Vincent Gunzler arrived in Fisherman's Horizon with his "bodyguards". The weather was sunny and calm, and birds were flying in the blue sky, like they had nothing to worry about. Gunzler wished that he could share the same feeling.

"Shall we stay here for a while...?" Seifer asked.

"No. We have to hurry," Gunzler said and started walking along the railroad. "We should be at the Great Salt Lake by the evening."

Seifer wiped the sweat off his forehead and followed him with Fujin and Raijin. It was going to be a long and boring journey... First his feet would start aching, then he would feel tired, but still he'd have to keep on walking.

"Compared to this, fighting against the Galbadians would be fun."

Gunzler looked at Seifer angrily. "Our soldiers are sacrificing their lives for Dollet. I respect them for that."

"Whatever."

Seifer had never understood people like Gunzler: the ones, who wanted to do everything for their homeland. It was the same land to him, whether it was Trabia or Centra. Or Balamb. Just a surface where all the living things can stand on. People can build borders and found nations... so what? In the end, they'll all just end up fighting against each others. It would be a lot easier if there was just one common land for everyone to live...



Dollet seemed to be on its knees at the war against the almighty Republic of Galbadia. Still, Timber's situation was even worse, because the Galbadian army base gave them a total control over the city and its people. It was a big and heavily guarded facility, surrounded by an electric fence. There was no chance of regaining independence when that ugly building stood there.

"It drives me crazy," Rinoa complained to Zell, looking at the base. "That building contains the weapons that we need. Still, we cannot do anything because that building is there!"

"Yeah... they have better security nowadays. And even if we got inside, there'd be no chance to bring the weapons outside."

Zell frowned. He felt like he was there for nothing, with no chance of getting back to Dollet. The atmosphere of the city was starting to affect his attitude. Normally he was bright and cheerful, but now he was serious and frustrated.

"Hey, cheer up. You're starting to look like Squall."

Zell laughed. "Haha, I've always been trying to avoid that."


After a night outside, nobody felt like continuing. Still, Gunzler wanted to go on and get to Esthar before it'd be too late (it was useless to tell him that they had enough time). The terrain, where they had slept, had been rocky and hard and the night had been chilly.

Seifer sighed. "Man... I can't believe that we still have to cross the Great Salt Lake!"

"What are you saying?" Gunzler grinned. "A youngster like you is starting to get tired? And an old man like me feels like he could go on forever!"

Seifer cursed silently. Was the prime minister mocking him? He knew one thing: he didn't like him one bit.

"Listen." Fujin looked around her, worried.

"What is it?" Raijin asked.

"...nothing."

They continued walking in silence until Fujin stopped again.

"I hear something."

Now they all heard a weird growling noice. Then, a big flying monster appeared. It was at least two and half meters tall and its wings were blue as the ocean. And its sharp claws looked like they could rip almost anything to pieces...

"Stay back, mister Gunzler!" Seifer shouted and pulled out his Gunblade. "We'll kick its ass!"

But the flying creature was too fast and strong. Seifer didn't manage to slash it at all and neither could Fujin or Raijin. Their magic spells didn't do any harm to it and it seemed to absorb all elemental spells.

"Watch out, guys! I'm going to use a GF..."

"Not yet, Seifer!" Gunzler shouted and rushed towards the monster. He kicked it a few times with amazing speed and then casted a status spell. The bird became confused and Seifer used that as an advantage, thrusting his gunblade into it. It spinned in the air for a few times and finally crashed to the ground.

"Where the hell have you learned to fight like that!" Raijin asked, surprised.

"Haha. I've still got a thing or two to teach to the youngsters," Gunzler laughed. "After all, I trained troops in the Sorceress War."

Seifer had to admit that he was positively surprised. He had thought that Gunzler was just another clown hiding behind his suit, and that only the urge to help Dollet had driven him this far. Despite the first impression, he was beginning to admire this man.

"Look at that," Fujin said and pointed towards the dead monster. "A GF..."

"Fujin, you take it," Seifer said and started walking. "What are you waiting for, everyone? We must hurry!"