The Return Of Ultimecia
Author: SoulOfFlame
Chapter 11: An Attack and a Wild Goose Chase!
~*~Soul~*~: Okay! This chapter will link back to what happened to Rinoa and where we left off with her and I will now be putting all thoughts in italics. Just in case I confused anyone with the way I was doing it before. I want to thank all of my readers so if you reviewed, then please look at the end for you recognition and free cookie! Lol. Well, enough ranting, here's your next chapter! And look! I didn't take as long this time. (Darn finals!)
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII and all related names, character, concepts, etc., are the sole property of Squaresoft. I only own the characters not found in the game such as Tempest, and the idea. Oh yeah, the story from Chapter 10 is mine also. (The one about Solaris, Selena, and the Terrene? Yeah that one.) Now here's the next Chapter!
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Rinoa opened her eyes slowly and looked around her. All she saw was a thick darkness all around her. She sat up groggily, touching a hand to her forehead, and tried to figure out what had happened. As the events slowly came to her she carefully rose and began to pick her way through the murky shadows. What was going on? Had she fallen into some sort of void? Had she even fallen?
I wonder how I really got here. Rinoa thought with a shudder. There was no movement, even of the air yet a chill lingered in the shady and dismal atmosphere, and sent a shiver up the young girl's spine. In the silence, she heard something move behind her. Whirling around to face it she felt a sudden fear grip her chest; nothing penetrated the darkness or showed any signs of another object anywhere nearby. Rinoa pushed the thought to the back of her mind and continued to tread softly through the dense shadow. She heard the sound again and turned to face it; nothing followed behind her.
As Rinoa continued, the darkness seemed to hang on her limbs; draining her of the little energy she had. She felt tired and uneasy in this ominous night, as if she was being watched by darkened eyes. She stopped and tried to catch her breath, which had become ragged with exhaustion. She leaned on her knees for support as two blood red eyes came into view behind her. Feeling another presence, Rinoa turned sharply and tried to attack her foe. Again she saw nothing and so she turned angrily to resume her search for an exit. She turned to face two blood red eyes and screamed as a large monster leapt on her and attacked her.
She rolled to her side once she felt her body hit the ground, and tried to get away; the beast's claws tearing through her unprotected flesh as if it were water. She felt the sting of the claws being torn from her back and the blood flow from her wounds, weakening her even further. She struggled to rise and was knocked down by a vicious blow from some sort of club the beast was carrying. She closed her eyes in pain and defeat, waiting for the finishing blow of the weapon.
I'm so sorry Squall ... I promised never to leave you and now I am going back on that promise. Please forgive me ...
The blow never came. Rinoa cautiously opened her eyes to see the creature was still standing over her, waiting for something. The darkness seemed to glow around the fiend, showing its form in all its horrific glory. The creature stood nearly seven feet tall at least, and ran on all fours. It was covered in black and gray fur, unkempt and matted with blood. There were countless scars running across its back and face, disfiguring it terribly. It had cold, emotionless black eyes that seemed to pierce Rinoa's thoughts, and reveal everything inside of her. It was a terrible feeling having to stare into those eyes, but she was transfixed, unable to avert her gaze from the thing before her. The monster grunted, dealt her a blow with its club to knock her unconscious, and left her to die.
The creature hurried off through the darkness, keenly aware of where it was going and how to get there. After a short while it gradually began to get lighter, and the darkness lifted. When the creature stopped, it stood before a massive castle, lit by torches and candles, yet still cast in shadow. The flames burned with a black light that lifted the shadows only enough for a human to see as if in a dimly lit room. The creature hurried along inside of the stronghold, and up the lavishly decorated stairs to the throne room. Cautiously, the creature knocked on the door.
"Who is it!" Bellowed an angry voice from inside. The creature flinched at the woman's tone and answered meekly.
"It is I, Yuji. I have come to give you my report My Queen." There was a pause and the large oak door creaked open. Yuji bowed his head as he entered and kept his gaze to the floor as he spoke.
"Tell me you report you pathetic worm." Demanded the Queen as she sat on her throne. She let her emerald gaze wander to the window as she pretended to listen to the unimportant first part of Yuji's tale.
"W-well Your Majesty, I found the girl like you told me to." Yuji began. The Queen raised an eyebrow at this information and listened with newfound interest. If Yuji was telling her the truth, and he often did, then this could be useful information.
"Continue, I am listening." She directed. Yuji nodded his understanding and thanks as he hurried to continue, eager to please His Queen.
"I found her wandering around like you said I would, and I attack her just like you told me to. I beat her within an inch of her life, and then I backed off. I knocked her out so I could come tell you, and now I'm here." Yuji explained quickly. He knew better than to relate lengthy stories to His Queen. Last week, Shun had tried that and she had killed him. She was never a very patient woman.
"You left her there alone? And tell me Yajin ... what if she wakes up?" ASked the Queen in obvious displeasure.
"Erm, it's Yuji Your Excellency ..." Yuji began timidly.
"SILENCE!" Bellowed the now infuriated Queen. She gripped the ends of her arm rest in agitation as she forced herself not to kill this servant until she had all the information from him she needed.
"Forgive me Queen Ellone!" Begged Yuji as he threw himself down on the ground and held his head in fear. "I never meant to offend you! She won't wake up I promise you! You may do what you will with her just please don't kill me!"
"Very well Yuji." Said Ellone placing special emphasis on his name. Her lips curled into a nefarious smile as she rose from her throne, black and red tails from her dress sweeping behind her. She walked past the sniveling excuse for what was once a man, and headed out into the darkness. She had no time to deal with the servant's cowardice at the moment, she had to ensure her power.
You're mine Rinoa of the Eternal Night. I can foresee the future, and I plan to remove you from my predictions.
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"Quistis, do you feel all right?" Dr. Kadowaki repeated. Quistis was jolted from her thoughts of the recent events and looked up at Edea and Dr. Kadowaki.
"Yes, I'm sorry my mind is elsewhere." Quistis apologized. Dr. Kadowaki looked closely at her, checking her eyes and looking her over. Quistis felt embarrassed by the woman's intense stare, and shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, you look okay to me, but there's something different about you that I just can't place." Dr. Kadowaki said frowning. She looked Quistis over once more briefly and then allowed her to stand. "Take it easy do you hear me?" Quistis nodded.
"Quistis dear, I needed to have a word with you. Could you meet me in Cid's office as soon as possible?" Edea asked. Quistis nodded and smiled.
"I'll be right there Matron, I just have one thing to do first." Quistis explained as she raced out of the Infirmary in search of Squall. She turned the corner heading to the Cafeteria, and smacked into someone. Falling back, she landed on her back and looked up in surprise. Staring down at her in a mixture of surprise and anger, was Seifer.
"Instructor Trepe, long time no see!" Said Seifer with an evil smirk placed on his face. Quistis' eyes went wide as she remembered what Seifer had told her back in the pool that had led her to him. This wasn't really Seifer, and she was in danger.
"Stay away from me you monster. I know you aren't Seifer!" She said quickly rising and glaring at the imposter. She hoped her fear didn't show in her eyes as she stared at these three things that were pretending to be Seifer and his gang.
"Oh, did you here that Enzuria? She knows who we are now. Who's fault do you suppose that would be?" Uweigulu asked crossly. Enzuria glared at her brother and turned to Nye. (A/N: Just a quick reminder: Seifer=Uweigulu, Fujin=Enzuria, and Rajin=Nye for the impostors, this relates back to Chapter 6)
"Why does he get to be the leader again?" Asked Enzuria irritably. Nye rolled his eyes.
"Just get before she runs ..." He looked over to where Quistis had been standing and noticed that there was now and empty space instead. " ... away."
"Wonderful move Enzuria, now she's gotten away again." Uweigulu chastised his sister angrily. He took of in the direction he hoped Quistis had gone, leaving his sibling behind him.
"Don't look at me! She shouldn't have been able to break out of the Antediluvian Realm in the first place! No one can, save four people!" Enzuria raged as she followed after him. Nye sighed and followed after them, trying to end their arguing.
"If you would both just shut up, then she wouldn't have gotten away in the first place." He reminded them with careful words.
"SHUT UP NYE!" Yelled Uweigulu and Enzuria over their shoulder. The three tore off down the hall. As they passed a pillar, Quistis appeared from behind it and ran in the opposite direction.
Amateurs, what did they take the IQ level of their human counterparts or are they naturally stupid? She thought to herself as she took off down the hall in search of Squall. Things were definitely getting out of hand, and she had this looming feeling she wasn't going to get any sleep tonight.
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~*~Soul~*~: Okay another Chapter done! All right! (*Does a happy dance*) Plus, I just started summer vacation today! HECK YES! Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, it was a little slow, but I thought the end was a little funny. (I have a dry sense of humor, deal.) Anyway, time to recognize my reviewers whom I love so much!
In no particular order:
punky gal: Yeah I forgot white is technically all the colors of the spectrum. I was trying to give the cloak a rainbow effect without saying rainbow. Guess I messed up thanks for letting me know!
CelesteSpring: I knew it was a bit much information when I wrote it but you'll see why you needed to know that all now as the story progresses. See, that was (sadly enough) only a summarized version with the main points. I needed to be able to start working on the full story. I thought it would be good to have the basics down before heading into all the other stuff. Sorry if I confused you or anyone else with the story about the Terrene!
Water-lily43: Thank you! You are very kind. Um... Ellone is not the Daughter of Adel no, I am sorry but you are close! She is definitely related to her! Just in a slightly different way than mother-daughter. I am glad people are taking guesses though! Lol.
anime-diva: Thanks for the compliment. (Sorry about the gap between updates guys!)
Okay well I believe that is it for right at the moment, if I forgot you I apologize! Thank you to everyone who has read this whether you have left me a review or not. It makes me glad that people are willing to read my story. You guys are awesome!
~*~Soul~*~
