Resurrection - Rebirth of a Foe

by Moomba

A new day has dawned for Balamb Garden crew with trouble lurking around the corner...

11. Resurrection - Rebirth of a Foe [Chapter...

Chapter Twenty-One - Shootin' the Breeze

Mrs. Dincht scrubbed at another plate encrusted with the remnants of eaten food. She peered at a stubborn stain and scrubbed at it more vigorously, hearing a bustling sound from outside once she had successfully removed it. Trouble and fighting was not a common thing in the peaceful town of Balamb, explaining the look of surprise and concern on Mrs. Dincht's face when she saw the store owner of the Weapons store come running out to join the hotel owner and the next door neighbours. She followed the direction of a person's finger, pointing at the hazy early afternoon sky.

Mrs. Dincht gasped in shock at the source of the commotion, her grip loosening on the plate she held so that it slipped and slid back into the sink filled with water and suds. A few of the suds escaped the confines of the sink, flicking onto the front of Mrs. Dincht's clothes. She did not worry about her discarded work, nor did she seem to mind that water had sloshed about, some spilling onto the kitchen floor and some on her. Choosing to ignore the minor mess made, Mrs. Dincht glanced guilty in the direction of the back of the room where Zell's friends: Irvine and Selphie sat. Zell meanwhile went and dashed upstairs to his room, muttering something along the lines of 'I haven't used it in ages'.

Wiping her hands with a tea towel, Mrs. Dincht came to the door, careful not to attract attention from the younger people in her house. Opening the door a fraction, the middle-aged woman peered from the gap and heard snippets of what was being said: 'Where's the smoke coming from?!', 'What do you think caused such a thing?', 'This could be serious. We need to inform somebody.' 'What if it's coming from one of the nearby forests?! It could be spreading. Help! We need help!!'. The last time Balamb ever encountered such a thing was when the town was taken under siege by Raijin and Fujin along with G-soldiers, acting under Seifer's instructions when searching for Ellone.

Selphie came out from the back room and curiously watched Zell's mother lingering by the doorway. She cocked her auburn head to one side and said quite suddenly that the woman jumped slightly. "Mrs. Dincht? Is there something wrong?"

The woman motioned for her to come to the door where she was and pointed at the small crowd of people that had now gathered outside and then she pointed to the sky where great billows of black cloud rose to the heavens, sending wisps in all directions.

"Oh, nooooo!!!" Selphie gasped staring on at the steady flow of smoke erupting from somewhere in the direction of the Fire Cavern. "Irvine, come here. Look at this!!"

The sharpshooter arrived to the front door promptly, adjusting his hat to get a better look at what Selphie was excitedly jumping and pointing out. "Whoo boy. That's bad," Irvine said. "Yep, definitely bad. We gotta find Squall."

No sooner had he said the latter's name when Squall himself appeared wearing a look of determination and worry at the same time. He ran past them in the direction of the town's exit. He obviously had not noticed Selphie and Irvine for he did not even take a glimpse back. Seifer was running close behind the dark head boy and saw other two gaping at what everyone else was gaping at.

"Don't just stand there with your mouths hanging open! Move your asses and run after Squall, he might need you in battle." Seifer barked when they simply stared back at him.

"What about Zell, he's upst-" Selphie began, hastily waving goodbye to Mrs. Dincht with Irvine tugging at her arm.

"Go! I'll go and find that chic-, uh, I mean I'll go and get Zell and Instructor Trepe. Hurry!" Seifer urged, flashing a smile at Mrs. Dincht's direction. Insult the chicken right in front of his mother, you fool! "Where is Quistis, anyway?" he called after them.

"We don't know," Irvine hollered back.

Sighing angrily, Seifer turned and glanced around him. He had come from the direction of the harbour, where Irvine and Selphie had headed off to was the exit to the town, leaving...

Without wasting more time, Seifer hurried towards the train-station, brushing past several people on his way they. He did not stop to apologise, confronted with mutters when he failed to do so. Shove your insults back where they came from. If my guess if correct then Ultimecia's decided to make things more exciting for the world by introducing a little fear to you all. Seifer grimly thought.

"Instructor!!" he yelled over the loud sound of a station announcement that was stating that all departures and arrivals would be delayed due to a slight problem within the area of Balamb Island.

The girl in pink glanced up at the sound of his voice, poised between purchasing a few Items. "What's wrong?" she asked, passing the money over to the storeowner.

"Come on!!" Seifer shouted. "Something's up outside the town. There's smoke and cloud everywhere. Squall and the others have gone. Hurry up!!"

Immediately Quistis abandoned her things and ran to Seifer's side, worry etched on her face. "Do you know what's the cause?" she questioned.

Seifer shook his blond head in seriousness, starting to run. "Nobody knows. Squall noticed it from the harbour. He thinks and I think, it's Ultimecia."

"We shouldn't have underestimated her." Quistis said half to herself and half to Seifer as she struggled to keep up with his fast pace.

"We gotta go and get the chic-, I mean we gotta go and get Dincht, first." Seifer halted in front of the Dincht's residence and rapped on the door. Mrs. Dincht answered and smiled up at him and Quistis.

"Another one of Zell's friends?" she asked him.

Seifer started and gave a weak smile. "Uh, not reall-" he began but was not allowed to continue because Mrs. Dincht nodded her head benignly and asked him another question.

"Your name, dear?"

"Uh, S-, Seifer," he mumbled. He could tell Quistis was laughing at his sheepish state. He wondered why he was being asked what his name was. Zell's mother wasn't going to...

"ZELL!!" Mrs. Dincht called, leaving the door and standing at the base of the stairs. "You're friend Seifer and your instructor need you. Get a move on now, there's trouble going on outside the town."

"WHAT?!!" soon the martial arts expert came stumbling down the stairs, a look of pure horror mixed with revolt on his face. Venturing no further than the foot of the stairs, Zell scowled at the other boy. "Ma, did you just say that he-,"

"Move your ass, Z-, Zell," Seifer pressed through clenched teeth. Nodding to his Mrs. Dincht, Seifer abruptly left, unholstering his gunblade as he did so. The crowd out side had not wavered in number, and Seifer assumed that it would not until they were certain that the danger surpassed and were no longer a threat to them.

"SEIFER!! QUISTIS!! HURRY!!" Selphie's cry rang out like the clanging toll of a bell that reverberated inside Seifer's mind jolting his brain like a surge of electricity at an extremely high voltage. He whipped his head round saw Selphie's yellow/orange dress at the bottom of the cobbled path leading to the garage. She waved frantically at the two of them, motioning for them to follow her, then she took off.

"Where the hell is he?!" Seifer bit, ducking his head back into the house. Mrs. Dincht had gone back to her washing and cooking, but still no sign of Zell. "To hell with the chicken. Let's go,"

"Wait one minute-"

"One minute we can't afford to spare!" Seifer snapped with impatience. "He'll catch up," Taking her by the hand, Seifer led the way up the cobbled path towards the exit.

What started off as hurried walking now became running as the two of them halted to a stop at the garage.

"Jump on!" Selphie called from the back seat of a car.

The engine to the jeep was already running when they arrived and glancing in the mirror situated at the front of the car, Quistis could see and feel the impatience Squall was feeling. The moment Seifer's feet left the ground but were still bringing them into the safety of the vehicle, Squall had jammed on the accelerator and was speeding out of the garage in Balamb and recklessly driving out into the open road towards Balamb Garden.

"Ma, where'd they go?" Zell inquired in the kitchen after descending the stairs two at a time.

"Your friends? They've left, they seemed in an awful hurry. You'd better catch up with them, it seems important. There's smoke rising somewhere around Balamb Garden."

Cursing under his breath, Zell soon departed with a hasty 'bye!' to his mother. Speeding towards the garage, Zell was in time to see the jeep roaring away leaving a trail of smoke and dirt behind. "Guys!!!" he yelled after them knowing that they would not be able to hear him and respond. "Shit!" Stamping his foot he hurried back to his home and upstairs to his room. No way I'm gonna catch up with them now. And I ain't gonna run that's for sure! Zell thought, opening a cupboard and rummaging inside. "Where the frick is it!" he said to the room as he threw things to the floor. "Come on, come on-! Yes! Alright!!" the blond boy exalted, tugging a blue coloured object that strangely resembled a cross between a snowboard and surfboard. "Knew I had it somewhere," Zell said to himself placing an affectionate hand onto his T-board. "Time to test this baby out!" Wrenching his bedroom window open, Zell flung his T-board out into the street below. Then, without a moments thought he jumped out after it.

"WHOO-HOOOO!!" An excited Zell Dincht whooped at the top of his voice, landing with two feet firmly planted on his T-board after the three or so metre free fall from his bedroom window. Zipping pass surprised looking people, Zell grinned after them and saluted. "Later, y'all. I got some butt kicking to do!"

"Slow down, Squall," Quistis said fearfully from the back of the jeep when the vehicle swerved dangerously to the right to avoid jagged rocks littered on the road. "What good are we to Rinoa and Matron if we're dead!?"

"She's got a good point," Seifer agreed, grinning wickedly into the front view mirror. Squall caught the grin and flashed a look of annoyance.

Ignoring their pleads, Squall stepped on the accelerator bringing the metre near to ninety miles per hour.

"Hold on people, this is gonna be a rough ride!" Irvine said with one hand holding onto the seat in front and another holding his cowboy hat in place.

"Maybe you should slow down a little perhaps, Squall?" Selphie suggested as wind from the opposite direction sent her auburn air awry. "Ow! Something's in my eye!"

"On the open road you can expect all sorts of stuff flying. Debris, leaves, minute particles of dust, little flecks of stones..." Seifer commented solemnly in his seated Seifer-style position. He was trying to tick Squall off, he knew it and Squall knew it. Squall wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.

I don't want to-; I'm not going to be made responsible for the deaths of anyone especially Rinoa and Matron. He thought determinedly, his grip on the stirring wheel tightening. Zooming around the next bend and past nearby forests, Balamb Garden came into full view, the jeep almost careered out of control had Squall not jerked the stirring wheel on time.

"Holy sh..." Irvine shouted and pointed at the sight that greeted them.

"God damn..." Seifer was lost for words.

"Oh my..." Quistis whispered, her blue eyes widening in fear and shock.

"Oh nooo," Selphie cried in distress. For her, she knew what it was like to find a place she regarded as home. It happened to Trabia Garden only a year ago. Her plan was to divert the missiles that were intended for Balamb and Trabia Garden. Balamb escaped unscathed, but the same couldn't be said for Selphie's home Garden. Upon a visit to the frozen wastelands of Trabia, Selphie and the rest of the group saw for themselves the extent of the damage. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Furls of black angry smoke could be seen billowing out from the fire escape exit and the entrance to the Garden. The jeep they were all in skidded to a halt a good few hundred metres away so they would not inhale the fumes. Scrambling out, the five of them searched for any signs of life. There didn't appear to be any. No one could be seen running panic stricken away from the slowly burning. Selphie half lost heart and lowered herself onto her knees.

We weren't there when they needed us. We left Ultimecia with all the students, faculty... and Headmaster Cid! What have we done?? We've let them all down. "Headmaster Cid..." she said in a small dejected voice.

"Oh man!" Irvine said in half anger, his face contorted between regret and rage. "This ain't good."

"I'm not about to let her take my home," Seifer stated, resolutely making his way towards the burning structure.

"You can't-, we can't go in there!" Squall yelled after him.

"What?" Seifer turned adjusting to his mock tone. "You're gonna let a little fire get in your way? You're gonna let some sorceress take away your home? Sorry Squall, I thought you had more in you. Guess I was wrong." Turning back, Seifer continued to jog in the direction of the entrance not once glancing back to see if they would follow.

"I've spent most of my life back at Galbadia Garden. I hate to agree with him, but he's right, Squall. If that were my Garden burning to the ground I'd do everything I could to stop it being reduced to a pile of cinders." Shouldering his Exeter, Irvine Kinneas tipped the brim of his hat upward and then followed Seifer's lead.

"I would have to side with Seifer on this one too, Squall. Don't lose heart now. You mustn't. I'm sure we'll be able to find some survivors if we search around the Quad." Quistis said with what looked like a watery smile. "Strong as a lion, remember?"

Lions are known for their great strength and pride. Those were his exact words to Rinoa after he had rescued her from the cliff's edge during the onslaught between Balamb and Galbadia. Some strength I'm showing. Squall thought bitterly to himself. And then he remembered something, which was the reason for causing him to take action.

"... ... Everybody. This is Squall. How's everyone doing? You're all probably too tired to even stand up after all the fighting. But I want everyone to listen to me... We still have a chance to win and I need your help. This is going to be our final battle... SeeD was formed to fight the sorceress; at least that's what I heard. And Garden was created to train SeeDs. So this battle is Garden's destiny and also our destiny. It's a gruelling battle, and I'm sure you guys are all exhausted. But I don't want to have any regrets. I don't want anyone to look back and regret this day. So just this once, I want you guys to give everything you've got! For yourselves and for me!"

Mentally and physically he was exhausted. But he didn't want to have any regrets about this day. Squall wanted to look back in his life and feel a sense of pride just like a lion would. A sense of pride to match the feeling of achieving something great if the foe was overcome and defeated. Any future battles with the sorceress - whether it was an alternative form of Ultimecia or her successor - it was Garden's destiny and the destiny of SeeD to defeat her. For this day, it would be their final battle. Like Instructor Trepe had said: You mustn't lose heart. And he wouldn't.

Mouth set in a purposeful line and a face showing sheer grim determination, Squall clenched the butt of his Lion Heart weapon with his right hand, and with his left briefly held his Griever necklace. In two words Squall summarised the answer to Quistis' question: "Let's go."

"Surfin', surfin', surfin', surfin'. Shooting the breeze... Whoa-!??" The bombshell affected Zell like a blow to the solar plexus that he almost fell from his T-board out of pure shock. He had just rounded the bend, past a forest to be met with this horrific sight. At best, Zell would have thought that the smoke was the result of a poorly aimed Firaga spell at one of the Balamb forests. He never suspected that the black cloud wafting over to the town was coming from Balamb Garden itself!

Momentarily he stood hovering on his T-board, mouth agape and staring at the building flames. They had truly underestimated Ultimecia this time round! Despite inhibiting a body that was not hers, they had not anticipated that Ultimecia would decide to speed up the process of mass destruction by a little coercion. Evidently, patience was not one of her focal points!

"Squall!?" he called out to the burning the Garden, continuing in a fearful voice with the prospect of everyone killed swimming around his mind. "Instructor Trepe!? Selphie!? Irvine?!... Seifer??"

"Oh man, I've lost them..." the blond thought, fearing the worst. Disheartened, Zell jumped off this T-board, tucked it beneath his arm and surveyed the deserted plains around him. "Squall... and the others, gone... Oh man!" he repeated, bunching his brow together to form a frown that resembled a forlorn puppy dog expression. "Guys... I'm sorry..."

So absorbed was Zell in his guilt for not being there for his fellow team members, that he did not pay attention to the great shadow he was cast in from a large magnificent beast swooping down from amongst the thick clouds up in the sky. It was not until a strong gust brought on by the beating of it's wings, ruffling his peak of mohawkish blond hair, did Zell notice the enormous presence of another.

"What the-?!" he said, leaping to his feet when he saw the grey/silver metallic body of the Guardian Force, Bahamut. "Bahamut...??" said Zell dubiously. "If he's being summoned... then that means... They're alive!! Alright! YESSS, I knew they would be! Yo Bahamut, dude! Wait up!"

Inside, damage to the Garden's interior was not so bad as everyone had feared it to be. The steps leading up to the entrance hallway was smothered in the black smoke, but where the Garden branched off to it's various sections, the fumes and smoke were sparsely dissipated meaning that they could see slightly better.

"Irvine and Selphie up front with me!" Squall instructed thickly through the smoke. "Instructor Trepe and Seifer watch our backs! We'll head over to the Quad to check for any students or faculty, first."

"Squall, wouldn't it be more wise if we split up and reduce the time. Ultimecia could be-" Quistis objected from behind.

"I want everyone to stay close. If we split up, we run the risk of being in greater danger and prone to battles. Besides we're not an even group- Zell... where is he!?"

"He's on his way. He'll find us." Seifer said supplying a response.

"Right... keep your weapons close to you... there may be monsters lurking about the place."

Together they entered the Quad, minimal talking between the five of them as they tread with caution along the corridor leading them to their destination. The word 'subterfuge' entered Squall's mind when they drew near to the entrance. It reminded him of the time when he, Selphie and Zell were given their first ever assignment after graduating as a SeeD. It was to assist the resistance group: Forest Owls obtain Timber's independence against Galbadia. Rinoa had been thrilled to see the sight of Squall because it meant that finally her request for help had been answered. The number of letters she had sent over to Balamb Garden was such that she resolved to speak to Cid Kramer about her problem and current situation with Timber, herself and face to face.

Alone with his thoughts, Squall drifted unconsciously to this own world. Adjacent, on either side of him, Selphie and Irvine looked about them, wary and alert. And bringing the rear...

The appearance of one that is attentive and on guard was what the two eldest members of the team wore. Quistis' face was blank, years of perfecting and honing her skills for a day like this was poured out to now. A side-glance to her left told her that Seifer too was focused on their task. Noting that the three in front of her all had their weapons on hand, Quistis reached out to her left hip where her Red Scorpion was held in its clasp. Instinctively, Seifer reached out for his gunblade too, holstered on his right. Drawing weapons at the same time and quite close to each other meant that their hands touched.

Quistis' hand was the first to withdraw at lightning speed. Touching Seifer gave her a small jolt of electric shock, even though both of them were wearing gloves. "Ouch," she hissed softly at the pain.

"What?" Seifer was looking down at her arm-length brown glove. "What did I do?"

"A little shock," Quistis said unconcerned, moving again. She soon felt his hand on her arm the moment she began walking.

"Why must you always hold me back by taking me by the arm?" she hissed at him.

Seifer grinned at her and shrugged. "Maybe because asking you to stop, you won't listen?" he suggested.

True, Quistis agreed quietly in her mind. "I have nothing more to say," she said, ignoring the urge to lash out with her hand.

"You sure?" He was baiting her, he knew. He was asking for trouble, that he knew too. Seifer wanted to see where this would lead if he was careful to not push his luck, unlike on several occasions.

"Yes!" she lashed out. That signalled the end of that conversation.

Shrugging again with his boyish charm, Seifer brought his gunblade to his side and caught up with the rest of them.

"Looks like nobody's home," Selphie said in half disappointment and worry. Arriving at the Quad, they found the place deserted. Did that mean Xu and Nida instructed everyone to evacuate? Or had Ultimecia got to them first?

No! Must think happy thoughts! Selphie told herself. Everyone's ok. They must've evacuated... and, and... headed for one of the forests until it's safe! Yeah, that's what they've done...

"This was where the entire Garden faculty, students and SeeDs, assembled before we travelled to the basement floor to confront Ultimecia." Squall said, glancing round the barren Quad. "There's no sign of anyone... We have to assume the worst and that Ultimecia has eliminated them all..." A cynical statement, typical of that of the Squall everyone knew from last year was bound to receive cries of objection.

"No!!" Selphie said horrified at the thought.

"Don't say that!!" Even though this was not his Garden, Irvine still felt a sense of compassion for Balamb. After all, they had welcomed him with open arms as an outsider and as a student from Galbadia.

"That's terrible!!" Quistis said aghast.

"What?" Squall turned to face them all. "We have to prepare for the worst. It's no good being optimistic when things are on the down side. Life is not all it's cracked up to be... Life is not a bed of roses..."

"Oh, I'd disagree with that," Seifer said as a matter-of-factly. "I'd say life is a bed of roses except the roses have very big, sharp thorns. Wouldn't that be a bit more exact?"

"...Whatever..." Squall said, folding his arms. But it's true. Life isn't what everyone thinks it to be. So many struggles... so many disappointments... losing loved ones, making enemies, making friends... it all sums up to an eternal rollercoaster journey. I... I should know... I've come up against Life's negative drawbacks... disappointment, enemies, losing loved ones... I don't ever want to feel helpless and weak again... "We should brace ourselves," Squall continued.

"So where now? No one here but us," Irvine said, standing in the middle of Selphie and Instructor Trepe, his Exeter holstered and both arms draped around their shoulders. Selphie wriggled out of his touch while Quistis picked the arm around her shoulders and returned it to its owner and then stepped a few paces away from the Galbadian sharpshooter. Seifer watched this happen in mild interest though Squall ignored Irvine's activity.

Hiding his dashed hopes and fears that Ultimecia had truly eliminated all of Balamb Garden's inhabitants, Squall briskly set out along the Quad's Hallway and back out into the main area.

"We've got to put out the fire," Squall said thinking fast. "There's no chance of finding anyone in this growing smoke. We'll have to split into two groups, even I very much dislike to." After a long pause, Squall came to his conclusion. "Selphie and Irvine, with me. Instructor Trepe and Seifer, you're responsible for finding the source of the fire and extinguishing the flames. Maybe you should have Leviathan junctioned to one of you. Also, check this floor for any survivors in the Library, Cafeteria etc.

My group will check the classrooms on the second floor and Headmaster Cid's office on the third."

"But you'll have to take the elevator to the above floors. In an event of a fire, usage of the elevator is prohibited should it cease to work." Instructor Trepe objected. Which it did when Seifer and I were inside... Quistis reminded herself.

In an event of a fire... Squall thought, running over the rules in his mind should an occasion such as this ever occur. But this is an emergency. Should I stick to protocol despite the situation...? I hate this! "We'll have to take the stairs then." Squall eventually conceded much to his disapproval.

Ahh, Leonhart, you stickler for rules. Seifer thought, waiting for the signal to move out. Much to his own surprise, Seifer had been readily taking and listening to orders. Change...? No change, Seifer convinced himself. Just waiting for the opportunity to take revenge.

Report back here in an hour and a quarter. I'll radio you should we find anyone." Squall said to Seifer and Quistis. "I want you to do the same if you locate any students during your search. Move out."

Where the hell did Bahamut go?! Zell wondered, dismounting his T-board and searching the vast emptiness of Garden's entrance hall. Arriving shortly after the rest of his teammates had divided apart. "Wait a sec-, what the-?!" he said out loud. "Bahamut's junctioned to me!! But... I didn't summon the GF...! I'm confused!"

This way human, a voice from within Zell's mind said.

"Who said that? Man... I must be going crazy!" Zell muttered worriedly.

This way! the voice repeated more sharply, a dark shadow passing over Zell's standing form.

"B-Bahamut? Is that you?" he called meekly.

Your comrades have begun a search for those who may have taken refuge against the fire and the sorceress Bahamut informed the martial artists. Dubbed as the king of GF, it was easy to understand why. With its magnificent and regal form and superior tone, Bahamut suited the title of 'king' perfectly well.

"Where, where are they?"

They have separated into two groups. One has taken the vertical ascender-

"Bahamut, it's called a lift."

The beast ignored this and continued relaying the information -and the other group are scouring the blocks of this building the GF concluded.

"I- we should join the guys who are on the 1F, it'd be easier. Do you know which block the second are in?" Zell asked.

They have just exited the North Block and are now heading eastwards towards what you humans call the Training Centre.

"Right, that's where we're going."

The Training Centre felt eerier now that Quistis knew that Garden was deserted. She had that overwhelming feeling inside her that something was lurking somewhere out there watching her. Monsters... Unconsciously she reached for the handle of her Red Scorpion and took a step closer to Seifer who was glancing about him, checking for students hiding amongst the ferns and bushes.

Like they really wanna increase their chances of stumbling into a T-Rexaur. He quietly rebuked himself. Though Quistis did not notice she had moved closer to Seifer, he certainly did. He raised an eyebrow down at her and caught her attention by speaking up.

"Instructor?" Quistis whipped her up and met his cool gaze with her sapphire eyes.

"Yes?"

"Are you cold? You're not giving me much room to about walk in." he indicated the little space between them which instantly increased by half a metre when he pointed this out.

Above, the afternoon sky had darkened considerably. The threat of an ensuing storm inevitable. "Sorry! No, no I'm not cold," she said, belying this by rubbing her upper arm which was exposed.

"Sure," he said flatly and began shrugging his grey trench coat off.

"No! Don't do that. I'm not cold-" Quistis protested earnestly even when Seifer had placed his coat about her shoulders, leaving him with just his navy waistcoat type vest on to cover his upper torso.

"So you say," he said, readjusting his grip on his gunblade. "Where are your glasses?" a question Quistis had never been asked before until now, causing her to delay her response.

"I, I only wear them while I'm teaching and during field exams." she replied. "Why?"

Seifer shook his head dismissively. "Just asking."

"Oh," Quistis was going to leave it at that, except Seifer had a faint smile on his face, which grabbed her attention and required further probing. "No, tell me."

"It's nothing," he insisted, his smile suggesting otherwise.

"Like I'm going to believe you!" Quistis exclaimed and rooting to the spot. "I want to know right now, Seifer Almasy."

"You really wanna know?" he said.

"Yes!" she said impatiently. "I wouldn't be asking otherwise. And wipe that smarmy grin off your face, it's irritating."

He peered over low branches from a willow and shrugged a casual shrug. "You look different without them." he stated.

"And what's that meant to mean?" she demanded.

"Not what you're tone is suggesting, that's for sure." he turned to face her, grinned again and crossed a small bridge over a small running stream.

"Then tell me,"

"You look different without them," he repeated and shook his head at her persistence.

"Meaning?" Quistis pressed. "I want you to elaborate."

"Are you that concerned on what people's opinions are of you?"

"No-"

"Then there's no need for me to go into detail." Seifer quickly interrupted.

"Tell me, please?" Quistis couldn't believe she was pleading with this guy to let her know what he meant by the words he said. Why? Did Seifer's assessment mean that much to her that she had to stoop to this level to find out? What if he's going to insult you? She debated with herself. What if he has nothing good to say about you at all? Why do you even care, Trepe?

Stop winding her up, Almasy. Seifer berated himself. Tell her that you prefer her with glasses on 'cos she looks sexier. And without them, you can look into her eyes and drown in them. Damn am I getting mushy. I think I'm gonna puke at how corny I'm getting. "When I said you looked different without your glasses on, I meant that I can see your eyes better. The glasses hide your face and eyes." Almasy, you are class. Much better, and you didn't sound like a wuss. "And you look more professional. More of a teacher." He added.

"Oh," Quistis said again. Now she wished she hadn't been so resolute. She felt awkward after Seifer's response and she could feel herself heating up. "Here, uh, you can take your coat back." she said not meeting his eyes, and slipping his trench coat off her shoulders.

"Keep it on," Seifer said, placing them back to where he had put them. "It's kinda cold."

"What about you? Aren't you cold?" she asked, glancing at his bare arms to show her meaning. He shrugged, "I'm ok,"

They had now reached the back part of the Garden where the 'secret place' was located and there was no sign of anyone. It was just the two of them. Without thinking, Seifer headed for the entrance to the secret place, hearing Quistis call after him.

"Why are we going in there for?" she asked.

"There might be people up there. A pretty good place for seeking refuge." Seifer answered, waiting for her to catch up. "Didn't think to look here until I saw it."

Climbing up the metal steps, they arrived at the top. Around them the place was deserted. Leaving his side, Quistis went towards the ledge facing the Garden, and leaned out. From where she stood she had a pretty good view of the entire Training Centre. Not that it was much help; she couldn't see any movement, except for that Grat who was stalking about in the open. Still, they could be hiding between the trees and undergrowth. She reasoned. Garden uniform blended quite well with the jungle-like backdrop of the Training Centre. There was still hope. Hope that was quickly fading fast.

"Anything?" Seifer had come to stand by her.

Quistis shook her blond head. "Nothing at all," she said sadly. "Not if you count that Grat near the metal fencing." She raised a gloved hand and pointed at the monster hovering in the air.

"Monsters don't count, I'm afraid." said Seifer with a commiserating smile.

The older girl sighed and closed her eyes briefly. Being a SeeD member sure put pressure on her teenage life. Despite her age, Quistis felt as though she was ready to throw in the towel already. Teaching contributed to her daily life, yet her face was youthful as her age.

"Tired?" Seifer's voice reached her ears and she opened her eyes again.

"Yes... slightly..." Oh come on! She heard her mind chide. You're being very unprofessional, Trepe. All that training comes to nothing if you're negligent. Slacker are losers. Are you a loser? "Ever since Ultimecia appeared back on the scene, no one has been able to get much sleep." she said, wrapping Seifer's coat closer around her.

"Not cold, huh?" he mused.

Choosing to ignore this taunt, Quistis continued to talk, her eyelids drooping faintly. "I worry about Squall. He's more involved in the Ultimecia ordeal than any of us. There's Matron too, but between the six of us, we all share the guilt and burden of letting Edea slip from us so foolishly and easily. With Squall, it's only him who is fighting this inner conflict with Rinoa. He sticks firmly with the idea that it was his fault that Ultimecia has her."

"What is it with blame?" Seifer said in a tone of disgust that Quistis looked at him in mild surprise. "Why must there always has to be someone to blame?"

"If there is a cause, there has to be a reason. And with reason, there has to be someone to blame." Quistis said, straightening now. "Has this got something to do with the hatred some people still feel towards you?"

"You're no mind-reader, but yeah, kind of." Seifer admitted grudgingly. "So I feel resentment. That's why I don't like this thing of pointing fingers and placing blame in people's hand. You know what that does?" he asked her.

Quistis shook her head. She didn't know.

"It plagues that person with guilt. Any human being has a conscience. Some are not affected by it as much as others are. No matter how many times you try to reason with yourself that you were not wholly to blame for whatever, there's that little voice at the back of your mind, telling you that you played a part." Seifer said, wearing a mask etched with anger and frustration. Banging his fist on top of the small ledge he leaned on, Seifer pushed himself away from Quistis' side and went to stand at her far left, his blue eyes glittering dangerously with an intense blue flame.

"I, I'm sorry. I, I shouldn't have asked." Quistis gabbled, lost for words. "I'll go and leave you alone. Seeing as we've found no one here, I'll wait for you downstairs."

"You can stay."

"What?" she turned with a perplexed look. Seifer was clearly miffed, yet he was inviting her to stay?

"You can stay. You don't have to go." he repeated, not turning to look at her.

"That's all very well. But I think it's best if you-"

"Would you stay if I say I wanted you to?" Seifer asked.

"Well, I, I, don't know." Quistis stumbled. "I would be an inconvenience to you if I stayed."

"I'm not Squall," he pointed out. I don't relish being by myself al the time. Years of being alone, no parents... I don't want that. "I don't bite, Instructor." With no time to respond, Seifer proceeded with a question for her. "Don't you ever feel alone, Instructor?"

The blond girl shrugged her slim shoulders, the back light that lit the stairs against her back bathing her in a white/yellow aura. "I suppose everyone feels that way in some point of his or her life." she said. With his coat still on, Quistis' appearance seemed considerably altered with the length of the grey trench coat brushing the ground and the arms dangling by her knees. She tucked a front strand of blond hair behind her ear and shifted her weight to her left leg.

Leaning over the ledge, Seifer peered in the distance at the thick black swirl slowly travelling in the direction of Balamb Island. He said, "We're set for a storm," and signalled Quistis to take a look. "Fine weather for August."

"Let's hope it is only a passing storm and nothing serious." said Quistis hopefully.

The first drop of rain fell like a tear from the sky, landing without sound on Seifer's cheek. Quistis had felt the rain land on her forehead and murmured it was starting to shower.

"Better go check the Car Park and Library." Seifer advised, lifting a black gloved hand up and watching the rain spill onto it. "We skipped them on our way here."

"Wait, Seifer. What's that over there? Is that smoke?!" Quistis pointed to the left with a finger to a group of tall coniferous trees.

"Hey..." Seifer craned his neck forward and peered. "I believe we've found our source."

"You have Leviathan, right?" said Quistis, bearing for the stairs.

"Hold up. I thought you had Leviathan?" Seifer said.

"No I don't. You have."

"No I don't. I thought you did."

"I told you, I don't have Leviathan junctioned to me. I have Siren and Ifrit." Quistis retorted. "Don't tell me..."

"Great," Seifer groaned, covering his face with a hand. "I have Diablos and Cerberus, which doesn't help very much without Leviathan or Shiva. Unless we want to create an inferno by summoning Ifrit."

On the 2F, Squall, Selphie and Irvine had finished their search of the classrooms and now entered the elevator to check the headmaster's office. To one side of the elevator Squall stood in a contemplative stance whilst on the other, Irvine stood leaning with his shoulder. Standing between the two, Selphie hummed and tune to herself and thought of Mrs. Moogle's cake she didn't get to try. Another thought struck her and she whispered to Irvine so as not to distract Squall from his thinking.

"Irvine, did you remember to give Leviathan to Instructor Trepe or Seifer?" she asked in hushed tones.

"No," he whispered back, his eyes concealed by the brim of his hat. "I thought you had Leviathan."

"No! You have. That's why I told you to..." voice trailing, Selphie's green eyes widened, her face giving way to an expression of regret. "Uh-oh..."

"Now what are we going to do?" was the question Quistis asked Seifer when they realised that they were stuck. "We can't just stare at that fire and watch it burn down the Training Centre to ash."

"Don't look at me! There's very little we can do? With your GF and mine, all we'll be able to achieve is a bonfire."

"Seifer, this isn't funny!" Quistis snapped, seeing the grin appear after he cracked his little joke. "This is serious."

"Hey, I can do serious." he said, straightening his face to one of mock solemnity.

Throwing up her hands in surrender, Quistis stalked over to the ledge to inspect the mass of smoke and flames gorging at the trees, the sprinkle of rain becoming a heavy shower as the dark clouds loomed over head. We're wasting time! Her mind told her. That fire will spread. Who knows what will happen when it gets to that stage.

"Quistis, get inside, we're gonna get soaked." Seifer had to shout slightly over the loud pitter-patter of water falling. Rain had already drenched his blond head and was beginning to affect his clothes too. He didn't seem to mind much.

"Here," removing the overly large coat from around her, Quistis held it out in front of her, instructing him to put it on. "The last thing you'll want it pneumonia."

This wasn't funny. His feet were getting wet and his usual mohawkish hairstyle was now dripping wet and hanging at the side of his face like curtains. Zell Dincht was not a happy guy. The trees didn't provide much of a shelter, as regular intervals of gusts of wind would blow the rain intercepted by the leaves down onto him anyway.

Bahamut had pointed him in the right direction and then departed at the first drops of rain. "That's right. Leave me to get soaking wet!" he sulked, stomping over the small wooden bridge and almost slipping in the little stream which was sure to turn into a river if the rain kept up, below.

He did not have Enc-None junctioned but had no reason to junction the non-fighting ability, as he hadn't encountered any monsters since he arrived inside the confines of the Training Centre. "And I'm called a chicken!" Zell grumbled, jumping over a puddle and blinking water back from his eyes. "T-Rexaur can't even face a little rain, and I'm called a chicken!"

His jacket was saturated with water that he could feel it beginning to seep through to his vest. What he would give for some form of shelter. "SNOW?!" Zell started incredulously, feeling one land on his nose. "This is a unreal. I don't believe this. Snow in August. Oh this is just dandy! All we need now is hail!!" What Selphie would normally call a 'gift from the faeries', Zell now called a curse from the faeries. "Seifer!! Instructor Trepe?!! Seifer!! Instructor Trepe?!!"

"Did you hear that?" Instructor Trepe asked, pricking her ears at the muffled noise she just heard.

"Hear what?"

"That sound. Someone's calling us." Before he could stop her, Quistis had ran back out into the open area of the secret place, the rain beating down upon her bare shoulders.

"Dr. Kadowaki isn't going to be pleased to find that you've been careless to expose yourself to downpour." Seifer said observantly from behind her. "Duck under," he indicated his coat he had made into a make shift cover against the rain.

Obediently Quistis joined him beneath his long trench coat, holding the coat up with one hand like he did so they could see. The other she threaded through his left arm, keeping in step with him as they moved towards the sound that was very much like their names being called out.

"Instructor Trepe?! Seifer?! Can you hear me?!" Zell yelled, arriving at the bottom of the place known to be the rendezvous point for many students at Garden, sputtering raindrops as he spoke.

"Zell!" Quistis called from somewhere above his head, recognising the red of his sopping jacket.

"Hey, I found you!" At least that was something he could be pleased about even with the misfortunate turn in weather.

"Come up!" she said, meeting him along the stairs. "You're awfully wet."

"Man!" he said, shaking his hair like a dog and sending water everywhere, including one in Seifer's eyes. "Is it pouring or what?! Good thing Squall's inside. Don't think the weather would've lifted his mood. Geez, what a pain in the ass. Instructor, is that your radio going?"

"I'll take it," Seifer offered, taking the device from Quistis and speaking into it. "Yeah, go ahead."

"We've located some of the students and faculty." Squall's voice informed at the other end. "Xu is amongst the group that have hidden on 3F - Headmaster Cid's office. She says that the rest of the Garden students and staff are scattered about the place. Nida is with one group in the Car Park and Dr. Kadowaki is with a third at the Library. Check that they're ok and instruct them to assemble in the Great Hall. I want everyone together in case should something happen. Report to the 2F classroom when that is complete."

"Received. Over and out." Handing back the radio to Instructor Trepe, Seifer wore his coat back on again, looking ready and alert. "You heard Mr. Leader. Let's go check out the Car Park and Library."

"What about the fire?" Quistis wanted to know.

"That'll go out in no time." Zell said confidently, with a wave of his hand. "With this sorta rain? I'd say Leviathan's got competition with his Tsunami attack. I'll go check out the Library."

"And we all know why you wanna go there." Seifer said with a knowing look.

"Ignore him, Zell." Quistis advised, seeing the martial artist turn red. With anger or embarrassment she didn't know and wouldn't ask. "You go to the Library and carry out Squall's order. We'll take the Car Park."

"Cool. I'll go get my T-board. I left it at the entrance." Zell said, taking the stairs by two.

"Your T-board?" Seifer asked after him. "They're prohibited at Garden. What are you doing with it here?"

"As I recall Zell, you had your T-board confiscated on your first mission as a SeeD." Quistis said.

"Yeah, I know. But I told ya remember? When you get to my calibre you're gonna need more than one of these little babies." He explained patiently to them as they hurried through the relentless rain back to the metallic exterior of the Training Centre's entrance.

"And the fateful incident you had when you were on one of those inside Garden." Quistis added with a sly smile.

"What 'fateful incident'?" Seifer inquired scandalously. "This sounds interesting."

"Instructor Trepe!" Zell objected, picking up his board that was leaning against the wall beneath a notice board. "Don't tell him!"

"Is it that embarrassing, Dincht? Will you die of humiliation in front of me if I found out?" Seifer asked, that strange smile on his face again. Zell didn't like it, and scowled to himself. "If Instructor Trepe doesn't tell me, there are others who would be only too willing to spill on you."

"You threatening me?" said Zell, the pupils to his blue eyes constricting.

"Threatening is a bit harsh. What about intimidating?" Seifer recommended.

"Threatening, intimidating. Same meaning." Zell said, mounting his board. "See ya in the 2F classroom later, Instructor Trepe."

"Bye Zell. And be careful!" Quistis called after his retreating back.

"Bye Zell." Seifer also called, grinning when Zell threw him a dirty look as he disappeared from sight, bidding him a farewell with a dainty wave of a hand.

"Come on, Seifer." Quistis said, following Zell's departure, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes in a resigned way. "Let us be on our way to the Car Park."

"Instructor, I'm already there." Seifer said, following her lead.

In the classroom, the other three waited. His figure bent over the study panel screen, Squall's eyes glided over the messages posted in the Garden Square and Selphie's own little web-site on the Garden's Intranet. Because the SeeDs were so tied up with the Ultimecia ordeal, Squall noted that not many messages had been posted the last time he had bothered checking. Scrolling down the screen to the next page, he did notice a message from Zell who, since last year, decided to stick with using just his initials as a signature. With a degree of amusement, Squall read Zell's message, followed with one posted by Seifer.

[S'up, everybody! Those hot dogs get better and better. Guess the disciplinary committee's back on line since Seifer's returned. Z.D.]

[I know you're disappointed, Zell. But tough break, huh? Still, any more running into the Cafeteria and around Garden, I'm gonna have to discipline you. Almasy]

[Hey, I'm a SeeD now! Can't push me around like a junior student! Z.D.]

[SeeDs are not exempt to the Garden's rules. As long as you are within Garden you are expected to follow and carry out these rules. Almasy]

[Ironic coming from you! You can't even carry out the school rules and you're on the disciplinary committee!! Hey, do did you get to be on that committee any way?! Z.D.]

[Harsh aren't you? Almasy]

[That's enough, the both of you! How many times must I point out that the Garden Square is used to post ideas on how to make Garden a better place. Not for childish bickering! Now enough already! Xu]

[There's no point using your initials, Dincht. I think I've pretty much sussed out who 'Z.D.' is. Almasy]

Irvine looked up from where he was polishing the barrel of his Exeter with the sleeve of his tan coloured duster coat. "Y'know, that girl with the pigtail. The one who's part of the Library Committee... She's kinda cute." he commented absently to Squall and Selphie who were both seated in front of study panels.

Squall lifted his head slowly from where he had them resting on his hands to give a 'I-don't-care-so-why-are-you-telling-me?' look, at Irvine before turning his attention back to the computer screen. "Whatever..." he muttered, continuing with reading. "'Doesn't Zell like the girl with the pigtail?"' Squall briefly allowed himself to wonder. He recalled the time when he, Zell and Instructor Trepe, or Selphie - he couldn't remember who - had stayed over at the Balamb Hotel. Upon their departure, Zell was informed that he was being sought after by a girl with a pigtail. Zell eventually located the girl, who stuttered nervously as they spoke, giving him a Combat King magazine before speeding off. Whatever... Squall repeated to himself. It's none of my business. Where are Seifer and Instructor Trepe? They've taken nearly half and hour. And Zell. Has he showed up yet? Is he ok???

Angry at himself for asking too many questions - questions he did not know the answer to - Squall touched the screen to moved to Selphie's own web-page to investigate the updates she was currently making. That was when he heard the electronic swish of the doors to the classroom opening, and knew that Instructor Trepe and Seifer had returned.

"Zell!!!" Selphie's voice rejoiced at the still bedraggled appearance Zell had from being doused with rain. Squall looked up in surprise at the mention of Zell's name, relieved to see that he had them and was ok, apart from the slightly sour look he had on his boyish face. "You ok? Where've you been?!" The questions came one after the other, leaving the blond martial artist little time to respond. He was still trying to pry Selphie away from him, who was hugging him around the neck.

"Yeah, glad to see you too, Selph." Zell said, finally detaching himself from her.

Smiling widely, Selphie waved a cheery hand at Seifer and Quistis and then wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell of something. "Eeew, you're all wet!" she exclaimed. "It doesn't smell very nice either," she said, taking a couple of steps back away from Zell.

"It's rainin' Chocobos outside!" Zell protested annoyingly. "We- or should I say I, got soaked lookin' for Instructor Trepe." A discreet cough from Seifer encouraged Zell to mention the older boy's name. "And Seifer," he added in a dull voice.

"Yes. It was pretty bad." Quistis agreed.

"And it was snowing!!!" Zell continued to complain. "Man! The frickin' weather's gone all screwy!"

"The weather is not what we should be worrying about." Squall importantly spoke up, straightening his body and coming to stand with the rest of them. Irvine pushed himself away from the wall he was leaning on and positioned himself close to the group, before leaning on the wall again. "I've come up with an idea to stop Ultimecia and her crazy plan."

"Which is…?" Seifer prompted much to Squall's chagrin.

I was about to come to that, Squall thought annoyingly. "In order for us to get a real shot at her, we've got to-"

"But Squall, Ultimecia's in Rinoa's body. We're gonna hurt her if we-" Selphie burst out fretfully at the mention of the first few words of his proposal.

"Selphie, calm down." He instructed gently. "What I was going to say, was, we've got to somehow separate Rinoa and Matron."

"How we gonna go and do that?" Zell asked at a loss, scratching at the back of his head.

"But if we try and do that, how are we going to have any form of hope on focusing our magical or physical attacks on her?" Irvine enquired, the words floating from beneath his cowboy hat.

"Don't you ever take that hat off?" Seifer interrupt in a tone of shear amazement that roughly went with his mock expression of wonder.

"Seifer," Instructor Trepe put in warningly. "This is not the time."

"Of course not. Sorry." His face said so otherwise.

Throwing a murderous glance at the blond boy, Irvine proceeded with questioning Squall's plan. "Ultimecia was nothing but a ball of pulsing energy with which it contained her very being inside, when stormed Lunatic Pandora."

"That's a good point," Zell said thoughtfully. "It would either mean find another host to lure her in to. Or we separate only one of the sorceresses. Question of the moment is, who do we choose? Rinoa or Matron?" A silence that lengthened every waking moment no sound was made happened next. Squall thought he could hear the thudding sound of his heartbeat, which sounded extremely loud to him, because Zell's sudden revelation made him realise the big flaw in his plan. He awakened from his conscious stupor when he felt the penetrating stare of all, on him, and Zell's searching voice. "Squall? What're we gonna do? Who's it going to be?"

Chapter Twenty-Two - No Escape

Trapped. No where to hide - no one to run to and no one to hide behind. Now Squall knew what it was like to feel cornered. No escape route, no nothing. He stared back at the expectant faces that looked at him and then looked away. How could he choose? He could never choose. It was an impossible situation. Rinoa or Matron. He didn't know who to pick. I pick select either of them; I gain one, but lose another. Whichever way it goes, it will be a lose-lose situation. Rinoa… Matron… I can't decide. "I can't decide," he eventually said, keeping his head bent low, eyes aimed at the floor to avoid their frowns much like his own.

"Squall, you've got to decide, you're the commander." Selphie insisted, reminding him of his role and position in Garden.

That's right. I'm the commander; I make all the decisions. I make the wrong choice; it's going to be me who'll take the blame. If I lose Rinoa or Matron, I'll… I'll… I don't know what I'll do.

"Squall come on," Selphie urged.
"I can't decide. I just can't." Squall bit out harshly. "How can I choose between these two people? They both mean too much me. To sacrifice a life, yet have the other is no consolation to the fact the Matron acted as the mother to me- to us, and Rinoa… I can't…"

"Let's not go rushing into things just yet." Said Zell, beginning to pace the room with his hands jammed inside the back pockets of his shorts. "Let's lay out a few things on the table first. Why has Ultimecia decided to use a combo of Edea and Rinoa as her body?"

"Because, in terms of physical strength, Rinoa is lacking in that department." Quistis answered slowly. "No offence to Rinoa, but Edea does have a stronger body whereas Rinoa is more fragile. On the other hand, because the powers of the sorceress has been past on from Edea to Rinoa, it is in the magic sector that Rinoa is an asset in."

"Right." Zell said, turning over an idea inside his mind. "Right…" he repeated.

"Right…?" Irvine encouraged.

"Hold on will ya, I'm still thinking!" Zell snapped.

"Next question is, which of those two would Ultimecia rather lose." Seifer spoke up to join in, in the discussion.

"I reckon her magic," Irvine put in.

"Ah, but Ultimecia relies on her magic to battle. Magic is her forte - every sorceress' in fact. Wouldn't she prefer to have that?" Quistis challenged, a palm outstretched suggestively.

"Yeah, but what use is that? If we get Rinoa out, then what has Ultimecia got left to fight with, her hands? I don't think so. She ain't no martial artist like me," Zell pointed out. "I think," he added, rather worriedly.

"Then we're stuck," Selphie said, her arms flopping by her side. "What're we going to do?"

"You've got to take something into consideration, though." Seifer said. He had his gunblade out, and was tapping its point on the classroom floor in a rhythmic motion. "Even though she hasn't got her own body, she's still very powerful, and I'm not talking about her ability to cast strong spells. The moment she realises what you intend to do, she's going to fight back. You try to separate them, you may end up causing more damage than you will with your physical attacks."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Zell asked.

To this question, Seifer shrugged. "The idea of separation is a good one. If you were Ultimecia, what would you rather keep? The fighting power, or the stamina?"

"In my own opinion, I think we have a better chance of extracting Edea from the other two. The reason why I think this, is, one, Edea is more physically stronger like Quistis pointed out. And two, she's got us. Every single one of us she raised when we were still young. We're like her children to her. That's one big factor I think Edea has over Rinoa."

"But we care for Rinoa as much as we do for Matron!" Zell argued heatedly.

"Do you?" Seifer said, matching the shorter boy's look, stare for stare. "Pushed into a situation like this one now, who would choose - Rinoa, who you know for about a year? Or Matron, whom you've known for your entire lifetime?"

Silence.

"I don't think we should make a decision just yet." Quistis advised wisely. "We do that, when the time comes, we may be filled with remorse and regret on our decision. I say we leave it till we really have to make a choice."

Prolong the agony… Squall thought, remaining where he was in front of his study panel. Either way I have to make the choice… A choice I know I won't be able to make. How can I? I can't. I CAN'T!!! The dark haired boy could feel himself losing control and he wished Rinoa were with him now to place her cool soothing hand against his forehead, with her smile that made the ghost of smiles appear on his face.

"Let's finish this," Seifer said unfalteringly. A glint appeared in his cold blue eyes - a sign that the fire was building up inside him. "All this leaving and getting it done later - I hate it. I want this over with. Delaying are for chickens."

"Hey-!" Zell started angrily.

"No," Quistis warned. "For once, stop this childish fooling around."

"On to the basement floor?" Irvine didn't needed to ask, but he asked anyway. The nod from Squall was answer enough for all of them.

"Wait," Selphie said, holding out her hands to stop anyone from leaving. "When you guys checked out the Car Park and Library, did you see Headmaster Cid among the students and faculty?"

"No, Selphie. Why?" Quistis asked warily, bracing herself for the auburn headed girl's response.

Selphie's face crumpled into one of worry and agitation. Nobody liked the expression on her face. "We… When we went to the 3F… To Headmaster Cid's office… To check on the students taking refuge there… Headmaster Cid wasn't among the group there. I was hoping he'd be in the Library or the Car Park, even. But if you say you didn't see him, then where is he?"

The question that Selphie had asked kept replaying at the back of his mind like some broken record player. So much, Squall began to feel angry when he felt that familiar sinking feeling nestle at the put of his stomach. He felt sick. Fretting over Rinoa and Matron was one thing. Questioning the whereabouts of the headmaster was another. He's probably hidden somewhere really safe, Squall reasoned quietly to himself. Or not…

The tension inside the elevator travelling to the basement floor, where Squall and two others had fought Master Norg, was beginning to get unbearable. Nobody wanted to say anything for fear of making the situation worse. Nothing could make the situation. That was what they had thought last time, and things had taken a turn for the worst. Best to think of nothing at all, not to think - not to think of anything good, not to think of anything bad. A clear mind meant sharper concentration, and focused mentality. Squall did that now, immediately feeling the tension leave his body.

When the lift slowed to a stop, and as the metal doors opened, Squall reached for his gunblade, getting the best grip possible on its handle. The rest did the same; intently anticipating what the scene before them should be like.

Nothing could prepare them for what they saw before them. Their worst thoughts had come true, despite banishing the idea that something as bad as this should happen.

"Headmaster Cid!" they cried in unison. The medium height of the headmaster in his white shirtsleeves, tie and cut-off jumper was clearly visible the moment they all stepped out of the lift. He was standing in front of the Edea's figure and Rinoa's face, quiet lost of words and simply not knowing what to do. He felt helpless.

"Ah, I see you have returned." Ultimecia remarked in her monotonous tone of voice, her eerie smile appearing on Rinoa's face at the sight of them. "I was beginning to get bored. Then dear Headmaster Cid came along to keep me company. Have you come to fight? I hope so. This day shall go down in history! Signifying the end of SeeD and the resurrection of death! Say goodbye to your childhood, your memories, your dreams!!! Pestilence, war, famine and death shall rule by my side. Reigning over this vanquished earth."

"Is she serious?" Irvine asked in disbelief at her very cliché speech.

Ultimecia turned to look down upon Squall. "Did you like what I did to your Garden?"

"That was not necessary!" Squall barked, breaking from the group and stepping forward.

"Was it not?" The sorceress from the future asked innocently. "I decided that some terror would do everyone some good. That is what you are all trained for, is it not, to face terror? Good practice, and you say it was not necessary?"

"You didn't need to get the rest of Garden involved. The conflict is between SeeD and you. No one else." Squall said. He wondered for a moment where he was getting all this courage from, for he knew that Ultimecia had the capability of obliterating him on the spot.

"This concerns the entire Garden!!!" Ultimecia screeched, suddenly feeling herself getting worked up. "This concerns all of you!!!"

"Whoa, you reckon she gets hypertension?" Zell whispered to Selphie as they looked on.

"Zell," Selphie muttered annoyingly. "Now isn't the time to be asking stupid questions!"

"Yeah, sorry,"

"Headmaster, get back! She's dangerous!" Squall shouted over to the man who stood defiantly before the sorceress from the future. "She could kill you!"

"I am well aware of that, Squall," Cid said calmly. He did not seemed fazed by Ultimecia's aptitude to destroy him. "I would gladly die endeavouring to save Edea."

"Foolish mortals of that you are!" Ultimecia hissed savagely. "This courage you show is all very endearing to behold. It is a pity I shall have to subject you to unimaginable pain. I shall make you pay for what you did to me. The countless number of time you have tried to thwart my plans. I tell you, I shall not tolerate it!" she shrieked now. "I shall make each and every one of you bleed!"

"Shut up, already!" Seifer's voice shouted over the quiet that ensued. "You're persistence- why do you bother?"

"My knight…" Rinoa's voice spoke softly. "My lost knight… Come back to me…"

"Hell no! This ends now you hear. No more torturing, no more of this control and manipulation."

"I fear I've lost you now…"

"I don't belong to you, Ultimecia. I was never yours. You took advantage of me. I won't let you do that to me again." Seifer said, shaking his blond head.

A wave of fury swept across the face of Squall's loved one, to the point that Squall wasn't sure if it was Rinoa he was watching so anxiously. Arms by her side, Ultimecia clenched her fists into balls, her face contorting to one that radiated revulsion and extreme dislike. Squall to an uncertain step back, tugging Headmaster Cid by his shirt, with him.

"Enough of this fooling around!" she shouted her eyes glowing purple.

"This can't be good," Zell said, stepping back fearfully.

"Where are you running off to?!" Seifer demanded, brushing past Irvine, Selphie and Zell. "She's a push over."

"Seifer, wait!" Quistis ordered, grabbing him by the collar of his trench coat, yanking him back, as if he were a young pup gallivanting into trouble - which he was. "Think of who we're dealing with."

"Ultimecia," he replied shortly, shrugging her grip from his coat.

"Don't be so foolish, Seifer!" Quistis said, now making a grab for his arm.

"Foolish is standing here doing nothing, my dear Instructor Trepe. Doing nothing, would be foolish. How do you think we're going to stop her? Through negotiations?! Hah! That's like trying to negotiate with Galbadia and their stupid tirade in declaring war on garden. Negotiations didn't work with the Galbadian President, and it sure ain't gonna work we her. Hell, no."

"Just wait, first." Quistis pressed. Come on, Squall. Get through to her if you can. It doesn't matter if you don't. Tell us when and we'll initiate combat.

"Squall stop her-!"

"My children! Destroy the sorceress whilst you have the chan-"

"Edea!" Cid cried on the emergence of his wife's voice and face.

"Cid, I-, the sorceress- too strong-"

"SILENCE!!!" The witch ordered, her voice resounding in the spacious confines of the basement floor.

"Help me, Squall!!!" Rinoa's voice of help called to him, echoing in his mind - awakening his senses to the extent, that he nearly raised his gunblade to attack Ultimecia.

Ultimecia laughed harshly when she saw Squall snap from his hypnotised state. "Problem, SeeD? It appears you cannot hurt me without harming your loved one."

Jaws clenched, Squall gritted his teeth together hard - trying not to let the reality of her words affect him. I have no choice... He thought. Rinoa, I'm sorry… Determination set in his eyes, Squall said his orders. "Seifer and Instructor Trepe with me. Zell, Irvine and Selphie, take Headmaster Cid to the 1F. Get Nida and Xu, we've got to move Balamb Garden away from Balamb Island."

"Squall?!" They instantly objected.

"Don't Squall me. Just do it!!!" Squall thundered taking the other three aback.

"W-where should Nida divert Balamb Garden to?" Zell asked apprehensive of the haggard expression Squall's face formed.

"Far away. Tell him to set a course for the Centra plains."

"Come on, Headmaster Cid, sir." Selphie said, taking the man by the arm and leading him to the elevator.

"Edea!" he shouted at the sorceress who returned his pleading face with her own barren, soulless eyes.

"No one leaves!" Ultimecia snarled, hurling an Ultima spell at the elevator entrance, blowing its door apart, and the only exit. "Why should three SeeDs suffer when you three are equably to blame for my wretched demise?"

"There goes that plan," Irvine was heard to mutter. "Any other great ideas?"

"But of course all of you will get a chance to battle me. No one shall miss out." Edea's voice mocked. Cid's face strained with the agony of Edea's state. Things were not looking up. In fact, things had never looked up since Odine had merged the three sorceresses together!

"The sooner I am rid of you parasites, the better! Come, show me what you are capable of!"

Words echoing in his mind, Squall, Seifer and Quistis were thrust into battle, his skill and strategy momentarily lost at the sight of Ultimecia's form before him.

Stop staring, fight! Don't let her gain the upper hand! Gathering his SeeD senses together, a sign to Quistis signified that on her turn she was to cast Triple followed by Shell and Protect. If we had Rinoa, she could cast her Invincible Moon attack. But she's not here. She's inside that body. Got to use what we have. Squall didn't know if Seifer had Item as one of his fighting abilities, but he didn't. He only hoped that Quistis did, because he was sure he had a Holy War and Hero's Medicine stored there somewhere.

Until her next turn and until she had cast Triple, Shell and Protect, there was nothing much Squall could do. Imitating Seifer's move, Squall wisely cast Aura on himself and watched Quistis gain Triple status. These ventures did very little to protect them or inflict damage until there next turn, for Ultimecia raised a pale, yet clawed hand, moving it in a taunting motion to select who her first victim shall be. A sharp side-wards movement and a talon like finger had chosen Squall to bear the brunt of her malicious attack. For a fraction of a second, the face melted into one that showed a face of sorrow and grief.

Squall... forgive me... Rinoa said tearfully as the large, white, ionised energy flew from the palm of her hand, travelling with quick speed at Squall's standing figure. Inwardly she shut her eyes to make the pain more bearable, yet his cries of affliction still reached her ears, and she cried.

Whatever attack Ultimecia had just targeted at him, one thing was sure: it hurt. Doubled over on the cold glazed floor of the basement, Squall grasped at his left shoulder, feeling blood swell out profusely from the resulting wound from that ball of energy. Seifer and Quistis looked down at him worriedly, remembering that they still had a sorceress to contend with when he shot them a bloody faced look. Damn... he thought, pressing harder at the wound, trying to reduce the blood flowing in between his gloved fingers which were now soaked.

Still five thousand hit points. Damn... If ever he felt pain such as this, then he didn't recall. Perhaps when he had fought Griever. The ultimate GF created a bit of a problem with its swift, powerful attacks. But man was he feeling pain now. Some of the confidence he had lost during his fall was regained when Quistis successfully cast Shell and Protect, and now he watched Seifer perform his Limit attack. That was when he began to worry. Seeing him deliver such sharp and cutting motions at close proximity, and seeing the recoil Ultimecia did after each onslaught of his Demon Slice, made Squall wince. He had to remember that Rinoa and Matron was in there too.

From their spectator's point of view, Zell, Selphie and Irvine did not think the battle was going well. They recoiled in unison when they saw Squall receive that devastating blow, and it took both Irvine and Selphie to hold Zell down when he declared that he was going to whuup her ass big time.

Headmaster Cid did not like the current situation. Here they were in a 20/20 scenario. They either attacked the sorceress and save the world from total devastation and lose the lives of two people dear to their hearts, or they let the sorceress do as she pleased and let her continue with the Time Compression process. None of these two options could be afforded to happen, yet one problem still remained.

Impressed though he was with the skills that Seifer and Squall demonstrated Cid was honestly more concerned for the welfare of his wife than anything else. Even though Balamb Garden was his dream, and SeeDs chief aim was to destroy the sorceress when the time came, Cid Kramer could not bring the courage to let that happen. Even after the countless number of times he and Edea and discussed the implications that involved she receiving the sorceress' powers, Edea had been unrelenting. Would he interfere with his wife's wish? The question rotated around his mind as he stood watching the battle continue.

"Man... this isn't good." Zell said, shaking his head fretfully. "Squall just got blasted big time."

"Don't worry, Instructor Trepe has him covered!" Selphie said, pointing with a flutter inside her as Quistis cast Recover on Squall's self. That did not stop the bleeding fully. In fact, the Recover spell only managed to heal him to the extent that blood was no longer gushing from his would. The large gash was successfully sealed, yet his leather jacket was soaked with his vital fluid. Reality was harsh, and here was a prime example.

Able to stand fully straight now, both his arms free to attack, Squall gripped his gunblade with his right hand, and clenched the other to a fist. Then, without thinking, the young man sent a barrage of attacks from his Limit Renzokuken, finishing off with the mighty Lion Heart. The onslaught left him breathing heavily, but still did not remove the tinge of hatred that began to swell in his chest.

"Alright, Squall!!!" Zell cheered for his best buddy, punching the air with lifted spirits.

"Don't get too hopeful," Selphie warned apprehensively.

"I thought you were the one who was always saying to think positive. What? So now you're Miss Pessimistic?"

"I'm just saying, that's all." she said, training her eyes on the battle before her.

"Yeah, right. Squall will be thankful for your support." he snorted, folding his arms and turning his back to her.

"Stop being a dumbass, Zell. That's not what Selphie meant." Irvine said, closely watching the battle also.

"How would you know? Got a sixth sense?"

"Yes. My sixth sense is so sharp sometimes, it scares me." This was said in a straight face and left the martial artist clueless as to whether Irvine was playing for a fool.

"Yeah right..." he said grunted. "Reeaaal sharp like your shooting, huh?"

"I was kidding. Come on, this is Ultimecia we're talking about. You fought her didn't you? Did you see the attacks she used? Hell's Judgement? That was her deadliest attack. One hit point, one hit point."

"Ok, ok. I get the picture. Man... I can't watch."

"Oooh, that must've hurt!" Selphie said, recoiling for Instructor Trepe who was hit directly with a large meteor.

"We need to help them!" Zell flared angrily. "I can't just watch them getting trashed!"

"You heard what Squall said. Their turn isn't over." Irvine said, restraining him with a hand to his shoulder.

"They're harming her!" Cid exclaimed, another devastating blow was delivered to the tri-sorceresses.

"Sir, there's no other way. Rinoa's in there too, but there is simply no other way." Irvine said, angry that everything boiled down to this.

It was extreme selfishness of Ultimecia to bring this burden upon them all. A selfless act that would result in the death of many - yet the life of two that were very dear to certain people's hearts - if Ultimecia was not destroyed.

Towering above them, the immense energy increasing her size - Ultimecia did her evil grin with the look of victory on her face. Seifer knelt on the floor after taking a considerable beating from another wave of Meteor - his HP reduced to a perilous 500 HP - the dawn-like coloured aura engulfed around him indicating his Limit status. "Do you surrender!?"

"Surrendering is for cowards!" Seifer shouted at her, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth and holding his gunblade aloft.

"Why suffer a humiliating death, when you can easily give in?" she questioned, toying with a highly charged energy ball in both hands. "So much simpler."

"We don't give up if we know there is a chance," said Quistis' voice. Her slender standing tall, the young woman concentrated, closing her eyes and feeling the strength flow through her. In a wave of hands, the SeeD instructor had cast Mighty Guard.

"You insolent-!" Ultimecia fumed, casting the large energy ball she had so far held in her hands.

The resulting effect after its connection with Quistis' body was a resounding bright light exploding into a fitful array of bursting force, sending white-hot showers onto the floor. The aftermath of the explosion brought no sign of the blond haired instructor. Everyone stared at the burnt-out spot where Quistis had been standing with mouths agape. What remained was a neat, charred circle, the result of the energy ball's impact, and two smouldering boot imprints - nothing more.

"W-?!" they all started, horrified at what they saw, happen.

"Instructor Trepe!" Selphie squeaked, not daring to believe her eyes.

"Whoa, stay back, Selph." Zell said, standing in front of her. "D-damn... the hell did she go?"

Instructor Trepe? Quistis? Squall questioned in disbelief. W-where did you go...?

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!" came the laugh, expanding to the entire size of the basement floor. "Now you realise that I am no longer playing games!"

"NOOOOO!!!" the revelation that Quistis had been blown to pieces was received like a sharp, sudden blow to the chest - the voices of the fighters mingling into one, shrill voice.

"No..." Selphie said, sniffing back the tears and sinking to the floor. "It can't be..."

"Instructor Trepe...?" Irvine questioned, frowning back emotions he did not want expose, one hand reaching to remove the hat from his head and bending in sign of reverence.

While Selphie and Irvine were quicker to digest that Quistis had been blown to oblivion before their very eyes, Zell remained resilient to lose hope so easily. "She can't be... she's alive... she can't be- can't be dead?"

"She's dead Zell, didn't you see?!" Irvine snapped, wondering why he was speaking harshly unnecessarily.

"Hey, don't you start, ok!" the boy with the tattoo said jabbing an index finger in Irvine's direction. "Not that easily..."

"Are you blind?!" that was it, Irvine finally exploded, firing a bullet from his Exeter so that it made a slight indent on the ceiling, bits of plaster dangling loose. "Where were you looking when the ball of energy hit her!?"

"You don't understand..." Zell said, not explaining and shaking his head.

"Then explain,"

"Irvine, look out!" Selphie cried, pushing roughly to one side as a spell nearly collided with him.

"I tire of this!" Ultimecia seethed venomously. "All of you shall die eventually." Seeing them scatter in all direction, a smile curled her lips. "You can run, but you cannot hide from me!"

"This is not good!" Irvine breathed heavily, leaning against the metal wall clutching his ribs from the build up of lactic acid and tilting his hat with the barrel of his Exeter.

"You don't say!" Zell sarcastically bit with too much sarcasm than he thought necessary.

Irvine conceded his stupid question and let the scathing remark pass. "Damn, I think I've got a bruise on my arm, my shooting arm! Thanks Selphie."

"Quit complainin''- WHOA!" Zell began to say, jumping a metre back to avoid the same fate as the wall, which now had a big hole through it. "Well she sure ain't wasting no time!"

"She's on a rampage," Irvine said, removing the safety catch of his weapon and readying it.

"Hey man, what'cha gonna do with that?" Zell intervened, bringing the barrel down to the floor.

"What do you think I'm gonna do with it? Use it to eat with?!" the cowboy snapped, returning the sarcasm and moving Zell away from him.

"You crazy?! You can't shoot that thing at Ultimecia!" the martial artist argued, making a lunge for Irvine's Exeter.

"At least get it right. You fire a gun and shoot an arrow. There's a difference. Got it?"

"Yeah, yeah. Stop showing off, jerk head."

"Dumbass," the other shot back.

"Don't make me use this on you," Zell warned, bringing his right Ehrgiez fist a centimetre from Irvine's face.

"You wouldn't have the guts,"

"Wanna bet?" he challenged.

"Maybe next time. Do me a favour." Irvine asked, staring right into Zell's Adamantine enforced gloves.

"What?"

"Duck!!!"

Both hands covering her head, Selphie rocked on her heels and let out a moan as more explosions were let loose, sending fragments of metal everywhere. Beside her, Headmaster Cid sat on the floor, back leaning against a conveniently placed metal structure that obscured them from vision. Removing a white handkerchief with the initials H.C on it, Cid Kramer mopped lightly at his brow, expelling a sigh of weariness and defeat.

"Headmaster Cid, sir, are you ok?" the auburn headed girl asked, brining down her hands when she heard the noise stop for a brief moment.

"I shall be ok when everything is restored to normal." he stated, pocketing his handkerchief back into the pocket of his grey trousers. "Foolish of me, really. Garden was my dream - it was mine and Edea's idea to establish a school for mercenaries - with the intent that someday these skilled fighters would one day bring the sorceress down."

His listener remained silent, not commenting or interfering and he appreciated that. "I should have hardened myself for this day. Or should I say, the second time round, eh?" Another sigh and then he continued, taking out his watch and fingering the cracked line that snaked across the face of the clock. "No matter how hard you try you can never prepare yourself for the real thing. You anticipate, yet it never seems to turn out the way you expect it to."

"I think I can agree with you on that one sir!" Selphie said, perking up a little despite their current situation. "Transferring from Trabia to Balamb Garden to complete my SeeD training had its surprises. The least thing I expected from the field exam at Dollet was to be chased my a humungous mechanical spider!"

"Ah yes," Headmaster Cid nodded in remembrance, "who could forget that unexpected incident?"

"Seems like years have gone by when all it's been is a year!"

"The busy, demanding life of a SeeD has made you busy, my dear. The missions and such, no doubt have changed your life drastically?"

Selphie frowned slightly at this and shrugged her bare shoulders. "I dunno about that, sir. Becoming a SeeD hasn't changed me at all, I don't think. It has made me more focused and it's also made me think seriously, 'cos these battled we have are for real! But I haven't changed in any way. I have my friends, I'm happy. I'm ok!"

"Then I'm happy for you." Cid said, patting her on the arm. "One cannot be serious all the time and if we are, we turn into mindless drones. Life has its pros, taking advantage of them does us no harm once in a while."

The young girl nodded again and picked up her Morning Star weapon, which she had laid in front of her. "Sir, do you think Quis-"

"Ms. Trepe was an excellent instructor, a truly gifted SeeD at that, I..."

"You speak as if she's gone forever! She can't have! She, I'm sure she's..." the words couldn't form, and even if they did Selphie was unable to say them. Kneeling now, Selphie hung her head, feeling remorse and sadness. The feeling of doing something to prevent Quistis' loss unrelenting.

"Do not feel you are to blame. Quistis' life was taken with the implications that danger could lead to death."

"But something could have been done!" Selphie argued, balling her fists and hitting the cold floor with them. "If her body was there we could've attempted a Phoenix Down, or, or a Full Life spell or something!"

"What is done, is done." Cid said, nudging the bridge of his glasses back up his nose. "We can only hope to consolidate Quistis' loss by preventing Ultimecia from doing further harm and stopping her before it is too late."

"But what can we do?" Selphie asked, "There's no way out."

"We may not be able to escape, but there is no denying that we must come up with a plan that will minimally hurt Edea and Rinoa."

"Such as?" She had no idea, she hoped Squall had.

A cut above his left eyebrow, a bleeding lip. Seifer couldn't ask for anything more. Right now, he was doing his best to dodge Ultimecia's volley of attacks that were clearly wearing him done, for her last Holy attack had skimmed his left arm. Executing a rough right shoulder roll, Seifer ran the length of the basement floor diving over a protruding metal object and coming face to with Selphie and Headmaster Cid.

"Come to say 'hi', Seifer?" Selphie asked, as Seifer went to peer over the edge of the object that provided as protection.

The blond boy, face neutral and focused on the task at hand whipped his head with a blank expression and said, "Hi," before turning to what he was doing. "Oh, oh." he muttered, hauling Selphie to his feet. "We've gotta move. Headmaster Cid, stay put. She's gonna direct a Tornado spell at us, we've got to keep on moving so she can't be successful."

"Seifer," Selphie said, tugging at his coat and pointing to something that looked very much like a ferocious twirling tornado.

"What?" he asked exasperated, following the finger that pointed and widening his eyes at the same. "Oh, shit! Dive!"

Landing on his feet, Squall pressed himself against the wall and took a deep breath. Think for Hyne's sake! Think of something! What am I supposed to do?! Squall's mind angrily answered back at the questions he was putting to himself. This is useless. This is going nowhere!

Squall?

That voice! It wasn't a physical voice that he could hear with his ears. It was coming from within his mind. I'm going crazy...

Squall? Can you hear me?

"Elle- Ellone?" Squall spoke quietly, controlling his breathing to calm himself down.

How are you faring?

"I've been in better situations." he communicated back. "I can't stop her, Ellone. I'd harm them both."

Then what is to be done, then? What is to become of you and the rest of mankind? Is the life of two people more important compared to the millions that is at risk - oblivious as the rest of the world is to the threat?

Don't make me do this, Squall's mind silently pleaded. Don't make me choose.

Wake up to reality, Squall. I love you, and you know I'd help you if I could. The harsh truth is, a choice has to be made. Either you decide or it shall be made for you.

And I don't want any regrets, he thought, resting his head back against the wall and expelling breath.

The right choice is there, Squall. Look for it. Search you soul and you shall find it.

Then the connection was severed and Squall was left on his own to dwell upon those words and do some soul searching.

Cautiously she removed her hands from her head. Opened one eye like a wink, and then the other. Falling rubble? None. Selphie heaved a sigh of relief, dusting the front of her dress and her legs.

"Everything's in working order," she said, flexing both arms. "Headmaster Cid?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Ouch, I think I make have received a slight knock on the head. Doctor Kadowaki would insist I see her. If we are relieved of the present evil, that is."

The Tornado spell did not seek out its intended victims, but instead their hiding place - though brief as it was. Now the bulk of the object was nothing but a crumpled heap, raised from the ground and totalled by the furiously twirling frenzy of the spell. Seifer dreaded to think what their remains would appear to be like had Ultimecia been successful. Their dive had been a well timed one, despite giving Seifer another bruise, a weak cut on Selphie's arm, and the bump at the back of Cid's head.

"Better than dead", Seifer thought grimly, leaning heavily on his strongest arm. "Can't stop now, it looks like she preparing to strike again."

"Oh Squall," said Selphie anxiously wringing her hands in despair. "Please. Think of something soon."

Dire though things were Irvine could not help but laugh despite trying his best not to. Dodging the Thundara spell left them unscathed, well… perhaps a fraction of Zell's self that continued to crackle and burn with out him knowing.

"What?" said Zell peering around him to check that no more magic was hurtling their way.

"Y- You're-" Irvine tried to tell but couldn't because of the laughter he continued to lapse into.

"Hey tell me man. No jokes funny unless I'm laughing too." He said, pursing his lips together.

At this the young man from Galbaldia collapsed into a fitful of shoulder shaking and laughter - tears brimming at the corner of his eyes.

"Irvine!" Zell snapped viciously. "What's so funny?!"

Which was the wrong question to ask because it gleaned no answer - rather it caused the sharpshooter to laugh even harder. "Zell-" he gasped, clutching his side. "You are the joke."

"Huh?" the martial artist said bewildered and non the wiser. "What have I done that's so funny. Hang on… Do I smell smoke? AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Help! Help! My hair's on fire!"

"Stop running around and hopping about like a Cactuar that had Berserk cast on it." Irvine instructed, clutching the aching pain on his left rib as a result from laughing too much. "Hold still."

"I'll have no hair left!" Zell shouted crazily, now beating his head with his gloved hands in the hope that he'd clap the flames away. Irvine watched the small flames spreading.

"You're making it worse," Irvine commented calmly.

"I don't see you doing much!" snapped Zell who glared at the cowboy watching him with amused eyes.

"I said hold still," Irvine repeated.

For a brief moment Zell did as he was told and then continued to jump madly up and down while trying to stop the fire from searing all his blond hair off. Caught in mid-hop, Zell shortly stopped when he was doused with freezing cold water. "What the hell?!" he yelled, standing in a gradually increasing puddle. "I said to help me, not give me pneumonia!!! That's the second time I've been soaking wet."

"Sorry?" Irvine offered though he really didn't mean it - his shoulders were raised in a gesture of mock helplessness. He had cast a Water spell to get rid of the fire. "At least I got rid of the fire for you." He offered.

"And that's meant to be some sort of consolidation?"

"It's better than bald!" Irvine pointed out.

That was true.

"Tch, but I'm still wet."

"What, do you me to burn you dry? I saved your miserable ass just moments ago. If it wasn't for me, you would have been more than toast. You would've been flambéed to a crisp. Nothing would be left-"

"Ok man. I got the picture. No need to get your cowboy hat into a twist." Said Zell, waving a hand at Irvine's face to hush him up. "Did anyone ever tell you, you talk too much?"

"N-"

"N-uh-uh-uh-uh." Zell instructed. "Ssh. I think I hear someone."

That someone was Squall. Serious face in place, Squall Leonhart crouched behind a pillar - signalling for them to not blow his cover. When all was clear a swift, silent dash across the basement floor lead to his appearance beside two of his comrades.

"Hey," Squall greeted.

"I'd say 'what's up', except I think we all know the answer to that question." Zell said, glancing about.