At six in the morning, before the sun had fully risen, the Ragnarok landed
on the Garden's own landing pad. Three figures stepped out from the
Ragnarok, one clutching a swaddle of blankets to his chest.
The trio headed up to the guestrooms and Squall pounded on Cid and Edea's door. There was some scuffling, and in a few moments Cid, unshaven and only half-dressed, appeared at the door, eyes squinting. Once he saw Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, and the baby sleeping in Irvine's arms, his eyes popped open and, turning to the interior of the room, he said, "Oh! Edea, wake up!"
Edea approached the door, wearing a silver nightgown. "Oh, my."
"Cid, Edea," Squall said quickly, keeping his voice low, "Griever is going to be here any minute. He followed us here. What should we do with the baby?"
"Whatever we do, let's not kill her," Cid said, fumbling with his glasses. They sat on his nose awkwardly.
"I was never going to kill her," Irvine said. "If you had just listened-"
"No time for that now," Edea said. She pushed Cid out of the door, who had just pulled a shirt over his bare chest. "Let's go."
They stepped into the hallway and Edea immediately walked ahead of the group. Silently they walked out into the crisp morning air. The sun was just beginning to make its way above the horizon, its light filtering through a small forest in the east. "We need to find a place in which she will be safe, and where Griever can find her on its own."
Irvine stopped, the baby held tight to his chest. "No."
"We must, Irvine," Edea said. "It's fate, the future. We can't alter it, lest something terrible happens."
Irvine's lips trembled. "No, I can't do it. She can't go to Griever. She can't become. become a sorceress."
"If you do this, Irvine," Cid said, stepping forward, "The weight of the world rests upon your shoulders. You have to let her go. I know the bond you have with her-we once had a daughter. She was the most important thing to me, and when she died unexpectedly, I felt like a part of me was missing."
A tear formed in Irvine's eye.
"Don't put the world at risk, Irvine. Don't do it. There is more at stake than you realize, and your love for that child, while understandable, could produce terrible results." Irvine clutched baby Marian even tighter to his chest.
"She'll be safe where I send her," Edea said calmly. "Where Griever can seek her and not do any damage, and where she can be kept safe. I promise you that, Irvine."
Irvine stepped forward slightly. "All right. if you promise she'll be safe, Edea."
"I do, I do. You have my word."
Irvine put his arms out and Edea cradled the child. She gazed at its face for a few moments. This very child would one day go into the past and pass on her powers to Edea. It was a strange moment, in which Edea foresaw the future and past at the same time, and felt the bond between herself and the child. The others felt an overwhelming presence, as if time were compressed, as they stood and watched as Edea's eyes pored into the baby.
"I know where I shall send her."
Something blotted out the sun. Rinoa gasped. Irvine turned and saw the beast as it flew toward them, its massive wings beating the air. Screeching, it dove.
Although surprised by Griever's sudden appearance, Squall didn't even hesitate to raise his gunblade in a fighting stance. Rinoa stood by his side, watching as Griever drew nearer. It roared, sensing the baby's presence.
Stricken with panic, Irvine snatched the baby from Edea's arms and bolted for the forest. He disappeared within the trees and Griever roared again.
"Edea, Cid, run!" Squall said through clenched teeth. "Rinoa, get Irvine- bring back the baby!"
Edea and Cid ran toward the Garden and Rinoa sprinted for the forest. Griever swooped and made his attack on Squall, claws reaching out to slash.
Squall rolled to one side, desperately trying to remember Griever's fighting pattern. Usually the beast swooped, just like it had, and then did something devastating. perhaps it cast a magic spell of some sort.
Squall murmured the incantation for a reflect spell, just as Griever turned and a black ball emerged from its mouth. The ball of magic struck Squall, sending him flying backward, but bounced off his body and slammed into Griever.
It was an ultima spell, a strong, concentrated ball of forbidden magic. Extremely deadly, it probably would have killed Squall on the spot. He stood up and saw Griever roaring in pain as a huge explosion wrought his body.
Griever pulled itself free of the explosion and snarled. Its wings were singed on the edges and its left arm was hanging limp at its side, but otherwise it wasn't mortally injured.
Squall cast another spell. Griever darted sideways, effectively dodging concentrated ball of fire.
I can't kill it, Squall reminded himself. If he killed Griever, it would not pair with the sorceress and she would never become powerful. Not to mention that doing so would certainly fracture the timeline.
Griever swooped again and lashed out with its tail. Squall raised his gunblade and the tail slammed into it, knocking him flat on his back. He rolled to one side as the tail speared into the ground, threatening to dissect Squall.
Griever was hovering over him menacingly, readying his deathblow. Before it could strike, though, Squall plunged his gunblade into the belly of the beast. Griever roared in pain and flew upward, lacking the grace it had before.
Squall got to his feet and ran toward the forest, dropping the gunblade in the grass. Griever, blood pouring from the gaping wound, chased him down, casting a spell as it flew.
The spell whizzed past Squall's head and rushed into the forest.
.just as Rinoa emerged with Irvine behind her. Time slowed as the powerful fire spell struck her full in the gut. She was flung backwards into a tree, then slumped, blood trickling from her mouth.
Squall screamed, but didn't stop running. Griever was low to the ground, almost upon him. He heard the rumble of a car engine off to his right.
Edea, driving the car, aimed directly for Griever and gunned the gas. The passenger side window was rolled down, allowing Cid to sit on top of it. He seemed to have shouldered a rocket launcher, and was now aiming at Griever. Edea adjusted the car's path and Cid fired a rocket.
Griever swooped even lower to the ground, barely dodging the explosive. However, this left the beast with no possible time to maneuver out of the oncoming car's path.
A loud "Umph!" came from Griever's throat as the car slammed into its side, pulling it away from Squall if only for a few moments. Squall crouched next to Rinoa, whose sleeve was engulfed in flame. She was unconscious.
Using a simple water spell, Squall doused the flames and carried Rinoa's seemingly lifeless body deeper into the forest. Irvine, the baby still in his arms, followed as Cid came up behind, limping. Edea was immediately on his right, helping him into the forest. They stopped near a river that flowed through the forest.
Irvine handed the baby to Edea. "You have to do it. Please, make it quick."
Edea nodded, holding the baby. She closed her eyes and began to chant.
Squall crouched near Rinoa, trying to rouse her. Her eyes opened slightly and she looked at him.
"Squall."
"Don't say anything, Rinoa." He said, looking over her wounds. She had some heavy burns on one arm, but for the most part she was fine. Probably had a concussion, but she would be all right.
"You'll be fine," Squall said. "Just stay still, okay?"
"Sure," she said, smiling. "I love you."
Squall lightly touched her hand. "I love you, too."
The next few moments happened in a blur. The trees were suddenly snapping in half, branches raining down from above. Squall turned to look at Irvine, who was holding his shotgun, standing over Rinoa.
The image in his dream flashed before his eyes, and suddenly he had a very bad feeling.
A protection spell had just slipped from Edea's lips, covering the child effectively, when Griever's claws pulled her legs out from beneath her. The claws tore through her body, ripping flesh and spilling blood. The baby, unhurt, fell from her arms.
Squall shouted something to Irvine, but wasn't sure what it was. In the next instant, Irvine had a puzzled look on his face, as though he didn't understand quite what had happened.
Three black, sharp spikes protruded from his chest, glistening with blood. Irvine's eyes were wide with shock, and the shotgun fell from his hand. As Irvine's limp body fell over, revealing the glowing eyes behind him, Squall reached for the shotgun in a daze.
Raising the gun, Squall pulled the trigger. The blinding light pulsed and shattered one of Griever's lower legs. It dropped Irvine, who slumped to the forest floor. Squall was screaming, firing again and again, mostly missing and hitting the canopy of trees overhead. They exploded, and wood and leaves fell from above.
Griever ripped himself free of the trees and flew from the forest. There was a final roar, one of frustration, as the Legendary Beast took off.
Squall was breathing heavily. He dropped the shotgun and slumped against the tree next to Rinoa, his hand going to his forehead. Irvine's dead body, his unseeing eyes still open, lay near the river, his blood spilling into the flowing water. Cid was crouching next to Edea's body.
Squall brought Rinoa, still unconscious, to his chest. Her breathing was shallow, but still she seemed to be fine. A tear rolled down Squall's cheek as Edea stood up.
"Edea!" Cid said.
Her eyes were hollow, staring straight ahead as she walked toward Rinoa. Her steps were slow, drawn-out. Squall clutched Rinoa tighter in fear, although he knew what was happening would not harm her.
Edea reached Rinoa and placed a hand on her head. Rinoa suddenly awoke and gasped. Her whole body shuddered in Squall's arms as Edea passed on her powers. In the final moment, Squall looked up at Edea, a tear in his eye.
"Goodbye, Matron," he said. In a plume of smoke her body disappeared. Cid was weeping like a child.
The child.
Marian was gone. Squall looked around the general area, searching for the baby or any clues as to where it had gone, but found nothing. Ultimately defeated, he put his arm around Rinoa and sighed.
The trio headed up to the guestrooms and Squall pounded on Cid and Edea's door. There was some scuffling, and in a few moments Cid, unshaven and only half-dressed, appeared at the door, eyes squinting. Once he saw Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, and the baby sleeping in Irvine's arms, his eyes popped open and, turning to the interior of the room, he said, "Oh! Edea, wake up!"
Edea approached the door, wearing a silver nightgown. "Oh, my."
"Cid, Edea," Squall said quickly, keeping his voice low, "Griever is going to be here any minute. He followed us here. What should we do with the baby?"
"Whatever we do, let's not kill her," Cid said, fumbling with his glasses. They sat on his nose awkwardly.
"I was never going to kill her," Irvine said. "If you had just listened-"
"No time for that now," Edea said. She pushed Cid out of the door, who had just pulled a shirt over his bare chest. "Let's go."
They stepped into the hallway and Edea immediately walked ahead of the group. Silently they walked out into the crisp morning air. The sun was just beginning to make its way above the horizon, its light filtering through a small forest in the east. "We need to find a place in which she will be safe, and where Griever can find her on its own."
Irvine stopped, the baby held tight to his chest. "No."
"We must, Irvine," Edea said. "It's fate, the future. We can't alter it, lest something terrible happens."
Irvine's lips trembled. "No, I can't do it. She can't go to Griever. She can't become. become a sorceress."
"If you do this, Irvine," Cid said, stepping forward, "The weight of the world rests upon your shoulders. You have to let her go. I know the bond you have with her-we once had a daughter. She was the most important thing to me, and when she died unexpectedly, I felt like a part of me was missing."
A tear formed in Irvine's eye.
"Don't put the world at risk, Irvine. Don't do it. There is more at stake than you realize, and your love for that child, while understandable, could produce terrible results." Irvine clutched baby Marian even tighter to his chest.
"She'll be safe where I send her," Edea said calmly. "Where Griever can seek her and not do any damage, and where she can be kept safe. I promise you that, Irvine."
Irvine stepped forward slightly. "All right. if you promise she'll be safe, Edea."
"I do, I do. You have my word."
Irvine put his arms out and Edea cradled the child. She gazed at its face for a few moments. This very child would one day go into the past and pass on her powers to Edea. It was a strange moment, in which Edea foresaw the future and past at the same time, and felt the bond between herself and the child. The others felt an overwhelming presence, as if time were compressed, as they stood and watched as Edea's eyes pored into the baby.
"I know where I shall send her."
Something blotted out the sun. Rinoa gasped. Irvine turned and saw the beast as it flew toward them, its massive wings beating the air. Screeching, it dove.
Although surprised by Griever's sudden appearance, Squall didn't even hesitate to raise his gunblade in a fighting stance. Rinoa stood by his side, watching as Griever drew nearer. It roared, sensing the baby's presence.
Stricken with panic, Irvine snatched the baby from Edea's arms and bolted for the forest. He disappeared within the trees and Griever roared again.
"Edea, Cid, run!" Squall said through clenched teeth. "Rinoa, get Irvine- bring back the baby!"
Edea and Cid ran toward the Garden and Rinoa sprinted for the forest. Griever swooped and made his attack on Squall, claws reaching out to slash.
Squall rolled to one side, desperately trying to remember Griever's fighting pattern. Usually the beast swooped, just like it had, and then did something devastating. perhaps it cast a magic spell of some sort.
Squall murmured the incantation for a reflect spell, just as Griever turned and a black ball emerged from its mouth. The ball of magic struck Squall, sending him flying backward, but bounced off his body and slammed into Griever.
It was an ultima spell, a strong, concentrated ball of forbidden magic. Extremely deadly, it probably would have killed Squall on the spot. He stood up and saw Griever roaring in pain as a huge explosion wrought his body.
Griever pulled itself free of the explosion and snarled. Its wings were singed on the edges and its left arm was hanging limp at its side, but otherwise it wasn't mortally injured.
Squall cast another spell. Griever darted sideways, effectively dodging concentrated ball of fire.
I can't kill it, Squall reminded himself. If he killed Griever, it would not pair with the sorceress and she would never become powerful. Not to mention that doing so would certainly fracture the timeline.
Griever swooped again and lashed out with its tail. Squall raised his gunblade and the tail slammed into it, knocking him flat on his back. He rolled to one side as the tail speared into the ground, threatening to dissect Squall.
Griever was hovering over him menacingly, readying his deathblow. Before it could strike, though, Squall plunged his gunblade into the belly of the beast. Griever roared in pain and flew upward, lacking the grace it had before.
Squall got to his feet and ran toward the forest, dropping the gunblade in the grass. Griever, blood pouring from the gaping wound, chased him down, casting a spell as it flew.
The spell whizzed past Squall's head and rushed into the forest.
.just as Rinoa emerged with Irvine behind her. Time slowed as the powerful fire spell struck her full in the gut. She was flung backwards into a tree, then slumped, blood trickling from her mouth.
Squall screamed, but didn't stop running. Griever was low to the ground, almost upon him. He heard the rumble of a car engine off to his right.
Edea, driving the car, aimed directly for Griever and gunned the gas. The passenger side window was rolled down, allowing Cid to sit on top of it. He seemed to have shouldered a rocket launcher, and was now aiming at Griever. Edea adjusted the car's path and Cid fired a rocket.
Griever swooped even lower to the ground, barely dodging the explosive. However, this left the beast with no possible time to maneuver out of the oncoming car's path.
A loud "Umph!" came from Griever's throat as the car slammed into its side, pulling it away from Squall if only for a few moments. Squall crouched next to Rinoa, whose sleeve was engulfed in flame. She was unconscious.
Using a simple water spell, Squall doused the flames and carried Rinoa's seemingly lifeless body deeper into the forest. Irvine, the baby still in his arms, followed as Cid came up behind, limping. Edea was immediately on his right, helping him into the forest. They stopped near a river that flowed through the forest.
Irvine handed the baby to Edea. "You have to do it. Please, make it quick."
Edea nodded, holding the baby. She closed her eyes and began to chant.
Squall crouched near Rinoa, trying to rouse her. Her eyes opened slightly and she looked at him.
"Squall."
"Don't say anything, Rinoa." He said, looking over her wounds. She had some heavy burns on one arm, but for the most part she was fine. Probably had a concussion, but she would be all right.
"You'll be fine," Squall said. "Just stay still, okay?"
"Sure," she said, smiling. "I love you."
Squall lightly touched her hand. "I love you, too."
The next few moments happened in a blur. The trees were suddenly snapping in half, branches raining down from above. Squall turned to look at Irvine, who was holding his shotgun, standing over Rinoa.
The image in his dream flashed before his eyes, and suddenly he had a very bad feeling.
A protection spell had just slipped from Edea's lips, covering the child effectively, when Griever's claws pulled her legs out from beneath her. The claws tore through her body, ripping flesh and spilling blood. The baby, unhurt, fell from her arms.
Squall shouted something to Irvine, but wasn't sure what it was. In the next instant, Irvine had a puzzled look on his face, as though he didn't understand quite what had happened.
Three black, sharp spikes protruded from his chest, glistening with blood. Irvine's eyes were wide with shock, and the shotgun fell from his hand. As Irvine's limp body fell over, revealing the glowing eyes behind him, Squall reached for the shotgun in a daze.
Raising the gun, Squall pulled the trigger. The blinding light pulsed and shattered one of Griever's lower legs. It dropped Irvine, who slumped to the forest floor. Squall was screaming, firing again and again, mostly missing and hitting the canopy of trees overhead. They exploded, and wood and leaves fell from above.
Griever ripped himself free of the trees and flew from the forest. There was a final roar, one of frustration, as the Legendary Beast took off.
Squall was breathing heavily. He dropped the shotgun and slumped against the tree next to Rinoa, his hand going to his forehead. Irvine's dead body, his unseeing eyes still open, lay near the river, his blood spilling into the flowing water. Cid was crouching next to Edea's body.
Squall brought Rinoa, still unconscious, to his chest. Her breathing was shallow, but still she seemed to be fine. A tear rolled down Squall's cheek as Edea stood up.
"Edea!" Cid said.
Her eyes were hollow, staring straight ahead as she walked toward Rinoa. Her steps were slow, drawn-out. Squall clutched Rinoa tighter in fear, although he knew what was happening would not harm her.
Edea reached Rinoa and placed a hand on her head. Rinoa suddenly awoke and gasped. Her whole body shuddered in Squall's arms as Edea passed on her powers. In the final moment, Squall looked up at Edea, a tear in his eye.
"Goodbye, Matron," he said. In a plume of smoke her body disappeared. Cid was weeping like a child.
The child.
Marian was gone. Squall looked around the general area, searching for the baby or any clues as to where it had gone, but found nothing. Ultimately defeated, he put his arm around Rinoa and sighed.