Chapter One: Appearances

28 May, 1998

"I can't believe you're getting married, Squall."

Quistis Trepe, 20, stretched, looking up at the stars from her beautiful view from the Balamb Beach. Nida, 19, shook his head also. Over the past year, after the defeat of Ultemecia, Quistis, Nida, and Squall Leonhart, also 19, had gotten to be good friends.

Exactly one week ago, Squall Leonhart had proposed to his girlfriend of one year and someodd months, Rinoa Heartilly, 18. Now he sat on the beaches with Nida and Quistis, enjoying the night and just killing time.

"Me either," Squall grinned, shaking his head.

"Seems like yesterday we were graduating," Nida pointed out.

"We should get back," Quistis stood up, as did the boys.

"Hey, what's…" Nida trailed off, staring up at a bright light in the sky. Quistis squinted, and Squall reached up to shade his eyes, hand on his gunblade.

Flash. Nida covered his eyes, temporarily blinded by the light. When his vision came back, Quistis was laying on the ground, and Squall was gone.

"I'll-I'll-be right back, Quisty," Nida said, hopping in the car and driving to the nearest phone.

26 September, 1998

"They still haven't found Squall, have they?"

Fujin, 18, and Seifer Almasy, 20, stood on the docks of Balamb, watching the sunset.

"Who cares?" Seifer shrugged. "They'll find him. They always find the hero."

"Seifer…"

"Oh, c'mon, Fujin," Seifer scowled. "If it were me, the world would consider it a favor."

"…" Fujin sighed. "…I wouldn't, Seifer. Well, I'll see you around," she waved and walked off.

Seifer watched her until he couldn't see her anymore, then went back to staring at the sun, which was almost now completely hidden under the horizon. Suddenly, he felt a warm radiance, and stared up at a mysterious, bright light seeming to come from nowhere…

25 December, 1954

"It's Christmas, Laguna…where are you?"

Raine Loire, 26, stood on the cliff where she'd promised him she'd be waiting. How many years had it been? Only one, but it felt like a lifetime of forevers…

"You keep saying you'll come home," she shivered, trying to ignore the stinging of snowflakes against her pale face. "You're still not here. Elle misses you. You don't even know about our child, I miss you…"

She felt a sudden warmth, and the dark night suddenly seemed to light up, but only in one spot. She closed her eyes. The light was so bright…so bright…

"Laguna…"

31 December, 2003 - - - PRESENT DAY

"Esthar's aeronautical and space administration has determined that the comet will hit the Centra area at approximately 12:00 a.m., standard Estharian time, around the area in Centra where the Crystal Pillar once was. Nobody knows yet what kind of damage will be done. We'll keep you covered, here on Balamb's best news channel, VMKZ Channel 2."

Headmaster Cid Cramer clicked off the TV, looking at SeeDs Selphie Tilmitt, 26, and Xu, 28.

"What do you want us to do about it, Headmaster?" Xu asked.

"Nothing…yet. But if anything comes from this that would require Balamb Garden's involvement, then I just want you to know that you two will be in charge of anything. Is that okay?" Cid blinked wearily.

"Yes, sir," both girls saluted him.

"Do you…think we could go in for a closer look?" Selphie asked.

"…the Ragnarok's parked outside. You two take care, and get out of there if it gets dangerous," Cid sighed. "Promise?"

"Yes, sir," they smiled, saluting him again.

"Dismissed," Cid shook his head. "Take care, girls. I don't want to lose any more students."

"We will," Selphie waved as they ran out.

"There it is," Xu pointed as Selphie drove. The media swarmed the area. Xu watched the news on a small TV built into the Ragnarok. "The press are so risky," she scowled, shaking her head. "Galbadia just launched 5 huge missiles at this comet. Esthar launched 3. 6 of the 7 hit…and the comet hasn't been phased. Hover here."

Selphie stopped a bit away from the sight of the impact, a safe distance, and watched the radar screen and then out the windshield.

"This is insane, Xu."

"I know," she shook her head.

"How much longer until impact?"

"Three minutes," Xu sighed nervously. "Hope nothing bad comes from this."

"…have you ever had a bad feeling about something?" Selphie asked quietly, twisting her hands in her lap.

"…we'll be okay, Selph'," Xu nodded, glancing at her watch. "Sixty seconds until impact. 59. 58…"

Selphie gulped, putting her hands around the joysticks of the Ragnarok, ready to leave quickly incase something big happened.

"15 sec—Selph', open your eyes. It's slowing down."

The ball of light hovered just above the ground.

"Caraway to Ragnarok, over," came General Caraway's scratchy voice over the radio.

"We hear you, General," Xu said into the radio.

"…fire whatever you have at the comet."

"Yes, sir," Xu nodded, taking a deep breath, aiming, and hitting a button. Missiles fired at the comet. It exploded in a huge blast of light, sending shockwaves through the area. The Ragnarok shivered, and suddenly it was as if nothing ever happened.

"That's odd…" Selphie said faintly. "There's something moving on the radar."

"Go closer, Selphie. Land us somewhere."
Selphie landed, and the girls hopped out.

"Oh heavens…" Xu said breathessly.

"What appears to be around five thousand people have just appeared from that ball of light," a reporter said in a shaky voice.

Selphie and Xu exchanged voices, running toward the people.

a/n: hey, xifa here! I actually wrote this story a year ago, but just now found the story. So…I don't own FF8, but I also don't own 'The 4400', the story that this crosses over with. If you missed 'The 4400' (it was on a year ago), season one is 6 episodes long and can be purchased at Wal-Mart. Season two will also begin airing in June, but I forgot what channel. It's a really cool concept, though. I'll give you a quick rundown—it's about these 4400 people who mysteriously disappeared and have reappeared with no memory of what's happened. They haven't aged, either. Most of it I'll be sure to explain, but if you have any questions, let me know and I'll explain better.

Please stick with me!

Love and peace,

xifa--