Author's Note: Ah…chapter two. I'm gonna try to make the chapters as short as possible because I learned that from my previous stories, long chapters aren't very easy to write…although they're definitely good to read. ^^ I hold a lotta respect for those who writes really long fanfics…not that I don't like short fanfics either. I hope someday I'll be able to sit down and write for that long without getting bored or running out of ideas. Lots of thanx to:

Nikita-Thank you for the review! I have another pretty original story that I want to post up, but I think I'd be too preoccupied with this one already…^^

Verdanii-I'll try to update as soon as I can, but I'm a real big procrastinator when it comes to long stories. Oh what the heck, I'll write a little each day. Thanks for your review! ^_^

Kelani2539- I'm gonna somehow weave Quistis' original biography into the plot. But that'll prolly be in later chapters. Thanx for your review though!

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Squaresoft.

**********

:: Balamb Garden ::

"No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently."

- Agnes DeMille

"Wow…it's certainly uh…very big."

            "Yeah…it's beautiful, Dad."

James Caraway smiled at his two daughters. He knew that Rinoa wasn't a very big fan of the army, or military academies, for that matter, but he didn't mind. Just like Julia. He thought to himself. Quistis, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. Even though her mother, Catherine, didn't really support the fact of her children joining any military schools either, she accepted the fact that James wanted them…well…at least one of them, to join the SeeDs organizations that he was always talking to her about.

"They're wonderful, Cathy." He would say to her. "You should see them train for battles. Magic, weapons—skills, Cathy. These children are going to become heroes someday."

"They're dangerous, James." Catherine always sighed. It always seemed as if talking about this subject pained and annoyed her at the same time. "And I don't want Rinoa or Quistis to get hurt in their "training" and all those field exams that you talk about. They're girls, too, for Hyne's sake. What if something happened to them and we're not there to help?"

"They're girls, Cathy—but they're big girls now. They can take care of themselves. Besides, only one of them has to join SeeD…I was thinking Quistis, maybe, since she's the older one and seems more interested in this than Rinoa. Wouldn't you like to see one of our children help defend our nation and possibly even go down in history?"

"Well, if helping to defend our nation will cost them their lives, then I really don't."

"Stop worrying about them, love. They'll be just fine."

"I'm trying to, James. I'm really trying. It's just that…the truth is, besides worrying about their safety and health and everything, I just can't shake off this feeling that something big—something bad will happen if we leave them alone. I'm scared, James. I don't want anything to happen to them or to this family." She would smile sadly at him, face strong yet weak at the same time.

He would then walk over and hug her tightly, while whispering into her hair. "Nothing will, Cathy. Nothing will."

"So…what do you girls think? Is this the one?" James carried himself away from the memory and turned to Quistis and Rinoa, eyes shining and grinning as usual.

As he had predicted, Quistis was the first to speak up. "It's really awesome, Dad. I just want to take a look around the inside though to see how their facilities are." James half-smiled at Quistis' contained enthusiasm. He knew that she was dying to go inside the Garden.

"Yeah, well, you know. Whatever. I don't really care." Rinoa stood there, eyes wandering and hands crossed in front of her. "You guys can go on in if you want. I'll just stay out here and wait or something."

James' smile ceased, and a frown formed upon his face. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Rinoa? According to what my associates had told me, this Garden has one of the best SeeD forces as well as training facilities in the nation." He felt Quistis perk up in excitement at the statement but he gaze still focused on Rinoa.

Rinoa shrugged, eyes not meeting her father's. "I said I didn't want to go." She started walking back to the car that James that rented in Balamb City.

"You know, you're going to miss out on a lot, Rin." He called to her, his frown stayed on his face as he watched her get into the car and close the door. He then sighed and turned to Quistis, eyes seemingly full of disappointment.

"She's probably just tired from the long train ride, Dad." Quistis had lost her enthusiasm, having viewed the entire scene uncomfortably. "She'll feel better after a while and come in later…" She quickly glanced in the car's direction and noticed that Rinoa was glancing out of the opposite window, head turned and arms still crossed. Quistis slowly walked over to James and pulled on his arm like a little kid. "Come on, Dad. You can be my tour guide."

James smiled, but Quistis could still sense a hint of discontent behind his dark brown eyes. "Alright, Quistis. You lead the way."

"Wow! It looks even bigger from the inside!" Quistis ran up ahead of James and glanced above her, face shining.

"Yes, it does." In truth, James had been here several times already for meetings with other generals before, but had never been able to fully take in the grandness of the Garden. "Today's Saturday, so most of the students are spending their free time in the towns and cities. Over the weekend is the only time tourists or other citizens are allowed to come inside to the Garden."

"Hm. That's reasonable." In the lobby, Quistis' attention was brought to a large, computer-like bulletin board whose legs seemed to have been placed inside metallic posts with ropes hanging from it. Behind it, two wide sets of stairs, separated by a railing, led up to a glass elevator with black trims. The hallway floors were decorated with creamy, red, and blue colored designs that encircled the elevator as well as the lobby corridors. Also, in the middle of the lobby as well as the sides, Quistis noticed bright, green little bushes of plants that were planted in a section of the wall that seemed to jut out from the original.

"Very comfortable, isn't it?"

Captivated by the decorations of the Garden, Quistis hadn't noticed both James and another elderly looking man had walked up beside her. "Yes. It seems…very home-like." She glanced at the stranger beside her father, obviously wondering who he was.

James, noticing her questioning gaze, spoke. "This is Balamb Garden's headmaster, Headmaster Cid." He could hear Quistis gasp slightly at the statement and her eyes widened. He gave a tiny grin and turned to the headmaster. "Headmaster Cid, this is my daughter, Quistis. She's looking forward to joining Garden soon."

"That's very wonderful news, General Caraway. And call me Cid, please." He chuckled. "No need for formalities right now."

James smiled. Quistis could tell that her father like the man. "I will, if you agree to refer to me by James only."

"Very well, James." Cid turned to Quistis, hands tucked behind his back. "Quistis, would you like me to give you a tour of the Garden?"

"Oh! Um…if it doesn't trouble you…Sir." Quistis said shyly. This man named Cid certainly wasn't very old, but he reminded her of her own grandfather, who passed away a few years ago from a heart attack.

Cid grinned. "Of course. If you will follow me." His turned and walked towards the stairs, but then turned left at a corner into the encircled lobby corridor.  He motioned with his hands towards a dark red and cream-colored walkway that led to an opened portable door that reveal a tiny office, from what Quistis could see. Standing with his side to them now, Cid spoke, "This is the Garden's infirmary. Dr. Kadowaki is the head of this place, and she tends to our students' wounds either from training or from battle. I can guarantee you that she is an excellent doctor. No student walks out of here without being close to healing or otherwise fully healed." He continued onto the next facility.

Quistis looked around the surroundings. There were few trashcans spread around the area, and mahogany benches were also available. Statues of fishes were carved and placed in the middle of the area. Wow…clean place. Very *homey. She pulled her lips down and raised her eyebrows in a look of satisfaction and ran on to catch up with the two other men.

The pair walked out of the Garden and into the chilly air. The rental car was still there and Rinoa's form could be seen inside, head lolled onto the back pillow of the seat, inevitably sleeping. James stopped and turned to Quistis.

 "So!" Stopping also, Quistis glanced over at her father, who seemed to beam with light from head to toe. "Quistis. What—"

As if she had been waiting for this question for years, Quistis interrupted, jumping up and down excitedly. "It was awesome, Dad! I really want to come to this Garden! They have great, clean facilities and the dorms look real comfy! Headmaster Cid was super nice also, and I love that Guardian Force thing that he was talking to us about. This place is terrific, Dad! I really want to come here! It's great! I mean—"Quistis stopped. Blinking and suddenly blushing, she realized that she had been talking nonstop to her father, who stood there with a surprised yet amused look on his face.

James looked at his golden-haired daughter and chuckled. "Uh huh…I see you have quite an interest in attending this school, young lady."

Quistis looked up at her father, a light blush spread across her cheeks. "Y-yeah." She bit her lips.

"Then what are you looking so worried for?" James grinned and laughed. "If you want to attend Balamb Garden then so be it! I've already talked to Headmaster Cid and he said that he'll be glad to have you come to Garden when the month is over."

Quistis' face held a look of disbelief as her blue eyes widened. Suddenly, she squealed happily and hugged her father. James' surprised countenance from the sudden display of emotions disappeared as he smiled warmly, also hugging Quistis. "Thank you so much, Daddy!!! I promise to work hard to become a SeeD! I promise!" She released her grip on her father, eyes still dancing with excitement as she bounded back to the rental car. "Wait till I tell Rinoa!" She called loudly back to him. James' smiled joyfully as he stared after Quistis. I know I'm doing the right thing, Cathy. I know. He took a deep breath and followed her leaping figure.

Inside the car, Rinoa's eyes slowly opened as a single tear rolled down her pale cheek.

**********

AN2: So…how was it?! Personally, I don't think it's that bad, but compared to some other author's mine lacks a lot of stuff. (My conscience speaking, "Hm…stuff…like talent?") Make sure to check out my favorite stories section! And you can read at my bio section which of the fanfics is a must-read. YOU MUST READ THEM!!! J/K. Make sure to check them out though! And don't forget to r/r, pleaz! Thank you! ^^''

*Homey-very much like home or closely related that sort of sense

Homely-ugly, ugly, and ugly (notice the difference : P)