True Destiny
By Soul Hunter
"Everything is as it should be..."
Chapter Seven
The eccentric seeker with the preposterous garment shuddered with sheer frustration. Previously, he had thought himself as being on top of the world, like he always felt whenever things went his way. And he thought this particular quest was no different from the others he had embarked on. Sketchy at first, his formulas eventually began to take shape, much to his delight.
But not anymore. As the wavelength patterns assumed a gross irregularity, his face consequently reddened with anxious annoyance. How could he have missed those factors? How could he be so stupid as to overlook the elements of resistance? No human will existed stronger than his machinations. He was so sure of that.
How more mistaken can he possibly get?
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"Squall!"
She couldn't hide her immense joy as she looked beyond the curtained window. Outside, Squall and Quistis had just gotten off the sleek sports car they rented from a nearby tourist port. Looking around, the newlyweds marveled at the host of curious visitors who came to see Winhill's world famous orchards. Squall can't help shaking his head at the scene.
"This is what dad has always been afraid of." He commented while putting his arms around Quistis. "Winhill has turned into a tourist attraction."
"Well, it certainly helped turn the economy around." Quistis came back. "Only a year ago this town could hardly even hire Garden rejects for its protection. Now look at it. I heard they're even starting their own military academy."
"Heh." Squall scoffed at the thought. "I know competition is good. But not to sound arrogant, I don't think it'll ever match up to Garden." Quistis gave him a fond smile for that remark.
The door then opened, eliciting a rapid rush of excitement from Squall. He can't get over this feeling of sheer joy whenever he saw his mother. And now was by no means an exception. It was almost like seeing her for the first time every time.
And for the first time, this fact began to cast a shadow of doubt on Squall's mind. A skepticism that he nevertheless opted to disregard for the time being as Raine ran to meet them.
"Son, what a pleasant surprise!" She gushed while embracing Squall.
And there it goes again, he echoed in his mind. The haunting feeling of unrelenting gladness that always brought him to the brink of tears whenever she hugged him. Indeed, Squall can never get enough of his mother's touch. Consequently, he brought eager arms around Raine, accompanied by a loving kiss on her cheeks.
"Mom I missed you so much"
"Hey..." the businesswoman muttered when she saw the glistening around her son's eyes. "Easy, big guy. You're acting like we haven't seen each other in years. We were there in your wedding only three days ago, right?"
"Yeah, but" He tried to continue in vain, with Quistis opting to join in with the joyous reunion.
"Hi, mom." She greeted her mother-in-law with a kiss. "Sorry about my husband, but he can really be a creampuff sometimes."
"What do you mean 'sometimes'? When Squall was three years old we hardly ever leave him alone. Each time we do he'd wail like a pig with a mousetrap on its foot and say that he misses us. Ellone always gets a fit whenever Squall does that."
"Mom" Squall whimpered in jest. "Stop embarrassing me in front of my wife."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Why are we standing out here in the sun, anyway? Come inside, you two. Jojo and I had just finished cooking for lunch."
"What are we having?" He asked while flashing familiarly curious, puppy dog eyes. Raine smiled fondly at her son's antic.
"My daughter-in-law's favorite." She quipped back, taking Quistis' arm into her own. "Rib-eye steak."
"Ooh! Pig-out time!" giggled the former instructor.
As they marched inside the former pub, Squall trained his sight at the wooden arm rail of the staircase. Feeling an involuntary cognizance, he closed his eyes and concentrated, with the two ladies of his life unaware of his peculiar action as they continued on toward the dining room.
Delving deep inside his memories, he consequently realized a sadness he had never felt before in his life. Opening his eyes, Squall looked at the arm rail once more.
It was now splintered, like a great force had destroyed it somehow.
He knew. It was all coming back to him now.
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Gold had never looked good for her. No matter how much it tarnished, one gentle caress with her dainty finger easily brought back the shine and luster that it exhibited before the first time it slipped into her fingers.
The day of her wedding.
Selphie may try not to admit it, but her happiness had been immense ever since she took the vows with her then-fiancé. Though brash and fiery in almost everything he did, Zell has consistently shown a kind of adoring tenderness she never expected of him. It was almost like looking at an entirely different person, whenever she compared his demeanor in front of other people against what he did when the two of them were alone.
It was almost like a dream.
She had loved him from the near-start. Looking back, Selphie remembered the two of them and how they started before. They hardly ever get along, and always bicker at the slightest provocation. She can't seem to stand his persistently outrageous reactions about nearly everything, which complemented his sharp intolerance for her generally lively nature. No one ever thought they'd end up together. She never thought they'd end up together. Who would think a simple gesture of casual kindness made in a dank prison cell possessed the power to change everything?
It was indeed, almost like a dream.
And Selphie knew the happiness brought by the realization of her profound longing that started the time Zell began acting like her knight in shining armor during that D-District Prison fiasco. It nearly broke her heart at first, thinking that he was only being grateful. But subsequent events opened up the possibility that he was in fact trying to woo her. And Selphie couldn't be more thrilled by the prospect of being a couple with Zell, as by that time she was also already harboring romantic feelings for him. Feelings that they cemented into a profound relationship during one especially bleak recovery mission in Trabia.
She knew the happiness. She hoped it to last forever. And yet, why was she having this gnawing feeling that it won't?
Consequently, an anvil exerted its cruel weight on her fragile heart. She would give everything she had if only to uncover the source of this ominous perception of deep loneliness and sorrow. The sadness intensifying, Selphie then picked up their framed wedding picture, and landed a heartfelt kiss on the figure of her husband.
Zell came in through the door of their oversized room. Selphie looked at him, and saw the aching melancholy in his eyes. He looked back at her, lovingly yet somberly.
"You feel it too, huh"
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"So how are the newlyweds doing? I hope you're not giving Quistis a tough time."
"Mom" Squall echoed, reveling on the very word. "We haven't even started yet, you know."
Raine smirked at Squall playfully while preparing a cup of green tea for him. Catching sight of Quistis and Jojo through the kitchen window, she waved gleefully at the two who were on their way to see the cattleya plantation by the hillside.
"I think you ought to know something" She opened again. "Jojo has a really bad crush on Quistis."
"What, you think he'll try to seduce my wife?" Squall replied with a snicker. "Well, good luck to him."
She didn't answer, and just looked at her son as she handed him the steaming cup of herbal beverage. Raine continued to fix a fond gaze at her son, who suddenly jerked his face away from the cup.
"Hot!" Squall blurted out. Raine reached for a white handkerchief inside her pocket and gently wiped his lips. The gesture brought Squall to focus lovingly on his mother.
But as he stared into her eyes, Squall recollected the arcane moment he spent with Ellone in that place he believed to be a small fragment of his real memories. That hollow and churning sensation inside him suddenly gripped the former SeeD commander. But this time, the feeling decided to linger and stay.
There was only one thing left to do now. Before, as Ellone put it, it's too late.
"Mom there's there's something I've always wanted to tell you."
"Yes, honey?"
He can't begin to describe the peaceful bliss in his heart, brought about by his mother's soothing voice that tenderly caressed his ears. As far as he knew, he had always enjoyed that same gentle voice from the time of his infancy. Yet, for some reason, he felt as if he had just heard her call on to him for the first time. Strangely enough, the experience always seemed to be brand new for him. It was always so thrilling and fresh.
And what Squall was about to utter, he likewise knew it to be a first. And he had waited for what seemed like eons just to say these words in front of Raine.
"I I love you mom"
It was quite obvious from her face that this was a first time for her as well. In an instant that had been overdue forever, Raine approached Squall with fervor, tearfully wrapping her arms around her son in a longing embrace that only a mother could give.
"Squall, my son I love you so much. I'm sorry it took me a whole lifetime to let you know this"
Yes, he now knew. And after what felt like an eternity, Squall's heart finally got to know complete peace.
But was this peace here to stay? As he gave back the affection being bestowed by his mother, Squall wasn't able to avoid the tears of sorrow starting to gush out from his eyes again. The moment of joy that he had always longed for, that he had been dreaming about in a long time is finally here, within the confines of his longing arms. Savoring the instant, the warrior basked in the heavenly warmth of his mother's touch. He returned love for love, thankful for the priceless moment that he knew he will never, ever experience again.
He wept, a silent moan echoing the sweet sorrow overflowing in his heart. And he tightened their embrace
The embrace of permanent goodbye.
"At least" Squall echoed with a broken voice. "At least I got to know you All my life I've always wanted to know you always wished that I could learn just how wonderful you are. At least I'll have memories of you to carry me through"
"Squall" Raine came back at her son's mysterious remark. But even stranger was the fact that she didn't even look half-surprised. For some reason, she knew what her beloved son was talking about.
"Same here" the mother lovingly whispered together with a soft kiss on her son's forehead. The tears burst out even more violently when Squall felt Raine's lips pressing fondly against his cheeks. With equal ardor, he gave his mother a long, overdue kiss.
"Goodbye, mom"
Raine simply smiled, then with drenched eyes, watched as Squall walked out of the door.
Excruciating battles were still raging inside his heart as he looked back at the pub owned by a woman whom he now knew to be his late mother. Squall wanted to hate himself for this seemingly foolish decision of turning his back on the one thing his life ever needed, the love of the mother he never knew. He was aware of his choice that it would only take one step back for him to forever dwell in that love.
Sadly, he also knew it to be unreal. It was almost painful to realize the falseness of this world he treaded on right now, were he actually had everything that he had ever wanted. It was almost regretful that he had to talk to Ellone, the one who opened his eyes to the frustrating reality.
Collecting himself, the steadfast warrior decisively stopped thinking about himself, and trained his concern toward the people he loved. He didn't like it, but he knew what needed to be done even though his mind hasn't fully recalled everything yet.
Squall remembered Ellone, together with her last instruction. He pondered; what role could Rinoa possibly be playing in his life? The possibilities threatened to overwhelm him as he bellowed a resounding groan.
"Time to face the sorceress."
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Things were starting to come down faster than she can keep up with. The morning before, she was with her husband, Seifer, who also happened to be the new SeeD commander after an appointment that was necessitated by Squall's departure. Things were going quite well before Irvine came with the alarming news that Ellone had disappeared, with a note left behind that suggested they treat the situation with urgency.
But what was more alarming was the fact that Irvine wasn't really worried about her. Itwas like a knowledge that came just as it was, without the benefit of any reactionary emotion. Something that was currently puzzling the hell out of everyone in the know. And that happened to include Laguna himself after they informed him of what had been happening. Rinoa can still remember his bland voice as he offered assistance. It seemed that Laguna likewise couldn't care any less.
Unexpectedly, Squall and Quistis came back from a honeymoon that was evidently cut short. It wouldn't have meant much if not for what she saw as a peculiar attitude the former SeeD leader was harboring toward her. Rinoa cringed while considering the myriad of causes making all these strange occurrences happen at the same time.
Then Squall asked her to meet him here, in the middle of the training center. Following his instructions, she promptly junctioned Diablos to make use of his stealth abilities. At least now, she can walk around without worrying about monsters pouncing on her.
But Rinoa was still perplexed by Squall's unusual behavior. And what was even more disturbing was the clandestine manner he employed in asking her to meet him here. What could be so serious as to warrant all this secrecy?
The reverberation of what sounded like the dying wail of an ill-fated Grat subsequently startled her. Looking northward, Rinoa easily identified the approaching Squall, who greeted her with a strangely warm smile.
"Hi."
"Hi" She greeted back, still besieged by uncertainty. "What's up?"
"Oh" Squall began. "There's a couple of things that I thought you should know about."
"Okay" Rinoa retorted. "And what could these things be?"
"But before I start, you have to promise me that you'd at least try to keep an open mind about all this."
Rinoa nodded, prompting Squall to begin.
"I love you."
Her eyes squinted at the man in front of her, seriously wondering about his intentions in light of the immensely stupefying statement that he unleashed.
"Squall you're kidding, right?"
"Nope, I'm dead serious." He quipped back. "I really love you."
"Squall!" Rinoa started to laugh wryly. "This is so unfunny! Maybe you're aware of the crush I had on you before. But it's all over now. Finished. I mean, I'm happily married to Seifer. Do you have any idea of what you're saying?"
"Not really." Squall replied curtly.
"Come again?"
"I really have no idea what I'm talking about."
A confused grimace consequently formed on Rinoa's comely face. Noting her bewilderment, Squall opted to lay everything to her bluntly.
"This is not real. Everything that's been happening around us is not real. I really didn't marry Quistis, and you're really not Seifer's wife. The whole thing is still a bit obscure to me. But I'm starting to remember them one at a time."
He paused to observe Rinoa's growing befuddlement, then continued. "The reason why I said I love you? Well, I have reason to believe that in the real world, the two of us are together. Who knows, we might even be married. I still don't feel that I actually am in love with you, but I know that we're definitely a couple."
"Oh my" She quipped. "Squall, if this is your sick idea of coming on to me, it's not working. Besides, you and Quisty just got married. Do you have any idea what this will do to her if she finds out?"
"Quisty's" He trailed off, weighed down by the love he felt for his wife.
The love that he knew will be erased from this reality in the event that he carried on with his endeavor of reviving Rinoa's memory. Squall perceived an aching urge to just stop and live with the life that he had at current. And for one moment of weakness, he asked himself again: what's the point of doing all this when he was in fact happy in this world? It tormented him, but he knew only too well the answer.
This world was fabricated. And much as he wanted to, he was aware he can't stay here for long. No matter what pains it may bring to him and his friends, they all must return to the real world. And in order to do that, he must first solicit the aid of the one person who wielded the faculty to rouse all of them from this chaining utopia.
"Okay. I kinda expected that you won't believe me, so try this."
Nearly irritated, Rinoa subsequently assumed a stoic look. But her steeled facade still didn't protect her from the puzzlement caused by Squall's next assertion.
"You're a sorceress."
"I'm I'm a what?"
"You heard me."
"Whoa boy You really are going to lengths here, aren't you?" Her face was now visibly annoyed. "Just cut the crap, Squall. What is it you really want from me?"
Squall shrugged his shoulders while bellowing out a resigned sigh. He was hoping that he didn't have to resort to rash actions. But he had to accept the fact that he now needed to do so. Making up his mind, the SeeD commander softly echoed words of preemptive apology to the confused SeeD.
"Rinoa, I'm so sorry. But it appears I have no other choice."
Squall then drew out the Lionheart.
End of Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Rinoa had always considered herself the most inexperienced among the esteemed members of Balamb Garden's celebrated SeeD mercenary corps. Having received her commission through what she considered as the sheer goodwill of Headmaster Cid Kramer, the former leader of the Timber Owls resistance group acknowledged that she still had to prove herself to be counted worthy of the honor.
She had tried, via numerous SeeD missions that did test her mettle to the fullest. But the feeling of inadequacy had always lingered. Not that she minded, of course. She's got plenty of time to do so. Or so she thought.
To her utter horror, she might not have much time at all to do anything.
Looking at Squall as he brandished his dreaded gunblade, Rinoa's heart became gripped by fear, having fought countless battles alongside him en route to their eventual confrontation with Sorceress Ultimecia. Along the way, a score of monsters haplessly fell in their wake, thanks in no small part to that frightful weapon coupled by the former commander's unmatched skill in wielding it. She knew very well what he can do with his ultimate weapon. Rinoa was horridly aware of the kind of killing machine Squall transformed into whenever he unsheathed the Lionheart.
And now, she realized she was about to discover what Omega Weapon must have felt.
"Squall what do you think you're doing?" Rinoa asked with a quivering voice.
"The last resort."
What 'last resort'? For what ends? For the last couple of minutes she had to put up with what she thought as mindless blabbering from the man she once revered as her object of affection. Rinoa used to admire Squall so much for his strength and pride. Toss in the fact that among all the men she had met of more or less the same age range, Squall seemed to be the most level-headed, never mind his former reclusive manner of conducting himself that she ironically found challenging.
But this was definitely not the sign of level-headedness. Squall was about to fight her for no apparent reason save for his totally ambiguous claim of falsehood for everything they knew. What had gotten into him?
"Squall, you really don't wanna do this" She echoed tentatively, appearing to be pleading for her life. "If you're going to insist on something between us, we can always talk about it."
He remained unfazed, all the more plunging the desperate Rinoa in mortal fear.
"But even so why? Aren't you contented with what you have? Aren't you happy with Quistis?"
He batted an eyelash. Rinoa sensed hope, and pressed on.
"Don't you love her anymore?"
Squall would laugh at the incredulity of Rinoa's assumption if he can. But the mention of Quistis' name inadvertently stabbed his heart with sweet memories that, though he now knew to be a lie, he still felt imbedded deep inside his heart. His mind has already accepted the counterfeit nature of everything he held so dearly. But his heart has yet to catch up with that acceptance.
He thought he has successfully dealt with the pain of losing his mother all over again. But now, Squall realized that he still has to contend with his feelings for Quistis.
"Yes, dammit" He blurted out. "I love her. I love her so much it hurts like hell doing this."
Of course, Squall was telling the truth as far as his emotions are concerned. For one horrible second, he questioned himself again: what's the use? He could always choose to stay in this fabricated world and live a life of love and bliss.
He then mustered all his might in steeling his purpose.
"But no we have to face the truth." Squall declared, tightening the hold on his weapon. "And I intend to see the it gets done."
"Listen to me, Squall. You don't know what you're doing!"
"I'm sorry."
"No!"
"Ultima."
In her horror, Rinoa felt the growing rage of non-elemental fury in her bosom. It expanded violently, filling the still void with a devastating flurry of all the elements combined in one malevolent explosion that subjected her in unimaginable heights of excruciating pain. She screamed, yet the deafening reverberations of ferocious magic forces drowned the shrill cries of her desperation. The ordeal lasted for mere seconds, but it may as well have been an eternity for the helpless and pain-stricken lass.
"Hh please please stop" Rinoa pleaded, wheezing dreadfully after being pummeled by that initial strike.
He had never felt so low in his entire life. But Squall, despite his own grief, opted to place more importance on the need for this drastic exercise.
"Flare."
Another explosion engulfed Rinoa, this time with the debilitating effect of non-elemental solar flames. The attack staggered her, consequently forcing her to quickly cast a protective layer of Shell magic around her battered body. Tears were now running from Rinoa's eyes as she hurled a look of pain and disbelief toward her aggressor. Fending off the immense guilt, Squall concentrated briefly to assess the damage he had inflicted on her and decided that it is still not enough.
"Meteor."
Rinoa's Shell thus proved insufficient, as the plummeting mystical rocks pummeled her with implacable fury. The smoke then subsided to reveal the severely injured Galbadian lass sprawled down on the ground. Repentant for his seemingly insane action, Squall started to rush to her aid, only to be startled by a loud holler.
"Stay away from her!!!"
Squall turned to the source of the frantic voice to see an enraged Seifer rushing toward them. Quickly attending to his wife first, the new SeeD leader (or so he thought) then faced Squall with a contemptuous scowl.
"What do you think you're doing, Squall?!?"
The rival didn't answer, deeming that any attempt at appeasing Seifer in his current state will be totally useless. Besides, what would he tell his former rival? If Rinoa didn't believe him, what made him think that Seifer will?
Squall turned anew, this time to the arrival of Selphie, Irvine, Zell, and his wife, Quistis.
"Squall have you lost your mind?!?" Irvine exclaimed after catching sight of Rinoa's badly bruised form. The astounded group then became alarmed when Seifer pulled out the Hyperion from its scabbard.
"You've just cost yourself our friendship, Squall." He echoed as a challenge. "No one does this to my wife and gets away with it!"
Squall shook his head before responding. "He's not your wife, Seifer. He never became your wife." He then tried to force himself to give Quistis a similar revelation, but decided against it, hoping instead that the next series of events will unravel the blanket of this virtual reality for her.
All of the sudden, a blinding radiance began to emanate from the fallen Rinoa, eliciting gasps of wonder from everyone present. Everyone except Squall.
"Perfect timing" He muttered, shielding his eyes from the intense brilliance of the mystical rays offending his unprotected sight. In the middle of the sun-like resplendence, they saw Rinoa with what appeared to be wings of light rapidly growing from her back. She rose higher, and higher, and higher, as the magical embodiment of an old god took possession of all her faculties to awaken the sleeping sorceress inside her.
Taken by fear, Seifer unwittingly stepped back from Rinoa as she began her descent from that floating manifestation of raw power. On the other hand, Squall started to approach her, much to everyone's bewilderment.
"Now you're the Rinoa I know"
She looked at him and smiled her sweetest upon the dawning recognition.
"Yes I remember"
"Good." Squall smiled back. "Now, you know what to do."
"Uh huh" Rinoa nodded. Without warning, she closed her eyes tight and concentrated on calling upon tremendous amounts of latent magical energies, which she subsequently directed in her altered mind channels. Mentally rerouting her powers, Rinoa unleashed jagged spells of awareness that brutally stabbed into the defenseless minds of everyone afflicted by the imprisoning illusion. Almost simultaneously, Quistis, Seifer, Zell, Irvine and Selphie squealed under the painful psychic intrusion.
The cutting daggers of light they saw in their mind's eyes were then followed by pitch-blackness.
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Darkness all over, as far as his limited eyesight can see. Getting up from the unseen surface, Squall subsequently became gripped by that all-so familiar fear.
"On no not again"
Attempting to control his emotions, the scarred warrior chose a momentary silence. He then gathered all his courage in one pleading holler.
"Rinoa!"
Nothing. Not even an echo.
"Zell! Selphie! Quistis! Irvine!"
Still nothing.
" Seifer!!!"
"Stop screaming, you dork."
He never expected Seifer's voice to sound as sweet and welcome to his ears. Little by little, the darkness opened to reveal the form of his arch-rival, which was then followed one by one by his confused crew. Irvine, Selphie, Zell
Rinoa
And finally, Quistis.
Except for his azure-garbed lover, everybody trained a confused, quizzical look at Squall. They then gathered in the middle of this seemingly endless night, not knowing what to think, say or do. Stricken by a clouded sense of guilt, Squall looked back at them, his eyes screaming a plea for forgiveness.
"Bravo!"
As if expecting that sudden resonance, the lost contingent turned around at random directions, unsure of the source of the voice.
"I have to admit, I'm impressed by your resilience, young warriors."
"Who are you? What have you done to us?" Squall braved a bold interrogation. The voice boomed back, louder than before.
"Who I am is of no consequence. As for your second question well, suffice it to know that I have just endeavored to grant you your heart's desires."
He admitted to a certain degree of surprise. From the moment he spoke with Ellone, Squall had been possessed with the assumption that it was her who was responsible for bringing them into this world of illusion and make-believe. He wouldn't have accepted that rationalism had he thought deeper about it, knowing Ellone too much to even consider an intent of malice on her part.
The realization of some other entity pulling the strings brought a clear understanding of the situation for the contemplating warrior. They have a new and unseen enemy, someone who was devious and cunning enough to have pulled this aggression right from under them. The recognition of this ability alone was enough to land a chilly sensation on his entire being.
"I sense fear in you, esteemed knight. Would that be caused by your fear of losing what you have gained?"
" Gained?"
"Yes. I am the giver of your dreams, provider of your heart's innermost desires. And for one such as you, that equates to your unspoken longing to express your love for the mother you never knew. To hold her again, and savor her warm touch. One that you never felt."
"Whoever you are, show yourself so I can teach you a lesson!"
"A lesson in what, young Almasy? You claim to be great in your stature so much as to actually teach me the error of my ways? Or is it just a pale camouflage for your desire to atone for yours? To do penance for the ghastly deeds that you have committed to the utter detriment of the only people who really cared for you."
To Seifer's consternation, he knew exactly what the unseen enemy was referring to. Ever since emerging from the aftermath of the war against the future-based sorceress, he had longed for reparations for his crimes. Yes, his colleagues did welcome him back with open arms. But in the back of his mind, he was never certain of the sincerity of their display of forgiveness. He didn't trust any of them to trust him and the changing of his ways. And though he was successful in feigning his usual image of grandeur, deep inside himself Seifer had been aching for a clear sign that he had in fact been forgiven for his transgression. He had to see that in order to be able to forgive himself.
The day of his rise to the pinnacle of SeeD accomplishment would have given him that much coveted sign. if it had only been real.
"And you, Instructor Trepe. Quistis. Your stubborn covetousness for the affection of your colleague has plunged you into a deep pit of self-pity. You may have been successful in masking your yearning with your stature and intelligence. But the screams emanating from your heart can never be denied."
"You're wrong" The instructor braved despite her threatening urge to capitulate. "I have already come to terms with that. You can never use that against me."
"Is that the truth you speak? No, I'm afraid not. How can you say that you have come to terms with yourself when the image that your mind projected is that of a consummation of your wishful desire to still be one with your beloved? How can you claim innocence when it was your own subconscious that made the arrangements for the untrue union?"
Her face reddened with shame as she was cornered by that undeniable accusation. Quistis bit her lips, remembering the moments inscribed by her mind in this alternate reality. Recalling the utter joy that she experienced, the beleaguered instructor felt her heart sink in the ultimate cognizance of the counterfeit world that she had always dreamt about.
"This is all a bunch of bullshit!" Irvine blurted out. "If what you're saying is true, how come Selphie didn't get what she wants? How come Trabia Garden is still destroyed?"
"And what makes you think that the resurrection of the doomed academy is her heart's longing?"
Selphie bowed her head in an attempt to avoid the questioning glance that Irvine would surely have thrown at her had it not been for Rinoa's interruption.
"What about me? I never received anything from this reality you made us live in. What did you give me that I've always wanted?"
"Who says I provided the dreams of ALL of you, youthful sorceress? I'm sorry to say, but some of you had to be content as mere accessories. Besides, you did enjoy yourself in the company of your first beau, didn't you?"
"Squall, don't listen to him!" Rinoa turned to her lover, to which he responded with a reassuring gesture.
"Shh, don't worry about it. He's only playing with our minds." After which he turned his attention back to the invisible schemer. "So what now?"
"For now, it is time for all of you to return to your true destinies."
"What do you mean?" Quistis joined in anew. "You'd provide us with everything that we've always hoped for everything that we wanted. Everything that I wanted! And now you're taking it all back?"
"You have served your purpose."
"You YOU MONSTER!!!" She finally screamed, accompanied by an explosion of tears from her eyes. "All my life, I've always dreamed of being THE ONE for Squall! Nearly all the waking hours of every day that I have lived, I've always known that HE is the only one who will make my life complete! But I know it wasn't meant to be. I know he's not the one for me. I've struggled so hard and nearly died in forcing myself to live with that painful truth"
She was crying now, almost hysterically. Everybody was struck hard by the unabashed expression of grief at the perennial manifestation of her unrequited love for the SeeD commander. Even Seifer who, in spite of his lofty demeanor, wasn't able to fend off a creeping sympathy for the anguished instructor.
"Then you'd come here and take our lives from under our noses, and replace it with an illusion that gave us everything we ever wanted. You gave me what I wanted, what I longed for, for as long as I can remember. You granted me a taste of the heaven that I've always thought forever denied me! AND THEN YOU'D TAKE IT ALL BACK, JUST LIKE THAT?!? WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?!?!!!"
Nothing was heard from that point on except for the helpless wails of the grieving instructor, as everyone gathered around in their desire to help her. But all were reluctant, not knowing what to do in this situation.
"It is time for you to go." The voice returned, together with a streak of light coming from a door that opened suddenly in the middle of the Cimmerian nothingness. "But be advised, either you all go out together, or stay in this contrived existence together."
Heeding the entity's warning, Selphie moved to Quistis' side and tried to coax her into standing.
"Quisty, come on, it's time to go."
"No" The instructor objected with her broken voice.
"We've gotta go." The Trabian lass persists, her eyes likewise starting to well with sorrowful sympathy for her friend. "I know what you stand to lose. I'm going to lose something too. But we just can't go on living a lie"
"BUT THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE FOR ME!!!"
She had never seen sorrow this great. And as Quistis further sank into helpless despair, Selphie can do nothing but bring her arms around the instructor, her heart likewise breaking to pieces with every wail and every sob that exploded from Quistis' chest. Rinoa stood nearby, also feeling the anguish of having to see her best friend in this dejected state. But given the situation, the Galbadian lass had to prevent herself from giving in to her sympathetic urge.
Irvine had to help out to lift Quistis up the unseen ground as they started to make their way toward the doorway that will lead them to their reality. But just as they were about to reach the portal, a metallic sliding sound echoed from an unsheathing Hyperion. And before they knew it, Seifer was already standing in their way.
"Whoever that dumbass is said it's either we go together or we stay together."
"Seifer, what are you up to now?" Squall exclaimed in exasperation.
"I say we all stay together." The gray-coated warrior snapped back. "There is no way I'm giving up my station now!"
End of Chapter Eight