That night Cid had a heart attack and died in the infirmary. I didn't really have a reaction to it. I was sorta sad but also happy. So I guess they cancelled each other out and I didn't feel anything. A lot of people were crying that day, and because I didn't I stayed in my dorm.

A new headmaster was appointed but believe it or not Nida got the job. I thought Marion would have, being his secretary and before that one of the top teachers but whatever. And he gave a really good tear-jerking speech… so I heard. I didn't go to Cid's funeral either. Afterwards when we all met up in the cafeteria I felt kinda bad but for not going but.. I guess there's really no excuse.

A week later and everything's back the way it was. Squall, Quistis and Zell were teaching two classes a day, Selphie and Irvine took on some extra classes and Rinoa found a new interest in medicine and is learning to practice it. I… I spend four to five hours a day in the training center wile everybody is off teaching and learning. It's a great stress reliever and I'm getting really good with my gunblade. 

"Alex! Leave some for the rest of us," Irvine called as two veggie monsters wilted. I sighed and sat on the nearest rock.

"you're no fun. And besides, they're here for us to kill so what's the problem?"

"nothin', it's just that you've been spending a lot of time in here. Looking for solitude?" he asked sitting beside me.

I took a deep breath. Was I? Was I looking for solitude and finding it in the training center wile I killed captive monsters? "Like you would not believe,"

          "Oh. Well ok. I'll go then, leave you with your thoughts," Irvine smiled, and got up.

"Ok. See ya at supper," I waved as he walked out of the training centre. "Oh screw this," I mumbled to myself an walked to the secret area.

Besides all the annoying couples saying oh What-ever-the-hell-your-name-is; I love you, the not-so secret area is a nice place to be. Conveniently, there were only two people there.

          "can you to do that somewhere else? I'm trying to think here," I ordered. They just looked at me. "hello? Did you know here me? Get out!" I don't know if it was my voice that got to them or the fact that had reached for my gunblade but whichever it was, they were gone fast.

          "haa.. yeah you better run," I said out loud. Dunno why. Oh well.

I walked over to the balcony and looked over the wide-spread country by Dealing city.  Not much to it, some shrubs and a few monsters hear and there but not much. I shifted my gaze up and started at the stars.

          I don't know how long I was there running things threw my head but it must have been a wile, Zell came to find me and said I had been here for three hours. "have I? Oh, um sorry.."

          "what are you sorry for?"

"I dunno, it just seemed like the thing to say," Zell gave me an awkward look.

          "Uh huh…. Well I really think you should come back to the "real world". You are turning into a major  loner," I glared at him

          "A what? Uh, uh. Ahh jeez, fine. But where do you have in mind?"

Before I knew it I was in Zell's room playing a game of risk…. And losing. I never lose. I was appalled.

          "Ha! I win! Jeez and I was thinking you were gonna kick my ass at this game. Oh well," Zell boasted

          "ehhh, I was tired, but I'll win tomorrow in our rematch," I snapped.

"rematch? No, no. I won and it's gonna stay that way," Zell teased throwing a pillow at me.

          "SO not fair, I wanna win!" I threw it right back at him and jumped onto his bead to grab another one. I was just about it throw it when he tackled me down, so I started beating him with it. "I'll win at this" I winked, but I don't know if he saw.

"Like hell you will," he replied holding my arms down. I struggled but couldn't get free so I kneed him in the stomach. "Ouf!" he fell just as I got out of the way.

          "see, I did wi-haha!!! Ha, ha, haha Hahahaha!!!!!!!! Zell!! st –op!!" I squeaked as he tickled my sides. After about five minutes of me squeaking and yelping he stopped and I slumped down beside him on the bed exhausted. "what time is it?"

"uh…." Zell leaned over and looked at his bedside table. "11:45. risk took a long time."

          "Oooh, I hafta go. But I don't wanna move," I groaned as I sat up and walked to the door. "See ya,"

          "bye,"

I wondered the halls for a little while, dodging monitors and wound up in the ball room. Looking around and seeing no one else there I did a few flips and cartwheels. In the last cartwheel I fell. When I got up I was in front of the doors that lead to the balcony, so naturally I opened the doors and walked out. The cool night's breeze caught me by surprise considering it was susposto be windless and clouded over. I looked up at the full moon, sitting there in the sky, like an eye, ever watching…. Ok I have been having way to much spare time lately. But it was bugging me. When I finally reverted my eyes from the moon to the country side I nearly fell over.

          They walked in a line, all of them, Quezacotl, Shiva, Ifrit, Siren, Brothers, Diablos, Levithan, Bahamut and Eden. They looked like people from the circus, each with a different skin colour and really funky hair.

          "Oohhhhh shit! There complete," I ran. Out of the ball room, into the halls slipping about seven times and smashing into the walls from the freshly mopped floors. Falling into the elevator I hit the F3 button. When the elevator stopped, I fell out. This just was not my running day. I ran into the Nida's office door, literally, so I could knock it down. I'm going to have a broken shoulder before daybreak. I sprinted as fast as I could and started pounding on Nida's dorm door.

"What is it!" he yelled when he finally answered.

By that time I was completely out of breath. "thire… here…. The Guardian Forces are here," he gave me a questing look. "were under attack!"