Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy or its characters
Chapter 1
are you in?
Everyone does it. It's not like we are the first ones. It's not planned. There's no travel agents involved or farewell parties thrown, it's secretive. One day you just pack your bag and head out the front door never looking back or second guessing yourself, in search of something elusive. We all try to achieve it at some point in our lives. It's what drives us and pushes us to the edge of sanity. In a word, greatness. We're not talking about getting accolades for graduating at the top of your class, or hell, even winning a Pulitzer Prize. No, that has all been done before. It's doing something truly original and discovering your alternate universe. Others do it to escape the confines of their reality: to escape the morning routine, the cubicle, or the cycle of day and night. Whatever the reason is, we all do it eventually.
What should I say? Should I really tell them…Nah, I thought to myself while nervously tapping the pen on the pad of paper that was sprawled out on my desk. I hunched over my desk contemplating on telling them my plans. How do I put on paper a plan that I can barely comprehend myself, when it's the pot at the end of the rainbow that I am searching for? Fuck it, they don't need to know. I placed the pen on the paper gingerly so not to make any noises and turned around to finish stuffing my pack. I tossed my swim trunks into my bag and turned to look at my clock. It read 11:03. Shit, I'm late. I quietly opened up the drawer to my nightstand and grabbed some matches and a wad of gil wrapped up in a rubber band. I placed both items into my pack and secured it onto my back. I took one last look around my room and went through my mental checklist before heading for the window. I instinctively patted my back pocket to make sure they were still there, five tickets on the last train out of Esthar. I stepped out onto the windowsill and reached over for the drainpipe. I slithered my way down the pipe until I reached the ground. I hunkered down against the side of the mansion and waited silently. The window to my left was opened, spilling light into the back gardens. A heated argument ensued inside.
"Sir, we can't do that, there just isn't enough money! Not to mention it's completely ludicrous!"
"Then I will pay for it out of my own pocket! Kiros, I must have those pandas for Squall's birthday, you know how much he loves them!"
I cringed and ran a hand down my face. How is it possible that I am related to that buffoon? Ignoring the argument, I stealthily maneuver my way for the fence behind the gardens. A large oak tree grows along the fence and provides the perfect leverage for getting over the 10-foot obstacle. I climb the tree and wait on an overlying branch while a guard makes his rounds. I glance back at the mansion while waiting for my moment to hop down from the tree unnoticed. I see that the window next to mine is still illuminated. A sad smile crosses my lips as I recall asking for Ellone to join us. She declined; saying that someone has to watch over Laguna. How she puts up with him only Hyne knows. The guard below had passed and started up a conversation with another guard, neglecting his duties of watching the area. I took off my pack and tossed it over into some bushes. I jumped off the branch and rolled on the landing to lessen the impact. I stayed down and remained completely still to see if the guards had heard me. Of course they hadn't, I am a trained SeeD. I smirked to myself at their complete obliviousness to what I had just done. Grabbing my pack from the bushes, I jogged to my strategically parked jeep. I started the engine and drove off to the diner in downtown Esthar where they were waiting for me.
I guess you could call us a group, a posse, a gang, whatever. A ragtag bunch of misfits really. We all grew up together and have been through some rough times. So when something as great as this came to me, it's only natural to include them. Irvine Kinneas is a self-proclaimed cowboy with an unrestrained attraction for females. I think that he has hit on every single woman in Esthar and even some very feminine looking men, if you catch my drift, to which he will never admit to. He is quite tall with long brown hair pulled back beneath a lopsided cowboy hat. He claims that the hat is a "chick magnet" so to speak, I think that he is just full of it. Selphie Tilmit, a girl with a bubbly vivacious attitude, always has some sort of smile on her face like she knows something that you don't. At first glance, one might call her a pip-squeak and dismiss her altogether, but she is bundle of energy that will knock you into next week if you are not careful. Zell Dincht is a spikey haired martial artist with a tattoo running down the left side of his face. Zell has, how do I put it, an unhealthy addiction/obsession with hotdogs. It seems that he is always eating them. Before I can even utter the word he has already eaten two of them, sickening if you ask me. Seifer Almasy is the biggest pain in the ass that I have ever met. He complains about everything but has a very short temper and can be very explosive. Seifer's answer to everything is his fist. He is basically a walking bag of hot air, don't get me wrong we are friends. Finally there is Quistis Trepe. Quistis is the brains of our little troupe. She has long blonde hair with model quality looks, to be honest. We've known each other the longest and act like siblings most of the time. She has the uncanny ability understand me the best out of everyone. As for me, I am just a nobody. Yes I am Squall Leonhart the "son" of Laguna Loire, the president of Esthar. I don't consider myself at all related to the man. He pretty much abandoned me, which is a story for another time. Right now I am late.
I pulled up to the parking lot of the diner and skidded to a stop. I got out and surveyed the familiar cars in the parking lot; it seemed that everyone is here. Opening the doors to the diner I spotted them in the back corner booth, the same one that we always get. The first thing that catches my eye is Irvine's characteristic cowboy hat pulled down low to cover his face. His arm is draped over a bored looking Selphie's shoulders. Next to Selphie is a snacking Zell. Seifer and Quistis sat on the other side of the booth with Seifer's arm lying atop the back cushion.
"Leonhart, I see that you have finally decided to grace us with your presence," Seifer spat out. Everyone else acknowledged my arrival by throwing a couple of nods my way. After Zell nodded, he leaned forward and started choking on his food, a hotdog not doubt. Selphie began whacking him on the back and Irvine just shook his head. As I was walking up to the booth, I witnessed Quistis plant her elbow firmly into Seifer's ribcage. "Ah, Hyne woman!"
"Seifer shut it," Quistis calmly replied.
"Shut it! You know, we could be out wreaking havoc on this town like we always do, but no, Commander Puberty over here wants to have a meeting, a little pow-wow," Seifer snapped.
"Sorry to ruin your night Seifer," I replied sarcastically while taking a seat next to Quistis.
"Squall, what's going on? Why the meeting?" Selphie asked.
"Yeah, and why did you tell us to pack a bag and bring gil?" Irvine asked in agreement, while Zell just nodded his head, carefully this time.
This was not going to be easy. How do you explain to your friends that you are leaving in search of something, only, you just didn't know what yet.
"Look…this is gonna sound weird. I just…I have to get out of here. Lets go for a ride, get out of this place. Do something different for a change," I stammered out unsure of how they would react. Blank faces stared back at me.
"You wanna what?" Seifer asked with a look of utter disgust.
I paused for a moment and let out a heavy sigh. I reached for my back pocket and pulled out five tickets slamming them on the table in front of us, spreading them out so that everyone could read them clearly.
"I'm leaving tonight on the last train that is heading for the coast. I'm going to Balamb," I stated with newfound confidence and a slight smile. "You guys remember the story about the fried chocobo chick, right?"
"Yeah, some lady found a fried chocobo chick in her salad or something," Zell chimed in.
"Right, and nobody actually knows who the woman is, she is just a friend of a friend of a friend," said Irvine.
"Exactly, so we don't know for sure if that really happened or not," I replied sensing that they were gradually understanding what I was trying to tell them.
Selphie had a slight smile on her face and started to nod in agreement. "Oh, I get it. Squall, you want to go to Balamb so that you can find a fried chocobo chick in your salad? I'd rather eat a hotdog, and that's saying a lot."
"I resent that," an offended Zell replied.
I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand.
"Squall what are you trying to say?" Quistis asked.
I patted my jacket pockets until I felt the thick piece of paper that would explain everything. I pulled it out of my left front pocket and held it up in my fingers. "This is what I'm trying to say. This is a map to a hidden beach. A fucking paradise! With the purest white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and seclusion from the rest of the world! Hell, there might be a lifetime supply of hotdogs for all I know!" At this, Zell perked his head up.
I could tell that everyone was still skeptical.
"Look, this place might not even exist, like the fried chocobo chick. But it's worth the shot right. The adventure of a lifetime here on this map, and in these tickets. Come on, what do you say?"
Silence swept over the table. Selphie looked to Irvine who returned her with a thoughtful glance. Zell stared at his empty plate with his mouth agape. Seifer turned to stare out the window. Quistis gave at me with a puzzled look. I looked back to my map still in my hands preparing myself mentally to make the journey alone. A few minutes later Selphie gave me her answer.
"I'm game Squall!" she squealed. I turned to Irvine who I knew would cave in as soon as Selphie agreed.
"You know I can't let her go alone."
I looked at Zell with a faint smile on my face. He stared back at me with a pained expression. He held up a hand to shield his face from the rest of the table and suddenly started heaving and letting loose fake sobs. He reached his other hand out to grab and hold mine.
"Squall…you…you had me at hotdogs!"
I rolled my eyes and snatched my hand back.
I looked to Quistis who just nodded her head in approval with a smile her face. "Sounds like fun."
We all turned to Seifer who was still staring out the window. When he had realized that the attention had been shifted to him, he looked back at the table with his green eyes.
"Well, my night is shot anyway. The ticket is already paid for…so I might as well." Quistis shook her head and glared at him.
"Seifer for once in your life stop being an ass! You know you want to go!"
I smirked and threw him a ticket.
"Good, we leave in thirty minutes."
And with that my quest had begun.
right, so there you have it. do what you must. review if you feel compelled to.
ciao
babble
