Chapter 2: So it begins...

We arrived in a basement level that I had not known existed. Jail cells lurked around every dark, unwelcoming corner. I wondered if any of my friends knew about this. After a good twenty minutes of walking in silence, Cid whispered, "This is it."

I was thrown violently into a cell, and my cuffs released. The walls looked old and dusty. There was a rotting, almost musty smell in the area, and I had two furnishings. A toilet and a cot held up by chains. The barred gate was shut and locked behind me, and I heard Cid mutter "I'm so disappointed in you..." as he walked away.

It didn't take long for me to realize what was going on, having been tired and confused on the trip here. I quickly sat down on my cot and hugged my knees, crying silently once again. I cried for hours before I finally passed out.

I woke up... I don't know what time it was. There were no windows in this place, so I couldn't tell night from day. The opening of my door woke me, as Zell, Selphie and Irvine walked in, accompanied by a guard. They looked depressed, and almost... deprived. Deprived of what, I don't know. But they didn't seem too pleased. I wondered where Quistis was.

"What happened, man? Why'd you get thrown in prison?" Irvine almost whispered.

"This just isn't right!" Selphie said, on the brink of tears. Zell just stared as if they had said what he was going to.

"Shit..." Irvine said, shocked. He noticed my eyes were bloodshot from crying.

"Listen, it was my fault. I got her pissed. I ignored direct orders. I attacked Seifer."

"Whoa hold on! Got who pissed? Ignored what orders?" Zell finally spoke, his voice quavering.

"Rinoa. I missed her birthday, and a date. She....." I couldn't continue. The lump in my throat had won the battle over my sanity. I cried, not silently, but not loudly either. They realized that something horrible had happened, and that it was bad enough to make me burst out into tears.

"Shh....shh....." Selphie tried comforting me, and then sat down next to me and rubbed my back.

After calming down a little, and at least stopped crying, I continued to speak. "She....." yet again I stopped. I new I should continue... She taught me that it's good to get problems off my chest. Speaking much more quietly, I said, "... broke up with me. I sat down and..... cried..... and ignored the intercom."

"The one that said to go to Cid's office?" Selphie asked cautiously.

"...yeah"

"That's not enough to be accused of High Treason, Class One!" Irvine shouted.

"Think of the manual. Ignoring a minor order is like a warning. Breaking another rule within the next 24 hours is enough to rank Treason. The level of the next broken rule will decide on the level of treason." Zell said for me.

"Yeah..." I agreed.

"And attempted murder is a pretty high offense." Selphie said. Irvine finally understood.

"Continue..." Selphie commanded with a pleading tone.

"I headed back to my dorm, and bumped into Seifer on the way. We got into a bit of a brawl, and I sent Seifer to Cid's office, cause I didn't have the patience to deal with him. He started shouting that I was crying for the whole word to know, and I snapped. I attacked him full out, and left him bleeding and out cold on the ground and headed back to my dorm to rest. I was arrested ten minutes later."

"Seifer deserved a good ass-kicking though!" Zell shouted.

"Doesn't matter, look at where I ended up. All because I screwed up with Rinoa. It's my fault..."

"Don't let it get to you." Selphie said reassuringly.

"Time with the prisoner is over." A guard spoke sternly.

As the three of them walked out, I shouted, "Hey, where's Quistis?"

"Infirmary." Irvine said.

"Don't worry, Squally, We'll help get you out of this nightmare!" Selphie said enthusiastically, but still rather quietly.

Rinoa...... I fell back asleep.

"Trial is in 30 minutes, Squall." I heard Cid's voice through the barred gate.

I woke slowly, enjoying the first few seconds before I remembered why I was in a prison cell.

"Cid, why is this happening?"

"You tell me, Squall. You disobeyed orders and nearly killed Almasy."

"Cid, stay fo-"

"I can't, I've got to prepare for your hearing. I'll be there, though, to hear your story." He said coldly.

"Please, Cid, let m-"

"Bye, Squall." He interrupted and left. I wonder if he even realized the tears on my face I struggled to hold back.

"Guard!" I called after Cid disappeared from my sight.

"What?"

"May I have a glass of water?"

"Not until breakfast."

"When's that?"

"After your hearing."

"Fuck..." I cursed. I needed that to conquer the battle against my tears. Failing, I gave up and once again hugged my knees on my bed and cried.

"Get up. It's time."

The cell door opened and my hands were immediately cuffed, and I was escorted to the second floor, to an empty classroom, accompanied by two Faculty members.

As I walked in, I noticed the room was filled with SeeD members. The jury was made up of staff and instructors. The judge was Cid.

I was placed on a chair next to the main desk, where Cid was seated. The door was shut, as well as the audience's mouths, and the trial had begun.

"Squall Leonhart, under the charges of Attempted Murder and High Treason Class One. Facing 25 years to life, or in the event of an extreme case, death. How do you plead?" Cid spoke, with a hard look in his eyes.

"Not guilty, sir."

"In the courtroom, I will be identified as `your honor.' Understood?"

"Yes."

"Then we shall begin."

My lawyer was supplied by the Garden, since I didn't have one, and had just spent the last of my money on a ring I was gonna propose to Rinoa to on her birthday, had I not have been too busy to forget. I looked around for him or her, and then was shocked by the results. Rinoa was my lawyer. I was truly, undeniably fucked.

A SeeD approached me. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"

I thought for a quick second. Truth would be the best way to get out of this, so, "Yes."

He sat down.

"Would the victim's lawyer step forward please to question the defendant?" Cid said.

"Yes, your honor." Quistis Trepe spoke sternly and clearly.

"Leonhart, explain, from your point of view, what happened the day that these events occurred." She said.

"I woke up and headed towards my office, after doing my morning routine, still arriving late. After being...." I thought for the right term, "disciplined by the Headmaster I-"

"Define `Disciplined'."

"Explained to that being late was not tolerable, and receiving appropriate consequences for my actions."

"Thank you. Continue." She demanded, clearly impressed with the confidence she thought I had, because of my choice of words. Although I lacked any sign of confidence, she was rather dense that way.

"As I said, after being disciplined by the Headmaster, I sat down in my office and continued my work. Then, Rinoa Heartily came in and yelled at me for missing her birthday and a date." I glanced her way, just in time to see her blush. She was clearly grateful for me not telling Quistis that she blew up my door. I had called mechanics to fix it right after she left. I continued, "She told me that we'd talk about it at noon in the Quad." Then I noticed she turned a crimson colour in the face. I sipped a newly discovered glass of water next to me. I wasn't gonna cry here. "So, I continued working until.... Around 11:15, I think, and then headed down to the Cafeteria for an early lunch."

"Did you have any alcohol?"

"No."

"What about the alcohol found in your dorm? Four bottles of Balamb Brewery. Can you explain those?"

"As the investigators should have noticed, the four bottles of beer were unopened and still full. They were also cold, therefore, freshly bought." Muttering erupted all over the courtroom. I couldn't tell whether or not it was a good or bad sign. "They were for after the conversation with Miss Heartily, if the circumstances turned for the worst."

"Thank you."

"At 11:55, I went to the Quad. I found Miss Heartily standing at the balcony, and, nervously approached her."

"Define `Approached'," Quistis demanded hastily, clearly desperate for some evidence against me. I guess she hated me, for some unknown reason.

"Walked up to her, stopping a few feet from her."

She sighed, showing signs of an urge to give up. "Continue." She mumbled.

"She had broke up with me, after a few minutes conversation. She then left, and I collapsed to the floor and cried for a few hours." I looked in her direction again. She was blushing furiously.

"Objection! Your honor, the defendant's story has no relevance what- so-ever to the question asked!" Rinoa screamed.

"Overruled. I'm going to allow the defendant to continue, as the story may yet still contain some relevance. Please, Squall, Continue." Cid said, to my shock, sympathetically.

I sighed, annoyed with the constant interruptions. I wish I could get this over with quickly. I sipped my water again. "I heard the intercom call my name, but I wasn't in the mood to discuss the situation. So, I ignored it and headed to my dorm."

"Your honor, I request that the defendant's last words be considered a confession to Treason!" Quistis shouted hopefully.

"Denied, the charge of Treason is more complicated than that, Miss Trepe. Or have you forgotten?"

"N-No s-sir!" She stuttered, embarrassed.

"That's your honor."

"Sorry, sir- I-I mean your honor." She said quickly.

"Continue, Mr. Leonhart."

I was quite annoyed. "On the way back to my dorm, I bumped into Seifer. He started to mock and insult me, so I wrote him a dismissal slip due to his behavior."

"What was exactly written?" Cid asked.

"Seifer Almasy. Dismissal for intolerable behavior towards superiors. Squall Leonhart."

"Thank you."

"He then started running down the hall, screaming...... rude comments about me. After a harsh break-up, I wasn't going to put up with that. I snapped, lost all control. I cast Aura on my self, for a stronger attack, and Protect on him, so he wouldn't die from my attack."

"Leonhart, is there any proof of you casting Protect on the victim?"

"I'm not sure. It should've lasted for... about 10 minutes, since it wasn't intended to last long. It was intended to get the job done. How long was it before help came to Mr. Almasy?"

"I'll ask the questions!" Quistis shouted.

"Miss Trepe, the response to his question may result in an accurate response to your question." Cid told her.

"Sorry your honor."

"May I continue?" I asked, growing even more pissed, still able to keep my cool.

"Yes, please do." Cid said politely, becoming slightly convinced at my story.

"Miss Trepe, when did help arrive for the victim?"

"About 4 minutes after the attack."

"My attack lasted just under a minute. That does not even 5 minutes since the cast of Protect."

"And how is this proving you actually cast Protect?"

Shit, are you really that dense?!?! "I'm getting to that. Protect would have lasted Ten minutes. With less than five minutes since casting, help arrives, and then they wouldn't be able to touch him until the spell wore off. Will the helping party be questioned on that?"

"Not by me," she said, perhaps a little too cocky. Cid was very annoyed.

"Then may I suggest that the decision of whether or not Protect was cast remain Undecided until the rescuing party has been questioned of whether or not they could touch the victim?" I suggested, still feeling nervous, but not showing it.

"Hmm..." Cid thought for a moment. "Agreed. Please, continue."

"After he hit the ground, unconscious from my attack, I returned to my dorm. I washed up and tried to get some sleep. A few minutes later, I was arrested."

"Thank you, Mr. Leonhart. The offense calls for its first witness, Dr. Kadowaki."

I left the desk and took my seat next to Rinoa. I received only a nasty look from her, hoping for support. I saw Dr. Kadowaki take my previous spot.

"Doctor," Quistis questioned, reassessing her approach, "What injuries did the victim have when you found him?"

"He had only received a number of cuts from a Gunblade made from Adamantine."

"Is there a count to the wounds?"

"I believe 46."

There was silence for a few moments. Quistis reconsidered her earlier comment. "Were you able to touch the victim upon arrival?"

"No. Either Protect or Shell had been cast, so we were not able to touch the victim for another 5 minutes or so."

I nearly laughed, but held it in.

"Thank you. You may be seated. The offense calls for Mathew Stolesbock."

Dr. Kadowaki took her seat in the audience. A short, must've been 9 year old boy stepped up to the desk.

"Mathew, explain what you saw when the defendant and victim were fighting."

"Defendant? Victim?" Mathew asked in a high pitched voice.

Quistis walked up to him and pointed at Squall. "That man is the defendant, and," Then pointing to a heavily bandaged Seifer across the room, "That man is the victim."

"Oh. Alright. I saw them yelling at each other, than that man," he said, pointing at me, "gave the other guy a piece of paper. The hurt guy then walked away screaming things down the hall and then the other guy started casting things one on himself and one on the other guy and then attacked him."

"Thank you. You can go sit down now."

"The offense rests." Quistis sighed, having her part finally over.

"Would the defense step up please?" Cid asked.

Rinoa didn't seem too confident on this case.

"The defense calls Squall Leonhart." She said.

I walked up to the desk, and sat down.

"Mr. Leonhart, what model is your gunblade? What materials were used for its creation?" She asked calmly.

"I use the Lionheart model. Adamantine, Dragon fangs and pulse ammo was used to make it."

Seeing failure, she cursed to herself. She didn't look like she had anything to say.

Cid interrupted the silence.

"Miss Heartily, have you any further questions?"

"No your honor. It seems that all the necessary questions have already been asked."

"It would appear so, wouldn't it? Any witnesses?"

"Yes. The defense calls Seifer Almasy."

Seifer limped to the desk.

"Mr. Almasy, Explain, from your point of view, what had happened at the time of the attack."

"I don't remember."

"Why not? You were nearly killed."

"Not by that weakling." He muttered, hoping nobody heard him.

"Mr. Almasy, please refrain from insulting the defendant." Cid nearly screamed.

"Sorry, your honor."

Rinoa resumed questioning. "Mr. Almasy, do you think that your actions were reasonable?"

"What actions?"

"Insulting Mr. Leonhart."

"There is no proof of that. I refuse to answer until there is proof!" he yelled.

"Fine, fine. You called Mr. Leonhart a weakling? Perhaps you should take a look at the damage he has done to you!"

"Objection! Relevance!" Quistis shouted.

"Sustained. Miss Heartily, please do not characterize the victim and stay on topic!"

"Nothing further."

"Then you and the victim may be seated." They took their seats. "Has the jury reached the verdict?"

Instructor Shelly, the History teacher, stood. "Yes we have your honor. For the charge of Attempted Murder, we find the defendant – Guilty. For the charge of High Treason Class One we find the defendant – Not Guilty for reason of uncontrolled rage."