My my... 4 chapter so quickly? Amazing isnt it? I am really getting into my own story lol! but i hope you enjoy this chapter! Oh and just to tell you... What Max chants, happens to be Latin (which is a staple in the Final Fantasy Series.)
Esthar had not changed since Squall and the others had visited except, there seemed to be much more turmoil than last time. The scene below them reflected a harsh and cold reality as Esthar soldiers continued to fight back gigantic waves of monsters. Things were defiantly going wrong, and quickly. As they approached the Sorceress Memorial, Squall noticed the same blue light from the crystal hovering over it almost as if beckoning them to move forward. Selphie began to bring the Ragnarok down as everyone prepared for yet another fight. Max, on the other hand, stayed in his seat, eyes closed, and in a state of focus. Controlling his powers took precedence in this situation and as such, he had asked everyone to fight off the guards instead of making him fight. Complete focus would be mean difference between Rinoa coming back or, her soul forever being lost to them. He wondered if that would truly be enough, however.
"Max" said Squall as he picked up his Lionheart Gunblade. "Me, Zell, and Quistis will handle the inside guards while Selphie and Irvine take out the front ones. You just need to follow in after they are all defeated."
He nodded and returned to his meditative state.
"Alright everyone." Squall continued. "Let's go."
Immediately, Cyborg Esthar Soldiers attacked them outside the entrance to the ship as they attempted to leave. Squall fired an Ultima spell to quickly dispose of them and they continued forward battling wave after wave of Esthar Soldiers. As they made their way up the stairs of the Memorial, with Selphie and Irvine leading the frontal assault, the group encountered a barrier that had not been there before. Try as they might, they could not break it.
"This has to be Ultemicia's doing." Said Squall beating at the barrier with his Gunblade. "But how did she know we were going to come here?"
"Because of me."
Squall turned to see Max somehow floating towards them.
"What?"
Max drifted over to them and touched down with a sigh.
"She knows my power, and what we came here to do. There may not be much I can do, but I will try to break this."
Max lifted his hand towards the barrier and began chanting.
"Solvo is obex."
As he repeated his mantra-like chant, a faint rippled formed, diffusing the light around the center of the barrier near his hand. As he continued, the ripples grew larger and larger until they came in waves across the surface and with one last chant, the barrier shook and then melted away.
"Our path his clear now," Said Max breathing somewhat heavy. "I'll have to save the rest of my magic for the resurrection, so please hurry."
They battled their way into the innermost chamber of the Memorial only to find Rinoa's body guarded by another old nemesis. As Squall entered the chamber, he stopped dead in his tracks and raised his Gunblade.
"What the hell!" He said. "You died!"
A low and somewhat eerie laugh came from the figure as it turned to face them.
"Hello Squall, surprised to see me?" He grunted.
Squall knew what he saw before his eyes couldn't be true, it just couldn't!
"Seifer? How the hell did you come back?" Screamed Max taken aback. "I stabbed you through the heart!"
Seifer laughed again.
"Ultemicia has her ways, you should know that Former Knight."
This could not be the same Seifer, he died along with Rinoa. Something was not right and Squall could not take it anymore. After all the time they had known each other as rivals, and almost as friends, Squall knew the real Seifer had let go of his "Knight" dreams long ago. So how could Ultemicia control him this time? What was going on?
"Seifer!" Screamed Squall as he readied his Gunblade. "One last fight, after this no more rematches. This time we will end our battles and whoever wins, wins. Nothing more. We've had too many of these as it is and, personally, I'm getting tired of beating you every time."
Seifer chuckled once more as he walked down from Rinoa's chamber with his Hyperion in hand. Raising it above his head, he sighed.
"One more time, Princess."((A/Nsome odd reference to Seifer calling him "The Ice Princess"))He teased. "One more time for me to prove to you that I'm better."
As the rest of the group looked on, Max could not help but ponder over exactly how Ultemicia had brought him back with him the only one who possessed the Reviving Crystal. Unless she had one in her possession, there would be no way to bring him back. This couldn't be the real Seifer Almasy.
"Squall!" Max said running over to him. "This isn't the real Seifer. It had to be a body double or some kind of illusion. Be very careful, even though he's not real he is probably a lot stronger than the Seifer you knew."
With a nod Squall raised his Gunblade.
"Ooh, you are good Former Knight." Laughed the fake Seifer. "Ultemicia made me from the memories of all of you and from that pitiful human you killed, Former Knight. And I can assure you I'm much stronger than that pathetic little boy."
He may have not been a true friend, but that still left no reason to not fight for him. Seifer may have never made SeeD but in a sense he was still on of the "Group" and as such, Squall knew what he had to do.
"You may be a double." Began Squall. "And while you look and sound like Seifer, I will destroy you and end this stupid game you seem to be playing."
The Fake Seifer slashed the air a few times, as his real counterpart would have done, and then leveled the Gunblade at Squall.
"And to think that I almost tricked you into believing me. Such a shame you had to figure it out, Princess."
The rest of the group stared on as the two prepared to finish the age-old duel. It seemed rather eerie to Max, all this fighting in the chamber that held Rinoa…
"Let's go!" Seifer screamed as they both rushed at each other.
With a shout Squall and Seifer began their final battle, and the began the battle against Ultemicia once again.
Ooh! Final Battle of Seifer and Squall. Another cliffhanger one... well i hope you enjoyed reading it as much as i did writing it! Vincent Sekod
