Long Live the King

A/N: It's the last chapter! OMFG!! Alright, since I couldn't come down to one decision, I just thought I'd write all three endings, enter them into the chapters, and then you just choose which one you want to read. :D

Looks like you've chosen the sad/happy ending. This is one the Squinoa fans will not like. .; But I thought it was the most creative. Have fun!

Chapter 15: Long Live the King

Rinoa sat back silently in her room, staring up at the ceiling. She was exhausted. She spent most of the week trying to find a way out of it all. She tried running away, but she had chickened out and ran back, crying into Squall's arms. She even tried finding a way to choose a different Guardian Force to become King, but none of the choices seemed to be good enough for her.

Sleipner chose me for a reason. He believed I was the best one to become King... Can I really let him down? Could I let all of the Guardian Force's down? She thought about it, eyes closing and thin brows knitting together in a frown.

She thought about Sleipner, and how much he had wanted her to become the King. He trusted her to rule over the Guardian Force's, to command them, and to take control and protect them all. A heavy sigh escaped from parted lips and she opened her eyes, standing up and sliding her boots on.

She had to see Squall.

----------

The gunblade wielder sat quietly at his desk, staring sullenly at the screen in front of him. There has to be a way to save her from all of this, he thought to himself. He heard the doors slide open and his gaze flitted over to see who it was. He caught blue and immediately sat up straight, watching her make her way around the room to lean against the desk beside him.

"Squall... I'm sorry," she barely choked out, a forced smile on her face. "I can't let him down." She had come to her decision. And she knew Squall wouldn't stand for it.

The man leapt out of his chair, sending the innocent object crashing against the wall behind him with the force. His hands gripped her forearms and he held onto her tightly. "No, Rinoa. You're going to stay with us! I'll find a way! I told you I would, and I will."

The sorceress smiled and tilted her head to the side, despite the aggressive nature she was receiving. "Alright, Squall. I trust you," she murmured as his grip on her lessened. He pulled her close to him, crushing her with his embrace. He wouldn't let he go, afraid that if he did, he would never see her again.

I love you, Squall, she thought to herself as he released her just enough to lean down and claim her lips.

It was at that moment that Zell decided to waltz into the room. He stopped in mid-step and cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Ah, sorry guys... Thought I'd let you know that Quistis wants us to go outside to wait for Sleipner," he managed to mumble quickly.

The two pulled apart and Rinoa looked over to him, her eyes betraying her broken heart as she smiled to him. "Tell her we'll be there soon."

----------

Quistis stood awkwardly, arms crossed over her stomach and foot tapping against the grass as she waited for Squall and Rinoa. Zell had told her, with a blush, that the two would be arriving shortly. She shook her head at the images that flashed through her mind and glanced up just in time to see Squall and Rinoa approaching, one looking angrier than the other.

"It's about time, you two. What were you doing?" She tilted her head to the side in question.

"Talking," Rinoa replied just as everyone was getting ready to unify a 'It's none of your business' had Rinoa allowed Squall to respond. She giggled at the knowing looks in the two women's eyes and walked ahead of them.

The sky began to darken and they watched patiently as Sleipner emerged from the dark mists. He glanced kindly to Rinoa, then threateningly to the others, as if he knew their plans.

Are you ready?

Rinoa looked to Squall, her smile faltering as her true intentions spilled from her heart. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Squall's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"You're not taking her!" he snarled out, gunblade held out in his battle stance. Sleipner barely flicked his ears towards the man.

What are you going to do to stop me?

"I'll fight you if I have to," Squall shot back, slicing the blade through the air. Sleipner turned his head to look at the young man. If Sleipner had arms, Rinoa could have sworn that he would have crossed them in such a cocky way that he would resemble Seifer.

You would fight me... To stop me from placing her as King of the Guardian Force's and protecting both ours and your realm? That is stupid.

Squall frowned and started towards him, finger over the trigger to deliver the first blow.

But the first blow was not his to give. Sleipner stamped a hoof into the ground, sending a long crack shooting towards Squall. The earth shot up from beneath and sent Squall a good yard back.

Do not try. You were no match for Diablos; you are no match for me. Allow me to take her. This is what she is needed for. She has no place in your realm.

"But she does..." Squall slowly stood, blade thrust into the ground to support himself. "She has a place here, with us. With me! You can't take her away from the people who love her..." He was now pleading with the horse, something he had never done before.

Rinoa could feel everything inside of her shatter as she made her way towards Squall.

Do not go. I can promise you, he will feel no pain. You yourself know it is your duty to come with me, to become the new Unknown King.

She stopped, halfway to Squall. Her hands dropped to her sides and she stepped back to Sleipner. "I love you, Squall..."

"Rinoa!" He shouted out for her as the darkness engulfed them all. A scream echoed through the darkness. It was such a pained scream, of lost souls crying for what they lost so long ago.

----------

Squall glanced up at the bright sun, shielding his eyes from the rays that threatened to blind him. Shaking his head, he glanced ahead to see the train approaching. To his side, he saw the old man from earlier, bouquet in his wrinkled hands.

The train came to a stop and it let out a whistle as the people filed out, one by one, as if they had just graduated into SeeD's. Squall took a deep breath and watched as an old woman ran out and jumped into the embrace with the old man. He gave her the bouquet and she gushed on and on about how much she had missed him.

He idly wondered if Rinoa would be like that.

Squall glanced to the train again as the conductor glanced in through the doorway. He called that the unloading was over and the train started up again for its next stop. She didn't come... he thought to himself, not sure if he was disappointed, angry, or if he even cared at all. That was silly, though. He knew he cared.

Shaking his head, he turned and left the train station. Dark clouds began to form and block out the sun as he made his way back to the Garden. The heavens began to weep as the lovers were never reunited, and the wind whispered a quiet "I love you" that the young man could never hear.

And somewhere in the depths of a dark realm, a young angel in blue began to cry.

A/N: Oh my god, I started tearing up when I started writing the ending. It made me so sad... Now, don't get me wrong, I love Squinoa just as much as the next person. I would never have considered writing this ending if it just didn't appeal to me so much as it did. I don't like separating the two, but the ending was so unique and beautiful to me that... I just couldn't help but write it. Please don't hate me. You'd understand if you were writing this as well! You can still read the other endings I wrote! Please, Review and let me know what you think.