1
2 Chapter 2
"Estimated time of arrival to Esthar is 20 minutes!" Selphie said. After Rinoa had collapsed for the second time, Squall had moved quickly. He had called Laguna and asked for the Ragnarok to come and pick them up. Immediately. Irvine slumped into the seat next to hers.
"Somebody is not going to be happy when they wake up," he remarked. Kiros walked over.
"From what you've told us, she should have been to Odine ages ago!" he said.
"She just kept brushing it off. Said that she was just tired, it was okay." Zell said.
On the passenger deck, Rinoa was just beginning to awaken.
"Huh? Where am I?" Squall turned around.
"You're on the Ragnarok, headed for Esthar," he said.
"Ragnarok? Esthar? Why are we going there?"
"Does your little episode in the infirmary remind you of anything?" Rinoa blinked, and then closed her eyes.
"Oh no…"
"Rinoa, why didn't you tell me?" Squall pleaded, going by her.
"Squall…I'm fine! It's just that…I don't know how to explain it to you…it's nothing physical."
"Sorceress-related?"
"I…I don't know." Rinoa bowed her head, one hand automatically playing with Griever. Squall gently placed a hand on her cheek.
"Hey." Rinoa looked at him. "Everything is going to be alright. You're going to see Odine…lord knows we both hate his guts…" Rinoa giggled. Encouraged, Squall went on.
"And even we both hate Odine, he'll figure out a way to help you." Rinoa smiled.
"Okay, Squall! I trust you!" Squall smiled.
"Come here," he said, pulling Rinoa to him. They were about to kiss when Ward and Kiros came in.
"Ahem." Blushing, Squall and Rinoa separated.
"We'll be landing at the Airstation shortly." Ward looked at Rinoa and Squall, then pointed at them. Kiros grinned.
"Ward says that the two of you act like Raine and Laguna at times." This only made Squall and Rinoa blush harder. Ward turned and signaled to Kiros.
"He also says be prepared for Hurricane Odine when we land."
"He does something wrong, and I kill him." Squall retorted.
At Odine's laboratory…
"Vhat iz thiz? Thiz iz not right! You have zee vrong program! Fixzr it vow!"
"Oh lord…" Laguna said. "Odine. All you are doing is giving her an examination to see what's wrong with her, that's all!"
"Pleeeeze! Do not vorry!"
"Where have I heard that one before?" Laguna muttered to himself. A soldier ran up to him.
"Mr. President, the Ragnarok has just landed."
At the Airstation…
"We're here!" Selphie sang. Rinoa nervously bit her lip. Quistis noticed this.
"It's okay, Rinoa. Everything's alright." Rinoa nodded.
"I'm fine," she said.
"We're supposed to go straight to the laboratory." Kiros said. "Stay on your toes, we haven't been able to destroy all the monsters from the Lunar Cry."
"Hmph!" Zell snorted. He fisted his hands. "We can handle that!"
Selphie swung out her Strange Vision, Quistis snapped her Save the Queen whip, Irvine held his Exeter with his left hand against his hip, Rinoa stretched out her arm with her Shooting Star, and Squall checked to see that his Lionheart was attached to his belt for easy access.
As they stepped out onto the street, a Creeps slithered up towards them.
"Back off!" Quistis said, snapping her whip at the monster. The Creeps stood up and screeched.
"Move it, bub!" Selphie snapped, hitting the Creeps with her Strange Vision. The Creeps slunk back down and moved away.
Moving quickly, the party soon arrived at Dr. Odine's laboratory. The sounds of Dr. Odine having a temper tantrum greeted them as they walked in.
"Hurry it up! Get thiz thing working!" Rinoa immediately turned around and started to walk out. Squall turned around and stopped her.
"It's alright," he said. Rinoa nodded, took a deep breath, and turned back around. Above them, the elevator came down with Laguna, Dr. Odine, and his assistant. Kiros and Ward moved forward.
"Laguna, the party from Balamb Garden is here."
"Huh? Oh!" Laguna looked up. "Squall!"
"Hello." Squall said.
"Vhere iz my patient?" "Right here." Squall said. Rinoa moved forward to the front.
"Right this way," the assistant said, gesturing to the elevator. Rinoa walked up, Squall following her.
"Excuse me? Vhat are you doing?" Odine asked. Squall turned around.
"I'm going with her." Rinoa turned around, shocked.
"Vhat? You cannot come in!" Squall walked over, and using his height to his advantage, stared down at Odine.
"I don't trust you."
"You cannot come in!" Odine ranted, jumping up and down. Irvine walked over.
"I wouldn't argue with him if I were you," he said.
"He cannot come in! He vill vreck my research!"
"Research?!" everybody said at the same time. Laguna stepped in.
"That's it. Odine, you are not researching Rinoa, you are finding out what is wrong with her. Squall, you can't go with Rinoa now, but you can see her later. Fair?" Squall nodded, then turned and pointed at Odine.
"You do something to her, and I will hurt you."
"You threaten me? Vant to fight, pretty boy?"
"Come, Dr. Odine," the assistant said, dragging Odine towards the waiting elevator and Rinoa.
"Good. Now that's settled." Quistis said. Kiros turned.
"Why don't you go and look around the city. It'll be awhile before Odine is finished with Rinoa."
"We can go shopping!" Selphie squealed. Squall shook his head.
"I'll stay here and wait for Rinoa."
"Aw, Squaalll!" Selphie whined.
"That's ok." Zell said.
"Your loss, man," Irvine said, waving his hand. They walked out of the laboratory. Laguna walked over to Squall.
"You're going to hang around here?" Squall nodded. Laguna thought for a minute, and then took Squall by the arm, startling him.
"Huh?"
"Come on, let's go for a walk. We won't go far." They walked out of the laboratory. Laguna looked at Squall, who had his hands in his pockets.
"Want to talk about it?" he asked. Squall looked up.
"About what?"
"About you and Rinoa. Something's wrong." Squall sighed.
"She's…she's been kind of sick lately, and today she collapsed when she finally went to the doctor. It's nothing physical…so…"
"It has something to do with the sorceress power." Laguna finished.
"Yeah…" Squall said. They continued walking for a while. Then Laguna remembered something.
"Oh! I forgot!"
"Huh?" Squall said.
"Come with me to the Presidential Palace. I have something for you." Laguna said.
At the mall…
"What time is it?" Quistis asked. Irvine checked his watch.
"One-thirty," he said.
"We should probably go back." Zell said. Irvine looked around.
"Has anybody seen Selphie?" he asked.
At the laboratory…
"Thiz iz veery interesting!" Rinoa sighed. She had been through a battery of tests, and now she was waiting for Odine to finish looking over the results. Being stuck in a lab with Odine did not rank high on her "to do" list.
"Ok! Ve vill do one more test!"
"Oh, no…" Rinoa thought.
"Pssssttt!"
"Huh?"
"Rinoa!" Rinoa turned around. Selphie was looking through a window.
"Selphie!" Quickly, Rinoa opened the sash.
"You almost done?" Selphie asked.
"Yeah. Odine wants to run one more test on me."
"That's cool. I can wait!" Selphie said, smiling. Despite the way she felt, Rinoa found that she was smiling too.
Laguna reached into his desk drawer. He pulled out a small gift- wrapped package and handed it to Squall, who looked up puzzled.
"Dad?"
"Open it." Laguna said. Squall took off the wrapping paper. Underneath was a small picture of Laguna and Raine when Laguna was younger. Squall was speechless for a minute as he looked at the picture.
"Mom…" he said, running his fingers over Raine's face. Laguna smiled sadly.
"You have her eyes. Also that puzzled look on your face when you can't figure something out," he said. Squall looked at him.
"Thank you," he said, holding the picture tight. Laguna nodded.
"No problem at all." There was silence for a few seconds, and then the phone rang. Laguna picked it up, said a few words, hung up, and looked at Squall.
"Odine's finished," he said.
"Vhat ve found iz very interesting!" Odine said. Squall, Laguna, and everybody else were in the room above the entrance to the laboratory.
"So? Get on with it!" Laguna said. Odine pointed at him furiously.
"Do not rush me! I vill speak vhen I am ready!" He adjusted his collar. "As I vas saying, we found something in Sorceress Rinoa."
"What did you find?" Quistis asked. Odine turned.
"To put it in simple terms, there is a discrepancy in zee electric current in Rinoa's brain."
"Huh?" Squall thought. Odine went on.
"I vill explain, don't worry."
"Please do!" Zell said.
"Ahem! Like Ellone, Rinoa also has an electric current running through her brain. Also throughout her entire body. That." Odine said, pointing, "is zee sign of the sorceress power."
"And this…discrepancy has been causing Rinoa to feel bad." Quistis said.
"That's it!" Odine said, bobbing his head up and down. "Unlike Ellone, this current cannot be copied and mechanized."
"That's good." Squall said. "But now, how can we help her?"
"Egghh! I vas getting to zhat! Ahem!" He coughed.
"Zhere iz a reason for zee discrepancy. Vhen Rinoa vas possessed by Ultimecia, it put her into a coma. And, vhen she became a sorceress, she vas possessed by Ultimecia and junctioned by Adel. All of zhese things add up to the discrepancy."
"Will it heal?" Laguna asked.
"In time, yes. Zhat iz zee only reason I can find for her not feeling vell. Of course, with further testing…"
"No!" everybody said at the same time. Odine shrugged.
Back at the Garden…
Rinoa walked down the hallway. Ever since she had become a sorceress, she had virtually nobody to talk to about her powers. With the exception of one person…
"Rinoa!" Edea looked up as Rinoa walked in. The girl seemed healthier, she noted. "Are you feeling any better?"
"I'm feeling fine." Rinoa said. "But I need to talk to you about something."
"Sit." Edea said, patting the seat next to her. Rinoa sat down.
"The reason why I haven't been feeling so well is because there's a discrepancy in my powers. Odin says it's because I've been possessed by Ultimecia and Adel.
"Makes sense." Edea said. Rinoa bit her lower lip.
"I don't want to be a burden on my friends because I'm a sorceress…" Edea looked at the girl silently.
"You may not have noticed this, Rinoa," she thought. "But you have changed ever since you came into your powers. There's something different about you…" Rinoa cocked her head to one side.
"Matron, is there anything wrong?" she asked. Edea blinked.
"No, nothing's wrong. Rinoa, you are not a burden on your friends because you are a sorceress. And I know you meant Squall in particular." Rinoa looked down. Edea took her hand.
"Listen to me. Squall, as your knight and lover, would be willing to give his life to protect you as long as you were safe. Cid felt the same way about me when I was a sorceress."
"I feel the same way!" Rinoa cried. "But I want…I want…"
"You want to protect him." Edea said, understanding perfectly.
"But I don't have anyway of doing it!" Edea smiled.
"I wouldn't say that exactly. You're a sorceress, right?"
"Yess…" Rinoa said, not understanding.
"So use your powers! You're a smart girl. You can figure something out!" Edea said.
Squall propped his feet up on the desk, lost in thought. What Odine had said worried him. Leaning forward, he reached for the phone. Before his fingers could touch the extension, Xu's voice came over the intercom.
"Commander Squall, please report to the bridge immediately."
"What now?" Squall thought as he got up.
"What do you mean, you can't tell us?" Zell's annoyed voice met Squall's ears as he got off the elevator. Xu straightened and saluted as he entered the room.
"Commander. To make this short and sweet, Nida and Janelle are back from their assignment."
"Good!" Squall said. "Where are they?"
"I think you'd better hear this first, Commander." Xu said, her voice belaying the seriousness in her tone. Squall turned.
"What is it, Xu?"
"Nida and Janelle found out that President Deling had a son, the vice- President. His name is Setzer Deling."
"I didn't know Deling had a son." Quistis said.
"Wait a minute. What does this have to do with us?" Zell asked.
"Setzer is taking over his father's position as President. There's little opposition, as Galbadia is a wreck with the loss of Deling and Edea." Xu said.
Irvine nodded.
"Figures. But why does Setzer want to take over his daddy's position now? It's been ages since we defeated Ultimecia."
"That's not even half the problem." Xu said. "Setzer would consider SeeD a threat now. He would more than likely mount an attack against us."
"He can't win! We have more training than those fools when it comes to fighting!" Zell said, balling his fists.
"Zell, right now, we are not equipped to handle an assault." Quistis said.
"All this Garden has are students. We have very few SeeDs. Trabia is still under reconstruction, and Galbadia…" Xu said.
"Can't the White SeeDs help us?" Selphie asked.
"Right now it seems wise to alert them and warn them for any suspicious activity going on." Xu said. Irvine pushed back his hat.
"I could probably go over to Galbadia Garden and warn the headmaster there. Which reminds me, who is the new headmaster anyway?"
"The new headmaster is a Cyan Tribal." Irvine started in shock.
"Cyan Tribal? He's the new headmaster?"
"You know him?" Xu asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Oh man, we had some classes together! They made him headmaster?"
"If we could get our acts together…" Squall interjected. "Irvine, that's a good idea. Xu, see if you can raise Trabia on the radio."
"Let me do that!" Selphie said. "I know the people to talk to there!" Squall nodded.
"Great." He turned. "Xu. Do we have anyone other than Nida to pilot Garden? I want to give him and Janelle a chance to rest."
"Edwards in Tactical." Xu answered quickly.
"Get him." Squall said.
"Yo, man, what are you doing?" Zell asked.
"Matron said that the White SeeDs favorite place is the Centra region."
"So?" Zell asked.
"Balamb Garden has a 'habit' of moving around." Quistis said, catching on to what Squall was thinking. "This is a golden opportunity for us to strategize and figure out what Galbadia is up to."
"Get Edwards up here and reactivate Garden's mobile machinery. We're leaving." Squall said.
In his office in the Presidential Palace in Deling City, Setzer Deling tapped a key on the computer. Lips pursed, he studied the screen thoughtfully. A solider hurried in and saluted.
"Sir, Balamb Garden has just headed out to sea."
"Do you know where they are headed?" Setzer asked.
"We're assuming they're heading for the Centra region," the soldier replied.
"Hmm. How is the excavation going?"
"There are reports of a strange energy source emanating from the excavation site. However, we are still on schedule, and should be finished within the next two days." Setzer pondered this information for a few minutes.
"Send a ship to follow Balamb Garden. Have it stay on their tail wherever it goes," he said. The soldier saluted again and left the room.
Rinoa watched the scenery pass by on the balcony. Xu and Squall had come to her earlier to inform her of what was going on. She hadn't needed her powers to figure out there was something other than the Galbadians on their minds. The problem of a sorceress present on Garden, and the problems that would arise if Galbadia found out. Sighing, she slumped on the railing. Zell waltzed in.
"What's up?"
"Oh brother…do I need this now?" Rinoa thought. Zell walked over to the other side of the balcony and leaned against it.
"So you heard about what's going on, right?"
"Yeah, I heard." Rinoa muttered.
"Galbadia has nothing on us! We can handle their sorry selves any day!"
"Umm." Rinoa said. Zell looked at her.
"Anything wrong?"
"Nooo…" Rinoa said.
"Something's wrong with you." Zell said.
"It's nothing really." Rinoa murmured.
'What's wrong?" Zell pressed.
"NOTHING! Nothing is wrong! I'm fine!" Rinoa snapped. Zell turned to her.
"Yeah right."
"Look!" Rinoa hissed, turning. "If you…" She trailed off, eyes staring straight ahead.
"Rinoa?" Zell asked. Rinoa blinked, then slumped towards the floor. Zell caught her before she hit the ground.
"Rinoa!"
Rinoa looked around. She was wearing only her tights and black top. Her sorceress wings were unfurled behind her, and she was floating in mid- air.
"Where am I?" she thought, looking around. Below her was a barren wasteland.
As she looked around, a massive structure appeared in front of her. Flying down, it turned out to be the remains of some building. Glancing at one of the sides, she saw a strangely familiar C-shaped symbol.
"That looks familiar… she said. As she reached out to touch the surface…
"Rinoa!"
Rinoa opened her eyes. She was back inside the Garden, lying on a bench. Zell hung over her, concern on his face.
"You ok?" Rinoa blinked.
"I'm fine…"she said, sitting up. "Where did that come from?" she thought.
"I should go get Squall," Zell said, leaving.
"No!" Rinoa said, grabbing his hand. She took a deep breath. 'I'm fine now, Zell. Really. I'm still going to have these spells until I heal. It's alright."
"You sure?" Zell asked.
"I'm sure. All I need is some fresh air." Rinoa walked out to the balcony. Zell frowned, and then went after her.
"You're sure I don't need to get Squall?" he asked.
"Yes." Rinoa said. She looked ahead steadily.
"Something's coming," she thought. Her right hand went up to stroke Griever. "I can feel it…some sort of energy. Whatever it is, I don't think I have the power to stop it."
2 Chapter 2
"Estimated time of arrival to Esthar is 20 minutes!" Selphie said. After Rinoa had collapsed for the second time, Squall had moved quickly. He had called Laguna and asked for the Ragnarok to come and pick them up. Immediately. Irvine slumped into the seat next to hers.
"Somebody is not going to be happy when they wake up," he remarked. Kiros walked over.
"From what you've told us, she should have been to Odine ages ago!" he said.
"She just kept brushing it off. Said that she was just tired, it was okay." Zell said.
On the passenger deck, Rinoa was just beginning to awaken.
"Huh? Where am I?" Squall turned around.
"You're on the Ragnarok, headed for Esthar," he said.
"Ragnarok? Esthar? Why are we going there?"
"Does your little episode in the infirmary remind you of anything?" Rinoa blinked, and then closed her eyes.
"Oh no…"
"Rinoa, why didn't you tell me?" Squall pleaded, going by her.
"Squall…I'm fine! It's just that…I don't know how to explain it to you…it's nothing physical."
"Sorceress-related?"
"I…I don't know." Rinoa bowed her head, one hand automatically playing with Griever. Squall gently placed a hand on her cheek.
"Hey." Rinoa looked at him. "Everything is going to be alright. You're going to see Odine…lord knows we both hate his guts…" Rinoa giggled. Encouraged, Squall went on.
"And even we both hate Odine, he'll figure out a way to help you." Rinoa smiled.
"Okay, Squall! I trust you!" Squall smiled.
"Come here," he said, pulling Rinoa to him. They were about to kiss when Ward and Kiros came in.
"Ahem." Blushing, Squall and Rinoa separated.
"We'll be landing at the Airstation shortly." Ward looked at Rinoa and Squall, then pointed at them. Kiros grinned.
"Ward says that the two of you act like Raine and Laguna at times." This only made Squall and Rinoa blush harder. Ward turned and signaled to Kiros.
"He also says be prepared for Hurricane Odine when we land."
"He does something wrong, and I kill him." Squall retorted.
At Odine's laboratory…
"Vhat iz thiz? Thiz iz not right! You have zee vrong program! Fixzr it vow!"
"Oh lord…" Laguna said. "Odine. All you are doing is giving her an examination to see what's wrong with her, that's all!"
"Pleeeeze! Do not vorry!"
"Where have I heard that one before?" Laguna muttered to himself. A soldier ran up to him.
"Mr. President, the Ragnarok has just landed."
At the Airstation…
"We're here!" Selphie sang. Rinoa nervously bit her lip. Quistis noticed this.
"It's okay, Rinoa. Everything's alright." Rinoa nodded.
"I'm fine," she said.
"We're supposed to go straight to the laboratory." Kiros said. "Stay on your toes, we haven't been able to destroy all the monsters from the Lunar Cry."
"Hmph!" Zell snorted. He fisted his hands. "We can handle that!"
Selphie swung out her Strange Vision, Quistis snapped her Save the Queen whip, Irvine held his Exeter with his left hand against his hip, Rinoa stretched out her arm with her Shooting Star, and Squall checked to see that his Lionheart was attached to his belt for easy access.
As they stepped out onto the street, a Creeps slithered up towards them.
"Back off!" Quistis said, snapping her whip at the monster. The Creeps stood up and screeched.
"Move it, bub!" Selphie snapped, hitting the Creeps with her Strange Vision. The Creeps slunk back down and moved away.
Moving quickly, the party soon arrived at Dr. Odine's laboratory. The sounds of Dr. Odine having a temper tantrum greeted them as they walked in.
"Hurry it up! Get thiz thing working!" Rinoa immediately turned around and started to walk out. Squall turned around and stopped her.
"It's alright," he said. Rinoa nodded, took a deep breath, and turned back around. Above them, the elevator came down with Laguna, Dr. Odine, and his assistant. Kiros and Ward moved forward.
"Laguna, the party from Balamb Garden is here."
"Huh? Oh!" Laguna looked up. "Squall!"
"Hello." Squall said.
"Vhere iz my patient?" "Right here." Squall said. Rinoa moved forward to the front.
"Right this way," the assistant said, gesturing to the elevator. Rinoa walked up, Squall following her.
"Excuse me? Vhat are you doing?" Odine asked. Squall turned around.
"I'm going with her." Rinoa turned around, shocked.
"Vhat? You cannot come in!" Squall walked over, and using his height to his advantage, stared down at Odine.
"I don't trust you."
"You cannot come in!" Odine ranted, jumping up and down. Irvine walked over.
"I wouldn't argue with him if I were you," he said.
"He cannot come in! He vill vreck my research!"
"Research?!" everybody said at the same time. Laguna stepped in.
"That's it. Odine, you are not researching Rinoa, you are finding out what is wrong with her. Squall, you can't go with Rinoa now, but you can see her later. Fair?" Squall nodded, then turned and pointed at Odine.
"You do something to her, and I will hurt you."
"You threaten me? Vant to fight, pretty boy?"
"Come, Dr. Odine," the assistant said, dragging Odine towards the waiting elevator and Rinoa.
"Good. Now that's settled." Quistis said. Kiros turned.
"Why don't you go and look around the city. It'll be awhile before Odine is finished with Rinoa."
"We can go shopping!" Selphie squealed. Squall shook his head.
"I'll stay here and wait for Rinoa."
"Aw, Squaalll!" Selphie whined.
"That's ok." Zell said.
"Your loss, man," Irvine said, waving his hand. They walked out of the laboratory. Laguna walked over to Squall.
"You're going to hang around here?" Squall nodded. Laguna thought for a minute, and then took Squall by the arm, startling him.
"Huh?"
"Come on, let's go for a walk. We won't go far." They walked out of the laboratory. Laguna looked at Squall, who had his hands in his pockets.
"Want to talk about it?" he asked. Squall looked up.
"About what?"
"About you and Rinoa. Something's wrong." Squall sighed.
"She's…she's been kind of sick lately, and today she collapsed when she finally went to the doctor. It's nothing physical…so…"
"It has something to do with the sorceress power." Laguna finished.
"Yeah…" Squall said. They continued walking for a while. Then Laguna remembered something.
"Oh! I forgot!"
"Huh?" Squall said.
"Come with me to the Presidential Palace. I have something for you." Laguna said.
At the mall…
"What time is it?" Quistis asked. Irvine checked his watch.
"One-thirty," he said.
"We should probably go back." Zell said. Irvine looked around.
"Has anybody seen Selphie?" he asked.
At the laboratory…
"Thiz iz veery interesting!" Rinoa sighed. She had been through a battery of tests, and now she was waiting for Odine to finish looking over the results. Being stuck in a lab with Odine did not rank high on her "to do" list.
"Ok! Ve vill do one more test!"
"Oh, no…" Rinoa thought.
"Pssssttt!"
"Huh?"
"Rinoa!" Rinoa turned around. Selphie was looking through a window.
"Selphie!" Quickly, Rinoa opened the sash.
"You almost done?" Selphie asked.
"Yeah. Odine wants to run one more test on me."
"That's cool. I can wait!" Selphie said, smiling. Despite the way she felt, Rinoa found that she was smiling too.
Laguna reached into his desk drawer. He pulled out a small gift- wrapped package and handed it to Squall, who looked up puzzled.
"Dad?"
"Open it." Laguna said. Squall took off the wrapping paper. Underneath was a small picture of Laguna and Raine when Laguna was younger. Squall was speechless for a minute as he looked at the picture.
"Mom…" he said, running his fingers over Raine's face. Laguna smiled sadly.
"You have her eyes. Also that puzzled look on your face when you can't figure something out," he said. Squall looked at him.
"Thank you," he said, holding the picture tight. Laguna nodded.
"No problem at all." There was silence for a few seconds, and then the phone rang. Laguna picked it up, said a few words, hung up, and looked at Squall.
"Odine's finished," he said.
"Vhat ve found iz very interesting!" Odine said. Squall, Laguna, and everybody else were in the room above the entrance to the laboratory.
"So? Get on with it!" Laguna said. Odine pointed at him furiously.
"Do not rush me! I vill speak vhen I am ready!" He adjusted his collar. "As I vas saying, we found something in Sorceress Rinoa."
"What did you find?" Quistis asked. Odine turned.
"To put it in simple terms, there is a discrepancy in zee electric current in Rinoa's brain."
"Huh?" Squall thought. Odine went on.
"I vill explain, don't worry."
"Please do!" Zell said.
"Ahem! Like Ellone, Rinoa also has an electric current running through her brain. Also throughout her entire body. That." Odine said, pointing, "is zee sign of the sorceress power."
"And this…discrepancy has been causing Rinoa to feel bad." Quistis said.
"That's it!" Odine said, bobbing his head up and down. "Unlike Ellone, this current cannot be copied and mechanized."
"That's good." Squall said. "But now, how can we help her?"
"Egghh! I vas getting to zhat! Ahem!" He coughed.
"Zhere iz a reason for zee discrepancy. Vhen Rinoa vas possessed by Ultimecia, it put her into a coma. And, vhen she became a sorceress, she vas possessed by Ultimecia and junctioned by Adel. All of zhese things add up to the discrepancy."
"Will it heal?" Laguna asked.
"In time, yes. Zhat iz zee only reason I can find for her not feeling vell. Of course, with further testing…"
"No!" everybody said at the same time. Odine shrugged.
Back at the Garden…
Rinoa walked down the hallway. Ever since she had become a sorceress, she had virtually nobody to talk to about her powers. With the exception of one person…
"Rinoa!" Edea looked up as Rinoa walked in. The girl seemed healthier, she noted. "Are you feeling any better?"
"I'm feeling fine." Rinoa said. "But I need to talk to you about something."
"Sit." Edea said, patting the seat next to her. Rinoa sat down.
"The reason why I haven't been feeling so well is because there's a discrepancy in my powers. Odin says it's because I've been possessed by Ultimecia and Adel.
"Makes sense." Edea said. Rinoa bit her lower lip.
"I don't want to be a burden on my friends because I'm a sorceress…" Edea looked at the girl silently.
"You may not have noticed this, Rinoa," she thought. "But you have changed ever since you came into your powers. There's something different about you…" Rinoa cocked her head to one side.
"Matron, is there anything wrong?" she asked. Edea blinked.
"No, nothing's wrong. Rinoa, you are not a burden on your friends because you are a sorceress. And I know you meant Squall in particular." Rinoa looked down. Edea took her hand.
"Listen to me. Squall, as your knight and lover, would be willing to give his life to protect you as long as you were safe. Cid felt the same way about me when I was a sorceress."
"I feel the same way!" Rinoa cried. "But I want…I want…"
"You want to protect him." Edea said, understanding perfectly.
"But I don't have anyway of doing it!" Edea smiled.
"I wouldn't say that exactly. You're a sorceress, right?"
"Yess…" Rinoa said, not understanding.
"So use your powers! You're a smart girl. You can figure something out!" Edea said.
Squall propped his feet up on the desk, lost in thought. What Odine had said worried him. Leaning forward, he reached for the phone. Before his fingers could touch the extension, Xu's voice came over the intercom.
"Commander Squall, please report to the bridge immediately."
"What now?" Squall thought as he got up.
"What do you mean, you can't tell us?" Zell's annoyed voice met Squall's ears as he got off the elevator. Xu straightened and saluted as he entered the room.
"Commander. To make this short and sweet, Nida and Janelle are back from their assignment."
"Good!" Squall said. "Where are they?"
"I think you'd better hear this first, Commander." Xu said, her voice belaying the seriousness in her tone. Squall turned.
"What is it, Xu?"
"Nida and Janelle found out that President Deling had a son, the vice- President. His name is Setzer Deling."
"I didn't know Deling had a son." Quistis said.
"Wait a minute. What does this have to do with us?" Zell asked.
"Setzer is taking over his father's position as President. There's little opposition, as Galbadia is a wreck with the loss of Deling and Edea." Xu said.
Irvine nodded.
"Figures. But why does Setzer want to take over his daddy's position now? It's been ages since we defeated Ultimecia."
"That's not even half the problem." Xu said. "Setzer would consider SeeD a threat now. He would more than likely mount an attack against us."
"He can't win! We have more training than those fools when it comes to fighting!" Zell said, balling his fists.
"Zell, right now, we are not equipped to handle an assault." Quistis said.
"All this Garden has are students. We have very few SeeDs. Trabia is still under reconstruction, and Galbadia…" Xu said.
"Can't the White SeeDs help us?" Selphie asked.
"Right now it seems wise to alert them and warn them for any suspicious activity going on." Xu said. Irvine pushed back his hat.
"I could probably go over to Galbadia Garden and warn the headmaster there. Which reminds me, who is the new headmaster anyway?"
"The new headmaster is a Cyan Tribal." Irvine started in shock.
"Cyan Tribal? He's the new headmaster?"
"You know him?" Xu asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Oh man, we had some classes together! They made him headmaster?"
"If we could get our acts together…" Squall interjected. "Irvine, that's a good idea. Xu, see if you can raise Trabia on the radio."
"Let me do that!" Selphie said. "I know the people to talk to there!" Squall nodded.
"Great." He turned. "Xu. Do we have anyone other than Nida to pilot Garden? I want to give him and Janelle a chance to rest."
"Edwards in Tactical." Xu answered quickly.
"Get him." Squall said.
"Yo, man, what are you doing?" Zell asked.
"Matron said that the White SeeDs favorite place is the Centra region."
"So?" Zell asked.
"Balamb Garden has a 'habit' of moving around." Quistis said, catching on to what Squall was thinking. "This is a golden opportunity for us to strategize and figure out what Galbadia is up to."
"Get Edwards up here and reactivate Garden's mobile machinery. We're leaving." Squall said.
In his office in the Presidential Palace in Deling City, Setzer Deling tapped a key on the computer. Lips pursed, he studied the screen thoughtfully. A solider hurried in and saluted.
"Sir, Balamb Garden has just headed out to sea."
"Do you know where they are headed?" Setzer asked.
"We're assuming they're heading for the Centra region," the soldier replied.
"Hmm. How is the excavation going?"
"There are reports of a strange energy source emanating from the excavation site. However, we are still on schedule, and should be finished within the next two days." Setzer pondered this information for a few minutes.
"Send a ship to follow Balamb Garden. Have it stay on their tail wherever it goes," he said. The soldier saluted again and left the room.
Rinoa watched the scenery pass by on the balcony. Xu and Squall had come to her earlier to inform her of what was going on. She hadn't needed her powers to figure out there was something other than the Galbadians on their minds. The problem of a sorceress present on Garden, and the problems that would arise if Galbadia found out. Sighing, she slumped on the railing. Zell waltzed in.
"What's up?"
"Oh brother…do I need this now?" Rinoa thought. Zell walked over to the other side of the balcony and leaned against it.
"So you heard about what's going on, right?"
"Yeah, I heard." Rinoa muttered.
"Galbadia has nothing on us! We can handle their sorry selves any day!"
"Umm." Rinoa said. Zell looked at her.
"Anything wrong?"
"Nooo…" Rinoa said.
"Something's wrong with you." Zell said.
"It's nothing really." Rinoa murmured.
'What's wrong?" Zell pressed.
"NOTHING! Nothing is wrong! I'm fine!" Rinoa snapped. Zell turned to her.
"Yeah right."
"Look!" Rinoa hissed, turning. "If you…" She trailed off, eyes staring straight ahead.
"Rinoa?" Zell asked. Rinoa blinked, then slumped towards the floor. Zell caught her before she hit the ground.
"Rinoa!"
Rinoa looked around. She was wearing only her tights and black top. Her sorceress wings were unfurled behind her, and she was floating in mid- air.
"Where am I?" she thought, looking around. Below her was a barren wasteland.
As she looked around, a massive structure appeared in front of her. Flying down, it turned out to be the remains of some building. Glancing at one of the sides, she saw a strangely familiar C-shaped symbol.
"That looks familiar… she said. As she reached out to touch the surface…
"Rinoa!"
Rinoa opened her eyes. She was back inside the Garden, lying on a bench. Zell hung over her, concern on his face.
"You ok?" Rinoa blinked.
"I'm fine…"she said, sitting up. "Where did that come from?" she thought.
"I should go get Squall," Zell said, leaving.
"No!" Rinoa said, grabbing his hand. She took a deep breath. 'I'm fine now, Zell. Really. I'm still going to have these spells until I heal. It's alright."
"You sure?" Zell asked.
"I'm sure. All I need is some fresh air." Rinoa walked out to the balcony. Zell frowned, and then went after her.
"You're sure I don't need to get Squall?" he asked.
"Yes." Rinoa said. She looked ahead steadily.
"Something's coming," she thought. Her right hand went up to stroke Griever. "I can feel it…some sort of energy. Whatever it is, I don't think I have the power to stop it."