I stumbled through Time Compression blindly, wondering if I could ever make my way back to my own time. My wounds were healing faster due to the acceleration of time, but I was still lost. As I continued to make my way through, I saw a door, in the middle of my line of sight. I hesitated, then walked to it. It opened onto what appeared to be a nursery. There was a baby in a carry basket, and sitting beside the basket was... me. I walked further into the room, and stared.
"I'm in the wrong time."
"Obviously. But that's okay, you have to be here."
"Why?"
"You need to take him to Matron. But make sure it's a time when you're not there."
"What? Who is he?"
"He's Squall and Rinoa's baby. But he doesn't belong here."
"But-"
"But nothing. When you make it back, Matron will ask you about this, you need to do it." I bowed my head slightly. From the sounds of things, I had no choice, and possibly, I'd already done it.
"Why?" I repeated.
"Because if he's not there, the course of our history will change. It may not have been the happiest life for all of us, but who knows how much worse it could be if you don't take him away." I watched my future self, and finally nodded. I moved forward, and lifted the basket containing the son of the 'Lion of Balamb', and walked away. I don't know if it was just my imagination, but the basket was very heavy as I disappeared back into the mists of time.
Edea Kramer stood as she heard the knock at the door. She opened it cautiously and stared at the strange man standing at her door. He was carrying a basket with a baby in it. She frowned as he silently put the basket in her hands.
"Why are you giving him to me?" the man didn't answer, but turned away. "Who are you, are you his father? Why? What's his name?" The man turned, and spoke so softly, that she could barely make out the words.
"I was told to leave him here, I don't-" as the man spoke, Edea lifted the baby from his basket, and let the carrier fall to the ground. As it did, it tipped, and something fell out. The man's eyes widened. "Hyperion," he breathed in awe. Then his eyes focused on the baby thoughtfully. "His name is Seifer. Seifer Almasy." The man announced. He then turned, and started walking away."
"Who are you? What do I tell him when he wants to know about his family?" The man shook his head sadly. He continued walking.
"It doesn't matter. You'll understand one day." With those cryptic words, the man faded into the darkness, but not before Edea got one last glimpse of his face. She was surprised. He was not as old as she had believed, blonde, and sad looking. The last thing she noticed as he faded away altogether, was a bizarre tattoo creeping up the side of his face. She was distracted by the baby suddenly crying out.
"Come on Seifer, let's get you inside," she murmured. She walked inside, puzzling over a man she would not see for many years to come.
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What If...? - the sequel/Teaser