All FF8 characters and places are copyright of Squaresoft.

This is an attempt to continue an already great story and to add some of my own imagination to it. Please read and review and I will happily continue. Thanks in advance.

PROLOQUE

VICTORY BALL

Is it finally over? Am I really here or is this some horrible trick of Time Compression making me think that I am here. Looking back over the last two weeks I am amazed at all that has happened in the world and my involvement in it. Starting with the duel with Seifer Almasy that gave me a permanent scar on my forehead and from there I guess you could say that all hell broke loose. Over two weeks I went from a SeeD candidate to Saviour of the world, as people around the planet are calling me and my friends. I don't think of it that way though. At first it was just a mission that I was ordered to do but it quickly became much, much more when I met Rinoa Heartilly who managed to break through every barrier I had built to protect myself from getting to close to people. Hell, I'm not saying that it was just her, it was also the rest of my comrades who helped to make me realize that I don't have to be a lone wolf and that I can trust people.

As I stand here staring at the stars from my vantage point on the balcony pondering all of this I can hear the sounds of people inside the ballroom cheering and celebrating. It's strange but for the first time I actually feel like going and joining them. Just as I am about to turn and go back in I notice out of the corner of my eye a blaze of light across the night sky. Looking up I realize that it is a shooting star much like the one at my graduation ball two weeks ago. Following its path across the horizon I turn and suddenly I realize I'm not the only one out here. Rinoa had followed me out here and was watching the sky as well. As our eyes met I suddenly realized I was doing something very unusual! I was smiling. I couldn't help it though and I really didn't care because I was looking at the most beautiful women I had ever met. Moving towards her I put one arm around her and held her close. Before I realized it I was pulling her close and kissing her. After what seemed like an eternity we slowly pulled apart and looked out at the stars together while still holding on to each other.

"WOOOOHOOOOO, GO SQUALL!" "GO GET EM COWBOY!"

Spinning around I realized that Quistis, Irvine and Selphie were all standing inside the door of the ballroom. The latter two being the ones yelling and whistling at Rinoa and me. Quistis on the other hand had a complete look of surprise on her face.

"Hey Squall, your turning at least ten shades of red" whispered Rinoa.

"Whatever."

That was all Quistis needed to hear to yell, "Oh no! It's the old Squall" "Quick Rinoa run before he gets all broody on us."

Thinking to myself that I wished I hadn't left my Lionheart gunblade in my dorm I decided to do the next best thing.

"CAST SILENCE" I yelled and then turning to Rinoa I stated "Shall we dance!" With this remark we stepped past the three jokers in front of us and headed for the dance floor.