HOLY JUMPIN JEEZ! It's been a while since I updated! I am soooooooooooooo sorry about this! Between starting a new job, a death in the family, and the writer's block from HELL, it doesn't make for a good combination when it comes to writing fan fiction. So think of this time off to write a Christmas present. Or Hanukah, or Kwanzaa, or whatever you believe in.
Oh, and by the way, nobody has tried to stop me yet, so SHOUTOUTS CONTINUE! And Gosh golly gee, there's a lot of them! Better get crackin'!
zornoid13: Sorry it took so long.
JadeAlmasy: I guess I made Raine's mom bitchier than intended.
hibeki: Didn't look at your story, just short on time. I'll take a look when I get a free moment. Glad you like this.
JeriStone: I likes me humor with a shot of whiskey.
Cerulean Devil: Hell, maybe Squall won't be so much of an introvert either.
Lady-Rinoa: Glad you like.
Jasmine32: Laguna and his eggs, classic.
Arkv01: You'll have to wait and see. I'll try not to change Squall TOO much.
Hope Always: Amazing how one small thing can change the future.
Kenny H: I told you near the end of "Children of Destiny." You can call me Matt.
Verdanii: Got a lot of them from you, thanks a lot!
Raine69: Odd name, but glad you like
If any of you still look at Children of Destiny from time to time, you'll see that it got its first flame! But hey, that's one flame compared to 307 reviews telling me they enjoyed it. I'm sure the 307 good reviews can tell that kid where to stick it!
CHAPTER 8: MOVING OUT, MOVING ON.
"There." Laguna said as he placed a box into the cargo hold of the mighty ship that would take his family to their new home in Esthar. "That's the last of it." Everything was packed. Ellone wanted to run around and look at the ship, and was allowed since Raine wanted to do so also. Needless to say, Squall was with them also, laving Laguna to do must of the dirty work.
"Sir, we're closing up the cargo hold now and preparing to leave." One of the ships crewmen said. With an "Alley-oop." Laguna jumped back to dry land, then climbed the ladder onto the deck. Once aboard, he spotted Raine staring out over Winhill. She seemed to have a sad look in her eyes.
"It's because you've never left this town, isn't it?" Laguna asked. Raine said nothing, but gave a nod. Soon, the boat was moving, and it was off to their new home: Esthar, The presidential palace to be exact. It was the biggest building in the world, even bigger than the SeeD gardens. On his way to save Ellone, Laguna met a couple by the names of Cid and Edea Kramer. They had a brilliant idea to create SeeDs to battle Sorceress Adel when the time was right, but Laguna shot those plans down by dealing with Adel himself. Laguna knew he would have to see the witch again, but at least she'd be confined. Plus, he'd be in space! How cool was that? With Raine busy with Squall, Laguna passed the time by teaching Ellone a new card game named Triple Triad. Ellone found the game fun, and was challenging crewmen to games. She was a natural! Laguna had given her a starter deck of seven cards, and within two hours, she had well over forty, which made her all the more bummed when Esthar appeared over the horizon.
"Wow, it's the biggest city I've ever seen." Raine mused.
"Yeah, it's got nearly a billion people!" Laguna added. "Our new home is in the dead center of the city."
"And you're going to be the president of all this?" Raine asked.
"That's the plan." Laguna said. As the ship docked, Laguna spotted Kiros and Ward waiting for him.
"Kiros, Ward, good to see you guys again!" Laguna said as he ran off the ship to greet his companions.
"Yeah, we've missed your idiocy." Kiros said, "Things just aren't funny without you."
"C'mon, Could an idiot seal Adel so easily?" Laguna asked.
"Ward, would you like to fill this one?" Kiros asked.
"We never said you were stupid, just an idiot." Laguna's jaw nearly hit the floor when Ward moved his mouth and words came out!
"Long story short, Dr. Odine repaired my vocal chords." Ward said. "Good as new."
"Mr. Kiros! Mr. Ward! Look what Uncle Laguna gave me!" Yelled Ellone as she ran up to show off her Triple Triad cards.
"You must be pretty good at that." Kiros said, seeing the size of Ellone's deck.
"Do people here play Triple Triad?" Ellone asked.
"Maybe, I don't know." Kiros said. Before long, Raine emerged from the ship, carrying Squall in her arms.
"What kept you?" Laguna asked.
"Didn't want Squall to make his first appearance to be a smelly one." Raine said. Laguna replied with an "Ah", understanding what that meant.
"Hey, who's this handsome little man?" Ward asked, giving a small tickle to the baby's stomach, getting a small smile and a squirm in return.
"Guys, meet my son." Laguna said. "Squall Leonhart Loire."
"Hey kid," Kiros said, "How ya doin?"
"I think he's a little tired," Raine said, "He had a big day."
"Good to see you again, Raine." Kiros said, giving the woman a hug.
"Well, I guess I'd better find General Mason and let him know I accept the presidency." Laguna said.
"He's at the palace." Ward said. "The Esthar military has pretty much been running things since you booted out Adel."
"That gets more gratifying every time I hear it." Laguna said. "I booted out Adel."
"C'mon, let's get you guys to some beds," Kiros said. "You guys look bushed."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to introduce you to Laguna Loire, President of Esthar!" General Mason said. The crowd let out a cheer, which made Laguna glad that Raine had Squall in another part of the palace, which was soundproof as not to upset his son.
"Thank you." Laguna said as he approached the podium. "First order of business, I would like to issue a truce to Galbadia. Even though Esthar is much more technologically advanced than Galbadia, I believe there is much we can offer each other." The crowd seemed to agree with his statement.
"Secondly, Sorceress Adel will be held under a watchful eye until the day she expires in space." Laguna said. "I realize a sorceress must relinquish her powers before being able to die, but Adel still has a good many years left. We will cross that bridge when we come to it." The crowd agreed once again.
"And finally, every Thursday will be waffle day!" Laguna declared. This caused quite a bit of confusion in the crowd.
"Just kiddin', folks." Laguna said. "Eat waffles whenever you want, Adel's not here to tell you not to." This caused the crowd to laugh.
"I promise you this. There is no issue I will not tackle, there is no crisis I will not solve, and there is no evil sorceress I will not shoot into space!" Laguna declared. "Things are gonna change in Esthar, because no longer are you required to respond to Adel's every beck and call. All that you are required to do is live your lives the way you are meant to. Follow your dreams, because they can lead to something big!" With his short speech over, he then turned on his heel and headed back into his new home.
Raine stirred from her sleep that night, something she hadn't expected. Granted she was in a new place, but…let's just say Laguna left her exhausted that night! As she looked over, she noticed her husband wasn't lying next to her. She got up and looked in on Squall. Her son was sleeping quietly, but Laguna was not in the room. Ellone had left her bedroom door open, yet Raine didn't see her husband there either. Soon, she had found her way to the presidential office. She heard some shuffling, and saw her husband with his back to her, fiddling with something while standing there in his robe.
"Laguna, it's Two o'clock in the morning." Raine said tiredly. "What are you doing in here?"
"Something I bet Adel never did." Laguna replied back. "Thank Hyne too, because she takes ugly to a new level." Laguna then moved to the side, and Raine was able to see what he was messing with: the stereo. Laguna then turned the volume low enough to where it wouldn't wake anybody up, yet still just loud enough to hear it at a comfortable level. As the song started up, Laguna dropped his robe, now standing in nothing but his underwear. He put on a pair of sunglasses, and began dancing like an idiot and singing along with the song playing over the stereo.
"Just take those old records off the shelf." Laguna sang. "I sit and listen to 'em by myself. Today's music ain't got the same soul. I like that old time-a rock and roll!"
"You're pitiful," Raine said as she hit the stop button on the stereo. "Can't that wait at least until after breakfast?"
"Sorry, just couldn't sleep tonight." Laguna said.
"I'm going back to bed." Raine said.
"To sleep?" Laguna asked with a mischievous grin.
"Yes. To sleep." Raine replied, shooting down Laguna's hopes for seconds.