Author's Note: Hey guys!! Long time no see! I know some of you knew about this sequel, but for those of you who didn't...surprise! Here's the prologue, and I hope you're getting excited. Currently, I'm on Chapter 5 of this story, and it's going really well. I have some editing to do before I'll be ready to post anything else, so it could be a while, but I wanted to give you all a teaser to get you prepared and excited. I wanted to get the word out so that I have some readers at the beginning, but I hope it gains more popularity as we go along. Let me know what you think, and read the summary on my profile for more information on what Emersion will be about. Thanks!

BONUS CHAPTER: The sequel to Binary's prologue

Emersion
Prologue

In loving memory of Squall Leonhart
Forever our commander and friend

Rinoa kneeled before the polished stone in the middle of the Quad and read the inscription silently to herself. It was a nice tribute, she decided, even if it was painful to see. It had been Garden's decision to put up a memorial, but Cid had made sure it was okay with Rinoa before they did it. Obviously, she'd agreed, though a small voice still told her it was wrong to think he was dead. She would never say it aloud, even though everyone around her seemed to believe the contrary. Her heart still believed he was alive, but she was starting to wonder if it only felt him there because his spirit was always with her.

Pulling his leather jacket tighter across her body as the wind kicked up and blew through the aspen tree above, Rinoa closed her eyes. This was the only piece of Squall they had ever found from the crash scene. After months of searching, this was the only thing they'd ever had to show for it, but she was grateful that they'd found it all the same because it still smelled like him. She brought the jacket near her face and took a deep breath, hoping for comfort and reassurance in Squall's lingering scent. But as she inhaled, she found that something wasn't right. Taking the jacket off, she brought it closer and breathed in again, but to no avail. His sweet smell was gone, leaving only her own in its wake.

Tears started to form in her eyes, and the memorial stone blurred. She clutched the jacket to her chest, letting the tears fall. That was the only shred of Squall she had left to cling to, and now it was gone. As long as she could still smell him, he was still among them, in some form. There was still hope. But now…there was no reason to believe he was alive, and every reason to believe he was dead. There was no trace of him left, just a stone to remember him by. But somehow, she just couldn't accept it. No matter how much reason she had to believe otherwise.

Perhaps part of her would never give up entirely. Unless a physical body was found, she couldn't fully let go. They'd said goodbye on the ship, but it wasn't enough. It never would be, she realized, but it was time to move on with her life. For better or worse, it was time to start living life again, because she knew that was what Squall would want for her. After all, that was the promise she'd made him the last time she saw him.

Nodding a few times to affirm her resolve, the engraving slowly came into focus again. She reached out with her fingers and smoothed them over Squall's name, then kissed her fingers and touched it again. "I'll always be waiting for you," she told him quietly. "But I'm going to move on now, okay? That's what you wanted, isn't it? But I'll keep waiting. I will."

She slowly rose and shrugged into his jacket again, feeling stronger, perhaps even empowered. In a whisper that was lost to the wind, she said, "Goodbye, Squall."