Back to the Start (VI)
"Hey Odine!", Squall yelled at Odine when he saw him coming out of the elevator. Odine was really surprised and his look was suggesting the same. Squall rushed close to him. "What's wrong Squall?", Odine tried to say but Squall took his arm and made Odine follow him to the Ball. "What's wrong Squall? Why did you force me to come here?", Odine said as he managed to take his arm free. "Sorry for that but I need to ask you a favor.", Squall said looking a bit worried at Odine's arm. "What kind of favor?", Odine said getting all serious. "Well first of all, this place will be your lab.", Squall said. Odine took a look walking a bit around in the room. "It's perfect!", Odine said suddenly trying to scare Squall. "Okay.", Squall said all calm and relaxed. "Now about the favor.", Odine said moving closer to Squall. "When we fought Ultimecia, I took a quick look on my necklace and then on Rinoa's neck. My "Artifacts", I mean my ring and necklace, were glowing a strange green essence.", Squall said almost whispering. "Why are you saying all this quietly?", Odine aksed. "Because I think it's some kind of key to victory.", Squall said again almost whispering. "So what about the favor?", Odine whispered. "I want you to do your research stuff on them.", Squall whispered. "I need your items then.", Odine said. Squall got his hand in his pocket and then took it out with his items in his grasp. "But!", Squall said before giving them. "I want you to keep it secret. No one will know about this, just you and me. Okay?", Squall said as he placed his items on Odine's hands. Odine nodded. "Let's get out of here now.", Squall said laughing. "You go, I need to take a better look of the place. I want to imagine of how the equipment should be placed in here", Odine said. "Okay! You've got all the journey to Deling to think about it.", Squall replied laughing. Odine laughed as well.
Squall got slowly back to his room, like he didn't want to interrupt his thoughts by the voices of Rinoa and anyone else that could happen to be at their room. Kind of selfish, but he was bothered thinking to plan the time they have till they end up fighting. "The good news is that we know where they are.", Squall said talking to himself. A passing SeeD looked at him with a weird look on his face. 'Let's see', he thought and kept on thinking and not talking to himself. At some point he got in front of his room door. He didn't really knock or used his keys. He just stood in front of it thinking. Suddenly the door opned. "Wow!", Selphie said surprised. "Where you looking at the door?", she added giggling. Squall smiled and stepped aside so she can leave the room. Rinoa kept looking at the entrance without knowing who's there. Then she saw Squall coming in. "Hi my love. I wanted to ask you something.", Rinoa said while she got close enough to hug him. "What is it my love?", Squall asked and hugged her. "Why you wanted my necklace earlier?", she asked back. "Nothing much, I just want to test something.", Squall replied smiling. "It's for everyone's sake.", he added. "Okayyyy", Rinoa said and had a weird look on her face. "Don't do that face! Just trust me. You are going to have your necklace back in a some days. Now I want to talk to you about something else.", Squall said smiling at her. "What is it my love?", she asked. "I was thinking of ways to use the time we have when we are at Deling City.", he said. "And?", Rinoa asked again. "I was thinking that we can take some kind of vacation. What I mean is that SeeDs are already willing to help out Odine. I am sure my father will come to help, cause he is my father and I am as stubborn as he is! So I was thinking that we could pay a visit to your father and stay at the mansion for a few days, if he is available and willing to have us there of course.", he said. "What a great idea!", Rinoa said with a huge smile. "I will call him right now to arrange things!", she said excited. "We could surprise him, but he may be away or having something important to do.", Squall said smiling at the excited Rinoa. "We will try to surprise him and if he is busy or away it's ok!", she said with a happy tone in her voice. "I was also thinking that this "vacation" thing would help the guys as well.", Squall said. "Great! As soon as we land at Deling we are off our way to the mansion!", Rinoa said and jumped onto Squall.
The sound of the intercom call could be heard around the Garden. "I would love to have your attention for a while. We just arrived at Deling City. We were informed that a Ragnarok is about to arrive at Deling City in a while. I would like to thank you for your helping spirit. The volunteers sheet is full. Just follow the instruction that Dr. Odine gives you all will be done quicker that we expected. Now about the exit allowance. We would like to have everyone SeeD and every candidate in the Garden. You can practice and relax in here. Thanks.", Quistis said near the mic. "A ragnarok is approaching!", Nida kind of yelled from the bridge. Quistis pressed the intercom button once again. "A ragnarok just arrived. We don't know if they need any help to carry whatever they brought to us, so be on stand-by. Team one be ready at the front gate. If you still don't know at what team of volunteers you are, there is a full list at the Dome entrance. Thank you.", Quistis said. "Let's go help them out ourselves.", Zell said. "The only help I need from you, is only this time. Carry anything if they need you to and then go have some fun.", Odine said smiling. Everyone nodded and moved to the elevator.
Once they got out of the Garden, there was a car and the Ragnarok. "Is that the Garden's car?", Irvine asked. "The Garden is lending us one of it's cars.", Quistis replied. "Nice!", Irvine said excited. The Ragnarok's gate opened slowly. "I told you he would come", Squall said to Rinoa. It was Laguna coming out of the Ragnarok. "What's up guys?", he yelled from a distance. Everyone smiled at him. "Do you need any help carrying stuff over there?", Squalled yelled back at him. "Actually, yes!", Laguna said as he had come closer. "Okay.", Squall said and turned to Quistis. She nodded and turned back to the Garden. "Where is she going?", Laguna asked. "Just wait a second.", Squall said. After a while, a lot of students and SeeDs came out the front gate. "Wow! That's a lot of help!", Laguna said smiling. "That's only team one.", Zell said. "How many teams are there?", Laguna asked. "Five actually.", Squall said. "That's a tone of help!", Laguna said excited. "Are you gonna stay?", Squall asked. "I was chatting with my friends, Kiros and Ward, and we realized that we are getting old but still capable of fighting. So, the three of us came here to help Odine with his research and help you at anything you want when it's time for the fight.", Laguna said. Squall nodded. "Thanks dad.", he said and hugged him. "The gang of three are all here?", Selphie asked excited. "Yeah we are!", Laguna replied smiling at her. "So excited!", Selphie said giggling. Everyone looked at her with a confusing look. "What?", Selphie asked. Everyone laughed. "Okay, we should better get going guys.", Squall said to his friends. They nodded. "Going where?", Laguna asked. "The help around the Garden is more than we expected, so we are going to pay a visit and stay for some days at the mansion.", Squall replied smiling. "Well you could pay a visit at your mother's grave. You never gone there, didn't you?", Laguna whispered at Squall's ear. "I'll see what I can do.", Squall replied. "Have a safe trip to Deling, my friends.", Laguna said and waved as they got in the car. "Anything you need, just call me.", Squall yelled. Laguna nodded. Everyone waved at him as Irvine drove away from the Garden.
"How about knocking that door Rinoa?", Selphie said from the back of the row as the entrance bridge was a bit thin. "Yeah, yeah.", Rinoa said and knocked. "Are you okay my love?", Squall whispered at her ear while holding her hand. "Just a bit nervous. There has been a lot of time since I last saw my father.", she replied. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I am sure he is waiting for the moment that his daughter is coming back to his arms.", Squall said. Rinoa smiled at him. "What are you guys whispering over there?", Irvine asked as he was full of curiosity. Selphie punched his shoulder. "Persona stuff, dude.", she said. "Is punching a way of showing that you love me?", Irvine asked trying to make a joke. Selphie blushed. Quistis got Irvine's attention and waved her finger. "I was joking! What?", Irvine said. Selphie turned her back to him, facing the opposite way from the mansion. "I am sorry Selphie. I don't know what's wrong but I am sorry.", Irvine said touching her shoulder. "Okay. Just turn around.", Selphie said without facing him. Irvine did so and at the same moment the door opened. Rinoa was shocked. Exactly the same happened to her father, General Caraway. "Go hug him.", Squall whispered. Rinoa took a leap and fall into her father's arms. "Hi dad.", she whispered at him. "Welcome back my little girl.", he whispered back. Squall turned around and smiled at his friends. They smiled back. "Look how much you've grown up.", Caraway said. "I am sorry I had that attitude.", Rinoa started saying but she was interrupted by her father. "I am sorry that I allowed you to built an attitude like that. It was my fault I was always away. But I am really happy that you came back to me again.", he said. Rinoa had tears on her eyes. "I am so happy that I am back.", Rinoa said. Squall closed the door and let everyone including himself outside the mansion. "Who where these people? They remind me of something but I am not completely sure.", Caraway said. "Remember when five SeeDs came here to execute Edea?", Rinoa asked. "Yeah I do. Are these the same SeeDs?", Caraway asked back. "Well, they are not SeeDs anymore. Squall got leader of the Garden. He actually quit some time ago in order to marry me. But there was an incident that made all of them to go back to the Garden and actually save me once again. But I am a part of their group right now.", Rinoa explained excited. "Well, I did hear everything about you. How you became the Sorceress and that you went into the future to fight the great sorceress and that she is back. I guess you are at Deling with the Garden and you are going to fight them again.", her father said. "Well, yeah. We would love to stay here for some days, if you are okay with it.", Rinoa said. "Open the door to your friends and boyfriend.", Caraway suggested and smiled. Rinoa smiled and opened the door. Everyone outside smiled at her. "Come inside guys.", she said. They nodded. "That is Squall. I already told you about him.", Rinoa said as Squall got inside. "Hello General. Thanks for your hospitality.", Squall said and tried to shake his hand. "I am not a General anymore. You can call me Caraway or dad.", he said and hugged him. Rinoa was surprised but happy. "Thanks dad.", Squall said. "This is Zell.", Rinoa said and she was interrupted once again by her father. "I think I remember their names.", he said. "You are Quistis.", he said going next to Quistis. Quistis nodded in agreement and they shook hands. "You are the sharpshooter! Irvine Kineas.", he said as he shook hands with him. "Correct", Irvine said smiling. "You must be Selphie.", he said and shook hands with her as well. Selphie smiled. "Everyone. Please make yourself comfortable. Treat the mansion like your home. Some guide. Upstairs. Only bedrooms and a bathroom. Downstairs, where we are now. Everything else, including a bedroom for me and a bathroom.", he said pointing in different directions. "Thanks for your hospitality Mr. Caraway.", everyone said with one voice. "Just call me Caraway.", he said laughing.
As the night was falling over Deling City, Selphie was upstairs looking outside a window. She was in the office where she was briefed for her first important mission. Executing the Sorceress. The view outside the specific window was great. She could she the huge gate where the sorceress was trapped and the huge park with all that grass. Then a great idea came into her mind. She rushed down the stairs, almost falling over. "Be careful Selphie.", Squall said. "That was scary!", Selphie said laughing. "I have an idea guys.", she said and everyone turned to watch her. "It's a great night and the weather is perfect tonight. How about going over to the bar where we saw Laguna in our dreams and then to this prefect park near the mansion?", she asked. "We are kind of tired Selphie. We are staying here for some days. We can go tomorrow.", Irvine said and everyone agreed. "Oh, come on! It will be great tonight.", Selphie tried to motivate them. "We are growing old and you do what old people do!", Selphie said. "No offense Caraway.", she apologized to Caraway. "Sorry Selphie. Not in the mood tonight.", Squall said. "Fine! I will still go.", Selphie said and opened the door. She waited for a while for them to respond, but nothing. She gave them an angry look and closed the door behind her. She moved over the bridge and walked through the park. She quickly reached the hotel where Julia used to sing and Laguna stared at her. She got inside and headed downstairs. She was really excited that she finally went over there. But then she got disappointed cause the bar was changed. It was more modern now and everything was rearranged. "Can I help you?", the old bartender asked when he saw her with that disappointed look on her face. "Actually, you can. How long have you been working here?", Selphie asked while she took a sit close to the bartender. "I work here from the moment the hotel opened.", he replied. "Then you must know Julia Heartily and Laguna Loire.", Selphie said excited. "Well, you are right. I do know them.", he said and noticed that Selphie's eyes got brighter. "That's great news!", she said smiling really wide. "You know him?", he asked. "Yes I do! I was actually talking to him this morning!", she replied. "I haven't heard of him since the night were I saw him talking to Julia.", he said. "Can you tell me about his life? If it's not a trouble for you.", he asked. "Don't worry. That's actually the reason I came here. To see the place my hero had his strong emotionally moments.", Selphie said. The bartender smiled. "Let's see. Where should I start with his life. Oh! I know!", Selphie said. She stayed there for a lot of hours discussing about Laguna's life. She learned some stuff she didn't know about him and shared others that she and her friends only knew. Back at the mansion, Irvine was getting worried. "Why isn't she back yet?", he asked. "Why you worry so much?", Quistis asked. "I just do! She left with this angry look that I can't get out of my head.", Irvine replied. "Go find her then.", Squall suggested. "I will!", Irvine said and rushed out of the mansion. "What is wrong with him?", Zell said. "It's obvious Zell.", Rinoa said. "Didn't you see Selphie blush when he said something about the L word?", she asked. "I did. So?", Zell asked back. "They are in love. I just hope he know what he is doing and not hurt her.", Squall replied. "We'll see.", Quistis said.
Irvine had just arrived the same hotel Selphie arrived some hours ago. He rushed in and downstairs. He only saw a bartender and some couples hugging at their tables. "Excuse me.", Irvine said at the bartender. "How can I help you young man?", he replied. "Have you seen a charming girl with green eyes? Her name is Selphie.", Irvine asked. "Actually I did! She just left.", the bartender replied. "Thanks a lot", Irvine said and rushed back upstairs and out of the hotel. 'Where can she be now?', he thought. 'And why am I caring for her so much?', he asked himself. 'It can't be love. I am never in love.', he thought and walked down the street. The town noises didn't really allowed him to think so he went to this park Selphie mentioned earlier. When he got there, he found a peaceful environment. There were a lot of people around, but there was a nice silence ruling the place. He found a nice spot and took a sit on the grass. "The stars tonight are perfect.", he said in a quite voice so that no one will hear him. "I agree.", another voice said. It was a familiar voice to him. "Selphie?", he asked and turned around to see. Selphie smiled at him and took a sit next to him. "When did you come here?", they both asked and then laughed. "Shhh", he did. "Right.", she said and turned down the volume of her voice. "I just got here and saw you taking a sit over here.", she said. "Oh. I went over the hotel bar to find you but the bartender said that you had just left.", he said and smiled. "Oh. Weren't you tired enough to go and sleep?", she asked. "Sorry for that. I couldn't get your angry look off my mind and I really wanted to apologize.", he said and looked away. "Don't worry silly. I wasn't that mad. I just overreact sometimes.", she said smiling. Irvine looked back at her and smiled. There was an uncomfortable silence for some time. "Aren't the starts really beautiful tonight?", Selphie asked. "Yeah, but not compared to you.", Irvine replied. Selphie blushed and looked away. No one talked again for a while. "I just felt like saying it. And I mean it.", Irvine said. "Thanks a lot.", Selphie said and looked at him. "I have something to say", she said and was interrupted but Irvine. "but you are afraid to say it, right?", he asked. "Yeah.", Selphie replied and looked down to the grass. "I can thought.", Irvine said. "What do you mean?", Selphie asked. "I love you Selphie. I really do. That's why I came over to the bar and looked for you.", Irvine said. Selphie's heart was beating so fast, she thought it was going to explode. "Come on, say something!", Irvine said worried. "Sorry, my love.", Selphie said and smiled. "What did you say?", Irvine asked smiling. "You head me right.", Selphie said staring in his eyes smiling. "I like of how it sounds.", Irvine said and tried to hug her. "Okay then. My love!", she said and kissed him.