Kingdom Hearts Fan Fiction ❯ A Story ❯ A Story ( Chapter 1 )

A Story

 

Summary: Late one night, Squall gets an unexpected visitor into his office.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to Final Fantasy (any of them). Those rights belong to the good 'ol folks over at Square Enix…but, that doesn't mean I can't play with Squally boy and his friends for a while…

 

 

It was late. Roughly around one a.m. Squall still sat in his office behind his desk, back to the completely glass wall that at the moment looked out to the ocean. He scribbled his signature onto another document, this one enlisting the aid of several SeeDs to dispatch a resistance group, called LANDSLIDE, causing trouble near Dollet.

 

It was as he was reaching out to pick up another paper from the large stack in the “IN” box on his desk that he saw a slight motion in the shadows near the door. His left hand retracted as his right hand set the pen he was holding onto the desk and slid to his side, where his gunblade stood on its tip leaning against the desk. Squall stared hard at the shadow.

“Who are you?”

 

In a flash, narrow eyes seemed to materialize from the shadow and a pair of dark red irises stared him down. Squall sat perfectly still, unflinching in the face of a possible danger. As the eyes continued to stare, Squall became sure that the person they belonged to would make no move to speak, he spoke.

“How did you get in here?” Squall asked.

“Through the door,” a man's voice, dark and hardened, replied to him. Squall squinted his eyes, trying to see any sort of outline in the shadow. Curse his dislike of brightly lit places. But he was certain he hadn't heard the door open…and hadn't he locked it anyways?

“You were so involved in your work, I decided not to bother you until you'd finished,” the man said. This time, the shadows moved and the man stepped from them.

 

The man was tall, very tall, and skinny. His long, black hair hung freely off around his shoulders and behind him, the front part held back by a large red bandana. He wore a dark red cape-like cloth over his shoulders that had several buckles in the front and black pants and boots.

“My name is Vincent Valentine,” the man said, continuing his slow walk until he stood right before Squall's desk. Squall merely stared at him. Vincent continued to speak.

“And you are the owner of this spectacular place that trains many warriors.”

“No,” Squall said, shaking his head a little.

“No?” Vincent seemed confused.

“I run it, but, I don't own it.”

“…I see,” Vincent said, looking down at Squall.

 

Most of Vincent's face was hidden, but Squall could sense that the man was debating something in his thoughts.

“But, perhaps you can still help me.”

Squall let out a slow and silent breath, continuing to look into Vincent's eyes. His hand edged away from his gunblade and onto the desk top.

“Normally, clients have to make an appointment, but…I don't really see the point in that at the moment,” Squall said, motioning towards one of the chairs that sat off to the side of the front of his desk.

“Please, have a seat, Mister Valentine.”

 

Vincent seated himself.

“Now,” Squall began, leaning forward onto his elbows and clasping his hands together just before his face, effectively hiding his mouth, “how can I help you?”

“I'm looking for someone.”

“Someone?”

“Yes. A man named Cloud Strife.”

“Strife…” Squall repeated, skimming his memory, “doesn't sound familiar. I'll have an associate of mine search our files to see if there's any information on him. Is that all you need?”

“Yes,” Vincent said, standing and turning to leave.

“Where can I contact you at?” Squall asked. Vincent looked back at him, giving him an odd look.

“Should we find anything on this Cloud Strife…” Squall said matter-of-factly. Vincent continued to give him that odd look before turning and facing Squall.

“There is a small village, on an island near to the side of a large continent. I believe the people called the continent Galbadia. I don't know what the village was called.”

“Winhill, maybe?” Squall offered, it was the only village that he knew of near Galbadia. Vincent nodded, “possibly.” And he turned once again to go, this time, Squall made no attempt to stop him, looking back down at the stack of papers before him, figuring he should get back to work.

 

Squall looked up when he heard Vincent speak quietly.

“That sword…” Vincent stood as if frozen to the spot on which he stood. He was staring up at the normal wall that had the door that led from the office and to the elevator. Squall looked up at the area above the wall. A small smile played on his face.

“Big, isn't it?” He said, referring to the enormous sword that sat mounted on two heavy metal bars horizontally above the door. Squall continued, “several of my friends and myself accidentally wandered into the lair of a monster called the Omega Weapon. It used that blade as a weapon and my friends believed it would make a nice souvenir.”

 

Squall looked from the blade to Vincent and a thought came to him at the strange tension he felt in the air.

“Have you seen it before?” Squall asked. Vincent almost visibly stiffened, turning his head a little to look at Squall out of the corner of his eye.

“Yes.”

Squall was tempted to ask where from when Vincent didn't immediately follow with more words, but, Vincent cut him short as he resumed speaking.

“That sword belonged to Cloud,” he said simply, growing quiet again.

 

“That creature had to have been in that place for many years though…” Squall said, trailing off, hoping Vincent would take the bait. Vincent turned back completely. Squall wasn't sure, but, he thought he could see the slight squinting that happened to a person's eyes when they smiled happening to Vincent's.

“You're tired and my story is a long one. I will be back tomorrow night,” Vincent said, turning away again. “But,” he began, “before I go, tell me, what is your name?”

“Squall Leonhart.”

Vincent nodded and, without a further sound, was gone from Squall's office.

 

Squall sat quietly behind his desk, thinking on all that Vincent had said. Omega Weapon had been old when they'd beaten it and the creature had been adept at wielding the blade, so that must have meant that it had had time to increase it skill with the blade. That blade was supposed to have belonged to that guy named Cloud and Vincent had said he knew Cloud. Squall's mind jumped to many different possible scenarios in which Cloud and Vincent could have possibly known each other and how Omega Weapon and the blade would play into the equation, but, he kept coming back to one in particular. But, that couldn't be right. As far as their records went back, nothing of great significance had occurred before the Sorceress Wars…except for that one incident, which there wasn't much information on anyways, and that incident had occurred long before even the first Sorceress War.

 

But Vincent Valentine couldn't be more than twenty something years old, possibly in his early thirties. But, if Squall's guess was right, and just about everything he had assumed about Vincent Valentine's story was correct, than that would make the dark haired man over a thousand years old. But…that wasn't possible, was it? A monster might be able to live that long, but, a person?

 

Squall scribbled down the name that Vincent had given him on a sticky note and wrote a message to his secretary to see if they had any information on him. After making sure that his office door was locked, he stuck the sticky note to the screen of his secretary's computer, knowing that that would be the one place that the woman wouldn't miss it.

 

As Squall lay down in his bed that night, he couldn't help but feel a sort of anxiety at the prospect of hearing Vincent's story, the man actually seemed pretty interesting…and when was the last time he'd really been exited about anything…or even looking forward to anything? Quite a while…

And Squall let his thoughts drift as his eyes closed and he fell asleep.

 

But, little did Squall know, that night when Vincent was to tell his story was not to come so soon. For, when Squall awoke the next morning, it would not be to the sight of the sky when the sun had not yet even risen as it normally was when he woke. He would awaken to the sound of screams. Screams that would echo throughout Garden, waking all who slept and surprising all who didn't.

 

 

As his training had taught him long ago, Squall's reflexes kicked in at the second the scream had reached his ears. He sat up quickly and reached out for his gunblade, which lay safely in its case. After hurriedly pulling on his boots and jacket, Squall rushed out into the corridor and into the main hall, only to find the students and his comrades fighting against a foe that not even Squall himself had ever seen before.

 

These near completely black creatures crawled over the floor, some where small, shadow-like things that seemed to sink in and out of the floor. Others, slightly larger than the shadow-like things, wore pieces of armor and were putting up the most fight. There were even several dragon-looking creatures flying in the air, sending many groups of students running scared. Squall saw his most familiar allies standing nearly in a circle around a particularly large group of frightened students. Squall hacked his gunblade into several of the shadow creatures and made his way to stand with the circle.

 

He and his allies and students fought off the creatures for a long time, so long, Squall had given up keeping track of time, but, it had to have been several hours. Most of everyone else was already on their last leg, using up the very last of the energy stores they had. Most had run out of potions and other curative magic as well. And, one by one, his allies were picked off, until Squall was the only one left.

 

With one last swing, Squall sent himself stumbling, the creatures backed off, now wary of his blade, but retained the tight circle around him. Squall knelt to the ground with one knee, using his gunblade as support. As he listened, waiting for the end that he knew was to come; he heard a slight slacking of noise and looked up.

 

Above the rest of the creatures, one gigantic one was rising. This creature towered over the rest, its head seemed to be a mass of black tentacles wrapped around it. Its eyes, small, glowing yellow orbs, glared out from the tentacles. There was an enormous chunk missing from its midriff, peculiarly in the shape of a heart. Squall pondered on his observations even as he resigned himself to the inevitable. Not even the strongest SeeDs on Earth could defeat these things, even though they had defeated many more terrifying foes in the past. These creatures had no weakness, none he could find, anyways.

 

As Squall glared up at the undefeatable creature, the creature's yellow eyes seemed to only look back mockingly. It reached out an enormous claw-like hand and attempted to grab Squall. Squall nearly growled as he stood quickly and swiped his gunblade at the creature. The creature drew back but paused only for a moment before it attempted to grab Squall again, and, again, Squall struck out at it, forcing it back.

 

As it drew back this time, the creature seemed to contemplate something and Squall soon found himself having to find off both of the creature's claws. Squall dodged as one claw swiped at him, then dodged again as the other claw swiped, this time though, he found himself with his back against the hard wall of the hallway. As he braced himself against the wall, his eyes never leaving the creature, he thought. He had to find a way to win. All creatures' had their weakness, this one could be no different, or could it? No. It had to have a weakness…all he had to do was look…there had to be something…

 

And as Squall watched the creature slowly turning around, looking for any possible weak point, he heard a voice call out to him.

“Leonhart!”

Squall's head swiveled and he looked slightly past the creature. Running towards him was his long time rival and loosely termed `friend' Seifer Almasy. Seifer carried his personalized black gunblade, the Hyperion, as he charged toward the creature. Squall mustered his strength and lifted his gunblade again. He held it near eye level and moved his index finger so that it rested on the trigger or the gun section of his gunblade and fired.

 

The shots weren't enough to really injure the creature, but, they were enough to draw its attention, which had shifted to Seifer when he called out, back to Squall. The creature turned and lifted its claw again. Seifer jumped high and brought his gunblade crashing down, forcing it into the shoulder of the creature. The creature stumbled and fell back as Seifer landed on his feet near Squall.

 

The blonde walked quickly to Squall and the two stood side by side, gunblades raised.

“What the hell is this thing?”

“I don't know.”

“Think it could be one of Ultimecia's playthings?”

“I don't know.”

“You're really on the ball today, aren't you?”

“…” Seifer smirked at the brunette's reply, or lack of one. Squall wasn't in critical condition yet, but, he wasn't at his best either, and if this creature could take down the others and do this to Squall, Seifer wasn't sure just how much of a chance the two of them stood against it. Nevertheless, as the creature rose once more to its full height, Seifer took the lead and charged it down, swinging his gunblade in an arc at the creature's legs. Squall followed and jumped, swiping at one of the creature's claws. As he began to fall to the ground, the creature's other claw caught him around the middle with a swipe and sent him hurtling against the hallway wall.

 

“Squall!” Seifer called out, mildly worried at what the powerful blow had done. As Squall shook his head and pushed himself up into a sitting position, he looked up to see Seifer staring back at him, his attention on Squall and diverted from the creature.

The creature saw its opportunity and struck, sending one of its claw-like fingers straight through Seifer's back. Squall stared for a horrified second as Seifer's stomach opened and the creature's finger went through.

 

Squall stood quickly, anger burning deep inside of him. He snatched his gunblade up from the ground where it had fallen and charged the creature. As he ran, a golden aura surrounded him and a rush of adrenaline sent his heart pounding. As he reached the creature, he unleashed his limit break, quickly pushing past the limit of his strength and sending a flurry of steel reinforced strikes upon the creature. His boots touched the ground for only an instant and he was up in the air again, jumping as high as he dared to go, higher than the creature's head. He brought his gunblade up and higher in the air than himself and swung it down just as it had begun to glow a vibrant blue and sent it straight through the middle of the creature's body, slicing it in half.

 

Falling as the creature did, Squall did his best to land on his feet after releasing his finishing move. He fell to one knee and breathed heavily, wondering if this was the end of the creature, but, a low groan sent his thoughts of the creature flying and he stood and turned quickly, running over to where Seifer lay on the floor, having been thrown there by the creature.

 

As he neared, he slowed, seeing that no magic could heal the damage that had been done…even if he had had any to use in the first place. Seifer opened his eyes a little as the brunette neared, seeing the nearly blank expression on his face, he smirked as best he could. He known Squall long enough to recognize any change in the brunette's expressions, and the one he saw now was worry.

“No need to be so happy,” he said, placing a hand over the gaping wound in his stomach. “But, I guess you got it, didn't you?”

Squall made no movement, only looked down at his rival's face, the face he'd known since practically forever. Seifer smiled and closed his eyes. The silence that stood between them was something neither of them had never really understood, it was the only bond they'd ever really known between one another. Seifer had known it, that this was the way that things were just going to be, that he and the brunette would likely never be what he'd call `friends', but, he doubted that the socially inept SeeD commander had the same exact sentiments.

 

“Seifer…” Squall trailed off. Seifer opened his eyes and looked up into the stormy blue-grey ones of the brunette. Squall let the silence hang unbroken again, unsure of what to say. This was the end.

“Sheesh Leonhart, quit making me open my eyes, I'm dieing here,” Seifer said, smirk in place once again. Squall's eyes narrowed at the blonde's attempt to make light of his situation, but, then his expression softened a little as he realized just what Seifer's game was. The blonde knew he was going to die, and yet…he wouldn't be defeated by it.

 

Squall sat still, his lips pressed tightly together, unsure of what he could say. His eyes remained locked onto Seifer's face, where the blonde's eyes lay closed.

“Hey, Squall,” Seifer said, shaking him from his thoughts. Squall blinked and looked into Seifer's eyes, they were open now and staring straight at him.

“Listen, I'm sorry…for everything I did.”

“You don't have to say that,” Squall said simply.

“Just fricken' accept my apology, okay?! Hayne…” Seifer said, rolling his eyes. The one apology he ever gave the guy and all he did was say he didn't have to do it! Squall smiled a little and Seifer nearly did a double-take. He'd only seen Squall smile a couple of times and never had they been directly at him.

 

Seifer's breath hitched in his chest as he looked up at Squall. His vision clouded and became narrower. He felt his arms going numb then the numbness moved to encompass his entire body. Just as he closed his eyes slowly and opened them again, his heart nearly stopped. He opened his mouth, but, no voice came out. He lifted his hand and tried to point over Squall's shoulder.

 

Squall, not understanding what was happened, merely looked at Seifer for another moment before turning around quickly.

Behind him, without him noticing, the big black creature had risen again and stood towering over both of them. With one swipe, it sent Squall flying.

 

Squall pushed himself up after he landed with a hard thud on the floor. He looked immediately back to where Seifer lay. The creature loomed over him, staring right down at him with its yellow eyes and it raised it's claw. Squall cried out and began to run back to them but the creature finished its movements first, plunging its claw through Seifer again. The blonde didn't even scream, he couldn't. And Squall watched as the creature lifted Seifer, still impaled on its claw, up into the air. And then, before Squall's eyes, Seifer suddenly disappeared, as if into thin air and, in his place, in the hand of the creature, floated a red heart. Only one thought came to Squall's mind as he watched, Seifer's heart.

 

The creature quickly closed its hand around the heart and the heart vanished. Squall stood still, helpless. His gunblade lay past the creature, there was no way he could get to it. This was it, he thought as the creature descended upon him, this is the end.

 

And Squall was helpless as the creature closed all of its claw like fingers around him and lifted him into the air, but, he stared defiantly into the creature's eyes as he came to eye level with them.

 

The creature seemed to smirk as it squeezed its hand closed, crushing Squall within it. Squall gasped as the air was forced from his body, but tried his best not to let the pain show. He wouldn't give in. He would be like Seifer, dead, but, not defeated by it.

 

The creature squeezed harder, as if sensing the determination of Squall's will to live. And, at last, as Squall felt as though his very veins were about to explode, he heard a voice call out to him, much as Seifer's had, only this one seemed to come from somewhere further away, not even from the inside the hall itself, for it lacked the sort of echo that other voices always had when used in the hall.

“Darkness has descended upon your world.”

`Darkness?' Squall wondered, numbly absorbing the words the voice spoke.

“But this doesn't have to be the end for you…you can fight.”

 

Squall forced his eyes open into a squint from where they had closed at the force of the creature's hand around his body.

“Yes…” he gasped out through clenched teeth.

“Will you help us fight this darkness? To help the one that must ultimately defeat it in whatever way you can?”

“Yes,” Squall said, his head pounding as the creature squeezed tighter. He cried out and blackness veiled his eyes as he let out a final breath. And down he fell, down, into a blessed darkness, devoid of whatever feelings of pain he'd felt as he sank.