Authoress: Isleia
Summary: A secret group known as the Shadow SeeD make their presence known at Balamb Garden, but who are they? And what is their purpose?
Disclaimer: As every author knows, Final Fantasy belongs to Square-Enix. If I owned it, I would be so stinking rich I wouldn't have to have a job. Which I just got the other day. Yay! Money! Income!
AN: On with it!
It was cold. Cold and wet. That's what happens when battle breaks out on a southern tip of Trabia. It's always cold up here. It's even worse when it's raining.
We got here at about 0600 hours, right before sunrise. It is now 1904 hours, just before sunset.
I look up from my position and I can see the high peeks of the icy Trabia mountains and the uncaring, dangerous forests that always seem to be in the night no matter what time of day it is. The sky is clouded over, I can see no stars, only drops of water along with marble sized ice balls fall from the sky. I breathe out and I can see my own breath misting out from my lips.
"Thinking again?"
I look back to see my comrade of many years, ever since the Unspoken War.
"When do I not?"
He stands next to me in the downpour of ice and water.
"Well, we are going to head back to Garden soon. I'm not surprised that you would be thinking more than usual."
"…"
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"Five years…"
"And?"
"…4 months."
"I knew you were counting." He chuckles next to me.
"Bit me, Soren." I say, turning and walking back down to camp.
"No need to get all pissy, Captain!" He says, while running to catch up with me.
We enter camp and many of the other SeeD rise to salute, but I merely mumble an 'at ease' and they continue with their duties.
Our group, we are SeeD, but we are unknown to the world. We were named Shadow SeeD. We did what we could at any given time and when all was well, we slipped away unnoticed. Usually during the night. Hence the name. Edea gave us the name and chose us herself. I felt quite honored, as did everyone else. We all took our duty seriously, but we made sure to have fun every now and then.
The Shadow SeeD were brought together a little over 10 years ago. I was only 16 when I was enlisted to be one, I was one of the youngest amongst us. I'm 26 now and am glad to finally be going back to Balamb Garden.
Garden isn't only my home, there is also someone very important to me waiting there. No, it isn't some sweetheart. It isn't even a relative. Although, I do think of him as one.
You see, about 9 years back, the Shadow SeeD came upon a town, a small one. However, when we arrived, it was no more than mere rubble and burnt wood. We had searched all over for survivors, but we only found about a dozen. They all knew each other except for one small boy. I had been the one to find him. When I had found him he had been hiding underneath a pile of leather jackets which had saved him from being burned in the fire. I found out that the boy had been adopted about a year back so no one really knew him. So while the other town's people left, I decided to take care of him. Of course, that took quite a bit of begging on my part, but I wanted to care for the lonely boy so badly.
I was able to take care of him after all. I taught him many things about fighting and other such things important things. I got plenty of help from everyone else when it came to general education. Since our medic had been a teacher once, he got a good dose of higher education. He became something of a little brother to me and a mascot to everyone else. He reminded them of what they were all fighting for. For those out there that they can save.
After one especially risky battle, I decided it would be best if he stayed at Garden. He would be much safer there. I left him there 5 years and 4 months ago. And now I would be able to see him again, after all this time.
As I walk towards a large bonfire, I can't help but wonder if he would remember me. Will he? Maybe. Just going to have to wait and see. I know I missed him, but will he have missed me? Once again, I would have to wait for that answer.
And so I sit in front of a blazing fire, the heat nearly burning my face as I warm myself up. A face appears in my mind. Peach-pale skin, dark chocolate-brown hair and blue-gray eyes look up at me with a small smile on the young face. Will he remember me?
"…Squall…"
A fellow SeeD looks concerned at the faraway look in my eyes.
"You okay Captain?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Just thinking about someone…"
AN: So, have I confused you yet? It is obvious that this guy knows Squall, but who is he? And does Squall really remember all of this? Find out in the next exciting chapter of Shadow SeeD!
P.S. I wish to thank everyone else that has read and reviewed my past stories! Sorry I didn't post this little tid-bit earlier, but I really wanted to post it in my next story. Thanx to the following!
Kamichiee
Goo GooCutemon
Laurel Leonhart
JadeAlmasy (x2) Double Cookies!
Vergil Sparda's wife
Griever5
Shale 101 (x2) Double Cookies!