HIGH STAKES
A
mysterious new SeeD recruit by the name of Keave Zedar enter the lives of the 6
new heroes and together they face a new chain of adventures and mysteries which
continues to cross their paths.
Prologue
Keave
Zedar stared over the balcony onto the endless oceans. a small smile pricked at
his lips, his face half hidden by his dark loose hair which falls over his
forehead into his eyes.
Finally. the goal he has been trying to achieve for the past five years have finally been reached. silently, he sent a prayer into the air, thanking Hyne for allowing him to come to Balamb Garden, thanking him for letting him step closer to his dream.
He
heard soft footsteps behind him and turned around swiftly, glancing around him
suspiciously.
"Hello
Keave, hey, no need to look like
that. I know I'm not that pleasurable to look at, but that just makes my image
even worse," said Cid, coming out onto the 2nd floor deck, his eyes
twinkling behind his glasses.
"Good
morning sir," Keave struck a salute, his face now expressionless.
"At
ease. So, Zedar, have you been enjoying life here at Balamb Garden?"
"It's
fine," he said, brushing his dark locks back with one black-gloved hand.
"Well,
I've been checking out your test results and I've noticed how wonderful they
are. I understand the unfortunate events that you have had to face in the past
and I recognize the strength you have deep inside. I think you'll fit in well
with a small group of superb SeeDs we have here at Balamb Garden. I will
introduce you to them, be at the Bridge tomorrow morning," Cid commanded.
"Yes
sir," he saluted again, hair falling back in place over his eyes.
*
* *
Chapt
1
Quistis
walked down the hall towards the dormitories, stopping every now and then to
acknowledge the beauty of the Garden. To her, Balamb Garden have always been her
true home. She sighed and though about just how lucky she was.
"Hey
Quisty! Quiiiiiistis!"
Quistis
turned around and spotted Selphie waving frantically at her. She smiled and
waited while Selphie ran towards her, puffing and bending over.
"Hey
Selphie, calm down and catch your breath. What's the matter?"
"I
was...call-ling out...the whole...time and you...nev-er replied..." she
panted.
"Oh
sorry, I didn't hear you. Why do you need me anyway?"
"I
just had to tell you that Headmaster told all of us to be at the Bridge tomorrow
morning. He didn't say why though. And...oh yeah, Rinoa's a SeeD!" said
Selphie.
"Oh
really? She made it? That's great! Now we are truly a group of well-trained
SeeDs," admired Quistis.
"Yeah...a
whole group...how wonderful," said Selphie wistfully, head down.
"Hey
Selp," said Quistis softly, "Irvine will be back, he promised he'll be
back, don't look so sad."
Selphie
nodded, then brightened up and grinned, "hey, I should be enjoying
life without him! Well, gotta run now, I really hope to get this Garden Festival
back in shape again!" she ran off in the direction of the Quad.
Quistis
looked after her retreating back and smiled softly. She turned and walked
towards her room. Life back in Balamb Garden is great, but without Irvine it's
just not a whole anymore.
*
* *
Zell
rolled over in his covers. What's that
sound? He sat up in bed and turned towards the door. Someone was knocking.
"Zell?
Are you awake?" came a voice.
"Yeah...who's
it?" he mumbled through his half awake stance.
"It's
Squall. We have to meet at the bridge remember?" Squall replied.
"Um...yeah,
go ahead first, I'll be right there..."
"Okay."
Zell
got up slowly and untangled himself from his covers. He groaned as he stretched
his whole body. It's just like Squall to be always on time.
*
* *
Selphie
hummed a soft tune while she skipped towards the Bridge. It's such a wonderful day, she thought. Wonder why we have to go to Headmaster. I hope he has another mission
for us, it's getting boring...even with the Garden Festival. Wish Irvy was
here...she sighed, thinking of the great times she shared with Irvine and
the others, even when battling a powerful sorceress.
She
reached the Bridge, blinked a couple of times to get used to the bright light
and looked around.
"Good
morning Selphie."
"Good
morning Headmaster!" she saluted. "Am I the first one here?"
"Yes,
in fact. You are a bit early, good thing though. You should be looking forward
to this," said Cid, with a broad grin lighting up his aging face.
"Eh...ok,"
said Selphie, confused.
After
a short while, Squall entered the Bridge, follwed by Rinoa with Quistis not far
behind him. Then a young man who they've never seen also enters and plants
himself in the darkest corner, face hidden in the shadows.
After
a full ten minutes, Zell finally runs in.
"Well,
now that we have all assembled here, I would like to express the true intentions
of this meeting. This young man here, by the name of Keave Zedar, will be
joining your group. I hope you will treat him as if he is one of you. Come here,
Keave, and I'll introduce you to these members," said Cid.
Keave
steps out of the shadows. He was dressed in all black, from his boots to his
hands. Even his hair, which was shading most of his face, was a dark ebony, with
blond streaks through them. He was tall and well-built and around the age of 20,
although his face, of what they could see of it, was expressionless.
Cid
beckons Cid towards Squall. "Keave, this is Squall Leonhart, who is the
Commander of this Garden."
Squall
extended his hand, which was shook.
"And
Quistis, a past instructor of the school."
Quistis
nods her greeting, still looking him up and down, squinting at his face, but to
no avail.
"And
here's Selphie, Zell and Rinoa, excelled SeeDs of the Garden."
Selphie
waves energetically, a huge smile lighting up her small face. Zell also puts out
his hand, though he was ignored and Rinoa gave a small smile and also nodded.
"And
we're also waiting for someone else, who should be arriving any second
now," said Cid, when all greetings were over.
*
* *
Irvine
quickened his pace, he was nearing the Bridge now. Through his excitement, he
longs to see Selphie's face again. He's excited to see them all, but Selphie was
who he was truly thinking about. He's missed her terribly over the past year,
and when he was given a transfer from Galbadia Garden to Balamb, he was more
than happy to take up the offer.
He
took the lift up and was greeted immediately by a big "IRVY!" and a
flying hug into his arms.
Pulling
back, Selphie grinned at him. "I've missed you, Irvy."
"And
I you, Sefie, how have you been?"
"Ahem..."
Irvine
and Selphie jumped apart and looked at Cid, who was looking very amused indeed.
"Yes,
I know you two have missed each other terribly but we have more to discuss and
so I ask for you to leave this little chat of yours till later."
Selphie
and Irvine both blushed to the roots of their hair and to cover up his
embarrasment he walked to everyone and offered either a hug or a pat on the
back. But when he reached Keave he took one look and jumped back in alarm.
"Keave...Zedar?
What are you doing here?" he
asked, astonished.
"He
transfered here, just like you Irvine, except for reasons different to yours. I
have asked for him to join your party, because he is like you all in many ways.
Enough about this," Cid said, ignoring Irvine's flabbergasted look.
"We have just been given a new mission from Esthar. The details are as
such; a couple of bodies were found in a side alley yesterday. The bodies had no
marks on them, no burns, slashes, nothing. We are suspecting it may be the work
of another Sorceress or a being close to that. I've been told to send a group of
SeeDs to investigate and because of your past experiences, I have chosen you
lot. Mission begins now. You will be met at the Presidential Residence by a
person you should all be familiar with. Please be careful."
Silently, the young SeeDs nodded and obediently filed out, Squall in the lead, Keave following idly behind.
* * *
Author's
Note: Due to some problems I've encountered, I've had to upload my story again.
Hopefully this did not cause anyone any problems. If it did, then I sincerely
apologize.