Final Fantasy VIII: The Twilight Hour

Seifer had swung his sword up towards Squall and brought it level with his face.


"Wanna dance, Mr.SeeD? Or are you scared you might set a bad example for you subordinates? Must be hard to have to be their role model, their Leader"

He was on the verge of drawing his own weapon and dealing with his foolish behaviour, but remembered what Rinoa had said to him the other day.
"You're in charge of the SeeD now, you have to show a little more restraint, stop rising to Seifer, you have to set an example..."
Squall rubbed his forehead against his left hand. He placed his right hand on top of Seifer's blade, the side without a blade, and pushed it downwards towards the floor.
"Don't point that at me Seifer, you have an exam coming up this afternoon, now stop playing about and trying to cause trouble and get prepared."

With that Squall turned his back on Seifer and walked towards the counter. He ordered and paid for a coffee and several bits of toast... He knew he was going to need energy for today. It was the same every year, parts of reports coming in throughout the day as he sat in the headmaster's office, hoping no-one would be seriously injured, and last year the exam carried on late into the night and... Well he didn't want to think about that.

This was going to be another arduous day, but it was part of the territory now, and he had to get used to it...
 
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Stephen smiled as Selphie came over, and his smile turned to a Grin as she began talking to him. "Well? Aren't you going to go prepare for the SEED exam? If not I've got a job for you!" looking at the girl he stood up and pulled his blade from the floor, spinning it around a couple of times before sheathing it, "I'm Already a SeeD Stephen informed her.

Looking past selphie at the large amount of tables she had to position and felt slightly sorry for her "Well i suppose a couple of tables wont hurt" Stephen joked as he walked past her "So how are we setting them up?" Stephen Questioned.
 
"I just hope this lot of cadets are ready..." she gave Nida an almost pleading look, as though she was searching for comfort in his deep eyes. "But I have to believe in them."

Nida placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. They'll be ready. This is what they've all been training for." He flashed her a confident smile.

Though he sounded completely confident, his gut feelings were not. After all, he still remembered his own SeeD exam very well. As much time as he had spent preparing for battle, the real thing proven to be overwhelming. Some of the cadets would likely falter during this first experience; but SeeD would be there to back them up.

Nida hated to see Xu so harried though. She was generally confident and in control. Something was definitely troubling her about this turmoil in Trabia. There hadn't been much news coming from that area lately besides talks of the Garden being rebuilt.

"So what's this news from Trabia?" he asked.
 
"So what's this news from Trabia?"

Xu rested her hand over his and gripped it lightly. "There's been a report of a mass breakout of monsters near the Garden. Normally this wouldn't seem like a problem... but the increase is so dramatic that Trabia Garden is having trouble protecting themselves. I don't know... I don't like the feel of it."

She tilted her head slightly, mouth quirking into a small smile. "Thanks Nida, I can always rely on you." Her eyes searched his kind face as her hand moved to gently brush his cheek. "We have to be ready for anything."

Turning to the intercom, she pushed down the button, took a deep breath and spoke.

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

Releasing the button, Xu rolled her head gently, feeling the tension ease from the muscles of her neck. It was now or never.


(There. :mokken: Get to the office you lot. Squee, you can come too if you wish.)
 
Barely any time had passed, or at least that was how it seemed to Irvine, before he heard the doors of the training centre open. Irvine gently titled his head backwards and observed an old man come in. This in itself was odd, the oldest person at the Garden previously was Cid, or that was what he assumed. This man could be anywhere between 45 and 65. What was even more unusual was what he was dressed in. Spiked silver shoulder pads and knee high boots reminded him of a magazine he had left for Squall at FH. There was little chance of him acquiring such magazines now, Selphie was not a fan. Which perhaps was not so bad he thought, they might give her ideas.
Irvine's thougts, of the bizarrely attired man and of others things were banished from his mind as the intercom crackled into life.

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

Irvine rose slowly to his feet. He cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders. The exclusion of Rinoa from the list troubled him briefly. He then remembered the SeeD Practical exam, 'aah, it'll have something to do with that.'
He picked up his gun. As he strolled languidly out of the training centre, he thought about finding Selphie and going with her to the office. 'It would certainly be more fun than going by myself, but then again, I don't know where she is and she may already be there'. He decided he'd place his gun in his room before continuing on to the office, there was no point taking it with him. When he walked into the room he half hoped to see Selphie there. She was not. He unloaded the gun and slid it under the bed. Irvine then ambled over to the mirror to see if he had hat hair, thankfully he did not. A major crisis had been averted.
He replaced the hat onto his head and jogged out of the room. Outside of the room he slowed to a walk and made his way to elevator. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the key for the top floor. The doors closed and then opened again about half a minute later. He had arrived. He stepped out into the office and was slightly surprised that he was the first one there.
He looked up at Xu and smiled a half smile.

"I told you that you'd only have to call my name and I'd be there"
 
Stephen had began moving the tables, it was a boring exercise, but Stephen couldn't leave a cute girl to do hard labour on her own. Stephen had only shifted five tables into position before the intercom crackled into life.

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

Stephen smiled at this and looked at Selphie "Well I guess thats us" Stephen muttered as he placed the table he had in his hand down and Exited the Quad, shouting back over his shoulder "I'll see you up there"

Heading Straight to the elevator, Stephen entered and hit the 'top floor' button, the doors closed and rode upwards, it only took half a minute or so to get to the top. Stephen stepped out to See Irvine already there, he smirked and looked at Xu "So, whats the scoop?" he questioned
 
"It makes me feel old." Edea made her voice sound stern, but her smile quickly made it clear that she was joking. She poured the tea into a cup, with a couple of spoonfuls of sugar, and handed it to her younger companion. Sitting down herself with a cup of strong, sugarless tea in her own hands, she devoted all her attention to Elizabeth, drowning out the carefree yells of the children in the other rooms as she looked at her.

"Bad news? I see..." Edea sat straight now. "Well, say it straight out. I've never been a fan of the long dramatic silence."
 
"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for today's SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

As soon as Christiane heard the announcement, she got up and walked up towards the elevator and pushed the 3rd floor button, heading up to the headmaster's office.

At this time, Christiane wondered what she would expect on the field, she then remembered a key lesson learned by her combat professor, "Always expect the unexpected."

At the top floor, Christiane exited the elevator, seeing two SeeDs, Irvine Kinneas and Stephen Hownam already there. However she stood behind the two and went into attention.

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Tina and Luna took time to get something to eat before they heard the announcement. The two threw away whatever food they did not finish eating and started heading for the elevator.

"Do you think Christi is already there, Luna?" Augustina said

"Most likely, you know that she doesn't like to wait, Tina." Luminara said

The two made it to the elevator and headed up to the third floor.

"I wonder what'll be like to be a SeeD just like Squall."

"That's if you pass!"

"Oh, I'll pass, don't you worry about it."

At the third floor, the two cadets walked forward and joined their friend Christi in attention.
 
Zell was about to step in before Squall and Seifer started fighting when the intercon went on

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

"Damn, hey Squall lets go!" Zell gestured for Squall to follow as he ran from the Cafeteria and across the hallway. Trying his best not to bump into people on the way he climbed the stairs to the elevator and pressed the button for 3rd floor, the headmaster's room.

Once inside the elevator he began jogging on the spot, psyching himself up for whatever lay ahead. Once he arrived at the 3rd floor he jogged inside but seeing other people there he slowed himself to a walk. "So, what's up?" lightly stroking his hair.
 
As Squall walked away, Seifer screamed "Wimp!!" after him before forgetting him and returning to what he was doing when he heard the announcement.

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"


"That's our cue. Let's go. This place was giving me headache"

"RIGHT" Said Fuujin plainly

"Finally! Felt like years since our last exam, ya know?" Said Raijin eagerly

The trio made their way to the office. They took a running approach, brushing any unfortunate passerby aside. There were a whole lot of cadets, eager to take their first SeeD exam and they were all getting in the way. The trio tried to reach the elevator before it left, but were too late. The cadets filled the elevator along with Zell and Squall and it went. Seifer, angry by this, began to rage about missing the elevator.


"Damn cadets!! Don't they know to let their elders go first!?"

"WAIT"


"Wait like little boys and a girl? You must be joking"

"Let's try to be good guys, just this once, you know?"

Seifer was suprised to hear that from Raijin and decided to follow his subordinate, just this once. He would wait for the next elevator....patiently.

"This better be worth the wait...."
 
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"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

Hearing this Selphie stood correcting the tables that Stephen set up. "Dang it! This better be important! I still have alot to do!"

Following Stephen out of the Quad she spotted others headed to the elevator and went up to the top floor. There the others were waiting patiently in front of Xu. "TeeHee! I'm here!" Selphie called. "What's up?"
 
Squall heard his name called over the tannoy and stood up. Picking up his remaining pieces of toast he walked to the elevator and waited for the next one to arrive.
He got into it and waited as it reached the top floor, munching on his toast as he went.

He stepped out of the elevator and threaded his way through the crowd of SeeDs and candidates in the room. As he got to the front he gave Nida a curt nod, he had become a good SeeD since three years ago, and he was invaluable in piloting the garden.

"Xu, I heard your tannoy, what's up?" He said as he went over to the desk and stood next to her...
 
Arukab was simply walking through the training center, minding himself when he heard the intercom go off saying,

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

At this note, Arukab figured he may as well show up for the briefing to be a SeeD at the exam, as there are always some needed, and if they didn't need him then so be it, at least he would know the situation. He had gone up to the elevator, but he walked rather slowly, taking his time. Besides, It would be for the better.

By the time he got to the office, Squall, Irvine, Stephen, Zell, and selphie were all already there. At this note he also saw Nida and Xu, along with other potential SeeD's.

He approached Nida and said to him, "Could you use an old SeeD's hand? I'm still good with my blade." He knew Squall was the one to ask this, but Squall seemed to be talking to Xu
 
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Nida watched as the SeeDs and candidates filed into the room one by one. He began to wonder what could possibly be causing the sudden influx in monsters around Trabia. If there had been anything out of order going on in that area, they certainly should have heard about it.

Squall finally arrived and after giving Nida a greeting nod, he approached Xu and the two began discussing the situation. Nida felt a bit awkward standing in front of the large group and considered heading back to the bridge. Before he could, Arukab approached him.

"Could you use an old SeeD's hand? I'm still good with my blade."

Nida grinned. Arukab would be a fine addition to the team today, especially with his experience. "You're blade would be welcomed," he replied.

Nida turned his attention back to Xu. It seemed she was still waiting on Seifer and Rinoa to show before she could begin.
 
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The elevator, finally there, came to take the rest of the cadets and Seifer's trio to the office. The elevator was very roomy, as most of the cadets were already there. Seifer was slightly impatient as he rode in the elevator. It reached it's destination and suddenly, Seifer wasn't so impatient anymore. He had begun to think that maybe the exam might be boring and that he might not put much effort into it. He was thinking about it heavily when he realized he was in the office. Looking around, he saw everyone looking at him as he went in.

"This had better not be boring, Xu. I had to put up with a lot of shit before coming here...." He said.
 
"Wha - What time is it?"

"Is today... the SeeD exam?"

"Yes," Rinoa whispered softly, not sure he could hear her.

"You look worried, if it's about today you should just relax OK? I've told you there won't be any problems, there is a full team of SeeD's on hand to take care of anything that happens, besides I know one of the recruits," He placed his hand on her shoulder, "Is a half decent fighter, she was by my side through everything that happened three years ago after all."

Rinoa smiled slightly as she watched him get dressed and nodded. She wasn't sure speaking would be a good idea, since she was fairly sure her voice would shake a bit. Better to let him think he had reassured her and she wasn't worrying.

"I'll see you in a couple of minutes." Squall walked out quickly, barely glancing back at Rinoa as she flopped back onto the bed and sighed. Squall said not to worry, and there was no reason to, really. She was confident that she could pass. She knew how to fight and use magic well. She knew that orders were orders and you followed them, even if you didn't want to. She knew all of the rules and how to follow them. There was no reason for anything to go wrong.

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

Rinoa jumped, scared out of her thoughts, and rolled off the bed onto the floor with a groan. She pulled herself to her feet and grabbed her Shooting Star from where it sat in the open case, and pushed open the door to the dorm room. She set off at a brisk walk, making her way to the elevator, and hurried up the stairs to press the button. Rinoa resisted the temptation to bite her nails, wondering if Xu was going to tell them that something was wrong or if this was just standard procedure.

She glanced around quickly, seeing that almost everyone, if not everyone, had beaten her to the office. She waved slightly at the room as a whole and leaned against the nearby wall, waiting for someone to fill them in.
 
ELIZABETH

Elizabeth took a tentative sip of her tea before continuing. "Unfortunately, we have been unable to discover what lies behind that shadow outside Esthar. However, the increase of monsters in the area is far worse than we realised. We've also recieved a somewhat sketchy report that a similiar increase has occured in Trabia, close to the Garden."

She watched Edea's reaction carefully. "If the influx continues, it will spread to here and the children will be in great danger."

Lizabeth paused for a moment. "I am thinking of taking a small team to Trabia to see if we can find any answers there."

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XU

Xu turned her dark hazel eyes upon Seifer, a flash of annoyance clear behind the look. "If you think this is going to be boring, then you can leave. If you don't want to participate in the Exam, you know where the door is, but believe me Seifer, it will be a long time before we give you another chance to become a SeeD." Her tone was steely, but her expression softened as she looked around at the others before finally resting on Squall.

"Commander," she said respectfully, with a little incline of her head. "I shall now begin the briefing."

She took up the folder and flipped it open. "We have recently recieved reports from Trabia. It seems there has been a dramatic increase in monster activity around Trabia Garden. Upon recieving this intelligence, I thought over what we must do. And so we come to your mission, Cadets."

She looked at each Cadet in turn. "You will be split up into three teams. The first team will consist of Seifer, Raijin and Fujin. Your mission will be to clear the way to Trabia Garden. Once you have secured the area, remain where you are." She gave Seifer another cold stare. "Do not go off on your own."

"The second team will consist of Christiane, Augustina and Luminara. Your mission is to try and discover where this influx in monsters is originating from. We are certain it is someplace close to the Garden. Once you have located it, report to Myself and Squall via this," she handed a small communication device to Christiane. "It's simple to use. Just hold down the little button and it will come straight through to us."

Finally, Xu turned to Rinoa. "The third team will consist of Selphie and Rinoa. Your mission is to follow behind Seifer and the moment you are able to, get into the Garden. Selphie, because you know the layout of Trabia Garden better than any of us here, you are to take Rinoa in as far as you can and help with taking care of the injured. Rinoa, once you are inside, I need you to locate the headmaster. Selphie will take you as far as she can. Get him out of there. Once the Entrance to the garden has been secured and the origin known, backup will arrive."

It was a dangerous mission, Xu knew this. However, there would be a party of qualified SeeDs close at hand should the cadets prove to need it.

"Any questions?"
 
Edea blinked. That cloud, the grotesque and powerful monsters that dwelled within, and it could spread to the children.
She couldn't allow that.
Putting down her tea, her desire for it gone, she spoke seriously, her voice hard, all compassion gone from it.
"I'll have to evacuate the children." She rubbed her head. "Where on earth could they go? They've already lost their families. Why should they lose their new home?" Edea's head was full of half-formed plans of various design already.

"And would this mission to Trabia entail information, reconnaisance... or offense. The last thing this world needs is another war, Elizabeth."
 
Jack looked out from the 'secret area' in the training grounds with sadness, thinking that she would have loved to look out at this and just talked until the sun came up. He adjusted the two katanas on his back and leaned against the railing. There were several couples here that were having there own private conversations, which to Jack was a good thing. He really didn't feel like talking right now, he had to much on his mind today. Not only were his thoughts towards her, but today was the field exam to become a SeeD. Thinking about it Jack thought that it was getting kind of late, and they usually call the cadets who are participating up to the headmasters office.

"Commander Squall Leonhart, can you please come to the Office? Also required are Zell Dincht, Irvine Kinneas, Selphie Tilmitt, Quistis Trepe and Stephen Howman. Would any Cadets who are preparing for todays SeeD Exam, please also report to the office?"

"Speak of the devil" Jack muttered to himself. He started walking to the exit and opened the door to the training area. He looked around and it looked pretty deserted, but then again that didn't mean anything some of the monster in here are quiet stealthy creatures that attack when you least expect it.

Jack started to walk through the training area still thinking about her. He knew that he had to get focused for the exam, and he knew if he continued to think about her that it would just distract him. He needed to pass this exam and become a SeeD, he just needs to know that he could do it. While he was thinking of this Jack didn't notice the Grat sneak out from the trees and slowly creep up behind him. It grabbed him and lifted him off the ground.

"What the hell ugly?" Jack yelled as he reached for one of his Katanas. He grabbed one and sliced the tentacle it grabbed him with off.

He fell to the ground with a thud and got back up. He quickly grabbed his other Katana and started to run towards the beast. He dodged one tentacle and dodged another, Jack got ready to stop and pounce for his attack when he felt his foot catch on something. Jack stumbled forward right toward the Grat. By some great luck his swords were point directly toward and his two Katanas stabbed the beast right in the chest. As some of the beast's blood squirted out, it quickly pulled itself off the blades and ran back into the jungle. Jack quickly sheathed his Katanas and started to run. He made it out of the training area and ran around the circle to the elevator, Jack pressed the button and it came down. He got in pressed the button for the third floor and took a second to catch his breath, he arrived and walked into the headmasters office just in time to hear Xu say.

"Any questions?"

Everybody looked as Jack came in, they had the weirdest look on their faces. Jack looked down at this SeeD uniform and noticed why they were looking at him funny. Half of his uniform was covered in Grat blood. He looked at his fellow classmates and thought this was a great way to start the exam.
 
Squall nodded throguht Xu's breifing, ensuring he understood what the candidates were doing, this was the first time he had heard this information too...

"Any questions?" She said as she finished, and Squall was about to say something as the elevator doors opened.

He studied the new arrival, who was covered with the blood of one of the monsters kept within the training area. It was unusual for a SeeD candidate to be late to an exam breifing, and even more unusual for one who was late to be taken on the exam. However Xu had seemed uneasy before, and he decided he'd wait to see what she had t say for speaking to the candidate himself...
 
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