April 3rd

"Leon, what's happening?!" Ellone ran over to him as soon as he was pushed threw the cell doors.

He ignored her and immediately stood up and turned around. Isis and Pebble had just closed the doors and started to walk back to Rinoa's room. Leon shook the bars with all his strength and let out all his rage trying to open them.

"She's going to kill her!" he yelled not stopping

"Who?!" they asked together

Leon paused and sighed deeply. His head hung low. His hand was still gripped tightly around the cell bar.

"Maleficent's performing the ceremony tonight. Rinoa's going to die…and I can't do a fucking thing about it!" he once again let out his anger on the bars. He kicked it with his foot but after decided it had been a bad idea as a throbbing pain shot up his body. He roared and dropped to the floor; putting his head in his hands.

"…because I had to go and see her, I got her into the trouble I was trying to protect her from…"

Everyone was quiet…Irvine was the first to do something. He squatted next to Leon but still kept a small distance,

"Squall, listen to me. What did I tell you? During the ceremony is the best time to escape, we can-"

"NO! I'm not leaving Rinoa here by herself!"

"Let me finish!" Irvine shifted slightly "In the ceremony there's a part during it where both Rinoa and Maleficent are unconscious. It's just as the power is being transferred. If we can escape at that time, then we can grab Rinoa before she runs out of life and flee before Maleficent revives fully. We'll just need to find something to fight with and make sure we get there in time,"

"Irvine that's brilliant!" Ellone jumped up in the air

"I'm sure we could get some tools from the work site, its better then nothing," Quistis explained

"Well, my weapons are these fists of mine," Zell stated pumping his arm in the air "I'm sure I could hold anyone off until we get something to use"

"Yeah, come on Squall!" Irvine punched him lightly on the arm "Don't give up before you've tried"

Leon lifted his head to his friends standing above him. Zell gestured his hand forward. Slowly Leon placed his hand inside Zell's and pulled himself up. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out the iron key,

"…I'm in" he nodded

Everyone cheered and hopped in the air.

"Okay people," Zell said "Here's what I think we should do…"

X-X-X

The sun had set fully and now the silver moon was rising high in the sky. The group were fidgeting doing double checks in their head. Some had collected some possessions they didn't want to leave behind. Leon stood near the cell door; not moving at all, focusing completely on the plan. He closed his eyes and he found his grip on the bar was growing tighter. Out of all of the fights he'd had in his life he found this to be the most important. This time he didn't have his Angel beside him, aiding him. This time it was all for her. To save her and return to the life they once had.

Suddenly a loud gong echoed through the castle. Leon's eyes shot open.

"It's time," He said quietly. He turned to see everyone waiting. He once again pulled out his key and opened the door. He stood for a couple of seconds before he stepped through but then stopped.

"This is it, guys," Zell exclaimed

"Now or never," Ellone agreed

"Remember what we're doing this for," Irvine remarked

"For all the years we've been trapped here," Quistis started

"For all the lives lost…" Zell added

"For all of the hard work!" Ellone hollered

"…For Rinoa," Leon whispered

Everyone nodded. Leon took a deep breath and continued walking forward. The others followed proud to once again be behind their leader. Leon reached the large metal door and pulled it open. The entrance facing a large window.

"That's our freedom…" he said softly

"Then that's where we heading!" Zell yelled and with one swift movement he pushed Leon through and the group started running down the hall towards the tool room…all that is…except for Quistis.

As expected the halls were empty where everyone was at the ceremony. They reached the tool room with ease and started rummaging for something they could use. Ellone picked up a steel pipe, luckily light enough for her to use. Irvine found a large spanner. Not what he was used to but it would have to do. Leon looked around for something he could substitute his gunblade with. It was during this time he noticed Quistis's absence.

"Where's Quistis?!" He yelled

Everyone looked around them frantically. Just as Leon was about to head back she appeared at the tool room door carrying his gunblade

"My…my gunblade?" Leon stuttered amazed

"When you first arrived I saw Rinoa smuggle it into her room. I thought it would come in handy"

"Thanks Quisty"

The two exchanged a smile.

"Right I guess I need to find me a weapon now,"

She started to look until Zell came up behind her and passed her a pieced of rope attached to a small pipe. He smiled cheekily.

"Ugh, no thanks" Quistis started searching through the tools and found a chain and ice pick and using another, smaller chain managed to fasten them together.

"I have no idea how long it will hold. But its better than nothing"

Leon nodded and led the group out of the room and toward the main hall.

X-X-X

Rinoa was lying unconscious on a stone slab, she was usually awake at this time, but due to the circumstances she had been kept asleep. She had been changed into the long, black gown and she had some form of head gear on around her forehead. Maleficent was sitting on her thrown; the same one in which Leon had first seen her. Some subordinates were running around planning things. Many looked worried and knew now; this was the end for Rinoa. Leon was hiding with the others behind pillars and plants, watching silently. Leon wanted nothing more than to go and grab her. But he knew this had to be done delicately and at the precise moment. He gripped the hilt of his gunblade and steadied his nerves.

Eventually a gong was hit and the whole hall stopped moving, and Maleficent began to rise. She stepped forward and smirked. Her pet crow circled above her and then settled on the top of her thrown. Maleficent walked all the way to Rinoa and skimmed her cheek with her nail. She then laughed and turned to the Zorics.

"Well, my family, today I will be receiving the last outburst of power. Now, I must let you know this is not my decision. But having Angel here, would merely be a threat to us. She fraternised with outsiders and planned to have your Queen killed" She walked a few paces away from Rinoa and stood in the middle of a chalk-drawn circle on the floor. "She's a danger. So despite your protests, remember she is the evil one and would just hurt us if she were to stay!"

Zorics looked at one another, and all of their eyes said the same thing. None of them wanted their Angel to die. But they didn't have a choice.

Maleficent smirked and was ready to take in the power. She spread her arms wide and smiled. Two Zorics walked forward to where Rinoa was and each held a dagger. They lifted them high into the air; above Rinoa's flesh. Leon jolted forward ready to defend her, but Irvine and Zell pulled him back.

"No!" Irvine hissed "Don't worry!"

Leon looked forward and then saw. The Zorics had cut their left hands; a long, deep slit down the palm. Blood dripped onto Rinoa's flesh. They gripped each others hands tightly and the blood oozed out and then, repositioning their hands, it dripped into her forehead where the head gear was, then the small crystal, Leon thought was decoration, began to glow.

The Zorics jumped back and kneeled on the floor either side of her. Rinoa's body started to glow. Once again the features of an evil sorceress shone through. Her nails dug into her own hands and the wings from her back were now almost completely black, save for the whitish, silver tips.

She was then lifted vertically and she spun slowly towards Maleficent, who was smirking from ear to ear. In synchronisation their hands went up to their chests and they cupped together over their hearts. Maleficent's eyes glowed bright green, as Rinoa's glowed amber, then their heads flopped and their arms flew back. From Rinoa orbs of grey light flew from her and headed towards Maleficent; landing on her one by one.

Irvine nodded and sprung forward.

"NOW!"

Leon and the others jumped out from behind the pillar and ran forward; their weapons in hand. Heartless and Zorics ran to stop them but Leon flew up and sliced anyone who got in his way. The others fought of as best they could with the equipment they had. Leon used this chance to run towards where Rinoa was floating. He jumped on the stone slab, but as he was about to grab Rinoa from mid-air, a large Zoric flew at his body and knocked him to the ground. Leon skidded across the floor and then dug his gunblade into the ground making him stop. He stood up and pulled his weapon out and aimed it at his enemy. He didn't have much time and needed to get to Rinoa soon. The Zoric flew towards him again and tried to slash at him with a small dagger. Leon back stepped and rolled to the side, dodging most attacks; except for a few slicing him in various places. At one point he became pinned to the ground; the Zoric about to slice at this throat. But then Rinoa caught his eyes. She was slowly floating down, her power still going into Maleficent. His love for Rinoa gave him the strength he needed. He pushed the Zoric off him and then sliced him across the chest with his gunblade. Blood started gushing from the Zoric's chest and he fell to the ground, unable to move anymore. Leon then used every muscle in his body and ran as fast as he could to Rinoa. Her body had begun twitching as she became weaker and weaker. He wasn't sure how to stop her from giving her power away. He grabbed her foot from the air and pulled her down. Using his body as an anchor; he then pulled her close him by her hand and gripped onto her tightly. He could feel the energy pass through him and to maleficent. It drained him slightly but that still didn't stop him. She tried shaking her away, but nothing could wake her.

"RINOA COME ON!" he yelled; still shaking her "I need you!"

Rinoa's eyes shot open, she looked and acted more animal than human. She dug her claws into Leon's arms and hissed violently; trying to escape. He winced but took the pain. He squinted his eyes shut and looked at her. And that's when he saw it…the gem on her forehead was cover by the blood from the Zorics. And then it would travel along the headband and around her markings. The zoric's blood was the reason she was like this and only he could free her.

He could feel her grip getting tighter as the blood began running thin; showing the ending of her life. He looked into her amber eyes and saw tears gathering, and soon they started to fall down her cheeks. And that's when he realised. She wasn't gripping onto him because she was a monster….no; it was because she was scared. Leon didn't waste any time, he managed to pull one arm away and then he ripped off the headband. As he pulled it away, red, blood like energy travelled through her veins and seeped through her skull and into his hand. He through down the band and Rinoa started to jolt frantically. Her energy was going haywire and her body was losing control. Her nails were growing longer then the claws they already were, and still they were digging into Leon's arms. He groaned in pain and clenched his eyes shut. Then something clicked in his brain,

"I remember reading fairytales as a girl," Rinoa picked up a book and held it close "My mum used to read them to me before she died. She promised me…that no matter the problem, as long as my true love kissed me…it would all go away. Just like the princess in my story book…"

Leon shot his eyes open and looked at Rinoa's face. Its look was of pure fright and tears streamed down her face. He then wasted no time, and pulled her close and kissed her. He put all of his feelings, the love he felt for her, the way he'd missed her so, and the hope for their future into this kiss.

"It's just a fairytale ending, Rinoa. I doubt a kiss can do anything. Truth be told, there really are no endings…until death comes along. And no one can control the time someone's meant to go" Squall lifted the book and flicked through it.

Rinoa snatched it from his hands.

"Squall Leonhart! Are you trying to dash my hopes and dreams of finding my prince?!"

"Well…" Squall stood up and grabbed Rinoa, holding her close, "As far as I'm aware…you already found your knight in shining armour"

"Haha, more like shining leather!"

Squall rolled his eyes and then pulled Rinoa closer…

But how he was wrong, a kiss could do everything. Rinoa pushed away from him and held onto her chest as a terrible pain shot through her. She was taken into the air. And a loud piercing scream echoed through the hall; causing everyone to stop their battles.

Rinoa was glowing pure white. Her wings were stretching as far as they could go and her arms were stretching with them. Her head was thrust back. The glowing light circled her and twisted around her body. Leon looked over to Maleficent who had now been cut off from the power flow and had been pushed back and was drained of power. He had been pushed to the ground also and he was frozen as he looked up at her watching her once again, transform. But this time, it was oh so completely different.

Rinoa's nails were shrinking back into normal length and the blood on her skin from the Zorics was disappearing all together. Her face no longer had the dark markings on it and her teeth were shrinking back. She held onto her rings as a pain shot up her back, making her arch. Her wings started spreading even wider and lifted themselves up; which was hurting her the most. From the bottom the black feathers had started shredding themselves off the wings and fell around her into the air. Underneath the black feathers, her original white ones returned. Maleficent jumped from the floor and ran towards her about to cast a powerful spell with her staff, despite how exhausted she was. Then Rinoa began glowing brighter and brighter and Leon needed to shield his eyes, and the whole room was caught in her energy. He heard a thump on the floor and a spine crawling scream and when he opened them, he saw Rinoa crouched on the floor, and in front of her was Maleficent, unconscious against her thrown. Leon got up and walked forward slowly; Quistis and the rest had appeared behind him.

"…Rinoa…?"

She slowly got up, and stiffly turned to look at him, her eyes were now glowing white. She smiled to Leon and extended her hand forward, and as soon as she grabbed it the holy energy disappeared and Rinoa collapsed into his arms.

"RINOA!"

"Squall! Don't worry! She's just tired! Let's get out of here before we lose our chance!" Quistis picked up his gunblade and gestured to the door.

Squall nodded and along with the others started to run, but when they reached the exit of the main hall the castle began to shake.

"What's going on?!" Ellone screamed

"Without Rinoa AND Maleficent's power keeping this place together it's collapsing!" Zell yelled

Everyone looked at each for just a split second and then started to run further into the castle to the exit. They had to dodge boulders and bricks. Chandeliers and ladders left carelessly to one side. Soon, the ground was shaking so much; it was hard to keep balance. Leon carried Rinoa tightly and led the way finding the exit. Quistis was having trouble with his gunblade because of its weight and was at the tail end of the group. She had been keeping up until she tripped on a fallen brick and landed with a heap on the floor. The castle started shaking even more and from the ceiling above her a large boulder came hurtling to the ground and caused an avalanche of rocks, small boulders and bricks to fall onto Quistis, she pushed the ones off her head but her legs were stuck and she couldn't move. Zell turned and saw and ran back to help her.

"No! Zell just go! I'll get out of here soon! But you need to leave!"

"No, Quistis! I can't lose another friend because of my own selfishness I'm getting you outta here!" Zell then shouted to the others who had stopped too "Just go! We'll get outta here okay!"

Leon looked to the others and then nodded and ran further towards the exit. Boulders of all sizes came crashing down. He never knew there could be such a wreck. When they found the main exit they crashed through it and were glad to see the outside. But they still needed to get off the small island in the centre of the canyon. They reached the edge and looked for a solution. Suddenly they heard a crash and behind them the west tower had fallen and crushed the door.

"ZELL! QUISTIS!"

They couldn't hear anything from inside. Leon cursed himself, now all he could do was focus on the others. He turned a few times and then by sheer luck he found a long pathway to the ground. He led the way and after running for over a mile they arrived at Crystal Cave.

He was still holding onto Rinoa when he fell back against the wall, gasping for breath.

"Do you think we're safe?"

Irvine looked around and nodded. Ellone looked back towards the castle. From what she could see, it was now just a big pile of rubble.

"I guess no matter what…we're always going to lose someone huh?"

"You never know Elle. They could have gotten out" Irvine put his arm around her shoulder hoping himself, he was right.

Leon looked at Rinoa in his arms. He used his teeth to pull off his glove and then brushed his fingers against her face. She fluttered her eyes open softly and smiled. Too weak to say a word, but Leon could tell how happy she was. For as soon as she saw that they were out of the castle…tears fell down her cheeks once more. Leon pulled her closer and held her tightly. He could feel her hand softly grip onto his sleeve. He kissed her forehead and lifted her up again. He looked over to the castle and sighed. If Irvine was wrong…then he would forever pay loyalties to his deceased friends.

"Guys...?" He turned to Irvine and Ellone; "Let's go home…"