Disclaimer : I don't own anything.
Note : Sorry about the title, but I think it's mainly focused on the strange red head that Shane met in the Infirmary and saved in the Training Center. There should also be a tiny bit of explanation on the Dream World, and even tinier explanation on why Shane is the way he is. Also, cookie for who gets what I'm talking about in the Flashback. Anyone sound familiar? LOL.
And to those wondering about Marah, Dustin and Hunter, keep wondering. LOL. If you don't already know, I don't want to give it away.
And lastly, just a little note, but the island isn't floating. It's the Garden itself that's floating. LOL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Main Hall, Shane's POV)
Now that we were done talking to Headmaster Kanoi, and Garden Master Lothor had been dealt with, we were at a loss of what to do. I could continue Kapri's tour, but wasn't really looking forward to that. I could go back to my room and get some more sleep, but it was much too early and I wasn't tired, anyway.
So instead, I settled for walking around Garden, letting Kapri and Dustin trail along behind me because they couldn't think of anything better to do, either.
Heading out of the Infirmary, we made our way to the directory, when Cam came rushing down from the elevator, looking really worried about something. "Shane! Have you seen my father?"
Raising an eyebrow, I nodded and gestured with my hand in the direction of the Infirmary. "With Dr Shayla at the infirmary."
"Sounds like trouble." Kapri put in with a worried look. "What's wrong?"
Shaking his head, Cam raised a hand to his face and sighed. "Go to the 2nd Floor deck and see for yourself. There's a ship approaching. It could be Galbadians, or worse... The sorceress might be aboard, coming to attack us. I have to tell father right away!"
Running off, Cam left us behind and I shook my head before rushing to the elevator, making our way to the 2nd Floor deck. A...Galbadian ship?! I thought in horror. Garden was pretty much defenseless, since we became mobile and the whole Garden Master Incident.
As I raced onto the deck, I noticed a small ship approaching. It didn't look like a combat ship of any kind, but was well crafted. On the front deck of it, stood three people in white fighter's uniforms.
"Is Headmaster Kanoi there?!" One of the men called with a wave, once they were close enough for them to be heard.
Frowning, I grabbed the hilt of my gunblade warily. "No, he's not here!" I called back. "Are you from...Galbadia?"
"We're SeeDs!" the female called lightly. "This is Miko's ship! We are Sorceress Miko's SeeDs!"
My frown deepened. ...Sorceress Miko's... SeeDs?
But it didn't make any sense. If Sorceress Miko knew nothing about SeeD, and wanted to destroy us... If SeeD was trained to fight the sorceress... Why did she have her own SeeDs?
"We're coming aboard! We are unarmed!" the other male called.
They threw a rope ladder up and it hooked onto our Garden. Climbing it, we were soon face-to-face with three white uniformed SeeD members, and drew our weapons, preparing for possible combat.
The lead man raised his hand with a peacful look on his face. "Please." he said softly."We come in peace. We wish to speak to Headmaster Kanoi. Where is he?"
"I'm right here."
Spinning around, I noticed Headmaster Kanoi walk on to the deck with a confused look, and hesitantly sheathed my blade.
"Sir!" all three SeeDs chorused as they stood at attention and saluted. The lead man nodded and sighed slowly. "We've come for Kelly. I'm afraid it is unsafe for her here, now."
The Headmaster nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm afraid so."
Frowning, I remembered back to the last trip to the Dream World. Kelly? The little girl from WinHill? I thought in confusion. My frown deepened as I made a connection, and I felt my eyes widen. I realized who she was, but still...why I felt like I met here a long time ago, that I still hadn't figured out.
"You know how she is, Shane? Could you please go fetch her? She should be someplace on Garden." Kanoi said softly.
Who are these guys? I mentally questioned suspiciously, glancing at them warily. How are they connected?
"Shane?"
Snapping back to attention, I nodded immediately. "...Yes sir!" I said, saluting before leaving the deck.
Once inside the door, Cam nodded to us. "I'll help you look, too." he said before walking off.
"Shane..." Dustin seemed a little confused. "Kelly's that girl, right? Y'know, the little girl Tommy was takin' care of?"
"Probably." I said, distracted.
"Let's split up and find her." Dustin suggested as he made a face. "Man, she could be anywhere!"
As Dustin left, Kapri frowned and stepped in front of me. "Hey Shane, who's Kelly?"
"Someone from the Dream World." I said simply.
She didn't look satisfied, but nodded slowly before leaving to the elevator, to do her own searching.
Heading straight to the library, I walked past a lot of people and straight to the back room, finding the very same red head there, still reading a book. And just like before, she seemed to sense I was there, turning her head but not looking at me. "Yes, Shane?"
"Are you Kelly?" I asked uncertainly. She certainly did look like an older version of the girl from WinHill, but I couldn't be sure.
She nodded ever so slightly. "Yes..."
"You're Kelly. The Kelly." I stated in disbelief. How in the world didn't I realize this before? What is going on? "You know...Tommy, don't you?"
"I do." she confirmed, nodding her head again. "I really do love Uncle Tommy."
So it's not just a dream, is it? Shaking my head, I growled. "Then tell me!" I snapped in desperation. "What is it we experience?!"
Sighing, she turned and stood up, looking into my eyes briefly before looking away. "I'm sorry, Shane. It's hard to explain. But one thing... It's about the past."
So...we're viewing the past? It made a twisted sort of sense, and explained how we were seeing people we'd never met before. How else could Kelly be here and know about Tommy?
Crossing the room to the other side, she gently leaned against the table behind her. "People say you can't change the past... But still, if there's a chance, I wanna try."
Change the past? Is she serious?! Give me a break! I thought darkly. What could she possibly want to change about the past? As far as I'd seen, she and Tommy were fairly happy... Unless I'd missed something. Then a thought hit me... "Are you the one responsible?!?" For putting us in danger with those damn visions?! "Are you the one who's been sending us back? Back to that 'Dream World'?!"
"I'm sorry." She looked down sadly, but I could tell she really depended on me.
...Not again. So much I don't understand... "Why me?!?" I cried in shock as I stumbled to the chair she's been sitting in. Laying my hand on the back of it, I stayed hunched over as I felt tears come to my eyes. "I have enough problems as it is! Don't include me in this mess!"
"...I'm sorry."
I know. I could feel it and hear it in her voice. I could hear the tears that threatened to spill down her face. She counted on me. For what? To change the past? I don't know, but I don't feel worthy of her trust. "Don't." I said shakily, shaking my head as I moved and fell into the seat, sitting with my head bowed. "Don't count on me..."
I heard footsteps enter the room before Cam's voice called out to me. "Shane, did you find Kelly, yet?"
"Um..." I turned my head ever so slightly and watched as she nervously raised her hand. "I'm Kelly."
"Are you alright?" Cam asked in concern, and she nodded before walking over to me. Leaning down, she whispered in my ear and gave my shoulder a squeeze before leaving with Cam, leaving me to my thoughts.
What she said to me, was...
You're my only hope.
(Dormitory, Shane's Room)
Why do people depend on each other? In the end, you're on your own.
I learned that the hard way. First my parents, then my sis... Even the people at the orphanage and the friends I'd made. Either they left me, or I'd forgotten them, it's been so long. I know my family didn't want to leave me, but they were killed. Sis was adopted, leaving me alone. I couldn't remember much about anyone else...
And sadly, I can't go back to the orphanage, because it's in ruins now. The couple that owned it, left a long while ago.
Still, I can't seem to shake the fact that they're all closer than I think, too.
I've made it this far by myself...
But was that true? I had to depend on someone for a shelter and medical assistance, but other than that... I got the reputation of a lone wolf, because I would never open up to anyone. I was never cold to them, or mistreated them, like Blake, but I never really let them in, either.
I think... That's how Blake and I differed. Whereas he was cold to so many people, he actually let them in too, so despite his temper, he still had such close friends. Taylor and Eric, they knew better than to take his temper seriously, and stood by him always.
I wanted that, but... I was so scared to let them in. I was terrified that I'd lose them. I'd put a wall up, to keep them out, but I could feel them digging for the holes and worming their way in. It got me to thinking, maybe I need to put up a new wall?
Sure. I couldn't do a thing when I was a kid... I depended on others, but...
Shaking my head, I sighed and rubbed my eyes.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm here because of other people...
Frowning deeply, I glared at the ceiling and groaned.
I'm fine by myself, now. I've learned all the skills I need to know to survive. I'm not a child anymore.
I rolled onto my side and faced the wall, allowing my walls to come down as much as I dared, and letting a single tear slip from my eye as I curled into a fetus position on the bed and tried to ignore the pain in my heart. For as tough as I acted, it still hurt so much. I felt alone, and it hurt.
That's a lie. I don't know anything. I'm confused. I don't want to depend on anyone. How can I do that?!? Someone tell me...
More tears came and I felt myself shaking.
Someone...? Please... So I'll end up depending on others after all...
Flashback
Shane, no longer a man, but a young boy, stood under the leaky roof over the front porch of the stone building that served as the orphanage. Outside, the place was surrounded by lush green grass and healthy looking bushes and trees with a few wildflowers peaking in fron the flower field in a different part.
The building was fairly old and beginning to fall apart, but it was home to at least half a dozen kids. Two girls and five boys.
Standing on the porch, the boy watched with sad eyes as a vehicle pulled away, the sad face of a girl, a red head, looking out the back window.
The rain made it hard to see clearly, but it was like the weather agreed with how he felt. The sky was almost black, and the rain poured down fiercely. The bushes and trees bowed under the ferocious weight of the rain, and swayed with the cold winds that blew that day.
He rubbed the tears out of his eyes, only to have more replace them, before he sniffled. "...Sis..." He sobbed a little and tugged on his red shirt with a little fist. "...I'm...all alone now." He almost looked so hopeless. "But I'm doing the best that I can... I'll be ok without you, sis..." Why did it sound like he was trying to convince himself?
A little brunette boy with dark skin ran past, chasing a slightly taller, fair skinned boy with dirty blonde hair.
"I'll be able to take care of myself..." he continued, sniffling shakily as more tears came to his eyes.
A little blonde girl, slightly older than him, came running up to him and looked at him with big blue eyes that filled with tears as she looked at him. She looked like she tried to smile, but it came out as a sob instead.
Finally breaking down, the child version of Shane ran into the building and hid in one of the many unstable, abandoned rooms to cry to himself.
End Flashback
Hearing a sound, I opened my eyes slowly, wondering why I kept being woken up from my sleep. Once again, my eyes met with light blue, only this time I didn't jump. I guess, I almost expected to see her standing there.
I moved a little and frowned when I realized I was still curled in a fetal position. Shaking my head, I rubbed my eyes and straightened up, staring in confusion at Kapri, who wore a tiny, embarrassed smile as she waved a little.
"Hey, again." she said softly.
Standing up swiftly, I blinked when she looked startled and took a hasty step back. "I wasn't asleep." I said firmly, blinking myself, to clear my vision.
She gave a soft, teasing smile and bent forward at the waist. "Oh, really? I think I heard you talking in your sleep." Grinning openly now, she shrugged and turned her back before looking coyly over her shoulder at me. "I'm not telling you what you said." she teased.
I shook my head, wondering if she heard me saying anything about 'sis', but pushing it aside and I decided to act like I didn't care. Waving my hand, while remaining silent, I looked out the window a moment and heard her sigh.
"Hey, let's go for a walk."
Raising my eyebrow, I turned to look at her. "Again?" I asked incredulously. Did you forget everything already?!
Laughing a little, she gave me a look. "That was a guided tour! This is just a walk..." she tried to justify.
"Just go by yourself." I stated, frowning a little at the painful memory of the dream. I didn't really feel like dealing with anyone or going anywhere right now. "It's safe here." Now...
"It's not that I want a guard with me." she said with a huff as she placed her hands on her hips. "You know... You're always too deep in thought."
Tell me about it. I thought dryly, wholly agreeing with her.
"Why don't you lighten up a little?"
If only it was that easy...
"It's not good to think too much. What I'm trying to say is..." She trailed off as she seemed thoughtful before she grinned and giggled a little. Bowing, she giggled again. "It would be my honor...to have your company, your highness, in hope that I may get your mind off of things." she finished as she stood back up, trying to look dignified but settling for giggling again. "How about it, your highness?"
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. She wasn't so much funny as she was adorable when she acted like that. Instead, I sighed and thought about it. On one hand, I just wanted to be left alone, but she obviously wasn't going to allow that to happen. On the other, staying here would get me to thinking, and I could use a break from that. "Fine." I said with a sigh.
She giggled and bowed again. "Thank you, your highness! Alright, let's get goin'!" she cheered, practically dragging me out of the room once I had my gunblade.
We made our way out to the main hall, where the PA system activated, and Headmaster Kanoi's voice was heard all over garden.
"Hello everyone. This is the headmaster speaking. The lines have finally been fixed and I'm glad to be back on the air! Hurray!" Suddenly, his voice grew paniced and he screamed in horror over the PA.
The Garden began to violently shake and I turned my head, grabbing Kapri's arm as she staggered and bracing myself to keep my balance. I wasn't sure what was going on, but if felt like the Garden had run into something.
"Shane! This is the headmaster speaking!" His voice was panicked. "Please come to my office right away! Repeat! Please come to my office right away!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yay, so maybe...a few questions answered? LOL. Anyone get what I was talkin' about in the Flashback?
Hope you like it.
----------------------------------------------------
" We've landed at Fisherman's Horizon"
---------------------------------------------------
R+R please.
Thank you.
Tenshi