Squall's A Faery

    Have you ever heard the tales of the changelings? Faery folk that as infants are exchanged with mortal babies? Well this is one such tale. About a little faery named Squall. Now Squall was a handsome child, but he was half mortal. His father Laguna, The Faery Queen's consort, and as such the King of all the faery lands had had an affair with a beautiful mortal girl. This woman had wandered in to a ring of mushrooms one day and was transported to the faery lands. Laguna was taken with this mortal woman named Raine immediately. She was forced to stay in the  faery world and Laguna sired a son on her. Unfortunately during childbirth she passed away. Perhaps it was for the best overall though, since mortals rarely lived full and happy lives in the faery realm. Anyway Laguna found himself with a baby boy. Who he named Squall, since his eyes, so much like his mother's, held a storm in them instead of the tranquility of a rain shower.  Everyone in the realm loved Squall right away, except for the Queen who was envious that this beautiful creature did not come from her but from an affair. She decreed that he shall be a changeling and brought to the mortal world to be raised there. Laguna was distraught, but he did what he had to for his Queen and his people.

    He handed Squall to Kiros, Laguna's eldest and dearest friend, he told him to take him somewhere he would be safe and with other children his own age. Kiros knew only one place that could possibly fit the bill. He brought Squall to a little town called Winhill. He found a loving family and swapped their child with Squall. The parents were none the wiser and raised Squall as their Leon for five happy years. What happened to the original Leon is best left unknown. The Leonhart's knew deep inside that their child was different from the others but didn't care as long as he was happy and healthy. All they really knew was that their son was the smartest, prettiest, and most loved child out of all the children. However their happiness was not to last. One day their home was attacked by monsters and only Leon, with his faery magic, survived the attack. Although no one, including himself would ever know or remember that. With no family he found himself being shipped to an orphanage in Centra which the Kramer's operate. Edea was kind and loving, but was also a sorceress and was aware from their first meeting that Leon was no ordinary boy. He was a changeling. Yet Edea could not abandon such a loveable young child to the elements. She vowed to keep an eye on him and welcomed him into her home.

    As Leon grew older Edea took it upon herself to teach Leon about his powers. He was a danger to himself and others if he could not harness his abilities. Soon though he had outgrown Edea as a teacher and found instead faery folk among the forest. The forest was only a short walk from the Kramer's house and when Leon turned twelve Laguna had secretly sent highly skilled faeries to help train his beloved Squall in his powers and tell him about his past. Laguna still hoped that if Squall could prove himself strong then his Queen would welcome him back into their lands. So it was that Squall learned to harness his powers, and his knowledge of the faery people and their lands grew every day.

    Now of course Squall was not the only boy in this home. It was filled with orphans from around the globe. One particular orphan is Seifer. Seifer was brought there a year or so before Leon, and was not very impressed when he found out he had to share his room with the anti-social cry-baby. Seifer, who loved attention hated how everyone would fawn over the new kid like he was some demi-god or some such thing.

    The two tried being friends and although they ended up understanding each other quite well it was more out of strategy then friendship. The two would constantly be getting into squabbles and tussles. On more then one occasion Matron had to send them to separate corners of the house for a time out. As they grew older they each found their own path in the world. And since their goals were quite different their personalities didn't clash as much and one could even consider them cordial to each other. That was until Seifer stumbled upon something better left unknown and a secret only Edea knew of.

    Seifer who had turned out to be quite tall and well built put all his energies into training so that one day he could go out and help the world. Protect villages from wars that had destroyed his and other's homes, and also to protect and educate travelers on faeries and other mystical creatures. He knew more about these then most because Edea had taught them all well and living in such an isolated and enchanting world children just learn these things.

    It was because of this goal to be a protector that led Seifer to the forest. He decided he needed some practice and thought the forest creatures would be a nice change so he headed there. On his way he spotted Leon gracefully making his way through the trees towards a clearing. Seifer was curious about what his rival could be doing. He was also secretly hoping that he would get into trouble and would need his help so that Seifer could hold it over his head for at least a month. So he headed in that direction being as quiet as possible while holding his Hyperion in a defensive position.

    Squall had by now made himself comfortable inside the circle of toadstools and concentrated in complete silence as Kiros appeared before him. Squall knew that Kiros was sent by his father to teach him. He had never met his father, and wasn't sure he wanted to. His father could not leave the faery lands and Squall had no desire to travel there. IT was often a topic of debate. Kiros always wanted to know why Squall would not accept who he was and make an appeal to return to his rightful home. Squall's answer was never changing. He would sigh and look off to the sky and say what Matron had told him about faeries and how they are feared and loathed by all mortals. Squall couldn't stand the thought of people being scared of him especially a certain someone, who despite his own protests, had found a way into his heart.

    Kiros gave an exasperated sigh and decided to get on with the days lesson. Squall was nearly done his training and was very strong and adept now. While Squall was in the middle of a complicated move that changed an object into another Seifer came to the edge of the glade. Seifer stared dumbstruck as Leon stood in a mushroom circle with a decisively faery like creature. Seifer was about to charge out and rescue his rival, with no thought to his own safety, when he noticed that Leon was controlling the magic. He always knew something was off about Leon but to think he was a faery, that was too much. Seifer did jump out into the circle, not to save Leon, but to accuse him of trickery.

    Kiros, who was startled by this angered young man asked Squall if he would be alright and then returned to the faery lands. Seifer was broiling with fury. He questioned Leon about being a faery. Squall told him the truth about who he really was. Seifer was sick of the lies and deceit and was also scared about what this Squall could do. He pulled out Hyperion readying an attack. Squall stood there ready to take the blow. This was the reaction he had always feared. He did not ask to be part of the faery folk, he didn't even want to learn to control his magic. Now, he was going to die by his rival's hand. Die by choice because he couldn't stand to see the fear and hatred in Seifer's eyes.

    As the strike was about to go down and connect with Squall's neck Edea ran into the clearing and used her magic to de-arm Seifer. She pleaded with Seifer to see the good within Leon and not to hold his heritage against him. Seifer was still upset and told her to stop calling him the mortal name Leon when he was a changeling named Squall. He also decided that if Matron was going to protect him he could no longer stay at the orphanage. He was sixteen and more then ready to start his career as defender of the weak. Matron was sad that he would want to leave and Squall was still in shock of everything that had happened and that he was still alive.

    So it was that Seifer left the Kramer's in search of glory and fame and to forget about his childhood rival and the feelings he felt towards him. Edea was forced to explain Seifer's absence to the other children and try to think of a reasonable excuse of why he would leave so suddenly. And Squall was left to his own misery. Having his worst fears confirmed. No mortal could like a faery, there was only fear and hate. He only wished it wasn't Seifer who had found out and who had left him.

And this is where the story truly begins. One of courage and hope, one of love and lies, one of endings, not all happily ever after.

~<>~<>~<>~Author's Notes ~<>~<>~<>~

I know I misused some folk lore, but it is a work of fiction, so please don't hold any misuse of faery info against me. Also this is just all the boring back history stuff. The next chapter has the action and talking and real plot. I apologize in advance to those that like Rinoa because in the next chapter she is a spoiled faery brat. Don't worry though not even she can stand in the way of true SXS love.  By the way people who know all about the faeries and that world call Squall, Squall. Mortals and those who want to insult him in the faery realm call him Leon, his mortal name. But it's still the same person just incase anyone out there was wondering.

    Also sorry if the story and its narrative style is sort of weak. This idea popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone and since 7mos was driving me nuts I decided to go for it. This should be only one more chapter (2 at most) and the next chapters should be better. I just had to write it though, it wouldn't leave me alone otherwise.