Clash of the Gardens
War and Anguish
"What are we to do?" Xu had calmed down now and was handling the situation like an orderly SeeD; however, the Headmaster seemed to be in a world of his own. "Sir?"
"…We are to do nothing."
"What? I don't understand."
"We will only defend ourselves, Trabia is not our enemy. Remember, we have one of their SeeDs."
"…Yes, sir." Xu was tempted to speak against his orders, but she didn't want to be suspended in the time that he would need her skills. She swallowed her pride and saluted him. "My orders, sir?"
"Prepare our defense."
"Is that all?"
"I'll take care of the rest."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Xu, be careful."
"Yes, sir. I will." Xu excused herself from his office and went ahead with her mission. Cid turned on the intercom, and the bell rang for his new announcement.
"May I have your attention, everyone. Trabia's SeeD have gathered on the shorelines just south of our Garden. It is presumed that these SeeDs are preparing to attack us. Right now, I want you all to prepare our defense. Xu is in charge of this operation, so follow her lead."
Rinoa could feel Squall's heart pounding in his chest as the announcement came on. Cid's voice continued to push Squall's nerves.
"Be sure to fully equip yourselves for battle. I would like for Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, Quistis Trepe, and Squall Leonhart to report to my office immediately. Everyone, please be careful and stay on your guard. We will not allow them to touch the grounds of this Garden, this is our home and we have the advantage. Everyone, please move to your positions. That is all." The headmaster terminated the intercom's connection. Rinoa held onto Squall tightly and sighed. "…It's…starting now."
"…Yeah." He slowly released her and moved back to grab his gunblade from the floor beside his bed.
"What should I do?"
"Stay here, I'll be back, okay?"
"…Please be careful."
"I will." He said as he walked passed her, but she grabbed his hand.
"I…" He looked back at her and tilted his head to the side quizzically. "I'll stay here." She let his hand go and smiled. She was relieved to see him smile back for a moment. Then he rushed out of the room. Rinoa touched her mother's ring and sat on his bed with a worried sigh.
As the elevator stopped at the third floor, its doors had opened. Squall saw that Zell, Selphie, and Quistis were already there. Zell looked nervous while tapping his foot in the small corner of the long corridor. Quistis looked at Squall and sighed.
"Did you see Rinoa?"
"…Yeah."
"Okay…" She folded her arms and sighed. She had felt guiltier with each passing minute since her last words with Rinoa. Seeing that Squall was becoming curious about her question, she quickly motioned toward Cid's room. "Well, we should go in now."
"Yep." Zell said and walked in first. Selphie followed him, and then Quistis and Squall.
The headmaster looked stressed from his seat behind the desk, and it was enough to make them all feel a little nervous about the current situation. He scratched his head and sighed.
"Since we all know the trouble, I'll get to your objectives." They all nodded. "Selphie, because those are your comrades, I'm asking you to find your leader and explain our situation. Will you accept?"
"Yes, sir. I'll do my best, sir." She spoke with a confident smile. Cid found himself relieved for a second, but focused on the attacks once again.
"Squall, Quistis, and Zell, I want you three to support Selphie on this mission. I know that it will be dangerous to send all three of you with her, but most likely, they will think that Selphie is being held hostage. That's why I want you three to stay with her, to help explain the situation, understood?"
"Yes, sir." They said together and saluted.
"Please, try to avoid battle at all cost, only if they are persistent should you take any action." The three SeeDs nodded together, but Cid groaned. "I meant to tell that to everyone." Zell and Selphie laughed. Quistis covered her mouth and shook her head.
"Sir, I think you should calm down and let us handle the situation. Please…"
"You're right, Quistis." He moved his hand to the intercom switch and pushed down softly. Once again, the bell rang and caught everyone's attention. "Attention! One more thing to keep in mind, I want you all to try and avoid battle at all costs, but you have permission to strike back if they are persistent. That's all." He cut the intercom and cleared his throat. "Well now, I want you all to be careful out there. Remember to think clearly before you make a move."
"Yes, sir." They all saluted and exited his office.
Meanwhile, in the Detention Center, Irvine was still under interrogation. Suspicions rose once the enemy had been spotted on the shoreline. He found himself muttering, "Please, will someone just put me out of my misery already?"
"New orders!" A SeeD shouted. "We're to gather out in the front, right now! Trabia's attacking!"
"What!" Irvine's interrogator exclaimed while jumping out of his seat. He ran outside and left the door wide open. Irvine sat up in his chair and smiled.
"…Lady luck is on my side." He stood from his chair, walked to the door, and discovered that he had been left alone in the Center. "Oh yeah!"
After gathering the weapons that were taken from him, Irvine ran out in the main hall to look around. He saw that all of the SeeDs were running to the front exit. Looking at so many people in one outfit had made him felt like he was back in Galbadia. He could feel his stomach cringe at the sight of all the people in blue. There was no way he would blend in with all of them, but then again, no one had noticed him standing in the hallway now. Irvine began to run to the front entrance too.
He was almost to the exit when he saw a man wearing all black, a young woman in a dress, and guy with red sneakers on. Irvine figured if he couldn't blend with the others, he could probably pass as being one of those outcasts. When he saw them running to the exit, he quickly followed them.
Outside, everyone could see Trabia's SeeDs charging. Xu looked at her men and nodded to them. She called out to them, "Remember, we have the right to defend! Let's go!" They ran into battle with Trabia's SeeDs.
Selphie stopped when she saw them already engaged in combat. "No, this isn't supposed to happen! Why are they fighting!"
"Forget about it, just go!" Squall said while running toward the giant battle scene.
"…R-Right!" Selphie forced herself to go as well.
"Don't worry about it, Selphie. We'll cover you. Just lead the way!"
"Zell's right." Quistis shouted. Selphie felt relieved to have their support once again. She saw that Squall had paused himself right before her.
"Squall?" Selphie asked.
"…Observe." He told her. "Which ship would your leader ride on?"
"Well…The…That one, there!" She pointed to a vessel with a yellow and brown sail.
"Alright, that could mean he's fighting somewhere in that area."
"You're probably right, but he's known for being tricky in battle. He could have probably arrived on another ship just to throw us off."
"What's his name?" Squall looked back at Selphie.
"Kent Hannon."
"Got it." Squall said as he looked at Selphie. Far behind Selphie ran Irvine, and Squall when seen him running, his face angered. Selphie saw his expression and looked around. He noticed that he had made her uncomfortable. "Not you…that guy behind you." She looked back.
"Oh!" She giggled. "It's okay! But, who is he?"
"The Galbadian."
"…What should we do?" Zell and Selphie asked.
"Nothing. You guys go on with the mission. I'll check around the ships as well."
"Are you sure that's okay?" Zell questioned.
"Positive, now go!"
"Right!" The two ran out into the battle, but Quistis stood behind.
"Squall, what are you thinking? You can't just send those two alone."
"You're supposed to be with them too, aren't you?"
"I wanted to see what you were going to tell the Galbadian."
Squall ignored her questioning and drew his gunblade before Irvine. Irvine stopped quickly and put his hands up in defense.
"Hey, I'm not doing anything wrong! Just listen for a second." Squall kept his blade drawn, but didn't say anything. "…I don't know your situation with Trabia, but the last I heard was that they were my enemy. I just don't understand why they're attacking you guys. That's why I'm telling you truthfully that I am no longer a part of Galbadia. Do you understand?"
"Why do you have your weapon equipped?"
"…I don't like wars." Irvine stated plainly.
Squall eased his blade down and nodded to Irvine. He turned away from him and placed the gunblade on his shoulder. He took off to help his comrades in battle, and when he ran passed Quistis, she saw that his eyes were now focused on fighting.
Balamb Garden was left in silence, and it seemed like every SeeD had left out for the fight. Rinoa stepped out of the room and looked down the lonely hall. She felt a chill go down her spine when she realized she was the only person in the entire facility. She quickly ran to the main hallway to catch up with the others. Stay here, I'll be back… The words Squall left her with, but she couldn't stay there because it was too isolated for her. She needed to see where he was and how he was fairing. She wanted to help him in this battle.
When Rinoa ran outside, she witnessed the huge mass of people, flashing lights, and guns firing around. She stopped and clasped her mother's ring. With the help of her ring and pinwheel, she managed to charge in the heat of the battle along with the others. I can fight if I'm with you. She thought to herself and prepared for battle.
Selphie and Zell were ahead and managing to escape the fighting. She jumped up and down and yelled out, "I'm from Trabia too, guys, It's me Selphie!" But her voice wasn't strong enough to carry over the sounds of magic usage and bullets rattling.
"It's no use! We have to get to that yellow sail!" Zell shouted.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Selphie said as she continued to run. Quistis saw them in the distance and called out to them.
"You guys!" Zell heard her voice and turned around to her. He waved and yelled out to Selphie. She too had stopped and waved to Quistis.
"Any luck?" Quistis asked.
"No, this is bad." An explosion occurred which shook the ground and caused them to fall. "Ow! Hey, watch where you're shooting!" Selphie's voice reached a few angry Trabians, and they retaliated fiercely with Gunfire. Selphie quickly cast her special magic, the Wall. The ground grew into a large barrier and engulfed the incoming gunfire.
"Look out!" Squall shouted from behind them and cast a meteor spell onto the Trabians. Selphie allowed her wall to stay there for a second, but quickly withdrew from the battle.
"Thanks, Squall, but please don't kill them." She saw Squall and faced him.
"Stop talking and get on with your objectives, they'll kill you if you remain solitary for too long!" He ordered. Selphie sighed and ran out, but stopped quickly.
"Who…Who?" She pointed at vehicles out in the distance. Quistis gasped aloud.
"It's Galbadia!" Right as she spoke, fire was catapulted onto the fighting mass of SeeDs by the Galbadian Vehicles. People screamed and tried to withdraw from fighting, but were caught in the gunfire by the soldiers stationed on the land. Squall looked at the oncoming Galbadians and gritted his teeth together.
"Move out!" He yelled, and everyone Balamb's SeeDs took on his order. Although Rinoa was far away from Squall, she heard his voice above all else. Her heart sank as she saw him leading his men directly to Galbadia's forces.
"Squall…" She said softly, but her arm was tapped. When she turned around, she saw a tall man wearing all brown and a cowboy hat.
"I know this isn't the best time, but…I'm sorry for shooting you with the tranquilizer."
"It was you?"
"Yeah, but listen…there's an order to have you returned to your father. I don't think this place is good for you right now. You should leave while you have the chance."
"No! Squall's out there! He needs me!" She quickly ran from Irvine. Rinoa wasn't sure if she could trust another Galbadian ever again. Rinoa ran and blended in the massive crowd of people wearing those dreadful uniforms, which Irvine terribly hated. He only sighed and began to load his gun.
Leading the Armies of Galbadia was no other person than Seifer. He stood in the door of the moving vehicle and let the wind blow his hair. The smell of smoke and gunpowder filled his nostrils, and he smiled like a child anticipating the ride of a lifetime. When he looked ahead of himself, he saw that Balamb's SeeD had gathered and were now charging at he and his comrades. Seifer signaled the driver to stop and hopped out of the vehicle. The other vehicles stopped at once and the soldiers jumped out. Seifer held up his hands to signal them all to keep their positions and to stay in line. He faced the oncoming army and smiled confidently. In his ear was a radio communicator, which connected him to the Galbadian Missile Base. Because they were the original enemy of Galbadia, Seifer had planned to bomb the ships of Trabia Garden. Of course, he knew that the explosion would spread to Balamb as well, but he could care less.
"Missile Base, do you read? Missile Base, do you read!" He received an ashy signal from them, and finally someone checked in.
"This is the Missile Base, Sir."
"Are the preparations complete?"
"Yes, sir. We're ready to fire at any-"
The signal was ashy again, and Seifer was losing his patience with the noise.
"Missile Base!" Still they were silent. "Missile Base!"
"Sir! We're under Attack-" The soldier shouted over the radio.
"What! By who!"
"……"
"Missile Base! Do you copy me!"
"……."
"…Forget it, I'll just have to get rid of them all without the stupid missiles. Besides, this way should be more fun!" He drew his blade and raised it above his head. The soldiers became ready for battle as well. Seifer smiled and gave the order to have his soldiers to charge. They all yelled and headed into battle. Behind majority of Balamb's SeeD was Trabia, and they too had decided to charge into the even greater battle.
Squall yelled and brought down his gunblade onto a few soldiers with a great force. Others backed away from him to seek out a much weaker target, but Squall chased after the cowards to take them down. With a sly smirk was present on his face, he had slain the men before him. He cast a fire spell on one soldier and sliced another to the left of himself. He saw a struggling SeeD nearby, and had quickly cast a cure spell to help the person move along; then continued to lose obliterate all that stood in his way.
Rinoa spotted Selphie who was now alone in battle. Rinoa wondered what had happened to the others, so quickly she ran to Selphie's aid.
"Selphie." The ground rumbled, but the girl heard Rinoa's voice and turned around to meet her.
"Rinoa, what are you doing out here? It's too dangerous!" Rinoa cast her favorite tornado spell onto a few Galbadian troops, causing them to scream and painfully hit the ground.
"Never mind that!" Rinoa spoke with a grin.
"Oh!" Selphie smiled and looked at Rinoa. "I'm looking for Hannon, he's the leader of Trabia."
"I'll go with you!"
"Okay!" Together they ran off, dodging gunfire left and right. Selphie even managed to dodge a magic spell that was directed at her. When they approached an even larger group of fighters, Selphie stopped and spotted her leader. "There he is!" Selphie pointed out the young man with short red hair. He was moving swiftly with his weapon, which took the form of an axe. "There are too many people around! He won't hear me from here!"
"Go ahead, I'll cover you, Selphie!"
"Thanks, Rinoa!" Selphie ran through what she thought were midst of people, until they were blown aside by Rinoa. She smiled and called out to Trabia's leader, but he had disappeared in the fighting again. "Kent!" He was nowhere to be found. Selphie also noticed that the winds of Rinoa had disappeared as well. When she turned around, she saw Rinoa being carried off by a group of red uniform wearing soldiers. Selphie dared not to take on all of those men, "Rinoa!" She screamed aloud for her comrade.
Squall was preparing to finish off his tired opponent when the sound of a familiar blade caught his ear. When he looked up, he saw that Seifer was taking the life of a Trabian SeeD. Squall left his current opponent and ran toward Seifer in a mad fit. As Squall charged, he saw that Seifer had dropped his victim on the ground and smiled at an approaching group ahead of him. Squall looked at the group of men and saw that Rinoa was being carried like an offering to Seifer. Seifer laughed and pointed to a vehicle behind. The soldiers then nodded and ran toward one of the vehicles parked far away.
"Rinoa!" Squall shouted and charged at the group of men. He was then struck by a magical force, which painfully suppressed him to the ground. It was a gravity spell from Seifer, whom smiled at his small victory. Squall looked up and groaned when he found himself unable to move. "Rinoa!" He yelled out again. Seifer took pleasure at seeing his rival call out to Caraway's daughter, and began to smile.
"…Don't tell me you have a crush on her."
"What are you going to do to her?" Squall asked while looking at Seifer from the ground.
Seifer looked at the soldiers, "Hey, guys!" They stopped and looked back to Seifer, "I have a better idea. Bring her back, I want her to see this!" The soldiers all nodded and put Rinoa down. She turned around and saw Squall on the ground in pain while Seifer stood over him. He waved at Rinoa and placed his gunblade near Squall's neck. "Rinoa, I want you to tell your father how great a soldier I am!"
"No! Don't!" She ran toward them, but the soldiers held her back. "Let go of me! Squall!"
Squall looked at the blade and saw Seifer bring it down swiftly. Squall gripped his gunblade and gave a loud cry.
Rinoa screamed and cried out, "Squall!"
Selphie was still running through the crowds of fighters on the plains of Balamb. Suddenly, she heard Kent's voice. He was arguing with some troops of Galbadia. Selphie ran over and called out to him, "Kent! Kent! It's me, Selphie!" He looked over and saw Selphie. His mouth instantly fell in surprise.
"Selphie!" The Galbadians took advantage of his distraction and attacked the leader of Trabia. Selphie jumped in the battle. "No, Selphie don't!"
"Aaaah!"