A/N: Well, this is my first FF8 fic, so if the characters seem a little ooc, just let me know. Any useful criticism would be greatly appreciated. That's how you get better at things anyways, right? Of course. Btw, incase you're wondering, I'm writing this as I go along. I pretty much know what I want to happen and how it'll turn out, I just don't have the patience to write it all out at once. ^_^"
Italics indicate thoughts.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Final Fantasy VIII. The lucky people at Squaresoft do. :/
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Haunting Melody
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Chapter 1: Explosive Announcement
A long banner hung across the ballroom doorway with "Balamb Garden's SeeD Induction Ball" written on it in elegant letters. Quistis unconsciously smoothed out her SeeD uniform as she looked the banner over. She hadn't wanted to come; there were still too many essays that still needed grading. But because of her position as an instructor, she felt obligated to appear and at least congratulate her old students.
Quistis had regained her instructor's license shortly after the defeat of Ultimecia. It was the least Garden could do for her after what she and the others had done for the world. The others had received rewards too. Irvine and Rinoa were inducted as SeeDs into Balamb. Selphie was now the head of all festivals and other Garden events. Zell was guaranteed free hot dogs in the cafeteria. Squall hadn't asked for a reward. In fact, he was the one that had requested the rewards for his friends for sticking with him and Garden through all that mess. That all happened a little over three years ago. Sighing lightly, Quistis headed through the entrance.
The ballroom itself was a spectacle. Rich emerald green ivy circled the columns. Flowers streamed over the balcony railings. A small orchestra played on a stage that was set up on one end of the large room. Tables were set up on the other side, most of which were occupied by those SeeDs who weren't exactly the most graceful on the dance floor.
Selphie ran up to Quistis hugging her, "Hi Quisty!"
"Hey Selphie," She replied, returning the shorter woman's hug.
"So what do you think?" She raised her hands in the air, motioning to the decorations.
"It's beautiful, you've really outdone yourself," she said with a smile.
Selphie beamed. "Aw thanks! I still think it would be a whole lot better if they would've allowed us to wear formal dresses and stuff instead of these uniforms."
"Oh well, you know the administrators." Quistis shrugged
Selphie's attention was quickly diverted to the refreshment table. "Irvine Kinneas! Zell Dincht! If you two come any closer to that ice sculpture I swear not even Dr. Kadowaki will be able to help when I'm done with you!" Quistis looked over her shoulder at the two men. They were quickly moving away from the icy angel pursued by Selphie. "You don't know how long I spent trying to find someone who could make that!" Quistis laughed softly, shaking her head.
Those two should know better after what happened last year. Zell was lucky Selphie hadn't cut off his supply of hot dogs after that incident, she thought, recalling how Irvine and Zell had accidentally broken several of the tables and a bass guitar at last year's SeeD festival. They had attempted to crowd surf after they finished playing the last song. They had bruises for weeks from both the fall and Selphie's Strange Vision. Selphie's temperament about such things surprised Quistis. Usually Selphie had a reckless, "Let's blow it up!" attitude, but when it came to her decorations, she was aggressively protective.
A calm waltz was playing. Quistis saw Matron and Headmaster Cid dancing. The couple seemed so happy these days. Speaking of couples, where's Squall and Rinoa? I'm surprised she doesn't have him out there dancing with her right now. She looked around, but found no sign of them, only Irvine and Zell hiding behind a column in the back. They quickly told Quistis not to give away their location. Apparently they had touched the ice statue. One of the wings was broken off and Selphie was ready to raise hell.
She finally caught sight of Rinoa and Squall when the waltz ended. She watched as Rinoa dragged her reluctant boyfriend to the stage. Rinoa grabbed the microphone smiling. "Hey everyone," she waved to the crowd, "We have an announcement!" Squall attempted to pull the mic away from her, whispering something incomprehensible to her. She firmly shook her head and took it back, the smile reappearing on her face, "Squall and I are getting married next summer!" she said ecstatically. Married?!? Did she just say married? Quistis' heart dropped. The SeeDs around her cheered and clapped. She placed a hand on an nearby vacant table to keep her balance.
"Oh Quisty isn't this wonderful! A wedding!" Selphie yelled as she ran past and up to the stage. In her happiness for her friends, it seemed Selphie had forgotten all about the ice angel. Quistis managed a weak smile.
When she was sure no one was looking, Quistis quickly left the ballroom. She walked through the empty hallways down to her dorm room, sliding her keycard through the lock. She shut the door quietly and slumped down against it.
Marriage. She knew she should be happy for them. After all, they were her friends. But there was a part of her that was still in love with Squall, no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise. But Rinoa was the one that broke through Squall's cold outer shell, something Quistis had tried to do but failed. She should've known her chances were gone long ago, after the "talk to a wall" incident. However, for some reason she still held on that a small glimmer of hope. That glimmer was now snubbed out, no longer shining for her.
Quistis shook her head. She would never be able to go to sleep with so much on her mind. She changed out of her uniform and into clothes more suited for training: a white tee shirt and gray shorts. Grabbing her Save the Queen and slipping her keycard into her pocket, she headed out to the Training Area.
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Humidity weighed down on her as she made her way through the foliage. With a crack of her whip, she took care of several Grats who blocked her path. She stopped next to the small stream that ran through the area to take a breather. The marriage was still weighing on her mind, but she didn't feel nearly as upset as she was a half-hour ago.
Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out through the air coming from the other end of the Training Area. It was followed seconds later by a second blast. She furrowed her brows in worry and curiosity, hurrying towards where the sounds had come from.
Large flames crackled around the entrance to the Secret Area and there were pieces of metal strewn across the ground. Several students were lying on the ground injured. "Blizzaga!" she yelled. The strong spell snuffed out the fire. She ran into the Secret Area. More students were injured in there, and even more fires were burning. After putting those out, she surveyed the situation. There were at least 15 students down here. There was one girl huddled in the corner. She seemed to be the one who received the least damage. She had her forehead on her knees and her hands over her face.
Quistis knelt down next to the girl. "Are you okay?"
The girl looked up. "Instructor Trepe! It was horrible!" she sobbed. Quistis recognized her as one of the older students she taught named Kaira. "We were all just… talking. And then all of a sudden everyone got really quite. And then..." she flung her arms around Quistis, sobbing.
"Hey, it's okay," Quistis said calmly, "I need you to do something for me." Kaira sat up and looked at her instructor with watery eyes. "I need you to go get Dr. Kadowaki. Tell her what's happened and to hurry down here. After you do that, go find Headmaster Cid. He should still be up in the ballroom. Tell him what's happened too."
Kaira, although still shaken, nodded and rushed out.
Quistis stood, placing a hand on her hip. What in Hyne's name happened? She panned the small balcony once more when something caught her eye on the ground. It looked like a small music box. She picked it up and placed it in her pocket, deciding to show the Headmaster after they had the dealt with all the students who were hurt.
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It was around 3 when Quistis made it back to her room. She had spent it helping the injured to the infirmary. A few of the students had only been knocked out for a short while. However, others weren't so lucky. Two were in critical condition while another still wasn't conscious. After all the injured were moved, Dr. Kadowaki told Quistis to go to get some rest. "There's not much you can do to help now, dear," she had said.
She flicked on the lights and kicked off her shoes. What a night… so much for distracting myself by training.
A small object fell onto the ground by her foot. She looked down. It was the music box she had picked up earlier. She sat down on her bed and opened it slowly. A soft, lamenting tune clinked out as music box's small mechanisms turned. How strange. She closed it and placed it on her nightstand for tomorrow, or rather later that day since it was past midnight. Cid had asked her to meet him in his office at 10 to discuss what happened. She decided she would show it to him then. She had a nagging feeling that it was linked to what had happened. People just don't leave music boxes lying around for no good reason…
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