Catherine: Hey everyone! New chapter in here :D well, there's the review reply first:

Shahdee: Hi there! OMG you're right!!! XD my bad…. I did that chapter a little late, so yeah…. Sorry about it XD but I updated it to the right…. :D hope you're enjoying the story. :D thanks for the review.

Silverstargirl: oh yeah! My girl has principals! XD (Katya is saying that she isn't like me XD don't mind her…) yeah, the scene with Zell was my favourite. I laughed a lot at that XD and katya did it too…. :D as for the Squall and Zell attitude… well Seifer is known as being a bastard… so yeah… glad you're still up and reading this, makes me really happy … :D

and thanks to Woffie, because he added this story, to his story alert. :D

Katya: Done?

Catherine: Yep. There was only two so yeah….this is the day of the mission briefing, and stuf... oh! one more thing. I have a new poll in my profile. Go see it and vote… please, it's really important…on to the disclaimer…

Katya: Do you know who doesn't own Final Fantasy, Squaresoft/Squarenix, something that may appear in this chapter that belongs to some rich and famous people? that's right. US. So let's leave it like that. Oh! Except of course, Katrin or other OC that may appear.

The Lionheart

Capitulo Nove: First Mission

I slowly open my eyes and look around. A faint radiance is coming from the blinds, and since I like the sun bright in the morning, I lazily, 'cause I'm damn lazy, walk to the blinds and open them. Next is the window. I stare at the sight outside the window. The gardens, the people, the mountains far ahead, the room where I am, and the clothes I'm still wearing… there's no mistake… I smile.

I'm in Balamb Garden. I'm a SeeD. This isn't a dream.

I turn around to check out my room. Or should I say, rooms, since there are two rooms. There's the bedroom were I'm, and the other rooms is a kind off a small living room with one tiny little couch, enough for two people to sit there, and in front of the couch, a coffee table. On right of it, a mini kitchen with a sink, a fridge, a microwave and a washing machine. Right opposite of the mini kitchen is the bathroom, just like my previous one, but with one thing different. This one has a shower and a bathtub. Returning to my bedroom, I notice that is just like in the game. The bed on the left, the desk, bigger than the other, on the right. In the left wall, is also the closet. My bags are in the small living room.

I decide to take a shower and so I head towards the bathroom.

---.---

I leave the bathroom with a towel around my body and other around my head. I search the clothes to find something good and comfy to wear today. Deciding in a lilac knee dress, black leggings, a big black belt around my waist, and black flats, (A/N these flats I'm talking about are a type of shoes. Goggle the word in image search and find them…) and head to the small kitchen, hoping to find some food. Unfortunately, there's no food in there, and I sigh. Guess I have to pay a visit to the cafeteria…

---.---

The first thing that the cafeteria reminds me is the cafeteria back home. Full of people and noisy. I go to the line and order a Balamb Garden special morning menu (composed of chocolate milk and a cheese sandwich). I look around for an empty table. I spot not one empty table, but a table with one blond and one empty place. I walk to him, smiling.

"May I seat here?" I ask softly.

Zell raises his head to see who had interrupted his breakfast.

"Kat! Take a sheat!"

I smile and seat, shaking my head.

"Zell, you do know that it is rude to eat with your mouth full, don't you?"

Zell blushes at this, and swallows the rest. He lets out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head.

"Sorry about that. But hey! You should try these hotdogs. They are really good!" He tells me, really excited.

"I'm sure of that, Zell." I tell him, and I look around, searching for some familiar face, but then I have the urgency to slap myself. How would I have some familiar faces if I don't know anyone?

"Dude, I need new arrows…" I tell myself, watching a cadet passing by with a gun in his hip. "Guess I need to go to Balamb today…"

"You know that I would go you with, but I have other things to do…" he tells me.

"Yeah, like a 'certain' blond invite a 'certain' library girl to a 'certain' date…" a deceitful grin appears in my face.

Zell chokes his hotdog, and drinks a little of his juice before looking to me. I'm now eating my sandwich, trying to suppress a chuckle.

"How…why…" he stutters, trying to convince himself of what the heck am I talking about.

"I haven't forgotten about our bet of yesterday. Squall did dance last night, you know? So that means I win and I truly have a sixth sense. And…" I look to him, straight in the eyes, pressuring him, and whisper. "…you have to go on a date with that 'certain' library girl."

Zell can't respond to that threat, after all I am right. Squall did danced last night. I have this big grin of triumph in my face.

"So yeah, you were right…" he says. "But you were with Seifer last night too!"

"So?" I ask, biting my sandwich. "I can't?" I raise an eyebrow.

"It's not that!" he says, shaking his head. "Why should you be with him?"

"Why shouldn't I?" I bit my sandwich again.

"OH come ON!" he roll his eyes. "Seifer is bullshit! Everyone knows that!"

"So?"

"So… why should you be still with him?"

I drink my milk slowly before answering.

"You know what they say. Every good girl loves bad boys." I was lying through my teeth. The only reason why I've responding to Seifer's attitude, particularly last night's, I thought that if I could get close to him, and maybe, but just maybe, I could stop him from joining the sorceress, sparing Squall and the others of a lot of trouble. But a voice in the back of my head, is saying that I'm only telling this to convince myself that I wasn't creating any feelings for the blond….

I see from the corner of my eyes Zell staring at me frowning. Must be thinking, I guess. He then looks around, and suddenly yells, making me almost fall from the chair.

"YO, SQUALL!"´

I look over where he is looking. Squall slowly looks at us, and goes to pick up his breakfast (an orange juice and a sandwich) and heads to us, which, I may say, surprises me. Reaching our table he stops, and his travel between me and Zell, repeating this a few times, before frowning and seating next to the blond.

"Morning man." Zell says patting Squall in the back, making the brunet send him a cold stare. Zell immediately turns back to his hotdogs.

"Morning Squall." I say calmly, trying not to receive the same stare. But Squall just look and nod.

"Selphie is looking for you." He tells me.

"Me? Why?" I ask.

Squall picks his juice.

"It's about the mission we are on it." He looks to the blond. "You too."

"OH YEAH!" Zell yells, raising his fists in the air.

Squall sighs at the blonds' burst while I chuckle. I then direct my talk to Squall.

"Did she tell you anything about it? The mission I mean."

"She said to meet at the front gate within an hour." Squall answer me.

"I see…" my gaze directs to the blond in front of me. "There's goes your date with library girl…" Zell instantly blushes. But there are other thoughts in my head.

Zell would be late, and would arrive in that T-Board thing. The Garden Faculty would confiscate it. I frown. Maybe there is a way…

"We are going together right?" I ask, breaking the awkward silence.

"Together? Where?" Zell asks. Squall just stares at me.

"To the front gate." I explain "I mean… it's only a briefing. We can go together. The three of us. Of course…" my gaze is direct to Squall. "…if you guys don't mind."

Both Squall and Zell look at each other and shrug.

"No problem with me." Said Zell

Squall doesn't say anything, so I take it as a yes. I smile. I did it!

"Great! Now hurry up. We have only 20 minutes left." I tell them and they just nod.

---.---

When we arrive at the Front Gate, Selphie and the head are already there, with two Faculty members behind him. Saluting our superior, we place ourselves in front of the head waiting for him to begin.

"You guys are late." Selphie mutters to me.

"Sorry. We had to almost drag Zell. He talked about something to get a T-Board and…" I start to explain, but I'm interrupted when the headmaster clears his throat.

"Well, about your first mission... you´re to go to Timber." His gaze wanders between the 4. "There, you´ll be supporting a resistance faction. A member of the faction will contact you at the train station."

"This person will approach and say 'The forests of Timber sure have changed'." Says #1 Faculty." At this, you must reply 'But the owls are still around'. That´s the password, don´t forget it."

The Headmaster smiles and nods.

"From there, just follow the faction´s orders."

Zell looks at the rest of us.

"Uh... just the four of us?" he asks, somewhat confused.

The #2 Faculty nods.

"Correct." He tells him. "We´ve agreed to do this mission for very little money. Normally, we would never accept such requests, but..."

But Cid cuts him off.

"Enough talk about that." His voice hitting his angriness "Well then, Squall you´re the squad leader. Use your best judgments based on the situation." Squall nods. "Selphie, Zell and Katrin are to support Squall and give your all to carry out the faction´s plans." We nod. "Well, you´re scheduled to arrive at Timber tomorrow morning. So therefore you should take the last train to Timber. Go to the train station and find out what time it is. That's all. Dismissed."

The four of us SeeDs salute the Headmaster. One of the Faculty approaches us, and hands Squall a black lamp. Squall reluctantly accepts it, while we (being me Zell and Selph) approach him and look to the strange black lamp.

"huh…What's this?" asks Selphie, completely bewildered.

"It's a Magical Lamp. A cursed item. Legend tells that a powerful and a bad-tempered beast lies within." The headmaster explains.

"A GF?" Zell asks aloud.

"Probably. Anyway, when you use it, make sure you're ready." Cid warns us.

"Ready for what?" Selphie asks.

"A fight." The #2 faculty member replies.

Zell's and Selphie's eyes grow huge, while Squall maintains his cold façade and I stay calm. The four of us salute their superior again, and watch him leave. After the three forms are gone, Squall directs to us three.

"So…" everyone looks at him "Who's carrying it?"

Zell and Selphie look at each other and to Squall again, frenetically shaking their heads. Squall gaze then directs to me, and I look at him rising and eyebrow.

"No fricking way!" I tell him, and he sighs. "I'm not carrying that cursed thing!"

Squall frowns and I frown back. Zell and Selphie look at the two of us, expecting something. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Squall sighs and puts the strange lamp inside one of his pockets. He then turns to us.

"Do you need to pick up something from your rooms?" he asks and we all nod. "You have 30 minutes to pick up anything you need, and we meet at the Front Gate." He says in such a commanding way, that we salute him, give him a 'Yes sir!' and leave, towards our rooms.

---.---

Thirty minutes later, the four of us are in the lobby and we look at Squall. We are all using backpack, big enough to carry our stuff. Squall just nod at us and soon we are leaving to the, what I knew, would be a big turning point in our lives.

---.---

After fighting a few monsters, Selphie suddenly turns to Squall, excited.

"Squall! Show that lamp that the headmaster gave to you!"

Squall instantly takes the black lamp and hands it to Selphie. Guess he had enough of carrying it. Selphie looks at it, turning around, and around, and around…

"What do you think that's inside?" Zell asks.

"I duno…. HEY!" she suddenly yells "There's something writhen in here…" she rubs it, a black mist comes from the dark lamp, whirling and twirling around us.

For moments, all I can see is darkness, and I look around. Ironically, I recall that strange dream I had yesterday… but my thoughts are interrupted when suddenly a red blood and black creature appears in front of me. Looking at Diablos he reminds me of the demons image that we are used to know. And he kinda reminds me of vamp style too: red, black, bat wings in the back, and white and sharp teeth.

"WHO DARES TO DISTURB MY SLEEP?" he roars, and it's only then I notice Squall's, Zell's and Selph's frame rising to their feet.

"YOU HUMANS DARE TO CHALLENGE?" he roars again, and kinda of laughs. "TRY IT HUMANS. TRY TO DEAFEAT ME, THE DARK PRINCE!"

"Oh, I see." Selphie starts. "He's the Devil." Strange, I didn't know they had the Devil in this world…

"DARK PRINCE!" he snaps, and Selphie's eyes widen, taking a step back.

"Someone has to control the bad temper…" I mutter.

"Yeah, yeah…" Zell mutters. "You're going down anyway."

And our battle with the dark GF begins.

----.---

The dark mist slowly fades, revealing the bright sun and the blue sky above us. Diablos was a pain in the ass, but hey! We managed to defeat him, and now, a black stone is in the ground, and I sense Diablos presence coming from it. Looking around, I see the others getting up, obviously tired. We all look at each other, and see the black stone in the ground. Selphie is the one to pick it up, somewhat disgusted.

"So…" she starts. "Who's going to take it?"

"I do." Squall and I answer exactly at the same time, and we both frown at each other.

"I finished him off!" I tell him.

"I had to carry that cursed thing!" he says to me.

"Oh yeah? And who was the one to heal when you were in-a-almost-deathbed?" I snap, and we both narrow our eyes.

"Guys!" Selph calls us. "Why don't we let the GF choose?" she extends the black stone to us and Squall and I exchange a look.

Slowly, we touch the stone. Nothing happens, until suddenly I feel Diablos presence analyzing me. Suddenly I see Squall jerks his hand, like the stone had burned him, although it did nothing to me.

"Well, seems its settle!" Selph cheerful voice says and I smile to myself.

Squall kinda of growls and I smile.

"Oh, don't worry Squally-pooh." I tell him, and he gives me one of his death glares. "You can have the next one. Don't worry." And I pat him in the shoulder, which makes things worst.

Inside my head, Diablos and Ifrit are having a discussion, about neither of them wants the other presence. Bahamut tries to ease them, but no avail.

"QUIET!" I scream, and silence fills my head, until…

"He started it" come Ifrit voice

"nuh-nuh! You did!" This time is Diablos.

"No you did it!"

"I said, QUIET!" Silence again. "You guys have to hang out a little. I will give to the first member that appears, so relax."

None of them starts a discussion again, and I'm glad. With Diablos with me, we don't encounter many enemies. A few Bite Bug and Glacial Eye. Soon, we are in Balamb Town, and its here that Zell pops in.

"Hey! What about we go to my place?" zell asks us, although his gaze is directed to Squall.

Selphie and I say 'yes' immediately to him and the three of us look at Squall, who after a few moments glaring at us, mutters a 'whatever'. So we go to the lovely place that's Zell's house. And I'm not kidding. The place is cozy and warm, and a wonderful smell comes from the kitchen. Hmmm….. cookies….

My stomach growls in the same moment that a big, and I mean really BIG woman, comes in. I assume she being Zell' mother. In fact, what Zell tells right there, answers my doubt.

"Ma! I'm home!"

"Zell, dear, what a surprise!" the two of them go on to a motherly big hug, causing Zell to become almost green. Looking at the three of us, she gives us a big smile. "Are these your friends?" she asks.

"Yep Ma. This are Squall, Selphie and Katrin."

Selph and I give her a big and cheerful 'Hello', whereas Squall just gives her a nod.

"You must be hungry. Come, I just finished baking some cookies…" Mrs. Dincht says, but her son cuts her.

"We just had breakfast, Ma."

"Well, then, take some with you. I presume you're leaving?" she asks.

"Yes ma'm." Selphie answer cheerfully. "We're going on a mission!"

"Really? Then you should really take some of my cookies…" and with that, she leaves towards the kitchen, leaving a blushing Zell behind.

"Your mom is really nice Zell." Selphie tells him and I agree. Mrs. Dincht then appears with four small bags with, I presume by the smell, our cookies.

"Here you go." She tells us.

After we bid our farewell, we leave towards the train station, but before we stop by the Junk Shop, where Squall buys the bullets for his gunblade, and I my precious magic arrows. Then, we head to the train station, where Squall buys our tickets, and then, we're in the train.

---.---

AN.

Catherine: sorry guys to finish this here, but I will post the next really soon. I will try to post it even today, so yeah…

Katya: there's a new poll in her profile, so go there and vote. It's really important if you vote.

Catherine: ah one more thing. I will update sooner if I have any review, story alert, or I'm your favourite author, favourite story or if anyone votes is my poll… so please, take your time and do anything. ANYTHING!!!!

Katya: and the updates can take a few more time, because this missy here has school

Catherine: =P so see you guys…… READ AND REVIEW PEOPLE!!!! You know, you can write ANYTHING you want, even saying that this sucks, or it's horrible, or I shouldn't write this or that, or…

Katya: stop it! See you guys later…… (vanishes)

Catherine: Bye! (vanishes)

Next in "The Lionheart (REVISED)": train, train, take us away….