Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Something even the hero[es] fear[s] ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters (apart from the two cadets and the hideous creature). Squaresoft does.

Something even the hero fears
by konekomh

"What?" Cid knocked down the chair as he jumped from the news. "Do you know what you're talking about?"

The cadet shifted from foot to foot, not really at ease from the shocked volcano exploding in front of him. "Sir, this is urgent. I'm afraid you have to come to the cafeteria at once. They asked for Mrs. Kramer as well."

"Hon, this is serious." Edea placed her hand on Cid's shoulder, who nodded in consent. Immediately the headmaster straightened himself and took off to the scene, Edea closely behind.

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

It was a sunny afternoon. After a whole day's work out in the training centre, the Gang, so Selphie had labelled themselves, sat in the cafeteria together to chit chat.

Although not really being a social animal, Squall had stayed with them. Even when he was not admitting it out loud, the brunette had started to enjoy their company after the whole fiasco with Ultimecia.

"How about going to Balamb tonight? Ma's gonna bake some cookies. I'm sure she'd love to see you guys." Zell suddenly suggested out of the blue while munching away his 4th hotdog.

The Gang whopped with joy, immediately agreeing on the proposition. Squall looked at him quizzically. Where did that come from?

As if reading his thoughts, Zell swallowed the lump and continued, "I've talked to Ma yesterday over the phone. She said she wanna see you guys," he turned to regard the brunette as licked his fingers clean, "particularly you, Squall. Man, I think she really likes you. Sometimes it just makes me wonder if she wanna replace me with you."

Zell crossed his arms and mock-pouted to stress his point, yet it only made him look all the more comical

Squall frowned and blinked. You can't be serious, Zell. She would never want to replace you with anyone.

"Excuse me." A cadet fidgeted nervously in front of the gang, holding a pen and a small writing pad in front of him. "I'm trying to write something for my story. Ah… it's a hobby of mine… and I… I just want to know if there's anything that you fear?"

The Gang turned to look at the cadet. A bit confused.

"I'm sorry it might be a stupid question cuz you managed to defeat Ultimecia… oh… how silly of me… of course you won't have anything to fear? You're the bravest of all…"

He was thrown further looks of confusion, which make the cadet even more nervous.

"Eh… sorry… I've asked the wrong question. Maybe next time I'll ask you something more interesting." And the cadet scrambled away.

"Interesting kid. I was just about to tell him the fear of being dumped by a beautiful lady like the one sitting beside me." Irvine winked as Selphie turned tomato.

"What a way of swearing your undying love, Kinneas." Quistis commented. "I guess what I fear most could be the Trepies…"

"What, you mean your fans?" Zell asked unbelievably.

"Well, if you're being followed by stares and drools day and night then you would feel the same."

"I wonder if there's anything Squall fears…" Rinoa regarded her knight, "you seem so confident in everything."

"I suggest you'd better not talk about it, Rinoa." Irvine warned, suddenly all serious. He was backed up by nods around him, except for Squall who was still in the dark.

Irvine moved over the table and whispered into Rinoa's ear. "It'd be better if he forgets what he fears most. If I were you, I won't bring it up. It would upset him tremendously even if you mention it. The last time he was at it, Zell said he had virtually wiped out all living things in the training centre." Squall cocked his head to the side, couldn't quite understand why the air had suddenly gone serious.

Things that I fear? He looked around his friends. What would I fear?

"Hello? Ground to Squall, are you there?" Rinoa waved her hand in front of the brunette, who had apparently spaced out.

Squall blinked again and turned to Rinoa, who decided it would be best to change the subject. "We're going to Ma Dincht tonight. You ok with that?" Rinoa repeated the offer, which Squall accepted with a nod and an uncharacteristic "Hn."

"Great, we'll meet at the front gate at 5 then." Zell stood to leave, but then he froze in his motion as he saw something hideous approaching them. "Oh no."

Surprised by Zell's sudden comment, the Gang turned their heads towards where Zell's stare was directed.

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

"We have to be quick, Edea." Cid announced as he and Edea ran down the hallway at their top speed. "I don't want history to repeat itself."

Edea agreed with a boost of speed towards the cafeteria, her hair flying high in the air.

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

"Squall! Don't look and duck!" Irvine warned.

Too late. The thing had already spread its wings and took off in the air, aiming itself right at the brunette.

Quistis squeaked as it flew over her head and like a rocket dived straight to its destination.

Squall's baby blue eyes widened and turned lazar sharp. With the grace of a warrior he unsheathed his gunblade and held it in front of him in both hands, battle stance ready.

"Run, everyone! Go get Edea! Quick!" Zell evacuated the cafeteria as he cast Protect on the Gang.

Rinoa looked around. She was confused as her view was blocked by Irvine and Selphie sitting opposite her. But when she saw Squall's reaction, she took on the battle stance as well, ready to aid her knight.

It was not until the thing had landed on the table all hell broke loose.

With a war cry Squall slashed downwards towards his target, which with inhuman speed easily dodged away, leaving the table in complete wreckage.

It landed safely on the ground when suddenly sensing movement in the air, it sidestepped to avoid Quistis whip and then turned around and zoom away at full speed to avoid Irvine's bullet.

The thing stationed a few feet away from Squall, its tentacles wagging in the air, as if mocking the teenagers for not being able to destroy it. If anything could be smugger than Seifer, it would be this creature. It then moved to attack the hotdog that Zell had half finished.

"No!" Zell charged the creature and did a Heel Drop, hoping to crush this thing with all his possible might. Although Zell was not injured, it seemed they could now call upon their limit breaks more easily in desperate situations like this. A sickening splash was heard as Zell's foot landed.

Just as the blond was about to do his victory dance, he squatted down to avoid a bullet zooming right above his head. A few strands of his gravity defying bangs dropped to his feet as he turned to see smoke coming out from Squall's gunblade.

"What the…!" Zell's complain was cut off as he saw the look on Squall's face as the creature flew over to crush itself right into the brunette's stomach.

Squall screamed.

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

"Well, well… looks like the puberty boy has got himself into trouble." Entered Seifer, behind him was Selphie, who had gone to call for rescue. His smirk faltered when he saw Squall, and then the…

Without hesitation, Seifer fired a fira. The blast knocked the air out from the brunette, bringing him to his ass. The creature a few feet away as it stepped back from Squall just in time, untouched.

"Seifer, how could you!" Rinoa scolded the blond, who suddenly brought Rinoa down with him to the floor, marginally evading a thundra from Squall meant to blast the creature.

"Guess we'll have to do it the rough way. Come on, Chicken-wuss, let's do it."

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

When the headmaster and his wife arrived at the cafeteria, it had turned into a battleground. Most of the chairs and tables were broken into bit and pieces. Some of the wreckage was still burning while some had already turned into ashes.

"Oh, my…" Edea covered her mouth with one hand as she gasped from the scene in front of her. Cid had already moved to look for something useful.

At the back of the cafeteria were Seifer and Zell trying to hold back a hysteric Squall. Quistis was desperately trying to pry the gunblade off his hands while Rinoa was trying to subdue him with words of comfort. Irvine and Selphie were chasing the insect all around the place, in futile attempt to bring it down.

"Matron!" Relief covered their faces at the mention of their beloved surrogate mother.

Selphie darted towards Edea and reported, "Squall's at it again! He went all berserk the moment the cockroach showed up then… then it kissed him on the cheek!"

Edea nodded as Cid shoved her a Weapon Monthly rolled up and silently glided towards the unknowing insect still merrily munching the hotdog left on the floor.

*SMACK*

And the roach was flattened in split seconds.

Silence.

The cafeteria was covered in dead air so thick that only the humming of the air-conditioning could be heard. Then a timid voice small like a four-year-old broke the spell, "Is it gone, Matron?" It was Squall. Apparently he had sensed the danger gone.

"Yes, Squall. Matron had taken care of the monster. You can come out now." Edea spoke in a tone as if the brunette was still the crying kid in the orphanage. She reached out to pull him to his feet and dusted his clothes. "You have nothing to fear. Everyone's here for you. See?"

Squall looked around. Yeah… all his friends were there. They all looked worried and tired… and relieved that the cause of all evil was gone for good.

"Sorry." Squall suddenly found the floor fascinating when he noted the havoc he's just wreaked. He blushed while covering his face with his hand, really embarrassed. Commander of Balamb Garden, the one who destroyed the Sorceress Ultimecia, the one who could defeat a T-Rex single-handedly, the one who could throw away his life to save his love, went all berserk upon the sight of a six-legged flying insect. The brunette signed.

Squall was suddenly brought out from his embarrassment when he was tackled to the floor by Seifer, "I'm insulted, Puberty Boy. I didn't know that even a cockroach was more fearful than I am!" And he started to tickle the boy. The others joined in, making the brunette struggle in laughter.

Cid coughed and the teenagers sprang to position and saluted, panting and wheezing all the while.

"I'm aware that you're going to Balamb tonight? It seems it's about time to go or Ma Dincht's going to kill me for holding you here. Make sure you enjoy your time and don't come back till next month." The group did their victory dances and started for the exit.

"Wait!" Squall turned at the call of the headmaster. "Like it or not, I'm afraid I'll have to cut your pay for the damage, Squall."

"Whatever…"

Rinoa giggled by Squall's side as she piped in, "Just make sure he's not here when you disinfest the area, Sir."

"Rinoa!" Squall blushed.

"Let's go," the girl dragged him by his arm. "It's time to relax."

Yeah, I can relax. With you, he glance around him for his friends, I have nothing to fear anymore.

~ The End ~

Thanks for reading. See ya next time! ^_^