Squall could almost feel the chilling air of Trabia as soon as the Ragnarok entered the border. Zell kept a lookout for the small Village of Hawkwind, which was hidden behind the snowy mountains of the Trabia continent.

"There it is!" said Zell seeing the small igloo shaped houses of the village. He directed the Ragnarok to descend its flight. It came close to a perfect landing just outside the skirts of the Village.

Squall and Zell looked around as the entered the village. Everywhere there seemed to be some kind of activity happening, someone was running around doing errands, taking care of the junior students, or making food.

An enticing smell of the Village's dinner traveled on the icy air. Squall noticed his companion's mouth water at the smell, he too started to feel hunger but quickly ignored the feeling, there was a job that had to be done.

"We're here on a mission, don't forget that," Squall said solemnly to his companion who groaned in response.

"Aw man but I'm starving," said Zell holding his stomach, Squall continued his pace before spotting a young girl around Selphie's age with brown hair, wearing a pink and black striped sweater.

She looked at him as he came closer "Hey, it's you" she called out, "Selphie's friends, right?"

Zell scratched his head, "Yea that's us…but who are you?"

"I'm Melissa, Selphie's best friend"

"Oh!" said Zell a bit embarrassed, Squall remembered the girl from Trabia Garden after the missiles had crashed down,

"Where is Selphie?" he asked her.

"She's still repairing Garden with Irvine, you can catch them before they head back to the village" she added. Squall wondered if she knew about the urgency of their mission.

"Thanks." He stated heading towards the Ragnarok

"Oh you don't need to take THAT" Melissa cried looking at the massive airship

"The fastest way to get through the mountains is by chocobo! Here I'll get you some"

Squall and Zell exchanged glances but never said a word when they were handed the reigns of the large birds, Squall just hoped that they would be fast enough to reach Garden on time.

The chocobo's proved to be a much better source of transportation since they knew the pathways of the mountains by heart. Unfortunately the animals became exhausted and had to stop for a short rest.

"We can't wait now" Squall responded seeing Trabia in the distance "Come on, we have to hurry"

Both SeeD's got off their chocobo's, Squall not looking back when Zell accidentally got caught in the reigns, and headed towards Trabia Garden. The construction work was coming along well. The once cracked pavement was now smooth and fresh; in fact the school barely looked like it had been hit by missile.

"So…how're we going to find Selphie?" asked Zell

"We'll ask around and see if-"

"ZELL! SQUALL!" A girl clad in yellow cried running behind them, crashing into Zell with a bear hug and ultimately knocking him to the ground.

"Glad to see you too Selphie" the poor cadet muttered to the concrete floor

Another male voice spoke "Selphie what're you doing? Get offa him! I'm sure he doesn't wanna talk with floor in his mouth!"

"Oh, sorry Zell!" She said giggling. She lifted herself off the cadet and ran towards Irvine Kinneas, the sharpshooter from Galbadia Garden.

Zell stood up wearily and rubbed the back of his neck before doing a double take. "Squall…are you seein what I'm seein here?"

"Yea…"

"Selphie…and Irvine, they actually look…"

"You guys have changed a lot!" Selphie exclaimed. The two SeeD's in front of her had let their hair grow out more since they had departed.

"Well you have too!" Zell said looking at her. Although her height hadn't change she had cut her hair so it had lost its curl and her yellow dress had changed to one that looked less childish, her boots and laced wrists were a sure sign of Irvine's influence. Irvine had finally taken his hair out of his ponytail and let it fall down freely over his shoulders.

"Are you guys ready? We need to get going," said Squall wanting to get back on the Ragnarok.

"Yea! We were just 'bout to head back to Hawkwind" said Irvine "You guys brought chocobo's here with you right?"

Zell nodded as Irvine and Selphie headed for the chocobo's they had brought with them, Squall followed suit.

"Only four? Yer kiddin!" Irvine exclaimed as Squall filled them in about what they had missed.

"That's so horrible!" said Selphie with a frown, "I wonder how it happened"

"That's not all…" Squall said really hating to have to repeat bad news "I just got back from Esthar, the place was attacked by some organization of teenagers dressed in black, they took Ellone" Squall paused for a moment to allow Irvine and Selphie let out a gasp

"Aw Man, not again!" Irvine said shaking his head

"Yea, really" Selphie agreed

"We've come to believe that the organization may be in league with the new ruler of Galbadia, Sorceress Sinistra"

"Sorceress?" the bouncy brunette perked up her ears at the word.

Zell decided to join in "Yea, another bastard Sorceress, and chances are she ain't nothing like our Matron or Rinoa, it just pisses me off so much that I could just-" Caught in his speech and anger Zell made a fist and swung it down onto the chocobo he was seated on, the action happened so fast only Selphie was able to see it.

"Waaaaaarrrkkk!!!" The chocobo squealed in pain, bouncing around to get harm off of its back. Squall and Irvine stared in awe and embarrassment as Zell tried hard to stay on the birds back. Finally the chocobo was able to throw Zell off by coming to a screeching halt. Zell on the other hand was thrown into a snow pile off the trail.

"Are you ok Zell?" asked Selphie

Zells' head slowly rose over the heap of snow he was settled in. He tried to recollect everything that just happened when the Chocobo finally took a swing at his head with its beak. Dizzy, Zell fell back into the snow.

"Sorry about that back there Zell, the keepers 'round here spoil their chocobo's rotten" said Irvine when everyone had gotten back to Hawkwind and into the spare dome Selphie and Irvine were using.

"Here Zell, Drink this" Selphie said offering him some soup from the kitchen. He gratefully accepted it and drank the warm liquid slowly, trying to regain his body heat.

Squall sat in the corner of the room silent, watching Irvine finish the packing, slowly going over to his gun rack and reloading his gun with bullets for the journey back. Squall then noticed something that wasn't there before.

"Where did that come from?" he asked pointing to a winged horse engraved near the trigger "Oh, saw this down at a weapon shop and decided to get me one, kinda reminds ya of Sefie, doncha think?" The cowboy smirked looking over at Selphie who was hardly paying attention to him. She was taking out her nunchaku for the trip and giving them a good shine.

"Selphie!" A voice from outside the dome screamed, Selphie looked up from her weapon "Oh Melissa! What is it?"

"There are some monsters attacking the village, come help!" she shouted excitedly, there wasn't much to do in Hawkwind between repairing Trabia and taking care of each other, so when the occasional monster found its way inside the village many students were delighted to take it on.

"Alright let's go!" said Zell jumping up and pumping his fists, but still managing to drop the soup on the floor. He ignored it and everyone's stares as he headed out the door. Squall sighed at his companion and unsheathed his Gunblade, following him.

Hawkwind was ready for the attack of Mezmorizes and Gayla's, the weaker and younger residents were taking shelter inside while the lively bunch of students used magic as their hearts desired. Squall ran full speed at a Gayla and sliced it wide open. He looked back at the his companions who working together to take down a Mezmorize, Selphie knocking it off guard with a strong swing of her strange vision, Zell weakening it with a series of punches and Irvine delivering the final blow with his Exeter. He could see Melissa in the background using her weapon of choice, a blackjack, to tear down all the monsters around her.

"Squall!" Zell's voice shouted, Squall looked back to see a huge claw swing his way, he dodged it just in time, rolling over on the ground he quickly got back up.

"How'd a Snow Lion get into the village?" Melissa asked coming up to the group

"I don't know but I ain't gunna just stand here and find out!" Said Irvine cocking his gun and shooting at the huge monster.

"We have to take care of the other monsters too!" Said Melissa swinging at the Gaylas that were trying to interfere.

"I'll help yea!" shouted Zell going into a frenzy of punches at some Mezmorizes

Squall concentrated on the Snow Lion, while Irvine pelted it with bullets Selphie took care of support magic. The lion roared and sent a powerful Blizzaga spell their way, Squall took a hit but the effect wasn't even felt thanks to the shell Selphie equipped him with. Lifting his gunblade over his head he waited until a few more of Irvine's bullets hit the Snow lion before jabbing his blade into the now raw chest of the creature, he tried getting it back out but the lion was able to scratch him with his paw before falling over.

Shocked Squall pulled back but regained his footing, grabbing his blade still stuck in the creatures' chest. He put his hand on the trigger of his gunblade and jolted the blade out, making sure to make the trigger go off as it moved to finish the monster for good.

Squall gasped as Selphie used Cura on his wound, the rest of the monsters were retreating.

Melissa sighed in relief "that was fun" she said with a hopeful smile Selphie laughed at her friend's enthusiasm.