Hiyaz ppl~! Thanx again for all the reviews! Especially dark raion who is always one of the first to review for everyone of my chapters =) remember, the more reviews the faster the next chapter comes out. Hehehe, well this one took awhile cuz its the end of the 6 weeks and taas is coming up, and ya noe how that is. I gotta study for all the tests so I can keep and a/b average. =) anyways, hea's ch.4

My Prince

The waves were breaking hard over the ship as they raced towards Dollet. Squall narrowed his eyes, comparing the files to the landscape before him. The wind widely tossed his hair about as he stood there. They skipped over a newly decomposing wall and skidded onto the beach. Like clock work, everyone split into groups and headed out. Squall went to join his squad.

Rinoa warmed up a bit while waiting for Squall. They headed into the city as soon as everyone was ready.

The city was empty. Doors locked windows drawn, only a few parked cars littered the cobble stoned street. It was a ghost town. A few Galbadian soldiers headed down the street that Squall, Seifer, and Rinoa were on. Squall quickly signaled for them to hide. Immediately everyone dispersed, hiding in the shadows of doorways and buildings. `What are galbadian soldiers doing here?' Rinoa's brows furrowed in concern. She shot a look at Squall, who nodded in understanding. `Guess we're gonna see where they're coming from.'

They continued through the city discreetly, till they came to what seemed to be the center of the city. It was a circular area, with a fountain in the middle. There were 2 choices to choose to go from there, either left or right. Unfortunately they didn't know which way the soldiers were coming from.

Rinoa watched as Squall signaled them to stop.

"Aww, does the chivalrous prince not know which way to choose??" Seifer snickered.

"We're not to go much further than this."

"Maybe I should take the lead from here if your unsure where to go."

"Whatever, just check things out around here before we continue on."

They continued bickering, Rinoa was not up to breaking it up and sat down on the fountain edge. She was lost in thought when a cold nose nudged her hand. She jumped in surprise to see a rather underfed stray collie begging for attention. Rinoa smiled and bent down to pet the dog.

"Your a beautiful dog huh?" She said while scratching behind its ears. It whined softly and moved closer to her. ` It's so skinny, but it's not like I carry around doggie food with me all the time. I feel so sorry for it. It has no home.' Sighing Rinoa dug into her pack and pulled out the emergency rations she had. It was just some protein packs, that were also super packed with minerals and vitamins. She didn't know if it would be good for the dog. But it was better then letting it starve. She quickly opened the can and offered it to the dog. Who sniffed it curiously.

"Hey, it's not the best tasting thing in the world but it's something that will sustain you."

It quickly gobbled up the food. Rinoa smiled ruefully `I know what it's like to be abandoned.' After her mother died when she was 4, he father didn't want anything to do with her. `He just abandoned me... But Matron took me in, and so it's okay I guess...'

"You might need that soon you know." Seifer's voice cut through Rinoa's thoughts.

"I don't think we're gonna be stranded here, and this poor animal is in more need of it now." Rinoa stood up stretching her legs.

"I think I hear voices over there." Someone mumbled in the distance.

Squall looked at Rinoa. "Someone's heard us, hide."

A few moments later everyone started hearing the distinct sound of boots on the pavement. Everyone quickly hid behind a wall. The soldiers soon came into view. The stray dog looked up at the soldiers, and turned around and started to walk towards Rinoa. Tail wagging and all. Rinoa made furious silent hand gestures for the dog to stop. But the dog continued forward even more excited, as if it was a game she was playing. But just as all seemed lost, a miracle happened. The dog stopped and sat down. It stared intently at Rinoa, slightly confused.

"You must of just heard the dog, don't waste my time again soldier." The soldiers quickly retreated down the left side. Everyone let out a breath.

"That was great Rinoa, almost got us caught."

"Like we couldn't of taken a few soldiers. And now we know which way to go." Rinoa glared a Seifer.

"Yea that's great, but would it have really been worth putting 3 soldiers near death?" Seifer was playing right on Rinoa's moral values . It was her weak spot, and he exploited it to the fullest. ` I know she hasn't taken this particular subject to heart yet.'

Rinoa shocked eyes widened in surprise. Her mouth opened to reply but only air came out. She backed away from Seifer. Squall stepped in front of her, he looked challengingly and Seifer.

"That's enough Seifer, how was she to know that helping the dog would almost get us caught. Let it go, the dog gave us a break by showing us which way to go."

The dog happily bounded toward Rinoa, jumping up on her and nudging her hand affectionately. Rinoa dropped down and hugged the dog. ` I've never thought of it that way. I've only been up against monsters. But never a person. I would be nearly killing these people...' Rinoa shut her eye's sighing into the dogs fur.

"Rinoa we have to leave." Squall extended his hand to help her up.

"I'm sorry puppy, but I have to leave." Rinoa patted the dog and took Squall's hand.

They headed in the direction of the soldiers and found quite a long path to the radio tower to which they seemed to be broadcasting from. ` Look at that long trek uphill!' Rinoa's spirits dropped a little.

"We're gonna have to jog, I want to get this done fast." Squall jogged ahead of them. Seifer and Rinoa quickly followed. They came to their destination, stealthy hiding as they checked out what the soldiers were going in a out below them.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Seifer jumped down the edge as soon a the coast was clear.

"I did not authorize you to proceed further." Squall said while jumping down, turning around and holding out his arms to catch Rinoa, who tumbled down a few minutes later. Squall made a slight `umph' as he caught her slight weight, holding her in his arms for slightly longer than was needed. They locked eyes and Squall quickly let go. Both of them blushing.

"I could've landed all by myself ya know. I'm a big girl now, I can take care of myself ." Rinoa giggled.

"Whatever, how about next time I'll just let you fall on your butt."

"Thank you, for being so very considerate!"

"First you tell me you don't want my help, then you tell me you do? Which one is it?" Squall grinned at Rinoa.

Rocks started to crumble from above them as they looked up to see the disturbance. A petite girl of maybe 17 looked back at them. She was wearing a uniform, her chocolate hair curled out from her face. Her green eyes twinkled with laughter as she offered them a big smile. `that looks so much like the only other little girl at the orphanage besides Quisty. It must be Selphie I'm sure of it!' Rinoa thought wildly.

"Selphie! Is that you?!" Rinoa called up to her.

Only puzzlement crossed the girls features. "Yes, I'm Selphie, but who are you?"

` She doesn't remember me. No... She doesn't remember her past, the orphanage. Just like Squall, Zell, Seifer, and Quistis can only remember meeting each other at the Garden. She must use GF too. It made her forget.' Rinoa's eyes flashed a look of hurt.

"I'm sorry, I must of mistaken you."

"S'okay." Selphie shrugged. "But I came to give the squad leader a message."

"That would be me." Squall stepped forward.

"You- ahhh!" Selphie slipped on the edge and came tumbling down. Seifer being quick on his feet a caught her.

"Thanks." Selphie blushed and stepped away from him. She quickly turned to Squall. "You are to meet back at the beach in 20 minutes. Or we will depart w/o your Squad."

"Understood."

Selphie nodded and skipped away.

"We better hurry it up." They headed into the tower, finding the elevator and rode it to the top. `Whatever their doing I guess we're gonna shut it down. This better not fail me.' Rinoa stepped off the elevator seeing two Galbadian soldiers arguing and trying to fix the antenna. ` So their broadcasting messages.' Rinoa wasn't aware of the oil can on the ground a hit it with the tip of her boot. Freezing in the action. The soldiers immediately turned around.

" What the hell are you kids doing here?! Get out of here before you regret it."

"I think it's time that you guys stop the illegal broadcasting your doing. And we're not kids." Seifer brandished his weapon in challenge. Squall and Rinoa quickly readied them selves for battle.

Rinoa kept hesitating in the battle, causing her to miss.

"Rinoa, stop hesitating and fight. You're going to get hurt." Squall barked at her.

` I can't do this. I can't make myself hit them. What if they have families?' Rinoa thought.

Seifer grew concerned. ` I never expected her to be this badly affected by my words.'

"It's either you or them Princess, they have healing spells too. Only the strong survive." Seifer spat out the words while dodging a few hits.

` Me or them, it's gonna be either me or them.' Rinoa started to take aim with her pinwheel. `I can do this, I can do this.' Her arm shook as she got ready to shoot it off. Just as she was about to shoot, Seifer was shot in the arm, he cried out in shock. Rinoa went into a rage. ` You can't ever hurt my friends and get away with it. Not even if your human.'

"You little punk! Your gonna regret you ever did that." Rinoa shot furiously with her pinwheel, each shot hitting its mark. They were soon running away from her flurry of attacks.

" Eat this!" One of them called as they blew a whistle. A few seconds later and huge beast flew towards them. Its red claws glistening sharply in the sun. It swung at them. They scattered and took up attacking positions.

Rinoa cast a load of spells, from barriers the blizzard. Squall cast Shiva as many times as he could, while Seifer attacked with his gublade. The monster soon weakened and retreated. But not before striking down the 2 soldiers who summoned it, knocking one off the edge.

Squall quickly dismantled the broadcasting system and hurried everyone out of the tower.

"We only have 10 minutes to get to the beach." They started to run, unaware of the soldier who was still atop of the tower press a button to summon a robot.

"This will stop y'all." The soldier snickered.

Squall, Rinoa and Seifer weren't 50 feet from the tower before a huge mechanical monster fell from the top of the tower to in front of them.

"Won't they ever give us a break?" Rinoa complained as she popped of a thunder spell. Squall and Seifer stuck to normal attacks, furiously chopping up the mechanical beast. Every once and a while Seifer cast Quetzulcotal. The machine soon powered down and they ran past it, down the stairs. Just as they were almost to the bridge they heard a loud -=thunk thunk thunk=- The machine got back up and started back after them.

"I thought we killed it!" Rinoa cried while backing away.

" We don't have time to fight just run!" Squall ran behind Rinoa, Seifer leading. They came to the center of the town the machine close on their heels. Rinoa stumbled over the stray collie who was still near the fountain, it happily bounded around her. Squall plowed strait into her.

"What are you doing?!"

"I tripped." The machine closed in on them. Seifer turned around.

"Hurry! They're leaving in 2 minutes!"

"You guys go on ahead, I'll stall it here." Squall turned around getting ready for battle.

"No, Squall I- "

"I'm not just gonna let you play the hero."

"Just go!"

Seifer nodded in understading and grabbed Rinoa's slender waist and half dragged, half carried her through the rest of the city. The collie followed close behind them. As soon as they got on the cruiser Rinoa went to Quistis.

"You gotta hold the boat for Squall!"

"I can't we are to leave now!"

"Please Quisty! Just 30 more seconds. Please!"

"Okay okay, I will but answer me this- what's with the dog?"

Rinoa turned around surprised to see the collie sitting by her feet. It looked up at her and its tail started to wag.

"I don't know. It followed me home?" Rinoa smiled.

"Pets aren't allowed in student dorms."

"But if I'm become a SeeD then it won't matter, since I won't be around as much."

"We really must leave now." Xu cut in, she started to pull off the beach.

"No!" Rinoa ran to the hanger of the cruiser looking for any signs of Squall. She heard loud crashes coming closer. Squall came into view a instant later, legs pumping towards the cruiser. The machine beast was chasing close behind. The cruiser was already a few feet away from the beach. Squall made a huge leap for open cruiser hanger. Rolling in miraculously. Quistis took care of the machine with a blow from the gun on top of the cruiser. Rinoa hugged Squall tightly.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Rinoa let go of Squall then hit him over his head.

"Umph. I keep the mechanical freak at bay so you can make a get away and you beat me over the in thanks?" Squall said rubbing his head as he went to sit inside. They soon arrived back at the Garden. Rinoa, Zell, and Squall were told to go directly to Cid's office. Quistis took the collie to Rinoa's room.

"You all did very well today. Even though some of you went against orders. But that is sometimes come in need to do what's right." Cid paced back and forth in front of them.

"Each of you showed courage and skill. Along with everything else it takes to be a SeeD member. Congratulations everybody. You are now SeeD cadets. You can move into your new rooms tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the congratulations party tonight. You are dismissed."

Everyone quickly filed out of his office.

"Can you believe it?! We made it! We're SeeD members!" Zell excitedly bounced around.

"Y'all are coming to the ball tonight right? I mean it is for us."

" I dunno Zell I'm kind of beat, plus I don't wanna go alone." Rinoa smiled tiredly at Zell. Zell's face fell a bit but then he smiled.

"I know you'll come! Or imma come drag you out of your room. Until then bye!" They arrived at Zell's door as he disappeared inside.

Squall and Rinoa walked side by side. "You did a great job of leading today Squall."

"Whatever, I hate people depending on me. I like to only be responsible for myself."

"Seifer didn't make it."

"I know..."

"I wonder why..."

Squall just shrugged in response. ` If I was to be in charge of the grading, I would of given Seifer a high grade. He deserved to make it.'

Rinoa smiled, they arrived at her door. "So you'll pick me up at my door around 8:00 right?"

"Wuh? 8:00?"

"The ball silly. Unless you going to stand me up." Squall's face contorted confused but before he could reply she disappeared behind her door.

~End of ch.4~

Pls RR~! I noe this chapter was a lil on the boring side, but o well. Another chapter another day =)