Chapter 21:
Admiring glances and envious comments replaced the usual chatter as a certain lady walked down the main hall of Balamb Garden. Rumors spread quickly, she thought, shyly looking at the other students out of the corner of her eyes. She tried her best to act dignified and mature, keep a straight face, but there was no way denying it. Quistis Trepe enjoyed all the attention.
She could remember what it was like when she was new. All the looks from the older students – they were different then. Challenging her. Asking her what she was good for. It was a fact that most students never made it as far as to become a real SeeD, and this fragile, little blonde girl with glasses could surely be no exception.
Quistis had surprised them all. She was far from fragile – she had the devotion and stubbornness she needed to accomplish her goal. Her grades were unusually high, and the crack of her whip could frighten any student in Garden. Already when she was 15, she took her field exam and graduated as a SeeD.
Now, almost two years later, she had achieved more than she could have hoped for. Just this morning, Quistis had received her Instructor license, and when next semester begun she would have her own class. 17 years old, and she was one of the most respected members of Garden. The very thought of it was thrilling.
As she passed around the corner, she saw a familiar boy emerge from the dormitory. That boy… How many times had she tried to help him and be his friend? And how many times had he given her the cold shoulder? Squall… the boy who didn't talk to anyone. Didn't let anyone get close to him. He was a year younger than her, tall and handsome. His dark hair was too long and hung into his face, which always carried a frown.
Quistis would like to know what it was that troubled him. It was strange… despite his cold attitude, she felt… attracted to him? There was this feeling inside of her, which she couldn't quite explain or describe. She felt for him. She wanted to protect him, but had failed so far… The other boy he always fought with. Seifer. He was a trouble-maker. She wanted to protect her boy against him, but she always failed. Besides, Squall seemed able to protect himself…
This protective feeling… Was it love? It had to be. Quistis had this strange feeling of knowing him all her life, but she knew that was impossible. She had first met him here at Garden, right? Right. …No, she couldn't remember. She could vaguely recall her family… She had left them when… how old was she? 10? Something like that. It wasn't important. Garden was her home now. And Squall was there.
The boy was about to walk right by, not even bothering to look up. Quistis cleared her voice, "Squall?"
At the sound of his name, he glanced at her.
"Did you hear Seifer failed his field exam?" she asked, in a vain attempt to start a conversation.
Squall frowned even more deeply, if possible, "Again?"
She nodded, "He didn't follow orders correctly… He needs to be more careful. In fact, he was lucky he didn't get killed. I'm glad you're not rushing things like he is… You made a good choice by waiting until next year."
No reply. Quistis decided to go on talking, "Anyway… Right now he's in Timber with the rest of the Disciplinary Committee. Xu and Headmaster Cid thought it was best he got some time to cool off."
"Why Timber?"
Quistis shrugged, "Who knows? He said he felt some sort of… attachment to that town, but it hardly seems like the right place to go on a vacation. I mean, the place is a complete mess because of the war."
"He's just looking for action," Squall said quietly, then proceeded to walk down the hall.
"Squall?" Quistis called out, "I just wanted to say… It's good you're not like him. You're doing great. Just keep going the same way and you'll be a SeeD before you know it."
"Whatever…"
Chapter 22:
There was an old, lonely oak tree just outside the borders of Timber. The forest that once thrived in the area was long gone, and this single, solitary tree was the only reminder of the beautiful, green growth.
The wind gently made the branches wave. It swirled around the leaves, playing with them, ruffling them. Then it swept down and caressed the cheek of a lone girl resting by the oak's trunk.
Rinoa closed her eyes and let the wind blow strands of black hair out of her face. It felt good to relax, even though she hadn't accomplished anything to deserve it. At least, in her eyes, she hadn't.
When she came to Timber a year earlier, she had been filled with so many hopes and dreams. She wanted to help her friends, make a difference. Make this wonderful town, filled with so many friendly and kind people, free again. But so far, Zone, Watts and Rinoa had failed miserably. The citizens of Timber were too frightened to fight by now. The many resistance groups kept quiet. The Galbadians had full control of the town, and it seemed hopeless. Whenever someone stood up to them, they would be brutally executed for 'opposing the President'. No one could afford losing more loved ones now. No one dared to do anything.
Rinoa felt helpless. The Forest Owls, as she and her little group called themselves, were now the only active group left. They were constantly planning and trying to come up with new ideas, but nothing seemed to work. Right now, Watts was out somewhere 'gathering information', and Zone was at the headquarters looking over the info they already had, to see if there was anything they could do. It was obvious that President Deling wanted to rule the entire Galbadian continent. Rumors said they were planning to invade Dollet next, but that did little good for the Forest Owls. Useful news were as good as non-existent. Galbadia had Timber in an iron grip.
The girl needed to rest. Just a little break, where she could be alone and let her mind wander. Only Angelo was there, faithfully lying by Rinoa's side and closing her eyes in contentment as her owner stroked her fur. Almost unconsciously, Rinoa started humming on one of her mother's songs… The one Julia used to sing for her when she was little.
"You have a pretty voice, little lady. Almost as pretty as your face."
Startled, Rinoa gasped and her brown eyes fluttered open. Angelo was at her paws, growling quietly at the person who had interrupted their peaceful moment. Rinoa gazed at a pair of black shoes… letting her eyes trail upward to a pale coat adorned with a red cross on the arm… before staring straight into cyan colored eyes belonging to the handsome face of a blonde boy.
"Woah, protective thing you've got there," the boy, who seemed to be about Rinoa's age, backed away from the growling dog.
Frowning, Rinoa rose quickly, "Angelo, leave him alone," she ordered, and the dog obeyed, sitting down and watching the boy suspiciously.
"What do you want?" Rinoa asked.
"Nothing, really. I was just passing by, and I figured pretty little ladies such as yourself shouldn't be sitting out here all alone," he smiled in a sly manner that annoyed Rinoa, but at the same time, she found herself strangely attracted to this handsome young man.
"Who are you?"
"Seifer Almasy, at your service, fair lady," Seifer made a quick bow, "May I ask for your name?"
"Rinoa…," the black haired girl answered, a little hesitantly, "Rinoa Heartilly. I… don't think you're from around here?"
He shook his head, "Quite right. I'm a student from Balamb Garden, but right now I'm… on a vacation. I suppose you could call it that," he shrugged, then turned to look behind him, "Those are my posse… Fujin and Raijin."
Rinoa glanced in the same direction as Seifer. She hadn't noticed the strange couple that lagged behind him before now.
"I might be wrong, but it doesn't seem like you're from around here either…," Seifer mused, looking over Rinoa's blue clothed, slim body. My, she was beautiful, "You seem too… I don't know… too spunky to have grown up in a place like this."
Shyly, Rinoa admitted she was from Deling City, and was about to tell him why she was in Timber, when two Galbadian soldiers came walking out of the town, "Um… Do you think we could go somewhere else to talk?" she gazed up at Seifer, and without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked into the city again, Angelo by her side as always.
Seifer followed her to a small café, Fujin and Raijin not too far behind.
"He's all over her, ya know?" Raijin whispered.
"AFFIRMATIVE," Fujin stated, frowning.
… … …
"So… that's what I'm doing here," Rinoa sighed and drank the last drop of her coffee, then leaned her arms on the table. Seifer had been listening all the time, and hadn't it been for that smug expression in his eyes, she would think he actually cared.
"That's… a shame, really," he shrugged, "Nice town like this ruined by a gang of Galbadian bastards."
Rinoa nodded absently, glancing at Fujin and Raijin who were sitting a few tables away from them.
"Do they always stay at a distance?"
"Only when I want them to," Seifer smirked, "They know better than to bother me when I'm with a pretty girl."
Giggling softly, Rinoa waved her hand at him, "Oh, stop it, you flatterer," she shook her head, "Seriously, though… No offense, but they're an odd pair. And such strange names!"
"Fujin and Raijin are just their nick-names. I've never bothered to find out their real ones – no one calls them anything else, anyway," Seifer leaned back in the café chair, "Fujin was in a train accident when she was little. She lost her left eye and her voice was damaged, but otherwise she's fairly normal… And Raijin… Raijin's just Raijin, ya know?" he chuckled, "But it doesn't matter. They're my best friends."
(My only friends…)
"Kind of like me and Zone and Watts, I guess…," Rinoa said quietly. She looked at the boy before her, and for a while, she was completely caught up in his beautiful eyes. Then, realizing she had been staring, she turned away.
Seifer just smiled, "You know… it does sound like you and your little group could need professional help," he said, "…Tell you what. If you lot come up with a really good plan, I'll try to get you in contact with the Garden leaders. It'll cost you… but if we're lucky, they might just be willing to help."
Rinoa's eyes widened, and she was unable to keep her excitement hidden, "Do you really think so?!"
"Sure," Seifer grinned in his characteristic, arrogant manner, "Trust me. I'm in the Disciplinary Committee, I'm sure we can come to an agreement."
Truth was, he doubted Garden would want to help a pathetic, little resistance group consisting of naïve teenagers, but Rinoa's smile made it all worth it. She liked him, he could tell.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Rinoa practically threw herself across the table to hug Seifer, knocking over one of the coffee cups and making a lot of noise, which earned her a few annoyed looks. She didn't mind, though.
Seifer was caught by surprise, but he kept himself cool as always, "You'll take them Galbadians down," he said, accepting the hug and looking into her eyes as she pushed herself away, "I want to see you victorious, and Seifer Almasy always gets it his way."
… … …
Three days later, Seifer and his posse left Timber to return to Garden, and Rinoa was left with the memory of their goodbye lingering in her mind. She had kissed his cheek, and he had promised to speak with the Headmaster as soon as she felt she needed help, before stepping aboard the train.
It is easy to fall in love when you are 16.
Rinoa didn't know yet that things would turn out very differently compared to what she expected.
Chapter 23:
(…Sorceress Edea…)
(No… leave me alone.)
(You can't escape me, Sorceress Edea… I will get it my way, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.)
(Your sick plans won't work. You will never get Ellone.)
(Time compression is hardly 'sick', my dear Edea… It will be a world where only I and those I choose to come with me may exist. I will rule, and there will be no one to stop me. You can't resist forever, Sorceress Edea. I am getting stronger… and you are getting weaker.)
(Ultimecia… You will never get Ellone. You can try to control me, but I'm too strong, and you know it.)
(Oh, but what if you gave up your mind willingly? I may not be able to control your mind… yet… I can control your body.)
Edea's yellow eyes blinked open. No, they were forced open. The Sorceress tried to scream, tried to fight, but she could only watch as her limp body rose from the floor, controlled by an unseen force… Sorceress Ultimecia… Her hands stretched forward, and red light started to gather in her palms…
(No! You can't do this! NO!)
(Watch, Edea… Even if I can't get control of your mind, I can control your body to Ellone. I can cast spells upon you until you are dying and then… then you will have to pass on your powers. To Ellone… And once she is a Sorceress…)
(Please… No…)
Her arms were pulled backwards, then threw the light forward and it hit the wooden floor of the White SeeD ship's cabin in a mighty Firaga spell. Edea watched in horror as the flames rose. The ship would burn down if she didn't stop it.
(NO! Let go of me! Let go of me!)
(Hahahahaha… Feeling helpless, my dear?)
(Ellone will DIE if you don't let me stop this!)
(Hahahahaha… Don't worry, Sorceress Edea. It's still too early. But when I return… please consider my offer… It's your mind or Ellone's.)
(You…)
(The world WILL be mine.)
Gasping, Edea fell to the floor. It took her a few seconds to regain her composure, but when she did, she was quickly at her feet and cast a series of Water spells on the fire. Eventually, the fire died down, and the Sorceress sank down into a chair, putting her face in her hands.
A young boy dressed in a White SeeD uniform entered the cabin, followed by two other SeeDs, "Matron! What happened? We saw the smoke, and…"
"No time to explain, my children," Edea shook her head and glanced up at the three of them, "We have little time. You must turn the ship around and place me on the nearest shore. Then, you leave me there and sail the ship as far away from me as you possibly can. Ellone must have full protection under all circumstances. Trust NO ONE, and least of all me."
"But, Matron… We can't…"
"You'll do fine," Edea stood up and put her hands on the boy's shoulders, "Do it for me. Do it for the future, for the world… This is more important than you can imagine. I can't tell you any more than that."
The boy nodded slowly, a somewhat frightened expression on his face.
Edea sighed softly, "And… contact Headmaster Cid of Balamb Garden with the following message…"
"Yes, Matron?"
" …: 'It's starting'."
Chapter 24:
… Silence.
It was even more silent than usual. So silent, he could hear himself breathe. Air in, air out… No wind, no birds, no noise, no nothing. It was early. How early? The idle ticking of his watch… he had never even noticed it was ticking before now.
6:05 AM. He still had plenty of time.
So silent, he could hear the alarm clock in the neighboring room. So silent, he could hear the Garden awake around him.
Bobby had failed his written exam for the third time and had given up. Left Garden. There hadn't arrived any new roommate yet.
This was it. Today. This silent morning was the beginning of what he assumed would be the most important day of his life. The SeeD field exam.
But why was it so important? Because this was his final step as a student, and his first step as a fully trained SeeD.
Why did he want to become a SeeD?
(To earn money. To fight.)
Was that what he wanted?
(To become better than Seifer.)
Why?
(Because…)
…This had all been forced upon him.
(Whatever.)
Squall swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat there, his back bent forward and his brown hair hanging into his eyes as he stared at the floor. The silver head of Griever dangled from the chain around his neck. Where had he gotten that necklace, anyway? He didn't remember. It didn't matter. It had always been with him.
The matching ring… on his gloved hand. Someone had given it to him. Someone who he cared about… and who cared about him?
No. No such person existed.
It was all bits and pieces in his memory. What had been before Garden? He couldn't remember, no matter how hard he tried. Therefore he pushed it away. It didn't matter. Garden was his home.
(Who… this ring… She left me… No. I think too much.)
Frustrated, the boy shook his head and stood up, pulling on the black leather jacket with the furry collar, then grabbed his gunblade. Even on his blade, Griever was carved in. Pride and strength. Lion. A symbol of what he wanted to be?
6:15 AM. Better early than late. He was going to the Fire Cavern today, to fight the Guardian Force Ifrit. It was his final test before taking the field exam.
So many rules to follow, but he knew them all. He couldn't fail, like Seifer had done two times before.
(Why is this so important to me…?)
(Well, what else is there? If I can't do this, then what?)
(There is nothing else.)
… … …
As Squall walked down the hall from the dormitory, he saw a familiar (All too familiar) boy head in his direction.
White coat flapping behind him, the hyperion gunblade resting on his shoulder, Seifer walked up to his rival. Squall tried to move past and ignore him, but Seifer stepped in his way, "Off to fire cavern already, Squally boy? Isn't that a little early? You should wait 'till sunrise."
"Whatever."
"Are you sure you can do it?" Seifer grinned slyly and leaned back against the fence that separated the hall and the water below, "It's a big and dangerous world out there, Squall… You could use some more…," he swept his gunblade through the empty air, "…practice."
"I don't have time for your games, Seifer."
"Aw, come on. Just an hour of your precious time… I mean, what is Ifrit for a guy like you? Don't you want a real challenge before the field exam?" Seifer titled his head.
Squall hesitated. He couldn't afford being late for his final test, but… one hour of training couldn't do any harm. He had lost count of all the times he and Seifer had fought against each other in the training center. The outcome of each fight varied, but it was possible that Seifer had won more often than Squall.
(Possible? It's the truth.)
(Just one hour…)
"You, me and the gunblades. No GFs, no magic," Squall said quietly.
"Deal. Just don't cry when I beat you, Squally boy," Seifer winked and turned, heading for the training center.
Squall followed shortly behind, his expression frozen in his usual frown.
… It was going to be a more memorable day than he could ever imagine. Squall was walking into what would turn his view of the world upside-down, and into the beginning of a legend.
Headmaster Cid stood nearby, watching the two teenagers walk into the training center. He sighed quietly and looked up through the glass ceiling of the Garden, up at the dark sky that was slowly being lit by dawn, "I think you were right, Edea… They are indeed fated children."
… … …
Wake from your sleep, my children,
The childhood years are gone.
Wake from your sleep, fated children,
The peace is gone.
Rise!
Search!
Go to the true garden,
The garden of vernal truth.
Fiery truth
Burn the evil world.
Fiery truth
Light the dark world.
Goodbye, children,
The day has died.
… … …
The End… Or is it the Beginning?