Author's note: Well this is a story I started around 3 years ago with my cousin. We had splited the characters and decided to write the scenes for them. But she kind of lost interest in that. We didn't do much; just this chapter, but I have been thinking of this these past days and I decided to try to continue it on my own. She had actually proposed that; to work it on my own. So here it is. I am still not sure what I am going to do with this but I would like to hear someone's opinion about this. Also I am not sure whether it will be a Seifer/Squall or Cloud/Squall story... I do not yet know which will dominate... what I know is that Squall(in his previous life) and Cloud were an item. The story may loosely remind FFX since I was playing it when I first thought of this plot, a group of people go to a sacred place to fulfill a holy purpose. But other than that, it will probably be original. Ok that's it I guess... if you like it, inform me so I may feel more motivated to write about it. You will understand it as you read the first chapter but just so you know beforehand, Leon is the new Squall and Squall is the past self.
The big round room was barely lit by the fire of the ceiling revealing some characteristics of the 14 faces. Only one chair was empty and everyone seemed to wait for a certain someone to fill the blank. The silence was broken by the double doors opening and closing. A man dressed in a black coat with red, kinda spiked long hair and snake green eyes entered, his face serious while he sat on the empty chair. The blond woman next to him, having her eyes closed and not changing her expression, muttered.
"You are late, Axel."
The man just brushed it off with a wave of his hand. Suddenly, the man who was sitting in the chair across from the entrance doors stood up and looked at the other members of the council. The crown on his head gave his status away.
"Now that we are all here, we can begin. We have a very urgent matter to discuss"
"Which is?" A man looking like a pirate, dangerous and charming with light brown eyes and short brown hair asked, the irony clear in his voice. Balthier looked at the king as if challenging him. The kind king of white hair and light blue eyes looked at his four advisors for help. A man wearing a long dark blue cloak and hood which hid his old and wise face, got up and looked at the warriors of justice, the so called Gladiators.
"We have valuable sources that Griever's chosen has been reborn." Most of the Gladiators looked up kind of shocked except for the man sitting across from the King who just stared at the floor. A woman with black hair looked at the fearsome with the corner of her eye and then back at the Great Mage.
"Reborn? How?" A spiked haired blond man with blue eyes and a huge tattoo of a lightning on his left cheek asked. Zell had a curious look on his face, looking like he found that case unbelievable.
"It seems that his spirit was able to survive and be reborn in the outside world"
"So we weren't able to realize it sooner" a grey haired man said with dark brown eyes and a mysterious gleam to his face. The high scientist of the Empire was one of the most frightening, yet admired men who controlled the great country.
"So you want us to kill him again" Axel said and some looked at the blonde woman who had spoken first. Ashe looked at the king, not caring for the stares she received.
"Won't he be reborn again?" The black haired woman, named Tifa, asked.
"No." The great mage answered with confidence. "If he dies outside of the Holy Land, he can't"
"That's why he was reborn. Because he set foot on the holy forest right before he died." The Head Counselor, the great Sephiroth said. Green eyes looked at the blond man with the spike hair through long silver hair.
"What about Griever?" Everyone looked at a girl with brown hair which reached her shoulders and bright green eyes.
"What do you mean, Selphie?" the king asked.
"What I want to say, your Majesty, is that if the chosen one dies, with no hope of being reborn again, that will mean that Griever might not be able to ever wake up."
"Griever will awake when time comes. At this moment, he builds his power inside his seal." Sephiroth said.
"Then why is he his chosen one? Can we be sure that we're not harming the great angel instead of helping him?" Green eyes looked at the two most powerful Gladiators. The blond man having the King right opposite of him, Cloud and Ashe who was looking at the floor.
The High Priest stood up, somewhat furiously, and looked at the 10 warriors, one by one, his eyes staying most at the usually energetic girl. His long black hair kind of covering his young face and his light brown eyes shining with anger.
"I am the High Priest. My word counts as much as Griever's. I know what's best and that is that boy's death." Selphie nodded although reluctant.
"Ok, we just asked." A blonde woman with green eyes sitting on Selphie's left said, rolling her eyes at the obvious anger of the man. Rikku never liked the High Priest. Something was just not right about him…
"We're here for the job anyway" Another woman with short black hair and brown eyes added. Yuffie looked exactly like a ninja princess and sharing Rikku's opinion for the man.
"Should the people know about this?" a boy looking younger than anyone else in the room with spike brown hair and clear blue eyes asked the King who looked at the four others, even though he already did know the answer to the question.
"No one must know about it Sora. You must handle it alone."
"So, where is he supposed to be now?" Balthier asked.
"In the outside world." The great mage simply answered.
"But the outside world is huge." Yuffie said.
"It will be impossible to find him on time." Rikku said.
"And we can forget about searching him alone since only four of us know his face. I suppose you don't have any picture of him, do you?" Balthier asked putting his feet on the table and looking calmly at the five.
"And it will be best if you search for him all together, since Emiya and his followers will also chase him. So you need to combine your strength."
"And the four mages will also come after him and they are able to find him sooner than us because of the spirits living inside them" Selphie pointed.
"That's correct" the King said.
"I heard that we know nothing about the fourth mage while we know a few about the other three." Tifa said.
"They are not the most important now" Sephiroth said crossing his fingers.
"But they are needed for Griever's awakening." Tifa said back. "I believe we should find them and not let them go near him first. We could use their powers to find the man easier."
"The sprits inside would never give him away." The High Priest answered back trying to end this conversation that seemed to make him nervous.
"But we could always follow them." Balthier said, wanting to press the subject since he noticed the other man's obvious discomfort.
"Find the man and do whatever is needed for that. The four mages don't matter as much as he does, since the spirit will always find a new body to invade. He is unique. So if he dies, he will never come back and won't be able to awake Griever from his slumber." The King said ending the conversation. Everyone sat up and the Gladiators left, Cloud glancing for one last time at the King's eyes.
Walking outside Tifa went near Cloud who walked slower than the others, therefore being out of earshot.
"So he's back." she told him.
"So?" he asked glancing at her.
"Will you be able to save him this time?" Cloud stopped dead on his tracks, his eyes wide at Tifa's question, while the woman continued walking as if she hadn't even talked to him.
What the hell was that?
He wasn't thinking…
He wasn't feeling…
The only thing he felt was the pain in his lungs…The cold…The ache…
He couldn't see clearly…
Everything was blurry…He couldn't think clearly…His mind was empty…
He didn't feel his legs…
…They couldn't carry him any longer…At least that's how he felt…
…It wasn't because of the trail made of ice he was running on…
…It wasn't because of the numbness that threatened to overwhelm him…
…He just knew…
…That he wouldn't last for much longer…
He wasn't bothered by the cold. He wasn't bothered by the headache. He wasn't bothered by the shouts…He couldn't make them out anymore anyway…
The only words that his tired mind was able to comprehend were
Find him!
Catch him!
There he is!
Don't let him escape!
Kill him!
Kill him!
Kill him!
Kill him!
Kill him!
…Why?…
He didn't remember anymore…
His brain wouldn't function properly…
He just knew he had to run…
Run…
Run…
The only thing left for him now was to run…
Run for his beliefs…
Run for his ideals…
Run for his memories…
Run for his dreams…
Run for his very own existence…
A lot of questions were heard inside his head. Questions that his naive self wanted to do. Questions that the childish and innocent side that every human was hiding in him wanted to ask. His inner self wanted to block everything away and just run.
Do his mission…
Accomplish it…
And then continue with whatever task was given to him to do…
Just like a soldier…
He would just have to follow orders…
Never question about anything…
Sometimes it was easy…
Other times it was hard…
But his other part wanted to rebel…
To ask why. Why him? Why was he the one he had to run? Why was he the one he had to hide? Why did his dreams have to be destroyed? Why couldn't he be the one to lead hisown life? Why couldn't he live a normal life? Why should he do this? But the question that awlays plugged him the most was…
Why was he alone…?
Even though he remembered people shouting for him to keep running, for him to go on and not to worry, that they would hold them back…That was still for the mission…They all had their missions…He didn't know if they cared for him…Maybe they did…Maybe they didn't…But they hadn't decided to fight for him.
They weren't fighting for themselves either. It was just all about the mission. Like him…They were the pawns…
…
And then he felt something sharp coming in contact with his back and heard a cry.
Squall!
Leon woke up almost screaming. Almost…The brunet took long, rough breaths trying to calm himself down. Touching his chest and then his forehead, he realized that he was soaked. The man looked out of the window through long brown locks. The sun was up. Taking a glance at the clock, he managed to curse under his breath. 7:55. Great. There wasn't a chance in hell he'd manage to go to sleep again now.
Sighing while trembling a little, the stormy eyed youth hugged himself and crouched on the bed. It was those dreams again. Again…
'What do they mean? I don't understand. Why am I seeing these dreams for so many years now! Since I was five. Five! What are they? God…why! What…'
"What's happening to me!" The youth crouched even more to himself, his hold on his brown locks painful.
Find him!
Leon put his hands on his ears trying to block out the voices.
Catch him!
Catch him!
Stormy eyes closed painfully and his hands applied such force to his ears that his head started ringing. From the voices. From the pain.
There he is!
No…Why?
Don't let him escape!
Why wouldn't they go away!
Find him! Catch him! There he is! Don't let him escape!
Why wouldn't they leave him alone!
Find him! Catch him! There he is! Don't let him escape!
Damn it!
Find him!
"Go away already!"
Catch him!
Leon gritted his teeth painfully. The scenes from the dream. They had been so real…Just like every other time.
Find him! Catch him!
Just like every other freaking time!
Find him! Catch him!
It hadn't always been like this. The first years, the dreams were peaceful, almost…nice…but now…After he had turned fifteen, the dreams had started to become…harsh if you could call them that. Violent. But not like this. This had started recently. The last months to be exact. He…he couldn't handle it anymore. He had brushed it off in the beginning but it wasn't easy to wake up soaked, with quick heartbeats and rough breaths, trying to even manage to breathe sometimes, every single night. It was too much.
He still heard the voices in his head. He still felt the exhaustion. The agony. The…
…betrayal…
For some reason he kept feeling betrayed in the later dreams. He didn't know why…nor would he care if…if he didn't feel so bad about it…It was…it was like that betrayal was worse than…than death himself.
Leon shook his head not wanting to think about it. But this only lead to the voices becoming louder and louder and louder and louder…
Find him! Catch him!
Find him! Catch him!
Find him! Catch him!
Find him! Catch him!
Find him! Catch him!
Kill him!
Squall!
"Who the hell is Squall!" Leon exclaimed, his hands touching the bed and his eyes watering, him not really knowing the reason.
At the sound of the doorbell, stormy eyes widened and looked at the door of the small apartment. Leon sighed frustrated and wiped the tears from his eyes before they could even fall. Finding his black trousers nearby, he put them on and after blinking a few times so that any proof of him crying, or being on the verge of anyway, would be destroyed, he opened the door.
"Mr. Daglas."
"Hello Mr Loire." The old man with the white hair and grey moustache said. "I came for the rent."
Leon didn't have time to argue about the hour and just rolled his eyes, signaling for the landlord to wait. When he returned, the old man snatched the money from the youth's hand, smiling for the very first time since Leon had opened the door and left without a second word.
There was a time when the brunet would have to restrain himself from shutting the door with unneeded force but now he was used to it. At least he had a place to live. Closing the door and leaning against it, Leon sighed and looked at the ceiling muttering.
"This is my life Squall. I guess you don't like it so don't mendle with it."
"No, I haven't seen him." The old lady said and continued with her work. The blond boy sighed. He had been looking for the guy for half a week now but no one had seemed to know him. Maybe he didn't describe him well…
'Don't waste our time. We have to hurry.'
'I know, I know. But…where should I look? No one has even the slightest clue…'
'Don't give up Roxas! You need to find him.'
Roxas put a hand on his waist and looked kinda angry, his blue eyes narrowed.
"Why do I have to do this anyway?" he whispered. The growled voice didn't answer. It just stayed silent inside his head as if it was a parasite in deep sleep. Roxas sighed and continued walking. They had argued over this many times before and he didn't seem able to have his way with the dragon spirit. Bahamut was way too stubborn.
"Just like a King should be I guess." The boy muttered and stopped walking to look around. His blond spiked hair swayed lightly from the wind and his sweet face gave in his sensitive side.
"Excuse me." He said walking closer to a man reading a newspaper.
"Eh?"
"Umm…I'm looking for someone." The grey haired man with the moustache continued to kinda glaring at him.
"Ehh…he had short brown hair with long spikes falling on his face and eyes with the color of the storm." The man didn't do anything.
"Oh! And he has a scar on his face like…this." He said imitating the scar on the brunet's, he was searching for, face. He just hoped that Bahamut had given him the right information. Because he had began to doubt that.
The man continued to glare at him and Roxas looked nervous and innocent for a moment before he got tired of this and glared back. The man's face relaxed a lot and looked calmly at the boy and then back at the paper in his hands.
"No. I don't know him."
Roxas sighed and muttered a thanks as he started walking away.
"Wait." The blond turned and saw that the older man looked thoughtful.
"Hmm…Does he wear an earring on his left ear too?"
"Eh?" Roxas blinked.
'He probably does.'
"Yes, yes he does!"
"Oh…ok then." The man said and returned to his newspaper.
The blond frowned and asked innocently.
"What…Do you know him then?"
"No." The man said without even looking at the boy.
Roxas started getting pissed.
"Look…" he said grabbing the other man from his shirt. "Don't play with him." The older guy looked frightened. Blue eyes had a strange gleam in them…
'Roxas!'
The blond's eyes widened and the strange light disappeared as suddenly as it had made its appearance. He relaxed his hold on the man's shirt and looked away, his look strange and serious as that of an agent.
The man laughed and got free. Roxas turned and looked at him angry and confused at the same time, both feelings apparent on his beautiful face.
"I like you."
"Eh?" Roxas asked surprised.
"The person you're looking for lives in that street." He said and pointed to a road on their right not far from where they were.
"But I don't know where exactly." The man smiled.
"Thanks!" Roxas said cheerfully and ran towards that direction.
He was happy. At last. He had found him. Him. He was the reason Bahamut, the dragon spirit that lived within his body since he was born, had forced him to move in this town. He missed his hometown. But now…He knew that he had a long journey in front of him and even though he couldn't understand its supposed importance yet, he was ready for it. Ready to fight. Ready to do what he was destined for. And although he wasn't happy about it and he didn't know how much he should believe the dragon's words, he was glad that he had made a start. He wanted this to end. But to end something, you had to start it first. And now he knew where to begin, he thought as he reached the street and stopped to look at it. The one who could end everything was here.
Griever's chosen one.
But Roxas couldn't imagine that this end… was just the beginning of his real troubles. And Bahamut knew that. As he knew how angry the boy would be when the truth was revealed to him
'Can you help here as to where to find him?'
'I feel him a little…' the spirit within the blond answered. 'Walk at your left'
'That little?'
'I am inside a body that not only doesn't have any experience with magic but was oblivious of it existence for years' the spirit answered sharply.
'So it's my fault' Roxas muttered and continued his way wondering why he was doing this in the first place. Bahamut could go find a body that suited his expectation couldn't he? He was the king of Dragons after all.
The road was empty and deadly silent. Then a big slam was heard, like someone closing the door very harshly. A man with white hair and mustache walked away from a door holding an amount of cash. As he walked towards him, Roxas understood he was rather short. The man looked suspiciously at him and then holding his money tighter continued his way.
Roxas went closer to the man .
'Excuse me sir. Do you know by any chance if a brown haired man lives here? He has a scar on his face.' He asked as politely as he could.
'Who are you?' the man asked not so politely.
'That's none of your business. Do you know where he is?' the boy asked before controlling his anger.
Roxas! It's not the time for behaviors like that.
Roxas knew that. The short man didn't waste time. Without saying anything he walked away. Roxas didn't move and just looked at the man walking away.
Go after him!
Roxas though didn't move.
'Hey boy!' a weak woman's voice called. Roxas looked around and noticed an old woman at a window to look at him.
'Me?' he asked.
'Yes… Yes…' she said and with her hands movement she told him to come closer. Roxas did so. In any case… that woman could also know and he liked asking her than going after that old hug.
'Yes ma'am. What can I do for you?' he asked.
'You are looking for someone aren't you?' she asked.
'Yes.' Roxas answered and went a step back.
'Then come in my house… Maybe I can help you' she said and close the window.
Go.
The door opened and Roxas not controlling so much his body went in. It was a nice house… simple but charming.
'Sit my boy. Can I offer you something?' she asked the boy and guided him to a small living room.
'No thank you ma'am'
'Not even water?' the woman pleaded. It seemed that the woman didn't have guests for a long time and wanted to enjoy the time she would spent with the young boy.
'I'd like a glass of water' Roxas answered.
'Ok then' she said and went to take what he asked.
'Bahamut are you sure?'
'About the woman?'
'Yes. Are you?'
'Yes'
The old lady came back holding a glass of water for Roxas. She sat slowly and then looked at Roxas who was drinking his water.
'The one you are looking for lives across the street.' She said and looked at the boy who looked at her. 'His name is Leon Loire.'
'Thank you ma'am.' He said.
'I suppose you have to go now don't you?' she asked sadly.
'I am sorry.'
'No don't be.' She said and tried to get up. It seemed her body was though really weak even for a small action like that. Roxas helped her and holding her hand the went to the door.
'Thank you again ma'am' the blond said.
'It's okay… dragon king' she said and closed the door of her house. Roxas stood there shocked of her last words.
Don't waste our time.
Roxas went across the street and looked at the addresses.
Leon Loire second floor.
At last.
Inside the temple of the great angel, the night after the council, men wearing black robes secretly gathered. The temple was all in gold with statues of Griever. The temple was dark inside with some candles on the floor that had precious stones on it, that gave a faint light.
From the men one was the High Priest he walked alone towards a door and entered a small room with nothing in. He then fell on his knees and had a position of praying in the ancient language. As he was on the ground, he had his eyes close and all his body was tensed. After finishing the first prayer, he lay on the ground and started saying another prayer in the forgotten language.
A language best forgotten...
He kept talking with passion in his voice and as he lay there a dark voice was heard inside his heart that was corrupted from it.
'Hello High Priest.' It started. The man stayed still not daring to move even his little finger. 'Why have you called me again?'
'Um the Gladiators' the man managed to say. The spirit's aura got stronger at the mention of the protectors of the empire.
'What about them?'
'Well…' the mortal started and said all that happened during the council. From the beginning to the very end.
'I see how it is…' he said 'So they want to know more about the location…' he said. 'Then we shouldn't let them down, should we?' the voice said ironically 'Tell them that the man is at Hollow Bastion'
'Yes… as you command' he said. 'What should I do with that Gladiator that Selphie?'
'Oh her' the voice laughed 'For now she will go to the outside world to fulfill her duty, after that..' the voice said and laughed.
'But… she is loved a lot by the people and although she isn't the strongest Gladiator, she is an old Gladiator that lived when the man was born for the first time and she influences a lot the others… two of the younger Gladiators seem already to be under her care so and her influence. What if she helps the man instead of us?'
'Us?' the voice threatened.. 'You, a simple mortal, dare to think that we are the same?' The man shaking from fear to the point of being ready to cry shook his head.
'No… no… never… I am an ant at best compared to your greatness'
'Very well' the voice calmed down. 'As for your question… She is first of all the protector of the empire. No one and nothing will come above that… and my brother is not able to speak to her…'
'Speak to her?'
'Even if she didn't become a Gladiator, Selphie is a blessed child of Griever but this in the end will not help neither her…. Nor him'
'And the others?' the man dared to ask but immediately he regretted it. To his surprise though there was no harsh reaction.
'Ashe will obey… she is very fond of rules and after all she killed him once, she can kill him twice. Axel wouldn't dare to openly oppose her and Balthier trusts her enough to not question her. Rikku and Yuffie as long as Selpie can't do anything, they won't. As you said, they are under her care and influence.'
'What if they are used?'
'Ah… stupid humans… how little you understand others… Selphie is far too good to sacrifice any human, especially those two that she has taken care of. She loves them… as she loves nearly everyone she feels nice. Now as for the other new members, Zell and Sora… they are new and they respect their elders enough to obey.. Tifa is a bit dangerous; she is the only one that is not afraid of Ashe although she is not as strong as she is. And as for Cloud, if anything happens, I will personally take care of him.'
'Yes…' the man said that his body had started to feel pain from being all this hour in that position.
'Watch Selphie then Cloud and Tifa… and the other protectors..' he laughed…
How nice protectors… they will kill the empire's only hope…
The high Priest, having heard nothing of the voice's true intentions, feeling the voice was gone, got slowly up and moved his body so he could relax. He got up and left the room quickly.
Outside the other priests were waiting for him and what the Great Angel had said. All of them were on the floor and with the sound of the door, they immediately got up. The high Priest obviously exhausted from this meeting, without saying anything to anyone walked away and went outside of the temple.
'You all know why I wanted this meeting to take place' Ashe said as she looked at the other members of the table. The Gladiators were all there. This time not even Axel dared to be late. After all dealing with Ashe when no one could protect him was far too dangerous even for Axel that loved danger.
'Yes Ashe we do. Go on.' Tifa said as she looked at the woman.
'Very well.' She said and looked at the blond man sitting next to her, sharing the same power. He didn't do nor say anything. As usual she would take the lead in the meeting. 'As you all know… Squall is again alive. This means that the situation will probably be chaotic in a while. We have to act and act quickly.'
Everyone looked at her with the exception of Cloud.
'Do you have a plan Ashe?' Tifa asked.
'No… but I want to have a plan and this meeting is supposed to help me… us.' She said.
'Ashe you do know my objections about the matter' Selphie said at the blond woman.
'Yes I do'
'Can you tell me your opinion about them?'
'They are too risky…' Ashe said and looked at the brunette girl with the corner of her eye. 'I have to admit though that your opinions are based on logic.'
'So you say that we shouldn't kill him?' Balthier asked.
'We must obey' Ashe said.
'I see' the man replied.
'Anyway back to where we began. We need to find a way to find him before the mages'
'Ashe…' Sora started and everyone looked at the younger member of the table 'what if we can't find him alone. Isn't it safer to find a mage and follow him…'
'Sora…' Ashe said and smiled. 'I understand why you are saying that but the spirits will be able to detect us immediately… especially me'
'Because you killed him last time?'
'Yes'
Cloud moved a little and hid a sad expression on his face. Tifa noticing that action smiled a bit and when his eyes met hers she gave him a look of comfort.
'Ashe maybe we shouldn't leave tomorrow… Maybe we should ask the high Priest to try again about the location. To try harder.' Axel said.
'I agree with the redhead' Yuffie said and Rikku nodded in agreement to her words.
'But they may say that this is disrespect.' Zell said.
'We should better not involve those Heads a lot in our works. We are the Gladiators and we will personally take care of our work' Selphie said.
'But we need help now to begin' Sora said.
'Yes… but we must not overdo it. It's better if we ask not directly… not show we need help.'
'Why?' Rikku asked.
'Because then they can use that against us. If we do it the other way around… they won't be able to do that.'
'So actually you say that we will ask help but they won't be able to say we asked help but they will obviously know that we did. They are not stupid after all…' Balthier stated.
'My thoughts exactly.'
For a moment no one spoke.
'Still this doesn't help much with how to continue.' Ashe said.
'It is a step though.' Sora said and smiled at one of the most powerful Gladiators.
Ok that's it. So if you find it interesting tell me otherwise it will remain as it is and eventually will be deleted. By the way, I would accept a co-author, as long as we are able to understand and communicate with each other. For this to "grow" I really need reviews... because I need ideas and to see what YOU would like to read. I will ask for suggestions, maybe even create a poll, ask questions... that I expect someone to answer. If it is not good or you don't see potetional (is that how it is spelled?) please also tell me so I will not be wasting my time. Thank you for your time.
