I am terribly sorry for the long delay, what with mountain-high college assignments and sleepless nights…sigh

But all that is over for now! Term break's begun, so I will have more time to write my ficcies - The style may have changed, but I'll try to keep to the original story as much as possible. nods

And I smell trouble a-brewing…the plot's grown deeper than I thought…

Anyway, on with the fic...

Chapter 10: Return of the Posse

Library Balamb Garden 2 hours and what seemed to take an eternity…

"Five Spheres…Five Spheres…Five Spheres…" Quistis mumbled softly as she searched the shelf for the book that may contained the information they needed.

"I highly doubt that such a book existed, but…that's our only source of information, right?" Irvine asked, trying to make a light conversation with the blonde instructor. He heard Quistis mumbled somewhere between a yes and a whatever. Irvine went on to read the spines of some thick books that lay on the shelf below Quistis' shelf.

"Guardian Forces for Dummies…Ten Best Spots to Hunt a GF…Using the Power of the Summons-Maximise Your Magic Output…Hyne, so many boring books around…how can you people stand it?" asked Irvine. Quistis ignored him as she continued to search.

"Five Spheres…Five Spheres…could it be this one?" She got out a thick, red leather-bound book and blew the dust off that coated it. The book looked pretty old, with dog-eared corners and yellow, brittle pages, its spine falling apart at the edges. It had no front title, but as she opened it to the front, her eyes widened and she let out a soft cry, "Yes, this is it!"

"Eureka! Quistis finally found it!" Irvine cheered for her from beside the ladder where she stood.

"Silence, young man!" shushed the stern old woman that sat at a white table behind some shelves, a brass plate sitting on her table with the black words stating, "LIBRARIAN."

Irvine smiled apologetically at her and turned back to Quistis. "Look what happened."

"It's your own fault, not mine," she said as she slowly climbed down the ladder. "Here." She handed him the book. "It's old, so take care while turning its pages."

Irvine took it and examined its contents. There were traces of dark brown blobs that looked suspiciously like dried blood on the front. He opened it gingerly to somewhere a page, and found untidy, scrawled handwritings filling up every corner a page could offer.

Hmm…I wonder who dares to vandalise Garden's very own library books. Back at my old Garden, that crazy old librarian will shoot you right on the spot if she catches you doodling on a single page. He turned to the front page of the book.

"Legende of the Five Spheres and Forces of the Guardianes of Earth," Irvine slowly figured out the faded title inscribed in an inky cursive writing in the front of the yellowed, brittle page. He looked at Quistis. "This old book has everything?"

"Do not judge a book by its cover," Quistis answered him, and started to drag him along by the arm. "Come on, let's go."

Suddenly the intercom buzzed. Everyone in the Library looked up from what they were doing as Nida's voice clearly rang, "Instructor Quistis Trepe, please go to the Headmaster's Office at once. I repeat…"

"Quistis?" Irvine asked. "What-"

"You take the book and bring it to them. I have to go see Headmaster Cid." She then turned and left him standing alone with a thick boring book in his hands.

"…at once. Thank you," Nida's voice finished just as Quistis left through the double glass door that was the library's entrance. Irvine looked at the book in his hand and looked up at Quistis' retreating back behind the closing glass doors before smacking his forehead alá Squall-style.

"Darn! I forgot that I don't have a Library Card!"

"Young man, one more sound from you and out you go," warned the old librarian once more. Irvine turned to the librarian and mouthed, "Sorry!" He looked about, and saw students quickly returning to what they were doing. Some other students turned away from him. Irvine sighed and went to the counter to try and get his Library Card done. The pig-tailed librarian who was in charged at the counter told him it would take him two days.

"Looks like I can't take this book then." He placed it back on one of the shelves. Remembering the place, he took one last look and left the library, muttering, "Should have asked Quistis earlier…"

From one side of the library, near a table that was joined to the walls, a young girl dressed in a blue shirt with a green scarf around her neck and white skirt got up and went over to the shelf where Irvine had placed the thick red book. She took it up slowly and examined its cover. Gingerly opening it, she walked back towards her usual spot by the window, and started leafing through it.

Headmaster's Cid Office

Balamb Garden

10 minutes later

A knock came at the door. The door opened, and Quistis strode into the Headmaster's Office, her boots thudding loudly in the quiet room. She saw the old headmaster waiting for her in the middle of the room with his back turned to her, hands crossed behind.

"Sir," she said and saluted. The Headmaster turned to her and said, "At ease, Quistis."

She brought down her hand and asked, "Sir, why do you wish to see me?"

There was a short pause as Headmaster Cid drew in a deep breath. "I believe you still remember your old student…Seifer, Almasy?"

"Yes…sir," Quistis replied quietly. How can anybody forget Seifer? She would definitely remember him. Seifer and Squall were always creating trouble ever since the day she knew them during their Orphanage days. The event of the duel that got them their trademark scars on their faces remained etched in her memory, she doubt she would ever forget it.

She wondered what had her former student got to do with her for now, though. She had not seen him since their last meeting at Lunatic Pandora. More nostalgic thoughts filled her mind. Quistis closed her eyes and sighed. She guessed that he might be still alive somewhere, and might return to Garden-

"I think Seifer has gotten into some…trouble," the headmaster's words broke into her train of thought. His voice sounded tired and she felt a slight hint of doubt in it, as though he did not believe that Seifer would get into any trouble, at all.

But that was where the irony ends, because Seifer always got into trouble.

"But how do you know, sir?" she asked.

Just then someone rapped loudly on the door. A muffled masculine voice was heard.

"It must be them. Come in." The door swung open, and in strode two people whom Quistis instantly recognised.

Fujin, the quiet, white-haired girl in blue.

Raijin, the tall, imposing dark giant.

Fujin and Raijin. The Posse of Seifer.

Only Seifer was not there with them.

The door swung close behind them quietly and the two of them strode forward towards Quistis and Headmaster Cid. They were awfully quiet, not like their usual self whom Quistis remembered. Their faces were grave, and she could only think of one thing.

Something bad must have happened to Seifer.

Something very bad.

"Sir," the two of them saluted to Headmaster Cid.

"At ease," said the old headmaster.

"Hi, Instructor Trepe," said Raijin, waving at her. Fujin just nodded her head in acknowledgement. Quistis gave a small smile back at them.

"What brings you here to Balamb?" asked Quistis. "Where…is Seifer?"

"For that, they shall now explain. Raijin, please tell Instructor Quistis what you had told me earlier," said Headmaster Cid. Raijin nodded and proceeded to tell his story.

FLASHBACK BEGINS…

"Oy! Look at what I found here!" Raijin shouted, waving his hand.

"What did you find?" Seifer asked as he and Fujin walked towards where Raijin was. A few blocks of ruined walls met their sight. They had left the empty boat they'd stolen about an hour ago near the beach of this desolate island, which according to Raijin, had seen something 'long and shiny like a bronze dragon' flying in the sky towards here. They wondered how they were persuaded to join Raijin in his quest to find this unidentified flying object of his.

"A pile of rubble from some old buildings." Seifer scoffed. "So?"

"ENTRANCE."

"What? You want to go in?" asked Seifer. Fujin stared at the broken stone gateway for a few moments before shaking her head.

"DANGER."

"Aww, Fujin! There's no danger in this ruins, ya know!" said Raijin, walking back to his friends. "This place's literally deserted!"

"Look, it's bad enough we borrowed someone's boat without permission just because you saw a bronze dragon flying towards this place," said Seifer, pointing at the ruins. "I don't see a single freaking dragon around here."

"But I did, ya know!"

Fujin didn't say anything but just pointed to the middle of the ruins, where a small clearing was located. A faded bold brown circle was drawn around in it on the dead grass, and a five-pointed star could be roughly made out in the center of the circle. Dead, brown leaves were strewn everywhere though the nearest forest was a distance away, and the air felt dry as a cold wind blew. Above, dark clouds had gathered, and a rumble or two of thunder was heard, signaling that it was going to rain at any given moment.

"Let's get this done and over with." Seifer walked into the clearing, with his posse following behind. "Look around you. There—is—no—dragon," said Seifer one more time. "There's nothing here!"

WRONG. A voice boomed. Raijin was so frightened that he immediately hid behind Fujin who looked at him. "IDIOT."

Seifer had brandished out his Hyperion, prepared to intercept anything, man or monster. "Who's there?"

Suddenly, a strong wind blew, and a bright, blinding thunderbolt struck the middle of the clearing. As thunder and breeze combined, a loud grating roar filled the air, and from above the clouds, a shaft of light shone through, and slithered within is a bronze serpent-like creature. It came to rest in the middle of the clearing, flapping its thin grayish-white wings and blinking its glowing white eyes. Soon, the clouds above closed again, the wind died down, and the sparks ceased. The dragon gave another roar as it watched them, eye to eye.

"What a grand entrance," Seifer mocked as he readied his weapon for battle. Fujin and Raijin had brought out their weapons too, ready to aid Seifer. They halted when the dragon spoke in its deep voice.

I come in peace. I do not wish to fight you, Almasy.

"The dragon SPEAKS!" said Raijin. Fujin whacked him hard on his arm. "Ow! But the dragon SPEAKS, ya know!"

Put away your weapons, all of you. There is no need for a confrontation. Looking at his posse and back at the dragon, Seifer slowly sheathed his Hyperion. Fujin and Raijin put away theirs, amidst the doubt of their safety.

Good. Now listen to me.

"No, YOU listen to me," said Seifer with a snarl, pointing at the dragon. "I don't know how the hell you know me, and what the hell you want with me, but I don't want to get involved with you and your kind in whatever business you're doing."

Almasy, always the brilliant one. The dragon laughed, snorting smoke through its nostrils. You guessed that I came to ask you for a favor?

"You ALL enjoy asking me for favors. But do I get one back? NO. So, get lost and leave me and my friends in peace-"

This is your destiny. You can't avoid it.

"DON'T TALK FUCKING CRAP TO ME ABOUT DESTINY!" Seifer grew enraged. "I've had enough with those fucking Sorceresses and now YOU dragons want-"

"SEIFER." Fujin had walked up to him and shook her head. "LISTEN."

That's right, Almasy, LISTEN.

Seifer went silent. "Fine…go on."

A group of people is hunting the GFs and us Banryus-

"Banryus?" asked Raijin.

We are the dragon guardians of the Five Spheres. We guard each of our corresponding elements. I am the Lightning Banryu. The dragon bowed its head low.

"I see. So?" asked Seifer, folding his arms.

The dragon resumed to its crouching position and looked upwards, anger flashing in its eyes. Lightning danced across the skies. Humans are hunting us for our Spheres.

"Let me guess. Those Spheres are powerful. So freaking powerful, some power-hungry idiot wants it."

Correct, Almasy. Each elemental sphere commands three GFs except the Light and Dark Sphere which commands four. And all the GFs' powers come from the spheres. One single sphere has enough power to destroy a city. Imagine five.

"Holy…" breathed Raijin. Fujin was too horrified at the outcome to comment.

"And now, you want me to take care of your little Sphere so that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands," said Seifer.

The dragon eyed Seifer and nodded. You're smart. So I don't have to say anymore. Do you wish to accept?

Seifer pondered over it for a few moments in silence.

"No."

Fujin and Raijin were surprised by his answer.

"C'mon, Seifer! The world will be doomed if you don't take the Sphere, ya know!" said Raijin.

"AFFIRMATIVE," said Fujin. Seifer turned to both his friends, anger shown in his face.

"Do you know how many freaking responsibilities have I taken? All I want now is a quiet life. I've had enough with all of this! I don't give a damn what's going to happen."

"SEIFER. FINAL. AFFIRMATIVE." Seifer stared at Fujin. She looked straight at him, never breaking her gaze on him.

"Ya, and after all this, we can all go back to our normal lives. End of story, ya know," said Raijin. "If you don't take it now, there wouldn't be anything to return to, ya know."

Raijin's last words made sense. Seifer kept quiet. He looked at his friends' determined faces, then back at the dragon. He sighed and finally said, "Fine…I accept. BUT this is the last."

A wise decision, Almasy. Now, you shall receive my Sphere.

The dragon suddenly started roaring, loud enough to shake the heavens above. A thunderbolt split the skies above, and as the dragon lifted itself upwards, it opened its huge jaws and coughed out a glowing, yellow spherical gem. It landed in the dragon's huge open claws. The skies above closed once more, and the faint rumbling of the thunder above resumed.

Here…take this… The dragon's voice had become somewhat weaker. Just as it was about to hand the Sphere over to Seifer, the dragon suddenly froze.

"What?" Seifer asked. The dragon sniffed the air, and said, Something's coming.

At that, many giant red lobster-like creatures had come clambering into the clearing from everywhere, surrounding the dragon and the three humans. The monster crustaceans snapped their pincers loudly in the air, making the annoying clicking sounds. Their beady black eyes bored into their targets as they scuttled nearer towards the cornered group. Seifer and the rest quickly took out their weapons, and stood in a circle around the dragon, facing the enemies on three sides.

They were about fifty of these monsters, Seifer estimated from the cluster of monster crustaceans surrounding them. It was going to be a long fight.

"SEIFER!" Fujin called, aiming her Blaster Edge at the monsters.

"What do we do now?" asked Raijin, swinging his thick rod about.

"We FIGHT! FLARE!"