A/N: Thank you very very much to my first reviewer. You know who you are. *wink* And I realize that I have been misspelling Esthar. I'm sorry :((( I changed the spelling now, though. Oh and please tell me how you like the new characters. They've been spending a lot of time in my head and I wish I developed them enough for them to feel like real people. Thank you very very much for reading my story, you guys. And please review if it's not too much of a bother. THANKS and ENJOY this chapter.
Chapter 9: Dawn
There was nothing in the horizon but the colors of the morning twilight. The delicate glow from the sun that was yet to be seen painted the sky with crimson and amber hues and the dark blanket of the night was beginning to shed itself and the cerulean color of the morning sky was revealed. Seifer Almasy was sitting on the sand, waiting for Garden to display itself from the horizon. Squall Leonhart stood beside him, anxiously doing the same. The two Commanders have been up all night planning about the Gardens' next moves. They figured they can get some sleep when all of this cools down.
"So you think our plan's gonna work?" asked Seifer as he glanced over the horizon again.
"I don't know." Squall replied.
"Don't you feel something in your gut that says this plan is actually gonna fail?" Seifer added.
"I don't know"
"Do you think there will actually be a cool down of these events?" asked Seifer once more.
"I... don't know." Squall was tired from all the planning. Seifer was too as he sighed in exhaustion and sat on the sands as well.
"What are we doing, Leonhart? We're protecting the sorceress that might actually be the witch who will destroy us." Seifer started.
"We stand by our decision. This sorceress is a child. We protect her because her rights are being violated. Besides, she's still our client."
"What if we're wrong? What if they're right? What if no matter what we do, this girl will become Ultimecia. And protecting this girl will only hasten her existence? I felt so guilty after causing so much death and warfare in the last Sorceress War. I can't stand it if she returns in my lifetime."
Squall sighed. It was possible that their client actually was Ultimecia. Still, he can't help but feel awful for the girl. A 17-year old girl will be sealed in the sorceress memorial until Hyne knows when. The idea of it all made Squall cringe. It reminded him of a 17-year old Rinoa Heartilly, captured by Esthar and sealed in the memorial. He couldn't even start to comprehend how Rinoa felt while being trapped in the memorial for a couple of minutes with only feelings of grief and dejection to accompany her. The despair was unimaginable.
"I feel for the child, Almasy. She didn't do anything wrong. She doesn't deserve this."
Seifer smiled. His rival was right. This isn't about Ultimecia's existence. This is about fighting for the human rights of a mere child. Seifer tried to imagine life for the child if she would be sent to the memorial. It would be hell. Hell that would harden the child's heart, turn it into stone. Hell that would create atrocious images in the child's mind until she grows to become a hateful sorceress full of resentment and animosity towards the people who locked her up. She would become Ultimecia.
Figures in the horizon started to appear one by one. First was the cerulean shell of Balamb Garden, to its right was the crimson frame of Galbadia Garden and to its left was the amber exterior of the Trabia Garden. The Gardens looked majestic as they slowly covered the distance between the horizon and the beach. The two commanders stood up. It was time.
The Gardens docked on the beach and a ramp opened up. Out came Xu, the headmaster of Balamb Garden from the ramp that was created by Balamb Garden. From the ramp of Galbadia Garden came out Mark, a gentleman who was obviously in his mod-30s. Mark is the son of Martine, the disgraced headmaster of Galbadia Garden. After the war, Martine was offered the position of headmaster, to which he declined. Instead, he offered the position up to his son, Mark, who was 19 back then and had just become a SeeD. Mark had dark ash blonde hair that was long enough to be tied in a ponytail. He had a hard face and was wearing a red trench coat with silver lining and silver buttons. He looked just like his father.
From Trabia Garden, out came a lady, dressed in a gray pantsuit and her long straight brown hair tied up in a ponytail. Squall recognized the face. It was Selphie's friend from Trabia Garden. She was assigned the position after Selphie left. With Selphie brightening up her mood, she was able to lead Trabia to reconstruction and in less than 4 years, T-Garden was up and running. It was that time when she was offered the position by some of the faculty. She accepted.
The three headmasters walked towards the two commanders. It was a strange meeting. They got introduced then the two commanders led the headmasters inside. Inside the orphanage, the dining area was set up for them. The chairs around the table were occupied by Zell, Quistis, Irvine and Selphie.
"Where's Rinoa?" Squall whispered to Zell as he took the seat beside him.
"Ellone talked to her." replied Zell.
"So Commanders, what are we to do now?" Mark was quick to push the meeting forward.
"We have a plan of action, headmaster. We just don't know if you're going to agree with it." Squall replied.
"Well Squall, you know it is not our decision. We're just here to carry out the orders." Xu insisted Squall to continue.
"Yes, but we would appreciate your input."
"Okay then. Lay it on us." said Selphie's friend.
"Okay. Seifer and I decided that it would be best for Garden to hide ourselves from the world until the situation cools down. We plan to send a couple of SeeDs to Galbadia and Esthar. They will send back reports to us to let us know if it is safe to come out of hiding." Squall started narrating.
"Regarding the sorceress, we think it is best to keep her hidden as well. But not in Garden. In the event that one of the Gardens is captured by either Esthar or Galbadia, it is a good thing if the sorceress isn't in Garden. We will also have SeeDs that will accompany the sorceress." Seifer continued.
"Where do you plan to hide the sorceress?" asked Mark.
"Here. In Centra."
The room was silent. Everyone got to thinking. Mark cleared his throat and prepared to talk.
"If you don't mind me asking, Commanders, what are we doing here? We are protecting the sorceress that might actually turn out to be Sorceress Ultimecia? I thought Garden's new goal is to try to stop Ultimecia from ever existing? Why are we securing the safety of our enemy."
"She is not our enemy. She's only a child." Squall spoke up calm as ever.
"Come on, commander. The white hair? The sorcery? The immense power she displayed on her attempt to journey to Timber?"
"She is our client." Squall was starting to get agitated.
"Oh, it's fine, then. It's alright to protect Ultimecia as long as she's our client?! Are you two crazy?!" Mark stood up, face redenning and veins starting to appear on his neck.
"Sit down, Mark." Seifer broke his silence.
"No. Commander. Your plan is pointless! We are risking thousands of lives to protect Ultimecia?"
"There is no way to be sure that she is in fact Ultimecia, Mark. Would you just sit down and listen to us first?" Seifer stood up as well.
"No."
"Sit down, Mark. That's an order." Seifer raised his voice and the whole orphanage woke up. Mark turned to look at him, not at all phased by the sudden outburst from the Galbadia Garden commander. He complied. Seifer sat down as well.
"We must remember, Sorceress Sylphia is the daughter of the Duke of Dollet. She is not just our client. She is royalty. She is an important political figure in Dollet. Once the sorceress is sealed, war will definitely happen. Now, Dollet may just be a small country that is incapable of waging war to any superpower like Galbadia or Esthar but it controls one of the world's most important natural resources, Adamantine. Admantine is important to Esthar's technology. We do not know why because our researchers are having trouble trying to access Esthar's technology researches. Adamantine is also important to Galbadia's missile technology because it is a very hard substance and will enhance the power of their missiles. It will be difficult for Galbadia and Esthar to wage war upon Dollet because they will risk destroying the Adamantine-rich environment. Dollet is now an impervious force because it keeps the superpowers at bay. Since Dollet is now impenetrable, they can wage war upon the superpowers. We do not want that to happen."
Mark understood but was still frowning.
"Think about it. What environment can create an evil so intense that it wants to compress time?" Seifer added.
"It's war." Squall answered. Everyone nodded. With war, Sylphia, or any other sorceress for that matter, will grow up to hate the people that destroyed her life. Ultimecia exists from war. Therefore, Garden and SeeD must do all it can in its power to stop war from starting. With this, SeeD brings a new hope to the world. The world need not experience Ultimecia because SeeD is right here to prevent it. SeeD has given the world a new dawn.
"I guess that makes sense." Xu broke the silence.
"I'm glad you saw it our way. Arrange all SeeDs and candidates on the beach. Meet there by 1100 hours. Dismissed."
Everyone stood, saluted to the commander and went out. The headmasters went back to the beach to Garden.
Squall walked to the flower fields to clear his mind and to see Rinoa. He figured she was there. She wasn't. He stepped down the steps and walked on the field. A light breeze flew past him, carrying with it a cloud of petals. Squall closed his eyes to feel the gentleness of the breeze. He opened his eyes and saw a single white feather floating in the breeze. He smiled, then turned around.
"Hey, you." said Squall as he saw the slender figure that was approaching him. It was his wife, Rinoa Leonhart. She wore a blue tank top and her black arm warmers. She also wore black shorts and battle boots. Her raven hair was tied up in a bun.
"I figured you'd be here. Is the meeting over?" she asked as she reduced the distance between her and her husband.
"Yeah. It was." Squall sighed. "How did things get this complicated?"
"Life was easier 18 years ago." Rinoa repeated what she stated at the campfire as she wrapped her arms around Squall's neck. The latter wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Do you remember what happened here, 18 years ago?" Squall smiled as he looked straight into her eyes.
"How could I forget?" Rinoa smiled back.
It was a dark night. The moon was starting to sink and the two silhouettes on the flower fields knew that twilight was approaching. A raven-haired girl with a black tank top and black shorts rested her head upon the brown-haired boy to her right. The boy wore a white v-neck shirt with a lion necklace and black leather pants. He wore leather gloves on his hand and the left one was balled into a fist. The couple loved watching the sunrise and they woke up extra early. Centran twilights are special. They are undisturbed by the lights of the city.
The night sky started to be painted by the hues of the sunrise.
I can't believe I'm here with her. I can't believe another person can make me this happy. The brown-haired boy thought as he fumbled with a silver ring on his left hand.
The moon was still visible but was less majestic due to the sky lighting up.
What if she says no?
The colors of twilight started to flood the morning sky.
This is the happiest moment of my life.
The moon started to sink into the horizon.
I can't ruin this moment with this ring. Maybe I'll do it tomorrow. thought the brown-haired boy. Just then, the raven-haired girl turned towards him and noticed something troubling him.
Yellow filled the morning sky.
"What's wrong?" asked the raven-haired girl. The thoughts of the brown-haired boy stopped. He looked at her.
"Nothing" he said as the blanket of the night sky started to disappear into the morning.
The sun started to rise.
"It's here." Squall smiled, pointing at the yellow orb that was slowly coming out of the horizon in the opposite direction. The raven-haired girl turned to look at it.
She smiled at the sun.
Squall kissed her head as he looked at the sunrise. "I love you, Rin." said Squall.
"I love you too." replied Rinoa, never looking away from the beautiful sunrise. Squall brought out the ring. It had a beautifully-cut diamond that was golden in the light of the morning. Wing details adorned the sides of the ring and inside it was the text: I'll be here.
Rinoa sighed as the sunrise ended and the sun was fully visible in the morning sky. She turned back toward Squall and saw his head bowed down, his cheeks red and his hand holding out a beautiful silver ring.
Tears started to fill her eyes. He looked at her, smiling.
"Yes."
Squall and Rinoa got married four months after the proposal. It was a simple wedding and the ceremony was held on the flower fields. Squall wore a black tux while Rinoa wore a sleeveless white silk gown with feather details on the trail. Her raven hair was tied up in an elegant bun and her caramel highlights fell gracefully in front of her face. She wore white silk gloves and was holding a bouquet of red roses .
Behind Squall were Zell, Irvine, Seifer and Headmaster Cid while behind Rinoa was Selphie, Ellone, Quistis and Sorceress Edea.
"Rinoa." Squall's voice cracked. He kept his composure but was smiling that small smile at Rinoa the whole time. "I love you. I love you not because of that beautiful face that pulls all hearts. I love you not because of your eloquence. I love you not because of that sparkle in your eye every-time you talk. I love you not because of any reason. I love you..."
Squall can't help but let a single tear fall from his eyes. Rinoa's lips started shaking as she smiled.
"I love you because I do. Because there is nothing else I can do but to love you. I love you because I am nothing without loving you."
Squall put the ring on her finger. It had feather details surrounding it and it matched the engagement ring.
The girls behind Rinoa smiled. It was rare to see Squall like this. Rinoa really brings out the best in him. These two are meant to be together. The boys behind Squall smiled as well, even though Irvine never believed in destiny, these two could actually change his mind.
"Squall" Rinoa's voice cracked. Tears escaped from her eyes. She smiled as she wiped them. "A fire can't exist without something to burn. I can't exist without you. You are the ice that I had to break. The cold I had to warm. The rock I had to melt. You are the reason I exist."
Rinoa started crying. Squall's smile widened. He held her hand tighter and his face started to soften.
"I love you because I don't know anything else. I love you because I exist for you. I love you because you exist for me."
She put the ring on his finger.
The pastor pronounced them wed and they walked down the aisle to the new dawn.
After a year, Rinoa gave birth to Louie Leonhart. The boy had Squall's ice blue eyes and Rinoa's raven hair. It was a happy and proud moment for the sorceress and her knight. Louie was everything they have ever dreamed of.
That year, Seifer and Quistis got married and Quistis gave birth to Carlos Almasy. The next year, Selphie and Irvine got married and then Zell and Sophie. Selphie and Irvine had Krys after a year and Zell and Sophie got Dash.
At five years old, Rinoa knew Louie was a sorcerer. It was Edea Kramer who told her for she has this sense that someone near to her has the abilities of a sorceress. They were shocked. The couple was worried for their son. If the world knew, they would be quick to judge him and he would never be happy. So they decided to keep it a secret, even to Louie until he was 13.
Louie grew up to be a fine young man. He had Squall's critical thinking, introversion and gunblade skills and Rinoa's radicalism, drive and sorceress abilities. He accepted his powers whole-heartedly and slowly learned to love them even if the world wouldn't think so. He slowly learned to try to not care what people think. He became the independent young SeeD that he was today.
Rinoa smiled as another breeze flew past her and her husband. She sighed. "I love reminiscing"
"So what did Ellone tell you?" asked Squall.
"She told me about her new abilities. She's wondering if she can try it out on me."
"What is it?"
"She's going to send me to my consciousness in the future."
"What? How did Elle learn to do that?"
"She told me she discovered it accidentally. She was playing with her own consciousness, pretty much close to the present and she got a glimpse of herself waking up. She stopped before the visions continued."
"Wow. So did you agree?"
"At first. But then I realized. I'm afraid of the future. I just want it to be right now. Whatever the future brings, it will bring. I love the present too much to think about the future." She smiled at her husband.
The couple was silent until Rinoa broke it moments later.
"Squall. This plan of yours. To run away in fear of starting a war?"
"I know it's not the best. We'll work it out."
"Lady Sylphia is the most prominent sorceress in the world right now."
"What are you getting at?"
"If she could speak publicly for the sorceresses, there would be no prejudice anymore. Everyone could at least start accepting sorceresses as humans too."
"Nothing is that linear, Rin. We can't guarantee that that specific action will not lead to war and will lead to the change we are hoping. Besides, this kind of thing may turn the child into a power-hungry person."
Rinoa got to thinking. "Yeah."
Silence.
"But we have Ellone's new abilities. Once she meets someone, she can identify if she is Ultimecia."
"We're still not sure of that."
Rinoa sighed. "Just think about it." said the sorceress. "Louie wouldn't have to hide in fear anymore. He'd be living a free life."
Squall bowed his head in thought. She was right. It was worth a shot. It would be what Louie would want for himself. It would be what his son would want for the rest of the world. Squall smiled.
"I'll talk to Seifer."