A/N: OK, I know I promised the whole barging into Lunatic Pandora scenario for this time, but as I began to write, other things that needed to be done first came up. So we'll keep that for the following chappy, mmmkay?
Watch out for the Friends cameo in this one! :-p
A second chance
By: Sickness in Salvation
Chapter 37: Promise?
- "So… are you gonna write back to her, Zell?"
- "No."
- "Aw, why not? Are you just gonna let her 'prayers to Hyne' go to waste?"
- "It's none of your damned business!"
- "Oh, c'mon! We're all a family here… Ooh! You should write to your mom and let her know!"
- "Seifer, knock it off already…" Quistis sighed.
The seven teenagers were still seated around the table inside one of the kitchens of the Presidential Palace, finishing up their breakfast and coffee.
For the past half an hour, the tall blond had done nothing more than tease Zell mercilessly after the revelation that he had received a letter from the cute librarian with whom he'd been flirting for quite some time now. Well… he had to stop roaring with laughter after a fair five minutes, but during the remainder of time, he hadn't stopped the taunting for a single second. And finally someone had decided to intervene…
- "I'm just making small talk here…" Seifer replied, shrugging.
- "Oh yeah? Wanna make small talk about you and Quistis?" Zell quipped at him.
- "Hey!" Quistis protested "I just defended you here!"
- "And there's nothing to tell, wuss." Seifer growled at the shorter blond "We're together now and that's all."
- "Can I be Maid of Honor?!" Selphie squealed all of a sudden "And Irvy the Best Man!"
- "What?!" Seifer and Quistis said in unison, both turning to face Selphie wide-eyed.
- "Hey, wait a sec there!" Rinoa protested "I wanna be the Maid of Honor!"
- "I know them both much longer than you do. I'm the only logical choice." Selphie retorted proudly.
Seifer and Quistis shared a look full of utter bewilderment.
- "True, but at this rate I'm never going to fit in…" Rinoa replied, pouting "I just keep feeling like the fifth wheel of the carriage…" she went on, letting out an overly dramatic sniff "All of you know each other from kids and… I-I-I…"
- "That kind of tricks won't work on me, Heartilly!" Selphie snapped, pointing a threatening finger at Rinoa "I taught you all this!"
- "Darn…" Rinoa growled, crossing her arms.
- "Oh! OH!" Selphie exclaimed "I got it!!! You can be the Maid of Honor!" she addressed Rinoa.
- "Really?!" the brunette squealed.
- "Yeah! I just got another idea!" Selphie replied "I can organize their wedding reception!"
Seifer buried his face in his palms.
- "I'm not hearing this-I'm not hearing this-I'm not hearing this…" he muttered.
- "It's perfect!" Selphie went on, completely un-phased "When we're through with all this I can put the entire thing together with the Festival Committee! I can have the band play-"
- "Selphie-" Quistis began.
- "And I'll sing-"
- "Am I the only one who finds this situation beyond plain weird and disturbing?" Zell mumbled.
- "I never believed I'd ever say this in my entire life," Seifer began "But I agree with the Wuss." he added, earning a glare for Zell.
- "And we can invite the entire Garden and maybe all of BalambCity since it's the Commander's wedding…" Selphie went on.
- "Selphie," Quistis said, sighing "Don't you think you're a few steps ahead of us?" she added, grinning awkwardly.
- "Yeah!" Seifer growled "Big, zero moon gravity steps!"
- "Oh, you don't want a big reception?" Selphie asked "That's OK; we can make it a small one. Ooh! Maybe it'll even be more roman-"
- "Selphie!" Quistis snapped "We don't want a wedding."
- "Period." Seifer added through gritted teeth.
- "Why not?" Selphie asked, visibly downcast.
- "Because we're frickin' EIGHTEEN!" Seifer hissed at her "And we just got together last night!"
- "Eighteen's not too young." Selphie insisted "Some people even have kids at that age…" she went on and suddenly her eyes became very large "Awww!" she cooed "Think of how cuuuuuute your kids are gonna be!"
- "Hyne, now we're having kids…" Seifer whimpered, burying his head into the crook of Quistis's neck.
- "Oh yeah…" Rinoa agreed with Selphie, coking her head to the side "They'll be like little angels… Blond… With either blue or green eyes… And if they get Quistis's pale skin, too…"
- "Umm… Excuse me…"
All seven heads turned towards the double doors, where a maid stood rather timidly. They hadn't even heard her enter the room.
- "Terribly sorry to interrupt you," she began "But President Loire had requested for all of you in his private office in about an hour."
- "Thank you; tell him we'll be there." Squall spoke for the first time, nodding at the girl, who left.
- "Right…" Irvine said, sighing "Better go get ready then…" he added, getting up.
- "It's," Seifer began, checking his watch "Almost 9 o' clock. So Assembly Hour is in the Main Hall at 1000 hours."
- "Sir, yes sir!" Selphie said, mock-saluting him.
Seifer shot her one of his deadly glares and shook his head in disbelief. He wrapped his arm around Quistis's shoulder and made a move towards the door, when he felt a tap on his back.
- "So can I sing at your wedding reception?" Selphie asked him when he turned around.
Letting out an exasperated grunt, Seifer grabbed Quistis from the wrist and began walking away. The young Instructor almost tripped a fair few times, seeing as Seifer's footing was a great deal wider than hers, especially when he strode forward like that. Selphie's persistent pleas, mixed with her chirpy laughter followed them all the way towards the rooms.
Seifer suddenly came to a stop.
- "You go inside my room," he began, pointing at the door in front of them "I'll go bring your clothes from your place." he added, snatching the key to her room from her palm.
- "Why can't I go get dressed and come find you here?" Quistis asked while unlocking the door, puzzled. Seifer smirked and leaned down to her.
- "Cause I don't want you getting dressed yet…" he whispered to her ear and rose back up to full height.
He gave her a wink and turned his heel, as she blushed from head to toe and grinning, closed the door behind her.
Seifer run a hand through his hair and made his way towards Quistis's room.
- "Seify, Seify, SEIFY!"
Groaning, Seifer stopped in his tracks and wheeled around. Not only did he detest that nickname, but he was in no mood for Selphie's further announcements of wedding plans either.
- "What?" he asked, crossing his arms.
- "You didn't answer me!" Selphie protested.
- "Answer what?" Seifer asked wearily.
- "Can I sing at your wedding reception?"
Seifer was on his way back to his room, carrying Quistis's clothes and some underwear. His head was about to split into a million pieces and his palms itched rather badly, always a sign that he felt the adamant need to beat someone into a pulp. Selphie Tilmitt was still on his trail and had not shut up for a single second…
- "Aw, c'mon! I'll even do it for free!"
- "I DON'T CARE!" Seifer roared for the millionth time "Go sing at Puberty Boy and Rinoa's wedding!"
- "But they're not even together yet…" Selphie said.
- "Fuck, if I didn't l-" Seifer began. Selphie's eyes widened and she let out a squeal "Like," Seifer went on, narrowing his eyes at her "Quistis so much, I would have broken it off this instant just to make you shut up…"
- "C'mon Seify! Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please…"
Seifer landed a hard knock with his balled fist onto the door in front of him.
- "Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please…"
Quistis soon appeared behind it and Seifer rushed inside, banging the door behind him closed.
- "I'm not gonna leave till you say 'Yes'!" Selphie persisted, crossing her arms, standing outside the door.
- "GO. AWAY!" came Seifer's muffled roar from inside the room.
- "I won't till you say 'Yes'!!!"
- "WE'RE FUCKING BUSY!!!"
A wicked grin crossed Selphie features. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth widely, beginning to sing at the top of her lungs.
We thought Selphie would leave…
But she just stayed and stayed.
That's right; here 'till night…
And Seifer will never get la-
The door swung open.
- "FINE!" Seifer screamed "You can sing at our fucking wedding! Happy now?!"
- "Thank you!" Selphie said, grasping onto her chest with both palms "Does this mean you're gonna propose?!"
- "That's right!" Seifer quipped "I was just about to do it, but you ruined the whole atmosphere. But I'll give it another try if you leave… Now."
- "Ooh, this is soooo exciting!" Selphie squealed, turning her heel and disappearing down the corridor.
Rolling his eyes, Seifer slammed the door shut once again.
He turned and faced Quistis who was sitting cross-legged onto the bed.
- "You could have been a tad nicer, you know…" she said, grinning. Seifer arched a fair eyebrow "OK, fine, I won't say a thing… Did you get my clothes?"
- "Yup." Seifer said, tossing her peach battle gear onto the bed "And these…" he added, smirking.
He held up a pair of red underwear, dangling from his two index fingers. Quistis's cheeks flushed a zest shade of pink.
- "Give those back!" she protested, springing up from bed to grab them.
Seifer's smirk widened even more and he hid the skimpy pieces of clothing behind his back.
- "I want to see them worn first…"
Laguna stood before the large window behind his office, arms crossed behind his back. His blank stare followed the people of his city, spreading before his very feet, going by their daily routine. This was one of his daily leisure activities and he had come to familiarize with many of his fellow people's morning habits. But today, their behavior seemed different. The pride and vibrancy that had always graced their very essence, even the way they walked, was now completely absent. They seemed like empty shells, fulfilling their duties with the same reverence, but somewhat mechanically, as if they took no pleasure whatsoever even to roam the streets of the beautiful city of Esthar.
He sighed.
Even though his origins were Galbadian, he had never felt the slightest bit of attachment to his country. It was after all his country that had sent him away to war, scarring his mind and soul with images to ghastly to discuss, much less bring to mind again. Laguna Loire had never been a soldier. Laguna Loire was a self-proclaimed dreamer and wanderer, never staying in one place for long, but traveling from continent to continent in search of… something. In search of himself. In search of anything to quench his undying thirst to experience it all. Which was another reason due to which he lacked of devotion for his country, but also any other that had occasionally been somewhat of a 'home' to him.
His 'home' was Esthar now. He had grown to love the high-tech city that had so kindly embraced him, which was why he was so saddened to see it crumble to pieces. And by whom? By none other than his former and primary 'home'.
He sighed yet again.
He knew that only one place in the entirety of Gaia had been his true home. It was the place where his wounded body and heart had recovered under the care of a woman. And not just any woman, but the one that had given him trust, shelter and her love. A love that would outshine the one that had broken his heart and mend it so strongly, that not even death could have possibly torn it apart again. If there was one trait that Laguna had learned to call his own during his times as a soldier, it was the ability to hide his true feelings. His cheerful, innocent façade had always been a perfect mask to conceal the hurt that hid inside, and not even Raine, the woman of his life, had managed to unlock and reveal that part of his character. He was much stronger than he let other people know. And this was the reason why his smile never faltered, even when he placed his lips upon a cold tombstone, whispering the eternal 'Goodbye' to her.
There was so much he had been wanting to show her; she would have been so proud of him right now, for the turn his life had taken. He only hoped that she'd be able to see it all, through the eyes of the one person that kept them together until now. He only hoped that these eyes would once see him the way he wished they would. But above all, he hoped that these eyes would help him bring the world back together again…
- "…Laguna?"
The middle-aged man tensed up the slightest bit at the sudden touch of someone's palm on his shoulder. He relaxed and turned around, only to find one of his loyal peers, Kiros Seagill, looking at him intently. His face didn't hold the usual 'pleasant sarcasm' with which the man was accustomed to addressing him, but his gaze seemed to pierce right through his own, and Laguna was more than certain that he need not phrase a single word for his life long friend to be able to read his thoughts like an open book.
Kiros forced out a warm smile.
- "They're here." he said.
Laguna's handsome features were illuminated by a true beam.
- "Let them in."
He turned around and ran a hand through his hair, letting out a big sigh. Behind him, the shadow of a bulky frame approached him and a pair of large hands began adjusting his clothes. Laguna grinned at his mute friend, Ward Zaback, who gave him a hearty slap on the back and stood in reverent silence behind him.
Kiros slid the door open and one by one, the small group of seven that the President had been expecting stepped inside the room, all stopping at attention before him. He noticed that Rinoa, the girl in blue threw a quick awkward glance at the others before correcting her pose. Laguna's eyes traveled from the tallest blond of them in one edge all down to the shortest brown-haired boy in the other, where they stopped and flickered the tiniest bit in hidden excitement.
- "Welcome again!" Laguna said heartily "I suppose no introductions are necessary since we all made our brief acquaintances last night, eh?" he asked grinning "By the way, I don't know if Ellone told you, but she said that it was you who she was sending into our minds. It was like there were some kind of waves running through my head. They gave us so much power during battle. We thought they were some kind of faeries flying over us."
Next to Laguna, Kiros cleared his throat audibly.
- "Erm… right." said the President, grinning "If we weren't in a state of emergency, I'd talk some more, but…Well, whatever. Let's talk." he decided eventually, earning a sigh from Kiros "What do you wanna know?"
Seifer and Squall turned to look at each other for a brief moment. Seifer shrugged, resting his elbow on Quistis's shoulder, who was standing right next to him. The girl threw his a glare and shook it off, telling him with her eyes that this was not a place he should act casual. Seifer sent her a kiss and turned away, making her roll her eyes in exasperation.
- "We want to know about the mission to defeat Ultimecia." Squall said suddenly, to give no further continuation to the couple's slight bickering.
- "Ah, straight to the heart of the matter. Just like a workaholic SeeD." Laguna said, grinning.
His remark, however, earned him an icy glare from Squall, who seemed in no humorous mood that morning.
- "Iz it my turn?"
Seifer wheeled around towards the door, where the familiar 'lisp-full' voice had come from. He smirked. As expected, the miniscule form of Dr. Odine entered the grand office, always clad in the most disturbing-looking tutu mankind could ever create. The blond's gaze met that of the renown scientist's and he waved at him somewhat mockingly. Dr. Odine's eyes widened and his pace quickened towards the desk in front of which Laguna stood.
- "Yeah. Make it short and easy to understand." Laguna replied.
- "I will talk however I vant!" Odine snapped, like a stubborn child. He recomposed himself and turned towards the seven friends again "Egh, Sorceress Edea told me everything."
- "How's Edea?" Seifer piped in.
- "She iz fine." Odine replied "She iz resting in her quarters right now. Anyway…Sorceress Ultimecia comes from ze future to possess ze sorceress of present day. Meaning she leaves her body in ze future and sends only her consciousness here. Does zat sound familiar to you?"
- "It's like when Ellone sent out consciousness back to the past." Squall replied firmly.
- "You're a smart one!" Odine admired.
At that remark, Seifer let out a rather audible scoff. Squall chose not to let his attention waver and kept his gaze locked upon the tiny genius before them.
- "My first guess was zat someone in ze future with an ability like Ellone was sending ze sorceress back here to our time." Odine went on "But no! Zat is not ze answer. So how does ze sorceress come back to this time…? You vant to hear how?"
- "If we want to hear, he asks…" Seifer said, shaking his head in disbelief "What the hell do you think we're here for?! Bake fuckin' cookies?!"
Laguna concealed his chuckle behind a furious looking Odine.
- "I can get ze shyinking machine out here in seconds!" the latter hissed, in what he hoped was a threatening tone.
- "What shrinking machine?" Seifer quipped "The one whose beam accidentally fell upon you?"
Quistis stepped hard onto his foot.
- "Seifer!" she hissed "Show some Hyne damn respect!"
- "Oh no…" Odine said, a Mephistophelian smirk crossing his lips "Zis machine iz not meant to shyink ze height of a person…"
Seifer's eyes widened and he unconsciously crossed his legs.
- "I told you before… Insult me again and you shall suffer ze results!" Odine went on.
- "I don't think Seifer would be the one mostly suffering the results of such a machine, doc…" Irvine mumbled, sending the entire room but three people into laughter.
Seifer's eyes shone with rage, Quistis blushed from head to toe, while Squall became crimson faced for entirely different reasons.
- "Could we get back to the plan if you please!" Squall snapped.
- "Az I waz saying…" Odine continued, now grinning broadly "Zere iz no-one in ze future with Ellone's ability. Eghhhhhh! I kept this a secret to surprise you… It iz because of me, Odine!"
- "Why am I not surprised?" Seifer muttered, just loud enough for Quistis to hear.
- "I researched Ellone's power long ago." Odine went on "I made out a pattern from ze electric current running through Ellone's brain. Once ze pattern was determined, it was easy to mechanize. It may only be a toy right now, but in ze time of Ultimecia, it iz an impressive working machine! Which means there iz a machine which imitates Ellone's power. It iz I who made ze first model of zat machine. I named ze machine 'Junction Machine Ellone'! It iz a wonderful thing to know that my invention is used in ze future!"
- "So wait, wait…" Seifer piped in "This means that Ultimecia came to know about Ellone from your machine?" he asked.
- "Exactly." Laguna replied "And so Elle became Ultimecia's target. You can't blame Odine. It's useless."
- "You vant to go outside!? You vant to fisticuffs!?" Odine threatened the President, making him roll his eyes and sigh. "OK, we continue ze story!"
- "Yo," Zell began "So now we know how that Ultimecia got to know about Ellone. But we don't know how we can fight her. We're here to learn how to kick her ass, right?"
- "Let's see…" Odine said, rubbing his chin "There iz only one way to defeat Ultimecia. You must kill her in ze future. There iz nothing we can do unless we go to ze future."
- "So basically, we're screwed before we even begin…" Seifer commented, frowning.
- "Super-duper-mega bummer!" Selphie squealed in disappointment.
- "Vait, vait!" Odine interrupted "There is no way to jump to ze future under normal circumstances. But there iz still a way! It iz because Sorceress Ultimecia plans to compress time. Compressing time with magic…Vat good will it do for ze sorceress to compress time? There may be may reasons, but it doesn't matter. Let's just figure out vat Ultimecia iz up to. In order for Ultimecia to exist in this time, she must take over ze body of a sorceress from ze present. But ze machine must have a limit. Ultimecia probably needs to go back further in time to achieve time compression. Only Ellone can take her back further into ze past. Zat iz why she iz desperately seeking her. We must take advantage of Ellone's power. There are two sorceresses in our time. Sorceress Rinoa and Sorceress Adel." At the sound of these words, Rinoa's gaze traveled to the floor "Of ze two, Adel has not awakened yet. Once regeneration is completed, neither Laguna nor I will be safe. Sorceress Adel is probably in ze process of awakening inside Lunatic Pandora. Ultimecia will want to possess Adel, if Adel wakes up. Zat vill be a horrible event. Adel iz a horrible sorceress. If Adel's consciousness wins over Ultimecia, Adel will first destroy this era. So we must use Sorceress Rinoa to inherit Ultimecia's powers. Zat's all for ze mission briefing."
- "So first we have to get back Sis Elle." Selphie said.
- "Yes, go to Lunatic Pandora." Odine replied "Ellone's probably being held captive inside, so rescue her first."
- "OK, then what?" Irvine asked, crossing his arms.
- "Then kill Sorceress Adel before ze awakening process is completed." Odine replied "Now, we're left with Rinoa as ze only sorceress of this era. Then wait for Ultimecia to possess Rinoa."
- "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Squall interrupted, as Rinoa's eyes snapped wide open "What the hell are you talking about?! The whole idea was preventing Ultimecia from coming to this world and possessing Rinoa again!"
- "Let me finish first…" Odine insisted "When Ultimecia arrives, it's Ellone's turn. Ellone will send Rinoa back to ze past with Ultimecia. Ellone will have to send Rinoa and Ultimecia inside another sorceress she knows in the past. Edea or Adel…Zat's up to Ellone. Once Ultimecia iz in ze past, she'll use ze time compression magic. We will see some influence here. I don't know vat kind of influence, but once Ellone feels it, she'll cut Rinoa and Ultimecia off from ze past. Rinoa will come back to this world. Ultimecia also goes back to her own world. Vat would be left is ze time compressed world. Past, present, and future will all get mixed together. You will keep moving through ze time compression toward ze future. Once you're out of ze time compression, zat will be Ultimecia's world. It's all up to you after zat."
Squall frowned.
- "And Rinoa will be safe?" he asked, a suspicious frown crossing his eyebrows.
- "She vill be back to zis world and back with you." Odine replied, nodding.
And with those words, he left the room, rendering it into a state of heated silence.
- "So you were briefed about the mission…" Laguna stated, breaking the stillness of the office "I don't really understand it, either." he added, grinning "Will you do it?"
Seifer and Squall looked at each other once again, nodding.
- "Yeah, we're all for it…" Seifer replied '…I guess…'
- "We all agree, right?" Squall asked, glancing around his comrades, receiving nods from everyone.
- "Alright!!!" Laguna cheered "Let's go! We'll get aboard Ragnarok! Let's do the final briefing in there! I always wanted to ride that thing. Plus the name sounds so cool! We'll just get ready and meet you there."
Zell exited the President's office last, closing the door behind him. He scratched the back of his hair and stared at his peers bewildered.
- "Am I the only one who didn't understand squat of that cooky plan?" he mumbled.
- "I kinda got lost somewhere in the middle, too…" Rinoa agreed.
- "It's not that hard really…" Quistis intervened.
Everyone's attention turned to her.
- "Ultimecia wishes to compress time for reasons unknown to us, so we'll just leave that aside." the blonde Instructor began "In order for her to compress time, however, she needs to go back further into the past. That can only happen through Ellone, or the machine, but as Dr. Odine said, the machine has limited powers. So she's left with Ellone only. And now we understand why she has been sought after all this time; Ultimecia needs her to fulfill her plan of Time Compression."
- "OK, so far so good…" Zell said, nodding.
- "In order to find Ellone," Quistis continued "She had to enter the consciousness of a person who lives in Ellone's time. But not just any person; a Sorceress. There are two Sorceresses in our time; Adel and Rinoa. She could have easily chosen Rinoa, but now that Adel is about to be awakened, she'll choose her to maximize their combined power."
- "But we can't have that, because Adel would destroy us all." Selphie piped in.
- "Exactly." agreed Quistis "So our plan is this: Once Adel awakens, Ellone will send Ultimecia and Rinoa's consciences to the past, and into another Sorceress she knows. Either Adel or Edea. So we'll let Ultimecia believe she got what she wanted. Hence, Time Compression will commence. This is when Ellone will send Rinoa and Ultimecia back into their own worlds, leaving us into a state of compressed time. This way, we can get to Ultimecia and fight her."
- "But how are we going to find her within Time Compression?" Rinoa asked.
- "That's easy." Quistis replied "Within Compressed Time, we can travel to the-"
- "Future and beat her in her own world." Squall finished for her.
- "Precisely." Quistis said, beaming "Always top of your class, Squall." she commented with a wink.
- "Whoa, Quisty, sometimes you can be frighteningly brainy…" Selphie admired.
- "So, are we all done here?" Seifer interrupted, looking annoyed "Can we go get ready?"
- "Yeah, assemble into the Hall in half an hour. The President and the others will board with us upon the Ragnarok and we'll be off towards Pandora." Squall said.
- "Good, dismissed." Seifer stated-slash-ordered, grabbing Quistis from the wrist and turning his heel.
The blonde girl let out a small squeak as she got yanked away towards the corridor and followed Seifer. She threw a sideways glance at him. He was frowning, not saying a single word and seemed to be doing some serious thinking and/or brooding.
- "Something wrong?" Quistis asked.
Grunt.
- "Any chance of a human language reply?" she asked again.
Grunt.
- "What is it?" Quistis asked with a sigh.
- "Ooh, Squall, always top of your class…" Seifer said mockingly, imitating a woman's voice "Why don't you go have babies with him or something if he's so fucking smart?" he said, letting go of her wrist.
Quistis would have under any other circumstances been angered by his behavior, but she knew only too well that if she snapped it would lead into yet another of their infamous meaningless arguments, so why bother? Besides, it sort of flattered her that he was jealous…
Chuckling, she quickened her pace and slipped her palm into his. Seifer tried to yank it away, but Quistis persisted.
- "You know who my favorite student was though, don't you?" she asked sweetly.
Grunt.
Sighing, Quistis stopped in her tracks and pulled Seifer into a stop as well, making him turn around to face her. Standing onto her tiptoes, she cupped his face and gave him a soft kiss. Seifer tried to get away, but she held him in place, deepening the kiss. When she withdrew, his face was much milder, but still in somewhat of a frown.
- "Better?" she asked, grinning.
Seifer opened his mouth several times, but nothing came out. Instead, he let out a growl and pointed a threatening finger at her.
- "Your evil tricks won't work on me, woman!" he hissed at her only half-angered and turned his heel.
Quistis crossed her arms as she watched him walk away down the corridor and began counting backwards in her mind 'Four… Three… Two… One…'
Right on cue, Seifer turned around, strode back to her and grabbed her wrist, continuing to walk down the hallway holding her hand. But still pretending to brood.
Quistis couldn't help but chuckle at that…
- "Alright everyone, listen up!" Laguna spoke sportingly "We've been through the plan already, but you still don't know how to get to Ultimecia when Time Compression takes place. Ultimecia lives far in the future where none of us can technically exist. There's only one way to make yourself exist in a world like that! 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. Right, guys? What place reminds you of your friends?"
The six mercenaries turned and looked at each other, in a mental agreement of what place each and every one of them would choose. No words needed to be spoken. The only one left out, however, was Rinoa…
- "Imagine being in that place with all your friends." Laguna went on "Once time compression begins, think of that place and try to get there! That's all! That place will welcome you. You'll be able to get there no matter what period you're in! You need love and friendship for this mission! And the courage to believe it. It's all about love, friendship, and courage! I'm counting on you guys!"
- "No offense…" Seifer interrupted "But all that love and friendship, hippy tree-huggin' crap sound way too corny…"
A round of grunts greeted his comment. Squall, however, arched both eyebrows 'I've said it before and I'll say it again… It's really creepy, but sometimes this guy actually voices my thoughts…'
- "Hey, don't get me wrong!" Seifer protested "If everyone's up for it, I'll do it. Just saying my opinion…" he added, shrugging.
- "Ummm… Mr. Loire?" Rinoa interrupted, walking towards Laguna.
- "Just Laguna, dear." the President said, smiling broadly at her "What's up?"
Rinoa glanced at her comrades who were looking at her intently.
- "Could I… uhh… have a word with you? In private?" she whispered.
- "Sure, sure…" Laguna said, nodding.
Passing an arm around her shoulder, he walked with her outside the cockpit of Ragnarok, leaving the occupants of the room bewildered.
- "What the heck was that all about?" Irvine wondered out loud.
- "Come on, cut her some slack…" Selphie piped in "She's the one who has to do the most serious job in this mission. Maybe she needs to talk about the details with Sir Laguna."
- "Selphie's right." Quistis agreed, nodding "She has actually agreed to let Ultimecia possess her again. I wouldn't blame her even if she declined to be a part of this. Come on everyone, let's go." she said, grabbing Seifer's hand.
- "Where are we goin'?" Seifer asked.
- "Well, we've got a tough day ahead of us." Quistis replied "Don't you want to go get some rest?"
If it was humanly possible, the edges of Seifer's lips would have touched his earlobes right about now.
- "Hell yeah…" he replied huskily. Quistis narrowed her eyes at him.
- "Not that kind of 'rest'!"
Rinoa kept walking along one of the corridors among the chambers of Ragnarok, Laguna by her side. She kept her gaze locked upon the floor, trying to build up the courage to say what was in her mind. Laguna's palm tightened onto her shoulder in a sympathetic rub.
- "Rinoa, do you want to back away from the mission?" he asked her softly.
- "No!" Rinoa snapped, looking up immediately.
- "It's OK…" Laguna reassured her "I'll understand if you're scared. It's a very heavy burden to put upon your shoulders."
- "No, no, no!" Rinoa persisted "You don't understand! I want to be a part of this mission and help in every way I can! I wanted to talk to you about something else…"
- "Oh, alright then…" Laguna nodded, smiling "Go on; don't be shy…"
The girl took in a deep breath.
- "Well, you see…" she began hesitantly "It's about the plan…"
- "Is there something you disagree with?" Laguna asked.
- "No…" Rinoa replied, shaking her head in negation "But there's a part I don't think I'll be able to go through. Not because I don't want to, but because I just can't…"
- "Which part?" Laguna asked.
- "You said that in order to travel through time and get to Ultimecia, we needed to think of a place that reminds us our friends and go there, right?" Rinoa said. Laguna nodded "Well it's just that… I… I don't have such a place…" she mumbled, her gaze lowering to the floor again.
Laguna stopped in his tracks and placed his palms onto Rinoa's shoulders, bringing her to a halt as well.
- "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his brows creasing in bewilderment.
- "I… I didn't have any friends…" Rinoa replied, still not looking at him "Until recently, that is… But everyone…" She suppressed a sob "Everyone has been together since… forever and I just don't fit in… They all fight together, they have all those memories together…" A tear ran down her face "And they have a place to think of, that reminds them of all they share. It's the same place… So… So everyone will have there to go to, and I… I… won't…"
- "Oh, Rinoa…" Laguna said, his face falling.
- "And I'm sorry," Rinoa went on, now in between wails "But I can't help. I'm so sorry! I wish I could, but I'll just get lost and everything will go wrong because of me! I don't want to ruin your plan! And I'm not a good enough fighter like everyone else; I'm not one of them. I'll just stand in the way… And I don't want to be a burden-"
- "Rinoa, look at me." Laguna said, raising her chin with a crooked finger.
The brunette sniffed loudly and slowly raised her bloodshot eyes to look at Laguna's bright, warm green ones.
- "Are you even listening to yourself?" Laguna told her incredulously "What do you mean you're not one of them?"
- "I'm not in the same league." she replied, shrugging "And I'll never be. They were born fighters and that's why they fit so well with each other. And that's also why I'll never fit in…"
- "You don't know what you're talking about…" Laguna said, shaking his head in disbelief "I've never seen you fight, so I can't judge, but I've seen something else, that proves exactly how much everyone considers you one of them." Rinoa sniffed again.
- "And what's that?" she mumbled.
- "They came for you, Rinoa!" Laguna exclaimed, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world "They didn't leave you behind! Because they're your friends and needed you, cared about you! Who cares if you're not as good a fighter as they are? Which, by the way, I don't think you are… They wanted you back for who you are, not for your skills. They all wanted their friend back…" he finished, running a hand through her hair.
Rinoa smiled broadly.
- "Do you really believe that?" she asked eagerly.
- "No, I don't believe it…" Laguna said, shaking his head in negation "I know it." Rinoa chuckled.
- "But…" she mumbled "What about the place I'm supposed to think of? I still don't have that…"
- "Hmmm…" Laguna said, rubbing his chin "You know what? I have an idea… You said that all of them share memories in that place, right? And all they have to do is recall those memories and they'll be there, right?"
- "Right." Rinoa said, nodding.
- "Then what do you say we create a new one?" Laguna suggested "One where you're included as well." Rinoa's lips parted.
- "But… how?"
- "We'll just take you there." Laguna replied, grinning "Help you build up a memory from scratch, with a place everyone loves and the people you love in it. What do you say?"
Rinoa didn't reply. She just bit her lip and dove into Laguna's embrace, burying her head within his arms, hugging him tighter than she had ever held her own father…
- "Thank you…" she whispered.
A slight tremor made Quistis lift her head up from her pillow and cast her sleepy gaze around the room quizzically. The so far surprisingly smooth ride, considering Selphie's unconventional methods of flying, had just been interrupted for reasons that eluded her. She reached out for her glass case, hidden underneath her pillow, and slipped her silver thin-rimmed spectacles on. Yawning the slightest bit, she turned around and nudged Seifer's sleeping form on the shoulder softly. The sleeping blond let out a grunt and turned over, continuing to indulge himself in blissful slumber.
- "Seifer…" Quistis persisted, nudging him again "Wake up…"
- "Mmmm…?" Seifer muttered, not turning around.
- "We stopped."
- "…………and?"
- "Well we can't be in Tear's point yet." Quistis replied "It's," She checked her watch "Still five thirty." Seifer yawned deeply.
- "…So?"
- "So, go check it out!" Quistis whined, nudging him on the back.
Letting out a long-dragged sigh, Seifer turned over to face her, opening his eyes only half-way, while scratching his messy hair.
- "Do I have to?" he mumbled sleepily.
- "Come on, go check it out." Quistis replied "I'm scared to go outside…" She pouted.
Seifer arched an eyebrow.
- "You, are scared to go outside?" he quipped.
- "Well of course… I'm a defenseless, weak woman…" she said, trying her best at a frown that screamed 'helpless little bunny'.
- "And this," Seifer said, reluctantly sitting up on the cot "Is coming from the same woman who chased me around Garden with her freakishly sharp-barbed whip when I gave her a gift on Valentine's Day this year…" he added, shaking his head in disbelief, while getting up from the cot. Quistis narrowed her eyes at him.
- "You gave me batteries…" she said through gritted teeth.
- "Well, I'm sorry!" Seifer said, grasping his chest in mock-hurt "I didn't know you were expecting something fancy! We weren't even together then! And my gift was quite practical if you gave the tiniest bit of thought in it…" he went on, while slipping a T-shirt on.
- "You gave me advice on where exactly I should use the batteries…" Quistis replied with the same expression, crossing her arms "You're lucky you got out of it in one piece…"
- "It's not my fault if your perverted mind took it the wrong way…" Seifer said, shrugging innocently "Anyway, bottom line is this: You're just too bored to get up, so drop all excuses about being a helpless little woman…" he finished, narrowing his eyes at her in mock-anger.
- "You're an angel…" Quistis said, smiling sweetly at him, then proceeding in lying back down on the cot, turning her back at him.
Seifer shook his head in disbelief, while slipping his feet through his boots, not bothering to tie them up. He strode over towards the door of the small room, which slid open mechanically the moment he approached it.
- "Seifer?"
The tall blond turned around, coking a questioning brow at Quistis. The girl had turned over again and was now hugging the pillow, looking at him intently.
- "Hurry up and come back, OK?" she said softly "I feel cold now that you're not lying next to me…"
Seifer opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again, running a hand through his hair awkwardly. He grinned at her, gave her a wink and exited the room.
Selphie carefully handled the steering mechanism of Ragnarok, while Irvine stood up beside her, helping her out with the controls. Just then, the door behind them slid open and Seifer strode inside.
- "What's going on?" the latter asked "Are we landing?"
His question was immediately answered, as the aircraft vibrated vigorously, making him lose his footing and find himself on the floor head-first. The Ragnarok gave another big tremor, before the slight thud of the aircraft making contact with the terrain was heard –and in Seifer's case, felt-. Irvine beamed at Selphie.
- "You've improved!" he admired, making Selphie blush.
- "Thanks Irvy!" she squealed, bobbing up and down her seat merrily.
Seifer grunted, aiding himself up from the floor and straightened out his hair.
- "Anyone mind telling me why we've landed?" he asked, adjusting his clothes.
- "Sir Laguna's orders." Selphie said, turning around to face him.
- "Weren't we supposed to head straight for Tear's Point?" Seifer asked, frowning "What, are we stopping to give the Galbadians a good view of our aircraft first, before the ambush?"
- "But we're not in Esthar." Irvine said. Seifer's frown became denser.
- "Then where the hell are we?"
- "Centra." Selphie replied, as if it were the most logical response.
- "Oh, Centra?" said Seifer, nodding his head sarcastically "OK, quick question though… WHY?"
- "Laguna's orders." Irvine repeated "Something dealing with what Rinoa told him."
- "Why have I not been informed of this?" he asked, crossing his arms.
- "We told Squall." Selphie replied, shrugging.
Seifer's frown became deadly right about then.
- "You didn't really wanting me interrupting you and Quistis again, did ya?" Selphie asked, acting diplomatically.
- "Good point…" Seifer admitted, rubbing his chin "Anyway, where's Commander Puberty? I wanna talk to him."
- "Ah, no can do, I'm afraid." Irvine said "He's with Rinoa."
Seifer arched both eyebrows.
- "Doing what?!"
Squall walked down the dirt path in the entrance of the Lighthouse Orphanage. It was hardly six in the afternoon, but it was already dusk in the continent of Centra at this time. Squall's steel blue eyes scanned the area slowly, his gaze stopping at a lone figure a few feet away from him.
She had her back turned at him and was standing still, facing the flower field that spread before her feet. The dim, amber light of the sun slowly setting behind the mountains fell upon her, illuminating her in strange, but gorgeous angles. She seemed so drawn away from the sight before her, that Squall didn't even know if she could hear the sound of his steps as he approached. He stopped right behind her, trying to figure out exactly what to say to gain her attention. He didn't actually feel like talking right now. Seeing her like this, alone, beautiful, made him want to do nothing more than just… hold her. He was never one to say much, anyway. Why speak, when actions can say so much more?
- "I was expecting you…" Rinoa said softly, bringing him out of his trance.
She still hadn't turned around.
- "Yeah umm…" Squall mumbled, walking up beside her "Zell told me you wanted to talk to me…"
- "Right…"
They stood side by side in silence for a fair few minutes, but Rinoa never uttered a word. She still hadn't turned to look at him, either. Beginning to feel nervous, he decided to be the one to break the ice.
- "Well…? What did you want to talk to me about?"
- "Not talk per se…" Rinoa said "I just needed… a memory… of this place… With someone I feel close to." Squall swallowed hard.
- "You feel close to me?"
For the first time, Rinoa turned around and faced him, flashing him one of her rare smiles. She was never one to frown, quite the contrary, but Squall had the feeling that sometimes, she reserved smiles like these just for him. As selfish as that may sounded…
- "Of course I do." she replied "I may not know you that well, but we've been through quite the adventures together, haven't we?" she asked, chuckling.
- "Yeah…" Squall replied, grinning, looking away.
She smiled once again, right before turning serious.
- "What'll become of me?" she asked.
- "Don't worry about it." Squall said, trying to sound supportive "There've been many good sorceresses. Edea was one. You can be like her."
- "But Edea's still…" Rinoa trailed off "I can't guarantee anything, either, if Ultimecia possesses me again… You saw me. She controlled me in outer space and made me break Adel's seal. What might happen next time? What will I end up doing? Will I end up fighting everyone?" She paused, sighing "Scary thought, isn't it?"
She had turned her gaze away from him again. But his was locked upon her this time… 'Rinoa… Even if you end up as the world's enemy, I'll… I'll be your knight.'
- "If I fall under Ultimecia's control again…" Rinoa spoke again "SeeD will come kill me, right? And the leader of SeeD is you, Squall… You and Seifer… Squall's sword will pierce my heart… I guess it's ok if it's you, Squall. Nobody else. Not even Seifer…" She paused again "Squall, if that ever happens…"
- "That's enough!" Squall snapped, making her look up at him, startled "I'll never do anything like that. The sorceress I'm after is not you, Rinoa. My enemy is the sorceress from the future… Ultimecia."
- "Ultimecia lives in the future and possesses me." Rinoa replied "She uses my body as her extension into this world. How? How will you save me?"
- "I'll…" Squall began "I'll come up with something… There's gotta be a way."
Rinoa sighed.
- "Don't worry. Trust me." Squall said.
- "…I trust you." she replied "Well, until you find a way, maybe… Maybe I should stay in Esthar, at the memorial? Wouldn't that be better?"
- "No… That'd be pointless. I'll just end up gong after you again." he admitted.
The girl chuckled. It was nothing like Squall to come out in the open and admit something like this. She couldn't even begin to imagine how much of a conflict he'd have to have put up against his inner self to blurt that out… And she owed him as much now…
- "Can I tell you a story?" she asked. Squall nodded "I had a dream. It was a scary dream. We make a promise. We promise to see shooting stars together. I get dressed up and put on your ring. But the thing is," She frowned "I can't remember where I'm supposed to meet you. I start to panic. I really want to see you, Squall, but I don't know where to go. I start running through the mountains, the desert, the plains… Through Timber, Balamb and Galbadia… When I realize I can't run any longer… I… I just want to see you so badly… So I scream, Squall, where are you?! Then I woke up. I was crying. I'm sorry. You don't have to say anything. I just felt like I had to tell you."
- "It was just a dream…" Squall said, taking a step closer to her, while she locked her eyes with his "It… It doesn't mean anything. Don't worry about it."
- "…I guess you're right." Rinoa said, running her finger down Squall's cheek.
Surprisingly, he didn't flinch. There had been a time, when any person's touch stung like acid at the thought this feeling of comfort being abruptly taken away. But for some reason, he had grown to long for her touch, and welcome it. He didn't want to be scared anymore. Not with her…
- "How about this…" he began, steadily leaning close to her "I'll be here…"
- "…Why?" Rinoa whispered, never ceasing her finger's movement.
- "The reason why you couldn't find me was because we haven't promised yet." Squall replied
- "Promised…?"
- "I'll be waiting for you. If you come here, you'll find me. I promise."
His face drew closer to hers, as her palm cupped his face. His hands, that had so far been hanging loose, timidly rose up, fingertips touching the sides of her waist the slightest bit. The warmth of her breath fell heavy upon his face as he drew closer when…
She rested two fingers upon his lips.
- "Don't get me wrong." she began immediately "I want this. So much more than you could possibly imagine… But I don't want to allow myself to be careless after a moment like this."
Squall looked at her quizzically.
- "I want to have something to wait for, after this ordeal is over." she went on "I want us both to have something to fight harder for; this moment." She looked up at him "So, what do you say? Is it too much to ask for two promises in a day?" She smiled at him "Is it too much to ask both of us to put this on hold, so that we'll promise each other we'll both be back to finish what has just started?"
Squall smiled warmly at her. He held the back of her head, pressing it against his nape as he embraced her, and closed his eyes.
- "It's a promise."
Zell let out a long-dragged sigh while lying on his cot.
In his hands, a letter with flowing writing still stood, read over and over numerous times. It had given him much more strength that what he'd ever thought it would. Because now, he one more reason something to go home to. One more reason to fight harder and prevail.
He placed the letter, still open, under his pillow and closed his eyes.
'Pray for me, Shizuka… Pray for all of us… That way, you'll be there with me… And I'll be back for you. I promise…'
Selphie nudged Irvine for the millionth time.
- "Irvine Jonathan Kinneas, how dare you fall asleep on me?!" she hissed, pinching him hard on the ribs.
The cowboy let out a yelp of pain and snapped his eyes open, finding a very angered Selphie, lying on top of him, still wearing the hat she'd 'stolen' from him only a few minutes ago.
- "Sorry, babe! But I'm really beat!" he protested, flashing out his most charming grin.
The average girl would have melted on the spot with a grin like that, but Selphie Tilmitt was neither average nor just any kind of girl. She was his girl…
- "Did you even listen to a single word I said?" she said, frowning.
- "Of course I did, darlin'…" Irvine replied in an almost exasperated manner "You were telling me about Emma and Casey from T-Garden-"
- "That was ten minutes ago!"
Irvine sighed.
- "Well, I'm truly sorry…" he said, taking her hands in his own, kissing the tops of her palms "Anything I can do to make it up?"
- "Forget about it…" Selphie said, and rolled off him.
She fell back onto the cot and turned her back at him. Irvine made a move to remove the hat from her head, but she held on to it tightly.
- "That's mine tonight!" Selphie said facing him, sticking her tongue out at him, turning her head around again.
Irvine chuckled and hugged her from behind, placing a tender kiss onto her bare shoulder. He nuzzled his face against the crook of her neck and closed his eyes, ready to fall back asleep again.
- "Irvy?" Selphie began, somewhat hesitantly.
- "Mmmm?"
- "When all this is over…" she mumbled "Will you… Will you go back to Galbadia?" she asked, rolling onto her back.
Irvine opened his eyes and rested his head against his palm, lying onto his side.
- "Do you want me to?" he asked her.
- "No." Selphie replied, pouting.
Irvine chuckled, tucking a lock of unruly hair behind her ear tenderly.
- "Then I won't. I promise…"
Laguna looked outside the window of his small room staring at the starry veil of night sky above.
He held a picture of Raines in his palm, 'talking' to her, like he did every single night for the past seventeen years. And the eyes of his beautiful wife always looked back at him, with patience, hearing what he had to say, comforting him even with her silence.
'Wish you were here, Raine… You should see our boy all grown… He's… He's so handsome. He's got your beautiful eyes… And he's so gifted… Smart, responsible, serious… But why am I telling you all this? I'm sure you already know… I'm sure you're watching over him, being just as proud as I am that he turned out so well…'
The grown man sighed deeply.
'I'll make things work out, Raine… I'll be the man I never was in the past and be there for our son… I promise…'
Quistis was gently grazing her nails against Seifer's face. They just lay there, next to each other, under the warmth of their shared blanket, not uttering a single word. Just looking at each other… Just enjoying the feeling of their bodies pressed against one another in a loose embrace.
- "Listen…" he whispered "Tomorrow won't be an easy day… We have a lot ahead of us… Things may happen… I… I just want you to know that… I…I-"
- "Me too." she interrupted him, smiling.
Seifer chuckled and wrapped his arms tighter around her.
- "How are you so sure you know what I was gonna say?" he teased.
- "I just know." she replied, shrugging "Are you sure you mean it?"
- "Yeah… I do…"
- "Then let's not say anything else…" she said, burying her face into his arms "It's enough… Just promise me we'll hold each other again like this… When everything is over…"
- "I can't predict the future, Quis…" Seifer said, sighing "No-one can…"
- "I know that." she replied "Just promise me, that some way, we'll hold each other again like this… No matter what…"
Seifer raked his palm through her hair and placed a kiss on her forehead.
- "I promise…"
A/N: Mushy chapter… Kinda decided to go with the 'promise' theme in the last few scenes, where I showed everyone's thoughts and actions just before the 'big fight'. Cause if you think about it, right after the fight with Adel, there's no turning back for our heroes…
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'A SECOND CHANCE':
Ragnarok busts into Lunatic Pandora and our heroes search for Ellone…