Note: I've realized how everyone is confused about how Seifer got on the airship, so I'm going to try and explain it. Okay, as you know, they were in the middle of the ocean, but the ship wasn't moving. Seifer himself had his own airship, but his had an invisibility stealth mode. It was a special Galbadian airship. Anyway, so he crept up on them and snuck onboard, hiding himself in Rinoa's room, ready to set his plan into action.

I know, I'm sorry everyone. I really should have put all that in the story. Sorry about that. I promise I'll do better next time and keep you less confused. Thanks for letting me know your questions and thanks for all the support and reviews. You guys are an awesome audience!

Chapter 27

Eternal Rivals

"So who's Seifer?" Shaltwan asked Squall as he polished his gunblade.

"He's an arrogant, stubborn fool who'll do anything for attention or pride. All he cares about is power and himself."

Shaltwan sat quietly watching him now sharpening his blade. His strokes were hard. He was having trouble controlling his temper. "If he touches her I'll…"

"Relax Squall…I'm sure she'll be fine. Rinoa's strong and can defend herself for a while. I mean, she did defeat Morgana…What could this Seifer do?"

"He can do just about anything he wants! He's kidnapped her before. That time…he…he…"

"He what?"

"He kissed her! That wasn't the only time. Before that, he had kissed her already, but I had saved her from him…"

"He kissed her! I'm sorry Squall. That must have been terrible to watch…" She stood up and walked to his side. "Don't worry. You'll save her. I know it. She would never stop loving you for him."

Squall put down his polishing rag and tucked his gunblade into his belt. "I'm going…I'll be back with her…soon."

"You can do it, but be careful!" Squall nodded his head. Then, turning on his heel he walked out the door and towards the Centra Ruins.

"It won't be long now…" Seifer was pacing back and forth across the cold, stone floor of the castle in the middle of the ruins, in the tallest tower. "This will be my moment of triumph!" He curled his hand into a fist, smirking. "Come along now Squall, I won't bite!"

"You won't defeat him!" A female voice rang out from the corner of the room. Rinoa was chained to a chair. She was gritting her teeth, trying to raise her power up to what it was when she was fighting the Queen.

"Don't even bother to try. You're still too weak to fight back."

Rinoa squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that what he said was not true. In the end, she knew her attempts were futile. "I hope Squall gets here, and fast!"

"This is it." Squall stood at the foot of the Centra Ruins. There were crumbling buildings everywhere, a large castle in the center. "There's the Castle of Odin, where Seifer is." He stepped forward, into the ruins, his mind set forth on only one destination, only one goal, to save the woman he loved.

Up in the castle, a large sphere appeared, with a picture in the center. It showed Squall walking. "Ah, he's finally here and right on time…" He smiled wickedly, then turned and walked to the far wall where his own gunblade lay resting.

"This blade has won many battles for me…and it will continue to. Nothing will stand in my way of fulfilling my dreams!"

"In case you don't remember, Squall beat you last time!"

"Excuse me, but did I ask for you to speak?" He walked towards her and slapped her across the face. "You will speak only when asked! Besides, I only lost because I thought I would let him think that he was strong enough to beat me!" Rinoa glared at him. Her cheek was red and stung from where he slapped her, but she remained silent.

"I have to hurry!" Squall thought to himself. He was running up a tall, spiraling staircase. After what felt like he had gone up fifty floors, he finally saw a doorway. "There it is!" With one last push of his leg, he burst through the door.

Seifer turned around at the sudden noise on the other side of the room. Seeing Squall, he smiled. "It's about time you showed up. I thought I was going to have to come get you!"

"Let Rinoa go!"

"I don't think so! I'm not letting you get her that easily. I have a score to settle with you!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes, and I think you know what I have in mind!" Seifer pulled his gunblade out. Squall drew his from his belt, holding it in front of him.

"Rinoa, are you alright?" Squall asked, not taking his eyes from Seifer.

"I'm fine!" She yelled back.

"What did I tell you about speaking without my consent!" Seifer faced his palm at Rinoa and shot lightning bolts across the room at her. She cried out, her head falling to her chest.

"How dare you!" Squall screamed at him. Seifer laughed.

"That's right Squall! Let your anger fight for you! Most people lose control and become careless when they do, just like you!"

Squall stopped himself. "That's right!" He thought. "I can't let my anger overtake me! I won't be fooled. I have to calm down and concentrate!"

"Are you ready? I want to face you at your full strength!"

"Let's get this over with!"

"Now, now, don't be so pushy. I've waited a very long time for this moment and now it has finally come! This will be the day that I destroy you once and for all!"

"I don't think so!"

"No one cares what you think!" Seifer smiled. "Well then, let's go!"

Both men sprang forward, gunblades drawn. There was a clash when they met. They pulled apart and then attacked again. Sparks flew from the sharp blades. "This is your end!" Seifer twirled his sword through the air. It broke into Squall's sleeve, cutting his arm.

"Is that all you got?" He asked him, smiling.

"No, I'm just getting warmed up!" Seifer lunged out at him, aiming at Squall's chest. Squall through his blade up and blocked the onslaught. Just as Seifer pulled his sword back, Squall grazed the side of his leg.

"Not bad. You actually caused a bit of damage." Squall could tell Seifer was enjoying this. The two fought on. Rinoa couldn't stand to watch it. She wanted so badly to shut her eyes, but her heart just wouldn't let her.

"Please let Squall be the victor!" She thought pleadingly. "If he doesn't win then Seifer will…will…Stop it! I can't think like that! Squall will win! He will be victorious!" She looked across the room at the two frantically moving figures. Seifer was cut on his arms and legs. Squall was cut all over. His arms were bleeding, along with a cut across his chest. Rinoa could feel tears welling up inside.

Squall was tiring quickly. He still hadn't fully recovered from his battle against the Queen. Seifer was slightly worn down as well, but not as much. With one quick slide of his foot, Seifer knocked Squall's feet out from under him, causing him to fall onto his back. Squall cried out in pain.

"Your time has ended!" Seifer placed his gunblade's tip at his opponent's throat. "It's been fun. I must admit, you were my toughest enemy, but in the end, you couldn't handle the power of the handsome, strong Seifer Almasy!" He threw his head back in laughter. It rang around the walls of the castle eerily.

"Oh no!" Rinoa screamed in her mind. "This can't be happening! Squall, please! Get up!" Her tears were falling down her face now, wild and free.

"I have to do something! Fast!" Ideas raced through Squall's head. His life was on the line. He had to survive! He closed his eyes and thought one thought, deeply in his mind. It was a call for help. Help from the legendary guardian of the castle. Odin.

"Good-bye my friend!" Just as Seifer was about to kill the person who had been like an eternal rival to him for so many years, rain began to pour out of nowhere. "What's this? How is this possible? There is a roof above us!"

Lightning dashed across the room, followed by a low rumble of thunder. Then the ground shook. A large portal appeared, a shadowy figure emerging slowly from it. "What is that!" Seifer cried out. His sword was now by his side. Squall took this moment to crawl away from him, next to Rinoa.

Seifer couldn't move; he was speechless. Standing before him was a six-legged horse, and on top of the horse sat a man. He wore armor and had horns on his head. A flowing cape billowed behind him. "It's you! Lord Odin!"

"You have forsaken my castle dwelling! You are not worthy of being here!" Odin's voice was a low, deep grumble.

"What!" Seifer looked horrorstricken.

"You shall come with me…for ETERNITY!" Before Seifer could move, Odin had galloped over to him and picked him up off the ground by the collar of his coat. Seifer screamed. Then, in a flash of lightning, Odin galloped back through the portal, Seifer in hand. In seconds, the rain stopped and the portal was gone, along with Squall's rival.

Finally able to breath again, Squall turned to face Rinoa. Her eyes were opened wide in shock. "Are you okay?" He asked her. She couldn't speak. She just stared with her mouth open. "Rinoa?"

"Huh? Oh…I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm fine…" She finally snapped out of it. Squall took his sword and sliced the chains in half, freeing her. "Thanks…"

"It's over now…" Squall said in a low voice. Rinoa looked at him, and then gasped.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't even notice how badly you were injured!"

"It's okay. I'm fine…"

"No you're not!" She grabbed the bottom of her shirt and ripped part of it off. "Here…" In seconds she had wrapped the soft cloth around his arm, causing the bleeding to cease.

"Thanks…"

"You're welcome…" They sat quietly for a little bit, both lost in their own thoughts, till Rinoa spoke up at last. "What do you think happened to him?"

"I don't know…"

"Let's get out of here…I want to go home!" She turned to face Squall.

"I know, me too." They picked themselves off the floor and made their way to the exit. Staircase after staircase, room after room. They finally reached the entrance to the old ruins of the ancient kingdom. They turned around, with one last look at the castle. Without another word, they continued on to the airship that sat waiting a few yards away.

Note: There is one chapter left! The big finale is next weekend!