The two chapters here are specially dedicated to Mayonaka!!Woohoo!To get
yer attention,a little bigger,to MAYONAKA!!!Ya really gave me a lot of
inspiration when you posted that review saying you just came back from
Cuba!Yeaaaaaah!Me,the Queen of Cliffhangers,huh?Ha..haha...hahahaha....just
wait...and see....--sounds familiar,ain't it?!?!
Chapter Fifty Three (Rinoa's POV)
I tried to wriggle away from Xu's grip,but that only made her tighten her grasp on me.I considered using some magic(I was surprised that my powers could work,since it didn't before,but maybe the weren't any anti- magic fields around anymore...)but realised that I couldn't possibly cast something onto someone who was holding me from behind,and Zoan was probably only gonna reflect the magic off.Anyway,he was way too far in front of me.
"Xu,make it quick!It is almost time..." Zoan snapped.Xu said nothing,but quickened her pace.I frowned in puzzlement.What did Zoan mean?Time for what?
Finally, both he and Xu stopped in a dark room.Zoan lighted a torch,chanted some words,and a ring of fire immediately appeared,lighting the whole room up.It was a strange place with a weird looking symbol in the centre.The fire was around the room,and I also noticed some greenish looking liquid surrounding the fire like a moat.~What the heck is that?~
"I trust you have gotten everything ready,Xu?" Zoan walked to a stone table with some stuffs on it.I craned my neck to see what they were,but his body was blocking my view.Xu roughly pulled me back and replied,"Yes,master...everything you said..."
"Good.Now for the serious job..." He turned and advanced to me with an evil smile.Absent mindedly,I retreated back only to find myself backing into Xu's readied hands.Fear overwhelmed me as I wondered what he was going to do to me.
"What...what do you want?!" I widened my eyes as his hands reached out to my face.
"Your powers,what else?" was his mere answer."You said you'd give them to me,remember?"
"Well,I lied!Get away from me!"
"Hush,Sorceress....don't forget I know your weaknesses..."
"Shut up!You don't!!"
"Oh?Well I do...one is that Leonhart...and the other...." He paused,his hands only inches away from me."The other...Julia Heartilly..."
Something shot through me when my mother's name floated to my ears.Before I could do anything,I felt him pressing his fingers against my temples.A vision appeared in my mind at once.I heard loud screams and shouts....the loud crash of a vehicle knocking another...the screech of tyres...the sound of shattering glass...and then the whole incident played all over again,this time clearer.I saw a van rushing towards me with a loud honk,then a crash was heard.Another scream echoed,more in pain and agony.More glass broke and shattered.An eerie but familiar voice rang throughout my head as the scene played again and again.
*You killed me,Rinoa....you killed your own mother....how could you?!?!*
~No..it was a mistake..!!~
An agonizing scream...
*You could have told me....*
I wanted to deny it all out loud,but my throat wouldn't work.Another scream...echoing...in pain...
*It was all your fault!!*
~No!!~ "It wasn't!!!" I shouted,forcing my voice box to work."It wasn't my fault!!No,get away from me!!" I began thrashing about but Xu did her best to hold me down.Tears were falling uncontrollably from my eyes as I tried to release myself from her hands,the voice still ringing in my mind.
*You killed me....you killed me....*
"NO!!!" It was the loudest scream I've ever had in my entire life of 17 years.I felt as if my throat was on fire and going to burst.
"Your powers,my dear...give them to me..." Zoan said in faked gentleness.
I didn't reply,just let the tears roll down my cheeks,unable to say anything again.I shut my eyes tightly.Zoan leaned to me and whispered,"You powers....when I draw them from you...and you resist...you do know what's coming next,don't you?"
I still didn't answer.I didn't do anything when I once more felt his hands on me.I didn't want to.I didn't want any more haunting images.I didn't want to scream out 'No!' anymore.
~I'm sorry,Squall....but...I guess I'm too a weak person....~ As if something was being pulled from my soul,my powers travelled from my body to Zoan's.I felt strangely cold somewhere deep in my body.Although my eyes were closed,my head was dizzy.It was reflex for me to frequently try to stop my flowing powers,but Zoan's grip on my shoulders tightened immensely and I gave in weakly.When all my powers were fully transferred to him,my legs gave away and I collapsed against Xu.
~What...?He..he must have absorbed my energy along with my powers too....~
I couldn't describe how I felt without my powers.It was as if...someone had just pulled my heart out of my body.I felt....empty....empty and.....
.....useless..
"Yes..." Zoan raised his hands in front of his face with a smile before bursting out into an insane laugh.
"Ahahahaha!!At last!Refreshed and powerful!Now with these powers,I can finally call upon Hixon!!HAHAHAHA!!!"
~Oh God...what have I done?~ I was about to fall in unconsciousness when the sound of panicked footsteps came into the air.
An angry voice shouted out,"Zoan!!"
~Squall....~
Chapter Fifty Four (Squall's POV)
"It wasn't!It wasn't my fault!!!No,get away from me!!"
I stopped in my tracks as the screams broke out.Another dagger stabbed my heart,turning it freezing cold.
"Rinoa..." I said softly and began running down the path as fast as I could.Seifer didn't say anything but he followed my lead,though.
Closer....
"NO!!!" ~Oh God,Rinoa!!Hang on,please,I'm coming!~ Sweat beaded my forehead as I ran towards her voice.
And closer..
"Yes.....Ahahahaha!At last!Refreshed and powerful!Not with these powers,I can finally call upon Hixon!!HAHAHAHA!!!"
And closer.
"Zoan!!" I roared,my gunblade already in hand.He turned to me,eyes blazing but with a smile.
"Ah,so you are here,Leonhart..." He paused when he saw Seifer,then laughed."Haha!You think you can defeat me by bringing another comrade of yours,I expect?"
"Squall..." Rinoa said weakly.She was pale and her eyes didn't have the usual light in them.Immediately I knew that her powers were already with Zoan.
That only made me angrier...
"You're gonna die for what you've done to her...." I growled.
"I think you're not in the position to say that,Leonhart.When Hixon is here,you will all die...I will rule the world..." Zoan answered calmly.
"When Hixon is here,Griever will deal with both of you," I corrected.
"Ahaha!You think that silly pathetic lion of yours can defeat me?No....just wait...and see,Leonhart..."
"Damn you,I'm tired of you dumb words!!" I yelled and made a slash at him.He simply casted Protect on himself and smiled when he received no damage.
"Eager,aren't we?Well,it's fine with me if you would like your death so fast..." He brought his hands together and a ball of fire appeared.In a second,he blasted it to me and I fell back,my skin scorched.
"Heh,mind if I draw a little something from ya?" Seifer countered as he drew a few Curas from Zoan and casted one on me.I got up and held Lionheart firmly again before using a Protect and Shell spell on both Seifer and I.
"Eat this!" Seifer swung his gunblade down and succeeded in causing some damage to Zoan.I was just about to dispell the Protect on him when someone else did so.
~Rinoa...~ I looked up at her,noticing her worried and concerned eyes on me.Xu,who was holding her,dragged her from the battle but I quickly used a Thundaga on Xu in attempt to get Rinoa away from her.
~Just a little shock for a little bitch like you...~ I said in my mind as Xu cried out in pain and released her grip on her captive.
"Rinoa,here!" I shouted,but she collapsed onto the ground with a tired expression on her face.Everything else blacked out in my sight.Without thinking,I ran to her in panic,not noticing the Flare Zoan was preparing to cast on me.The magic hit me and pain pricked my whole body,but I continued to Rinoa.I took her up gently and set her down at the other end of the room where it was safe.Seifer had made a few more attacks to distract Zoan.
"Squall...my powers...I couldn't..." Rinoa murmured.I silenced her with a finger and said,"Shh.No,it's alright.Just stay here.You'll get out of this safe...."
"Be careful,Squall...please..."
"I will." I planted a light kiss on her lips.It was probably going to be the last one we were ever going to have,but I tried to ignore the feeling of dread growing within me.Then I took up my gunblade and joined Seifer in his fight.Zoan was still attacking with magic like crazy,but I could sense that he was already getting a little tired and weak.Seifer looked bad too.He had wounds and cuts on his body,and since he didn't have any magic with him and could only draw some weak cure spells from Zoan,I quickly casted my last Curaga on him,recovering him throughly.
"He's helluva annoying,Puberty Boy!" Seifer shouted at me,dodging one of Zoan's magic.
"Whatever," I replied,bringing Lionheart down in a powerful slash.Zoan irritatingly cured himself and continued blasting his insane magics around.I countered with a Demi as Seifer attacked him again with two strong cuts of his Hyperion.A movement behind him caught my attention,and I gritted my teeth when I saw Xu trying to reach Rinoa again.I immediately casted a Firaga on her and succeeded in slowing her down,keeping her away from Rinoa for a while.
Zoan,looking really furious,brought his hands together once more and mumbled something I couldn't hear.A purplish-red ball engulfed in flames slowly grew from his hands.With a throw,he shot it towards Seifer and I,hitting us with so much impact that we were slammed into the wall behind us.
"How did you like that,Leonhart?" laughed Zoan maniacally.I clenched my fists and got up slowly,my eyes blazing in anger.I took a second to cure myself and another second to do the same to Seifer.His injuries were far worse than mine.I bit my lip and checked my magic.Unfortunately,I was already out of cure spells.Cursing under my breath,I took out my last X- Potion and threw it to Seifer.
"Heh...thanks a lot," he said,surprising me.For Seifer Almasy to even say 'thank you' or the word 'please' to me was even harder than making the sky and moon and sun drop down.However,I just nodded at him.
"Losing it,Leonhart?Haha....I told you you are no match for me...even with that Almasy with you..." Zoan sneered.
"That's enough!!" I yelled.~Okay,you asked for it....~ I took my gunblade up and concentrated my energy,mind,soul and body for my most powerful attack....the attack I used to finish off Ultimecia a few months back...
"Oh,we're gettin' serious,eh?" Seifer smirked.He wriggled his gloved fingers around for a moment before taking his own gunblade up."Time to try out something new..."
"Both of you are simply hurrying your deaths.Very well,I'm happy to help you achieve your goal..." Zoan said with another laugh.
~Okay..here I come...~ "Lionheart!!!" I roared as I rushed to him and swung him up into the air.Taking a big leapt,I rained slash after slash on him with all my might and strength.I didn't know how many times I attacked him,I just wanted him either dead or weak after all that.I unleashed my final blow,and as if on cue,Seifer took over with his newest Limit Break,True Hyperion.I had seen him perform it once back in Balamb Garden and although I didn't want to admit it,it was really quite impressive.It was kind of the opposite of Lionheart,he attacked the enemy on the ground first before throwing it up into the air for the finishing blow.
Zoan landed on the floor with a loud thud,bleeding and wounded seriously.I was shocked that he was still alive.Xu rushed to him at once and helped him up slowly."Master!Are you alright?" she asked,worried.
"Do I look like I am?!" thundered Zoan and spat blood out,giving me a killing look."Leonhart,you're going to pay for this!I will show you my true power now!!" He hurried to a table behind Xu,grabbed a goblet of something there and gulped it down in a flash.Then he began doing some weird things with even weirder stuffs there.
~What the heck is he doing?~ I wanted to run to him and give him one last slash to finish him off,but I heard the sound of footsteps echoing in the room.
"Squall!" Zell's voice called."Hey!!"
"Chicken-Wuss,can't ya see we're busy?" Seifer said and received a furious glare from Zell.Quistis and Selphie rushed to Rinoa at once,panicked.I would've gone to her too,but I didn't want Zoan to have any ideas or plans while I kept my guard down.From the spot I stood,I saw his body glowing with some kind of funny auro-like light and heard him chant some strange spell:
'When darkness comes and clouds the sky,
When dusk is here,time shall fly,
The good shall fall,the evil shall rise,
He who has been needing the ultimate prize,
He who will sacrifice soul and body,
To the one,powerful and almighty,
Come to me,O'Great Hixon!!!'
~Uh-oh.....~
Hehe...hehehe....HEHEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!I BET YOU'RE ALL HANGING AGAIN!!!!!YEAAAAAAH,that's the reason I write...to make ya all hang....*makes sad clicking noise...* Mayonaka,wanna kill me???Sorry!!!I know the spell was kinda lame,but it just came into my mind and I wrote it!Please review!!
Chapter Fifty Three (Rinoa's POV)
I tried to wriggle away from Xu's grip,but that only made her tighten her grasp on me.I considered using some magic(I was surprised that my powers could work,since it didn't before,but maybe the weren't any anti- magic fields around anymore...)but realised that I couldn't possibly cast something onto someone who was holding me from behind,and Zoan was probably only gonna reflect the magic off.Anyway,he was way too far in front of me.
"Xu,make it quick!It is almost time..." Zoan snapped.Xu said nothing,but quickened her pace.I frowned in puzzlement.What did Zoan mean?Time for what?
Finally, both he and Xu stopped in a dark room.Zoan lighted a torch,chanted some words,and a ring of fire immediately appeared,lighting the whole room up.It was a strange place with a weird looking symbol in the centre.The fire was around the room,and I also noticed some greenish looking liquid surrounding the fire like a moat.~What the heck is that?~
"I trust you have gotten everything ready,Xu?" Zoan walked to a stone table with some stuffs on it.I craned my neck to see what they were,but his body was blocking my view.Xu roughly pulled me back and replied,"Yes,master...everything you said..."
"Good.Now for the serious job..." He turned and advanced to me with an evil smile.Absent mindedly,I retreated back only to find myself backing into Xu's readied hands.Fear overwhelmed me as I wondered what he was going to do to me.
"What...what do you want?!" I widened my eyes as his hands reached out to my face.
"Your powers,what else?" was his mere answer."You said you'd give them to me,remember?"
"Well,I lied!Get away from me!"
"Hush,Sorceress....don't forget I know your weaknesses..."
"Shut up!You don't!!"
"Oh?Well I do...one is that Leonhart...and the other...." He paused,his hands only inches away from me."The other...Julia Heartilly..."
Something shot through me when my mother's name floated to my ears.Before I could do anything,I felt him pressing his fingers against my temples.A vision appeared in my mind at once.I heard loud screams and shouts....the loud crash of a vehicle knocking another...the screech of tyres...the sound of shattering glass...and then the whole incident played all over again,this time clearer.I saw a van rushing towards me with a loud honk,then a crash was heard.Another scream echoed,more in pain and agony.More glass broke and shattered.An eerie but familiar voice rang throughout my head as the scene played again and again.
*You killed me,Rinoa....you killed your own mother....how could you?!?!*
~No..it was a mistake..!!~
An agonizing scream...
*You could have told me....*
I wanted to deny it all out loud,but my throat wouldn't work.Another scream...echoing...in pain...
*It was all your fault!!*
~No!!~ "It wasn't!!!" I shouted,forcing my voice box to work."It wasn't my fault!!No,get away from me!!" I began thrashing about but Xu did her best to hold me down.Tears were falling uncontrollably from my eyes as I tried to release myself from her hands,the voice still ringing in my mind.
*You killed me....you killed me....*
"NO!!!" It was the loudest scream I've ever had in my entire life of 17 years.I felt as if my throat was on fire and going to burst.
"Your powers,my dear...give them to me..." Zoan said in faked gentleness.
I didn't reply,just let the tears roll down my cheeks,unable to say anything again.I shut my eyes tightly.Zoan leaned to me and whispered,"You powers....when I draw them from you...and you resist...you do know what's coming next,don't you?"
I still didn't answer.I didn't do anything when I once more felt his hands on me.I didn't want to.I didn't want any more haunting images.I didn't want to scream out 'No!' anymore.
~I'm sorry,Squall....but...I guess I'm too a weak person....~ As if something was being pulled from my soul,my powers travelled from my body to Zoan's.I felt strangely cold somewhere deep in my body.Although my eyes were closed,my head was dizzy.It was reflex for me to frequently try to stop my flowing powers,but Zoan's grip on my shoulders tightened immensely and I gave in weakly.When all my powers were fully transferred to him,my legs gave away and I collapsed against Xu.
~What...?He..he must have absorbed my energy along with my powers too....~
I couldn't describe how I felt without my powers.It was as if...someone had just pulled my heart out of my body.I felt....empty....empty and.....
.....useless..
"Yes..." Zoan raised his hands in front of his face with a smile before bursting out into an insane laugh.
"Ahahahaha!!At last!Refreshed and powerful!Now with these powers,I can finally call upon Hixon!!HAHAHAHA!!!"
~Oh God...what have I done?~ I was about to fall in unconsciousness when the sound of panicked footsteps came into the air.
An angry voice shouted out,"Zoan!!"
~Squall....~
Chapter Fifty Four (Squall's POV)
"It wasn't!It wasn't my fault!!!No,get away from me!!"
I stopped in my tracks as the screams broke out.Another dagger stabbed my heart,turning it freezing cold.
"Rinoa..." I said softly and began running down the path as fast as I could.Seifer didn't say anything but he followed my lead,though.
Closer....
"NO!!!" ~Oh God,Rinoa!!Hang on,please,I'm coming!~ Sweat beaded my forehead as I ran towards her voice.
And closer..
"Yes.....Ahahahaha!At last!Refreshed and powerful!Not with these powers,I can finally call upon Hixon!!HAHAHAHA!!!"
And closer.
"Zoan!!" I roared,my gunblade already in hand.He turned to me,eyes blazing but with a smile.
"Ah,so you are here,Leonhart..." He paused when he saw Seifer,then laughed."Haha!You think you can defeat me by bringing another comrade of yours,I expect?"
"Squall..." Rinoa said weakly.She was pale and her eyes didn't have the usual light in them.Immediately I knew that her powers were already with Zoan.
That only made me angrier...
"You're gonna die for what you've done to her...." I growled.
"I think you're not in the position to say that,Leonhart.When Hixon is here,you will all die...I will rule the world..." Zoan answered calmly.
"When Hixon is here,Griever will deal with both of you," I corrected.
"Ahaha!You think that silly pathetic lion of yours can defeat me?No....just wait...and see,Leonhart..."
"Damn you,I'm tired of you dumb words!!" I yelled and made a slash at him.He simply casted Protect on himself and smiled when he received no damage.
"Eager,aren't we?Well,it's fine with me if you would like your death so fast..." He brought his hands together and a ball of fire appeared.In a second,he blasted it to me and I fell back,my skin scorched.
"Heh,mind if I draw a little something from ya?" Seifer countered as he drew a few Curas from Zoan and casted one on me.I got up and held Lionheart firmly again before using a Protect and Shell spell on both Seifer and I.
"Eat this!" Seifer swung his gunblade down and succeeded in causing some damage to Zoan.I was just about to dispell the Protect on him when someone else did so.
~Rinoa...~ I looked up at her,noticing her worried and concerned eyes on me.Xu,who was holding her,dragged her from the battle but I quickly used a Thundaga on Xu in attempt to get Rinoa away from her.
~Just a little shock for a little bitch like you...~ I said in my mind as Xu cried out in pain and released her grip on her captive.
"Rinoa,here!" I shouted,but she collapsed onto the ground with a tired expression on her face.Everything else blacked out in my sight.Without thinking,I ran to her in panic,not noticing the Flare Zoan was preparing to cast on me.The magic hit me and pain pricked my whole body,but I continued to Rinoa.I took her up gently and set her down at the other end of the room where it was safe.Seifer had made a few more attacks to distract Zoan.
"Squall...my powers...I couldn't..." Rinoa murmured.I silenced her with a finger and said,"Shh.No,it's alright.Just stay here.You'll get out of this safe...."
"Be careful,Squall...please..."
"I will." I planted a light kiss on her lips.It was probably going to be the last one we were ever going to have,but I tried to ignore the feeling of dread growing within me.Then I took up my gunblade and joined Seifer in his fight.Zoan was still attacking with magic like crazy,but I could sense that he was already getting a little tired and weak.Seifer looked bad too.He had wounds and cuts on his body,and since he didn't have any magic with him and could only draw some weak cure spells from Zoan,I quickly casted my last Curaga on him,recovering him throughly.
"He's helluva annoying,Puberty Boy!" Seifer shouted at me,dodging one of Zoan's magic.
"Whatever," I replied,bringing Lionheart down in a powerful slash.Zoan irritatingly cured himself and continued blasting his insane magics around.I countered with a Demi as Seifer attacked him again with two strong cuts of his Hyperion.A movement behind him caught my attention,and I gritted my teeth when I saw Xu trying to reach Rinoa again.I immediately casted a Firaga on her and succeeded in slowing her down,keeping her away from Rinoa for a while.
Zoan,looking really furious,brought his hands together once more and mumbled something I couldn't hear.A purplish-red ball engulfed in flames slowly grew from his hands.With a throw,he shot it towards Seifer and I,hitting us with so much impact that we were slammed into the wall behind us.
"How did you like that,Leonhart?" laughed Zoan maniacally.I clenched my fists and got up slowly,my eyes blazing in anger.I took a second to cure myself and another second to do the same to Seifer.His injuries were far worse than mine.I bit my lip and checked my magic.Unfortunately,I was already out of cure spells.Cursing under my breath,I took out my last X- Potion and threw it to Seifer.
"Heh...thanks a lot," he said,surprising me.For Seifer Almasy to even say 'thank you' or the word 'please' to me was even harder than making the sky and moon and sun drop down.However,I just nodded at him.
"Losing it,Leonhart?Haha....I told you you are no match for me...even with that Almasy with you..." Zoan sneered.
"That's enough!!" I yelled.~Okay,you asked for it....~ I took my gunblade up and concentrated my energy,mind,soul and body for my most powerful attack....the attack I used to finish off Ultimecia a few months back...
"Oh,we're gettin' serious,eh?" Seifer smirked.He wriggled his gloved fingers around for a moment before taking his own gunblade up."Time to try out something new..."
"Both of you are simply hurrying your deaths.Very well,I'm happy to help you achieve your goal..." Zoan said with another laugh.
~Okay..here I come...~ "Lionheart!!!" I roared as I rushed to him and swung him up into the air.Taking a big leapt,I rained slash after slash on him with all my might and strength.I didn't know how many times I attacked him,I just wanted him either dead or weak after all that.I unleashed my final blow,and as if on cue,Seifer took over with his newest Limit Break,True Hyperion.I had seen him perform it once back in Balamb Garden and although I didn't want to admit it,it was really quite impressive.It was kind of the opposite of Lionheart,he attacked the enemy on the ground first before throwing it up into the air for the finishing blow.
Zoan landed on the floor with a loud thud,bleeding and wounded seriously.I was shocked that he was still alive.Xu rushed to him at once and helped him up slowly."Master!Are you alright?" she asked,worried.
"Do I look like I am?!" thundered Zoan and spat blood out,giving me a killing look."Leonhart,you're going to pay for this!I will show you my true power now!!" He hurried to a table behind Xu,grabbed a goblet of something there and gulped it down in a flash.Then he began doing some weird things with even weirder stuffs there.
~What the heck is he doing?~ I wanted to run to him and give him one last slash to finish him off,but I heard the sound of footsteps echoing in the room.
"Squall!" Zell's voice called."Hey!!"
"Chicken-Wuss,can't ya see we're busy?" Seifer said and received a furious glare from Zell.Quistis and Selphie rushed to Rinoa at once,panicked.I would've gone to her too,but I didn't want Zoan to have any ideas or plans while I kept my guard down.From the spot I stood,I saw his body glowing with some kind of funny auro-like light and heard him chant some strange spell:
'When darkness comes and clouds the sky,
When dusk is here,time shall fly,
The good shall fall,the evil shall rise,
He who has been needing the ultimate prize,
He who will sacrifice soul and body,
To the one,powerful and almighty,
Come to me,O'Great Hixon!!!'
~Uh-oh.....~
Hehe...hehehe....HEHEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!I BET YOU'RE ALL HANGING AGAIN!!!!!YEAAAAAAH,that's the reason I write...to make ya all hang....*makes sad clicking noise...* Mayonaka,wanna kill me???Sorry!!!I know the spell was kinda lame,but it just came into my mind and I wrote it!Please review!!