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(Selphie's Request)

All the students made their way back to Garden, Zell was looking around trying to find Layla. He heard his name being called, he turned and saw her rushing toward him. "I was so worried about you." She said putting her arms around him.

"You're bleeding," Zell noticed the wound on her right arm.

"It's nothing."

"Come on," he said taking hold of her left hand, "we're going to the infirmary."

Since the battle had been short there had not been many serious injuries. Layla didn't have to wait long. A student assisting Dr. Kadowaki cleaned and bandaged her wound. Once that was done she and Zell walked out of the infirmary hand in hand.

"Wow," Layla said, "so you're our hero."

"Hardly, all I did was use a GF."

"But if you hadn't, the battle could still be going on."

"Someone was going to use a GF sooner or later."

"But you did it first," she kissed him, he smiled at her. "Zell?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't mean to ruin the moment but..."

His smile faded. "What?"

"I'm worried about you."

"Why?" He asked letting go of her hand and turning to face her.

"Well, you've been acting strange."

"I'm not the only one that's been acting strange," he snapped, "why are you so worried about me?"

"Because-"

"Wait a minute..." Zell said backing away. "You're not worried about me."

"What?"

"You're worried about Irvine."

"What?"

"You're afraid I'll kick his ass again!"

"Zell, I-"

"You know what?" He interrupted. "You can both go to Hell," he stormed off.

Like many other students, Selphie was in the cafeteria trying to get a cold drink. Once she got her drink she scanned the room for a table to sit in, she spotted Irvine and decided to join him.

"Hey, Selphie," he stood up from his chair and pulled another out for her.

"Thanks," he was always such a gentleman to her, "strange battle, wasn't it?"

"You can say that again."

"Irvine?"

"Yes, Miss Selphie?"

"Why is Zell mad at you?"

"I wish I knew."

"You have no idea?"

"What I've gathered so far is that he heard that something happened between me and his girlfriend."

"Nothing did happen, right?"

"Of course not! I would never mess around with a girl that I knew was involved with another guy, especially if that guy is my friend."

"Really?" Selphie sounded relieved.

"...Selphie..." Irvine swallowed. "I've been trying, for quite some time now-"

"This is Squall speaking." Irvine was interrupted by the announcement on the intercom. "As soon as we have everyone back in Garden we will leave Deling City. I don't want to put the city in danger, until this problem is resolved we will move to an unpopulated area. I also want to congratulate everyone on a job well done. And one more thing, no one will be allowed to come inside Garden without proper identification."

"Hi," Elise said grabbing an empty chair. "Mind if I join you?"

Can't say no when she's already sitting down, Irvine rolled his eyes. Once again he would have to wait until he built up enough courage.

"Hi, Elise," Selphie said brightly.

"Irvine," Elise turned to him, "are you all right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well, I heard that Zell got you pretty good today."

"He didn't get me. I don't mean to be rude, but I have to go. I'll see you later Selphie."

"I don't think he wants to talk about that," Selphie said watching him leave.

"You must be worried about Trabia," Elise said, surprising Selphie.

"How did you know I would be worried about Trabia?"

"Oh. I was looking at your website earlier. You should go ask Squall to take you there. I mean if they attacked us for no apparent reason, who knows? Maybe they're just going after all the Gardens, and you know Trabia is not strong enough to defend itself yet."

"Maybe you're right."

"Of course I am. You need to make sure that all your friends are all right."

"I really should."

"Well, I have to go."

"Thanks, Elise." She was right Selphie thought she felt awful for not thinking about that herself.

After making his announcement Squall decided to go to his dorm and rest for a while. As he stepped out of the elevator he couldn't help but wonder who those people dressed in white were. Why did they praise the GF? Why didn't they have uniforms? They have only attacked once before, the day that Elise disappeared and now...that she is back. Could there be a connection? What was he thinking? He knew it had to be a coincidence, there was no way that Elise could be involved with the White Army. He was a few doors away from his dorm when a voice startled him.

"You're deep in thought." It was Elise.

"What?"

"I was calling you, didn't you hear me?"

"Sorry."

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course."

"I don't mean to stick my nose where it doesn't belong but...I just saw Zell go into the Training Center, I thought he was supposed to be in the Disciplinary Room."

"Well he was, but now I've decided not to punish him until I know exactly why he was fighting with Irvine. Plus after what happened today, I would feel more comfortable knowing that if we go into battle again he won't be locked up."

"Do you know what your problem is Squall?" Elise said looking into his eyes.

Her gaze was so powerful, Squall felt the urge to turn away, but found that he could not. He felt his mind start to cloud. He took a deep breath and finally said, "problem?"

"You are too nice." Squall gave her a quizzical look. "A commander should be strict, never letting someone get away with breaking the rules just because that person is his or her friend. You give your friends more chances than other people would, they are always asking you to let them do this and that. They take advantage of your generosity."

"I don't see it that way."

She walked up to him and whispered in his ear. "You know I'm right. Think about it. You need to be stricter, you need to let them know who's boss, you don't want Cid stripping you of your title as Commander. If you don't follow my advice and establish your own rules, he might do just that. Be strict and don't let your friends take advantage of you. Also, don't tell anyone what we discussed." With that, she walked off.

Too nice? No one had ever told him that before, sometimes he thought that he wasn't nice enough. They take advantage of your generosity. Came a voice from deep within his head, do they really take advantage of me? Zell really had broken an important rule and did deserve to be punished for his actions. Maybe he was too nice. Don't let them take advantage of you, he heard the voice again and it seemed to make sense. Be stricter, let them know who's boss. I should definitely be stricter; he decided that the next time someone asked him for a favor he would have to say no. He was supposed to lead the Garden, not make friends.

Elise walked frantically around Garden, where the hell was Selphie? She had been looking for her for over a half hour, she needed to find her quick she was running out of time. She finally spotted her walking toward the dormitories.

"Selphie!"

"Hi."

"Did you ask Squall yet?"

"No, I can't find him."

"He's in his dorm, come on, I'll go with you."

They were soon standing in front of Squall's door. "I don't want to disturb him if he's sleeping," Selphie said.

"Go ahead, I'll wait for you here."

"OK." She knocked.

"Who is it?" Came Squall's voice.

"It's Selphie."

"Come in."

Selphie looked at Elise. "Go," she whispered. Selphie entered the room and closed the door.

"What do you want?" Squall asked.

"Um...I'm kind of worried about Trabia...So I was wondering if...um...we could go check and see if they haven't been attacked or something," she said timidly.

"No."

Selphie didn't know what to say, he surprised her with his answer, she was not prepared to hear him object.

"I am sick and tired of being taken advantage of."

"What do you mean Squall? I don't understand."

"Whatever."

"Sorry to have bothered you." Said Selphie opening the door. Squall said nothing.

She stepped outside and once again closed the door. "What did he say?" Elise asked her.

"No."

"What? That is so inconsiderate of him."

Selphie hung her head. "It's not like him, really. Everyone is acting so strange."

"He is being unfair. He stays here an extra day just so he can impress Rinoa's father, but he won't go to Trabia to make sure no one is hurt. If you ask me, I think you need a new leader. Someone like Quistis."

"Why do you say that?"

A SeeD walked by them, he stood a few feet from them unlocking his door. Elise moved closer to Selphie not wanting him to hear their conversation. She locked eyes with Selphie; poisonous green burning into emerald. "Quistis actually cares about her friends. She is never unfair. Think about it, when has she not worried about the fate of others? She cares about you and this Garden much more than Squall does. If you asked her to take you to Trabia she wouldn't even have to think about it. She would be a much better leader, a more experienced leader."

"But-"

"You know I'm right. I have to go. And don't tell anyone about this." She whispered, then rushed off.

She can't be right, Selphie thought as she watched Elise leave. Squall cared about them, but if he really cared about them so much, why hadn't he agreed to go to Trabia? He did stay in Deling City an extra day just to make Rinoa happy, which in Selphie's opinion was very selfish. He is being unfair, Quistis actually cares about her friends. A familiar voice echoed inside her head. But he's not acting like himself, Selphie thought, yes he is, you just haven't asked him something like this before. Quistis wouldn't do that, Squall really was being unfair, yes, Quistis would make a much better leader. Selphie rushed away from the dormitories, she had a lot of work to do.

Elise walked stealthily toward the front gate, she was happy to see the guard was alone, he had his back to her. She approached him carefully, "Sleep." The guard fell to the ground, she turned around to see if she was being followed, she didn't see anyone. She ran to the gate, she didn't want the Sleep spell to wear off before she was gone.

Elise had been walking for about ten minutes, she stopped and entered a small hole on the side of an ordinary looking hill. It was dark and cold inside, she walked down some stone steps, a light could be seen at the bottom of the steps. She reached the last step, a large, brightly lit tunnel stood before her, it was occupied by the entire White Army.

"Sorceress!" They all started to bow their heads.