~Chapter Seventeen~
Jumping out of the rental car Willard raced through the pillars in Tears Point and stopped at the centre. Fureya trotted up to him and threw her arms around his neck.
"Willard!" She smiled at him. But her smile faded as he shrugged off her embrace, looking grim. "Willard?" She asked tentatively. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" He repeated. "You ran off and left me behind without any sort of a goodbye." He caught her wrists in his hands tightly. "You can't do that." Fureya shrank back and caught her bottom lip in her teeth.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Reya." He sighed and released her hands, turning away. Fureya reached out for him, but he walked away out of her reach.
"Will!" She cried out and threw her self at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her cheek against his back. "I love you Willard Trepe! I don't care that its one sided but I wont let you go!" Willard froze, an anger rising in him. Turning he unwrapped her arms and faced her.
"I do love your Fureya!" He said forcefully, his words surprising himself. Fureya took a step back, her face mottled pink.
"Will.." She stammered. Will just narrowed his gaze slightly and walked away. Squall sauntered up and put a hand on his shoulder gently holding her back.
"Give him time." He advised quietly as Kaddar and Keladryie joined them. Squall narrowed his eyes as he realized. "You two girls are in a lot of trouble when Quistis gets her hands on you. And you Fureya Julia Leonhart are in even more trouble." Fureya grinned sheepishly and fled over to where Macen, Garret and Amelia were standing.
"Reya!" Macen yelled and hi-fived her. "What's up girl?" Fureya grinned and ruffled his blonde locks. "Oi! The hair dude!" He grunted and swung a punch at her. Fureya grinned and skipped out of reach.
"Too slow!" She grinned. Garret moved like a flash and grasped her around the waist, picking up her slight frame easily.
"Get her Macen!" He shouted, spitting out a mouthful of raven hair. Macen grinned and dodged a kicking leg. Grabbing the ankle firmly, he yanked and made Fureya squeal.
"Your so mean!" She laughed. Macen and Garret exchanged a glance and dropped her in the same moment. "Ouch." She growled, climbing to her feet as she rubbed her ass. "You guys are so gonna pay for that."
"I don't think now is a good time." Squall said dryly and grabbed Fureya's shirt collar, pulling her back.
"Aww Dad." She whined. Squall silenced her with a glance.
"I found a trace of para magic!" Keladryie called, her voice shaking slightly. Kaddar who'd be focusing on his sister's antics was surprised that she wasn't next to him.
"Where are you Kella?" He called and walked around the pillar near them. He instantly stopped short as he rounded the corner. Keladryie was surrounding by faintly glimmering rings that bound her arms to her sides. At her throat was held a very sharp looking blade that was cradled in the thin pale hand of Sorceress Kalasin.
"Sorceress!" Snarled Willard as his eyes blazed ruby. Holding out a hand, he blew apart the binding on Keladryie. A dark eyed Keladryie grasped the blade, slitting her palm as she wrenched it from the Sorceresses grasp. Reversing it, she fiercely stabbed it in to her gut.
Kalasin's eyes widened as she staggered back, her hands around the hilt. Suddenly, her eyes glowed red and she wrenched the dagger out of her stomach. The wound healed instantly with a flash of soft green light.
Reacting quickly, Willard threw an impenetrable shield over them, locking them in until either he died or released it.
"It's over Hyne." Garret hissed and thrust his hands forward, a wave of icy blue water swamping the slender form of Kalasin. Almost instantly the water froze and shattered.
Kalasin's face was contorted in a fierce snarl, her eyes bright red.
"You pathetic fools! I am the Sorceress! I am the being created by magic!" She roared and held her hands out in front of her. Almost instantly Fureya leaped forward, snow swirling around her form as she encased the Sorceress in ice. Clicking her fingers, she shattered it, inflicting an array of flesh wounds on her body. As Kalasin healed, Amelia called forth a meteor of burning fire that encased the figure in fire. Kalasin screamed her fury and lashed out with magick, but Willard was on guard, throwing up shields before they could harm anyone.
As Keladryie pelted Kalasin with balls of dark energy, a glowing dagger formed in Willard's hand.
Circling her as Macen drew Kalasin's attention with bolts of blue white lightening. Darting forward, he thrust the dagger through the small of her back.
"Akuryo Taisan!" He yelled and Kalasin was enveloped in soft green light. Almost instantly, the others formed a loose circle around her. Their hands outstretched as they pooled their power between them. When the power levels peaked they thrust them towards the life form they surrounded.
Pulsing with fatal energy, Kalasin screamed and fell to her knees. Thrusting out her hands, she encased Amelia and Macen in flames, burning them alive as she died.
Fureya watched in slow motion as the Sorceress fell to her knees and then thrust the last of her power out. Fureya didn't see her friends burn, but she saw Kalasin fall into the snow, and her eyes flutter shut. A few drawn out seconds later, Fureya's world shone a bright white before everything faded to black as she passed out.
Willard's consciousness took over as Fureya crumpled to the ground.
"Reya!" He cried as he raced over and scooped her in his arms. He touched her face gently, shocked by its coldness. Shiva appeared next to him and smiled at him.
"Fureya's okay." Shiva glanced over her should to where Carbuncle was standing. "Please release the barrier." She ordered before walking over to where the charred corpses of Macen and Amelia lay. Kneeling, Shiva passed a hand over them, returning them to their normal unburnt state. "I can't revive them, but I can undo the damage." She said mournfully as Diablos came over whilst Leviathan looked on grimly. "Quezacotl and Ifrit, Macen Dincht and Amelia Kinneas." Squall walked over and stared down at the dead as Carbuncle lowered the barrier. Kaddar raced over and scooped Keladryie up in his arms, kissing her soundly.
Squall narrowed his eyes as he stared at the unmarked body of Kalasin spare the knife wound in her back.
"Where did her magic go? I swear I saw it go into to Fureya." He demanded, glaring at Shiva. Shiva nodded and clasped her hands in front of her.
"Fureya took in the Sorceresses power, but because I was there, it's in me. I finally have the thing I came for." Shiva paused and looked at him hesitantly. Slowly her features began to change and she shortened. Her soft blue hair darkened to a raven colour as her skin paled and her eyes darkened.
"Squall." Rinoa said softly, looking the age she had when she died. Squall stared at her in disbelief.
"Rinny?" He rasped hoarsely and stepped forward. Rinoa put up her hands to stop him.
"I'm dead Squall, but before Shiva leaves she let me say goodbye. She said it wasn't fair I didn't get to before." Rinoa swallowed, noting the confusion of everyone's faces. "My personality and memories were transferred along with my powers as with most Sorceresses." She stepped forward and laid a hand on Squall's cheek. "I love you Squall." She murmured and pressed her lips against his briefly. "I wanted you to save my baby, you did the right thing." She whispered. Moving away from him, she laid her gaze on Kaddar as he stepped forward.
"Mum…" He whispered and hugged her tightly.
"My little boy has grown up so big." She murmured and glanced over his shoulder at Keladryie. "You've got a good girl there Kaddy, don't let her get away." She warned softly and smiled at Keladryie. Turning away from her son, Rinoa walked over and kneeled next to Fureya's unconscious form. "She looks like me." She murmured in awe and brushed some of the raven hair off of her daughter's forehead as Willard looked at her awkwardly. Squall came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"She has my eyes." He commented as Rinoa kissed Fureya's forehead lightly.
"Willard Trepe, take care of my baby girl. Your everything to her." She murmured and stood up. "Squall I have to go now." She whispered softly.
"No!" He yelled and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Don't leave me again." He pleaded as Rinoa started to fade.
"I have to Squall. I love you." She murmured before disappearing completely. Squall fell to his knees and stared at the spot where she'd been. He wasn't miserable or upset, but happy she was finally at peace. Keladryie looked around and noticed all the other Guardians had faded.
"Typical." She whispered. "No thank you or goodbyes." She also noted that Macen, Amelia and Kalasin's bodies were gone. "It's over." She whispered softly.