When everything was even somehow in order in Timber, Squall was able to return to Dollet. This time he had Zell, Kiros, Ward and Rinoa with him. Zone and Watts had decided to stay in Timber with Caraway.

"Welcome back, everyone!" Headmaster Cid said when they came to his office. "Your mission was truly a success!"

"Thank you," Rinoa and Squall said.

"Have you heard the latest news?"

"Has something unusual happened?"

"Well, the president of Galbadia died yesterday. They are going to declare someone the next president today."


Of course, such an important event was broadcasted all over the world. But since their technology concerning televisions was still quite primitive, they only managed to get an old TV wreck to Cid's office. Everyone including Seifer with his friends, Laguna with his companions, Squall and Rinoa, Quistis, Zell, Xu and Headmaster Cid gathered there to see who would become the next leader for the Republic of Galbadia.

It took a while before the broadcast started. They showed a big stage with huge crowds of people around it. They were obviously very impatient to see their new leader.

The prime minister went to the stage and started talking. "Ahem... As you know, our president is dead. May him rest in peace. But life goes on and we have to get a new leader for this great nation. Our new leader will make history immediately, because she's the first female president in the history of Galbadia..."

The camera zoomed to Juliette.

"Wait a sec!" Laguna yelled. "I know that woman! She is Raine's sister!"

"Are you sure?" Quistis asked.

"Absolutely! I only met her once, and it's already been seventeen years, but I remember her. I'm sure of it."

The prime minister asked Juliette to come stand next to him. "People, this is the new president of our almighty republic. Juliette Gunzler!"

Everyone in Cid's office reacted similarly: "Gunzler!"


As you can guess, they all went to see Vincent Gunzler, the prime minister of Dollet. He was in his office, sitting in front of his TV. It wasn't hard for him to guess why they had come there.

"You're probably wondering about the connection between me and Juliette, right?"

"Hell yeah," Zell said. "We don't believe that it's just a funny coincidence that you share the same last name."

"Juliette Gunzler is the sister of... a person I used to know," Laguna told him.

"Fine. I'll tell you everything." Gunzler stood up. "You're right that it isn't just a coincidence. Juliette is my ex-wife."

They were silent, but they all shared the same thoughts. WHAT!

Gunzler started telling his story. "It all started eighteen years ago. I was young when the Sorceress War began. As you know, Dollet didn't engage in that war, but when Esthar attacked Galbadia and Galbadia attacked Timber, whole Dollet became very concerned. That's where I came into the picture. I had joined the military some time before the war and when I got out of there, I was one of the best in the whole army. So, they asked me to join a little experiment of theirs..."

"An experiment?"

"Yes. Dollet agreed to send some soldiers to defend Timber, mostly to test their training. I was chosen to lead them. Everything went well but then Juliette came there. She made food for the soldiers and stuff... and man, was she beautiful! We fell in love and got married... Then, one night, we were sleeping. I woke up at the middle of night when I heard a strange noice from outside. The next thing I knew was that the window was broken and a smoke grenade was thrown inside. I was blinded for a moment and I couldn't escape. We all had to surrender. When they were dragging me out of the barrack, I saw Juliette standing there, talking with a Galbadian commander. I told her to run away, but she ignored me and shaked hands with that commander... She had revealed our location to the enemy."

"Damn!" Quistis folded her arms angrily. "What a bitch."

Rinoa ignored her. "What happened then?"

"They took me to interrogation. I was tortured whole night and the next day with most inhuman ways. However, I kept my mouth shut and they got bored and threw me into jail. I spent ten fucking years in that rat-infested cell!"

Gunzler banged his fist to the wall. It hurt, but he didn't complain.

"This is all too complicated," Squall complained. "How the heck did she become the president?"

"I don't know," Gunzler said and shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea what happened to her after that. But I agree with Quistis: she's a bitch."