Winhill, Galbadia
Winhill hadn't changed much since the Second Sorceress War. If anything, the buildings were much more dilapidated and the town was more deserted than ever. The monsters were gone with no traces left behind and it seemed as if the town had been dropped from recognition. No outsiders ever entered the city and most of the residents had moved to Deling after it had been rebuilt after the fire.
Winhill was a ghost town.
The young man crouched behind an overturned wheelbarrow was hardly noticeable until he pulled the trigger of his shot gun causing a can perched on a nearby fence to explode in a ball of shrapnel.
He placed the shotgun on the ground and walked over to the fence to inspect the damage to the can. He nodded his blonde head in approval, his hair falling into his green eyes. His mouth widened into a smile. Sure that no one was watching, he screamed his excitement and ran to a dilapidated house towards the center of the town.
"Mama!" The boy ran at lightning speed, stopping at the door to the home. He knocked furiously at the door, panting with excitement. "Mama, I finally did it! Mama, open the door! Papa, are you there?"
The boy glanced up as a window on the second floor was opened. A blonde woman poked her head out. "Rider, sweetie, use the back door, please." She took her glasses off and rubbed them on her shirttail.
17-year old Rider Almasy sighed. "Allright, Mama, I'll be right there!"
He moved to the back of the house and jumped the fence to the backyard. Opening the door, he removed his coat and dropped it on the floor. Taking the steps two at a time, Rider made his way upstairs to his mother.
It never ceased to amaze him how run-down the house was. Although he was born in this cottage and had never lived anywhere else, Rider couldn't help but wonder why his parents insisted on secluding themselves in this town. When he was younger, he remembered leafing through old textbooks of his mother's and marveling at the photographs. It still amazed him that places where there was more than one family and the technology was more advanced than the old electric stove in the kitchen. And if they didn't want to leave the town, at least they could try to fix the house up a bit. It's not like we're living in filth or anything, but they could at least freshen up the paint or something. Rider shook his head. He'd tried talking to his father before, but he refused to listen. His answer always remained the same: "It's safer this way."
Finally reaching his parents' bedroom, Rider knocked softly on the door.
"Come in," his mother's voice was barely audible.
Rider swung the door open to reveal his mother crouched on the floor peering under the bed. She waved her hand at him. "Hold on Rider, honey, I lost a screw for my glasses and I think it might have rolled under here."
"Let me see if I can help you out." Rider knelt down besides his mother. After searching for a few minutes, his hand brushed across the missing hardware. "Found it, Mama!" he called.
He crawled out from under the bed and watched with amusement as his mother hit her head as she tried to stand up. "Oww!" She sat on her knees and rubbed her head.
Rider handed the screw to his mother who picked up a screwdriver from the dresser and began repairing the bifocals. "So what was it that you were so excited about honey?"
Rider's face brightened. "I did it!"
"Did what?"
Rider grinned. "With the gun! I finally hit the target!"
Rider's mother's head jerked up. "You did?" She approached him and hugged him tightly. Rider's face reflected his embarrassment. "Oh, sweetie, I am so proud of you! I know how hard you've been working!"
"You and Papa have to keep your end of the bargain, don't forget!" Rider grinned, but was interrupted by yelling from downstairs.
"Rider! Quistis! Where are you two? Get down here, I've got a surprise for the two of you!" Seifer Almasy slammed the door behind him. "And Rider, pick this coat up off the floor!"
Rider jetted down the stairs and grabbed the coat from his father's hands. "Sorry, Papa."
Quistis followed adjusting the glasses on her face. "Seifer, Rider hit one of those cans you set up for him this afternoon."
Seifer smiled and ruffled Rider's hair. "Wonderful! I guess you'll be wanting to go for some real training then, huh?"
Rider smiled. "Papa, you know that I've wanted to go my whole entire life!"
Seifer smirked, "I don't know…"
Rider rolled his eyes. "You promised!"
"Allright, we'll look into it."
"What was that surprise you came in here screaming about?" Quistis moved to Seifer's side and leaned on his shoulder, twirling his hair.
Pecking her on the cheek, Seifer's eyes moved to Rider. "I enrolled a certain someone in Galbadia Garden…"
Rider's eyes lit up. "Oh thank you! Thank you so much, Papa!"
Seifer opened his arms. "C'mere kiddo!"
Rider couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Dad, I'm 17 years old! I'm not supposed to do stuff like that anymore!"
Seifer mocked a hurt countenance. "Allright. Get yourself to bed. You've got an early day tomorrow. We've got to get you packed and drive over to Deling so we can get you on a bus to the Garden."
"Goodnight Papa, goodnight Mama," Rider kissed his mother on the cheek before going back up the stairs. From the foyer, he could faintly hear his mother giggling probably due to his father's playful advances.
Closing the door to his room, Rider got dressed into a pair of boxer shorts and a t-shirt and laid down on his bed. I can't believe this is happening. I've dreamed of this my whole life! I've never been out of this stupid hick town before and to go to Garden! This is a dream come true…
Rider drifted off to sleep, but his slumber was filled with fitful dreams.
***
Her eyes were bluer than sapphires. Rider had never seen anything like it before. He could tell the girl was pretty when her back was turned to him, but when she turned to face him, he drew in his breath with surprise.
"What are you staring at?" The girl glared at him, her hands on her hips.
"N—nothing at all!" Rider stammered. You idiot. You have the most beautiful girl…the only girl you've ever seen standing right in front of you and you act like an ass. Nice going.
"Look, I shouldn't even be talking to you. We're supposed to be enemies after all."
"Enemies?" Rider raised a blonde eyebrow.
The girl rolled her eyes. "Yes, enemies. For years we've been fighting against Galbadian oppression."
Rider gazed at her in puzzlement. "What did we ever do to you? I don't even know what you're talking about! You've got a Galbadian accent, yourself! Aren't you being a bit hypocritical?" Great. Insult her, Romeo.
"Look, I really should go." The girl twirled a strand of her dark hair. "Maybe we'll see each other again someday."
"I hope so."
***
Julia could feel his eyes on her. She shifted uncomfortably and turned to face him. The sight of him shocked her, however. His blonde hair fell into his emerald green eyes. Taken aback, Julia tried to regain her composure. "What are you staring at?" She glared at him, her hands on her hips.
"N—nothing at all!" the boy stammered.
Julia practically melted at the sound of his voice, but remained firm. Other than his eyes, she noticed his accent. "Look, I shouldn't even be talking to you. We're supposed to be enemies after all."
"Enemies?" He seemed shocked at her statement.
Julia rolled her eyes, fighting the urge to hold a much different conversation with him. "Yes, enemies. For years we've been fighting against Galbadian oppression." Her eyes burned with the passion she felt both for him and for her principles.
He gazed at her in puzzlement. "What did we ever do to you? I don't even know what you're talking about! You've got a Galbadian accent, yourself! Aren't you being a bit hypocritical?"
Julia was rendered speechless at his comment. He's right you know. You are being a traitor to your own country – to your own family! She shook the thoughts from her head. "Look, I really should go." Julia twirled a strand of her dark hair. "Maybe we'll see each other again someday."
"I hope so."
Me too.
***
Balamb Garden
Julia woke with a start. What a strange dream! She sat up, frowning. I've been having a lot of those lately, but this one seemed a bit different. That boy…I feel like I should know him from somewhere. She sighed. Maybe Lee hit me harder than I thought she did.
Julia sighed and spied her uniform on the far wall. Groaning, she got out of bed and changed quickly. She had almost overslept during her private training session. Headmaster Cid had assigned Instructor Dincht to teach her how to use some sort of weaponry.
Slamming the door to her dorm room, she began to march towards the training center. Ignoring Jess' cheery good-mornings, she ground her jaw and braced herself for the strenuous activity she knew Zell was gong to inflict upon her.
Finally reaching the center with little distraction, she approached Zell.
"Miss Caraway, Cid suggested that you begin training with a gunblade. I've got one in the corner for you." Zell nodded towards a large brown case beside him.
Julia's face paled. "A gunblade? Aren't they really difficult?"
Zell frowned. "Well, they are, but I'm sure you can handle it. That is, of course, unless you want to quit."
Julia eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not a quitter! Hand that thing over!"
Zell nodded his approval as he lifted the gunblade out of its case and handed it to her.
************
Author's note: This chapter sucked butt. I mainly wanted to introduce Rider. And like always, suggestion are welcome.