Chapter Nine: Days at Sea

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII

Ah yes. This is normal, quite the Laguna behavior right here. I've read the map wrong and now we are more or less…lost.

It is a little desert-y, so I hope we're near where the prison was. Is? Is that place still functional? Well…Ward can't really remember the area…lucky we packed extra water!

Kiros has forbid me to read maps or lead us anywhere any longer. Twenty years of getting lost has finally made the little man snap. I haven't heard him get that angry in a while, of course he didn't stay angry but he did says some funny words I've never heard before. Ah, well. We're still friends. Hopefully.

And now that we rest I will continue on with my little story. As you can see, we always were lost on our journey to find Esthar.

Laguna scratched his head. This wasn't quite the way we wanted to go, but maybe it would be good anyway? he thought.

"Where are we going?" Kiros asked, crossing his arms. "I don't recognize this area at all. And it's getting warmer."

Ward silently motioned, asking the same. "I'm sorry!" Laguna scratched his head again. "Looks like we're going south instead…"

Kiros sighed. Ward gurgled out a laugh. Laguna had gotten the wrong tickets for the wrong boat. When he had gone up to ask the captain where they were going, expecting better news, he suddenly was very confused. "We have to make a pit stop at an old friend of mine, but then we should be going to Dollet," the captain had said. This ship had already sailed and they were currently on it.

"We're going back to Dollet…" Kiros shook his head. "We're getting nowhere."

"Aw come on! It's kind of an adventure," Laguna tried saying in a cheerful way. "We mind as well see if there are any other boats heading to Fisherman's Horizon in Dollet."

"We'll be weeks behind!" Kiros cried out in frustration. Laguna gave him his most guilty look. His friend, his comrade, glared at him for a few moments. Laguna dropped his head down farther. Kiros sighed. "When we finally get there, I will get the tickets."

Laguna smiled. He said, reassuringly, "I'm sure Ellone is safe. They wouldn't hurt her."

"I know." Kiros stretched then wrapped his coat around him. "At least it's not snowing right now."

Ward looked out on the horizon. He shook his head. "Looks like Ward thinks it'll get even warmer, too."

"How can you tell what he's saying?" Laguna asked, peering at his tall friend. Ward just winked back at him. "You're totally hiding something from me!"

"It's nothing you need to worry about." Kiros laughed at the face Laguna gave him.

. . .

The captain's friend lived isolated on a rocky coast. This land was definitely new and different than what Laguna was used to seeing in his military days. It was a desolated little place, though it looked like the lighthouse still worked. When the boat finally anchored, the three of them decided it would be a good time as any to get out and stretch their legs since they will be back on the boat for another two weeks to Dollet.

They helped the captain unload the items from the boat and carry it over to the main gate. The captain had a key to said gate and after a little bit of shuffling, he managed to open it with a creak. There were pillars that looked like they were about to fall over onto the walkway and the grass had not been cut in years, if ever. They walked through the grass and bricks and Laguna had decided that the place looked a little more than just run down. The sun did give an almost ethereal feel to the stone house as the clouds were partially covered, letting the rays fall through on spots. They walked forward through the walkway and towards the side of the building. Laguna, suddenly, bumped into Ward and almost dropped his things. "You like to stop with no reason…don't…you…?"

They looked over to their left and it looked like miles of flowers. The colors were mixing to a pleasant purple horizon haze that moved with the wind. The bitter cold that was starting to blow through didn't even phase the little plants that softly waved at them. Laguna was struck by the beauty and was reminded of sights he had seen all over the world, though none seemed to compare to this little garden that was before them.

"We have to keep moving," Kiros reminded them. Laguna tore his eyes away and continued up to a side door.

This place looked like it had seen better days. The old stone crumbled away, and looked like it was going to crumble more if they had leaned on it. The captain knocked on the door calling out, "Cid? Hey, Cid!"

They heard back, "Oh, coming!"

A young man, who couldn't be older than Laguna himself, opened the door for the captain and his crew of carriers. He smiled behind his glasses, little lines creasing with his eyes. Laguna thought he saw a little bit of sadness behind the smile, but it was cleared away with his warm laugh.

"Hello Cap'n! Thank you so much! The original supply boat was detoured and we wouldn't have been able to eat for two weeks without you! We would not have survived." The man named Cid pulled open the door and let them in.

There were a few rooms they traveled through before they found themselves at the main living kind of room. There they set down the boxes and crates they carried. Laguna looked around. There were a few couches and a few desks around. On the floor, in a corner, there were a few toys and books on a little shelf.

Then there was a sudden bustle of activity. Several children burst into the room, a few older teenagers too, and the volume suddenly got very loud. "Sorry!" Cid yelled over the noise. Laguna was surprised at the volume a few children could suddenly make. "Ah, sorry! My wife gathered up the kids since it's going to rain soon!"

"Don't worry about it!" The captain was patting a boys' head that had run over to give him a hug. "I haven't seen you in a while!"

The boy laughed. Laguna watched as the kids were suddenly into the toys in the corner and the older ones were lounging on the couches and chairs reading and doing other things. Cid started gathering helpers out of the older ones to move the boxes where they should go. The sight of all of the happy children weighed heavy on his heart, as he thought of little Elle who was possibly scared and alone someplace. He imagined she was cold and lonely, and it didn't sit well with him. He frowned and raised a hand to his chest letting out a soft sigh. He truly wished he was able to find her safe in a place like this, with other children, enjoying her time. He knew that was too unlikely, though, and quit thinking about it.

Laguna watched as the door opened one more time and a woman walked through. She brushed down her skirts that were knocked around in the wind and then looked up surprised to see extra people in the room. She was very thin and pale with long black hair. It very much contrasted with the blond headed toddler she held in her arms. She gave them a warms smile and walked towards them.

"Matron! Matron!" the little ones were yelling behind them. "Come over here!"

"Hold on!" the woman said. "We have visitors; let me talk to them first."

The woman eventually made her way through the running, toys and little bodies to the group in the middle of the room. "Are these the supplies? Thank you so much, Philip." The captain bowed his head briefly, his smile never leaving his face. "I don't know what we would have done without you! To go two weeks would have not been any good." She turned her head to smile at the three companions. "New crew?"

"Actually, they're guests and helped me carry the supplies in. The rest of the crew is on the boat tying it down for the night." The captain nodded towards them as he helped the older children carry things. "Introduce yourselves."

"Ahh hi." Laguna scratched his head. "Um we're…travelers." Kiros laughed, Laguna sent him a glare. "I'm Laguna Loire, and this big man here does not have a voice, so I'll introduce him. His name is Ward."

"Kiros." He kissed the hand the woman offered.

"Oh, quite the customers you have here!" she said with a giggle. "My name is Edea Kramer, though the kids call me Matron." She seemed to glow with the mention of the children and nickname. The girl in her arms stared at Laguna, fascinated with him. "This little one here likes long hair," Edea explained. "She loves wrapping her little hands in it. I usually have to tie mine back when I'm with her," she added with a laugh.

"She's cute!" Laguna leaned down and got close. He was entranced with her wide, sky blue eyes. There was something familiar in the little girl's face, but he couldn't quite place it. "What's her name?"

"Her name is Quistis Trepe."

Laguna shot up straight and looked at the girl again. He looked at her blond hair, little nose, and knew exactly whose little daughter this was. "This is an orphanage?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

Edea nodded sadly. "Most of these little ones were left from this war that's going on. Most people just send them over if they can't find any immediate family."

Kiros nudged Laguna. He gave him a look saying that he knew exactly what Laguna was thinking. "Ah. Oh right." Laguna looked sad as he took one more look at the girl who was suddenly holding her hand out. "I believe I knew her mother."

"Really?" Edea looked a little shocked. "Do you know family? Anyone who was close? Sadly we never really received much other than her name…It would be wonderful to find a family for this little girl, most kids never do."

"No we do not." Kiros smiled as the little girl turned her wandering arm towards him. "Her mother was one of our commanders in the military, a few years back."

"Oh, no." Edea let Quistis onto the floor. The little girl wobbled, but then managed to totter herself towards another little toddler on the floor. "These poor children all have a sad backstories about this ridiculous war." Her face saddened even more as her gaze traveled around the children in the room. "I don't know how many more people, and children, will be lost to this disaster. It really breaks my heart."

The small group became silent as the noise around the room continued. Laguna remembered Brigadier General Savannah Trepe; they ended up being very close to her and calling her BeeGee. He could remember her being very strict but caring towards her unit. She made sure that her boys were alright and treated correctly when necessary. He remembered that she did take a leave, towards the end, before their accident, but couldn't imagine why. Now he could imagine, and it left him feeling a little broken. How many more people had to be hurt by this Sorceress War?

There was a crash of thunder and half of the group of children screamed. Edea perked up and started going into the cabinets. "Alright! Let's get ready for this storm everyone!"

The three of them ended up helping Edea and Cid get candles and flashlights ready for the impeding darkness. Ward kept the little kids distracted from the thunder, while Kiros and Laguna lit candles and closed windows. "When the worst of the storm passes you guys and the captain will be safe to get back to the boat," Cid said, coming up from the kitchen. "But you guys can hang out in here in the meantime!"

Laguna was happy that this was a stone house. The wind rattled the wooden blinds that covered the windows and the whole house whistled, but the stones did not waver or move. Laguna couldn't image this was the safest place for a real hurricane, though, and wondered if storms ever got that bad. All of the small children had flashlights and there was plenty of light that was across the room with candles. Even though the skies turned gray and the sun disappeared everyone could still move about the rooms very safely.

After checking that the children were accounted for, Edea made her way into the kitchen to make dinner. Cid and the captain were chatting away, obviously talking about what was going on around the world and how everyone else was doing. Kiros went in to help Edea and Laguna stayed out with Ward who was somehow telling a story to the younger children.

Laguna sat cross legged on the floor. Little Quistis crawled into his lap and they sat and watched the silent story unfold in front of them. Laguna made a mental note to ask Edea if she had heard of, or seen, Ellone pass by this little secluded place. It might even help them in their direction. For now, though, he enjoyed the time he had with the little group of children.

. . .

They picked a bad day to be out on sea.

Not that Laguna remembered most of it. The last thing he could really remember was talking to Edea and her promise to keep an eye out for his little niece.

He awoke stiff and achy but alive. He was soaked through and already frustrated that he had somehow ended up on a beach. Again. He looked over to see the captain and his crew gathering up lost supplies on the beach and his companions stumbling over to get him. Kiros and Ward helped him up and got him walking on his feet. He felt a few bumps, but no broken anything. "Did we really just shipwreck?" Laguna asked through a groan.

"The storm overthrew us. We're lucky to have shipwrecked than to have gotten lost at sea," Kiros replied, letting go of Laguna's arm. He stumbled a little, but caught his balance. Kiros gave him a look over before saying, "Good. We're on scout watch."

"Why us?" Laguna moaned out, rubbing his lower back. "Why not anyone else?"

Ward pat Laguna's back. As much as it hurt, it did seem to help him stand a little straighter. "I guess we are the only ones who have had any training."

"Exactly."

They walked a little bit, but were very soon greeted by a mountain. "There's a trail!" Laguna said excitedly. Kiros shook his head and Ward gurgled mirth. "Let's go scout!"

. . .

A few days later and Laguna realized that scouting may not have been the best thing to do. He woke up on his back again; a cold compress of some sort lay over his forehead. He moved a little, testing his back. That was good, which gave him relief. He couldn't image another six months with injuries. He couldn't afford that time.

He sat up in the little bed that was given to him, he assumed, and looked around his surroundings. Things seemed smaller to him, which he found to be very curious. He moved his arm and realized, with a jolt of pain, that not everything was okay. He sighed.

Nonetheless, the place was quiet and a little dark. A thin ray of light peeked through the cracks in the window blinds and spread out across from him. The doors were round, and he also found that the whole place was a dome shape. Things were indeed very much smaller than him as he saw the little bookshelf, the little chairs, the little table and the rest. He was stumped.

"Where am I?"