Remember
I've found you,
suddenly
no warning.
everything
my downfall,
my success,
my most precious treasure.
lost, happened, never did.
because of you.
Chapter Two: Shiva emerges
April
Selphie squeaked in anticipation.They were going on a mission, a quest, adventure, danger, she couldn't wait!
Ellone laughed "Calm *down*, Sefy, hun, save that spunk for when we get attacked!" Ellone reached down and tickled little Selphie. She squeaked again, giggling and squirming until Ellone ceased.
Irvine grabbed his toy bee-bee gun and stood silently in the corner, a sly smile on his face. "I'll save ya if ya get in twoble, Sefy."
Selphie raised an eyebrow and grabbed her Nunchaku. "Thanks, *Irvy*, but no thanks, I can take care of *myself*."
Seifer burst out laughing "Wow, *cowboy*,your 'girlfriend' doesn't need *you*, I guess!" he hefted his cardboard sword. Fujin giggled, if you could call that giggling, and Raijin laughed as well. Fujin gathered up her paper Shuriken((A/N: Ninja stars, Chibi-Fuu has little paper versions of the weapon she will weild when she's older ^,^;;)) and Raijin picked up a stick, which Fujin laughed at.
Ellone turned to Xu. "Happy birthday, sweetie." She said. Xu smiled "An Adventure on my birthday." She hugged Ellone "Thanks, sis."
Squall slunk into the room, holding a sword much like Seifer's. Seifer came over, picked it up and examined it. "Not bad..." he said, "*Chickenwuss* can copy things good." Zell growled "Hey!"
Quistis snapped her 'whip', made of a cord and a stick, "Shush, both of you!" she said. Xu gulped, clutching her bow and arrow close to her chest. Nida pocketed his darts, Zell had made them too.They wouldn't even take out someones eye.'~But they looked so cool!~' Nida thought.
Ellone looked at the array of children. "Wheres Rinoa?" a tug at her blue-green wrap answered her. Rinoa showed Ellone the contraption strapped to her arm. It let loose a larger version of Shuriken, that Fujin had made for her. She and Zell had done a good job making 'weapons'. He himself would go unarmed.
Ellone smiled "Everyone ready?" she asked. They all nodded. Of course, Matron would be within calling distance, so they were going to be fine.They set off.
***********************************************************************
*Squall peered into the cave. Zell peeked over his shoulder. "Wow..." breathed Nida, poking his head beneath Zells arm. Rinoa squeaked "Are yoo gunna go in?" Nida looked afraid and moved closer to Zell "I dunno..." said Zell, looking to Squall. Squall looked up at Ellone, who shrugged. Seifer scowled "Aww *c'mon*! Lets go!" "AFFIRMATIVE!" said Fujin excitedly. Squall nodded, pulling Irvine to his side, "Lets go." He and Irvine led the way, everyone close behind.
Walking furthur and furthur in, Squall peered into the dark. After a while, he saw what seemed to be a light. Pulling Irvine closer, he whispered "Should we go check it out, Irvy?" Irvine grinned. "Yeah." Nida cuddled up to Zell "Zelly..." He said worriedly. Selphie and Rinoa looked excited, and Ellone, Quistis,and Xu were walking slow paced behind everyone. Seifer, Fujin and Raijin looked ready for a battle. Suddenly, Squall and Irvine broke into a run. Shocked, everyone else quickened their pace.
When they caught up to the boys, Irvine spread his arms and they all stopped.
Squall stepped up slowly to what was making the 'Light' they had seen. Irvine kept everyone at bay, a few feet behind. Squall peered up at the tall, beautiful lady he saw before him, trapped in ice.
Ellone hissed in disbelief. '~A GF!~'
Dropping his "sword", Squall reached up and touched his tiny hands to the ice.
Suddenly, an ear peircing crack was heard, and then another and another, vines of cracking ice spread from Squalls hands, until peices began to fall. Still he didn't move away. He gritted his teeth as chunks of ice fell around him. A moan was heard, and the lady in the ice began to stir.
Squall moved back then, lowering himself to one knee instinctively. The Lady climbed out of her "cage" and surveyed all the children behind Squall, then dropped her cold eyes to him. She bent and cupped his chin. He shivered, but didn't pull away. "Little one..." She said quietly. He moved a tiny hand up to his chin, removing her hand and turning it to plant a kiss on it, gently.
She smiled. His etiquette was exceptional. "I am Shiva, little one. I shall protect you."
***********************************************************************
Rinoa stayed at the orphanage for about a week, playing, laughing.Then the time came for the Caraway's to leave, and for Ellone to go with them.
"I have to go, Squall."
"B-but sis!"
"No buts, sweetie. I have to. Its not my choice."
They tried to get Rinoa to stay.
"Ooh, Mommy, I really don't want to leave all the kids!"
"Yeah, Matwon, couldn't she stay?"
"Booyaka! Yeah!"
"She could stay in our bed!"
"AFFIRMATIVE!"
"Pwease, Matwon?"
"She's really nice, ya know!"
"And she likes Candyland!"
"NIDA!"
((A/N: If you couldn't tell who was talking, it was, in line order, Rinoa, Zell, Selphie, Xu, Fujin, Irvine, Raijin, Nida, and then everyone together, excluding Rinoa, Squall, Ellone, and all the 'adults'.^^))
It was hopeless.
"Bye!" said Rinoa sadly, having to be half pushed, half dragged away.
Squall peered out the door as they left, everyone filing inside.He looked at the car, The Caraways would drop Ellone off where she needed to be, then go back to Galbadia, assuming it was safe now, it had been weeks since they had been driven out for disobeying the President's orders. Edea turned, "Come back in, Squall."
He looked at her. "I have to find Sis!" he shouted, turning and running. Edea started after him, he noticed, but she stopped. He felt another presence, but ignored it, running. He looked around, and sighed. Seeing nothing, he turned back.
"I can't find Sis..." he said to Edea sadly.
She nodded at him, then he looked up. A man, brown locks hanging in his face, a large blade strapped at his hip. The other presence. Squall stood in awe of him. The only thing he managed to do was stutter out the words "Who is that, Matwon?"
"No one," she said kindly "you don't need to know. There's only one Squall allowed around here." Squall looked puzzledly at the man, then at Edea. That made no sense...one Squall? There *was* only one Squall.
"Will you be okay? Can you do it by yourself?" Edea asked the man. He saluted, and Squall's jaw dropped when he saw the man seem to evaporate into thin air.
((A/N: there's the spoiler, that happened after you beat the game...mucho mucho sorry people!))
After he got over the awe, Edea left him alone. He felt a few drops of water hit his head and saw dark spots on his Orange shirt. Squall held back the tears, it was raining, the world was crying, Ellone had left.
"I'll be okay, Sis..." He called out into the rain. " I can take care of myself!"
He looked up at the sky sadly. Then he heard the screech.
His eyes went wide. '~Ellone!~' he thought, running in the direction of the sound. '~Ellone!!!~' He spotted the car in the distance, and he started running faster...what was that, on the car? What *was* that?!?!
A SnowLion, with what looked like a Galbadian soldier attempting to harness it was madly crashing into the car. Squall thought the soldier was having trouble controlling it, then he realized he was ramming the Snowlion into the car intentionally. He cried out, then ran swiftly across the feild.
"Shiva!!!" he screamed, calling for her, needing her, He needed to save them. His knees buckled, he fell and blacked out.
Shiva emerged from behind Squall. He gave her strength, but he couldn't see this. She closed her eyes and cried "Diamond Dust!"
Squall reawakened. He saw that Rinoa and Mr. and Mrs. Caraway were out of the car.The dead bodies of the SnowLion and the soldier lay a small distance away. Mr Caraway was conscious, cradling both Mrs. Caraway and Rinoa in his arms. Ellone was nowhere to be seen. Squall walked up to Mr. Caraway. "I can take Rinoa back to the orphanage, and get Matron to come and help. I can carry Rinoa." Mr. Caraway nodded, his leg broken and a grimace of pain on his face. Squall lifted Rinoa onto his back. He trudged back wearily toward the orphanage.