Peace
Don't say that it's not worth it.
-Yuna, FFX
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If we allow the peoples, to have one night, just one night, with peace, and grant them the night to live without fear in their hearts, think how happy that they will be. Peace is worth more than Gil can measure.
-Headmistress Quistis Trepe, Peace
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I will bring the Calm to Spira.
-Yuna, FFX
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It has been proven that peace has a calming effect, and allows the humans to rest in peace, literally, while the world as they know it revolves normally. Without any wars, without turmoil.
-Advisor Cid Kramer, A Last Hope
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(I do not own FFX nor does it happen much (MUCH) in this fic, but those words by Yuna were so inspiring!)
Main Hall, 1F, Balamb Garden, currently in Deling area of Galbadia.
Black leather shoes strode down the hallways in measured steps, with its owner carefully perusing a report. A large gunblade with a blade made from crystal that shone in a million colours as the prismatic colours that were hidden within the fiery rays of the sun broke upon contact of the blade hung at his belt.
Squall Leonhart Loire looked up from his report only to see Selphie chasing Irvine around with a huge stack of surveys. "IRVINE! Why won't you stop trying-GOTCHA!"
Irvine, who was knocked onto the ground with Selphie's tackle grumbled something about being out of shape. Squall walked over, mildly amused. "Selphie, what has Irvine done now?"
Selphie, who had just finished tying Irvine's hands up with rope, grinned at Squall. "I'm just asking him to fill out these personal survey forms! Here, you can take a look at it." Slightly relieved that Selphie had merely asked him to look and not fill it, he reached out a gloved hand and accepted the form.
1: Does yellow make me look fat?
2: Do chocobos make you sneeze?
3: Do you like trains?
4: Do you think I look ugly if I use a nunchake?
5: Do you think that I should give out more surveys?
Squall stopped looking after that, fighting an urge to laugh. The entire list was a grand total of 25 pages and 2500 questions long, which elicited no small amount of consternation from Irvine. He would not do anything to anger Selphie (the consequences were not pretty), but he had told Squall a month ago that Selphie looked fat in yellow.
"Just the way I like her, so she's not too thin. Hey, Squall, are you even listening?"
However, Selphie hated being called fat. As to the second question, chocobos DID make Irvine sneeze, and he was frankly speaking, terrified of the yellow birds. Squall remembered one memorable incident a year ago when they had to get to an area accessible only by chocobos, and poor Irvine was dragged onto a huge one by Selphie. He fell off halfway, and was immediately stampeded by a horde of chocobos.
As to trains, Irvine had no strong feelings about them, but he got trainsick the last time they rode on one. (It was a SeeD mission to Galbadia). Selphie did not appear particularly ugly to Squall nor Irvine when she used a nunchake, but another conversation they had a year ago went something like this.
"Man, I wish that Selphie would change her weapon to a rod or something. ALL of the chicks in my games use Rods! Yo Squall, you awake?"
And it was common knowledge in all three Gardens that whenever Selphie came skipping around with a huge pile of papers, you got lost. Glancing at Irvine, Squall saw that he was frantically making signs from beneath Selphie, who was sitting on him and preparing to make him answer her surveys. (Tee-hee! I'm sure that you will have SO much FUN!)
"(Squall, for old time's sake-HELP!!!!!)"
"Irvy, did you say something?"
Watching Irvine plead behind-or rather, under Selphie, Squall couldn't help but smile. "Okay, Selphie? I know that you have something for Irvine to do, but I need him at the Command Centre to straighten out some stuff. President Loire and Generals Eckman, Nikolas, and Caraway are due to visit in two hours."
Selphie pouted. "Aww……, is it really that important?"
"I'm afraid it is, "Two voices chorused in unison. Squall blinked, and looked behind him to see Advisor Cid Kramer standing behind him with a small smile on his face. Edea, the person whom Squall and the others commonly referred to as 'Matron', stood beside him, garbed in a simple black gown, another smile stretching her lips.
Selphie was the first one to react. "Matron! Ciddy!"
Everyone stared.
Irvine scratched his head (he had gotten his hands out), "Ciddy? Sounds like overkill to me. I say, did she just have a candy bar this morning?"
Squall was far more composed. He offered the SeeD salute, one that Grand Advisor Cid returned with some difficulty, due to the yellow creature that had grabbed him in a hug so tight that he could not breathe properly. "Ah-Selphie, thank you for your enthusiasm, but-would you please let go?"
Matron, known to the world as Sorceress Edea who once was the ambassador of Galbadia, in a very memorable incident not too long ago, smiled and caught up where Cid left off. "Squall, Irvine, we need you two at Command now. Selphie, you and Quistis are to greet our latest newcomer into the Garden, from Trabia. Her name is Anna, and I think you two are acquaintances?"
"OOOOOOOOH! Yes, we are! But the last time I saw her was when we were at Trabia after the G-missile strike! Is she alright?"
It did not dawn upon her that the question was rather pointless, as a girl who was injured grievously would hardly be in any condition to make the ten hour trip from Galbadia Garden which was currently in Esthar, across the planet, despite the presence of several new airships. Matron smiled and replied. "I think that you would be better off seeing her yourself."
Selphie immediately ran off with excited squeals. Irvine wiped an imaginary sweatdrop. "That was a close one. Thanks, you guys!"
Cid chuckled. "Ah, the same old Irvine and Selphie. It brings joy to my aging heart to see you both having such fun."
Edea nodded, and motioned for them both to follow her. Squall immediately complied, but Irvine stared blankly for a while. "Wait, you didn't make that up, Squall? I thought-"
"No, I DID need you in the Command Centre. Now hasten, for Zell is already there, awaiting our arrival."
Grumbling slightly, Irvine followed Squall and the two Advisors.
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Front Gate, 1F, Balamb Garden
Selphie skipped happily past the sentries on duty and waited by the main entrance for the chopper to arrive. Due to recent events, SeeD had posted armed sentries and turrets at the main doors, along with commissioning a fleet of Galbadian assault copters and other vehicles. Those advanced military vehicles were parked within the remodelled Parking Bay, which had been expanded to include a Hangar for the Ragnarok and the copters.
Garden had undergone many major changes in the past five years. For one, the power source for Garden was no longer oil, but Energy Crystals which were piled up in the old oil stratums. The entire MD level had been refurbished as well, now being a sleek, sterile environment overseen by several technicians in their control towers. Now, there was no danger of a stray spark igniting the oil, as happened during the second conflict with Ultimecia. The resulting blaze had destroyed the MD level and left Garden immobile for several months.
New weapons were also installed, ranging from the Galbadian Hyper Autocannons which could shoot down almost anything with 50mm shells, to Estharian Pulse Accelerators, massive cannons that were powerful but slow and energy consuming, and SeeD's own armament. All three Gardens were equipped as well with a strange energy weapon developed by scientists around the world led by Dr. Odine. It involved the Rings beneath the Gardens rising up to the top as the former Gardens were when they were stationary, and emitting a special pulse.
At this moment, Selphie stood beside Quistis, watching as the large copter descended. The winds kicked up by its descent blew at Selphie's black SeeD skirt, but she was too engrossed to see her old friend that she did not subdue her fiercely flapping garment, which was as short as her pinafore.
Quistis was more formal, garbed in her dress uniform and with her blonde hair neat and shiny. Adding to the perfect SeeD uniform she wore, there was no mistaking her for anyone else. As the copter landed, and three people stepped out, Quistis saluted smartly, a move that was followed by Selphie.
"Greetings, SeeD delegation from Trabia Garden. I was informed of your arrival and would like to welcome you, on behalf of High Commander Squall Leonhart and as Headmistress myself of Balamb Garden. Headmaster Kaiser Odine spoke highly of you."
Anna returned the salute with a smile. "It is an honour to meet you all. Selphie, how's it going?"
Quistis hid a smile as she led the other two men, who were official representatives of Headmaster Odine, into the Main Office, leaving the two girls alone. Anna was a mirror image of Selphie, and SeeD had posted her to Balamb in the hopes of adding an ally to the frontline fighters against Rinoa.
In her heart, she knew that Anna could never fill the hole left by Rinoa's departure, but they would treat her as well as they did Rinoa.
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Command Centre, 3F, Balamb Garden
The Command Centre was a high tech, advanced place which had replaced Headmaster Cid's old office. Quistis now had an office that was just to the left of the Command Centre, linked by an oaken door. The Centre itself was lined with banks of computers and had a large ECD screen in the centre. The Energy Crystal Display screen allowed the planning of tactical manoeuvres on a large scale as well as projecting detailed information up there.
Squall, Zell and Irvine listened intently as Cid warned them of the latest news picked up by Esthar's satellite network. "There is a strange disturbance in the Trabian region, or to be more precise, at the large crater site. We suspect that the Sorceress may be hiding out there, biding her time. We have also received reports of rare items missing and monster breeds lessening by a great number around the world. Now, if you remember, these were the exact same things that occurred during the first War with Rinoa. She created an army of men loyal to her and monsters, but was unable to break our defences. If it is indeed her, she will not make the same mistake twice."
Edea added. "I have another bit of disturbing news, only recently passed to me by Sorceress Fiona from Esthar. The Lunatic Pandora has shown signs of charging up, and we fear that it will not be long before the machine is revived. Doctor Odine and President Loire are on site, and the President expresses his regret at not being able to attend this meeting."
All of the Sorceresses shared a telepathic link, which enabled them to contact each other quickly in times of need. It was tiring however, and Edea's face was slightly pale. "He has sent Aides Kiros Seagull and Ward Zabac to represent him, however."
Before Squall could respond, Xu's voice rang out from the speakers. "Red alert! Incoming torpedo, ETA in eight seconds! All units, brace for impact!"
Leaping onto the elevator followed by Zell and Irvine, Squall rode urgently up to the Bridge, where Nida ran his hands over the control globes, trying frantically to steer the Garden away. It was no use. Even with the Garden's increased speed of three hundred kilometres per hour, the torpedo streaked closer.
"No good, Squall! Brace for impact!"
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A/N: Thankyouthankyouthankyou to all of those kind people who said my story resembles FFVIII! It's a great honour to hear that!
To Lunar-Girl: Thanks so much! That was the best compliment anyone could give me! A sequel to the game! OMG, thanks so much!
To Karla3: Really? Well, I am really really glad that you liked it!
Thanks to Ispreno, FF9 Zidane, and Old User as well!
I hope that my adding of a new character (Anna) doesn't upset the storyline, coz FFVIII didn't have an Anna. I just needed someone new to write about. Oh, as you might have gathered, she's a mirror image of Selphie. I'm thinking of making her more visually appealing, however. (sly grin)
Symbolism: I'll be adding this section if I add certain elements hinting about other games or certain parts of FFVIII in it. See if you can find all of the symbols!
"Man, I wish that Selphie would change her weapon to a rod or something. ALL of the chicks in my games use Rods! Yo Squall, you awake?"
-Irvine
Did you notice that Aeris (FF7), Garnet/Dagger/Sara/whatever (FF9), and Yuna (FF10) use rods? And they are videogame characters, ya?
Ooo…MD Level FUN! I assumed that oil powered the Gardens in FFVIII since that Squall did mention it was an oil stratum. I just upgraded it to use Energy Crystals!
P.S: Nida is kinda cool, come to think of it. At the risk of destroying any suspense, I am thinking of pairing him with Xu……I like that combo! NiXu! Or Xuda!