In the Memory

By Soulbade Dark Knight

Disclaimer: well you know the drill, I do not own final Fantasy 8 or their characters or Elune (they are rights to Blizzard Entertainment) I just got bored and wrote….. Lots. Any characters that are added I do own and I wish to keep that way unless you ask me really nicely.

Summary: What happens when Squall loses the ability to think in his own head? (Thanks to Rinoa.) The secrets of the 'Commander' are coming out, but are some too late to tell now. A new power is rising as 'the Leonhart's' they want their revenge for a forgotten promise.

Chapter four: Silver, depart and rough landing

1300 hours at the front gate

"Commander, SeeD's, Instructors and Cadets," Cid announced to the group. "There is danger in every mission, but this one is different. This mission will test your training over the years that you have been in the Garden, or months. I wish you all good luck, and hope you have a safe journey. There is a small forest outside of Winhill, where you will meet your contacts. I'm guessing they will tell you more once you get there, the Ragnarok lies just outside of the Garden. It's a short walk so you better get going, you don't want to be late."

They filed out of the Garden leaving the building progress to the worker and the rest of the Garden, Squall stayed behind just for a little longer. He stared up at the Garden, his work, his problem and his home.

"Squall, be careful out there okay? Any thing could happen; you never know what help you may need. Take this as a farewell gift, and good luck charm." Cid handed Squall a silver ornament. The silver was shining dully, but yet the ornament had a sort of charm to it. Squall took the ornament and gently handing it he put it in his pocket, and turned once again to cid. "Squall take care okay, of yourself and the others?"

"You do the same Cid, while I look after them. Can you after my home?" He sincerely spoke to cid, finally more as he was talking to his father than Headmaster.

Cid was surprised at Squall's sincerity, but he nodded his head to the younger teen. Cid had always, whether or not meant to, treated Squall as his son. It was hard for Cid to watch Squall, he reminded him so much of his own son. He knew there was no way that it was Squall, Cid's son died a long time ago.

"Hurry up, Squall!" Selphie cried after Squall. "We're leaving like now!"

Squall ran after the group, leaving without saying goodbye to Cid. Squall looked one last time at his home; he'd worry about his family while he was gone. Cid watched as Squall, his commander, his worker and his son, left the Garden. He knew that he would now try even harder, to make sure that nothing happened while squall was gone.

Cid's great meaning of the Ragnarok is near by really meant: its near by but you'll have to walk for a while to get there. Selphie although wasusually cheering people up, decided to complain the whole time.

"Why did the Headmaster say it was near by when it was ages away? We could have brought a car you know, it may not be the cheapest opinion but it would be faster. I mean we've been walking for ever, my feet hurt and I'm hungry" Selphie whined in a high pitched voice.

"Selphie, darlin, maybe Cid thought it would be good for us to work" Irvine suggested to her.

"It's good to walk in a short skirt and boots?! …..Why is the Headmaster thinking of me in a short skirt?" Selphie now grossed out at the thought started backing away from Irvine.

"No Selphie what Irvine is trying to say that he thinks you are fat, and need more exercise" Squall blurted out. Selphie gasped very loud, and slapped Irvine on the face.

"Irvy, how could you? I knew it! I just knew it, the way you were looking at the other girls in the Garden. But I never thought you would have told Squall of all people, Irvine I'm hurt." She gasped again this time really almost eyes watering. She knew perfectly well that Squall was teasing her, but she decided to use that against Irvine. She just wanted his extra attention at trying to explain himself to her, she wasn't really angry. Evilly she thought that this might also be a chance to stop the flirting obsession that Irvine, yet she doubted it. "You're not gay are you?! Squall, tell me more of what Irvine has said…… Squall….. where'd you go?"

"I think more importantly where did Rinoa, Seifer, Zell and Quistis all go?" Irvine said looking around.

"WE GOT LEFT BEHIND!" They both cried running towards the red Ragnarok that was way out in the distance.

The ride to the Forest of Winhill was a silent one, Squall and Rinoa left to some place in the back of the Ragnarok. Selphie in huff refused to be anywhere else in the Ragnarok but driving it, Irvine tired to convince her he didn't think she was fat. So in the end it was just Quistis, Zell and Seifer in the room downstairs next to the Elevator. Zell started to feel the tension in the room, many coming from Seifer. He wouldn't stop staring at Quistis, he had this long wanting look in his eyes. Zell was frightened Seifer wasn't being like Seifer. Seifer wouldn't stare at Quistis that way, or maybe he always had but never did Zell notice. Either way Zell decided it was best to leave, before Seifer made him.

Seifer watched as Zell left, and he almost groaned out loud. He was having a hard enough time as it was without having to be in a room alone with her. Room alone….. he was in shit.

Quistis in the mean time didn't even notice Seifer, she was too busy trying to get the safety catch off of the gun that Cid had given them to use "just in case." Usually they were to use just their weapons such as her whip. But Cid insisted that they also take the guns, the only bad thing was Quistis couldn't figure up how to use it properly. Sure she knew how to load the gun and if you pulled the trigger it fired, just not the damn safety catch. Seifer watched with interest as Quistis struggled to get it off, Seifer went over to help her. He took the gun calmly out of her hands, he quickly took off the safety cap and gave it back to her. Quistis looked at Seifer with strange look, he had just helped her without asking. It was odd for Seifer to ever do anything like that for anyone, but this cause Quistis to say the only thing she could think of.

"I would of got that eventually" Quistis rather harshly.

"Well excuse me for trying to help Ms top-Instructor" Seifer turned away offend and hurt by her words as he had been trying to help.

"Yes well I didn't need any help 'Cadet'" Quistis said now upset, she didn't like being referred to as 'Instructor' all the time.

"FINE!" Seifer cried angrily, him being a Cadet still didn't help. She was an Instructor and would never forget that he was lower to her, or the pain that he had caused her when they had been younger.

"FINE!" Quistis loudly responded and sat on the opposite side of the room her back turned to him.

"Fine" Seifer finished the conversation eagerly to get away

Quistis and Seifer sat facing in two different ways refusing to look at the other; they were both as stubborn as each other. Quistis realised that in her state of shock, she'd said the wrong thing to Seifer. His feelings were still there as they had been as kids, Seifer was just like Squall. But Seifer was more emotional than Squall, and Quistis realised that she liked that about him. Although they were both similar, Squall and Seifer, they were also opposites. Now Quistis was confusing herself how could Seifer be like Squall and the opposite of him, it didn't make sense.

"Oi" Quistis thought "I'm confusing myself "

But she did know one thing if she didn't aplosise to Seifer, he would resent her. Nothing would ever change then, it would just keep on happening again and again. Quistis always to be fighting with some one she just wanted the fighting to stop. But then what would she do, she had nothing else.

"….I'm sorry, and thank you for your help" Quistis finally spoke breaking the silence between the two.

"Your welcome" Seifer responded.

"Seifer…. Do you remember the orphanage, when you used to all be friends?" Quistis talked about their past. Quistis wasn't sure how Seifer would react, but it had to be said either way.

"You mean when Squall and I wouldn't argue and were best friends" Seifer joked, trying to bring some light in the conversation. "That was a long time ago"

"Yeah….. I remember as a kid that you and Squall were everybody's favourites, we made a fan club for Squall lovers and Seifer lovers……… I was the head of the fan club for Seifer lovers" Quistis said. Seifer unfolded his legs and arms and turned around to Quistis, and she did the same. "I forgot the past, I forgot I cared about you like my own brother. I was blinded through my years that I taught you, I thought I had to forgive you. I was wrong you had to forgive me, how did you ever forgive some one like me?"

"Quistis everybody makes some mistakes, I made a much larger mistake on the scale than you did. How did you forgive me?" Seifer asked her.

"I guess we both had to forgive each other" Quistis stood up and gave her hand to Seifer "Friends?"

"Friends" Seifer said taking Quistis' hand as she helped him up.

"Mayday, mayday" Selphie's voice travelled through the entire ship. "Squall! Anyone! there's some sort of storm. I'm losing control of the ship, where ever you are hold to something it's gonna be a bumpy ride."

(A dream)

"I am the final………" someone's voice died out.

"How can you be your dead………" Squall said

"…………You never stood a chance" someone said again "you are alone"

"I am not alone………"

"It's all your fault" laughed a wicked person unrecognisable

"………It is my fault" Squall weakly said

Author's note: Thanks to all those people that took time to read my story WOOHOO! anyways keep on reviewing can't leave a rookie like me behind doing nothing can we? well i'll try and update soon but holidays alwasy seem to slow me down til then byes! ;p