Ok, time to respond

jasmine32: I kinda felt for her too when I first played this game. And yes, Irvine is cool.

JadeAlmasy: Um, Like…uh, Thanks for the encouragement and stuff, but do you ever say anything else? (Just curious.)

QueenAdreena: I'll review T.C.A.N. until it's done because it is that damn good! And especially for you, Seifer is back.

Griever Weapon: (Puts down beer and shoots head up) Yo! You knockin' on Rin? I guess I kinda took exception to that, FF8 is one of my (If not THE) favorite games, and I can't stand it when someone knocks on a character, for any reason.

OK, the only reason I'm putting this up at 1 AM is to give some free advice. Never eat more than 2 chimichongas before bed.

CHAPTER 18: THE LINE OF FIRE

Once she was at the top of the Presidential residence, Rinoa opened a door and saw Sorceress Edea sitting there with her back to her. Rinoa could just feel the power coming off of her. The sorceress was wearing a mask that focused her powers.

"Umm...excuse me." Rinoa said to Edea nervously. "I'm...the daughter of, um...Galbadian Army's...um, General Caraway. I...thought I'd...come pay my respects...You know...cause of my father and all...So, I...um...brought you a small gift." Rinoa pulled the Odine bangle out of her pocket and slowly approached the sorceress. However, once she got too close, an unseen force blew her away. As she tried to get up, her right hand shot into the air. She could feel the sorceress placing a spell on her! She had no time to fight as she turned into a mindless obedient zombie. The sorceress stood up as the mask on her face disappeared, showing her face. Her most chilling feature was her eyes, which were yellow in color. Edea walked past Rinoa towards a podium outside where President Deling was waiting, with Rinoa following her, where Irvine, somewhere in the crowd, had spotted her.

"H...Hey, That girl!" Irvine said, grabbing Squalls attention.

"Rinoa?" Squall asked.

"Lowlifes..." Edea spat into the microphone. "Shameless filthy wretches. How you celebrate my ascension with such joy, hailing the very one you have condemned for generations, have you no shame? What happened to the evil ruthless sorceress from your fantasies, the cold-blooded tyrant who slaughtered countless men and destroyed many nations, where is she now? She stands before your very eyes to become your new ruler! HAHAHAHA!" Those words grabbed Deling's attention in a way he didn't like.

"A new era has just begun!" Edea said.

"Edea, are you alright?" President Deling asked. "Ede..." In an instant, Edea threw her hand at Delings chest, casting a Fire spell inside his body, much to the crowds delight given their hatred towards the dictator. The cheer's grew as smoke began to pour from Deling's mouth, nose, and ears!

"This is reality!" Edea said, "No one can help you now, so sit back and enjoy the show!" Edea then threw Deling's corpse aside. Now that he was gone, She was in charge.

"Rest assured you fools, your time will come!" Edea said. "This is only the beginning. Let us start a new reign of terror. I will let you live a fantasy beyond your wildest dreams!" Edea headed back inside, leaving Rinoa all alone.

"Let us end this ceremony with a sacrifice." Edea said. She cast a spell, bringing the Gateway creatures to life. The creatures had the front section of an Iguana, and the rear section of a Lion, giving them the names, Iguions. They ran forward to the presidential residence, where Rinoa snapped out of the trance just in time to run away, letting out a scream.

"Hey, hey, hey," Irvine said, "She's in trouble big time! We have to help her!"

"How, the gate isn't open yet!" Squall said. He didn't have to wait long, the music hit three minutes later as the Parade began. Squall noticed Edea sitting on a throne on the parade vehicle, but there was someone else with her. However, they were to far away for Squall to get a good look at Edea's passenger.

"Now's our chance, Let's go!" Irvine said. Squall took off with him, glancing back at the Float, but mainly at her passenger. He had to look a few times until he saw who was riding with Edea. A man that was supposed to be dead. Edea's passenger, was Seifer Almasy! Squall couldn't believe Seifer was still alive, but he had a mission to carry out as he and Irvine headed to the roof of the Presidential Residence.

The Iguions had Rinoa cornered, licking their lips, hoping to make a meal of the young woman, until their attention was turned to Squall and Irvine, who had just entered the room.

"Lets see what you got." Squall said as he drew something from one of them, a GF stone! This one had a green gem. Squall had no time to admire it as one of the Iguions sent him flying into the wall. As he sat up, Irvine slammed in next to him. Irvine scrambled to his feet and took another shot, nothing seemed to hurt these things. Squall got an Idea.

"Brotherly Love!" Squall called out as He, Irvine, and Rinoa disappeared leaving the Iguions bewildered, until a chunk of earth uprooted itself. Underneath, holding up the piece of rock was Sacred. Using all his strength, he threw it straight up. Sacred looked down and saw Minotaur standing next to him, ready to give him a boost. Minotaur threw his younger brother up after the piece of rock that the Iguions were on, sending Sacred crashing through it. As the brothers disappeared, the chunk of rock and the Iguions came tumbling to the ground. Whether it was the fall, or being crushed, the Iguions were dead. The new GF stone appeared in Irvine and Rinoa's hands, and possibly, Zell, Quistis, and Selphie's as well.

"I was scared," Rinoa whispered, "Really scared."

"It's over now," Squall told her.

"I was really, really scared." She said again.

"You're used to battles aren't you?" Squall asked.

"I couldn't," Rinoa said, "I just couldn't fight alone."

"Better get going," Squall said to Irvine. Rinoa had found herself wrapped around Squall's arm.

"I haven't forgotten your order." Squall said. Still, Rinoa refused to loosen her grip. "Just stay close to me," he said as she nodded. Irvine found the hatch leading to the clock tower and led Squall and Rinoa in. Squall checked his watch, they had five minutes before it got dirty. Squall found the Sniper Rifle sitting next to the ladder and handed it to Irvine.

"Irvine Kinneas, It's in your hands now." Squall said. Irvine took the weapon and headed for the other side of the tower, where Squall left him to concentrate. Taking the opportunity, Squall decided he had to tell Rinoa about Edea's passenger.

"Rinoa," he began, "Seifer...He's alive. I saw him in the parade with the sorceress."

"What does it mean?" Rinoa asked.

"I don't know?" Squall said, wondering if he would have to go through Seifer should he face the Sorceress directly. "I may end up killing Seifer."

"You're both prepared, right?" She asked. "That's the kind of world you live in, you've had a lot of emotional training. But of course, I'd rather it not happen."

"It's all up to Irvine." Squall said. Speaking of the sharpshooter, he was shaking violently on the other side of the clock. Squall wondered if he was freaking out.

"Don't tell me you're getting the jitters." Squall said. Irvine looked up at Squall, looking like he was about to cry.

"I...I can't do it." Irvine said. Squall looked at his watch, he had less than a minute to motivate Irvine.

"C'mon, man, we're all in this together," Squall said, "You can do this."

"No, I just can't." Irvine said. As he said that, the roof opened up, carrying them to the moment of truth. Squall looked out and saw the Float just entering the gateway. Heswear he heard Zell tell Quistis to flip the switch. Obviously, she did, as the gates closed on both sides, trapping Edea. Much to not only her displeasure, but Seifer's as well.

"Irvine, The time is now!" Squall said.

"I can't, I'm sorry." Irvine said. "I always choke like this. I try to act all cool, joke around, but I just can't handle the pressure."

"Forget it, just shoot!" Squall said.

"My bullet, the sorceress, I'll go down in history." Irvine said. "I'll change the history of Galbadia, of the world..."

"Enough, just shoot!" Squall said, determined to get Irvine to fire.

"I can't, dammit!" Irvine yelled, slumping back down.

"Irvine, calm down." Squall said as Irvine shut his eyes and clenched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. "Everyone's waiting for you. I don't care if you miss. Whatever happens, just leave the rest to us. Just think of it as a signal, a sign for us to make our move."

"Just a signal..." Irvine repeated.

"Please." Squall said. Irvine turned around and took aim. He gotten this far, he had to take her out as he positioned the rifle where the Crosshairs were on Edea's head.

"Just a sign." Irvine repeated again. Taking a deep breath, he squeezed the trigger slowly, firing a bullet towards the sorceress. Squall could see Edea put up a shield, knocking the bullet away.

"I'm sorry." Irvine said.

"It's OK, your aim was perfect." Squall said. "I'm going in, be ready to back me up."