Authoress: Isleia
Summary: A secret group known as the Shadow SeeD make their presence known at Balamb Garden, but who are they? And what is their purpose?
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII tis be Square-Enix's. Never has and never will be mine. Be we can all still dream. Le sigh.
AN: Shirack's POV, unless I say otherwise. Also, chapter lengths are going to vary because sometimes I can be on a roll, but then my muses can turn to mush. So, yeah, that should be it! Story time, kiddies!
It doesn't seem to have changed much, though it does look like it got a new paint job. I wonder when that happened? Whatever. I'll ask the Headmaster about it when I see him. As our rather large group heads towards Balamb Garden, I can see that plenty of the students are curious about us. Hell, I would be too if all of the sudden this group of people dressed for a funeral came waltzing into my Garden. Well, this is my Garden, but you know what I mean.
The General is leading us in, just like a leader should. Yet it is I that is walking beside him with Colonel Ansem (a.k.a. Colonel Hungers-for-me) to his left. General Auron Cyva. He is without a doubt what one would expect from an outstanding leader. Strong, tall, well built, and aged. He's got this internal wisdom about him that cannot be explained, and yet, he usually acts like a retired General than one on active duty. He is a hard man to understand. Since one of his eyes is permanently closed and hidden behind sunglasses, it's hard to tell what he's feeling or thinking…
"Glad to be back?"
Or when he is about to speak since his red collar covers the bottom half of his face. He's one of the few of us wearing something other than blue or black.
"Yes, sir. It's good to be back."
"Can't wait to see a certain someone, can you?"
I smile. "No, sir, I can't."
I turn to look behind me. Everyone has a serious look on their faces, but I know well enough that they're quite happy to be back here. It's been five years since I've been back to Garden. For some, like the Colonel and Soren, it's been longer.
Although I am also happy to be back, I can't help but be nervous as well. What will Squall look like now? I've heard that his name is actually quite well known. Apparently he's done pretty amazing stuff. I knew he would do something good with himself, I just didn't expect him to get so popular all of the sudden.
Another thing bothers me. Will he remember me? Although it hasn't been that long since we've last seen each other, I wouldn't be too surprised if he forgot me. After all, I did give him Shiva, the GF. I gave it to him as a parting gift as well as a ring I gave him. He always had this thing about lions, so I got him a ring with a winged lion engraved in it. I just hope that even if he has forgotten me, that he will at least still have those.
Our group of about a dozen walk into the front hall. Now people are really looking. Looking forward I see the Headmaster and his wife standing and waiting with smiles on their faces. I can tell that they at least are happy to see us. The General already informed them that we were coming, but it looks like they didn't tell many people of our arrival.
A group of people stand behind the Headmaster and Mrs. Kramer, none of them seem familiar to me, except one. His ear length brown hair is fashioned in a way which makes it look like he just got out of bed. Blue-gray eyes scan our group with a cautious look to them. As he frowns, a scar on his forehead crinkles slightly. He looks so much like him, but is it?
The General steps forward and solutes. "Headmaster, Mrs. Kramer, it is good to be home. I hope our entrance didn't startle anyone."
The Headmaster, looking pretty much the same, stretches out a hand. "No need to be so formal, General, it's good to have you back. All of you."
The General shakes Headmaster Cid's hand in return. The group that surrounds Mrs. Kramer seems confused. I guess Headmaster Cid didn't tell them or our arrival either. Mrs. Kramer turns to us and smiles.
"Welcome home my Shadow SeeD. It has been so long since we last met. Let me introduce you. These young individuals are the ones that stopped Sorceress Ultimecia from taking over our world."
I had remembered hearing about that event, but I had no idea that it had been our very own that had been the saviors. There were two blondes, one male, one female. Three brunettes, two male, one female. And one girl with black hair. The one with black hair was the only one not in a uniform, so that most likely meant she wasn't part of Garden, but she did play a role against Ultimecia.
"This is Quistis Trepe, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, Rinoa Heartilly, and Commander Squall Leonhart."
I had been paying little attention until that last name, then my mind went on full alert. That's him? I hadn't expected him to look so…dark. He seemed to have this permanent scowl to his face. What happened? Was it because of the war against the sorceress? Or…was it because I left him here? Alone…
"Matron has told us about the Shadow SeeD. It is good to finally meet all of you."
He sounds so formal. His voice has gotten deeper too. And he is at least an inch shorter than I am, maybe less. The little cub has grown up.
I see Soren out of the corner of my eye, staring at me. I'm sure he's wondering what I was going to do once I saw Squall again. I had told Soren all the things that I would tell Squall once I met up with him again. But now that I'm standing, literally no more than four feet away from him, I can't say a word. I'm afraid…that he's forgotten.
"Commander Leonhart, I am General Auron Cyva, leader of the Shadow SeeD. With me are my most skilled officers, Colonel Alastor Ansem and Captain Shirack Highlander."
He looked at all three of us in turns. Not one bit of remembrance in his eyes. He really has forgotten us, all of us, even me.
I noticed something today during the meeting we had. The ring. He still had it. I didn't know if he still had Shiva with him, but just seeing that ring was enough. He must have some kind of memories in the back of his mind.
Headmaster Cid felt it was necessary for all of us to have a 'Welcome Home' party. Seemed like all of students at garden were invited. Tons of them had questions, the main one being asked was how they could become a Shadow SeeD. I told them that that information was classified, when in reality I have no idea.
At one point in the evening, someone begged if they could see a fighting demonstration between two Shadow SeeD. It had apparently been this Selphie that had asked. General Cyva seemed to like the idea too.
"A demonstration? Why not? It is a party after all! Highlander! Ansem! To the floor!"
Of course he had to put me out there. Against Alastor, no less.
SeeD and students alike gathered in a large circle surrounding Alastor and I. Oh, this should be good. A nice, large audience.
"Ready positions!"
The General is just loving this. I set into position. I move my left leg back and my right forward. Shoulder width. I set my sword, which is a traditional samurai sword, in both hands. I then position my sword diagonally in front of me, the tip of my blade slanted to the right. (AN: For those of you who can't see that, think of the position Squall uses in the game.)
Alastor pulls out his twin katana and twirls them in his hands before pointing them both in front of him, blades crossed. His left foot points forward and in front of him, while his right points to his right, behind his left foot.
I take a quick look around me. It seems like the group of saviors notice my stance, especially Squall. Well, why wouldn't he? I trained him in same style I use…
"And…FIGHT!"
AN: I swore that I wouldn't to cliff hangers, but what author actually follows that guideline? Another reason why I'm stopping now is because I've got to work tomorrow and I already worked today, so my feet are killing me!
As for the story thus far, Squall and Shirack have met, but Squall doesn't seem to remember him…yet. I promise there will be a larger development next chapter between Shirack and Squall and more info on the mysteries of the Shadow SeeD. Until then, R&R, don't R&R, kweh? Anything works. Seeya pitas!