Run Chapter 17

This is For her

Author P.O.V

Meryl ran up through up through the snow and into her house. Rayne had cooked a feast for her home coming and a fire was lit in the corner. She was about to dig in when her head smacked up against the window in the car.

"Ow!"

She rubbed her head and sat up.

Ugh I must have been dreaming again…

Lance turned to face her and smirked. " Have a good sleep dear sister?" She poked out her tongue replying, " Oh yeah I did actually thanks for asking".

No soon had she finished speaking, she flew forward when Quistis slammed on the brakes, hitting the window. When Meryl had dislodged herself from the window, they all saw what Quistis had almost hit.

Lyra sighed and walked over to the side of the vehicle. Squall was the first to get out and greet her. " Hey are you alright?" She nodded and cut off Quistis who began yelling about standing in the middle of the road.

" My name is Lyra. I've been traveling with Rinoa and-"

Squall quickly cut hr off. " Rinoa! Where is she? Is she ok?"

" Please let me finish. She's at the sorceress memorial and she's fine. I'm her GF. She's been captured by the leader of the Council and I found out their keeping her inside the left side building"

Everyone went silent. It was obvious this new information was not expected. But still Lyra continued. " There is one detail you should know about. You all know that Rinoa can use the Stone the stop the mutations?" They all nodded, not quite understanding the seriousness of Lyra's tone. " Well if she uses it…it will…well it will try to suck as much power from her and eventually suck the life out of her"

Squall's blood froze. That's why she left. That's why she couldn't tell me…

" But isn't there a way to stop her from dying?" Lyra sighed. "No I'm afraid there isn't"

Still Squall tried to reason with her. " But what if the SeeD's are strong enough to fight the creatures?"

"Squall it took five people just to try to kill one of those grats. You know how strong it was so just imagine a hundred or so mutated dragons headed toward The Gardens"

He sighed. She was right.

" No…it can't be. It just cant…"

" I'm sorry Squall, I wish we could help her too-"

"- No! I wont let her damnit! I wont let her!"

Rinoa's P.OV

Somehow the needles the guards gave me hadn't worked very well and I woke up inside the dark…place…they had put me in. My vision was still a bit funny but I noticed they hadn't tied me up. Probably hurried. Sunlight poked in through a small gap in the double doors. I crawled over to inspect it. The lock was down the bottom and the bolt was in the ground, stopping me from opening it. If only I could get something to lift it up…

I thought for a moment and then in an instant grabbed my boot and flung it off. The soles were pretty worn so I managed to get it off ok. I knew my dagger wouldn't fit through the gap so I had another idea. I tore apart the top of my boots and sliced around in the inside. As expected, I saw the tiny metal piece. The bit that clamps it together. I smiled evilly and pulled it out. It slid through the gap perfectly.

Sliding it under the bolt I managed to lift it slowly…up…up. Just a little further…

~Clang~ The bolt came out and I kicked the door open.

"Rinoa 1 Manches 1…now we're even"

I crawled on my hands and knees to find a suitable victim. A chubby guard wandering around near my 'prison'. I cast a quick sleep spell and dragged him away.

I emerged fully dressed in the uniform (over my clothes) and walked over to the sorceress memorial main, with my gun in hand. I gathered with a bunch of guards and walked with them inside. Donas and Manches were also inside. Donas was holding a small metal box.

" Finally" Donas growled. She turned to Manches. " Should I put the stone in now?" Manches nodded in reply and stepped aside to reveal a small hole in the wall. She slid the box inside. My luck turned up a notch when another guard burst in the room.

" Sir! The sorceress…she's gone"

" What!?" Manches screeched. " How?!" The guard fumbled with his words for while. " I don't know sir. The door was closed and.."

" Find her!" Manches stormed out. Donas ran after him yelling out, " Stay here and if she comes…kill her"

When silence took over I gingerly turned to the group. " Hey guys I've never been one to follow orders" They all jumped and stepped back. " Hey…you're the…" I smiled and ran around to a pillar next to me. As expected they all began firing at me. I flicked around and cast a Fira spell their way. They took cover and continued firing. I waited and counted in my head…1…2…3! On three I spun around and lifted them up. They hit the roof with a thud and fell back down. The guns clattered to the ground and I ran over to the stone.

" Yes…" My moment was ruined when I heard a click behind me. I slowly turned to see Donas with her pistol pointed at me. " My my, what a bad girl your being"  She walked past me and grabbed the box, opening it and taking out the stone. It was just a simple clear colour and only the size of my palm. " Manches has ordered that I begin…I suppose a little audience wont hurt. Now sit down" I did as she asked and sat down against the pillar. Donas opened a small hatch, punched in a few numbers and the whole wall slid apart. The Collector slid into place. Three tall pipes stood upright and headed out the ceiling. In the center was a small slot to place the stone.

She was about to begin when we heard a series of gunshots outside. Donas leaned out the large window and looked down, with me by her shoulder.

Squall?

I was right. Squall, Meryl, Lance, Seifer and Quistis were down below fighting a group of guards. My heart sank when I saw Manches walking toward Squall. Donas looked triumphant while she watched Manches beat fight Squall. But I was smart. I grabbed the box from her while she was fixed outside and flung it to the ground. The stone fell out and clattered to the ground.

We both made a dive for it but Donas reached before me.

" Too late sorceress!" She slammed the stone into the collector. It glowed and bolts of electricity sprang up the wiring and into the three pipes. I looked out the window. The desert sand picked up and winds blew toward the memorial. In the distance I could see the gathering of monsters headed this way.

Squall P.O.V

I pulled the trigger on my gunblade sending a guard flying off in the air. I smiled to myself and was about to go and help Meryl when someone grabbed me by the shoulders and flung me backward.

" Squall Leonheart…an honor it is to fight you!"

I didn't know who this guy was but he didn't seem friendly, I grabbed my gunblade off the ground and got ready. He got out his sword, grinning ear to ear. He struck first but I managed to swing to the side and dodge the blow. I sent my blade upwards in an attempt to cut him off but he was too quick and blocked me. He bent down, swinging his free leg over to me, knocking me over.

 The wind blew fiercely knocking him over. I stood up and looked out at the desert.

It's beginning!

I didn't have time to shout because Manches grabbed me from behind, putting the hilt of his sword on my throat.

" It's an even greater honor…to kill you"

An idea struck me. The monsters were coming at us now, from behind. Only I knew they were. Manches had no idea. The others were standing on a fallen pillar, out of reach of the monsters, next to us.

" Or so you thought" I whispered. I elbowed him in the gut and twisted around, freeing myself. I kicked him down and grabbed his sword.

" This is for her…" I threw the sword down in his leg. Ignoring his howls of pain I jumped up onto the pillar. The crowd of monsters ran past in a flurry of dirt and dust. Somewhere in there a dragon grabbed the fallen Manches in-between its teeth, chomping him in half.

A/N: Bye bye Manches! I've said this in all my fics so far but…I've updated  My Story(ff 10)  The way life mocks me  Damn the red Pill  please please check them out if you can.

Review and tell me what you think! Happy now that Manches is gone?