"Jake! Get back in bed NOW!!!" Aegle shouted, running over to stop me. I simply shoved her aside.
"I... WON'T." I said forcefully.
"Jake..." Aegle almost cried.
"I have to get strong enough to beat them. I have to get Illumina. I have to... fufill my destiny," I said. I kept limping forward, ignoring Aegle's cries. I kept staggering down the halls, becoming slightly lost. I had found the door, still staggering, when someone came running up from behind me.
"You! Get back in bed!" I heard someone say. I turned around to see Squall standing there, blade drawn. "I'll use force if I have to!"
"I won't let someone else decide what I'll do. You don't have the right to tell me what to do," I said. "Get in my way, and you might regret it."
"You... you sound like Riku used to," he said, then shook his head. "But that's just a memory!"
He came running at me. I did my best to pull out my sword, but the pain in my fingers wouldn't allow it. I knew I couln't use hand seals, either. But just when I thought I was going to be dragged back into a bed, darkness came pouring in from a window. The darkness faded, leaving the black-cloaked woman Ike had dueled with standing there.
"His path is his own. You cannot tell him where to go, Squall," she said, placing particular disgust in his name.
"You... you're Roy's eternal nemesis. Amy Riesa..." Squall said, stepping back in fear. "No! There's no way I'll let you take this boy! I'll defeat you right here!"
Amy only laughed, taking off her hood.
"You... beat me? That's impossible. Even a holy demon has trouble with it," Amy said cruelly. "You don't have a chance."
"We'll see about that!" Squall shouted, charging at her with his gunblade. He nearly made the stroke when Amy waved her hand, and a barrier of darkness shielded her. Squall tried many moves, but they were all blocked by Amy, and she seemed to do it effortlessly.
"It's futile. Not a single stroke can pass through this, no matter how much effort you put into it. Now..." she said, blasting Squall with a ball of dark energy from her palm, "go tell your friends to stay out of my way. Be thankful I'm showing you mercy. Now GO!"
Squall shuffled to his feet, then ran off.
"And now for you..." Amy said, turning aroud. Now that I got a look at her face, I recognized her. She went to school with Roy... I could tell. I'd seen her on the High School orientation field trip.
I tried to pull out my sword, but my fingers still wouldn't allow it. I forced it and immediately regretted it, dropping my drawn sword in front of me. Amy laughed.
"What's so funny?!" I asked angrily.
"Oh, nothing. Your resolve just reminds me of someone," she replied.
"Roy?" I asked.
"Yes... that hero. He's rather persistent, wouldn't you say?" she asked me.
"What are you talking about? I've only seen two people that really caught my eye since I got here... Ike and Charon," I replied.
"Ike...? Oh, I see..." Amy said. She laughed. "What an amusing ruse."
"It's not a ruse! He cut off my Cursed Seal. I'm... powerless," I muttered.
"Well, I have two options for you. I will grant you one of two requests: I can release Ike's Judgment Seal, or I can heal all of your broken bones," Amy offered. "Which will it be?"
"I don't think I should trust you," I said. "You're Roy's nemesis, or so Squall said. Why should I trust you?"
"I am not your enemy," she said. "Roy may challenge me, but I have no reason to harm you. As a matter of fact, Roy is a far different person from who you remember. So, will you accept my help?"
"Why should I?" I asked.
"It will take approximately two months for your bones to heal. That Judgment Seal will never come undone, save with my power. So, will you accept?" Amy asked again, somewhat forceful this time.
"I... suppose so. Please," I begged, "heal my bones."
"Very well," she said. Everything went dark. When the light came back, Amy was gone. I leaned down to grab my sword, feeling no pain from my ribs. I grasped the blade and sheathed it without pain.
"So she did help me. Well, I don't have my Cursed Seal, but it's enough for now," I muttered. "Now, I have to go to the World that Never Was to get Illumina!"
I hit my communicator and teleported up to my Gummi Ship...