Hyne, I love you people! You are so nice, thank you so much.
_______
The sight.
"Hey, again."
She slowly began to appear, along with the rest of the room. This time, she was very visible. The same room, around her, was blurry this time. She was beautiful, as always, her facial feature serious and her eyes looking forward… at him. Her voice wasn't as clear as last time, though… it echoed throughout his mind and memory.
Several seconds passed by as she stared at him until, like a broken record, she zipped from one position to another, looking upwards with her hand up as she spoke.
"You know… you're always too deep in thought. Why don't you lighten up a little? It's not good to think too much. What I'm trying to say is…"
The sound of her voice, after her last statement, went from a heartfelt tone to a sad, hurt tone. Her image disappeared as the room twirled into nothingness, as it did last time.
And her sad voice was once again heard clearly…
"..I need you, Squall…"
…Rinoa…
"I wasn't lying when I told you that you were the best looking guy at the party… but there was something about you that drew me closer. I didn't just want to dance; I wanted to try to get closer to you… in a way. It was a coincidence that we met again in Timber, wasn't it? I guess Fate… wanted us to meet again. We've been through so much together so far… had a few little arguments and touching moments, but… look at you now. What am I supposed to do now that you're gone like this?"
"We're searching for Ellone… maybe she can help bring you back to us… to me. In the meantime.. don't give up. Hold on just a little longer… I know you will. You're much stronger than I am."
~~~~~~~
The helpless girl was kneeled by the side of the bed once again, looking to the same expression on his face that he had for the few days now. She sighed and placed her right hand on her forehead and bangs, closing her eyes as she tried to hold back the many tears that wanted to fall. She couldn't cry now… there was still hope. She just had to be a little more optimistic like she always has.
Her eyelids wrinkled a bit as she made her eyes tightly closed, bringing her hands over her face. She wondered if her words would reach him… or if he could hear her clearly. Either way, she tried, and that was the best she could do.
Sliding her hands up her face, she ran her fingers through her hair and looked back over to Squall. Rinoa once again fought back the tears and victory was hers, leaving her eyes as wet as they needed to be.
The Garden was already on its way to Fisherman's Horizon. Since the xenophobic Esthar was surrounded by a variety of mountains, Balamb Garden was incapable of traveling directly there. And because FH had shutdown railroads that lead directly there, that was the road they were going to take and walk… all the way there. They would do that for Squall. Before they left for FH, Cid requested for the Garden to pick them up. It seemed like Edea wanted to come along for the journey as well.
Taking in a deep breath of air, she let it out softly, hearing the door of the infirmary slide open. Rinoa blinked softly and looked up to see who it was. It was none other than Selphie Tilmitt herself.
The girl in yellow walked deeper into the infirmary, turning to the doorway that lead into Squall's specific room. She looked down at Rinoa kneeled right next to him, never leaving his side, like a guardian angel. "Hey, Rinoa, how's he doing?"
The girl in light blue shook her head softly, turning her gaze back to the sleeping lion. During the last few days she has been awake, Rinoa's spirits were down a great amount. Everyone noticed, but Selphie was going to voice it out to her, unlike the others. Biting her bottom lip, the cheerful girl walked deeper into the room, taking a seat upon the same stool Irvine once sat upon. Her green eyes looked over at Squall, remaining silent for a little longer until she spoke up.
"I know this is hard for you, Rinoa… it's hard for all of us." The two girls were silent for a few seconds longer. Rinoa kept her eyes on Squall for those few seconds until she looked up at Selphie when she began to speak again.
"Squall always had this… wall up around him. He was always quiet and to himself, never sharing his thoughts. But you know…" Selphie sat up a little more, leaning back against the wall behind her and placing one hand on top of the other on her lap. She managed to smile a little and look directly into her brown eyes as reassurance. "…that wall began to look like it was getting thinner every time you spoke to him… even looked at him. Trust me, I've noticed it. I didn't think your straightforward approach would work, but it did. I'm glad I was wrong."
Rinoa stared at her friend for a moment before a soft smile crept across her face. A true one. Selphie returned the smile with her own bright one full of hope and understanding. "So don't lose your spirited composure now… Squall needs it more than ever now, to survive."
"You're right, Selphie… thank you so much." As if on cue, the loudspeaker rang and Quistis's voice was heard throughout the Garden.
"We've arrived at FH. We'll be docked here for a while, so please make yourselves comfortable. Irvine, Zell… please head to the infirmary. I'll meet you there." With that, the loudspeaker was cut off and all was silent again. Selphie stood and hopped up once, throwing her arms up in the air one by one. "Now let's get him back! WOO-HOO!"
~~~~~~~
"I-In there? You've gotta be kidding me."
"Yes, sir, this capsule will take you to the main space station where Adel is sealed. They are already aware of your coming. Inside, you will undergo a sleep which will make it seem like the trip is short."
"Come on, Uncle Laguna, how scary could it be?"
Fearlessly, the woman walked towards the stairs that lead to the capsule where she would go to the space station in. Laguna panicked and watched her get closer, throwing out an arm towards her and yelling. "Elle--!"
Now in front of the capsule, Ellone turned around with a laughing smile upon her lips, giving a small wave to her dear Uncle Laguna before turning around and entering it. The capsule door closed, and traveled up to its designated place. Laguna shivered slightly, and took in a big gulp, audible enough for the scientist nearby to hear.
"The trip is completely safe, Mr. President. We would never steer you wrong." Another capsule traveled up, welcoming Laguna as it opened its door out to him.
"A-All right." With that, the man hesitantly walked up the stairs, standing in front of the capsule for a moment to scratch his head and hunch. Taking in a deep breath, he bravely walked in, allowing the door to close behind him. And so it traveled up, along with Ellone's, and readied to launch into the vastness of space.
~~~~~~~
The gang was all walking along the railroad, now. Zell, Selphie, Quistis, Irvine, Rinoa, Edea and Squall. His lifeless arms were draped behind Irvine and Zell's necks and the boys walked their companion along with them. Sure he had a good amount of weight on him, but it was nothing the guys couldn't handle.
Rinoa walked by their sides, looking to see if they were ok now and then. The three other women were up front, leading the way.
Apparently, Edea wanted to join them to talk to a scientist in Esthar to rid herself of Sorceress Ultimecia's control. With full understanding, the others agreed without hesitation to her request. Why would they refuse?
Not many words were said along the way unless it was from Zell, groaning from the pain in his neck that Squall's arm was provoking. They were all mostly silent. It was ironic that the gang talked much when Squall had the ability to be conscious around them, but when gone, they had grown silent. They missed him very much.
The sun was setting now, which gave the sky above a creamy orange glow. They all had a great view of the wide sky since no buildings or things were in the way of the sight. Only a seemingly everlasting railroad that lead to Esthar. They stopped once, letting Irvine and Zell take a break, but it wasn't long until they picked the helpless Lion up again and continued on their way.
They didn't walk too much longer until they finally reached the end of the railroad and came upon an Iceland, where mountains of white extended a long way upon the snow-covered earth. Selphie and Quistis navigated the area, deciding on the best possible way to go which would lead them to Esthar.
And through various little snowstorms the gang traveled through, walking by deep craters and avoiding any serious monsters that would cross their path. Zell looked up and blinked, noticing some… interferences in the air…?
"Yo, look at that!" He spoke up, signaling the others with a simple nudge towards the part of the "air" he looked upon.
They all looked up at the static. Something was definitely fishy. "What the…?" Selphie spoke up, squinting her eyes and staring up at it.
Quistis walked over, raising her right hand and placing her hand upon the "wall of air" that was before them. "?! Huh…?" The others watched in curiosity as the young woman inspected the area. She let her hand travel around a bit more until she felt a dent, then applied pressure.
A door opened from above, making it obvious to everyone that this was no ordinary sky. It was a disguise.
"Heeeey!"
"No way!"
"What a clever disguise…" Rinoa spoke out last, walking over and checking out the area beneath the door. There were a variety of horizontal poles that lead up, as a ladder, but invisible to the eye. Realizing this, she began to climb, as the others watched a moment before following without another word to be said.
After getting Squall up the ladder with the rest of the group, there was a long metallic hallway that lead to a door on the other end. With no other place to go, the group walked forward, ready for anything.
"This is amazing… is this Esthar?" Quistis asked, opening the door in their way before making her way through, followed by the others.
"Who knows… but there's no way I'm headin' back, after all this travelin'." Irvine replied, continuing to help Zell with Squall.
"I agree, my neck's killin' me!" Zell groaned, gathering up more strength in him to make it through this, just a little longer.
Soon, they all stopped and stood on a platform. It seemed like a dead end. Selphie threw her arms down with her muscles tight upon them. "Oh no, what now?!"
They all looked around, upon the walls and to the ceiling. Nothing… until the room started to vibrate slightly. All startled, they looked around frantically as the room began to become bright; until it revealed a vast and technologically colorful city around them.
"Goodness!" Selphie yelled in surprise, speaking for everyone. With a look of amazement upon their faces, the gang was completely speechless. The platform they stood upon moved, disconnecting from the wall it was attached to and began to travel downwards with great speed. It looked as if they would all fall off, but due to the technology that this place seemed to have pretty well, they didn't even feel a tickle in their stomachs.
During what seemed like a roller coaster ride, Rinoa looked to Squall who was still being held in the middle of their companions. His head hung low, completely unaware and oblivious of the events that were taking place around him. In the corner of her eye, she saw Irvine look to her, which made her look to him. He winked playfully and raised his right hand, giving her a thumbs up. He smiled as she gave him a nod. They were surely there.
After the transportation, the platform slowed down and connected to a piece of the metallic land of Esthar, allowing the group to walk off.
They waited around a little bit before Rinoa spoke. "Do you think they know we're here?"
Quistis answered her question to the best of her ability. "Most likely… we should have some company soon."
A few minutes passed and a couple of cars appeared, pulling up next to the group. The door of the passenger side opened to one of them and a man stood out, wearing a long robe of the Estharian attire. The man looked to them all, allowing his eyes to stop on Edea. "Sorceress Edea, Dr. Odine's been expecting you."
The graceful woman turned to face the man, giving a soft nod in understanding. "I thought so. Shall we?"
The man turned to face the others, who only looked like a handful of teenagers. "May I ask what business you have here?" It was a sincere question.
Quistis looked to Rinoa, stepping forward and basically talking for her since she had full SeeD authority and formality. Rinoa knew this, and didn't mind at all. She was glad.
"We're here for Ellone. We must be reunited with her as soon as possible."
The man nodded in understanding, and turned to face the car again. "Understood, please this way."
The group was given a relaxing car ride with an added guided tour of the wonderful city of Esthar. Rinoa's soft brown eyes couldn't stop staring out the window at the magnificent scenery. She smiled gently, sliding her bangs from her eyes and leaning back in the chair. "What a beautiful city…"
After arriving at the Presidential palace, the gang was guided to a 'waiting' room. There, Irvine and Zell were able to lay Squall down on a cushioned chair. Hopping around freely on his tippy-toes, Zell happily stretched himself out a little, free from half of Squall's weight.
Rinoa walked near the chair where Squall lay, standing by his side at all times.
The man who walked the group there turned to Edea once again. "What business do you have with Dr. Odine?"
"I wish to be free from Sorceress Ultimecia's control." Edea spoke out smoothly, standing there proudly and full of confidence. And then there was another voice heard in the room.
"Zat will be easy." The short scientist walked into the room with unusual-looking Estharian attire upon himself. There was a circular, colorful board-like piece of clothing that connected around his neck, and his hair was pulled back tightly, and into a high ponytail.
Edea turned to him and smiled, bowing once. "I'm sure it will be very easy for you, Doctor. Although, these children wish to see Ellone as soon as possible."
"Mmm…" Dr. Odine scanned the six "children" in the room… but his eyes fell upon Rinoa who was protectively standing by Squall's side. He squinted his eyes and stared at her a minute before walking closer, looking down to Squall. He spoke out an order to his assistant in the room. "Give zem permission."
"Yes, sir."
"However, I would like to obzerve this boy. My assiztant will inform you on vhat to do."
The group looked to the doctor's assistant, waiting for some answers.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of the boy. When you all are ready, please head to the Lunar Gate. We will take him there, too. If you would like, you could take a look around the city, but I suggest you guys rest up a bit, that was quite some trip you took."
Quistis and the others nodded in understanding, and began to walk towards the door. As Rinoa walked with her friends to the door, there were a pair of eyes on her, and she could feel them beaming at her back. But then she ignored the feeling of being watching with the realization that she was going to leave Squall for now. The others left, and Rinoa was the last to leave, but turned around when she was at the doorway, looking to Squall lying upon the chair for one last time.
That's when she saw the pair of eyes she felt on her. It was Doctor Odine. Feeling awkward, Rinoa turned back around and headed out the door, catching up with the others.
The doctor raised his head slightly, staring at the door, and placed his short arms behind his back. A look of suspicion came over his features.
_______
I'm sorry if this chapter was so boring, but there was a lot of traveling to do… I couldn't just skip it all. Plus I still have school, and that always wrecks the brain, haha. Please review to let me know what you think.
--Jenn