Squall was the first out of the others in his team to make it to the secret area. Squall peered around the area. Empty. He knew that there was usually someone there, but everyone was asleep and it was only him standing alone.
"Hopefully the other haven't forgotten…or are still asleep" Squall thought, brushing a bit of hair from his face.
Finding it stupid just standing there alone, Squall moved to the ledge where the view of the Garden was most spectacular. It didn't peak any interest to him. It was just a view, nothing more. The Garden did look wonderful with the golden ring atop of the large school; bring a tranquil environment to the surrounding area.
"There so much for me to do…" Squall spoke to the endless space, not really seeking a reply. He just wanted it off his mind. "Why or when did this responsibility get passed on to me? I didn't even get a say in the matter!" Squall sank his head lower into his chest. "Even if they did ask me, would I have still taken the position?"
Squall rested his folded arms on the ledge and laid his head upon his arms. He gave a heavy sigh; his hot breathe colliding with the cold scented air as he exhaled.
"Was it that Headmaster Cid thought I was good leader that people respected? …I don't think so…" Squall slowly turned around and moved towards the entrance to the secret area. "Or was it that he couldn't handle all this responsibility by himself and therefore needed a lackey who was in the right place at the right time?"
Squall placed his head in his right hand. He knew saying such things wasn't helping him get through life. He just really didn't understand why he was given such a command. Beside, he didn't even ask for it.
'SnAp'
Squall dropped his hand back to his side and peered into the darkness of the training centre from the Secret Area's doorway. Squall lend against the framework, trying to act casual as he could even though his eyes were drowned with sleep and his face pale.
From the rocks that surrounded the terrain to the secret area, a group of Grats appeared, six to seven, all grouped together. Their tentacles were wrapped around in the air. Squall sighed, slowly sinking his head into his chest.
Secret Area 2:00amSquall found a steady rock to sit on that gave him a good view of the training centre from the Secret Area. The rock was wet, cold and covered in moth but Squall was too tired to feel the cold shivers crawling up his spine.
Squall rested his head in his left hand, his elbow digging into his upper leg, slowly cutting off his blood to his left leg. Squall eyes were slowly drawing shut. He could hardly see out of them anyway. Everything was a blur to him now. Lack of sleep and all because he ask them to come out so early in the morning. He bet they were still asleep, in their bed, warm and away in some dream fantasy while he was still awake in the training centre, slowly falling to sleep.
Squall again sighed; his hot breathe again colliding with the cold, forming small clouds that quickly disappeared. In his blurred state (eyes) he could notice groups of figures moving back and forth from the entrance, but however they did not enter.
Squalls eyes again drawing to a closed. The urge for sleep taking over, he didn't offer any resistants. His eyelids closed quickly without any flicker and just closed shut, as if any and all restraints had been removed.
It was strange. As soon as Squall closed his eyes they opened almost immediately…and he was not in the Secret Area, nor was he in the school.
A/N in here it will be Squall's point of view, as well as me describing his dream.
Squall wasn't sitting on a rock, nor was he in the cold steel surroundings of the training centre. He quickly knew that the whole area was messed up. Deformed and creepy like-stars swarmed across the whole plain, while the sky changed colours. He was quickly meet with the fact that he was reliving a battle, one in which it didn't take long to figure out which one.
Squall peered to his left. Rinoa was standing there, in her blue dress and black shorts. Her bright coloured shooting star placed on her left armband. She looked liked she had been beaten up and badly. Cuts and continuous bruises spread out along her arms and legs.
Rinoa…what's wrong? What happen to you…why are you bleeding? What is this place…I know…
Rinoa?Rinoa did not answer nor move.
Rinoa?! Why wont you answer me?! Please… speak to me…
Again she did not answer. Squall felt almost hurt but did not take it heart so quickly. Squall called out her name a few more time, his voice growing louder and louder till he was screaming it. No reply.
Squall felt like crying, even more he wanted to run up and hug her tightly, never letting her go. But… he was unable too. Unable to move, unable to speak and uneven to open his own mouth. He tried screaming out till his lungs were empty, but he couldn't hear anything from his own mouth.
What is this? Why can't I speak?! Rinoa?! Someone! Help me!
What kind of dream is this… is this even a dream or a nightmare?
Suddenly Squall saw everything move. Rinoa left his sight as his body started to look in the other direction, but he didn't want to look away. He tried to force himself back, to see Rinoa but he had no control over his own body. All he could do was shout and watch as his body looked in another direction. He was a prisoner in his own body, an onlooker and nothing more.
Rinoa!! No come back! I…NO…I want Rinoa!
Slowly coming into focus was the 'fighting machine' Zell. Squall then tried to shout out for Zell assistance but his plea fall upon deaf ears. He was reliving a battle and he couldn't even have the freedom to do whatever he wanted. He grunted loudly and just watched, as he could do nothing more.
The final battle…what's the point in me reliving this battle? She died and we lived! Yeah! It was hard but so what…
But what Cerberus and Shiva told me… that Ultimicia and Griever might not be really dead!
If they're not dead then what are they?
All of the sudden, beams of light shunned all round as the hideous Ultimicia arose from the endless space. Squall again felt frighten just staring into the glowing orb placed inside Ultimicia's face. He also noticed that there was another Ultimicia, hanging completely upside down, hidden away by her robes.
Squall saw himself grip his Lion Heart as he sprung forth, delivering a Renzoukuken. But he didn't see all of the attack. As soon as he brought the blade of his famed Lion Heart on Ultimicia, everything jumped just like in videotape. He felt wired, almost lighted headed. Suddenly images flashed before his eyes, the same memories of Rinoa where he was in the deserts for the first time. Everything happened as it did then.
Squall didn't know if this was really happening or his was just reviewing it-like the battle. As Squall watched, he became more stressed and uncomfortable. He felt like he was sweating and shaking. His body was rapidly changing temperatures—he wasn't sure if it was his body he was feeling or just some strange sensation.
"SQUALL!"
Squall flashed opened his eyes. His harsh eyes darted around in their sockets, trying to quickly gather information about his surroundings. At first it was a blur and he could feel his chest aching as his heart was pounding like an old fashion jackhammer against his ribcage.
Squall rubbed his eyes clean of sleep and rested his head back. His eyes became more adjusted, as he took in the steel surrounding of secret area. Everything was right again. Even though it was just the training centre, it made him happy—seeing those images again almost destroyed him, like it once did.
Squall soon noticed Selphie was stationed over him, staring into his light blue eyes. As soon as his and her eyes met she giggle most childishly like she always does.
"You got beautiful eyes…he-he" she lunged for him and hugged his head, suffocating him in her chest. "Oh! They're so cute… I wish I could keep them!"
"Selphie! Let the man breath!" Zell shouted making his way inside the secret area. Zell was dressed up in his casual clothes, as was everyone else that now entered the secret area expect the two GF's. Zell made his way up to Selphie who still had Squall by the head. Zell tapped her on the back soon gaining her displeased attention. "Come on! Let him live will ya!"
"Ok..." Selphie sighed releasing her commander's head. She gave a warming smile with a slight giggle "Sorry bout that" she turned around and danced over to the ledge overlooking the Garden.
"You alright man? How's the head?" Zell asked. Squall didn't change his expression. He seemed not to care what Selphie did and seemed he wasn't even fully awake or fully aware of what happened either.
"Yeah… I'm fine" Squall muttered simply. Zell gave a quick chuckle before moving off to a nearby rock and stationed himself there for the time being. Squall made a sort of whimpering moan instead of yawning, as the last of the group members sat down, on the rocky steel surface. Squall peered around, looking at each of his team members before standing.
Squall felt a bit drawn back, he was too weary and couldn't really keep his head up for long. He felt like just collapsing to sleep there, if he didn't need to explain this to his friends. Squall held his head, shaking it a bit before regaining his composure.
"I'll try to keep this short if I can, I know how tired we are but this is the only time I could think of that other students wouldn't be around…" Squall started to explain. He could see that everyone was trying their best to stay awake. Rinoa was almost out of it and Selphie seemed a bit too happy—she was clearly asleep. Irvine had a habit of drawing his hat over his head when the conversation took to long and Zell just rested his head in his right on top of his knee. Quistis seemed to be the only one who was more so awake, sitting upright and her hands firmly placed on her knees.
"From what I understand of this mission, some new formed GF is wreaking havoc on Other GF's. This GF is unlike anything we can comprehend or face. From what information Cerberus has gathered for me, the GF used to be human and has the ability to turn GF's into humans" Squall explained, pausing just a bit to yawn. "What Shiva carry are some of the remaining GF's left…"
"So why are they like?" Irvine asked, drawing his hat away from his eyes. Cerberus rose to the question stepping in front of Squall.
"I can answer that Irvine…" Cerberus said. Cerberus turned around to the weary Squall and began to nod at him, with a slight smile. "You can sit down now Squall. I'll will explain the rest of this if you want?" Squall offered no response but made his way back to his seat upon the rock he was a few minutes ago, seating in his normal posture.
"As Squall has mention the new GF was once human, like you. His name was Nashtru, a sorcerer who basically went power mad! Nashtru has the ability to consume GF's power, but first he draws it from them when they are in human form. He studied the Dark Art and had come to fully master this technique." Cerberus paused, taking a look at the shinning crystals in Shiva grasp. "Those GF's trapped in those crystals are the same GF's that you used against Ultimicia and Griever. But now they are slowly deforming into their human forms."
The group all study the crystals. The crystals gave off small amounts of glistening light from their dimmed environment. Squall wasn't sure if he was the only one seeing this but he thought he could see something inside each crystal.
"So…the colours of those crystal" Irvine started; peering closer at the Crystals then the others, till he was kneeling in front of Shiva. "They represent the GF's trapped inside?" Irvine's question did make a good point. The group again stared closer till they could represent the colour to the GF's.
"Hey yeah…" Rinoa said, slowly standing up to move towards Shiva; walking very slowly in her sleepy state. She stood over Irvine, using him as support. "That red one…is that Ifrit?" Rinoa asked, staring at Shiva. The ice spirit smiled, giving a slight nod to confirm her question.
"So that means…" Rinoa inspected the other colour crystals in Shiva's possession, mixed matching colours to the GF's from what little she knew of the GF's; having only gotten used to them. "…The dark purple crystal is…"
"…Diablos" Quistis finished. Rinoa nodded and peered at the next one. Pointing her index finger at the orange crystal.
"This orange one is…Siren?" Rinoa asked, indicating to the orange crystal. Rinoa peered at Quistis who just nodded with a smile. Rinoa smile back and then pointed her finger to the next crystal. "This Green crystal is…Q-Quez…Quistis?" Rinoa shrugged, unable to pronounce the GF. Rinoa knew which GF it was; the mighty Lighting Spirit, it was that its name was too hard to pronounce.
"…Quezacolt! Mighty Lighting Bird…slick and cool; just like me!" Irvine stated proudly, standing as his voice boomed in the small area. Irvine wore a weak smile as he flicked his hat back, placing his hands firmly on his hips, while sticking his chest out.
From his loud boasting everyone peered up at him. Irvine stood there like a statue, for a good few minutes till he collapsed back down on the rock and drew his hat back down over his eyes. He was beyond tired as most of them were. Everyone shook their head before returning their gaze back to Rinoa and Shiva.
"Then the last crystal, the blue crystal is that serpent…Leviathan, right?" Rinoa asked.
"Very Good, Rinoa!" Cerberus applauded, sitting down next to the young sorceress. Rinoa was a little uncomfortable around Cerberus; he just freaked her out a bit. "You named them all, well done"
"But hang on…" Zell shouted, standing up to walk over to Cerberus. The grouped watched as Zell stopped just behind the Dog spirit. "You said the GF's we used against Ultimicia and Griever, right? Then, what happen to the others…are they alright?" Cerberus opened his mouth to give an answer but nothing to seem to come out.
"We don't… know what happen to… them!" the left head sobbed.
"It's true…me and Shiva and the ones in the crystals were the only ones to face the monster head on" The middle head explained further.
"Some of the others fled to protect other low level GF's…we don't know what happen to them either!" The right head added, sounding less angry.
"But wait a sec…" Selphie said, her voice sounding like a whisper in her sleepy state. She turned around and walked into the group from the balcony she was stationed at. She swayed side to side as she approached, strength in her legs were near minimal. She stood next to Zell while behind Rinoa. "I thought only women could become sorceress…it just doesn't make sense! I mean, all that we were taught about sorceress!" Selphie stated, throwing her hands up and down, sounding every confused. "If men were able to become sorcerer, why ain't there any?!" Selphie lowered her hands controlling her mood swing and gave a short sigh. "And shouldn't this kind of stuff be in texts books?"
"Selphie right!" Quistis said standing to her feet. "If what you said were true, then it goes against every we were raised up to believe…"
"Sorcerer and Sorceress?" Squall thought. "Everything ever taught about sorceress, was wrong?"
"This all happened a very long time ago, don't forget!" Cerberus reminded. "This was before any of you were born!"
"But come on!" Irvine rejoined into the conversation, moving into the new-formed group of bodies. "Every textbook that we have today was written in the past and updated throughout the years!" Irvine pointed out. "It doesn't take a genius to know that!"
"Could someone have tried to cover up the truth?" Squall sighed and leaned back. He stared at the group arguing over issue that happen over a thousand years ago. He just watched and didn't make any effort to add his say.
"But, if what Cerberus said was true about Nashtru being a sorcerer…and Selphie saying that, 'only women being sorceress and there are no sorcerer around' it makes me think…Grrr, I hate to think!" Squall brushed a bit of hair from his face, his eyes closed as he thought harder. "It does make some sense… if Nashtru was…"
"We've told you everything we know" Shiva said, trying not to increase the new flowing argument.
"Shiva is right…what we have to tell is everything we are aware of" Cerberus agreed with the Ice Spirit, moving in front of Shiva while sitting on its hind legs.
"But that would mean everything everyone has heard about sorceress are not true?! Is that what you're saying?" Quistis asked, almost shouting. Quistis was one to believe everything in book was true. Taking in something new, she just had to debate it.
"No…everything is true" Squall voice ranged over the group.
Everyone paused as Squall's voice broke up the argument. They slowly turned to stare at the lone commander slowly rising to his feet. Squall's face had changed from the sleepy expression everyone had to a more knowledgeable look.
"What do you mean, Squall?" Quistis asked. As Squall moved into the group, standing next to Shiva and Cerberus. Squall turned around before answering.
"What do we know about sorceress and their power?" Squall asked. The group looked kind of confused at Squall's question, they thought he was making a point.
"OH! I know!" Selphie shouted. "When a sorceress dies they have to past on their power to die in peace! Am I right or what?!" Selphie bounced around happily for no reason whatsoever.
"That right" Squall agreed. "But take into account the only difference between a sorceress and a sorcerers is gender, then their need to pass on their power before they die is the same" Squall tried to explain.
"So…" Zell began to ask.
"So what if Nashtru was the last sorcerer and never had a chance to pass on that power?" Squall asked, finishing his explanation.
The group almost went pink.
"If Nashtru never had a chance to pass on his power and had died…the line of sorcerers would be destroyed! Leaving only the sorceress!" Quistis said, trying to make some sense out of it. In which it did. Adding this new info to what they already know, it does explain why sorcerers haven't been heard of until now.
"So we are facing an old time sorcerers slash GF?! What a combination!" Irvine exclaimed, scratching the back of his head. "How do we beat something like that?"
"Simple!" Cerberus roared, leaping on top of rock overlooking the whole group. "Nashtru can be hurt as any normal GF or monster, the only draw back is he can absorb any and every magic type attack…Quezacolt and Diablos tried a double team combo attack, hardly fazed him" Cerberus explained.
"So in short…" Shiva continued. "We attack Nashtru with physical attack only…GF can't be used, junction them to increase you magic and that is all. Oh and remove status attack damage as well as elemental attack, the slightest use of magic in a attack will be absorb, remember that!"
"Shiva!" Cerberus shouted, almost scaring the ice spirit. "They can't junction anyway! By now most GF's will be hiding, so they won't wanna be summoned anyway!"
"Then that's it!" Squall shouted gaining his teams and GF's attention. "That is our mission! Eliminate new GF Nashtru and return GF's to normal, that's our goal!" Everyone saluted their commander wearing warming smiles. "It may take a while for us to get a leave but I'll put a word in with the Headmaster"
"Are you sure he will handle this kind of request?" Rinoa asked.
"I'm not sure, but I'll see what happen when it comes to it!" Squall answered. "For now, I say it is time we get our sleep, I'll handle the arrangement in the morning"
"At ease!"