A SeeD who is not a SeeD. A Sorceress who is not a Sorceress. How will the five SeeDs know who is to be trusted? The wrong decision might just result into the end of the world.

AN: this is not post-game. Most of the details will sound the same but some aren't. well, for example, Squall is NOT with Rinoa.(I'm in denial, so sue me). Really, I get so annoyed when I imagine them together. Nothing against Rinoa. But she's definitely annoying.

1: Take Away a Piece of Me

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Quistis Trepe leaned heavily against the wall as she remembered her last meeting with the Headmaster. She closed her eyes and put a hand to her forehead.

"I'm sorry, Quistis but I have to take back your Instructor license."

She had gone pale then. "My…my license? Why?"

"This is a direct order from the President himself. He had you evaluated and decided that you lacked leadership ability, therefore unsuited to be a qualified Instructor."

"The president? Is it because I failed Seifer? He can't do that just because I failed his son! Seifer went against direct orders and almost caused the death of three other cadets!"

"I'm sorry, Quistis…"

"Sorry? Sorry? I'll show you who doesn't have leadership ability! What kind of a President is he anyway? Blaming other people for his own son's incompetence!"

"He'll have you hanged if he heard you talking like this." A voice said dryly.

Quistis jumped. She looked around, not expecting to see anyone around the Garden at such an hour.

Squall stepped out from the shadows and raised an eyebrow at her.

"Oh, Squall. Um…didn't expect you out so late." She said, turning pink.

The commander of the SeeD didn't say anything. He continued to walk past her, heading towards the Training Centre. He usually practiced there around midnight as he was too busy in the day to do so.

The Garden SeeD was a group of people destined to fight the Sorceress—evil Sorceress. The first generation of SeeDs was Squall, Quistis, Zell, Selphie and Irvine. They were the only SeeDs in the world. They came from different backgrounds and different places all over the world.

Squall Leonhart was from Esthar. He was President of Esthar's son and the Commander of the SeeDs. Quistis Trepe and Zell Dincht were from Balamb City. Unlike Zell, who had a home and a family in the city, she was an orphan. She had lived in Balamb Garden all her life and was the first to become a SeeD. A year later, she was promoted to Instructor but due to certain circumstances, she had adopted the role of a SeeD in order to aide her friends in a battle against the Sorceress. Selphie Tillmitt, easily the most cheerful and carefree member of the five was from Trabia, a snowy region far to the North. She came to Balamb Garden for the SeeD test almost at the same time as Irvine Kinneas, a sharp-shooter from the isolated Galbadia. Maybe that was why they had been do close ever since.

Almost a year ago, they had their first battle with a Sorceress--the most feared Sorceress throughout the ages.

Sorceress Ultimecia.

Thinking about that, Quistis almost shuddered with relief. Sorceress Ultimecia was hell bent in controlling time and thus having the ultimate control of the fate of the world. The five SeeDs had fought till the bitter end and through their journey, much has happened—deaths of those they loved, betrayal of those they trust and sometimes, the discoveries of long-suppressed feelings.

But even through all the trials, they remained loyal towards each other not only because they were fighting for a common goal nor because they were mercenaries with the same mission but they were loyal for the honour of the bond they created throughout their ordeal. The bond that was the pillar of their strength, one that has kept them going even when the times were hard and ultimately, one that made it possible to defeat Ultimecia.

It was the bond of friendship. It was a priceless treasure.

"Are you going to the Training Centre?" Quistis asked in present time. "Can I come? I need to vent."

She watched as Squall stopped walking and glanced back at her. He shrugged.

"Whatever." They both said at the same time. Squall frowned in annoyance while Quistis hid a small smile.

It was a game they constantly played. He would say something and she would finish his sentence for him. She had known Squall for a long time and always teased him as being as predictable as a romance novel. Of course, she was the only one who can get away with saying that to him.

"My Instructor license was taken away." She said as they arrived at the entrance of the Training Centre. With a distressed look at the heavy metal door, she continued, "they said I had no leadership ability. Maybe they were right. Maybe I don't. Maybe it was personal dislike that I failed Seifer. Maybe it was my fault that I have hurt the pride of the carrier of the Almasy name. But it's not fair. I love teaching. I love being an Instructor and feeling proud when my student succeeded in being a SeeD, knowing that I was the one that made him. Being Instructor…was everything to me. Now, there's nothing in my life anymore. And it's all because of him.

"Don't get me wrong. I've never hated Seifer. He was an excellent fighter, skills that certainly rivaled yours, Squall. But he was too proud. He liked to act without thinking of the consequences and he has a problem with receiving orders. It was all these things that he lacked that deprived him of the right to be called a SeeD."

Squall glanced sideways at her and shook his head slightly. "Don't sound like you are making excuses. Do you regret the decision you made?"

"I…no, I didn't regret it. I was being just and fair when I handed in the result."

"Then why are you still talking about it?" he then walked away and left her to contemplate the point he had just made.

He's right. She thought. I had done the right thing, in honour of the SeeD. If it meant losing my license, then I'll just have to accept it.

But still the hollow feeling she had in the pit of her stomach could not be rid. Her license, it meant a lot to her. Taking it away was like taking away a piece of her. She loved knowing that she was trusted, appreciated and loved by her students. She needed that. Needed the warmth of affection in her world of loneliness.

She needed to know that she was needed. Because nobody always seemed to.

Indeed, the price of honour is a lot to pay.

~@~~@~~@~

The next day, Quistis reported to the Headmaster's office as usual. Even if she was no longer an Instructor, she was still a SeeD. And it has been awhile since her last mission.

Squall, Zell and Irvine were already there when she arrived. Headmaster Cid gave her an uncomfortable look and paced the carpeted floor restlessly as they waited for Selphie.

When the sweet-faced SeeD came bounding in, the Headmaster took out a few pieces of paper. He cleared his throat and looked at each of their faces but avoiding Quistis' eyes.

"We have received a very peculiar request for SeeD from Dollet. Last night, a report came from the Dollet officials. It seemed that a SeeD has made an appearance there."

"A SeeD? Who? I thought we were the only SeeDs." Quistis said.

"Well, as it said from the report, the SeeD claimed that he came from the future and was here in pursue of a stray Sorceress escaping through the Time Compression."

"From the future? Really?" asked Irvine sceptically.

Headmaster Cid nodded. "Yes, that's why I need some of you to go verify this situation and report back to me immediately."

"Sounds wacky." Selphie commented and earned a smirk from Irvine.

"Selphie, please. This is serious matter. I need action to be taken immediately." Headmaster Cid nodded in Squall's direction. "Squall."

"Quistis, Zell and I will go. The rest will wait here for any further orders." Squall glanced around to see that everyone was in agreement. He saluted to the Headmaster and motioned for Quistis and Zell to follow him.

They understood. They were to leave immediately. This was not a matter to be taken lightly. If the mysterious SeeD had been telling the truth, then it meant that the world is once again under the threat of a Sorceress.

All thoughts of her license were pushed to the back of her mind.

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A bit repetitive and pointless, don't you think? I thought this chapter's a bit boring but it's necessary that I write it to avoid any confusion. It gets better, I promise.