"The Fated Children"
Author's Note: The thing that drove the Third Sorceress War series was that all actions had consequences – which, at the end of it all, left something out. It nagged me for months, as I had to work out how to disrupt the sort-of happy ending to the series I had written (I think the fact that I hate happy endings might have something to do with it.) After trying various plotlines, themes, etc. I finally managed to work out a way to combine them with some of the stories I had been trying to write for a while now, which fit. This Frankensteined project will be, far as I am concerned, the last entry in this series. This story takes place 13 years after the Third Sorceress War (just to reiterate, the Third Sorceress War is a seven-part series.)
Prologue
"Peace is ephemeral. War is forever." Vascaroon had said once, according to legend.
The droning of the television and the act of putting on funeral clothes (some called it a uniform) made that sound absolutely true.
"...self-identified as Totalists whose sole goal is to ensure that the Galbadian Republic is made whole once again. We can only speculate if this group is an extension of the one involved in the Timber incident, also known as the Torched Forest Debacle, five months ago. Whether that is the case or not remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the Dollet Dukedom is currently under the control of this rogue group. Caleb Vensor, President of Galbadia, was unavailable for comment, however, Field Marshal Mir has stated that they have deferred the authority to Ocean Garden and General Squall Leonhart. While there is some debate as to if a military intervention by the Galbadian government will constitute an act of war against the Dukedom, and if that's why SeeD is now involved, what is clear is that, having spent some odd years after the Third Sorceress War dealing with such threats, General Leonhart is a well-known and logical choice. Due to a lack of coverage, we-"
A screech interrupted the broadcast. Laced with static, the sound of the ongoing battle came flooding through the comm unit on the comforter.
"This is Alpha Squad, reporting from Ferrum Street! We're pinned down! the Totalists are holding the end and are blocking the way to the Square. We need backup! I repeat, this is Alpha Squad, requesting backup!"
The buttons were done. Now for the filigree.
"Alpha Squad, this is Beta Squad, we're trying to force a breach through the main gate! Can you hold out?"
"Negative! We can either try to break through or retreat, but we can't move!"
The Silver Cross. Still shining. It went higher, slightly above the heart. The first but not the most difficult one had been Ultimecia, after all. She seemed like a pleasant dream now.
"Alpha Squad, retreat further back! If you come to us, we can both push and break through!"
"Negative! We can't- oh SHIT!"
Explosion buzzing through the speaker.
Now, for the second one. The SeeD Star. Gold with navy blue accents. Same size and same weight as the Silver Cross, but it somehow felt heavier. The price paid for it weighed it down. But it was still his.
"This is Alpha Squad, we've lost two members, we're falling back! Can anyone rendezvous with us? Anyone? Great Hyne, can anyone hear me!? Are you out-"
Silence. Light footsteps and the smell of strawberries.
The man standing in front of the body mirror looked into his own eyes and saw cold steel, sharpened to perfection. From behind him, two hands reached, trailing across his chest.
A pair of lips landed a light kiss on his neck.
"You look good enough to eat."
Squall couldn't help but smile.
"Everything ready?" he asked.
"Yeah." She said. He slipped from her embrace and went to retrieve his gunblade from its case, "Everything's ready."
Squall glanced at Selphie. Standing there in full uniform, her Lieutenant General epaulets gold and full, her two medals on either sides of her chest, hands clasped behind her back and shooting him a mischevious smile, she was beautiful. Just the sight of her reminded him, however faintly, of simpler days.
His Odineum gunblade, as much an extension of his arm as his hand, couldn't even compare.
"Y'know..." Selphie said, one finger meeting her chin as she pretended to think, "...I was thinkin' that we'd let someone else do it this time."
"We can't do that."
"Oh c'mon! Just hear me out, I have an idea, and it's good."
Squall checked his gunblade's magazine. Full. The weapon didn't have a safety latch, as per his instructions, but he still glanced at where it would have been out of habit. Ready to fire. Good.
"We can stayyyy..." Selphie said, "...and you can stay in that uniform... or get out of it... it all depends. Why not let one of the other squads go? We have enough reserves, they're on call - they can handle it."
Squall sighed. Something in her voice, as sexy and bright as it was, was off. Not quite there. He had been hearing it more and more these days.
"Politically sensitive." He said.
"Your face is politically sensitive." Selphie countered.
"Besides, they're acting like rank amateurs, like they've never been in a maneuver before. At this rate, anyone else we send will end up getting killed. I'm not going to risk it."
Something twinkled in her eye. A muscle twitched. She pouted.
"You're no fun."
"I know."
Squall retrieved the earpiece from his bedside. He turned it on. With a click, he tuned to the open channel. Immediately, the SeeDs in Dollet began screaming. Their voices, sometimes muffled by the sounds around them, came flooding in.
Selphie's eyes were on him, watching his every move.
"This is General Leonhart." Squall said, "Backup is on the way. Gemini Squad, out."