What's one girl, if the rest of the world is safe?
The Sorceress is the darkness over of this world, a supernatural being, and the most powerful on the earth good or evil. She is undefeated. But despite this the humans do not give up, for thousands of years the fight against the sorceress has waged on, and even knowing of her power still the brave are willing to continue the fight against her in hopes that their blood shed will get them one step closer to the end of her rein of terror.
Winhill
"Squall please don't give up on this family!" Ellone pleaded desperately. "I know mom is gone now, but that is why now more than ever you and I have to keep it together for dad."
Squall scoffed bitterly. "I'm tired of keeping it together for dad, we have done nothing but keep it together for dad this whole time... Hell mom had to keep it together for him and she's the one who spent the past five years dying when she was weak and there was no more medicine or magic that could he she stayed strong and held it together for him while he fell apart and did nothing for this family, and nothing for her. I don't care how broken his heart is, his weakness in the face of this tragedy is unforgivable, and as far as I'm concerned now that mom is gone he is no longer my father, no he hasn't been for five years now... He's spineless and weak and I want nothing further to do with him."
Ellone sighed. "How can you say that? Squall despite what you may feel or think now he is our father, and we are all each other has, please don't do this, don't walk out on what family you have left, because he is still our father, and I think." Squall stood suddenly startling his older sister.
"NO! Ellone no. He is not my family, you and only you are the only family I have left... He gave me no choice but to feel this
way making us be the caretakers to our dying mother!" Squall wanted to but he wouldn't allow it he ran his fingers through his long brow hair and choked back his bitter tears. "Ellone. He mumbled. I had to end her life, and with one flip of a switch..." He looked down at his hands and balled them into a fist. "These very hands flipped the switch and ended the life of the very woman who gave me my life." And then with that he picked up his bags and headed for the door. He put his hand on the knob and looked back at his heartbroken sister. "And for that I will NEVER forgive him."
She gave him another pleading look. Please. "The love of his life was dying before his very eyes, and he was... Is a broken man, and we should not punish him for the hurt that he feels."
Squalls frozen expression never changed. "No. But we are to be punished, and to be the only ones to go through the hardships of her being sick, and now of her dying, I'm done taking his bullets. She was my mother as well as his wife, and I would have liked to have had one moment to be able to feel what I was feeling too."
She truly felt awful for the toll this had taken on her younger brother, she could tell his hurt in his young face. "Then take the time to feel it now, its not to late to be heart broken about it. Take the time to feel whatever it is you are feeling."
Squall gave her a cold stare and shrugged. "I feel nothing, I haven't for awhile."
She looked up from his lips where it seemed as though nothing but venom spilled and met his eyes and found there something different in his bluish gray eyes. There was a sorrow in his eyes as great as there fathers, and it was there that she realized that he could indeed hurt just as deeply despite the front he put up for five whole years of unmeasurable pain. And it was there that she realized that her brother just might be more broken than her and her father put together. She inched forward . "So there's nothing I can say to get you to stay?" Squalls eyes went cold. "No. Nothing at all." And with that he turned opened the door and bolted away.
SIX YEARS LATER.
Head Master Cid's Office In Balamb Garden
"Squall Leonhart returning for duty, Sir." Saying that was the first bit of normalcy Squall had felt in weeks since his was nearly killed in the worlds biggest and long awaited victory, it was the death of the sorceress and binding of her power so it may never enter another unsuspecting victim again. "Ah, Squall I wasn't expecting you back for some time, those were some pretty serious injury you acquired." Squall sighed deeply. "Yes Sir, but I am fine now, the doctor said that I could return for active duty."
Squall noticed the quizzical eyebrow Cid was wearing as his eyes skimmed his chart, and he grew nervous in the pit of his stomach at the thought of not being able to immediately return to his duties. "Squall I see in the report that the doctor says you can return in six weeks and then you will still have to do your physical therapy before being cleared for active duty, and there is one more matter besides your physical state that I would like to discuss my boy." Squall shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other in pain, and the discomfort of knowing what was going to be said next. He uncomfortably cleared his throat." And what would that be Sir?" The headmaster hated to say something like this to someone like Squall Leonhart. "Well, uh, your mental state, you went through and did something nobody else has ever done, and in the process you almost died.
"Now I know you are a solemn type and I respect that, but at some point in time you will need to talk wither it be about this or something else, and I need to know you are ok and this wasn't what pushed you to the point, because you know we have wonderful on site psychologist." Squall shifted back in more even more physical pain and the discomfort that was being brought on by this conversation, and this time it wasn't unnoticed. "Would you like to sit down?" Squall stood upright at that. "No I am fine really physically and mentally, and all I would like is to get back to work."
He sighed at the half halfhearted response. "Squall it has only been two weeks since you killed the sorceress, and in the process you yourself almost died." Squall cut him off. "Sir, with all do respect I know I'm fine you don't have to listen to what some doctor says, I know when enough is enough and I'm fine." The Headmaster sighed, he hoped that Squall would admit the exhaustion written upon his face. "And that is the reason right there Squall why I'm giving you a leave of absence until further notice."
At that Squall almost lost his composer. "WHAT? WHY?" He slammed his hand down on the desk and with that realized he overstepped himself, he looked up from the desk and did not see anger, but disappointment. "Because Leonhart, you joined us here at the Garden when you were 17 and for the pass six years you have put everything you have into taking out the sorceress and restoring our world to peace, and things are finally starting to get better, that is your doing so I think you should get to go live for once and enjoy it, ok."
Squall sighed and as a force of habit ran his finger through his hair. "Thank you sir but no thank you, I am not interested in taking a leave of absence." The Headmaster changed his tone to more serious than concerned. "It wasn't a request Squall it was an order, and you will not disobey orders." The headmaster then dropped the harsh tone and smiled brightly. "Now you go and enjoy yourself, when you have properly healed, then gone through physical therapy and cleared you can return, but not a moment before."
Squall felt a great deal of disappointment, but knew there was no use in fighting against this decision. "Very well Sir I will go."
Cid walked around his desk and patted Squall on the sholder. "Now remember its not forever just some time to recuperate, and anyways you are the worlds hero, even if nobody will ever know, I know. And that is why you deserve a vacation. Squall turned and limped to the door. "Yes Sir." And with that Squall was once again leaving the only home he had known for a very long time.
THREE MONTH LATER
Balamb Hotel
Squall ignored his alarm clock and seriously debated spending the rest of yet another pointless day in bed, but he knew that he had to force himself into recovery if he was ever to return, it was a gut feeling that he had, a feeling that this wasn't over, and he needed to make sure that he really did rid the world of the sorceress. He got up and got ready grabbing his gym bag as he headed for the door, half way there he heard a familiar voice calling for him, he turned to see who it was, and once he did a twinge of annoyance ran through him as a short blonde with a goofy mile wide grin ran in the his direction.
"Yo Squall!" Zell called loudly drawing attention, and Squall could already tell that he wished he would have pretended he didn't hear him and kept walking. "Long time no see man, what have you been up to?" Squall sighed irritably and merely gave a faint wave. Zell grinned at his old acquaintances less than friendly greeting, and as usual didn't take it personally. "Ha same old chatter box Squall." Squall snarled at the sarcasm. "Same ole idiot Zell, I thought I got rid of you in basic training, six years really isn't long enough."
Zell dramatically put his hand over his heart and shot Squall a hurt look. "Ouch Squall what's wrong with you, you seem even more moody than you ever did in basic training, I figured even you would have cracked a smile after the defeat of the sorceress." Squall put his face in his hand. "I'm sorry, its not you, its just that during all of that I was seriously injured, and so it was suggested that I take an indefinite leave of absence." Zell scratched the back of his head. Oh that sucks man, "I'm sorry I know how much you wanted to move up in the Garden."
Squall shifted off his bad leg. "I still am, I'm just taking a break, so why are you here?" Zell cast his eyes to the side walk. "I'm here is because I'm out too, but I don't think I will be getting to go back for awhile though." Squall was interested in what would make Zell quit, because despite his less than aloof appearance Zell too wanted nothing more than to be a missionary for Garden just as Squall did, and it didn't seem like him to just quit. "Why what happened?" And then Squall noticed a seriousness that made its way to Zell's face.
"I was called in one day after being gone for a month, and my father had passed away from a heart attack, well anyways when I returned home to help my mother take care of all the arrangements I saw how difficult it was for her to take care of things by herself, ya know, her and my father ran the cafe together, he did all the repairs around the house himself, and I got to thinking that I cannot leave her on her own right now."
Squall soon felt bad for how much attitude he had given Zell, he knew how hard it was to lose people, and he wouldn't wish that on anyone. "I'm sorry to hear about your father, and that must have been a hard thing to do leave your life to help." Zell gave a sheepish grin. "No not really, I mean my mother and father adopted me, they gave me a better life and gave me a home with a more wonderful family than I could have ever wished for, and so there was no hesitation I knew what had to be done." Even though he would never admit it Squall was somewhat surprised. "That's actually really respectable of you Zell." Zell looked shocked at the comment that came from the tall brunet. "Ha! Yeah well I'm not a complete idiot all the time, I can be responsible from time to time!" Squall rolled his eyes. "I guess so." Zell chuckled. "That was the closest I ever heard you come to saying a nice thing." Squall scoffed and turned away headed for the gym. "Whatever." Zell shouted teasingly at him." Now there's the old Squall!"
Deling City
"I can't believe your mother talked me into coming all the way to Deling City with you just to get some flowers to decorate her cafe tables." Squall said in an irritated tone. "Ha! Well nobody can say no to Ma Dincht, besides she's trying to class the place up." Squall rolled his eyes as Zell nudged him only making Squalls mood more annoyed. "Whatever, she just didn't want her idiot son to get lost or in trouble." Zell stood up quickly causing everyone on the train to take notice. "That was just a ploy to get you out of town in hopes that new scenery would get you out of your head space."
Squall said noting he only sat quietly at the eyes that always seemed to be averted to his and Zell's attention every time they went somewhere together. They got off the train and headed to the nearest coffee shop. "So Squall is there anything you need or want to do since were already here?" Zell asked. "Um yeah, the library." Zell looked disappointed at the response in hopes his companion would suggest something better than the library, Zell hated libraries, he always got in trouble for being too loud or for knocking things over. He sighed an over dramatically. "We can head there before going to the flower shop."
They walked into the coffee shop and the moment they did a spunky small crazy haired brunet with wild green eyes stepped up to them with a pen and pad in hand. "Hey guys, May I take your order?" She said in an overly excited tone. "Black coffee thanks." Zell rolled his eyes, should have known he was just as dull of a coffee drinker as everything else. "And I'll have a caramel frappe, Please." She stopped writing, and looked back up to them with a smile. "It will be out in no time." Zell grinned. "Thank you, Selphie." She gave a surprised face to Zell. "How did you know my name?" Squall noticed Zell giving her a look that Squall usually gives him when he talks. "Your name tag." She squealed in embarrassment and then gave him a wink. "I always forget, well boys I'll be back with your drinks in a jiff, okie dokie!"
Zell chuckled and waved at the overly energetic young girl, and then looked back to Squall with more of a serious look. "Wow she makes me feel exhausted when I talk to her." Squall shot him an evil look. "Now you know how I feel when I've got to talk to you.." Close to causing another scene Zell laughed out loud. "Haha! Thanks a lot Squall." Just then the overly waitress bounced up to their table and handed them their orders. "So are you guys visiting Deling?" Zell looked a bit embarrassed at what he was about to say. "Yeah my mother sent us here to get a flower only the Deling City flower shop has." She smiled widely. "Wow that's a very nice thing to do for your mother, not something a lot of guys would do." Zell put his best flirting forth if you could really call it that. "Well guess I'm just different from other guys, better even." She giggled. "I guess so, and my best friend works there, and I'm sure she will be a great help to you guys."
"Not half as much help as you Selphie." She covered her blushing face. "Well I should get back to work, but have fun." Squall stood and headed for the door. "Yeah as you can see my friends ready to go." Selphie cocked her head to the side. "He's not really the social type is he?" Zell laughed deeply at that question. "Uh, that would be a big NO." She wave a big over the top wave and flashed him a cute and wild smile. "Well Nice meeting you, and good luck." She chirped. "You too Selphie."
Zell walked off after dropping another tip on the table not feeling right that Squall about only Squall leaving one, he walked out the cafe doors and him and Squall headed three blocks down to the library. "So Squall what do you need from the library?" He thought that was a stupid question. "A book." Squall said sarcastically. Zell shot him a dirty look. "Oh really smart ass, I meant what book are you looking for?" Squall almost felt like grinning at how easy it was to anger his short companion. "The history of the sorceress." Zell grew quiet for a moment. "Uh and why are you doing that, for once there is no need to worry about the sorceress, and you should take advantage more than anyone, especially after what you put into it to save the world."
Squall scoffed. "Yeah, real heroic" Zell sounded more serious than ever now. "Squall it was heroic, you did something nobody else was strong or brave enough to do, and you a a hero, at least I think so. Rolling his eye. "I am not a hero, and I'm pretty sure I'm a fraud." And now Zell was confused. "What do you mean?" Squall Quietly searched his mind. "I don't know, I was just so hurt, and the injuries were making it hard to know what was real." Zell now looked lost. "I'm not following you Squall, because she is dead, she's even frozen at the sorceress memorial." And so Squall sighed deeply and waited a moment before hesitantly answer the question and saying out loud what had been on his mind for some time. "I'm not sure its over."
Giving Squall a confused look he scratched the back of his head. "What do you mean man?" Zell asked but still very confused by this, and by the fact that him and Squall Leonhart were actually having a conversation. "Well I'm not so sure the sorceress is really dead is what I mean." Zell shot him a look as if to tell him he was losing it. "And why do you say that Squall?" Squall shamefully looked at his feet. "I feel it Zell, and I just know that I got the credit for something I didn't do really do."
"But Squall its been six months now, and in the past the sorceress had always taken over whatever human body she possessed by now." Zell asked now getting worried by the conversation. "Zell I'm not saying I didn't injure her more than she's been in the past, but I am saying I saw what I saw." "And what did you that Squall? Zell asked." Squall didn't really know how to explain his gut instinct. "After I killed her and after I binded her powers there was a moment." "What do you mean?" Zell asked nervously? "A gut feeling that it wasn't over and it didn't work, something felt off in that moment. And even though nothing has happened so far, I cannot shake that feeling." Squall looked up from the ground and his usual cold eyes now had a hint of worry in them.
"Squall its only natural to think its not over, I mean thousands of years of her being undefeated and causing nothing but death and pain, its only natural to feel its not over." Squall sighed. "Its not that Zell. I never felt her evil leave Zell, and I think that it will only be a matter of time before she resurfaces." They were walking into the library Squalls attention still turned to Zell and just as they did Squall collided with something small and soft, and he heard a thud on the floor followed by a quiet "ouch."
"I'm sorry." Squall said as he turning his attention from Zell and down to the floor where he was a little taken aback by a young raven haired girl looking up at him from dark chocolate eyes, and for a moment he felt a familiarity about her, like a gut feeling. Zell stepped in and interrupted his overly long gaze at the girl. "Hello, Squall?" Squall snapped out of his trans at Zell's voice calling his name repeatedly. "Uh, yeah what?" Zell chuckled at Squall's confusion. "Are you going to help the girl up?" Squall averted his attention back to the girl on the floor and out out his hand. "Of course I'm sorry." She sweetly waved it off. "Its ok not big a big deal, well I'm late for work, nice bumping into you." She said in a soft voice and reached for his hand, and when she did the familiar feeling came back to him and he never took his eyes away from her as she smiled and walked out of the library doors.
Zell laughed after they walked in and Squall looked over at him confused. "What?" Zell gave him a knowing look. "Squall I might not be the best with women, but you just gawking at her like an idiot was probably not any better." Rolling his eyes. "Whatever Zell, that's not why/ I was staring at her, she just looked familiar, but in a strange way." Zell gave a thumbs up. "Wow, She's familiar? Way to go Squall!" Squall tried to restrain himself from raising his voice at the blonde idiot before him, not wanting to get kick out of the library. "No! I've never met her, but it does feel as though I have." Looking at Squall with a mischievous face. "You sure you've never met her?" Squall blushed a little knowing what Zell was asking. "Nope, never."
Soon Squall dismissed the feeling and got the reading material he was looking for, and soon they were at the flower shop. "Look there's the flower, isn't it beautiful?" "Uh, yeah real nice, now lets go." In a hurry to get out of there. Zell laughed. "Guess that sounded lame." Squall smirked. "Yeah you keep saying things like that ans Seifer wont be the only one calling you chicken wuss from now on." Zells face turned red from anger at the thought of Seifer calling him that for as long as he could remember. "Don't you dare." Squall couldn't help but be amused.
"So Squall what do you think happened to the spirit of the sorceress if you didn't really kill her and bind her powers?" Squall unfortunately knew the answer to that question. "I think that what always happens happened, and that somewhere out there is an a young girl who is about to become the worlds enemy." Zell sighed. "I wish we knew who it was so we could save this one, unlike all those other innocent girls who's bodies were taken over, and souls eventually destroyed." Squall felt a twinge of guilt. "And that right there is why I want to get back to duty, why I never wanted to leave, and in the mean time am going to find out as much as I can so that way when the time comes around next time I can stop it once and for all by killing her and truly binding the powers."
"I only wish that she didn't have to be killed, I wish there was a way to forever be rid of the sorceress, and at the same time not take the girls life." Zell said. Squall scoffed. "Yeah, I don't want to kill another girl who did nothing wrong other than being chosen for a horrible reason, but what is one girl if the rest of the world is safe?" Zell sighed. "I guess you're right. But its not like we will ever find her in time anyways, buy the time we know who she is she will only be a shell of her former self." And then Squall felt that familiarity from before, like the one at the library, Squall looked around to see what it could be, and there she was the girl from the library walking up to them with a hand full of freshly cut flowers and an apron, she smiled, and Zell waved at the familiar raven haired girl walking toward them. Zell looked back at Squall. "Must be Selphie's friend, that a coincidence." Squall felt more serious than ever. "Yeah." The girl approached them still smiling. "Hello, I'm Rinoa, may I be of any assistance?"
Hope you liked...! :)
