As It Begins Again
Stacey Lui

Chapter 9

"Well, well, well look what we have here? It's all my favorite people."

"What do you want Seifer?"

"Instructor please, why do you always accuse me of wanting something?" Irvine snorted while Quistis rolled her eyes. "Anyway Taryn does this look familiar?" Seifer waved a small pink book around in the air. The color of Taryn's face dropped straight into an ashen hue. How does he have that? She thought frantically throughout all her encounters with Seifer. Damn the
library.

"Is that yours Taryn?" asked Selphie. Taryn nodded weakly.

"Give it back Seifer," Rinoa demanded.

"You lost the right to demand me around when we broke up," Seifer sneered at her. Rinoa's eyes widened with shock and soon filled with unshed tears. What felt like an eternity of silence passed.

"Seifer, I'm sorr..."

"Save it. I didn't come here to talk to you." His gaze returned to Taryn. "I found this extremely interesting." His hand still holding the book tightly in his grasp. Taryn walked up to Seifer until their toes were barely touching and kept her voice low so only Seifer could hear her. This was a difficult task since Seifer towered over her by nine inches.

"Give it back," she said in a deadly whisper. Seifer looked at her incredulously.

"You think I'll just give it back?"

"Well you wanted to talk to me," Taryn said as she grabbed Seifer's arm and led him into the closest room away from the public eye. "So what will it take for me to get that back?" Seifer smirked and was about to speak when an inhuman roar flooded the room. Seifer gaped at the room and then glared at Taryn.

"Are you crazy? You led us into the Training center!" Taryn looked around shocked and realized what she had done. She didn't notice where she was going since all her thoughts were on killing Seifer or at least beating him into a bloody pulp. The lush green arena could have easily hidden any monsters. Both Seifer and her didn't have weapons and wouldn't stand a chance if anything found them. Seifer turned abruptly headed back to the entrance. Taryn followed closely behind him so much so that when Seifer stopped abruptly she collapsed into him.

"What the hell," Taryn groaned. Seifer clasped his gloved hand over her mouth and looked toward entrance. Taryn followed his gaze and almost screamed out when she saw a huge T-Rexaur ripping a Grat with its mighty jaws. The Grat screamed in unholy terror. Grabbing Taryn around her waist with one arm and keeping his hand over her mouth he dragged her back into the depths of the jungle.

He dropped her onto the ground and knelt down next to her. "So you know I blame you completely for this," Seifer whispered into her ear and turned his back to her to examine their predicament through the leaves. Taryn was about to respond when she felt a hot breath against her neck. Turning slowly her eyes met with two large gleaming yellow eyes. A scream escaped her lips. Seifer jumped and shoved Taryn to the ground as the second T-Rexaur snapped at the air where Taryn's head was a second earlier. The T-Rexaur regained its balance and opened its jaws once more to sink its teeth into the two frantic humans. Taryn threw her hand over Seifer's shoulder, palm facing the T-Rexaur, and screamed. This was the last thing she remembered before she fainted dead away.


"What the...!" Selphie exclaimed as the floor below her began to move. The shaking worsen as people were thrown up against the walls. A few seconds later Squall groaned as he pulled himself from under the dog pile that landed on him.

"Irvine get off me!" Quistis yelled.

"I don't know I'm kind of fond of this position, Quisty-honey."

"What was that?" Rinoa asked as she straightened her outfit. Selphie shrugged as Squall looked toward the Training grounds.


Taryn opened her eyes slowly. The bright lights blinded her eyes. The walls were white. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Where am I? She remembered being in the training grounds and the T-Rexaur that attacked her. She felt a bump on the back of her head. She also remembered Seifer throwing her out of the way of the T-Rexaur. Seifer? She turned her head slightly and saw Seifer on the cot next to her.

"Oh, so you're awake," a tall dark hair man remarked. "My name is Dr. Kadowaki. You have a slight bump on your head but it should be gone by the end of the day."

"Thanks," Taryn groaned. "How about him?" The doctor glanced at the man on the other cot.

"Well he's a bit of a puzzle. He must have been knocked out in the earthquake." Taryn looked at him quizzically. "It happened when you and him were in the training grounds. You were both unconscious." A phone rang in the other room. "Excuse me for one second."

Taryn turned to her side so that she faced Seifer. He's pretty cute when he's asleep. She shook her head to dislodge the thought. Please, maybe he's good-looking but his attitude is absolutely rotten. Taryn sat up on the bed slowly for dizziness was claiming her head.

"Headmaster Cid called to tell me to send you up to his office when you woke," said the doctor when he returned.

"Well thanks Dr. Kadowaki," she said as she was about to leave.

"Your welcome." A loud groan thundered in the small room. "Looks like your friend woke up." Taryn smiled.

"Oh man, I feel like someone took a bat to my head..." Seifer groaned as Taryn headed out the door.


"Are you okay?" Selphie asked anxiously.

"Yeah, fine except for a light bump on the back of my head."

"Well you should head back to our room and lie down."

"I can't Headmaster Cid wants to see me." Taryn punched in the button that would take them into the third floor.

"Really? I've only been there twice. Once was when I became a Seed member, the second was when he held the meeting to banish the sorceresses."

"Well I hope it's not something serious like that."

"Yeah." The bell chimed and the elevator door slid open.

"Well I'll see you later," Selphie said as Taryn stepped out and walked down the hallway.


"Oh god, this can't be happening!" Quistis exclaimed as the door to the classroom slid open. Folders and papers were scattered all over the floor of the classroom.

"It must have been the quake," Irvine stated as he knelt down and scooped up the applications from off the floor. Quistis soon followed suit. Irvine glanced down at his watch. "Don't worry we have plenty of time." Quistis just glared at him.


"Well I better be heading back," Rinoa said tiredly. Squall got up and walked her back to her dorm room.

"Goodnight Squall," Rinoa said as she slipped the card key into the door handle. Squall closed his hand against hers. Rinoa gasped and looked up into Squall's blue eyes. He bent his head ever so slightly so their lips touched. Rinoa threw her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes so their lips contacted harshly.

"Whoa!" Zell exclaimed. "Sorry," he stammered and backed up around the corner from where he came from. Squall sighed deeply.

"Well goodnight Rinoa," he said as he brushed his lips across her forehead. He walked around the corner to meet up with Zell. The door was blinking frantically declaring that it's been okay to enter for the past couple minutes.


Taryn walked into the dark room. The room was magnificent in itself for the ceiling was made completely of glass and you could see the stars shining brightly. A man dressed in a sweater vest and with dark green pants sat behind a large mahogany desk. A lady dressed in black stood next to him.

"Welcome Taryn," said Cid as he adjusted his gold framed glasses. "Please sit down." Taryn sat in one of the red plush chairs before his desk. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I guess." The man smiled.

"Well that's good. The reason I called you here today is your magnificent show of magic." Taryn stared at him quizzically. "Well you probably didn't remember since you passed out after it happened."

"You mean in the Training center?" She shook her head, she didn't remember calling on a name of a spell.

"Yes," the woman responded.

"This is my wife Edea." Taryn and Edea shook hands. The woman continued.

"It was a very unique Quake you used. The most powerful I have ever seen used by a child."

"Yes it was felt all the way to Balamb," Cid responded pleased.

"But it also put every creature unconscious in a 50 yard radius. This included Seifer and the two T-Rexaurs that was found near you." Taryn gasped.

"But that can't be right, I don't even remember calling upon a spell!" Taryn exclaimed.

"That is the unique part," the woman said in a low tone. "You didn't call upon a name. Not many people can accomplish that, it was like it was second nature for you to rely on a spell for help." Cid cleared his throat.

"We wanted to tell you that we will be transferring you into a special magic class. The instructors there will help tweak your skills." Taryn nodded. "Well that's about it, you're excused." Taryn stood up and her eyes met Edea's. They gazed at each other for a second before Taryn turned and left. Cid broke the silence.

"A very unique child."

"Yes very."


******End of Chapter 9******