Parallel

A Chance Reunion

Squall kept fighting Ultimecia – the malevolent, manipulative form his subconscious had chosen to take on for reasons still not understood. He struck at her in anger relentlessly as he grumbled and yelled with each blow. Ultimecia was unalarmed, however, keeping calm through the whole scenario as she proudly and swiftly avoided each strike.

Squall's aggression only intensified and he unleashed his anger in the form of a powerful beam of light from his gunblade - Blasting Zone, as he slammed his weapon down onto the ground hard. However, again, Ultimecia quickly dodged it – moving to the side as the massive beam went past her, only resulting in destruction to the adjacent wall.

"The time has come," she said, with a smirk, "The fabric of this dying world quickly fades from time – as does the soul whom inhabits it."

Squall looked at her angrily as she spoke.

"Can you face it?" she asked, mockingly, "Are you truly willing to make that sacrifice and tear the essence of time – knowing what is at risk?"

Squall turned his head to the side as he scoffed at her words – thinking to himself. He still wasn't entirely sure what she meant…but, he also didn't care anymore. Why should he be concerned if this world, which has bound him to it for so long, should fade? Whatever happened, happened – and he was ready for whatever it was.

He stood in silence with his eyes closed for a moment as Ultimecia spoke again – smirking once more at his expression.

"Just remember, whatever you shall choose…the result is the same. You cannot change the fate that has been set for you – no matter what you try to believe."

She left him with those chilling words as he continued standing in silence for another moment.

"…That's fine by me." he thought to himself, as he opened his eyes and looked at the spot she had been in.

He turned around and walked toward the veranda – once again, looking out over the empty world he had so long been a prisoner of. He could feel it swelling up inside – the slightest hesitation; the fear he'd so long been denying finally catching up with him. Should this world be shattered…what exactly would happen to him anyway? He was still uncertain of that.

However, despite this brief fear that swept over him, he quickly pushed it back – continuing to stare ahead at the dark horizon. It didn't matter – not anymore. Whatever the fate he faced for his actions was…he was ready to accept it. Fear would not control his thoughts or intentions – it was the one thing he couldn't afford to hold to.

He stepped up to the railing over the veranda and closed his eyes as he sighed – reflecting on Ultimecia's words one last time as he had a strange feeling come over him. It was unlike the previous experience where he'd thought someone had been in his head. This was different. It felt like someone was calling to him – someone from far away, reaching out to him.

"Huh?" he asked, as he opened his eyes.

At that moment, a white feather drifted gently down past his face – dropping into his hand as he stared at it in question. Suddenly, he experienced another phenomenon much greater than the others as he closed his eyes tight – a strange vision of sorts coming to mind as it flashed through his head: the image of some sort of portal or gateway opening up in the sky as what appeared to be a person emerged from it – falling toward the ground as they entered this distant world.

His eyes shot open as it ended just in time to experience the event in person as the sky immediately opened up and he thought he caught a glimpse of someone falling against the horizon.

Without question or hesitation, he immediately acted – jumping off the veranda as he made his way toward the strange event in the distance.

Rinoa plummeted to the ground far below – unaware that she had now entered the same world as Squall as she had fallen unconscious upon entering the gateway. The long awaited reunion was on the verge of finally occurring - and time had incapacitated her.

However, only moments into her fall, she managed to reawaken – perhaps another effect of her immense sorceress power. Upon opening her eyes, the sight of the strange and eerie realm instantly grasped her attention and she knew immediately where she was. It was what she had seen when inside Squall's head, even that briefly. This was it. This was the world where Squall waited for her – waited for her to find him and bring him back home, unaware of exactly how close she was to him at this moment.

Looking at the ground below as she approached it at great speed, she was unhesitant – her fall immediately coming to a slow as she managed to drift to the ground and land on her feet gently.

As she stood straight, she looked around for a moment – scanning the area as she took in the sight. It was rather unpleasant: such a dark, cold world with no sign of life other than her own. She couldn't believe Squall could really be here. It was so desolate; so…unwelcoming. She shook her head, unable to imagine what it must have been like for him. An ominous feeling quickly overcame her as she slowly started moving forward.

"Squall…this is where you are?" she thought, as she closed her eyes.

She looked ahead at how far the strange world stretched. She had a lot of ground to cover and wondered if she would find him as easily as she'd previously thought. Still, despite such concerns, she continued forward – doing her best to hold to the hope that she'd find him at some point.

"…I'm here." she said to herself, as she took a breath, "I really did it."

She grabbed her pendant as she thought about how far she'd come. It had all started with her wish to see him again, or have some sort of sign, igniting the strange dream that, in turn…had set her on the long path to this very place where Squall had been so long lost. Now, there was nothing to keep her from finally seeing him again. Somewhere, in this world…he waited for her. It was comforting to know as she smiled at the thought. It had been so long that a part of her secretly wanted to believe it couldn't happen – but, she'd constantly shut that part out, unable to cave to such fears and uncertainty. Now, however, no such emotion existed. Squall was here. He waited. Nothing could be clearer as she started walking forward once again.

As Rinoa rounded a corner, she turned her head to look back - only to hear a voice come from the direction she was walking.

"Who are you?" it asked, the tone in the voice cold and unwelcoming – fitting of such a world as this.

Rinoa quickly turned around in a panic and gasped at the sight of the person before her. Her heart almost stopped as she was overcome with joy.

"…Squall?"

Squall looked at her with a straight face as he stood with his gunblade pointed toward her – unnerved and unmoving as they locked eyes.

Rinoa didn't know what to say as she stared at him in excitement and relief. She couldn't believe it. Squall was actually standing there before her after all of this time. Finally, she truly had the proof she needed that he wasn't dead. It was the happiest moment she could recall in her life. She wanted to hug him; wanted to reach out and touch his hand to make sure she wasn't dreaming…but, his cold expression and angry stance held her back. He seemed so unfriendly; uninviting…far worse than when they had first met four years ago. She glanced at the gunblade that he still held facing her. She didn't know what to think about the situation as she looked at him closely.

"I can't believe it," she said, softly, with a smile, "I can't believe it's really you!"

Squall looked at her in question for a moment.

"Do I…know you?" he asked.

Rinoa was greatly confused by his strange words. What did he mean? Of course he knew her. How could he forget? Everything they'd been through together before his passing – how could that have all left his mind?

"It's me. Rinoa," she said, softly, looking at him in bewilderment, "Don't you remember? I've waited so long to see you again. I've come all this way. I can't believe you're actually here!"

Rinoa smiled a little as she said those last few words, but Squall didn't reply as he turned his head – closing his eyes as he lowered his gunblade.

Rinoa looked at him in concern as she moved her head to get a better look at his face.

"…Squall…?" she asked, a hint of hesitance and worry in her voice.

He stood in silence for a moment before finally turning away from her – only serving to baffle Rinoa even more as she looked at him in shock.

Squall glanced back at her through the corner of his eye as he spoke one thing – the words from his mouth leaving her with a chilling and disheartening feeling.

"…Get out of here – for your own good."

Rinoa stared at the ground in silence as she tried to comprehend what he meant – as well as many other things. What was wrong with him? How did he not remember her after all the time they'd spent together? It had only been a year – it wasn't like that was long enough to really forget anybody or anything that had happened. And, what about what he'd said? Those words: so cold – unlike anything he'd ever said to her before. What did he mean exactly? So many questions on her mind that she couldn't even begin to fathom a thing right now. She was saddened - greatly pained by his words of dismissal. How could he say such a thing? What about their promise – the promise of reunion they'd made in the flower fields that day years ago? Or, when he'd promised to be her knight even if the whole world should hate her for being a sorceress? What had that come to? What had happened to him to make him abandon such things?

"…I…" she mumbled, as she slumped onto the ground in distress.

She felt her heart sink as she began to despair a little. She thought this would be a simple process, but now…she didn't know what to believe. What did she do now? She had come here to get Squall and bring him back home so they could finally be together again – but, if he wasn't willing…how could she do that? She had never anticipated anything like this - and now…she didn't have the slightest idea of what to do next. She had gotten her hopes up, just as Seifer had secretly feared, and now she had nothing to hold to. It was devastating to her that this reunion had been anything but what she'd imagined.

"Did you…really forget about me?" she mumbled.

She glanced up at Squall as he still stood with his back to her – unresponsive.

She looked back down at the ground as she thought to herself.

"But…how? Everything we've been through together. The promises we made to each other."

She looked at him again.

"Did you really forget all of that?" she asked, as her voice cracked.

She cupped her hand over her heart as she lowered her head a little – shaking it at the thought as she refused to accept it.

"No. You couldn't have. Those moments were too special to lose. I know it."

She looked back up at Squall one more time as he took a breath – still not even thinking about turning back toward her. She still wasn't convinced that it meant he really had forgotten. She just attributed it to his personality. He was always cool, calm, and collected – although, coming off as cold and uncaring at the start, much like now. It wasn't really anything new.

She slowly rose to her feet as she sighed and Squall began walking away without a word.

"Squall, wait!" she said, holding her hand out.

To her surprise, and delight, Squall stopped – still keeping his back turned as Rinoa dug into her pocket. She searched around in it for a moment before discovering a horrible truth.

"What?" she asked herself, shocked, "No! I couldn't have lost it!"

She searched the other pocket in hopes it she had put it in that one for some reason…but, nothing. She was at a loss – amongst other things. How could she have lost the ring? She was sure she had it when she'd stepped through the portal in Odine's lab.

She thought for a moment. What if it had gotten lost in the rift before she entered into this world? Then what? How could she get it back? She needed it now. If she showed it to Squall, then maybe…he'd finally remember her. But, without it, however, what could she do? The one time it would have been useful, it was gone. It was a terrible irony.

She looked ahead at Squall again, still standing there in the same position. For someone whom claimed not to remember, he was rather willing to wait on her. This fact made her smile a little – filling her with a bit of hope as she thought to herself for a moment. If he really had forgotten, she'd find a way to make him remember. Nothing about him was really all that different from before other than his words. No matter how one looked at it, he was still the same Squall she'd known for the past four years – she was certain of that.

"Squall, I'll…" she thought, as she closed her eyes.

"I'll help you remember," she said out loud, "Just give me a chance. I promise."

Squall glanced back at her in his peripheral vision before finally speaking to her.

"…If you insist on staying…"

He turned his eyes forward again and started walking away.

"Hey! Wait!" she hollered, as she hurried after him.

She grabbed his wrist with both hands as she lowered her head and pulled back a little – taking in the whole situation. It felt so good to be able to touch him again. It really was real. For the longest time, it had just been a dream – but, now…she was finally, truly able to feel him once more. His hands were like they had been since the first time she touched them: strong, warm, and comforting; that same sense of security they'd always provided overcoming her once again after so long. As different as he seemed and as repelling and hurtful as his words were, she still couldn't help but pull closer to him – even more so now. She had finally found him again. How could she just let him go? They were finally together again and that was all she had ever wanted. Somehow, someway, she'd help him remember her – remember everything. No matter how long it took, she wasn't going to give up until she had – however much he may try to push her away.

Squall looked away from Rinoa for a moment as he took a breath. Seeing she wasn't going to leave so easily, he finally obliged – albeit with a bit of reluctance. Why would a complete stranger cling to him so badly? Where had she even come from?

"Look," he mumbled, "…Just stay close to me."

Rinoa quickly lifted her head at his words as she gasped in delight – a smile forming on her face instantly.

"Those words…," she said, happily, "You said those words!"

It was proof enough that his memories still lay deep inside him somewhere. It was all she needed to hear to know that there was still hope – for Squall to remember who she was, who they once were - and finally get back home where they belonged…together. She could make him remember. She was sure of it now.

Squall looked back at her in question.

"What's this girl's problem?" he thought to himself, "What are you talking about?"

Rinoa sighed – still clinging to him tightly.

"They just…have special meaning to me."

She looked up at him again.

"…To us."

He stared back at her with blank expression – still no sign of any recollection coming to mind on his face. It hurt that he could look at her in such a way, but she tried to ignore it. Squall needed her, she could see it in his eyes - even if he wouldn't admit or believe it. He had always been there for her, and now…it was her turn to do the same for him.

"I won't leave you, Squall," she said, her voice shaking, like she was about to cry, "I'm not letting you go again."

She stared at him closely – his eyes still so cold, like they were trying to ward her off. But, she didn't care this time. She was sticking by her promise; by their promise to always be together and there for each other. Even if he didn't remember a thing about it…she still did. That was enough for her.

"…I promise." she said, quietly, looking at the ground again as she still clasped his hands tightly. She was afraid to let go of him in fear that he may take the opportunity to walk away and leave her there – alone, in this cold, empty world. They'd been apart far too long. She couldn't bear the thought of it happening again. It was her only fear now…and the worst she'd ever had. She couldn't let go of him. She wouldn't.

Squall didn't reply this time as he looked away – sighing lightly at her words.

"…Suit yourself," he mumbled.

He started walking forward again – his hand slipping out of hers as she watched him for a moment. This wouldn't be easy, she could tell – but, she was still willing to try.

She held her hand to her heart as she looked down for a moment – taking in everything once more. This moment was real. Squall was real. Even if it hadn't been what she'd thought and hoped, it had still happened: they had been brought back together again – and she couldn't be more grateful. It may take a while, but she was alright with that. As long as she was with Squall, time had no limits. Nothing else mattered to her as long as they were together.

She smiled lightly to herself.

"I've really found you. We're finally together again."

She lifted her head toward the sky – the dark, endless space stretching infinitely across the vast, lonely world. It made her shiver a little as she looked ahead again at Squall – unhesitating to leave her behind as he kept walking.

"Squall!" she hollered, quickly running to catch up to him once again.