Chapter One
He looked around, but could see nothing but the haze before him. "Rinoa!" He looked left, then right, trying to find everyone. "Zell! Selphie!"
He ran, running blind through the haze, and called out his teammates names. He could hear their voices, but they were so far away.
He ran harder pushing himself to the limit. Something flashed in front of him. He missed the feather that fluttered through the air at his right. He never heard the voice beckoning him. "Squall!"
"Squall!"
He stopped, his heart racing in his chest. Looking around, he called out, "Irvine! Rinoa!" He glanced left then right, before running forward, his heart slamming against his chest. His arms pumped at his side, and his legs pushing him beyond his limit.
He panted, his breathing coming out hard, "Where are you Rinoa?!? Quistis! Zell! Selphie! Irvine!"
He stopped, and bent at the waist, resting his palms on his thighs.
"Squall!!!! Where are you man?"
He looked up, and turned, looking over his shoulder. "Zell?" He saw a fleeting image of the menace to society. His blond hair cut short in the back, with long bangs, that stuck up in wild spikes, and bright green eyes. Dressed in what he always preferred, long blue jean shorts, which reached passed his knees, a black and red jacket, over a low dipping black shirt, and black wrist gloves.
The image disappeared, and he went to run after it, but a voice called to him. "Help me."
He stopped, turning back around, and saw the flash. This time, he saw an angel, but he couldn't describe her, all he could see, was that she was beautiful, covered in light, and white silk.
He took a step toward the light, but someone behind him called his name. "Squall where are you!" He saw Rinoa behind him; feathers surround her as she held out her hand to him. She stood in a field of wild flowers, birds chirped, and sang to her.
His breath caught, as he saw her. Long black hair, falling just passed her shoulders, and wild bangs falling into loving brown eyes. Dressed in a black stretch suit, short shorts, and a blue skirt over it, a blue tank top ankle length coat, and black boats. She held tightly in her hands her weapon, the Blaster Edge.
She waved at him, beckoning him to come. "Squall!" Her voice echoed off invisible walls, vibrating through the air. His name came to him distorted, and not real.
He took a step towards her but a desperate cry, made him pause, his heart twisting inside his chest. "Help me."
'This is the crossroads of your life.'
He looked up, and a shadowy figure, slowly lowered themselves down, landing in front of them. The figure was a woman, with long hair, and held something tightly in her hands.
"Who are you?"
He blinked, and looked down at his hands, he sounded faint, and he noticed his body was slowly vanishing.
'You're running out of time.' There was a soft chuckle. 'Everyone believes that time goes on forever, until you die. But in here, you can only last so long.'
He took a step towards her, but something flew through the air, and was pressed against his chest.
'You may not come any closer. Not even the guardian of time, can truly understand the full extent of time.'
He stepped back, and asked again, "Who are you?" He was getting weaker, sounding more distant, like he was slowly disappearing. He looked at his hands again.
'Who I am, doesn't concern you.'
There was a long pause, before she continued. 'You are in the crossroads of your life.'
"Crossroads, what do you mean? Am I dead is that why I'm here? Is that why I saw the angel?"
Laughter, soft laughter that struck him in the heart, escaped the woman's lips.
'No no no, you're not dead. But if you continue to dwell here, you will be lost in time forever, like myself.'
"Squall please, where are you!?!"
He looked to his left, and saw his teammates together they were looking, looking for him. He took a step towards them, but a sharp object cut him off. He looked back, his eyes narrowing.
'You have a choice here, that's why it's called the crossroads. One choice is to go to your friends, and live in the peace that you have created.'
He frowned, "that's my choice then, I want to go, they're looking for me."
'But you have yet to hear the second choice.'
He turned to her, "what choice is there, they actually care for me, Rinoa actually cares for me. What more can I ask for?"
She pointed the other way, where he had seen the angel. He turned, and looked, and saw her, dressed in silk, wings on her back, but a light clouded her image.
'Or you can go to her world, and help her attain peace.'
"But I've already fought for peace, where I live, where I belong."
The thing she held in her hands, moved away, and she nodded. 'I know you have. But this is your choice, happiness with your friends, and peace until another war that will inevitably come. Or help save her world, so that her, and her friends, can live in peace, and live happily, like you and your friends will.'
He glanced back and forth, and he knew deep down, that he had to hurry; he was running out of time. "Can you tell me, what would happen to the other choice if I don't pick that one?"
'Of course. If you pick your friends, the world, with the angel, as you called her, will die. The angel will destroy the world, to end the enemy's power, and save her universe from darkness.'
"They'll all die?"
She nodded, 'yes. In order, to protect the universe, and the other worlds parallel to hers, she would have to destroy her home, where the enemy had nested itself, so it couldn't take over.'
He looked down at his hands. 'If you do choose to help the angel.' She smiled softly, 'your friends, will live on in peace, and time will go by, without you there.'
He looked at his friends, and then at the angel, "if I help save her world, will I be able to go back…go home?"
She nodded, 'if that's what you want, when the time comes. It's the least I can do, if you help her.'
He clenched his fists, and could feel himself nearly gone; he was practically a ghost now, a living shadow.
'You must hurry, time is of the essence, and you have little left.'
He glanced at his teammates, and turned from them, before running towards the light.
His feet thundered on the ground, and he pushed himself into a sprint, trying to race time. 'Hurry, time is not on your side. Be careful, and take care of yourself.'
He was nearly there, when he felt the tingling sensation, starting from his feet, working up his legs. He gasped, as the numbing grew intense, he felt like he was being erased. Everything slowed around him, but he threw himself forward, and flew through the image of the angel. He tried to grab the image, tried to lock his arms around her.
But he fell right through her, as if she was nothing but a ghost.
He appeared, in the air, and his arms reached out, as he fell to the ground, landing in a bush. He groaned, sluggishly forcing himself to sit up. He looked at his hands, and watched as he fully reappeared.
He reached up, and touched his face, and sighed in relief, to find himself whole again. He stood, and ran his hands down black cloth pants, with buckles on his right leg, and at his hips, where his Gunblade rested, and fixed his leather jacket, which didn't quite reach his waist, and had a fluffy collar. He checked his shirt underneath, but he only had to pull the chain he wore around his neck, out from under it.
He stepped out of the bushes, and glanced around. Where he stood, reminded him of the Chocobo's forest, except for the walkway, wasn't a dirt path, but made of concrete.
He watched, as a couple walked passed him, holding hands, and completely in love. He grimaced, when his mind trailed off to Rinoa. He hoped she would forgive him, when he came back.
He heard laughter, and looked over through the trees. Children ran back and forth from the tree line, to the playground. One stood out from all the other children, since she was looking right at him.
She turned suddenly, but looked over her shoulder at him, her cheeks flush. She looked no more that ten years old. She had pale skin, dark hair, cut short to her chin, and dark mysterious eyes. She wore a dark violet skirt, reaching to her knees, and a lavender sweater, that kept her warm in the cold breeze.
She giggled, and turned to him, her small form, looked like it could break at the slightest wrong move. She waved to him, her eyes lighting up.
He stepped towards the playground, entering the clearing in only a few easy strides. He watched her, as he easily moved across the grass towards her. The wind tousled his wild brown hair, and long bangs fell into his bright blue eyes.
He reached her, and she didn't move away, but looked up at him, since he was a good three feet taller than her. "She didn't say you had a scar."
He frowned, and knelt down on his knees, "What?" She smiled, and reached out, tracing the scar that ran down between his eyes, starting above his right eye, and ending below his left one. "Nothing. My name is Tomoe Hotoru." She held out her hand, and grasped his.
He looked at their hands, before shaking hers, and saying, "Squall. Squall Leonhart."
She giggled, "What a funny name you have Squall." She turned from him, and pointed to a group of girl at a picnic bench. "I'm with them. They're my friends. See that tall woman, with the short hair, and the woman with the long hair next to her; they're my Haruka papa and Michiru momma. Setsuna momma isn't with us, because she had to work."
He looked at the group of all young women, and nodded. "Could you tell me where I am?"
"You're in Tokyo Japan." Squall stood, and turned to see another person. She had long dark hair, falling to her knees, and greenish black waves, and dark red eyes that stared at him, as if she knew everything about him.
"Setsuna momma!" Hotoru raced to the taller woman, and wrapped her small arms around the woman's legs.
He glanced around, "where is that at?" He glanced at her, and had the strangest feeling, that she knew everything about him, like where he came from, and why he was there.
She smiled, "that does not matter now. Come with me, for I shall fill you in, and get you ready for your new life here. Hotoru, if you please, stay with the girls, and do not let on about Mr. LeonHart if you could."
The little girl nodded, and raced off to group at the picnic tables, and called out one of the girl's names.
Setsuna waved to the pathway, and started walking. Squall hurried to catch up, and Setsuna softly smiled, "we should walk, this may take some time."
He looked around, but could see nothing but the haze before him. "Rinoa!" He looked left, then right, trying to find everyone. "Zell! Selphie!"
He ran, running blind through the haze, and called out his teammates names. He could hear their voices, but they were so far away.
He ran harder pushing himself to the limit. Something flashed in front of him. He missed the feather that fluttered through the air at his right. He never heard the voice beckoning him. "Squall!"
"Squall!"
He stopped, his heart racing in his chest. Looking around, he called out, "Irvine! Rinoa!" He glanced left then right, before running forward, his heart slamming against his chest. His arms pumped at his side, and his legs pushing him beyond his limit.
He panted, his breathing coming out hard, "Where are you Rinoa?!? Quistis! Zell! Selphie! Irvine!"
He stopped, and bent at the waist, resting his palms on his thighs.
"Squall!!!! Where are you man?"
He looked up, and turned, looking over his shoulder. "Zell?" He saw a fleeting image of the menace to society. His blond hair cut short in the back, with long bangs, that stuck up in wild spikes, and bright green eyes. Dressed in what he always preferred, long blue jean shorts, which reached passed his knees, a black and red jacket, over a low dipping black shirt, and black wrist gloves.
The image disappeared, and he went to run after it, but a voice called to him. "Help me."
He stopped, turning back around, and saw the flash. This time, he saw an angel, but he couldn't describe her, all he could see, was that she was beautiful, covered in light, and white silk.
He took a step toward the light, but someone behind him called his name. "Squall where are you!" He saw Rinoa behind him; feathers surround her as she held out her hand to him. She stood in a field of wild flowers, birds chirped, and sang to her.
His breath caught, as he saw her. Long black hair, falling just passed her shoulders, and wild bangs falling into loving brown eyes. Dressed in a black stretch suit, short shorts, and a blue skirt over it, a blue tank top ankle length coat, and black boats. She held tightly in her hands her weapon, the Blaster Edge.
She waved at him, beckoning him to come. "Squall!" Her voice echoed off invisible walls, vibrating through the air. His name came to him distorted, and not real.
He took a step towards her but a desperate cry, made him pause, his heart twisting inside his chest. "Help me."
'This is the crossroads of your life.'
He looked up, and a shadowy figure, slowly lowered themselves down, landing in front of them. The figure was a woman, with long hair, and held something tightly in her hands.
"Who are you?"
He blinked, and looked down at his hands, he sounded faint, and he noticed his body was slowly vanishing.
'You're running out of time.' There was a soft chuckle. 'Everyone believes that time goes on forever, until you die. But in here, you can only last so long.'
He took a step towards her, but something flew through the air, and was pressed against his chest.
'You may not come any closer. Not even the guardian of time, can truly understand the full extent of time.'
He stepped back, and asked again, "Who are you?" He was getting weaker, sounding more distant, like he was slowly disappearing. He looked at his hands again.
'Who I am, doesn't concern you.'
There was a long pause, before she continued. 'You are in the crossroads of your life.'
"Crossroads, what do you mean? Am I dead is that why I'm here? Is that why I saw the angel?"
Laughter, soft laughter that struck him in the heart, escaped the woman's lips.
'No no no, you're not dead. But if you continue to dwell here, you will be lost in time forever, like myself.'
"Squall please, where are you!?!"
He looked to his left, and saw his teammates together they were looking, looking for him. He took a step towards them, but a sharp object cut him off. He looked back, his eyes narrowing.
'You have a choice here, that's why it's called the crossroads. One choice is to go to your friends, and live in the peace that you have created.'
He frowned, "that's my choice then, I want to go, they're looking for me."
'But you have yet to hear the second choice.'
He turned to her, "what choice is there, they actually care for me, Rinoa actually cares for me. What more can I ask for?"
She pointed the other way, where he had seen the angel. He turned, and looked, and saw her, dressed in silk, wings on her back, but a light clouded her image.
'Or you can go to her world, and help her attain peace.'
"But I've already fought for peace, where I live, where I belong."
The thing she held in her hands, moved away, and she nodded. 'I know you have. But this is your choice, happiness with your friends, and peace until another war that will inevitably come. Or help save her world, so that her, and her friends, can live in peace, and live happily, like you and your friends will.'
He glanced back and forth, and he knew deep down, that he had to hurry; he was running out of time. "Can you tell me, what would happen to the other choice if I don't pick that one?"
'Of course. If you pick your friends, the world, with the angel, as you called her, will die. The angel will destroy the world, to end the enemy's power, and save her universe from darkness.'
"They'll all die?"
She nodded, 'yes. In order, to protect the universe, and the other worlds parallel to hers, she would have to destroy her home, where the enemy had nested itself, so it couldn't take over.'
He looked down at his hands. 'If you do choose to help the angel.' She smiled softly, 'your friends, will live on in peace, and time will go by, without you there.'
He looked at his friends, and then at the angel, "if I help save her world, will I be able to go back…go home?"
She nodded, 'if that's what you want, when the time comes. It's the least I can do, if you help her.'
He clenched his fists, and could feel himself nearly gone; he was practically a ghost now, a living shadow.
'You must hurry, time is of the essence, and you have little left.'
He glanced at his teammates, and turned from them, before running towards the light.
His feet thundered on the ground, and he pushed himself into a sprint, trying to race time. 'Hurry, time is not on your side. Be careful, and take care of yourself.'
He was nearly there, when he felt the tingling sensation, starting from his feet, working up his legs. He gasped, as the numbing grew intense, he felt like he was being erased. Everything slowed around him, but he threw himself forward, and flew through the image of the angel. He tried to grab the image, tried to lock his arms around her.
But he fell right through her, as if she was nothing but a ghost.
He appeared, in the air, and his arms reached out, as he fell to the ground, landing in a bush. He groaned, sluggishly forcing himself to sit up. He looked at his hands, and watched as he fully reappeared.
He reached up, and touched his face, and sighed in relief, to find himself whole again. He stood, and ran his hands down black cloth pants, with buckles on his right leg, and at his hips, where his Gunblade rested, and fixed his leather jacket, which didn't quite reach his waist, and had a fluffy collar. He checked his shirt underneath, but he only had to pull the chain he wore around his neck, out from under it.
He stepped out of the bushes, and glanced around. Where he stood, reminded him of the Chocobo's forest, except for the walkway, wasn't a dirt path, but made of concrete.
He watched, as a couple walked passed him, holding hands, and completely in love. He grimaced, when his mind trailed off to Rinoa. He hoped she would forgive him, when he came back.
He heard laughter, and looked over through the trees. Children ran back and forth from the tree line, to the playground. One stood out from all the other children, since she was looking right at him.
She turned suddenly, but looked over her shoulder at him, her cheeks flush. She looked no more that ten years old. She had pale skin, dark hair, cut short to her chin, and dark mysterious eyes. She wore a dark violet skirt, reaching to her knees, and a lavender sweater, that kept her warm in the cold breeze.
She giggled, and turned to him, her small form, looked like it could break at the slightest wrong move. She waved to him, her eyes lighting up.
He stepped towards the playground, entering the clearing in only a few easy strides. He watched her, as he easily moved across the grass towards her. The wind tousled his wild brown hair, and long bangs fell into his bright blue eyes.
He reached her, and she didn't move away, but looked up at him, since he was a good three feet taller than her. "She didn't say you had a scar."
He frowned, and knelt down on his knees, "What?" She smiled, and reached out, tracing the scar that ran down between his eyes, starting above his right eye, and ending below his left one. "Nothing. My name is Tomoe Hotoru." She held out her hand, and grasped his.
He looked at their hands, before shaking hers, and saying, "Squall. Squall Leonhart."
She giggled, "What a funny name you have Squall." She turned from him, and pointed to a group of girl at a picnic bench. "I'm with them. They're my friends. See that tall woman, with the short hair, and the woman with the long hair next to her; they're my Haruka papa and Michiru momma. Setsuna momma isn't with us, because she had to work."
He looked at the group of all young women, and nodded. "Could you tell me where I am?"
"You're in Tokyo Japan." Squall stood, and turned to see another person. She had long dark hair, falling to her knees, and greenish black waves, and dark red eyes that stared at him, as if she knew everything about him.
"Setsuna momma!" Hotoru raced to the taller woman, and wrapped her small arms around the woman's legs.
He glanced around, "where is that at?" He glanced at her, and had the strangest feeling, that she knew everything about him, like where he came from, and why he was there.
She smiled, "that does not matter now. Come with me, for I shall fill you in, and get you ready for your new life here. Hotoru, if you please, stay with the girls, and do not let on about Mr. LeonHart if you could."
The little girl nodded, and raced off to group at the picnic tables, and called out one of the girl's names.
Setsuna waved to the pathway, and started walking. Squall hurried to catch up, and Setsuna softly smiled, "we should walk, this may take some time."