by Serena Lee
(ezee@rocketmail.com)
Note : Please read the WHOLE thing before commenting,
and please bear in mind that I couldn't remember all the details in the
game while writing this.. so I may have misinterpreted some things. So,
pleeeeease be nice and understanding ^_^ That's all that I ask for!!!
It bobbed up and down, gently carried by the waves.
Seifer heaved an impatient sigh, his eyes narrowed and never leaving
the sight of the fishing line.
Rising and falling, the floating red bauble continued to do so unperturbed,
mocking its owner's own flaring temper.
You rose as a noble Knight, and fell like a
pathetic coward.
Just like that little ball.
Just like that little boy, so long ago.
Those words sent boiling blood coursing through his veins. His burning
anger rose once again for the umpteenth time that afternoon, like fire
fueled by a fresh spray of Oilboyle blood. "I'm not.. a coward--" he seethed
quietly through gritted teeth, determined not give in to that voice echoing
in his mind.
Oh, but you are. You ran-- far, far away.
Away from your Sorceress when she needed you..
Away from your Knighthood at the moment of
your greatest challenge...
Far, far away..
Just like that little boy, so long ago.
"No.." the weak denial came. "It could not be helped. I was surprised
by Gilg÷"
You lost, and ran away on your own accord.
Thus you fell like a coward.
The accusations were too much for his fragile psyche, and he felt his
shoulders beginning to tremble despite the warm afternoon sea breeze blowing
against his back. The venomous voice was persistent, never giving its victim
a moment's respite from the harsh truth of reality.
Admit your mistake.
Admit the truth.
"N.. No.." he retorted with a shaky voice to himself. Seifer Almasy
would never concede defeat ... not once, not ever. From time beginning, he
envisioned himself as a hero in the people's eyes. A martyr who willingly
sacrificed his personal will for the benefit of Hyne's descendents. A noble
Knight who surrendered his body, mind and soul to a lifetime servitude
towards his Sorceress. He would do anything ... anything at all ... to grasp
this near-impossible accomplishment.
He wanted his name to be written down in history books. He wanted to
be remembered. He wanted to be a part of the people's memories. He wanted
to be recognised as the Knight whose soul burned with the passion of a
romantic dream.
And he did achieve this ambition of his.. once. So long ago.
In that sense, he triumphed, didn't he?
SeeD was victorious÷
"-- only because they had that Leonhart to lead them--"
A-ha, so you admit being defeated by÷
"No! Squall had an unfair advantage over me - he attained so many more
GFs and Renzokuken skills which I did not possess. And they sent THREE
SeeDs against me--"
Excuses and more excuses, little boy. You even
applauded at his appointment into SeeD, didn't you?
"A mere gesture from a Knight who respects his opponent's capabilities
and successes. Is that not an honourable thing to do?"
Oh.. and what of.. Caraway's daughter? You
had her taken from you before your eyes.
"We were incompatible. Now leave my personal affairs alone!"
His nerves were frayed, and he was on the edge of yet another outburst.
Fingers clutching the fishing rod tightly, a deep frown on his usually
stoic and serious visage, he growled out his final warning.
"-- leave me alone."
Suddenly, laughter filled the air. The blonde swung around just in time
to see Raijin holding up a freshly-caught Balamb Fish. It struggled and
twitched in vain, and more so when the smiling, jovial young man too, hopped
about in what would seem to be a childish victory dance. On the other side
of the plank, an expressionless Fujin glared in disdain with her arms akimbo.
You ARE alone, Seifer.
See how happy they are in your absence?
For once, he realised, there was some truth in the voice. Here he was,
on one end of the jetty, and the duo on the other. Here he was, contemplating
about the accusations ringing in his ears, while the two frolicked happily
in the peaceful midsummer Dollet sun, trying to fish beneath clear blue
skies. His presence was completely ignored.
Forgotten.
Like a distant memory.
Gone were the days when he could place his arms around their shoulders,
and declare proudly that they were an unbreakable group, a unique Garden
posse in its own class. Gone were the days when both Raijin and Fujin would
look up to him, to seek advice and friendly company, while they were carrying
out their duties as the widely-feared Disciplinary Committee.
They remained unaware of Seifer's growing disappointment, with Raijin
giggling like a child and Fujin behind him and pondering thoughtfully if
she should aim for his shin, or his butt. Never once did they approach
and console him.
Of course they didn't. They have no reason
to.
They do not need to share their happiness
with you anymore.
That was it, the blonde silently cried out. Eyes blazing with the fury
of Firaga, his cheeks slightly flushed from frustration and bitter resentment,
he stood and threw his fishing rod down angrily. It hit the wooden boards
with a hollow, dull smack. The empty sound was quickly swallowed by the
gentle crashing waves, but to Seifer, it was a sound which amplified his
own hidden grief, mirroring the turmoil he felt within himself.
A painful slap on his face, it was. It burned, and left a searing mark
on him.
Nobody seemed to notice his sudden display of aggression. Not even those
two, who once walked with him side by side, and committed themselves into
serving his cause until the moment everything went out of control.
The moment YOU went out of control, and lost
focus of your goals.
That blatant statement was ignored. Seifer had been tormented far too
long to listen to everything that annoying voice said.
Splash, and down went a helpless Raijin when Fujin resolved to have
the last laugh. Her booted foot was held up in defiance and a satisfied
smirk was etched on her rarely gleeful face.
Seifer too, threw his head high up and laughed at the amusing scene
in front. And to the heavens so high above ... mocking the gods for what
had become of him.
Fate is cruel. And yet you still smile.
Seifer Almasy gloats over his victory, and grins even at his most powerful
adversaries, he thought.
He denies his failure, and runs away..
"-- only to live and fight for another day," the blonde concluded poetically
without much thought. How many times was he disgraced in battle? How many
times did he reappear to face his foes again, and again? Resilient, a Knight
should be. Defending his Sorcererss was to be his sole objective in life.
Ah.. but that day would never come.
Ever.
Seifer gave an incredulous look to no one in particular. For a moment,
he allowed the silence to sink in while he took in the scenery before him
breathlessly. The dock was deserted, save for a snickering Fujin, and a
drenched Raijin pleading his friend to lend him a helping hand from the
chilly seawater. The tropical afternoon heat was lethargic, which had sent
most of Dollet's residents hiding in the coolness of their air-conditioned
homes ... and probably slumbering in their usual afternoon siestas. Seagulls
circled lazily overhead, giving an occasional cry as they continued their
vigilance for any returning fishermen from the far horizon. It was a tranquil
time for Dollet.
That day.. will never come.
You'll never live and fight for another day,
Seifer Almasy.
He felt drained and tired. Strength had left his limbs and his head
bowed in what seemed to be a show of humiliation and admittance. How many
times did he have to argue with this inner demon of his? How many times
did he have to restrain himself from allowing his patience to run too thin?
He was strong in combats, quick in his Magic, proficient with his Hyperion,
and sharp with his insults. But this.. this endless strings of blames and
guilt.. it was almost a torture to live day by day, trying to block out
the voice lurking in the corners of his consciousness. But what was worse,
he had to face it--
Alone.
This is your punishment of your actions.
Condemned to eternal isolation.
Destined to lead a solitary life as a defeated
ghost of the past.
A fallen warrior, a traitorous Knight.
Seifer looked to his side with arched eyebrows, his blue eyes squinting
against the bright sunlight, his heart silently wishing that Fujin or Raijin
would at least turn their heads and give him a supportive smile. Even an
irritating "ya know" would do wonders to his badly-shaken soul now.
Look how they revel in joy without you.
That's what you are to them--
Forgotten, like remnants of the ancient past.
No longer remembered, like a bitter, distant
memory .
A sigh. Perhaps.. a defeated sigh, it was?
A familiar hum began to rise from the east, growing in intensity in
each passing second, until Seifer could make out its source. The majestic
Balamb Garden loomed above all of them ominously, darkening the skies for
a brief moment, filling the air with swirling clouds of dust and seawater
spray. Her massive engines roared deafeningly as she passed by Dollet's
docks in her routine midday patrol.
Seifer gazed in awe, his attention captured by the beauty of his former
sea-blue home, his ever white trenchcoat flapping wildly against the furious
winds. He spent so many years running across those empty hallways, peering
over the computers in the Classrooms, enjoying the cool atmosphere around
the central fountain, clashing gunblades against monsters in the Training
Area--
-- making a ruckus in the Cafeteria when they ran out of hotdogs, annoying
the Doctor with his mischievous antics, pestering the flustered librarians
with his persistent book requests, sending fellow students scampering with
that typical authoritative glare from the head of the Disciplinary Committee,
picking on that naïve chicken wuss--
He did not realise that he was smiling wistfully as Balamb Garden slowly
made its way around the shore, and disappearing into the hills behind Dollet.
"Come on, let's go home, Fuj. Instructor's probably wondering what the
hell we're doing being away from our SeeD Review Test, ya know?" Raijin
remarked through chattering teeth, while trying to squeeze every drop of
seawater out from his lead-heavy, well-soaked vest and trousers.
"HMPH. NO FUN," was all Fujin replied with a snort. After all, It was
her idea to sneak out of Balamb's main gate and to go fishing to relieve
some of that exam tension.
He cursed loudly and cried out in pain, but it wasn't Fujin's kicking
or stomping which made him do that. Seifer tried to suppress yet another
snicker of delight when he noticed what was happening. A small crab, probably
angry at being disturbed, latched its claw at Raijin's middle finger.
"IDIOT!" the silver-haired woman growled in annoyance as she suddenly
strode off, one arm dragging a yelping Raijin away from the port, who was
trying to pry off that offending creature from him. But the blonde knew
that Fujin was secretly smiling in amusement. She always did, although
she never showed it openly to anyone. He could remember that slight upcurve
on her lips, too subtle to be noticed except by the most observant and
the closest of her friends.
But he wasn't a friend to either of them. Not anymore.
Minutes passed. Once again, Seifer was left alone, standing on the edge
of the jetty. The urge to laugh at his former comrade's silliness had long
dissipated. Once again, he was haunted by that same, poisonous voice.
Well? Aren't you going to follow them?
He rubbed his temples, as though the decision was a difficult one. His
answer was strained, every word being painful and reflective of the reality
surrounding him.
"No. After what I did to them-- I don't deserve to return into their
lives. I've caused them too much anguish and hurt already. It's best that
they forget about me ... forever." He sighed, and found himself crouching
on the wooden planks as if a great burden was rested upon his shoulders.
"Besides," he continued as he stared longingly at the direction where
the duo left only moments ago, "they look pretty happy themselves without
me."
He felt his gut twisting into knots. Not too long ago, he would have
shrugged this away as another anxiety attack, or a growing concern over
his bleak future. But now, he knew better.
"I may have won many battles and gained the glory I desired ... if only
for a few days-- but I've lost so much during that process.." his voice
faltered, the whispery words carried off by the gentle breeze blowing from
the seas beyond.
So you do admit your defeat after all.
The will to fight back was gone. Scattered, just as the flower petals
which trailed the Garden as it journeyed through fields of summer blooms
on rolling green hills. Seifer nodded weakly; a defeated Knight he was.
Admitting the sins of your past is only the
first step.
Accepting the truth is the only way to your
release.
An awkward pause. The blonde did not know what to say or do.
Come now. It is time you return home.
A home hidden in the deepest abysses of the oceanic depths, woven by
the tattered fabrics of time and space. A barren and godforsaken abode
shrouded eternally in darkness and loneliness, filled with... nothing.
An empty place, just as his grief-stricken mind was. A cold, depressing,
watery niche devoid of life, completely deserted and shunned by the living.
But the young man grinned.
Fate is cruel. And yet he still smiles, Seifer thought.
After all, he was still a heroic Knight in heart.
One whose soul still burned with the passion of a romantic dream held
so long ago.
"Yes-- it's time to return."
A thunder rumbled in the distance, signalling a heavy downpour for the
rest of the evening. Seifer Almasy stood up, and stretched his stiffened
muscles and yawned casually as if it was just another idle day gone by.
He even took the time to straighten out his trenchcoat and his breastplate,
brushing off the invisible dust and sand from his clothes.
Seifer smoothed out his short-cropped golden hair and allowed that ever-famous
smirk to creep up his face. It was a habit which followed him till this
day.
The forgotten Knight may not live and fight another day-- but he remains
what he is now : A distant memory lingering in the people's minds. That,
for him, was more than enough.
Like the arrogant, haughty person he once was, Seifer boldly and recklessly
marched ahead into the waters. But strangely, he did not fall unceremoniously
into the murky depths, nor was his coat ever soaked by the stinging saltwater.
He simply faded into the clear, crisp, midsummer air.
"What is wrong, dear child?"
Rinoa was startled by the calm, crystalline voice, but she was determined
not to show her distress to anyone. She was now a Sorceress, and the heir
to the country of Timber. Any display of vulnerability and weakness was
simply intolerable, for they do not befit such a powerful influence that
she was. Remaining silent, she continued to sit at the edge of the rocky
cliff, her knees tucked neatly under her chin, her arms holding her legs
together.
She looked so much like a helpless, distraught infant.
A newborn Sorceress, who had yet to master nor to control her unimaginable
abilities.
Edea shook her head sadly, letting the long straight locks of raven
hair to tumble over her slender shoulders. Once, people would regard this
as a dangerous sign of disapproval, or perhaps, of irritation. But now--
"Let the buried feelings out, child. It will do good for you and your
newfound powers."
Rinoa sighed. Edea Kramer was such a perceptive person, who was able
to see through the veil which disguised even the most powerful Sorceress's
emotions. No wonder Squall said that she was an exceptionally caring and
understanding Matron, she thought.
"W.. Will everything.. be torn down?" the younger woman asked in a shaky
voice.
The ex-Sorceress found herself gazing at the scenery around her. Barren
lands stretched for miles, with the desolate atmosphere pervading every
inch in the region. Only the sounds of waves crashing and pounding endlessly
against the cliffs accompanied the two ... they echoed like cries of sadness,
of lost memories from the past, and of the screams of dying White SeeDs
that would one day haunt this place in the far future.
As she caught a glimpse of the old, ruined orphanage far to the south,
her eyes shimmered with tears for a while. By the wise decision from the
Esthar president, and by her approval, the place was to be quietly destroyed,
and a small Garden erected in its place. No one was certain of the future,
and no one dared to speculate what could have happened before Squall's
arrival upon the castle's doorways on that distant fateful day.
White SeeDs would be trained there, and prepared for mankind's greatest
struggle for freedom. They would fight courageously, sacrificing their
lives to pave the way for Balamb's SeeDs. They would willingly throw their
lives away to weaken Ultimecia's servants to ensure a future for the past,
the present, and the future.
And that would explain the sea of fallen warriors which Squall witnessed
before climbing up that massive chain which separated the evil Sorceress
from the dying lands beneath the castle, she thought.
It was ironic that a SeeD was to have started the chain of events leading
to the death of his fellow comrades. It was a circle which could not be
broken; a vicious cycle which would go on, forever, and ever. SeeD will
oppose the Sorceress, and the Sorceress will not hesitate to eradicate
their existence. A bloodbath spanning for generations was unavoidable.
But perhaps it is best to be prepared for the doomed future, she thought
darkly.
"Will this whole.. cliff.. be torn down?" Rinoa repeated her question
meekly, almost afraid of the answer she would receive. Her fingers were
lovingly brushing against a smooth stony surface laid out beside her, while
her legs shifted uncomfortably as another strong chilly gale blew against
her exposed skin.
Edea felt sorry for the girl. So much was expected of her, and yet there
was so little time. She was so young and immature, delicate and unprepared,
and still traumatised from the recent horrifying events. She had to fight
her own inner battles on her own, of conflicting goals and emotions, of
contradicting interests and desires. Such was the agony suffered by every
new Sorceress before the ultimate acceptance of her destiny, and Edea Kramer
was a testament to that.
"Just the orphanage, dear child," the raven beauty tried to console
Rinoa. After all, this place bore deep memories, even for Caraway's daughter.
It was here that she and Squall made their promise.
Edea took a cautious step towards her, a concerned look on her maternal
visage, a hand raised to offer a healing touch of comfort. The glint of
the smooth surface of a flat stone beside Rinoa caught her attention, and
immediately she realised the cause of her anxiety.
"I assure you, child.. nothing will happen to that plaque. It is much
too valuable for me to be removed. And I know-- you treasure it as much
as I do."
For the first time, Rinoa looked up with tears in her eyes which threatened
to spill over down her cheeks. A sniffle escaped from her, and she tried
to hide her face beneath her long flowing black hair again, away from the
shame and guilt that she felt inside her.
The older woman quickly stepped over several protruding rocks, and was
instantly kneeling beside her. A long pale finger tilted Rinoa's chin upward,
allowing the ex-Sorceress to gaze into those glimmering brown eyes. A warm,
confident smile radiated from Edea, filling Rinoa with a sense of renewed
hope. The younger woman marvelled how Edea looked like so close to her
... maternal and almost ethereal at the same time.
"Child, you show compassion even towards those who do harm unto you.
That is a good sign, and you must always remember that. Part with the vengeance
you harboured, and embrace the memories and love you felt before you became
a Sorceress."
Rinoa was already hugging the older woman. She never felt more relieved
to have someone to understand her ... not even Squall could have said those
precious few words which suddenly brightened up her life. Squall may love
her with all his heart, but there were some things which only Sorceresses
could share--
"I realised.. I don't hate him," the voice came through brokenly, as
she was wracked by sobs and grief. Tears which had welled up for the past
hour finally found their release, and trickled unhindered down the pink
cheeks.
"Memories.. of us.. together.. I cannot forget them.. but.. I-- Squall--"
her voice faltered at that moment into sobs and gasps. Emotions were gushing
out like a dam which had burst open, and she let herself free into Edea's
motherly arms.
Edea let out a sigh. She knew what chaos was going through in the girl's
mind. "Set your heart free, Rinoa. He ran away on his own accord when he
realised his mistake in giving you to Adel--"
Rinoa shuddered as she remembered the terrifying gloating face dawning
above her, before consuming her body in a single, cruel swipe of those
crimson claws.
"-- He had seen the wrong he had done. He saw the blood in his own hands,
and the treachery his blind quest had led him to. I felt the fear in him,
child."
A pause. Rinoa lifted up her head slightly, slightly embarassed from
crumbling so pathetically into the older woman's bosom. She sniffled again,
trying to calm herself down.
"Edea.. I saw through Adel's eyes-- I saw his desire to escape his sins--
he ran far, far away that day, never looking back, never giving a second
thought to his romantic dream. He was afraid of what he had done.. not
only to me.. but to his friends."
Edea wanted to tell the girl to stop dwelling in the painful past, but
decided against that when Rinoa continued in an almost sheepish and shaky
voice. Poor girl, she thought.
"He regretted his actions-- He really did. I-- I forgive him-- I want the
old him back-- I want us to be friends--" and her voice lowered again, as
a sudden surge of sadness overcame her.
"But.. why must Fate be so.. cruel? Why did he throw himself from the
Lunatic Pandora, and down into the time compressed world? Why were the
waters so merciless that day? Why did the seas swallow him so quickly?
Why wasn't he allowed to swim to safety? Why was he never found? Why???"
Rinoa almost cried out in utter frustration, her fingers desperately holding
on tightly to the older woman as though she would provide her with the
answers.
But she didn't. The decisions of the heavens were beyond the comprehension
of even the greatest abilities of the Sorceresses.
Both fell silent. Minutes passed.
"I-- I miss him, Edea--" she finally sobbed quietly into Edea's. Like
a mother which Rinoa never had, Edea stroked her hair, whispering words
of understanding. But unknown to the young Sorceress, she too, was already
softly crying against the strong winds.
"So do I, child--
So do I."
Edea embraced the girl tightly, shielding her against the furious gales
now beating against their frail forms. A thunder rumbled in the distance,
mirroring the sadness they felt, promising to bring more misery to the
entire continent.
Edea Kramer was not there to save him on that fateful day. All she could
do, was to lovingly hold on to that distant memory as the years passed..
A memory of loved one, running far, far away..
Just like that little boy, so long ago.
If Squall had been a little more observant while he and his two companions
made their way to the legendary chain anchoring the massive castle to the
ground, he would have noticed a small, rectangular plaque lying near where
the orphanage once was: its surface faded and marred by cracks, the edges
worn-out by the ravages of time, but its existence still as defiant against
the elements of nature as always.
Upon this epitome of the passing seasons, were the words which were
forever captured in a living memory of two loved ones, entombed for as
long as eternity itself :
Seifer Almasy
(xxxx ... xxxx)
Fondly remembered by his friends
as a Knight whose soul burned
with the passion of a romantic dream.
Author's Note : Thanks
for reading! Feel free to distribute this fanfic, or host in your website
if you have one. All I ask in return, is that you give credits to where
they are due.
Comments and brickbats are
welcomed, just send them to ezee@rocketmail.com
Or visit my COLOURLESS
DREAMS homepage at http://surf.to/Serena_Lee
Warning, the FF-related
pages MAY contain YAOI stuff. Viewer discretion is HIGHLY recommended.
This is my first FF8 fanfic,
and I can't believe I already killed off my hero and turned him into some
sort of martyr. Blah. Yeah, he became a wandering ghost from the seas (where
his body lay till this day, and was never found) who clung onto his past,
who would never RIP, who would be eternally be mocked by that annoying
presence lurking in his head, and who would always be found fishing in
Dollet (don't ask me why). Cool!
Anyway, you can guess the
reason why I wrote this.. yeah.. I've read a lot of fics telling us how
Seifer somehow made it safe after the world was time-compressed like a
pancake, and he turned into a new leaf, and went back to his posses, and
start a new life, and eventually became a SeeD, and yadah yadah yadah.
I'm just trying to be different.. err.. hmm..
Can't blame you if you thought this is a rip-off from someone else's work, coz I haven't read every FF8 fanfic out there yet. If you think I've copied someone's ideas, kindly let me know so I can thank them for killing off Seifer and turning him into a worshipped martyr. Or even a divinely image. Ooh. Heh heh. Don't flame me! Ciao!