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Final Fantasy VIII

YOU STUPID IDIOT!
Quote by: Zell

Battle of the Gardens

This is a battle that was fought between the flying Balamb Garden and Galbadia Garden, between the SeeD forces under Squall's command and the Galbadian army under Sorceress Edea's command with her Knight Seifer. Both Gardens were built with mobility devices by the Centra. The battle began after Galbadia Garden intercepted Balamb Garden in mid air, near Edea's House. Squall had just been appointed command of the Garden.

It all started when SeeD had received orders to assassinate Sorceress Edea in Deling City. It was a failure and the SeeD's were send to D-District Prison. Sorceress Edea held the SeeD personally responsible and ordered a missile attack on both Balamb and Trabia Gardens. The group of SeeD's escape from the prison and they even manage to doge the missiles by flying away with Garden. That was the reason Sorceress Edea utilized Galbadia Garden's own mobile device and got her army ready to intercept the now mobile Balamb Garden.

The Battle of the Gardens started in the south of the Centra continent, north-east of the Cape of Good Hope, just east of Edea's House and it continued on over the Lenown Plains near the Almaj Mountains.

The Battle

While Squall and the others were on their way to the Orphanage, Balamb Garden was intercepted by Galbadia Garden. Commander Squall said the battle was inevitable, so he sent orders from the bridge to the soldiers and cadets: 1st and 2nd Class Sabers were to assemble in the Garden's parking lot, personnel with MG Ranks 3 and above were to head for the 2nd floor deck and await instructions. Squall concentrated his forces at the Front Gate and the Quad and he split the forces by their Student ID in order to do so. He also made sure that the junior class men were protected by ordering those with an 8 at the end of their ID's to supervise them. Then he went to the Headmaster's office to organize his team into two groups to oversee the forces in the Front and the Quad. Then he ordered Zell's group to take care of Rinoa. He headed to the Quad ad organized the students under his command along the way to find that Zell was already there. Nida called Squall back to the bridge to inform him of Seifer, who was leading the Galbadian troops.

The Battle Continues

Directly when the battle starts, Seifer orders the first wave of rocket propelled Motorcyclists, launched from the Garden's front gate and over the bridging gap between the two Gardens. Squall orders to try to evade the attack and he warns the Quad team. Galbadia rams into Balamb Garden, causing damage to the Garden and pieces fall off. Rinoa, who was standing on the balcony, is thrown off it and she's now clinging to the edge of Balamb. Zell is unable to her help and he reports back to Squall, who is on his way to the Front Gate to reinforce the defence. However, he is called back again as the classroom come under attack. Squall is now forced to make quick decisions, so he orders part of his team to go with Xu to assist the troops at the Front Gate, another to assist him in defending the Classroom and he sends Zell to rescue Rinoa.

Damage Control

Squall is on his way to the 2nd Floor Classrooms when he is intercepted by the inbound Paratroopers and he wards them away from the junior class men that were sheltering there. He is once again, called back to the Bridge and he reports the damage to Dr. Kadowaki, and they think that they would not be able to hold off another wave of attacks. Zell and the Front Gate team return to Squall to report. Zell tells him that the only way to get to Rinoa is by either going over the roof or by flying to her. Squall is on the verge of giving up on her, but the others, Irvine, Selphie, Quistis and Zell force him to think and go save her while they will prepare to invade Galbadia Garden. Squall is planning on doing that, but before he leaves for her, he gives a final announcement (very noticeably and uncharacteristic, which surprises everyone) over the P.A. system.

"...Everybody. This is Squall. How's everyone doing? You're all probably too tired to even stand up after all the fighting. But I want everyone to listen to me... We still have a chance to win, and I need your help. This is going to be our final battle. We're going to attack them before they come in again. To do that we're going to head straight into their Garden. So I want everyone to prepare for a major collision. Take care of the junior classmen. Irvine, Quistis, Zell and Selphie will lead the attack into their Garden. As for everyone else, please support them if you can. SeeD was formed to fight the Sorceress; at least, that's what I heard. And Garden was created to train SeeDs. So this battle is Garden's destiny and also our destiny. It's a grueling battle and I'm sure you guys are all exhausted. But I don't want to have any regrets. I don't want anyone to look back and regret this day. So just this once, I want you guys to give everything you've got! For yourselves and for me!"

It is at this point, that Squall's character completely changes from the lone wolf that he was before, to the caring and born leader he is for the rest of the game. With these stirring words, Nida rams Balamb Garden into Galbadia Garden hard enough for the two Garden's to get locked up in each other, which allows the SeeD's to board Galbadia Garden.

Invasion

Squall is now on his way to save Rinoa, but he is suddenly attacked by a propelled paratrooper. He hangs on the rope of the trooper's chair to defeat him which is like a mini-game in the air. After defeating him, he uses it to save Rinoa, and lands to board Galbadia Garden as an enraged SeeD force push the Galbadian army back. Squall and Rinoa enter the classrooms from a rear entrance and en rejoin the rest of the team. He leads them through the Garden, encountering the fatigued Raijin and Fujin who let them pass without incident. They gain access to the Headmaster's office where they face Seifer. After defeating him, Sorceress Edea shifts down to the Auditorium. They follow her and defeat her, which ends the Battle of the Gardens.

Aftermath

Sorceress Edea is now freed of her powers, however, Ultimecia now takes over Rinoa and she is forced into a coma. Edea was now finally able to explain her actions and the purpose of Ultimecia to the party. She told them about the existence of the White SeeD's and advised them on how to find Ellone. Then she returned to her house, accompanied by her husband Cid.

Battle of the Gardens
Balamb Garden - Galbadia Garden
Location:	The skies above southern Centra Continent
Result:	SeeD victory. Fall of Sorceress Edea
Commanders
Squall Leonhart	Sorceress Edea Kramer & Seifer Almasy
Strength
SeeD’s SeeD Elite Mercenaries     - 1 Gunblade Specialist     - 1 Martial Artist     - 1 Chain-whip Specialist     - 1 Nunchaku Specialist     - 1 Firearms Specialist SeeD Cadets     - 1 Timber Insurgent	Galbadian Army     - 1 Gunblade Specialist     - 1 Pole Specialsit     - 1 Zan Specialist     - G-Soldiers     - Elite Soldiers     - Paratroopers     - Motorcyclists     - GIM52A Enemies     - Creeps     - Slapper     - Jelleye     - Death Claw     - Blitz     - Tri-Face

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