The ride to Esthar was a long one and D'meera began to grow bored. They had been flying for more then three hours till they began to see the landing strip.

"OK', Zell addressed the waiting cadets. Both he and Irvine had been sent along to serve as overseers during the exam. Much to Jenner's protest of having his father as one of the instructors to be grading him the rest of the kids were relieved to have them there. Along with them came Selphie to pilot the mighty Ragnarok.

" Now I need both Squads A and B to go with Instructor Kinneas while Squads C and D stay with me. Right now we're approaching the Esthar Landing strip so buckle up, Instructor Kinneas", he looked to Irvine as so he could gather his group of cadets.

"Alright y'all are gonna be with me for the remainder of this exam. When we land we'll be met by President Loire. From there we'll head to the presidential palace, we'll be briefed by President Loire on the current situation at the Memorial. After the briefing we will be given our rooms and we'll stay the night. In the morning we're to board a military vehicle which will take us to the memorial. When we get there our job is to conduct a search for anything out of the ordinary. Now listen up, since we only have one female with us I want no funny stuff goin on. Do I make myself clear."

" Sir yes Sir"

"Any questions?"

"Instructor Kinneas, sir. What's the length of time in which we will have to conduct this search?" D'meera asked. If she was gonna be the captain then she might as well start now.

"There is no time limit, we'll stay in Esthar until the headmaster decides we've done our job."

" Yes sir"

"Ok y'all ready?"

"Sir yes Sir", their voices chimed with excitement.

Exiting the Ragnarok Aurdrian spotted a familiar trio. He smiled and waited for the group to approach. After almost three decades of ruling Esthar the aging president still remained quite young in the looks. Although he was in his 60's Laguna still remained the same happy go lucky guy, the only way one could tell his age was his hair. Although it was still black it was slowly being invaded by graying hair.

He smiled at the sight of the kids as they excited the ship. It had been some time since he had last see his son and grandchildren. Irvine, Selphie, and Zell were the first to greet him. they too had changed after the defeat of Ultimecia. Irvine still wore his usual cowboy attire, and his hair had become longer after time. But he carried the look of one who had attained a sort of wisdom in surviving. Zell changed a little more after becoming a father. He no longer dawned his usual costume but settled for a more reserved look about him, although he was still childish in nature he had become more mature when it came to things concerning Garden. As for Selphie whom had become a mother at the age of 19, she wore the look of a mother, a real mother. All the younger children of garden flocked to her for comfort. She had calmed down a bit but still seemed to be hyperactive when it came to coordinating activities or children.

" Boys it's been some time, huh?" he smiled as he shook Irvine and Zell's hands.

" Yes sir it sure has. How are you Mr. President?"

" Getting old!", he laughed.

" Sir Laguna!!!!" came Selphie's voice as she ran from the Ragnarok to meet Laguna throwing her arms around him.

" So where's my son?" he asked smiling wildly.

" Um… Squall had to stay at garden and Aurdrians actually taking the exam here", she chirped.

At that moment Laguna spotted his younger son exiting the mighty Ragnarok talking with a young female around his age. She had long blonde/red hair held back by a simple twist and stick. As she got closer he noticed her emerald jade eyes and how they contrasted to his son's sapphire blue's. He smiled so she must be the one he always talks about, he thought. Yet there was something about the girl that reminded him of someone or something.

"Laguna?" Kiros's voice brought him back to reality.

" Hmm?" he looked to his aide and long time friend.

" You ready? The cadets are waiting."

" Oh sorry I must have zoned out."

" That's not surprising", his friend chuckled.



"So yeah any questions?"

" Well I have one President Loire."

" Ok shoot."

" Well is it just me or can anyone else see that it's totally coincidental that both your son and grandkids are taking the Field Exam while under you watchful eye. Furthermore I find it quite intriguing that your son and grandson are in the same two squads that are to be escorted to the memorial by both you and Estharian guards. Don't you think it's a little strange Mr. President?" Jenner smirked as he finished.

" Well, ah, yeah it is kinda strange isn't it?"

"Oh shut up Jenner" D'meera hissed at him.

" Father, if you permit I would wish to retire now for the night since it's late and we all are quite exhausted.", Aurdrian cut in before any blood could flow between Jenner and D'meera.

"Oh yeah sure, sure Kiros if you could be so kind as to show these fine student's their quarters for the night."

"Laguna I'm pretty sure they know where to go. I mean Talon is in the group."

"Oohhh yeah. Well then Talon you know the way. Show your friends the place."

"Sure thing Grandpa." With that the group was off minus Aurdrian who pulled D'meera aside before they all left the room.

"Hey, what are you doing? We're going to get in trouble" she whispered to him as so Laguna who was still present could not here.

"No we won't it's my house and beside I wanna show you something", he smiled as he pulled her closer. Dee really liked this feeling she was getting from him. she looked up into his sapphire eyes and smiled devilishly.

"Oh really, what is it", she breathed out getting closer to his lips. As for now she could care less if the President of Esthar was watching them. She knew how she felt for Aurdrian.

"Well", he returned her smile and leaned in closer brushing a straying lock of hair from her eyes, "it's a secret and I don't wanna ruin it just yet."

"Oh? I'm sorry I should go now, huh? Yeah I take this as my queue to leave" Laguna interrupted as he turned and saw how close his son and the young girl were. In a way Laguna was happy for him yet in a way he had a bad feeling about the two. He quickly made his way towards the door before Aurdrian grabbed his arm.

"Dad is the garden still open?" he whispered in his ear.

"Yeah sure why? Go ahead I'll tell your instructors I had you do something for me. Go. Go " he urged his son while looking at him with questioning eyes that told him not to do anything that he'll later regret.



* * *

Sitting on one of the many benches in the garden area of the palace Aurdrian sat with his friend. Dee was leaning against his leg looking at a blossom of some plant she picked.

"So what's this surprise you have to show me?"

he looked at his timepiece then at the stars, " You'll see. Just look up when I tell you to ok?"

"Why? What am I gonna see? Aurdrian Loire if I look up and see you standing naked in front of me by Hyne help me if you ever live to see another day"

"Awww damn D'meera you killed it", he laughed, "ok ok look, look up now"

As she looked up the shape of a comet came into view. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. The comet was a jade blue and it shined brightly against the black of the night. It's seemed to be racing against the stars. Behind it trailed a long tail of brightly shining dust.

"Oh… Aurdrian that's beautiful. How'd you know when it was coming?"

"Easy I found it a few weeks ago. I named it D'meera's jade, after you", he smiled as he leaned forward to meet her face. She looked at him and slowly brushed her lips up against his as he placed a kiss ever so lightly upon her. She returned his kiss and opened her moth a bit so he could explore the very taste of her small mouth with his tongue. She had been waiting some time now for this. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately as he held her closer to him. Hidden in the shadows of the garden a lone figure watched as the two held each other.

"Time is coming soon my Sorceress very soon." He whispered to himself as he left the two together alone.



*A/N well what'd y'all think? Was it an ok chapter or should I just scrap the whole thing? And what about the little garden seen could it have been better???? Let me know R&R *