Next Gen FF8
Chapter 3
"Nightmares and Family"
By: Kara
Author's Note: Final Fantasy 8 is property of Squaresoft. English is not my first language; so be kind if you see any spelling errors.
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Ryon slowly opened his eyes and to find a gray sky above him. He calmly stood up as he looked around. Apparently he had woken up in some type of field; a flower field. He walked through the flower field in search of something familiar.
"Where am I; how did I get here?"
He walked a few more steps then suddenly stopped when he saw a human figure far away. It was a woman and she was wearing a strange blue overcoat that look like Ashika's; but hers almost touch the floor. He tried to look at her face, but no matter how hard he tried it was as if there was nothing there.
"Excuse me; could you please tell me what place this is?"
The woman only stood there. "Umm, hello can you hear me?" The woman didn't even flinched.
"Beware…"
"What?!…who said that? Ryon quickly turned around to look behind him. There was nobody there. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!" he yelled out of frustration.
"Beware Ryon…"
"That voice again; in…inside my head." Ryon stared at the strange woman a few steps in front of him. Somehow her presence made him feel safe. "Who are you?"
"she's coming…she's coming for you."
***
Ryon woke up covered in sweat; he looked beside him as he tried to catch his breath. There beside him was Ashika sleeping; he looked at a clock on the wall, 4:30 am. The train for Esthar would arrive in half an hour.
"It was just a nightmare." Ryon took a handkerchief from his pocket a cleaned the sweat from his face. "It's the fourth one this month; maybe I should tell Ashika." Ryon searched his pocket for some spare change to use on the soda machine. The nightmares had begun roughly a year ago. They always evolved around magic or time; but this was the first time a person had appeared in one of them. They were also becoming more frequent. Ryon opened the can and took a sip. "What is wrong with me?" Ryon walked back to where his sister was sleeping and sat down. "I'll tell her, I'll tell her on the train."
***
Zell Dincht opened the door to Quisti's office at Balamb Garden.
"You're late Zell" Quistis said over the mountain of papers on top of her desk.
"Sorry Quistis but I got hungry in the way." Zell said as he went to help her. "This are all new student applications?"
"Yes; Garden couldn't be more popular apparently every single teenager wants to study here." Quistis said as she put on her glasses.
"And that's a good thing right?" asked Zell as he picked up one of the applications.
"A very good thing." Quistis responded. Quistis took off her glasses and put down the paper she was holding. "Ashika Leonhart came to talk to me." She said looking over at Zell who appeared to be reading something very interesting. But he quickly pushed the paper aside when he heard Quistis.
"She did? What did she want to talk about?"
"Squall" said Quistis as she turned her head to stare at the mountain of papers.
"I guess it was only a matter of time; what did you tell here?" said Zell as he put his right hand on Quistis left shoulder.
"I told her the truth; I had no reason to lie to her. Besides she's a SeeD now."
"Did you tell her about her mother; about Rinoa being a sorceress?" Zell asked.
Quistis nodded. "No; I had no reason to tell her that. Remember that the sorceress passes on her powers before she dies; we don't know if Rinoa is dead."
"But we don't know if she's alive either." Replied Zell.
"He's right; and if Rinoa is dead then who did she pass her powers on too." Quistis quickly pushed the though aside. "Anyway returning to Ashika, I hope I did the right thing by telling her."
"You did the right thing Quistis. If she had asked me I probably would have avoid the subject." Zell reassured Quistis as he returned to read the application in his hand.
"Thank you Zell, I really don't know what I would do without you." Said Quistis returning to the paperwork.
"Umm; Quistis?" Zell said starring at the piece of paper in his possesion.
"Yes?" Quistis answered.
"You'll never believe who's transferring to Balamb Garden."
***
Ashika put her things on top of the table in the SeeD room and sat on the couch that was there. Ryon opened the silver case that held his blaster edge, pushed a hidden button, watched as the weapon turned into some kind of bracelet and put it on his arm; since he only kept the weapon in its case when he slept.
"Isn't it great that grandpa open a train route from here to Esthar; if he hadn't we would have had to take an airship and I always get sick on those." Said Ashika.
"I don't care. Look, you wake me up in the middle of the night telling me we have to go back home; but you still haven't told me why."
Ashika dropped her gaze to the floor and the mood of the room changed drastically.
"I…" she staggered "I asked Quistis about mom and dad."
Ryon put his fingers on top of his eyelids. He couldn't believe it.
"Ashika you promised me you would stop this. Don't you think its time to let it go?"
"NO! I hate this! I hate being ignored and being lied too." Ashika looked at her brother with determination on her face. Ryon knew this was a fight he would never win.
"Okay; we'll go back home to see grandpa; but… will only be there for two days tops; deal?" as he offered his right hand.
"Deal."
***
Ryon and Ashika opened the doors to Laguna's office without even knocking. Laguna looked up to see who had just come in and curiosity was replaced with joy when he saw his grandchildren.
"Ryon, Ashika! It's so good to see you; why didn't you call?" said Laguna as he hugged his grandchildren.
"Sorry Grandpa, but we were kind of in a hurry." answered Ashika. "We need to talk to you about something."
"Actually" Ryon interrupted. "She has to talk to you about something; I'm just along for the ride." He said as he sat in Laguna's chair. Laguna looked at his granddaughter curiously.
"What could be so important that you wouldn't tell me you were coming?" he asked her.
Ashika looked over at Ryon who was also looking at her; then she looked up at her grandfather determined to find answers.
***
Ryon and Ashika stood in front of Laguna's office and waited for permission to go in. They were leaving in an hour, but wanted to say goodbye before they left. Ashika sat on the floor and started to play with the ring on her finger. "It's over…" she thought. Sadly Ashika found out that Laguna knew the same as Quistis; which was pretty much nothing. Ryon apparently couldn't care any less so the night before she decided to give up.
"You shouldn't give up" said a soft voice in front of her. Ashika looked up.
"Aunt Ellone!" Ashika exclaimed as she stood up and hugged Ellone.
"My how you've grown; both of you." Ryon went over to say hi. "Laguna called me and told me you stopped by, so I came to see you before you left. It's been almost 6 years after all. So, how long has he kept you waiting?"
"We've only been here for five minutes, but the train leaves in an hour." Like on cue the door to Laguna's office open and a secretary told they could go in. Ryon apologize and hugged Ellone before going inside. Ashika walked over to Ellone.
"I promised to call."
"Ashika…" Ellone interrupted. "Remember what I told you; never give up. No matter how hard the road may be, I know you'll make it." Ashika looked at her aunt and smiled. "Thank you; I really needed that." And with she enter Laguna's office and closed the door. Inside the office Ashika walked over to where Ryon was talking with Laguna.
"What are you talking about?" she interrupted.
"Oh, just about how proud I am that you both are SeeD's now." Answered Laguna.
"Well." said Ryon " I think it's time to say goodbye now so…" but before he could go on Ryon was interrupted by the secretary's voice over the intercom.
"Excuse me, Mr. President you have a phone call."
"Tell them I'll call them back as soon as I can." Replied Laguna.
"I've already tried that sir. I'ts Headmaster Trepe from Balamb Garden; she says its an emergency." Laguna looked at his grandchildren for any signs of guilt on their faces, then walked over to answer the phone. Ashika started thinking up an apology when she saw Laguna's face go completely pale as he dropped the phone and sat on his chair. Both Ashika and Ryon ran to their grandfather.
"Grandfather?!" both said in unison.
"Are you okay?" asked Ashika obviously concerned.
Laguna starred blankly at his desk. "A…"
Ryon couldn't take it anymore. "A WHAT?"
Laguna looked over at both of them. "A new sorceress has surfaced."
***
Author's note: Sorry it took so long, but classes have started and I have a very busy schedule. Maybe if I get more reviews I'll be more inspired to finish. I will finish; I have the entire story played in my head. Just that it might take longer.