Squall awoke early that morning to the sound of the intercom calling his name. "Squall Leonhart? Could Squall Leonhart come to the bridge? Uh… Now, please?" the voice sounded rather nervous. Squall sighed and rolled out of bed slowly, his head hurt. He got dressed and left his room, making his way toward the bridge; about halfway there he ran into Irvine.

"Squall! What are you doing here? You need to get to the bridge, like, now!" Irvine blurted out.

"What's the rush?" Squall asked, confused.

"Galbadia Garden is here! They're-" Irvine didn't even get a chance to finish his sentence before Squall was running down the hallway toward the elevator. He waited impatiently as the elevator doors slowly opened and a few people came out. Squall pushed past them and hit the third floor button. The doors opened again and he ran out onto the third floor. Nida was standing at the controls with a set of binoculars as Squall came up.

"What's going on? Irvine said that Galbadia Garden was here!?" Squall said, searching Nida's face for answers. Nida shrugged and handed Squall the binoculars.

"Take a look," Nida replied. Squall squinted through the binoculars and saw Galbadia Garden dead in front of them. It was moving slowly and didn't seem to have noticed them yet. "What do you think?" Nida asked.

"They probably know we're over here. A fight is inevitable."

""The sorceress is with them, huh? So this is going to be the last fight?" Nida replied.

"I hope so," Squall sighed and picked up the intercom microphone. "…Everyone? This is Squall speaking. This is very important, Galbadia Garden is coming this way and we're going to have to fight them. As most of you know, Seifer and the Sorceress are with them. I'm hoping this will be the last time we have to face them." Squall brought the microphone away from his face for a second, thinking.

"Alright, Garden will proceed straight ahead. 1st and 2nd Class Sabres, assemble in the parking lot. Those with Magic Ranks 3 or above, head for the 2nd floor deck and await instructions. Be sure to warm up. The enemy will probably come aboard, most likely through the front gate and the Quad. If your student ID number is even, report to the quad. If it's odd, report to the front gate. Those who have student ID numbers ending with an 8, take care of the junior classmen. Finally, I need Quistis, Selphie, Zell, and Irvine to come to the bridge," he finished, Squall nodded to Nida and left the upper bridge area. Quistis, Selphie, and Irvine were already waiting for him.

"What do you need?" Quistis asked.

"I want you guys to help me lead the others. Quistis, could you go to the front gate with Irvine? Help out there… I'll take Selphie and Zell with me," Squall replied. Quistis and Irvine nodded.

"Zell...? Umm, I think he's asleep. Yeah, he said he hasn't slept at all lately," Selphie said.

"What...? Oh yeah," Quistis replied, looking toward the ceiling. Squall raised an eyebrow.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Nothing…" she said quickly. She glanced at Selphie and they both giggled.

(...What the hell is he doing? I don't have time for this!) Squall thought, obviously irritated. "I'm going to check the Quad. Selphie, find Zell. You guys can meet me in the Quad. Alright, I guess that's it."

"What about Rinoa?" Irvine spoke up.

(Shit…)

"You guys take care of her," Squall decided. "Okay, let's go." The two SeeDs saluted and Irvine tipped his hat. They all entered the elevator together, and as soon as they reached the first floor, Irvine and Quistis took off for the front gate. Selphie ran toward the dorms, deciding that was as good a place as any to start looking for Zell. As Squall entered the Quad, he could hear a voice giving orders.

"You guys are over here, backup the advance guards. Alright, listen up! This is the big one, guys! We gotta win, no matter what!" Squall stopped at the top of the stairwell and stared down at Zell, who was standing in front of a column of SeeDs. "S'up, Squall? I got this place covered," Zell said, glancing at him. Squall crossed his arms.

"I thought you were sleeping?" he said. Zell looked puzzled for a moment and coughed.

"Oh! Uh… Yeah… Your announcement woke me up," Zell lied quickly. "My student ID is even, so I'm supposed to be here, right?" Squall raised an eyebrow suspiciously and nodded. "Yo, Squall come here for a sec," Zell motioned for him to follow. Squall narrowed his eyes and came down the stairs. "It's about your ring… This might not be the time, but... Can I borrow it? I won't lose it or anything. Please?" Zell smiled at the commander, who looked suspicious.

"Why do you need it?"

"Classified info, man. C'mon, just give it to me. You can trust me." Squall stared at Zell for a second and then pulled the ring off and handed it to him.

"Don't lose it."

Zell jumped into the air happily. "YES! THANKS MAN! I didn't think you were gonna give it to me. Rinoa is gonna be so happy!" Zell stopped suddenly. "Oops…"

"Rinoa?"

"Just leave this place to me!" Zell exclaimed quickly, changing the subject. Just then, Selphie came running in, with Rinoa following behind.

"Zell! There you are! I thought you were taking a nap…" she said suggestively. Zell grinned and scratched the back of his head. Rinoa ran forward and looked Squall in the eyes.

"I'm gonna fight too. I don't wanna just hide. I know I can fight. I want to help everyone," she stated. Squall appraised her for a second and then nodded. Rinoa saluted and got in line with the other SeeDs.

"Squall! Get back to the bridge right now!" Nida's voice said frantically over the intercom. Squall cursed and looked at Zell.

"I'm counting on you… Good luck, everyone," he said as he ran out of the Quad.

***

Seifer stared at Balamb Garden. There was something growing in the pit of his stomach as he watched the missiles and soldiers attack the other building, his home. Was this what regret felt like?

"SEIFER!"

He turned slowly away from the battle scene and suddenly fell down. Seifer blinked rapidly and shook his head. Someone's fist had brutally connected with his jaw. He looked up angrily at his attacker and found himself staring at Raijin and Fujin. He pulled himself off of the ground and advanced on his two friends.

"What the hell was that for?!" he exclaimed angrily. Fujin only crossed her arms. Raijin looked back and forth between the two and took a step backward.

"Hey, Seifer… We're sick of this, ya know? That's our home over there. We have friends there, ya know? And all those kids are there too… This is too much, ya know?" Raijin said.

"CHANGED," Fujin said.

"She's right, man. You're not the same Seifer, ya know?"

"You two leaving then?" Seifer asked, narrowing his eyes. Raijin and Fujin looked at each other and then at Seifer, but before they could answer the two Gardens collided, causing everyone to fall. He pulled himself up and looked over the railing. The SeeDs and Galbadian soldiers were all over the place. He noticed a small group of SeeDs making their way into Galbadia Garden though. It looked like Selphie, Irvine, Zell and Quistis.

(Where's Squall?) he wondered. He turned toward Fujin and Raijin and found that they had gone already. He cursed to himself and went inside. He walked quickly through the halls, the sounds of combat ringing in his ears. He walked through the second floor hallways and glanced over the balcony. One of the GFs had gotten loose, it looked like Cerberus. Seifer could see that he was fighting with some people, were they soldiers? He squinted at them and saw a gunblade catch the light. Those weren't Galbadians. He smiled to himself and made his way to the third floor elevator. He waited as it rose into the air, and then exited when the door opened on the third floor. The Sorceress was sitting on her dais, smiling to herself.

"They're coming, milady," Seifer said, bowing.

"I know. We'll wait here for them," she answered, folding her hands together and placing them on her lap. Seifer nodded and took his place to her right, resting his hands on the pommel of Hyperion. He waited silently, the pit in his stomach growing a little larger. They were coming. They were coming for Matron, and for him. The scar on his nose suddenly felt like it was burning. Seifer took a deep breath and watched as the elevator doors in front of him opened and Squall, Rinoa, and Irvine stepped out. "I leave them to you, my knight…" the sorceress murmured softly. Seifer allowed a smirk to spread across his face as he suddenly felt a surge of courage run through his veins.

"Oh, you shouldn't have... I was looking forward to visiting you at what was left of my old home," Seifer taunted, grinning. Squall's eyes narrowed as he advanced upon the other man. "Did you come to fight Matron? Of all people?" Seifer smirked. He turned his taunting gaze toward Irvine. "Hey, you're a Galbadian student. You're on the wrong side of this line..."

"I'm happy where I am, thank you," Irvine growled, cocking his gun. Seifer snickered and shook his head; turning his gaze upon Rinoa.

"Rinoa, what are you doing here? You're gonna fight me, too? How could you? Don't you remember a year ago when we..."

"Stop it!" Rinoa interrupted angrily.

"So where's everyone else? Instructor Trepe? Selphie? The Chicken-wuss?"

"It's too late Seifer. You can't mess with our minds anymore. To us, you're just another enemy. Just like one of those monsters in the Training Centre," Squall replied, softly. Seifer's nostrils flared, Squall had hit a nerve.

"You're comparing ME to one of those things? I'm not a monster! I'm the Sorceress' Knight! What about you? Look at you. Attacking like a swarm. You guys are the monsters!" Seifer argued, raising Hyperion. Squall set his jaw and drew his own gunblade.

"Want to finish this? One on one? You and me. Right here, right now," Squall said. Seifer swallowed as he stared into Squall's eyes. There was something wrong with this, but he couldn't back down now. He had to protect his Sorceress.

"Fine."

***

"I think it's clear now, Quistis!" Selphie exclaimed, waving her hand at the two people down the corridor. Quistis and Zell jogged down the hallway and stopped next to Selphie.

"Good. No more students?" the blonde instructor inquired. Selphie shook her head. "Good. Let's see if we can find Squall now."

"Right," Zell replied, smiling. The three SeeDs ran through the corridors of Galbadia Garden, making their way to the headmaster's office. That was where Quistis thought it was the most likely that the Sorceress would be at. They reached the second floor elevator and waited.

"Dammit, we don't have the keycard for this elevator, Squall has it…" Quistis cursed, stomping her foot. Zell clenched his fists in frustration and hit the elevator door. To their surprise, the door opened, and Squall, Rinoa and Irvine came out.

"This way- Quistis!?" Squall slid to a halt. Quistis looked at Squall in surprise.

"We got all the Galbadian students out…"

"Good. The Sorceress is in the auditorium, come on!" Squall replied and ran down the hallway. The five dumbfounded SeeDs blinked at each other and then followed their commander's lead.

The auditorium was silent as the six teenagers entered it. There was no sign of the Sorceress at all. Suddenly the glass screen above them shattered and the Sorceress seemed to be flying toward them. Everyone except Squall cringed as the Sorceress landed lightly in front of them. Squall only stared at her. He hadn't really paid attention to her appearance before, but now he realised that her eyes were gold. Matron's eyes had not been gold, they were brown.

(No, that's not possible… she couldn't be… Could she?)

"So the time has come," Edea said, levelling her gaze at the boy in front of her. "You're the legendary SeeD destined to face me?" She looked him over curiously. "I must say that you are impressive… An impressive nuisance that is. Your life ends here, SeeD," Edea finished venomously. She raised her hand and a black sphere formed above the six SeeDs. Around Squall, everyone fell to their knees in pain. Squall snorted and drew his gunblade slowly.

"Is that all?" he asked, tauntingly. Edea's eyes widened a bit and she took a step back before sending a lightning bolt in his direction. "REFLECT!" Squall shouted, just before the lightning bolt reached him. Edea watched as it bounced off of Squall harmlessly. He stepped toward her, slowly and purposefully. She backed away, throwing more spells at him, each one bounced off of him without doing any damage at all. Behind him, Squall could hear his companions standing up, the pain of the Maelstrom spell seemingly gone. Edea gasped as she realised her mistake. She had been focusing on Squall alone, so his friends had had time to recover from her spell. She raised her hands, readying another, stronger spell, but she suddenly stopped, and screamed. The sound of a gunshot registered in Squall's ear a second later. Edea slowly crumpled to the ground and Squall felt himself being pushed away from her. He turned his head and watched as Rinoa was caught in a purple light.

"No! Rinoa!!" Squall shouted, reaching for her, but he found he could not move his body anymore.

(What the hell!? I can't… move…) Squall watched as Rinoa hung in the purple light for a second and then she moved slowly, mechanically toward another form. It seemed to be Seifer. She leaned over Seifer and whispered something. Seifer stood up slowly and nodded to what she had said, and then left the room. Squall watched as Rinoa's form then crumpled to the ground, and he found he could move again. Quistis ran to Rinoa and leaned over her fallen form.

"Rinoa!? Are you all right?" she said desperately. Squall turned his head toward Sorceress Edea who looked as if she had just awakened from a dream.

"Squall? Quistis? Selphie? Irvine… Zell... You've all here… You've grown so much... and become so strong... I knew this day would come. Where is Ellone!? Have I protected Ellone!?" she wondered. Squall and Irvine ran to the dying woman.

"Matron! I'm so sorry!!" Irvine cried. Squall stared at her wound, a gunshot to the stomach.

"It's alright Irvine…" she said, smiling. Zell and Selphie approached her as well.

"Matron…"

"Can't we do anything for her!?" Zell exclaimed. Selphie shook her head.

"Dying Sorceresses can't be cured or revived…" she replied sadly.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing!" Quistis said angrily from above them. "There's something wrong with Rinoa as well… She won't wake up." Squall glanced over Selphie's head at Rinoa, who was lying peacefully on the floor.

"We love you Matron, please don't leave us…" Irvine said softly. Edea only shook her head and smiled again.

"I love you all too… but I knew this would happen… I only wish… that I could have seen… Cid… one… more… time…" her words trailed off as she lost consciousness.

"Can't we get her to Dr. Kadowaki!?" Zell asked.

"Squall? What's wrong? Squall!?" Quistis asked urgently. Squall was staring at Matron with wide eyes. He knew that there was something that could be done. He knew it, but to do it meant revealing himself to his friends. Squall blinked and looked up at the sound of Quistis calling his name.

"…Dammit all!" he exclaimed and pushed Irvine out of the way. Everyone watched in surprise as Squall removed his gloves and placed his hand hesitantly on Matron's forehead. "Whatever happens, promise me you won't touch me," Squall said, turning his head slightly toward the SeeDs behind him.

"…Squall…"

"Promise me!" he shouted. The four SeeDs nodded solemnly and watched. Squall turned back to Matron and took a deep breath, then closed his eyes. Around them, the SeeDs saw a soft blue light appear in the room. The light swirled around the room for a few seconds and then began to gather around Squall and Matron.

"It's beautiful…" Selphie whispered. Zell nodded his agreement.

"…What is he doing?" Irvine wondered softly. Quistis shook her head, her eyes were wide.

"…I don't know… It looks like a Life spell, but that wouldn't work… and it's much to large to be a Life spell…"

"What about Full-Life?" Zell asked.

"Full-Life spells have a reddish light when cast, not blue. Where would Squall get a Full-Life spell anyway?" Quistis replied. The four continued to watch as the blue light focused upon Matron. Suddenly it seemed as if all the light in the room had exploded.

"Squall!" Selphie exclaimed. The SeeDs watched helplessly as Squall was thrown back from Matron and hit the wall opposite of them. He slid slowly down the wall and came to rest on the floor, obviously unconscious. Quistis stood up to help him, but Irvine held her back.

"Let go!" Quistis growled. Irvine only shook his head.

"…We promised," Irvine replied simply. Quistis hung her head, he was right of course, but Squall could be hurt, or worse…

"…Children?" Matron said groggily. Everyone turned to the woman, who just moments before, had been dying.

"Matron!" Zell clamoured. The teenagers gathered around her.

"You're alright!"

"What happened?" Matron asked putting a hand to her head and sitting up slowly. She listened quietly as they explained what they had seen Squall do. "I see…" she said finally.

"What can we do Matron? We promised, but he could be hurt or worse!" Quistis said. Edea only shook her head.

"He's fine. Resurrection spells do take a lot out of one…" Edea replied.

"…Resurrection spell?" Irvine repeated.

"Yes. It's the only spell that can save a dying sorceress. It's not used very often though."

"How did Squall get one?" Zell asked.

"…He didn't 'get' one. Resurrection spells can't be 'gotten', they must be learned," Edea told them quietly. Squall had obviously done this spell, even knowing that his friends would find out about what he was. Edea knew that it was probably best if she told them now.

"Learned?" Quistis echoed. "…But… Only…"

"Sorceresses can learn spells…" Selphie finished.

"…Or Sorcerers…" Quistis realised aloud. "That's what NORG meant! That means, Squall is a…" Quistis's voice trailed off.

"Yes… Squall is a Sorcerer," Edea confirmed.

***

"That was rather interesting…"

"What do you want?" Squall asked irritatedly.

"Hiding in the recesses of your mind again I see…" came the reply. Squall looked up at the woman in front of him.

"Go away."

"I can't, remember? I'm stuck in your head whether you like it or not. That's the price of inheriting my power," she replied.

"The price of inheriting your power… I didn't ask for it you know."

"Yes, well I find it extremely amusing that it's you that has inherited my power… The SeeD that is destined to kill me. I didn't realise it was you until now of course."

"…Edea's eyes."

"Yes, that was me."

"How is it that you were using her and I kill you, but you died twelve years ago in Centra?" Squall asked. The golden-eyed woman smiled.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out. This ought to be interesting. I'm supposed to be here to help with your training as a sorcerer, but I find that I'm in the head of my killer… This will be very interesting indeed."

"What are you rambling about?"

"Oh, nothing…" the woman walked away from Squall, laughing.

***

"…all? …Squall? Squall, wake up…"

Squall groaned loudly and brought his hand to his head. He opened his eyes widely when he realised he had no gloves on. Squall sat up abruptly, almost colliding with Quistis's head.

"Geez! Watch it! You almost hit me!" Quistis proclaimed in irritation. Squall looked around the room and found he was sitting in the Infirmary.

"How'd I get here?"

"Irvine carried you since he had long sleeves and gloves," she told him. Squall's eyes widened, but Quistis interrupted him before he could yell at her. "Yes, we know we promised, but Matron told us what to do so that no one would get hurt…" Squall looked away from Quistis, and a pit began to grow in his stomach.

"…I guess she told you then…"

"…Yes."

"…There's your answers then. Why I don't draw, why I don't use GFs, why I have all those spells that no one else does… and why I wear the gloves." Quistis looked at the floor, uncertain of what to say.

"…Dr. Kadowaki explained why you were tired all the time too… You weren't used to using your magick that much, right?"

"Yeah… I think the other reason is because I can't control my power in the dream world. That's how Laguna cast Ultima on accident," Squall replied solemnly. "So Matron's okay?"

Quistis nodded. "Yes, but Rinoa's in a coma. Dr. Kadowaki isn't sure of what's wrong with her."

"Where is she?"

"In the next room."

"Oh."

"Dr. Kadowaki says that whenever you feel up to it, you can leave."

"Alright… Who else…?"

"Only me, Selphie, Irvine, and Zell… They're waiting for you to get better."

Squall looked up at Quistis, surprised. "…They don't… hate me?"

"Why should we?"

"…Because I'm a freak."

"No you're not Squall…"

"Whatever."

Quistis sighed, it was going to take a lot to convince Squall that they didn't think of him like that. "Matron is back at the orphanage with Headmaster Cid. We should probably go see them when you feel ready."

"Yeah."

Quistis stood up and smiled at Squall. "I'm glad you're okay Squall. I'll see you later." Squall's eyes followed her as she turned and walked out of the room.

(How can she act like that? Like I'm normal? As if nothing happened?) he wondered. This was going to take some getting used to.

***

A/N: Wow… That took a looooooooooong time to get out. I'm so sorry about the *counts* 7… no… 8 month wait. ^^;; I'm sure everyone will be surprised to see this at the top of the list again. ^^;; I promise I haven't given up on my FF8 fanfiction, I'm just not writing it as fast as I used to. So please be patient with me. Thanks!

Oh, and in response to Wild Child's question: Edea inherited the powers of TWO sorceresses in the game. One when she was 5 and then Ultimecia's. In my story, she still has the powers of the sorceress that she inherited from when she was 5, but not Ultimecia's.

-Rhyein