Disclaimer: FF8 belongs to Squaresoft as this story belongs to me. Duh.
" Matthew, the car's waiting. Come say goodbye to your dear old grandfather!" Mrs. Ashton yelled up the stairs. I was hurriedly digging through my dresser drawer. Where is it? I couldn't have lost it! Not today please! Under some clothes, I felt the metal and lifted the chain out. I slide off the big ring off the chain and put it on my ring finger. The little humble one was too small and too feminine for me. But this weird griffin one fits fine. I put it on around my neck and tucked it under my gray shirt. Light gray looked good on me. So did my dark gray pants. It wasn't plain or anything. I grabbed my bag and ran to the doorway. I turned to take one last look at my room for the last eight years. Today was the day to leave it all behind me. Today I'd have to make the Garden my new home.
" Matthew! We're waiting for you!" the old bat yelled again. I rushed down the stairs to see Caraway waiting patiently in his office, reading the newspaper. I cautiously approached him.
" Remember to stay out of trouble and listen to your instructors," he put down the newspaper.
" I will do that sir," I said.
" Remember to not take things so seriously all the time too," he laughed cheerfully.
" All right sir," I grinned. He got out of his seat and hugged me.
" You go make me proud," he said.
" Yes grandpa."
" Now get out of here," he joked.
I left the office and jumped into the car. The driver wasn't so patient. But he didn't say anything. As the car drove away from Deling City, I felt a small tear in my heart. Stop Matthew. Don't get homesick. That would screw up everything.
" So you're going to the Esthar Garden?" the driver asked casually.
" Yes sir," I answered.
" I used to go there," the driver nodded.
" Why didn't you become a SeeD?" I asked.
" Who says I'm not a SeeD right now?" he yawned.
" What does that supposed to mean?" I demanded.
" Your grandfather hired me for more than just a driving job to Timber. He thought you could use some protection," the driver answered.
" Protection from what?" I smirked.
" General Caraway's a rich military man. With many adversaries. Terrorists would sink low enough to kidnap any young relative of his," the driver explained.
" So you're my escort to the Garden. It's going to be one sad train ride," I rolled my eyes.
" Maybe your smartass attitude will keep things interesting," the driver said. I shrugged.
The car was silent for the rest of the ride to Timber. When the car pulled into the station, I was the first to climb out. The driver stepped out. I got a better look at him.
He was shorter than I expected. That was because I thought he'd be taller than me. He was about 5 foot 5 inches. I was about three inches taller. It wasn't too huge a difference in height, but he was a lot older than me too. He had spikey blonde hair that made him look like a rooster. He had a black elaborate tattoo on his left cheek. If mine was supposed to mean something, what was he's counted for? I guess what made up for his height, was his muscles. Overall, he was very pumped. That's probably why he was hired any way.
" Look, I'm sorry about the crappy first impression. I wasn't feeling well. I've been having some family problems for a long time. No offense, okay?" he offered a handshake.
" Fine," I shook his hand.
" By the way, my name is Zell Dincht, but calling me Zell is fine. I already know yours," he said anxiously.
" Are we getting on the train or not?" I sighed. He probably found it out from Caraway.
" Sure. I'll just go get the tickets. I left them in the car. You wait here," Zell walked away.
" What a nitwit," I mumbled.
When we finally got on the train, I sulked to the windows. I stared out, thinking solemnly. This is one small world. I've met Fujin, Squall, Irvine, Quistis, and Selphie throughout my life. They were all somehow connected to my parents in one way or another. I'll end up seeing Squall and Quistis at the Garden. Selphie too, I think. Fujin vowed she would visit. As for Irvine, I hoped I never saw his face again. And if I do, I swear on my mom's grave, I will kick —
" Would you like some rest Matthew? There's comfy stuff in the waiting room," Zell said from behind me.
" No thank you," I answered back.
" Why are you so quiet?" he said. He was really starting to irrate me.
" Because I have nothing to say," I replied.
" I know life must have been real fun with Caraway," Zell said sarcastically then, " Were you even allowed to hang out with a lot of people?"
" I had friends. Most of them were elitist snobs. But some were alright."
" I see. Did you have any girlfriends?" Zell said annoyingly.
" None were serious," I said back.
" Why?"
" They were a lot like most of my friends."
" Oh."
" Any more questions?"
" Not at the moment."
" So, can I ask you a few questions?" I asked.
" Shoot," Zell countered.
" What about your friends? And relationships?"
" I have a couple of friends at the Garden when I lived there. I haven't really kept in touch. But it's been difficult because I've been so distracted. As for relationships, I've been serious with this one girl. She gets along with my family. She's smart and she's just got her nurse's license. She's hot," Zell responded.
I suddenly felt a little dizzy. But not from Zell's words. A vision appeared inside my mind. A woman in yellow bent down to bring herself face to face with me. Around her were blurry images.
"The Garden is really a beautiful place. There's a cafeteria. They sell hotdogs. Do you like hotdogs, Matthew?" the woman asked.
I felt my face become hot.
" Selphie, I think the Shumi people are vegetarians. They never ate hotdogs," a man behind her informed.
" Oh, well, you can try them if you want to. Zell might be coming back. He'll save you one since they're like so hard to get because they're so good," she notified me.
" Who's Zell?" someone said.
" He's a friend of Squall and mine. Sure, he's kinda weird. Hyper in a way. He's a good guy. And he sure can kiss!" the woman giggled. The man gave her a nasty glare.
" But Nida's so much better!" she jumped. Then she was silent. The blurry figures started to close in around me. I was losing my balance, but strong arms caught me.
" You alright Matthew?" a voice sounded concerned.
" What?" I reacted. The vision faded away and my eyes shifted back to reality.
" What's wrong?" Zell held my shoulder. I looked up at his face.
" It can't be," I shook my head. I kicked my legs to try and stand on my own and I pushed away Zell's grip.
" What can't be?" Zell wondered.
" It really is a small world, isn't it? Tell me Mr. Dincht, why did you actually take this job?" I shot at him.
" I took the job because I wanted the money," he said.
" Only for the money? Not because you knew Caraway? Not because you know who I am?" I snapped.
" What does it have to be a big deal?" he replied.
" Because there are people out there who know my name and I don't have any idea who the hell they are!" I yelled.
" You know me now."
" Not that well."
" What else do you want to know about me?" he breathed slowly.
" Where do you fit in all of it? Friend of my mom? Friend of my dad? Enemy? What?" I demanded.
" I was a friend of your mom. I heard about what happened to her and about you being sent to your grandfather. I know how it can be living without your real parents around you," he said.
" How would you have a clue about anything like that?" I felt anger rise in the air. Some from me. Some from Zell.
" I was a orphan. I never knew my real parents. My family is the one that adopted me. I was grateful for that because there were children that were never adopted. The worst part is that it was a long time before I even realized I was adopted."
" Big deal! One answer I always wondered was if any of you people were my mother's real friends, why didn't you ever visit her? Wasn't she important enough? She got sick and died without any real friends. I was the only other human there. And I wasn't even allowed to be by her side when she died because they thought I'd caught the virus. She died alone Zell! What friendship is that?! She must have been truly unforgettable to you guys because you didn't even know she was dead until some six year old was sent along and it suddenly affected your own little world!" I blew up.
" I did care about Rinoa! But she shut us all out. She wasn't found because she didn't want to be found. In her own pain, she wanted to spare us from it. That's why she left the Garden. That's why she hid away from the world in some underground world with no humans. There was never a time where I, or any of her friends wished she would tell us that she was okay and alright. And you're doing the same thing as she did. Shutting people out. I'm not your enemy. So don't treat me or the others the way when we want to help you!"
I didn't assume he had a good comeback, but his words were a slap in the face. I couldn't say anything. So I just left the room quietly and went into the waiting room. I collapsed on the soft seats. I didn't feel upset, I just felt nothing. I didn't want to meet any more of my mother's friends. I didn't like someone knowing my parents better without me having that chance to know who they are.
I let myself drift into sleep. Hopefully Zell will know better and not bother me until we get to Esthar. I don't want to have to wake up and think about what he said about her. She was too warm of a person to shut out people who cared about her. But if she was a good person, why didn't she want to talk Caraway, her own father to help her. Why did she hide away from them? Maybe she wanted to protect them the same way the Shumi wanted to protect me from her sickness. The way they wanted to keep me from suffering the same fate by sending me to live with strangers. But it seemed like these strangers, and even my own mother, feared something about me. Caraway too, shut me away in my room from people to "protect" me. Or maybe the truth was, he wanted to keep me from causing others pain.
How? Did I have the potential to do something that bad? That must be why Caraway never talked to me about my parents. That must be he was never around and he made that hag Mrs. Ashton be my warden. But my mother didn't do anything that bad. People talked about her like she was some sort of heavenly angel. And I'm sure my dad couldn't have done anything that awful either. It was a gut feeling. Maybe grandpa was mad at his daughter for not needing him. Maybe her friends were too. Whatever it was, she wasn't alive to handle it so it all fell on me to deal with it.
I can do it. I can cope with it. I simply can't let them get me down. I'll be fine. I'll succeed and they'll have to rely on me. I could do it. But I have to fight these bad vibes. I have to use the rage that grows stronger everyday to my own benefit. I'll be a hero and not this useless coward.
But I have to stop talking or thinking this hard to myself.
" Matthew, get up. We're in Esthar City," Zell shook me lightly.
I sat up and yawned. I grabbed my bag and got off the train. When my eyes fully adjusted to the light, I was amazed. The city was remarkable. Strange materials formed beautiful artwork around huge buildings. People walked calmly, at their own pace. Only I've never seen this many people in my whole life. Esthar City was so eccentric.
Soon we arrived at the Garden, which was larger than I had remembered it. There were about forty floors above ground. There were students talking and moving through the open hallways.
Zell guided me through the halls, and something brushed against me. I looked to see who it was, and a red haired girl was standing there with her friends. She turned and gave me a quick lookover. Her utopian brown eyes meet mine. She smiled shyly then returned her focus to the group.
" Hey Romeo, let's get to the Headmaster's office," Zell said, noticing my fixed look.
" Let's hurry," I mumbled.
~Note: So okay, I know Zell was sorta out of character. Or at least I think he was. But I'll just use the excuse of time to not have to rewrite it. People change, so :p. Sorry anyways.~
" Matthew, the car's waiting. Come say goodbye to your dear old grandfather!" Mrs. Ashton yelled up the stairs. I was hurriedly digging through my dresser drawer. Where is it? I couldn't have lost it! Not today please! Under some clothes, I felt the metal and lifted the chain out. I slide off the big ring off the chain and put it on my ring finger. The little humble one was too small and too feminine for me. But this weird griffin one fits fine. I put it on around my neck and tucked it under my gray shirt. Light gray looked good on me. So did my dark gray pants. It wasn't plain or anything. I grabbed my bag and ran to the doorway. I turned to take one last look at my room for the last eight years. Today was the day to leave it all behind me. Today I'd have to make the Garden my new home.
" Matthew! We're waiting for you!" the old bat yelled again. I rushed down the stairs to see Caraway waiting patiently in his office, reading the newspaper. I cautiously approached him.
" Remember to stay out of trouble and listen to your instructors," he put down the newspaper.
" I will do that sir," I said.
" Remember to not take things so seriously all the time too," he laughed cheerfully.
" All right sir," I grinned. He got out of his seat and hugged me.
" You go make me proud," he said.
" Yes grandpa."
" Now get out of here," he joked.
I left the office and jumped into the car. The driver wasn't so patient. But he didn't say anything. As the car drove away from Deling City, I felt a small tear in my heart. Stop Matthew. Don't get homesick. That would screw up everything.
" So you're going to the Esthar Garden?" the driver asked casually.
" Yes sir," I answered.
" I used to go there," the driver nodded.
" Why didn't you become a SeeD?" I asked.
" Who says I'm not a SeeD right now?" he yawned.
" What does that supposed to mean?" I demanded.
" Your grandfather hired me for more than just a driving job to Timber. He thought you could use some protection," the driver answered.
" Protection from what?" I smirked.
" General Caraway's a rich military man. With many adversaries. Terrorists would sink low enough to kidnap any young relative of his," the driver explained.
" So you're my escort to the Garden. It's going to be one sad train ride," I rolled my eyes.
" Maybe your smartass attitude will keep things interesting," the driver said. I shrugged.
The car was silent for the rest of the ride to Timber. When the car pulled into the station, I was the first to climb out. The driver stepped out. I got a better look at him.
He was shorter than I expected. That was because I thought he'd be taller than me. He was about 5 foot 5 inches. I was about three inches taller. It wasn't too huge a difference in height, but he was a lot older than me too. He had spikey blonde hair that made him look like a rooster. He had a black elaborate tattoo on his left cheek. If mine was supposed to mean something, what was he's counted for? I guess what made up for his height, was his muscles. Overall, he was very pumped. That's probably why he was hired any way.
" Look, I'm sorry about the crappy first impression. I wasn't feeling well. I've been having some family problems for a long time. No offense, okay?" he offered a handshake.
" Fine," I shook his hand.
" By the way, my name is Zell Dincht, but calling me Zell is fine. I already know yours," he said anxiously.
" Are we getting on the train or not?" I sighed. He probably found it out from Caraway.
" Sure. I'll just go get the tickets. I left them in the car. You wait here," Zell walked away.
" What a nitwit," I mumbled.
When we finally got on the train, I sulked to the windows. I stared out, thinking solemnly. This is one small world. I've met Fujin, Squall, Irvine, Quistis, and Selphie throughout my life. They were all somehow connected to my parents in one way or another. I'll end up seeing Squall and Quistis at the Garden. Selphie too, I think. Fujin vowed she would visit. As for Irvine, I hoped I never saw his face again. And if I do, I swear on my mom's grave, I will kick —
" Would you like some rest Matthew? There's comfy stuff in the waiting room," Zell said from behind me.
" No thank you," I answered back.
" Why are you so quiet?" he said. He was really starting to irrate me.
" Because I have nothing to say," I replied.
" I know life must have been real fun with Caraway," Zell said sarcastically then, " Were you even allowed to hang out with a lot of people?"
" I had friends. Most of them were elitist snobs. But some were alright."
" I see. Did you have any girlfriends?" Zell said annoyingly.
" None were serious," I said back.
" Why?"
" They were a lot like most of my friends."
" Oh."
" Any more questions?"
" Not at the moment."
" So, can I ask you a few questions?" I asked.
" Shoot," Zell countered.
" What about your friends? And relationships?"
" I have a couple of friends at the Garden when I lived there. I haven't really kept in touch. But it's been difficult because I've been so distracted. As for relationships, I've been serious with this one girl. She gets along with my family. She's smart and she's just got her nurse's license. She's hot," Zell responded.
I suddenly felt a little dizzy. But not from Zell's words. A vision appeared inside my mind. A woman in yellow bent down to bring herself face to face with me. Around her were blurry images.
"The Garden is really a beautiful place. There's a cafeteria. They sell hotdogs. Do you like hotdogs, Matthew?" the woman asked.
I felt my face become hot.
" Selphie, I think the Shumi people are vegetarians. They never ate hotdogs," a man behind her informed.
" Oh, well, you can try them if you want to. Zell might be coming back. He'll save you one since they're like so hard to get because they're so good," she notified me.
" Who's Zell?" someone said.
" He's a friend of Squall and mine. Sure, he's kinda weird. Hyper in a way. He's a good guy. And he sure can kiss!" the woman giggled. The man gave her a nasty glare.
" But Nida's so much better!" she jumped. Then she was silent. The blurry figures started to close in around me. I was losing my balance, but strong arms caught me.
" You alright Matthew?" a voice sounded concerned.
" What?" I reacted. The vision faded away and my eyes shifted back to reality.
" What's wrong?" Zell held my shoulder. I looked up at his face.
" It can't be," I shook my head. I kicked my legs to try and stand on my own and I pushed away Zell's grip.
" What can't be?" Zell wondered.
" It really is a small world, isn't it? Tell me Mr. Dincht, why did you actually take this job?" I shot at him.
" I took the job because I wanted the money," he said.
" Only for the money? Not because you knew Caraway? Not because you know who I am?" I snapped.
" What does it have to be a big deal?" he replied.
" Because there are people out there who know my name and I don't have any idea who the hell they are!" I yelled.
" You know me now."
" Not that well."
" What else do you want to know about me?" he breathed slowly.
" Where do you fit in all of it? Friend of my mom? Friend of my dad? Enemy? What?" I demanded.
" I was a friend of your mom. I heard about what happened to her and about you being sent to your grandfather. I know how it can be living without your real parents around you," he said.
" How would you have a clue about anything like that?" I felt anger rise in the air. Some from me. Some from Zell.
" I was a orphan. I never knew my real parents. My family is the one that adopted me. I was grateful for that because there were children that were never adopted. The worst part is that it was a long time before I even realized I was adopted."
" Big deal! One answer I always wondered was if any of you people were my mother's real friends, why didn't you ever visit her? Wasn't she important enough? She got sick and died without any real friends. I was the only other human there. And I wasn't even allowed to be by her side when she died because they thought I'd caught the virus. She died alone Zell! What friendship is that?! She must have been truly unforgettable to you guys because you didn't even know she was dead until some six year old was sent along and it suddenly affected your own little world!" I blew up.
" I did care about Rinoa! But she shut us all out. She wasn't found because she didn't want to be found. In her own pain, she wanted to spare us from it. That's why she left the Garden. That's why she hid away from the world in some underground world with no humans. There was never a time where I, or any of her friends wished she would tell us that she was okay and alright. And you're doing the same thing as she did. Shutting people out. I'm not your enemy. So don't treat me or the others the way when we want to help you!"
I didn't assume he had a good comeback, but his words were a slap in the face. I couldn't say anything. So I just left the room quietly and went into the waiting room. I collapsed on the soft seats. I didn't feel upset, I just felt nothing. I didn't want to meet any more of my mother's friends. I didn't like someone knowing my parents better without me having that chance to know who they are.
I let myself drift into sleep. Hopefully Zell will know better and not bother me until we get to Esthar. I don't want to have to wake up and think about what he said about her. She was too warm of a person to shut out people who cared about her. But if she was a good person, why didn't she want to talk Caraway, her own father to help her. Why did she hide away from them? Maybe she wanted to protect them the same way the Shumi wanted to protect me from her sickness. The way they wanted to keep me from suffering the same fate by sending me to live with strangers. But it seemed like these strangers, and even my own mother, feared something about me. Caraway too, shut me away in my room from people to "protect" me. Or maybe the truth was, he wanted to keep me from causing others pain.
How? Did I have the potential to do something that bad? That must be why Caraway never talked to me about my parents. That must be he was never around and he made that hag Mrs. Ashton be my warden. But my mother didn't do anything that bad. People talked about her like she was some sort of heavenly angel. And I'm sure my dad couldn't have done anything that awful either. It was a gut feeling. Maybe grandpa was mad at his daughter for not needing him. Maybe her friends were too. Whatever it was, she wasn't alive to handle it so it all fell on me to deal with it.
I can do it. I can cope with it. I simply can't let them get me down. I'll be fine. I'll succeed and they'll have to rely on me. I could do it. But I have to fight these bad vibes. I have to use the rage that grows stronger everyday to my own benefit. I'll be a hero and not this useless coward.
But I have to stop talking or thinking this hard to myself.
" Matthew, get up. We're in Esthar City," Zell shook me lightly.
I sat up and yawned. I grabbed my bag and got off the train. When my eyes fully adjusted to the light, I was amazed. The city was remarkable. Strange materials formed beautiful artwork around huge buildings. People walked calmly, at their own pace. Only I've never seen this many people in my whole life. Esthar City was so eccentric.
Soon we arrived at the Garden, which was larger than I had remembered it. There were about forty floors above ground. There were students talking and moving through the open hallways.
Zell guided me through the halls, and something brushed against me. I looked to see who it was, and a red haired girl was standing there with her friends. She turned and gave me a quick lookover. Her utopian brown eyes meet mine. She smiled shyly then returned her focus to the group.
" Hey Romeo, let's get to the Headmaster's office," Zell said, noticing my fixed look.
" Let's hurry," I mumbled.
~Note: So okay, I know Zell was sorta out of character. Or at least I think he was. But I'll just use the excuse of time to not have to rewrite it. People change, so :p. Sorry anyways.~