FFVIII 100 Word Challenge

Title: No Plan of Attack
Characters/Pairings: Shiva, mention of Squall
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: The longer version is here

Shiva was not pleased. She was, in fact very pissed off and a bit frightened.

This new magic that invaded kept pushing at her, shoving her around to other parts of his mind, parts that she knew were off limits. Her touch would freeze, take and consume memories and other knowledge - things that should not be taken in order for him to live.

She could not wait any longer, could not move any further and stood her ground to attack. The ice queen raged and unleashed her wrath against the invading Sorceress magic, unaware of the damage Squall was taking.

Title: Vainglory
Characters/Pairings: Seifer
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: While the term vainglory means excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements or abilities, it can also mean that there is empty pomp or show - which I think at times, applies very well to my dear Knight.


His eyes raked over his features in the mirror; took in his hair. Always in place and the perfect shade of blonde. The scar that only heightened his allure. Might have to thank Leonhart for it.

Green eyes skimmed their way down high cheekbones to the lips. Slightly full when not sneering at those beneath him, which sadly wasn't often. Everyone is always beneath me

Seifer knew his body was perfect. He worked out and kept himself in top shape. Nothing better than catching people staring at my physique when they shouldn't be. Gets them in the sack easier too.

Title: Swallow It Down
Characters/Pairings: Seifer, Squall
Team: Balamb G
Rating: Oddly, G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: I wanted to scream at them to "just suck it up!" but it didn't go that way!

He longed to go back like he longed to spar with Leonhart again, but he wouldn't go back. He couldn't. Can't swallow pride when it chokes you on the way down.

It would be too much to ask Seifer to come back, even if it would be for his supposed protection. Everyone, including Zell, bullied him to seek him out, but there were some things he couldn't allow himself to do. This was one of those things.

Squall watched Seifer turn away from the large arching gates of Balamb Garden and tried to convince himself it was for the best.

Title: Bloodlust
Characters/Pairings: Ultimecia
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Words.

She stood in front of them, gazed upon them: her subjects, her followers, her future soldiers, her cannon fodder.

They didn't know this but the spell was already woven. They stared in rapt fascination which grew into a frenzied want. A desire, a need not fulfilled. And that, in turn would become a lust. Perverse and wrong. They
would die for her and the streets would run bloodied rivers.

Speeches wasn't important, they were all under her spell and proved this as she killed their President.

"...A new era has just begun. This is reality. No one can help you..."


Title: Power Hungry
Characters/Pairings: Hyne
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG - oddly
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes:

He was filled with power: It poured out of his body when he moved, tumbled from his lips as he laughed and spoke. He was divinity and they would listen. He would bring them into a new era, into a new world
and they only had to do his bidding. To behave and heed his words.

His Knight was long dead by his own hands - manic thoughts to take her power for his own. That was the thing, it really was his own power and she was merely his conduit. It was a minor, stupid mistake that wouldn’t happen again.


Title: Live Life
Characters/Pairings: Selphie
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Selphie-centric. Thoughts and feelings she might have had upon seeing Trabia for the first time after the missile strike.

The pain was sharp, biting and felt like it could cut deeper than the place it lodged in her heart. It felt like a burn in her soul. Something that could sputter out and leave her breathless.

(Live)

Selphie steeled herself. She was stronger than this. They were stronger than this and they weren't going to give up without a fight. It simply wasn't her way. Or their way.

(Life)

The smile slid into place, but it wasn't false. She was a fighter and they would pick themselves up. Life must be lived, despite pain. Despite losses, hurt and death.

Title: Lust
Characters/Pairings: Squall
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes:

She had changed him. She stripped him bare, peeled away the layers, the icy cold and left him naked. In their place, she left many other things, some fell by the wayside when she left him. One stayed and burrowed deeper: Lust.

It filtered into his mind and caused him to see his friends in a new light. Many of them in new ways. Ways that ended with him craving their bodies, the sounds of the moans they might make while their bodies joined and climaxed.

Not once did he approach them but gave into fantasies before falling into sleep.

Title: Idle Threat
Characters/Pairings: Seifer/Quistis
Team: Balamb G
Rating: R
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Because everyone loves cuddling. EVERYONE. 'cept Squall. He's probably all grouchy. Grouch pot. He needs to be snuggled. I'm gonna stop rambling.
( Idle Threat )

Title: Not Working Out
Characters/Pairings: Quistis, Adopted Mother
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Behind a cut-code for abuse (it's a slap) but it might have triggers for some.
Quistis left the family who adopted her but reasons, as far as I know, weren't given. This is one of the many that went through my head. I can see that having something like this happen, might feel as if it were a mark against her in some reason and that she would keep it close to the vest.

( Not Working Out )

Title: Laser Eye
Characters/Pairings: Quistis
Team: Balamb G Baby!
Rating: PG
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Q starts the game with Laser Eye.

It ripped through her body like cat claws on curtains; she stifled the scream and fell to the dirty grated floor inches from where the still steaming Grat body lay. Her eyes felt like they were on fire.

Never had something like that happened before. Quickly standing she moved into a somewhat safer area and quickly assessed what she had done differently as of late.

The only thing she could think of was the discarded Blue Magic tome that sat on her bedside table.

Until she knew what happened for certainty, she wouldn't speak a word about this to anyone.

Title: Discretion
Characters/Pairings: Nida/Zell
Team: Balamb G
Rating: R for dirty words
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Originally, there was more to Nida, with the back story that he had a "flavor" every week or whenever he wanted. It didn't feel right so I ended up taking the end of what I had and rewriting the rest.
( Discretion )

Title: Jelly Bones
Characters/Pairings: Seifer/Zell or Zell/Seifer
Team: Balamb G
Rating: oddly, PG
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Zell has a gift to make Seifer all weak and jelly boned.
( Jelly Bones )

Title: Mentalstressitis
Characters/Pairings: Laguna, Ward
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: My Laguna doesn't like public speeches. Add the fact that he'll now have a larger audience, it makes him that much more nervous!

"I hate press conferences with Esthar people and now you want me to stand in front of the world? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Ward shook his head but Laguna went on.

"Anxiety? That has to be it!"

Again, Ward's head shook.

"Some sort of mental breakdown?"

Ward sighed heavily, as if telling Laguna just what he thought of his best friend's mental state.

"That wasn't funny. I'll come down with something like mentalstressitis coupled with combustible leg cramps. Then you'll have stressed out Laguna bits all over."

Ward waited.

"The next headline: President Spontaneously Combusts!"

Title: Possibilities
Characters/Pairings: Zell, NCP
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Ideas that ran around in my head.

It was decades afterward when the next team came to the Center. It still stood, the metal never rusting or giving way to the elements like others would have.

They marveled at everything. It was seen all through fresh eyes and Zell couldn't help but give a small toothy grin. It's how he felt when he first came here; when he felt the thrum of machinery along his skin.

This team didn't marvel at the machinery, they ogled the work that was left behind years ago. At the work done against Guardian Forces.

Possibilities made his neck hair stand up.

Title: When The Dust Settled
Characters/Pairings: Seifer, Squall, others
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG for mention of character death
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Seifer POV


After the break-up, when all was said and done, Squall was left alone. The "Orphanage Gang", as Selphie called them, didn't matter - Squall was left alone.

They had chosen their side and their side was with her, Rinoa. Not Squall. They turned their backs on him when he needed them the most. And now they stand around his graveside, with the freshly turned dirt, in their somber black and SeeD uniforms.

He doesn't deserve this, their pity or their regrets. I was there for him, not them. And now? I can't even stand at his burial plot because of them.

Title: Where It All Started
Characters/Pairings: Edea/Ultimecia, Squall
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes:

She couldn't feel the stones underneath her, her mind was engulfed by the new powers from Ultimecia.

They flowed through her, ripped through her body and mind. The thoughts and memories trickled in. Words triggered images, images became tangible.

SeeD (to destroy me). Gardens (where the SeeD are taught, placed and flourish). Ellone (junction?). White SeeD (hide and protect Ellone). Armies (my children. Galbadia). Red (blood, fire, destruction, death). Shell (to stop something?). Containment (stop me, stop her). Space (space? where she resides),

Squall is at her side but she waves him away. She knows this pain, know it emptiness.

Title: The Gardens
Characters/Pairings: Seifer, Edea/Ultimecia
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: It would have been after the failed assassination attempt.

"My Knight, there was an attempt on my life. Those fools and the rest of their ilk need to be punished."

Seifer felt her words ice-burning through his mind. Part of him fought the words that were escaping his mouth but they came in a slow, whispered slur. "The Gardens, my Lady. It's where the SeeD live, grow and learn."

She stroked his hair. "Excellent my Knight. Destroy the Gardens."

Despite the stroking of her hand through his hair and the weaving of controlling magic in his mind, a sinking weight entered his stomach, leaving him feeling cold and empty.

Title: Strange New Life
Characters/Pairings: Squall Leonhart, Surprise
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: I don't know why I didn't do this before. I mean really! Shame on me!

SeeD was dispatched to Centra with reports of 'things falling from the sky.' Squall sighed as he reread the report before flying to the site. His jaw fell slack a bit as he looked at the crater and what was in the crater.

It was huge and shiny and shook what appeared to be it's head.

"Land." He was jumping the outside stairs before the ship landed and made his way close to the huge indent.

The two stared at each other. The other spoke first, voice low and filled with a deep rumble. "I am Optimus Prime, an Autobot."

Title: Quantam Leapt
Characters/Pairings: Seifer Almasy/Sam, Al
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: This was a cross-over between FFVIII and the old TV show Quantam Leap

"Oh boy!" He looked in the mirror and winced. The first thing that met his eyes, was a huge fresh scar between his brows. "Who am I, Al?"

Al appeared beside him, tapping on Ziggy for information. "Sam, it says here, that your name is Seifer Almasy and he starts the next 'Sorceress War'."

Bright green eyes blinked back at him then slide to the side to watch his holographic friend. "Sorceress War?"

"Sorceress War." Al tapped on the device more. "I don't even think we're on Earth anymore."

"How do I stop a war and leap back to Earth?"

Title: Caraway Would Never
Characters/Pairings: Solider on a bike
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: The "faceless" soldiers have invaded my brain!

He was more than positive that General Caraway would never launch his soldiers off a slowly moving Garden at another Garden. Ever. He had to remind himself that it wasn't General Caraway leading them, that it was the Sorceress's Knight. A kid, that he swore was younger than him by at least five years.

The solider revved his bike to try to hide the panic that would have been clearly evident on face, glad for once they had to wear helmets and masks.

He just wanted to get on the ground, safely, and continue to fight. Mid-air, wasn't a battlefield.

Title: Weirdest Place Ever
Characters/Pairings: The Galbadian Solider Squall Fights for the Flying Pack.
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: I've always wondered about that poor bastard. Did he chalk that whole day up as a "should have gone to the med lab with fake illness?" or something.

He knew that, as infantry, he would have to fight on the ground or on boats, on sandy beaches or rocky shores. Or be launched off of a Garden via motorbikes.

Once they added the odd helo-packs, he even knew that he'd possibly have to have a battle with one of those strapped to his back.

What he didn't expect, was some teenaged brat with more belts wrapped around his waist, to be punching and kicking him for said helo-pack. It was certainly a first in his books as one of the weirdest places for a battle to take place.

Title: Borrowed
Characters/Pairings: Seifer, Quistis
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG 13
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: Stand alone but is after Warm Beer

It was past 3am and Seifer was finally sleeping albeit his sleep seemed to be restless.

Quistis sighed into the warm air of the room and shifted in the borrowed p-jays that would always be too big on her. Her mind and her eyes kept coming back to the big man on the bed beside her.

Kept coming back to the just that evening when he had sobbed out about pain that he went through under Ultimecia, his own hell.

Once more she let her fingers move through Seifer's hair as he slept. It was the least she could do.

Title: Functions
Characters/Pairings: Laguna, mention of Kiros
Team: Balamb G
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: It's still a small hell.


It didn't matter how good Laguna looked in a suit and tie, he loathed these functions.

Barely a quarter of the way in, he spilled red sauce on his tie. Of course it couldn't be seen on a black tie but he knew it was there and it caused him to pout at the shrimp cocktails.

He danced, when asked, with a nervous smile and a leg that was bordering on cramping. The President willed it to cramp to get out of dancing.

Every chance possible, he asked Kiros to save him from this hell and got a smirked response.


Title: Predator
Characters/Pairings: Zell, Seifer
Team: Balamb G
Rating: PG 13
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes:

Zell tried to be still, to be quiet, as the large predator waited for something - anything from the fighter.

It was only time that ticked on.

Both remained still, waiting for the other to crack, to do something, to move, to breathe wrong before they would pounce or run.

Zell watched as lips were licked and neck muscles worked through a swallow and thoughts that he would be next going filled his head.

This moment in time, Zell thought is utter hell; worse than any shitty training exercise.

And then it got worse.

"Come on chickie. I won't bite, hard."