Chapter 12 In and Out

Author's note: The last chapter was a little long, but I thought it was appropriate. Anyway, there are elements from the Final Fantasy IX story; but like I said, it sounded right when I wrote it. Happy Reading! By the way, it is actually 'Ortagon' not 'Octagon' Knights. Sorry for the mistake.

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Quistis felt her blood chill. "Oh Hyne..." Was that what she thought it was...?

" You disobeyed the Empress..." It rasped. "The punishment is... death!"

A rain of javelins showered on the two and they would have been skewered if a long staff didn't shoot out and knock the things off course.

"Xu!" Quistis gasped in pain. Xu stood a little way off, and with her was Irvine, Zell and Selphie. "What is that?!" Selphie asked in awe. "It's cool!"

"I am Sphinx." It growled and pounced on Selphie. Irvine tried to shoot it, but it seems to be immune to physical attacks.

"You won't defeat me," it sneered as it literally swiped Zell away.

Quistis grit her teeth. Sphinx wasn't invincible, only its defense was high. "Keep attacking," She called out. "He's lying!"

"I hope you're right!" Irvine yelled and held on to his hat as he rolled out of a furious swipe from a large paw.

"Argh!" Selphie yelped as the Sphinx tore into her side. Irvine clenched his teeth and reloaded his gun. "Eat this! Pulse Ammo!"

"Whoa, he's mad," Zell said dazedly as he watched Irvine furiously fire bullet after bullet. "Pulse Ammos are expensive."

"Well, trust him to guard a girl's honor." Xu grumbled as she lunged with her staff. But all attacks seem to be futile. At last Quistis managed to get to her feet. "Squall!" She called. "Break the mask!"

Squall listened once and with all his strength, struck the Sphinx right in the middle of its face. It howled horribly and Zell flexed his arm, grinning. "Take this! Meteor Barrette!"

Quistis hunched over, paralyzed with pain. The javelins were poisoned, she thought hazily. If Sphinx is here, it means the other Ortagon Knights are here as well. And if they're here, that means the Empress is looking for her...

'Are you alright?" Selphie rushed to her side. "Oh, you're poisoned," She carefully helped Quistis stand. "Let's go to camp." She helped Quistis stand.

As they retreated back to camp, Squall took one last look at the Sphinx. They'll have to move fast - when its comrades finds this one's dead, chances of slipping into the castle might be reduced to nil.

"What is it?" Irvine came up to the prince. Squall shook his head. "If she's too injured we have to move without her."

"She won't like that." Irvine shook his head. "It's her duty as well."

Squall was silent for a moment. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, and he needed to get it off him. "Irvine?"

"Hmm?" Irvine was examining one of the javelins with interest.

"What really happened in Balamb fifteen years ago?"

Irvine froze. He promptly forced a chuckle. 'Why the sudden revival in interest?"

"... Quistis told me something... about Esthar guarding something on that continent. What was it that we were fighting for?"

"Balamb's independence," Irvine answered, his smile fading. Maybe he should tell the truth now - but it has nothing to do with the current situation. "Galbadia was trying to occupy the continent, and King Loire stepped in to help. It was a horrible battle, I'm sure you remember that." He reflected for a while. "You were so afraid, but when we returned to Esthar, you changed."

Squall stiffened. A vision of a motionless body lying under rubble fleeted past his mind's eye. "Someone taught me life was unforgiving." He said slowly. "Fate has a way in playing with our destiny, and sometimes we have to make the most of sacrifices."

"You're thinking about her," Irvine sighed. "She's dead, Squall. Can't you see you're grieving a memory? Why is she so important to you?"

Squall frowned. He didn't know either, but somehow, it was that memory that kept him true to his oath, to his visions.

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Ellone struggled as her boat hit shore. Where was she? One of the many small islands surrounding Balamb or Trabia? She was so weak... When she emerged in the cove, the boat was there but Mother forgot that she needed to eat. She had to paddle through a storm to get to wherever she was now... she was so exhausted. A part of her mind demand that she simply lay down then and there and let go, yet another voice was telling her to keep pressing on. The voice said she was where she was meant to be, and she was in danger. "If you say so..." She grumbled and shakily got to her feet. But fatigue overcame her and she collapsed, unconscious. If she had kept awake for a few minutes longer, she would have heard the patter of chocobos' feet and voices talking.

"...been a quiet day, eh Watts?" A Knight in full armor sighed as he guided his steed towards the beach. The page known as Watts nodded sleepily. "Yes, sir..." His eyes caught sight of something and his jaw dropped. "Sir!"

"What is it?" the Knight drew his sword. "A monster to slay?"

"A mermaid, sir!!!!!!" Watts yelled in awe and jumped down from his chocobo. The two rushed down the slight slope to the sorry remains of a boat.

Watts looked in amazement at the unconscious girl. She was dressed in a thin dress and was...etheral.

"She's human, you dolt." The Knight grumbled as he surveyed the girl. And a pretty darn stunning one, he smiled inwardly.
"What's happening?! Why isn't she moving?"

He tried to tug at the heavy beam, but it won't move. The sky was golden red, and it made everything to surreal. But it was real. He could feel the rough stones at his feet and the blood on his fingers as he tried to move the wooden beam with his small strength.

"We've got to save her!!"

That voice - it was a boy. Why was he trying to lift the beam too? Was he going to save Sis?

"Seifer!"

No, that isn't my name... Someone once called me a different name...

"Seifer!"

Another boy was shaking him - he had long hair and wore fine clothes. He looked like a page, and was vaguely familiar.

"Seifer, wake up!"

The face slowly melted into the face of a pale, frightened woman. Seifer slowly focused. "Rinoa...?"

"Thank Hyne." Rinoa sighed and let him go. "I thought you were possessed. You seemed to be having a nightmare."

Seifer groggily sat up. He was sitting on a cold floor, and it hurt his back. He looked around. A finely furnished room. "Why was I on the floor...?" He asked, irritated. Rinoa giggled. "Because I had the bed, and you were to heavy to move onto the sofa," She grinned and looked mournfully out of the window. They were imprisoned in one of Trabia's high towers, and it overlooked the chunky mountains. By the looks of it, they weren't facing Balamb or Esthar.

"How'd we get here?" He asked as he surveyed his surroundings. Rinoa shook her head. "Mother is keeping us under lock and key," She pointed to the shadows moving under the door. "There's no way we can run - we have to wait for the others," She scowled slightly and crossed her arms behind her back. Seifer groaned. In the end did he have to depend on Squall? "No way!" He hissed furiously. 'We're gonna get out of here, now!"

Rinoa grinned and whooped with joy. "I knew you were gonna say that! So, do you have a plan?"

Seifer frowned. Apart from direct assault and murdering everybody in the permises, thinking stratergies wasn't his strong point. He suddenly saw that Rinoa looked uncomfortable. 'What is it?"

"Um..." Rinoa shifted first on one foot and then the other. "Maybe you should know that Mother's Ortagon Knights are here," She began hesitantly. "And... I'm kind of... worried."

"What, are they that great? Who ordained them?"

Rinoa bit her lip. They're not even human, Seifer. They're creatures born of magic...

"The Ortagon Knights are eight creatures created out of Ultimecia's magic," Quistis sighed as Selhie bandaged her shoulder. "The one you saw was the youngest one, Sphinx. They never travel alone, and if you see one, that means the other Ortagons are there as well," She bit her lip. "I've seen them do things even Magic can't accomplish."

"Those javelins were poisoned," Irvine said grimly. "Luckily Selphie has a cure, but we can't take chances. Do you know anything about the Ortagons?" He asked Quistis, who shook her head. "I've only seen one - the one called Tiamat. He's the oldest, and I think... the most powerful of the eight." She shivered slightly at the memory of that moment, when a murderous aura so strong nearly made her suffocate. She could be considered lucky because she wasn't the one who had to face the monster, but still...

"Let's go." Squall stood up, and Quistis hurriedly got up. "I'm coming." Selphie firmly pushed her down. "You, are not going anywhere." She stated. Quistis was about to say something when Squall interrupted. "That's an order."

She stared at him for a minute before turning away. How she wished she had a vase to knock him on the head...

CRASH! CRASH!

"Help! Somebody help me!" Rinoa screamed loudly as she continued to knock down vases and paintings. Crash, went another gourd. "Seifer! Please stop!" She paused for effect, grabbed a vase and screamed as she hurtled it to the wall. Seifer narrowly ducked as a flying bronze duck came his way. Damn, she's a great actress, he thought derisively, but she'll kill me if she keeps it up!

The door swung open and a guard ran in, and was prompty knocked out cold by a crystal decanter. "Oops, did it hurt?" Rinoa asked sweetly before stepping on him. "Let's go!"

Seifer dazedly shook his head and followed the princess out of the room. He made a note to be careful of her aim.

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Ellone slowly blinked as her surroundings came into focus. A room. A modest room. She turned her head and noted a boy fast asleep on a chair. The sight made her sit up, startled. The next realization made her scream.

The boy was jolted out of his sleep and he jumped up, looked wildly around. 'What?! Who?!"

"What happened to me?!" Ellone shrieked as she looked down. She was dressed in clothes, but she sure as hell knew they weren't hers!

'Oh, you're awake, sir!" The boy seemed relieved. "We found you by the sea, and Sir Zone took you back," He explained, grinning sheepishly. But smiling was the last thing on Ellone's mind. "Where am I? Who is Sir Zone? Who undressed me?!" The last question was more of a shriek, but the boy seemed unfazed. Clearly he was shouted to frequently. "You're in Balamb Island, sir, the Esthar settlement. Sir Zone is the Commander of the Esthar army here."

So she had arrived in Balamb, she noted, but she was still sore. Saved by Estharians themselves - what a relief; but a man!

"You need not worry about you honor sir, a nurse took care of you while you were asleep." The boy said brightly. Ellone sighed in relief. Her thoughts returned back to the matter at hand. Trabia... what of her country now? And the Knights who were supposed to bring her back to Esthar - did they make it to Trabia? Are they safe? It troubles her to put so many people in trouble...

"You're up." A masculine voice greeted her pleasantly and Ellone saw an armor-clad soldier enter the room. Ellone presumed him to be Sir Zone. "Are you the Commander?" She asked politely. He bowed. "Watts here keeps insisting you're a mermaid, lady. I hope you're human, because then I'd lose a hundred gil."

Ellone laughed. "I am human, don't worry. My name is... Ellone." She said after a pause. It's better not to reveal who she is. "I escaped from Trabia."

"So you're the sole escapee then," Zone shrugged. "We heard what happened to Trabia. But our orders are to stay in Balamb at all costs."

"But you're allies with Trabia!" Ellone said, aghast. "You've got to help us!"

"Lady, we're all under the King and the Commander." He said gently. "The King has not given us orders to commence attack, so we're not moving from our posts."

"What kind of a King do you have?!" Ellone thumped her fists on the sheets. "My country is under attack and you'll only stand aside and let it fall into ruins?! Why stay here? Trabia is more important than Balamb!"

"Whatever the King orders is important," Zone got up and glared at her. "How dare you insult King Loire!"

"That's alright, she has right to," A voice replied from the doorway. Sir Zone whirled around in shock and promptly fell to his knees, bowing low. "Forgive me, you Highness!"

King Loire stood in the doorway, smiling slightly. He nodded to Ellone. "How are you, my dear?"

"Alive," Ellone replied, a little sheepish. She was not in the condition to stand and courtesy, so she could only bow while sitting. King Loire curtly dismissed Zone and turned to her again. "I'm glad to see you've escaped here, Ellone. But there's no time for civilities. Have you met the Knights who were sent to bring you to Esthar?"

"No. The castle was attacked without warning. I escaped in a boat Mother prepared earlier."

King Loire nodded gravely. "Edea must have thought the soldiers in Balamb can help you. She is quite right, however I won't allow it."

"What?!" Ellone half shrieked but caught herself in time. "You have to send soldiers! You can't just let them take us!"

"I have sent my best people," King Loire said firmly. "The army here must remain. I cannot risk whatever the Empress is planning."

"So you believe it's her work," Ellone sighed. "Why is she after me?"

"The reason why she is after this island," King Loire tapped his foot thoughtfully. "She's still intent on conquering this island..."

"What is on this island?!"

King Loire blinked. Ellone sat on the bed, her face a mask confusion. She was perhaps older than Squall, but she took her responsibilities much more seriously, viewing her future as a monarch as an inevitable honor.

"Guardians."

Ellone's blood froze. Here? On this island which has been the object of war for years? And her. She became uncomfortable. How did the King know she has a Guardian spirit in her body?

"...how do you know?"

King Loire shook his head. "No time for that. I came to warn my people to protect this island at all costs - I will go to Trabia now."

"Wait!" Ellone called desperately and jumped down from the bed, not caring about image now. "I need to go!"

"You've just escaped," King Loire reminded her. "Do you think you can get in that easily?"

"No, but I can help you get in," She grinned. "Your party can land in the secret cove and enter the castle undetected. Isn't that much better?"

Author's note: The end of another loooooong chapter. Reviews please, flames, criticisms are welcome.