Bring It On

Zell and Irvine were running away from a hungry T-Rexaur in the training center's real-life simulation of the Alcauld Forests. The legendary beast of old chased the two SeeDs round and round the tall trees and burdensome bushes that blocked their path to freedom. Zell was panting, dashing for the exit, sprinting at his post-hotdog meal speed while Irvine reloaded bullets into his Exeter.

"Damn! Since when did T-Rexaurs get this powerful??" Zell panted while ducking under a rock for cover when the giant reptile's tail swept over his head.

Irvine had just finished reloading his gun and cocked it expertly. "I don't know, but I guess it's the fact that the monsters here are like, supposed to be more powerful??" He swerved around and took a shot at the monster's's leg, but missed by an inch. "Shit!!!" The now-angry dinosaur opened its mouth wide to welcome his Kinneas afternoon special.

While the dinosaur was chasing the cowboy, Zell suddenly tripped on one of the stray roots of the trees and fell on the ground, scraping his knees against the grass. Looking down, he noticed that his knees were bleeding slightly. Slowly, he felt his limit break coming up.

"Oh yeah!!!" Zell shouted as he punched the air. Charging towards the beast, he screamed out aloud, "Punch Rush!"

His powerful fist met the scaly dinosaur's belly, and after several series of creaming blasts from his hands, the reptile fell dead on the ground. Zell fell on his knees panting, and Irvine came up to his side. "Hey thanks man. Hey, you look like you've seen hell!"

Zell panted like a dog and couldn't say anything, so Irvine immediately cast a Curaga on him. Backing up slowly to accommodate the "Zell reaction", Irvine watched his friend as he got up and punched the air in a typical Zell move with a typical "Booya!" following it. Once the marital artist was on his feet, he swept the dust off his shirt and shook the cowboy's hand.

"Yo! Thanks man! I'm telling you, I was gonna die there!" Zell gratefully thanked Irvine.

Irvine shrugged and coolly told him, "Hey, no problem. Just doing what I had to do." Swinging his Exeter over his shoulder, he suggested that the both of them go to the cafeteria for lunch. As they were walking toward the exit, neither one of the boys noticed two pairs of green, reptilian eyes staring at them from behind the foliage.

Zell jogged slowly towards the exit, with Irvine following him from behind. Just as he was about to open the door, the ugly head of another T-Rexaur suddenly snapped at him.

"Whoa! Where did this thing come from?" he exclaimed as the beast's razor-sharp canines almost bit him from his front. He fell on his back and crawled on his arms towards the other side of the Training center as the dinosaur took a fearsome stride towards him.

Irvine cocked his gun once to signal the dinosaur and took a shot. The thick scales of the beast, however, caused the bullet to embed itself only a centimeter into its skin. A loud, piercing cry was heard throughout the complex, and Irvine ducked for cover as the creature ran towards his direction. Behind him, the other T-Rexaur circled the area around the vicinity of his gun, waiting for the perfect moment to strike the marksman down.

"Zell!!! You've gotta help me here!!!" he screamed out aloud. "One T-Rexaur, I can take. But two? Oh come on! You've got to be kidding me!!!" Irvine fell on his knees and hid behind a rock as one of the reptiles' tails swept over him, knocking some of the palm trees down. He then again rolled on his side to avoid the razor teeth of the other creature as it lunged towards him to take a bite.

Zell noticed that Irvine needed help, and picked up a rock from one of the ponds. Charging it with a Blizzaga spell, he flung it at one of the creatures.

"Awesome!" Zell said aloud as reptile grunted in pain. T-Rexaurs, after all, were known for being weak against ice-elemental spells. As the other creature roared in pain, the other one spotted Zell and began chasing him. In a few minutes, both of these expert fighters were caught up in this battle, and this time, they were cornered.

Irvine and Zell backed up against their side of the Training Center, secretly hoping that they could use their Guardian forces. However, it had been months since they had last called for the aid of these magnificent beings. Just as the T-Rexaur in front of Zell was about to take a healthy chunk out of the blonde, they both heard someone belch out a battle cry. Smoke was everywhere, and they could only see the reptiles turn around to face this new opponent. Zell and Irvine ducked behind one of the large rocks as the obscure battle ensued around them.

"Yo! Irv...did you see who that was?" Zell asked Irvine as he panted while leaning on the rock, glad to know that someone was pumped with enough adrenaline to face two of these prehistoric terrors.

Irvine shook his head hastily and remarked, "No...I didn't! Sounded familiar though..." They both listened as they heard metal chunking against flesh and bone, and looked at each other suspiciously.

"Squall???" they both said in unison. When the smoke had cleared, they were surprised to find their friend breathing heavily with severed T-Rexaur parts all over the place.

Zell ecstatically jumped up and rushed towards Squall, hugging him as he did in the desrt prison. "SQUALL!!! Thanks man! Thank you so much for saving my life! sniff! Oh man! I was almost dino chow!"

Squall grunted, rolled his eyes and pounded his fist lightly on Zell's head. "Hey, stop groping my leg! I said stop! If you don't let go, you'll look like that T-Rexaur!"

When Squall threatened to slice Zell up like he did the T-Rexaur, Zell finally got up and joined Irvine near the pond. Irvine had been washing himself to get the spurts of T-Rexaur blood out his prized coat.

"Well, what are you guys waiting for? Let's get out of here," Squall impatiently suggested. "Seriously, I don't have enough strength to fight off another one."

Irvine got up and squeezed the excess water out of his coat and said, "Okay Squall. By the way, how's Rinoa doing? I heard she went into some kind of coma."

Zell nodded and added, "Yeah. Quis told me that she was sent to the infirmary yesterday because of food poisoning." Zell looked to one side of the training center and noticed some movement behind the tall ferns and bushes, but dismissed it as nothing thinking that it was just the wind.

Squall shook his head and sighed, "Um, yeah. She wasn't food poisoned though. Rinoa's not doing very well right now. I should be going back to Dr. Kadowaki's clinic in a few minutes or so to check on her condition."

"Okay Squall, we'll catch you later," Irvine replied. "Meanwhile, Zell and I need a bath. It is not a good thing to wear T-Rexaur blood-soaked clothes all day."

Zell nodded his head and added, "I agree. I mean, if you want us to come with you Squall, we'll certainly oblige. But give us a few minutes because I'm sure Dr. Kadowaki would fret if we let ourselves in. Wouldn't want to spread germs all over the infirmary, would we?"

Squall chuckled and said, "Yeah, I guess she would throw a fit if you did that. Just make sure that you're squeaky clean when you come visit Rinoa because I wouldn't want her to catch some kind of disease. I mean, I'm going to have to get a shower too. Just look at me!" He spread his arms out wide to show the gore splattered all over his shirt and leather jacket.

Zell threw his head back and laughed. "Sure Squall. Say, what if we meet somewhere outside the dorms? Would that work out."

Squall tucked his fingers under his chin and paused to think. "I guess that would be a good idea. But what if we met outside the infirmary in twenty minutes? What do you think?" he suggested.

Irvine washed his hands in one of the ponds and got up. "Twenty minutes sounds good, but I'll have to throw this coat of mine in the laundry. Would it be alright if I came about five minutes later?"

Squall agreed with Irvine and suggested that they leave the Training Center. "We'd better leave before any of the creatures here come for us. This isn't Balamb Garden so don't expect the battles to be a breeze."

With that, the three heroes left the vicinity of the Training Center. When the Training Center door had closed, two figures moved from behind the ferns.

"These children are undoubtedly powerful. But why did you have to make the creatures so powerful my Lord?" the smaller figure asked the other.

The two mysterious people moved out of the bushes into an open space of the room. "You do realize that a final battle is coming, and with that I must see if their skills of battle are fit enough to attest to their credibility of defeating the mystical one."

The petite hooded one shook its head and replied, "But, if one is lost, the prophecy will never be fulfilled. It will be a disaster for the plans you have in mind. If they are indeed defeated by one of your magically enhanced monsters, how do you expect to find another one?"

The larger one picked up one of the T-Rexaur's amputated parts and turned it into a wisp of smoke upon touch. "Trust me my protégé. All things will follow as planned. If something goes horribly wrong, I shall find a way. I always have."

"I trust you my Lord. Now let us leave before one of the real monsters come," suggested the smaller figure.

The taller one turned to his protégé and mockingly asked, "Surely, you aren't afraid of a little battle with one of these reptiles aren't you? I have trained you well. I expect much from you."

Suddenly, a T-Rexaur emerged from the foliage and advanced towards the two mysterious figures. They both looked at each other and said in unison, "Bring it On..."

During the next few moments, sparks flew and the odor of burnt flesh and smoke filled the Training Center. When a group of trainees entered the room moments later however, all that was found on the ground was a crisp, burnt corpse of an enormous reptile.

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Squall had just finished taking his shower, and changed into a set of freshly laundered clothes. He fixed his hair in its usual mop style, making sure that it didn't look too neat, but at least was presentable enough for Rinoa. The gunblader left his weapon in the room and left for the infirmary.

On the way to Rinoa, he met Seifer walking back and forth in the hallways. "Seifer, what's going on?" Squall asked.

"Nothing," Seifer dryly replied. A few seconds later, he added, "Okay, something is going on. I really like Quistis, but I think she likes Ouragan. I don't know if she hates me or not, but I'm pretty sure that she's interested in big, tall handsome commander than she is in big, tall dunderhead me."

Squall paused and asked, "You want to talk about it? I'm going to the infirmary to visit Rinoa right now and I can talk to you on the way."

"Really? Gee Squall, I never thought you were the type who would talk about something like this. What has Rinoa done to you?????" Seifer sarcastically queried him. When Seifer saw the edges of Squall's eyebrows going closer, he suddenly said, "Oh! Sorry 'bout that. How's she doing, by the way?"

Squall shook his head and sighed, "I guess she's doing fine. I'm sure Doctor Kadowaki has done a pretty good job taking care of her. I just hope nothing really bad has happened though." After another short pause, Squall started walking. "You coming or not? Tell me about Quistis."

Seifer jogged to Squall's side and started, "You see, it's like this. Oh man! I can't believe I'm talking to you about this! I mean, it's you! And...oh alright! Do you think it's obvious that I like Quistis?"

Squall answered, "Seifer, you have a brain. Use it. What do you think? Everyone knows that you are dying to have a date with Quistis."

Seifer's eyes grew as big as watermelons and he exclaimed, "What?!? Was I that obvious?"

Squall shook his head and walked a bit faster. "Seifer...don't be stupid. Of course it was. I'm sure she knows that you like her. Besides, if you didn't act that way around her, I'm sure she'll consider dating you sometime."

"What way? What do you mean? How oddly do I act around her?" Seifer desperately asked Squall.

Squall scrunched his nose and scoffed at his former rival. "You tell me. What do you think? You still act like an arrogant bastard sometimes. Loose the attitude and I'm sure she'll like you."

Seifer caught up with Squall again and asked, "Really? I mean, what should I do? Should I stop picking on you and Zell? What?"

Squall breathed heavily and said, "Stop being an ass. Period."

Seifer sarcastically replied, "Uh, be more specific about ass okay? Because I know that there's more than one way to be an ass."

Squall stopped and abruptly pointed at Seifer. "What you are doing right now is the perfect example of what an ass would act like. You understand now or should I explain the word in scientific terms?" he quickly said with much disdain. He continued walking again with Seifer trailing behind him.

Seifer backed up slightly and exclaimed, "Wooh! Okay, don't unleash your rage on me. Uh, okay, I promise not to be an ass again, but only if you remind me when I'm acting like one. Is that a good deal?"

Squall snorted and reluctantly agreed with Seifer. When the both of them reached the infirmary entrance, they found Zell waiting on one of the floating benches in front of the door.

"Hey chicke—ow!" Seifer shouted aloud when he felt Squall's elbow nudge his side. "What was that for?"

Squall raised one of his eyebrows at Seifer as if he wanted to make a point. Seifer finally let out another one of his dumb "oohs" and said in a very forced manner, "Hey...Zell...how is it...er...going...for you? Everything...um...is well for...eh...you?"

Zell furrowed his eyebrows and said, "I don't know what the hell is going on right now with you but I'm sure not eating whatever you ate this morning."

The three waited in the bench until Irvine arrived. He wore his hair in a ponytail without the hat and wore a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. "Hi. Sorry I'm late." He joined them in the bench and asked, "So how's Rinoa? Any news so far?"

Zell shook his head and replied, "Nope. The doctor hasn't called any of us in for visiting hours so I guess she's still recovering. I guess..."

The door of the infirmary suddenly slid open and Dr. Kadowaki came out of her office. "Rinoa's feeling better now," she informed them. "She's sleeping at the moment, but if you would come to my office..."

The three of them got up and Dr. Kadowaki gestured for them to stop. "When I meant "you", I want Squall to come alone. This is something he and I ought to discuss alone. I'm sorry boys, I know that you want to hear the news about your friend, but this is a very private matter. I will leave it up to Squall whether he wants to let you know about it. I'm sorry for shooing you away, so do forgive me."

Squall stepped away from the group and into the door and said, "Uh, thank you guys for coming here. I'll let you in on the news later. Just do whatever you want to do for the afternoon. Feel free to do whatever you want. I probably won't be back for quite some time."

Zell, Seifer, and Irvine nodded and Irvine said, "Okay man. Take care and send Rinoa our blessings okay?"

Squall smiled one of his rare smiles and said, "Okay. Thanks." He entered the office and Dr. Kadowaki shut the door behind him. She motioned for him to take a seat in front of her desk.

"Squall, I'm not sure whether what I'm going to give you right now is good news or bad news but let me say again that Rinoa is doing very well," she informed Squall.

Squall asked, "But what happened to her doctor? Why did she just collapse?"

Dr. Kadowaki took an envelope from her drawer and took an electron microscope photo of Rinoa's blood cells. "You already know that Rinoa is a sorceress don't you?"

Squall nodded and Dr. Kadowaki continued, "Well, Balamb Garden's magic research coalition with Esthar Garden has led to some developments in the field of sorceress magic, and the researchers somehow found out how sorceress blood cells work."

Squall was on the edge of his seat listening to what Dr. Kadowaki may have to say about Rinoa. "So what does this have to do with Rinoa?"

"Everything," she tersely told him. "Rinoa, unlike most dark sorceresses, has angel magic in her blood. Angel magic apparently works differently from dark magic. Dark magic evolves cells into extremely powerful, highly charged particles that allow for a sorceress' ability to cast spells such as Maelstrom—spells uncommonly found in a non-sorceress' magical arsenal. Dark magic cells however, evolve to the point that the content of the cells completely take over the person's spirit, therefore changing the woman's personality as well. Angel magic, however, not only gives the sorceress the ability to cast a dark sorceress' cells, but allows her to assume celestial magic as well without the side effects of the dark sorceress powers. This, apparently, is a very rare phenomenon among sorceresses, and only at least three great sorceresses in history have acquired these abilities. Rinoa collapsed in the training center because the cells in her body were evolving too fast. You cannot let that happen without being in a state of rest."

Squall then asked her, "So you think Rinoa's in danger? Can we somehow do something to usurp her powers from her?"

Dr. Kadowaki sighed to think, and replied, "At this point, that would be impossible. Her powers are much too advanced for us to extract. And, if she did plan to pass her powers to someone, her magic would overwhelm and most likely kill that person. It would not be advisable to do that at this point. The best thing to do is to let her rest as much as possible. Do you understand Squall?"

Squall nodded and replied, "Yes doctor. So is she better now?"

Dr. Kadowaki nodded in response and said, "Her cells are more stable now. I took another blood sample an hour ago and she seems to be doing fine."

Squall looked blankly at the documents and asked, "Is there anything else that I should be concerned about?"

Dr. Kadowaki gave him a warm smile and said, "Well, I don't know how put this. But I might as well tell you anyways. Squall, Rinoa is pregnant with your baby."

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Author's Note: I'm really sorry for the LOOOOOOOOOONGG wait! I shouldn't have put this story off for so long, but I've been really busy. I'm almost done with the Strad chapter and I'll have it posted in a few days. As always, read and review and share a few points you'd like to make. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy this chapter. The next chapter will be Chapter 32: An Encounter with the Enigma