Exhile87:Hey there!I'm back and this fanfic is continued from the last,The 
Return Part One(or A Knight Returns Part One).
!~ENJOY~!

Chapter Two:The SeeD Field Exam

Surprisingly,Seifer did quite well in his SeeD written test.Squall still 
rarely interacted with him,but the others,with the exception of Zell,treated 
him casually.Zell just grunted whenever he met Seifer,and Seifer replied 
with another grunt.
The SeeD field exam was to begin that day.All the candidates were divided 
into their teams.All...except Seifer.He was alone.
Quistis noticed that when Squall read out the teams.She whispered to 
him,"Hey,is Seifer gonna be a solo?"
"Yeah," Squall replied."Don't look at me.It was Cid's orders."
Quistis said no more,and proceeded to the team under her care. 
Selphie,Irvine,Xu,Nida,and Zell each had one too.Squall,however,just briefed 
the candidates on their mission.
"The City of Teira is located to the South of Dollet.Recently, monsters 
have been flowing into the city by tonnes.The Mayor of Teira, Mayor 
Chims,has requested the aid of SeeDs.Your objective;eliminate all the 
monsters you encounter in the area you are sttioned.Like usual,
should you fail,the SeeDs will take care of the matter.Follow the orders
carefully.Your points and marks are based on this and your actions during 
the exam.Now,here're your locations.Team A,City Square.Team B,the bridge 
connecting the two sides of Teira,Team C,the rea around the Inn,Team D...."
Each location was read out clearly.When finished,Squall looked 
around."Any questions?"
To his annoyance,Seifer raised his hand."Sir,you said ALL the monsters?"
"Yes,Seifer,ALL the monsters you encounter in the location ALLOCATED
to you," Squall replied drily."Now,if you're all clear,please move on to the 
Parking Lot and take the vessels at Balamb Town to Teira Beach.
Anything you aren't sure of later,ask the SeeD accompanying you. Dismiss."
The candidates moved out in their teams.Seifer stopped for a moment when 
Raijin and Fujin appeared.They talked quickly before nodding at each other 
and walking off.
Squall frowned,wondering what they were up to.
"You're going too,aren't you?" Rinoa's voice came behind him.He turned 
and smiled slightly.
"Of course.Wanna come?"
"Well....okay.It's kinda boring here."
"But,er,you can't bring Angelo," said Squall,looking at the brown and 
white dog at her feet.
"I can't?What a pity,he'll be so lonely!" Rinoa bent down and cuddled
Angelo.
"Well,we can keep him in the vessel,if you want.He can't be allowed on 
the exam field."
"Alright.Let's go,then."
"Like to go with the others or alone?" Squall asked innocently.
Rinoa's eyes gleamed."Well...it'll be stuffy if there're too many 
people..."
Squall smiled.

There was a final meeting at the entrance of Teira before the exam 
started.Squall made sure ech of them had their GFs equipped and junctioned 
before finally wishing them luck and telling them to move out to their 
locations.
"Watch out,guys," Squall said to his comrades."Keep an eyes on your 
team.Got yourselves junctioned?"
Everyone nodded and departed.Then Squall turned to Rinoa,who was tying 
Angelo to a pole and talking to him lovingly since he made a fuss when he 
was locked up in the vessel.
"Hey,you wanna go around together?" asked Squall.
Rinoa looked up."You can get going,Squall,don't have to wait for me.
Aren't you supposed to be seeing the Mayor or something?"
"Oh geez,I almost forgot.You sure you'll be okay?" Squall raised his 
eyebrows doubtfully.
"Of course.After making sure Angelo will be alright,I'll go walk around 
the City.Seems pretty bg to me."
"Oh well...okay," replied Squall."I'll see you around here,okay?When the 
exam ends?"
"Right.Bye." They exchanged a quicky kiss and then Squall walked off to 
the Mayor's houce.Rinoa looked after him for a while.She patted 
Angelo,whispered 'Goodbye',and strolled down the street.
The City was rather lonely and quiet.The citizens were in their 
houses,some moved out,and some were in Dollet.Monsters of all sizes hid 
behind buildings and bushes,but with her Sorceress powers,Rinoa didn't mind 
them at all.
The SeeD candidates were doing alright in their battles.Rinoa bumped into 
Nida,who gave her a nod.She nodded back.A thought suddenly flashed into her 
mind.
'I wonder where Seifer is......'
'Wait!What?Why am I thinking about him...?'

Seifer slashed out at the Cockatrice,which squawked and gave him a peck 
on his hand.He slashed again and the monster collapsed.
"Heh.Piece o'cake," muttered Seifer.He looked at the blood staining his 
gunblade and grimaced."Geez.And I just had it polished yesterday."
He moved about his area,which was near a forest just outside Teira.
The area was infested with the most monsters in the city.
He battled 3 Geezards,2 Wendigos,5 Jelleyes,2 Grendels,and 3 
Hexadragons.By that time,he was already a little tired,but he commanded his 
body to remain steady.An annoying Bite Bug stung him and he counter attacked 
with anger,finishing it off with a single blow.
"Pest.." he grumbled."Think ya can fight me?"
Just then,he got a shock.A roar was heard.Seifer looked around for the 
monster,and froze at what he saw.
A gigantic Malboro lumbered towards him,its huge mouth gaping 
widely.Seifer took a few steps back.He always hated Malboros,and he never 
thought he'd encounter one there.
"Whoa.Oh shit," he muttered,trying to quickly junction himself with the 
appropriate magic to stand strong against the Malboro.But before he could 
finish,the monster gave him a slap with one of its tentacles.
Seifer was frantically junctioning himself when the Malboro opened its 
mouth,preparing for it's most notorious attack,Bad Breath.
"Shit!What the hell?!" Seifer turned and tried to hold his breath so as 
not to inhale the Malboro's breath.But clouds of greenish-black gas 
surrounded him,and he had no choice but to finally succumb.
Seifer fell down on one knee.Poisoned,blinded and cursed,he couldn't even 
raise his gunblade for a blow.The Malboro took this advantage to attack 
again,and it spitted out some acid.
'Dammit!Am I just gonn die like this?I gotta let the others know about 
what's happening here!But they're too far from me.....and even if they were 
here,would they help me?I'm a betrayar...to Garden, Cid... Matron..' Seifer 
thought as he leaned back against the wall,breathing heavily.He tried to 
cast Esuna but the Malboro stopped him by giving him a hard whack.
'This is it....unless somebody comes here...I'm dead meat...'
Suddenly a fire ball appeared and slowly grew in the Malboro.It roared as 
the ball combusted with great heat.Then,hard,strong spikes of ice dashed 
from the ground,penetrating the Malboro's body.A crash of bolt came down and 
struck the monster fiercely.Green blood splashed out,and the monster gave 
one last roar before collapsing.
Seifer knew it was dead,but he couldn't see who was his saviour.The 
poison in his body was spreading fast and he could just lay back in pain.
He heard a gasp,then footsteps rushing towards him.Someone knelt down and 
a gentle hand touched his face lightly.
Seifer felt his body weakening even more.He tried to say something, but 
failed.
"Seifer...." the voice was familiar,soft and gentle.His heart almost 
stopped beating.The voice continued," Oh my God,are you alright?"
He forced a word through his mouth,with all his strength."Rinoa?"
"Yeah,it's me.Don't worry,you're gonna be okay."
Seifer heard her cast Esuna and Curaga on him.The poison vanished and his 
body slowly gained its strength.His breathing slowered and he opened his 
eyes.The bruises and wounds on him had disappeared.
He turned to Rinoa,who hastily removed her hand from his face.She
smiled.
"You okay?"
Seifer stared at her,then he quickly got up and backed off in panic.
Rinoa raised her eyebrows."Huh?"
"Wait,wait,wait!Why did you help me?It's against the exam rules!I can't 
accept or ask for help from non-candidates!Oh,dammit,I'm gonna be 
disqualified!!" Seifer started yelling in exasperation.
Rinoa stood up,gesturing for him to calm down."Seifer,don't get--"
"Why did you help me?You could've just ignored me!"
"But I couldn't just leave you to die!"
Seifer pointed a finger at her."Tell me...WHY did you help me?"
"Like I said,I couldn't leave you to die!"
"And why is that?" he asked cautiously.
"Becuse....because you've so much more in life that you hven't seen,"
Rinoa answered lamely."And....I'd feel guilty if I'd just stand there and 
watch you get killed."
Seifer said nothing.His eyes stared at Rinoa's,his hand clutching
Hyperion tightly.
A single minute went by silently.
Rinoa sighed and ran her hand through her hair.She looked around the 
empty streets and turned back to Seifer."I'd better get going.You know 
what'll happen if Squall finds me here with you."
When Seifer still didn't say anything,she closed her eyes and 
inhaled."Look,Seifer,I'll take responsibility if you're disqualified,
okay?I'll say I...helped you on purpose..or force..whichever."
With that,she turned and walked off,making sure nobody saw what happened.
Behind,Seifer stared after her.
A tiny part of his frozen heart melted.

At sharp 1700 hours,the exam candidates assembled at the shore where the 
vessels landed.Some of them looked exhausted,some kidded around like nothing 
happened.
Squall eyed all of them sharply.Surprisingly enough,Seifer was also 
there.Squall had expected him to ignore the order,but still.....
'Zell...where's he?His team isn't here....' Squall thought with a sigh 
and gave him another 5 minutes.
3 minutes passed....
4 minutes...
Squall frowned.'What the heck is wrong with Zell?Don't tell me he forgot 
about the time...'
Just then,hurried footsteps and panting were heard.Zell ran up with a 
team of tired looking candidates.Their uniforms were all stained with mud 
and dirt.
"Yo,sorry,Squall.We bumped into an annoying Grendel near the swarm on the 
other side.Hope we aren't too late," apologized Zell.
Squall winced at the thought of the muddy uniforms.Dr. Kadowaki is going 
to be sooooo mad.....
"Never mind.Is everyone here?Check your team mates,please.."
The candidates looked around,then nodded.Squall folded his arms and 
said,"You all did a good job.Majority of the monsters have been 
demolished.Get back to your vessels and wait for your results in Garden.You 
can hang around in Balamb Town if you want,but please be back by 1800 
hours.Thank you."
There were heavy sighs of relief and weariness.As the candidtes entered 
their vessels,Squall turned to his comardes,who looked rather tired,except 
Rinoa.
"So,how'd it go?" he asked.
"Man,my team was a 'lil shaky when battling a Ruby Dragon. 
Especially,that guy,Lac.Couldn't even take out his wepon to fight!Geez,"
grumbled Zell,scratching his head.
"My team was okay,though some of them were rather too eager to fight," 
stated Quistis.
"I bet MY team was the worst!" wailed Selphie."That stupid guy,Wesley,ran 
off and disappeared.I spent almost an hour searching for him and then I 
found him asleep behind a bush.And there's that irritating girl,whatever her 
name is,the one with pink hair!"
"That would be Loosie," remarked Xu.
"Well,Loosie-whatever casted Fira on a bomb!Can you think of anyone 
stupider than her?And when she was supposed to cure one of her team 
mates,she casted it on the enemy!" Selphie was almost in tears."Someone help 
me!I can't stand it!Waaa!"
"Alright,alright,Sefie honey," Irvine comforted her,putting his arm 
around her."It's okay!It won't be your fault if they fail the exam."
"How 'bout you?" Squall looked at Nida and Xu.
"Oh,my team did okay.That fella,what was his name?Oh yeah,Prest, he's 
good.His battle skills are great and he follows orders without delay or 
hesitation," said Nida,placing his hnds in his pockets.
"Mine's on the average,but that pair of girls in there were always 
fooling around," Xu commented.
Squll nodded pprovingly and paused for a second before asking the next 
question.
"Anyone noticed how Seifer was doing?"
Rinoa felt her heart beat twice as fast.She looked up slowly and kept her 
face calm.Squall looked around but didn't notice her uneasiness.
"He was okay," said Irvine."I saw him fighting off some nasty lookin'
monsters even without magic."
"Yeah,me too," Nid prompted."That guy must have a helluva strength."
Squall frowned again."We'll see...anything else?"
Guiltiness flooded Rinoa.'But I can't tell them what I did!I just 
can't...I'll tell Squall later...or when I think I'm ready to tell him.'
she thought.
Rinoa sighed silently.'And when will THAT be?'

"How was the exam,Squall?" Cid asked as Squall saluted.
"It went fine,sir.Here're the reports," Squall said,handing Cid a file.He 
took it and immediately flipped to the certain page he wanted.
"Ah."
Squall raised his eyebrows."Sir?"
"So Seifer did quite well...heh heh heh..."
Squall lowered his eyes for a moment."Indeed,sir."
"Well,thank you for this.I'll let you know the results after I discuss it 
with Edea."
"Yes,sir." Squall saluted again and went out of the office.
!~END~!

How was that?The usuals,comments,critics,whatever,send it all to------>
Exhile87@hotmail.com