.:`'~ Legacy ~'`:.
-=-=-=-=-=-
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
'Till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
-=-=-=-=-=-
Chapter One
"I'll.. probably disappear.."
"Just stay by my side! I won't let you disappear!"
"Time.... place.. who I wanna be with.. I wanna go there! Where Squall and I promised. Squall! Let's go home! Where are you?!"
...I can't find Sis. ...Am I...all alone?
"Do you know where to go back to? Do you know how?"
"Will you be alright by yourself?"
I'll be alright, Matron.
Because I'm not alone.
I'm not alone.
If I call out, they will answer.
"Where is everyone!?"
"Rinoa! Where are you!?"
"Zell! Selphie! Quistis! Irvine!"
"Rinoa!"
...Am I...alone? Rinoa? I want to hear your voice.
Which way...do I go?
I can't make it back...alone.
"Rinoa?"
Am I...all alone again?
Where...am I?
It felt like he'd been walking forever. The orphanage was gone, and the blackness he'd hopelessly been wandering in gave way to a desolate landscape that looked no better. As far as he could see there were only large slabs of dried mud and dirt, blanketed by dark grey skies. A static charge hung in the air, vibrating in his ears. He looked left, then right, and then Squall turned and looked behind him. Facing back to the front his lips parted and his brows drew together slightly. What now?
I guess.. I start walking.
So he walked.
And walked.
And walked.
The only sound that accompanied him was a heavy static in the distance and the crunch of his boots on the ground. No matter where he looked, it was all the same. Desolate and dry with no one and nothing except for.. himself. His footsteps were repetitive, one right after the other and he soon became attuned to their metronome. One right after the other in a nearly hypnotic synchronization. He counted them after awhile, but when he surpassed three hundred footsteps his thoughts restlessly wandered.
It just goes on.. and on.. What is this? Where is.. Where am I? With no end to the desert in sight and the horizon rimmed with black, Squall had no way of knowing how much time passed, if it went at all. He was somewhere still in the Time Compression, he guessed. Maybe he was trapped. He considered this to be a frightening but very real possibility. How would he get out? Maybe he should've stayed with Edea.. With Matron. Maybe she could've helped him. Instead, he he left, believing he could do it on his own.
No. Not on his own. His friends.. Everyone was depending on him, they were waiting for him! Squall shook his head, noticing how heavy his boots had become. His footsteps were dragging slightly and he forced himself to pick up his feet. They were supposed to be here. Why didn't they answer him?
"Rinoa! Zell!! Irvine, Selphie, Quistis, Edea?!" He called out again. His eyes widened as he realized his words held no sound, and no matter how loudly he shouted afterwards the static seemed to swallow the noise immediately, snatching it away before he could hear it himself. It was terrifying.
He wasn't even sure if he was walking in the right direction, there was no telling left from right in this place. If he turned around would he be going forward? It was disorientating and frustrating. He wanted to get back, he needed to get back! He needed to see everyone again, he needed to make certain they were alright. He needed.. He needed his legs to cooperate with him.
Squall's path became tilted and it became hard to keep a straight line. He hunched over as he walked, lifting a hand to his face and rubbing at his dry eyes. The SeeD continued to push himself, forcing himself to keep walking, to keep his feet moving. They were the only thing he was certain of in this place. Their constant shuffling and the soft clinking of his belts the only anchor he had to keep from losing..
It felt like he'd been walking for an eternity. He no longer had the rhythmic metronome to listen to, it had long ago faded into something dull and shuffled, scraping harshly against the dried, barren wasteland beneath him. His legs felt like hot lead, heavy and burning and consuming. He wanted to stop, to rest. Squall stubbornly forced himself further, though. He had to make it. He just had to. It couldn't be much further now, could it? There had to be.. some... some..
Lazily, he noticed he reached something. His head was lowered, and his eyes were barely open. He'd practically been sleep-walking in this timeless place, but now suddenly there was no where else to go. As he looked up, he found himself facing.. nothing. No dirt, no land. Nothing but an empty grayness that expanded forever, gently rolling like clouds. He choked back a noise, not wanting to acknowledge the silence he knew it'd make. Turning quickly, he looked behind him to see that it was gone. Everything was gone. Squall's lip curled a little and he turned further, all the way in circles. Everything was gone. Everything!
There was nothing left, nothing at all! The land had disappeared from behind and all around him! It was.. just gone. His feet couldn't go on any longer and the static became so loud in his ears it was all he could hear or think of. All he could see were the rolling gray clouds, expanding outwards into never ending oblivion. Beneath him the land had become nothing more than a floating rock barely large enough for himself. All of that walking.. All of his calling, everything had been for nothing.
It was too much. The static was so deafening and he was so tired. Squall's legs, troopers they may be, finally gave up on him. He fell and plopped to the waiting ground beneath him, disoriented and dizzy. His head spun as he swayed, struggling just to stay awake. To not lie down and fall asleep because if he did he felt like he'd never be found, he'd never get out of here and he'd be lost forever.
He'd never get out of here.
Quietly a suggestive thought made its way to him. It was careful, whispering in the back of his mind somewhere, just beneath the static. Maybe... maybe he'd always been here. What if...
What if it all had been just a dream?
Squall looked up, noticing a quietly disruptive change in the empty atmosphere. It was practically imperceptible, and as the single white feather drifted down to his open palm he didn't bother questioning how he'd known it was there. He looked down at the piece of white in his hand, slowly curling his fingers around it. The static whistled in his ears but he became aware of something else, a high-pitched tone. It sang to him and called to him, and Squall found his eyes becoming much too heavy.
Suddenly, everything exploded. Images raced through his head, spiraling into one another and replaying so viciously that it tore a soundless scream from his throat. His thoughts and memories merged together and it felt like something was clawing through them. Something alien that was tearing through him in a possessed frenzy in an attempt to learn everything he was, everything he'd come to known. It seemed to find something, and he felt a surge of it's own satisfaction rush through him as everything flashed green.
Then he was falling backwards and knew nothing.
.:`'~ Legacy ~'`:.
"Bugo! Bugo!!"
In Cosmo Canyon, one thing was for certain. It was going to be hot. It was going to be hot and it was going to be sunny. The weather didn't really care what anyone thought of it, but it seemed to like Cosmo Canyon. And the only way it could show its blessing was to give it all the sunshine it could possibly give, bursting from the seams with it and refusing to send any clouds whatsoever to dampen it's love. The weather didn't care if nothing grew on the land. The land was a fickle thing and the weather hated it. Always sitting in one spot and never flinching no matter what the weather threw at it, so pompous! So arrogant! So.. So take this, land! Take this sunshine and bask in it. Enjoy it, because everyone knew that the weather harbored a secret obsession on the land and this was it's only way cope.
Sadly, the weather's affections for Cosmo Canyon left it's unfortunate habitants to suffer from the heat. The sky above the desert surrounding the region was crystal and clear, bright and blue and never ending. Not a wisp of a cloud(1) in sight, no hint of any forthcoming and much needed (not to mention desperately desired) precipitation.
Bugo sighed at that thought, turning his head away from the blinding skyline to look to his fast approaching traveling companion. "Whatcha got Saitek?"(2)
The Chocobo's of Cosmo Canyon were well adjusted to their life in the desert. It was a pretty easy life, really. Pretty much a permanent vacation from everything. The days were long and smooth going and they had little to fear from predators. The scorched desert kept most of the other beasties away and whatever did make it in the desert was generally too small to be of threat to the birds. There was only one beast that could be considered a predator, but Nustle knew it had nothing to fear from the adult predator. It apparently didn't eat bird.
So, not being afraid of the bigger one, this smaller version was definitely nothing to fret over. The yellow Chocobo shook its head impatiently, turning its head to lazily watch the small creature trot up to its side. Pint-sized predator in the making or not, Nustle actually thought it was kind of cute. So he acted impulsively to let the little guy know this for the twentieth time today by stretching his neck out and pecking the little fellow on his flank.
"Ow! Nustle!" The creature hissed at him, baring its teeth and flicking it's fiery tail angrily. "Would you quit it?!"
"Kweh!"
Nustle heard it's rider laugh. Proudly it lifted its head, clicking and clacking its beak in accomplishment.
"Nustle likes you." Bugo said, his rich voice speaking endearingly. He reached forward to pat the yellow Chocobo, earning a a very pleased 'Kweh!' and a jiggle of feathers. Smiling at the Chocobo, Bugo looked down at the Lienliek standing at the birds feet. The small feline creature was still just a cub and just barely topped out past Bugo's knees. But he was full of energy and sometimes Bugo had a hard time keeping up. That's where Nustle came in, especially helpful on these exploratory outings. Bugo had only meant to head out as a way to pass the hot afternoon and had secretly hoped to escape without either of the cubs finding out. But trust it to Saitek to appear out of nowhere, as though he'd been planning it all along. Ah, well. The little Lienliek wasn't bad company and Bugo was actually enjoying their little walk.
"I found something!" The small cub appeared anxious, hopping its weight around from one foot to each of it's three others before back again. He looked around quickly, ducking his head and lifting it, his tufted ears turned backwards and it's flame-tipped tail beating the air.
"Oh really? And what's that?" Bugo asked, amused by the cub's enthusiasm. Saitek always found something no matter where they went. Which quite frankly amazed and appalled Bugo, who could only see desert for miles around. Desert and rocks, lots and lots of big rocks and boulders dotting the landscape around them. Kind of like miniature mountains, he thought. It was a particularly dry season, and the Elders blamed the obviously guilty weather for it. It's easy to say someone blamed the weather, though, but the Elders blamed it as if it were a tangible, real thing. Sometimes they'd even talk to it, cursing it and attempting to persuade it to just -get over- the damn land already and move on to bigger and better things. After all, there were plenty of fish in the sea! Right?
The cub looked up at him, giving him a sharp-toothed muzzled grin. "A person!" He practically barked.
"A what?" Bugo's smile flickered.
"You know, a person! I found 'em, he's just laying there. I think he's asleep. I poked him, but he didn't move. He's alive though, I can hear him breathing. He might be drunk, his face is all red." At any other time, Bugo would've found the quietly enthusiastic but solemn tone in Saitek's voice hilarious. Instead, he was alarmed at the words the Leinleik said.
"What? Really? Where?"
Overjoyed at Bugo's own seemingly enthusiasm, Saitek turned with a flick of his tail. "C'mon! It's not far!" Then he was bounding off, racing into the distance before Nustle would have a chance to catch up to him.
Of course, once Bugo whirled Nustle around the Chocobo scoffed at the pint-sized wannabe-predator-in-training and took off after him, it's own long and well experienced legs keeping pace without giving the small cub any more distance. In fact, Nustle thought, it was going to surpass him! The chocobo steeled itself over, lowering its neck for a more streamlined figure. Feeling it's rider settle down also it gave out a 'Kweh!' of encouragement. It was gaining, and with every hard step it was getting closer.. and closer.. And that tail was looking so tempting, oh it just had to! Nustle opened its beak and stretched, streeeetcheed-
"Wark!!" Then squawked as it's rider suddenly jerked on it's reins, snatching its head up within inches of snapping onto that flickering tail. It took a few steps before Nustle came to a stop, stomping a clawed foot in agitation. It turned its head to give its rider one good glare but found that Bugo was already dismounting. Nustle's feathers flattened in apology. 'Kweh'? He asked.
But Bugo walked past him, over to where the small Lienliek had disappeared behind a particularly large cluster of smooth white rocks that tilted against each other for support. The cub turned his head, watching Bugo approach. He looked back down and lowered his head, snuffing the side of the unconscious figure at his paws. Huh. He didn't -smell- like he was drunk.
Bugo lowered himself next to the unconscious stranger, frowning. He looked him over and could see no injuries. The red face he immediately recognized as nothing more than sunburn, being the only real part of him exposed to it. But wearing black out here wasn't exactly a smart thing to do either. This kid was obviously not from around here. Sure enough to Saitek's words he was breathing, Bugo could see the rise and fall of his chest. Steady and going. He reached forward and touched the stranger's forehead, feeling how warm it was. There was a thin sheen of sweat covering the kid's skin, but other than that he looked fairly healthy, all things considering.
"Well.. Let's get him out of the sun. Poor guy probably got lost. Nustle!" He looked over his shoulder as the Chocobo approached, it's large clawed feet plopping happily across the desert. The saddle on its back tweaked and groaned, and its harness jingled as it lowered its head to poke the unconscious human with its beak. What a silly place for a human to sleep, Nustle thought. And then he thought that the human should wake up. It was common sense really, and the Chocobo was more than happy to oblige that thought with a sharp peck.
"Nustle!" Bugo exclaimed, swatting the bird's beak away from the poor man's jacket. A jacket in the desert? Really?
Nustle pouted. He was only trying to help. The bird kweh'd quietly, turning its attention to Saitek. The small wannabe-predator-in-training shriveled away, hissing at the Chocobo warningly. "Don't you even think about it, feather-butt!" Nustle tilted its head, practically glowing with the innocent 'Who, me?'.
Bugo, meanwhile, was trying to lift the body off the ground. Saitek turned his attention away and helped as best he could by gently butting with his head and pushing with his body as Bugo hoisted the dead weight. Nustle watched them, finding this all pretty amusing really, but when they were ready the bird obediently lowered down, instinctively understanding what it's rider wanted. A heavy weight settled evenly over its sides and Bugo went about making sure that the guy wouldn't fall off from the Chocobo's gait on their way back to the canyon.
"Sai, why don't you go ahead and head back? Let the 'doc know we're bringing company so she can get ready for 'em. Alright?"
Saitek nodded eagerly. "Sure!" He said, his voice cracking a little. The Lienliek was just a cub, but he was more than willing to prove himself. He turned and bolted into the distance without hesitation, his red-furred form quickly dwindling into a speck on the blistering surface of the desert.
Bugo sighed, looking back at Nustle and the stranger draped over the bird's back. "We gotta' walk ahead of us." He grumbled, taking the bird's reins as he and the Chocobo headed off in the direction Saitek had gone moments before. Neither of them ever noticing the stray white feather gently sticking out from a crack on the dry, desert floor.
…..............:`' ~ Author's Notes ~'`:................
1) Get it? Not a "cloud" in sight? Haha! Ha! Har. ...Ehh? Unintentional, I swear!
2) Saitek is my keyboard, but I think it's a spiffy name, don't you? It fits. I really like Saitek in this story, by the way.
So how did ya'll like the first official chapter? That didn't take long at all, I'm pleased. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope I can get out at least, at least a chapter every week. Though there's a good chance more may come. I'm unemployed at the moment, and other than cleaning the house I have the time to spare. So, hurrah!
I hope I pulled Squall off alright. I yanked the poor guy right out from the Time Compression and deposited him in Cosmo Canyon. I always thought how it was interesting everyone was yelling about going to the right time and not getting caught in a time warp. And considering that the Time Compression was about time and space, it made my job easier for me. Did ya'll pay attention to his half?
I hope you don't mind a sprinkling of OC's. I don't think this story will have the proper depth without a few of them. None of them are too awfully important, though. Just supporting cast, really. We won't be seeing anything of Cloud for a bit, but when he does return the story will slowly start to focus on him and Squall and the Threat, as I call it. I'm not too creative with the naming. So for now you guys have to make do with Squall and Nanaki, who should pop up in the next chapter. Vincent will be coming along, too. But rest assured, Cloud -will- come back. He has to, he's the best.
Fun Fact: The prologue went through about three different writings before I published it. The published version you guys are reading is actually an Abridged version. Ten pages compared to the original's of fifteen or so. Not much of an abridged, but abridged nonetheless. I still have a copy of those first two chapters and if anyone is curious to see how they differ I wouldn't mind letting you read them. There's a completely different take on the Aerith and Cloud conversation which changed the atmosphere almost completely, though the actual conversation remains roughly the same. The beginnings are different from each other but the endings are also the same. One of them also gives more precise information on just how the rest of AVALANCHE passed away. Know that the prologue's all ended the same though, and I had the same direction in mind for each version.
Kay, I'm going to stop rambling now. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it's a bit more engaging than the last one I suppose. Thank you so much to Ithilas and b9 iNe for reviewing my prologue! It really made my day! :3
Me and my gargantuan author's notes.
