A Knight's Dream

AN: Larger AN at bottom, I did some editing to chapter one, if you wish to re-read it, the changes are minor. thanks for reading.

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Chapter Two

“Surprises and Galbadia”


I hadn’t even had time to unpack before I was called up to the headmaster’s office. I was escorted by none other than the Balamb Lion himself, although he remained quiet and standoffish throughout the ten minute trek to Cid’s office.

When we reached the door, he stopped me and made me face him. “Look, this man is like a father to me, give him the respect that you would give to Laguna.” He said, showing emotion, in my presence, for the first time.

I nodded and opened the door, I walked in and when Squall didn’t follow me, closed it. A salt and pepper haired, middle-aged man sat behind an oak desk. He motioned for me to sit down in one of the two chairs facing him.

“Miss Lockhart, I’ve read King Laguna’s correspondence, and I am surprised that he wants you here, but we welcome you with open arms. Your brother will be remaining here with Squall and myself while you accompany Seifer on to Galbadia Garden.” he said softly, smiling all the while.

I nodded and stood up. “Do I even have to take the written exam?” I asked quietly, my emotions in check.

He smiled and shook his head ‘no.’ “Pack your things, your first assignment is to teach gun tactics at Galbadia Garden under Seifer.” He said his voice calm, with a genuine smile on his weathered face.

I left his office and walked back to the double-room dorm that I shared with Shadow. When I opened the door, Shadow had this look on his face, one that I hadn’t seen since we were nine years old.

“Tell me, is it true? Are my fears realized?” He said, almost hysteric. I grabbed him by the shoulders and made him sit down.

“Shadow Lockhart!! Get a hold of yourself!!” As he regained his fragile composure, I thought quickly of a way to remedy his unease.

“Please sister, tell me what is happening?!” He softly whispered as I sat beside him.

“Shadow, brother, While we may separate on the physical level, We will never be apart in here.” I tapped his chest and then his forehead. Sighing, I shook my head. “We are more than able to speak to each other, regardless of the distance between us, yet you can not fathom leaving my side here, Why is that?”

He shifted to redistribute his weight and sighed. “At home, I know that the King would never let anything happen to you. Here, he cannot protect you and with us separated, I can’t either.” He spoke in a hushed tone, emotion clouding his normally confident and clear voice.

I turned to look at him in shock. I let a mask fall over my face, hiding my anger from even him. “Shadow! How could you even begin to think like that! I am a better fighter than you are and you expect me to believe that you fear for MY safety?!” I exploded, anger rising, magic slowly starting to pool in my fingertips.

Sensing my true anger, he shook his head and held his hands up, as if trying to block an attack. “No, sister, you misunderstand.” He shook his head again and then let it fall in shame.

I stood up and walked into my temporary room to make sure that my belongings were still packed and ready for me to leave at a moment’s notice.

Shadow came to stand at my open door, his shame evident on his face. “I did not mean to offend you, love. I only meant to tell you just how deeply I worry for you. Especially since you will be alone with Him.” His voice twisted at the mention of Seifer, taking on a sinister hook.

I turned to look at my wayward brother and gave him a brief smile, my anger once again settled, my magic once again asleep. “Shadow, don’t worry about that. We both knew that my personal mission is to determine just how sane he is, after all.”

He nodded and walked into the room to embrace me. I allowed him a brief hug before I picked up my Gunblade case and my clothing bag. “I have to report to the Front Gate now. Do you think you can keep your emotions in check long enough to see me off?”

He nodded and stepped back to regain his calm. After several seconds he nodded again and stepped out of my room, allowing me access to the living area and the exit.

We left the room, speaking quietly in each other’s mind, and before we knew it we had arrived at the Front Gate where Seifer Almasy and his two associates were waiting for me. Shadow nodded curtly to the three of them as I set down my bag and case.

“Estharian Commander Hope Lockhart reporting for transfer, Sir.” I saluted Seifer using the appropriate Garden Salute. He smiled his hauntingly beautiful smile and nodded at me.

“At ease, Commander Lockhart. We will be leaving shortly, so say your goodbyes.” His tone was even and failed to betray the humor I saw in his jade eyes.

I relaxed and turned to my brother, embracing him lightly and then pulled away. Emotional displays were never something that either he or I liked. ‘Be safe, my brother.’ I projected into his mind, feeling him relax enough to forget that the other three people were even there.

‘And you, my sister.’ I felt his fear and his pride in that small sentence and smiled at him. He let my shoulders go and I turned to face my new Superior Officer.

Seifer nodded once more and turned to stride out of Balamb Garden and into the waiting motor transports. I picked up my bag and case and followed after Raijin and Fujin without looking back.

Shad projected his sadness into my mind as I climbed into a vehicle after setting my bag and case in the trunk area. ‘Please, brother, calm yourself.’ I shook my head and glanced out the window as the car started moving.

“I was informed that you and your brother share a connection due to Dr. Odine. This is true?” Seifer turned to look directly at me and he looked patient as he waited for my answer.

I nodded in the affirmative as I turned to look at the unnerving commander. “Yes, Sir. Shadow and I share a connection via our minds. We also have a level of control over certain elements.” I looked out the window again, slightly taken aback by Seifer’s unrelenting stare.

“Hm. I think I am beginning to understand why you two were separated.”

His words made me turn sharply to face him. “Excuse me?”

He shook his head slightly. “To the common person, Commander Lockhart, you would be considered a Sorceress and your brother a Sorcerer. While, throughout the years, Sorceress’s have become a common occurrence, Sorcerer’s are unheard of. If word got out that not only a Sorceress, but a Sorcerer as well, had come to Balamb Garden from Esthar, well things would get really bad really fast.” He kept his gaze locked with mine, as if to instill a sense of urgency in me.

His words did have a profound affect on me, so profound that I was rendered speech-less, but only momentarily. Once I regained my voice, I turned my angry gaze on him full force. “Sir, I can understand that there are certain public needs that must be met, But I am not a Sorceress nor is My brother a Sorcerer. We are, to put it bluntly, science experiments that just so happen to be human.” My magic was beginning to pool in my hands again, but this time I truly doubt that I will be able to reign it back in.

As if sensing my frayed control, Seifer paled and rethought his words. “Miss Lockhart, calm yourself immediately.” His tone brook no argument and it was taken as an order.

My powers dissipated instantly, my anger level dropped significantly, it was almost as if I was in the room with my King. “How did you do that?” I asked, my tone full of accusation.

He simply smiled his beautiful smile and shook his head. “I have been informed how to handle you, Miss Lockhart. Your King did not want casualties of epic proportions, so our staff was coached on your abilities and triggers prior to your arrival. In that end, we were also coached on how to stop a pending explosion, but only I was able to get the right reaction from the tests.” He crooked his smile a bit and glanced out the window.

His words shocked me to the core. ‘No way. Laguna would never…………Oh but he would.’ I shook my head and locked my eyes on my lap, in my heart I knew that I had been sent away. The only reason Laguna would have for teaching these outsiders how to handle me would be to send me far from his side. ‘I am an idiot, a fool. I should never have expected anything more than this.’ I looked away as I allowed my face to blank as I traveled into my mind and my power core.

I quickly found the black thread that linked me to my brother and poured all my hurt and rage down the link.

‘Hope!?’ His reply was full of worry and his own pain. Our separation was hard for both of us physically, as well as mentally.

‘He has sent me away… he trained them on how to deal with my outbursts. I will never return to him.’ my rage diminished beside my pain and the deep feeling of betrayal.

‘Oh, sister. He would never send you away from him for long. He sees you as a confidant. We are his friends.’

I could feel the deep worry in my brother’s voice, but it only served to further my own belief that my Laguna had no more use of me.

“Miss Lockhart!” Seifer took hold of my shoulder and shook it harshly.

I looked towards him as my eyes tried to focus. “Y-yes?”

“I have been trying to get your attention for several minutes.” He shook his head and sat back in his seat, pulling a sealed envelope from his coat as he reclined. “I was instructed to give this to you at the first sign of depression.”

I took the proffered envelope and opened it quickly, its contents did much to set my mind at ease.

My beloved,
Please do not think that I have sent you way. I truly could not trust anyone else with this mission. I have prepped Seifer Almasy on your abilities and how to control your temper. I am not sending you from my side, never think that. The only way I would ever let you go is if you asked me too, so please, set your mind at ease. No one knows that you are my beloved but that does not mean that I am hiding you. It is for your protection. Please do not fear that your attraction to Seifer Almasy will diminish my love for you. You are but Seventeen, you need time to grow, so consider this time. If anything occurs between you and Mr. Almasy, all that I ask is that you tell me, either before hand, or after so that I may ready myself for any meetings that I may have with the young man. Please, do not worry so much, beloved.
All my love,

Laguna Loire
King of Esthar

I re-folded the letter and slid it back into its envelope, smiling lightly to myself. I reached into my power core and found the thread to Shadow. ‘He had left a letter for me with Seifer. He explained everything. I am relieved.’ I sent my overwhelming relief down the thread along with the message and I was happy to note a calm, happy response.

‘Thank Hyne. Please relax sister, I have already begun to understand my role here. Be well.’ He closed off his connection with a mental smile.

I nodded and sealed my connection as well, turning my attention back to the occupants of the car. “I apologize for my temper and actions. This cleared a few things up.” I held the letter up and then tucked it away in my jacket.

Seifer nodded without facing me, his mind obviously elsewhere. “We will arrive at the Garden in a few hours.”

“Of course.”

Silence reigned heavily in the car as the sky darkened and the road became rocky. We had left the solid road to take a short cut via an old path. The computer screen provided the Commander and myself a minute by minute account of our route of travel and it was a novel to me. I let my eyes linger on the terminal as it recalculated our estimated time of arrival. The estimation that it came up with surprised me. We would be at Galbadia Garden with-in the hour, surly we have not been traveling for four hours already.

As if sensing my confusing, Seifer inclined his head and cracked his back. “We have been on the road for two hours, Ms Lockhart, Galbadia Garden is closer to Balamb then Esthar reports are aware.”

I nodded and sat back, looking out the window in anticipation of seeing the red and black garden. Galbadia suited me much more than Balamb. Shadow was more suited to the blue and white garden, it was calmer there. Galbadia was much more focused and military oriented, truthfully, I could not wait.

As the car rounded another turn, Seifer leaned forward to see out the window, and my eyes caught my first look at the Garden that I would be spending the next few years at. I was stunned, to say the least. The large red building was hovering several feet off the ground, a ramp lead cars into the garage-proper, perhaps readying for a flight or a mission that involved the entire school. ‘Dear Hyne, this place is beautiful.’ I watched as our car drove into the garage and sighed in relief as it finally rolled to a stop. Seifer stepped out first and then held the door for me as I stepped out.

“Your thoughts, Commander Lockhart?” He asked, his tone light and playful.

I laughed, “Really, Commander Almasy, Do you even have to ask?” My gaze traveled the length and height of the spacious garage as I took in the splendor that was Galbadia Garden. Touches of red and black were evident everywhere, from the red and black SeeD symbol that hung over the entrance to the school itself, to the black asphalt of the garage floor. At first glance, Galbadia Garden looks harsh and unforgiving, but after looking closely, I began to spot minute details that gave the most military-oriented Garden a bit of normalcy.

Seifer laughed, most likely at my expression, “Ms Lockhart, It’s time to go inside now.”

I blushed and nodded my acquiesce. I kept stride with him as we entered the actual school, my eyes constantly darting here and there to take in the wondrous sights that were laid before me. My emotions, which I normally guard tightly, were written plainly on my face, I was happy to be here… No… I was ecstatic to be here, in a place that could mean only one thing to me; getting stronger. ‘Well, this is it. The start of my next adventure.’

I caught Seifer shaking his head out of the corner of my eye, I knew that he was amused by my honest emotions and expressions, but to openly express humor, well… that’s definitely a new thing for me. I blushed again and shook my head. “This place is so different, I can’t wait to explore everything.”

“Well then, let me be the first to Formally welcome you to Galbadia Garden, Commander Lockhart.” Seifer smiled his haunting smile and stepped up to the elevator.

I shook my head and followed his lead. Who knows what will happen here…

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Technically I DO!!! Well, Im sorry to all my readers and My reviewer Knight. I was so surprised by the review that I nearly cried. Thank you so much for reviewing, you made my day and Rikash was so helpful as of late. I was in a bad accident and I was unable to post this because of my rehabilitation. Im so sorry guys!! Well, now that Im back to working health, I should be posting more often. Thanks for READING!!!

~Sophie