Basically, the whole game is Squall fighting against himself, even the ending is a battle against his weaknesses and wishes, as Ultimecia draws Griever from him, and if you scan it, it says "In Squall's mind, the strongest GF.". He was fighting his own demons, trying to become stronger, and in the end, had to face himself, what he aspired to be. Squall is a self-fashioned hero through his own vunerability and wanting to be strong (for Sis), and never back down or run away from anything. Hence his always standing up to Seifer (and earning Seifer's respect). But more importantly, look at his attire etc.. He has chosen how he dresses, it is a calculated move from his psychology as a child. He dresses all in black, he has given himself a big lion's mane, as though he is trying to personify it. He has crafted the Griever character, perhaps embodying what he wants to become, but also embodying his vunerability and weakness. It is called Griever for a reason, representative of what he has lost, representative of his vunerability. But the image of Griever, the symbol of that proud yet vunerable lion, is an ambiguous one, as it is the same vunerability that Squall has which spurs him and drives him to personify such a strong image. He has the head of the character made on a ring, on a necklace, has a giant plaque version of it on his gunblade casing, a keychain sized version of it hanging from his gunblade handle, and has a full image of the creature engraved into the blade of his weapon. Clearly you can see his persona as a development from his child years, in this and many other areas (which I might choose to discuss sometime later).

"(Why do people depend on eachother?) (In the end, you're on your own) (I've made it this far by myself) (Sure, I couldn't do a thing when I was a kid) (I've depended on others, but...) (I'll be the first one to admit that I'm here because of other people) (I'm fine by myself now. I have all the skills I need to survive. I'm not a child anymore) (That's a lie. I don't know anything. I'm confused) curls up in foetal position (I don't want to depend on anyone. How can I do that?) (Someone tell me...) (Someone? So I'll end up depending on others after all)."

"...Sis..." "I'm ... all alone" "But I'm doing my best..." "I'll be ok without you, Sis" "I'll be able to take care of myself"

Rinoa : "Y'know, if there's anything you want to tell us, or anything we can do, don't hesitate to let us know. I know it's not easy but I wish you would trust us and rely on us a little more."

"(Am I that untrusting...? Maybe I'm this way because I'm scared) (Nothing lasts in this world) (It feels great to have friends who believe in you, and adults you can rely on) (That's why it's so dangerous, especially if you become used to it) (Someday you're bound to lose everything. Everybody around you will be gone) (Then what are you left with? Nothing, nobody... It's so miserable) (And it's inevitable. It's so hard to recover from something like that) (I never want to deal with that again. I can't. Even if it means being alone...)"

"...Sis..." "I'm ... all alone" "But I'm doing my best..." "I'll be ok without you, Sis" "I'll be able to take care of myself"

Kid Squall (at the same place you end up at in the ending sequence, where you see Edea) : "Sis... ...Elle..."

(In the bedroom) : "Matwyn! Sis isn't here!" "Where's Sis!?"

(At the clothes line near the top of the beach) : "(Sis ... Where'd you go? You don't like me anymore?)"

Adult Squall : "(...What a shameful sight)"

Squall (on basketball court) : "Yeah...... I was there too" 

Kid Squall : "...I..." "...Sis..."

Adult Squall : "I was always waiting for 'Sis' to come back"

Kid Squall : "I'm ... all alone" gazing up "But I'm doing my best..." hangs head "I'll be ok without you, Sis" "I'll be able to take care of myself"

Adult Squall : "(...I didn't turn out ok at all)"

Irvine : "Everyone was fond of Sis, but you, Squall, you kept hoggin' her for yourself"

Quistis : "Things didn't work out too well at my new home" "So I came to Garden at the age of 10" "That was when I first noticed Seifer and Squall" "Seifer and Squall were always fighting"

Squall : "Yeah... Quistis always used to break us up"

Quistis : "Yes! That's right!" "Seifer was a kid who always needed to be the center of attention" "But Squall used to always ignore him..." "But eventually they would end up fighting" "Squall could have easily walked away from it, but he always took up the challenge" "He should've just ignored him, but Squall, almost in tears, would say..." "I gotta do my best by myself. Or else I won't be able to see Sis" A bit later "I'm sure Seifer has forgotten his childhood, too" "But whenever he sees Squall, his inner feelings start to boil, and..."

Squall : "That's my favourite ring. You'd better give it back."

Rinoa : "I'm sure it is. It's a cool-looking ring. What's this monster on it anyway?"

Squall : "It's not a monster. It's a lion." "Lion's are known for their great strength and pride."

Rinoa : "Hmm... great strength... pride... ...kinda like you, Squall."

Squall : "I wish..."

Now, having read through those quotes, go back and read my first paragraph, and you'll be able to understand the psychology of Squall much better. There are MANY other things which prove this and other things, but for now, I think what I have is appropriate. How does this tie into the ending? Well, it is all a part of Squall's character, which is played out throughout the ending, which I'll now go through.

Ok, the ending. You succeed, but the whole game has been about sephirothic kind of stuff, and some of the thoughts I have myself. One has to reach out to others, they have to rely on others to survive. Also, for one to exist, they need to call out to others, and have themselves recognised, so that they solidify their sense of existing. Throughout the entire game, Squall has had to learn to reach out and rely on others, to trust them, and also for them to get to know him. He has had to help others when in need, coming to learn that things aren't always in your hands, and that whilst he as a child never had anyone to protect that which was out of his hands, to the people of Balamb Garden, especially the little boy who admires him and really looks up to him, he is the person who can protect them, do what they cannot, and in cases will not.

This also applies to the situation where Mayor Dobe of F.H. tried to plead with the attacking Galbadian forces, and they just picked him up and threw him to the side. He was too weak to do anything about it, and in the end just had to lie on the ground where he was thrown and cower. It was Squall who protected him and the people of F.H.. Before the battle, Flo, Mayor Dobe's wife says : "It must be some kind of mistake" and a boatman says : "Sheesh, can't you do somethin' about this? Just get 'em outta here" and before the fight with the Galbadians, the head Galbadian Soldier says to Mayor Dobe : "It doesn't matter, old man. We're gonna burn this place anyway. Edea's orders. Ha ha ha" and then Mayor Dobe pleads helplessly : "No, please! I beg of you! Don't!".

From this, you can see that some people just don't want to believe that this kind of thing can be happening, some rely on others and don't defend themselves, and some are too weak to achieve their goal. This is where the blossoming seed (SeeD) Squall steps in, as you can see his growth towards becoming a Lionheart. Not only is he blossoming by trusting in and relying upon 3 of his comrades to prevent the missile strike, and not only is he blossoming by protecting those who like him as a child could do nothing about their situation, but he is also becoming a Lionheart by growing and realising what he is fighting for, and understanding others. What he says to Mayor Dobe after the fight is particularly relevant here;

Mayor Dobe : "I guess you saved my life"

Squall : "Sorry for butting in"

Mayor Dobe : "No ... But I'm not thanking you"

Squall : "You don't have to. It's just that..."

"(Just what? What am I trying to say?)

*(I want him to understand us)

(Forget it)"

"I wish you could be a little more understanding about us" "We're not just a bunch of warmongers"

Mayor Dobe : "Oh?"

Squall : "(I don't know what more to say...)

(Stop)

*(Try to continue)"

"It's hard for me to explain" "I wish ... everything could be settled without resorting to violence..." "...and there would be no need for battles" "Like you've been preaching, it would be wonderful if things could be settled by discussion" "The only problem with that is it often takes too much time" "Especially if the others are not willing to listen" "So I believe that fighting is inevitable at times" "It's really sad" "That's all I have to say. I hope you understand someday" "I think the world needs both people like you and people like us" "Thankyou for all your help" "Good bye"

Mayor Dobe (sitting huddled, holding his knees) : "......"

From this you can see the growth of Squall, of learning to accept responsibility, learning how to be strong, and learning to understand people's lives. Something especially fitting, and kind of funny, here, is that before you fight the Galbadians in F.H., you turn up whilst the Galbadian Soldier is roughing up Mayor Dobe, and he looks at you and says : "Who the hell are you?" and Squall responds : "We're SeeDs". Then it immediately starts the fight. What this shows to me is that the major theme of Final Fantasy VIII is not really love, but life, and the blossoming of young seeds into people who are prepared for life. And not necessarily just young people blossoming, but the seed of anyone growing, coming to be capable, growing in strength and will power and understanding. The statement here by Squall; "We're SeeDs" is not just saying what their name as mercenaries is. It is symbolising and implying that these are seeds, particularly Squall, blossoming and growing, having the strength, determination, ability and responsibility to fight these people and what they represent off, and in Squall's case, becoming a Lionheart, who can lead, and take on all the responsibilities which come with that.

This theme is echoed especially throughout this time in Fisherman's Horizon. Allow me to elaborate.

Sometime in FFVIII, if you go and talk to the first Cafeteria Lady behind the counter, she will tell you a story about her son. This story goes as the following;

Cafeteria Lady : "I've worked here for many a year now" "I must say, being young is so great. It's like this burst of energy flowing within you... constantly, and..."

Squall : "(Oh man... This may take a while...)

(Think of an excuse and leave)

(Sneak away)

*(I'll lend an ear...)"

Cafeteria Lady (continuing, as she wasn't aware of Squall's thoughts, and she is eager and enthusiastic to tell her story, like people in real life) : "But seriously, with all these youngsters around, I'm beginning to feel young myself" "I start thinking to myself, 'Hey, I'm still all that!' You know what I mean!" "Ahahahahah! What am I saying!? Ahahahahah!" "Well anyway, I have a son about your age, but he is just so incompetent, and..."

Squall : "(Oh man... This may take a while...)

(Think of an excuse and leave)

(Sneak away)

*(I'll lend an ear...)"

Cafeteria Lady : "So my son, he's not as bright as all you here, so..." "I was worried about his future. Then about a year ago..." "'I'm goin' on a journey to see what I can do!' he said. Can you believe him!?" "I was really suprised at first, but..." "My son had this serious look I'd never seen before" "So I built up enough courage and told him to go for it" "Well, when I look back at it now, all he did was make my husband and me worry" "But now, my, has he matured. He's grown up, I tell you" "It sure gets lonely without him" "... Oh my, I'm sorry. I got carried away" "Whenever I see you youngsters I just get nostalgic. I wonder where he is now..."

Later on, after you battle the Galbadian Army Tank in Fisherman's Horizon, you meet the Cafeteria Lady's son, and he talks to you. That conversation goes as follows;

Young Man : "I've been around y'know, all over, looking for a dream" "Yeah, after I left Balamb, I traveled all over the place for more than a year and somehow ended up here" "I've been through hell : cheated by people, attacked by monsters..." "Didn't find or learn a thing. Worried my parents to death, that's all" "I wonder how everyone's doing...?"

Squall : "(Wait a minute. I think I know this guy.)

(Isn't he Dr. Kadowaki's son?)

*(Isn't he the Cafeteria Lady's son?)

(Isn't he Xu's son?)

(Yeah, he must be that Cafeteria Lady's son.)"

"Hey, doesn't your mother work at the Cafeteria in Balamb Garden?"

Young Man : "!? Yeah! How did you know that!?"

Squall : "I live in Balamb Garden. The Garden is here in F.H., by the docks" "Your mother was worried about you. You should go see her"

Young Man : "The Garden's here ...? I don't understand. But I'm gonna go see her. Thanks"

This part of the story, this dialogue, is not just put here by accident or for no reason. It shows a major theme of FFVIII, of people, young seeds, going on a journey to grow, and discover what they can do. Other scenes in the game speak of the inevitability of young seeds undertaking such a journey. It is true of life too, which is part of why I love it so much. Whether you get sent to school and then college after that, or only one of those, or neither, in life the young are first nurtured, in "Gardens", and then they have to embark on a journey to see what they can do themselves. For humans, it means parents setting their children free, and letting them see the world. For birds, it means the children must leap from the nest and try to fly, and start a life of their own. The imagery of the seeds of flowers turning into blossoming flowers, and then the seeds (SeeDs) scattering in the wind, out into the open world to have their effect, is particularly strong and emotive. Although in this case the Young Man says he didn't learn a thing, he has still been out in the world, and had all kinds of experiences, and ended up in Fisherman's Horizon, a place where life seems to drift by like the clouds above, and like the reflection of the clouds on the solar panels below. This is a place to reflect upon and think about life, and its inhabitants show this. This is where he, like Balamb Garden, has washed up.

This nature of Fisherman's Horizon is shown all throughout the place, particularly in its design. The gradual rust marks on the large cylinder when you first get there is particularly meaningful, designed to show the drifting feeling of this place, the just sitting there, gradually ageing feel. Then there is the symbolism of the train tracks all around the place, symbolic of the tracks of life whose patterns are repeated over and over again, followed by generation after generation of young people who mature. There is a kind of ambiguity and deep meaning behind the combination of the deep blue cloudy sky above, drifting along, the reflections of it, perhaps symbolising some kind of reflection on life, and the train tracks, which could be said to confine, the patterns which people follow, which shows the great symbolism of F.H.. This also relates to how Irvine was talking about choices in life, in the flashback to the Orphanage at Trabia Garden's basketball court.

Anyway, this case study is just showing how this journey may result in some instances. In F.H. there are other scenes which show you more about young seeds trying to learn, and grow, and blossom. Scenes which show you things about life. Particularly about how life goes on, even after damage, and about how people can use everything to make something new. Life always continues.

After the fight with the Galbadian Tank in F.H., an old man comes along and starts fishing. The scene goes as follows;

Old Man : "There used to be a building here but now it's gone. I guess I can fish here now" "I hope I catch something" "Gotta keep at it and be patient"

Kid (squats besides the old man, watching him) : "Great weather, huh?"

A building was destroyed, but out of it, this old man can now fish. Life continues. Although some may think it's taking it a bit far, where he says "I hope I catch something" and "Gotta keep at it and be patient", these are not just about fishing, but about life, it's expressed all throughout FFVIII. The theme of growing and development. A scene later in F.H. particularly shows and emphasises this meaning and theme. It is about the perseverance one needs in life, persistence yet patience. Also, the young boy who squats besides the old man is watching him, learning. This is a new beginning, and the start of a young seeds blossoming.

If you go to the shop on the docks in Fisherman's Horizon, there will be a young boy fishing in a boat in the water, and an old man who owns the shop standing outside it. This scene shows how if a young seed persists through the early mistakes and errors of its life, and comes through the trials and tribulations, it can blossom and succeed. The scene goes as follows;

Fisher Kid : "Hey! You like fishing?"

Squall : "

*Sort of

Not really"

Fisher Kid : "Oh yeah!? Ok, check this out" "HUAHH!" (casts line, smashes the shopkeepers window)

Shop Keeper : "...What was that?" "No! Not my window! Last time it was my store sign"

(The music from before the dance scene with Squall and Rinoa, where Squall was leaning against the wall, comes in)

Shop Keeper : "This always happens when he shows off"

Fisher Kid : "That's weird. Why did my line go backwards? Maybe I don't have enough weight" "Did you see an old man fishing by the port? It's where all the cranes are"

Squall : "

*I saw him

I didn't see him"

Fisher Kid : "Really! W-What was he like!? What did you think of him!?"

Squall : "

*I was sort of ...impressed

He's just an old geezer"

Fisher Kid : "That's what I thought! I'm his number one student! I wanna be like him when I grow up!" "I heard he was still fishing when the Garden came crashing towards the docks. He was fishing till the last minute. Amazing, huh?" "That's right, I knew he wasn't a loser, like some people said. Smart people can tell he's a great man. Thanks. I'm gonna start working hard now"

"HUAHH!" (casts line again)

Shop Keeper : "HEYYY!!! You're gonna wreck my store, you dingbat! Go out to sea and fish like a man"

Fisher Kid : "You know I can't do that, poppy. I might drown and die out there. You know I can't swim" "I know my form is good. Watch"

"HUAHH!" (casts the line again)

Shop Keeper (the line has hit him and is strangling him) : "What the...!?"

(The battle music comes in)

"Whoaa!" "I CAN'T BREathe..."

Fisher Kid : "OH NO! The line's tangled! I can't do anything!" "Gosh!"

Shop Keeper : "Help me! HELP!"

(Squall cuts the line)

Shop Keeper : "Ouch"

Fisher Kid : "Whoa! That was cool!"

Shop Keeper " "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" "YOU ALMOST GOT ME KILLED!" "YOU..." turns all red "DUMBASS!"

Fisher Kid : "Gee... I didn't do it on purpose, alright...?"

Fisher Kid : "How long are you staying? Stick around" "Ok, it's time for me to get serious"

"Come on"

(Lionheart music from the witch parade in Deling City comes in)

Shop Keeper : "You're not getting me this time" (runs forward to dock junction)

"How are you gonna get me now? Huh? Hee hee hee"

Shop Keeper (turns around to face shop) : "Huh?" (looks overhead)

Fisher Kid : "YEAHHHH! You see that!? You see that!? I finally did it!" "Alright! Now I can go see my master"

(the normal music returns, as does normality)

Shop Keeper : "...Impossible"

Fisher Kid : "Tell him I finally got it if you see him, will ya?"

Shop Keeper : "Well, that was boring"

There is so much meaning in this scene (and it's a long one) towards the theme of a young seed growing and blossoming. This Kid is trying to learn something in life, and he makes mistakes all the way through, adjusts and learns, and experiments, and eventually is rewarded for his perseverance and mistakes with success. Of particular importance is the visual setting here. He is in a boat within the safe confines of Fisherman's Horizon. The old Shop Keeper tells him to "go out to sea and fish like a man", but the kid says he can't because he might drown and die out there because he can't swim. Once again, this isn't just talking about or referring to the simple subject matter. It's symbolic of life once again.

The gentle rippling water that the young boy is in in the boat is like the Garden. Like a school in real life, a safe and sheltered pond compared to the massive ocean of life. It is a safe place, where a young seed can learn lessons through trial and error, before they head out to sea, to life, the bigger ocean, the bigger garden. He can't go out to sea, re; life and 'the real world', because he is not yet equipped with the skills he needs to survive out there. Great imagery.

Notice that the old man Shop Keeper says : "Well, that was boring" when the boy succeeds. This is saying that it is the gradual process of us learning, and it is because we learn through our mistakes whilst we grow, that life is interesting. It's the spice of life, so to speak. If success was guaranteed, it would be "boring". I particularly like this scene, though you have to keep talking to the kid for a while to get it all.

A couple of more things show how F.H. and FFVIII is all about this theme, and life. After you defeat the Galbadian attackers, you can go and talk to the man in the house just up the railway bridge. What he says is this;

Grease Monkey (in reference to Shumi's I think) : "We're both artisans and share a lot in common, so we get along real good"

Grease Monkey : "You took those guys to school, man! Man, that felt good! I'm gonna collect that junk later"

From this you can see how humans can make something out of anything. The destroyed pieces of one thing become the pieces for something new to build.

Also, if you go to the screen which precedes the one you had the fight on, the screen where the Inn is, there is a cute girl walking along the tracks. What she says is meaningful too.

Cute Girl : "Gosh, there's a fierce fighter behind that cute face of yours" "Maybe I should go to Esthar. It's just down the tracks" "I like it here but it's kinda boring"

What this shows is what happens in real life too. Sometimes, when you are getting to your older teenage years/early 20's, you feel that you like it where you are, but you feel like you have outgrown your surroundings, and that it is time for this seed (you) to scatter in the wind, travel, see things, experience, grow and learn, before settling down (maybe) and planting yourself to make your own future seeds. This is part of how life works.

F.H. also throws in some weirdo's and people who have kind of given up on life too, for a more complete view/symbolism of life.

In the same area where you fought the Galbadian Tank, after the fight, where you talked to the Cafeteria Lady's son, the old fisherman, and the young boy watching him, there is a middle aged man. The dialogue surrounding him is hilarious, but also meaningful.

Middle-aged Man : "I loovve cats, yeah. You like cats?"

Squall : "

*Yeah

No"

Middle-aged Psycho (this is the same guy, they just changed their description of him) : "Yeah... cats are great ..." "My house, there's like 256 cats, yeah" "Yeah, but what's weird is I can't count no more than that"

Squall : "......"

"Heartless son of a bitch..." "I ain't gonna share my secret wid' ju no mo'"

Whilst this is somewhat comical, and this man may not be a complete nut or anything like that, it shows that there are people like this in life, like an old man obsessed with feeding pidgeons in a park in real life, or something like that. It shows that there are strange people out there, with their own peculiarities, but that in this case, it's a caring guy.

Also in F.H. there is a Drunkard, reminiscing on his life in the past. It also shows another kind of people that exist in life.

Drunkard : "I miss my good old life" "AHH' (hic)" "I'm through makin' my own booze. I'll take what people (hic) give me"

What this shows is a man who has given up on life, at least for the time being, and passes the time by drinking. Now he isn't even going to make his own alcohol, he's just going to take what people give him.

Anyway, I may have seemed to get off track there, I am meant to be talking about the ending, right? But this is the theme that is expressed throughout FFVIII, though particularly evident here in F.H. at this time in the game. This shows the contexts of the theme of Squall's growth. Anyway, so Squall grows, and this theme is echoed and expressed a lot throughout Final Fantasy VIII.

Squall had his life taken away from him at an early age (I won't go into the detail of these events), and he had no "Squall" there to protect him. As he grows as an individual through links and bonds with others, and understanding others such as Mayor Dobe when they have their talk after the fight at F.H., he comes to realise that people must rely on others to survive, and that it's not weak to rely on others to help you with your life and problems, but necessary and it only makes you stronger. At first he doesn't want to share, or hear others problems, ie. Quistis at the very start, but he blossoms from a seed (SeeD) and learns.

Back to the ending. Ok, even though Squall has come all this way, he still questions whether he exists alone or not. Everyone does this, but this game is about Squall's insecurities, and him, the seed (SeeD), blossoming. Time compresses, he falls into the past, as does Ultimecia. He talks to Edea, and he talks about the little him and sees how the little him was. He realises how far he has come and says, "I am ok... Because I am not alone.". Then, though, as I said, in sephirothic nature, and my own thoughts and ideas, one needs to call out to others and have them respond to have their existence assured and solidified, and recognised, but when they receive no response, their individual existence comes into question. By themself.

Squall has come all this way, he knows now that he is not alone, and he says "I am ok. I am not alone. If I call out to my friends, they will respond", but then he calls out to all his friends, and he receives no response. He immediately thinks and says "Am I alone?". This is a sephirothic action of sorts. Immediately, even though he's come all this way, he falls back and doubts himself, and questions himself.

The first part of the ending sequence is a test for Squall, a final test and playing out of his insecurities throughout the game. He awakens in a visually distorted void, representative of how he has pushed others away. Looking around in all directions, he sees no other, and realises that without others, especially and particularly one other, Rinoa, he is lost. He picks a direction to walk in (I'll talk about the nature of direction later in my explanation), and heads off. As he walks a lot, he becomes weary, and trudges along, depressed and lost. He comes to the edge, the precipice of this little tiny island of desolation and lonliness, and turns around to see that it has shrunk to be very small. Without others, if you are sealed off behind that storm of clouds surrounding the island he is on, then your world shrinks, and it is a very dark and lonely place.

Realising this, and lost both physically and mentally, he slumps to the ground depressed. Then Rinoa is in the place they promised to meet, the flower field near Edea's Orphanage, searching frantically for her lost love, visably upset and distressed. She clutches her neck chain, with her ring which belonged to her mother, and Squall's Griever ring on it. This is what links the two of them. It is symbolic of the bond and link they have formed. That he has formed bonds with others, one other in particular, and that he has reached out and opened up and relied on people and trusted them, is Squall's saving grace. In particular, Rinoa is his saving grace, as she is the catalyst for his opening up and blossoming as a seed (SeeD). Rinoa clutching the chain that binds them sends a feather to Squall who is in the middle of his own squall (symbolism). He clutches the feather, and on wings of love, he is taken to the flower field. Here, he calls out to Rinoa, but his voice is not heard. He is lost. This is also sephirothic as I said, remember? His existence is not recognised, hence the question "Do 'I' exist?" and "Am I alone?". How can you exist if that which you call out to doesn't respond. You can't. Or you'd know no "I". You have no identity if people don't recognise you, building the facets of self.

It is like bats in a cave. There are places where bats live in caves where there is absolutely no light, complete darkness, and they are blind. Yet they can sense the contours and shapes of their surroundings by sending out radio like signals and having them bounce back at them off the walls of their surroundings. In life, we, each individual, bounces these radio waves from ourselves off others, and when we receive them back, it solidifies our sense of self, our sense of "I". When we send out these waves, like Quistis does to Squall at the start, and like Squall does in the ending and receives no response (first from anyone, then from Rinoa in particular), and we receive no response, the individual automatically questions itself. It's a knee-jerk reaction. Squall says "I am not alone", then he calls out to everyone, nobody answers, he immediately says "Am I alone?". See?

He continually sees images of the past, with Rinoa, the one that he has truly opened up to and come to love and form a meaningful bond with, being wiped from them. This is partly to do with his insecurities, and also the time compression. Anyway, he sees all these fond memories of her dissapearing, and also all his memories of stuff like Zell waving to him to run into the ship, and Quistis shooting the gun. Time is collapsing around him, and he is lost in his insecurities.

Finally, he sees the image of Rinoa in space (this is very important, but as I said, I'll discuss direction later, and direction is a part of this). This is the time he saved her, but this time, he couldn't, she was taken from beyond his reach, and the glass shatters, and she dies. Then you hear that *SLING* sound, which is his sword piercing his own heart, as he bears his open chest, and the last glimpses of light dissapear around him. His world is collapsing, symbolised by the island, which is also falling apart. There is a scene, the same one where Squall makes the promise with Rinoa to meet at the flower field. Here, she says that if she becomes a sorceress against the whole world, it is ok if it is Squall's sword that pierces her heart, but no one else. In this scene, with the death of Rinoa, in his mind, his sword pierces his own heart. Think of the opening where after Rinoa lets go of the feather that was once a petal, and then the gunblade comes slinging down to earth and makes the same *SLING* sound. That is what stabbed Squall through his chest.

Anyway, in that promise scene, Rinoa told Squall that in her dream, or nightmare as it were, she ran across the entire world looking for him, Balamb, Timber, Galbadia, Trabia etc., but that she couldn't find him, and that she was scared.

In this ending sequence, their love is too strong, and he is, after all, destined to become a Lionheart. Faye Wong's tear-jerking voice comes in, as Rinoa alone pierces the darkness and self-created (to a degree, in ways) lonliness surrounding Squall's tumultuous being. She sees her love lying there, dead without her, and gently picks up his head and cries. But then, with his love by his side, Squall is restored. They have found eachother, and the clouds break to let sunlight stream through, and all the flower "seeds" (SeeDs, see? Understand?) blossom, and fly off on the wind, the journey of life (there's another scene I have to refer to about this, but I'll do it later), to share their lives with others. To go to new places, and have new experiences. To open up.

Rinoa looks down, happily, and smiles with tears of joy, as the one she loves awakens. But the ending sequence keeps this "hidden" of sorts, until the very final end, where they share a kiss, a strong embrace, and sail off into the distance, to share and explore and embrace their lives together. Alot like Fei and Elly at the end of Xenogears.

"Just you, aaaa~aaand I, can fiiii~hind the answer and then, we can run to the end, of the world, we can run to the end, o~of the world. Run to the end, of the world."

Both games are very sephirothic, and about the nature of humans as individuals, inherently needing to branch out to and rely on others. To form meaningful bonds and links etc.. Now that Squall has grown that much, and blossomed from a repressed seed (SeeD) into a Lionheart, he and Rinoa can fly off into the distance, free of the timeloop, and "run to the end of the world", and "find the answer".

Right, in my explanation above, I also mentioned "direction". Direction is a very important part of life, in my own thoughts and feelings and ideas. Direction relates directly (haha) to individuality. We all exist as individuals, in this great big sea of infiniteness. We have to reach out to others and make/form bonds to survive. There is a lot of talk about this in the game, some of which I have already talked about, some I may refer to later. Anyway, to live as an individual, you must act in direction, you must live within direction. You have to choose where to go and what to do, and act. That is individualism. You can have impact in life, you can do something, although what you can do is limited, because you need to extend your self by and through bonds with other things not you.

The scene where Squall dives out into space to rescue Rinoa, and the whole scene before it where she is just drifting, is perfect, in this sense/these senses. Space represents, in my thoughts, particularly in this context, the infiniteness within which we exist. Rinoa is drifting along, she has no other to anchor to, only her wishes and desires for another to come and give her comfort. She is going to die, alone, in nothingness.

Squall personifies (in the truest sense of the concept) individualism, as he dives out into nothingness, to reach out to something not him, and solidify a bond with something (meaningful) within nothingness, so that they both can survive, or have a better chance of doing so. If one has an other in nothingness, then they are comforted. This is true of life also. So true.

Anyway, as Squall takes this risk, a risk he wouldn't have taken before, it is destined that that risk should be respected, and the Ragnarok appears, as destiny and the timeloop show appreciation for Squall acting as he should. As an individual. If you remember what Quistis says in the cockpit of the Raganarok after Squall lets Rinoa go to the Sorceress' Memorial, she says "So where is the princess that changed the ever cautious Squall?". This shows that in life, you must reach out in the face of adversity, and clutch dearly to you what you wish to hold and make bonds with, or it may drift off, and you being cautious, will have lost it. Quistis also says she wishes someone would do that for her, verifying that everyone wants someone to comfort them wholly, and solidify their existence through comfort.

Also, in the ending, that island, that void which represents the nothingness of life, and the lonliness that Squall has created around himself by shunning the necessary, inherently so, connections in life/existence, is also concerned with "direction". Squall is now alone in the nothingness, without the links and bonds of others. Also, as I said before, people need to have others reply to them calling out to solidify their existence, but if they don't receive a reply, they question it. Squall never replied to others, a good example is where he's talking to Quistis at the start, and after he says he doesn't care, and shuns her connections and contact, she immediately questions herself, as Squall does in the ending, (re; "Am I alone?".). So besides not having the links and bonds of others, he also doesn't even have their presence, or recognition of such, because he shunned it, and pushed it away.

This void represents life without others, but more importantly, it shows an individual existing in a world bigger than they could imagine, and the individual in question has to choose a "direction" to go in. Squall chooses a direction, and as he goes along, inherently, and also because he has always shunned the existences of other individuals, the island, the world, shrinks around him. He becomes depressed and realises that he is alone, both at the same time, in conjunction with eachother.

Then, when some other one whom he has meaningfully bonded with comes along, the world opens up again, into a flourishing flower field, origin of life, and where it lives best, at its most vibrant. He is no longer alone, and by making bonds with others, he serves his existence perfectly, and survives.

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Going through all that is a part of FFVIII, all that is within it, such as what I have discussed, really makes me appreciate the incredible depth there is to it all. Even if I feel there are a couple of hitches in the game, the story and the depth of the symbolism within it makes me love it so much. Final Fantasy VIII surely has one of the best stories (that is, the story alone, like if you read the screenplay of it) in the Final Fantasy series, if not the best, but I don't like to crown "bests", each story is what it is and brings what it does. That should be respected and appreciated.

Anyway, above I also mentioned that there was one other scene which was meaningful concerning FFVIII's theme of the journey of life, and seeds (SeeDs) blossoming and growing and going out and seeing the world.

Any time after Balamb Garden has taken to sea (I think), you can go to the quad where the stage is for the Garden Festival (that was never held, at least not there), and there are seven Garden students there. The things they say are a very integral part of FFVIII's theme of the journey of life, and the blossoming of seeds. It also shows a very realistic portrayal of how people in real life think, and how people in real life might actually think in such a situation. Their location, that is looking out to sea, with the Garden now drifting along in the vast seemingly infiniteness of the ocean, brings out thoughts of them drifting in their own life, and the ripples which affect them, and where they are headed in the sea of life (direction). It's a bit similar, but also very different, to how kids leaving school might talk with their friends, who they may be uncertain they'll ever see again.

This scene, I think, is particularly meaningful if you go to view it when you are meant to be finding Ellone inside Balamb Garden, because the White SeeD Ship has come to take her back. You should know that she's in the library, but just make sure to go to the Quad first, and see this 'scene' of sorts. With Squall's dialogue that takes place after finding Ellone in the library, as the Ship opens its beautiful sails and sets off into that beautiful orange sky with the moon in it, hearing the words of and viewing these students right beforehand adds to it in a unique way.

Female Student #1 : "Know what...? I'm never gonna forget about my Garden friends"

Female Student #2 : "Yeah, let's be sure to keep in touch, even after we graduate"

Female Student #1 : "And let me know right away when you get yourself a BOYFRIEND!"

Female Student #3 : "That goes for everyone. Promise!?"

Female Student #1 : "No problem! I promise! I promise!!!"

Female Student #2 : "(I'm sure I'll have one before she does.)"

Female Student #3 : "(You guys are sooo great. I'll definitely keep my promise.)"

Female Student #1 : "(Oh no... I can't let her know I have a boyfriend.)"

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Male Student #1 (playing the Balamb town music on an acoustic guitar. Perfectly suits the drifting feel, Uematsu's FFVIII music rules because it can fit different situations) : "I'm worried about mom and pop back in Balamb" (he's playing their song, the Balamb town music) "But I knew a time like this would come eventually..." "A time for me to embark on a never-ending journey..."

Male Student #2 (leaning against a metal pole which is part of the stage supports) : "Man ... just gazing at the ocean kinda makes you forget about all that studyin' we've endured..."

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Female Student #4 (sitting on the bar railing at the edge with a male student) : "The boundless ocean..." "I wonder... What's to become of us...?"

Male Student #3 (sitting next to her) : "Don't think we'll be graduating for a while..."

Female Student #4 (kicking/swaying her feet in the brisk sea breeze, the sounds of gulls and the waves, all around) : "Wish we could go far, far away..."

Male Student #3 : "I wonder if our dreams await us beyond the horizon...?"

Female Student #4 : "(My dream... just as uncertain as our situation.)"

What I thought when I experienced this scene was something like "fucking, wow". I think that really shows well a portrayal of how people might think in such a situation, and all the symbolism of the theme of life's journey, and the open-ness of life and the sea as one, and the uncertainty which can accompany that. WOW. The setting, incredible. I think the first group of the three girls is particularly realistic concerning how people might think in such a situation and contexts, I think the second group with the two guys is particularly meaningful about knowing all along that sometime you have to leave your nest and explore life and the world and about the effect of the ocean and drifting, and the third group, the guy and the girl (who I think it is implied, likes the male student sitting next to her), that just adds so much to the setting and the aforementioned symbolism and themes. But all of it, not seperated, is perfectly what this game is trying to express, particularly here.

This scene, along with the Fisher Kid scene in Fisherman's Horizon, which I've detailed above, are two of the kind of scenes that I find special in FFVIII, and when I read something like "The Top 25 moments of FFVIII", I don't expect to see these kind of things in there, though I think they might be meaningful to others as well. These are some of the most memorable scenes in an RPG I've ever experienced.

Anyway, I'm done, that's it for this big FFVIII document. This has brought out my liking for FFVIII again, maybe it can bring new insights into it and appreciations of it in areas you didn't really consider before. Ja.