Chapter Two
Eleven years later…
Squall sighed, bored out of his mind, and drew little stick Chocobos on the train window with ice. His long chocolate brown hair hung into his gray-blue eyes and he didn't even bother to push the hair away, it would just fall back anyways. He glanced over at Edea as she read 'The Scarlet Letter', bo-oring. Edea was now in her late thirties, and still had her thick, long black hair. Now that she no longer was chasing little kids around, she wore colors, mostly dark maroons and blues, and tall heels. Squall had stopped calling her Matron a few years ago, and simply called her Edea, much to her dismay. Squall turned back to his doodle made of ice and started adding a few bloberas as well.
He hated traveling, he decided. There was the boat ride from the orphanage to FH, and then the train ride to Deling City and that annoying break in Timber. All for a shopping trip. He hoped to Hyne that she would get him new a new pair of leather pants since she insisted on dragging him along. But she hated to leave him at the orphanage now, especially since he was the only kid left… and Edea sure as Hell wasn't going to let him go off to Garden like the rest.
Stupid sorceress, he thought idly and gave a snort of disgust. He watched his ice Chocobos and bloberas slowly melt in the ninety-degree weather.
"Squall, stop with the ice." Edea sighed. Squall took his finger away from the window and pouted. She rolled her eyes and smiled. "We're almost there." She assured him.
"Correction, we're almost to Timber. A.K.A. hicville." Squall muttered.
"Squall." Edea warned.
Squall rolled his eyes. "I'm not incompetent Edea, I can control my powers."
"I'm not so worried about you using your powers, but you 'accidentally' slicing the head off some native because they are 'ignorant'." Edea gestured to Squall's gunblade that was resting on the seat next to him.
Squall sighed. "Then they shouldn't be so ill-mannered." He grumbled.
"Squall." Edea said sternly.
"…Whatever."
Edea sighed and put her book down. Squall had shied away from people because of his powers. Other kids at the orphanage had been terrified of him, especially after Seifer was sent to Garden. She tried her best to look after him, and soon gave up on taking in new kids so she could focus on Squall. She had taught him how to control his powers, and he had taken up a weapon to concentrate his energy.
But Edea couldn't help but get the feeling she was losing Squall, bit by bit, and it scared her. His nightmares were getting worse and he still refused to talk about them. But he would cry out the names 'Seifer' and 'Ultimeica' in the middle of the night. Not to mention she was getting migraine headaches more and more these days. It literally felt like someone was ripping into her brain.
/Now arriving at Timber Station. Now arriving at Timber Station/ an electronic voice chimed throughout the cabin.
Squall sighed and stood up, the train would be stopped for twenty minutes. Edea stood up as well and the two slowly exited the train with the other passengers. "Squall, I am going to go visit a friend, would you like to come?"
Squall grimaced. "No thanks, upgrading revolver."
Edea nodded and headed off as Squall turned down the street to the weapons shop.
---
Rinoa Heartilly sat with Zone and Watts on the sidewalk contemplating what Rinoa would say to Headmaster Kramer when she went to the SeeD ball tonight. The two men argued over persuasive tactics while Rinoa stared off into space, until his noticed him. Rinoa's mouth dropped open as the sex god walked out of the weapon shop. He was wearing black leather pants, three belts, biker boots, and a white tight t-shirt, and he had the most disheveled hair that screamed 'yes, I just had mind dazzling sex!' and he was toting a huge gunblade. She was only disappointed by the fact his eyes were covered by sunglasses. "Wow." She whispered in awe. Her hott meter was blowing through the roof.
She leaped up from her spot, startling Zone and Watts (and causing Zone to clutch his stomach), and ran towards him.
Squall turned when he felt a presence rushing towards him and glared at the brunette that stop in front of him with an angelic smile. "Hi." She greeted.
"…" Squall looked at her before turning around and continuing on his way.
"I'm Rinoa. Rinoa Heartilly." She introduced herself as she walked next to him.
"… Do you need something?" Squall asked, pausing.
"How about your phone number?" She giggled.
"…Whatever." He grumbled and continued walking.
"So, what's your name?"
"Not interested." Squall replied.
"Aw… are we a shy, widdle boy?" Rinoa baby talked and then giggled again.
"No, now leave me alone."
Rinoa giggled once again. "You're so cute."
"Leave. Now."
"Aw, c'mon, what's the matter?" Rinoa pouted.
"'You jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nickname God's creatures, and make your wantonness you ignorance'." Squall replied.
"Huh?" Rinoa asked confused.
Squall rolled his eyes. "It's Shakespeare, you know, Hamlet."
"You're a poet!" Rinoa swooned.
"I'm leaving." Squall walked a bit faster hoping to leave her in the dust, but she kept following.
"Squall!" Squall turned to see Edea and he smiled in relief.
"Must leave, and hope to never see you again." Squall told Rinoa and he quickly jogged to Edea's side.
Rinoa sighed dreamily and smiled happily. 'What a hunk!'
"Well, she looked like a nice girl." Edea commented as she walked with Squall back to the train.
"If you like girls, I guess." Squall muttered.
The train ride to Deling City was quiet, Edea continued to read and Squall flipped idly through the newest Weapons Monthly, he noted the new sniper rifle and dimly thought of Irvine, and if they would meet him in the city.
When he was younger, his few friends grew distant because of their fear of them. Who wouldn't fear the little boy that 'accidentally' froze the fish tank or 'accidentally' burned down the tool shed whenever he felt a strong emotion? Quistis stayed his friend because it was her 'responsibility' to be friends with everyone, Irvine hung out with him because he wanted to have 'superman powers' too, or at least be a sidekick. And whatever Irvine did, little Selphie wasn't far behind him. Zell… was Zell. And Seifer… Squall closed his eyes in pain. Seifer didn't matter anymore.
/Now approaching Deling City Station. Now approaching Deling City Station/
Squall was thankful to get off the train and into the perpetual city of night. He shouldered his and Edea's bags as they slowly made their way through the masses and up the slow moving escalator.
"Hey hey! Your train is only twenty-seven minutes late! This has got to be a record!" A voiced greeted them.
"Irvine!" Edea greeted one of her 'children' joyfully.
"Matron, still looking lovely, as always!" Irvine winked. Edea laughed and gave the much taller boy a hug.
"Squall, my main man! How you doin'?" Irvine greeted the silent brunet and clapped him on the back.
"Hey Irvine, still chasing the ladies skirts?" Squall smirked.
"You know me!" Irvine answered and slung an arm around the sorcerer. "I don't suppose I could talk you into mind controlling one of those blondes into sleeping with me, could I?" Irvine stage whispered in Squall's ear.
"Irvine Kinneas!" Matron scolded.
"Sorry ma'am, but I am a growin' boy!" He grinned.
After all the children left the orphanage, Irvine was the only one who remembered Squall. Irvine would send him letters from Galbadia Garden complaining that no one there wanted to have a good time. Irvine had no actual friends in his Garden, mainly because he was a foreigner, and that was the main reason he took up the sniper rifle and kept in contact with Edea and Squall.
The three headed to the Galbadia Plains Retail Resort, which was just as average as every other mall on the continent but with a fancier title. Squall did purchase his new pair of leather pants, much to his enjoyment, and a new pair of dress pants, both black, of course. Edea got all of her shopping done, and Irvine ogled at new rifles in the weapons shop with Squall.
Squall paused briefly, while he and Irvine were walking to the food court to meet Edea, to press a palm to his forehead. His headache was back again, and worse than before. He closed his eyes tight and tried to rid the pain from his head. He felt a familiar chill settle around his mind but it still didn't drive the headache out.
"You okay, Squall?" Irvine asked after he noticed his companion stop. He chewed on his lip and eyed his friend nervously. Irvine liked Squall and all, but there was no telling when Squall could lose control and destroy this half of the Mall.
"Fine." He grunted. Why wouldn't this headache go away? He opened his eyes to see Irvine looking concerned. Slowly, his vision started to blur, and Irvine turned into three Irvines.
"You sure don't look okay." Irvine rolled his eyes. "Let me buy you a potion or somethin'." Irvine looked around the stores and kiosk for any type of potion or medicine.
Now, now my child. You are quite the stubborn one
"What?" Squall whispered and clenched his eyes tight as a strange voice echoed throughout his mind.
"Squall?" Irvine asked as he heard his friend speak out loud.
I can grant you your dreams it whispered. A flash filled Squall's thoughts and he saw himself with Seifer. Seifer with a possessive hand wrapped around his waist while the other…
Squall gasped. "What is this?"
"What is what Squall?" Irvine asked worriedly, he sat next to his friend and put his hand on his back, only to 'yip' at the subzero temperature of his clothes. "What's going on?"
You will be powerful, people will adore you, I can change you it continued.
People will fear you, worship you like the superior being you are
"No." Squall whispered as a burning, stinging pain shot though his head. His thoughts grew hazy and he couldn't concentrate any further, he wasn't in control anymore.
"NO!" Squall screamed "GET OUT!" A burst of energy shot out from him in icy waves. Irvine, somehow unaffected, watched in horror as glass shattered, kiosks overturned, people screamed in fear and horror and every object with in a fifty-foot radius was thrown back.
Irvine caught Squall as he slumped to the ground unconscious. "Squall!" He cried out. "MATRON!" Irvine shouted through the din. What was he to do? He couldn't stay here with Squall; someone would try to kill him for what he just pulled! He picked up his friend, cradling him to his chest, and ran.
----
To Be Continued...
i hope you all enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!
Thanks to: Cayenne, JillyBean3, Riot Girl, Rhapsodisiac, Phoenix 3:16!!!! my first reviewers! you all make me sooo happy!
Review please!
Eleven years later…
Squall sighed, bored out of his mind, and drew little stick Chocobos on the train window with ice. His long chocolate brown hair hung into his gray-blue eyes and he didn't even bother to push the hair away, it would just fall back anyways. He glanced over at Edea as she read 'The Scarlet Letter', bo-oring. Edea was now in her late thirties, and still had her thick, long black hair. Now that she no longer was chasing little kids around, she wore colors, mostly dark maroons and blues, and tall heels. Squall had stopped calling her Matron a few years ago, and simply called her Edea, much to her dismay. Squall turned back to his doodle made of ice and started adding a few bloberas as well.
He hated traveling, he decided. There was the boat ride from the orphanage to FH, and then the train ride to Deling City and that annoying break in Timber. All for a shopping trip. He hoped to Hyne that she would get him new a new pair of leather pants since she insisted on dragging him along. But she hated to leave him at the orphanage now, especially since he was the only kid left… and Edea sure as Hell wasn't going to let him go off to Garden like the rest.
Stupid sorceress, he thought idly and gave a snort of disgust. He watched his ice Chocobos and bloberas slowly melt in the ninety-degree weather.
"Squall, stop with the ice." Edea sighed. Squall took his finger away from the window and pouted. She rolled her eyes and smiled. "We're almost there." She assured him.
"Correction, we're almost to Timber. A.K.A. hicville." Squall muttered.
"Squall." Edea warned.
Squall rolled his eyes. "I'm not incompetent Edea, I can control my powers."
"I'm not so worried about you using your powers, but you 'accidentally' slicing the head off some native because they are 'ignorant'." Edea gestured to Squall's gunblade that was resting on the seat next to him.
Squall sighed. "Then they shouldn't be so ill-mannered." He grumbled.
"Squall." Edea said sternly.
"…Whatever."
Edea sighed and put her book down. Squall had shied away from people because of his powers. Other kids at the orphanage had been terrified of him, especially after Seifer was sent to Garden. She tried her best to look after him, and soon gave up on taking in new kids so she could focus on Squall. She had taught him how to control his powers, and he had taken up a weapon to concentrate his energy.
But Edea couldn't help but get the feeling she was losing Squall, bit by bit, and it scared her. His nightmares were getting worse and he still refused to talk about them. But he would cry out the names 'Seifer' and 'Ultimeica' in the middle of the night. Not to mention she was getting migraine headaches more and more these days. It literally felt like someone was ripping into her brain.
/Now arriving at Timber Station. Now arriving at Timber Station/ an electronic voice chimed throughout the cabin.
Squall sighed and stood up, the train would be stopped for twenty minutes. Edea stood up as well and the two slowly exited the train with the other passengers. "Squall, I am going to go visit a friend, would you like to come?"
Squall grimaced. "No thanks, upgrading revolver."
Edea nodded and headed off as Squall turned down the street to the weapons shop.
---
Rinoa Heartilly sat with Zone and Watts on the sidewalk contemplating what Rinoa would say to Headmaster Kramer when she went to the SeeD ball tonight. The two men argued over persuasive tactics while Rinoa stared off into space, until his noticed him. Rinoa's mouth dropped open as the sex god walked out of the weapon shop. He was wearing black leather pants, three belts, biker boots, and a white tight t-shirt, and he had the most disheveled hair that screamed 'yes, I just had mind dazzling sex!' and he was toting a huge gunblade. She was only disappointed by the fact his eyes were covered by sunglasses. "Wow." She whispered in awe. Her hott meter was blowing through the roof.
She leaped up from her spot, startling Zone and Watts (and causing Zone to clutch his stomach), and ran towards him.
Squall turned when he felt a presence rushing towards him and glared at the brunette that stop in front of him with an angelic smile. "Hi." She greeted.
"…" Squall looked at her before turning around and continuing on his way.
"I'm Rinoa. Rinoa Heartilly." She introduced herself as she walked next to him.
"… Do you need something?" Squall asked, pausing.
"How about your phone number?" She giggled.
"…Whatever." He grumbled and continued walking.
"So, what's your name?"
"Not interested." Squall replied.
"Aw… are we a shy, widdle boy?" Rinoa baby talked and then giggled again.
"No, now leave me alone."
Rinoa giggled once again. "You're so cute."
"Leave. Now."
"Aw, c'mon, what's the matter?" Rinoa pouted.
"'You jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nickname God's creatures, and make your wantonness you ignorance'." Squall replied.
"Huh?" Rinoa asked confused.
Squall rolled his eyes. "It's Shakespeare, you know, Hamlet."
"You're a poet!" Rinoa swooned.
"I'm leaving." Squall walked a bit faster hoping to leave her in the dust, but she kept following.
"Squall!" Squall turned to see Edea and he smiled in relief.
"Must leave, and hope to never see you again." Squall told Rinoa and he quickly jogged to Edea's side.
Rinoa sighed dreamily and smiled happily. 'What a hunk!'
"Well, she looked like a nice girl." Edea commented as she walked with Squall back to the train.
"If you like girls, I guess." Squall muttered.
The train ride to Deling City was quiet, Edea continued to read and Squall flipped idly through the newest Weapons Monthly, he noted the new sniper rifle and dimly thought of Irvine, and if they would meet him in the city.
When he was younger, his few friends grew distant because of their fear of them. Who wouldn't fear the little boy that 'accidentally' froze the fish tank or 'accidentally' burned down the tool shed whenever he felt a strong emotion? Quistis stayed his friend because it was her 'responsibility' to be friends with everyone, Irvine hung out with him because he wanted to have 'superman powers' too, or at least be a sidekick. And whatever Irvine did, little Selphie wasn't far behind him. Zell… was Zell. And Seifer… Squall closed his eyes in pain. Seifer didn't matter anymore.
/Now approaching Deling City Station. Now approaching Deling City Station/
Squall was thankful to get off the train and into the perpetual city of night. He shouldered his and Edea's bags as they slowly made their way through the masses and up the slow moving escalator.
"Hey hey! Your train is only twenty-seven minutes late! This has got to be a record!" A voiced greeted them.
"Irvine!" Edea greeted one of her 'children' joyfully.
"Matron, still looking lovely, as always!" Irvine winked. Edea laughed and gave the much taller boy a hug.
"Squall, my main man! How you doin'?" Irvine greeted the silent brunet and clapped him on the back.
"Hey Irvine, still chasing the ladies skirts?" Squall smirked.
"You know me!" Irvine answered and slung an arm around the sorcerer. "I don't suppose I could talk you into mind controlling one of those blondes into sleeping with me, could I?" Irvine stage whispered in Squall's ear.
"Irvine Kinneas!" Matron scolded.
"Sorry ma'am, but I am a growin' boy!" He grinned.
After all the children left the orphanage, Irvine was the only one who remembered Squall. Irvine would send him letters from Galbadia Garden complaining that no one there wanted to have a good time. Irvine had no actual friends in his Garden, mainly because he was a foreigner, and that was the main reason he took up the sniper rifle and kept in contact with Edea and Squall.
The three headed to the Galbadia Plains Retail Resort, which was just as average as every other mall on the continent but with a fancier title. Squall did purchase his new pair of leather pants, much to his enjoyment, and a new pair of dress pants, both black, of course. Edea got all of her shopping done, and Irvine ogled at new rifles in the weapons shop with Squall.
Squall paused briefly, while he and Irvine were walking to the food court to meet Edea, to press a palm to his forehead. His headache was back again, and worse than before. He closed his eyes tight and tried to rid the pain from his head. He felt a familiar chill settle around his mind but it still didn't drive the headache out.
"You okay, Squall?" Irvine asked after he noticed his companion stop. He chewed on his lip and eyed his friend nervously. Irvine liked Squall and all, but there was no telling when Squall could lose control and destroy this half of the Mall.
"Fine." He grunted. Why wouldn't this headache go away? He opened his eyes to see Irvine looking concerned. Slowly, his vision started to blur, and Irvine turned into three Irvines.
"You sure don't look okay." Irvine rolled his eyes. "Let me buy you a potion or somethin'." Irvine looked around the stores and kiosk for any type of potion or medicine.
Now, now my child. You are quite the stubborn one
"What?" Squall whispered and clenched his eyes tight as a strange voice echoed throughout his mind.
"Squall?" Irvine asked as he heard his friend speak out loud.
I can grant you your dreams it whispered. A flash filled Squall's thoughts and he saw himself with Seifer. Seifer with a possessive hand wrapped around his waist while the other…
Squall gasped. "What is this?"
"What is what Squall?" Irvine asked worriedly, he sat next to his friend and put his hand on his back, only to 'yip' at the subzero temperature of his clothes. "What's going on?"
You will be powerful, people will adore you, I can change you it continued.
People will fear you, worship you like the superior being you are
"No." Squall whispered as a burning, stinging pain shot though his head. His thoughts grew hazy and he couldn't concentrate any further, he wasn't in control anymore.
"NO!" Squall screamed "GET OUT!" A burst of energy shot out from him in icy waves. Irvine, somehow unaffected, watched in horror as glass shattered, kiosks overturned, people screamed in fear and horror and every object with in a fifty-foot radius was thrown back.
Irvine caught Squall as he slumped to the ground unconscious. "Squall!" He cried out. "MATRON!" Irvine shouted through the din. What was he to do? He couldn't stay here with Squall; someone would try to kill him for what he just pulled! He picked up his friend, cradling him to his chest, and ran.
----
To Be Continued...
i hope you all enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!
Thanks to: Cayenne, JillyBean3, Riot Girl, Rhapsodisiac, Phoenix 3:16!!!! my first reviewers! you all make me sooo happy!
Review please!