Wolf: Don't own any of the FF VIII characters or places.
Voice in closet: Let me out! It's my job!
Wolf: For those wondering, that was an unexpected visitor. Bob, A.K.A writer's block, who decided to visit me, which held me up. And other projects… More looks And laziness… Even more looks and that fact I got stuck.
Chapter: Until we meet again
……" Ouch!"
" Could you just stand still?"
" Hyne, dammit I'm fine!" Seifer Almasy snarled at the doctor. It was bad enough to have people popping in and staring like idiots. In reply Kadowaki rolled her eyes. She had gotten use to this.
" Do I really have to cast a sleep spell to get you to behave?"
" Do you really have to keep checking up on me?"
Quistis passed by the rows of patients carrying a clipboard. Left and right patients remained strewed along the corridors.
" Ms. Trepe?" Piped one of the runners. " Message from Esthar Residential Palace. They've agreed to accept some of our patients. They should be here to transport at 1800 hours."
" Ms. Trepe, could I get you some coffee?" Asked a Trepie sporting a black eye.
" No, I'm fine-"
" She'd love to have one," Xu cut in holding a box of supplies. " Go to the second floor to classroom 251. There's a hidden box under the floorboards."
" Yes ma'am!"
" Thanks Xu," the blond said. She made a move to go around before Xu called her back.
" Go take a break already, you've been working non-stop ever since we got off the battlefield," her friend said strictly.
" I'm fine."
" At least ask Flyn to help you out," Xu pressed. As if on a cue a handsome SeeD walked up carrying towels.
" Need some help ladies?" Flyn flashed a million gil smile while Quistis gave a sidelong glance to Xu.
" I don't but Quistis would love to have your company." Xu gave a semi-push towards Flyn.
" Here, let me help you with that," Flyn's callused hands instantly reached for the box, which Quistis swiftly pulled off to the side. " Alright, I'll just walk with you." Quistis only muttered a quick thanks before swiftly moving toward a classroom with Flyn at her heels blathering on. Where did Xu go? The second the former instructor turned to see Xu had walk off with another SeeD, leaving Quistis to fend for herself.
" That's the last of it," Flyn said cheerfully. Flyn had decided to 'graciously' offer his help in unloading the last of the supplies. "So Quistis, are you interested in going for a coffee break? Xu said you've been working non-stop lately. My treat." He added watching the blond move another box.
" I appreciate the offer but I'll pass," Quistis said with a polite nod. " I don't mind the work."
" I don't know," Flyn moved up behind Quistis. A warm hand placed it's self on her shoulder. " After all, it isn't right for a woman of such beauty to be worked to death. Maybe what you need is the right guy to help you… relax a bit."
" Hey, lover boy," a familiar voice called from the doorway. Flyn instantly jumped before facing the man that had dared interrupt.
" What are you doing here, Almasy?" Flyn asked regaining his composure with a smile.
" Definitely not so see a sappy love scene unroll," Seifer said with a smirk. " Play out your fantasies I'm not around to be sick."
" Is that really the reason you're here?" Flyn made the move closer to the former knight. " Are you sure you're not just-what's the word? Jealous? I guess I can't understand how a failure like yourself would be interested in a successful, beautiful-"
In a flash a gloved hand had wrapped around the collar of Flyn's shirt and he dangled a foot off the ground. " Care to say that again, lover boy?"
" Enough Seifer!" Quistis growled gripping hard onto his shoulder much. Seifer just stood there unfazed with his piercing eyes set on Flyn.
" Temper, temper, Almasy," Flyn said coolly.
" I mean it Seifer," Quistis said sharply applying more pressure like she had to do when Seifer picked on another student. He turned to glare at her. Her blue eyes remained hard and transfixed on Seifer's for what seemed for an eternity. Flump! Flyn hit the ground hard.
" Someone named Kila wanted me to pass on the message that she wants to go out," Seifer said coolly. " She's in the library."
Flyn's eyes suddenly brightened. " Alright then, sorry about the problem Quistis." If Flyn had turned back he would have noticed Seifer's crossed fingers.
For a while Quistis and Seifer remained quiet, just standing in their places like statues. They both had being trying to avoid staying close after the last incident in hopes they could just avoid what was going on. But then again fate always had a way of pulling its tricks.
" What the hell was that about?" Seifer asked suddenly. What was that new sound in his voice? " Why'd you let a shark like him get close to you?"
" Why would you be interested in my personally life?" Quistis countered pretending to organize Kadowaki's desk. " He was simply asking me out for some coffee."
" Seems like he was after far more than that," he remarked.
" Why are you still here?" Quistis said coldly ignoring the ball of anger and frustration that began to grow once more. " You were the one saying you had no ties here anymore."
" I'm waiting for Fuj to get better," Seifer replied stubbornly. He waved his glove in dismiss moving for the door. " What more reason?"
" You're not staying for her?" Her voice came out hard and cold. Seifer stopped momentarily before continuing. " Alloran's as much your daughter as mine."
" Don't you get it, Instructor?" He asked. " What are the chances of seeing her come back. And what then? Everything ends like a fairytale? Life never ends that way!"
" Sorry for thinking you had a heart," Quistis hissed back.
" Why don't you just-" he cut off before he eyes turned to the door. Without a sound he yanked the door to see the face of a terrified cadet. The second Seifer's hand flew forward the cadet nearly leapt into the air and streaked down the hallway with an angry Seifer behind him. All that was in were thinking different things. The cadet was running for his life, the former knight to keep a secret quiet, and a former instructor to keep the latter from doing something drastic.
" Seifer, knock it off!"
" Get back here!"
" H-help! I'm being chased by a manic!"
The main question was, which one would actually succeed.
Am I, dead? Alloran asked herself. All she remembered was a white light, and that woman's voice. She shivered. It was cold here. The next thing she remembered was images of her past, several things forgotten because of the GFs. Guilt tugged her heart once more. Fenerir, her oldest friend, was gone. She couldn't hope to hear Fenerir's comments or advice. That woman hadn't guaranteed her survival, she had even said so herself. She saw Tal and Casseil in her thoughts. Probably destined never to cross paths again. Where am I? Alloran silently screamed to herself. A deafening roar filled her ears.
All the white faded so did the cold that had been with her. Alloran was lying down on a marble floor inside a hall made of smoothed crystal. In the air Alloran couldn't smell anything. Probably because I'm dead, she thought grimly.
" Do you really think that?" Asked a delicate, female voice. It was the same as before but louder. It seemed to boom in the SeeD's ears.
Before her stood the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. The woman had perfectly pale skin, setting off her emotionless gold eyes, not like Cal's, more calm and regal. Falling around her shoulders were long locks of midnight black hair. Even is she hadn't been sitting up perfectly straight the woman would have still been much taller then most woman Alloran had ever seen. Who is she? Alloran asked herself, finding her body was refusing to move.
" Who are you?" Alloran asked facing the golden-eyed woman. " Are you a sorceress?"
" A sorceress? No, I am merely a guide," they responded in a superior way. The golden eyes suddenly seemed like a superior. " Or have you forgotten my voice so easily?"
" Then, am I dead?" Alloran demanded shaking. The woman in front of her gave no reaction to the SeeD's tone, not that Alloran would have expected.
" Not yet at least," was the cool reply. A flood of relief poured over Alloran. She hadn't died! Her joy though was short lived. If she hadn't died where was she?
" In the realms of the dead," was the answer. The woman's face seemed to soften, just barely.
" Then, why am I here?" Alloran asked. " And where's Karu?"
The woman snapped her long, pale fingers and the charm appeared beside her in a flare of silver fire. Its moonstone was glowing furiously as if to match Karu's nature, mesmerizing Alloran. She was thinking of Fenerir again. Her eyes now met the woman's, it felt almost as though this woman could answer all her questions. " Your eyes tell me you have a question about Karu," she said patiently.
" What was Karu trying to accomplish anyway?" Alloran asked. " He kept trying over and over to accomplish something. Repeating the same things, causing the same people to suffer die, nations to fall, causing Cal to lose control…"
" What all creatures; humans, animals, watchers, and what you call Guardian Forces wish: freedom," She responded snapping her long fingers once more, causing the charm to vanish. " He did not approve of the limits of being a Guardian Force, nor did he care of the laws. He enjoyed the freedom and power he had and began overstepping what he was made for. He started his own pitiful rebellion. Karu did not care about his duty, the reason all Guardian Forces were created. To watch over Hyne's children."
Kinda like Bahamut, Alloran thought, thinking of her first encounter with the king of dragons. And the watchers…
The woman looked at her straight in the eyes, suddenly reminding Alloran of a mother. " You have succeeded in several things and yet there is still trouble that stirs in your mind, I can see it in your soul. You have yet to fully convince yourself of your fears. Of what awaits you, visions of the future, and your own guilt. There are things you wonder, outcomes that dance in your head. Alloran, do you wish to see Fenerir again?"
" Yes!" Alloran blurted before she realized it.
The black haired woman nodded slowly. " Fenerir cannot return to your world yet. Hyne has a generous offer concerning the situation. You could remain in this world as her messenger, free to roam where you wish, immortal life, powers, freedom of your mortal responsibilities, and able to see your Guardians, Fenerir, Leviathan, and Bahamut whenever you wish." Alloran flinched. "This realm is also home to the Guardian Forces, their true forms at least."
" But I thought-"
" Only Fenerir's physical form was left behind, not her sprit," the woman replied making Alloran think of a teacher lecturing a student. " Or you can return to your own world and live out the rest of your mortal life. But remember, once you make your decision you can never change your mind. "
" But either way I never see either certain people again," Alloran said frowning. Either way someone loses, she thought.
The woman looked at Alloran, her golden eyes seeming like a mother's once more. " Those who have met are one day destined to meet again."
" Can't Hyne just show me what could happen with either of my choices?" Alloran blurted out. " If I'll be happy by picking one over the other?"
" Hyne can only see into the near future," was the calm reply. " Whether you would be happy our not depends solely on you."
I could see Fenerir again, Alloran told herself. Bahamut and Leviathan too… I could be an immortal, go where I want and not have to worry about what could happen.
But what about everyone else? Nagged a tiny voice at the back of her head. Are you just going to abandon everyone now? What happened to what you were saying earlier in FH? What happened to 'running away from the consequences'?
You didn't have to choose between your oldest friend, the one that's been with all your life, the you've trusted the most, and several people you care about, said a different voice. Is wanting to run away a crime? You did your job already, don't you deserve some freedom?
Oh, so running away is something you do? Should have done that before you fought Cal then, taunted part of her. WHAT DO YOU WANT?
It's either Fenerir or everyone else, Alloran thought. " Fenerir's never going to return to my world, right?"
" Perhaps, perhaps not," was all the Goddess said. " Maybe one day she will return to your world. Maybe not even in your lifetime."
Shifting her weight she didn't even look up at the golden eyes as she thought over her decision. No turning back. Alloran looked up at the woman and smiled. " I've made my choice."
Somewhere in dark room lay a battered body in the infirmary while two forms were asleep on chairs. The body's chest was slowly moving up and down slowly with the help of the life support system. Suddenly the line on the machine went erratic pulsing in all directions.
" Tal, wake up!" One of the figures started shaking the second figure. Almost falling out of his chair he managed to make his way over to the bed. " C'mon back Alloran," he whispered.
Alloran stood in a forest like area. The trees seemed to stretch on forever under the starry sky and a large silver moon hung overhead. Despite the some-what normal appearance of the forest, like Eternity the air seemed heavy with a strange alien feeling. Alloran gingerly took a step forward, eyes searching the shadows.
" You won't find me," said a voice in Alloran's ears. The sound of a thousand wolves. Alloran just looked down while her heart leapt in joy to hear that voice. Hyne had already said she wouldn't see Fenerir but this would be good enough. There were so many thoughts jumbled up in her head unable to be spoken.
" I wish I could have stopped him," Alloran managed to blurt out after a moments silence.
" What is done is done, the past is one thing that cannot be changed," Fenerir was sounding more and more distant now. " You have made your choice?" Alloran felt a stab of pain.
" So we never see each other again?" Alloran asked feeling her voice crack almost. A gentle breeze seemed to wrap around her blowing her hair around as it often did before.
" ' Those who have met are one day destined to meet again,'" Fenerir whispered, repeating the woman's words. "I will one day return to your world, though it may not be for decades, centuries even. "
" One day," Alloran repeated.
" Wait for me, until we meet again." Alloran just smiled weakly and nodded. "You made a promise and I don't mind you keeping it. Don't worry, after all you are going home now. And besides," the Guardian Force's voice suddenly held it's usual humor. " I am sure Casseil's waiting for you."
" Don't start," Alloran said instantly out of habit. The wind was starting to pick up. As if a warning that Alloran's time was running short. Alloran looked around the endless forest once more for some sign of her friend. Nothing.
" Take care, Alloran," Fenerir's voice was now fading along with the forest. " Until we meet again," whispered the voice that sounded like the howl of a thousand wolves.
" I'll be waiting," Alloran called back as she entered the strange white area one final time. " Good bye, Fenerir."
Alloran barely heard voices. All muffled and distorted. Attempting to open her eyes seemed to be a chore. She couldn't even feel Leviathan or Bahamut, only a wave of peace. Alloran was losing control once more and for the first time in a long time she drifted off into true sleep.
" So you're really leaving?" A female blond asked.
" Fuj is better, and the bloody rumors are going to keep flying around as long as I hang around," he replied. "As soon as the bus gets here, we're moving out." The bus to Balamb pulled up as if on cue.
" HEY, SEIFER!" Raijin ran down the steps carrying a duffel bag with Fujin by his side as usual. " Sorry, we're late, Fuj took forever to pack, ya know."
" IDIOT," Fujin growled at her fiancé before delivering a swift kick.
Meanwhile the two blonds were no longer looking at each other. Seifer merely motioned toward the bus while the duo climbed (hobbled in Raijin's case) onto the bus. Only Seifer remained now.
" Hey, Instructor?" Seifer's familiar voice was quiet. " You know how fairytales end, right? The heroes live happily ever after while the villains fade into the shadows. Maybe once 'the man that officially screwed up the world' disappears things for you and Alloran will receive your happy endings."
Quistis felt hollow as she stood there. Her voice along with her body lay numb as she watched Seifer board the bus, Quistis felt hollow as she stood there, watching another chance slip by.
Wolf: ONE MORE CHAPTER!
Tobias: Finally, seeing how you take forever to write.
Wolf: Glares I didn't need that.
Tobias: Meh.
Wolf: Please review.
