The morning was chilly. It was still a little dark as Rinoa walked along the road that connected Balamb with Garden. The White SeeD Ship, where Zone and Watts were on, was probably waiting for her already. The White SeeD had promised to take them all to Timber, but still, Rinoa was quite sure that they wouldn't wait her if she was late. She decided to hurry.

Finally she reached the town. She walked past the gas station which hadn't opened yet, and through the quiet main street. Some fishermen had already gathered to the harbor, which was otherwise empty of people, to look at the massive white ship.

"Rinoa Heartilly?" a sailor asked when she walked up to the deck.

"Yes, that's me."

"Welcome on board! Zone and Watts are waiting for you inside."

Rinoa went inside to the hallway, where Zone and Watts were standing. They hadn't changed at all: Zone looked a bit pale like always and Watts was still wearing his worn yellow vest. They both had been employed to the ship a while after they had been rescued by the White SeeD.

Zone gave her a hug. "Yay! Rinoa's back!"

"Nice to see you again!" Watts said and hugged her as well.

"Hey, it's nice to be here!" Rinoa smiled warmly.

"So, how did you get these guys to come pick you up?" Watts asked.

"You know... I talked with Headmaster Cid and he talked to his wife, Edea..."

"I see. So it must be something important that you came here for?"

"I'm here to reunite the Forest Owls!"

You could clearly see how surprised Zone and Watts were. They were both silent.

"Ow-ow-owowowow... my stomach hurts!" Zone finally complained loudly. Rinoa's plans had come as a total surprise.

The three of them talked about it.

"Freeing Timber has always felt impossible," Watts said. "My dad tried it with Zone's father a long time ago, but failed. And you gotta admit: we haven't been too succesful, either. Besides, that new president of Galbadia is crazy, even compared to old President Deling. He has increased the number of soldiers in Timber quite dramatically..."

Rinoa looked disappointed. "You won't help?"

"That's not what I said. It will be hard, and there's a really tiny chance to succeed. But if there is any kind of chance at all, I want to believe in it! Right, Zone?"

"Right! Let's rock!"

Later that day, in Balamb Garden, Seifer stood in row with Raijin, Fujin and two other students on the hallway of the second floor, waiting for results. He had to admit that he was nervous.

Xu arrived. "Here are the results... Raijin."

"YEAH!"

"Fujin..."

"Great."

"And... this is weird." Xu looked at the paper she was holding. "Seifer's name is here... but it doesn't say if you passed or not."

Seifer was confused. "What!"

"I don't know." Xu shrugged her shoulders. "You three had better go see the Headmaster. Dismissed!"

The Headmaster was standing on the third floor with his hands behind his back, waiting for the disciplinary committee.

"Did I make it or not?" Seifer demanded to know when he arrived.

"Where are your manners?" the Headmaster asked. "I'm going to talk about it..."

Seifer felt tense. He wanted to beat the truth out of the old man, but controlled himself. Man! What am I even thinking?

"It was hard for me to choose who becomes a SeeD," Cid continued. "The field exam was way too easy for you. Besides, I still remember your past field test, Seifer. The one in Dollet..."

"But that was a long time ago."

"Hmm-m. I know that, but I'm not sure if can trust you. That's why I ended up with an unusual decision. I will give you a temporary SeeD membership. You can make it permanent as soon as we get a new mission where you can prove your skills..."