Reflections
'We often look back, and repent at what we have done. It is that way, for what are us humans but mere…well, humans? We cannot ever truly feel pleased with ourselves, and when we cannot, we take our frustration out on others.'
-Headmistress Quistis Trepe, The Wise
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'Nevertheless, we must always try. Never give up, not even at the end. Did you ever know, the things that could be accomplished, if you try? There is a profound power within each human, the ability to succeed. Don't, ever throw your life away.
Stand tall and shake the heavens.'
-High Commander Squall Leonhart Loire, address to Zell Dincht.
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Command Centre, 3F, Balamb Garden
There comes a time in life where we will take a path. Our choice, not others. There was, there is, and there always will be two choices for us, no matter the situation.
On one side, we have the easier path, with no suffering for ourselves, but yet, it is not right. For we choose that easy path, full of goodness for ourselves, but at the expense of others. While we laugh and frolic, others scream in the agony of death, the dance that takes one into eternal sleep. And we feel happy, yet our happiness is fraught with guilt as we watch others pay the dire consequences. Yet again, there are some who delight in others' suffering, and heed not their woes.
On another hand, we have the choice with hardships and suffering for ourselves, yet ultimately, in the end, we benefit not just ourselves, but others as well. However, all too few people choose this path, leading to even more suffering in the world.
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The movers and shakers of the world all stood in the Command Centre of Balamb Garden, a room in an institution that befitted their power. Everyone here was of profound importance, and with good reason. On one hand was SeeD, the slayers of the Sorceress, and wielders of the Guardian Forces. The other: Galbadia, which had risen again as the supreme military power of the world. And all balanced out by Esthar, the ridiculously advanced notion which pioneered many things, amongst them space travel.
Quistis stood wearily with the others as Squall prepared to meet with those powerful leaders. The battle had tired her out, but Anna had coped well. She was an old friend of Selphie's, with the same personality, and so the two had gone off somewhere, presumably to Deling for shopping. As Assistant Headmistress, Xu was right beside her, steady and willing.
As Squall stood up from his chair, all eyes in the room turned to him.
"Generals, Kiros, Ward. I am aware of our current situation, with the Sorceress. Now, I propose that we finish this once and for all. White SeeD flights have revealed to us her……"
Quistis lapsed into a stupor. She knew Squall's pain at this choice, she knew the difficulty he had to go through in order to bring peace to the world.
It wasn't fair. Why did Hyne have dominion over things? Humans, Squall most of all, had strived so much, given everything they had to the world, and yet……WHY?
It all began, a long time ago. When Ultimecia was cast from the world into Time itself, lost forever. Yet, before she died, she had given the SeeDs a last statement.
'No-I have tried, kurse you. I tried, but I was not strong enough to seal that monster away……Now, kurse all of you. You have unleashed upon this akkursed planet, something that I have striven to prevent by Time Kompression, but-all undone. You have released Hyne.'
She never knew what those words meant, not until a month after that. She had awoken to screams, and the sounds of battle.
"Squall! What's going on!? Where's Rinoa!?"
"She's-She's not herself. I-I don't know-what's going on anymore-Quisty-help me!"
Quistis had long harboured a crush on Squall, but she thought that Seifer had helped her overcome that. He was so kind, so supportive in her times of need, when he returned to Garden. Then, as she ran out to the Quad, she saw his body, still breathing, thankfully, but very near death. A pile of unconscious SeeDs were strewn everywhere, and the floor was scorched in several places.
Squall had knelt down, unable to react as he struggled to comprehend what was happening. His darling, Rinoa, was hovering in front of Edea, black wings at her back. She stretched out a hand, and seemed to draw Edea closer. Zell lay beaten by the walls, and Angelo next to him.
Even Rinoa's faithful dog was not spared, with dreadful gashes at it's side. The pinwheel that had inflicted so much harm was fastened to Rinoa's wrist, and she fired it at Edea, only to have Cid smash it from the air with his bare hands. The old headmaster was in a dreadful fury, one never before seen by anyone, not even Edea, and it was only by his skill that Edea was safe. Still, Rinoa was a Sorceress, and every step closer she came to Edea, the more power she drained.
As Cid blocked another assault, with Quistis and Squall still stunned and immobile, Rinoa cursed and drew open a gateway. Out of the swirling void stepped Omega Weapon, the one who was mightiest of all. Cid did not stand a chance, although he put up an incredible fight that would have been the envy of Zell, had he been awake.
As the old headmaster who was formerly a martial artist got knocked into a wall, the Weapon reached for Edea.
It has always been that way. The Weapons serve the most powerful, no matter who it is.
Quistis snapped out of her trance at Selphie's shriek, and called upon Shiva from that corner of her mind. With a huge gale of ice, the frost queen emerged, and Quistis bit back her hesitation to continue with her summoning. Giving Shiva the go ahead mentally, she watched as ice entombed the Weapon.
It was no use. The Weapon broke out, and sent his deadly whip to Shiva. The ice queen screamed as the Abolishing Chain removed her from the planar existence she resided in, and Quistis could sense her presence fading within her mind. Stunned at the power of the Weapon and frantically applying the G-Restorer, she did not see Selphie and Irvine fire off a barrage of spells and bullets, only to have them glance off the Weapon.
When at last, she looked up, Squall was in a rage, and he dashed forward without any mercy. Flinging Phoenix Downs as he ran, Squall entered a Renzokuken and finished off with a perfect Rough Divide. When that failed to have any effect on the monster, he focused his skill, and executed the advanced version of Rough Divide, Perfect Divide.
Halfway through his manoeuvre, a huge Firaga spell blew him off his feet, disrupting his assault. Omega Weapon had reached Edea, and drew magic out of her, channelling everything to Rinoa. Edea paled, and as she slumped to the ground, the new Sorceress and her Weapon vanished.
Now, Edea had a fragment of her powers, but nothing compared to Rinoa. No Sorceress alive could stand against the might of the Sorceress who had fused with Hyne.
"Vair magic fails, my science and technology vill succeed! Ze whole world vill know ze power of Odine, and I will devote all research to stopping zis witch!"
Odine's work was done, and when the Lunatic Pandora awoke, it gave him the power necessary to complete his weapon. Quistis could only watch and listen as Squall, hidden tears shaking his body, gave his agreement to fire the weapon.
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It began in the Dollet Dukedom.
Massive machines installed in the old Communication Tower awoke, and a huge tube extended out, as if in a parody of the incident when Squall and his friends passed the SeeD examinations.
It was all so long ago. The times we had together, the joy, the laughter. It seemed like so long, as we ran under cerulean skies. We laughed, we cried, all as one. Now, we have been rent asunder.
Power built up in the tower, and energy coursed through every receptacle and conduit. Light streamed out as the Odine Warhead prepared to fire.
Across the planet, nearby, far away, everywhere. The people of the world watched their TVs, praying that the doctor was right in his work.
Manmade lightning jolted through the machine, and in Esthar, the same thing happened with the Lunar Base. From space, it readied a powerful, all-consuming beam and locked on to its target.
The Deep Sea Research Facility.
At the exact same instant, the two beams intersected above the DSRF, and unleashed their hellish power down upon the structure, formerly known as Battleship Island. Energy poured down, and consumed the island, bathing it in the horrific power of science.
An instant later, Battleship island ceased to exist upon the surface of the waves.
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How foolish they are, thinking they can defeat us so easily.
We exist now underwater, waiting for the searchlights of the world to steer away from our location, before We rise again, and in secret, gather an omnipotent might, one that will quell all opposition, one that can be described in that term: infinite.
Never mind that they rejoice, never mind that they are happy. All the better, their guard is down.
We shall strike soon, and not leave anything in our wake.
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A/N: Okay, I really AM rushing here! Just that I thought halfway that I wanted to have some peace in this world from the Sorceresses. Wait and read to find out what happens in the SeeD ball! Sorry about the poor quality of this one, just I did it 5 mins before I went to school, and I might (might) be reposting if I am diligent enough!
To all who reviewed, especially those who have done so earlier, I thank you! Lunar-Girl, I totally agree with your advice, and I just haven't played FFVIII for a long time, hehe.
Okay, I'm running out of time here, and stand tall and shake the heavens, is from Xenogears, and awesome game. Angelo is dead (poor dog…), and Cid is a martial artist. Sound interesting? Read on!