Final fantasy VIII THE UNFORGIVING DARKNESS This is my first ever fan fiction, and I tried really hard. The idea just came into my head one night. I'm a true fan of final fantasy, I've shed tears when Aries died, put sweat and blood into training my characters and felt the true romance of Squall and Rinoa... So this is my contribution to the ultimate RPG series that is Final Fantasy, hope you like it! CHAPTER ONE : IN THE BEGINNING Its one year after the heroic triumph over Ultimecia and Squall Leonheart, now 18, is in the training centre of the new world garden as Balamb, Galbadia, Trabia and the new Esthar gardens have joined as one. Squall's skill has improved greatly since Ultimecia's defeat and he's learned some new impressive and devastating techniques. Squall is getting rather annoyed with the three T-rexaurs he's currently fighting... "ARGH! What a pain!" Squall roared violently Zell' rowdy as ever entered "Need some help buddy!" "Thanks..." He answered "ALL RIGHT!" Zell shouted "I'M GONNA KICK YOU'RE BIG DINO ASS BACK TO THE STONE AGE!" Zell said as he powered up for duel. "PUNCH RUSH" "MACH KICK" "DOLPHIN BLOW" "METEOR STRIKE" "MY FINAL HEAVEN!!!" Zell charged by his opponent, gathered tremendous speed, and charged through the centre of the first T-rexuar, causing it to die a painful death. "Yeah, yeah, YEAH!" Zell shouted before being blasted into the wall by the second of the T-rexaurs. Squall took charge. "This ones all mine, RENZOKUKEN!!!" Squall hit the second T-rexaur with eight hits, and finished it off with Lionheart. He charged his blade, thrashed his opponent into the air and hit twenty times causing certain death. The third T-rexaur, seeing how easily it's comrades fell to the awesome might of Squall and Zell, fled in terror. Squall and Zell fell to their knees, and their sweat fell to the ground. "Some workout" Zell said to Squall "You think so? I suppose it was all right..." "Anyway Squall, Rinoa was looking for ya and she said she'd meet you at the dorms." "Really?" "Yeah" "Well, I guess I better go to her then... What about you?" "I'm just gonna stay here and kick some ass" "Suit yourself. See you" "So long buddy! You be a good boy okay?" "Whatever...." Squall, leaving the training centre, spots Irvine approaching a group of girls. He stands and watches... "Come on girls, I'm a man and you're women so.... eh.... you get the idea, how about it?" "NOT A CHANCE IN HELL!" "IRVINE KINNEAS, YOU'RE THE LAST MAN I'D WANT TO THAT SORT OF THING WITH, THE VERY THOUGHT OF IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO AND WASH!" Squall erupted in laughter as the two girls walked away... "Hard luck, eh Irvine?" "What did I do wrong?" "It's the whole way you approach women" "Huh???" Irvine looked puzzled "Ahh forget it" "So Squall, where ya goin?" "To meet Rinoa" "So what's she like?" "Huh?" "You know.... what's SHE like... in bed" "What? That's my girl you're talking about!" "Oh come on... were both men... I thought we were pals?" "Well, if you must know, she's terrible" "Really!!!" "NO!! Sod off!" "Lucky bastard...." Squall laughed a little as Irvine walked away. As he walked to the dormitory entrance, he saw Quistus with her new band of SEED candidates.... "Quistus!" Squall shouted "Squall! Just a minute! ALL SEED CANDIDATES ONCE AROUND THE PARIMETER!" "Yes instructor!" they all shouted "Yes Squall?" Quistus asked "I just wanted to congratulate you for getting you're instructors licence back, I personally couldn't think of anyone better for the job" "Thanks... Squall" Her warm eyes looked up at him... "Squall...I...I..." "What is it Quistus? You can tell me" "No, I don't think I can... not you of all people" "What is it? If you don't tell me I'll worry" Quistus was looking at Squall with the same warm and inviting look.... "Please.... don't make this any harder for me" The candidates came round the corner into visibility.... "Squall...I have to go...goodbye" "QUISTUS!" She kept on running.... Squall knew that she was hiding something, and he worried for her.... He continued on to Rinoa's room.... Squall finally reached Rinoa's room. As he opened the door, Rinoa was standing, looking worried.... "Where have you BEEN?" "Sorry, Irvine caught me..." "Oh, you poor guy" Squall walked over to her smiling and embraced her in his arms... "Squall?" Rinoa said while rubbing his chest "Yeah Rinoa?" He said while running his fingers through her hair "Why don't we go out tonight? It's been a while" "Sure.... what do you have in mind?" "Well, now that there's the new facilities, we have lots to do" "Fine" "Yes! Meet me in the main hall at eleven!" "Eleven, that's after curfew!" "It's all right, I've talked to Cid and he says its fine. Hey did you know that Cid and Edea are thinking of leaving garden to start up the foster centre again?" "Headmaster Cid.... leaving?" "Yeah, isn't that nice, Cid is such a nice man!" "Hmm, any idea of who's taking over?" "I don't know.... Laguna maybe?" "Laguna? No way! World Garden would be a faint memory in seconds if Laguna took over!" "Anyway, shouldn't we just be concentrating on our date tonight?" "I guess you're right... see you at eleven... dress sexy" "You too.... Love you Squall" "Love you too Rinoa!" The two lovers spent a moment gazing into each others eyes before leaving to get ready" Squall, not having the faintest idea on how a guy dresses sexy, went to look for Irvine. He found him in the cafeteria with, yet again, another group of girls. "Oh Irvine, you're so SEXY!" "Really?" Irvine said "Of course not! Hahaha!" "WHY CANT I SCORE!?" "Hahaha! Irvine, you make me laugh more than my own girlfriend!" Squall teased "I cant help it ... is every girl in this garden tight?" "Rinoa isn't!" "I hate you Squall......." "Anyway, I'm going on a date with Rinoa tonight and she told me to dress sexy...the problem is...how exactly does a guy dress sexy?" "AHA! You don't know how to dress sexy, so you came to old sex god Irvine to show you how it's done!" "Keep dreamin..." "Yeah well I know you really love me..." "Shut up Irvine..." "Anyway, I'll let you borrow my stuff and give you some tips from the master...I'll turn you into a sex beast!" "Let's just get on with it then...." Squall and Irvine headed back to squall's dorm room... "Okay Squall... some tips..." "Oh, here he goes...." Squall said while putting his hand on his head. "Okay, rule number one, scrap you're personality. Act cool and show off whenever the opportunity arises." "Yeah... it really works for you...." "Yeah, and also... Heeeeey, were you being sarcastic!?" "NO! You think?" "Hmm.... I'll let it slide..." Squall let out a long sigh... "Squall, are you listening?" "Yeeeeah" "Okay, rule number two, act cool and show off... oh have I said this one already?" "You ask me if I'm listening, and you're not even listening to yourself!" "Hmm, let me think.... Nope, I guess I don't have any more tips..." Squall let out a sigh of relief and a smile, Irvine would finally shut up..... They finally reached Squall's room... Irvine sat on the bed and Squall leaned against the wall.... "Well, what now" Squall asked "Hmm, lets see... First take a shower, you gotta be clean!" "What will you do?" "I don't know... see what I can get for you to wear?" Squall was silent... Irvine spoke again... "What you think I'll peek? Don't make me SICK! SHOWER NOW!" "Geez, get a grip Irvine!" Squall went for a shower while Irvine scoured for clothes.... "Okay, what do we have?" Irvine walked by the bathroom door and shouted.... "Give us a song Squall!" "Irvine...please, I'm begging you... SHUT UP!" "Oh, come on, it was harmless fun! Lighten up a little!" Irvine went back into the room and prepared the clothes.... Squall came out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist and stood in front of Irvine.... "Well?" Squall asked "I've got a fine selection of clothes for ya!" " This ought to be fun...." "But first things first!" "What do you mean?" "You're hair!" "My hair.... Why, what's wrong with it?" "It's a mess!" "But... I like it the way it is!" "Trust me, I'm an expert" "Okay, but I think I'm going to regret this...." "Okay, I'll get the hair gel!" Irvine got the hair gel and returned to Squall.... "Right, how are we going to do this?" After half an hour of experimenting with styles, Irvine finally got one that he liked... "Ahh, perfect!" Squall's hair was slicked forward with a flick at the front.... "Hmm, I still prefer it the way it was...." "Oh, shut up, man! I'm trying my best!" Squall sighed.... "What now..." "Lets see... Go into the bathroom and put this on" "Irvine... this is a thong..." "So? It's clean!" "I wouldn't put this on if the fate of garden depended on it!" "But it's sexy" "No it's just disgusting" "Rinoa will like it...." "I highly, highly doubt that...." "Hey, come on.... There's no way I'm going to get you to wear it?" "Not a chance...." "Oh well, you'll just have to do what I do" "What's that?" "Go all day with nothing underneath you're trousers!" "WHAT!!!" "Hey it feels good, and besides, it gives quick and easy access to you're...(Cough)" "Irvine, do you get paid to talk dirty, you sure do it a lot!" "Are you going to do it?" Squall took a long pause... "(What should I do?) ........... Oh fine...." "Yes! Trust me, it works wonders in the bedroom department!" "Hey...we haven't...done it yet...." "Really? How come?" "I don't know... I don't think I'm ready yet..." "Hmmm, What about her?" "I don't know, we've gotten close more than a few times.... But she always finds a way to end the night...." "Are you worried... when the time comes?" "To tell the truth, I'm terrified...." "Don't be, you'll be fine" ".... I don't know..." "Anyway relax, man!" "Ha! I guess you're right!" "Okay, according to my calculations, we have three hours until the date" "Right" "Okay, wear you're normal trousers with my long coat" "You're coat?" "Yeah, just leave it open" "You sure?" "Of course, chicks dig muscular chests!" "All right" "Now, I don't do this for just anyone, but since you're my pal I'll let you borrow my cowboy boots" "Oh, I'm honoured...." "Yeah, you should be!" Squall dresses as Irvine wants him to, and stands in front of him for the final result... "So, how do I look?" "Oh, if I was gay I'd be all over you!" "No, come on, seriously...." Irvine talks in a girlish voice.... "Lookin good, handsome!" Squall becomes frustrated... "I knew I shouldn't have done this!" Irvine gets up and walks over to Squall and puts his hands on Squall's shoulders.... He then says in a calm and reassuring voice... "Seriously Squall, you look great. You're far too nervous, loosen up a little. You're going on a date with a beautiful girl, and above all, she loves you. Do you really think she'll hate you because of the way you look tonight?" Squall takes a long pause.... "...Thanks, Irvine. I needed that" "You just stay here and chill for a couple of hours, okay" "Okay.....you really are a friend...." Irvine leaves Squall to go to Rinoa's room... "He knocks on her door.... "Rinoa! It's Irvine, we need to talk!" She answers the door with an empty smile... "Oh...hi Irvine...." "Hey, what's wrong?" "About tonight...." "The date?" "Yeah" "Why?" "I'm not sure, what's going to happen, I mean, if we get close tonight...." "Oh, that, what's the problem?" Rinoa burst out.... "What's the problem! You don't know what its like when we get close.... I start to shiver, I sweat, I ... I ... I really do love him...." "I cant say I know how you feel, I'll never be as close to someone as you are to Squall......that's my curse....But you love each other too much for it to stop now! He's as embarrassed as you, believe me! When the time comes.... just go with the flow...you cant control you're emotions, they come naturally... if you love him as much as you say you do! Then you'll take the relationship one step further tonight!" "I....I....I just can't....." "Why not?" "I...haven't done it before...." "Squall hasn't either! I came over here myself to try and make good things happen! You and Squall are an item, and always will be!" "You think so?" "Of course! Now get dressed to kill, and show Squall how beautiful you really can be!" Rinoa, after a pause, smiled and spoke again... "I.. I can do this, its got to happen sometime right!" "Right!" "Okay, I'll try my hardest tonight" "You go girl!" Irvine walked out the door and spoke to himself in the deserted garden... "Phew! Irvine Kinneas, You're quite the matchmaker!. I'm counting on you two tonight...don't let me down..." He walked into the night feeling proud... END OF PART ONE LOOK FOR PART TWO THE PROMISE By Christopher Thomson