Disclaimer : I don't own anything.
Note : Yay! Some explanations, finally! Actually... I think it's a LOT of explanations LOL, as well as the revealing of what I consider a little twist.
JuseaPeterson - When I asked what that machine reminded you of, I was thinking the previous chapter and the machine the other group fought at the missile base. Good guess though, in a sense, I think it is kind of a tank. LOL. I'm glad you like the fic, and yep, they're all reunited, now. Nope, Tommy isn't always there. He just helps out from time to time. The Sorceress War has happened before, but I wouldn't say it happens a lot.
I also want to apologize for spelling errors. Most of the time, I get into a groove, and I write well until I'm exhausted, so I only manage to catch some of my spelling mistakes. Then, I just keep forgetting to check the chapter over before I post it.
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(Trabia)
Stepping out of Garden, I shivered and huddled more into my leather jacket before taking one look at Kapri and sighing heavily. Even though the ground was covered in snow and ice, we didn't bother to dress warmer, as we junctioned Firaga magics to our weapons and Blizzaga magics to our armor. This protected us against Ice magic, and gave us the Fire element when attacking. Not to mention, having ice junctioned to our armor made it easier to deal with colder climates.
Still, it didn't mean we wouldn't feel the weather, just that we wouldn't feel it as bad.
Stripping off my jacket, I laid it over Kapri's shoulders as she shivered and walked past, heading straight for Trabia Garden.
As we rounded the snowy peaks, I stopped a moment and frowned before running up to the front gate. Even from the barred gate, with a thick net hanging over it, I could see that we were way too late.
"Looks pretty bad." I mused out loud, feeling my eyes narrow in concern for the likely thousands of students that had been staying there.
I heard the sound of footsteps rushing forward and turned to find Marah running up to us, a look of horror written across her face as she looked up at the clearly destroyed building that had once likely been very beautiful
"Marah!" I called, seeing her hunch over and shake.
"A direct...hit?" she asked shakily.
I turned and looked up, noting the shattered windows all over the building, as well as a huge chunk that was missing from the side of it. There was blood on the walls, along the net, and the once glowing and revolving rings around the top of it were dull and still.
There was no hope of it just being minor damage.
Dustin shook his head from beside me and punched the gate hard. "...Man, this pisses me off!" he growled.
Tori nodded from a little ways away, closing her eyes and looking to the ground as she folded her arms across her chest. "...This is terrible."
"...I'm going in." Marah said quietly, looking determined and refusing to be swayed.
I nodded slowly and moved out of the way. "Be careful." I said as she nodded and began climbing the netting, getting over the gate easily.
Following after her, I saw that there were a few students here and there, with an instructor or two. I walked along the path, and watched as Marah spoke to a girl with long raven hair before she nodded and ran off.
"Shane!"
Turning on my heel, I watched as the others ran up behind me.
"Have you seen Marah?" Hunter asked in worry.
I nodded. "Yeah and she ran off ahead."
Kapri looked around with a frown, keeping her crossbow at the ready just in case there was need for it. "I wonder if there are any monsters around." She didn't seem too worried, but I knew it was a valid point. "Come on, Shane. Let's hurry after her."
Hunter nodded and looked around, seeing the few people walking around and the ruined state of the former Garden. "I bet you she's in shock." he muttered quietly.
"To think that Balamb Garden might have ended up like this..." Tori shuddered and winced as her concerned blue eyes looked out over the people. "Thank godness we managed to avoid the missiles."
I walked on ahead, and found Marah standing next to the same brunette, by a fountain. The brunette wasn't in a uniform, but was clearly a student. "So, you've been taking care of Marah?" she asked me carefully, looking at me in an appraising manner.
Might as well play along... Shrugging, I nodded a little. "Marah's been a big help." Well, ok, that was the truth.
"Ahh..." Marah looked a little uncertain as she looked at me.
"Something wrong?" her friend asked with a smile.
"That's so not like Shane!" Marah stated firmly, looking freaked out.
I shook my head. ...Whatever...
"There should be a basketball court out back, wait for me there, 'k?" Marah asked softly. "I wanna catch up with my friends some more."
With a nod, I began to look around. I helped students tend to some injured and moved a few things a safe distance from the unstable parts. I even spoke to many people, and besides the injured and exhausted, they seemed to be in surprisingly good spirits.
I walked along under a broken down garage, where a few students laid on bedrolls, others huddled in a corner, and still others rifled through boxes. The snow fell lightly around them, and every once in a while, they would shiver, but otherwise, they were doing pretty good.
"Marah!"
Spinning around, I noticed as Marah spoke to a man in a bedroll, but spun and got up as two small children ran up to her, looking sad and scared.
"I'm sorry, Marah! Can you forgive me?" a litle boy asked as he wiped at his tears, smudging dirt on his face.
"What?" she asked clueless, bending down to wipe the dirt off his face. "Why? Why are you apologizing?"
"That teddy bear you gave me...I couldn't save it!" he cried as he burst into fresh tears.
The little girl nodded. "I can hear him crying... He's lonely!"
Marah shook her head and smiled as she stood up. "My teddy bear's a lot stronger than you think! As long as you're all safe, Mr. Bear's happy!" She paused and acted like she was hearing something. "Heeey! I can hear him! Mr. Bear's watching over you secretly. So don't be naughty or sad all the time! Just remember, Mr. Bear is watching over you!" she said as she looked at them and ruffled the little boy's hair.
I made my way to the basketball court, bypassing a ball on the ground as I joined the group.
"We're leaving as soon as Marah comes back." I informed everyone. "We're on standby 'til then." Frowning, I looked around. Doesn't seem like the enemy invaded this Garden yet... Maybe they're waiting for something, or they're on their way... Where's the sorceress? We have to find her and... Shaking my head, I broke myself out of my thoughts, refusing to think about it.
After a few moments, Marah walked into the court sadly, and bent to pick up the basketball. "Sorry to keep you all waiting! Thanks so much for coming all the way out here, guys."
Everyone nodded and smiled. Hunter tipped his hat. "Cheer up, hey?"
"Thanks." she said again. "Take me with you when you fight the sorceress, ok? I wanna get even! I wanna get revenge!" she said angrily.
Kapri bit her lip before standing up from the rock she was leaning against and raising her hand nervously. "Um... Do we...have to fight? Isn't there another way? Y'know, to avoid any bloodshed?"
Why is she askking that all of a sudden?
Dustin took a step back and looked torn between being shock and angry, so he settled for both. "Yo?! What the...?! What are you sayin' all of a sudden?!" he demanded in confusion.
"Maybe someone really smart can come up with a way, so we wouldn't have to fight anymore." Her eyes were pleading, and she almost looked scared.
I frowned in confusion and looked to the ground. In a sense, I agreed with her, but I also knew better. What are you getting at...? If someone can come up with something, that'd be great... But no one's going to do anything... They're all scared, uneasy. All they do is complain. They just pretend to be thinking. They critisize others, but in the end, they can't so anything, either. Staring at her, I watched as she looked down sadly. Kapri, why all this, all of a sudden? What do you expect from me? I grew up in Garden. I'm a SeeD. Do you understand?
"Shane?" She looked uncertain and pained. "You have to voice your feelings or I won't understand."
"You were...part of a resistence group in Timber, right?" I questioned carefully. "Unlike others who were all talk, you took your weapons and fought... And now you're saying all this? What happened to you?" Ok, not the most tactful, but it got the point across.
She crouched down on the ground and faced it, her voice soft and shaky as she spoke. "I guess...I'm getting scared. Sometimes...when I'm with all of you... I...feel like we're on the same wavelength...you know? But when the battles start happening, it's different. Everyone's tempo seems to pick up, and... I get left behind."
Thinking about it, I figured I understood. She felt helpless alone, but with us, she felt like she could make a difference. And whenever the battles began, she felt alone, helpless.
"I try to catch up, but it's no use... How far is everyone going? I can't hear anyone..."
Marah looked really sad, Tori looked understanding. Strangely, Hunter looked knowing, and Dustin looked lost.
"Once I catch up, I wonder... Is everyone safe? Will they welcome me with open arms?"
My eyes widened when her hidden insecurity came out. Over the time we'd spent together, I noticed she seemed afraid of not being accepted, but she never voiced it. She always seemed afraid we'd reject her, push her away.
"...Is everyone ok? Will we all make it back, together? When I start thinking like that..." she trailed off, refusing to look up from the ground or stand up straight.
"Kapri." Hunter walked forward and sighed. "I understand. Someone might not be there." He shot me a glance as he raised an eyebrow, when he said that, before turning back to her. "Someone you love might disappear before your very eyes. It's tough when you live your life thinking that way. But...that's why I fight..."
He bent down and picked up the basketball.
"When I was a little kid... About 4 years old, or so... I was in an orphanage..." He shot the ball into the net and watched as it sunk right through, his gaze showing he was lost in thought.
Hunter's Flashback
"Plenty of kids, all with no parents. It was around the end of the Sorceress War... So I guess it couldn't be helped. Anyway, that's where I was."
A little boy with dirty blone hair and blue eyes ran into a room, followed by several other children.
The room was small. Stone walls and a large window that looked out over a large ocean and barren lands. Four beds lined the walls, two on each, and a little tables between each one. The matresses and sheets were fairly clean, but the room itself looked like it had been long neglected.
The little boy scratched his head before shaking it and running out a different door, once again, followed by the children.
"And out of all these kids, one little girl was very special to me."
A little girl with long brown hair ran into the room, tripping over her feet and falling down. Making a face, she got back up and brushed off her yellow leggings before turning to the little blonde boy who was suddenly back in the room again.
"Hey, Huntie, wanna play?" she asked with a big smile.
"I really liked this girl and it always made me so happy when she'd talk to me."
The little boy tilted his head and blushed. "Mar, what'cha playin'?" he asked nervously.
She giggled. "WAR!"
The two children ran out of the room laughing.
End Hunter's Flashback
"Was this orphanage...a stone house?" Marah asked quietly, her forehead creased in confusion as she seemed to struggle to recall it.
He nodded and smiled. "You guessed it."
"An old house...made of stone?" Tori questioned, a sudden recognizing look crossing her face. "...By the ocean?"
"You guessed it..." he repeated. "I knew it right away, when we first met!"
Marah scowled as tears filled her eyes. "Heeey! Why didn't you tell us?"
"Yes, why didn't you?" Tori echoed, the same pained look crossing her face.
Flashback
"'Cause you both seemed to have forgotten. It kinda sucked that I was the only onw who remembered."
The two little girls entered the room, giggling.
"Spunky little Mar, and bossy little Tori."
"That is just soooo weird." Marah muttered as she began to recall it as well.
Tori's eyes widened. "Huh?"
A little brunette boy with fair skin ran into the room panting, and stood between two beds. He looked around nervously and stood there, his little fist tugging on his yellow shirt.
"Hey, do you guys remember setting off fireworks?" Dustin asked curiously.
"That was..." Hunter began, only to be cut off as his child-like version ran into the room.
"This way!"
The kids ran out of the room, and Shane ignored the others as he thought to himself.
(Out back of the orphanage)
Out back, under the leaky roof, stood the little boy in the red t-shirt. He cried as he looked around. "Sis...Kell..."
(Back in the orphanage)
"Matwyn! Sis isn't here! Where's sis?!" the little boy ran through the room in a panic.
The little boy looked around the empty room sadly. "Sis... Where'd yoo go? Yoo don't like me no more?" he whispered to himself.
What a shameful sight. the adult version of Shane sighed as he remembered how weak he was back then.
(Beach by the orphanage)
"How about this?" little Hunter asked as he piled some small fireworks on the sand in the middle of the group.
The beach stretched on for miles in one direction, and ended at a high cliff in the other. The sand was a dark, murky yellow, and the clear blue ocean water lapped gently against the shore. The steps leading up to the orphanage were lined with flowers, thought other than that, the land was barren with a few whisps of brown, dried grass.
Marah jumped and clapped excitedly. "YEAHHH!"
The adult Tori's eyes widened. "We did set off fireworks!"
The sky darkened as the daytime turned into night, and the children stood in a circle around a fire. Little Dustin came running down the long flight of stairs, staring at the others with fear.
"Kids aren't suppost'a play with fire!" the little version of him whined to the others. He stood by them and shook his head. "I'm tellin' on yoo!!!"
A little boy with dark skin and dark hair turned to him and smirked. "Cry-bab-by-Dus-tin!" he taunted. "Go back to bed!!!"
"If I remember this, doesn't that mean I was there, too?" Dustin asked curiously.
"...We all got in big trouble." Tori remembered with a wince.
"But, what about my parents in Balamb?" Dustin continued.
(Orphanage Bedroom)
"The Brooks' in Balamb must've adopted you." Tori answered him simply.
"Yep, that's probably it." Hunter agreed.
"I...was there..." Dustin seemed in shock.
"Yoooooo! Come on! Stop it! Matwyn, help!!" little Dustin howled.
The little boy from before, with the dark skin, ran into the room and grinned at Dustin who was in tears. "CRY-BA-BY-DUS-TIN!!!" he taunted loudly as he made a face. He wore a simply navy t-shirt and grey pants.
"Wait..." Marah seemed to be recalling the same person. "Who's THAT?!"
"NYA-NA-NA!" the boy continued to taunt.
"Oh my god!" Tori cried in shock as she remembered.
Dustin sighed. "Blake... My archenemy."
"WOW! He was there, too?!" Marah cried in shock.
Hunter laughed a little. "Well...?"
End Flashback
Hunter nodded at all of us. "Blake was there, too. With the exception of Kapri, we were all there."
Frowning a little, I looked at Kapri who looked confused and felt a little bad. The only reason she hadn't been there, was that she wasn't from this world, and this world's Kapri's father was still alive.
"Heeeeey!" Marah spun to me with her kaw wide open. "That means..."
I was leaning against a rock, but stood up and nodded slowly, not really wanting to relive this, but realizing I didn't have a choice. "Yeah...I was there, too."
Flashback
"I..."
The same little boy looked up to the sky sadly, tears streaming down his face as he felt his world fall apart. First his parents, and now 'Sis'. He thought everyone kept leaving him behind and began to be afraid to accept people into his life, constantly fearing losing them in the end and being hurt.
"...Sis..."
End Flashback
"I was always waiting for 'sis' to come back." I admitted softly.
Flashback
"I'm...all alone."
The little boy was getting wet, but not soaked, as he stood below the leaky roof, watching the rain fall to the ground, but not really seeing it as his vision blurred from the tears.
"But I'm doing my best... I'll be ok without you, sis. I'll be able to take care of myself."
End Flashback
I didn't turn out 'ok' at all... I thought darkly. Frowning, I tried to piece it together. "Sis...Kell... Kelly. So Kelly was Sis. Tori, Marah, Dustin, Hunter, Blake, Kelly and myself... Yeah... I'm not sure what the meaning behind all of this is, but we were definitely together."
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So, what do you think? I realize the flashbacks might be confusion, but I didn't know how else to write them.
And this isn't it for the revelations. LOL.
Hope you like it.
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"Hey... Do you all remember...?"
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Ok the actual quote had something else in it, but for the purpose of being a pain and suspence, I didn't want to mention it just yet. Don't worry, you'll find out what I'm talking aobut next chapter. LOL.
R+R please!
Thank you.
Tenshi