Hello All! Here's the 3rd chapter!

I had to change a few things in this particular chapter so that you wouldn't get bored out of your minds, and so things made an ounce or two of sense!

I'd like to introduce my beta reader (who catches me at my horrible mistakes): The lovely Sirri Wolfe... Hello!

It will also take me awhile to get the fourth instalment up, due to the fact that I will be away all weekend starting Friday, so I won't be able to get very much work done, but I will get right down to it when I get back.

Enjoy! -Shinoa and Sirri

Chapter 3

The Fire Cavern

As Quistis led Squall to Homeroom class, Squall fumed over who the person behind the mirror could have been. He didn't really know very many people, but the voice was something his brain definitely recognized. He just couldn't place it.

"Squall." said Quistis, noticing his furrowed brow. "Is there something on your mind?" Then she smiled and said "...Not really." just as Squall did. She laughed.

"What's so funny?" Squall asked, annoyed.

"Funny? No, no, it's not that! I'm just happy." She stopped laughing and looked at Squall with a smile. "I feel like I'm beginning to understand my student a little. That's all."

Squall didn't return her smile. "I'm more complex than you think." He said quite seriously.

"Then tell me. Tell me more about yourself."

"It's none of your…"

"… Business!" Quistis finished with a laugh.

Squall sighed and walked on in silence.

When Squall and Quistis entered Homeroom, everyone, including Squall himself, went to their seats to here what Quistis had to say for the day. It was quite easy to figure out the seating plan in their little classroom. Mostly, all the seats at the front were filled with Trepies, the ones who wanted to get noticed all the time. The back was sparsely filled with troublemakers, and quiet people like Squall. The people who didn't want to get noticed.

Quistis got right down to work upon entering the room.

"Good morning, class!" She said, both cheerfully and seriously. "Let's start with today's schedule."

She crossed to her desk at the front of the class and sat in it, giving her a perfect view of the whole classroom. "There seems to have been some rumours flying around about yesterday… Yes, the field exam for SeeD candidates will begin later this afternoon. Those not participating and those who failed last week's written test are to remain here in study hall. Field exam participants will have free time until the exam. Just be sure you're in top condition. Meet in hall at 1600 hours. I'll announce the team assignments there. Any questions?" She looked around for any hands. There were none. "Oh, and Seifer!" she said after a pause, "Do NOT injure your partner in training. Be careful from now on."

Seifer looked over to Squall in the desk next to him. He then angrily pounded the desk with his fist.

"Field exam participants," Quistis concluded, "I will see you all later."

All of the students got up to leave, Squall included.

"And Squall, I need to talk to you."

What now? Squall thought, as he made his way to Quistis. On the way he passed a few lingering Trepies, who hissed at him that he should be honoured, and to be respectful and at least happy looking while talking to Instructor Trepe. Squall ignored them completely. He reached Quistis shortly after with the Trepies watching and listening closely.

"You haven't been to the Fire Cavern yet, have you?" she asked, "You won't be able to take part in today's SeeD exam if you don't pass the prerequisite."

I was going to go this morning, Squall thought, But Seifer…

"Hm? Do you have a good excuse?" she asked.

"…Not really." Squall answered.

"Then let's get going!" Quistis said cheerfully. "I'll be waiting at the front gate, so come down when you're ready." Then she left.

The Trepies were shocked, angry, and a little awed.

"I…I'm so jealous! Maybe I should take up that subject to…"

"Should anything happen to Instructor Trepe, the 'Trepies' will get you back!"

"Alone with Instructor Trepe…"

The last stamped his foot and snapped his fingers in disappointment, then left with the rest of the Trepies. Squall, again ignored them and followed them out into the empty corridor. He didn't have long to walk before he heard a girl's voice ahead in the corridor.

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm LATE!"

The owner of the voice, who was looking down and running at the exact same time, rounded the corner, and smashed right into Squall, landing on the floor with a shout.

"Are you ok?" Asked Squall after recovering from nearly falling himself.

The girl stood up. "There." she said. She lifted her head look up at Squall. "Tee-hee, I'm fine! Sorry, I was kinda in a hurry." She thinks for a moment, then says "Oh, yeah! Did you just come from that class? Is……… homeroom over?"

Squall nodded.

"Woo...Oh, nooo...this place is soooo much bigger than my last Garden! Oh, hey, hey. I just transferred here. Do you think you could give me a quick tour of this Garden?"

"Well," said Squall, "If you take the elevator with me to the 1st floor and point out the directory, which will give you an entire map of the Garden."

"Whoo-hoo! Alright, let's go!"

So Squall took her down to the directory, and before he left her to it, she asked him a question.

"Hey, um... are you taking today's field exam?"

"Yeah."

"The maybe I'll see you again, later. I've already finished my training at my previous Garden. I'm taking the SeeD exam today, too. Good luck to both of us, huh! Thanks a lot!"

Giving her a nod of 'good bye', Squall left to meet Quistis at the front gate. Quistis was there as promised, and was in casual attire, prior to her usual uniform.

"I have a few things to say to you," she went on to talk about how to junction a Guardian Force, better known as a GF. A GF, as it's name explains, is a force that one can summon to help them when their need is great. No one is quite sure where they are when they are not summoned, but it is known that they can only be summoned by the people who have acquired them. They are unique creatures, and there is only one of each kind. Squall, at the moment, had only two, an ice GF by the name of Shiva, and a lightning GF by the name of Quezacotl.

"Everything ok up till now?" Quistis finished, followed by Squall's nod. "Once we get to the Fire Cavern, I'll explain how to junction magic. Ready to go?" Squall nodded again. "Alright then, let's go!"

When they reached the Fire Cavern, Quistis stopped Squall to explain junctioning magic, as promised. People who were involved in the military, or Garden, are taught how to harvest magic from their opponents. Quistis explained that it was possible to give GF's certain use of this magic to make them and their attacks stronger. She also gave him a short explanation on how to strengthen his attacks with his gunblade. Once done, she motioned toward the entrance, where two Garden Faculty members where stationed.

"Objective," said one, "To obtain a low-level GF. A SeeD member must support. Are you ready?"

"I'm ready." Squall said with a salute.

"I'm his support," said Quistis, "Instructor No. 14, Quistis Trepe."

"Very well," said the Garden Faculty member, "Good Luck."

They move away from the entrance, allowing Squall and Quistis to enter the cave. Once inside, Squall led the way through the cave slowly, as not to have anything jump out at him unexpectedly.

"My job is to support you in battle." Quistis said. "Everything else is up to you."

"Fine." said Squall.

"You know, the boys often choke on this test when I come with them. I guess my charm makes them nervous."

Squall stopped in mid step and turned to face her. ...Whatever.

"I'm just kidding! Trying to keep you relaxed, that's all."

Squall, feeling that anything that would have liked to jump them would have done it already, decided to take the rest of the cave at a jog. He didn't have long to wait. Soon he came to a long bridge, and on either side of it was a sea of lava. The bridge ended with a round ring that had a deep hole in it.

"I guess I was right. You and Seifer are in a class of your own. You both have amazing strength and potential. Ok, this is it. Are you ready?" Squall waved a hand behind him, as if to say I'm ready for anything. Quistis shrugged. "You seem confident enough."

The hole at their feet began to steam. Something was coming out of it with incredible speed. A huge fire GF, at least three times the size of Squall, burst through the hole and landed in front of them with a roar. Not wasting a second, Quistis took out her whip and lashed at his neck powerfully. Squall on the other hand, thought about the situation carefully, letting Quistis do some of her own damage. He reached a conclusion, quickly. He summoned the ice GF, Shiva.

A flash of light filled the cavern. Four lights spiralled down from the ceiling to the floor. Upon impact they shot up into an ice cone, that contained the beautiful GF, Shiva. Her arms were crossed around her body, and feeling the presence of a threatening enemy, blew apart her crystal. She then reached from inside herself, and used her magic to throw a powerful ice attack at fire GF.

"They have Shiva? Impudent Humans!"

Quistis, following Squall's lead, summoned an ice attack, with which she attacked the GF directly, causing intense harm. Squall and Quistis quickly fell into a pattern. With Squall attacking constantly with Shiva, and Quistis with her ice attacks, they sustained minor damage from the enemy GF, and soon defeated him.

"Hm... not bad. For me to lose to a human! Very well, I will join you. My name is Ifrit." He then said to himself, "I underestimated Shiva."

Quite satisfied with himself, Squall headed out of the Fire Cavern with his new GF close at hand.