Note: You asked for it. Third chapter to a story I published over a year ago. Better late than never.
Final Fantasy Journeys
Chapter 3: Melee Improvisations
by ArchFaith (formerly known as the ArchPrincess of Saturn)
The door slid open as Squall sullenly walked into the training area of the Presidential Palace, periwinkle eyes flashing as he heard the clank of nunchaku against a steel rod.
The training area was probably the most primitive area of the Palace. Located in a small alcove near the kitchen, thespace was barely used. It was basically a small arena, a circular dirt floor surrounded by marble seats. It was open to the sun, and the floor was slightly damp because of a light drizzle earlier in the morning.
The SeeDs and three of the visitors sat in the seats watching the battle. Selphie vs. Aeris, with no magic, items or summons used. A match of strength.
Clank! Selphie gracefully lifted the nunchaku over her head and prepared to pummel Aeris in the back. As she did, Aeris quickly swung the rod and smacked Selphie to the ground. "Ow," Selphie whispered, rubbing her bottom. "That hurt! But you're really good."
Aeris smiled. "Thanks."
"What are they doing?" Squall asked, going over to sit next to Rinoa.
"Fighting. Just an ordinary battle. We've been practicing with them for a few hours now, just to get a feel of what it's like." Rinoa turned to stare at Squall. "I'm glad you've come around."
"I'm not exactly warm to the idea, but I can't just let you guys go without me," Squall replied, looking at her. "No telling what you idiots have gotten yourselves into-
He was rewarded with a light butt on the head from Selphie's nunchaku. "That's it! Squall, keep quiet! You've been bad today."
"Hey." Squall replied, rubbing his head as Rinoa laughed. "Alright, fine."
"Squall, why don't you battle someone?" Quistis suggested. "You're the only one who hasn't participated."
"Alright. Who?" Cloud quickly stood. He had been waiting for a chance to challenge this reluctant boy, to test out his skills and see if he was the hero everyone claimed him to be. "I'll challenge you," he said.
Squall raised his eyebrows as he drew his Lionheart from its sheath and stepped into the center of the arena. There had existed a secret tension between the two ever since they met in Laguna's office. Both knew they were heroes in their own worlds, and both were secretly wondering which was the better. Of course, battling would be the only way to find out.
Cloud drew his Ultima Weapon and smiled. "Let's begin."
The swords met and recoiled in the swipe of an eye. Cloud impressively parried Squall's attack away, and swung the blade in a circle, Squall quickly ducking and attempting to knock Cloud off his feet.
The two battled like this for a while, with their comrades watching intently. Of course there had existed the formal rigidity between their two groups, each wondering who was superior. Would this small-scaled battle between them determine it, then?
The thrusting and parrying continued for a few minutes, each man resolutely determined to win the bout. Finally, Cloud slammed the butt of his Ultima Weapon into Squall's chest, hitting him with explosive force. Before he could fall, though, he quickly turned his Lionheart sideways and knocked it onto Cloud's side, effectively making him plunge.
Both men lay on the ground, panting, with no winner decided. A stalemate.
"Wow, you guys were great. Too bad nobody won."
The comment emerged from a figure standing by a dark alcove at the far side of the arena. Laguna was leaning there, smiling gently. Instead of his "presidential" attire-baggy brown pants, loose green shirt, hair tied back-he now donned his old battle outfit, from seventeen years past. The brown army pants, the blue leather jacket with its rolled-up sleeves. The white shirt and black boots. Around his neck hung the Galbadian dog tags, which he had kept all those years. His hair swished freely around, giving his face a startlingly youthful appearance. The most surprising thing was that he carried his old battered machine gun in his hands. It was as if he had stepped back in time, become 27 years old again.
"I see you guys have been practicing," he commented as he stood straight and walked into the center of the arena, watching as Squall and Cloud picked themselves up and retreated back to their comrades. "But I bet none of you can beat me!"
Squall sighed as he stared at his scatterbrained father. What was he up to now?
"President Loire...you can fight?" Tifa asked, genuinely surprised and completely forgetting her tact. She realized had had just called the President old, and tried to catch herself before the words came tumbling out. She had never expected the stately, if clumsy politician to have ever been a fighter.
"Of course, Miss Lockhart!" Laguna laughed, holding his machine gun straight in front of him, apparently taking no offense. "Well, anyway, I got kinda bored sitting in the office waiting for news about this inter-dimensional thing, so I decided to come train with you. Anyone willing to battle?"
Tifa was about to take him up on his offer when Rinoa let out a noticeably loud gasp. "Rin..what is it?" Squall asked.
Rinoa quickly stood and leaped off the bleachers, heading straight for the open door to arena, which a man had just pushed open. She paused right in front of it, staring at the gentleman, her eyes full of hatred, his eyes full of regret.
Once the other SeeDs realized who he was, they quickly joined her, forming a barrier line between him and arena, where Laguna and the visitors exchanged confused glances.
He was tall, with sky blue pupils and combed back blonde hair. His wardrobe consisted of a blue vest trimmed in white, shapeless black pants, combat boots, and a long, flowing grey overcoat, with red crosses burned into the sides. From the inside of his coat dangled a long gunblade, the fabled Hyperion. Of course they all knew who he was.
"Seifer!" Squall yelled, the anger obvious in his voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Yo, Squall. Well, I see you haven't changed," Seifer answered, unfazed. "Yeah, well...it's a long story."
Zell, who had been trying to control his anger, reacted with lightning reflexes to the otherwise neutral statement. He reached out a fist and gave Seifer a nasty blow to the lip, which caused blood to flow from his mouth. "Dammit you bastard, what're ya doing here? And how'd you get inside? This is the Presidential Palace!"
Seifer rubbed his lower lip, strangely reflective, before answering, "Well Chickenwuss, I was about to explain when you so rudely interrupted me. You see, I was catching fish in FH...that's where I live now, ya know...so suddenly Raijin comes outta our shack and starts hollerin'-"
Everyone subtly noted that Ellone had come up from behind Seifer and now stood next to him, looking concerned and big-sisterly.
"-about how these people from another dimension had come into Esthar and how the SeeDs were coming to help them...so I decided, yeah, why not, do you guys a favor. Come out here and help you all. I figure you'd be needing help with all the stuff you've gotta do. Ellone found me outside the gates and let me in."
"Favor?" Quistis asked, her anger subdued. She scowled and asked, "What makes you think, Seifer Almasy, that we're going to let you join us after all you did to prevent us from saving the world?"
"Well now...I didn't know I'd need your approval," Seifer answered, unintentionally sounding rude.
"That's it." Squall drew his Lionheart and stepped into battle stance. "I've had enough of you."
"Squall, please," Ellone began, going over to touch her brother's shoulder. "Don't be so quick to judge."
Squall quickly lowered his gunblade and gave his sister a semi-shocked look. "Elle! You should know what he did to us...why are you defending him?"
Ellone shifted, drawing her green wrap closer to her body. "You have to understand.I grew up with all of you in the orphanage. Seifer was as every bit my brother as you were all my brothers and sisters. I know what he's really like. Just...c'mon, Squall.give him a chance. For me."
Selphie had shifted her gaze to Seifer. He was watching Ellone with a strange look on his face-it beamed admiration, and a deep sense of understanding. Strange. Too strange. What was going on here? What was going on between them?
Squall seemed to notice it too. He sheathed his Lionheart and sighed. "Ellone. Alright. One chance. But I'm warning you, Seifer..."
Seifer raised his hands. "Yeah. One wrong move from me and ya can smack me back to FH."
Rinoa touched Squall's shoulder before moving to leave. "I think I'll go get something to eat," she stated, making her real reason for leaving all too noticeable. "I'm kinda hungry."
Quistis and Zell followed Rinoa out, Squall trailing them before giving Ellone an I'd-do-anything-for-you-but-don't-push-it look.
Laguna scratched his head before coming over to Ellone and Seifer. "Man, they sure don't like you," he declared. Seifer gave a reluctant nod before looking at the two figures that stood where all the SeeDs had been just a minute ago.
"Hey Seifer," Selphie greeted gently, extending her hand to him. Ellone smiled. Selphie always gave everyone a sense of belonging, no matter how outcast they were. Besides, she had nothing personal against Seifer. He had done nothing to her.
"Hey...Selphie? Right?" he replied, taking her hand in his, glad that she had remained. Oh man, he thought, what's wrong with you, Seifer? Getting softer by the day.
"And this is Irvine," Selphie said, nodding to the cowboy standing next to her. "Remember me?" Irvine asked, smiling. He had never even known Seifer; never really talked to him until this very moment.
"Kinda," Seifer answered, remembering a nasty scene from his childhood which had something to do with building blocks and a ghost story from this red-haired boy. "Good to see ya again."
"So you're Seifer. Elle's told me lots about you," Laguna said, vigorously shaking his hand. "I don't mean to brag, but you already know who I am, right?"
"Of course, Mr. President," Seifer answered. He knew better then to fool around with someone with a high rank. He was soon to discover that Laguna literally wouldn't mind anything he could have snapped.
Tifa had slid off the bleachers, Cloud following her. Both were a bit curious about the development of the situation, who this new person was. Aeris and Sephiroth followed after them with a more laid-back, although certainly not uncaring, attitude.
"Seifer, these are our visitors," Ellone introduced graciously, motioning with her hand. "Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, Aeris Gainsborough, and Sephiroth Gainsborough. Seifer Almasy."
Cloud nodded, Tifa shook his hand, and Aeris smiled. "Hello," Sephiroth greeted, unusually cordial. You're an outsider. Like me. I can tell.
"Hey," Seifer answered. "Nice to meet you all. Sorry about all that back there."
Aeris shook her head. "It doesn't matter. We understand."
Laguna looked around. "Heh, looks like the training session was interrupted. Hmm..Actually, the real reason I came out here was to tell you.to ask you." He turned to Selphie and Irvine. "Since Squall isn't here, that leaves both of you in command, right?"
"There's no etiquette for that rule, sir.least I don't think so," Irvine answered, shuffling his feet.
"But what is it, Sir Laguna?" Selphie asked, forgetting to address him as "President Loire" and going for the old nickname she had assigned to him.
"I haven't been out in the field for a while...and you know, you guys always need more fighters, so how about it? Can I temporarily join SeeD on your mission?"
"Wow, that would be great!" Selphie replied ecstatically.
Selphie! Think about this! Don't just say yes.
Oooh. Sorry Ifrit. But it would be great, wouldn't it?
Yes, but you are not the commander. You would need clearance from Commander Leonheart, and you know he would not hear of this.
Whatever! Squall's a stick in the mud. This would be so cool!
She quickly shut the fiery GF up while Irvine replied, "I guess we could bend the rules a bit, sir. Sure."
"Great!" Laguna exclaimed. "Now that I'm in, we should go make some more preparations. Forget this training, c'mon."
Laguna excitedly walked out of the arena, leaving everyone standing there. The visitors hastened after him, not wanting to be caught in an uncomfortable situation.
"Well? Cadet-in-Training Almasy? You just gonna stand there?" Irvine questioned, giving Seifer a familiar-feeling push.
Selphie grinned. "Yeah. One of us now." She put her hand on his shoulder, as Irvine did. They walked him out of the arena, Seifer faintly amazed at their friendliness towards him. Ellone was the last, cracking a smile as she slammed shut the doors to the Presidential Training Area.
(-)
On a balcony suite overlooking the magnificent city of technology, a mop of spiky blonde hair was gazing out at the cityscape, admiring the cold beauty and artificial luxury it provided. The people, the cars, the buildings...so clean. Not a speck of dust could be seen. It was seemingly perfect, a machine heaven, were everything was controlled, regulated, adored.
Midgar could've been like this. Striking and serene, the once-floating city. And then...
Cloud brought a hand up to his forehead and tried not to think of it. He wished it would all be gone, all these nuisances. The quest to save the Planet...what would that do? Someday, it would all be gone anyway. Why delay its death? Maybe it would have been better if Sephiroth had beaten us...we wouldn't be here, worrying about saving it a second time...I could be in the Lifestream.with Tifa.
"Stop thinking so hard," Tifa scolded, coming up next to him. "I can tell you were thinking something about the Planet. Am I right?"
"Partially," Cloud answered, turning to face her. The wind whipped his golden spikes over his sapphire eyes, making him seem younger.
Tifa smoothed the hair out of his eyes and asked, "Are you ready to go back?"
"Partially," Cloud replied again, tilting his head. The SeeDs had been informed earlier in the day that, according to the measurements of Dr. Odine, they could also travel to the other dimension without being torn apart. They were free to go. Of course, the visitors had wanted to leave as quickly as possible, Aeris ready to form her portal at any time. The SeeDs, plus Laguna and Seifer, though, needed to ready their weapons and bodies, as well as minds. So they would wait. Just one more day, they had agreed. No more time could be wasted.
Aeris and Sephiroth were inside, sitting across from each other in the luxurious living room that served as the main room for their individual bedrooms they had been given. Aeris had made some herbal tea, and they were quietly drinking it.
Cloud lowered his eyelids as he stared at them. To think, Aeris actually trusted Sephiroth.how could she? He still couldn't believe it. Impossible, that's what it was, and it had happened. What had made her rely on him as much as she did? What she and Cloud could've had together...Cloud quickly shook the thought of his brain. Him with Aeris? No, he was with Tifa, his fiancée. One day they'd be married...after all this mess was cleared up. He couldn't be thinking of another woman. Not after everything he and Tifa had been through.
Tifa could sense Cloud's angst. He was thinking about Aeris again. Aeris, Aeris, Aeris. For weeks after the Meteor Incident had he spoke of her, trying to figure out ways to resurrect her. And he had found none. Who had been there to comfort him? Tifa. And from that relationship developed the engagement they now found themselves in. And Cloud would marry her, no matter what. As relieved as she had been to see her best friend alive, Aeris would not take Cloud from her. In fact, she was sort of glad Sephiroth was there, to keep Aeris "in check".
Aeris was unaware of the tension that existed between her, Cloud, and Tifa. She knew she had had a sort of crush on Cloud earlier, before she had died. Never knew it would affect Cloud so profoundly. At the moment she and Sephiroth were conversing through their Lifestream-infused heads. It was a gift the Planet had bestowed upon them, a tool for saving their world. It wasn't that she didn't want Cloud and Tifa to hear, it was just telepathy was much more comfortable.
Sephiroth was sprawling on the couch, shockingly casual, even to Aeris. He seemed comfortable with her now, as if he could actually talk with her civilly. It seemed he had reverted back to his old self-a bit prideful, faintly arrogant, and still slightly evil. Much better than that very fake meek personality he had set up when they first met up with Cloud and Tifa.
At first there had been much chagrin between them when they first met up in the Lifestream, but then there had been their storytelling. Aeris's tales gave Sephiroth a look into the semi-normal life of a girl who loved and was loved back, and his stories brought Aeris to the life of a boy who was observed in a lab his entire life.
And they spent their "dead time" like this, learning from each other. And slowly, there developed a bond, a strange but sincere bond.
Can you imagine? President Loire fighting, I mean.I don't think that old man has done anything in a while.
"Really. I wonder why no one likes that Seifer guy. He seems 'nice' enough to me."
Aeris chuckled. Of course you'd think that, Seph.
That name...Professor Gast called me that.
"You guys...I'm goin' to bed. Feelin' kinda tired," Cloud mouthed, walking clear across the room and out the door abruptly, but not before picking up a cup of tea.
Tifa sighed. Unlike Cloud, who couldn't stand to watch the Ancient and the Angel conversing so lightly, she provided a bland, "Yeah, me too. G'night," before exiting to find her fiancée, her tea sloshing out of the cup.
Aeris and Sephiroth, slightly amused, went on talking. Tifa stormed down the hall to find Cloud in his room, lying flat on the bed. "Teef," he began as she entered.
"Don't say a word," she answered. "Just promise me something."
"What?" What a very strange request.
"When all this is over, we'll be together. Finally."
Cloud cracked his underused grin. "Yes," was his simple answer.
The old childish way of pinky-promising quickly flooded their minds, and they laughed as their fingers crossed.
Overhead, the pale moon shone brightly over the mechanical city, marking the last Estharian moonrise both the visitors and the SeeDs would witness before their lives were turned completely upside down.
TBC
Note: So there! My next chapter, inspired by someone who wrote to me, asking if I'd finish this story. As I wrote this, I felt strangely invigorated. It's coming back! The writer's depression of half a year is over! xoxo, Archie
