If only more people could see Trabia at night, then they may begin to understand her. By day the Garden was full of SeeDs and students and lecturers, but by night it showed it's true character. She walked towards the garden quickly, she had been visiting friends in new Trabia town, a small community that had sprung up around five years ago when the garden had shown its strength by finally finishing building work on the new Trabia. The missiles had taken away it's silver and green outer shell and left a grey husk, now though, Trabia was whole and the way she had always remembered it. It had been built on the designs of Balamb where she had gone for her field exam so many years ago, apart from the colour they were near identical. In all way but one.
Delta couldn't understand why her students were failing so badly when they reached Balamb. Trabia had always had a good relationship with its cousin to the south. She shook her head as she reached the gates of the garden, she stepped through with a quick wave to the gatekeeper. Then she made for her office on the top level, actually, it was the top deck, as they had discovered it to be when gardens started making for the sky ten years ago. She opened the door and found Rathi Makeri waiting for her.
'I don't remember calling a meeting with you.' She said to the tall man sitting on her desk. He grinned and slid the links of his metal chain through his hand, she couldn't bear to see that thing normally, it was used like a whip only it was far more vicious in battle.
'I've heard some rumours.' He said with a grin. 'I've heard you are letting two people from Balamb come and judge us.' She shook her head.
'Selphie Tilmet was originally from Trabia, anyway she and Zell Dicht are only coming here to help us make our students as good as theirs.' She stood over him, knowing if she sat down she would be losing the power here. Rathi was the biggest thorn in her side she had ever had. He shook his head at her.
'When are you going to realise that we are as good as them, they won't let our students pass their final exam, they want to keep the best SeeDs for Balamb garden to hire out.' He looked at her pityingly.
'Get out.' Was all she said to him. He stood up.
'I'll be watching them.' Was all he said to her before striding out of the room. Delta shook her head and stared at the door he had just exited through. He might have been attractive if he wasn't such an arse.
*
'But I thought we were going in the Ragnorak. You said that was the plan. You told us so.' Irvine said with a frown.
'Plans change Irvine, you've been around me for… what nearly ten years now, and you don't know that?' Squall smiled at him. Irvine frowned.
Squall looked around for the others, they were rarely late and it was surprising that they had all chosen today not to be on time. He frowned. Then he noticed Zell's familiar figure strolling across the grassy fields from the Garden, he waved at him and then turned to Irvine and said simply. 'Don't start.' Zell's black eye was turning a nice shade of purple.
'Hiya' Zell grinned at Squall.
'Hi Zell.' Irvine said with a smile and Zell gave him a suspicious glance. 'Nice eye.' Zell frowned.
'You know what Irvine? I can't be bothered even trying to set things right with you, not if this attitude you have is going to keep on cropping up.' He began to move away towards the gangway of the Ragnorak.
'That's right chicken-wuss, run away.' Irvine called after him. Zell dropped his bag and turned around to face him.
'Okay, I heard that.'
'Guys, cut it out.' Squall snapped but they both ignored him.
'Well it's not like I didn't mean you to. Seifer was right all along.' Irvine moved closer to Zell, they were nearly eyeball-to-eyeball.
'Irvine, have you ever thought about quitting while you're behind?'
'What you going to do? Hit me?' Irvine goaded.
'God, I don't know what your problem is Irvine, but I bet it's hard to pronounce.' Irvine snapped and threw another punch straight at Zell's head. But in this fight Zell was expecting it, he didn't teach fist fighting for nothing. Ducking under Ivine's fist he delivered two body blows knocking the wind out of him, then as Irvine was reeling from those he followed up with a swift uppercut to his chin that knocked him to the floor. Zell smirked at his friends prone figure. 'Man I've been wanting to do that all day.'
'Yeah? And what did that just achieve?' Squall asked him. 'It didn't help the situation any. He still thinks that you've screwed him over, in fact you've probably convinced him of it.'
'Sorry Squall.' He said without much conviction.
'You shouldn't be apologising to me….' The voice that cut him off was cold and icy.
'You should be apologising to me.' Zell turned and stared at Selphie. Her normally pretty face was streaked with tears and her sleek hair was dishevelled. Quistis stood by her friends side with an apologetic look on her face. 'Do you realise what your exhibition has done to my reputation.'
'Woah Selphie I didn't start that fight, it wasn't my fault.' Zell said.
'I don't care!' She snapped. 'I came here with every intention of beating the crap out of you.' She glanced at Irvine and frowned. He had just begun to get his breath back, and was trying to sit up. 'Both of you. But you know what, neither of you are worth my time.' She threw a salute to Squall, a professional again. 'Sir reporting for duty.' Squall returned her salute.
'Lieutenant.' He acknowledged her. 'Ready for your mission?' He asked.
'Yes sir.'
'Well this mission statement tells you all you need to know.' He handed her a scroll of paper. 'You are to go to Trabia Garden and report to Delta Wistanley, the headmaster of Trabia.' She nodded. 'Dismissed. You too Zell. Oh and guys' They looked at him. 'Could you junction Ifrit and Bahumat? I just want to make sure you have some kind of protection.' Zell threw him a miserable salute and both made their way up the gangplank of the Ragnorak. Squall looked at Quistis. 'You would not believe how glad I am that I am not going with them.' She nodded and smiled.
'I feel sorry for Zell, I really do.'
*
Selphie stalked through the Ragnorak's hold and made her way to the elevator, Zell was following at her heals like a forlorn puppy. She was too angry to care how he was feeling, when Quistis had told her what had happened she had broken down and cried like a baby in the middle of the corridor. She was glad she was leaving, her reputation at Balamb was in tatters and she couldn't think of a single thing she could do to make it better. This mission was a good excuse to run away, she knew herself well enough to admit it. Zell cleared his throat as they got on the elevator. She didn't even let him begin.
'Save it. I'm in no mood to listen to excuses.' She fixed her eyes on him and he nodded slightly with his head hanging down. They reached the command deck and Selphie slid into the pilot's seat. Zell looked at her apprehensively and she indicated that he was allowed to sit next to her. He gave an audiable sigh as he sit down in the co-pilots chair and strapped himself in, it was fortunate that he did, because just after his butt hit the seat Selphie took off. Zell looked at her with suprised eyes, the Ragnorak was her baby and she was actively wrestling with the controls, the vertical take off was overly fast and when it actually began to move Zell estimated that he was being forced back by about three gees. The comm unit buzzed to life.
'Selphie?' It was Squall. 'Calm down, you could have killed those of us still on the ground, at least give us a chance to get clear of the downforce next time.' Selphie winced and it gave Zell some confidence that she might be returning to her old self.
'Sorry Squall.' She said and slowed the Ragnorak down a touch.
'Don't apologise, just don't do it again.' He snapped, you could tell he was ticked off just by the tone of his voice.
'Yes, sir.' Zell grinned at her and she ignored him, the smile slid off his face.
'Look Selphie...' She glanced at him.
'I did tell you not to talk to me didn't I. I don't know how much of what's happened was your fault, we'll discuss it after we reach Trabia. Understand Sergeant?' Zell nodded slowly and then blinked.
'Did you just pull rank on me?' He asked and she nodded, okay that gave a measure to how pissed off she was. The trip was going to be a long and Zell wasn't sure he could stand the trip in silence so he began humming. Selphie gave him a sharp look so he stopped. Zell knew he was hyperactive at the best of times, but no time more than when he nothing to do. He started tapping his foot, an irritating habit he had picked up somewhere.
'Could you stop doing that.' She asked him and he frowned at her, then reached forward to switch on the radio. 'I don't want that on either.' She said primly, he growled out an obscenity and Selphie turned to him in surprise.
'What can I do Selphie? Is it okay if breathe? Can I at least do that?' The frowning stare he gave her faded when he realised she was trying not to smile. He asked her question he wasn't sure was wise. 'Are you still pissed off with me?' She nodded without hesitation.
'But regardless... I think Irvine started the rumours about me and you.' Zell frowned.
'What rumours?' He asked. She looked at him.
'You don't know?' He shook his headed. 'Put it bluntly I'm a slapper and you're a chicken-wuss who won't fight him.' Zell grunted.
'You really think he believes what he says... ya know about you and me.' Selphie shrugged and bit her lip.
'I don't know...' She then brought herself up sharp. 'Anyway is this not talking about the situation? I just want to get our mission started.'
'You just want to get back to Trabia.'
'Wouldn't you?' She had a point so he nodded and sat back in his chair, fantacising about what he would do to Irvine when he next saw him.
*
Delta stood at the co-ordinates that Selphie Tilmet had radioed ahead and given to her. Her assistants, Rupell Mobilia and Badier Festreli, stood with her. Badier sat fingering his gunblade in fascination, no matter how long he had been a SeeD he couldn't believe that he'd been allowed to take up his chosen weapon, he had chosen it after he had seen Squall Leonheart come to visit Trabia after the Ultimecia situation. He had given the go ahead to rebuild the Garden, he was Badier's hero. He was also really excited about meeting Squall's friends. Delta looked over at Rupell, better known as Roo. She was struggling to clamp a hat over her masses of thick red hair, Roo was a warm weather lover so she hated going outside in her ridiculously short SeeD skirt, in this Delta agreed with her, the snow and wind were turning her legs blue.
'There it is!' Badier exclaimed with a huge smile on his face. Delta turned to follow his finger and saw a spot of brilliant red on the horizon, the Ragnorak, she had seen it once and had been overawed by it's size and threatened by it's shape. It slowed as it came towards them and then began it's landing procedures. She heard the engines turn off and they waited for the two SeeDs two come down. The gangway extended and she saw the two people that were here to help her students.
Selphie Tilmet she recognised at once as the pilot of the Ragnorak the first time she had seen it, she wasn't wearing her Seed uniform, she wore a thin green jumper and dark trousers under a short brown leather jacket. Her dark hair had grown from the last time she had seen her, it was no longer flipped out to the sides but was worn just below her shoulder. Zell Dicht had his short blonde hair spiked and wore his SeeD uniform. It wasn't until they started coming towards her that she realised that he had a large black eye. Both carried large black bags, they were obviously planning on staying for a long time.
Delta raised her hand to her forehead in a salute, Roo and Badier following her lead. Selphie dropped her bag and returned it quickly, Zell did so a second later and Delta thought she saw a faint blush creep up his neck.
'At ease.' Selphie Tilmet said and they dropped into position. 'Delta Wistanley I presume?' Delta smiled and nodded.
'Yes ma'am.' Selphie looked at her two companions and looked back at Delta waiting for an introduction. 'These are my assistants Badier Festreli and Rupell Mobilia.' Selphie nodded.
'Well I am Selphie Tilmet and this is Zell Dicht. We really shouldn't be standing around in the cold. Lead on home.'
*
Zell watched Selphie make the introductions and smiled. She was home, she felt comfortable here and you could tell. Her bright eyes sparkled, just flying over Trabia continent had brought a bright smile to her face. He walked just to her side and watched her face become as animated as when he first knew her, it was the happiest he had seen her in months. As they marched across the snowfield her body language became more open and when Trabia Garden came into sight the joy on her face nearly broke out into laughter. Here at least she could be herself.
*
Authors note :~ Sorry about the pieced together feel of this chapter, I was writing it while trying to get some work done on time for Uni. The next one should be a bit better as I'll have a bit more time to spend on it. The story should be getting a bit more action in it as well, I've finally figured out where I want it to go. And Cassius, I hope you note that Zell did kick Irvine's butt.... If only a little, especially for you *grin*