Chapter 41

Raikou

Tyris spent a restless night at the round forest's edge, a few miles east of the stone house. She had taken a small hanging kettle and an old sheet to use as a bedroll. Sighting a red squirrel curiously watching her from a branch, she slew it with a small lightning bolt, using another bolt to start a cooking fire once she had gathered sufficient kindling. She cooked the squirrel and boiled some water from a nearby stream, but the modest meal was inadequate, and the wood gave up its warmth before sleep could take her.

Watching the stars twinkling between the leaves, Tyris had no idea what she was going to say to everyone upon her return. Least of all Fujin, her surrogate mother. Perhaps she should just stay in this forest, among the chocobos and moogles, as Thalassa had done as a child. The war would go on, yet regardless of the outcome, Tyris could just remain a forester or nomad. Her Guardian Forces would remain free, and she could live the rest of her life in peace.

'The coward's way out,' she said aloud.

Thalassa and the others needed her power. And she could never truly live peacefully while General Zebalga and Ultimecia drew breath.

Truly said, child, Ramuh said. We never would have leant you our power, had we doubted for one second you had what was necessary to see this war through to the end.

'I want to go on fighting, but Squall and the others don't trust me! Rhodry, Ellone and her family hate me! The young Edea will grow to hate me, too! I still have to face Fujin, and when I do rejoin the fight, I'll be faced with Selena as well! Thalassa is my only friend; the only one that understands!'

Lay your mind at ease, child, Ramuh said. Those are worries for the morrow. It is fruitless to dwell on them now.

She sat up, checking if her exasperations had drawn unwanted attention.

'If only you had a better understanding of how the human mind works, Ramuh!' she ranted. 'If you did, then maybe we wouldn't lose our memories over time, as well! Things like anxiety and PTSD can't just be switched off! It would be nice if you only took the bad memories. If I never had to remember the night my parents died again, or the way Hikaru or Seifer died, it would be too soon!'

Sleep, child. Ramuh's voice was gentle. We must return to the Thunder Plains on the morrow. You are worthy of something that resides there; Quetzalcoatl and I have decided the time has come for its new owner.

Tyris managed little sleep. Wondering what Ramuh had in store for her had taken her thoughts in a different direction, and he would not reveal what it was. She woke red-eyed with the sunrise, as she always did unless dawn's light were totally blacked out. She was hungry again, but there was no time to hunt if she wished to be back at Battleship Island before last light. Riding Quetzal once more, it took her an hour to reach her destination. The Thunder Plains were on the southern side of Poccarachi Island, a small subcontinent in western Centra yet to come under Ultimecia's shadow.

It was always dark here, the furious storm clouds never dissipating over a boggy stretch of land that extended for a dozen miles. The ancient Centrans had never been able to build here, the swampland unsuitable for their innovative brick and mortar structures. Some of Centra's bravest warriors undertook pilgrimages to visit Ramuh, only those with a pure and gallant heart able to return with the Old One's blessing; those with malicious intentions would be smote down. Some of the most famous Centrans had junctioned with Ramuh, Knight Zefer being the most notorious.

Over two years ago, while Tyris had been undergoing her officer training with the regular army, her legion had been given the ill-fated mission of raiding the Thunder Plains and bringing Ramuh into the Empress' service. With a complete disregard for their lives, Tyris knew Ultimecia's intention had been for Ramuh to expend his energy on her troops, then swoop in to enslave the Old One herself. They had landed on the northern coast. Upon reaching the swampy plains, most of the soldiers had been struck down, but enough of them reached the lightning-blue monument at the centre to trouble Ramuh.

As Ramuh's lightning smote dozens of Esthari at a time, Tyris had charged with her spear. Briefly, she had met the eyes of the Old One, who had looked deep into her heart and mind. He had been aware of Sorceress Reina enslaving his brethren, and sensed the true resentment of the Empress in Tyris' aura. Ramuh had lowered his guard just enough for Tyris to run him through with her spear, and his essence of hovering lightning had been suspended before her, in view of her surviving troops. His voice had touched her mind for the first time, telling her to draw him into the magicite.

This had been a great risk, as there was no guarantee she would have been allowed to keep it, though Ramuh would have run out of power eventually and opted to take the chance. The end result would not have differed. Tyris had returned to Palamecia, the capital of Centra's colony, with the magicite. Following her success, she was summoned to meet with the Empress. It would be the first time Tyris had met her since the attack on the orphanage. Thankfully, as Tiamat would not betray Tyris' aura to his captor, the Empress had taken her triumph at face value. The prospective Lieutenant Pandemona had knelt and offered the Empress the crystal. Reina had told Tyris that she would be a fine officer – much like her mentor, Selena – though would favour her application for a position in the Praetorian Guard. In honour of her gallantry, the Empress had allowed her to keep the magicite.

Now she knew who her mother really was, when Tyris thought back to that meeting, she wondered if Ultimecia had sensed whether she had the capacity to bear Hyne's power.

Quetzal flew straight for the obelisk at the Thunder Plains' centre, slowing as he approached. At the top of the monument was an ordinary leaf-headed spear used by the ancient Centran hoplites. The dory was still there, having apparently not moved an inch since Tyris was last here.

The Raikou is yours, Stormbringer.

The lightning spear of legend. Forged by the GF Raijin when he was whole, it was rivalled only by Odin's Gungnir.

Ramuh, are you certain? she thought back to him.

Yes. Only the bearer of Quetzal and I can wield it, and you have proven yourself more than worthy. With it, you will have the power to challenge Ultimecia.

She gripped the wooden shaft of the spear from atop the raised section of stone. As humble as it looked, she could feel the power contained within it. Looking to the black clouds, Tyris raised the spear to the heavens.

She was answered with hundreds of lightning bolts that converged to strike to the tip of the spearhead, the electricity coursing through her with an intensity that would have killed any unjunctioned human a thousand times over. Her hair stood completely on end, neat spikes answering the call of the rolling thunder raging above her. The spear began to change, the shaft becoming crystalline and shifting to a lightning blue. The leaf-head morphed into a jagged bolt-shape, razor edged on both sides, its colour matching Quetzal's hide. The length of the weapon changed, perfectly tailored to Tyris' size, feeling as light as the leaf the head had just resembled. As the lightning abated, Tyris' hair reverted to normal.

Ramuh spoke to her mind again.

You are Tyris Stormbringer! Proud daughter of Edea and Cid; brother of Seifer; bearer of the Two Halves of Raijin; rightful wielder of Raikou; and a latent Descendant of Hyne in your own right! Now, you shall take your rightful place as a decider of fate!

With all the doubt and anxiety of the previous night gone from her, Tyris willed Quetzal to head back for Battleship Island. Raikou rested across her lap, its untapped reserves of power aiding the Feathered Snake's flight.

Tyris reached Battleship Island just before the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. There was no need for the crew members to raise the alarm as they saw Quetzal approach the broad deck. Squall was already there, along with several other notable members of the Allies.

Tyris landed a few yards from them, in an open space containing crates and pallets. She saw Rinoa and Selphie standing with Squall. Behind them was Rhodry, Thalassa and Gerra. Beyond those three were older White SeeDs that Tyris recognised as Kurin and Celes. Bringing up the rear was Nida, who had a distant look in his eyes, just the hand of his left arm visible at the centre of his uniform. Fujin was not with them.

She also recognised Ballad Deling, leader of the Garlands. He was the only one who approached her. Tyris raised Raikou as he drew his gladiuses, but he took a knee and bowed his head.

'You may have been a sworn enemy of my country, Lieutenant Pandemona, but it's an honour to meet you! With your ambush on General Zebalga's vanguard, you gave my Troopers much-needed morale and preluded our counterstrike! The Adel Unit is no more, and Garland is forever in your debt! May your story of adversity inspire generations of Garlands to come, Stormbringer!'

It was with a start Tyris remembered it had been her mother who had publicly killed Ballad's father, albeit under Ultimecia's control. The moment Sorceress Edea had seized power in Galbadia, casting Vinzer Deling's lifeless body aside to the frenzied roars of approval from a fanatical crowd. Though Ballad would be ignorant of Tyris' true parentage.

For another minute, at least.

'Thank you for your kind words,' Tyris said hesitantly, lowering her new weapon. She paused, unfamiliar with the Galbadian's rank. 'Commander Deling. As the new bearer of Cerberus, I trust you are worthy of the Gatekeeper's power. May we fight side by side in the coming battles.'

She offered her hand. Ballad grinned broadly as he stood and approached her, seizing it with a grip that skirted the border on strong, but not uncomfortably so. Going by her scant romantic relations with men, he had her approval. He was tall, his tan a golden brown and his short, black hair faded around the ears. His beard was neatly trimmed, and his chiselled arms were covered in intricate sleeves of tattoos.

'All Garlands bear the rank of Trooper, Lieutenant,' Ballad explained, 'though I was nominated as their leader after Timber.'

'For good reason, I'm sure,' Tyris replied. 'I am a Lieutenant no longer, Trooper.' She shot an icy look at Thalassa and the three Children of Fate, who had tentatively approached with the others, wary of the motionless Quetzal. 'I am simply Tyris Almasy now,' she clarified. 'The daughter of Cid and Edea.'

Ballad's expression changed, yet it was not one of blame or anger, and with a flash, it was gone. Tyris was finally at enough ease to recall Quetzal. She then looked to Thalassa, who shook her head apologetically, looking away in defeat.

'Why didn't any of you tell me the truth?' Tyris snapped. 'About who my parents were? I've spent my whole life thinking Seifer and Fujin were my mother and father, and I hated them for living free after allowing me to be taken!'

Thalassa's mouth opened, but it was a few seconds before she spoke. 'It was a closely guarded secret, Ty. It wasn't my place to tell you, and I was waiting for us to go back to Edea's House together!'

'I knew,' Squall admitted. 'Tyris, I'm sorry you found out the way you did, but there wouldn't have been an easy way. I didn't say anything at the memorial because I knew you would be watching, and I didn't want you finding out in an off-handed way. Though if you recall your debrief, I never once referred to Seifer as your father. Nor Fujin or Ifrit as your mother or brother.'

Tyris realised Squall was right.

Ballad said nothing, nor did any of the others. The Garland leader's expression was neutral, and Tyris knew his father's death was going to be a behemoth that she would need to address someday. But not today.

'It appears you haven't just been to the orphanage,' Rhodry remarked, gesturing to Raikou.

'Ramuh implored me to revisit the Thunder Plains,' Tyris offered. 'I needed a new spear; Dragonhair should be returned to the museum at Sarona.'

'And you were able to get that spear!' Selphie commented with fascination. 'The Raikou!'

'I don't ever expect any of you to trust me,' Tyris said, 'but Ramuh and Quetzal know my loyalty. They would not entrust me with such power if I were in league with Ultimecia.'

'I trust you, Tyris,' Squall declared, 'and that should be good enough for the rest of us. I mean, we're willing to trust someone who spent years as Ultimecia's Knight.' Squall glanced at Gerra. 'You're right on time, anyway, Tyris. I want you to attend our meeting. Come with us, please.'

Tyris was taken aback. This had not been the reception she was expecting, at all. Thalassa waited for her as the others continued walking toward some large doors, which opened into an empty goods lift.

'How was it?' her friend asked. 'The orphanage, I mean. I never went back after the... funeral, but I've passed it on the ship a few times.'

'It's in ruins again,' Tyris told her. 'But there's something still quaint and beautiful about it,' she remarked, understanding why Squall and Rinoa had sought refuge there during the Second Sorceress War. 'Alexander is still there. I'd say it looks the same as it did when Squall rediscovered it twenty years ago.'

Kurin's head turned. 'You saw the Holy Sentinel?'

'Not in his true form,' Tyris clarified. 'Alexander spoke with me, though, and restored the tomb when I asked him to. Now, it looks as though it were placed there yesterday.'

Tyris and Thalassa entered the lift last. She moved to the side so she could keep an eye on everybody else. They descended in a silence that Tyris found a little uneasy, considering many of the world's most powerful forces were all contained within. Squall led the way with Rinoa, down a couple of corridors. The SeeD leader stopped before some automatic glass doors, which he opened with a key card. He walked inside, around a sizeable rectangular conference table with a thick glass top, to the leather chair at the head of the table.

Rinoa and Selphie took the seats either side of Squall, followed by Rhodry, Nida, Ballad and the White SeeD leaders. Gerra sat next to Rhodry. Tyris hesitated at the open doors, then decided to take the seat directly opposite Squall. She placed Raikou in front of her, across the table, which placed a barrier between the others and herself in her mind. One she would remove when she was ready. Thalassa immediately sat to her side, which was okay.

The Lionheart spoke first. 'Tyris, we're gathering here to formally plan our next courses of action. As the bearer of Ramuh and Quetzalcoatl, you will be needed in the race to recruit the remaining GFs. Are you still willing to aid us?'

Tyris nodded once. 'Of course.'

'Thalassa and Ballad will be accompanying Gerra to the Fire Cavern. A daring undertaking, as Balamb is in enemy territory. They will be picked up by a trawlerman named George – the leader of FH's resistance cells – heading southeast on the guise of fishing the Albatross. Thalassa mentioned you had expressed an interest in joining them.'

Squall paused, and she nodded again.

'Gerra will be travelling in such strength to ensure he reaches his destination, as they could be discovered by patrols. Thankfully, the Cavern is on the eastern end of the Rinaul Coast, only a mile onshore. Once within it, only Gerra will be able to reach Phoenix's lair. Are you still willing to accompany them?'

'I am,' Tyris confirmed.

'Our simultaneous journeys will be almost as dangerous. For those who are unaware, Diablos was pulled back to the uncharted depths of the Jade Passage after I freed him from a certain lamp, during the Second Sorceress War. Legend holds that Griever was displeased with Diablos for taking no sides during the War of the GFs. As penance, Diablos was banished to end of the Jade Passage, to guard the Interdimensional Rift until the end of Griever's Long Slumber.'

'The Rift?' Thalassa queried suddenly. 'The one Gilgamesh searches for?'

'I presume so.'

Squall did not seem bothered by the interruption, so great was his respect for the daughter of Zell. Tyris decided to speak; she did not care if it was out of turn, as she was not one of Squall's subordinates.

'Where is Gilgamesh?' Tyris asked. 'Isn't he going to help you get the rest of the GFs?'

Thalassa answered. 'Gilgamesh loses interest quickly if there's no conflict going on. He assured me he would reappear if Ultimecia tries to take Galbadia again, or when we march on Timber. And thank Hyne for that, because Ultimecia's afraid of him! He nearly killed her with that bow!'

'The Red Reaver never did find the Rift,' Gerra put in. 'The Ultimecia I served must have gone into the Jade Passage herself, for Cerberus and Diablos were her prisoners in my timeline. Though she brought down the rock face around the entrance so that no one other than she could meddle with the Rift; the entrance was unsurpassable. The Red Reaver may have been unaware of this. But either way, he could not enter the Passage himself.'

There was a strained silence as Gerra referred to a future that could still come to pass. Wherein most, if not all of them, had already been killed.

'How did my father come to be Diablos' summoner?' Tyris asked now.

'You are familiar with the Fall of Jadis?' Squall questioned her.

'I am,' Tyris replied.

Squall continued. 'Then you know that Sorceress Jadis and the Last Paladin, Heahmund, became the first known people to reach the Rift. Heahmund was killed, but Jadis managed to imprison Diablos within an ornate lamp. Although the feat took the limits of her power. She used Diablos to escape the army camped at the entrance, making it to Whitecliff. When your mother succeeded Jadis, the lamp also went into her family's possession. It wasn't until years later, when Edea had junctioned with Alexander, that she discovered the secret of the lamp. She entrusted it to Cid during the First Sorceress War, before a great battle.

'Cid once told me that in ages past, Diablos would only junction with mortals who had acknowledged the evil present in the heart of every one of us – however small it might be, in some cases. Though most of Diablos' known summoners have been among the Zebalga Clan, as he is worshipped among their gods – as was Diablos' rival, Mateus. Now, I would not like to think of Cid in that kind of light, as I was once junctioned with Diablos myself. The Dark Messenger didn't mind being junctioned by someone virtuous if it meant he could remain free from Griever's sentence – if only for short periods of time.

'With Diablos' power, Cid became pivotal to Esthar's downfall in the war, leading from the front in every major battle. His tactics laid the groundwork for SeeD and demonstrated that humans and Guardian Forces could fight as one. Cid was rightly remembered as one of the war's heroes, despite never seeing eye to eye with General Dincht, and effectively being dishonourably discharged after.'

It would appear that Tyris' presumption about a young Cid's personality had been correct.

'Cid gave me Diablos' lamp before my first SeeD mission, warning me that when I tried to draw from it, the GF would demand a test from anyone present. We took the lamp to the stone circle just north of Garden, expecting Diablos to emerge like the genies of children's tales. Instead, Zell, Selphie and I were drawn into the lamp. Thankfully, we were able to overcome him.'

Tyris wondered if some of the things she had done would have qualified her to be a worthy summoner of Diablos, and how Cid would have felt about that. Seifer himself would have been a suitable vessel. Squall seemed to consider his next words.

'Even after, I could never bring myself to ask Cid why he gave me the lamp,' he admitted. 'His rationale for doing anything seemed unusual to me back then. Though I was unaware the newly emerged Edea was his wife, and that he was under a great deal of stress. Perhaps Cid knew that if I remembered Edea as Matron, then I would be unable to deliver a killing blow when the time came. Not to mention that when I faced Seifer later on in the war, the Bloodhound was duelling to kill. I could have afforded no mercy.

'I remained junctioned with Diablos until after the Lunar Cry. I won Bahamut's approval when we first discovered Battleship Island, and Diablos understood that I needed his Elder's superior power to overcome Ultimecia. Instead, Diablos asked if Rinoa could draw him from the lamp. Having beheld much of the modern world, he finally desired to return to the Jade Passage, believing it to be a better fate than the confines of the lamp. As soon as Diablos was free, his essence disappeared toward Galbadia.

'Cerberus confirms he is once again at the end of Jade Passage, and that's where we have to go. With our combined power, we may just be able to reach him,' Squall finished hopefully.

It would be an extraordinary feat, were they successful. Tyris would have helped them if they asked, but she assumed that the three remaining Children of Fate would be taking that journey. Two Descendants of Hyne and the Lionheart himself.

'As for Diablos' new summoner, I would nominate Damian Reno – the Wraith of Winhill. He's the son of the late Jacques and is one of my best fighters. He's also incapable of showing his opponents a shred of remorse. Since the razing of Winhill, only Esthari blood can satiate Damian. Diablos will look favourable upon him.'

There was no objection to Squall's choice. Tyris was the only one who had never met Damian. She assumed he had been the bald axeman with the satanic beard, who had given Tyris a hard stare through the door to her cell. When camped with the Esthari for the final time, Tyris had heard many of them boasting about the pillaging of southern Galbadia, and General Zebalga had killed Jacques Reno personally. Whether successful in junctioning with Diablos or not, this Wraith had better not get to the Liontamer first!

'I will lead this venture myself,' Squall stated, 'although I will need the powers of both Rinoa and Selphie. For Damian to survive the ordeal, we'll have to temporarily lend him the strength of Sacred and Minotaur. I don't want to take Brothers from Liu and Zhang, as they've already had to relinquish Siren. But in this case, it will be necessary.'

His Sorceress nodded. Rinoa was sitting up in her chair, her hands planted one atop the other on the glass tabletop.

'I'll talk to them,' she said.

Squall turned to Tyris again. 'Tyris, I overheard you saying Alexander still resides at Edea's House. Did he express any interest in joining us?'

Tyris hesitated. 'He feels eternal shame for letting my mother and father die, and for what happened to the orphans. I didn't presume the question to him, but he didn't seem concerned about anything going on in the outside world.' She sighed. 'I fear that rallying him will not be easy.'

'Rhodry, you will go there with the White SeeDs in attempt to recruit him. Raine will be seconded to Kurin, too. I have every confidence in Raine, but her demi-GF won't be enough to reach Diablos, and White SeeD will be without Leviathan.' Squall looked at Kurin and Celes now. 'Needless to say, if you two are going to lead your people into Esthar's underbelly in the future, you'll need GFs of your own. Alexander knows how close you were with Matron, and hopefully one of you can junction.'

Kurin spoke. 'Gerra, you told Lassa something about cactuars and Edea's SeeD being junctioned en masse in the future.'

'Yes,' Gerra answered. 'They were bold fighters, constantly a thorn in Ultimecia's side, beatable only by her GF puppeteers. Yet the tonberries were extinct; Ultimecia turned Eden's light upon the ruins of Centra City after her conquest. She could not do the same to the cactuars, safely hidden as they have always been beneath their dunes, though I don't see why the tonberries could not do a mass junction as well.'

'They can!' Rhodry said suddenly. 'There was a tonberry at Balamb Garden once! I junctioned with it by accident!'

'A tonberry?' Tyris asked incredulously. 'At Garden?'

'Indeed,' Rhodry said simply. 'It worked in the kitchen.'

Selphie smiled at her old protégé, elaborating for those who were unfamiliar.

'It was after we visited the Centra ruins. Dodging the wraiths, we got ambushed by a group of tonberries! Their King appeared before us after we took a few of them out, but the whole thing was one huge misunderstanding. Those tonberries were young by their standards, and had never seen humans before. Our GFs reached out to the King, and they all left!'

Rinoa took over. 'Yeah. After Squall impressed Odin, we were about to leave the area. But the King appeared before us with a single tonberry, asking if it could go back to Garden with us. Humans and tonberries had not coexisted since the fall of the Lost Kingdom, and their race was devastated by the Lunar Cry as well. That tonberry was around the same age as us, and it wished to learn about our race.'

'It was the least we could do for the guy after killing some of its hatch mates,' Squall said. 'It integrated quite well, and meant the cafeteria could remain open twenty-four seven.'

'My sister Anwen and I were the first ones to befriend it,' Rhodry said, then sadly added, 'It died during Garden's fall.'

Kurin changed the subject. 'As for Jumbo and the King, they may wish to remain in corporeal form to lead their races, provided they even agree to join us. But we have a common enemy, and we aided in their liberation. So hopefully, they will.'

'If they agree to a mass junction,' Celes said thoughtfully, 'each White SeeD will be worth a hundred Esthar soldiers!'

'Or two,' Ballad concurred.

Now, Squall turned to Nida.

'Nida, if you will neither fight nor rejunction with a GF, then I have a task for you. You will travel to Winter Island and ensure the shumi make good on their promise to lend us their moombas. They will be of no use to us in any sea battles, but will be a welcome bolster to our vanguard when we march on Sequoia. The eldest of the moombas are fond of me, knowing my blood, and we have the capacity to house them all on Battleship Island.'

Nida just nodded, not meeting his leader's eyes. His off-hand was under the edge of the conference table.

Squall resumed. 'Now, if we are to hope to match Ultimecia and Eden, we need to find Griever. All of this could be in vain otherwise.'

Many believed Griever to be a myth. Yet Eden had turned out to be a reality, after thousands of years. That member of the fabled Triumvirate had confirmed that the Winged Lion did exist, albeit laying in state. Although Squall had encountered a version of Griever in the future, that image had been drawn directly from the adolescent Lionheart's mind. He had grown up idolising Griever as the most powerful entity of all time – more powerful than even the Great Hyne. Eden had made reality clear for Squall during the titanic battle with the future Ultimecia, and the young lion had been able to prevail over that false image.

'Eden told Quistis that only he and Odin knew the slumbering Griever's location,' Squall said. 'Eden didn't give us that information before he was taken, despite the pleas of Quistis. And, as for Odin,' the SeeD leader paused again. 'We've never had a hint of Odin's essence again after Seifer cut him in two.'

They were all familiar with the quagmire, at the same time knowing that a GF could not die. What had happened to the Pale Rider was a mystery. They had expected Odin to reappear after he had regained his energy, but after twenty years, he never had.

'Odin was not junctioned with any of us in the convention sense,' Squall elaborated, 'but when we found him in Centra City, he said that he admired our valour. His essence followed us around the world after that. He was instrumental in allowing us to reach Edea at Galbadia Garden. And upon our return to Esthar City, after the Cry; we would have struggled to reach the Presidential Palace otherwise, not without depleting our GFs.'

'I've got an idea!' Thalassa said suddenly. 'If we assume Odin's matter was somehow affected by the Crystal Pillar – or by the disturbance in space-time when the Zantetsuken made an opening into the Rift – then his essence should still be within Lunatic Pandora!' Thalassa looked at all of them as their faces took on a contemplative look. She continued. 'But incorporeally, right? Now, I know that President Loire had the Pandora buried within the Serpent Trench the second time, not taking any chances after what happened to Esthar. But surely Leviathan can reach Odin and bring him back to us!'

Selphie's eyebrows raised, and she and Rinoa both smiled.

'You were definitely Zell for a moment there, Lassa!' Selphie said. 'That idea is so outlandish but obvious, it might just be a good one!'

'You're right,' Squall agreed. 'Even if Odin can't get us to Griever, his sword arm will be definitely be valued. If Gilgamesh will give him his weapons back, that is. Will you be willing to part with Leviathan for such an undertaking, Thalassa?'

'Yes!' Thalassa said determinedly. 'If it can bring Odin to the fold, definitely!'

Tyris silently decided she would lend her friend one of her own GFs in the meantime. They still had a daring assignment to complete. Ramuh assured Tyris that he would have no issue with the junction.

'Fine. I'll get the coordinates for the Pandora from… my father, and it will be done.' Squall said. The SeeD leader's gaze swept between all of them again. 'We can't march on Sequoia until after these assignments are complete. Martine and Argus have taken care to spread their armies throughout their countries. It's inevitable Ultimecia will try to annihilate any large group of force once it's out in the open, especially after what we did to her Dollet force. We can only pray that she doesn't turn Eden's light on any major cities before we all return.

'I think that's all. Unless there are any questions?'

No one else said anything. Everybody except Nida seemed motivated by the action decided upon.

Tyris leaned forward. 'I want to see Fujin and Ellone before I go to Balamb.'

Squall considered this. 'I won't try to stop you, Tyris, but I can't predict what their reactions will be. I'll leave it to Kurin's discretion as to whether he informs Raine.'

'I'll go with you, Ty,' Thalassa said.

With no one voicing anything else, Squall called an end to the meeting. As everyone was leaving, the SeeD leader turned to Tyris again.

'Your quarters will remain the same, but you will no longer be under guard,' Squall informed her. 'Your weapons are next to the bed.'

'Thank you, Squall,' she replied. 'I look forward to fighting with you all. It's been a long time coming!'

'I know,' Squall said softly. 'If you're going to Wilburn, you need to go at first light. There's little time.'