Disclaimer - all
characters in this story belong to SquareSoft. No infringement is intended.
Dedication - to my beloved
editors Christina and Xedi. For nights of fun, for words of encouragement, for
standing by me when I was unsure, for pulling this story back from hell, for all
these reasons this story would have been impossible without you.
____________________________________________________________________________
The twisted storyline was used with permission of Tamerine, author of FF7
Twisted, whose idea originated from Kaitlin K, writer of FF6-another reality.
Tamerine, you will always and forever be, my favorite fanfiction writer.
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Prologue - Fated
Children
Raine turned her face to
the sky where the large pale moon peaked out from behind the morning clouds.
Rays of sun crept along the bluffs, clothing each blade of grass with a dress of
gold. It was hard to believe that it had already been two years since Laguna had
left her. She remembered the last time she had seen him alive - his brow arched,
eyes glittering, as he grabbed her by the waist and sealed his fate with one
last kiss. Now, ironically, two years later, this was to be the last time she
would see him dead.
It was too dangerous here,
for her to remain anymore. In her arms her son had just woken up from his uneasy
rest. He twisted his head around and glanced over the bluff, as his small
clenched fist rubbed his sleep veiled eyes. His fuzzy strands of brown hair
waved gently in the liquid wind of the morning air.
"Mama, are we going
to visit daddy again?" He asked her speaking in a awkward voice but in raw
honesty.
Raine hugged him to her
and inhaled the natural delicate perfume that only children had. It was like a
cross between the freshly bloomed lilac and the bumble bee's gold treasure. He
was like a bundle of things hard and soft in her embrace. And although she might
not ever return here to see the granite marker of where Laguna laid in eternal
rest, she would always have her child to remind her of the brave misunderstood
man that had been her husband.
"Squall," Raine
whispered as she stroked his hair back. "We're going to say goodbye to
daddy today alright?"
He nodded and said nothing
more as she began walking down the worn path into the heart of the Winhill
bluffs. He was too quiet, too understanding for a child only halfway through his
second year in existence. Perhaps she had done something wrong. Living in
constant fear of Adel's wrath couldn't be good for him. It was all the more
reason why she had decided to leave.
"Mama," Squall
interrupted suddenly. "Who's that?"
Raine turned her eyes to
where he was pointing and she was taken back in shock. There was someone already
standing at Laguna's grave. It was impossible. No one came to this forsaken
place except her. Was it too late? Had Adel sent her cronies to finish the job
they started? Raine hugged Squall tighter in her arms hoping that she wasn't
hurting him in her sudden need for comfort. Yet as she walked closer she began
to realize that her fear had been exaggerated. It was just a woman standing
there with a man beside her.
The woman turned around
suddenly, hearing the light footsteps behind her. For a moment she looked
startled as though she had just caught a mysterious intruder in her bedroom. The
man beside her had a rough arrogant look as though he refused to tolerate this
rude visitor that had come disturbing their quiet reverie. The little dark
haired girl he was holding was sucking her thumb in complete nonchalance.
"I'm . .
.sorry," the woman said as she eyed Raine and her child. "I know we
don't belong here but . . .I needed to see for myself that he was really . . .
gone."
Raine felt her persona
spreading over her exterior like a layer of ice under her skin. A moment of
serene sorrow had just inverted into a awkward confrontation. She was in no mood
for this.
The woman reached over
with a gloved hand.
"Hi, I'm Julia
Heartilly." She gestured to the man, "my husband and my
daughter."
Raine unwillingly reached
over and shook her hand. Julia Heartilly, the singer. So Laguna hadn't been
bluffing when he boasted of having met her.
"Who's the little
gentleman?" Julia asked smiling fondly.
Raine shifted her grip on
her son.
"This is my son,
Squall. Squall, say hello."
"Hello," he said
under his breath, his tiny hand thoughtlessly playing with the fabric of her
white sweater as he curiously watched the little girl who was trying to hid her
face in the nook of her father's arm.
Julia reached over and
pulled the tiny pale faced girl from her husband.
"Rinoa, say
something." Julia ordered playfully.
"Mommy, his eyes are
on me." She said fearfully.
Julia laughed heartily.
She shook her head absently in her mirth. Handing the little doll back to her
husband she apologized gingerly.
"She listens to my
songs too much. It must be bad for her." Julia turned her attention back to
her husband. "Take her for a walk. Let me be for a while." Her husband
nodded obediently, eagerly taking his little angel back into his embrace. Julia
watched the duo walk away before she began to speak. "Is it true what they
say? That he was killed by Estharian soldiers?" Julia asked sadly after a
moment's contemplation.
Raine felt Squall falling
back to sleep over her shoulder. She rubbed his back tenderly as she glanced at
the stone on which Laguna's name was carved. "Yes," Raine said.
"He wouldn't let them take my daughter, Ellone."
Julia nodded pressing her
hand against her mouth in a gesture that was a cross between horror and sadness.
"He was a hero. I haven't met too many men like him. He was so full of
dreams, of energy. He's the type of man that gets immortalized in works of art.
I'm just glad . . .that I met him." Julia said.
There was absolute silence
for a moment.
"He's my child's
father. I loved him." Raine said, bluntly.
Julia looked up, smiled
and nodded. "I see him in Squall. I-" Julia stopped in mid sentence as
she heard a scream explode behind her. Julia turned around, her mouth agape as
she realized her husband and daughter had disappeared from view. Almost tripping
in her haste, Julia began to run in the direction of that scream.
Raine stared where she
stood, not sure if she should help or if she would be putting Squall in danger
should she follow. The good Samaritan in her suddenly overcame her motherly
instinct as she began to move her feet after Julia.
A figure grabbed her from
behind.
Raine turned around,
frozen in shock.
In her arms, Squall began to cry.