Legacies: Chapter 6
by: Gemini83
Disclaimer: You know it, I don't own FF8. But I do own this story.


...A lone figure sat on a pier, fishing rod in his hands, as he looked dejectedly at the sea. Seifer sat pondering, waiting for a bite.

He heard a ruckus, and turned to see Raijin doing a victory dance. It seems he wasn't alone after all. But that wasn't what bothered Seifer. Raijin had caught a fish, and a big one. Seifer, irritated, stood up, and threw his fishing line on the pier deck.

"Just one thing," he shouted, "I just want one damn thing to go right for a change!"

Raijin hadn't heard, still captivated by his catch.

Fujin eyed him critically, thinking he was showing a bit too much zeal. So, she gave him a kick. He fell off the side, splashing into the water, fishing line and all.

"IDIOT!!!" she yelled.

Seifer laughed at the display. Trust Fujin to know how to make him feel better.

"Hey Fujin,' sputtered Raijin, coming up for air, "why'd you have to do that, ya' know?"

Seifer continued to laugh, but mellowed as Balamb Garden flew overhead, overshadowing the pier. Seifer became quiet as he stared at it, a slight smile creeping into his features.

'Maybe Seed isn't so hopeless after all,' thought Seifer, 'I'll be seeing you Squall.'

Meanwhile, on Balamb Garden, the Seed preparing to celebrate...


In the ruins below and abandoned undersea laboratory...

Two figures made their way through the gray stone steps. Not a single beast barred their passing, for they knew better than to meddle in such affairs.

So said one, "the Estharians submerged Lunatic Pandora."

"Yes," answered the other, a bit shorter, "it made my task of finding you, and my blade, much harder."

The first one laughed, "what's life without challenges, eh?"

"Try it sometime," replied the other.

They came to the bottom of the stairwell, and into the area where a beast had lain, not so long ago. The rock walls still shone greenish from the energies gestating here.

"Do you think," wondered the taller of the two, "that Seed knew the true reason for Ultima weapon's vigilance?"

"Probably not," answered the second, "not even the scholars who spent so long studying this place knew of its true objective."

"Just so," replied the taller wraith.

"Tell me," asked his shorter comrade, "do you believe in those ancient tales, of you as the 'Ultimate GF,' Griever?"

The two began to disrobe. The taller of the wraiths finally came from behind the cloak of darkness, revealing a gray, bestial face.

He replied, "pride is ever the fall of the mighty...no I do not. After all Odin, mortals nearly killed both of us."

The second figure disrobed as well. revealing the armor beneath, "just so."

Griever walked up to the shattered remains of the Ultima weapon, and drew the sword out from the charred ground on which it lay. The blade drew out easily, and the granite along the walls began to crack.

Griever threw the sword to Odin, "yours, I believe?"

He grabbed it in midair, drawing out a matching sword from behind his back.

Odin nodded, "aye, Omega and Ultima couldn't possibly know their true powers."

"Tell me Odin," asked Griever, "why did you allow the knights to believe you were dead?"

"Tell me Griever," mimicked Odin, "why did you allow Ultimecia to believe you were her ally? It was in the portents."

Griever snarled in amusement.

The granite along the wall crumbled away, revealing crystalline shards and metalwork.

"If you would do the honors?" asked the wolfish GF.

Odin smiled, and struck at the wall with his swords...


The tomb hadn't been violated for centuries. In the center of the room, a crystal sarcophagus held a man inside. He had been resting, undisturbed, for what seemed like an eternity.

A great rumbling shook the ground, and the wall caved in on one side.

Griever and Odin walked in. The crystal tomb deteriorated, leaving the body of the armored man in black exposed. Slowly, he began to breathe.

Odin and Griever waited quietly, as the figure groaned and stretched. When he looked at them, they could see hazel eyes behind his dark hair, eyeing them critically. His pale skin gave him an almost ghostly appearance, but the color soon began to return.

"So," said the deep voice, "it is time?"

Odin nodded, as did Griever.

"It is, sire Greymalkin," answered Odin, "Time Compression has passed, and the chosen are here."

The man nodded, "then let us go."


That night...

Selphie let out a little laugh as she began to video tape the festivities. Seed had finally defeated Ultimecia, and everyone was in the mood to celebrate.

"Woohoo!" she yelled, "let's PAAH-TAAY!"

Several cadets behind he cheered in agreement.


Xu sat at a table, nursing her drink, listening to the music and watching the twirling figures on the dance floor. Nida came over to her table, and smiled.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked.

Xu looked up, "sure."

He nodded and sat, "sure is lively tonight."

Xu agreed, "we need a breather, that last mission was too close. I wasn't even able to help them."

"Well, maybe not physically," Nida put down his glass, "so...I see you in the control room all the time. I remember when you handled things back before the missile attack on Garden. You helped Squall then, helped him bring Garden back together again. I think that was pretty good."

Xu laughed, "in Squall's words, 'whatever,' but thanks for the sentiment."

"Oh come on," chided Nida, "live a little. Care to join me for a dance?"

She grinned back, "okay, why not?"


Selphie smiled into the camera, then began to tape as the party went into full swing.

Irvine was showing off again, practicing some fancy moves with Quistis, swaying easily to the music. Instructor Trepe didn't seem to be interested, and was grateful when Selphie called out to her.

Quistis smiled for the camera, completely brushing Irvine off.

Undaunted, he peeked his head from the bottom of the camera's sights, forcing his way into the picture.

"Hey Selphie," he joked, "don't leave the star out of the picture for too long!"

Quistis sighed, and walked away.


She went to meet the Headmaster.

Cid Kramer greeted her, "well Quistis, it's been quite an ordeal, hasn't it?"

She nodded, "definitely, we're all in need of a well deserved rest."

He laughed, raising his glass, "I second that."

A striking woman in dark dress walked up to the two, and Quistis greeted Edea.

She nodded, "Matron."

"Hello Quistis," she replied, "do you know where Squall is?"

Quistis was about to reply, when Irvine walked into the picture.

"Yeah," he said, "Squally gave us a scare for a while there, but Rinoa found him and brought him back in one piece,"

He looked at her appraisingly, and bowed, "and you look radiant as always Matron. The Headmaster is a very fortunate man indeed."

She laughed.

Cid smiled, "Irvine my dear boy, never change."


Irvine grinned, and turned around.

Selphie saw the odd look in his face, "what's wrong?"

"Well gorgeous," he said, "what are you doing just watching the party? Come here!"

He tickled her in the stomach, as he took the camera from her. But he didn't get away before Selphie snatched his hat.

"Hey," he whined, "that's my favorite hat!"

Selphie laughed, "I'll take care of it, if you take care of my camera."

Irvine smiled back, "anything for you Selphie...deal."

He began to record as Quistis and Selphie gathered for a close-up. However, he had the camera sideways, and took a moment to fix it. Selphie and Quistis smiled into the camera.

Irvine saw movement out the corner of his eyes, and turned the camera to greet several girls.

"Why hello ladies!" he shouted.

They laughed and waved back.

Selphie barked at him in anger, "Irvine, YOU JERK! I can't believe you. Don't even think of talking to me tonight!"

He smiled as he followed her, "aw come on Sephie, you know you're the only one for me!"

"Whatever," she replied.

"Hey, don't be like Squall now," he answered.

She was about to reply, but forgot her anger when she saw something, "oh Irvine, look!"

Quistis turned, and laughed behind her hand.

Irvine turned the camera, in time to see Zell all but inhaling a plate full of hot dogs. The girl by his side simply looked on in amazement.

Irvine laughed, "I just bet he's going to-"

No sooner thought than done...Zell began to choke. He looked at his empty glass in dismay. Selphie and Quistis immediately rushed over, patting Zell on the back. Finally, in one great gulp, he swallowed the food. However, Quistis, Selphie, and the other girl stepped back, as Zell eyes them fiercely.

"Great!" he shouted, "make a laughing stock out of me why don't ya?"

The ran away, as Irvine continued to laugh.

Zell turned to him, "what are YOU laughing at, gun boy?"

He threw a hotdog through the air to strike at the camera.

"Hey Zell," laughed Irvine, "watch the equipment, it's a loaner."

He finally got the camera working again, and started to film the crowd. Rinoa's dog Angelo passed by, and Selphie laughed as he skittered towards Zell's fallen hot dogs. Then she turned, and pointed to the balcony.

"Hey...check THAT out!"

Irvine turned to film Rinoa...


She sighed as she gazed at the stars, reveling at how majestic the heavens looked tonight.

"All we need now is a shooting star," whispered a voice beside her.

As if on cue, a yellow streak appeared above, racing through the night sky.

Rinoa smiled, and pointed at it. She turned to the man beside her, grinning.

Squall looked back to her, smiling as if it were the funniest thing in the world.

Without a word, he drew closer to her, wrapping his arms about her waist. Rinoa smiled as she threw her arms around his shoulders. They gazed into each others eyes, losing themselves in the heat of the moment...

"Hey guys!" shouted Irvine, "over here!"

Squall and Rinoa turned to see the cowboy beckoning to the others.

Quistis, Zell, and Selphie walked up, laughing as the couple blushed.

Irvine raised in an eyebrow in dismay, "aw DAMMIT! The battery's dead!"

Squall nodded, "good, then the camera won't catch this!"

Rinoa was taken aback as Squall hugged her tightly, bringing his lips to meet hers. She hardly had time to gasp as she drowned into his embrace, holding firmly onto his arms.

She drew back in embarrassment as her friends began to clap and cheer.

"Yeah Squall!" shouted Irvine, "go stud!"

Rinoa shook her head as she eyed her friends, "a little privacy please?"

Their audience turned their faces to the sides, pretending not to look.

Zell whistled, "please, don't mind us."

From farther back, Cid and Edea looked on, laughing with amusement.

Squall grunted, "oh hell..."

He drew her in again, and Rinoa melted into his arms.

Zell snickered, "about time. Even I was beginning to wonder when he'd finally break down."

Irvine turned to him, "oh really?"

Zell grinned back, "hey, I may not be a rocket scientist, but I can recognize raging hormones when I see them."


Squall and Rinoa shuddered in each others' grasp, then turned as they realized they were still being watched.

"People," demanded Squall exasperatedly, "if you don't mind..."

Rinoa waved her arms in the air in jest, "be gone...or I shall put you all under my spell."

They only laughed, feigning fright.

"Ignore them," said Squall, drowning her in another embrace, "I do."

"Wow," gasped Selphie, "the mighty Squall just cracked a joke."

The others laughed, and the party continued long into the night...

Author's Note: Finally, done with the part of my fic that should have been prologue! Alrighty, now it's purely my stuff. As you've undoubtedly guessed, I will be TRYING to delve into the sub-culture more. It remains to be seen if I am successful. After all, there isn't a convenient 'Gold Saucer' around. But that's what rave joints at Galbadia and Balamb are for, right? You'll see. Hope you are enjoying this. Please let me know.