Battle of Egos

Author: Qevna

I don't own the characters. They are property of Square Enix Co, LTD.

Chapter 5 Memories from the past

But the fighter hadn't died. He had just ran of for a hiatus to the old orphanage where they had spent their childhood. Edea wasn't there so Zell had time to think back to the times of their youth, how they had played on the flower fields and around the house. Zell remembered how Seifer had made him cry so many times during numerous plays of hide and seek and tagging. He also remembered the night when they had all sneaked out to watch the fireworks at the new year's eve. Irvine and Selphie had fell asleep on the field while he and Seifer had started matching again. Squall had stop the fight after Seifer had drawn iron stick and hit Zell hard with it on his head. The tears had dried when the boys made a peace and sat together front of the campfire.

Zell laughed softly and rubbed back of his head as to remember that hit. This was the way he remember Seifer. Cocky but also ready to please those who had more power than he had. Squall was the strongest so naturally Seifer had followed him everywhere. But Zell.. the chickenwuss didn't have a chance to be looked up by Seifer even if he had hoped for it. Yerned to be leader and hero. Of course Selphie thought that he was a hero but what does the girls know. The real recognition came from the guys. That's what his grandfather had thought him. And that was the goal. To get recognition to live up his grandfather's name and honor.

Irvine wasn't really his friend, Squall had his own problems, Selphie was his "sister", Rinoa had her own share of the problems and too many issues with guys, Quistis he hadn't ever known that well... so that leaves Seifer. Sure Seifer had issues to solve but Zell saw an opportunity. If Seifer recognized him as his equal, maybe he had a chance.

For awhile the fighter sat there and thought nothing. He stared the wooden door from the couch. It was late and fire on the fireplace was getting smaller. He took his packbag and found snacks from the bottom of it. Small bites but something to keep the hunger away. It would be a matter of time before people would start to look for him here. Edea wasn't coming back, her stuff was taken away. Only old furnitures and some wood for the fireplace was left behind. It had took him a week to get there by train and boats, people from the Garden would be able to get there faster, they had their ways. He opened an old map he carried with him and looked around to find a better place to stay. Remembering that he had friends in Timber and Dollet, he thought of his chances to keep his presence hidden there. Pretty low, but at least he could get food.

A next couple of days he spent travelling to the Esthar City, fighting fiends that came to his way and camped on the forests. He only saw a pair of people on his way to the city, one who was selling items while travelling. That salesman told him that Garden had reported a missing SeeD but no one had sent a searching crew on it's way. Zell thanked the man and bought some food. Small boatrental places where along the shore and that way Zell was able to get on the other continent without having to swim across the sea. From Esthar city his course was to the FH. Because there was bigger hills and mountains, his travelling became harder and slower.

After final mountains that kept him away from the sea, he was finally able to breath awhile. He was able to see FH from the shore and to him, it looked very charming and peaceful from the distant. He knew that the whole places was full of crap and iron and stuff that was not needed, but from the distant it glithered in the sunlight.

"I wish Seifer would see this. I know he doesn't care this shit, but those ray of lights are just too pretty to hate." He said aloud and fell on his back to the grass and closed his eyes. A train tracks on his left side, mountains behind him and an open sea in front of him. The blonde took a deep breath. Could this day take a turn to the worse?