Disclaimers: I don't own the Final Fantasy 8 characters. They belong to Squaresoft. The other characters that I created of course they belong to me (who else?) so don't sue!

Notes: This is it! This is the end! Epilogue! Thanks for answering my question Phoenix Blade. Thanks for the support that everyone gave me and reviews that keep me writing on! Keep them coming! I just simply love them! As for Phoenix Blade, this chapter (the final chapter) is for you!

Chapter 10

Epilogue: A Wedding and A Funeral.

"NO!" Squall leapt out of Ragnarok once it touches the ground. The Sorceress Memorial is now nothing but piles of stones and ashes. Selphie cried bitterly while Irvine tried his best to comfort her but to no avail. Quistis was trying hard to keep her tears from straining down as she looked at the poor Squall who was trying to search for Rinoa under the piles of rocks and stones. Laguna, Kiros and Ward hung their heads down sadly while Zell was crying bitterly.

"This can't be! Rinoa, where are you?!" Squall kept shouting while searching for his angel.

"Squall! Calm down!" Quistis took hold of Squall's shoulders and shook him violently. "Rinoa..she's gone.." Quistis couldn't hold the tears back any longer.

"No! She's still alive! She can't be death! NO!" Squall collapsed to the ground and cried bitterly. "Not before I tell her how I felt about her...not before I propose."

"Hey! Am I invisible or what?! You guys never ask bout me!" Everyone was shocked to hear a voice came out from a pile of stones in front of them. Seconds later, the stones was pushed from the inside and collapsed. There stood a very dusty Paul and a crying Rinoa.

"Rinoa! You're all right!" Squall rushed towards Rinoa and hugged her as hard as he could knocking Paul over.

"Ou..ou.ouch! Watch it Squall! It hurts!" Paul stood up clumsily and dusted herself. "I hate dust and I'm full of it!"

"What happened! How did you both survive?" Quistis was shocked but in the same time glad to see both of her friends all right.

"Well, I got back all the three swords and fortunately I managed to create a barrier just before the bomb exploded. Am I great or what?!" Paul flashed a mischievous grin only to receive a knock at her head and a hug from Quistis.

"They're all right! Hoo-ray!" Selphie was jumping up and down crying and laughing at the same time. Irvine was happy too to see everyone's all right and Selphie was cheerful again. Zell was still crying but this time with tears of joy while Laguna and the others just simply smile their best.

"Squall...Squall! Stop that! You're choking me!" Rinoa giggled mischievously at Squall's reaction. She never saw him in tears before. Not until now. Suddenly, Squall kneeled down before Rinoa and took out a little black case from his pocket. Knowing what he's up to, Paul and Quistis grinned while the others look at Squall curiously.

"What are you doing, Squall?" Rinoa was startled and didn't know what to do.

"I'm not very good at this but, after all we've been through, you know that I love you with all my heart. You're even more important than my own life and I can't bare to lose you again. Rinoa Heartily, will you marry me?"

Rinoa started to cry. She couldn't believe what was happening. "Of course I do, Squall! I do!" She hugged Squall tightly as if there's no tomorrow. Squall rested his head on her dark raven hair. He was glad that he finally proposed. Everyone else started to cheer out loudly and whistled at the happy couple as Squall and Rinoa shared a passionate kiss.

"Oh yeah! He made it!" Zell and the others laughed happily.

"My son! He's finally a grown up!" Laguna was crying happily like a baby while Kiros and Ward shook their heads looking at him.

"Hey, Squall is getting married! When are WE getting married Sefie?" Irvine asked playfully.

"In your dreams!" Selphie kicked Irvine at his leg at stuck out her tongue. "All right! Let's PAR-TAY!"

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* Inside the Balamb Garden's ballroom *

"You may now kiss the bride," Squall and Rinoa's wedding ceremony was held in the Balamb Garden's ballroom in front of hundreds of friends and guests including General Caraway, Laguna, Kiros, Ward, Ellone, Watts and Zone. (Rinoa had finally made up with her father.)

"Hey! She's throwing the bouquet!" Selphie excitedly as each and every single lady began to fight their way to the bouquet. The bouquet flew and flew and dropped down right at Quistis' hands. Everyone cheered while Quistis held the bouquet shyly. The Trepies were screaming with excitement as their idol held the bouquet.

"You got yourself a fan club?" Paul teased Quistis while looking at the Trepies. Quitis rolled her eyes as response. The ballroom's lights were shut off leaving only the moon to shine its way down brightly as everyone started dancing slowly. The song was no other than 'Eyes On Me'.

"Remember the first time we dance?" Squall held Rinoa closer as they danced in the middle of the ballroom.

"You're so shy!" Rinoa answered playfully and kissed Squall lightly on his lip making him blush. "Aww..stop blushing! Are you going to blush every time your wife kisses you?"

"Well.whatever," Squall grinned and kissed Rinoa on her lips hard giving her a pleasant shock. Laguna and Ellone were dancing together while looking at the happy couple. They were very happy for both Squall and Rinoa.

"Finally, Squall found his love. Raine will be very happy to know that," Laguna smiled.

"She will, Uncle Laguna," Ellone smiled back and looked up at the sky.

"Hot dogs! They are everywhere!" Zell was busy munching up hot dogs that he's obsessed with not noticing that Irvine and Selphie taped him.

"This is simply wonderful! I gotta tape everything! Come on let's go Irvy!" Selphie went around and taped each and every event inside the ballroom.

"Right behind you, Sefie!" Irvine happily followed Selphie around the ballroom.

"So, what are you going to do after this?" Quistis asked while sipping her drink.

"Uh.me? Well, I'm going to travel around the world and find a quiet place to settle down. I'm going to find a place a hide all the three swords together. After all, I'd my revenge. Martine was toast inside the Sorceress Memorial!" Paul chuckled lightly.

"When are you leaving?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

"So, does this mean tonight is our last night to chat?" Quitis continued to sip her drink.

"Yep!" Paul answered plainly. The party went on until midnight before it was finally stopped.

"You better take good care of my daughter!" Caraway stared sharply at Squall.

"Father!" Rinoa snapped back. Caraway smiled lightly and started to walk out from the ballroom. (The garden was still traveling around and had stopped near Deiling City for the wedding.) He took over the Galbadia Garden after Martine's death. (Boy, this guy is sure rich.)

"Come to Esthar more often. I'm dead bored there so please?" Laguna shook Squall hands again and again while trying to talk him into going Esthar. Rinoa and Ellone giggled softly at Laguna's behavior.

"Whatever.." Squall rolled his eyes. He was getting annoyed of his father's behavior. Laguna sighed disappointedly and walked out of the ballroom followed by Ellone. They were staying at Balamb Garden for the night as it was too late to get back to Esthar.

"Awwww..I'm tired!" Selphie stretched herself and walked around the almost empty ballroom.

"No doubt there. You practically never stop running from the beginning of the ceremony till the end just to tape something inside your video camera!" Zell teased Selphie as he sipped his drink.

"If that's so..aren't you tired too?" Selphie snapped back.

"Why should I?"

"Cause you never stop eating hotdogs from the beginning till the end!"

"Why you?! Tch..I'm going to get you for that!" Zell started to chase Selphie around the ballroom.

"Hey! No one hurts my Sefie!" Irvine joined the chase and the three of them started to run around the ballrooms in circles as Squall, Rinoa, Quistis and Paul looked on.

"They are sure full of energy," Paul chuckled.

"You sure you want to leave tomorrow?" Rinoa asked suddenly.

"Yeap! I'd decided and I ain't taking back my words and oh! I forgot to give you this! Catch!" Paul threw the reversed edge sword to Rinoa.

"I thought you're going to take all three of them with you?" Quistis asked.

"Nah! I'd think over and I decided to give the reversed edge one to Rinoa. She deserved it since she risked her life for it and I nearly got her killed," Paul scratched her head shyly.

"You really mean it? I can take it? But..all right..thanks a lot!" Rinoa started to admire the sword with Squall.

"Can we go back to the dormitory now? I'm sleepy!" Paul yawned.

"I think we got a problem."Quitis pointed towards the three energetic people. Well, the chase was still on.

"Hey, cut it out! Let's go to sleep!" Paul yelled.

"Not unless I caught Selphie!" Zell answered.

"You wish!" Selphie stuck her tongue out playfully.

"Don't worry Sefie! I'm here!" Irvine followed Zell closely while trying to stop the chase.

"Triple! Sleep!" Squall cast magic all of sudden making those three fell into deep sleep immediately.

"Oh no! Now we have to pull them to their dorms!" Paul sighed.

"Leave it to the garden faculties. Come on let's go!" Squall answered. They walked out of the ballroom leaving the three of them snoring soundly.

~* Minutes later *~

"Hey, what are you three doing here? Get up!" The garden faculties came and knocked them up.

"Uh.what.what!" Zell woke up immediately followed by Selphie and Irvine.

"Get back to your dorms!" The garden faculties roared.

"Frickin' hell! Tch..all right!" Zell was too tired to argue so he proceeded to the dormitory quietly.

"Come on Irvine. Let's go!" Selphie walked out of the ballroom and started to yawn continuously.

*The next morning *

"All right then. I have to go now," They had assemble at the front gate to see Paul off including Cid.

"Remember. You're always a SeeD. You can come back anytime you want," Cid said.

"Thanks!" Paul smiled.

"Remember to visit us!" Selphie said.

"Don't forget to write to us!" Rinoa added.

"I will," Paul answered. She hugged everyone except for Squall. Knowing he was not the huggable type, she shook his hands.

"Goodbye then!" Paul started to walk away when Squall and the others gave her a SeeD salute. Paul saluted back and continued to walk out of the garden.

"I'll miss her," Quistis said.

"A girl with lots of special abilities. No one will forget her," Cid replied. They started to walk back and proceeded to their normal life.

~* Two months later~*

Squall and Rinoa had come back from their honeymoon. Quistis was still an instructor. Zell and Irvine had just came back from a mission while Selphie was appointed to become Dr. Kadowaki's assistant. Balamb garden had fly back and finally settle back in Balamb. Everything was peaceful when suddenly, a loud crash was heard outside the garden.

"Not again!" Selphie yelled.

"Not another trouble!" Squall sighed.

'Attention to Commander Leonhart, Instructor Trepe, SeeD Selphie, Zell, and Irvine. Please proceed to the front gate immediately and investigate.'

Squall sighed and walked to the front gate followed by Rinoa. He was later joined by Quistis and the others.

"I hope there's no more trouble," Zell said.

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*At the front gate *

"Who's there?" Squall yelled towards the shadow in front of them. It seems that a fight happened and dust was flying everywhere making it impossible for them to see who was standing in front of them. Squall started to walk forward when suddenly a ruby dragon collapsed in front of him. Its head was chopped down.

"Sorry to scare you guys! That stupid dragon stopped me when I was walking in!" Paul walked out from the dust and started to wipe herself clean.

"Tee-hee! You're back!" Selphie squealed.

"Yeah! I...er..kinda bored out there. Besides, I miss the cafeteria's food," Paul answered sheepishly.

"So, are you planning to stay?" Rinoa asked.

"Hehehe. I'm staying alright. Maybe I should ask Cid for an instructor's license," Paul replied. Her answer raised a few eyebrows. "Hey! I can teach you know! I used to be a top student!"

"Yeah right!" Zell replied sarcastically.

"Hey! It's true!"

"I 'believe' you," Irvine chuckled.

"I am telling the truth!" Paul started to argue with Zell and Irvine. Quistis stopped the argument immediately.

"Cut it out! No arguing!" Quistis said strictly.

"Yes, madam!" Paul, Zell and Irvine replied in unison while saluting her with a SeeD salute. Quistis smiled lightly. "I don't think there will be a room available for a while. A lot of juniors enrolled in Balamb Garden since last month."

"Now, where am I going to sleep?" Paul sighed heavily.

"Well, I can share my room with you. Besides you'll need a lot of tips if you want to be an instructor," Quistis replied. She was feeling happy that Paul had return. Somehow, she could talk freely with Paul.

"Thanks a lot! Now what are we waiting for? Let's go in!" Paul yelled happily as she skipped into Balamb Garden happily with her possessions. Everyone smiled looking at her happy-go-lucky attitude. They, too began to walk in.

"So, are we going to report to Cid?" Zell asked.

"No. I think she'll definitely find him," Squall answered while he walked back to Balamb Garden with Rinoa clinging in his arm.

So, our heroes walked back inside Balamb Garden. Will they life happily or will they face another challenge in the future? No one knows......







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I finished my first fic! Yeah! (Champagne toast and balloons blown) Special thanks to Phoenix Blade for all the reviews! Not forgetting the others who also spent their precious time to write their reviews to me! And last but not least, thanks a lot to YOU! (Yeah you!) for reading this fic till the end. I may write more in the future depending on the response on this fiction. Please R+R and no flames! Till then, sayonara! Goodbye! I love you all!