"I trust you enjoyed your free time… It is now the time to form the two teams," General Caraway announced to the five SeeDs as they re-entered the room, an hour after they had left it. "The sharpshooter and the leader of this operation will form the sniper team. The leader's role is extremely vital," he continued. "If the plan fails for some reason, or should the shooter miss, the leader must carry out a direct assault against the sorceress. This plan was carefully devised, because it is intended to be a covert operation, but our ultimate goal is to eliminate the sorceress, and we must achieve this at all cost." Squall crossed his arms and stared at the floor.

(…Eliminate the sorceress… Why were we, of all people, picked to do this? …Cid chose us, of all the SeeDs to fight Matron? Why?)

"Even if they uncover our identities," Caraway said. He took a breath and looked around at the SeeDs. "Who will be leading the operation?" Everyone turned to Squall. Squall looked up again, realising he was the centre of attention.

"Huh? …Why do I always have to be the leader?!" Squall asked, glaring at Quistis. She shrugged and looked back at the General.

"I guess you're the leader. I'll leave the rest up to you," General Caraway said uncertainly. Squall rolled his eyes.

"Fine… Irvine and I are the sniper team. The gateway team is everyone else."

"Who's gonna be the leader of the gateway team?" Selphie asked, hopefully.

"Um… Instructor Trepe... I mean, Quistis Trepe, you're in charge." Quistis smiled.

"Alright," she answered. General Caraway nodded and turned to the cowboy.

"Irvine, right?" he asked. Irvine nodded. "You're the sharpshooter from Galbadia Garden?" Irvine nodded again. "Good, then you know where you need to be. Gateway Team, you should come with me, I'll show you where you will be stationed," the General said, leaving. Quistis, Zell and Selphie followed the General out of the house, leaving Irvine and Squall alone. The two men stood there in silence for a few minutes and then Irvine spoke up.

"…It's been a long time Squall," he said.

"Yes, it has," Squall answered, nodding.

"You're different."

"I'm sure it's strange for you to see me healthy," Squall answered bitterly.

"Well obviously you're not the same sickly little boy that I remember… But that wasn't what I meant when I said that…" Irvine said, shaking his head.

"Whatever…" Squall shrugged.

"So… We have to kill Matron," Irvine said slowly.

(No… YOU have to kill Matron) Squall sighed. "I think we'd better go-" Squall began as the door into the parlour flew open and Rinoa slid in.

"Whew… Couldn't get away," she panted. "…Where's everyone else?" she asked suddenly, glancing around the room.

"They've gone ahead already and we were about to do the same," Squall answered. Rinoa brightened.

"Great! I'm ready!" she said, smiling. "Look what I found!" Rinoa held a large bracelet up. "It's an Odine Bangle. Supposedly it suppresses the powers of the sorceress," she said. "Now, if you just wait a second, I could come up with a quick plan-"

"We don't have time," Squall interrupted. "This isn't one of your little father-daughter squabbles. Right now, we're under orders from Garden. When this mission has been carried out, we'll be under your orders again, ready to carry out whatever half-baked plans you think up. Until then, you must excuse us," Squall snapped at her. Rinoa's eyes narrowed and she took a step toward him.

"Asshole…" she said simply and smacked him. Then she whirled around and stormed out of the room. Squall stared after her and rubbed his cheek.

"I'd say she packs a wallop!" Irvine exclaimed, trying to hide his smile. Squall glared at the sharpshooter and walked out of the room. Irvine trailed behind, laughing silently.

***

Irvine walked quickly into the main square of Deling City. To one side was the arch, where Quistis and the rest were waiting in the tower to close the gates. The other way was the Presidential Palace.

"Come on Squall," he said, gesturing for Squall to follow. Irvine started walking toward the position they were supposed to wait at. After a few seconds, he realised that Squall wasn't behind him. Irvine turned in a circle quickly, looking frantically for the other SeeD. Suddenly he spotted Squall, standing right where Irvine had left him. The sharpshooter sighed and walked back to Squall.

Squall stared at the giant crowd in front of the Presidential Residence. His eyes widened and he suddenly felt dizzy. There were so many people. He found that he couldn't breathe, and the pit in his stomach was rapidly becoming a black hole.

"Squall?" Irvine said, walking up next to Squall. "…Are you alright?" Squall swallowed dryly and shook his head. "Whassamatter?" Squall just kept staring at the crowd.

(What if I accidentally touched someone? What would happen if I got pulled into the 'dream world' again? I can't seem to control my power in that world. So many people… I've never seen so many people…)

"Squall! Come on! We have to get up there!" Irvine urged. Squall shook his head quickly. "Whaddaya mean, 'no'?" Squall felt his knees start to give way, and his breathing was short and laboured. Irvine caught Squall by the arm as he hit the ground.

"I-I can't do it Irvine…" Squall whispered, closing his eyes.

"Do what? Is it because Edea is Matron?" Irvine asked, confused. Squall swallowed.

"There's too many people Irvine, I can't go out there…" Behind him, Irvine could hear the crowd start to cheer.

(Shit. It's starting…)

"Squall, please, get up!" Irvine pleaded. "We only have one shot at this and we're gonna blow it if you don't get up!" Squall swallowed again and pulled himself slowly up. Irvine watched him take three steps forward and stop again.

"I can't!" Squall replied, turning around again. Irvine stared at Squall for a second. This was the great leader of the operation? He was scared of a crowd? Irvine sighed and walked toward Squall.

"Squall," he said, getting in Squall's face. "If you don't go out there of your own free will, I'm going to carry you there. The others are counting on us to do our part of the job. If you don't-" Irvine was cut off by a voice echoing throughout the square.

"...Scum ...Shameless lowlifes. How you celebrate my ascension with such joy. Hailing the very one whom you have condemned for generations... Have you no shame?" Irvine turned quickly at the sound of the voice. It was Matron.

"What happened to the evil, ruthless sorceress from your fantasies? The cold-blooded tyrant that slaughtered countless men and destroyed many nations? Where is she now? She stands before your very eyes to become your new ruler!" Edea laughed maniacally. Irvine turned back to Squall, who was staring at the sorceress.

"…Well?" he asked.

"Isn't there a way around?" Squall asked. Irvine shook his head.

"Everything is packed. You're just gonna have to run through," Irvine answered.

(…Just run through. I can do that. I'll be okay. The others are counting on us…)

"Hey! Isn't that Rinoa?" Irvine asked pointing at the sorceress's podium. Squall looked up and saw whom Irvine was pointing at. It really was Rinoa.

(What the hell is she doing up there?) Squall glanced at Irvine, clenched his jaw and moved forward. Irvine was surprised at Squall's speed. They darted quickly through the crowd, and even though they weren't in the exact spot they were supposed to be in, they were close to the gate. The spot where Squall chose to stop was much less crowded than the rest of the square, there were only a few people there. Everyone else was on the other side of the street where they could see the sorceress better.

"A new era has just begun… Rest assured that your time will come." Edea continued. "This is only the beginning. Let us start a new reign of terror. I will let you live a fantasy beyond your imagination.!" The crowd cheered louder as Edea walked away from the podium.

"Are they even listening to a word she's saying?" Irvine asked incredulously. Somewhere, someone screamed. Squall and Irvine spun around quickly and saw two large creatures running down the street. They were half lion, half lizard; Iguions. The two creatures ran to the gate of the residence and launched themselves onto the podium. Above them, they heard another scream, it was Rinoa.

***

Squall and Irvine entered the Sorceress's chamber silently. To their left, they saw the hatch that led to the carousel clock, but ahead they could hear Rinoa's hysterical cries. The two men glanced at one another and nodded. Squall drew his gunblade and Irvine loaded his gun.

They burst around the corner into the main chamber and found Rinoa being circled by the two Iguions. Irvine fired a shot at one of them and the two creatures turned away from their prey to face the new threat.

"Squall! Irvine! Help me!" Rinoa screamed. One of the two monsters turned and hissed at Rinoa, causing her to go into hysterics again. The other slowly stalked the two men.

"Um, now what?" Irvine whispered to Squall. Squall stared at the creature.

"Irvine do you know how to draw?" Squall whispered back. Irvine raised an eyebrow.

"Yes…"

"Good. Then draw the Carbuncle out of that thing." Irvine looked at the Iguion and then closed his eyes, concentrating. He opened his eyes again, finding what Squall had been talking about.

"DRAW CARBUNCLE!" he shouted. Blue light shot out of the creature and entered Irvine. Squall ran forward and swung his gunblade around, cutting one of the Iguion's legs off. The monster howled in pain and fell to the ground. Irvine came forward and put a bullet in its head as Squall went for the other one.

The monster advanced slowly on Rinoa, pinning her in between itself and the wall. The howl of its counterpart distracted it long enough for Rinoa to roll out of the way. The second creature howled in pain as Squall brought his gunblade down on its hindquarters. It turned viciously and clawed at Squall's torso. Squall jumped backward, but not fast enough. The un-retracted claws ripped through Squall's shirt and skin. He fell on his back, his gunblade spinning away from him, across the floor toward Rinoa. The large creature towered over Squall, baring its teeth. Squall brought his hands up and pushed the monster's head away from him, but the Iguion was too strong.

"Irvine!" Squall shouted. Irvine was kneeling next to Rinoa, with his gun cocked and aiming. The sound of the gunshot ran in Squall's ears and the large animal fell, dead. Squall cried in pain as the full weight of the creature landed on him. Irvine ran to Squall and tried to move the Iguion's corpse, but it was too heavy. He could see Squall's chest bleeding profusely and knew that if they didn't get Squall out from under there and healed, he would probably die from blood loss.

"Shit! Squall, it's too heavy! I can't move it!" Rinoa stood up slowly from her position and timidly walked toward the dead creature.

"AAAHHHH! My leg!" Squall shouted, trying to push the monster off. Irvine glanced at Squall's left leg. The animal had pinned Squall down with its paws before Irvine had killed it. The claws were imbedded in Squall's upper thigh. "Get the bloody thing the hell off me!!" Squall yelled, trying to push the animal off. Rinoa and Irvine pushed and pulled and poked and prodded, but they couldn't get it to move at all. Squall was steadily getting weaker from the blood loss and couldn't push anymore.

"Hang in there, Squall!" Rinoa pleaded, outside she heard the sound of music. The parade was coming back around. Irvine noticed too and started pushing harder.

"Come on you stupid mumble mumble mumble…" Irvine urged. Squall's eyes were getting heavy, he just wanted to fall asleep. He couldn't feel his leg anymore and his chest was throbbing. There was nothing but the pain. Squall opened his eyes again as Rinoa called his name.

"Please Squall! Stay awake!!" Rinoa pleaded.

"…Get… out of the… way…" Squall whispered. Rinoa backed up.

"Irvine, move." Irvine looked up from the creature and raised an eyebrow. Then he glanced at Squall and took a few stepped backward. Squall closed his eyes, concentrating on the bulk lying on top of him. Rinoa watched as Squall and the creature started glowing a light purple colour. She saw Squall's lips move, but no sound came out. Abruptly, the creature started to float, dragging Squall's leg up in the air with it. Irvine ran a few steps forward and unhooked Squall's leg from the monster's claws and dragged Squall backwards.

"Was that a float spell?" Rinoa asked.

"Yeah… Shit! The clock is gonna go up any minute now!! Ah hell…" Irvine pulled Squall carefully to his feet. "Can you walk?" Squall nodded, dazed. "Great. This way." Irvine helped Squall to the hatch in the hallway and opened it. Rinoa followed behind silently. They walked slowly down the staircase and Irvine helped Squall sit down on the floor of the carousel. Rinoa picked the sniper rifle up and handed it to Irvine. He nodded his thanks and walked around the clock to where he was supposed to be positioned. Squall sat with his back against the centrepiece of the carousel and closed his eyes. He could feel his chest itching, which meant that it was healing. His leg still hurt though.

"Squall? I was scared," she whispered. Squall opened his eyes.

"It's over now," he answered quietly. Rinoa changed positions so that she was sitting next to him.

"I was really scared, not just for me, but for you too," she said quietly.

(She was worried about me? Why?)

"Just stay close to me and you'll be okay…" he told her. Rinoa nodded.

"Um… How's your leg?" Squall glanced down at his left leg. It was still bleeding a little, but the numbness, unfortunately for him, had gone away, causing his leg to throb painfully.

"I'll live," he answered. Rinoa looked at him, and noticed his shirt was shredded and bloody.

"Your chest!" she gasped, reaching for him. Squall pushed her hand away.

"I'm fine, it's just a scratch," he said. The wounds in his chest had already sealed most of the way up. Now they were only red marks across his skin. His leg was also healing quickly. The bleeding had stopped, but it was still painful. Abruptly, the ground beneath then began to shake and the carousel started to rise. "Shit…" he mumbled and started to pull himself up.

"Squall, you're not going to actually attack her head-on if Irvine misses, are you?" she asked, staring at him. Squall shrugged and pulled himself the rest of the way up. As Rinoa stood up, an object fell out of her pocket. Squall leaned over carefully to pick it up.

"Hey, you drop- AH!" he cried, dropping it again. He looked at his hand. The black leather was smoking slightly, the object had felt like it was burning through his hand. "What is that!?" Rinoa bent down and picked it up again.

"The Odine Ban- Aahh!" she answered, losing her balance as the clock suddenly ceased its upward movement and landed on Squall. The two teenagers fell over. Squall hissed as he landed on his leg. Rinoa quickly pulled herself off of him.

"I'm sorry! Are you alright?" Squall drug himself up again and leaned against the centrepiece. Ignoring Rinoa, he limped over to Irvine. Squall glanced at the archway and saw the gates crash to the ground and the crowd start to go crazy. Irvine held the gun up and aimed. Rinoa came up behind them.

"…I-I can't do it!" Irvine said, dropping the barrel of the gun. Squall brought himself down to Irvine's position.

"Irvine, if I can run through a crowd, you can shoot a sorceress…" Squall told him. Irvine brought the gun up again.

"No!" he cried dropping it again. "It's Matron, Squall, I can't do it!"

"That's not Matron anymore, Irvine! Matron died eight years ago, that's just a monster in Matron's body. Now shoot, damn you!" Irvine nodded and aimed the gun again, slowly he pulled the trigger and watched in horror as the bullet hit a protection field surrounding the sorceress.

"…I-I tried, Squall. I'm sorry," Irvine said, hanging his head. Squall stood up.

"It's okay Irvine, you're shooting was great," he told the other man. Then he glanced over the edge of the clock. (I can jump that…) he glanced at his leg again. It was healed completely, but still sore.

(Screw it… We're probably all gonna die anyway…) Squall took a few steps back and ran forward, casting a float spell as he descended to the ground. He hit the pavement softly, and rolled forward as his leg gave out from under him. Squall got back up and glanced around. The crowd was rioting and the Galbadian army was trying desperately to control them. To his right, Squall saw an empty car. He ran to it and found the keys still in the ignition. (Thank you Hyne!) He jumped into the driver's seat and hit the gas, ploughing his way down the road toward the archway and the sorceress.

***

Seifer took his place in front of the sorceress, ready to take the next bullet, and hoping there wouldn't be one. He drew Hyperion from its sheath and prepared for anything. Behind him, Seifer heard a loud clang and the sorceress's parade vehicle shook a little from an impact. Seifer waited. He knew who was coming, there was only one person who would dare. A grin spread across Seifer's face as his suspicions were confirmed. The person climbed onto the vehicle and stood up, glaring at Seifer. It was Squall.

(Of course, who else is stupid enough to attack the sorceress? This is gonna be fun) he thought maliciously.

"Well, well, well… Look what we have here…" Seifer mocked.

"Yeah, the sorceress's lap dog. What a pitiful sight," Squall answered.

"I prefer to be called her 'knight'," Seifer replied through his teeth.

(…Knight… "You and me gotta grow up to be knights together…") the voice echoed in Squall's mind again. He quickly shook it off and narrowed his eyes.

"Whatever… You're just another delusional maniac in my opinion."

"LEONHART, YOUR ASS IS MINE!" Seifer swung the gunblade around, just missing Squall as he jumped backward a few inches.

"Squall!" Irvine shouted from the ground behind the two swordsmen. Rinoa was with him. They had gone down the long way and dodged through the rioting crowd to the archway.

"Stay back! Seifer's mine!" Squall yelled back, swinging his gunblade dangerously close to Seifer's head. Seifer ran at Squall and thrust Hyperion forward. Squall turned sideways and hit Seifer from behind with the flat of the blade, knocking the other man off his feet. Squall spun around quickly and put the tip of his gunblade to Seifer's neck. Seifer swallowed, feeling the pressure against his throat. Squall stepped back and flourished a bow.

"Would you care to try again, Mr. Almasy? This time, maybe, you can control your temper?" Squall said, his gaze dancing with mockery. Seifer's eyes narrowed as he stood up again.

Rinoa and Irvine watched the sword battle with awe. The two gunbladesmen were amazing. It was like watching artists at work. Irvine and Rinoa were so involved in the sword fight that both of them completely forgot about the sorceress, who was also watching carefully. The battle lasted only for a few minutes, but it seemed like hours. Finally, Squall relieved Seifer of his gunblade and hit him in the head with the butt of the weapon, knocking Seifer out. Then he turned to the sorceress. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the boy in front of her. There was something strange about him.

Edea quickly raised her hand and cast a stop spell as Squall came toward her. Behind Squall, Irvine and Rinoa had climbed onto the parade vehicle, but they froze as the stop spell passed over them. Squall continued toward the sorceress.

"Is that the best you can do?" Squall asked quietly. The sorceress felt very uncomfortable. Who was this boy that he could brush away one of her powerful stop spells like it was an annoying mosquito? She narrowed her eyes and raised her hand. Shards of ice appeared floating next to her. Edea made a forward motion with her hand and the ice flew at Squall, lodging themselves in his shoulder. Squall gasped in surprise and staggered backward, falling to his knees. He gazed blankly at the sorceress before the world of consciousness left him behind.

***

Author's Note: Wow, I didn't have an author's note for this one either. Okay, this is the end of disc one. Man, I should have updated a long time ago! o_O;;; Well, there we go! Looks all purtyful now and I'm almost done updating the chapters for it! Then I move on to I Am Not Alone! YAY! Oh, and there will be more of IANA for those of you who have read it, I promise. ^_^

-Rhyein