Title: THE HEARTS THAT STAYED, THE SOUL THAT SHIFTED
Pairings/Characters: Squall / Rinoa
Genre: Romance / Drama
Summary: Squall and Rinoa both attended Balamb Garden as children, but due to the ill effects of the Guardian Forces, they have lost memories of each other. But one thing remained: their hearts.
Warnings: This novel twists the canon conflict of the original story.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII is owned by Square Enix. No copyright infringement intended.
Note: I wrote these novels so that each chapter is told from both perspectives of Squall and Rinoa in alternative fashion. This story was planned to be a much more longer arch of the original story and will likely expand on the story at a much greater length (Prequel / Original / Sequel). However, I have altered the original part of the story to fit my own version of FFVIII.
Chapter 1: Squall
My head was pounding madly with pain. All I could think about was the intense sting between my eyes.
I opened my eyes, and to my relief, I was in the Infirmary of Balamb Garden.
It was an early sunny morning.
The green bed felt comfortable and warm as I felt the white bandage wrapped tightly around my head.
I was just beginning to trace my thoughts back to how I ended up injured in the first place, when suddenly Quistis, the instructor walked in.
My first impression of her was never good in the first place.
In fact, I rarely have good impressions of anybody.
They all seem to be of no particular interest to me.
"You've been injured by Seifer during your training. I told you both to not get so carried away with your emotions. This is training, not an official combat."
Quistis raised her hand as she lectured me.
Oh great, now I remember what happened before I fell unconscious.
It was that jerk Seifer. We were supposed to be training in a dual combat, but that day, we were under no supervision from any instructors.
We were trusted to behave appropriately of course, but at 17, you seize the glorious opportunity to knock out your mortal enemy when the time is given.
Seifer and I never got along together from the very beginning.
I hated everything from his blonde hair, stuck-up attitude and arrogant mouth. He always told me how he despised my quiet attitude and lonely stance.
Like if he had any true friends himself.
We're both similar in ways that we don't really rely on anybody besides ourselves.
I came to Balamb Garden as an orphan.
Most of the students here are either an orphan who had no other hope in life or is a working class kid who is desperate to feed their family.
We were all recruited for one reason only.
To become the mercenary soldiers, the SeeDs of the Garden to protect the world from disaster.
And so we are trained from childhood both mentally and physically in this institution which offers the best education and training of the world's greatest mercenaries.
As it is still a school, other students enjoy their teenage years here with their friends.
But somehow, I never saw the importance in making friends. I don't trust anyone.
I mean where was the point in trusting in people?
In the end, we all end up alone. We need to look after ourselves.
And besides, trusting in my parents didn't do any good to me anyway…
To put it easily, Seifer and I are loners in this garden (although Seifer keeps his servants Fujin and Rajin beside him).
Because we don't waste time with others, we have the best grades of our year level.
In short, we are rivals.
So the last time I checked, we were battling each other to the death and the last thing I remember is that we gave a scar on each other's foreheads.
I lost my consciousness after his fire magic blow.
Now we have a reminder of each other every time we look in the mirror.
And here I am, lying still in the Infirmary on a normal school day.
"How long have I been here Dr. Kadowaki?" I ask.
"Well you've been unconscious for about 3 days since the accident. You and Seifer have never been this injured with real monsters, but when you face each other, you guys behave like irresponsible children!" tuts the middle-aged doctor.
"You will both receive detention on your next mission. You will be required to do extra work and learn how to behave cooperatively." This time it is Quistis who is doing the lecture.
Oh great, I will probably be put into the same team as that freak again to learn 'co-operation'.
My days just get better and better.
Dr. Kadowaki fumbles inside her medicinal cabinet and hands me a few pills with a glass of water.
In this day and age, we have all the pills, potions and ethers to cure nearly every injury.
But as this scar was given to me by another human, medicines that work for monster injuries don't work. It isn't common for students to injure each other, so Seifer and I will be left with these uncommon monumental scars to remind everyone of our idiocy.
"Squall! Squall! Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" Quistis was waving her hands directly in front of my face, trying to catch my attention.
"What?" I say sharply.
"Please pay attention when someone is talking to you. You can't always live in your own world you know."
We are now walking out of the Infirmary. Balamb Garden is a strict place.
As soon as you are well enough to walk, you must attend class. No exceptions even for the top élite students.
The spring sun was shining the outdoor corridor that gave light to the lush green plants around the garden.
All the students here are dressed according to their year level.
The uniforms change according to what grade they are in.
Basically, the ribbons and ties and overall uniform color gets darker as we age.
Seifer and I rarely abide by the uniform code, but we still get away with it.
The officials know that we are not easily tamed as others.
"You are a lone wolf, just as I have heard." Quistis walked right beside me.
"You don't really care about what other people think of you, do you?" She says.
I chuckle. "Have you figured that out now? After being my instructor for a whole year?" I spat coldly.
"Well, you are a very unique student you know."
"There's no point in trying to decipher me and Seifer like your other students. We aren't here for friendships."
I know these words are harsh, but it's the only way I can end all these types of philosophical conversations about my troubled 'lonely personality'.
I found that the quicker I stop talking about myself and my problems, the less damage I inflict to others.
She sighs and leads me to the main hall. The main hall is the most magnificent hall you will ever come across.
It is a large circular dome where all the main corridors centre into.
A deep, yet clean water pathway separates each ally, an artificial river way that aligns each pathway.
Expensive marble fish fountains are placed consistently throughout the fountain way.
The water here is maintained clean and clear all the time.
The instructors and guards are very strict about keeping the water clean, and thus punish students who spit or throw anything into the fountain.
We pass along the students who stare and whisper about my bandaged head.
As if I'm not famous enough already, strange rumors has always circulated about my identity.
The fact that I always wondered the school quietly by myself started interesting hypotheses about who I really was.
Rumors ranging from "Squall is a vampire" to "Squall is a spy" failed to offend me.
However, no one ever bullied, touched or harassed me.
Ever since I came to this school, I was feared upon.
Perhaps it was that I was much taller and stronger for my age, or that I was the minority who could wield a Gunblade or even just because of my menacing glare.
Whatever it was, everyone knew I was not to be messed with.
"I need to see you in private sometime to discuss your behavior and attitude at school. You need some serious guidance and counseling. As an instructor I hold legal responsibility of you to-"
I cut her off immediately. "Don't bother."
I walk off on her as I usually do. I'm used to doing this to people and I no longer feel remorse about it.
I bulge into the classroom on the second floor late as a frenzy of whispers start again.
Let them say whatever they want, why the hell would I care.
Seifer is also sitting in the back seat with a bandaged forehead.
If I didn't have an urge to kick him every time we met, I would laugh at this whole situation.
Two élite students bandaged up for Self-Defense class.
The class we usually don't have to give much effort to pass.
The professor comes in and tells the class to quiet down.
The old but thin witty professor says a word.
"I am not pointing to any students in particular, but I was told by the Garden committee to re-inform all students that physical injury to the opposing student during battle practice is strictly forbidden. The physical injury obtained through abusive and aggressive behavior of students will not be held responsible from the Garden. And now, from the last lesson where we left off, about the alignment of your inner spirit and weapon, self-defense is all about…"
I drown off the professor.
I am in no mood to concentrate today. I don't usually do this.
Usually, I am a very motivated student with perfect grades with long attention spans.
But whether today is a bad day to concentrate because of my injury or whether I just lost interest in a topic that I already know, all I felt like doing was sleeping.
Today was indeed an atypical school day.
Ever since I woke up, I have reflected about myself too more than usual.
Maybe there was a real damage to my brain or something. I felt something has changed for good.
Maybe with this new scar on my face to commemorate, something new in my life will start along with it.