Quistis Trepe-Strife
was piloting the Ragnarok from Esthar
Airstation to Trabia Garden. On board with her was her
husband of one week Cloud Strife a man 25 years her senior,
Esthar president Laguna Loire, Headmistress of the White
SeeD ship Ellone and her bizarre husband Zone, and Quistis'
top SeeD from Esthar Garden 19 year old Juliane Cara
Leonhart Loire.
Selphie's news
of monster's attacking Trabia bothered
Quistis but not as much as Quistis' marriage to a virtual
stranger would bother Selphie. Quistis supposed, judging by
the girl's silence that Juliane was bothered by it too.
But
Quistis assured herself that whomever she chose to marry
was certainly not the business of a girl half her age. Besides
Quistis thought she was still quite the looker at 38 and she
could challenge that Juliane in a beauty contest anyday. What
matter if the girl was two inches taller than her and had
beautiful long dark hair the color of rich milk chocolate and
clear skin with peachy cheeks? She, Quistis was blonde and
blondes had more fun! Although Quistis had noticed a few
gray hairs in her sunny mane that last week but hair dye would
cover that. And her make-up certainly did bring out the color
of
her violet-blue eyes so well...
It was just
Quistis and Juliane in the control room of the
Ragnarok. The other passengers were downstairs. Quistis
glared at the girl. Juliane's unearthly quiet was starting to
annoy her especially since Juli usually couldn't shut up.
"So what's eating
you?" Quistis asked in a tone that the girl
couldn't possible ignore.
"Nothing. It's
just that Cid offered me a job. He's 75 and he
wants to retire and the crazy thing is he wants me to take over
Balamb Garden instead of one of his own SeeDs and I really
don't know...." Juliane tugged at the ends of her long dark
braids, which was something she often did when she was
anxious.
So that was
it, "You should except it Juli! What a great
opportunity for you! Of course I'll hate losing my top SeeD but
I
can't keep you with me forever!"
"Nooo...Aunt
Quistis you don't understand! I don't deserve it
and anyway it's not what I want to do with my life."
Quistis just
could not believe that girl's reluctance; "Of
course you deserve it!"
"No I don't!
He's just offering me the position because I'm
Squall's daughter! I don't want a charity job because of some
deadbeat dad who I never met and who never even knew I
existed!"
Quistis was
impatient with the girl especially since she
was acting so much like Squall; "Don't you dare say that child!
You are the most talented young woman I know!"
"Don't call
me child! I'm not a little girl anymore! Besides I
don't wanna be a headmistress I wanna be a singer! A
superstar!"
"And waste your
life and all your training?"
"Mama says I
should follow my dreams!"
Quistis sighed,
"Yes but she was never a SeeD so she can
not possibly understand about any of this! But never mind that
now we're almost at Trabia."
***************************************
When Squall
woke up he saw that Zell was already gone.
And when he went out in the hall, he found Selphie waiting for
him. She was carrying Gavin in a backpack.
"Oh great Squall!
You're up! I have so much to show you!"
Selphie chirped obviously as much of a morning person as
she'd always been.
"Where're Zell
and Irvine?" Squall started walking with her
down the hall.
Selphie handed
him a paper bag, "Irvine is teaching his
classes and Zell is running errands for me."
"And I'm going
to..." Squall opened the paper bag.
"You get the
grand tour of Trabia Garden!" Selphie gave a
flourish of her hands.
Squall pulled
toast and juice out of the bag, "What
about....?"
"Oh Squall we'll
deal with everything later. Right now I want
you to see my Garden!" She paused at a windowed door and
peered in.
Squall looked
over her shoulder. It was obviously a
classroom for the youngest children judging by the bright
colored pictures on the wall and the toys lining up the shelves.
Squall recognized
the teacher, "Isn't that....?"
Selphie broke
him off, "Yes that's my friend who you won
my card from! Let's go in!"
Squall reluctantly
followed her inside. A room full of
five-year-olds made him nervous. Being around people after
so long alone was bad enough but he wasn't sure he could
handle a room full of five-year-olds.
Squall thought
his eardrums would burst when all the kids
chanted a greeting at once. Selphie remained unfazed and
began hugging each of the kids, many of whom wanted to
touch the baby with their sticky fingers.
While Squall
watched the noisy scene the teacher
approached him. She was dressed to play with kids wearing
jeans and a long-sleeved white tee shirt with a red smock on
top. She looked at Squall warily before speaking.
"You're Squall
Leonhart? The missing man?"
When Squall
nodded mutely she continued, "Selphie talks
about you all the time! I heard a rumor last night that you'd
been found but I didn't believe it till now. You really
are the
man I played cards with all those years ago! Do you still have
my Selphie card by the way?"
When Squall
stared blankly at her she continued to babble,
"I'm Leah Kyrless by the way!"
Thankfully Selphie
came over then and began talking to
Leah. Squall was feeling out of place and lost when he felt a
tug at his sleeve. He looked down and saw a bevy of tiny tykes
staring at him.
"Wanna cowor
wif us?" One of them asked.
"Oh I don't
know.." Squall didn't know how to talk to kids.
"Puh--lee--ze?"
begged the kids and before Squall could
protest he found himself ensconced at a child-sized table with
crayons and paper.
"Watcha gonna
draw Misser Squall?" One of the kids
asked.
Squall countered,
"Well what're you gonna draw?"
"Um chocobos
or maybe you? Yeah that's it! I'm gonna
draw you!
Squall managed
a smile, "Then I will draw you too."
Squall had never
considered himself to be an artist but
when Selphie and Leah came over to see his pictures, they
gasped.
"Oh these are
good!" breathed Leah.
"Squall I didn't
know you were so talented but we've really
got to finish our tour," Selphie touched his arm.
Squall shrugged
and went with her back into the hallway as
the children shrieked good-byes to both of them. A short ways
down the corridor, Zell bounded up.
Selphie stopped
in her tracks, "Zell?"
Zell motioned
to Squall, "Selphie..."
Selphie obviously
knew what Zell's silent communication
meant even if Squall had no clue, "Now?"
Zell nodded,
"Yeah..."
Selphie glanced
at Squall, "Let's go to my office..."
Zell and Selphie
wouldn't let Squall ask what was going
on. Instead they maneuvered him into the elevator and Selphie
pushed the button for the top level where her office was. When
they stepped out into her office the room was filled with
people. Some of them Squall knew and some of them he
didn't.
"SQUALL?"
Quistis looked bewildered, "Selphie? Why?"
Selphie looked
nervously at her feet, "Why didn't I tell you
about Squall? I guess I forgot... He only arrived here
yesterday..."
Zell put a hand
on Selphie's shoulder, "And I only found him
the day before..."
"Well that's
not why we're here!" Selphie stamped her foot,
"Monsters have returned and..."
Quistis was
not satisfied, "Selphie! This man has been
gone for 20 years! Some of us would like some explanations
on the mysterious reappearance of Squall rather than some
weird limit breaks or monsters!"
"And some of
us would like to be introduced to ah Mr.
Squall did you say?" remarked a girl with long dark braids and
bright aquamarine eyes.
Selphie looked
from the girl to Squall, "Ah Juliane this is
Squall Leonhart. Squall this is Juliane Loire. Now
let's get on
with business! No wait I don't know you..." She pointed at a
man of Laguna's age or a little younger with spiky gray hair.
The man stuck
out a hand to Selphie, "Name's Cloud
Strife! I just married Quistis last week."
Selphie groaned,
"You didn't tell me Quistis?"
Ellone laughed,
"She didn't tell us either!"
Selphie rolled
her eyes, "Well I guess since he's your 10th
husband you didn't think it was important to tell me! But you
know what Quistis?"
Quistis snapped
back, "What Selphie?
Juliane ran
over then, refusing to look at Squall, "Hi Gavin!
Oh you're so big! Can I hold him Aunt Selphie? I haven't
seen
him in a whole month!" She was obviously trying to distract the
women from fighting.
It worked.
Selphie was the kind of mother who could not
resist people gushing over her baby and she allowed him to
be lifted out of the backpack by Juliane.
Laguna spoke
up, "I'd like to hear from Squall if he doesn't
mind."
Squall glowered
at Laguna, "Yeah but I don't think I can be
any more direct with you any more then you were with me...
Ellone! Zone! Laguna!
Zone let out
a sound of protest, "What the hell did I do?"
"My God!
Why the hell does everybody have to be so
fucking obtuse? Shit!" Juliane said angrily.
Quistis was
appalled, "Juliane watch your mouth!"
"Why?
It's not like any of you ever watch yours!" Juliane
shot back, "Oh and by the way Quistis, you're not my mother so
please stop acting like it!"
Selphie threw
her hands up in frustration, "Can we all just
calm down for a few moments and speak one at a time? All
right everyone to my conference room! I'll have to do with you
what I do with squabbling students!"
When everyone
was seated around the round conference
room table, Selphie spoke again, "Ok I'm going to call on you
each one at a time. No one speaks when one person has the
floor and we'll address all questions and comments at the
end! Squall?"
"Fine.. Juliane
I'm sorry but it's Laguna's fault I abandoned
Rinoa. He abandoned me so I guess we're even. Laguna you
could have been a little more direct with me when we first met.
Ellone, those flashbacks could have made more sense. Zone
you stole my only porno magazine. Oh yeah and Quistis what
happened? You used to be nice and now you're a real bitch!"
"Ellone?"
"Squall I didn't
want to shock you too much and Zone what
does Squall mean by porno magazine? I think this is really
childish that we have to do this but some of you I guess haven't
grown up!"
"Zone?"
"Squall gave
me that porno mag in return for my Shiva
card! I didn't steal it I hate porn! He insisted I take
it because
that's all he had to trade!"
"Laguna?"
"Squall I would
have been a crappy dad but since you are
hard headed and you hate me I guess you already know.
Ellone doesn't know everything but she thinks she does and
that's why the flashbacks made no sense."
"Quistis?"
"This is not
getting us anywhere Selphie and you know it!"
"Juliane?"
"Let's just
get this crap over with!"
"Zell?"
"Quistis's right..."
"Cloud?"
"What is this
the world's most dysfunctional family reunion
or something?"
Selphie nodded,
"Yes and Squall is part of the family
whether he likes it or anybody else does! I'll admit I was
shocked when Zell first found him but he's back and that's all
that matters! Now on to why I called you here. Monsters
have
attacked my students. As you all know monsters have been
gone for 20 years now since we defeated Ultimecia. I am also
worried about new powers. I have experienced a new limit
break. Something called an Aeris Rainbow appeared in my
slot. This confuses me but I am more worried about the
attacks of monsters.
"Aeris?" Cloud
whispered and before they could say
anything he went on, :"Let me tell you a story about a woman I
once knew named Aeris..."
Flashback 40 years ago
(Hojo's lab in Midgar)
Cloud: Let's get outta here!
Aeris: Thank you for rescuing me!
Cloud: No thanks necessary...
Aeris: This place is creepy...
Cloud: What did they do to hurt you in there?
Aeris: I don't know...
(Gold Saucer)
Aeris: Isn't it a beautiful view from here?
Cloud: Yeah...
Aeris: I want to tell you about Hojo's lab...
Cloud: You don't have to...
Aeris: They took a lot of my blood in there. I was
so weak.
Once they stuck a syringe needle in my pelvis. I think they were
drawing something out.
Cloud: It's not your fault they're evil!
Aeris: I heard Hojo talking to Sephiroth about the DNA
samples they got from me. They said something about
cloning. What if they want to clone me because I'm an Ancient?
Cloud: You don't have to worry anymore.
(temple of the ancients)
Aeris: My people... Did they build this place?
Cloud: Maybe...
Aeris: I know... I feel their presence!
Cloud: For some reason so do I.
Aeris: I want to go there Cloud.
Cloud: Go where?
Aeris: The City of the Ancients!
(City of the Ancients)
Sephiroth: Now it' s time to say goodbye... to all our company...
A-E-R-I-S!
(He stabs Aeris)
Cloud: SEPHIROTH! NO!
Squall had heard
the name Sephiroth before, "While I was
gone from here I lived on a remote island... There was a
journal there... A journal I brought with me... A journal
by a
man named Sephiroth."
Cloud didn't
seem the least bit surprised, "My suspicions
are correct then... Sephiroth... I thought I'd defeated him but
he
came here instead. To finish his work... I knew as soon
as I
saw Selphie. For I believe my dear girl that you are a clone
of
the long dead Aeris."
Everyone was
bewildered especially Selphie, "Me? But
what's so special about me?"
A slow smile
spread across Cloud's wrinkled face, "You
have the blood of the Ancients.... You have their powers.
You
look exactly like Aeris. There is no doubt in my mind that you
were created by Sephiroth."
One person was
not too stunned to speak "Alright I think
it's time we took a break. Besides my arm is asleep from
holding the baby. " Juliane handed Gavin to Selphie and left
the room.
Selphie let
out a sigh, "She's right let's break for lunch."