Ifrit
Bright lights filled the room as Squall awakened. Where am I? He rubbed his eyes with both of his hands, and slowly came to the realization that he has a scar running down the side of his nose. That idiot! He tried to get up, but the gently rested hand on his shoulder forbade him to do so. It was Dr. Kadowaki, and Squall was laying on one of the beds in the infirmary.
"Ah, you're back. Good, good. Are you feeling better?", said Dr. Kadowaki in a gently voice.
"…I've been better. My forehead hurts a little." That damn idiot Seifer…
"That was expected. You got beat up pretty bad in your 'practice' with Seifer. Say your name for me, so I can make sure you are back to your normal self again."
"…Squall…"
"Good, excellent. Let's see…your instructor is Quistis Trepe, if I'm not mistaken." As usual, Dr. Kadowaki was not mistaken, and she walked over to her private office and called Quistis.
While Dr. Kadowaki was in the other room, a female came up to the glass pane window and eyed Squall. She was wearing a blue dress with a green shawl held by both of her arms. "Ah, Squall. So we meet yet again…" Squall looked at her, but he didn't recognize her. She examined Squall for a couple of seconds, and then she walked off.
Squall's head continued to pound, but Squall decided not to complain. What's the point in complaining? It'll pass soon enough. Just as Squall was ready to get up again, Dr. Kadowaki came back in.
"We are going to wait for your instructor. Until then, you are not to move or get out of this bed," said the doctor. "Oh, and next time you fight Seifer, try not to get hurt." She had a caring look in her eyes that didn't really surprise Squall.
The door to the infirmary glided open, and a 5'6" tall blonde female walked through. She walked down the hall of the infirmary towards Squall's bed, turned on her heel and let out a deep sigh as she saw him. "I knew it would be either you or Seifer!"
Seeing Quistis reminded Squall that he forgot he had to take the exam scheduled for today. "…What time is it?", said Squall trying to hide any feeling of nervousness he has just received.
Quistis replied, "Five minutes to Two. Yes, you're right – you have missed the field exam. What can you possibly do now?" Quistis had an aura of cool surrounding her that encouraged Squall to think that she had an answer to that question. She wanted to let Squall figure it out.
Squall just sat there, contemplating his options and what his next step was going to be. He remembered that SeeD candidates had three assigned times that they could take the test – 12:00, 2:30, and 6:00. "Instructor, don't seed candidates have three chances to take the test?", Squall said, finally sitting up.
"Ah, smart thinking, Squall." She grinned. "So what do you suggest? You want to take it at 2:30?"
That shouldn't be a problem, as long as that moronic Seifer doesn't bother me anymore. "Sure…I'll take the test at 2:30. Will you be my support?" Every SeeD candidate who takes the field exam must be accompanied by his or her own instructor. Its part of the rules of the exam, and every student abides by them. Also, the students highly doubt that they would pass the test unaided, let alone survive them.
"I would love to," said "Quisty" with a smile on her face. "Come on, then. Get ready for it. Only," she glanced at her watch, "twenty-seven minutes left." And just like that, she skipped out the door, headed to the classroom. Squall knew that he had to get to the classroom and listen to at least part of the class. Even though he won't learn anything, it will keep his attendance up. He got out of bed, thanked Dr. Kadowaki, and proceeded out of the door towards the lift up to the second floor classroom.
* * *
Squall walked through the door, and was greeted by the wondering eyes of the trepies and the calm voice of his instructor, whom was already sitting at her desk, going through some paper work. Squall dragged his feet towards his desk, and plopped down, awaiting the lesson today will bring.
One of the people sitting next to him whispered something in his ear, but he couldn't quite make it out. It sounded something like, "Hey, you're very late. Class is ending already." Oh crap! Time flies by when you're limping through a maze of hallway….
Then he tuned in to Quistis's voice, "…people who didn't take the field exam in the morning, or who failed the written exam last week shall wait here. All those who didn't fail, get ready for the next round of tests, which will commence at 2:30 – in seven minutes – and 6:00 – in three hours and thirty seven minutes. Squall, meet me outside in five." She turned to go. "Oh, and Seifer," she said as the door opened, "please try not to hurt your opponent in training next time, ok?!"
Seifer, enraged at Quistis's words, slammed his fist down onto the marble desk, leaving an indent singed with his hatred. That boy Leonhart deserves to get a whooping every once in a while…it's not my fault he's such a cry baby!
When Seifer looked at him, Squall had a chance to see what damage he has done. Come to think of it, this is the first time Squall got to examine what damage he had done to Seifer during their duel. He looked at his face out of the corner of his right eye, and saw that Seifer has a matching scar going up the right side of his nose. Well…at least we're even.
Squall got up and walked down the center of the classroom towards the exit door. The sorrowful glances of the trepies haunt him to the very end of his path. He could have sworn that he heard one of them whisper, "Wow, to be alone with Quistis Trepe…lucky you…", For the love of all that is holy, these guys are freaks!
As he walked through the hallway, he heard the distressed voice of a young female traveling directly towards him. "Oh, I'm late, I'm late, I'M LATE!!!"
He rounded the corner and bumped into a girl standing no taller than 5'1". The girl got knocked down, but Squall remained standing, just thrown backwards a little.
Squall looked at her in shock, waiting for her to get up or say something.
The girl got up and wiped herself off, "There," she giggled, and said, "Sorry about that." Then she added, "Hey, did you just come from that classroom?" She pointed to the classroom Squall just came out of and Squall nodded yes. The girl bit her lip, "Is class over?" Squall nodded yes again. The girl broke down, "Ohh, this Garden is so much bigger than my last garden. I've been late for 5 classes already," then she obviously had an idea, "Hey, can you give me a tour of the place? It would really help…"
Squall contemplated this and then said, "…No, sorry. I don't have much time on my hands right now…maybe later."
The girl looked at Squall through deep puppy eyes and said, "Aww, come on! Just a couple of minutes…please?"
Squall shook his head no and the girl's face suddenly became flushed with anger, "Fine, forget I ever asked…I'll just find someone else to give me a tour. Good BYE!" She turned and walked off, purposely stomping her feet.
As he walked through the hall, he saw Quistis leaning up against the wall, waiting for her student. "Let's go?"
"Yeah," Squall replied absent-mindedly as he continued to look over his back at the trepies in the classroom who, in his mind, were scaring the hell out of him.
The pair proceeded down the hall towards the front gate of Balamb Garden. "Squall, this is your last chance. Are you sure you are prepared? Gunblade and all?", said Quistis thoughtfully.
"Yes, lets just go," said Squall. He was still infuriated by Seifer and the scar that was left on his forehead.
The pair traveled on the dirt road that has been man-made from Balamb Garden to the fire cavern. Inside the fire cavern, Squall is supposed to defeat and capture a guardian force that goes by the name of Ifrit. Ifrit is a fire demon that resides deep within the Earth. Horns like a bull, mane like a lion, and a body like both combined… Squall remembers Ifrit's description within the Balamb Garden Library Archive. Squall's thoughts were interrupted by Quistis's attempt at a conversation.
"Why do you always fight with Seifer?" asked Quistis. "Is it because you are trying to impress him?"
"It's none of your business…" replied Squall cold-heartedly. "I just want to teach him a lesson so that he would leave me alone once and for all."
"You know that you two belong to your own class. No-one has your skill…or stubbornness for that matter…"
Squall didn't answer to this comment. Talking about Seifer reminded him more and more of how he let down his guard and earned himself a scar. "Can we change the subject?"
Quistis, as if not hearing Squall, said, "Just one question." She grabbed Squall by the jacket and said, "Why do you bother with him?"
"…Because he is a bully." He looked her straight in the eye. "The only way to teach him a lesson is to beat him at his own game. You beat him once, you beat him for good." Squall wiped away Quistis's hand and continued to walk.
* * *
The fire cavern is a simple, naturally made cave indented into the wall of a not-so-high mountain. It is a hot-spot for free-flowing magma out of the earth's core. The heat inside can cause rock to melt in some places. As Squall and Quistis came up to the entrance of the fire-cavern, they saw two of the Garden Staff – both dressed in dark purple gowns with yellow hats shielding their faces, making them unseen. Both Squall and Quistis came up to the Garden Staff and did the SeeD salute.
"Permission to take today's field exam. Time – 2:30." Said Squall in a uniform voice that impressed Quistis.
"At ease, boy." One of the Garden Staff eyed Squall and asked, "Is she your support?", rolling his (or her for that matter) head towards Quistis.
Quistis responded, "Yes, I shall be Squall Leonhart's support. Quistis Trepe, instructor I.D. number 37."
The Garden Staff eyed Quistis and then looked at the wooden clipboard which he held in a robed right hand, checked off two names, and said, "Time limit?"
Squall thought carefully, as if planning inside his head, yet never letting his eyes slip from the Garden Staff's, and finally said, "20 minutes."
"Alright," said the garden staff. He pulled out the timer and clicked a couple of buttons. "You may proceed."
"Thank you," said Squall as he and Quistis rushed past the two Garden Staff.
* * *
Inside the fire cavern, it was extremely hot. How can anything live in here?! Squall corrected himself – Maybe the fact that Ifrit is a fire demon has something to do with it, genius! Squall held back a chuckle at his own ignorance, and the duo proceeded deeper into the unknown.
"Are you nervous?" asked Quistis.
"No…" Squall replied coolly. He had every confidence that he will complete this exam.
"That's good. Most of the students that come along with me for the test crack because they are nervous. They can't handle the pressure and give up. I'm happy you're not like that."
"…Whatever…"
As they walked through the sweltering maze, stalactites hanging from the ceiling threatened the pair.
"You know I got my Instructor license at 17? Only one year ago."
Wow, and you already have a cult devoted to you! Squall held back another chuckle.
"What's so funny?" After a short pause, Quistis sighed and continued to talk, "I still can't believe that it's been only one year…"
"Why are you telling me this?" Squall responded coldly.
"Just trying to make conversation…trying to keep you calm."
"Didn't I tell you that I am calm? Don't make pointless conversation during the exam. How much time left?"
Quistis, feeling shut down, answered, "13:24 seconds."
As they came to a fork in the road, Squall looked to Quistis for which way to go. Quistis remained silent, giving Squall a hint towards the fact that she was lost. Squall looked around, disappointed, trying to find some sign, some visible proof that one of the ways is the right way to go. By a stroke of luck, he saw a sign on the crusty, red clay that made up the west wall of the Fire Cavern. The sign read, "The right road leads to Ifrit, the wrong one doesn't." BIG help! thought Squall sarcastically.
But even though it may have been a stupid move, he took the sign literally, and both he and Quistis ended up taking the right road. Oh, what the hell. We have nothing to lose now anyway. Some time later, Squall asked Quistis how much time they had left.
"6:38", replied Quistis.
The couple proceeded in silence until they finally reached the end of the labyrinth. Quistis asked, "Are you ready?"
Squall remained silent as he walked up to the hole filled with lava. Quistis was not too far behind. She caught up and they relaxed a little, awaiting their challenger.
In a couple of seconds, the ground began to tremble and out of the magma came Ifrit, splashing burning rock all around him in a brilliant show of natural pyrotechnics. This 7'4" creature had the head of a lion with protruding fangs and a mane. He had a very muscular body that could easily surpass that of a human. He was armed with nothing but the half-foot long claws on both of his hands and feet. The humongous brown beast jumped in front of Squall and Quistis and stared at them, as if ready for battle. Just like in the library…
"…HUMANS?!?!", roared Ifrit in a raspy, tormenting voice.
"We have come to challenge you, and if we win, you are to come along with us," yelled Squall, trying to match the loudness of Ifrit's own voice.
"CHALLENGE? ME?!" Ifrit let out a bawling laugh and then proceeded to speak, "YOU ARE EITHER VERY SMART, OR VERY STUPID! ONLY ONE OF US WILL SURVIVE THIS MATCH, AND I CAN GUARANTEE THAT IT WON"T BE YOU, OR HER FOR THAT MATTER!!!"
Without responding, Squall pulled out his gunblade and Quistis her whip and they got into fighting stance. "The battle starts now."
* * *
Squall started circling Ifrit, trying to find a weak point on his ever-so-masculine body, but he managed nothing. Quistis just stood there, ready to back up her student if worst comes to worst.
When she saw that Squall was having trouble, Quistis decided to help him so she proceeded to circle Ifrit as well. Ifrit stood there eyeing Squall, not even glancing at Quistis. He realized that Squall was more capable of doing damage, since he had a gunblade. "FOOLISH HUMAN. STOP WASTING TIME AND ATTACK ALREADY!!!"
Squall swung his gunblade over his shoulder and charged at Ifrit, hoping to show him that he is more than capable of bringing him down. Squall sliced at the monster, but the only thing he accomplished was a skin wound. Ifrit didn't even flinch; he just laughs. "YOU THINK THAT"S GOING TO STOP ME?!" Squall was thrown back at the strength of his voice.
Before Squall could attack again, Ifrit jumped up into the air, landing right next to Squall. He then swung his arm full-force and hit Squall with the back of his hand. Squall was thrown against the wall of the labyrinth and knocked unconscious, leaving a crack in the wall that vaguely resembled a large spider-web from afar.
Quistis saw that Squall was on the floor, and she now truly comprehended the power of this mighty beast. She glared at the Guardian Force, and her eyes widened as she saw that his next target is her.
She took a potion out of her handbag, opened it, and threw it towards Squall. The contents of the vial spilled out across Squall's face but, to her surprise, he still lay there, lifeless. Ifrit continued to pace towards Quistis, busily contemplating how he would rip her to shreds.
Ifrit cornered Quistis and looked at her puny body. "I TOLD YOU THAT THIS SHALL BE OVER QUICKLY." He chuckled, and raised his clawed hand above his head ready to strike. Quistis let out a small cry as she saw that Ifrit already swung at her.
One or two feet from Quistis' face, however, Ifrit roared wildly and missed his target, ripping off a chunk of rock from the wall of the cave. His body was lowered to the floor but Quistis saw that this was from inertia, not weakness. Ifrit got up and turned around, allowing Quistis to see the cause of his pain. The guardian force had a gunblade protruding from his spine. Standing next to Ifrit was our trusty Squall, grinning at the damage he had done to the lion man.
But to his surprise, Ifrit turned around, ripped the gunblade from its position and flung it back at its owner. Squall couldn't believe the spectacle that he just saw, but he had no time to think about it, what with griever flying at him and all. He ducked, and his gunblade flew past him, embedding itself in the wall of the labyrinth behind him. What the…?! What kind of a monster is this? Squall ran up to the wall and picked up his gunblade which was still, surprisingly, in-tact. He turned around and assumed fighting stance, ready to take another swing at Ifrit if he had to.
The fight continued for a couple of minutes, and both Quistis and Squall were worn out. Quistis heard Squall yell, "Time?!", in the background. She answered with, "1:25".
Ifrit continued to slash his claws until both of the fighters were cornered with no way out. They stood in defensive stance, praying for a miracle. Then, another stroke of luck saves all. The duo stared Ifrit in the eyes until out of the heavens, four orbs of light fell from the sky and landed in between the two opposing sides. Squall was surprised that a Guardian Force would come to help them now. The four orbs hit the ground and each other forming a small puddle of ice. From within this sheet of ice, a jagged iceberg rammed through the ground. Within the iceberg was the Guardian Force known as Shiva. Shiva had come to help Squall and Quistis in their fight against Ifrit.
Ironic… Squall thought…That we could witness how two demons, of opposing forces, fire and ice, battle it out. But Shiva wouldn't stay for long, as Squall knew, for GF's can't survive for long in the same dimension as humans. They belong to another world – a world of which humans only dreamed.
She stretched her arms out towards the opposing guardian force and Ifrit was engulfed in terrible, terrible cold. The cold produced ice around the fire demon, stopping him and freezing him in his tracks. Unbelievable! Then, with the snap of her fingers, Shiva caused all of the ice surrounding Ifrit to crack and break, terribly hurting Ifrit and lowering him to the floor. And with this, Shiva was gone.
"WHAT?! THEY HAVE SHIVA?!" Roared the fire demon, dumbfounded by the sheer force of the mystic ice goddess. Squall saw his opportunity as Ifrit stood there on one knee, helpless. I can't believe that I shall now sink down to Seifer's level… But he had to. He took his gunblade in his right hand and sliced down into Ifrit. The blade cut him but, surprisingly, no blood was spilled. Squall saw the gash that was left running down Ifrit's toned chest and, as Ifrit fell to the floor, he knew the fight was over.
Squall leaned down on one knee near Ifrit, and stared at the damage he had caused. Squall hesitated for a second about claiming this Guardian Force, but he then reconsidered it. Ifrit apparently dissolved into thin air as Squall 'sucked' him into his own head. I did it… Now Ifrit belonged to Squall. Quistis clapped her hands behind Squall to show how proud she was. Squall glanced at her and walked away disappointed. Damn you, Seifer…
* * *
As they walked back towards the cavern entrance, they didn't speak at all, walking along at a steady pace now that the test was finished. The duo walked through the entrance and Squall opened his mouth to tell the Garden Staff that the task was done. But to his surprise, there was not a single person left – only him and Quistis. He closed his mouth and looked at Quistis. His instructor answered the gaze with a dumbfounded look on her own face. These Garden Staff people freak me out sometimes.