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 happy ending! Good for you! :D I believe this is the ending everyone really wants to see, anyway. Please, enjoy the last chapter of 'Long Live the King' and, if you enjoyed this story, please read 'Beyond Paradise' (FFVII) when it comes out.

Chapter 15: And I Choose...

The week had passed. It was a week of Rinoa scurrying in and out of the Library every hour with a new batch of books. What she was planning, nobody knew. Every once in a while, you could spot Paige following along with her, but when Zell asked what Rinoa was up to, Paige would only shake her head and give a shrug.

"I only helped her carry the books to her room. You should see it! It's like she's turning her room into the next branch of the Library! I don't even know where half of the books came from!" she would exclaim.

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The day Sleipner was to return, and Quistis found Squall at his desk, going through every file that ever existed.

"What are you doing?" she questioned, leaning against the desk.

The man never looked up at her. "I'm going to find a way to keep Rinoa here."

"Ah," Quistis nodded her head as if she understood. "Did you find anything?"

A short pause, then finally, "No."

"Well, don't worry. I'm sure, with the way Rinoa has been going through the Library books, she's figured something out," Quistis tried, patting Squall on the shoulder lightly before leaving him to continue through the files.

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Rinoa rubbed at her forehead and let out a sigh. All this reading was going to damage her eyesight. She had been reading, nonstop, since the day she had come back with Squall, unsuccessful at her attempt to run away.

I'm even starting to act like him, she thought in amusement, realizing that so much concentration on one thing was what Squall had been permanently assigned to when Headmaster Cid appointed him Commander. She giggled to herself at the image and shook her head.

Leaning back in the chair, she let out a deep breath, rolling her head around on her shoulders to work out the stiffness. "It's almost time," she said to herself, gaze falling onto the digital clock.

There was a knock at the door, but she didn't feel she needed to ask who it was. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet and walked to the door, pulling it open to smile at the exhausted look on Squall's face.

"We should go outside so he doesn't come in and trash the Garden," Squall spoke gravely, as if expecting an all out war with the six-legged horse. Rinoa wouldn't be surprised if that was what her love was planning.

She nodded to him and closed the door behind her as they left, accompanied by Zell, Selphie, Irvine, and Quistis on their way out.

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Sleipner watched from his place in the darkness. How he could see would be unknown to the human race.

I apologize in advance.

The mists swirled around his hooves and he exited through the darkened mass that was his 'portal' of sorts.

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Rinoa stood ready, held protectively by Squall. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to his chest as he stared dangerously into the gaping hole forming before them. One last look over their friends let them know all were ready, weapons held firmly and all in a battle stance.

Sleipner exited the portal, blackened orbs staring at each individual, as if threatening to rip their souls from their very bodies at that given moment.

Are you ready, sorceress?

Rinoa looked up to him and smiled. She squirmed her way out of Squall's arms and stepped up to the oversized horse, reaching up and gently resting her hand on his neck. "I don't want to go," she spoke softly.

I know, but you must. As King, you-

"As King, I can choose another to replace me on the throne." Her voice had suddenly turned serious. The kindness was gone from her features, and Sleipner knew she would not sit back and kindly allow him to take her back. A look to her friends and he realized they wouldn't let him take her without a fight.

But, I chose you to be the King. You are the best choice there is.

He didn't want to fight them. The girl was dear, and if her friends were loved by her, they had to be tolerated by him.

"I'm human. I can't be your King. My place is to live here, with my friends."

You are also a sorceress. You have no place.

Rinoa seemed hurt by this. Squall stepped up, gunblade held tightly in his leather gloves. "She has a place with us! We love her, I love her. She's staying with us whether you want her to or not," he growled menacingly and Sleipner seemed to take it threateningly.

A hoof stamped into the ground, threatening to crack the planet in half.

She is our King.

"Exactly!" Rinoa interrupted their glaring war and stepped between them. "I am your King, and thus, I have the power to choose a replacement!" She wasn't going to back down from this. Sleipner hung his head low to be at eye-level with her.

You are my King...

Rinoa held her hand out, resting her palm between the dark eyes of the horse. "I've already chosen the King. He is the most powerful, he is strong, and he is one of your own." She took a deep breath, then stepped away from Sleipner, back into the arms of Squall. "I chose Alexander."

The name brought a rumbling from the ground below. Suddenly, the forest broke in half and ribbons of mist curled up, reaching for the darkening sky. Out of the great canyon came the mechanical holy man, gears grinding as it towered above the horse and others.

Sleipner stared up at the mechanical Guardian, then back down to Rinoa.

I trust in your decision.

The horse slipped away into the darkness as Alexander stood tall, its shadow looming over Balamb Garden itself. Clanks and clicks were heard throughout the entire monstrosity before a white light fell from its neck, as if bleeding the light.

Rinoa smiled as she fell into a white slumber. Holy Judgment... It was the last conscious thought anyone shared.

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The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and Squall found himself rubbing nervously at the back of his neck. He glanced down at the bouquet of flowers in his hand and shook his head. Am I doing the right thing..? he thought to himself.

Glancing over, he noticed the old man from only a few minutes ago, looking so happy. Will I be that happy when I'm that old? With Rinoa..? All these questions were giving him a headache.

He watched uncomfortably as the train came to a stop. The people began to file out, some on their own, others in couples. Another look and he saw the old man hugging a just as old woman. He gave her the flowers he bought and she blushed.

He couldn't watch any longer. The idea that it might never happen to him brought pain. He turned to walk away when a small hand reached out, holding onto his wrist. He turned around on his heels and sucked in a gasp at the blue angel, his blue angel, in front of him.

"Hi, Squall..."

A/N: Finished with the happy ending! :D Does anybody recognize the very last scene? No? Let me tell you. It's the same scene at the end of Chapter One, but with slight changes. Why are there changes? Well, I wanted them to be there. If you didn't figure it out, time went back to when he was sent by Quistis to pick Rinoa up at the train station. Now, if you want, you can still read the sad or semi-sad/semi-happy ending (I beg you to read the sad/happy ending. I really want to know what you think of that one). Have fun! :D Review and let me know what you think.