"Hey, it's been so long,"
"How's Selphie?"asked Rinoa.
"Fine as usual.I came here just to ask if you could accept Kelly as a
student here."
Rinoa smiled."Sure!Say, do you want to see Squall?"
"Um, no thanks. I've got lots to do. You know, the Garden and stuff."
"Okay. Don't worry about Kelly. Gosh, I really missed you guys."Rinoa
gave
Irvine a hug.
***
Kelly Kinneas put a foot gingerly into the headmistress' room.
"Kelly. It's good to see you."Rinoa gave the child a smile.
Headmaster Cid had retired a year ago. Since Squall was Commander, Rinoa was
appointed as Balamb Garden's Headmistress. She had married Squall and they
had a daughter, Raine Leonhart.
Irvine and Selphie had moved to Trabia Garden, now fully rebuilt to start a
family. Quistis had unexpectedly married Raijin and they helped along in the
infirmary since Dr. Kadowaki's death.
Zell, on the other hand, returned to Balamb and developed a sturdy family.
He was rather quiet after Ma Dincht passed away.
"Um.. Good morning, Madam,"said Kelly.
"Your parents sent you here so that you might be able to become a SeeD.
The
training will be tough, but be strong,"advised Rinoa.
***
Raine sat alone at one of the back seats in class.(I wonder who will be
sitting beside me.)
The classroom door slid open. Everyone's attention was drawn to the yellow
headed boy. He glared at them before proceeding to the back of the class. He
stopped just beside Raine.
"Is this place taken?"he asked.
Raine raised an eyebrow."No,"she said.
The boy plopped down on the seat."Thanks."
The classroom door slid open. This time, it revealed a young woman with
purple hair.
"Sit,"she commanded.
The woman seated herself at the front desk."I am Instructor Wax. Now,
when I
call out your name, please raise your hand."
Instructor Wax picked up her papers. She frowned at the first name."Almasy,
Dean."
The boy beside Raine lifted his hand. Raine stared at him.(Almasy?)
"Arta, Erik!"
Dean grinned at his cousin.The instructor continued calling out names.
"Dincht, Rix!"
Raine frowned.(Almasy? Dincht? Then what? Why are these names so familiar?)
"Kinneas, Kelly!"
(Kinneas?!)Raine's head was almost exploding.
"Leonhart, Raine!"
Raine felt faint.
"Leonhart, Raine!"
Raine's head was facing down.
"Raine Leonhart! Don't think that since your parents are the headmistress
and commander, you can do as you please. You are attending classes like the
others! Stay in after the lesson!"yelled Instructor Wax.
Dean's mouth fell open.(Leonhart?)
"Do you hear me, Raine?"Instructor Wax was fuming.
"Intsructor, I think Raine's not well,"said Dean.
"It's none of your business! Did you hear me, Raine?"
Raine groaned as her head hit the desk.
"Instructor, we'd better get my mom,"said Erik.
"No, I.."began Instructor Wax.
"I heard some shouting in here. Is anything wrong?"asked Quistis.
Instuructor Wax's face darkened."Uh, Raine Leonhart fainted. Hyne knows
why."
"She's lying!"
Quistis stared at Dean.(!!!)
Dean stood up."Raine wasn't feeling well today, Mrs. Arta. Wax picked
on
her."
"You mind your manners, young.."
"I think that's enough, Instructor Wax,"said Quistis.
***
"Are you sure she's that terrible?"Squall frowned.
"According to Erik, Seddy was rather spiteful this morning,"said Quistis.
"How's Raine?"
"She'll be fine. Just tensed up. You should talk to her about it,"said
Mrs.
Arta.
***
Dean watched as Raine's eyelids fluttered open."You okay?"
Raine sat up."Guess so."
Squall entered the infirmary."Raine?"
"Hi, daddy."
Squall glared at Dean.(Who the hell are you?)
"Uh, I'd better go now...see you, Raine,"said Dean.
Dean slipped out of the infirmary.
"Raine, who was that?"asked Squall.
"He's Dean,"answered his daughter.
"Dean?"
"Uh-huh. Daddy, does Almasy, Dincht and Kinneas sound familiar to you?"
Squall turned pale.(Almasy?!)
Raine bit her lip."Dean's last name is Almasy."
(Seifer? Come to think of it, they do look alike.)
"Daddy?"
"Oh..um, I knew someone named Almasy. And Uncle Zell and Irvine's last
names
are Dincht and Kinneas."
"Oh."Raine sat up and hugged her knees.
"You can make friends with them if you like,"said Squall.(What am
I talking
about? What about Dean?)
***
Seven years later.
Dean pounded on a hard metal door."Open up!"
"Hold on!"shouted a gruff voice.
Dean grinned at the figure which opened the door."Long time no see, dad."
Chapter 2
Seifer rubbed his eyes.".Dean?"
"Yeah, it's me,"said Dean.
Dean flung his bags on the floor and lay on his old bed."Ahh.home sweet
home."
His father gave him a disapproving look."I didn't send you to Garden to
be a
sloth. When are you going to try for the SeeD exam?"
Dean pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his jacket pocket and tossed
it to Seifer."Passed the written test. Field exam is next month."
***
One month later.
Carmen Virvan walked into her class."Good morning."
"Good morning, Instructor Virvan,"mumbled half of the students in
the
classroom.
Ignoring the lack of respect her students showed her, Carmen said,"Today,
the field exam for SeeD candidates will take place. Those who passed the
written test will meet me at the hall at 0900 hours."
Rix chuckled."Only ten minutes left."
Carmen glared at him."Is there any problem, Rix? Or is your tatoo itching?"
Rix put a hand to his left cheek. His father had done the tatoo for him."No,
Instructor."
***
"Are all the SeeD candidates here?"asked Squall.
"Yes, commander,"answered Carmen.
"Good. SeeD candidates, fall in!"barked the commander."Here's
the briefing
of your exam. Pilot Nida Virvan will be piloting Garden to Winhill. You will
be split into five groups-A to E. You will be accompanied by eight SeeDs,
including myself. There, you will move to your stations and prevent
Galbadian soldiers from attacking. If anything goes wrong, the SeeDs will
deal with it. They always do."
Carmen stepped forward."Here are the groups. Group A-Erik Arta, Quinny
Ravel
and Tarkee Nurman. The leader is Erik. Group B-Sally Hose, Dean Almasy and
Reena Dorka. Dean's the leader."
Erik snickered and whispered to Dean."You sure are lucky, getting all
the
girls."
"Group C-Kelly Kinneas, Ray Balwor and Sher Zox. Leader-Ray. Group D-Raine
Leonhart, Opal Dart and Fanny Garter. Raine will lead the group. Group E-Rix
Dincht, Arma Fille and George Soll. The leader-George. You will receive
extra briefing afterwards. That is all. Prepare for departure."said Carmen.
***
Nida whistled as he brought Garden away from Balamb.
Xu frowned."Thank Hyne Carmen doesn't take after you,"she commented.
Her husband laughed."Yeah. Beauty, charm, leadership qualities..but she's
got my spirit."
"Are you seriously thinking of marrying her to Jax?"asked Xu.
Nida looked thoughtful."Yeah. But Squall's still thinking about it. Ha,
I'd
like to see the look on Carmen's face if we told her that"
***
Squall looked at the seven SeeDs in front of him."We'll be reaching soon.
Alright, Zell?"
Zell scratched his head."Uh.guess so. Mandy's worried sick, but it'll
blow
over. Say, did you see the tatoo on Rix's face? I did it."
"I should have guessed it was you,"said Squall.
***
"Understand?"asked Jen Trab.
"Yes, madam,"chorused the SeeD candidates.
Jen and her twin Jean, both with SeeD ranking 20, had given the students
extra briefing.
Kelly gulped. She felt nervous.(Gosh, I'm gonna faint.)
***
Two hours later.
"Move out!"
Raine brought her group to the hotel."Be careful,"she warned them.
Fanny gripped her whip tightly.
Opal shrieked."Galbadian soldiers!"
Raine turned to see two Gabadian soldiers heading their way."Let's get
them."She ran forward."Stop!"
One of the soldiers laughed."A SeeD?"
"Three of them. Girls,"said the other one.
"You won't get past us!"yelled Raine.
The first soldier fired a blizzard of bullets at Raine. She ducked and
fitted an arrow to her bow. She aimed and shot the soldier in the heart. The
other soldier yelled and slashed at Opal. She parried the blow with her
sword as Fanny wrapped her whip around his face, choking him. She let go and
he collapsed to the ground.
"Ha, that was easy,"said Opal.
"There's more,"said Raine.
***
"Yaah!"
Rix cold feel the soldier's bones smash as he dug into his ribs."Ha, my
second kill."
Arma shrugged."Shut up."
George sighed. Rix and Arma didn't get along well.
"Yo, I see another one!"shouted Rix.
***
Dean crept closer to the Galbadian Captain. He was talking to himself.
"The stone should be here somewhere,"he muttered.
(Stone?)Dean crouched silently behind the Captain as he pulled out his
gunblade.
The Captain let out a muffled scream as a hand clapped over his mouth. He
gasped as a blade went through his body and was pulled out. The life faded
from his eyes and he slumped, dead.
Dean smiled and congatulated himself.
"Dean, anything wrong?"asked Reena. She screamed when she saw the body.
"Shhhhh."Dean glared at her.
They were startled by a piercing scream. Sally face was pale. A Galbadian
soldier had his sword pressed to her neck.
"Oh shit,"mumbled Dean.
"You twerps had better call your SeeDs to go away, or else she's dead,"said
the soldier.
(Dammit, what do I do?)Dean panicked.
His face lit up. Jax was creeping behind the soldier. Dean leaped forward as
Jax yanked the sword away. He slashed the soldier across the chest.
"Thank you, sir,"said Dean.
Jax Leonhart raked a hand through his hair."No problem. I've got a message
for you guys. Galbadia is sending more soldiers because SeeD is here.
Assemble at the beach at 1400 hours."
(Only thirty minutes left.)"Group B, let's go,"commanded Dean.
***
Kelly ran with all her might.(Twenty minutes left. Oh Hyne.)
"Hurry up, Kelly!"shouted Ray.
Kelly sighed as she picked up speed.
***
"Whew."Erik lay sprawled at the hall."I'm pooped."
"Ahem."
The girls giggled as the commander towered over Erik.
"If you can't stand all this, it'll be better if you didn't take the SeeD
exam,"commented Squall.
Erik stood up."Sorry sir."
Squall ignored him."You're free now.There will be an announcement for
the
results, so stay on your toes."
Rix yawned."I'm gonna have a nap."
"Oh no you don't."Zell tapped his foot.
Rix twirled a finger around his red ponytail."What now?"
Zell flashed his son an evil grin."You'll see."
To be continued.
I am announcing that Raine Leonhart, Dean, Rix, Erik, Kelly, Carmen, Jax,
Jen, Jean and all the characters not belonging to Squaresoft in this fanfic
belongs to me. Feedbacks please-> rain_leonhart@hotmail.com .~Raine
Leonhart.