Election Results

Updated: 2009.11.02

Disclaimer: Sue if you want, you'll waste more money on the lawyer than you can get from me.

Story Summary: AU, Rinoa never joined forces with the Children of Fate to bring down Ultimecia. Now the world is recovering. How will the fated couple find each other in the mayhem? Squinoa Seftis Selvine ZellxLibraryGirl(literally)

Chapter Summary: Election results are in, who will be crowned president of Galbadia?

Tidbit: There are 6 references, name the 6 and what they're from.

"Good morning Galbadia! This is BART News Network! My name is Lisa here with my co-anchor Maggie. Today is an even more important day than yesterday's elections; for today we reveal to the world who the leader of the most powerful country will be. It was a narrow race between Councilman Deling and General Caraway. Surprisingly however, Councilman Deling only received 20% of the total vote."

The celebrations in General Caraway's many party stakeouts broke out into large victory cheers. It was a landslide! 80% of Galbadia voted for their General! A raven-haired girl with deep brown eyes smiled up at her father as she gave him a hug.

"Congratulations dad! You won!"

The elder man just smiled down at his pride and joy. She was his last link to the woman he loved with all his heart, only to take second place in her heart as she yearned for a lost soldier. General, now President, Caraway raised his arm in victory to the applause of his supporters.

"However, not all is as it seems." Maggie picked up the newcast.

Everyone in the room quieted immediately and turned back to the television.

"General Caraway received only 25% of the vote."

Outraged screams echoed from the supporters in the room. Rinoa and General Caraway stared blankly at the screen. How was it possible that 55% of the citizens of Galbadia didn't vote for either candidate? To win the election 51% of the popular vote was required. So far 51% hadn't even been accounted for.

"There was a large amount of filled in names this election; names ranging from Krusty the Clown to Homer J Simpson. In total over, SIX THOUSAND names received votes. It makes one wonder exactly how wise it is to let the populace of Galbadia decide the future of this country. Let me remind my fellow citizens, Galbadian Law decrees that the elected person will rule unto death."

Rinoa looked up to her father to determine if the news that he hadn't won had affected him any. His shoulders weren't as straight as normal but otherwise he was holding together quite well. Rinoa tried to comfort him some.

"Well dad, you know, you did win the most popular votes. So out of everyone in the world, you're the one most want."

The general was still too dumbstruck for words; he merely squeezed Rinoa's shoulder to indicate he was still alive and mentally functioning, at least partly.

"Of the filled in names, 4 were seen multiple times, these names might even be the same person but further investigation may be required. After Councilman Deling's 20% came a Ms. Caraway with 17%, a Rinoa with 16%, a Ms. Heartily with 14%, and a Rinoa Heartily Caraway with 9%. If these all end up being the same person then we have a winner folks, that's exactly 51% of the popular vote in favor for what is currently indicating General Caraway's daughter, Rinoa Heartily Caraway."

Everyone in General Caraway's victory party stake out were absolutely silent. Do they cheer that it looks like his daughter won or do they boo that their candidate lost?

Rinoa was just as lost as the supporters as she stared at the screen. How did this happen? Rinoa had no ambition to run a country, nor a clue. She was perfectly content to remain in her parent's shadow; her mother's glorious singing career that was ended too soon, still mourned by the world, 13 years after her unfortunate accident, and her father's glorious military career, the main man responsible for Galbadia's emergence as the most powerful country in the world. Rinoa glanced up to the general, would he hate her if she won?

To everyone in the room's great relief, the general was the one who broke the silent stupor. Clapping his hands together before bellowing to the masses.

"Hey! Show some support! It's still a Caraway victory party!"

The general grinned down at his daughter.

"You're not mad? I swear I didn't do anything!" Rinoa was still shocked, even as the entire room erupted in another loud cheering session.

"Of course not Rinoa, you're my daughter, I'm sure you'd make a great president! Besides, you know full well I ran to keep our former president's brother from just walking into office. Word has it he's twice as crazy with his dreams for glory than the last fool." Caraway scoffed at the thought of the orders Vinzer Deling had given him; forced occupation of the city-state of Timber and an assault on the city-state of Dollet.

"But dad," Rinoa's voice dropped to a whisper, "I don't know how to lead people. I don't know how to take care of people, you know I always forget to feed Angelo." Rinoa's eyes widened, "Angelo! I forgot to feed her last night!"

Caraway laughed. "Don't worry Rinoa, I told the maids to take care of Angelo ever since I gave her to you. It wouldn't do to have your closest friend starve to death."

Rinoa laughed a little then realized what he had said, "Wait, you mean to tell me all those times I ran back home from school during lunch break to feed her and run back before lunch ended weren't needed? That's 4 miles round trip!"

Caraway just laughed as he pulled Rinoa into another hug. "Well, I'm sure you'll take care of the country better than you take care of Angelo, or maybe you'll just get better at taking care of everyone."

Rinoa didn't look confident. "I don't know dad, I'm only 18. How can they expect me to run a country? I've never even been employed!"

"Oh I'm sure you can do it Rinoa. After all, it was a rather young group that defeated that sorceress, what was her name… Ultimecia I believe her name was. Remember? It was the same people who I brought to the mansion to defeat Sorceress Edea when she tried to take over Galbadia, when President Deling was killed."

Rinoa remembered, how couldn't she? Those 6 were ingrained in every brain; 3 guys and 3 girls. Irvine, the smooth talker of the party, Zell the muscled ball of energy, and Squall the always calculating leader, Selphie the enthusiastic cheerleader, Quistis the second opinion and voice of reason, and Helen now the world's only sorceress. They saved the world from not one, not two, but three sorceresses. They saved Gaia, space, and the moon. They saved the present, the future, and some even said the past as well. Without them, everyone in the world would be serving a sorceress, if there were anyone left in the world.

Every girl had a crush on all three of the guys and envied all three of the girls. Every guy lusted for all three of the girls, and envied all three of the guys. Rinoa included.

And to top it all off, they were almost the exact same age as herself. Rinoa couldn't fathom how anyone so young could accomplish so much. Thus far she had accomplished absolutely nothing, she had even promised to help her father attain the presidency, even that she failed in.

"Why? Why did they choose me? I never showed any success at leading. I've always been better at following orders than making decisions. Remember when I tried to organize my high school's prom? The faculty had to step in just so the other students wouldn't end up killing me for the mess I made. And remember when I went to that charity event and ended up giving away what the big prize for the auction was? Or at the orphanage, I was supposed to look after the children but ended up getting tied to a chair by them needing the matron to rescue me?"

Caraway laughed, it was true; his daughter had never had much success in just about anything she's ever done. It amazed him to no degree to see what new and interesting ways she could completely fail her newest endeavors. Caraway thought about it some more and concluded that this was definitely the newest; instead of helping him get elected she ends up getting herself elected.

"Don't worry Rinoa, you're luck will change someday, hopefully soon. The people of Galbadia seem to be taken with you though. Maybe they just didn't want another old man like Scratchy Deling or myself run the country. No more men who can be enthralled by a sorceress."

"But the only sorceress remaining is a good sorceress. Helen would never hurt us." Rinoa protested. She didn't really have the faintest clue who Helen was, besides one of the girls in the group of 6 saviors of the world. Rumor had it that Helen was the most detached of the group, not growing up with the other 5. Rumor also had it that that was the exact reason why she was chosen to be the sorceress instead of Selphie or Quistis, Edea passed her powers on to the only one who she hadn't brought up at her own orphanage on Centra.

"Oh you never know Rinoa, maybe another sorceress of the future comes back to our time like Ultimecia did."

Rinoa decided to not add another failed argument to her list of utter failures and kept her mouth shut. Lisa was speaking again.

"We have confirmed that Ms. Caraway, Rinoa, Ms. Heartily, and Rinoa Heartily Caraway are all the same person. Luckily we already have cameras near her since she is with her father's supporters."

Rinoa watched as the scene changed to a very familiar setting, it zoomed in to a raven-haired girl staring up at a TV screen standing besides an older man in a General's uniform. The man looked quite a lot like her father.

Rinoa felt a hand move to her shoulder about the same time the man on screen put his on the girl next to him.

"Rinoa, the camera is behind us."

Rinoa whirled around in surprise to be met with hundreds of flashes and cameras pointed at her. Microphones were shoved in her face to hear what she would say. Boy was she caught off guard. And that was frozen in time for the following morning's papers.