Squall stared down at the piece of paper that lay on his desk.

It was dark in his small dorm room, except for the small lamp's light that he had on. He had been staring at that piece of paper for nearly half an hour, and yet all it asked for was his signature to reinstate Seifer Almasy back into the Garden.

"What should I do?" Squall thought, resting his head in his right hand. Squall had never thought he would encounter such an easy question that was so hard to answer. "Such an easy request… but such a hard answer. It doesn't bother someone like me, but then that's just it… I don't mind yet others do!"

Squall remembered talking to a group of trainees before coming to his dorm. Their answer didn't help him; it just made the answer to his question more complicated.

"Hey!" Squall shouted in a soft tone as he approached the trainees. They turned around and saluted their leader, before he could talk onwards. "…Um, at ease. Listen… what would you guys think…" Squall stopped for a brief second. He didn't want them to know about Seifer return, he just wanted to know what they felt. "Um…just say if Seifer Almasy returned, what would you think?"

Their reacting was sooner then he thought it would be.

"What?!" one of the girls shrieked. "That traitor is coming back!"

"No…no!!" Squall quickly rebutted. "I just wanted to know what you guys would feel if he came back"

"I wouldn't like!"

"Neither would I!"

"He betray the school, he disgraced our Garden!"

"Their response is just… but they didn't see everything that happened to Seifer when Edea was still a sorceress"

"But what if…" Again Squall paused, he needed to know from every angel. Even if it meant a little lie, he himself never figured out if Seifer was under a spell or not. "What if he was under a spell, what if he had no choice?" The trainees' faces became softer at Squall explanation/lie, as they never really thought about it.

"Seifer under a… spell?"

"He had no…choice?"

"I guess we could be…wrong"

Squall began to smile, his attempt to change their minds work, even though he might have been telling a lie to the students. But the smile faded as he realized that they only agree because of it and in the end he was more lost then he began. He thanked the students and then continue with a frown plastid of his face.

Squall frowned and sighed as he remembered his attempt didn't help him one bit, but did the complete opposite. He picked up the pen that lay next to the reinstatement paper and place it where his signature was needed to be printed, but stopped as soon as the pen hit the paper.

"Damn! It shouldn't be this hard to just think up a simple answer, even if it is Seifer! But…" Squall dropped the pen and held his head in both his hands. "As a commander, it's my duty to insure everything goes smoothly and that everyone is… happy"

Squall kicked back, pushing his chair on their rear legs and hooked his feet on the table as support. He wasn't getting use to his whole commander thing; it gave him too much trouble, as there were already enough problems. He like the command but hated the responsibility that went with it.

"I'm not the person for this job! Sure I like its high rank and nice paying salary… But I hate it when everyone looks up to me to make decisions for them!" Squall crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he usually does when he's annoyed or frustrated. "I didn't need anyone to help me make decisions when… I was young."

Squall opened his eyes and landed all four legs on the ground, grabbed the pen and started writing his signature.

"Everyone has to learn sometime… just deal with what you get handed to you… even if you can't handle it!" Squall raised the paper up to his face and sighed.

"Welcome back… Seifer"

.

.

In the field of Dollet…Outside Timber

The wind was gentle and sweet near the lake outside of Timber, surrounded by forest and animal life. Thanks to Squall and his friends, Timber did eventually get their independents and everyone couldn't be happier. The Galbadia army withdrew and the people were even glad, especially the two guards that guarded the front gate.

"Shiva!" a voiced carried on the wind, sounding like a snarling beast was around, but nothing was around. "Come on! Keep moving!"

The wind started to intensify and the water surfaces in the nearby lake started to swirl like a whirlpool. The trees that lined around the lake blew harshly as the wind shook them. The lake's new whirlpool started to flicker, changing from blue to sliver (only the whirlpool) as a creature leap from the water's surface, cast in a sliver flame that didn't harm or burn.

The creature turned its three heads back at the whirlpool that was still flickering. The creature drew near the water and took a sip to drink before looking back into the water.

"Shiva?!" Cerberus shouted (In mind) at his partner still trapped in the Spirit Realm. "What's wrong?!" there was silent for a few minutes. "Shiva!" Cerberus dropped his tough act and poked his heads in the water, become a little worried.

"Hey! I can't get out! Cerberus!" Shiva shouted, still carrying the crystals of her friends.

"What's the matter?"

"I keep running but I don't reach the other end!"

"Just keep going, its only meant to make you think that… this was a secret I used to past into the human world" Cerberus explained, backing away from the lake as he finished. After a few seconds Shiva leaped out of the whirlpool, her arms carrying the crystals of her friends.

Shiva landed beside Cerberus, puffing from the long trip in the endless hallway. She clutched the crystals tighter in her grip, as if they were about to be stolen. Cerberus sat down on his hind legs and awaited for his partner to regain her strength, the whole ordeal was pretty tough on the both of them.

Cerberus sighed and suddenly broke down in pain. His powerful head butt to Nashtru chest proved effective and painful then he thought. "That chest plate was real solid though" Cerberus thought, rubbing his heads with his paws. "I just don't understand! None of this make any sense… he should be dead! Rip through time and dissolved into nothingness!"

"Is there something wrong, Cerberus?" Shiva asked. Cerberus reared his head and peered at the ice spirit. Shiva's face was filled with concerned and care, as the soft light from the crystals she held tightly.

"Hmm…"

"Your worried about something… is it Nashtru?"

"I didn't realized I thought so loud" Cerberus joked, slightly chuckling before retaining silent. Shiva was happy that she was able to break the ice that now surrounded him. Her happiness faded as she peered back down at her trapped friends, locked away in their crystal prison. She could tell by the colours of the crystals which one of her friends were inside.

"Hold on please… we'll find a way to help you guys! We'll be together soon… I promise" Shiva thought, holding the crystals up to her face and rubbing them against her cheek. A single tear fall amongst the colours crystals.

"Shiva…" Cerberus interrupted, nudging the ice spirit's shoulder. Shiva paused and then raised her head to the dog spirit. Cerberus turned about and walked towards the clearing.

"They'll be alright… as long as we keep them near us! There is still hope" Cerberus sighed. Shiva could note Cerberus's concerned tone; she felt the same thing that this task wasn't as easy as Cerberus made it seem. "Come! We can get to Balamb faster on four legs then six!" Shiva quickly leaped to her legs, running over to Cerberus and jumping upon the dogs back. "Ready?"

"Ready"

"Alright!" Cerberus growled. Each head highlighting a pleased smile on their faces. "Off to Balamb Garden!" Cerberus dug his claws into the ground before disappearing through the forest towards Balamb. "Hopefully the Garden has taken root back in its native soil… for our sake anyway!"