"Raided Huh?" Nida said from his chair, Squall had just finished telling everyone in the room about the strange organization that raided the Palace of Esthar and kidnapped Ellone.

"I've never heard of an organization like that," Quistis said in thought.

"They might have kept quiet about their existence" Xu put in.

Squall shook his head "there's more" He looked at Rinoa, who gave him an assuring look, and continued.

"Laguna told me about what's really going on in Galbadia, and it doesn't look very good. They've found a new leader. It's a sorceress by the name of Sinistra, she's after more land and Odine. She wants to set up an alliance with Esthar because of their technology, Laguna's trying to nicely decline but they won't have it"

Zell spun around in his chair upset "Another sorceress to deal with? Man I thought Ultimecia was the last of 'em!"

"Apparently not" Squall said

"Another sorceress?" said Rinoa "she's not like Edea, or me, is she?"

Squall shook his head "I doubt it"

Xu cleared her throat, "Squall, I'm worried. Many of the students are getting out of Garden. They don't want to become SeeD's anymore, they're afraid."

"But the SeeD's are stickin' around, right?" Zell asked now paying attention to the problem at hand.

Xu was going to answer but Nida spoke up for her "Most of the SeeD's are staying, they don't care if they have to fight or not. Although there were a few exceptions"

"Wussies…" Zell muttered under his breath "Well I'm stayin', I don't care if I have to fight either!" everyone stared at him before turning to Quistis as she spoke up.

"Squall you have to talk to them, we've set up for you to make a speech in about an hour, tell them what's going on and what happened"

"Why does everyone think I know exactly what happened?"

"Just try your best to explain Squall" Quistis said smiling at him

Xu Stood up "Right, so assemble back here in about forty-five minutes" everyone agreed. Xu and Nida left the room while the others stayed behind.

"Well…" Squall started until he thought he heard static in the room. Everyone looked around for where it was coming from. Squall figured out where the source was and walked over to a small computer in the far corner of the room.

"Squall?…..are you there?…..Squall?"

"Selphie?" Zell asked perplexed

"Zell? Is that you? HI!" It was her. The energetic woman that helped Squall and the others defeat Ultimecia and took off shortly after with Irvine to rebuild Trabia Garden, the school she grew up in.

"Selphie, what's wrong?" Squall asked trying hard to listen through the immense static that filled the transmission. Even though Esthar had stopped their camouflage tiles the distance was too far for a clear reception.

"Squall is everyone alright? We heard about the accident at Centra!"

"Whoa, how'd you guys find out so fast?" Zell exclaimed

A small giggle came in from the machine and a new voice came one "Yo Zell, How's it goin?" Zell's face filled with rage, it was Irvine.

"Me 'n Selphie got a message by Chocobo just now! Quisty sent it to us, Squall we're coming back for the team!"

Squall turned to Quistis who folded her arms and simply replied "I thought it would be nice to have them back with us, there are bigger problems at hand now"

Rinoa frowned "But What about Trabia?" she asked the machine

"Don't worry Rinoa! Trabia will be fine without us. You guys need us now!" said Selphie happily.

"Squall, you can go pick them up on the Ragnarok can't you? But…I guess that means you'll be missing your speech, won't you?" Quistis asked eyeing him

Squall looked at her strangely, knowing she had everything designed from the moment she sent the letter.

"What are you planning?"

He shrugged and turned away "Whatever…"

"Geez not this again" said Zell leaning on one foot and crossing his arms. "I haven't seen Selphie in forever! And …to tell the truth I kind of want her to take her place back on the Ragnarok" he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment for admitting he hated piloting the spaceship.

"Glad to hear" Quistis said sounding relieved

"Hey what's that supposed to mean?" Zell shot back pumping his fist in anger

Rinoa and Quistis ended up laughing while Squall leaned his head into his hand

Quistis noticed this and spoke up "Squall you need to get ready to go soon,"

"Squall, are you alright?" Rinoa asked concerned, Squall was silent and looked fear stricken.

He slowly looked at Rinoa, trying to hide his expression. "Y-Yea, I'm fine" he stumbled out of the room still clutching his head. Everyone exchanged worried expressions.

Squall walked outside of the room panting with sweat, a horrible ringing in his ears. He thought of Ellone but her ringing wasn't as intense. He fell to the floor in a squat, holding onto the wall. It felt like the feeling he had yesterday at the mission. Fear ran up his spine and horrid false images showed. He took deep breaths until finally the feeling subsided.

"Squall" a soft voice said in his mind, "His name is Squall"

"What?" he said out loud and looked up. Rinoa was staring at him, surprised Squall fell onto the floor. Rinoa helped him up, "What's wrong Squall? What's going on?" she had a stern face on as she stared deeply into his eyes.

"Nothing" Squall replied before quickly adding, "You don't need to know"

Squall was back on the floor before he knew it. He looked up at Rinoa with her arms stretched out from pushing him. "What do you mean I don't need to know?" tears were forming into her eyes, pure rage on her face.

"I've barely seen you for weeks. You won't tell me what's going on, you don't even look into my eyes when I talk to you anymore! And then you almost die yesterday and all you have to tell me is that I don't need to know? Squall I'm worried about you, what is it that you can't tell me?"

Squall slowly got up and stared at her speechless. She looked like she was ready to fall into his arms from so much anger, as she leaned forward ready to descend Squall opened his arms to catch her. But instead of falling Rinoa took off down the hallway, not wanting to take comfort in someone she didn't understand.

Rinoa ran down the end of the hallway and turned a corner so that she was out of Squall's view, she stopped to catch her anger. She had tried to keep her respect for Squall when he left her out of missions and ignored her for weeks. She remembered yesterday when she heard about the incident, how something struck at her heartstrings. She knew she couldn't let Squall keep to himself like he had once did, she feared he would become cold again, forgetting the love they shared, the love that warmed his heart. If she went one more day without seeing him, without lying in his arms in protection from all the evils of the world, and lost him, she would lose her whole world.

"Squall, what are you afraid of?" She thought clutching the ring of her mothers and the one that was replicated to look like Squall's griever ring. Holding both in her hand gave her hope and strength. She sighed and decided to wait until after he got back from Hawkwind, until then she would lay down in her room alone. She just needed some time to think.

She walked all the way to the dorm room Headmaster Cid kindly let her use and fell on her bed, passing Angelo who greeted her at the door. She turned onto her stomach and gently petted her dog.

"I know I should be spending time with him instead of doing this" she told her companion who panted in pleasure, she scratched behind his ear.

"But I just can't face him right now"

She sighed and looked up at her ceiling in deep thought.

"So… I only have to pilot on the way there, right?" asked Zell who was nervous about flying all the way to Trabia to pick up Selphie and Irvine. He was waiting for Selphie to get back and pilot the Ragnarok.

"Don't worry Zell you can keep your anticipation low, you'll be fine!" said his former instructor with a broad smile, most likely because she wasn't accompanying Squall and Zell this time.

Squall was already on the Ragnarok ready to go. Zell came in and took his place at the pilot seat, and without saying a word he started up the engine and took off into the sky for Hawkwind.

"Man am I glad Selphie's comin' back, aren't you?"

Zell tried making light conversation, but Squall said nothing and stared at the ground. Zell took in a deep sigh and changed his facial expression.

"Look man, about Rinoa… I mean you know how girls are. But what's been happening lately…. man are you ok?"

"I'm fine" Squall said in a monotone voice, his anger was boiling slowly. So the others had seen the quarrel after all, it didn't matter though, soon Zell would start rambling about fighting or something else Squall didn't know and could care less to know about.

"Psh,Yea. Right." Said Zell, obviously knowing Squall was lying.

"Think what you want" Squall thought "This may be for the best"