A/N All right, here it is the central story in my FF8 trilogy. Again, I stress that I don't own the rights to Final Fantasy, Square, etc. Unlike the other two parts of this story arc, this one is told in the third person, not first. As for what relationships will be formed, I'll leave that for the reader to discover later on in the story. Keep in mind that Discordia and the Goddess of Irony are ever watchful, waiting for the opportunity to lend their assistance to the writing process. My thanks go to Sagan Fox for beta reading this and brainstorming with me, as well as to my friend Alex for helping me to work out the themes of my later chapters. Please read and review.





Leona glanced about, taking in her surroundings. She had an easy stance, all of her weight resting on one foot and her hip thrown out to one side. She ran a hand through her hair.


"So," she murmured, "this is Balamb Garden. Funny, I expected more."


She hoisted a duffel bag to her shoulder and slowly approached the elevator. She pressed the button and waited for the doors to slide shut. Before they could do so, two more individuals rushed into the elevator, both of them giggling hysterically.


"I win!" proclaimed the energetic young woman in the small yellow dress.


"Now that's not fair. You tripped me," retorted the tall, lanky young man with an apparent cowboy fetish.


Without warning, the girl seized her companion's hat and placed it triumphantly on her own head. She flashed a grin.


"Mine."


"Sephie, give that back."


"No Irvy."


So, Leona thought, these two helped defeat the sorceress. These two must be Selphie Tilmitt and Irvine Kinneas.


Irvine and Selphie continued their playful quarrel until the elevator reached the second floor, and another passenger entered. Both of them fell silent and backed away from the newcomer. The scar on his face identified him immediately: Seifer Almasy. He settled against the wall of the elevator and waited for the doors to close.


"Did you get called up to see the Headmaster again?" Irvine queried smugly. "I think you spend more time there than you do in class. You're lucky you're even here, Almasy."


Seifer, for the most part, ignored him, allowing himself only a resentful look. The elevator reached the third floor, and the four passengers got out. Selphie and Irvine went straight into the Headmaster's office and closed the door, leaving the other two to wait in the lobby area.


"Smug bastard," Seifer muttered under his breath.


Leona, who had found a comfortable spot against the wall, smiled. "He struck me as that sort," she mused.


Seifer glanced at her, staring her straight in the eye.


"So, you're a SeeD? Not from this Garden I take it."


Leona shook her head before answering, leaning her head back against the wall.


"No, I work for Galbadia Garden, though I'm currently in the employ of the Esthar government."


"What are you doing here?"


"Esthar wants to build a Garden of its own. Since Balamb has more power than either of the other two Gardens, they sent me here."


"So, you're here to ask for their blessing on the project?"


Leona shrugged. "I'd think of it more as a request for financial backing."


Seifer laughed softly, shaking his head. When he looked up, he discovered a rather bemused expression on her face. He was about to speak when the Headmaster's door opened.


"Seifer, you can come in now."


"Well," he sighed, "time to face the firing squad."


Leona chuckled at his comment. "Good luck in there."


Seifer caught one last glimpse of Leona grinning before he went to face the Headmaster. As he entered, Seifer noticed Quistis standing to one side of the room and Zell standing on the other side, both looking ill at ease. And there, of course, was Rinoa standing next to Squall, one arm resting on the back of his chair.


"You seem to have the entire pride. What's the occasion?" Seifer inquired of him.


Squall's eyes looked flinty and cold as he responded.


"Take a seat." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.


Seifer hesitated, glancing at the other four people hovering behind him. They reminded him of vultures. He turned to look at Squall.


"No thanks, I'd prefer to die on my feet."


"Seifer, please," Quistis gently whispered, "just do what he says."


Seifer turned and looked at her. She doesn't want to fight. Neither do Zell and Selphie. Squall and Irvine want blood, and Rinoa . . . He gazed at Rinoa's carefully masked face, unable to discern anything from it. So, still acting the role convenient for the moment, are we?


Squall rose from his chair, glaring at Seifer with smoldering anger.

"You are aware that only one more field test will be held before you turn 21, aren't you?"

Squall moved around the side of the desk and approached Seifer. "You still intend to become a SeeD, right?"


"Indeed," Seifer responded tersely. He locked eyes with Squall. "Is that all? I've no intention of cringing at your feet."


Squall bristled angrily, and Quistis and Zell stepped forward, preparing to break up a fight.


"With an attitude like that, it's a wonder I don't expel you now. I have the right to do so."


"Squall . . ." Quistis warned.


"Be quiet Quistis!" he snapped.


Seifer laughed to himself, and Squall turned on him.


"What's so damn funny!?"


"I just thought of an old saying. 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely.' Think about it." He turned to leave, enraging Squall, who grabbed his arm and spun him around.


"Listen to me, you pathetic failure, you're only here because of Cid."


Seifer broke free from Squall's grip, easily tossing his arm aside and turning once again. Squall moved to stop him, but Quistis intervened.


"I don't care if you are Headmaster, Squall, and I don't care how you feel about all of this Seifer. The two of you act like children, and I'm sick of playing mediator." She flashed an angry look at both of them.

Seifer used the opportunity to storm out of the office. He passed Leona with barely a sideways glance, slamming doors behind him as he went. Leona watched quietly, waiting a moment before she knocked on the door of the office.


Quistis opened the door, greeting Leona without enthusiasm. She did, however, glance at her in recognition. Leona moved past her and took a seat in front of the desk. She felt slightly uncomfortable but wasted no time.


"Headmaster Leonhart, I'm here on behalf of the Esthar government . . ."


"Why is Esthar sending a mercenary as a representative?"


Leona glanced at him indignantly. "I was hired as a bodyguard for the president of Esthar. That country has decided that it wants a Garden of its own and felt that a member of SeeD would be the best candidate for negotiation. President Loire chose to deal with Balamb Garden, since Trabia's still rebuilding itself and Galbadia is unstable."


Squall considered her for a moment. "Well, you certainly get right to the point, don't you? So, you're asking for approval?"


"Yes, along with any additional funding that Balamb Garden is willing or able to provide."


Squall thought for a brief moment before answering. "Give me one week, and I'll give you a decision."


Leona smiled, rising from her chair and extending her hand. "It's a deal," she said, shaking hands with him. "One more question: where do I stay?"


"Why don't you stay in the dorms?" Zell suggested.


Leona agreed and moved to leave. She got to the door before Squall thought to ask for her name.


"Wait, out of curiosity, what's your name?"


Leona turned back, smirking. "Leona R. Hardt."


Quistis looked surprised suddenly as she recognized the name and face. "Lea, is that you?"


Selphie asked, "You two know each other?"


"We went to Galbadia together for a while," Quistis explained, "and graduated SeeD at the same time."


"Do you have an instructor's license?" Squall questioned her.



Leona nodded. "I got my license from Galbadia the same year as Quistis."


"By a fluke that year, Leona graduated the same time I did. The field test that year was in the fall, between my birthday and hers. She's actually a year younger than I am."


"Quistis, why don't you show Leona to the dorms?"


Quistis nodded in agreement. Leona smiled graciously and followed as Quistis led her out of the office. She waited until the elevator doors closed before speaking.


"So, is it normal for the Headmaster to have five other people in his office when he's yelling at a student?"


Quistis blushed furiously, lowering her eyes. "No, just with that one. Those two have been fighting since they were children. I'm sure you know about Seifer, though. He made some mistakes and is still paying for them."


The elevator reached the first floor, and Quistis showed Leona the Garden's features as she led her to the dorms. Leona took a short nap in the single dormitory before changing out of her uniform.


"Well, let's see what they have in the Training Center," she mused aloud.


Leona found the Training Center and began stretching, laying aside her weapon. She didn't hear anyone approaching and was startled by the sound of a voice behind her.


"There aren't too many gunblade users. You're only the third that I know of."


Leona stood to her full height and turned around. Seifer had knelt down to examine her gunblade.


"It's an awfully heavy weapon for such a young woman."


Leona arched her eyebrows and pursed her lips. "I can handle it perfectly well, and I'll give you a demonstration if you want."


"I didn't mean to offend you . . ." Seifer began.


"Yes you did." She lifted a hand to quell his objection. "Just listen for a minute. You seem like the naturally competitive type, with a considerable amount of pride."


"You seem to know a great deal about me without even knowing my name."


Leona grinned and continued to stretch. "I know your name. You don't know mine."



"And how is that?"


"Everyone who pays attention to current events knows your name, Seifer Almasy. Mine, for your information, is Leona Hardt."


"Well, it's nice to finally know your name."


Leona grinned and lifted the gunblade so that the point rested on Seifer's collarbone.


"So, do you want to see how well I fight, or was that just talk?"


In a single fluid movement, Seifer drew his gunblade and knocked Leona's aside.


"If you insist," he said, bowing slightly. "Defend yourself!"


With no further words, Seifer attacked, focusing his efforts on testing his opponent. He made no assumptions about Leona's skill and attacked is if she were merely learning, Leona corrected his mistake almost immediately, launching into a counterattack that only a true student of the gunblade could execute. With their presuppositions gone, the two sunk into a graceful rhythm of attacks and parries.


"Your form is excellent," Seifer complimented as he blocked Leona's attack. He countered, forcing her back a step.


Leona narrowed her eyes, smiling wryly. "Thanks, you're not bad yourself."


For a moment, they circled one another, trying to find a weak point to attack. Leona became increasingly aggressive, swinging with far more force than she should have used. Seifer responded in kind, taking riskier swings that could have caused serious injury if she should fail to parry.


It was in the middle of one of these attacks that Seifer's concentration was broken.


"Seifer Almasy!"


He turned his head slightly, realizing that Squall had entered the Training Center. In a split second of distraction, Seifer felt the gunblade make contact. Squall didn't even give him the opportunity to see what he'd hit.


"What the hell are you doing!?" Squall demanded. "Didn't you learn your lesson two years ago!? This is a perfect example of why I ought to expel you right now!"


Leona interrupted before Squall could continue. "It's my fault. I challenged him, and I let things get out of hand."



Both men turned and simultaneously noticed the blood running down Leona's left cheek. The gash ran from the corner of her jaw to a point just below her eye.


"Dammit!" Squall went to help Leona, concerned that she might lose consciousness. Leona, however, hadn't quite realized that she was injured. Raising her hand to her cheek, she discovered blood. Her reaction surprised both men simply by its pacifism. She sighed.


"Which way is the Infirmary?"


Seifer and Squall both came to her assistance, the latter berating the former the entire time. Squall continued to shout even as Dr. Kadowaki cleaned the wound. Leona finally snapped as the doctor sutured her cheek.


"Enough! Yelling at him won't change anything. Besides, I don't care, so why should you?"


Squall was too shocked to respond and turned to Seifer. "We'll discuss this later." He gestured dismissively and gave his attention to the doctor. After a few moments, Seifer left as quietly as possible.


"Will she be all right?"


"I'm right here," Leona objected, "and I'm fine."


"Just one more stitch. It's a superficial wound, but it'll leave a scar." Dr. Kadowaki stood up, removing her gloves. Leona smiled gratefully without even flinching.


"Thank you."


She began to leave, and Dr. Kadowaki stopped Squall before he could follow her. As Leona passed into the main body of the Garden, she found Seifer waiting by the passageway, a look of guilt on his face. Leona approached, and he turned to leave. She caught his wrist with one hand.


"Hey." Seifer looked at her, his eyes falling on her bandaged cheek. "It's nothing, just a scratch. Look, I'm sorry."


Seifer looked at her, blank with shock. "You're sorry? But I . . ."


"Like I said before, it was my fault. I started the fight, and I failed to block a clumsy stroke." She looked into Seifer's eyes pleadingly. "No hard feelings?"


Seifer shook his head. "I should be the one to apologize."


"Well then, we're both sorry." Leona smiled gently, slipping her hand into his. "Walk me to my room?"


Seifer took a moment to respond, finally nodding as he looked at her.


"If you insist."


Leona grinned, ignoring the stares of the students they passed.


"Thanks."