Saturday 1200, Balamb Garden 2F class room, after the written exam.
Keannu: "So, what is it?"
Raddie: "2!"
Keannu: "What? I thought the correct answer was 3, so I picked 2."
Raddie: "Uh-oh. Keannu, do you realize how easy it would be to intentionally fail a test? Just pick a random number next time. Not good, bro, you might end up having to attend the field exam this afternoon. Don't accidentally defeat Ifrit too!"
Keannu: "Dang. Worst-case scenario, I'll just run away and let the proctor handle the rest."
Raddie facepalmed at his friend's attempt to avoid the field exam, which would ultimately lead to the SeeD exam—a situation that was not part of Keannu's plan.
Acma gathered the written tests from all students and announced, "Written exam results will be available in one hour. Those with combined scores over 500 will participate in the field exam from 1500 to 1700 today. Don't forget to collect GF from your seat. We only have a few junction devices, so remember to pass it on to the next field test taker."
Raddie approached Acma as she was about to leave the classroom.
"Instructor Mirin!"
"Raddie, for the millionth time, don't jinx it!" Acma turned around, smiling.
"I saw the support list, you're not coming with me?"
"No, because we've been partners for quite a while," Acma replied, sounding a bit disappointed. "Be careful, Zyma might surprise you and test your reflexes by trying to break your hands out of nowhere, just because..." Acma raised her eyebrows as she mentioned her mentor.
"Wow, it must have been tough for you, partnering with him for so long," Raddie commented.
So she hates him, right? Why do their S20 classmates say otherwise? Raddie was puzzled.
"He's a skilled soldier, and you'll learn a lot from him. As for me... well, I can say that my bone density has definitely increased," Acma admitted with a deep sigh.
Wow, not a gentleman. No need to worry about him then.
"Anything else, Raddie?" Acma asked.
"Ah, nothing... I was wondering… if you'd like to have dinner after the field exam..."
"With Shrew, Timeth, and Keannu in the cafeteria? Of course, I'd love to. I'm also a field exam support, so I won't have to stay late to grade exams tonight. I'll be there," Acma quickly replied before Raddie even finished his question.
I was just going to suggest dinner for the two of us, but... oh well. Raddie exclaimed internally.
"Great!" Raddie feigned excitement.
"Good luck, partner!"
"Thanks… partner!" Raddie replied, sensing a slight surprise on her face, followed by her usual knowing smile.
Cute! Partner…
Galbadia Garden.
A slender girl with white hair and a muscular man entered the Galgot bar, scanning the room until they spotted their friend sitting in an unfamiliar corner. Their usual spot had been claimed by a group of Galbadian female students. Seifer must have been too preoccupied to seek their attention and instead chose to relocate. If there had been a group of males, he would have likely initiate a fight by now. He had attempted such provocations in the past, testing Martin's limits, but surprisingly, these bar quarrels never landed him in front of a Disciplinary Committee as they surely would have at Balamb Garden.
"What took you so long?" Seifer asked his loyal friends.
"MESS!" Fujin replied in her usual succinct manner.
"Cleaning up after Marlboro's tentacles isn't exactly fun, ya know. Next time, just knock it out and leave ya know," Raijin tried to reason with Seifer for a clean battle, his hands still tainted by the noxious fluid emitted by the green monster.
Seifer smirked. The thrill of cutting through a powerful, agonizing monster excited him. Equipped with advanced gear from Galbadia Garden that enabled him to wield magic without Guardian Forces and even enhancing his Hyperion, he felt invincible with each strike against the monster's trunks. His only annoyance with Martine's orders was the requirement to spare the beasts, injecting them with a sleeping dose so that Galbadian researchers could conduct tests. He had never questioned why they needed such a vast number of monsters that could easily fill all the test tubes in the entire world.
"You're rotting, dude. Go sit at that table," Seifer commanded.
Speaking of Marlboro, had Squall battled some on the Island Closest to Heaven? Seifer had stumbled upon an old Timber Maniacs article at Balamb, during his time there. Quistis appeared in the photo alongside Squall. He had heard that Quistis had managed to replicate Marlboro's infamous Bad Breath. Unconsciously, Seifer chuckled at the thought of her lush lips parting to unleash a full blast of smelly green gas while her head swung back and forth just like a Marlboro would. "Shit!" He mentally cursed as thoughts of her resurfaced. He swiftly reached for his drink, hoping to banish those thoughts.
Yet, their encounter from half a year ago remained vivid in his mind.
"I'll wait for you here, whenever you're ready to come back. I'll listen."
Those were her parting words to him as they stood face to face in Fisherman's Horizon.
At that time, she had been "sober" from junctioning for over a year. Her eyes were completely different from the icy coldness he had known throughout their time at BGU, after their four-year separation when she left the orphanage to live with a foster family. He felt a mixture of emotions. He longed for the comfort of their old bond, but he couldn't think of anything to tell her for her to… "listen"? Too much had happened in both of their lives. He couldn't pretend that this conversation could happen right after their final embrace before she departed in that fancy car. They had spent years at the garden as mere acquaintances, and then he had gone too far in the other direction, even enduring numerous lashings from her whip. He couldn't expect a warm welcome. He didn't need it.
Would it be different the next time they met? Why would it be any different, though? He wondered, pushing aside any doubts. Unlikely, unless that cunning redhead had spilled all the information she knew about him to Quistis. His blood boiled as he recalled how he had been manipulated by that little woman just moments after parting ways with Quistis in that alley. That cunning little redhead had been the one to boss him around to Galbadia Garden.
"Yikes, you look even worse than I expected. Another growth spurt thanks to your Zabac genes… The Knight Aura doesn't spare your sketch marks, huh? I can tell you've been cutting back on your meals to reduce the pain. It's not enough, though, and it's not good for your muscles in the long run. Here, take this shot…"
With a cold disregard for his boundaries, the cutthroat woman injected him with something. Yet instant relief washed over him.
"If you want more protein injections to save your muscles, I do have a condition," she said, her hands patting the ex-knight's shoulder as he remained bound by her magical lasso. "You'll need to rejoin your friends and reclaim your life. Miss Trepe has already prepared all the necessary documents for you. Just show up. Do not rat me out. You need me more than I need you."
She leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a hushed tone. "And if that alone isn't convincing enough, I might have to disclose with her what I found while digging through your diaries, romantic knight."
That was all it took to persuade him to relocate to Galbadia. He had never been certain of her motives, but Martine's generous paychecks would make him an ungrateful fool to complain any further.
After shamefully retrieving his transfer document from Quistis, Seifer boarded the first train to Galbadia Garden. To his surprise, when he arrived at the main gate, Martine himself was there to greet him.
"Feel free to utilize any resources you require. We are truly in need of your power to eliminate these deranged monsters plaguing our land," Martine said, his arms opening wide in a welcoming gesture that Seifer had never imagined he would receive anywhere else in the world.
Am I being used again? He wondered, although he wasn't entirely sure why or to what end. The redhead had suggested during her subsequent visits that his mind was maturing as Ultimecia's influence faded. She believed that soon he would come to realize that he could place more trust in the people around him, that there were those who genuinely wished him well.
Damned. He hated arrogant women, in particular ones with boundless kindness, like Trepe and her eccentric redhead Trepie. He'd rather have them curse at him than come running with forgiving hugs.
"Ready for the next fight?" Raijin checked his portable device.
Seifer took the last sip of his drink. "Hell yeah... I'll take care of the bill."
Raijin's eyes widened twofold. Seifer... was being considerate.
"Outrageous..." Fujin murmured, her voice filled with quiet confusion this time.
Saturday 1500, Balamb Garden's gate.
Shrewdya rushed towards the gate, feeling a surge of happiness upon passing the written test with flying colors. Despite answering one question incorrectly, she still felt satisfied with her performance.
Good enough. My score is still the highest — that's the only thing that matters. Shrewdya reassured herself, pushing aside any annoyance over the unanswered question.
"Ready?" Acma asked, indicating that she would be Shrewdya's support for the field exam.
"Yes," the girl nodded eagerly.
"Oh, don't junction yet... Well, I have an interesting choice for you. Ifrit, or a new GF?" Acma smiled proudly.
"What? There's another choice for the field exam?" Shrewdya was taken aback by the unexpected option.
Ifrit's Fire Cavern pit had been used for field exams for years. So much, that students had joked to convert it into a new secret area to make out after curfew.
"Just for the exceptional students. Are you up for the challenge?" Acma placed one hand over her hip.
So what is it, Shrew? This is an important exam that would determine if you'd make the SeeD candidate list. What are you gonna do?
A. Yes! Let's change things up and take on new challenges.
B. Nah... This is too important. I'd rather play it safe and fight Ifrit.
Shrewdya's default choice: A.
samaqi: I'll introduces choices like this throughout this fan fiction. I'd love to convert my work into a game some day :).
"I'm all up for new challenges! Which way are we going?" Shrewdya was unable to hide her excitement.
Saturday 1600, Fire Cavern.
"You… managed it?" Raddie looked concerned as his best friend emerged from the cavern.
"Yeah... I mean, I successfully ran away from Ifrit. Head Instructor Nida was kind enough not to pressure me to go back." Keannu grinned mischievously.
"Head Instructor Nida was your support just now? Where's Zyma the Great?"
"Nida told me he got stuck in Timber due to some train maintenance issues. He won't be here for a few more days."
"Oh..." Raddie was taken by surprise at the unexpected change. He had been mentally preparing himself to look sharp in front of his crush's former partner. "Alright then. Well, congratulations on securing your scholarship without having to face any missions. It's my turn now. Wish me luck."
"You know you don't need luck to pass this easy test, man. But sure, good luck anyway."
Keannu bid farewell to Raddie, and Raddie ventured into the fiery pit of the Ifrit GF as his proctor gestured for him to enter.
"Raddie, huh? I guess this will be too easy for you," Nida greeted him.
"Head Instructor Nida..." Raddie couldn't help but roll his eyes at the sight of Nida's slightly flashy, tight see-through gray shirt. It revealed his well-defined abs, and even his bellybutton and protruding nipples were on display. Nida was known for always wearing his uniform, even during battles. This was the first time Raddie had seen the usually respected instructor's physique, and it caused him to blush ever so slightly.
"I know… this outfit… headmaster's orders... That's why I'm hiding in here," Nida admitted, his own face turning a bit red. "Anyway, ready for some fun? I can't imagine spending the whole hour here, and I'd love to escape paperwork and let Instructor Trepe handle the grading."
"Sure, I'd love to help you relive the field action, Head Instructor Nida. What do you want me to do?" Raddie asked enthusiastically.
"Come, let's pop a few Bombs in a row and see who can endure the most of their kamikaze attacks."
"That sounds like fun! I never would have thought of that!"
"Thanks! It wasn't my original idea, though. It was Seifer Almasy's—the Sorceress Knight, if you remember him from class."
"Absolutely!" Raddie answered. Seifer Almasy — Acma's not-so-secret idol.
"Come, you know how to throw swords?" Nida waved for Raddie to follow him. "I'll go first. If your gunblade feels too heavy, you can use my katana, alright?" Nida tossed one of his katanas toward a distance as he finished speaking. "Bingo!"
Raddie sprinted towards where the katana had landed, curious to see what it had struck. To his surprise, it had knocked down a Bomb, and the creature slowly rose, hovering in mid-air, casting an angry glare at Raddie as if to say, "Not you humans again!" In an instant, it swelled in size, doubling its original proportions.
"Amazing!" Raddie exclaimed, impressed by the sudden transformation of the Bomb, which typically perished instantly after a single hit.
Saturday 1520, Balamb beach's coral reef.
"Are you doing okay?" Acma asked as they swam through the depths of Balamb beach.
"Yes," Shrewdya replied.
It was cold at first, but after 10 minutes, Shrewdya was completely adjusted to the underwater environment. Shrewdya's gaze shifted to the surrounding coral reef, a mesmerizing sight of color and life. The reef was teeming with a diverse array of marine creatures, their vibrant hues contrasting against the backdrop of the deep blue sea. Anemones swayed gently, their fronds providing shelter for baby Fastitocalon-F's. Schools of colorful fish darted in and out of the coral, creating a lively and dynamic scene.
"Good. I'm not, though. This water is too cold for me," Acma admitted. "Thank Hyne we're almost there." She pointed ahead, directing Shrewdya's attention to a dark and imposing rocky formation that resembled the entrance to an underwater cave.
Shrewdya followed Acma, passing through a thin magical barrier. Inside the cave, there was minimal water and enough air for them to breathe.
"Change your clothes." Acma commanded, her teeth audibly clenching due to the cold.
Acma is so slim and lacks body fat. It's no wonder she can't withstand the cold water. Shrewdya thought.
The two girls removed their scuba diving suits and donned their battle uniforms.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Acma smiled as they changed.
Shrewdya was not slow to catch on, realizing that this mission with Acma was a rare opportunity due to the limited number of female high-ranking SeeDs and instructors.
"It's so much more comfortable changing without the boys around, isn't it?" she remarked.
"Exactly." Acma nodded.
Shrewdya smiled, sharing the sentiment. Despite Acma's position as her associate instructor and higher authority, she felt a connection to her senior in that moment.
"Though Keannu and Raddie are my best bros, I still feel a bit... I don't know, they always laugh when we have to change next to each other. It helps, but also doesn't help at the same time..." Shrewdya elaborated.
"I understand what you're trying to say." Acma smiled. "What about Timeth?"
"Timeth? Well, he always sets up a blanket to create some space for the girls," Shrewdya blushed a bit when Acma mentioned Timeth. Does Acma know we had dinner last night at Ivarice?
"A real gentleman. He's been doing that since Trabia."
Shrewdya recalled what Timeth had told her about Acma and their time at Trabia.
"You don't do a lot of missions with Timeth since you two moved here?" Shrewdya asked.
"Yes and no, I still consult him often regarding battle moves. He's better at physics." Acma explained.
Shrewdya felt happy at Acma's compliment. "How's Raddie as a partner?" she asked curiously.
"He's really kind," Acma replied, nodding. "Exceptional when when he's not clumsy. He's not yet made any serious mistakes, though, so I can't exactly complain."
"Oh, I'll take some credit for that," Shrewdya chuckled. "I've lost count of how many times I've scolded him for forgetting to pack our equipment. He's come a long way since a year ago."
The girls shared a laugh at the thought of their funny friend.
"And... do you mind if I ask... how was Senior Zyma like when you two went on missions? I know you two were exceptional enough to go on real missions even before becoming SeeDs," Shrewdya asked, sensing a momentary pause in Acma's response.
"He's the opposite of gentle." Acma replied with a heavy tone. "Let's just say if I took this long to change, he would comment that there's not much to see, and coldly ask if I needed him to dress me up himself..."
Shrewdya gasped and rolled her eyes. "What a jerk!"
"Indeed… Well, I was really uncomfortable, but now I feel like it was somewhat a good thing for soldiers like us." Acma continued.
Shrewdya nodded in agreement. She understood where Acma was coming from, but it was difficult to put into words to describe the love hate dynamic between Acma and Zyma. Speculations among their S20 and S21 classmates were not entirely correct, but they were not entirely unfounded either, as this example showcased.
"This way..." Acma pointed to the pathway with water dripping along the way. "We'll encounter the GF right after the left turn. You can explore the right turn first to warm up and pick up items. There are two draw points over there, too. Since this is the first time we're conducting a field exam here, I won't impose a time limit. Are you ready?"
"Yes, as always."
She double-checked her junction one more time. She anticipated encountering sea monsters in this area, so junctioning Thundara with Elem-Atk and stocking Thunder spells would prove helpful.
"Ah, one more thing. You can choose how involved I'll be. This not only affects your SeeD rank, but also whether you can 'hang out' with this GF for a bit before returning it to the center for replication," Acma offered.
"I see… Let me think…" Shrewdya debated between the two choices.
So what is it, Shrew? With Acma's help, who is a master of Thunder spells, you'd breeze through this field exam. But where's the fun in that? Plus, if you earn this exam on your own, you can spend time with the new GF. What are you going to do?"
A. I'd love you to assist me. This is quite a new territory…
B. Sit back, Acma. I think I can do it myself.
Shrewdya's default choice: B.
samaqi: In my imaginary game (if I ever have time to build it), this choice affects a crucial event that occurs at the end of Act I (spoilers!).
Saturday 1605, Fire Cavern.
"Oh, right, everybody. Let's line up. We'll go through some safety rules before proceeding into the Fire Cavern, okay?" Quistis announced, addressing a group of prospective students and some parents eager for the field exam experience.
As she went through tedious list of safety items, she could tell many yawned at the flood of boring information and chose to sticked their eyes to more interesting spots: her waistline and bellybutton.
Please, no more Trepies, else I'm going to kill you, Xu.
"And that's the end of it. Any questions?" she asked, relieved that the torturous part for both her and the tourists was over.
No one in their right mind would ask questions after a safety procedures walkthrough.
"Good. I'll take that silence as a yes, assuming everyone remembers everything. Again, if you have any questions while inside the cavern, please let us know. My assistant, Timeth, who is also participating in the field exam today, and myself, Instructor Quistis Trepe, are more than happy to answer your questions," she said.
Quistis then turned to Timeth. "It's already 16:20. Why haven't Nida and Raddie come out yet?"
"I don't know. Is Head Instructor Nida inside? I thought Senior Zyma was supposed to support Raddie," Timeth asked.
"Zyma got stuck in Timber..."
A noise erupted from the depths of the cavern, grabbing Quistis' attention.
"What was that?"
Saturday 1615, Fire Cavern.
Nida and Raddie giggled at the sight of about thirty Bombs trapped inside a Shell.
"Head Instructor Nida, I didn't know taking a field exam could be this fun... It's like blowing up balloons and trapping them in a ball pit."
"Please, call me Nida. Just wait until we release the balloons and see them pop all around us..." Nida wiggled his eyebrows at Raddie. "Oh shoot, it's almost time for our slot. I'll release them now so you have enough time for Ifrit. Ready?"
"Oh yeah!" Raddie exclaimed, brimming with excitement.
Nida removed the Shell, and the enraged Bombs were set free, charging towards them in a swarm.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
"+30 HP. +40 HP. I love junctioning with GF, even though it comes with a bit of amnesia," Nida exclaimed. "Having fun, Raddie?"
Nida couldn't hear Raddie's reply over the sound of the exploding Bombs. He started to get nervous and used his katanas to clear the Bombs surrounding Raddie. Soon, Nida discovered Raddie lying on the ground, badly burned from the Bombs' self-destruct attacks.
"Oh my freaking Hyne! What…"
"Nida… I think… Keannu… I forget to get the junction device from him…"
"You think?" Nida rolled his eyes wide.
Raddie groaned, "Help, I have 200 HP left."
Before Nida could react, a familiar voice added to the cacophony of exploding Bombs.
"WHO DISTURBED MY SLEEP?"
The mighty Guardian Force, Ifrit, leaped up from the lava pit and fixed his eyes at the instructor-student pair.
"You have to be kidding me, Raddie!" Nida exclaimed, looking at his almost depleted Cures as he didn't expect to spend much for this easy field exam.
"WHO DISTURBED MY SLEEP? AGAIN?"
Another replica of Ifrit materialized alongside the previous Ifrit.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me... Keannu!" Nida gasped.
He quickly cast Cure and Shell on Raddie, then lifted his bulky student onto his shoulder and began running, using his katanas to fend off any Bombs that came too close. "For Hyne's sake, you're so heavy!"
"I'm so sorry, Nida!" Raddie apologized, fully aware of how he had messed up the field exam.
"You better call me 'Dada' if we get out of here alive!" the instructor shouted with frustration.
"Cure is working, I can run now!" said Raddie.
Nida set Raddie down as they continued running.
"Watch out!" Raddie yelled.
One Ifrit lunged towards Nida with its powerful claw. Nida instinctively used his katanas to block the attack.
"Run!" Nida shouted to Raddie.
Outside the cave…
"What was that?" Quistis peered into the cave, which suddenly erupted with flames. "Everyone, get down!" she exclaimed urgently.
In an instant, two figures emerged, followed by a swarm of Bombs poised to explode.
"Help!" both Raddie and Nida cried out.
As Timeth and the onlookers tried to comprehend the chaotic scene, one of the Bombs hurtled towards the crowd.
"Freeze!" Timeth instinctively halted the Bomb in its tracks, just in time to keep the ticking bomb inches away from a terrified high schooler. The student's jaw dropped in fear and shock, but no sound escaped his lips. "Instructor Trepe, I don't have my junction device with me yet!" Timeth said.
Right. "I got this." Quistis brandished her whip and shattered the frozen Bomb into pieces.
"There are more! And Ifrits!" Nida shouted. "I'm running low on magic."
"Ifrits? Plural? You've got to be kidding me!" And Quistis quickly realized Nida wasn't kidding as she saw the beasts coming out. "Everyone, run!" Quistis commanded. "Mighty Guard! Shiva!"
Quistis cast her powerful protective magic on the crowd and summoned her GF companion. The elegant Ice Queen nodded in response to Quistis' command, pulling her arms back and arching her back before unleashing a devastating Diamond Dust attack on the swarm of Bombs and Ifrits.
"They have Shiva?" The fire GFs exclaimed altogether. "Very well."
The Bombs shattered into ice fragments, but the GFs proved to be formidable. They lunged towards Shiva, intent on attacking her. However, Quistis instantly recalled Shiva to her consciousness, unwilling to let her fragile GF bear the brunt of the assault.
"Filthy human," Ifrits growled, redirecting their attention to the nearest target—Quistis.
"Freeze!"
Timeth quickly slowed down the charging horns of the Ifrit closer to him as they were both headed straight for Quistis at lightning speed. The legendary SeeD, in turn, leaped backward to create some distance between her and the mighty GFs.
"Blizzaga!" Quistis cast her most deadly ice magic at the approaching opponent.
She quickly cast another spell on the other Ifrit who had just escaped Timeth's time freeze. Upon her return from the second Sorceress War, Quistis discovered that her magic cooldown for low-level spells had become negligible, and she could even cast some blue magics in full health.
As the GFs were temporarily frozen, Nida, Timeth, and Raddie assisted with more physical attacks.
"Those without junction, step back!" commanded Quistis as the GFs melted the ice.
Timeth and Raddie retreated in front of the crowd, who were safely covered by Quistis' Mighty Guard. Some even took the opportunity to capture pictures and videos of the intense battle unfolding before them.
"Where's your junction?" Timeth questioned Raddie.
"Keannu forgot to give it to me. And I, uh, forgot to take it..." Raddie explained sheepishly.
Timeth rolled his eyes, struggling to comprehend their level of clumsiness. "Alright, step back. I'll freeze Ifrit if he tries to jump over here."
"Last hit!" Quistis leaped skillfully to dodge one Ifrit's attack and swiftly swung her Save the Queen weapon at the GF's head, landing a powerful blow. He let out a deafening roar and dropped to his knees.
"Very well. I shall join you," He uttered his final words before disappearing in a dramatic fashion. His figure fragmented into a shower of colorful, shimmering fragments that ascended into the air and vanished.
Hyne. I've supported too many field exams, I even memorized Ifrit's HP. Quistis thought as she landed gracefully, surveying the aftermath of the intense battle.
The other Ifrit observed the fate of his companion and let out a similar rumbling growl before retreating back into his fiery pit.
Tourists lay scattered on the ground, holding up their cameras, their faces filled with awe. Timeth and Raddie stood in a defensive stance in front of them, ensuring their safety. And then there was Nida...
"Nida… what is it?" Quistis inquired, noticing something peculiar.
"Raddie—that clumsy boy—he forgot to take the junction from his friend when we changed shifts," Nida sighed, shaking his head.
"No, I mean... this," Quistis pointed to Nida's snug-fitting shirt, which accentuated his muscles and abs that seemed incongruous with his baby face. The fires from the exploding Bombs had scorched the shirt, leaving it tattered and revealing even more of his skin than it had initially covered.
Nida lowered his gaze in embarrassment. "You know who's behind this..."
"Oh…"
Quistis couldn't suppress a genuine burst of laughter, a sound that had been absent from her life for quite some time.
She was certain that the tourists had undoubtedly witnessed quite a show that day.