Changing Faces

Changing Faces

By Valensia

[Disclaimer: I'm a 18 year old teenager who works in Mc'Donalds and I'm suppose to own Final Fantasy? Obvious I thought. No, I'm just a ignorant little thief who steals the great ideas of Squaresoft. But sue them for making Final Fantasy and for turning me into a kleptomaniac! Oh yeah, I'd like to thank my friend Chris for giving me the will to continue this story. Thankies! ^_^]

Planning ahead

Jules Artica glanced at the faces sitting before him at the glass conference table. He scanned their faces one by one, and it pleased him to see the suspicion, wariness and curiosity in their faint money-absorbed eyes. As long as their feelings were visible to him, he had nothing to worry about but his plan.

"I have gathered you here today for an important matter," he started, "For Galbadia to start with a new era of prosperity and peace, we must first eliminate all that stands in our way. You must all agree that Garden has caused us a lot of trouble in the past. They have assassinated many a Galbadian soldier, slain innocent Galbadian men and women. We could not possibly continue prospering while there is always a powerful enemy to stand on look-out for."

He had pressed the right button. Before him the grim faces of the men and women almost as instantly turned into a malicious content at the thought of the annihilation of Garden. SeeD was a common enemy that would bound the Galbadians once more, led by their President.

"If Garden doesn't hand over the SeeDs who were involved in the riots last year, within three days, we shall declare war upon them. But knowing its students, being young and idealistic as they are, they would never allow their commander to be handed over. They will most likely form a mutiny instead. Either way, we will have war with Garden, in a weakened position."

War! The magic word, their lust for battle was heated up and for the first time he saw the admiration in their eyes. The result of his speech was exactly as how he had expected it to be, a fair promise for human will. His most important lesson.

For the following three hours they discussed their offense strategy and other details. The Galbadian spirit was alive once more, there was a war to prepare for, a name to defend and money to be made in the nearby future.

As the conference neared its ending, he stood up once more, forcing a loyal Galbadian spirit which did not exist within him, he said: "Remember, For Galbadia!!!"

"For Galbadia!!" they spoke in unison, their enthusiasm fired in their eyes.

But in his mind he spoke a different oath. For Julia!

* * * *

Cid gazed out of the window of what used to be his office, until they had found out about Garden's mobility. He brushed his fingers through his balding head in an act of weariness. Before him lay the green fields of Balamb, its grassy fingers stretching out until the horizon. The very presence of organism was evidence of the miracle that had occurred half a year ago. Thanks to the courageous heart of his SeeD's he was able to look upon the meadows of his beloved Balamb now.

SeeD, founded to save the world one day. What he thought was an accomplished goal, had become a terrible illusion. The savior becoming an enemy. He did not know what to do, for the first time in his life he prayed for a less decisive position. One order from him could ruin his conscious or the world. There was only one way or the other, wasn't that what he had said to Squall, in what seemed centuries in the past?

A knock on the door woke him up from his pondering. Sighing he let the visitors in, knowing that when these people stepped out of his office, nothing would ever be the same again.

A serious faced man in a green uniform came in, Martin, president of Galbadia Garden, followed by a middle-aged woman dressed in a similar uniform, headmistress of Trabia Garden, but wearing a green skirt instead of pants. Cid saluted them and motioned them to sit down in the seats before his desk.

"Thank you very much for coming here," Cid started, though he rather wished them to disappear instantly. "I ordered you here to discuss a most vital matter, that of the fate of the world. I'm sure you've got the reports I've sent you informing of the current situation. Before we start, have you got any questions?"

Shera Wallace, head of Trabia Garden, spoke up first. "The report stated that the sorceress still forms a threat, how is that? Didn't the SeeDs defeat her in the future."

"Yes, indeed," replied Cid, "or so we thought. Ultimecia seems to be calling upon one of our SeeDs, Squall Leonheart. Tests have shown evidence of a presence in the boy's mind. He himself stated that it was Ultimecia's and that she is after the only sorceress of this era, Miss Rinoa Heartilly. Our theory is that she wants to take her over again, using this boy."

"That would be disastrous!" said Martin horrified, "she would be acquiring the developed powers of two sorceress, plus her own. She would be undefeatable!"

Cid sighed. "Yes, that is why dr. Odine is working on a solution."

Martin stood up, his eyes narrowed in anger. "I cannot believe you're even waiting. The solution is so simple that's its almost ridiculous. I say we should eliminate the threat immediately!"

Cid crossed his arms in front of his chest with a thoughtful look on his aged face. His brown eyes narrowing in thought. This was exactly what he was fearing all the while. He had known all the while that there was only one decision to make.

"Cid, I understand how you feel," Shera spoke, her voice soft but clear, "but you have no choice in this. It is only two lives. What are they compared to all the billions thinking themselves to be safe in their homes."

Cid looked up in suprise. "Two lives?"

"Yes, the sorceress and the boy," said Martin. "It's fairly simple, we can send one or two of our best snipers, one bullet and the world is safe."

Cid shook his head. "No, no, no, why the boy?" he asked in disbelieve, "he saved the world for Hyne's sake. I understand the threat of a sorceress. But if there is no sorceress to possess, there won't be any threats left. Why the unnecessary slaughter?"

Shera stood up too. "Cid, don't fool yourself. If Ultimecia really lives in his body, how can you even contemplate allowing him to live?"

"There is no real evidence that she actually lives within him. All we have is a vague statement of him hearing alien voices. We're not even sure is she is even capable of action in the state she is in."

"So will you risk her taking over the world, before you undertake any action?" Martin exclaimed.

Cid eyes widened in agony. This couldn't be. Not Squall, the boy was a damn hero. He risked his own life just to save theirs. Was this how they wished to express their gratitude to a noble man? By presenting him a bullet through his courageous heart, as a gift.

"I will not have it," he exclaimed, his voice trembling with fury. "I lay my will and conscious down by the execution of the sorceress, but I will not have the death of Squall."

Shera shook her head, sadness and pity spoke out of her green eyes. "I'm sorry Cid, but your conscious nor your will matter in this. There is only one decision to make here, if you wish to retreat, we will understand, though we will continue to stay true to Garden's ideal of protecting the world. You know what measurements we have to take should you choose to intervene."

He sniffed sardonically. Of course he knew what they would do. Wasn't he the one who came up with these measurements in the first place? A goal was a goal, every obstacle should be eliminated at once.

"I will do it," Cid spoke finally, his voice pragmatic, drained from any emotion. "I will send the order for the assignation of the sorceress and . . . . Squall Leonheart, me and only me. Should anything go wrong, I will act upon it immediately and carry out the mission personally. I won't stand and watch their death. I started all this and I will be the one to finish it."

Shera smiled, though at that moment it seemed to him that the beauty he had once admired in her had faded into a heartless marble statue. To him, she was the ugliest sight he had ever laid eyes upon.

"I furiously hope you don't have any conscience left to answer to." For his had vanished when the fatal affirmation left his lips.

"It's not our conscience you need to worry about," Martin said, "you better think of how to save the world."

* * * *

Silence hung in the darkened room, beams of moonlight fell in through the open balcony doors, creating a silhouette of a young man rising from his bed. His shadows swiftly moving through the room, walking towards the antique mirror on the wall.

His fingers searched for the light switch in the dark, pressing the button to welcome the light and casting away the darkness he was trapped in. From across another world, opposite to his, was a young man gazing at him, his chest bare and wearing only leather pants, the skin around his deep blue eyes a couple of shades darker than the rest of his face, his dark strands of hair fell in his face, partially covering the scar across his forehead. His once generous lips formed into a thin line of weariness. Though the man looked exactly like him, he was frightened at his sight. He was frightened of the ease in which he could imagine that nothing was wrong. No expression of an alien mind, no evidence of a presence. Just an extremely tired Squall Leonheart.

"Damnit, show yourself!" he hissed at his reflection. "Show that you are here, talk to me. Speak, of anything. Tell me that I'm not living in a constant insecurity for nothing, that I have a reason to stay away from Rinoa, that I will not die for something which only exists in my words.

But the Squall in the opposing world just glared back at him, silently mimicking his lips. Somehow this entire situation seemed surreal and unlogical. Thirty days, Odine had said, thirty days and the voice in his head would kill him. A voice he had only heard once.

Behind him the door was suddenly burst open, without as much as a polite knock President Laguna of Esthar walked into the room, wearing an urgent expression on his face.

"Hey, S-squall," he yelled at him, though they were present in the same room. Squall turned away from the mirror to watch him calmly.

"You're not gonna believe this, I've got bad news and worse news," he said, trying to catch up his breath between the words.

"Just tell me what it is," Squall said, slightly annoyed.

"Ok, first the bad news," Laguna said, clasping his hand on his thigh, "your friends just left. Last night, they have taken the Ragornak and just . . . went. They didn't tell anyone about their plans. Got any idea on where they went?"

Squall had a hard time not to display his displeasure about this. Of course he knew where they went, they went to get Rinoa, make her die for his sake. But he understood their motives, he didn't blame them, but he did however wish they would have respected his.

"They went to get Rinoa," he replied calmly.

Laguna paused, scratching the back of his head with his hand. "Oh, it wasn't bad news after all then."

Squall sighed. "And what is the worst news?"

"Oh yeah, Galbadia has declared war upon Garden if they don't hand over the SeeDs who were involved in the issues last year, ya know, with the sorceress thing and all. They have given them three days, Balamb Garden is in a total panic. Oh yeah, they're looking for Rinoa too, because she had been involved. This way they will get their hands on the sorceress, maybe they seek revenge or just feel the need for an execu- ."

"Okay, spare me the analysis," Squall spoke annoyed. This was absurd, how many wars could a world endure?

"So what did Cid say about this ultimatum?"

"Dunno, all this girl told us, I think Xu was her name, was that Galbadia was looking for you and your friends."

What was he suppose to do with this information? Was he to go back to Garden to aid them in this battle? There was no way Garden could possibly engage successfully in another war. The recent events of this past year had really worn out their equipment. All they could do was postpone the inevitable execution.

"Can you prepare transportation to Balamb Garden, for me," he asked quietly, already in his mind calculating the pros and cons for Galbadia's interest. He needed to find out, what they really were up to. If they were really up to seizing him and his friends, wouldn't they have done it already, caught them right in the middle of Garden's distress?

"Huh, Garden?" Laguna asked, "Why don't you wait for your friends to return first, they might have some news, y'know, just to see things out.

"I'm leaving to Balamb Garden, you can either help me with this or I'll go off on my own, but there is no words to convince me of staying, so use none of that sort."

Laguna paused, studying the young man before him. The young valiant warrior, Squall Leonheart, bearing the name of the equally stubborn Raine, the name he had changed to protect him from his opposers. After seventeen years he still did not know why he had abandoned Squall and little Ellone. It was a time in which he had thought that leaving them was the best solution, that he had no choice, that there were billions of people waiting for him. But now, as he stood in this luxurious room in the presidential residence, a president standing before a courageous subject, he could not for the world find one good reason why he had left him. Was there even one reason, just one reason with a value that could outweigh a broken childhood?

Behind him Laguna had left a trail of broken hearts, that of Raine, of Ellone and of Squall. Was he even allowed to feel this pride for a son he did not deserve, as if he were a father that raised a hero?

Thirty days, from which three already had passed. This was his chance to undo all that was done, fate had granted him an undeserving second chance and he would seize it this time. He would never live to see the day of Squall's death.

"I'm coming with you," Laguna finally said, his voice firm with determence.

Squall's frown deepened, his eyes narrowed to size this man before him up, as if his blue eyes held the answer to every possible question. But he didn't speak, just nodded absent-minded. Laguna's boyish grin broadened at this wavering acceptance.

"I'll prepare for departure, see ya in two hours at the air station," Laguna told him, as he walked happily away.

******

"Come in," Cid spoke with a dull of voice, he sat behind his desk in the headmasters office. The view of the Balamb meadows that once captured his breath in awe, seemed nothing more than a collection of grass, the decoration of his office which went back to the Trabia civilization of centuries ago could not hold his fascination anymore, these were just relics with no meaning, stone drained from the beauty he had once admired.

Two young SeeDs entered in his office, saluting before him in honor of a broken man. A young male and female, both professional snipers at the age of seventeen, dressed in the proper SeeD uniform with the Trabia and Galbadia Garden emblem. Cid sighed, finally realizing that these were just children, he was sending children out against children.

"Thank you both for coming here," he spoke, starting his speech like he did with so many in his life, but knowing fully well that this was going to be the last one he would ever give, he had never imagined it to be like this.

"I assume you overlooked the briefing that has been sent to you," he continued, both students nodding in conformation. "Alright, we'll go over this again. Your first target will be Squall Leonheart, he will be arriving tomorrow at 8:00 hours at the front entrance of Balamb Garden with the company of perhaps several officials. You are to shoot right away, disregard of the officials, though try to your fullest not to harm them. Is that understood?"

The two SeeDs nodded. Two fellow SeeDs who only knew Squall from the glossy papers, to them he meant just another mission, just another source of income and that was exactly why Cid had chosen them. He wouldn't saddle young SeeDs with the burden of guilt that would wreck their future. The only one needed to suffer in this was Cid and . . . Squall.

"But the briefing didn't mention the exact details of the assassination of the sorceress. When will we be informed of that mission?" asked Scarlett, named after her red unruly curls, a young SeeD from Galbadia Garden. She was famous for her accuracy with a rifle as well as for her pragmatic attitude. She originally grew up with her abusive foster parents in Dollet. Years of survival had thought her that there was no reason to smile in a world where young children were abandoned in a monster's lair, to be eaten up. The parents happy that there was now a mouth less to feed. Scarlett didn't care whether this guy had saved the world or not. Even hero's need to sacrifice.

"We are in the middle of tracking her whereabouts, you will be informed in due time," Cid replied.

"Okay, we will be ready," said the other SeeD standing next to Scarlett, young Neo. He was slightly younger than Scarlett, in many ways. His happy childhood made him into an easygoing young man, with bright curious brown eyes, whereas Scarlett's were green and observing. Unlike many other pupil, Neo actually enjoyed these missions. Armed with his favorite possession, a 44x Cronus, he was the first to accept any mission. And he never hesitated to talk endlessly about his dreams of becoming a hero one day, he was perhaps the most noticeable student in whole of Trabia Garden.

"Okay, be ready in approximately nine hours," Cid said. Suddenly he wondered what Edea would be thinking of what she once thought was to be a noble knight. They once used to understand each other's motives without even speaking. They once used to share one cause to live, to maintain a world in which their children could live without the fear of injustice. Was he not defying their beliefs with his actions? Would she understand him? Could he touch her still with these blood stained hands? Was he even deserving of her anymore?

* * * *

[Author's note: Do not worry, these two SeeDs will not play a major role in the story. I know no one likes too many orgininal characters. And the next chapter is already and will be posted in two days or so (I don't want to post too soon, just giving some people to anticipate ^_^) I have a lot of ideas on how the story will continue, so stay with me for a while.]