Characters
Squall Leonhart- always deep in thought, this brown haired, 18 year old male has somewhat shielded himself from the rest of the world, not very close to anyone anymore.
Rinoa Heartilly- a black haired 18-year-old female, Rinoa is enthusiastic about getting others to participate in social activities. She is especially involved in getting Squall to open up, and has a grand time doing it.
Selphie Tilmitt- not really involved in much of the story, Selphie- an overly excited 18-year-old female- tries to help Rinoa open up Squall. She is a strong believer in friendship, and has high hopes in her depressing task.
Zell Dincht- exciting and feisty describes this 18-year-old male. He is involved in the Garden Festival (by Selphie's wish) and also helps in Rinoa's task.
Seifer Almasy- Seifer is a jealous rival of Squalls, and nothing but. He is 19 years old, and has a scar identical to Squalls.
Quistis Trepe- The instructor, under the rule of Headmaster Cid, is the teacher of the others. She accepts her close-in-age students for who they are. Being so, she doesn't like Seifer much, though she has no choice but to teach him what he must know. She takes pity on Squall much to often, and, unknown to her, that feeling traps him. Quistis is 19 years old, like Seifer.
Headmaster Cid- the 40-and-some headmaster of the world-renowned Balamb Garden is recognized as 'kind, but cruel.' Ever since his episode with the leadership of the Garden, he has been more meek, frightened.
Ellone- fear gathers in this now 25-year-old orphanage companion as she watched her old friends become the heroes of the Earth. She senses something, not good, very evil. She is the only person aware of this presence, and does not hesitate to stop it from enveloping her friends.
Adam Williams- this mysterious man appears just when he feels needed. In a way, he is a spitting image of Squall, not wanting to speak, to appear fragile and weak. Even the scar on their foreheads match. Squall does not know where this man came from, but he knows for sure he is not welcome!
Medallion Omega- she accompanies Adam, follows him everywhere he may choose to go. She happens to be a spitting image of Rinoa, down to the stubbornness and even the slightest of expressions. She has said enough information that it is revealed that she and Adam used to be the same as Squall and Rinoa.
Mirrored
The door to the hotel opened, and Squall Leonhart set down his exhaustingly heavy bags. Rinoa Heartilly, who was traveling with him, sighed as she put down her equally heavy bag.
"I don't see why you had to buy all those clothes." Squall said angrily, rubbing at his aching shoulders and flopping down on the small bed beside him, one of two.
"Well, sorry. But it was a sale, and you know I can't resist one." She replied airily, sitting down on the other bed.
Yes, I know. I know very well, he thought.
Rinoa glanced at the beautiful ring, identical to the one on Squalls finger.
"I'm sorry I gave you so much trouble then, Squall." She said, all of a sudden.
"Its okay. That was a long time ago. Don't worry about it." Squall said.
Funny you bring it up now.
"What are you thinking now?" Rinoa asked, getting off her bed and going to Squalls.
"That I'm tired." He replied, lying down.
"Oh. Guess you have a reason to be."
"…."
"You just go to sleep now…"
Rinoa ran her slender fingers through Squalls golden brown hair, feeling its
softness under her fingertips. She
began to hum a melody familiar to Squall, and he began to relax. A few moments later, he fell asleep.
He looks so innocent, so peaceful. Like nothing has happened to him. He didn't almost die a few times, he wasn't so angry.
The 18-year-old boy had a peaceful, serene look on his face, like he was not aware of the current situation. The Galabedians had discovered Rinoa's sorcerery, and tried to capture her. It's not like this was the first time, but Galabedia had seemed more ferocious this time, more dangerous. Still, Squall had managed to keep his precious Rinoa from their unworthy grasp. But Rinoa was aware of the fact that he always seemed to be thinking about it. He had asked her once 'How many times will I have to delude you from their grasp?' He hadn't gotten an answer, yet.
Rinoa ran her fingers through his hair once more, and then walked over to her bed. As she lay down to sleep, she cast one more glance toward the serene, sleeping boy. She smiled to herself and fell asleep watching him.
The next morning, Rinoa awoke to Squall nudging her softly.
"Should we go on a walk?" he asked, not much feeling put into what he had said.
"Uh, sure." Rinoa got up and walked to her large pile of bags that the two had carried to the hotel yesterday. Glancing out the window every so often, she hummed to herself while choosing her outfit. She heard Squall preparing breakfast, and quickly dressed so she could help. As she cast one last glance out the window, she saw a look-alike to herself glancing back at her. A boy stood next to her, and Rinoa looked closer at him. He was a spitting image of Squall, except his hair was black.
Rinoa ran into the kitchen, her fresh memory replaying in her mind.
"Squall, guess what I saw!" she said breathlessly.
"I don't want to play any guessing games." he responded.
"I saw you! And me! Out on the street, except you had black hair."
"Oh? How long ago?"
"Just now."
"…You..and me…?" he shook his head and continued to make breakfast.
"Is that so hard to believe?" she pouted.
"No…not anymore."
"…"
When they'd finished their food, they went for a walk. Rinoa insisted they go to the place where shed seen the strange people, but they weren't in sight.
"They were here, Squall, I know it!" she insisted.
"I would like to believe you, but there isn't any evidence…" Squall frowned at his not being able to believe her.
"What were you expecting, a piece of DNA?" she mumbled, and before Squall could respond, walked away airily.
Squall caught up with her in an instant, and the two walked around Dollet for a while, until they began to play a game of tag.
A few hours later, Rinoa walked in the door of their hotel room, completely exhausted. Squall came in after her, breathing hard. He touched her shoulder calmly.
"You're it." He said breathlessly.
"Okay, I'm too tired to play anymore." She lay down on the bed, arms spread out wide. Squall lay down beside her, and the two fell asleep.
Rinoa awoke to Squall still beside her, sleeping peacefully. She got up to glance out the window.
"No, they aren't there. I wonder what I saw?" she said to herself, as she walked to the small kitchen. A few minutes later, she heard Squall stirring. He glanced out the window, and came into the kitchen, his face pale white.
"What's wrong?" Rinoa asked.
"I saw you…. and me." he said, still unsure of himself.
"See? I told you. You had black hair, right?"
"Yes."
"So we both saw a mirror image of ourselves, out the same window…."
Squall looked confused. Rinoa had never used such words before. It had always been Squall to find out what was going on. It was like the two had switched minds.
"Lets go find these people. I want to know why they bother us." Rinoa said excitedly. She hurried out of the kitchen, Squall close behind.
They ran to the spot where Squall had seen the people, but they weren't there.
"I thought we were so close!" Rinoa exclaimed, still looking for the people.
"Who are you looking for?" a familiar voice asked. Squall and Rinoa turned around.
"Ellone!" Squall exclaimed.
"Hello Squall, Rinoa. How are you doing?" Ellone had a more pleasant look about her; she seemed friendlier, less afraid.
"We were just looking for some people." Rinoa ran her sentence off.
"A complete identical image to yourselves?"
"…" Squall had nothing to say to this uncanny coincidence.
"Yes, how did you know?" Rinoa asked, watching Squalls turned down face carefully.
"I saw them, but not out in the open. They seem friendly, but I can't really tell." Ellone said.
"Do you know where we can find these two people?"
"They're somewhere familiar to you, somewhere near…"
"Somewhere familiar?"
"High…" Ellone looked up. "There!"
"That's our hotel room!" Rinoa said, and ran inside, Ellone following. Squall waited a moment, and then he looked over one last time. Rinoa smiled back at him. Satisfied, he began to walk away, then turned back.
Rinoa?!
"Who are you?" he asked her, aware she wasn't Rinoa. Rinoa had run back into the hotel, with Ellone. So why was she here?
"My name is Medallion. Medallion Omega." The girl replied.
"Why…why do you look like my girlfriend?" he asked, finding it strange to be talking to an identical Rinoa.
"Because, in my day, love was a petty thing. My husband and I came to warn you…" she responded, not missing a beat.
"Why are you coming to tell me that? It is unimportant."
"Because, my husband and I fear you and your friend may be in danger."
"How can love be dangerous?" Squall did not like where this conversation was going.
"You…and a sorceress. It is too dangerous. Much too dangerous for the human race. Many innocent people could be killed by you and her. Your powers combined are too much for the world, the universe."
"No, I will not give up my powers, nor will she." Squall hastily turned his back on this familiar girl, and ran to the hotel.
"You will kill all, Squall! The human race will exist no more!" Medallion screamed after him.
Shut her out, Squall. Just shut her out.
He got in the hotel room, and saw Ellone flopped into a chair. Rinoa was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is she?" Squall asked.
"I'm right here, Squall." Rinoa stepped out from behind the door. She saw Squall was really Squall, and ran into his arms.
"Your image came up here, he tried to talk me into giving you up!" she cried, and he laid her head against his shoulder.
"Its okay, Rinoa. I'm here now." He decided not to tell her about his talk with Medallion.
Not yet. She doesn't need that now. I will tell her later, when she is calmed down more.
"Ill be going now." Ellone said, getting off the chair and heading for the door.
"Wait." Squall said, stopping her with his free hand. "What was my image's name?"
"Adam. Adam Williams." She told him.
Therefore, Adam cannot be her husband. Who was Medallion talking about, then?
"Squall? If you've got something to say, just say it." Rinoa mumbled into his shoulder.
"Its nothing." he said.
"Okay. Is that all you needed of me?" Ellone asked.
"Yes. Ill take care of the rest." Squall said.
"I warn you, those two…others, they could be dangerous."
"Yes…"
"Alright. You know where to find me if you need me."
Squall smiled. Actually, he didn't, but he was positive that he wouldn't need her help.
The door shut, and Squall lifted Rinoa up into his arms, onto the bed.
"Go to sleep." he told her softly, then curled up next to her.
Rinoa woke up the next morning with a stinging headache. Squall's sleeping face was covered in the morning sunlight, and his normally brown hair was streaked with bright golds and yellows. Rinoa smiled, and then got up to make breakfast, after she'd chosen her outfit. As she finished, Squall let out a heartbreaking moan and sat up, adjusting his eyes to the sunlight.
"Hey." He smiled.
"Hi." She smiled back and walked over to give him a kiss on the forehead. "You had a nightmare again, didn't you?"
"…"
"What was it about?"
"…Those creepy clones of us…Medallion and Adam."
"Medallion?"
Uh oh. I forgot I hadn't told her.
"Yeah, the girl that looks like you. Medallion Omega."
"Why didn't you tell me yesterday?" Rinoa had a serious frown on her usually perky face.
"Didn't want to worry you." He responded.
"I wouldn't worry. You think too much." The smile returned to her face, and she hummed to Squalls favorite song as she strutted out to the kitchen. Squall got dressed and joined her in the kitchen.
Later, the couple found themselves taking their daily morning walk. They stopped by the spot where Squall had seen Medallion, but she wasn't there today. They were relieved when they didn't see their copies all day. Until they stopped at a nightclub, that is. Rinoa wanted to go in because she had seen Quistis, Selphie, and Zell go in about a half hour ago. Squall wasn't too thrilled, but Rinoa finally convinced him.
"Hey, look, they're all here!" Rinoa exclaimed, pointing to the table closest to the stage.
Haven't seen them in a while. Didn't think they'd come in here. This is too low, even for Zell.
Quistis smiled when she saw the couple approach. At first, she adjusted her glasses because she wasn't sure she was seeing correctly. Then, when they came over, she was certain.
"Hey, Rinoa!" Selphie exclaimed.
"Hi Selphie!" Rinoa and Selphie ran off to go catch up on their gossip. Squall sat down next to Zell.
"Squall, never thought see you in here!" he said, snickering.
"Not my idea." Squall said.
"Didn't think so." Quistis laughed.
"…"
"So, anything interesting goin on?" Zell asked.
"…"
"Is that a yes?"
"…Maybe."
"C'mon Squall!"
"…Its nothing."
"Squall, we're here to help, not to get in the way." Quistis said.
"No, you came here to have a little fun."
"True, but c'mon man! I wanna see why you holdin out! Is it something big?" Zell danced around in his seat impatiently. A girl came over to him and asked him if he wanted to dance. Zell smiled.
"Sure!" he exclaimed, and got up.
"So, Squall, can you please tell me? I really would like to help." Quistis smiled.
"…" Defeated, Squall finally answered. "Rinoa and I…we saw identical clones of ourselves yesterday." He whispered, so no one else could hear them.
Since when did I become so weak? I never would've given in to Quistis before. I'm not even sure I would believe myself.
"Where did you see these identical creatures?" Quistis asked.
There she goes, trying to be everyone's little helper. I know what I saw. I don't need her help to figure out what I saw. She doesn't even sound like she believes me.
"They're not creatures. They said they were from the old days, at least that's what Rinoa clone said." He was beginning to get annoyed, even if she was trying to help. He didn't need any help, he needed to go home. He needed sleep. He needed Rinoa. He needed a home, a permanent, not the apartment they were currently renting.
"Rinoa clone?" Quistis raised her eyebrow suspiciously. "Did you ever come across the idea it could be Rinoa trying to play a stupid joke on you?"
"Rinoa wouldn't do that. And do you think I would do that? There's one of me too, you know."
"Oh. I'm just trying to think outside the box. Don't shoot me for it."
I didn't ask for your help.
"…" Squall suddenly felt grouchy.
I need…sleep. I have to go home.
"I should get going." He said, quickly getting up. He left Quistis stunned as he walked past Zell, dancing merrily with his new friend, to where Rinoa and Selphie were.
"Oh, Squall! What's up?" Rinoa looked a little surprised, but moved over to make room for him on the bench. He shook his head wearily.
"No. I should go home now. I'm really tired." He frowned.
"What, does Squally need a nappy?" Selphie asked playfully.
I'm really not in the mood for lame jokes right now.
"Did you want me to come with you?" Rinoa asked, her eyes narrowing in concern.
"No, I don't want to spoil your night of fun. Just stay here, I'll be fine." Squall didn't feel like arguing with her, so if she insisted on coming with, he wouldn't protest.
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Stay safe." She leaned up to kiss him, but he refrained, nodding her off. She nodded, knowing he didn't like seeing public displays or causing them.
He walked away, ignoring the stunned look from Quistis and the lost look of Zell. He just didn't care anymore, didn't think anything mattered anymore.
He passed a dark alley quietly. Silent street after silent street, he began to feel lost among the quiet. He began to think about anything he could, about Rinoa, the clones, his friends, and the Garden. How was everyone? Were they doing fine without their Commander? Did they even remember him at all?
Does anyone even care about me? Am I a loner, even still? Am I all alone, scarred with loneliness forever?
These thoughts began to get to him when a loud bang erupted from a nearby trash can. A hidden figure stepped partially out, wrapping strong arms around the slender body and pulling him in.
Where…where am I…? Is this…no. I'm not dead, I have a heartbeat.
Squall looked around, startled. All around him was gray, deep gray.
Do I exist anymore?
The question brought a shiver to his body, making him think of Rinoa. How was she? Was she alright?
Squall…I need you. Where are you? I can't see you. Are you there?
"Rinoa!" Squall called into the darkness. No one replied. "Rinoa!" He cried persistently again. He wouldn't give on her. Not this time.
She can't hear you.
A deep voice in his head made him stumble backwards.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" He cried, reaching for his gunblade. Then he looked down, stunned. Where his most prized possession had once been rested nothing but the cold air that surrounded him.
Ha ha…Squall, that isn't Rinoa, you fool. It is only an image.
"What have you done with her?!" Squall yelled. He was only an inch away from crying, even though he never cried, at least he never admitted he cried.
I've not touched her…yet.
"Don't you dare! I swear, if you hurt Rinoa…" His voice trailed off as he realized there was nothing he could do. He was helpless.
What? You'll hurt me? HA! You couldn't hurt a fly. You wouldn't hurt a fly.
"You're not a fly, are you? So I can, and I will, HURT you!" He felt stupid claming things like that without a weapon to sheath, but maybe he could scare him off…
Ooh. I'm really scared.
"Show yourself, you coward!" Squall screamed, feeling his vocal cords fall silent and hoarse.
He heard the footsteps of his enemy near, and prepared himself for a surprise.
