Crimson Mask: Chapter 2: So Close, Yet So Far Away
By
Squall Morpheus Leonhart


Somewhere outside Esthar, inside the Sorceress Memorial, two coffins like tubes held two immobile figures. One had black hair while the other had lighter shade, a chestnut colored hair. One was clearly female and also older, possibly in her early forties. She was the one with black hair. The other was male and was in his early twenties, most likely 24. Tough they seemed to be in sleep, they were clearly not, just in a trance of some sort.

Doctors were rushing around them, taking status checks on the two immobile figures. Behind the coffins was chair with a male with a red mask sitting on top of it. Multiple needles were in his arms. Those needles were connected to the two still forms. Off to one side, a man with long dark brown hair watched intently at the scene before him.

Laguna tried not to think of the consequences of the experiment if things gone wrong. The loss would be too much for him. For him to lose not only his wife and lost son again, but also the son who had helped him learn to love once more. Laguna sighed, thinking of a time when he was happy with Ellone and Raine. Soon an alarm jolted him away from blissful memories. He looked to his son, only to find him sprawled on the floor.

"What happened," ordered Laguna of Kiros, who just shrugged in confusion.

"Storm tapped into his own energy after finishing the transfer of energy he had taken yesterday," said an assistant of Odine named Catarrh, "He, therefore, collapsed either from exhaustion or loss of energy, we do not know. He was ill before he even started transferring."

"You don't think I didn't know that already," exclaimed Laguna angrily.

"Prezident Loire, zere is nothing wrong, he juz collapse. So calm down, so I can work in peace," yelled Odine.

"Fine but one more thing, Odine, if you touch my family, I'll make sure you will never find any work on this planet again," threatened Laguna going through the door of the side room were Squall now laid in pallet bed.

Squall turned on the cot as the door opened. Squall looked surprised and smiled, "Hey Dad."

"Hey, yourself," murmured Laguna still pissed, a little more harshly than he would like his voice to be, "What were you thinking?"

"Didn't think at all, I guess. So I went overboard, so what," said Squall, offhandedly as he looked at ceiling.

"'So WHAT,' you could have died and then where would we be. I won't lose you and I will sure as hell won't lose your mother and brother!"

"You don't think I know that, Dad, I've tried everything to make sure that they are alive, pulse and all, and I will go to any limits to bring them back, no matter the cost," said Squall firmly, sitting up on the pallet.

"I know, Squall but…" He trailed off and both turned to the looking glass and at the two figures in the center.

"We better get ready for celebration tonight, Dad. You have a speech and I have a concert to perform," said Squall standing up.

"Right, I almost forgot, 7th anniversary of the end of Ultimecia, right," said Laguna, absentmindedly, turning his gaze from his comatose wife to his moving son.

Squall nodded and the two walked out, unbeknownst of a shadowy figure eavesdropping on them in the shadows of the room.

~O~O~O~O~O~

"Seif, Irvy, Quisty, Zell, Rin, it's time to GO," yelled Selphie merrily as she jumped down the stairs of their quarters.

"You better come down soon or I'll eat SEVEN PIXIE STICKS," screamed Selphie as she ran to the kitchenette in search of the dreaded sugar sticks.

Soon a large rumble was heard and felt and she then looked up from the cabinet she was searching in. Everyone was glaring at her as she pulled out a blue Pixie stick. "Good, you're all here, let's go," said Selphie putting the stick back in to the cabinet but unbeknownst to the group, Selphie had a bag of Pixie sticks in her coat's pocket for safekeeping.

Grabbing her girlfriend's hand and Quistis's too, she dragged them to the Garden's new built hanger. She took this time to study the women she dragged with her. Rinoa wore a long sleeveless white gown and a long black sweater that complimented her hair as her dress did the same with her skin. Quistis wore a black dress that reached her calves, the sleeve's trim was large with a flower décor, and around her waist was an obi. Selphie herself chose a dark hunter green miniskirt dress that was also sleeveless, her coat was black and it reached her knees. The coat and dress were plain but simmered a light green in the right light and angle.

As they approached the Ragnarok, Selphie took a peek back at the males of the group. Irvine wore a light brown suit with a violet silk shirt, the first two buttons loose and his black cowboy had was still on his head, though his hair was loose not tied. Seifer wore a black suit with a black silk shirt, no tie though his first couple of buttons wasn't buttoned as new shoulder length hair was tied tightly at the base of his neck. Zell wore a gray suit with a blue silk shirt and a black tie. His once gravity-defying spikes were gone and his hair was kept short and wavy though Seifer still called him a Chicken Wuss regardless of the new hairstyle.

Soon they were off to Esthar with Selphie piloting and Irvine co-piloting. Cid and Edea would meet them with the rest of Garden later the day but Selphie and the others wanted to go early so they left with the Ragnarok.

~O~O~O~O~O~

They had arrived with an hour to spare, so they decided to walk to the Presidential Palace, something that they didn't do lately with all the missions and work. As soon as they arrived, Laguna, Kiros and Ward greeted them with honors. Even though Seifer was the Ex-Sorceress Knight, he had been always welcomed to the Palace without punishment or insult. After the trio of old, Cid and Edea greeted them. As hugs and kisses were exchanged, all had been somewhat disappointed that Squall didn't so up, or so they thought.

Though Squall had been missing for the last 5 years, he was still thought of. Especially when the Orphanage Gang plus One were together. Basically because Squall was the one to lead and reunite them all, not to mention allow the relationships to be, and encouraging them greatly. He was missed and mostly likely thought of more often during the anniversaries of the Defeat. Not only that but the gang refused to believe that he was dead or even MIA.

Soon everyone was herded to the backyard of the Palace where a stage had been set. Almost like the one Selphie had in FH during the war, however this time the colors were black, red, gray and blue. In front of the stage was a man-made dance floor, then were tables scattered out on the field. The largest table was where Laguna, Kiros, Ward, Edea, Cid and the gang sat. The table was in the center of the field and right in front of the dance floor. As soon as all the guest were seated, Laguna stepped on the lowest platform and spoke into the microphone.

"I know that, the setting is quite unusual than last years festivities where we had just ballroom dancing but this year a friend of mine decided to perform, and trust me, it's everything that isn't ballroom dancing. I better get this speech down before I bore you all to death and here goes…

"I would like to thank everyone who made it here to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the Defeat of Ultimecia! I would especially like to thank those who had defeated the Sorceress that threatened to the world that we have molded throughout time. I am, of course, speaking of Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Quistis Trepe, and Rinoa Heartilly." As he spoke each of their names, the corresponding people stood up.

"I know that, you may still fear him or hate him, and I know that I do this every year but a special thank you to Seifer Almasy for being a good 2nd commander in redemption of Balamb Garden," spoke Laguna as he led a round of applause when Seifer stood.

"I would also like to thank Headmaster Cid Kramer and Edea Kramer for their efforts during the war. That and a specials to SeeD and Garden for their efforts as well.

"Lastly, another thing I do every year. I would like to thank Squall Leonhart, my lost son, who is still missing, for his heroics and leadership both during and after the war. Though you are gone, who have not been forgotten."

A round of applause as cheers and toasts were made and then Laguna raised his right hand to signal silence. "As I have said before, an old friend of mine has agreed to perform and without further ado, I present to you, Storm Chaser!"

"Ohmygod, Ohmygod, Ohmygod, he's here, he's here, he's HERE! My favorite singer! BOOYA," screamed Selphie jumping up and down.

"Selphie, calm down," but even Quistis had to smile, she loved Squall's songs as fiercely as the others.

"Oh let her have her fun, Quisty, the guy ain't that bad," growled Seifer but his eyes were merry with happiness.

"Ah, Seif, you like the guy too, come on," persisted Irvine.

"I don't see how you like the guy. I mean, he's a mystery for all we know he could be a cyborg," complained Zell, the only one of the group who was not in the Chaser obsession

"Don't you dare say that about him, Chicken Wuss," threatened Rinoa.

"Don't call me THAT!"

"Be quiet, he's going on stage now," hushed Quistis.

She was right; Squall was walking to the top platform. This time he wore a crimson mask with black flames. He was dressed in a black silk shirt unbuttoned for the first two. On top of that was a red vest, then a black trench coat. He also wore black leather pants and black fingerless gloves. His ever-present guitar was at his side. He approached the microphone.

"As you all know, I'm Storm Chaser and sadly I have no type of schedule of what I'm singing, so if you have a request just yell it out," said Squall.

Then someone yelled out, "How about 'Love Spell'!" Squall knew it was Rinoa but all he did was smile and nodded, then strung the first note.

AN: The Gang is all here finally and the Concert is next but a shadow lies hidden under the lights. Now you all know where Raine and Squall's brother is but there will be nothing about them in the next chapter or the one after but in Chapter 5 they will play a major role. That's right they are awakening and havoc is just around the corner. After Chapter 5, the second mini-plot will occur. I hope you like this but I'm really sad because no one seems to be reading this :( so I better get more reviews on this soon.

Special Thanks goes to Redrum (I love your poems sorry for not reviewing them but I was busy) and Shalom (Norse, sorry don't know much about it but I am a whiz in Greek)

Here's your quote:

So close yet so far away, don't give away your dream yet
Squall Morpheus Leonhart
2002