With sorceress Ultimecia destroyed everything was supposed to have gone back to normal. But peace was not meant to be. Siefer had started a rebellion. His anger at having been rejected a place in the elite military force known as SeeD by Headmaster Cid still burnt like fire within him. Also his age old vendetta against Squall spurred him to form another alliance with Galbadia. Together they led another war against Balamn Garden, the training academy. Last time they had won, barely. This time defeat was inevitable. They had overtaken the garden by sheer numbers at the shores of the Centra continent. Squall had ordered a full retreat. Even now, at Edea's home, Galbadian soldiers were still chasing them, hunting them down. But they dared not lay siege on the old orphanage for it was rumoured in Galbadia that the witches home was a place of pure evil and certain death awaited all that entered without her permission.
Squall knelt before the body of Rinoa, a flood of emotions welling up in the deepest recesses of his heart waiting to burst through his chest. But he wouldn't let it; he could not let his emotions take over. He was a leader now.
The twenty to thirty qualified SeeD's behind him, nursing their wounds in the peaceful sanctity of Matrons home needed him now, needed him to be strong. Silent tears poured over his cheeks and dripped onto the smooth body of his princess, Rinoa. Even in death she radiated beauty out of every pore of her soft smooth skin.
He knew he shouldn't have fallen in love. He had denied it so many times. He knew it would end up hurting him in the end, snapping him in half like a broken reed. But he couldn't help it. She had called to him and he had come, a rat dancing to the tune of the pied piper. Now he was lost.
As he sat cradling her head in his arms, he noticed a sudden change in Rinoa. Her body was starting to get warmer, as though life was once again coursing through her veins. His hopes rose a notch as colour flushed into her lifeless cheeks.
But something was wrong. She was getting too warm. She was turning crimson under his bewildered gaze. His fingers were starting to blister from the scorching waves of heat radiating from her body.
He dropped her and stepped back a few paces. Her body rose into the air, hovering over the tulip and marigold fields. Bright white light was emanating from her body; wave after wave of bright, blinding light. Squall raised his hands to shield his eyes and felt the blast of raw power knock him of his feet.
Quistis ran through the fields to Squalls aid. She had been watching him mourn Rinoa's death from a distance, to give him some time alone. He had sat there for over an hour, still as a stone, cradling her head back and forth. She still hadn't come to terms with the fact that Siefer had done all of this. That he could cause all this destruction and bitterness. 'Come on Squall!' she urged as she pulled him to his feet. She wrapped his arm around his neck and pulled him away from the floating body. A short distance away, she turned to view Rinoa. Her body had stopped pulsing out light waves and was now shimmering with an intensity that hurt her eyes. Squall was shocked senseless.
Her body became even brighter, so bright that Quistis had close her eyes from fear that she would go blind. Rinoa finally burst into a dazzling array of colours, her body was churned into dust.
Quistis was held aghast by what she had witnessed. She was even more amazed when she saw a gigantic creature rise from the ashes. It was beautiful. It shimmered a thousand different colours in the bright sunlight, as it rose into the clear sky.
The creature circled the field twice before fleeing northwards towards fisherman's horizon.