Disclaimer: Geez I really gotta start membrin to put dis in, anywayz here I am once again, an jus sayin dat I don own nuthin...except mebbe dis stry, an Cale yup yup he's me own character, k so on wit duh stry.
Oh an ****** is time passin
An dis ------------ is changin duh POV alrite jus so evryone nos
Wrong Intentions.
Ch. 6, Attacked, but still alive.
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"Are we there yet?" I heard Zell complain, we had been walking for hours, my feet hurt and I knew that everyone else' feet weren't feeling the best either.
"No were not Zell, but we will probably have to walk most of tomorrow too." Irvine answered.
After we had made our great escape from the stadium, we found that the Galbadians had barricaded the whole parking lot section off and that it was being heavily guarded, so we had to walk, after Irvine had found (and rescued) us, He sort of took charge and led us out of the sewers that were beneath the stadium.
After we got out we had first went to the parking lot, which I old you earlier was blocked off, so Irvine sent two of the SeeD's that were with him to bring news of what had happened to the other officers at Balamb Garden.
"Aww, we hafta keep walkin like this for anuther whole day? Where are you takin us anyway Irvine?" Zell asked.
"There is a hideout up in the mountains, I used to live up there in the town of Akthah along with Squall, we used to go exploring, y'know tryin to find cool new stuff an all that, and one day we even found sumthin. You see I was climbing on an old tree that we had found not to far from the town, sumthin happened an I fell from one of the branches that was higher up, once I hit the ground...it came with me, there must have been people hiding there or sumthin for there was pretty much a house down there. I wasn't hurt from the fall so Squall an me started lookin around and found that it was totally abandoned, so we patched up the hole in the roof and made a secret passage through that old tree an we had ourselves an underground fort." He explained with a smile.
"So is that town still there?" I asked.
"Well kinda, you see about seven years ago that town was attacked during the seventeen year war, I made it out of the town alive, along with my family and Squall's family we made it to safety, but Squall's dad and my dad went back into the town to fight off the Centra...they both returned but my dad died shortly after that from a wound that he had gotten from the attack." he ended sadly.
"Oh I'm sorry for bringing it up." I said quietly.
"It's alright, that happened a long time ago, and I got over it...so don't worry." He said with a reassuring smile.
"Hey! you still haven't answered my question yet." Zell said.
"Oh, uh what did ya want Zell?" He asked.
"I said, is the town still there?" Zell answered.
"Oh yeah, after we moved to Balamb Squall's dad ran for presidency, and right now is the president of Balamb, so naturally he rebuilt Akthah, so yeah but it's a little different from when I lived there but it is still there, besides we'll have to go there and get some supplies if were gonna stay at my old hideout." He explained.
"Wow I didn't know that your dad was the prez." Zell said, directing his words towards Cale.
"Yeah, but sometimes it don't seem like it, because my dad doesn't like being cooped up behind a desk, so he does as much of his work at home as he can." Cale answered.
"So...if this was seven years ago, then you would have been there...right Cale?" I asked.
"Yeah, I was there but I just never wanted to explore with Squall and Irvine, you see before my dad became the president of Balamb, he experimented with natural recourses just like I do...I learned most of what I know from my dad." Cale answered.
After that we didn't talk for awhile, we just tried to keep up with Irvine on our way towards this small town out in the middle of the mountains.
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I had been transported back after the last fight with Squall, I still couldn't believe how he had done that, I mean I had hit him dead on with an Ultima, He should have been on the ground begging me for mercy "Which I wouldn't have given" I thought with a smirk.
I was immediately requested to meet with the president upon my arrival so that is where I was headed, I walked down the hall's of the presidential building, I was still amazed at how big this place was, it had mahogany wood everywhere, with gold streaks going through the wood, but I was brought from my thoughts as I neared the last security checkpoint.
"Back so soon Commander?" was all the guard said, which I quickly answered with a nod.
After I was through the checkpoint, I made my way to the double-doors that I knew the president would be behind, and pushed my way through.
"Ah, my young Commander, how nice to see you back so soon, now I want a progress report...NOW." President Deling yelled.
"YES SIR! I have successfully assassinated the former General, and also led a successful attack on the Balamb Tournament Stadium." I said, standing at attention and saluting.
"GWAAHAAHAA, good work Commander, now what of the Caraway children?" He asked after a gruesome laugh.
"Sir I am sorry to say that they are still alive but I can assure you that I will find them, then I will kill them." I replied.
"Ok...Major Almasy, I will look forward to it, now at ease soldier." He said, with evil delight in his voice.
I followed orders, and took a relaxed position. "M-major sir?" I asked with total shock.
"Yes I think you have earned it, now I want a more thorough attack on Balamb, I want you to wipe out all inhabitants, from the elderly, down to the very last child." He ordered, with an air of superiority.
"Yes sir, but I think we might have a small problem with Balamb Garden." I explained.
"Well then, I would think that another surprise attack will be in order, now do you have any inside people Major?" He asked.
"Yes, Hank Philips, he has contacted me and is now in the party of the three Caraway children, along with Commander Kinneas of the Balamb army, and the youngest son of President Leonhart." I answered.
"Good do they know that he is working for us?" He asked.
"No, and they do not suspect a thing." I replied with an evil smile.
"Do you have anyone in Balamb Garden?" He asked curiously.
"Yes, I have Leautenant Philip Rogers, who is giving me information on what they will be expecting." I answered, to receive a surprised look from the President.
"Good, I see that I have made the right choice of making you a Major, now while you are busy with Balamb, I will take care of Trabia, and Faargorn, then when you return I will have you start attacks on Timber." He said.
"Yes sir...but I think I might have a problem, his name is Squall Leonhart, I had my men try and peg him off, and they did a pretty good job, but I still have doubts of his death, when I was at Balamb Garden we were friends, and we have done a few missions together, sometimes it looked like he wouldn't come back but everytime...he did, so I do not know if he is dead or not." I explained.
"Well, you have certainly taken care of things so far, so I will leave it in your hands Major, now I will give you until O 1300 hours tomorrow, then you will leave for Balamb, that will give you enough time to rest up and resupply yourself, now you are dismissed." He said with a wave of his hand, before looking back down at the papers sitting on his desk.
I turned quickly and walked out, no matter how many times I would be in his presence, or how many times he would do stuff for me, he was still the only person who could scare me the way he did.
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I had been walking for hours, I was hungry, thirsty, and I probably had more than one blister on each foot, but I still kept on walking for I had to at least get halfway to my destination before nightfall.
"Squall, are you alright?" Apock asked, and yes, I named my guardian force Apock.
"Yeah, I'm alright, just a little tired." I answered.
"I think you should rest Squall, my healing skills are unmatched but you will be beyond my help if you keep up like this." Apock said with genuine concern in his voice.
"Apock, I said I was fine, I want to go just a little further then I will rest alright." I said while stopping to turn and look at him.
"You said that an hour ago Squall, I know you are trying to push yourself to get to your hideout, but I really think that you should rest for at least a couple minutes, you haven't stopped since we left the stadium." He said, with the same concern in his voice.
"...(sigh)...fine, but only a few minutes." I said while walking over to a large rock, and brushing the snow off to sit on it.
What Apock had said was true, I hadn't stopped to rest since yesterday, I had walked through the intense cold, and blistering snow last night and was still trying to get to the half-way point.
"Hey Apock, what if the others are at my hideout, will they see you?" I asked.
"No, I can only be seen by my master in the world of humans, or if you request that I become visible to them." Apock answered.
"Well, what about at the stadium, when seifer opened that weird hole, everyone seen you then." I said.
"Yes I know, but I hadn't accepted you as my master then, so I could be seen by anybody." He explained.
"Hmm, and what about me? Why was I chosen to be some sort of king?" I asked.
"Because, after you were born we had found that you were one of the two Droganites that were born into this world, we still hadn't located the other, but we don't decide if you are going to be the king, we simply tell you what you are, then it is your choice to become the king or not." He explained.
"What if I don't change my mind, and I don't become king?" I asked.
"...That would be very grievous master, for although you are the male Droganite from this dimension, there is another...he is evil, cunning, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants, we have already contacted him, and told him that he was also an heir to the throne, this intrigued him, and he has already started on his journey to prove himself, and if you step down...then my world will be lost to corruption." He answered sadly.
"Who is he?" I asked curiously.
"You already know him, his name...is Seifer Almasy." Apock answered.
"W-what? I thought you said we were supposed to be in different dimensions!" I yelled.
"Yes, you were but when he heard that there was another that could prevent him from being king, he set out to kill him." Apock explained.
"But...I've known seifer since I was a kid." I said, half in disbelief of what Apock was saying.
"Yes I know, when seifer found out, he found a way to rewind time and bring himself into your dimension, we still don't know how he did it. After successfully rewinding time and moving to a different dimension, he forgot about everything except the mission that he set out for." Apock explained, trying to make it so that I would understand.
"And was mission was...?"
"To kill the only being that could stand in is way...you." Apock answered slowly.
"But...we were friends when I was younger." I said still confused.
"He didn't know that you were the person he was seeking after." Apock said.
"Oh...no wonder he...nevermind lets keep moving." I said while I got up and started walking, ending the conversation, which Apock didn't try to start again so we just walked on in silence.
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"Look! There it is! We've made it at last!" Irvine shouted excitedly, as he pointed off into the distance, I looked to where he was pointed and was overjoyed as I seen light smoke rising from over the hill.
"Come on lets go!" Zell yelled, while taking off at a fast run.
I really wasn't feeling up to running but if this meant that I could finally stop and not have to walk anymore, than I was going to push myself to go a little faster. So, I started running after Zell, along with everyone else. I finally got to the top and was relieved to see a small town, it had a few houses here and there, a store, and that was about it.
"So this is it?" I asked looking at Irvine.
"Yeah, man it's feels good to be back here again." Irvine answered, walking towards the small town.
"So, where is this hideout of yours?" I heard Zell ask from behind me.
"It's a quarter mile from the General Store." Irvine yelled from ahead of us, as he reached the door of the small building and walking in.
I followed Irvine, as I made my way through the door I could feel the warmth flow through my body, it felt so good for I had been walking and sleeping in the cold for the last three days. I looked around a little and found that it was bigger inside, than what it had looked like when I first came up to it. It had all the things that you would find in a regular store, and on top of that my eyes came across a small cafe with a few small tables and chairs.
So I made my way over to it and thankfully I had brought a lot of money with me to the tournament which I still had. I ordered a hot chocolate, and enjoyed the feeling that went through my legs as I sat down at one of the small tables, it felt so good to actually rest and on top of that enjoy a cup of steaming hot chocolate.
I was interrupted from my euphoria when Irvine came up to me.
"Hey Rin, I'll give you guys half an hour, then we will continue on to my hideout, now I'll meet you guys at the north-side of town where we entered alright." Irvine said while walking to and out the door.
********
It had been thirty minutes, and I was getting ready to go back out into the cold. Selphie had come and joined me for some hot chocolate, so I only had to locate all the guys. I found Zell pigging down candy right outside the door, and there was a weapon shop that I hadn't seen earlier and that is where I found Cale, he was getting his steel Katana upgraded into a weapon that had one long blade with a handle in the middle (A/N remember darth maul's weapon from star wars? Only without the lasers).
"Wow that thing looks cool." I said, walking up from behind him.
"Yeah it's a double bladed dark Katana, I can keep it like this or separate it into two different blades." Cale said excitedly, while separating, and sheathing them.
"Alright well Irvine said to meet him at the north-end of this village in thirty minutes so lets go." I said, motioning everyone to follow me and pushed my way through the door.
I looked around the small town trying to find the point where we had arrived, I didn't have to look for long as I seen Irvine and the SeeD that had accompanied us here, at the place where Irvine said to meet up.
"Hey! I thought I said to meet me here in thirty minutes, your five minutes late!" Irvine yelled deriously, as soon as he seen us approaching.
"Yeah well, I kinda lost track of time AND I had to find everyone." I explained quickly.
"Hahaha, I was just playin with ya, one word of advice Rin, don't EVER take me seriously." Irvine said, still chuckling as he turned and led the way to his hideout.
It had taken us about fifteen minutes of walking through the woods until we came to a huge tree, I watched Irvine approach it and feel around on the rough bark of the tree.
"What are you doing?" I asked walking up to him.
"There is a secret switch somewhe---AH! Here it is!" Irvine said excitedly, as he pushed a hidden button.
I heard a noise and looked to my right, I stood there in amazement as I watched a line in the snow start to appear, soon there was a gap big enough for us to walk through one by one.
"Ok, we're gonna hafta walk in a strait line." Irvine said while walking in first.
"No, ya think." I said sarcastically, while taking up the rear of our little line.
The walkway seemed never ending, for we walked on for what seemed like ten minutes, until Irvine stopped, I could hear small beeping noises, then I heard what sounded like a door closing from behind me, after that a door slid open in front of Irvine then we all walked through.
The hideout was pretty big with three different levels, there was a kitchen, and about five bedrooms, what looked like a tv room, and a bathroom that had no running water.
"Wow! You and Squall have a pretty nice setup here." Zell exclaimed while playing around with the tv.
"Yeah, but as I said, this was probably a bandits hideout or sumthin." Irvine said while brushing dust off some of the chairs.
"So this is where we will be staying?" I asked, sitting down in one of the chairs.
"Yeah, there is an old generator down in the basement that will give us some electricity, and there is a water heater down there also, I can also get running water for there is a small river or something running under this structure." Irvine answered.
"Wow! Those bandits thought of everything!" Zell said while finally getting a picture from the tv.
"Zell, don't bother with that piece of junk, it won't work for very long anyway, but I did see one at the General store back in town, I was gonna stop there later and get some stuff to eat an all of the other stuff that we would need." Irvine said.
"So...your staying with us?" Selphie asked hopefully.
"Yeah, well I don't have no orders from the General, and you guys do need someone here who can protect ya if anything happens so, Yeah I'm staying for right now." Irvine answered while going through a door that said 'Cellar'.
I waited a couple minutes and heard something roar to life from somewhere below, then some lights came on soon after.
"Ok, that should take care of the electricity, now Selph and Rin, I want you two ta stay here and get the beds prepared an stuff, now Hank, Zell, an Cale you guys come with me, I'm going to the store an gittin the stuff we need." Irvine ordered while closing the door to the cellar behind him.
"Where do we find the blankets and stuff like that?" I asked, while getting up from where I was sitting.
"Down the hall in the bathroom, you'll find a cabinet with the blankets an sheets, then through that door will lead you to where the bedrooms are." Irvine answered, pointing at the doorways.
"Ok thanks, and don't be gone too long, I don't feel very safe right now." I said.
"Geez! I fell like I'm married, anywayz yeah we won't be gone long, now come on guys lets get going, besides the sooner we leave the sooner we get back." Irvine said leading the way to where we had entered.
"Ok Selph, come on lets get to work on those beds, I feel kind of tired." I said while walking to the bathroom.
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I was still cold, I was still tired, and I was still hungry, but I kept pushing on. It was December 15, and with all the walking and bad weather, I was still two days away Akthah, I couldn't really feel anything, for everytime the pain came back, or I was hungry or cold I would just tell Apock to use his healing thing or whatever it was and I would be ready to go again.
"Squall, we have been walking for five hours strait, don't you think you should stop and rest?" I heard Apock's voice come from behind me.
"...(sigh)...I want to get to the hideout as soon as I can, and I can't do that if I have to keep on stopping." I said weakly.
"That is if you get there, you are pushing yourself too much Squall, I've been watching you, and you have been getting weaker and weaker with every passing hour, the way your going you won't make it there alive, so can you please just stop and rest." Apock pleaded.
"...Ok, but not for long." I said plopping down onto the snow.
"Do you want to talk about something?" Apock asked, while sitting down next to me.
"Like what?" I asked.
"I don't know...anything." Apock answered.
"...Who is supposed to be the strongest of seifer and me?" I asked, finally finding something that I had been wanting to ask.
"Well, it's kind of hard to say, both of you have your strengths and weaknesses but I really don't know..." Apock said trying his best to answer.
"Well, I was just wondering...out of all the people that I have fought through my life, seifer has by far topped all of them, I mean he has always been the one to stand in my way, he has always been the most formidable opponent, and up until now I never knew why." I said.
"Well, that would be logical, I mean with him being a Droganite." Apock said.
"But you know what always puzzled me, I have never lost to seifer...except once..." I said, while I felt along the scar that went from the middle of my forehead down to the top ridge of my nose.
"Well, I guess that one time was all it took." Apock said looking at my scar.
"So, who is the present king?" I asked curiously.
"His name is Cloud Strife, he is from the world of Midgom, which is a large part of the seventh dimension." Apock answered with a smile.
"What did he do to become king?" I asked.
"There was a great evil that scourged the land in the Seventh Era, which was known only as Jenova. Jenova controlled a young but powerful man that went by the name...Sephiroth. Master Strife and Lord Sephiroth were the two Droganites that lived during that Era, and I was priveledged enough to be one of the thirteen 'Knights of the Round', I was summoned by Master Strife to come to his aid in battle, and I was the one that laid the laid the killing blow on the evil Lord Sephiroth. I have lived for five thousand years so I have been the guardian of Master Strife, and now you Master Leonhart." Apock answered distantly, as if he were there at this moment.
"Wow, five thousand years, geez your pretty old Apock." I said still thinking on what he had just said.
"No, no, I am far from old, in the standards of most guardian forces I am very young, but I am also one of the most trusted." He replied, with an even bigger smile.
"So...does seifer also have a Guardian Force?" I asked.
"Sadly...yes, his guardian is the fire demon...Alktash, the most feared of all the demons in the Ninth Dimension." Apock answered slowly, and I could see the fear building in his eyes.
"The...Ninth Dimension? But I thought Alma said that there were only eight." I said confused.
"Yes, there are eight Dimensions that are inhabited by normal beings, but there are four that are evil. Darkness and destruction are all that is in them, and all that will come out of them, I have heard of Alktash many times before, he is the Lord, and ruler of three out of the four evil Dimensions, many of my friends have fought against him...but none have ever returned to tell the tale. Even I have fought against him, but I was more lucky than my friends." Apock explained sadly, while opening his short to reveal a nasty scar traveling up the side of his body.
"...Well, that is bad news." I said slowly, running everything that Apock had just said through my brains.
I have heard that he has been readying an army large enough to take over every Dimension, and bend them to his will, it will be a long, dark, and painful war, there will be many casualties on both sides, and only the strongest will survive. That is why we have all of our hope in you Master Leonhart, for we know that you are strong enough to lead an army against him, only you will be able to break through his lines, and only you will be able to put an end to his plans." Apock said, with enthusiasm and excitement.
"Why...me, what is wrong with the present king, and why are you talking like I am your last hope?" I asked, not believing what I was hearing.
"The present king is wonderful, he has been one of the best in all of history in my homeland, but...he has grown old, and he will not be able to stand against the masses of evil that are threatening to break loose. And seifer, he has an evil, corrupt heart and will easily be swayed to Alktash's evil will, so that only leaves you...and if you choose not to become king...then this world, this Dimension...every Dimension, will fall and everything that is good, will no longer exist." Apock explained, his voice was becoming lower and sadder with every word.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I had been living a normal life up until the tournament, and now I being told that I was supposed to lead an army, AND change worlds that I never knew existed! I just couldn't take it anymore, so I got up from my spot on the ground and started walking.
"Squall, where are you going?" I heard Apock's from behind me.
"A-apock, j-just don't talk to me right now...I need to think alright." I said weakly.
"Alright, I will be quiet, for now." Apock said. After that we just walked silently, while I was slowly digesting all that I had just heard.
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It had been one day since we arrived at Irvine's hideout, it was really nice, it had heat, running water, stuff to eat and the town was only a twenty minutes walk from here. Irvine had bought a tv, much to my brothers' satisfaction, but it only had a few channels, and for right now we were all one big happy family. But I was still worried about Squall, I didn't know if he was still alive or...not. We had contacted the Garden to tell them that we were safe and Cale asked for a group of SeeD's to go through and look for him, but they found no signs of Squall. So that could only mean two things, 1. He was captured and brought to the Galbadian headquarters to be interrogated by most likely seifer, or 2. He was safe and on his way to a point where he could contact someone, and I was really hoping that it was the second possibility was what happened.
"Hey Rin, we're going to town you wanna come with us?" I heard Irvine ask as he popped his head through my bedroom door.
"Yeah, just give me a few minutes to get ready alright." I said cheering up a little.
"You alright? You don't look too happy." Irvine asked, opening the door a little wider.
"I-it's nothing, just a little tired." I said stifling a fake yawn.
"Ha! You think you can fool me with that fake yawn, come on what do you take me for?" He said leaning up against the side of the door with a smile.
"H-how did you know?" I asked.
"Come on, I am the all powerful Irvine, and my eyes are always watching." He said, making a pathetic hero stance.
"Haw, haw, your too funny Irvine." I said sarcastically.
"Come on, I'm jus' tryin ta loosen ya up, come on tell me whats bothering you, I can keep a secret." He said walking to the side of my bed and putting a hand on my shoulder.
"It's...just...I'm really worried about Squall, I mean I don't know where he is, I don't know HOW he is, I don't know if he is ok or not...I'm just...really worried." I said.
"Ya, I know how ya feel, I've known Squall since I was a kid, we've been friends a very long time, and having something bad happen to Squall...would be like...losing my right arm, but I am really hoping that he will show up again, and soon...so you aren't the only person feeling this way alright." Irvine said reassuringly.
"Ok...but I'm really hoping that he will turn up soon." I said feeling a little happier.
"Ok! Thats the spirit! Now come on before the others leave without us." He said happily, while helping me to my feet.
"Alright, lets go." I said grabbing my shoes and walking out of my room followed by Irvine.
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BRING! BRING! I heard my cell phone ring, I picked it up.
"Yeah, Major Almasy here, what do you want?" I asked rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
"Sir this is Hank Philips." the voice on the other end said.
"Ah, what news do you have Private?" I asked, perking up as soon as I heard who it was.
"Sir, we have arrived at the hideout, it is located a quarter-mile north of the small hunting village of Akthah." He said seriously.
"Good work Private, when do you think an attack would be good?" I asked, knowing that my main objective was close to being completed.
"Sir, as soon as possible, there are two SeeD's on there way here, they were leaving on a transport ship yesterday night." He explained.
"Alright expect an attack by nightfall, is there anything else I should know? I asked.
"Yes, the entrance is not visible, there will be a large old tree, exactly right in the middle of it will be a pressure pad, press it and a door in the ground will open up, then there is a walkway, it's pretty much a strait shot, at the end there will be a small box on the wall, but nothing else, the code is 344792 after it is entered correctly, a door will open and you will be in the main hall." He explained.
"Alright thank you Private, but don't be anywhere near the hideout at Eleven-Thirty, or you will be killed, now anything else?" I asked.
"No Sir, that is all." He said.
"Ok then, at nightfall head back to headquarters and I will take care of the rest." I ordered.
"Yes Sir! Over and out." and with that I heard a click and knew the phone had been hung up.
"I see the plan is starting...good." I heard a monstrous evil voice say from behind me.
I turned to look into two fiery red eyes, "Yes the Caraway children will be in my custody then I will lure that Leonhart fool into my trap." I said, feeling an evil smirk come across my face.
"Good, with that fool out of the way, there will be no one that will be able to stop us, not even the powerful Cloud Strife." He laughed gruesomely, the only other being that I had met that could scare me worse than President Deling, was the beast Alktash who claimed himself to be my guardian, but I took it on as a challenge to be able to fight down and bring under my will.
"Yes, with Leonhart dead, I will rule all eight dimensions, and I will be the most powerful ruler that this world, and every other world has ever known." I said with my own evil laugh.
"Yes you will, and I will be your General, and I will help you come to power." Alktash said.
"Good, now let us get started with the plans." I said dialing the right number on my cell phone and calling for reinforcement for my surprise attack.
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(pant)...(pant) it was dark out, it had been dark for the past...five hours, and I had finally made it to Akthah.
"Squall...we made it! We finally made it!" Apock exclaimed happily. He had really loosened up from when I first met him, he was probably learning from me or...something, I don't know.
"Yeah, we finally made it Apock." I said staring at all of the dim lights that was coming from he town, and all of the smoke coming from the chimneys of each house, made it look so tranquil, and so inviting, I just wanted to go to the General Store or my Grandfather's house and warm up, but my hideout was still a little ways off and I had to try and find it in the dark, so I pulled my eyes away from the peaceful town, and started walking in the direction that I remembered taking to get to my hideout.
"So how far is it away from here?" Apock asked, coming up beside me.
"I...can't say for sure, but I think it was like half an hour away or something, but it's not too far." I explained, unsure of how long it would take.
"Ok, well let's get going before it gets too late." Apock said picking up pace to a slow jog, which I followed.
--------------------------------
We had just gotten back from town an hour ago, we had a lot of fun, we found a small outside skating rink and stayed there for a little while, and I went back to that little cafe that I had found upon our arrival, but when it was time to leave, the SeeD that had accompanied us said he would catch up in a little while, so we just went on ahead thinking nothing of it, but now it had been an hour and we were starting to wonder.
We were all sitting around the small tv that Zell and Irvine had set up and the news came on.
"There has been an attack on the fighting arena earlier this weak, it is believed that Galbadians have invaded and that the stadium has been their first target. The attack was very thorough as only a small amount of people had made it out alive, it is also believed that President Leonhart's two sons were in the stadium at the time of the attack, but there has been no sign that they have made it out alive. If there are any changes we will keep you updated, now back to you Sam." the reporter on the tv said.
"Wow, so they think that my brother and I are dead? Well I sure hope thats not the case for Squall." Cale spoke up after the reporter was done talking.
"Yeah, I don't know what would happen then." Irvine said, after a long pause.
"Well I just-----"
"Wait! Rinoa! Be quiet for a minute." Zell said cutting me off.
"Why---"
"Just be quiet! And listen!" Zell said cutting me off again.
So I listened for something out of the ordinary, and heard a distant sliding sound.
"Isn't that...the outside door?" Selphie asked after a while.
"Yeah, I think it is...it's probably Hank coming back or something." Irvine said, answering Selphie.
"No...I don't think so, listen harder, I can hear more then one voice talking." Zell said quietly.
"Yeah, there is definitely more than one voice." Cale said.
"Ok guys, I don't know who it is but I don't want to take any chances, so come with me." Irvine ordered, while getting up from where he was sitting, and walking down one of the halls.
We all got up and followed him, to a door that I had never seen before.
"Alright, Cale stay with me until I know who it is, and Zell, take Selphie and Rinoa through this door it will lead you out of here, wait until you hear gunshots, if there is more than two then take your sisters and get out of here, don't worry about Cale an me we will make it out safely alright, so get going." Irvine ordered, opening up the door so we could get through.
"Ok, see ya guys later." Zell said, closing the door and taking the lead through the small corridors, we came to an end and in the darkness I could see that there was a door in front of us. We waited listening for the slightest sound...then it happened, I could tell that there were bullets being exchanged.
"Come on, lets get out of here." I heard Zell say from behind me.
"Wait! What about Cale and Irvine?" I asked.
"Didn't ya here Irvine? He said go on ahead, and he will catch up, now come on we gotta get outta here." Zell said, walking up to the door and pushing it open.
We found ourselves in a large cave, we walked on until the gunshots could hardly be heard, and we came to the exit. It wasn't too far from the regular entrance, and I could see more Galbadian soldiers waiting for someone or something to come out.
"Selph, Rin, you two stay here, I'm going to go and clear out the soldiers waiting at the door alright." Zell said, pushing us into a crevice in the wall, and walking cautiously behind tree's, getting closer and closer. I looked down at my shooting star that was equipped to my arm.
"Selphie stay here, don't move until someone comes back for you alright." I said making sure that she wouldn't try and follow me.
"Alright Rin, but come back soon alright." she said with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm just going to help Zell out then I'll be right back." and with that I turned and ran towards the battle that my brother was engaged in.
It didn't look to good for Zell, for there were at least five that were still able to fight and I could tell that he was getting tired fast, so I raised my arm, and aimed carefully, then when I knew that I wouldn't hit Zell, I fired. It was a perfect shot, as it hit and knocked out the soldier that was getting ready to lunge at Zell, I kept firing until all of the soldiers were on the ground either dead or badly wounded.
"I thought I told you to stay with Selphie!" Zell yelled angrily, while walking towards me.
"I told her to stay there, and it looked like you could have used the help." I said in defense.
"Yeah! You helped! But what if we hadn't made it back for her! She would be alone by herself with all of these soldiers walking around!" Zell yelled even louder.
"I-I'm sorry, I just wanted to help out..." I said looking down at the ground.
"...(sigh) it's alright, thanks for the help, but don't ever do that again alright!" Zell said sternly.
"Yeah I won't, but lets get back to her before something else happens." I said half-turning, but I didn't move as I watched Zell fall limply onto me. "Zell what are you doin---Oh my gosh!" I yelled as I jumped back after seeing the red blood quickly spread across his back.
"Aww, leaving so soon? I don't think so." I looked up to see the evil smirk that I had grown to despise.
"What are you doing here!" I yelled.
"Lessee, I came here to kill the Leonhart brat, and that kinneas idiot, and all three of the Caraway children." seifer said with an evil look.
I started to back away as fast as I could, I looked at Zell, then thought of Selphie...I had to fight seifer, I had to show him that I wasn't scared. So I stopped started to aim my shooting star.
"Oh no you don't." seifer yelled as I felt a strong force hit my arm, I looked to see one part of my weapon on the ground and the other still attached to my arm. I was scared now, I had to get to Zell and help him, but I couldn't with seifer in the way, and I knew that he would come after me if I started running towards Selphie, so I just stood there trying to think of something, but right now I was too scared to think.
"Hmm, so should I kill you myself...or should I have my pets do it?" he said, I didn't know if he was talking to himself, or to me. But I heard him give out a sharp loud whistle, and soon enough there was three very big and ugly white wolves surrounding him.
"I will give you a head start, haha like that will do you any good." he said with a nasty sounding laugh.
I guess the part of me that wanted to run away, as fast as I could got the better of me, and I found myself running for my life. I looked back to see only one of the wolves chasing me, but that one was enough to make me run faster, and so I did just that.
I had been running fast as I could for about five minutes, which with me being so small was pretty fast, but the wolf behind me kept on getting closer and closer. I could feel my stomach start to ache, and I was starting to not be able to breath right, but I kept running, hoping that something would happen. I knew that I couldn't run for very much longer so I had to try and hide, but I didn't think that would do much good as I found myself in the middle of what looked like a field, I looked ahead and seen a small patch of trees, so I started running towards it.
I made my way through the trees and came to a small clearing, I couldn't run anymore, even if I wanted to, I was out of breath, and I just wanted to die. I looked ahead and stopped immediately as I seen two pairs of glowing yellow eyes staring at me, then the eyes slowly turned into the two other wolves as they walked out of the shadows, I looked back and seen that the first wolf had caught up to me.
They started walking in a circle around me, but I didn't care, I was starting to think about my life up to this point, I wanted to see Selphie one last time, I wanted to make sure Zell was ok, I wanted to know that Cale and Irvine were still alive, but most of all I wanted to see Squall one last time, I knew that we were friends, but there was just something there, I couldn't put my finger on it but there was something about him that I really liked, but I wouldn't ever be able to know if he was still alive, for this was the end I was going to die. I felt the tears slowly slide down the side of my face then I felt a terrible pain in my right shoulder, I felt my body being pushed to the ground, and I felt the weight of the wolf's body on mine.
I heard a someone yell, I knew it wasn't one of the wolves, it was too human. I felt the weight of the wolf lighten until it seemed like it wasn't even on me, I heard a painful yelp coming from one of the wolves. I looked up weakly to see a shadowed figure start to walk away from the limp body of the wolf. The figure came under the moonlight and I immediately recognized him as Squall, I watched him take up a fighting stance and quickly dispatch the other two wolves, then the figure walked towards me.
"Rinoa...are you alright?" Squall asked, bending down beside me, and I felt myself being turned over onto my back.
"Squall...you...your alive?" I slowly asked in disbelief.
"...Yeah, it's me." He answered.
"You...look awful." I said looking at the caked blood and dirty cuts on his face, then at his ripped shirt and jacket.
"That doesn't matter right now, come on I need to get you back to the hideout before this gets any worse." He said as I felt him lightly touch the wound on my shoulder.
-----------------------
I followed Squall looking around the cold empty forest.
"Apock, I think we're almost there!" I heard Squall exclaim excitedly.
I didn't answer for I felt that something bad was going to happen, and it was going to happen very soon.
"Squall, I think we should be a little more cautious, I feel that something bad is going to happen very soon." I said slowly looking around.
"Ah come on, quit being such a worry wart, I mean we're out in the middle of nowhere, what could possibly happen?" Squall said mockingly, but was soon quiet as he heard gunshots close by.
We stopped and we both hid behind a tree and waited, it took only a few minutes, and we heard fighting close to where we were hiding.
"Do you think we should go and see what is going on?" I whispered just loud enough for Squall to hear me.
"Yeah let's get closer and see what is going on." Squall whispered back.
So we both moved closer until everything stopped, I could sense that something was out there, but where, was the only question going through my mind. We heard someone yelling, then a loud sharp whistle, I heard something moving out there and looked around to see three oversized wolves walking towards the source of the whistle.
"Squall, there are three wolves moving towards that clearing." I said pointing to where I seen them go.
"Alright, follow me." He said walking towards the clearing.
We were almost there when we seen a woman run through a couple trees and keep on going.
"That was Rinoa! Apock, the others are here go and see what you can do, I will come back after I find Rinoa." Squall said quickly, before running after the girl.
"Hahaha...what a stupid boy you have to protect." I heard a low evil voice come from behind me. I turned around, quickly puling my gunblade from where it was sheathed.
"Well, well, if it isn't my old friend Apock." He said with amusement in his voice.
"I am NOT your friend Alktash, and never will be." I retorted bitterly.
"...Ok then, let us see how well you can fight Apock." He said, drawing a massive sword from its resting place on his back.
"This time I will not lose." I yelled.
I rushed forward and swung down my blade, but it only met metal instead of flesh. I jumped back, and immediately lifted my blade to block his, I heard the loud clang and his face was close enough for me to smell the nauseous yellow sulfer that was his breath.
"You have gotten better Apock, but not good enough to kill me." He said, jumping back and lunging forward again.
I blocked his blows multiple times before he finally backed off, and I could tell that he was getting weaker, so I rushed forward and my dark blade found it's target through his arm. I wrenched it out as hard as I could and stood back far enough so that he couldn't make a surprise attack.
"You know that I am only warming up right?" He growled viciously.
"Yeah I know, and so am I." I replied calmly.
"You SHALL NOT live to see another rising sun!" He screamed furiously.
"Come on, you of all other fighters should know that anger will only show your weaknesses to your opponent." I said amused.
"Say what you want, but anger will only amplify my power." He retorted angrily.
"Alright whatever, but I am done talking." I said stepping back into my fighting stance.
I watched as a crimson red light engulfed Alktash, and when it disappeared I seen two huge wings on his back that resembled a bats wings. I knew that he wanted to take it off of the ground and into the air so I transformed also.
"I am glad to see that you have learned the trick to changing your appearance Apock, but I am afraid that you will not live long enough to make it perfect." He said with a cruel smirk, then looked towards the sky and blasted off of the ground with a great flap of his wings.
I looked up also and followed him at the same speed, I seen a flash come from my left side and quickly blocked the blow that Alktash had thrown. I stared determinedly into his red eyes then flew back, we exchanged blows at lightning speed, flying in just close enough to attack then quickly back off so that we didn't get hit. So far I was the only one good enough to land a blow, but I wasn't going to get cocky just yet, for I knew that he was half-toying with me, I knew this for I had seen the corpses of my friends that he had left behind, ravaged and charred, but I was determined that I wouldn't fall to his blade, especially not now.
I watched him fly forward then stop in mid-air, so I did the same, I stayed there looking at the hatred, anger, and evilness that was very evident in his eyes, then I seen his muscles tense, and knew that he was going to lunge forward so I did the same. It seemed that everything was going in slow motion as I watched him come closer and closer, then I heard the clang that our blades made as they connected. It was like we could read each others minds for every turn that he made I was was already there to deflect the blow and it was the same when I tried to attack. Then it happened, we both thrust our blades forward, and we each had a blade through our chests at the same time.
I couldn't move, all I could do was sit there stunned from the pain. This wasn't the first time I had acquired a wound, sure I had been in wars before, sure I had been injured before, but everytime something like this happened, I was half-paralyzed. I found myself looking down at the hilt of Alktash's sword, he had let go of it, and if it wasn't for the part of my gunblade that was connected to my arm, I probably would have let go of mine also. I looked up into Alktash's eyes to see pure hatred, and disbelief.
"H-how...could...I...lose...to...you..." He asked slowly, I gathered the last of my strength and flapped my wings, pulling my body back away from his, and also pulling my gunblade out of Alktash. I watched him fall towards the ground which was a couple miles below us, his great black wings engulfing his body, I reached up and pulled his sword out of my chest, then I felt all of my strength leave my body, I felt the wind rushing through my wings, and I watched as the ground came closer and closer.
I felt my wings being ripped and torn by the branches of the trees, then I felt my body slam against the ground with a loud thud. I had landed on my back, and I could feel the pain surging through my chest, I still had my eyes open and I could see a dark figure slowly limping towards me.
"Ha...ha...ha, what an interesting situation Apock, that you are on the ground, and I can walk. Oh! And I am glad to see that you have brought my sword with you." He said with an evil laugh, as he bent down and grabbed his sword.
"I felt his long sharp nails pierce through the skin of my neck, the I felt my body being lifted off of the ground. I couldn't focus on anything, I just felt the tight grip cutting off my air supply, then I felt the rough bark of a tree scrape across my back.
"SO you actually thought that you would win huh? Well guess what, YOU DIDN'T! You are a pathetic excuse of a fighter! And I will be glad to rid the world of your uselessness!" He yelled angrily, while throwing me across the clearing that I had landed in, to only slam into another tree.
I had this coppery taste in my mouth, and I knew that I wouldn't live much longer, for only Squall could see me, and with the state that I was in I couldn't fight back. I felt the cold steel of his blade pierce through my stomach pinning me to the tree, I looked up into his face, but I knew that I would receive no mercy from him. I sat there waiting for him to make the killing blow, but he just stood there enjoying watching me as I sat there dying.
Then, out of the darkness I seen a brilliant flash shoot through the forest, replacing all darkness with a blinding light, then I heard a ghastly shriek coming from the demon in front of me, I watched as he fell to his knees, then I seen one bright arrow sticking out of his back, and with a poof he was gone, with only black smoke that disappeared slowly.
"NO! Apock! Are you alright?!" I heard a voice shriek.
I looked up slowly to see Alma bending down on front of me, then she gently pulled out the sword that was pinning me to the tree.
"Y-yeah...I'll be...fine." I said trying to give her a reassuring smile that she would believe.
"No you won't! Come on what do you take me for?" She asked, as she examined the places where I had been injured.
"Is that a rhetorical question? Or do I really have to answer that." I asked jokingly.
"Come on Apock, this is no time to be cracking jokes, now stay still." She ordered, as she placed a hand firmly on my chest, which earned her a short grunt of pain from me. I felt the pain quickly subside as a bright light engulfed my body.
"...thanks." I said embarasedly as I stood to my feet.
"It's ok, but try not to fight Alktash again alright, he always finds a way to beat you, and everytime you almost end up dying." She said, turning and walking away.
"So...uh, why are you here?" I asked, quickly catching up to her.
"I was appointed to be the guardian of the young Droganite woman." She said.
"Why you? I mean, why couldn't they appoint someone else to do it?" I asked curiously.
"So, you don't want me around?" She asked, looking up at me.
"NO! It's not that...it's just...why did they appoint a member of the high council to be a guardian?" I asked.
"I still don't know, but I wasn't going to argue with them so I accepted." She answered.
"Oh, well come on, I have to get back to my master's hideout, I was on my way there before I ran into Alktash." I said, quickening my pace. It only took us a few minutes, and I had found the spot where I had seen the three wolves disappear, I made my way through the bushes, and found men wearing soldier uniforms lying everywhere, I heard some sounds far off into the woods, and some still coming from the hole in the ground, so I decided to check the hole first.
I slowly walked towards the hole to see stairs leading down into a dark hallway, I looked back to see Alma close behind me with her bow drawn and readying an arrow, so I looked back towards the hole and remembered that I had transformed earlier so I quickly changed back into a human form, and made my way through the hole. I walked for a while before I came to another opening, I looked through to see a man in red armor holding a sword, and another man holding a strange looking gun, surrounded by more of the soldiers that I had seen outside.
So I quickly drew my blade and rushed forward, I killed two of the soldiers, with one swing of my gunblade, and I watched three fall down almost instantly to my right, I killed two more and put my gunblade back into it's sheath, then stood back looking at the shocked faces of the two men who had been surrounded a moment ago.
"Whoa! Geez Cale that was weird!" The man with the gun said.
"Yeah Irvine, I thought we were dead a couple minutes ago." The one called Cale said.
I turned around to see Alma trying to hold back from laughing.
"Alma, you stay here alright, I am going to go and check out what and see what all of the commotion was outside." I said, walking towards the doorway that I had entered.
-------------------------------
I knew that there was something going on back at my hideout, so I knew that I couldn't take Rinoa there, so I decided on taking her to my grandfather's house back in town, then heading towards the hideout again, so I started walking towards the town.
After I arrived, I made my way to the house right next to the General Store.
"Grampa!...Grampa!...are you home?" I called out as I entered the house.
"Eh?...who's there?" I heard a voice answer from the basement, followed by heavy footsteps.
I stood there, and waited for him to come into the kitchen before I moved anywhere.
"Squall? Squall, wow I haven't seen you in awhile." He said as he entered the kitchen.
"Yeah, I haven't been around here until now, but here I am." I said quietly with a smile.
"W-what happened to you?" He asked as he came closer.
"Just a few scratches, but right now I can't talk alright, I have very important things to take care of first." I said anxiously, as I walked into the living room and gently layed Rinoa on the couch.
"Who is she, and...what happened to her?" He asked concerned as soon as he saw the teeth marks that the wolf had made.
"Rinoa's...a friend, and she has been bitten by a Snow wolf." I answered.
"Oh my...is there anything I can do?" He asked.
"Yes, please tend to the wound until I come back alright." I said walking towards the door.
"Wait! Squall where are you going?" He asked anxiously.
"Grampa...it's too long of a story to explain right now, but I will come back and explain everything, so for right now please tend to Rinoa." and with that I was out the door. I started running as fast as I could towards the battlefield that was my old hideout, I watched the trees quickly rush past me, then I stopped, for I found seifer blocking my way.
"Hey Squall, I thought I left you to die in the stadium, but I guess that was too much to hope for." He said with an amused smirk.
"Seifer, get outta my way, I have something more important to do than exchange words with the likes of you." I said, almost walking past him, but I heard his gunblade being drawn then a sharp pain in the side of my face.
"Hey! Looks like I put another scar on that ugly face of yours." Seifer laughed as he got into his fighting stance.
I touched the side of my face numbly, and brought my hand back to see wet blood covering my fingers, I quickly wiped my sleeve across my face and drew my gunblade.
"I don't want to fight you seifer, I have more important things to take care of." I said.
"Yeah yeah, don't we all." He said, rushing forward and swinging his gunblade down onto mine.
"Seifer this is the last time I will say this...back OFF!" I said, emphasizing the two last words.
"Oh no! He told me to back off...HAHAHA I don't think so Leonhart." He mocked, backing up and getting ready to attack again.
"Alright then, I will make this quick." I said, dropping into my fighting stance.
"HA! I'd like to see you try Leonhart." He laughed, as he tried pulling off an uppercut, but I quickly sidestepped and counter-attacked, landing a blow on his shoulder.
I stood back and watched him turn around slowly, then he lunged forward again, throwing blow after blow with his gunblade, which I quickly dodged. I stood back watching seifer gasp for air, then he rushed forward again and brought his gunblade down onto mine.
"You tired already? Cause I'm just getting started." I said with a taunting smile.
"We'll see who's on the ground after this Squall." He said angrily.
With that he backed up, and started with another onslaught of attacks which I easily deflected. I was getting tired of this, so I started looking for an opening where I could hit seifer and quickly end this. "...THERE!" I thought as I seen an opening, which I took, I sliced seifer right across the chest, and watched as he fell to his knees clutching painfully at his chest.
"You ready to give up yet seifer?" I asked, as I got back into my fighting stance.
"Never! I won't give up to you Squall." He yelled in anger, as he stood to his feet. He rushed forward again, but this time instead of bringing his gunblade down on mine, he quickly sidestepped and cut through my shoulder, I quickly slashed across his chest again, and followed with a punch to his face. I punched him again as hard as I could, and he stepped back into a tree.
I finally stood back and looked at my shoulder to see how bad the cut was, but that didn't last long as I seen seifer raise his hand, I looked up just in time to see him fire off another ultima, but this time I sidestepped and it missed only by inches. I looked back to see it engulf and totally disintegrate a large tree.
"You know seifer, I really think you should calm down on the ultima's, you will end up killing someone." I said turning around to look at him.
"Well I would Squall, but that is the whole REASON I'm using them!" He said, rushing forward again.
I sidestepped and slashed across his back two times, making an x. He dropped his gunblade and yelped in pain.
"Seifer, I think you should just give up." I said, standing there watching him.
"NO! I WON'T give up!" He yelled furiously, then I seen him disappear, I knew that wasn't good, I looked around me and seen the trees disappear also, I was standing on a totally black floor, then I looked up and seen large rocks showering from the sky. "Meteor?" I asked myself, right before I felt one hit me, then another and another, it showered continuously until I couldn't stand anymore, then the trees reappeared and I found myself almost face to face with seifer.
"So, how did it feel?" He asked mockingly with an evil smile.
"It wasn't bad enough to put me out of the battle." I lied, standing to my feet.
"W-what...HOW!" He yelled, and I smiled inwardly as I seen the shock in his face.
I didn't answer, I just walked forward until I was standing right before seifer, I saw his arm reach for his gunblade, and I quickly stepped on the blade so that he couldn't pick it up. I kicked his arm away, picked up the weapon, and threw it as hard as I could into a tree. Then I turned towards seifer.
"Alright seifer, this is the very last time I will say this...back off, and go away." I said slowly.
"No!" He said simply, and stood to his feet.
"Alright then, I will take it into my own hands then." I said, as I slashed his right leg with my gunblade. He yelped painfully and fell back to the ground. Then I sheathed my gunblade, made a ball with both of my hands and hit him as hard as I could on the back of his neck. I watched him look up at me, then fall unconscious onto the ground.
I turned slowly, and started walking towards my destination, but I heard a footstep and looked to see Apock walking towards me.
"I am glad to see you that you are alright Squall." He said with a smile.
"You were watching my fight?" I asked, as I kept on walking.
"...yes, and I must say that I couldn't have finished it better myself." He said, still smiling.
"So did you make it to my hideout?" I asked.
"Yes, but I only seen two men there, one with a weird looking gun, and another with a double sword." He answered.
"So Irvine did make it." I said more to myself than to Apock.
"Oh, and which one is Irvine?" He asked.
"He's the one with the gun, and the guy with the sword is my brother, Cale." I explained.
I kept walking until I came across a clearing with bodies all over the place, and knew that this was the spot. I looked around watching for something out of the ordinary, then I seen light blue fabric that was different from the color of a Galbadian uniform. I rushed over, and turned him around to see Zell's pale face, I felt for a pulse, hoping that there would be just a slight one, that was all I needed, and that was what I got. It was very light, almost not recognizable, but I knew that there was still hope, so I swung his body over my shoulder and ran into the hole that I seen ahead.
I ran through the corridor's, remembering almost perfectly where to go until I finally arrived at the end, I looked around and seen the remains of a battle, bullet holes, and sword slashes, in the walls. Then I seen the woman that had first told me about this Droganite thing standing off to the side. After looking around some more, I came across Cale and Irvine, the both had bewildered looks on there faces, and didn't even recognize that I was standing in front of them.
"HELLO!" I shouted, almost falling on my butt with laughter after seeing how high they jumped.
"AHHH!" they both screamed at the same time, while looking around to see who had scared them.
"S-s-squall? Your...alive?" Cale asked, not believing that it was me standing in front of them.
"Yeah Cale, who else would be standing here? But right now Zell is more important than me." I said, while walking over one of the couches and laying him down.
"Oh no, Rinoa...Selphie." Irvine said, with a scared look on his face, and walking towards the door.
"Irvine, they're not out hurt, or as far as I know not badly, Rinoa is at my grandfather's house back in town, but I never ran into Selphie." I explained.
"Well then, Selphie would probably be in the cave." Irvine said, while walking out the door.
"So, how bad is he?" I asked, walking over to the couch.
"Well...I think He'll live but, there will be a nasty scar on his back." Cale said grimly.
"Hold on a minute, I'll be right back." I said, remembering about Apock.
I found him outside talking to Alma.
"Hey, long time, no see." I said, looking at her.
"You...can see me?" She asked with shock.
"Uh, yeah your standing right there, plain as day. Anyway, Apock I need you to come with me." I said, turning my attention towards him.
"Now? What for?" He asked, while slowly walking towards me.
"Can you make yourself visible? Or anything like that?" I asked, walking back down into the hole.
"Yes, if I you want me to, but why?" He asked, following me.
"My friend is hurt badly, and I need you to use your healing powers on him." I explained.
"Alright, if you want me to then I will." He said.
We made our way back through the corridor, and when we finally got to the room that Zell was in Apock used his healing powers and Zell soon woke up.
"W-who is he Squall?" Cale asked, after seeing him.
"Cale, this is Apock, and he is my guardian force." I explained.
"A...gaurdian force? I thought they were only real in fairy tails." He said.
"Yeah well, He's real, and he is at my command." I said.
"Hey...guys, wow it's good to see you again Squall." I heard a voice coming from the couch, I turned to see Zell starting to sit up.
"Hey man, you shouldn't be getting up this soon after the state that you were in." I said, pushing him back down on the couch.
"Where's Rinoa...and Selphie?" He asked, looking around.
"Rinoa is in town right now, and Irvine went to get Selphie." I answered.
"So they're ok?" He asked after awhile.
"Yeah they'll be fine." I reassured him, and almost as if on que Irvine came through the door followed by Selphie.
"Irvine, I'm going back into town, to see how Rinoa is doing, you all are welcome to join me, but I don't think we should stay here, especially now that seifer knows where we are at the moment." I said, walking towards the door.
"Ok then, we will meet you in town, tomorrow morning, give you a day to rest, and talk about where we should go next." Irvine said.
"Alright then, I will meet you at my grandfather's house tomorrow morning then." and with that I was out the door and on my way back to Akthah.
I met Alma on the way and, Apock soon followed me.
"So why are you here Alma?" I asked looking at her.
"I am to be the guardian of Rinoa Heartilly." She answered simply.
"You mean...Rinoa is also a Droganite?" I asked surprised.
"Yes, she is the female Droganite of this realm, so she needs a guardian, and that is why I am here." She explained.
"Dose she know yet?" I asked.
"No, but I will tell her when we get to your Grandfather's house, but I will need to be alone with her." She answered.
"Ok then, I will make sure that my Grandfather won't interrupt, besides I have a lot to talk about with him." I said, and after that we didn't talk anymore.
We arrived in town, and I led the way to my Grandpa's cottage, I opened the door to be greeted by Rinoa.
"I am glad to see that you are awake." I said with a smile.
"Yeah well, your Grandpa really knows how to patch people up." She said, pointing at the bandage on her shoulder.
"Who's there?" I heard a voice come from deeper inside the house.
"It's me Grampa, I'm back." I yelled loud enough so that he would here, then heard heavy foot steps coming towards the kitchen.
"It's really good to see you again Squall." Rinoa said while pulling me into a tight hug.
"Yeah, same here Rin." I said while doing the same.
"After I seen you hit that wall...I thought you were...dead." She said, and I could see that tears were forming in her eyes.
"Hey, what did I promise earlier, that I would always come back after a fight, well I don't like to break promises." I said, with an even bigger smile.
"Yeah, and I am glad." she said, pulling me into another hug.
"Well, I am glad to see that you are back Squall." I heard a voice say from the entrance to the kitchen, I looked up to see my Grandfather leaning on the doorway.
"Hey, I said I would be back, so here I am, and Cale will be coming tomorrow, with Irvine and some of my other friends." I said.
"Wow, I get to see both of my Grandson's all in the same week! I must be lucky or something." He said with a warm smile.
"Yeah, well, will you excuse us for a moment?" I asked.
"Oh! Sure I will wait for you in the living room." He said, and walked away.
"Ok, Rinoa, I have someone here that I want you to meet." I said, pointing at Alma, who was waiting patiently by the door.
"Who is she?" Rinoa asked.
"It's a long story but she will explain most of it to you." I said, then disappeared through the doorway to go and talk to my Grandfather.
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Whew, this wuz a loooooooong chap, but here itiz, dis wuz more uv a filler than all uv my udder chaps, but it turned out ta b REEELLY LOOOONG, but hopefully dat's ok.
Now time 4 duh tanks 2 evryone dat reviewed.
Aloneandnotafraid: Well, I never knew that my last chap wuz so suspenceful, but I m glad dat u liked it, an hope datcha liked dis one too, n e ways I gots more peepulz'z ta say tanks 2 so C YA.
Rhi-an: Welp m glad ta c dat I hava new reader, and I know I said dat dis one would b a litto happier...welp m REELY sry but I found dat duh fight seens went gr8 with wut wuz goin on...so i added dem...SORRY, but i WILL make duh next one wit less action in it...or try very hard at least k welp I gots more peepulz'z ta say tanks 2 to C YA.
Dark Eva: Yo thx dude, for reedin n reviewin, an m glad dat u liked me last chap, and I hope dat u liked dis one 2, so i gots one more ta say tanks 2 so C YA. (P.S. When r u gunna update Scarlet Eyes?)
Zelda's Fairy: Hay so dare u r, welp m jus glad tuh c dat you r alive so dun wry bowt not reviewin, n i hope dat u will get a chap up soon, also i m glad ta c dat u like my stry an hope dat u will keep reedin, an I dun think it would b a bad idea to go n rent duh game or buy it or...sumtin, I would say buy it cuz it's n awwsum game, n it will tell ya a litto bit bowt my stry...kinda, k so C YA.
An also pleze remember to review 0_-
Ok, welp if u haven't noticed yet, I took sum uv duh stuuf in dis chap frum FF7, an sum uv duh stuff like the town uv Akthah, Alktash, Droganites, an Apock r uv my own creation, so jus ta tell all uv my reeders
Alrite welp I hope that all uv my reederz hav a VERY nice Christmas, an hears a present frum me ^_^ n e wayz pleze review an I will try n update very soon so C YA.