Episode 1: Lost in Paradise
Rinoa found him lying there. She had been wandering endlessly across a barren wasteland as it seemed with the effects of time compression, looking for Squall, and found him. She checked for signs of life, but could find none. Losing hope, she buried her head in his chest, and wept.
Then, something happened. The wasteland magically transformed into a meadow of flowers. Ultimecia's time compressed world was returning to normal. Looking down at Squall, his eyes met hers and she smiled warmly. He was alive.
Rinoa asked, "Are you alright, Squall?"
Then, he said the exact thing he said the day it all started. "My forehead hurts."
Laughing happily, she hugged him. Then, a familiar sound was heard. Rinoa looked up and spotted the Garden flying by. She got up, and began jumping and hollering for someone on the Garden to spot them. When it passed them by, she stopped. She asked, "How are we going to get home to everybody?"
Squall sat up, saying, "We'll figure something out." Squall proceeded to get up from where he was laying.
Rinoa said, "Squall, lie back down. You're not well."
Fully standing up, he said, "You want to get home to everyone, right?" Rinoa nodded.
He said, "A hurting forehead can't stop me."
After they began walking, Rinoa said, "This is the flower field right next to Edea's house, right?"
Squall replied, "Right, I plan to go there as that is the one and only piece of civilization on the Centra Continent. Maybe Matron can help us."
Soon, they arrived near the old Orphanage. Inside the gate, a strange feeling overtook Squall. Everything in the world seemed to sway and blend together. Stumbling, the last thing he felt was Rinoa's hands on his arms as she tried to stop him from falling. Then, all went dark.
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He awoke barely. The place he was in seemed fuzzy. He could tell that he was no longer in the flower field but in a darkened room, lying on something cool to the touch. One of the two figures seemed to be Rinoa, and seemed to be sitting at his side, for he could see the blue that made up part of her outfit. The other figure, he could neither tell nor guess who it was. His chest was bare, except for something damp and cool across his waist. Also, his forehead bore something similar to what laid across his waist.
Most soothing was the hand which held his. It seemed to be a familiar hand. It was the hand that pulled him onto the dance floor so long ago on the night it all began.
Once again, Squall slipped off into darkness.
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When he awoke again, the sun was shining through the window. The room was no longer fuzzy but clear. The hand he had felt earlier was still in his hand. Turning his head to the left revealed Rinoa, with a smile on her face as her eyes met his.
Rinoa said excitedly, "Oh, Squall! You're alright!" She bent down to hug him.
As he sat up, he said, "Of course I'm alright. I was never hurt!"
Pushing him back down, she said, "Matron said that even if you wake up, you should not get out of bed yet."
So, Matron was the other fuzzy figure, thought Squall.
Rinoa said, "Edea has been taking real good care of you and I've been right by your side the entire night."
Just then, the door opened and Edea came in. She was no longer dressed as Sorceress Edea, the shell of the evil Sorceress Ultimecia, but as the Matron he remembered from childhood."
She said, "Good morning Squall."
Squall said, "Good morning, Matron."
She said, "Time travel can turn deadly, but luckily, and thanks to my healing skills, you're going to be fine."
Squall asked, "How long have I been out?"
Edea said, "Since late yesterday afternoon."
Rinoa said, "We were almost to Edea's house when you fell to the ground. I ran to Edea's front door, not knowing whether you were dead or alive. I was scared."
Edea came and ran her hand through Rinoa's dark hair, saying, "He's going to be alright dear." The Matron was a very motherly person and was good to Squall and all of the gang when they were little. 'Dear' was a very common word she used, much more so with Selphie, Quistis, and Ellone, the only girls. When she used it with the boys, especially Zell and Seifer, they wanted to puke, but it was Zell and Seifer who always showed they were disgusted. Squall had always kept it to himself.
Squall sat up, asking, "Is the Headmaster here? I have a report to make."
Edea said, "The report can wait. Anyway, he returned three days ago to Balamb Garden aboard the White SeeD ship. Now, you need to rest, a few more days."
Rinoa laid him back down and Edea left the room, leaving the two of them alone again.
Rinoa said, "I'm worried about the others now, with all this talk of fever and death."
Squall assured her, "I'm sure they're alright. Matron said fever and death are a rarity."
Peeking her head through the door, Edea asked, "Are you two hungry?" Squall and Rinoa replied that they were.
In a few minutes, Edea came back with two bowls of soup, saying, "I know soup isn't part of the SeeD diet, but hot dogs are not good for anyone getting over a fever.
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Two days had nearly passed. Squall was glad to have Rinoa at his side during the day. She was great company and a greater bond had been formed between them. Rinoa talked to him and read to him. They talked about what the future held for them. Squall was going back to Balamb Garden. Timber, according to Edea, had won its independence, so Rinoa, now freed from the Resistance, told Squall she would return with him to Balamb Garden. She voiced that maybe she would train to become a SeeD. Squall knew that she didn't really want to. He knew that she had grown close to everyone and did not want to leave.
Squall said, "Rinoa, you would always have a place among us, whether you become a SeeD or not."
Rinoa said, "Thanks, Squall. I guess the reason I said I would become a SeeD is that I don't want to leave everyone."
Squall said, "You don't have to even enroll in classes at the Garden. I'll see to it personally."
She said with a laugh, "Yeah, I really do not want to become a SeeD. Thank you, Squall, but I can't just live on the Garden."
Squall said, "Sure you can."
Rinoa said, "Hire me, Commander. I want a job, to earn my living."
Squall said, "I'll see what I can do, but hold on there. I plan on turning over my title."
Rinoa said, "But, you're a great leader, Squall. Everyone respects you. Please, reconsider."
Squall said, "What's done is done."
Rinoa didn't argue with him any further.
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Morning came. Edea came in, saying that he had enough rest. He got out of bed, leaving his black jacket on the rack.
Squall and Rinoa sat down to a breakfast of pancakes. After breakfast, Squall said, "Thank you Matron, for the care you have provided me with, but it's time Rinoa and I return to the Garden."
Edea said, "My SeeDs will be returning here in a few days. There is no way to get back to civilization by walking through the Centra Wilderness and its plains. My SeeDs will take you back." Although he needed to return to the Garden, Squall knew she was right. Without a ship, they were stranded on the Centra Continent. He told her they would stay.
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Three days had passed by. Squall and Rinoa were laying out on the beach one night observing the stars.
Rinoa said, "That man and I used to do this all the time, when we were close."
Squall asked, "You mean, you and your father?"
Rinoa said, "Uh-huh."
Waves were crashing on the shore. All else was quiet. They continued stargazing.
Rinoa said, "You know, this is paradise. If we weren't going back, I could live here forever."