Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII originally made by Squaresoft/ Square-Enix. I own nothing, other than Aries. I will kill anyone who tries to take any sort of credit for this. Believe me, I have my ways…

Random person "Boobah, in the dark alleyway!"

"Son of a- Kill 'im!"

Chapter IV

'Would all students who are participating in the SeeD Field Exam please make their way towards the docking bay…I repeat' The PA had sounded, Time had come. It was 6 AM already. The dormitory what held blood the night before seemed to be quiet. No sound had embedded the area, yet the halls soon had a SeeD Candidates running around like headless chickens.

"I don't see the point in getting up this early." Selphie whined in her soft yet squeaky tone. She was with Zell and Quistis. It seemed like the person who was actually in charge hadn't arrived yet.

"Yeah…I was havin' a good dream about-" Zell replied, pressing his back against the wall of this red structure.

"…Hotdogs?" Quistis broke in, letting a soft chuckle pass through her lips as Zell had replied in his usual "Why you?" Stance. Selphie joined in with her usual cheery smile, what soon changed to a drowsy faced look. Undoubtly, she was tired. So would you, after not sleeping for 3 days.

"So where the hell is Mr. Commander?" Zell questioned, looking somewhat out of it.

"He'll kill ya', if he hears you talking like that Zelly!" Selphie yawned at the question. She was actually beginning to wonder if they were going to be doing this. It was their first time…Such a big task.

"Don't call me that!" Zell screeched.

"Don't you children ever stop picking on Zell?" A cheery voice spoke from the entry of the entrance of the newly made docking bay.

"Matron!"

'When is that thing going to shut up?' Aries was getting annoyed by the sound of the PA ringing through his ears. Throwing down the towel what was upon his back, Aries stood half dressed as he looked over the crimson stained towel. He had the same stains up on his bed sheets, a frown came over his face as he noticed. Shaking his head in despair, he figured that there was no way to help his problem. Aries noticed that he still wasn't issued with a SeeD uniform. Well, it seemed like it wouldn't matter anyways. He hated uniforms anyway; he felt constricted and held back. Undoing the belts of his mannequin, He looked down to the box what held the handle to his gunblade. He needed to find a strong blade what could hold such an immense power. True, it had had the backing of a 'Revolver'. But the power of each bullet cartridge held a lot of force. Each blade he had installed on to it had broken. Aries still needed something what could cut through metal like butter…just like his Katana. Waiting for another five minutes, Aries gave up. It didn't seem like anyone was going to issue him with a uniform. So what, He could improvise! From what he knew, he was supposed to be going off to Galbadia with 'Elite Forces Of SeeD'. He could blend in some way. Letting a sigh pass through his lips, Aries opened up the wardrobe what was held beside the bedside cabinet. Nearly ripping the doors off by accident, Aries began to look around for something. Noticing the only choice he would have was his usual battle outfit; he just sighed once again and threw it on to the bed. 'Better than nothing I guess…'

"Is this really the first time they're trying this?" Selphie asked Quistis curiously, she was somewhat nervous about this. About a week ago, she was approached by headmaster Cid. He had asked her to take part in this new SeeD program. In Cid's mind, he figured that if the SeeD candidates had someone to look up to and also follow along with, more would actually be willing to go along with the missions in blind trust. Plus, it would be her controlling a group of candidates. It wouldn't be half bad, nor would it involve Irvine. Hopefully?

"Yes, from what I know…" Quistis replied with ease, she was obviously the first one to be asked. She was the main one who came up with the idea. She figured that they all could use a new challenge.

"Then where the hell's Squall?" Zell was becoming impatient. They had about 2 hours before they had to be. Squall was already half an hour late. Along with Cid. Why the hell was he here anyways! He wanted hot dogs! But Zell actually hadn't been near the canteen for the past day. From yesterday's encounter…he figured it was a hallucination.

"Hmm, Well. Squall can't make it to this meeting. He is supposed to be meeting up with you over at Galbadia. Where you land is where you meet him." Edea replied softly. She was truly worried about Squall and Rinoa. Both of them had been away from the Garden for a few days now. No contact until yesterday. And thankfully, it was Squall who contacted them.

Aries now stood in front of the mirror, what was latched on to his door. He stared at himself, making sure he was in order and didn't look ridiculous in the outfit he was in. He stood strong, wearing a normal red T-shirt what seemed to hang out of his somewhat un-clingy black jeans. A quite large open shirt mainly covered all sides of the T-shirt except for the front. Once again the colour black, it seemed to be torn from the right sleeve side, well most of the sleeve was ripped off, leaving it to be slightly longer than the T-shirt underneath it. The shirt had seemed to be manually ripped from the sleeve. Aries never have an explanation for his shirt, he just liked it. Maybe because of the rather small angel wing like design what was made near the top-middle of his back. The wings were more dark and demonic rather than angelic. Plus they suited the dark coloured shirt. Lifting up his T-shirt, Aries ignored the scars and continued to try and figure out how low he would actually have to put his belts. To Aries' knowledge, he never knew that Squall had the same belts around his waist. Aries actually had a reason for having his, rather than for showing off reasons. A trio of belts were finally fixed around his hips. Mainly for easy access to his weapons. One around his waist, the other two lower down, crossing over his groin. Diagonally, but both opposite from each other. One held a black sheath for his Katana and a small slot to place a holster for his desert eagle. The third one was actually for gunblade, but he would feel somewhat weird not wearing it, so he decided to put it on for the hell of it. Around his right leg were the same small belts from before. This time, Aries managed to stash bullets in to each slot (what was empty when he entered.), each containing many small cylinders for his Desert Eagle. He had chosen this battle attire a few months ago. Something yearned for it. Like some type of craving. One way or another, Aries did look cool.

Finally, Aries was done. Well…not exactly. He still had to maintain his hair, so that it didn't give away his facial structure. Thinking for a moment, Aries sighed softly. He had never even tried to style his hair; it was just like that from day one. Grabbing a comb what was along the ledge of the bedside cabinet, he ran it through his hair, letting the bangs fall in front of his eyes. Thinking on a way to keep his face hidden, and not look like he was attracted to the same sex. Aries came up with the idea just to let it hang over the right side of his face, shielding his face along with smaller bangs along the left. It paid to have ridiculously uneven hair. Looking deeply in to the mirror, he smirked. His hair was now placed perfectly over the right side of his face, covering his right eye all the way down to his lips. He looked like a possible stalker, but well, it was better than being pointed at for looking like 'The Savoir Of The World'.

"waiting, oh joy…" Aries gave his reluctant view on this. Resting back on to his bed, he seemed to drift in to a world of thought. Everything was dawdling, nothing to do. Training would have been an option, but, not enough time. By the time Aries would have been prepared, the notification would have gone off. He was waiting till the last moments to actually make an appearance. It would resolve in not being noticed by other people, along with a lower chance of being detected, Aries had done this many times on his former exams. Plus, he was slightly confused on the concepts this time. No GF's, Guardian forces had been banished from the world. Through the power and memory loss, a lot of retaliation had been done. Mainly from SeeDs. Squall was sceptical about the idea. Loosing all of that power? Just to keep his memory? Squall would rather forget his past, he didn't want know anything. He was happy with Rinoa, so why go through the same pain over and over again? Nightmares did that job for him. Yet... a replacement had been made. There was a prototype before the actual testing. It was rumoured that this mission would be the first. Well, that rumour was most likely to be true. No exams had been executed since the war. So, it seemed like the field research was going to be made today.

"Last call for all students participating in the SeeD Field Exam…" Aries rose to his feet. It was time. Hearing a loud crowd of people passing through the halls. It seemed like he wasn't the only one to arrive on a later notice. Shrivelling his nose, a soft gust of air passed through his lips. "Damn it." Espionage wasn't the part of his plan. Walking out of his door, he noticed something from the corner of his eye. Looking towards the wall, the bloodstain seemed to be gone. Obviously, Irvine wasn't dead. Sadly. To his consideration, he hadn't even shown up during the night, after their little encounter. Figuring that he wasn't actually popping out for the exam, Aries shrugged and made his way towards the exit. There was a small panel, along the side of the door frame. Fondling the miniature button, on the metallic panel, an opening appeared. Obviously, it was the key pad for the dormitory. No actual code had been emplaced on the dormitory. Gaining a smile, Aries punched in a few numbers, at random, but easy to remember…well for him. The door instantly opened, following small beeps of notification. Checking that he had everything, Aries walked out of the door and in to the hall way.

"Look! It's the sorceress's knight!" Zell mocked the new comer. Seifer Almasy. The notorious bad ass of Balamb Garden. Times hadn't changed for him. He was welcomed back in to the group, to fight with them not against. Well, with exceptions of the arguments what were made. Seifer looked exactly the same. His coat, his Gunblade and his smirk. Nothing had changed.

"Don't piss yourself laughing, chicken shit." The 'knight' replied with his usual mischievous smirk. Following the usual hint of giggles along the students.

"What did you say?" Zell's usual reply came out. Only a matter of time.

"For the love of…Not this again, Seifer, on the ship, now!" Quistis took control of the situation. Pointing her hand towards the hybrid shaped aircraft, the ex-instructor ordered Seifer.

"My dear instructor, calm down? Where is 'he'?" Seifer ignored her instruction. As per usual. He wanted to know about Squall. Seifer and Squall hadn't seen together in a long time. No one even knew about what happened during his disappearance. A lot of ideas had been around; one of them seemed to be true. He never got angry when mentioning Squall's name, just the usual over-confidence what followed after was normal.

"That's Commander Squall to you!" Selphie jumped out from now where, and on to the back of Seifer. Her usual giggles filled his ears, following her hands filling his hair. Screwing up his style more like. Students watched in interest. The antics of their peers always were entertaining. Keeping a tight lock around his neck, her arms squeezed around his neck. Seifer had no chance of escaping the dark clutches of Selphie. No one ever did. Groaning, an angered look came on his face. She never gave him a break. This was worse than being manipulated by a sorceress. Since Selphie was not evil. Well… Not intently.

Meanwhile…

Paranoia had struck. Aries was in the middle of a crowd, loaded with the students who were participating for the test. Constantly looking over his back, feeling the attack of paranoia crawl up his spine. Each and everyday, he would turn around at least once. Bad habit. But, why did he? He didn't care what others thought? But…voices. They wouldn't stop. That constant murmuring following the usual hint of laughter. Why? Taking a deep breath, Aries clenched his fists. Trying to blend in to the crowd, but being the odd one out. Mainly for being the only one in their normal attire. He ended up listening to the rumours. It was amusing to hear students talk amongst their beliefs and prediction. The best one had to be 'I think we're gonna be abducted by the PuPu!' At least the candidates were creative. Another factor in this exam. You couldn't go off plain force. Creativity and planning out what to do, was needed. You couldn't go in all Gunblades blazing and end up thinking you're going to come out alive. The mental factor of the mission was important as was the physical. Thankfully, it wouldn't matter so much, if he got stuck taking orders. It would be better than being presented as team leader. He wasn't a leader, far form it…then again…he wouldn't accept order's he didn't believe in.

The sudden rush of students came in to the newly built docking bay. Each student stood in awe as they entered. The monstrous crimson bird-like ship stood in front of their eyes. This was truly amazing. None of the students had acess to this area. Only certain qualified SeeDs were able to enter. Mainly for using Ragonrack as transportation. Things were way out of hand back then. Now, everything was back on track. This was literally their first exam since the war. Plus, it would be interesting to make out the results. This would be a one-shot. Well… depending on the outcome of the exam. If the results exceeded their average scores, it would be permanent. Rather than doing a job that had uncertain qualifications, Garden had decided to actually create a battlefield. It would test the Candidates ability, along with their state of mind. Yet, this was not the only mission going on. There was another, one that was being handled separately. Only two students were allowed to go. A SeeD and a SeeD candidate. Cid had something planned. Something that had only happened recently. No reason what so ever to keep it in the dark, it was meant to be a test. More than a test even. Since there were only two actual people going on this 'mission'.

"Welcome, students of Balamb and candidates of SeeD!"

It was finally beginning.