Disclaimer: Final Fantasy belongs to Squaresoft. I own nothing.

Final Fantasy Journeys
Chapter 2: Visions and Decisions
by ArchFaith (formerly known as the ArchPrincess of Saturn)

"This way," Kiros began, gesturing for the Visitors to seat themselves in the Presidential Vehicle.

Aeris lowered her head and slid forward into the lush, cushioned car. Sephiroth followed, then Cloud, finally Tifa. Laguna, Ellone, Kiros and Ward entered, and the door slammed shut. The inside of the car was very luxurious, for the president of Esthar had to travel in style. There was a low table between two rows of seats facing each other, so that the Visitors faced the President and his Cabinet.

Outside, the soldiers on motorbikes revved up their vehicles and sped away, to accompany the President back to the Palace. Meanwhile, another Presidential car pulled up, to take the SeeDs to the Palace. The SeeDs had been standing next to the curb, waiting for their transportation.

Finally, the vehicle began to move. The car sped quickly along the highway, through the fantastic buildings and beautiful scenery that was Esthar.

"Wow. Look at all of this," Aeris commented as she looked out the window, amazed at the technology. "I never thought there would be a place like this anywhere."

"It's so unlike our world," Tifa commented forlornly.

Ellone noticed the sadness in her voice and leaned forward. "Miss...Tifa, is it?"

"Yes," Tifa replied. "Tifa Lockhart. And this is Aeris Gainsborough and Cloud Strife."

Sephiroth's eyes flashed. Purposely she hadn't mentioned him. Of course it would take a few days to get used to him, but to make him feel like an outsider-

"And this is Sephiroth Gainsborough," Aeris added, gesturing to the silver-haired one, using her last name for him.

Cloud gave Aeris a look that seemed to whisper, Since when did...?

Aeris shrugged him off. Cloud, please.

Laguna sensed the hostile presence between some of the members. "Please, tell us about more about your world and how we can help," he suggested, folding his hands.

"Well, it all started with this guy here named Sephiroth," Tifa began, gesturing to the now furious man. "He-"

"Actually, I was being controlled by an entity called Jenova," Sephiroth corrected, crossing his arms.

Cloud rolled his eyes. "Well, what happened was this..."

(-)

"My, that's an intriguing story," Kiros commented as the car glided into the Presidential Palace.

Aeris nodded. "Yes, that's the whole story. And now we need help. Can you help us?"

Laguna gazed at her thoughtfully. He could feel the presence of sincerity among the Visitors, but still wasn't sure...could they be trusted?

"Let's discuss this inside," he said, gesturing to the car door, which opened automatically. He and the Cabinet hopped out, the Visitors following. They were escorted by soldiers up into the President's Chambers, where Laguna sat behind his desk. The roon had remained uncleaned; it still had bits of papers lying around, and there was a mug of green coffee on the tabletop. Laguna, blushing, swiped the papers off his desk. Ellone stood behind her father, and Kiros and Ward helped the Visitors into chairs.

"Now, let's see about this problem," Laguna suggested.

(-)

"So, are we goin' to the Palace or what? Where's the car?" Zell Dincht, SeeD, demanded. The medium height blonde stood next to Quistis as they waited on the curb for the vehicle that would take them to the President's residence. The spiky-haired boy wore his baggy blue jeans and black top, with his red-and-white leather jacket clinging against his body. Steel knuckles were attached to his hands, giving them a lethal punch. His most noticeable feature was the large serpent-like tattoo on his face, bringing out the blue in his eyes.

He impatiently punched the air while the rest of the SeeDs sighed. "Now come on, Zell. Just wait a while," Irvine Kinneas replied, brushing his green hue of his eyes. Irvine, not quite a SeeD yet, had accompanied his companions to Esthar. He wore buckskin chaps, under which were concealed blue jeans. His beige fur coat partially covered up the purple leather vest he wore on his chest. His brown hat covered his long pony- tailed hair. He slid the tip of his back and grinned. "You're always so impatient, bro!"

"Hey! Nothin' wrong wit wantin' a go someplace quick!" Zell answered, playfully swiping Irvine's cheek.

"Speaking of which," Quistis interrupted, pointing to the street. A red-and-blue car pulled up, its door automatically opening. The SeeDs quickly boarded and the car sped off.

Squall found himself thinking of the mysterious visitors. The pink garbed woman, the black clad man. The woman with long brown hair and the spiky blonde man. So strange, yet they seemed so familiar. The meeting had gone off without a hitch, but were they to be trusted? Especially the man in black; he had looked so sinister...

Squall had a sudden urge to rush to the Palace. "Can't this car go any faster?" he asked suddenly, causing his teamates' heads to turn.

"What's wrong, Squall?" Rinoa questioned, touching his hand. "Are you worried about them'? They seemed friendly enough..."

Squall pushed the hair out of eyes with a gloved hand. "Let's just hurry, alright?" The SeeDs nodded. Rinoa, concerned, said nothing.

The car soon pulled into the Palace grounds, pristine and sparkling. The SeeDs climbed out, escorted by the Palace soldiers. Up steps, through hallways, until...

They stopped outside the President's Chambers. One of the guards pressed a button on the door, set just below a small communicator that had been melded into the wall. Laguna's voice filtered back. "Yes? Is it the SeeDs?"

"Yes sir," the soldier answered.

"Send them in." The soldiers pushed open the doors and gestured the SeeDs inside. The President's Office was the same as ever; a grand chamber, fit for the leader of the most powerful country in the world; but generally cluttered, signifying Laguna's dislike for his job.

Laguna sat behind his desk, still in his robes. Kiros and Ward stood to the left, Ellone to the right. In front of the desk, in chairs, sat the Visitors, coolly regarding the SeeDs who had just entered.

Aeris observed the SeeDs thoroughly. They were young, younger than her. Teenagers. The President had asked them to come. She felt a strange presence about them; a presence of...courage. Could they...?

Sephiroth lightly touched her hand. Now, now, Aeris. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions.

I know Sephiroth. But...they might be able to...

Laguna stood as the SeeDs entered. "Good afternoon, SeeDs. Thank you very much for coming out here today."

"Greetings President Loire," Squall replied, his voice clear of any sort of relationship with the President. "And greetings, Visitors of another dimension. We are the elite mercenary group until the military academy of Balamb Garden, the SeeDs. I am Commander Squall Leonhart."

"Rinoa Heartilly, Cadet-in-Training."

"Zell Dincht, Captain."

"Quistis Trepe, Instructor."

"Irvine Kinneas, Cadet-in-Training."

"Selphie Tilmitt, Captain!"

The military way, name first and title afterwards.

Tifa gave Cloud a light push on the shoulder. Cloud stepped up to shake Squall's hand. "Hello Commander. I am Cloud Strife." He hesitated, trying to think of a title for himself, finally giving up and stepping back.

"Hi, name's Tifa Lockhart."

"I'm Aeris Gainsborough."

"And I am Sephiroth...Gainsborough," Sephiroth added quickly, remembering that he had a new name. Squall hesitantly shook his hand. There was something different about this one...the way he looked, the way the other Visitors acted towards him.

"Now that we are all introduced, Mister...Strife, was it? Would you mind explaining your situation to the SeeDs. They might be able to help out."

Cloud glanced at the group before him. Them? Help us out? They don't look tough at all, noting the difference between his scarred and ripped jumpsuit and Squall's brand-new looking leather jacket.

"Well...okay."

Cloud again related the story of AVALANCHE to SeeD, giving every detail he could remember. Shinra, Jenova, Sephiroth...

"I told you, Cloud, I was being controlled by Jenova," Sephiroth said through clenched teeth, fuming at the way Cloud portrayed him.

Cloud ignored him and continued, to the point where he told about Aeris's portal and the coming to Esthar.

"Well, that's an interesting story," Quistis commented.

"Almost as good as ours," Zell added, without thinking.

Tifa looked at him strangely. As good as ours? she thought. She decided not to ask anything.

"That's our story, SeeDs. We just came here looking for some help," Cloud finished, his blue eyes gleaming.

"I see," Squall said thoughtfully.

At this the whole room was silent. Ellone quickly piped up. "Mr. Strife, Miss Lockhart, Miss Gainsborough, Mr. Gainsborough, you all must be exhausted! I'll have you escorted to your chambers at once!"

"Oh thank you, Miss Loire," Aeris yawned. "Weare very tired." The Visitors got up and stepped through the doors of the President's Chambers, met by soldiers and taken up to the grand guest rooms of the Palace.

"And SeeDs," Laguna added. "Would it be too much trouble to ask you to stay overnight? I have a feeling we might be needing you. I'll contact Headmaster Cid and tell him."

"If you wish us to, sir," Squall answered, giving a cold military bow. He and the SeeDs marched stiffly out of the room, also met by soldiers and escorted to their guest rooms.

Laguna leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Well, this has been an interesting day."

(-)

Aeris...Aeris...can you see...?

See...what...Sephiroth?

Look was has happened...to Midgar...

Oh dear...! It must have been right after we left...! Planet, why must you suffer so? Isn't there anything we can do to help you?

Summon...SeeD.

Aeris awoke from a troubled sleep. She sat up in the elegant four poster bed in her room in the Palace, breathing horsely. She pulled on her pink dress and looked out the window. The sun was just rising. Morning.

A knock came on the door. "May I come in?"

"Sure."

Sephiroth appeared in the doorway, his black cape fanning out behind him. He stepped inside. "Aeris..."

Aeris smiled. "There is no need to be shy around me, Sephiroth. I told you, I've already forgiven you."

"Still...I can never repent for what I've done," Sephiroth answered, his eyes on the floor.

Aeris frowned. "Now, now, Sephiroth...hey! Did you have a dream about Midgar?"

Sephiroth looked up. "Yes, I did. You were with me. We were back in our own world, looking at the ruins of Midgar."

Aeris nodded. "The Planet spoke to us...it told us to 'Summon SeeD'."

Sephiroth frowned. "Aren't SeeD those teenagers we met yesterday? What would the Planet want with them. They don't look that strong..."

"I dunno," Aeris answered. "But if SeeD is what the Planet wants, that's what it will have."

(-)

"Yo Squall!"

Squall awoke with a bang in his ears. "Zell," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "What is it?"

"Squall, it's mornin' already. We have to report ta the President and see if he wants us ta do anything." That was Irvine's twangy accented voice talking. Squall sighed and rose.

"If Loire wants us to do anything, he'll have to contact Garden first," he said gruffly.

Zell and Irvine, half-dressed, looked at each other. "Squall hates his dad so much," Zell whispered in a low voice.

"If he knew how much we wanted our real parents..." Irvine's voice trailed, filled with emotion. "He's so lucky."

Squall pulled on his clothes quickly and ran his fingers through his messy brown head. He had learned to cope when no brushes were available. "Alright then," he signaled, stepping outside, Zell and Irvine following after him.

The hallway was wide and full of sunlight, coming in from the large windows which framed the outer wall. Rinoa, Quistis, and Selphie stood by one of these windows. They were chatting in low tones when Squall came up to them. "Morning," Rinoa greeted, smiling in her angelic way. "Sleep well?"

"Well enough," Squall answered, wearily noting the girls. "We should go report to the President. I really don't think we have anything to do around here."

"But what about those people? Don't they need out help?" Selphie inquired, her big eyes looking up at her 'big brother'.

"Even if they do, they'll have to hire us first," Squall answered, frowning down at her.

"Aw! But...I guess you're right." Selphie brought her eyes down to ground, saddened at the thought of not being able to help freely.

"Selph!" She looked up. Irvine was beckoning to her; the rest of the SeeDs were already halfway down the corridor.

"Whoops! Coming!" She ran down the hall, taking her place at their side. Squall, being the leader, went first. They marched, in a very military way, down to where the President was having breakfast.

(-)

"Up with the sun, huh?" Laguna greeted cheerfully, smiling at the sight of Cloud and Tifa.

"Yes sir," Cloud answered, as he and Tifa took their places next to Ellone at the breakfast table, located inside the Presidential Dining Room. Laguna and Ellone sat at the head of the table, eating their breakfast of pancakes and bacon. Laguna had shed his robes and now dressed in his baggy brown jeans and faded blue shirt, as casual as ever. Ellone now wore his usual ensemble, a long white skirt, blue cotton blouse, and a forest green wrap, draped around her shoulders. On her feet were white pumps and her short hair fanned about her face, giving her a youthful appearance.

"Good morning, Miss Loire," Tifa greeted, faking happiness. She was trying to be polite, but all night she had tossed and turned in her bed. The Planet they had left behind...Midgar...AVALANCHE...

"Please, just Ellone," the President's daughter replied. Her face turned serious. "Miss Lockhart, Mr. Strife, I can sense that you're troubled."

Cloud and Tifa stirred uncomfortably. "What makes you say that, Miss- Ellone?" Cloud questioned, asking the obvious.

"Mr. Strife, Miss Lockhart, we assure you that the nation of Esthar will do the best we can to aid you and your world," Laguna stated, aware that what he was promising might be too much.

"Yes. I'm sure we can work this out," Tifa answered, grateful for the support of her new aquaintances.

Ellone flashed her winning smile once again. "Please join us for some-"

At that moment, the door to the dining room slowly opened. The SeeDs stood there, framed in the incoming sunlight which came in through a window just behind the door.

"Good morning, President Loire, Miss Loire," Squall greeted, stiffly bowing. Ellone sighed and put rested her head on her elbows. Apparently, when Squall wanted to be cold to Laguna, he could accidentally be cold to her as well.

"Good morning, Squall," Laguna replied, aware right after he uttered the greeting that he should have said 'Commander Lionheart'. "And good morning to the rest of the SeeDs as well."

"Yes, and good morning, visitors," Quistis added, remembering to include the already out-of-place Cloud and Tifa, who sat stiffly in the chairs.

Rinoa yawned, in spite of herself. All these military manners and gestures were beginning to sound awfully fake and boring. She smiled sincerely at Tifa, who smiled back at the kindred spirit.

"So, President Loire, is there anything we can assist you with?" Selphie asked sweetly.

"Well...I was just talking with Mr. Strife and Miss Lockhart, and I think maybe we-"

The door suddenly banged open once again. Aeris stood there, her brown braid coming undone, her eyes full of patient urgency. Sephiroth stood behind her, bearing that same quiet detachment he'd had earlier.

Aeris walked confidently into the room. "Good morning everyone," she said. "I-I must tell you of a dream I had last night. It was so vivid and so real, it couldn't have just been ordinary..."

Everyone listened, spellbound, as Aeris related the dream to them. "Summon SeeD...that's exactly what it said."

SeeD looked around nervously. Zell's eyes were slanted and skeptical. Even him, one of the most naive SeeDs ever to serve Balamb Garden, knew that this just couldn't be right. "Miss...um, Miss..."

Gainsborough, a voice whispered inside his head.

Zell scratched his head. Man, Quetzalcoatl, you remember everything.

The GF's soft laughter echoed in his brain. 'Tis my duty, master.

"Well, anyway, Miss Gainsborough, are you sure this wasn't a dream? I mean, I know it sounded very real, but a lot of dreams sound like that..."

"It couldn't have been just a dream," Sephiroth interjected. "Because I had the exact same dream."

The room was silent as everyone contemplated. Laguna and Ellone wondering if it was true, Cloud and Tifa knowing it had to be, Aeris and Sephiroth determined to prove it right, and the SeeDs wondering what bound them-their duty or their hearts.

Quistis stepped up to Aeris, looking her squarely in the eye. "You're not lying, are you?" she asked quietly.

Aeris shook her head with complete sincerity. "No. If you knew me, you'd know I never would."

Irvine, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke. "We must help you..."

"Yeah!" Rinoa cried with a happy outburst. "Of course we'll help you!"

Squall looked on. What was happening? Were they, his team, the ones who had beaten Ultimecia, going to fall for this trap? "Now just wait a minute-"

Aeris smiled. "Thank you," she answered. "I really appreciate this..."

Cloud swung himself out of his seat. "We all do," he added.

Laguna stood. "Well, we need to make arrangements."

"Wait..."

"But we even exist in your world?" Selphie questioned.

"Wait."

"I'm sure you can...we exist in yours, right?" Tifa answered.

"Wait!" Squall yelled. "As commander of this mission, I cannot allow this to happen. We can't just go around helping strange people from other dimensions! Who knows if this is true? They might be hiding something...!"

Everyone stared at him for a moment before they all filed out of the room. "Squall, you feel it, too. You feel the pull to help them, don't you?" Rinoa asked, touching his shoulder. "I thought you realized that long ago...I'm gonna go help out." She slowly exited the room.

Squall, brooding, stood in the middle of the room. They had to do what the Garden instructed them...outisde interference would not be tolerated...and they weren't listening...

His eyes were lowered to the floor. They wandered to a pair of leather boots...black pants...steel belt...

Sephiroth was watching, observing. The boy was frustrated. His team had sincerely wanted to do everything in their power. So did he, but he wanted to follow the rule book, go by regulations.

"You're very much like me," he said, looking at the boy's periwinkle eyes.

"Is that so?" Squall retorted. This strange guy again, with his silver hair.

"Yeah...always going by the rules. I used to be like that. But a rule book always has a loophole." Sephiroth turned and strode out of the room, leaving Squall thoughtful and comtemplative.

"Well, there's my semi-good deed for the day," Sephiroth thought as he walked away.

TBC

Note: How'd ya like it? Took me a while to get it up, huh? Keep reading, I love the reviews! And stay tuned, my next chapter will be up eventually!