Squall was lying on his bed with nothing to do. He was alone. Alone. That word sounded familiar to him. He had been called a lone wolf as long as he could remember. Then he met Rinoa and found a new side from himself: the Squall, who didn't want to be lonely. But now Rinoa was gone, with no clue when she would return, and he would have to get used to loneliness again.

I wonder what she's doing right now...


Rinoa was approaching Timber with Zone and Watts. The White SeeDs had left them to a coast near the city.

"Look," Rinoa said and pointed at the city gate. "Two guards."

"Let's hope that they won't recognize us," Watts said and started walking towards the gate.

"Why do you want to enter Timber!" the other soldier asked demandingly.

"We came to visit some friends of ours," Zone lied.

The soldiers stared at them for a moment, making them feel uncomfortable.

"I think we can let them in," the soldier finally said.

Timber was its usual self. Some Galbadian soldiers were patrolling the streets and ordinary people walked on the streets occasionally, obviously avoiding the soldiers. It had once been a lively city but the Galbadians had ruined its atmosphere completely during the eighteen years of occupation, by destroying things that the Timberians loved and replacing them by things that they hated. Now the real Timber lived only in people's minds.

"Should we go meet the Forest Fox's leader?" Rinoa asked.

Watts didn't think so: "It'd only mean trouble for them. My suggestion is that we go to a place near the TV station. It's an old little house where no one lives. It may be a little run-down, but that shouldn't matter. I used to play there with Zone when we were kids..."

"Oh, you mean the Lion's Nest?" Zone asked.

"That's right."

"Lion's Nest? Sounds good." Rinoa liked the name.

In Balamb Garden, Headmaster Cid had announced Squall to come to the bridge. Quistis and Zell were already there.

"What is it, sir?" Squall asked.

"Nothing special," the Headmaster said and smiled politely. "I just need the three of you to escort a VIP here from Balamb."

"Who is this VIP?"

"The prime minister of Dollet. It is still unknown why he wants to meet me. I suspect that it might have something to do with Galbadia..."

The prime minister came to Balamb by a small ship. He was an important-looking, middle-aged man in good shape. He wore a business suit and had a black briefcase on his hand.

"You must be the SeeDs that Cid sent to escort me," he said.

"Correct," Squall responded. "Please follow me. Your car is over there..."

"Alright."

Headmaster Cid was waiting for his guest at the parking lot when they arrived.

Cid introduced himself: "Cid Kramer."

They shaked hands. "Vincent Gunzler."

"So... I have understood that you wanted to talk with me about something. Oh, Squall and the rest, could you leave us..."

"No. Let them be. Depending on your choice, my request may affect everyone in this Garden."

"What is it?"

"Let me get straight to the point. I'm here to ask military support against Galbadia."