[Revised exerpts from SEARCH FOR PANACEA, the prequel to this fanfiction:
Among the shadows in the back of the room stood a mysterious young girl.
Her long black hair was fastened into a high ponytail. She wore a grey,
knit sweater with a drawstring hood; black short suspenders; black combat
boots; and a black combat glove on her right hand. Across her waist was a
loose belt with a few compartments, probably for holding items. Diagonally
across her back hung a staff.
"Excuse me for a moment," Cid said. They watched as he walked over to the girl.
"You must be Meg."
"Headmaster Cid." Meg shook his hand.]
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(When the Dust Settles: Balance of Power - cont.........)
"Damn it Squall!" Meg yelled as she limped over to the side of the training center, by Rinoa and Zell. "That's the second time this week," Meg went on.
"Hey, I'm commander of SeeD for a reason. Besides, I know you can take it." Squall said.
"I know I can take it. There's a difference between WANTING to, though." Meg sat down. Rinoa handed her a bottle of water.
"Come on Zell, show me what you got." Squall taunted.
"Ohhh no. Nooo way. Not with that look in your eyes. Whenever Seifer has that look I always end up on the ground or in the infirmary. I can tell you right now, it isn't a pleasant experience. Meg knows what I'm talking about." Zell laughed.
"Shut up!" Meg laughed and chucked her water bottle at him.
"I don't know what's come over me. And it's not like not like Seifer and I win by much. We're all around the same level. Some people just have their off days. I just feel so on today." Squall calmed down.
"Speaking of Seifer. Anyone see him around these days?" Rinoa asked.
"I've seen him a couple of times. But he's always busy with something." Meg replied.
"You think, there's something wrong?" Rinoa asked.
"Maybe we should just let him be. Usually when people become distant, it's because they want to be alone." Squall suggested.
"Sounds like someone I used to know." Rinoa giggled.
"Me too." Zell laughed.
"Hey. All I'm saying is that sometimes people want to sort things out for themselves." Squall said defensively.
"But it never hurts to tell a friend." Rinoa's words reminded Squall about how he used to be. He nodded.
"Whatever. As long as it gets Seifer back in this training center. I feel like having some REAL competition." Squall taunted once again. Zell and Meg looked at each other and smiled. Squall found himself flat on his back with a smirking Zell and Meg standing over him. They gave each other a high five and waved to Squall as they walked away. Squall sat up, dazed, and shook his head. He turned to Rinoa who had her hand over her mouth giggling. Squall couldn't help but laugh as well.
"Excuse me for a moment," Cid said. They watched as he walked over to the girl.
"You must be Meg."
"Headmaster Cid." Meg shook his hand.]
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(When the Dust Settles: Balance of Power - cont.........)
"Damn it Squall!" Meg yelled as she limped over to the side of the training center, by Rinoa and Zell. "That's the second time this week," Meg went on.
"Hey, I'm commander of SeeD for a reason. Besides, I know you can take it." Squall said.
"I know I can take it. There's a difference between WANTING to, though." Meg sat down. Rinoa handed her a bottle of water.
"Come on Zell, show me what you got." Squall taunted.
"Ohhh no. Nooo way. Not with that look in your eyes. Whenever Seifer has that look I always end up on the ground or in the infirmary. I can tell you right now, it isn't a pleasant experience. Meg knows what I'm talking about." Zell laughed.
"Shut up!" Meg laughed and chucked her water bottle at him.
"I don't know what's come over me. And it's not like not like Seifer and I win by much. We're all around the same level. Some people just have their off days. I just feel so on today." Squall calmed down.
"Speaking of Seifer. Anyone see him around these days?" Rinoa asked.
"I've seen him a couple of times. But he's always busy with something." Meg replied.
"You think, there's something wrong?" Rinoa asked.
"Maybe we should just let him be. Usually when people become distant, it's because they want to be alone." Squall suggested.
"Sounds like someone I used to know." Rinoa giggled.
"Me too." Zell laughed.
"Hey. All I'm saying is that sometimes people want to sort things out for themselves." Squall said defensively.
"But it never hurts to tell a friend." Rinoa's words reminded Squall about how he used to be. He nodded.
"Whatever. As long as it gets Seifer back in this training center. I feel like having some REAL competition." Squall taunted once again. Zell and Meg looked at each other and smiled. Squall found himself flat on his back with a smirking Zell and Meg standing over him. They gave each other a high five and waved to Squall as they walked away. Squall sat up, dazed, and shook his head. He turned to Rinoa who had her hand over her mouth giggling. Squall couldn't help but laugh as well.