Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ As the Paths Diverged ❯ Four for Boys ( Chapter 4 )

As the Paths Diverged

WARNINGS

1) I don't own the Final Fantasy characters, series, or plotline.  I guess I own this, but if you steal it, I probably won't do anything about it.

2) Rated PG-13 for language and violence.

3) Let's place the story about a year after Ultimicia.

Four for Boys

          His name wasn't there.  Dammit, it wasn't there.  Ethan dropped his head dejectedly and walked away from the cafeteria.  He must have checked the list four times.  It just wasn't there.  This is why he never got his hopes up.  He thought the whole Odin situation might have helped him, but apparently it did not.  No victory speeches in class today  No salary today.  Just another year of regret. 

          Reluctantly, Ethan left the Quad.  His head was still dizzy and now his stomach wasn't cooperating with him.  It was going to be another long year.  Running his hand through his short brown hairs, Ethan made his way back to his dorm.  He decided against going to classes today. 

          "I'm taking that as a no?" Jostin asked, as Ethan slammed the door shut.

          "Obviously," Ethan snapped.  "Leave me alone."

          "Whatever man," Jostin replied.  "You AND I will get them next year."

          "Shut up," the brunette thought as he made his way into his bedroom.  His ceiling fan turned slowly as he threw himself on the bed.  The vague scent of the ocean could always be detected from his room, which he sort of appreciated.  Actually he appreciated his entire room.  He loved it because it was his.  Not many things were his growing up. 

          Sighing, Ethan put his hands under his pillow and rolled onto his side.  It was a sucky day today.  He hated being depressed.  It wasn't a suicidal depression, but it still hurt.  He was the fat kid in dodge ball and nobody picked him up this game.  "Maybe next year," he told himself. 

        &nbs p; Ethan had spent a lot of time at Garden.  He was there from age six - the earliest age admitted.  Garden was built originally for orphans.  Falling into this category, Gouldren was a shoe-in.  His parents died when he was three and he was shuffled around from relative to relative.  Overall, his early years were pretty shitty. 

          It was an awkward situation, but Ethan tried to keep an optimistic outlook on life.  He never discussed his family; trying as hard as possible to seem as normal as the other kids.  He considered himself fairly successful.  Even his own roommate had no idea about his family life.  This left for one problem - summer vacation.  Ethan left his Aunt Penny's house on less than superb terms last summer.  He doubted she would take him back this summer.  He doubted he would allow himself to return this summer. 

          This is why he was somewhat banking on the SeeD exam.  If he would have passed, he would have been allowed a single dorm on campus all summer.  It wasn't Hyne's will though.  Maybe he was meant to have another summer of hell.  Or maybe, just maybe, someone would offer him a room this summer.  Ethan smiled to himself and shook his head.  "Screw classes.  What I need is a friend."

          "Wow, Mr. Dincht, do you remember me," Jostin said quite loudly.  His voice was muffled through the wall, but Ethan could still make him out.

          "Unfortunately," Zell replied, looking at the cadet disgustedly.  "How are your burns?"

          "Recovering," the cadet muttered, turning a light shade of red.

          "Good.  Listen, is Ethan here?"

          "Right here," Ethan smiled, emerging from his room.  His heart just bounced into his throat.  Maybe there was a mistake.  Zell was here to tell him that it was all a mistake.  His day just became a whole lot better.

          "Throw on a shirt.  Let's take a walk," Zell suggested, motioning to the door. 

          "Sure," Ethan shrugged.  This was better than he expected.  They obviously recognized that he's the one that beat Odin.  They obviously realized that there was a horrible mistake. 

          "Let me start out by saying congratulations on your SeeD performance," Zell started, leading him down the dorm hallway toward the fountain area.  "Squall was going to make a visit to you himself, but complications have arisen. 

          "Thanks," the cadet beamed.  The air smelled so much fresher now.  People were staring at him, as the one and only Zell Dincht never, ever, talked to a cadet one on one. 

          "Anyway," the SeeD continued.  "I was sent to discuss your situation."

          "My situation?"

          "Yeah," Zell nodded, scratching his neck.  They passed a group of girls who were jumping up and down ecstatically.  Ignoring them, Zell turned left and they continued around the loop.  "There was a mistake with the SeeD test."

          "Really?" Ethan asked innocently.  Inside, he was beaming.  This couldn't have worked out any better.  

          "A mistake on our part really, but it affected you."

          "How so?" the cadet asked smugly. 

          "Odin has possessed a small part of your body and you will never be able to get rid of him," Zell said quickly, hoping to get the bad part over with quickly.

          Ethan stopped walking.  His mind suddenly felt much worse.  After building his hope up so high, this news made his head spin even more.  "What?" he stuttered.

          "Come into the parking garage," Zell instructed, it's a long story. 

          Ethan hazily walked into the paved parking lot.  The parking garage was just recently paved, so a heavy scent of tar invaded Ethan's senses.  Grasping his head, Ethan suddenly realized how downhill this conversation had gone. 

          "Odin isn't a normal GF," Zell started, indicating this would be a long explanation.  The SeeD leaned against a large stone pillar as he launched into the explanation.  "He won't junction and is quite unreliable."  Zell paused and looked to the ground.  "Nobody ever beats Odin totally into submission.  Quite the contrary, Odin sort of gives up."

          "GFs don't give up," Ethan laughed.  "They don't have free will.  Either you control them or they wander around sporadically."

          "Very true," Zell replied, scratching the back of his head.  "But as I said, Odin isn't a normal GF."

          Ethan stared at the SeeD blankly.  A silence fell on the duo as Zell gathered his thoughts.  Luckily, a convertible zoomed by, causing a distraction.

          "Anyway, people say that Bahamut is the first GF, and therefore the most powerful.  This is true, but being not a GF, Odin is different.  He's very chivalrous and old fashioned.  You must prove yourself to him instead of defeat him."

          "So I proved myself worthy?" Ethan asked skeptically.  His stomach was spinning faster and he couldn't stop sweating.  A headache began pounding in his temples.  He needed to lay down, but he couldn't dismiss himself from Zell.  That would be disrespectful.

          "Apparently so," the SeeD nodded.  "He even told you so, but you lied to Dr. Kadowaki."

          "Sorry," Ethan responded, wiping the sweat off of his forehead.  "She was just accusing me of junctioning it, which I didn't."

          "You're blood work showed that.  There was no need to lie."  Zell looked at the cadet, who was breathing heavily and looked sickly.  "You gonna be alright?"

          "Yeah," Ethan heaved.  "Sorry."

          "Ok, well…" the Zell muttered, regaining his train of thought.  "I guess I should tell you the effects of Odin.  He feeds off of emotions, so Odin will be summoned when you have a strong feeling of hatred, pain, or fear.  His attack will invariably kill your opponent with no hope of resuscitation."

          Ethan's eyes opened wide.  He had no clue that the GF possessed so much power.  Next time Aunt Penny got out of line, this would be a helpful tool.  Then another wave of sickness encompassed his body.

          "So obviously we must learn to funnel this ability," Zell continued.  "Possessing Odin puts you well past your age group, so restrictions must be placed."

          Ethan didn't like the sound of that.  "So I'm not allowed in SeeD?"

          "I'm sorry," the blonde muttered, scratching the back of his head.  "But I'm gonna have to ask you to remove your junctions and hand in your gloves."

          "What?" Ethan asked, feeling a whole new wave of sickness overcoming him.  The sweating was worse and his head felt like it was going to explode.  The room spun around him, and the tar only added to his nausea.  It started as a few hiccups, but Ethan knew it was going to get much worse.

          "Until an alternative program can be developed, Garden cannot trust you to be in combat with other cadets.  It sucks, but it'll only be tempor…HYNE DAMMIT!!"  Zell's favorite pair of red and black sneakers were now covered in puke. 

(0000000000)

          Ethan felt better.  Laying in the infirmary, the cool air conditioning was refreshing.  The pain killers were slowly taking away his headache and his stomach had settled. 

          Mentally however, Ethan felt a lot worse.  Not only was he out of SeeD, but he was also practically kicked out of Garden.  No gloves.  No GFs.  No training period.  Not to mention he had puked on a SeeD.  This day had definitely taken a turn for the worse.  Zell had calmed down after they made it to the infirmary, but that still wasn't cool. 

          "You are not to leave this summer," Zell had hurriedly explained to him.  The blonde was frantic to get rid of him and wash his shoes.  "You will remain on this alternative program until it is deemed you are not a threat to the other students.  Got it?"

          "Yeah," Ethan had responded.

          "Good.  I'll be in touch."

          Thinking about it now, this was sort of bitter-sweet news.  On the bright side, he wouldn't have to worry about summer vacation.  On the other hand, he was a lab rat for Hyne knew how long. 

          Ethan just closed his eyes and listened to the soft chimes outside in the courtyard.  Tomorrow would come.  Not soon enough, but tomorrow would come.

(0000000000)

          Squall thought he was joking.  Well he expected this someday, but this was too sudden.  Shaking his head, the brunette again returned to the window in his office.  The sky was clear tonight.  Multiple stars were scattered across the heavens and the moon loomed three quarters full.  Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing after all.  You never knew with Seifer.  Maybe he wasn't completely retarded and went someplace secluded. 

          Regardless of where he went, Balamb harbor was missing a boat.  Garden would be forced to pay for that, and the town would definitely never let Seifer back.  Running a hand through his hair, Squall looked down to the calm ocean.  Tonight was serene - too serene for Seifer.

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