*** Ghost from Christmases To Come ***
Squall found himself once again alone in his office, he reflected that maybe he should go easy on the eggnog. As he was about to pour himself another glass, the air shimmered in front of his desk.
A figure in a long, hooded black robe beckoned to him to follow with a delicate, pale hand.
"Let me guess," Said the Commander, "You are the ghost of Christmases to come."
"AFFIRMATIVE" replied the figure.
"Fujin???"
"NOT FUJIN"
"Come on! I know it's you!"
"GHOST"
Squall rolled his eyes, "Cut the crap! I recognized you!"
"UNCOVERED"
"Did you get this job to pay for your bills?"
"AFFIRMATIVE"
"And you are not happy about this, aren't you?"
"NO"
"Well then, lets be done with this."
"AGREED"
This time they just walked out of the room and made their way outside. A hearse was awaiting them there and Fujin drove to Balamb.
"No special effects this time?" Inquired Squall.
"BUDGET BUSTED" she explained.
'Well, at least I'm not the only one dealing with monetary constraints.' Thought the dark-haired guy with some small measure of satisfaction.
They stopped by a nice cottage generously decorated with Christmas decorations. Rinoa was holding a baby in her arms, looking at Raijin who was installing some more lights.
"How far in the future is this?" He asked the hooded form beside him.
"TWO YEARS" replied Fujin.
"I see that we hired Raijin to put up the decorations." Remarked Squall, happy that he wouldn't be plagued with the job in his future.
"NOT HIRED"
"You mean he's doing it for free?" – a smile of joy actually almost, very nearly, just about tugged at the corners of his lips [and that is a big deal].
As they were watching, the raven-haired woman went to Raijin and kissed him tenderly. The baby cooed with happiness in their embrace. "Sweetheart, you did a great job." She said to the big guy tenderly.
Squall turned to Fujin, "Let me figure this one out. Rinoa got tired of me never being there, and then she married Raijin and they had a baby?"
"AFFIRMATIVE"
The broody guy put his face in his hands in annoyance, "I don't believe this!"
Meanwhile, the couple and the baby were admiring the decorations, and Rinoa said to her husband, "I prepared you some eggnog inside, and when Rainoa-Julia will be sleeping I have a very special gift for you…"
"Rinoa, you're so good to me, yah know." Replied Raijin, "But you are all the gift I need, yah know."
The sorceress smiled seductively, "And that is exactly what you'll get tonight…"
"YAH KNOW!" Exclaimed Raijin, making Rainoa-Julia laugh.
After the happy trio had entered the house, Squall stared in disbelief. "Oh well, I suppose that I ended up with Quistis then?"
"NEGATIVE" said Fujin and took his hand to lead him back to their vehicle.
"Whom did she end up with then?" he demanded.
"ZELL"
"Did I marry Xu?" Inquired our friend, "I always thought that we would be perfect together."
"NIDA"
Squall sighed, "I lost her to Nida? Man, I am a pathetic loser!"
"AGREES"
"I wasn't asking for your opinion!" exclaimed the Commander, "Maybe I married Dr.Kadowaki. I always liked mature women."
"NEGATIVE"
"Who did she marry then?"
"CID KRAMER"
"He divorced Edea? I'm not surprised, there was a lot of strain on the relationship with her trying to destroy the world, and him attempting to kill her." Said squall pensively, "Don't tell me I married Matron! That would be really disturbing."
"NEGATIVE"
Our friend sighed in relief, "Phew!"
"SHE MARRIED LAGUNA"
At the news, Squall actually went into a catatonic state. When they were back in Garden, Fujin had to kick him a couple of times to make him come out of it.
"All right! Stop it! I'm awake!" Complained the dark-haired guy "Is there more you have to show me?"
"AFFIRMATIVE" she replied, leading him towards his own office.
Sitting at the Commander's desk was a very tired-looking man well past his prime. He was going through paperwork, mechanically doing a job that he obviously hated. His brow was engraved with the deep lines of a constant frown, and a smile hadn't touched his lips in many years. He clearly was an unhappy soul, bitter towards life and with nothing to look forward to.
"By Hyne," said Squall, "Cid has really let himself go, he looks terrible."
"NOT CID"
"Huh? Who then?" Inquired our friend.
"YOU"
"WHAT?" Exclaimed Squall, "That's me in what… 50 years or so?"
"NEGATIVE"
"In how long then?"
"TWO YEARS"
He cried in pure horror, "NOOOOOO!!!"
And then all went dark…
----------
