True Destiny
By Soul Hunter
"Everything is as it should be..."
Chapter One
A morning like this was fast becoming a rarity. At least that's what was playing in the unusually profound mind of one young beauty who answers to the name of Rinoa. Waking up from a deep slumber after the previous night's rigorous communion, she stretched her petit arms out to the rays of a gentle sun that had just started to peer from the eastern horizon. Reveling in the pleasurable idleness, she nevertheless pulled herself up abruptly upon being reminded of the day's itinerary.
"Oh shoot! I almost forgot, today's the big day!"
Frantically groping for her fur-covered slippers, the raven-haired SeeD of the renowned military academy known as Balamb Garden slipped on her robe with equal urgency. She looked at the desk clock, a move that further aggravated the racing in her mind.
"Ohmigosh, we're so late!!!"
She thought of her long time friend and comrade. And in spite of the exigency, she still managed to squeeze in a second for a fond smile in her sweet lips. It had been way overdue, Rinoa declared. But now, at least she will finally witness the union between her confidante and the man they always thought to be the one made exclusively for Garden's popular instructor. Today happened to be the day for what she and all of her friends thought as the most memorable and extravagant wedding ever in Balamb Garden history. Quistis was finally tying the knots with her long time fiancé.
"Geez, hope the whole entourage will be late" the former resistance leader thought to herself. This isn't how a maid-of-honor should be doing in the morning of her best friend's wedding day. The ceremonies were due within the next half-hour, a good thirty minutes less that the time it will take for them to prepare for the lavish occasion. Moving swiftly, she started gathering her clothes while taking note of the gushing sound coming from the shower room.
"At least he's already in the shower" Rinoa muttered prior to knocking on the bathroom door. "Hey! Why didn't you wake me?"
"Hold on a sec" a male voice echoed through the portal. It was then followed by a soft click of the doorknob to indicate the locks being opened. He then peered through the opening. "I just thought you were still too tired from last night you know"
Rinoa can't help but giggle at the naughty remark of her husband. Inching seductively close, she landed a tender kiss on the bridge of his nose, gently scoping the faint scar mark with her lips. He consequently took this as a cue.
"Wanna join me for a shower?"
She admitted to almost yielding to the tempting offer lovingly issued by her heartmate. But Rinoa had to prudently decline in light of the day's event.
"We are running late, you know."
"Ahh! Who cares?" he retorted while brushing the water off his blonde hair. "Squall and Quistis will just have to wait for their best man and maid of honor. I didn't get enough of you last night, you know."
"Seifer, you are so shameless!" she giggled. "We did like five hours straight last night! And you're saying that's still not enough?"
"Not for me it isn't." Seifer answered with a teasing grin. "And hey, it's not like that's the longest stretch we ever went."
"Um yeah" Rinoa giggled anew. That was all that her husband needed, as she didn't bother to object anymore when he pulled her inside the encapsulated heaven of steam and running tap water.
----------
"What time is it?"
"A quarter past nine."
"Damn where are those two?"
Irvine looked at Selphie, noting the uncharacteristic grimace in her usually lively facade that currently contrasted the elegant silken gown she was wearing. He thought for a second, remembering that same face that once enraptured him a long time ago prior to an unexpected twist of fate. Tucking his watch inside the pristine white sleeves of his shirt, the Galbadian warrior promptly groomed his tuxedo prior to returning with an easy repartee.
"Hey, give Rinoa and Seifer a break. He just got back from that mission in Timber yesterday, so the two probably did some heavy catching up last night."
"I'm sure" she smirked. "By the way, aren't you supposed to be with Squall and Zell by the podium?"
"Yeah, just a minute." He retorted. "I don't think the ceremony will start with only the three of us there, anyway. Squall specifically insisted that we wait for Seifer first before starting."
Selphie flashed another mysterious smile en route to a profound rejoinder. "Hee hee! Who'd have thought those two would end up like this. I mean, did you see how they almost killed each other when we fought Matron before? I swear, I really thought I'd never live to see the day."
"What, Squall and Seifer? To tell you the truth, I'm quite glad they buried the hatchet when they did. I don't think we'd be able to survive Ultimecia without Seifer's help. And besides" Irvine's eyes squinted mischievously. "Who would have thought you'd end up marrying Zell? To tell you the truth we were just waiting for you two to bring the house down during your wedding. It's like sticking in a burning fuse inside a powder keg."
"It is amazing, isn't it?" the Trabian lass furthered. "I never thought Zell would actually come after me after we all escaped from that prison in Galbadia. But"
"But you're glad he did." He interjected.
"Yeah I guess I am." Selphie muttered prior to turning back toward her colleague. "By the way I heard you're dating someone new. So who's the extremely unfortunate girl this time?"
"Hey, that's unfair! I am quite serious about this one, you know." Irvine answered. "Besides, I don't think I have the luxury to play around this time."
"What do you mean?"
"Heh! You'll know soon enough. I'm just wondering what will happen if Squall finds out."
"Oh no" Selphie shot out. "Oh my you're not oh no. Not her!"
"Yep, heh heh!" Irvine came back with another playful smile. "Don't you think we look good together?"
"Squall will kill you if you mess this one up!"
"I told you, I'm quite serious with her. So don't sweat it, okay?" Irvine exclaimed back, just before a sudden rousing echoed from the background. Selphie then sighed with relief upon seeing Rinoa entering through the back door of the Garden gala room.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm late." She apologized to the entourage that included Selphie as the bridesmaid, and the secondary sponsors Xu, Nida, Iris and Marcus, among others. She quickly landd a peck on Selphie's cheeks before making a beeline to the end of the chamber.
"Where's Quisty?"
"I'm here."
Rinoa looked to her side, and marveled at the splendor of her best friend, clad in the most exquisite wedding gown she has ever seen. She stopped abruptly, tears of magnanimous joy threatening to well from her eyes while the serene face of the instructor beamed on her through the white veil covering her face.
"Finally" Rinoa uttered softly. Quistis smiled, her eyes likewise nearly bursting with immense gladness. A hush permeated through the bridal chamber as the denizen was treated with a touching scene when Quistis and Rinoa held each other in a tight embrace.
"Rini thanks so much."
"For what?"
"For everything. Squall and I wouldn't have come to this point if it weren't for you."
"Hey" Rinoa whispered while gazing at her friend's ecstatic visage. "I didn't do anything to help what's bound to happen anyway. You two were made for each other. I couldn't be happier for the two of you."
"Yeah I guess so" Quistis trailed off while wiping the moisture off her eyes.
"Hey you two, I'd love to join your mushy stuff, but we still have to make this wedding happen, you know." Selphie butted in, trying to hold back the expression of gladness in her heart. But she gave in just the same when Quistis wrapped her silk-garbed arms around her. The scenario would have engulfed the rest of the entourage if not for the timely resonance of a tune that made Quistis' heart swell even more.
"'Love Grows' they're playing our song"
"Come on, ladies." Xu joined in. "Let's get this show on the road."
End of Chapter One
Chapter Two
There was an excited din overwhelming the very crowded gala room, as the people waited in anticipation for the bridal chamber's immense mahogany doors to open in heralding in the entourage of dashing black-garbed gentlemen and stunningly gowned ladies. Almost impatiently, the crowd of eager guests, friends, sponsors and the like were becoming even more spirited in clamoring to see the bride. But their anxiety was nothing compared to that besieging the soul of that one man standing close to the elevated lectern where a minister calmly waited. Fidgeting nervously, Squall repeatedly turned his attention alternately between the three mean standing beside him and the stately gate at the end of the extravagantly adorned center isle.
"Hey bud, so much for the cool and confident image, eh?" Seifer whispered to the goosey SeeD commander.
"Man, I never expected it to be like this." Squall replied. "Did you feel this way when you and Rinoa got married?"
"Did I feel that way?" Seifer snapped back. "You should ask if I got any sleep during the three days before. Dude, this wedding thing is murder! Why do girls always insist in going through these ceremonies anyway?"
"Beats the hell out of me" the groom retorted, his apprehension somewhat easing off a little from the small talk. "But Rinoa did tell me once that this has always been a girl's dream. I think it has something to do with being a princess for a day or something, I'm not really sure."
"Well, at least it'll only take a couple of hours. Then after that HEH!"
"Yeah, right! As if you and Rinoa actually waited to be married before doing that."
"Well, you know me" Seifer almost exclaimed.
Squall smiled at his former rival. But as he trained his eyes toward the man who bore a similar scar as the one on his face, Squall inadvertently spotted Irvine making a cute face while winking his eyes toward the front row. Following Irvine's line of sight, Squall was surprised to see Ellone waving her hands toward the gunslinger. His visage abruptly turned sullen as he subsequently tapped the shoulder of his comrade.
"Irvine, I admit that I've never seen Sis react this way to any guy."
"Thanks, Squall." Irvine grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"But I'll kill you if you mess this one up."
"Hey, sounds like fun!" Zell joined in. "Can I kill him too?"
"I think you will if I tell you what Irvine told me."
"Seifer, shut up!" the gunman suddenly snarled at him.
"What, what is it?" Zell turned to Seifer, his curiosity now piqued. "What'd he tell you?"
"Irvine once told me he had a crush on Selphie."
"Oh really?"
"Seifer, you dingbat! That was supposed to be our secret!"
"And not only that, Zell" the blonde SeeD with a scar added. "Irvine here also told me he thinks you're a Chicken-wuss."
"OH REALLY?!?" Zell turned his attention fully to Irvine.
"Heh, I was only kidding, Zell." Irvine sheepishly remarked. "Besides, I only called you that when I learned about how you bungled that date with Iris."
"Bungled date my ass!" The tattooed SeeD snapped back. "You're just griping because you never even came close to getting Selphie to go out with you."
"Not true!"
"Oh yeah? What about that story of you trying to score on her by getting those technicians from FH to fix the stage for the band? Heh don't think I didn't hear about that."
"Well, that hardly counts. I was only trying to help."
"Yeah, right" Zell scoffed, just before they were interrupted when the gala room became filled with the echoing reverberation of the wedding march.
Almost simultaneously, the four warriors fixed their attention to the bridal entourage making their way to the podium. Resounding sighs of awe filled the immense chamber as the crowd was treated to the resplendent sight of ceremonial colors leading the procession. The gallant column of 2nd Class Sabremen was, to the utter surprise of the guests, followed by a dwarfish figure who normally carried a knife and a lantern. But for this occasion, the green midget clad with sackcloth was carrying a dainty cushion with two identical gold rings on it.
"The ring bearer is Tonberry?" Zell remarked with incredulity. "Who came up with this idea?"
"Who else?" Irvine whispered back. "You're extremely imaginative wife."
"Oh man I have got to talk with Sef." The martial artist muttered. "Remind me to stay away when they cut the cake."
But their surprise was easily replaced with a new wave of wonder when the sponsors started to march in. Zell's face turned red when Iris Deen, the pigtailed girl, winks at him flirtatiously. However, the short fit of discomfort vanished as he set his eyes on his lovely wife. Selphie stared back at him with a smile, consequently reminding Zell of that precarious instance in the ghastly place infamous for its role in silencing the late Vinzer Deling's political enemies. It didn't seem too long ago a dank prison cell, a frightened Moomba, and two of his colleagues, incarcerated after their failed attempt to assassinate their matron who used to occupy the usurped spot of Galbadia's dictatorial ruler. He remembered being beaten by heartless prison guards and then Selphie being the first to run to his aid. Her Cure spell didn't do much under the canceling effect of the anti-magic field, but nevertheless that gesture somewhat opened Zell's eyes to a glaring possibility not evident when the two of them first banded together as comrades-in-arms.
And after escaping D-District Prison, a new light suddenly dawned in his consciousness. A guiding light, which eventually led to his acceptance of how important she had grown to him. Thanking the deities for his decision which made him ignore the apparent fancy his teammate Irvine had for their Trabian colleague, Zell abandoned all caution and doggedly pursued her after they came back from their death-defying adventure in the realm of the nihilistic sorceress. And now both he and the girl he loved are reaping the benefits of those turn of events that started in a single attempt at a Cure spell.
Zell gestured, silent signals that Selphie interpreted with ease, causing her to blush with profound glee. She then took her place to the left side of the podium as the angelic sight of Rinoa took centerstage. She knew that everyone's eyes were focused on her at the moment. Yet her own was alternating between the two men occupying the closest spots in the center of the raised platform.
Rinoa looked at Squall, reminiscing on past moments when she actually considered him to be her final knight. And yet the illusion of their union was quickly preempted by her rather frustrated hope of seeing him rescue her from certain death in a broken off section of Balamb Garden's quad sector. Almost sure of her end, she was saved from extinction by Zell, who miraculously gained control of a Galbadian paratrooper's machine to enable him to come her aid in that spot earlier deemed impossible to reach.
And yet the real deciding event happened inside Galbadia Garden, as Seifer himself was presently recalling when Rinoa turned her loving gaze to him. He used to harbor gargantuan regret for allowing himself to be seduced by the call of false glory. He aided the whims of a deranged sorceress whom he admired from the day he first gained consciousness. And in the process, Seifer turned his back to his childhood, and to the people who, once upon a time, shared the same room, the same dining table, and the same playground with him. He thought it was the way to go, that it was the only path he needed to take to fulfill his lifelong romantic dream',
But the throes of hidden emotions proved too powerful for the ambitious aspirant. Seeing Rinoa sprawled on the floor subsequently brought a flood of painful enlightenment on the misguided warrior. All of the sudden, Seifer realized just how detestable he had become. Yes, he wanted his dream. But the sight of the fallen lass unexpectedly brought him to a repentant decision that enough is enough. They never thought it possible, and yet Seifer showed to all and sundry, and most especially to himself, that even a heart as hardened as his was still capable of caring. Especially to the one who first opened his soul to the concept of love. Seifer even beat Squall to rushing beside Rinoa. Up to now, he still cringed while remembering the horror upon seeing his beloved in a near-death state such as that.
His path thus became clear, abandoning his self-proclaimed post as the sorceress' knight to take it unto himself to care for Rinoa until she was inadvertently revived by the same sorceress that he eventually sought to subdue with the help of those he opposed in the earlier episodes. Mercilessly, Seifer killed the ambitious Galbadian general who pushed Rinoa in front of Adel. And knowing that the sorceress from the future can still lay her claim on his unwilling beloved, Seifer chose to eradicate his differences with Squall if only to assure Rinoa's safety by journeying into the future and landing the telling blow on Ultimecia.
For Rinoa, the events were much simpler. Being released from the mystical grip of Ultimecia after she had served her purpose, Rinoa found herself helplessly floating in the void of space, just waiting for death to take its claim on her. And yet, a miracle made possible the caring arms that halted her chaotic trek through deep space. Seeing Seifer there for her, it became clear for Rinoa that her very first choice was destined to be her last as well. When he finally offered her the ring, she didn't think twice in accepting it and his proposal for a lifelong partnership. A partnership that so far has brought her nothing but happiness.
How could things be more simple than the simple awakening of deeply rooted feelings that were either thought lost or altogether nonexistent? For Rinoa, it was simply waking up in her hour of direst need, with Seifer by her side. For Squall, it was a simple confession, brought about by returning memories of childhood feelings that lingered to the present day. As the silence permeated anew, the SeeD leader became awash with overwhelming sentiments of touching love and appreciation while his adoring eyes fixed on the resplendent figure of Quistis his bride.
"A misunderstood love...?"
"Actually, I had completely given up when Rinoa came into the picture."
He can't imagine how liberating it was to hear those words. Suddenly, Squall was asking himself: why would Quistis give up just because of Rinoa? Or more importantly, why would he want her to give up?
He didn't.
All those times and all those years, he had been blind to the glaring truth. She had always been there for him. Being a lonely junior classman in Garden presented new heights in gruesome challenges for the young cadet, and Squall honestly thought he couldn't have survived the apathetic years without Quistis being there to continuously encourage and support him. And yet, the stigma of once losing loved ones had already taken its toll on his fragile heart, so much that he himself refused to be caught with another emotional attachment. For so long, he had kept his doors tightly shut from those who wished to gain access to his favor. And among all of them, Quistis received the biggest brunt of his self-castigation. She ached at the sight of his loneliness. And she also languished under the absence of his affection, which she longed for so desperately.
And then, hearing those words of unabashed admittance, Squall suddenly recognized just how much Quistis was opening herself up to him How much she was rendering herself vulnerable. And he tried to fight it, but Squall knew from that point on how this awareness brought immense joy into his heart. The unmitigated exhilaration of realizing that unlike all the others, Quistis was here to stay. And her love assured him so.
Throughout all these years, Squall was quite surprised to discover that in spite of himself, he had also grown to love Quistis. Madly, if he may add. In his heart, nothing can be more right than taking that gold ring and slipping it around her finger. He looked at her, at the same time pledging his undying love.
"You have always been there, you have always cared. And sometimes, I shudder at the thought of what might have happened if I hadn't discovered your love. You have done more than simply be my friend, teacher and comrade. You have done more than simply loved me. You have opened my heart by opening yours. And you have rescued me from the regret of missing your love and of missing my love for you. And I want to thank you so much for bringing this joy in my heart. I would never, ever be happy without you."
Quistis smiled, tears of joy now flowing freely down her flushed cheeks like a raging river of gladness. She poured out all of her heart in gently yet eagerly pushing the ring over Squall's finger.
"I have loved you all my life, even before I met you. Actually, back then I wasn't in love with you yet I was in love with the promise of you. From the moment I was born, I was already pledged for you. Not by anyone or anything, but by my heart. You are my true destiny and today I am coming home to your heart"
It was way long overdue. And finally all the people, everyone they've ever loved, worked with, walked with and grew up with witnessed the fated moment of Squall and Quistis being joined together in the most sacred vow of marriage. Nothing but probably the combined might of all the world's Guardian Forces could possibly compare to the thunderous power of the applause that followed when the minister proclaimed the two of them as husband and wife. Rinoa and Selphie were both teary eyed in their jubilation as they joined their respective partners Seifer and Zell in front of the podium. Laguna lost himself in the deafening din, howling uncontrollably like the proud father he was.
But Squall and Quistis were already oblivious to the merriment around them, as the newlyweds became absorbed in the temporal universe of their own, bound by the one kiss that overflowed with the immensity of their love for each other.
End of Chapter Two