Notes: I'm not sure when Brian actually wrote this, but it more than likely just after the game was released. I don't know why he never published it, but I think it is very good for being one of the first things he ever wrote. I hope that you enjoy it.

Alicia

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Chapter One: Lost

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Quistis Trepe looked out at the Training Center grounds from the balcony. She had been here numerous times. Come to the secret area to get away from the life of being a SeeD Instructor. But this was the first time she was able to summon the courage to actually come here since Squall disappeared. She tried not to think about him, his blue-gray eyes. The rustle of his feathered hair, his boyish good looks, he was charming in his own self-loathing way. She missed him; there was no denying that. For a time she believed that she loved him, that she desired him. Maybe there was a small part of her that still did, but the pain was not from that part of her. It was from the side of her that missed her friend. The man who had saved her life more times then she cared to count. He had saved them all, they were a team of course, but Squall was the glue, he kept them focused even when he seemed to lose his patience. So many times he accomplished the impossible. Many of the younger students had started the rumor that he was immortal, invincible. It was they who gave him the nickname of "The Lionheart". He fought with such strength and courage that he was nearly unmatched in battle. Quistis knew the truth though. She knew that he was not immortal, that he could bleed, and that he could even die.

She longed for the days when the GF's suppressed their memories, unfortunately for her, that problem had been solved. Dr. Odine had discovered a way to junction a Guardian Force to its summoner without risking loss of memory. In fact it had opened a new way to communicate with the GF, in essence the summoner and the GF became one. It allowed the summoner greater access to a GF's abilities, they became faster, stronger, and in some cases smarter. It was this discovery that prompted Squall to go on his quest. The other GF's revealed that Griever was indeed a Guardian Force. Griever was lost, imprisoned in some alien artifact. Put there by the mad Sorceress Ultimecia. In their final battle with Ultimecia she used her power to create a twisted, evil version of the great Guardian Force, and used it against them. They overcame that monstrosity and eventually defeated Ultimecia. All that seemed like a lifetime ago now.

"You are thinking too much child," the GF Shiva spoke to her from within. "Have no fear; 'The Lionheart' is strong. He will return." Shiva said reassuringly.

Quistis smiled to herself, Shiva had been joined to her since Squall's disappearance. They had become fond of each other, "Part of me wishes that were true Shiva, but I just don't know anymore. It's been nearly a year, and we have had no word from him."

"Yes I know, but he has Bahamut with him. We would know if one of our own was…dead. I cannot sense them, but that could only mean that they are far from us."

Quistis lowered her head and sighed, "I was afraid of that, for all we know he could be on the freaking moon!"

Her conversation with Shiva was cut short as Zell appeared in the doorway, a distraught look on his face, "W-What's wrong Zell?" her voice full of concern.

The Garden's martial arts expert only shook his head, his eyes full of tears. "T-They found the Fenris, Quisty."

Quistis's knees began to tremble, all her fears and doubts washed over her like a tidal wave. She dropped to the floor, her hands covering her face, "Oh no."

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Rinoa Leonhart sat behind her big mahogany desk, staring out the window of her office. She had been doing a lot of daydreaming lately. Mostly reminiscing about her husband Squall. She longed for him to return from his quest. She understood why he went alone on this journey; it was something he had to do. Squall had told her stories of the great GF Griever and all the good it had accomplished back when the world was young. It was the first of the Guardian Forces to reveal itself to humans. Griever was his childhood hero, his release from the loneliness of being without Ellone. She understood all that, but it didn't mean she had to accept it.

Nearly a year had passed since he left. There had been no contact with him since then either. Sometimes, when she was alone in bed, close to falling asleep, she would see him in her mind. He was alone and hurt. Walking across a wasteland, no food or water, nothing to protect him. She was seeing this vision a lot more recently, each time it made her cry, uncontrollable weeping. It was based on these visions that Headmaster Cid ordered a search for Squall, every SeeD around the world had volunteered to help bring the Lionheart home. Even Seifer Almasy had joined the cause, spending many weeks aboard a SeeD A.A.V. (amphibious attack vehicle) looking for his old friend and rival. She had come to trust Seifer; he would never replace Squall that she knew for sure. But he did offer her support and that was something that she needed.

"Rinoa," the voice said from the other side of the door.

Rinoa sat up and her chair, tugging at her uniform to make it look proper, "Come in Seifer."

Seifer opened the door, she looked at him, his face was flustered, his eyes bloodshot. Had he been crying? She thought to herself. "Seifer, are you ok?" she asked hesitantly.

He approached her desk, looking tired and weary. "Rinoa," he stammered. "They, umm… they've found the Fenris." He said finally.

Those words, she had long hoped that they would be spoken to her, telling her that Squall had finally come home. But his appearance and they way he spoke the words chilled her to the bone. No, she thought, this can't be true. A plethora of emotions hit Rinoa all at once. Dread, fear, anger, loss. Seifer did not have to say anything else. She knew what he was going to say. She laid her head on the desk and began to cry.

"No, Hyne please tell me he's not dead. Please Seifer, tell me he's alive!" she cried, knowing that Seifer could not tell her that.

Seifer lowered his head; it pained him to see her this way. They had all been through so much. Squall had entrusted Rinoa to his care, they had come to terms with what happened between them. Once again becoming the friends they were in their childhood, before Garden, before his dream.

"I, umm, I'm sorry Rinoa. The ship was discovered off the coast of the Centra continent. The ship was buried in an underwater reef. It had been severely damaged." Seifer stated, bracing himself for what he was about to say next. "They searched the ship Rinoa, they found his gunblade. It was broken; somehow the Lionheart had been broken. There were signs of a struggle, large amounts of blood, even some, umm, body parts. They were indescribable, it looks as if whatever he, uhh, fought overwhelmed him. His body was not aboard the ship. They tested the blood Rinoa, some of it was Squall's..."

Rinoa continued to cry, her tears creating a small pool on the desktop next to her. She was unable to completely process Seifer's words. Her love, her husband was gone. The man that had risked everything to free her from Adel, from Ultimecia, was gone. Squall was her life, and now he was gone.

Seifer stared at her for a few moments, wondering what she must be feeling. He wanted so much to go to her, to comfort her. But he knew it was best right now to let her have time, to work through her grief. Her husband was dead; her soul mate was viscously and remorselessly taken away from her. Rage began to take hold of Seifer, a rage that took him by surprise. He knew that if any two people had deserved to be happy it was Rinoa and Squall, and he would not rest until he had found the monster that had robbed them of that happiness, and end its miserable existence.

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Seifer turned and walked out of the room, leaving Rinoa to sort through her pain. He walked to the elevator, a new purpose rising within him. He passed Zell and Quistis in the hallway, both were crying. He wanted to stop and give them his condolences but he knew it wouldn't make the pain go away. Nothing would ever make the pain go away. Seifer continued on his way, fighting back tears of his own. He remembered when Squall had spared his life after the battle with Ultimecia, allowing him safe passage to Fisherman's Horizon, to live his life in peace. Squall must have known that would never be possible. Seifer was a warrior-born, just like Squall. A year later he returned to Garden, hoping to rejoin SeeD, to make a difference in the world. To help repair what he had destroyed. Squall welcomed him back with open arms, helped him train and study for the exam, surprisingly he passed and had become a member of SeeD. Squall brought him into his unit, much to the chagrin of his other comrades. Squall eventually helped smooth that over as well. Now it was his turn, even though he wanted so much to go back in time and be there with Squall at the time this terrible attack occurred, to help him, he knew that was impossible, but maybe he could be there for Rinoa and the others. Help them deal with the pain and the loss, and maybe they could help him deal with his.

TBC...