This chapter is a little unique, so I hope you guys enjoy it.
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Star Ocean © to Square Enix!
Final Fantasy © to Square Enix!
All OCs © to their respective creators!
Chapter 25: Letters
"I like this tradition. It feels… right." Isa smiled.
Axel grabbed a piece of paper, heading for the library. "Agreed."
As he reached the library, he sighed, sitting down at the table and grabbing a pen.
"Happy Father's Day…"
And he began to write.
…
Dad,
I guess I should start this with… I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was a pain in your butt. I was always giving you trouble, wasn't I? You were a guard and had to deal with your son constantly getting tossed out of the castle.
And I'm sure you and Mom wouldn't be too proud to hear about me in the Organization. I was an assassin, you know. I did some pretty bad stuff back then.
But I did make some great friends.
I realize now that I tried to take care of them like you did for me. Though I did a much worse job of it. I screwed up a lot. But I guess that's what happens in life.
You live and you learn.
I'm doing better now. I'm pretty much a father too. I'm the guardian for a teenager. You would've liked him. Mom too. He's a good kid. You'd probably love sparring with him for fun.
I miss you.
I miss you and Mom so much.
Part of me still hopes that you're out there somewhere, but I know you two were on the front lines, holding off the Heartless as people fled home. One day, I'll see you again. And then I'll give you the details about everything.
And hey, as long as I hold you in my memories, you're never far away. I've got you both memorized as long as I live.
I'll do my best to make you proud.
-Lea
Isa sighed.
This holiday was going to be a rougher one.
At least, for him and Lea.
But, he'd follow the town's tradition too.
Pulling out a pen, he began to write.
…
Dad,
Happy Father's Day.
This town I'm living in has a whole day to celebrate dads.
You would've liked it. I can almost hear you saying how much you need to be appreciated because "your son runs off to get in trouble so much". But I know it would just be a joke.
As much as this letter should be about all the things I did growing up, telling you all I've accomplished, it isn't.
I know for a fact you and Mom would be disappointed in the things I've done. The people I worked for willingly would make you angry. The people I've hurt would make you sad.
Especially the three I live with now.
I'm grateful for the second chance they gave me, and I know you'd give me one too.
I'm doing my best to atone, and part of that was becoming a guardian and taking care of someone I hurt. Her name is Xion. I'm her legal guardian now, and basically a father in all but name. And if she every called me dad, it would be very strange.
She's a good kid. And she loves to bake, which I know you'd like. You always were partial to the sweets Mom would make.
You and Mom would spoil her, I just know it. And I'm sure, if you're actually still out there somewhere, you'll meet her someday.
I hope you're still out there. I really do. I miss the both of you, and I want to make up for the years I missed, and the chaos I caused as a kid.
I miss you.
-Isa
Roxas sat at his desk in study hall.
Staring.
Staring at the blank piece of paper before him.
It was Father's Day, and there was this whole tradition of writing a letter to your dad and giving it to them. He'd asked the teacher if guardians counted on Father's Day, and Ms. Bram said yes.
But what to write?
Closing his eyes, he thought back to every memory he had of Axel. Good and bad.
When his eyes opened, his pen began moving across the page.
…
Dear Axel,
Happy Guardian's Day. That's what I'm going to call it for you.
First of all, thank you for being my guardian. You didn't have to go out of your way to make me part of your family and take care of me, but you did. And I'm eternally grateful. And even in the Organization, you tried to take care of me and Xion.
I remember that first mission, when we got ice cream together. You were my first friend. You showed me what friendship was. And not only that, looking back, you showed me what family was too.
But we were quite the dysfunctional one back then, weren't we?
The times we fought. I called you a jerk to Xion once, you know, after you knocked her out and brought her back to the Organization. But I realize now that you were following orders, and if you didn't, you'd be in trouble too. At the time I was so worried about her, I didn't consider your thoughts, so I'm sorry. And I think that deep down, you thought she'd be safer with us than with Riku.
All the lies you told and secrets you kept hurt me. I can't lie about that. But I can look back and see what you were trying to do.
You were trying to keep us safe. In your own way.
I'm sorry I was so angry toward you. I was just so confused and scared. I do wish you'd been more honest with me, but what's in the past is in the past.
I want you to know that I'm happy and proud to be part of your family. And the four of us will never be apart again.
We're a family, and a way less dysfunctional one at that.
You kept your promise, to help bring us back. I know you tried your best.
Thank you.
Thank you for watching out for me.
I love this family so much, everyone in it.
Happy Guardian's Day.
-Roxas
Xion sat down backstage. The boys were practicing some dance scene today, so she had some extra time during rehearsal.
Time to write this note.
Father's Day.
The closest thing she had was a guardian. Ms. Bram said that counted.
Looking around, many of the other cast members were also writing letters.
This was important.
And so, she began.
…
Dear Isa,
It's Father's Day, and you're the closest thing I have to a dad.
When you first came to us, I remember being scared. I kept thinking about all the things you said and did back in the Organization. But I also remembered what you said in the Keyblade Graveyard. You were jealous of us.
I know you won't admit that now, but I remember it.
It was part of the reason I gave you the second chance I did. And I'm glad I did.
You became my guardian and let me become part of your family. And you didn't force me. For the first time, I got to choose who I was. And I chose to be Xion Leingod. And that was part of the reason I decided to take your surname. Back in the Organization, your Nobody always ordered me around, but this time, it was my choice. You gave me a choice. It showed me who you were.
And since then, you have done so much for me.
We're not just family on paper, but for real.
The nightlight and teddy bears were just the first step. You comforted me when I was afraid. You were willing to stand up for me when those bullies were harassing me. I heard you threatening to go give their parents a piece of your mind.
It made me happy.
In the Organization, I felt so vulnerable. Like at any moment Xemnas could snap his fingers and I wouldn't exist anymore. I never truly felt safe during those times. But I feel safe now.
And it's thanks to our family.
You taught me how to cook and bake. We learned to garden together. We take Kosho on walks together.
We're family.
Forever.
-Xion
That evening, the four stood at the Sunset Terrace. Many people filled the streets as people handed balloons around.
Roxas and Xion watched, holding their letters as Axel and Isa took a balloon each, tying their letters to them.
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
On the stroke of seven, all those who wrote to fathers who no longer walked on the world let the balloons go.
Their messages floating away on the wind.
Axel and Isa watched, eyes following their balloons as they flew away and out of sight.
"Well," Axel wiped his eyes, "that's done… why don't we head home?"
"Not yet." Roxas handed him his letter as Xion gave hers to Isa.
The two men smiled as they opened and read the letters.
Axel's tears dripped onto the paper as he read it. Isa's eyes looked misty.
Pulling Roxas into a hug, Axel laughed. "Thank you."
Xion didn't give Isa a chance to ask if he could hug her. As soon as his mouth opened, she wrapped her arms around him.
"Get over here!" Axel threw one arm around Isa, dragging him and Xion into a group hug.
Smiling.
Happy.
And somewhere… far beyond the edge of existence, four people watched.
A couple, both with red hair. And another couple, both with blue hair.
Smiling at the four.
I'm gonna go cry now.
