Final Fantasy VIII: Forgotten Hero

Disclaimer: I Own Aries! That's all…sob

Chapter I

"Balamb Garden…Seems like this is the place" A hooded figure came through the golden coloured Garden gates. Silence was in the air managing to be broken by the sounds of black boots crashing to the floor as they paced down the pathway to the garden. They dragged along his black baggy cargo jeans what were torn slightly from the cuffs of the jeans causing the rocker effect. Along his right leg there was a sword sheath what seemed to be able to touch the ground from the steel tip of the darkened holder. The hybrid weapon holder was angled forward, as if its weapon was to be drawn like a sword. Around his right leg were a trio of small belts, each containing many small cylinders, like ammunition for a handgun? Most of his head was covered by his black hoody. His eyes were over shadowed by his black bangs what were uneven like bed hair but looking more planned to be that way. On the right side of his head he had a couple of red crimson highlights running through his hair, they seemed to be a marking. His hair was pretty long managing to reach the side of his chin from one side yet somewhat less on the other. It was clear the hair was uneven making it so much more different than others.

The black haired boy walked on starting to be noticed by other students who dwelled in the garden. The students were fumbling about with the Triple Triad Card Game cards. The same ones what had been developed a very long time before the war had begun. Special cards were dispatched for the 'Saviour of the world' and along with his group.

"Hey! Hey kid!" the dark warrior seemed careless not really paying attention to who ever was calling him. They had nothing to do with him so what was the point in turning around? Arrogant? Maybe? Silent? Most likely.

"Damn! Who the hell is that?" One of the students asked the other,

"I dunno…probably a new student or a follower of Squall?" The female student pointed out to the fact of what he was wearing around his right leg. He had to be a Gunblade wielder or if not that a weapon specialist of some sort. The hooded child was left to walk in to the Garden by himself. Looking over to the old man who seemed to control who went in and out of the Garden, all he did was just show a letter. The old man just gave a glare and nodded, pressing a button and letting Aries through the non secure contraption.

"Hmm Cid, that child, Aries, isn't he supposed to be here now?" Edea pondered as she sat with her husband.

"Yes my dear, well it is hard trying to travel from Winhill to Balamb" Cid replied as he looked towards the application forms what were dotted around desk of the headmaster's office. Since the Garden had now become stationary the giant controller was once again put down to the MD level of the building. But in case if they needed to become mobile again, all they would need to do was press a button at the headmaster's desk rather than having to go through hell to open it again.

"Ah! Here it is! Aries He- wasn't he that child that used to be with us in the orphanage?" Cid asked as he turned towards Edea as he broke off the name.

"Yes, I remember… he was a quiet one. Squall seemed to even give in at times to smile, yet Aries always did seem to have that look of lost hope in his eyes." Edea's voice had a slight sadness to it…she was remembering something. Good memories yet painful pleasures of the owner of her body during the past. A lot had happened…yet she could also conjure up the fact of remembering who this 'Aries' was.

"Seifer! Stop teasing Zell!" A young Edea took the children outside to play amongst themselves. Life was great. She and Cid had finally reached the pinnacle of their lives. They wanted to make an orphanage for children what would benefit them for the future. Yet Cid always managed to cook up some crazy idea about a 'Garden' and some 'SeeD's' what would fight against the sorceress. Edea smiled watching the children dwell with them selves. There was Quistis sitting along side Seifer trying to teach him how to play this newly devolved card game. Then there was Zell who was running around with Irvine who seemed to be looking for Selphie. All but 3 children were outside…Turning around, Edea walked back in to the concrete home. As she got in she gave a sigh of relief seeing Squall walking with his sister, somewhat clinging to her with a large smile on his face. He loved her more than he loved his own life. Squall momentarily looked over to Aries and twitched his nose as a signal of 'Aren't you coming with us?' Aries just shook his head giving his reply. Aries was sitting in the corner of the room, on a small wooden crate as he watched over the window seeing the waves of the sea crash against the beach.

"Mommy…" a soft voice peeled out of the 4 year olds mouth. His parent's had given him to the orphanage with two others. Aries still didn't know why his mother and father had just randomly given him away…was he a bad child? Didn't his mommy love him? What did he do what got her so mad? Two years…two long years he tortured himself wanting his 'Mommy and Daddy' to come and take him home and play with him.

"Aries aren't you going to play with the others?" the slender woman approached the distorted child and knelt down to his level. Aries looked to her with his big black eyes and shook his head keeping his face straight and lifeless. Edea always was saddened by Aries's loneliness yet she could never make him smile…. Edea always tried to make him interact with the others to show him he wasn't alone.

"Aaww…please? Not even for me?" Edea tried to reason with the child, engaging in to combat as usual. He would say no…she would try and persuade him to play…it would only work sometimes.

"…" Aries didn't reply. He just let a selfless sigh curl through his pink lips, staring out of the window. Edea cringed, had she lost? Had his frowning worked? How could a child of 4 years manage to be so depressed? He was so mature it was even hard to fathom how he could have gotten this way.

"Aaaarieeeess!" A soft yet happy voice came from the side of the house. Aries turned around looking to the door as he heard the noise. The amount of status change he went through was amazing to the naked eye. A smile appeared on to his face as he jumped off and scampered off giggling towards the door.

"I'm coming! Don't go!" Edea stood there with a smile along with a sigh of relief breaking from her lungs. She was once again happy to see all of them playing around. Walking over to the door she watched how Aries ran as fast as he could towards the sandy beach after this lifesaver of a girl.

"For Hyne's Sake…where the hell is the headmaster's office!" Aries was too stubborn to ask plus he couldn't be bothered asking anyone, he would rather find Cid's office himself so that he would learn. As Aries was muttering to himself, as Zell was stalking him by watching his every move. Zell assumed that he was a rebellion leader…the same ones what where trying to take over Galbadia since the death of General Caraway. There had been a new president also elected thanks to the council of Galbadia yet this person also managed to take over the Army after the passing. Zell thought he was planning to take over the garden and try to hold it up to Galbadia as ransom, yet little did Zell know to the fact that it was his old friend…no one did really remember him yet Aries was happy. He had already seen Quistis and Irvine so it wasn't that bad.

"…" Aries turned around looking over to Zell as he had seen him from the corner of his eye. What the hell? Why the hell is this guy following me around?

"Can I help you?" Aries broke the silence as the sneaking around had started to annoy him. And another name was checked off the list. Zell.

"Huh? Oh…No man I'm looking for a…er I'm looking for a contact lens! Yeah! I lost one while I was sparring!" Back of the net! Go on Zell! Zell was somewhat happy with his 'Quick' remark to nearly being caught.

"Whatever…" Aries turned around again. Looking up, he had a small smirk on his face as he recognised this vague sleek figure from the past.

"…Matron…" Those same words what he would hold on to during his time at the orphanage broke out of his mouth. Along with that Zell over heard him and started to stare in suspicion. 'WHAT THE HELL? How does HE know who Matron is? I knew it! This guy's one of those rebel terrorist! I'll take him on! YEAH BA- Wait a minute! Bandoleers around his legs- Great! Gunblader? I need the others!' Zell was ready to pounce Aries to make sure that his theory was correct. Aries once again looked over to Zell, sighing slightly he cocked his head to the side as he got a full glance at the hyped maniac. 'He looks pretty much the same I wonder if he remembers me? Probably not...' Aries started to walk towards Zell's direction. This freaked Zell out slightly as he got a look in to the hooded 'terrorist's' face. It was as if Zell had seen Odin or something, nearly falling back on his feet, he started to walk backwards as his eyes were still widened. 'For Hyne's sake this cannot be happening! This is impossible!' Zell's preposterous mind was as if it was going to explode. He couldn't believe what he was seeing! Once again nearly tripping over himself as he stepped back.

"Zell?" Aries stood there as Zell looked at him like he was a ghost. 'AHH! HE KNOWS MY NAME!' Zell had finally flipped. Turning around he sprinted off towards the Quad to get the others.

"…" Aries stood confused and wondering what the hell had just happened. Shrugging some walked up the steps to the elevator and stepped in as it came down.

"Great…"

"Okay! We got one day more to get this done people! In other words LET'S MOVE IT!" Selphie was getting things ready for the festival for the new SeeD's to be Inauguration party. This was her third time at trying to make a decent party for everyone to attend. Unlike last time this one didn't involve a band and her friends parading like maniacs during the party. This one had to be more sophisticated, more elegant, much smarter and fancier, so she could finally eloquent her views on showing everyone what she was capable off, along with welcoming the newbie's.

"Selphie, Irvine is looking for you." Quistis had distracted Selphie as she walked in. her slender body seemed to etch each time she took a step. She stood bold and confident in the mist of the sunlight, outside in the Quad.

"Are you listening?" Quistis tilted her head, questioning again. Selphie froze hearing her words.

"…Irvine…" The cheerful young girl's face, seemed to frown as the words broke they grasp of her lips. 'What does that Jerk want now?' Turning around, Selphie wiped the frown off her face and replaced it with a cheery and hyper smile. The same elegance what blossomed from the days back in the orphanage.

"Oh! It musta' slipped my mind! I'll go now!" Hopping off the stage, Selphie skipped her way down the quad. Her skipping soon faded out as she became a silhouette to Quistis and the rest. 'What does he want? More sex probably…God why did I even give in to that guy! Screw him; I'm goin' to the beach.' Selphie thought to her self. She had grown far away from Irvine slowly after the end of the war. Nothing was as it seemed with them; Irvine was always parading with other girls as Selphie was left to watch her so called boyfriend hit on other girls. This was driving her insane…he was using her that's all, yet she still had the mind to continue like as if nothing was going on. 'Eep it's Zell! I need to get out before he starts…' Selphie ran the opposite way from Zell, who was running towards the Quad to show everyone about his discovery.

Finally making her way out of the Garden, Selphie sighed in relief as she scampered towards the beach. This was always her break away from reality. Her other choice would to be to run back to her past rather than even staying on this continent. Arriving at the sandy area, she blinked momentarily as the breeze ran across her face leaving small specks of sand to lash in to her eye.

"Oooh! Why don't I just leave?" The words arched out of her mouth as she flumped on to the sandy floor, causing the sand particles to fly from the area.

"But if I leave, I wont have anywhere to go! I could go to the orphanage or Arabia or even maybe…Just maybe…" Her eyes closed along with one of left hand running over the black material what was wrapped around her right wrist. Memories plagued her mind. She had to leave the orphanage and stay away from the others thanks to Matron. The same memories what she had held in her heart for so long. Each and every time she would replay most of the faces, she would smile or just cry. Too much had happened. Selphie truly hated this place, she was in now…Yet Matron had promised her something, something about how the future would be fulfilled for her, she would finally get what she wanted all…she had to do was wait. Yet…Selphie found it to hard. 5 odd years had past. She had no one now…She had friends, but no one to call for her self. Irvine? Not even close. She hated him…He had just changed in her eyes. She had seen and felt things no one ever should have. Pulling her knees towards her chest, Selphie buried her face in to her knees, softly sobbing. "How long? How much more do I have to suffer? Why doesn't someone come and save me?…What have I done to deserve this?" A gust of wind blew past the sobbing girl. Ignoring the call of nature, she wiped her damp cheeks with her sandy hands.

"Don't cry…"

Push had finally come to shove. Aries had arrived at the top of the structure of Balaam Garden. He was plagued by thoughts of either going in and seeing something he would regret, or just some other indecisive thoughts. Finally gaining the courage to walk up to the door, Aries' hand stood against the wooden like wall. About to press his knuckles for contact, His balance was knocked off guard by someone literally opening the door in to him. Being thrown back slightly, His hood had come off yet his face still hidden in the darkness of shadows. The somewhat attacker pulled out of the door with a frown on his face. Dressed in a cream, cow skinned like attire. Irvine had plunged through the depths of the room. His black hat overshadowing his eyes along with his forehead. From what Aries could see, he had the look of anger on his face. Something truly must have gotten Irvine angry if he was to be pissed off that bad. Even at the times at Galbadia Garden, Aries had never seen him so angry. Yet then again…Aries made sure that he saw no one from his orphanage at that place. He had no reason to socialize with them so what was the point? Plus he was also 'Supposed' to be assisting them on the battle for Edea but something had gotten mixed up. Even to this day he truly didn't understand what had actually happened.

"Xu, Could you please close the door?" A familiar voice had broken through the silent thoughts of Aries. Quickly pacing towards the door, He moved his hand towards the opening of the door, so that it would show that there was someone there. Still getting no response, Aries mimicked his former movements. Pressing his knuckles hard against the door then pulling back 2 to 3 times. Up came running to the door to see who it was. Dressed in her usual Seed uniform, she squinted slightly as she looked to Aries. She couldn't make out who it was, since he was standing in the darkness. It seemed slightly a bit too darker than usual.

"Ah! The boy with the butler!" Cid finally noticed Aries. His eyes ran over the desk, shuffling through the papers. Edea was no where to be seen.

"Do come forward, we need to get this signed so you can actually start dwelling in this garden. Along with sorting out with when your SeeD exam would be." Xu was left baffled. She had no clue that someone was coming. Nor did she even know that Cid had personally ordered for him. Since the fall of Galbadia Garden, Cid had been acting strange as he was contacting this someone. Was this HIM? She had heard Edea talk about someone from the orphanage to her husband every now and then. Of course Xu heard because she had become Cid's right hand woman. Plus he was like a father to her….a bond not many could understand.

Aries had a small frown on his lips. He knew that it was a bad idea to send someone to get his things from A to B. Yet could he care? No one knew him, so what was the point in being judged so easily.

"I don't bite, you know!" Cid talked once again, causing Aries to fall out of his world of thought. Nodding some, He finally stepped in to the sunlight revealing himself, as the room was filled with an eerie silence. Aries had stopped in the middle of the room. 'Something on my head?' Xu looked like she had seen a ghost. 'What the hell? Why is everyone freaking out today?' Aries turned around to Cid, noticing a slighter calm look on his face. So it is true… Thoughts were running wild in Cid's head. Truly finally understanding what why this was wanted. Aries was still confused. What was wrong? Did he truly look THAT ugly?

"So-…." As his lips had parted to question the old man, His eyes had run over the image what was embedded in the floor. 'What the fuck?' Aries leapt back from the face what he was standing on, landing at where the name was imprinted.

"Squall Leonhart 'Savoir of the world'-"

"-Exactly like-"

"-Me!" Aries had raised his head to look to Cid once again. His bangs had cleared out of his eyes, so that his face was now truly visible. Aries couldn't believe his purple eyes. The person who he had read about, the person who he had heard so many stories about, the person who he had just stood on…looked exactly like he did!