Flashbacks
Author's note: On the 2nd and 3rd pov, the '.....' will be the conversations in the past and the (.....) will be the thoughts of the person's pov during the present. It's like they are narrating the past during the present.
Confused? Well, it'll be easier to understand once you actually see it.( I hope)
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"So you say you saw 'her'?" Laguna was pacing around he conference room.
"......Yes...." Quistis, sounded as if she was afraid to say it.
Knowing what it may mean, and how it may affect his current situation with
Squall, the seemingly confident president became nervous and was attacked by his
chronic leg cramp. "Auuugghh!" He limped to the nearest chair and sat down. He tried to
get his mind off of the pain. "So.....How did he take it?"
She didn't know how to explain it to him. To put it simply, Squall freaked out, but
she knew that that wasn't enough. "Well.....,"
Laguna noticed the uneasiness in the former instructor's eyes. "He was quite
upset, wasn't he?" It was more of a statement that question.
All the blonde woman could do was nod. She too, was stunned. She never
expected to see 'her' there, especially after 'he' ordered her to be killed.
"I see.....," he walked closed to Quistis and put both his hands on her
shaking shoulders, "I'd like to speak to him. I know the only way, he can forgive me is if
I talk to him."
Quistis wanted to veto, but she knew that it had to be done. She simply stood
there, watching Squall's father as he walked out of the room. She was about to follow
him, wanting to hear their conversation, but she suddenly stopped as someone called out
Squall's name. It sounded like Laguna's voice. She walked out of the conference room,
only to see the father and son. It seemed that Squall was there the whole time, listening.
"......." Squall just stood there. His face was being outlined by the
sunlight that shone from the window to his left. Quistis could see his fatigue, and his lack
of sleep in his eyes and his unusually paler skin. Nightmares, that's what probably kept
him awake.
"Squall?" his father tried to touch his son, but Squall quickly recoiled.
"How dare you talk about her!" His voice was calm, yet livid. He limped his way
to the conference room once again and sat down. Crouching, like the way he usually sat.
"How dare you......" He shook his head. "It was all your fault!" He almost
broke in tears, "We could have done something.... I could have done something. I
know there must have been a better way.....," but his pride helped him stand his
ground.
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Quistis just stood there. She didn't know what to do to ease his suffering, his
mental pain. The thought of not being able to protect the only person that kept him going,
that kept him alive, and the only person who gave him the will to survive.
She remembered that dreadful event as if it was only yesterday. But it was 5
months ago.......
It was at that time when the team had finally defeated the sorceress and peace was
at their reach. The time to relax. But unfortunately, their midnight celebration would only
last for but an hour....
Quistis sat down to the chair closest to the distraught commander and patted him.
Unfortunately, that was all she could do, nothing she could say would make it better.
(I've known Ellone just as long as Squall did, but somehow, their connection was
so much deeper. I guess I can understand the reason why it would be harder for him to
understand the importance of Laguna's decision. It was for the betterment of the
world....)
She continued to comfort Squall in her own way, while trying to sympathize with
him, thinking of how he must have felt receiving such a disturbing information at the
time of their celebration; right after they've defeated Ultimecia and just when Rinoa and
him were able to be together.
(I remember seeing Rinoa and him together on the balcony. Jealous feelings came
over me, but it was interrupted when a flustered SeeD cadet bumped into me, trying to
get the busy commander's attention. I almost felt bad, knowing how they've been waiting
so long for the moment to be together.)
'Commander Squall! Commander!' The SeeD finally realizing what he'd
interrupted. 'Sir, I've terribly sorry to interrupt, but there is urgent message form Esthar,
regarding Ellone and your father, President Loire!'
'This had better be good!' He turned to the girl in his arms, 'I'll be back Rinoa, I
promise, just wait for me.' Then he left without looking back.
(I followed him to his office and waited outside his door. I remember hearing
their voices so clearly. I remembered that it was Laguna's voice that was coming out of
Squall's phone speaker.)
'Squall, we've decided. Ellone will be killed.'
Squall slammed his fist on the desk, 'Do you know what your talking about? Do
hear what you're saying? How can you even think of doing that?'
'I know, she also agreed that it's the right thing to do.'
'No! You don't understand! This is the girl that you left mom for. To search for!
And now, you'll just decided everything on the spot.'
'it's for the good of the-'
'Don't even say that!' he kicked the side of his desk, 'shit!'
'Squall.....I just thought that I should inform you on our decision. I
didn't call to ask for your permission.....I just thought that you deserved to
know.' He paused for a while, 'we'll go on the procedure tomorrow. Ellone said that it's
best to do it as soon as possible'
Squall paced around his desk.
'Ellone wanted to say goodbye to everybody, so......they can come by
before tomorrow afternoon.....that should be enough time.'
(I knew that Squall realized that Laguna also didn't agree with the idea. He knew
that Laguna would never do it. But he also knows that he's putting his responsibilities
first before his personal feelings. He knew Ellone felt the same way.) She sat still beside
Squall, analyzing his every moves or lack thereof. (I remember hearing Laguna's voice
from the speaker; it showed so much anguish.)
'Isn't there another way?' Squall's voice was breaking up. His child- like side of
him would've burst into tears, but this commander refused to show signs of emotion;
signs of weaknesses. 'There must be.....'
'Squall....,' Laguna was about to say something, but he decided against it.
'Just be there......okay? ....Ellone will be waiting.....I'm sorry.'
Then the phone line clicked.
'wait!' Anger overflowed him and he picked up his wooden chair and threw it
across the room. 'I wanted to talk to her.....' He crouched down onto the floor,
in defeat. 'shit!'
(I remembered going to Esthar, dressed in black, as if she were already dead.
Squall refused to go. He didn't like goodbyes. He didn't believe in them, knowing that,
she isn't really gone, knowing, hoping, that they'll see each other again.) She turned her
attention to the leg-cramped president. He looked so calm, despite his current physical
pain, but she knew that he was thinking about the same events that happened not too long
ago. Something that may have been better off forgotten.
She turned back to Squall. (He went anyways. I knew nothing would keep him
from seeing Ellone.)
'Squall....I know your mad...' Ellone's sweet voice penetrated
Squall's icy shield.
'I'm not mad.... just...confused.' (he must have been mad. Not to
Ellone, but to himself)
'This was my decision...' she turned away from Squall's face. She didn't
like the emotion that he was showing. She was afraid that, by looking at him, she may no
longer have the courage to go through it. 'it's better this way.....since everyone
discovered my abilities, all I've caused are problems.'
'But no one's perfect, sis....you couldn't help it.' He walked towards her.
'it doesn't matter now! Ultemecia's gone, sis. We've defeated her! There's no need to do
this! No one will hold it against you for backing out now. They'll understand.'
(Squall tried so hard. I happened to have been walking by and heard their
conversation.)
'There'll be others....there will always be evil.'
'That's what we're here for! We have the GFs! We have our weapons! You have
the support of the SeeDs! We'll do anything-I'll do anything!'
She decided to face Squall for the last time. 'Squall, I don't want to argue
anymore. I don't want this to be my last memory of you.....I just want to spend
some time with you guys, but not like this-'
'Don't talk like that! You're not dead yet!'
"Quistis?" It was Squall. His blue eyes were staring at her, into her soul. It jerked
her out of her thoughts and into reality. "Do you think it's really her?"
(How do I answer that question. He sounds like a little boy, yearning for
answers.)
Laguna was startled when Squall finally spoke after minutes of silence.
"Squall.....I'm sorry."
Squall knew just how sorry his father was. But this was something that he hoped
he wouldn't run into. This was the reason that kept him form going back to Esthar. He
slowly stood up, from Quistis' comforting arms, and left the room silently.
Laguna stood to apprehend him.
"I think it'll be best if he was left alone for now......" Quistis stared at
the door that Squall walked out of. With a single tear falling from her cheeks, the room
was once again quiet.
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' Do you really want to do this sis?' It was the sound of Zell's childish voice.
(I remembered standing on a corner just across the crowd with Ellone at its center.
They were all saying goodbye. Even though they all didn't want Ellone to go through
with it, they decided to give her the strength.) Squall was staring at the scenery outside
the window of his room. (Maybe I should have given her my strength too. The strength
that she'd given me long time ago. Maybe I should've supported her decision, instead of
arguing about it; but I needed to tell her how I felt!)
' Zell, you already know my answer to that!' Ellone tried so hard to be cheerful.
Ellone noticed the lone figure at the corner and approached him. However, before
she was able to reach Squall, she was interrupted by Laguna's sad but determined
call.
'Ellone.....it's time to go...."
Upon hearing those dreadful words, she quickly glanced at Squall's face. His
expression. Without saying anything else, she smiled at her father-figure and let
him lead the way.
(I remembered refusing Rinoa's pleas, telling me to go to the Sorcerer's
Memorial. I hated that place. I had two dreadful experiences there. One was when I
almost lost Rinoa, and the second is this.) Squall saw the birds that freely roamed the sky
through his window. (As much as I told myself not to go, I ended up doing so anyways)
'Seal it up!' Those were the dreadful words that Laguna spoke to his men. He said
with so much sorrow. The little girl that he once knew was about to be locked up by the
same person that rescued him.
(I stared at the transparent chamber. I looked at her face from afar and she smiled
at me. I couldn't bear to see her smile like the way she did. It killed so, so I looked away.
Right until she was carried up, she smiled. She was.....happy....but how
could she have been?) "How could she have been happy?"
"She liked the idea of having participated in keeping this world and us a little
safer." A voice had answered Squall's question from behind.
Squall turned around and he saw an older duplicate of himself. He didn't feel
anything but hatred towards this man. But he wasn't able to express his loathing. He
simply stared at the man by the door as he watched the man walk towards him and look at
the same sky he was looking at.
"She told me, on the night that I called to tell you, to make sure that you don't
stop her...." He chuckled, "It should have been me that stopped her. I kept
thinking about the mistake that she was about to do, but she kept on smiling." Laguna
stood up and leaned at the ledge of the window, "I couldn't help but feel at ease. I
couldn't help feeling, when she smiled, that everything will be alright." He tuned to
Squall who was listening intently on every word Laguna said. "Do you know that
feeling? Did you feel it too? Do you experience the same feelings when ever you look at
Rinoa's beautiful smile? I'm sure you have."
(What does he know? He doesn't know anything but abandoning his family and
running away)
"She also told me to get along with you. She said that you needed
me.....I would've laughed but I she sounded so serious." He chuckled some
more in an attempt to lighten up the mood and his son. When he looked at his face and
saw the it didn't work, he decided to change the subject. "So.....what are you
gonna do now? How are planning on confronting your past into your future and defeat
Dr. Odine and his new partner Daemon?"
(I don't know....I have so many things on my mind right now. I'm worried
about Rinoa, I'm....scared? Scared of what I may find out if I continue on with
this mission. This is the first time that I've ever felt so alone in such a long time. I've
lowered my guard and now I find myself depending on others.)
"You know you can't keep quiet forever..... I know saying sorry will not
change anything. And I'm trying Squall, I'm trying!" Afraid to lose his anger, he decided
that it was time to leave. Just before he walked out the door, he turned again, to Squall.
"By the way, I want you and Quistis to take a break for today. You can continue on with
this mission tomorrow. I want to you rest, as much as you may hate, you are still my son,
and I think about your well being." After looking at his son's eyes one last time, the
president left the room.
(I know.......you are still my father, and as much as I want to, I will
never hate you.) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Author's note 2:
`I know this update took long. I've struggled enough as it is just to get this chapter done. As I've failed to inform you all, I have a writer's block and also I've been very busy with school, my Ps2, and school (Just this week, I had two tests. Stupid mid-term!). Unfortunately, this may be my last update for a while because my computer is malfunctioning, forcing me to put up this update from my school library. I'll try to get them done, but I may not be able to send it. I'm really sorry for my incompetence and my bad story/chapter.
Author's note: On the 2nd and 3rd pov, the '.....' will be the conversations in the past and the (.....) will be the thoughts of the person's pov during the present. It's like they are narrating the past during the present.
Confused? Well, it'll be easier to understand once you actually see it.( I hope)
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"So you say you saw 'her'?" Laguna was pacing around he conference room.
"......Yes...." Quistis, sounded as if she was afraid to say it.
Knowing what it may mean, and how it may affect his current situation with
Squall, the seemingly confident president became nervous and was attacked by his
chronic leg cramp. "Auuugghh!" He limped to the nearest chair and sat down. He tried to
get his mind off of the pain. "So.....How did he take it?"
She didn't know how to explain it to him. To put it simply, Squall freaked out, but
she knew that that wasn't enough. "Well.....,"
Laguna noticed the uneasiness in the former instructor's eyes. "He was quite
upset, wasn't he?" It was more of a statement that question.
All the blonde woman could do was nod. She too, was stunned. She never
expected to see 'her' there, especially after 'he' ordered her to be killed.
"I see.....," he walked closed to Quistis and put both his hands on her
shaking shoulders, "I'd like to speak to him. I know the only way, he can forgive me is if
I talk to him."
Quistis wanted to veto, but she knew that it had to be done. She simply stood
there, watching Squall's father as he walked out of the room. She was about to follow
him, wanting to hear their conversation, but she suddenly stopped as someone called out
Squall's name. It sounded like Laguna's voice. She walked out of the conference room,
only to see the father and son. It seemed that Squall was there the whole time, listening.
"......." Squall just stood there. His face was being outlined by the
sunlight that shone from the window to his left. Quistis could see his fatigue, and his lack
of sleep in his eyes and his unusually paler skin. Nightmares, that's what probably kept
him awake.
"Squall?" his father tried to touch his son, but Squall quickly recoiled.
"How dare you talk about her!" His voice was calm, yet livid. He limped his way
to the conference room once again and sat down. Crouching, like the way he usually sat.
"How dare you......" He shook his head. "It was all your fault!" He almost
broke in tears, "We could have done something.... I could have done something. I
know there must have been a better way.....," but his pride helped him stand his
ground.
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Quistis just stood there. She didn't know what to do to ease his suffering, his
mental pain. The thought of not being able to protect the only person that kept him going,
that kept him alive, and the only person who gave him the will to survive.
She remembered that dreadful event as if it was only yesterday. But it was 5
months ago.......
It was at that time when the team had finally defeated the sorceress and peace was
at their reach. The time to relax. But unfortunately, their midnight celebration would only
last for but an hour....
Quistis sat down to the chair closest to the distraught commander and patted him.
Unfortunately, that was all she could do, nothing she could say would make it better.
(I've known Ellone just as long as Squall did, but somehow, their connection was
so much deeper. I guess I can understand the reason why it would be harder for him to
understand the importance of Laguna's decision. It was for the betterment of the
world....)
She continued to comfort Squall in her own way, while trying to sympathize with
him, thinking of how he must have felt receiving such a disturbing information at the
time of their celebration; right after they've defeated Ultimecia and just when Rinoa and
him were able to be together.
(I remember seeing Rinoa and him together on the balcony. Jealous feelings came
over me, but it was interrupted when a flustered SeeD cadet bumped into me, trying to
get the busy commander's attention. I almost felt bad, knowing how they've been waiting
so long for the moment to be together.)
'Commander Squall! Commander!' The SeeD finally realizing what he'd
interrupted. 'Sir, I've terribly sorry to interrupt, but there is urgent message form Esthar,
regarding Ellone and your father, President Loire!'
'This had better be good!' He turned to the girl in his arms, 'I'll be back Rinoa, I
promise, just wait for me.' Then he left without looking back.
(I followed him to his office and waited outside his door. I remember hearing
their voices so clearly. I remembered that it was Laguna's voice that was coming out of
Squall's phone speaker.)
'Squall, we've decided. Ellone will be killed.'
Squall slammed his fist on the desk, 'Do you know what your talking about? Do
hear what you're saying? How can you even think of doing that?'
'I know, she also agreed that it's the right thing to do.'
'No! You don't understand! This is the girl that you left mom for. To search for!
And now, you'll just decided everything on the spot.'
'it's for the good of the-'
'Don't even say that!' he kicked the side of his desk, 'shit!'
'Squall.....I just thought that I should inform you on our decision. I
didn't call to ask for your permission.....I just thought that you deserved to
know.' He paused for a while, 'we'll go on the procedure tomorrow. Ellone said that it's
best to do it as soon as possible'
Squall paced around his desk.
'Ellone wanted to say goodbye to everybody, so......they can come by
before tomorrow afternoon.....that should be enough time.'
(I knew that Squall realized that Laguna also didn't agree with the idea. He knew
that Laguna would never do it. But he also knows that he's putting his responsibilities
first before his personal feelings. He knew Ellone felt the same way.) She sat still beside
Squall, analyzing his every moves or lack thereof. (I remember hearing Laguna's voice
from the speaker; it showed so much anguish.)
'Isn't there another way?' Squall's voice was breaking up. His child- like side of
him would've burst into tears, but this commander refused to show signs of emotion;
signs of weaknesses. 'There must be.....'
'Squall....,' Laguna was about to say something, but he decided against it.
'Just be there......okay? ....Ellone will be waiting.....I'm sorry.'
Then the phone line clicked.
'wait!' Anger overflowed him and he picked up his wooden chair and threw it
across the room. 'I wanted to talk to her.....' He crouched down onto the floor,
in defeat. 'shit!'
(I remembered going to Esthar, dressed in black, as if she were already dead.
Squall refused to go. He didn't like goodbyes. He didn't believe in them, knowing that,
she isn't really gone, knowing, hoping, that they'll see each other again.) She turned her
attention to the leg-cramped president. He looked so calm, despite his current physical
pain, but she knew that he was thinking about the same events that happened not too long
ago. Something that may have been better off forgotten.
She turned back to Squall. (He went anyways. I knew nothing would keep him
from seeing Ellone.)
'Squall....I know your mad...' Ellone's sweet voice penetrated
Squall's icy shield.
'I'm not mad.... just...confused.' (he must have been mad. Not to
Ellone, but to himself)
'This was my decision...' she turned away from Squall's face. She didn't
like the emotion that he was showing. She was afraid that, by looking at him, she may no
longer have the courage to go through it. 'it's better this way.....since everyone
discovered my abilities, all I've caused are problems.'
'But no one's perfect, sis....you couldn't help it.' He walked towards her.
'it doesn't matter now! Ultemecia's gone, sis. We've defeated her! There's no need to do
this! No one will hold it against you for backing out now. They'll understand.'
(Squall tried so hard. I happened to have been walking by and heard their
conversation.)
'There'll be others....there will always be evil.'
'That's what we're here for! We have the GFs! We have our weapons! You have
the support of the SeeDs! We'll do anything-I'll do anything!'
She decided to face Squall for the last time. 'Squall, I don't want to argue
anymore. I don't want this to be my last memory of you.....I just want to spend
some time with you guys, but not like this-'
'Don't talk like that! You're not dead yet!'
"Quistis?" It was Squall. His blue eyes were staring at her, into her soul. It jerked
her out of her thoughts and into reality. "Do you think it's really her?"
(How do I answer that question. He sounds like a little boy, yearning for
answers.)
Laguna was startled when Squall finally spoke after minutes of silence.
"Squall.....I'm sorry."
Squall knew just how sorry his father was. But this was something that he hoped
he wouldn't run into. This was the reason that kept him form going back to Esthar. He
slowly stood up, from Quistis' comforting arms, and left the room silently.
Laguna stood to apprehend him.
"I think it'll be best if he was left alone for now......" Quistis stared at
the door that Squall walked out of. With a single tear falling from her cheeks, the room
was once again quiet.
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' Do you really want to do this sis?' It was the sound of Zell's childish voice.
(I remembered standing on a corner just across the crowd with Ellone at its center.
They were all saying goodbye. Even though they all didn't want Ellone to go through
with it, they decided to give her the strength.) Squall was staring at the scenery outside
the window of his room. (Maybe I should have given her my strength too. The strength
that she'd given me long time ago. Maybe I should've supported her decision, instead of
arguing about it; but I needed to tell her how I felt!)
' Zell, you already know my answer to that!' Ellone tried so hard to be cheerful.
Ellone noticed the lone figure at the corner and approached him. However, before
she was able to reach Squall, she was interrupted by Laguna's sad but determined
call.
'Ellone.....it's time to go...."
Upon hearing those dreadful words, she quickly glanced at Squall's face. His
expression. Without saying anything else, she smiled at her father-figure and let
him lead the way.
(I remembered refusing Rinoa's pleas, telling me to go to the Sorcerer's
Memorial. I hated that place. I had two dreadful experiences there. One was when I
almost lost Rinoa, and the second is this.) Squall saw the birds that freely roamed the sky
through his window. (As much as I told myself not to go, I ended up doing so anyways)
'Seal it up!' Those were the dreadful words that Laguna spoke to his men. He said
with so much sorrow. The little girl that he once knew was about to be locked up by the
same person that rescued him.
(I stared at the transparent chamber. I looked at her face from afar and she smiled
at me. I couldn't bear to see her smile like the way she did. It killed so, so I looked away.
Right until she was carried up, she smiled. She was.....happy....but how
could she have been?) "How could she have been happy?"
"She liked the idea of having participated in keeping this world and us a little
safer." A voice had answered Squall's question from behind.
Squall turned around and he saw an older duplicate of himself. He didn't feel
anything but hatred towards this man. But he wasn't able to express his loathing. He
simply stared at the man by the door as he watched the man walk towards him and look at
the same sky he was looking at.
"She told me, on the night that I called to tell you, to make sure that you don't
stop her...." He chuckled, "It should have been me that stopped her. I kept
thinking about the mistake that she was about to do, but she kept on smiling." Laguna
stood up and leaned at the ledge of the window, "I couldn't help but feel at ease. I
couldn't help feeling, when she smiled, that everything will be alright." He tuned to
Squall who was listening intently on every word Laguna said. "Do you know that
feeling? Did you feel it too? Do you experience the same feelings when ever you look at
Rinoa's beautiful smile? I'm sure you have."
(What does he know? He doesn't know anything but abandoning his family and
running away)
"She also told me to get along with you. She said that you needed
me.....I would've laughed but I she sounded so serious." He chuckled some
more in an attempt to lighten up the mood and his son. When he looked at his face and
saw the it didn't work, he decided to change the subject. "So.....what are you
gonna do now? How are planning on confronting your past into your future and defeat
Dr. Odine and his new partner Daemon?"
(I don't know....I have so many things on my mind right now. I'm worried
about Rinoa, I'm....scared? Scared of what I may find out if I continue on with
this mission. This is the first time that I've ever felt so alone in such a long time. I've
lowered my guard and now I find myself depending on others.)
"You know you can't keep quiet forever..... I know saying sorry will not
change anything. And I'm trying Squall, I'm trying!" Afraid to lose his anger, he decided
that it was time to leave. Just before he walked out the door, he turned again, to Squall.
"By the way, I want you and Quistis to take a break for today. You can continue on with
this mission tomorrow. I want to you rest, as much as you may hate, you are still my son,
and I think about your well being." After looking at his son's eyes one last time, the
president left the room.
(I know.......you are still my father, and as much as I want to, I will
never hate you.) :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Author's note 2:
`I know this update took long. I've struggled enough as it is just to get this chapter done. As I've failed to inform you all, I have a writer's block and also I've been very busy with school, my Ps2, and school (Just this week, I had two tests. Stupid mid-term!). Unfortunately, this may be my last update for a while because my computer is malfunctioning, forcing me to put up this update from my school library. I'll try to get them done, but I may not be able to send it. I'm really sorry for my incompetence and my bad story/chapter.