~Chapter Thirteen~
Fureya ran on, her legs pumping steadily as she chased down the fleeing Iron Giant. They'd told her not to worry too much about those that fled because they usually left Esthar, but Fureya held her oath as a SeeD close. Which meant if she were hired to eradicate fiends, she would give her last breath to do so.
She was already sporting a few battle wounds from when they'd discovered a small congregation of Iron Giants. They'd killed all except this one she was chasing down.
"Fureya!" Macen called as he ran after her. The other SeeD were caught up in a civilian dispute about the five corpses lying in front of houses.
Fureya barely acknowledged him as she ran on; she had nearly caught up on him. Wrenching a dagger out of its sheath she threw it at him with fierce aim. The Iron Giant grunted as the dagger buried itself in his shoulder and turned to face his attacker. His giant hands firm on the hilt of his massive sword.
Fureya slid to a stop and grinned in triumph at the Giant as she slid her Katana out ready for battle. The massive monster swung its blade and Fureya lithely jumped over it as Macen slid to a stop next her, his gloved fists raised.
"Let's whoop some Iron ass." Macen grinned cheerfully and ducked under the Iron Giant's sword to land a flurry of hard blows against him. Fureya instantly followed his lead and slashed his legs, dodging the stream of blood that spat out.
A millisecond too late, Fureya jumped out of the way and was sent flying by the flat of his massive blade. Her small frame was smashed squarely against the steel wall of a convenience store. Grunting, Fureya bit her lip and got to her feet. Her body was enclosed in pearly shimmer as she stepped forward confidently.
A pair of snow white wings burst from her back and stretched out before wrapping around Fureya. Within seconds the wings exploded into a flurry of soft white feathers and Fureya's speed, agility and strength rose. Charging forward, Fureya readied her blade and began to slash at her opponent numerous times. When the effects began to fade she reversed her blade in a full circle and leaped out of the reach of the Iron Giant. Macen watched in awe as the Giant let out a roar and slumped to the ground, dead. Macen let out a whoop and turned in time to catch Fureya as her legs gave way under her.
"What was that?" He asked as he slung her arm around his shoulder.
"Roanoke." She answered. "My limit break." Macen whistled softly.
"Not too bad." He commented as they walked back towards the Presidential Palace where they were staying. "That explains why you can barely stand up. I'm the same after mine." Fureya grinned at him as her strength slowly returned to her.
Back at the Palace, Fureya was taken aside by a lithe dark skinned man by the name of Kiros.
"You are wanted by President Loire." He said with a friendly smile as he supported her. Together they walked down the hall slowly as Fureya wondered what her Grandfather could want with her.
Kiros kindly put her in a chair as Laguna walked in.
"Fureya! Welcome!" He cheered brightly as he took a seat opposing her. "I know you've probably had a long day, but I haven't seen you in a while." Fureya relaxed slightly as he spoke, it was just a family get together of sorts.
A door to her left opened to admit a willowy brunette with a golden haired angel on her hip. "Elle and Melody also wanted to say hello." Ellone put Melody down and the five-year-old girl rushed over and threw herself at Fureya.
"Rei! Rei! Rei!" Melody squealed as she hugged her tight.
"Hey Melee." Fureya laughed as she returned the hug, watching Ellone sit in a seat beside Laguna.
They chatted idly for about forty-five minutes before little Melody let off a yawn that would rival a lions. Laguna instantly stood up and scooped the little girl up in his arms.
"Come on little girl." He murmured cheerfully. "To bed with you." With a nod to Ellone and Fureya, he left the room to put the girl to bed.
"Auntie Elle…" Fureya asked hesitantly after he'd left. "Could you do something for me?" Ellone looked at her curiously before nodding with a slight smile.
"You want me to send you into the past so you can see your mother?" She suggested quietly, drawing a blush from the younger female. Ellone chuckled softly and nodded slightly. "Just a glimpse and as long as you know I wont always do this, you can't change the past but I can give you some memories."
Ellone leant forward and smiled at Fureya as a soft whine built up between the girls ears and she blacked out.
A moonlit ballroom, the same one that she and Willard had danced in appeared before her. Looking down she saw herself in a male SeeD uniform and a dull ache across the bridge of her nose told her she'd been recently hurt there; she was in the mind of her father. Turning her attention she noticed a young woman with raven hair staring at her/Squall. It was her mother. She came over and demanded a dance from her/Squall.
She eventually did drag Squall out on to the dance floor and Squall had done a right job of messing up the steps. But then Rinoa had smiled at him and everything had gone right, the dance was perfect.
The scene then changed and she was still Squall, but she was fighting a pair of huge Iguana like creatures with a younger version of Irvine by her side. After they'd defeated the reptilians she watched as her/Squall walked over to a motionless figure behind their bodies. It was Rinoa again. She moved quickly and wrapped her fingers around the black leather of Squalls jacket.
"I was so scared." She whispered, looking up at Squall with wide brown eyes.
The scene changed again and Squall was operating a grass green jet pack, she watched as she/Squall manoeuvred it towards a blue figure hanging precariously of the damaged side of Balamb Garden. She watched on as Squall rescued Rinoa.
The scene changed again and Fureya realized she was in space. Fureya/Squall caught a figure in a bulky space suit; Rinoa.
Another scene flashed before Fureya. There was white smoke everywhere and suddenly a fragile looking Rinoa stumbled through it in to her/Squalls arms. She could practically feel the warmth of her mothers embrace for the first time.
The scene changed and she watched as a younger Zell rushed forward to lay a few blows on a tall red haired woman. Looking the woman over, Fureya realized that Rinoa was firmly attached to the woman's chest. She felt the anguish of Squall as they rushed forward and attacked the woman, narrowly missing Rinoa.
The scene changed and she was in a car, looking over at the ocean. Turning to her right she saw a heartbroken, crying Rinoa. Rinoa was looking sadly at a crying infant girl in the back seat. Fureya instantly realized it was her and the scene flashed again. Squall was standing on the cliff edge, watching a car tumble over the edge. A fierce pain twisted through her chest and everything went black
"Fureya?" Ellone's voice roused her and brought her to. "Are you alright?" Fureya sat up and realized she had hot tears sliding down her cheeks.
"I saw it.." She croaked and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I saw the accident." Fureya curled her knees up to her chest and let the tears fall. Ellone gently wrapped her arms around her foster niece and rocked her.
"I'm sorry, Fureya." She murmured sincerely.
~*~
Squall rubbed his chin as he studied Amerada across the desk.
"You're telling me you've no idea why traces of a sorceress were found here at Galbadia Garden?" He murmured sceptically. The woman nodded and gritted her teeth in exasperation.
"That is what I said, SeeD Leonhart." She snapped curtly and stood up. "Now if you don't mind, I do have more important things to attend to than your wild goose chase." Squall got to his feet and looked at her for a long movement before exiting the office and signalling to Annabelle and Amelia; the other two SeeD were sneaking around through the Garden for any sort of solid evidence.
Together the three of them exited the Garden and perched themselves on one of the short brick walls outside.
"Suspicious?" Annabelle said in a bored tone as she examined her pale pink nails. Squall narrowed his gaze at her and nodded grimly.
"Very." He breathed and looked up at the sky. "We just have to wait for Kaddar to bring the Deling City Squad here before we can investigate more." He stood up and flexed out his arms. "Annabelle you can wait here for Luke and Mael." He ordered, knowing it would vex the irritating girl a lot.
"Whatever." She grumbled and pulled a small nail file out of her pocket and began to file her near immaculate nails.
~*~
Keladryie stared at Squall quietly as he spoke. The plan had been too find whatever it was they were hiding, but instead they'd searched every nook and cranny. There was no Sorceress, just another Guardian Force; Ifrit. Ifrit was the Guardian of a hardly surprised Amelia. After profusely apologising to Amerada, Squall had left Galbadia and they were now on a train home.
"A wild goose chase." He complained tiredly, mirroring Keladryie's thoughts. "What a waste of time." Keladryie let out a drawn out sigh and picked up a Weapons Monthly, peering at Kaddar over the top of it.
Willard was sitting cross-legged in the corner and staring out the window. He wondered what Fureya was doing, thinking and seeing. He sighed softly as Kaddar dropped down beside him.
"I don't approve of such faces when I know that you're thinking of my kid sister." Kaddar joked, drawing an undignified snort from Keladryie, muffled by the magazine. Kaddar glanced at her slyly and winked at her, making her turn red and focus really hard on the magazine. Squall glanced over at Willard curiously, as if assessing him silently.
"Shuddup Kaddar." He growled and elbowed him swiftly. Kaddar laughed loudly and stood up.
"Have you kissed her yet?" Kaddar grinned wickedly as Squall's eyebrow rose an inch. "Or do you just pout for her?" Willard turned a strange shade of red and stood up.
"I'd ask you the same about Almasy, but Garret told me you already kissed her." He retorted. A soft choking noise came from Keladryie as she fell off the seat she was sitting on. Kaddar glanced at her and then at a conveniently busy Garret.
"Well atleast I ain't chicken!" Kaddar grinned and walked over and picked up Keladryie off the floor. She stared at him wildly as he kissed her sweetly, in front of all them. When he let her go he grinned wickedly at her.
"I do believe that is enough." Squall said quietly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Keladryie blinked for a moment before laying a fierce punch on Kaddar's shoulder.
"You jerk!" She shouted, her eyes hard. Kaddar just smiled at her and rubbed his arm.
"I thought you liked me." He said cheerfully and sat down. Keladryie walked over and sat in a corner, brooding.