Final Fantasy VIII Return
Squall felt the cool night air as it hit his warm body. The Moon looked as if it was hovering over him because of its immense size. The tiny stars burned with their eternal furry, that was so far away he could never reach them. The balcony of Garden added a renaissance feel in the Moonlight as he turned to see her. She was beautiful, with intense almond shaped eyes and hair colored like the darkest hour of night.
Rinoa turned to look at the man she loved and kissed his sweet lips. She was finally in some peace, and give anything to live this moment forever. She wouldn't have to worry as long as she was in his embrace, but out of it she did fear. She turned away from him and looked back at the ocean because of the sunrise breaking through. She sang the words of that familiar song in her head, "My last night here for you, same old songs just once more. My last night here with you, maybe yes, maybe no." What would she do know? How could Squall and her ever be together? She was the "evil" sorceress and he was the brave Commander.
My Angel, he thought because of the wings on the back of her blue dress. He stood there, awkward without a word. Rinoa, what our we going to do, he thought to himself. Rinoa heard someone approaching and turned to see Edea. Rinoa almost had tears in her eyes.
"Matron," Squall said and nodded. Rinoa just stood there wondering what Edea wanted.
"Squall, may I have a word with Rinoa, alone," Edea spoke with her soothing voice. Squall left with a blank look on his face.
"You are Sorceress Rinoa," Edea confirmed.
"Yes, I'm Rinoa," she replied. Rinoa hated it when people addressed her as a Sorceress.
" I thought I might offer my help and comfort to you?" Edea asked. Rinoa grew impatient because she didn't know how much time she had left with Squall.
"Um… For what?" Rinoa questioned. She had no idea what this woman wanted, but she knew not to be hostile towards her.
"Being the only Sorceress of this time is a great responsibility. And your powers, you do not know how to use them, I can help you learn."
"Why? Don't you know I hate these powers, they're a curse and will only keep me away from the ones I love. Don't you understand? You of all people! I'm sorry." She broke down in tears as Edea gently put her arms around her. Rinoa felt her eyes getting puffy and closed them from the world.
"I know child, I know, but you have a gift, think of this as Hyne's present to you," Edea whispered.
Squall entered the hall again and saw Irvine fighting with Selphie, Quistis just sitting alone, and then Zell talking to the girl in pigtails. All of his friends together. Angelo strutted across the room, but everyone else was gone. He walked towards Quistis, with Rinoa still on the top of his thoughts. He pulled out a chair to sit in. She looked worried and stricken with depression. Her eyes were weighed down, as was her head.
"Where's Rinoa?" She asked suddenly, she looked up.
"Talking to Matron" Squall said. He wondered what they were talking about because Rinoa was hunched over crying. He moved to get up, but felt Quistis' hand on his shoulder.
"Just a little longer, Squall," she said softly. Squall sat there confused as ever to what was going on. He had learned by now that things changed for the bad very quickly and that thought plagued his mind. Rinoa, just be ok. Squall tried to stand up once more, and Quistis turn and gave him a look of desperation. He was concerned, because he knew something was extremely wrong.
"What is it now? I'm finally happy and something goes wrong." He said annoyed. When things were at any peak something had to almost always step in. He had to go to Rinoa, but Quistis needed him. Though it did make sense, that all there is after up, is down.
"Don't speak of us like were just a burden to you. We're your friends, Squall you can't turn your back on us yet!" Quistis got up and left deciding it was better if she didn't talk to him. Squall still didn't now what was wrong, but almost didn't want to. He turned to look at the balcony and noticed Matron gone. Rinoa's back was towards him and all he could see was the Angel print on the back of her back. He began to walk towards her, but was stopped by Selphie.
"Squall, didn't you hear?" Selphie said in a solemn voice. Squall grew anxious.
"No" He didn't know what to say. Squall always had a hard time expressing his feelings and even a harder one comforting others.
"Headmaster Cid, something happened to him, they don't know. He was just up and around, and now…Squall, you got to do something." Selphie didn't know how to him.
Squall hated being the leader because everything had to take top priority. He needed to comfort Rinoa, but Headmaster Cid was in some kind of trouble. Parts of him wanted to leave Garden, and disappear not having to worry again. Squall would have had give anything not to go to the infirmary. He needed to tell Rinoa.
"Selphie, tell everyone I'll be at the infirmary soon. I'm going to tell Rinoa." He said calmly.
"Squall, your sure are calm under pressure, no wonder you're the leader," Selphie said reassured once more.
Irvine felt relief as Selphie approached him. Just her smile could make any rainy day sunny. The had been arguing before about Irvine not being true to her and how he didn't love her, but he was Irvine, The ladies man.
"Selphie, could I ever live without that smile," he said to her.
"Now Irvy, that's not going to make everything better. Headmaster Cid is in trouble. And what about Matron." Selphie's voice was serious like her words. She looked troubled and Irvine walked with her to the infirmary.
Squall stood there, with Rinoa still turned away from him. Rinoa's fears were washing over her so she couldn't see clearly through her eyes. Squall, were not meant to be together.
"Rinoa, something's wrong with Cid. I have to go to the infirmary. Rinoa what's wrong?" Squall asked finally.
"I need to think. What are we going to do, Squall! What's our future? You're the Commander of SeeD, and I'm the Sorceress." Rinoa felt everything closing in on her. She wanted him to say something to make it all seem better, but that's not how it works in reality.
"Who cares what people think. Your not evil, you're just, Rinoa. Cid and Edea are together." He stopped.
"I need to go to the infirmary. Please come, I don't want to handle this alone anymore."
Cid lied there weakly in his bed knowing the end was near. Once a great man reduced to this shell. Every sensation seemed wrapped in illusion. He saw Edea, with her hand reaching towards his. Even if he could never reach back, he would always love her. Even if he loved her more than she did him. He saw Squall in a corner. The boys destiny was so cruel, everything in his life would be hard, even love
"Where, where is Squall I need to tell him something… Very important," the dying Cid said.
"Don't go Cid, the world and I am not ready to lose you." Edea spoke to him with her small hands cradling his head. Edea felt as sad as she did they day the children had left. She had the same feeling that she was never going to see him again. Her body was quivering, and her long strait hair was in tangles. Quistis hand was on her shoulder, but offered little comfort.
"He'll be here soon, you just have to take it easy, you've got to save your strength, Sir." Quistis said trying to hold back her emotions. She was trying not to cry so she wouldn't concern him. She wondered where Squall was, was he going to keep a dying man waiting? Zell looked frustrated because he knew he was powerless. He held Nicey's hand firmly. Nicey had her head down. Selphie and Irvine looked at each other with acknowledging glances. Selphie was at a loss of words, her innocence and naïve mind couldn't handle situations like this. Irvine didn't know Cid well, but knew he didn't deserve to die.
The infirmary's door opened and Squall looked at his friends. They looked as if Cid had died already. He checked to see if Rinoa was still with him.
"Squall, come here my boy, we need to talk," Cid spoke in his shaken voice.
Rinoa was hidden behind Squall and wasn't sure if her presence was appropriate. These were her friends too, but this was their Cid, not hers. Rinoa sat in the bench near the door, deciding to leave them alone.
Squall took his place on the other side of the bed. It was hard to see the founder of garden on his deathbed. It was disturbing, to say the least.
"Squall, you have a troubling fate, I know. But." He coughed like the end would come before the beginning could progress to the middle. " Hear a dying man out, I just want to say how proud of you I am, and I have always thought of you as a son. Don't worry, you don't have to say anything, ha ha ha. My point is I want you to take care of everyone, my Edea, and the rest of the children. And that, it comes before everything it is…" He started coughing and his eyes began fluttering, but before they closed for forever he looked up at Squall with all his hopes and dreams. Squall's hand went back in anger as he looked at the lifeless body of Cid.
"It's what? Don't do this to me. Don't make me responsible for everyone! Wake up!" He yelled at the corpse. Rinoa got up and rushed over to Squall's side.
"Squall, calm down. He's dead, please-" She stopped in mid-sentence and looked at her friends. Edea had her head to Cid's still body, Quistis had her hands covering her face, Selphie and Irvine were in each other's embrace, Zell looked tense as Nicey cried on his shoulder. Squall started to leave, but Quistis blocked his path
"Squall, what's gotten into you? Our leader and friend just died telling you how much he cares about you. You just can't walk away from us!" Quistis yelled. She was in tears and needed somebody. She pushed Squall away, and ran. She just had to get away from all the stress, and anger she felt. She felt so alone all the time, and Cid's death only made her feel worse. She ran down the peaceful garden hall and out to the familiar front gate. The calm considerate Quistis was gone, and replaced with the desperate irrational women. She was already having a nervous break down before twenty. She thought her feelings for Squall were just of friendship, but feelings betrayed her. When Rinoa came into the picture she had given' up, why was this happening to her. It was like everyone had someone, Rinoa had Squall, Selphie had Irvine, and Zell had Nicey.
Squall walked away from the group, deciding he needed to be alone with his thoughts. He returned to his quarters.
Irvine and Selphie took Edea away from her husband's corpse. Dr. Kadawaki pulled the blanket over her old friend's body. Zell hugged Nicey tightly, and approached Rinoa
"Rinoa are you alright?" Zell asked her. Rinoa felt tears in her eyes once again she wanted to be with Squall.
"You don't have to worry about me, Zell," she said in a soft voice.
"Rinoa, Squall's gonna be ok?"
"Maybe? Nobody can predict the future, right?" She said with a sigh. She wanted to return to that moment, when she was safe in Squall's arms. When she didn't have to worry about being a Sorceress, or the future. She felt sorry for Zell, he didn't know how to deal with these kinds of situations. Rinoa walked out of the infirmary, everything had changed so fast a part of her didn't believe any of it. She felt almost tranquil as she walked towards the dormitory. It was very easy to let her guard down. She neared the entrance of Squall's room and saw he was asleep. Squall always looked troubled, but now he looked at rest. She crawled next to him and put her arms around him.
"Promise me one thing. That when I'm gone, you won't ever forget me. That far from now you will come to that huge meadow that has all those flowers and sun. That you will see me in the sunshine as it radiates off me. That you will go to me, and hold me close to you so I can hear your heart beating. Then you will kiss me and we will be there together. Forever, that nothing will matter for that moment. Do that Squall, ok?" She said to the sleeping Squall. She lied there for a moment and left.
Authors note
: This is my first story and what I wish would happen. If Rinoa leaving seems familiar, it is, but something else happens. I like to thank Kate for giving me the writing bug and Darkmousey, D J Johnson for being so funny. More to come soon, I just type slow!