The Second War

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Final Fantasy VIII.

A/N: So here is the new chapter I have promised. Enjoy!

Chapter 5: In Which there are Strange Shooting Stars

> > >

Caraway was looking through some documents somewhat impatiently when he noticed a solider standing then. He did not salute, meaning he must have already done so. The general briefly wondered how long the man had been standing there. "Yes?"

"Sir, two dispatches from your daughter have arrived. They say they have important news for you."

"From my daughter?" Caraway neatly hid his surprise by looking out the window. Although Rinoa lived extremely close by, he barely saw her. He knew she held nothing but contempt for him. Still, she was his daughter, and he had sworn to Julia to watch over her.

The soldier straightened. This was probably a sign of annoyance, so Caraway turned back to him. "Send them in, and have yourself and another guard accompany them." This was little protection for Caraway against Rinoa's men, who were all trained to be SeeDs, but it was better than nothing.

A moment later, the soldier reappeared with his comrade and two strangers who looked vaguely familiar.

"What business do you have here?" Caraway asked curtly.

"LETTER." The pale woman thrust a letter into his hands and looked at him expectantly. Caraway stared back at her for a moment, wondering if he could intimidate her, but then he shrugged and opened the envelope.

I have received certain information that your mansion will be attacked tomorrow during the guard change. I have sent my aides, Fujin and Raijin, to act as your bodyguards until the danger has passed. It wouldn't do to have you dead. Also, it would be wise to delay your guard change. I will be sending some troops over on Saturday for standby, should you need them.

Rinoa Heartilly.

Caraway smiled to himself grimly at his daughter's words. They were cold, to be sure, but at the very least, she wanted him alive.

> > >

Squall slammed the car door shut in the parking lot of Balamb Garden. The trip to Edea's was useless, and now he had to face Ellone's bitching. Students scattered as he strode stormily towards his office.

He felt a vague satisfaction as he reached his office uninterrupted, and again slammed the door shut, feeling even more satisfied as a picture frame fell to the floor and shattered. Décor in his room was minimal; he had thrown almost everything sentimental out when Rinoa left. That frame contained his SeeD diploma, so he pulled the paper out from the glass and set it on his desk. That was when he froze.

"Why don't you just fuck off, dear Sis?"

Slowly, his chair moved around, revealing Ellone, looking smug. "How was your trip?"

"Good," Squall said, wanting her out more than anything. "I got away from you. Why the hell are you in my office?"

Ellone's dark eyes glittered as she pointed to the papers on her desk. "I have Selphie's plan for the attack. I want you to go over them."

"If Selphie planned it, I'm sure it's fine," Squall muttered, turning to leave. If Ellone wasn't getting out, he was. She stood up from her seat and blocked his exit venomously.

"The only reason you'd visit Matron is for sorceress advice," she hissed. "And the only sorceress we know is the one we're trying to kill. Are you having second thoughts, brother?"

"Don't question my loyalty or action." Squall said stolidly. "It's none of your business." Roughly, he pushed Ellone away from the door and stormed out of the room. She watched him for a moment, and turned back to use his phone.

"Xu? Inform Selphie that I will be making minor changes to Squad C…tell her it will not affect her plans at all. Yes, that's fine, I'll also be sending a note down to her." Ellone hung up the phone and ran her fingers through her dark hair thoughtfully. She left Squall's office and headed towards her own set of rooms.

Once she arrived, she waved all her aides and servants away, and sat down on a large armchair. She leaned backwards into it and exhaled slowly. Mentally, she counted back the years since this war started. She decided on six. Now was where her memory had to do much of the work. Because of her ability to see through time, she had sharpened her memory mercilessly, until she was able to recall, down to the minute, the time of major events.

Soon, she located the time she was looking for, and shut her eyes, focusing on the memory, willing herself to be placed in it.

> > >

Ellone was standing in a dark corridor of Garden. She took a moment to orient herself, for students were hurrying in all directions. Someone was screaming. The lights overhead were flickering.

Squall's voice made her jump, but then she laughed to herself. He was speaking on the PA system. "This is your commander speaking. I would like all students to return to their dormitories. I have investigated the current situation with my staff. I repeat, all students are to return to their dormitories. There is no need to panic. Thank you."

If this message was just aired, then Squall and the rest of them would soon be returning to the main floor of Garden. Waiting until the hallways emptied out, Ellone hurried across to the elevator, concealing herself in the shadows. She was only going to reveal herself to one person.

Soon, she heard the elevator doors open, and heard all their voices. Selphie was hysterical, and Irvine was half carrying her. His face was grim but disbelieving. Squall walked in the front, his eyes red, but his face was set. Ellone from the past was following slightly behind Squall. Hiding in the shadows, she proudly noted that her face was perfectly blank and composed. Cid looked utterly distraught, muttering to himself and wringing his hands. Last of all came Quistis and Seifer. Seifer looked disgusted and sneered at Squall's back, while Quistis looked like she was still in shock.

Ellone knew why they all emerged from upstairs like that, and felt satisfaction grow within her. Squall had just announced to them his intentions towards the sorceress, and the schism between the wonder team was about to begin.

They appeared like shadows in the darkness of Garden, each of them slipping away to their own rooms. Ellone silently began to walk a short distance behind them, and once she heard all the doors shut, she approached one of them and knocked on it.

The door swung open. Quistis stared at Ellone for a moment, rubbing her wet eyes, and stepped aside to let her in. Ellone looked around Quistis's apartment. A large suitcase was open, and it looked like she had haphazardly thrown things in.

"You're leaving?" Ellone asked.

She nodded vehemently. "I'm not going to stick around and choose sides. This is all fucked up, I don't want any part in it."

"Where are you going?"

Quistis looked at Ellone and narrowed her eyes. "I don't plan on letting anyone know, I just don't want people following me."

Ellone felt irritation rise, but she stamped it down. "Do you really think I'd open my mouth and blab it to anyone?"

Quistis regarded Ellone for a moment, and despite herself, Ellone trembled under her gaze. She felt as if Quistis knew more than she let on. Her pale eyes pierced her, and she shrugged after awhile. "Fisherman's Horizon." She continued to seize different items of clothing from her drawers and throw them into the suitcase.

"I see. I can't say I'm not surprised, I thought you'd stay with Squall," Ellone said, deliberately prodding Quistis's weak spot.

She stiffened. "Why would you think that?"

"I thought you were in love with him."

"He is in love with Rinoa."

"Was."

"Perhaps. I'm not going to get caught in the middle of this." Quistis repeated dully, hesitating over a scarf Ellone helped Squall pick out for her birthday. She let it drop into the suitcase.

"If you did, you'd probably get Squall, now that Rinoa's out of the picture." Ellone said simply. "Well, I'm off. Maybe I'll see you around."

> > >

Ellone opened her eyes with a rush of satisfaction. Fisherman's Horizon. So that's where Quistis had been hiding all these years. The stupid dump was practically falling apart, no wonder she hadn't thought about it before. She didn't think anyone in their right mind would want to live there. She drummed her fingers against the cushioned armrest, and got to her feet. There was a trip she needed to make.

> > >

In Dollet, there lived a girl name Liese. She could not have been more than fourteen years old, but had no parents to properly tell her age. Liese worked as a barmaid, washing dishes and clearing tables. She shared a room with an old woman who paid half the rent, but was so deaf she didn't seem aware of Liese's presence.

Tonight, Liese finished work just before midnight and began her ten minute trudge home. She was tired and dirty. As she pulled her coat tighter around herself in the cold night air, she looked up at the sky, surprised to see the moon so large and full.

As she continued to walk, she saw streaks of light shooting through the sky. Liese smiled at the pretty sight, having nothing pretty to call her own. Because the streets were deserted, she decided to take the shortcut home. Liese ducked into the alleyway, increasing her speed because the narrow lane was not lit. She froze when she saw a pair of glowing yellow eyes and a lantern approach her, step by step.

"Hello?" she called out tentatively.

The lantern swung as the stranger took another step, and Liese saw a flash of metal. She shuddered, realizing it was a knife. She frantically turned around to leave the alley and screamed. A hulking monster with giant arms loomed over her, growling. A drop of it's spittle landed on her face. From the swinging lantern approaching her, she saw it was completely yellow and green. She had seen these before in the newspapers, it was a Wendigo, stupid and brutal. Families could barely identify the victims after a Wendigo was done with them.

Liese backed away. She didn't know whether is was better to face the Wendigo or the strange shadow with the lantern. However, she saw that the alleyway branched off into a different street, and it was close enough for her to make it. Quickly, she ran into it, dodging the lantern-wielding creature, and was terrified to find a dead end.

A low sob escaped from her as she watched it take a step after her. It was slow and deliberate. It took step after step, it's eyes glowing malevolently, it's lantern swinging. Liese was never taught how to fight, and could only stare at it as it raised the butcher knife.

> > >

Rinoa leapt to her feet, her dark eyes flashing. "Are you telling me that you sent MY troops to protect that man?" she demanded. She took a menacing step towards Seifer, who, to his credit, didn't flinch.

"It was necessary." Seifer said neutrally. Oh, Rinoa could be terrifying when she was angry, be he forced himself to stay calm.

"Yeah, Rinoa, we only do things in your best interest." Irvine added earnestly, relieved that the bulk of her fury was targeted towards Seifer. "It's only a temporary measure, until Saturday."

"What about casualties? I can't have my men injured, my numbers down!" Rinoa said desperately.

"It's unlikely they'll even see battle this time." Seifer said. "I've only sent them in as backup, if something goes wrong with Caraway's men."

"I don't think it's in my best interest for you to tell me what you are doing with my soldiers. What if the hotel was suddenly attacked? Who would defend us there? Hmm?" Rinoa flung her arms open, gesturing wildly. "What if…he…came down to attack us?" Her eyes shone with a naked fear. "I once told him only he could pierce my heart with his sword."

"We'll both be here." Irvine pointed out quietly. "We won't leave you."

Rinoa seemed to focus a little. "And Seifer?"

"I've promised you already, long ago." He replied, briefly bringing his hand to his heart. That action seemed to startle Rinoa, and Seifer knew exactly why. It was the salute of a knight to his sorceress, a familiar old action for him. Now was the time, he knew, as Rinoa met and held his gaze."Irvine, do you think I could talk to Rinoa alone for a moment?"

The taller man hesitated, looking towards Rinoa. She inclined her head slightly, so he tipped his hat to her and murmured "I'll check in on you later," before leaving.

Seifer stepped towards Rinoa, who tilted her head to the side, studying him. "You want to be my knight," she said wonderingly. "To replace Squall."

He shook his head. "I don't give a damn about Squall. I just want to protect you, always. I know you can feel Squall…and I know it hurts you."

"What about Edea and Adel? Did you…you know…"

Seifer had to bite back a smile. "What, sleep with them? Of course not. Back then, we didn't know about this whole connection deal. I just acted as a knight…so I don't think I could say I ever was a knight. Small difference, I guess."

"You'll swear always to protect me, to guide me, to stay with me and love me for the rest of our lives?" Rinoa asked softly. "Never to leave me and betray me?" A sudden memory of her asking Squall the same questions assaulted her, and she pushed it away.

"I swear it." Seifer said, taking Rinoa's hand and kissing it, then pulling her to him in a fierce embrace.

> > >

To be continued…

A/N: Going on how long it took me to write this chapter, you could probably expect the next one within a week. It's just that I have to set up several things, and I'm trying to arrange it all on paper first. Reviews are welcome!