Rinoa
looked up at Aurora; she was sitting across the room in a chair staring at her
and Squall. Rinoa out her head down again and heard Aurora get up and walk out
of the room, she slammed her door so hard that the picture on the wall fell off.
Rinoa thought for a moment then glanced up at Squall who was staring at the
door that Aurora had just slammed.
“Squall?
Should we tell her, do you think she should know?” Rinoa said in a soft voice.
Rinoa stared at Squall who was still staring at the door. “Yeah, Rinoa, she has
to know. We’re going to be here for a fair amount of time and Aurora is bound
to meet people and they’re gonna know all about us and tell her things.” Said
Squall after a long silence. “We should be the one’s to tell her the whole
truth, and if you want I’ll talk to her. I know that this is hard enough on you
as it is.”
Rinoa
looked at Squall pleadingly, not knowing what to say or think so she decided
just to agree. “Ok… Squall… ok, if you think that’s best. You should go and talk
to her, I’ll stay here.” Rinoa looked up at the door and then to Squall who had
turned to her and nodded solemnly.
Rinoa
walked as her husband, her beloved, got up to tell her daughter what they had
hid from her for 15 years. She watched as her husband entered the room and
closed the door so quietly that there was barely a click. Rinoa lay down and
looked at the ceiling wondering what was going to happen.
Squall
closed the door and walked over to Aurora who was lying on the bed looked
straight up into the skylight out towards the stars. He noticed that there was
tear streaks along her cheeks that had just dried.
Squall
walked to the opposite side of the room and sat down in the window seat and
looked out into the horizon. “Beautiful night, isn’t It.” said Squall quietly.
Squall turned back to look at Aurora who seemed surprised someone was there but
also angry. She must not have noticed he came in, thought Squall.
Squall
glanced back out towards the horizon then put his attention onto Aurora who had
sat up and was cross-legged holding a cushion on her bed, tear streaks still on
her face. “Dad? Are you gonna tell me of make up some lame excuse.” Said Aurora
sarcastically while playing with the edge of the pillow.
Squall
stared at her a moment then figured that there was no use in sugarcoating what
he was going to tell her. “Aurora, I’m going to tell you, but just… well listen
and don’t interrupt me.”
Squall
sighed deeply and looked up at Aurora who nodded in agreement. He began telling
her all about his experiences as a teenager and how he was a loner and became a
SeeD and started going on missions with fellow SeeD’s being Quistis, Selphie
and Zell.
He
told her about how a sorceress had made a treaty with the president of Galbadia
and how she turned on him and took over Galbadia. He also told her about how
they had to try and kill her but didn’t succeed and were taken prisoner in the
Galbadia Prison and escaped and ended up beating the sorceress who was
possessed. He described how she was their childhood Matron at his orphanage
where the entire group except for Rinoa was raised until they were of age for
the Garden’s.
He
told how after the sorceress Edea’s defeat she accidentally passed on her
powers to Rinoa and she became a sorceress and she became possessed as Edea was
by an evil sorceress of the future, Ultimecia.
Squall
kept talking and told her about his long journey to Esthar and to the Lunar
Space station to find his “sis” Ellone to have her help Rinoa out of her coma.
He paused before telling her about Adel’s revival and travelling through the
time compression after defeating Sorceress Adel in order to reach Ultimecia’s
time to defeat her.
After
telling Aurora all of this and telling her about after Ultimecia’s defeat and
the trouble getting back to their own time and Rinoa almost losing him, Squall
stopped talking for awhile. He thought for a minute about how it was all coming
back to him and he didn’t like it.
Squall
looked at Aurora who was staring back at him with a mixed expression of interest
and confusion. Squall wasn’t sure why see looked some what confused but decided
to keep going on his story that would lead to telling her what was going on.
Before
Squall could continue Aurora lay back down on her bed a looked up out into the
skylight and asked, “Is that all, is that what the big secret is?”
Squall
stared at her. “No, Aurora… its not… just wait this out, you’ll know if a
minute.” Said Squall frowning.
Squall
watched as Aurora sat back and hugged her knees and looked at him, waiting for
him to continue so he did.
“As
you know, Aurora…. Your mother is a sorceress.” Squall said, his frown turning
into a straight face again. Squall looked at Aurora a minute as she nodded and
then he continued. He explained how each sorceress has a certain amount of
powers and how one of them is stronger then all of them put together.
He
explained how Edea had her power of Peace and passed it on to Rinoa; how when
Ultimecia was defeated and she traveled time and gave Edea her powers before
she died, the powers of “time and power”. That since time continued that when
Rinoa received Edea’s powers that “time and power” were included and that and
Rinoa became even more powerful.
She
had two main powers as if she had always had them and that since she was so
powerful she was a danger to herself and needed to pass some of them on.
Squall
paused again, unsure of how to put what he was going to say next. He looked
away from Aurora and to the door, hoping that Rinoa would come in and save him
from having to tell her but the door remained closed.
Squall
sighed and turned back to Aurora who now had a concerned and worried look on
her face. Despite that look the continued, he explained that when a sorceress
has to many powers and has to pass them on she’ll either pass them to the
person she is fighting of in the case of having a baby…. To her baby. Squall
explained that since, at that time, there was no more need to fight that her
extra powers were passed on to…. Aurora.
Squall,
who’s eyes had wondered out to the window while telling her this shot right
back to Aurora after he was finished and he saw the look on her face and
regretted everything. He regretted telling her everything!
Aurora’s
eyes shot to the window, she was unsure what to think. She knew that her
expression must not have been too good because her father was looking at her,
very worried and scared.
“Wha---
a… sorceress…. Me?” Aurora managed to stutter. She looked at her father again
who looked as if he was unsure of what to say and she didn’t blame him, she
didn’t really know what to say either.
“Why
did you keep…. This…… from me all this time, dad…. Why?” she stuttered again.
Aurora stared at her father and waited for an answer. Aurora watched as he
opened and closed his mouth again… and again… she knew he was trying to say
something but he just couldn’t get the words out.
“Aurora…
please don’t be angry… we were just trying to…. Protect you.” He said after
what seemed to be forever. Aurora stared at him, angrily, but understood, she
didn’t want to though. For once she wanted to have an excuse to be angry at
him, at her parents but for some reason she just understood, she knew that she
would have done the same thing.
Aurora
looked at her father, Squall, as he looked at the ground and back at her and
apologized. “Don’t… don’t apologize for protecting me… I understand… just… tell
me the rest, ok?” Aurora said quietly.
Aurora
looked at the floor and waited for him to begin talking again, and after what
seemed a long time he began to talk. She listened carefully as he explained
that Rinoa noticed herself weaker after having her and she knew she just knew
that Aurora had become what she was. A sorceress.
Aurora’s
attention stayed fully on listening to what she was and what her powers were.
She listened to him telling her that he had inherited the “time and power”
powers. That she was a very strong sorceress that had not exercised her powers
yet.
Aurora
listened even more intently when he began explaining why they had come here.
She got somewhat worried when he told her about the evil Sorceress Adel coming
back. She wondered why and how but decided to wait until he was done to ask.
Aurora
began to become afraid when Squall told her about Adel’s goal, the same as
Ultimecia’s goal. Time Compression, and in order to get that she needed the
sorceress with the power of “time and power”. She listened as he told that how
the power of strength plus the power of “time and power” was a bad mixture,
that if she got hold of Aurora then she would surely achieve what she has
waited all this time for.
Aurora
sat in a trance of thought as Squall stood up and walked over to her bed and
sat down beside her and put his arm around her to comfort her. She snapped out
of her trance when he began to talk about how they would know more the next
day. Quistis would tell them about what they needed to do.
Aurora
looked up at her father reassurance that everything would be ok after he was
finished talking. She got it, Aurora sat there, and her father reassuring her
that nobody would do anything, ever, to her. That she was safe.
Aurora
hugged him and then Squall stood up. “You know, Aurora… you took this much
better then I would have expected.” He said with a sort of grin beginning to
spread over his face. Aurora stared at him and answered, “Thanks… I really
appreciate you telling me the truth, I needed to know.”
She
watched as her father nodded and began to leave the room to go and see her
mother. Right before he left she remembered something, the ball.
“Dad!
Wait!” she said quickly as she hopped up and ran over to him. “Umm, this may
not be a good time… but when I went on that tour, well, the guy I was with
asked me to go to the SeeD ball with him and I figured that since we would be
here for a fair while I should make some friends.”
Aurora
looked down at her feet and twiddled them a bit then looked back up her father
surprised to see a wide grin spread across his face. “Well… it is a ball you
can’t go in that….” He said as he walked out of her room.
Aurora
looked confused, she waited there a minute and then her father came back in
holding a white dress. “Aurora, this is your mothers… its what she wore when I
first meet her, at the SeeD ball!” he said smiling. Aurora stared at the
beautiful dress and then looked at her father and saw his face turned serious
again.
“Aurora,
I want you to have fun but you have to understand that you are in danger, so be
careful will you. Be back by 11.” Said her father, looking down at the dress
then to her. “Don’t tell your mother, she’s sleeping so she won’t know, hurry
now!”
Aurora
looked up at him, a wide smile spread across her delicate featured face and she
hugged him. “Thank you, dad!” she said happily. She watched as he left the room
and then she shut the door and clicked the lock.
Aurora
glanced at the clock, it was 8:30. She knew she had to hurry so she slipped on
the knee-length white dress and the white high heels that he gave her along
with it and then ran to the mirror. She brushed her hair straight down and
curled the tips and let her hair hang loosely like usual.
Aurora
cracked the door open and inch and saw her mother fast asleep, exhausted and
her father lying next to her. She slipped out the door and sneaked over to the
way out and looked back to see that her father sat up and smiled. She waved
good bye and slipped out the door and shut it with a soft click.
Aurora
walked to the directory, getting excited. She was Dean standing there waiting
with another couple. “Wow, you look great!” Dean said right away. “Thanks, Dean.
You look good yourself.” Aurora said shyly.
Aurora
looked at the other couple and noticed that the girl was Dawn whom she met near
the elevator hours earlier. Dean introduced them, Dawn whom she already knew
greeted her politely and to Jem her date who looked at Aurora for a moment
before greeting her in a humorous way.
“Shall
we go then?” Dean said looking at Aurora happily then to the others. They all
agreed and they headed towards the ballroom. Dean opened the doors and Aurora
looked around in awe… she loved it. It was the more beautiful then all the
rooms in the garden put together!
________________________________________________________________________
Aurora
looked around the ballroom, to the towering pillars at near the walls, surrounded
by flowery gardens. To the decks that also had numerous patches of gardens.
What impressed her most was the beautiful ceiling, completely made of glass
with only gold strips to hold it together.
Aurora,
still looking around, was being directed towards a group of tables with people.
She looked back down towards the people and saw then all waving the group of
the four over. Dean, Jem, Dawn and her all took a place at a nearby table. Dean
whispered in her ear, “Do you mind if Jem and I take off to get some drinks for
us?”
Aurora
who had taken her attention off the group and was again looking up towards the
ceiling at the stars looked back down at Dean and told him it was fine. Aurora
watched as Dean and Jem walked over to the table filled with drinks and food
then looked back towards the ceiling.
“So…
Aurora, how are you tonight?” Dawn said, trying to make conversation. Aurora
had forgotten that Dawn was there and was startled by her voice and nearly fell
off her chair but caught herself. “Oh… I’m… I’m fine. How are you?” Aurora said
still sort of embarrassed.
Aurora
looked at Dawn and blushed. Dawn was giggling at her. “Your kind of funny, you
know! We’d make great friends!” Dawn said still giggling at Aurora. “Oh, umm…
heheh, I guess so! So, how long have you been here for?” Aurora said trying to
stop blushing and giggling.
Aurora
looked over to the table where Dean was and saw him chatting to what looked
like some fellow SeeD members then looked back at Dawn who finally managed to
control her giggles. “I’ve been here since I was 10! I went to Trabia Garden
for 3 years prior to that then my parents decided it would be better for my
just to go to Balamb because I wanted to become a SeeD.” She said.
Aurora
looked at her, sort of impressed. “Oh, you came here to become a SeeD? Are
you?” Aurora waited for Dawn to answer, but her attention was on Jem who seemed
to be making an ass of himself over near where Dean was. He was making some
lame joke about blondes.
Aurora
didn’t notice that Dawn was looking at her now then Dawn started to answer and
Aurora turned back to her. “Haha, Men! They’re all the same.” Aurora nodded
while beginning to giggle. “Umm, no. I’m not a SeeD yet; I’ll be taking a test
next week. I’ve taken my written test but I still have my field exam, it’ll be
a synch!”
Aurora
nodded; her face became straight again. “Aurora, why are you here?” Dawn said
more seriously. Aurora thought for a moment, she knew she couldn’t go telling
Dawn what she really was, but she didn’t want to lie either. She knew she had
to though in order to keep her identity a secret from Dawn, hopefully Dean
wouldn’t say anything. “Umm, I’m here to visit my aunt, Aunt Quistis.” Said
Aurora.
“Wow,
you’re the Headmistress’ niece!” Dawn exclaimed. “That’s pretty cool!” Aurora
thought for a moment, she regretted that instantly. She knew that sooner or
later Dawn would find out who she was, hopefully she wouldn’t know about her
being a sorceress!
Aurora
snapped out of her train of thought when she saw that Dean and Jem had made
their way back and sat down. “Looks like you two have been acquainted!” said
Dean happily. “Well that’s good!”
Aurora
watched as Jem whispered something into Dawns ear and she giggled and they got
up and walked towards the dance floor and began doing an extraordinary dance.
Aurora watched as her black ankle length ballroom dress covered with a black
and gold glittered sheer cover swung elegantly around her. Her hair that was
short and curly before was now put in a tight curly bun with strands hanging
loosely around.
Jem
wore what looked to be a uniform, the same as Dean’s. Aurora figured that it
were the SeeD uniform because many of the guys in the ballroom had similar
outfits on, dark blue with gold trim. The SeeD symbol planted nicely on the
chest pocket.
Aurora
turned her attention to Dean who was staring at her then turned away quickly
and looked up at the stars. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it. All those stars.” Dean
said whispered, as if afraid he may break the glass on the ceiling. Aurora looked
up and nodded then looked back towards the dance floor then back to Dean.
Aurora
stared at him for a second then looked back to the dance floor. The next thing
she knew Dean had her by the hand and was saying, “C’mon, we’re going to
dance!” Aurora’s eyes bulged as she tried to break loose from his hand. “Dean,
I can’t dance, I’ll make a fool of myself and you!” she hissed in a whispery
voice. “Oh C’mon, be a sport, Aurora!” he said.
Aurora
saw that there was no getting out of dancing so she just walked behind him as
he found a place on the dance floor and turned around to face her. Without
saying a word Aurora stood and watched Dean as he lifted her arm and out it on
his shoulder then put his hand on her waist. He then took her other hand in his
and began moving back and forth.
Aurora
stumbled a couple times and laughed and Dean tried to teach her the steps.
After what seemed a very long time of bumping into the other dancers and having
them scowl them and her stumbling back and forth she was finally getting it and
she loved it. They moved back and forth across the dance floor as if nobody
else was there, only them and the beautiful ballroom.
“You’re
a natural, Aurora.” Dean whispered to her. Aurora smiled up at Dean, him being
much taller; he was 6’0. They continued dancing until the song ended and they
stopped and stood on the spot and waited to see what the next song was.
Over
the microphone the person running the songs said the next song would be a mega
oldie from over 25 years earlier, written and performed by a pianist in love. A
beautiful piano solo soon filled the room and a voice that almost came from
heaven flowed through the room.
“I
know this…. My grandmother…. This is her song!” exclaimed Aurora who was
thinking back to a few years earlier when she stumbled upon a tape with this
song on it in a trunk at her house. Her mother had told her all about her
grandmother and how she fell in love with a soldier that she believed to be
lost. The soldier, being her grandfather, Laguna, Squall’s father. The song was
“Eyes on Me”
Aurora
looked at Dean and smiled as she saw him looking at her. “May I have this
dance?” said Dean bowing towards her holding out his hand. “Yes you may!” said
Aurora giggling and taking his hand as they slipped into a hugging position and
danced slowly.
Aurora
looked up at the stars and saw a shooting star and wished, (“ I wish that I
could always be as happy as I am now”) and then she put her head back on Dean’s
shoulder and looking around the ballroom to see Jem and Dawn dancing happily
together also.
“This
is a beautiful song, Aurora. Did your grandmother really sing it?” whispered
Dean. Aurora took her head off his shoulder and looked deep into his eyes.
“Yes, it is beautiful… my grandmother must have really been in love, y’know.”
She whispered back. Aurora still looking into his eyes saw him smile.
“You
know, Aurora. I’d like to tell you something, but don’t laugh!” Dean said.
Aurora nodded and waited for him to reply. He looked up into the stars then
back down into Aurora’s eyes. “When I first saw you, I had my eyes on you. I
think I feel in love!” he whispered softly and raised his hand and played with
her hair a bit.
Aurora
stared back into his eyes, shocked, but completely happy and thrilled. Before
Aurora could say anything Dean bent his head downwards and kissed her. Aurora
smiled and opened her eyes and looked into his. “I think I fell in love too,
Dean. I’ve never met anyone like you.” She whispered.
Aurora
looked at him some more then put her head back onto his shoulder and closed her
eyes. She thought that she was the happiest person in the world at that moment,
as they danced the night away.
Aurora
looked at the clock and saw that it was 11:30 and she almost screamed. She had
completely lost track of time while dancing with Dean, and being so happy. She
had promised her father that she would be back by 11, she was already late!
Aurora
was still dancing with Dean when she looked back to him and told him that she
had to leave and told him that she had promised to be back by 11 and was late.
Aurora was upset that she had to leave but knew that she had to, right away.
She looked at Dean, who looked upset but understanding also.
Aurora
began to take off but Dean held her back and asked her if she wanted him to go
with her but she told him that she wanted him to stay and have a good time.
Dean looked upset again but kissed Aurora on the hand and let her go.
Aurora
half-walked and half-jogged and when she got to the ballroom door she glanced
back at Dean who was now talking with Jem, he smiled at her and she smiled back
then left.
Aurora
reached the dormitory hall at 11:40 still half-walking/jogging and stopped near
the window to catch her breath. She walked over to the window and looked out
into the horizon. The garden was set to a drift and they sat floating. Aurora’s
attention, however, was onto something in the distance.
A
gleam of light was shining, not very big at all but shot straight up into the
sky. It was purplish blue. Aurora stared at it some more then it disappeared.
She figured that she was seeing things since she was so tired so she just
walked to the guest dormitory room.
Aurora
creaked the door open and saw both her father and mother sleeping so she
slipped in and closed the door, then slipped in her room and closed the door
quietly. She got into her pajamas and went to bed.
As
Aurora lay, thinking, she stared out the skylight at the stars then saw the
purplish blue gleam of light. Aurora raised her head off the pillow slightly
then the light disappeared and Aurora closed her eyes tight.
________________________________________________________________________