=============================================================ANNOUNCEMENT: This chapter might seem a bit out of place, but trust that I know what I'm doing... at least a little bit. And some things were NOT in the game: read it anyways. Sorry for the delay, what I have feared has happened: Writer's Block. I let the fic slip for a day, and lost my train of thought. If anything, this is a chapter to get it back.
Riverwood - yes, they are moving fast, that's the point. Heh. don't worry, though, I'm not going to write anything that would increase the rating: I've already done the raciest I'll attempt in this fic.
Perfect Soldier 01 - thanks. I make certain I am feeling a bit of the emotion I'm writing about when I do it, so it'll be more real. [think musical impulses] Hope you enjoy.
Platinum Angel - Kudos for the longest review ever! As a reward... I'll *looks around room* give you yet another chapter! YAAAYYY!!!!! ... well thank you for the time [I do LOVE reviews], and thanks for saying such nice things. Yes, I do have some OOC-ness quirking its way through the characters, but I think in this story it adds to it. Description is my forte, I'm a completely visual person, so sometimes writing doesn't do my thoughts justice, but sometimes I score and get the written word to pop. Rajin is one of my favourite characters, although kinda dopey, it is clear he has a heart and I wanted to portray that, plus he IS a warrior, why else would he want to be a SeeD, ya know? I tried to make Seifer's progression into sulkiness gradual, and a bit dark, so as I fall through the climax of this particular story [not unlike Alice's fall through the Rabbit Hole] I hope to weave Seifer's antagonistic behaviour through his actions with Squall's crew and Esthar [MAJORHINTINGHERE]. Yes, kind of a gruff engagement, isn't it? He didn't even ask, just told her, almost like commands, dontcha think? Okay, after the longest shout out in existence I am going to get myself a nice cup of tea and a biscuit before continuing with what will be undoubtably the most enigmatic chapter yet. Enjoy.
=============================================================
Laguna Loire stood in the passenger bay of a ship he never thought he would revisit. Then again, he never thought he would see himself marry such a beautiful woman, defeat a Sorceress to save Ellone, become President of Esthar, watch his son fall in love with his first love's daughter, tell Squall he was his father, go to save Ellone yet again, and save his country from a glorified hunk of marble, a teenage rival of his son and some futuristic b*tch with megalomaniachal tendencies. All in all, tangling his hair in his comb in the morning was all Laguna COULD expect from life with any certainty. Hands in his pockets, Laguna remenisqued. The club in Deling City where Julia got her start, infiltrating the hunk of luminescent rock Lunatic Pandora, falling off a cliff and waking to the most beautiful face in Hyne's holy creation, wanting nothing more than to stay in Winhill while travelling the world. Laguna always wanted the best he could get his hands on, even if he did mess it all up, but staying in Winhill with Raine, raising Ellone as a family was one thing he didn't mess up. He could remember the smell of her flowers, she always loved flowers... grew thousands of 'em... even sending seeds away to her sister in Centra... who would have thought that sister would be Edea the mighty Sorceress. Laguna chuckled to himself, remembering the time he had taken Raine and Ellone to Edea's House for an anniversary present, being shuffled into the stone building to find the mighty Sorceress Edea covered in flour holding the remains of some poor bird in disbelief that it could possibly burn. At least the buns came out nice... he remembered sitting on the beach with Raine, Ellone had already been put to bed by an overeager Edea, and just sitting there holding his wife in his arms. The sunrise wasn't particularly beautiful, in retrospect, there was a storm coming that delayed their return to Winhill by two days, much like today's weather he mused, continuing the memory. The wind was just beginning to send small tendrils of sea air and sparkles of water to pucker the two lovers, but it didn't matter: it was beautiful. He could remember Raine nuzzling her head into his shoulder, lazing her arms around his own and sighing contentedly, it didn't matter how long they'd have left, Laguna thought 19 years later, they had found such passionate love, such joy and fulfillment that whatever evils stole him away from her could never steal away the smell of her, the colour of her hair, her need for alone time. They were all preserved, not just in memory but in their son.
Their son! It still amazed Laguna that they had a child, and although he was sorry he couldn't have been there for Raine, although he still cried some nights thinking of how he might have saved her, he only took one look at Ellone, all grown up and beautiful, and stood proud, knowing that if by some chance he had saved Raine, been there to raise Squall and whatever children after, there would have been many good times for them, yes but the rest of the world would be lost. He could remember all too well when word reached him of Raine's death, of the birth of Squall, of the desperate wailing that ensued as he tried to leave, tried to go back to Winhill, at least see her funeral, but that was not to be. Edea and Cid brought Ellone and the little baby to Esthar as soon as they were able, Laguna remembered meeting them at the entrance to Esthar, not even wanting to look at his son. He just broke down, crying his wimpy eyes out, sitting with his back against the wall on the floor. The mighty President of Esthar brought down by a babe. Ellone had sauntered over, crying, and slipped her frail female body into his arms, trying as hard as she could to reach her stubby kid arms around his grown-up bulk, pleading with Unc'l Laaguunaa to see Raine's baby, his little boy. She said the people in town were crying, saying nasty things about the foreigner who stole Raine away from them, how he'd probably not even look at the child she sacrificed herself for. Laguna sniffled, wiping his red eyes with his palms, panting slightly as he tried to look up, as he tried to do something other than crying. He ended up hugging Ellone, then jostling himself as Edea bent down to place the sleeping baby in his arms. At first, he stiffened, rejecting the boy, but then that little boy yawned, attempting to flex his little baby muscles away from the restricting blanket and Laguna smiled, then laughed, cradling the babe nervously in one arm,
"Hey there lil' fella" he whispered, waving his index finger at the boy's face, shifting the blanket slightly to get a better look, surprised as the boy opened his eyes slowly, one at a time and looked up at him, he had such powerful, ancient eyes.
"Hi," Laguna said a little louder, captivated with the eyes so close to his own, yet... those eyes reminded him so much of that night he and Raine spent on the beach watching the summer squall roll in. Squall!
"Hi... Squall, hey there son. This is daddy, can you say daddy?" he cooed, fingering Squall's nose,
"I doubt he's old enough for that, dear." Edea said, reminding Laguna that there were other people in the room.
Long times have passed since then, and Esthar being in so much turmoil at the time, Laguna, Edea and to a lesser part Cid decided it would be best for Ellone and Squall to be taken to Edea's growing orphanage and grow up with last names other than Loire so as to not have vengeful people try and hurt them. Plus, Cid noted, Laguna was too absent minded to raise two children in a glorified war zone, of course at the time, Cid had been looking for the glasses he had on his nose, but that wasn't important. Giving another chuckle, Laguna gazed out the window, and wished he had contacted Squall years ago, but had discussed with Cid every moment business allowed about Squall's progress, even forking out the money for the uber-expensive Gunblade Squall had taken for granted. He didn't even think Squall knew how he could have such good things with the revenue of Garden, but Laguna had fully planned to tell Squall about his parentage etc, on his 18th birthday, which as fate would decide was four months away. Laguna heard the steel-toed footsteps of his son walking up to him, and turned right before Squall was about to make himself known.
The look on Squall's face was worth it. Come to think of it, everything that's happened in the past 25 years was worth it, even the bad military food.
=============================================================
'The sands of time don't pour out of a jar, they cry softly out of Fate's eyes, creating such a lake of colour and texture, even the strongest could never get out of it's liquor. Just as water is in every one of us, so is time, so is destiny, for what is time but the fulfillment of destiny? Sometimes I see the world and cry, every tear wishing something good to come of it, for if the ending is not good, then it can't be the end. This is not to say there are no evil people that deserve a bad end, but when something so painful in your life happens, when everything seems to go utterly wrong, how worse can it get? Even pain can be a pleasure when you're surrounded by comfort, by love, by that ever elusive dawning of hope. Akin to a dance and a song, life surges onward, forever on, never stopping, never yeilding; when people say that life is passing them by, it's only because they are clinging to a jetty and not letting the current sweep them away. So I have learned to let go, to not cling to any pain or pleasure but contain in myself the natural elements and fight when attacked, eat when hungry, and never be the villain. If it can be explained, is it really worth that much protecting? How much is the worth of the world?'
- Nobus Ordo Saeclorum
Seifer stood tall, like a god spewing lightening on unsuspecting mortals. Barking orders and threatening lives, he lashed out at all who didn't do exactly what he said when he said it. This included Rajin. Fujin grimaced at the strides Seifer was taking to keep Rajin away. It came to her that maybe he was worried, scared she would suddenly deny him, run into the arms of the bronze berserker but he had nothing to fear. Looking at him, she could see the minute wrinkles under his eyes, signs that he was about to snap and needed a break, but none would be found. The scouts had spotted Ragnarok, the Estharian flagship, heading right for them. It could only mean one thing: Squall wasn't going to wait any longer.
'fog drifts into the streets coating everything in a veil of mystique.
"Are you coming to find me? Are you here for me?"
the mist answers with a sigh,
'Follow me, enter the magic: We will carry you home'
the mist is getting thicker now, a change in the weather
"Be the one that saves me"
beyond the fold of mortal fog a mist speaks and tells of all
I will go, I will follow beyond the mist into the place of salvation
maybe the forest still stands, the castles, the mystery
something to bring me to that place where I can be happy
Is that what I want? Happiness? Reality is harsh, bitter and pained
While surreality is harsher, more bitter, and utterly painful, it is also
joy. a place where all inner secrets can be unleashed
the fog is receeding will I join it? Will I run from this?
what will be my answer, to become a wanderer for the rest of my days?
I choose the wind, I choose the mist, may I run, may I travel
may my eyes be opened
I am free
or do I follow? '
- Nobus Ordo Saeclorum
Riverwood - yes, they are moving fast, that's the point. Heh. don't worry, though, I'm not going to write anything that would increase the rating: I've already done the raciest I'll attempt in this fic.
Perfect Soldier 01 - thanks. I make certain I am feeling a bit of the emotion I'm writing about when I do it, so it'll be more real. [think musical impulses] Hope you enjoy.
Platinum Angel - Kudos for the longest review ever! As a reward... I'll *looks around room* give you yet another chapter! YAAAYYY!!!!! ... well thank you for the time [I do LOVE reviews], and thanks for saying such nice things. Yes, I do have some OOC-ness quirking its way through the characters, but I think in this story it adds to it. Description is my forte, I'm a completely visual person, so sometimes writing doesn't do my thoughts justice, but sometimes I score and get the written word to pop. Rajin is one of my favourite characters, although kinda dopey, it is clear he has a heart and I wanted to portray that, plus he IS a warrior, why else would he want to be a SeeD, ya know? I tried to make Seifer's progression into sulkiness gradual, and a bit dark, so as I fall through the climax of this particular story [not unlike Alice's fall through the Rabbit Hole] I hope to weave Seifer's antagonistic behaviour through his actions with Squall's crew and Esthar [MAJORHINTINGHERE]. Yes, kind of a gruff engagement, isn't it? He didn't even ask, just told her, almost like commands, dontcha think? Okay, after the longest shout out in existence I am going to get myself a nice cup of tea and a biscuit before continuing with what will be undoubtably the most enigmatic chapter yet. Enjoy.
=============================================================
Laguna Loire stood in the passenger bay of a ship he never thought he would revisit. Then again, he never thought he would see himself marry such a beautiful woman, defeat a Sorceress to save Ellone, become President of Esthar, watch his son fall in love with his first love's daughter, tell Squall he was his father, go to save Ellone yet again, and save his country from a glorified hunk of marble, a teenage rival of his son and some futuristic b*tch with megalomaniachal tendencies. All in all, tangling his hair in his comb in the morning was all Laguna COULD expect from life with any certainty. Hands in his pockets, Laguna remenisqued. The club in Deling City where Julia got her start, infiltrating the hunk of luminescent rock Lunatic Pandora, falling off a cliff and waking to the most beautiful face in Hyne's holy creation, wanting nothing more than to stay in Winhill while travelling the world. Laguna always wanted the best he could get his hands on, even if he did mess it all up, but staying in Winhill with Raine, raising Ellone as a family was one thing he didn't mess up. He could remember the smell of her flowers, she always loved flowers... grew thousands of 'em... even sending seeds away to her sister in Centra... who would have thought that sister would be Edea the mighty Sorceress. Laguna chuckled to himself, remembering the time he had taken Raine and Ellone to Edea's House for an anniversary present, being shuffled into the stone building to find the mighty Sorceress Edea covered in flour holding the remains of some poor bird in disbelief that it could possibly burn. At least the buns came out nice... he remembered sitting on the beach with Raine, Ellone had already been put to bed by an overeager Edea, and just sitting there holding his wife in his arms. The sunrise wasn't particularly beautiful, in retrospect, there was a storm coming that delayed their return to Winhill by two days, much like today's weather he mused, continuing the memory. The wind was just beginning to send small tendrils of sea air and sparkles of water to pucker the two lovers, but it didn't matter: it was beautiful. He could remember Raine nuzzling her head into his shoulder, lazing her arms around his own and sighing contentedly, it didn't matter how long they'd have left, Laguna thought 19 years later, they had found such passionate love, such joy and fulfillment that whatever evils stole him away from her could never steal away the smell of her, the colour of her hair, her need for alone time. They were all preserved, not just in memory but in their son.
Their son! It still amazed Laguna that they had a child, and although he was sorry he couldn't have been there for Raine, although he still cried some nights thinking of how he might have saved her, he only took one look at Ellone, all grown up and beautiful, and stood proud, knowing that if by some chance he had saved Raine, been there to raise Squall and whatever children after, there would have been many good times for them, yes but the rest of the world would be lost. He could remember all too well when word reached him of Raine's death, of the birth of Squall, of the desperate wailing that ensued as he tried to leave, tried to go back to Winhill, at least see her funeral, but that was not to be. Edea and Cid brought Ellone and the little baby to Esthar as soon as they were able, Laguna remembered meeting them at the entrance to Esthar, not even wanting to look at his son. He just broke down, crying his wimpy eyes out, sitting with his back against the wall on the floor. The mighty President of Esthar brought down by a babe. Ellone had sauntered over, crying, and slipped her frail female body into his arms, trying as hard as she could to reach her stubby kid arms around his grown-up bulk, pleading with Unc'l Laaguunaa to see Raine's baby, his little boy. She said the people in town were crying, saying nasty things about the foreigner who stole Raine away from them, how he'd probably not even look at the child she sacrificed herself for. Laguna sniffled, wiping his red eyes with his palms, panting slightly as he tried to look up, as he tried to do something other than crying. He ended up hugging Ellone, then jostling himself as Edea bent down to place the sleeping baby in his arms. At first, he stiffened, rejecting the boy, but then that little boy yawned, attempting to flex his little baby muscles away from the restricting blanket and Laguna smiled, then laughed, cradling the babe nervously in one arm,
"Hey there lil' fella" he whispered, waving his index finger at the boy's face, shifting the blanket slightly to get a better look, surprised as the boy opened his eyes slowly, one at a time and looked up at him, he had such powerful, ancient eyes.
"Hi," Laguna said a little louder, captivated with the eyes so close to his own, yet... those eyes reminded him so much of that night he and Raine spent on the beach watching the summer squall roll in. Squall!
"Hi... Squall, hey there son. This is daddy, can you say daddy?" he cooed, fingering Squall's nose,
"I doubt he's old enough for that, dear." Edea said, reminding Laguna that there were other people in the room.
Long times have passed since then, and Esthar being in so much turmoil at the time, Laguna, Edea and to a lesser part Cid decided it would be best for Ellone and Squall to be taken to Edea's growing orphanage and grow up with last names other than Loire so as to not have vengeful people try and hurt them. Plus, Cid noted, Laguna was too absent minded to raise two children in a glorified war zone, of course at the time, Cid had been looking for the glasses he had on his nose, but that wasn't important. Giving another chuckle, Laguna gazed out the window, and wished he had contacted Squall years ago, but had discussed with Cid every moment business allowed about Squall's progress, even forking out the money for the uber-expensive Gunblade Squall had taken for granted. He didn't even think Squall knew how he could have such good things with the revenue of Garden, but Laguna had fully planned to tell Squall about his parentage etc, on his 18th birthday, which as fate would decide was four months away. Laguna heard the steel-toed footsteps of his son walking up to him, and turned right before Squall was about to make himself known.
The look on Squall's face was worth it. Come to think of it, everything that's happened in the past 25 years was worth it, even the bad military food.
=============================================================
'The sands of time don't pour out of a jar, they cry softly out of Fate's eyes, creating such a lake of colour and texture, even the strongest could never get out of it's liquor. Just as water is in every one of us, so is time, so is destiny, for what is time but the fulfillment of destiny? Sometimes I see the world and cry, every tear wishing something good to come of it, for if the ending is not good, then it can't be the end. This is not to say there are no evil people that deserve a bad end, but when something so painful in your life happens, when everything seems to go utterly wrong, how worse can it get? Even pain can be a pleasure when you're surrounded by comfort, by love, by that ever elusive dawning of hope. Akin to a dance and a song, life surges onward, forever on, never stopping, never yeilding; when people say that life is passing them by, it's only because they are clinging to a jetty and not letting the current sweep them away. So I have learned to let go, to not cling to any pain or pleasure but contain in myself the natural elements and fight when attacked, eat when hungry, and never be the villain. If it can be explained, is it really worth that much protecting? How much is the worth of the world?'
- Nobus Ordo Saeclorum
Seifer stood tall, like a god spewing lightening on unsuspecting mortals. Barking orders and threatening lives, he lashed out at all who didn't do exactly what he said when he said it. This included Rajin. Fujin grimaced at the strides Seifer was taking to keep Rajin away. It came to her that maybe he was worried, scared she would suddenly deny him, run into the arms of the bronze berserker but he had nothing to fear. Looking at him, she could see the minute wrinkles under his eyes, signs that he was about to snap and needed a break, but none would be found. The scouts had spotted Ragnarok, the Estharian flagship, heading right for them. It could only mean one thing: Squall wasn't going to wait any longer.
'fog drifts into the streets coating everything in a veil of mystique.
"Are you coming to find me? Are you here for me?"
the mist answers with a sigh,
'Follow me, enter the magic: We will carry you home'
the mist is getting thicker now, a change in the weather
"Be the one that saves me"
beyond the fold of mortal fog a mist speaks and tells of all
I will go, I will follow beyond the mist into the place of salvation
maybe the forest still stands, the castles, the mystery
something to bring me to that place where I can be happy
Is that what I want? Happiness? Reality is harsh, bitter and pained
While surreality is harsher, more bitter, and utterly painful, it is also
joy. a place where all inner secrets can be unleashed
the fog is receeding will I join it? Will I run from this?
what will be my answer, to become a wanderer for the rest of my days?
I choose the wind, I choose the mist, may I run, may I travel
may my eyes be opened
I am free
or do I follow? '
- Nobus Ordo Saeclorum