Squall had woken up early that morning and decided to get some practice in before he had to go to the meeting. He fought in the training room for about an hour before he quit to go back to his room and change. He entered his new and best of all, quiet dorm room. It was neat and tidy, a big feat, considering it had been filled with boxes and packing detritus the night before. He'd worked hard to unpack everything and give it a home before he left on his first mission. He disliked the idea of leaving his room in anything but perfect order, made him feel like there were no loose ends. He even remembered to arrange for a freshman cadet to come in and water his plants while he was away. The morning was already well on its way, he quickly showered and changed into a comfortable pair of black jeans and a white t-shirt. Squall looked around, sitting on his new couch, looking over his new room. Everything in perfect order, he thought happily, frowning a little when he came to his bookshelves. They were sadly emptier than they had been in his old room He'd have to remedy that, hopefully he might get a chance to stock up on his trip. A knock at the door broke his reverie... Opening the door, it was Zell, who was dressed in the loudest ensemble he'd ever seen. He had on a black and red jacket, with blue flames emblazoned on the shoulders, a pair of very baggy shorts, and bright red shoes with black accents. Different strokes....
"Hurry up! We'll be late...." Zell said breathlessly, having ran from his dorm to Squall's.
Squall checked the watch he'd been wearing, Shit, he's right... Nice start Mr. Leader... He let Zell in, offering him a drink while he changed, to which Zell gratefully accepted. Squall left him in the living room, entering his bedroom to get ready. The pants and shirt he wore were okay, he quickly slipped on a pair of socks and his heavy riding boots. Opening the closet he took out his fur trimmed black leather jacket. It had taken him a long time to save up his salary from the Garden for that jacket, it was worth the trouble though. The last touch was a lion pendant, it had been a gift from Sis and there was an engraving on the back in a language Squall didn't know.
Zell popped his head in and asked, "Ready?"
Squall walked out of his room, his heavy boots clicking against the hard wood floor. "Yeah..." he answered, looking and feeling like a bad ass, "Let's go."
They arrived in Cid's office in more than enough time. The other cadets who passed were milling about, chitchatting with each other while they waited for Cid and Xu to arrive.
Out of the crowd, Selphie hopped up to Zell and Squall, a wide grin on her cherubic face, "HEY!" she chirped, "How are you guys!?"
"Great....and you?" Zell answered, a goofy grin spreading across his face.
"I'm terrific! Hey Squall!"
Squall didn't answer, just nodded at Selphie and stood there quietly observing the other students. He is so quiet....Selphie thought....It really bothered her that he spoke so little....gosh, I just wanna shake him and scream LIGHTEN UP!! She refused to worry about it too much, though...If Squall wanted to be Mr. Quiet Head he could....she was a happy-go-lucky type of person and a bit of a ditz, she didn't have the time or the will to think about depressing stuff.
"I'm sooooooooo excited!!! We get our ranks, our squad assignments, and our first jobs today!!"
Zell yawned and replied slowly, "Don't get too excited just yet....I've heard your first job sucks knobs, least that's what Quistis told me."
"OOoooooooo....Don't be a party pooper! Whatever we get is fine by me!!" wrinkling her nose up, she socked Zell in the arm.
"Ow...you sure are a violent girl!", smiling a little while rubbing his arm, "Always hitting my friggin' arm...MAN! Outta sock you...see how you like it."
"You drive me to it.... AND I'd really give it to you if you tried to hit me....butthead..."
He laughed and ruffled the top of her head, as he did so, she slapped at his hands a bit and made a funny squeaking noise. WHAT A DOWNER! Selphie thought...It doesn't matter what I'm doing, I'll be happy anywhere they choose to put me...She had learned a long time ago that worrying about every little thing that didn't go your way was pointless and stupid. Horrible things happen all the time, the only thing you can do is move on and learn from your mistakes. Selphie had never been anything but cheerful. Her gregarious good nature had won her many friends at Trabia, and she had already made quite a few at Balamb as well. She was excited about finally graduating from the Garden and could hardly wait to write to her many friends and family back home. Her adoptive parents would be so happy and proud to see how far their little girl had gone!! She'd set up a special web site that detailed her experiences at her new Garden, making it easier for those she'd left behind in Trabia to see how she was doing. She planned to write all about her job and her team members on her site. One of her big goals was to become a famous writer someday!! However, the mystery of her assignment was almost too much to bear!! At that moment, Headmaster Cid entered the office, FINALLY...she'd have an answer!!
The new SeeDs lined up quickly and saluted Cid as he made his way up to the front of the room, near his desk.
"Good Morning, SeeD members..." Cid said, his wide, chubby face glowing with pride, " At ease, I'm here to confer upon you the ranks and squad assignments as SeeD members. You should all have received your packages last night, detailing your first job, as well as profiles of your future team mates. At the end of this ceremony, each of the captains will step forward...Then we will announce which squad they will be leading. After the announcement I'd like you to meet with your squad members. As you will be spending lots of time with them, it is appropriate to get to know each other...Now..."
He motioned to the mechanical faculty and with great ceremony Cid stepped up to each student. Shaking their hand, he handed them their diplomas and then whispered something in turn to each SeeD. When he came to Squall, Cid paused, looking at him with fatherly affection.....How far had this boy come.....I couldn't be prouder if he was my own...Cid thought, getting a little teary eyed as he did so...what a foolish old man I am..
"It's nice to finally have a gunblade expert in our ranks....You've done so well, my boy...congratulations..." he said, his voice crackling a bit with emotion, "I'd like to see you and your squad after this....If that's alright with you."
Squall nodded and quietly answered, "Yes, sir.."
Before leaving, he clapped Squall on the arm....his eyes still brimming with affection and pride. Squall watched as Cid finished up with the other students....thinking a bit back to the day he first met Cid. His emotions were stifled, but there was still a twinge of joy that the man he considered almost a father was so proud of him. Cid finally handed out all the diplomas and again addressed the SeeDs.
"You all have your assignments as SeeDs.....You are our future, before you're dismissed and you leave for your various jobs....I'd like to tell you how very proud I am of all of you. I wish you all success! Now...Xu, if you will do the honors of announcing squads..."
Xu stepped up quickly from the back of the room, where she'd been waiting quietly the entire ceremony out of the view. Always the efficient type, she began immediately, "Squad A, Squall Leonhart, Squad B, Nida Tarkin, Squad C, Terra Brandfort, Squad D, Koran Mufuda....You're all dismissed."
Everyone milled around, until they found their individual squads....Chattering incessantly, most of the other SeeDs started to trickle out of the office and into the hall. This continued until only Squall and his other team mates were left. Perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised that it was Zell and Selphie that made up the rest of Squad A. Zell looked at Squall, his rubber mask of a face grinning like a jackass. Selphie could barely contain herself, she was so excited, hopping from one foot to the other. Squall was less vociferous, but nodded at his team mates. Cid motioned them over to his desk and all three Seeds sat down, wondering why they had a private conference and no one else did.
"Do any of you know why I've asked for a private conference with you three?" Cid asked, as if reading their minds.
All three of them looked at each other, totally clueless, and shrugged.
"Well of course you don't, because I haven't told you yet.", a mischievous smile spreading across his face, "You three graduated with the highest marks in your class, not only that, but all of you took some of the most difficult and time consuming classes during your schooling here. You are amongst the Gardens best and brightest....it's well known that your first assignment is your hardest. This applies double for you....How much do you all know about Timber?"
"It's a small city located in the south eastern area of Galbadia. Once known for its rich forest land, which is being diminished each day by occupying Galbadian forces. Conquered ten years ago in a small skirmish. Locals haven't taken kindly to occupation and have formed several resistance groups. Most are just extremist factions, only interested in total chaos, but a slim few actually are dedicated to freeing Timber from the control of Galbadia and its tyrannical President/Dictator, Vinzer Deling." Squall answered, in his firm but always quiet voice.
"WOW!" Zell exclaimed and then said, in a semi-serious tone, "Yeah, what he said...."
Cid chuckled, "Squall, you're prepared as usual.....I'm assuming you two have taken time to read up on your assignment?"
"Of course, sorry 'bout the joke.." Zell replied, sheepishly.
"Yes sir!" Selphie chirped.
"Good, then we're all on the same page. I've assigned you three to help out one of the local resistance groups, something you all might have already guessed. This faction is one of the few groups that are serious about freeing Timber. I've given this assignment to you three because you are the best we have. However, one of the things I look for in a first assignment is a chance for you all to learn and grow as members of SeeD. You need unity to succeed as a team....this first assignment is a test of that." Cid paused momentarily, his face took on a grim tone and he continued, "I've also given this to you because I have a personal stake in the success of this mission. The political situation in Timber is very delicate, and riots could break out anytime....also, the daughter of a very dear friend belongs to this group....."
Cid was about to go on, but one of the faculty members interrupted him to whisper, as well as they could anyway, in his ear. Irritated, he frowned and muttered something back at it quickly. Turning his attention back to the SeeDs, he addressed them again, scowling at the faculty member, "Needless to say....Use discretion on this mission. Here are your train tickets. Assemble at the gate in one hour and depart immediately. The ride there takes well over a week and a half, so pack a only those things that will be of use to you. Now, this is important, once you arrive in Timber one of the faction members will contact you. There's a code you must complete before he or she will lead you back to their base....You'll be asked, The forests of Timber sure have changed...and you must answer, Yes, but the owls are still around... If you have any problems or questions, please call us... Well, that's it....Good luck."
Squall and his new team mates left Cid's office, parting company to pack up a few belongings. He supposed he could've done worse than Zell and Selphie. The review board had probably picked them because all three had done so well together on the exam, considering the circumstances. The future looked much, much brighter to Squall and gone was the depression that had threatened to overtake him. However, in its place was a quiet pensiveness as he mulled on where the future would take him. He wondered about this mission to Timber and Cid's strangely cryptic comment on it being a personal favor for a friend. Frankly, he was a little offended at being asked to baby-sit a bunch of amateurs. Beyond even that, he disliked the idea of doing a mission that had been assigned as a personal favor, it stank of nepotism and he didn't like it. Orders were still orders, even if they make you sick....he thought, hoping he wouldn't come to regret not questioning Cid's decision.
It took less than a half hour for all three SeeDs to ready themselves for their trip to Timber. The best part was, they had been issued their own car to drive to the Balamb Train Station in Balamb City. There was an initial fracas over who would drive it, mostly between Zell and Selphie. Squall solved the argument by deciding, as leader, that he'd drive it. Being the boss had some perks.....he thought devilishly, as he drove the hot red convertible down the small highway that lead to Balamb City. Nearing the city limits, Zell became a bit anxious.
Zell was also a bit nervous about the coming mission, it was his first time outside Balamb for an extended period. He had spent his whole life here....Balamb was his home. Most of his family were local fishermen, spending their lives harvesting the sea. Zell lived most of his life in the care of his Aunt Anna, his father's sister. Like most of his generation, he was an orphan....his mother and father both killed in the deadly conflict of the Sorceress war that ended almost seventeen years ago.
It had been a time of chaos, a sorceress named Adel had taken over the large continent of Esthar and proceeded to declare war on the whole world. It had started in Centra, a once sizeable country that had been completely obliterated by the end of the war. There was no land not touched by that war....it had scarred the entire planet and left a generation of orphans and widows.
Unlike most of his family, his Da had decided to go for a career in the military. A move which greatly displeased Zell's grandma, who's own husband was lost in war many, many years ago. Both his father and grandfather had been excellent martial artists, a trait they'd passed on to him. The whole reason Zell wanted to go to the Garden in the first place was to become as great as they had been. His father met Zell's mother while serving in the Balamb Marine Corp. Between missions they had married and eventually made time to have a baby. They had decided to take temporary leave of the army, just until Zell's mother had time to recover from birth. She had resolved to raise her son, while her husband would go and continue his tour in the war. It was then that the Sorceress had decided to attack Balamb, a fleeting gasp from a foe that was nearly defeated. They'd been out for a stroll along the boardwalk near his home, their first since his birth. He'd been left at home, with a babysitter. More than likely, they didn't even realize what hit them before they died. It was that quick. Zell's parents had been caught in the crossfire, and they paid with their lives.
When the wreckage was cleared, Zell had been sent to an orphanage and was kept there until he was around four years old. Thankfully, one of his family members had finally managed to track him down and bring him home. It was his Aunt Anna, who had looked so long and hard for her lost nephew. She and her husband raised him like he was their own and had done their best to make sure Zell knew what great people his parents had been. Even allowing the boy to go to a military school, despite his parents tragic end. He treasured his Aunt and Uncle, his only living family.
He cautiously asked, "Um...would it be okay if we made a stop at my house...I'd like to say good-bye to my Aunt Anna. I promised I'd see her before I go."
"Yeah, sure..." Squall said casually, "Where does she live?"
"84th and Lyon Street, the second apartment on the right..."
They arrived a few minutes later in the small, but comfortable apartment, occupied by Zell's beloved Aunt. She was a small, squat woman in her forties, her hair still a dark brown with only small flecks of gray. She had a round, jovial face that was careworn with age lines, made by too much sun and too much laughing. He entered the small apartment with lots of noise.
"HEY! MA! I'M HOME!" Zell shouted, slamming the door shut and in general making a raucous entrance.
Squall and Selphie followed him in, they both paused and looked at each other in mutual confusion.
"Uh....I thought you said she was your aunt...." Squall said quietly, hoping not to offend Zell.
"Yeah, she is....but everybody 'round her calls her Ma...kind of a nickname. You'll understand when you meet her."
At that moment Ma...or Aunt Anna...or whatever, bustled in with a looked of amused annoyance. She broke into a wide smile when she spotted Zell in the doorway. Quickly flipping the towel she'd been using for dishes over her shoulder and waggling a finger at him.
"Zell Dincht, must you be that loud??" she chided, her voice lilting with a slight brogue, "Now what brings you about....You're not hungry, now, are ye? They don't feed you near well enough in that school of yours..."
"No, Ma...I'm not hungry and I'm eating fine...I just wanted to stop by and say good-bye...I finally graduated! Got my first job!".
"Really then! My...I wish you're mother and father had lived to see this day....they'd be so proud of you.....Now come here and give your Auntie a hug...."
hugging Zell tightly, she finally noticed Squall and Selphie, "Tch, You could have told me you'd be bringing visitors... would've whipped up a meal for you and your guests there...I'm so sorry he's so terribly rude!" ruffling his hair as she spoke, which sent Selphie into a laughing fit.
"Aaaa...Ma...you're messing my hair up..."
"ACH! How can you tell with the way you spike it up like that?!!" waiving a hand dismissively at him, "Are you goin' ta introduce your visitors or should we just continue to stand about, staring at each other...Can't very well call them hey you...now can I?"
"Alright already..." Zell rolled his eyes and sighed deeply, as he tried to rearrange his flattened hair. " Ma, this is Squall Leonhart, my Squad Commander, and Selphie Timlett, third in command. Squall, Selphie....this is my Aunt Anna..."
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Dincht..." Squall said, very formally, and shook her hand.
She clicked her tongue and smiled gently, "Now...Squall, is it? No need for formalities here...Please call me Ma or Anna but never Ms. Dincht...Much too fancy and high-minded for my tastes....not for a sassy ol' broad like me. "
Squall flushed with color, "Um...I'm sorry if I offende...."
"Ay, So serious are ye!? Tch tch...Ya haven't offended me. I'm a sailor's wife, there's nary a thing in the world that'd put me out..." She laughed cheerily, her hazel eyes twinkling with humor as she cut Squall off and quickly turned her attention to Selphie, "...Now then, Miss Selphie, is it? Aren't you a bonnie wee lass!"
Selphie giggled and squeaked, "Nice ta meet you Ma!"
"Nice to meet you as well..." looking over both Selphie and Squall, she clicked her tongue again, "My! You both are so skinny! What do they feed you over there? I really ought to..."
"Ummm...Ma....We don't have that much time, we gotta go."
"Oh! Look it me! Silly old lady that I am, just prattling away....Now before you go, Zell...I'd like to give you something, wait here." Before he could object she disappeared into the back of the house, coming back several minutes later. "Now...These were your father's when he was your age....I'd like you to have them.", handing Zell a pair of fighting gloves used exclusively by martial artists. They were black, with silver metal accents inlaid into the heavy leather of the gloves.
Zell gasped, "Oh...Ma, I can't...I.."
"No...I'll have none of it....This is my graduation present to you. Besides, I think your Da would want you to have them. They're your birthright...Now go and fight with honor....I know I might not see you for awhile and you may not be able to write...but do an old lady a favor and check up on me whenever you can....I love you Zell...be careful" hugging him tightly again, tears spilling down her weathered face, "Oh... there I go! Be off with you....before you loose it too...."
"Bye Ma...I love you too and I'll miss you..." Zell said, small tears building in his eyes. He put on the gloves and left his home, waiving briefly before disappearing around the corner. Once he was out of view, he let the tears come....he didn't want Anna or his friends to see him crying. Nothing macho, mind you, but he was known as a bit of a goof....he'd rather put on the face of a silly joker, and not bring everyone down. Wiping away his tears, he entered the car and waited for his friends.
"BYYYEEEEE!" Selphie exclaimed, hugging Anna and skipping out to the car to join Zell.
"Good-Bye...Mrs. Dincht..." Squall said, bowing formally.
"Good-bye Squall.....Take care of Zell for me...." wiping the fresh tears from her face, patting him on the shoulder she added with a wry smile, "... and do me another favor, loose that serious streak of yours...You're much too handsome a lad to be so melancholy. It chases the lassies away..."
Squall blushed again as Ma Dincht gave him a warm hug and bid him on his way. Entering the waiting car, Ma Dincht came out and waived as they drove off for the Balamb Train Station. She watched them go and offered up a silent prayer to the gods that they'd be okay. Lord knows, we don't need to loose more young ones....she worried to herself, while wringing the dish towel in her hands.
The three SeeDs arrived at the train station with little time to spare. The train was about to leave as the steward began to shout the last call. They ran quickly up to the gate, handing the steward their tickets. He ripped them and ushered the trio aboard the train. Entering the small bay, another steward showed them to their private room, reserved by the Garden for the exclusive use of SeeDs only.
"Wow! This is really cool!" Selphie said, looking around the small cabin in awe, "HEY! LOOK! We're moving!!" She jumped over to the open window and began to watch as the scenery of Balamb slid slowly past the train window.
"Pretty impressive..." Squall said, whistling and flumping down on one of the plush chairs on the left of the cabin. He looked over at the three small bunks on the other side, "I suppose we should decide who gets what bunk...I don't really care which one I sleep on...."
Before anyone could answer, Selphie shouted, "DIBS!!! I GET TOP!"
"Whoa....Leave it to Selphie to take the best bunk...Oh Well, then I guess I'll take the middle... That leaves the bottom for you, Squall....sorry."
"No big deal....I don't sleep well anyway... That aside...I think we should discuss a little about our up coming mission..."
"What do you mean?" Selphie asked, cocking her head.
"Well, first of all, I need to know both your specialties, so that our client, as well as myself, will be able to make use of your talents in the best way possible."
"Special rescue and field medicine....communications..." Zell replied, his face taking on an unnatural serious tone, "What'd you specialize in."
"Tactics and Procedure......Selphie, what about you?"
"Computer systems, general machine operations and mechanics..." Selphie said, still watching the landscape whoosh past the window.
"Wow..." Squall said, pausing for a moment...feeling kind of bad that he made the assumption that she seemed like such a ditz, hardly the type to go for computers and mechanics.
Selphie picked up on this and turned around, her lip stuck out indignantly, "What do you mean WOW! Just cus' I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't be interested in machines and computers..." Then she leaned over and socked him hard in the arm.
"OW!" Squall said in surprise, to which Zell started to laugh, "It's not funny....that hurt!"
"Duh!! Mr. macho sexist pig boy...That'll teach you to make broad assumptions about girls..." indignantly sticking out her tongue at him.
Zell smiled quietly and chuckled, "Finally, I'm not the one on the receiving end..."
"Just wait...your time will come..." Selphie answered, narrowing her eyes and making a face. She shook her head suddenly, her eyes fluttering tiredly, "Squall...I feel kinda funny....I'm tired..."
Squall looked at her, befuddled, "Then you better lay down..." Before he could get any further, she collapsed in a heap on the couch. Alarms rang inside his head, that was NOT natural. He went to her side quickly and began to try and shake her awake, "SELPHIE....WAKE UP....WAKE UP....." Nothing...Zell slid over next to her, giving Squall a questioning look.
"What's wrong with her?"
"How the hell should I know!? You're field medicine guy...you tell me!"
Zell looked down at her, she looked like she was sleeping but....the way she'd collapsed suddenly was pretty weird. "Sleeping Gas, maybe....No...because that'd affect all of us..."
"You're right...What do you think it could be, I mean besides sleeping gas..", it was funny but he felt a headache coming on...usually he only got those when he was stressed or overtired.
"Come to think of it...I kinda feel tired too...I..." Zell began and then in mid-sentence crumpled over on the couch, next to Selphie.
Squall stood up quickly....it was sleeping gas....he began to feel lightheaded...a terrible stab sent searing pain through his temples. He staggered around, touching his hand to his forehead. A high pitched whine buzzed in his ears, making the ambient sound of the room fuzzy and indistinct...what's go...Then he fell unconscious to the floor....a deep blackness enveloping his sight....
Laguna Loire found himself lost in the twisting streets of Deling City. He was a country boy at heart, coming from the small forest town of Timber. Deling City was so large, and seemingly its founding fathers hadn't planned the street layout , instead they'd just flipped a coin. Damn city streets make no sense...Laguna thought irritably to himself....This is just par for the course...Originally, he'd signed up for the Galbadian army as a chance to have an adventure, it turned out to be one big downer and he was seriously considering quitting. Besides, his real goal in life was to become a journalist, this was only a stepping stone, enough to get him out of Timber. What he didn't realize was, the army was more work than he thought it would be....you actually had get the job done and not just goof off. Being a college boy, he figured they'd give him some plush desk assignment, where he could sit on his duff and do paper work all day. Brilliant right? Wrongo!! Instead, they sent him off to some jungle to fight....it had been less than a pleasant experience and he'd tried hard to put it behind him. The cries from the wounded...the smell...the sounds...every horrible image you'd take for granted in a war movie. Thankfully, after a brief tour in the jungles of Esthar, he was on leave and had promised to meet a couple of friends at a local bar. Which I'll be damned if I can find...he mused. Laguna was known for his terrible sense of direction and if he ever found the bar, he was more than sure that Kiros wouldn't let him forget it. Relieved, he spotted the sign for Walt Flannigan's and quickly entered.
"Well, it's about time you showed up...lost again, were we?" Kiros asked, in his clipped Centra accent, his voice lilting with sarcasm, "We really ought to get you some kind of guide dog....."
"Nah," said a gruff voice, coming from behind Kiros. It was Ward.....he laughed, his voice a deep baritone, "Probably end up getting the dog lost..."
"Oh...Shut up...It's my first time in the city...and the dog'd get me lost, not the other way around." Laguna answered, a silly grin spreading across his face, "So has the show started up yet?"
"No....you haven't missed her....You must really have a thing for this Julia, you haven't stopped going on about her since we've met. I'm actually kind of anxious to have a look, really." Kiros said, slowly sipping a glass of wine....grinning a little he continued "I wonder how long we have until we leave again...maybe there'll be enough time for you to make music with her..."
Laguna blushed bright red at the very suggestion. Julia Heartilly was a very famous pianist. He'd first heard her on a local radio station that played only classical music. Instrumental music wasn't really his favorite, but there was something evocative and beautiful about the way Julia played. After that he bought all her records, even found out that she'd been playing in this bar in Deling City for the last three years. When they told him that he'd have leave here, he was more than thrilled. Finally a chance to see his favorite artist in the flesh....(where am I..??) .....Laguna shook his head...it was strange, but for a moment there it had seemed like a voice that wasn't his own....was in his head...weird.
"You alright, mate?" Kiros asked, noting the odd look on his friends normally placid face and laying his hand on Laguna's shoulder.
"Yeah....faeries..." he said, waiving a hand distractedly.
"Faeries?" Ward questioned, looking at Laguna with bemused smile on his wide face.
"Yup, Faeries...like ever get that feeling you're being watched or when you shiver for no reason, when it's not even cold?"
"Yeah, I guess...." Ward replied, uncertainly.
"Back in Timber, when that happens we say that the faeries are dancing...you know, causing mischief...I just had a moment like that a minute ago..." Laguna answered, matter of factly, "I felt like there was another presence here with us..."
"I think it's just a symptom of your underlying madness...." Kiros said, with a wily smile.
"Genius.." Laguna corrected.
Kiros shook his head, chuckling, "Drink up...the show's about to start."
The curtains lifted, revealing a delicate looking young lady dressed in red, sitting at a black grand piano. The lights in the cafe dimmed and she began to play a soft and sweet tune. She played....her deep brown eyes scanning the crowd, and locking onto Laguna's. Was she playing just for him? It seemed like it....He felt his heart melting...she was so beautiful and her music touched his very soul. If only there was a way to express that music in words....it was so exquisite, yet so sad....hope mixed with tragedy...joy coupled with pain.....As if it described two lovers intertwined in a dance, soon to be parted and yet hoping was a chance that they'd be together again....he could almost see them, gliding across the floor...knowing all the time that they may never see each other again and yet they keep dancing.....Laguna let the music penetrate him, losing himself in its sweet melody.
Shortly, the concert came to an end and Julia took her bows, stealing glances at the handsome young soldier she spotted in one of the booths. She decided then and there to send a messenger to the young man and have him come to her room. There was something quite extraordinary about him, the way he watched her as she played...as if he was totally surrounded by the music. Minutes passed and finally there was a knock at her hotel room door. She opened it with trepidation, hoping that the soldier hadn't refused. Looking out into the corridor, there he stood....he was quite tall, his eyes a light ocean blue that glinted with some unknown mischief and long dark brown hair. He smiled as she opened the door wider, it was a disarming smile...and she fell for it, head over heels.
"Umm...h-hi..." He said, fidgeting nervously, "I'm...uh...Laguna L-Loire, you asked for me?"
"Yes, I saw you watching me tonight...Did you enjoy yourself?" She asked, her voice sweet as a summer breeze dancing through wind chimes.
"Yeah...I really love your music....Um...may I come in? The bus boy is lookin' at me funny.." He replied, smiling again.
"Oh! Yes...Please" She said, blushing a little as she opened the door, "Please, sit over here." Motioning to a small table set up near the window in her room.
"Thanks...What was that song you played first called? I haven't heard that one before...." he asked, sitting down across from her, his blue eyes twinkling in the half light.
"It's titled Eyes on Me....I was considering writing some words for it. I'd really like to start singing more...I'm afraid I'm terrible at writing lyrics though." She blushed again, shyly pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, " I suppose it's a little silly for a pianist to want to sing, especially since I've sort of built a following doing instrumentals." She couldn't help but fall for him...the sparkle of his eyes, the way his mouth pulled up funny on one side when he smiled...She knew he had been watching her, she wondered if he knew that she was doing the same.
"No....I don't think it's silly...You should pursue your dreams, no matter what they are. If you don't do it now, you'll regret it tomorrow...that's my philosophy."
"Really?" she smiled and put her hand on top of his, "What's your dream?"
Laguna's eyes softened and looking down, he answered, "I'd like to become a journalist....travel the world writing about everything I see. You know, like go to a city and sample the food, the traditions...that kind of thing."
"Why'd you sign up for the army then?"
"I needed some money and a way to leave my hometown, Timber....this was the easiest way....I haven't given up though....Neither should you....You know, you should write some words for that song...I'll help you if you want.."
"Yes, I'd like that very much...."
Laguna and Julia stayed like this, locked in a moment of eternal devotion....staring into each others eyes, as if there was nothing else in the world to look at. Leaning in, they kissed softly......The world dissolving from view into pale shades the color of the rainbow....Time rippling out and folding in on itself....a never ending dance, like the lovers of his vision. A young man with cold eyes and a young woman with a warm heart, forever intertwined in this dance, color and emotion tied together as one...their twin souls....separated for so long but always together.....a paradox. The scene fading from view, disappearing into a well of darkness.....
Squall woke up on the floor of the small cabin, his eyes adjusting slowly. He lifted himself off the floor, still groggy and finding it hard to move his own limbs. What the hell just happened....what a weird ass dream....he thought dully, looking over at Zell and Selphie, who were also just waking up. Squall shook the stiffness out of his limbs, stretching and cracking his neck to limber himself up. He looked down at his watch, only ten minutes had passed....very weird. Looking around, nothing in the room seemed out of order....So why would someone gas us and not take anything or attack us...or something..? Squall thought, becoming more and more disturbed by the whole incident.
Zell rubbed his eyes vigorously and sleepily said, "Boy, what the hell was that about....I had the strangest dream too....It was like, I was this other person but not really...I could like hear him talking but I couldn't do anything...it was real goofy.."
"Lucky you....I dreamt I was a moron..." Squall yawned. What the hell was wrong with that Laguna guy anyway, what an ass.
"That's weird, I had a dream too....and there was this super hot guy in it! Gosh, what was his name...ummm...Laguna!" Selphie exclaimed, glancing up to see the looks of shock and disbelief on her companion's faces, "What?"
"It's just that was the name of the person in my dream..."
"And mine." Zell piped up, shaking himself a little, "Gawd, that's creepy...What'd you think it means?"`
Squall shrugged, he didn't know what to make of it, " No telling, ultimately we can't explain it.... I think it'd be best if we just forget about it for now, we can bring it up later with the headmaster. Let's just concentrate on the mission for now."
"I guess you're right.....it still creeps me out" Zell replied, making a face.
They went back to what they'd been doing before passing out....Squall hadn't heeded his own advice, he couldn't get the dream out of his head...As of late, he seemed to be having an awful lot of unexplainable dreams. What did it mean? It was strange, but he wondered if that last dream was a dream at all...Zell had explained it well, it was like he was Laguna and yet not Laguna....he could hear and see...but couldn't control or visibly affect the world. And for a moment, he could've sworn that Laguna had heard him somehow...This is crazy...he thought, watching Zell and Selphie play a game of triple triad. Selphie was winning, much to Zell's dismay. He watched, losing himself in thought as the train bounded forward, towards Timber and away from Balamb.