FicWad

Elemental Guardian Force Laguna
by PrettySephy
Warning: Character Death. Angst.

-Chapter 1-

Kiros lowered his katals and stepped back from the fading
remains of the monster.

"You finished that?" He asked Squall, who was feasting hungrily
on something he'd just killed.

"It's nice to have fresh food once in a while." Squall shrugged,
wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"You take after your dad, you know," Kiros smiled. "He's a devourer,
too. Though he keeps forgetting that there are some beasts he shouldn't
eat."

"Moron," Squall remarked, though these days he said it a bit more
affectionately. Laguna was a lot smarter than he let on. That, Kiros,
had pointed out, was the thing that always took the man's enemies
by surprise.

"I asked him to marry me," Kiros told Squall. "He accepted."

"I'm not surprised," Squall told Kiros. "He's loved you for a very
long time."

"Your dad and I used to patrol Winhill like this long ago," Kiros
told Squall. "I guess that's why he trusts me out with you tonight."

"Well, with Irvine and Selphie off on their honeymoon, and Rin off
visitting Edea to get a few pointers on being a Sorceress, the only
other qualified monster hunters are Zell, Quistis, and Laguna himself."
He sighed at this. He had hoped to spend time with his father. But he
understood that Laguna was too important to go risking his life hunting
monsters. "At least it's daybreak," he added, as the dessert floor before
him became more clear.

"According to my equipment, it's only 2 in the morning," Kiros told him.

"Your timepiece must have stopped." Squall turned Eastward, "The sun
is..."

But it was not the sun that was casting its glow upon the desert.

Esthar was ablaze! The streets were tunnels of flame, the buildings
smoldered from the heat, the once gleaming metal twisting and melting
into nightmarish shapes. And in the center of the conflagration, the
Presidential Palace blazed like an earthbound sun.

"NO!" Squall cried out, running as fast as his legs would take him.

Kiros followed, tears in his eyes.He would not let the fire that
must have claimed Laguna take the man's son as well.

At the edge of the city, they spotted Zell who was sitting on the
ground while Quistis cast a healing spell on his hand.

"My dad," Squall asked. "Where is he?"

Quistis looked up with tears in her eyes.

"Laguna?" Kiros didn't want it to be true.

"I'm sorry," Quistis looked more angry than sorry.

"At least tell me he suffocated first."

"They murdered him," Zell punched the desert, angrily. "That hypersadistic
bastard set him ablaze, and then kept him alert the whole time he was on
fire."

Squall lost several meals.

"Real tactful, Zell," Quistis scolded. She went over to Squall. "I won't
even bother asking if you're okay."

"What was his name?" Squall asked, evenly.

"Squall," Quistis told him, "it doesn't matter. There's nothing
any of us can do now."

"Tell me who murdered my father," Squall pressed. "If you know, then tell
me."

Nobody spoke.

"Fine," Squall suddenly pulled rank, "you're all on report until I get an
answer." He made an angry swipe with his gunblade.

"Squall," Quistis explained, "we're your friends. We don't want
to..."

"My friends wouldn't protect my dad's killer." Squall pointed out. "Which
is what you appear to be doing as we speak." He turned and walked away.