A Final Fantasy VIII Fan Fic
By RobertDogwood@aol.com
FF VIII characters and locations are owned by Squaresoft.
All orginal characters and plot Copyright RobertDogwood 2001
Forward
The title refers to Once Again into the Breech (or once again into battle). It takes place a few months after the destruction of Sorceress Ultimecia. Esthar and Galbadia are still at war. Squall and Quistis are assigned a secret mission in Deling City. Selphie and Zell are sent to Timber to search for missing SeeD's. Rinoa begins to attend classes in her quest to become a SeeD and Seifer returns to the Garden.
It's long, but I feel worthwhile to read. Rated R for language, violence and sexual content.
Once Again
Chapter one
Squall Takes a Plunge
Selphie and Quistis Go Hunting
Rinoa Takes a Fall
Nida's Revenge
Rinoa moved languidly off Squall's bed in his tiny SeeD bedroom that now seemed a bit larger, since he had left to attend morning staff meeting and then make his daily rounds of the entire Garden. This usually would take him all of the morning and part of the early afternoon. She wanted badly to take a shower but, of course, could not use the shower in the men's quarters. In fact, she was not even allowed in the men's quarters, but since Squall had been so instrumental in defeating Sorceress Ultimecia and saving the entire world from time compression and currently being second-in-command of the entire Garden (actually first, since Headmaster Cid only handled administrative duties), everyone would turn their heads and ignore Rinoa's nocturnal visits to Squall's room.
Unfortunately most of Rinoa's clothing had been badly ripped in their sexual hijinks of the night before and, not feeling as though she wanted to waste any more time rummaging through Squall's badly disorganized closet to search for more appropriate clothing, she decided to just gather up what was left of her almost totally ruined outfit and hold it up, as if it were a shield in front of her sheer bra and panties, while attempting to quickly run down the corridor to the women's quarters.
Rinoa ordinarily wouldn't have considered such a foolhardy endeavor owing to her innate sense of modesty, but it was fairly early in the morning and the dayshift would have already left to report for duties and classes and the night shift would be just laying down to sleep.
Rinoa quietly tiptoed to the door and cracked it open to take a quick furtive glance down the corridor and, observing the hallway appeared clear, she quickly took a step outside of the room not realizing the door locked behind her. She immediately heard voices moving in her direction. Oh, no, Rinoa thought, It sounds like Zell and Irvine! She quickly spun and attempted to open the door as she heard Irvine call out, "Good Morning, Rinoa."
As the two young men continued to quickly move up the corridor towards her and, as they hadn't yet fully grasped the situation, Rinoa frantically attempted to open the locked door. Just as Zell and Irvine came walking up, Rinoa, in her haste to avoid embarrassment, dropped what was left of the ruined outfit and turned to face them clad only in her sheer bra and panties that left little to the imagination. Irvine burst out laughing. Zell immediately turned bright red from his own embarrassment and quickly turned away, although Rinoa noticed he kept stealing little glances at her predicament.
"This is a great way to begin the morning," laughed Irvine, who was gazing intently at her, as if attempting to memorize her near nudity for future reference. "Is there anything I can do to help you, Rinoa, on this fine day?"
"For one thing," she snapped, "You could quit undressing me with your eyes and help me open this door."
Irvine responded, "I don't have to undress you with my eyes for obvious reasons and the door appears to be locked and, not having a key with me to Squall's private quarters, I don't think I can help you with that problem either, but are you sure there isn't anything else I could do?"
While Irvine was enjoying himself immensely being engaged in his usual bantering with an attractive, young woman, Zell busied himself with gathering what remained of Rinoa's clothing and handing it to her, although Rinoa noticed he was now boldly looking her up and down.
"Thank you, Zell. At least someone here is a gentleman," said Rinoa.
Irvine suggested, "Why don't we escort you down to the women's quarters, before Xu and Squall show up to do their morning inspection?"
"Oh Great Hyne!" exclaimed Rinoa. "I forgot all about that."
"We should probably go now," directed Zell and taking her gently by the arm began to walk her quickly down the corridor with a laughing Irvine following behind.
As they passed one room, Nida stepped out and then suddenly paused with a startled "Oh!"
"What's the matter with you?" demanded Irvine speaking to Nida. "Can't you say good morning?"
As the trio quickly stepped by Nida, Irvine whispered in Rinoa's ear, "The poor sap has probably never seen a woman undressed before. Rinoa, you probably are now the highlight of his life."
Rinoa realized, with a groan, now everyone in the Garden would probably hear about this by nightfall. "Just get me to Selphie's room," she snapped.
Irvine took off his cowboy hat with a large flourish and bowed. "We aim to please."
"Cut the crap, Irvine," Zell retorted. "And let's go."
The trio reached the end of the long corridor and opened the main door leading to the women's corridor. Three young women students, who were standing there gossiping as they did every morning, looked up and giggled. Irvine, Zell and the, by now, completely befuddled Rinoa stood in front of Selphie's door.
"Selphie, open up!" demanded Irvine as he knocked rapidly on the door.
"Go away," said a voice from inside the room. "It's too early in the morning to put up with you."
Irvine explained, "There's a friend out here who really wants to see you."
"Now what in the world?" Selphie opened the door. "Holy shit! What are you doing, Rinoa?!" She grasped Rinoa by the arm and dragged her quickly into the room and slammed the door.
Irvine turned to Zell and commented, "This is all the thanks we get for helping out a damsel in distress."
"Just cut the crap, Irvine," retorted Zell turning away and beginning to travel back down the hall.
"What in the hell are you doing, Rinoa? Parading around in your underwear in the hallways?!"
"Selphie, please. I've had a heckuva morning so far and I really just need to take a long hot shower."
"Oh, sure. You can parade around with my Irvy and Zell wearing practically nothing and then you don't even have the common decency to explain it to me. Well, I'm pissed, Rinoa! What if I hadn't been here? Then what would you have done?"
Rinoa, understanding she had hurt her friend's feelings, relented and replied she would be happy to explain everything to her, but only after she had taken a hot shower. Rinoa glanced around the room and, noticing her long blue duster she had worn all through the time of battling Galbadia and the Sorceress, wrapped it around herself and stepped out in the corridor. She headed down to the showers listening to the same three female students giggling behind her back.
Back in the room, Selphie fumed. "The hell with this noise. I'm going to find out about this from Irvine!" Selphie checked the back of both of her boots and then slammed out of the room and strode down the women's corridor leading to the main hallway that would take her to the Garden rotunda.
On the third floor of the Garden, Squall sat at a long conference table in Headmaster Cid's newly remodeled office listening to Cid ramble on concerning Garden's fiscal report. Squall didn't know how he tolerated this every morning of his life, but there just didn't appear to be any way to escape it. He had attempted to step down from his current position many times and become an ordinary SeeD again, but to no avail; not only would Cid and Xu not allow it, but also all of his friends promised him to make his life even more miserable if he quit.
"Squall, are you listening?"
Xu's sharp question brought him rudely back to the present.
"Whatever," he replied.
"Well, I thought you might be interested in this, since it involves Laguna and Esthar." Xu retorted.
"Please go on," Squall said in a resigned tone.
"Thank you," Xu replied. "As you know the current war between Galbadia and Esthar is stalemented. Esthar is only making sporadic attacks because of difficulties with their logistics due to the great distance they have to travel. Another of their concerns is regarding the Galbadian Missile Program and whether or not it is up and running again."
Xu continued, "Esthar has a superior missile program, but is unable to implement it because of the fallout that might damage the very countries they are fighting to protect. Consequently, Laguna is very worried because, if Galbadia's Missile Program becomes active again, Esthar would be at a distinct disadvantage. President Loire also doesn't know who is in charge of the Galbadian government at this time. It makes it extremely difficult for him to formulate his own war strategy, because he doesn't know to read his opponent."
Cid asked, "Where do we fit in all this?"
Xu answered, "Galbadia is still controlling Dollet, Timber and Winhill and could take over F.H. and Balamb anytime they want. There are many splinter resistance groups located in and around Timber and Dollet. President Loire has asked us to send a small group of SeeDs to Timber, Dollet and possibly Winhill to try to coordinate some cooperation between these groups. Whipping up any kind of opposition in F.H. would seem to be counterproductive at this time, because of the political stance of Mayor Dobe."
Squall remembered with a grimace what a feeb Major Dobe was.
Xu went on to say, "Also, President Loire has requested we send two of our top SeeDs into Deling City on a recognizance mission in an attempt to ferret out who is in control of their government."
Squall perked up a little at this bit of startling news. This could be his ticket out of Garden for a while. Fighting is always what Squall did best, and downtime from his fighting was a killer for him. It would help him to avoid these deadly meetings for a period of time and also, to tell the truth, Rinoa was beginning to wear him out. He could use a break there, too.
Xu continued, "We have already sent out the first group of SeeDs to Timber and Dollet, but now we need to decide who is going to Deling City."
"It's obvious," Squall said. "It'll be me and Quistis."
Xu began to shake her head violently. "You're too well known in Deling City to attempt this."
"Hear me out," Squall protested.
"I'd rather throw you out," Cid giggled, but quickly regained his composure and apologized.
Squall went on say, "We traveled back and forth from Deling City many times during our past missions. Their security is amazingly slight; just a bunch of bored, low pay soldiers. Besides, think about it. You can't send Zell because he is too excitable and Irvine, in that cowboy outfit would stick out like a sore thumb. Selphie might do in a pinch; at least she could keep them mesmerized with her short dress and momentary flash of panties, but Quistis would be best. She'll do a fine professional job."
As Xu started to disagree, Cid stood up from the table and exclaimed, "Good. That's taken care of."
Squall stood up with some alacrity, happy to discover the meeting over.
"I'll go with you and Xu on your rounds today," Cid explained. "I think it's good for morale, if the students see me around a little bit more."
It didn't occur to Rinoa, until after she had taken her shower, she had left the room so quickly she had forgotten to grab a towel. As she glanced around the shower room for something to use she noticed she had carelessly thrown her underwear on the wet shower room floor. Oh well, she thought. I didn't want to put them on over my nice clean body, anyway.
Rinoa realized she didn't want to ruin her long blue duster by using it as a towel and anyway she was going to have to try and wrap it around her, as best she could for the short trip back to the room. She would just have to go down soaking wet and dry off in the room, although she knew this would infuriate Selphie, who could be so anal-retentive at times.
Rinoa gathered up her wet underwear and wrapped the duster around her as best she could. Although she realized it still left a lot of her body indecently exposed, she was certain this would be okay because no men were allowed in the women's quarters. She could walk down the hall stark naked, if she wanted to.
Rinoa opened the shower room door and proceeded down to her and Selphie's room. Rinoa attempted to open the door, but it was locked. She gently knocked on the door saying, "Selphie, let me in. It's me."
There was no reply. Rinoa knocked a little louder and said "Selphie! Let me in."
Oh great, Rinoa thought with a groan. Now what? She must have gone out and locked the door behind her.
Just then the same three young women students from earlier in the day materialized from around the corner. Upon seeing Rinoa in her present condition they halted their conversation, looked at each other and giggled and decided to remain and see what would happen next.
Before Rinoa could turn to the young women and ask if she could stay in one of their rooms until Selphie returned, she heard voices coming down the hallway. She turned her head and saw Squall, Cid and Xu inspecting rooms.
"Oh Shiva!" she gasped. "I forgot about dorm checks."
Rinoa was so distraught she was unable to think rationally concerning what her next course of action should be, so she collapsed to the floor on her knees in an effort to hide as much of her body as she possibly could, since they were now coming out of the room next to her and Selphie's room.
"Oh!" exclaimed Cid. "Rinoa's fallen and hurt herself," Cid pointed out, rushing to her aid.
Cid bent down and attempted to help the struggling Rinoa to regain her feet.
"I'm okay. Please don't help me," pleaded Rinoa.
But Cid continued to help Rinoa up and, in the process, her duster fell to the floor fully revealing her nakedness.
Cid immediately backed up, his mouth hanging open and Xu started uncharacteristically laughing. Squall slapped his forehead with the palm of his right hand in his familiar gesture.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," babbled Rinoa, while attempting unsuccessfully to cover her ample charms with her hands. "I'm locked out."
Xu stepped forward with the passkey. "I can rectify that," Xu said unlocking the door. Rinoa fled inside followed by the mocking tone of the giggling girls.
Selphie strode down the main dormitory corridor leading to the Garden's rotunda. The rotunda was the center of the first floor. The rotunda resembled a hub of a wheel having corridors leading out in different directions, as if they were spokes. In the interior of the hub, as one walks along the wall, there is a large circular pool of beautiful blue water with fish statues every few feet or so spouting water. The corridors also led over small pools of water. Selphie strode past the blue water pool and fountains attempting to decide where to begin her search for Irvine. She decided to try the library first; not that Irvine was interested in reading that she'd ever noticed, but he was always interested in attempting to hustle the young women who worked there.
Entering the library, Selphie, quickly glancing around the first room, espied nothing out of the ordinary - that one male upper-classman that was always looking on the same shelf for a book and that female student who was always looking for a good romance novel.
Selphie spotted the pony-tailed girl (she never could remember that girl's name!) standing behind the circulation desk using one of the two computers available to the library staff.
"Excuse me," Selphie said while checking the heel of each of her boots. "Have you seen Irvine?" Selphie realized almost every girl over the age of twelve in the Garden knew who Irvine was.
The pony-tailed girl glanced up from her computer and smiled sweetly. "Well, he was here earlier, but he left. I believe I heard him say something about going to the rec center."
"Okay, thanks," Selphie tossed over her shoulder leaving the library.
The rec center was located on the sub-floor. The sub-floor was located between the first floor and the basement and held such facilities, as the aforementioned recreational center, a coffee shop, a gym and swimming pool, the virtual reality training center, locker rooms, the weight room, and the laundry area and the baths.
Access is gained to the sub-floor from the inner hub around the first floor elevators. Selphie walked down the long black-stoned staircase, which led to the corridor to the rec center and coffee shop area. Upon arriving at her destination, she peered into the rec center seeing the usual room full of video games and the tables for table tennis and pool, bumper and straight. As her eyes adjusted to the over powering bright lighting, she finally espied Irvine playing the presently popular video game The Deling City Challenge. As per usual he was joking with a number of pretty upper-classmen women, who were clustered around him.
"Irvine, I want to talk to you right now!"
Irvine glanced up at the sound of his name and, perceiving the angry look on Selphie's face, his smile quickly faded. "Uh, oh girls. I'd better go talk to her." With that, Irvine sauntered over to Selphie and greeted "Hi, Selphie. How's it going?"
"Don't you how's it going, me. You, come with me!" Selphie clutched him by the arm and yanked him along to the coffee shop that was connected to one end of the rec center almost pulling him off his feet.
Selphie looked around the coffee shop that had pink walls, a green tiled floor, and a long counter at which a person could order beverages or a small meal. There were a great number of tables and chairs. When she discerned an empty table in the corner, she continued dragging Irvine over to it and flung him down in a chair with some force.
"Ow!" complained Irvine. "Take it easy, Sefie."
"Don't you Sefie me, Irvine! I'm mad. I want to know what you were doing walking around with Rinoa in the halls with her half naked!"
"I'm totally innocent. Ask Zell. We were just coming down the hall and Rinoa was locked out of Squall's room, so we volunteered to help her get back to the room. And that's all there was to it. To tell you the truth, I was kinda embarrassed to be seen with her."
"Why didn't you offer her your coat to wear?" Selphie suspiciously asked.
"I did," Irvine replied, "but she turned me down saying it would be too hot."
"Are you telling me the truth?" queried Selphie.
"I swear to Hyne!" Irvine said raising his right hand.
Selphie, at last, smiled and said, "Alright, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Sorry I was so rough." She proceeded to sit down beside him at the table.
Quistis was searching for her instructor friend, Melissa Jenkins. Outside of Doctor Kadowaki and Xu, Melissa was her closest friend in the Garden. They had been students together and then SeeDs and finally were made instructors at the same time. As she walked along the corridor peering into classrooms, her hand subconsciously would drop to her hip to check on her whip, which naturally wasn't there as she didn't wear her weapon ordinarily in the Garden, but some part of her missed the excitement of her past adventures.
The problem was Melissa's classroom had been relocated and Quistis didn't know which corridor it was now located on. When there are fifty classrooms to look in, this can become a problem.
All of the classrooms were on the second floor of the Garden. There were four elevators to the second floor, one on each side of the elevator shaft that led to a different corridor of classrooms. Quistis continued to walk along looking quietly into classrooms taking the entire classroom in a single glance automatically seeing, while not noticing, the students seated at their desks, each having a personal computer on it, the large windows in the back of each classroom and the blackboard in front with various subjects being taught, such as magic use, battle tactics, survival skills, care of a G.F., the Articles of the Garden Bible and advanced diplomacy training.
Quistis came to the last classroom on the left at the end of the third corridor she had investigated, before finding her friend's classroom. Glancing at her watch and realizing the class would let out in five minutes, she decided to just wait quietly in the hall.
As soon as the female and male upper-classmen began leaving the classroom and milling around the hall talking, Quistis stepped inside the room.
"Hi, Quisty," greeted Melissa stepping from around her desk in the front of the room and moving toward Quistis, who stood just inside the doorway. "I thought you'd be looking for me today."
"You did?" Quistis asked with some surprise. "I just decided to look for you a few minutes ago."
"Oh, is that when you found out?" asked Melissa.
"Found out what?" asked the baffled Quistis. "What in the world are you talking about?"
"Oh, aren't you the coy one? What'd they do - swear you to secrecy?" asked Melissa in a halfway mocking tone.
"I really don't have any idea what you're talking about, Melissa. I just came by to say hi, because I was feeling a little lonely and left out and thought it would be good to see you."
"You're telling the truth, aren't you?" Melissa asked.
"Of course I am."
"Well, come over here and sit down," Melissa stated, while pointing to some desks in the back of the room.
After both of them were seated, Melissa asked "You know one of my students works for Headmaster Cid?" Quistis nodded in affirmation. "Well, she was upstairs this morning before class, when they were having a meeting and she overheard them talking about a special mission to be done for Esthar in Deling City and you and Squall are going."
Quistis sat with a half smile on her face and thought, At last I can be contributing again.
"Well," queried Melissa. "Aren't you gonna say anything?"
Quistis replied, "If it's this big a secret, I hope she didn't spread it around Garden."
"Come on. She just told me and she swore me to secrecy."
"Which you just failed!" Quistis replied.
"Quistis, you're my best friend. Of course I can trust you! I know why you're being so bitchy you don't want to tell me how you feel about this."
"Okay, Okay," Quistis owned. "I'm excited. Now give me the details."
Melissa proceeded to explain the scenario to Quistis and the two of them sat and talked and laughed and enjoyed each other's company for the next half an hour.
Finally Quistis stood up. "Thanks a lot, Melissa. I really needed this. I've been feeling so down lately. I guess I better go and see if I can find Squall so we can make our plans."
Melissa stood up and gave Quistis a hug. "Take care, Quisty."
Quistis assured her she would and walked out of the classroom and down the long corridor to the elevator.
Zell entered the library with one thing on his mind. He wanted to talk to his girlfriend and explain to her what had occurred in the morning with Rinoa, before she heard some kind of garbled rumor. He knew she wasn't scheduled to be on duty but also knew that, if she weren't in class, she would be here. She took her library duties very seriously.
Zell stepped to the area by the shelves in the front left corner under the picture of the Legendary SeeD, that for some reason could not be seen readily from the rest of the room. The Legendary SeeD was, according to Headmaster Cid, the first graduate of the Garden and a gunblade specialist, who had the best fighting skills of anyone Cid had ever seen. He disappeared mysteriously eleven years before while on assignment and had not been seen or heard from since.
And sure enough she was there. "Uh, Na-" Zell began.
"Zell! You startled me. Don't sneak up on me like that without saying anything," the pigtail girl exclaimed, whirling around so quickly she dropped some of the books she was attempting to shelve.
Zell and the pigtail girl both lowered their heads simultaneously to pick up the books. "Ow!" howled the pigtail girl, "Zell, watch what you're doing." She staggered back into the shelves holding her forehead.
"I'm sorry, Na-."
The pigtail girl interrupted, "What do you want? I'm trying to get finished here before the library closes."
"Well, uh," Zell stammered, while handing the books back to her. "I just wanted to talk for a moment and see how your day went."
"Well, that's sweet," she said, "but can't this wait for a few minutes?"
"I was just wondering," Zell continued, "if you had heard any strange or bizarre rumors floating around the Garden about me."
The pigtail girl turned with some puzzlement on her face. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, good," Zell sighed with relief. "I'll just wait over here for you to finish." With that said, Zell began to shadow box.
Quistis started down the corridor to the quad area. Someone said they thought they saw Squall moving down that way about an hour earlier. After reaching the end of the corridor, Quistis began stepping down the long, wide, doubled tiered staircase leading down to the quad area. The quad area had been completely renovated by the F.H. technicians. The stage now was much larger and curtains and a backstage area were added. There were rows of red, plush theatre seats added and a retractable partial roof that could protect theatergoers from inclement weather. A much higher wall had been added to the outside of the balcony, due to some fool falling off and almost dying there. This was done at Headmaster Cid's request to avoid this type of accident from ever occurring again.
Sure enough when Quistis reached the stage area, she espied Squall sitting in a theatre seat staring out into nothing.
"Looking for me?" Quistis asked facetiously.
Squall looked up from his deep reverie. "As a matter of fact, I was getting ready to go do that very thing, but I had no idea where you hang out these days."
"That's part of the problem," Quistis admitted. "When I'm not on assignment, I don't have anywhere to hang out. You're lucky. You have other duties."
Squall grimaced. "Be careful what you ask for, it just might come true."
"I hear you talking," Quistis responded.
After a moment of silence had passed, Squall stood up and walked over to Quistis. "I take it you've heard."
"Yeah, one of my informed sources told me."
Squall laughed. Quistis realized she was always taken by surprise when he laughed, because he never used to, but this had changed after Squall finally admitted his feelings for Rinoa. There was still a little part of Quistis that was sorry she couldn't have been the one to help Squall learn to laugh.
Squall said, patting the back of one of the theatre seats, "Sit down and we'll make our plans."
Rinoa stood slumped with her back leaning against the door, feeling as though her legs wouldn't hold her up if she attempted to move. "Oh, no" she sobbed. "That was so awful. It was bad enough Cid and Xu saw me, but to have Squall there. He must be so embarrassed. What will I ever say to him?"
Rinoa threw herself across her bed, her entire body still quivering with adrenaline, unable to stop sobbing. After ten minutes or so of the most intense sobbing she had ever experienced, her tears began to subside and she began to feel some relief from her emotions.
Rinoa sat up on her bed and began to dry off with a towel that was lying across a chair. She began to replay the entire scene in her head in a more calm fashion and began to see the humor inherent in the situation. Rinoa began to inexplicably giggle. And then the intercom came on.
The bridge was on the floor above Cid's office. Quite naturally being at the very top of the Garden, it was a very small area allowing room for the pilot and two or three others. Nida stood at the controls looking out of the huge circular window that allowed him complete visibility. It was dusk and the sunset was beautiful. They were headed out over the waters around Timber in the direction of Balamb. Cid and Xu were standing in back of Nida. There was no room for a desk or even chairs.
Nida turned his head and grinned at them.
Xu queried, "What are you looking so pleased about, Nida?"
He whirled around so fast he almost lost his balance and, as he reached out to steady himself, he unknowingly turned on the intercom button. He had been dying to tell someone about this all day.
"When I came out of my room this morning," he began, "I was almost immediately run down by Zell dragging Rinoa along the hall and." Nida paused for dramatic effect. "I didn't get the best look, but I swear she was only wearing underwear! And Irvine was walking behind her and laughing. I don't have any idea what was going on, but I couldn't understand why Irvine didn't lend her his coat, because she appeared very embarrassed and I still don't know what Irvine found so amusing. It looked to me, as if Rinoa was being made to do something against her will."
"Now, now," Cid offered, "I'm sure that's not the case. We saw Rinoa this afternoon and she appeared fine."
"Oh, yeah," snuffled Xu, "We saw all of Rinoa this afternoon, alright." And she proceeded to tell Nida the entire story. As she spoke, Nida's face became flushed and his knees began to tremble.
"Now, now," said Cid again. "It was just an unfortunate accident and we really shouldn't be gossiping about it."
"Come on, Cid," laughed Xu. "It's just us chickens here. You can tell us. You really actually enjoyed the show."
Cid admitted, "Just don't let Edea find out." With peals of laughter resonating on the bridge, Nida turned back to the controls and noticed the intercom light was blinking. "Oh, no!" he shouted. "The intercom is on!"