Note: This is a sequal to "Love's Lost Refrain." In order to understand what happens in this story, you should read it first. This story takes place 3 centuries after the events in Final Fantasy IX, and while no characters from the game will actually be in this story, they and the events in the game will have a bearing on this story.
FORGOTTEN MEMORIES
Chapter 1
"See ya!"
"Bye! Good luck on finals!"
The 18 year old boy began walking home from school. He had pitch black hair that bounced the rays of sunlight off of it as he took each step. His school uniform was navy blue, and consisted of a long sleeve jacket and pants.
"Damn heat." He proceeded to take his jacket off when he heard a girl call out his name.
"Daleck!" Her footsteps became faster and faster. He turned around to see who it was.
"Maranda!" It was her lab partner in biology class. They had become good friends over the years. She had bright blond hair that swayed in the wind as she ran. She too was wearing a navy blue school uniform, but she sported the frilled skirt, as many high school teenagers did at the time. "What are you doing walking home from school?"
"It's a nice day today in Alexandria. Besides, you looked like you could use some company."
"Well it's a long walk from here." He said to her.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" She put a sarcastic frown on her face. "Are boys now better than girls at walking!?"
"That's not what I meant!" he said with a grin. She pushed him into the fencing along the sidewalk.
"So, you excited about our biology exam?"
"I can barely contain myself." Daleck said, very sarcastically. "Why do we have to go to the museum? All the other classes are taking a written exam. I hate research."
"Hey, look at it as a privilege. All the other classes will be stuck in the muggy school while we'll be in a nice air conditioned museum..."
"Studying biology!" Daleck butted in.
"Hey, it will only be fun if you let it, and by the way you're acting you're going to be very bored tomorrow!" Miranda said. "Embrace what time you have left! We're seniors! For a lot of us, it will be the last time we'll get to see each other."
"And that makes it all the better." Daleck said.
"Don't be such an ass," she said as she pushed him again, this time knocking him over. She started to run away from him, and turned her head back and waved. "See you at the museum tomorrow!"
"Yeah whatever..." He continued to walk down the street. "Jeez, today's a scorcher," he said, as he loosened his shirt around the neck. He went over to the Alexandria river, and sat down on the edge. "Nothing exciting ever happens in my life," he said to himself, very depressingly. "We go through training in school to become good fighters, but what good does it bring when there's nothing to fight for?" He watched the sun slowly descend upon the horizon of the river. Behind him, he could hear a lady talking.
"And here is the grave of Queen Branhe, who died many years before the Alexandria castle was destroyed over three centuries ago." Daleck turned his head around to see a crowd of people following a tour guide. They all began to take pictures of the grave site, although there was no grave stone visible. "And this is the actual site of the Alexandria castle. Because it was destroyed so many years ago, none of it's remains can be found here. It is believed that they all washed away in the river. To this date it is not known exactly how it was destroyed. But it was believed that Queen Beatrix and King Steiner, who ruled Alexandria at the time, perished in the destruction." More clicks from the cameras. The crowd moved past Daleck and disappeared in the distance.
"Lousy tourists." Daleck sat still as the soft breeze from the river flowed through his hair. His dark brown eyes winced as the wind gently touched them. A car pulled up beside him.
"Hey Daleck! Whatcha doin'?" He turned to see his friend, Jehuty. "C'mon, I'll give you a ride!"
He thought about it, than replied "No thanks, I'm fine." He turned back to the setting sun.
"C'mon, get in! I'm not leaving you here, and I can't wait forever!"
He continued to stare out towards the sun, then he thought to himself 'Oh what the heck. I'm depressed, and I'll be more depressed if I walk home.' He slowly stood up and walked towards the car.
"That's it, get in here." Daleck opened the passenger door and stepped into the car. They took off. "Did you get your masters in sword fighting?"
"I got that a while ago."
"Well I got mine today. I'm a pro now! Just like you! But I can't believe that we have to keep the weaponry in school! How are we gonna practice?" Jehuty asked.
"There's no use in wondering. We're never gonna get in a war or anything anyway."
"Well you can never be too sure."
"Yeah, whatever."
"What's wrong? Why are you so depressed? You're never like this!"
"It's just... it's... nothing."
"Hey, if you bottle up you're feelings like that, your head's gonna explode!"
'Jehuty...' Daleck thought to himself. 'Always the immature one.'
"So what weapon does Maranda specialize in?"
"Gun."
"Oooh, deadly!" Daleck was silent. Jehuty did not know what to say to him. "So you goin' to the museum tomorrow?"
"Yeah, unfortunately."
"The museum is always interesting. You get a lot of information about the background of Alexandria. Did you know that the last king, King Steiner, was once the Lord of the Knights of Pluto?"
Daleck turned his head to Jehuty and responded "I did not know that. Thank you for informing me."
"Quit it with the sarcasm. You have no appreciation for history. All you care about is fightin'." The care came to a stop. "This is your stop." Daleck opened the car door and stepped out. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah..." Daleck said as he walked towards his house. The car took off. 'What's so important about history?' Daleck thought to himself. And with that, he slammed the front door of his house behind him.
To Be Continued...