AN: Realistically, Rinoa's past is the only one that significantly differed from anyone's, though Irvine, and Quistis's did change a bit as well. That and Seifer and Rinoa's relationship was a bit different than what it could have been pre classic game. All this is explained in this chapter so there's a lot of narration. But that's why this is currently in Rinoa's point of view, though more than likely I'll be getting in others as time goes on, a lot of it will be Squall or Rinoa though.

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~ Heartilly ~

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She was seventeen and free to do as she pleased. Seventeen, the age that you were legally able to join the army, drink alcoholic beverages, and most importantly in her case, sign away any responsibility the General had over her. He, pending he signed the papers willingly, would be free of her, and she free of him. She didn't remember it well, but she knew she would have preferred he left her at the orphanage that she was staying at.

After running away multiple times as a child she finally managed to cut a deal with her fa… with the General. She could stay with her Mother's cousin, if and only if she stayed out of the resistance factions. Her mother's cousin agreed to take her in despite already having two younger boys and an older girl for children. Little did her father know she was the resistance leader of the Forest Fox's.

She had made friends there, Zone and Watts the most mentionable. They hung around causing trouble for the troops, all in good fun. The troops knew who she was and they went easy on her and the rest of the kids, even laughed their heads off at some of the pranks they pulled… then after two years she was old enough to actually be tried in juvy, though the soldiers still didn't bother with her… she hadn't pulled anything too bad.

But then came the rotation of the soldiers. Not just a few, but all of them. No one to introduce her, no one to make them go easy. She had seen Zone get beat with a police bat… a child. She tried to stop the soldier, so did Watts. They too were beaten by the soldiers buddies. The rest that were hanging around just laughed at the sight. Rinoa didn't want to think about what could have happened if their captain hadn't walked onto the scene and yelled at them.

Zone was in the hospital for two weeks, Rinoa and Watts were in for a week and a half. The three soldiers were dishonorably discharged… signed off by General Caraway. She hadn't heard from him otherwise.

After that it was inevitable, she hated theses soldiers. They had hurt her, and more importantly her friends. They had laughed at it. She became a member of the Forest Fox's, though she as well as Zone and Watts created their sub group, the Timber Owls. When she was fourteen, a year and a half after their first beating, the Timber Owls and a few Forest Fox volunteers blew up an empty of human life and full of precious cargo train… or so they thought. It was full of cargo, but there were also still a few Soldiers who where sacking out in it off duty rather than be scrunched in their uncomfortably small bunks.

She had killed unknowingly, it was her idea, she set everything up, she pulled the trigger… the soldiers knew, they were going to kill her and throw her subordinates in jail, no juvi for the criminal killer's. Her dad found out… he silenced the entire thing, erasing the incident and the criminal files that were being created for herself and her friends. He covered it all up before it reached Deling. She had disobeyed the agreement, yet he knew she wouldn't want to stay. So… he sent her to Galbadia Garden.

She had made a few friends, she had managed as an over aged newbie. She had already had basic pinwheel tutoring, but it was furthered, along with physical exercise. She hated it, she would rather be living with her father than put up with the Instructor's there. Her friends Irvine and the transfer student Quistis were her saving grace. They always talked her out of doing something stupid… all but once.

She ran away, she always ran… she was caught before she was off school grounds, her intent clearly not late night training. All her instructors worked her harder, detention was more like forced labor volunteering. Her eye's that had once held a rebellious spark, the one that always made her correct anyone who called her by Caraway… that spark had slowly been dimming. She knew that, Irvine had said as much. After Quistis left back for Balamb, things didn't go well.

Irvine had a crazy dream saying they all grew up in the same orphanage, with some other kid's, he didn't remember their names and their faces were a blur, but he was almost positive that Rinoa had been there too. She wrote it off as a crazy dream despite her several months of staying at an orphanage. He wrote it off as a dream too. The orphanage always brought up feelings of longing, desire. She had more than two friends at a time, Everyone liked her there.

Where as here, with Caraway attached to her… though socializing wasn't exactly prominent in Galbadia Garden, she was almost always avoided like the black plague. All but Irvine, Quistis, and Seifer… Rajin and Fujin too. The summer after she turned sixteen she had managed to get summer off, unlike the year before. She went back to Timber. This time the soldiers stayed away from her at all costs, not only did she have the General backing her, but also Galbadia Garden.

Watts had a crush on a girl that had two boys hanging around her, she had silver hair. Just so that Watts would quite squirming when they were around, she asked the girl when she was by herself for a moment if she wanted to date that guy over there… no not the one holding his stomach, the one with a red face and jumping around in circles. She had politely albeit forcefully declined, though by the time that discussion was over, the two boys who hung out with her had come back.

She had thought the blond was cute but up close, he was hot. They had stared at each other for an extended period of time, enough to make Zone stop hugging his stomach and yell to her. She quickly excused herself with a red face and heard laughing behind her and someone stomped away. Watts was crushed, until he saw a pretty brunet working in a local cloths tourist trap… not that Timber got that many tourist's around any more.

The next time she had run into the blond he asked her out for coffee… how could she refuse. His name? Seifer. For a week they met up for coffee, then she was formally introduced to his friends. After a while he had gotten her to open up, and she in turn did the same to him. It was something they both needed, a re-spark for their rebellion. When the three had learned of the Timber Owls, the soldiers endured yelling and push ups from their boss's for… accidents. The Owls wreaked havoc. Rinoa and Seifer leading and strategizing while Zone and Watts felt put off. She had never felt a connection with anyone like she had with Seifer before. She wasn't sure, but she thought is was love… though if it was the kind one shared with comrades or the one that was shared with lovers, she wouldn't know… everyone avoided her like the black plague in Garden, she was always too busy pulling pranks in Timber when she was younger for a…

The last week of summer, after getting to know each other, fairly well, though to be honest, Irvine still knew her better… the perv that he was, they decided to tone it down. It really was a break. They had gone out for drinks… the bar tender didn't know her so she got away with it, though Zone and Watts got kicked out, Seifer was nice and snuck them in through the back. They had gotten drunk… She was happy… she was sure it was love and she wanted to be with a guy… Seifer specifically. They had kissed before, but the one they had that night could have gone farther laced with alcohol with no one else around… but it didn't.

It wasn't until after thinking about it that she understood why he had turned her away. The note he left with her at her aunts house was simple and to the point. Had to leave early. It's not that I don't like you, I just know you too well. She had at first thought it presumptuous of him, but she came to realize… he had probably been with other girls before… even if he hadn't, he knew her too well, to do anything… physical without having possible emotional guilt after needing to leave nearly right away, anyway. That and the possible awkwardness if they met again. He probably could have stayed the two extra day's but he was like her, he ran from rejection, only this time it was his own rejection of her that he ran from.

She had gone back to Garden like a good Girl much to her Instructors surprise, they couldn't have fun and punish her for anything. Irvine noticed her rebellious spark in her eye's was back after summer, but she acted like a good little cadet. She focused on her studies climbing in the ranks of her own grade, getting down her GF courses and learning to Junction them, though Galbadia didn't like to use them, it was a required course. After Five years of training with her pinwheel, and three training with GF's despite Irvine's advice against it, Quistis had sold her on the idea. She also excelled top of her class in magic, it came easily to her.

Then she was seventeen and invited to Balamb Garden for their test, as it was the next to offer it. So she had said goodbye to Galbadia Garden and hopped on a train with Irvine to see her off in Balamb, he may be a perv, but he was a loyal friend, though he didn't have many… come to think of it, he didn't really talk to her in public, he hadn't much with Quistis either, other than the occasional flirtation, to which he was promptly smacked for… he was too much of a lone gunman for having public friends, she didn't mind though… As long as he didn't start talking about his previous night's date.

There was a brief layover in Timber and she had visited her Aunt and Zone and Watts for an hour, catching up briefly as Irvine uncomfortably sat in the back ground. She thought he deserved it, after all he was the one that wanted to come. They got on the train to Balamb and slept for the next leg of the trip.

When Rinoa and Irvine got there and picked up her luggage, they went to wait at the Garden recruit buss stop, near the outside of town. Only one other girl stood there. Irvine of course flirted introducing himself, using his overly accented western drawl.

"Hello there little lady, name's Irvine," Her face went beat red and quietly replied,

"Uh mine's Selphie." If you didn't know the guy, you wouldn't have seen the hesitation, but he pulled through with his intent as he pulled off his hat and took her hand that she put out to shake his, but instead he kissed the back of her hand. She turned even more red as he stood back up and place his hat that no one was allowed to touch back on his head. To help ease the awkwardness, Rinoa decided to introduce herself, the first time she could legally introduce herself as a Heartily and not a Caraway, the first time out of country when she could get away with it. Freedom.

"I'm Rinoa Heartily." This time when she was not being wooed she could answer fully.

"I'm Selphie Tilmitt, I'm a transfer from Trabia for the upcoming exam. Are you guys from Galbadia?"

"Yes, I'm here for the Exam as well, though Irvine is not as he still has a few (cough) D grades he need's to bring up." He playfully punched her arm as she mocked hurt.

"Yeah, just here to see my best bud off." He continued pushing his luck by messing with Rinoa's hair.

"Oi! Not the hair Irv!"

"Sorry" He said glumly as he tried to fix her hair only to have his hand's swatted away. Selphie could only giggle. The buss finally came… only two seconds late, after the doors opened. Irvine grabbed Rinoa's big Suitcase as well as Selphie's and hefted them onto the luggage shelves inside the short buss. Rinoa and Selphie got their smaller bags. The driver gave Irvine a pointed look which he ignored completely.

"Bye Rin, take care of yourself would ya?" He hugged her.

"Yes Irvine, you too, get that grade up so that you can take Galbadia's exam in a few weeks, huh?" He mock saluted her, she laughed. Then he faced Selphie and took his hat off once more as he bowed.

"And take good care of yourself, Ms. Tilmitt." She let a few giggles slip as she once again turned red. Then for who knows what reason she ran and jumped into a hug, catching him off guard leaving him dazed as she giggled more when she sat down.

"Stop flirting Irv."

"Are you my girlfriend?"

"No."

"Then I'll do whatever the hell I want."

"And if I was your girlfriend?"

"Then I'll do whatever the hell I want." She thought about that answer, then decided against it… that could go bad places… the buss driver cleared his throat.

"Get off the bus!" She gave him a small shove as he got off sulkily.

"Keep in touch!" He yelled from the side, the door began to close as she shouted,

"You too!" She sat down for the Fifteen minute ride to Garden. It was silent for a minute with Selphie lightly rocking in her chair clearly not liking to stay still, while driving at speeds less than sixty miles per hour.

"Not a lot of people here." she noted breaking the silence.

"Nope… I guess with rumors of Deling having something new up his sleeve, people don't want to be away from home, much." She nodded her head in approval of the explanation. The driver turned on Radio music clearly wanting silence from his passengers. Well Rinoa thought… Screw him! The two girls conversed over the music concerning things like… what they wanted to do and the presumptuous Selphie already asking for help on the Garden festival committee though she hadn't gotten the position yet… How could Rinoa not agree. They decided to stick together, the two transfer students. They would visit the office today, then get settled into their temporary guest double suite dorm. So stick together they would.

They had filled out paperwork when they arrived at Garden, met the Headmaster. He was… well he wasn't like headmaster Martin… Cid wasn't a… for lack of better words… ass. Headmaster Cid was actually rather nice. Though the Garden faculty in those funny hat's and robes… all of them were… well, really, really annoying. They had gotten diner after getting their ID cards, they managed to get a few hotdogs before they were out, and despite the lack of… normal meat, that hotdog's contained, these one's were actually decent. Selphie may have been small but apparently her stomach wasn't. They had gotten in shower's after unpacking the essentials and gone to bed, there after.

Now they were running down a hall on the second floor of the building . They had gone down several halls that led off from the elevator and the hall that circled around it, on their last possibility,

"We're late, we're late, we're LATE!" Selphie was running… right into…

"Selphie!" Selphie ran into someone, unfortunately Rinoa was running right behind her. As Selphie bounced back she slammed into Rinoa who was slowly coming to a stop. They both lay splayed out on the floor for a second in shock, then both sat up and said at the same time…

"Sorry!" Rinoa said as she dusted herself off. She didn't give Selphie enough time to ask questions or flirt and just grabbed her hand and rushed to homeroom. It was empty, the guy they ran into must have been leaving. The Instructor was still there, though clearly preparing to leave. She looked up and smiled, she looked incredibly young, in fact…

"Quistis?" Rinoa asked. Quistis turned around not looking the least bit surprised.

"I saw your name on the list… I see your time skills have not improved." Quistis chuckled.

"I resent that and yes they have, we just didn't know where we were going and…"

"You didn't think to stop for directions?" Good thing Selphie was here, she could just blame her.

"Yeah… Selphie was in too much of a rush to bother."

"Hey, you're the one that wouldn't let me ask the guy we ran into for directions."

"Because I saw the class room."

"Hmph…"

"Selphie Tilmitt, I assume?" Quistis asked.

"Um, Yep! That's me."

"Wait Quistis are you our Homeroom instructor?" Rinoa asked as if the idea was dawning on her just now… which it was.

"Yes."

"Hyne damnit Quistis, always did have to make me feel bad." Quistis chuckled.

"Just show up in the lobby near the directory at 1600, team assignments will be given there. You know where that's at right?"

"Yes." Rinoa answered.

"You have free time until then, if you want to, you can train in the training center on the first floor… but don't wear yourself out." They nodded and saluted "And Rin, we'll catch up later." Rinoa nodded with a smile and rushed out of the room after Selphie, hopeful to get some practice in.

Selphie and Rinoa walked out of the training center warmed up and ready to go, but they still had two hours.

"We could always take another shower and clean up!" Selphie suggested.

"Just to get dirty again… We took out a few grats, we aren't that sweaty."

"Then what to do, explore…" Selphie's stomach growled, that sounds good too.

With that they headed off to the Cafeteria. What she saw was very funny. They walked in on Fujin kicking Rajin's shin. Rinoa couldn't hold in the giggles, Fujin loved to do that to her overly tan brother. All three recognized it and looked her way, even Fujin managed a small smirk. There was another guy there but he was turning around and walking away. Actually come to think of it.

"Hey!! Sorry about ramming into you earlier." He didn't even acknowledge her.

"Meany!" she muttered under her breath. She and Selphie walked towards the Disciplinary committee.

"You here for the exam, ya know?"

"Why yes I do know," Rajin's tan cheeks darkened, "and yes I am."

"Me too." Seifer said. Rinoa gave him an amused look.

"What is this… number three?"

"Third time's the charm! Maybe you and you're bouncy friend… who is currently talking to the headmaster… will work with me." Rinoa couldn't help but smirk.

"And watch you defile orders and go off on your own… like ALWAYS? I hope not."

"Hey that was once and you were slowing me down." Rinoa felt a nudge at her side… apparently created by Selphie's elbow.

"Selphie this is Seifer," He waved, "Rajin," He put out his hand to shake hers which she took uncertainly. Rinoa gave him a look and nothing got pulled… literally, "and Fujin!" She bowed her head. "I know them from last summer break, had loads of fun making life hard for the Galbadian soldiers." Seifer smirked.

"HI! Would you like to join the Garden Festival Committee?"

"Take it you got the job?" Rinoa asked.

"Yep, so how bout it?" She looked at the other three expectantly. Rajin and Fujin looked to their leader… who as expected refused, politely though.

"Sorry, I already head the Disciplinary committee and that's a full time thing." Selphie looked dejected.

"Hey still got me." Rinoa said to cheer her up.

"Yep, now for food."

"You guys want to join us." Rinoa asked.

"We just ate, got one more round to do before we take off."

"Alright, see you later." The three nodded and retreated.

No, it hadn't been love. It had been infatuation laced with adventure and danger that ended in a friendship laced with physical attraction… nothing more. After they had gone through the line and been informed there was no hotdogs left, Rinoa got a salad, and Selphie got pasta or… something that was supposed to be pasta. Selphie had asked her questions, Rinoa gave her brief answered.

Yes they were friends, yes she had gone out with him, no they hadn't done anything like that… wait.

"Selph really?" She just grinned. "You like to gossip don't you?"

"No, only with really close friends but not about other friends behind their back… I just like to absorb social information and store it for later purposes." Rinoa had to laugh at her… well she guessed they were friends… she laughed at her friends attempt at being serious and reassuring her that she wouldn't tell anyone… behind her back. Wonderful.

They had already been in their cadet uniform since that morning, but they still had to go back to their dorms and get their weapons they had taken back before going to the cafeteria. By the time they got out of their room and had everything ready, they went to the lobby and were fifteen minutes early, which to any SeeD cadet, is on time.

They wouldn't be working with Seifer, they wouldn't even be working with each other, but they would be less likely to sit and idly chat, so in a way it was a good thing, they just didn't know anyone. Rinoa was talking with her squad members, Ali and Nida. Ali apparently worked in the library and Nida was into flying. It was then that Seifer did show up, on time, which was in fact late.

Seifer was the squad leader, Hyne forbid, with that 'Meany' and a very… hyper looking blond. She didn't envy him. Though it was rather funny to watch Quistis get on Seifer's nerves.

"Instructor… I hate it when people wish me luck. Save those words for a bad student who needs them, eh?" Hmm that sounded familiar. And it was said with that same damn smirk. Annoying idiotic arrogant bastard.

"Ok then. Good luck, Seifer." Score one for Quistis! She couldn't keep the smile off her face which she assumed Quistis saw as she smiled right back. Rajin and Fujin almost looked a bit flustered at that.

"Add Instructor Trepe to the list." Ooooh Scary.

The show ended when all the Squads where gathered by their lead Instructors, Poor Quisty, she had to deal with Arrogant, Mean, and Hyper. Where as she, Nida, and Ali got to deal with Instructor Aki… It was rather apparent he didn't have a life outside of making students miserable.

After a pep talk from the Headmaster and one of those faculty members which she was clearly not alone in thinking they should be punched, they marched to the garage. She rode with her group to Balamb. They had talked briefly and it was understood here as well as Galbadia, she would cover their back and they would cover hers. The same hopefully stood for Selphie and her squad. They got in the sub-boats in Balamb and awaited further instruction.

AN: Yes Rinoa's colorblindness issues have not been discussed, there is a reason for that, though it will come into play shortly... ish. And yes, no worries this is Squinoa, and she is in fact ignoring Squall subconsciously. And yes this has been hanging around for a week, just didn't post it.

R and R!!!!