A/B

Just so everyone knows, I own nothing. Please send some reviews in if you're reading this.

Also, this chapter takes place while Squall and Laguna are looking for Zell and Quistis.

Selphie replaced the bandages on Irvine's forehead, where he suffered a blow in an attempt to impress Selphie. He was still breathing, but very slowly. She sighed, why did Irvine have to always do these kinds of things? True, she was mad this morning at him, but one can't stay angry at Irvine for more than an hour. How she wished Dr. Kadowaki was here right now, she'd know how to treat Irvine properly, not like Selphie who just tried to throw a phoenix down on him. She cradled his head and placed it back on his bunk bed.

Her mind raced. In all the time they had been together, Selphie had never even given him a kiss, let alone a peck on the cheek. And soon, she might never get the chance too. Selphie's vision watered up, and she let the tears flow down her face. She buried her face on the side of his jacket, something he insisted never be taken off. She smelled the lavender scented of his cologne that he sprayed on it every morning. Slowly, Selphie moved her face up to the side of his clean shaven face, giving it a smooch. "Irvine…." She continually whispered to herself. Then she proceeded right onto his lips, and she pressed hard, still sobbing that Irvine may slip away from her at any moment.

What's going on in Irvine's mind…

Irvine was running through a seemingly endless black space. He wouldn't stop. He was running away from the white light that was trying to close in on him. It was too early for him. This was not his time to leave the planet, not yet. He had unfinished business in his life, the most important settling down with Selphie. The white light was getting closer. "Get back! Not yet!" he shouted, and he ran even faster. He needed to get back. Squall needed love lessons. Zell needed to learn how to get a girlfriend. Quistis needed to believe in herself. But most of all, he needed Selphie.

"Irvine…." A voice called out.

"What? Who's calling?" Irvine said to no himself, and he kept running. His legs were slowing, and something was preventing him from casting any magic. But as he ran farther, the voice grew stronger. He had a feeling the voice was his way out. He shouted the only thing in his mind.

"Selphie!"

Back to the fresh and flesh tense…

"Selphie!" Irvine shouted. Selphie was sitting on the side of the bed. Her eyes lit up like the stars as his eyes opened.

"Oh man Selphie, I had this insane dream. There was this bright white light that wanted me…" Irvine groaned.

Irvine sat right up, and smashed his head onto the bottom of the other bunk bed on top of him. "OW! FRICKIN' HELL!" His eyes were dazed, and he saw stars. He fell back onto the bed, unconscious, but his breathing regular.

Selphie's face was full of shock, her eyes close to bawling out a lake. "Irvine!" she cried. She shook him gently. Nothing. She got some water and splashed it in his face. Still no result. Then, she slowly tugged at his jacket, beginning to pull it off, when Irvine's eyes shot open. Selphie let go of the jacket and planted her body on top of him.

"Sweetie! Stay down! Don't bump your head again!"

"Someone was pulling at my jacket…" Irvine growled, but then he saw Selphie, and his eyes widened. "Selphie!" He cradled her tight. She held him twice as hard, and they sat on the bed together for the next ten minutes. Words couldn't describe the love they had for each other.

"Irvine, did you really come back because you heard my voice?" Selphie leaned in close to Irvine.

"You bet baby." Irvine snuggled in closer with Selphie. "Say, how are Squall and the others?"

"Not now. We'll check with them later." Selphie squeezed Irvine like a teddy bear. She checked her phone's clock. "Wait…It's been ages since they last called me."

Irvine got up and picked up the phone. He called Squall, Quistis, Rinoa, and then Zell, none of them picking up. He put the phone down and slowly walked back and sat beside Selphie.

"They're still in Esthar killing monsters?"

"I'm not sure, Squall called me earlier asking me about you, but then he didn't say anything about his progress."

"Let's go to the President's Office and find them Sefie." Irvine stood up and gave Selphie his hand.

"Alright."

Together, they exited the Ragnarok and entered Esthar through the air station. What a destruction it was. Walkways were smashed in some areas. Express porters were on the fritz, and there were no technicians nearby. The sky still had a tint of red in it. Buildings were smashed at their sides and some were collapsed. Irvine was astounded.

"All this happened while I was out? Oh no…Selphie, we've got to get to the President's House." Irvine grabbed Selphie's hand and they sprinted to the President's Office. Thankfully, the President's Office was still unharmed. They entered the main door and they found Kiros and Ward armed with their weapons.

"Whoa! Hold it guys! It's us, Irvine and Selphie! Keep those pointy things down!" Selphie said frightened.

"Sorry, Laguna told us to guard his lava lamps from anything that entered through the doors. We didn't know you guys were going to come too." Kiros explained.

"………." Ward made a few hand gestures to Kiros.

"He's asking what you're looking for." Kiros translated.

"We're wondering what's up with Squall, Rinoa, Zell, and Quistis. They've been gone for quite a long time and we're getting worried. They're not picking up their cell phones." Irvine was nervous.

Kiros offered a helping hand and said, "Don't worry; we'll call Laguna for you. He has a special Esthar exclusive phone that can receive phone calls no matter how far, how high, or how low, or how interfered he is." Kiros walked to Laguna's desk and picked his phone. He dialed Laguna's cell phone. He turned on speakerphone so everyone could hear.

Switch to Laguna…

"Allo?"

"Laguna! Where the hell are you?" came Kiros' scratchy voice.

"I dunno man. We're somewhere deep under the Sorceress Memorial. We followed an Iron Giant down this trap down thingy. We found Zell and Quistis, but they're badly injured. We found Rinoa too, but she's got this weird dragon called Ruby controlling her. Get this Kiros." Laguna chuckled. "The dragon is called Ruby, but it has blue scales! What's up with that?"

"There's something wrong with Rinoa?" Selphie gasped. "Irvine let's go!" Selphie and Irvine dashed out of the room back to the Ragnarok with a quick good-bye to Kiros and Ward.

"Har har Laguna. Listen, we're going to send Selphie and Irvine over to pick you guys up, they'll be there within 15 minutes." Kiros replied.

"Good. This dragon controlling Rinoa will be toast by then." Laguna whooped. "Gwah!"

"What's wrong this time Laguna?" Kiros shook his head.

"The floor was shaking, and I hear this rumbling sound. Oh shi-! The place is coming down! Kiros, I'll talk to you laaaaaaater! Laguna hung up.

"……….." Ward made several more hand gestures to Kiros.

"You're right. I'll leave a message on the Ragnarok." Kiros nodded and dialed and left a message for the Ragnarok saying, "Hey Selphie. Hey Irvine. Bring your shovels from the Ragnarok's storage room. You may be doing some digging. Get there ASAP and dig like crazy. They're going to run out of air soon." Kiros sighed, if he were still young, he'd help them too. His wrinkles were showing, and they were pretty big.

What's going on between Squall and Rinoa…

Elsewhere, Squall was facing off Rinoa. But how could he strike Rinoa? Even if it would purge the dragon from her soul, she could by his blade, and he'd never live that down. He had to buy some time.

"So, you say your name is Ruby, and yet you have blue scales?" He nervously asked.

"I'm not one to reveal my true name" replied the Rinoa-warped voice. 'I'll be seeing you again soon, human." Rinoa's yellow eyes changed back to her normal dark brown ones, and she fell to the ground.

"Rinoa!" Squall rushed to her side, dove into the pool of dragon's blood and caught her just before she hit the stone flooring. He brushed her hair aside, and saw the face of the Rinoa he originally knew. He held her close for a few moments. He heard a rumbling sound. He looked up and saw some of the rocks from the ceiling fall down. Just then, a panicked Laguna stormed into the chamber.

"Squall! The whole place is going down! Let's get the hell out of here!" Laguna quickly picked up Zell and swung him over his strong back. Squall ran to Quistis and ran out of the chamber with Laguna. They ran back up the stairs they had come down. They smashed the next door in their way. One more staircase and they'd be at the surface. They kept running at a breakneck speed. They were almost at the trapdoor when they heard another rumble. The whole ceiling fell down, and all the torches around them blew out.

They were caved in with no light, and were running out of oxygen fast.