CHAPTER 9
Lightning Crashes
Everyone was sleeping; Rave could hear their peaceful breathes as they all enjoyed their much needed slumber.
It was bizarre staying in his destroyed home, the kitchen, and the bedrooms were no longer there, all that was left was the living room and parts of the dining room. Still it felt as if the house was still whole, its spirit had survived.
From outside the living room Rave could hear one of his parents moving around. Rave presumed it was his mother, the steps were quiet and respectful; had it been his dad you would have heard him all over the place. Stepping over Davis' snoring figure Rave joined his mother outside.
Towards the back of the yard Rave could see his mother working diligently away at the piece of that use to be her garden. Of all the things destroyed his mother's garden was one of the most valuable, that and the bathroom of course. The garden was his mom's hobby that was hers alone; she would spend hours in that garden working away. It was her refuge that both Rave and his father respected.
Slowly Rave sauntered up to his mom and knelt down next to her. Looking up she smiled sweetly before turning her attention back to the rubbles of dirt.
Staying quiet for awhile, Rave simply watched his mother work away. There was something that troubled Rave as he stared at his mother. Here was their home, half destroyed, and what was his mother working on, the garden?
Frustrated at his own confusion, Rave buried all his current worries at the moment and took the opportunity to bluntly ask his mother. "What are you guys going to do now?"
Wiping a string of sweat from her brow his mother looked back up at him. "What do you mean?"
"Our home is destroyed, most of Galbadia is probably in chaos right now, and here you are working in your garden like you always do."
"I think I'm missing your point Rave."
"My point is, is this what the rest of your life is going to be like? I mean you once saved the world, are you just going to stand idly by as the rest of the world is being destroyed by a deranged sorceress?"
"I see," his mother nodded in understanding. "So you think we should be out trying to stop her like the Leonharts?"
"Well, yeah," Rave confessed "Didn't at one point you all save the world together?"
"That was a long time ago?"
"Still, if the Leonhart's can still be fighting why can't you? Why do you and dad live on this no where farm, when you should be in Balamb or Esthar leading armies?"
"Rave," his mother said sympathetically. "You have to understand that were not the Leonharts, few people are."
"Why did you leave Balamb mom? Why did you come here?"
"It was a lot more complicated back then," his mother said with a sigh "But the truth was I couldn't handle being in the shadow of everything that I did when I was eighteen years old. It was like the rest of the world saw that as the pinnacle of my life when I knew it wasn't. So I got away, I got away from it all. It was hard leaving all my friends, everything that I knew behind, but I never regretted it."
"Do you think dad does?"
"Your father regrets a lot of things, but raising you is not one of them."
Rave slowly nodded. For the first time he was starting to get a handle on the actions behind his mother.
"You know Rave you have to do what's right for you; you should feel no guilt in living the life that you want."
"I'm not sure what I want," Rave told his mother "I thought I wanted to be a soldier, but after everything that I've seen and done...I guess I want more then that. Maybe I'm just being selfish."
"You're not being selfish," his mom said lovingly. "You're being seventeen."
Rave smiled, it was nice having his mother's reassurance.
Starting to back away he was about to go back into the house and check on the others when his mom said to him. "Rave, in the end, whatever you choose to do just know that me and your father are extremely proud of you."
Bending down Rave kissed his mother gently on the top of the head, and then made his way back into the house.
The others were beginning to stir as he entered the living room. Wiping the sleep from his eyes Davis in the midst of a yawn asked him. "What are we going to do today?"
Clearing his throat Rave told them "I thought we might check out Deling today, maybe we can find some sort of clue."
The others looked at each other, it looked like they agreed. They had started this investigation, and they were going to see it through to the end.
In life, Rave didn't know what the hell he wanted, but at that moment, in his next course of actions...no hint of doubt clouded his mind.
Grabbing a light breakfast and hastily getting ready, the four of them left his parents home and started their journey to Deling.
* * *
To check out Deling was only a natural choice for Kriye and the others. They might find something there, they might not, but either way the devastation was something that they had to see for themselves. For Kriye it was something driving her towards the city, after all it was 'her' blood that was creating the havoc and despair.
The Almansy's didn't live that far from Deling. Rave had told her it was less then a six mile walk.
The four teenagers set out in the early morning, and for some reason when she heard it, six miles seemed a lot shorter then it actually was. It felt as if they walked for ages, this was fine for Kriye who was in great shape from all her training, Rave and Davis were also fit enough for the adventure. Ceila, however, had fallen behind the rest. Trapping herself all day in the hospital wing with Dr. Kowaski had kept her out of the rigors of training.
Noticing the distance that had grown between Ceila and the rest of the group, Kriye parted from the boy's company and jogged back to join her long time friend.
Ceila was smiling guiltily as Kriye approached her.
"Good Shiva, I thought I would have to send S.O.S signals before any of you would come back here. I'm sorry I can't keep up."
"Don't worry," Kriye told her friend "those boys have long legs."
"Yeah maybe, but you don't. I guess I'll just never be able to catch up to you Kriye."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Kriye asked, caught off guard by Ceila's comment.
"Nothing really, it's just that sometimes you're so incredible. Not only in school and training, but in everything that you do. I guess sometimes I just can't hold my own to you."
Shaking her head vigorously, Kriye took a brief moment just to stare at her friend. Of all people, Ceila was the last person she expected to be saying these things. "I'm anything, but incredible," she told Ceila incredulously. "I can't control anything going on around me. My feelings or whatever the hell it is that is churning inside of me are becoming more then I can bear. And you Ceila." Kriye locked her eyes with the curly haired brunette "You hold your own next to me everyday of the week, besides you should never compare yourself to me. Because frankly Ceila, there's no comparison."
With an emotional thrust Ceila pulled Kriye in a tight hug. Kriye was never big on hugging, another delightful trait that she received from her father, but at that moment she found herself holding onto Ceila for all that she was worth.
After their hug, their conversation turned into what it usually turned into. Gossip. Ceila's relationship with Davis started to pour from her lips, every detail that Kriye wouldn't have even imagined. She was actually surprised at how such a significant relationship could develop right under her nose, but as Ceila tried to explain to her 'it was one of those things.'
Ceila explained how she wanted to tell her sooner, but with all the drama going on her relationship with Davis seemed silly. However, to Kriye it seemed anything but. Davis was a wonderful guy. Kriye already knew that, it wasn't just anybody that Kriye took an immediate liking to. His kind heart and spirit was very attractive, but there was something else that made Davis so wonderful, something that Kriye hadn't caught onto before now. He was a wonderful counterpart to Ceila. Her friend said she never felt the way she was feeling before, but Ceila had not needed to tell this to her, Kriye could see it in her eyes. It truly was amazing, and Kriye was thrilled for her friend.
When the tables turned, however, Kriye was anything but thrilled. She wasn't quite ready when Ceila brought up Rave. Kriye could tell Ceila about pass boyfriends, they were never anything real. No feelings were involved. Stories Kriye share, true feelings however, were something entirely different.
"It's more complicated then it seems," she wound up finally saying.
"How so?"
"Well there's a lot going on, and a lot of family history and..." Kriye's voice faded.
"I'm not going to let you stop there," Ceila persisted "What's actually the deal between you two?"
As she was trying to find the right words for her friend, Kriye suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. With her head staring straight ahead Kriye turned Ceila's head forward. There right in front of them were the ruins that once were the city of Deling?
Kriye and Ceila caught up with Rave and Davis on the edge of the destroyed city. Both boys were standing there with their mouths wide open.
"I don't believe it," Rave muttered breathlessly.
Moments passed, not that the four of them realized that time was moving by. All of them were caught up in the horror that lay before them.
At last Rave shook them all back to the horrible reality, and without another moments hesitation they preceded into the city.
Deling had become nothing more the gravel lying on top of more gravel. Flames still burned across some of the park ways, the arch that rested in the middle of the city no longer existed. Piles of sand replaced where the pride of Deling once stood.
"What could have possibly have done this?" Ceila asked, her voice shook with horror.
Kriye would have loved to know that too, but Deling city was deserted. Not a soul wandered what was now a ghost town.
SeeD had already been there, Kriye could tell. It was nothing that you could see with the naked eye. It was simply a feeling that Kriye knew all too well. It felt like the city had already been searched, thoroughly.
Continuing to walk down the baron streets, Kriye came across a feeling that she didn't know. A sense, a looming sense was flowing through her. She didn't say anything to the others, but she couldn't deny that eerie feeling that was growing inside of her.
At one point the four of them came to the Caraway mansion. When first hearing about the attacks her mother had informed her that her grandfather had made it out safely, but seeing his destroyed home. The home that her own mother grew up in, it destroyed a little bit of her heart.
They were about to continued on their way, when a moan of agony came from the broken gates of the mansion.
Instinctively Kriye ran to the noise. In the midst of the rumble lay a body, trapped between two rocks. It was a man, a little over the age of twenty. His skin was a pale white and a line of blood was dripping from the right side of his mouth.
"Shiva it's good to see people," the man moaned as the others gathered around.
"What happened?" Ceila asked, her medical instincts taking control as she knelt to the ground to help the man.
"That...that witch hovered into town. Then these blasts of light came shooting from her hands destroying everything in sight. It was complete chaos around the city, buildings fell, people fell. It was horror beyond my worst imagination. I was fighting off the witch, insuring that president Caraway escaped when the witch blasted me." Closing his eyes to the rest of the terror the man continued on. "I blacked out from there, and when I awoke I was under these boulders and the city was deserted."
. "So you've been laying here ever since the attack?" Kriye asked when the man was done relaying his story.
Sadly the man nodded "My body has been disconnected by these rocks," Kriye quickly looked down at Ceila for confirmation, her friend sorrowfully nodded. "There actually the only things keeping me alive right now there pinching me together. When the SeeD finally came they asked me if I wanted them to remove the rock, you know put me out of my misery. I couldn't stomach the thought so here I've been ever since. Alone, with nothing more to do then die."
"The SeeD just left you," Ceila said shocked.
"They gave me enough rations for a week," the man told them, indicated with eyes at a cardboard box inches away "but other then that..." the man's voice faded away.
Kriye couldn't remember feeling more horrible in her entire life. Here this man was dying, wrapped in a terrible misery all because some bastard scientists decided to play the part of the great guardians.
Not knowing what else to do Kriye took the man's hand and asked him "What's your name?"
"Nathan...Nathan Jaeger."
"Nathan, is there anything I can do for you?"
Nathan looked at her, his dying eyes boring into her own.
"Will you take me out of my pain? Take your gunblade and just end it."
Kriye had a feeling that was what Nathan's request was going to be, but the idea still didn't settle well with her. Slowly she began to draw her blade, raising it Kriye closed her eyes when she felt a hand press on to hers, opening her eyes she saw that it belonged to Rave.
"I'll do it," he told her taking out his own gunblade.
Kriye nodded gratefully. She had killed before, but never in cold blood. And even though this wasn't exactly the same as murder Kriye was still very thankful when Rave stepped forward.
Bending back down next to Nathan, she took his hand, he gave her a nod. Holding onto his hand tightly Kriye looked up at Rave, who was holding his gunblade firmly. Without a word being exchanged Rave raised his gunblade.
Before Rave had the chance to end Nathan's misery, the ground around them started to shake. Kriye watched horrified as the rocks holding Nathan together rolled away. Nathan let out a loud cry of agony, and then he was dead.
Staring dumbly at the limp body, Kriye was too shocked to believe what just happened. The ground continued to shake violently. Kriye could hear the cry of her friends around her, but it was as if she was suddenly powerless.
All of a sudden the cries stopped at Kriye went into her own dream world. She watched from outside herself as large rocks started to slowly fall from the sky, as if in slow motion. No sound came as the rocks fell to the ground; it was just silence, surreal silence.
Then as if someone had just pushed a sound button, the noise of her surroundings came crashing back. The rocks made thunderous booms as they collided with the ground.
Kriye watched, still unable to move, as a rock formed in the sky and started to drop rapidly in her direction.
Embracing herself to be crushed, Kriye did nothing but waited to be smashed into the ground when she felt Rave's body crash into hers, moving them both into safety.
With all the feelings rushing immediately back to her body, Kriye involuntarily shuttered at what almost happened. She then stared into the angry eyes of Rave, who was shaking himself.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" He yelled furiously "Why wouldn't you move, you almost got us both killed?!"
"I'm sorry; it was like I lost control of my body." She stopped talking to take a look around her. The rocks had stopped falling from the sky. Everything had become very still and quiet, eerily still and quiet.
"What the hell is going on?" She whispered to Rave.
"Shiva knows," he whispered back, as they together looked around.
Getting up from the ground Kriye's eyes started to desperately dart around the debris "Where's Ceila and Dav..." the words didn't even finish coming out of her mouth when she spotted her friends.
"Oh no," was all Kriye could say as she spotted Ceila and Davis lying lifelessly on the ground, not far from where she and Rave where.
"What the fuck?!" Rave shouted, as he also started to stand up.
The two of them started to run to their friends when something appeared in front of them that made their jaws drop.
Appearing from out of thin air was the sorceress. She floated in mid- air with all her glory, or rather horror.
The Sorceress truly was a horror. Her face was pale, with blood red eyes and lips. Her body was slim and sickly. The sorceress was dressed in black garments that looked like they truly belonged on a witch.
"Kriye Leonhart," the sorceress addressed her "I can feel your great power, you are great, you truly are."
"I'm powerful, well what else is new?" She said sarcastically, hoping that she at least sounded braver then she felt.
"You are the daughter of Rinoa Heartilly, the descendent of all Sorceress Edea, Adel and Ultimicia's powers. Yes child, you are great."
Kriye didn't reply.
"I carry your blood young Leonhart, some of you runs threw my veins. I must have more! I must have all of you!"
The sorceress raised her arms. Her crimson eyes started to flash violently.
"METEOR!" She bellowed.
Suddenly Kriye felt intense pain collide into her chest. She flew backwards hard onto the ground.
Coming to her defense was Rave with his gunblade raised.
"You wench!" He cried.
"Rave, no!" Kriye screamed, but it was too late.
The Sorceress once again threw her hands in the air and shouted into the heavens. "FLARE!"
A bright flame sprang from the sorceress's hands, straight into Rave's chest. Just as Kriye had moments before, Rave flew back skidding painfully on the ground. Instinctively Kriye got up from where she laid and ran over to Rave; wrapping her arms around him she called his name over and over again. It didn't matter, Rave was unconscious, and now it was just Kriye and the sorceress.
"Your knights brave child, though the knight of Kriye Leonhart would have to be."
"He isn't my knight!" Kriye yelled stupidly, this wasn't the time to get mixed up with her petty feelings.
"Whatever you say child," the sorceress replied indifferently raising her arms once again.
Kriye held Rave tightly at shut her eyes, waiting for the sorceresses blow. Nothing ever came, instead sounds of an approaching army echoed in her ears. Kriye opened one eye just wide enough to see exactly what she expected to see.
An army of SeeD's were standing around her, the sorceress was no where to be seen, but her father was. He stood over her, with his stern blue eyes burning into her.
AUTHORS NOTE: Hello, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I especially enjoyed writing the sequence between Kriye and Ceila, I think it's a great feeling to know how appreciated you are by someone you truly care about. Friendship has a value beyond words.
Take it easy,
Leah
Lightning Crashes
Everyone was sleeping; Rave could hear their peaceful breathes as they all enjoyed their much needed slumber.
It was bizarre staying in his destroyed home, the kitchen, and the bedrooms were no longer there, all that was left was the living room and parts of the dining room. Still it felt as if the house was still whole, its spirit had survived.
From outside the living room Rave could hear one of his parents moving around. Rave presumed it was his mother, the steps were quiet and respectful; had it been his dad you would have heard him all over the place. Stepping over Davis' snoring figure Rave joined his mother outside.
Towards the back of the yard Rave could see his mother working diligently away at the piece of that use to be her garden. Of all the things destroyed his mother's garden was one of the most valuable, that and the bathroom of course. The garden was his mom's hobby that was hers alone; she would spend hours in that garden working away. It was her refuge that both Rave and his father respected.
Slowly Rave sauntered up to his mom and knelt down next to her. Looking up she smiled sweetly before turning her attention back to the rubbles of dirt.
Staying quiet for awhile, Rave simply watched his mother work away. There was something that troubled Rave as he stared at his mother. Here was their home, half destroyed, and what was his mother working on, the garden?
Frustrated at his own confusion, Rave buried all his current worries at the moment and took the opportunity to bluntly ask his mother. "What are you guys going to do now?"
Wiping a string of sweat from her brow his mother looked back up at him. "What do you mean?"
"Our home is destroyed, most of Galbadia is probably in chaos right now, and here you are working in your garden like you always do."
"I think I'm missing your point Rave."
"My point is, is this what the rest of your life is going to be like? I mean you once saved the world, are you just going to stand idly by as the rest of the world is being destroyed by a deranged sorceress?"
"I see," his mother nodded in understanding. "So you think we should be out trying to stop her like the Leonharts?"
"Well, yeah," Rave confessed "Didn't at one point you all save the world together?"
"That was a long time ago?"
"Still, if the Leonhart's can still be fighting why can't you? Why do you and dad live on this no where farm, when you should be in Balamb or Esthar leading armies?"
"Rave," his mother said sympathetically. "You have to understand that were not the Leonharts, few people are."
"Why did you leave Balamb mom? Why did you come here?"
"It was a lot more complicated back then," his mother said with a sigh "But the truth was I couldn't handle being in the shadow of everything that I did when I was eighteen years old. It was like the rest of the world saw that as the pinnacle of my life when I knew it wasn't. So I got away, I got away from it all. It was hard leaving all my friends, everything that I knew behind, but I never regretted it."
"Do you think dad does?"
"Your father regrets a lot of things, but raising you is not one of them."
Rave slowly nodded. For the first time he was starting to get a handle on the actions behind his mother.
"You know Rave you have to do what's right for you; you should feel no guilt in living the life that you want."
"I'm not sure what I want," Rave told his mother "I thought I wanted to be a soldier, but after everything that I've seen and done...I guess I want more then that. Maybe I'm just being selfish."
"You're not being selfish," his mom said lovingly. "You're being seventeen."
Rave smiled, it was nice having his mother's reassurance.
Starting to back away he was about to go back into the house and check on the others when his mom said to him. "Rave, in the end, whatever you choose to do just know that me and your father are extremely proud of you."
Bending down Rave kissed his mother gently on the top of the head, and then made his way back into the house.
The others were beginning to stir as he entered the living room. Wiping the sleep from his eyes Davis in the midst of a yawn asked him. "What are we going to do today?"
Clearing his throat Rave told them "I thought we might check out Deling today, maybe we can find some sort of clue."
The others looked at each other, it looked like they agreed. They had started this investigation, and they were going to see it through to the end.
In life, Rave didn't know what the hell he wanted, but at that moment, in his next course of actions...no hint of doubt clouded his mind.
Grabbing a light breakfast and hastily getting ready, the four of them left his parents home and started their journey to Deling.
* * *
To check out Deling was only a natural choice for Kriye and the others. They might find something there, they might not, but either way the devastation was something that they had to see for themselves. For Kriye it was something driving her towards the city, after all it was 'her' blood that was creating the havoc and despair.
The Almansy's didn't live that far from Deling. Rave had told her it was less then a six mile walk.
The four teenagers set out in the early morning, and for some reason when she heard it, six miles seemed a lot shorter then it actually was. It felt as if they walked for ages, this was fine for Kriye who was in great shape from all her training, Rave and Davis were also fit enough for the adventure. Ceila, however, had fallen behind the rest. Trapping herself all day in the hospital wing with Dr. Kowaski had kept her out of the rigors of training.
Noticing the distance that had grown between Ceila and the rest of the group, Kriye parted from the boy's company and jogged back to join her long time friend.
Ceila was smiling guiltily as Kriye approached her.
"Good Shiva, I thought I would have to send S.O.S signals before any of you would come back here. I'm sorry I can't keep up."
"Don't worry," Kriye told her friend "those boys have long legs."
"Yeah maybe, but you don't. I guess I'll just never be able to catch up to you Kriye."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Kriye asked, caught off guard by Ceila's comment.
"Nothing really, it's just that sometimes you're so incredible. Not only in school and training, but in everything that you do. I guess sometimes I just can't hold my own to you."
Shaking her head vigorously, Kriye took a brief moment just to stare at her friend. Of all people, Ceila was the last person she expected to be saying these things. "I'm anything, but incredible," she told Ceila incredulously. "I can't control anything going on around me. My feelings or whatever the hell it is that is churning inside of me are becoming more then I can bear. And you Ceila." Kriye locked her eyes with the curly haired brunette "You hold your own next to me everyday of the week, besides you should never compare yourself to me. Because frankly Ceila, there's no comparison."
With an emotional thrust Ceila pulled Kriye in a tight hug. Kriye was never big on hugging, another delightful trait that she received from her father, but at that moment she found herself holding onto Ceila for all that she was worth.
After their hug, their conversation turned into what it usually turned into. Gossip. Ceila's relationship with Davis started to pour from her lips, every detail that Kriye wouldn't have even imagined. She was actually surprised at how such a significant relationship could develop right under her nose, but as Ceila tried to explain to her 'it was one of those things.'
Ceila explained how she wanted to tell her sooner, but with all the drama going on her relationship with Davis seemed silly. However, to Kriye it seemed anything but. Davis was a wonderful guy. Kriye already knew that, it wasn't just anybody that Kriye took an immediate liking to. His kind heart and spirit was very attractive, but there was something else that made Davis so wonderful, something that Kriye hadn't caught onto before now. He was a wonderful counterpart to Ceila. Her friend said she never felt the way she was feeling before, but Ceila had not needed to tell this to her, Kriye could see it in her eyes. It truly was amazing, and Kriye was thrilled for her friend.
When the tables turned, however, Kriye was anything but thrilled. She wasn't quite ready when Ceila brought up Rave. Kriye could tell Ceila about pass boyfriends, they were never anything real. No feelings were involved. Stories Kriye share, true feelings however, were something entirely different.
"It's more complicated then it seems," she wound up finally saying.
"How so?"
"Well there's a lot going on, and a lot of family history and..." Kriye's voice faded.
"I'm not going to let you stop there," Ceila persisted "What's actually the deal between you two?"
As she was trying to find the right words for her friend, Kriye suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. With her head staring straight ahead Kriye turned Ceila's head forward. There right in front of them were the ruins that once were the city of Deling?
Kriye and Ceila caught up with Rave and Davis on the edge of the destroyed city. Both boys were standing there with their mouths wide open.
"I don't believe it," Rave muttered breathlessly.
Moments passed, not that the four of them realized that time was moving by. All of them were caught up in the horror that lay before them.
At last Rave shook them all back to the horrible reality, and without another moments hesitation they preceded into the city.
Deling had become nothing more the gravel lying on top of more gravel. Flames still burned across some of the park ways, the arch that rested in the middle of the city no longer existed. Piles of sand replaced where the pride of Deling once stood.
"What could have possibly have done this?" Ceila asked, her voice shook with horror.
Kriye would have loved to know that too, but Deling city was deserted. Not a soul wandered what was now a ghost town.
SeeD had already been there, Kriye could tell. It was nothing that you could see with the naked eye. It was simply a feeling that Kriye knew all too well. It felt like the city had already been searched, thoroughly.
Continuing to walk down the baron streets, Kriye came across a feeling that she didn't know. A sense, a looming sense was flowing through her. She didn't say anything to the others, but she couldn't deny that eerie feeling that was growing inside of her.
At one point the four of them came to the Caraway mansion. When first hearing about the attacks her mother had informed her that her grandfather had made it out safely, but seeing his destroyed home. The home that her own mother grew up in, it destroyed a little bit of her heart.
They were about to continued on their way, when a moan of agony came from the broken gates of the mansion.
Instinctively Kriye ran to the noise. In the midst of the rumble lay a body, trapped between two rocks. It was a man, a little over the age of twenty. His skin was a pale white and a line of blood was dripping from the right side of his mouth.
"Shiva it's good to see people," the man moaned as the others gathered around.
"What happened?" Ceila asked, her medical instincts taking control as she knelt to the ground to help the man.
"That...that witch hovered into town. Then these blasts of light came shooting from her hands destroying everything in sight. It was complete chaos around the city, buildings fell, people fell. It was horror beyond my worst imagination. I was fighting off the witch, insuring that president Caraway escaped when the witch blasted me." Closing his eyes to the rest of the terror the man continued on. "I blacked out from there, and when I awoke I was under these boulders and the city was deserted."
. "So you've been laying here ever since the attack?" Kriye asked when the man was done relaying his story.
Sadly the man nodded "My body has been disconnected by these rocks," Kriye quickly looked down at Ceila for confirmation, her friend sorrowfully nodded. "There actually the only things keeping me alive right now there pinching me together. When the SeeD finally came they asked me if I wanted them to remove the rock, you know put me out of my misery. I couldn't stomach the thought so here I've been ever since. Alone, with nothing more to do then die."
"The SeeD just left you," Ceila said shocked.
"They gave me enough rations for a week," the man told them, indicated with eyes at a cardboard box inches away "but other then that..." the man's voice faded away.
Kriye couldn't remember feeling more horrible in her entire life. Here this man was dying, wrapped in a terrible misery all because some bastard scientists decided to play the part of the great guardians.
Not knowing what else to do Kriye took the man's hand and asked him "What's your name?"
"Nathan...Nathan Jaeger."
"Nathan, is there anything I can do for you?"
Nathan looked at her, his dying eyes boring into her own.
"Will you take me out of my pain? Take your gunblade and just end it."
Kriye had a feeling that was what Nathan's request was going to be, but the idea still didn't settle well with her. Slowly she began to draw her blade, raising it Kriye closed her eyes when she felt a hand press on to hers, opening her eyes she saw that it belonged to Rave.
"I'll do it," he told her taking out his own gunblade.
Kriye nodded gratefully. She had killed before, but never in cold blood. And even though this wasn't exactly the same as murder Kriye was still very thankful when Rave stepped forward.
Bending back down next to Nathan, she took his hand, he gave her a nod. Holding onto his hand tightly Kriye looked up at Rave, who was holding his gunblade firmly. Without a word being exchanged Rave raised his gunblade.
Before Rave had the chance to end Nathan's misery, the ground around them started to shake. Kriye watched horrified as the rocks holding Nathan together rolled away. Nathan let out a loud cry of agony, and then he was dead.
Staring dumbly at the limp body, Kriye was too shocked to believe what just happened. The ground continued to shake violently. Kriye could hear the cry of her friends around her, but it was as if she was suddenly powerless.
All of a sudden the cries stopped at Kriye went into her own dream world. She watched from outside herself as large rocks started to slowly fall from the sky, as if in slow motion. No sound came as the rocks fell to the ground; it was just silence, surreal silence.
Then as if someone had just pushed a sound button, the noise of her surroundings came crashing back. The rocks made thunderous booms as they collided with the ground.
Kriye watched, still unable to move, as a rock formed in the sky and started to drop rapidly in her direction.
Embracing herself to be crushed, Kriye did nothing but waited to be smashed into the ground when she felt Rave's body crash into hers, moving them both into safety.
With all the feelings rushing immediately back to her body, Kriye involuntarily shuttered at what almost happened. She then stared into the angry eyes of Rave, who was shaking himself.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" He yelled furiously "Why wouldn't you move, you almost got us both killed?!"
"I'm sorry; it was like I lost control of my body." She stopped talking to take a look around her. The rocks had stopped falling from the sky. Everything had become very still and quiet, eerily still and quiet.
"What the hell is going on?" She whispered to Rave.
"Shiva knows," he whispered back, as they together looked around.
Getting up from the ground Kriye's eyes started to desperately dart around the debris "Where's Ceila and Dav..." the words didn't even finish coming out of her mouth when she spotted her friends.
"Oh no," was all Kriye could say as she spotted Ceila and Davis lying lifelessly on the ground, not far from where she and Rave where.
"What the fuck?!" Rave shouted, as he also started to stand up.
The two of them started to run to their friends when something appeared in front of them that made their jaws drop.
Appearing from out of thin air was the sorceress. She floated in mid- air with all her glory, or rather horror.
The Sorceress truly was a horror. Her face was pale, with blood red eyes and lips. Her body was slim and sickly. The sorceress was dressed in black garments that looked like they truly belonged on a witch.
"Kriye Leonhart," the sorceress addressed her "I can feel your great power, you are great, you truly are."
"I'm powerful, well what else is new?" She said sarcastically, hoping that she at least sounded braver then she felt.
"You are the daughter of Rinoa Heartilly, the descendent of all Sorceress Edea, Adel and Ultimicia's powers. Yes child, you are great."
Kriye didn't reply.
"I carry your blood young Leonhart, some of you runs threw my veins. I must have more! I must have all of you!"
The sorceress raised her arms. Her crimson eyes started to flash violently.
"METEOR!" She bellowed.
Suddenly Kriye felt intense pain collide into her chest. She flew backwards hard onto the ground.
Coming to her defense was Rave with his gunblade raised.
"You wench!" He cried.
"Rave, no!" Kriye screamed, but it was too late.
The Sorceress once again threw her hands in the air and shouted into the heavens. "FLARE!"
A bright flame sprang from the sorceress's hands, straight into Rave's chest. Just as Kriye had moments before, Rave flew back skidding painfully on the ground. Instinctively Kriye got up from where she laid and ran over to Rave; wrapping her arms around him she called his name over and over again. It didn't matter, Rave was unconscious, and now it was just Kriye and the sorceress.
"Your knights brave child, though the knight of Kriye Leonhart would have to be."
"He isn't my knight!" Kriye yelled stupidly, this wasn't the time to get mixed up with her petty feelings.
"Whatever you say child," the sorceress replied indifferently raising her arms once again.
Kriye held Rave tightly at shut her eyes, waiting for the sorceresses blow. Nothing ever came, instead sounds of an approaching army echoed in her ears. Kriye opened one eye just wide enough to see exactly what she expected to see.
An army of SeeD's were standing around her, the sorceress was no where to be seen, but her father was. He stood over her, with his stern blue eyes burning into her.
AUTHORS NOTE: Hello, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I especially enjoyed writing the sequence between Kriye and Ceila, I think it's a great feeling to know how appreciated you are by someone you truly care about. Friendship has a value beyond words.
Take it easy,
Leah