By James Hayward
Clubing_freak@hotmail.com

This is my first fanfic, hopefully not the last; look out for more of my work when I get around to writing them. All characters in this fanfic are owned by Squaresoft except for all other characters (including me) that I introduce to the game. Please do not copy this work and pass it off as your own as this is a labour of love that I spent a hell of a long time on. Please email me any suggestions, critism or just let me know what you thought of it at the email address above. If you would like to put this fan fiction on your website then email me and I’ll be more than happy to oblige.

Chapter 1: Surreal

I sit here now a changed man, what im going to tell you is the story of the most surreal experience of my life. Now I’m not one for story telling, never could tell an anecdote to save my life, but I feel I need to tell this, more for my sake than anyone else’s, as much to remember it, to get it clear in my mind and just try to figure out why it happened to me.
Im what you could class as normal, a normal guy in a normal world, with a normal life, doing a normal university degree, just like any of you. Ever since I could remember I always wanted to be a doctor “to make a difference” is a line I've used in interviews for medical schools a thousand times, but in truth, it just seems like a good idea, not your average job. You see I couldn’t be one of those nine till five clock-punching, suit-wearing monkeys that exist in every town all over this world. So this is my life, 8am every morning up, rudely awoken like millions of others by my alarm clock kicking in and rousing me from that comfortable place as I slowly shift in my bed, working out what day of the week it is and exactly how much longer I can get away with lying here before I have to get up to avoid missing one of my lectures. I sit up and swing my feet out of bed and sit there for a moment, still in that half reality between dream world and this world. Since I’m at uni I walk over to the sink, stepping over all the empty takeaway boxes and cartons and make myself a coffee, the fumes from it somehow waking me up, I fumble around in the half darkened room I live in and find my packet of cigarettes for that all important first hit. I smile to myself, looking over to the other side of the room there’s a couple of unopened packets of nicotine patches. I tried quitting but it never seems to work out for me, guess im one of those people destined to appear on those adverts for quit smoking or you’ll die, you know the kind that depress you into switching the channel on the TV.
After a long hot shower I feel a hell of a lot better. Im one of those who lets his thoughts drift in the shower too, guess you could put me down for being a bit of a dreamer, but I think im pretty normal, my mind wanders onto the usual student things; overdraft, oh god im going to grow old and die without ever having a penny to my name, shopping list; what do I need from the shop, hmmmmm a loaf of bread, some milk, waffles, more coffee. What am I doing tonight, oh that’s right, off to the pub with the guys then a house party. Truth be told I could write an entire 10 pages on the crap I think about when I’m in the shower. Anyways the long and short of it is I spend all day in lectures and in the library trying to understand what the hell my lecturers have been talking about for the past couple of hours before heading home and sitting all night in front of my computer working. I guess bang goes that house party, well it was wishful thinking I guess.
I put some music on and cracked open my books all over my desk, then all the spidery scrawl and doodles I’ve written during the lectures and notes from the library. Scratching my head and rubbing my eyes I dive into work, damn last minute essays. One thing about uni is it sure as hell interferes with your social life.
I just realised something, sitting here reading this back to myself, making sure I’ve got everything straight in my mind and on paper; I never saw it coming, same old night as normal and WAMMO, guess I expected there to be a flash of light or it to be like when the terminator comes to this world in the movie, you know with a white ball of electricity or something. Okay so my entrance was slightly less dramatic than that but it happened all the same.
I remember staring at the endless sea of text on my computer screen and comparing it to my notes I’d scribbled, and my eyelids feeling heavy as hell, I looked at the clock and it was about 4am, damn it had turned into an all-nighter again. Then that’s about it, I guess I must have fallen asleep after that. I think all this work caught up with me and I just crashed there and then on my desk. It wasn’t the first time and I guess it won’t be the last time.

You know when your lying there in bed and you wake up of your own accord, slowly, first you come out of whatever dream you’ve been having, slowly returning to reality? Well it was exactly the same this time, I lay there, not knowing where I was, I could feel the warm sun on my face, I just thought I’d not shut my curtains the nights before, I remembered falling asleep on my desk so that made sense to me. I collected my thoughts and opened my left eye, slowly, letting it adjust to the light. This wasn’t my desk, I was lying face down in some grassy place. I opened my second eye and I remember sitting up, and looking around. I was in a meadow, a grassy meadow in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere! Did I go out last night and get drunk and pass out somewhere on the way back home? Nope I was working last night so that couldn’t be it. I know the guys must of knocked on my door and come in, seeing me asleep just taken me a couple of miles away from campus and left me there. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d woken up finding myself in some random place.
I stood up, and looked around. I was in the middle of a meadow; I looked around to catch my bearings, hoping to find some landmark I recognised, like the observatory on top of the hill at campus, or something, a road. Yep there was a road, about half a mile away. I’d been laying against a solitary tree in the middle of this meadow, it looked just like the ones you see on TV, you know the ones out of the washing powder commercials “get your clothes smelling like a summer meadow” this looked exactly like that. The occasional tree, and a wood in the distance, the grass was dotted with flowers. Had I been on a picnic or something with a girl this would have been perfect to take her. My eyes had adjusted to the light now and I found myself still in my clothes from yesterday. My Team Canada hockey jersey I’d got from my trip there a couple of years ago and my baggy dark blue jeans with the writing on the back pockets; I loved those jeans. I flexed my feet and felt the familiar feel of my trainers. Least the guys hadn’t stripped my clothes like some sick stag night joke you see on so many soap operas nowadays.
I felt in my pockets; my wallet, my keys, my mobile phone, a packet of smokes and a lighter and my keys to my room in the halls of residence at uni. Yep, all there. I noticed I had my bag at my feet, I opened it, ah the essentials of life at uni, my CD player, my wallet of CDs, my folder with all my work in, pencil case and a couple of books I’d taken out from the library. In another pocket I found some chewing gum, and noticing the ever increasing feel of morning breath in my mouth I popped a piece of gum and threw it into my mouth. What else was there? Oh yeah, a can of deodorant from when I go to the gym, a bar of chocolate and a bag of Doritos. I lost count the amount of times I’d been shot disapproving looks from the librarian for rustling my bag of crisps while I was working in the library but they tasted so good.
Hmm I looked around and thought I’d best start walking somewhere and the road seemed like a good bet, maybe I could get a taxi back from wherever the hell I was or get a lift into the nearest town. I remember how bright the sun was so I reached into my bag and pulled out my shades and put them on, much better. I noticed now that the meadow led straight onto a golden sand beach behind where I was still stood under the tree. There was no beach anywhere near uni, where had John, Sam and Andy dumped me?
“Okay now im worried, where the hell have those shits dumped me; they are so dead when I get hold of them. Well I guess I’d best get walking.”
They say that when you talk to yourself it’s a sign of madness, hmm maybe their right.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my CD player and CD wallet, I thumbed through and picked out an album from the wallet and slid it into my player, hit play and stuck a headphone into one of my ears. The tune kicked in and I slid it back into my bag and picked that up and slung it over my shoulder and buried my other hand into my pocket, playing with my keys as I set off walking for the road.
Hey it was a nice day , maybe I’d get a tan out of this unscheduled outing I thought to myself along with how I was going to pay back the guys for dumping me in the middle of nowhere, at that point that point in time that was how I’d rationalized it to myself, it had to be them. We were always playing pranks on each other; it broke up the monotony of day to day life in the block. My tunes relaxed me and before long I was pretty chilled out as I neared the road.
I was hoping to find some signs when I reached the road, nothing. Hmm I thought as I looked left and right, no traffic at all, just my luck. “Right, I guess I’d best set off walking. I guess ill go left” I thought to myself as I turned and set off walking with no landmarks in sight to walk for as the slow, rolling hills obscured everything. In the distance all I could make out were mountains.
About an hours walk later with not a sign of any traffic on the road I was starting to get a little worried, but as I reached the brow or a slope I looked and saw the road continued, winding on up to a small town ahead by the sea, it looked like a port or something. At last some sign of life, even at this distance I could see trains pulling out or a station there and people walking around.
I guess it was all I needed to lift my spirits, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my packet of cigarettes, I smiled to myself as I lit it, a couple of hours tops and I’d be back home. I cranked up the volume on my CD player and set off down the gentle slope towards the town.
The weather was still as sunny and bright as ever, a nice warm spring day it seemed. Maybe when I got back to uni me and the guys would go for a pint and have a BBQ on the roof of the block like we often did when it was warm, just sitting there eating hotdogs and burgers with a couple of beers and some music on the stereo whiling away the rest of the day, okay we were at university but that didn’t stop us having a good time now did it?
I reached the entrance of the town and walked down the only road into the town, it felt strange, it was so idyllic, sure there were people walking around but it was still quiet. Just a sleepy little village and not the town it had seemed like from the top of the hill. I remember looking around as I walked down the cobble streets and noticing how strange the buildings looked; they weren’t made out of straw or anything , they just looked different, all plastered on the outside and smooth, not a brick showing. Along the tops of the buildings to my left were shrubs in what must have been pots or something, hey I didn’t know im not a botanist or anything.
I began to notice everyone staring at me; hmm I guess they think I’m Canadian on the account of my hockey shirt I thought and carried on walking down the street. I found an open air café at the end of the road which split, one way went off to the station at the end of the road and the other one disappeared behind the hotel, winding down to the small harbour.
The café was beautiful , a definite “first date” kind of place , it was walled by low plants in little pots, and had billowing blue and white canvas for the roof , it was very Italian to say the least.
I’d been walking for a couple of hours and could have murdered a drink so I decided to go into the café and get the biggest, coolest, glass of coke ever. I guess the heat had gotten to me a little more than I thought as I was walking down that road. I walked up to the counter, the man stood behind the bar looked me up and down, and I put my bag on the floor and took off my headphones and shades, and collapsed into one of the stools in front of the bar. I looked up at the barman,
“How’s it going, it sure is hot out there. Hey, any chance of a glass of coke?”
“Coke?”
The barman shot me a confused look, I thought whatever, and all I wanted was something cold.
“No coke hmm, ah well just give me a cold glass of fruit juice or something will you?”
“Sure one Balamb special coming up”
The barman replied and turned round, taking bottles out of fridges behind the counter and mixing up the drink.
“Balamb? Is that where I am now?”
The barman put the bottles down that he was holding and turned to me laughing, I remember it wasn’t a spiteful laugh , I think it was more one of disbelief that I hadn’t got a clue where I was.
“So Balamb eh? Okay where’s that? Is it anywhere near Keele University?”
“Keele….uni…vers..ity? Nah never heard of it stranger, why?”
It was at that point I noticed something, the guy’s accent. In fact at that exact moment I picked up on everyone’s accent, they didn’t sound British, not dramatically different mind you, there was just something about the accent, and I couldn’t place it. Though that wasn’t saying much since I was always terrible at accents. I always used to use it as an opening line when I met a cute girl, “hey I couldn’t help but overhear your accent, where you from?” sure it sounds lame but hey it worked.
The barman had at this point stopped laughing at me and gone back to making my drink. I swung round on the stool and looked around this café, it was great, this was the life, no university to worry about at this point although I had to get back as I was missing classes and it was always a pain in the butt to catch up. There were a few people sat round the café, just talking, laughing, typical, normal, and same as in café’s round the world I expect. I felt a tap on my left shoulder so I turned round, the barman was stood there looking at me and holding my drink in his hand,
“Here you go stranger, one Balamb special, enjoy.”
He put it down on the counter and I took a long gulp, emptying half of it straight off, man I was thirsty,
“That’s three please.”
I looked at the guy confused, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet, I opened it up, I fumbled around in it and pulled out a crisp five pound note and handed it to the barman,
“What the hell is this? Three Gil buddy now!”
“Gil? What’s that? Where is this? I thought I was still in England!”
“England? What’s your game? This is Balamb town, I don’t know anywhere called England, now have you got the money or not?”
I remember half hearing what the guy was telling me as I fumbled through my wallet trying to find the cash the guy wanted, I looked relieved when I suddenly found my credit card in my wallet, woohoo the wonders of plastic eh? So I handed the barman my card,
“What the hell is this? You bum don’t you have any money!”
Now I was really getting worried as the barman threw my card back in my face, the guy seemed ten times the size now, I was half expecting him to jump the counter and punch me, people in the café were now looking over at me to see what was going on,
“Look im sorry, I've got money but you obviously don’t take it, this is all a big misunderstanding.”
“Your damn right it is now pay me!”
Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, I was half expecting to turn round and see the barman’s even bigger brother who was going to kick my head in and throw me out for not paying. But as I finally plucked up the courage to turn round I saw the most beautiful pair of sky blue eyes staring back at me, kind eyes, looking through a pair of glasses back at me. A warm smile appeared on the girls face, she was about my age, twenty or so, athletic, her hair was the colour of summer wheat with long flowing bangs and her hair tied up at the back. She wore a pale orange top and long orange skirt reaching past her knees. Belts hung down off her hips and wrapped around her skirt. She had long black boots on that went past her skirt and from the way the material hung obviously went up and past her knees. I didn’t know her but for some reason I smiled back at her, the barman still screaming for his money in my ear. Finally a friendly face, but there was something very familiar about her, I knew her from somewhere,
“Here you go Raph, for this guy’s drink. You should really cut back on the coffee, you’re too tense.”
“Thanks hey buddy sorry about before I just hate it when people do that.”
The massive scary bartender that had been towering over me seconds before had now paled into some doting schoolboy, not that I was complaining, believe me. I finally plucked up the courage as I felt I had to say something to him,
“..Uuuummm I’m sorry too, I didn’t know my money was no good here.”
I don’t know why I said it but it seemed right. I turned to the woman, who still had her hand on my shoulder and was smiling back at me as warmly as ever,
“Thanks for that, I really appreciate it, I don’t know what happened back there.”
Without saying a word she turned and started to walk out of café, needless to say I watched her for a moment as she left, I mean what guy wouldn’t, and she was beautiful.

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Chapter 2: Deeper into the rabbit hole

I grabbed my bag, and slammed the rest of the drink back before running after her, nearly tripping over about 3 people as I ran out of the café. She was strolling up the main road back to the entrance to town. I shielded my eyes and looked after her, shouting,
“Hey wait up!”
She stood there, not moving , looking straight ahead, not once did she turn round to look at me running up the street, nearly tripping over on the cobblestones a couple of times. As I reached her I caught my breath for a moment then looked up,
“I didn’t get to thank you for what you did back there.”
“That’s alright, you looked like you needed help, pay no mind to Raph he’s a hothead.”
She turned and smiled warmly to me,
“Well thanks anyway. Hey I promise this isn’t a pick up line but what’s your name? I feel like I know you from some place. I’m James”
I looked down for a moment, and pulled my bag over my shoulder, trying to make myself look a little bit cooler , god this was not going right , I wanted to get this girl’s number and take her out on a date, movies and a pizza and a couple of beers. I smiled at her, trying to look cool, it probably came out as a sheepish grin though. She smiled back at me, she hadn’t said five words to me since I’d met her but I was sure I knew her some somewhere, but where? I wracked my brains as I stood there with her for a split second before she smiled at me,
“Quistis, Quistis Trepe.”
No it couldn’t be I thought to myself, sure she looks like her but so do a lot of people, it couldn’t be, she wasn’t real. I shook the notion out of my head, it couldn’t be that, and smirked back at her cockily,
“Let me guess you an instructor at Balamb Garden with Squall and defeated Ultimecia right?”
I’ll never forget those words she uttered next to me, ever. Her cute smile got more serious as if she was puzzled too,
“…Yes, I am, but how do you know about that? It’s classified information.”
Bam, reality hit me like a ton of bricks! It felt so real, this was reality, not a dream, it couldn’t be a dream, it was too real, I know the difference between dreams and reality, reality feels more viscous somehow. I felt the sun on my face. I felt the clothes I was wearing against my skin and the warm breeze coming in from the sea, dreams don’t feel this real. I felt my knees start going weak as a realized the truth about my situation. I wasn’t in Kansas any more that was for sure. My knees gave way and I collapsed onto the ground feeling strange, like someone had just told me I was dead or something. I rubbed my forehead, I guess in a vain attempt to wake the hell up, to find myself sat in my room at university, staring at the flickering computer screen at 5am.
I don’t really remember much after that, I didn’t black out, I just felt numb. The next thing I remember is sitting in a car of some sort, on the same road I’d walked down that morning.
“You okay? You went white and then you looked like a zombie?”
As I got a grip on my surrounding I looked up and saw Quistis sat next to me, driving the car I was in,
“This is a dream right? This cant be real, can it?
My mouth felt dry as I said those words, I guess somehow I already knew the answer.
“Of course this is real, why do you ask?”
“Hey where are we going? I’ve got to get back to uni. I’ve got a lecture at 11am”
I guess Quistis knew that something was up; she put her hand on my shoulder again and looked over for a split second at me while she was driving.
“Balamb garden, we’re going to get you checked out by the doctor then sort this all out.”
“Let me guess; Dr Kadowaki right?”
I guess I was testing her, to see if this was some sort of joke or something, but if it was it was a damn elaborate one. She gave me that same puzzled look as she’d given me in Balamb and nodded her head. I don’t think we said another word all the way back to Garden, I just sat and stared out of the window at the road and the countryside whizzing past my window.

I sat there on the bed in the infirmary, staring into space; I’d still got all my things. I remember when Dr Kadowaki had asked me to put them down I had refused. maybe I was holding on to them in an attempt to keep my world close to me, hmmm my world , the everyday world, normal , comfy, war in Iraq , corrupt politicians, going down to the union with my friends. Normality. I sat there and reached into my pocket, I pulled out my mobile phone , don’t ask me why but I looked at it , clicked a button and the screen flashed up; ‘No network coverage’ what did I expect? To be able to call my friends who were probably sat in the bar back at university with a pint waiting for me when I got back there.
The doors of the infirmary slid open and in walked Quistis , least it was a friendly face, she walked over to Dr Kadowaki who was sat about 10ft away from me at a desk , trying to feign working and not watching me out of the corner of her eye, lets just say she didn’t make much of an effort or she was really bad at playing innocent because even in my trance like state , I knew what was going on, I was just getting things clear in my head I guess. As I sat there I heard them talk to each other, they were exchanging glances to each other and then looked at me, I snapped back into the world of the living and looked up, I don’t know what I was expecting them to say , maybe that I could go home,
“Well medically he’s fine, he’s free to go, he just went a little light headed, a shock to the system that was all.”
Hmm medically fine, I beg to differ. After what I’d found out today? Quistis nodded to the doctor and walked over to me,
“James, it’s time, he wants to see you.”
I knew straight away who ‘he’ was; Squall, leader of SeeD and Balamb garden, you know the story. Now I don’t know why but I felt scared, I mean really scared, the kind of scared you get when you’ve just been busted in school for doing something really bad and your getting hauled up in front of the principle for the obligatory telling off and detention issuing. I stood up, reached out and picked up my bag which had been on the bed besides me, slinging it over my shoulder I laboured to stand up, I wasn’t feeling ill or anything it just seemed like it was too much effort , maybe I was dragging my heels, so that I could get my thoughts together.
As we walked down the halls it felt like a million pairs of eyes were staring at me. I looked up and I remember seeing every student who walked past me look at me. It was obvious that it had gotten out that I wasn’t from around here, I stood out like a sore thumb; the outsider. It wasn’t that they were hostile to me; I guess they didn’t know what to make of me. In fact some of them smiled at me, with the sort of smile Quistis had done when she’d first ran into me in that café in Balamb. We walked through a doorway and into the main area of the Garden, it was amazing, I looked up towards the ceiling, the walls seemed to go on forever, it was twice as high as any church I’ve even been in, and it echoed just as much, I caught parts of conversations that had been drifting round garden. In front of me a pool of water circled the upper level which had the entrance to the lift. The sound of running water in the main hall was almost calming; it helped me relax, even if just for a second. The lift tower rose like a great glass spire stretching straight up to ceiling, as far as the eye could see, like the spine running through the centre of Balamb garden. It was awe inspiring,
“Are you coming?”
My eyes pulled away from the scenery snapped back to earth seeing Quistis stood there holding a file , I guess they were notes the Dr had made on me, looking back towards me.
“Yeah……. I guess so.”
I sighed and we set off walking for the lift and Squall’s office on the 3rd floor. I didn’t say much on the way there. I guess if it had been under different circumstances I’d of been loving every moment of it, talking to people, looking around, and hitting on all the cute students. We got off the lift and ahead of me stood the most imposing doors I’ve ever seen. Huge, slender, dark wooden doors, towering up, at least 15ft tall. I saw someone appear from one of the offices to the side, it was Xu, and just like Quistis I recognised her instantly,
“Hmmm so you’re the celebrity are you? Well he’s been expecting you, go on in.”
Xu smiled at me and pushed one of the doors open, beckoning for me and Quistis to go in. I felt Quistis’s hand on my shoulder as she urged me forward. I took one nervous step and then started to walk slowly towards the open door.
I pushed the door open a little wider and walked through into the darkened room beyond, it was just like I expected it to be, there were only small lights on around the room cutting into the rapidly increasing darkness. By this time it was getting dark, the sun was setting, and there was a deep orange, almost blood red glow from the setting sun through the blinds at the far end of the room. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I noticed a tall black silhouette at the far end of the room, standing behind a desk, staring out of the window. This had to be Squall. I smiled to myself, still the brooding angst-ridden teen that I remembered from the game that I’d played countless times. We all must of stood there in silence for about a minute , each one of us not knowing what to say before finally Quistis broke the silence and walked over to the desk and placed the file she’d been carrying down on it.
I can’t say that I wasn’t scared because I was, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I now knew how Alice felt, staring down the rabbit hole. I was half expecting Morpheus to step out of the shadows and offer me the red pill or blue pill. The fact that this was reality and not a dream still hadn’t fully hit me,
“Hey Squall how’s it going?”
As I found myself uttering those words I thought I don’t know this guy, I mean sure I’ve seen him countless times but I’ve never actually heard any of them speak, text boxes and your imagination can only get you so far. And another thing; I didn’t know him, I’ve never met the guy or any of them and here am I feeling like I know them so well.
Squall stood there for a moment, still looking out of the window, collecting his thoughts, I guess I’d thrown him with the familiarity of my introduction.
“Quistis has told me about you, so you’re not from around here”
“……..Yeah understatement of the year there.”
I don’t know why but for the first time since I found out what was going on I felt a hall of a lot more relaxed. The figure of Squall turned from looking out of the window and pushed a button on his desk. The blinds on the windows slid shut and the lights came up. I looked around the office to see that it wasn’t imposing in the slightest , infact it was quite plain, a group of chairs surrounding a glass table in one corner, bookcases on the walls with countless books on them, I guessed they were books on strategy and war tactics and the like. In another corner of the room was a small group of plants, their green leaves billowing out of the pot. On one of the walls was what looked like a large TV screen, the type you get in those sports bars, huge, flat plasma screen monsters? At the top end of the office was a desk with a computer screen and keyboard on it and a few papers scattered on it in neat ordered piles.
I walked forward to the desk, and stood there before squall, its true what the y say , people always do look shorter in person,
“I don’t know how I got here, but I know this place.”
Squall looked at me puzzled for a moment before Quistis, who had been stood at the side of the desk said,
“It’s true Squall he knows things about us that no one else knows.”
“Like what?”
Squall was obviously testing me, he didn’t believe me and to honest I didn’t blame him, so I stood there and just talked, about SeeD, about Seifer and the sorceress, about the assassination attempt in Deling City and time compression and the battle with Ultimecia, everything. I even talked about their past, about living in the orphanage. I didn’t start in any order; I just talked and let it come out. Squall and Quistis both sat there, listening to my every word as I laid it down. I don’t know how long we talked for. It felt like I was in the witness box or something, Squall kept on cross examining me. He asked me how I got here and what I did, I told him, as honestly as I could, I knew these were good people, and I knew that these were perhaps the only shot I had at getting home.

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Chapter 3: New Surroundings

“So how do you know all of this? You’ve just told me everything that happened two years ago”
I sat there for a while, before me stood one of those great moral dilemmas, do I tell Squall that I know what happened because their all characters in a video game that I've played enough times that I know the storyline backwards or do I make something up. At that point I made my decision,
“I can’t tell you that, I’ve just seen it unfold before my very eyes, in a way……… I felt like I was there….. with you.”
Okay so it wasn’t the truth but it wasn’t a lie either, I’d just met these people and already I was hiding things from them, but I’d made my choice and it seemed like the right thing to do even having said that it still made me cringe a little inside. I don’t know is Squall or Quistis bought it as they both looked a little puzzled before looking at each other for a second, I guess trying to decide if they could trust me or not. It seemed like minutes passed before anything was said,
“Well it looks like your going to be here with us for a while; I guess we’d best find you some place to sleep hadn’t we.”
Kind words indeed, they almost seemed out of place from what I knew of Squall, I sat there and breathed a sigh of relief, glancing over at Quistis she did the same and smiled at me, it seemed like even she didn’t know what Squall was going to say and was just as relieved as I was when he finally let me stay in Balamb garden.
“So James, welcome to Balamb garden, is there anything you need?”
“Thanks Squall, is there….any chance… of…..getting some food?”
“I shouldn’t see why not, the cafeteria is probably still serving food.” Squall smiled
“Come on lets go.”
With that Squall, Quistis started to walk out, I stood up and picked up my bag and followed them. As we reached the lift and got inside I remember feeling so much better, the doors on the lift closed and Quistis leant over and pushed a button on the console.
“We’re going to have to give you the guided tour of garden I guess aren’t we James?”
“Yeah I’d love that, thanks Quistis.”
“Hey are you ready for this? I think the guys are meeting us in the cafeteria.”
“The guys? You mean….?”
“Yep.”
“Wow, this is going to be cool.”
I was about to meet a group of people who’d saved the world and it felt like I’d been there with them every step of the way. After this meeting a pop idol like Britney Spears or someone was going to look tame, a cool smile beamed across my face.
As the lift descended, the floor suddenly gave way to the expanse of the main hall, it was amazing, I moved closer to the glass and looked out at the level below, people walking around, and groups of students talking. It was like any other campus anywhere only this place was different, much different from any university or college back home. The pool of water circled the main level and I noticed small groups of students leaning against the barrier, looking out over the water, and thinking. Others ran about, they must have been late for class. A group of girls met near the entrance, hugged each other and wandered off gossiping. Somewhere else a group of guys met and there was the obligatory macho shoves and horsing around before they walked off towards the training centre.
The doors of the lift opened and Squall was first to walk off, Quistis turned and grabbed my arm with both her hands, she pulled me out of the lift like an excited schoolgirl,
“Come on the guys are great, their going to love you, just be yourself.”
I smiled sheepishly and we walked off towards the cafeteria. I was paying a lot more attention to my surroundings this time round, I still got that look from students passing us by, I smiled and nodded my head, from over my shoulder I heard giggles from a group of girls that had just walked past us. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad.
As we reached the cafeteria, I looked around, there were groups of students sat at tables talking, others waiting in line to be served , stood there in small groups talking about what was going on, who was getting with who and this new guy that had appeared from somewhere far off; me. It was kind of nice to be a celebrity for a change.
Squall stopped just ahead of us and scouted the area for his friends, about 10ft an arm appeared from a booth that was obscured by a group of bushes that were planted in pots in the back of it. I noticed through the foliage a bunch of eyes peering through at us. We set off walking and rounded the corner to the booth. Squall slid round into the booth and sat down with Rinoa, Irvine and Seifer were there too. Angelo lay nearby, I remember he looked up at me, wagged his tail and then stood up and walked over to me, he started sniffing around , I guess because I was new, it didn’t matter , he looked up at me. I reached out my hand, let him smell it for a second and then stroked him, I smiled to him and he wagged his tail and walked off,
“He…. can probably smell my dogs.”
I said as Angelo walked over and curled up where he’d been sat before. Rinoa stood up from where she was sat in the booth, sandwiched between Irvine and Squall, she shoved Squall out of the way, he let out a half laugh. Rinoa walked over to me, I remember she looked exactly like I remembered her, long flowing jet black hair with a red streak. She stood in front of me fro a second looking me up and now, I stood there, trying to act cool, hand in my pocket , the other one clutching my bag. Rinoa smiled warmly at me, and then leaning forward she stretched out her hand while swinging back and forth on her heels,
“I’m Rinoa, nice to meet you James.”
“…uh …y…yeah …. Nice to meet you Rinoa.” I shook her hand
“Hee hee he doesn’t say much does he Squall, kind of like you, he’s cute though, I like him and Angelo seems too as well.”
“Woah, what a character reference, not that im doubting that mutt’s ability to judge people.”
I looked up as Seifer swung his leg over the chair he was sat on by the booth and walked towards me, he stood close to me, eyeing me and waving one of the chips he was eating in my face, same big bad Seifer I thought. This guy definitely had not mellowed with age,
“Now, now Seifer, play nice.”
Said Irvine who had by this point taken his feet off the table and had stopped spinning his hat in his hand. I looked over at Quistis, I guess looking for help, she stepped forward, and was about to say something when I got an idea, Seifer had his head turned talking to Irvine, telling him to shut up but still waving the chip in my face. I took the initiative and snatched it out of his hand and stuffed it into my mouth,
“Thanks Seifer, how did you know I was so hungry?”
I grinned at him as his head snapped back and I began eating the chip I’d just stolen from him. He was not impressed, his face went into a scowl, eyes burning at me, and I stood there, trying to stare him down. From just outside my vision I heard Irvine let out a loud laugh, only to be silenced by Rinoa as she dug him in the ribs. Squall leaned forward in his seat waiting to see what Seifer would do next. Quistis shot worried glances at Squall. Just when I was beginning this wasn’t the best method to fit in and make friends, Seifer looked at me, his frown softening into a grin, he laughed, and swung his arm over my shoulder,
“Ha you got balls man I’ll give you that. I like you. Okay, we can be friends.”
“Great.” I said sarcastically
“Course it is, everyone should have a friend like me!” Seifer grinned
I sighed with relief, and walked over to the group of friends sat at the booth; I put my bag down and slid round sitting next to Squall with Quistis sitting next to me. Irvine slung his feet back onto the table , his big boots making a bang and shaking the plates that were on the table and resumed spinning his hat on his finger and staring up at the ceiling. Seifer sat down on the chair and leant back, playing with the chips on his plate. Rinoa curled up with Squall and they started talking together.
“Hey so where are you from?”
Irvine looked down at me, still continuing to swing his hat on his finger.
“A long way away, a place called England.”
“England eh? Where’s that? Somewhere in Esther?”
“Um……. I think it’s a little further away than that Irvine, let him eat something first before he gets the grilling, he hasn’t eaten all day and its been a big day for him.”
“Ooooooooo Quistis has a boyfriend.”
Quistis shot an evil stare at Seifer who was laughing.
“You’re just jealous Seifer.” Quistis shot back.
Irvine started to snigger but was silenced by another swift dig in the ribs by Rinoa,
“Hey cut that out are you trying to break my ribs or something Rinoa?”
Rinoa grinned at Irvine who was rubbing his ribs in an attempt to get sympathy, she stuck out her tongue at him, everyone burst out laughing, Rinoa just sat there and grinned, Irvine scowled for a second then began laughing with the rest of us. It felt good to laugh, it seemed like I hadn’t laughed in forever. Our laughter was short lived though, we stopped laughing when we heard a zipping noise that was all too familiar to the rest of the group, and was about to become familiar to me.
Zell flew down the corridor and entered the canteen on his T-board, flat out, skimming the heads of the students underneath who dived for cover.
“Oh man outta my way, there’s hot dogs to be eaten and I’m starving!!!!”
As Zell entered the canteen he scooped up a tray from the pile by the entrance and flew towards the counter, but he clipped one of the branches of the trees inside the canteen, his T-board flew out from underneath him, Zell was flying through the air, headfirst towards the line. Everywhere students heard the screams of Zell as he flew towards them,
“Ahh!!!!! Watch out!! Mayday!!! I can’t stop!!!”
They dove for cover; Zell hit the floor arms outstretched, still clutching the tray. He pushed down with his hands and flipped through the air, landing on his feet right in front of the counter to the amazement of the canteen staff and garden students who were now picking themselves up off the floor and dusting themselves off. The lunch lady smiled at Zell and went into the kitchen, leaving Zell feeling pretty good with himself, much to the disgust of the students he’d got standing behind him who’d just realised he’d cleared all twenty of them and was now about to clear out all the hotdogs and Zell normally did.
The lunch lady returned to Zell clutching a tray full of hotdogs,
“Damn I thought I wasn’t going to make it today Mrs T, I had one of my classes over run and I couldn’t get out of the door no matter how much I begged, this new instructor is a real bitch”
“Now I’m sure they aren’t that bad Zell and you know I always save some hotdogs for special customers like you”
“Yeah thanks Mrs T, oh my mum says hi. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
“Bye Zell”
Zell waved and grinned to the lunch lady, grabbed the bottles of Ketchup and Mustard next to the counter and spun around to be greeted to the glares of about twenty annoyed students. Zell scratched his head and grinned sheepishly before deciding a tactical retreat was in order. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his friends all creased up in stitches at the booth. He waved at us and began walking towards us. As Zell reached us in one movement he placed his tray full of hotdogs down on the table and grabbed a chair from nearby, leapfrogging it and sitting down with his legs crossed in one move. Zell reached out and grabbed the nearest hotdog, smothered it in mustard and ketchup and stuffed it into his mouth, he looked up and grinned at us,
“S’up guys, how’s it going? Hey Squall your commander here aren’t you? Well do something about that new instructor, she kept me late and wouldn’t let me leave!”
“Not my department Zell and you probably deserved it, bet you were slacking off again.”
“Aww man, no fair………hey who’s this?”
Zell gestured towards me, waving a hotdog in my direction,
“Hey Zell, my names James, im……..”
I was going to tell him I wasn’t from around here but I got cut off by Zell, this guy was as lively as I remember him, constantly walking around putting his foot in it every time he opened his mouth. Here Zell was ramming hotdog after hotdog into his mouth and talking to us, spraying crumbs and half eaten hotdog all over , this seemed to be normal since no one batted an eyelid,
“Oh hey James, so you’re the guy Quistis picked up in the bar this afternoon huh?”
There was a sharp bang from underneath the table as Zell’s shin received the full force of Quistis’s boot, sending it shooting up and smacking the underside of the table,
“Ow, jeeze Quisty I was joking okay?”
Rinoa and Irvine laughed, Squall just took it all in his stride as for Seifer, well he just shook his head in disgust, Quistis sat there in the corner, her hand on her head, and I remember I glanced over to see her blushing.
“Hey Irvy, I got something important I need to ask you and I need you honest opinion okay!?”
Everyone looked round to see a smiling happy Selphie walking up, clutching her “file’o’fun” as she called it with all her party ideas inside. Irvine put his fork down and wiped his mouth with his napkin. Selphie put the file down on the table as Quistis and Zell looked up, listening. Selphie sat down on Irvine’s knee and looked at him,
“Well sure Selphie hun, what is it?”
“Well, it’s real important; I need your honest opinion, okay?”
Zell and Quistis looked at each other,
“With or without?”
At this point I think Quistis realised what was going on and shook her head, Irvine grinned knowingly, a split second before feigning ignorance said,
“With or without what Selp….”
Selphie gave Irvine no chance to respond as she grabbed him and kissed him before he knew what was happening. When they finally came up for air Irvine grinned and Selphie sat there looking innocent and like nothing had happened.
“Hey knock it off you two, single people here. Im trying to eat my hotdogs here, it’s almost enough to put a guy off his lunch………but not quite”
Selphie looked up and saw me sat there, a bit dumb fuddled by what was going on, I remember she had the biggest jade green eyes that I’d ever seen, so wide and full of life, or caffeine, one of the two , I hadn’t decided yet..
“Oooohh hey cutie you must be the ‘mysterious stranger’ I've heard about from my girlfriends.”
I guess word gets around garden fast. Especially with new arrivals.
“Hey, I'm James.”
It was the same old happy messenger girl Selphie I remembered; she reminded me a lot of my little sister. My sister and me always used to get into trouble and when we’d get caught by our parents they’d look at us both and somehow my little sis always used to get off by giving that same sweet innocent look Selphie had about her at that moment.
“Well, stand up so I can have a good look at you.”
I listened to what Selphie said and sheepishly stood up, rubbing the back of my head as I did, the others at the table we sat grinning at me, god how embarrassing,
“Hmm it’s true, you are cute, I guess ill stick to Irvine though, and he’s so cute when he’s mad.”
Everyone started laughing as I stood there and went bright red, and then finally saw the funny side, after an exaggerated frown even Irvine joined in. I sat back down, relaxing into my chair. I let out a content sigh. My stomach started to rumble, all day without food, not good, I’m a growing guy,
“Yo James, you must be starved, here get some of Balamb Garden’s speciality hotdogs down your neck, they’ll see you right.”
“Woah, this is a red letter day, Zell giving away hotdogs, you should be honoured James.”
I snatched a hotdog up before Zell could change his mind and started eating,
“Cheers Zell.”
We all sat there laughing, finally something to eat, and these were damn good hotdogs too, I could see why Zell liked them.

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Chapter 4: In a Foreign Land, Friends are Universal

I remember we sat there till the early hours of the morning, just laughing and joking, it felt good, it felt like I had friends there, people who I could trust, even thought I’d only really met them for the first time that afternoon. We sat there forever , I talked about my world , they all wanted to know what my world was like, I told them, about university, about wanting to become a doctor, about life at uni being a lot like it is here, except with a lot less combat training and a lot more alcohol and partying. I think when we finally left the cafeteria it was about 1am and we were all tired but it didn’t show, we were having too much fun.
Quistis had sorted a place for me to crash, in one of the unused dorm rooms, then she said goodnight and left with the others, they had an apartment somewhere in garden. I was alone for the first time with my thought that day. I swiped the key card in the lock to my room and the door slid open, it reminded me a lot of the doors on Star trek or one of those crappy low budget sci-fi films, it was cool. I took a deep breath and walked in, the room felt sterile. I glanced around , it was small , with a bed at one side , a little bed side table and a desk with some shelves and cupboards opposite it, the window above the bed was open and there was a slight breeze , blowing the thin net curtain that hung down. It fluttered softly in the cool night breeze. It felt a lot like the dorm rooms I live in at uni, before I get any of my stuff moved in, or posters on the wall. I let my bag slide off my shoulder and onto the floor by the bed as I walked over to the curtain. I sighed and sat down on the bed and pulled the curtain to one side. I remember sitting there thinking to myself how the skies of this world looked familiar to the ones I remember looking at on long clear winters nights with my friends as we talked about something deep and meaningful like our place in the universe or what we were going to do over the weekend. Hmm, I wonder what their doing now? I don’t know how long I sat looking out of the window, but the glow from the lights that ran besides paths round the Garden looked almost magical. Fireflies danced around in the night sky, and below me I could see a few students walking around at night, couples, wrapped in each other’s arms, talking the night away.
I sighed to myself, wondering when I would go home, although I felt now as though I was in no rush, this was definitely worth missing a couple of lectures for. I wanted to see what this world had to offer.
I remember I switched the lights off in my room, took my shirt off and lay down on the bed with my jeans still on, the night breeze felt good, almost soothing. I lay there with my arms behind my head, staring at the ceiling, drifting off into unconsciousness.

I lay there the next morning, slowly waking up with the warm sun on my face and a warm breeze blowing through the window. As I opened my eyes I half expected to find myself in my room at uni and it had all been a dream, I was actually glad when I found I was still in that same dorm room at Balamb garden that I’d drifted off into a deep sleep the night before. I lay there and rubbed my eyes as they adjusted to the warm light that bathed my room from outside. I lay, listening to the birds singing in the distance, Garden was alive with activity, outside my window I could hear conversations from the students drift in on the breeze. I smiled to myself. I stood up and walked to the window, looking out over Balamb garden, it looked totally different from what I remembered last night, people walking to class, students sat under a tree looking at books, a couple were throwing a ball around on the grass opposite the path, there was a soft knock at my door, it slid open and there stood Quistis, hey hands in front of her clutching a pile of papers. She was there in her SeeD uniform, that I knew straight away, she looked so official. I smiled warmly at her, god I must of looked a state, no shirt on , crumpled jeans and my hair in a mess standing there looking bleary eyed at her having just fallen out of bed. Im not a morning person. She looked at me, blushing a little then stopped and smiled. Quistis took a step inside my room.
“Sorry James, I dint know you weren’t dressed.”
“Oh…….yeah …. Sorry, im glad to see you still here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I guess I thought I dreamt yesterday, it’s not everyday this happens to me you know.”
“I guess not.”
“Im glad I didn’t dream it.”
We both stood there for a moment, our eyes darted round the room , I guess I was a little embarrassed myself for what I’d just said, all I could remember thinking was ‘you idiot James’, finally Quistis spoke,
“Did……. you find everything okay last night?”
“Oh yeah, hey is there somewhere I could get a shower? And get straightened up? I probably look a mess huh?”
“Oh yeah no problem, there should be everything you need in those drawers, and there’s a bathroom through there.”
Quistis pointed to a corner of my room that just looked like a section of wall, I looked puzzled at her. She smiled to herself and walked over, the wall disappeared before my eyes and beyond was a bathroom, full of chrome and tiles and glass. It looked like one of those you see in design magazines.
“Cool. Thanks Quistis”
“No worries, I know there are a lot of new things to see, maybe later we can meet, have breakfast and I’ll show you around.”
“Wow, that’d be excellent, thanks, I want to see how things have changed in the time since Ultimecia.”
“No problem, I can only imagine how scared you are right now, new faces , new world, but it isn’t so bad once you get to know it, well I’ve got a class to teach. Shall we say ill meet you here in an hour?”
“Sure.”
I smiled at her and as she turned on her heels to walk out I remember watching the sun catch her pony tail as it whipped out, her hair shone a beautiful wheat field gold. Quistis stopped at the door, without turning to look at me she said,
“By the way nice tattoo.”
It threw me for a second, then I reached down to my left shoulder and rubbed the tattoo I’d got on holiday a couple of years ago, a fond memory of Canada I thought to myself, plus it looked cool. The door to the room slid shut and just as suddenly as she’d arrived, Quistis was gone.

I don’t really remember what I thought as I took a shower , I just remember it ended up being one of the longest shower I’d ever had in my life. As the water ran down my face thought about a lot of things, mostly about what I’d left behind back home, family, friends, my life, wherever that was now. After the shower I felt so much better. I was now dressed and ready to go; as it was so warm I’d decided to leave my hockey jersey off and instead just wore the black t-shirt I’d worn underneath it yesterday.
Quistis struck me as being punctual and sure enough, exactly when she said she’d be here I heard a knock at my door. As I walked over to it I smiled to myself, maybe I did know everyone better than I’d given myself credit for, sure this wasn’t exactly home but we were a lot alike, I’d found that out last night as we sat talking into the small hours of the morning.
The door slid open and there stood Quistis and Zell, there was a small voice coming from behind them,
“Hey guys get outta my way, come on.”
Selphie pushed her way past Quistis and the towering frame of Zell and leaned forward, her hands on her knees grinning at me,
“Well stranger, are you ready for this? We’ve got a surprise for youuuuuu.”
I looked puzzled for a moment, then shrugged my shoulders and followed them out.

Since it’d been a couple of years since the events I remembered the guys filled me in on what had happened in the interim. Since Ultimecia had been defeated and time compression had been averted. Since then tales of Squall and his friends heroism had spread throughout the land, from Winhill to Esthar and beyond, every child was told the story of the valiant SeeD pitted against the evil Ultimecia from the future for the survival of the present.
Garden and SeeD had swelled to 5 times its size in only 2 years, every teenager wanted to live the life, to be Squall and save the world. Several new gardens had been built by the technicians in Fisherman’s Horizon and Esthar working together. There was now Galbadia Garden which had been repaired after the aerial battle with Balamb Garden, Centra Garden to patrol the newly populated Centra continent and neighbouring Lenown Plains. Trabia Garden had been built from new, after the terrible missile attack which had destroyed it 2 years previous it was decided to leave the ruins as a memorial to the lives lost and the battle with Ultimecia. Balamb garden was the flagship of the garden fleet, the mechanics and technicians in Esthar had expanded it to about 3 times its original size, new dormitories and classrooms, a larger training arena and massive quad, bigger infirmary (Dr Kadowaki had taken on several medical personnel to be able to cope!) and hangers to fly and maintain several Ragnarock attack craft. Balamb gardens defence systems had been upgraded with computerised gun turrets and shield generator operated from the bridge.
Squall was now commander of all Garden and SeeD operations around the world, with help form Xu and Quistis and the other garden commanders. Headmaster had retired to the orphanage with Edea a year ago and they had reopened it.
For her help in eliminating Ultimecia Quistis was now head instructor in Balamb garden along with Xu.
Selphie was, well still being Selphie only now she was in charge of Garden moral and in Selphie’s eyes keeping moral up in Garden meant regular parties and dances, and normally after a conversation with Zell more hotdogs at the canteen! Not that anyone complained, in fact the opposite, they loved it.
Irvine was now an instructor, teaching sharp shooting at Galbadia garden even though he lived with everyone else at Balamb Garden, he said he didn’t mind travelling there most days because it gave him a chance to get hold of a Ragnarock and blast to Galbadia at mach 3 skimming mere feet off the ocean every time he went thanks to some expert tuition from Selphie on how to fly the Ragnarock.
Zell was an instructor for a while, teaching martial arts to SeeD candidates but he quit after a few months because it didn’t agree with him, all that responsibility, he was a fighter, not a teacher, so back to classes he went.
Then there was Rinoa, she’d moved into Balamb garden to be with Squall even though she wasn’t a SeeD she was allowed in, after all if your boyfriend is commander of all Garden he’s got to be able to pull a few strings to get what he wants every now and again. Not that anyone minded, in Balamb garden everyone knew and liked Rinoa, she was everyone’s friend and had ended up acting as a sort of councillor in garden, everyone came to her about problems, and she listened, her cheerful disposition seemed to ease the worry of any student whether it be exam stress or something else.
Seifer? Well he returned to garden after Squall asked him much to everyone’s surprise, in time the wounds healed and things eventually returned to about as normal as they were, Seifer baiting Squall and Squall ignoring Seifer’s taunts, although I think Rinoa had a hand in that, ah the wonders of what the love of a good woman can do.
The group all lived in level B1 of Balamb garden, it had been converted from NORG’s home into their apartment, and there was never a quiet moment there.
Galbadia was now under the leadership of General Caraway and they were now a peaceful country and Timber had finally gained its independence (after much badgering of her father by Rinoa). The transoceanic railroad had now reopened when diplomatic ties were once again re-established between Esthar and Galbadia. There were even talks of trade routes and a united government between the two world leaders.
The world was finally at peace, on the surface at least, SeeD was still busy eradicating monster infestations, terrorists and other such missions, they’d become a sort of world peace keeping force.

After breakfast as we all walked around garden all the time I felt like this was becoming more and more like my home, I didn’t know when of even if I would get back to my world but it didn’t matter I was determined to make the best of it. I don’t remember saying much as I was given the tour of garden, I just took it all in, truth be told it blew my mind, especially the flight deck, what I wouldn’t have given to get behind the wheel of one of the Ragnarock, they made the Cesner planes that I’d flown a couple of times back home look tame. Selphie skipped ahead of us, stopping every now and again to chat to groups of people she knew on the way, pointing me out as the stranger, Quistis walked besides me, her hand behind her back pointing out things every now and again while Zell walked backwards in front of us , talking to us about all the battles he’d had and how he was the best fighter and the kind of things I expected Zell to really, even thought he was now a couple of years older he was still as big a kid as ever.
“This really is something.” I finally said,
“…yes I suppose it is, what’s it like where you’re from James?”
I smiled to myself as Quistis and Zell looked intently at me, Selphie came skipping over to us,
“What’cha talking about?”
“Maybe ill tell you one day, but I know……my friends back home would love to meet you guys, you’ve been brilliant. I feel like you’re my friends too now, okay so I know I only arrived yesterday but …… you know.”
My smile faded as I remembered this world, my home; would I ever see it again? I know im always referring to it, but it really was always on my mind, I guess it’s true that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Or at least it seemed like it in my case.
“One day you’ll have to come to my world, its not as lively as this world but we’ve had some great parties there.”
“Your welcome to stay here as long as you want James. We’ll find a way to get you home.”
We all turned to see Squall and Rinoa walking towards us, and Angelo not far behind. Squall strode towards us, Rinoa had trouble keeping up but she smiled as they walked arm in arm towards us. I don’t know why but at that moment I felt just as intimidated by Squall as when I’d first stepped into that darkened office that first day. I reached out my hand to Squall, he looked at it, I’d forgot Squall wasn’t one for shaking hands,
“Thanks Squall.”
My hand was still outstretched, I became painfully aware of it but just as I was about to withdraw it I was taken aback as Squall reached out his and shook my hand, then looked up and he smiled at me,
“Welcome to Balamb garden James.”

I sat there at the back of one of the classrooms in Balamb garden, in front of me was a computer terminal. I’d asked Squall a couple of days ago if I could check out some of the classes that they had at Balamb garden, truth be told it gave me something to do, otherwise I’d of been moping around, thinking about home and that wouldn’t of done anyone, least of all me any good. I wasn’t a student or anything; I’d just sit in on classes every now and again when I felt lonely. Quistis had asked me along to this class because it was on battle strategy; I think she wanted me to talk about some of the battle’s I knew about, yeah right. Sure my grandfather had been in World War 2 but I didn’t know a thing about warfare, just what I’d seen on TV.
I’d been sat there for about 5 minutes, Quistis was at the front of the class, standing there , programming the computer at her desk , the class was gradually arriving , like in any lecture I’d been to, everyone headed for the back, to avoid teacher asking awequard questions and so that they could talk quietly and hopefully not get caught,
“So you’re the guy from England huh?”
I looked up to see the faces of the girls who were sat at the desk in front of me looking back at me, giggling to each other,
“Yep.”
“How’d you get here then?”
“I don’t know.”
“So what’s it like in England?”
“A beautiful place.”
The two of them looked at each other, nudging each other one of them finally said over her giggling,
“What are the girls like there?”
I smiled to myself,
“Oh their cute, not as cute as some of the ones here at Garden though.”
The two of them blushed and erupted into fits of giggles. Hitting on girls here was just the same as back home, I guess some things are just the same, some things are universal. I looked past them to see Quistis shaking her head at me with a smile on her face; I shrugged and smiled at her.
“Alright class, that’s enough, settle down.”
The room rose for a second, standing to attention before their teacher. I sat there, feeling ever so self conscious, but what could I do? I wasn’t a SeeD or anything. The class sat back down and switched their computer consoles on, I did the same so I could follow what was going on after a little help from one of the students sitting nearby, these computers weren’t your normal PC’s that you find in the university library, no , they were about ten times more complex.
We sat there listening to Quistis talking about battle tactics from famous battles I’d never heard of. I guess it was part of the curriculum, slightly more interesting than the mating habits of some obscure species that I’d of been studying had I been back home at uni. The time seemed to fly by, at the end of the lesson everyone filed out in an orderly fashion; I guess it was all that military training.
“Hey Quistis, nice lecture.”
“Thanks James.”
“One thing though, numbers don’t always mean victory, there was a battle on my world, 400 soldiers against 10,000 Zulu warriors at a place called Rouks Drift, the soldiers won.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yep, I’ll have to tell you about it sometime.”
“How’d you know about all of that? I thought you didn’t do battle tactics or anything like that where your from.”
“Let’s say I learnt it off a man called Michael Cain.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
Quistis looked puzzled at me as she packed up her notes and walked out of the room with me after answering a few questions from the doting group of Trepe’s that were hovering near the door.
“What are you up to now then?”
“Zell’s invited me into his combat class, and then Irvine said he’d take me to the range with his class later.”
“Looks like you’ve got a busy day.”
“Nah, I enjoy it, it’s interesting, well at least more than a lecture on photosynthesis.”
“Huh?”
“My sentiment exactly. And I take the damn class!”
We laughed as we walked down the hall, I seemed to be fitting in here, and I was enjoying seeing what it was like in Balamb, even if I wasn’t a student, people were beginning to treat me as if I was.

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Chapter 5: When in Rome…..

I slid across the ground of the training centre on my knees, dust was kicked up all around me, landing a full ten feet away from where the tail of the T-rexaur had slammed into my body, sending shockwaves through every bone in my body, even though I had state of the art poly-metal alloy armour on it still hurt my ribs. As I stopped sliding across the floor of the training centre and the dust settled I gripped my right side where the tail had landed home on me. I paused for a moment, catching my breath. I felt something running down my forehead, I reached up and felt it; blood. I reached both hands into my jacket, slinging it back and pulled out two sub-machine guns I had slung in holsters under either side of my chest. In one smooth action I pulled them out and drew them to bear on the T-rexaur who had been momentarily thrown off balance by the swipe which had injured me. Even though every bone in my body ached I stood up, as I did pulling the triggers of the two machine guns pointing at the beast. A hail of fire slammed into the animal as I charged forward, arcs of empty shell cases flying past my head as I charged full speed towards the now injured T-rexaur. The bullets slammed into him, piercing even the beast’s tough skin, burying themselves deep into his flesh, before exploding moments later under his skin, sending blood and tissue flying. Shell after shell hit home until I suddenly heard the telltale click of a spent magazine on both the guns. I slung them to one side and continued to charge full tilt towards it. I remember the adrenalin coursing through my body made me feel so alive, my senses heightened, my strength increased. I reached behind me, over my head and drew the long slender blade of the sword I carried there. The highly polished surface of the titanium blade glistened in the afternoon sun. I was but a few meters from the T-rexaur and as I reached it I leapt up into the air I held the blade with both hands to get maximum damage from the slice. The beast rose its head to meet me, teeth bared, but it was too late, the blade hit home, slashing deep into his neck , cutting through bone and muscle alike as if they weren’t even there. The lifeless corpse of the T-rexaur came slamming down to earth in the training centre, sending shockwaves through the ground as its giant carcase settled and fell silent.
I stood up from the crouching position I had come to rest in a few meters away. I dusted myself off and slid the blade back into its sheath, even after it sliced through the neck of the T-rexaur it was still gleaming; clean as ever as if I’d never used it. Now the fight was over the pain I felt in my ribs seemed to increase tenfold. I stopped in my tracks for a moment, dropping to my knees before standing up again a moment later, the pain now under control. Even though it hurt like hell I took a deep breath and sighed with relief. I walked over to where I had discarded the two machine guns and picked them both up, with a flick of my thumb the spent clips popped out, I reached behind me and pulled two fresh ammo clips out of a pocket at the back of my belt, slammed first one into the gun, then the other, and pulled the cocking mechanism back, chambering the next round. I flicked the safety on and then slung the two weapons back into their holsters under my jacket.
I walked out of the clearing I’d just been stood in and back onto the path, leaving the carcase of the dead T-rexaur in a pool of its own blood to rot in the midday sun.
I rounded the corner and ahead of me was the best sight I’d ever seen, the large metal door in the fence that marked the exit to the training area. I stopped in my tracks for a moment and turned to look at the path I’d just walked. Clutching my side I pushed the pad that caused the metal door to swing open with a huge metallic bang. The other side of the small room I was now stood in another door swung open. I was met with the rather disapproving glare of several familiar pairs of eyes.
It had been about two weeks since I’d arrived in Balamb garden and I’d changed so much I couldn’t even recognise myself. It all started a few days after I’d arrived, I went along with Quistis to one of her classes; it was on advanced battle tactics. I remember sitting there, transfixed, listening to every word she’d said. What started out as just idle curiosity soon turned into something of an obsession, as I started to attend combat classes. Now I had never held a weapon till a few days ago but now they seemed like an extension of me.
“What the hell do you think you were doing!?”
Squall stood there in front of me, his eyes glaring at me. He stood there with his arms folded; his eyes seemed to be boring into me, okay so this didn’t seem like such a good idea now. Next to Squall stood the Zell, Quistis, Selphie Rinoa and Irvine. All of them looked at me with stern eyes. It was Quistis’s eyes to weaken first as I staggered forward and fell to my knees once more. I felt a coppery taste in my mouth, it tasted like blood. I tried standing up in blatant defiance of Squall and spat a mouthful of blood to one side, it didn’t work and I fell back down on my knees. This was definitely a stupid idea, what was I thinking!? I wasn’t a SeeD, I was a student at a normal university where they taught normal things like law, politics, science, computers, not battle tactics, infiltration and explosives.
Blood still running down my face I looked up at the towering shadows of the group of friends, eclipsing the afternoon sun and casting perfect silhouettes across the floor and me. Quistis took a step forward but was stopped dead by the harsh tone in Squall’s voice,
“Leave him, he chose to go in there, it’s his fault he’s injured! And where the hell did you get that equipment, how the hell did you get issued with Garden weaponry?!”
Squall walked over to me, I thought he was going to help me up, but it wasn’t the case. He reached around and drew the sword from its sheath, then gestured for me to hand over the two machine guns I had holstered in my jacket. I complied and handed them over to him, he returned back to where he was stood and slammed the sword into the ground, burying it point first into the soft earth of the training centre. Squall then glared at me again, crossing his arms as he did so.
“Squall knock it off!”
I remember I broke my gaze from Squall and looked over to Rinoa who was stood next to him, glaring at him. Squall shifted uncomfortable in the gaze of Rinoa, his eyes began to soften.
“Yo Squall who the hell was fighting in the training centre just now, did you see the moves on that guy? They move like a pro.”
Squall snapped his head round to see Seifer strolling into the training centre, his arms outstretched behind his head. Squall looked at Seifer disapprovingly for just contradicting everything he’d said to me in one sentence.
“I recon they could give even me a run for my money.”
“Seifer we’re in the middle of something here, back off.”
“S’cuse me Mr. SeeD commander.”
Squall swung his head back round to me as Seifer stood there , about 10 feet away from us , kicking his foot in the sand of the training centre. Squall stretched out his hand to me; I was still sat on the floor on my knees, clutching my side. I looked up at Squall and smiled, I’ll never forget what Squall said as he reached out his hand to me that day in the training centre as suddenly his harsh expression softened,
“You did good kid.”
I smiled, “Got a band aid anywhere have you Squall?”
The others helped me up,
“Come on lets get you patched up James, you took a pretty heavy kicking back there.”
I smelt the familiar scent of Quistis as she wrapped my arm over her shoulders and helped me walk, the other side of me I remember seeing Zell do the same,
“You can kick ass James ill give you that.”
“Thanks Zell.”
“Yo, Stranger pay no mind to chicken-wuss, he’s just nervous cos now there’s another person who can kick his ass walking around Garden.”
I tried to laugh, but my side hurt too much,
“Was some pretty good shooting back there, where’d you learn that?”
Irvine stood there in front of me, looking me up and down,
“Where’d you think?” I replied “Your class Irvine.”
Irvine stood there, grinning from ear to ear. Selphie skipped over to Irvine and flung her arms round him,
“Way to go Irvy”
“Shucks lil lady weren’t nothing to it for a marksman like me.”
Irvine grinned back at her. Selphie let go and kissed Irvine on the cheek before skipping off down the hall,
“Byeeeee guys I got a party to sort out. Don’t scare us again like that okay James? Quistis was worried. Hee hee.”
She giggled as she skipped off, I glanced over at Quistis to see her shooting a deadly look at Selphie as she skipped off down the hall, if looks could kill I thought as we walked off towards the infirmary.

I sat there on a bed in the infirmary about an hour later, Dr Kadowaki had just finished putting a bandage around my ribs, I’d bruised my ribs pretty badly and had a couple of stitches in the small gash on my head, it wasn’t visible unless you were looking for it.
Rubbing my ribs I looked up, seeing Rinoa sat there in a chair opposite the bed,
“Rinoa thanks.”
“For what?”
“For what you did back at the training centre, I thought Squall was going to kick my ass then and there.”
“Don’t worry about it; he’s a pussy cat really.”
“You guys have been through a lot haven’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“I knew you guys were destined to be together ever since that night at the Squall’s graduation party.”
“Yeah, my feet are still sore when I think of that night.”
We both laughed,
“It must be hard for you here huh? Feeling like you don’t belong.”
“Yeah, even though I've got you guys, and you’ve been great, I miss home.”
Rinoa stood up and walked over to the bed; she sat down beside me and put her arm round my shoulder. It comforted me no end, feeling her arm on my bare skin. I looked up from my thoughts and smiled at her,
“James, what’s it like back home? You never talk about it much.”
“I guess that’s how I deal with it; it hurts to remember what I’ve left behind.”
“I know what it feels like to not belong.”
“Yeah but Rinoa you had the hope of the world on your shoulders, and knowing that you were still a sorceress you still fought with Ultimecia.”
When I said the word ‘sorceress’ Rinoa bit her lip, it was obviously a sore memory for her,
“Sorry….. I didn’t mean to….”
“No its okay.”
“So you world, tell me what’s it like?”
I sat there for a moment, thinking,
“Well its, its normal really. It’s a lot like this world yet there’s a lot different about it.”
“Really? Like what?”
“Well, there aren’t any monsters, no giant man eating plants, or dinosaurs like that T-rexaur back there.”
“Must be nice.”
“Yeah, well our moon, you can walk on it, mans been to the moon, no monsters on the moon either.”
“Walk on the moon?”
“Yeah I guess it seems crazy to you.”
“And what else?”
“Well there are hundreds of countries, for the most part we’re at peace but………”
I was cut off mid sentence by the door to the medical centre swinging open, in walked Irvine and attached to him, Selphie, her arms wrapped around him so tight I swear he was beginning to turn blue. But as ever he had a big grin on his face and Selphie skipped along beside him without a care in the world.
“How ya feeling James? Did the Doc patch you up good as new?”
Selphie stood inches from my face, eyeing me up and down with a scrutinising eye,
“Yeah im feeling much better now thanks Selphie.”
She continued to eye me up and down; reaching out one of her hands she prodded me in my bandage,
“Ow, not funny.”
“Hee hee, well you’d better be better for tonight.”
“What’s going on tonight?”
“Hee hee it’s a sup….r….iseeeeeee.”
Selphie stuck out her tongue and the skipped off,
“Later gator.”
Irvine waved at me and Rinoa who was looking just as confused as I was and then walked off down the hall after Selphie.
“Hey Rinoa, I'm not hitting on you but can you help me on with my shirt? Im still a bit sore.”
“No problem James, and I think ‘she’d’ have something to say about me hitting on you.”
“Who’s she?”
Rinoa let out a knowing smile as I reached my arms up to put my shirt on; momentarily blinded for a moment I waited and winced in pain a little bit as the shirt was pulled back down over my head. To my surprise I found the smiling face of Quistis staring back at me. I smiled back at her,
“Not that im not glad to see you here but where’d Rinoa go to?”
“Oh…….Squall wants to see her, so she……stepped out.”
“Okay, she was acting weird before she left, I can’t figure that girl out.”
“Ha if you did you’d be the first, not even we understand her and we’ve known her two years.”
“Yeah she is a strange one that girl.”
“Dr Kadowaki can he go?”
The doctor looked over at us, both sat on the bed,
“No problem Quisty, and keep him out of trouble.”
“Ha no problem doctor, I will.”
“Come on lets get out of here Quistis, I could kill for a hot shower right about now.”

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Chapter 6: Tearing up the Tarmac

The door to my quarters slid open about an hour later, in strolled Zell , one hand in his pocket, the other stuffing the last of a hotdog he’d been eating into his mouth, He looked around for a moment,
“Yo, James? Are you here dude?”
“Yeah hold on Zell, I just got out of the shower.”
“Oh sorry dude, I didn’t know, you want me to come back later?”
“Nah, what’s up?”
“Oh Selphie suggested we go hang out somewhere.”
“Really? What’s with her today? She keeps saying she’s got a surprise for me, do you know anything about it?”
“Ummmmm………no dude, it’s .....erm.....news to me.”
I knew he was lying, and Zell was a bad liar, still I thought it wouldn’t do any harm to play along. I guessed they were trying to get me out of the way or something, who was I to argue?
“So Zell, what’s up?”
The door from the shower room slid open and I walked out in my trousers, with a towel round my shoulders and over my head, still drying my hair. I picked up my necklace from the top of the desk where I’d took it off before the shower and put it on , the metal on my chest felt cold to the touch , it wasn’t, but I’d gotten used to the hot water of the shower. I pulled the towel down and looked over at Zell.
“Woah cool tattoo James, where’d you get it?”
“Got it a while ago when I went on holiday, reminds me of the good times. I spent three weeks street racing in Canada. You know import cars, modified to the 9’s”
“Cool. No idea what that is but sounds cool.”
I laughed. I only hoped one of these days I could show my friends where I was from,
“Where are we going anyways Zell?”
“Well I thought we’d just go relax, you took a bit of a hammering this morning and Squall isn’t best pleased with you, maybe we should lie low for a bit?”
“Yeah I need to have a word with him, I thought he was going to kick me out of Garden this morning he looked that mad.”
“Nah, he’d never do that. He’s a pussycat.”
“You’re the second person to tell me Squall’s a pussy cat today, is a pussycat something different on this world? Cos back home it’s a cute fluffy lovable animal, Squall doesn’t look too cute and fluffy to me at the moment.”
“Hah good one.”
“So how bout you show me some moves on that T-board of you. I got a surprise for you too Zell.”
“Oh yeah what’s that man?”
I reached back and under my bed and pulled out a pair of rollerblades. The look on Zell’s face was priceless; his eyes were so wide I thought they’d pop out of his head,
“What the hell are they?!”
“Blades, their from my world, they kick ass, you should try them out.”
“Yeah they look radical, where’d you get them? You didn’t have them when you came here.”
“Got one of the guys in maintenance to knock them up, I told him what I wanted and he made them for me. So Zell, what do you say? Ill teach you some moves on the blades and you show me how to fly that thing.”
“It’s a done deal compadre.”
We laughed, this was definitely not going of be a dull afternoon. I threw my shirt on, grabbed the blades and we ran off out the door to get Zell’s T-board and start having some fun.

I roared down the path leading to the main entrance of Balamb garden, the wind in my face, my loose fitting clothes flapping in the breeze. I could feel the wheels of the blades run over the minute cracks in the pavement where one tile ended and the next began a rhythmic vibration through my lower legs. I reached down into my shirt pocket, never slowing down for a second as I pushed hard trying to get all the speed I could from the blades. I slid the shades on; much better, the sun sat low in the sky at the end of a beautiful day.
I pushed hard with the blades, my thighs aching, the speed was beginning to take its toll as I powered past a group of students the wind from the speed I was going caused their skirts to flare up a moment. I turned round, facing back towards them and waved. They screamed after me,
“Slow down you maniac!”
I saw a large black streak in the corner of my vision and glanced up, there was Zell, about 5ft above me, matching my speed, bent down on his T-board to get as fast as he could. Ahead of us were a group of students and beyond them a small set of steps, then the path continued on towards the main gates. I glanced up at Zell; he nodded at me and smiled. Zell dropped down, level with me, the group of students walking towards us stopped dead as they saw us approaching, I grinned to myself and pushed off hard on my blades getting as much power as I could, Zell leant back and his board followed him out to the left of the group, I moved my feet and in one smooth motion the blades carried me out and around the group, missing them by inches, I was so close I could smell the shampoo the girls had used that morning.
“Maniacs!”
The call came from behind us as we’d past the students but it fell on deaf ears as we sped off. Ahead of us were a short set of stairs, separated in the middle by a small raised flower bed. Zell dug his heel into the back of his T-board, it pushed the front end up as he neared the steps, sending him flipping into the air, for a second I thought he wouldn’t finish his 360 as in a split second the ground rose up to meet him, he brought the T-board to bear and landed, the back end kicked down, scraping the pavement. Sparks flew up form the back of his board as the metal kickboard bit into the ground. My turn; as I reached the top of the steps I pushed off and landed my blades on the rail, surfing down them, sparks flying up as metal-on-metal bit into each other. A few metres away Zell brought his T-board to a stop and looked back, my chance to impress him I thought. I looked down to the rail to see the bottom rapidly approaching. As the sparks my blades kicked up behind them reached an all time high I pushed off from the rail, powering forward into the air and curling up, I grabbed my feet as I did a flip. The world around me whirled past me as I sailed through the air, ‘I’ve got to get this right’ I thought to myself, I kicked out and began to uncurl myself, I felt a sudden jolt as my blades made contact with the ground, I kicked one of my feet out and turned at the same time, power-sliding across the pavement and coming to a stop next to the now wide mouthed Zell.
“Wow James, I’m impressed.”
“Thanks Zell, likewise.”
We grinned at each other, our egos now inflated,
“Hmm, boys and their toys.”
We both looked over towards where the voice had come from to see Rinoa stroll into view from under a tree. Angelo trotted up to her carrying something in his mouth, it was a small ball. She took it out of his mouth and threw it a small distance. Angelo ran off after the ball, wagging his tail as he did.
“S’up Rinoa?”
“Oh nothing, just taking in the evening sun with Angelo here.”
“What’s happening tonight then?”
“Oh why do you ask James? Who’s been talking?”
Rinoa squinted hard at me scrutinizing my every mood as I slid my feet back and forth on the roller blades idly. I looked over at her and slid my shades down my nose a tad with my finger, eyeing Rinoa back,
“Huh? You’re a strange girl Rinoa, anyone ever tell you that?”
“Hmm, only Squall.”
“Did you see this guy Rinoa? He can skate cant he? He’s almost as good as I am on my board.”
“Betcha I could beat you at eating hotdogs too Zell.”
I grinned at Zell, he looked at me, and he was game for the challenge even if he never said anything,
“Sounds like Zell’s got some competition here. Well if you two are finished let’s head back home, the fun’s just begun, tonight is going to be great.”
Rinoa grinned at me as Angelo came walking over to her side, he sat down, wagging his tail and looking impressed at her. I looked over and saw Zell grinning at me too. Why did I suddenly feel left out of the loop here?
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something here?”
“Oh you’ll see.” Replied Rinoa and Zell in tandem
“Oh gimme a break, you two are creeping me out now, you’re as bad as those kids on The Shining.”
“The…. what?”
“Never mind, come on lets head back, im curious now.”
Rinoa set off walking; Zell got off his T-board and walked with her as Angelo followed them a short distance behind, still with the ball in his mouth, now covered in dog drool and in the process of being gnawed. I took my shades off as the sun was so low in the sky, it was getting dark. The sky was glowing a beautiful orange as the sun disappeared over the horizon, tingeing the few clouds that were in the once blue sky a deep orange colour. I began to turn and caught sight of the top of the tree Rinoa had been stood under a minute ago. The leaves began to rustle as a cold breeze sliced through it. I shuddered as it went straight through my clothing,
“Hmm, a storm’s coming.”
Little did I know at that moment how ominous those words would prove to be. I skated off after the others.

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Chapter 7: Gatecrash the Party

As I walked down the corridor towards my room I thought about the words that Zell and Rinoa had said to me, what could they mean? I was about to find out, I rounded the corner and sat there on my door was a shirt and trousers, with tie, hung on a hanger, below it was a pair of polished black boots on the floor below. The uniform itself was white shirt, with cufflinks, clean, crisp, white. The trousers were dark blue, hemmed with gold braining around the pockets and the sides of the legs. Very dressy. The tie was long, slender and black, with silver patterns and pieces of silver woven into it to form the SeeD coat of arms. Curiouser and curiouser I thought. I walked up to my door and looked up and down at the suit, in the jacket pocket was a piece of paper. I pulled it out of the pocket and opened it,
‘James,
Are you ready for a big surprise? Well put the clothes on and be ready for our little surprise. Be ready in an hour, you’ll love it tee hee, love Selphie.’
I laughed at I looked at the piece of paper, it was defiantly from Selphie, only she would dot her ‘I’s with a smiley face. I picked up the shoes and uniform and walked into my room to get ready, as ordered.

Surely enough an hour later as I stood in front of the mirror in my room fastening my tie there came a knock at the door,
“Yeah? It’s open.”
In strolled Irvine in his SeeD uniform, he had his tie undone and the top button of his shirt undone, his jacket was open too and he still insisted, even now on wearing his hat, trying to look cool as ever. He stopped in my doorway, coming to rest leaning against my door frame, his arms crossed,
“S’up James, you ready?”
“Yeah, though im not sure what for.”
“Ah, rest assured compadre, all will be revealed.”
“Okay, so where are we heading?”
“Follow me and you’ll see.”
“Irvine, do you always answer a question with a riddle?”
“Come on, let’s go.”
With that I grabbed my shoes, and we headed off, out the door, still with me none the wiser as to what was going on. Hell at least at that point I was dressed for it, whatever it was. Maybe I should dress up more often I thought to myself as we walked down the corridor and out of the dorms.

As I walked along the corridor with Irvine, little did I know what was unfolding elsewhere in the world, I tell you now because I feel it’ll help explain what happened in a small fishing town on the Galbadian coast.
It was a dark night in the quiet port town of Dollet. The fishing boats were in for the night, the lights of the town had just sprung into life, illuminating the port, a few dock hands worked on the boats, tidying up and sorting the last of the day’s catch. The waves from the sea lapped against the dockside, splashing up; the sea was for the most part calm. The stars in the sky were just becoming noticeable.
In one of the café’s that lines the seafront two familiar figures tidied up after a hard days work,
“Wedge, have you finished cleaning those tables yet?”
Wedge sighed and smiled to himself as he wiped a cloth over the tables outside the café he and Biggs had owned for about 8 months since they had left Galbadia’s army 18 months ago they had wandered from job to job and finally settled down in Dollet. The café was going strong and even though both of them owned it Biggs as ever took control, not that Wedge minded.
Biggs appeared from the inside of the café,
“Well Wedge? Have you finished those tables? God I swear I don’t know how we don’t go broke the amount of effort you put into this place is a disgrace.”
“Nearly finished.”
Wedge smiled to himself, he knew Biggs didn’t mean it, Biggs was always like that, always had been, ever since they were children and they’d joined the army together.
Wedge just finished the last of the tables and put the final chair up on it. He felt something on his face and looked skywards, rain, dammit.
“Rains coming Biggs.”
“Dammit!”
As Wedge stared up and the ever increasingly star filled sky he noticed something, several small bright stars moving,
“Hey Biggs check that out”
Biggs looked up to where Wedge was pointing,
“Wow, shooting stars.”
“Biggs, I don’t think that their……”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM, Wedge was stopped mid sentence by a huge explosion rocking the house on the corner of the street that their café was on. The explosion kicked their feet from under them as the battled to stay standing by holding onto one of the table outside the café.
Another explosion rocked Dollet, and then another, and another, rubble was raining down now, bouncing off the cobbled streets of the little town.
“We’re being attacked, look!”
Wedge pointed up at where the falling stars once were, they’d gotten much closer and were now easily visible as no stars but attack craft on a strafing run. One flew low over the harbour, raking with machine gun fire, hitting the ships that were moored there, the dock workers dove for cover as they were hit and the boats began to explode, one after the other. At the end of the street one of the craft went into a steep dive, and then levelled off into a hover, troops descended from the bottom of it on ropes; crouching low they moved up the street using the buildings as cover. Wave after wave of troops landed in the once quiet town as the craft flew above, raking the buildings with missile and machine gun fire.
Wedge and Biggs dove into the ally besides the café as a group of soldiers clad in black raced by them. Biggs peered out of the alleyway and was horrified with what he saw, a family from one of the houses on the street came running out, still dressed in their nightwear to see what was going on. They saw the troops advancing towards them and raised their hands to surrender. The troops stopped in front of them, raising their guns, they fired, and bullets ripping through the unfortunate family, as their lifeless bodies fell to the ground,
“Shit! We gotta get outta here, their killing everyone!”
“I’m with you, but how? Their all over town.”
“There”
Wedge pointed to a manhole cover in the centre of the alleyway. As he raced over to it and pulled the cover off a group of soldiers ran past the alleyway. Another explosion nearby rocked the buildings that were still standing, as the rain fell on the dying town. Wedge dove into the open manhole, as Biggs ran to do the same one of the soldiers appeared at the end of the alleyway,
“We’ve got a contact here, trying to escape.”
Biggs looked up, half inside the manhole cover as he heard these words, eyes wide,
“Biggs, come on, drop, come on!!”
More soldiers arrived at the entrance to the alleyway as they set up a firing position, guns trained on Biggs who was motionless at the entrance to the manhole cover,
“Come on Biggs, move it!”
The muzzle flashes from the rifles firing illuminated the alleyway for sparse seconds as the soldiers fired a controlled burst down into the darkness. The soldiers not knowing if they’d hit their target of not.

I couldn’t see a thing as I walked along, guided by Irvine, I felt his hands on my shoulder, pushing me forwards. Under my feet I head a crisp clomp of my boots hitting the tiled floor. It was eerily quiet as suddenly the sound of my boots on the tiled floor seemed to echo much more, like I was in a hall or so I thought to myself.
Irvine steered me around the hall and up some steps, then we stopped. I was dying to find out where we were, I knew we hadn’t left Garden but where in the hell were we.
I felt Irvine behind me untie the blindfold, it was pulled off quickly and it took a second for my eyes to adjust to the levels of light in my new surroundings. As my eyes focused I shielded them, faces, a sea of faces before me, the students of Balamb Garden all looking back at me, every single one of them in uniform, dressed and pressed in their military best. I was stood on a stage of some sort in the grandest great hall I’d ever laid eyes on; the entire ceiling was one big glass window. Great marble pillars rose from the walls stretching up as far as the eye could see, they seemed to be holding up the very night sky. Around the hall giant trellises seemed to provide a ladder for a sea of ivy to climb the height of the great hall, to touch the stars themselves. The floor glistened, covered in highly polished marble tiles. Around the side of the hall, intermingling with the students were waiters and waitresses, carrying trays of champagne and snacks, walking around the room, offering them around. The whole hall was eerily silent; you could have heard a pin drop. I glanced over to my left to see my friends standing there, all in their SeeD uniforms, lined up with military precision. Squall stood at a podium on the stage, besides him stood Rinoa in a long, flowing evening gown, she still wasn’t a SeeD but everyone considered her as such. Behind stood Zell, Selphie, Quistis, Seifer, and now Irvine took up his place besides them, snapping to attention. Their gaze fixed out into the sea of faces before them, garden students and SeeDs alike fell into attention. In unison they raised their arms and saluted their leader, Squall, stood at the podium, he cringed for a moment, I guess because he still hadn’t got used to the rank awarded to him, even now he still hated people saluting, for a second a small grin fell across the face of Rinoa, but it disappeared as Squall glanced over to her, stood by his side, he frowned at her and then collected his thoughts and shuffled a group of papers in front of him.
I must admit I felt a little left out at this point, stood looking around, trying to work out what was going on, I tried to stand as smartly as I could, in an attempt to fit in I guess, facing across the stage to Squall, he looked over at me, cleared his throat and began his speech,
“At ease.”
In unison every student in Balamb garden stood at ease, the noise of their boots hitting the floor echoed round the hall, their hands clasped behind their backs.
“Students of Balamb garden, a couple of weeks ago someone arrived here, lost, scared and alone in a world he knew little about. He found friends in all of us here at Balamb garden, even though he may have been here only a couple of weeks we are here tonight to honour him. He is a good friend to many of us and as I have seen today, despite whether or not I authorized it he can hold his own on the battlefield too.”
I suddenly felt a twinge in my ribs, no, it wasn’t my ribs, it was my heart, it swelled with pride as Squall said he could finally acknowledge me as one of his friends, they were more than just characters I had met in some trip into another world through the comfort of my own armchair as I stared at the screen for hours, mashing buttons on my keypad, no these were real people to me now, as much flesh and blood as I was. I felt pride that night as my heart soared. It was true I had only been there a short time but it felt like I had belonged here for a lifetime.
“And so tonight, SeeD and Garden student alike we are to raise a glass to our new friend. To James.”
The entire room erupted into cheering, all discipline gone, it seemed like this was a different room from a few moments ago as the once stony faces of the students of Balamb garden were now gone, replaced with smiles and cheering faces. Slowly, order returned to the room, the applause died down. I looked over to Squall to see him beckoning me over towards him. I stepped forward, for some reason I stood before Squall, standing to attention, don’t ask me why I did it, I guess it seemed like the right thing to do at the time,
“Under normal circumstances there is a strict selection process to get into this Garden and to become a SeeD, however after meeting with several head instructors and talking to them, as well as your display this morning in the training centre I am prepared to forgo this formality and allow you to enter this Garden as a student, well on course to becoming a fully fledged SeeD after you pass the tests of course. Do you accept James?”
I couldn’t believe it, I was being offered a place at this garden, suddenly I felt like I belonged here even more, like I had a family, who was to say I would ever go home? I might never see England or my friends again; at least here I would belong, to a family of some sorts.
Family, my family, my mum, and dad, and my two little sisters, my dog Sam and my crummy little room with leaky windows. My home, rough driveway and drafty doors, mums Sunday roast dinners with the family, my grandparents, I would never see their faces as I graduated from university in my cap and gown. My friends; Andy, Sam, John, Canadian Steph, Daner, John and Jenn; the inseparable couple, Chris, Greg, Seb, Becky; I guess nothing would happen with us now I was here and she was there, Rachel, Sarah, and too many more to mention. I would never again see their faces; never again sit around watching a movie at night with them, or walking to the pub for a game of pool and a quick pint. It all hit home all at once, I wanted to be home, I didn’t belong here, no matter how welcome the people at Garden made me feel, no matter how much they told me I belonged; I didn’t, and I knew it.
I could tell Squall knew what my answer would be as I stood there, lost in thought for a moment, my smile slowly disappearing the more I thought about home. I slowly stepped forward towards the SeeD commander, as I looked over Selphie walked over to me, holding a Garden Student’s jacket, it would have completed my outfit, accepting it meant I was a fully fledged Garden student. I knew how much the uniform meant to everyone here, I didn’t want to disrespect them, but I couldn’t lose hope that I would go home. Every night when I drifted off to sleep I hoped against hope that I would wake up in my own room, in my own bed, at home, my world, not this, no matter how much I longed to stay I didn’t belong and I knew it. I was just as much an orphan now as Squall, Seifer, Zell, Selphie, Irvine, and Quistis, I had no family on this world, and that hurt.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart Squall and everyone for this honour, I know how much this life means to you, how much this garden means to you. I…….cant accept. If I did then it would be admitting I’d lost hope.”
The comment stopped Selphie in her tracks, her mouth wide open in disbelief she shook her head, everywhere the smiles from people’s faces disappeared,
“I cannot accept because it means so much to you, accepting this jacket would mean that I had given up on my family, on ever going home. I can’t; I just cant, not yet. I hope you understand. Thank you for all the friendship you’ve all shown me since I arrived, if me refusing the offer means that I must leave garden then it is something I must do. I’m sorry…….I’m sorry.”
I kept repeating sorry as I stepped down from the podium. I remember hanging my head for a moment, then feeling an arm around me. I looked up to see Squall stood there, his arm around me,
“Im not very good at comforting people so bear with me. If you still want to go home then some day you will, have faith, the fayths have a way of putting things right. And don’t worry, you ca……………………”
Squall’s speech was stopped instantaneously as a massive explosion rocked Balamb Garden, the ground trembled, and pieces of loose plaster fell from the walls. Plants in their pots around the edge of the great hall toppled and shattered their clay plant pots, sending earth spilling out over the once immaculate marble floor. The explosion sounded like a thunderous roar, like the heavens had opened up at the beginning of an epic thunderstorm and I could feel it pounding in my chest, shaking all my organs around in my body as the shockwaves pulsed through my body. Everyone in the room battled to stay standing as their feet were kicked out from under them by the shockwaves from explosion. A ball of flames rocketed down the passageway that led to the great hall we were in, as it reached the great expanse of the hall it billowed up, mushrooming in a fireball, glowing orange with thick black smoke roaring up, scorching the walls and floor and setting several pennants that were hanging down from the ceiling alight. The explosion continued to increase in size, lapping at the pillars surrounding the hall. The force and ferocity as well as the suddenness of the explosion shook the entire garden and sent countless people flying through the air, flailing their limbs as they through and screaming so hard I thought their lungs would burst. Some students dove for cover behind chairs, tables, anything they could find, their survival instinct taking over. The unlucky few who happened to be standing close to the entrance were hit by the blast full on. I saw the flames envelope several students, scorching their bodies, charring them beyond recognition and blowing their limbs and bodies clean apart, consumed by the flames, feeding the flames, gone for good, they never stood a chance.
“Xu, thank god, what the hells going on!?”
Squall bellowed as the noise from the explosion subsided and he began to stand up, helping Rinoa as he did. Xu appeared from a balcony above us, her once immaculate uniform ripped. Small cuts and burns covering her body, she was clutching her arm to stop the bleeding, she was lucky to be alive. Xu struggled to remain standing, using the balcony for support she leaned over and shouted down to us.
“Squall, early warning’s been hit and knocked offline, we didn’t see the attack coming, fires on all levels, and god knows how many have been injured. Fire teams have been alerted and their going to start putting out the fires, defences are offline, medical teams have been scrambled, and……..”
Up above us there was a deafening roar of jet engines drowning out Xu. I looked up to see something coming into hover above the glass window at the top of the hall that had been damaged in places by the explosion. Cracks had appeared in the once flawless pains of glass. The dark craft settled into a hover above the window, as it did the exhaust jets must have been angled down as the noise was deafening, I had to clutch my ears though they did little to drown out the noise as the craft descended lower, closer to just a few feet above the top of the hall pains of glass began to shatter and break from the power of the engines bearing down on them. Fragments of glass began to rain down on the hall; everyone fell to their knees, covering their heads to protect themselves from the falling shards of glass. Screams could be heard as some of the razor sharp fragments hit home, burying themselves deep into the soft flesh of several garden students, ripping through them like a knife through butter. The glass stopped falling, all of it had been shattered and fallen down and I glanced up. I moved my hands, slightly , just so I could see what had happened, up till now all I had heard was the noises, mental images that had flashed through my head were dashed as the scene of chaos I saw was much worse than anything I could imagine. The noise of the craft above seemed to have disappeared, I guess because I’d got used to it because I moved my arms apart from my head to get a better look around, I glanced up and I remember even against the nights sky the craft looked eerily black against it, forming a perfect silhouette, the stars in the night sky blocked out by the craft, it seemed like a black hole had appeared in the sky.
From where I was I could see eight figures descend from the craft, on cables, all in black, plummeting towards us. They turned their heads to look straight down into the hall. I remember their eyes the most, green, bright green, glowing as if not human, they seemed to all be looking straight at me, their eyes burning into me. The figures on the ropes were clad all in black, hanging from their uniforms were jackets with pockets, what looked like grenades and weapons in holsters strapped to their legs, their faces covered except for these goggles that they wore that exuded this green glow. They reminded me a lot of those special forces guys you see on all these war movies, cold, collected, unflinching, they had a job to do and they were going to do it or die trying. It sent a shudder through my body how cold they were, seemingly oblivious to the injured below. Two of the figures stopped just as they entered the hall; from there they swung 180 on the cables, pointing head first down into the hall and reached behind them, pulling out long, slender rifles that had been strapped to their back, they took aim down into the crowd of dazed and injured students below, the laser sights on their rifles shining down, visible as the hall was filled with smoke and dust from the explosion, glistening red, like long needles.. Above them the machine guns on the attack craft swung into position, mechanical sounding , grinding and locking into position, their target; the SeeD of Balamb Garden. The machine guns snapped into action, firing off round after round down into the hall. The tracer bullets zipped down into the hall, and began raking the floor of the hall with a hail of bullets, students scrambled for cover, climbing over the dead bodies of the fallen, only to be cut down, bullets ripping through their flesh, splattering the ground and the dying with blood and flesh that had been punched out by the hail of fire. The Garden students who had been hit collapsed from their half standing positions as they ran to cover, crumpling up like rag dolls. The floor of the hall became soaked in a thin layer of blood. I remember how quiet it was, I expected there to be screaming as the students were hit but their wasn’t, only the occasional whisper as the bullets punctured lungs, most were dead before they hit the floor.
Above me the figures reached into their belts and pulled their grenades out of their belts as they descended towards us, they let go and the objects fell to the floor, exploding just above the floor, a bright, burning flash and a deafening bang rocked the hall, reverberating off the walls; flash-bangs. The next thing I remember as I looked up was a figure standing over me, as I lay there holding my ears and fighting to regain my sight, to focus on something, white spots filled my vision and my eyes burned in pain from the sudden flash of light. The figure stood over me, looking down at me, I thought he laughed at me, cowering there, but I can’t be sure as my ears were ringing before he stepping over me as if I wasn’t there, his boots clattering on the floor. He pulled a gun out of its holster and fired two shots, one into Rinoa, one into Quistis, they let out half a squeal before they blacked out, their body’s lolling around almost lifelessly as he signalled to two of the other attackers nearby. They walked over two the unconscious bodies of Rinoa and Quistis and picked them up, they pushed a button on their belts and the cable began to pull them up, towards the waiting ship above. After that the rest of the attackers withdrew, hauled on their cables back into their waiting ship above. With their mission successful and all men aboard the ship roared off into the star filled night sky.
“Rinoa, Quistis!!!!!!!!!!!! Aggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh bring them back you bastards!!!!!!!!!”
Squall was stood up beside me, staggering to keep standing; he’d been knocked off guard by the flash-bang. With no weapon Squall had been helpless to do anything. He stood there, his arms raised to the shattered sky screaming his lungs out to the heavens as the roar of jet engines subsided as it disappeared off over the horizon with Rinoa and Quistis inside.

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Chapter 8: The Calm after the Storm

I stood there; my arms leant over the balcony of the observation deck on the second floor of Balamb Garden. Thoughts raced through my mind, thought filled with the horrors I had witnessed over a two days ago in the great hall of Balamb Garden. The screams of the dying still echoed in my mind, the blood, blood everywhere, a sea of blood and death, covering everything, the walls, the floor, the bodies strewn across the floor in agony, their figures twisted and arched in pain. These images had filled my dreams, every time I closed my eyes they were there, right in front of me. The face of that assault troop looking down at me, laughing, his green eyes burning into me, burning into my soul.
The death count was more than expected, 23 SeeD and Garden students dead, cut down and twice that number injured. These people didn’t even stand a chance, they weren’t killed, they were butchered, their bullet riddled corpses still fresh in my memory I thought this is no way for a SeeD to die, they were combat specialists, they were supposed to die in combat if anything, with a weapon in their hand, not a glass of champagne at a quiet night at a party. What got to me was that these were people the same age as me, most in fact were a few years younger than me. I thought of my little sisters, the dead were about the same age as them. I pulled a picture of my family out of my wallet and stood there looking at it, the corners of it fluttering in the breeze. Now more than ever I wanted to go home, to see the faces of my family, of my friends, of anyone, I just didn’t want to be here, the sugar coated surface of this world had been shattered for my eyes.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the packet of cigarettes I had there, I slid one out of the packet and twisted it in my fingertips, looking at it for a moment before slipping it into my lips. I returned the packet and pulled out my Zippo, flicking it open and sparking it I moved the lighter up to my lips, sucking in deep, the smoke filling my lungs, the flame pulled into the cigarette making it glow a deep orange. It was funny, I hadn’t smoked one of these since I’d arrived at Balamb and I still don’t know to this day why I had one then but it felt right, they always cleared my thoughts, helped me focus and I needed that at that moment. As I lent there over that balcony I watched the smoke float off into the air, drifting off into nothingness.
I stared out at the open sea, since the attack Balamb garden had been on the move, I guess because it would make it a harder target to find if the attackers decided to come back but I’m no tactician.
I looked down towards the sea, the calm waves of the blue ocean rolling by. There was a soft breeze, I saw something move down below, it was a group of dolphins, jumping out of the water, racing garden across the sea, and they were blissfully unaware of what had happened. I smiled softly, I don’t know why but the dolphins playing down below seemed to lift my spirits if only for a moment.
Behind me I heard the hiss of the observation deck door slide open, I didn’t move, I just carried on staring out to sea, it was a beautiful day, it seemed wrong to me somehow.
“I knew you’d be up here.”
I looked over my shoulder to see Irvine coming towards me, his hands buried deep in his pockets, a sober expression on his face.
“S’up”
I didn’t feel much like talking, I’d been stood on that observation deck for most of the day, I hadn’t moved, I didn’t feel like it, I didn’t feel like doing anything, I was numb. Thinking about the attack, about home, about Rinoa and………Quistis.
“How you handling it?”
“Fine”
Irvine walked up next to me and leant over the balcony next to me, glancing over at me. I looked up for a moment,
“Any news?”
“Nah, Squall’s been sat in his office all day, he’s been talking to Esthar, Galbadia, the Centra colonies, everyone, and no one has heard anything, I've never seen him like this, he just sits in his office in the dark, staring at a computer screen, and waiting for news.”
“Don’t’ blame him. I’ve been stood here longer than I can remember thinking, about……..”
“Quistis?”
“Yeah, not just her, about everything, I don’t belong here do I Irvine?”
“I don’t know, but I know you’re here, now and they took Quistis, and Rinoa and we’re going to get them back, I know it.”
“I wonder sometimes.” Doubt filled my mind
“Don’t say that!”
“Sorry, just thinking aloud.”
“Well don’t, we’re going to get them back, alive and well.”
“Yeah, I know, sorry Irvine.”
“Hey what’s that?”
Irvine gestured towards the half finished cigarette I had in my hands, I looked at him puzzled for a moment,
“It’s a cigarette, from where I’m from, want to try?”
“What’s it do?”
“Helps you relax.”
I handed the cigarette to him, he looked at it for a moment, it seemed strange that he didn’t know what a cigarette was, slowly Irvine pressed it up to his mouth and inhaled. I looked on; Irvine turned pale and started coughing hard, plumes of smoke coming out of his mouth. I smiled, I wanted to laugh but it just didn’t happen, I reached over and took the cigarette off Irvine and inhaled, breathing out, smoke pouring out of my mouth,
“Jeeze, what is that? That stuff will kill you!”
“Yep it will.”
“So why the hell do you smoke it?”
“Dunno, because im hooked I guess, they get you relaxed but get you hooked.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Before my eyes stood a very red faced Irvine, gasping for air. I stood up and turned around,
“Hey, where are you going man?”
“For a walk.”
“Want me to come with?”
“No thanks.”
With that I started walking off the observation deck, the doors slid open before me and I walked through them leaving a very quiet Irvine on the deck, staring out to sea as I was before he arrived, I didn’t feel much like company.
As I walked the halls of Garden, heading no place in particular I noticed something, how eerily quiet it was, classes were going on like normal, everyone was trying to come to terms with what had happened but it was so quiet, people were walking around like normal but not saying anything, no one was laughing, joking, running, nothing, everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Since the attack a couple of nights ago the world had gone to shit, Dollet had been decimated, countless killed, the town now little more than a pile of rubble and twisted girders. Several colonies on the Centra continent had been hit and occupied, the inhabitants massacred and the towns turned into fortresses. The unknown force had hit without warning or mercy from their base, an island that had appeared in the ocean to the west of the Centra continent. Squall, Zell and the others had been frantic, trying to reach headmaster Cid and Edea who were in the orphanage there , they’d reopened it a couple of years earlier and lived there ever since. No one new what would happen next or indeed why it was happening, what did this group want?
I looked up from my thoughts and found myself standing outside one of the classrooms of Garden, the door swung open and one of the medical orderlies hurried out past me and down the hall. The door stood there before me, still open, I looked in and didn’t see a classroom. It was full of beds, row after row of beds with injured SeeD and Garden students in them. They lay there, barely moving, some bandaged up, some groaning, some lay there, with drips going into their arms. I could smell blood in the air, the strong smell of blood. The door swung closed, I was left there for a moment standing in that empty corridor, not moving, still staring at the door. I closed my eyes and rubbed my head, trying to forget what I’d just seen. Better keep moving I thought to myself.

I walked down that charred corridor; the walls blackened from the explosion, the smell of soot filled the air. Under my feet the rubble shifted and ground as I stepped on it with my boots. I neared the end of the corridor and entered the once great hall. I stood there for a moment, looking around. The charred banners still hanging from the walls. There were a couple of people in the room also, cleaning personnel. I stood there and watched them for a moment as they solemnly went about picking up the pieced of glass that littered the floor and mingled with the now dry blood. Another cleaner stood there with a mop, cleaning the dried pools of blood off the floor, the water in the bucket stained a deep red now. I looked over and saw Selphie; she was sat on the edge of the stage, her legs hanging over the edge and her head in her hands. I took a step and felt my foot stick to the floor, like in the cinema or something. I looked down at the floor and lifted my foot, it was standing perfectly in a bloody boot print, the pattern from the boot perfectly etched in dried blood, and a short distance away was a smudged palm print on the floor, made when some student or other had scrambled for cover, trying to survive. I wondered if they were still alive, where they were now?
I walked towards Selphie who was by this time standing on the stage, picking pieced of debris up, trying to tidy up in some vain attempt.
“Hey kid how you doing?”
I reached down and put my hand on Selphie’s shoulder, her body shuddered as she started crying,
“Why? Why did they do this?”
“I don’t know, I just don’t know. Even if we did know why they did this? Do you think it’d make much difference? The fact is they did it.”
**sniff** “Yeah, I suppose.”
“Come on Selphie, you’re a big bad SeeD, you defeated Ultimecia. I know what they did was wrong and we’re going to find them and get Rinoa and Quistis back.”
I don’t really know where those words came from or why I said them , I mean I wasn’t a SeeD or a student of the Garden, but these were my friends, its universal, no matter what world your from; you help your friends when their in trouble and pick them up when their down.
Selphie looked up at me, wide eyed, her eyes red from crying, her mascara running down her cheeks like black tears. I smiled at her,
“Come on dry your eyes. Things have a way of sorting themselves out, and if they don’t then I’ll sort them. Besides you don’t want Irvine to see his girl like this do you? I bet he isn’t good with girls when their crying uncontrollably at him.”
Selphie let out a tearful laugh, I know that she didn’t mean it but she seemed better,
“Go and see him.”
“I can’t, not when I’m like this.”
“Go and see him. Get out of this place and you’ll feel much better.”
“Alright, thanks James, have you seen him?”
“Yeah, second floor ops deck.”
Selphie started to walk off, wiping her tears from her eyes as she did. It seemed wrong to see her like this, but I didn’t blame her for being so upset. I was alone with my thoughts once again in that hall, quiet except for the sounds of glass being swept up by the clean up crew as they went about their job. I glanced down on the floor a few meters away, I saw the jacket Squall had offered me that night, the jacket of a student of Balamb Garden. I picked it up from where it lay, crumpled on the floor and dusted it off. There were a couple of splatters of blood on it, I didn’t know who’s but I didn’t much care to find out to be honest. The whole thing sent a shudder through my spine. I folded the jacket up carefully and lay it on the podium on the stage and walked off, this room was bringing back too many memories for me and I wanted out of there.

“Attention Balamb garden this is Squall, will Zell, Selphie, and Irvine please come to my office immediately. That is all.”
I don’t know why but I felt left out at that point, like even they felt like I didn’t belong. To hell with them I thought if they didn’t want me. I didn’t belong here and that was fine with me. After everything I've said to them this is how they treat me! I started walking faster, as I entered the Quad I breathed deep, ah fresh air.
“Guess they didn’t want you either.”
I looked over to see Seifer stood their in a clearing nearby, he was practising with his gunblade. He stopped and looked over at me,
“I’m not surprised.” I slung back at him the bitterness in my voice evident.
“I’d of thought that you would have wanted in on whatever they were planning.”
“Why? I don’t belong here.”
“Hmmmmm….. I guess you and I both have something in common after all.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I didn’t want to hear what he was saying.
“Look, I know what you feel like.”
“Do you?”
“Okay maybe I don’t but answer me one thing.”
“…….Sure.”
“I haven’t asked you yet.”
“Stop with the smart ass remarks and ask me then Seifer.”
“Do you care for her?”
“Who?”
“Quistis.”
“What? Why’d you say that?”
“Because I see the way you two look at each other, it’s pathetic.”
“Whatever Seifer.”
I turned and started to walk off, I had nothing to say, and Seifer was just trying to piss me off, me and Quistis, no chance. It wasn’t like it was even true anyways. Stupid, where the hell did that guy get off talking to me like that, he had no right,
“Hey James.”
I swung round to face Seifer, snapping at him,
“What Seifer!? What now!?”
“I know how you feel because I used to feel the same way.”
Silence, I didn’t know how to respond, I didn’t know what to say, I just grunted and walked off. This had been a day I wanted to forget, I wanted to forget everything since the attack, I just wanted it to be like it was before, laughing, joking, normal. As I walked up the steps I wondered what Quistis was up to, where she was, whether she was okay, whether or not I’d see her again. How was Squall dealing with this? How was Rinoa? Why did they take them both? Why did they attack? Why did they kill so many people? Was it just to get Quistis and Rinoa? So many questions I didn’t have the answer to, but I knew who would. Maybe Seifer had talked some sense into me, as much as I hated to admit it. I set off, my pace quickened, I ran up the stairs to the main hall of Garden, my boots pounding the floor, running faster and faster.

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Chapter 9: A Plan Comes Together

“Wait James, you can’t go in there, there’s a meeting in progress.”
Xu came running up to me to try to stop me going into Squall’s office, I walked past her, carrying on walking as if she wasn’t even there, my eyes fixed on the solid wooden doors at the end of the hall. I felt her hand on my shoulder; I stopped dead in my tracks, half glancing over my shoulder,
“Let me through Xu, I need to be in there.”
“I can’t let you do that James.”
“Look I may not be a student at this Garden, hell I may not even be from this world but I’m going in there, because I want to help, I want to get Rinoa and Quistis back as much as you do.”
There was a moment of silence; we both stood there, quiet, motionless,
“So be it.”
I felt Xu’s hand ease off my shoulder and I carried on walking, getting closer to the doors at the end of the hall that led to Squall’s office. As I flung them open, they swung open and banged on the walls either side of the walls. I stood there, in the doorway, looking around in the office. What the hell was I doing here? I wasn’t a soldier.
“What are you doing here James?”
Squall stepped forward from out of the shadows; I took a few steps forward into the office, never once taking my eyes off Squall. It was funny, this was the same guy I’d been intimidated so much by just a few weeks earlier, but now, here, I wasn’t scared at all for some reason, I think Squall saw it in my eyes, he knew I was serious.
“I want in, on whatever is going down.”
“Not possible, this is not your fight.”
“Bullshit, Rinoa and Quistis are my friends too!”
My fists clenched I took a step forward into the office, I was pissed off, who the hell did this guy think he was? Telling me what to do. They were my friends too and I was going to help them any way I could whether this stubborn ass liked it or not. I started walking towards Squall. Out of the shadows the familiar figures of Zell, Irvine and Selphie appeared, they looked at me, all of them with a look of worry and disbelief on their faces. Zell stepped forward in front of me and put his arm out to stop me,
“Cool it James, this isn’t your fight.”
“Back off Zell.”
I reached out instinctively and grabbed Zell’s arm and at the same time sidestepped and kicked his legs out from under him. Zell fell backwards , slamming into the floor, I stood over him, still hold his arm for a moment looking down at him. I don’t know why I did it, it felt like I was watching it from somewhere else, like one of those out of body experiences, I just remember how mad I was, my blood was pumping. I carried on walking towards Squall, leaving Zell there on the floor, shocked and trying to work out what had just gone on. I had caught him off guard or I would never have managed to trip him and I knew it. I neared Squall who was stood there motionless in front of his desk. As I neared Squall I reached out and grabbed him by his jacket, I swung round and slammed him into the wall, burning with rage I pointed at him,
“Listen here! Who the hell do you think you are telling me what I can and can’t do? Quistis and Rinoa are my friends too!”
Squall looked at me calmly, never flinching once; he stared straight at me,
“Are you finished?”
“No! God you’re so damn arrogant it isn’t even funny! If you’ve found them and you’re going to rescue them then I want in too.”
“Im sorry it’s against regulations and…….”
“Stick your regulations! I’m coming with you!”
I let go of Squall’s jacket, he stood there for a moment. Truth be told I thought he would punch my lights out for what I’d just done. But at that point I didn’t care.
“Boys, Boys, can’t you play nice?”
“Hello Laguna.” Squall said, peering round my shoulders
I turned round to see three figures stood at the door to Squall’s office. One guy was stood there , his hands in his pockets, he had a blue and white Hawaiian shirt on and long black hair tied in a pony tail at the back of his head, it was greying in places; Laguna. Either side of Laguna stood Kiros and Towering above both of them was Ward. They stepped forward into the office; Ward was so tall he had to bend down to fit through the doors.
“Long time no see Squall, you don’t call, you don’t write, don’t you like your dear old dad anymore?”
“Knock it off Laguna, there’s work to be done.” Squall said as he crossed his arms
“Okay okay, god Mr Serious.”
“Any new Intel from Esther Military Intelligence?”
“Hah! Military intelligence, that’s an oxymoron if I ever heard one.”
Laguna walked into the office, Kiros and Ward stood there in the doorway, not moving much, not saying anything. Laguna sat down in a chair and kicked his feet up on the desk, Squall glared at him, Laguna just grinned back, oblivious. The intercom crackled into life,
“Squall, President Caraway is online from Dieling City, I’m patching him through.”
“Thanks Xu.”
The large vid screen crackled into life on one wall of the office. President Caraway appeared, dressed in his military uniform, medals hanging from it, gold braids, looking very official. I walked over to an empty chair and sat down, letting Squall get on with his job as Garden commander.
“Any news on my daughter Squall?”
“No Mr President, Laguna was just about to brief me on what’s going on.”
“Hello Laguna.”
“President Caraway.”
“Okay Laguna let me hear your Intel.”
“Well Squall from what we’ve got from our satellites and space station, 28 hours ago a large object rose from the ocean to the east of Centra. We thought it was a new island, produced by the recent quakes that have been hitting the oceans in that area. However, several contacts were verified to have taken off from it and flown on a direct course towards Dollet a few hours later. From the satellites images we’ve established these were attack craft, similar in design to the Ragnarock craft we operate, they descended on Dollet and deployed troops there which under the close air cover of the attack craft………well you’ve seen the result. Total devastation”
“So in other words you don’t know what or who we’re dealing with here Laguna.”
“Well we’ve got this so far, I’ll send you and General Caraway the images.”
The images flashed up on Squall’s computer screen in front of him. A satellite view of the attack craft descending on Dollet. The soldiers deploying, and the ensuing carnage. Squall’s eyes widened at the next image, the base for this as yet unknown foe. Before him was the picture of a huge rocky island, risen fresh from the sea, with what looked like a castle standing on top of it, a gothic castle, no a sorceress’s castle, Ultimecia’s castle. The familiar site of the twisted gargoyles adorning its turrets and parapets filled Squall with a fear he hadn’t felt in a long time. Scattered around the castle all over the island were varying doors and technical buildings looking totally out of place against the castle that towered above them. The military base of the attackers that had hit Garden, so they were with the sorceress, but she’d been killed by Squall and the others 2 years ago, how could she be alive now? A million questions neither Squall nor I could answer.
“Jesus Christ……..you knew about this 28 hours ago and did nothing!?”
President Caraway shouted in disbelief at Laguna. The fear obvious to all on his face.
“I already told you, initial scans showed it was a new island! We didn’t even see the castle until a few hours ago. You …you think I wanted Dollet’s blood on my hands!?”
Both Squall and Caraway fell silent as they saw the grief written on Laguna’s face appear.
“That’s it, I’m mobilising the entire Galbadian army, missiles will be targeted at it and we’ll blow those son of a bitches back to the god damn stone age!!”
“I doubt that will do any good general, if these guys are half as smart as I think and Laguna’s Intel suggests then all you’ll do is get their attention.”
“Well what the hell do you expect me to do Squall!? Sit here with my thumb up my ass!? We’ve got to do something, for…..for the people in Dollet’s sake.”
“Agreed Mr President, for Dollet’s sake and the countless people on the Centra continent that have been killed.”
“So what do you suggest we do Squall?”
From where he was standing Zell stepped forward and piped up, everyone looked over at him, same hot headed Zell,
“So Squall when the hell are we going in to nail these son-of –a-bitches? I know for a fact that I’m not the only one itching to get some payback here.”
Squall slammed his fists down on the desk, everyone jumped slightly, and then calmly he raised his head, looking each and every one of them in the eyes in turn, and then looked at me
“At this point getting Rinoa and Quistis back is our number one priority, we know that they need her as part of their plans, most likely because of her sorceress powers. That’s why they targeted her the other night.”
“Hey it makes sense. Man, I’m going to put those guys in a world of hurt!”
Zell piped up again, brandishing his fists.
“Yo chicken wuss pipe down and listen to captain courageous over there will ya?!”
Everyone swung round to see Seifer calmly walking into the room; he walked over to a seat and slumped down in it, putting his feet up on Squall’s desk and smiling to himself.
“I decided that you guys shouldn’t get to grab all the glory again. It’s time for me to be a hero this time and be on the winning team for a change, I want in.”
“Why you cocky son-of-a-bitch! You think this is some sort of game!? Rinoa’s life may be in danger!”
“Easy chicken-wuss. The way I figure it I think you could do with all the help you can get on this one.”
“Okay you two settle down, this is the situation from what Intel we have; They’ve invaded Centra and are moving steadily eastwards , we’ve got to stop them before they get a foothold and rescue Rinoa and Quistis from where she’s being held.”
“So let’s go man! What are we waiting for!?”
“Zell if we go in then we’ll all be killed they’re too well defended, so that’s where these guys come in.”
“What?”
Squall looked up at President Caraway and nodded to him, the president nodded back and a smile appeared on his face. Squall then turned and walked over to Laguna, grinned at him and then patted the president of Esthar on the back,
“God if you weren’t my son Squall I would never have agreed to this.”
“Thanks dad.” Squall responded mockingly
“Right down to business, I’ve been in conference with Laguna and President Caraway for the past few hours and we’re combining resources, its going to be the biggest military operation the world has seen since the height of the sorceress wars. Everything, land, sea and air.”
“Alright!”
The room erupted with shouts of approval from Squall’s friends, and even I started to smile, finally, some action.
“The plan is simple; The Esther army and Galbadian army are going to mobilise and launch a massive counterattack on the Lenown Plains and the Alnaj Mountains under the cover of the Esther Air force Ragnarock Squadrons and Galbadian cruise missiles. Meanwhile the Esther and Galbadian navies are going to cut off their routes of re-enforcements in the Centra Straights. Esther amphibious forces as well as Esther, Centra and Trabia Gardens will then land on the Cape of Good Hope and we’ll have them hopefully in a pincer attack. We hope that this massive counter attack is going to draw most of the fortresses remaining troops into the fire fight, leaving fortress island relatively lightly defended, just to make sure Galbadia is going to target the island with several salvo’s of its latest prototype missiles which are able to breach the force field that they have around the place and take out most of the resistance there along with punch us a new door into the damn place.”
“Excellent plan man.”
“This is when SeeD comes in, we move in, all SeeD, every garden, we’re even going to use Ragnarocks to airdrop us in to the place and Balamb and Galbadia Garden will provide covering fire, hopefully catching them with their pants down.”
“President Caraway, Laguna, how’s the invasion preparations going at your end?”
“It’s good this end Squall, the missiles are loaded and armed, just you give us the word and the birds will fly. As for the troops, and tanks their all in the landing craft and the ships have left port for Centra.”
“Excellent, and how bout at your side Laguna?”
“Hey everything’s set Squall; I’m leading this attack personally.”
“And I’ll be conducting the naval operations Squall.”
“Thank you President Caraway.”
“Squall what did you expect me to do? They took away my baby; I’m going to do everything in my power to stop them.”
Squall smiled to himself,
“Is everyone clear on the plan?”
“Hey Mr SeeD commander, I got your back on this one.”
Seifer stood up to be counted. One by one everyone stood up,
“We’ve all got your back on this one Squall, everyone one of us in this room….”
It was the strangely calm voice of Zell; he stood there, flexing his fists,
“Everyone in this and every other Garden….”
Selphie stepped forward as she said those words,
“Everyone in Esthar…..”
Squall looked up at Laguna, who was smiling at him,
“Everyone in Galbadia……..”
President Caraway saluted Squall through the vid screen.
“Okay everyone you know what to do, good luck.”
President Caraway saluted again and then the vid screen fell quiet as he went off, preparing the attack, finally something was happening. I’d sat there in the office listening to what was going on. I didn’t feel like it was my place to say anything.
“Well Mr SeeD commander if we’re done with this Hallmark moment can we please get on with kicking their asses!?”
“Okay Seifer, okay, you all know your jobs, I want everything ready and Garden underway for the rendezvous point in two hours. Get to it.”
Everyone stood up and saluted Squall, Seifer just waved his hand in his usual contempt for the chain of command, and they all knew Squall hated people saluting him,
“Okay you guys cut it out, we’ve got a job to do.”
Everyone walked out of the office, knowing their jobs, they had to prepare garden for the impending battle. Laguna headed for his Ragnarock, he was flying back the Esthar to make final preparations for the attack. Laguna waved over his head as he walked out of the office, followed behind him by Kiros and the towering frame of Ward.
“Later junior.”
Squall cringed as he heard those words, he hated being called that by Laguna, but at least he wasn’t alone anymore, he now had family, had roots. I stood up from where I had been sat and walked over to Squall who was sat at his desk, staring at the computer screen and battle reports he had on his desk
“Where do you want me Squall? I want to help?”
“…….Nothing.” he said, never looking up from the computer screen
“Don’t even think about cutting me out of this fight.”
Squall leant back in his chair, looking at me
“You’re still going to do this?”
“I….have to.”
“This isn’t your fight James.”
“Squall don’t start that shit again. They made it my fight when they attacked Garden and took Rinoa and Quistis. No one messes with my friends. I didn’t stand for it on my world; I won’t stand for it here.” I slammed my fist down on the table
“Okay, as you wish. Go get ready, then go and see Zell, Selphie and Irvine.”
“Thank you Squall.”
I turned and walked out of the office, I had now landed myself well and truly in the middle of a war. I turned and saw Squall sat at his desk, lost in his thoughts. I guess I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking the same things about Quistis.
Two days, is that all? It’d seemed like an eternity since he’d seen Rinoa. Squall was worried about her, he missed her deeply, her smile, her laugh, everything about her. Squall’s train of thought was broken by a familiar face , he looked up to see Angelo stood there wagging his tail in front of Squall’s desk, since Rinoa had gone missing Angelo had shut the world off , he’d spent all his time moping around the apartment. Angelo walked over and rested his head on Squalls lap, looking up at him. Squall, smiled and stroked Angelo’s head,
“Don’t worry, she’s coming home. I’ll see to that.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 10: Take back that which we hold dear.

The stars in the in the night sky shone seemed to shine extra brightly that night in Balamb garden, lighting up the heavens like a string of Christmas tree lights, glowing brightly. I stared up at them, wondering if somewhere among them was my home, my world, wondering what everyone was up to at that exact moment, if they’d even noticed I’d gone, how long had I been gone for? Time didn’t seem to mean as much any more, every day although radically different from the last seemed to blur and haze into one un-comprehendible mass. The moon hung there low in the sky, almost on the horizon, lighting up the sea, the moonlight bouncing and chasing across the waves. It was an almost magical sight, calm and quiet. In the distance I could hear the feint call of birds over the gentle swell of the ocean on that quiet night. It wasn’t cold, but there was a gentle sea breeze, fluttering the material on the T-shirt I was wearing, somehow reminding me that it was real and that I was there and not just dreaming it all. I stood there on the ops deck, all alone, lost in thought. I reached up to my pendant and rubbed it between my fingers. I’d found my St Christopher’s medal that I’d got off my parents for my 18th birthday in my bag a few hours earlier and put it on; the patron saint of travellers, seemed kind of apt to me at that point. I could do with some divine intervention, now more than ever, not that I was religious, it just brought me closer to home somehow, I think because of what it represented; family. “If mum and dad could see me now” I thought to myself.
“Thought I’d find you here.”
A calm voice came from behind me and brought me back to reality, I looked over my shoulder to see the ever-so distinctive silhouette of Squall standing in the doorway to the ops deck, the harsh halogen lighting illuminating his outline. He stepped forward onto the ops deck and the door slid shut , his outline disappeared one again into the shadows, only to reappear a moment later as he stepped forward, lit up by the cold moonlight.
“I just needed some time to myself.”
“Not having second thoughts about tomorrow are you?”
“No…….just, thinking.”
Squall walked up beside me and joined me, staring out into the sea. We had arrived at our rendezvous point in one of the outlets of the Centra continent, carved out by the lunar cry all those centuries ago, now a sea filled crater, using the land to shield us from the enemy. We stood there, not saying a word for ages, each of us collecting our own thoughts. The only sound to be heard was the waves lapping against the hull of Garden.
“I’m a little scared myself.”
I looked over at Squall, puzzled, he always seemed so confident and in control to me. In all the time I knew Squall. That was the one moment of weakness I ever saw.
“About Rinoa?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t worry she’ll be fine, and so will Quistis.”
“You’ve got a soft spot for her haven’t you?”
I stood there, thankful it was so dark out there or Squall would have noticed me stood there glaring at him. Squall had touched a nerve.
“How do you handle it Squall?”
“Handle what?”
“This; the waiting. I’ve been stood here for ages , thinking about tomorrow, wondering if I’ll ever see the sun set again, ever have another pint, ever see my family again, ever have another cigarette.”
“You can’t think like that, im going to tell you something someone once told me before my first major battle; It’s only natural to feel like this, men have been doing this for thousands of years before battles, pacing up and down all night, wondering what your wondering, filled with doubt.”
“So what do I do?”
“Nothing, think it all you want, what happens tomorrow happens, we can’t predict it no more than we can change it, just do your best.”
I stood there for a moment, thinking about what Squall had said to me, I smiled to myself , I had heard it somewhere before, many times in a movie I’d watched more times than I can remember.
“I’ve heard that before.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, in a movie, its says; the future’s not set, there’s no fate but what we make for ourselves.”
Squall looked at me for a moment as I stared out into the sea, I could feel his eyes upon me.
“You should listen to that; it makes a lot of sense.”
“Yeah I guess.”
“Oh I almost forgot, I got you something for tomorrow, thought it could come in handy.”
I looked over at Squall as he walked over to the door, picked something up from the shadows, and carried it over. As Squall turned round I realised he was holding a long, steel reinforced case. I remember wondering what it was as Squall stood before me with it in his arms, it was about the same size and an electric guitar case, perhaps a bit longer made of solid metal and looked like it could take a bomb blast. Squall stood there, looking at me, waiting for my reaction when I opened the case. Gingerly I snapped the first catch open, then the second and finally the central third catch. Slowly I reached out and opened the case; I was astounded at what I was met with.
Inside the case, running down the centre of it was a samurai sword, long slender, titanium sword, blade highly polished, and glimmering silver in the moonlight. I looked down at the hilt of the sword, it glimmered, the stainless steel handle wrapped in leather binding, snaking its way down to the bottom on the handle where it disappeared back into the handle. At the end of the handle was familiar, it was the same as the pennant I wore round my neck on a chain all the time. On the blade was engraved a couple of dragons, entwined up the blade, with their long bodies winding from the tip to their open mouths near the guard for the handle.
Either side of the blade were two guns, both beautifully crafted too. They looked like a couple of hand cannons from where I was stood, fully automatic, or single shot, magazine fed. They were sleek and black, with two silver dragons’ heads on the ends where the muzzle was. On top of the guns were telescopic sights, and slung below were laser sights for pin-pointing targets and small flash lights. These were serious weapons by anyone’s standards.
I picked up one of the guns, pulled back and checked the chamber; empty. I reached into the case and picked up one of the magazines that were there in one of the other compartments. The magazine slid smoothly into the gun, I snapped the body of the gun, chambering the first round. I put my finger on the trigger and looked down the barrel of the gun, the second I touched the trigger the laser sights shone brightly and I saw a small red dot appear on the wall opposite, I flicked the safety on and looked up at Squall who was peering over the open case, I shut the lid and smiled at him,
“Cherry.”
“We got someone to craft them just for you.”
“Squall?”
“Their hand made, work just for you, I thought you’d like them after I saw the way you handled yourself the other day in the training centre.”
I smiled to myself, maybe Squall was taking me more seriously now.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Hey don’t mention it; I thought if you’re going to fight with SeeD, you should at least look the part.”
“Thanks Squall, I won’t let you down.”
Squall put the case down on the floor and stood up slowly before me. He reached out his hand and patted me on the shoulder.
“I know you won’t.”
Squall turned and walked for the door back into Garden as I stood there watching him go, cradling the two guns in my hands. The door slid open and Squall stood there for a moment,
“Stick with us and fight you’re hardest and you’ll be fine.”
“I will.”
With that Squall was gone, just as quietly as he had arrived. I stood there for a moment, the night air had gotten cold, and it sent a shudder down my spine. At least I think it was the night air as I stood there alone on the balcony overlooking the calm ocean on that starry night.

I didn’t get much sleep that night, truth be told I don’t think anyone in Garden did. Everyone was on their own, thinking about the battle ahead, each dealing with it in their own ways, some shut themselves off from, the world of Garden, sitting in their rooms, staring into space, lost in thought. Other students sat around with their friends in the Quad or cafeteria or in some other quiet corner, I guess because they thought there was safety in numbers, friends together in even the hardest times. Me? Well I wanted to be on my own, I felt so alone, this was an alien world to me and that seemed to hit home even harder that night. Sure Squall and the others trusted me but was this my fight? Of course it was, they had my friends and they attacked Garden, I owed it to them.
I stood there in front of the mirror in my room getting ready, the case with my guns and sword stood upright by my bed, I had my combat clothes that I’d been given set out on my bed, my trousers and top, my holsters and belts, all set out neatly. The steam from the shower I’d just had filled the room, making it feel nice and warm and humid.
The intercom crackled into life, I looked up towards the ceiling, listening intently, announcements had been ringing out all morning, even though it was only about 7am Garden had been alive most of the night, technicians and mechanics running around checking equipment was working, medical staff carrying supplies to the infirmary. Students had been in the training area most of the night getting some last minute practise, I guess to give themselves the confidence for what lay ahead.
“Attention Balamb Garden, this is not a drill, all hands man your battle stations, all hands man your battle stations, Balamb Garden is now on yellow alert. All technicians to the Ragnarock flight deck for final preparations, fire control teams to your posts, medical staff report to the infirmary. Defence teams report to gun stations and all crew man your ready positions. All SeeD are to report to the flight deck in 30 minutes for embarkation. Garden students are to prepare the Garden, those with an even ID number are to report to the main entrance, and those with an odd ID number are to report to the quad for final position assignments. The armoury is open for final equipping of all garden personnel. Junior class men are to report to the second floor classroom along with those students assigned to them. That is all for now.”
The intercom crackled for a moment and was then quiet. I stood there, and quietly smiled to myself, I remember thinking to myself if I was going to die today then I would go on my terms. Sure I’d nearly died before in a bad car smash when I was a teenager, I survived with bad injuries but I survived, this was somehow different though, it wasn’t an accident, people were going to be trying to kill me. I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that before, not till now. I rubbed the scar from my car crash that was on my arm I reached out and picked up the body armour that was sat on the desk by me , the same that I’d worn that day in the training centre, it had protected me then and would do the same again today. I slid it over my head and clipped it on, it felt a little cold against my chest but this wasn’t the time to be worrying about that. I looked around and saw my clothes draped over the chair and slipped on my hockey shirt and jeans, what I’d been wearing the day I’d arrived in that world. I reached over to the knife that was sat in the case Squall had given me, took it by the handle and looked at it for a moment, the clean polished steel blade glinting in the light of my room and began cutting. First my jeans, shredding them, cutting hole after hole into them. Then pulling on the material, ripping holes in them. The material tore in straight lines across my legs. I stood there looking in the mirror, still brandishing the knife; this had become kind of a ritual for me. I reached up with my free hand and took hold of my hockey jersey, my team Canada jersey that I had bought on holiday, I loved that shirt but it was no good for fighting in. I cut into the arms, slicing them off just above the elbow. The ends of the material where I had cut frayed slightly as the rest of the arms slid over my skin and fell to the floor. I put the knife down for a moment and picked up the pennant I always wore, I looked at the floor and slid it onto my neck and fastened it. I looked around and picked up the chain that I wore on my jeans, clipping it on it hung down by my side.
I spun round in that and looked towards the bed. I wasn’t going to wear half that combat gear, but I needed the holsters and webbing. I picked them up and clipped them on like a belt, fastening them again around my legs.
I sighed, just about ready, no delaying it. I looked up and saw the slightly bloodied Garden uniform jacket that I had been offered that night at the party by Squall before an expectant Garden. I don’t know why I decided to wear it to this day but it seemed appropriate, even though it made me feel a little ill. I picked up the knife again and sliced off the arms of the jacket, a little more work, cutting off the parts that got in my way and I slipped on the jacket over my hockey shirt.
I clicked open the clasps on the case and opened it. I remember standing there for a moment looking at the contents of the case, I shook it off, this wasn’t a time for thinking anymore, this was a time for action. I reached in and picked up one of the guns, slid in a magazine and cocked it before flicking on the safety and sliding it into the holster on my leg; I did the same with the other gun. I picked up the spare magazines and slid them into my belt, then my knife, clipping it into its scabbard on my right holster.
I stood there looking at the sword, now sat all alone in the case. It looked cold; I remember as I reached for it I did so ever so gingerly, even now, after looking at it for god knows how long that night it still took my breath away, it looked just like one of those ancient samurai swords you see on the Japanese samurai movies on late night TV. I picked it up and ran my fingertips along the length of the blade, feeling the engraved dragons that ran the length of the sword. I slowly reached behind my head and slid the sword home into its scabbard behind my right shoulder. All ready, crunch time, this was it. I glanced at myself in the mirror as I walked for the door, I remember seeing the jacket first, it was a little bit ripped from the shards of glass and there were splatters of blood on it, it still felt right to be wearing it though, don’t ask me why but it felt like I owed it to those who had died, I guess the jacket was my mark of respect to them. I no longer recognised myself in the mirror, all tooled up, clothes cut so I could move easier in battle, a sword on my back and body armour peering over my shirt. Battle ribbing over my clothes and chains hanging off my clothes, I’d even died a blood red streak in my hair, right above my right eye. I looked like a guy out of a film like Mad Max or something, the normal student I had arrived as had long since gone, no he hadn’t gone, he was still here , just that the student had something to do, he, I was on a mission now, I was going to help my friends.

I walked down the corridor that led to the Ragnarock flight deck, my trainers making the steel plated floor of the corridor echo, I passed technicians and SeeD walking the other way, talking to each other , looking up at me as I walked past , I guess they didn’t recognise me. I guess part of me was glad about that. I reached the end of the corridor and it opened up into the chasm like flight deck. I glanced around to see the flight deck, full of life. Technicians ran around, pushing barrows with crates of ammunition on, some were loading the ammunition into the aircraft, belts of shells zipped along conveyers, into the Ragnarocks. Some were standing on the aircraft, looking into inspection panels, making final adjustments to the ship’s electronics and replacing parts. One of the technicians close to me sparked up a welding torch, the hiss of the gas and the bright flame got my attention as he flicked his mask down and began welding part of a nearby Ragnarock’s wing. I heard one of the technicians “It’s not much but it’ll hold together and it’s the best we can do for now” to a pilot who was standing talking to him as the other one welded.
Several aircraft throttled around the flight deck, moving into launch positions I guess, the sound form their engines was deafening. The whole scene reminded me of something off Top gun or something, it felt like the deck of an aircraft carrier, I guess in a way Balamb Garden was; a mobile attack force with air power. At the far end of the flight deck stood rank upon rank of SeeD, all in perfect formation. I looked harder and saw my friends standing there in a group in front of the rest, talking to each other, Xu walked up and down the front of the ranks, talking to the SeeD, I was too far away to hear what they were saying though. I started to walk towards them, smiling to myself as I did.
As I neared them they all looked up at me, their faces looked surprised to see me,
“S’up guys?”
“Yo James, what the hell happened to you?”
Zell stepped forward, looking me up and down as he walked around me, Selphie who was holding onto Irvine let go and turned round, Irvine turned with her, his arm round her waist, his rifle slung round his shoulder. Selphie’s shinobu swinging by her side.
“Nothing, why?”
“I think Zell’s trying to say you look like you’re about ready to start a one man war.”
“Just going in on my terms, that’s all. If im going today im going out of this world the same way I came into it; kicking and screaming” I smirked cockily, I’d got a dark sense of humour
“Don’t say that James.” Scowled Selphie
“Woah, where’d you get those weapons?”
“Squall gave ‘em to me last night, said he got em hand made for me. What do you think Irvine?”
I reached to my side and slid one of the guns out of its holster, checking the safety was on I tossed it the few feet to Irvine who grabbed it, holding it in both hands he looked the gun over, snapping the magazine out, and flicking the chambered shell out, catching it in his hands. Irvine took hold of the gun and put his finger on the trigger, the laser unit sprang into life and the beam of light shone out onto the surface of a nearby Ragnarock. Irvine looked down the sights, before clipping the spare shell back into the magazine and loading the magazine back into the gun, he returned it just as he’d found it.
“I’d say you got some kick ass guns there my man, they’ll do you proud.”
“I like the dragons on the sides.”
Piped up Selphie, who was now grinning back at me. We all laughed as I slid the gun back into the holster.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here? I didn’t know it was Halloween yet.”
I turned round to see Seifer strolling towards us, grinning. I swung round reaching over my shoulder as I did and drew my sword in one fluid move as Seifer neared us, I drew it to bear, the end of the blade a few inches from Seifer’s neck. He stopped dead in his tracks, looking down the length of the sword, straight into my eyes, still smiling at me,
“Looks like someone’s got a chip on his shoulder. I’m glad you’re on our side James.”
I smiled back at him and slid my sword back into its scabbard over my shoulder.
“Nice sword by the way.”
“Thanks.”
Seifer walked up to us and laughed, we gathered round,
“Hey, has anyone seen Squall?”
“Right here Selphie.”
Squall walked towards us in full combat gear, slung behind him in its holster was his sword, I recognised it instantly, the legendary sword; Lionheart. Squall was about as serious as he could be I thought, the power of the sword seemed to personify it, it was immense, Squall meant business. I saw the feint blue glow from the blade as a small chink of it was visible above the scabbard. He stopped in front of us all. Standing there, quiet, motionless. Squad leaders shouted to their subordinates to fall in line and the countless SeeD troops massed into perfect formation standing ready, we all lined up and stood to attention, even me, lined up along with the other SeeD, and I felt for the first time like I belonged with them. Xu stepped forward, snapping her heel down as she did. She raised her hand and saluted the approaching Garden commander. The other SeeD did the same; I hesitated for a moment before I did the same. It felt right in those circumstances, I was one of them now, even if they hadn’t recognised me as one officially yet, I guess I was like Rinoa, one of them, yet not. A stranger on the inside of a tight nit group.
Squall waved it off, he still hated people saluting him. The SeeD and all of us stood easy, our hands clasped behind our backs. As Squall stood there in front of us all he looked around, from where I was at the end of the mass of troops he seemed quite far away, his eyes darted around through the crowd as he collected himself.
“I’m going to keep this brief, because you all know im not one for speeches, plus im sure you all want to get on with the job at hand. It may not be one that we want to do but as SeeD it is our job never the less. Many of you are scared, no matter how you look on the outside, and I don’t mind telling you that I am too, I don’t think I’d want to do this if I wasn’t. As im sure you already know we will be co-ordinating with all the other Gardens in a full on assault on the unknown enemy, as well as co-ordinating our efforts globally with the Galbadian and Esther army and navies. Make no mistakes, people are going to die today, it would be unrealistic of me to tell you different, but remember, this is what the years of training have been for. I’m sure a few of you will emerge today as hero’s, some of you will lose friends, but remember this is not just for Garden, this is for the world because this enemy will not stop until it has all of the world in its clutches. It is now or never, we stop them now, this ends NOW.”
Squall reached behind him and drew Lionheart, raising it above his head, the blue glow from the blade seemed to intensify into an almost blinding blue light as the hanger erupted into cheering, and the order disintegrated as all around SeeDs raised their weapons above their head, backing their leader.
It felt like the entire world erupted into cheering, Squall’s speech was being beamed around all of Balamb garden, everyone heard it, the SeeD cheered, the technicians in the hanger who had stopped work, listening to the speech cheered. Gradually the clapping and yelling subsided as Squall collected his thoughts once again.
“Just do your jobs and the training will take over, believe me. Someone once told me about fate, some of you may believe in fate, you may believe that this battle’s outcome has already been decided, but I say this to you as a very smart person once said to me; The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves. And I don’t know about you but I plan to make my fate walking out of this battle alive and on the winning team.”
The entire Garden was quiet for a moment, people pondering what Squall had just said, I looked over at Squall to see him looking back at me, smiling, this was something only me and Squall were in on. The ranks of SeeD snapped to attention.
“You know your jobs, dismissed.”
The once ordered ranks of the SeeD scattered, the sounds of boots clattering over the concrete of the flight deck sounded almost like thunder as the SeeD troops ran up the boarding ramps of the Ragnarock craft that were waiting on the side lines. Work continued on the other Ragnarocks as the other ranks of SeeD stood ready, the second wave.
We gathered together, Zell, Selphie, Irvine, Seifer, Squall and me, this was the adventure I had waited for, but at that point I’d of given anything for my same old normal life.
“Are we all ready for this?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be Squall.”
“Chicken-wuss make sure you watch my back out there.”
“Watch your own damn back Seifer.”
Everyone laughed, Seifer and Zell, even though they bickered they had each other’s backs in a fight and they knew it, even if they didn’t show it. Squall looked over at me,
“How ‘bout you James? Are you still ready for this?”
“I’m ready; whoever they are I’m going to men-in-black their ass!”
Okay looking back on it, it seems a little gung ho of me but at the time it felt natural, and scarily natural at that. This was a new side of myself I was seeing and this new side of me showed a strength that I didn’t think I had in me and I guess you don’t see inside yourself until your put into a position. Squall shot a glare at me, his eyes widened, I thought for a second I’d been too cocky and overstepped the mark, but then he softened and smiled at me,
“That’s not the proper attitude for a SeeD trainee.”
I looked at him for a moment, his words sinking into me, SeeD, I was a SeeD. My heart swelled. Zell put his hand on my shoulder, Irvine patted my back,
“Yay!” shouted Selphie, making nearby technicians stop for a moment and look at us
“Nice one James, welcome aboard dude.”
“Yeah good going kid.”
Seifer laughed,
“Damn the admission standards have really slipped.”
We laughed, it seemed to lighten the mood, the laughter died, I stepped forward towards Squall and looked at him, I slowly raised my hand and saluted. Squall rubbed his hand across his face and shrugged,
“Thank you Squall.”
“Do us proud recruit.”

We stood there silent for a moment, before all looking up, the smiles gone from our faces, it was time for business. We turned and ran towards one of the Ragnarock’s sat on the flight deck. No one else was in it, no SeeD, it felt eerie as I ran up the front ramp to it, I’d never realised just how massive they were up close, and the craft resembled the dragons I had on my weaponry, scarily so. The bright red paint of the aircraft gleamed in the early morning sun as the Door shut behind us. We walked into the cockpit, Selphie and Irvine took the lead, sitting in the pilot and co-pilots seats. We all sat down at the other stations and strapped ourselves in.
“All set back there?”
Selphie shouted from over the top of her seat at the front as she waved over the head rest of the massive seat. She switched on the engines and let them slowly power up.
“Lady’s and gentlemen, welcome aboard flight 701 out of Balamb Garden. Would you please put your seat backs and tray tables to the upright position and fasten your seatbelts. For those of you enrolled in our frequent flyer program you will be earning 120 free credits on this flight. Thank you for flying SeeD airlines and have a pleasant flight.”
Everyone looked over to see Seifer sat there speaking in an announcer’s voice, smiling back as he swung in his chair, arms behind his head.
“What?” he shrugged
“Let’s go Selphie.”
“Gotcha Squall. Powering up.”
The aircraft began to shake a little as the engines roared into life from their idle position, powering up, the turbines spinning as the jets pointed down to the tarmac. Nearby the leaves in the trees that surrounded the flight deck rustled more and more, tearing at the trunk like a tropical storm was blowing outside; the nearby technicians shielded their eyes and held their caps on their heads as their overalls flapped in the wind. Slowly at first the Ragnarock lifted into the air, out of the cockpit window I could see the other aircraft begin to take off also, following our lead. We came to a hover before the engines were turned into their flight position, the aircraft howled as it roared off into the early morning sun like the dragon it resembled. We were off, no turning back now. In front of me the LCD display’s flashed up, the holographic HUD flashed away, showing the other craft following behind us, the aircraft and other technical information. It was about an hour away from our target, the island where they held Quistis and Rinoa, and the final show down with the attackers. As the shape of Balamb began to disappear in to the distance I sat there in my seat, my St Christopher’s medal in my fingers, rubbing it, I guess it gave me something to do as the scenery flashed by no one said a word.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 11: Baptism of Fire

We’d been flying for what seemed like forever, there wasn’t much to look at out of the window, just endless expanses of sea, as this speed the surface of it looked like a mirror, with slight imperfections as waves rolled over the surface of it here and there breaking the otherwise perfect surface. Behind us in a V formation were 10 other Ragnarocks, each loaded with SeeD commandos from Balamb garden. Our craft was flying lead, flying about 300 feet off the surface of the ocean. The radio crackled into life, slightly startling me,
“This is Esther Garden, Trabia Garden, Centra Garden and Galbadia Garden Ragnarock Squadrons requesting permission to join the formation.”
I looked around and saw in the distance several dark shapes to my right out of the cockpit window, they seemed so far away. Selphie flicked a switch in front of her on the console to talk to the other aircraft,
“Roger Garden Ragnarock Squadrons, this is Balamb Squadron, fall into formation.”
There was a deafening roar as several squadrons identical to ours came screaming out of the blue, each with 11 planes like ours , flying in a V formation. They took up position behind ours, each V formation falling into position staggered behind ours and to right. Each Garden’s Ragnarock attack craft were coloured differently, Balamb’s Garden’s were a fiery red, Trabia Garden’s were a deep blue, Galbadia Garden’s were black in colour, Esther Garden’s were coloured pure white, the light reflected from the deep blue ocean tingeing the underside of them a light blue, and finally Centra Garden, the newest garden, their craft were a deep emerald green. It was a truly awe inspiring sight as I sat there in my seat looking out of the window. 55 Ragnarock attack craft, full of SeeD all flying in perfect formation, the sheer size of the operation hit home.
“All Garden aircraft, this is Squall, welcome to the primary assault Squadron. Do your jobs and we’ll make it through this.”
Squall sat there in his chair for a moment, rubbing his head with his hand, the stress was beginning to show,
“Good luck everyone.”
There was silence for a moment over the intercom, the faint hiss of static could be heard, it was suddenly broken, and one by one the leaders of the Squadrons responded,
“This is Trabia Squadron, thank you commander.”
“Galbadia Garden attack squadron, we’re ready commander.”
“Esther Garden squadron locked and loaded.”
“Centra Garden ready to give it our all for SeeD.”
Squall smiled to himself, I sat there looking at him, and even though his back was to me I could see the faint smile appear in the reflection on the highly polished cockpit window. I looked around, Zell sat there , brandishing his fists, cracking his knuckles with a very serious look on his face, it seemed alien to Zell , it didn’t look right. Seifer was in his seat, sat there holding his gun blade. Seifer snapped the magazine out of his gunblade, holding it in his hand he inspected it, reaching into his pocket Seifer pulled out several shells; he clicked them into the magazine before snapping it back into the gunblade. Up at the front of the plane Irvine and Selphie sat there, Irvine looked up from the instruments that he was checking and looked over at Selphie, she looked back at him and they reached their hands across, holding hands for a moment and looking at each other. Even though they laughed and joked most of the time it was clear to even me the love in their eyes, it was real. Squall saw this and it seemed like he winced in pain, remembering what he had for Rinoa, it seemed to re-emphasize what he was fighting for. In that moment Squall seemed to become more and more determined. Irvine turned round in his seat and looked over at Squall,
“Squall we’re 50 clicks east of the enemy base.”
“Okay Irvine.”
“Attention all aircraft, we’re on final approach to the enemy base, all personnel stand ready, all Ragnarock attack craft drop below radar to 50 feet above sea level.”
“Roger commander.”
The aircraft slowly descended to meet the sea, this was a little close for me, if Selphie hiccupped that would be it, we’d be fish food I thought to myself but I trusted her.
Ahead of us on the horizon a shape appeared, looming larger and larger as we flew towards it at full speed; the enemy base. It looked even darker and more imposing than it did on the vid screen pictures. It sent a shudder down my spine as I looked at it more and more intensely.
“Squall I’ve got the Galbadian military on the intercom.”
“Pipe them through Irvine.”
“This is Galbadia, all birds are airborne as of 10 minutes ago, and they should be on your screen in the next few seconds, impact to target 30 seconds.”
“Roger Galbadia this is Squall, I see them. How’s the counter-attack progressing?”
“Heavy casualty’s im afraid Squall, but early indications show we’re pulling them into the fight. The ground campaign is turning into a bitter street to street fight. Naval campaign progressing well, their intercepting most of the landing craft before they hit the beech.”
“Excellent.”
“I have a message from General Caraway, it reads; good luck Squall, bring her back.”
“……..Roger Galbadia control, we’re on final approach, Squall out.”
From over our heads roared salvo after salvo of missiles, bound for the enemy base, they began to disappear, only small dots visible by their smoke trails as they roared through the sky above us. As they neared the island they all roared almost vertically into the sky, it was actually quite beautiful, resembling a spiders web of smoke trails. At the top of the arc their engines cut off, the distant roar of their engines fell silent, as they fell from the sky in a controlled dive towards the island. Moments later a train of explosions erupted all over the island as the missiles hit home, a bright flash and great billowing explosions of orange light and thick black smoke rocked even us in the fast approaching Ragnarocks. Secondary explosions began to start as ammunition caches and fuel stockpiles ignited in the hangers. Doors of the complex flew off, exposing the inside of countless hangers, obviously containing the attack craft that had hit Balamb Garden. If there had been any vegetation on that island it would have been scorched by the burning jet fuel. It looked like hell on earth on that island as fired burned and isolated explosions continued to rock the island. Yet somehow the castle in the centre of the island remained strangely intact, not a single hit from the Galbadian missile salvos had touched it.
“Okay this is it people. Selphie attack pattern beta, strafe the complex then come into land hard and fast.”
“Roger Squall.”
Selphie armed the cannons, as she neared the base she slammed the craft into a steep climb before rolling back and powering towards the ground. The machine guns and cannon on the Ragnarock sprung into life. Below us I saw the ground raked with machine gun fire, then the first of the cannon shells hit home, blowing a hole in one of the concrete landing pads below us, then another and another. It amazed me anything could have survived this attack but we were about to find out. As the ground spiralled towards us, getting closer and closer Selphie slammed the engines back, the entire craft shook as it levelled out and went into a hover mere feet off the ground. It hovered there for a moment, the machine guns still blazing, firing at anything that could conceal the enemy. The engines powered back and the aircraft descended the remaining few feet. The landing gear made contact with the ground, sending a jolt through everyone.
“Okay everyone lets go!”
All around us the other assault craft were doing the same, touching down, SeeD after SeeD poured out of the loading bays.
As we raced down the loading ramp we drew our weapons, the adrenalin was pumping. I drew my guns, flicked the safety off, ready for anything that was coming my way. This is it I thought to myself.
When we hit the concrete we realised that we were in a sort of court yard, ringed on all sided by buildings, some were burning, hit by the Galbadian missiles, pot marks raked the sides of them from the machine gun fire of the Ragnarocks as the came into land. Debris littered the court yard. Everywhere SeeD took cover, kneeling down on the ground, looking around for a target. Ahead of us was the way in, the way into the enemy complex. I remember thinking how quiet it was, eerily so, nothing was moving, nothing. My eyes darted around looking at the entrance to the complex, then around the courtyard. Everywhere SeeD looked around; looking at each other like it was some sort of a joke. Behind us the Ragnarock sat there, their engine idling, even their pilots looking around.
“I don’t like this.” Said Squall finally.
“Think we should have called in advance and made a reservation?”
Seifer laughed, he shrugged and stood up.
“Seifer get down.”
“Squall there’s no one here, their tied up in the fight against Laguna!”
Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw movement, a black streak flashed across the top of one of the buildings around the compound. A moment later it was confirmed; a soldier stood up in black and slid something over his shoulder. A split second later a rocket flew through the air, roaring over our heads and slamming straight into one of the Ragnarocks behind us, the craft exploded almost instantly, from where I was stood the force of the explosion almost knocked me off my feet, it pulsed through me, the heat was intense. Seifer was stunned for a moment, trying to keep his balance; he fell to the ground, diving for cover. Wreckage flew through the air, landing all around us,
“It’s a fucking set up! Take cover!”
It felt like the entire world erupted after that, dark shape after dark shape appeared from the tops of the building. All guns trained on us in the courtyard. There was a moment’s pause as the sheer horror of the situation dawned on us all. All around me the fear in the SeeDs eyes was visible; there was the familiar sound of rounds being chambered above us as the ambushers cocked their weapons. From where I was behind a pile of rubble I could see the only way out, a group of shapes appeared from it, and set up some sort of weapon, it was obvious we weren’t getting out that way, the courtyard led up to the exit in a bottle neck with no cover, if anyone went near they’d be slaughtered.
“What now Squall?”
“We can’t stay here; we’ll be cut to ribbons.”
Above us the attackers opened fire, tracers flew over our heads, shining brightly, bullets rained down on us as everyone huddled behind whatever cover they could find. Bullets were hitting all around me, I could hear them zip through the air, inches from me. I glanced around, and saw Squall and the others pressed up against a wall, huddling behind a sheet of metal. Irvine reached over his shoulder and pulled out his rifle, he lifted the scope up to his eye and steadied himself. There was a shot and I saw one of the soldier’s jerk his head back with the force of the bullet impact, direct hit. His lifeless body toppled over the edge and fell into the courtyard.
“All SeeD, take aim and fire!”
That was all I needed, the fear that had been gripping my body was shook off. I reached to my sides and drew my guns; around me other SeeDs with long range weapons did the same. The first round chambered I flicked the safety catch off and held the trigger, waiting for a target. The laser sights kicked in and a beam of red light split through the air, painting a couple of dots on a soldier in the distance, I pulled the triggers, two shots slammed into him, one hit in the left side of his stomach and the other one punctured his body armour and slammed straight through his heart, the impact knocked him off his feet and sent him spiralling back, his lifeless body hitting the rubble strewn floor.
The noise from the gunfire was deafening, all around me the SeeD shooters fired round after round, enemy soldiers dropping over the edge of the courtyard or falling back onto the rubble littering the tops of the buildings. It wasn’t having much effect though, SeeD were being hit too, bodies’ lay of fallen SeeD warriors littered the courtyard floor. There was a SeeD crouching next to me, we both ran out of ammo at the same time and dropped behind the pile of rubble, our backs resting on the debris for a moment as we changed our magazines. I looked over at him,
“How’s it going man?”
The guy looked over at me gone out, and really I don’t blame him as machine gun fire racked the ground in front of us, we shielded our faces.
“Good thanks.”
“How many you got?”
I let the empty magazines slide out of the guns and hit the floor; the guy next to me did the same.
“Seven so far.”
“Cool, I got ten.”
We reached behind us and pulled out a couple of fresh ammo clips.
“What’s your name?”
“Name’s James.”
“Cool, I’m Thiesen.”
“Good luck Thiesen.”
The magazine slid into place and I cocked the guns, and took a deep breath, Thiesen looked over at me and we smiled at each other before spinning round and looking over the rubble for our next target. I flicked the switch and changed the guns to full auto as a soldier appeared on top of the courtyard walls holding a rocket launcher, as he took aim at a group of SeeD sheltering in front of me I shouted,
“Get down!”
I got aim on the figure and pulled the trigger, the guns sprang into life, the recoil snapping them back every half a second as round after round was chambered and fired. The soldier above shook violently as the salvo of bullets hit home, as he fell he must have pulled the trigger on the rocket launcher because there was a blast, blowing a section of the wall top away and killing several of the nearby shooters. The group of SeeD who had been in the crosshairs a moment earlier waved at me in thanks as I dropped behind the rubble again. I glanced over at Thiesen; he’d stopped firing so I assumed he was out of ammo too. I looked across and saw him lying there, clutching his side in pain, blood trickled through his clenched fingers and soaking his uniform. He looked over at me and smiled with a face wracked with pain. It was something else seeing battles on TV but now that I was there and the guy next to me was injured I began to wonder just how we’d make it through today alive. Not just me, everyone,
“Shit, Thiesen, your hit! How bad is it?”
“I’ll be fine; it’s just a flesh wound.”
“Let me see.”
I slid Thiesen’s hand to one side, the wound was now bleeding badly, it must have hit a major vein or something, he was losing a lot of blood, and I had to act fast. I pulled Thiesen forward, he winced in pain, I looked on his back to check for an exit wound, don’t ask me why but exit wounds where bullets are concerned are good things, that much I did know, I found one, brilliant , the first bit of look on this god forsaken day. I leant Thiesen forward and tried to think of some way to stop the bleeding, and then it hit me. I reached over to his gun that was lying there on the rubble and slid the magazine out. I snapped a round off the top of the magazine and tried to find something to pull the bullet off with. Thiesen sat there clutching his side, looking at me as I pried the end of the bullet off,
“What are you doing?”
“This is going to hurt like hell Thiesen but its going to be worth it, it’ll help, trust me.”
“…Ok….do it and do it fast.”
I held the shell casing over the wound and poured it into the hole. I’d seen this done on war films before and it worked then, I hoped it would work now because Thiesen was bleeding to death. I took a deep breath, looked Thiesen in the eyes and lit my lighter. I held the lighter flame close to the open wound. There was a flash as the powder ignited, sparks and a flame flew out of the wound as the powder burned, cauterizing the wound at the same time. Thiesen screamed, the pain must have been intolerable; I sat there on the rubble beside him, holding him down. As the flame subsided Thiesen lay there for a moment, lifeless, what had I done. Then I noticed his face wince in pain,
“What the hell did you do that for?”
“To stop the bleeding, you were pretty bad. Here.”
I reached into a small pocket on my belt and pulled out a bandage, I tied it round his waist,
“How are you feeling now?”
“It hurts like hell but ill live.”
I reached over and grabbed Thiesen’s gun and handed it to him, he loaded the magazine and dove over the rubble and ran off to find a better shooting position, dodging bullets as he did. I was alone now. Another magazine, into the gun, the rounds chambered, it had become almost second nature to me now, and it was kind of scary. I looked around to Squall and the others, the enemy were starting to get a bead on me so I thought I’d best move before I ended up in a box. I took a deep breath, held my guns up and pushed off form the piled of rubble behind me. I was off, running at full speed, zigzagging through the rubble and dead bodies, as I ran I fired off shots up towards the courtyard wall, trying to keep the soldiers down and off shooting me. I made a sharp turn and stumbled, I swung past a metal girder, sticking halfway out of the courtyard with a couple of SeeD huddled behind it shooting, they’d seen me coming and were trying to keep me covered. I was nearly there; I could see Squall and the others ahead of me, only twenty feet away from me. I leaped over the body of another fallen soldier, as I did even though I was running at full pelt I noticed the expression on his face, it was one of extreme pain, and all across his chest were a string of bullet holes. No time to think about that, fifteen feet to go, nearly there, relief started to pour through my body. Suddenly I felt the most painful punch in my chest , like someone had slammed into me full force with a sledgehammer, my legs slid out from under me and I slid across the ground on my back and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor, a couple of feet from Zell. I reached over and pulled me behind cover. I remember lying there, clutching my chest and groaning in pain. I realised I’d been hit; I guess everyone’s number runs out sooner or later. I remember one thing about that moment, the pain, now I’ve come close to dying before but that’s the closest I’ve been. The bullet had hit me square on in the chest, just to the left of my heart. I clutched my chest, lying there; I looked up and saw Zell looking over me,
“James! James!”
“…..Owww…. shit this…. Hurts!”
“You okay dude?”
“Course I….ain’t….I’ve …been …shot.”
“Let me see.”
“….See….if….its….gone through…the armour.”
Zell lifted up my shirt, peeled back my body armour and looked, I lay there praying it hadn’t, was this what death feels like? Not as bad as I’d expected. Zell slowly pulled my shirt down and looked at me for a second,
“…Don’t….you… do that to me again!”
“What’s up?”
“Thank your lucky stars you had that armour on dude or you would’a been pushing up daisies.”
“..Why the hell does it hurt so damn much?”
“You just stopped a bullet in you chest man, why the hell do you think it hurts?!”
I lay there for a moment looking at the sky, I remember realising how blue it was, a nice morning sun, and not a cloud in the sky, and it was going to be a beautiful day. “Im not going to die on it either.” I thought to myself as I shook myself off and grabbed my guns that had slid nearby,
“Shit!”
“James, what’s up?”
“They fucked up my hockey shirt! I got this from Canada; you can’t get them back home! Agh now im pissed.”
Zell looked at me and laughed,
“Glad to see your back in the land of the living, look lively and nail some bad guys.”
“Your damn right I will, once in the head and twice in the bastard chest after they thrashed my shirt!”
“Remind me never to wreck any of your clothes.”
“It’s a deal.”
I leant against a sheet of metal and leaned round to fire off a short burst, I ducked behind the sheet of metal again as several bullets slammed into it. The metallic ping and the vibrations from the metal through my chest told me they weren’t too wide of the mark, these guys were getting better shots.
“Look alive people, incoming!”
I looked over at Squall who had just shouted the warning and realised what he’d meant, above me ropes came flying down from the walls above. The attackers were taking this battle to close quarters.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 12: Stand-off

I looked up to the sky, and saw the tops of the buildings surrounding the courtyard. The ropes hung all around the walls; they fluttered in the breeze before the first of the soldiers appeared from over the top. He had his gun slung over his shoulder as he leapt into the air, the rope took the slack and he came falling back towards the wall, his feet cushioned the fall and landed firmly planted on the side of the building as he pushed off again and let the slack run out, flying down the wall at speed. Soldier after soldier abseiled into the courtyard, as soon as the black shape of one of the soldiers had landed on the courtyard they unclipped from the rope and took up positions behind the nearest piece of cover before the next one leapt into the air and began descending into the courtyard. More and more figures surrounded us in the courtyard, though we were powerless to do anything since they were laying down covering fire from the tops of the buildings to keep our heads down. Then it fell deathly silent for a second, the barrage of gunfire fell stopped. All that could be heard was the soft whistle of the wind as it kicked up dust and battered it against pieces of metal. In the distance I could hear the faint roar of the Ragnarock engines and gunfire from other SeeD teams that had landed elsewhere on the island. It sounded like they were meeting as much resistance as we were.
“What now Mr SeeD commander?”
Seifer crouched behind some cover nearby and looked at Squall, Squall looked over at Seifer and scowled at him, but it was obvious that he was just as concerned as the rest of us. Irvine and Selphie knelt nearby; every now and again Irvine would stick his head over the rubble and fire off a shot. There would be silence for a second and then the familiar thump of a lifeless corpse hitting the debris littered floor of the courtyard after Irvine’s shot hit home.
“Knock it off Seifer im trying to think.”
“Yeah Seifer, let Squall think.” Selphie chorused
“Squall, we ain’t going anywhere until we get rid of those guns they got on that door at the opposite exit of the courtyard.”
“Any suggestions on how we take them out?”
Squall tried to look over the top of the pile of rubble he was huddled against but dived back for cover as a shot ricocheted off the rubble, inches from his face before he could get a proper look at the courtyard exit. I looked over at Selphie. An idea formed in my head.
“Yo Squall I saw this on a movie once, Selphie, have you got a mirror on you at all?”
“Yeah sure James.”
“Gimme it, Squall I need something long, a steel pipe or something.”
“Here, like this?”
“Yeah brilliant.”
Squall threw over the length of steel piping, and Selphie passed over the mirror to me.
“Okay has anyone got some chewing gum or something?”
“He he he never leave home without it.”
“Gimme a piece Zell.”
“Sure.”
I stuck the chewing gum in my mouth and chewed it for a few seconds then took it out of my mouth and stuck it to the steel pipe, then stuck Selphie’s mirror to that. Maybe all that watching war movies was about to pay off. I handed the makeshift periscope to Squall. He looked at me puzzled for a second before raising the mirror up and angling it towards the courtyard doors.
“Shit they’ve got two heavy machine guns there behind some concrete and about 8 guys, and even worse there’s no cover between here and there!”
“I got an idea, Zell im going to need you to pull it off, you too Irvine and everyone here that’s got a gun.”
I sat there on the floor, listening to the sound of boot steps and the sporadic gunfire echo around the courtyard as the soldiers moved into positions.
“If we’re going to do it we’d better do it quick. Zell do you have your T board onboard the Ragnarock?”
“Yeah sure, why?”
“Cos I’ve got my blades on it too, fancy going for a ride?”
I looked at Zell and grinned as I snapped another magazine into my guns and cocked them.
“Why do I have a feeling im not going to like this?” said Zell
“Oh you’ll love it mate. Squall get the Ragnarock to drop the blades and the board down to us. And some grenades or something that blows shit up.”
“Now I definitely know im not going to like it.” Said Zell with a worried look on his face
“Oh lighten up chicken wuss, I like the way this guy thinks.” Grinned Seifer
Squall got onto the radio and called up the circling Ragnarocks, the one we’d flew in on broke formation and rocketed down to us. It was too cramped and SeeD were too close to the doors for an all out attack by the Ragnarock Squadrons, if we were going to get out of this we’d need to get out of this mess ourselves. The plane flew over our heads and a package descended down to us. Just as it was about to hit the ground, retro rockets fired and brought it softly to the ground in front of our feet. I opened up the box and pulled out my blades and Zell’s T-board as well as a case of grenades.
“Okay this is the plan we blast over to their position as fast as my blades and Zell’s board will shift and throw the grenades, if we duck and dive and use the debris we should be able to get close enough to the machine gun nests to take them out. Irvine we need you to lay down covering fire along with every other gun toting SeeD. I think we’ll be moving so fast they won’t know what’s hit them and they won’t be able to get a fix on us.”
“Yo James your insane man, that’s never going to work.” Said Zell, smacking his head in disbelief
“Sure it will, if we get covering fire till we get close then they’ll keep their heads down until it’s too late.”
“I really like the way this guy thinks.” Seifer commented.
“I’m game if Squall gives the go ahead.” Irvine said as he slid a round into his rifle.
“Well I agree with Zell, this is insane.” Shouted Selphie.
I looked over at Squall,
“Well Squall, what do you think?”
“Its up to you, if you want to do it go for it, all I know is we cant sit here all day so any plan is better than nothing.”
“Alright! Zell are you with me?”
I couldn’t believe what I was about to do, I must have been clinically insane. Zell looked up at me, clutching his T-board; he’d gone eerily quiet for Zell, obviously trying to process all that had been said. Zell slowly began to smile at me, I grinned.
“To hell with it, you only live once don’t you, besides we’ve gotta get Squall back with his sweetheart don’t we, and we’ve got to get you back to Quistis so you guys can stop beating around the bush.”
I looked at Zell for a moment and laughed,
“Alright smartass, come on, lets go!
I sat back on the ground and took my boots off and began to put my blades on, I leant forward and reached into the crate of grenades, pulled out about 4 and pushed two of them into my pockets,
“Yo Zell, catch!”
I threw two grenades towards Zell; he leapt forward to catch them with fright, half juggling them in his hand. I sat there and laughed.
“Irvine, you ready?”
“Yep James, I got some new ammo im itching to try out, the other guys are ready too, just give us the word.”
“See you in a minute guys.”
“Good luck James, Zell.”
“Yo Squall, this is me you’re talking to, this is a piece of cake.”
Zell grinned sheepishly at Squall, he was obviously nervous, truth be told so was I, I’ve done some crazy things in my time but looking back on it this was psychotic and suicidal! I took a deep breath and stood up behind a piece of debris, Zell did the same. I tapped him on the shoulder,
“Now Irvine! Zell, go! And don’t look back!”
Zell pushed off just ahead of me on his T-board as he roared off about 5ft into the sky, flying over a pile of rubble Zell grabbed his board and kicked up into the air. I pushed off a second later, digging into all the strength I had in my legs to get myself travelling as fast as I could, the wind rushed past my face as gunfire erupted all around us, shots were fired from the walls of the courtyard by the attackers above us, I could hear the bullets rip past me and the noise as they hit the ground around me but thankfully I was by this point travelling too fast for them to get a bead on me. I zigged and zagged through the piles of rubble, ripping past dazed SeeDs as they looked around and fired up to the walls of the courtyard to keep the soldiers heads down. Ahead of me was a pile of rubble, no chance to go round it, I would have to go over it, I saw a fallen girder on top of the rubble heap and decided that was my best bet. I pushed off, powering myself up as the blades flew over the courtyard floor. As I leapt into the air machine gun fire raked the floor in front of me, the dust from the bullet impact kicked up into the air but no time to think about the near misses now, if we were going to get to Rinoa and Quistis we had to get out of that courtyard. I flew through the air for a few meters, my feet tucked underneath me. Everything seemed to go so slowly, I remembered it happening only a couple of times in my life, when I broke my leg as I was falling to the ground and when I was flying through the air in my car just before I landed in the ditch, nearly killing myself in the process. I prayed this wasn’t an omen for something bad about to happen.
The girder flew into view as I cleared the dust from the machinegun fire, I kicked my feet down and my bladed made contact with the rail. The brief moment of relief ended as I remembered it wasn’t over yet. The end of the rail approached, I kicked off the rail with my feet and pushed my body back as I sailed through the air, curling up and spinning through 360°. We were out of ‘friendly’ territory as I saw some of the soldiers rushing into position, no time to think about that. Zell was a couple of metres ahead of me; I pushed hard as soon as I made contact with the ground to catch up with him. We rocketed forward, towards our objective, the courtyard doors and the enemy position.
“Zell, keep going, nearly there!”
“Yo James this insane plan of yours might still work.”
“Yeah, maybe, just like when we were blasting through Balamb garden a couple of days ago.”
“Yeah.”
“Zell lets bring ‘em home”
“You got it dude!”
We flew forward, weaving through the piles of rubble as sporadic bursts of machine gun fire raked the ground either side of us, and at this speed they wouldn’t hit us. We rounded the corner and ahead of us was the machine gun post, out of the corner or my eye I saw a soldier round the corner behind us an kneel down to fire. I knew he wouldn’t miss from where he was. I kicked round of my feet and my blades snapped around so I was flying along backwards and I drew my guns. The laser sight sprang into life as I pushed my finger on the trigger, I could see it shaking slightly as we flew along the uneven surface of the pockmarked courtyard. I pulled the trigger and a short burst of fire kicked his feet out from underneath him, his gun flew into the air and fell behind his lifeless corpse as he hit the ground. I swung back round and holstered my weapons.
“Zell, you go left, I’ll go right!”
“Gotcha Jay”
Zell flew off to my left, he powered towards the wall and kicked his board up as he was about to hit it, flying across the wall for a second. I reached into my pockets and pulled the grenades out; I could see Zell doing the same out of the corner of my eye. I could see the soldiers in the machinegun post trying to take aim on us but it was too late, they opened up as they were bringing the weapon to bear. I could see the trail of bullets rake across the floor and disappear behind me, I knew what was happening the bullets were hitting the wall and the floor behind me and were getting closer, I knew because I looked over to see the same happening to Zell as the bullets raked across the wall behind him blowing chunks off, leaving small craters in the wall. I popped the pins on the grenades and held them in my hands for a few seconds although it seemed like an age.
The nest was barely 10 metres away now and was getting closer by the second, just a little closer I thought to myself.
“Now!”
I hurled the grenades through the air, as they flew I watched them intently , hoping, praying they’d hit their target, I watched as the grenades Zell had thrown seemed to join mine as all four of them twisted and spiralled through the air in a high ark. One hit the wall at the back and bounced off into the machine gun nest, then another, then another just sailed straight into the post without hitting the wall, the fourth fell short, landing behind a pile of rubble just in front of the machine gun nest. I watched as frantically the troops stopped firing and dove down , scrabbling for the grenades to throw them out before they blew up, I saw one of the troops emerge holding something. A second later the grenade exploded in his hand , he disappeared with a blood curdling scream into a fireball, then the second one exploded and then two more explosions almost simultaneously ripped through the post, I dove through the air for cover as I saw it ripped to pieces in a ball of flame. I landed in a heap behind a pile of debris next to Zell who was lay there , his feet still strapped into his T-board shielding his head with his arms. I could hear the explosion subsiding as secondary explosions ignited, sparked by the ammunition blowing up. There was a huge black and orange fireball roaring into the sky. I lay there for a moment, looking up at the sky, I rolled over and looked at Zell, he looked back, dazed and confused, his face blackened by soot from the blast, he had a few cuts on his forehead but he was fine. We both grinned at each other before peering over the top of the rubble towards the burning machine gun post, behind it the door gaped wide open, and we’d got our exit. Now I could go get Quistis and Squall could save his sorceress.
“James your one crazy ass mother!”
“Hahahaha Yeah I guess I am.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah Zell, I think I saw my life flash before my eyes though.”
“I’ll wait for the re-run thanks man”
“Hahahaha, come on, lets get back to the others.”
“Yep, we did it!”
Zell and I were stopped in our tracks before we could turn round as we both froze, we heard a sound behind us, an all too familiar sound, we both cringed, afraid to turn round. It was the sound of a gun being cocked, the metallic click and the sound of a round sliding into the chamber. Finally after a couple of seconds of furtive glances between me and Zell we slowly turned round.
“S’up guys?”
Above us towered the silhouette of Irvine, illuminated by the sun behind him, his ponytail fluttering in the breeze,
“Irvine you idiot! Do you know what you just did to me and James?”
Irvine feigned looking puzzled for a moment before he began to grin, and then laughed,
“Yep.”
Zell scowled at Irvine as beside Irvine emerged the familiar figures of Squall, Seifer, and Selphie, all of them laughing. The SeeD had seen us blow the machinegun nest and had advanced with us, we’d taken the courtyard.
“What’s the matter chicken wuss? Did you pee your pants?”
“Bite me Seifer!”
Seifer laughed at Zell who was picking himself up off the floor and unclipping himself from the T-board. I sat up on the rubble and began to take my blades off, Selphie walked over to me and threw my trainers at me and my SeeD jacket, they landed in my hands,
“Cheers Selph.”
She giggled and bent down to me,
“No probs James, oh and by the way did I ever tell you that I loooooooove that accent? Great skating by the way.”
I sat there smiling sheepishly at Selphie,
“….So does Quistis for your information.”
I pulled on my boots trying to act cool; I know that I must have been blushing thought because everyone looked at me and smirked. I pulled out my guns and slid fresh magazines into them before holstering them again and dusting myself off. All around us faces appeared from above the rubble as SeeD after SeeD emerged from all around us having cleared the courtyard of opposing forces. Squall stepped up onto a pile of rubble,
“Okay everyone look alive, break into your teams and cover each others backs in there, clear every room, get the Ragnarocks in with the second wave and call General Caraway and Laguna and let them know we’ve got a foothold, move out!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 13; Into the Belly of the Beast.

Team after team of SeeD commandos ran through the gaping doorway that stood before us. Squall led the way followed by Zell, Seifer, Selphie, Irvine and myself. Beyond the great doorway we were met with a great gaping chasm of a hall, gothic pillars and gargoyles littered the walls. The floor was covered in huge stone tiles. Several smaller corridors led off from the main hall and in the centre of the hall the ceiling disappeared into a great dome of stained glass. The glass on the dome was covered in hellish images, fire bordered the edges of it and the visages of demons looked down on us as we fanned out around the perimeter of the hall and took up covering positions. Even thought there was a great glass window in the dome the hall was still eerily quiet. My mind began to race, half seeing shadows move and flicker, it felt like the room was watching us with a million sets of eyes all fixed on us.
“Damn someone needs to get the decorator in here quick cos damn! This place is uuuuggglllyyy!”
“Seifer quiet down.”
In front of us all knelt down on one knee were a group of SeeD soldiers, their weapons primed and ready , the steel of their blades glinting in the limited light of the hall casting reflections over the walls, dancing across the gothic stone. Squall spoke to them , just out of earshot, the troops saluted and then each ran off in a separate direction towards different groups of SeeD crouched at each of the exits to the chamber, their boots clattered over the stone floor of the hall was the only sound that cold be heard. I guess these were the squad commanders as they started to talk to their subordinates and issue the orders that Squall had given them a few moments before.
I crouched by the others, I could hear the sounds of my heart pounding in my chest, it felt like it was about to burst through my ribcage at any moment. The adrenalin from the run on the machine gun nest was still coursing through my system but was beginning to wear off; my hands were trembling a little bit because of it. I slowly holstered my guns and cracked my knuckles, the sounds echoed through the hall. I looked up shaking my hands off, trying to get some feeling in them to be shot an annoyed glance by Squall. I guess I’d still got a few things to learn about being a SeeD.
I looked around the hall, for the first time really taking in the place, these surroundings were strange to me, but the nearest thing I could describe it as was like a church, at dusk with no one in, eerily quiet, the slightest sound echoing for what seemed like ages. I could hear the other SeeDs were uneasy; the sound of them shifting their weight on their feet and moving their weapons slightly rang round the hall.
“James! Down!”
In a split second I saw Irvine raise his rifle and pull his head close to it, from where I was I could see his eye down the length of the scope , amplified a million times, his pupil big and black and staring straight towards me, his gun trained on me. I dove down to the floor, covering my head. A single shot rang out in the hall as SeeD glanced round to where we were. I heard a loud thud and something landed on the floor about 2 metres from me. I knelt back up and looked over, the creature was jet black, and its eyes, they were jade green, seemingly glowing, and the glow began to fade as the last ebbs of life faded out of it. All its muscles relaxed and it collapsed onto the floor. From where I lay I could see its row upon row of teeth covering all of its mouth. A long sharp tongue lolled out of its mouth with barbs on the end of it. The creature was human like, barely, it walked like we would if we walked on our hands and feet and at the ends of each of its fingers and toes were razor sharp claws. The middle fingers on each hand seemed to have claws that were about twice as long as any of the others and its body seemed to glisten with a kind of slime. The nearest thing I can describe it to is the lickers on resident evil and they scare the hell out of me, a shiver shot up my spine. I’d never seen anything like it, not even on this world.
“What the hell is that!?”
“Beats me J, I only saw it at the last moment, never seen anything else like it. You were about 3 seconds away from being sushi by the looks of it dude.”
“Thanks Irvine I owe u a pint”
Irvine looked at me confused for a moment then smiled. I looked over at Squall and saw a look of worry and concern on his face,
“Stay alert everyone.”
Seifer looked around,
“Damn, that is the ugliest guard dog I’ve ever seen.”
I picked myself up off the floor and pushed myself back against the wall, pulling my guns out and holding them close to me, ready, I looked over at Squall and Irvine. Irvine pulled the bolt on his rifle and the spent case shot out of the breach and landed on the floor with a metallic ‘ping’.
It seemed to be a signal as several of the creatures fell from the room, snarling and howling. The moved with incredible speed, catching several SeeD nearby off guard, they didn’t last long , the claws of the creatures ripped into the soft flesh of the humans, blood arced across the floor as arteries were severed. The creatures were whipped up into a feeding frenzy, ripping chunks of flesh out. Armour made little difference. One student who was attacked by the creature had both the long claws puncture his ribcage. The creature kept them there and lifted the dying SeeD into the air; the look of pain in his eyes was almost intolerable. The creature looked at the flailing body for a split second before lashing his tongue out and ripping the poor SeeD’s head clean off. The severed head rolled towards where we were knelt. All this happened in a split second, by the time everyone reacted and realised what had happened ten troops were dead. All over the hall SeeDs drew their weapons and charged forward. The creatures looked up from where they were, gorging themselves on the flesh of their victims and snarled. One of the creature was dead almost instantly, a rifle bullet from Irvine ripping a hole through his head, blood splattered across the floor and the creatures leg buckled underneath him as he fell to the floor.
The fast approaching groups of SeeDs were met by the creatures, from where I was I couldn’t see what was happening but could hear screams and howls from both the creatures and the SeeD. The sound of blades rang out in the hall.
From the crowd I saw the flash as one of the creatures leapt clear, spiralling into the air. It latched onto one of the pillars; its claws helping it grip as they punctured the stone of the column. It looked back at the group of SeeD below and howled, before scurrying off into the darkness.
The group of SeeD began to clear, dazed and confused faces on all of them, almost shell shocked. In the centre of the group lay Nida. Nida, the pilot of Balamb garden lay there in a pool of blood, thought most of it wasn’t his own it was clear that he was hurt bad. As we drew nearer Squall raced ahead, the SeeD commander concerned for his friend who he’d passed the SeeD exams with was now running full pelt, he slammed his gun blade into the ground as he neared the group, they parted and he pushed his way through.
We arrived seconds later and pushed our way to the front of the group to find Squall clutching Nida, his head bowed,
“Defensive positions, now! We don’t know when they’ll be back!”
The group of SeeD and us knew that it was just Squall acting out, his concern for Nida lashing out at us but never the less the SeeD obeyed and returned to their original positions,
“Nida?.........Nida!?”
“Hey….Squ….uall. Wh..at…s……u..p?”
Nida was hurt bad, he was clutching his stomach, the gash he’d received from the creature was clear to see for a moment, before being obscured by the blood flowing out of the wound.
“Did…..w..e…..ge….t……them?”
“Yeah, yeah we got them good.”
Nida smiled up at Squall,
“Go….od.”
“How bad is it Nida?”
“ba…..bad…..don….t….t.h..i…n…k….i’..l..l”
“Don’t talk like that!”
“I…t’s…..ok..ay…..sa…ve…R..i..n..o…a”
“No! MEDIC!!!!!!!.”
A Garden medic rushed over and knelt down to Nida and started bandaging him up, the blood seeped through the bandages in moments , soaking them blood red. Another medic raced in carrying a stretcher. Nida, almost unconscious let out a small groan as he was lifted onto the stretcher. He was rushed out of the hall into the courtyard and to a waiting Ragnarock.
Squall knelt there for a moment, his head bowed, he slowly stood up and turned round to us, looking at his hands, they were covered in blood, Nada’s blood. Squall closed his hands, clasping them tight, so tight that I could see his knuckles turning white.
“All squads move out, you have your assignments.”
The SeeD squads crouched near the exits to the hall paused for a moment before rushing off down the corridors, their boots pounding on the floor, fading into the distance. The hall was once again quiet, only the sound of our breathing could be heard, around us the bodies of several dead seed and the creatures littered the floor, the boot prints from the medics could be seen in the floor, silhouetted with blood, their trail leading off back to the courtyard. In the distance the faint sounds of gunfire and explosions could be heard. Slowly Selphie stepped forward to Squall and put her hand on his shoulder, still Squall didn’t move,
“Squall………..Squall! What now?”
Squall slowly looked up and turned to her,
“Now we find Rinoa and Quistis and make those bastards pay.”
There was the sounds of anger and hate in his voice, Squall wanted revenge for everything and Rinoa back in his arms, and he’d kill anyone to get it.
Squall looked up at us, we all stood before him, and no one had ever seen him like this. Squall walked towards his sword and wrenched it out of the ground sending several fragments of stone a few inches into the air. The rubble clattered on the ground, squall kept on walking towards one of the exits that no SeeD had been watching or guarding,
“Come on, they’re this way.”
“How do you know Squall? This place is huge.”
“She’s calling me.”
“Who is?”
“The sorceress.”
“Rinoa?”
“No.”
Somehow I knew at that point that she wasn’t calling Squall, she was calling me, but how did I tie into all this? What was my connection to this world? Why was I brought here? Questions, so many questions that I didn’t know the answer to. I knew that I would find all the answers I wanted and some that I didn’t want soon.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 14: Eerie Hallways, Endless corridors, Truth

My heart was pounding in my chest as we ran full speed down one of the almost endless maze of corridors that criss-crossed the enemy’s stronghold. Every now and again we met sporadic resistance as a small group of enemy soldiers would appear from one of the adjacent corridors and try to stop us dead in our paths. Squall was like a man possessed, he was running down the corridor, his big black boots clattering along the stone cobbled floors, his shadow dancing behind him, caught every few moments by one of the countless small lights that illuminate either side of the corridor from the floor. The light beams looked almost like prison bars as they shone up vertically onto the ceiling. Every now and again we would see a painting with some dark scene on it, like images from a nightmare you didn’t want to remember.
We rounded a corner and were met by a group of soldiers. They ducked and weaved either side of the opening, firing off short bursts blindly in an attempt to hit us; I heard one of them call out,
“Their here, more the prisoners, inform the sorceress.”
The prisoners? Rinoa……Quistis, we were close, not far now, we had to get down this corridor. Who was this sorceress that they were talking about? It couldn’t be Rinoa; it couldn’t be Ultimecia could it? She was dead, died in the future. No time to think had to act now.
I signalled to Squall, he nodded from where he was in a little alcove on the opposite side of the corridor. He crouched there clutching Lionheart, the blade glowing a bright blue, bathing the immediate area in a blue glow. He opened the chamber of his gunblade and emptied the spent cartridges then reached into his pocket and pulled out some fresh ones and slid them one by one into the chamber. The others crouched nearby looking worried, Seifer tapped Squall on the shoulder as he clicked shut the chamber of his gunblade,
“Hey Mr SeeD commander what do you think your doing? Don’t be stupid your going to get yourself killed, and then what use are you going to be to Rinoa?”
“Maybe, but I’ve got to get down this corridor.”
I looked over at Squall,
“Im with you Squall.”
Squall nodded. I reached into my holster and pulled out one of my guns, I slid the clip out and checked the magazine, half a clip left, should be enough. I reached behind me and slowly slid my sword out of its sheath, the polished metal glinted. Slowly Squall and I stood up, looked at each other and nodded.
We leapt round the corner and straight into the oncoming gunfire. Behind us Irvine rolled out into the middle of the corridor and lay there , his gun ready , firing off shots to keep the guards heads down. Squall started running, gunblade primed and ready, the blade seemed to glow stronger than ever. I followed down the right hands side of the corridor, ducking and weaving, trying to make myself a harder target. My gun primed and outstretched, the laser site shining, casting a needle of red light along the corridor that jogged slightly with me as I ran. My sword lowered slightly, flashing in and out of my vision as my arm grabbed the air trying to push myself, running full speed down the corridor.
Shots flew past our heads as we ran, we swapped sides, diving and ducking as we went. The sound of our boots slamming onto the floor echoed in the small confines of the corridor.
Squall reached the end of the corridor and was met by one of the soldiers; his sword came raining down on Squall. He blocked it easily with Lionheart, their blades locked. I leapt into the air, almost horizontally and slid along the floor, my gun facing the other way, I cleared the end of the corridor and in a split second found my target, a soldier running towards Squall from behind, lance outstretched. I fired a shot; it hit the wooden shaft of the lance and shattered the wood, snapping the tip of the spear off in an instant. The soldier kept on running, realising that his lance was no longer any use he threw it in my direction, it landed on the floor behind me and slid across the floor. The trooper drew a sword he’d got strapped onto his back and carried on charging, showing no sign of slowing. I arced my back and kicked off, pushing myself onto my feet. I pulled the trigger, and there was a click, no more ammo, I knew I should have reloaded, no time now. I dropped my gun and held my sword ready, both hands grasping the handle tightly. The Soldier ran into me, body checking me, sending me back a few steps as I was dazed for a second, when I realised what was going on I snapped my blade up to bear, holding it above my head to meet to oncoming thrust from above, blocking it, the metal on our blades sent a loud metallic crack echoing down the corridor. I was now back to back with Squall, both of us, our blades locked with the enemy. Our feet shifting on the floor, trying to get enough grip to push forward and overpower the soldiers.
In a split second I ducked and swung round, Squall rolled over my back bringing his blade to bear on the dazed solider I had been grappling with moments earlier, I didn’t the same from where I was, bringing my blade up in a vertical strike, it blocked the sword from the soldier that was bearing down on me, shattering the blade. My katana carried on slicing through the air with all the force I could muster, I cried out as if in some attempt to get yet more power behind the blade. The soldier shielded his face with his free hand. The blade slid through his hand like butter, slicing it in half. The severed end falling to the floor. I saw my chance and thrust my blade into his chest. The steel edge penetrated his armour and slammed through his chest, coming out the other side, the polished steel tainted with streaks of blood as they dripped off the sharp edge of the sword. I felt to weight of the soldier press down on my blade as his life ebbed from his body. I pressed my boot up to his chest and used it to pull my sword out of his chest, the soldier dropped to his knees and collapsed into a lifeless heap on the floor. I stared at the body for a moment before the clang of steel brought me back to reality. I turned round to see Squall bring Lionheart crashing down onto the other soldier; the blade lodged itself into the soldier’s left shoulder. I thought I saw Squall grin for a fraction of a second before he pulled the trigger. A wave of energy shot through the soldier’s body, it shook violently and the blast threw him against a nearby wall. His head slammed into the wall and smashed on the wall like an over ripe fruit. The body slowly slid down the wall and sat there, his head lolling forward still sitting upright against the wall. I stood there for a moment, looking at Squall as he relaxed his stance and lowered his gunblade. This was getting far too intense for me; I couldn’t believe what I was doing. Up until that point it had never really made much sense to me why all the characters in these ‘games’ fought so hard and nearly died several times all for one woman, or belief, or ideology. Never made much sense, all I knew was it made a great story. And then it hit me, it was just because. Because the women represented everything they believed in, their way of life, and that these things were worth fighting for, even dieing for. This was why they fought; for life itself and what it stood for.
I heard the footsteps of the others pounding down the hallway, I looked up, my chest heaving from the exertion, and pointed at the body of the soldier I’d just killed. It hit me, shooting someone from long distance was different , almost like a video game, but killing someone close up , watching the life fade from their wide eyes , that was something different. I felt my stomach churn as though I was going to be sick and rested my hands on my knees, still pointing to the soldier I said to Squall finally,
“You’ve been around a lot of dead people, does that happen often?”
I gestured to the twitching foot of the dead attacker, Squall didn’t flinch, and he didn’t even turn round,
“Yeah.”
The others rounded the corner, they looked concerned; from where they were they didn’t see the fight, only heard it end. I guess they wanted to make sure that we were okay, it was written all across their faces.
“Is everyone okay?!”
“Fine Selphie.”
“Squall don’t do that, running off like that! Do you want to get yourself killed?”
“Squall you ain’t a one man army dude, you want to wind up dead?”
“Knock it off, we still need to save Rinoa and Quistis.”
We looked around, and saw that there was a prison cell on the opposite wall; this must be where they were holding Rinoa and Quistis. Squall ran up to the prison door and peered through the bars into the gloom of the cell,
“Rinoa! Quistis! Are you there? Answer me!”
Not a sound. Squall didn’t take no for an answer, he slammed the control panel that controlled the prison door, no response.
“Lemme take a look Squall.”
Zell pushed his way to the front and cracked his knuckles. He ripped open the access panel and started tweaking the wires inside. Seifer started to laugh; Zell snapped his head round at Seifer and glared at him,
“Lemme have a try chicken wuss, you’ve no chance of opening this thing.”
Seifer started to walk slowly towards the door and started to speed up; he drew his gunblade and slammed it into the door, body checking the door as he did. The door ripped off its hinges and fell into the gloom of the cell,
“Guess it liked my access code eh chicken wuss?”
Zell scowled at Seifer who was standing there mocking him, pulling faces, acting like they did when they were small children at the orphanage.
Squall rushed into the cell, followed closely by me and everyone else, the cell beyond was stark and dark, the dim light shining in and barely illuminating the small room. The walls were featureless sheet metal, as was the floor and the ceiling. There was a blanket on the floor and a bucket of water built into the corner of one of the walls. The place stank of death, rotting flesh. The door lay on the floor, and the light flooded in from the illuminated corridor behind us. We all stood there for a moment adjusting to the light. Finally after a few seconds shapes began to appear in the dark. On the far wall was a figure, a human figure, Rinoa. Squall’s eyes widened, he saw the shape of his beloved hanging from the wall by her arms. Her clothes were torn and ripped and the once bright blue of them was now faded and stained with dirt and dried blood. Her face was battered; she was cut from head to toe, small cuts, some still fresh, some a couple of days old. Her head lolled on her shoulders, she was barely conscious. She lifted her head slowly, as if even lifting her head was an effort. Squall raced over to her, He drew his gunblade and slammed it into the wall freeing her from her bindings. She slumped to the floor, kneeling, barely holding herself up.
“Rinoa! Rinoa!”
Squall knelt down by her and wrapped his arms round her, holding her close. Rinoa looked up smiling at Squall even though it took her all the strength she could muster,
“Easy….Squall……I….cant…breath.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
Squall eased off and looked into Rinoa’s eyes; they still sparkled with the same life that he’d remembered so vividly from that first night they met at his graduation. He softly stroked her hair, the shiny black locks parting in his fingertips and glistening in the light of the cell.
“Did they hurt you?”
“A….little.”
“Why didn’t you use your magic?”
“They…..put an …..anti-magic field …..around ….this …..cell.”
It was obvious that Rinoa was weak, Squall lifted her up and carried her out of the cell and set her down gently on the floor, never once taking his eyes off her. Selphie stepped forward, standing over Rinoa she closed her eyes and concentrated, clasping her hands together almost as if praying. The wind seemed to pick up and my clothes, like everyone else’s began to flutter in the breeze, the wind increased into a gale and a blue-green glow seemed to illuminate the nearby area. All at once there seemed to be fireflies all around us, dancing and skipping through the air. The fireflies fluttered around Selphie, gathered near her hands and then descended in one almost blinding glow into Rinoa’s chest, the light bathed her body and for a second she seemed to glow in response to the blue light that was now surrounding us.
“Full-cure.”
Selphie shouted as she clasped her hands tighter, concentrating harder
Rinoa’s skin seemed to turn to liquid as slowly, one by one her wounds closed up, the only traces of them being the blood trails made by the cuts as the bled out. The light subsided and the wind died down as though nothing had happened. Rinoa lay there motionless for a moment and then slowly started to move, slowly at first, her legs moved, then her arms shifted and she looked up and smiled at us.
“Hey….guys……whats…up?”
Squall wrapped his arms round Rinoa as she sat up, catching her off guard, she flung her arms round Squall and held him tight. He knelt there over her, not letting go or letting up for a second. Finally their embrace eased and Squall sat back, holding Rinoa’s hand and gently stroking the back of it,
“I thought I’d lost you Rinoa.”
Rinoa’s eyes filled with tears but somehow she held them back,
“Did…you feed Angelo?”
A smile appeared across Squall face, it was the first time since Rinoa had disappeared that I’d seen him smile, a complete change from the rage I’d seen in his eyes as he’d fought his way to save the girl he loved from the island fortress. Squall chuckled,
“Yeah the flea bag is fine, he’s is waiting for you back at Garden.”
“Hey!”
Rinoa laughed at Squall and jokingly punched him on the arm. Rinoa looked up at me, her intense brown eyes looking into mine; Squall looked up at me and beckoned me over. I knelt down besides Rinoa. I felt the comforting arm of Squall on my shoulder,
“Your special to her, did you know that?”
I smiled at Rinoa, I guess I always knew it; I had a gut feeling in my heart that Quistis was close to me but special? Woah, it was like being hit by a bus, that’s the only thing I could describe it as, now more than ever I wanted to see her again, to get Quistis out of this hell hole. Rinoa looked at me and smiled, I must have been obvious in my feelings for Quistis,
“Im…glad you feel the same way too.”
“Where is she?”
“They took her to see ‘her’.”
I didn’t know who ‘she’ was but I didn’t need to be told twice, Rinoa beckoned down the hallway and up a set of steps at the end at the end of the corridor. I stood up and pulled out my guns, looking at the dragon insignia along the side of them smiled,
“Thank you Squall, you’ve put my own destiny in my hands.”
I snapped the spent ammunition clips out of the guns; they clattered on the stone floor. A couple of fresh magazines were slid into place, the click of the guns showed they were in place and locked. I pulled back on the guns and chambered the first round. This was a couple of ‘special’ clips that I’d been saving for the right person; the person who’d taken Quistis from me and attacked Garden and now it was payback time. I slid the loaded guns into their holsters and started walking slowly towards the way Rinoa had shown me. My boot clattered along the floor, I heard footsteps behind me, I paused and turned my head slightly, behind me I could see Squall and Seifer, their gunblades drawn, following me,
“Back off Squall, Seifer, this bitch is mine.”
Squall stepped forward,
“James, don’t make me pull rank on you trainee.”
I cringed as Squall said those words I knew that no matter what I said Squall was coming, to end this once and for all, he wanted to see this through to the end as much as I did.
“Fair enough, don’t get in my way.”
“Not a problem.”
I looked at Seifer,
“You coming too?”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss this for the world, besides I love to piss off authority and it sounds like this bitch thinks she’s the new boss around here.”
I turned and started walking, just as I reached the first step, Squall, Seifer and myself turned and looked at the others, they were helping Rinoa up and following after us. Squall calmly looked at Rinoa and smiled,
“I’ve got to do this Rinoa.”
She smiled back at him “Go.”
“This ends now, Irvine, Selphie, get her back to the ship.”
“Hey and don’t leave without us.” Seifer added
I looked at Zell; he flexed his muscles, inflating his chest,
“Zell, you coming?”
Upon hearing these words Zell leapt up and punched the air where he stood,
“Hell yeah, its pay back time!”
Irvine helped Rinoa to her feet and him and Selphie wrapped their arms around her. They paused before they rounded the corner back to the courtyard and the waiting ships,
“Be careful, you guys, and bring her home.”
“Don’t’ worry.”
They rounded the corner, the four of us watching them go. There were just us left, the corridors suddenly felt eerily quiet. Zell stood there for a second glancing towards us and then back at where the group of friends had disappeared. Seifer glared at him,
“Are you coming wuss?”
Zell scowled at Seifer and then ran up the stone steps to join us, we stood there for a moment looking at each other, we didn’t know what lay up those stairs but we’d face it together. Slowly we began to climb the stone steps which seemed to rise up to the very heavens.
At that point my heart was pounding, literally breaking through my chest. One this was for sure I wouldn’t soon forget my first few weeks here in this world.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 16; One step closer to the Edge

The long winding staircase seemed to go on, as if climbing up into the very heavens themselves. It wound up and up, coiling back on itself. The lights faded and now burning torches lit our way up the steps. Our shoes echoing as we climbed upwards, step by step,
“Damn you’d of thought they’d have put an elevator or something in around here, these steps r going to kill me.”
“For once Seifer I agree with you.”
“Yell thanks a bunch chicken wuss, it means a lot to me now I have your approval.”
I turned round and looked at Seifer and Zell, something had been bugging me for a while and now seemed as good a time as any,
“Hey Seifer why are you always beating on Zell?”
“Dunno, seems like as good a way as any to pass the time. Why? You jealous? Want me to pick on you James?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I joke with my friend but for gods sake ease off, your going to give Zell a complex.”
Seifer laughed,
“Zell’s one big walking mass of complexes, hadn’t you noticed that much!?”
I started to laugh, chuckle, even Squall and Zell laughed,
“Come on Seifer I know you don’t mean it, you like Zell really don’t you?”
Zell laughed and slung his arm round Seifer’s shoulder, and a big cheesy grin beamed across his face,
“Awwww you do like me don’t you Seifer, ol’ buddy, ol’ pal, ol’ friend.”
Seifer scowled jokingly,
“Yeah, like a hole in the head.”
We laughed as we walked upstairs, everyone here was friends and now even I realised they were my friends too, they considered me one of their friends. When I’d turned up in that world with nothing, they had given me everything. They’d fight with me side by side. At that point I thought back to a game that I’d played a long time ago; Legend of Dragoon, I could finally see why Dart and Lavitz were so close, they were friends sure but they also knew without saying a word that the other one would be there in a battle with them side by side and that in its own twisted way was the closest bond a person could feel. Total reliance on the other person that would be returned without a moment hesitation. Okay so its sounds kind of soft and sentimental now but at the time it rang true for me, these were friends I could rely on, friends who relied on each other as much as they did themselves. It was true, Squall really had missed a lot by not relying on everyone else, and he’d almost missed what made us human.
The stair case finally opened out and suddenly the mood amongst us sobered up , no more jokes, no more laughing , we all fell deadly silent, our weapons drawn we entered the hall, at the opposite side of it was a huge door, maybe twenty meters tall, solid wood with huge golden hinges. Ether side of the door were two huge stone statues, demons, both stood 10feet tall, guardians to the realm beyond the door. Both of the statues were lizards like; their mouths open, teeth bore. They stood there, crouched ready in attack position, one was knelt on one knee and held two giants swords, one in each hand. The other had four arms, his fists clenched. Both crafted out of solid black stone. It felt like their eyes were following us around the room as we walked into the centre of the giant hall.
The hall itself was similar to the other one we’d seen, only on a much grander scale, the whole room was black, the floor was solid marble, and the white streaks that ran through it gave it an almost magical quality. It shimmered and glistened as the light caught it. All around the room rose eight sold white pillars, once again in marble, with black streaks running through it. They rose up into the very heavens. Even thought the room had no lights or windows of its own it seemed to be alight, like standing outside. I looked around at the walls; they were shining with stars like the night sky on a really clear winter’s night. The stars twinkled and glistened, it was almost as if they were real, as if someone had taken some of the twilight and placed it on the walls on this room. I looked up and began to step into the room, my eyes followed the pillars up and saw the thin blood red silken fabric draped between them, it gently fluttered as if in a breeze, even though there was no wind in this room at all, strange I thought.
My eyes suddenly returned to earth as Zell called out to us, we all returned to where he was standing, the echo of our footsteps on the marble floor seemed almost sacrilegious, like we were in the grandest church or most sacred place on earth.
“Hey guys, check this out.”
Zell pointed to one of the pillars that he was standing by, we looked, and about ten feet off the floor was a golden plaque with strange symbols on it, below it was written ‘Rinoa’. There was a visage of Rinoa almost emerging from the marble column, an exact replica of her head, only twisted and contorted in pain. Squall clenched his fist,
“Check the others.”
We ran over to the other pillars one by one and sure enough on each of them was written everyone’s names; Squall, Rinoa, Quistis, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, and Seifer, below each of the inscriptions in the strange language was the translation and lower still was a perfect visage of each of them carved out of the marble, each one twisted and contorted in pain. It sent a shiver down my spine. I turned around to approach the last pillar; the others were gathered around it. Squall and Zell turned around to me; they looked concerned, Zell Stepped forward,
“James, don’t, you don’t want to see this.”
“What is it? I want to see it.”
Squall stepped forward and put his hand out onto my shoulder, his hand squeezed my shoulder. Squall looked at me for a moment, his eyes seemed to be boring into my soul, slowly he said,
“Let him through Zell. We owe him this much.”
I pushed my way through the group; they parted as I stepped closer. In front of me rose a pillar like the others, solid white marble, I looked up slowly, scared to look at the description. Just like all the others it had something written in a strange language, below it just said the word ‘key’. My eyes slowly looked down further, and I saw myself, contorted in agony, my face twisted as though crying out in abject pain. It sent a shudder down my spine, ‘key’? What key? I don’t have a key; the only keys I’ve got are house keys. Now I’ve seen enough movies to know what’s going on, it wasn’t a key she was looking for, it was me, and I was the key. But if they were looking for me why did they take Rinoa and Quistis? I was right there for them, why did they attack Garden for me? They could have picked me up when I was alone walking towards Balamb town when I first arrived here. So many questions spiralled through my head I thought I was going to collapse, my head pulsed and burned. I dropped to my knees clutching my head in pain; this was all beginning to make an eerie kind of sense.
As we stared up at the stone pillar we started to hear a cracking, it sounded like fragments of stone were hitting the floor. Slowly we turned, looking around the room to work out where the noise was coming from. It was Seifer, who was the first to work out where it was coming from,
“Hey guys, heads up!”
We looked over to where Seifer was pointing, towards the stone statues, They stood there, upright , awake, the final fragments of stone cracking away from their bodies as they were brought to life. They looked over at each other and then back to us and hissed, their tails thrashing from side to side, hitting the floor behind them. Their black scaly skin glistening and shimmering in the light of the great hall. Their eyes glowed a deep jade green. Their tongues flicked the air as they stepped forwards off their plinths. Their clawed feet crunched the debris of their stone prison as they began to circle around us.
“Different.” Quipped Seifer.
Squall stepped forward and drew his blade,
“We’ve no time for this.”
Zell stepped forward and put his hand on Squall’s shoulder,
“So, go.”
“Zell, we can’t.”
“Hey come on Squall, you’ve got to confront the sorceress and save Quistis with James.”
I stood next to Zell,
“What about you two?”
“Hey don’t worry about us, we’re SeeD, these guys are nothing.”
Seifer snapped his head round as one of the lizard men went out of his field of vision, his gun blade bared.
“Besides two on two are good odds, even if the other guy is chicken wuss over there!”
I drew one of my guns and took aim at one of the lizard men,
“Go!”
I looked over at Squall, I couldn’t choose, I couldn’t decide, my mind was clouded. Squall finally said slowly and quietly,
“Come on James, these guys can handle it.”
“Squall?”
“Let’s go James”
“Don’t worry about us dude, we can handle it.”
Zell clenched his fists and charged for the lizard man with the four arms. Seifer yelled and charged full tilt for the lizard man with the two swords, his blade locked with his as the lizard pushed forward. The blades sparked with the sheer forces behind them. Seifer’s feet slipped on the smooth marble floor. Seifer pushed back with his body and somersaulted through the air, flipping backwards and landing a few feet away. The lizard man hissed and charged at Seifer. Seifer was still crouching on the ground, head down. At the last second he looked up, grinned and lunged with his blade. It stabbed the lizard man through his lower stomach; he dropped both his swords, the bounced and caused a huge ‘clang’ to ring out in the great hall. The great beast let out a howl of pain. Seifer stood there, pushing his blade deeper through the thick hid of his foe. The lizard looked down at Seifer and grinned, baring his teeth. Seifer looked back down to the wound he’d just inflicted. The lizard man snarled and clenched his fists, slamming them into Seifer, sending him skidding across the floor. Seifer looked up as the lizard man pulled the blade out of his flesh, the looked at it for a moment and threw it hard towards the dazed Seifer. The gunblade slammed into the floor just below Seifer, embedding itself into the marble floor with a loud metallic bang. The lizard man howled and clenched his fists, his scales shimmered for a second, appearing almost liquid. The stab wound that Seifer had just inflicted dissolved, healing itself almost instantly. Seifer looked on in disbelief, and tilted his head to one side,
“We may have a problem.”
Zell was faring no better, he was locked in combat with the other beast. Zell rained punch after punch combo down onto the lizard man but to no effect. Zell lay on the floor looking up, he had to time this right, he snapped up his legs at the last moment as the fists of the beast bore down on him, his foot landed square on the chin of the beast, and again on the beast’s sternum. The lizard, dazed for a moment staggered back, Zell snapped back onto his feet and charged at the stumbling beast. He leapt up onto the beast shoulders and grabbed both of its top set of arms; He pushed off and twisted, still holding the lizard’s arm as he flipped vertically into the air. There was a loud crack, and a loud crunch as the bones in the creature’s body shattered like dry pieces of wood, dislocating his shoulders at the same time. Zell landed and spun round to see the lizard with his arms hanging limp and by his sides in a mangled mess howling in pure agony. The creature stood still and his arms shimmered, his scales almost liquid-like. The arms snapped back to their original position, as good as knew, Zell’s eyes widened,
“Oh shit!......um…Seifer.”
Seifer charged forward again attacking the foe, blades locked; once again he was pushed off and almost knocked to the floor,
“Yeah I know Chicken wuss, any ideas?”
Zell blocked another blow from his attacker as the punches rained down on his braced arms, Zell flipped backwards out of the range of the hail of punches,
“Um…..Stick your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.”
The two brothers-in-arms backed up towards each other, backs pressed against each other, each facing down their own foes. Seifer glanced over his shoulder to Zell,
“Yeah….Real constructive Zell.”

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Chapter 18; Shattered Memories, Dreams of Conquest

Squall and I slowly walked into the room beyond the great doors, behind us we could hear the faint clash of steel and pounding of fists as Seifer and Zell were locked in battle in the room behind us. This room was different, magical. It was perfectly spherical, a staircase rose up to the top corner of the room with a separate level about half way up, the stair continued up past this level and onto a top level. I could vaguely make out a throne on the top level; two fires raged either side of it. There were a couple of figures visible up there two, one standing and one sitting on the throne. The whole place shimmered, every surface seemed as though it was made of glass, it felt like we were walking on thin air, guided by the trail of lights that shone either side of the walkway, twinkling and sparkling. The whole room was red, a deep blood red, it felt like the walls were covered in blood and it looked like it was moving, flowing like a river all around us, swirling. Chains hung from the ceiling, rusted and twisted, the whole room reeked of corruption and chaos. It was like the scene from a nightmare.
“Welcome intruders.”
A soft voice echoed around the spherical room, we glanced around trying to work out where it was coming from; it wasn’t a voice it was being projected directly into our heads.
“This doesn’t feel right.”
I said, rubbing my head, trying to shake the voice out of my thought, it felt like my mind was being violated.
“Step forward.”
Again the soft female voice rang out in our heads,
“Bring the claviger armiger to me.”
Slowly we began to step forward; walking across the walkway I placed my foot on the first step. I looked back to Squall, he nodded but it was clear he was worried, the look on his face said it all, and probably so did mine. Slowly we climbed the steps, the voice calling us in our heads.
We reached the first landing on the set of staircases; we stopped for a moment looking at each other, trying to work out what was going on with this place. The walls flowed, shimmering, like a raging stream. I noticed part of it start to bubble and surge, like a flooded river. All of a sudden a dark black object leap from the torrent of blood and landed on the floor a few feet from us, it stood there for a moment , I recognized it instantly , it was the one of the creatures that had attacked us when we first entered the great castle. It stood there, rising up on its hind legs, this one must have been the one that escaped when we had killed its brethren but at a dear cost to our forces. The creature snarled at us and then looked up to the throne sitting on the level above. Slowly it lowered its eyes back to us. We drew our swords, gripping the handles, flexing as the creature sidestepped. Then it stood still and smiled at us,
“My mistresssssss is waiting ffffffor you, whelp.” It hissed
“What?” I asked almost in disbelief
“Bringgggg the claviger armiger to me; thosssse were the mistress’ssss orderssss and I failed her, this is my chancccce ffffor redempssssun.”
It snarled again, its claws glinting, its teeth glimmering with saliva and its tongue lashing the air. I remember how cold its eyes were, this was a heartless immortal killer. I felt a soft breeze on my face, the wind began to pick up and a light engulfed the creature. I could see it shifting and contorting, its shadow just visible through the glowing black light. It changed into a human form and slowly descended to the floor, kneeling, head down. The light faded. The form that met us was all too memorable, it was the same figure that had lead the attack on Garden when they had taken Rinoa and Quistis. This was the warrior? I couldn’t believe it myself. I looked over to Squall, waiting to see what he would do. I saw his hands tense up, every muscle in his body straining as his rage bubbled to the surface again. The leather of the gloves he was wearing squeaking against the hilt of Lionheart. The blade of the sword glowing brighter. Squall’s face snarling at the abductor of his true love. Slowly, quietly squall uttered something,
“You took everything from me you bastard, you attacked garden, killed SeeDs, attacked my friends and took Rinoa and Quistis. Im going to make you pay for what you’ve done.”
The creature now in its human form stood up slowly and drew his sword casually, he lowered the blade and ran it along the floor, the ring of the steel on the floor echoing for a second he said nothing as he circled us. Then a sneer appeared across his face,
“Bigggg wordsssssss from a whelp. But you gottttt it wrongggg, I didn’t tttttakkkkeeee evverythingggg frommmm youuuu, youuuu stilllllll have your lifffffe.”
“You’re going to pay for everything you bastard.” Squall snarled.
Squall raised his gunblade and pointing it towards the creature, this beast before him represented everything he hated, everything he feared, this creature had taken everything dear to Squall away.
“Thatssss a sssssituation I’m goingggg tooooo remedyyyyy, prepareeeee to dieeeeeeee.”
Squall looked over his shoulder at me, his expression softened for a moment,
“Go James, time to make your own fate, just like you told me.”
“………Squall.”
I lowered my sword slowly and my head, I knew he was right.
“………See you later Squall.”
“Yeah, for sure.”
I started to climb the final staircase up to the throne at the top, I could just make out the two figures, and one was unmistakable Quistis, the other I couldn’t tell. It was defiantly a woman though. For some reason I knew this had been the same woman that had been calling us when we entered the room
I climbed the last of the stairs and stood there before her, she sat there on her thrown, looking at me with contempt. The thrown she was sat on was crafted from bone , human skulls , piled up , arranged to for the thrown, piled one on top of the other , almost too many to count. The bone highly polished and almost pure white. Either side of the thrown blazed two huge torches, the flames glowing a cold blue. A huge sheet of jet black cloth fluttered slightly behind the thrown, the fires blazing on the torches crackled and hissed as they burnt, there was silence; the only sound was the clash of blades from below where Squall was battling the creature. Soon even they faded from my hearing as I glared at the unknown woman. She stood up from her thrown slowly. So this was Ultimecia, she stood there her dress fluttering in the breeze. Hey pure, snow white hair hanging down over her shoulders and porcelain skin, almost the colour of milk, flawless beauty. The ornate headdress she wore on her head crowning her head, the small, ornate jewelry hanging down over her clothes and hair, twinkling in the blue light of the torches. My heart was pounding in my chest, my palms were sweating. She smiled at me, not like my friends did, it was a cold, unfeeling smile,
“So you are the claviger armiger? The key-bearer?”
“The what?”
I stepped forward and drew my sword, holding it ready, the glow from the flames glinting on the hilt, giving it an almost magical quality. Defiantly I stood my ground,
“Why did you take Rinoa and Quistis?”
“To bring you here.”
Ultimecia sat down, inking slowly into her thrown. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, truth be told I was petrified, but I didn’t let on for a second. I didn’t want to show weakness in front of the sorceress. I glanced over at Quistis, She sat there on her knees, her head slumped. Her clothes were different, she had on a pure white dress, and her hair was down, flowing over her shoulders. She didn’t look like Rinoa had at all; on the contrary, it looked like Quistis had been looked after. Had the circumstances been different I would have said Quistis looked beautiful but things being the way they were I wondered why she was so different. Her head lifted slowly, her face was cold and emotionless, almost like a cold unfeeling machine. I could no longer see the lust for life, the vibrancy, the happiness or any soul in her eyes. It was like looking at a corpse,
“What have you done to her?”
“Such tenderness.”
“Shut up, you didn’t answer my Question, if you’ve hurt her…….”
In an instant the sorceress snarled at me and stood up, I raised my sword, ready for the attack. Her hand outstretched to Quistis I saw Quistis rise up on her feet, commanded by Ultimecia. She stood there before lifting off the ground, her dress fluttering in the wind generated by the spell, her arms slightly outstretched. Ultimecia looked over at me,
“I could snap her neck like a twig, now settle down and put that sword away!” she said calmly
Rage pulsed through my body, but as I kept shooting glances over to Quistis I slowly calmed, I didn’t want to endanger her. With the tip of my sword quivering as my hands strained, containing my rage somehow I slowly lowered my sword. The sorceress smiled,
“Good boy.”
I stood there before the sorceress in silence. I looked up at her and defiantly stepped forward,
“I’ve seen enough films in my time to know that this is where the bad guy reveals his plans to the good guy, just when things look at their most desperate so spill you bitch!”
Ultimecia shifted in her thrown and scowled at me,
“Very well boy, but don’t test me, my patience is thin.”
“Whatever.” I muttered under my breath
“After the battle with Squall I passed my powers onto Edea and my spirit was scattered to the winds of time, I wandered through countless eons, wandering through countless times and places, through space and time. I was nothing more than a memory, a dream, nothingness. After some time I discovered a way to bring myself back and restore myself to the form you see before you now. In my endless drifting I happened upon a world; your world, a world not to dissimilar to this world.”
“So what does my world have to do with this world?” I asked, puzzled.
“They are one and the same, separated by the ages.”
“What?”
“Your world exists in a lifetime long since dead, torn apart by yourselves, by mans selfish greed. In the ashes of the apocalypse spawned by the worlds governments a few pathetic individuals clung to life and slowly the world was rebuilt, into the one you now stand on. Centuries passed and SeeD was born by that accursed Edea and her beloved Cid. And then Squall arrived with his pathetic friends from the orphanage to destroy my dreams of a perfect world where time has no meaning.”
“You mean a world where only you could survive!”
“………Indeed.”
“But why, why do you need me? Why bring me here, if this is my world then why did you need me?”
“With my body restored I had no way to return to your time, that child Ellone was useless to me since she did not live in your world, but you, you lived and breathed there.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing as Ultimecia laid her plan out before me,
“But there was a problem wasn’t there?” I mocked as it all began to make sense
“Yes, I did not anticipate this accursed SeeD would get to you before I could. Had she not I could have been able to exploit the power you have within you and go back to your world.”
“Why go back to my world?”
“It is a world of pathetic worms, you fight amongst yourselves , so blinded by your own hatred towards one another that I would be able to destroy it without half of you even realizing, with no magic and no SeeD to stand in my way I would consume your world and rule on high as…. A god!”
I clenched my fists,
“And you think im just going to stand by and let you do this.”
Ultimecia stood up, and slung her head back, laughing at me, mocking me,
“You are powerless, not even SeeD can stop me now. The time of ascension is nigh. I will be reborn in days of yore a god amongst men.”
I stepped forward towards Quistis,
“But why attack Balamb? Why take Quistis and Rinoa? Why kill all those people? Why?”
“Simple boy, this girl is merely the bait to lure you here, the catalysts towards your realization as the key-bearer.”
“You twisted bitch!”
Ultimecia began laughing, her laugh echoed around the room,
“Thank you dear boy. I try.”
“I won’t let you do this!”
“You don’t have much of a choice.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because now you are here the ceremony can begin, your death will be my rebirth on your world as a god.”
“Lady, I don’t know who you are but I’ve had about enough of your crap. Im going to make you pay!”
“My patience grows thin boy, prepare to die, you and your SeeD friends!”
The wind seemed to intensify, Ultimecia releases Quistis, she slumped to the floor in a heap and lay there motionless, and unconscious. An aura seemed to surround Ultimecia as she rose into the air, cackling manically as she did. This was it; this was the fight of a lifetime. I can’t really remember what I was feeling at that point, all my emotions bubbled and swirled into one blinding rage. I drew my weapon and fired at the hovering Ultimecia above. The action on my guns snapped them back in my hand as a round was chambered and fired, they flew through the air, and seconds later another round was chambered and fired as I held my finger on the triggers the bullets flew through the air. I looked up as they flew through the air. They slammed one after another into the orb of energy surrounding Ultimecia, she cackled as the magic shield surrounding her protected her from any harm, the bullets slammed into it, sending sparks flying and ricocheting off. The surface of the shield rippled like the surface of a pond when you throw a pebble into it.
The action on the guns clicked, out of ammunition. I holstered my guns, my heart pounding in my chest as above me the laughter or Ultimecia seemed to get louder. I drew my sword and held it up. I looked up to Ultimecia as her laughter subsided, she glared at me,
“My turn now boy.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 19: The Power Within

I ran over to Quistis, her unconscious body lay before me, not moving, I reached out and put my hand on her shoulder, shaking her, trying to get some response out of her. Terror gripped me; the Sorceress above me was no longer my concern. I just wanted to see Quistis open her eyes and smile at me like she had that first day in Balamb town,
“Quistis? Quistis talk to me!”
No response, she lay there, still, motionless. I heard a hissing sound a fraction of a second later I turned and looked to where it was coming from but too late, a bolt of magical energy slammed into my body, sending me spiraling across the floor. Dazed and confused I tried to shake it off, I lay there, my arm hanging over the edge of the ledge, below me was a massive fall, the blood on the walls pooled and began to spiral and foam beneath me, ready for me if I should fall. Ultimecia circled round overhead, laughing psychotically, I looked up, my vision hazing and blurring, the force of the impact from the magic bolt had knocked the senses out of me,
“Watch that first step child, its fatal.”
“Shut your mouth you bitch!”
My senses returning to me I stood up, using my sword to help me. I staggered a little bit, my senses returning to me. I stood upright, finally, and held my sword ready. I ran for Ultimecia, yelling as I did, pure rage coursing through my veins, my blood boiling. I threw my sword forward, slamming it into the magic shield. It struck the shield and bounced off harmlessly, the surface of the protective field, shimmering like water. Again I rained my blade down on Ultimecia; maybe I would be able to break this magic that protected her. I started raining blows down on Ultimecia, each time the blade skipped harmlessly off the surface. Inside her protective shield Ultimecia looked at me, laughing every time the shield protected her and my blade bounced off the surface harmlessly,
“Slow learner aren’t you boy!”
She focused her energy into her hands, a black glowing ball of energy formed, crackling with raw power, growing larger and larger until it was the size of a football. Ultimecia looked at me from through the magic shield and sneered at me as I rained more blows down on the shield. The sorceress hurled the magic ball at me through the shield; it slammed into me once again, throwing me back through the air. My chest burning with the raw energy from the blast as its energy crackled and surged through my body, electrocuting me as I flew through the air. My body spasmed and shook as every nerve in my body seemed to short circuit, muscles spasmed and my limbs flailed around. I slammed into the floor, barely conscious,
“You can’t beat me boy, when are you going to learn? Accept your fate and die.”
I lay there on the ground, flashing in and out of consciousness, I was done for, that much I knew, and I couldn’t take any more of this. Slowly I stood up, barley able to hold my weight on my feet. Ultimecia descended from where she hovered a few feet above the ground, gently stepping down onto the ground. The magic shield never fading for a moment, glowing bright blue, almost blinding, raw energy crackled over its surface. She stepped forward and looked at me,
“Im not going to kill you yet boy, not before you watch your friends die screaming.”
“…No.”
Standing there, my legs almost buckling, mustering all my strength to keep me standing. The sorceress looked over at me and sneered,
“I will start with this girl.”
“NO!”
I looked over at Quistis, my eyes widening as I saw Ultimecia begin to manifest a group of bolts of pure ice. The site rang through my body; it was just like that fateful night in Dieling City. I began to run towards the unconscious body of Quistis, all my remaining energy being channeled into the muscles in my legs. My heart was pumping in my chest, I wasn’t thinking anymore, just running on adrenalin and pure gut instinct. I threw myself into the air just as the sorceress let the barrage of icy bolts fly through the air, powered forward by pure magical energy. As I came into position directly in front of Quistis, shielding her with my body the ice bolts flew all around me, in a barrage of fury. Still in mid air I snatched Quistis up, pulling her through the air with me, holding her close to me. I felt the spears of ice all around me; one flew past my face, missing it by mere inches, the cold air radiating from it chilling my face. I landed on the floor as the bombardment finished and looked over at Quistis; she lay a few feet from where she had been, safe from harm, still unconscious, looking as beautiful as ever. I smiled softly to myself, the danger was over, and she was safe.
“Impetuous youth.”
In an instant I realized that Ultimecia had kept one of the bolts behind and it was now pointing straight for me, my eyes widened as I clenched all my muscles in by body, bracing for impact, there was now was she was going to miss from this range. I brought my arms up to shield my face as the sorceress let the bolt fly. In an instant I felt it slam into my side, burying itself deep inside me. The force of the impact threw me back and shook my organs in my body. As events settled down I slowly looked down to my right side, my nerves burning, crying out to me in pain. I was horrified with the site I met; the icy bolt had lodged itself in my lower right side. The pure white ice of the spear glistening with freshly melted water, my blood slowly began to run out of the wound, mixing and being diluted by the water from the melting bolt. I reached out with my hands and took hold of the bolt; I think to see if it was real more than anything. The ice felt deathly cold on my hands, I tried to move the bolt, trying to pull it out of my body , it moves slightly, I cried out in pain , clutching my side as the sorceress walked closer to me, she looked at me and slowly bent down, kneeling in front of me,
“Admirable boy, truly admirable, but what are you going to do now? You’re finished.”
The sorceress reached down to my wound and stretched out her hand, scooping up some of my blood on the end of her finger. She grinned and she brought the blood soaked finger up to her mouth, licking up the blood with her tongue. She smiled at me, a sadistic, evil smile
“………..”
I could hardly speak, groaning in pain, trying not to cry out for fear that it would show weakness, was this the way things were going to end? Here was I thinking that the good guy always wins. I thought back to days gone by, hot summers days spent with my family, eating a barbeque outside, drinking and partying with friends. One thought kept repeating in my head, the last day I saw my family before I went off to university, kissing them all goodbye, my little sister pulling a face as I hugged her goodbye. Had I known that was the last time I would see them I’d of made it last longer. So this is what death felt like, it felt cold, lonely, I didn’t want to be alone. I slowly reached into my pocket and pulled out my St Christopher’s medal, holding it up to the sky, the pennant fell down and spun in the air by the chain, sparkling and twinkling a bright golden in the light of the fires. I smiled to myself, happy memories. I had to fight on, I had to, to protect my world, protect my family, and fight on for my friends, in my world and in this world. This had to end now, once and for all. I shifted my legs and pushed myself up to a kneeling position. The sorceress stood there laughing above me,
“Persistent boy, accept your fate.”
I slowly took off my SeeD jacket and threw it down on the ground defiantly. I gritted my teeth and took hold of the icy bolt still lodged into my side with both hands. I began to pull on it, pulling it out of my side, my muscles burning. My blood seemed to be boiling in my veins. Finally the bolt sat there in my hands, before me was the open wound on my side, blood began to run out of it, and down my stomach. I looked up at the sorceress and gritted my teeth, concentrating. I felt a flood of warmth flood over me, like being reborn. My strength began to return to me. The blood ran through my clenched hands. Slowly I felt the pain begin to subside, I pulled my hand to the side and looked down , my wound was healing, torn flesh and muscle were joining again, blood vessels, severed by the impact were fusing back together. My nerves slowly stopped burning. I stood up, and picked up my sword which lay nearby. The sorceress’s face changed from one of contempt and mocking to one of sheer disbelief,
“Impossible! It is your fate to die.”
I stood now fully ready, my legs shifting into attack stance, my sword raised and ready, held close to me, my hands clenching around the handle. I looked up at her as Ultimecia slowly backed away in disbelief,
“I don’t believe in fate. I make my own”
My body sensed up, muscles straining, every one burning like I’d been running for eternity. I felt my sword begin to glow, slowly the blade seemed to ignite into flame, the bright orange glow next to my face as the flames danced and shimmered across the blade didn’t burn, but instead felt warm , comforting,
“….No.”
The sheer disbelief was written all over Ultimecia’s face. I charged forward towards her, the sorceress tried to fly into the air but it was too late, my blade struck home, slamming into the aura that surrounded Ultimecia, protecting her from my attacks. All the energy surged out of my blade as it made contact with the shield, dissipating over the surface. The surface of the shield shook, trying to absorb the impact, the waves of energy fluctuating across it. A crack appeared in the shield, spreading, ripping across it, the magic shield unable to contain the sudden flow of energy, Ultimecia straining to contain it.
The shield shattered into a million pieces , like shards of blue glass, they shone, chinks of orange light between the shattered pieces before a second later the shield failed and shattered into a million pieces , exploding out and disappearing into nothing. I shielded my eyes as there was a blinding flash of light. The burning light subsided and I opened my eyes to see the sorceress staggering to her feet, thrown backwards by the blast. As she stood up she looked at me,
“I underestimated you boy.”
Anger raked across her face she concentrated, summoning a sword out of thin air, the long blade glowing and crackling with magical energy. Ultimecia took hold of the sword, drawing it ready, the blade shimmering and glistening in the light. I stood ready with my own sword, the dragon emblems on the blade glowing orange, the blade burning bright, flames lapping over the polished metal surface. We started circling each other, sizing one another up, never once taking our eyes off each other. The sorceress made the first move, sending a ball over energy flying in my direction, I dodged and the energy ball slammed into the wall behind it, it seemed to rock the entire room. I took my cue and charged
I leapt forward, towards the sorceress, but was caught in mid air, our blades locked, the clang of steel on steel in the suddenly cold air of the sorceress’s sanctuary. I flipped back, landing in a prone position on the floor, ready to push off for another attack. Ultimecia charged for me from my left hand side, I raised my katana above my head; with a twist of my wrist I blocked Ultimecia’s katana, steel on steel, the magical energy crackling through the blades intermingling. I pushed off and set the sorceress staggering back a few steps.
I glared at Ultimecia, my side covered with blood splatters from my wound, my eyes burning into the sorceress. She regained his composure and slowly, mockingly began to quietly clap,
“Hmm… not bad for a child.”
“You shut your damn mouth you piece of shit, I want Quistis and I want her now!”
Inside my body my rage boiled over, I charged at the shadowy figure, sword raised above my head. Ultimecia in one fluid movement spun around the attack, not even Squall’s reflexes could anticipate this. In one fluid movement Ultimecia leapt up in the air, swinging her legs to bear. Her legs struck home, hitting me in the back of the neck one after another after another in lightening succession and shattering my katana. I lurched forward, and collapsed onto one knee. I was stunned for a moment and swung my broken blade back behind me to stop the oncoming attack but as my eyes swung round a second later I saw the sorceress was there. It was too late, I saw the streak of black in the room at the last second leaving no time to react, the sorceress slammed her knee into my chest knocking the wind out of me and burying me in the floor. It all happened so fast, I began to recover but was struck down by the sorceress’s flying fist as I tried to get up. It was over. Ultimecia pinned me to the ground, standing over me, with a foot on my chest,
“Nice try, time to die.”
I glanced over and saw the broken end of my sword, as the sorceress raised her sword above her head I reached for it, grabbing it in my hand, holding the blade with the palms of my hands. I slammed the end of the sword into her chest, burying it into Ultimecia’s heart. A look of pain appeared on her face as I held the sword edge in her chest, pushing it deeper into her chest. Blood began to seep down the groove in the sword, running over my fingers. Ultimecia dropped her sword; it slammed into the ground burying itself into my shoulder. I gripped onto the sword to stop it going deeper into my shoulder. The sorceress staggered back with the end of my sword buried deep into her, she fell up the steps to her thrown and collapsed into a lifeless heap, her hands outstretched towards the thrown.
I looked over towards the blade embedded into my shoulder and watched as it faded and disappeared, clutching my shoulder I stood up, blood seeping through my fingertips, I walked over to Quistis, she lay there still but slowly I saw her leg move and she made a soft groan, I began to run over to her and dropped to my knees as I reached her, thoughts of my wound long since forgotten,
“Quistis? Quistis!”
She rolled over and opened her eyes, shielding them from the light as she did as her eyes adjusted to the light in the room,
“………you came…..it wasn’t a dream.”
“Take it easy, rest.”
“……..thank you.”
I took off
I reached over and picked up my SeeD jacket , it was tattered and torn but I slung it over Quistis’s shoulders anyways as she sat up, she nuzzled into it,
“Can you stand?”
I helped Quistis to her feet; her legs were shaky like a lamb finding its feet for the first time so I held her close to me, supporting her weight,
“Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“..Your…hurt”
Quistis looked over to my shoulder, seeing the blood soaking my shirt, turning it a deep red,
“It’s nothing, im fine, come on, lets get you home.”
She held my shoulder, pushing on it to stop the bleeding, we started to walk towards the stairs, I looked over at her and smiled,
“Nice dress by the way.”
Even thought it obviously hurt her she looked at me and smiled, kissing me softly on my cheek as I helped her down the stairs. As we stepped down the first step Squall stepped into view, standing over the body of the dead soldier he had been battling with, he looked up at Quistis and smiled,
“Welcome back.”
As we joined Squall the room began to shake, the stairs began to collapse behind us, we looked around, caught completely unawares,
“Let’s get out of here!”
“We’ll never make it.”
“Come on you two, move!”
We started to run as the room shook violently, collapsing around us. Suddenly there was a large explosion that almost knocked us off our feet, we looked up as the dust settled to see the shape of a Ragnarock emerging from the wall, the ramp slammed down,
“Get in!”
It was the voice of Selphie, beside her stood Irvine, Rinoa, Zell and Seifer, shouting for us to get aboard before the palace collapsed. Squall leapt onto the ramp and turned round holding his hand out, the Ragnarock began to move backwards,
“Come on, I can’t hold it.”
The voice of Selphie echoed through the loudspeakers, I threw Quistis into Squall arms and leapt through the air as the Ragnarock powered off, rubble falling all around us and bouncing off the ship’s hull. I grabbed Squall’s hand and he pulled me onto the ship, my legs thrashing in the air, trying to get grip to pull myself into the air,
“I got you!”
The ship powered into the air as the front bay door shut behind us, I knelt there for a moment, catching my breath, holding my shoulder,
“We’d better get you back home so someone can look at that.”
I looked up at Squall and smiled as he began to put a bandage my shoulder, the bandages soaking up the blood from the wound and stopping the bleeding. I looked over at Quistis, and then back at Squall,
“We won.”
“History determines the winner, but one thing I can say for certain, heroes really do exist, I’ve got one standing before me.”
Squall helped me up and we walked to the flight deck, the ship shaking as it powered into the air. As the lift rose to the flight deck I was met by the smiling faces of my friends. Rinoa ran over to Squall and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close; Squall rested his head on her shoulder, stroking her soft hair. Zell stepped up to Squall and congratulated him,
“You did it Squall.”
Squall shrugged and pointed to me, as I held Quistis in my arms,
“Wasn’t me, it was James over there.”
Quistis held her body close to me, burying her head on my chest. Seifer stood up and looked me up and down, I looked a mess, my clothes torn, burnt and blood soaked, my face scorched and covered in soot,
“Shit James you look like hell.”
“Thanks Seifer” I said sarcastically
“Hope you gave them hell.”
“Yeah I think we’ve seen the last of her.”
Rinoa let go of Squall and walked over to Quistis, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek, smiling at her friend,
“Welcome back girl.”
“Thanks Rinoa, you okay?”
“Yeah, it looks worse than it is.”
Rinoa smiled and rocked back and forth on her heels, grinning at Quistis. The moment was cut short as Selphie shouted us over,
“Hey guys look at this.”
She pointed out of the cockpit window; down below the island fortress erupted in a chain of explosions, sinking slowly into the sea it had come from. The structures around the island, engulfed in flames began to collapse, the castle in the centre disappearing in on itself as a cloud of rubble rose from it island. As the last of the island disappeared into the ocean the water bubbled and hissed, then slowly returned to normal as if nothing was ever there. Squall looked at Selphie,
“Let’s go home.”
The ship banked slowly and took up its place in the lead of a formation of Ragnarock, flying low over the sea, bound for home. It was over.

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Chapter 20: Casualty of Society.

I lay there in the infirmary, staring up at the ceiling. The wound to my shoulder was bad; I’d lost a lot of blood and blacked out just after the sorceress’s island collapsed into the sea. Id been in the infirmary for a couple of days, my nights haunted by replays of the things I’d seen in the castle, the twisted monsters, the pain and confusion and the battles, the sight of Quistis lying there my only consolation, I could still remember her face, the peaceful look upon it, a lock of her hair falling down over her face. I smiled to myself and opened my eyes. Around me were all sorts of strange machines, keeping me alive, I reached up and pulled the mask off my face, still feeling groggy. Besides me were my clothes draped over the chair, tattered and ripped from the battles I had fought. I reached over with much effort and pulled out my packet of cigarettes, I flicked open the top and looked inside, last one. I slid the last cigarette out and crumpled the packet up into a ball and threw it at the nearby rubbish bin. It bounced, hitting the rim before falling in. I looked down and lit my cigarette, breathing out watching the trail of smoke breeze out into the air. The movement had roused Quistis who lay asleep on a chair at the foot of my bed, her head resting on the bed. She rubbed her eyes and looked at me,
“Dr Kadowaki will kill you if she sees you smoking in here.”
“…I…think…im already …..dead.”
I managed to get out, staring up at the ceiling and taking another drag of the cigarette. I looked at the waking Quistis as she stretched,
“I always thought things like these would end up killing me, not a psychotic bitch with a sword.”
I laughed , coughing as I did, I was weak and I knew it but somehow the smile of Quistis lifted my spirits as I lay there watching her laugh, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. I slid myself up in my bed and looked around,
“How long have I been out?”
“A couple of days, it was touch and go for a while there.”
“You’re telling me.”
I reached over and pulled a needle out of my arm that was feeding a tube into me, then another, and another, pulling all the wires off my skin I sat there with the pads still stuck to me. Quistis looked horrified as I slung my legs out of bed and steadied myself, standing up,
“What are you doing?”
“Never was a big fan of hospitals, im getting out of here.”
“You need to rest!”
I looked at my cigarette still smoking in my mouth and slowly pulled it out. I stubbed it out on the nearby bedside table and threw the stub out of the window,
“I quit. Maybe ill live longer, now im getting the hell out of here, you going to help me or not?”
Quistis shook her head, looking at me standing there, pulling my jeans on and fastening up my belt. I sat on my bed and did up my trainers. I reached for my hockey shirt, only to be stopped by Quistis; she snatched it up ahead of me and held it up,
“Come on lets get out of here.”
I eased up my arms, holding them up above my head. The bandages wrapped around my waist and shoulder seemed to tighten, putting pressure on my wounds. I winced in pain; Quistis looked at me and helped me on with my shirt. I sat there on the bed for a moment before slowly standing up.
As I slid the curtain open on the cubicle I was me with the site of several garden Students and SeeDs all in beds , lined up along the wall, bandages soaked with blood, some had deep burns to the faces and arms, another seemed to be bandaged head to foot. The sound of groans of pain filled the room. Around one of the beds stood a group of SeeD, come to see their injured comrade. One of the SeeD leant over the bed and kissed her injured friend on the head before they began to walk towards the door. She was being consoled by her friend, tears flooding down her face. One of the doctors in the medical staff walked over to a SeeD lying on a bed, his eyes closed, motionless. Slowly the Dr picked up a chart from beside the bed before sliding the bed clothes over the SeeD’s head, the boy was dead. Even now, after her death the sorceress was still killing SeeD. It kind of made my wounds pale into nothingness I thought, although I was hurt I was going to walk out of this. I looked at Quistis who stood beside me, a sombre look on her face. I held onto her shoulder with my free arm, the other clutching my side. I pushed off and stood up on my own two feet. I was going to walk out of this place on my own terms, as it seemed to be with a lot of things in this world I wanted to do it my way, my terms.
I reached for my guns, slung in their holsters over a chair, and clipped them round my waist. Picked up the shattered remnants of my sword and looked at Quistis,
“Welcome home.”
We turned and walked towards the door of the infirmary, Dr Kadowaki came running up to us, her arms crossed, a look of disapproval written all over her face. Slowly her frown began to soften and she smiled at me standing there clutching my side, Quistis by my side. Neither of us knew what she was going to say. The Dr stepped to the side, letting us through,
“Go on you two get out of here.”

Balamb Garden had been a hive of activity for the past couple of days, while I lay in the infirmary, unbeknownst to me repairs were being undertaken all over garden. The once prefect hull of Garden pock marked from the impact of shells fired from the island. Machine gun fire and rocket craters had ripped through the hull in several places from an attack from the attacker’s assault craft, the last desperate attempt to turn the tide of the battle. In the Ragnarock hanger the remnants of a Ragnarock lay at the end of the landing bay, burnt out, almost beyond recognition, it had somehow managed to limp home but hadn’t survived, damaged beyond repair. For hours the thick black smoke from it had burned, as the jet fuel and ammunition had fed the flames. Now it stood a shadow of its former self. In the maintenance bays engineers and technicians worked frantically, one Ragnarock had its engine stripped out and lay out in front of it. New panels were being welded onto the craft, and the bullet shredded old panels lay in a heap, ever growing in the corner of the maintenance bay. We had lost three ships in total, we were lucky; other gardens had had their entire Ragnarock squadron decimated. Many didn’t even make it to the island, countless SeeD killed while still in the air. The wreckages left on that island as it sank into the sea.
The mood in garden was a mixed one, on one hand we had made it through the fight, and survived. Students cheered and laughed and joked with their friends as life began to return to normal and they walked to class. What really hit the flip side of this home to me was seeing a long Garden student walking alone, her head bowed. I remember as I walked past her with Quistis she looked up and around her, memories of her dead friends still fresh in her memory. They always used to walk to class together and now it was just her. I could only imagine how lonely she must have felt, her eyes still red from crying uncontrollably, her face cold and emotionless, she was all used up.

I’d been up and around for two days when rumours began to filter down that the Balamb Garden committee were planning a party to celebrate the victory. Not just in Balamb garden but in every other Garden around the world, Dieling City and Esther were due to host celebrations too, the homecoming of their triumphant soldiers, hero’s of the second sorceress war as it had now been dubbed. The entire world seemed as if it was celebrating, congratulating the survivors, honouring the fallen; remember in those who had made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The conflict had almost ripped the world apart into all out open conflict with the sorceress’s forces, almost.
As I stood on the second floor ops deck lost in my thoughts, trying to process and come to terms with it all I didn’t feel much like celebrating.
It was a warm spring day as we sat in Balamb harbour, the sun shone down on us; I could feel its warmth on my face. The sea was calm; looking almost like a pain of glass it was so still. Underneath its surface I could see fish swimming around in the ocean, chasing each other and looking for food, the brightly coloured seaweed and sea anemones swaying in the current. In the distance on the plains behind Balamb town I could make out the trees in the wood, blossoming, bright pink flowers sprouting all over their leafy canopy. The wind slowly blew the petals of fallen blossoms into the town and onto the surface of the sea.
All this beauty and I wasn’t paying attention to it, I leant against the side of the ops deck and looked out to the ocean, holding up the picture of my family. The smile on my mum and dads face as they looked at the camera, their arms around each other. The mischievous grin on Rachel’s face as she played with our dog Sam. Beck standing there, just about to go off to work, dressed in her uniform, her smile beaming back at the camera. And I stood there to one side, smiling back at the camera. I could still remember the day it was taken like yesterday. For the first time I thought back to what the sorceress had said, if it was true that this was my world only in some distant future then everyone I knew, my family, my friends, was dead, long ago. I wanted to see them all now more than ever. Though somehow I doubted that clicking my heels together three times and uttering ‘there’s no place like home’ would take me back to them.
I heard the door to the ops deck slide open behind me, I didn’t move, didn’t feel much like being sociable. I heard the metallic sound of footsteps behind me as the persons boots walked over the metal grating that covered the ops deck. I felt the presence of someone besides me. There was silence for ages, and then she finally spoke, in a soft voice,
“Nice family.”
I looked up to see Xu looking back at me,
“Thanks.”
I hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to ask Xu the next question,
“Any news on your parents?”
Xu didn’t let on but everyone knew that her parents lived in Dollet and were there at the time of the attack, Xu shook her head, as if trying to shake the thought out of her head, her eyes were getting red and tearful. Instinctively I reached out and rubbed her back as she stared out towards the ocean, across it the decimated ruin of her hometown,
“Hey, they’ll be fine, trust me, things have a way of working themselves out.”
“I don’t know.”
I stood up and turned to Xu,
“Okay answer me this, do you feel their still alive?”
“What?”
“Look deep inside yourself; do you feel they’re still alive?”
Xu hesitated for a moment,
“….yes”
A small smile appeared on her face, fleeting for a moment before she looked up at me,
“How about you? Squall told me what the sorceress had said.”
I looked back down at the picture in my hand and my St Christopher’s medal lying next to it in my palm,
“I….don’t know……..I think they’re alive somewhere. Sometime…….but I just don’t know anymore.”
“Do you feel it inside you?”
I looked up at Xu and smiled,
“Hey….that’s my line, but yeah I kind of do.”
Xu turned and started to walk to the door, she looked over her shoulder at me,
“Then they are.”

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Chapter 21: Golden Sunrises, Shattered Dreams, New Memories

The night of the party came, Balamb Garden moored in Balamb harbour was awash with lights. Students gossiped on their way to the Quad where the party was being held, all dressed in their SeeD uniforms and ball gowns. I stood in my room, watching them as they went through my window, I smiled to myself. The sky was clear, twinkling with stars, the moon shining, sending light dancing off the still, calm surface of the ocean, giving it an almost mystical quality.
All over Balamb town fireworks could be heard exploding as each and every family celebrated, flashes and crackles could be heard over the harbour.
I slid on my shirt over my bandages, for some reason they didn’t ache as they normally did. I guess because I was in such a good mood I didn’t really think about it, I was going to enjoy myself tonight, that much I was certain of. As I began to button my shirt there was a knock at the door,
“Yeah?”
Zell and Irvine walked in, dressed in their best suits. I suddenly felt a little underdressed, there I was in a black shirt, and my dark jeans with the chain hanging down from one of the pockets. I decided I didn’t care,
“Hey you do know its black tie tonight don’t you dude?”
I looked up at Zell as I did the last of my buttons up and reached over to my bed, I picked up a black tie and tied it round my neck , tucking it into my collar,
“Now I am in a black tie.”
Irvine laughed,
“Whatever, just hurry up so we can get to the party.”
“Yeah, im starving.” Replied Zell, rubbing his stomach
“Zell, you’re always hungry.”
“Point being?”
I took one last look in the mirror as I picked up the can of deodorant, hair; check, teeth; check. I reached under my shirt and sprayed the deodorant on. I looked myself up and down and pulled my shirt out of my trouser, perfect, I looked cool.
“Okay, let’s go.”
We turned and walked for the door; I stopped in the doorway, and ran back into my room, picking up my CD wallet before running back to the guys. We laughed and joked as we walked to the party, on the way we met Squall and Rinoa, arm in arm. She’d retrieved Squall from the library after much hassle, nearly getting the two of them thrown out of the library in the process. They told us about what had happened.

Squall stood in the library looking at the shelves, dressed in his suit, searching the spines of the books there for the one he wanted, “where is it, where is it?” he muttered to himself, “Ah, there we go.” He said pulling the book out of its place on the shelf. He glanced to where the book once stood to see an eye staring back at him from the other side of the bookcase, that beautiful brown eye looking intently into his with a whisp of jet black hair flopping over it.
Squall took a step back, surprised at first, “Boo!” Rinoa said sticking her head round the end of the bookcase smiling. She put her hands on her hips, frowning at Squall. She stood there dressed in her white gown, the same one she had worn the first day they had met, that dress meant a lot to the two of them. She giggled, wiping a whisp of hair from her face and putting it back into place. Angelo trotted round the end of the bookcase and sat beside Rinoa scratching his ear and panting.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding yourself is it!? Do you prefer a bunch of stuffy books to my company of something!? Well hmm!? Speak up Squall because buddy your in Biiiiiiiig trouble.”
Squall hung his head and put the book back on the shelf, he scuffed his feet on the floor, looking sorry for himself for a few moments, and then slowly looked up with a grin on his face to see Rinoa grinning back at him, swinging on her heels.
“Come here you! Ill show you whose company I prefer!”
He burst into a full charge down the length of the bookcase towards Rinoa who was taken aback, so was Angelo, he turned and scampered under a nearby table. Rinoa spun on her feet and started to run away, but didn’t get too far in the high heeled shoes she was wearing, only to be scooped up and spun around to face Squall. There she lay, in Squalls arms, staring into his eyes as he stared back. They moved closer and Rinoa wrapped her arms round Squalls neck, pulling his head closer and kissing him.
“Um…… s’cuse me Squall, Rinoa but this is a library and I think you’re interrupting some students study”
It was the girl with the pigtails that Zell liked. They both stopped and looked up to see the whole library staring at them. Squall put Rinoa down and they both started to laugh, Rinoa clutching her sides, Angelo emerged from under the table he’d been hiding under.
“Well so much for your help, a hell of a guard dog you were”
Rinoa joked to Angelo, who just sat down and wagged his tail.
“Hey Squall could we go to the party now? I’m starving and I’ve forgotten the last time I’ve danced with you.”
“Yeah I am hungry and I do eat thank you” Squall said
“(I need all the strength I can get to put up with you)”
He whispered as they walked away hand in hand towards the quad,
“HEY, no dessert for you mister for that comment!”
Rinoa pouted, he just grinned at her and she giggled as they walked off towards the quad.

“Okay Balamb garden you know why we’re here tonight lets party!”
Selphie screamed down the microphone to the crowd of students in front of her. The lights around the stage sprang into life, shining and flashing up into the very heavens, great streaks of light cut through the dark night’s sky, red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and all the colours of the rainbow. The strobe light began to flash and the lasers sprang into life painting all sorts of wonderful patterns onto the walls of Balamb Garden all around. Fireworks erupted, flying screaming into the air before exploding in a multicoloured orgy of sight and sound, crackling as the fragments burnt and fell to the ground disappearing as they did. The crowd began cheering as the band began to play, the sound system on the stage in the quad belting out the music, the bass shaking the very foundations of Balamb garden. This was going to be a night to remember.
All around the Quad students moved towards the dance floor, dancing with each other, laughing and joking. Moving their bodies to the beat of the bass guitar and drums and the lead guitarist thumped out the rhythm. Some students who weren’t dancing stood around in groups, talking, laughing and joking with each other, some students, including Zell stood by the buffet table, ramming hotdogs into their mouths after covering them with all sorts of sauces, and onions; the works. Couples walked hand in hand, looking into each others eyes as they walked into the quad and down the stairs, some walked down the secluded paths that led off from the quad , into the trees, a chance for them to be alone together, young love was everywhere. At the entrance to the quad just what this party was about, a makeshift memorial had been erected to remember those who couldn’t be there tonight, gone but not forgotten. The memorial was simple; a SeeD gunblade stuck into the soft earth of the Quad, draped over the handle was the jacket from a SeeD uniform. As students entered they would pause, looking at the memorial before throwing a spent shell casing into the tray that lay before the memorial, it was their custom. This party meant something different to each and every individual at that party, for some it was a celebration, for others it was a tribute, for some it was a wake.
I stood there with the others, Squall and Rinoa, wrapped in each others arms, Squall almost fearful to let go of Rinoa for a moment in case he were to lose her again. To be honest I didn’t blame him. Squall turned to me and took me to one side, I suddenly felt scared, scared of what he was about to say. He put his arm on my shoulder as Rinoa stood by him, stroking Angelo,
“I wanted to talk to you, it’s about the past.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It’s about what the sorceress said, about your world……and ours.”
“…..Its….. true isn’t it….. I am home.”
Squall hesitated for a moment as I looked on, he shifted nervously, I guess unsure even to himself whether or not to tell me the answer, was this world I was in now the future path of the earth? If so why had everything happened, monsters on the moon, magic, guardian forces, the lunar cry, everything. I looked at Squall and smiled, this seemed to ease his worries, as he said after some time,
“…..Yes.”
I closed my eyes and sighed,
“What happened?”
“……Nearest we can tell is it happened more than 4000 years ago……. a time of destruction and mayhem leading up to……… the first lunar cry……. it caught mankind completely unawares, monsters emerged on the moon and descended on to earth, killing and ….destroyed civilizations. …..The year 2005, we’re still looking into it…… we’ll know more when we get word from Laguna and Dr Odine.”
Home was 4000 years away, lost in the sands of time, it suddenly hit me that the picture of my family that I carried in my pocket was but a memory, I didn’t know how I got there, but the fact that really hit home was that everyone I knew was dead, my family, my friends, everyone, dead and buried a long time ago. Inside I was breaking, it felt like all my body was shutting down , going into shock, I couldn’t show weakness, not now , there’d be a time for that, outside I looked up at Squall, putting on a brave facade and smiled,
“I don’t look bad for a 4021 year old do I?”
I wanted to be alone, but I knew that if I was I would lose it and cry, uncontrollably, not the image a SeeD should have. I was just like them now, an orphan. But I wanted to go home, to a warm bed, a friendly smile and home cooked meals. I walked back to the party with Squall, never saying a word. My head swirling with thoughts, I looked up and smiled at the group as I returned to them, I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind, trying to blot them out; this wasn’t a time to be alone.
Irvine stood there, as ever trying to exude coolness. He looked over at the stage intently as Selphie disappeared backstage, organizing something to do with the event, and waiting for her to return as he flicked the brim of his cowboy hat back and took another sip of his drink. Zell returned from the snack table, a hotdog in each hand and a girl in each arm, it was the girl from the library, she looked completely different without her pigtails, her hair down , flowing over he evening dress. I looked around, scuffing my shoes on the floor, she wasn’t here yet. Seifer came walking up, Fuijin and Raijin in to, Fuijin was there in an evening dress too, her short hair tied back. Behind her stood Raijin in his tuxedo , he tugged at the bow tie, he obviously wasn’t a fan of dressing up, I looked down at what I was wearing, jeans and a shirt, maybe I wasn’t either I thought to myself. Seifer tapped me on my shoulder,
“Don’t worry, she’ll be here.”
“……yeah….im…not.”
My thoughts still swirling in my head, as I pushed my hand in my pocket and felt the photo of my family and my St Christopher’s medal.
“Oh please this is me you’re talking to; I don’t care what you intensions are.”
Seifer hesitated for a moment, shifting his feet,
“….if you break her heart, I’ll break you, got it.”
“Yeah.”
“Good, now let’s get you a drink.”
He grinned at me and wrapped his arm round my shoulder, handing me a glass of something, I looked at it, unsure if it was even safe to drink from the colour of it. I slowly took a drink, slamming the glass back, the ice cubes bouncing off the side, clanging as they did. It seemed to ease the pain somehow. I looked up as Selphie stepped forward onto the stage and stood by the microphone, clapping as the band finished their set,
“Okay Balamb Garden I hope everyone is having a good time!”
The crowd cheered and howled in agreement,
“Okay I want you to give a big round of applause for James, he’s got something he wants to share with you and I know its going to be good.”
All of a sudden a sea of faces seemed to swing in my direction, I scratched the back of my head slowly as Seifer backed away behind me, ‘coward’ I thought to myself. I took one step towards the stage and the crowd started clapping. As I climbed the stairs to the stage I clutched my CD wallet in my hand, fumbling around with it, god I was nervous. I looked around and Selphie pointed to a console that was being pushed forward from the back of the stage by two of the garden committee. I walked behind it and stood in front of a familiar looking site, a CD turntable. I’d got one of the Fisherman’s Horizon technicians to make it for me; I wanted to share my world with Balamb garden, and what better way to do it than through some thumping tunes. I opened the CD door and thumbed through my CD wallet, sliding out one of the albums, slamming it onto the holder and hitting play. I looked at the volume controls and turned them up; full volume. I picked up the headphones and slid them over my head, listening as the music cued up. A second later the guitar riff kicked in, the bass from the drums line and bass guitar pounding through the subs that lined the bottom of the stage, time to expose Balamb Garden to music, old world style, time for some Feeder;
“Love in, love out, find the feeling
Scream in, scream out, time for healing
You feel the moments gone too soon,
You're watching clouds come over you.

Torn in two,
You close your eyes for some place new,
Torn in two

And I feel it's going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
I'm waiting for your healing hand,
One touch could bring me round,
I feel we're going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
It's just the way I'm feeling

Glow in, burn out,
Lost the feeling
Bruise in, you bruise out,
Nurse the bleeding

Torn in two,
Each time we bruise

And I feel it's going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
I'm waiting for your healing hand,
One touch could bring me round,
I feel we're going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
It's just the way I'm feeling
Yeah yeah, it's just the way I'm feeling

Two different views,
As words confuse and break
I can't get out,
There's no way out of here,
I can't get clear.

Love in, love out
Find the feeling.

And I feel it's going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
I'm waiting for your healing hand,
One touch could bring me round,
I feel we're going down,
Ten feet below the ground,
It's just the way I'm feeling

Yeah, yeah, it's just the way I'm feeling.....”

Somehow that song always brought out the best in me, picked me up when I was down, made me feel good inside and at that point I couldn’t have felt more down, trying desperately not to show it. I slid one of the headphones to one side as the crowd started applauding. As the song finished I looked up from the decks and saw Quistis as she appeared at the entrance of the quad. All at once it seemed like that song had been written with her in mind. My hazy mind cleared into singular clarity when I saw Quistis, she eased my pain. She stood there on the top of the steps, looking around scanning the crowd for her friends. One of the Trepies appeared near her and started talking to her, trying to win the girl of his dreams over. I put down the headphones and started to walk off stage, transfixed by the site of Quistis. As I began to push my way through the crowd of faces I remember looking up at her, standing there, looking almost lost. There, in a beautiful peach evening gown, the ornate details of the flowers on her dress, butterflies flitting around them. Her hair was held up; a couple of long peach feathers could be seen behind her head, blowing softly in the evening breeze, holding her golden hair in. Her normally straight bangs curled into beautiful golden locks, they bounced and twisted as she turned her head, scanning the crowd, half listening to what the Trepie said to her as she politely nodded to him.
I walked up the steps to the entrance of the quad slowly, never once taking my eyes off her, as I reached halfway Quistis’s eyes swung round and locked one me, smiling softly she politely stopped the Trepie mid sentence and began to slowly walk towards me. My heart was pounding in my chest, butterflies in my stomach.
As we met on the steps I looked at her, trying to play it cool, but obviously failing miserably,
“You…..look…..amazing.”
I managed to stammer out; she smiled at me as I scratched the back of my head feeling self conscious. Quistis clasped her hands together in front of her, trying to avoid making eye contact with me as she smiled to herself, she lowered her head, one of her curly locks fell into her face, as she reached up to brush it back into place her hand was caught by mine, I slowly lowered it back to her side, then slowly brushed the golden curl to one side with my hand. I looked at her, she still had her head down, I reached out and slowly lifted her head, I remember her eyes shifting in her head, as she tried to avoid making eye contact with me, until it was impossible, my eyes locked onto her’s. I looked deep into her eyes, her deep sky blue eyes, suddenly there was a flash behind me as a fireworks display sprang into life. As I stared into Quistis’s eyes I could see the firework’s reflection glinting in her eyes, it was as if they were bewitched, I stared deeper and deeper into them, being swallowed whole by the deep black pupils, a smile gradually appearing around my face, a rush of blood to the heart and the swell of my chest with my heart, breaking through my ribcage, but not like before, not like in battle, this was different, warm, it felt so good, so tender.
I took Quistis’s hand and led her down the stairs to the envious glairs of the Trepies, I didn’t care about them. At that moment the only people in that world were Quistis and I. As we walked over to the others there were knowing smiles from Squall, Irvine and Zell, Selphie nudging Irvine’s side and giggling at us, it was kind of funny thinking about it, but at the time I didn’t care. I looked around, Seifer glancing over to Quistis, trying not to be seen while talking to Fuijin and Raijin giving and almost fatherly nod of approval to me. The band had stopped, they were taking their break before another set, I looked at Quistis who held my hand and smiled, pulling her towards the dance floor which was desolately quiet, students standing round the edge, talking, laughing and joking with each other, as I pulled Quistis towards the dance floor she dragged her feet, looking a little bit nervous, a few students looked up and nudged each other,
“Come on Quisty, let’s dance.”
“But……theres… no music.”
“Yes there is, close your eyes and listen.”
I closed my eyes as well as I held Quistis, the soft sound of the waves breaking on the hull of the Garden, the distant sound of fireworks crackling in the warm night air, the light breeze rustling the trees of the Quad. Slowly at first the guitar started to softly play on stage as the next song began, one I’d asked Selphie to play, one that was so apt for Quistis and I. I pulled her close, brushing her hair lightly as she rested her head on my shoulder, smiling contently to herself.
“When dreaming I'm guided to another world
Time and time again
At sunrise I fight to stay asleep
'Cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place
'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape
From the life I live when I'm awake
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
Come on, let's go there
Let's ask can we stay

Can you take me Higher
To a place where blind men see
Can you take me Higher
To a place with golden streets

Although I would like our world to change
It helps me to appreciate
Those nights and those dreams
But, my friend, I'd sacrifice all those nights
If I could make the Earth and my dreams the same
The only difference is
To let love replace all our hate
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
Come on, let's go there
Let's ask can we stay

Can you take me Higher
To a place where blind men see
Can you take me Higher
To a place with golden streets

So lets go there, lets go there,
Come on, lets go there
Lets ask can we stay

Up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first time
Set up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine
Set up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine

Can you take me Higher
To a place where blind men see
Can you take me Higher
To a place with golden streets

Can you take me Higher
To a place where blind men see
Can you take me Higher
To a place with golden streets”

As the song slowly subsided I stood there, the breeze softly blowing against our bodies as they moved together, the music still playing in our heads, swaying gently from side to side, with Quistis in my arms. I didn’t know when I would get home or indeed if I would and at that point in time I couldn’t have felt any more content with where I was, in Balamb garden, with my friends, holding the girl who had rescued me all those days ago from an angry barman in a Balamb café. I smiled to myself as I saw the first glints of daylight appear on the horizon, the sun would be rising in an hour. The sea glittered a golden colour, the waves flickering in the distance. Although memories of life back home flashed in and out of my mind, longing to be home I might have been but at that point in time, there, with Quistis, in Balamb Garden, I was home.

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