Back again with another chapter for ya all! First off, to my good friends AngelhearteD and The Water Goddess: Thanks for reviewing!!
-insert evil laughter here- Now, be prepared to ride the emotional roller coaster. Now is the time to get your tissue box before you get on. You might shed a tear… or two. And it's gonna be like that with the 4th Chapter too. 5 and 6 will be up next week. Keep your tissues by the PC for those as well.
Oh and one more thing. If you don't believe in God, and don't want to, that's perfectly fine. This is only a story, and my character and myself, believe in him. But still, doesn't that seem to rise a bit of interest, readers?
Song lyrics used: "Disgrace" by Sevendust (using the same album) and "Made for TV Movie" by Incubus, off their newest album, "A Crow Left of the Murder"! I highly recommend this one. REALLY, REALLY fun CD to listen to, in my opinion. Heck, all the lyrical content I insert come from all really awesome CDs I have! Hehe…
Chapter 3: Consequences and Decisions
Weighing down my soul…
The thought of it's too much, when I think about it all…
"I am so sorry. Most of the rooms are completely booked…but there is one room available," informed the woman by the counter of Deling City's hotel. She had also asked of what had happened, in noticing the blood soaked clothes of two of her customers. Selphie briefed her of it all like they've told the enemy soldier outside, except the fact of Marianne being originally coming from another world. The Balamb plus one Galbadian group instructed themselves to keep that bit of information secret, for the newcomer's sake.
Marianne was shifting her eyes to observe her surroundings. She knew the downward spiral stairs would lead to the bar. In the opposite direction, there were two large and brown wooden doors. The carpeting and walls seemed to match quite well. The walls were blue, and the carpeting was a slightly darker shade. It made most visitors calm and at ease whenever they entered. Marianne wasn't at ease by much, and was pretty tensed up and alert for anything. Then finally, she saw the elevator on the wall by the counter.
"I'm going to the shopping center," Selphie announced to everyone, including… "Marianne what size do you wear? Large? Extra large?" "Extra large," was the reply, in a shaky whisper, and avoiding eye contact. She was still pretty wound up inside from the life threatening events. Tilmitt walked up and moved a strand of Marianne's hair behind her ear in compassion before she rushed out into the streets.
Something clicked into Marianne's mind at the time while looking around. Wait a minute…isn't there supposed to be one of those save points? She looked at the suspected spot where there was supposed to be a dark grayish gear, with golden yellow orange rings moving, spinning and intertwining around it, like the battery powered magnet toy she had found at a yard sale once, on Earth of course. Where the silver rings around the ball in the center would spin as the magnet swung back and forth. To be direct, the save point wasn't there. This is really freaky… and scary. I can't believe this game world's real. Has it been real all along? …I don't even want to be here.
Seifer felt Marianne's hands release his shoulders, as he stood around bored and anxious to get a room. He turned to her, as she was focused on something, and followed her gaze to the carpet in front of them. "…What are you looking at?" he wondered of her, curious and concerned. Marianne felt herself jolt in place, like she was zapped by a few volts of electricity. "N-nothing," she stammered, and instinctively was about to wipe a tear off her face when she saw the blood on her fingers and palm. Some of it even dripped and stained the carpet. She looked at the lady by the counter, with an apologetic look, with eyes still wide open in the fear of all of what was happening. "It's alright sweetie," the hotel's owner soothed, showing her a kind smile. "Don't worry about it." Marianne had forgotten about that, the blood on her hands. Letting the hand drop to her side, she just blinked once, letting the lingering tear on her right cheek fall. She breathed in shakily, as she had done on the way up to the hotel. The memory of Rinoa Heartilly's death flashbacked inside her mind once again. This was way too much for her to handle.
Zell had turned toward her in concern as she spoke to Seifer's question from a moment earlier. Squall looked too, but more suspiciously because of how Marianne had said when she was looking down at the carpet, as if she were searching for something that wasn't there. He glanced at Almasy too, and noticed the two hand shaped bloodstains on the shoulders of his coat. Quistis began to hand out everyone's keycards. She stopped herself before giving one to Marianne. Trepe shortly glanced from her hands up to her face and said, "I'll hang onto this for you." Seifer replied for her, "Thanks, Quistis." It surprised Trepe that he had drastically changed…and so quickly too! She turned on one heel and watched him lead Marianne to the elevator, Squall and Zell joining them. This whole situation felt unreal to Trepe. Why was this even happening? If only Rinoa were here too… I wonder where she is. Once Irvine was getting on, she snapped back into reality and entered last.
The woman at the counter had given them the last room, which was on the second floor, all the way at the end of the hall. They all remembered she had said it was a large room, with four beds. Three of them would have to sleep on the floor.
"Yo, are you alright?" Zell asked Marianne, breaking the eerie silence in the slow, but short elevator ride. By the sound of the ding, they had reached the second floor, causing the doors ahead of the group to slowly open. Marianne just looked at Dincht, for a moment, and then focused in getting off the elevator and following them to the room. If only the situation was on a much friendlier basis, Marianne would have gladly smiled and say something to him. Maybe even make him laugh. She thought of him as cool, and sometimes of a goof. On this night, and from the previous dangers and fears she encountered, it was just not the time at all to be sociable.
She watched as Irvine used his cardkey. There was a metal device on the door, which Marianne had become familiarized with. The cowboy of the bunch inserted the card in the thin slot on where it was shaped for it to slide into. There were two lights. The light turned green, and gave a few friendly beeps as Kinneas turned the knob of the now unlocked door. Marianne noted that the red light signal means the same thing as this: Access Denied. It was not much of a surprise that this world was so similar to hers, but only slightly different. The monsters and magic. The money. The technology being slightly more advanced. Those few facts were very obvious.
In single file, the group minus Selphie stepped into the hotel room. Quistis placed a gentle hand on Marianne's back in leading her to show her where the bathroom was located, then reached below the sink to grab a trash bag. Marianne nodded to Trepe, knowing what to do, in which was to put her blood soaked clothes, including under garments, in it. As Quistis gave her a last glance, the frightened youth softly gasped in a breath of air in crying, hoping Selphie will get all her necessities. "You'll be alright," she tried to assure her, about to feel her eyes water in the dramatic sight of the stranger. Her hand gingerly squeezed Marianne's right shoulder. "You should find the hair dryer under the sink too. Just dry off and come on out when Selphie returns. I have a brush in my purse." Marianne nodded in reply as Quistis closed the door quietly in leaving the bathroom.
All of everyone else's eyes fell on Trepe as she opened up her purse in search of her hairbrush. She always remembered to take out her hair clumps in cases such as this.
Soon, the Balamb/Galbadian bunch heard the shower water running, followed by the sound of bitter weeping. Squall, leaning back against the wall next to the door, bowed his head and closed his eyes, angry and unable to push away his emotions. Pestering him little by little, his own thoughts were. I wonder if we can ever get her home… God! I can't believe this! …I, Squall Leonhart, am going soft on her. I never go soft. …What is happening to me? This is going to be a long night, I know it.
Seifer sat on the bed at the same wall, a few feet from Leonhart, looking down at the floor in silence. Everyone was either sitting down, or standing up, listening for a moment to Marianne's heavy sobs from inside the bathroom…
Up above, way up above in space, a conference was being held. There were an assortment of creatures, and then there was Rinoa. She seemed to be alive, uninjured, and safe in the heavens, but the group here and down below knew she was eaten alive by the Iguions, which also died.
"Is this one of your children?" spoke a gentle, feminine voice in the crowd. She looked to be human. Her skin was pale and pink, looking like weird sunburns. Heartilly's chocolate brown eyes strongly looked at only the face of this female, feeling modest over the fact that the goddess of Gala, the name of the "game world", wore no clothing. Her hair was a long golden blonde color. Pink and white skin as thin as ribbons dangled from the sides of her head, mingling with her hair. The eyes glittered like the sun over a vast ocean. Overall, she was beautiful, and had been a sight to see for Heartilly. The first time in seeing the one immortal who created all on Gala.
Rinoa recognized most of those who've come to join the meeting, but an old man. He was adorned in pure white robes. The beard and the hair that grew from the top of his head was so long that it reached all the way down to his feet. His eyes were a light cloudy gray, filled with concern. The weird sunburn looking woman, known as Hyne, brought God here for Marianne's emotional support. She figured it was the best thing she could do right before she decided to do anything else, after looking through her memories for brief moments at a time.
The rest of the crew were known as the Guardian Forces, including the muscular tan skinned Ifrit, elemental guardian of Fire. Not only was the bright red hair an obvious clue. His temper was known to be as hot as the cave he resided in. The Fire Cavern. His thick black horns crookedly curled outwards in opposite directions. Every now and then steam would escape out of his nose whenever he exhaled.
To his right was a humanoid that was part bat. Diablos, the elemental guardian of Gravity. His dark violet wings on his back were as large as the rest of his form, resembling the skin membranes of bats' wings indeed. The rest of his form was bright crimson red and black as the darkest sky. Black claws, about two inches long, hooked downward from his fingers and toes, the number of them matching the average human's. His structure was tall and slender, except for the head. The long downward chin was sort of zigzagged. His ears were pointy and pointed outward. His eyes were in slits, glowing a golden yellow. Diablos had been known to be a bit crabby at times. This was possibly not one of them, or at least Hyne hoped so.
Behind Diablos was the Ice Goddess, Shiva. Also known as the elemental guardian of Ice, of course. Her skin was light blue, also not having the sense to wear any type of garment around poor, modest Rinoa. Thick, loose strands of hair would have matched perfectly, if the yellow hadn't appeared on the ends. It stopped growing by the shoulders. Shiva's eyes were also light blue, but seemed to have a distinct glow to them. Straight out of the Dune movies, as Marianne would say if she laid eyes on her.
Quezacotl, the elemental guardian of Thunder, was such a beautiful bird. Most of his feathers were yellowish, except around the horizontal olive green lines around the amber colored eyes and vertical feathers on his wings that were yellow orange. Even though he should have a matching temper like Ifrit, since thunder was the GF's element on the world of Earth, Quezacotl was a very peace natured and placid bird. He was larger than any hawk or eagle God himself created. At first glance, there was a look of awe from whom Marianne was born and raised to worship.
Other guardians were there too, by the names of Siren, Carbuncle, Bahamut and Pandemona. "Yes," God had responded to Hyne. "That is indeed one of my children, and I am very grateful to have followed you Hyne. I've recently told my son, Jesus, to watch over Earth for me." He looked at the stretched hole of space Hyne had opened for him to see. He observed his child in the shower, bawling her eyes out…
Where is the sunlight? Where's the repair for all the damage I have done…?
Weighing down my soul… The thought of it's too much, when I think about it all…
She had decided to let it all come out. A good cry was just so difficult to resist as she focused to wash the blood off her skin. Marianne's light tan skin may be able to be cleansed, but the memory of tonight's past events could never be erased. It's my fault after all… It's my fault…
The touch of the hot water massaging her back wasn't going to soothe her mind. Nothing would. Earth was in the hands of an evil sorceress, and abandoned Marianne with Seifer and the others in this world, that was unbelievably real. Rinoa Heartilly was not saved by Irvine and Squall in time, due to her stopping them, and pleading for their help in this chaos. If Seifer, followed by the rest of the people of Balamb Garden, Irvine from Galbadia, hadn't come to the rescue, she would have bled to death. Worry of those she loved at home and held close to her usually sweet natured heart ate and consumed her whole.
Can I still find a place? Where my mind stops all the suffering…?
Her arms and legs were slightly aching due to those small bruises. The left side of her head hurt like hell. The purple mark remained where it hurt. Oblivious to the voices of her caretakers outside of the bathroom, she put away the soap and wash cloth, and stood there. What if I never get home, Earth being doomed forever? What if I'm stuck here for-freakin'-ever? What if… Marianne panicked inwardly. She couldn't stand it. What she really wanted to do was go home, and see her parents. She needed their comfort, desperately. She needed her god's support and mercy, desperately. Everything around her now was just so overwhelming…
From looking within Marianne, God had found out why she was trembling and bawling so much. He found out everything that happened to her. He recognized that woman who smiled softly upon her in memory, just before she lifted a hand to cast the Aero spell to push her to the floor. He watched this woman appear in her bedroom, replacing the missing girl, supposing to be asleep on her bed. Edea Kramer, from one of those Playstation video games that a company from all the way in the east of Earth has created out of computer technology. "No, it cannot be possible!" he spoke earlier in utter disbelief. "None of MY children have the skill to have created something so real, beyond virtual reality!" But now that time has passed. God, the Guardian Forces, and Rinoa had to be informed of this by Hyne herself.
Sure, at first Hyne was upset over these facts too, for a time, but she had the ability to use time to her advantage up here in the heavens. Plentiful time to get over these cold facts, and to explain to the others on what she had seen in looking Marianne's mind and memory banks. She also explained what she has observed the sorceress has done, only months ago. "It was during a severe thunderstorm, and the demon inside Edea's body, Ultimecia, liked to amuse herself in such weather. She'd use her dark magic to put on a lightning show out of boredom," Hyne had explained from before. "One bolt of lightning had come in her direction. For once, Ultimecia had become careless. Through using Edea as her puppet, she had seen into Earth through Marianne's eyes. She had developed an unexplainable connection with her, seeping into her memory banks."
Will I live in my disgrace on and on?
Hyne had helplessly watched Edea/Ultimecia throughout the months as the dark magic was building more and more until the powers were strong enough to switch places with Marianne. She could not interfere, because this was part of a treaty between herself and her most special children, the Guardian Forces. They would take care of the mortals living and nonliving. In return, she must do everything else. Back then in first finding out, she was furious in knowing that the world of Gala was entertainment for young people on Earth. She learned how much cruelty the hand of fate held in its possession. At first, she didn't believe that the switch would happen. When it did, she went on a long journey through space. Amazing, and appalling how one planet and being such as herself was actually created by a team of "video game designers" as they were called, on Marianne's world. And now this outsider was on this world, nothing more than a pawn to Ultimecia's plans for world domination. Hyne felt ashamed for even knowing this woman of Hades was partly her own. Hades, being like the "devil" or "Satan" of Gala.
Rinoa, sweet natured Rinoa, was shocked to first hear the news. In being told that Earth doesn't know she really exist, and the entire world of Gala for that matter, there wasn't not much of a grudge. The way Hyne had explained it to her, and about Marianne's case, Heartilly understood crystal clearly. This truth was nothing pleasant, but she realized that the company creating the Final Fantasy series are only just as human as she would be. "I wish I could give that poor girl a hug!" Rinoa cried, shedding her own tears as well. She was shown the previous events through Marianne's own eyes in memory. It was a really harsh thing of the goddess to do, but it was the only way to help her understand. Shiva frowned, and felt the same way. "This is quite serious. Mother Hyne, what are we going to do about this?"
The Guardian Forces were conversing with each other. "HOW CAN EARTH'S MORTALS BE SO…" Ifrit was trying to find the right word, but Hyne's explanations forced him to believe that Earth's people were not stupid. His stubborn mind and heart opened in seeing Marianne's home world being rather intelligent from what Hyne explained to him and his sibling Guardian Forces. There were different spoken languages. Her home country, the United States of America, was quite powerful for a country no bigger than Galbadia. The only things he found really, REALLY stupid were the wars in which the humans fought each other. And this Hitler fellow too. Creating a master race?! Ifrit saw it to be cruel, through what he had learned of a glimpse in Earth's history.
Ifrit, don't," cautioned Quezacotl. Squall's junctioned Guardian Force. "You don't want to make Mother Hyne angry." The bird seemed to be as caring about this mess as much as Rinoa, God, and Hyne altogether. Especially in noticing Squall's reactions. And from seeing her memories as much as the other heavenly forms, he knew this girl alone could break Squall's self built shell. And Leonhart was considered to be her "most favorite character" out of Gala, to which she thought wasn't really in existence. Yup, Marianne had Quezacotl's support all the way in this.
I've heard a word from on high
Clear like a light in the sky
It said, "Quit blowing each other up."
"Bahamut, step forward," Hyne commanded to the dark blue and perwinkle dragon. Large in form, Hyne had given him a nice title for a Guardian Force: Wisdom. "The rest of you are dismissed." All but Carbuncle, Bahamut, and Quezacotl had left. Ifrit didn't really want to hang around anyway, though a part of him wanted to know what was going on. Still, he couldn't disobey Mother Hyne. Siren, another feminine GF, decided that the dragon, one of her close friends, would meet up with her back in the heavenly kingdom of Hyne. Bahamut knew better than to disobey Hyne, for he was the GF of Wisdom. A very intelligent one of her children, he had earned the title over thousands of years in growing up. The rest have given him so much respect for this king of dragons, for many, many years. Most of his thick and scaly skin was dark blue, the inside of his body length wings red with black spots. The wings were partly stretched outward, with Hyne unable to see the beautiful markings on the outside membranes, matching his enormous body. His long, thin horns were sharp, and curled backwards, almost like Ifrit's but more straightened out, and longer, slimmer. His eyes were similar in color to Shiva's but larger, the pupil being a slightly darker shade.
Bahamut did as he was asked, and stepped forward on all four legs. His front feet sort of resembled a human's, but there were four fingers on each hand. But that doesn't take away the ability to grab, hold, or climb, as well as to fight. "Am I needed in service?" he asked, assuming so. "I want you to junction yourself to the outsider." Hyne commanded. The dragon was confused, and a bit angry. Possibly annoyed. Surely this human wasn't able to defend herself against those Iguions, meaning she was no competition for him. "Do you wish to give the girl a sentence to death? She cannot battle me, let alone stand up to me." "You speak of wise words, dragon," God said in agreement. "I will not risk putting my child in danger!" The other Guardian Forces uttered in agreements, while Rinoa stood in the middle of the crowd, silent and watchful. She didn't believe Hyne would decide to have Marianne battle a Guardian Force either. "No. You will not battle her. Nor pester her with your riddles," Hyne stated.
Hello? I'm trying to focus, but my eyes deceive me…
The GF of Wisdom was appalled. No battle?! No RIDDLES EVEN?! But he loved to share his complex riddles with mortals! It provided him entertainment. "I am not one to make errands, Mother Hyne!!" Bahamut fumed. "You will DO what I ask you to do. You will be her Guardian and life partner until I say otherwise," the goddess of Gala ordered. Surely this dragon was such a stubborn one. The superior intelligence of Bahamut seemed to build in a sense of great pride to her. For he was sure acting like it. "She needs protection. She also needs your guidance. Look at her…"
Bahamut turned to the viewing hole stretched among the stars. He had seen her cry in the shower still. Hyne added, "Marianne is lost, and afraid. Ultimecia hasn't even broke the connection with her, for entertainment purposes…" She felt anger for that. Wasn't Earth a big enough toy for the sorceress from the future?! "You can also be useful to keep the demon away from torturing her." Bahamut only growled in reply. Rinoa seemed to understand what Hyne meant, and spoke up. "Bahamut, from what I've learned-" "STEP DOWN MORTAL!" Bahamut roared. Carbuncle squeaked in fear due to the rising of his voice and cowered behind Quezacotl. "Bahamut!!" Hyne scolded. "I am surprised at you! You are mostly fond of humans, and yet you snap at young Rinoa?!" Quezacotl piped in, "I could do the honors, Mother Hyne, but I have been assigned to Squall, but want to help in another way…" Hyne turned attentively to her child of thunder and lightning. "Oh…?"
Bahamut sat down from where he stood, slightly amused. The dragon knew Quezacotl was very compassionate as he was towards humans, and listened to what he had to say. "From looking through Marianne's memory banks, and noticing Squall's reactions to this outsider, I can help her through him. And she's had feelings for whom she thought wasn't as real as she is. Only she alone could help Squall… She knows why he isolates himself." Bahamut shook large head slowly in response. He should have known that… but he was so blind of everything else to notice. And it was so typical of the bird! Hyne seemed pleased of Quezacotl's choice. This was to be a great benefit for the both of them. "Very good Quezacotl," God approved. "This will take time, of course to change the 'lone wolf ', but the two can gain a great sense of trust and friendship… Possibly more… I know my child enough to know that even though she wants to be immune of flirting, but she's done it before… There's been compassion towards whom all of Earth thought to be as…fictional, and I believe she will want to help him overcome that emotion barrier Squall has built around himself."
Rinoa frowned, thinking over what her outcome in Squall's life could have been if Edea and Marianne hadn't switched places. She could have been the one to help him, and to fall in love with him… And Seifer could have been a villain, whom she had currently was starting to fall out of love with. I admit it, I was flirting with Squall a bit on the way to Deling City. I'm a hopeless romantic… God had noticed that Rinoa was frowning. "Yes, you were told of what was…supposed to happen." he said. "I understand on how you feel, Rinoa." She looked to him. Those feelings of sadness of her own death and hearing the cold truth of what she really was had been put behind in the past now. Hyne had taken a huge note of this and consoled to her personally.
Meanwhile, Bahamut and the other two Guardian Forces waited. Hyne once again told Bahamut on what he was supposed to do. "If you do not help her, so help me, I will have to suspend you into time compression for the next few centuries." Knowing of this punishment had opened the dragon's eyes. "You have always been a good guardian child, and I don't wish to do such a thing to you, Bahamut. Swallow your pride, and be Marianne's life partner." Time compression. Never had a GF disobeyed Hyne, because of that threat.
Time compression was an ultimate prison for immortals, and it was such a boring place. Bahamut would get easily bored and would try and gnaw his way out of the barriers that would keep him in, no matter how much pain would his sharp teeth would gain. So with that, he cleared his throat and said in a calm manner, thinking it over, "Yes… Surely someone would have to keep the evil woman away from her." He nodded curtly. "I am honored for this important task, Mother Hyne." The goddess softly grinned and gave an acknowledging nod, getting right down to business. "Very good. Since all of you are here, Rinoa, Quezacotl, Carbuncle, and Bahamut, I could think of ways to fit all of you into tonight's plans. Rinoa… I want you to resolve your death with Marianne. Convince her that it's not her fault…" Rinoa silently nodded, thinking it was a very smart thing to be doing. "Yeah, I want to talk to her." "And so you shall, dear." Hyne soothed. "Bahamut, you and Rinoa will speak with her in a dream when she falls asleep." "Mother Hyne… I ask permission to enter this dream along with them, on Squall's behalf." Quezacotl piped in, while preening the gorgeous yellow orange feathers on his wings. "Done." the mother of all Gala said, approving…