"DRAGON INCOMING!" yelled Selphie as she pulled the lever all to the left to bring the Ragnarok to the side, trying to evade the dragon. The sudden shift sent the rest clinging onto something for support. Zell hung on to the backseat of Selphie, saying, "Control, Selphie!"
"I'm trying!"
A hollow scream pierced the tension into silence as the dragon loomed into view. Everyone braced for the next barrage of fireballs, and Selphie tried to bring the Ragnarok as far as she could from the dragon.
However, instead of tearing through the Ragnarok, the black dragon flew all the way upward, evading the airship.
It was actually evading the airship.
Stunned silence hung in the cockpit as they watched the dragon disappear behind a thick cloud, resonating a hollow cry. Then nothing.
"…Huh?" Selphie wondered aloud.
"It's…it's actually avoiding us…" said Zell, looking up from behind Selphie's backseat.
"But…why?" asked Quistis.
Silence filled the room again. Nobody could answer her. Nobody knew the sudden change of the dragon's behavior.
"Oh well…maybe we should just go back…" Selphie began, but she started shrieking again, "IT'S COMING BACK!"
Out of the blue, the black dragon flew and stayed suspended in mid-air, facing the cockpit directly, its thin silver-gray wings flapping slowly to keep it aloft. Its piercing blue eyes swept through everyone as it looked around before landing on Squall. Its eyes narrowed, and Squall blinked in confusion as he stared back at the dragon.
"Uh…Squall? I think…the dragon…" Selphie said slowly.
Leonhart… A deep voice echoed.
"Who's that?" shouted Zell, looking around.
"Zell…I think it came from the dragon," said Quistis, pointing at the black dragon outside the Ragnarok.
Correct, Trepe…
"You…know us?" asked Irvine.
I know each and every one of you…where's Almasy?
That question jolted something in everyone. The surname itself stirred various effects from the people in the airship. Quistis and Rinoa grew surprised and looked away from everyone. Zell was fuming away, swearing about his nemesis beneath his breath. Selphie and Irvine just looked at each other. Squall shrugged.
"He's…not here with us…" said Quistis finally.
Hmm…a missing member of the Liberi Fatali… the dragon said slowly, its deep-blue sapphire eyes blinked. Never mind…which of you is the Sorceress?
Rinoa snapped into attention and looked at the dragon in the eye. She tentatively said, "I am."
The dragon turned to face Quistis. So Trepe is the Blue Mage…
"And I thought it just said it knew everyone…" said Zell, clasping his hands behind his head.
"What do you want from us?" asked Squall.
You will know it soon. For now…I sense the presence of the Fire Sphere. Where is it?
Quistis brought it out from behind a seat, the sphere gleaming brightly in her hands as she gingerly carried it to the front, careful not to drop the heavy gem.
Good…I see that you have it…
"What is going on? What is happening to the GFs? What is happening to us?" Zell asked.
Don't ask so many questions, Dincht…shut up and learn to listen…
"Why-you…" Zell cracked his knuckles together.
"Zell…" Selphie turned back and shook her head. Zell reluctantly stopped and kept quiet. He turned away from the dragon's view.
"Please…tell us what is going on," Rinoa implored the dragon. "All this…"
GFs are being hunted, the Banryus are being hunted…all just to lure our master out… the dragon began.
"Banryus?" asked Irvine, cocking an eyebrow beneath his cowboy hat.
"Banryus…'guard dragon'…" explained Quistis.
Yes. I'm the Dark Banryu. The dragon you encountered earlier is the Fire Banryu… The dragon gave a tired sigh. Unfortunately, I think it was captured already…
"Captured?" asked Zell.
"Wait. What do you mean by 'lure our master out'?" asked Quistis. "Who's your master?"
The dragon paused. It turned to face Squall again. Ask Leonhart…
"…Squall?" Rinoa prompted him. Squall turned to face her. He shook his head.
"I don't know…what the dragon's talking about…"
Leonhart…what the hell you mean you don't know what I'm talking about? The dragon gave a deep laugh, thin wisps of white smoke trailing from its jet-black nose. You had it with you all the time, and you didn't know?
Squall shook his head.
Oh, poor human…having a Griever and not knowing about it is like walking out of a treasure room empty-handed…
"Griever?" Squall held his pendant that hung on a silver chain around his neck. He fingered the cold Griever, turning this way and that. Behind, the words, 'Sleeping Lion Heart' were engraved on it, above his name, '-SQUALL LEONHART-'. That was all that was there.
"You mean…" Rinoa began.
Yes…Griever…is my master…
"The king of all GFs…" Squall said under his breath, studying his Griever pendant. "Now I get it…"
Good. The foolish one is finally enlightened…
"But what has it got to do with Griever?" asked Rinoa.
You will know it soon.
"Who was behind all this?" asked Zell.
You will know it soon.
"What has this got to do with us? The…what did he say?" asked Irvine. "Some…Li…ri...something…"
"Liberi Fatali," said Rinoa.
Liberi Fatali…Children of Fate…your destiny are of one… The dragon looked around. Except…one of you is not here…
"Seifer…" murmured Quistis under her breath. The dragon nodded.
When the Liberi Fatali gathers once more…The world will be saved, from the brink of destruction… the dragon said. Suddenly the dragon froze. It looked about and as it looked above, it gave an ear-splitting screech again.
"Now what?" asked Zell.
"Something is above us!" Selphie said, showing a red spot blinking on top of the screen-board. She started typing furiously away at the keys. "I'll try to see what it is…"
Without warning, the Ragnarok lurched dangerously to the side, catching everyone by surprise. Fortunately, they managed to hang on by gripping onto nearby seats for support. Selphie managed to stay put, still typing.
"Hey guys! Look!" Zell called, and pointed. Everyone looked out of the windscreen, and gasped with awe at the sight that unfurled before them.
A glossy black dragonhead at the front emerged from behind a huge cloud, followed by the rest of its shiny black body as it moved majestically across the blanket of white puffs that was the sky. Gold patterns streaked around the airship, making it looked like a black, magnificent dragon skimming in the air.
Wait a minute…Squall thought. Black dragon-like structure???
"It's a Ragnarok!" exclaimed Selphie, answering Squall's thoughts.
"My, you're right!" said Irvine.
The black Ragnarok suddenly started to transform. The two folded arms of the airship had extended outwards, and it flexed its claws out menacingly. It paused in a gripping gesture, and turned slowly towards where the dragon was.
The black dragon did not like the look of this. A menacing growl grew before the black dragon fired a blue ball of fire at the black Ragnarok, aiming dead straight right at the dragonhead that was the cockpit.
"Oh no! It's gonna hit the Ragnarok!" Selphie cried out.
However the black airship did not move. Everyone aboard the red Ragnarok watched in silence as the blue fireball hit the black Ragnarok, scorching it black and…
Or did it?
As soon as the fireball flew towards the black airship, a shimmering translucent globe started to form around it. The ball of blue fire scorched the outside of the globe before the flames died away into nothing. As the fireball extinguished, the shield shone a pale-green light before dissolving.
"What—the—HELL?!" Zell cried out. "This cannot BE!"
Even the black dragon was surprised. Knowing that the fireballs did not work on the strange newcomer, it decided to use its retreat for the time being. The black dragon roared and taking one last glance at the red Ragnarok, it flew downwards in a twisting spiral back towards Earth.
However, the black Ragnarok refused to let its prize get away as it too started to dive down after the dragon, claws outstretched, blue lightning crackling around it-
"We have to stop the black Ragnarok!" Rinoa called. "Squall! Do something!" Squall looked at her in surprise but regain his calm and collected composure as he turned to the waiting Selphie.
"…Do what you're supposed to do."
"Roger!" Selphie nodded and pulled the control lever, bringing the Ragnarok down too, giving chase after the black dragon and its dark hunter. "Here I come!"
The black dragon could be seen slithering here and there as fast as it could with the black Ragnarok hot on its trail. While on the run, the dragon turned to fire some blue fireballs to keep its hunter at bay, but to no avail as the balls of fire was reflected away by the green shield protecting the black Ragnarok. Soon, it was gaining momentum, and as the claws stretched out further to grab the fleeing dragon-
"NO! You're NOT taking Mr. Black Dragon!" shouted Selphie as she swiftly hit two red buttons. "Take that! You-"
"Selphie! Don't fire the missiles!" Squall ordered.
"Huh? But, why?!"
"We don't know who or what we are messing with, and it's best we do not shoot-" Squall watched as two white missiles flew towards the black Ragnarok.
Too late. Selphie had fired the missiles. Squall slapped his forehead in defeat.
"Sorry…" Selphie said with a sheepish smile. Squall just shrugged and said, "…Whatever. What's done is done."
But something happened.
The missiles missed.
They did flew towards the black Ragnarok, but they missed as the missiles suddenly lost their jet power and fell into the clouds below with sputtering flames at its ends.
Or did it?
Just as the missiles had fallen, it reappeared again above the clouds, full power and this time, instead of targeting the black Ragnarok, it was whizzing its way back towards its owner.
The red Ragnarok who had launched the missiles.