Part three, the final chapter!

This being my first FFVIII story (and my first actual story on for that matter), I'm pleased to be finishing it. Let's face it, I could have made it thirty chapters, but that would be SO boring… I'm going to try to make this chapter count. And when it gets to the filming of the video, it goes into… like, "reading the paper" mode.

This is the longest chapter in the story – chapter one was 11 pages, two was 5, and this one is 14… Eek…

And this chapter is dedicated to my friend ShadowWolfFang on Deviant Art, because her funny little reviews have kept me inspired. Thanks!

Part Three: The Performance

"How wonderful life is when you're in the world."

- Elton John

Squall hadn't slept well the previous night, seeing as the corridors of the Garden had been abuzz with activity after hours as the faculty moved scenery all over the place while they were setting up. His waking moments had been dedicated to weary thoughts of this whole project. It was one thing to be in the spotlight as the Commander, and quite another to be there as a performer…

He wandered up to Cid's office mid-morning, just wanting to push all of the angst he'd been feeling to the back of his mind, as well as find out what the agenda of the day was. The elevator was a little slower than usual, and the subdued hum made as it advanced up the cable holding it aloft made Squall have to blink to stay awake while his mind wandered back to yesterday afternoon. He and Seifer had been sitting in the quad… Singing together…

"There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright…"

"Come on, Squall! You can sing louder than that!" Seifer said, slapping Squall on the back.

Squall shot him a death glare, and mumbled, "I don't hear you singing…"

"Because I'm trying to help you – if you're as great as everyone makes you out to be, you should at least be able to sing."

"What are you getting at?" he said disdainfully.

"… Nothing."

"I don't believe you… You've been acting weird since you got here; why?"

"Weird? Is being nice weird?"

"For you it is."

"Oh, I follow you… Just because I've been nasty all those years I can't be nice to anyone?"

"No, but it's not like you. At all."

"You make it sound like I'm on drugs."

"Are you?"

"No," Seifer said, giving Squall a funny look.

"… Have you changed, then?"

"I can't say I have…"

"Then why so atypical all of a sudden?"

"I… I don't know. I've been feeling odd lately… C'mon, let's get practicing – Vee didn't teach me the song for nothing."

Squall nodded silently in agreement, and began the chorus again in a near whisper.

"There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando…"

Seifer put his arm around Squall's shoulders in an affable manner, and joined him in song.

"They were shining there for you and me, for liberty, Fernando…"

He shook his head, bringing himself back to reality as the doors opened.

Stepping out of the elevator, Squall was greeted by Snooter, Vee's petulant Leviathan, whom was coiled on the red carpet in a fashion similar to a snake. He glided over to the brunette gracefully, and gazed at him with his left eye.

Squall looked into the large dark eye reticently, unsure of what the serpent's intention was. The eye blinked, and a small slit of a yellow pupil focused on him, pervaded with wisdom, and experience. He could feel Snooter searching his soul, weighing every ounce of his being.

Squall sighed in relief as the beast gently pushed its head against his chest, and uttered in a lighthearted tone

I won't bite, you know.

His voice was hushed, deep; each word seemed to echo in the recesses of Squall's mind. He scratched Snooter's head, and the Leviathan gave a guttural chuckle.

What's got you so worried, my friend?

Squall thought back to yesterday, and replied quietly, "It's a long story."

The Leviathan gave a great laugh, and the small fangs hidden just inside the beak-like structure were fully exposed in the dim morning light.

I have time.

Squall made a move to protest, but Snooter just waited patiently, a serious-sort of grin spreading across his face that made the boy's spine tingle slightly seeing it.

He told Snooter the whole story, from the moment that he and Seifer had scarred each other to when the excommunicated combatant had returned, acting like a humanitarian in devastated country (to some extent, he added, feeling that was a meager choice of words). He looked up at the sentinel apprehensively, part of him hoping not to see the creature's twisted grin mocking him.

The beast's eyes looked past him to the window, where droplets of rain from the most recent storm cascaded down the glass without a sound. They narrowed suddenly, and his gaze descended to Squall.

I wouldn't say that he's changed; so much as he wants to make a statement to someone. Probably you, since you were normally rivals.

"But what is it?"

There's only one way to find out. If he doesn't tell you, you could always try analyzing him.

"Psychology isn't my area."

Pay attention to what he does, and you'll figure it out. Could be that he's taken a liking to you.

"Seifer? Fat chance."

The Leviathan chortled, and gave Squall a toothy smile.

Can't be positive.

Squall nodded passively, and Snooter regarded him quietly in a paternal manner. For a younger GF he seemed so… antiquated.

Feel any better, Squall?

"Little… Thanks anyway, Snooter."

The beast turned towards the office doors, glancing back briefly with a glint in his eye before opening them for Squall to step in.

I'm not always malicious.

Squall snickered quietly, and walked through the entrance, disclosing to himself that maybe Snooter did an okay job of making him feel better. Usually, he left that job to Rinoa, but she had been so busy with the others that he hadn't gotten any time to talk to her alone. Or anyone else, for that matter. But then, he supposed, that he didn't need to bother her with all of the anomalies in his life, even if she did want him to be more open.

The office was muted in the early hours, and Cid was in his chair, apparently dozing. Squall walked quietly up to him and cleared his throat, watching the Headmaster stir slowly into consciousness.

"Squall? Sorry, I nodded off… What can I help you with?"

"I wanted to know the day's agenda, Sir," he said simply, and Cid smiled at him.

"Wishing to be ever informed," he said amusedly, "Any concerns so far?"

"No," Squall lied, letting his gaze slip to away from Cid's.

Cid grinned to himself, knowing Squall well enough to discern how he was really feeling. "Everything will be great, you'll see. You'll do splendidly."

Squall rolled his eyes. That wasn't the only thing bothering him.

"Today, Vee has asked for you all to meet in the Quad – I have to announce that soon – at 10am. You'll get the gist of the video, and perform it, since she wants a more spontaneous result.. Too much at once?"

"Whatever," Squall said, and Cid took that as a sign of faith.

"Whatever have you," he chuckled, and the somber commander turned to leave.

"Oh, and Squall - ," Cid added.

The brunette turned sharply to look back at him.

"Have fun." Cid smiled possibly the cheeriest smile to ever have graced his features, and Squall felt just a very tiny bit of weight lift from his chest.

"Thanks, sir." He exited the office, closing the doors behind him.

Snooter glided close to the boy, and exhibited an utterly reptilian smile, that gave him chills.

Confident?

Squall didn't know exactly how to answer. "…"

The beast nodded, and said in a dulcet sigh

Everything will work out just right.

Squall looked up at him, and, for a fraction of a moment, smirked. Somehow, he trusted this creature's every word… like he entrusted his safety to his own guardian forces. Snooter seemed satisfied with this gesture, and stooped his head close to the ground.

Climb on. I'll give you a ride down to the Quad. I hear your friend Selphie has a Leviathan herself that she'd like me to meet.

With a snort, Squall stepped gingerly over Snooter's neck, and the beast gently lifted him off of the ground, and slithered into the elevator. It was a bit of a tight fit, but Snooter was careful to stay low enough that Squall wasn't too close to the ceiling. When they left the quiet and uneventful asylum of the elevator and headed on their way, Squall couldn't help but notice the amount of students that stopped and gawked at them. Snooter laughed out loud, a laugh that seemed almost impossible to have come from him – the laugh of a semi-god.

It's like they've never seen a human on a GF before.

Squall watched the scenery of the Garden pass them slowly, like so many acres passing a train… A train to Hell. He still wasn't sure he wanted to do this, but it didn't seem much like he had a choice anymore.

The Quad was abuzz with voices, and Squall knew they belonged to his friends, all on the cheerful side about this idea. He sighed to himself, and the beast carrying him just chuckled.

Have faith in yourself, friend. Things could always be worse.

"I've always heard that saying that makes them worse," Squall muttered, and Snooter just laughed heartily.

"Squall!" they heard Selphie shout, followed by Rinoa's voice.

"Over here!"

Snooter lowered himself closer to the ground for the boy to slide off, just as the flamboyant Selphie skipped up to them, trailed by her Leviathan. The two beasts came nose-to-nose, looking each other over carefully, probably having not seen another of their kind in ages.

"Squall! Are you ready?" Rinoa asked, wrapping her arms tightly around him. They hadn't gotten to see each other a lot lately, and she had missed him every second.

"… No."

"Oh, come on, you'll be great!"

"Yeah!" Selphie said enthusiastically, and Squall just nodded. He didn't think so himself, but agreeing with them made it easier to change the subject.

"Vee's waiting. We'll start filming in a little while," Rinoa tugged on Squall's arm, pulling him around the corner, and away from the stairs.

Vee was standing beside the stage, scribbling on a clipboard with an impatient expression on her face. She wasn't wearing her usual abundance of green today; instead she was in a pair of silky blue pants covered in snowflakes and flowers, that rippled over her bare feet like waterfalls. Her t-shirt was baggy and black, a lime green dragon-silhouette emblazoned across the front, and her arms were each adorned with many bands of different materials, all festooned with studs, grommets, et cetera.

"Morning," Squall mumbled as they approached her, and her eyes met his abruptly; narrowing.

"What's so great about it?" she snapped, and the three were taken aback.

"He didn't say 'good'," Irvine piped in with a laugh, and she just shook her head.

"Will you give me my slimers?"

"Your WHAT?" Irvine asked, and Vee pointed to the pair of green Converses on the stage next to where he sat.

"My shoes, my shoes! I call them that because they're green like Slimer, that ghost from The Ghostbusters."

"Yeah, sure," he said, tossing the pair of sneakers through the air to her.

"She hasn't had her coffee this morning," Selphie said to Squall, "And she's a little irritated when she doesn't."

"I didn't know you needed coffee to sustain your sanity," Irvine said.

Vee was focusing on adjusting her laces. "That's because I never told you, just like I never told you that my first and last car was a 1985 Buick Century named J. Denver Black, or that I have dreams narrated by Orson Wells."

"Ooookaaay…"

"Just get me a cup of Heavenly Hazelnut, not too much sugar, just enough milk that it's muddy colored." She said tiredly, and he hopped off the edge of the stage.

"Right on it."

"She appointed Irvy to be her assistant," Selphie said proudly.

"Squall," Vee called, waving him over.

Rinoa let go of him, and he walked slowly over to her, wondering what she had in mind for him.

"I trust Seifer told you that you're co-stars?"

He nodded.

"Good. Now here's what we're doing – read it, try to remember it, and do your best." She handed him a paper, and turned away to shout at a member of the Garden Faculty.

"Hey! Be careful with that backdrop!"

Irvine came up to her, a Styrofoam cup of steaming coffee in his hand. "Here you go – it's organic, too."

"Awesome," she said euphorically, taking a sip. "I could use a cheeseburger right now… But, I'll get it myself. Take a break, Irvine."

"Thanks!" he said, going back to his seat on the stage, Selphie joining him.

Squall studied the set circumspectly, while Vee continued to scribble and sip coffee.

It was cluttered with props, and a few smaller backdrops that didn't depict anything in specific; rather, they were painted light colors that were probably meant to neutralize brighter colors – the "Carnival-type colors" of the flowers that were everywhere. There were flowers on each of the platforms, there were flowers framing the smaller backdrops, there were flowers scattered around the fire pit in the beach scene…

He wanted to die, right then and there.

Vee down what was left of her coffee in one swig, and shouted possibly the most startling thing used with a blissful context that Squall had ever heard.

"ALRIGHT! LET'S START THIS SHOW!"

"Woohoo!" Selphie added from the stage.

Irvine managed to round up the rest of the laggards, and brought them to the Quad, where Vee was now standing next to boxes on boxes of vivid flowers (think Chiquita Banana meets Cirque Du Soleil in a field somewhere), and happily eating a bacon cheese burger that was almost dripping mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise.

"Oh, hey, everyone!" she said with her mouth full, before swallowing. "Ready to do this thing?"

There was a collective 'yeah' from the group.

"Okay. This is going to be… distinctive. Totally out of the ordinary, for your part of the world, anyway – with a plot to match. I chose to do this to the old school sound of ABBA; ABBA's 'Fernando', a song about, well, you should have figured that out already."

"So, what's the plan?" Zell asked, and Vee smiled deviously.

"Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Quistis, and Rinoa, you'll be the background singers for the chorus of the song. Raijin and Fujin, all I want you to do is dance – any random dance."

"DANCE?" Fujin questioned, apparently not too fond of the idea.

"Yeah."

"CAN'T DANCE."

"We're not so great at dancing, ya know," Raijin said.

"NO EXPERIENCE."

"That's okay, you'll be great!"

"OVERCONFIDENT," she said on a sour note.

"Try to see it through different eyes."

This merited a furious glare from Fujin, who cleared her throat sharply, and pointed to her eye patch.

"Ooh, sorry… Point of view - "

Fujin crossed her arms, with another livid frown.

"In a different way. Nonetheless, trust me, you'll do well. Seifer, Squall – come over here a minute."

The others chatted amongst themselves quietly, while Vee pulled the two aside.

"Here's the general plotline – tweak as you wish."

They nodded.

"These two peeps lived through a war together, some stuff went down, they're remembering. Make it believable. The stage directions are on the paper Squall has – get them memorized so I don't have to stop a lot." She grinned, and turned to stroll away, still working on the cheeseburger.

They stared at each other a little uncomfortably, before Seifer motioned to the main stage.

"Let's go and get ready for the beginning."

Author's Note: FABIO!

In about half an hour, the most of the cast was at ease with their jobs, and Vee was about ready to begin the filming. There were students everywhere, waiting for their opportunity to help out in the one scene. A student was manning the camera, and they just needed to make sure it was functioning properly before they started.

"Okay, can you see me?" she asked the student, jumping around a bit.

"Yeah."

"Good. How 'bout this? Wayne's World, Wayne's World! Party time! Excellent! … How do I look?"

"Totally crazy."

"Perfect! Everybody hit the set! You know where to go, and what to do!"

The lights went down, the music started, and Squall sat beside Seifer on a beach under the stars. Squall took a deep breath, and began to sing in a voice never heard by anyone before. The saintly voice of the Ice Prince.

Squall: Can you hear the drums, Fernando?

I remember long ago, another starry night like this.

In the firelight, Fernando

You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar.

I could hear the distant drums

And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar.

They both turned, and looked out towards the dark waters, and in the distance there was a island, with high mountains. In between the mountains was a city, the light from explosions glowing from all the way across the waters.

Seifer: They were closer now, Fernando.

Every hour, every minute seemed to last eternally.

I was so afraid, Fernando.

We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die.

And I'm not ashamed to say

The roar of guns and canons almost made me cry.

Squall, Seifer, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Quistis, and Rinoa: (the latter five dancing around)

There was something in the air tonight

The stars were bright, Fernando.

They were shining there for you and me

For liberty, Fernando.

Seifer was standing on a very flowery platform, lit by colorful lights, in the middle of a crowd under the night sky, smiling, a hand raised to greet them.

Squall was in the crowd to Seifer's right, watching with little emotion, while people around him cheered.

It cut to a quick scene of Fujin and Raijin dancing something similar to The Calypso in front of a light blue screen, decorated by flowers.

Though we never thought that we could lose

There's no regret.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

It went back to Seifer and Squall sitting by the fire on the beach again, looking deeply into each other's eyes.

Seifer: Now we're old and grey, Fernando.

Since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand.

Can you hear the drums, Fernando?

Do you still recall the night we crossed the Rio Grande?

I can see it in your eyes

How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land.

Squall, Seifer, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Quistis, and Rinoa: (the latter five dancing around behind Seifer)

There was something in the air tonight

The stars were bright, Fernando.

They were shining there for you and me

For liberty, Fernando.

Though we never thought that we could lose

There's no regret.

It cut to another scene of Fujin and Raijin dancing, but this time ShadowWolfFang suddenly burst through the blue backdrop. They stopped dancing, looked at her, and then started chasing her around the in the shot.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

Squall, Seifer, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Quistis, and Rinoa: (the latter five dancing around behind Seifer)

There was something in the air tonight

The stars were bright, Fernando.

They were shining there for you and me

For liberty, Fernando.

It cut back to Seifer standing on the platform again, still waving. This time, he spotted Squall in the crowd, studying him for a moment, and then smiled and held out his hand to pull Squall up there with him.

Though we never thought that we could lose

There's no regret.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

Squall, Seifer, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Quistis, and Rinoa: (the latter five dancing around behind Seifer)

There was something in the air tonight

The stars were bright, Fernando.

They were shining there for you and me

For liberty, Fernando.

Quistis points out to Rinoa, Zell, Selphie and Irvine that Fujin and Raijin were chasing around some girl Vee probably knew, and they jumped off and began chasing her too.

Though we never thought that we could lose

There's no regret.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

Squall and Seifer stood face to face on the platform, Seifer smiling sweetly, and Squall looking rather judgmental. Without warning, Seifer put a hand on the back of Squall's head, and pulled him forward into a passionate kiss. Squall was in complete disbelief. Although this was the last place he ever pictured himself, he didn't fight Seifer. Almasy was definitely making a statement.

And the others continued to chase around the ever-jovial ShadowWolfFang, who paused in front of the camera just long enough to give it a two-thumbs-up.

Yes, if I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

If I had to do the same again

I would my friend, Fernando.

Afterwards…

Vee clapped ecstatically, and Shadow, now standing next to her, began to jump up and down.

"Yay! The video's done!" she said, and Vee laughed.

"That was brilliant, everyone! Well done, well done!"

Quistis gave Squall a bewildered, but amused look. "What was up with that?"

Squall didn't look at her. "Whatever."

Rinoa hugged the grave Commander's arm. "I thought it was cute."

"Me too!" Selphie said, "If not a little creepy…"

"Who wants Sorceress Adel to make us pizzas?" Shadow shouted, and there was a collective 'YEAH!'

"Let's go to Timber!" Selphie said, and everyone ran off, except for Squall, Seifer and Vee.

"That was exactly what I wanted to convey about ballads in my video. Thank you." She hugged them both.

Seifer smiled. "Think nothing of it."

Squall was just annoyed. "…"

"I have to leave soon, but I'll be back to visit. It was great meeting you guys. And please – try to get along sometimes! You act really well together!" She said, starting to walk towards Snooter, whom was waiting patiently with a smile.

"Goodbye!" Seifer called after her, putting an arm around Squall's shoulders good-naturedly. "Give me a call whenever you've got a job to be done."

"Yeah, bye," Squall said, with a quick wave of his hand, not looking up from the ground.

"Whenever you think of green sneakers, think of me!" she called back, climbing on Snooter's back and riding off out of the Quad.

"What an oddball," Squall said gruffly, and Seifer just laughed.

"Come on, Squall. Cheer up. You'll be seeing a lot of me from now on."

The End.

"Don't you forget about me…

La lalala la lalala la lalala la la lala la…"

Well, that's the end of my first story on and about Final Fantasy VIII! I'm sad to see it end, but there will be other, better stories…

I don't like the end so much, but I may go back someday and fix that up a bit. Anywho, hope you like this crazy-assed story – I'm sure as Hell a crazy-assed person, so it makes sense.

And that Fabio note in the middle – I was watching "I Love the '90's" on VH1 (for, like, the twentieth time), and I couldn't help but jump off the computer chair and run to the TV to ogle him. I still think he's sexy.

I hope Shadow likes her cameo appearance!