Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII or its beautiful characters .. but I will one day ! x) It all belongs to SquareSoft. :salutes: -.-;;
Balamb Garden Amazing Race
Chapter Nine ll My Hope Is Built
"Trabia! Trabia!" Quistis, Zell, Selphie and Shizuka were all shouting at the television. They half-stood in their suspense, awaiting the answer.
"Someone push them over," Irvine remarked.
"...and the correct answer, of course ladies and gentlemen, is Trabia."
"Whoo, I'm on a roll, a bread roll!" Zell sang victoriously, collapsing back down onto his beanbag.
They were sprawled around the playroom, watching an evening game show on TV. The children had woken up hours ago, and the teenagers had been given free time for the rest of the day, or until Ellone specified otherwise.
"I don't like this channel," Seifer, who had gotten all the answers wrong so far, complained sourly. He looked around the playroom, "Isn't there anything else we can do?"
Before anyone could reply, the door to the kitchen was flung open in an energetic slid and Aerith bounded out, her arm linked with Yuna's. Both girls were grinning with patches of flour on their faces. Seifer immediately recoiled and put on a serene expression in case Aerith told him off for being sulky. (That girl was a mini Quistis, honestly.)
"Dinner!" the pink-clad girl announced blithely, over the last few shouts of, "Bluedragons! Bluedragons!" in reply to the TV program.
"Good, I'm starved," Squall said gratefully, stretching after sitting for half an hour, "What's for dinner?" he asked as he walked into the dining room, followed by the others.
"The kids made dinner tonight," Noah explained, poking his head from the kitchen. He, too, was covered in flour and sounded slightly hesitant. "We asked them what they wanted to cook and so they made - "
"Pancakes?" Shizuka said incredulously, stopping short.
And indeed, the round, flat, sweet cakes were piled up on two large plates in the middle of the table. Seifer went, "What the?" and Zell asked, "Man, is this breakfast or dinner?"
"Crybaby! This one's for you!" Tidus and Vincent held up a smaller plate holding two pancakes, decorated with cream, strawberries and chocolate topping into what had to be the ugliest smiley face Zell had ever seen.
He stared at it, "Uhh..."
"Zeeka, we made one for you too!" Vincent piped up as Tidus set Zell's one on the table. The little boy with the straight black hair held up another plate to a pleasantly-smiling Shizuka. They'd decorated this one nicely with the chocolate dribbled across in waves over the neatly planted strawberries and cream. Two halves of a strawberry were placed in the centre, forming a heart.
Shizuka beamed at the two boys, accepting the plate, "Aww, thank you."
Zell was grouchy, "Why'd I get such an ugly one?" He glanced around glumly as more kids popped out perkily, bearing laden plates for their leaders. Ellone came out, wearing a pale yellow apron and holding a large bowl of salad, which confused them even more.
"You can have them for dessert," she whispered apologetically over the kids' excited explanations of their creations, "We're just taking out leftovers from the fridge."
"Looked like they had a lot of fun," Squall commented, helping her with the salad while Rinoa squeezed her girls in grateful, tight hugs.
"We let them cook what they want every now and then," Ellone agreed, leading him back into the kitchen, "And if it's not exactly dinner food then we just set out leftovers on the table and that sorts it out. Once they wanted to make soft drink."
Squall raised his eyebrows as they walked back out with leftover pizza, "How did that work?"
Ellone smiled reminiscently, "We got them fizzy water and they mixed up their own flavours. It didn't matter to them; they loved it. Vince and Yuffie made a peanut-butter fizzy drink."
He tried not to look put off, "Interesting."
She chuckled and at that moment Yuffie ran into her, wrapping her little arms around her legs.
"Ellie, Irvy and Sefie likes our pancakes!
"That's wonderful, Yuffie!" Ellone exclaimed, bending down to squeeze the little girl, making her giggle, "We're about to start eating, why don't you go sit down at the table?"
She nodded, then said tentatively, "Ellie?"
"Yes, Yuffie?"
"I love yoo," she said with a big smile, then as she bounded off to join the table she glanced back at Squall and added, "An' yoo too, Batman!"
Squall looked after her with a vague smile, then watched the room at large as the children scrambled on chairs and admired each other's food. There really were some qualities children possessed that adults, sadly, did not have anymore.
"...and so I fell back down onto the ground, landing on both feet," Zell finished dramatically, looking around impressively at the circle of kids sitting on the beds.
"Boring," Tidus yawned, "Zeeka, tell us another story!"
Zell made a face at him. The children were sitting in a ring, clad in their warm pyjamas and a few of them clutching onto soft toys. The baby-sitters were sitting with them, a few of the orphans in their laps.
The children's bedroom was probably the largest room in the house. It was long and wide and had five beds lined up on each side with plenty of space for end-trunks and grand wardrobes that stood near the door. The walls were a pale yellow and the wooden floorboards were covered with so many fluffy rugs they were barely visible. The large, rectangular window had its animal-printed curtains drawn, covering the outside darkness. The room was full of warmth and colour, very different to the grey, stone bedrooms Squall and the others had slept in.
"Oi, you two," Seifer barked, suddenly stern, leaning forward to Reno and Rufus, "Did you brush your teeth?"
The boys tried to conceal their guilty smiles with innocent looks.
Seifer pointed irately at the door, "What did I tell you soldiers had to have? Clean teeth! Now go and brush them right now."
"Aww, but you didn't brush yours," whined Reno, his vibrant red head lying against Quistis' shoulder, "If you're such a good soldier then you should brush yours too."
"Yeah, be a good leader, ma'am!"
Seifer sighed heavily while the others snickered and Reno and Rufus smiled angelically up at him. "Alright, let's go brush our teeth together..." he agreed forlornly, sliding off the bed. He glared at Irvine and Squall who were stifling their laughter as he passed, and the kids bounded off the bed and followed him eagerly.
"Wait for us, ma'am!" they called out cheekily.
"Why do they call Seifer ma'am?" Selphie wondered out loud.
Quistis giggled, as did several of the younger girls, "They find it funny."
"Are you sure it's not because of his feminine facial features?" Zell asked with a straight face while they heard the bathroom taps being turned on.
"I heard that!" Seifer yelled from the bathroom, and then while they all cracked up laughing, "Ouch, stop poking me with your toothbrush!"
Half an hour later most of the children were asleep. Only two lamps were left on as Squall explained to Zack in a whisper why people had to sleep, and Shizuka and Zell both sat by Vincent's side and crooned lullabies to the stubborn boy.
Irvine and Selphie tucked in Yuna and Yuffie, who was sucking her thumb, kissing the girls on the forehead and looking at them fondly.
"Aren't you so proud of them?" Selphie whispered motheringly, her green eyes glimmering. Irvine smiled affectionately at the little girls as they slept soundly and he led a starry-eyed Selphie away.
"Quisty?" a sleepy Rufus said tentatively as she stroked his hair.
"Yes?" a smiling Quistis asked tenderly.
"Did you like our pancake?"
Her smile widened, "Of course I did. It was very beautiful and delicious."
"Good," he murmured satisfactorily, his eyes shut now and his voice lowering, " 'Cos we put lots of work into it... the flour... an' eggs... an'..."
At last the final few children had surrendered to sleep and the teenagers did a check around the room to make sure they were all tucked in, comfy and warm with their cherished soft toys curled up beside them. Irvine closed the door behind him with as little sound as possible, and then they all sat together in the living room.
"They're all asleep," Irvine announced, pride in his voice.
Noah grinned from the couch, "You're all experts now."
"You've done a wonderful job," Ellone agreed in a very pleased voice as she passed around mugs of hot chocolate, "They children are really happy, not to mention exhausted. That's always a good thing."
"They're easy to entertain," Rinoa said dismissively as if their baby-sitting efforts were nothing.
"Yes, very easily amused, aren't they?" Ellone chuckled, her brown eyes glittering, "And a lot of the times, more enjoyable company than adults. They're so innocent, sweet and pure... you can be sure of no deceit or malice lingering in their minds."
They all nodded, looking thoughtful, as they drank their hot chocolate.
"I wouldn't wager that on Tidus, though," Zell said darkly, and they all laughed at him.
"Oh, come on, Zell, I'm sure he's grown on you," Rinoa teased.
He snorted, crossing his arms defiantly, "Yeah right."
"Just because he calls you 'Crybaby'," Shizuka said hopelessly, shaking her head.
"Hey, that's what I called you," Seifer realised, his emerald eyes lighting up with renewed vigor, "Where is that boy, I need to salute him."
"I'm sure you do, ma'am," Zell said sarcastically, while they all chuckled comfortably over their mugs of hot chocolate. Ellone smiled and shook her head slightly. Some things, apparently, never changed.
After they swapped tales of the baby-sitting day and chuckled at the orphans' antics, Quistis asked about the older kids and where they would go for schooling and education.
Ellone and Noah glanced at each other and she sighed a little.
"Yeah, we've been thinking about sending Zack and some of the others to Balamb Garden," she said with some regret, setting down her mug, "But it's not easy."
"It's pretty far away," Selphie said seriously.
"Well, yeah, but it's not just that. I mean, everywhere is pretty faraway from here," Noah replied reasonably, "It's hard thinking about separating the kids. We try to avoid talking about it, but at the same time, it's inevitable..."
He trailed off. All of them went, "Oooh," in comprehension and deflated, looking dejected.
"They all seem pretty close," Irvine murmured, "It would be tough for them to say goodbye."
Ellone nodded wistfully, "Zack, Aerith, Tidus and Vince are almost five... that's half of them already. They wouldn't want to go... especially Tidus, he wouldn't bear leave Yuna behind..."
Shizuka smiled amusedly, "What's up with those two?"
Ellone and Noah chortled, the atmosphere lightening up.
"He's always had a soft spot for her. It's rather cute, actually," Ellone said bemusedly, while Noah shook his head.
"Well, we all know Tidus likes to prank people - " ("Here, here," mumbled Zell) " - even Zack sometimes, although they're partners in crime. But he's never done anything to Yuna and he'd never lay a finger on her. He likes to look out for her, although he's defiant about it. Yuna was the last child to come, and she was pretty shy. Lucky for her Tidus holds her in affection."
"What happened to her family?" Selphie asked curiously.
"Her parents died of a car accident," Ellone answered quietly.
"Oooh..."
"So are any of them here because of the war?" Seifer asked, hoping he sounded casual though he felt incredibly guilty as he remembered his part during the fight between the SeeDs and the sorceress. Quistis was not fooled, however, and gave him a small smile, laying a hand on his arm.
"Well, Cathy is something like the great niece of Vinzer Deling," Noah replied, thinking hard, "Her parents vanished after he was murdered. They were most likely killed as well, but their bodies were never found."
Squall and Rinoa went very quiet. It was hard to imagine that sweet little girl having to endure so much suffering already.
"I think Tidus and Zack lost their parents to the war," Ellone said softly, watching their crestfallen faces, "Aerith, Vincent and Rufus came from the White SeeD Ship. They were the youngest ones left. All the others went to Trabia and Balamb Garden. Reno was dropped off here by a relative, they said his mother died of illness."
The teenagers sat motionlessly as the fire crackled, the flames flickering faint shadows across the warm room.
"And Yuffie?" Irvine was almost afraid of asking.
Noah and Ellone exchanged looks again.
"Her parents were a little too young and bewildered to know what to do with her after she was born," Ellone said slowly, sounding as though she was choosing her words carefully, "She was brought up by her grandparents for about three years, then she was sent here."
So much sadness, so much devastation in the world... Rinoa lifted her head to behold her friends' mournful expressions as they sat, mutely, looking at a fixed point on the carpet. Sadness began to fill her as she looked at them. They had all lost their families as well; how could she forget? They had almost lost each other, too... thank goodness they were together again.
And as she thought that, a small smile crept across her face. There was, after all, hope.
"As friends, don't forget one another. As friends, believe in one another. Believe in your friends' existence, and they'll also believe in yours. To be friends, to like one another, and to love one another... you can't do these things alone. You need somebody."
Rinoa let her smile widen, reaching her chocolate-brown eyes. From what she could make of it, the President of Esthar could be a really silly, carefree man, but there was no doubt he knew the incomparable power of friendship and love.
"But they are rebuilding the Centra city," Ellone broke the doleful silence so that they all came out of their reverie and looked back up again.
"They are?" Squall asked, looking surprised.
"All the nations have pulled together to rebuild it, especially Galbadia and Esthar," Noah told them with a smile, "It'll be wonderful. Legend goes the old Centra city was beautiful."
"It's not going to be another Esthar, is it?" Zell asked, sounding a little offhand. He'd been a bit bamboozled by the modernised city with all the high-rise buildings and its sparkling parlour. It was much too flashy to be considered homey.
"No," Ellone said with a musical laugh, while her husband laced his hand into hers and she leant against him contentedly, "It's going to be a Deling City with a Winhill touch. All the nice cottages out on the edge in a peaceful area with the commercial and business front in the centre. They're..." she glanced at Noah, who beamed at her, "They're going to open a public school. We're hoping to send the kids there."
"Oh!" Shizuka let out a little gasp, "But that would be great! I mean, they could be adopted by families within the area or - "
" - or even just stay here, all together," Ellone nodded joyously, "That would mean we wouldn't have to separate them, or even if we did, they wouldn't be too far away."
"That's wonderful," said Irvine approvingly, his brown eyes crinkled up in joy. All around him they were nodding jubilantly in agreement.
"And to be honest, we didn't really want to send them to Garden," the young matron of the orphanage continued softly, her husband resting his head in the crook between her neck and shoulder, "We know there's a purely school-unit in there as well as military training, but as orphans they'll grow up, surrounded by SeeDs and students training to be SeeDs, and chances are slim they won't pick that path as well."
"It's because there doesn't seem to be anything else we can do," Quistis said simply with a half-shrug, "You go to Garden... it's a military academy. Once you're old enough to decide you just pick the SeeD course because it seems like the only thing to choose. Garden doesn't open up many options in other careers."
"Exactly," Ellone replied gently, "There are enough soldiers in the world already... it's a little bit more peaceful now, we should concentrate on giving this generation a chance to do what they truly like."
Selphie nodded vigorously, "Well said, Elle! I'm glad they'll have a real, carefree school to go to... Garden is great, of course, but it can be a grueling place to grow up in."
Those who had experienced living in Garden nodded grimly.
A lull seemed to descend over them as the fire crackled, merrily with snaps and pops, the room full of warmth and contentment. They sat, drawn and huddled together in pairs, around the cosy room in a soft, reflective silence. Night pushed on deeper outside, the chilling Centra air unfelt by the inhabitants of the little stone orphanage.
Rinoa felt deliciously warm and smiled luxuriously to herself as she buried her head closer into Squall's shoulder. He slid his hand down to hold onto hers, making her smile even more. She muffled a gentle giggle, remembering what she'd told him; "Squall, you're the one who gives me the most comfort. Comfort and happiness... and annoyance and disappointment, too!"
The disquiet of that night on the ship made her smile waver. She had been so scared of what the future held for her, a dangerous sorceress. She'd wanted time to stand still, to stay there with Squall, to hold onto him forever with no worry for what was to come...
Her smile crept back onto her face again.
Things would always brighten up. No matter how dark and gloomy it may be, there would be a ray of light, probably tiny and feeble but still always present, just lurking out of sight in the murky marshes of dismay and doubt...
Rinoa's heart lifted at the conversation they just had. The children had a beautiful, long journey ahead of them. They were happy now, and happy they would remain, for wherever their friends were, there lay home.
"To be friends, to like one another, and to love another... you can't do these things alone. You need somebody.
You need love and friendship for this mission. And the courage to believe it."
Yup... Rinoa thought sleepily, as her eyes shut and the sweet smile was still graced upon her lips.
There was always definitely hope.
"C'mon, Selph..."
"No."
"Sef, we have to leave."
"No."
"Selphie, I'll fire you."
"I don't care! I'm not leaving," the brunette shot at them all defiantly. She had her arms wrapped around a white pillar and was refusing to let go, even as they all crowded around her and took turns persuading her to leave.
"It's a few minutes till nine," Squall said loudly, giving the others a look that meant, 'Ignore her, she'll come', "Let's go down now."
A short while later Selphie had let go of the pillar and was miserably trudging after them down to the beach. Yuna and Yuffie both jumped when they saw her and flew at her.
"Sefie! Irvy said yoo weren't gon' say goodbye to us!" Yuna said tearfully, hugging her tightly.
"Tattletale Irvy, I'm tellin' on yoo. ELLIE!" Yuffie yelled at the top of her lungs, also hugging Selphie fiercely, "You'd never leave without sayin' bye, would yoo, Sefie?"
Selphie managed a smile as a timid Irvine wandered up, "Of course not. Now you girls behave. Promise me?"
"Promise!"
Across past some driftwood and the remains of a sandcastle was Quistis hugging both Reno and Rufus, their faces temporarily robbed of their roguish happiness.
"Bye, bye, Quisty," sniffled Reno.
"We'll miss you."
"Send us a chocobo."
Feeling unnaturally saddened herself, Quistis released them very slowly and stood back up after murmuring little comforting sayings to them. Seifer stepped up closer and the boys straightened up.
"The time has come for us to part, soldiers," Seifer began in solemn tones, pacing around on the sand with his hands held behind his back, "I trust that you will remember all that I have taught you in the years to come." He stopped pacing suddenly and said in a sheepish voice, "But promise me that you won't become soldiers. We don't need anymore in the world. Rufus - pick up the paintbrush and go crazy. I'll buy all your artwork. And Reno - take a picture of the moon for me, will you?"
They stared at him apprehensively for a split second, both still looking dejected at this time of farewell. Then Reno and Rufus flew up to him, all the dignity gone from their stance.
"Yes, sir!" they yelled through muffled sobs, burying their faces in his trench coat.
Seifer blinked as the two boys flung their arms around his middle. He looked up at Quistis delightedly and mouthed, "They called me sir!"
"Hey, guys... don't cry. I'm serious, guys... c'mon, now... you're going to make me cry..." he mumbled half-heartily, patting their backs and trying to lift their heads.
Aerith was a gay figure, attired in her pink dress and red mini jacket, as she had made Rinoa and Squall promise that they would write to her. Cathy was cheered up by this too, and her first few tears were stifled quickly by Squall and Rinoa. She, however, refused to be put down by Squall so he had to carry her. Zack and Aerith teamed up and was firing a hundred and one reasons as to why they should not leave.
"Oh, Aerith, Zack... I'd love to stay," Rinoa said wistfully, brushing away a loose brown lock from the little girl's face, "We'll come visit, okay?"
"And you'll write."
"Yes, and we'll write."
"Everyday?"
And even further past aforementioned driftwood and sandcastle were the pink team. Having hugged and said tearless goodbyes already, the boys had blindfolded Shizuka and were engaged in a gleeful game of "Beat Up Zell".
"It's all so sad, isn't it?" Ellone said sentimentally, surveying the beach with shining eyes, "We should really organise to have them come by here more often. The kids love them."
"Yeah, and all the more time for us..." Noah said slyly. Ellone spared him a look of disdain.
Nine o'clock came and it was time for the Amazing Race competitors to depart the stone orphanage they held so dear to their hearts. Bandanas and backpacks on, and armed with their first challenge, they stood in a line along the shore of the beach, ready to run back out to the Centra terrain. With the cloudless blue sky above their heads and the idle warmth of the sun on their faces, they were reminded of their first day of the race.
"I'm going to miss them," murmured Rinoa with a watery smile as they glanced back at the kids, crowded a few feet behind and looking at them, marginally more cheerful.
"Bye bye, big people!"
"We'll miss yoo!"
"Don't cry too much, Zelly!" Tidus hooted over the noise.
"Did he just call me Zell?" the owner of the name wondered aloud, amidst the cheers and yells of all the other children, waving frantically. Tidus, the girls noticed with amusement, was holding the hand of a tearful Yuna.
"See you guys," Noah said with a wink, shaking all their hands, "Good luck to you all. May the best team win."
"Take care of yourselves," Ellone said anxiously, moving down the line and hugging them very quickly, "Zell, Seifer - I feel like I'm admonishing Zack and Tidus - don't do anything reckless, will you? Girls, look after the boys, and boys - you look after the girls. It was very nice meeting you, Shizuka."
"Goodbye, Sis!"
"Thanks for having us!"
"Okay..." Ellone stood back to the front of the children, holding onto the hands of Aerith and Cathy, "The Balamb Garden Amazing Race is about to start again... on your marks... get set..."
"GO!" the children shouted over her, then whooped and made a racket as they tore open their challenges.
B.G. Amazing Race
Challenge
32. Make your way to Trabia.
The Amazing Race competitors tore off up the hill, and the children ran after them like a wave, still cheering and yelling nonsense, jumping up and down and waving their little arms in the air. The teenagers turned their heads to smile and wave back at them, their hearts tugging with emotion and affection.
Well, Hyne strike me with a lightning bolt, Seifer thought with a grim smile as he sprinted up the hill, But I'm going to miss their little high-pitched voices and non-stop chatter.
A/N: (sniffles) I was very sad when I had to leave my little children behind. I was working at a daycare centre for work experience and they grow on you so much. (Ha, and you thought I have children?) Aaand Trabia's up ahead! xD We're getting nearer to the end of the race! Puahahaha. I'm terribly excited, I wish I was on this race with them. Once again, thanks for the reviews. I know I'm super lucky to be getting them, so I curtsey for you. xD I have a most persistent desire to play FF7 yet I can't seem TO FIND IT ANYWHERE. (seethes) Stupid stores that don't sell PlayStation games anymore, I hope they go rot in a pot of .. jelly .. Bah. Goodbye m'dears! - msq.