Final Fantasy VIII: A New Generation

[Omega OwA]

Kitere had made it passed several halls until he noticed most of the shooting had stopped. Perhaps the invasion had failed, or maybe it had gone on as planned. He moved forward looking up, only hearing thee splash of blood as he passed by. He hurried out to the bridge, though no one was there.

Guess I'm too late...

Kitere sheathed his sword and examined his surroundings. Shortly after, he saw a helicopter come down near the building. He stepped back as its rotor blades forced wind down to the ground. He squinted to see a figure just climbing in as it flew off.

Heading into the direction the helicpoter had lowered to, he found no one there once again. He could see open spaces in the blood on the floor, which meant someone else had just left.

Finally, Kitere walked out with many of the surviving students. They were informed to leave school grounds. They were safe, for the time being. Many people went inside to find any of their friends, teachers, or sibling's bodies. Nobody in there survived.

Each and every one of the surviving students slept recklessly. Many were still scared and some stunned by seing so many dead. Kitere heard whispering throughout the whole night about what was going to happen. The school was more than likely to be shut down until everything was cleared up and the problem had been resolved.

He decided to ignore all of this and sleep, for he was very tired and had stayed up in a bloodfest for hours. Kitere could hear the voices of instructors working out what to do next;he could have sworn one of them was Squall.

[Fehrant]

Selenia woke up surrounded by sheer darkness. Surprisingly, this place had a familiar feeling to it. Yes, she had been here in her dreams several times. Ever since that moment... ever since then she had been tormented by the unforgiving chains of her past.

"I know you are there!" She yelled. "Come out."

A mocking laughter replied to her call.

"I am unconscious, aren't I?" She asked the laughter.

"Yes, you are," replied the voice from the darkness. "Defeated. Shamed. Weak. How do you expect to beat me?" A couple of gigantic eyes opened in the air. They belonged to a face, but they were floating alone in the darkness. One was of a blue color, and the other of a grey color; just like Selenia's.

She made no reply, but looked into the intense eyes that stared critically.

"Didn't you vow revenge? What have you been doing these past years, but beat weaklings? Do you pretend to get stronger like that? Or have you become to comfortable in the school?" Laughter followed.

"Silence!!" Selenia shouted as the eyes dissipated into thin air. "My mind is my own. Get out of my thoughts. I'll get you eventually."

Everything became dark again. She heard some voices in the background. "The patient seems to be awakening," said a low voice.

"Selenia, can you hear me?" Asked a familiar sounding voice.

Her eyelids opened slowly. Natural light illuminated the place. Two blurry faces stared at her. "Where... am I?" Selenia inquired.

"The infirmary. The attack is over. You can rest," one of the blurry faces replied.

"Katherine...?" Selenia asked, recognizing the voice. Her vision adjusted, and her environment became clear. It was indeed Katherine and one of her assistants. Still dizzy, she tried to move her arms. The shoulder where the sword had pierced didn't hurt much, but her other arm still remained broken. She grunted at the realization.

"Please, don't move it too brusquely," Katherine warned. "We healed the wound in your shoulder, and we did much for your arm that was in a terrible state, yet it will take around a couple of days for the arm to be fully usable again. You'll have to bear it until it."

Selenia sat on the bed, despite Katherine's suggestion to rest. "I'll lay in my own room," she declared. Her eyes shot from one end of the room to the other. "Where are my belongings?" She got out of bed. A couple of students were also resting in beds nearby. They probably had done nothing and ended up here anyway, she thought condescending.

Katherine's assistant handed Selenia her coat, belts and swords. Katherine approached Selenia. "Tonight we are having a ceremony, to mourn for those that we lost, and also to award those who showed valor during these dire times. I am aware you are one of those, Selenia. I am hoping to see you there."

She glared at Katherine. "Like hell I'm attending a lame ceremony," she blurted as she bolted out the door.

Angered, Selenia headed straight to her room. Unluckily for her, someone was already waiting at her door. It was the cowardly boy from the newsletter. As soon as he spotted her, he became all energetic, and readied his notepad. "Selenia, is it true that you defea..."

Using her good arm, she stomped him against the wall, locking him in that position with the arm. Selenia's face and the student were only an inch away. "I don't care what you have to ask for your stupid newsletter," Selenia said between her teeth, "but why don't you go ahead and ran again with the tail between your legs?"

The student was speechless. Selenia's menacing eyes stared at him from so close, he felt scared. He started to think it might have not been a good idea to approach someone so dangerous. Worst of all, her words hurt. In the most crucial time for the institute, he had indeed ran for his life like a weakling, unable to do anything. He was a very intelligent person who excelled at several intellectual disciplines, but when it came to the physical terrain he was rather powerless.

Selenia released her locking arm. The newsletter student simply stood there, as her eyes gave him one last stare. She opened the door to her room, when he felt he needed to let go of the guilty that weighted him down. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "for being weaker than you. I... won't bother you anymore". She closed the door with no reply.

Inside the room, she hanged her trenchcoat, realizing she was probably going to have to sew the hole the sword had left. She dropped the belts with the katanas, took off her boots, and threw herself on the bed. She extended her arm, and stared at her open hand.

"Not yet," she said. "But one day, I will surpass you."

[cetra_aeris]

Sakuya had been out for a walk outside the garden at the time of the attack. She had come back to find many of the students and instructors outside. Surprised and confused she had asked around trying to figure out what was going on. The only thing the students seemed to be able to tell her though was that there was some sort of invasion.

She had even made an effort to ask some of the instructors outside, but had mearly been told to stay outside where it was safe. On that point she had found herself arguing with one of the instructors. She complained about being made to stay outside, unable to defend her home. She even went as far as called the instructor a coward, for which she had recieved a smack in the face. "Every instructor has a job, and some of us were sent out here to gaurd the students able to evacuate." he had said sternly. "Like you I would be inside, but I am fufilling my duty first. You should quit complaining and do the same."

At that she had mearly scoffed and walked away. She knew the instructor had been right. Especially now, as she walked around the remains of the garden. Blood was every where, bullet holes seemed to fill the walls. She found herself disgusted with what she saw, but she also found herself feeling a bit disapointed.

There was going to be a ceramony tonight, to honour the dead and those who had fought against the invasion. She siliently wished that she was one of the ones being honoured during that ceramony. Instead she would be on the sidelines watching others being acknowledged, cheering them on and congradulating them like all the other students.

But that part of her thoughts was smaller than the other ones that plagued her head. Now, she found herself staring at the wall in the library. The bookshelves had been pushed down and many if not all of the books lay scattered on the floor. Blood was here as well, the bodies of those that had been there already moved but that statement stayed to remind those of what had happened to them.

Once again she found herself being consumed by sadness and anger. She hadn't been at the garden long, but she had made a few friends. When it had come time for everyone to come back and find those that they knew, she had found two of her friends, lying still eyes open, dead. The had been in the hallway leading to the dormitory, as if they hadn't even had time to escape. Emily and Jessica, one from FH the other from Balamb, like her.

It also made her wonder, if she hadn't went on that walk when she did, would she be among the ranks of their friends that had fallen? She couldn't answer, and truthfully didn't want to answer. The thought scared, yes she admitted it, scared her. Infact it really quite terrified her.

With a sigh she turned from the Library and headed back to the Quad. Night was settling in and the ceramony would beheld soon. She had also heard that Headmaster Squall was back. There had been a happy reunion, followed by an arguement between him and Rinoa. She had been among the students laughing at the sight that had went on inside the Quad.

As she walked into the Quad another girl in a trenchcoat walked past her. She seemed agitated and she wondered why she was leaving the Quad this late. She shrugged inwardly, deciding it was none of her business anyway.

When she walked in a girl ran over to her with blonde hair, tied back in a braid. "Sakuya! there you are! Where were you? I've been looking all over." The girl said, her hands on her hips as if trying to lecture Sakuya. She laughed. "Sorry, Katie." she said, following her over to the other side of the Quad. "You'd better be! The ceramony's gonna start soon." She nodded and sat down on the floor, leaning her back against the wall. She listened absentmindly as her friend continued to talk, finding herself slowly drifting into a restless sleep.

[Caije]

"I'm fine, I'm okay." Resitch said. He decided to call back to timber where his friends where. he was talking to the only one he stayed in contact with. Claire.

"Caije-I mean, Resitch, When I heard it on the news, I expected the worst, I thought you were dead. "

"I'm okay, I swear, How's everyone back at home..." Caije asked her.

"Well Donnie was wounded yesterday, nothing too bad though," She replied.

"Okay, are you still hidden,?" He asked her.

"Yeah, I can't say where though, you understand don't you?

"Yeah, of course" He smiled.

"Well, I gotta go, Dad will be here soon, if he finds out I'm talking to you, He'll kill me" He heard her laughs.

"Tell seifer to go screw himself." Resitch laughed he never did like her dad.

"Bye Resitch." She gave a calm laugh.

"Bye," He said. He hung up the phone and fell onto his bed. All he wanted to do was sleep. he wanted to forget the pain. there would be a cermony he was informed by Quistis earlier. He didn't want to go, he didn't feel like going. He knew Garden wouldn't be open, not tommorow or the rest of the week at least.

Resitch got up, he began to look at pictures off his old friends, then he thought of how he ruined it all. He was taken away from his home, and the ones he loved.

[Storm]

The war appeared to be over. He sat in the corner of the quad, trying to wipe the blood from his face by looking at the smeared reflection in one of the vehicles. He looked rough. His hair was more messy than usual, and more of a dirty brown colour than its normal reddish tone. His eyes were red and puffy, from emotions and the smoke. His face pale, bruised and smeared with blood, some his own, much the blood of others, friend and foe. He had heard somebody talking of a ceremony to mourn the dead and to congradulate those who fought, but Lukas remained sat in the quad. He looked like a savage. Nobody would honour him, he looked like a monster that needed to be shot. He deserved no honour. He had killed people and let people die. Nobody cared about him, the few who did had most definatly of perished. The quad was already stinking, but he couldn't move. The war was over, yet he felt helpless. He always tried to take matters with no fear, yet he was a weak and worthless child. Nobody could see him in this state.

"Hey yeeew!" a quiet voice spoke up from aroundthe side of the vehicle. Lukas looked around. A small girl aged between 8 and 10 was standing there, looking at him. Lukas remained quiet. She couldn't of been talking to him. He looked back up, she was still looking at him, taking a few paces forwards.

"You don't remember me? You're the boy who helped me and i'm the girl you saved!"

Luke remembered. The young child he helped escape when he was with Resitch.
"No, I haven't forgotten. I'm just... surprised. Thats all.

The girl ran towards him, her arms tied around in the biggest hug her tiny body could manage. Lukas remained amazed. Somebody... cared about him.

"I thought you might of died. I am so happy you're alive!"

Lukas smiled, a tear falling down his cheek.
"I was worried too. Too much bad stuff has happened."

"You're crying? Is it because of all the blood on you? Are you hurt?"

"No...I'm... just really happy."

"I'm happy too, but i'm not crying. You don't need to cry about anything."

"I've seen too many terrible things, the happyness you just brang me... of course it'd make me cry. Thank you."

"No problem! You saved me afterall!"

The girl paused.

"Are you going to the ceremony?"

Lukas was about to say no, but he remembered. So many people had fought for garden. Many innocent lives, lost. It was the least he could do, to show respect to everyone. Also, Resitch may have made it out alive. Dead or alive, Lukas still owed a lot to him.

"I'm going."

"We can go together! Jasmine and..."

"...Luke"

"Jasmine and Luke! Lets get there early so we can get a good view."

Lukas smiled. "Let's go then Jasmine."

[Caije]

Selphies voice came onto the intercom that night. Resitch was amongst the many who listened to her long speech, he listened to her serious tone, the war had effect on the most passionate of spirits everyone suffered, Resitch wondered how was Lukas, or was Selenia, the girl who almost died to the boss of the Imperials.

"It has been, a very, hard day for each of us, all of us, at least know of somone who died, fighting for there home, amongst the death tolls, 42 people died, amongst them 11 seeD, 15 juniors, 3 instructors, and 13 seniors, have been confirmed, though hopes may be fading for others we must remember them, we must remember Dennis Watl, aged 11, Lisa ward, aged 10, Timothy Arc, age 19, Saol tarning, Aged 15, -"

Resitch sighed. He didn't want to hear anymore, but at every corner of the school there were intercoms. He couldn't escape the voice naming out all the death. He walked the hall's in the dead of night. He saw the garden staff cleaning the floors from stains of blood, in the Quad people had gathered, there was gonna be an assembly to remember the dead, remember the ones who fought. Selphie continued to read the names until the last one.

Resitch sighed with relief.

"Also, in other news, some of you may of heard ealier, Laguna Loire, passed away, Murdered, we do not know if it is releated with todays assault, but we are looking into it, we will keep you all informed, in the meantime school is out until next monday, Consider this as your midterm break, Good-night, remember, SeeD fight for the greater good, there will always be death,

The last part was spoken reluctantly, maybe Squall told her to say that, Resitch assumed at least anyways. He watched the students pour into the rememberance. He didn't want to join them, but he owed it to them, for the ones who died for him.

[Magi of Worlds]

All was quiet as Dante trudged back to his room in the Dorm area. He'd delivered Rinoa back safe and sound and had been thanked many times for it. Squall even offered to have him put down as one of the people who had fought for the Garden in the mourning thing they were gonna have. Dante wouldn't have any of it. He hadn't fought for the Garden. The few intruders he'd killed were because he'd been pissed off at them. Nothing more.

Many students who hadn't died were crying and many of thm were around him in the dorm halls. "Shut up you big babies!" Dante said using his sign language. But since none of them understood they wouldn't respond. When he finally made it to his room there was someone there. A tall man in cowboy clothes. He had a sawed off shotgun on his back. "Thanks young'un for saving Squall's girl" Irvine said to Dante.

Dante just brushed him off and went into his room. There he locked the door behind him and went over to the bed. It was covered in his blood which brought memories of the T-Rexuar flooding back to Dante. He sighed and layed down amidst the blood and fell asleep.

[Storm]

Two SeeD students entered the middle of the quad with trumpets. They stood still, playing a slow, mournful tune. Lukas hated the sound of trumpets, however at this occasion they sounded quite triumphant, yet at the same time deep and sad. Jasmine was clutching onto his hand as they watched two juniors place garlands in front of the trumpeters, then stood next to them. Lukas held her close next to him, feeling dutiful to protecting her, like an older brother looking after his younger sister. Selphie, followed by Quistis and Xu proceeded to the centre, followed by Zell, Irvine and finally Squall. The Quad was full with people. Many had already begun to cry.

Selphie stood forwards.
[color="Orange"]"It has been, a very, hard day for each of us, all of us, at least know of somone who died, fighting for there home, amongst the death tolls, 42 people died, amongst them 11 seeD, 15 juniors, 3 instructors, and 13 seniors, have been confirmed, though hopes may be fading for others we must remember them, we must remember Dennis Watl, aged 11, Lisa ward, aged 10,[/COLOUR]

"Dennis... Lisa..." Jasmine sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks as she snuggled into Lukas's body. He held her close to him, keeping a brave face. He hated seeing people cry, especially children.

"...Timothy Arc, age 19, Saol tarning, Aged 15, Ruth Indigo, Aged 14, Katlein Maddison, Aged 19..."

"Katelein... I think that was her..." Lukas sighed.

As the list carried on, more and more people were getting emotional, especially little Jasmine. Lukas was on edge himself, waiting for the name of a friend to appear.

"...And Martin Creek. May all these great people be honoured and rest in heaven."

To Lukas's relief, Resitch wasn't on the list. He must still be alive? He felt obliged to find him and appoligise, but he decided to stay watching the assembly out of respect, and for Jasmine's comfort.

As the assembly drew to a close after some words from Squall, students and instructors paid tribute to those who died. Lukas bent down next to the coffin of Katelein, putting his hand to his forhead and closing his eyes.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you. Please forgive my sin." He shook as a warm glowing feeling encircled his body. He couldn't tell if it was her spirit, although he was pretty sure it was. It felt as if the spirit was trying to calm him. He opened his eyes before slowly walking away to wait for Jasmine to finnish talking to her friends.

"Dennis.... Lisa... Why did you have to go and leave me? I... I am all alone. Please help me. I already miss you. I... I... love... you." Tears were streaming down her face, her breathing deep and harsh through pain. She ran over to Lukas, who picked her up, holding her in his arms. He barely knew this girl, but he knew he had to help her. She had lost the only people dear to her, and at such a young age. Lukas almost felt like crying himself.

"You aren't alone. You have... me. I'll be your big brother."

[Fehrant]

She practiced in her room for a couple of hours, trying to get used to fighting one-armed. She was practicing her quick draw technique. It was deadly, but speed was the essence. Thus, she had devised a system in which she would throw a piece of cloth in the air, and had to slash it before it hit the ground. Over and over, Selenia repeated the exact same process, until it was time for dinner.

It had been almost a day since the attack on the facility. The corpses were removed, friend or foe, and repairs were under way. Staff members took care of it all, with the help of students who volunteered. Students were expected to recover from the shock of the incident, so it was not mandatory to help with these tasks. However, many students had volunteered, and their help sped up the process.

After a hard day of labor, for some with little or no sleep, a ceremony was about to be held in the auditorium. Everyone took a break, and was invited to take part. The ceremony consisted in a series of speeches, mostly from the staff, naming those who had lost their lives, and also to award those students who, with their lives at stake, had performed notable deeds. This last part was done for two purposes: to bring little happiness amidst the overwhelming sadness, and also for students to have people to admire, and feel proud of.

The staff's speeches had commenced by the time Selenia was standing next to the vending machine try to choose dinner. To Selenia's displeasure, the speakers made it so everyone, no matter their location on campus, had to hear what was being said in the event.

Selphie was the first member of the staff to share some words. "It has been, a very, hard day for each of us, all of us, at least know of somone who died, fighting for there home, amongst the death tolls, 42 people died, amongst them 11 seeD, 15 juniors, 3 instructors, and 13 seniors, have been confirmed, though hopes may be fading for others we must remember them, we must remember Dennis Watl, aged 11, Lisa ward, aged 10, Timothy Arc, age 19, Saol tarning, Aged 15, -"

The list went on. Selenia, indifferent, tried to decide what was best for dinner in her mind. "I guess I could go with some chips, and sandwiches, or... oh, that's better!" She pressed B1, satisfied. A ramen cup dropped, and she picked it up. She had survived on ramen many a time. There were disposable chopsticks on top of the machine, and she picked a set. Nearby there was a water dispenser. She opened the lid of the ramen cup, and poured hot water into the cup until it covered the dry noodles. She closed the lid, and held it shut, as she waited the required amount of time for the noodles to prepare.

Selphie's speech was almost at its end. "Also, in other news, some of you may of heard ealier, Laguna Loire, passed away, Murdered, we do not know if it is releated with todays assault, but we are looking into it, we will keep you all informed, in the meantime school is out until next monday, Consider this as your midterm break, Good-night, remember, SeeD fight for the greater good, there will always be death."

After that, other members of the staff, even Squall, gave shorter, encouraging speeches. Selenia felt they were too cheesy, so her mind simply shut them off. Her ramen noodles were about ready, she decided, so she headed towards her room once again. Opening the windows, and staring out, she quietly enjoyed her meal.

After honoring the dead by remaining silent for a minute, finally the event moved into awarding its students. By then, Selenia was simply resting on her bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank mind. Her room did not have a TV, and was pretty much empty, when compared to other students. It did not have any posters, any mementos, any pictures... anything that would indicate someone was living there. Her purpose and motivations in life left aside such matters.

Her thoughts trailed far away before she realized it. A couple of students had already been named, and given a small medal as reward (OOC: You can add your character to this list if you want). They were invited to say a few words, but only a few did, and out of those, some cried. When the names were called, they were followed by applauses, some louder than others. However...

"Selenia Valgarn," announced the voice in the speakers. Only a handful of students clapped. The staff members looked at each other, realizing the sudden tension the name had arisen. As if to break the obviously uncomfortable atmosphere, and to hush the whispers of the students, the voice asked again. "Is Selenia Valgarn present?" No reply came, so they moved on with the next student.

Selenia's thoughts violently returned to reality. Her last name made her cringe her teeth. His face popped up in her mind. She opened her eyes widely, and sat on her bed brusquely. She looked at her katanas, and decided she was going to train more before going to bed tonight. Her sudden discomfort her last name had caused her fueled her will to not stand idle.

[Caije]

Resitch smiled as his name was called he gave a wave and then headed off to bed for the night before taking his medal of bravery off Zell. He slept silently, although when he woke up in the morning he had a large headache. He quickly reached in his drawer for a pill. He took the pill with a glass of water and sudenly remembered what happened yesterday, he sighed in depression.

School was out for the rest of the week, which gave him four days to slack off, he wanted to go to Timber but he knew Squall would forbid it, still it never hurt to ask him. He headed to the Headmasters office and knocked on his door. He waited for it to be open. Though it didn't. He opened it and over-heard a conversation between Rinoa and Squall who didn't seem to hear the Knock.

"Squall, Tell me!" Rinoa yelled at him. It seemed they were arguing.

"Fine! You want to know where I was, Fine!, I was at Timber with Seifer, Squall sighed.

"Seifer, Why!?"

"Because the Galbadians have got a Gf,...." He yelled at her this time. "Your little sorceress spell didn't work, they broke it!"

"But how!?-"

"Excuse me, Headmaster, Can I talk to you for a moment...?" Resitch asked.

"We'll finish this later...." She said coldly and took her leave, seconds passed before Squall spoke again.

"Resitch, you sure do have great timing, what can I do for you...."

"I uh, was wondering, If I could go home, To timber" He said nervous of what Squalls answer would be.

"No, Its too risky, I had to take alot of risks, alot, The Galbadian's are still on the hunt for you-"

"Its been two years they've long forgot me!" He yelled across Squall's voice.

"Even so! You move back to Timber you might die," Squall shouted in anger.

"Why do you care, You've never cared, since day one you wanted me out-"

"I didn't care until yesterday, Your smart! You knew what to do in a situation, yesterday you pulled an alarm, It saved many life's!,

"Even so, If I can't leave Balamb how am I supposed to be SeeD,"

"You can't!"

"But sir, I haven't been off this island, In two years I deserve to go out!"

"My Order is just, you don't like it, tough, take your leave and I'll hear no more of it...."He sat down.

Resitch took his leave and headed back to his room kicking down bins as he made his way there.

[Storm]

Lukas lay on his bed. He had recieved a medal of bravery from Zell, which he had pinned on his wall. He had never recieved an award for anything, exept for Balamb town spelling bees, where he was always picked on for his knowledge. He had had a shower and a long sleep, but now he was awake, meditating. His feelings had calmed as he lay relaxing, a CD of accoustic guitar and various other instruments was playing lightly, with the scent of lavender inscence filling the room. Around his bed were various crystals, which he felt soothing for his mind and spirit. The gentle melodies of the insturments and the sweet aromatic scent were cleansing him of his mental scars. The beatiful, sweet chords, the sharp banging of fury? What?! Whats all this racket?!

Lukas got up off his bed, walking out his dorm.

"HEY! SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO RELAX!!!"

The person causing the racket... Lukas automatically recognised him. A boy of a similar age to him, short black messy hair.

"...Resitch?"