The Lights of Deling
By Tera
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Epilogue-
Two old men shook their hands firmly in peace and understanding before a raging crowd. Artemis had made a full recovery no thanks to Landon or Charm. So now months later after the huge fire from an explosion that had enveloped part of the Presidential Residence (mostly the forgotten dungeon below) and had almost killed a number of important delegates from around the world. It would in fact unless the brave Seifer Almasy (former Sorceress' Knight) and Squall Leonhart (brave SeeD who saved the world from the last Sorceress' War) had not saved the day. So a week before the vote the two and their comrades were to be honored in Deling for their efforts. And it all was to take place on the newly restored Presidential Residence. So there they sat in folding chairs on top of a tall gleaming building with thousands of people waving flyers and hands.
Seifer seemed the happiest of them all, sitting back in his chair with his legs out smugly. The same overconfident grin was nowhere to be found, just a light smile with his lips only turning upward barely. His eyes twinkled in an overwhelming prose of satisfaction and pride. Just like General Caraway had promised he had become that hero. There would be no gray to follow his name and he was sure that no one would probably even remembered about the Sorceress' Knight incident and if they did he would just show them a thing or to with his new found membership to SeeD.
He glared at the others in the chairs; Rinoa wasn't there or Squall. No, the lovely couple had taken off after the incident with Charm and company and rumor had it that Squall was thinking about resigning from his place at Garden after barely surviving he needed his rest. Cid of course didn't approve of it, but understood the young boys needs and now looked at Seifer once again. But, there was still Quistis who wouldn't leave Garden for anything; perhaps it was her cage she had grown use to. For now she held her head in her hands as Landon continued to talk about the incident. It hadn't been easy for her without Squall and she had mostly kept to herself. Then there was Selphie and Irvine who had been residing in Trabia for the last months helping out with whatever they could and staying together as much as possible. Zell was on the other side of them so Seifer couldn't see what he look like, but he knew that the fellow blonde had preferred staying close to his friends at Balamb and helping out the Library.
"I now give you Seifer Almasy, one of the definitive persons in helping with the evacuation and rescue of Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly." Landon finished. Seifer walked up to the podium letting the crowd cheer their hearts up for their hero. His eyes naturally scanned the group, but stopped on to familiar figures. One was a silver-haired woman dressed in a simple blue jacket with the symbol of wind. She was diminutive in size and paler compared to the copper colored burly man to her right whose armor had the symbol of Thunder. The girl carried a small projectile and the man a large bettering stick. Seifer couldn't say a word; he hadn't seen them for too long. Landon handed him the golden medal with his name ingrained on it and he literally stood there, gaping and his mouth wide open.
"Excuse me, Mr. Almasy?" Landon tapped his shoulder trying to get his attention. He forgot the speech he had planned and practiced, all perfect words of heroism and pride drew a blank as he saw his best friends, his posse standing below smiling at him.
"Umm thank you Deling City for this honor. It was hard work… Thanks again!" A few laughs were heard throughout the crowd including Raijin who fell over laughing at his friend, Fujin kicked him to make him stop. Seifer didn't care about them and instead ran down to greet his friends. They left the ceremony and went to the familiar bar in the hotel to have a drink and to catch up on old times.
"Few, but true words everyone!" Landon concluded to stop the snickering. "And last, but not least Quistis Trepe!" Quistis was crying and when she heard her name she took off in tears. "Let's give them all a hand everyone!"
* * * *
Quistis couldn't stand the crowd anymore, the eyes scanning her and focusing on her. She had felt awful when Squall left with Rinoa, abandoned. Squall had been her student, the little boy she had watched over and tried to help and now she could no longer watch over him. She knew he would be fine; in fact it was better to escape Garden he deserved better and that made her happy. But, she missed it all. She missed them all being together. Lonely. Currently she was in the safety of her room in the Galbadian hotel so no one could see Ms. Trepe in tears. She sat on the bed that bounced when she moved trying to gain any control with the tissue. What was wrong with her? It was all over, Charm was dead with Onna and yet she still cried.
A knock came on the door, but she wasn't expecting anyone. She wouldn't answer it, she told herself, but it kept on pounding.
"Who is it?" She shouted to the door, wiping her hair away from her face.
"Come on just let me in." Seifer Almasy asked through the door. He sounded different; his words came out slower and slurred. "Quisty…" She sighed suspecting on the other side of the door she would see a man with red shot eyes, foul breath and a clumsy stance all ailments from the famous bar down stairs.
"Seifer you're drunk." The girl answered.
"Now, now you don't know that Instructor Quisty… Come on, I got a present for yoooouu." He laughed in a disgusting coarse way that made her feel sick and for fear of what would happen to him she got up and let him in. He stumbled over the rug until he fell onto her bed. She couldn't believe it, why her room, why her? He tried to get up and in his arm he cradled something golden. It was a box, wrapped up tight and radiated under the intense overhead lights in her room. "See I told you." His arm reached out gripping onto the box and she took it reluctantly. She opened it up, examining the dark chocolates and closed it back up smiling. They were all there in four strait rows encased in black wrappers.
"Thanks Seifer." She said smiling despite herself. Who cared about the bright lights of Deling outside, or even Squall and Rinoa when she had her own light in here?
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November, Eleventh 12:16 PM Pacific Standard Time
Acknowledgements: The wonderful Kate Lorraine who has always inspired and encouraged me to write, all the kind words and tips you've given me are priceless. DON'T EVER STOP WRITING! Anyone who ever liked this story, you're fantastic too. My Mom for sitting through hours of rambling… All my friends you guys are one of a kind. Oh ya and DJ for at least liking the ending lol! Take care everyone it's been a wonderful 11 months or so of fanfiction, wars and conversations that will stay with me forever. I'm getting teary now it's too late to be thinking conscious streams of thoughts. Hmm what to say I guess this story really taught me something about patience and in the end Charm is so kewl . Hehehe really.
Special Thanks: A wonderful play and book called The Phantom of the Opera, I borrowed a few things *cough Christine, Erek, Grasshopper and the Scorpion and the will to continue this cough*
Author Note's: The Lights of Deling talks about the spotlight placed on main characters duh or else the wouldn't be main, but in the end you see that even if Squall and Rinoa are these main characters the other ones in there own right when something is based on them have there own spotlight placed on them so we all get to shine at a different time. Makes sense to me :)