Chapter 28
Her funeral was a private affair, attended by only those who witnessed the events at the orphanage. They decided to bury her just outside garden. It was atop a small plateau, and on a clear day one could see for miles. Today was one of those days, and the sun shone brightly, warming the faces of the eight Seeds, one ex-sorceress, and a headmaster in a wheelchair. Rinoa did not attend.
Everyone was dressed in black. After a short service, there was the opportunity for everyone to say a few words if they wished. Edea wheeled Cid forward. His leg was encased in plaster, and his head was bandaged. His right arm was in a sling, he two black eyes, and stitches along the gash in his face. Kadowaki had reluctantly let him out of the infirmary, under the condition he came back as soon as the service was over. His face had taken on a sickly white colour, and his eyes were dark and weary. In his good hand, he held a single white flower.
"I think I speak for all of us, when I express my sadness for your sudden departure from this world. I have no doubt that you would have gone on to be the best student at this academy, had it not been for these unexpected events. I for one will be sad to no longer see your face happy along the hallways. We can only take consolation from the fact that your death was not in vain." He tossed the white flower into the grave, and it landed with a gentle patter on top of the coffin that resonated throughout the grave. "Goodbye." He managed to say, before his words were choked with tears. Each in turn, the rest of the assembled threw their white flowers onto the coffin, some muttering some silent words only to be heard by themselves, god, and Yannie. Squall's chosen words were short and to the point. [I]Thank you for giving me back Rinoa.[/I]
Gered was last to come. He knelt down next to the six-foot deep hole, not bothering about dirtying up his trousers. His flower was an Alcauld rose. He muttered some words, inaudible from the rest. [I]I will think of you everyday. I'm sorry I was not a better knight. I let you down, and I will spend the rest of my days trying to make it up for you.[/I] he gently let the rose fall onto the coffin. [I]I feel privileged to have known you, and to have seen your most beautiful colour.[/I] it was then, he broke down into tears. Selphie put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Gradually, the group dispersed, and the sky clouded over. Gered was the last to leave, and only then because it started to rain heavily. Reluctantly, he stood up, and left and the two remaining gravediggers went about the dismal task of filling in the hole.
*************************
Back at Garden, Rinoa was lay on the bed in her dorm. The rain pattered on the window echoing through the silent room. She stared up at the ceiling tiles, deep in thought. Her memory was sketchy, and she tried hard to recall her actions in the last year or so. She stood and walked over to the sink, looked in the mirror, and examined her face in detail. The veins on her face had gone, but the black and red tattoos were still there. Her hair was grey, as if the sorceress power had drained all the pigment from it. However there was some hope. Her roots of her hair were growing out black, and it would just take time for her hair to return to normal.
[I]Come on, try to remember…[/I] Maybe I don't want to remember. No one wants to tell me what I did. What did I do? I remember being angry and scared at the same time. I tried to kill Yannie? Me? Hmmm, what else did I do? Then suddenly, the floodgates opened, and out flowed all the memories of the year. Controlling the armies. Her reign of terror. The shooting of innocent civilians in the name of discipline. The deaths of thousands in her name. She was responsible for it all. Her legs went week, and she felt nauseous. [I]No![/I] She fell on the bed. [I]No…[/I]
*********************
Squall was in the cafeteria, debating whether or not he should go and see Rinoa. She might not want to see him. Was he sure he wanted to see her? It was hard to accept that the Rinoa that almost caused a war was the same Rinoa that was in her dorm now. However, it was as if there were two Rinoas. There was the kind forest owl princess, and there was the evil sorceress. But the latter part of her was dead, and only the former remained. She might not even remember what she did. I hope she doesn't remember what she did.
"Sir." Said a young SeeD. Squall had taken over the running of Garden until Cid was back on his feet, which could take a long time. "There's an urgent phone call for you."
"Who from?"
"A man from Esthar. Calls himself Captain Verson. Says he has found him."
"Verson?" [I]Of course! The captain of the Esthar squad I sent to look for Odine.[/I] "Yes. I'll come now." Squall got up from the table and almost ran to the office. He picked up the phone, and said,
"You found him?" the voice on the other end of the line answered.
"Yes sir. We found him He was hiding out at his old labs on the Esthar continent. He was reluctant to surrender, and demanded to know about Yannie. He had barricaded himself inside, so we told him what we knew. When we told him of her death, he came forward no problem." he paused a moment. "What are your orders now?" Squall thought for a moment.
"Bring him to me. Bring him here to Balamb Garden. I need to talk with him urgently."
"Yes sir. Expect us in a hour." Squall was about to hang up when he said,
"Good work captain. Thank you."
"It is an honour to work for SeeD sir." He hung up the phone. This was the best news he had heard in a while. He was the missing piece to the puzzle. Edea had told him everything she had told Yannie, which was everything she knew. Unfortunately, no one could explain the strange events that preceded her death.
Verson was true to his word. He arrived an hour later, almost to the minute. He escorted Odine to the front gates, where they were greeted by Squall.
"Ah, Odine, at last."
"There vas no need for ze handcuffs. I have no vish to vander avay." Squall looked up at Verson, and nodded. Verson unlocked the cuffs, and Odine flexed his wrists.
"Thank you for bringing him to us. If you would like to wait, I shall settle the payment after…"
"Oh, no. No payment."
"But…"
"President Loire ordered us. He is paying us. A gift if you will, to Garden."
"Laguna…I mean President Loire?"
"Yes. He said you helped him out in the past. This is his way of saying thank you."
"No, thank you. If you would like to wait anyway, unless you have any other duties?"
"Oh no, I wouldn't mind waiting. I've always wanted to see inside a Garden." Squall nodded. He grabbed hold of a junior classman running by.
"What have I told you about running?"
"Sorry sir." The boy replied.
"You can show our guest around."
"But…but…" he protested.
"Call it a punishment for running. Now show Captain Verson here Garden." Verson smiled, and was lead away by the boy, grumbling.
"Vat now?" asked Odine, his short height forcing him to look up at Squall.
"Follow me." Squall escorted Odine to Cid's office. Some of the students recognised him, and there were many whispers of [I]"Isn't that Odine?"[/I] Odine ignored these, and followed Squall. Inside the office, Squall beckoned him to sit down. He made himself at home in a high-backed leather chair.
"Now then. Where shall we start? "
"I suppose I better tell you all about ze Ocaspe project?"
"We know all about that. What I want to know, is why Yannie died."
"How did she die?" asked Odine. Squall described all about the blinding light, and the lightening that preceded her demise.
"Very interesting." Said Odine to himself. "I did not anticipate such a spectacle." He removed his glasses and began to clean them on his robe. "I just vish I could have been there to vitness it."
"Just get to the point. What happened?"
"If you are vell versed in ze doings of the Ocaspe Project, you understand its aims." Squall nodded.
"To rid the world of the Sorceress Power."
"Yes." He replaced his glasses onto his nose. "As you know, ze sorceress power can not die. When a host dies, it finds another one. The vay the Ocaspe verks is such. She creates an end point. She took on into herself ze entire sorceress power in existence today. And then she served her purpose by dying."
"How does her dying justify as a purpose?"
"When she died, ze sorceress power, it dies vith her. If she did not die, it would find another host. I vill not go into the scientific methodology of it, but just trust me ven I tell you, all vent to ze plan."
"You evil son of a bitch. You created her to die."
"Try to understand, it is ze only way!"
"But this is playing god!"
"I say it iz a small price to pay for peace." Squall thought. Was it right to justify the killing of a person to save the world from evil? "And remember, Hyne started ze war. He doomed us to live as slaves under the command of his sorceresses. His servants, if you will."
"Just get out."
"I am free to go?"
"I hope you are happy. You shall have no more research now the sorceress power is gone. You are no longer a danger. Go!" He left. He pressed a button on the intercom. "Captain Verson, please come to The third floor headmaster's office immediately please. Within minutes there was a knock at the door. "Come in."
"Is everything alright? Where is the prisoner?"
"He is gone. I let him go. He is no longer a threat." He sighed. It was a lot to take in. "It is debatable to whether his work was ethical or not, but he wasn't a criminal. Anyway, the reason I called you here was to say that you are free to go. We will no longer need your assistance."
"As I said before Sir," he saluted "it is a pleasure to work for SeeD." Squall saluted back.
"Anytime you need our help, just make the call and we will assist."
"I'm afraid we wont." Said a voice from the door. It was Cid, he was hobbling in on crutches, and Edea stood beside him, helping him keep balance.
"Sir!" Squall saluted. "What do you mean?"
"Squall, SeeD was founded to fight sorceresses. Without sorceresses, we serve no function." He sighed. "Besides, I'm an old man. I'm too old to fight wars."
"I could take over in your place."
"Look into your heart son," he said staggering forward, "I think you will find you are tired of the fighting as well." He knew he was right. For a while know he had gown weary of battles. I longed for a peaceful life. Squall nodded.
"Sir!" saluted Verson. "If I have your permission, I will leave." Cid Bowed his head and the captain made his exit.
"But what will happen to Garden?" Edea answered.
"The orphanage is beyond repair, and no longer fit to house children. I shall take over Garden's running, and found the Balamb home for Children."
"What about the students?"
"I have secured a place for every student if they want it."
"Where?"
"Numerous places. Some as monster patrollers in towns and villages, there are spaces open in the Esthar Army, and other non-combat places, such as real jobs in FH, and Timber. Good jobs." This news shocked Squall. Garden had been his home as long as he could remember. But Cid spoke sense. There would be no need for it anymore.
"What of the other Gardens? Galbadia, and Trabia?"
"That is up to the leaders of those Gardens." Cid gently eased himself into one of the chairs. "I suppose you are wondering what you are to do?" Squall looked up and nodded his head. "Well, there is a job that would be perfect for you. Town Guard in a small village on the Galbadia Continent. It involves basically keeping monsters out, as they have started creeping back in again. I think you might know it. Winhill?"
"Winhill?"
"Yes. They will provide accommodation, and the pay isn't bad. But, it is for two people." Cid leaned back in his chair. "Who you take is entirely up to you, but I think you have already made up your mind." Squall looked down. "Go. Go talk to her. If there ever was a time she needed you it was now." Cid looked up at Edea, who lovingly looked back at him. "Remember, it wasn't her who did those terrible things. Forgive her, and try to get her to forgive herself." Squall stood up, and saluted. He exited the room.
***************
Outside on the plateau, a figure was crouched over a freshly dug grave. The headstone read [I]"Yannie Ocaspe. Died so that we all may live in peace. Age 18"[/I] The figure placed a bunch of flowers on the mound of earth. The rain had ceased, and the sun was setting. Through the black clouds, the sky was pinkish red. They wiped away a tear from their eye, and mumbled a few words.
A shadow loomed closer and closer on the East Side of the plateau. This shadow turned in to a man, walking slowly toward the figure, unknown to them. Tears fell from their eyes. The man came closer, and the crouched person saw their shadow on the grave and looked up. The man spoke.
"Rinoa…"
"Squall? I thought…" he knelt down beside her, and took her hands.
"Its not your fault." She shook her head.
"It is my fault. Not just her. Thousands died because I ordered it! I am evil."
"Are you sorry?" she nodded. "Then you are not evil."
"But…"
"No buts. Come with me. Let's star a new life together. Away from here. Just the two of us."
"What do you mean?" she asked wiping her eyes.
"You, and me. Move to Winhill. No more fighting. Just the odd monster." She meekly smiled.
"Why don't you hate me?"
"Because I know you, and I love you more than anything. And I want you to come to Winhill
with me."
"What about Garden?"
"Cid's shutting it down. No sorceresses. There is nothing to stop us. Lets go."
"Oh Squall!" she threw her arms around him. "How could I ever try to kill you?" Squall remembered Cid's words. [I]Teach her to forgive herself…[/I]
"No more talk. Just spend the rest of your life with me
Her funeral was a private affair, attended by only those who witnessed the events at the orphanage. They decided to bury her just outside garden. It was atop a small plateau, and on a clear day one could see for miles. Today was one of those days, and the sun shone brightly, warming the faces of the eight Seeds, one ex-sorceress, and a headmaster in a wheelchair. Rinoa did not attend.
Everyone was dressed in black. After a short service, there was the opportunity for everyone to say a few words if they wished. Edea wheeled Cid forward. His leg was encased in plaster, and his head was bandaged. His right arm was in a sling, he two black eyes, and stitches along the gash in his face. Kadowaki had reluctantly let him out of the infirmary, under the condition he came back as soon as the service was over. His face had taken on a sickly white colour, and his eyes were dark and weary. In his good hand, he held a single white flower.
"I think I speak for all of us, when I express my sadness for your sudden departure from this world. I have no doubt that you would have gone on to be the best student at this academy, had it not been for these unexpected events. I for one will be sad to no longer see your face happy along the hallways. We can only take consolation from the fact that your death was not in vain." He tossed the white flower into the grave, and it landed with a gentle patter on top of the coffin that resonated throughout the grave. "Goodbye." He managed to say, before his words were choked with tears. Each in turn, the rest of the assembled threw their white flowers onto the coffin, some muttering some silent words only to be heard by themselves, god, and Yannie. Squall's chosen words were short and to the point. [I]Thank you for giving me back Rinoa.[/I]
Gered was last to come. He knelt down next to the six-foot deep hole, not bothering about dirtying up his trousers. His flower was an Alcauld rose. He muttered some words, inaudible from the rest. [I]I will think of you everyday. I'm sorry I was not a better knight. I let you down, and I will spend the rest of my days trying to make it up for you.[/I] he gently let the rose fall onto the coffin. [I]I feel privileged to have known you, and to have seen your most beautiful colour.[/I] it was then, he broke down into tears. Selphie put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Gradually, the group dispersed, and the sky clouded over. Gered was the last to leave, and only then because it started to rain heavily. Reluctantly, he stood up, and left and the two remaining gravediggers went about the dismal task of filling in the hole.
*************************
Back at Garden, Rinoa was lay on the bed in her dorm. The rain pattered on the window echoing through the silent room. She stared up at the ceiling tiles, deep in thought. Her memory was sketchy, and she tried hard to recall her actions in the last year or so. She stood and walked over to the sink, looked in the mirror, and examined her face in detail. The veins on her face had gone, but the black and red tattoos were still there. Her hair was grey, as if the sorceress power had drained all the pigment from it. However there was some hope. Her roots of her hair were growing out black, and it would just take time for her hair to return to normal.
[I]Come on, try to remember…[/I] Maybe I don't want to remember. No one wants to tell me what I did. What did I do? I remember being angry and scared at the same time. I tried to kill Yannie? Me? Hmmm, what else did I do? Then suddenly, the floodgates opened, and out flowed all the memories of the year. Controlling the armies. Her reign of terror. The shooting of innocent civilians in the name of discipline. The deaths of thousands in her name. She was responsible for it all. Her legs went week, and she felt nauseous. [I]No![/I] She fell on the bed. [I]No…[/I]
*********************
Squall was in the cafeteria, debating whether or not he should go and see Rinoa. She might not want to see him. Was he sure he wanted to see her? It was hard to accept that the Rinoa that almost caused a war was the same Rinoa that was in her dorm now. However, it was as if there were two Rinoas. There was the kind forest owl princess, and there was the evil sorceress. But the latter part of her was dead, and only the former remained. She might not even remember what she did. I hope she doesn't remember what she did.
"Sir." Said a young SeeD. Squall had taken over the running of Garden until Cid was back on his feet, which could take a long time. "There's an urgent phone call for you."
"Who from?"
"A man from Esthar. Calls himself Captain Verson. Says he has found him."
"Verson?" [I]Of course! The captain of the Esthar squad I sent to look for Odine.[/I] "Yes. I'll come now." Squall got up from the table and almost ran to the office. He picked up the phone, and said,
"You found him?" the voice on the other end of the line answered.
"Yes sir. We found him He was hiding out at his old labs on the Esthar continent. He was reluctant to surrender, and demanded to know about Yannie. He had barricaded himself inside, so we told him what we knew. When we told him of her death, he came forward no problem." he paused a moment. "What are your orders now?" Squall thought for a moment.
"Bring him to me. Bring him here to Balamb Garden. I need to talk with him urgently."
"Yes sir. Expect us in a hour." Squall was about to hang up when he said,
"Good work captain. Thank you."
"It is an honour to work for SeeD sir." He hung up the phone. This was the best news he had heard in a while. He was the missing piece to the puzzle. Edea had told him everything she had told Yannie, which was everything she knew. Unfortunately, no one could explain the strange events that preceded her death.
Verson was true to his word. He arrived an hour later, almost to the minute. He escorted Odine to the front gates, where they were greeted by Squall.
"Ah, Odine, at last."
"There vas no need for ze handcuffs. I have no vish to vander avay." Squall looked up at Verson, and nodded. Verson unlocked the cuffs, and Odine flexed his wrists.
"Thank you for bringing him to us. If you would like to wait, I shall settle the payment after…"
"Oh, no. No payment."
"But…"
"President Loire ordered us. He is paying us. A gift if you will, to Garden."
"Laguna…I mean President Loire?"
"Yes. He said you helped him out in the past. This is his way of saying thank you."
"No, thank you. If you would like to wait anyway, unless you have any other duties?"
"Oh no, I wouldn't mind waiting. I've always wanted to see inside a Garden." Squall nodded. He grabbed hold of a junior classman running by.
"What have I told you about running?"
"Sorry sir." The boy replied.
"You can show our guest around."
"But…but…" he protested.
"Call it a punishment for running. Now show Captain Verson here Garden." Verson smiled, and was lead away by the boy, grumbling.
"Vat now?" asked Odine, his short height forcing him to look up at Squall.
"Follow me." Squall escorted Odine to Cid's office. Some of the students recognised him, and there were many whispers of [I]"Isn't that Odine?"[/I] Odine ignored these, and followed Squall. Inside the office, Squall beckoned him to sit down. He made himself at home in a high-backed leather chair.
"Now then. Where shall we start? "
"I suppose I better tell you all about ze Ocaspe project?"
"We know all about that. What I want to know, is why Yannie died."
"How did she die?" asked Odine. Squall described all about the blinding light, and the lightening that preceded her demise.
"Very interesting." Said Odine to himself. "I did not anticipate such a spectacle." He removed his glasses and began to clean them on his robe. "I just vish I could have been there to vitness it."
"Just get to the point. What happened?"
"If you are vell versed in ze doings of the Ocaspe Project, you understand its aims." Squall nodded.
"To rid the world of the Sorceress Power."
"Yes." He replaced his glasses onto his nose. "As you know, ze sorceress power can not die. When a host dies, it finds another one. The vay the Ocaspe verks is such. She creates an end point. She took on into herself ze entire sorceress power in existence today. And then she served her purpose by dying."
"How does her dying justify as a purpose?"
"When she died, ze sorceress power, it dies vith her. If she did not die, it would find another host. I vill not go into the scientific methodology of it, but just trust me ven I tell you, all vent to ze plan."
"You evil son of a bitch. You created her to die."
"Try to understand, it is ze only way!"
"But this is playing god!"
"I say it iz a small price to pay for peace." Squall thought. Was it right to justify the killing of a person to save the world from evil? "And remember, Hyne started ze war. He doomed us to live as slaves under the command of his sorceresses. His servants, if you will."
"Just get out."
"I am free to go?"
"I hope you are happy. You shall have no more research now the sorceress power is gone. You are no longer a danger. Go!" He left. He pressed a button on the intercom. "Captain Verson, please come to The third floor headmaster's office immediately please. Within minutes there was a knock at the door. "Come in."
"Is everything alright? Where is the prisoner?"
"He is gone. I let him go. He is no longer a threat." He sighed. It was a lot to take in. "It is debatable to whether his work was ethical or not, but he wasn't a criminal. Anyway, the reason I called you here was to say that you are free to go. We will no longer need your assistance."
"As I said before Sir," he saluted "it is a pleasure to work for SeeD." Squall saluted back.
"Anytime you need our help, just make the call and we will assist."
"I'm afraid we wont." Said a voice from the door. It was Cid, he was hobbling in on crutches, and Edea stood beside him, helping him keep balance.
"Sir!" Squall saluted. "What do you mean?"
"Squall, SeeD was founded to fight sorceresses. Without sorceresses, we serve no function." He sighed. "Besides, I'm an old man. I'm too old to fight wars."
"I could take over in your place."
"Look into your heart son," he said staggering forward, "I think you will find you are tired of the fighting as well." He knew he was right. For a while know he had gown weary of battles. I longed for a peaceful life. Squall nodded.
"Sir!" saluted Verson. "If I have your permission, I will leave." Cid Bowed his head and the captain made his exit.
"But what will happen to Garden?" Edea answered.
"The orphanage is beyond repair, and no longer fit to house children. I shall take over Garden's running, and found the Balamb home for Children."
"What about the students?"
"I have secured a place for every student if they want it."
"Where?"
"Numerous places. Some as monster patrollers in towns and villages, there are spaces open in the Esthar Army, and other non-combat places, such as real jobs in FH, and Timber. Good jobs." This news shocked Squall. Garden had been his home as long as he could remember. But Cid spoke sense. There would be no need for it anymore.
"What of the other Gardens? Galbadia, and Trabia?"
"That is up to the leaders of those Gardens." Cid gently eased himself into one of the chairs. "I suppose you are wondering what you are to do?" Squall looked up and nodded his head. "Well, there is a job that would be perfect for you. Town Guard in a small village on the Galbadia Continent. It involves basically keeping monsters out, as they have started creeping back in again. I think you might know it. Winhill?"
"Winhill?"
"Yes. They will provide accommodation, and the pay isn't bad. But, it is for two people." Cid leaned back in his chair. "Who you take is entirely up to you, but I think you have already made up your mind." Squall looked down. "Go. Go talk to her. If there ever was a time she needed you it was now." Cid looked up at Edea, who lovingly looked back at him. "Remember, it wasn't her who did those terrible things. Forgive her, and try to get her to forgive herself." Squall stood up, and saluted. He exited the room.
***************
Outside on the plateau, a figure was crouched over a freshly dug grave. The headstone read [I]"Yannie Ocaspe. Died so that we all may live in peace. Age 18"[/I] The figure placed a bunch of flowers on the mound of earth. The rain had ceased, and the sun was setting. Through the black clouds, the sky was pinkish red. They wiped away a tear from their eye, and mumbled a few words.
A shadow loomed closer and closer on the East Side of the plateau. This shadow turned in to a man, walking slowly toward the figure, unknown to them. Tears fell from their eyes. The man came closer, and the crouched person saw their shadow on the grave and looked up. The man spoke.
"Rinoa…"
"Squall? I thought…" he knelt down beside her, and took her hands.
"Its not your fault." She shook her head.
"It is my fault. Not just her. Thousands died because I ordered it! I am evil."
"Are you sorry?" she nodded. "Then you are not evil."
"But…"
"No buts. Come with me. Let's star a new life together. Away from here. Just the two of us."
"What do you mean?" she asked wiping her eyes.
"You, and me. Move to Winhill. No more fighting. Just the odd monster." She meekly smiled.
"Why don't you hate me?"
"Because I know you, and I love you more than anything. And I want you to come to Winhill
with me."
"What about Garden?"
"Cid's shutting it down. No sorceresses. There is nothing to stop us. Lets go."
"Oh Squall!" she threw her arms around him. "How could I ever try to kill you?" Squall remembered Cid's words. [I]Teach her to forgive herself…[/I]
"No more talk. Just spend the rest of your life with me