Legacies: Chapter 4
by: Gemini83
Disclaimer: You know it, I don't own FF8. But I do own this story.
Back in time...
Greymalkin opened his eyes, to find himself in a field, lush and green. He looked across the landscape, and found Alicia staring right back.
"Where are we?" asked Greymalkin.
Alicia stared back at him, "fool...not where...when...this isn't our time..."
Greymalkin looked around him, and knew it to be true. The green field stretched on endlessly. Sparkling rivers and lakes glimmered on the horizon. Few places like this existed anywhere on the war torn world he had come from. But they had abounded...in the past...
Greymalkin assessed the situation, looking around him. Demons cluttered around them, they must have been caught in the blast. What was worse, some of them were actually alive, those that weren't roasted heaps.
Alicia brought her staff out, ready for battle once again, "it matters not, in this timeline or a thousand others. I will destroy you, and take my rightful place as your ruler."
"Never," said Greymalkin, releasing a torrent of ice flying about him.
The demons around him froze, and others drew back. They glared at him, and he glared back, until the twinge of pain resurfaced in his side. Then they attacked, like mongrels. Greymalkin brought his gunblade up, dropping on his back as a demon flew above him. He lashed out, slicing the beast's stomach, and it fell to the ground in a heap.
Greymalkin was up in a moment, charging his attackers. Yet another demon ran to meet him, all red scales, blades attacked to either arm. Greymalkin parried several thrusts to his chest, and countered, bringing his sword in a powerful overhand arc. The beast blocked the attack with its claws, but they broke under the attack.
Greymalkin brought the gunblade down, crushing the demon's skull, and turned to face yet another monster. It looked skeletal, bearing a wicked blade in its clawed hands...it was a Forbidden. The two opponents met in a furious clash, blades whirring impossibly fast. The skeletal beast cast its spell, momentarily blinding Greymalkin. He turned away, bringing his weapon weakly up to deflect the attack. He leapt into the air, flipping over the Forbidden's head. He thrust forward into the beast's back, but it turned and met his blade, kicking him away.
Greymalkin rolled to his feet parrying several more thrusts, then ducked a double handed swing at his head. Bringing his sword up, Greymalkin split the Forbidden with a rising cross slash.
He turned to the other demons, only to have his blade knocked away.
Alicia laughed, glaring at him with glowing eyes, her hands flaming, "now, now, a fair fight isn't interesting."
The demons charged him again, and Greymalkin bared his fists, not saying a word. He ran forward, lashing out with his fist, punching through the chest of an Imp. He cast it aside with a thrust, and spun around, kicking a were-wolfish beast in the face. He continued the assault, releasing a flurry of punches into the monster's chest. Ducking below the attack, he brought his fist up, leaping into the air as he finished the creature with a flying punch.
He landed on his feet, and turned to face the others, but a blast of fire caught him in the chest, sending him crashing to the floor. Greymalkin gasped for air, as he pushed passed the pain and burning.
Alicia sniffed, "you begin to bore me, let's finish this now..."
Greymalkin shakily stood up, breathing harshly and glaring at the remaining demons. He knew he wouldn't be allowed the time to cast a healing spell. He drew back, away from the scorched grass, and drew his sword from the ground. The demons closed in around him, snapping and stamping at him. He didn't have time for them, he'd have to attack Alicia, before it was too late.
Again the pain in his side resurfaced, and the demons leapt at him, only to disintegrate in the air.
Greymalkin didn't bother to look around for the source of the power, heading straight for Alicia. His sword met her staff, and the two glared at each other through hate filled eyes.
Alicia spat in his face, momentarily blinding Greymalkin. He staggered back, as the sorceress landing a blow to his stomach. He twirled around, sidestepping another blow, and brought his blade crashing down at Alicia's shoulders. The sorceress cried out as he cut a rift through her back.
Greymalkin grasped at his side once more, as the familiar twinge of pain redoubled. Another demon crashed into the warrior, flinging him to the ground. It too, however, crumbled as soon as it attacked.
He stood up, and came face to face with another woman. She was also dressed in red, with jeweled armor accenting her pale green eyes and red hair. He looked into her piercing gaze, and in an instant, shared a moment of understanding.
The woman gestured, and vines sprang up to bind Alicia.
The sorceress cried out in rage, "you...harlot! Who dares to attack me, the Sorceress Alicia?!"
Then she stared into the woman's eyes, and stood horrified at what she saw there, "no...it's YOU...but...it can't be..."
Trapped in time...
The land was scarred, cracked, and gray. The skies, they were nothing but dark storms. Everywhere Squall looked, he saw nothing but desolation. Where were the others? Why had he been sent here?
With almost morbid logic, he thought he knew. This was him...or rather, how he felt inside. He always shut others out, it was easier to avoid pain. Nothing ever lasted. This was his punishment, for a life full of loathing. He was cursed, always to walk alone on this dead planet.
Squall shook away the thought, and began to walk. Perhaps he could find Rinoa yet...
It seemed as if he had been walking forever, with no end in sight. Then, at last, he came to the edge, and looked over the side. There was nothing here, nothing at all. He was floating, alone it seemed, on a desert island at the end of time, with nothing else but raging storms above and below.
He fell to his knees, weary from traveling, and buried his face in his hands. It was hopeless...
Then he felt something...someone was near. Squall turned around, to find himself facing Rinoa. He called out to her, but she didn't seem to hear him. He stood up, and walked closer to her, saying her name again.
Rinoa turned around, and Squall reached out to her. But Rinoa disappeared. He ran after the fleeting image, trying to hold on to her. But she was always just out of reach. Squall fell through time, as he chased Rinoa's image. He went from era to era, but Rinoa was always beyond his grasp. He ran onward, thinking if he could just reach her, that everything would be alright. But he never could...
The past...
He had fought for nearly an hour now, and was quickly tiring. It had only ever been a question of time. If not for the other sorceress (or at least he assumed she was a sorceress), Alicia would have killed him by now. It was then that he made up his mind.
Greymalkin summoned forth another spell, a special binding attack he had concocted himself, "Alicia!"
She turned to face him. Greymalkin rushed at her, screaming as he attacked, bombarding Alicia with a series of vicious attacks. His gunblade was a blur, as Alicia was wracked with pain. With a cry, she lashed out, releasing an Ultima spell. Greymalkin absorbed the blast, then jumped back, high into the air.
"It ends," he cried, "enjoy your final resting place!"
With a shout, he cast his spell. A wave of ice engulfed Alicia, solidifying around her. It changed color and form...forming into solid crystal. The sorceress pushed back the field, laughing in triumph.
But the other woman extended her hand, reinforcing the spell. Energy crackled in the air, striking out at Alicia. She screamed in denial and pain, as the ice closed in around her again.
Alicia's final moment of shock was trapped in a layer of solid diamond. A fitting fate, for one who would dare to subjugate all of creation, like a twisted sort of tribute.
The other woman nodded, and gestured, changing the crystal's hue from blue to red. There was no doubt now, she was clearly a sorceress herself. And with flick of her wrist, the entombed Alicia was covered by vines, and taken beneath the ground.
Greymalkin walked up to the woman, who seemed so familiar, "do I...know you?"
She smiled radiantly, "perhaps, many know of me."
"Why did you help me?" he asked.
"I saw into your eyes," she replies, "the eyes are the windows to the soul...and you have a good soul. The other, her eyes held nothing but corruption."
Greymalkin scoffed, "I've been called many things, but never a 'good soul.'"
"Tell me," she said, "of the events that brought you here."
Greymalkin sighed, wondering where to begin...
The ends of time...
Images of Rinoa danced around him, mocking him, as a phantasmagoria of images bombarded his mind. Squall felt the edges of his sanity begin to break loose. Then, he felt himself break...
Rinoa surged through time, seeking Squall. He hadn't been in the field, the field where they had promised to meet. But still Rinoa ran on. She came into a dark plain, like a mockery of the flowered field where she had made her promise to Squall. It was every bit a bleak and barren as she felt without him near. She forced back the cold fear welling up in the pit of her stomach. Rinoa ran on, rushing to the end of time, to find her love...
He was alone, and he would never see Rinoa again. Squall would have given his life for her. But without her, he was nothing. His heart had finally stopped, his soul was torn. He had nothing left to lose, for everything was gone...everything that mattered. Tears streamed down Squall's face, as he collapsed once more, succumbing to the shadows...
Rinoa walked through the darkness, coming to the last place left in time and space. As she walked steadily forward, she saw a figure on the horizon, slumped against the ground. She saw him, and her heart leapt.
It was Squall.
Rinoa ran to him, her boots kicking up dust as she went, and cradled him in her arms. But he wasn't responding.
She was too late. He was gone. The strains of time, the eternities without her...it had been too much. Squall had broken. He was cold...so cold...
She cried out his name, refusing to believe he was dead. Not now, he couldn't be dead. Not when they had finally found each other. She knew now, why he had blocked out all emotions. He had always been afraid, afraid of being hurt. But Rinoa had finally reached him, finally understood and found the soul he hid deep inside. He had opened up to her, and she hadn't been here for him. And that had been too much. Why was it, that now, when they had come so far...?
'Oh Hyne,' she pleaded, 'I can't do this without you.'
Rinoa cried into his chest, as she hugged his lifeless body in her arms.
A rush of air surrounded her, and Rinoa snapped her head up, and the sun peaked out from above the rapidly receding clouds. Rinoa brushed back her hair, at a loss to explain what was happening. Then she felt a stirring in her arms, and looked down at Squall...
He smiled up at her, "my angel..."
Rinoa shed tears of happiness, her joy unbound.
"You're alive," she whispered, crying into his jacket, "oh thank Hyne...you're alive..."
Squall brought his hand up to stroke back Rinoa's hair.
"Couldn't leave without you..." he said.
"Hush Squall," pleaded Rinoa, "save your strength, we have to get back..."
Squall looked into her eyes again, caressing her face in his hand.
"Don't ever leave Squall," she said, "I couldn't..."
"Don't...worry," he whispered, bringing his finger to her lips, "...just tired..."
Rinoa nodded, "get some rest, we'll be home soon enough..."
Squall stared back, transfixed, into her eyes, "...love...you..."
Rinoa blinked back tears, as she smiled again, "I love you too..."
Author's Note: Aw, how sweet. Yes, I will try to keep Squall in character, but he did have a near death experience. I think a little license is allowed. Keep reading, I'll try to keep this interesting.
by: Gemini83
Disclaimer: You know it, I don't own FF8. But I do own this story.
Back in time...
Greymalkin opened his eyes, to find himself in a field, lush and green. He looked across the landscape, and found Alicia staring right back.
"Where are we?" asked Greymalkin.
Alicia stared back at him, "fool...not where...when...this isn't our time..."
Greymalkin looked around him, and knew it to be true. The green field stretched on endlessly. Sparkling rivers and lakes glimmered on the horizon. Few places like this existed anywhere on the war torn world he had come from. But they had abounded...in the past...
Greymalkin assessed the situation, looking around him. Demons cluttered around them, they must have been caught in the blast. What was worse, some of them were actually alive, those that weren't roasted heaps.
Alicia brought her staff out, ready for battle once again, "it matters not, in this timeline or a thousand others. I will destroy you, and take my rightful place as your ruler."
"Never," said Greymalkin, releasing a torrent of ice flying about him.
The demons around him froze, and others drew back. They glared at him, and he glared back, until the twinge of pain resurfaced in his side. Then they attacked, like mongrels. Greymalkin brought his gunblade up, dropping on his back as a demon flew above him. He lashed out, slicing the beast's stomach, and it fell to the ground in a heap.
Greymalkin was up in a moment, charging his attackers. Yet another demon ran to meet him, all red scales, blades attacked to either arm. Greymalkin parried several thrusts to his chest, and countered, bringing his sword in a powerful overhand arc. The beast blocked the attack with its claws, but they broke under the attack.
Greymalkin brought the gunblade down, crushing the demon's skull, and turned to face yet another monster. It looked skeletal, bearing a wicked blade in its clawed hands...it was a Forbidden. The two opponents met in a furious clash, blades whirring impossibly fast. The skeletal beast cast its spell, momentarily blinding Greymalkin. He turned away, bringing his weapon weakly up to deflect the attack. He leapt into the air, flipping over the Forbidden's head. He thrust forward into the beast's back, but it turned and met his blade, kicking him away.
Greymalkin rolled to his feet parrying several more thrusts, then ducked a double handed swing at his head. Bringing his sword up, Greymalkin split the Forbidden with a rising cross slash.
He turned to the other demons, only to have his blade knocked away.
Alicia laughed, glaring at him with glowing eyes, her hands flaming, "now, now, a fair fight isn't interesting."
The demons charged him again, and Greymalkin bared his fists, not saying a word. He ran forward, lashing out with his fist, punching through the chest of an Imp. He cast it aside with a thrust, and spun around, kicking a were-wolfish beast in the face. He continued the assault, releasing a flurry of punches into the monster's chest. Ducking below the attack, he brought his fist up, leaping into the air as he finished the creature with a flying punch.
He landed on his feet, and turned to face the others, but a blast of fire caught him in the chest, sending him crashing to the floor. Greymalkin gasped for air, as he pushed passed the pain and burning.
Alicia sniffed, "you begin to bore me, let's finish this now..."
Greymalkin shakily stood up, breathing harshly and glaring at the remaining demons. He knew he wouldn't be allowed the time to cast a healing spell. He drew back, away from the scorched grass, and drew his sword from the ground. The demons closed in around him, snapping and stamping at him. He didn't have time for them, he'd have to attack Alicia, before it was too late.
Again the pain in his side resurfaced, and the demons leapt at him, only to disintegrate in the air.
Greymalkin didn't bother to look around for the source of the power, heading straight for Alicia. His sword met her staff, and the two glared at each other through hate filled eyes.
Alicia spat in his face, momentarily blinding Greymalkin. He staggered back, as the sorceress landing a blow to his stomach. He twirled around, sidestepping another blow, and brought his blade crashing down at Alicia's shoulders. The sorceress cried out as he cut a rift through her back.
Greymalkin grasped at his side once more, as the familiar twinge of pain redoubled. Another demon crashed into the warrior, flinging him to the ground. It too, however, crumbled as soon as it attacked.
He stood up, and came face to face with another woman. She was also dressed in red, with jeweled armor accenting her pale green eyes and red hair. He looked into her piercing gaze, and in an instant, shared a moment of understanding.
The woman gestured, and vines sprang up to bind Alicia.
The sorceress cried out in rage, "you...harlot! Who dares to attack me, the Sorceress Alicia?!"
Then she stared into the woman's eyes, and stood horrified at what she saw there, "no...it's YOU...but...it can't be..."
Trapped in time...
The land was scarred, cracked, and gray. The skies, they were nothing but dark storms. Everywhere Squall looked, he saw nothing but desolation. Where were the others? Why had he been sent here?
With almost morbid logic, he thought he knew. This was him...or rather, how he felt inside. He always shut others out, it was easier to avoid pain. Nothing ever lasted. This was his punishment, for a life full of loathing. He was cursed, always to walk alone on this dead planet.
Squall shook away the thought, and began to walk. Perhaps he could find Rinoa yet...
It seemed as if he had been walking forever, with no end in sight. Then, at last, he came to the edge, and looked over the side. There was nothing here, nothing at all. He was floating, alone it seemed, on a desert island at the end of time, with nothing else but raging storms above and below.
He fell to his knees, weary from traveling, and buried his face in his hands. It was hopeless...
Then he felt something...someone was near. Squall turned around, to find himself facing Rinoa. He called out to her, but she didn't seem to hear him. He stood up, and walked closer to her, saying her name again.
Rinoa turned around, and Squall reached out to her. But Rinoa disappeared. He ran after the fleeting image, trying to hold on to her. But she was always just out of reach. Squall fell through time, as he chased Rinoa's image. He went from era to era, but Rinoa was always beyond his grasp. He ran onward, thinking if he could just reach her, that everything would be alright. But he never could...
The past...
He had fought for nearly an hour now, and was quickly tiring. It had only ever been a question of time. If not for the other sorceress (or at least he assumed she was a sorceress), Alicia would have killed him by now. It was then that he made up his mind.
Greymalkin summoned forth another spell, a special binding attack he had concocted himself, "Alicia!"
She turned to face him. Greymalkin rushed at her, screaming as he attacked, bombarding Alicia with a series of vicious attacks. His gunblade was a blur, as Alicia was wracked with pain. With a cry, she lashed out, releasing an Ultima spell. Greymalkin absorbed the blast, then jumped back, high into the air.
"It ends," he cried, "enjoy your final resting place!"
With a shout, he cast his spell. A wave of ice engulfed Alicia, solidifying around her. It changed color and form...forming into solid crystal. The sorceress pushed back the field, laughing in triumph.
But the other woman extended her hand, reinforcing the spell. Energy crackled in the air, striking out at Alicia. She screamed in denial and pain, as the ice closed in around her again.
Alicia's final moment of shock was trapped in a layer of solid diamond. A fitting fate, for one who would dare to subjugate all of creation, like a twisted sort of tribute.
The other woman nodded, and gestured, changing the crystal's hue from blue to red. There was no doubt now, she was clearly a sorceress herself. And with flick of her wrist, the entombed Alicia was covered by vines, and taken beneath the ground.
Greymalkin walked up to the woman, who seemed so familiar, "do I...know you?"
She smiled radiantly, "perhaps, many know of me."
"Why did you help me?" he asked.
"I saw into your eyes," she replies, "the eyes are the windows to the soul...and you have a good soul. The other, her eyes held nothing but corruption."
Greymalkin scoffed, "I've been called many things, but never a 'good soul.'"
"Tell me," she said, "of the events that brought you here."
Greymalkin sighed, wondering where to begin...
The ends of time...
Images of Rinoa danced around him, mocking him, as a phantasmagoria of images bombarded his mind. Squall felt the edges of his sanity begin to break loose. Then, he felt himself break...
Rinoa surged through time, seeking Squall. He hadn't been in the field, the field where they had promised to meet. But still Rinoa ran on. She came into a dark plain, like a mockery of the flowered field where she had made her promise to Squall. It was every bit a bleak and barren as she felt without him near. She forced back the cold fear welling up in the pit of her stomach. Rinoa ran on, rushing to the end of time, to find her love...
He was alone, and he would never see Rinoa again. Squall would have given his life for her. But without her, he was nothing. His heart had finally stopped, his soul was torn. He had nothing left to lose, for everything was gone...everything that mattered. Tears streamed down Squall's face, as he collapsed once more, succumbing to the shadows...
Rinoa walked through the darkness, coming to the last place left in time and space. As she walked steadily forward, she saw a figure on the horizon, slumped against the ground. She saw him, and her heart leapt.
It was Squall.
Rinoa ran to him, her boots kicking up dust as she went, and cradled him in her arms. But he wasn't responding.
She was too late. He was gone. The strains of time, the eternities without her...it had been too much. Squall had broken. He was cold...so cold...
She cried out his name, refusing to believe he was dead. Not now, he couldn't be dead. Not when they had finally found each other. She knew now, why he had blocked out all emotions. He had always been afraid, afraid of being hurt. But Rinoa had finally reached him, finally understood and found the soul he hid deep inside. He had opened up to her, and she hadn't been here for him. And that had been too much. Why was it, that now, when they had come so far...?
'Oh Hyne,' she pleaded, 'I can't do this without you.'
Rinoa cried into his chest, as she hugged his lifeless body in her arms.
A rush of air surrounded her, and Rinoa snapped her head up, and the sun peaked out from above the rapidly receding clouds. Rinoa brushed back her hair, at a loss to explain what was happening. Then she felt a stirring in her arms, and looked down at Squall...
He smiled up at her, "my angel..."
Rinoa shed tears of happiness, her joy unbound.
"You're alive," she whispered, crying into his jacket, "oh thank Hyne...you're alive..."
Squall brought his hand up to stroke back Rinoa's hair.
"Couldn't leave without you..." he said.
"Hush Squall," pleaded Rinoa, "save your strength, we have to get back..."
Squall looked into her eyes again, caressing her face in his hand.
"Don't ever leave Squall," she said, "I couldn't..."
"Don't...worry," he whispered, bringing his finger to her lips, "...just tired..."
Rinoa nodded, "get some rest, we'll be home soon enough..."
Squall stared back, transfixed, into her eyes, "...love...you..."
Rinoa blinked back tears, as she smiled again, "I love you too..."
Author's Note: Aw, how sweet. Yes, I will try to keep Squall in character, but he did have a near death experience. I think a little license is allowed. Keep reading, I'll try to keep this interesting.
