Hey, gang, I'm really sorry that I haven't been updating. I know I said that I would post the final chapter by August 23, but I wasn't able to do that. That was my mom's birthday and we went out to eat, and then when I got home, I had a butt load of homework waiting for me. I'm really sorry. But hey, at least I gave you guys a pretty long chapter as a form of compensation. Right? Please don't hate me! And please, nobody get offended that I added quite a bit of history to Squall and Rinoa and Hyne. Yes, I see Hyne as a woman and if anyone out there is offended with that, I'm sorry but it's not going to change. It makes me think of a button that says: "God is coming and She is pissed!" Plus, it says in the game Hyne's descendents. Well, how come there are only sorceresses and not sorcerers? And before I let you guys get started on what's below, cause I know you're just dying to know what's happened; I have a task for you all. Well, actually it's two tasks. I want you, each and every one of you. (Yes! You! The one who's sitting here reading this story and saying, "Who? Me?") I want you to take a close look at the name of Squall's ancestor, Tempest Leonhart. If you use a certain literature item, you may find a connection with the name. And task two is I want someone to tell me what's so significant about the quotation that I left you guys with. Tell me where it came from and I'll be very happy. Granted, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. It's not like it's a homework assignment or anything, but for those of you who take delight in my little mind games, you'll make me very happy to see that someone took up my challenge. (Plus, if you do what I asked for Tempest, you'd understand a bit better and may be able to figure out where I'm going.) Okay, now I've yakked way too much and I shall let you guys get on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Final Fantasy VIII characters, places, or ideas. All I own is Rianna, Nadia, Galliella, Tempest, and certain character adjustments and add-ins.

Chapter Forty-Two

A New Kind of Imprisonment

Squall opened his eyes. His body was completely numb. His vision was slightly blurred.

"Hi. You okay?" Laguna looked down into his son's face and then reached for his hand.

"Where am I?" Squall tried to sit up, but his brain wasn't listening.

"We're at Edea's. How to you feel?"

"Like I've been hit by a truck. I can't move, and everything is just about numb," Squall said quickly as if he really didn't care. "And where's-" Squall wasn't able to finish the rest of his sentence as Laguna cut him off with a hand and a goofy grin before he could say her name.

"Rinoa? Yeah I knew it wouldn't be long before you asked. She's fine, so you can relax. She's with Edea. It's time she knew the truth." Laguna stood to stretch his legs. He'd been by Squall's side for over an hour now.

After a few moments, Squall could finally feel his legs and the rest of his body again and silently wished that he had that numbing feeling back because there was so much pain now. He was actually able to sit up, but he was forced to grit his teeth, causing his head to swim and form a massive headache.

"Well, hey there! Glad to see that you've finally decided to join us," Irvine said coming into the room with Quistis, Selphie, Seifer, and Zell. Squall, in return, rolled his eyes.

"Hey, Squall? What are we going to do now? Rianna is still out there. We can't just forget about her!" Selphie cried, panic surging through her.

Before Squall had the chance to answer her, the door opened and Edea entered alone. She immediately moved to Squall's side and smiled warmly at him in her motherly Matron way.

"I'm very glad to see that you're all right. How do you feel?" She touched him tenderly on the shoulder.

Squall nodded once. "I'm fine, really. How's Rinoa?"

Edea frowned and sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers played with her long, dark skirt almost nervously. "I guess I was wrong."

"What?" Squall didn't understand what that was supposed to mean.

"I'm guessing she didn't take it too well, huh?" Laguna asked, scratching at the back of his neck.

Edea nodded to confirm that he'd hit it right on the nose. "Laguna, she's terrified. I told her everything, but she needs to face this demon. She is the only one who can get rid of Rianna for good."

"Is she ready to?" Laguna asked with raised eyebrows.

"I don't think she's strong enough to do what needs to be done. She only found out about what her powers are truly capable of only a little bit ago. Do you really expect it to sink in, let alone use them to destroy the single most powerful, evil force that we're being faced with?" Edea demanded. She sighed and then added a bit quieter, "I think we should be lucky that she isn't the one we're fighting. We'd have no hope at all then."

At that comment, Squall couldn't help but become slightly angry. They should know better than to even think that Rinoa would be evil! She was good through and through. But when he thought it through again, they were right: They were very, very lucky that Rinoa wasn't their enemy.

While they continued with their little conversation, Rinoa crept in, quiet as a mouse. She listened to what was being said and watched the expressions on everyone's faces carefully. She looked at Squall last and was surprised to see that he was looking right at her with a new expression that she'd never seen before on him: confusion mixed with worry. His look clearly asked her "Are you all right?" She nodded that she was and then glanced over him to make sure that the effects of Rianna's spell were really gone.

"What am I supposed to do? How do I get rid of her for good? How do I stop this madness?" Rinoa asked aloud, finally speaking up after everything had quieted down. She walked over to Squall and Edea and stood before the two of them. Everyone's eyes were fixed on her and Edea was surprised to see that she was taking up her duty so quickly after learning something that had been hidden from her for so long.

"You'll have to do something that none before you have ever managed to do. You'll have to summon the King of all Guardians and combine your powers with his. You'll have to call Griever. He's the only thing we have left to use. Get rid of Rianna with the one thing she wants to end," Edea replied.

"But Edea! We don't know how strong Griever is! What if he turns on us?" Laguna protested.

"Laguna, that's the only thing we can do! It's the only choice that's left! Griever can be controlled if the one who calls him is true the throne of Hyne! We have nothing to fear!" Edea replied hastily.

"And what about what Odine said? All the research he did on the Guardians? When called, Griever transforms the one who calls him into an image of the dead!" Laguna exclaimed.

"After all that lying duck did you still believe some of the things that he said?" Squall yelled. Rinoa cringed.

"And if what he said is true? What will you do then Squall?" Laguna yelled back.

"Stop! Just stop it! If that's what it takes to stop Rianna, then I'll do it!" Rinoa yelled above all of them.

"Rinoa, no!" Squall couldn't help the fear that he was feeling and was becoming weak from it.

"Rinny! You can't! What if Griever does something horrible to you?" Selphie whined, starting to cry.

"Selphie, it's a risk I'm willing to take. I don't like Rianna anymore than you do. Trust me," Rinoa smiled weakly.

"Rinoa, I know everyone here does not agree with what may happen or your choice to save everyone, and I know that we'll all try everything we can, we'll throw everything we have at Rianna before we subject ourselves to that final option. It's not going to be easy if that's what we have to do. Nobody here wants to lose you, and I think I can speak safely about everyone here, and if it helps any, we'll all stand with you until Hell freezes over. We'll be there," Seifer said sincerely. Everyone painfully nodded.

"Thank you." The corner of her mouth turned up slightly and tears swelled in her eyes that she didn't want them to see spill. Rinoa sensed their fear. "It'll be okay. Even if the worst should happen…" She cut herself off. It was just too painful to try to continue.

Edea stood once again. "Do you know how to call him?"

Rinoa breathed in deeply. "I think so."

Edea nodded. "Whatever you do, do not drain your energy calling him. Do not let anyone or anything sense any weakness." She slowly walked to the door. "I have plenty of room here for you all and would prefer it if you would stay here until your strength returns to all of you. This evil demon will return. If she's anything like her mother, she will return with more power than ever before. I want you to lay low for a while until she is found again. I hope you understand." She gripped the doorway and everyone nodded. "Thank you." And she left.

"Guys, I agree with Edea. You all need to get your strength back. Accept her offer: stay here for awhile and relax a bit. Rianna will be back, we just don't know when. I will return to Esthar and check on things out there. I'll be back in a day or so, all right?" Laguna, too, stood and walked to the door. Again, there were unanimous nods. He nodded as well and left.

"Wow! This is happening so fast!" Selphie exclaimed in awe, sniffling.

"Yeah, and the sooner we get rid of that stupid Rianna, the better!" Irvine added.

"Hey, don't forget Odine too!" Zell interjected.

"How long do you suppose we're gonna stay here?" Selphie asked.

"As long as it takes, I guess," Quistis answered.

While everyone talked, Rinoa turned her back on everyone and stared out the window that was at the far end of the room. It led right out to a beautiful view of the flower field where a very important promise had been made. She was lost in her thoughts, in her memories of that day when he promised that he would meet her there no matter what, and he had, too. But the question was, would he be able to do it again? His fate was written in the stone. Destiny would not be denied from him. She knew what would happen to him. She could sense it, sense how his fate was slowly turning into his doom. She hoped that her feelings, her senses were wrong on this one. She hoped and prayed that he would not be torn from her, not yet. She had almost lost him last time, and she didn't want this to be the time where he would be lost to her.

The stars had been wrong before. Fate's stone has been shattered and crumbled and changed from what was originally supposed to happen once before. Would she get lucky like the one before her? Or would she doomed to expect what was to happen?

A/N: Hey, gang! I'm going to keep this down here nice and short and sweet so I can get on with the next chapter so you guys don't think that I'm going to forget about you again. Actually, I didn't forget about you, I just never got around to it. Sorry! I wanna, real fast, tell you guys that this story should be done within the next couple of days. I have the ending I just need to type it up. Expect about 50 chapters with an epilogue, okay? And this is me signing out: Later Days, World!