DISCLAIMER : Final Fantasy Series belongs to Square-Enix.
The song is Linkin Park "Somewhere I belong",
and last time I checked, it is not me who composed it.
RULE IN READING THIS: DROP YOUR LOGIC AT HOME; enter the world without questions coz THERE WOULD BE SOO MUCH (too much) odds here; just prepare!^^ coz I'm just too lazy to fix it ; no details, lack of rationale.
-O.O-
Chapter VII: "The White Day"
"…Almasy , the former F.A.S.T leader is confirmed as subordinates of Squall Leonhart, enemy of the world. Now the three of them..zzzt…..bztttttt…..last seen in Estharian Borders near Tears Point as he escaped on a bloody massacre. A GF was seen in…..bzzzttttttttttt…."
Squall stood up.
He then sailed away with the ship he stolen from FH (which informed in news sank in ocean as he actually killed all the passengers).
I had never thought I'd be back to that place again….
It was days when finally Squall arrived at the place. The place was just ruined. There, like he expected, he was not alone.
A black plane with a F.A.S.T symbols was there. He walked approaching the lighthouse, trying to suppressed whatever memories that looming back.
A man with old tattered white trench coat stood there near the cemetery of the woman he loved. He could only see his back, with a big sword, the gunblade, pierced to the ground near him.
"…The place where you catch me is Dollet, right? And I fled so,,, this is the place then… where GF couldn't be used…."
The man then faced him,
"Finally, you come, Squall. This is….. the place where all began."
"…"
"…and ends. But sure it took you long enough. The great commander missed the simple hint, huh?", he smirked.
"Whatever. Purposely using the GF and killed all Dollet army to make yourself a fugitive and announced yourself clearly as Galbadia enemy? Now the world is currently pursuing you, Seifer."
"I take that as compliment. If I must do it then I must do it greatly. Only extra ordinaries suit me. and that's also how to bait you out, Commander."
Squall frowned.
"oouchh, I meant, ex-Commander."
"Stop the nonsense. Why did you find me and now trying to help me? Give me reasons so I could trust you."
"...I told you to wait me at the Black Pentarium. It's probably…the key. "
"you worked in Galbadia, you must know something!"
"In case you don't know, it's only 3 months….., about Rin… "
"Don't say her name again! She will die in my hands."
"Oh, really?", he mocked him. "you two are bonded by fate…
but I don't care. I love her, and I would make her see me instead."
"whatever. She's nothing to do with me anymore. Nothing."
"She's actually my sister-"
"What?"
"Shocked aren't you?"
"…"
"…different father. That Julia Heartilly was really something apparently. See? I'm not a coward like you. Even the fate or blood…or world…"
"I said that I don't care! You seem misunderstand. I'll kill her even if I should face you again! Now what's about this? It's ridiculous! Now what's business you have with me?"
"Let's help Rin, Squall."
"…"
"your face tell me you still love her. You don't believe she's truly guilty, aren't you?"
"I'd rather kill her like I said."
"Good coz it's what we need."
"wh-what?"
"Kill her and end this before she turns into something dreadful in the future, Squall. I have… tried but- I couldn't."
"…where is she?"
"try to connect to her. You."
"…"
"That's all."
"What the hell ?"
"That all my task is. The rest is up to you, and you must find it yourself."
"So, it's nothing about politics…. And it won't change anything…..so why do you risk yourself for this matter? For this silly thing which won't change anything?"
"I don't know."
Seifer then walked toward the old orphanage. He followed him.
"I may be controlled by her. Disappointed, are you?"
"Dollet…..Dollet was planning something….", Squall muttered as if he expected something more.
"Sure, but even if you stopped them, your Garden wouldn't be built again. Your name wouldn't be cleared again… death sentence is waiting for you….."
"…you're truly a fool, Seifer."
"In case I found way to save her without killing her…. what do you say about it?"
"…."
"How about your wife?"
"…! How could you?"
"It wouldn't be fair for her…
- Done. My task is done. Maybe we'll meet again… as enemy."
"…"
Seifer smoothed his silver emblem on his black collar suit, a symbol of F.A.S.T leader.
"the white day…..serve your head on silver platter would be nice….then my name would be clear.", Seifer smirked smugly, and to Squall surprised he moved his hyperion fast and pointed directly to Squall, which paid back by his lionheart so now both of them were in ready combat stance. Both of the gunblades met in equal strength.
Suddenly Seifer withdrew his hyperion, jumped back off, and waved his hand, which Squall had already anticipated for likely Seifer's usual fire spell.
But instead of fire, what he got was only Seifer's words. "Now could you….- how about this? We work together until we find Rinoa. Anything happens, we stay together. Afterward, just see what happen…", he pull of the F.A.S.T. emblem from his collar so it fell to the ground.
"You are... crazy…. Hey….? What's that?"
A bright light seen as Seifer waved his hand, then everything behind it was then blurred and waved, much like…
"….. time compression.", Seifer said.
It can't be… Squall felt the familiar feeling of nothingness and uncertainty… and…
Her.
Ellone.
"But no- time keeper. I don't know how or when exactly I got this…
I witnessed it all, Squall. Everything's….shattered.
She will become-"
"Ultimecia?", Squall couldn't hide a hint of sarcasm in his tone. Right. Like I believe this kind of crap. "what the hell is this? What the hell is going on? What do you want from me? No damn logical reason is fix!"
"…I don't know. I'm still doubt. But it's just like her... but maybe she was far more ….! HHHhhhhhhhhh arrgh!"
"SEIFER!"
Seifer clutched his head, kneeling, then fainted to the ground.
What's this all about….?
-O.O-
OOOO
-O.O-
Mother, how are you today?
I found a knight of my dream
Next time you will get to know him…
There she was, standing near the ocean in her favorite place. She must have been very beautiful. Her golden long hairs were down, shiny by the sunshine, waved by the wind. Wearing a long beautiful white gown, she walked to see the beautiful sunset.
White sandy beach.
Turquoise clear water…
Perfect breeze.
The stony castle stood proudly behind her.
She knew she was smiling. She didn't know why.
"Your Highness…. I apology,"
"I know.". She nodded gracefully and followed her guard.
Where?
She didn't know.
Everything was then blurred and fuzzy. Unclear events. Unclear situations which she couldn't remember afterwards.
Then she stood again in a familiar place, smiling happily.
A letter was in her hands, with her fine handwritings on it, wrapped neatly in a white envelope. She missed her mother so much. She was going to meet her after all this business finished.
Mother, how are you today?
I found a knight of my dream…
Next time you will get to know him…
A knock on her door.
This was not going to be good.
Another series of fuzzy scenes. Not systematically arranged.
Black.
Black.
Black.
Run… run… run…
Blood…
Kill!
This was not going to be good.
Who am I?
An image of her, dressed in a black military uniform with golden lines and tie, a whip at hands, her blue eyes framed beautifully by glasses, hair clipped, stood proudly in some unfamiliar place. People nodded to her politely as she walked, calling her instructor. She in the red dress, the same whip, bathed by blood and sweats, killing people without mercy.
"degenerator", she whispered in confidence, and a blue light emitted, radiating eerie feeling and destruction was then come afterward. It was… a great power she'd never seen in her life.
What is that? How could I possibly doing something horrible like that?
No… this must be a dream! I …I shouldn't be…
A younger her, running along the seaside, not in her usual beautiful favorite place behind the castle, not dressed in a fine dress like a little princess should be. She was wearing simple t-shirt with pants instead, face bruised and hurt with punch from her fight, stinging pain from her own wrist as she also hit her enemy madly, but laughing happily. She had her hair tied neatly in ponytail which waved freely by the wind, poured by sweats and sands. 6 others unfamiliar kids were in sight not too far from her. Two of them were laughing at her.
What… what is this ?where is this?
An image of her, same age, as beautiful little girl in baby blue gown, running in familiar sandy beach behind the white castle.
"my little Princess….! Come here, sunshine! I have something to show you!", familiar voice greeted her warmly.
"Uncle…!", she run toward him while he too embraced her and hug her.
"..hmm, Princess!...Hey… what did I say about running ?", he fake a false angry tone.
"uh..ouh…", she giggled.
"no more running away under sunshine… in the middle of noon…not for our beloved princess… , and release this poor starfish… my… my… apology to the poor creature, Princess."
"It is beautiful! I want it!"
"…nah…. No…. it is not an appropriate thing to do for our future beautiful ruler, isn't it…? You are supposed to protect, not hurt or kill any entities…"
"…I apology…", she released it back to water.
"and?", he smiled.
"By the name of God, I will always protect my kingdom and everything in it and will not cause any harm to nature . Take my oath in holy blood."
"Good. Now look at this…Here is… for you…. Beautiful for beautiful princess like you…what do you say about it? For your birthday 3 days ago… ", he put a silver necklace with a green pendant on her neck.
"Wow! This is… magnificent, uncle. What is this? A topaz? Amethyst? Crystal?...Thank you! I thought you forgot about it!"
"..Never, Dear… take a good care of it from now on. It might not be fascinating to see right now, but once you'll older you'll see how it would be so nicely appropriate for a lady. Keep this momento of your childhood life. I wish you will always remember these innocent days of your life then-"
"-so, what's this uncle?"
"Topaz, Dear… Symbol of protection, beauty, and splendor… perfect gems for you. Anyway, your father and mother will arrive soon, let's get prepared and greet them, dear … "
This is it….yes… this is it…
An image of her with whip? She did 60 sits ups. No…no… I never did any sports like that…a scent of hot coffee smelled. She smiled, approached the mirror and clipped her hairs… , she drank the coffee while smiling…no… I always hate coffee. The feeling almost made her nauseated. The door which should be the elegant old wooden door, why it had become this metal-slide door? Where is this? She felt terrified. Why am I smiling? Why ? where? She then stiffened, not anymore smiling, and the cup of coffee in her hand fall as she realized something was not coherent. Something was not right. She was in the wrong place. She felt dizzy.
"Quistis.", a bass voice called.
"Quisty!", a chirpy one yelled on her in extreme happiness.
"Finally, Quisty.", an unrecognized voice.
No… no… it can't be…NOOOO….! What's this all about? I want to go home!
The image then faded away, and she found herself staring at the mirror, looking at the familiar figure gazing back to her with blue eyes- her usual crystal blue eyes without glasses. Yes. Her usual appearance, with long golden hairs down, which half of it was plaited perfectly on both sides, made her looked more beautiful. No tiara was there since she didn't like to wear that too much. A green elegance shiny pendant was there on her neck, hung perfectly with beautiful silver soft chain, matching her scarlet diamond ring on her finger. Her long white gowns perfectly framed her beautiful figure.
Yes. This is me. Thanks god… everything is fine. She sighed relieved.
Then she opened the window to greet the singing birds and gazed to the beautiful ocean.
This is me.
Everything blurred again and she couldn't remember anything.
"Hhh!"
She woke up in sudden, eyes opened with dilated pupil. Sitting in her bed half awoke, she felt wet and uncomfortable. She realized it was her own sweats. Touching her forehead, sweeping the salty sweats there, she sighed and closed again her eyelids.
Another unclear nightmare. If there was one thing she remembered about the fuzzy dreams, it was her smile and her soaring feeling waving a beautiful golden ring in her finger. Yes, her genuine happy naïve smiles which she had long have forgotten. The same smile she once had when she first saw the ring. But apparently, her life had never been turned to be some kind of fairy tales.
She opened her eyes. Something glistening in her finger was the first thing she saw. She looked at it : the beautiful fine handwork of golden ring with modest scarlet diamond on it.
She thought that the silly dream must be some kind of creative work of her brain. In fact she hadn't have known any mother in her life ever, and she had no knight and NEVER once dreamt about it. He's not a knight. Well, yes maybe once, but not hers, she added in her thought. Maybe she's just accidentally being married by him, she added more in her thought.
Still dazed, she rushed to the window beside her bed to gain some fresh air she needed.
Unfortunately it wasn't there.
"How?"
Then black hairs were seen in her bed. Small little thing…so cutely sleeping…. and she looked around the dim room and saw the window there in the right side.
Struck to realization, she opened the window to ease the heat and sooth herself. Her shoulder-length blond golden hairs waved freely by the cold night wind.
She realized what was the very reason she was there, not in her own room of her poor rent house in Trabia.
I am on the run.
She looked at her watch. Still 02.10 a.m. she's unsure of what she's doing. But still, she couldn't just leave the little infant there. If she found that Almasy again, he'd pay it for sure.
Feeling a slight angry on herself for her foolishness, she clenched her fist remembering how his green eyes looked at her that time. How could she fall for those anxious looking eyes? Was it just because the same eyes should be glistened in arrogance and confidence instead? Pleading eyes instead of mockery cocky eyes...Was it that slight difference which made her trust him that time? arrghgh! Now she really wanted to rip that jade eyes off him and see what it would be like. She had went through troubles and dangers to get here, with a giant military nation currently pursuing her, with an added responsible to save a child! She didn't want ever to go through this kind anymore. Never. Since Quistis Trepe officially died years ago. True, news was heard that he's too now being fugitives for aiding Squall Leonhart. But it's none of her business! And it's not impossible if he was the man who caused her to be tracked by Galbadia right now. Didn't he mention it before?
He worked for Galbadia. Who knows if he's still working for it now… with a mask as fugitives or what… another conspiracy... another stinky plans…
But he has warned me…
In fact, she's still couldn't trust the man. What have I got myself into… she sighed and clenched again her t fist, feeling angry then uncertain. Once an asshole…still an asshole! Damn you! She wanted to rip off those jade eyes. And Squall… this could be a trap… he's in danger…
That snake…
She closed her eyes in worry.
A cough then heard.
She turned around just to see the same jade eyes were watching her. She couldn't rip off these ones. So, you're awake, Alexander. I'm sorry…
A soft side of her rose. And she approached the little Alexander motherly. Suddenly, no more anger she felt, as if they were all absorbed by those naïve clear jade eyes. Between his cough, the smart boy chuckled instead of crying (like a little infant used to), as Quistis embraced and hugged him, made Quistis smiled in return. She then stroke his hairs gently. "Go to sleep. Can't sleep?"
The little boy shook his head.
"Is this a kind of game? It's not funny….. let's go home mommy… to Teressa's… it's a dull place. But much safer… I'll introduce you to her…"
Quistis just smiled.
"Just call me Quisty, dear… hm… it would be nice. Now go to sleep. Tomorrow, we'll find your Daddy."
"….Do you dye your hairs, Mommy? Like the ones in the TV?"
What a short attention span. Jump into another topic suddenly… bright boy…so cute…and innocent…what kind of man will you be? Such a manipulating person with sharp words and big arrogance? A bloody killer?
"Why don't you have black hairs like me? Where does this color come from? It's totallyyy ooods."
"That's- because I'm not your mommy…", she forced a smile.
"What? But Xander feel it. You are. You're pretty and nice. You must be my mommy. Don't lying, Mom. It's not good. Believe me."
She smiled.
"I don't care! I want you to become my Mom!"
"ssh… your Mom would be very sad to hear that. Don't be like that… we'll find her. I promise." If she still alive anyway…sigh…
"I don't want any mom but youu!", he punched her childishly and shut himself with blanket so he couldn't be seen anymore to express his anger. He coughed and coughed again beneath the blanket.
The little boy coughed and sneezed again. Oh, this must be because of this…cold wind.
She then closed the windows ignoring her own uncomfortable heat and sweats, trying her best to comfort the child and made sure he sleep again.
Tomorrow… The White Day… she sighed.
-O.O-
"Aren't you that florist guy from FH?", a soldier greeted him. "twice, back to this hell. I wouldn't want if I were you. How much they pay you now?"
"uh… yes."
"What's the business, Clive? It's your name, right? Whoa… you sure have many jobs…"
Zell was holding camera and dressed up like common reporters.
"The white day. Money just what matters… feed the family,,,,"
"Like your guts, good luck then. Don't write anything bad 'bout this ok! Or I get your head."
"Got that."
Wow, many reporters…just like I expected.
"SO…THIS IS the famous prohibited area which currently holds the famous Irvine Kinneas…! *clear throat* excuse me… yes, you, could you move a bit? You've already got several pictures of that, man… give me chance too, buddy.", Zell purposely made his voice loud enough in hope Irvine would hear that.
The pointed reporter shifted with a grumpy face, then Zell shot several pictures.
Then he strode off from the place, having two guards following him as part f procedure.
Now he's waiting in the square, with a lot of reporters already ready there. Waiting for the moment of execution.
Hours had passed.
He then could see a private plane with presidential symbols in the sky. Just a matter of time.
While other reporters now busy pursuing their number one man of the country: President Caraway, Zell sneaked off to the opposite direction.
The celebration had started. Music was in the air. A big parade. Somehow it made an eerie feeling. How Zell witnessed the parade, it was typical Galbadian parade with or without its sorcerer: big, magnificent, and terrifying.
Music, dancers, mass, with a lot of hysteria.
It was just similar to his first mission- killing the sorcerer- in Deling Parade 8 years ago, except for the sunny day instead of night and different target to be shot. Ironically, now, the sharpshooter was the target himself.
Zell always knew this place so well.
Balamb Continent. Years of childhood days… years of training days…
He had Molotov in his hand. Small explosive capacity, but who cares… he stepped confidently and threw the small bombed there.
Grats always loved humid place like this and hated fire.
BOMB!
There it goes….
"WHAT'S that?"
"BOMB?"
"Noo!"
People near the site yelled in panic. The guards suddenly busy. The elite guard for presidential looked angry.
While he had now currently on a "safe" place.
"….nothing! just simple explosive…"
"Simple Molotov bomb…! …" silence- and the three guards broke in laughing.
"my heart almost stopped."
Tit… tit….
"now, clear?"
"absolutely."
"Yeah. Just some bored random guys."
"Should we report it?"
"For what?"
So they went calm again.
And then grats looming out of sudden, mixed in the so called grandiose celebration and smacked the parade.
It's just grats. But they could really made some ruckuses in big quantities. Panic was built in the mass.
Everybody now was busy.
And-
Distracted.
Oh… and the bomb….. just simple Molotov bomb…
Which could really disturb the sleeping T-Rexaur there if they just knew that the creature was so sensitive to high frequency sound and sleep spell itself.
Now is my chance…
-O.O-
-O.O-
Both of them now were in the tattered bedroom, the main bedroom where Edea used to sleep. The one that facing directly to the sea. Two windows were there from which you could see the lighthouse clearly. Squall was sitting on the floor against the wall, holding his gunblade and put attention both to the windows and to the bed where Seifer lied unconscious there.
"You owe me so much explanations.", Squall demanded as Seifer opened his eyes from unconsciousness.
"…What time is it?", he looked at the window which revealed a dark sight. "Night. Great. Now, have you locate her?"
It's actually almost dawn, but Squall didn't bother to tell it. "No, and I demand you for explanation."
"No…? Great. We're run out of time already…"
-O.O-
-O.O-
"Irvine, you hear me, man?"
Three guards approached. "Hey, you!"
All weapons were strictly checked and confiscated due to this big event, but fortunately for Zell, he didn't use one but his own bare hands. Great with knuckles, but just fine without it. He punched and kicked the three men.
Finally, the chain wass released, Irvine fell off to the ground.
"Come!"
"…"
"hhh… not your old one but could be useful! CODE THREE ON FIVE SECOND!", Zell yelled, throwing an Exeter to Irvine.
-O.O-
"...when the heck did you get that…power of yours? 3 years ago?", Squall felt as if something stuck in his throat saying that. Ellone.She died... 3 years ago.
Seifer let a bitter chuckle. "No. I've told you that it just happened. 4 years ago maybe, could be longer than that. Yes, just never been realized. I've always been special if you ever noticed. Remember how I used to use fire spells on you? Just for you to know… no GF. Satisfied?", he paused, "Why? What about three years ago?"
Squall twitched his eyes expressing his disbelief.
"That kind of thing is not just happen that way… What you see in your…- dreams?"
"Now why it is suddenly about me? Hell yeah, like there is nothing more important to do for us. "
"…why did you suddenly faint? Is it something related to this? What did you see?"
"Nothing. Always been like this ever since I served her- Ultimecia. ….- What do you care? So it appeared that the instructor finally made a big change on our little too schizoid commander…"
"… You've been watched, aren't you? By who?", he threatened.
"…"
Still no answer.
Just save the world yourself… I don't care anymore….. Squall drifted in his mind.
"now. Try it."
"what?"
"try to locate her."
"she'll know too then. She'll detect us."
"are you scared?"
"…no."
Actually he never did any kind of that connection. Never. Yes, just once, when they finally come home from sorcerer war, saved from the time compression. If that happened, it happened naturally. He just felt her presence and her whereabouts, felt a hunch if she was in danger... that's all. And it totally stopped 4 years ago.
Seifer still gazed him while he was desperately trying to focus.
"…I can't."
"what? Try again. .. you're her knight. "
"I can't!", now he's mad.
"YOU what? It's easy… once a sorcerer and knight are bounded by fate….
See what happened to me? Once the connection is established, it never ends! I always felt her… Ultimecia."
He's not completely sane…
"right. Whatever. Now let's get going. It's almost dawn."
"like you have any destination."
"I'm going to Deling, with or without you. I'm done with all this crap. You just add more confusions."
"Deling again? You sure love that city.", he said full of sarcasm. "Why not Esthar? Lunatic Pandora, remember? what do you want in Deling? Serve your head on silver platter directly in celebration of white day? "
"…"
I.. I don't know…
…
Really, I don't know….. it's just….
…
"Hey.., are you still with me? Squall?"
Squall jumped down spontaneously. The glassy windows broken.
Now he had his lionhart pointed directly to Seifer's neck.
"You've been waiting for this, right? Now blow off your mask!", Squall said furiously in heavy cold tone while Seifer just remained stiffened.
Noisy sounds. Sirens. Lights.
"SURRENDER! Your presence have been detected!".
WPO join forces…
"They want my head too. Let's work together and get out from here….. WPO join forces… they just bunch of elite cowards.", Seifer said, taking his gunblade at ready stance.
With high technology… great numbers in quantity… Squall added.
"This place would be bombed soon…", Squall peeked from the window.
"Right, what do you suggest commander? We just got no more than 3 seconds."
-O.O-
+/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/++/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/+
+/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/++/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/+
+/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/++/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/+
Meanwhile…
Quistis eyes widen seeing the television in the common room of the inn.
It can't be…
"direct exclusive report from the location : beach south of Centra…"
No…
As she ran upstairs to her room to see Alexander as soon as possible, the floor was trembling.
WHAT the-?!
Explosive sounds, people shouting in panic, heavy steps, machine buzzing, firing guns…
Everything blurred in her own panic which become difficult to be understood in her already cloudy mind.
"This way!", the kind ponytail brunette woman shouted.
"…yes. "
The poor woman then shot in sight.
"Mommy…..! don't…sniff…leave me…."
No… no… no…
"No sight of Zell Dincth, Sir….. WHAT? … understood, sir."
Quistis held her breath, trying her best to hide. She sneaked and tried to run, unfortunately, the secret passage which the poor inn lady pointed had no exit.
Winhill is under attack.
-O.O-
Meanwhile…
"GET THEM!"
Zell had used all the GFs Irvine gave him. He also had summoned his own Brother and Quazetlcolt.
No use.
Now, they were cornered, near the ocean, with remaining battalion of army pursuing them. Somehow, the beautiful Balamb beach and its clear water suddenly lost its beauty as if it were passage to hell.
Helicopters were approaching.
Shit!
And they're both now severely injured.
This is a loose battle… I should have known this wouldn't be so easy…
Blood running to his eyes and ears,,,
From the corner of his eyes, Zell could see a hint of sly smile on Irvine's lips, instead of full hatred in his eyes last time he made an eye contact to him. God, how he missed that much.
"Little Zelly still reckless then…. You'll get scolded by Squall again if he's still alive.", first words, a husky voice long not used except for screams.
"It's water already! Damn! We've been cornered! Where should we go now?", Zell yelled in frustration.
"…Up.", Irvine muttered, pointing the sky with his injured, thin arms. "go to hell…", brief pause, "hey,…thanks, man.", He muttered more.
Bruk!
"…They're coming! Irvy! IRVY!", he saw Irvine falling fainted. "Hey! don't leave me you idiot! Man, I said don't-ARGH!"
He was shot.
Bruk! He fell and tried his best to keep conscious.
"thundaga!", a bolt spell escaped his lips.
"Hey! Don't shot die in place! The order is to bring them ALIVE!"
"LOOK THEY'RE STILL ATTACKING ! this is the legendary seeds we're facing now!"
"TELL THAT TO THE PRESIDENT YOU IDIOT!"
Shot.
Shot.
Shot...
I'm going to die…
"Thundaga! Holy! "
…..
"Ultima!" my last magic…..
"….punch rush!"
He grabbed Irvine Exeter and shot whoever in sight, but he's not a good shooter.
Bruk!
Sorry to give up….Lisa… and my little angle, Sara…
In the other hand, Irvine was actually still conscious although delirium and confused. In his thin consciousness, through his bloody eyes, he could see a red metal thing approached. He was more certain that he's approaching the death. So m' brain do this tricky thing? He saw what he really wanted to see, the most thing he fascinated to see long ago. He always thought that she looked coolest while piloting the Ragnarok. Damn noisy, but he then could see his angel there through the glass window of that giant plane.
What a way….so my time is up then….. Come in darlin' escort me to the heaven…..
Now Irvine Kinneas had already fallen unconscious.
-O.O-
Meanwhile…
I wanna hear I wanna feel!
Like I close to something real!
I wanna find something I wanted all along...
Somewhere I belong!
I'll find myself today! (_somewhere I belong, LinkinPark)
"If it isn't General Terry himself….! Well, good day, General!"
"You….traitor!"
"Excuse me…. For someone who wants to finish Mr. President himself, you're such a sleek, man, Terry."
"YOU!"
"You think I don't know..? Don't you use your head? Anyway…What do you think if I bring Leonhart's head? Wouldn't I be such a hero and welcomed back in Deling? While you…..dead with no one ever remember you. Our caliber is too…-"
"shut up!"
"-different. You called this a fight?", Seifer now had unarmed the General Terry.
"I get it. How about this? Work for me again. You'll get everything… every glory you want. ..WHAT do you get by doing this? None! Come to think of it! You're too valuable! Why serve that Leonhart?-"
Seifer had Terry's guns and- "Shut your fuck mouth off. No one serve that Leonhart. Let's finish this. You're just…. good at instructing, not doing it by yourself." He blew off Terry's head with his own guns.
"Seifer! Instruct the General to withdraw his army…", Squall voice from outside of the room were approaching."…WHAT?", Squall looked shocked as he stood by the door seeing the general had already died.
.
Seifer remembered vaguely that his first reaction seeing Squall was pointed his hyperion on him then he pushed off Squall's body instead, with unspecified angry that had been built up in his mind. Next thing Seifer knew, he had already bathed by blood. He had apparently run outside toward the center of mass.
[When this begin I had nothing to say
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me]
[I was confused ]
I wanna heal I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go out the pain I felt so long ,
"Stop!STOP!Seifer…..!It's ENOUGH!"
Leonhart was there, also covered by blood by his own fighting. He must have been killed a lot people.
WHAT IS ENOUGH? This is just starting….
….No Mercy.
"No Mercy."
"Fire cross."
He smiled.
"I summon you, Alexander!"
Beautiful…..white light….
"SEIFER!", Squall shouted.
"Now if you ….won't stop…", Squall jumped to get closer to Seifer. He pointed the lionhart to him which was useless.
He then closed his eyes and trying to focus. He raised his hand to his forehead and released it. "Diablo….come to the real world, now,,!", he whispered gracefully.
[erase all the pain till it's gone!]
I wanna heal I wanna feel
Like I close to something real
I wanna find something I wanted all along
Somewhere I belong
I'll find myself today!
"….Gilgamesh, take Alexander back to its realm….!", Squall shouted.
Isn't it Odin….?
Ngiing…
What's the ringing sound?
Seifer witnessed darkness so dark which he'd never ever seen in life, so horrible, engulfed everything in sight.
Next thing Seifer knew, Alexander was back off, pushed back to his mind which made him fell backward, so hard, to the ground. When he opened his eyes, lionhart was there directly pointed to him with and extremely anger cold blue eyes piercing him.
"DO YOU SEE THAT? IT'S A DAMN BLOODY MASSACRE! Do you hear me, Seifer?"
So?
Have we safe then?
Squall now pulled back his gunblade and kneeled to get closer to him. "Seifer?", now Squall shook his body as if to made Seifer regain consciousness from his own delirium state. There's a light hint of worry in his tone.
"Isn't it great? We're alive….Now let's go,", Seifer at last answered with his usual smirk confidently. He stood up and smooth his trench coat like nothing wrong he had done except nobility.
BUK!
"…Well, that's quiet unexpected-", Seifer touched his now bleeding lips (which bleeding because of the hard punch from Squall)
Squall who had just turned around faced him again and now slapped him directly in face replying his comment.
"I can see you- haven't change a bit. You've- never changed at all, Almasy.", his cold tone was heavy and angry.
Squall now turned to see at both of his GF's. His eyes watched them as if speaking to them directly. And as he closed his eyes and waved his hands, both of Diablo and Gilgamesh disappeared bringing all the eerie tension feeling gone too.
Bruk! And Squall collapsed in return.
"Hey, Squall! You ok?", Seifer approached him.
"…..let's get going.", Squall holding his head, ( which was heavily sweating), standing again. Seifer could see that his pupils were dilated and empty for a second. But before he could ask, Squall had already run toward one of the plane.
Seifer followed him in silence.
Now, both of them were on the plane, ready to took the flight off.
"I'll leave this to you.", Squall told Seifer. Then he took sit in the corner, holding his gunblade, and silent for whole damn minutes, much like meditating except for his muscles were tense, he was hyperventilating and sweating, and his eyes were alert.
"GREAT! Looks like the machine is damaged. There's noth-"
"It still work…working... -hh…just make sure we reach civilized –hhh- cont..tinent safely. Then we'll-"
"OH, sure. Safely…", Seifer answered sarcastically.
-O.O-
Ngiing…
Irvine Kinneas opened his weary eyes expected to see the cubicle white walls that had been his hell these years. Seeing the light that peek in, he almost felt the buzzing feeling of high voltage that almost every day stung him, felt how his skin burned, bruised, by whips. But no. It was just light.
Ngiing….
He almost recognized the somehow familiar sounds. Then he realized he was lying. Cold. And hard. Where? He touched his forehead. Blood.
Srek
Srek.
He rose up to sit.
Then, silence.
He could see woman with long brunette hair sitting not facing him (he could only see her back).
…cockpit… "…. Ragnarok….", was only his words that came out. He sure he'd scream but actually what was escaped his lips was only cold low-tone and hoarse whisper.
The woman whom he knew who it would be didn't turn around. She was just as stiff as ever.
He turned to see other blond man was lying unconsciously there. He was severely injured.
"curaga", Irvine muttered, drawing the high white magic from the woman. By luck, he got 5 curagas. The woman didn't react anything. Then he knelt beside the other blond man and whispered right to his ear, "curaga"
"curaga"
Irvine then sat again. For minutes, he kept silent.
The silence was already building up tense situation between both of conscious people there. But he insisted. He could feel how she felt uncomfortable, but he ignored it.
He played the silence game again.
Staring at the sky, he had withdrawn to his own thought.
Zell eyes then twitched. He finally opened his eyes.
"…Is this heaven?...Irvy? you- WE'RE ALIVE…?WHERE-", he raised up to sit.
Irvine didn't answer. As Zell awoke, Irvine stood instead and went to the elevator which took him downside. His figure now had already disappeared.
Zell looked in confused then his attention run to her.
"SELPH! OHHHH am I dreaming? AM I in heaven now? ….. MIRACLES DO HAPPEN! Now I'm really believe in God!...Selphie! I know you're NEVER THAT BAD!", he hugged her neck from back.
"I really….LOVE YOU, you know that, Selphie….!", he smiled almost laugh, couldn't control the over looming happiness. "miracles do happen…!"
"s..stop that, Zell. You're endangering us…", her voice was weak.
"I DIN'T THINK YOU-"
"Don't you get wrong about me. I'll never said-"
"But you save us!"
"I just can't- seeing you all…..*SIGH* I just can't sit back while-"
"It's ok. Selph. I understand….", paused, "Selph, just for you to know, I- I've never hated you."
"…."
"*clear throat* Hey, isn't this Dollet's now? Where do you get this?", he tried to steer the conversation to a lighter one, to lit up the mood.
"I stole it. With my career broke and my life now at stake."
"..aa…oooo,,- whoaaA… THAT's awesome!"
"…Please… leave me alone, will you, Zell?"
"o—k…"
Zell then pushed the elevator button and headed downside.
He found Irvine at the hangar.
"Here you are, Irvy…. What-"
Irvine just remained stoic.
"Hey, is it …Selph?"
"…"
"Do you still angry upon us?"
"I couldn't trust the damn lady. That's all. How that bitch betrayed us…. ….. how YOU betrayed us..", he held his breath. "Now whatcha want from me? Don't cha happy 'bout my supposed execution now? Why SO SUDDENLY COME BACK? I thought you already happy living some damn luxury life in some damn big city. Like a hero supposed to get."
"Ir..vine….I-I'm so…sorry, man…..it's really not like you thought. I-"
"Tell that to Squall."
"..SQUALL! Oh, man! I remember now! Irvine, listen to me! Something bad is going to happen! I found Squall in FH and- no, Rinoa- she's being hostage…. They use them…
Galbadia….the president would be killed- and- you know…something terrible- 'lasanda Dollet'!-uh-"
"L' cent da Dollet….."
"Right. That's it- WHAT? HOW DO YOU KNOW?"
"….Being prisoner for three years, you could hear unwanted things to hear….", he said gloomy. "Zell, Dollet was apparently behind this all….. Now what date is it?"
"July 15. The white day."
"The-what? White day….Then their plans had probably run…."
"…plans? Right I bet something odd is going on…"
"4 or 5 years ago…. I got this mission from Squall. The Centra ruin. I found something interesting….
And that last mission I got before everything went down…..
I found that Dollet was actually Centran lineage…."
"What?"
"…the scarce race, the so called high- race of Centran who always told had perished was actually still remained… the remaining of them built the Dolletian Dukedom 89 years ago….
They had secret plan which was well organized since then to re-established their glory and once stand again as ruler of the world."
"WHAT? Seems like a child story book to me."
"Not literally rule the world, Zell. But in modern term. Y' get control all of the world!"
"Nothing evil then."
"Yeah. Nothing evil. Unless they tried some extreme things to revive the barren centran continents again. But who knows… my research ended up before I could dig more, interrupted by the war, Prof. Odine had died too,….and all…."
"Nothing evil, then it means…we should do nothing."
"Ya mentioned Rinoa, didn't y?... then they really are planning to use Rinoa. The White Day-"
"-It's three days celebrating our disappearance from the world.", Zell interrupted hastily with an annoyed tone.
"You've seen her power at Deling years ago, right, Zell?"
"Horrible.", Zell could feel his voice trembling.
"At least we try to stop it. No more innocence died. No more land wasted and barren…"
"….."
"Squall… is.- is he still …alive?"
"Being fugitive the rest of the world. But yeah. Alive."
"Let's help him, Zell! I want to see him as soon as possible!", he couldn't hide his emotion.
"…..I- I have my family, Irvine."
"You- what?...how COULD YOU- …..yeah, right….."
"But yeah, I really want to see that guy again….", he forced a grin in doubt. He actually wanted to cry. He felt nothing but guilt which mixed by confusion due to his new responsible as Clive the head family of little happy family in Winhill, and God! He missed that man so much. His brother. His best friend. The one who shared his childhood times. His commander. The one who always saved him so many times during his critic periods when dead was likely to approached. He had saved his life for so many uncounted times! He almost idolized him unconsciously.
"So, we'll search Rinoa and try whatever ways to stop her being used by those crazy Dolletian, and then search for Squall. We could first-"
"Irvy…why?", Zell unsure and weak voice interrupted. "the world has abandoned us. Everybody want us dead. And you… you got that torture for years….
Why…? Why still care of the world? Why do you still want to play hero? Why must we play hero again? Doesn't the world... have already betrayed you?"
"I can't see anything I could do beside it. I don't have anything left to do beside it, Zell. That's why.", he said and bidding his hair to a ponytail.
"….."
"…."
"I have my family.", Zell said but much more likely to convince himself.
"If these things goin' on smoothly… then your family too, wouldn't be alive. Or wouldn't have place to live… nothing. Think of it, Zell!"
"…"
Silence again.
"So, what will we do now?", Zell broke the silence.
"Let's go to Dollet first"
Zell rose up. "I'll tell Selphie then."
Irvine hesitated." No, let me do it."
"….."
Don't too hard on her, man.
-O.O-
meanwhile…
"! It's up! Finished, Squall! We'll blown off….!"
The plane was trembling due to sudden low pressure.
"the gravity! We're going down! You HEAR ME?", Seifer shouted in panic.
"….Emergency landing."
"Damn! Idiot! No luxury like that!"
"…then let's jump off, Seifer. Lower again the height to your best. As far as you could. ", Squall threw the parachute bag to Seifer then walked fast and opened the emergency door.
The air pouring in... the pressure increased.
"in 3 second.", Squal said.
Yeah…how Squall still remained calm was really a beauty of Commander- um- ex-Commander Squall Leonhart. Seifer felt sudden respect to his former rival despite his sarcasm thought.
-O.O-
OOOO
-O.O-
"*cough* *cough* where is this?", Squall tried to rise up.
"…..dunes….what? still in Centra? ….Esthar? Where is other fucking place which has dunes?", Seifer answered.
Squall looked around.
"You can't get us deviated that much…..-near the missile base…. I've seen a hint of Island Closest to Hell before we fell…. Come."
"GREAT? NOW WE'RE IN NOWHERE!", then he screamed.
Squall in the other hand looked in foresight.
"Not in the middle of nowhere. Kretia. Isn't it what it called? Small city near the Missile Base territory."
"Huh? Kret-what? A new nation… again?"
"It was always been there…. But you just never noticed. We've never noticed the small nation- no city- uh! Whatever - since we'd too busy with the big ones as if those small towns never existed in our world map during the sorcerer war.", Squall answered.
"Hah,…ok,., you'd make a good journalist."
"Whatever", Squall ignored the comment and walked ahead.
"Look… the water….. this river….Shepern River. We're closer than we thought."
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"Say… what will you do, Squall? ….. Is it better to know everything but not in details or just one thing but completely handled?"
"Why do you ask that so suddenly? I'm not in the mood of mind games."
"Me will choose one thing but completely well handled…"
"Whatever."
"See? I guess we're really opposites… you-", Seifer looked at his eyes directly. "-would want to know everything and consider everything, right? …..you're a greedy one. Just be careful, or you lose all of your chances."
"I'm more complex than you think, Seifer."
Squall walked off, while Seifer just chuckled by himself and followed Squall.
+/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/++/++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++/+
They arrived at the gate.
"You sure this is a city? It's just a dump hell hole for me.", Seifer commented.
"…"
"or a graveyard…"
"Let's go inside first."
"Even they have no guards to block us and ask our identity card."
They approached the inn.
Squall opened the wooden gate and the wooden door.
An old fat man with beard and glasses only sat idly there in the receptionist desk, staring Squall without any reaction as if Squall was not supposed to be there. Curiosity in which details were matters.
Squall was already used to that kind of stare since he'd that famous for his so called crimes.
He cleared the throat. "Is this inn open for rent?"
the fat man now suddenly greeted him as if he had just woken from his dream
"uh- ay, sorry. Of….. course!- of course!"
So it's not about him being the famous Squall Leonhart the criminal.
Well, this man is apparently not expecting any guest…
"Where is everybody?", was the first thing Seifer impatiently said.
"Yes. It's too quiet.", Squall added.
"Refuge. Find shelters…."
"For?"
"Appearance of sorcerer in Deling".
What? Squall believed he had been screaming but apparently was just n his own mind.
"Look at the slight darker sky over there? It's the lunatic Pandora. Moon cry will soon approach us again."
"WHAT?", finally the scream out.
"Reign of terror has come again…"
"Where do you get this information?"
"Isn't it obvious, young man? And I still have that TV! The white day….The president gone… the sorcerer come to their city… and if anything happened….look! Kretia is the closest nation to get the impact! We're just several miles…."
That is why no more back ups arrived from Galbadia…so we could run…they had their domestic problem….. the military power is needed….
Squall eyes widened and widened as he heard the old man. While in the other hand, Seifer just shut his mouth since minutes ago (which also made Squall curious).
Then Squall turned to see Seifer. He was apparently looking at the newspaper with eyes fixed.
Winhill is under attack…that's why Dollet also didn't send any more back ups…
That left Esthar…..
"Squall, so, you're going to Deling city now?", Seifer suddenly broke the silence.
Squall suddenly ran outside. He swing his gunblade madly. Several men fell to their death.
"…..where are they? How much?", he threatened one of them
The man didn't answer.
He killed him.
One of the dying men then answered weakly.
"2 batallions. 1 small group advancing. Near obel lake. 1 airship…hhhhhhhhhhh!", Squall released the coward soldier. Which then suddenly killed by the bullet as Seifer pulled hyperion trigger.
Squal narrowing his eyes in disagreement. Seifer really didn't have to kill the poor guy.
"Just to make it clear. Estarh?"
Squall nodded.
"With their technology, they could arrive here within this hour…"
Now they were running, pursuing the train which delivered military goods from old missile base to Deling city. A quiet risky way. But for them, it would be better somehow to approach the most unthinkable place, the enemy itself.( and lower rank soldiers could be fooled easily). Less would think they'd use the Galbadian vessel to arrive there.
"Go ahead, Squall. You must hurry."
"And you? Change your mind suddenly?"
"I'll catch up you with you later."
Squall jumped on the train.
"Sorry, Squall,"
What for? He had no choice but move on, later, he'd ask Seifer.
Winhill siege…
What's about it?
Anyway, he's still felt extremely exhausted after doing two grand summoning in one time. He was crazy, he knew it. He was nearly killed himself for it.
And Seifer did not have to know about this.
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PRESIDENT CARAWAY'S RUMORED DEATH, NUMBER ONE PRISONER LOST, GALBADIAN WHITE DAYS CANCELLED
Timber Maniac ed 875.
"and don't forget hot issue bout the vanish of Ragnarok! New edition of Timber Maniac! Get it now! See the chaotic world we're facing now! Timber Maniac!", a newspaper boy shouted , in the busy marketplace of Timber.
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[end of chapter "the white days"]
-O.O-
That's it. review please.