Title: When the Battle is Over.
Description: Ultimecia is defeated. Galbadia is gone. The world is as it should be. So what will
Squall and his team of elite Garden fighters do now? A new evil awaits, one from above, that
attacks within your dreams.
Disclaimer: I don't own these names or locations, lets just say I'm borrowing them. For more
information on Final Fantasy, check out the Squaresoft Web site.
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Squall stared up at the gentle moonlit sky, and watched a shooting star fly gracefully across the
sky. He turned and smiled sweetly at his love, a young and intelligent woman, with the grace
and charisma that could awe the entire universe. She, Rinoa; smiled back and the drew together
in an embrace, with a lingering kiss they went back inside, and to sleep after a long, sleepless battle.
The next morning, Squall woke up to the silent echoes of ocean waves crashing the shores near by, he looked over at the bed across the room, where Rinoa lie, still sleeping, like an angel. He didn't want to wake her, but he couldn't get back to sleep. Squall got up, and walked over to the sleeping Rinoa, kissed her forehead and ran his fingers through her silky ebony hair. He picked some clothes out of the closet, and dressed before leaving the room.
Squall thought to himself, he would bring breakfast to Rinoa. Yes, breakfast in bed for his sweet
woman. He knew Rinoa wouldn't be awake for awhile, and he didn't want to wake her, thus he
wandered off to the control room.
The control room was located at the very top of Balamb Garden. After the Galbadian missiles had been launched at the Garden, it had been a race to save it in any way, it had turned out that the Garden was self containing and mobile. The control room was sort of a ships bridge, where the actions and movement of the Garden could be controlled and changed.
Two people, Cid and Edea, stood looking out over the vast landscape on that morning.
"Morning Squall. I hope you slept well.", Cid said buoyantly. Squall smiled, and nodded his head towards Edea.
"Yes. As do I.", Edea said, but her attention was diverted to the skies above.
"Is something wrong Matron?" Squall asked politely.
"I'm not sure Squall, I know that Ultimecia is gone, but I have a feeling there is something more
out there that could pose a threat?"
Cid turned to Edea, "Surely you don't mean those otherworldly creatures that we found on the
Lunatic Pandora?"
"I don't know dear. It came to me in a dream, I would have said something earlier; but I didn't
believe it was an appropriate time. I'm sure that you would agree with me on that.", the Matron sighed.
"I guess your right Matron, Ultimecia was one thing that had to be taken care of, but I was
hoping that the fighting, the worrying, the pain was over." Squall sighed to himself, thinking of
breakfast, and his sweet Rinoa.
"Nevermind for now then Squall, if it has waited this long, I somewhat doubt its improtance."
Edea smiled.
Squall said his farewells, and went off in search of breakfast.
-
In the time that Squall had left, Rinoa woke up to an empty room; she was so tired from the
recent events, that she fell back asleep; and dreamt.
Rinoa and Squall were sitting on the grass having a picnic, it was a nice peaceful day with
pastel blue skies and white puffy clouds. She was wearing that pale off-white dress again, and
he was wearing his SEED outfit for a change. Rinoa smiled up at Squall's form, and he smiled
back. Out of nowhere came creatures from the sky, blazing down on them like meteors from
above, their tails ablaze with brilliant flame. There were 3 of them and they looked like
Estharian soldiers, but had cruel slanting eyes. The soldier in the centre of them came forward,
pulled out a gunblade similar to Squalls, (that had long since been hung on the wall) and opened
fire. Rinoa took in a sharp gasp of horror, as she turned to Squall, she froze, barely hearing the
echo of the gunblade fire, barely noticing her surroundings, time stopped. Blood was gushing
and pouring out of dozens of bullet holes in his chest, his face was distorted from the pain and
shock. It seemed like every last drop of blood that was in Squalls body, was now pooled around
him, thick, dark and red and the smell of death was everywhere. The strange creatures turned to
Rinoa, and instinctively she put her hands to her heart in prayer. But the creatures didn't shoot,
the turned, and disappeared.
"Aarrhhhhhhhhhhhh.......!!!!!", Rinoa woke up from the nightmare screaming. Squall was just outside the door, ran in, dropped the breakfast tray on the counter and went to Rinoa's side. He threw his arms around her, and she buriend herself in his neck and cried.
"What's wrong Rin?", Squall asked, trying to sound calm.
Rinoa looked up at him as crystalline tears fell down her sweet face. "It was a nightmare." She changed her attitude, smiled at him. "That's all. Sorry to bother you."
Squall looked at her quizzically, and knew why she said what she did. He used to be someone who cared solely about the mission, and getting things done. Never before had he cared about someone else's feelings. But thinking about that wasn't going to help. "I brought you breakfast Rinoa, I hope you like it. It's only cafeteria food mind you." Squall walked over to the counter, picked up the tray and brought it over to her.
"Thanks Squall.", she didn't look to hungry, but picked at the so-called food in front of her.
"Rinoa, I was thinking later today, maybe we could go on a picnic, or if today isn't a good idea, then some other day."
"Today... um... its .. a hor.. no its not a good day." She stuttered.
"Ok, are you sure your alright?" He asked.
"I'm sure Squall. I just don't feel like going outside today.", Rinoa spoke.
Just then, a cheery voice came from outside the still open dorm door. "Squ-all-ll, where are you? Why are you hiding from me!" It was Selphie, the happy, go-lucky SEED from the now destroyed Trabia Garden. She bounced into the room.
"I hope I'm not disturbing anything!", Selphie bubbled.
Rinoa looked up from her tray, a new look, a happier look on her face. "No your not. Squall just brought me something to eat, but its not looking to edible." She threw a coy look at him.
Squall shook his head in embarrassment. "Anything you wanted in particular Selphie?"
"We-ll...... I was just like thinking, you know, now that we're done all this fighting.... maybe... hehe.... we could go back and rebuild Trabia Garden!" She looked over at him, "What do you think?"
Rinoa smiled in spite of herself, "I think it's a wonderful idea, eh Squall?"
With a look of truth, Squall agreed. "I thinks its an excellent idea. I can ask Cid and Matron to leave immediately if you want."
"Wa-Hoo!!! Thanks a million!!!" She ran out of the room bouncing for joy.
"I better go talk it over with Cid, Matron and the others. Care to join me?" Squall asked Rinoa.
She smiled. "No I think I'll stay here, get cleaned up. I have some thinking to do, my clothes need washing. Maybe I'll start writing a book."
"I won't be too long then." Squall said as he left the room.
Months passed and seasons changed, Squall, Rinoa and the rest of the gang went about normal, happy lives. They spent a lot of time rebuilding Trabia Garden, continuing old relationships and starting new ones. Irvine and Selphie were together, Zell had big feelings for Quistris, and Edea and Cid were better than ever.
Rinoa had woken up early, eaten and dressed. She hadn't had any more nightmares since after the battle, and her attitude was once again bright and cheerful. She went into Squall's room to wake him. It was going to be a beautiful day.
The morning light shone through Squalls room's window and onto his still sleeping form, the gentle hum of the Garden's movement lay in the background noise. He never heard the footsteps of another come into the room.
-
Sorry to end it here for now, more will come. When I think of more...