Disclaimer: Please Don't Sue Me!

All game/anime characters and skits are owned by their respective companies, such as Monty Python, Square/EA and whoever owns Dragon Ball Z this week, except for one. Gatoris Tonberry is my idea, however, so do not rip him off. The character of Jupiter/Almathea/Princess Chastity is copyright of CHibi Jupiter, and is used with permission.

Introduction: MORE Incessant Rambling

If you have read the Tonberry Chronicles, you know about Garrett’s friend Jupiter. (or Almathea, or even Princess Chastity, depending on the context.) You would also know that they met in a chat room. But how did he know what she looked like? Is she that good of an artist? (I’d say yes, but she’d downplay it...) Truth is, they had a face-to-face encounter previously. This story chronicles that meeting, and everything about Garrett up to his departure to become Gatoris.

Saturday, August 21, 1999: The Meeting

On a normal day, Garrett would not answer his door, his mother would. Today, however, his mother had him open it. There was a beautiful blonde seventeen-year-old girl outside with suitcases. He remembered when his mother told him that she had decided to host an exchange student. Wonderful, he originally thought, another annoyance to deal with. But now he was staring at her, and couldn’t help but feel as if he knew her already. Then she spoke. "`ello, I’m Daphne. I’m the exchange student you sent for." That was the worst British accent he had heard, but his mother seemed to buy it. "Come in, Daphne." Mrs. Mackenzie said enthusiastically. "Welcome to our home!" Garrett thought something was amiss. "How did you get here so soon? I thought your plane didn’t arrive until tomorrow..." "I caught an earlier one." she replied. "But how did you get here from Indianapolis?" Garrett was befuddled. Daphne pointed to the taxi behind her. "I didn’t realize they drove that far..." "Amazing what plastic can do." she said, referring to her credit card. "Let’s just forget it. You want me to show you to your room?" Garrett took her bags, and proceeded down the hallway, to a bedroom at the other end. He pushed open the door, and laid the suitcases in a corner. Great, he now thought. She isn’t British, I can tell. But who is she? She’s familiar. After giving her a tour of his house, he ran to his computer, and looked at his Internet pager’s friends list. He opened up the profile for his friend Almathea. She went under the name of Chibi_Jupiter_san, after a character she used in her writing. The picture she drew loaded up, and it finally hit him... replace the bogus British accent with a Jersey one, and he had a match. He decided not to tell his mother, for the sake of his friend.

About midnight, "Daphne" went into Garrett’s room. "What ya doing, gov?" she asked in that corny accent. Garrett, with his back to the door, knew who it was. "Drop the act. That’s the worst accent I have ever heard. That, and you’ve watched too many episodes of Fraiser, ‘Daphne’..." She dropped the accent. "What is it, Garrett? You upset at me for something?" Garrett still didn’t turn around. "Take the wig off and come here, Almathea." She complied, and the blonde wig gave way to her natural lavender hair. "You’re a smart one, Garrett Mackenzie. I figured it would take you a week to get it." "I don’t care about that. I just want to know why you came here." Garrett had no idea why she would pull a stunt like this. "It’s about your ‘Chronicles’... Something made me want to be closer to you." The Chronicles? That piece of fanfiction he was writing? "Should I prepare the rubber room?" Garrett was beginning to think his friend had lost it... "No. There is truth in that story. I can see it." Wonderful, he thought, I’m going to crap out playing Final Fantasy Tactics. "No, Garrett, it goes deeper than your death." Garrett was shocked. She had just read his mind. Is HE going nuts? "Cheer up, silly!" Almathea was in a cheerful mood. Garrett sighed. "Good. I thought this was something else." She had an inquisitive look. "I figured you had came to tell my that you are my daughter from the future, and I have to protect you..." She was still puzzled. "Since when did you watch Sailor Moon?" Garrett gave her a stern look. "I only catch bits of it. I just happened to catch some of the parts with Rinni." "I wish it were true... We’re not related, past or future." "Then why did you come, really?" Garrett was still puzzled. "I felt my friend needed help. So I came." I can’t just send her back, Garrett though again, so I am stuck with her. "You’ll get used to it." Almathea smiled, put the wig back on, and proceeded back to her room. "Oh, by the way..." She added, "The only reason your mother bought my act is she was kind of hypnotized. She’ll forget my accent. The hair I need to cover up." She then left again. Garrett sighed. I’m 20, he thought, and I’m already stressed out. He kept writing on the Chronicles until two, and went to sleep. He was surprised he could after this day.

Sunday, August 22, 1999: Confusions Begin Anew

Garrett woke up about noon on that Sunday. He was groggy, and confused about the previous day. Had Almathea come to visit, posing as an exchange student? Or had he dreamt that? In three seconds, his question was answered. "Morning, Garrett! You like toast and eggs?" Damn, it wasn’t a dream, he thought. Almathea was here, wearing a wig, and posing as a British exchange student. She leaned closer to him, and whispered into his ear. "I changed my story. She thinks I’m a college friend of yours who you offered lodging to. I still have to keep the wig." Garrett seemed to not even care at this point. He just needed to wake up, and get as far away from Deadwood, Indiana as he could. At that thought, Almathea held up his car keys. "If you go, I’m going with you. In fact, a sight-seeing trip is not a bad idea..." This mind-reading thing is going to get annoying, thought Garrett. She just giggled. "Oh, all right. I’ll show you around Terre Haute." He just wanted his friend to be happy. "By the way, what name you going by today?" She looked at him and smiled. "I’m going by Almathea now. Less confusing." Garrett went to the living room and told his mother of his plans. "Mom, I’m going to take Almathea and show her the campus." Mrs. Mackenzie didn’t mind. "Just be home before midnight." "Don’t worry, we will." Almathea said from the top of the stairs. Both her and Garrett went out the door and into his beat-up old truck. About an hour later, they were on Indiana State University’s campus.

"What do you want to see first?" Garrett asked of his friend. "I want to find Tirey Hall." Tirey Hall? There wasn’t much there, save the auditorium and the pool, both of which were closed until Wednesday. "Something is telling me go there." Garrett led her from the northernmost parking lot to Tirey Hall, on the south end of campus.

"Ever experience déjà vu?" Almathea asked when she saw the building. "Yes," Garrett replied. "In fact, I was in that building when I felt it." Both of them stood there for a minute. Then Garrett broke the silence. "What classes did you sign up for?" he asked. "You catch on fast..." she replied. "Just basic Gen. Ed. classes. When I get back home next semester, I can finish up there." "Only a semester? What, you expect me to drop off that soon?" Garrett wondered. "Nah, that’s just as long as my parents told me I could stay." was her answer. Garrett looked at his watch. It was about four in the afternoon. "You hungry? I’ll buy." he told her. "Sure, why not?" Almathea was never one to refuse a friendly gesture. The two had an early dinner and returned home.

Later that night, Garrett was trying to come up with ideas for the Chronicles. He had three pages of the prolog done, and he had writer’s block. Suddenly, Almathea came into his room. She was holding a picture she had drawn. "Garrett, I want you to see something." she spoke, then showed the picture to him. It was of three people standing together in what seemed to be a moment of joy. One looked to be of Garrett’s character Gatoris Tonberry, Aerith, and Sephiroth. The drawing looked familiar. He looked at the picture he had above his computer. It was of him, his friend Jason Steele, and Jason’s girlfriend Angelina Bradford. He imagined the two pictures, the new one imposed on the old one. They fit, and the new people replaced the old ones. This made Garrett curious as why his friend did this drawing. He inquired about it. What she said next kind of scared him. "I had a vision, and that was it." "Oh well," he replied, "it’s nice..." She then left. Unable to write, Garrett went to sleep.

Monday, August 23, 1999: Countdown to Insanity

Again, Garrett woke up groggy. This time, he did not wonder if the Almathea thing was a dream: she had laid the picture on his desk. He walked down to the kitchen, looking for a bite to eat. He had forgot to put on his glasses, so he could not see what was on the table. Suddenly, someone put his glasses in front of him. "Thanks, Almathea," he said without turning. He then put on his glasses and saw the large breakfast prepared for him. "I didn’t realize you could cook..." "Well, I was forced to take Home Economics in high school, so I had some practice." Almathea replied. Garrett decided to see how much practice she had. The Spam was good, as was the sausage. The pancakes were superb. While eating, Almathea flashed a picture in front of Garrett. "Who’s this?" she asked him. "Oh, that’s Angie. She’s a friend of mine from high school." Garrett said with pancakes falling out of his mouth. "...but you wish she could be more..." Almathea added. Garrett hanged his head. "Yes, that’s true. I have had feelings for her since the first time I ever saw her. It took me twenty years to realize what they were..." "You love her with all her heart. But, she loves Jason. I can’t help you with that, but..." Almathea began to tell him. "I know you can’t help me. I have just learned to accept what can be and what isn’t to be..." Almathea thought for a second. Should I tell him about Angie and him? Nah... He doesn’t need that knowledge now. "That’s about the best route to take." "You are the only other person, besides my mother, who knows, though... that’s what is eating at me... I feel that she should at least know." Garrett kept going. "If you feel that you need to tell her, why don’t you e-mail her?" Almathea suggested. Garrett rejected the idea. "It wouldn’t feel right. If I can’t tell her face-to-face, I shouldn’t tell her at all." Almathea took this as a cue to change the topic. "When’s your first class?" "About nine. Let me guess, you want me to drive you up to campus. When’s your first class, then?" Garrett seemed to sense that he would have to look out for his friend. "Nine. That’s good, then. You don’t have to wake up earlier to drive me up." The two finished breakfast, and began to talk about the little (and I stress little) town of Deadwood, Indiana. "Not much in this town. The only good place to go is the pizza place, which Angie’s mother owns. Other than that, there is nothing here." Garrett proclaimed. "What about Angelina’s father?" Almathea inquired. Garrett looked spooked. How did Almathea know Angie’s full name? He had never mentioned it to her... "He died tragically before she was born. Our fathers were good friends however. My dad helped her family out for many years." Almathea dared not ask about Garrett’s father: she knew what had happened to him. He would talk about it occasionally in chatrooms. Garrett’s father died while he was in Junior High. It was a freak automobile accident, killing him instantly. Even after seven years... "I still cannot get over my father’s death... I should have been with him when he died. I had opted to stay home..." Garrett began to cry. Almathea began to cheer him up. "I can feel he’s been watching over you." Garrett, not surprisingly, agreed with this hypothesis. "Yes, he is. I sensed his presence when I graduated from high school. There was an empty chair next to my mother. I was glad my glasses were tinted up..." Almathea could see cheering her friend up would be a daily thing. They kept talking until about one in the afternoon. Then, Garrett was hungry again. Almathea had a suggestion: "Why don’t we go have a pizza?" Garrett looked like a rhinoceros had stepped on his feet. "I can’t. This is her day to work." Almathea was not amused. "Fine then. I’ll go eat there, and if I see her, I’m going to tell her how you feel." The rhino backed up and breakdanced on Garrett’s toes. "You wouldn’t dare..." "What are you worried about? She does not even know me! I doubt that Miss Angelina Bradford would believe me." Great, Garrett began to think, this is getting out of hand. I’d best take her. "Glad you could see it my way." Almathea smiled.

At the pizzeria, Almathea ordered the pizzas. Garrett was too embarrassed since Angie was taking orders. When she brought them to the table, Angie was slightly surprised. "Gator, you never told me about your friend..." she said, with her usual smile. Garrett feigned happiness, as was the usual around her. "You know how my memory is. Besides, studying for exams fried my brain the last time." Angie’s blue eyes caught the sun perfectly. "So are you two more than friends?" she asked, giggling. Garrett was slightly confused. "Uh, she’s only seventeen, so I don’t think so. She’s just a friend." Angelina seemed to understand. "So, you ready to go back to class Wednesday? I know I am. I couldn’t picture myself in college this time my senior year." Garrett clutched his coffee cup and shook his head. "None of us could. By the way, how’s Jason doing? I haven’t seen him in town for a while." Angie smiled, thinking of her boyfriend. "he went so visit some of his family in Iowa. He’ll be back tomorrow if you want to talk to him." Garrett smiled. "Yeah, we were thinking of singing with Jared’s band..." Angelina seemed surprised. "I didn’t know you could sing. Or him." He was modest about his crooning ability. "I’m not that good. I could never make a living from it." Almathea decided at this time to comment. "Yeah. That would make a good ‘Behind the Music’: Garrett Mackenzie and the life he left behind in Deadwood." Garrett quietly sighed. At least she hadn’t said woman. After an hour of eating and chatting with Angelina, Garrett and Almathea went home. Though it was a short walk, Garrett said nothing.

"What did I say?" Almathea finally let out about midnight. "I know damn good and well what you wanted to say back there. If you had said it, you would be on the next plane back to New Jersey!" Garrett was obviously upset. "If anyone is going to tell her, it’s going to be me!" Almathea shrugged this off and returned to her room. As soon as she left, Garrett returned to his e-mail program and continued typing. He was typing a message to Angie:

Angie;

I have something I want to tell you. I hope I can catch you on campus at some time...

Gator

Instead of sending it, he chickened out and tried to saved it. Now was not the time to send it. He was too worked up after the pizza incident. Which reminded him of something he had to do.

Garrett knocked on Almathea’s door. She let him in. "Listen, I’m..." he began before she cut him off. "I know what you want to say. Apology accepted. I didn’t realize you would take it so harsh. And yes, now wasn’t the time to send that e-mail. Also, this would be easier if you learned telepathy." Damn, Garrett thought, why do I even try? "You’re stubborn." Almathea replied. Garrett looked at her bed. It was an old bed with an old mattress. There was no way it was comfortable for his friend. "If you want, you can sleep in my room. The futon’s pretty comfortable." Almathea looked at him and smiled. "I’m fine, but since you are going to insist..." Garrett rolled his eyes. The two changed rooms for the night.

Tuesday, August 24, 1999: If It Ain’t One Thing...

This time, Garrett woke up with a spring in his rear. He felt good that his friend had a comfortable sleep. No more mind games also helped him get a decent sleep. Looking at the clock, he noticed it was ten in the morning. The phone rang. Seeing how his mother was not there, he let the answering machine pick it up. "Hello, Gator?" It was Angie. What did she want? Garrett quickly picked up the phone. "Yeah, Angie? What do you want?" He had no clue why she would call... "I got your e-mail. What do you want to tell me?" The rhinoceros had come back with his family, and they were playing Twister on his stomach. "Uhh..." Garrett was dying inside. "Could you call me back later? I have to find something first." Angie did not understand what was going on. "What do you need to find?" "My guts." he replied to her question, then hung up the phone. "Next time, make sure you save it to your drafts instead of sending it..." Almathea said behind him. He turned around, furious. "Or, make sure that the computer is off when you let your friend sleep in your room!" She had never seen him like this before. "I didn’t do anything! I never even touched it!" Garrett went to his room to make sure. Almathea erased the message from the machine, so his mother wouldn’t ask about it.

Garrett went to his room and looked at his computer. After turning off the screen saver, he noticed that it was just how he left it. If he had sent it, then his saved messages folder would be empty. Even thought the message was on his screen, he clicked it off. Sure enough, there were no saved drafts. Again, from behind, she spoke. "No need to apologize. Just don’t jump to conclusions next time." The rhinos were now all over. He wrote a note, grabbed his keys, and headed up to Terre Haute. Almathea was with him, to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.

All he did was go to a bowling alley. Garrett was never one to go to extremes. Bowling seemed to help him relax, too. "My life has been hell since you showed up. You sure you’re not like Rinni?" Garrett asked of Almathea. "Positive. Anyway, your life would be hell anyway." she replied. Garrett pondered what would go wrong next. Then it happened. His thumb became lodged in the ball. The next time he threw it down the lane, he followed it. Garrett stopped halfway down the lane. "You just had to think that, didn’t you?’ Almathea said, holding back a chuckle. He tried to get up, but fell backwards as soon as he got to his feet. He then decided to crawl back. "Let’s get home before a penguin explodes on me." Garrett was in disbelief. This was a Tuesday? Getting his thumb out, the two left. Only seconds later, the cardboard Bud Ice penguin in the bar area exploded.

When the two got home, Garrett told his mother about his bowling story. She had a little laugh, as did Garrett. It seemed to be less traumatic as he looked back on it. She handed him a copy of an online news story. Garrett read the headline, threw it down, and headed to his room. The headline read: "Penguin Explodes In Bowling Alley"

"You hate it when you’re right, don’t you?" She was still there. "Right," he replied. "Get to sleep. We have to start classes tomorrow. Besides, I need to recuperate from my humiliation." Almathea returned to her room, but not before dropping a picture on Garrett’s bed. He picked it up and gave it a good look-over. Now this was odd. It was a picture of Aerith, but it seemed like something was amiss. "Doesn’t Aerith have aquamarine eyes? Why are her eyes... blue? Like Angie’s?!?" he said to himself. Garrett was totally lost. He had planned on writing Angelina into the Chronicles in a similar capacity. I never thought about it around her, so how did Almathea know? he shrugged it off, and went to sleep.

Wednesday, August 25- Thursday, September 16, 1999: Dead Space

Not much happened in this span. Garrett and Angie ran into each other on occasion. The only notable thing between the two was the e-mail that Garrett sent her during this time.

Angie,

I finally found my guts. What I wanted to tell you was something so simple, I’m kicking myself for it:

I am hopelessly in love.

You probably think I am a total creep now. I understand that you have Jason, which is fine by me. As long as you are happy being with him, that makes me happy.

I think I’ll go into a deep depression now...

This was short, to the point, and replied to by Angelina. She seemed to understand.

Garrett,

I am touched that you think so much of me. Like you said, I have Jason. And I have been in love with him for the last six years. And no, I don’t think of you as a creep. I hope you understand.

Angie

Garrett seemed to be understanding if she wanted to be with Jason. just finally telling her made it feel like the weight of the world... no, the universe... was off of him. he could live a happy life knowing she was happy. If he had looked at the calendar the day he got it (and cross-referenced the Chronicles...), he would have realized what was coming soon...

Friday Night, September 17, 1999: The Nameless Band’s Project

Garrett had finally got a hold of Jason and Jared. They finally set a date for them to sing with Jared’s band (the Nameless Band, a name Garrett suggested). Jason began talking to Garrett while the band tuned up and warmed up. "I saw the e-mail you sent Angie, and all I can say is..." Jason started. Garrett prepared to be verbally ripped into. "... What took you so long to admit it? I could tell since high school. Why else did you want to walk her out during Homecoming?" Garrett seemed confused. This is the boyfriend of the woman that he just admitted he loved, and he’s not the least bit angry? His life must really be messed up... "The only reason I haven’t killed you is the fact that you respect that she loves me. Honestly, I don’t know if the two of us can last much longer together..." Garrett wasn’t paying full attention, but he ignored that comment. "Hey, you two gonna talk or sing?" Jared was ready for them. "All right. You guys care if I sing some of my own lyrics?" Garrett asked. "Hey, why the hell not? You asked us to do this, so go for it!" "Good. You guys know ‘Lightning Crashes?’" They began to play it. Garrett had a feeling come over him. He looked at the date on his watch. Garrett then thought back to what Almathea said the first night she was at his house. "Hold up... mind if we record it?" Jared saw nothing wrong with that, so he set up a camcorder. "O.K. We can go now." Garrett was satisfied. He had memorized the lyrics, and he went through them again. He handed a freshly scribbled copy of a song to Jason. "You know the tune?" Jason looked at the song. It was Garrett’s lyrics to ‘Shooting Star’. He nodded. While he went through them, the band warmed up on tape. Garrett then gave them a signal that he was ready. They started the song, and these lyrics came from Garrett:

Lightning crashes, a young woman cries.

Her heart falls to the floor.

The angel opens her eyes...

The confusion sets in,

before she could even close the door.

Lightning crashes, the young woman tries.

Here memories fall to the ground.

The angel closes her eyes...

The confusion that was hers

belongs now to her loved ones down the hall.

Lightning crashes, the young woman cries

This moment she's been living for, and it fits right in...

The angel opens her eyes

Pale blue colored iris

Presents the circle

And puts her love out to show, show...

Everyone was left breathless by both Garrett’s singing and his lyrics. He broke the silence. "Can you play ‘Shooting Star’ for Jason?" They began, and Jason sang.

Garrett was a school boy when he played his first video game

Pac-man, I think it was and from there he was blown away

Got himself an Atari, used to play every night

Now he's a video game guru, and everything's all right

Don't you know?

Garrett told his Momma, Hey Momma I'm goin' away

I'm gonna hit the big time, gonna be a big shot someday

Momma came to the door with tears in her eyes Garrett said,

Don't cry Momma smile & wave goodbye

Don't you know, yeah, yeah

Chorus:

Don't you know that you are a shooting star

Don't you know, don't you know

Don't you know that you are a shooting star

And all the world will love you just as long As long as you are

Garrett set a record, went straight up, his biggest thing

Suddenly everyone loved to see him play a game

Watching the world go by, surprisin' it goes so fast

Garrett looked around him and said, Well, it's the big time at last

Don't you know, don't you know

Chorus

(guitar solo)

Chorus

Garrett died one night, died in his bed

Bottle of pop, his love's picture by his head

Garrett's life passed him by like a cold winter day

If you look to the sky, you can still see him play

Woah...

Chorus (to end)

This song haunted everyone. Again, there was silence. "You guys know ‘November Rain?’" Jared nodded. "Who’s gonna play keyboard?" Jason stepped forward. "I will." With that, the song started. It was sung with it’s normal lyrics. At the end, Garrett added a message to Angie. He said abruptly: "Love you, Angie..." and walked off. Jared stopped the tape. "What the hell was that about?" He was confused. Garrett turned around and gave him a grave look. "If anything happens to me, I want you to swear that you’ll give that to Angie. Got it?" Jared had never seen his friend like this. "Sure. If that’s what you want. But I thought that she loved Jason..." "She does, but he loves her too..." Jason chimed in. Oh, Jared thought, so that’s it... I think. "Later, man. Let me know when you want to sing with us again!" He waved goodbye to his friend. After the band left and Jared began to sleep, his mind began to wander. "Man, that was odd..." he said to himself.

Almathea was waiting for Garrett. "So, you got your goodbye ready. You are prepared to accept your fate?" He gave her a look. "Who said anything of accepting it?" he told her, then stormed off to his room. Upon entry, Garrett went to his collection of Playstation games. He took out Final Fantasy Tactics, removed the disk from the case, and locked the disk in his cabinet. he figured if there was no Tactics, he would not get sucked into his next incarnation so soon.

Saturday Night, September 18, 1999: Alternate ‘Genesis’

After a long week of college, Garrett was ready to uncork with video games. He seemed to forget his own prophecy. He played Final Fantasy 5 for hours without incident. Then, the voice came. "Thou shalt play Final Fantasy Tactics!" Garrett laughed, then opened the case for the game. "How? It’s not in here..." He then looked down. It was in there. Before blaming Almathea, he checked his cabinet. It was in there, too. Great, Garrett thought, I’m toast. He did as was said and written. When the moment came, he was not sucked into a vortex as he had written. The scene had triggered something in his brain, and he had a heart attack. He fell to the ground, knocking over both his drink and a picture of his beloved Angelina. The man known as Garrett Mackenzie was now in his bed, dead at the age of twenty.

Almathea heard the noise. She rushed to his room. She looked at the bed, and saw his body. She cried. "Farewell, Garrett," she whispered. "I hope Gatoris remembers me..." With those words, she vanished in a flash of lavender colored light. All traces of her vanished as well, so no one would wonder why she disappeared.

About an hour after this, Angelina awoke in her bed and found a note on her table. It was from Jason.

My dearest Angelina:

I am sorry for all the hell I caused you. For the past three years, I have been cheating on you with a girl from Terre Haute. I fear there is no other way to purge myself from my sin. Whatever you do, please forget me. Let Garrett have his moment in the sun.

Jason Steele

Angie cried. No..., she thought. Why did he have to do this? I would have forgiven him. She cried herself back to sleep, hoping that this was a dream.

Sunday Morning, September 19, 1999: Aftermath of Tragedy

In the morning, Angelina Bradford awoke to the two most possible pieces of news: Jason had jumped in front of a speeding freight train in Terre Haute. To make things worse, Garrett had also died. He had a heart attack during the night. She looked at the picture of the three she had on her dresser. Angie took it out of the frame and clutched it to her. Her two best friends, gone in the same night. She never got to tell Garrett how she really felt about him: she had loved him, as well. She spent about three days crying in her bed. Then Gatoris saw her in his vision.

Gatoris could not get up enough guts to look through the window. Ifalna coaxed him to do so. From his vantage point, all he could see was a framed picture. There were three people in the picture: him, Jason, and Angelina. It was taken shortly after their university’s homecoming game about a year ago. Those were good days, thought Gatoris. Why did they have to end? Why did I have to leave this world, and leave her with nobody? He began to cry. He then heard someone else crying. It was Angelina, the one he lamented over. Her baby blue eyes, which always seemed to reflect the warmth of the sun, were cold and wet. Instead of her happy little smile, she was frowning. "I cannot see anymore!" Gatoris was losing all happiness. "I want to go back!" He turned to ask Ifalna to take him home, but he was alone. All he heard was Ifalna’s voice trailing off. "You didn’t have a chance in your previous life, but you have another one in this dimension. Show Aerith how you feel..."

Epilog: Crossroads

This is where Garrett’s Deadwood days end. I hope this shows how Gatoris and Almathea actually met. Also, it should show how deeply he cared (still cares?) for Angelina. Anyway, I’m glad you chose to waste your time with another of my stories. Remember to e-mail me to give me comments!

Keep it sane,

Gatoris Tonberry (AKA Garrett Mackenzie).