Part 28:
'Why won't she look at me?' Irvine asked Rinoa as Laguna, Squall, Quistis and Zell discussed how they'd get across the brick wall.
'Irvine, she's just upset…that's all. It's nothing to be concerned of. Soon she'll be around your neck again, you'll see. Let her get over her tantrum…' Rinoa smiled reassuringly giving him a wink and walking towards the others who now gestured as they spoke.
Irvine stood still on the spot, staring with a terrified expression on his face at Selphie who leaned against a wall and twiddled her fingers and stared at them as if they were more interesting than her Irvine.
Irvine started to approach her slowly, step by step as if he was trying to not wake a four headed beast from it's light sleep.
'Come any closer and I'll scratch your eye-ball's out…' she said in a harmonious voice.
Irvine felt a chill invade him.
'I-I'm sorry…' he murmured looking at her with frown and taking a step backwards.
'I didn't mean to hurt the creature…you know me…I wouldn't hurt a fly! I swear…I didn't know it was a cat…you've gotta believe me…' he muttered as his voice squeaked with honesty.
'Irvine, you're a SeeD. SeeD's don't only hurt flies but people too when they're ordered to. And…why should I believe you?
'I don't like the way you're treating me, Selphie…it was an accident…'
'You think you're cool with your big Shot-Gun and go shooting things left and right just to prove yourself…you're just a lousy animal killer…' she groaned.
Irvine opened his mouth to speak for a moment, but thought twice and then turned on his heel hurt and furious and strode away.
'We can't just climb the wall…It's far too high and we have no instruments to do it, not even rope…' Rinoa said.
'But you see those bricks on the wall there? They kind of sticking out and if we can just climb up we'll make it without being noticed…' Zell suggested.
'Zell, even if we tried…it's far too high…we've got girls with us. If one of us falls it's a painful death…While I'm responsible for you I won't risk getting anyone killed recklessly…' Squall said firmly.
'Fine…' Zell mumbled crossing his arms.
'Zell, I really think you should listen. Squall's the leader here, he knows for sure what's best for all of you.' Laguna said patting Zell on the shoulder.
'Yeah…yeah…' Zell mumbled.
'Guys, stand back if you don't want to be crushed…' Quistis said to everyone.
Once everyone was behind Squall, Quistis walked up to him and softly spoke to him.
'Who are you summoning?'
'Only Ifrit is strong enough…Shiva is quite weak and The Brothers are with Seifer. I think Ifrit will do quite well on this one. With luck, we won't draw any attention…' he explained.
'Good luck…' Quistis murmured.
Squall nodded.
As soon as Quistis had ran to stand with the others, Squall put one foot back and with all the force in his arm he through his left hand in front of him as a great purple light started to circle him…
'Hell Fire!…' he roared, summoning Ifrit who came descending from the sky and stretching his big muscled limbs gloriously as he puffed smoke through his nostrils. The flames would gather in his palms and soon turned into to a gigantic ball of bursting flames that he now hung over his head and threw it at the massive brick wall, making a big shockwave that made the bits of brick fly in their direction, pushing them all backwards. The strange thing was that it had made no sound and now all there was were little flames and brick dust everywhere accompanied by a heavy layer of smoke and dust in the air that blurred the vision of what stood on the other side.
'Is it over?' Selphie asked a little puzzled in Irvine's arms.
She looked up and stared at him as a broad smile grew across Irvine's face, his white strong teeth shinning in all the darkness.
Selphie's expression changed from puzzled to furious and pushed him away brutally.
Irvine's smile faded…What had he done?
'You're ok?' Rinoa asked him, touching his arm gently.
'Never been better…' he faked a smile and walked over to Squall who had disappeared into the never ending smoke cloud.
'Hey, I don't see my hand in front of me!' Zell yelled panicking.
'Ouch!…my eyes…' Rinoa squeaked as the cloud started to make its way around her and everyone else like a gigantic wave in slow motion.
'Are you ok?'
'Squall?'
'Don't open your eyes, wait a minute…it will settle soon.' Squall's deep voice came from behind.
She felt a strong arm go around her and she dug her face into his chest as the others shouted and ran around confused.
It seemed so long since the last time they stood like this, in a warm loving embrace. It was a feeling such safety and comfort she wished the smoke and dust no to settle so she could be in his arms forever… She realised now how she so desperately needed his love and attention. This mission was taking so long and yet they were always together, they could not always be like they were now. She the made the best of the moment and held him a little closer than necessary and kissed him on his chest instinctively as she inhaled the pleasant scent and warmth of his clothes…
'Guys! Come here! Quick! Move your butts! C'mon! You've got to see this!' Zell's scratchy voice roared from close by with an explicit touch of excitement and thrill…
'It's…monstrous…' Rinoa muttered as she turned her face to stare at the sight in front of them now that the dust had settled but the little flames still burned.
Soon all the comrades stood by what used to be a great brick wall and all stared through its wreck …
It was huge…Beyond the brick wall's wreck was what looked like a massive crater with a huge platform suspended in the air in its very centre. The platform was almost the size of the crater and would extend to a great forest area that surrounded it all around, with various tunnels of white light and bridges that would disappear into the trees. But the most fascinating of all was the great circular aerodynamic building that took most of the platform about 20 stories high. It was massive and seemed to be made of a black stone with barely any windows on it and only ones were on the very last floor. Big mirror windows. Surrounding this building as a barrier were various towers with plain black flags on every one.
Underneath the big floating platform was a stone sort of basement with small high windows with bars on them. Its ancient and mossy look would clash with the aerodynamic design of the top part of the platform, like two opposites. This part would dive into the lake that existed beneath the whole building with various tubes coming in and out of it, connecting the both halves…
'What is it?' murmured Laguna furrowing his brow awkwardly.
'This must be what's his name's hideout…' Zell murmured.
'Sarakman…' Quistis whispered.
'Where do you think he is?…I mean this place is massive…he could be on any floor or tower.' Selphie thought.
'We're going to search this place, inch by inch if we have to…this guy is dead…' Zell groaned furiously.
'This man is going to be eliminated before he can even harm anyone or invade any town…he's going down…' Irvine grunted charging his Shot-gun.
'I think it's time to contact Cid…we haven't reported to him for a while now, have we?' Quistis suggested as she searched her pockets for the little shell-shaped communicator.
'It's reaching him…any second now…' Quistis muttered as everyone circled her.
But the little IC was taking longer than usual to get through to Cid.
'Strange…' she murmured.
But suddenly the black screen started to show some signal and a scratchy image appeared…
A strange face had appeared. A boy with long hair covering his face and green eyes, slightly younger than them.
'W-who are you?' said the kid from the other side with anger in his voice.
'Where's Cid?' Quistis asked firmly.
'…Cid…' the boy repeated.
'Hey kid, how did Cid's IC get into your sticky hands!' Zell roared.
'I found it…' said the boy harmoniously.
'You little thief! How are we supposed to reach him now!'
'I didn't steal it. I found it the wreck while I looked for pieces of steel for my father…'
'What wreck?' Quistis asked puzzled with a touch of fright in her voice.
'Balamb Garden of course…where else would I found pieces of steel?'
'Don't you play with us, boy or you'll regret it bitterly, I swear!…' Zell said furiously.
'Are you sure of what you're saying? This isn't a matter to be played with…' Quistis asked seriously.
'I swear it is the truth…Balamb Garden crashed near Deling City and Cid, the headmaster, he's missing since then. It's been quite a while; people are saying he is dead, others that he's lost on one of the desert islands to the southeast...but there was no body…' said the boy.
'But…how?' Zell looked puzzled.
'No way! Cid can't be dead…Balamb Garden…it's not possible…' Irvine shook his head with a stupefied grin on his face that faded away as soon as Squall's eyes met with his…
'…and…the students? What happened to them?' Quistis swallowed dryly and tried her best to sound firm.
'Well some strange looking troops invaded garden and took over the ship. The students were confronted with highly skilled unscrupulous soldiers with dangerous odd weapons and let loose some weird creatures that from what I heard disabled the students to fight back. And the ones who did were badly hurt and many killed. After that they were all dispatched on The Island Closest to Hell where some did not make it…luckily there was a transmitter on the Island and they were able track them, though most of them returned seriously injured and some even with a screw loose, if I may…after that all they had to do was crash the Garden and so they did and it was planned that it hit Deling city, but thanks to Hyne it failed…I don't even think they know their plan didn't work out…' explained the boy…
'It can't be…not Balamb Garden…' Zell murmured turning around slowly and staring into the night…
'I'm sorry to be the one to inform you of this…I can see you have been are far away for some time…did you belong to Balamb Garden?' the boy seemed more at ease now.
'We are SeeDs…I used to be an instructor there…' Quistis was trying with all her might to fight her tears back.
'Tell me…is there anymore to know besides Balamb Garden's wreck? Were any cities invaded or taken over? ' Quistis was finding it harder and harder to any further questions..
'Well…yes…first WinHill, but no damage was done there, Hyne knows why…then Galbadia Garden was occupied for about two days…they stole their weapons and robots…Balamb City's port was destroyed and the Vessels were stolen, I heard the towns people resisted and were injured badly, their homes destroyed, some even killed. Deling City was invaded too, most of the houses were burnt down, even the Mansion, Caraway has been quite supportive. Our homes were destroyed, some people killed as well, my mother among them…but we're fixing our homes slowly…Esthar is helping us, the destroyed cities and patrolling the area and… that's about all I know…'
'I'm sorry for your mother…how do you know this, kid? You are very well informed for your age…did you witness any of these happening?' Squall asked sympathetically.
'My brother was a SeeD candidate and was one of the survivors on the Island Closest to Hell…He survived, but lost an arm in the process…he reckons one of the creatures had ripped it off him while he lay motionless…he is still quite traumatised…I don't think…I don't think he'll ever be himself again…things changed a lot in such little time. I hardly can accept this myself…' the boy's eyes started to narrow with pain.
'Thanks for your effort, kid…if anything else happens will you please be so kind to inform us…?' Laguna asked with some difficulty.
'I will.' The boy answered raising his head.
'See you then, boy. We appreciate your help.' Laguna finished.
'Wait…' the boy interrupted with a hint of desperation in his voice.
'What is it?' Quistis said softly.
'All of you…you are SeeD's aren't you?'
'Not all…but we are on a mission set by Cid before his disappearance. We are all trying to find the man who did this to us…' Squall said.
'Can I ask you for something?' the boy asked.
'Go ahead…' Laguna smiled.
'Make him suffer…' the boys voice trembled with hate. 'Promise me that when you find him, you will make him die in the most painful of ways…I'd do it with my bare hands if I could…I want him to pay for my mother's and everyone else's death he caused. I want revenge, spill his blood for me…'
'Hold on there boy…don't let hatred control your life, you're too young to think like a mercenary…just be safe, take care of your brother and help reconstruct your home, but don't ever think like a murderer…it's not worth it. Life goes on…do your best to live with your loss, but never, never become like him…' Laguna said worriedly.
'…I don't care…I want him to suffer a painful death for what he did to my family… he destroyed my family! He wrecked my life! He's taking over the world…and all you can tell me is to have clean pure thoughts!' the boy's voice raised and now you could find wrinkles under his bleak green eyes that had bared no shine. This boy was too young for what he had suffered; You could now understand he had been forced to grow up.
'You have my word…' Squall answered bitterly as everyone turned to look at him…
'We will see to do so…' Quistis said.
'Thanks.' A skew sort of smile of hope and gratefulness grew on the boy's face and next he had vanished.
Quistis stored away the IC and stared out over the platform…
Zell was unusually silent, sitting on the remains of the broken wall with his face pillowed in his hand.
Irvine was too, very silent, he stood near the bushes that gave way into a dense forest with one hand on the trigger of his shot-gun and the other in his pocket.
Quistis let now tears creep down her pale face and Selphie walked up to her to hug her.
Rinoa sat next to Squall on the floor, leaning against a broken wall as he stared into the emptiness and tried to assimilate the information given moments ago…
Laguna gave some sympathetic words to Quistis and Selphie who now both cried silently.
A few silent moments had past and not a word from anyone. They were all silently grieving their loss. Balamb Garden would be no more and all the memories of it had died with it when it crashed… It was a home for most of them, a place of good memories and experiences they'd never forget. And now it was gone, just like that…
Something in the air made it clear that none of them would ever be the same again…
Their life had given a complete turn around and now more than ever they knew how this mission was important…
'Guys…I'm sorry to talk about this on such a moment of loss, but…right now we are the only hope of the entire world…their future is in our hands…we must go on…for them, for us…for everything and everyone we've lost…' tears flowed from Quistis's eyes.
Laguna now put his arm around her.
'I know it's hard, but we've got put this behind us now…' she wiped her tears away gently now.
'As SeeD's for our last mission…the last mission of Balamb Garden, we shall accomplish it victoriously to honour all we've learned and fought for all these years with so much effort…in memory of the ones we love, we shall fight until we can't no more…I know I can count on you…But to win this war, we need each other's strengh…' Quistis's voice now was stronger and firmer.
Squall, Rinoa and Irvine got up and approached Quistis, Selphie and Laguna, as well as Zell who took a little longer but straightened his face and tried his best not show how hurt he was.
'Thanks guys…' Quistis smiled.
'Together we can fight this man's evil, we did it before…we must do it once again…' Rinoa said.
'The strangest of all is the way he attacked everyone else but us…' Irvine said absentmindedly.
'It's simple…he destroyed everything dearest to us, to weaken us…to distract us…that's his intention…and in the process he killed hundreds of innocents…' Quistis explained.
'But not only…' Selphie said.
'He desperately looking for the Tear Blossom and until he finds it, he won't rest…but meanwhile his clearing the lands, killing people and destroying cities…that way he won't have any trouble building his kingdom…' said Irvine.
'It's not the Tear Blossom he's looking for…' Quistis said gravely.
The whole gang was now staring at her…
'Too many people it's just a meaningless legend…but to me it's true. The Tear Blossom is nowhere to be found. He will never find it unless he gets his hands on the new sorceress. That way he will kill her and the legend shall repeat itself, just that he will be there to collect the plant and take its power when it blossoms again…the plant's and the sorceress's power, there is nothing more powerful than the two of these combined…if that happens, a Kingdom of Shadow and death shall reign the world until the end of time. ' Ash's voice echoed in her head.
'I know what Sarakman's doing this for…' Quistis said.
'What are you talking about Quistis?' Rinoa asked worried.
Quistis looked into Rinoa's eyes with deep sorrow.
'Quistis's you're frightening us…tell us at once…' Selphie said.
'It's you he wants, Rinoa…' Quistis looked down.
'What?' Rinoa asked looking as puzzled as ever.
'But the Tear Blossom…sure he wants her power, but he needs the plant first, right?' Zell said.
'I thought so in the begging, why want a untrained sorceress's powers if he can have th Tear Blossom?…but it so turns out to be that in order to get the plant, he needs Rinoa, the sorceress of this generation. The Tear Blossom will only appear if…if Rinoa…if she dies…' Quistis's eyes lost their shine as she told them this.
Rinoa's heart now thumped stronger then ever and felt as if it could fail any moment now…
'All he needs now is Rinoa…if he can kill her himself, the Tear Blossom will appear like long ago when Queen Harath passed away and that way, he will collect it and become as powerful as no one has ever imagined…That's the truth…' Quistis said now staring into Laguna's eyes with a mix of fear and frustration.
Squall looked down at Rinoa and put his arm around her shoulder, worried about her. Looking at her with reassurance and making her feel safe…
'Little does he know that she's with us, let alone here…that's why he's destroying every town and city he can find…he knows we're after him…he knows he has little time…' Quistis said.
'But then, this doesn't make sense…' Irvine muttered. ' Why is Ganahir so deserted?…The people are gone…there are only troops roaming around here…'
'Maybe they're imprisoned, it's a small village…he can easily lock them up in there…' Zell suggested.
'Gosh I hope he didn't kill them…the whole race of Ganahir would be lost, it's genocide…' Selphie's voice trembled.
'Not all of them…' Zell said absentmindedly.
'Huh?' Irvine looked at his pal.
'I don't know…but we've got to move and quick. But we can't put Rinoa's life at risk…It is imperative that we keep her hidden from him…if he catches her…it's the end…' Squall said now breaking the silence with great sorrow in his voice and sadness, though he tried to maintain his firm voice.
'But I want to help, Squall! I can help…I don't want you guys to go without me…I don't want to be alone…where will I go…?' Rinoa started to panic, feeling like some lost child in a big forest.
'I don't know…you'll need to hide…somewhere safe…in the forest maybe…but if we don't make it…you must get out of here…you have to save yourself…' Squall looked at her with great pain in his deep blue eyes.
Rinoa kept silent and stared into his eyes with tears growing in her beetle black ones.
Squall turned around and put his arm around Rinoa's shoulder, taking her to a place they couldn't be seen by the others, where they could talk quietly without being heard seen…
It was dark here, they had walked around the corner and the light here was dim. The moon was full and it had started to snow gently…
'Rin…' Squall bent his head down to look at her and put both of his hands o her shoulders.
'Look at me, Rin…' he murmured.
Rinoa looked up.
Squall held her chin with his fingers gently, came closer and kissed her sweetly on her warm salty lips from her tears.
Rinoa felt warmth invade her body and stared into his blue eyes that now reminded her of the blue of the sky on a summer sunset.
'How I've longed for that…' he whispered an inch from her lips.
'Squall…I can't make it… without you… I can't…I don't want to be alone…' she said trying to hold back more tears.
'Not here…I hate this place…I don't want to be here alone…I'll just die if anything happens to you…I won't be able to go on…my heart will get sick and I'll die…I need to be with you…I need to fight by your side! 'Rinoa's eyes narrowed as she tried to tame her impulses…
'Rin, you've fought enough…it's in our hands now. You did your part faithfully, but it's up to us to finish it, not you. I don't want to leave you…but I have to…you have to be strong! This is a life or death situation. It's just for a while, until I return…until this is over. I'll come back for you. I promise… ' he tried his best to get trough to her.
Rinoa threw her arms around his neck as she started to sob uncontrollably.
'I'm scared…' she whispered.
'I know you are and I'm scared too 'cause I don't want to loose you; you know that…But I promise that soon it will all be over. It's just one step from ending, one step and it's over…'
'Don't dare getting killed and leave me, you hear?' Rinoa pulled from the hug and gave him a small smile.
Squall smiled back at her and kissed her gently.
'You're so beautiful…' he cupped her head in his hand and caressed her hair and he contemplated her features.
Rinoa just stared back at him as if she missed him already.
'I'll be strong…' she whispered
'It's a hard life Rin, nothing is easy in this life. We've got to fight to survive. It's just the way it goes…and I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I'm so sorry you have to hurt and suffer so much…but I'm going to protect you, no matter what it takes. I'm going to fight for you until my last breath, Rinoa. Just know that.' Squall murmured glaring at her.
Rinoa looked up at his liquid eyes and now the expression on her face was undecipherable.
She slipped her fingers down his cheek and just looked in his eyes with the kindest, strongest love that one cannot put in words.
Squall felt a vibration in his body, an impulse to take her and share what he was feeling with her. A feeling that would practically knock her off her feet with such strength and intensity. But it wasn't the time or place. The love blossoming so intensely in his chest almost about to burst it open had to wait for when he came back for her. There was a mission to complete, one that would determine their existence.
To be continued…Okey Dokey…So…was that bad? Good? Or dreadful? Please forgive me for taking so long…The end is near…to my horror. I can see that the story has been boring you…I know it slows down a bit, there's not so much action or romance in these parts, but that's always normal in a story, I suppose. You can't always get what you want… »:P But hold your horses! Some really weird things are going to happen… Romance is gonna flow once again, this time to 's side…
Ash is gonna come back…by the way, what do you think about him? Does he annoy you?
Oh! And Angelo…well yeah…I did quite forget about him here, but he's quite a pain in the neck if he's always gonna be behind Rinoa, no? Besides the creature only appears in her Limit Break. I don't think he's necessary here (sorry Angelo!). Maybe he'll still pop up who knows…
I want to thank all the reviewers for reading and reviewing (I'd add ur names but I couldn't remember them-no internet) And give a very special hug to my best friend on the planet – Maf GoldenHeart! I'm so sorry I couldn't review ur fic properly. But I will as soon as my PC is up and ready again, ok?
Thank you all 4 reading, from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot to me. :-) Luv u all!