Game Over

Balamb Garden was taking flight... trying to flee from the incoming missiles.

"It's a shelter," I heard Cid say, his voice thick with emotion as he watched the transformation his Garden was undergoing. "It's supposed to do something about it's location."

"We're fleeing," I said softly, standing before the window, looking at the azure sky. I wiped sweat-drenched auburn hair out of my face. The trip to the MD level had been horrifying and frenzied in the beginning, but somehow Rinoa, Squall and I had been able to do what was needed - even while we had absolutely no idea what we had been doing. I just hoped that Selphie and the others had been able to do their part. My sweet Sefie, she had been so determined... and if she would fail, we all would. Sefie...

While the rings of the Garden were glowing and swooshing by, I could see the pinpoints of light that signaled the coming of the missiles in the spring sky. "Here they come," I announced, turning to the others.

Rinoa sat in the corner of what used to be Cid's room, her arms around her knees and whispering words that resembled a prayer. Squall stood next to the Headmaster, holding onto a railing and very obviously hoping for the best.

We did what we could, but would it be enough?

The light was coming closer. The color of fire against the blue sky... it must be seven or eight of them. Maybe more... and they were still coming. What happened at the missile base? Did Sefie do it? Had she saved us all? Or was she dead already, caught in the act? Would we die now, too? No, don't think like that...

"I think it's time to call for evacuation," Squall said quietly.

Cid shook his head slowly. "I already started, but with the Garden rising from the earth and moving like this, it will be impossible. If we don't get out of the target area soon, it will all be over."

And I watched the lights grow bigger and bigger. The Garden moved infinitely slow. Too slow.

"I think it really IS over," Rinoa whispered, tears of horror trickling over her pretty face.
"I know I can't think like that, but..."

"Brace yourself!" I shouted, jumping away from the window.

The Garden took a sharp turn, knocking me off-balance. I went tumbling down Cid's old room, trying to cover myself for the explosion that would undoubtedly come.

I could not see the others in those last seconds before impact, but I heard their screams sounding through the explosion. Game over, I thought crazily, and then pain filled my world before all the lights went out.