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Disclaimer: 1

All Final fantasy characters and locations are the exclusive property of Square Enix and do not belong to me.

Every thing else is me and my friends.

Ch.4 Drake's Discovery, and the Final Test

Drake stood at the mouth of the "Fire Cave" waiting for Mr. Masters to show up. He had waited patently for about an hour now, and was starting to get nervous. He knew the test inside and out. He knew the times he had to beat to get on the list of the top three. But still Mr. Masters was late, he was never late. And this is what truly worried Drake.

Drake started pacing again not knowing what else to do. As he paced he once again went over the list of monsters that in habited the "Fire Cave" and how best to beat them as to get the best time possible. He was brought up short by the sound of his P.D.A going off.

Drake retrieved the accursed piece of equipment out of his pouch of holding, and brought up the activities menu. He had back to back urgent messages from "Z". Drake found a bolder to sit on before he started reading the messages, because it was hard telling what "Z" considered urgent. With great care Drake tapped the first message with a claw. He had discovered that his own claws worked just as well as the stylus in manipulating the menus and what not of the P.D.A, he just had to be really careful not to put his finger through the LCD screen. Drake scanned the first message.

Drake,

_ You will never guess what I just heard. According to Jon Oblisky "Big" John is missing and has been since earlier today. He was telling this to Johna in the café at about 1pm. Do you think that "X" has finally made his move? Let me know._

Hugs and kisses

_ "Z"_

Drake sat and stared at the message. "Big" John is missing huh. Then he remembered that there was a second message. Drake brought it up.

Drake,

Sorry I didn't send the other message right away but I was eating when I wrote it, but whatever. Johna is now missing. And this time there is evidence of a struggle. I guess there is extensive fire damage to her room. On top of that the place was totally trashed, and they found some really powerful sleeping potion in her toilet. The best any one can guess is that something she drank was spiked with a little of the potion and before she passed out she attacked whoever put it in her drink. This was at about 2pm.

I don't know Drake some thing aint adding up right. Let me know what you think.

Hugs and kisses

_ "Z"_

Drake didn't know what to say. This whole thing smacked of Xavier. But why use a sleeping potion. He could've easily over powered her, both magically and physically. Unless of course.... he was forced into a non-violent confrontation with her. But still she would've never willingly drank something laced with a sleeping potion. Drake thought about it and grinned.

"He had the potion in his mouth and kissed her. And while kissing her he transferred enough of the potion to her to knock her out, and spit the rest into the toilet as to not pass out himself." Drake said to himself

"This is gonna be a good story when he gets done."

Drakes mood brightened as he sat there and just imagined what transpired to force "X" to kiss Johna Raven.

PATH WAY LEADING TO THE "FIRE CAVE"

That was it. That is what Eric Masters had waited for. Drake finally loosened up. Eric hated sneaking about, but when he had first arrived at the "Fire Cave" Drake had looked ready to snap. Eric didn't want to take the young dragoon into the cave and have him snap at a critical moment. Eric made a note in his P.D.A to find out what Drake had received and thank the sender. Eric straightened up and brushed off his coat so that Drake wouldn't be able to tell that he had been hiding in the bushes.

Eric made his way into the open a few yards from where Drake had sat. Drake instantly jumped to his feet and saluted Eric. Eric made a showing of bringing out his P.D.A and taking notes. Eric noticed that Drake never dropped the salute. He just stood there tall and proud in his new armor.

"Nice armor Drake. Where did you get it?" Eric asked saluting Drake back.

"In town sir." Drake replied dropping the salute.

"I wasn't aware that Balamb had a shop that sold old plate mail armor."

"This ain't plate mail sir. It is Kevlar made to look like plate mail."

Eric looked at the armor closer. It was indeed Kevlar. As were the gauntlets, and the portion of his new boots that covered his knee caps.

"That must have cost a lot Drake."

"It did sir. About five month's wages."

Eric just looked at Drake. Obviously it meant a lot to the boy to dress like a traditional dragoon, or as close to one as possible.

"Well Drake, shall we." Eric said pointing to the cave mouth.

Drake looked at the Mouth of the cave in nervous anticipation.

"Yes sir, let us be on our way." Drake said feeling a lot better about the test.

"Before we start Drake you need to select a time that you think you can complete the test in. This is to test your ability to judge, and meet dead lines. The closer to 0:00:00 that you are when you finish the better the score you will get. How ever if you manage to complete the entire test in record time you will get full marks. Any questions."

Drake gave Mr. Masters a look like he was about to have an aneurism.

"Ten minutes, sir." Drake said.

Eric made a showing of marking the time down in his P.D.A.

"Sir, do you know the definition of an aneurism?"

"No Drake I do not and I do not think that it would be relevant now."

Drake hung his head. "I should have known better that to try to crack a joke now. Oh well let's get this shit done. I think that they are serving Chinese today anyway, got to get there early or miss out."

Drake reached into his pouch of holding and pulled all six feet of his spear out of it.

"Are you ready Drake?"

"Yes sir, I am ready."

"Good Drake, keep that focus. I will start the timer as soon as you enter the cave. Now go!"

Drake crouched low and charged into the Fire Cave trailing his spear behind him like his brother taught him.

Eric ran after him, only sparing enough of a glance behind him to confirm that he had seen the god awe fullest Hawaiian shirt ever.

"He's gonna wait till Drake is done to attack him. I think I will see how Drake handles the cave before telling him." Eric thought to himself.

WOODS BY THE CLEARING

"Good, by the time he is done with the test he will be tired. He'll be so tired that he won't be able to defend himself." Jon O said to no one but him self.

He sat down next to the tree he had hidden behind the entire time Drake had waited. Planning on how best to attack Drake. Pulling a pipe from his shirt pocket he lit it and took a deep drag. The pot in the pipe lulled him into pleasant thoughts of a grace full fight with Drake. He started to see odd colors in the surrounding woods. Reds were there should have been greens. Blues were there should have been browns. And gun-metal grey, were there should have been earth tones.

"Wow this is some good shit." Jon said taking another hit from the pipe.

All the sudden he was sucking air as a kunai shattered the glass pipe in his hand.

"Hey, that sucked." Jon said to no one as he got up brining his great sword with him.

"Drugs are a direct violation of Garden conduct." A voice said from nowhere, and every where at once.

"What the fuck?" Jon said as he held his sword ready and scanned the area around him.

"But some how you manage to stay apart of Garden. How is that Jon?"

"Dude, freaky voice guy, you have to get caught to get kicked out. And I always pass my wiz quizzes."

"Your luck sickens me Jon."

Jon looked up in time to dodge roll out-of-the-way. As Xavier landed were Jon had stood.

"Dude that was uncool. You were gonna attack me like that coward Drake." Jon said coming to his feet and brining his sword up between Xavier and himself.

"What is so cowardly about the way that Drake fights? That's the way all dragoons fight. It was created to bring down rogue dragons." Xavier said never making any attempt to guard himself from the huge sword between him and Jon.

"Further more early dragoons learned that they could adapt the style to ground combat. So being born a dragoon Drake decided to honor that by becoming a Dragoon Knight. So you see you, piece of human waste, you have taken it upon your self to blindly hate Drake because you refuse to understand him or his heritage."

Jon gave Xavier a funny look. "What the hell is he going on about? Hey, you bastard, you broke my favorite pipe."

"But we are getting off the point now aren't we. You helped attack me. Three on one. Now aint that mighty cowardly. So let us see how you fare one on one."

Xavier drew his gunblade from where he had it hanging between his pouch of holding and his thigh. With his right hand Xavier casually rested the blunt side of the blade on his right shoulder. He then got in to his fighting stance, and gestured with his left hand for Jon to "Just bring it".

THE INSIDE OF THE FIRE CAVE

Drake rushed head long through the Fire Cave, as if his life depended on it. The heat had all too quickly become unbearable. He could feel sweat cascading down the scales that lined his spine. But he pushed forward, as hard and as fast as he could.

The first few fights had been simple, a red bat, and a buel, nothing big or nasty. However Drake learned that unlike the rest of the instructors who ran back-up for the students during the test, Mr. Masters would not help him unless he was about to die.

So Drake pounded forward. He ignored the flowing lava and random gouts of flame as best he could. But it was hard. He soon found himself thinking that he was gonna consume a five gallon bucket of ice cream by himself yet today.

Drake made his way down the path to a fork. He stopped long enough to turn away from where he knew Ifrit would be waiting for him. Instead Drake took a side path were he hoped to find some more fights before he took on the King of Fire Demons. In front of Drake two red bats and one buel waited as if they were put there just for him.

"A test huh, then I must not disappoint." Drake thought to himself as he charged the monsters.

Just before he was with in the greatest distance he could swing his spear and still hit. Drake stabbed his spear into the ground and used his forward momentum and the spear to flip upside down and kick the two red bats. Then in mid-flight Drake gave a half spin that brought his spear out of the ground and slammed the blade home straight into the buel. Drake spun around to face Mr. Masters; he brought the butt of his spear to rest on the ground with an audible tap. With that tap all three monsters fell to the ground dead.

Drake noticed that Mr. Masters wasn't paying attention to him at all. He just stood there taking notes in his P.D.A.

"Oh well, I tried, might as well get back to it."

And with that Drake started back towards Eric Masters. But as his foot landed on the spot his spear had stuck in the ground, the floor gave way to Drakes weight.

It wasn't the most graceful of landings, but Drake landed on his feet.

"What in the hell is that."

Drake looked in front of him to see two men dressed in blatant military uniforms, standing over a third man who couldn't have been older than he, completely dressed in white. The guy in white was hog tied and unconscious.

"Who in the hell are you boy, and how did you find us?" One of the army guys yelled at Drake.

Drake didn't recognize the uniform so he reacted the only way he could in the current situation.

"Unhand the boy and leave the island of Balamb immediately. Or I, Drake Gryphonys SeeD candidate first class, will stop you." Drake said bringing his spear to bear.

The soldiers looked at each other and charged Drake.

WOODS

Xavier quickly dodged behind a near by tree, narrowly avoiding the falling tree he had been behind.

"Damn it, waist boy is tough. Tougher than I thought." Xavier thought to himself as he peered around the tree at Jon O who was inspecting the base of the tree he had just felled with his great sword.

"Dude "X" give it up, you can't touch me with your tiny gunblade. The stoner I am the bestest I fight." Jon O said trying to get Xavier to show himself.

Jon was right though. In a straight up fight Xavier couldn't get close enough to him. Jon's great sword was a good three and half, four feet longer than Xavier's three and a half-foot long, tip to hilt, gunblade.

Xavier tucked his gunblade back between his pouch of holding and leg as he thought of better ways to fight Jon. Xavier reached into his pouch and pulled out a small roll of what casually looked like little tags. Xavier undid the ribbon that held the roll together and pulled three tags off the roll. He hated using these because he didn't know how to make them.

Each tag had a whole bunch of different ninja glyphs on it. And when the right amount of chakra was applied to it the tag would ignite and then explode. Xavier didn't like using them because he didn't know how to make them. But he did know how to use them.

He placed three right on the tree he had hidden behind. He then affixed one each to three kunai. Tucking the loaded knives back on to his gauntlet he climbed the tree and jumped to the next one. This brought him behind Jon.

Xavier watched as Jon moved towards the tree. Carefully Xavier threw the first knife just behind Jon. He then carefully applied enough chakra to ignite the tag. Jon looked down in time to dive out of the way, bringing him closer to the tree.

Xavier through the second kunai, and ignited the tag on it at the same time. By the time Jon reacted to the air born knife it was a heart beat away from blowing up. So Jon did the only thing he could he dove behind the tree.

Xavier ignited the three tags on the tree as soon as Jon dove.

"Oh shit!"

Was the only thing Xavier heard as the three tags blew up. When the dust cleared Jon was laying on the forest floor wood chips and other debris lying every were around him. Amazingly the tree still stood, if barely.

The smell of burnt wood filled Jon's nose as he rolled over to get back up.

"That was really under handed and sneaky Xavier." Jon yelled getting to his feet. He then coughed a lot from all the smoke that still hung in the air. Xavier inhaled deeply. He found the smell quite pleasing.

"I thought you had more honor than that!"

"Oh that's good coming from you Jon."

Jon coughed some more. He than drew out his custom-made pin wheel and through it right at Xavier. Xavier cursed himself as he jumped out of the tree he had been hiding in. He knew he should not have responded to any thing Jon had just said. But now that his cover was blown it was time to act.

Jon easily caught the pin wheel on its' return. He then let it fly again as Xavier touched the ground. But just as quickly Xavier had a kunai air born, and the two throwing weapons collided in mid-air.

With a bellow Jon charged at Xavier, Great sword held high above his head. Xavier also ran at Jon, no weapons drawn. Jon gave a mighty swing of his sword hoping to catch Xavier right on top of his head. But Xavier jumped high over the swing. Jon looked and watched as Xavier Twisted and flipped end over end like a cat in mid-air.

Jon brought up his sword as he realized that Xavier was gonna through a kunai at him.

"Damn man, how many of those things does he have?"

Jon turned his sword so that the knife would deflect off the flat of the blade. But it didn't. Jon looked at the funny shaped knife that was now stuck in one of the handles he had put half way up the blade on both sides for better handling. Furious Jon looked up at the falling form of Xavier and made to swing at him.

As he started to fall Xavier drew his gun blade, but kept it at his side. He angled him self so that as he fell, he was falling in a head long rush straight at Jon. Jon ready him self to swing his sword like a baseball bat at Xavier, who was now falling head first right at him. Jon licked his lips.

Xavier ignited the tag. Then with blinding speed he swung his gunblade at the same spot that his kunai was sticking out of the handle on the great swords blade. With a bright flash and a deafening boom the knife exploded as the gunblade hit it. The joined forces of Jon's swing, Xavier's swing, and the blowing up kunai caused the great sword to shatter.

FIRE CAVE SECRET ROOM

Drake kept his eyes forward, never once taking them off of the two soldiers. He knew he was out numbered, and these two looked like seasoned professionals. Drake watched as one of them pulled a weird sword. It was as long as Jon's great sword, but as thin as a bastard sword. The other pulled out an odd looking rifle. It looked old, but smelled new. And it was covered in cloth strips.

The one with the sword charged Drake. A sloppy charge that he easily avoided. As sword guy went reeling Drake lunged at gun guy. Gun guy tried to draw a bead on Drake, but the dragoon was all over him like stink on shit. Five quick, successive blows had gun guy disarmed and on the end of Drakes spear. Drake then swung around one hundred and eighty degrease and launched gun guy at the recovering sword guy. Sword guy looked up and dropped his sword to catch gun guy. With all his might Drake hurled his spear at the two soldiers. Drake watched as his spear entered gun guys back, and exited Sword guys back pinning them to the wall.

Drake walked over to the pinned dead soldiers. Placing one foot on gun guy's ass for leverage, he gave a mighty pull and ripped his spear out. He then cleaned it off and tucked it in his pouch of holding. Drake then slowly made his way over to the young man on the ground.

Drake bent over the young man and cut the ropes that had his hands and feet bound. He then hauled him to his feet and tossed him over his shoulder. With a mighty leap Drake was out of the hole.

"Who is that Drake?" Mr. Masters asked as Drake landed.

"Don't know sir. But we have to go that little incident has killed my time."

"Yes let's go. You can tell me later what happened."

Drake took off to the fork still carrying the young man over his shoulder. As he rounded the corner that lead to Ifrit, Drake could start to see the outcropping that served as Ifrits platform.

Drake could clearly make out the round daïs of Ifrits little platform, and right in the middle was a large hole that lead to absolute nothingness. Drake sat the young man down on the Floor and approached the hole. As he approached a tremendous gout of flame erupted from the hole. Drake jumped back, not from fear, but the heat was tremendous.

"WHO DARES DISTURBE THE SANCTITY OF MY LAYER?"

Drake looked around quickly before realizing that the voice he had heard was in his head.

Drake spun back to the flame in time to witness Ifrit shoot out of it. With a great explosion, and more fire than Drake thought possible, Ifrit god of the fire demons landed heavily on the ground.

"PUNEY MORTAL. WAS IT YOU WHO VIOLATED THE SANCTITY OF MY LAIR?"

Drake had a hard time finding his voice. But when he did he answered.

"If I have violated your peace great Ifrit I am sorry. But I have been charged with the task of defeating you to prove my worth as a summoner. So I come to stand before you and do glorious battle to get your power."

Ifrit looked way down on Drake and laughed.

"YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN BEAT ME? AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH MY POWER ONCE YOU OBTAINED IT?"

Drake thought about the question for a moment.

"I would use it to protect man kind."

"YOU AMUSE ME MORTAL. COME, ATTACK ME. LET'S JUST SEE THE POWER OF YOUR CONVICTION."

Drake took his spear from his back and bowed to Ifrit. Then he got down in to his fighting stance, and jumped.

WOODS

Xavier ducked a punch from Jon, and delivered a knee strike to his mid section. He had tossed his gunblade aside after destroying Jon's great sword. He figured just to prove a point he would beat waist boy without any weapons, since Jon was now unarmed.

Jon picked himself up off the ground and charged Xavier again. Xavier used the boys own momentum to judo through him a good ten feet. Jon landed right next to his broken sword.

"I'm gonna kill you "X" if it the last thing I do." Jon said from the ground sucking air.

"Just bring it!"

Jon picked up the broken half of his sword with the handle, and ran at Xavier again. Xavier avoided the flurry of swings and hit him with a punch, kick combo. He followed that up with a knee strike, then heal drop. Jon went reeling. For fun Xavier decided to hit him with a Booya, then a drop kick that sent Jon flying back.

"Have you had enough Jon? Are you ready to submit to my learned wisdom?"

"NEVER!" Jon yelled and ran at Xavier yet again.

Jon hadn't noticed though that Xavier had gathered chakra the entire time. Time slowed, flame enveloped Xavier's' right hand. With all his might Xavier punched the ground, perfectly doing his mentors "Burning Rave" technique. Jon was caught up in the flaming devastation of the move.

Jon's eyes rolled to the back of his head. He fell to the ground unconscious. Xavier casually walked over to his gunblade and pulled it out of the ground. He gave it a couple of victory swings before spinning it on his finger and tucking it between his pouch of holding and leg.

Xavier carefully collected every last piece of Jon's great sword and stuck them in his pouch of holding. Finally he grabbed the still smoking body of Jon up off the ground, and slung him over his shoulder. Xavier drew out of his pants pocket a pack of cigarettes and lit one.

"Well now that this is done, I guess all that is left is to Put them were they can be found."

With that Xavier headed back to Garden.

FIRE** CAVE**

Ifrit bellowed in anger as Drakes spear once again found its' mark. Ifrits bestial face contorted as he belched a giant fire-ball at the descending form of Drake. Caught completely off guard Drake was hit with the fire-ball, and so didn't make a clean landing. Drakes feet hurt, and his body ached.

"God what I wouldn't do for an Ice tea, an Ice cube, Damn, even piss warm water would be great now." Drake thought as he staggered back to his feet. Ifrit roared and lunged at Drake. Drake ducked under the monstrous swing and stabbed at Ifrits thigh. It ended up being a glancing blow, but still a hit is a hit. Drake back flipped into the air to get out of Ifrits reach again, and through his spear.

It struck Ifrit solidly in the shoulder. Drake gave a quick tug at the retrieval cable attached to the end of his spear to bring it back to his hand.

The retrieval cable was an ingenious gift he had received from a fellow Dragoon Knight that lived in the lands of Alexandria. Freya, had taught him a lot. More than Cid Highwind had, about being a dragoon Knight. The ultra thin fiber cable brought the spear back to his hand without fail every time. Drake landed just in time to receive a massive punch from Ifrit that sent him flying back on to the ground.

Drake looked up from were he laid prone on the ground and thought.

"This is it."

Ifrit came closer.

"Were am I?"

That was the first thing to come to mind as the young man came to.

"Oh so you're awake."

The young man looked towards the voice. He found him self looking at a man who easily stood six-foot three inches tall.

"What happened to me?" he said getting to his feet.

"I don't know we were going to ask you, but as you can see my student is a little occupied." The man said never looking at him.

The young man stood and finally got a good look at the man he had spoken too. He wore a midnight blue sleeveless trench coat and apparently had on a grey long sleeve shirt. He also had grey hair and Ice blue eyes.

"I'm Clip, and thanks for helping me." Clip said to the man offering a hand.

"Eric Masters, an instructor for garden." Eric replied

"What are you doing here Clip if you don't mind my asking?" Eric's eyes never left the fight.

"I am here to earn my family last name." Clip answered.

Eric finally looked at him. Clip noticed that Eric had a tattoo of a black lightning bolt under his left eye.

"I get it now, you're a member of the Creedington clan of white mages that live out by Winhill. You're also farmers too."

It wasn't a question, Clip realized. It was more of a statement of fact.

"Yes sir."

"And your real name aint Clip is it."

Again a statement, not a question.

"No sir, my real name is Cliphord. I would just prefer Clip though."

"Well Clip, my student needs some help. And I don't feel like going out there and fighting. So why don't you go and earn that last name of yours."

"Yes sir." Clip said

Clip reached deep into his pouch of holding and pulled out a pump-action shot-gun. Eric watched as he loaded up the clip with ice bullets and ran in to the fray.

Drake watched as Ifrit descended on him with full intentions of making him a permanent part of the cave floor. Drake watched in slow motion as Ifrit just sort of stopped in mid-air as a blizzard spell hit him in the chest. Then there came a loud explosion as another blizzard spell nailed Ifrit in the chest. Drake tilted his head back and watched the young man walk towards Ifrit with a pump-action shot-gun. The boy pumped, and a shell was ejected from the shot-gun still smoking. He fired again. The shot-gun belched fire but hit as ice.

Ifrit hit the ground and stayed there bellowing. Drake watched in disbelief as the young man stopped by him and extended a hand to Drake. Then the young man started chanting. A strange white glow surrounded the hand, and Drake started to feel physically better. It finally dawned on Drake. The young man was a white mage.

"Are you gonna get up or are you gonna stay down there." The young man said as he started feeding ice blue bullets into the shot-gun. Drake sprung to his feet once again ready to fight.

"Good because he aint gonna stay down either, and now he will be mad." The young man finished with a click of his gun.

Ifrit rolled around in anguish for a few more seconds before finally getting his feet under him self again. All at once Ifrit stopped growling and snarling. He stood up tall and proud arms crossed as if he were apprising the two young men that stood before him. Then just as suddenly Ifrit crouched down again and bellowed at the two, flames shooting out of his mouth. Ifrit produced a molten fire-ball in both hands, and charged.

Ifrit swung his fists at both young men. Clip dodge rolled away from his molten fist of lava. Drake dodge rolled under his. As he came up Drake lunged with his spear. Drake didn't wait for Ifrit to react. Instead he lunged again, and again, repeatedly driving the tip of his spear into Ifrit as far as he could. Then Drake leapt with all his might, taking him clear of Ifrits reach. Again he through the spear repeatedly. Each time it hit with more force than the last hit. Feeling his upward momentum finally stop, Drake angled himself back towards Ifrit. Spear first.

Drake came to a landing behind Ifrit, sucking air in the worst way. Ifrit arched back, bellowing in pain from the damage that Drakes limit break had inflicted. Clip seeing a definite opening in Ifrits defense took his last shot. The ice bullet caught Ifrit high in the chest. Ifrit let out an ear splitting howl and slumped to the ground

Drake joined Clip in front of Ifrit.

"I think that ought to do it then." Clip said ejecting the last of the ice bullets from his shot-gun.

"I think you're right." Drake said.

Ifrit stirred on the ground. Both young men jumped back and brought there weapons to the ready. Ifrit sluggishly got to his feet, and began to glow. Slowly Ifrit started to shift. Shrinking smaller and smaller, till he was the same height as Drake. When finally Ifrit stopped glowing what stood before them was not a Demon, but a person draped in fire-red robes. His hood pulled so far up neither young man could see his face.

"You have done well young summoner and you too young mage."

Drake and Clip did a double take before regaining their senses and bowing deeply.

"Thank you great Ifrit." Both replied in unison.

"It has been a while since I have had such an invigorating fight."

Ifrit tilted his head towards Eric Masters.

"This one has been trained well Masters. I hope he continues to do so well in the trials to come."

"I am sure that they will do fine Great Ifrit." Eric said giving Ifrit a meaning full stair.

Ifrit returned to the business at hand taking Eric's meaning to heart.

_"To you young Drake I give upon you the sumoners circle."_Ifrit said pulling a circular pendant from his sleeve and handing it to Drake. Drake graciously accepted the pendant.

"As you travel the lands you will meet my brothers, sisters, and friends. Each one will test you to see if you are worthy of wielding them."

Drake looked at the necklace and noticed that it had several slots on it. One was filled already with a fire-red crystal.

"Pray on that necklace and we will hear your call. When you do we will come and lend our help as quickly as possible."

Drake put the necklace around his neck. "Thank you great one."

"As for you young mage. You show much potential. How ever you are not ready for the burden that accompanies your family name."

Clip was devastated, and showed it.

"However I feel that if you travel with Drake and his friends, you will be able to do what you have set out to do."

Clip bowed to Ifrit.

Eric stepped up between the two of them and rested a hand on their shoulders.

"Why don't you two head on out. I need to speak with Ifrit, alone. Oh and Drake be care full I think Jon is waiting for you, but I am not certain."

Drake and Clip bowed once again to Ifrit and then to Eric before leaving.

Eric waited till he thought the two were out of ear shot.

"So she has returned then." Eric said in a low voice. As with Clip it was more of a statement then a question.

"Yes my lord Odin, I do believe she has."

"Not so loud." Eric hissed

"No one at Garden knows that I am Odin. And if she really has returned I want to keep it as secret as possible."

"She is more powerful than the sorceress that I had helped a young Squall defeat some twenty years ago."

"Yes she will be, but they are not ready. And none of the previous heroes from any of the lands or times will be able to stop her. Our only hope is my students and there friends."

"I hope you are right, Lord Odin."

Eric locked at the robbed figure as if to say good-bye for the last time. Ifrit, and Eric bowed to each other, and went there separate ways.

As Eric rounded the bend a dark mist billowed into Ifrits sanctum.

"Tut, tut, Ifrit. Trying to ruin my fun before I even get started. But do you think the thunder God can stop me?" A female voice said from seemingly every were. Ifrits hooded head looked up.

"Xiedie, how dare you violate the sanctity of my layer."

"Honestly Ifrit, do you think you can stand a chance against me."

Ifrit didn't say any thing.

"Why you chose to acknowledge this world at all is beyond me. Especially since you have so much more power in Spira."

"I chose to stay in all worlds but Spira, because my power is needed. And the consequences of going back would be worst than your reappearance."

"Really Ifrit, Sin wasn't so bad, and once I control that power as well as all the power of the avatars my power will be unrivaled."

"We shall see Xiedie, we shall see."

With out preamble Ifrit tore off his robes and once again a twelve-foot tall demon. With a mighty roar he charged the mist.

"Foolish Ifrit, you will never learn."

As soon as Ifrit hit the mist he was enveloped in it. Almost instantly Ifrit was torn into bloody ribbons. His blood curdling screams were heard all the way in Balamb as the black mist absorbed the dead god.

"But soon Ifrit even the great thunder-god Odin himself will be brought to his knees in defeat. And there is nothing any one can do to stop me."

With a humorless laugh the dark mist disappeared from the Fire cave, as quickly as it had appeared.

GARDEN, THIRD FLOOR HALL WAY

Squall Leonheart exited the elevator on the sky way that lead to his office. That was the one thing that he had changed when garden was rebuilt. The elevator was not connected to his office directly, so no one could pop up and surprise attack him. That was the theory any way. It hadn't stopped the heartless fifteen years ago. But that was another story for another time.

Right on his heals was his dear friend Quistis, who was desperately trying to hide her after sex hair.

"I wonder what she and Seifer had been doing during lunch." Squall thought to himself.

Squall didn't blame the two. Quistis had a crush on Seifer forever. And Seifer had needed to fill the void of his wife Janine's death some five or six years ago in a terrible auto accident.

And right next to her was Eric Masters's fresh from the Fire Caves with Drake. Drake had gone to the infirmary with young Creedington. Squall had known the boy was going to be there of course. The Creedington clan had used the Fire Cave as a proving ground for thousands of generations. And he was good friends with Lawrence "Law" Creedington.

"You should've seen those two, Squall. It was like watching poetry in motion. And after subtracting the five minutes it took Drake to save Clip from those soldiers he beat your time by .02 seconds."

"Impressive. That makes mine, what, third after Drake and Sally Dincht?" Squall said.

"Yes Squall." Was Quistis's reply as she was still trying to straighten her hair.

"Huh, I think I'm gonna have to redo the Fire Cave test just so I can be back on top."

All three laughed at the joke.

As they approached the double doors to Squall's office/Apartment he pulled out a key card and slipped it into the locking mechanism.

"Eric, any word on Xavier yet? I don't like the silence surrounding this issue. All members of team John are missing, and I think it is time this game comes to an end." Squall said entering his place still facing his friends.

Both Quistis, and Eric were looking past Squall with surprised looks on their faces.

"Well Squall I think Xavier is almost done." Quistis said pointing over Squalls shoulder.

Eric started laughing as Squall turned around and noticed the three members of Team John Hanging by there wrists from the ceiling. Squall was in shocked silence as he walked in front of each absolutely naked member of team John. There broken weapons and tattered clothing piled neatly under each one of them.

"This is an out rage." Quistis yelled as she inspected the unconscious team.

"At least he had the decency to cover up their private parts with Duct tape Xs." Eric said with a smirk.

"Yeah, and there eyes, mouths, and Johnas nipples." Quistis continued ranting.

"That is really gonna hurt." Squall said from behind "Big" John.

"Man has he got a really hairy ass." Squall thought to himself.

"How can we be sure that this was even Xavier?" Squall asked.

"I think the Xs' give it away, boss. And I bet if we check the coffee pot it will be empty." Eric said

Quistis rushed the coffee pot. Sure enough it was empty. Squall and Eric continued to laugh as Quistis pulled out a walkie-talkie and started bellowing orders into it. It didn't take long for the students that had trained, or volunteering in the infirmary, to get to Squalls office. In less than ten minutes the three members of team John were removed from Squalls office. Eric, and Quistis said there good byes and had argued all the way to the elevator about whether Xavier should be held accountable for his actions thus far.

Squall shut, and locked his door before finally flopping heavily into his office chair.

"500 gill and worth every bit of it." Squall said exhaling deeply.

But before he could get too comfortable his intercom went off.

"Yes Rebecca. What is it?" He really did try not to sound annoyed. After all she was only doing her assigned task.

"Your wife is on line two, sir." The junior cadet answered unfazed.

"Oh really, Thank you Becky." Squall replied instantly in a better mood. Squall quickly picked up the phone and hit line two.

"Hey Rin, how's it going."

"Other than some turbulence here and there, that Selphie insists she is not hitting on purpose, just fine."

Squall could hear Selphie in the back ground yelling that she wasn't doing it on purpose. He couldn't help but grin.

"So how was Winhill?"

"The usual. They weren't happy to see any of us. But the Garden is in prime working order."

"I expected no less from the Dinchts."

"It just bothers me that they were the first to join the SeeD coalition. Yet still harbor ill feelings towards us."

Squall almost felt pride in the mentioning of the SeeD coalition. Shortly after the defeat of Ultimecia, a group of scientists had discovered a weird mirror. From there it got even weirder. They discovered that this one mirror was a shift portal, and was connected to innumerable others. It took them thirteen years to figure out how to work the mirror. During that time it was discovered that earth was much bigger than any one in Centra could ever have imagined. When the mirror was finally working, it was discovered that it led to identical mirrors all over the world.

About this time it was decided to unify Centra under one banner. That banner was SeeD. Several Gardens were constructed, and SeeDs became a world-wide policing organization. Hence the birth of the SeeD coalition.

The first Country discovered beyond the mirror was the country of Midgar. Squall remembered clearly stepping through the mirror with his wife, and his closest friends on to a land that was so devastated by war, and strife that he made Rinoa go back through to their young daughter. It hadn't taken long for them to find trouble. Or more accurately for trouble to find them.

Squall remembered fondly his first meeting with the spiky haired leader of Avalanche, Cloud Strife. They had met at the end of each others sword. It didn't take long for them to settle their differences and talk peace. Cloud was reasonable, if a bit paranoid.

After that Xavier joined Garden and told Squall of his training in other lands. Squall had Xavier take him to these other lands. The first was the lands of Alexandria. Once their Squall and the rest of the SeeD comity had met their leader Queen Garnet Til Alexandros the 17th. Or Garnet as she preferred to be called. And who could forget, no matter how hard you tried, King Zidane. Xavier had marched up to the castle in his SeeD uniform with Squall and company in tow.

It wasn't pleasant. Xavier had to fight this really big guy in full plate mail to gain an audience. He gained it alright by kicking the knight Steiner through the throne room door. The queen and king had not been upset, and had welcomed Xavier back warmly. "X" had returned the warm hugs and hand shakes with customary coolness. After lengthy introductions and customary what nots they had gotten to business. "X" fell asleep with his hand guarding his gunblade and pouch of holding.

Latter Xavier had explained that Zidane was a putz, and a thief. And made a passing comment about whips, and chains, and things when asked about Garnet. Squall guessed that Xavier didn't care for Alexandria.

Next had been Spira. Xavier had proudly walked into a tiny village, on a tiny Island wearing his SeeD uniform. It hadn't taken long for some one to notice Xavier and run yelling towards the temple. Minutes later several people came running out. Not knowing what was going on every one but Xavier, and the people running from the temple, drew weapons. Squall had found it odd when Xavier had not drawn his gunblade.

The first to reach Xavier was a girl about his age. She had long blond hair, and was wearing what could only be described as a Bikini. She threw herself at Xavier.

"Xavier, you came back."

Xavier had caught her easily, and spun her around once in a friendly sort of hug.

"Rikku, so good to see you again."

It was the happiest Squall had ever seen him. Who ever these people were, they obviously meant a lot to the boy. The rest finally caught up with the girl who had run at Xavier. "X" had greeted them each warmly, before finally turning back to Squall.

"Guys I would like you to meet Headmaster Squall Leonheart. He runs the academy that I am staying at. Sir these are my closest friends, and damn near family."

"X" had gone on to introduce them one by one. There had been Waka, Lulu, and their child. Next had been Rikku. And finally was Tidus, and the Lady Yuna. It had been an interesting meeting to say the least. The girl Rikku reminded Squall a lot of Zella Dincht. She just would not shut up. But "X" listened to her with rapt attention. Latter in the night while the "grown ups" talked business "X" and Rikku had disappeared down to the beach. Xavier's "family" didn't think any thing of it, so Squall hadn't worried. Until neither came back that night. So the SeeD coalition was forced to stay the night in the temple. Squall wasn't too happy. But the next morning when he had gone to the lodge for a bite to eat and had found the two of them asleep in each others arms. They were both still clothed, but still it had been enough to infuriate Squall.

Squall chuckled to him self.

"What's so funny? Squall, have you heard a word I have said to you? Have you Squall?"

"Sorry, I was just remembering our first visit to Spira."

"Why?"

So Squall proceeded to tell his wife what Xavier had been up to. Rinoa was silent she was so stunned.

"He's good." Rinoa finally said.

"Yeah, but he still hasn't revealed himself."

"I'm sure he will. More than likely for the final exam tomorrow morning."

"He hasn't made it to the finals. He missed all of his tests."

"Really." Rinoa said which made Squall stop and think.

"Lets see. He nuked the training grounds, and avoided Johnas magical attacks, so I would say that he has passed his magical test. He snuck up on John Headstrung, and infiltrated your office. Since we don't know how to grade ninja's abilities other than by what we have heard I would say he passed that too. And finally, He beat the shit out of Jon Oblisky using every thing that Zell, and Eric has taught him. So I would say that he has passed there as well."

Squall had been marking all of that down as his wife had spoken it.

"That would mean that all he has left to do is pass his gunblade exam. And knowing "X" the way we do, he will settle for no less than you as the instructor for that test." Rinoa finished.

Squall worked this over in his head. It all made sense in a strangely Xavier sort of way. Just then his messenger flashed, announcing the arrival of a new e-mail.

Squall,

Since you are open tonight, why don't we get together at the dueling circle. What do you say. Me, and you once again go at it for old-time sake. You bring revolver, I'll bring Hyperion. Be there at 7 o'clock sharp.

Seifer

Squall grinned and sent the letter to Rinoa. Rinoa laughed.

"Speaking of Xavier." Rinoa said

"Yeah, he should have known that Seifer would have wanted me to bring lion heart, not revolver to a duel. Always has to show that he's superior. But I will give "X" credit for creativity."

"You gonna go?"

"Yes, as you said he will only accept me as the instructor of this test."

Squall looked up suddenly remembering that his daughter was there as well.

"How did Emmy do on her tests?"

Emily Leonheart jumped in front of her mother to answer her father.

"Aced them all dad. I think I'm gonna graduate number one in class at Winhill."

"That's great Emmy" Squall said his pride showing in his face.

"Well I'll let you and mom say good by. You have a duel to get going to. Don't hurt "X" to badly dad." With that Emily left the screen.

"We really need to limit her time with the Dinchts."

"Why I think they are doing a fine job with her." Squall replied

"Yes but she is starting to sound like "Z". And she now wants to get a naval ring."

Squall hit his forehead. "We'll talk to her about it when you get here, but she is right I do need to get going. I love you Rinoa Leonheart."

And I love you too Squall Leonheart."

The connection died and Squall went to get changed, and dust off revolver. His first gunblade. He loved this gunblade and would never get rid of it. No matter how inferior it became.

"Are you ready old friend for one more go." Squall said looking at his reflection in the super sharp blade. Carefully he loaded the cylinder, then giving it a spin he flipped it back into place and set it on the bed.

"Now what to wear."

DUELING GROUNDS

As Squall made his way to the dueling grounds he stopped long enough to admire the setting sun. It became clear to Squall that "X" intended to use the failing light to his advantage. The closer he came to the grounds, the more clear that it was Xavier waiting for him. The first dead give away was that there was a strong smell of coffee in the air. The next was the cans of vending machine coffee, and power bar wrappers that littered the ground.

As Squall crested the hill that lead up to the Dueling grounds he finally saw Xavier kneeling in front of a halogen lamp stand.

"I thought you might think I was going to try to use the darkness to my advantage." Xavier said with out looking at Squall.

"It had crossed my mind "X"."

Xavier didn't say any thing as he moved over to the vending machine that had been put out by the Dueling grounds by the student body some years ago. Bending again Xavier put a plug-in the socket, and a dozen Halogen lamps around the dueling grounds flared to life.

Squall finally got his first good look at the boy since he had torched the training grounds. Xavier stood up from the out-door outlet shirtless. Squall noticed for the first time that Xavier had a huge tattoo on his back of a demon wing on his left shoulder and an agel wing on his right, done in a tribal design, and a massive scar on his right shoulder. Squall watched as Xavier picked up a field back pack that had three large leather straps on it, instead of the customary two. Squall watched Xavier fastened two of the straps to a large metal ring, and slung it over his right shoulder, effectively hiding the scar, like a bandoliers. He then took the third, and fed it under his right arm to connect to the ring. This made it so that the back pack would not move from its position slanting at "X" right shoulder. Just with in perfect reach for Xavier to pull what ever he pleased from it. Finally Xavier picked up a heavy piece of purple fabric that he tied to the waist of his red, and blue pants with a red belt.

"I knew you would see through the letter." Xavier said finally turning to face Squall.

"Though creative Xavier, it had serious Seifer character flaws."

"I know sir, I realized that after I sent it."

"Where have you been this last week plus, Xavier."

Squall watched as Xavier touched a hand to a fresh tattoo of the letter "S" done in purple exactly over his heart.

"Here, and there." Xavier finally answered.

"More there, than here I would say, Xavier." Squall replied giving Xavier's new outfit a last once over.

"I do not fault you "X" for what you did to the Johns. However I think that your revenge has come to an end. You made your point, and it is a point that will not soon be forgotten any time soon. Now prepare your self Xavier for your Gunblade finals." Squall said with a flourish of swings before bring his gunblade over his right shoulder at about eye level. "I will not go easy on you Xavier Lofbrah."

Xavier turned his body so his left side was facing Squall. He slid his gunblade from between his pouch of holding and right thigh and brought it to a rest on his right shoulder. He then spread his legs so they were even with his shoulders, and bent his knees. Looking at Squall, Xavier said. "Headmaster Leonheart, I would expect no less."

A slight wind kicked up some dust in the circle as the two starred each other down. As it died a black feather fell on to the ground. As it touched the master and the student charged each other. Blade met blade as the two collided, neither giving in to the brief contest of strength. With a flourish the two separated, and collided repeatedly. Blow for blow was swung, and matched as the duel went on. Every veteran swing Squall swung Xavier blocked, or countered. Every youthfully raw swing Xavier swung, Squall masterfully blocked, or countered.

It soon became clear that the duel would come down to who ever made the first mistake, or got tired. Xavier charged Squall. Squall readied him self, it looked like Xavier had made the first mistake and was charging sloppily. Squall swung at Xavier's head, but it wasn't there. Xavier had ducked under the swing, and using his free arm grabbed Squalls head to his shoulder and dropped to the ground taking Squall with him. Squall reeled from the neck breaker. It wasn't common for swords masters to use hand to hand combat in a duel. But he should have expected as much from Xavier.

As quickly as he could Squall got back to his feet. Xavier kicked up to his at the same time. They traded a few quick swings before Xavier did his next martial arts move. Again Squall didn't expect it. So he was caught off guard when in the middle of a blade tie up Xavier suddenly put his foot on squalls knee and used it for leverage to propel his opposite foot into the back of Squalls head.

Squall fell face forward on to the ground, his grip letting go of his gunblade. Xavier picked up Squalls gunblade. Squall got to his feet, and ducked just in time to miss Xavier's double swing. Squall dodged again as Xavier duel wielded both gun blades without much skill. Squall decided it was time for Xavier to remember why he was a legend. Squall ducked under Xavier's next swing and caught his other arm before he could swing the other gunblade. Quickly Squall kneed Xavier in the guts. As Xavier bent forward Squall grabbed his head and dropped to the ground, driving Xavier head first into the gravel.

Squall got up first and grabbed his gunblade away from Xavier. Xavier was a little slower getting to his feet this time, but when he did it caused Squall to freeze. Xavier held his gunblade in both hands, cutting edge up. Slowly he drew the index, and middle finger of his left hand along the length of the blade. When the two fingers reached the tip of the blade, Xavier snapped it straight up so that the tip was pointing skyward. All at once large amounts of energy gathered to the sword and Xavier charged a still stunned Squall. Xavier swung and hit Squall in rapid succession nine times. Then with all his strength Xavier jumped into the air. Bringing his gunblade over his head, he gathered more energy to it and made to deliver the final blow. Squall used this brief break to run in and do his limit break "Rough Divide". The move caught Xavier in mid-flight unprepared. Xavier fell to the ground defeated.

"I can't believe he taught you "Omni-Slash"." Squall said offering his hand to Xavier.

"He didn't. I learned it by watching and studying it. But apparently it was not enough."

"Hey don't feel bad I haven't had a work out that good in a long time."

"But I lost."

"And you passed, be at the Balamb docks at 8 o'clock sharp tomorrow morning, in full uniform." Squall said. With that he walked away. Xavier watched Squall walk away in to the darkness towards the Garden. Grinning to himself, Xavier followed; he would need to infiltrate Garden one last time to get his SeeD uniform for tomorrow.

BALAMB DOCKS

Eric paced along side of the hydra-foil that was to take them to their destination. Eric found it really funny where the final test was taking place for his team. 20 plus years ago Squall, Selphie, and Zell had taken their final test in Dollet. That was back when Galbadia had tried to take over Centra. Now his students were going to take their final test, and this time the psycho at the end of the "game" wasn't trying to compress time, but control the entire world.

"God damn it where is he?" Eric fumed.

Drake stood there stick straight not wanting to speak. "Z" was to busy humming to her self to notice that Eric was pissed, or even asking a question. Clip looked tired, he more than likely didn't sleep well on Drake and Xavier's couch. And after several attempts to put him in a SeeD uniform, they had let him wear his own cloths.

"I'm sick of waiting. He'll just fail. Every one on board now!"

With that the three students entered the Hydra foil. And waiting for them a sleep on a bench was Xavier in full uniform.

"Xavier!" Every one yelled at once

Drake and "Z" rushed him

Xavier woke in time to avoid his friends bowling him off of the bench. Drake and "Z" were firing a million questions a second at him before Xavier raised a hand for silence.

"Later guys, I will tell all later. Now who the hell is Mr. Clean?"

"This is Clip, he is a white mage, gunner. He helped me with my summoner test."

"X" and Clip eyed each other up before shaking hands

"Where did you say you from?"

"Winhill, nice goggles."

It dawned on Xavier why the boy looked familiar.

"I needed them, and those glasses would have looked good covering up that Shiner you got from your gun."

"The past is the past." Clip said shrugging.

"Got a good price for the glasses."

Xavier said nothing as the Hydra-foil speed out to sea.

DOLLET SOME TIME LATTER

Their landing had been uneventful. Quickly though they found out that the town was empty. All the citizens had been removed from town so that the terrorists could have free run of the town. It had been team X-tremes mission to find there hide out and some missiles There search had led them to the communications tower. Along the way there had been resistance. But it was taken care of with precision and silence.

As Xavier stood at the base of the tower he recorded every thing he saw. As best as he could tell, however many were up there they were alone. But it was too quiet for Xavier. With hand signals Xavier told Drake to jump to the top of the tower and wait while the rest of them went through the tower. Drake nodded and jumped. Xavier then told the rest to be quiet and follow. Any resistance was to be taken out silently.

Drake landed about fifty meters from the top, and had climbed the rest of the way. But when he got there he was shocked silent. Every one was dead. But he couldn't say any thing, Xavier had ordered radio silence. So Drake waited. Then all at once the biggest monster he had ever seen landed on the deck and bellowed at him. It was easily as big as his mother.

Had Drake been able to accurately describe it, it had Bat like wings, a huge stinger, long muscular arms, and the god ugliest body. Drake couldn't move, he was unprepared for this, and scared out of his mind. It lunged.

Xavier, "Z", and Clip made their way up the lift. All three were on high alert, because every one they had met had been dead. None of them knew how. But it had been messy. "Z" had been the first to notice, when she slipped in a pile of entrails. With out a word they had made a mad rush to the upper deck. As they came over the ledge, the deck was the same dead bodies everywhere. "Z" spotted Drake by the edge, out cold. Xavier pointed at Clip. Clip gave a nod and brought his shot-gun to the ready as he made his way to Drake.

"CLIP WE NEED HIM AND YOU NOW!" Xavier suddenly yelled.

Clip turned to see a monster unlike any other charge "X", and "Z". Clip ran the rest of the way to Drake, all caution gone. Kneeling by the young dragoon, he started to pray.

Xavier drew his gunblade and charged. "Z" quick on his heals. As they got within range Xavier jumped high, intent on striking the monster in the head. "Z" started punching, kicking, and dodging as soon as she could touch it.

Drake came to, with the feeling of some one touching him. Slowly he opened his eyes, and there was Clip once again healing him.

"Thanks."

"Come on, the sugar rush, and the ninja need us."

With that they charged as well. Drake took all of three steps before he was air born. Clip started shooting as soon as he was sure he could hit. Round after round hit the monster in the chest. "Z" fought like she wanted to stomp a mud hole in its ass, and then march it dry. Xavier slashed, lunged, parried, stabbed, and maneuvered as if he were possessed by demons. Drake never left the air. Strike after strike, left the spear bloody.

"DRAKE END IT, NOW!"

Drake landed and started praying on his neck lace. With a flaming explosion. Ifrit came forth, and incinerated the monster. As Ifrit left the monster dropped dead. Drake dropped from exhaustion.

"You all right?" Xavier asked putting his gunblade away.

"Summoning drain. I'll be fine."

All the sudden there was a roar from behind them.

Every one turned in time to see the monster take a mighty swing at Clip. "Z" reacted the fastest and tackled Clip out of the way. However she got hit and went sailing over the edge. With out thought Drake dove after her. In one fluid motion he caught her and tossed his Spear at the deck. "Z" finally stopped screaming when she realized she wasn't falling.

"Thanks Drake."

"Huh I can't hear you." Drake replied smartly rubbing an ear.

From above there were several green flashes, and the sound of Xavier's gunblade going to work with extreme prejudice. As Drake hauled himself and "Z" back on to the deck they noticed that the monster was dead. It was smoking and had multiple slashed on it that were still smoking, and glowing green.

"What the hell just happened?" "Z" demanded.

Clip just shook his head and pointed at Xavier. Xavier was sucking air hard-core, smoking himself.

"What the hell happened?" "Z" repeated.

"Omni Slash." Xavier said as he slumped to his knees still sucking air.

"Z" and Drake rushed Xavier.

"What's wrong?"

"Mako drain." Xavier said leaning heavily on his gunblade.

"Lets get the hell out of here." Xavier said getting to his shaky feet.

None of them noticed as they walked away that a stream of dark mist had started to rise into the air from the monster. Slowly it pooled in to the sky and disappeared before they left the tower. From the Hydra-foil Eric held a hand set to his ear, as he watched the black cloud disappear.

"Squall, it's Eric. Listen we have a problem."