AN: Yet another randomly begun fic. SxS - with plot!
Disclaimers: ff8 characters are © Squaresoft
Warnings: Angst, language and SxS
I suppress a chuckle, picking Rinoa, Selphie and myself. I know exactly what I'm doing, and how I will do it. Rinoa believes herself to be such a strong sorceress, believes she is fighting me with my 'powers' as well as Edea and Adel's powers. Only, I have no sorceress powers...
The malicious part of me that desires to see the raven-haired bitch squirming in pain and embarrassment suggests an idea. For a moment I entertain the idea of challenging her to a one-on-one duel, but I know my past self would just step in. I don't need myself complicating the situation with Rinoa needlessly, although, if things go as planned she should get the hint pretty quickly.
Instead I launch my attack, KO'ing Quistis and... well... myself, instantly, but carefully only badly injuring Rinoa. Predictable as ever, she instantly casts full life on my prone form. How sweet. I suppress the urge to vomit.
As I slowly sit up, then clamber to my feet , I spirit Quistis away, replacing her with Zell. The energetic blond instantly springs in to attack. Damn! I'd forgotten that he had an initiative junction. Oh well, it's not like...
The first blow misses its target, my jaw, but the second impacts squarely with my ribs. The force sends me staggering backwards. Now I know why last time I tried to get rid of all the physical dangers. Ow... But the pain fades quickly with a rush of adrenaline. Zell is still standing there, unaware of the danger he is in.
Bent double, appearing winded, I stagger forwards. Just a little closer... I straighten, and my arm shoots forwards. Long, sharp nails sink through his chest, tickling his heart forcefully enough to make him convulse painfully.
His mouth is open wide in a scream that is too powerful to come. Voice lost in the agony I am causing. Zell was, once, a good friend, but I cannot find even the slightest hint of remorse for what I am doing to him. And I don't know why.
With the barest snarl of fury, more at myself than him, I throw the hapless blond back to the other two with a burst of power, simultaneously healing the worst of the wound. He will have the scars, and the memories, for the rest of his life though.
As Rinoa desperately tries to heal Zell, I attack. With a sneering smile that feels more like it belongs to Seifer than me, I form a gunblade that matches lionheart perfectly. Gracefully I pivot to block the attack, watching as I realise that I have underestimated me. I smile, and watch as I slowly back away.
I let my 'lionheart' vanish, and dispose of Zell. This time I bring Selphie to take his place. I will get rid of her quickly, then let the remaining three face Griever. I suddenly have no stomach for what is to come, but I know how this play must ended.
Both Rinoa and Squall have resorted to ranged magic attacks, but Rinoa is nowhere near strong enough to penetrate the shield I am able to erect with the aid of Eden and Odin, and Squall doesn't stand a chance with normal magic.
I remember Edea's attack on the float, and hold a brief debate with my two physically junctioned GFs. The number and placement of each shard is quickly decided, and I raise my arm to launch the attack. But of course, nothing is ever that easy is it?
As Rinoa sees the ice shards heading towards her, she freezes, clearly recalling Edea's attack. I roll my eyes as both Selphie and Rinoa are KO'd by the attack, myself escaping with only a few bruises, and a slight gash on the arm. Oh well, Griever knows as well as I how this story must end. Must end, for I will not go through this again. I would sooner destroy the world, the universe than know I will lose him again.
"Seifer..." It is the barest of whispers that escapes my lips as I spirit both Selphie and Rinoa away, replacing them with Irvine, but my younger self still seems to hear it. His gaze sharpens its focus on my face. He is searching for the answers to a question he, as yet, does not know. I suspect he will know the answer before he is even aware of asking the question.
Closing my eyes I fly into the air, summoning the GF orb within which resides Griever. Doing this will destroy the orb, and once 'defeated' the GF will take his place within the lion-head pendant that I once carried. I can't even remember when, or where, I lost it. But I suspect that it was the day Seifer died...
Hyne, but this experience has given me so many answers, answers to questions I never even wanted to ask. I wonder if Seifer knew who I really was, if that was why it was so easy to persuade him to my side. But, I'll never know. My other self may, one day, if I dare to ask, but I'll never know.
"The most powerful GF..." I see Irvine's face pale at my assertion. After all, there are only the two of them, and he's probably astute enough to figure out that it's entirely possible. After all, the monsters in my castle had GFs, and why would I leave them with the most powerful GF in my possession?
"You shall...SUFFER...!" I cackle madly at them, although the urge is to giggle. I never knew Irvine could go so white. I throw the orb to the floor and leave them to Griever. I will know when it is time for the next act...
AN: Woohoo! Can anyone tell it's getting close to the end? I finally know how it's going to end *sniffs* is that lemon I smell? ;)
Oh yeah, hope people didn't get too confused with the two Squalls and Squall/Ultemecia calling them both 'I'... I know it confused the hell out of me writing it @_@, but my muses insisted that I leave it alone... N e way, please don't hesitate to ask if u want me 2 write a clearer version, maybe formatted to show the different selves (?) *shrugs* suggestions welcomed
Lady Yuskreven: Heehee *grins* I'm glad my plot isn't entirely predictable :) This was supposed to get sooo much closer to the end, but my muses wanted to play and I decided to indulge them *gets glomped by happy muses* ack! ;) anyway, by no means forgotten, as you can see :p
Redrum: OK, I shall endeavour to explain without giving everything away... (is that possible? *scratches head and consults muse*), hmm, we're gonna try... If the Squall in the game is SeeD Squall and is in the present, then the Squall at the beginning of the fic (and Seifer) are in the future, and Squall/Ultemecia is further in the future. So, for SeeD Squall, Seifer is still alive, but for Squall/Ultemecia, Seifer is dead.
AN: hope that kinda made sense and cleared the Seifer question up a bit *turns paper around and attempts to read explanation backwards* [whispers to muse] – I still don't get it :o
lol