Chapter 16! Yay, I had this buzzing in my head, so I had to make this chapter, no matter how many people hate it. :D Self confidence, that's the key! -to brother- You're stupid, what's wrong with you? -back to you guys- Anyways, I hope you read and enjoy!

Chapter 16: Prophecy

The world faded in and out as Squall stood in a flower field. Looking about, he noticed Rinoa standing with her back in front of him. As she began to turn around, a wolf jumped at her, locking his jaws onto her neck. Squall yelled in anger, and rushed to meet him. The monster raised its head, but instead of a wolf's head, there was a man with a scar stretched across. It startled him into stopping as the monster advanced to him, grinning menacingly as it came closer and closer, until the face morphed into his own. Squall cried in anger and collapsed to the ground as his own self attacked him, eyes locked upon the lifeless form of Rinoa on the ground…

"Augh!" he cried, sitting up in the bed. Beads of sweat fell down his forehead as a cold chill surrounded him. His arm still hurt, and it was bandaged more heavily before. Clapping a hand to his forehead, he was surprised to feel a dent through the thick bandages circling his head.

"It's only temporary, you know," a voice said. Squall turned quickly, head aching slightly. Irvine was awake, sitting in a rough wooden chair. Selphie, while having slid down considerably, was still on his lap. Vague memories from the day before were trickling back gently, and Squall rubbed his head, carefully avoiding the dent.

"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.

"Oh, hanging around, waiting for you to wake up."

"How's the girl?" he asked, glancing about the room.

"She's asleep in Rinoa's room." Rinoa… Turning to the left, he realized that Rinoa was also slumped in a chair, though she was asleep. He stared at her for a second, looking at her features quietly. "Y'know, she stayed with you the whole time," Irvine offered. Squall's head turned back to Irvine's.

"You're here too," he pointed out. Irvine shrugged and looked down at Selphie.

"Oh, really, I couldn't go anywhere anyways." Squall sighed and looked at Rinoa again. She was still in that uncomfortable-looking dress, with her boots on the floor besides the bed. The silver chain still hung from her neck, slowly rising and falling with her chest. "Whew," Irvine wolf-whistled. Squall's head turned so fast his neck almost cricked.

"What?" Irvine laughed, staring at Squall with an amused look in his eyes.

"You're just infatuated, aren't you?" As Squall gave him a look, Irvine smiled inwardly. Ah, the joys of stoking the flames of love. "I mean, you stare at her all funny, you're always off in space, you…" Squall tuned him out. Instead, he looked out the window, dawn slowly leaking beyond the mountains. "There you go again!" he called out with glee. Squall looked at him once more.

"Stow it, cowboy."

"Oh, I'm so scared; Mr. Lover-boy is going to kiss me!" Irvine mock-shrieked in terror, pulling his hat down over his ears. At the sound of the shrill voice, Rinoa sat up alarmingly and looked around.

"What on Earth…?" she moaned, glancing about the room. At the first sight of Squall, she jumped, almost knocking the chair over. "You're up!"

"Yeah, we're just having a friendly chat!" Irvine chirruped, looking in amusement at the two. "I'll… be going then," he said, shaking Selphie and pulling her out of the room. Squall rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepishly anywhere but at Rinoa. Rinoa did the same, until their eyes fell upon each others at the same time.

"Thanks… for staying," Squall said quietly. He feebly looked at his right arm and frowned. Rinoa nodded, and then stood quietly. Squall stared at her, wondering what she would do, before she threw her arms about his neck and began to cry.

"We were all so worried, and we all thought you were going to die! When you hit your head, when you were bitten, when you wouldn't wake up…" she sobbed. Squall simply sat there, stiff as a board. Why was she touching him? She should hate him, shouldn't she?

"Oh… am I interrupting anything?" Their heads turned to see Ashimoka standing at the door. Her scars had healed, showing the three red lines across her nose. Her waist line had filled in a little, after the large dinner they had eaten the night before. Rinoa shook her head and released her hold around his neck. "I've been wondering," she said coolly, curling up on the edge of Squall's bed. "How did she get the wolves inside?"

"The guards…" he whispered. "The guards have disappeared; they must have been the wolves. How many more people that we know are wolves?" Rinoa didn't care to answer it. The three sat, pondering, though Squall and Rinoa had the same question in mind. Finally, Rinoa voiced it.

"Why is she after us?" Ashimoka was at a loss, and the three looked out the window, dreading the worst.

-POVC-

"You've returned." Seifer stepped into the room, falling upon one knee before Ultimecia.

"I was wrong, lady. I should have waited for your command." Ultimecia nodded, and Seifer returned to his regular spot. The scar hadn't faded, as it was redder than when it had first been cut. "Milady," Seifer started questioningly. Ultimecia turned her head and nodded once more. "Why do you want to destroy Leonhart and Heartily?" Ultimecia stood and looked out the window.

"You forget the prophecy?" Seifer shook his head no. "Then you understand."

"But how are we sure it's them? Couldn't it be any couple in this time period."
"Why? Seifer, must you question me on every detail? You know the prophecy, you know why they are a threat!" she roared. "I MUST HAVE THEM DESTROYED!" Her chest rose and fell as she tried to calm herself, before finally sitting down.

"So, the symbol on his gunblade…?" Seifer further questioned.

"The same," she replied simply. Seifer nodded.

"How is that possible, though? You never…?"

"No," Ultimecia said. "My fool of a sister. Somehow, I neglected to destroy her child, and our family symbol was passed down, apparently." He frowned, and sank further into the armchair. "Eternal Life is very exhausting," Ultimecia whispered. "I am tired. Escort me to my room, Knight." Obliging, he rose and exited the room with her. Behind them, the door shut, allowing a shadow to fall along the giant plate decorated with a lion on the wall. Through the shadows, the single eye visible on the design glowed red.

Cool, this took me long enough! Enough with the semi-witty banter, read the reviews and leave me alone for another two weeks!

jayliyah85- Aw, thank you! Hope you keep reading, thanks again! Aw, I feel loved!

Ej- Ha ha, I gave, as J.K. Rowling would put it, "anvil-sized" hints, but I shall not tell until one of the last chapters. -puts up blockade- Start throwing that fruit!

Lady-Rinoa- Yay, you're back:D thank you much as well

Sammy-Chan- Yes, I said that already. -leaps about- Though I have to say, Reno and Rude are more my speed, Reno makes me laugh so hard. :D

ScarredAngelft- Well, yes, I see your point, and thank you for the in-character thing, but come on, he is seventeen. They make him so innocent in the game, like a little kid, but there has to be more things going on in his mind then they say. However, that is one of the things that makes me like Squall so much, his innocence.

Wolf- Shut up. -laughs-

Okay, I got some reviewers back! YAY! Anyways, I hope that you guys keep reading, enjoy the suspense as I take a well-deserved break from keyboards and CPR dummies, c'ya!

P.S. I wrote this a while ago, and I just posted it, I'm sorry. HP4!