Twisted Fantasy

by Revir

AN Final Fantasy VIII AU story with several twists. Basically, how the story could develop if most of the main, and many not so main, characters were of the opposite gender. After a long hiatus, Chapter 42 is finally seeing the light of day. Take a breather in this LONGEST visit to the Hidden Shumi Village. Hope you: Read&Enjoy

35. Chapter 35: New Directions

AN.: Exceptionally, I'm adding a little AN before the chapter, mostly to say I'm sorry for not updating for over a year and to say I'm back, but still writing my masters' thesis, so I ask of you, my beloved readers... Be patient with me :).

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII. That's it, that's all I wanted to say. Read and enjoy.

Chapter 35 – New Directions

"So... are you telling us where we're going or you're not gonna tell us even that?" Sorphan wailed as the gang slowly rose on the cargo lift.

The awe of the shiny solar panel disk – to which Sorphan actually squealed "Shiny!" – had blown away the instant it was no longer in view and he had started nagging his friends again on what had happened and how they got there. His answer was always the same.

"Nopes!" Zanya replied cheerfully, not even looking back at him for fear of the surely pouting face and puppy-dog eyes he was indeed showing.

Zanya hadn't budged an inch into telling the three missing SeeDs what had happened during their absence, and it was driving Sorphan nuts. She even prevented others from spilling the beans, like Rian and Xu but also the other senior SeeDs and cadets that had stayed behind to watch over and guide the galbadian prisoners back to Garden in an orderly fashion. Whenever Sorphan seemed like he was going to address one of them, Zanya would stand in the middle and would not allow anyone to spoil the fun she would have when Sorphan saw it for the first time.

It was impressive and stunning even for her and she had been there for the whole show when the Garden became mobile. Sorphan, for his distinctive like of shiny, pretty and big things, was going to go nuts over it.

The lift finally reached the top and they were greeted by a hard copy of the man who operated the lower lift's controls.

"How..." Sorphan started, sharing some of the other SeeDs' astonishment, but the young man cut them off.

"Hey! You people just can't lay low, huh?" Carl, one of the triplets, said but his tone wasn't as harsh as they were expecting

"We're..." Some started, but were immediately cut off.

"Don't apologise." He said kindly. "You saved our lives, even after we told you off. We should be thanking you."

"There's no need for that." Xu replied.

Zanya glanced sideways as if somewhat disagreeing. The locals had been more than rude and they suffered through their abuse. Despite the townsfolk's appal for violence, they had to use violence to save them. The least they could do was thank them... throw a buffet or a parade or something in their honour...

She bit her tongue as Xu's stare, reinforced by Quentin's – who had not left her side ever since they had been reunited – cut off her comments by the root. They would not have the martial artist's crude remarks throw the tender accord they had managed to achieve down the drain... no matter how much they shared her sentiments.

"Alright then, don't let me keep you..." Carl continued, standing to the side to allow them exit off the lift.

The SeeDs and Rian got off, waving off or nodding goodbye, as they got on their way with Sorphan momentarily forgetting to ask about where they were going after that event.

"And thanks." Carl had to add while they walked away, drawing some more smiles and nods.

Seemed like at least a few people had finally understood them and that felt nice. Even the mayor, when he finally returned to his home and after greeting all the fellow locals that had gathered there under the SeeDs' protection, approached them confirming their aid in the repairs whenever they received their leader's consent.

That relieved the SeeDs that seemed to have nothing more to worry about, at least for the time being.

They continued to cross the catwalks with Sorphan still wondering on the likeness of the two lift operators, but his query was completely forgotten when, after rounding a particularly wide tower, the first glimpse of the "docked" Balamb Garden came into view.

They stopped and just stared, initially at a loss for words appropriate to the situation.

"WOAH!"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Schala stared at the old man as both stood in the ruins of the train station plaza now marked by battle. The old man in green overalls had shown up out of nowhere, apparently unaffected by the fighting, and just spoke that one line.

She wasn't sure what to think of the man. He seemed to know all that had happened but had taken no part in any of the events that had passed. She wondered if he had spent the whole time cowering in his home, watching through the blinds of the windows.

"But I must say... you made quite a mess here... it's gonna give a lot of work to clean it up." He said half jokingly half serious.

It was true the plaza was going to need some serious remodelling, not to mention the physical and psychological effort it would take to clean up the bodies all over town. A necessary evil...

"Who are you?" Schala had to ask, tired of wondering without a possibility of uncovering his identity on her own.

The old man was taken aback by the question, suddenly not expecting it and displaying an ever so slight sign of embarrassment.

"Where are my manners, really..." He started but didn't immediately answer her. "People around here call me 'Master Fisherman', MF for short. Nice to meet you." He added, though not really offering his hand as if knowing she wouldn't take it.

Schala was expecting something a little bit more specific, a name instead of a title, but the man didn't seem inclined on elaborating his presentation. "Master Fisherman"? What's up with that? It didn't enlightened her on his identity at all.

The MF smiled as if he could read her thoughts.

"Yeah, I just like to fish a lot." He added and Schala came to the realization that was all she was going to get out off him on that matter.

Why am I interested, anyway? She wondered with a light frown as she made to pass by him and return to the Garden. She was almost out of the battle worn plaza when she felt the old man keeping her pace a couple of steps behind.

She halted immediately and half turned to give him a "What is it now?" look and the old man stopped too. He was still smiling.

"I'll walk with you on your way back to your Balamb Garden." He stated to her surprise. "It's the least I can do after your life-saving services." He added as she remained motionless.

Her already serious expression tightened.

"How do you know about Balamb Garden?" She inquired, her tone harsher than before.

Though taken slightly back by her hostile reaction, the Master Fisherman didn't waver as he recovered the 2-second lost smile.

"Oh, that... That's right, you probably aren't aware." He replied with a small pause. "We were the ones that did the paintjob on Balamb Garden back in the days. The blue marine motif, my idea." He added proudly.

Schala frowned, subsequently raising an eyebrow in minor doubt. After a moment, she reasoned on the possibility. The people of FH certainly seemed able to carry out such a job, not to mention that being a small town, performing outside work was a necessity.

"Yup," The MF continued, redrawing the teen's attention, "Of course at the time it was stationary back in Balamb Island, but such a high level work is unmistakable. Though, I must confess I found it somewhat hard to identify our workmanship as it tried to kill me... still, there was a tinge of recognition back then..."

"What?" Schala reacted in surprise of his statement.

"Oh, I was down at the towers when you arrived... it was quite an entrance." He continued. "I had to run for my life." He added as though he was referring to a walk in the park.

There was an awkward pause while Schala processed the information. She hadn't thought there had been anyone injured, the mayor certainly hadn't mention it.

"I'm sorry..." She said but the old man waved her apologies away.

"Don't worry about it. It takes more than a three storey high giant fish shaped mobile colossus to kill me." He said with pride Schala felt he shouldn't have.

"Enough of that." He continued. "How about that tour now, huh?"

Shaking her head at the old man's strange antics, Schala started processing his offer. It hadn't sounded much like a request, so she would probably have no choice in the matter anyway. She wasn't very pleased, though, with the sudden escort. It wasn't as if she couldn't find her way back on her own. The town wasn't big enough to enable her to get lost. On the other hand, the headmaster had instructed her to look around town and "be nice" to the locals. Considering their arrival had nearly killed the man, it felt like she really had no choice but to tolerate the old man's company.

She nodded and the Master Fisherman had to smile at the revealing frown in her expression. She was obviously not pleased.

"Well, c´mon then." He called out, moving ahead of her into town.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Sorphan was impossible to handle all the short way through the feelingly endless catwalks leading up back into Garden. He shot a hundred questions a minute and not only did he not give as little as a second for any of them to throw a reply, he didn't even seem to be taking a breath.

It was so bad that even Zanya, the main responsible for his eager state brought by the suspense of not knowing what was going on, started to regret the whole deal. His initial stunned beyond words state at seeing the mobile form of Balamb Garden had been priceless, but the second and a half it lasted could not possibly compensate the nagging minutes that followed, which felt like hours in everyone's head.

The only possible exception was Inara. Ever since their reunion down by the plaza, when they were finally able to get off their soldier disguises, the red headed sharpshooter had stood smiling by his side, never deterred by the annoying and rather alarming high pitch tone his voice was taking. She just nodded and smiled as he asked again and again, often repeating the same queries over and over...

"Does it really move? Is it really Balamb Garden? Did it escape the missiles? How did it escape the missiles? Can it really move on land? How does it move on land? How does it move on water? How does it move at all? Does it fly? How fast can it go? How is it piloted? Does it have weapons? Does it have like force shields? Did it shield itself against the missiles? Did it shoot the missiles down with weapons...?"

On and on like a Gatling gun that never ran out of bullets. So it was with extreme relief that the teens rounded the last tower, climbed the last catwalk and arrived at the second floor balcony where a handful of SeeDs and cadets kept watch.

"We're here!" Sorphan almost squealed in happiness.

"Oh, thank Hyne!" Zanya let out. She loved Sorpahn dearly – as a friend – but sometimes, he was just insufferable.

"This is awesome!" Sorphan continued while the remaining teens backed off, giving room for him to, well... be Sorphan.

"Hey! It's you guys!" Some of the guarding SeeDs and cadets let out as they hopped down to the balcony.

The commotion in town had placed even the guarding personnel on guard and even though FH was now silent, they still didn't know exactly what was going on.

"Long time no see." Quentin said, for the first time since Sorphan had not given them a breath to put a word in ever since the Garden came into view.

"Where did you come from?" The others wondered, seeing that neither Sorphan nor Quentin had been on Garden while it moved and, as far as they were aware, no one knew where they were.

"We're back!" Sorphan cheered loudly and making such a fuss, the others could only forget their questions and smile at the childish tall brunet young man.

"Well... This is unexpected." The familiar aged voice drew the SeeDs and Rian from their reprise and startled them back into the second floor balcony.

"Headmaster Cid!" Quentin started, for the first time releasing his hold on Xu's hand as he rose in salute.

The Headmaster had just crossed the threshold of the access door leading to the balcony, having stood on the inside of the second floor conversing with some staff till the commotion caused by the newcomers caught his attention.

Saying the old man and the accompanying SeeDs and cadets were surprised would be the understatement of the season. The last people any of them were expecting to see waltzing through the catwalks in the middle of the ocean were the missing SeeDs that had stayed behind to delay the missile launch. Not only were they alive, but they had appeared in a tricky situation on which, certainly, their intervention helped to solve.

His kids never ceased to amaze him.

"Headmaster Cid!" Sorphan interrupted everyone's thoughts as he practically tackled the older man who, were it not for the SeeDs standing behind him, would have toppled over.

"Well, now..." He said with as much dignity as he could muster while being hugged tightly by a young man almost twice his height. "It's good to see you again too, Sorphan... Quentin." He added with a meaningful nod and tone requesting to be released...

...Which went completely ignored by the tall teen.

"I'm so happy to see you all!" Sorphan cheered, lessening his hold but not releasing completely. "Garden too!" He added. "It's great to know at least one of my homes survived..."

The effusive cheerfulness of the reunion died down instantly as the meaning behind his words sunk in everyone's hearts. As far as any of them knew, Galbadia Garden had been commandeered by the Galbadian military forces lead by the Sorceress and Trabia Garden had been destroyed by missiles. The fate of all SeeDs, cadets and headmasters of the two facilities remained unknown.

The sheer happiness of seeing Balamb Garden safe and sound after fearing its destruction was not enough to erase the loss they were certain to have sustained.

"Sorphan..." Inara called out soothingly as he threatened to start sobbing, which she knew would spread among the rest of them like an epidemic.

She gently detached him from the headmaster, allowing him to hug her instead while stroking his head , now buried on her smelly and scratchy military uniformed shoulder.

Cid himself had to take a moment to compose himself – both from the assault and from the sudden surge of emotional conflict –, a moment certainly no one took notice of since all seemed to be in need for it. He raised his head, focusing on the hugged pair.

"And who might this young lady be?" The headmaster inquired as to the identity of his saviour, without whom he would probably still being squeezed half out of breath, though he had his suspicions.

She was also wearing the galbadian military uniform, like his two missing SeeDs, which suggested she had been with them, probably undercover in the galbadians' ship. Her posture and how they were all comfortable with each other, including Zanya and Rian, also suggested they had known each other for a while, implying she wasn't just a soldier who had gone rogue. Then there was the precision shotgun the young woman carried with her, definitely not standard military issued. In fact, it reminded him strongly of the Galbadian Headmistress. If the sniper were ever to take someone under her wing, that young red headed girl would be right up that alley.

Sorphan raised his head for a moment as the pair turned to face the headmaster and Quentin stepped forward.

"My apologies, Headmaster Cid," Quentin started, saluting once more. "This is Inara Kinneas. She's a Galbadian SeeD assigned by Headmistress Martine to accompany us in Galbadia's territory." He provided, with Inara nodding affirmatively next to him.

Quentin bit his tongue not to say she was assigned as the sniper in the "Assassinate the Sorceress" mission given by the Galbadian Mistress. He felt the discussion of such a sensitive matter would be better approached in a more private environment.

As if sensing the instructor's thoughts, Headmaster Cid promptly deviated the topic to a less sensitive subject.

"Well then, welcome to Balamb Garden Miss Kinneas." He greeted her whom managed to nod over the mountain of brown hair buried in her shoulder.

Hold on... Inara Kinneas? The Headmaster suddenly realized. Indeed, that abundant red hair and the way she and the tall brunet stuck together were unmistakable. He paused for a moment, looking over all of his children who were finally together again.

"I'll be looking forward to listen to your report." He added, which made Sorphan finally compose himself, allowing for all SeeDs to give a reply salute.

"If you are up to it, I would like to hear it now." He told them. "That way, you can rest up for the day."

After a short shared look, the teens all nodded in agreement. Cid nodded as well, turning his attention to Xu.

"I assume the situation in town is back in order. Where's Schala?" He wondered aloud what had been in his thoughts for a while now.

True, at first with the tall brunet's crushing welcome, he hadn't noticed the other brunette's absence. But as the commotion settled, he realised she was nowhere to be seen. He'd figured she'd be the first of them to return, or at the very least the most eager... as eager as the teen could get anyways.

"Everyone and everything is returning to normal, Sir." Xu provided in order of query, though she had the impression he was more curious about the latter.

"Schala stayed behind to confirm with the mayor their offer to help repair the Garden." She continued. "We got the confirmation as the mayor returned to his home. His technicians and engineers are just waiting for your consent to start bringing in the gear and assess the damage."

"Schala was not with him?" The headmaster wondered.

The others shook their heads.

"She must have stayed behind to look around the town... perhaps to make sure everyone was alright and everything was in order." Xu added, unsure if that was indeed the case.

"I see..." Headmaster Cid managed to reply with an equally amused and intrigued smile on his face.

He never thought the serious and usually indifferent youth to stay behind on her own to check out the town. Had his earlier request been responsible for that, as if it was an order, or was the girl really starting to loosen up a bit? He was sure she was more than happy to be reunited with her friends and know they were safe, though she'd never let it show. But, could those feelings have released the self placed restraints around her heart?

"Oh, there's also about a dozen surrendered soldiers left over from the battle." Xu suddenly remembered, receiving Quentin's support.

"Yes, Mark was rounding them up to bring them over in an orderly fashion." Quentin added.

Cid frowned for a moment. SeeD usually weren't in the habit of taking prisoners. But then again, they had never been in a situation quite like that one before.

"I'll have the remaining staff standing by to assist them on their arrival." The headmaster said.

He turned to head back inside the Garden, expecting the SeeDs and Rian to follow after him, when he suddenly remembered something. He turned back to the balcony, zeroing on a tall man, slightly older than the rest, with short, perfectly combed blond hair and glasses, wearing the SeeD uniform.

"Terry." He called out, causing for the man to stand in attention. "Go back to the mayor's house and tell him we appreciate and accept his offer to help fixing the Garden."

Terry nodded in compliance.

"You may start bringing in the engineers and workers. Oh, and be sure to help Mark in bringing the prisoners through the catwalks." He added as he remembered it.

"Yes, sir." Terry replied with a salute, immediately breaking into a jog across the pathways leading back into town.

"Well, then..." The headmaster restarted as soon as the SeeD was out of sight and turning to the SeeDs already with a foot through the access door. "Shall we?"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Well then, take care now."

Schala nodded respectfully at the extremely short innkeeper as she and the Master Fisherman left the establishment. Nodding back, the middle aged woman pressed some hidden button that lowered the stratum behind the counter and quickly fell outta sight.

Schala had been surprised at the resourcefulness of the woman who was so short she barely reached her waist line. As the counter of the, as far as she had noticed, only Inn in town, was of normal height, the woman had installed a type of lift behind it in order to be able to face her customers or whoever came to her place. Ingenious indeed.

She stepped out after the old fisherman catching him talking to an old drunkard that didn't even seem interested in standing up, seeming more concerned to the state and level in his wine bottle.

She sighed as she saw the two men catch up on the events of the day. The old man had dragged her all over town. After leaving the plaza, he insisted in taking her through the path surrounding it instead of heading straight towards the Garden. She resisted the detour but the M.F. was even more insisting saying he had to step into his house for something... Schala had already given up on the argument and just followed along.

On the way, he stopped by a house that seemed completely unaffected by the events of that morning. The man had his windows opened to the max, apparently airing his home which threw smoke through every nook and crevice.

The Master Fisherman introduced the other man as a craftsman and Schala could see several sculptures and figurines resting on the window sill which seemed to confirm his title. She was surprised that there was more to the town's inhabitants than just engineers that like fixing stuff, though she really shouldn't be. It is unreasonable to think that everyone would dedicate themselves to a single profession.

Her attention was drawn from her thoughts and recent memories as the MF got up and nodded her along, signalling the continuance of her tour through Fisherman's Horizon. Resisting a deep sigh, Schala followed suit as the old man headed towards a small pier just to the side of the road.

Schala recalled the place from her first intervention against the soldiers attacking FH, when they came to the rescue of a young boy and an old man. When they left them, they were bickering, but now they found themselves in opposite sides of the pier, the kid apparently fishing while the shopkeeper cleaned the front of his store, sweeping away the traces of the morning battle.

The Master Fisherman entered the pier and the old man immediately stopped sweeping to greet him and the kid on the small boat across the platform all but jumped up in excitement, ending up almost splashing on the deep waters around him.

Paying him no mind, or merely not noticing, the old man approached the junk shop and its owner who stood right next to it, ready to greet him.

"Hello! It's been a while now!" The Master Fisherman greeted warmly, completing it with a handshake. "How are you, Bob?"

"Bob", the shop owner, smiled widely as he shook the older man's hand.

"Oh, I'm fine, I'm fine!" He replied enthusiastically. "It would take more than those thugs to run me off my shop!" He added proudly.

Schala looked over to the two men's exchange. Were it not for their intervention, those thugs would have been more than enough to run the man off his shop... shabby looking place as it was...

"Though, they did try to." Bob continued

"And you fought them off?" The MF wondered, not believing the story entirely.

"Ahh, well..." The man hesitated. "I was holding my own, protecting the kid and all... But you know how I'm not a violent man..."

The Master Fisherman could say that for just about everyone living in Fisherman's Horizon... though that particular man wasn't as pacific in mind as the rest of them.

"But I got some assistance..." Bob continued, getting the MF's attention. "These three young warriors came outta nowhere and took care of them before I got a chance, you know..."

Three young warriors, huh? The MF wondered as he was sure it had been one of the SeeD squads to show up and save the old shopkeeper's ass.

The man kept nodding, looking over the other man's shoulder as if only noticing his companion for the first time.

"One of them looked just like your young escort there... Hold on..." He paused as he focused on the young woman.

Schala stared back at the man as recognition, and possibly the memory of her timely intervention, passed through his mind's eye. His jaw hung and eyes widened as he slowly raised his hand to point at her.

"It was you!" Bob said, causing the MF to switch his stare between the two.

He didn't look that surprised to learn the young SeeD had saved one of his older friends that day. In fact, she had saved them all. He focused on her for a while longer and was pleased and surprised with what he saw in her. Better yet, what he didn't see.

That young woman had just been the main responsible for saving not only his friend but an entire town, yet there was no boasting or superior attitude, no arrogance, no pride. She hadn't done it for fame or to gain their favour or debt. Her sole purpose seemed to have been to actually help and protect.

That was definitely no ordinary mercenary mentality. Whatever the headmaster had been teaching in that military academy, he was doing a hell of a good job.

"You saved us! I didn't even have a chance to thank you..." Bob continued talking, completely ignoring the MF's presence for a moment.

And he gave no chance for the girl to reply or dismiss his thanks as she had been receiving and dismissing from just about everyone else she'd met on her "tour" of the town.

"I'm not pro violence, you know. In fact it was that shared feeling of ours that led us to abandon our home at war to look for a place where violence was neither a part nor the focus of our lives." The man continued, now gaining momentum to whatever he was talking about.

"We came across that bridge..." He continued, signalling the Horizon Bridge behind them, "and stopped here and that's when we decided to use this old support construction station for the bridge as our new home, free of our old lives..."

Schala wondered exactly from where across the bridge they had come from to escape the war. Hyne knew, some years ago, almost the whole world was at war so that was not a specific factor. However the man never gave her or the MF a chance to intervene.

He seemed to have lost himself in his memories and completely forgotten what they were talking about in the first place.

"We named it Fisherman's Horizon... In fact, it was you who named it..." He added, turning to face the Master Fisherman who could only smile at his old friend's antics and melancholy.

"Such inspirational name..." He continued. "How you took the Fisherman's symbolizing the peacefulness and serenity of the act to our undying search of a home without war."

"Then the Horizon, a reference of the way we embrace and head towards our future with an open spirit and intended purpose..." He started getting emotional, with even a tear in the corner of his eye for the finishing touch. "Truly inspiring!"

Both listeners stared at the man with incredulity at the passion he spoke of his home and the pride he had in their struggle and beliefs. Schala focused her gaze on the Master Fisherman. For some reason, Schala doubted that such inspiring meaning and deep thoughts were behind the naming of their settlement there.

The MF's sudden embarrassment seemed to confirm it.

"Actually..." The Master Fisherman started, redrawing the attention back to him. "I just really like fishing and thought what a great place it was for it and with such a beautiful view over the horizon..."

The other man didn't react.

"In fact," He saw the need to continue, "That's also the reason I named the bridge that... It really is a very nice view..."

Silence reigned in the small pier as if Siren had used her powers.

Figured as much... Schala wondered, shaking her head at the silliness of the situation.

But such doubt had never crossed the other man's thoughts. His grand ideals, the deep meaning behind their town's name shattered as the man started babbling incoherently to himself, temporarily disconnected from reality.

The MF scratched his head in both embarrassment and guilt. He knew his friend held him in high regard, but didn't expect it to be that bad.

"Mumbling, mumbling..." Bob continued.

"What was that?" The Master Fisherman wondered as this came out louder as if addressing him.

"That... that was..." Bob repeated, now loud enough to be understood.

"THAT WAS IT!" He cried out in exasperation. "Our town's name is what it is because You were thinking of FISHING!"

To his credit, the MF kept his ground and didn't flinch at the outburst. Either he had achieved a state of serenity in which things like those didn't affect him... or he was used to it.

"Well... we'd been travelling for a while..." He chose to add. "I was getting hungry..."

Whatever comment or continuance the conversation, or rather the awkward scolding, was coming after, it was interrupted as the fisherkid – who seemed to finally be able to get out of the little boat without falling into the ocean – jumped in between the two older men.

"Enough of that, ya old fart! Who cares where the name came from?" He let out, turning his back to the 'old fart' in question and facing the MF. "Good afternoon, Master!"

"Hello Timmy." The MF replied. "I'm glad you're alright after this morning's commotions." He added.

"Thank you, sir!" The boy beamed as if he'd just been praised by the older man's concern.

Watching their exchange, Schala couldn't stop but notice the difference in treatment the MF received from the boy in relation to the shopkeeper. Though the boy seemed to revere and follow the old fisherman, to her, in a conscious or unconscious part of her mind, the relationship to the other man felt warmer and closer.

"Is it true, you were still fishing when the Garden came smashing towards the docks?" Timmy enthusiastically asked with shiny eyes.

That particular subject made Schala slightly uncomfortable. She'd heard from the man that he had indeed been there at their destructive arrival and damn nearly got him killed. The disturbance and danger their coming there had brought to the locals bothered her somewhat.

"That's right! I was there till the last possible second." The old man boasted.

Truth was, when he realised what was happening and the danger he was in, he couldn't care less about the fishing but only for his dear life. And the only reason he had stayed there till the last possible minute was solely due to the fact he had a slow reaction time to his own impending demise.

But his "apprentice" didn't need to know that.

"Amazing... Such dedication and courage..." The boy let out causing a mix of pride and shame in the MF.

"I knew you were a great man! Some people don't know what they're talking about!" He added, thinking back on often heard spoken words by some townsfolk, calling him useless and a loser.

He had never believed that from his Master.

"Yeah, that's right!" The MF agreed, frowning as the meaning behind the words kicked in. "Wait... What?"

Schala could almost smile in a mix of amusement, exasperation and hopelessness. She couldn't tell who was worse... The delusional kid placing the MF in a fishing pedestal; the old shopkeeper, disillusioned to the MF's grand dept of thought; the MF for kidding himself and stringing the kid along to his mock achievements... or her, for standing there watching and listening to the whole ridiculous thing...

"Oh, will you see my form?" The kid turned, ignoring the older man's sudden lapse in composure. "Please, sir! I wanna be just like you when I grow up, will you see how far I've come since last time? You promised!"

Timmy stared hard into the old man's eyes, putting on his best version of puppy-dog eyes, Schala thought had a long way to go till they reached Sorphan's level. Still, they seemed to work on the aged fisherman.

"Sure, go ahead." The Master Fisherman caved with a nod.

Timmy was beyond enthusiastic as he quickly turned and rushed to the end of the pier. He almost tripped but managed to turn his fall into a jump and landed safely, though awkwardly, in his small boat. He composed himself and reached for his fishing pole, standing in attention and ready to cast his line.

"HUAHH!"

As the Master Fisherman and Schala looked at the young boy, not sure what to expect from his performance, Bob hadn't stopped mumbling incredulously and in disbelief. Having barely paid any attention to the other two's exchange, he mumbled over losing his faith in the greater meaning of things and how his life seemed to have lost its meaning.

As if on cue, his collar started to pull on his throat, threatening to end his life right there and then.

Schala and the MF watched in surprise and a tinge of horror as the line cast by the boy, instead of going forward, went all the way back, over the shop sign and hooked on the old shopkeeper's collar, hanging him in his own shop.

While the MF had no reaction – apart from horror – Schala immediately sprung into action, rushing forward while drawing her gunblade. She sliced the fishing wire in one smooth motion, effectively saving the shopkeeper from a strenuous death.

Seconds later, the boy rushed in from his boat, after almost falling into the water again, and next to the shop where the Master Fisherman and Schala checked if Bob was alright after his life threatening ordeal. He seemed to be recovering and was about to thank Schala for saving his life – again – when he noticed the boy's approach.

"YOU!" He shouted, getting up in a jump despite his recent condition. "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" He added as he neared the kid who had stopped his advance.

"YOU ALMOST GOT ME KILLED! YOU..." He paused, straining in his anger to find the appropriate word to describe just how much of a dumbass the boy had been...

That's it!

"DUMBASS!" He shouted even louder, making the kid flinch slightly.

"Gee..." Timmy mumbled to himself, quickly turning the tables and himself back to the shopkeeper in a fit. "I didn't do it on purpose, alright...?"

"WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDE IS THAT? YOU ALMOST KILLED ME!"

"And you don't need to SHOUT, YA OLD FART! Are you deaf along with old?"

"WHY, YOU..."

Schala and the Master Fisherman shared a look. The scene was getting out of hand with those two arguing so fervidly and even though they both thought they should probably step in before it got, well... worse, if it were possible... Not one of them moved. They could only watch.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Thank you for your patience and sorry for depriving you from your long awaited and undoubtedly well deserved rest. You are dismissed."

With these words followed by the traditional salute, the teens left what was left of the headmaster's office towards the elevator. The moment they were out, Xu got a hold of Quentin's arm once again as if she was never letting it go.

The report had taken quite the time to delliver, with Quentin and Sorphan relaying the events ever since their imprisonment in D. District to the moment the Iron Clad touched ground in F.H. and they took over the MRV. At that time, their report was accompanied by Zanya and Xu's inputs on the events leading to the defence of the town.

They'd had been through quite a lot and Cid just wanted to get everything out of the way so as to allow them to rest for the rest of the day.

In fact, were it not for their sudden and, in posterior analysis, fortunate crash in the fishermen's town, he had fully intended to finally hear Schala's own report on the events that had passed, reason why he didn't ask the teens entering the elevator about them.

Schala had tried on several occasions to relay that information to him in the past few days, but Cid had had a lot on his mind. The chaos in the Garden, drifting and, well... it never felt like the right time.

Now that the Garden was no longer adrift, that they were in no immediate threat and some of the unaccounted SeeDs had returned. The time had come to learn all he could of what was going on.

And her report was bound to be even more extensive.

Cid leaned back on his chair, both it and his desk having miraculously survived the intrusion of the commanding bridge of the Garden.

He would wait for Schala to return and listen to her full report. Though, nothing she'd tell him could probably change his mind on what he was about to do. In fact, it would more than likely reinforce his resolve.

He was aware that she wouldn't think it was fair, that she would resist it and not accept it immediately.

But the truth was... she was probably their best chance of success...

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Man... I want to sleep for a week! Can I?" Sorphan wailed, causing half the people in the elevator to stare and the other to laugh, all thinking the same thing.

"As if!" Zanya let out between laughs. "You couldn't stay in bed for a day, less alone a week."

"I'm inclined to agree." Quentin added and everyone burst into laughter as Sorphan pouted.

His annoyance lasted a full five seconds before he joined them, agreeing that it was probably never going to happen. Even if he was very, very tired.

"I dunno..." Inara started, carrying a mischievous smile as she snaked her arm around his. "I can think of some things that could keep him on his back for quite a while..."

The statement lingered in the air as everyone registered its meaning at different speeds.

"INARA!" Sorphan let out, a deep blush reddening his usually fair complexion.

"Aww, you're so cute!" She squealed before wrapping her arms around his neck and despite his visual embarrassment, he didn't move away.

While Quentin, Xu and Rian laughed at the duo's antics, after overcoming the awkwardness of the earlier implication, Zanya still looked somewhat puzzled.

The lift finally stopped, having reached the ground floor and the teens stepped out with Zanya taking the lead.

"What? You gonna drug him or somethin'?" The blonde martial artist let out as she turned ahead of them with some confusion still on her face.

It was the only thing she could think of that would keep the bubbling teen confined to a bed.

The others fell dead silent. No one knew quite what to say to her naive comment.

"I don't think..." Quentin started without really knowing how to complete it, but Inara stopped him by disentangling herself from Sorphan's neck and approaching the clueless blonde.

"I'll explain it to you..." Inara told her. "Lend me your ear."

Though slightly suspicious, Zanya allowed for the slightly taller teen to lean over her head and whisper in her ear. Her frown disappeared as her features turned from the usual complexion to pink... then red... an awkward shade of green and purple. Her mouth hanged ajar as her face acquired the brightest red colour imaginable.

The girl looked ready to pass out cold and Sorphan was divided between utter embarrassment and concern the girl could stop breathing, since her colour reminded him of a certain hot dog incident.

When Inara moved away, which to her credit took a whole lot of time, Zanya's skin colour barely looked human as she stumbled away. She almost tripped on her own feet while going down the stairs, mumbling incoherently to herself.

"What did you tell her?" Rian wondered aloud, though not truly very keen on knowing.

"It was a long list..." Inara teased with a mischievous smile.

She suddenly turned serious.

"But if you really want to know..."

"Nah, nevermind..." He swiftly replied and everyone laughed though... not a one wanted to know about it either.

All but Sorphan who, once the risk of Zanya fainting passed, turned to complete embarrassment.

"Why did you have to do that?" He questioned still carrying a moderate shade of red.

"Well... She asked." Inara replied, with not a care in the world.

"Still, Inara... I mean..."

"President Sorphan!" A voice called out from a near distance, making everyone, including Sorphan, to momentarily forget the conversational and embarrassing topic.

Sorphan frowned as the owner of the voice, a male cadet with short hair, approached him with a hurried pace. He placed his hands on his hips with an apparent annoyed expression, very uncharacteristic.

"I told you already, lose the President bit..." Sorphan stated, making a face. "It sounds weird..." He wasn't comfortable with such a title.

"I'm sorry, Presss... Sorphan." The cadet corrected, though it was obvious he was uncomfortable in addressing him in such an informal manner.

"President Sorphan?" Inara questioned as the other two engaged in conversation.

She was both confused and curious at the same time. "President" did have a nice ring to it, but of what he was president, she couldn't begin to fathom.

"Garden Festival Committee." Quentin provided.

The news of his promotion, practically on arrival, had spread across the Garden like a gossip-virus. Everyone knew about it.

"Ahh..." Inara let out, smiling widely as it all made sense now.

There was no one else out there as spunky, cheerful and energetic as the tall brunet. She couldn't think of anyone else better for such a position of leadership in such a group.

"And you won't believe who else is a member..." Rian pitched in, already imagining the shock the red headed sharpshooter's face certainly not unlike his own at the time he found out.

But he never got the chance to break the news as...

"WHAT?" Sorphan's cry to whatever topic he was discussing with the young cadet interrupted any thought or intention in the group as all attention was refocused on the duo.

"I'm sorry, but it's true..." The young man repeated what the others hadn't heard the first time.

"It's ruined, completely destroyed!"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Schala walked at a steady and calm pace, her boots clanging on the metallic catwalks with every step. She had finally been able to ditch her escort back at the small harbour – not without the help of aged related back pains – and she couldn't be happier to finally being alone.

She couldn't understand why had the headmaster wanted her to check out the town, that and why she had agreed to the old man's company in doing so. She could have perfectly wandered around for a bit then headed back on her own, but the so called "Master Fisherman" had dragged her all over the place.

It was hard to believe that it was little after noon considering everything that had happened that morning alone. Time was a funny thing, sometimes.

"Move to the side, please!" a voice called out dragging her from her thoughts.

While moving to the side of the railing, Schala turned to see a couple of FH's workmen moving towards her while carrying a handful of tools and devices she had never seen before in her life.

"Oh! Hi." The man on point greeted with an awkward nod while rushing past her and beyond the path.

Schala's frown was set even before his eyes left her face. She had noticed that, apart from the annoying triplet and the mayor's companion, the people that before watched her and the others with distrust, were now particularly nice and friendly. Not one but several people had offered goods in the manner of food or materials for her to take back to Garden, to which she had to politely refuse. If she had accepted every offer, she'd be carrying a ten metre high bundle of stuff.

Honestly? She'd rather they were still coy and wary, she was sure she would be getting far less attention.

Shaking her head and resuming her walk, Schala noticed that the closer she got to the awkwardly docked Garden, the louder the sound of machinery and people talking was heard. Her inner suspicions were confirmed when she rounded the last tower and Balamb Garden was finally in view.

Seemed Headmaster Cid had agreed to the locals' offer of help. The FH technicians had been true to their word and had started working on repairing the Garden. Two enormous cranes had just grown on the sides of the Garden as all sort of machinery and men surrounded and climbed up and down the massive blue structure, assessing the damages and determining exactly what needed to be fixed and how. It was amazing what they had gathered around it in such short notice.

Like they had said earlier, they really liked fixing stuff.

At the second floor balcony, the scene was similar. Instructor Mark Brandt talked loudly – the only way he knew how – with SeeDs, cadets and FH engineers alike. She couldn't tell exactly what was being said, but she caught something along the lines of "constructing", "cage" and "basement".

Construct a cage in the basement... for the soldiers, of course. Balamb Garden wasn't in the habit of taking prisoners and as such, lacked the proper means of holding them in such a numerous scale. The MD level would certainly be spacious enough to construct such a structure, that after they disposed of Norg's burned up giant pod that was still in there...

Schala moved beside them without being seen or if they saw her, amidst their discussion, they paid no attention to her. She passed through the open door and inside the second floor hallway, avoiding stepping on the thick cables that crossed the doorway and inner halls.

The Garden was hectic, but in a much better way than it had been a couple of days ago. The panic and uneasiness of not knowing where they were or where they were heading was now replaced by hope for the future and something to do. It felt oddly comfortable.

A familiar voice made her focus her attention to the entrance of one of the second floor class rooms where she found it belonged to Inara. The sharpshooter had obviously taken a shower as her short red hair still dripped slightly over her borrowed clothes, a simple white tank top and really short denim shorts, her own cowgirl boots dressing her feet.

She was talking to a SeeD – a woman with curly black hair she remembered being in FH fighting the galbadians – with both currently standing by the threshold of a classroom door. As she got closer she could tell their conversation circled around the prisoners and as she peered inside the room, she could see said prisoners being held with another hand full of SeeDs and cadets watching over.

Seemed the classroom had been transformed into a temporary detention area. That till the instructor arranged for the cell construction on the lower level.

Schala fully intended to pass by them without interrupting their exchange, mostly because she had no reason to do so, but Inara must have heard her steps and turned to look at her.

"Hey, Schala!" She called out. "You're finally back. Hold up." She turned to the other SeeD. "Excuse me." She said, not waiting for the dismissing nod before turning and jogging to meet the gunblader.

"Hey." She repeated once she was beside her.

Schala merely nodded her greeting – like she always did – and waited for her to continue. As the red headed teen said nothing in the following seconds, Schala resumed her pace towards the lift, Inara surely keeping pace.

It was only when they got to the lift and Schala pressed the call button than the other woman spoke.

"So..." She started carefully. "The Garden moving, bet that was a surprise, huh?"

Schala merely nodded back without taking her eyes from the still closed elevator doors. It had been a surprise, alright. Not even the Headmaster expected Balamb Garden to suddenly rise up from the ground and hover away from missile range. It was practically unthinkable.

"It doesn't look much like it's supposed to move though, with all the damage it took." Inara continued, looking around as if assessing the damage.

Of course, some of the damage was due to the 'Garden Master's instigated civil war, but after the Garden started moving it sure got worse... not accounting to the damage caused by the raising bridge.

"I suppose the workers and technicians are gonna be very busy for a while." Inara added.

"I suppose." Schala replied.

The lift arrived and the doors opened with a characteristic ping. Schala stepped in with Inara right behind her. She pressed the first floor button while Inara just leaned against the railings, her stare indicating there was more to their conversation.

"Yeah... So, they're handling all the structural damage and stuff, huh?" She paused as the elevator started to slowly head down. "I don't suppose I could ask them to work on some other stuff... fixing a thing here and there..."

The lift took only seconds to arrive at the designated level and as it stopped and the doors opened, the two women didn't budge from their positions. Schala's frown was more thoughtful than inquiring. The sharpshooter wasn't even from that Garden. As far as Schala knew, she hadn't ever even step foot on Balamb Garden before that day. What could she possibly want fixed?

"As long as it doesn't interfere with the essential work on the Garden, I don't see why not." She finally said, exiting the lift before it got called away, Inara stepping behind her with a small hop and a reassured smile. "Try not to ask for too much."

Inara straightened up and smiled brighter.

"Of course." She stated.

Schala nodded, taking it as the end of that conversation and climbed down the stairs towards the main lobby. All around, the few Garden personnel were helping out the town's engineers in their work, though most consisted on carrying their gear, tools and cables around after them or wherever they told them to.

On the bottom of the stairs, Schala noticed the sharpshooter was still walking behind her. Turning to face her, Inara greeted her with a "There's more I want to ask of you" smile that almost made her groan.

"What?"

"Well, you see..." Inara wondered but the gunblader's impatient stare made her go straight to the point, though not resisting a smile. "All the moving commotion seemed to have completely obliterated a certain stage area in the Quad and Sorphan is absolutely devastated. Seemed like he'd been working on that before you left and now it's ruined."

Schala's stare softened as she recalled the state the stage was left in when she went there with Rian after the whole moving, avoiding missiles and drifting at sea thing. The rude docking in FH probably didn't help matters either.

"So... he's like, really down, very off-character, you know?" Inara continued, interrupting her thoughts after an allowed moment of reflection she knew the other teen required to process the information.

"I thought, maybe you could... you know..." She obviously didn't. "You could talk to him." She added with a persuasive smile able to rival with one of Sorphan's

To that request, not necessarily the smile – only Sorphan's could sway her mind –Schala grew even more confused and her frown deepened further. What could she possibly say to him? She wasn't exactly "cheering up" material, Rian was more than tired of telling her that. Whatever she'd say would most likely make it worse rather than better. She didn't deal well in those sorts of situations.

"I know you're a real klutz when it comes to these things." Inara cut in her inner monologue again, not without a poorly masked smile. "But you're like, everyone's leader... everyone's big sister, in spirit, and I'm sure that whatever you say will make him feel better." She added nodding emphatically, almost as if trying to convince both of them.

Schala had her doubts though, big doubts at that. Also, she wasn't sure if being considered by others as a leader or a big sister, even just in spirit, was a good thing.

"And I'll be there for backup, so no worries." Inara added with a big smile that didn't help Schala feel more comfortable with the situation... At. All.

"Fine..." Schala caved.

After not knowing their situation or whereabouts for several days, Schala had to admit to herself that she missed their often imposing and annoying presence. Truthfully, after all the chaos and confusion, what she wanted the most was for things to get back to normal, or at least as normal as they could get at that time. A bummed up Sorphan was definitely not normal in any conceivable context.

Still at the bottom of the stairs, ignoring the big victory smile plastered on the red headed sharpshooter, Schala wondered where was Sorphan's most likely location, at that time... knowing him...

"Quad...?" She wondered aloud, raising her eyes to the still smiling woman.

"Quad." Inara confirmed it and without a word, Schala turned and headed towards that particular section of Garden, followed closely by a grinning like crazy Inara.

During their walk, the scenery was the same as work progressed around Garden. Obviously the battle damage suffered by the otherwise beautiful central fountain was far from essential, but still Schala could detect a couple of FH people assessing the damage. Those were most likely craftsman instead of engineers, as she had learned on her half-forced tour of the Town, also existed and were quite skilled.

Dismissing the memory of her walk, Schala cut into the Quad, with Inara keeping her pace on her side now. Apart from the battle scars, the Quad held little damage from "the move", or so it seemed till they reached the stage area.

If it looked like it would be hard to put together before, right now that possibility went down to zero. The few stakes that were left standing had collapsed on themselves and even parts and pieces from it must have fallen off the open limits of the Quad area and into the sea. It was ruined beyond any possible hope of repair.

"Whew... this is so bad..." Sorphan's wail reached them once they got close enough to hear it.

It took some eye-squinting and a couple steps closer for Schala to even identify him between the rubble. Surprisingly still wearing the galbadian uniform, Sorphan sat on his heels, hand on his lap and stared blankly forward, not seeming to be focusing on anything ahead of him.

He was in worse shape than she had expected. Schala hesitated to even step closer. With the bubbly, hyperactive Sorphan in such a state, she was sure she could not only not make him feel better, but would definitely make it worse.

As if anticipating it, Inara gave her an encouraging nudge and as she turned to face her, the sharpshooter doubled it with an encouraging smile, nodding her to go.

If not even Inara had managed to make it better, as Schala was certain she'd tried, how could she...?

Her doubts were cut by a second nudging and Schala knew there was no turning back. Not only was Inara not going to let her get away, but she had already agreed to it...

"Ahm... Sorphan?" She hesitated, trying to call him in a soft voice.

It wasn't as hard as she thought it'd be, but it still sounded alien to her.

"I had so wanted to see some of the guys perform on this... a play or a band... it would have been awesome..."

Schala's retreat was cut off with Inara ushering her closer to him. Her mind was blank. What could she possibly say to him?

"I even had my eyes set on a few people, too..." He continued as Inara continued to gesture Schala to step closer while resisting laughing at the panic intrinsically etched in her face. "And people you wouldn't expect to either... it would have been awes..."

Sorphan stopped short as he felt a hand settling on his shoulder. Though appearing catatonic, his SeeD training had him constantly aware of his immediate surroundings and the only one close enough to him to touch him was... His suspicions were confirmed as he tilted his head back and saw Schala's awkward face looking ahead at nothing in particular, just not him, while resting her left hand on his shoulder, awkwardly too but the reassuring intention was there.

"It's been... really crazy around here... with the Garden moving and crashing into FH and all..." Schala spoke hesitantly at first, but they were things that needed to be said.

That she needed to say because they were swimming in her head for the past few days and somehow, and strangely enough, saying them out loud was like lifting an invisible burden off her shoulders.

"I know it seems hopeless now but... There's nothing that can't be fixed. You're the most resourceful and tenacious person I know, I'm sure that if anyone can find a way to pull it back together, it's you..."

Schala wasn't exactly sure she was just talking about the stage area anymore. Sorphan was a morale builder ever since he'd arrived in Balamb Garden, and he'd only been there a couple of days before their first SeeD mission. He basically kept everyone's morale up, even hers though she'd never admit to it.

There was a long silence in which neither of them spoke, and though she was more than comfortable in silences, his felt slightly off. Looking down, she couldn't prevent her eyes from widening with sight of his widened eyes. They seemed more than surprised, they seemed perplexed, stunned beyond words and it honestly crept the hell outta her, so much she almost stepped back.

"... Schala... being nice..?" The look on her face seemed to have loosened his tongue as she now mimicked his surprise. "That was... so honest and sensitive, I'd never..."

"You're the last person I expected to come cheer me up, still... you came and said those things... That's... weird..."

Schala's surprise slowly de-evolved into a soft frown as his words and her own behaviour registered.

"I must really look depressed." He added as his eyes momentarily left hers to stare forward in realization.

Schala's mind had already left the present as all came crashing down on her thoughts.

What? What's so weird about that? I care just as much as everybody else!

I worry, I feel... it's just that, most times it can't be helped. Things are as they are and happen like they happen, there's nothing we can do about it no matter how much we worry or feel... or care. I might not show it, but I care... there's just no point in wailing on it once it's done...

Schala closed her eyes and stepped back, removing her hand from the brunet's shoulder as she did.

Why do I even bother...? I knew I would only make it worse. I'm not good at pep talks or any kind of talks for that matter... I should have just left it alone and not...

"Uh-oh! No! No, no, no! Don't do that!" Sorphan snapped, standing up in a jump like the old Sorphan did, and this time Schala's surprise couldn't be tamed and she jumped back a bit in alarm.

It had been too sudden for someone so locked away in her thoughts.

"There you go again into your own little world with sealed iron gates, not letting anyone in." He said, stepping closer too fast to allow her to move away.

He gripped her shoulders and kept her in place and Schala was too stunned by the suddenness and by his actions to react.

"The gates are open, let them be like that. It's not a bad thing to let others know you care." He continued in a much less rushed voice, softer even as he realized how he had freaked her out.

Because she was freaked out and though his softness as he quieted down and slowly took his hands off her shoulders had calmed her enough, it was all she could do not to turn around and bolt the hell outta there.

"I think I'm feeling better now." Sorphan said, stepping back from her and returning her personal space to its rightful owner.

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, calming his own self down. A couple of seconds passed, he reopened them and the shine was back, the happiness, the cheerfulness and a hidden glint of mischief as he fully intended on rubbing in Zanya and Quentin's face the sudden and unexpected "Schala revelation". To Rian, it wouldn't be that much of a tease since it was more than obvious to him how the "Boss" felt about the SeeD. He could be sensitive too, if he wanted.

"Thank you, Schala." He added looking straight into her stormy eyes, now slightly murky from her inner confusion.

Without waiting for her to react, Sorphan turned back to the stage with renewed spirits. He no longer looked at it as something broken beyond repair, but his mind started to work on how he could still use it. Even the possibility of getting rid of it all and starting from scratch no longer hindered him.

If Schala could open up and lay her heart for the sole purpose of cheering him up, he sure as hell could lift the stage from the rubble.

Schala stepped back, stunned and unsure of what to do next. She had tried to cheer Sorphan up and it went completely off, though it oddly seemed to have worked. He was cheered up but she ended up more affected than he was before...

A hand on her shoulder snapped her out of the incoming inner monologue as Inara stepped up next to her. Her smile wasn't too cocky, probably out of some respect for her. After all, she did manage to cheer the tall teen back to his old self. Inara's smile was more of victory and determination.

"... Alrighty! It's my turn now." She said as she started walking towards him, leaving Schala back with thoughts she wasn't sure she wanted to ponder on.

Three chimes echoed in the Garden, reaching the Quad through the outer speakers.

"Schala, this is the headmaster speaking. Please come to my office."

Schala looked up, thankful for the distraction of her mind. Someone must have seen her and informed the headmaster she was back on the Garden. He probably wanted a report of what happened. Great...

She moved away, leaving the two teens alone again. Inara still looked after her till the brunette was out of sight then turned her full attention to the other brunet.

"So, how's it looking?" Inara wondered aloud once she was beside him.

"It's gonna be a lot of work." Sorphan replied, not at all surprised at her presence and no longer as conscious of her closeness as before.

There was a nostalgic comfortable feeling when she was near him he no longer rejected.

"But you'll do it, right?" She asked, meaning more than just the stage area fix.

"Of course!" He replied, looking at her with his trademark smile that had permanently returned to his face.

Her own smile widened in accordance. She'd missed him 'Oh so much.

"Alrighty, then..." She cheered in a very Sorphan kinda way. "Let's get the party started!"

"Party?" He wondered confused.

"Trust me honey!" She snaked closer, putting an arm around his waist. "It's gonna be Legen-"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"That about covers my report, Sir."

And what a report it was. Schala had been inside Headmaster Cid's office for the better part of an hour relaying every bit of what had happened in the past week.

The Timber mission and its mishaps; going to Galbadia Garden and the Sorceress assassination mission in Deling; their arrest and subsequent escape; the separation of the teams and the journey back to Balamb Garden. The rest he knew, so she skipped to the part where she knowingly went against the mayor's wishes and fought to save the people of FH.

It had been a long report, so much had happened in such a short time. The headmaster had listened to it intently and with very few interruptions.

"I see... it adds up with Sorphan and Quentin's report I heard a few moments ago..." He let out, certainly not doubting or even expecting them to tell different stories, but now he had the whole picture.

Schala got that and though she didn't know the details of their report, mainly of the break into the missile base and their escape, they had succeeded in partially stopping the missiles and escaping with their lives unscathed, even their arrival had been essential in the defence of FH. That was all she needed to know.

"Yes... about Ellone..." The Headmaster wondered aloud but said no more.

Schala had mentioned the "Dream World" vaguely, including the part Ellone played in those events to which he didn't seem the least bit surprised. He had already admitted to knowing her so it was safe to assume he knew of her powers.

She neglected to mention, however, the last words she had said to her before leaving for the White SeeD Ship. That had felt personal, more personal than she'd like to admit or share with anyone at the moment...

"The Galbadian Soldiers were definitely looking for her. That seemed to be their main objective in FH." She concluded from the overheard conversation between the Commander and the mayor.

"Hmm..."

"I believe Sorceress Edea is behind this." Schala admitted.

The Sorceress had taken over the Galbadian Empire and military forces so the soldiers must had been under her orders. As for why go after Ellone, it had to be for her power. To send people into the past... What could the sorceress possibly want with such an ability Schala couldn't begin to fathom.

"So she has control over the entire galbadian forces... and is now searching for Ellone..." The headmaster let out, barely aware of him speaking aloud.

"And regardless of whether they found her or not..." Schala cut in. "They had orders to burn the city down."

"Surely to reduce the number of potential places she could hide... to corner her..." He added.

Schala nodded in agreement as she looked at the headmaster intently. She searched his expression for a reaction but it seemed he was as good at hiding his emotions as she was, perhaps even better. He knew Ellone and he knew sorceress Edea, they had been married after all. To know of the terrible things a person you know is doing and willing to do, it must be devastating.

For some reason, a certain pair of sea-green eyes suddenly popped into her mind. Seifer... someone she thought she knew had also gone through that path, doing unimaginable atrocities... following the sorceress, torturing and most likely, murder... Who was she kidding? She knew exactly how that felt.

So much that, not half of what Seifer had done and said to her in that torture chamber had been said in her report. The anger and utter hatred for SeeD he showed her, Schala wouldn't dare mention any of it. She said he seemed to be working for the sorceress but she had yet to disregard the possibility of him being coerced or controlled somehow. Telling the headmaster of his every deed would certainly eliminate such doubts and brand him as a traitor and a target to take out.

She couldn't have that... not without being sure that was indeed the case.

"Most likely, the sorceress will not stop this onslaught until Ellone is found. She will continue to hunt her, and burn everything in her path." Headmaster Cid had continued talking but Schala had only barely registered his words as her own thoughts occupied all her attention span.

"We can't wait any longer." He added and turned to the makeshift control panel the FH technicians had began to assemble.

His movements snapped Schala from her thoughts and made her focus on him. Recalling and finally registering his words, Schala felt reassured he was finally going official.

Speak of SeeD's true purpose, declare their target as the Sorceress and plan for attack. It was about time.

He pressed a couple of buttons and the three chimes echoed around every corner of the Garden.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"This is Headmaster Cid calling out to every SeeD, Cadet and other personnel inside the Garden. I have an announcement to make."

All around Balamb Garden, the SeeDs and Cadets, as well as FH people and Garden staff, stopped what they were doing, turned off any machinery they were using and raised their heads up to the speakers as if they could see the headmaster's face through them.

"I have important news that I must share with you all"

There was a small pause as if he was making sure he had everyone's attention.

"The Garden is being repaired as we speak, thanks to the precious help of our newly found friends from FH, and we will leave the harbour immediately after it's finished."

"We're going on a journey."

He paused again as to find the right words.

"This is a journey to pursue SeeD's true purpose, why you have been trained for so many years..."

"To defeat the Sorceress!"

All around Garden, there were murmurs of surprise and of "about time".

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

In the infirmary, Doctor Margaret Kadowaki closed her eyes. He had finally said it. Cid was finally taking these kids into the lioness' den. As she opened her eyes again, she wondered...

Which and how many of those children would be lying in her beds once it was over... if they were lucky enough...?

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

In the Library, Rian looked up from the book he was reading and set it down. He looked around at the cadets and couple of SeeDs that had just learned the truth behind all their training. He felt slightly bad for knowing about it before most of them did, considering he wasn't even a SeeD. In the faces of those around him, the reactions differed. Some were frightened while most were determined and eager.

That was the shaping of the training they had all endured and that he would never truly understand...

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In the Quad, Sorphan hanged his mouth open as Inara frowned. She had known for a long time: The truth of SeeD and the truth behind their mission in Deling. Headmistress Martine never held that fact a secret from the SeeDs she trained, so that their determination wouldn't falter them when the time came.

And the time had come.

To Sorphan, it was a surprise but not a disappointment. He didn't know SeeDs were trained to kill the Sorceress, neither Headmaster Albert nor Annie had ever said anything on that. But he accepted it. The Sorceress was dangerous, he knew that much. She had attacked both Gardens and the people he held so dear.

No way was she gonna get away with that!

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In the cafeteria, half the people there choking on their own food with the announcement, but surprisingly and oddly enough, Zanya wasn't one of them. She normally would, especially considering the amount of hotdogs she had stuffed in her mouth at the moment, but the news weren't that new to her. She had heard it back in the infirmary after the Norg thing. Garden trained SeeDs and SeeDs fought Sorceresses. She smiled despite the food in her mouth...

She was so gonna beat the crap outta her!

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On the corridor of the Dorms, Quentin and Xu held each others' hands tightly. Both, as part of the headmaster's closest senior staff, knew the truth of SeeD but hearing it out loud as the rest of them. It had finally begun, there was no turning back now...

They held each other and kissed, weary of the dangers to come.

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In the second floor hallway, the convoy of prisoners being led by a SeeD and a couple of cadets in turns towards the lifts froze in place, none of the galbadian soldiers taking even a breath.

Sue was surprised only for the fact that the announcement had been made at that precise moment since she had learned of it for a while now. It still came as a shock hearing it directly from the headmaster's mouth, considering Mark had been the one to tell her and there was always a part of her that believed, and hoped, he'd been yanking her chain.

Now it seemed he really wasn't.

The other's reaction of surprise was truly because they had no idea. Carol and Ori had been trained to fight as mercenaries and neither had even known or thought there was something more than that.

As for the soldiers, they could only gasp once they finally took in air. That was why both the SeeDs had tried to take a hit on the sorceress, and at the same time why the Sorceress had ordered the attack and hunt on SeeDs. They wanted to kill her and she wanted to kill them before they had the chance. It was a war between Sorceress and SeeDs and Galbadia and its soldiers had just been caught in the middle, stuck between a legion of swords and a magical hard place.

Their future had never felt so dire even when they were facing the homicidal MRV back in the plaza...

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In the basement, all work on the cages had ceased upon the announcement. Mark didn't even know the MD Level had incorporated speakers down there, but he supposed the Yellow Bastard kept tabs on Cid's general announcements. He was the controlling freak kinda creature.

The announcement itself seemed to affect more the people around him than he himself.

The FH engineers and craftsmen he had managed to recruit for his little project had the expression of momentary surprise and uneasiness of more battles to come. They appalled violence in every form but had embraced the SeeDs' because it was used to save them from actions brought forth by the sorceress' decisions...

Could they really condone her demise, though...?

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"Balamb Garden will now serve as a mobile base. With it we will follow the sorceress' moves in an effort to cease her reign of terror."

Cid continued after a moment to allow everyone to let the announcement sink in. Some of the personnel were already aware of SeeD's goal, but there were many who hadn't been and he wanted to have everyone attentive to the second part of his announcement... one that would probably not be very welcomed by the person sharing the bridge with him...

"The administration of Garden will remain as it was, composed of myself and the staff. However..."

"This journey will involve many fierce and hard battles. As such, we will need a well qualified leader to lead us into combat..."

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"One with outstanding battle prowess..."

Mark let out a loud, heartfelt laugh that all but scared the FH personnel in the MD Level. He had a suspicion of where Cid was going with this and was absolutely sure... she wasn't going to like it one bit...

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"That has proven itself over and over again..."

Still standing in the middle of the Dorms' corridor, Quentin stared at Xu and Xu stared at Quentin, doubt and apprehension in their expressions. There was no way Cid would do it to her... was there?

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"And never hesitates in the face of battle no matter whom or how many opponents stand in its way..."

The soldiers couldn't stop the shiver that ran through their spine as the Headmaster's words hit their ears. All they'd seen that day were able SeeDs that seemed to fear nothing as they took on just about half of the Galbadian military force. Their memories took them back at the plaza where three women stood as tall as giants against a legion. Anyone of those taking control of their military actions could mean the fall of the Galbadian Army.

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"One that has displayed a cool head in dire situations..."

Everyone in the cafeteria turned to the one table that while before remained silent to the initial revelation of SeeD's true purpose, was now the only source or sound other than the speakers spreading the headmaster's voice. The young blond woman sounded like she was coughing out a hairball. She got it, even if the others didn't, she knew who headmaster Cid was talking about. Who was going to lead them into the new Sorceress' Wars... as she managed to swallow the hotdogs taking a pit stop on her throat, she reasoned... There was no one else she'd rather take orders from on the battle field.

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"And has faced all odds while burdened with tough decisions..."

Doctor Kadowaki closed her eyes again as she too did the math, connected the dots and dotted the "i"s. All she could think about was "What is he thinking?" Certainly the young woman would be up to the job, very likely better than many others, older and more experienced, but to put so much responsibility and weight in such young shoulders... It was just too much...

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"But always fulfilled its duties in the face of adversity and hardships...

"No freakin' way!" Sorphan let out, hanging his jaw at both surprise and excitement as Inara put on a pensive look, not even trying to disguise her smile. There was no one else she could imagine taking charge of the Garden and leading them into victory... though, she would NOT be happy with it. .

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"By following not only orders, but their own protective instincts..."

Rian's book fell on the floor but the sound was ignored by the remaining occupants of the library reading room. All looked around, wondering who among their ranks would take the position of leader. Rian didn't have to wonder, he already knew. Cid had not hidden the trust he had in the girl nor the responsibility he expected her to hold. Forgetting the fallen book, he closed his eyes thinking on how the distance between them just kept getting bigger...

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"Someone who risked it all as to save our home from a devastating threat..."

The SeeD and cadets leading the prisoners stopped at the lift's door, none of them remembering to press the call button. They all remembered the day of the civil war in the Garden when the two new SeeDs returned saying there were missiles heading their way. It was even bigger chaos after that on that day. Many SeeDs and cadets had evacuated and their fate was now unknown.

Sue knew who was most likely to be appointed leader of the SeeD, from the ones that returned that day, only one seemed fit for the job. She didn't know the girl well, personally, but her feats, her courage and her skill could not be denied.

As for the cadets, Ori and Carol had suspicions on the identity of their new leader as well. They also didn't know her very well, despite having been in the same class for many years. She was always closed up and didn't socialize at all. Most of the classmates didn't like her but that was because they didn't even know her. After seeing her trying her all to save Garden and fighting to protect FH and its people, there was no doubt in their minds she was the right person for the job.

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"The one all of us owe our lives to..."

The FH personnel all around the Garden hearing the headmaster's words froze as the memories of the plaza returned. At that time, three people, girls most not even above 20, had stood between them and the Galbadia Army. They certainly owed them their lives and in that moment it was clear to them that one of them would lead the SeeDs into battle.

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On the bridge, Schala listened intently while Cid described the seemingly perfect leader, one who would certainly be able to lead SeeDs into a victorious run in with the Sorceress.

She wondered who the headmaster was going to choose, who among the senior SeeDs had such qualities...

Instructor Brandt? Quentin, maybe Xu...

"I hereby appoint Schala Leonhart as our head military commanding officer."

Oh, that's nice... WHAT? She was barely able to keep the outburst in as the headmaster continued to talk on the speakers.

The reassuring feeling from earlier was most definitely gone.

"She will be responsible for every military action and destination." The Headmaster continued but no word reached her understanding.

Her mind was too busy questioning the man's sanity. She hadn't been a SeeD for more than a week and now he was putting her ahead of the entire SeeD force? He couldn't be right in his mind.

"I have the utmost trust in her abilities to defend our home and our people in this important mission we now undertake."

I mean, how could I? She asked herself. How can I take care of everyone? I can barely take care of myself on my own, there's no way... This has to be a joke!

"As I'm sure, everyone will agree. Please, follow her orders as she would."

But she was the first to disagree. There was no way she could do it...

"If anyone has anything to add, please report to me with your issue. That is all."

Cid turned off the intercom and breathed deeply, keeping his back turned to the recently appointed Military Commander of all SeeD. He was well aware she wasn't expecting this announcement, as he was sure she was the first one with objections relating to his choice.

It was also his firm belief that she was the ideal person for the job.

"Schala, we're under your command from now on..." He said calmly, though knowing nothing he could add would probably calm her down.

And as expected, when he finally turned to face her, she was angry. Cid didn't think he had ever seen her so mad, and so strained trying to contain it. She looked like a volcano ready to blow.

"What are you doing? Why...?" She cried out, stepping back and shaking her head as if wanting to awake from a terrible and confusing nightmare.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She cried out again raising her head to see his reply.

Cid looked calm, though his eyes were betraying some sympathy for the girl's plight and reaction, there was a stronger determination behind them.

"This is your fate." He continued calmly as if she wasn't on the verge of freaking out already.

"It is your destiny to lead the way in defeating the sorceress..."

But that was the final straw...

"STOP saying this like it's been decided since my birth!" She snapped, so loudly that – in afterthought – the headmaster was sure it was heard all the way to the second floor.

She stared at him and before he could add anything more about fate and all that crap, she all but ran out of his office, slamming the double doors and pounding on the call button for the lift. It couldn't come fast enough and once it did, Schala entered it without raising her head. She couldn't even tell if there had been anyone else in the lift or in the way back to her dorm since she kept her head down and just ran all the way, with her thoughts pounding on her ears.

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After Schala stormed out, Cid looked apprehensively out the window. It was true, it was her fate and it wasn't that it had been decided since her birth, but about 5 years later...

When his wife had come to him with the idea of SeeD, he had to wonder where she got that idea from. She had dismissed it at the time, but later on she caved... She said that in the future, a sorceress would come and threaten their children and only one of today's children would be able to face and defeat this threat. After that, she approached the playing children and he couldn't stop noticing the sad stare she had placed when she looked at the little, and then bubbling brunette.

He knew it then what was in store for his children and since then had stopped at nothing to make sure they would all pull through...

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"Luke, you can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is your destiny." - Darth Vader,

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

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AN.: Yay, chapter done after the LONG hiatus. And, another chapter is soon to follow.

I was originally going to post tit all as one chapter, but when I reached this part I still wanted to write so much... It was like with the D District prison thing in which I originally thought it as one chapter and had to split... this one isn't as big, but the two together would be... besides, my Beta found me these awesome names for the chapters that suited them best if I broke them in two, so here they are XD.

That to say that the original second part of this chapter will be posted right after this one.

Just on the side note... You might have noticed the little quote I added at the end of the chapter. You know, I once read a Chrono Trigger fanfic (don't remember the name or the author... sorry) on IcyBrian's site (at the time... dunno if it's here anywhere) and it was really awesome. I do remember the author adding at the end of each chapter a quote that somehow spoke to the events of the chapter. Now, I always thought that to be the best idea ever, but I never got around to implement it on my story (also because it was AGES before I started writing and I didn't remember to do it any sooner...)

Now, and after my Beta and I went into a bit of a Quote frenzy, I find myself sold to the idea, so... from this chapter on, there will always be an extra line to the chapter, a quote relating to it (not counting the ridiculously amount of quotes I use in story :P). I'll also be adding, little by little, quotes to all the previous chapters... that will take time, though, so don't expect all of the chapters to have an ending quote right after you finish this chapter... I might make a mention on the ending AN of the chapter when I'm done with the old ones... just so you can check it out... if you want, of course...

And... I don't think I have much more to add (I believe I've added enough... don't you?... Missed me? ^^)...

Read ya in a bit *

Revir

-Reply to anonymous reviews section-

I had two non logged reviewers which I will now reply to...

First, to jdukes:

Hi and thanks for both your comments (it adds number of reviews to the list ;P)

Sorry to scare you, honey, I know it's been too long and it may have given the impression that I was lost for good, but rest assured I won't stop, it just has been a chaotic year...

On to your first one... I totally agree with you. FFVIII is as best as they come (In my point of view, at least) but one can never resist putting on their own personal twists ;P. I'm really happy you like my "adaptation" so much and sorry again for the lack of updates... Bad Revir!

I'm officially back!

Take care and read ya later

Revir

PS.: I re-read it all the time, and I wrote it ;P

To Jesus...

Thank you Jesus! (sorry, couldn't resist... oh c'mon, you walked right into that one ;P)

Ok... this is quite the unique situation...ahmm... "Jesus"...FFVIII was certainly an awesome game and I agree that one of the best in the series (it was also my first, so I'm not exactly impartial...). And I'm glad you like what you read... and hope you'll keep on reading as you've been so far...

Yeah, about that autograph, I would love to sign it for you but bumping into each other in the street would be kinda kismet. I mean, it's not like we live in the same general area less alone the same country. And even if we did, it's not like we'd recognise each other if we did in fact crossed paths. I mean really... It's not like we know each other or anything... right?

Thanks for the support and, well... keep reading...?

Take care and read ya later

Revir

PS.: Just to let the other readers know, in case you're even reading this bit... like I said before, can't expect everyone to read the AN... Anyway, in case you find this review-reply odd (those that review and receive replies must've realised it was not the traditional repertoire) the fact is... I know Jesus (walked right into that one again, didn't I? ;P.) Meaning the guy calling himself "Jesus"... I know him, I go to University with him, I was sitting next to him when he found out my story and wrote the review posted... I also know that he hadn't read two sentences of my fic at the time he posted this review... hence the slightly awkward reply...

I also doubt he'll EVER return here to read this reply, I mean he is a HUGE Final Fantasy fan and he really liked FFVIII, but he was just yanking my chain when he wrote the review. He said he might take a look, but only when it's finished and who knows when that'll be... Sure as hell isn't me, right? Oh, wait...

Anyway, I only made a point to reply to his review because, well... It's kinda the way I am (and it made for a funny reply, you have to admit ;P).

Read ya later

Revir*********