Author's Notes: Yes, I know I haven't updated in a while. Deal with it. No one ever said I was the most caring writer… But I am. I had a birthday (well, two) to deal with, and Christmas, and the new years. Sorry! But it is a good chapter with a nice little twist at the end. You'll like it, I know you will.
Firefly-Dreams: Squall is not cool in this story, he's evil man. Okay, let me explain something clearly for you, for this chapter. Squall was a good guy, but was Rinoa's Sorceress Knight. Rinoa had him kill Nida's girlfriend. Rinoa is evil. Squall and friends are now her Black SeeDs, who are trying to kill all White SeeDs, the good guys. Okay? Seifer is an important member of the White SeeDs, and this a major target for the Black SeeDs, as is Nida. And you HAVE told me you love this story… 3 times now…. And Dark is BAD in this fic… shakes head
IMPORTANT NOTE! The large chunk of this chapter that is in italics is a dream sequence!
Chapter 3: The Dreams of Our Fathers
"Welcome home Nida. It's been a while Fujin and Raijin. Dear Hyne, is that Seifer Almasy?" the female declared for all to hear.
"Yes, we bring you the prodigal SeeD!" Nida shouted back.
"Oh my, come quickly then. Miss Ellone will desire to see you," the brunette chuckled at Nida's antics…
"Good, I desire to see her as well," I said, cutting into the conversation as I pushed a feeling of recognition of this woman aside.
"Oh, but first, you should bathe and eat. The trip from Esthar is long and strenuous. And we've heard of what has happened to Ocean Midway and Timber Home. We were very worried about you two. Like we were about HIM back when THEY were prisoners in Galbidia."
Her aversion to the names of the Black SeeDs amused me, so I had to speak up, "You forget it always took three of them to beat me. And I had Nida there." Somehow my voice held it's youthful, cocky edge despite my fatigue.
"I don't forget Seifer; I remember well," the former Balamb Garden Instructor and Student Liaison said grimly, "Sad to think that you were kicked out. And yet it still might save us all."
"You give me too much credit Xu," I said after finally recognizing her. Gently I took her hand and kissed it.
"Hey, paws off, ya know? That's Nida's girl," Raijin said when she smiled softly as me and when Nida started to growl.
"No hard feelings?" I asked Nida while clapping him on the back. Just like the man to be able to move on after his fiancé's death all those years ago.
"We are engaged," my friend growled.
"Whoa, I have been away a long time…"
"Do you, Squall Leonheart-Loire, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Laguna questions his son, keeping well to Squall's request to keep it short and sweet.
"I do," the Ice Prince mumbles the words that condemn us all.
"And do you, Rinoa Julia Heartily-Caraway, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," her voice echoes throughout the room.
"Then by the power vested in me by Kiros, I pronounce you husband and wife. Squall, you may kiss the bride."
The sight both sickens me and fills my heart with dread. Am I the only one that can see what is going on? Can no one else see her golden eyes filled with malice? Can his own father not see the claws she digs into him? Can even their best friends not see the glazed over look in his eyes? Even Nida and Xu, the only ones back at Garden that should be far more than wise enough to get it can't be this blind! Fujin and Raijin know, they saw me like that not too long ago. Even Sis can see it, but both she and Cid ignore it, clapping happily for the 'perfect couple'. Yet I see it clearly. Since that day that Matron died Rinoa's hair has grown far longer, and an irritating lisp is developing.
The kiss is broken and everyone is standing, clapping for the two. All but me that is. I alone stand silent, exempt from this dark spell. The 'happy couple' passes me by, both looking hard at me. Laguna did wrong by pronouncing them man and wife. They are Sorceress and Knight. Still, Squall is aware, somewhere deep inside. Those eyes may be warm with joy, but I can see through that to the cold fear burning within. Squall is trapped, worse than I ever was, because this did not begin with promises of glory and fame, but with a feeling of responsibility. Now he is trapped in that, maybe even forever.
"I'll save you from her spell Squall, as you saved me," I quietly promise to him.
"But you didn't and you are too late!" a voice boomed out around me as everything turned to black and white, all but Squall and Rinoa's eyes. This is where memories blur into nightmares.
"You are weak Seifer, can't even keep one promise!" Squall's voice screamed through my mind.
"I'm trying," I plead, looking into the eyes of the phantom before me.
"You call THIS an attempt?!" he shouted, the frozen image of Squall on his wedding day moving his hand in a cutting motion as everything turned black.
"Please don't," I mumbled weakly, closing my eyes.
"Look Seifer. See what you have, and will, cause."
Despite my fear I opened my eyes, only because my rival, my only real friend, demanded it. While I had seen it many times, the vision still haunted me. The world was red with blood, and upon the broken and decaying bodies of the people that had been at the wedding, or led the world, was HER castle. Before it stood the guardians clad in sin, black gripping every surface of their flesh. Selphie's cheerful face was cold, Zell's sky blue eyes glassy, Quistus's golden hair dull, Irvine's smug smile gone. All wore the same black leather uniform, their skin the same pale shade of illness, and their eyes dead.
Then there was Squall, standing apart from them, looking the same way he did in the days of the last Sorceress War, the same as when he defeated Ultimecia. Yet it was not Lion Heart in his hand. Instead there was the old Revolver, only because of Rinoa's sick humor. The lion etching and pendant on it were as much signs of his servitude as of the servitude of the only GFs he junctioned, Griever and Tiamat. The once great Lion was now a caged cat, waiting to strike. Already his blade was covered in crimson, and the reason was obvious. Before him lay ten new bodies, ones I hadn't seen in this nightmare before; My Mistress Edea, her husband Cid, Kiros, Ward, Nida, Fujin, Raijin, Xu, and to my horror, Laguna and Ellone. Yet, somehow I knew the blood on his blade was mine.
My eyes moved down to my own body, and all strength fled my legs. The clothes I wore were not mine, but those of the Sorceress Knight I used to be. They were covered in blood, my blood arranged in my crimson cross insignia. Both from shock and my blood loss, I fell to my knees, close to my own death. Worst of all is those eyes, cold and sorrowful while Ultimecia/Rinoa watches this all.
"Squall… Why?"
When I awoke my body jerked upright, my hands clawing at the sheets as a choked sob escaped my lips. For a few moments I sat there in my bed, allowing tears to streak down my face because of the recurring nightmare. Yes, the might Seifer Almasy can cry. Learned how to as a kid, but until these dreams came I had forgotten how to. Even in the near tropical heat of the Centra night I felt cold. Panic made my heart pound, and fear had drenched me in a cold sweat. Yet I'd woken up early from my nightmare. Normally it would not end until Ultimecia had me serving her.
The door of my room quickly opened and closed as I attempted to catch my breath. Once this realization his me, my hand slid under my pillows and brought forth a silver dagger. The person remained silent and still, unafraid of me. Thought the sound of the person's breath told me all I needed to know I waited for my eyes to adjust to the dim light and verify my heart's hope. When I finally grew used to the light I lowered the blade and replaced it under my pillow, mush to her silent relief.
"Ellone," I said after a few moments.
"Seifer," she replied, her voice soft and sweet.
"I was waiting for you to show up. You're good at keeping me waiting. Then again, is it best to keep ME waiting Sis?
"Don't call me that," Ellone sighed. She had changed drastically since the war started. She no longer wore her smile of innocence. The sweet girl had become a military resistance leader, and the change had been so complete on her. Now she wore a white SeeD uniform, and carried her own diamond edged Katals. Kiros had taught her to use them before he was captured. Now all she did was for the world and to try and regain her 'little brother'.
"Would you rather some nickname? How about Sweetie? I heard that is what your brother calls our loving sorceress…"
"Don't remind me… You wanted to talk?"
"Can't it wait?" I asked, pulling her down to sit by me on the bed.
"Only until dawn," her words mimicking Kiros's most commanding tone.
"Good, that is just as long as I need to sleep…" I chuckled and pulled her under the covers, "Night Elle."
"Night Seifer," Ellone chuckled and wrapped her arms around my waist.
"I love you Sis," I whispered to my wife once she had fallen asleep in my arms.
Hyne, isn't the love between a man and the wife he rarely sees beautiful?