Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Day Will Come ❯ The War is Over ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1: The War is Over

"Irvy! Are you ready? Yo-hoo!" Selphie Tilmitt chirped brightly outside Irvine Kinneas's dorm's room. Knock-knock. "Irvy!"

Okay, this is driving me nuts.

Squall Leonhart slapped his forehead and shook his head while the charming lady-in-blue beside him giggled harder at his reaction. Squall glanced up to meet her tranquil black eyes. She gave him a genuine smile that had a surprising calming effect on him. He grinned faintly back at her. That was not something Squall Leonhart would do a month before. Rinoa Heartilly had changed him, actually opened him up and brought out the real Squall hidden behind walls for the past seventeen years.

"There, there, look at the mirror." Rinoa said as she dragged her boyfriend across the room to a full-length mirror that she had insisted on installing when she first moved in to stay with him in the Balamb Garden.

She sighed, allowing a contented smile to grace her glittering lips. "You have the charm of a prince."

Squall frowned at her and then at the image of himself in the mirror.

I doubt a prince looks like this.

What this SeeD would never know was that he was the best-looking man in the Garden. The reflection in the mirror was a five-foot-eight young military officer in an expensive-looking midnight black tuxedo. He had absently chosen a perfect matching silvery-white tie to go with. Everything matched his beautiful features perfectly. His well-tanned, fighting-trim figure had been gifted with one of the prettiest face any men could ever have. The strong jaw line matched those deep-set blue eyes. He owned the most kissable lips in the world. The angry scar between his eyes only enhanced his masculine charm.

Rinoa joined him at the mirror shortly. Looking from Squall to herself and back to Squall, she nodded with a bright beam on her face. Squall thought that she must be pretty happy with what she see.

"Guess we're ready to go."

Squall took one last glance at his Lion Heart that stood by the side of his desk and nodded slightly. "Yeah, let's go."

"IRVY!!!" Squall winced at shriek of Selphie's voice the instant he opened his dorm room's door. Rinoa giggled beside him.

"Oops… Sorry, Squall. But Irvy has been inside so long." Selphie smiled skeptically and obviously apologetic.

Squall shook his head gently, "It's fine."

Rinoa stepped forward. "Is he really in there?"

Selphie cocked her head, frowning, she said, "I think so… He couldn't be anywhere else, right?" She pressed an ear onto the door.

Suddenly, the door swung right open. Selphie let out a surprised yelp. She lost her balance and collapsed onto the looming figure behind the door.

"What the hell… Irvy?" She looked up and met the familiar coffee brown eyes of marksman Irvine Kinneas.

Rinoa raised an eyebrow as she noticed how different Irvine looked tonight.

Irvine flashed his killer smile at Selphie whom he caught in his arms. He bowed slightly and said, "Sorry, Sefie, to have let you waited so long. My utmost apology."

Irvine had left his cowboy hat behind the first time since they had known him. Though his long blond hair was still held back in a ponytail, he looked nothing but charming that night. He had chosen a suit of black, even his coat was black. His usual flirtatious charm turned into some serious charm. Selphie, on the other hand, looked all so tempted to jump up and down, shouting "Ya-hoo!!"

"Sorry to keep ya waiting too," Irvine added with a casual wink at both Squall and Rinoa.

"Time to party, yeah!" Selphie could not help exclaiming with excitement.

For once, Squall offered a positive grin. He slid an arm round Rinoa's slender waist and guided her towards the grand hall.

Since the end of the Ultimecia battle, that was the second time Balamb Garden had held any special function. The celebration for the night was Headmaster Cid's birthday. Cid had insisted that the event be formal and Squall could never understand why he would want them to go through so much trouble to find something to wear for the night. As they stepped into the sky-view ballroom for the third time that year, Squall could not help but to remember how little time had actually past since his graduation. The day he graduated, Squall was immediately summoned on a mission with Zell and Selphie. Somehow, he was voted to lead the group when he had no idea what their goal was. He was as green as the rest of them. He did not understand why they had chosen to look up to him as a leader, even Quistis Trepe, his ex-instructor. The worst thing was being made the temporary Commander of Balamb Garden by Cid during the sorceress battle, or so Squall hoped was temporary. He couldn't be giving me that title for real…Or could he?

Shaking himself back to reality, Squall glanced around the ballroom and caught sight of some familiar faces walking towards him. Rinoa pulled Squall and broke into a half-jog towards Zell Dinct and Quistis.

"Hey, Squall and Rinoa! How do I look?" The blond guy asked cheerily.

Squall thought he would execute his kicks and punches like he always did but to his utmost surprise, Zell refrained.

Rinoa smiled generously. "Zell, you look so great. I think it's a good idea of Cid to request for this to be a formal event. Man, all of us looked so different." She snapped her fingers for effect.

Except, well, Zell's hair is still spiky.

"You're so right, Rinoa! I looooooooove this night!" Zell added, raising his champagne and toasting to the sky.

Quistis chose to ignore her overexcited comrade and turned her attention to Squall. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in how handsome this SeeD could still go when dressed in tuxedo.

Squall tilted his head and raised a questioning brow at Quistis. He was sure she was about to say something when something else stunned her. Oblivious about his killing looks, he waited patiently for her to say something.

Perhaps it's the silly way I looked in this stiff suit that shocked her. Either way… whatever…

Rinoa had wandered away sometime ago and had then returned with two champagnes in her hands.

"Hey, Quistis, want some?" Rinoa nodded towards the glasses she was holding.

Quistis snapped back to reality.

"No, I'm fine. Thanks. Squall, the headmaster wants to see you in his office now." Quistis managed to find her voice in time.

Squall's eyes widen slightly.

"What? Now?"

Quistis shrugged, "Yeah, I'm sure he said that."

What is he thinking? Will I ever get a break?

He turned and found Rinoa nodding. "Go ahead, I'll be right here waiting for you."

"I'll be back for this." He gestured towards the champagne in her hand. The young SeeD half-jogged his way to Cid's office.

"You wanted me, Cid."

The headmaster turned from the window and smiled at the fine young man standing in front of his desk.

"Yes, I certainly did. Come, have a seat." Cid gestured towards the swivel chair opposite himself. Squall just wished he could get back to Rinoa's side as soon as possible. Seemed like this is not going to end too soon. He sighed inwardly and pulled out the chair.

"As you know, the Sorceress war is over for good and you have been a good leader, excellent commander, I would say. So," He seemed to be pausing for effect. Squall did not like where the conversation was leading. He could almost anticipate how Cid was going to end his sentence. "I have decided to give you, Squall Leonhart, a permanent SeeD A-Class rank and officially title you as the Commander of Balamb Garden. I am going to make them official tonight. What do you think?" Cid smiled broadly, obviously thinking that it was one of the best decision that he had ever made in his entire life. He already knew what Squall's respond would be.

If I say no, that's a bad idea, would you let me off… He is asking but actually I don't have a choice. What makes him think that I am capable of commanding the entire Garden? Does he remember that I've graduated less than a month ago?

Nonetheless, he replied, "Thanks, sir. They sound fine to me."

Cid was smiling even broader now.

"Wonderful. You don't know how glad I am that you've accepted the offer. Thank you, we shall have a great time working together, Squall."

"Can I go now?"

"Certainly. I'll be making them official later so don't wander too far, I need you on the stage."

"Sure."

This is certainly some news.

Squall sighed and made his way back to the ballroom.

"Thank you, thank you. I love this party, I love this night and I thank my wife, Edea, for throwing this party for me and for all of you. You guys have deserved it. All of you have fought hard and brave. That's what SeeDs are made of. Tonight, I have one very important announcement to make. To the man who have led us thus far, led us to victory, Cadet Leader Squall Leonhart. To thank him for our achievement and to recognize his leadership, I hereby declare a permanent A-Class rank for Mr. Leonhart." He waited for the cheers and applause to wan before continuing. "I hereby also declare Squall Leonhart as the official Commander of Balamb Garden. Now, I shall hand you over to Commander Squall Leonhart!"

All the SeeDs were cheering and yet more cheering. As Squall stepped up to the talk stand on the stage, he could clearly see Selphie and Zell bobbing up and down in the crowd, kicking and cheering. Squall adjusted the microphone, resisting the urge to let out a huge sigh and bang his head against the nearest wall.

Why am I caught up in all this? Why is it always me? What the hell did they see in me that I can never see in myself?

"Thank you, headmaster. Never thought that I would be leading all of us again. Anyway, tonight is a night to celebrate Cid's birthday and also to enjoy our well-deserved party. So, I want all of us to have a good time tonight. Let the party begin." Squall finished.

The crowd when cheering again and deafening applause surrounded him as he stepped down the stage.

I seriously have no idea what I've just said to them.

He had absolutely no idea what to say when he was on stage. He was so sure he was talking nothing but rubbish up there but seemed like nobody thought it was. Nobody saw his uncertainties, they never did even though he never bothered to hide them. He had never stopped wondering why.

"Squall! You're the man!" Zell exclaimed, giving him a hard slap on the back.

Squall almost choked on his wine.

Rinoa produced a napkin. "You okay, Squall?"

He met her eyes. Everything will be okay with you by my side, always.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks."

"Watch it, pal!" It was Irvine hissing back at Zell on behalf of Squall.

"Ya-Hooo!! Way to go commander!!" Selphie chirped, jumping up and down beside Irvine.

Spare me that word.

Rinoa grinned, "This is gonna be so cool, Squall. I know you hate this but I still have to do this. Congratulations."

Somehow, to Squall's surprise, he did not feel irritated by what she had said.

Maybe it's because she's different. She's Rinoa, she's… the girl I care. It does feel good to have her support in this.

"Thanks."