Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ FF8: Tales Of The Surly Knight ❯ Act III - Betrayal ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: All FF8 characters are courtesy of Squaresoft Enix

 

 

Tales of the Surly Knight

 

“O day untowardly turned!”

 

-Much Ado, Act III. iii. -

 

 

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ACT III

Betrayal

 

 

 

 

At Balamb Castle's Great Hall…

 

When the Queen left with Rinoa in tow, everyone stared at each other.

 

“What a mega-bummer! Seify-kun and Squally-kun are gonna get it now!”

 

“CALM”

 

“Fu's right, ya know? Seif Nii-san will think of somethin', ya know?”

 

“Yeah, like, `we're just beating the crap outta each other for fun, your Majesty'! Be real, Raiji-kun!”

 

“He, he, he! I bet'cha anything Hyperion n' Lionhart are gonna be exchanged for wood choppin' axes for rest of the week!”

 

“Oooh! They would both hate that!”

 

“UNNECESSARY”

 

“What'cha mean, Fu-chan?”

 

“What Fu-chan, like, means…is that Queen Edea didn't go out there to check on those two.” The archer looked at Fujin, “Like, isn't that so?”

 

“CORRECT”

 

“Hey, Irv! Since when, ya know?, d'you know what my Fu's thinking?”

 

Raijin stepped next to Fujin, and jealously laced his arm tightly around her waist. He didn't like it one bit that Irvine was able to interpret Fujin so accurately. Even though that flirting archer had hitched himself to Selphie-chan… He didn't like it one bit! Irvine just smirked. For once, he could feel virtuous that he had done nothing wrong…

 

“Raiji-kun, of what are ya accusin' my Irvy?”

 

“It's all right, darlin'…”

 

“YEOW-ouch! Aw, Fu! Why d'ya do that for, ya know?”

 

“IDIOT!”

 

Fujin took the opportunity to show her immediate circle of friends that concealed underneath her very feminine apparel, she was wearing a pair of very sturdy boots.

 

“Hey, Raij! You should be used to it by now, bro! Fu-chan has one wicked kick! Right?”

 

The silver haired girl nodded at Zell-kun in agreement. Irvine took the opportunity to explain his previous remark, and to exonerate himself before Raijin. It was not healthy to have that particular warrior mad at you…

 

“Lemme explain, Raij… Is not so much that I can read Fu-chan's thoughts, is more like we both observed the same thing: Queen Edea asked Rinoa-Hime to step out with her…”

 

“Oh, oh! I get it! I get it!”

 

Selphie smirked at the perplexity still so clearly shown on both Zell-kun's and Raiji-kun's faces, and decided to have some fun at their expense.

 

“Geez! It's gotta be all those pies you boys ate!” The girl shook her auburn head, “I knew all that eatin' couldn't be too good!”

 

She smiled sunnily at them when they both glared at her. Unrepentantly, she continued to needle them.

 

“What d'ya think, Fu-chan?”

 

“AGREED”

 

“Bwaah, Fu! Not you too, ya know!”

 

Irvine finally felt sorry for them and continued to elaborate, albeit with a bit of exasperation.

 

“You guys are, like so fucking thick headed! Think, dudes! Why would the Queen like, ask Rinoa-chan to go with her if all she wanted was like to go n' stop those two from fightin'?”

 

“Remember when we were kids? Queen Edea never, ever scolded us in front of other people…”

 

“Yeah, like, you're so right, darlin'. She never did. She always did it in private…and wow... like was she ever scary!”

 

“Nah! The scariest one's my Lady Ma!”

 

After a mere fraction of a second, everyone had to nod in agreement with Zell's statement. Lady Dincht was one very scary customer when she was mad at someone!

 

“Hi'ya guys! Has anyone seen Quistis-chan?”

 

The voice belonged to Lady Xu, who had just joined their group along with Baron Kiros Seagill. Sir Ward had remained behind to guard their king. Selphie, the eternal matchmaker, eyed the pair with intensely curious eyes.

 

“Xu Sensei, Sir Kiros…”

 

After curtseying prettily at the newly arrived couple, she explained Quistis situation.

 

“She was conscripted by Lady Ma to do kitchen duty! But now that you mention it, Xu Sensei... Onee-chan should've been down here by now!”

 

Xu was unable to hide her shudder at the words `kitchen duty'. When she was their age, she'd also been -forcefully- `apprenticed' to Lady Dincht... She tightened her grip on the Baron's arm, while he placed a soothing hand on top of hers. Selphie, still preoccupied with Quistis's unusual tardiness, for once did not pay attention to all the delightful happenings right in front of her nose. She started to scan the Great Hall for her friend. `Onee-chan hates being late! I just saw her in our chambers briefly before I left...'

 

“Woo! I wonder what could've possibly delayed her…”

 

Selphie had spoken her thoughts out loud, but her eyes were going around the hall as if unable to believe that someone who lived to be punctual like Quistis, could actually be late...

 

“She's not here Selph-chan.” Xu waved her other hand around, “So don't waste your efforts looking for her…”

 

“Well... Onee-chan was a bit dishevelled, and she did need a bath -desperately.”

 

Selphie said the last part was said under her breath, but Xu's sharp hearing caught it.

 

“Be that what it may! We all know Quistis-chan, unlike others...” Here Xu gave Selphie a very pointed look, which the latter completely ignored, “spends next to no time in front of the mirror, so...”

 

The smooth voice of the Baron interrupted the two girls.

 

“Lady Quistis is very easy to spot.”

 

Xu looked up into Kiros's amused expression and smiled.

 

“I've got to agree with Lord Seagill here! If Quistis-chan were here there'd be a whole bunch of knight mooning in her direction right now…”

 

“Hey, guys! There's Seify-kun!”

 

As if in unison, everyone turned to watch Seifer escort Queen Edea inside the Great-Hall in the direction of the three kings and their entourage. The whole lot of them were still to be found deep in conversation. By their mien, it seemed they were discussing very serious issues.

 

“Woo! What's wrong with him?”

 

“Yo! What did I tell ya? Wood choppin' duty!”

 

“SQUALL?”

 

“Fu's right, ya know? Where's Rinoa-Hime?”

 

“Man! Seif looks like he swallowed somethin'… like, real nasty!”

 

“Humph! Perhaps Her Majesty finally took him to task, that arrogant…”

 

“Ah… Lady Xu, such harsh words to be uttered by such a beautiful lady, and on such a worthy knight!”

 

Everyone's attention was momentarily distracted from Seifer when they witnessed a blush suffusing Xu's face. To her credit, she recovered quickly, and after glaring at her audience, she said to her attentive escort.

 

“Sir Kiros, let's return to King Laguna's side… Oh, and if you do see Quistis-chan before I do, please tell her I wanna talk to her…”

 

“Oh?”

 

And without saying more, Xu left.

 

“Aw! Xu Sensei is tooo mean! She knew I would be curious 'bout why she wants Onee-chan!”

 

The archer chuckled, “Man! Still, that blush was, like, priceless!”

 

“AGREE”

 

“Did'ya guys notice that Xu Sensei was armed to the teeth? Those bracelets looked wicked!”

 

“You mean like these Zelly-kun?”

 

To the martial artist's utter surprise, Selphie unclasped one of her innocent looking bracelets off, and deftly clicked on a hidden mechanism inside. Instantly, the band was secured into a sleek `C' shape throwing weapon with a series of very sharp points jutting out of its outer edge...

 

“This little toy's my own design! It can be thrown like my boomerang...”

 

“Hey, babe! You're like, the best!”

 

“NO Fucking way!”

 

Zell blue eyes were rounded like saucers.

 

“You should check out what I made for Onee-chan! Ask her when you see her, Zelly-kun!”

 

“Whoa! You chicks are armed to the teeth!”

 

“You only noticed that now, Sir Wuss?”

 

“Seifer, you asshole! Where'd ya spring from?”

 

“Tch, tch… If you're not more vigilant Zelly-boy, some goblin's gonna get ya real good!”

 

“Heh! I see that we're, like, all sorta wearing our weapons…party-like…”

 

Hyperion was strapped to the grey knight's lean hips in a very ornate sheath adorned with the traditional Almasy Fire-cross. Likewise, Irvine was wearing his Exeter blade on a very nice sheath decorated with the design of interwoven leaves so characteristic of the Kinneas crest. Seifer paid scant attention to what his friend was saying, because he was busy scanning the Great-Hall for a very familiar feminine figure, but she was nowhere to be found. Unconsciously, his eyes went to rest, albeit very briefly, on the oh-so-elegant figure that was animatedly conversing with Queen Edea. `So he's the new Duke of Dollet… Fucking masochist…'

 

Not wanting to dwell on why he was feeling so angry, he did what he'd originally intended to do before he got distracted by Sir Wuss's half-assed comment: to tell his people to be on the alert. When he and Sir Puberty had been out there doing their `sword practice', they'd both felt it. Something in the air felt wrong. `Meh! We could just be imaginin' things… Still it pays to be on the alert. I don't trust that littl' fucker Gluck, nor that smarmy brother of his, Östark…'

 

“Keep your peepers open, everyone.”

 

“Huh? Why?”

 

Zell had blurted out the question. Before Seifer could issue a sarcastic retort, Irvine decided hastily to interfere. He knew the grey knight liked pushing Zell's buttons, but somehow, this moment, Seifer had a particularly sour cast to his face. Whatever it was that the Queen had told him when they were outside, had not sat well on him…

 

“Well, like, you know, bein' on the alert makes you look…like, sexier?”

 

“Just be on your guard, Sir Wuss, an' don't go asking such dumbass questions!”

 

“WHY…YOU!”

 

“Zelly-kun! Isn't that Lady Anisha wavin' at ya?”

 

That was the name of the castle's apprentice archivist Zell was trying to romance. Selphie giggled when she witnessed Zell's anger at Seifer's remark evaporate, to be replaced by a look of extreme eagerness.

 

“Where is she, Selph-chan?”

 

“Over there… Yoo-hoo!”

 

She waved her hand in the direction of a group of young people standing to the side. One of them, a smallish girl with long dark hair waved back, while some of her friends giggled. Selphie beckoned the girl to come over.

 

“Wh-what're you doin' Selph-chan?”

 

“You like her, don't ya?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Well, nada! Spend some quality time with the lady then…”

 

Selphie grabbed Zell, and pushed him in the direction of the approaching girl.

 

“Hey, Irv! I'll give ya ten gold pieces to one he'll make a mess of things with that chick…”

 

“Seifer, you asshole! I'll show ya!”

 

Angry now, the warrior marched with determined steps towards the girl. They all watched with various degrees of curiosity and amusement as Zell bowed to the now flustered Lady Anisha while clumsily grabbing her hand, and planting a loud smacking kiss on it.

 

“Humph! Elegant as always… That's Sir Wuss for ya!”

 

“Seif, man, like you did that on purpose…”

 

“Tch! Well, I didn't wanna hang aroun' here waitin' for him to make an ass of himself…!”

 

“Seify-kun! You're way too tricky for poor Zelly-kun!”

 

Zell caught their attention once again, as he marched triumphantly with the girl in arms towards one of the heavily laden tables. Seifer watched the couple, amused in spite of himself. `In typical Zell style, feed the lady to death...' He ignored the blatant come-on Lady... was sending his way, and scanned the hall again for Lady Disdain, but she was nowhere in sight.

 

“So where's milady Harpy…?”

 

“What's going on with Squally-kun…?”

 

Both Seifer and Selphie had spoken at the same time.

 

“She was doin' kitchen duty…”

 

“Out in the gardens with the princess…”

 

They had answered each other at the same time. Seifer bowed elegantly at Selphie, and said with a twinkle in his eyes.

 

“Ladies first. Specially ones wearing such sharp looking bracelets…”

 

Many people turned to stare at their group when both Irvine and Raijin let out a guffaw.

 

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Meanwhile, in Balamb Castle's Southeastern Towers…

 

`I suppose that's what I get for insisting on having our chambers overlooking the sea...' Quistis lifted her cumbersome skirts and hurried to the Great Hall, which was located on the northern part of the Castle, and thus very far from where she was right now. The Great Hall was connected to the Gatehouse and the Royal Stables on one side, and on the other it opened to the rose maze garden and the inner bailey. `Whatever could King Cid's ancestors be thinking when they built this monstrosity?' The fact was that to navigate from one end of the castle to the other was sometimes as difficult and as time consuming as trying to solve Queen Edea's Rose Maze.

 

Normally she was much faster than Selph-chan for getting ready, but tonight she reeked of roast and other kitchen smells that had clung persistently to her person, so she'd had to rush to the bathing chambers to give herself a thorough scrubbing. By the time she was done, the full moon was already high up in the sky. She hated tardiness! So she'd rushed through her toilette, not even bothering to neatly coil-up her hair as it would take up too much time, `I look a mess, but I don't wish to be later than I have to be!' Quistis didn't know it, but she was quite a sight to behold with her long hair streaming behind her back in a silken curtain of gold mixed with russet undertones. The simple blue velvet dress she wore fitted her willowy figure like a glove; her only ornament, a deceptively fragile looking filigree girdle. `I'm already so late!...'

 

She'd been unfortunately present when Lady Ma got into one of her sudden bouts of `ladyshipman-shipness', and had found herself drafted to do kitchen supervision duty as part of Lady Dincht's how-to-be-a-proper lady lesson series... Quistis sighed. Queen Edea had been present during the conscription, but that good lady had wisely kept her mouth shut. After all when Lady Ma sported that steely glint in her left eye, she was a major force to be reckoned with! Unsurprisingly, Selph-chan had been nowhere to be found. She definitely needed to have a little chat with that girl. How did she manage to make herself scarce? Quistis could swear that Selph-chan had developed a radar to detect Lady Dincht's more demanding moods!

 

As she reached the landing that interconnected their tower to the castle's inner battlements and the main keep, Quistis made a quick decision. She would be able to make it faster to the fête if she went through the ramparts... Once she got midway to the north tower, she would jump onto the covered watchpath, and into the gardens that led into the Great-Hall. `Hopefully no one will be there to spot my, uh, most “unladylike” behaviour...' It was worth a try... `It's been a while since I last used it...' She frowned, annoyed at herself. She knew why she hadn't used it! The shortcut was discovered by Seifer and herself when they were both little. Since they were both a year older than the rest, they'd been given freedom to explore the castle sooner. `Humph! I don't know what happened to make him into such a philanderer!' She purposely chose to ignore the fact that Irvine, of whom she was extremely fond, had been even worse than Seifer in that respect, before Selphie decided to reel that archer in...

 

Once in the battlements, she looked at the full moon. Although it was a warm night, for some reason she shivered... Had Queen Edea not asked a special favour from her, she would've made up an excuse to avoid the fête. She loved being with her friends, but she truly disliked all the unwanted attention she usually got in social gatherings, `I specially hate how Lady... fawns over Seifer! Hasn't she ever seen a knightbefore?' Of course, it annoyed her to no end how all that adulation fed Sir Surly's already overweening ego...

 

“Lady Quistis!”

 

She was spotted by another sentry. In what seemed to be like the nth time tonight, she did something she usually hated to do, she flashed the hapless soldier a blinding smile, reducing the poor man to a helpless puddle of drool, and winked at him.

 

“You didn't see me here tonight... Alright?”

 

“Yes, milady. Whatever you say...”

 

Not waiting to hear the end, Quistis picked up her voluminous skirts, and rushed in the direction of the northern tower. `So far, so good...' She knew the sentries would not snitch on her running all over the castle's parapet. `My, if Lady Dincht were to ever found out... I'd be in deep trouble!' Suddenly, Quistis felt very put upon! `This whole day ... I've barely had a moment for myself!' She almost hugged Xu Sensei when she interrupted Lord Deling's rather one sided conversation on what a great asset he was for King Caraway... That gentleman's regard had not been very avuncular at all! She was beginning to feel very uncomfortable in his presence when the Captain of the King's Guards showed up politely requesting Lord Deling's permission to kindly `relinquish' her company... The alacrity of her response, had made Xu Sensei look at her knowingly, but Quistis hadn't care, the relief she'd felt had been too great... After all, she couldn't dismiss Galbadia's Chief Royal Advisor in the same way she could a mere knight. To top off her horrendous day, Queen Edea had personally asked her to be particularly nice to Dollet's new duke!

 

Quistis looked furtively to the right and then to the left. She wanted to insure that no sentry would witness what she was about to do. The shock might be too big for them to keep their mouth shut... There was no one in sight. With an ease born out of long practise, even if it wasn't of recent, Quistis hiked up her skirts over her knees and clambered through the crenel of the battlement. Beneath her, at a much lower level was a covered watchpath. She dropped noiselessly onto it, and finding the secret landing spot that would hide her final landing, she jumped. `Bulls eye!' She thought with satisfaction as she stood up and shook off the dirt from her skirts.

 

“Tch, tch! Such unlady-like behaviour!”

 

At the sound of that sardonic voice, Quistis turned violently around to see the tall and powerful figure that detached itself from the shadows to stare down at her with a very familiar smirk.

 

“Seifer!”

 

The grey knight bowed mockingly, “The one and only... My Lady Disdain...”

 

“Humph! I've no time to play with you Sir Surly... What? Let go!”

 

When Seifer realized that Quistis was going to pass by him without bothering to stop, he grabbed her upper arm on a firm grip, and turned her to face him. Sea green eyes studied resentfully the stark beauty of the pale features illuminated by the moonlight. Quistis blushed when she saw that his gaze had strayed to the masses of hair now streaming unchecked all over her person, `So, I look a freaking mess, but does he have to make a point out of it?!?' She opened her mouth to tell him what she thought of his thorough inspection when he beat her to it.

 

“Well, well, my dear Lady Disdain… Did you get all dolled up for our esteemed Duke of Dollet?”

 

His lips were smiling, but his eyes did not reflect any amusement. Ignoring his weak attempt at being witty, Quistis frowned at him, and tried to shake his hand off her arm.

 

“That is my business, Sir Surly, not yours! And now, let go!”

 

Annoyed that she hadn't been able to free her arm from his grip, Quistis tried again. Only to freeze when his other hand delicately took a thick strand of golden hair, raising it to his face.

 

“Wh-what are you doing?”

 

Seifer buried his face in the silken stuff, inhaling the fragrant scent of blossoms. Mesmerized, Quistis could only stare. The masculine planes of his face were only partially illuminated by the bright moonlight. Her heart started to beat faster…

 

“Too bad you managed to wash off the smell of venison roast… The Duke is very partial to it.”

 

She blinked her eyes, but was rather proud of herself that none of her upset -No! It was irritation!- showed. She opened her mouth to issue a scathing retort, but she was interrupted by a loud shriek that rend the air with fear and anguish! And then another shout followed, and the clang of blades clashing.

 

“Seifer! The rose garden!”

 

“Dammit! What the fuck's goin' on?”

 

Seifer had already drawn-out Hyperion, and was running in the direction of the noise. He was about to turn, and tell Quistis to go inside and warn the others, when to his utmost irritation he found her running next to him! Her girdle? coiled securely in her hand.

 

“What the hell are you doin' Quis?”

 

She was startled at the sound of the name he used to call her with when they were both children.

 

“That was Squall's voice!”

 

“You're gonna fight with a fuckin' girdle?”

 

Seifer knew he was sounding like Sir Wuss now, but he couldn't help himself. She didn't bother to reply, she just let the `girdle' uncoil, and with a quick flick of her wrist a sturdy branch fell off a nearby bush.

 

“Titania's Wisp… Selphie-chan's invention.”

 

Grunting at her skill with the thing, Seifer nodded, but wrapped his free hand over her wrist nonetheless… She wasn't going to charge in there before he did! As they both turned around a corner…

 

“White goblins!”

 

“How did the littl' mother-fuckers get in here?”

 

“SQUALL!”

 

Without stopping, they both went to Squall's aid. Attacked from all sides by a swarm of white goblins, the dark knight looked seriously wounded, but the sound of friendly voices seemed to rally him up, and with one supreme effort he swung Lionhart once again taking down two more of the smelly pests before he fell himself. Hyperion's dark blade glinted wickedly in the moonlight, it's sharp blade soaking with blue goblin's blood. Quistis was standing next to the fallen knight, her whip cracking at any of the nasty creatures who dared approach them. The fireballs that sprung forth from her fingertips had already burned a few down.

 

“Cure!”

 

Suddenly, Squall was bathed by the green aura of Selphie's healing spell. Irvine, Zell, Raijin and Fujin had also come to join the fray, but there was nothing left for them to do. Seifer and Quistis had taken care of the remaining goblins. The pungent stink of white goblin blood overpowered the usually fragrant garden. Selphie shook her head sadly when she looking at the strewn bodies of the nasty creatures that marred and tainted the beauty of the rose gardens, but it was the sight of Squall's prone body that made the poor girl break down and cry.

 

“Aw, darlin'! Don't cry. We'll like, clean up the mess, ok?”

 

The tall archer enclosed his petite lady in a warm hug, letting her cry all over him.

 

“Ri-Rinoa!”

 

It had taken all of Squall's effort to say her name before falling back into a black sleep. Everyone looked around. The princess was nowhere to be found.

 

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Sometime earlier at a hidden cove near Raha Cape…

 

Seemingly innocent looking fishing boats loaded with what could be barrels of freshly caught fish were docking on a small secluded port. Apart from a few dock hands, the port was deserted. Everyone had gone home to prepare for the grand fête! Some would be attending to the festivities at the Castle, the rest would be carousing into morning at the main town square! Only old man Barley, the master of this particular dock and a workaholic, had remained to his everlasting misfortune. The feisty old one had given his attackers a good fight, but he'd been easily overpowered. Now, not even his bones remained. White goblins are known to like the taste of human flesh, even ones as old as Barley.

 

`The hidden cave was a very fortuitous discovery!' The best part of it was that it had come from the mouth of King Cid himself! What manner of a king was he? To blurt out such a state secret! `I could have the kingdom of Balamb on a silver platter! But, no. Patience! I've waited this long, I can wait some more… Fortune has indeed smiled upon me! This afternoon, I was given the perfect excuse to absent myself from the Castle and explore these caves. I wonder if Cid himself knows that these caves connect to the secondary wine cellar?'

 

“All the preparations have been completed!”

 

One the few humans there spoke. He was certainly an unsavoury looking customer, and although he was quite unconcerned at the look of utter disgust he was given, there was a certain amount of fear in his manner. He might not look or smell as nice, but like recognized like. Even one used to malice as he was… the evil emanating from this one was almost an overpowering thing. It was amazing to one such as he that those nobs couldn't sense it!

 

“The princess must be untouched.”

 

“She be drugged.”

 

“I will know the difference.”

 

The unsavoury looking character shuddered. He, who had murdered countless people and had faced death many times, was suddenly very afraid.

 

“It will be as you wish.”

 

Satisfied with the promise, the traitor watched as a large host of white goblins with their various human commanders file deep into the cave to start their march into the secondary royal cellars at Balamb Castle, where they would be waiting for the signal to attack. `This should be quite a coup, right in front of that witch's nose and her bloody knights!… Ah, Queen Edea! Yours is not the only great power left in the world…' Once in the open field, the figure took out a ring and once again wore it in its middle finger. Thusly disguised, the traitor returned to the Castle to prepare for the fête. `After the princess, I will deal personally with Lady Fujin…'

 

 

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Aftermath, inside Balamb Castle…

 

“How the hell did those things creep into the Castle?”

 

“Can you pipe it down Zelly-kun? You're, like, not helping*…”

 

Selphie did her best to calm Zell down, but being as equally disturbed, she was finding it very hard to say the right things. She watched Zell restless pacing from the chimney to the door and back again. Not only had Rinoa-Hime been kidnapped, but Queen Edea had to be taken to her chambers because she'd suffered a sudden collapse! Had it not been for Lord Dollet and King Laguna, who had both been standing next to her, she would've fallen to the floor and seriously hurt herself! Trying very hard not to break down again, she stared at Squall's still figure, lying supine on the makeshift bed that had been set up for him in the Queen's antechamber. Although his various wounds -which had proven to be quite superficial- were tended, nothing anyone did worked to bring him back.

 

The doors to the Queen's chambers were opened and the stooped gnarled figure of the Shumi Elder stepped out with King Cid. Zell had stopped his pacing. It was very hard to read the venerable Elder's face, but one glance at the King's was more than enough to depress everyone present. With one hand still entwined in Squall's cold one, Selphie stood half-up to inquire anxiously.

 

“Shumi-dono, the Quee…?”

 

She didn't finish, the Shumi Elder shook his head at her. Selphie bit her lip. She was not a cry baby! She was NOT! When she spotted the arrival of the Shumi Elder by airship she'd been so full of hope! The Shumis were master healers! And the Shumi Elder…Well, he'd been Queen Edea's Sensei! The master healer placed his large hand on Squall's face, and whispered some words that were unintelligible to Selphie. A slight yellow glow covered the knight only to fade as quickly. The Elder examined the bandages and nodded.

 

“Lady Dincht did a very good job on this boy. His wounds will heal well.”

 

“Shumi-dono, when will Squall-kun wake?”

 

When Selphie felt King Cid's hand on her shoulder and looked up to see the sadness so clearly written on his face, she was unable to help herself. Tears just formed in her eyes and started to roll down her cheeks. She looked at Zelly-kun and knew from the way his hands fisted tightly that he was also doing his best not to break down.

 

“Sh-Shumi…”

 

“Do not despair, child. The situation is dire, but not devoid of hope.”

 

The Elder had been addressing the king as well.

 

“Both Edea and this child are strong of spirit. Even as I speak, they are fighting the black spell. Do not lose hope.”

 

With those simple words the Elder left the room with King Cid, but he had somehow managed to make everyone feel better. Selphie wiped the tears off her face. The Queen and Squall would make it through! They had to! She noticed that Zell had left the room, `Probably to relieve either Fujin or Raijin.' Since both she and Zell were already on the alert inside, they had been guarding the entrance to the Queen's antechamber. Even though Fujin was still wearing skirts, her wicked Kaiken blades, Pandemonia, were well within sight. Raijin had Quetzalcoatl, his enormous halberd, in full attention ready to skewer and maim anything suspicious. Was it only a few hours ago that Raij-kun said…

 

…

 

“Seif Nii-san's not here, so's up to me to fulfil his duty to guard the Queen, ya know?”

 

“GUARD.”

 

Irvine heard the sadness and regret in their voices. They echoed the way all of them were feeling at the moment.

 

“Yeah, Zell n' I will come an' relieve ya two in a couple of hours.”

 

“AGREED”

 

The powerful warrior just nodded his head, and stood in full alert guarding the doors to the Queen's antechamber. King Cid was in the war-room conferring with Kings Caraway and Laguna. The Duke of Dollet had been asked to participate since his lands were so close to Gluck's domains.

 

“Oooh! This is just… Such a super-duper mega-bummer!”

 

Selphie looked at her special bracelets with disgust.

 

“What's the point of having created such cool jewelry if I can't even use it to defend my sovereign!”

 

“Don't blame yoursel' darlin', like, we were all there and it was already too late!”

 

“Oooh! Hadn't been `cuz Onee-chan took a short cut n' Seify-kun caught her, Squall-kun could be dead now! Or worse, eaten by those nasty things!”

 

Selphie's voice went up a couple of decibels with everything horrible thought she voiced.

 

“Baby, baby…like, calm down okay?”

 

The archer laid a soothing hand on his lady's back. It was not in Irvine's nature to become hysterical like Zell and Selphie, but he was majorly pissed.

 

“Irvy?”

 

“Hmn?”

 

“You think Onee-chan and Seify-kun will catch up with `em?”

 

Zell raised his head from where it'd been resting, on his hands, when he heard Selphie's question. His eyes were red from crying. Of the four, poor Zell was the most emotional... Irvine didn't know what to say. He'd thought it was rather rash of Quistis to race after the stray goblin (it had been playing dead!) deep into the rose maze… He'd only felt a fraction better when Seifer, swearing a blue streak, had picked-up and raced after Onee-chan. He knew them both to be very able fighters, but truly Quisty-nee-chan was wearing skirts and Seif had no armour on…

 

“I dunno, babe…”

 

That was the best answer he could give. He didn't want to upset Selph more than what she was, but things didn't look too good. With both Squall and Queen Edea bed ridden, suffering from some sort of weird malaise, their prospects didn't look too good… After insuring that Squall had been properly looked after, he and Raij had entered the rose maze trying desperately to track their friends down; however, the very magic nature of the maze which normally he would've found charming…had been their greatest enemy. All traces of goblin or human had been eradicated, but neither Quisty-chan nor Seifer had shown up at the entrance, as he and Raij had assumed… Nope, the situation was no good!

 

…

 

Irvine was still of the same opinion a few hours later. Mounted on Chibi-ko, his trusted chocobo, he scanned the coast for any signs of unusual activity. He had the best night vision in the entire castle… Xu Sensei had requested that he join their contingent of Choco-knights to help them scour the countryside. Sir Kiros had already left, leading his own people, and some of King Caraway's towards Rinaul Coast. They were all on the lookout for the kidnapped princess. Whoever or whatever had her, needed a means to escape the Isle of Balamb. An airship had been ruled out as a possible transport as they tended to be large, noisy and very easy to spot. Of course, Xu Sensei had also wanted to insure that there were no goblin armies lurking around.

 

“Sir Kinneas! Over here!”

 

One of his riders had found something… He was hoping it would be some sort of trail, anything to give them some sort of clue as to how and where those little fuckers had been able to infiltrate Balamb Castle. Irvine hadn't said it out loud, but he'd been mulling that undeniable fact for a while now. There was a traitor in their midst…

 

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

Drip

.

 

Drip

.

 

Drip

.

 

… Floating…

 

She was…floating?

Darkness

Buoyancy

Water

 

Water?

Why?

 

Drip…

 

Drip…

 

Where?

…Where am I?

I…

I can't feel my body…

 

Voices drifted in and out… `Edea' …Sensei-sama? `Edea!' …Cid? He sounded so desolate… Her poor Cid…

 

(Tch! He was always such a wuss, sister)

 

That voice… She recognized that voice! But…how?

 

(Oh, snap out of it! Living with a wuss must be infectious!

You have become one, sister!)

 

That voice… It sounds less… evil? I thought we had defeated you!

 

(Evil? Ha! So that's how you call it… You want to get rid of something, call it `evil'…)

 

Confused…

 

(Awww, Eedie-chan! Don't let Ulti-chan here confuse ya!
She's one big meanie!)

 

Another familiar voice… Freyja?

 

(That's me! The wonderful, beauteous, invincible…)

 

(Ha! If you were that, you wouldn't be here, dahling!)

 

Freyja! Wh-what are you doing with Ultimecia???

 

(Oh! You mean Ulti-chan? We're sorta got stuck together…)

 

(Humph! Not by choice)

 

Wh-WHERE AM I?

 

(Hard to explain. You are neither here, nor there…)

 

I'm in the place between life and death…

 

(Ha, ha, ha! You really crack me up Edea!)

 

(Pipe it down, Ulti-chan! Can't you see our sister here is majorly confused?)

 

(Freyja-chan, if you weren't a fellow sorceress…)

 

(We have no time! Eedie-chan, you're here by no accident.
In truth, you should be dead but `they' selfishly,

I should add, decided to spare you!)

 

Who are they?

 

(Dahling! Stop asking such silly questions, and just listen…
One of us…err…made a mistake)

 

(YOU made the mistake!)

 

(In any case, a ring was… lost)

 

(You should have destroyed it as they've asked you!

But, oh no! You had to put it on!)

 

(It was sooo pretty! And I missed having pretty things…
Good-looking slaves, good food… Oh! those were the days!)

 

Uh…What exactly do YOU want from me, Ultimecia? We defeated you, remember?

 

(Yeah…and all that blah, blah, blah…)

 

How can you take it so lightly? Do you know the great sacrifice it entailed?

 

(Oh, Eedie-chan! Let's move on! I've moved on…!
And thank you for taking care of my son…)

 

(Dahling! He's one handsome hunk of a boy!
I would like to lick him from top to bottom…)

 

(Ultimecia! You dirty ol' bag, keep your non-existent tongue away from my son!)

 

Ha, ha, ha!

 

(Eedie-chan! You always manage to surprise me! Why are YOU laughing?)

 

I believe Quisty-chan might have something to say on that matter!

 

(Laugh it up, sisters! But if not in this dimension,

I might get that dear boy in another…)

 

(Oooh! Just the thought of that makes me shudder!)

 

I hate being such a spoilsport, but you were

both saying something about a ring…?

 

(Ah, Sister! You were always so polite and proper!

This is no mere ring…)

 

(It's rather a ring of power, if you will… After Ulti-chan so carelessly `misplaced it'…)

 

( -Groan- Nag, nag… )

 

(…It fell into the wrong hands and has created a huge unbalance all over the place…)

 

(…They are in a snit about it! )

 

(You should know, Ulti-chan!)

 

(Oh, don't remind me!)

 

To the point, please!

 

(Eedie-chan! This ring can amplify or seal powers, that's how you ended here!

The person wearing the ring dampened your powers,

and you were able to sense nothing…)

 

(As it is, that dear boy, Squall-kun… so delightfully handsome too, was poisoned by a blade infused with the power of that ring, and sleeps now the black death…)

 

(If you don't get to him in time, he will remain like that…)

 

(Forever)

 

(And that poor child…)

 

(She's a fellow sorceress, Freyja-chan…

As such, she's intended as a sacrifice…)

 

What should I do?

 

(Here's the plan… … … )

.

.

Don't fail us…

Don't fail

fail

fail

fail

 

Drip

.

 

Drip

.

 

Drip

.

 

Darkness

and

then

light

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

o

|

o - o0o - o

|

o

 

End of Act III