Parallel

Esthar

Massive buildings lined the sky, people walked the streets in communion, a series of moving platforms carried visitors and residence around the city as a means of convenient transportation – it was the metropolis otherwise known as Esthar. Rinoa was calm and rational about their arrival – but, on the inside…she couldn't contain her enthusiasm as she felt her stomach jumping with excitement and joy.

She turned to Seifer with a smile on her face.

"We finally made it! Can you believe it?"

Her expression only made Seifer feel worse – not for her, but because of him. She still had no idea he hadn't come with her because he, too, believe Squall could still be alive. He had simply done it as a favor – and to keep an eye on her. Deep down, he wanted to tell her the truth – but, knowing how she'd take it was more than enough to keep him from doing so. For now…he'd just keep playing along.

"Congratulations," he said, with a pained face.

She pretended not to notice his tone of voice as she turned forward again and gazed at the city. Nothing was going to bring her down now. She was finally here, and now…there was only one thing left to do.

"Let's go!" she said, happily, glancing back at Seifer.

"Go where exactly?" he asked.

Rinoa didn't answer for a moment and Seifer looked at her in question.

"Rinoa…?"

She slowly turned toward him again as she looked at the ground – thinking carefully on her words before speaking.

"I'm…looking for someone," she mumbled.

Seifer made a face at her words.

"Yeah, I know. Squall…" he said, with a sarcastic tone.

Rinoa took a breath.

"Well…not only Squall."

Now, Seifer was intrigued as he looked at her in a bit of surprise. She had actually come here in search of someone else? Who? Why? Things had just gotten bigger for him.

"Well…who else then?" he asked, curiously.

His eyes and ears were completely focused on Rinoa as he waited for her to speak with much anticipation. She was hesitant, however, as she stood in silence for a moment – the awkwardness of the moment slowly driving Seifer crazy.

After a few more seconds, her finally heard her speak.

"…It's Ellone," she said, quietly, "I came here…looking for Ellone."

Seifer thought for a moment. Ellone. That name sounded so familiar to him, but he couldn't recall why – much to his frustration.

Rinoa saw his face and knew what he was thinking as she spoke again.

"Remember? Four years ago? You and the Galbadians kidnapped her and took her inside Lunatic Pandora. It was all part of a ruse to awaken Adel for Ultimecia. Short, brown hair, white shirt, blue vest – about twenty-five at the time?"

He thought harder and was finally able to recall his memory of Ellone – and that day, as he dropped his head. The memory, combined with Rinoa's words, didn't help to clear his conscience and guilt regarding his past – only serving to fuel his regret as he looked at the ground in shame. He knew it hadn't been Rinoa's intention – but, she could have at least skipped over the part about him kidnapping Ellone.

"Oh…yeah. Her…" he mumbled.

He slowly lifted his head to look at her again. Though afraid that any further conversation would only make things worse for him, he was still too curious to leave it alone.

"Why do you need to find her?" he asked.

Again, Rinoa didn't reply at first as she thought to herself – closing her eyes as she reflected on events four years ago. She couldn't really believe what she was about to say. It wouldn't exactly be the easiest thing to comprehend – and even harder to believe. On top of that, she wasn't even sure if Seifer knew already or not. When he had been involved with Galbadia and taken Ellone hostage, wouldn't Ultimecia have given him some insight as to her importance? Then again, due to how he'd been thinking at the time, he may have just done it in sheer compliance as a knight. Either way though, it was hard to bring out. Seifer hadn't thought her to be crazy yet – but, after something like this…it was hard to say.

She looked at him for a moment as he stared back at her – still waiting for her to say something. His face held nothing but curiosity, though she detected something else as well - she just wasn't sure what. Still, his apparent interest was enough to make her feel more comfortable as she took a deep breath – finally managing to bring out the words, though it was slow to come at first.

"Ellone has the ability to send a person's consciousness back in time as far as she wishes," she explained.

Seifer didn't appear to be surprised by this news, but was hard to tell as he kept looking at her – waiting for more. She let out a light breath to try and relax as she continued speaking.

"She and Squall were always really close ever since they were little kids. They have a special connection – one unlike any I've ever seen."

She thought on her next words for a moment.

"…I won't go into the full story, but given their history…I thought that if I could find Ellone, maybe…"

She went silent again as she looked at the ground – clutching her pendant. Her actions let Seifer know immediately what she was thinking as he looked at her in regret, shame, and sorrow. Every time she thought of Squall, even since long before they'd arrived in Esthar, it only made things that much harder for him. He wondered how much longer he could carry on without telling her.

Rinoa sighed as she more words emerged from her mouth.

"…She could help me find Squall," she said, quietly.

Seifer's head dropped toward the ground again almost instantly at her words.

"If she can figure out where he is, she can lead us to him," she continued, "I know how strong Squall and Ellone's bond is. It can't fail!"

Despite her words and certainty, Seifer was still skeptical. How could she be so sure something like that would really work? It seemed like a long-shot, at best, the way he saw it. Plus, due to Rinoa's firm beliefs regarding the whole thing, he was almost convinced she was just going by heightened hope and emotion – not any real logic on the matter. He didn't want to seem heartless or uncaring, but he also didn't want to see Rinoa crushed by her own ambition. That thought was much harder for him to accept than Ellone being able to find Squall.

He looked at Rinoa again as she was now staring at her pendant. He wanted to ask one last question, but he didn't want her to catch on to his disbelief. Just for sake though; his own piece of mind – he had to know.

He fought to bring it out. Not wanting to upset her, but unable to keep it to himself just the same. It was conflicting – and difficult, but he had to get it out. He quietly cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"Rinoa…?"

She slowly lifted her head to look at him and their eyes met as they stared at each other in silence for another moment. Seifer forgot his words for that brief instance and looked away – surprising Rinoa a little as she tipped her head in question.

Seifer's words came back to him seconds taking his eyes off Rinoa as he continued his question.

"How do you know for sure this will work?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

He sighed. He didn't want to continue, but he couldn't refrain. He figured a part of him wanted her to see that she was at risk of getting her hopes up. He couldn't stand to see that after all this time.

"Ellone. What if she can't find Squall?" he asked, "She can only take people into the past, you said. If Squall is really still alive, how will that help you find him?"

Rinoa understood what he was saying and why as she nodded her head lightly. She had figured this might be a little hard for him to accept, so she'd been prepared for that.

She looked back at Seifer calmly.

"If she can't find out where he is, she could take me back to when Squall died," she explained, "She could send me inside him and I could see what happened to him afterward."

Her words only confused Seifer. If what she was saying was true, how could she get the info she wanted if Squall was dead? He wanted to ask about that, as well, but decided against it.

Rinoa was quiet for a moment as she appeared to be thinking about something. Seifer could only imagine what as he looked at her silently – waiting for her to speak so he'd know he hadn't upset her.

Rinoa let out another light sigh as her next words came out.

"I can't say for sure it will work either, really. But, I have to try. Ellone is my only chance, and I can't overlook that."

She looked at Seifer closely as she said her last few words.

"I didn't come all this way for nothing. I'm going to find Squall, Seifer. Count on it."

The look in her eyes was unlike any he'd ever seen from her before. She was so sure this would work – that she had come to Esthar on the right trail and she'd finally get the answers she sought. Her determination shone through again and it was clear she wouldn't let anything, or anyone, keep her from achieving what she'd set out to do. Again, he could feel his regret and shame rise inside him upon seeing this. As sick as he was of constantly being haunted by his past, he couldn't help it. It hadn't been anywhere near as easy as he'd hoped to erase the things he'd once done. He never imagined he'd feel them so heavily years later.

He nodded lightly at Rinoa – trying his best to hide his pain inside.

"...Do you know where she is…?"

Rinoa slowly turned around again to see the very building she was thinking of.

"There." she said, pointing to the Presidential Palace.

Seifer looked at the building in a bit of astonishment. How on earth did she expect to get in there?

"How are we supposed to get inside that?" he asked, looking at Rinoa again.

Rinoa just laughed lightly at his words.

"It's fine," she said, smiling, "I know the President. It won't be a problem."

Seifer was surprised by this news as he looked at her again – unsure of what to say to such a thing. Rinoa knew what he was thinking though, as she spoke again.

"It's a long story, but it all ties into what I said about Ellone."

Her words stuck on Seifer for a moment as he thought about them and what she'd said previously. It was a bit confusing and he couldn't quite fit everything together, but he didn't bother in the end. He was bound to find out anyway the way he saw it.

He, again, nodded as he walked up to her and they looked at the Palace again and Rinoa turned her head toward Seifer.

"Let's go." she said.

She started moving in a bit of haste as Seifer quickly followed her. As they ran, the residents of Esthar looked at them in surprise and confusion – the words "sorceress" and "why" starting and ending the countless questions of the stunned civilians. Rinoa pretended not to hear them – continuing to move forward quickly to reach the Presidential Palace as soon as possible. Seifer heard the questions and comments as well and worried for Rinoa. Though she didn't appear bothered by them, he knew she had at least heard them. He could only hope that an incident like in Galbadia wouldn't repeat itself. The fact that she knew the President of Esthar didn't ease his anxiety in the least. He was still under orders despite his sudden AWOL and had every intention of keeping up with them.

As Rinoa and Seifer kept running through the streets, they didn't notice Selphie, Quistis, Zell, and Irvine walking down another street toward them as they ran right past. The four friends saw Rinoa at the same time and we overcome with joy and nervousness once again.

"Rinoa!" Quistis said, happily, as she watched her moving through the city.

Right behind her, they saw Seifer. A sight that struck all of them, but affected Zell the most.

"Seifer!" Selphie said, in a bit of shock.

Zell looked at her.

"What? You knew they were traveling together."

She glanced at the ground for a moment.

"Well, yeah," she said, "But, it's just so weird actually seeing them together in person."

Irvine backed her up as he jumped in – knowing she felt a bit uncomfortable from Zell's comment.

"You know. It's one of those things that's easily imagined, but hard to grasp when you actually see it occurring," he said, "You gotta' admit – it is a bit odd."

Zell didn't really respond as he looked toward Rinoa and Seifer again. They didn't seem to notice them at all as they kept moving down the street quickly.

"I wonder where they're going?" Selphie thought out loud.

Quistis watched them in silence for a moment. The sight of Rinoa and Seifer together only tore at her conscience more. That they were her friends and had abandoned her, causing her to place her trust in the last person anyone would have expected – the reality of it all weighed down on her more heavily as she stared at them.

"Quistis?" Selphie asked, looking at her worriedly.

Quistis didn't reply or acknowledge Selphie as she stood straight – still looking in the direction of Rinoa and Seifer.

"They were headed toward the palace," she said, "Come on!"

Without a second thought, they all followed her quickly as they pursued the duo toward the palace. They had no idea exactly why Rinoa seemingly sought the residence out, but all they cared about was that they had found her again. This was the chance they'd been waiting for: to make things right between them and bridge the wide gap they'd carved into their friendship. Whether or not Rinoa would believe them was entirely up to her…but, they still had to try. It was the only way to clear their conscience and try to make peace with Rinoa again.

Seifer could feel someone following them all of a sudden as he started running faster. He didn't dare look back so as not let on about his suspicion, instead running up beside Rinoa – his actions somewhat confusing, and intriguing, to her, but nevertheless encouraging her to move faster as they kept on toward the palace. Thoughts of Squall filled Rinoa's head as she moved faster and faster – the fastest she'd moved in the recent days. She could feel it. Ellone waited for them just up ahead in the palace. All she had to do was find her and she could find Squall – finally allowing her the reunion she'd so desperately been seeking since the day he had died. It gave her a rush as her heart beat faster with anticipation and excitement. Everything was coming together: like the sky had suddenly cleared and the road opened before her. It was the best feeling she'd had in a long time and had no intention of letting it go. Finally. Finally, she'd be able to see Squall again and everything would be as it had been! Just the thought was enough to fill her heart with joy as she and Seifer finally reached the palace – the massive building welcoming them as she and Seifer approached the moving platform to take them inside.

Rinoa was too happy and eager to stay still as she practically danced in place while the platform carried them into the palace.

"This is it! This is really it!" she thought.

She closed her eyes as she smiled.

"I'm coming, Squall. Wherever you are, we'll be together again soon."