Chapter seven: Let Love Lead the Way.
Squall ran. He was running like mad through a dark, gloomy field. Everything was gray. Squall was panicked. Someone, or something was after him, but he didn't dare to look back. He had no Gunblade and no magic, and there was no one around he could call for help. He was all-alone, like a child. He was afraid.
"I can't run any longer…I can't any more…" he thought. Suddenly he fell into a deep, dark tunnel. He was afraid. Childhood fears, adolescence fears, all the greatest fears of his life gathered in one…
"Aaahh!" he shouted as he woke up panting. His eyes were wide open in fear and he looked all around him.
"Damn it…more nightmares…" he thought. He was covered in sweat, and strands of his hair were stuck on his wet face. He took a look at the clock on his night table.
"Darn…7:30 in the morning…everyone else is still sleeping…Sheez…I need a shower…" he murmured as he got up and headed for the bathroom. Rinoa wasn't having a pleasant sleep either. She had nightmares too, about losing Squall, or Squall dying. Tonight she had a weird dream, which despite it wasn't a nightmare, scared her very much. She saw that she was walking on a beach, wearing a long white dress. She was holding a baby in her arms. Yet, she had the strange feeling the baby was not hers. She didn't know where she was or what she did. Suddenly, she saw a man sitting on a rock. He wore simple clothes and had a short brown beard. He was singing something.
"On the land where the earth holds a knight Who gazes at Ra, is where love is found. On the land where the earth holds a broken heart, Is where love is found." Rinoa woke up and stared at the ceiling.
"What was that?" she wondered out loud. "This is the weirdest dream I've ever had." She said as she got up and changed. She heard a soft tapping on her window. She went over and pulled the blinds.
"Caesar! What a nice surprise!" she said as she saw her dragon friend's smiling face. Caesar had grown a heck a lot. He's now the size of an overgrown Ruby Dragon, his hide was emerald green, and his wings stretch to a 3m opening each. He looks fierce, but he's still as sweet as always. He spends most of his time outside Garden now, and is often away at flying expeditions.
"Good morning Rinoa!" he said pleasantly with his heavy, hoarse voice.
"How are you today? Was your flying ride good?"
"Oh, you bet. The winds were calm, and I had a nice flight back here. I was all the way at Esthar."
"Wow! Did you see anything new?"
"Yeah, I watched a launch at the Lunar Gate. Looks like they're making a new Lunar Base!"
"Hm…I see."
"Well, I'm off to get some sleep now. I'm pretty exhausted. See ya!"
"Bye!" Rinoa had forgotten about her weird dream, and decided to head to Squall's dorm and wake him up. She got out of her dorm and trotted happily down the corridor. She knew that today was a great opportunity to stick with Squall and do anything they wanted. It was their week off, and the others were away. She walked down the hall, greeting any friend of hers she saw. She reached Squall's dorm, and opened the door.
"Whoa!" Squall exclaimed and hid behind the door of his closet.
"Oops! Did I catch you in a bad time?" Rinoa said teasing him.
"Rinoa! Get out! I'm in my boxers!" Squall said out loud.
"So what? Embarrassed of your girlfriend seeing you without your trousers?"
"Well, actually I am a little!"
"Hahahaha!" Rinoa laughed.
"It's not funny! Get out an let me get dressed!" Squall said still hiding behind his closet's door.
"No…"
"What do you mean no!? Come on Rinoa!"
"I want to see how you look without your trousers on…"
"Rinoa! You think this is nice? How would you react is I came into your room when you were wearing only your panties and your bra?"
"I wouldn't care. After all you are my boyfriend!" Rinoa said teasing him.
"Arg! Rinoa! Get out please and give me a sec to get dressed!"
"Let me see your boxers first!"
"Gods! Am I so bad with you and you punish me like this!?" Squall said with a laugh.
"No, you're just very shy. I want to see how you look!" she said and went over to him.
"Hey!" Squall said as he saw her peep behind the closet door.
"Haha! You look nice!" she said laughing. Squall's boxers were dark blue with a white dragon motif on the left sleeve. Rinoa thought he looked really manly with his still wet hair falling over his face, and his great physique. He looked like a statue.
"Ok, you've seen me now. Can you leave and let me get dressed?!" he said all red.
"Hehehe, ok Mr. Shy Guy! By the way, you look great!" she said with a giggle.
"Why you!" Squall said laughing, as Rinoa retreated towards the door.
"I hope to see you again like that!" Rinoa said and quickly closed the door, to avoid the pillow that was flying towards her head. The pillow hit the door with a soft thump. Rinoa opened the door a gain and stuck her tongue out at Squall.
"Nah, nah, nah! You missed!" she laughed. A second pillow landed on her face, messing up her hair. "Hey!" she exclaimed.
"Hah! I didn't miss this time!" Squall said. Rinoa closed the door and waited for him outside the dorm, straightening up her hair. She was laughing. After a few seconds, Squall came out of the dorm, and before saying anything, blew her a kiss on the cheek.
"So, you aren't angry with me any more?" Rinoa said.
"No, I'm not. I can't be angry with you. Good morning." He replied.
"Hahaha…You were all red in there before."
"I know I was. Anyway, from now on, I'll make sure I use my Prophet powers to know when to sneak in your room when you're half naked!" he joked.
"No! Oh no!" Rinoa said with a laugh.
"Ah, ah, ah, no complaining…let's go have a breakfast now." Squall said with a smile as they both walked down the hall to the Cafeteria. Through Garden a nice melody was heard. Recently, Cid had allowed a bunch of students to create a radio station within Garden, called 'Garden FM' that everyone could listen, through the intercom. It was a nice idea, and anyone could sing up for the committee. Selphie was one of the first to do so, and had her own show, 'Selphie's Hour', where the dance music top-10 chart was announced. Right now DJ Jedd, as they used to call the guy on air now, was playing some recent hits, and saying his own mad stuff, cheering up everyone.
"Ah! And whom do I see walking down the hall! Squall and his lovely Sorceress, Rinoa! All hail big guy! Rinoa, when are WE gonna date?" Jedd said. Both Squall and Rinoa laughed.
"Better leave my gal alone Jedd or this Sorceress' knight is gonna slice you up!" Squall shouted with a laugh.
"Ok Squall! I got the message!" Jedd replied putting a new song to play, called 'The Best Thing'.
"And this goes out from Squall, to Rinoa!" Jedd said. Squall and Rinoa laughed as they headed for the Cafeteria, with Jedd's jokes. His was one of the most popular shows.
"So, today's a free day for us. What do you want to do?" Rinoa asked him.
"I don't know. I'm so exhausted after all these that happened these last days, I just want to kick back and relax…" he replied taking a bite from his sandwich.
"I want that too, but it's really boring over here…How about going to Winhill? It's so peaceful there…" Rinoa said.
"Maybe…but I'd rather go over to FH or the Shumi Village to relax…" Squall said and suddenly his eyes turned dark. Rinoa regretted saying to go to Winhill. Squall didn't feel ready to go back there. It was emotionally painful for him. At least for now. He had gone once, alone, and when he returned, he was skeptical for days.
"Maybe we could go to Deling?" Squall said, bringing Rinoa back to reality.
"Hmm?…I don't know…"
"I know…Let's just go to our secret place…we can have a nice time there. After all you do want to tell me about your nightmares…" Squall said, meaning Edea's house of course.
"What? How do you know I see nightmares?"
"Geez…Give me some credit! Am I a Prophet or what? I can read others minds, even if now my span is really limited…"
"Oh, right. I forgot that."
"Rinoa, you've been having nightmares too, haven't you?"
"Yeah, and they're getting terribly awful…"
"Mine too. I think I could track down the reason, using my powers…but I'm not sure. Let's better go to our secret place and try, ok?"
"Yeah, but Ragnarok is at Esthar for maintaining…"
"I think Caesar can take us there…He can carry us now…I've already tried it."
"What? Caesar took you on his back?"
"Well, at first he grabbed me from he waist with his hands, and then I got onto his back. He doesn't have any problems."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Well, you want to go?"
"Yeah."
"Ok then. Let's go find our dragon fellow." Squall said getting up. They exited the Cafeteria, and Angelo was hopping all around them happily. They went to the Quad. Next to the Quad was Caesar's quarter. It wasn't really of any facility, just a pavilion where Caesar stayed.
"I hope he isn't sleeping…" Rinoa said. Caesar was wide-awake, reading a book.
"Hey Caesar!" Squall said.
"Hi Squall, hi Rinoa…" he said lifting his sight from his book.
"Can you do us a favor? Could you take us to Edea's house?"
"Down at Centra? Sure. I was thinking of going down there myself anyway. Let's go, hop on my back…" Caesar said lowering his body a bit. Squall steeped on Caesar's shoulder, and climbed onto Caesar, Rinoa followed and Squall sat her in front of him.
"Ready? Hang on! Here we go!" Caesar said as he opened his huge wings and flapped them, gaining height. Soon, he had gained enough height, and using the warm currents of wind, supported himself on them, and flew fast towards south.
"Wow! This is pretty cool!" Rinoa said joyfully. It was obvious she was enjoying the ride.
"Yeah, but don't get too excited and lean on one side, or you'll fall!" Caesar said.
"I won't fall. Squall won't allow that!" Rinoa replied and burst into laughter. Caesar flew across the sea, fast and safely. They stopped for a break at FH, and then continued their trip. They flew along the coast of Centra crater, and straight to Edea's House.
"Hang on please, I'm about to land…" Caesar said. He lifted his body a little, and put front his hind legs, touching the ground, and then completely landed on his front.
"Thank you for using Caesar Airlines, and the captain hopes you had a nice journey!" Caesar said. Rinoa and Squall giggled. They went over to the secret place and sat on the grass. Caesar loafed around, hunting Jelleyes and other creatures to have a snack.
"So, you want to tell me about your nightmares?" Squall asked Rinoa.
"Yeah. I'll feel much better if I do."
"Then go ahead, tell me." Squall said placing his arm around her shoulder. Rinoa told him about her dream last night, and Squall listened to it puzzled. It had some common spots with his, but it was completely different too. Squall then told Rinoa about his own nightmare, and they both agreed that these weren't good.
"I'll try and find the source of the nightmares in your mind…" Squall said placing his fingertips on Rinoa's temples. He closed his eyes, and concentrated. His mind connected telepathically with Rinoa's and Squall searched for the cause of the nightmares. What he found wasn't good. He took away his hands, and looked at Rinoa.
"There's a problem..." he said.
"What? What's going on?" Rinoa asked him.
"The nightmares…they don't come from our minds."
"What? Then from where?"
"I don't know but…?!…Hey, why is it so dark?" Squall was right. All of a sudden, the sky had turned dark gray.
"…the hell?" Squall gasped.
"It's 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon and it's dark?" Rinoa said, looking at her watch.
"Squall! Rinoa! You guys ok?" Caesar shouted as he reached the meadow and landed close to them.
"What's going on?" he asked them.
"I have no idea!" Squall replied. Just as they spoke, and loud sound was heard. Like, a chariot was coming their way. Squall looked towards the side the sound was coming from and shivered from what he saw. A chariot was coming their way. Two dark brown horses that looked demonical, and had manes and tails out of flames pulled it. Two skeletons were riding it, one driving, the other one yelling and swirling a sword.
"Rinoa! Take cover!" Squall shouted. He had no idea what that was, but drew his Gunblade, ready to fight it. Caesar was next to him, ready to help him. Rinoa had stayed a little behind, still frightened. The chariot rode directly towards Squall, who cast a Blizzaga spell to stall it. The chariot drove through the spell without getting harmed or stopping. Squall froze in his position from surprise.
"What?" he gasped. Suddenly, the skeleton that was swirling the sword earlier took a bow and an arrow and aimed at Squall. Before Squall could react, the arrow plunged on his chest, between his ribs.
"Arg!" Squall cried out and placed his left hand on the place where he was hurt. Then, after a few seconds, he collapsed on the ground.
"Squall!!!!" Rinoa cried out. She started running towards him, but the chariot was faster. Caesar had fallen unconscious from a second arrow. The chariot stopped next to Squall, and the skeletons picked Squall up, put him on the chariot on a hurry and started driving away.
"Squall! Nooooo! Let him go!" Rinoa cried out as she ran behind them, but soon the chariot gained height and flew in the air.
"Squall!!!……" Rinoa yelled at last, before falling on the ground hopelessly, staring at the chariot that drove away. She got up, and looked all around her. The sky was blue and the sun was shining again. She stumbled back to Caesar, and checked on him. He was unconscious. She used a Phoenix Down to wake him up, and then gave him an Elixir.
"What happened?" he asked her after he was ok. Rinoa was crying.
"T-they took Squall away…" she said in sobs.
"Oh, no!" Caesar said. Rinoa burst to new tears and fell onto Caesar crying. Caesar put his hand over her to try and comfort her.
"I…I don't know where he could be now… I have no idea what those things were… I don't know anything…"
"We'll find him Rinoa, I promise we will…" Caesar said sadly.
"Well, that won't be easy…" A voice came from behind them.
"Who are you?" Rinoa asked the young man that had miraculously appeared there.
"I'm Hermes. The messenger god."
"You're a god?" Caesar gasped.
"I don't really look like one huh? Yeah, I know, but I am. I met Squall not long ago, and promised I'd help him sometime. Well, I suppose that the time has come…" he said kneeling down beside them.
"How can you help us?" Rinoa asked him.
"First of all, stop crying Rinoa. You can't help Squall by crying. Let me tell you what's happening. Sebeck knows what's going on, and sent me to tell you."
"I'm listening."
"Seth and Ares brought a Sorceress from the past…"
"Say what!?" Caesar gasped.
"What you heard, and don't interrupt me. Now, this is Sorceress Andromache. She comes from the far past. Actually, this is the Sorceress that gave the powers down to Adel's mother, who in turn gave them to Adel. And have ended up to you."
"So, we kind of know her powers…" Rinoa said.
"Yeah. Now, Andromache used to be a queen and ruled her kingdom in discipline, but the kingdom got rich under her rule. Once her people found out she was a Sorceress, they wanted to kill her because they got afraid of her. Around then, Andromache was struck by madness, and crushed the rebels with her powers. No mortal had any idea why she turned evil. Well, I can tell you. She had a knight, called Hector. I think she was really fond of Hector, and loved him like a friend. Hector was her only real friend. Well, Hector died in battle to protect his queen and friend, Andromache. Then, Andromache was struck by that madness. I think it was madness out of grief, and she turned schizophrenic…Anyway, she disappeared from that time. Now, Seth has brought her to the present with the promise that she can resurrect Hector using the body of a mortal from today. Now, the mortal must be a relative of Hectors and…"
"And Squall is a relative of Hector! Hector was a Leonhart!" Rinoa gasped.
"Yeah. That's right. Now if Seth's plan works, Andromache will take Squall's soul out of his body, and replace it with Hectors. Thus, Squall's soul will be lost forever. He won't even have an after life…" Hermes said. Grief was drawn on Rinoa's face.
"No…" Hermes took pity on her.
"Listen Rinoa, there still is time to save him. You've got to go to Andromache's palace and stop her from casting the magic before it's too late. To accomplish her goal, she's going to take advantage of the planets. Today is the day that the three last planets of our solar system align. Once Cerberus, Pluto, and Cassiopeia align, a door to the world of souls can be opened. Andromache wants and can open that door. Once she does, all she has to do is to call Hector's soul, and replace it in Squall's body. But, Squall's soul won't enter the door, but stay outside. In the best occasion, Squall's soul will turn into a ghost, a specter or a shade. If he turns into a specter or a shade, he won't have any memory of his life, and will be a lifeless shadow. As a ghost, he'll remember, but then, he won't want to be around people. If nothing of the above happens and Squall's soul disappears…it's like he won't have ever existed…" Hermes said.
"…" Rinoa couldn't say a thing.
"If I'm correct, there's no time to lose. Take us to Andromache's palace!" Caesar said.
"Ok. I can take you there, but that's all I can do. My powers aren't suited to fight a Sorceress. I'm only a messenger. Once you're there, I'll leave you. You'll have to find your way yourselves. I'll only give you this Rinoa…" Hermes said and gave Rinoa a golden amulet with a blue stone in the center.
"It's going to help you find your way in Andromache's palace. It's going to lead you to Squall. Follow the glow from it, ok?"
"Ok, I understand."
"Good, now, get on Caesar, and I'll guide you there."
"How do you…" Rinoa was about to ask him how he flew, when he pulled a pair of sandals with wings out of his leather sack. She was surprised. The sandals reacted to the light, and started flittering. Hermes seemed to have a problem to keep them calm, and held them tight, so they wouldn't fly away.
"Damn it! Stop it both of you!" he shouted at the sandals, which immediately let him wear them. Once he stood up with the sandals on his feet, they flittered again, and turned Hermes upside down.
"Listen up you two! We're not here to play! It's serious business! Squall's life is in danger!" Hermes yelled at the sandals. Immediately they obeyed him and he was straight again.
"Alright, follow me!" He said, finally taking control over his sandals. Caesar flapped his wings and followed the god. Rinoa was scared. Scared she would fail to save Squall, and afraid to face a Sorceress.
"No." she thought. "Squall would be disappointed if I was scared. I mustn't be scared. He wouldn't be scared if he came to save me…" Hermes flew beside Caesar and told them what to do when they got to Andromache's palace.
"Once you're at her chamber where Squall will be, just try to stall her until the planets aren't aligned any more. The alignment will break in 5 hours, so you have to be fast and stall her. If you two begin a battle, she'll probably leave the battle to open the door, before the alignment breaks. Don't let her do that. Stick on her all the time, ok?"
"Ok…"
"Rinoa, listen to me, I know you're scared, but you have to do this. You're the only one who can. Squall is counting on you. Once you reach Andromache, and start battling her, she won't be able to keep Squall's Sorcery under control. He should be able to help you, just remember, don't let her open the door."
"I understand."
"Alright. Look there. That's Andromache's palace." Hermes said showing them a palace right next to the Centra Ruins. It was a great palace with a gothic architecture and lots of windows and ramparts.
"This is as far as I can take you two. You'll have to do the rest on your own. Like I said, Rinoa use the amulet I gave you, and find Squall with it. Good luck…" Hermes said.
"Thank you Hermes." Hermes looked at her and Caesar one last time before turning around and flying to the high sky. Caesar and Rinoa landed in front of Andromache's Palace. They gazed at the open gate and entered it. Rinoa felt her backbone shivering. The amulet Hermes gave her started shining, and a blue spark came from it, stood in front of Rinoa for a while, and then flew ahead, swirling. Rinoa and Caesar followed it.
In the meantime, Squall was waking up from his sleep. He opened his eyes and tried to lift his hand to bring it to his face, but he realized he was chained on a stone block.
"…the hell?" he thought. He looked all around him. He was in a weird chamber, like the Master's Room from Ultimecia's castle. He looked all around him, and his sight fell on a woman sitting on a thrown opposite him. She wore a long purple cloak and purple clothes, and had her face covered by a deep red mask.
"Who are you!?" Squall demanded, trying to free himself from the chains
"I am Sorceress Andromache. I come from the past. Seth brought me to the present to resurrect my knight and lover, Hector."
"And what do I have to do with all this?" Andromache got up and walked over to him.
"A soul needs a body. And because you are relatives, I've chosen you as the bearer of Hector's soul…" she said.
"What?! And what about MY soul?"
"Your soul is insignificant. It will either vanish, or you'll become a specter…"
"No! I'm not going to let you and your idiotic lord Seth kill me!"
"And what can you do Squall?" Squall tried to break the chains using his Prophet telekinetic powers, and his own Sorcery, but it was no use.
"I…I can't use my powers! What have you done to me?!" He yelled.
"I've covered you in a anti-power field. You can't do a thing now…" Andromache said coldly.
"I have to buy some time…" Squall thought.
"And how are you going to transmit the souls?" he asked her.
"Well, looks like you've understood it's your destiny. Good. I'd normally just move on with the process, but since there is time and you are curious, I'll tell you. You know the solar systems' 8 planets, right?"
"Yeah, their names are Plato, Memoria, Earth, Inferno, Ganymede, Cerberus, Pluto and Cassiopeia."
"Correct. Well, once the last three, Cerberus, Pluto and Cassiopeia align, I will be able to open a door to the world of the souls. Then, with a sacrifice of blood I will call Hector's soul. He will posses your body and your soul will vanish."
"I see…Tell me, who was Hector?"
"He was my knight. And my lover. We were in love with each other. One day, he was killed in battle, only a few days before our marriage. From that time, I was searching for a way to resurrect him. And not long ago, lord Seth came and told me that if I traveled to the future I would be able to use your body to resurrect Hector."
"I see…You are from the past?"
"Yes. I am Queen Andromache of Centra."
"I've heard of you, but Hector's story isn't recorded anywhere…"
"That was my will."
"I see…Tell me more please…"
Meanwhile, Caesar and Rinoa after wandering around following the spark had reached the door of the chamber.
"Oh, no! It's locked!" Rinoa said.
"Leave it to me!" Caesar said with a snort. He went back a few steps and snorted again. Then he ran to the door and banged it with his horns.
{{{{{{{{{THUD!}}}}}}}}}
"It's cracking!" Rinoa said as Caesar charged at it once more. Inside Andromache turned to the door and looked at it.
"What's going on?" She asked out loud. That moment, Caesar broke the door down and rushed in roaring, followed by Rinoa.
"Leave my knight alone Sorceress!" Rinoa shouted standing in front of her.
"Your knight? You are a Sorceress? How interesting. I believe you have inherited my powers. I wonder if you have done anything with them…" Andromache said. She turned to Squall and threw a small spark on him. Squall went unconscious again.
"Servants! Destroy her!" Andromache said, and a dozen skeleton soldiers stuck out from the walls.
"Rinoa, take care of her! I'll handle these idiots!" Caesar said swiping a few skeletons with his powerful tail. A terrible cracking sound came as he crunched a skeleton with his teeth.
"Now, we battle Andromache!" Rinoa said sending a wave of light at Andromache. Andromache was staggered, but countered by sending a wave of frost at Rinoa. She bounced off with a wall of fire. Rinoa turned into a flame and attacked Andromache, but Andromache bounced her off with a wave of energy. Rinoa fell back turned into a human, and got dizzy.
"I have wasted enough time with you!" she said as she caged Rinoa under a spell. Caesar was caged too.
"GROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRRR….." he roared furious. Andromache turned her back to them, and murmured some words.
"I'm sorry Squall…" Rinoa sobbed. A swirling opening appeared in thin air and Andromache after gazing at it for a little, took a knife from a table near Squall and lifted his wrist.
"No! Don't you touch him!" Rinoa shouted. Andromache ignored her cry and cut Squall's wrist slightly. She gathered the blood in a small pot she had there. She lifted the pot and took it in front of the gate.
"Hector! Come to me my dear!" she said. The blood from the pot reacted, and lifted from it swirling and flew into the gate. A ghostly figure came out of the gate and flew into Squall, though his mouth.
"Noooooooooooooo! Squall!" Rinoa cried out so loudly that her voice echoed through the palace.
"Shut up!" Andromache told her. She went over to her.
"Now that the task is almost complete, Hector should get rid of Squall's soul, and…What!?" Squall's body had started shining. The chains broke, and Squall got up. But, there was something about him that was different. He sat up on the block, and looked at Andromache, and she looked back at him.
"Why Andromache?" he said sadly but the voice wasn't Squall's.
"Hector…" Andromache said.
"Why did you do this Andromache?" Hector said sadly.
"What do you mean why Hector? I brought you back to life!…Wait, the spell didn't work, you have Squall's shape!"
"Because I want to. I have only temporarily possessed Squall's body to speak to you. This is not right Mache."
"You called me Mache…like you always used to…do you still love me Hector?"
"Yes Mache, I do. I'll always love you. But this is not right."
"Lord Seth said you'd be happy…"
"No, I'm not happy Mache. Seth is an evil god. He wants to kill Squall because only he and his friends can stop him now that he is trying to destroy Horus. He is manipulating you Mache. Don't listen to him any more. Fight him back!"
"But Hector…"
"Mache, Squall is Sorceress Rinoa's knight. But more ever he's her beloved one. They love each other just like we loved each other long ago. Please Mache, don't ruin one love for the sake of a love that is already lost. If you love me as much as you loved me once, please let Squall and Rinoa live in peace and wait for your time to come. I'll be waiting for you. Like I always did. Now, please, take off your mask and let me see your face before I go…"
"Hector…" Andromache said as she removed the mask. She revealed a young, pretty face and long, blond hair. She was crying.
"Hector, I love you…" Andromache said.
"I love you too. I'll wait for you." Hector said.
"Go on, free them." Andromache nodded at him and turned to Rinoa and Caesar. She said something and the cages vanished.
"Sorceress Rinoa, I…I'm sorry…I thought this was what Hector would have liked. I though he would be happy. I'm sorry. Please forgive me…" Andromache said.
"I forgive you Andromache. Please, let Squall go." Rinoa replied. She had understood the importance of the situation.
"I will. Farewell Sorceresses." Hector replied and immediately a ghostly figure flew out of Squall's mouth and back into the gate, which closed behind it. Squall fell on the ground. Rinoa ran up to him.
"Squall!" she said in tears as Squall opened his eyes a little and groaned.
"It's ok Rinoa…It's ok…" he said softly.
"Come on, let's heal him…" Andromache said to Rinoa kindly. Both Sorceresses used their power to heal Squall. Soon he got up and looked at both. "It's ok. I know what happened. My soul co-existed with Hector's for a little. He really loves you Andromache, and I'm sure you love him too." Squall said.
"Yes, that is true." Suddenly, the palace shook from an earthquake.
"Oh, no! Seth has found out!" Andromache shouted.
"Hurry! Get on my back! I'll get us out of here!" Caesar shouted. Squall helped Rinoa and Andromache climb on Caesar's back and the jumped on him self. Caesar flew up, towards the ceiling, avoiding the falling rumble. He threw a fireball at the ceiling opening a large hole. He flew right through it with speed just as the palace collapsed.
"We did it!" He shouted.
"Alright! Good job Caesar!" Squall told him. Then, Andromache felt a pain on her abdomen.
"Oh!" She cried out.
"Andromache, what's wrong?" Rinoa asked her.
"Seth…he's punishing me…" she said slowly as she was in pain.
"Caesar, land!" Squall said. Caesar landed and Squall and Rinoa lay Andromache on the ground to see what was wrong with her. He purple dress was stained with blood.
"He's killing her Squall!" Rinoa gasped surprised.
"Quick, let's heal her!" Squall replied.
"N-no!…please, let me go…I'll meet Hector now…" Andromache begged them.
"Andromache…" Rinoa said.
"Please, let me go…Please bury me with Hector…"
"Where is his grave?" Rinoa asked her
"On the land where the earth holds a knight Who gazes at Ra, is where love is found. On the land where the earth holds a broken heart Is where love is found." Andromache replied.
"Where he gazes at Ra on the morning…"Andromache said and died. She closed her eyes slowly and left with a smile on her face…
"Squall, where's that?" Rinoa asked in grief.
"…Wait. What god is Ra?"
"I don't know…"
"He's the god of the sunlight." Squall said. "I used my prophecy powers. I suppose the song means a place where a temple of Ra should be or…That's it!"
"What?" Rinoa said.
"Ra is the god of sunlight. Where does sunlight begin? On the east. I suppose the song means the most eastern place of our world! And that should be…"
"The Island Closest to Heaven!" Rinoa filled him in.
"Come on Squall, let's take her there…" Rinoa said. Squall nodded affirmatively. Together they carried Andromache's body with care onto Caesar and the dragon took off, flying north to east towards the Isle closest to Heaven. Rinoa was in thoughts. Andromache loved Hector so much she preferred to die and go with him. He wondered whether she loved Squall so much. She wondered whether Squall loved her so much. What would happen if Squall died? Would she have gone crazy? Would she turn against the world? She, alone against the entire world?
'Oh, I'm making sad thoughts again!' she thought to herself and shook her head to forget them. Squall read her thoughts but didn't say a thing. He understood her. All these had affected her. She had to think them out herself. It was around 6 o'clock in the morning when they reached the Island Closest to Heaven. They landed on the eastern part of it, and Squall spotted a stone pillar sticking out of the ground.
"Rinoa, look." He said. The pillar had an inscription.
"On the land where the earth holds a knight Who gazes at Ra, is where love is found. On the land where the earth holds a broken heart, Is where love is found."
"It's the song. I'm sure Hector is buried here." She replied. They dug a grave, and carefully placed Andromache's body in it. Then, they covered the grave, and placed a big stone over it as a tombstone. They carved her name on it.
"Squall, look!" Rinoa said looking at the horizon.
"It's Ra…" he said. The dawning sun shone as it appeared from the sea. It rose slowly spreading its warm rays throughout the world.
"The glory of Ra…" Squall murmured.
"I hope she finds her knight there…" Rinoa said.
"Where do you think she'll be now?"
"I think head straight to heaven…"
"Yeah, I think so too…"
Let Love Lead The Way
This life is a road
We all have to walk it
This life is a bridge
We all must cross it
But the darkness of the future
Will surrounds us
And danger lurks all around us
Somehow we must find a way
To walk in the dark
CHORUS:
So, let love the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
You and I can light up the night
Our love can lead us into life
Anyone who can't love can't see
Anyone who can't love can't feel
How it is to walk in the light
And all around us there will be night
Love will keep our dreams together
And we will be bearers of light!
CHORUS:
So, let love lead the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love lead the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love lead the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
If love should be material
It would be divine light
That only the lovers can see
Love is a peaceful lagoon
Where we all can rest
But above all it's a fire that never ends
Might sound a legend like a unicorn
But it's so true
The world still spins, yey!
CHORUS:
So, let love lead the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love lead the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love lead the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
So, let love lead the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love lead the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love lead the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
Andromache was running through a flowery field. She was running with a joyful laughter. She wore her long white royal dress. Simple and pretty. She could see him. There he was! He was running towards her too, with his arms spread open to embrace her. He was as she could remember him…Tall, handsome and with that short beard. He was shouting her name!
"Mache!!!!" Hector shouted.
"I'm coming Hector!" she replied. They reached each other and embraced each other. Andromache was happy. She was with him, the man she had so much loved.
"I'm so happy to see you again Mache…" he said.
"Me too Hector…"
"Let's go. I want to show you all the Elysium fields. They're beautiful just like your gardens… Come on Mache!" Both started running towards the gardens of Elysium, and playing chase just like back then, long ago at Centra… Who knows, maybe this time they'd make it to the church in time for their wedding… Anubis, the lord of the dead gazed the fields with happiness.
"You won your place here with your own sword Sorceress…Rest in peace…" he said and looked at the sky above him.
"Leonhart…You have done many good things, and you have your place here as well…Your good is enough to bring your friends here as well when time will come…Later…Much, much later…" he said and looked at the fields around him.
"Seth will not ruin this kingdom…" Yet, Seth's plans go beyond the ruining of the underworld and the universe. They reach they verge of fantasy…
Yay! And to all those people that don't like the lyrics, they're only there to deepen the meaning a little bit. I should have said so earlier. Please Read and Review! Thanks!
Ruby Dragon
Squall ran. He was running like mad through a dark, gloomy field. Everything was gray. Squall was panicked. Someone, or something was after him, but he didn't dare to look back. He had no Gunblade and no magic, and there was no one around he could call for help. He was all-alone, like a child. He was afraid.
"I can't run any longer…I can't any more…" he thought. Suddenly he fell into a deep, dark tunnel. He was afraid. Childhood fears, adolescence fears, all the greatest fears of his life gathered in one…
"Aaahh!" he shouted as he woke up panting. His eyes were wide open in fear and he looked all around him.
"Damn it…more nightmares…" he thought. He was covered in sweat, and strands of his hair were stuck on his wet face. He took a look at the clock on his night table.
"Darn…7:30 in the morning…everyone else is still sleeping…Sheez…I need a shower…" he murmured as he got up and headed for the bathroom. Rinoa wasn't having a pleasant sleep either. She had nightmares too, about losing Squall, or Squall dying. Tonight she had a weird dream, which despite it wasn't a nightmare, scared her very much. She saw that she was walking on a beach, wearing a long white dress. She was holding a baby in her arms. Yet, she had the strange feeling the baby was not hers. She didn't know where she was or what she did. Suddenly, she saw a man sitting on a rock. He wore simple clothes and had a short brown beard. He was singing something.
"On the land where the earth holds a knight Who gazes at Ra, is where love is found. On the land where the earth holds a broken heart, Is where love is found." Rinoa woke up and stared at the ceiling.
"What was that?" she wondered out loud. "This is the weirdest dream I've ever had." She said as she got up and changed. She heard a soft tapping on her window. She went over and pulled the blinds.
"Caesar! What a nice surprise!" she said as she saw her dragon friend's smiling face. Caesar had grown a heck a lot. He's now the size of an overgrown Ruby Dragon, his hide was emerald green, and his wings stretch to a 3m opening each. He looks fierce, but he's still as sweet as always. He spends most of his time outside Garden now, and is often away at flying expeditions.
"Good morning Rinoa!" he said pleasantly with his heavy, hoarse voice.
"How are you today? Was your flying ride good?"
"Oh, you bet. The winds were calm, and I had a nice flight back here. I was all the way at Esthar."
"Wow! Did you see anything new?"
"Yeah, I watched a launch at the Lunar Gate. Looks like they're making a new Lunar Base!"
"Hm…I see."
"Well, I'm off to get some sleep now. I'm pretty exhausted. See ya!"
"Bye!" Rinoa had forgotten about her weird dream, and decided to head to Squall's dorm and wake him up. She got out of her dorm and trotted happily down the corridor. She knew that today was a great opportunity to stick with Squall and do anything they wanted. It was their week off, and the others were away. She walked down the hall, greeting any friend of hers she saw. She reached Squall's dorm, and opened the door.
"Whoa!" Squall exclaimed and hid behind the door of his closet.
"Oops! Did I catch you in a bad time?" Rinoa said teasing him.
"Rinoa! Get out! I'm in my boxers!" Squall said out loud.
"So what? Embarrassed of your girlfriend seeing you without your trousers?"
"Well, actually I am a little!"
"Hahahaha!" Rinoa laughed.
"It's not funny! Get out an let me get dressed!" Squall said still hiding behind his closet's door.
"No…"
"What do you mean no!? Come on Rinoa!"
"I want to see how you look without your trousers on…"
"Rinoa! You think this is nice? How would you react is I came into your room when you were wearing only your panties and your bra?"
"I wouldn't care. After all you are my boyfriend!" Rinoa said teasing him.
"Arg! Rinoa! Get out please and give me a sec to get dressed!"
"Let me see your boxers first!"
"Gods! Am I so bad with you and you punish me like this!?" Squall said with a laugh.
"No, you're just very shy. I want to see how you look!" she said and went over to him.
"Hey!" Squall said as he saw her peep behind the closet door.
"Haha! You look nice!" she said laughing. Squall's boxers were dark blue with a white dragon motif on the left sleeve. Rinoa thought he looked really manly with his still wet hair falling over his face, and his great physique. He looked like a statue.
"Ok, you've seen me now. Can you leave and let me get dressed?!" he said all red.
"Hehehe, ok Mr. Shy Guy! By the way, you look great!" she said with a giggle.
"Why you!" Squall said laughing, as Rinoa retreated towards the door.
"I hope to see you again like that!" Rinoa said and quickly closed the door, to avoid the pillow that was flying towards her head. The pillow hit the door with a soft thump. Rinoa opened the door a gain and stuck her tongue out at Squall.
"Nah, nah, nah! You missed!" she laughed. A second pillow landed on her face, messing up her hair. "Hey!" she exclaimed.
"Hah! I didn't miss this time!" Squall said. Rinoa closed the door and waited for him outside the dorm, straightening up her hair. She was laughing. After a few seconds, Squall came out of the dorm, and before saying anything, blew her a kiss on the cheek.
"So, you aren't angry with me any more?" Rinoa said.
"No, I'm not. I can't be angry with you. Good morning." He replied.
"Hahaha…You were all red in there before."
"I know I was. Anyway, from now on, I'll make sure I use my Prophet powers to know when to sneak in your room when you're half naked!" he joked.
"No! Oh no!" Rinoa said with a laugh.
"Ah, ah, ah, no complaining…let's go have a breakfast now." Squall said with a smile as they both walked down the hall to the Cafeteria. Through Garden a nice melody was heard. Recently, Cid had allowed a bunch of students to create a radio station within Garden, called 'Garden FM' that everyone could listen, through the intercom. It was a nice idea, and anyone could sing up for the committee. Selphie was one of the first to do so, and had her own show, 'Selphie's Hour', where the dance music top-10 chart was announced. Right now DJ Jedd, as they used to call the guy on air now, was playing some recent hits, and saying his own mad stuff, cheering up everyone.
"Ah! And whom do I see walking down the hall! Squall and his lovely Sorceress, Rinoa! All hail big guy! Rinoa, when are WE gonna date?" Jedd said. Both Squall and Rinoa laughed.
"Better leave my gal alone Jedd or this Sorceress' knight is gonna slice you up!" Squall shouted with a laugh.
"Ok Squall! I got the message!" Jedd replied putting a new song to play, called 'The Best Thing'.
"And this goes out from Squall, to Rinoa!" Jedd said. Squall and Rinoa laughed as they headed for the Cafeteria, with Jedd's jokes. His was one of the most popular shows.
"So, today's a free day for us. What do you want to do?" Rinoa asked him.
"I don't know. I'm so exhausted after all these that happened these last days, I just want to kick back and relax…" he replied taking a bite from his sandwich.
"I want that too, but it's really boring over here…How about going to Winhill? It's so peaceful there…" Rinoa said.
"Maybe…but I'd rather go over to FH or the Shumi Village to relax…" Squall said and suddenly his eyes turned dark. Rinoa regretted saying to go to Winhill. Squall didn't feel ready to go back there. It was emotionally painful for him. At least for now. He had gone once, alone, and when he returned, he was skeptical for days.
"Maybe we could go to Deling?" Squall said, bringing Rinoa back to reality.
"Hmm?…I don't know…"
"I know…Let's just go to our secret place…we can have a nice time there. After all you do want to tell me about your nightmares…" Squall said, meaning Edea's house of course.
"What? How do you know I see nightmares?"
"Geez…Give me some credit! Am I a Prophet or what? I can read others minds, even if now my span is really limited…"
"Oh, right. I forgot that."
"Rinoa, you've been having nightmares too, haven't you?"
"Yeah, and they're getting terribly awful…"
"Mine too. I think I could track down the reason, using my powers…but I'm not sure. Let's better go to our secret place and try, ok?"
"Yeah, but Ragnarok is at Esthar for maintaining…"
"I think Caesar can take us there…He can carry us now…I've already tried it."
"What? Caesar took you on his back?"
"Well, at first he grabbed me from he waist with his hands, and then I got onto his back. He doesn't have any problems."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Well, you want to go?"
"Yeah."
"Ok then. Let's go find our dragon fellow." Squall said getting up. They exited the Cafeteria, and Angelo was hopping all around them happily. They went to the Quad. Next to the Quad was Caesar's quarter. It wasn't really of any facility, just a pavilion where Caesar stayed.
"I hope he isn't sleeping…" Rinoa said. Caesar was wide-awake, reading a book.
"Hey Caesar!" Squall said.
"Hi Squall, hi Rinoa…" he said lifting his sight from his book.
"Can you do us a favor? Could you take us to Edea's house?"
"Down at Centra? Sure. I was thinking of going down there myself anyway. Let's go, hop on my back…" Caesar said lowering his body a bit. Squall steeped on Caesar's shoulder, and climbed onto Caesar, Rinoa followed and Squall sat her in front of him.
"Ready? Hang on! Here we go!" Caesar said as he opened his huge wings and flapped them, gaining height. Soon, he had gained enough height, and using the warm currents of wind, supported himself on them, and flew fast towards south.
"Wow! This is pretty cool!" Rinoa said joyfully. It was obvious she was enjoying the ride.
"Yeah, but don't get too excited and lean on one side, or you'll fall!" Caesar said.
"I won't fall. Squall won't allow that!" Rinoa replied and burst into laughter. Caesar flew across the sea, fast and safely. They stopped for a break at FH, and then continued their trip. They flew along the coast of Centra crater, and straight to Edea's House.
"Hang on please, I'm about to land…" Caesar said. He lifted his body a little, and put front his hind legs, touching the ground, and then completely landed on his front.
"Thank you for using Caesar Airlines, and the captain hopes you had a nice journey!" Caesar said. Rinoa and Squall giggled. They went over to the secret place and sat on the grass. Caesar loafed around, hunting Jelleyes and other creatures to have a snack.
"So, you want to tell me about your nightmares?" Squall asked Rinoa.
"Yeah. I'll feel much better if I do."
"Then go ahead, tell me." Squall said placing his arm around her shoulder. Rinoa told him about her dream last night, and Squall listened to it puzzled. It had some common spots with his, but it was completely different too. Squall then told Rinoa about his own nightmare, and they both agreed that these weren't good.
"I'll try and find the source of the nightmares in your mind…" Squall said placing his fingertips on Rinoa's temples. He closed his eyes, and concentrated. His mind connected telepathically with Rinoa's and Squall searched for the cause of the nightmares. What he found wasn't good. He took away his hands, and looked at Rinoa.
"There's a problem..." he said.
"What? What's going on?" Rinoa asked him.
"The nightmares…they don't come from our minds."
"What? Then from where?"
"I don't know but…?!…Hey, why is it so dark?" Squall was right. All of a sudden, the sky had turned dark gray.
"…the hell?" Squall gasped.
"It's 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon and it's dark?" Rinoa said, looking at her watch.
"Squall! Rinoa! You guys ok?" Caesar shouted as he reached the meadow and landed close to them.
"What's going on?" he asked them.
"I have no idea!" Squall replied. Just as they spoke, and loud sound was heard. Like, a chariot was coming their way. Squall looked towards the side the sound was coming from and shivered from what he saw. A chariot was coming their way. Two dark brown horses that looked demonical, and had manes and tails out of flames pulled it. Two skeletons were riding it, one driving, the other one yelling and swirling a sword.
"Rinoa! Take cover!" Squall shouted. He had no idea what that was, but drew his Gunblade, ready to fight it. Caesar was next to him, ready to help him. Rinoa had stayed a little behind, still frightened. The chariot rode directly towards Squall, who cast a Blizzaga spell to stall it. The chariot drove through the spell without getting harmed or stopping. Squall froze in his position from surprise.
"What?" he gasped. Suddenly, the skeleton that was swirling the sword earlier took a bow and an arrow and aimed at Squall. Before Squall could react, the arrow plunged on his chest, between his ribs.
"Arg!" Squall cried out and placed his left hand on the place where he was hurt. Then, after a few seconds, he collapsed on the ground.
"Squall!!!!" Rinoa cried out. She started running towards him, but the chariot was faster. Caesar had fallen unconscious from a second arrow. The chariot stopped next to Squall, and the skeletons picked Squall up, put him on the chariot on a hurry and started driving away.
"Squall! Nooooo! Let him go!" Rinoa cried out as she ran behind them, but soon the chariot gained height and flew in the air.
"Squall!!!……" Rinoa yelled at last, before falling on the ground hopelessly, staring at the chariot that drove away. She got up, and looked all around her. The sky was blue and the sun was shining again. She stumbled back to Caesar, and checked on him. He was unconscious. She used a Phoenix Down to wake him up, and then gave him an Elixir.
"What happened?" he asked her after he was ok. Rinoa was crying.
"T-they took Squall away…" she said in sobs.
"Oh, no!" Caesar said. Rinoa burst to new tears and fell onto Caesar crying. Caesar put his hand over her to try and comfort her.
"I…I don't know where he could be now… I have no idea what those things were… I don't know anything…"
"We'll find him Rinoa, I promise we will…" Caesar said sadly.
"Well, that won't be easy…" A voice came from behind them.
"Who are you?" Rinoa asked the young man that had miraculously appeared there.
"I'm Hermes. The messenger god."
"You're a god?" Caesar gasped.
"I don't really look like one huh? Yeah, I know, but I am. I met Squall not long ago, and promised I'd help him sometime. Well, I suppose that the time has come…" he said kneeling down beside them.
"How can you help us?" Rinoa asked him.
"First of all, stop crying Rinoa. You can't help Squall by crying. Let me tell you what's happening. Sebeck knows what's going on, and sent me to tell you."
"I'm listening."
"Seth and Ares brought a Sorceress from the past…"
"Say what!?" Caesar gasped.
"What you heard, and don't interrupt me. Now, this is Sorceress Andromache. She comes from the far past. Actually, this is the Sorceress that gave the powers down to Adel's mother, who in turn gave them to Adel. And have ended up to you."
"So, we kind of know her powers…" Rinoa said.
"Yeah. Now, Andromache used to be a queen and ruled her kingdom in discipline, but the kingdom got rich under her rule. Once her people found out she was a Sorceress, they wanted to kill her because they got afraid of her. Around then, Andromache was struck by madness, and crushed the rebels with her powers. No mortal had any idea why she turned evil. Well, I can tell you. She had a knight, called Hector. I think she was really fond of Hector, and loved him like a friend. Hector was her only real friend. Well, Hector died in battle to protect his queen and friend, Andromache. Then, Andromache was struck by that madness. I think it was madness out of grief, and she turned schizophrenic…Anyway, she disappeared from that time. Now, Seth has brought her to the present with the promise that she can resurrect Hector using the body of a mortal from today. Now, the mortal must be a relative of Hectors and…"
"And Squall is a relative of Hector! Hector was a Leonhart!" Rinoa gasped.
"Yeah. That's right. Now if Seth's plan works, Andromache will take Squall's soul out of his body, and replace it with Hectors. Thus, Squall's soul will be lost forever. He won't even have an after life…" Hermes said. Grief was drawn on Rinoa's face.
"No…" Hermes took pity on her.
"Listen Rinoa, there still is time to save him. You've got to go to Andromache's palace and stop her from casting the magic before it's too late. To accomplish her goal, she's going to take advantage of the planets. Today is the day that the three last planets of our solar system align. Once Cerberus, Pluto, and Cassiopeia align, a door to the world of souls can be opened. Andromache wants and can open that door. Once she does, all she has to do is to call Hector's soul, and replace it in Squall's body. But, Squall's soul won't enter the door, but stay outside. In the best occasion, Squall's soul will turn into a ghost, a specter or a shade. If he turns into a specter or a shade, he won't have any memory of his life, and will be a lifeless shadow. As a ghost, he'll remember, but then, he won't want to be around people. If nothing of the above happens and Squall's soul disappears…it's like he won't have ever existed…" Hermes said.
"…" Rinoa couldn't say a thing.
"If I'm correct, there's no time to lose. Take us to Andromache's palace!" Caesar said.
"Ok. I can take you there, but that's all I can do. My powers aren't suited to fight a Sorceress. I'm only a messenger. Once you're there, I'll leave you. You'll have to find your way yourselves. I'll only give you this Rinoa…" Hermes said and gave Rinoa a golden amulet with a blue stone in the center.
"It's going to help you find your way in Andromache's palace. It's going to lead you to Squall. Follow the glow from it, ok?"
"Ok, I understand."
"Good, now, get on Caesar, and I'll guide you there."
"How do you…" Rinoa was about to ask him how he flew, when he pulled a pair of sandals with wings out of his leather sack. She was surprised. The sandals reacted to the light, and started flittering. Hermes seemed to have a problem to keep them calm, and held them tight, so they wouldn't fly away.
"Damn it! Stop it both of you!" he shouted at the sandals, which immediately let him wear them. Once he stood up with the sandals on his feet, they flittered again, and turned Hermes upside down.
"Listen up you two! We're not here to play! It's serious business! Squall's life is in danger!" Hermes yelled at the sandals. Immediately they obeyed him and he was straight again.
"Alright, follow me!" He said, finally taking control over his sandals. Caesar flapped his wings and followed the god. Rinoa was scared. Scared she would fail to save Squall, and afraid to face a Sorceress.
"No." she thought. "Squall would be disappointed if I was scared. I mustn't be scared. He wouldn't be scared if he came to save me…" Hermes flew beside Caesar and told them what to do when they got to Andromache's palace.
"Once you're at her chamber where Squall will be, just try to stall her until the planets aren't aligned any more. The alignment will break in 5 hours, so you have to be fast and stall her. If you two begin a battle, she'll probably leave the battle to open the door, before the alignment breaks. Don't let her do that. Stick on her all the time, ok?"
"Ok…"
"Rinoa, listen to me, I know you're scared, but you have to do this. You're the only one who can. Squall is counting on you. Once you reach Andromache, and start battling her, she won't be able to keep Squall's Sorcery under control. He should be able to help you, just remember, don't let her open the door."
"I understand."
"Alright. Look there. That's Andromache's palace." Hermes said showing them a palace right next to the Centra Ruins. It was a great palace with a gothic architecture and lots of windows and ramparts.
"This is as far as I can take you two. You'll have to do the rest on your own. Like I said, Rinoa use the amulet I gave you, and find Squall with it. Good luck…" Hermes said.
"Thank you Hermes." Hermes looked at her and Caesar one last time before turning around and flying to the high sky. Caesar and Rinoa landed in front of Andromache's Palace. They gazed at the open gate and entered it. Rinoa felt her backbone shivering. The amulet Hermes gave her started shining, and a blue spark came from it, stood in front of Rinoa for a while, and then flew ahead, swirling. Rinoa and Caesar followed it.
In the meantime, Squall was waking up from his sleep. He opened his eyes and tried to lift his hand to bring it to his face, but he realized he was chained on a stone block.
"…the hell?" he thought. He looked all around him. He was in a weird chamber, like the Master's Room from Ultimecia's castle. He looked all around him, and his sight fell on a woman sitting on a thrown opposite him. She wore a long purple cloak and purple clothes, and had her face covered by a deep red mask.
"Who are you!?" Squall demanded, trying to free himself from the chains
"I am Sorceress Andromache. I come from the past. Seth brought me to the present to resurrect my knight and lover, Hector."
"And what do I have to do with all this?" Andromache got up and walked over to him.
"A soul needs a body. And because you are relatives, I've chosen you as the bearer of Hector's soul…" she said.
"What?! And what about MY soul?"
"Your soul is insignificant. It will either vanish, or you'll become a specter…"
"No! I'm not going to let you and your idiotic lord Seth kill me!"
"And what can you do Squall?" Squall tried to break the chains using his Prophet telekinetic powers, and his own Sorcery, but it was no use.
"I…I can't use my powers! What have you done to me?!" He yelled.
"I've covered you in a anti-power field. You can't do a thing now…" Andromache said coldly.
"I have to buy some time…" Squall thought.
"And how are you going to transmit the souls?" he asked her.
"Well, looks like you've understood it's your destiny. Good. I'd normally just move on with the process, but since there is time and you are curious, I'll tell you. You know the solar systems' 8 planets, right?"
"Yeah, their names are Plato, Memoria, Earth, Inferno, Ganymede, Cerberus, Pluto and Cassiopeia."
"Correct. Well, once the last three, Cerberus, Pluto and Cassiopeia align, I will be able to open a door to the world of the souls. Then, with a sacrifice of blood I will call Hector's soul. He will posses your body and your soul will vanish."
"I see…Tell me, who was Hector?"
"He was my knight. And my lover. We were in love with each other. One day, he was killed in battle, only a few days before our marriage. From that time, I was searching for a way to resurrect him. And not long ago, lord Seth came and told me that if I traveled to the future I would be able to use your body to resurrect Hector."
"I see…You are from the past?"
"Yes. I am Queen Andromache of Centra."
"I've heard of you, but Hector's story isn't recorded anywhere…"
"That was my will."
"I see…Tell me more please…"
Meanwhile, Caesar and Rinoa after wandering around following the spark had reached the door of the chamber.
"Oh, no! It's locked!" Rinoa said.
"Leave it to me!" Caesar said with a snort. He went back a few steps and snorted again. Then he ran to the door and banged it with his horns.
{{{{{{{{{THUD!}}}}}}}}}
"It's cracking!" Rinoa said as Caesar charged at it once more. Inside Andromache turned to the door and looked at it.
"What's going on?" She asked out loud. That moment, Caesar broke the door down and rushed in roaring, followed by Rinoa.
"Leave my knight alone Sorceress!" Rinoa shouted standing in front of her.
"Your knight? You are a Sorceress? How interesting. I believe you have inherited my powers. I wonder if you have done anything with them…" Andromache said. She turned to Squall and threw a small spark on him. Squall went unconscious again.
"Servants! Destroy her!" Andromache said, and a dozen skeleton soldiers stuck out from the walls.
"Rinoa, take care of her! I'll handle these idiots!" Caesar said swiping a few skeletons with his powerful tail. A terrible cracking sound came as he crunched a skeleton with his teeth.
"Now, we battle Andromache!" Rinoa said sending a wave of light at Andromache. Andromache was staggered, but countered by sending a wave of frost at Rinoa. She bounced off with a wall of fire. Rinoa turned into a flame and attacked Andromache, but Andromache bounced her off with a wave of energy. Rinoa fell back turned into a human, and got dizzy.
"I have wasted enough time with you!" she said as she caged Rinoa under a spell. Caesar was caged too.
"GROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRRR….." he roared furious. Andromache turned her back to them, and murmured some words.
"I'm sorry Squall…" Rinoa sobbed. A swirling opening appeared in thin air and Andromache after gazing at it for a little, took a knife from a table near Squall and lifted his wrist.
"No! Don't you touch him!" Rinoa shouted. Andromache ignored her cry and cut Squall's wrist slightly. She gathered the blood in a small pot she had there. She lifted the pot and took it in front of the gate.
"Hector! Come to me my dear!" she said. The blood from the pot reacted, and lifted from it swirling and flew into the gate. A ghostly figure came out of the gate and flew into Squall, though his mouth.
"Noooooooooooooo! Squall!" Rinoa cried out so loudly that her voice echoed through the palace.
"Shut up!" Andromache told her. She went over to her.
"Now that the task is almost complete, Hector should get rid of Squall's soul, and…What!?" Squall's body had started shining. The chains broke, and Squall got up. But, there was something about him that was different. He sat up on the block, and looked at Andromache, and she looked back at him.
"Why Andromache?" he said sadly but the voice wasn't Squall's.
"Hector…" Andromache said.
"Why did you do this Andromache?" Hector said sadly.
"What do you mean why Hector? I brought you back to life!…Wait, the spell didn't work, you have Squall's shape!"
"Because I want to. I have only temporarily possessed Squall's body to speak to you. This is not right Mache."
"You called me Mache…like you always used to…do you still love me Hector?"
"Yes Mache, I do. I'll always love you. But this is not right."
"Lord Seth said you'd be happy…"
"No, I'm not happy Mache. Seth is an evil god. He wants to kill Squall because only he and his friends can stop him now that he is trying to destroy Horus. He is manipulating you Mache. Don't listen to him any more. Fight him back!"
"But Hector…"
"Mache, Squall is Sorceress Rinoa's knight. But more ever he's her beloved one. They love each other just like we loved each other long ago. Please Mache, don't ruin one love for the sake of a love that is already lost. If you love me as much as you loved me once, please let Squall and Rinoa live in peace and wait for your time to come. I'll be waiting for you. Like I always did. Now, please, take off your mask and let me see your face before I go…"
"Hector…" Andromache said as she removed the mask. She revealed a young, pretty face and long, blond hair. She was crying.
"Hector, I love you…" Andromache said.
"I love you too. I'll wait for you." Hector said.
"Go on, free them." Andromache nodded at him and turned to Rinoa and Caesar. She said something and the cages vanished.
"Sorceress Rinoa, I…I'm sorry…I thought this was what Hector would have liked. I though he would be happy. I'm sorry. Please forgive me…" Andromache said.
"I forgive you Andromache. Please, let Squall go." Rinoa replied. She had understood the importance of the situation.
"I will. Farewell Sorceresses." Hector replied and immediately a ghostly figure flew out of Squall's mouth and back into the gate, which closed behind it. Squall fell on the ground. Rinoa ran up to him.
"Squall!" she said in tears as Squall opened his eyes a little and groaned.
"It's ok Rinoa…It's ok…" he said softly.
"Come on, let's heal him…" Andromache said to Rinoa kindly. Both Sorceresses used their power to heal Squall. Soon he got up and looked at both. "It's ok. I know what happened. My soul co-existed with Hector's for a little. He really loves you Andromache, and I'm sure you love him too." Squall said.
"Yes, that is true." Suddenly, the palace shook from an earthquake.
"Oh, no! Seth has found out!" Andromache shouted.
"Hurry! Get on my back! I'll get us out of here!" Caesar shouted. Squall helped Rinoa and Andromache climb on Caesar's back and the jumped on him self. Caesar flew up, towards the ceiling, avoiding the falling rumble. He threw a fireball at the ceiling opening a large hole. He flew right through it with speed just as the palace collapsed.
"We did it!" He shouted.
"Alright! Good job Caesar!" Squall told him. Then, Andromache felt a pain on her abdomen.
"Oh!" She cried out.
"Andromache, what's wrong?" Rinoa asked her.
"Seth…he's punishing me…" she said slowly as she was in pain.
"Caesar, land!" Squall said. Caesar landed and Squall and Rinoa lay Andromache on the ground to see what was wrong with her. He purple dress was stained with blood.
"He's killing her Squall!" Rinoa gasped surprised.
"Quick, let's heal her!" Squall replied.
"N-no!…please, let me go…I'll meet Hector now…" Andromache begged them.
"Andromache…" Rinoa said.
"Please, let me go…Please bury me with Hector…"
"Where is his grave?" Rinoa asked her
"On the land where the earth holds a knight Who gazes at Ra, is where love is found. On the land where the earth holds a broken heart Is where love is found." Andromache replied.
"Where he gazes at Ra on the morning…"Andromache said and died. She closed her eyes slowly and left with a smile on her face…
"Squall, where's that?" Rinoa asked in grief.
"…Wait. What god is Ra?"
"I don't know…"
"He's the god of the sunlight." Squall said. "I used my prophecy powers. I suppose the song means a place where a temple of Ra should be or…That's it!"
"What?" Rinoa said.
"Ra is the god of sunlight. Where does sunlight begin? On the east. I suppose the song means the most eastern place of our world! And that should be…"
"The Island Closest to Heaven!" Rinoa filled him in.
"Come on Squall, let's take her there…" Rinoa said. Squall nodded affirmatively. Together they carried Andromache's body with care onto Caesar and the dragon took off, flying north to east towards the Isle closest to Heaven. Rinoa was in thoughts. Andromache loved Hector so much she preferred to die and go with him. He wondered whether she loved Squall so much. She wondered whether Squall loved her so much. What would happen if Squall died? Would she have gone crazy? Would she turn against the world? She, alone against the entire world?
'Oh, I'm making sad thoughts again!' she thought to herself and shook her head to forget them. Squall read her thoughts but didn't say a thing. He understood her. All these had affected her. She had to think them out herself. It was around 6 o'clock in the morning when they reached the Island Closest to Heaven. They landed on the eastern part of it, and Squall spotted a stone pillar sticking out of the ground.
"Rinoa, look." He said. The pillar had an inscription.
"On the land where the earth holds a knight Who gazes at Ra, is where love is found. On the land where the earth holds a broken heart, Is where love is found."
"It's the song. I'm sure Hector is buried here." She replied. They dug a grave, and carefully placed Andromache's body in it. Then, they covered the grave, and placed a big stone over it as a tombstone. They carved her name on it.
"Squall, look!" Rinoa said looking at the horizon.
"It's Ra…" he said. The dawning sun shone as it appeared from the sea. It rose slowly spreading its warm rays throughout the world.
"The glory of Ra…" Squall murmured.
"I hope she finds her knight there…" Rinoa said.
"Where do you think she'll be now?"
"I think head straight to heaven…"
"Yeah, I think so too…"
Let Love Lead The Way
This life is a road
We all have to walk it
This life is a bridge
We all must cross it
But the darkness of the future
Will surrounds us
And danger lurks all around us
Somehow we must find a way
To walk in the dark
CHORUS:
So, let love the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
You and I can light up the night
Our love can lead us into life
Anyone who can't love can't see
Anyone who can't love can't feel
How it is to walk in the light
And all around us there will be night
Love will keep our dreams together
And we will be bearers of light!
CHORUS:
So, let love lead the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love lead the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love lead the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
If love should be material
It would be divine light
That only the lovers can see
Love is a peaceful lagoon
Where we all can rest
But above all it's a fire that never ends
Might sound a legend like a unicorn
But it's so true
The world still spins, yey!
CHORUS:
So, let love lead the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love lead the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love lead the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
So, let love lead the way
For she is a shining star in the dark
Let love lead the way
A bonfire in the coldest nights
Let love lead the way
A sure lighthouse in the sea of life
Andromache was running through a flowery field. She was running with a joyful laughter. She wore her long white royal dress. Simple and pretty. She could see him. There he was! He was running towards her too, with his arms spread open to embrace her. He was as she could remember him…Tall, handsome and with that short beard. He was shouting her name!
"Mache!!!!" Hector shouted.
"I'm coming Hector!" she replied. They reached each other and embraced each other. Andromache was happy. She was with him, the man she had so much loved.
"I'm so happy to see you again Mache…" he said.
"Me too Hector…"
"Let's go. I want to show you all the Elysium fields. They're beautiful just like your gardens… Come on Mache!" Both started running towards the gardens of Elysium, and playing chase just like back then, long ago at Centra… Who knows, maybe this time they'd make it to the church in time for their wedding… Anubis, the lord of the dead gazed the fields with happiness.
"You won your place here with your own sword Sorceress…Rest in peace…" he said and looked at the sky above him.
"Leonhart…You have done many good things, and you have your place here as well…Your good is enough to bring your friends here as well when time will come…Later…Much, much later…" he said and looked at the fields around him.
"Seth will not ruin this kingdom…" Yet, Seth's plans go beyond the ruining of the underworld and the universe. They reach they verge of fantasy…
Yay! And to all those people that don't like the lyrics, they're only there to deepen the meaning a little bit. I should have said so earlier. Please Read and Review! Thanks!
Ruby Dragon