Balamb Garden
The Garden had returned to its native soil in Balamb after the battle with Ultimicia was over. The Garden reframed from flying, its use no longer needed and went back to its normal state of training SeeD's.
The students continued to Work, study and live within Garden despite the events that happened to most of them during the fight with Ultimicia. It took only a while for them to understand that what happen back then was over with and that the future was not going to be the same.
The halls of the Garden were alive with chattering and moving bodies, against the sound of running water from inside and from the Quad. But the most sounds came from inside the training center, a few young kids wanted to become strong fighters like Squall had been against Seifer and the 'Evil Sorceress' as they called them. Zell Dincht, 'the fighting machine' took it upon himself to train them, quickly forming the idea of his own fan club.
"Come on guys!" Zell shouted, facing the group of kids that were celebrating over their victory over the mighty T-rex. The students were dancing around the fallen dinosaur, kicking it time to time just for laughs. Their faces were brightly lit with happiness.
"Well…" Zell thought, a smile appearing on his face. "They did quiet good on their fifth try… I guess next time I'll let them finish it off for a change"
Zell scratched the back of his head and frowned. He was always finishing the battles they faced and covered it up with an excuse 'you guys did great, you hardly needed my help!' or 'you guys are just too tough for such a weak thing, let me get rid of it' knowing full well their attack weren't strong enough to make any damage. Their battles took ages and Zell got bored of just sitting and waiting, so he used his excuse to finish the battles quickly and move on to some more training.
Zell shook his thoughts from his head and peered at his students, their celebration had grown down and they were slowly calming down until they were out of breath from their victory. Zell smiled and then singled them over with a whistle that sounded kind of wet and water like. The students quickly followed up and fall in line from tallest to smallest.
"Now… let me try and get this straight," a voice said, sounding kind of confused. Zell peered over to the direction of the voice and traced it to a lone cowboy, Irvine Kinneas, who was leaning against the entrance. "Are you trying to make them strong or are you trying to build yourself a fan club?"
"A little from collum A…" Zell began to say, waving his left hand about while he moved closer to the cowboy. Zell looked at the kids then back at Irvine. "And a lot from collum B"
"…Thought so" Irvine thought, having the same idea if he was in Zell's shoes, expects he wouldn't be teaching them fighting skill.
"So what calls you out here cowboy?" Zell asked, crossing his arms. "You hardly like to come down here"
"It's true…" Irvine said, spinning his gun around his index finger. "But I have a message to give ya! Important SeeD business…or so I was told" Zell stood up straight and peered over at his students.
"Hey dudes! Go practise you fighting skill, will ya?! I'll be back in a while" The students shrugged their shoulder and ran through the doors to the left of the training centre, their screaming echoing around the place.
Irvine and Zell soon appeared in front of the Garden gates near the road. Upon passing through Zell saw Rinoa Carrway and Selphie Tilmitt sitting on the steps he was coming down. He then spotted his former instructor, Quistis Trepe, sitting upon the chained post. Zell didn't make himself notice but grabbed Irvine before he could him.
"What is this all about?" Zell asked, grabbing at the cowboy coat. "Who's calling the shots there?" Zell asked sounding just like a gangster. Irvine smiled and threw his hands out to the side.
"You got me partner! The headmaster wanted to talk to ya all! He wanted me to gather you all at the gate for some reason unknown!" Irvine explained having no real clue about what he was told to do.
"You said this was a SeeD matter?" Zell added, pointing his finger right at the cowboy.
"Cid told me to say that man!"
Zell peered over and saw that Selphie and Quistis were in their SeeD uniform. Lucky, Zell took a liking to the uniform and wore it around. It made him feel in power and control, which in fact it did.
"Why are you and Rinoa here?"
"Cid is having us try out for SeeD, man!" Irvine said rather excited. "Me, a lone cowboy a member of SeeD! Can you just see it?" Irvine lowered his hat over his left eye and smiled as he does in the presence of a lady. Zell back off a bit. "The women will be all over me"
"…Trust me on this man, it ain't as easy as it sounds!" Zell thought scratching at the idea of Irvine being a SeeD.
Zell let go of Irvine and back away, dusting the cowboy's coat as he did. Irvine raised his hat and walked down the stairs patting both Rinoa and Selphie on the head as he pasted. Zell watched and followed afterwards.
"Hey Zell! Long time no see, eh?" Selphie greeted as Zell pasted, punching him in the leg as a friendly gesture. Zell peered back and gave Selphie a calm thumbs up, which she also gave him.
Rinoa didn't answer Zell. She was reading a book the Headmaster gave her, entitled, 'SeeD'. The book's front and back cover was a sea coloured blue and the words were written in gold. He took notice of the Authors of the book. 'Head master Cid and wife Edea'.
Edea had grown to be much helpful around the Garden. She seems to have the weirdest effect on people, even on the Headmaster. All the student's feel happier and even the Headmaster never seem to lose his cool when in danger or in trouble anymore. Zell almost forgot when the last time Cid cried when over pressured.
"So where Squall?" Irvine asked, not seeing or hearing Squall.
"He'll be back," Quistis said, lifting her head. "He went into town, said something about having something imported here" She pushed off from the chain she was resting on and walked over to Irvine and Zell. "Good afternoon gentlemen"
"Afternoon to you too Quistis!" Zell greeted with a warming smile.
"My lady" Irvine said, removing his hat from his brown hair and slightly bending down. He tried reaching for Quistis's hand but she pulled away before he could kiss it. Quistis giggle in a half-joke manner at Irvine's action.
"…Nice try buddy" Zell thought with a small smile on his face. Irvine stood up straight and placed his hat back on his head.
"Maybe next time" Irvine thought as he backed off, sitting next to Selphie who laid her head on his bord shoulder.
Zell shrugged his shoulder and moved in closer to his former instructor.
"So… when did Squall say he'll be back?" Quistis shook her head; Squall had just said to her he would be back later that afternoon, not giving her a direct answer. Zell threw his fist to the floor. "How boring!" he sighed, rather displeased. "Now we got to wait for him as well as the headmaster!"
Fifteen minutes later Headmaster Cid as well as Edea appeared from the front gates, but no one heard approached. They were like almost asleep, expect for Rinoa who wanted to become a SeeD.
"Good Afternoon my SeeDs!" Headmaster Cid said rather cheerfully. The group awoke with a startle and quickly formed a line, saluting the Headmaster and wife.
"At ease!" The group relax and stood calmly as the Headmaster and Edea walked down the steps. "My, we have done very well in training you all!" Cid moved in closer. "Very pleased, we are!"
"Dear…" Edea pleaded, tapping on Cid's back. "We have to wait for everyone to be here first"
Headmaster Cid drew back and adjusted his glasses. After a while he took them off and clean the lenes with the bottom of his hanky. The Headmaster placed his glasses on and peered at his SeeDs.
"Oh dear me… were is Squall?" Quistis stepped forward, stationing her hand behind her back.
"Squall is out, Headmaster… Won't be long now, sir! Had some important bus…" Before Quistis could finish, a loud motorbike pulled up.
The group turned around to the motorbike that was stationed on the road nearest them, with the rider still on. The rider wore leather pants with red belts around his thighs, a leather jack with fur around the collar, leather gloves, a lion head necklace and sunglasses.
"Sorry I'm late!" Squall said, turning off the motorbikes engine.