Chapter 25 – The End of the Beginning

Zelda til Rednaxelos

Terra's P.O.V.

     Well, here we are. Just the epilogue left now. I'll miss this story… sorry for the wait… anyway, enjoy!

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     We walked back a short distance, a dead silence hanging over our heads like a dark cloud. No one dared to speak. The only sound that could be heard was an occasional cry from Flora, and a low "Shh" from Raven.

     Was it really over? Adel and Aris – were they truly dead now? By our hands?

     Finally the silence was broken when Raven handed the girl to me. "Could you take her for a bit?" she asked softly. "My arms are tired."

     "Sure," I replied, taking Flora into my arms. I looked into the tiny faced, watched the tiny hands reach for my hair, and marveled at how beautiful she was. Flora – Latin for "flower". And she was truly a little rosebud, cheeks bright with color, eyes green as her father's. "She has your nose, Raven," I said as we stopped to rest.

     "Does she?" Raven inquired, looking over my shoulder at her. "She does. I haven't had time to really look her over. She's beautiful, isn't she?"

     "Of course," Seifer replied. "She takes after her mother."

     Raven smiled at that, blushing madly. No one had ever seen that much color on her face before. "Yeah, I love you, too," she said softly.

     "So," I said to her. "You've learned to love at last."

     She nodded. "Yes. I know. You're still angry at me, aren't you?"

     "Not angry," I answered. "Just still slightly annoyed. Let's face it, you were possibly the biggest bitch the world had ever seen."

     "I know," Raven said ashamedly. "And I'm sorry. I know that I was selfish and cold and all that. But I'm sorry. I really am. My attitude has cost me nearly everything . . . I guess I've paid for it in full, huh? All those years of cruelty and callousness . . . I know I deserve everything that's happened to me, but . . . could you possibly forgive me?"

     I inched closer to her and took her face in my hands. Looking into her dark eyes, I could see true sorrow, as only a sorceress could ever understand. Her repentance was genuine this time; how could I refuse her?

     "Raven," I told her softly, "I know that lately things have been so hard between the two of us. We both have been cruel, and we both have been callous. We haven't always been the best of friends. And yes, I know that some of the crimes you have committed in the past would generally be unforgivable. But none of that matters now. We may insult each other and be cruel to each other and occasionally try to harm each other, but whatever happens, we are still united by a magical bond that can never be broken. You're still my friend, no matter how much I may hate you sometimes. No matter what happens, you will always be my sister."

     A tear trickled down Raven's face as she looked up at me, filled with an indescribable joy. Finally released from our bondage of hate, we were once again truly united. I put my arms around her, and she put her head on my shoulder and cried silently.

     "Thank you," she whispered.

     Squall and Seifer smiled, first at us, then at each other. "Hey, Puberty Boy," Seifer said, extending his hand out to Squall. "We gonna be friends now, or what?"

     Squall took his hand and shook it firmly, grinning. "Yeah, Blondie. Whatever."

     Breaking the picture was a laugh from Flora. Her face shone with the purity of infancy, her cheeks pink as two summer roses. We all adored the little girl so much, so much . . .

     "Raven," Seifer said to her.

     Raven looked up at him, her eyes still slightly red from joyous tears. "Yes, my love?"

     "I was looking at Flora, you know . . . well, Luna, or whatever we're going to call her…man, I hate the name Flora… anyways… and, well, I was thinking . . ." he stumbled over his words like an infant with his first steps. "Well, you know, about her and about you and about all three of us, and . . . I . . ."

     For the first time in all of history, Seifer was stammering and stumbling over his words as he tried to force them out. "Amazing," Squall mumbled to me with a smirk.

     "Don't laugh! This is serious. I mean, I know we've only known each other a few months, and I know I took advantage of you and got you an unwanted pregnancy and all, but . . . I love you. I really do."

     Raven nodded. "I know. And I love you, too."

     "And I was thinking, you know, it really isn't right for a child to have to be raised out of wedlock. I do have morals, believe it or not. And I know I don't have a ring right now, but . . . damn, this is hard…well, what I guess I'm trying to say is . . . I love you. And I want to keep you by my side from now on. I want you to marry me."

     The rest of us sat there for a minute, stunned. Raven just stared at him, wide-eyed, until finally she could say, "Seifer . . . I . . ."

     "So what do you say?" Seifer asked, coming to Raven's side and taking her hands in his. "Will you let me make an honest woman out of you?"

     Tears once again overflowed onto her cheeks. "Oh, Seifer . . ."

     "Please?"

     "I . . . I will. I will –"

     She was cut off when Seifer gently pressed his lips against hers, locking them in a silent embrace that could have in all likelihood lasted forever. It was soon broken when Flora tugged at Raven's hair, giggling. The two parents looked down at their beautiful child and laughed in unison, beginning to tickle and stroke her like the happy family they finally were.

     Squall reached for my hand and squeezed it tenderly. We looked at each other, inspired and hopeful. He pulled me close to him, and I sat there with him, relishing the fact that, at long last, everything was settled. The evil sorceresses were gone, Raven was redeemed and happily engaged, and I now had everything I'd ever wanted as a child but never could have: true friendship, true happiness, and true love.

     "Hey, look!" Seifer pointed to something in the distance. We all looked behind us, and parked a few meters away was an abandoned land rover. It was dirty and looked a bit out of shape, but looked still functional.

     We all breathed sighs of relief. "Hecate is smiling upon us today," Raven said.

     "That's our way back," Squall said. "Let's get over there."

     "Aye, aye, Commander!" I agreed cheerfully. With that, we stood and headed over. In a few minutes we were there. Luckily, the key was still in the ignition, a bit rusty, but still able to turn.

     "I'll drive," Seifer volunteered. "Let's get going!"

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     As we got closer and closer to the Garden, we saw that a huge crowd of people was waiting there for us. There were students, all of them, with Cid, Edea, Quistis, Zell, Irvine, and Selphie at the head. Selphie spotted us coming and pointed, shouting, "They're here! They've come back – look!"

     As everyone saw us coming, a loud roar escaped from the crowd as they threw their hands in the air, whooping and cheering like nothing I had ever seen before. The whole academy was there, cheering for us, as we raced forward to meet them.

     We stopped in front of them and hopped out of the car, and immediately everyone in the crowd engulfed us. Before I knew it, I was in the air on top of Irvine's broad shoulders, with Raven and Flora beside me atop Zell's equally strong ones. We were held there for a good three minutes, as the crowd chanted, "All for one and one for all! All for one and one for all! All for one and one for all!"

     We were let back down as the crowd was silenced. Quistis and Selphie surrounded Raven and I, huddling us into a group hug. Each one of us beamed from ear to ear; nothing could hold back our joy. Cid began to speak, saying, "I am proud to have gotten the opportunity to know both of you. Raven, Terra, you are the best thing that has ever happened to this academy. Without you, we would never have discovered the evil witches' plans until it was far to late. To commemorate this special event," he continued, looking toward Selphie, "Selphie, I want you and your committee to begin decorating the ballroom immediately. We are having a celebration!"

     Another cheer went up from the crowd, and Edea said, "We regret that you will be leaving us soon for your world."

     "They're not." Seifer surprised everyone when he put an arm around Raven and said, "Raven and I, and the baby, cannot be separated now. We need each other. We're a family now." He held up Raven's hand, which somehow had gotten a thin, silver band on its finger. "We're getting married!"

     This got the loudest cheer of all. Zell and Irvine both came up to shake his hand, and Quistis and Selphie hugged Raven once more.

     "Well, then, best of luck to the newlyweds-to-be!" Cid exclaimed. "Now, then, I hereby declare that this day is set aside as a day of preparation for tomorrow night's event! Go on, get moving!"

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     The following night turned out to be the best night of my life. There seemed to be no end to the congratulations Seifer and Raven were receiving. They were truly the happiest couple there that night.

     Well, perhaps not the happiest. They tied with me and Squall, who did nothing but dance all night in each other's arms. We did the tango, the samba, the salsa, the waltz, everything, together as one.

     Finally a familiar song came on as Quistis took the stage. "This song is dedicated to four of my dearest friends. I want this to forever be the theme song of Squall and Terra, and of Seifer and Raven, who proved that love can withstand the storm, and cross the earth, and survive even in the face of death."

     The strings swelled, and Quistis took the microphone, filling the room with her lovely voice. It struck us deep in our hearts, for it now had a whole new meaning.

"Whenever sang my songs

 On the stage, on my own

 Whenever said my words

 Wishing they would be heard

 I saw you smiling at me – was it real or just my fantasy?

You'd always be there in the corner of this tiny little bar"

     I smiled up at Squall as I wrapped my arms around his neck, inducing him to pull me closer, until we were only inches apart. "This is our song now," he whispered to me. "Ours. Forever."

"My last night here for you

 Same old songs, just once more

 My last night here with you?

Maybe yes, maybe no"

     "Thank Hecate it isn't," I said.

"I kind of liked it your way,

 How you shyly placed your eyes on me

 Did you ever know that I had mine on you?"

     "I had my eyes on you from the moment I saw you," Squall told me softly.

     "Why didn't you show it?" I asked him. "Why were you always so closed up?"

     "I . . . I guess it was fear. I was afraid of getting hurt again. I've always been afraid of getting hurt, ever since I was a kid, and –"

     "Shh," I said, putting a finger to his lips to silence him. "I know how you feel. But it's over now. All that's left now is us. Together."

"Darling, so there you are, with that look on your face

 As if you're never hurt

 As if you're never down

 Shall I be the one for you,

 Who pinches you softly, but sure?

If frown is shown then, I will know that you are no dreamer."

     "I am a dreamer," I continued. "I've always been. Always will be. You never needed to doubt that I was dreaming of you." I kissed him softly, and told him, "I have given you my heart. Now all I ask of you is that you give me yours."

     "I will."

"So let me come to you

Close as I want to be

Close enough for me

To feel your heart beating fast"

      Quistis's voice was lovely, filled with passion and warmth – filling us with passion and warmth, as well.

"And stay there as I whisper

How I loved your peaceful eyes on me –

Did you ever know that I had mine on you?"

     "I did know," Squall said to me. "I was just afraid. I'm sorry it took me so long – I really am."

     I just smiled at him. "Better to wait for true love than to hurry it along and watch it leave you in a glance for then it wouldn't be true or worthwhile like your love."

"Darling, so share with me

Your love if you have enough –

The tears if you're holding back

Or pain if that's what it is"

     "It was both of those, for both of us," I continued. "But that matters not now. What matters is that we know now how we feel."

"How can I let you know

I'm more than the dress and the voice?

Just reach me out and

You will know that you are not dreaming.

Darling, so there you are,

With that look on your face

As if you're never hurt, as if you're never down

Shall I be the one for you,

Who pinches you softly, but sure?

If frown is shown then,

I will know that you are no dreamer."

     As the song was ending, Squall whispered in my ear, "If I give my heart to you . . ."

     I finished for him, saying, "It will be always yours."

     I embraced him, and we just stood there for a moment, lost in time. Nothing could touch us, nothing could separate us, and nothing could ever dim our immortal love.

     "Attention, please! Attention!"

     We looked up from our embrace, and there was Seifer with the microphone. "First of all, thank you, Quistis, for that lovely contribution. It was extraordinary." A round of applause came up as Quistis blushed and smiled. "Second," Seifer continued, "I think Squall has an announcement to make. Squall – your turn."

     Another round of applause was given as Squall broke away from me and headed up to the stage. I followed him through the crowd to the front, looking up at him in curiosity.

     "Thanks," he said as Seifer handed him the microphone. "I just wanted to say that, as the song was playing, and Terra and I were dancing . . . well, I just thought about how much I love her. I've loved her since we first met, and it's like nothing I've ever known. I can't tell you about the things I feel in my heart when I look into her eyes, when I hear her voice, when I feel her embrace . . . it's wonderful. She's shown me what it means to love."

     He looked me in the eyes as he was saying all this, and I couldn't help but stare back. He was saying this to me. No one had ever told me anything like this before, not my family, not my friends, nobody. For so long I was used as a trophy, never really worth anything, and yet here was Squall, telling me that I mattered, that I was important to him and loved by him. I couldn't believe that any of this was happening, and in fact, I was still praying that I wouldn't wake up from a dream so wonderful.

     "My Terra, my precious Terra – kind and loving and intelligent and talented and so beautiful. She is everything to me. I really don't know what else to say, except that I love her more that I love life itself. I want the world to know," he declared, smiling at me, "that I love Terra Briar. And I want her to be my wife."

     A collective gasp came from the crowd. I stood there, speechless.

     He . . . he wanted . . . to marry me?

     I heard – vaguely – Raven's voice yell out, "Took you long enough!" But that didn't matter.

     "I know it isn't much," Squall continued, reaching into his pocket for a sapphire ring, "but it's all I have. It was my mother's engagement ring. Now I want you to take it. I want you as my betrothed." He knelt down and ran his fingers through my hair. "I want you, Terra – you and no one else. I will either love you forever or never love again. It's up to you to decide." He looked pleadingly at me and whispered, "Will you?"

     Looking into his chocolate eyes, I knew the answer immediately. There was no other possible way.

     I raced away for a moment, up the little staircase to the stage, up to meet my love. He stood and faced me, and without a moment's hesitation, I grabbed him and kissed him like I had never kissed anyone before. There was a stunned silence all around us, but I cared not. I promised myself to him, right then and there, all in that kiss.

     Seifer, meanwhile, took up the microphone again and said, "Well, guess it's a yes! And what a way to tell him!"

     The cheers of the crowd were deafening. They screamed and whooped and shouted for what seemed like forever, and as Squall and I finally parted, he slipped the ring on my finger and said softly, "I love you, Terra."

     "And I love you," I replied. "Now and forevermore."

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     In a letter to our families, we wrote:

Dearest family and friends,

     If you're wondering where we've been for the past few days, it's time we told you. All three of us went into the Final Fantasy VIII virtual world. We've been here now for months, though to you it's been but a few days. We must tell you that we don't intend to come back. Luna has, regrettably, died recently. She wanted us to tell you that she loves you and is always with you.

     As for the remaining two, we both are engaged to be married in a few months. Raven has a daughter now, named Flora Luna Almasy, but we call her Luna, in memory of our dearly departed friend. If you would, please leave sometime tomorrow open so you can come to our joint wedding. It would be wonderful to have you here and allow you to meet our soon-to-be husbands.

     We will miss you terribly, but we are happier here than we ever could be in your world. We will visit you whenever possible, and bring our new families with us. And remember, we are always with you in spirit. May Hecate continue to watch over you.

All our love,

Raven and Terra

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Zelda til Rednaxelos – Well, folks, that's the last chapter. It's not over quite yet, though; we still have the epilogue left. Stick around for it!

Vamp Queen's Seifer-muse – That's it? She made me sound like a sap! I demand a rewrite! And make her get a good muse!

Vamp Queen – *smacks him on the head w/ a rolled up newspaper* Shut up. It was good. * To readers while pinning Seifer down by sitting on his chest* Well, folks, looks like we're just 'bout done. Hey, check out the sequels – Always Yours – A New Fantasy and Always Yours – The Fall Of Utopia. Zelly already started the first on her account and the second will be posted and written by me (hopefully) before March, 2003.