Chapter Ten: Finding the Path Again

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII

Well, wouldn't you know it! We are at the Missile Base! Well. It used to be the Missile Base before it was destroyed. It looks like they are making extensions to the railway here and making a sort of Military base from it.

Even though the threat of a Sorceress is very little at the moment, I guess it's never too safe in the world we live in. The new President of Galbadia seems to be doing his job well, I just hope it doesn't turn into another Deling fiasco. I'm tired of trying to work with crazies like him.

We are continuing onward in our journey! There is still quite a bit of desert but I believe we will make it! We just have to believe in ourselves! Yes.

I last left you on a cliffhanger. (Haha, get it? I fell off another cliff!) I met some great people on my little tumble into that village.

"Laguna!"

"Laguna!"

"Laguna! Laguna!"

"Well if I taught you anything, at least it's my name!" Laguna said with a laugh. The little fiery-red Moombas cheerfully ran around him.

Laguna looked back on the small Shumi village. He'd been here for just a week, but it was definitely an experience he wouldn't forget. Meeting all the different little people, the strange way they talked and their way of living taught Laguna a lot more about the world around him.

He walked towards the Elder's home and paused outside of the door. The elder and his little attendant had a fight the day before, Laguna wasn't quite sure what exactly it was about but he did break up with a bow. He was sure it was okay to go say goodbye to them; he just hoped it wasn't awkward.

He stepped up and knocked on the door and was ushered in right away. The elder sat in his chair looking up, with a thoughtful expression. "Ah, Master Laguna."

"You really don't have to say that. I'm not a 'master' of anything." Laguna scratched his head in just his normal way. He looked around and saw that the attendant was standing next to the Elder, just as always. "Are you guys feeling better?"

"Is Attendant feeling better?" the attendant asked. "I do not believe I was feeling sick, Master Laguna."

"Ah. I mean…well…" Laguna crossed his arms for a second, discerningly. "I mean you guys aren't fighting?"

The Elder looked down at Laguna. "We still have much to talk about, but I guess, yes would be the answer you are looking for. We are feeling 'better', to put into your words." Laguna nodded. The Shumi elder looked at him as the silence filled the room. Laguna stated to feel a little nervous and was going to say something when the Elder spoke again. "In this short time you've been with us, you have shown us kindness that no other visitor has shown to us before. For that I am very grateful, Master Laguna. But we know you must be going."

"Yes. I'm on a mission," he answered.

"To find your little niece," the Shumi Elder finished. "The shumis wish you the very best of luck in your journey, Master Laguna. You are very welcome to come visit us again if you wish."

The attendant stepped forward with a little pack of supplies. "Thank you, Master Laguna! Please do visit!" he said as he handed Laguna the supplies.

Laguna thanked them, bowing deeply. The elder raised one hand. "No need to bow, Master Laguna."

"Well, thank you very much." Laguna smiled and turned to leave. He took one last look at the shumi in the room before giving a wave and leaving the little village behind.

. . .

"There he is!"

Laguna waved down to the two people standing on the beach. Kiros and Ward moved from their spot in the sand to greet him halfway. "We've been searching for you!"

"I figured. Sorry," Laguna said, dropping the heavy bag in the sand. "That tumble from the mountain really knocked me out!"

"You've been missing for a week," Kiros said. "Where did you get those supplies?"

"Long story," he responded. "I'll tell you when we leave…" He looked around the beach. There was no sign of anyone else. "Did the boat leave?"

Ward nodded. "They had to get going, they couldn't wait much longer," Kiros explained. "They did leave us a rescue boat though."

"We have no idea where we are at!" Laguna ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "How are we supposed to find anything?"

"Well you are the master at getting us lost. Perhaps you can be the master of finding us again," Kiros teased.

"Ugh. Please stop calling me master." Laguna rubbed his face. When he looked back at the two of his friends, they were giving him odd looks. "Again, long story. Let's get on this boat."

. . .

Laguna threw his gun on the ground before collapsing next to it. All three were aching after that battle, and what was worse was that they were not even paid for it.

"Lucky us, we got paid before that fight," Kiros said, holding the stitch in his side. "Sorry for you Laguna."

"Whatever!" he whined in return. He didn't even care anymore. That Ruby Dragon took a lot out of them. He just wanted to sleep. "I just need to get out of these clothes." He was still wearing the 'knight' armor from the little scene they filmed.

Ward threw him the backpack. When he felt that his body would respond, he moved up and behind a rock to get changed. He noticed that they were near an ocean and that was probably the best place to walk to. He zipped up his pants and walked back around the rock. "Hey there is a beach down below. Mind as well go down there."

Kiros and Ward agreed and soon they were walking again.

. . .

"Just our luck!"

"It's a raft. A bad one at that."

Laguna stood on top of the raft and jumped. "Seems sturdy to me!"

Ward looked questionable, Kiros matched the expression. Laguna urged his friends over. "Come on! Lady Luck is on our side today!"

"Do you think anyone needs this? Was this abandoned?"

"We were the only ones on the mountains, other than those monsters. I really don't think anyone survived, or at least passed by us." Laguna smiled despite the gloomy response. "Means that this is all ours!"

Kiros shrugged. He motioned to Ward and he walked over to the raft. He stepped on it and the wood groaned a little in response, but didn't crack or move. He looked back toward Kiros and shrugged.

"Awesome! Let's get this out in the water!"

. . .

Luck did seem to like them on this leg of the journey. They had been gone from home for three months now, and it was starting to get very warm. They were surprised to learn that it was late in May when they finally reached some sort of land and town.

Balamb was a quiet little sea town. Being in the middle of the continents they got a lot of soldiers that came through, but were not really bothered in any way. If anything this was a vaction and tour spot, and both nations gained from the little town. The three of them took a few days rest—they actually ate a very good meal and slept for a day and a half—spending most of their money on tickets to Fisherman's Horizon.

They did have a little difficulty getting the tickets, though.

"We need proper identification to give you tickets to FH," the ticket man stated. "Their mayor is very strict on knowing who is coming in and out as they don't want any trouble."

"I think I've lost my ID." Laguna was ruffling through his things. Kiros and Ward had already got their tickets, though they were a little nervous that Laguna would be left behind, or that they would miss the boat. "I honestly can't find it…I promise exist?"

"Sorry, sir. I really can't allow you on a boat without it."

Laguna sighed, stood up and scratched his head, thinking. The movement of him standing up allowed his dog tags to shine in the light. It caught the ticket man's eye. "Oh! Sir, you were in the military?"

"Yes. We all were," Kiros answered for him.

"Well, we have to have update registry on both armies for security reasons. If you will allow me to borrow them, I can look you up."

Laguna thankfully let the man have his tags. He disappeared from the front desk and they were to wait. Laguna tapped his foot, growing impatient as the time got closer and closer for them to leave. Just when he was going to hit the counter and call for the man, the desk worker came back. He looked a little confused. "Laguna Loire?"

"That's me!"

"Are…are you sure…?"

"Yes." Laguna cocked his head to the side. "I promise I existed, right?"

"Well, it just says that you are deceased…I can't validate these."

Laguna cried out in frustration. Kiros stepped up before he could really explode though. "Can he tell you his date of birth, or anything? We promise this is Laguna Loire. There aren't any others out there, believe me. We wouldn't want there to be."

The desk worker shifted a little. "Let me ask my manager."

Five minutes later, and ten minutes until the boat left the harbor, two men came back to the desk.

The desk worked handed the other man the tags. The other man, a big sturdy fellow, suddenly starting laughing. Very loudly. He came around to the other side of the booth.

"Ah! Ward you old dog, you!" There was more laughing. Ward smiled goofily and patted the man on the shoulder. "I can't believe you're all the way in Balamb! What brings you here? OH RIGHT!" More laughing. "You can't speak a word! Hahahaha-haha-ha!"

Ward motioned to Kiros, who seemed to be his voice in these kinds of situations. "We're on our way to Fisherman's Horizon but we can't get a ticket for this person who has lost his ID."

"You must be this guy's friends from the military! He told me all about you!" Laguna wondered if this was a true statement. "Give the man a ticket! Everything checks out as far as I'm concerned."

He handed the tags back to Laguna. The desk worker gave Laguna the ticket, he paid, and they were on their way.

"How do you know that guy?" Laguna asked.

"He was a friend who worked at the prison with Ward," Kiros said for him.

"How do you do that!? I just need to know! What is this secret? Come on, tell me!"

Kiros and Ward just shook their heads.