By Ramsey Anderson
All characters in this fic are property of Squaresoft and were not created by me.
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Chapter 13
I laid in bed and thought, Alright, what's going to happen now? We'll float along until sometime tomorrow morning, so that leaves me with the rest of today to spend here in Balamb Garden. Oh right, I would like to avoid crashing into Fisherman's Horizon if possible, but I have no idea about how to control Garden. We don't learn the controls until…Fisherman's Horizon. Damn…I suppose it can't be avoided. Let's see, pretty soon here, I'll have to meet with Master NORG and possibly fight him. I better bring Quistis and Selphie with me just in case we need to fight; powerful magic users will do well against him. I wonder where everyone is right now. Quistis, Zell, and Selphie weren't here last time around, they were at the missile base, so I have no idea where they could be. I better go find them.
I walked out of my dorm and thought about where my friends could be. I then saw Selphie and Rinoa walking towards me.
"Hey Squall! Whatcha up to?" Selphie exclaimed.
"Oh hi, I was just looking for Quistis. Have either of you seen her?" I asked the two.
"I think I saw her and the others hanging out in the cafeteria." Rinoa responded.
"Oh okay, thanks."
As I began to walk towards the cafeteria, Selphie stopped me, "Hey wait! We're just kinda giving each other a tour, and we could kinda use a tour guide. Umm…could you show us around? We really don't know where anything is and it looks like we're gonna be here for awhile, ya know?"
"Sorry, I've got important things to do. Maybe later, okay? Oh, and Selphie, I need to borrow you for something. Can you come with me?"
"Nope, not without giving us a tour first!" Selphie responded playfully.
"It's very important, I really need your help…" I wasn't convincing her, so I sighed then said, "Fine, I'll give you two a tour afterwards."
Selphie happily agreed and all three of us walked to the cafeteria. When we arrived, Quistis, Zell, and Irvine were at a table, eating and chatting with one another. I approached them and said, "Hey everyone, what's going on?"
"Hey Squall! We were just talking about your uncanny ability to predict things. You wanna join the conversation? You know, shed some light on the subject?" Zell questioned.
"Uhm, later. Quistis, I need your assistance with something important, if I may."
"Sure Squall, I'll be happy to go with you." Quistis agreed.
Selphie, Quistis, and I walked out of the cafeteria and were approached by a Garden faculty member. "Instructor Quistis Trepe? The Garden Master wishes to see you. Report to the Master's Room right away."
"Oh, sorry Squall, but I better deal with this right now." Quistis told me.
I replied, "It's alright, we'll come with you. I'm sure it will be fine if we come along."
The elevator stopped on the secret bottom floor and all three of us exited and observed our surroundings. A very large dome-like room that was quite dark and had bright vertical lines along the walls with the elevator in the center welcomed us. Quistis led Selphie and I forward to the sound of Cid shouting as he was pushed back by Garden faculty members.
"Please! Listen to me! Let go of me! I'm not finished!" Cid yelled.
I put myself between Cid and the Garden Faculty and spoke to the pusher in the most intense tone I could conjure up, "Leave him alone. Unless you would like to push me around, you're not going to lay another finger on him."
"Better step away, this doesn't concern you." The faculty member replied.
"Sure, but I can't have you doing this to Cid, alright? So why don't you back off…"
The man inched back a few steps, obviously intimidated by me. His gaze turned to Quistis and Selphie, "Ahem, you are the SeeDs who returned from Galbadia, correct?" Quistis nodded. "Master NORG has been waiting for you. Come."
As I walked away, Cid said to me, "Squall…why did you stick up for me just then?"
I turned and spoke to him as I walked, "Because you did nothing wrong."
As Quistis, Selphie, and I followed the faculty to the large mechanical structure NORG was encased in, I whispered to them, "Make sure you're prepared to fight."
Everyone seemed to trust my warnings and suggestions, seeing as I was always accurate when I told them. Quistis and Selphie nodded in acknowledgement as we stood before NORG and his two faculty members. NORG revealed himself and began talking to Quistis instead of me. Many of the same words that were spoken to me were then spoken to Quistis. She was the leader of the assassination mission, not me, so I guess it makes sense.
Quistis asked the questions that had been running through my head when I was in her place while I simply stood and thought about the possible upcoming battle. I began to contemplate a plan to defeat NORG, looking around at my surroundings, considering the enemy's few weaknesses, taking into account that our opponent was immobile and other important factors.
"Bushurururu...NOW-I-UNDERSTAND. CID-AND-EDEA-ARE-TRYING-TO-TAKE-GARDEN-AWAY-FROM-ME. YOU'RE-ONE-OF-CID'S-FOLLOWERS-AREN'T-YOU!? PREPARE-TO-DIE!" NORG shouted as his mechanical contraption closed, protecting him from any outside attacks.
Selphie and Quistis drew their weapons and prepared for battle. I ran to where the mass of cables and wires were connected to NORG's dome. I drew my blade and sliced through each of them systematically until I hit the oxygen tube leading into NORG's entrapment. Air escaped at a rapid rate as the tube scurried and hissed loudly away like a snake. NORG opened his protective shield in response to the lack of air inside his confinery and prepared to attack.
Quistis and Selphie gave me a quick look that said 'good thinking' as I ordered, "Quick! Attack NORG with magic!"
Powerful magic slammed into NORG's body repeatedly, not giving him a chance to attack. A large enemy such as he absorbed a massive amount of damage before finally collapsing in defeat. After our flawless victory, Quistis wondered aloud, "What was he talking about? Was what he said true?"
I confirmed, "Everything that NORG said was true. I think you should talk to Cid about it. It looks like he's gone up. Try the infirmary; I'd go with you, but I've got something important to do."
"Wait Squall, wasn't there something you needed us for?" Selphie asked.
I looked back at NORG's lifeless body resting eternally inside his protective dome and responded, "Don't worry about it, it's taken care of."
As I returned to the first floor and headed towards the library, I thought, Okay, the White SeeD ship should be here soon to pick up Ellone. I need to talk to her before they get here.
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I had hoped that the missile strike would not have happened, that Squall had succeeded in his personal mission to prevent it from ever occurring, but he had obviously failed, seeing as Balamb Garden was nearly destroyed by missiles. I tried my best to read as I sat there in the library, but I kept thinking about Squall. If he failed to stop the strike, then what does that mean? Did Galbadian troops capture him? Oh God, I sure hope he didn't…no, don't think about it…
When Squall came and sat in the chair next to me, I had to take a moment to make sure that he was actually there. His eyes showed that he had suffered much, both emotionally and physically. Even though I wanted to smile at the sight of him alive and well, I knew that he must have felt terrible then. He would be thinking about how he failed to protect the many lives at Trabia Garden, and he would probably blame himself.
All I could say was, "I'm so sorry Squall…" as I reached out and hugged him.
I hadn't hugged Squall in a very long time, not since the days at the orphanage, but I knew that he would appreciate my gesture. The hug receded and Squall said, "I couldn't protect them…I did everything I possibly could to try and stop that launch, but I couldn't change anything."
"I know that you tried your hardest to save those people, but maybe…it was meant to happen. I've been thinking ever since Garden started moving, about the future. Perhaps some things can't be changed, that all things happen for a reason."
"But you said that I should do whatever I could to try and change things for the better."
"Even if there's a possibility, it's worth a try, right?"
Squall thought about it for a second, then said, "I'm done trying. I'm done doubting my abilities; I can change nothing. I will have to watch terrible events unfold as I suffer through them."
"But you don't know for sure. I'm sure that some things have happened differently this time from last time, right? If some small things can change, then why not some important things? Until you find out for sure that there's nothing you can do, don't give up."
Squall brought his head up to look at me, "…maybe you're right…Listen, there's not much time. I have to ask you, why did you send me to the 'dream world' earlier?"
I knew that he would eventually bring that question up. "I had to see something that you didn't tell me when we were on the ship. That was the point when everything went wrong. I'm sorry I had to use you, but I just needed to try and change things."
Squall gave a half smile, "Hmph, looks like we're both trying to change things, and failing."
He had a point, but I wondered why he asked me about the dream world. There seemed to be some ulterior meaning rooted to his question. "Squall, why did you ask me about the dream world?"
Squall turned his head down and looked away before he said softly, "…You saved my life…At the time, I wished that you hadn't…"
"I'm not going to say that I'm sorry. I still believe that you have a great importance in life. Your knowledge can help others, and I know that if I were in your place, I would never give up."
A dark-haired woman in a SeeD uniform walked into the library and said, "Umm, Squall? You wouldn't happen to know someone named Ellone, would you? Some people are asking for her and I thought I should ask you."
I stood up. "Umm…I'm Ellone."
Squall stood up and walked with me and the dark-haired woman to the second floor deck. Three White SeeDs and their ship waited for me when we arrived. I turned to Squall and said, "I believe that you have a mission in life, that this 'repeating time' was not just an accident. Even if it was an accident, you can still use your ability to make things better in the world. If you won't change things for other people's happiness, then at least change it for yours…"
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Ellone climbed aboard the White SeeD ship and sailed off into the evening sunset. Her departing words rippled in my mind just as the pinks, purples, and yellows in the sky rippled across the ocean. She had been right in all respects. There was always a chance that something dramatically different could happen because of my actions. After all, nothing could stop me from jumping into the water and chase after Ellone then; it would be pointless, but different nonetheless.
Rinoa came up next to me and watched the waters, an aura of warmth and comfort resonating from her gorgeous form. She spoke softly, "A friend of yours?"
"Yeah."
"A…girlfriend?"
There was something suspicious in her tone, more than just general wonderment. "No, a good friend."
"Oh…" Rinoa said, a note of relief and delight obvious even in such a small sound.
If not for others, then for yourself… "Rinoa, how would you like a tour of Garden?…Just you and me."
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Was he serious? Just me and Squall, on a tour of Garden? It definitely sounded like more than a favor, it definitely sounded like some kind of a date. After the assignment in Deling City, my feelings for Seifer completely went away. I found out that I never did love him, that his dark side overshadowed his good side by far. Seifer sided with the sorceress, who was the one that fired missiles at Garden, which made him our enemy.
During the car ride from the desert prison, I had a long chat with Selphie, and she mentioned that Squall seemed to be talking to me more than anyone else. It was her opinion that he had a crush on me. I had no idea that he liked me, but when I thought about it, I started to develop some major feelings for him. He was a nice guy, but he was strong, and a good dancer to boot. Yet, there was that strangeness in him that everyone noticed but nobody could figure out. I thought it would be nice to be the person that Squall could confide in, the one person that he would trust enough to tell his secrets to. Thinking about it that way, I had decided to try and get to know Squall. But before I could even start, he asks me out on a date.
"Yes! Let's do it! When?" I answered cheerfully.
"How about right now?"
"Cool!"
The tour was amazing, not necessarily finding out information on Balamb Garden, but just being with Squall was wonderful. We talked so fluidly, no breaks in the conversations, no awkward silences, no huge disagreements. He had led quite an interesting life, but there was something that he wasn't telling me. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was some point in his life that he omitted. I desperately wanted to find out what it was, and I wanted him to tell me, so that I would be the one that he confided in. I was so surprised about how I felt then, that I had warmed up to him so quickly. It was strange, no other person had ever had that effect on me.
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I had finished talking to Cid about NORG and finding out the truth about everything. It was quite surprising to learn that Cid and Edea were married, and the truth about SeeD, that we were soldiers dispatched from Garden to defeat the sorceress. It was a lot of information to take in, but once Cid had told me everything I wanted to know, I decided to leave and find Squall. I felt that it was time to tell Squall about my feelings for him, once and for all, not going to trip up, no matter what, telling Squall that I liked him.
I found Irvine walking around with Zell when I left the infirmary, so I decided to ask them, "Have either of you seen Squall around?"
Zell responded, "Yeah, I saw him and Rinoa going to the ballroom. Don't ask me why, because I have no idea what they're doing in there. Frankly, I don't wanna know."
Zell's comment did not make me laugh, it only made my heart flutter for a moment at the thought of Squall being with someone else. I had almost told Squall the truth about my feelings for him while we were riding from the desert prison to Balamb, but I lost my nerve, and I don't know why. I always was the nervous type when it came to men I liked, but I knew Squall fairly well, so I thought that it may be different. Yet, I couldn't tell him, and every waking moment that he didn't know how I felt, my feelings for him grew. It had gotten to the point where I just couldn't stand it anymore. I was going to tell him, and I wouldn't care what he said in response to my statement. Oh…what if he likes me too? It's definitely worth a shot. As I walked quickly towards the ballroom, I thought about what I would say to him. Squall, I think I'm in love with you. Goodbye!…Umm, no, terrible…I kind of like you, Squall. Let's give it a try…No, but that's a little better…Listen Squall, lately I've been getting these vibes from you, and I was wondering if you liked me?…No, that's much worse…Oh boy, this won't be pretty.
I eventually arrived at the ballroom, which was unoccupied at the time. All of the lights were off and the huge room was lit only by the beautiful moonlight through the glass ceiling above. Well, I couldn't ask for a better place to tell him. I looked throughout the room quietly, then found Squall and Rinoa on the balcony. When I saw them together, the two were standing close to each other, leaning over the balcony, incoherent words escaping their smiling faces. I didn't want to believe it, but they were obviously on a date. Selphie's suspicions had been correct; Squall was clearly romantically interested in Rinoa. My heart sank as I silently walked out of the ballroom without Squall ever noticing me.
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We had taken a wonderfully long walk around the Garden which ended up taking all night. I had lost count of the amount of times we traversed the sizeable Garden, but I was more concentrated on Rinoa. She opened up to me, and I did the same with her, like we had never done before. After Rinoa mentioned that she was bored of simply wandering around Garden, we ended up in the ballroom, where we had first met. There were no shooting stars out that night, but just watching the sky while talking was more than enough for me.
After the date was over, I walked back to my room with an unmovable grin plastered to my face. Not bad for a first date. I simply couldn't believe that something good could come out of my 'repeating time' journey. I couldn't ask for a better way to change my luck around; a long walk with Rinoa around the Garden was a full remedy for my attitude towards my experience. We had never actually talked about regular things on the first time through my quest, but after the date, I found out so much more about her. I didn't think that anything could surprise me, but learning about Rinoa's past, her dreams, her feelings, I felt like we connected amazingly that night. I talked to her about my past, mainly my life at the Garden and stories revolving around it and the people therein. I wanted to tell her everything, about how I'd gone through this adventure before, but I decided against it for the time being. She probably would not be able to accept such an odd story, so I figured that telling her at a later time would be a good idea.
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I awoke, looked at the clock, cursed myself for sleeping in, then quickly ran towards Cid's office. When I reached the elevator, Cid made an announcement regarding the intercom being fixed. I knew that the Garden would be crashing into Fisherman's Horizon by the end of his transmission. I had been too late to stop it, but it was inevitable anyways. Nobody onboard Balamb Garden knew how to work the brakes, but we would learn once we literally hit Fisherman's Horizon.