Rinoa's Wings
Chapter 1
Post Battle Stress
I couldn't stand not being in battle. It was depriving me of what I was born to do. I am Squall Lionheart. The event in Dollet had passed, and I was feeling "battle-lag". My new allies left me to enter Balamb Garden, and I felt I needed to do something before the SeeD graduate announcement. I left to the training center to battle a few grats. It takes my mind a while to sort things out, and this last battle was no exception. Thoughts pulsed through my head:
Why did the Galbadians only want the communication tower? Was Seifer going to be congratulated on his decision, or criticized for it? Do they have any hot-dogs left for Zell?
I left the training center, only to find Seifer standing singly in the ring-way of Garden. I approached him, and he said, "Squall, did you here about that communication tower? We could've been heroes had that withdraw order never been issued."
I stood there admiring his stamina, but kept a cool face. I wouldn't let my rival see the admiration I sometimes had for him. He was a good fighter, even if he cheated at times. My thoughts were interrupted by Quitsis and Xu coming in from behind us. I had waited for them to show up to criticize Seifer. He had done what is best for the squad, following Galbadians to initiate combat, but he had done so without permission, and had broken the order. Seifer called Quitsis a mediocre instructor, and said, "It was the captain's decision, and I knew what I was doing."
"You'll never be a SeeD Seifer." Xu said after Quitsis was shocked by Seifer's comment about her being a mediocre instructor. "Calling yourself a Captain is a joke!" she finished off. Quitsis' hurt look had slightly improved with this harsh comment by Xu. Seifer stood fairly still for a second, but when Cid arrived, he began to shake, with what looked like fear. Cid dismissed Xu and Quitsis, and seemed to want to talk to Seifer more than me, so I pretended to not listen.
"You know Seifer," Cid began. "We don't expect you people to be robots, but we do expect you to follow orders. You will be fully responsible for the fiasco you caused…" Seifer tried to interrupt, most likely to say that they had perused what had ultimately been Galbadia's goal, but Cid continued,
"There's so much more to this, but …" he stopped suddenly.
At this time a Garden staff had come up to tell Cid he was going to be late with his meeting if he didn't leave soon. I turned to face Cid, and he nodded to me, and I did back. I went over to talk with Seifer, but he was uninterested, and didn't answer back. I then decided to work off the anger I had developed towards Seifer since he didn't talk to me by going to the training center again, but as I left, an announcement came over the loud speakers:
"…All SeeD candidates, please report to the second floor hallway… I repeat … All SeeD candidates, please report to the second floor hallway…" I tried to pass the Garden staff, who had remained even though his conversation with Cid had ended, but he reminded me to go to the second floor hallway.
Upon arrival, I noticed Zell pacing frantically back and forth, the Trepies in the background, and Fujin and Rajin standing opposite each other across the opening. They informed me that if Seifer didn't make SeeD, it was all my fault. Screw 'em I thought. It wasn't up to me to make Seifer not do what he did. He was appointed captain, and I was forced to follow orders. There was absolutely nothing I could do.
A Garden staff member arrived and called Zell and I forth to follow him. Zell yelled loud enough to scare even the T-Rexuar in the training center below us.
"Aaaaaaaaaaallllllllll-riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!" He exclaimed loudly.
He proudly galloped of with his hands on his hips, and proceeded to follow the Garden staff. I hung around long enough to hear the Garden say, "That is all." After he said that, I saw the Treipes grab their heads, stomp, and snap their fingers. I snickered to myself, not loud enough for them to hear.
We marched up to Cid's office, and I looked around to see who else was graduating with me. Selphie, some one else, and Zell were the only ones there. 'Man!" I thought. "Out of four groups of three, we were the only ones graduating. That's sad. Cid walked around after some encouragement from the Garden staff which stood behind him, and whispered something to all the graduates, and then complimented me on my gunblade expertise.
On leaving Headmaster Cid's office, I headed to the second floor level. Upon doing so, I noticed Zell, Selphie, and an unknown pacing, prancing, and standing there already. I looked at them with awe, astounded by their acts of immaturity. We passed through to the classroom hallway. We met Seifer standing indignant as usual with a kind of repulsed attitude. When he started to applaud, I faltered a little.
To have such a response from him was a surprise. We then went to the classroom.
As the other new SeeDs began their speeches, I was left with a feeling of emptiness. I felt as if this was just part of my job, my life. As if it were planned. How could people be thrilled about this, when they know that they'll just be shipped everywhere, meeting new people almost everyday, and fighting for causes other than their own? It just seemed pointless. I saw Seifer sitting with his posse, showing of some picture of what appeared to be his girlfriend. Like before I don't care. It was my turn to go up, and I didn't know what to say, so I just started:
" My fellow students,… Those who were not accepted today will be accepted some other day. Some future awaits you, in which you shall be with those of us who are now the elite, the special, the superiors, known as SeeD." I concluded.
I decided to walk around after all the speeches had finished, and I heard people congratulating every one on their great job. After all the fuss was over, the other student went on with their day. It would be another hour or two before the party, so I went off on my walk. That's something I seem to be good at other than fighting. Walking. I walk fast as if I had somewhere to go, but I hardly ever did. I walked into the library and looked at some books, and found an old looking magazine called: Occult Fan 1. I looked at it, and saw the bizarre pics in it, and read the story about it. I went to put it back, and I hesitated. I rolled it up, and slipped it into my back pocket for "safe keeping". I walked along noticing the birds chirping, and how green the grass was. I guess I was excited about being a SeeD, cause I saw so much more than normal as I walked around.
"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY SQUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!" I head yelled from behind me. "What's up Squall?" It was Selphie. I could tell without even turning around because of the long-ness of her greeting. She was so excited about being a SeeD, and wondered what we'd do, and when our first mission would be. It was almost sickening. She galloped of with a huge smile that stretched from one ear to the other.
I went out to the front gate only to see Zell practicing his kickboxing moves on a wild monster out on the open plains. He did prefer wild mosters vs. the monster in the training center. He claimed they were too domestic, and easy to beat. I had once asked him:
"Hey Zell. Have you ever faced a T- Rexuar?" He had grown pale at the question, and changed the subject quickly. I could only assume he had come across one and had just barely escaped finding out how non-domestic some of the creatures were. He now preferred beating up bite bugs. Hey it was his choice.
I walked back to the elevator, to go up to the second floor to see Quitsis, but I just stood at the base, looking up. A cadet pushed me out of the way saying:
"Hey get out of the road moron! Holy sh*t! Sorry Squall…I-I didn't mean it." I'm sure I looked pretty pissed at his actions, and decided against going to see Quitsis.
I proceeded to my dormitory double only to be greeted cheerfully be Selphie. She exclaimed loudly:
"Hey! Found You! What do you think of my SeeD uniform? You better get changed for the party" she gleefully stated.
I walked into my room passing my gun case, noticing slightly the emblem, which stared of the face of it. Greiver. It looked tough like me. Except, now I looked more tough with my scar across my forehead. I touched it gingerly noting the long raised souvenir Seifer had given me. You can't change the past I thought. My SeeD clothing as well as my regular clothes hung on the wall opposite me, over the head of my bed. I changed quickly into it. I did not like the new, form fitting, scratchy uniform I was mandated to ware, but I put it on just the same.
On exiting my room, Selphie admired how well I fit into my uniform, and I wondered if maybe she was hitting on me.
"Alright! Lets hit that Paaaaa-teeeeeee!" she exclaimed.
Selphie ran on ahead of me, I can only imagine, to meet people as they came in. I moved much slower because there was no point for me to hurry. I knew almost no one there, and the ones I did know, probably wouldn't care if I were late. I walked very calmly through the garden noticing the couple pass me by in an eager rush to get to the inauguration party. They most likely wanted to make out, but I wasn't one to criticize. Though I didn't plan on doing any such thing any time soon. I walked passed the library wondering if there were people their, but none were present. I wasn't upset. In my mind, it was one less person I'd have to put up with before I got to the party. As I passed the clinic, I saw the doctor.
"Aren't you going to your own inauguration party?" she asked. I nodded, and headed that way.
I knew Quitsis, and Cid. I'd probably talk to them, but not too much. I entered the hall to see tons of people already gathering in the great hall. The band began to warm up, and I listened half-hearted. They didn't sound that great anyway.
Chapter 1
Post Battle Stress
I couldn't stand not being in battle. It was depriving me of what I was born to do. I am Squall Lionheart. The event in Dollet had passed, and I was feeling "battle-lag". My new allies left me to enter Balamb Garden, and I felt I needed to do something before the SeeD graduate announcement. I left to the training center to battle a few grats. It takes my mind a while to sort things out, and this last battle was no exception. Thoughts pulsed through my head:
Why did the Galbadians only want the communication tower? Was Seifer going to be congratulated on his decision, or criticized for it? Do they have any hot-dogs left for Zell?
I left the training center, only to find Seifer standing singly in the ring-way of Garden. I approached him, and he said, "Squall, did you here about that communication tower? We could've been heroes had that withdraw order never been issued."
I stood there admiring his stamina, but kept a cool face. I wouldn't let my rival see the admiration I sometimes had for him. He was a good fighter, even if he cheated at times. My thoughts were interrupted by Quitsis and Xu coming in from behind us. I had waited for them to show up to criticize Seifer. He had done what is best for the squad, following Galbadians to initiate combat, but he had done so without permission, and had broken the order. Seifer called Quitsis a mediocre instructor, and said, "It was the captain's decision, and I knew what I was doing."
"You'll never be a SeeD Seifer." Xu said after Quitsis was shocked by Seifer's comment about her being a mediocre instructor. "Calling yourself a Captain is a joke!" she finished off. Quitsis' hurt look had slightly improved with this harsh comment by Xu. Seifer stood fairly still for a second, but when Cid arrived, he began to shake, with what looked like fear. Cid dismissed Xu and Quitsis, and seemed to want to talk to Seifer more than me, so I pretended to not listen.
"You know Seifer," Cid began. "We don't expect you people to be robots, but we do expect you to follow orders. You will be fully responsible for the fiasco you caused…" Seifer tried to interrupt, most likely to say that they had perused what had ultimately been Galbadia's goal, but Cid continued,
"There's so much more to this, but …" he stopped suddenly.
At this time a Garden staff had come up to tell Cid he was going to be late with his meeting if he didn't leave soon. I turned to face Cid, and he nodded to me, and I did back. I went over to talk with Seifer, but he was uninterested, and didn't answer back. I then decided to work off the anger I had developed towards Seifer since he didn't talk to me by going to the training center again, but as I left, an announcement came over the loud speakers:
"…All SeeD candidates, please report to the second floor hallway… I repeat … All SeeD candidates, please report to the second floor hallway…" I tried to pass the Garden staff, who had remained even though his conversation with Cid had ended, but he reminded me to go to the second floor hallway.
Upon arrival, I noticed Zell pacing frantically back and forth, the Trepies in the background, and Fujin and Rajin standing opposite each other across the opening. They informed me that if Seifer didn't make SeeD, it was all my fault. Screw 'em I thought. It wasn't up to me to make Seifer not do what he did. He was appointed captain, and I was forced to follow orders. There was absolutely nothing I could do.
A Garden staff member arrived and called Zell and I forth to follow him. Zell yelled loud enough to scare even the T-Rexuar in the training center below us.
"Aaaaaaaaaaallllllllll-riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!" He exclaimed loudly.
He proudly galloped of with his hands on his hips, and proceeded to follow the Garden staff. I hung around long enough to hear the Garden say, "That is all." After he said that, I saw the Treipes grab their heads, stomp, and snap their fingers. I snickered to myself, not loud enough for them to hear.
We marched up to Cid's office, and I looked around to see who else was graduating with me. Selphie, some one else, and Zell were the only ones there. 'Man!" I thought. "Out of four groups of three, we were the only ones graduating. That's sad. Cid walked around after some encouragement from the Garden staff which stood behind him, and whispered something to all the graduates, and then complimented me on my gunblade expertise.
On leaving Headmaster Cid's office, I headed to the second floor level. Upon doing so, I noticed Zell, Selphie, and an unknown pacing, prancing, and standing there already. I looked at them with awe, astounded by their acts of immaturity. We passed through to the classroom hallway. We met Seifer standing indignant as usual with a kind of repulsed attitude. When he started to applaud, I faltered a little.
To have such a response from him was a surprise. We then went to the classroom.
As the other new SeeDs began their speeches, I was left with a feeling of emptiness. I felt as if this was just part of my job, my life. As if it were planned. How could people be thrilled about this, when they know that they'll just be shipped everywhere, meeting new people almost everyday, and fighting for causes other than their own? It just seemed pointless. I saw Seifer sitting with his posse, showing of some picture of what appeared to be his girlfriend. Like before I don't care. It was my turn to go up, and I didn't know what to say, so I just started:
" My fellow students,… Those who were not accepted today will be accepted some other day. Some future awaits you, in which you shall be with those of us who are now the elite, the special, the superiors, known as SeeD." I concluded.
I decided to walk around after all the speeches had finished, and I heard people congratulating every one on their great job. After all the fuss was over, the other student went on with their day. It would be another hour or two before the party, so I went off on my walk. That's something I seem to be good at other than fighting. Walking. I walk fast as if I had somewhere to go, but I hardly ever did. I walked into the library and looked at some books, and found an old looking magazine called: Occult Fan 1. I looked at it, and saw the bizarre pics in it, and read the story about it. I went to put it back, and I hesitated. I rolled it up, and slipped it into my back pocket for "safe keeping". I walked along noticing the birds chirping, and how green the grass was. I guess I was excited about being a SeeD, cause I saw so much more than normal as I walked around.
"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY SQUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!" I head yelled from behind me. "What's up Squall?" It was Selphie. I could tell without even turning around because of the long-ness of her greeting. She was so excited about being a SeeD, and wondered what we'd do, and when our first mission would be. It was almost sickening. She galloped of with a huge smile that stretched from one ear to the other.
I went out to the front gate only to see Zell practicing his kickboxing moves on a wild monster out on the open plains. He did prefer wild mosters vs. the monster in the training center. He claimed they were too domestic, and easy to beat. I had once asked him:
"Hey Zell. Have you ever faced a T- Rexuar?" He had grown pale at the question, and changed the subject quickly. I could only assume he had come across one and had just barely escaped finding out how non-domestic some of the creatures were. He now preferred beating up bite bugs. Hey it was his choice.
I walked back to the elevator, to go up to the second floor to see Quitsis, but I just stood at the base, looking up. A cadet pushed me out of the way saying:
"Hey get out of the road moron! Holy sh*t! Sorry Squall…I-I didn't mean it." I'm sure I looked pretty pissed at his actions, and decided against going to see Quitsis.
I proceeded to my dormitory double only to be greeted cheerfully be Selphie. She exclaimed loudly:
"Hey! Found You! What do you think of my SeeD uniform? You better get changed for the party" she gleefully stated.
I walked into my room passing my gun case, noticing slightly the emblem, which stared of the face of it. Greiver. It looked tough like me. Except, now I looked more tough with my scar across my forehead. I touched it gingerly noting the long raised souvenir Seifer had given me. You can't change the past I thought. My SeeD clothing as well as my regular clothes hung on the wall opposite me, over the head of my bed. I changed quickly into it. I did not like the new, form fitting, scratchy uniform I was mandated to ware, but I put it on just the same.
On exiting my room, Selphie admired how well I fit into my uniform, and I wondered if maybe she was hitting on me.
"Alright! Lets hit that Paaaaa-teeeeeee!" she exclaimed.
Selphie ran on ahead of me, I can only imagine, to meet people as they came in. I moved much slower because there was no point for me to hurry. I knew almost no one there, and the ones I did know, probably wouldn't care if I were late. I walked very calmly through the garden noticing the couple pass me by in an eager rush to get to the inauguration party. They most likely wanted to make out, but I wasn't one to criticize. Though I didn't plan on doing any such thing any time soon. I walked passed the library wondering if there were people their, but none were present. I wasn't upset. In my mind, it was one less person I'd have to put up with before I got to the party. As I passed the clinic, I saw the doctor.
"Aren't you going to your own inauguration party?" she asked. I nodded, and headed that way.
I knew Quitsis, and Cid. I'd probably talk to them, but not too much. I entered the hall to see tons of people already gathering in the great hall. The band began to warm up, and I listened half-hearted. They didn't sound that great anyway.