A Mist Over Winhill
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.
____________________________________________________________________________
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.