Chapter 29 – Turning of the Tide
A/N: Yeah… this story is confusing… too many characters, to long a story… plus it is the last sequel for a series that spans over four fics… FOUR FICS! No wonder I've become so jaded lately… the fic is getting stale, which is a sign for me to move on… "GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!" my muse seems to be screaming at me… or maybe he's non-existent (I've always assumed my muse to be a he… don't know where I get the idea…)
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"Well, I guess we're all set now." Quistis said as they stood at the balcony, ready to leave for their battle in the Sky.
"How are you going to reach the base? When we last checked, none of you could fly." Selphie made a show to look around at their spines for wings.
"Of course we can't fly. These two will be responsible for bringing us there." Seifer pointed at Damien and Celestine respectively.
"Like how? You're going to strap them to yourselves? I'm sure you'll sink before you can take off. Just Seifer alone is enough to bog you down!" Irvine looked at Damien's slight frame skeptically, unconvinced that it was going to work.
"Of course not, I'm going to divert some of my energies to them… quite in abundance for sharing around, not to worry. Our role is to help them all the way through to the final battle with Redrumiel by clearing all obstacles in their path… and that's where they are the most needed." Celestine explained.
"Then why in the first place hadn't you used the same method when we wanted to go to the Floating island?"
"Because, we can only transmit energies to someone whom we share a certain degree of bond, or else there might be undesirable side-effects."
Besides… there were six of you then… even though I am one perky Angel, it is bound to take its toll on me… and I can't afford for that to happen.
"If you say so…"
"Don't worry about us! You should be wary for yourselves! Those underground creatures aren't the standard issue monsters that you're used to fighting! They will not stupidly wait for their turns to attack, and will most certainly gang up upon you if they find you in an open position. Stay on the alert at all times!" Zell was definitely speaking from experience, as the tone in his voice suggests.
"Okay… we haven't got much time left. There was a leak that informed us Redrumiel intends to attack the Lord and his remaining Angels at the same time that Caraway attacks Balamb Garden and Balamb Town."
At the mention of Balamb Town, Zell's face started to take on darkness as anxiety clouded his thoughts.
"Don't worry, Zell. We'll take care of your family for you. Just concentrate on your battles." Squall turned up the corners of his mouth a little, a rare smile from him to dispel Zell's worries.
"Thanks, man."
"Alright… we have to go now. And you should get the SeeDs ready for the incoming attack. Is Balamb Town sufficiently protected?"
"We've got everything covered. Hynespeed ahead."
"Will do. Oh, I almost forgot… those creatures have a weak spot… which is Light… lots and lots of it. Good luck..."
Celestine turned to face her "charges", holding out a hand that glowed with a warm light, and touched it upon each of their foreheads for a brief spell.
A clear bubble encompassed each of them, and lifted them off the ground.
"You take Seifer and Quistis; I will take Zell and Waterlily." She instructed Damien.
Spreading their wings out at the same time, they started floating off the ground as well.
There was a giggle from Selphie.
"I can almost imagine a halo on your heads!"
"Sorry, Sefie… contrary to popular belief, we do not have halos at all."
"Oh."
They waved their farewells, and flew skyward, tugging the invisible strings attached to the bubbles along with them.
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Time:
19:00 hours
Twenty minutes after the deadline stipulated by Caraway.
Place:
Balamb Garden Everywhere.
The Public Announcement system crackled to life in the midst of the still air in the Garden, the atmosphere tensed-up due to the anticipation of an impending attack by the Galbadian Armies.
"………………..
This is Squall. I know that all of us are going through a difficult patch right now, for not only have we barely recovered from the trauma of losing some who were very dear to us, the enemy we are facing this time is also far stronger than any we have experienced before.
As such, I see it as my duty to say this to you. Whenever you feel tired, and catch yourself losing faith in hope, don't. Remember the reason for which you are fighting this war. Remember the people whom you are seeking to protect. We need to fight for our right to live without having to succumb to another's rule. We need to show the intruder that they have picked the wrong people to provoke. That we SeeDs will not back down from our cause no matter what stands in our way.
And most importantly, remember this: The enemy's power may be formidable, their numbers many. But if we link our hands together, and protect the Garden with the fiercest will, we can defeat them, and kick their asses far away from our territory. Believe, and you can."
He flipped off the P.A. switch with a heaving sigh of relief, for he had successfully completed one of the longest speech he had ever made. It was second only to the one during the Second Sorceress War before they had rammed into Galbadia Garden.
"I thought that was marvelous, my dear." Rinoa smiled proudly at her husband, rubbing his shoulders with a soothing motion to ease their stiffness.
"That will be the last speech I'll ever make…." Squall declared, catching her left hand and pressing it to his lips.
An embarrassed Nida tried to avoid looking, but it wasn't every day the Great Commander displayed affection for his wife so openly… he just had to sneak a glance from the corner of his eye.
"No you won't. As long as you are the Commander of this Garden, you will be making speeches the entire time."
"Hmmph… I'll take things one at a time."
"And now… it is my turn to work." Rinoa stopped massaging his shoulders as a serious look came over her face.
"Be careful, Rinny. It might be your father who's commanding the Galbadian Army, but you never know if there's a spy amongst the troops waiting to snitch on him if he should agree to stand on our side."
"I will be. Pray for me, Squall. I need all the blessing I can get… I only hope that I can convince him to combine his forces with us. It isn't that I do not understand his situation, but I feel that if he stands apart of us, the whole of human race will be like a tray of loose, scattered sand. No resistance whatsoever to the foamy waves. We will be washed away in no time at all."
"Then you, my dear wife, will be the binding agent in the sandcastle, which will stand firm and tall against any rough tide, no matter how deep or how furious. I know it sounds impossible, but Hyne will surely help us this time. She has to."
"Thank you, Squall. Somehow, hearing that from you makes it entirely believable…" She gave him a full kiss on the lips in front of a gaping Nida (who had discarded all pretense by now), then turned to step on the elevator.
"Goodbye, Squall." Was the last thing she said as the elevator descended to the lower level.
"What are you looking at, Nida?"
"Nothing." He said, the blush on his cheeks betraying his lie.
Squall directed a glare at him that promised horrible threats if Nida should leak any of it out.
Satisfied that he had achieved the intended effect, he turned on his communication device, speaking into the mouthpiece.
"Selphie, how are things over at Balamb Town? Have the Galbadians made a move yet?"
"HEY SQUALL! NO! AS YET THE GALBADIANS HAVE NOT ATTACKED IN ANY WAY… THEY'VE ONLY SET UP CAMP OUTSIDE THE TOWN. LOOKS AS IF THEY'RE WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN!" Selphie yelled excitedly into her own mouthpiece, not caring about the state of Squall's eardrums.
"Sheesh… Selphie… I can put this thing a mile away and still hear your voice! Would you mind toning down on your voice?" Squall grumbled, trying the shake the ringing in his ears out.
"Oops! Sorry Squall. Nothing much is happening here. Don't worry, I'll keep you updated as soon as they make a move."
"Roger."
Now this is downright puzzling… why aren't they attacking yet? Is this some kind of trap or what? Or maybe……
I'll just have to wait for Rinny.
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"Mr President , Sir! A Miss Rinoa Heartilly-Leonhart wishes to see you at once."
"Show her in."
"Yes, Sir." The Galbadian Sergeant saluted his President, turned sharply, and marched out of the room in stiff movement.
A few minutes later, the opening of the tent was zipped down, to reveal two Galbadian soldiers escorting his daughter in.
"Take a seat." President Caraway indicated a chair in front of him, which Rinoa took after some hesitation.
An awkward silence filled the air. The father and daughter never had a complete, squabble-less conversation ever since Rinoa had reached her teens, and they were not about to start now.
"So… why are you out here, in the midst of all the action? I thought most Presidents would sit in their comfy little offices and direct with their voices?"
That is such a wrong move, Rinoa! You are trying to convince him, not provoke him!
"I suppose I can attribute it to the old military blood in me."
Caraway was surprised that he was able respond with such an even tone, despite the sarcasm-laced question Rinoa had thrown at him. He would have told her off right away if it were in the old times.
I must be getting old… there's no sense in quarreling with my only daughter in such dire times… especially if it seems that she has come to see me for a proper purpose…
Rinoa was surprised as well… and it definitely loosened a whole lot of tension in the tent.
"I came here to see you today, not to bicker with you, but to discuss something of great importance in the light of the impending war. I am sorry for my tone just now… it was not intentional."
Caraway's eyebrows were raised for quite a measure at the sudden softening of Rinoa's attitude.
"Continue…. I'm listening."
"I urge you to unite with us, the SeeDs, the Estharian government, and all remaining cities of our world against Redrumiel. I know that he has threatened you with certain death if you do not follow his orders. But I believe that even if you listen to him, at the end of it all, he will still dispose of all mankind without a flutter of an eyelash. For according to an old acquaintance of his, he despises us, and wishes more than anything else to get rid of us. Right now, he is merely keeping you alive to make use of you!"
"I know! Do you think that I am completely blind to his cruel intentions? But how can I justify the deaths of thousands of my people should I defy him? His Underground Armies are everywhere, infesting the cities liker rats dwelling in the sewers, awaiting to pounce on the word go! I was at a loss, Rinoa! And I cannot back down now… when I did not refuse him initially, I had lost the chance to refuse him forever….."
"Please, Father!" The word sounded strange to her, foreign in its utterance in her tongue. "I know how tough it is to make a decision, to differentiate between what is really right and wrong. But please ask yourself if you're really a person who betrays his own kind? This isn't like the old General Caraway at all!
I hated you then, I will not be untruthful about this… but I would never have called you a coward… and you are acting like one at this very moment! Please don't make me detest you!" She started to turn away.
"Rinoa…" Caraway reached out a feeble hand in her direction,, the wrinkled skin giving him the look of a fragile old man.
"I will give you thirty minutes to think it over…
However… once the time is up, if you have decided not to join us… I will severe all ties with you. Be prepared for an all-out attack from us!"
She stormed out of the tent, leaving the dust swirling behind her quickened strides.
Twenty minutes later…
The President of Galbadia stood in front of the raised platform, looking at the troops of soldiers decked in Blue and Grey uniforms beneath him.
"My most loyal and competent Galbadian Army… I stand before you to inform you of my newfound decision. It will most certainly affect you, and thus I am giving you the freedom of choice.
I am sure most of you are aware by now, that I have been serving a new Master of some sort for a number of days. Those creatures that you see lurking in Deling, Dollet, Timber and Galbadia Garden are servants of his. I have been ordered by him to attack all cities and villages not under his rule.
But I have decided not to abide by his orders any longer, for I do not believe he has genuine intentions in keeping us alive when the rest are gone. I will join them in opposition to his rule.
For those of you who would like to leave this Army, and follow this new Master, go. I will not keep you.
But for those who have decided to stay with me… I promise you that we will not go down without a fight, if down we will go at all. And that when we chase this intruder out of our lands, you shall have honor and pride of the highest degree.
Now… leave, if you want to."
None of the Galbadian soldiers stirred. Not one of them intended to leave, and some of them felt relieved that they no longer served one who wanted them to fight against their own.
"All of you have decided to stay. This day will be one that etches itself deeply into the history books of the Galbadian Empire… or even the history this world. In the face of uncertainty, all of you have displayed admirable courage. Gentlemen, allow me to show my respect towards you." He ended his speech with a salute, his lip trembling at the dedication of his men.
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"Commander Leonhart! We have spotted the President of Galbadia advancing towards the Garden entrance escorted by two guards! What shall we do now?"
"Allow him to enter. I shall meet him personally at the gates."
"Yes, Commander!"
"Oh, and Nobu?"
The SeeD turned around with a questioning look.
"Treat him with all the respect you can muster."
"Yes, Commander!"
With a tiny smile, Squall turned to Rinoa, who nodded, and slipped her hand through his.
They walked towards the direction of the gates hand in hand to greet the arrival of their esteemed guest.
"President Caraway… it is would be my honor to battle shoulder to shoulder with you. I believe that this is the first collaboration of such magnitude between the Garden and Galbadia."
"Commander Leonhart…"
"Squall please."
"Squall… I can see the vast improvement my daughter has undergone in your hands. And it reassures me that I will not go wrong to place the lives of my people in your hands as well."
"Father!" Rinoa protested with a mock defiance, but the underlying tone of her voice suggested otherwise.
"Besides… if you could get her to call me Father… which is the greatest shock of all… you can achieve anything! Hahahahaha!" He gave a hearty laugh, and slapped Squall roughly on the back. He tried his best not to cough or choke.
"Mr President… much as I would like to enjoy a good conversation with you, I must say that the matters on hand require the greatest urgency… for just as we speak, I suspect Redrumiel already has wind of your decision to turn against him."
"That I have no doubt. My people's lives are at stake here… What do you propose that we do?"
"There is one thing that we have overlooked. As we speak, a group of my comrades have already set off to attack Redrumiel in his lair… of course, this is not to say that they will not be obstructed by his own followers up there, but at least it will distract him a little… enough for us to act, in fact, if we are fast enough. So the greatest priority now is to set off towards your cities, and fortify it against the wave of attack he would certainly order against your people.
On the other hand, we SeeDs will assist you in every way we can… we will dispatch manpower to every one of your cities, while maintaining enough forces to guard Balamb Town as well."
"Now that you've mentioned it… I noticed some of the regular team missing….
I agree with your plan. Which means I haven't got any time to waste… Farewell… and thank you."
He turned to leave, glancing for a while at his daughter, wanting to say something and yet finding it difficult to phrase it.
"Let's go." He told his guards, and headed for the gates.
"Father." Rinoa called out, and found herself liking the sound of it… more in fact, than she cared to admit.
Caraway stopped, turning his head to face her.
"We will have a long talk after all this is over."
The expression on his face was one of infinite gladness… one that spoke louder than a thousand words could ever achieve.
As he walked out of the gates, expectant faces of his men greeted him like welcoming arms.
"Gentlemen… it is time for us to return to where we belong! Protect our homes! Barricade our people against the threat… and most importantly… let's kill some creatures!"
A loud cheer erupted from his men as they drank in his rousing words, followed by another cheer of the same volume from the insides of the Balamb Garden.
I'm assuming that Squall has told them about the good news…… a cause for celebration, certainly.
I have lived for more than half a century, but never in my life have I thought that this day will come…
The day that my own daughter will teach me one of life's most precious lessons… the day that my men will touch my heart with their pride as a part of mankind, even when their leader is floundering in dilemma.
The day that I am convinced more than ever that I, Caraway, can never stay a traitor, as my pride forbids me to be.
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Quistis stares in blatant disbelief at the place Celestine and Damien had brought them to.
"Strider's Islands? As your base? Are you crazy?" Her eyes were round in incredulity.
"Crazier than you think…" Celestine stated with a grin. "Haven't you heard of the quote 'The most dangerous place is also the safest place to be?'"
"What are you guys talking about?" Zell asked in complete confusion.
"You don't want to know, trust me……" Quistis muttered.
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A/N: Yay! I finally finished the chapter! But not the story… so what am I so happy for? Only because I was really stuck on the part where Rinoa had to convince her father… who wasn't that difficult to persuade in the first place. All she had to do was act like the filial daughter a bit, and he was ready to cooperate! That's why daughters always have the upper hand. You can't imagine this working if it Squall were to be the estranged son of Caraway, can you? Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine multiple times!
Anyway, thanks again for your reviews, my precious darlings. (Ewwww…. A tad mushy?) I know this is getting confusing…. It has been too, too long and too, too complicated… I knew I was being too ambitious! Soooo…. To make amends, I shall set up a Question and Answer session in the next chapter. If you have any questions regarding this fic that you aren't too clear about, feel free to list them out. I will explain them the best that I can. This will continue until all the questions are answered, or until the fic ends, whichever is the earliest. So hurry, cos the chapters left aren't that many.
Phew… gotta rest now. Keep them reviews coming! I survive only on them!