Once again thanks for the Reviews, and Fred, not to be mean, but i is kinda my story. And i hope to clear up a few things as the chapter play out so it will all be explained in time. ;) Not sure how well i did on this chapter... took me all of these months to finally finish it for you waiting readers out there. sorry for the long update.

Well on with the story


Back at Garden things could not have been worse. With Squall still out of commission, Quistis and the rest of the SeeDs struggled to find the cause of the growing number of problems within Garden. Somehow, the monsters in the Training Area had escaped and attacked anyone in their site. Not only that but, Garden, after finishing its repairs and heading out, had stopped moving altogether. No matter what the pilots tried, they could not get it to move from the spot that it seemed anchored to and after an extensive check of the systems, they found nothing wrong. Already Quistis felt like pulling her hair out, but this had to be the last straw. With the news of continuous failures of the primary and secondary systems of Garden flying at her every second, she really… REALLY wanted to shoot herself.

"Can someone please find out what's going on?" She yelled into the PA microphone. And Squall I want you to come up here this instant!"

Quistis slammed the microphone down onto the desk and slumped into the desk chair.

"Why do I have to be put through this?"

Seconds later Quistis lifted her head to three knocks on the door.

'Wow,' She thought. 'That was fast.'

As she rose from her desk to answer the door, it flew open hitting the wall and falling off it hinges. Who else stood there besides an infuriated Squall Leonheart. He seemed different… could it be?

"What the hell happened to Rinoa?" He screamed punching the door. Where is she?"

He had regained his former spark they all knew and looked up to.

"Sq-Squall… I told you earlier she…. She died." Quistis fell back into her chair. "Max was the one responsible, but it wasn't really his fault. He should be on his way back now."

Squall cursed under his breath at his one moment of weakness and sank to the floor. Why couldn't he save her? What exactly had happened? He needed answers, but could not find them. Quistis came from her desk and wrapped her arms gently around his shoulders… it had been a hard time for both of them.

"It's okay Squall." She whispered. "It'll be okay. Why did you just burst in here like that?"

"I… I don't know. It all just hit me as I was walking here. How long have I been out of it?"

"Not too long… you were asleep for most of the time. Come on and sit, there is a lot I need to talk to you about."

She proceeded to explain the current, disastrous, situation they had found themselves in, what happened after Squall fell into the coma, and about Max. It all seemed like too much to Squall, it took a few minutes after Quistis stopped talking for it to sink in.

"He's coming back right?" Asked Squall.

"Yes, Laguna met him in Esthar. I also made sure to tell him to come back. I thought Max had gone back to Galbadia, I guess not."

Squall stood and began to pace around the room… he wondered why Max had gone there. If they were keeping Rinoa at the Sorceress Memorial again, then did they plan to resurrect her too? And if he was there, then why? He stopped near the window and sighed. There were so many things they didn't know about Max, practically nothing about his past. It was all too much to take at once.

Squall sighed once more and leaned his head on his arms against the window. The only thought was of Rinoa's death, feeling his heart shatter… seeing her last smile. His eyes burned as he held back the tears. It was all too painful. What had happened to that strong resolve he had before, the strength he knew to stop from showing emotion? The light he had once had, died.

"Damn it!" He pounded the window. "What's wrong with me? I was supposed to protect her."

"Squall." Said Quistis rising. "No one blames you. It was Seifer's fault."

That was something he couldn't understand. Seifer had been just fine before he attacked Garden, well the same old Seifer, but still himself. Then again, he had changed after he came back from visiting the orphanage… What happened to him there? Had Ultemicia somehow come back? Squall couldn't make any sense of it.

"Quistis," He said sitting in the desk chair. "Did Seifer seem a bit different while we were fighting him?"

"I don't know. I was too worried about the other side of Garden."

Something was off. First Seifer acting strangely after coming back, and then Squall finding Max at the orphanage. That had to be where it all started, but what had happened?

"I need to take the Ragnarok to the orphanage. Something tells me that place can answer some of these questions." He rose from the seat and headed for the door, but Quistis stopped his path.

"Wait Squall, if you're going to go then at least wait for Max to come back. He might have some information that may help us."

"I can't wait for him. There are questions that I need answered now."

"It won't kill you to wait for him."

He groans as he returns to his seat. He hated waiting, especially when there was a pressing matter at hand.

"This had better be worth it." Squall snorted as he fidgeted with the small globe on the desk.

They sat in silence awaiting Max… and four hours later their hopes were answered as he ran into the room breathless.

"I… came as fast… as I could!" Max struggled to get the words out. The mix of fear and constant running had caught up with him.

Quistis brought him to the chair in front of Squalls desk. He had nothing left in him.

"Calm down and relax, Max." Began Squall. "We need to know what you found out in Esthar. We know you talked to Laguna while you were there and that you went to the Sorceress Memorial."

Max wheezed a few times before uttering a single phrase.

"Ultemicia… power… the forgotten son."

His head fell to the desk as he fainted.

"The Forgotten Son?" said Squall rising. "What the hell is going on?"