Disclaimer: I do not own the main plot of this story nor do I own the original characters. I only claim what is rightly mine the plot shift and new never before seen characters that will show up. I do not write for money or any kind of profit. I write purely as a relaxer after work nothing more nothing less.

Contains: Gore, Graphic Imagery, Blood, Mild Language, Violence, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, -Later on- sexual relationships.

Final Fantasy VIII-

Awakening of Lan'nakke

Preliminary Mission: Dreams

For the past several months I have been having very strange dreams and daydreams. These daydreams as of late have felt so real that it makes me wonder if I'm even real or if I am the dream. If this academy of becoming an S.E.E.D for these Gardens. Is really the dream I really have been getting lost inside my head much more than usual. The feelings the pain the freedom of running all of it I cannot tell them apart. It's making my head throb.

I know that when I am dueling with my rival I should be at a hundred percent but I cannot completely focus. Everything seems to be playing in slow motion. It feels as though I should be able to avoid every attack with as much grace as a feline. This nothing more than a dance in the eyes of those great cats. The power to kill in one single swing. Why do I feel like that? Like I am sleeping inside like something isn't up with the rest of me but what?

Only at the stinging of flesh being cut open and the gush of hot liquid brings me back from my distracted state of mind. I see my blood painting the floor of rocks in which I duel the blonde on. I am not sure what but at that moment those few seconds the part that feels like it has been asleep surges. For the first time I truly feel like I'm awake.

With the furry and speed of a great cat-like beast I stand on my own two feet and with more strength than necessary I swing my gun-blade, The tip catching he rocks sparking as I swing in an arc mirroring the one the blonde had done moments ago. I catch the flesh of his face giving a cut to my opponent's face, a mirror image of my cut. As I come back down from the surge that part was again slipping into sleep I too slip into nothing but darkness with that part of me.

Again the dream I have been having as of late starts over again. I only get mere moments to study this dream some more. The place is some kind of Ice tower covered in a thick layer of snow but the blanket of white does not stay white threw out. Large areas of a deep red litter the room on the wall and pillars are speckled with the red. I can hear labored breathing a battle perhaps but I can't tell I still can't see that much. The light of the room is only focused where I am with another man in armor is watching. Too tired to join whoever else is fighting.

For the first time I hear a cat-like roar unlike any I've come across before. It is haunting the roar echoing in onto its self. For a spilt second I am blinded by a human like body and a high pitched cry. The cat locked onto the woman's throat both falling into the light. The only thing I can truly take in of the cat is the cat's fur is as white as the snow with the strangest spots I have ever seen, ice blue in color.

I awake the voice of the doctor of this Garden. Sitting to my right glancing at me she closes whatever book she had been reading looking at me concern clear in those eyes.

"I knew it would be either you or Seifer." She says almost monotone but I can hear that hint of annoyance at mine and Seifer's actions always landing one of us in the infirmary with some wound that requires more than a few simple healing potions or a cure could fix.

"…." Is the only response I give the woman along with an icy glare to tell her just how I feel about my current condition. Though judging from the gauze covering my face she most likely does not see it.

"Say your name for me." She states without a second glance at me.

"…Squall" That's all that needs to be said no need for pointless words.

"I don't see why you let the boy get to you, and you should learn to ignore him." She says as she looks at me standing from up from the chair she was once seated in.

"I can't just run away." I say in the same bored tone not even looking at her, I've had enough with talk I'd like to get back to trying to figure out just what it was in those few seconds that seemed to make me feel fully awake.

The woman only huffs at the answer raising her arms in and I don't get kids these days kind of fashion. "Don't go anywhere I will call your Instructor to come and pick you up. Let's see… Instructor Trepe wasn't it?" With that she leaves me alone with my thoughts before my Instructor comes to get me.

Throwing my left arm over my eyes as I lay their thinking to myself. That is until I hear a faint huff unlike any woman I've heard before. When I hear a voice I turn to my right unable to ignore a voice I've no face to put to. I'm dumbfounded by what I see; this woman isn't even part of our school in the mirror.

"I can't believe ja passed out so quickly…" the woman purrs, a mocking smile that not even Seifer can pull off. Oddly it really suits her too. How did this woman get in here without being noticed…? She is wearing cat ears for Hyne's sake. That sticks out like a sore thumb with her wild ice blue hair, ears being as white as the first snowfall of the year. Her eyes are an eerie ice blue they look as though they glow but due to the sun light I cannot tell if they actually do. If that did not get your head to turn the cut would, it is some of the wildest hair that seemed tamed it was all party and business at the same time I really do not know how to explain it. Glancing at the door she turns her eyes back to me only now do I notice that her eyes are cat-like the hole of the eye contracted to the point of looking like a serpents.

"I will be seeing ja again… next time don't faint on me either. Till the next time Squall." She says before smiling I know that if I were any normal man I would have just ejaculated in my pants. Or melted but I did no such thing or maybe that is because I am in shock? Like a ghost she just disappears without a trace.

Hear the sigh of another woman I know all too well I turn to see Instructor Trepe. Taking it as my queue to get going I stand up with no regard to my body that reacts to the harsh movement making my head spin even though I feel dizzy I do not dear show it. My Ice walls and mask in place I take lead as I leave the room. I never did like this room for any reason in the first place.

For the hallway trip it goes by a bit too quite. I glance to see Trepe watching me in a found sort of fashion it bothering me. Narrowing my eyes as a group of random girls pass us by, as soon as we I pass I can hear the gossip behind me and it bothers me cause it's about me and someone else I don't quite get the name of. Could only be one of two people the Instructor or Seifer.

Sighing in displeasure with being started at I turn to bite out "What?"

Trepe only smiles more one of the few who seems able to deal with my icy nature and anti-social behavior and nature. She giggles as she mimics my pose and tendency to rub my temple.

"I think I am starting to understand you that are all." She says cheerfully.

"I am a lot more complicated than you think." I state and begin walking again I do not even remember stopping in the first place.

"Oh is that so then why don't you share with the rest of us?" She says for some reason she looks to be counting.

"Whatever…" We say at the same exact time. Would explain why she was counting turn you can time some of my responses but not all of them. When I glare at the woman and pick up the pace forcing her to jog slightly to keep up with my new stride, I smile inside at the small victory that shuts her up the rest of the way to the class room.

When the door opens I walk in a few moments before Trepe does, Trepe getting stopped by one of her random students with a question while walking to this class room. I have already taken my seat as she walks in. Taking the stand in the front center of the room she ends whatever lesson I had passed out during. I hate to admit it but that exotic looking woman was right I cannot believe I passed out from such a minor cut. Sure it will leave a scar but it not like I would have died from, everyone knows the head area bleeds a ton but it is also easy to stop. Being lost in my head I do not hear whatever Instructor Trepe says that causes Seifer to slam his fist into his computer desk.

"Oh and Squall… I need a word with you." She says in a firm tone I know I have no choice in the matter.

With that the class leaves expect for a few who have become the Trepe groupies. I'm glad I will not have to deal with shit like that. My nature keeps me well away from such people. After all who is stupid enough to piss off a lone wolf who has the ability to bite worse than its bark.

I push myself up from my desk taking my time as I walk up to my Instructor waiting a few extra seconds as the groupies move out of my way.

Standing before Instructor I wait until she says what she wanted to tell me.

"You haven't done your exam yet to enter the S.E.E.D mission." She says in a low voice so the other students wouldn't hear.

'… I was going to do that this morning but Seifer…." I think to myself.

"Have a good excuse as to why Squall?" Instructor Trepe asks.

"No" I state plain and simple.

"Very well you will have to do a makeup test then, meet me by the front gates in one hour and we will head out to the Fire Caverns." I only nod as she nods at me. "Oh and if you feel like you are not ready you can study until that time has passed."

With that she heads out of the class room followed quickly by here groupies leaving me alone in the class room. Might as well study a little more to pass the time before heading out, that and I need to withdraw the GF Shiva and GF Quezacotl. I really do not care much for Quezacotl but I do adore Shiva. It just feels right when I use Shiva, Quezacotl makes me have too much extra energy that makes it much harder to keep my clam. Shiva does not change a thing which is why I use her and allow my party member to use Quezacotl.

"You know Quezacotl is also your element as much as Shiva is…." I jump spinning around to try and find the owner of the voice, the same voice of that woman that was in the doctor's room. I see no one in the room maybe I am starting to hear things now.

Sighing I walk over to my desk after picking up my two GF's I sit down for a quick read through of battles and such for missions before heading out never hurts to make sure you understand the basics. Ignoring the chuckle of the woman who is not there I skim threw the data.

Like clockwork I'm already at the gate after one hour has passed. Looking up I can help sighing to myself as I see Instructor Trepe in a different outfit than the typical teacher outfit. I suppose I cannot blame her for not wanting to fight in the teaching outfit but you would think she would not wear something like she is. The skirt a little too short to be allowed inside the school though not as bad as some women, those who wear the skirts where you can see their ass hanging out.

Who likes that really I find it tasteless really. At least Trepe wears something that covers half of her thighs. Then again I never was 'normal' like everyone else meaning the men. Seifer is no exception either I swear that man has a new woman every day of the week.

"Well shall we get going Squall?" Trepe asks as I stop in front of her. I nod "alright then we head for the Fire Caverns."

~To be continued ~

I always did enjoy Final Fantasy Eight the most of all the games. Sadly they buried the story under the drama and so called love story. I have deiced to change everything a bit to the way I saw the story.

I mean you can't have a Sorceress and a Knight without having some kind of balance is the Sorceress is the darker side then where is the 'good-side' to the casters born with magic abilities has always plagued me in that game until now.

As time goes on you will find much dialog that follows the game closely as well as clips from the game and keeping the characters in well character as much as possible. Some events will take place that never did in game.

I hope you will enjoy this story as much as I have been while coming up with the story line changes and twists that may make you have to read them more than once. Thank you for taking the time to read this story. *Bow*