This is a series of one shots based on the characters' childhoods. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own FF8.

Prologue

Ellone watched as eveyone gathered in the bridge of the Ragnarok. They seemed all on edge and they had a right to be. She had told them that they were to meet her on board the ship and that it was 'important'. Smiling softly, she greeted everyone as they took their seats and waited to begin. Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly sat beside each other holding hands in such a way that their engagement rings were in full view. Rinoa looked quite content, but then again she knew what this was all about. Squall, on the other hand, was tense as if he would have to spring into action at any moment. Opposite them were Selphie Tilmet and Irvine Kinneas who chatted quietly amongst themselves, occasionaly glimpsing at Ellone to see wither she was giving any indication about why they were there. Behind them sat Zell Dincht and Quistis Trepe. The latter looked at him in almost disgust as he crammed yet another Balamb Garden hotdog into his mouth.

At the very back seat sat Seifer Almasy. He'd put his feet up on the chair in front of him and had his head tilted in a cocky manner. His green eyes stared at Ellone intently as if challenging her to give him bad news. Not that he would have cared much. He had only come as 'special invitation'. Rather than sitting here with people that he knew very well hated him - why else with the ostricising? - he would enjoy nothing more than to take up residence in the Galbadian Hotel where he had taken to dwelling with his only friends Fujin and Raijin. He was not a stranger there, to say the least.

Finally, Ellone spoke. Her soft, almost musical, voice filled the heavy air. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I've asked you here." Squall immediately sat up in his seat, giving her full attention. "Thankfully, there's no crisis or problem cropt up that we need your help with. Quite the contrary." She paused for a minute as she thought the best way to put it. "I'm going to help you as a way of thanking you all for letting me get to know my past. I'm going to take you all to yours."

"Really?" Selphie asked. She jumped up and hopped around excitedly. "You can do that?"

Ellone smiled again. "Yes, it's quite simple." She noticed Squall frowning and looked at him gently. "Of course, if you have any objections, I would much rather hear them now than later."

"What if we don't want to know our past?" He demanded. "I, for one, am happy knowing the present. The past means nothing to me."

She titled her head to the side and her brown hair tilted with her. "Wouldn't you like chance to find out who you are? Where you came from? I can give you that chance." She walked forward and lightly placed her cool hands on his. "It's my gift."

"She's right," Rinoa added. "You may never get another chance to find this out."

He observed the two girls for a minute or two and smirked. They'd obviously been in cahoots. "...Alright."

"What do we have to do?" Quistis asked and thoughtfully folded her arms. "What is required of us?"

Ellone stifled a giggle. She had known what Quistis' reaction would be, just like she had with the others. "Nothing at all. It's just the same when I sent you into Uncle Laguna's past. You'll be sent into a comatose state until you wake." She gestured to the around her. "That's why I chose a secluded place like the here."

There was a chuckle at the back of the room and everyone turned around to look at Seifer who had now stood up and was making his way to the door. His boots clicked emptily on the metal flooring as he stepped.

"Seifer," Ellone called. "Don't tell me you're afraid of the past?"

Her voice, though still soothing and calm, had an accusing tone to it which caused Seifer to turn around midstep and glare at her.

"I don't need to know where I came from," He sneered. "Maybe you can't live without it but I certainly can." He looked at a silver watch that decorated his wrists. "Besides I have places to be."

She walked towards him slowly and deliberately. "You don't have to be afraid, Seifer."

He gave her an incredulous look and retook his seat. "Who's afraid?" He muttered, putting his legs back against the seat in front.

"This procedure won't take long," Ellone continued as she made her way back to the front. "In a few seconds I will send you to sleep and you'll be taken into your past, into the events which happened before you came to Edea's orphanage and possibly afterwards." She closed her eyes as she began to concentrate. "I hope that any questions you have will be answered."

Ellone's good luck wish echoed through the room as a brilliant white light engulfed the entire room and slowly the occupiers fell into a deep and dreamfilled sleep. All of them.

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jellybean-kitty