Exhile87:Alooohaa!Been away for some time,but anyway,here's the 9th expisode. 
!~ENJOY~! 
Chapter Fourteen:The Battle 
"OH YEAH!!" Zell gave the Ruby Dragon a Mach Kick and Punch Rush."Take that,baby!" 
"Whoa,chill down,Zell!" Irvine said."There're still more to come!" 
"Hurry,guys.Let's go," Squall said rather impatiently.The others understood.He was worried about Rinoa,and they 
knew it. 
But Nida...he just hoped Rikku wouldn't be there.'Maybe she went back to FH....but,alone? 
And without her bike?There's no way she'd do that....oh God,I hope Marcia didn't get her!' he thought,anxious. 
"We'll split up into two teams.Xu,Quistis,Selphie,and Nida,you gys take the right stairs. 
Zell,Irvine,and I will handle the left one," Squall comanded hen they walked up the foyer.The Squad separated. 
"Where are we?" Selphie wondered as they came to a huge room furnished and decorated with paintings and vases 
of all kinds.The floors were marbled and reflected them is an eerie way. 
"I have no idea," replied Quistis."Better be creful,there may be traps."
"Hey," Nida suddenly said in an urgent voice,holding up his hand to silence the others. 
Everyone listened. 
Somewhere faraway,voices could be heard,but not clearly. 
"They are all ready?" 
"On your command,my lady,and we start." 
"Not yet.We have to ait until dusk.I don't want Valdr getting angry at us for waking him up at the wrong time." 
"No,certainly not.And,my lady,I'm afraid we had company up at the foyer just now." 
"They won't stand a chance against the guardians." 
"They are SeeDs,I found out."
"Pah!SeeDs!I won't let some miserable SeeDs interfere with our plans!" 
"I'll see that they won't..." There was a low laugh,then no more talking.Selphie edged closer to Nida."They're not 
coming,are they?" she whispered. 
Nida shook his head."I don't think so.Let's move on." 
Squall gave the Grendel the final blow of his Renzokuken and took a deep breath.He turned to Zell and Irvine. 
"Where do you think Rinoa is?" he asked,worried. 
"Hey,don't worry,Squall.We'll find her,and she'll be A-O-Kay," Zell tried to comfort him,but Squall couldn't stop 
worrying just then. 
"You think she'll be with Marcia?" suggested Irvine."Or maybe up higher?" He nodded towards the stairs leading to 
the 3rd floor. 
"Maybe.Let's try it out." Squall ran up the stairs.They had to battle a few deadly monsters, but the Orb of Xyton 
helped them out a lot. 
"How long do we have?" asked Squall when they had defeated a Torama. 
Zell looked at his watch."'Bout an house." 
"Great.We'd better move fast." They walked and finally arived in a wide hallway.Rows of doors were there. 
"Check them one by one," Squall said as he went to the first door.After checking all of them but to no avail,Squall 
was almost hysterical. 
"Zell,time!" he barked. 
"Err...'bout 40 minutes!"
"Dammit!" Squall gritted his teeth and ran off to a door he suddenly noticed.When he opened it,he was in a huge 
arena-like place,outdoor.The sky was turning purple and blue. Thunder crashed from a distance. 
Squall,Irvine,and Zell looked around in amazement.Then a voice called out. 
"Well,well,well...what a big surprise..." 
The SeeDs turned.Above,standing on the roof,was Trance,who smiled down at them.He gave a leap and landed on 
the ground safely. 
"Who the hell are ya?" Zell said. 
Trance's smile widened."Need you know...?"
"Why,I oughta...." Zell's temper grew and he charged at Trance,who coolly shot out electrifying bolts from his 
hand.Zell shouted in pain and collapsed. 
"Zell!" Irvine got out his gun and aimed it at Trance.He pulled the trigger,but the bullet shot back as it hit a shield 
around Trance. 
"Gotta do better than that,you know?" Trance said.He shot another bolt at Irvine,who,like Zell,fell. 
"Damn you,whoever you are,you're just getting on my nerves," Squall said as he drew Lionheart out. 
Trance saw the gunblade and his eyes gleamed.He also drew out his weapon,Altor. 
"Heh,heh,heh.One on one,huh?" Trance smiled again."I like that." He held out his hand and casted Break on both 
Zell and Irvine.They petrified. 
Squall was surprised.All of them were supposed to be immune to every status magic,but if 
Trance's magic worked on them,then it must be really powerful. 
"How 'bout now?" Trance ran a finger on Altor's blade. 
"Anytime." 
Trance suddenly noticed the scar on Squall's face,and he lowered his weapon a little.There was an astonished gleam 
in his eyes.Then he laughed. 
"You must be Squall Leonhart....SeeD Commander...Ultimecia's murderer..." Trance said as he and Squall began 
circling each other."And ancestor of Vice Leonhart,huh?"
This time,it was Squall's turn to be surprised again. 
"Hey,I hear a baby crying!" Selphie exclaimed when her team arrived in a dark hallway. Quistis stopped and tried to 
hear. 
"You're right,Selphie.Could it be that baby Marcia needs for the ritual?"
"Most probably." Xu looked around."The prisoners may be here.We'd better get them out and to the Ragnarok." 
Nida tried opening a door,but it wouldn't budge."It's locked," he said."Now what?"I guess all the others are locked 
too.Marcia wouldn't be that dumb letting the prisoners have a chance to flee." 
"Oh!Are those keys?" Selphie saw something shining at the end of the hallway.They stared at it,then approached it 
and was about to reach the jackpot when another Ruby Dragon appeared. 
"Oh goodness...how many are there?" Quistis grumbled,flicking her whip. 
"This Marcia lady probably likes dragons," Xu replied.They battle the dragon and defeated it easily. 
"At least I still get a LITTLE experience!" Selphie said joyfully.Then she reach out for the keys and began 
unlocking each door. 
Sure enough,the first three rooms held a baby,a man,and an old lady.The teenager,though, 
was nowhere to be seen. 
"Hey?Where's one more?" Selphie looked around in surprise when they had already unlocked all the rooms. 
"Do you mean the girl?" the man suddenly spoke out.Nida turned to him at once. 
"Girl?" 
"Yeah.I saw this guy bringing her down to the underground dungeons.There's the stairs there," the man said,pointing 
towards a flight of stairs leading down. 
"How did the girl look like?Did you see?" Nida asked,panic overwhelming him. 
The man frowned."Well...not really...but I know she's still young...about 17 or so.Oh yeah, 
and she's blonde." 
'No...' Nida thought,worried.He looked at the man and nodded."Thanks." 
"What's up?You know her?" the man asked.Selphie slyly answered before Nida could. 
"Oh she's a special someone to him.You get what I mean?" 
Nida gave her a glare,then said,"Why don't you guys go ahead?I'll go look for the last one. 
Bring this three to the Ragnarok and I'll catch up with you later." 
Selphie was just about to make another sly remark when Xu dug her in the ribs and shook her head slightly.Selphie 
sighed.She guessed it was typical for Nida to be concern over Rikku, 
as she would be to Irvine. 
"Okay," she handed him the keys.He waved and ran to the stairs. 
"We'll meet you at the foyer!" Quistis caled after him. 
Squall was in a fierce fight with Trance.Both of them were excellent fighters,and they longed to prove theyr 
abilities. 
"Some sort of knight you are,huh?" Trance said as he slashed at Squall."In love with your own Sorceress...and 
better,you're a SeeD!"
Squall said nothing.He dodged the attacks. 
"What future do you think you'll have?" Trance wiped the sweat on his forehead."No kids and all?" 
"Shut up!!"
"Ha,ha...losing it,are ya?Can't fight without your little darling atching you?"
With a burst of anger,Squall brought Lionheart down.The impact almost broke his arm,and Trance fell back for a 
while,but he was up again in a second. 
"Not bad,Leonhart,not bad..." 
"Oh no,not again," groaned Nida as a Hexadragon appeared with a roar.Battling the dragon was rather difficult 
alone,but Nida got it down.He cured himself,then continued his search. 
He had unlocked and searched almost all the doors,but no one as in there,only left over corpses.He had almost igven 
up but went to the last door.Taking a deep breath,he inserted the key into the hole and turned it.Then he opened the 
metal door slowly........ 
........and in there was someone,against the wall,head hung down. 
Nida's heart almost stopped beating.His whole body went numb.The person in the cell didn't look up at all. 
"Rikku...." 
She opened her eyes and turned.When she saw him,she inhaled a gulp of air.Her eyes widened. 
"Nida...?" 
He got control of his legs and ran to her.His hand shook as he unlocked the iron clasps on her wrists. 
Then she flung her arms around him and burst into tears.She was glad...just glad to be able to have him so near her. 
"Oh Nida....I was so scared...I...I didn't want--" she started saying between her sobs,but he stroked her head and 
silenced her. 
"Shh....it's alright.I'm here.Everything's going to be okay." He suddenly noticed the cut on her neck.Placing his 
fingers on it gently,he looked down at her."What happened?Who did this to you?" 
She grasped his hand tightly and replied,soft,"It was Trance..Nida,he was horrible!" she poured out everything that 
happened to him.He narrowed his gaze,but his anger didn't stay for long.To have Rikku in his arms again was a 
miracle after what he had done. 
He loosened his embrace and tentatively lowered his head to hers.When she didn't resist, 
he kissed her,thrilled that she responded almost immediately. 
And her lips told him everything....part of her still wanted him.....part of her still craved for his touch as much as he 
craved for hers... 
Part of her still LOVED him.... 
As soon as he pushed her against the cold stone wall,their passion rose immensely.For the past 2 years,he had 
forgotten what kissing her was like.... 
Now he remembered.... 
When they stopped,he pressed his head against hers,breathing fast.His hand went up to her face and caressed it. 
"I missed you so much...." he murmured softly.She ran her fingers on his arm and replied, 
"I missed you too..."
Nida got up and took her hand."Stay close to me." 
"Ha,ha....you think you'd get married?Have kids,children?" Trance sneered,dodging a slash from Squall."I've never 
heard of a SeeD getting involved with a Sorceress before." 
Squall ignored his words and kept attacking,but Trance continued talking. 
"Aw,come on!You're not serious on her,right?You just wanna have your fun,then finish her off!" 
Squall ignored. 
"If you're not the one killing her,then she'll be the one destroying you!" 
Again,he ignored. 
"Do your duty,Leonhart,kill the Sorceress...." Trance grinned evilly,then added,"Kill you girlfriend......" 
That went to far.With a furious roar,Squall slammed his gunblade at Trance and unleashed Renzokuken.Anger still 
burning inside him,he began to concentrate his powers for his most powerful and destructive attack..... 
.....Lionheart. 
Dashing to Trance,Squall swung him up in the air and slashed at him repeatedly.Blood spurted out to 
everywhere,but Squall continued thrashing ithout mercy.After the final blo,Trance slammed down hard onto the 
ground,bleeding and wounded.Altor flew out from his hands and landed yards from him. 
He tried to get up and cast Curaga,but sharp,cold metal at his neck stopped him. 
Squall stared sown,his anger slowly melting away.He breathed heavily. 
"Right....you win....I have never known a man as powerful as your are....except your descendant,Vice," Trance 
muttered,blood trickling from his mouth. 
'Descendant?' Squall was secretly surprised.Then a thought struck him.He pressed Lionheart against Trance's neck 
closer. 
"What's your name?" he asked coldly. 
There was a flicker of astonishment in Trance's eyes for a while."Heh,what else,it's Trance..." he answered 
sneeringly. 
"Your full name!!" Squall pressed Lionheart closer. 
"Damn you,it's Trance Almasy!!" 
Squall stared at Trance in shock.'Almasy?No....it can't be what I'm thinking...' 
Trance suddenly kicked out,but Squall was alert.He swung Lionheart down. 
The sound of the gunblade cutting through flesh and blood floated to Squall's ears.He stared at the puddle of blood 
and left-overs of Trance's body. 
"Rest in peace....Almasy...." 
"Nida!" Xu called when she sa her comrade appearing.He looked at her and nodded.Then he beckoned to someone 
behind him and gave Xu,Quistis,and Selphie a surprise. 
"Hey?It's Rikku!" Selphie started jumping up and don."Woo hoo!She's safe!"
"Hey,guys.," Nida said as he joined his comrades.Quistis blinked at Rikku,and turned wickedly to Nida. 
"Oh,so this is why you wanted to go 'rescue the other prisoner' alone..."
Selphie started giggling."'Cause you knew Rikku would be there and you wanted to be her knight in the shining 
armor?"
"You know,Rikku,Nida as sooooo worried about you when he found out you went missing," 
Xu added. 
"Yeah,he went hysterical and almost wanted to fly all the way here alone just to save you!" 
Quistis held back her laugh. 
Rikku raised her eyebrows."Really....." she said drily,then added under her breath,"How sweet of him...." 
"Uh,guys,please!Cut the crap!" Nida begged when the other three started laughing.He turned the cool Rikku 
sheepishly."Hey,they're just exegerating it.I didn't actu--" 
A roar cut him short.A Blue Dragon appeared,flapping its wings angrily. 
"Look out!" Nida shoved Rikku aside as he pulled out his sword.The others stopped laughing at once and drew out 
their weapons.Together,they easily battled the dragon and won. 
"You okay,right?" Nida asked,turning to Rikku. 
"Yeah." 
"Ah,you see what I mean?" Quistis teased.They began laughing again,mush to Nida's annoyance. 
"Ooooh,Nida,I think I have a scratch on my arm from that battle just now!" Selphie guffawed helplessly.Rikku 
looked around in amusement. 
Eager to change the subject,Nida asked,"Anyone seen Squall and his team?" 
That once again stopped the others' laughter.Xu shook her head. 
"Nope.Where do you think they are?" 
"Let's look around," suggested Selphie. 
"Oh yeah,and waste all our time?" Quistis replied sarcastically.Just then,they all heard loud noises.It as vague,but 
familiar. 
"Hey,isn't that the sound of Squall's Lionheart?" Selphie suddenly said."I know it is!I heard it everytime he does it!" 
"I think you're right," Xu agreed."It's coming from up there." She pointed at the stairs heading to the 3rd floor. 
"Then let's get going," Nida said promptly. 
Squall casted Esuna on both Irvine and Zell.They recovered and looked around,a little dizzy. 
"Whoa!What happened?!" Zell almost screamed when he saw Trance's body on the ground... 
....minus the head. 
"He petrified you two,and then we had a fight," Squall replied.Then he became panicked. 
"Zell,the time!"
Zell looked at his watch and grimaced."Oh no!It's froze just now!"
"Dammit!" Squall punched the wall nearest to him.Suddenly,the sky turned dark and thunder crashed louder.An evil 
laugh was heard,and it echoed darkly. 
"So you have come,SeeDs?" a voice called out.Squall,Irvine,and Zell looked around,but no on was about. 
"Who's there?" Squall shouted. 
Another laugh."Oh,you can't guess?What a pity...." 
"Sorceress Marcia,huh?' 
"Very clever!Ahahaha..." 
"Where's Rinoa?" 
"Oh,you don't have to worry about her.Both of you don't need each other anymore..." 
"Where is she?What have you done to her?"
Marcia laughed again."You don't have to know..." 
"What have you done to her?!" 
"Silence,SeeD,or you will regret!" 
"Where is Rinoa?!" 
"So you wish to challenge me?" Marcia laughed maniacally."I would be glad to give you a slow,painful death..." 
The door burst open.Nida,Rikku,Xu,Selphie,and Quistis appeared. 
"Squall!" Nida shouted over the crashings of thunder.They ran to him but before they had a chance to talk,Marcia 
continued. 
"Oh?More SeeDs?Interesting.." 
"Show yourself,Marcia!Let's end this once and for all!" shouted Squall,gripping Lionheart tightly. 
"Ahahahaha....why don't we start with a little....suffering,first?" Marcia said.A cloud of smoke appeared aas she 
stepped out.Her dark eyes gleamed as he waved her hand."Bring her in." 
A gate at the end of the arena slided open.Two Forbiddens walked in,hauling a tired looking girl. 
Squall lowered his gunblade."Rinoa!" He ran t her as the Forbiddens left.She looked up slowly and Squall was 
shocked.Her eyes were dull and they didn't have the usual light in them. 
She was terrified. 
"Rinoa." He reached out for her and tried to get closer,but she backed away in fear. 
"No!Get away from me!!" 
He stopped,hurt filling his eyes."Rinoa,what's wrong?It's me,Squall." 
"I don't want to die!Don't get any closer!"
"Rinoa,I--" His hand went nearer to her. 
"Don't touch me,you SeeD!!!" She screamed.A fireball suddenly shot out from her hands and threw Squall back.He 
landed a distance away with a yell. 
"Squall!" Zell ran to him.Squall massaged his head,taking no notice of his comrade as he stared at Rinoa.Then he 
slowly turned to Marcia. 
"What did you do to her?!?!" he roared furiously. 
Marica laughed as if the whole thing was a huge joke."Isn't it aggravating?Ha,ha,ha,....no she thinks you're going to 
kill her!Ahahahahahaha!!" She smiled evilly."How disgusting...a SeeD in love with a Sorceress?Hahaha!" 
Squall's anger rose immensely.He got up and ran towards Marcia with a roar,but she easily siped him away even 
before he could reach her.He hit against the wall. 
His comrades immediately aided him.Nida once again shoved the weaponless Rikku to safety before joining the 
others." 
A fierce battle began between the Sorceress and 7 SeeDs,but the SeeDs were weakening. They couldn't even get 
close enough to her to attack,though Irvine could blast his gun from afar,the bullets didn't injure her at all. 
"Ahahahaha!Physical attacks?Is that all you can do?I'm not like my mother,you know.I'm 
even stronger than her!" Marcia guffawed. 
"Squall!What'll we do?" Zell yelled.Squall turned to him,but he didn't know the answer.He tried summoning a 
GF,Eden. 
But as the GF appeared,there as a flash of light and it disappeared again.Marcia gave one of her famous evil laughs. 
"Surely you're not planning on relying on GFs?Don't you know this whole arena has an Anti-GF and -Magic Field?" 
The SeeDs continued their useless attacks at the Sorceress.Squall was beginning to think that they were going no 
where.Suddenly,Marcia's eyes glowed dangerously and she clenched her fists. 
"Enough playing around!You SeeDs have caused a lot of troubles for me....it is time to end it all!If I cannot get 
Valdr's assistance,then I will savour the joy of killing you all!" MArcia said in an echoing voice.She concentrated 
her powers for a moment before everyone,except Squall, 
found themselves being brought up in the air.They stopped a certain height from the ground. 
"Hey!What's going on?" Zell tried to move,but failed. 
"I can't move!" Selphie wailed. 
Squall looked up in shock.As he turned to MArcia,she made a grab at him and caught him by the neck,hauling him 
up.He struggled,hands trying to release her grip on him. 
"Now here is the best part." Marcia smiled."I'll start with the leader......and the knight...." She began tightening her 
grasp on Squall.He struggled more,his eyes in fear and shock.He tried to gasp for air,but to no avail. 
'No....this can't be the end....' He searched valiantly for Rinoa,and found her staring at him with frightened eyes.She 
was looking in horror. 
'I'm sorry,Rinoa.....I came here to save you....but...now...I'm hopeless....' 
Squall could feel death appraoching his soul.He closed his eyes. 
'Goodbye,Rinoa....." 
"No,Squall!!!" Rinoa suddenly cried out.She got up and rushed to Marcia,shooting pulses of her Sorceress Magic at 
her.Marcia gave a surprised exclamation as the magic hit her hard.She let go of Squall and he fell onto the ground 
with a thud. 
'Magic?I thought she said there's an Anti-Magic Field here.....but maybe Sorceress Magic only hurts her.' Squall 
thought. 
Rinoa continued attacking.Edea's advising words rang in her mind. 
*Focus....if you concentrate hard enough,you'll be able to cause maximum damage to the enemy.Be careful,because 
this may affect you later.* 
Closing her eyes,Rinoa did exactly what Edea told her.When the moment came,she blasted a fiery,mercury-like ball 
towards Marcia.Right after the victim screamed out in pain,she felt her legs weakening.Her head was dizzy....so 
dizzy she couldn't even look around. 
Rinoa collapsed onto the ground just as Marcia started dissolving.Clouds of smoke appeared and the Sorceress was 
in disbelief. 
"Why....?Why do you protect a SeeD....?" She said in a watery voice."SeeDs kill Sorceresses....mark my 
words...both of you...will never be together.....with peace..." 
With that,the Sorceress from the future disappeared.The others,who were still hanging in the air,found themselves 
falling down. 
"Ow!" yelled Irvine as he hit the ground hard.There were other yells of pain,but Squall wasn't paying attention to 
them.He rushed to the unconscious Rinoa. 
"Rinoa!Rinoa,wake up!" He jerked her body,but she remained motionless.He checked her oulse and was relieved to 
find her still alive.But before he could continued,the ground started shaking.he looked around in shock,only to find 
all the walls cracking and breaking. 
"The castle's gonna go down!" Zell shouted."Quick!We have to get outta here!" 
Just as he said that,the whole place cracked up.The door and gate were smashed by pillars. 
There was no way out. 
"Dammit!" Irvine said,panicked."What're we gonna do now?" 
"Try summoning a GF!A flying one!" Xu shouted. 
"Oh yeah,baby,Bahamut!" Zell jumped up in excitement."Come one,Bahamut,get us outta here!"
"Up from the sky,the King of Gfs appeared.It flew down to the arena,wings flapping. 
"I thought we can't summon Gfs here!" Quistis said. 
"The Field must have been broekn!Hurry,get on!" Squall replied.He took Rinoa up in his arms and hoppped onto the 
broad back of Bahamut's. 
After making sure everyone was on,the GF took off.It glided down to the Ragnarok as Selphie squealed in delight. 
"Woo hoo!!This is better than riding the Ragnarok!" 
Bahamut landed beside the Esthar spaceship.A loud crmbling noise made everyone turn to the castle. 
It was sinking into the ground.The blue liquid around it dried up,and finally,only a wide range of dry earth filled the 
area. 
"Quick,Selphie,we need to get Rinoa to Dr.Odine!" Squall said as they got into Ragnarok. 
"Okay!" Selphie hopped onto the cockpit seat and started the engines. 
Ragnarok was off to Esthar again. 
!~THE END~! 
My hands are dead tired!Contact me at exhile87@hotmail.com