Chapter 8- Secrets

Back at Balamb Garden...

Squall "Alright, all students who took today's field exam have free time until we announce the results."

All the candidates start walking away.

Maia "Um, what about me?"

Squall "We'll hold a meeting with all SeeDs after we announce the results."

Maia "I know that, but where am I supposed to go until the meeting?"

Irvine "She can rest in my room."

Squall "(Leaving her alone with Irvine might not be such a good idea...) ... Rinoa, why don't you keep her company."

Rinoa "Ok."

Quistis "Good idea, Squall."

Zell "Let's go."

Selphie "Yeah!"

Irvine "Hey, hey, hey, fellas..." Squall, Quistis, Selphie and Zell walk away towards the Elevator

Rinoa "Well? Aren't we going?"

In Irvine's room. Irvine was looking out the window, and the girls were sitting on his bed.

Maia "Hey, Rinoa... Do you know Lani?"

Rinoa "Yeah..."

Irvine "Of course she does: he's the guy she wants to dump Squall for."

Maia "Woo! Really???"

Rinoa "What!?!? NO! Who told you that???"

Irvine "Heh.. Heard it from Seifer."

Rinoa "I should have know he'd spread such a rumor..."

Irvine "Say, Maia... Now that you brought him up... Are you guys... like... together or something?"

Maia "Me and Lani... together!? starts laughing Does it really seem like we are???"

Irvine "Well... kinda..."

Rinoa "..."

Maia to Rinoa "Heeey! You really like him, don't you!? Well no, we're not together, we're just... brothers."

Rinoa "WHAT???"

Irvine "HUH!? Well, that explains a lot."

Rinoa "You guys mind if I go see Seifer? He's probably convinced that Squall won't allow him to become a SeeD... I wanna cheer him up a little."

Irvine "Sure, go ahead." Rinoa leaves the room

Maia "She's gonna see Seifer?..."

Irvine "He's Lani's roommate."

Maia "Oh, that explains it... Hey... Why did you let me stay with you guys? Did you just wanna annoy Lani, or did you REALLY want me to stick around?"

Irvine "Well-"

Selphie just came into the room "Heeey!... Where's Rinoa!?"

Maia "She went to talk to Seifer."

Selphie "... To Seifer?"

Irvine "That's what she said, but we know she actually went to see Lani."

Selphie "Tee-hee! I knew that! Hey, Irvy, Squall said to call on you. We're about to announce who passed the exam and he said you should be there too."

Maia "Can I come?"

Selphie "... I guess..."

Irvine "Sure, come on!" (Selphie thump, thump)

In Seifer and Lani's room. Rinoa just walked in. Both Seifer and Lani were sitting on their beds, not saying a word.

Rinoa "Hey! Why the long faces?"

Seifer "... Squall won't let me become a SeeD..."

Lani "... What else? Maia showed up in the worst possible time..."

Rinoa "Hey, I understand she's our sister, Lani."

Seifer "Hahahaha! Why am I not surprised?"

Lani "... ... I can't believe she told you... I thought she'd at least be smart enough to shut up about this..."

Rinoa "Oh, come on! What's so bad about us knowing that?!"

Lani "..."

Squall on intercom "All SeeD candidates, please report to the 2F hallway; we'll be announcing the field exam results."

Lani "..." stands up and walks towards the exit

Seifer "Time to be humiliated once again..." follows Lani

Rinoa "... What is going on with him...?..." follows the two

On the 2F Hallway.

Squall "After we announce the results, all members of SeeD are to take part in a meeting. After that, we'll begin the SeeD Inauguration Party."

Quistis "The students who passed today's exam are: Martin, from Squad D, Raijin, from Squad B, Fujin, from Squad A, Gabrielle, from Squad B, Lani, from Squad A, and Seifer, from Squad A. Congratulations to all."

Squall "Now, all members of SeeD please follow me to my office; we will hold the meeting there." (yes, Squall had a very big office)

In Squall's office.

Squall "Go ahead, Maia."

Maia "Right... Well, this is what is REALLY going on in Galbadia."

Lani sigh "... Well, I guess it's for the best..."

A bunch of SeeDs "???"

Maia "Allora is actually under the control of Sorceress Alia, who, like most Sorceresses so far, want to obtain world domination. It would be no surprise if she would attempt to compress time, just like Ultimecia."

Selphie "Question! If Rinoa has the powers of Edea, Adel AND Ultimecia, who's powers does Alia have?"

Maia "There are many more Sorceresses in the world that no one knows about. It's a fact that Sorceress Alia wants to obtain the powers of three legendary Sorceresses. Such power would make her invincible, and that is what we cannot allow."

Squall "('We'...?... Seems like she already considers herself part of the team...)"

Irvine "So, like, what do we know about these Sorceresses?"

Maia "Their names and whereabouts have been long forgotten in time. The only things still known about them is that one is the Sorceress of the Forgotten Arts and she will only show herself to a worthy warrior, the second is the Sorceress of the Forbidden Knowledge, she will only show herself to one willing to learn, and the third is the Sorceress of the Unknown Power and she will only come forth to he who has felt the true power. This information still remains because of the legends who were passed down for generations."

Seifer "So, basically, we don't know anything we can actually use."

Maia "No, but Alia has the same clues as we do, so we can anticipate her moves."

Zell "Ok, but what does this have to do with the Lunatic Pandora?"

Maia "I was getting to that... The legend goes that these three Sorceresses are drawn to the energy of the Crystal Pillar. When Esthar enclosed it in the Lunatic Pandora, the Crystal Pillar lost it's potency."

Zell "I get it! Now Alia wants to retrieve it and take out the Crystal Pillar from it's metal case and try to call on the three Sorceresses."

Quistis "But Lani said..."

Maia "Hahaha! Of course he said something else... He didn't think you should know, but he still wanted to help, so he told you Galbadia's intentions and simply made up a false reason for everything."

Rinoa "... Why weren't we supposed to know?..."

Lani "... Would you still have around if you knew that... ... ... Alia is my mother?... ..."

Wooo! Gettin' interesting??? Review, please!!!!