," Rinoa said. Squall nodded trusting her as everyone crowded into the elevator.
* * *
Squall jumped and sliced with his gun blade as the enemies came closer. He recognized them all, but to put a name to each would take his concentration away from a close battle. In the back of his mind he knew that these creatures should have been much weaker.
After Quistis had taken them to Winhill the villagers had pointed to the hills south of the town and run back into their barricaded houses. Without going far the party encountered a large number of monsters approaching the town. Leaping into the fray they had quickly found themselves separated and barely holding their own.
Squall reached into his stocked magic and cast Ultima, cutting the monster's numbers slightly. With this slight reprieve he saw that the monsters had worked him around a hill from where the others fought. Light from that direction faded as a pillar of fire rose into the sky. A glimpse of a red horned head told him that Ifrit had appeared. Apparently Quistis had had a chance to perform a summon.
Finding himself facing only three opponents Squall focused into his fighting mindset. They charged and for an instant that seemed to stretch into eternity he saw not the three monsters that he had been facing but three Ochu moving at impossible speeds. They swept in and Squall found that his body was responding in a different style than he had been taught. Then he saw the differences. A different landscape surrounded him than the rolling plains of the Winhill area. In place of his gunblade was a huge sword with two jewels set in its blade. He glimpsed muscled arms wielding the sword and felt them weakening as a whine began behind him.
Suddenly Squall found himself facing his three opponents again who had crossed the distance to him and were launching into an attack. Mentally reeling from the scenes he had just witnessed Squall stepped back a step just as a bright flash leaped across his vision into the head of one of the monsters. It fell as the flash resolved itself into Rinoa's blaster edge returning to its owner. A whip struck the one of the other's legs, collapsing it. Seizing this opportunity Squall leaped in and finished it before spinning and decapitating the remaining monster.
Squall stared stupidly at the bodies trying to figure out how he had ever thought they had been Ochu.
"Squall?" Rinoa asked worriedly.
He looked up.
"What is it?" She asked. "When we finished ours we turned and saw you gone. When we got here we saw you just standing there."
"I thought I saw. . . Never mind," Squall replied, shaking himself. "It's not important, what is though is how could such low level creatures have such power?"
Rinoa still looked worried as Quistis spoke up. "I have no idea, but we had better find the others.
As they returned to the car Rinoa came up beside Squall. "You know that you can tell me anything right?" She asked.
"I don't know what I saw, but I was some where else fighting. Maybe Cid can make sense of it." Squall said looking into her eyes. "These stronger creatures worry me."
"You two coming or should I send the Garden here?" Quistis asked jokingly.
Looking up Squall saw the laughter in Rinoa's eyes and replied to Quistis, "I'm coming Ms. Trepe." He replied in his best schoolboy attitude.
Rinoa burst out laughing.
Cloud Strife, veteran of countless battles, savior of the planet, was enjoying a relaxing day in his new house. Built for him through the joint efforts of the North Corel Mining Guild and the Neo-Midgar citizen recognition committee, this spacious house sat on an island south of the planned site of Neo-Midgar. He sat in a chair on the spacious porch letting the sea relax him. His thoughts drifted pleasantly along the course of nature, marveling at how quickly it had recovered from the narrowly averted disaster only weeks before. His work of clearing out the remaining monsters from the more remote places of the world was almost done, and he would finally be able to forget his worries.
There was a soft sound from the corral nearby, holding his prize gold chocobo, as it shifted restlessly in its pen. Cloud ignored it, shifting his thoughts to the puzzle that held his attention more and more often. What had the ancients left behind besides the white and black materia that had not surfaced? Why had they left at least one weapon of such horrible power that didn't discriminate between threats and innocents intact? And most importantly, was there something about Jenova which made it so powerful, and those with her cells strong that was still alive? Doctor Hojo had performed so many experiments with Jenova that something might have survived, but all of his records burned in Midgar.
Cloud had been to the Ancient City many times after Seperoth was killed, searching for answers, but nothing revealed itself.
The PHS rang inside the house. Cloud groaned and got up. He stepped into the house and turned it on.
"Hello?" Cloud asked.
"Cloud," a cheerful voice answered, "This is Reeve, how are you?"
"All right I guess, any new news?" Cloud replied. He had had no real contact with the world in a few days, but he knew that many things could change in just a few days.
"Well, Neo-Midgar is coming along nicely now, the survivors of the first Midgar are helping out and we already have the groundwork for the city set. Barret has finally finished repairs and the coal mines in North Corel are up and running again." Reeve replied.
"That should make him happy," Cloud said.
"Also there are reports of Monsters near what's left of Mideel, that's kind of why I called." Reeve said slowly, "Since it is in your back yard I thought you might want to check it out. Could just be the natural wild life again though."
Cloud understood. He hadn't seen much of the others since Meteor had been stopped. They could take care of themselves and there weren't that many monsters left. There had been several panicked calls after locals had spotted wolves and other natural wildlife returning to what had once been their homes. "Sure Reeve, I'll check it out. My chocobo could use the exercise." Cloud said.
"Thanks Cloud, call if you need anything." Reeve said as he hung up.
Cloud grabbed his armor and the PHS. Then he opened the cabinet that held his swords. Picking his buster sword out he randomly selected a few pieces of materia and headed out. He swung up onto his chocobo and started out. The buster sword rode easily on his back. Cloud liked using it, it could be used just as effectively as the Ultima weapon with just a little more skill, plus there really weren't many monsters left that took much effort to kill.
The Gold chocobo sped across the ocean and quickly arrived at the pit that marked Mideel. An old man was the first to notice him. He walked up uncertainly as Cloud dismounted.
"Hello my boy," the man said, "were you sent to deal with the monsters?"
"That's right, where are they?" Cloud said, glancing around.
"They were seen just outside of town, and. . ." He stopped speaking and stared passed Cloud.
"What?" Cloud started, then his reflexes, still sharp from his battles took over. He drew the buster sword and blocked, just as a tentacle shot out aiming at his exposed back. Cloud grunted with the force of the impact and stepped back to re-position when he got he first look at the creature. It was swinging two tentacle arms ending in what looked like leaves with mouths. Its main body looked like a flower with legs and another mouth. Cloud had never seen anything like it.
The monster swept in with its tentacles in a fury of blows that forced Cloud back a few paces. Cloud jumped in and struck, but did little damage. Then the creature stopped and Cloud felt a sudden wash of energy wash over him, then everything faded out. Recognizing the darkness spell, Cloud immediately checked his materia. To his dismay he had only grabbed three orbs. He quickly cast Quake 3 to try to buy himself some time to find an eye drop. The monster just kept coming. Cloud then used Sense to try to find a weak spot. The creature started to swing its tentacles faster, and Cloud started to take hits. Then the sense activated. He saw, . . . nothing. The sense could only tell him that the monster was new and that it was immune to the Earth elemental. Finally finding the eye drops, cloud used them and spun to face his adversary. In from of him were two more of the monsters.
Cloud groaned and dove into the fray.
* * *
Tifa looked around the house and bit her thumb. Where was Cloud? She was more than a little concerned about him, considering that he had retreated to this refuge, isolating himself fighting and putting people off with completely believable excuses. Having finally talked Cid into flying her out to Cloud's new house, Tifa was not about to leave without seeing him.
She ducked her head out the door and yelled out to Cid, "He's not here, and his Weapon chest and materia cabinet are open."
"His Chocobo is gone too," Cid said from just of the porch, "I thought I'd check on it, considering how much it ate while it was aboard." His lips curled up into a smile, "sometimes I think he talked to that thing more than he did to all of us."
Tifa nodded in agreement, "I know what you mean, he opened up more towards the final battle, but now that he isn't carrying the world on his shoulders he clams up." It had been a long fight and now that it was over Tifa had hoped to have a chance to talk with Cloud when they weren't living in fear. "We can come back later," Tifa said after a little thought, "There isn't anything in this world that Cloud can't handle himself. We'll just make the supply run out to the Mideel refugees."
Cid nodded in agreement, "I've been wanting to try out the new engine rotation assembly myself," he grinned, "I'll bet we can be back here before Cloud."
Tifa laughed, "That's one bet I won't take, I know you and that ship!" Cid had been forced over the course of the battles to first shed the propellers and then much of the ship in favor of speed. Now that he had some free time and the backing of Reeve and Shinra Cid had re-built the ship so it could rotate engine parts without loosing the ability to use them.
They climbed up the rope ladder and on to the main deck. "Take the ship up!" He yelled to the pilot.
Immediately the ship rose high enough that the house beneath them looked like little more than a model. Cid himself stood by the controls and shifted the newly installed lever down one notch. The engines stalled, then a grinding sound was heard as the propellers folded and retracted as small bays opened up and jet engines came out. They ignited and the ship, which had started to drop, raced forward toward the mako pit.
* * *
Cloud was being worn down, and he knew it. His stamina was slipping away from him as blow after blow slipped past his guard and his sword slowed. The monsters continued in on him, and Cloud worried that he might not get out of this alive.
All the refugees had fled as soon as the monsters attacked, which was the only smart thing for them to do. The monsters seemed content to finish him before moving onto easier prey.
Recoiling from yet another hit Cloud thought that he heard a distant whine over the sounds of battle. Ignoring it Cloud felt sudden despair as the monsters closed in for the kill. Knowing that this was likely to be the end, Cloud readied himself for their rush. Just as they were almost upon him, Cloud felt a sudden warmth from the center of his being. He was surrounded by light and his wounds began to pain him less. Cloud recognized the effects as those of a Full-Cure materia being cast on him.
Then he saw a sight that made his heart leap. Slowly descending to touch the ground was the massive fire breathing Ifrit. Cloud stepped quickly away as Ifrit reared back and unleashed his hell fire attack, engulfing the creatures. Suddenly coming back to himself Cloud prepared to face his foes, only to find that they had been incinerated during the attack.
Turning, Cloud saw the Highwind descend and land near the mako pit. Before it touched the ground a figure jumped and started running for him. Great, Cloud thought to himself, now they want me to play hero again. Smiling a smile that went no further than his mouth Cloud faced Tifa as she ran up. Slightly behind her came Cid, having waited for his ship to land before joining them.
"Thanks for the assist, I don't know what those things were, but they were tough. The sense couldn't make anything out of them other than an immunity to earth," Cloud said surveying the area.
"The crew is offloading the supplies," Cid said, "We'd better go and tell the refuges that the threat has passed."
Cloud looked up, "Reeve called about monster sightings, but I didn't know what to make of them. If these monsters are here where are others like them, and how did they get here?" Cloud asked.
"Slow down Cloud," Tifa said, "First let's just see if everyone's all right before we start making larger problems for ourselves. She glanced at Cid as they started towards the camp. His glance returned her own feelings, not again. . .
* * *
The babble of voices and rattle of plates met Squall's ears as he entered the cafeteria. He looked around and spotted Zell trying valiantly to obtain a hot dog out of the lunch line. Smiling, an expression that came more easily to his face now, he moved out of the doorway and began working his way up the line.
His thoughts drifted past the immediate realities of the room to his new job as the head of SeeD. Headmaster Cid stayed to instruct but after Squall had returned from time compressed space and tried to return control, Cid wouldn't hear of it.
"Squall, you are the example of a true knight and have surpassed any battle skills that can be taught here. I'd love to continue to run the instructional areas of the Garden, but you must now determine what course to take. Whether we become mercenaries again or something else, you are the one who will lead us."
After that speech there was little Squall could say and reluctantly took up the role of Garden Master in its new authority. There had been very little in the way of job offers so far, which pleased everyone. The few that had come were either foolish and unprofitable (There had been one Galbadian officer who tried to hire SeeD to retake Timber) or more reasonable but still problematic (The clearing of locations in Esthar from monsters). Rinoa had been supportive and, more importantly, having grown up in a military family had been able to offer advice on the different governments.
Finding himself at the front of the line Squall selected his meal looked out into the crowd for a place to sit.
"Hey Squall! Over here!" Zell waved him over to a table occupied by Selphie and Ivrine. They moved around so that Squall had a place to sit. "I can't wait until Galbadia Garden is back up and all the rest of their students can go back. It's crowded here." After the battles between Gardens Galbadia Garden had taken so much damage from the battle and the occupying troops that it was under serious repair at Fisherman's Horizon.
"I'd rather have some peace here too, but just be glad that they have a Garden to return to." Squall replied. "By the way, Ivrine, are you going to transfer permanently here or go back to Galbadia?"
"I'm still thinking about that," Irvine replied, "It's hard to believe that it's only been a week since we defeated Ultimecia. I'm still sorting out what happened."
Squall nodded, "I know, it's-" He broke off as the intercom broke in.
"Would Squall, Zell, Selphie, and Irvine please report to the headmaster's office immediately."
Glancing over at the others Squall stood, leaving his lunch and started toward the central elevator.
* * *
After the intercom sounded Rinoa left the library and hurried up to the headmaster's office. When she arrived she found Cid waiting.
"I suppose that you want to know what's going on Rinoa," he said as he turned. "When the others arrive I'll tell you, but I have your father breathing down my neck to return you."
"My father can wait, he just doesn't understand that I've grown out of his martial law." Rinoa replied angrily, thinking of when she had returned with Squall to her father's house and had been locked in.
"I know that," Cid said gently, "But he does have an army and if he doesn't get some sort of response out of you, he's likely to use what's left of it."
The doors opened behind Rinoa and the others arrived. She knew without turning that Squall was there. His lazy wolf stride matched well with Zell's eager step and Selphie's cheerful walk. Irvine's cocky march seemed to fit him as well. Cid turned to them and waved them over to some chairs. The office had been repaired around the bridge and now had some semblance of order.
"I suppose you all wonder why you're here," Cid started, "Well, as you're all old hands at this I'll come straight to the point. There are monsters attacking the Winhill area that are stronger than anything that we predicted out of the lunar cry. Quistis is on her way to the motor pool to get you a car, but due to the wide area of attacks you'll have to split into two teams."
Selphie raised her hand. "I can take the Ragnarok out with two others and we can cover a lot of ground."
"Good, why don't Zell and Irvine accompany you," Cid replied.
"Then I'll head to the motor pool," Rinoa said rising. Cid had done everything in his power since she had arrived at Balamb Garden to keep her from harm. He seemed to have mellowed a bit, but he was still playing the role of the overprotective father.
"Just remember what I told you earlier, he doesn't seem to need much of an excuse to go off Rinoa," Cid replied in a warning.
Squall looked curiously at her.
"I'll tell you later," Rinoa said. Squall nodded trusting her as everyone crowded into the elevator.
* * *
Squall jumped and sliced with his gun blade as the enemies came closer. He recognized them all, but to put a name to each would take his concentration away from a close battle. In the back of his mind he knew that these creatures should have been much weaker.
After Quistis had taken them to Winhill the villagers had pointed to the hills south of the town and run back into their barricaded houses. Without going far the party encountered a large number of monsters approaching the town. Leaping into the fray they had quickly found themselves separated and barely holding their own.
Squall reached into his stocked magic and cast Ultima, cutting the monster's numbers slightly. With this slight reprieve he saw that the monsters had worked him around a hill from where the others fought. Light from that direction faded as a pillar of fire rose into the sky. A glimpse of a red horned head told him that Ifrit had appeared. Apparently Quistis had had a chance to perform a summon.
Finding himself facing only three opponents Squall focused into his fighting mindset. They charged and for an instant that seemed to stretch into eternity he saw not the three monsters that he had been facing but three Ochu moving at impossible speeds. They swept in and Squall found that his body was responding in a different style than he had been taught. Then he saw the differences. A different landscape surrounded him than the rolling plains of the Winhill area. In place of his gunblade was a huge sword with two jewels set in its blade. He glimpsed muscled arms wielding the sword and felt them weakening as a whine began behind him.
Suddenly Squall found himself facing his three opponents again who had crossed the distance to him and were launching into an attack. Mentally reeling from the scenes he had just witnessed Squall stepped back a step just as a bright flash leaped across his vision into the head of one of the monsters. It fell as the flash resolved itself into Rinoa's blaster edge returning to its owner. A whip struck the one of the other's legs, collapsing it. Seizing this opportunity Squall leaped in and finished it before spinning and decapitating the remaining monster.
Squall stared stupidly at the bodies trying to figure out how he had ever thought they had been Ochu.
"Squall?" Rinoa asked worriedly.
He looked up.
"What is it?" She asked. "When we finished ours we turned and saw you gone. When we got here we saw you just standing there."
"I thought I saw. . . Never mind," Squall replied, shaking himself. "It's not important, what is though is how could such low level creatures have such power?"
Rinoa still looked worried as Quistis spoke up. "I have no idea, but we had better find the others.
As they returned to the car Rinoa came up beside Squall. "You know that you can tell me anything right?" She asked.
"I don't know what I saw, but I was some where else fighting. Maybe Cid can make sense of it." Squall said looking into her eyes. "These stronger creatures worry me."
"You two coming or should I send the Garden here?" Quistis asked jokingly.
Looking up Squall saw the laughter in Rinoa's eyes and replied to Quistis, "I'm coming Ms. Trepe." He replied in his best schoolboy attitude.
Rinoa burst out laughing.