FINAL FANTASY: Dissidia Academy

by ZNitro

Summary:

Dissidia Academy: A predigious school for the ambitious and talented, where students strive to accomplish their goals and dreams.
Follow the heroes of Final Fantasy as they tackle the many challenges and tribulations that await them throughout the eventful academic year!

Chapter 1: Vol.1 - Class 13A

Volume 1: Semester Begins!

 

Warrior of Light stepped through the large, towering gate that suddenly sprung open just for his welcoming. His long, neat silver hair flowing in the breeze. He kept his chest held high and had a strong grip on his plain yet posh rucksack.

He constantly checked his uniform to make sure that every part of his clothing and body had been neat and clean: his dark blue blazer was completely new and spotless; his long-sleeved shirt was as white as pearls with every button done up securely; his dark blue trousers was thoroughly washed and ironed just before he put them on; his dark blue tie was straight and neatly tied around the collar of his neck, ensuring that it wasn't too loose or too tight; even his smart, jet-black shoes were completely polished for the day just as they were every day since he bought them.

Once the final checks were done, he lifted his head and gazed at the large, office-like building that stood out amongst all other buildings in the district. Along its wall held its name in huge capital letters:

DISSIDIA ACADEMY

Today was possibly the most important day for Warrior of Light in his life so far. A new year at the Academy was beginning and Warrior of Light had become – Crowned, in his mind - the President of the Academy's council. For this very occasion, he had arrived 1 hour early even though he was supposed to arrive only 30 minutes early.

He entered the building with a proud expression strapped across his face, and began to climb up the winding staircase towards the top floor. The Academy had 6 floors: the 1^st was where the Entrance hall, the Dining hall, the Theatre room and the Reception area was situated; the next 3 was for each year group and most of the subjects; the 5^th held the Laboratory rooms, the Art rooms and the Tech rooms; and the top floor held the teachers offices, the school council room and the Headmistress' office. For this certain occasion, Warrior of Light had to meet with the Headmistress about his new role of the academy. Something he was anxious about yet was too stubborn to show it.

Finally, he reached the top floor. He passed the variety of offices which each had the name of the teacher across the doors. He passed the council room and caught sight of the door for the Headmistress' office, eyes locked on target like a hawk.

He knocked.

"Come in." A sophisticated female voice answered on the other side, giving off a soft and welcoming aura.

Warrior of Light opened to door and entered through, his eyes lit up just as he caught sight of the office. The room he entered was large and spaced out: with a bookcase on the left holding a variety of subject folders; a file cabinet holding information related to the academy; a cream sofa on the right for visiting guests; and directly in front was a desk that was as clean as could be. Accompanied with the desks were 2 seats that had been situated on either end.

Headmistress Cosmos sat peering out towards an enlarged window situated behind her desk, watching the clear blue sky in a peaceful daze. Just a small glimpse of her appearance caused Warrior of Light to skip a heartbeat in admiration. She had been wearing from top to toe a bright silver suit – including blazer and heels, matching perfectly with her long, soft platinum hair and bright eyes. In addition to this, she had a figure of a goddess, healthy in appearance and an aura of tranquillity – one could not fault her in any way.

Altogether, she gave an atmosphere of warmth and inspiration.

She swivelled her seat back to the desk with elegance and glanced up towards Warrior of Light. He bowed to her the moment their eyes met, feeling to would be rude not to do so.

"You must be very keen to arrive at such an early time, Warrior of Light." Cosmos cheerfully commented with amusement, noticing the digital clock that hung against the wall above the sofa.

It read 7:13am.

"My apologies Headmistress. I felt it would be better for me to arrive at this time." Warrior of Light admitted in response.

"There's no need for apologies, let’s just not make a habit out of it." Cosmos grinned coolly, a light chuckle escaping her voice. "Take a seat."

Warrior of Light did as he was told without hesitation, placing himself on the seat opposite the Headmistress.

"So … shall we begin?"

 

Dissidia Academy, 8:00am…

Hordes of students passed through the front gates, chatting amongst one another with cheerful expressions. There were around 1,300 students who attended Dissidia Academy, all with their own dreams and goals to accomplish.

Warrior of Light stood beside the gates with crossed arms, watching the students pass with a wary mind-set, hoping none of them were to misbehave or act rebellious in any way upon entering the academy grounds.

Even though he kept to his duty, Warrior of Light had thoughts rushing through his head, the entirety in relation to his meeting with the Headmistress. Most of it was based on his role as the new President of the School Council, in which he had been expecting. However, there were also topics that struck him by surprise.

For now, he decided to assure himself hat this was not the time to worry about such problems and concentrate on the task at hand.

Suddenly, Warrior of Light caught a loud commotion originating from the academy car park. He decided to take action.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you cannot park your Chocobo in the car park." A Member of the Council explained in a strict manner, agitated with the situation. “It is against the policy of the Academy.”

"Huh!? B-but I'm a student here!" A student argued back, keeping himself close to his Chocobo in refusal to back down.

Upon entering the car park, Warrior of Light recognised the student immediately.

Bartz Klauser.

Considered to be one of the class clowns of Dissidia Academy based on his laid-back attitude and his tendency to hang out with the wrong type of people. Sporting medium-long, light brown hair and a slim figure; he was a guy who enjoyed anything Chocobo-related and causing as much mischief as possible – even when he’s oblivious to his own actions.

"Rules are rules, Mr Klauser. You must have a permit from Reception in order for you to park any vehicle, air-ship or – in this case – Chocobo in this car park!" The Council Member continued on with a stern expression, beginning to fluster due to the nuisance. “The permit is also applicable for the Academy stables, where your Chocobo is meant to be!”

"Well, Boko is staying right here and there's nothing you can do about it!” Bartz stated proudly, folding his arms and showing a grin. “Isn't that right, Boko?"

The Chocobo, Boko, hooted and nodded in agreement.

"The funny thing about that is … we can.” The Council Member then admitted, abruptly taking hold of Boko's reins. “You see, Members of the Council are allowed to confiscate or restrain any mode of transport – Chocobo, for this matter – if a permit had not been issued to the owner. This will, in turn, be escalated to the Head of the Council."

"Wha-!? And who would that be!?" Bartz stubbornly questioned, as though attempting to keep the upper hand of the situation.

"That … would be me." A sudden, unimpressed voice answered from directly behind Bartz.

Bartz switched round abruptly, almost leaping out from his skin in fright. Warrior of Light had stood patiently behind him for a while, listening to the commotion in silence. His arms crossed and eyes glaring back with a serious tone, Bartz couldn’t help but quiver. Warrior of Light’s President Badge that was situated on the collar of his Blazer reflected the sun's bright rays with pride, proving to Bartz he was the real deal.

"Escort the Chocobo to the stables, please.” Warrior of Light commanded his fellow council member, pointing over towards the direction of the academy stables. “I'll deal with this … fool."

"Yes, Council President." The Council Member nodded back, guiding Boko away.

"W-wait, I beg you!” Bartz hastily called out in desperation. “Please don't take Boko away!"

Boko glanced over to Bartz, calling back to him with a loud yet worried screech.

"BOKOOOO!" Bartz cried out with tears streaming like waterfalls, falling to his hands and knees in defeat.

Warrior of Light glanced down towards the broken Bartz, scratching his head and wondered what in the world had just happened. He noticed many of the students watching in curiosity, the atmosphere surrounding the two tensing up, causing him to feel ever the more awkward.

Ultimately, he gave out a frustrated sigh and decided to keep his cool, kneeling down beside Bartz in order to issue him instructions.

"Listen to me, Bartz. Go to Reception and request for a permit, fill out the form and show it to me when complete. Mark my words; I'll give you your 'beloved' Boko back by the end of the day.” Warrior of Light explained to him clearly, knowing he has to be reasonable to everyone … including the idiots. “For now, though, he'll be well cared for in the stables."

He caught sight of a subtle nod from the sulking Bartz, accepting the Council President’s words bitterly. Warrior of Light then assisted Bartz to his feet, brushing off the gathered dust on his uniform. With that, he straightened himself up and stepped away, feeling relieved that the situation was sorted out without too much hassle.

However, this had been short-lived. Warrior of Light halted abruptly due to an individual shooting passed him with alarming speeds, a gust of wind trailing from behind.

"There, there Bartz. Don’t worry about Boko." An upbeat voice began to comfort Bartz. “You know as well as I do that the new Council President keeps to his word.”

Warrior of Light whipped round in an instant, noticing that the person who had sped passed him was a fellow student. However, this was no ordinary student. He was the ‘Partner in Crime’ to Bartz and ‘Mastermind’ behind most – if not, all – of the tricks and pranks caused within Dissidia Academy grounds.

He had light-blond tied into a long yet thin pony tail and clear-blue eyes. He was of short yet nimble build, able to beat any who oppose him in a race of speed. And most notable of all … he had a golden monkey tail.

"Are you sure about that, Zidane?" Bartz wondered curiously, sniffing out and cuffing away his tear-filled eyes.

"I'm positive!" Zidane answered with an upbeat grin. “Would I ever lie to you? … Actually, don’t answer that.”

Zidane rubbed Bartz on the back with cheerful spirit and began to walk away, tail freely swishing and swooping from behind.

However, just as he was about take his leave with his friend, Zidane glanced back to Warrior of Light, a devilish smirk showing as he began to pat his rear pocket. Warrior of Light watched him with confusion, cautious as to what he was indicating.

It was at that moment where he had realised, swiftly switching his sights down towards his blazer.

His President Badge had been stolen!

There was no wonder to Zidane’s known title amongst the Academy, known to many as: Zidane the Thief.

Warrior of Light hastily switched back to Zidane and Bartz’s position, only to find the two had disappeared in an instant. With no time to hesitate, Warrior of Light desperately leapt into a fast sprint in hopes of catching the mischievous thief.

He made his way around the Academy grounds as swift as he could, looking through every window, in every dustbin, passed every door and in every room.

No luck, there was no sign of Zidane.

Then, just as he had reached the fields of the Academy with the need to recover his energy, Warrior of Light heard a load calling-whistle originating from high up the Academy building. He switched towards the building and glanced up, noticing Zidane in an instant. He was swinging from a 4^th floor window ledge like a pendulum, using his tail as an anchor and could be seen juggling the badge from one hand to the other.

"Looking for this?" Zidane called out as he held out the badge, laughing away in a cheeky manner.

"Give that back, Zidane!" Warrior of Light bellowed back, his frustration rising due to this pointless chase. “That’s Academy property! I could have you disciplined for this!”

"Hmm … you do have a point. But nah, I don’t feel like it!" Zidane coolly refused with a shrug.

With that, Zidane shot away through the open window. Warrior of Light gritted his teeth furiously and charged back into the building of the academy. He leaped up the staircase towards the 4^th floor, refusing to stop himself for any given reason.

He reached the 4^th Floor corridor in no time whatsoever and began to search the area, checking every room he passed along the way.

Not long into the search, Warrior of Light heard an echoing laugh coming from one of the far end corridors. Following the sound of Zidane’s voice, he leapt into a sprint and flew through the corridors, something he would normally disapprove of to the other students.

Just as he thought he was catching up to the thief, Warrior of Light skidded to a stop, noticing someone standing directly in his path.

A student with brown hair, a large scar running across the crux of his nose and a moody expression showing in his face stood in Warrior of Light’s way. At first, Warrior of Light was hesitant to approach the guy, feeling somewhat intimidated by his appearance. However, this approach was brushed aside as the student held up his right hand, showing off Warrior of Light's 'precious' badge in broad daylight.

"I believe this belongs to you?" The student spoke with an irritable tone, passing over the badge to its original owner.

"Err … Ah! Yes it is! B-but how did you-?" Warrior of Light tried to question back as the badge finally returned to him, having trouble to form words due to his lack of breath.

"I have the most unbearable curse of being mixed up in Zidane and Bartz’s constant shenanigans.” The student answered with a bothering sigh, keeping the same tone in his voice as though he was bored out of his mind. “Trust me … I know all of Zidane's tricks."

"I see … well, thank you for your help.” Warrior of Light appreciated gratefully, before curiously asking him. “May I ask … Who are you?"

"Squall. Squall Leonhart." He answered with his monotone. "And I suggest you keep your distance from the other two, especially since you're in the same homeroom class as us three."

"Right, I'll try my– wait … what?" Warrior of Light stuttered, unable to believe what he had just heard.

"I haven't got time for this…” Squall sighed out with a face-palmed, “I guess you haven't seen the-… Huh?"

Warrior of Light had suddenly disappeared within seconds of hearing the news, leaving Squall on his own in the middle of the corridor.

Squall shrugged out, placing his hands in his pockets and walking away silently like a shadow.

"Hmph … Whatever.” He murmured quietly. “At the end of the day … We're all screwed."

 

Warrior of Light was once again charging through the corridors in haste, some of his energy returning to him after the incident with Zidane. He soon reached the staircase and leapt down every few steps towards the 1^st floor, cautious not to trip or lose his concentration during his descent.

And yet, his mind was racing even faster than his legs were.

He had not checked up on the homeroom group announcement board as he felt it had been inappropriate at the time. Now, he was seen cursing himself for following through with such a reckless decision.

Finally, he reached the bottom of the staircase, struggling to catch his breath. With no time to rest, he instantly ran towards the entrance of the building where he had noticed the students beginning to crowd around outside. Once exited the building, Warrior of Light twisted round to the direction of the crowd.

A large, elongated board could be seen towering over everyone, filled to the brim with Class arrangements for the academic year. All the students were gossiping to one another – either gleefully or in despair – as they found out where they were placed on the Class board.

Warrior of Light slipped his way through the vast crowd as hastily as he could, gaining the clearest possible view one he broke through to the front. He halted and gazed up to the board. An immense list of names filled up the board, thankfully in large enough print for most to see.

The top of the class board revealed the names in the Academy Council and the Head/Captains of the numerous Clubs. Underneath were the homerooms with the Class numbers and designated teacher names beginning each list.

Warrior of Light skimmed through the board until he finally caught his homeroom.

He read the list carefully:

 

Class 13A:

Teacher: Shantotto

 

Students:

Warrior of Light (Council and Class President)

Firion (Council Member)

Onion Knight (Council Member)

Cecil Harvey

Bartz Klauser

Terra Branford

Cloud Strife (Head of the Chocobo Racing Committee)

Squall Leonhart

Zidane Tribal

Tidus (Blitzball Captain)

 

After several checks, the daunting realisation finally set in.

It was all there, clear as day.

“No … why would they…!?” Warrior of Light breathlessly questioned, overwhelmed with horror.

"AWESOME!” An excited voice exploded from behind, causing him to jump out of his skin in fright. “This is great, Cloud! All of us are in the same class! We have to find Firion and Cecil and tell them!"

Warrior of Light span around upon hearing the ear-piercingly loud voice, feeling as though his eardrum had burst on impact. Two male students stood directly behind him: one with light-brown, medium-sized hair who seemed far too over-excited for his own good; whilst the other had blond, spikey hair and seemed to have an exhausted expression on his face.

Their names:

The Blitzball Captain: Tidus, and the Head of the Chocobo Racing Committee: Cloud Strife.

"You can go and tell them yourself … I'm getting a coffee." Cloud answered back in a tired, groaning voice, struggling to stay conscious.

"Coffee!?” Tidus leapt back in a surprised manner, over-exaggerating his actions. “Why would you want coffee!?"

"Because, Tidus … you called me at 3am for a game of Blitzball which went on non-stop for three – count them, THREE – hours!” Cloud explained to him in frustration, sounding as though he had constantly reminded Tidus previously of the dilemma. “You have done this to me for the past week! Right now, I'm beyond shattered and on the verge of collapse."

"Yeah, but … that's no reason to get a coffee!” Tidus laughed out as ushered Cloud towards the Academy building, not realising that his exhausted friend was in a dire state. “Come on! Let's go find Firion and Cecil!"

With that, Tidus grabbed the back of Cloud's collar and dragged him out of the large crowd, Cloud's feet dragged against the concrete floor as he gave out a low, quiet groan. In mere moments, the two were completely out of sight, leaving only a trail of dust cloud from where Cloud’s feet dug into the ground in failed protest.

Warrior of Light turned away and shook his head in dismay.

Great, just what I need … a Class full of idiots and lost causes!

He gave one last glance to the board with disheartened eyes before leaving the crowd.

 

Dissidia Academy, 8:45am…

The students of Dissidia Academy were entering the Theatre Room for the beginning of the academic year assembly. The students took their places along the rows of chairs and sat on whichever they desired with their friends, making the most out of their only opportunity to do so.

In the meantime, Warrior of Light was up on stage finishing up on last-minute preparations, feeling somewhat anxious.

His mind was running through the Headmistress’ set of impending announcements, repeating on a constant loop. Whilst the majority were harmless and to be expected, one notable announcement set him on edge. In fact, he could only imagine to the reaction of the Academy upon hearing the news.

Once the final checks were complete, he slipped behind the curtains to the backstage area of the Theatre Room– out of sight from the crowd. During that time, he noticed Headmistress Cosmos approaching him, causing him to abruptly stiffen up.

"Is everything ready?" She questioned him curiously, her kind smile as pure as ever.

"Yes, Headmistress." Warrior of Light answered formally, giving a nod.

"I told you many times, just call me Cosmos."

"Sorry Headmiss- I mean, Cosmos."

Cosmos let out a sigh, changing the subject, "I have a feeling the students will be shocked to hear the news I’m about to give them."

"It is to be expected." Warrior of Light agreed, hiding his own bitter feelings as he spoke. "However, they have the right to know, and they will endure it … just like I have."

Cosmos closed her eyes and gave out a small nod, silently thanking him.

She stepped out onto the stage in front of the crowd of seated students, all of who beginning to quieten down as they noticed her approach. Warrior of Light watched her step behind the microphone, her body tall and elegant.

He, along with many other students of the Academy, admired Headmistress Cosmos for her calm demeanour, approachable aura and overall position in the Academy – many considering her to be beyond omniscient. Having been Headmistress for 13 years, no one could deny how she had changed the Academy for the better.

Cosmos held up a hand and the whole room suddenly fell completely silent. She picked up the microphone and began her entrance speech.

"Welcome everyone to a new year of Dissidia Academy.” She spoke out to the room, her tone completely confident and proud. “I hope you’ve all had a much-needed break."

Many students silently answered the question, some nodded whilst others groaned.

"Well, whatever the case may be, it's time to focus back once again to your studies and commitments.” She continued on, her eyes gradually watching the crowd, one section at a time. “Many of you will have a busy year ahead and you will need to use this time as preparation for the future. But of course, there will be a variety of activities, clubs, and events throughout the year. Many new, many changed but all that meet your interests and abilities – some may even help set the future that is ahead of you."

The students hissed "yessss" amongst each other in excitement as they had heard the ‘variety of’ section of her speech.

"There are a few announcements I will be sharing with you before you head on to your Class Homerooms. Firstly, many of you have been asking about what this year's trip will consist of and I can confirm to you that there will in fact be two trips this year: one in February where there will be a skiing and snowboarding trip and the other in June; a first for the Academy, a Water-sports based trip."

Suddenly, the hall had gone berserk as almost the entirety of students cheered upon hearing the announcement. Cosmos put up her hand again calmly, silencing the crowd. The entire hall calmed down once again in an instant.

"Yes, I guess you all would be excited to hear that.” She lightly chuckled, “Next is – of course – the seasonal Academy events dates and times: the Halloween Festival will be on the 31st October; the Winter party will be on the 17th December – the last day before the Holiday Break; the Spring festival will commence on the 14th April; and – to finish off – the Summer Sports Festival will begin on the 10th July."

The students began to whisper amongst each other, struggling to control their excitement.

"And now, the last announcement of the assembly!" Cosmos called out over the whispers, her voice echoing around the hall.

But then the there was a pause. Students watched her curiously, wondering as to what she was about to reveal.

Cosmos took a deep breath.

"This may become a shock for all of you, however I do understand if it doesn't for some of you. On the last day before the Christmas holidays…"

Warrior of Light closed his eyes, bracing for what was about to come. Students were anxious, curious and confused by why she was constantly pausing.

It was then she revealed the truth.

"…I will be leaving Dissidia Academy."

What followed was a very uncomfortable silence, the students sat frozen in their seats. Cosmos gazed round cautiously, anxious about the reaction. Warrior of Light peeked out, glancing at the situation at hand.

And then, everyone abruptly leaped out of their seats in unison.

 

““WHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?””

 

Chapter 2: Vol.1- A Need for Coffee

Warrior of Light climbed up the staircase towards the 4th floor of the Academy, keeping his usual elegant posture and a strong walking pace. In the hopes continuing in setting an example for the rest of the Academy, he refused to allow his body to falter in whatever way.

However, his mind was clearly miles away, staring off into the distance without any focus or acknowledgement of the people around him. He couldn’t help but wonder why Headmistress Cosmos would leave the Academy halfway through the academic year, seeing as the excuse given to him was along the lines of ‘other’ business endeavours.

The true reasoning behind her leave was never brought up during the assembly nor even during their meeting earlier this morning. In fact, whenever Warrior of Light would attempt to delve further in the subject, Cosmos would automatically change the topic before he could finish his question.

He gave out a frustrated sigh, feeling as though the Headmistress was purposely hiding secrets from him and the rest of the Academy.

Whoosh!!!

As he eventually reached the 4^th Floor, Warrior of Light was given a sudden startle by one of the students rushing passed him like a speeding bullet.

After a brief doubletake, He realised that it was none other than Cloud Strife – completely flustered and streaming with sweat.

The startled Warrior of Light watched him as he hastily slid around the corner of the corridor and immediately out of sight, wondering why he was in such a rush.

Due to curiosity, Warrior of Light decided to investigate.

He trailed Cloud's direction and slyly peered around the corner of the corridor, uncertain on whether it was wise to approach Cloud directly. It didn’t take him long to find Cloud, who quickly made his way towards the various vending machines near the end of the hall. The faint sounds of panting and gasping could be heard from him, struggling to calm himself as other passing students began to look in his direction with confused expression.

Cloud hastily reached into his blazer pocket, seemingly struggling to retrieve the money he required. His uniform became increasingly untidy as he searched and searched his various pockets, unable to hide the panic that was going through him.

Finally, he had found a coin, glaring at it with wild, anxious eyes. Warrior of Light could hear him muttering to himself silently, although it was difficult to determine what he was saying.

“Come on … come on, please … just one cup of-!”

"CLOUD!" A sudden, loud, familiarly energetic voice abruptly out, causing both Cloud and Warrior of Light to simultaneously leap out of their skin in fright.

For what seemed like a mere second, Warrior of Light caught a glance of Tidus flying passed him towards the shaken-up Cloud, completely oblivious of the Council President’s existence. Noticing his friend’s immediate approach, Cloud threw the coin into the coffee machine as hysteria overwhelmed him.

However, this was hopeless … for his hand was caught by Tidus just before the coin had entered the slot of the machine.

"What are you doing here, Cloud?” Tidus cheerfully wondered, his obnoxiously high spirits glowing from his body. “Homeroom is about to start!"

"B-but I …"

Before Cloud could even answer the question, Tidus locked his grasp on Cloud’s shoulder and dragged him away from the vending machines. Watching hopelessly as the coffee machine gradually moved further and further away from his grasp, Cloud just couldn’t bring himself to retaliate.

Warrior of Light watched the two students pass by him: Tidus seemed to be in his own little world, and Cloud was far too dreary eyed to notice Warrior of Light's presence. Admittedly, there was a sense of sorrow in Warrior of Light’s expression, feeling rather disheartened by Cloud’s despair.

He would hate to be in those shoes right now.

Then, realising the time, he quickly turned back and made his way to his allocated Homeroom. However, just as he casually swung around the corner, he abruptly collided head-on into another student.

Bang!

“Oof-!”

“Ack-!”

The two fell backwards to the floor in surprise, the unexpected encounter throwing them off their course. Numerous sheets of paper flew above them upon impact, catching the air as they descended to the floor.

Soothing the back of his neck due to hitting it against the solid floor, Warrior of Light gradually lifted himself to a sitting position. Although brief, the world around him was somewhat blurry, causing him to become disorientated. It didn’t take long for him to recover and open his eyes, noticing the other student towering above him with a hand held out in assistance.

Warrior of Light raised his head, realizing that the student was in fact a fellow Council member: Firion.

Firion, a silver-haired, strong looking lad with a unique passion for working in the Academy. He was somewhat mysterious in terms of his goals, preferring to show off an approachable, friendly vibe towards whoever he was communicating with. Ultimately, both he and Warrior of Light had a strong, healthy co-operative friendship with one another – although both had a different approach towards their roles as Council Members.

"I'm really sorry about that, Warrior of Light.” Firion apologised to him, showing off a sweet, innocent smile in the process. “I should’ve been more careful."

"Oh, there's no need to apologise.” Warrior of Light answered with a fair tone, accepting Firion's assistance to bring him back to his feet. “I was rather distracted as well."

Noticing the mess, the two began to help one another with collecting the sheets of paper in as best of an organized fashion as possible. From the content of the papers, Warrior of Light could guess that they were Firion's lesson notes from the previous academic year. From what he initially assumed, Firion was using them as revision to help him transition into the new semester of lessons.

"I'm assuming you’ve met my two friends: Cloud and Tidus?" Firion spoke out in a chuckle, collecting up the last batch of sheets. “They’re quite the pair of characters.”

"Yes, they … certainly are." Warrior of Light nodded back, remembering the huge difference between Cloud's and Tidus' personalities. "To think, those two are the leaders of the Chocobo Racing Committee and the Blitzball Sports Club … seems rather barbaric."

"Well, as the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover.” Firion cheerfully responded, a light chuckle escaping his breath as he spoke. "Those two are more reliable than you’d first imagine. On one hand, Tidus is a dedicated Blitzball Champion. He is always seen practising whenever the occasion arises, and his endless enthusiasm is a force to be reckoned with. Many have even gone on to say that his abilities as a team player and Captain could transcend to ‘legendary’ status if he keeps up his game – I would say he gets that from his Father.

“Cloud, on the other hand, has participated in Chocobo racing for quite a number of years, finishing many of his recent races on top of the leader-board. Granted, he does seem to struggle maintaining focus at times, but you give him a job and he’ll have it done without delay."

"Really…?” Warrior of Light murmured in light surprise as he passed the remaining papers to his classmate, chuckling away at this so called ‘revelation’. “Well, let's hope that they put in as much commitment in their class work as they do on their hobbies.”

"Heh-heh … No need to worry, that’s were my job comes in. I’ll be sure to keep those two in line." Firion nodded back to him with a smirk, holding onto his stash of papers. "Anyhow, I best save Cloud before his caffeine needs hits crisis level."

"He did seem rather shaken up for some reason.” Warrior of Light pointed out whilst folding his arms, feeling what he witnessed should be mentioned. “He was attempting to buy a coffee from the machine before Tidus dragged him away."

"I assumed that would the case.” Firion answered back with a sigh, fiddling through his trouser pockets for coins. “I swear, one of these days, Tidus will realise we’re all not early morning people like him … especially Cloud.”

"So be it. Well, I best get to the room otherwise I'll be late." Warrior of Light concluded, time consciously on his mind. "I'll see you there, Firion."

Firion waved to him with a cheery expression and turned towards the coffee machine, counting up his coins. Warrior of Light took his leave and headed towards the room, smartening himself up as best as he could. A slight pain could still be felt throbbing in the back of his neck, however decided to ignore knowing it was only a fall.

 

Class 13A Homeroom, 8:45am…

The Homeroom was filled with students, chatting away about their own affairs and their activities during the Summer Break. The room was lively, the aftermath of the Summer Break still hanging high in the air.

Warrior of Light entered the room, keeping up his appearance as he stepped forward. Straight away, he made his way over towards his designated seat – situated as the 3^rd desk in the front row.

Sitting down, he began to glance around.

He could see the students scattered around different sections of the room in their small groups, continuously chatting about the eventful summer and the announcements in the assembly just a moment ago.

At the far back, he noticed Tidus continuously chatting to the struggling Cloud, who was clearly wishing he had more hours of sleep. Joining in their group was Cecil Harvey, who continued to nod and agree endlessly to Tidus’ non-stop rant. Cecil was like Warrior of Light in basic appearance, with long, flowing silver hair and a tall frame. That being said, the two were strikingly different from one another when it came to personality. Whilst Warrior of Light was formal and orderly, Cecil was known to be very approachable and stoic with those around him.

Moving on – currently standing as the only female student in Class 13A – Terra Branford was happily speaking to Onion Knight – the youngest student of the Class based on his youthful appearance. The two were close when it came to their companionship, with Onion Knight seemingly the only student in this class that Terra was able to become friends with without shyness becoming a major deterrent.

With that said, Terra’s presence within Class 13A tended to light up the atmosphere amongst the other students, her pure appearance and timid personality adding to her endearing nature. With bright blond hair and a face of beauty, she could be seen by many as the angel of the class – if not, the entire academy.

Onion Knight, although being younger than the rest of the group by a few years, had the mind of a genius. He could conquer puzzles and equations of various difficulty with ease, and if challenged by a fellow student on an activity or debate, there would be no doubt that he would overcome his opponent in the battle of wit.

This was something Warrior of Light found questionable, feeling as though Onion Knight’s aura just came off as cocky and self-righteous. 

Warrior of Light’s gaze then shifted onto Bartz and Zidane, who were continuously pestering a moody Squall. He felt somewhat empathetic for the Lone Wolf of the Class, knowing first-hand the chaos those two clowns could ultimately cause if given the chance.

Although he had his issues about his new set of Classmates, Warrior of Light found himself becoming more tolerant of the predicament.  

It wasn’t perfect … but it had its benefits.

Switching back to the front of the Classroom, he decided to begin preparation for the upcoming lessons, taking out whatever equipment he required for the day. As he took out the items of books and other necessities, he attempted to keep to himself and ignore whatever worthless conversations floated around him.

That was the case, until one specific conversation caught his attention.

"From what I hear, Cid of the Lufaine will be visiting the Academy soon." Onion Knight casually told Terra.

"Is that true?” Terra gasped out in surprise, her hand lightly raised over her mouth. “Where'd you hear that from?"

Warrior of Light straightened up abruptly, a sudden surge of exhilaration sparked through his body as he heard the name being mentioned.

Cid of the Lufaine, an inspiration during his youth, was soon to visit Dissidia!?

However, the fact he was not informed by Headmistress Cosmos on the event made him sceptical, unsure if Onion Knight was telling the truth or deceiving people to draw unneeded gossip.

"There’s a huge rumour going around the Academy.” Onion Knight explained to her, his eyes beginning to light up. “Many the teachers were even discussing it in the corridors earlier."

"And … you believe these rumours?" Warrior of Light lowly murmured in interruption, switching round towards their direction.

"Well … why wouldn’t I?” Onion Knight answered with a shrug, feeling caught off by Warrior of Light's sudden involvement in the conversation. “I mean, I would think the teachers would be telling the truth, otherwise what would be the point of bringing up the rumour in the first place?"

Terra didn't say a word, beginning to feel out of place within the conversation as the two locked eyes against one another.

"I personally wouldn't trust rumours, even if they were from teachers." Warrior of Light coolly argued, knowing from previous experiences. "I'll consult the Headmistress about this during lunch to find out if this is true."

"Right … you go do that, I'm certain she'll confirm the rumour to be true." Onion Knight confidently stated in an arrogant tone. "I'm always right with my intuition."

"Sure you are ..." Warrior of Light murmured under his breath irritably.

The two continued to glare each other down with dagger-like eyes, as though they were continuously attempting to one-up each other until the dominant is declared. Terra, watching the two from the side-lines, felt increasingly uncomfortable as the atmosphere between the two became suffocating.

Warrior of Light always found Onion Knight irritating with his big-headed intuitions and omniscient complex, even if he was also a fellow member of the Student Council. Onion Knight, on the other hand, found Warrior of Light's continuous attempts to set examples for the Academy and overbearing personality to be a general nuisance.

Their rivalry had always been mutual, clashing constantly ever since the beginning of last year’s 1^st Semester, with the two always trying to contradict each other with opposing opinions.

“Tch…!”

“Hmph!”

After a few moments of glaring silence, the two broke away from the staring contest with spite, carrying on with their own businesses.

Warrior of Light began to think through this so called 'rumour', taking in the likely possibilities and contradictions. The idea of Cid of the Lufaine visiting the Academy caused Warrior of Light to feel cautiously uplifted. And yet, the fact that this was currently a large, baseless rumour circling round the Academy sent him into a spiral of doubt.

SLAM!

At that very moment, the door swung open, silencing the room in an instant.

The Class began to hear footsteps but could not see anyone enter the room. Warrior of Light lifted his head as high as he possibly could, his curiosity rising. He could only catch a glimpse of fair-blond hair bobbling across the end of his desk, seemingly tied up in two short twin-tails.

"Now then class.” A soft but strict voice commanded to the group, echoing around the classroom as though there were loud, surrounding speakers hidden within the walls. “You’d best listen to everything I have to say, or so help me, I will turn you all into strands of hay."

Suddenly, a high stool appeared directly in front of the classroom, causing a few students to instantly jump out from their seats. Soon after, a small, dwarf-like figure leapt up onto the stool in swift motion and faced the class with an elegant pose.

"I am your homeroom teacher: Professor Shantotto.” She stated proudly to the class, giving out a haughty pose. “Oh-hoh-ho…!"

"YOU'RE our homeroom teacher!?” Bartz burst out in hysterics, swinging back on his chair as he let out a booming laugh. “PHA-HA-HAA! … You're so small!"

Shantotto glared back with absolute distaste, watching Bartz continue with a piercing gaze. His excessive laughter caused the entirety of Class 13A to gasp in horror, bracing themselves for the worst. Warrior of Light awkwardly hid his face in the palms of his hands, wishing he could remove the ignorant fool’s mouth permanently.

After what felt like forever, Shantotto finally blinked.

"Well now, it seems we must go through some ground rules…!” She pointed out calmly, yet her tone of voice grew severely intimidating. “Rule number 1!"

Unexpectedly, a sceptre appeared in her right hand. She began to twirl it around with relaxed motions, feeling the flow of the sceptre move through the fingertips of her tiny palm.

And then, like a flash, she jabbed it in Bartz's direction.

Whoosh…!

“WHAT THE-!?”

CRASH!!!

A large whirlwind instantly caught Bartz by total shock. He had been thrown completely off his seat and collided against the back wall due to the sheer force.

Once the whirlwind had disappeared, Bartz was left slumped to the floor – groans of agony escaping his lifeless mouth.

"One shall not insult another in this class … otherwise one may find their next breath to be their last.” Shantotto coolly stated, her sceptre disappearing from her grasp. “Do you agree, Master Klauser?"

Bartz struggled and murmured as he lifts his arm from the ground, just being able to give a thumb up in approval.

"Good. Rule Number 2: we must respect each other's ambitions and wishes, and help each other towards our successes … Am I clear?"

"YES, PROFFESSOR SHANTOTTO!" Everyone answered in sync.

"And, Rule Number 3: We are a family in this group, and this will continue in a loop."

"*Sigh…!* What a pain…!" Squall moaned under his breath, glancing away in distaste of that 3^rd rule.

BANG!

Unexpectedly, a loud slam echoed throughout the room. Every student – who were already on edge after their Homeroom teacher’s display of discipline – jumped up by the surprise, including Squall himself.

Gradually and cautiously, they all shifted round towards the direction of the abrupt noise. To their complete surprise, it was Cloud – his head unresponsively laying against the desk.

He was completely unconscious.

It seemed that his over-tiredness finally got the better of him, causing him to give into his desire for rest.

His fellow Classmates continued to gaze towards him in confusion and shock, wondering how to handle the situation. Warrior of Light sighed as he watched Cloud's slumped body lean against his desk, his lower half almost losing the balance on his chair below.

Following immediately after the event, the door to the room suddenly opened up.

Firion entered the room, holding two cups of hot, fresh coffee.

"Sorry I'm late, I was just buying a coffee for Cloud and-!”

Firion straightened up in shock as he noticed Cloud's motionless body.

“…Ah! I'm too late!"

Warrior of Light awkwardly lifted his hand, "Err … Professor? I suggest we bring Cloud to the Medical Room."

Without speaking a word, Shantotto gave the nod of approval.

Slip … bang!

As she did this, Cloud’s body slip from the desk and onto the floor.

 

Moments Later…

Warrior of Light and Firion carried Cloud across the hallway, his feet lifelessly dragging against the floor of the building.

Warrior of Light knew the Medical room was situated on the 1^st floor near the Academy Reception, so he opted to direct the path. Feeling somewhat responsible of the situation, Firion joined him with carrying his friends’ body to medical care.

With both realising the strain they were about to endure, they took in a long, meaningful breath and commenced to descend the staircase. Unfortunately, they could not take the elevator that was situated on the other side of the Academy, realising that it was currently ‘out of order’.

"So … why were you so late?" Warrior of Light decided to question Firion, feeling the strain from Cloud's deadweight body hanging from his shoulders.

"I got … caught up with something." Firion answered hesitantly, most of his concentration on carrying Cloud.

"Caught up…?” Warrior of Light echoed oddly. “What do you mean?"

"N-nothing!” Firion smiled and laughed weakly, his voice roughened up by the continuous strain. “It's nothing."

Warrior of Light glanced at him with a confused expression, wondering what he was hiding. However, he decided to keep quiet for the time being, knowing to keep out of the business of others.

They continued their struggle down the staircase, gradually passing each floor as they made their descent. Finally, they reached the 1^st floor of the Academy, almost collapsing the moment their feet touch the Ground Floor.

Panting and wheezing in agony, Warrior of Light and Firion heaved Cloud over towards the Medical Room, desperate to be free from the burden. The two heard Cloud murmur inaudibly, as though attempting to either awaken or talk in his sleep.

…It was likely the latter.

They eventually reached the door for the Medical Room, almost dropping Cloud along the way. Both Warrior of Light and Firion glanced at each other, simultaneously counting to three before opening the door. As they hit zero, they suddenly lurched forward, almost losing balance as they passed through.

After a moment to regain their postures, they examined the surrounding room. This room was a first for both Warrior of Light and Firion, who never needed to visit the room during their time at the Academy.

To their surprise, the Medical Room was large and spacious, with many beds situated in an orderly fashion: some of them with closed-up curtains, whilst others were open and vacant.

And then, a young lady – seemingly around the same age as the three – emerged from one of the closed curtains.

"Ah! Hello, may I help you?" She politely asked them, her soft voice echoing throughout the large room.

"Err … yes! Cloud here had fallen unconscious during Homeroom, we reckon it’s due to Over-Tiredness." Warrior of Light explained in detail, dazzled by the young lady’s beauty.

"Oh, that's unfortunate! Well, the Head Nurse is away on an errand, so it’s just me for the time being. I'm a Student Nurse, so I’m able to help out in any way I can." She smiled calmly, before pointing to one of the vacant beds. “Here, we can use this bed.”

"So, you should be fine with taking care of him?" Firion questioned her in turn, equally mesmerized by her beauty.

"Yes, of course." She nodded cheerfully with a beaming smile.

Without delay, she assisted the two as they dragged Cloud over to the allocated free bed. Carefully, they laid him down on the mattress, ensuring that no accident would occur during the transition.

Finally, both Warrior of Light and Firion felt relief as the burdening weight lift from their shoulders. The two instantly began to stretch out, feeling the aches and strains gradually disappear from their bodies. As he did this, Warrior of Light took another glance around the Medical Room out of mere interest, noticing a few students on the beds with different injuries and illnesses.

"May I ask your name?" Firion politely asked the student nurse, feeling gratitude was in order.

"My name is Aerith." She answered back with a confident, bright beam. “Aerith Gainsborough.”

"Well then, Aerith, thank you for the assistance.” Warrior of Light told her politely, realising the time. “It was a pleasure meeting you, please let us know when Cloud is at full health."

She bowed back, showing her sweet smile, "I understand. I'll look after Cloud until he fully recovers."

 

And so, Warrior of Light and Firion bid Aerith farewell and made their way back out to the main area of the 1^st Floor. Still stretching out the remaining aches and pains, the two lead the way towards the staircase in hopes to returning to Homeroom in time. As they approached the staircase, they began their ascent up the steps, dragging their feet as they dreaded the excruciating effort back up to the 4^th Floor.

However, Warrior of Light halted.

Just as they began the climb, he caught a sudden glimpse of a hulking figure standing idle on the Academy Grounds outside. He froze, glaring through the far away window with a mixture of confusion and horror.

And then, the moment he blinked, the figure swiftly disappeared out of sight.

"Are you okay?" Firion questioned worriedly, noticing his Classmate frozen in place.

Warrior of Light leapt up with surprise, returning to reality. Shaking his head, he wondered if the figure was just a figment of his imagination.

 

"Err … Y-Yes! I'm fine!” He hastily commented as an excuse, glancing back to the place where the figure initially stood. “I … just remembered, I need to go see Headmistress Cosmos."

Warrior of Light hastily leapt up the stairs in an abrupt motion out of Firion's sight.

"Oh … okay, see you then." Firion muttered as he watched Warrior of Light disappear, left awkwardly on his own.

 

The Headmistress’ Office…

Sitting in front of her desk, Headmistress Cosmos was preoccupied in reorganising some old files on her desk, disposing whatever documents that took up unnecessary space.

During this moment, she heard a sudden, rushed knock.

"Come in." she commanded formally, her goddess-like voice echoing out in direction of the door.

Without delay, Warrior of Light stumbling into the office, gasping for breath.

"Warrior of Light? Is something the matter?" Cosmos wondered in surprise, unexpectedly halting her folder and document organisation as she tended to the student.

With many questions in his mind he desired to bring up, Warrior of Light took no time in explaining himself of his rude intrusion.

"I-I’m sorry to disturb you, Headmistress. I had to take Cloud Strife to the Medical Room and needed to stop by.” Warrior of Light commenced to excuse himself, regain his usual posture. “I've come to ask about this rumour I heard-?"

"You wish to ask me if Cid of the Lufaine is visiting the Academy?" Cosmos finished his question for him, reading him like a book.

"O-oh … Yes, that’s correct." He nodded after an initial hesitation, caught off guard by the Headmistress’ accurate guess.

"Well, to answer your question…” She began addressing, smirking away. “The answer is ‘Yes’, he will be visiting the Academy by the end of this very week, in fact."

"So the rumours were true!?” Warrior of Light blurted out in shock, unable to hold back. “Why was I not told about this, Headmistress!?”

"I didn't wish to spoil the surprise." Cosmos jokingly answered back in amusement, a sweet giggle escaped her mouth. However, as she continued to speak, she became slightly more serious towards Warrior of Light. "I'm just having a wild guess here, but I assume Cid’s visit isn’t the only reason you visited my office in such haste. What’s troubling you?"

Feeling as though he was exposed, Warrior of Light hesitantly began to reveal his ‘other’ reason. "Just a moment ago, I spotted-!"

Knock, knock!

However, just as he was about to reveal the name, another loud knock was heard from the door behind him.

Creak…!

It immediately opened without the need of Headmistress Cosmos’ consent.

During this time, Warrior of Light finished his sentence in a low mutter, his eyes fixated on the hulking figure that entered the office.

"…Garland."

Chapter 3: Vol.1- An Uncertain Alibi

"Have I interrupted something?" Garland questioned curiously, stepping into the Headmistress' office in a formal manner.

Warrior of Light continued to glare at Garland as he approached the desk, stricken with horror. The man he had despised for so long had entered the room so casually, as if he was flaunting his innocence on purpose.

It was sickening.

“Not at all, Sir Garland.” Headmistress Cosmos shook her head in response, acting oblivious to Warrior of Light’s growing anguish.

The man known as Garland was shown to be a tall and buffed, easily towering over anyone who stood before him. He wore a dark black suit in a similar form to all the staff members within the Academy, nothing one would consider out of the ordinary. With his formal sense of attire and overall respectful manner, he certainly had the aura of a Dissidia Teacher.

However, there was on aspect to him that stood out amongst the rest: his rather unique helmet.

Wherever he was seen, he always wore a fully-facial, metal-plated helmet consisting of two large horns and an eerily tense expression. No one knew of its origin or its purpose, many tending to speculate that it was a ‘fashion-statement’ of some capacity or a ‘cult’ symbol.

Warrior of Light preferred not to know.

As he stood in front of the Headmistress, Garland handed over what seemed to be a sturdy-looking binder. It was filled to the brim with several paper sheets detailing various information on various subjects of importance.

The binder's cover was titled: 'DISSIDIA ACADEMY: 1^st Semester Itinerary'.

"I believe this is what you had called me over for, Headmistress?" Garland curiously wondered, allowing Cosmos to take the binder from his possession.

"Yes, this is perfect." Cosmos cheerfully nodded in answer, placing the folder neatly on top of her desk.

Numerous questions shot across Warrior of Light's mind, sending him in a downward spiral of despair:

Why is Garland here?

Why is he being so well-mannered and casual to Headmistress Cosmos?

Why is Headmistress Cosmos acting so calmly?

Why is he suited up like the staff members of the Academy?

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON!?

The Headmistress then unexpectedly switched to Warrior of Light, causing him to jump out of his skin in retaliation.

"Is there anything else you need, Warrior of Light?" Cosmos asked in her calm tone, "If you don't head off to your first lesson soon, you'll end up being late. The last thing I would want is for the Academy’s Student Council President to lose his reputation … especially at the start of the 1^st Semester."

Warrior of Light was left completely speechless.

He tried to speak out and ask so many questions that rushed through his mind, and yet none of them emerged from his mouth. Instead, Warrior of Light's mouth just hung open as if to dry. Faint, stuttering grunts could be heard in an attempt to object. In the end, however, he gave up, lowering his head in frustration.

"No…” He murmured in defeat, shaking his head. “There's nothing else, Headmistress Cosmos."

"Then, if you wouldn’t mind, I have a lot of work that needs my attention." Cosmos peacefully concluded with a nod, switching back towards her desk. "Sir Garland, would you be so kind as to escort Warrior of Light to his lesson?"

"Certainly, Headmistress." Garland accepted without delay.

Without saying another word, Warrior of Light followed Garland out of the room. Out of courtesy, Garland held the door open for him as he passed. However, Warrior of Light refused to thank or even look up at Garland in response.

Instead, Warrior of Light took one last glace towards the Headmistress, his expression filled with concern. He was just able to capture a glance of Cosmos raising her head – a small but somewhat sad smile appearing on her face as she met eyes with him – before the door finally closed between them.

Garland lead him down the staircase towards the 5^th Floor of the Academy, the two not speaking a word to one another. Right now, Warrior of Light's mind was in chaos as the numerous questions and uncertainties continued to consume his thoughts. It did not help with the fact that Garland was escorting him to his first lesson.

He was struggling to hold back his fury, knowing that he could burs at any moment.

Eventually, the two reached the 5^th Floor – their destination being the main Art Room of the Academy.

As the two passed the row of windows leading into the various classrooms, Warrior of Light briefly observed the students that were sitting in their seats: most eyes focused on the introduction of the subject at hand, whilst others were either whispering to their nearby friends or gradually entering their daydreams.

Outside the classrooms, the halls were as vacant as it could ever be, with only the duo’s echoing footsteps breaking the silence.

"I always find that the Academy has the best atmosphere when it's quiet." Garland suddenly expressed, choosing to break the silence on his own accord. “It’s rather peaceful, wouldn’t you say?”

Warrior of Light abruptly halted, his expression low as it hid behind his long, platinum silver hair. Garland noticed him stop in his tracks, and swivelled round to face him in curiosity.

“Is there a problem?” He asked politely, completely oblivious to the situation.

Either side of him, Warrior of Light's hands drew into fists. They were shaking, as though desperately holding back the fury that was about to break through. Until now, he decided to brush away Garland’s involvement with the Academy, believing it was an oversight by the Headmistress. However, his overall presence and attitude continued to dig deep into his consciousness, purposely irritating him to the point of desiring to lash out in protest.

Furthermore, Garland's innocent comment was far too out of character for someone of his background.

Warrior of Light needed answers.

"Why…?" Warrior of Light murmured in a low, menacing tone, his head emerging to face Garland. “Why are you here, Garland?”

At first, Garland was silent, reading Warrior of Light’s repulsed expression before approaching the question.

"Hmm … well, if you must know: the generous Headmistress Cosmos approached me with a job offer." Garland admitted in honesty, his tone of voice formal yet proud. " Her proposal was for me to take up the role of the Academy’s English Teacher. So, long story short, I accepted the offer in a heartbeat and now … here I am."

“Tsk…!”

This constant positive and upbeat tone coming from Garland continued to infuriate Warrior of Light, setting his emotions further on edge as he let out a tut in disgust. He stepped closer to the man before him, examining him carefully as he hoped to find any sign of contradiction.

With Garland’s demonic helmet in the way, this was rather difficult.

"Is there any need for the staring?" Garland calmly pondered, becoming rather conscious of Warrior of Light’s judging gaze.

"You have ruined so many people's lives ... You purposefully caused unemployment, bankruptcy, and even homelessness! You've created so much chaos around the world for your own personal gain, and here you stand acting all innocent and respectful!" Warrior of Light finally lashed out in disgust, pointing the guilty finger without any remorse. “What makes you believe you could start acting all ‘friendly’ after everything you did!?”

He kept the volume of his voice as quiet as possible, bearing in mind about the lessons happening close beside them.

“Listen ... I’m-!”

“I have AMNESIA because of what you did!” Warrior of Light then bellowed, letting his emotions take control over him. “As my home burned to the ground, you laughed ... as I was left stranded in the streets, you laughed ... as I was neglected from the world, you laughed!”

Garland stood in silence.

"Right now, you should be locked up in the Dungeon Cells ... along with the rest of this planet's scum!"

Garland watched in silence as Warrior of Light's eyes continued to burn like a raging inferno. In comparison, Garland's eyes were blank, empty and unreadable.

And then, Warrior of Light noticed the man shaking his head in a subtle manner, lowering his glare for some odd reason.

"The Dungeon Cells ... is a place no living being would want to be locked up in." Garland eventually expressed, confessing in truth. "I was trapped in that horrific place for 5 years, tortured and broken apart. As I wasted away, I gave myself time to reflect on my faults and sins, including that fateful night. I knew that I did wrong, that I was beyond forgiveness. But alas, I chose to accept my punishment.

“My desire now is to become a changed being, to wipe the slate completely clean. I have tried and failed so many times, it was only because Headmistress Cosmos the option I longed for that I’m standing here today. She gave me the chance to enter society once again as a respectable civilian and even offered me a job within this Academy. For that, I am forever grateful to her kindness."

Hearing him out, Warrior of Light took a moment to gather in all this information, uncertainty and scepticism preventing him to take the excuses into consideration. The idea of Garland becoming a changed man – even becoming an English Teacher within Dissidia Academy – just did not sit well with him whatsoever.

This whole situation was completely absurd.

"I can’t trust you." Warrior of Light responded in caution, crossing his arms. “This is just wrong on so many levels.”

"Well, whatever you may think about me, we’ll have to settle these differences overtime. However, right now, we both have places to go and tasks to complete." Garland concluded with the shrug of his shoulders, realising that time was upon them. "I trust that you can reach your first lesson without my assistance?"

Warrior of Light let out a small nod.

"Then, I shall take my leave." He humbly accepted, stepping forward and passing the idle Warrior of Light. "I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again soon, whether that is in lesson … or by other means."

As Garland left, Warrior of Light was left on his own in the middle of the 5^th Floor corridor, waiting until the man disappeared completely.

Feeling as though his mind had taken a fatal beating from the event that just transpired, he shook his head vigorously. It was all too much to comprehend at once, causing him to question whether life itself was messing with him for the simple amusement.

And yet, all he could do was brush it aside, as though he had to accept the turn of events regardless of his opinion on the matter.

Letting out a deep, bitter sigh, Warrior of Light thought no more of it and headed towards the Art Room.

 

A Moment Later…

Warrior of Light finally reached the door to his lesson, approaching the plaque that was drilled into the door, reading: Art Studio 1.

He straightened himself up appropriately, checking his uniform and bag so that everything was up-to-standard. In all honesty, he was just delaying the inevitability of facing the scrutiny and subsequent backlash for his late arrival. As Student Council President – along with being Class 13A’s President, it would be deemed hypocritical if he were to escape the consequences as he would endorse the same unto others if they were in his shoes.

Taking in a deep, calmed breath, he knocked on the door and finally headed inside.

As he entered, Warrior of Light noticed his fellow classmates of class 13A sitting in their assigned seats. All eyes were set on him, causing him to grow intimidated by their judging gaze. However, he tried his best to brush off the feeling as he stepped inside.

"Apologies for the lateness, Sir." He began his apology, keeping up his formal manner. "I had to … huh?"

As Warrior of Light examined the Art Studio fully, he noticed that the teacher was nowhere to be found.

The Art Studio itself was large and spacious, allowing students to move around with ease to utilize the variety of materials and apparatus for their projects. Its walls were filled with various images and works from both famous artists and notable students of the Academy, displaying the different types of movements and techniques commonly seen in the world of Art.

An understandable difference with this room from others in the Academy was the desks – or, more appropriately referred to as 'workspace'. They were considerably larger than the usual classroom desks, allowing more room for students to development their projects on.

In addition, at the front of the Art Studio was a large, towering white board. It displayed insightful facts and information on the famous Artists and Artwork known around the world, along with Art as a subject of creativity and its importance in society.

After a brief overview of the room, Warrior of Light switched back to his classmates, many of whom were continuing to stare at him with gawking and generally surprised expressions. It was as though they were watching something extraordinary unfold before their eyes, awaiting the pay-off.

Warrior of Light gazed back in caution, wondering what had possessed them to act so static and robotic. However, he ultimately decided to ignore, instead continuing to question whereabouts of the ‘missing’ teacher.

He chose to ask his classmates, "Do you guys know where the teacher-?"

“Ooh-hoh-hoh-hoh-hoh…!”

Warrior of Light abruptly froze, an eerie shiver slowly crawling up his spine.

"So … the 'Council President' decides to show up after all!" The haunting, over-the-top voice taunted above, "And here I was beginning to believe that the Academy elected a lazy-ass. Skiving. FAILURE for a President! Hehehehe-hee … It seems I may have to reconsider that though … ever-so slightly."

Warrior of Light gaze rapidly switched from one direction to the other as he attempted to find the owner of the mysterious voice. And yet, it was to no avail, for only his classmates were in his line of sight.

The students just continued to glare towards him speechlessly – or, to be exact, 'above him'.

"Where are you…?" Warrior of Light breathed firmly, refusing to give into the looming taunts. “Reveal yourself!”

"HERE I AM!" The manic voice roared in instant response.

During that very second, an upside-down, clown-like face appeared from above, causing Warrior of Light to literally jump up in fright. The unexpected startle sent him falling back uncontrollably due to loss of balance, showing no chance of recovering before-

BANG!

…smacking his head hard against the door behind him.

Warrior of Light slumped to the floor, his head woozy and consciousness faint. Through the aching head and the blurred visuals, he could just about hear the booming, overexcited laugher directly in front of him.

"WHOA-hohohoho-ho…! That was just PERFECT!" The voice roared out excitedly in his manic tone of voice, his laughing growing louder and more insane by the second. "Ho-ho-hoo … Welp, that’s my highlight of the year out of the way, and we're only on the FIRST DAY! I’m DYING of laughter here!"

Gradually, Warrior of Light began to sit himself up, his head throbbing extensively as he winced in pain. As his sights returned, he immediately caught sight of the culprit of his torment. From what he could gather, the man before him was clutching his abdomen as he tried to breathe through the hysterics, showing no remorse for his trickery on the poor student.

However, even with everything else that had happened to him throughout the day, Warrior of Light was completely caught off-guard by this current occurrence: the man was levitating in mid-air!

Acting as though he was lying on his back, the man continued to Bob up and down in the air like it was nothing to him. He was wearing the usual formal suit as seen worn by the other staff of the Academy – as one would expect at this point. And yet, he easily stood out from the rest with his eccentric body language and his face and skin.

In terms of his overall appearance, the man had purposely fashioned himself in a style that would resemble a harlequin or insane jester: His skin was as white as a ghost; his purple lips was twisted in a constant smile; and his light brown hair was secured back with a bunch of large, sky blue feathers and trinkets.

"Erm … y-you must be Mr Palazzo?" Warrior of Light dazedly guessed with a murmured stutter, struggling to regain his footing.

"Mr Palazzo? Ha! I'm not too fond of being addressed by such a name." The man spat with distaste, even though he continued his hysteric laughter regardless, "A pathetic insect like you may call me MASTER Palazzo, seeing as I RULE in these lessons! Hohoho-hoo…! Or, if you so desire, Kefka will do jus fine.”

“I … I see.” Warrior of Light nodded cautiously, straightening back into his usual formal posture to swiftly hide his embarrassment.

Wishing to escape the deranged lunatic he called a ‘teacher’, Warrior of Light directed his attention to his allocated seat, passing Kefka in the process. Kefka's eyes followed the student like daggers, ready to strike if deemed necessary.

Once Warrior of Light perched himself on his seat, Kefka casually flew over to the front of the classroom as if he was swimming, small chuckles escaping his every breath.

"Now then, let us … begin!" Kefka announced in a grandiose tone.

His tone of voice switched from lightly humorous to horrifying within the same sentence, his very words sending members of the Class on edge.

As Kefka began to make his long – and somewhat psychotic – speech, Warrior of Light eyes averted and searched the room. It did not take long for him to realise Cloud Strife was still missing from the group, meaning he was still in an unconscious state in the Medical Room. This was to be expected, seeing as it was not long ago since both Warrior of Light and Firion had transferred him over.

However, something else caught his sight: Terra Branford. Terra – who was sitting across the room from Warrior of Light – seemed particularly fidgety, showing signs of severe anxiousness as she observed Kefka’s erratic ranting. Warrior of light took intrigue in his behaviour, wondering how she was going to handle the next hour.

"…Now then, with the subject of Art: Artists are able to express their own desires and emotions through their own creativity and styles. The ideas of Impressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism are just a few examples that demonstrates the infinite possibilities of Art as a subject." Kefka continued to lecture, chuckling away feverishly as he expressed his passion to the Class. "But, personally, I don't fancy the 'peaceful' and 'drastically dull' artwork of early generations. No … I enjoy the EXPLOSIONS, the FLARE, and the INSANITY of recent generations! Hya-ha-ha-haa…!!! Ooh, you can just feel the CHAOS burning within the brushstrokes! It just makes you feel … wait for it … ALIVE!!!"

“Eek!”

A small squeak was heard from Terra, taken aback by Kefka's sudden outbursts.

“Stop your squirming!” Kefka immediately barked, disgusted by her ‘uncalled for’ disruption. “A pathetic child such as yourself has no right interrupting my declaration!”

Warrior of Light could read Terra like a book. He began to assume the possibility of some history between her and Kefka, based upon her reaction. She seemed particularly traumatized by the teacher, acting as if she could faint as any moment.

Please don’t faint … surely one passed out classmate is more than enough for today?

On the one hand, he prayed for this lesson to run smoothly without another ‘Cloud Strife’ situation. On the other hand, he began to feel sorry for the girl, empathizing with her on the torment she had to endure. For now, he preferred not to pursue out of general respect for his classmate.

He switched his sights back to the front of the classroom, continuing to listen to the madman for a teacher as he ranted on and on about the love for chaos and destruction.

The next hour was beyond unbearable.

 

Lunch Break, 12:30pm…

Lunch Break finally commenced across the Academy, the bell ringing out in a loud echo throughout the Buildings and Grounds of the Academy in loud, enthusiastic chimes.

A hoard of students rushed from their classrooms towards the direction of the Dining Hall, grasping their food money and tickets ready as they awaited to chow down on the cafeteria's exquisite dishes.

With that said, not all students were rushing towards the same direction, as some were already prepared with their own packed-lunches as a preferred option. Gathering with friends and groupies, they headed outside onto the surrounding Academy Grounds, taking in the strong rays of the Sun and relaxing atmosphere.

During this time, Warrior of Light was seen swerving and dodging the impatient crowds in desperation to reach the Academy Grounds. A brief flashback to the previous year reminded him of the constant hassle that became the dread of the day for many. Due to impatience for food, there was never a time when Warrior of Light was left unscathed as he transitioned through the crowd of students.

Thankfully, this did not last long, as Warrior of Light was eventually able reach the grounds after what felt like a never-ending barrage of accidental shoves and pushes. He took a moment to gain his breath back, wishing there was a more reasonable alternative to the usual route. Once regaining his energy, it did not take long for him to find a free bench – conveniently situated under a faraway cherry-blossom tree. It was vacant and out of the way from the crowds, perfect for anyone who preferred an ounce of peace.

Stepping over to the vacant bench at a swift pace, warrior of Light was constantly checking for anymore rushing students out of fear that his break would be interrupted.

Thankfully, there was none in sight.

He took no time to perch himself down on the bench, retrieving his packed-lunch from his backpack without a second thought. His lunch consisted of the simple-yet-classic BLT sandwich, a fresh apple, a small chocolate bar, and a bottle of natural-spring water.

Admittedly, it was a rather boring lunch. But, to him at least, it was beyond perfect.  

Sipping on his refreshing drink, Warrior of Light felt at peace. He was finally separate from all the inconvenience of both the students and teachers, and it allowed him time to reflect on his day without any interruption. The falling cherry-blossom petals helped clear his mind, giving him the moment of tranquillity he long desired.

Taking a deep breath, he grasped his sandwich and proceeded to take a bite.

"Ah-HAH! Light-o, there you are!" A load, enthusiastic voice called out abruptly.

Chomp!

Due to the abrupt burst of energy emerging before him, Warrior of Light had completely missed his sandwich and instead bit down on his own tongue.

This was then followed by a tremendous scream of agony, loud enough to be heard across the entirety of Dissidia Academy.

“…aaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!”

Every student and teacher halted in their tracks, glancing around in wonder of where the abrupt scream had originated from.

“Ow…! …Ouch…!”

“Pfft…! AH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAAA!!!”

Warrior of Light pressed down on his tongue with his thumb and finger, attempting to prevent the excess blood from seeping out. Sitting beside him, Tidus was seen laughing hysterically for the past 10 minutes, tears flowing from his squinting eyes as he was unable to breathe.

Warrior of Light, on the other hand, wasn't the slightest amused. In his thoughts, he was cursing Tidus non-stop, seeing as it was he who caused the Council President to accidently bite down on his own tongue in the first place.

"I'm glad you thind dis thunny. (I’m glad you find this funny!)" Warrior of Light sarcastically commented, continuing to down on his bitten tongue.

Tidus' over-the-top laughter was beginning to get on his nerves.

"Hahahaa … b-but that was just … TOO FREAKING FUNNY!" Tidus burst out in admittance as he gasped for air. "How in the world could you bite your tongue s-so … SO EASILY!?"

"It'sth not like I dthid it on purposth! (It’s not like I did it on purpose!)" Warrior of Light then tried to argue, squeezing tightly and painfully on his tongue without even realising due to his rising frustration.

Ever since he bit his tongue, he was unable to eat any of his lunch whatsoever. He could feel his stomach growling in hunger, grumbling loudly as though shouting out in desperation that it desired to be fed. And yet, all he could do was apply a sliver of his mineral water to frequently clean the blood off his tongue.

Carefully, Warrior of Light lifted his finger and thumb off his tongue, feeling that the cut created from the bite had finally stopped gushing out with blood.

During that time, he caught Tidus staring down at his lunch with a strong gaze, acting as though he was thoroughly inspecting its quality.

"Your food seems kinda … dull." Tidus lowly muttered in opinion, his wondrous eyes locked in place. “Wait. You don’t have this every day, do you?”

Just then, Warrior of Light felt something snap in the depths of his mind, feeling his temper brewing from below.

"Argh!!!” Warrior of Light groaned out in anger, hastily moving his lunch out of Tidus' view. “Is there a reason why you're here!? Or, do you just want to bother me?"

"Whoa, whoa … chill out, buddy!" Tidus waved to show his innocence, finding his fellow classmate’s outburst rather unexpected. "I just wanted to hang out, that's all."

"Well, why me?” Warrior of Light bitterly questioned, finding it odd that Tidus preferred to hang out with him rather than his usual gang of friends. “What about Cloud, Cecil, and Firion? I thought they were your go-to guys?”

"See, usually I would, but … Cloud's still out cold in the Medical Room; Firion said to me that he had an ‘errand’ to take care of; and Cecil's having a meeting with Professor Golbez, who conveniently happens to be his older brother and our Astronomy Teacher." Tidus answered in length, numbering off with his fingers as he explained the situation. “So, yeah … I’ve been ditched.”

"…What about you?” Warrior of Light continued to question as he chewed on his sandwich, his hunger finally overcoming pain. “You’re the Blitzball Captain, correct? Do you not have training or something along those lines?"

"Nope. I have training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I’m usually free on the odd-days." Tidus answered ecstatically, showing of a care-free grin. "Besides, I always see you wondering about the Academy on your own. You’re not hanging out with friends or anything. Normally, you’re always working and showing a serious attitude towards everyone you come across.”

Warrior of Light listened silently, his chewing gradually slowing as he too the words in.

“Thinking about it, you're kinda like Squall in some ways … just without the gloominess atmosphere hanging around you, along with the lack of care in the world.” Tidus continued to express, “So, I thought I should help you lighten up a little. Get to know you and stuff … seeing as I have nothing else to do."

"Is that so…?" Warrior of Light glanced towards him oddly, finding this side honesty from him pleasantly surprising.

He couldn't understand how Tidus was always os cheerful and full of energy, let alone the process of his sudden and crazy decision making. However, he also felt somewhat grateful, taking in his classmate’s words to heart.

Maybe it wasn’t what he hoped for, but it was still a moment of fresh air he long desired.

Under the blissful cherry-blossom tree, Warrior of Light found that he was in a peaceful state. He was admittedly enjoying the unexpected company, something he never thought he would appreciate – especially from Tidus, of all people.

"Well, thank you for the concern." Warrior of Light smirked as he nodded with gratitude, finishing off the BLT in the process.

Tidus then leapt to his feet, a sudden – and most likely absurd – idea popping up in his head, "Hey! Maybe we should practice some Blitzball drills, you and me! It would be SO AWESOME! And then, we could-!"

He then abruptly froze.

"Ah, apologies. I was never a Blitzball fan. However, I wouldn’t mind-…" Warrior of Light admitted in honestly, before switching round to notice Tidus’ sudden change of tone. “Is something wrong?”

As he glanced at Tidus, Warrior of Light immediately noticed him staring off to the distance of the Academy Grounds, his face was lit up with a wondrous, yet abnormally cautious expression. Something had clearly caught his attention, albeit Warrior of Light was uncertain as to its significance.

Suddenly, Tidus leapt up onto the bench to gain a better view, his eyes completely focused on the far-off distance. Shocked by his abrupt change of tune, Warrior of Light hastily shuffle back from his initial seating position, covering his remaining food in the process.

"Hey! Feet off the bench!” Warrior of Light barked in repulse, switching to his ‘Council President’ mode in a flash. “Ehat in the world has gotten into you?”

However, he initially received no response.

After a moment of observation, Tidus abruptly leaped back off the bench in haste.

"Err … sorry, Light! Got to go!" Tidus called out in a nervous chuckle, before racing off in the distance of the opposite direction. “I’ll see you back in class!”

Within a mere flash, Tidus was nowhere to be seen. Warrior of Light sat staring in bewilderment, unable to grasp what had just happened. Everything had happened so fast that he was left completely oblivious to the situation.

"What was that all about...?" Warrior of Light quietly murmured to himself, unable to justify the event that just occurred. “…Weird.”

He then shook his head, brushing away the odd situation and got ready to eat his apple. However, as he was just about to take a bite, he heard a fellow student roar out from the distance.

“…Run…!”

He immediately switched round to the direction of the voice, not knowing what to expect.

And then … his mouth fell open in an instant, his eyes widening in terror.

Who he saw was none other than Squall Leonhart, fleeing for his life. His jaw clenched tightly and streams of sweat flying off his mug, there was no doubt that he was in jeopardy.

Behind him was an enormous dust cloud, consuming everything in its wake. Students caught in its path had either leapt for cover or was instantly consumed, letting out horrified screams as the cloud engulfed them.

However, it was not the dust cloud itself that terrified both Warrior of Light and Squall … it was the group of students that were causing it to form.

"That's … a lot of females." Warrior of Light ushered out from the back of his throat, his body frozen in place.

A large cluster of female students were chasing Squall with love-struck expressions, showing no signs of stopping until they have their target.

His body snapping into action, Warrior of Light hastily packed up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. He had no choice but to move, preferring not to imagine what would happen if he was caught in the crossfire.

There was a problem. The moment he straightened up … loud, deafening screams echoed across the Academy Grounds.

“““KYAAAAAAAAA…!!!”””

Warrior of Light was now a target.

Squall, who was not slowing down, realised what had just occurred immediately.

"RUN! NOW!" He roared out, panting and wheezing as he continued to be chased.

Before Warrior of Light could react, Squall shot passed him at lightning speed. As he passed, he grabbed Warrior of Light by the collar. Without warning, Warrior of Light jolted from his position and had joined Squall in the escape against his own will. He rapidly gained a speed that matched Squall’s, feeling somewhat as though he had just entered the Track Team.

Close behind then, the hoard of 'fan girls' were relentlessly on their tail.

"What’s going on!?” Warrior of Light called out towards Squall in desperation, demanding answers for this new dilemma. “Why are these girls chasing us!?"

"You've … become their new target!" Squall answered back, trying to find his words through all of the panting and gasping. "They’ll not stop until they've caught a victim!"

"And … what’ll happen if they do!?" Warrior of Light continued to question, he could feel his stomach churning as he ran through the Grounds.

"Honestly … I’d rather not know?!" Squall answered hopelessly, wishing this nightmare would end. "Let's just say: no one has ever ‘lived’ to tell the tale!"

"…Oh." Warrior of Light realised under his breath, horror striking a nerve in his body.

Both Squall and Warrior of Light sped round a nearby corner, trying to catch their pursuers off-guard as much as possible. The two kept an eye out for whatever hidden gaps or spaces as a means of a swift escape, praying that the gods would offer them a miracle.

They continued to run parallel with the Academy's building, not dropping their pace for a second. During that moment, Warrior of Light caught sight of a small, well-hidden side-door leading into the west side of the building.

It was one of the Academy’s Fire Exits … and it was the perfect hiding place.

"Quick! Through here!" Warrior of Light nudged Squall in haste, hoping their pursuers were oblivious to the escape route.

Noticing the door, Squall nodded back with a firm expression.

The two timed themselves, before diving through the small door and out of the sights of their pursuers. Merely seconds later, the hoard of female students passed the door, causing both Warrior of Light and Squall to duck low behind the nearest cover.

There hearts racing, breaths heavy, and sanities on edge: the two knew they would have been caught if they had missed the escape.

Finally, the pursuers had disappeared … and the world around them fell silent.

"T-that … was close." Warrior of Light forced out a sigh of relief, kneeling on the carpet of the small corridor as he tried to regain his breath.

Squall took a moment to do the same, gasping for some much-needed oxygen. And then, after a moment of respite, he struggled to his feet. His whole body was violently shaking, immediately regretting the excessive running they had to endure.

"It was … inevitable. You became their target the moment you were announced as the new Council President." Squall began to explain in a low mutter, taking in many deep recovery breaths in the process. "Ever since this morning’s assembly, they've been tracking you down relentlessly."

"A-are you serious!?” Warrior of Light blurted out in horror, unable to believe this revelation. “What about you? Why were they chasing you?"

Squall briefly fell silent, evidently hesitant to answer.

"I … passed by and said … ‘hi’." He finally admitted, hiding his fce in embarrassment as he answered in an almost inaudible mumble.

"Hold on … THAT'S IT!?" Warrior of Light blurted in horror.

“SHUSH!” Squall quickly hushed him, placing his finger against his own lips.

Warrior of Light hastily covered his mouth in realisation.

“Yeah … when Bartz and Zidane found out about my mistake, they disappeared and left me behind.” Squall murmured bitterly, his teeth grinding hard the moment he mentioned the two names. “… Some friends they are.”

“How typical of them…” Warrior of Light tutted, knowing Zidane and Bartz well enough from his earlier encounter. “Anyway, how is it looking outside?”

"I … I think they're gone now." Squall cautiously assumed, placing an ear against the Fire Exit door.

He then indicated with the 'all clear' and gradually opened the door. Warrior of Light rose to his feet, returning to a respectable posture before following Squall back out into the open.

Even though they were back out onto the Grounds, the two continuously checked all directions.

"My guess is that they'll be roaming the Front Entrance of the Academy, so be on the lookout." Squall warned in caution, paranoia setting in his mind.

Warrior of Light silently nodded in response, trusting his instincts.

The two headed over to the Front Entrance, passing the bench under the cherry-blossom tree. With his stomach continuing to growl, Warrior of Light had no choice but to save the remainder of his lunch for a later time.

Suddenly, as they closed in on the Entrance, Squall halted his movement.

“Wait!”

He abruptly forced Warrior of Light to the side, the two hiding away against the nearby wall.

"What are you-!?" Warrior of Light barked out, before noticed Squall holding up a finger once again to silence him.

As though by instinct, the two poked their heads out from their cover. They then watched as Cloud Strife emerged from the Academy’s doors, still slightly dazed and holding a coffee cup in his palm.

"Finally, some fresh air." Cloud sighed out in relief, rubbing the small bump on his forehead.

He drew in for another sip of his hot coffee, anticipating the sweet sense of revitalization.

However, as he was about to take his sip, sudden echoes of feminine screams were heard from the distance.

“Hm…?”

Cloud switched around, wondering where the screams were coming from. The screams grew louder and louder, and both Warrior of Light and Squall could only watch in horror as the inevitable events began to unfold.

“What the-!?”

The hoard of female students appeared into view from all directions, ambushing the oblivious Cloud. The surrounded him like an infestation, clutching at his clothes and limbs without remorse.

"Wh-what's going on!? Where are you taking me!? W-wait … WAIT!" Cloud bellowed out, unable to break free from the group’s unbreakable clutches.

With no possible escape route, Cloud was left trapped at their mercy. He was completely immobilized, being dragged away to the unavoidable abyss that awaited him.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo…!!!”

Warrior of Light and Squall gazed sorrowfully as Cloud disappeared into the darkness, desperately attempting to break free from the cage of the group’s giggly grasps.

"Cloud … was a valiant ally." Squall stated in his usual dark, gloomy tone, saluting his fallen classmate as a sign of respect. "His sacrifice will never be forgotten."

"You sound like he's going to DIE!" Warrior of Light gasped at him in horror, finding this whole situation unbelievably absurd.

 

Dissidia Academy, 3:00pm…

The final bell rang out across the halls, signalling the end of lessons for the day.

Students in their various groups left the classrooms feeling free and alive. They began their usual chatter amongst one another, highlighting their day and what their plans were once they exited the Academy building. Whilst most left the Academy without hesitation, others dwindled behind, completing any outstanding tasks.

During this time, Class 13A concluded their final lesson of the day: Maths. As they heard the bell, they swiftly packed up and headed off in their separate directions:

Squall was the first to leave, taking no time to separate himself from Zidane and Bartz – who were constantly nagging him throughout the lesson.

Tidus rounded up his usual gang of misfits: him seemingly ecstatic as always, Firion and Cecil deep in conversation regarding a recent debate, and Cloud left trailing from behind. It was apparent that Cloud’s encounter with the hoard of female students had left him in a traumatized state. So, to empathize with his close friend, Tidus constantly attempted to perk his spirits up.

Terra and Onion Knight headed off at their own pace, both seemingly relieved to see the day finally end.

And finally, Warrior of Light packed up his equipment and slung his backpack over his shoulder, ready to move.

However, just as he was about to leave, Firion tapped on his shoulder.

"Hey, do you want to walk home with us?" Firion suggested curiously, a calm smile beaming across his face. “We’re thinking of hitting the arcades along the way.”

"Oh. Sorry, Firion. I need to speak with Headmistress regarding the upcoming Council meetings." Warrior of Light answered back, shaking his head apologetically. "Maybe some other time?"

In response, Firion cheerfully shrugged, "Fair enough. Just be sure to let me know about the Council plans tomorrow."

"Yes, I’ll let you know when I have everything in order." Warrior of Light grinned in return, waving Firion and the rest of the group off.

As they left, Warrior of Light briefly heard Tidus making a small comment to the other three:

"Light seems to be visiting the Headmistress a lot today. Sounds to me like they're all buddy-buddy! Ahahaa…!"

…before disappearing from sight.

 

Soon After…

Warrior of Light swiftly reached the Top Floor of the Academy, racing up the vacant staircase without any opposing issues. He reached the Headmistress' Office in no time and patiently knocked on the door.

Knock-Knock!

“Come in.”

He heard the usual call from the Headmistress and entered upon command.

As he stepped into the office, he saw Headmistress Cosmos standing up from her desk. She was overseeing the students from her window, casually watching as they exited the Academy. It was as if she was a Goddess to the Academy, balancing her work as Headmistress whilst also maintaining the well-being of her students.

"It's nice to see the Academy’s First Semester start off on a high, would you not agree?" Cosmos cheerfully spoke out, twisting round to face Warrior of Light with a cool, innocent smile across her face.

"Well, it certainly was an ‘interesting start’ … that's for certain." Warrior of Light answered back in an anxious chuckle, reflecting on his odd experiences throughout the day.

With that, the two began their meeting. Cosmos briefed him on the tasks that were to be investigated before the Council meeting on Friday, such as: upcoming events, any notable issues that may need to be addressed, and so on. In addition, she passed over a sheet of paper, breaking down the tasks she planned for him to pursue.

"I'm sure this will all be simple enough for you, Council President.” She coolly grinned, showing confidence in the boy. “Ah! Before I forget. You’ll be joined by Cid of the Lufaine at some point during Friday’s meeting, so make sure you have a lot to discuss with him."

Warrior of Light gleefully agreed and accepted the sheet of paper, slipping it inside his backpack.

However, just as he zipped up the bag, his expression turned to uncertainty. There was something that stuck in his mind throughout the day … a question that he wished to bring up before it was too late.

He glanced at the Headmistress with a firm gaze.

"Cosmos, if may I ask: Why did you employ Garland into the Academy?" He requested, hoping to settle his mind once and for all. “It’s just not sitting right with me, especially with all the harm he has caused in the past.”

The Headmistress stood silent for a moment, dipping her head in hesitance.

She knew he would ask the question, seeing it in his eyes when he previously entered her office. However, she had hoped the whole situation avoided a possible misunderstanding, aware of the hysteria it could cause throughout the Academy.

"Garland appeared before me, pleading o wipe the slate clean. He continuously acknowledged his previous wrongdoings … and promised not to repeat those same mistakes." Cosmos finally began to explain, taking in a deep breath as she spoke. "At first, I outright refused his wishes. I thought to myself that he ‘wasn’t to be trusted, no matter the excuse’. However, as I further examined him … I realised he was telling the truth.

“And so, I decided to help him. I hired him as an English Teacher for the Academy, and I’ve placed numerous measures to monitor his actions in case he decides to go against his promises.”

"You’ve known of his sins!" Warrior of Light argued back, hoping that there was some sense of justification for the Headmistress' risky decision. “He had ruined so many lives … including mine!”

"I am well aware.” Cosmos responded with an understanding nod. “You have nothing to worry about, Warrior of Light. I have taken both his and your words into consideration and have taken full responsibility for this decision.”

Warrior of Light drew back with hesitance, unable to find the words.

"All I can tell you now is that you'll just have to trust me." Cosmos assured him.

Warrior of Light held his silence, refusing to give an answer. He strapped the backpack over his shoulder once again, deciding to take his leave.

"I will see you tomorrow, Warrior of Light." She called out in farewell, her kind smile illuminating towards him.

Warrior of Light waved back at her in goodbye before exiting the office … but did not say another word.

As the door closed, Cosmos sat back down on her desk, letting out a saddened sigh before commencing to her various reports.

Just then, not long after Warrior of Light left, another knock was heard from the door.

"Come in." Cosmos formally called out, concentrating on her reports.

Click…!

The door opened … and the sound of large, booming footsteps echoed throughout the office.

"That boy certainly likes to involve himself on the businesses of others." A deep, menacing voice expressed.

"Warrior of Light has very valid reasons to know about the changes going on within the Academy." Cosmos stated truthfully, her eyes locked onto her reports. "He is a promising student, and will certainly lead a successful life. However, he is held back by his own setback, and he’ll never be able to move forward if they continue to loom over him."

"If you say so, Cosmos." The deep voice accepted, letting out disgruntled tut.

Cosmos halted her reports, hesitating momentarily. She refused to look up at the being before her, knowing it would only cause more stress on her.

The man that stood before her was to be the new Headmaster of Dissidia Academy. No matter what arguments and excuses Cosmos tried to use against the Academy’s Governing Body, the decision was final.

In her heart, Cosmos despised the fact that she would soon be replaced against her own will by such a man. There was no doubt that everything she had done for the Academy would be abolished by the time she leaves. There was nothing she could do to prevent the inevitable, only appreciate the time she had left.

Cosmos placed down her black-inked pen and bitterly raised her head, meeting eye-to-eye with the man who towered over her.

The man was no ordinary man. Everything other than his suit differed from the norm. He was roughly twice the height of Sir Garland and gave the impression that he could take down the building with a singular punch. He had four brutal-looking arms – all of which could choke out anyone who opposed him with ease – and two large, demonic wings with piercing talons.

To top it off: he had the face of a demon.

His enlarged fangs were razor-sharp, his hauntingly grotesque eyes were filled with red, and the oversized horns on top of his head could skewer his victims without restriction.

Regardless of her thoughts, Cosmos held her usual pleasant aura, grinning sweetly as she decided to ask the man a simple question:

"Is there anything I can help you with … Deputy-Headmaster Chaos?"

 

End of Volume 1.

Chapter 4: Vol.2 - Wake Up Call

Volume 2: Admiration

 

“Mm…?”

Cloud Strife's drowsy eyes flickered open, everything around him a blur.

“What’s … going on…?”

As time passed, he groggily began to regain his senses, gradually being able to focus on what was around him. The first that caught his attention was the plain yet heavenly ceiling directly above him. The unique patterns and swirls mesmerized him, his imagination wondering with its heavenly aura.

Then, his eyes diverted, noticing a series of large crystal-white curtains surrounding him, further adding to the therapeutic atmosphere. As he momentarily lifted his head, he immediately felt a puffed-up pillow gently rub against the back of his head. Additionally, he noticed the blank-white duvet laid out over the top of his body.

Cloud’s suspicions were quickly confirmed: he had woken up in a bed that was not his own.

Usually, he would begin to panic, fretting over the fact that he was somewhere he had never been before and no clue as to how he got there in the first place. However, he had no energy in him to react so excessively. Instead, he began to reflect on the events prior to his current predicament.

As expected though, everything that occurred to him throughout the day was a complete haze, with only brief glimpses of memory appearing on brief occasions.

…such as the early-morning Blitzball practise with Tidus.

Oh … now I remember.

Just then, through that small snippet of memory, the events all came flooding back to him.

"Ah, so you're finally awake." A sweet and innocent voice suddenly spoke out, causing Cloud to jump up in fright. "Welcome back to the living."

Cloud immediately switched direction to where he heard the voice, not knowing what to expect. And then, the moment he met eyes with the voice’s owner, his heart instantly skipped a beat.

The person who he laid eyes upon gave off a therapeutic aura, as if she was a guardian angel watching over him from above. Her face was smooth and delicate, showing of a sweet and innocent smile that would calm any troubled soul. Her long, chocolate-brown, plaited hair was tied back with a simple hairband, and yet it flowed so majestically. Finally, to add to the heavenly feel, she wore what seemed to be a pure white uniform.

Cloud hastily shook his head, snapping out of his consuming trance.

As one would expect, a plethora of questions began to pop into his mind. Shuffling through the batch, he decided to begin with the simplest.

"Wh-where am I?" He dazedly requested, examining the area around him once again as he woozily sat up on the bed. "Am I … dead?"

"Wha-!? No, no! Don’t be ridiculous! You're in the Academy's Medical Room." The girl hastily responded, letting out a fit of giggles upon hearing his question. "You're two classmates carried you down here saying you collapsed during Homeroom."

Great … of course I did. His thoughts echoed out in a disgruntled murmur, briefly glancing away in embarrassment.

Whilst his memories of the day came back to him, his time during Homeroom with still rather hazy. He could just about remember listening to Professor Shantotto’s speech, Bartz Klauser being blasted to be back of the classroom, and after that … it was a blank.

Through this, he realised that the lack of sleep had hit him like a truck, his head still throbbing from the impact.

He began to sooth it, flinching as his fingers made contact with the mall bump that had formed overtime.

"Well … thank you for looking after me … err…" Cloud began to state in gratitude, showing appreciation to the mysterious girl who tended to his care.

"Aerith Gainsborough." The girl answered to him sweetly. "I help out here as a Student Nurse."

"Th-thank you … Aerith." Cloud shyly stuttered in echo, trying to hide his flustered face.

Aerith nodded cheerfully in acknowledgement, accepting his gratitude wholeheartedly.

She then nonchalantly placed her palm on his forehead, checking to see if the swelling was beginning to diminish. He felt her smooth, soft touch comfort his forehead, causing him to reach the peak of anxiousness.

With his face burning bright red and body as tense as it ever could be, Cloud felt cornered by this unexpected situation.

"Hmm … it seems to be settling down now. Just to be on the safe side, though: you should probably sooth it with an ice-pack every so often." Aerith began to explain with her kind smile, completely oblivious to Cloud's highly flustered expression. "And, in my opinion, a cup of freshly brewed coffee would help with the drowsiness."

"Oh … right!" Cloud nodded hastily, barely paying much attention.

Aerith moved her palm off from Cloud's forehead and straightened up, indicating that she was ultimately satisfied with his recovery. she followed up be dragging back the curtains that surrounded him, revealing the Medical Room in its entirety.

Seeing this as a sign to move, Cloud began to shuffle himself over to the edge of the bed. He noticed his shoes were neatly placed on the floor directly below, taking no time to slip back into them. He finally checked the time, noticing the clock that hung on the wall to the left of him:

It read 12:23pm.

Wait … I’ve been unconscious for 4 Hours!? He abruptly realised, his eyes widened with disbelief.

He quickly began to tie up his shoelaces – hoping to leave the Medical Room and regroup with Tidus, Firion and Cecil as soon as he could. If he was lucky enough, he would be able to stop off for some coffee on the way to the Academy Grounds.

However, as he did this, Cloud heard Aerith's soft voice call out from the distance.

"Oh … you’re ALL here to visit Cloud?" Aerith wondered curiously, sounding as though she was surprised. “He’s just about to leave, but … if you insist.”

Did … did she just say ‘all’!?

Frozen in place, Cloud’s body completely tensed up as the sense of terror began to consume him. The atmosphere around him was close to suffocating, as if several pairs of eyes were staring at him. He  

His mind overcome with fear, Cloud cautiously turned his head.

“…Oh…”

He immediately gave out a small whimper, emulating that of a small pup.

He was immediately surrounded by a hoard of female students. They all stood over him, faces gleaming with excitement as they slowly closed in. Cloud forced a grin to hide his inner nervousness, knowing that no matter what he tried to do next … he was trapped.

And then, he twitched.

““Kyaaaaaaaaaa…!!!!!””

In that instant, the female students in unison screamed at the top of their voices ecstatically. Their screams were loud enough to pierce the eardrums of anyone who was unfortunate enough to be in range, shattering windows and other types of glass without resistance.

Cloud leapt out of his skin in fright, swiftly realising that he was now in major trouble. The group towered over him from every direction, their hands ready to reach out and latch onto him.

He was trapped, with no possible escape.

"N-no, please don't!" Cloud cried out in panic, hastily shuffling back on his bed as he braced himself for the worst. "NOOOoooooo...!!!"

And then … the world faded into darkness.

 

Reality, 7:00am…

Cloud tossed and turned in his sleep, letting out quiet, terrified moans. His body was completely drenched in sweat, trying desperately to escape his nightmare.

However, as he continued to drift, a knock was heard from the door on the other side of the room.

Knock-knock-knock…!

"Oi, Cloud! It's time to wake up!" A voice called out in a loud and energetic tone, obliviously entering the room without a second thought. "Come on, man! It's not the weekend yet! You’ll be late if you continued to sleep in!"

As he approached the bed, the man caught notice of Cloud’s inner torment. The man immediately deduced that Cloud was trapped in a nightmare, which had become a common occurrence ever since he started the new semester at Dissidia Academy. Although he had yet to find out why his friend was having these nightmares in the first place, he came to the assumption at it had something to do with recent trauma that occurred whist he was at the Academy.

At first, the man felt concerned for Cloud, wishing he could help his friend in some way…

"N-no … please don't…!” Cloud moaned in his sleep, his face continuing to steam with sweat. “G-get … get away from … me!”

…The man then showed an evil, somewhat scheming grin as an idea suddenly popped into his mind.

He trod up closer to Cloud's bed, flexing his shoulders to ease the joints in his arms.

"Hm-hm-hmm … oh, don't you worry, Cloud. I'll save you from your nightmare." The man assured the oblivious sleeping Cloud, chuckling away as stretched his body out.

He loomed over Cloud's bed with an increasingly menacing, his body free of restriction as he began to put his plan into action.

Just then, he firmly grasped his right bicep as he tensed up his muscles. He raised his arm to a roughly 90˚ angle, refusing to divert his attention from the oblivious Cloud throughout the process. With legs spread out to shoulder-width apart and emulating a proud stance, the man drew in a deep, calming breath.

"Time for the good old…" The man peacefully exhaled.

However – like a spark – the man's tone of voice abruptly switched to loud and monstrous.

“ELBOW DROP!"

The man leapt high in the air, almost reaching the ceiling of the bedroom. With his elbow out, he aimed for Cloud's abdomen. Eyes locked on target, the man descend and struck his prey with full force.

BAM!

“ACK!!!!”

In immediate effect, the startled Cloud woke up in the most painful and abrupt way possible. The man's elbow crushed his abdomen without warning, causing the air in his lungs to escape him.

Tears broke from the sockets of Cloud’s eyes, gasping out as he desperately to regain oxygen. To sooth the agony, he hastily wrapped his arms around his abdomen, unable to control his body as it rolled off the bed and onto the floor.

Bang!

Cloud rolled around on the floor in the foetal position, continuing to gasp and wheeze. During this time, A shadow loomed over him, watching him from directly above. Cloud hesitantly glared upwards in response, his eyes red and streaming with tears of pain.

“…Urgh…!” Cloud grunted breathlessly, completely devoid of words.

And then, a loud, hysterically menacing laughter echoed throughout the room, the man towering above Cloud crossing his arms in triumph.

"HAHAHAHAA! Now THAT … is a wake-up call!" The man bellowed out in a fit of giggles.

"W-why did you … have to do that … Zack!?" Cloud blurted as air finally returned to his lungs.

"Ah, so you're still able to say my name after that?” The man – known as Zack – playfully joked in response. “Hahahaa…! I feel so honoured!"

Zack Fair was Cloud's best friend and fellow housemate of their two-bedroomed rented apartment. He had long, spikey jet-black hair with his bangs/fringe parting both ways, and bright-blue Mako-filled eyes. Standing at a tall 6ft 3in, he slightly dwarfed Cloud’s 5ft 7in. Additionally, he was significantly toned, the muscles on show being fairly bulked up to the point that he was a force on nature if opposed.

Whilst Cloud was still a student of Dissidia Academy, Zack had already completed his studies a few years prior. Since then, he had taken up arms as a full-time 2^nd Class operative of SOLDIER, a super-soldier program linked to the Shinra Electric Power Company based in a nearby city.

His dream: to reach 1^st Class status and become a hero to the world.

Zack held out his hand to Cloud, his face beaming with optimism and positivity. Although cautious at first, Cloud accepted the help. As he was lifted onto his feet, he could not help but wince. He could still feel the pain in his abdomen, letting out struggling breathes to endure it.

"You didn't need to … e-elbow me in the gut." Cloud painfully wheezed, soothing his abdomen in the process.

"What are you talking about?” Zack cheerfully pointed out. “You should be thanking me. After all, I just did you a solid and saved you from another one of your ‘nightmares’."

“Yeah, but could you have done it in a less … excessive way?” He then refuted in a low groan.

As he watched Zack shrug back in innocence, Cloud reflected on how his week of nightmares began to consume his dreams – much to his dread of the thought.

Ever since the ‘incident’ during the first day back at the Academy, the group of girls had frequently invaded his dreams, thoughts and memories.

It was absolute torture for him.

Cloud began to wonder when these series of nightmares would eventually end, desiring for a decent night sleep for a change. Zack noticed Cloud's troubled expression, letting out a light sigh as he understood the dilemma his friend.

"Standing around here isn't going to get us anywhere, you know?" Zack stated in honestly, casually placing a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "We have places to be and stuff to do."

With that, he turned and made his way towards the bedroom door, flexing the elbow he used to wake Cloud up with. Cloud watched as he left the scene, keeping silent as he took the time to compose himself.

 

Dining Room, 7:15am…

Cloud eagerly munched on the slices of toast, only now realising the depths of his hunger. He had already scoffed down the eggs and bacon that was included with the breakfast, with only the cereal and mug of coffee remaining.

As Cloud continued to consume, Zack watched him with a stunned gaze.

"Since when did you become such a … glutton?" Zack questioned hesitantly, sipping his own mug of coffee at reasonable pace.

Cloud temporarily paused on his mass consumption, acknowledging Zack’s comment with a wary glare … before returning to the food.

Within minutes, Cloud had demolished his remaining breakfast. Feeling as though his mission was accomplished, he sat back on his seat with a hand on his stomach. Holding back the burp at began to brew, he felt satisfied with his first meal of the day.

"It's weird, I don't even know why I'm this hungry." Cloud admitted anxiously, embarrassed by his sudden urge for food.

"Well, for now … I'm just thankful that I ate my breakfast before waking you up." Zack laughed awkwardly, placing down his mug of coffee.

Cloud began to sip his own coffee, feeling the refreshing taste revive his energy.

Ever since he collapsed from over-tiredness during Homeroom, Cloud’s reliance on coffee became mandatory inclusion to his daily life. In order to survive another sleep-related incident – whether it would be through Tidus’ early-morning antics, or by similar means – he would ensure that a coffee was at the ready to revitalize him.

Some may say it was a ridiculous plan, but for him … it was a matter of life and death.

As the two continued the gulp back their coffees, Cloud decided to keep an eye on the time. Glancing over to the clock on the far-off kitchen wall, he could see it was only 7:20am – meaning he still had some time to relax until his full day of studying.

Zack and Cloud's kitchen/dining room combo was rather small and simple, consisting of the essential equipment for cooking and storing food. Due to their current lack of a decent budget, the room was barren. This was not too much of a problem for either of them, though; if it was comfortable and served the basics for living, the two were contempt with what they had.

Just then, Zack abruptly snapped his fingers, acting as though a small light bulb had clicked on in his mind. Cloud, having gulped down the last of his coffee, glanced at him with heightened curiosity.

"I just remembered! You have Geography today, right?" Zack asked ecstatically, his face beaming with rising excitement.

"Yeah … why do you ask?" Cloud responded with uncertainty, cautiously wondering where this conversation was leading to.

"Well starting today … Sephiroth will be tutoring your lessons!” Zack leapt up to his feet, a cheerful smile strapped across his face. “He announced a few days ago that he would be taking a break from his SOLDIER 1st Class job indefinitely."

For a small moment, Cloud blankly stared at his friend – the unexpected announcement taking time to process in his head. However, he eyes widened with sudden surprise in a snap. He had no idea how to respond to this news, silently questioning whether this was just a joke.

Sephiroth – as stated by Zack – was a SOLDIER 1st Class operative and Zack’s senior. At Shinra, he was the top dog. He was seen by the large majority as a one-of-a-kind hero, inspiring those to follow in his footsteps and serve their nation. This thought had even made its way into Dissidia Academy, with numerous students proclaiming to join SOLDIER as soon as they graduate.

For Zack, the moment he joined SOLDIER, he saw Sephiroth as a rival and a goal. He occasionally declared that he would one day catch up to his senior so that he would achieve the status of ‘hero’. It was a momentous task, even going so far as to work and train after-hours just to boost his reputation within the company.

Thinking it though, Cloud was all in favour for Sephiroth becoming a teacher for the Academy, imagining what he would bring to the table with regards to his previous ventures and experiences. That being said, a part of his mind seemed was unsure of the idea, feeling as though there was far too much mystery surrounding the change of occupation to make it a simple ‘break from SOLDIER’.

As questions formed in his mind, Cloud decided to pursue for answers.

"Why would Sephiroth wish to take a break from SOLDIER?" He asked Zack, casually sipping away at a second mug of coffee, "What does he hope to gain out of this?"

"I’ll be honest, I haven’t the slightest idea.” Zack answered back with a shrug, scratching his head as he attempted to remember back to when this had been announced. “He just stated that he ‘desired to pursue other projects for the time being’. He never actually gave detail from what I remember."

Cloud nodded thoughtfully, eyes lowering in thought as he silently finished off his second coffee. However, a small chuckle from Zack's direction caused Cloud to once again raise his eyes, wondering what he had to say this time.

"I guess there is this ‘other’ thing … I've got myself a date." Zack coolly announced, showing off a cheesy and innocent smile.

“*PFFT…!*”

Within an instant, Cloud spat out his drink in abrupt shock. Zack swiftly ducked under the table, avoiding the spray of projectile coffee.

"You!? A date!?" Cloud blurted in shock, coffee dripping from his chin. "What 'poor' soul would accept a blockheaded fool like you!?"

"Hey! No need to be so harsh about it!" Zack drew back, feeling insulted by Cloud's statement. "All I'll say for now is that she's … sweet and cute."

After swiftly cleaning himself up with a towel, Cloud squinted at Zack with a judging glare.

"…Is it Cissnei?" He then questioned in an interrogative tone, eyes locked onto Zack like daggers across the table.

"Huh..? Cissnei!? Nooooo … No-no-no, it isn't her." Zack shook his head, looking somewhat disappointed for some reason. "You know how many times I got turned down by her! Didn’t I tell you that she ‘prefers to concentrate with her Turk work’."

Cloud silently grinned at the thought as he knew exactly the amount of times Cissnei turned Zack down: 17 times over the span of 4 years.

The fact that Zack continued to pursue her after each decline was beyond him entirely.

However, the idea of Zack successfully dating a new girl greatly intrigued Cloud, questioning who this mysterious person was or how they got to know one another. With that said, he needed more information about this ‘mysterious female’ in order to grasp an idea of how their relationship was going to unfold overtime.

That is … if this person was even real, of course.

"Seriously though, I need more than just 'sweet' and 'cute'." Cloud stated in a stern tone, not letting this pass so easily. "Come on, do you have any other hint about her? Occupation? Interests? … Anything?"

"Ah-hah … all in good time, my friend." Zack cheekily teased, pressing a finger against the side of his nose to indicate that he was keeping it all under wraps. “If I told you now, I’ll just be ruining the surprise.”

Cloud shrugged his arms whist his eyes rolled, feeling disappointed by the unnecessary secrecy. Seeing this reaction, Zack showed off a cheesy grin, indicating that it was all fun and games.

Just then, a 'Victory Fanfare' tune began to ring around the kitchen, causing both Cloud and Zack to jump up with fright. Zack hastily grasped his ringing phone and rose up from his seat, answering it immediately.

"Hello, Zack here." Zack responded openly and positively, listening carefully to the other end of the speaker. "Ah! Hey there, Director! … Uh-huh, yep … ok, I'll be right over."

Cloud then heard him hang up the phone and hastily began to collect his work belongings along with his SOLDIER weapon: a simple bladed sword with the Shinra emblem on it.

"Are you heading out already?" Cloud asked in interest, rising up from his own seat as he spoke.

"Yep, duty calls!" Zack cheerfully chanted out, placing his weapon against the metallic magnet on the back of his SOLDIER uniform.

The blade of his weapon instantly locked up against the magnet on his back, showing no loose movement whatsoever. The magnet would only unlock on Zack’s command, a mechanism that allowed him access to his weapon whenever the appropriate situation arises.

"The Director wants me to lead a mission with Angeal to Wutai, asap.” He then added in context, recapping what he was told on the phone. “From what the boss told me, they’re supposedly holding mass anti-Shinra weaponry in their bunkers. The problem is: we have no idea what the weaponry are or how devastating they could be."

Cloud nodded with a raised brow, generally interested in this new mission.

Angeal – another of Shinra’s 1^st Class SOLDIERs – was Zack’s highly-respected mentor. Although Cloud had yet to meet this man, he was aware that Zack’s mentor was a man of respect and honour – at least, that was how Zack described him. Although not as popular as Sephiroth in terms of overall notability, Angeal still had a considerable number of followers and fans.

He also was a man who had a unique sense of pride, especially when it came to his unique weapon: The Buster Sword. Supposedly, he had never used the weapon during combat and missions, resorting in only carrying it on his back as a ‘good-luck charm’ whilst wielding other, more disposable blades to do his bidding.

In terms of the Wutai stronghold, Cloud knew from various articles in newspapers and online that they had recently raged war against the Shinra company, citing them as a threat to society due to their practices and ignorance for the environment.

"Be careful." Cloud warned him with a firm expression, aware of Zack’s tendency to grow reckless during missions.

"I always am." Zack stated proudly, heading towards the front door.

BANG!

"Ack!?"

As he was about to step through the door, he was oblivious the archway above him. His forehead throbbing immensely after the collision, Zack could not help but awkwardly sooth it in embarrassment.

“*Snicker…!*”

Cloud attempted to hold back the laughter, finding the situation ironic.

"L-like I said: I’m always careful!" He reminded hastily, trying his best not to act like a complete fool.

Cloud sarcastically nodded, holding a large – somewhat sympathetic – grin of amusement. Zack opened the front door, feeling the warm autumn breeze brush against him. Letting out a deep, confident breath, he stepped forward. As he did this, he raised his arm up towards the bright-morning sky above.

"Hey Cloud! Maybe if this mission succeeds, I'll finally be promoted to 1st Class!" Zack called out in hope, clenching his raised fist as proof of his determination.

"It wouldn't hurt to be hopeful." Cloud commented back in support, keeping up with Zack's optimistic atmosphere.

With that, Zack charged off into the distance, waving back to his friend just before he disappeared into the blinding light. 

“Give Sephiroth my regards…!”

With a smile strapped across his face, Cloud began to prepare for the Academy, taking a moment to reflect on Zack's dream of becoming a ‘Hero’.

Even though Sephiroth was the ‘hero of the world’ to most, Cloud never truly acknowledged him as an inspiration. He undoubtfully respected the man and his legendary status, yet it was never enough for him to consider the man as inspirational.

To him, Zack Fair was all the inspiration he needed.

 

DISSIDIA ACADEMY, Class 13A Homeroom, 8:40am…

"…So, he's finally got himself a date!" Tidus loudly bellowed out in surprise, acting in his usual over-the-top manner.

Class 13A began to gather in the usual Homeroom, waking themselves up from their drowsy states and continuing to chat amongst one another about the usual up-to-date gossip.

Firion, Cecil, and Tidus sat around Cloud's desk, chilling out with Cloud before Professor Shantotto entered to commence morning Homeroom. Although hesitant at first, Cloud eventually gave in and explained to trio about Zack's new 'mystery' girlfriend, knowing all too well that they – mainly Tidus – would kick up a fuss if he kept it a secret.

Reactions were as follows: Firion had a very surprised expression on his face, although he accepted it wholeheartedly; Cecil had nodded to himself with a light glimmer shining in his eyes, anticipating the idea of a 'mystery' romance; and Tidus – as one would expect – had leapt up in abrupt shock, bewildered by the fact that Zack had finally been able to 'bag' himself a girl.

"Do you know the girlfriend’s identity?" Firion curiously pursued, casually leaning against the table in front.

"No. All he told me was that she's 'sweet' and 'cute'." Cloud admitted whilst shaking his head, crossing his arms in frustration. "Aside from that … I’ve got nothing."

"I think it's glorious.” Cecil proudly stated to the group, his eyes burned brightly. “A couple loving each other in secret. Those close to them unravel the mystery. Just the thought of it makes my heart burn with passion."

Firion, Tidus, and Cloud glanced at Cecil with odd smirks. All three knew full well about Cecil’s romanticist tendencies, so this type of comment was to be expected of him.

"Yeah … keep dreaming, love maniac." Tidus commented under his breath, patting him on the back with his usual cheesy grin.

He then swiftly whipped back to face Cloud, his eager eyes brimming with excitement.

"I suggest we jump on him, force him to spill the beans!"

"There's a slight problem with that proposition: we're just Academy students with barely any experience of such physical activity.” Firion interrupted Tidus' idea, stating exactly what Cloud had been thinking – except in more context and with slight exaggeration. “Zack – on the other hand – is a full-blown SOLDIER operative. He would turn the tables on us before we even make the move on him."

"How about we tail him whenever he is caught off-guard?” Cecil then suggested, considering more of a secretive approach. “Learn what we can from the shadows."

"If he were to catch us, it'll be game over." Tidus sighed in denial, not particularly enjoying the idea of being caught in the act. “Think about it this way: neither of us are as ninja-like as Zidane. We would make a mistake before we even reached Zack.”

"Guys, we're talking about my best-friend here.” Cloud then decided to cut in, feeling the whole situation unnecessary. “He’s not the serious 'I'll wipe your memory if you find out' type of guy. There isn't any need to go so far just to find out who this girlfriend is.

“Besides, I'm not going to stalk or force Zack into admitting something he wants to surprise us with. When he finally decides to reveal her identity, I'll be there waiting patiently for who it is."

Ending the conversation then and there, Cloud rose from his own seat and decided to go grab a coffee from the machine. Believing he had time to spare before Professor Shantotto would enter the room, he took this opportunity to reenergize himself.

He passed Onion Knight and Terra on his right, the two discussing away with each other as they usually do. And Warrior of Light on his left, who was patiently sitting at his desk with focus primarily on the book in his hand.

However, before Cloud could exit the classroom, he immediately froze as he caught an ear of Tidus’ next comment

"You're boring as usual, Cloud." Tidus murmured, a scheming yet subtle smirk appearing on his face.

Firion and Cecil followed the pattern with their own comments.

"How disappointing, it would have been quite fun." Firion admitted bluntly, trying to keep a straight face.

"So, the 'mysterious' romance will forever stay a secret." Cecil stated lowly, dipping his head down to hide his face behind his long silver hair.

Cloud’s jaw clenched up, his eyes half-open to emulate his frustrated expression.

"Fine, I'll play your little 'game'!” Cloud stated in a serious tone, showing no amusement in being guilt-tripped. “If we're going to tail him, we'll have to wait till he returns from his mission in Wutai. And, we'll have to be extra vigilant … Zack has the senses of a hawk."

Tidus nodded cheerfully to Firion and Cecil, feeling rather victorious guilt-tripping their friend.

"No need to worry about that, Cloud!" Tidus smiled confidently, ideas forming in his mind. "We'll have a plan set in no time!"

Cloud cautiously glared at him, feeling a rising concern in Tidus’ upbeat declaration.

…I’m going to regret this.

Noticing the time, he then hastily left the Homeroom to grab his coffee.

 

Just before Lunch Break, 12:25pm…

Cloud sat patiently in his seat as his Math lesson began to end. He – along with most of his other classmates – watched the clock with anticipation, feeling their hunger was driving them to the point of insanity.

Their Math Teacher – a very intelligent yet stuck up man who referred to himself as 'The Emperor' – waffled on about how he ruled in the field of ‘Math’. Whilst the actual subject of Math was included in the lesson, it was vastly inferior to the amount of time The Emperor had spent gloating about his superiority.

Just before the lesson began, Firion murmured underneath his breath to Cloud that The Emperor was a man who bathed in his own ego. It was only now that Cloud had realised that his words were a direct warning to how the lesson was going to play out.

Throughout the lesson, individual students gradually began to slip into a trance of boredom. Some fell into daydreams, their imaginations taking them away to their fantasy-lands as a means of temporary escape. Others … fell asleep completely, their minds unable to resist the temptation as boredom forced them to the edge of insanity.

Would the torment ever end?

Much to the surprise of both he and the rest of the Class, Cloud was able to keep himself awake throughout the lesson. With only his eyes drooping during certain instances, he was only one of the few to survive the lesson so far.

Only three others survived: Warrior of Light, Onion Knight, and Terra.

Warrior of Light and Onion Knight were mainly focused with their own rivalry, attempting to one-up and belittle each other with their wits at every opportunity. Terra, on the other hand, was struggling to hold her consciousness, her eyes gradually drifting and refocusing as she reminded herself what would occur if she were to fall into slumber.

With only two minutes left before they were free, Cloud could feel the anticipation rising in his soul … and yet, also the sense of anxiety breaking through.

There were two reasons for this sudden dilemma: the ‘encounter’ that he may potentially face during the Lunch Break, and the lesson that followed. The ‘encounter’ was rather self-explanatory at this point; the hoard of female students would be out on the hunt once again, and Cloud was expected to be on the very top of their list of targets.

The ‘lesson’ that followed was less simple, for it wasn’t the usual case of spending an hour listening to introductory lectures and brief activities. For it seems that once Lunch Break ends, he would be sitting in a Geography lesson with Sephiroth as his teacher.

The thought of this impending occurrence had yet to settle in Cloud’s mind, still somewhat wondering if this was just a ruse made by Zack. This did not help by the fact that Sephiroth was yet to be seen of heard by hi or the others in his Class.

Cloud's mind rattled as thoughts and questions continued to form in his mind throughout the day:

Why was he teaching Geography?

What was so special about that subject?

It was all so confusing.

Drrring-Drrring…!

Just then, the bell finally rang out throughout the corridors of Dissidia Academy, announcing that the day’s Lunch Break had officially commenced – much to the relief of Class 13A.

During that very moment, The Emperor finished up on his dismal lecture, allowing the students to leave the classroom. Without a second thought, Cloud swiftly packed up his belongings and slung his backpack over his shoulders, refusing to spend a moment longer in the hellhole of a Math classroom.

However, before he was about to leave, he met up with Firion. With his eyes red and drowsy expression, Firion was the most relieved of the students to finally escape he torment they had to endure. Cecil soon joined them, lazily shaking his head as an attempt to stay conscious.

With two out of his three companions by his side, Cloud switched to the direction of Tidus' desk. At first he wondered why Tidus – the most lively and energetic member of the group – was taking so long to join them.

And then he realised … the answer was obvious.

Tidus was caught drifting away in a deep slumber, sluggishly leaning back against his chair as he snoozed away.

A sudden and idea immediately crossed Cloud's mind, letting out a cheeky grin as the opportunity for payback finally arose. As Firion and Cecil watched in intrigue, he hastily stepped over and knelt down to the legs of Tidus' chair. Hoping not to have his plan foiled, he carefully pushed the legs upwards, tipping the oblivious Tidus off-balance.

WHAM!

The moment Tidus collided against the classroom floor, he abruptly leapt back up to his feet in a confused startle.

"Who-!? Wha-!? I-I wasn't asleep, I swear!" Tidus bellowed out in panic, his loud voice echoing through the classroom.

The whole of Class 13A stared at him in silence, eyes peering upon him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Tidus blushed with embarrassment, glancing away to hide the bright red flush in his cheeks.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAAA…!!!”

Tidus then switched to hear an uncontrollable laughter coming from non-other than Cloud, who was clutching his stomach in pain as he tried and failed to calm himself down. He was crying – eyes streaming with tears – as his idea became a momentous success.

After a moment of processing the situation, Tidus decided to brush the embarrassment aside and laugh alongside his friend.

 

Academy Grounds, 12:35pm…

Cloud cautiously peeked around the corner of Dissidia Academy's building, observing for any signs of the dreaded horde of female students. Word had spread across the Academy that they were on the hunt, preying on any of the innocent and unsuspecting victims that happened to be in their line of sight.

Much to his despair, Cloud was left to fend of himself, for his usual backup had gone their separate ways due to mandatory obligations.

Tidus was preoccupied with his scheduled Blitzball practice, where he was ‘begrudgingly’ being coached by his own Father – the Academy’s P.E Instructor. Elsewhere, Firion was running errands with the Student Council, focusing his assistance on Warrior of Light and Onion Knight as they were fulfilling various ‘important’ tasks for Headmistress Cosmos. Finally, Cecil was summoned by his Brother – Astronomy teacher: Sir Golbez – for a meeting regarding future events.

Cloud had to be as vigilant as ever, believing his life was truly on the line.

After several moments of examining the area, Cloud released a sigh of relief. There was no sign of the female students, meaning they had already moved on from the front section of the Grounds … or, had yet to commence their search for prey.

Desperately hoping for the latter, Cloud stepped out of the corner, knowingly taking the risk that could likely backfire at any moment.

And then, he felt a tap on his shoulder from behind.

“GYAH…!?”

Cloud completely leapt out of his skin in fright, stumbling back as paranoia overcame him. Covering his head with his arms to block out the world, he awaited his inevitable demise.

"I-is … something the matter, Cloud?" A light, pure voice questioned worriedly, drawn back by Cloud's unexpectedly over-exaggerated reaction.

Cloud's eyes suddenly flickered open upon hearing the familiar voice, swiftly realising that the person who had approached him was not involved with the horde. As he gradually dropped his arms, his allowed his heartbeat to relax whilst he faced the person standing before him.

Terra Branford gazed at Cloud in awkward confusion, wondering why he was so jumpy.

Brushing away the paranoia with immediate haste, Cloud forced a smile.

"It's nothing.” Cloud admitted in denial, letting out a light chuckle. “I was just caught off-guard, that's all."

"I … see.” Terra warily responded with a silent giggle, before pursuing to ask a question in her shy tone. “Well, seeing as Onion Knight is away on his Council errands, I was just wondering: Would you like to join me for Lunch?"

"I – err … Y-yeah, sure!” Cloud answered awkwardly, generally surprised that she was asking him for company. “…Why not."

 

Cloud and Terra explored the Academy Grounds for the next few minutes, their eyes peeled in hopes of locating a space to eat their Lunch. Along the way, they were happily making small-talk.

The Academy Grounds were packed with groups of students, all socialising and eating their lunches together as they enjoyed the lively atmosphere. Due to this, irritation began to set in for both Cloud and Terra, wondering if they would ever find a place to sit and chill.

And then, after a while of searching, they finally found a free bench situated on the opposite side of the where they stood. The two acknowledged one another with expressions of determination, knowing they had to act fast before the opportunity disappears entirely.

With a fast pace set in motion, Cloud and Terra began to cross the front entrance of the Academy, their eyes focused solely on the bench in their sights.

However, as they closed in on the vacant bench, a brief glimpse of the Academy Gate caught the corner of Cloud's eye.

He halted his steps instantly, gazing off towards the Gate with widened eyes.

Terra immediately noticed Cloud’s sudden stop, switching back to him with a curious expression. She was about to ask him as to why he stopped so abruptly, but decided to instead follow the line of his sight.

Standing at the Gate were two people, both deep in conversation.

One was a female student, fresh from her morning studies. The other was a slightly older male, seemingly on break from work.

From what Cloud and Terra could see, the man had just passed over a present he had close to his side, giving out a genuine smile in the process. The female student clapped her hands together with excitement, showing her appreciation towards the man as she was handed the present.

Opening the present with glee, it was revealed to be a pink silk hair-ribbon.

The following gestures indicated that the man had offered to tie the ribbon for the female student, suggesting it to be the perfect replacement for the simple hairband she was currently wearing. The female student accepted with a cheerful not, immediately facing away from the man so that he could see what he was doing.

After a moment of trial and error on the man’s part, the ribbon seemed to suite the female student perfectly. The female student swayed as she felt her braided ponytail swish back and forth elegantly, further showing the ribbon holding up her hair in grace.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, the female student threw her arms around the man, eagerly expressing her affection for the man.

"Aww … how sweet." Terra cheerfully commented, placing her hands together softly against her chest as she watched the couple lovingly embrace.

"Yeah…" Cloud murmured in response, completely lost for words, "…sweet."

Terra was completely oblivious to notice Cloud’s current expression of shock and disbelief, his widened eyes locked on to the couple as he struggled to grasp what he had just witnessed.

He knew the exact identities of the couple.

The man who stood at the Entrance Gate was relatively tall, his posture strong and proud as he showed off his 2^nd Class SOLDIER Uniform.

That man was Zack Fair.

From what Cloud assumed, it seemed that Zack was able to finish off his mission in Wutai earlier than initially expected.

However, whilst it was a shock to see his best friend at the Entrance Gate of the Academy: what caused his heart to leap the most was the female student.

With the hair-ribbon now tied in place: her long, chocolate-brown, braided hair was the definition of perfection. Furthermore, her smooth, natural skin was basked in purity, giving of the aura of an angel. Finally, she wore the same Dissidia Academy uniform as every other female student on site, yet she could easily stand out amongst a crowd.

Her name … Aerith Gainsborough.

Chapter 5: Vol.2 - Questioning Perfection

“HYAH!”

STAB! Splutter…!

Zack Fair lunged forward as he struck his blade into the chest of Wutai's 'Anti-Shinra’ weapon, focusing all his strength and attention on taking the abomination down. With a clenched jaw and deathly eyes, his dominance overpowered the opponent before him.

The weapon was a towering bulk of immovable mass – in fact, it was twice the size of Zack.

Its name: Vajradhara Tu.

It was Wutai’s ultimate resort to overpowering Shinra and gaining the upper hand in their War. Without this, Wutai would be unable to counter Shinra’s advances, leaving them cornered with no options left in their arsenal.

Zack made sure that this monster perished like its brother: Vajradhara Wu, who was currently lying motionless on the ground with several open wounds and lifeless eyes.

As he purged his blade deeper into the Vajradhara Tu’s chest, he could feel it begin to stagger and moan. The weapon attempted to flail its monstrous boulder-like arms in desperation, hoping to brush away its puny enemy.

However, it was hopeless for the monster. With life draining from its body at a fast rate, it had lost all focus in its eyes.

And then, the weapon’s legs finally gave way from underneath. There was no strength left in its hulking mass of a body, allowing gravity to take control of its weight. As the weapon fell forward, Zack hastily drew his blade out from the beast and leapt out of the way in haste, desperately praying on not getting flattened by the weapon's crushing mass.

CRASH!!!

The weapon collided against the floor of the Wutai fort, causing the whole area to shake violently like an erupting earthquake. Zack froze in a knelt down position, bracing himself as the floor continued to shake.

The reacting earthquake eventually died down, allowing Zack to steadily regain his feet. With his blade grasped securely in his palm, he stepped over to the Vajadhara Tu. Keeping a cautious eye on his fallen foe, he warily prodded the mass of muscle with his blade. The last thing he needed was a surprise attack, so the confirmation of its death was necessary for survival.

The Vajadhara Tu showed no signs of movement whatsoever, the pupils of its eyes completely whited out as saliva began to seep from the corner of its gaped mouth.

It then dawned on Zack: he was victorious.

Glancing at his two fallen opponents, Zack couldn’t hold in the overwhelming sensation of joy a moment longer.

"I-I did it…? I did it!?" Zack bellowed out, an explosion of excitement escaping him all at once. "HAH-HAH-HAAA…!!! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!"

With the amount of exhilaration running through his body, Zack proudly swung and spun his sword in a swift, fluid motion – ending with a powerful victory pose. Feeling refreshed, he placed the blade of his sword on his back, locking it against the magnet.

Letting out a sigh of relief, he began to reflect on the mission.

As stated on the mission briefing: Zack had to infiltrate Wutai's Fort without any supervision.

It was in the Shinra Company’s best interests to not to start an all-out conflict, preferring the mission to be carried out with the least amount of SOLDIER units possible. With Sephiroth way from SOLDIER, Zack's mentor – Angeal – was initially assigned to lead the mission. However, through Angeal's personal request, Zack was roped in to take on the mission as a solo operative.

Zack soon found out the reason behind this abrupt change: Angeal and SOLDIER’s Director - Lazard Deusericus – were recently in conversation regarding Zack’s skills and overall potential. In fact, Angeal had proposed the Director to allow Zack to prove his worth as a SOLDIER operative.

Upon initially hearing this, Zack was left speechless. He felt honoured to lead a mission of such importance for the company; although, he could not help but feel the daunting pressure of fulfilling such a momentous request.  

And so, throughout the duration of the mission, Zack was able to infiltrate the Fort without triggering any alarms or alerting any Wutai forces – much to his own surprise and relief. As he entered the 'Anti-Shinra weapons' stronghold, he valiantly fought against the two monstrous weapons.

It was a struggle, yet he was able to withstand their barrage of heavy hits.

He let out another sigh of relief.

Thank the Goddess its over…

Clap-clap-clap…!

Suddenly, the sound of a pair of hands clapping echoed throughout the building, causing Zack to leap up in fright. He immediately switched and drew his blade out, readying himself for another bout.

However, as he focused his attention towards the source of the echo, he caught sight of Angeal emerging from behind a corner.

Angeal was a tall, powerful man who always carried a large, deadly Buster Sword along with his forever tense expression. As rumours had implied, the Sword had never been used during missions, even though it was his primary weapon of choice as a 1^st Class SOLDIER operative.

A reason for this was never truly given to Zack, leaving him only to guess that it was family-related.

Upon noticing Angeal, Zack hastily re-sheathed his weapon, hiding the embarrassment of almost attacking his own mentor by mistake.

"Well, it seems there wasn't any need for me to interfere in the mission after all." Angeal coolly chuckled, thoroughly analysing Zack's overall performance. "I must admit, there were times when I was on the edge of my seat – particularly when you almost let your guard down during the main battle. But you never drew attention to yourself and was able to swiftly complete the mission, so I think I'll be able to let the little nit-picks slide.”

Zack’s expression lit up with an ecstatic grin.

“I must hand it to you, Zack … you've certainly impressed me."

Zack knew that Angeal was inspecting his performance from a hidden distance, watching his every movement like a hawk. It left him increasingly anxious, showing awareness that one major slipup would cost him dearly.

Ans yet, the moment he began infiltrating the Fort, the thought of Angeal assessing him had completely disappeared from his mind. He focused himself solely on the mission at hand, allowing him to proceed without much hesitation and doubt

“Thanks Angeal,” Zack responded in tremendous gratitude, truly feeling proud to be a member of SOLDIER.

"Now, concerning your status within SOLDIER…" Angeal then began to mutter, stepping closer towards Zack with a serious expression.

Zack's heart jumped the moment Angeal spoke out; this was the moment of truth.

Will his recent success and progression in missions allow him to be finally promoted to 1^st Class?

Or, will he be stuck to serve Shinra as a measly 2^nd Class operative forever more?

"…I’ll have to address at a later time." Angeal concluded.

Zack's mind suddenly felt as though it had blown a fuse.

"HUH!?!?” Zack roared out in exaggerated frustration, firmly grasping the collar of Angeal's uniform as let loose everything that erupted in his mind. “YOU CAN'T JUST BUILD UP MY HOPES LIKE THAT AND THEN JUST LEAVE ME HANGING!"

Angeal gazed in bewilderment as the man before him continued to release his fury.

"HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO SLEEP SOUNDLY TONIGHT NOW!?"

Once Zack finally finished his rant, Angeal coolly brushed him off, showing no expression whatsoever.

"If you gave at least a moment of thought about your own surroundings before freaking out, you would have realised that we're still in the Wutai Fort.” Angeal explained to him in his calm tone. “I’m sure the Wutai Forces know of our location by now.”

Within that moment, Zack began to hear sirens outside the Fort, along with rising commotions surrounding the Fort. Not long after, a stampede of footsteps swiftly emerged from the distance, incoming from a variety of directions.

Zack's expression dropped, realising he had just screwed up.

“Right on cue…” Angeal murmured with a low sigh.

"Err … Oops." Zack whimpered in a squeaky tone, sweat breaking through his skin.

"What are you going to do now, ‘Zack the Puppy’?" Angeal questioned in a serious manner – although a hint of hidden amusement almost broke through.

"Wha-!? Angeal, you know how much I hate you calling me that!" Zack blurted out irritably, feeling as though the world was beginning to spin.

He then hastily turned and began to scout for a viable escape route, purposely ignoring his mentor’s cold glare.

"A-anyway, the sooner we get out of here, the better."

Zack hastily scanned the area around him, showing minor signs of panic and distress as he attempted to find a way out. He hastily treaded over towards the back door of the room, only to hear Angeal let out a small murmur.

"I would guess that the Wutai troops have the whole building surrounded by now.” Angeal lightly hinted with a small smirk, acting as though he was finding this situation amusing to watch. “I wouldn’t be surprised if all the plausible escape routes were blocked off.”

Zack pulled himself back from the door and gulped, his body covered in sweat and shaking with anxiety.

He couldn’t believe this was happening to him; after everything he put himself through in order to succeed in the most important mission of his career, he decides to go and screw himself over during the home run!

The thought of failing to reach 1^st Class and losing the one opportunity to fulfil his dream had sent him into an inner meltdown. Throwing both arms over his head, Zack began to pace around, eyes wild as he struggled to rationalise his thoughts.

he then heard the footsteps closing in on them, commotions and shouting echoing from the other side of the doors.

It was only a matter of time before he and Angeal would be caught by Wutai forces.

He was drawing a complete blank.

Snap! Snap!

Zack snapped round to face Angeal, showing a mixed expression of confusion and panic. He immediately noticed his mentor casually pointing skywards. Zack, curious to know what Angeal was implying, took the hint and followed the direction of his mentor’s finger.

It was a Ventilation System.

Although it was the most clichéd way of escape, Zack knew that it was either this or facing an entire Wutai Army.

With that said, a couple of questions appeared in his mind: Where would the vents lead to?

…And, with either of them fit through the shaft without any issues – especially with the Buster Sword in Angeal’s possession?

"It’s just a hunch, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this led to the roof of the Fort." Angeal calmly deducted, acting as though he was able to read Zack's mind. “What do you think?”

Zack stepped back hesitantly, uncertain about what he should do. He then noticed his mentor leap into the ventilation system with ease, not even a second thought passed through his mind as he disappeared.

Zack hastily took one last look of the doors in front of him.

"Well, I guess there’s no time like the present!" Zack encouraged himself, keeping up his regulated, positive tone.

Woosh…!

BANG!

He swiftly leapt up towards the opening of the vent, completely out of sight just as the Wutai army broke through the door.

 

The Wutai Rooftops…

After some time passed crawling within the never-ending maze of the vent, both Angeal and Zack finally reached an exit.

Angeal was – as usual – correct: the system did in fact reach the roof of the Fort.

Speaking of whom, Angeal was the first to appear out of the Ventilation system, inhaling the open air in desperate relief. He was able to spot the morning sun still beat down around the Wutai area, glaring proudly over the land. It was a beautiful sight, as though purposely masking the current dilemma.

Angeal stepped out of the system without making a noise, praying not to alert the Wutai troops of their current whereabouts.

Unfortunately, this idea had not crossed Zack's mind.

"PHWAH…! Man! Talk about cramped with a capital C!" Zack exclaimed loudly, obliviously bursting out of the vent. “Woo…! At least we’re out of there!”

Angeal scowled towards him, attempting to hold back the rising anger that almost took over his calm demeanour. And yet, Zack continued his loud speech, acting as though he had completely forgotten the mission.

"I mean, seriously! Drag a claustrophobic sufferer in there and in a matter of seconds he'll go absolutely Ape-shi – Mmph!?!?"

Zack mouth was forcefully covered by Angeal's hand, refusing him to speak another word.

Zack glanced up towards his mentor's face, only to gasp in abrupt horror upon noticing Angeal's current expression. Angeal's eyes were raging like a rabid bull, his temper completely passed the breaking point whilst his lips were sealed tight in desperation of holding back the roar of a lion.

"If you say another word in that loud, obnoxious tone of yours … your blood will be the first to stain the Buster Sword.” He murmured grittily, eyes locked like daggers on Zack's terrified face. “Do I MAKE myself clear?"

Zack instinctively nodded, hands slightly rose upwards in prove of his innocence whilst giving out a slight whimper.

"…Good." Angeal firmly nodded, removing his hand from Zack's mouth before commencing to scout the area.

Zack drew in a few deep – yet quick – breaths, calming himself down after such a terrifying encounter.

He stepped out of the vent and resealed its gate carefully without causing any disruptive sounds. He then turned and treaded over to his mentor's position – who was preoccupied observing the outskirts of the Fort. He decided to follow Angeal's eyes, peering down towards the depths of the fort below as curiosity took over him.

In that instant, Zack felt his heart sink in despair, noticing the sheer mass of the Wutai Army surrounding the building.

"Oh man, those are a lot of troops.” Zack commented gloomily, keeping a constant low voice. "How in the world are we going to get out of this mess?"

"Hm-hmm…!" Angeal chuckled proudly, acting as though he was one step ahead of the game.

“…What’s so funny?” Zack questioned in a low tone, caution entering his mind. “Why is it that I get the chills whenever I hear you laugh?”

“You don’t need to worry your simple mind over our small mishap, that’s all.” He then shrugged, a dark smirk sealed as he shook his head. “I have this covered.”

Zack curiously watched as his mentor swivel round, making his way towards a large mound of leaves situated on the other side of the Fort's roof. Angeal reached into the pile and pulled out two large backpacks. As he returned, Zack immediately knew the purpose of the bags.

However, it wasn't to his liking.

"And … why do you have parachutes?" Zack asked as he nervously stiffened, his breath stuttering.

"Simple. This is the key to our escape." Angeal answered as he noticed Zack’s cautious stance. "What's the matter, wasn't parachuting one of the activities they offered back in Dissidia Academy?"

"Yeah, we had the option … but I didn't find any interest at the time." Zack quietly admitted, glancing away to hide his embarrassment. “…I’m kinda regretting it right now.”

Angeal teasingly shook his head, showing off some disappointment in his protégé.

"And here you are hoping to be a 1^st Class operative after this mission … how shameful." He spoke out, exaggerating his dissatisfaction in hope of triggering Zack.

Fortunately, this didn't take long whatsoever.

Zack's head instantly whipped round to face Angeal, showing off a scornful, bitter expression in the process. Zack's mind had snapped, he refused to allow this statement to pass off so easily.

"Give me that parachute." Zack ordered in a low, menacing tone, sounding completely off from his usual personality.

Angeal passed over one of the parachute packs, smirking by how typical Zack was with his behaviour.

The expression said it all: This was payback after Zack’s earlier vocal explosion.

Zack hastily strapped the pack onto back, making sure no straps were loose and that the fabric wasn’t twisted or worn. It was initially a difficult procedure, attempting to avoid slicing the bag with his attached weapon by accident.

Thankfully, this was not the case.

With everything in check, Zack faced his mentor with determination, ensuring that no more screw ups would occur during their escape.

However, this tense and looming atmosphere did not last very long. The moment Zack dipped his head, the tension he once had was replaced with a combination of awkwardness and uncertainty.

"Err… what do I do now?" Zack clumsily wondered, knowing that he had failed to keep up the tense tone of the situation.

“…”

After a silent groan, Angeal swiftly explained the instructions of the parachute. He was adamant to leave the facility as soon as possible, fully aware that the Wutai had already realised that the two SOLDIER Operatives had escaped to the roof of the complex.

“So … count to 5 and pull the cord.” Zack echoed curiously, reiterating his mentor’s explanation. “That’s all?”

“Yeah, that’s all there is to it.” Angeal nodded firmly, relieved to finally escape this place. “…Just don’t forget to jump.” 

Upon grasping the concept, Zack swiftly leapt into position. Angeal indicated the escape point, pointing towards the small forest in the distance west of the complex. Zack instantly tensed his muscles and locked eyes directly towards the bulk of the forest, building up his confidence yet again.

At that moment, the two began to hear crowds of Wutai troops forming far below, discussing their next options to capture the intruders.

It was now or never.

"No time like the present, Zack!" Angeal called out to him, swiftly observing the area below.

"I'm way ahead of you!" Zack nodded back in confidence, already running towards the edge of the roof.

I can do this … I can do this…

Zack repeated the thought to himself as he charged towards the edge, keeping a positive outlook.

Angeal watched him pass at ferocious speed, switching attention between him and the crowds below.

"I can do this … I CAN DO THIS!" Zack then bellowed out with pride, closing in to the edge with eyes locked towards his escape.

However, as he was seconds from the edge of the building, his words changed.

"…I can't do this."

In that instant, he began to fall to the crowd of Wutai forces at the bottom of the fort, unable to control his descent.

Angeal rapidly ran towards the edge where Zack leapt off from and swiftly called out to him, "ZACK! PULL THE CORD!"

As Angeal roared, gunshots began to fire.

The Wutai had spotted them.

Angeal stumbled back, evading the incoming bullets.

WOOSH!!!

He then heard an object inflate … and a sudden roar of excitement.

"YEEEAAHHH!!!" Zack roared at the top of his voice, his body lifting sky high as the parachute drifted towards their escape zone. "This is AWESOME!"

Unable to hide his relief, Angeal let out a light chuckle, finding Zack’s reaction somewhat typical.

He then took a step back to prepare himself, bag secured on his back behind the Buster Sword. Without a moment’s thought, he leapt off the edge of the complex, pulling the cord just as his feet left the edge. He began to feel the jolt of his body being carried away, the wind brushing passed at a refreshing pace.

Both Zack and Angeal swerved their bodies gracefully evading the bullets that were shot at them. To their luck, none of the shots hit their targets, not even damaging the parachutes.

"Hah-hah-haa! I forgot Wutai were terrible shots!" Zack called out in laughter, fully engulfed in the moment.

Finally, Zack and Angeal soared into the forest, successfully escaping the Wutai facility and completing the mission unscathed … mostly.

 

Shinra HQ, later that day…

The Director's office was always very organised and spacious, plenty of room for people to move around freely. The logo of the company hung down on large plaques against the walls around the office, displaying its pride to the world. In the middle of the office was a large arched desk with a small number of computer screens, detailing various attributes and current affairs surround SOLDIER and Shinra itself.

The director of SOLDIER himself sat behind the desk, filing papers and checking up on the system mainframe.

He had slick-back, blond hair and wore formal-looking blue glasses. His attire consisted of a striped blue blazer with white shirt, trousers, and gloves. He also wore a purple and blue tie to match the rest of his attire with elegance. All of this was proof of his dedication to his work.

With all of this and a strong, healthy posture; Director Lazard Deusericus was perfectly man for his role.

Knock-knock!

A small, polite knock from the office doors echoed, indicating the presence of visitors. Rising from his seat, Director Lazard was anticipating a visit around this time.

"Come in, gentlemen." The Director called out in a formal manner, assuming it was the two he expected to see.

The doors opened as two SOLDIER operatives entered the room in high spirits. SOLDIER 2^nd Class Zack Fair and SOLDIER 1^st Class Angeal Hewley stepped up to the arching desk, both bowing gracefully towards their boss. The Director nodded back in response, greeting both Zack and Angeal as he exited his desk.

Angeal stepped forward, believing the time was right to do so. He positioned himself beside the Director, facing Zack. Zack straightened up his posture, his arms joint behind his back in an organised fashion.

Upon returning to Shinra, all Zack could even think about was how he completely screwed up his mission during the escape. Without Angeal's assistance, he would have failed the mission altogether. Dread overcame him, only wishing for the mission debriefing to be over.

In his mind, he knew he wasn't going to be promoted to 1st Class anytime soon.

"After observing the video footage containing your actions during the mission, there were certainly times I was struck by surprise." The Director began in a truthful tone, his face expressionless.

Whilst the Director recapped various scenes that stood out in the footage, Zack gave out a sharp and annoyed look towards Angeal.

You were recording me!? His mind yelled out.

His teeth grounded together, keeping his irritations in check.

He then caught sight of Angeal nodding back towards him, indicating to pay attention to the Director. Zack switched back towards the Director, his breath stuttering.

Upon finishing his recollection of the mission, the Director was ready to give his verdict.

"…Overall, I must say that this was a very interesting experience for you, Angeal, myself and even the whole of SOLDIER." The Director honestly admitted, pressing his finger against the centre of his glasses to realign them. "All in all, with a 'few' unfortunate slip ups to be considered…"

This is it … the moment of truth.

Zack struggled to hide away his emotions, dreading the inevitable.

"…The mission was a complete success.” The Director proudly began to conclude, coolly smiling towards Zack. “The War against Wutai is now currently halted for the foreseeable future."

The corners of Angeal’s mouth curled.

"And so, it is an honour for me…” The Director announced highly, “…to promote Zack Fair to SOLDIER 1st Class."

Upon hearing those last key words, Zack froze in complete shock.

“…Huh?”

His mouth fell open, eyes wide with disbelief as his mind struggled to process this unexpected outcome. He didn't know what to say or think at all; it just felt as though all thoughts and doubts rummaging through him disappeared in an instant.

He began to chuckle lightly, tears of pure happiness welling up in his eyes. The thoughts of achievement finally rushing through his mind like a speeding train.

"This … this is insane!” Zack let out his roar of triumph, causing his voice to echo throughout the office for what seemed like forever. “I finally became FIRST CLASS!"

He switched towards Angeal, who was smirking upon seeing Zack's reaction with gaining this achievement.

In that instant, Zack leapt over towards Angeal, throwing his arms open, "I can't hold it back anymore, man! I gotta-!"

"If you hug me, your blood will be the first to stain my Buster Sword." Angeal coldly interrupted him, dropping his grin in an instant as though it wasn't even there in the first place.

Zack abruptly halted his lunge, skidding across the floor slightly as he took Angeal's words into consideration.

Whenever Angeal included his Buster Sword in statements, he wasn’t joking around.

"Eh-heh-heh … sorry Angeal." Zack apologised lightly, raising both hands innocently.

Zack then heard the Director chuckle lightly beside him, causing him to shift his gaze with wonder and curiosity. He noticed Lazard examining his watch with a cool, formal smile appearing across his face.

"Well now, it seems that not only did you succeed this mission with flying colours, but you also seemed to have completed it in record time.” The Director acknowledged, indicating the time on his watch. "Seeing as it is now only Lunch Break, one must wonder what you would do for the rest of the day."

Zack didn't take long to realise what the Director had meant, examining his own watch to confirm the time:

12:15pm.

Zack began to wonder about what he would do, his thoughts drawing a complete blank.

"Well, for now you can go for an extended break whilst we set up for your promotion." Lazard then suggested, showing that he was ahead of Zack in terms of plans and preparations. "When you arrive back, your new uniform will be ready and waiting for you and we'll brief you on future assignments."

Zack gave a firm nod in response, excitement engulfing him as he relished the fact that he had finally accomplished 1^st Class Status.

That was when it hit him: what was he to do for such a long Lunch Break?

Whilst he gave it some thought, Director Lazard dismissed them from the mission debriefing. Zack and Angeal left the office, bowing to their boss just before they passed through the doors.

Finally, an idea clicked into Zack's mind, something that felt so obvious to him. However, before he began to follow through with his newly-formed idea, there was still a question looming around in his mind that needed answering.

As the two began stepping down the long hallway, Zack decided to speak his mind.

"How much footage did you record of me during the mission?" Zack quietly queried Angeal, knowing something wasn't completely right when the Director spoke about the details of the mission footage.

"Only what mattered for the Director." Angeal answered back in an instant, his eyes keeping to the path ahead. "I stopped recording the moment you killed the 'weapon'."

Zack's expression brightened, showing absolute relief that there wasn’t any footage of where he had completely screwed up the missions escape. However, as he continued to walk on through the passageways of Shinra HQ, Angeal placed a hand firmly on his shoulder and halted him in his tracks.

"There are two things that I want you to keep in mind when pursuing future assignments, Zack." Angeal indicated in a serious tone, eyes now locked on Zack as they both stood firm. "First of all: I want you to work on controlling your emotions during missions. If it wasn't for your over-the-top outburst, our escape would have played out a lot more smoothly."

"Well, you could have held off on ‘shooting down my hopes’ like you did back then." Zack countered, refusing to forget the reason behind the initial outburst.

"That's not the point." Angeal shook his head sternly, knowing Zack would bring that up, "As a newly promoted 1^st Class operative, it is vital that your emotions are restrained, especially in the heat of the moment.”

Zack fell silent, taking in his mentor’s advice.

“Now, secondly, I want you to keep in mind that ‘no mission goes according to plan’." Angeal continued severely.

"What do you mean by that?" Zack questioned in wonder, finding the idea rather odd.

"What I mean is that there is no such thing as a 'perfect' mission."Angeal responded in a clear tone, keeping to his serious stnce. "No matter how smoothly a mission is executed, there will always be something that could potentially disrupt the flow of the mission. Once this occurs, it is your duty to improvise and dynamically plan how to regain the mission flow. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yeah, I think I got the idea." Zack answered confidently, nodding to show that he thoroughly understood. “I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”

"If that is the case, then I’ll leave you to your errands." Angeal concluded with a subtle smile, aware that Zack was in a rush. "When you’re done, come back and I’ll debrief you further."

With that, Zack gave a small nod and began to make his way towards the end of the corridor, waving back just as he disappeared around the corner.

As he left the building of Shinra HQ, he immediately took out his cell-phone and began to type out an email, hoping to promptly meet with someone at Dissidia Academy’s Entrance Gates.

 

Dissidia Academy, 12:35pm…

Aerith Gainsborough emerged from Dissidia Academy’s building, fresh-faced after hours of lessons and working in the Medical Room.

She took in the fresh surrounding air and the strong rays of the Sun as she treaded across the Academy Grounds, her empty stomach indicating that it was time for a bite to eat. However, before she was able to do so, she needed to meet someone in front of the Academy Entrance Gates.

In her hand was her phone, its screen lit up to display an email she had received not long before hearing the Lunch Break bell.

She began to head her way over towards the requested meeting place, slipping passed the large groups of gathering students. Whilst a hassle to break through, it didn’t take too long to finally reach the Entrance Gates. Once there, she took the opportunity to regain her energy, taking in a few deep breaths like it was nutritious water.

Aerith waited by the gates patiently, feeling the pleasant atmosphere cooling her down in the meantime. She watched the crowds of students pass her gaze, humming peacefully to herself as time continued to pass.

It wasn’t long after that she noticed the person step up towards the Gates from outside the Academy Grounds. A kind and pleasant smile appeared across her face as she spotted the man, straightening up as he drew closer.

As the person closed in towards her, his details gradually began to show within the light of the Sun's rays. He stood at a fairly tall yet proud height, dressed in a 2^nd Class SOLDIER Uniform covering the majority of his body. He had jet-black spikey hair and a constant positive expression on his face.

He was none other than Zack Fair.

Zack jogged over towards Aerith, coolly waving to her whilst seemingly hiding something behind his back in the other hand. Aerith politely waved back, although wondering curiously as to what he was hiding from her.

"Phew…! Sorry for making you wait." Zack cheerfully apologised, stretching out as he finally reached her. "I bet you're craving for some food right about now."

"Oh, there’s no need to worry; I didn't have to wait long." Aerith responded cheerfully with a light giggle, expressing her appreciation for the fact that he wished to meet her in the middle of his work. "So, what did you want to see me about?"

"Well, if you must know…" Zack began hesitantly, taking in a deep breath to show how important this was to him.

With a proud stance, he began to announce with a powerful, accomplished grin.

"I have finally been promoted to SOLDIER 1^st Class!"

"Wha-!? Really!? " Aerith gasped with surprise, feeling astonished by Zack's achievement. "That's amazing! Congrats, Zack!"

"Heh-heh-hee…! Thanks." Zack happily responded, feeling proud to be one step closer towards his lifelong dream. "It won't be long now till society recognises me as a ‘hero’."

Although saying this to her, Zack was very aware Aerith’s lack of fondness for the Shinra Company, particularly their questionable practices and neglect of environmental awareness. Normally he would keep details of his work separate during their time together, only adding it into conversation if required.

However, he believed that today was an exception.

"To commemorate this achievement, I decided for us to start celebrating with this small present I wanted to give you." Zack announced excitedly, finally revealing what he was hiding behind his back.

Upon reveal, he was holding out a small, simple bag. Inside of this bag was a light object, carefully wrapped in styled packaging. Aerith took the object out from the bag appreciatively, yet seemed to be showing a confused expression upon holding it.

"For me…? But surely it would be the other way around?" Aerith wondered uncertainly, unable to figure out his reasoning behind this. "I mean, you were the one who received the promotion in the first place."

"Yeah, that is how it's meant to go … but I felt like breaking those rules for this one occasion." Zack cheekily answered, showing off a cheesy grin. “Come on, open it up!”

Aerith giggled, always enjoying Zack's optimistic attitude.

She began to unwrap the present with as much care and attention, just as how it was wrapped initially. Upon noticing what it was, Aerith suddenly gasped with delight, unable to get rid of the permanent beaming smile that struck across her face.

The present was a pink hair-bow; delicately woven with the absolute care.

"Nice, isn't it? The moment I saw this in the shop on the way here, I thought it would be the perfect upgrade to your hairband." Zack admitted sweetly, his eyes locked on her. "Here, let me put it on for you."

He offered to tie up the bow for her, feeling rather generous. As she turned, he carefully took out the simple hairband that had tied up her ponytail throughout the time she was a student of the Academy.

Once off, her hair dropped down slightly and swayed with the slight breeze, giving off a fresh, sweet scent in the process. Zack then attempted to tie the bow, his tongue sticking out as he concentrated on the task at hand.

Upon completion – along with a few ‘trial-and-error’ moments, Aerith gracefully switched back to him, showing off her look with the new bow.

"Well, how do I look?" Aerith wondered curiously, swaying her ponytail innocently.

"Just like an angel." Zack stated meaningfully, giving of a serious tone as he continued to grin.

Aerith cheerfully giggled and swiftly embraced him, showing her overwhelming gratitude towards him. In return, Zack wrapped his arms around her, feeling appreciative to have her by his side.

The two were so focused on each other’s company … that they were completely oblivious to the figure watching them in the distance.

 

Meanwhile…

Cloud Strife watched the couple as they continued to embrace in the distance, unable to break away.

Even though various students passed his gaze, the image of the two embracing was clear as day. Cloud was undeniably glad to see Zack finally showing affection for someone, believing that it was a long time coming.

Additionally, he had only known Aerith for a few days, so it was nice to see her returning Zack’s affection with her own.

And yet, he could not shake of this odd feeling brewing from deep inside.

His throat felt dry, his heart began to race, and his body felt frozen in place.

He just couldn’t understand it.

Part of him had the desire to go over and meet with them, but the rest refused. It was like a series of mental chains restricting him from moving, holding him back with absolute force.

A voice then broke his inner tension, almost causing him to leap out of his skin.

"Are you ok, Cloud?" Terra Branford peered at him curiously, wondering why he continued to gaze out in the distance. “Is something bothering you?”

"Ah, sorry … I must have dazed out for a moment there." Cloud answered back, breaking out of his locked gaze.

He switched his sights over towards the bench that they were both initially heading for, noticing it was still free.

"Should we sit?"

Terra nodded cheerfully, "Yeah, before it gets taken."

They hastily rushed over towards the bench, both feeling the emptiness of their insides as they craved for the food. Cloud still had Zack and Aerith in the corner of his eye, yet decided it was best to leave them be for the time being.

Cloud and Terra perched down on the bench in instant relief, feeling appreciative that they could rest themselves in the warm, pleasant environment. They both hastily took out their lunches from their bags and began to chow down on their lunch without hesitation.

As they ate, Cloud continued to reflect on what he just witnessed, attempted to understand this odd feeling growing inside of him. The image of the two embracing was forged in the depths of his mind, refusing to leave no matter how hard he tried to forget.

Cloud abruptly shook his head, trying his best to push that thought aside and think about something else.

This only led to it becoming more prevalent.

“So, do you know that couple?" Terra politely asked, hoping to start a conversation with him.

"Y-yeah…" Cloud nodded in response, although hesitant to answer her, "In fact, the guy with the black, spikey hair is … a close friend of mine."

"Oh, really!? Wow, that's convenient." Terra blurted out in surprise, giggling away quietly.

She then lowered her eyes slightly.

"…He certainly seemed happy with her."

"That’s Zack in a nutshell: he's always happy." Cloud chuckled as he pointed out to her, taking a sip of his drink. "Always having a positive demeanour when leaving for missions at SOLDIER and constantly headstrong about his goals … I've never seen him as anything different."

"It must be nice for him…" Terra began to silently murmur under her breath, closing her eyes in the process, "…to love and to feel."

"Huh?" Cloud glanced towards her oddly, feeling the atmosphere around them shift slightly.

"Ah … sorry. Don't mind me." Terra apologised in haste, returning back to her normal expressions. "Why not tell me more about him and the girl he was with."

"…Right." Cloud nodded with a shrug, continuing to speak as they ate their lunch.

As time passed, they finished with their meal and began to pack their empty boxes away, still chatting away cheerfully. It was pleasant for the two students, ignorant to the world around them as they enjoyed each other’s company. Even if the topics of the conversation was mundane, the atmosphere alone was just enough for them to relax.

And then, as Cloud leant down to grasp his bag from the floor … he began to hear a high pitch squeal in the far-off distance.

His whole body froze in an instant.

His eyes widened and muscles tensed, fear struck him without warning.

Terra noticed his sudden jump in reaction, and yet was oblivious to the situation. She watched him curiously, wondering what was troubling him this time. It was then that she noticed the ground beneath her feet begin to vibrate.

It was like a quake, strengthening with each passing second.

Soon after, Cloud rose up with his bag slung over his shoulder and eyes hidden from view.

"W-what going on, Cloud?" Terra worriedly asked as she stood up, struggling to understand the sudden change of events. "Why is the ground suddenly shaking!?"

"Sorry, Terra..." Cloud spoke lowly, a vacant grin appearing yet eyes completely devoid of expression. "But it looks like we'll have to part ways for the time being."

"Huh…? Why? Lunch break hasn't even ended yet." Terra responded in shock, feeling the vibrations below grow more ferocious. "We've got 10 minutes left before our next lesson."

"You'll see soon enough…" Cloud murmured, his fists tensing up.

There was a moment of odd silence between the two … until Cloud yelled his farewell.

"…See you in Geography!"

With that, he bolted off into the distance, dust emerging beneath his feet as he sped away in desperation. Terra watched him in bewilderment, her mind completely drawing a blank as to what was occurring.

However, it seemed she didn't need to spend another thought on the reason, as her answer appeared in front of her without a second delay.

A colossal stampede of female students flew passed Terra at gargantuan speeds, causing her to stumble back in horror. Students leapt out of the way in safety, noticing the group barging through.

They swiftly followed Cloud’s direction, sniffing him out like rabid dogs.

What followed was his terrified voice, his bellowing pleas echoing throughout the entire Academy Grounds.

"WILL YOU PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE!?"

Terra was frozen in place, wide-eyed with disbelief.

 

Dissidia Academy’s 3^rd Floor, 1:00pm…

Lunch Break ended with the sound of the Academy’s bell ringing, much to the disapproval of many. Students began to make their way for their next lessons, dispersing from the Grounds and back into the halls of the building.

Cloud made his way towards his destination: the 2nd Geography Room.

As he reached the 3^rd Floor corridor, he noticed there was fair lack of students – a sign that he was slightly early.

Admittedly, he was completely worn out, feeling as though he could fall unconscious at any given moment. He was able to successfully outrun the mass of pursuing female students, refusing to repeat the horrors of his previous encounter.

During the chase, he had desperately hidden himself amongst a group of taller 3^rd year students, purposely pretending to listen in to their discussions on the dreads of their next lesson. Just as the horde passed his position, he ducked as low as he could without acting out of place.

He had escaped his demise for another day.

With that out of his hair, he began to wonder about the upcoming lesson. He remembered Zack suggesting that Sephiroth would be taking on the lessons for Geography starting from today onward.

Ever since the day began, Cloud became rather conflicted regarding Sephiroth as a potential tutor for the subject. He was unable to grasp whether he was excited about the lesson … or dreaded the idea entirely.

The only way he could find out now was to sit through the lesson itself and ‘experience’ the Hero of SOLDIER informing him about the geography of the world.

Finally, Cloud reached the door to Geography Room 2.

He took a small moment to gather his thoughts, temporarily erasing any doubts in his mind.

After a moment of clarity, he took in a deep breath and pushed the door forward.

It was then when he heard the voice: powerful, smooth, and somewhat intimidating.

There, rising from his seat, was the man himself...

"Ah! Master Strife.” Sephiroth's smooth yet dark voice greeted him. “Come in and take a seat … the lesson will soon begin."

 

Chapter 6: Vol.2 - The Great Globe

Cloud Strife entered the Geography Room with a somewhat cautious pace, his eyes were locked thoroughly on Sephiroth as he felt rather conflicted on meeting the 'Hero' in person.

He – like anyone else – was immediately able to determine that this man was the one of legend: the iconic long, silver hair flowing down to the back of his legs; his sharp, green-iris gaze that drove his opponents into fear; and the tall, powerful stance that many looked up to with inspiration.

As with most of the staff in Dissidia Academy, Sephiroth currently wore a formal dark suit that generally seemed to fit with the intense aura that surrounded him. It was as though the staff uniform was designed with his appearance as a base model.

Sephiroth … he was truly as sight to behold.

It was then that Cloud switched focus … and finally noticed the classroom’s unique design.

The whole classroom was completely redesigned from the floor up, to the point where Cloud was completely caught off-guard.

The first aspect to the room that caught his eye was the object situated at the very centre of the room: an enormous, towering Golden Globe. Calmly turned on its axis, the globe watched over the surrounding desks that were positioned specifically to fully observe its magnificence.

Its appearance was otherworldly.

Shifting his attention towards the walls and ceiling of the classroom, Cloud immediately noticed the several boards that showcased various holograms, all of which were highlighting specific areas around the globe. These holograms were beyond sharp and clear as they were displayed the boards, so much so that it could be considered on a level above 4K visuals. In addition, the holograms included detailed information on the locations shown, giving facts and figures on any events that had consisted around the world.

Cloud was completely in awe; he couldn't think of any classroom he had entered in the past that showed off such imagination or creativity – not even an Art Room. He was unable to take his eyes off from the Globe, finding it an unbelievable sight to behold. It continued to gradually turn on what seemed to be a small spindle-like mechanism underneath, revealing the variety of countries that formed the world.

Sephiroth then stepped up to Cloud’s side, even though the boy’s eyes were still locked onto the Globe.

"Impressive. Is it not?” Sephiroth coolly chucked with a triumphant stance, showing off his pride in a formal manner. “This was something I've been working on for a while now … in fact, I was able to finally finish it all yesterday."

"I-it's unbelievable…" Cloud stuttered breathlessly, struggling to grasp reality as he watched the giant Globe continue its rotation. "How were you even able to get this into the room!?"

"You think I was able to move this into the room all in one go? How amusing." Sephiroth coolly chuckled, shaking his head as he corrected the student. "No. I had built the Globe from scratch with parts delivered externally. I had also programmed all the holograms and data to the Globe whilst the parts were being shipped over."

"I-I see…"Cloud breathlessly muttered, finding this all impossible to grasp.

There was a moment of silence as Cloud continued to observe the Globe and the various boards surrounding the room, his mouth still agape and eyes wide with shock. Sephiroth watched in amusement, crossing his arms and smirking at the sight of the boy taken aback by such a magnificent entity. He then switched to his desk, perching himself on the chair and typing up a document on his laptop.

"I suggest you take a seat, Master Strife. The Lesson will be commencing soon." Sephiroth informed Cloud, reminding him that they were in a classroom and not a museum.

Cloud hastily snapped out of his vacant trance, nodding back in acknowledgment as he only just remembered about the Geography lesson. He stepped over and took a seat behind one of the desks that surrounded the towering golden Globe.

Just as he sat down, a question popped into his mind.

He was hesitant at first; uncertain whether it was the right time to ask the man. Yet, with a push of confidence, he spoke his mind.

"Sir, why did you take a break from SOLDIER?" He asked curiously, hoping to get an answer or two out of the 'hero of SOLDIER' before the rest of Class 13A arrives from their Lunch Break. "And why take up teaching Geography at the Academy?"

Sephiroth glanced back at him in silence, taking a moment to consider the questions set before him.

A dark smirk broke through Sephiroth’s expression as he answered, "Well, I believe it was necessary move because-"

Crash!

Abruptly, the classroom's door flew open, colliding against the wall at full force. Cloud leapt out of his skin in a fright, bewildered by the sudden interruption. Sephiroth, on the other hand, halted his words as he turned towards the sudden noise.

"CLOOOUUUUD!" A roaring, echoing voice bellowed out as the figure sped through the door.

It was in that instant that Cloud knew who had entered the room … and yet, he was too late to act.

The only thing Cloud could murmur out at this point was a dreading "Oh no…"

Woosh…!

Within that moment, an arm caught Cloud by his waist, throwing him completely off his chair and to the floor.

BANG!

“ACK!!!”

Due to the abrupt impact, Cloud felt the air of his lungs escape in single blow. At the same time, his head collided against the floor. He felt his eyes blur and head grow numb, completely disorientating him.

To make matters worse, the culprit of the tackle began to shake his body uncontrollably, grabbing him by the shoulders and throwing him back-and-forth.

“YOU TRAITOR!” The figure's voice roared out in exaggerated fury, his hands tightening on Cloud's shoulders as he continued to shake. "What were you doing with Terra during Lunch Break!?"

Gradually, the air returned to Cloud’s lungs, relieving him from the pained gasps and allowing him to answer back.

However, this was easier said than done…

"I was. Only. Hanging. Out. With. Her!" Cloud answered back as best as he possibly could, beginning to feel nauseous due to the nonstop shaking. "Please. Stop. Shaking me. Tidus!"

As though reacting on command, Tidus halted the relentless shaking. Cloud slumped his head back, the world around him continuing to spin as he lost all bearing of where he was situated.

"‘Only hanging out’, huh!?" Tidus echoed back in dissatisfaction, his voice growling at such an answer, "So, you were trying to snag the cutest girl in our class the moment we were looking away!?"

Woozily, Cloud hastily checked around the room, praying that none of the other students in his class were in the room. Thankfully, much to his relief, the only ones in the room were him, Tidus, and a very bewilderedly confused Sephiroth.

"I wasn't trying to 'snag' her." He then assured his eccentric friend, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding as soon as possible before it got any worse. "You, Firion, and Cecil were all busy during Lunch Break and it just so happened that Terra was free at the time."

And besides, her being the ‘only’ girl in Class 13A has nothing to do with it... Cloud added in his mind, yet decided it wasn't necessary to add into his excuse in fear of being hypocritical.

Tidus shook his head in blind denial, believing none of it, "Yeah … likely story."

Cloud rolled his eyes in frustration, finding this whole situation to be a complete nuisance.

"Look, can we sort this out another time? We're not exactly the only ones in the room right now." He snapped underneath his breath, his eyes veering over to the front of the classroom in an attempt of indication.

Tidus gazed back in a blank stare, “Hm?”

He then gradually turned his head, having only just realised that they were being watched the entire time. Noticing Sephiroth glaring towards them with his baffled expression, he shot up to his feet in surprise.

Feeling the strength return to his body as Tidus released the grip from his shoulders, Cloud gradually recovered to his feet.

"Ah … I-I so sorry, Sir!" Tidus awkwardly apologized, embarrassed by his usual melodramatic behaviour. “I didn’t realise you were there!”

Sephiroth silently nodded in acknowledgement, deciding not to say a word about the whole ordeal.

"You do realize that he's THE Sephiroth, don't you?" Cloud whispered close to Tidus' ear, struggling to hide his smirk as he added to Tidus' embarrassment. “Heh … Way to make a first impression.”

Tidus' body shivered the moment Cloud whispered ‘Sephiroth's’ name, switching to Cloud with waterfalls flowing from his eyes and mouth drooping in sadness.

"Please don't make this worse for me." Tidus whimpered with a soft plea, unable to bear any more of this torment.

Letting out a tired sigh, Cloud began to rub the back of his head, still feeling sore from being knocked against the floor. He then decided to change the subject out of pity and pointed out towards the large Golden Globe, telling Tidus to gaze upon it. The moment the Globe caught his eye, Tidus' mouth dropped agape as complete shock and awe overwhelmed him.

Struggling to comprehend such overwhelming magnitude, Tidus became speechless for the first time in his life.

As Tidus continued to gaze wondrously towards the Globe, Cloud swiftly peaked towards Sephiroth's direction. He noticed that their geography teacher had returned to filing away the forms that were previously scattered across his desk.

Due to this, a slight surge of frustration sparked in the depths of his mind. Cloud was so close to having his questions answered before Tidus' bombastic entrance, leaving him with a sense of indefinite limbo.

He considered bringing it up again, only to be stopped once more.

Drrring-Drrring…!

The bell’s loud ringing echoed across the whole of the Academy, indicating that Lunch Break had officially ended.

As this occurred, the remaining students of Class 13A entered the room; fresh from their much-needed break and prepared for the upcoming lesson. However, as the class stepped into the Geography Room, almost every one of them halted and gasped at the sight of the enormous Globe towering before them.

“Whoa…!”

“What the…”

They all began to comment amongst one another, breathless and at awe with the sight before them

"It's magnificent…!" Cecil Harvey gasped in amazement within the group, most likely during conversation with Firion.

"It's unbelievable." Warrior of Light spoke out formally, standing at the head of the pack as per norm. “I wonder how much time was dedicated in creating it.”

"I'm intrigued by the software used for the holograms.” Onion Knight admitted as he continued to analyse, sparks of enthusiasm in his eyes. “I don't think I've ever seen anything so advanced."

And finally…

"I wonder how they were able to get this big Globe into the room in the first place…" Terra Branford pondered, unconsciously wondering the exact same question Cloud had asked mere moments ago.

Seeing the reactions, Sephiroth stepped forward an appeared before them.

"Well, once you’ve all sat down, I'll answer any questions plaguing your mind." Sephiroth informed them, expressing a small amount of pride in his creation.

Without hesitation, they all decided to take their seats around the globe, whispering and gawking to each other on the fact that the 'Hero of SOLDIER' was about to teach them Geography.

As Cloud witnessed the rest of Class 13A as they sat before their allocated desks that surrounding the Globe, he noticed Squall Leonhart still standing idly and glaring up at the Globe.

His usual non-existent expression was a clear as day; he could not care any less about the Globe’s existence.

"Hmph…! What's so special about it?" Squall muttered coldly, letting out a careless shrug. "…It's only a big, flashy ball."

With that, he stepped over to his designated desk beside two empty seats and purposely separate himself from the rest of the class, deciding there was no point in showing interest.

Leaning back on his seat, Squall glanced out towards the far-off window as he blanked the world around him.

At first, Cloud silently shook his head, finding Squall's attitude towards the Globe rather typical of his character. However, upon noticing the two empty seats either side of Squall, it was to his realisation that the class was short of two students: Bartz Klauser and Zidane Tribal.

A growing feeling of caution began to loom in Cloud’s subconscious, a sense of dread and discomfort rising. Based upon previous experiences, Cloud was able to swiftly determine that the duo was up to no good whenever they appeared late for lessons.

Thinking back, Cloud always found that between the two troublemakers, Bartz was rather misunderstood. From what he gathered, Bartz did not usually get fully involved with the mischief, preferring to assist Zidane in his antics and watch the mischievous events unfold from afar.

Even so, he always seems to get into the most trouble, playing as scapegoat whenever a prank goes awry.

Cloud eventually shrugged, brushing away his recent thoughts as though deciding there was no point in worrying about the matter for the time being. Shifting focus, he noticed Sephiroth step over to the Globe with a calm expression, all eyes now fixed on him.

As he drew closer, Cloud was able to notice that Sephiroth was holding his distinctive katana sword, appearing as if ready to strike down any enemy that would dare to oppose him.

In an instant of noticing the katana, students of the class froze in horror, their eyes wide and the red in their cheeks falling pale. There were even some who diverted glances towards the door of the room or even the window as they considered to options of escape.

However, they ultimately found it unnecessary.

"What’s with all the nervous stares?" Sephiroth wondered curiously at the class, noticing the students fidgeting restlessly in their seats. "I'm only using this as a pointer for the Globe and the holograms."

On that exact moment, every student in the classroom gave out a loud, relieving sigh. Heartbeats were continuing to race uncontrollably, taking a moment to relax as they realised it was a false alarm.

Cloud joined in with the collection of relieving sighs, some of his worries disappearing from his mind.

He then switched focus as he noticed both Warrior of Light and Squall face-palming in frustration, finding everyone's reaction rather unbearable to witness. After giving off a silent chuckle; Cloud shifted back to Sephiroth, who finally began teaching his lesson.

"So, to begin with, I’m certain many of you are aware of my previous employment as SOLDIER 1st Class – or in other words: the 'Hero of SOLDIER'." Sephiroth expressed as he began his introduction, guessing that they had heard of him in some form or another. "Recently I had decided to take a break from the Line of Duty to 'pursue other Projects' for the time being, or so the reports suggest. So, for now, I'll say that working as a teacher in this Academy is part of my so called 'project'."

Cloud hastily listened in, quickly realising that Sephiroth was answering the questions he asked a moment ago.

And yet, to his disappointment, the information Sephiroth had revealed was only what was already known to a certain degree.

"From today onwards, I shall be your Geography Tutor." Sephiroth continued on, his eyes shifting from one student to another.

Using his sheathed katana, he then pointed to the Globe before him.

"This Globe will be the main asset for our lectures. It is a physical, technologically advance system that I had manufactured to convey useful facts and information during the studies.”

A hand was raised.

“Sir, if I may, why go through such lengths in building the Globe?” Cecil Harvey wondered, finding it odd that such effort would be used for simple academic studies.

“A fine question, Master Harvey.” Sephiroth acknowledged, answering the student in honesty. “I felt the Academy deserved the extra 'flare' in their lessons. I believe one of the most important aspects to learning is attention to detail, so why read from the book … when you can see the world in its full glory.

The students all watched on, feeling somewhat hyped up by the motivational speech.

Sephiroth then added, “I’m certain you all will use this Globe effectively and securely during your time at the Academy."

Securely…? Cloud thoughts echoed out, finding the use of the word odd to him. Why do we need to use it … securely?

After he concluded his introductory speech, Sephiroth took no time in progressing to the topic of today’s lecture: Environments and Landscape.

Using his Katana as a pointer; Sephiroth swivelled the Globe and landed on specific points of its axis, discussing about the environment varieties and how they had evolved and morphed over time. The students listened in closely with fixed attention, taking in his facts and information with careful consideration.

The lesson continued … and Sephiroth had the entire class under his control.

 

20 Minutes Later…

Sephiroth was close to ending his lecture and shift focus onto the lesson's main activity. Before making the transition, he stepped round to the opposite side of the Globe – to the point that Cloud would need to use one of the holograms to watch Sephiroth continue his speech.

Stepstepstepstep…!!!

During that very moment, Cloud began to hear rushing footsteps from outside the classroom’s door. The sound gradually drew closer at a frantic rate, becoming ever more rushed and desperate as it approached. He began to focus his attention more on the door in order, wondering what the noise was coming from.

Not long after, he began to hear faint panting and wheezing sounds amongst the rushing footsteps.

All of a sudden, the classroom door abruptly burst open.

BANG!

Many members of the class leapt in fright, spinning their heads round in order to find out what had just occurred. Sephiroth, on the other hand, continued to lecture on, completely oblivious to the sudden event.

“WE FINALLY MADE IT, BARTZ!”

As the door had flown open, Zidane hastily entered the room in a dash, calling out in triumph as he raced onto the scene.

Upon noticing the Globe directly in front of him, he swiftly skidded to a halt. Sliding a considerable distance, he had almost collided into the Globe itself – only stopping at the point where his face was almost touching the metal before him.

After a moment to process his inner thoughts, Zidane took a small, cautious step back to distance himself from the object before him. Sweat breaking from his temple, he felt as though one wrong move would send everything into chaos.

After finally at a safe distance, he gazed upon the enormous Globe that towered over him, crossing his arms as he curiously examined its beauty.

Cloud and the rest of the class – especially Squall – glared towards Zidane with a mixture of expressions, ranging from surprise to utter bewilderment. However, Sephiroth didn't even notice Zidane’s unexpected arrival whatsoever, seemingly concentrating on the current lecture with his eyes locked upon the Globe.

Cloud then noticed the frustrated Squall quickly gesturing to the oblivious Zidane hastily, attempting to catch the oblivious classmate’s attention before the situation gets out-of-hand.

It was a useless attempt.

Zidane seemed far too fixated at the Globe that he grew completely oblivious to the world around him, almost as though he was entranced by such magnificence.

"Whoa … that's a thing of beauty." Zidane stated in a soft tone, amazed by its size and overall design. "Man, I'm glad I didn't run into that."

However, as he finally noticed Squall’s desperate attempt to gain his attention, Zidane felt his body abruptly shift forward with considerable, unexpected force.

WHAM!

Before he knew it, his body had collided face first into the Globe, placing a large imprint of his mug into the gleaming metal.

He then dropped to the floor in a daze, groaning in pain as his face continued to generate a numbing throb.

“Ow … that hurt … a lot.”

As he regained his stance, Zidane switched to the one person who he knew had collided into him in the first place.

"Bartz, you idiot!" Zidane whispered with an agitated sneer, "You nearly made me break the ball-thing!"

Bartz, lying against the floor in a woozy daze, gazed upon his partner-in-crime with an innocent smirk.

“Sorry, Zidane, I didn’t mean to…”

However, his words trailed off as his expression immediately turned from the face of innocence to a horrified gasp. The colour in his skin fell pale, his entire body frozen in place as he watched the situation unfold before his very eyes.

"Err… Zidane!" Bartz answered back in hesitance, his terrified gaze frozen upon the Globe behind his best friend. "I think we just broke it…"

Zidane hastily switched back to the globe, dread and regret swiftly emerging from him.

Cloud and the rest of Class 13A were already reacting to the situation at hand, gasping in fear as they watched the towering Globe snap from the pedestal below and begin to lose balance. It slowly yet surely began to fall off from its axis, heading directly towards the floor below at an unstoppable force.

Creak…! Snap! Crack! Screeeeeech…!!!

Numerous sounds of cracking and screeching echoed as it continued its descent, showing no signs of stopping.

Students who were unfortunate enough to be sitting at the desks directly underneath the the falling Globe – Warrior of Light, Onion Knight, Terra, and Squall – hastily launched themselves out of their seats towards a safe area from the impact zone.

And yet, this did not stop Class 13A from panicking … for the Globe was heading directly towards an oblivious Sephiroth.

Whilst the other students were unable to utter a word from their position, Cloud abruptly leapt to his feet in alarm.

"SIR! GET OUT OF THE WAY!” He roared out to the man in desperation. “SEPHIROTH!”

Sephiroth, having heard Cloud’s sudden yell, turned towards him with an unaware gaze.

"What's with all the shouting?" Sephiroth questioned ignorantly.

It was too late for him.

“Hm?”

It was then when he noticed the Globe closing in on him from above.

"Oh … that's why."

CRASH!!!

The Globe collided right on top of Sephiroth, shattering on impact. Pieces of the crumbling Globe – varying from the small and sharp to the large and bulky – flew haphazardly in numerous directions. The students all shielded themselves from the incoming shards, using their blazers or books to block the sharp pieces as swiftly as possible.

As everything eventually calmed, the whole class gazed wide-eyed at the pile of shards that were piled in front of them.

Sephiroth was nowhere to be seen.

He had taken the full impact of the Globe's fall.

Warrior of Light was the first to respond, leaping into action by attempting to remove the pile of metal shards. The rest of the students hastily follow suite, assisting in the mass removal of the shattered Globe.

This left only Cloud, Squall, Zidane, and Bartz to observe the crisis that befell them.

Bartz and Zidane were still processing the incident in their minds, frozenin place with the expressions of unfathomable horror strapped across their faces. Squall – as one would expect – refused to watch the aftermath, rubbing his temple as he wondered why he was associated with the two nitwits.

And finally, Cloud frantically stood with both hands on his head, his mind going into complete meltdown.

This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!

"Err … I think we just killed the teacher." Zidane murmured in a stutter, streams of sweat sliding down his face as anxiety took over his consciousness.

"Yeah … and he just so happened to be Sephiroth." Cloud revealed to the two in a low mutter, feeling the need to add to their looming conscience.

Both Zidane and Bartz switched to Cloud in unison, their eyes widened to a new level.

"Wait … so we just killed a HERO!?" Zidane yelled back, unable to hide the terror in his eyes as he realised the hell that was about to descend upon him.

"So … does this mean we have the rest of the lesson off?" Bartz then wondered with a curious glance, evidently unable to grasp the situation whatsoever.

Cloud, Squall, and Zidane all stared at him with bewildered eyes, unable to confirm whether Bartz was joking or serious. Either way, this certainly wasn't the time for Bartz to have such an oblivious attitude.

Rumble…!

Just as Cloud decided to assist in moving the various shards, he was met with a loud, abrupt noise echoing throughout the entire room. The rest of the class leapt out of their skins in fright, being thrown completely off-guard by the sound.

CRACK!

To everyone's complete shock, a hand had shot out of from the pile of shards, twitching and raised towards the ceiling.

As the students watched in amazement, the hand tensely pressed down against the pile and began to push out the body underneath. Gradually, the head and torso appeared from the pile as an increasingly fearful dark aura engulfed the body. The being eventually stood up from the pile of shards, muscles tensed up and covered in the dark aura.

Much to his relief, Cloud was able to tell that Sephiroth was fine and well. Yet, what now began to worry him – and the rest of the students, for that matter – was that he could tell that Sephiroth was now in a foul mood. The atmosphere surrounding him was entirely filled with dread, draining the souls of any victim trapped in its shadow.

Cloud hastily whipped his head back towards Zidane and Bartz, noticing their sudden horrified yelps as they watched Sephiroth rise from the pile of shards.

"Well now … I was wondering when you two were going to show up." Sephiroth chuckled as his sudden sinister voice echoed through the classroom, spooking the students completely even though he was facing completely away from them.

With that, Sephiroth gradually began to turn his head around, his eyes glowing with a bloodthirsty glare. Whist turning, his Katana-wielding arm rose up towards the ceiling of the classroom, grasping tightly onto his sheathed weapon with malice intent. His stance now set, he placed his free palm against the sheath itself as he locked his grip in place.

Zidane and Bartz were frozen in terror, unable to escape the hellish glare of their Geography Tutor.

"Unfortunately, it seems that the Globe is currently out of order…" Sephiroth murmured on in his dark, sinister tone, his eyes locked entirely on Zidane and Bartz as though he was ready to strike them down from where they stood. "So, I suggest we postpone the rest of the lesson until it is … restored."

Shiiiiing…!

He progressively unsheathed the katana, a flash of light reflecting from the blade the moment it revealed itself. The room was filled with the sound of the blade scraping against its sheath, echoing throughout the room with magnificence.

The students of Class 13A felt shivers crawl up their spines as they watched with awe at the graceful sight of the world-renowned SOLDIER weapon being unsheathed in front of his very eyes.

"Class 13A…” Sephiroth announced clearly to the students around the room. “I would like you all to stand outside the classroom whilst I have a 'word' with Master Klauser and Master Tribal."

Without any need of question, Class 13A nodded to one another and began to leave the room without saying a word in response. Cloud hesitated for a moment as he glanced towards the two soon-to-be victims, feeling rather apologetic for their predicament.

Both Zidane and Bartz were still completely frozen in place, looking as though they were cast under a spell of some kind.

Regretfully, Cloud decided it was best to walk away, feeling unable to prevent their demise. As he stepped out of the door, he could just see through the corner of his eye that Sephiroth was making his way towards the two with slow, deadly steps. The dark aura continued to engulf his body and the Katana blade held in the air, ready to strike down its prey.

The door then closed…

Click!

For the next few seconds, all the students on the corridor could hear was silence.

Not even a mutter.

Not a single student of the class dared speak a word, carefully listening in to what was occurring on the other side of the door. Squall, on the other hand, decided to lean up against a far-off wall and kept his distance from the others. His eyes closed as his mind escaping from reality, preferring not to involve oneself in the matter.

Cloud glanced towards him curiously, finding his attitude as typical as ever.

In normal circumstances, others would assume that Squall felt some sort of inner sympathy for his two troublemaking friends. And yet, everyone in his class knew he was unable to care even if he tried.

It was at that moment, Class 13A heard Sephiroth mutter the two words that every person imaginable feared.

"Heartless … Angel."

What followed was the sound of a sharpened blade, echoing throughout the distant corridors.

Slash!

This was then followed immediately with two loud, terrorized screams.

“EEEEYYYYAAAAAAAAaaaaaahhhhhhhhh…..!!!!!”

The students of Class 13A gave a moment of silence in respect of their fallen comrades, peacefully praying for their health as they transcended to the afterlife. Cloud suddenly showed off a confused expression, feeling as though this whole situation had become very over-exaggerated.

"Err … Guys, I don't think they're actually dead." Cloud hesitantly reassured to the group. “Guys…? Guys?”

He was conveniently ignored.

 

In the end…

Zidane and Bartz miraculously survived Sephiroth's infamous attack, much to everyone’s surprise. However, they had emerged from the classroom with soulless expressions, devoid entirely of the personalities they once thrived on.

The rest of the lesson consisted of the class working on the activity Sephiroth had set for them, relocating the lesson to one of the spare rooms in the Academy whilst the Geography room was closed off from use. Acting as though the unexpected ‘event’ hadn’t happened in the first place, the students of Class 13A were fully immersed in their activity, working in pairs as they fulfilled their set tasks.

However, during this time Sephiroth was nowhere in sight, most likely preoccupied with cleaning up the smashed Globe.

As the lesson eventually concluded, Cloud was unable to locate Sephiroth whatsoever, finding it frustrating that he could not get any more answers from the legendary SOLDIER operative.

Brushing the inconvenience aside, he decided to follow the rest of his class towards their homeroom, setting the looming questions towards the back of his mind for the time being.

Once the group entered the Homeroom, Cloud dropped down to his seat in a slump, a relieving sigh escaping him as he was finally able to settle down from the day’s constant chaos.

…Unfortunately, this didn't last long.

"Duuuuuuuuuuude! Geography was freakin’ awesome!" Tidus hysterically shouted out, leaping onto his seat having appeared out of nowhere.

SLAM!

Cloud instantly slammed his head on the surface of his desk the moment Tidus spoke out, unable to bear any more of the insanity.

"What's the matter, Cloud?” Firion questioned curiously as he sat down in the seat in front of the poor soul. “You seem mentally exhausted."

"Urgh … I’m fine." Cloud sighed out in a groan, rubbing his eyes in desperation to stay awake. "It's just … been a busy day."

"Well, at least you made out alive this time around." Cecil lightly chuckled as he sat next to Firion. "The ‘Class Clowns’, on the other hand … may need some intense therapy after their predicament."

As he was reminded of the situation that had occurred not too long ago, Cloud's eyes diverted towards Bartz and Zidane desks on the other side of the room. The two were still struggling to grasp reality after their 'near-death experience', their expressions lifeless and lacking the vibrant emotions that once filled out their everyday lives.

During this time, Cloud also caught an eye of Squall, who was sitting behind them sporting an unusually dark grin. It was as though he enjoyed watching the two in their current state of mind, finding long-awaited relief in their torment.

Sighing away, Cloud returned his gaze to his group of friends, casually leaning back on his seat.

"Well, at least there’s only one more lesson to go.” Cloud lightly suggested, his mind wandering free as he assumed there was nothing else left to do for the day. “After that’s over with, I’m heading home to bed.”

However, the other three had all raised an eyebrow towards Cloud upon hearing his statement.

Cloud noticed the sudden shift in tone, cautiously worrying about what they had in mind. This ‘gut feeling’ was made worse with Tidus' growing darkened smirk, meaning there was some devious plan rattling around in his mind that Cloud was unaware of.

"Now hold up there, Cloud.” Tidus expressed with a low chuckle, showing off his cheeky grin. “You seemed to have forgotten our little 'heist' we’ve long planned for."

"W-what do you mean by a 'heist'?" Cloud questioned cautiously, afraid of what Tidus had in mind.

"Wait, you ‘really’ forgot!?" Tidus then yelled out at full volume, the rest of Class 13A glancing over to his direction with curious stares.

Cloud, suddenly feeling exposed, hastily gestured Tidus to shut his mouth before he drew too much attention to himself. Tidus, however, waved off the rest of the class with the use of a light apology for his outburst.

As the attention died out, Cloud drew in closer towards Tidus as the four quietly continued with their conversation.

"What are you on about, Tidus?" Cloud questioned him in a low murmur, a groan escaping his voice as he spoke.

"You should know!” Tidus answered in a frustrated manner, struggling to keep his voice at a normal level. “We were going to track down Zack and his 'cute' new girlfriend, remember!"

At that moment, Cloud's expression instantly dropped as he realised what Tidus was referring to. The memories of their discussion from the beginning of the day – along with the clear image of Zack with Aerith during Lunch Break – were all flooding back to him at once.

As it dawned upon him, Cloud sat up from his seat, feeling the sudden sense of dread rising within him.

"Cloud? What’s wrong?" Cecil then asked him, a hint of concern in his voice.

Tidus watched Cloud with a confused gaze, wondering why he was acting odd so suddenly. Firion, on the other hand, showed off a curious expression, wondering whether something had happened since the morning homeroom registration.

Cloud began to consider his options carefully, wondering whether it was worth admitting to his friends of the revelation he had stumbled upon.

Or to follow through with the plan, keeping the secret to himself for a moment longer.

A part of his mind was desperate to reveal the identity of Zack's date, wanting nothing more than to end this nuisance once and for all. However, the other side of him wished to keep the secret hidden and allow Zack to reveal her identity in his own time.

With the nuisance frustrating him immensely, Cloud finally gave into temptation … to an extent.

"Well, I can certainly say that she’s … 'cute'." Cloud awkwardly murmured underneath his breath, diverting his gaze from the group.

"Hold up…! YOU KNOW HER!?" Tidus abruptly bellowed out, leaping up to his feet as his voice reverted to its usual loud, boisterous tone.

Cloud hastily leapt up and blocked Tidus' mouth with his hands, physically forcing him back down to his seat.

"Will you stop that!?" Cloud spat out in his aggressive whisper; his teeth anxiously grounded as he refused to release Tidus until he complied.

Tidus nodded back to him in response, his eyes wide with innocence and his hands held out to show his innocence.

"I was only able to catch a glimpse of her during Lunch Break." Cloud then admitted, gradually releasing his hands from Tidus in the process. “She was at the Entrance Gate with Zack … talking.”

"But … didn't you say this morning that Zack was on a mission in Wutai?" Firion interrogated, crossing his arms as he glanced at his friend with uncertain eyes.

"I don't know how he was able to finish so early, but I can guarantee you he was there with her at the time." Cloud confidently assured, turning to face Firion with an honest gaze.

Noticing Cloud’s firm expression, Firion decided not to pursue further questions out of satisfaction.

Perching himself back on his seat, Cloud continued to convince them, "Anyway, I suggest we wait until he’s officially introduced her. Snooping on them behind their backs would be outright wrong ... let alone cause far too many issues in the long run."

"Dammit Cloud … you're such a killjoy." Tidus pouted as he turned away in disappointment, expressing his dissatisfaction without any subtlety. "We were so close to executing the perfect heist, as well."

"For the last time, will you stop calling it a ‘heist’!” Cloud bared his teeth irritably, holding himself back from yelling at his obnoxious friend. "Listen, we don't know where they’ll be going or if they're even going out together after Academy hours. We just cannot take that risk!"

However, it was then when Cloud began to hear Tidus chuckling away, causing him to feel even more on the edge.

"Oh, I'm sure we'll track them down somehow." Tidus whimsically assured, showing off his upbeat smirk as he returned a glance.

"How are you so confident?" Cloud murmured in annoyance, losing hope of control for the situation.

"We already know that Zack isn't on his mission right now, so he shouldn't be too hard to track down." Tidus continued to suggest in confidence, his cheesy grin gleaming at his friends. “Also, the date is more than likely set already. I mean, think about it, he took time out of work to go and visit her! Surely the two lovebirds will wish to see one another before the day is over.”

"Yeah … I'd love to see you try." Cloud smirked back competitively, feeling amused by Tidus' declaration.

"So, does that mean you’re going to get involved with this, Cloud?" Cecil smoothly diverted the conversation, slyly returning to the original topic.

Cloud's eyes instantly shifted towards Cecil, becoming further agitated after almost escaping the subject entirely.

Unable to escape the anticipation of his friends, Cloud decided to answer.

"I'm-"

SLAM!

The door to the Homeroom had abruptly burst open … followed by the sounds small footsteps.

Class 13A hastily turned to face the front of the classroom, knowing that their Homeroom Tutor had made her entrance in the most ‘vocal’ way possible.

"Sorry I am late." Professor Shantotto announced to the class, giving off an unamused tone mixed in within her usual rhymes. "This bumbling fool got herself stuck at the Gate."

Class 13A glanced at one another with confused expressions, wondering what in the world she was talking about.

However, this was immediately resolved…

"Argh, hell!" A suddenly loud, boisterous voice yelled out in a sulk, "Why do you always make me feel like the idiot in front of everyone!?"

A being of normal height then stepped into the room, carrying with her a stack of large, hefty boxes.

Although she was mostly hidden behind the stack of boxes, the students were able to catch a glimpse of some aspects to her appearance: Her long, smooth, lavender hair flowing down to her lower back; along with her darkened skin seemingly pure and soothing.

However, the class then noticed of the girl’s pointed ears, breaking through the strands of her hair in clear, open view.

Class 13A commenced to gossip with low whispers amongst one another as they had laid eyes upon the girl, wondering as to ‘who’ and ‘what’ she was.

"Could that girl be an Elvaan?" Terra whispered in wonder to Onion Knight.

"What could someone of her species be doing so far across from the East?" Firion wondered as he commented to the group.

Admittedly, Cloud was also taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Elvaan girl, yet what caused him to become more curious was Warrior of Light's unexpected reaction.

Although it was difficult to see from where he sat, Cloud was able to catch Warrior of Light’s already upright posture suddenly lurch at the sight of the ‘Elvaan’ girl.

Clump!

Just then, the girl dropped the boxes amongst a nearby free corner of the room, stretching out as she felt the freedom from the sheer weight flow through her arms once again. She swiftly swivelled round and faced Professor Shantotto, giving off a light, hearty smile.

The class was finally able to see the Elvaan girl in full view, struck with awe at her unique beauty: She had navy blue eyes, the bangs of her hair reaching down towards the crux of her nose; she sported a large, ecstatic grin that would be able to compete with Tidus; and wore what seemed to be a lab coat similar to Professor Shantotto's own.

Underneath the lab coat, she was wearing fabric that originated to her culture, consisting of a black and purple top with frilly sleeves along with black shorts that covered the top half of her legs. She also wore what seemed to be durable, tanned boots, giving off the impression that they would be able to withstand any level of environment throw at her.

"Phew…! All the boxes are now in the room, Doc!" The Elvaan girl called over to the Professor with a care-free expression, "What do you want me to do now?"

"First of all, stop calling me by such a name." Professor Shantotto moaned back, hopping up to her desk chair, "You know all too well that it is a complete bane."

"Ah! S-sorry, Professor Shantotto!" The girl apologised back clumsily, scratching the back of her head with an awkward chuckle.

"Secondly, I request for you to introduce yourself to the class." The Professor then demanded, indicating to the students that sat before them in the room.

Without further ado, the Elvaan girl immediately switched towards the class with a curious grin, acting as though she found the students a rather interesting group. She then abruptly threw out a peace sign towards the class as she gave off an immense cheesy smile.

"Hey there! The name's Prishe!" The Elvaan girl began to introduce herself, giving off a tomboyish, rowdy tone. "I'm the Doc's – Err … I mean Professor Shantotto's – Assistant in errands and experiments. I hope you all treat me well!"

 

As Homeroom concluded…

The students gradually began to pack up their bags and scanned over the information for their next lesson.

During this time, the Elvaan girl – Prishe – was pre-occupied with Professor Shantotto's continuous errands, preventing her from enjoying any free time to mingle with the group of students.

Warrior of Light, unexpectedly, seemed to look rather ill and oddly out-of-place, unable to keep his concentration after witnessing Prishe enter the room. He was watching Prishe darting in and out of the room in a daze, as though struggling to comprehend her existence.

Shifting focus, Cloud was examining his timetable in assurance of the last lesson for the day, mentally preparing himself.

"Oh Man! What a drag!” Tidus groaned out in frustration, abruptly catching the others off-guard with the complete switch in emotion. “We've got P.E. with my Old Man!"

“Is that so…?” Firion lightly murmured, wondering why he was making such a big deal on the matter.

"He's going to be non-stop nagging me and pushing me around!" Tidus continued to complain, ignoring Firion’s curious tone.

"The way you say it, he sounds a bit like a bully." Cecil suggested to him nonchalantly, wondering what the relationship was between him and his Father.

"I wouldn’t say that … he just tries to act all cool in front of everybody because he thinks he’s the essence of ‘manliness’." Tidus grumbled as he turned his head away, hiding his pout. "He goes out of his way to embarrass me! Seriously, he's a total nightmare!"

"Sounds … rough." Cloud commented with a small shrug, lacking any care in the world. "I bet he's completely strict as well."

"Hmm … if Blitzball is on the agenda, then maybe I can tolerate it." Tidus then admitted, flexing the muscles in his body as if to prove he was just about ready for the challenge.

Cloud’s glared at him with bored-like, half-open eyes.

“Why am I not surprised…?”

The group rose from their seats and pack up their equipment, preparing to make a move to the changing rooms located on the Ground Floor of the Academy.

However, the moment Cloud stood up, Tidus decided to speak his mind.

"Well then, Cloud. We'll be meeting up after the lesson at the Entrance Gate of the Academy Grounds." Tidus informed him oddly formally, giving off his usual mischievous grin. "Once we've all grouped up, we'll be tracking down Zack and his ‘date’. Our mission will be to acquire details on his ‘girl’ and the purity of their relationship."

Cloud gave out a loud, irritated sigh, finding it impossible to sway Tidus no matter what he did.

"What's your answer, Cloud? Will you join the ‘Dissidia’ Heist Team?" Tidus queried in his upbeat tone, giving a sudden name to the group. "It's your choice in the end, Dude!"

Cloud continued to glare at his friend with his agitated gaze, taking his time to answer.

The two parts of his mind were still fighting against one another with no sign of stopping: One part was refusing to join in due to already knowing her identity; whilst the other half was curious about their relationship.

Cloud then let out an inaudible groan.

Much to his dismay, it seemed that his answer was already finalised for him.

Cloud finally drew in a deep breath and answered the question, although his regret loomed within the depths of his mind.

"Fine … I'm in."

 

Chapter 7: Vol.2 - Unbreakable Bonds

"HAH-HAH-HAA…! Do you think you have what it takes to challenge me, boy!?" The tensed up, middle-aged man teased on one end of the sports field; giving off a dark, cocky smirk as he pointed to his opponent. "Then come at me! Give me your best shot!"

"You're not going to drag me through the mud anymore, Old Man!" The young, up-beat boy roared back, eyes burning with determination. "Mark my words: I’m going to defeat you with everything I have!"

The two raged at one another from a distance, the atmosphere surrounding them constantly expanded as it heated up to boiling point. Their auras were close to suffocating, oozing with testosterone and bravado as they refused to give in to the opposing force.

Woosh!

In a mere instant, the two leapt towards each other with both their fists at the ready.

The moment they drew close enough to each other, they began to swing, eyes focused solely on their target.

However, what immediately followed were both their left hands swiftly intercepting the attack, locking their grasps against the other’s fists.

Snatch!

The moment upon impact, the two were now at a stalemate, refusing to let go of the other no matter what happens. As though they were mimicking each other, they drew back their necks and tensed the muscles connecting to their spines.

They then, abruptly, bashed their foreheads against the others with full force, gritting their teeth the moment their foreheads made contact.

CRACK!

 

Meanwhile…

Cloud Strife stood a few feet away, watching the two combatants trade blows with a bored-like gaze – hopelessly trying not to nod off. With him, the rest of Class 13A were watching with similar expressions, utterly confused by what was happening right in front of their eyes.

The group were currently standing at the centre of the large sports field, situated directly outside the back of the Academy.

They were wearing the Academy's mandatory sports uniform, consisted of: a white polo t-shirt with the Academy's logo woven on the chest, showing the large amounts of delicacy placed into weaving the fabric; breathable jet-black tracksuit pants/trousers for male students and female students, allowing for free movement and comfortability during activity; and finally, white, gripping sports sneakers/trainers to assist with movability through various terrain.

Having just exited the changing rooms, Group 13A had immediately come across the 'Boy' and 'Old Man' wrestling one another without awareness of the world around them.

"Err … Do they always do this?" Squall questioned with a ‘soulless’ expression, stepping up beside Cloud in curiosity of the situation before them. "I mean … It's been 10 minutes already.”

"Yeah, well … considering they were recently handed the title of 'Most Competitive Father-Son Rivalry in the World' … it’s safe to say that this is a regular thing for them." Cloud awkwardly responded as his eyes continued to follow the conflict, giving off a somewhat ‘embarrassed’ grin.

Just then, the conflicting Father-Son duo finally broke away from each other, flexing their muscles in preparation for their next bout.

"Is your head hurting, Kid?" The Father teased, showcasing a dark, intense, cocky smirk, "If you go for another bash, you'll end up taking a nap in the mud."

"Oh-hoh…! Don't you worry, Old Man!" The Son yelled back, reckless arrogance building up inside his mind, "I'll make sure that the imprint in the mud will be of YOUR FACE!"

The two then tensed up their muscles, gritted their teeth, and dug their feet into the ground as they were ready to charge once again.

"Instructor Jecht … Sir?" Warrior of Light called out from behind the group, finding this whole random ordeal agitating, "Will we be having our P.E. Lesson today or are you just going to continue on beating up Tidus?"

Both the Father and Son halted their tense movement, expressions switching to surprise as though they had immediately returned to reality.

Jecht, the Father and a P.E. instructor of Dissidia Academy, switched his sight towards the Class, giving them a cheesy, powerful grin as if to show innocence.

"Well now, if you're that pumped up: I think we're just about ready for-!"

"Wha-!? ‘BEATING ME UP’!?!? What are you talking about, Light!?" Tidus, the Son and fellow Class 13A Student, interrupted with an exaggerated roar, "I was clearly holding my own against this Old Fart!"

"L … Light…?" Warrior of Light echoed in uncertain hesitation, somewhat appalled by this sudden nickname.

Just as Tidus finished his statement, Instructor Jecht abruptly locked his son in a tight headlock, several veins popping out from his muscles as he refused to let go. Tidus struggled to break free, seeing this as a cheap trick to gain the upper hand.

However, under his breath, Instructor Jecht began to whisper coldly to his son, "How dare you interrupt me during lesson…"

Something else was also whispered following these words but Cloud and the rest of Class 13A could not determine the words clearly.

Suddenly, Tidus' face dropped completely into a horrified expression, his whole body beginning to go limp and shaking in fear as the colour in his skin faded into ghostly-white. Cloud was caught completely off-guard by the abrupt turn in Tidus' personality, nervously wondering what in the world his Father had said to him.

“S-Sorry … Sir.” Tidus murmured in a monotoned voice, acting lifeless and robotic.

"Good boy … now go join the rest of your Class." Instructor Jecht concluded his whisper, relaxing his muscles around Tidus' neck and allowed him to move freely again.

Tidus gradually nodded his head in reply and stepped away, his eyes completely blank with fear and body slowly shifted like a zombie. The rest of the Class watched him as he limped over and stood back within the group, making no response whatsoever as he hid himself amongst them.

Cloud couldn't believe what he had just witnessed, never had he seen Tidus unable to speak or show off his over-enthusiasm.

"Now then, you little squirts! Let us start the session with some intense warmups!" Instructor Jecht then informed the group, once again giving off a cocky grin and bashing his rock-hard fists together. "Four laps around the Academy Grounds, no stopping for breaks … NOW!"

For the next 10 minutes, the group began their warmup jog around the Grounds, some students slower than others.

Cloud took up the middle of the group, his mind wandering off in its own world as he began to reflect on the day’s odd encounters.

There were two topics plaguing his mind: One of the topics the especially came up was the case of Zack and Aerith – wondering how they got to know each other, how long for, and why Zack kept their relationship a secret for so long; the other topic was regarding Sephiroth, mainly questions still relating to why he had taken a break from SOLDIER.

Just then, a small tap on his shoulder from out of nowhere caused Cloud to abruptly leap out from his skin in fright. In instant reaction, his mind snapped back to the current reality and switched his head towards the person who tapped him.

"You really have gotten jumpy recently, haven't you Cloud?" Cecil stated with a light-hearted grin.

With embarrassment hitting him at the core, Cloud quickly glanced away to hide the fluster in his cheeks.

Cecil was jogging beside Cloud during the warmup laps for quite some-time, even though Cloud was oblivious of his presence. He caught on to Cloud's recent daze not long after they began running, but ultimately decided to stay silent and wait until it was necessary to speak his mind.

"What's with all this spacing out today?" Cecil then curiously wondered, "I mean, you do it a lot anyway … but you’ve been doing it far more than usual! Did something happen to you recently?"

"N-no … it's nothing." Cloud murmured lowly, hoping to keep his own thoughts to himself. "I'm just having some second thoughts on tracking down Zack and his girlfriend, that's all."

"Hmm … Is that so?" Cecil wondered in amusement, finding Cloud's statement intriguing. However, he then gave out a light chuckle, "It’s funny, we've already asked you twice today and both times you've said 'Yes'. So technically you would be having 'third' thoughts."

"Ok, there's no need for you to rub it in!" Cloud spat back in annoyance, even though he knew that it was just a light-hearted joke. "I'm just starting to feel that 'maybe' we should hold it off for now. I’m sure Zack’s been anticipating this for a while now and it would hurt him if he found out we’ve known about it the entire time."

"Aww! But that would ruin the greatness of a 'secret romance'!" Cecil moaned in disappointment, albeit his eyes suddenly lighting up with emotion. “Don’t tell me you’re chickening out!”

"Err … it wouldn't be a 'secret' if we stalk on the couple." Cloud murmured with a bored and awkward expression. “In fact, it would be considered an invasion of his privacy.”

"You’re hiding something, Cloud." Another sudden voice muttered from Cloud's other side.

Cloud's heart skipped a beat in fright the moment the voice spoke, stumbling slightly whilst he continued to jog. He then whipped his head round to the opposite side, although fully aware of who it was from the moment they spoke.

"Firion, did you have to jump in without warning!?” He blurted out in agitation, his sweat pouring down his face.

Firion had caught up with Cloud and Cecil throughout the jog, listening in on their small conversation.

"What do you mean by Cloud 'hiding something'?" Cecil then asked out in intrigue, confused as to what Firion was indicating to.

"Whenever Zack's relationship was brought up during our 'heist' discussion, Cloud always backs off from the conversation or spaces out." Firion began to explain, becoming very perceptive on the whole matter whilst giving a hint of suspicion in his voice. "I have a feeling that he saw something related to Zack's relationship that didn't agree with him."

“URK-!!!”

Cloud felt his teeth suddenly bite the inside of his lip in reaction, cursing Firion’s surprisingly observant nature. He then hesitated from speaking out, feeling both Firion and Cecil's eyes glaring down on him.

"I … I already told you!” Cloud finally spoke out, stuttering as he jogged. “I spotted Zack at the Academy Gate during Lunch Break with the girl he was dating! I just couldn’t figure out her identity…”

Cloud then noticed Firion raise an eyebrow, causing his nerves to heighten.

"I see … so, why do I have the feeling that you’re lying." Firion chuckled as he became sceptical, his suspicions continuing to rise.

How did he catch on to that!? Cloud's mind nervously questioned; brushing the sweat from his forehead to distract himself from the unbearable anxiety.

He then had the immediate urge to change conversation.

"A-Anyway, where’s Tidus? I haven’t seen him at all since we began jogging."

Both Firion and Cecil glanced at each other with unexpected sorrowful expressions, wondering if it was ideal to answer.

"Well, ever since Instructor Jecht whispered in his ear…” Cecil answered somewhat cautiously, his shifting eyes indicating to the back of the jogging group. “…He stopped being his usual self."

As Class 13A began to turn a corner around the Academy Grounds, Cloud took a peek towards the rear. To his complete shock, he caught sight of a zombie-like Tidus jogging – or rather 'limping uncontrollably' – from far behind the rest of the group.

Coincidentally, it seemed that his was in a small three-man jogging team with two other half-dead looking classmates: Zidane and Bartz. The two seemingly had yet to recover from the wrath of Sephiroth during their previous lesson.

And yet, what was interesting about this development was that Bartz, Zidane, and Tidus would normally be leading far ahead of the Class 13A, factoring to their immense speed and endurance as seasonal sportsmen.

"What did the teacher say to Tidus!?" Cloud blurted out in a state of shock; eyes wide with horror upon seeing Tidus' current appearance.

"I don't think it’s wise for us to ask right now." Firion answered with a feeling of dread in the pits of his stomach, "However, what I would like to know is … why are the teachers in this Academy so terrifying!?"

 

Later that session…

The Class finished the 4-lap warmup, many already feeling as though they could pass out on the spot due to the intense exhaustion. However, throughout the rest of the P.E. lesson, they had worked on the circuit training set up within the whole diameter the Grounds.

Cloud was taken aback by the change in session. He had expected – from Tidus' own words not long previous – that the group would be playing Blitzball for the rest of the lesson. He considered bringing up the topic to Instructor Jecht, but ultimately decided to brush it away and follow through with the circuit training.

After the session finally drew to a close, Cloud made his way over towards the changing rooms. His body was covered with sweat as the muscles in his body ached and throbbed to no end.

He was completely drained.

It was the same with the rest of Class 13A, all of whom were dragging their feet to the changing rooms with unbearable exhaustion.

Suddenly, just as Cloud was about to enter the male changing room, Firion stepped out before him – still in his sportswear.

"Err … aren't you getting changed, Firion?" Cloud questioned him in an odd, wondering tone.

"Yes, I will do … eventually." Firion politely nodded, yet his eyes were fixated on the Grounds before them. "Although, it does seem that I will be delayed."

At first, Cloud stared at him with confusion, finding his response rather abnormal. He then followed Firion’s line of sight, directing him to face the Academy Grounds.

It was at that moment when realisation struck him completely.

It seemed that Tidus had recovered from his daze and immediately confronted Instructor Jecht … again.

"Seriously! They're fighting … AGAIN!?" Cloud yelled out in bafflement, eyes wide and mouth agape with absurdity. "I know they despise each other with a passion but … do they HAVE to fight each other the moment their eyes meet!?"

"I know, it's problematic … but we can look into fixing their relationship at a later date." Firion stated with a long-winded sigh, before his expression switched over to a determined look. "Right now, I have to split the two up."

"Do you want me to help you out?" Cloud volunteered, believing that more than one person would be necessary to intercept the Father-Son pair … especially considering Instructor Jecht's brooding stature.

"No, don't worry about that. I’ve got Cecil on backup if things go awry." Firion assured him confidently, showing off his polite smile.

"Oh … Ok." Cloud murmured in understanding, feeling rather useless.

"Well, in the meantime, you can head over to the Entrance Gate and wait for us there." Firion then suggested, although setting a cautious gaze on him. "Unless you've changed your mind about participating with the 'heist'…"

"You don't need to give me that suspicious look, Firion." Cloud assured with an irritated expression, finding Firion's constant glare an annoyance. “I'll be there.”

Firion nodded as his expression turned back to the usual soothing grin, before finally running off towards the Grounds in preparation to stop the Father-Son conflict.

Cloud spared a few seconds and watched as Firion started to struggle with splitting up Tidus from his brawl with Instructor Jecht. He shook his head, letting out a quiet chuckle in the process, and headed inside to change back into his usual Academy Uniform.

 

Dissidia Academy, 3:00pm…

After changing into his uniform, Cloud made his way towards the allocates meeting point. He made his way through the student-filled corridors on the Ground Floor of the Academy.

Drring-Drring-Drring…!

As expected, the final bell of the day rang throughout the entire Academy, causing the students to rush out from the rooms towards their long-desired freedom. Cloud swiftly turned a corner to evade the crowd’s aggression, preferring not to deal with the claustrophobic battle on his way to the Academy Grounds.

However, as he thought he had successfully escaped the crushing crowds of students, he accidently collided into an oncoming figure.

Trip!

“Whoops!”

He tripped up, causing him to fall onto something oddly soft … kind of like pillows. Thankfully, he was able to avoid colliding onto the floor, yet instead felt his body accidentally lean up against the other figure.

Cloud hastily recovered from his lack of balance and stood up awkwardly, blushing with embarrassment as he realised what he had done.

"I-I-I'm sorry about that! I wasn't looking where I was going." Cloud swiftly apologised, eyes shut tight and bowing hastily as the embarrassment took over him.

"Hmph-hmm … there’s no need to worry about that, Cloud.” The soothing voice of the figure replied, giving off a light, pure and wise tone. “It was just unfortunate timing."

Cloud then gradually opened his eyes, finding the voice very familiar to him. As he met eyes with the person, he instantly recognised Headmistress Cosmos standing before him with her usual pure smile.

"Oh, H-Headmistress Cosmos!" Cloud stuttered with surprise, trying his best not to act like a complete fool in front of her … even though he had already failed to do so.

A realisation then struck him.

Wait … the Headmistress!? Then the soft pillow-like objects I felt were her-AH!!!

Cloud's whole body completely froze up upon the realization, his entire face turning beat red at the thought.

Students continued to pass the two, heading out of the building and towards the Entrance Gate. As they did this, some had taken a small yet awkward glance towards the frozen Cloud, unable to grasp what was occurring between him and the Headmistress.

Noticing the abrupt reaction, Cosmos tilted her head with confusion, finding Cloud's sudden behaviour rather abnormal.

"Is something the matter, Cloud?" Cosmos asked him curiously, her gleaming smile as pure as the blue sky.

"I-I-I-I-I'M SO SORRY ABOUT BUMPING INTO YOU, HEADMISTRESS!" Cloud abruptly bellowed out in apology, hastily bowing down as he hid his burning red face.

"Like I said, don't worry about that." Cosmos reassured as she placed a hand up innocently, trying to hold back a giggle as she began to find Cloud's behaviour amusing. "And please … just call me Cosmos."

"O-Ok…" Cloud finally nodded back, raised his body back to a straight posture.

And yet, his eyes were still shying away with embarrassment, no matter how hard he was trying to hide it.

"Anyway, I'm glad to have bumped into you." Cosmos then clapped her hands together, changing the subject for his benefit. "I was wondering about the Chocobo Racing Committee you'll be leading next Wednesday."

Cloud gave out a light gasp. With everything that had occurred to him throughout the day, the Chocobo Racing Committee had completely slipped his mind.

"Ah! Y-yes, what do you wish to know?" Cloud then formally queried, curious as to what was on Cosmos’ mind.

"Well, have you been able to gather a team for the upcoming races yet?" Cosmos responded with a question, her expression beaming with hope.

"Sorry, not yet…" Cloud admitted apologetically, shaking his head, "I'm a team member short."

For the past few days, Cloud was preoccupied with advertising the Chocobo Racing Committee all throughout the Academy. From corridor-to-corridor, he could be seen placing 'The Chocobo Racing Committee needs YOU!' posters, handing out flyers to students, and announcing to groups on signing up for membership.

In the end, he was able to gather a decent amount of team members who had responded through emailing and other forms of social media. However, upon checking up on the number of members, he had gathered a total of only 5 new members who wished to be in the Racing Team itself. On the other hand, he was able to gain 15 others who opted to assist as a member of management for the committee.

"I see … well, at least you still have some time to find your last member." Cosmos cheerfully assured; giving off a light, pure aura as she spoke. "Let's hope for a successful season of racing!"

"Yeah, I'll be sure to make this season the best that the Academy has ever had." Cloud assured the Headmaster with complete determination, feeling as though his worries were suddenly lifted – even if it was temporary.

"I am glad you feel that way, Cloud.” Cosmos nodded back peacefully. “I’ll be cheering for you and your team when the race season commences."

With that, she waved and made her way up the flight of stairs nearby where they were standing, keeping a strong, refined posture as she ascended.

Cloud watched on in awe, his eyes filled with inspiration.

…She must be a Goddess in human form!

 

Eventually…

Upon finally reaching the Entrance Gate, Cloud stood idly and patiently waited for his friends to arrive. During this time, he observed the hordes of students who passed him as the exited the Academy, rushing out of the Gate and feeling the freedom of the outer world.

He then turned his gaze towards the expanding world outside the Gate, watching the trees peacefully rustling against the light breeze and the afternoon sun glaring strongly over the nearby metropolis.

He inhaled the fresh oxygen within the air around him and blew it out without a care in the world, allowing his question-filled mind to drop freely into a dormant slumber.

However, this was only short lived …

"You seem very relaxed, Cloud." A soft, light voice suddenly spoke beside him.

Cloud whipped his head around, mind suddenly becoming active again as he was caught out by the unexpected voice. The moment he noticed who had spoken to him, he leapt up in surprise, his heart skipping a beat and throat suddenly becoming dry.

"A-Aerith!?" Cloud stuttered in shock, unable to control his heart-beat as he hastily checked his surroundings, "W-what are you…? *A-hem!* I-I mean … you’re still here?”

Aerith Gainsborough was standing idly next to him, showing a cheerful, light-hearted expression – as one would usually expect from her. Her hands sat freely behind her back and legs closely together, giving her an innocent aura. Her braided, chocolate brown hair blew lightly towards the direction of the breeze, held strongly together with her new pink Hair-bow that she had received earlier by Zack Fair.

The sudden gut feeling Cloud gained not too long ago had returned to haunt him, causing him to feel gradually more on edge and unable to think straight.

"Yes, I had to finish off a few duties in the Medical Room." Aerith responded back with a soft giggle, showing a wondrous expression upon meeting Cloud. " It's nice to see you’re looking well. Are you waiting here for someone?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm meeting my friends here … who should be arriving anytime now." Cloud answered truthfully, although desperately praying for them not to show up. "Anyway, that hair-bow certainly suits you, although I don't think I've seen you wearing it before now."

"Ah, do you like it? It was given to me earlier today as a present." Aerith expressed enthusiastically upon hearing the compliment, moving her head side-to-side to show off her bow in all its purity. "I’ll admit, it's already become my pride and joy."

Cloud nodded with a calm smirk, "Well, the person who gave it to you certainly had taste."

"Eh-heh-heh!" Aerith chuckled away, before noticing the time on her watch. "Oh! Sorry Cloud, I must head off; I've got to go meet with someone."

This is my chance! Cloud's mind leapt up instantly, ensuring that this opportunity would not go to waste.

"No, don’t worry about it.” Cloud coolly expressed back, brushing the inconvenience aside. “Sorry if I sound random in asking this, but … where is it you’re heading off to?”

"I'm visiting Crescent Lake on the other-side of the City." Aerith answered excitedly without a care in the world, "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious, that's all." Cloud answered in a casual manner, hoping for her not to catch on to him.

"Ok then. Well, I best head off." Aerith then concluded, heading off to her destination, "I'll see you soon, Cloud!"

Cloud waved her off, watching her with a small across her face as she left the scene.

He felt accomplished, believing luck was finally on his side.

As Cloud continued to wait for the three, he proceeded to watch on as the last of the Students stepped through the Entrance Gate.

Just then, one of the students had caught his attention, noticing a glint of reflective light illuminate from the corner of his eye. It was a female student, standing out gracefully amongst the small group she was walking together with.

She exhibited shoulder-length, dark-green hair and rather pale skin.

Concentrating his gaze, Cloud realized the item that reflected the Sun's light was a red, crystallized ruby gem. It sat firmly within a decorative Hair Ornament that the girl wore with pride.

It then occurred to Cloud that he had known about her from Cecil, having spoken of her a few times before.

The Girl's name was Rydia, who lived in a nearby town called Mist.

As she passed him, Cloud abruptly heard a voice in the distance, narrowing it down to within the area of the Academy.

It was loud.

It was over-exaggerative.

It was all too familiar.

With a sigh, Cloud twisted towards the direction of the growing voice, bracing for what was about to hit him.

"ClooooooOOOOOUUUUUDDD!"

The roaring voice rose to exaggerated heights, closing in on Cloud at tremendous speeds.

Cloud paused his breath, placing full concentration on the timing of when the owner of the voice would encounter him. As he did this, he then took in a deep, considerate breath as muscles in his body tensed up.

And then … He took a large step to the side.

WOOSH!!!

Within a matter of seconds, a blurred figure flew passed him at a ferocious speed, causing Cloud’s to flutter momentarily. Cloud had not even flinched, watching the events unfold before his eyes with an uncaring half-open gaze.

"WOAH!!!"

CRASH!!!

The figure suddenly tripped up over his own feet, causing him to collide face-first against the gravelled pavement and skid across the track just outside of the Entrance Gate.

BANG! CRASH! Skiiid…!!!

Cloud felt his entire body cringe up as he witnessed the figure continue his journey of agonizing pain, assuming it would leave a mark. And yet, he just could not take his eyes off the spectacle, finding it oddly intriguing to watch.

And then, Cloud caught sight of Firion and Cecil from the corner of his eye, stepping up beside him as they watched the carnage continue to unfold. Cloud could only imagine that both Firion and Cecil had the same amazed expressions as he had upon witnessing such a rare performance.

Sliiide…!

Finally, after what felt like forever, the tumbling and skidding across the gravel finally came to a halt.

Cloud soon realised that he had not blinked once throughout the spectacle, feeling somewhat sorrowful for allowing the event to occur in the first place.

On the other hand, it was satisfying to watch for some reason.

He then turned towards Firion and Cecil, who were – as Cloud had predicted – staring in horror upon witnessing the figure grind face-first across the gravelled pavement.

"Tidus … hasn't had one of his greater days today, has he?" Cloud admitted to the two, not knowing whether to show pain or amusement.

"Yeah … I’ll be honest, I don't think those marks will disappear anytime soon." Firion commented back, looking away in respect for his damaged friend.

"There goes the beautiful face of our fellow brethren." Cecil announced with a heartfelt sniff, showing off crocodile tears towards the lying Tidus. “…He shall be missed.”

Why do students in our Class always exaggerate these things…?

Suddenly, the motionless Tidus raised his arms, slamming the palm of his hands against the ground. Within one heave, he silently dragged his body up to his hands and knees, breathing eerily heavy upon bearing the agonising pain.

Not long after, he turned his head to face the three.

“““*GASP…!?!?* OOOOOHHH…!!!””” All three of them hissed loudly with a cringing tone, noticing the extent of the damage.

Form what they could see, Tidus' face was shredded to pieces. Several grazes appearing throughout the extent of his mug, some even had blood trickling out from the gashes.

The expression on his face was something akin to what Tidus would show when confronting his own Father: absolute anger and hatred.

"Cloud! Why did you move out of the way!?" Tidus roared out in bewilderment, struggling to bear the pain that throbbed throughout his face.

"What do you expect!?" Cloud argued back in defence, holding back the tears of laughter that began to creep up to him. "If I took the impact, I would be in the same situation as you!”

"Well, if you DID take the impact, my 'handsome' face would’ve been saved from being almost TORN off of me!!!" Tidus then bellowed in agony, leaping up to his feet with a struggle.

"Admit it, Tidus. You deserved that after what you had done during Lunch Break." Cecil shrugged in a cocky tone, unable to hide the dark grin on his face.

"Don't you even dare bring 'that' up, Cecil!" Tidus hastily demanded, gritting his teeth intensely and pointing to Cecil in order to hush him up.

"Wait … what did he do?" Cloud wondered as he turned to Cecil, ignoring Tidus' evident plea.

"You see, there was a reason why our P.E. Lesson changed plans at the last minute.” Cecil stated out bluntly, a slight grin appearing whilst he crossed his arms. “Tidus recklessly damaging a section of the Academy's Blitzball Stadium during the Lunch Break."

"WHA-!? How is that possible!?" Cloud blurted out in shock, unable to fathom the possibility.

“LA-LA-LAA…! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” Tidus echoed out at the top of his voice, desperately using whatever methods he had to drown out the big reveal.

"During practice, he accidentally struck a weak point in the barrier with his notorious Jecht Shot." Cecil proceeded to explain, remembering what he was told earlier by Instructor Jecht whilst assisting to stop the Father-Son brawl. "Supposedly, the event within the stadium mechanics was 'quite' a spectacle."

"It was an accident, in any case!" Tidus pouted arrogantly, glancing away with frustration. "And besides, it was only a minor situation. The engineers said it'll be fully repaired by the end of next week."

"Yeah … no wonder your Dad was angry at you." Cecil commented underneath his breath, silently chuckling away.

Both Cloud and Firion began to let out a few chuckles of their own alongside Cecil whilst Tidus glared at the trio with betrayed eyes.

"A-Anyway, we know why we're meeting here!" Tidus then announced, hastily changing the subject whilst cuffing the blood from his face with his Blazer sleeve. "Right now, our 'task' is to track down Zack and find out everything about his new ‘girlfriend’. So far, all we know is that she is supposedly 'cute' and 'sweet'. So, our first objective is to find out where they are, which … is going to be rather difficult."

Cloud’s body instantly shuddered as he heard the plan, still conflicted at the thought of going through with the ‘heist’.

However, it was too late to turn back now.

"They … would most likely be meeting at Crescent Lake." Cloud admitted, trying to hide his nervous breath.

"What makes you say that, Cloud?" Firion wondered within risen intrigue, curious as to how Cloud came to such a conclusion.

"Oh! Well … I hear that Crescent Lake tends to be a hotspot for couples." Cloud quicky elaborated, reflecting upon what he had been told by his best-friend a while back, "Also, I do remember Zack telling me in the past that if he ever did get himself a girlfriend, the first place he would go would be to Crescent Lake."

“If that's what he said then that'll be the first place we'll look!" Tidus stated loudly with determination, stepping up to the group so that he didn't feel so out of place.

"It will be quite the trek though, seeing as it is on the other side of the City." Firion pointed out, reminding the others about the reality of the situation "At our usual pace, we'll probably get there by the evening. By that time, we'll most likely have missed them."

"Heh-hee…! That won't be a problem if we run all the way there!" Tidus cheerfully suggested, hopping up and down in preparation for a speedy pace.

"As much as we would love to, Tidus … keep in mind that the circuit training was brutal on our bodies earlier. The run would kill us before we even reach the Lake!” Cloud swiftly pointed out, desperately hoping that they wouldn't run after the agony they had to endure. "For now, we'll just have to bear with the long walk."

Firion and Cecil nodded in agreement, also feeling that running such a long distance would be unbearable. Cloud switched back to Tidus, noticing his frustration of being outnumbered in the debate.

After a moment of silence, Tidus gave out a bothersome sigh.

"Fine, we'll walk!" He concluded with a bitter nod, finding it completely pointless to argue at this point. “But … we’ll have to be fast!”

Cloud, Firion, and Cecil glanced at one another with amused grins, accepting the compromise.

They began to head off towards the City, hoping to reach Crescent Lake before the Sun sets.

 

Later that Afternoon…

The Sun magnificently illuminated Crescent Lake, giving it a pure, majestic atmosphere. The numerous trees surrounding the grand Lake rustled with the light gusts that passed them, transforming the late summer leaves into the autumn season. The stony pathways were trodden up by varieties of tourists: families, couples, study groups, and various others.

It was the perfect location to escape from reality.

As the day was approaching its end, many of the visitors had started to make their way towards the exit.

However, Cloud, Tidus, Firion and Cecil rushed through the exiting crowd in the opposing direction, completely out of breath and muscles beyond the point of aching. Their eyes hastily examined the area around them, only to soon realise that Zack and his girlfriend was nowhere to be found.

"W-were we too late?" Cecil wondered in a breathless pant, slowly recovering from the long journey.

"Argh, Man! What a pain!" Tidus groaned out irritably, his heightened anticipation quickly shattered as if it was a fragile glass item. "I was SO looking forward to seeing his gal as well!"

Cloud briefly glanced at his trio of friends, all looking both exhausted and disappointed.

"Maybe they haven't left yet." Cloud then suggested to them, refusing to believe the journey was a waste of time. "I mean, not all the visitors have left the Lake yet. There’s still a chance."

Firion and Cecil glanced to one another with uncertain eyes, doubting the possibility. Tidus, on the other hand, began to show an enthusiastic yet creepy grin, causing Cloud to shuffle back nervously.

And then, Tidus launched his whole body onto Cloud, grasping his neck and holding him down with a strong but friendly headlock. With the free-hand, Tidus clenched it into a fist and began to rub his knuckles hard against the top of Cloud's head.

"Man, I knew your curiosity would be your downfall!" Tidus cheerfully joked, chuckling away as he continued to rub his knuckles against Cloud's spiked blond hair. “Welcome to the darr side, my friend!”

"Ah – ow, ow, ow, OW!” Cloud yelled out in pain, struggling to release himself from Tidus' clutches. “Tidus! W-would you g-get off me!"

On request, Tidus released Cloud and gave him some much-needed space.

“Hahahaa! Sorry dude!"

Cloud stretched out, soothing his head after enduring such an embarrassing assault. After a quick recovery, he examined the area around him once more, searching for any hints of Zack and Aerith.

"If we walk around the whole entire Lake, we're bound to find them before dusk sets in." Cloud proposed to the group, knowing it was their best chance to track the two down.

"Hmm … apologies Cloud, but I'm opting out." Cecil sorrowfully shook his head, "I have this odd feeling that we’re too late. As much as I would love to see Zack’s relationship blossom with his girl, the search will only be in vain."

Cloud silently nodded, feeling no need to persuade his friend, although a hint of irony crept up at the thought that he was previously all for the 'heist' not too long ago.

Cloud then turned to Firion, wondering about the stance he would take on the subject.

However, Firion also shook his head in awkward silence, deciding it best to pull out of the heist.

"Argh…! You two are such killjoys!" Tidus abruptly blurted out, annoyed by their haphazard decisions. "Come on, Cloud! Let's go track down the lovebirds!"

Tidus strode off from the group in disgust, refusing to look back as he hunched up his shoulders. Cloud watched him walk off with an awkward expression, feeling that Tidus' frustration was slightly overblown.

Prior to setting off, he swivelled back to Firion and Cecil.

"If your minds are set, who am I to judge?" Cloud admitted truthfully with a small grin, accepting their decisions. "We'll see you at the Academy tomorrow."

Cloud switched round and swiftly sped into jogged in hopes of catching up to Tidus, waving back to his two other friends in the process. As he saw them wave back exiting the Lake, both Cloud and Tidus commenced with their search.

 

An hour or so later…

Cloud and Tidus travelled along the walkway that circled the entirety of the Lake, examining every likely area as thoroughly as possible.

Unfortunately, as they pressed on, the evening was passing swiftly – almost to the point where the setting Sun was soon to drop behind the trees.

With no sign of Zack or his girlfriend within view, doubt was finally setting in both their minds. Tidus refused to give in to the temptation of giving up, believing there was still a small chance of tracking them down.

Cloud, on the other hand, was growing more uncertain as time passed.

Eventually, they had completely circled Crescent Lake – much to their disappointment. They made their way back up to the entrance, calling it a day.

"You know … I'm starting to think it would’ve been best to head home with Firion and Cecil." Tidus depressively sighed out, the feeling of failure digging deep into his chest.

"We tried … at least." Cloud loosely shrugged, wishing he had listened to his intuition.

"Anyway, I best head home. My Old Man is probably going to scold me the moment I step in the door, so I’ll take the ‘scenic’ route back." Tidus then groaned in despair, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I'll see you tomorrow, dude."

Cloud nodded back and waved Tidus off, who had his head down in gloom as he trod off into the distance. This was soon followed by Cloud letting out a long sigh in frustration, giving a whimsical thought on what to do next.

Oddly enough, the idea of watching the Sun set from the Lake appeared in his mind, feeling that he would rather end the day with a fulfilling send off. With everything that had occurred throughout today, it felt necessary to end it on a peaceful note.

With his priority set, Cloud began to find a suitable bench.

However, as he continued his way on the track, two silhouettes in the distance suddenly caught his attention.

What followed … was an all-too familiar voice.

"Heh-heh…! What do you think to the new uniform?" The larger, masculine-looking silhouette wondered as he proudly showed himself off to the smaller, feminine-looking silhouette. "Do you think I look heroic yet?"

“It really suits you, Zack!" The feminine silhouette answered with a light giggle.

Zack!? So you DID take her here!

Cloud’s eyes lit up in a buzz as he silently treaded closer to the couple's position, hoping the two were oblivious to his existence.

Although the area was slowly darkening, there was just the right amount of light to at least determine the details of the two silhouettes. Cloud instantly recognised Aerith, who seemed to be wearing more casual clothing instead of the standard Academy Uniform he had seen her wear a while ago: This consisted of a long-sleeved, flower-patterned top; tight-worn jeans; and her new pink Hair-bow for added effect.

Witnessing Aerith in her new attire, Cloud felt his heart set pleasantly at ease. It was as though she was engulfed in tranquillity, curing anyone who passes her from the anxiety and depression that loomed over their heads.

As his sight switched over towards Zack, he was immediately caught off-guard by his new attire. His entire body was covered head-to-toe with the one thing Zack had always dreamed of wearing: The SOLDIER 1^st Class Uniform.

"N-no way … he finally made 1^st Class…" Cloud whispered in shock, letting out soundless chuckles of amazement as he watched his best friend revel in his accomplishment.

Stopping by a nearby tree, Cloud hid himself from view as he continued to watch the two. His mind was completely overturned by Zack's sudden success, wishing he could reveal himself them just so he could congratulate his long-time best friend.

Aerith sat down on a nearby bench, resting herself from what was likely a busy day for her. She watched as Zack gave out triumphant poses in front of her with his new uniform, overjoyed in seeing him so ecstatic.

Wow, what a show off…! Cloud thought in a murmur, shaking his head as he let out a typical sigh.

Eventually, Zack decided to sit down next to Aerith, gazing out towards the illuminating Crescent Lake with a motivated grin.

"It's really peaceful…" Aerith quietly expressed, taking in a deep, meaningful breath, "I'm glad we came here."

"Hm-hmm…! Yeah … it certainly is." Zack agreed in a light tone, taking in the view of the lake. “Being here with you … it’s like a dream.”

Cloud watched on Zack and Aerith's closest hands gradually joined together, proof of their unbreakable bond.

Upon witnessing the two joining together, a chord struck with Cloud.

With all the odd behaviours he had displayed throughout the day along with the increasing moments of spacing out, there was no doubt in his mind at this point that Cloud admired Aerith greatly.

The feeling of tranquillity had always welcomed him whenever Aerith was close by, taking away all matter of worry and doubt in the process. He was obsessed with the feeling, wishing to be welcomed by it everywhere he went.

Ever since the truth was revealed, it was difficult for him to accept. Somewhat jealous of the fact that she pure light was already occupied by another person.

That person being his Best Friend.

However, as he observed the two become more intimately close to one another, he came to an understanding: Zack truly deserved her.

After witnessing Zack constantly being turned down by woman after woman, and then to finally see him break free from those shackles: Cloud found it to be a sight to behold. With the addition of him succeeding in his dream of becoming a Hero, Cloud’s respect for the man broke through its peak – both as a best friend and as his inspiration.

As the Sun finally set over the horizon, Cloud turned and stepped away towards the distance, satisfied by what he had seen. A deep smile grew, his heart renewed and assuring that he would support the two for eternity.

 

Meanwhile, back at Dissidia Academy…

The halls and corridors were glowing with the rays of the Evening Sun, slowly dimming as time continued to shift.

All the lights throughout the Academy were turned off … aside from one, single bulb.

Situated within Geography Room 2, work was still underway. Sephiroth was preoccupied with rebuilding the Great Globe, refusing to rest until the job was complete. Many of the golden, shattered pieces were finally forged back in their correct positions.

As Sephiroth continued his intense repair, the door suddenly began sprung open without warning.

Normally, one would cast an eye over to the door in wonder of whom had entered.

But not Sephiroth.

He was fully aware of the visitor’s presence far before they had reached the door, expecting them to enter without a care in the world.

"Still hard or work, I see!" The gruff voice spoke out, pridefully echoing throughout the entire room. "No wonder people see you as a workaholic!"

"Hmph…! If that is how they see it, then so be it.” Sephiroth muttered back in a dark tone, knowing exactly whose voice had spoken. “What do you want, Jecht?"

Jecht gave out a deep chuckle, closing the door behind him as he stepped over to inspect the repair.

"Watching you repair such a huge piece of equipment – even after it got smashed – really fires me up!"Jecht expressed loudly, giving out a snarky grin. "Why go so far for something that's only there to be 'flashy' in front of the kids!?"

Sephiroth abruptly halted and turned to face Jecht, his long silver hair barely hiding his dark, horrifying glare.

"Just so you know … it isn't 'just' for showing off and educating the students." Sephiroth murmured coldly, the whole atmosphere around him shuddering in terror.

"Oh, so I've heard." Jecht playfully teased, unfazed by Sephiroth’s deathly stare. "It must be horrific to watch your masterpiece shatter right on top of you, all due to some worthless brats messing around."

"Don't worry … I was able to handle it." Sephiroth then admitted, his expression showing no emotion whatsoever. "I assume you’ve had one hell of a time in trying to repair that Stadium of yours."

"Heh-heh-heh…! No need for the concern, I'll be sure in due time that my boy gets the punishment he rightfully deserves." Jecht grinned in a cocky tone, crossing his arms and tensing up his brutal muscles. "I'm curious though … what IS this big plan you’re so obsessed about?"

Sephiroth sat in complete silence as he heard Jecht’s question, slightly dipping his head. What soon followed was a small yet deadly grin seeping across, showing how menacing he had become throughout the years.

"I cannot tell you presently…" Sephiroth finally expressed, his dark voice echoing throughout the room.

He turned and flipped a switch that was situated on the base of the Globe, suddenly turning on the large variety of crystal-clear holograms.

However, instead of the images that he used for his classes, holograms of various specific people were showing on the walls throughout the room. These holograms included a wide range of live footage documenting the current whereabouts of these individuals – Including a variety of Students from the Academy.

Jecht switched off the lights in the room and stepped forward to gain a full view of the holograms, observing the glorious footage with his own two eyes. His grin and expression turned from dark and brooding to truly menacing and even insanity, accompanied with a dark, terrifying chuckle that slowly escaped his voice.

Ignoring Jecht’s moment of insanity, Sephiroth glanced up to the central section of the ceiling: concentrating at one last hologram.

"…It’s a whole lot bigger than you could ever imagine." Sephiroth concluded his dreading statement, the pupils of his eyes abruptly beginning to intensify.

The hologram was both observing and documenting the central, most important person in Sephiroth's plan. This person, oblivious to being watched, was the one and only person in Sephiroth's mind who could possibly cause such a magnitude of chaos within the whole of Shinra.

And later down the line: the entire world.

His name … SOLDIER 1st Class: Zack Fair.

 

End of Volume 2.

Chapter 8: Vol.3 - Bitter Rivalry

  

 

Volume 3: The Innocent Thief – Part 1

 

Dissidia Academy, Lunch Break…

A wide variety of students made their way towards the canteen and the surrounding grounds, anticipating the savouring taste of the food displayed before them. They basked in the fresh, open taste of freedom from the constant drag of lessons, releasing all the gossip and chatter built up within them throughout the gruelling lectures.

However, not all Students were free to run around and idle without a care in the world … for there were those individuals who were tasked with managing the various aspects of the Academy along with the events that took place throughout the Semesters.

They stood amongst the rest of the students as the most devoted and determined in the Academy.

They were the Student Council.

Amongst this Council sat ten members, all known to excel in the academic subjects.

The President of the Council: Warrior of Light, lead the team with the crucial task in creating a safe and enjoyable atmosphere throughout Dissidia. He was personally chosen by Headmistress Cosmos, devoting himself to the Academy’s interests and showing capability of keeping a strong mind through intense situations.

Assisting him were fellow students in his class and members of the Council: Firion and Onion Knight. Both highly advanced in intelligence and decision making, proving to be valuable inclusions to the discussions during their meetings and events.

However, a rivalry that would equal the Father-Son feud of Tidus and Instructor Jecht had spurred up as of recent, sending the entire Academy into deep gossip.

Council President – Warrior of Light – and fellow council member – Onion Knight – had very opposing mindsets. If ever a topic to arise that interested the two, they would usually end up in an intense conflict of wit and intellect.

Whilst this could be an exciting prospect to witness; for other fellow council members, it was admittedly rather irritating to deal with on a frequent basis.

Warrior of Light, Firion, Onion Knight and the rest of the Council had entered the well-managed Student Council Room. This room was situated on the Top Floor of the Academy, only down the hall from the Headmistress' Office.

The room was very open and spacious, allowing for plenty of breathing space and hospitality. Situated near the centre of the room stood a large, ringed table, completely spotless from dirt and stains. Hanging on the surrounding walls were various notice boards filled with numerous papers, documenting many upcoming events set throughout the current Academic year in addition to important notices stating certain rules and guidelines that always need to be followed – no matter the circumstance.

Moving on to the right side of the room was a large, blank board, used primarily to write down important notes during meetings and placing images from the Overhead Projector above.

Finally, a vast, spanning window overlooking the Grounds of the Academy on the far end of the room, taking in the Sun's strong rays and brightening the area with a pleasant, relaxing gold aura.

The Council sat in their designated seats around the ringed table, holding a strong, constant posture as they faced the President. Firion and Onion Knight placed themselves either side of Warrior of Light's position, taking out sheets of lined paper in preparation of writing down their notes.

However, the President himself kept standing, placing a heavy, filled up binder on the table for the rest of the council to observe. The binder, as thick as one could possibly imagine, held various documents from previous Council meetings. It was organised beyond belief, set in order of date for accessibility and convenience.

Warrior of Light then took out a singular sheet, filled out entirely on topics to discuss for the current meeting. With this in hand, he took up a bulky black board-marker from the holdall on the wall and neatly jotted down the various topics for all to see. Underneath each title, he allowed space so that any suggestions and ideas from council members could be included.

After filling out the contents, Warrior of Light finally cleared his throat and twisted around to face the table, ready to speak to the Student Council perched before him.

"Welcome to the first Council meeting of the Semester." Warrior of Light announced to the group, showing off a proud and firm stance as he spoke. "As I’m sure you are all aware by now; it is OUR duty to make sure this Academy is thriving and–!”

Catching a glance from the corner of his eye, he abruptly halted his words and shifted direction.

“Onion Knight! Are you even listening to me!?"

Onion Knight was seen leaning back against his chair, his mind elsewhere. He was vacantly staring out of the nearby window, watching the clouds in the sky as they drift passed his view.

He was already bored, showing no respect to his Council President whatsoever.

“ONION KNIGHT!”

It wasn’t until Warrior of Light had snapped at him that he had refocused, straightening himself up and concentration set in the direction of the President.

Despite this, his face evidently expressed the boredom that plagued his mind.

"Sorry … ‘President’. The moment you began to speak, my mind was instantly elsewhere." Onion Knight admitted unapologetically, growing increasingly arrogant in his mannerisms. “I’ll be sure to do better next time.”

"Is. That. Right?" Warrior of Light growled as he responded to his classmate, his teeth grounded with frustration as veins popped from his forehead.

"Are you going to continue with your pointless drivel, or will you ever get to the meat of the meeting?" Onion Knight then wondered in his cynical tone, a very subtle grin curling from the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, don't you worry … I'll get to it." Warrior of Light growled through his teeth, his piercing eyes full of fury.

The two locked piercing eyes at one another, tension rising between them as another battle between intelligence was soon underway.

Firion, having perched on the opposing side of the two, rolled his eyes with a frustrated sigh. The unneeded tension was infuriating, wishing there was a way for the two to act like civilized members of the Council instead of attempting to one-up the other.

Considering he already had to deal with the ‘other’ rivalry within the Academy, this was an issue he preferred not to be involved with.

With that said, the other members watched on in full amusement, silently giggling away and whispering with one another as they watched the carnage unfold.

SLAM!

Firion slammed the palm of his hand against the surface of the table, causing Warrior of Light and Onion Knight to snap out of their locked glare.

"For once in our lives, can we PLEASE get through this meeting without the pointless staring contest!?" Firion furiously roared at the top of his lungs, his face flushed as anger boiled within him. "President, maybe it would be efficient to start with information on the rumour that spread as of recent."

The room fell silent in an instant.

Nobody was fearless enough to speak back to Firion, astounded by the sudden loss of temper from one of the Academy’s most passive and level-headed students. Even Onion Knight and Warrior of Light – his two classmates – couldn’t believe he was capable of such explosive expression.

All members of the room stared at him, frozen in fear as Firion gradually reverted to his normal self.

After a while of silence, Warrior of Light complied with Firion’s demand, clearing his throat as he returned to subject of the meeting.

"*A-hem…!* A-anyway, skipping the 'unneeded' filler. Our first main topic is regarding Cid of the Lufaine's impending visit." He formally announced, albeit annoyed he had to skip his rehearsed introduction. "To put it simply … his visit was scheduled to be today."

Firion and Onion Knight briefly glanced at one another, wondering what the President had in mind.

Ever since the semester began, Onion Knight had taken in the numerous rumours regarding Cid of the Lufaine’s visit as ‘true’. He had faith in his intuition, an aspect to his character that never once lead him astray. No matter the prediction or the rumour, his intuition would always end up a correct.

And yet, hearing the word ‘was’ … caused uneasiness to grow within him.

"Well, I will now put those rumours to rest." Warrior of Light formally proceeded, his eyes swiftly scanning the room as he awaited their reaction. "These rumours are in fact … true."

Upon hearing this, Onion Knight gave out a relieving sigh as his heart almost skipped a beat. He could not fathom the idea of his intuitions being incorrect, believing it would break him if he was ever found to be wrong.

Warrior of Light, however, was glaring back at him with a scornful gaze, evidentially infuriated by Onion Knight’s irritating reaction. He held the temptation of making an additional comment, aware that it would only stir up an argument once again.

Noticing this death-stare, Onion Knight took no time to retaliate, mimicking Warrior of Light with a mutual glare of disdain.

However, as his sight locked onto Warrior of Light, he caught a small hint of growing excitement behind the irritable expression. From what Onion Knight could assume, Warrior of Light worshiped Cid of the Lufaine as a hero and an inspiration.

“…Heh!”

Onion Knight slipped a small, sudden chuckle by accident.

In immediate reaction, Warrior of Light’s piercing glare on him lit up like an unyielding flame, veins popping from his forehead as he struggling to restrain his inner fury.

Onion Knight sunk back on his seat and held his silence, deciding it best to hold back from mocking the Council President any further … for now.

During this time, the other members of the Council were preoccupied in discussing their delight on the fact that the rumours were true. Many were beyond excited to meet the legend in person, some even becoming flustered in the thought that they could possibly be striking up a conversation with him.

The room was thick with anticipation.

Noticing the conversations becoming overbearing, Warrior of Light placed up a hand to silence them. He had yet to finish on the announcement, and little time to spare.

"Furthermore…!” He called out in a loud tone, his voice clear and sophisticated as attention returned to him. “Cid of the Lufaine is currently touring the Academy with the Headmistress and Deputy-Headmaster as his guides."

The room turned unexpectedly silent, the surrounding eyes growing wide.

"As a matter of fact, he will be taking part in this very meeting."

The Council Members instantly switched to one another in surprise, showing a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

A hidden smile formed on Warrior of Light’s face, seeming as though he was struggling to hold back his own excitement. Onion Knight was the same, shaken up with hyped up adrenaline.

"Will the Headmistress also be joining our meeting, President?" One of the Council Members curiously asked, respectfully raising a hand as she spoke.

"I haven't been informed but I suspect she will." Warrior of Light returned with a hopeful nod.

Onion Knight knew exactly who had asked the question, glancing over to the female member.

She was approximately around the same age as most of the members in the room and could be recognised with her long, fair-blonde hair. It was elegantly tied up with a dark-blue ribbon, effectively complimenting the contrast in colours. She was brimming with confidence and self-pride, so much so that she could give Warrior of Light a run for his money.

Onion Knight personally knew her as a close friend to Terra Branford, although was unaware as to how they became friends or when their friendship commenced.

There was one aspect to her that was certain, though: she was Class 13F’s respected President, and a student who strives to be an influential role model within the Academy.

Her name: Celes Chere.

Drawing in a deep breath, Warrior of Light proceeded onto the next topic of the meeting as Celes nodded back in satisfaction.

"Now then, our next topic of interest..." He began to announce, placing a finger towards the second topic on the board, "is to establish plans for the first event of the semester: The Social and Sports Club Open Day."

Dissidia Academy’s Annual Club Open Day; an event where students involved in a variety of club activities set up a plethora of stalls and attractions to entice potential new members to join their proud establishments. Every year, the Open Day was a competitive battlefield, Clubs using whatever sleezy tactic they could muster to draw in the required numbers.

It was a day many Clubs had obsessed over, yet it was also a day many non-member students feared … especially the Academy freshmen.

"President, sir. From what I can recall: some Clubs have already started." Another member of the Council commented, aware of some sport-based Clubs already commencing in afternoon and afterschool sessions – such as the Blitzball Club.

"Yes, that is correct." Warrior of Light nodded back, expecting such a question would emerge from his fellow Council Members. "Due to high demands from supported organization, many Clubs are required to start sessions as early as possible. Whilst I personally see this as an unreasonable requirement, it ultimately can’t be helped."

Abruptly, Onion Knight gave out a loud, obnoxious yawn, "That's all well and good, but … a date would be helpful."

Warrior of Light's brow reactively twitched, trying desperately to retrain the temptation to throttle Onion Knight in explosive anger. He was very much aware that Onion Knight was purposefully testing his patience, seemingly focused on getting a hyperbolic reaction out of him.

Warrior of Light vowed to not give in to such petty behaviour.  

His teeth grounded, Warrior of Light turned to the boy and answered his demand.

"If you must know, it'll be this coming Tuesday." Warrior of Light murmured bitterly, giving Onion Knight a judging gaze as he spoke. "If you're child-like mind was a little more patient, you would've eventually had your answer."

Onion Knight bit the inside of his lip as he fiercely glared back towards the Council President, unable to retort.

Warrior of Light was fully aware of Onion Knight's true age and reason for entering Dissidia Academy a few years ahead of his year group. Any jab or insult that related to Onion Knight's age, height and appearance would easily trouble in the boy's heart.

Even though they were rivals, Warrior of Light was careful to tread over such remarks. He would only cross the line if the occasion deemed it necessary.

Admittedly, the restraint was proving to be much more difficult overtime.

Knock-knock…!

Just then, a sudden knock on the door echoed throughout the room.

Many members of the council leapt out of their skin in abrupt fright. Warrior of Light switched towards the door, swiftly stepping over to greet their expecting visitors.

Onion Knight continued to watch in silence, his hand clenched into a fist as the Council President’s small comment dug deep into him. In that moment, he shook his head and let out a rejuvenating sigh, quashing what negative thoughts he had in order to prepare an ideal first impression for the incoming visitors.

Warrior of Light opened the door, straightening himself up and sustained the urge to lose composure over meeting his hero.

"Welcome to the Student Council Room, Cid of the-!" Warrior began to welcome with pride, only to halt mid-sentence.

"…Eh?"

He could only see Headmistress Cosmos, who stood before him with a cheerful and pure.

"It’s a pleasure to be here, Warrior of Light." A sudden, deep voice spoke up from below both Warrior of Light and Cosmos.

Warrior of Light gradually lowered his eyes to the floor, his mind completely overturned by the unexpected direction of the voice. He had assumed Cid would be standing before him with the Headmistress, going so far as to imagine a tall, humanoid figure standing idle at the doorway.

And then, just as his gaze spotted the owner of the voice, Warrior of Light's expression twisted with disgust.

Below him and Cosmos stood a Moogle; a small, white-furred creature with small, reptilian wings and a large red bobble on its head. In its full appearance, a Moogle was considered as one of the adorable creatures on the planet. Some would even worship them as a deity or mascot of the world.

However, in this very moment, ‘cute’ was the last thing on Warrior of Light’s mind. His body shuddered as he was in denial of his gaze, hoping this was all a prank to make him crack.

"Y-you're … Cid of the Lufaine?" Warrior of Light anxiously stuttered, his feet shuffling back as he continued to stare at the Moogle below.

Cosmos instinctively turned away momentarily, hiding her smirk and giggling reaction.

"Yes, that is correct." The Moogle answered in honesty, respectfully bowing before the Council President.

The whole room froze.

Every Council Member in the room was left dumbfounded by this sudden revelation. They had all heard the tales of the ‘Legendary Cid of the Lufaine’ yet had never seen a verified image of him – only speculations and concepts made by online fanatics. This also included Warrior of Light, who was unable to comprehend the revelation.

Cid stepped through into the room, silently yet cheerfully examining the area around him. Onion Knight slowly rose from the table in order to grasp a good look at the legend, his eyes wide with shock and awe just like the other Council Members. However, unlike his fellow Council Members, he was not left speechless.

Instead, a gleaming, enthusiastic smile had spread across his young face.

Ah-Hah!!! I'm not the smallest person in the room anymore!!!

Onion Knight's mind was screaming out with joy, ecstatically throwing his fist up in the air as he found his small stature was not as much of a setback to him in this current time.

On the other hand, Warrior of Light could not take his eyes off Cid, his horrified expression frozen in place as he watched the Moogle waltz around obliviously.

As far back as he could remember, Warrior of Light had always adored the stories of Cid of the Lufaine, from his astounding feats or valour to his breath-taking wisdom. Cid was a true hero in his eyes, a being that could never be compared no matter the circumstance.

And yet, the idea that during his whole life, he had looked up to … a Moogle!?

"C-Cid of the Lufaine … my hero … a Moogle?" Warrior of Light murmured breathlessly, sweating gawkily with a distant expression.

Whoosh … Bang!

With that, Warrior of Light lifted his head dreamily and fell back from where he stood. He fell flat onto the floor and lost consciousness upon impact.

All eyes in the room snapped towards the direction of where Warrior of Light had landed, some taken by surprise. Additionally, Cid and Cosmos glanced down to the Council President with curious gazes.

"Hmm … Isn't it wise for him to be taken to the Medical Room, Miss Cosmos?" Cid of the Lufaine openly question, tilting his bobbing head in genuine wonder. "The boy seems rather ill."

"No need to worry, Master Cid." Cosmos pleasantly assured, showing an atmospheric aura as she smiled down. "Our Council President tends to overreact. Once he recovers from his little fuss, he'll be as right as rain."

Cid nodded awkwardly, understanding her words. With that said, there was still an underlying feeling of concern for Warrior of Light's wellbeing.

Hastily placing a hand over his mouth, Onion Knight was desperately trying not to laugh out loud in the presence of Cid. Watching the entire scene unfold in front of his tear-filled eyes, he immediately cemented the memory as he imagined how he would use it to further tease Warrior of Light during future arguments.

However, another thought had left him genuinely curious, his gaze shifting to Cid of the Lufaine in intrigue.

He wondered as to how his friend Terra would react if she were to stumble upon Cid of the Lufaine's unique appearance. From the many occasions that he could recall, Terra was known by many for her fondness for Moogles. In the past, she was incapable of resisting temptation to cuddle anything that bared resemblance to the mythical creature – whether it was a stuffed toy or the real thing. There were moments where her obsession was so severe that Onion Knight had struggled to pry her of a Moogle no matter how hard he fought to restrain and separate her.

With his gaze following the Moogle around the room, a sense of looming dread was cast over him. He imagined a scenario where Terra had locked Cid in her arms like a steel trap, hugging and smothering the poor Moogle to the point where he was unable to breathe.

It was a hypothetical scenario, yet one that made Onion Knight feel eerily uncomfortable – as though his conscience was ordering him to ‘not let Terra anywhere near Cid of the Lufaine’.

Speaking of said Moogle, Cid hopped up onto the table with a feather-like leap, allowing himself to gain a clear view of the Council Members perched before him. Cosmos took a spare seat next to Firion and elegantly sat down, anticipating involvement in the meeting's discussion.

Cid twirled – giving out the familiar Moogle ‘Kupo’ noise as he spun on his two tiny feet – and proceeded to bow before the Student Council in respect.

"Now then, it is my pleasure to meet you all." Cid formally greeted, returning to an idle – yet bobbing – stance. "As I’m sure you are already aware, I am Cid of the Lufaine. It is an honour to join in with this meeting. If there are any questions you wish to ask me, feel free to ask away."

In that very moment, one certain question appeared in every Council Member's mind – as if in sync with each other:

Was Cid of the Lufaine always a Moogle!?

However, they all concluded that the question was far too dishonourable to mention, and so kept silent for the time being.

That was all, except for one member … Celes Chere.

With her arm raised in pride and anticipation, she was desperate for her question to be answered. The other members glared towards her with caution, expecting the unexpected.

"Cid, sir. How were you able to accomplish such amazing feats with your … small stature?" She generally wondered, her eyes gleaming with eagerness.

Cid glared over towards where Celes sat, his thoughts and expressions unreadable to the audience in the room. Then a small chuckle escaped his breath, indicating that the expression he would be showcasing was an amused grin.

"An interesting question. However, this is a question I cannot answer at this moment in time." Cid responded, shaking his head. "All I can say for the time being is that 'No matter how great an obstacle can be, the smallest being will always find a way to succeed."

Onion Knight's brow suddenly rose up with delighted surprise, finding Cid of the Lufaine's words of wisdom enlightening.

SLAM!

Just then, a random palm slammed against the surface of the round table, causing members of the Council to leap out of their seats in abrupt fright. Only Cosmos, Cid, and Celes stood their ground, simply turning to the direction of the hand in wonder.

Just then, a low, tired groan echoed around the room.

“Nn…!”

What followed was a shaking body emerge from the floor. With long, silver hair covering over the face and a zombie-like tone looming over, the rising figure gave off a demonic aura. And then, the figure finally raised his head, revealing his face from behind the long hair.

Dazed and confused, Warrior of Light examined the area around him, attempting to remember why he had fainted in the first place.

"Cid … the Lufaine … Moogle …" He murmured lifelessly under his breath, his distant eyes scanning about.

The moment he caught sight of Cid of the Lufaine, the memories all flooded back into him at once. He hastily straightened up his stance, brushing back his now unkempt silver hair and neatened up his uniform.

"S-sorry about that, sir!" Warrior of Light bowed apologetically, flustered in embarrassment. "I'll be able to continue the meeting now."

Cid calmly nodded back, acting as though he was showing off an accepting smile.

Throughout the next fifteen minutes, Warrior of Light continued to discuss through the main topics of the meeting, pointing and scribbling on the board as he explained. On various occasions, he eagerly allowed Cid and Cosmos to suggest options and alterations that could benefit the topic at hand.

Firion and Celes also contributed towards many of the topics, including themselves where they felt their opinions were required.

Onion Knight, however, took a backseat in his mind and watched as the meeting pressed on.

Overtime, a single question gradually formed within his head, starting off as needless curiosity to genuine intrigue. To be specific, he had noticed that a certain someone was missing from the room, yet he could not confirm the identity of the person of interest.

At first, he scanned the table of Council Members, only to find that every member was present and accounted for.

He then shifted his focus onto the two visitors … and immediately realised the missing person’s identity.

Fwip!

He rose up a hand, the question sticking in his mind like glue. Warrior of Light switched to Onion Knight in a snap, unexpectedly being cut off from one of his long-winded speeches.

"What is it now, Onion Knight?" Warrior of Light broodily asked, eyes glaring irritably. "If it’s another one of your ill-mannered comments then you'll be shown the door."

"No, it's a legitimate question." Onion Knight shook his head in certainty, his expression filled with honesty. "In fact, it’s a question I’d like to ask the Headmistress."

Cosmos glanced over to Onion Knight with a curious expression, her kind smile giving him a sensation of tranquillity.

…Although the mention of ‘Headmistress’ caused an eye to twitch momentarily.

"What do you wish to ask me, Onion Knight?" She cheerfully asked out, tilting her head slightly.

"It's just that Warrior of Light mentioned earlier that both yourself and the Deputy-Headmaster were giving Cid a tour of the Academy." Onion Knight began, giving context to his following question. "However, only you and Cid arrived to join in with our meeting. So, I’m wondering: Where is Deputy-Headmaster Chaos?"

“Hm … hm-hm-hmm!!!”

A small giggle suddenly escaped Cosmos' breath at the question, quickly placing a hand against her lips in order to prevent her laughter from fully escaping.

The Council Members were all staring at the Headmistress with curiosity, wondering as to why she was in a fit of giggles. Warrior of Light, Firion, and Onion Knight watched on with awkward expressions, completely oblivious to the reason behind this change in character.

Finally, Cosmos took in a deep, calm breath to control her emotions, allowing herself to settle down before answering the question.

"Unfortunately, Deputy-Headmaster Chaos is unable to join us for the meeting today." Cosmos began to answer, pausing every-so-often to keep herself in control. “You could say … he’s a little caught up."

 

Elsewhere …

Crowds of Students gathered around the rear Entrance Door of the Academy Building; a small, cramped Fire-exit door that led towards the Academy Grounds.

Noticing the growing crowd, Tidus, Cecil, Cloud and Terra with wonderous expressions, questioning the sudden rise in commotion. They slithered through the gaps in the crowd, passing giggling and laughing students. Tidus took charge of the group as they closed in on the door – eager to find out the cause of commotion, whilst Cloud positioned himself towards of the rear – finding this entire occurrence bothersome as exhaustion filled his bloodshot eyes.

Finally, they reached the front of the crowd with the door in full view.

They then entered a state of shock, taken aback by the reason behind all the commotion.

“Ah … Ah-hah … AHAHAHAHAHAA!!!”

Deputy-Headmaster Chaos had accidentally lodged himself between the door, unable to break free due to his large body mass and solid structure. He was hunched over, his usually constant fanged jaw lowering into a frown as crippling embarrassment had consumed him.

Students were snapping photos of him from all directions, their cell-phones flashing as they continued to cry of laughter and non-stop amusement.

“HAHAHAA…! A-ha! Ah-haha…! AAH-HAHAHAA!!!” Tidus wheezed underneath all of his eruptive laughter, hugging his abdomen in pain. "I-I can’t … I CAN’T BREATHE!!!"

Cloud was the next to lose the control over his emotions, struggling to breath as he hid his fits of laughter. Cecil and Terra both instantly followed: Cecil chuckling away underneath his breath whilst Terra was seen hunched over and hand over her giggling mouth.

And then, a deep yet almost inaudible grumble was heard underneath the crowds' commotions.

"What a pain…" Chaos muttered.

 

Back at the meeting…

““Oooh…!””

Warrior of Light and Onion Knight had both murmured in sync to each other, eyes widened at the thought of a situation so ironic.

As expected, the rest of the Student Council erupted in laughter.

"S-so, in the end, we called the emergency services … and left him behind." Cosmos finished her explanation in a complete stutter, welling up with tears streaming as she could not hold back her giggling any longer.

"They should be arriving anytime now.” Cid informed them, seeming to be the only person in the room who had not broken into fits of laughter. “I am sure he'll be pried out from the door in no time."

Warrior of Light silently switched to the board behind him, his shoulders shivering as he purposely hid his own chuckling.

 

Ten Minutes later…

The Meeting finally concluded, with Council Members packing up and leaving the room in dribs and drabs.

Warrior of Light stayed behind to eagerly discuss with Cid of the Lufaine, acting oblivious to the Moogle appearance as they conversed about a variety of topics. Headmistress Cosmos – as Cid’s personal guide – also stayed, although it was more out of obligation rather than actual interest.

Onion Knight swiftly packed up his items and left the room with the other Council Members, feeling a fresh sense of relief as he entered the Top Floor corridor. It was then that he noticed Terra waiting for him, pleasantly waving in his direction as he approached.

The two made their way to the staircase, discussing the Council's meeting and laughing away at Deputy-Headmaster Chaos' recent misfortune. Terra updated him by explaining that the emergency services were eventually able to break Chaos out from the door after a few failed attempts. Because of this, the entire framework was now bent out of shape and unable to hold the door in place.

Unfortunately for the Deputy-Headmaster, the repair costs were coming out of his wage.

As they continued to chuckle and giggle away, they soon reached the 5^th Floor – leading to their next lesson: Food Tech.

It was the one subject that Onion Knight despised, seemingly due to the teacher in charge of the upcoming class … or just due to his genuine struggle of the subject of cooking.

Suddenly, Onion Knight halted his movement, his expression dropping without notice. He closed his eyes and listened out to his surroundings, feeling a sense of trouble hanging in the air.

Noticing him stop in his tracks, Terra slowed down as turned to him in confusion.

“Onion Knight, why are you-?”

CRASH!!!

Just then, a loud noise erupted from the Floor below them, followed immediately by a deafening scream.

"It came from the 4^th Floor!” Onion Knight loudly commanded his companion, hastily rushing back to the staircase. “Terra! Quick!”

“O-ok!”

Terra complied and followed him close behind, unable to hide the worry in her eyes as they both reached the staircase.

It took no time for them to reach the 4^th Floor corridor, their hearts racing as they searched for the cause of the noise.

Hastily scanning the area, Onion Knight desperately searched every room in his sights. Terra did the same, peering into each room as they rushed down the corridor.

So far, they found nothing out of the ordinary.

They continued their way around the corner of the empty hallway, reaching a series of doors that held the ‘Math Rooms’.

That was when Onion Knight instantly caught one of the doors left open – leading to ‘Math Room 3’. As if by instinct, he ran up to the door and entered the room without a hint of hesitation.

He then gasped out in horror.

"What in the...!?"

The room had been a complete mess.

Sheets of paper was spread out across the entire floor; a large, smashed window could be seen allowing gusts of wind to enter; various desks were toppled over; and … a small, fresh bloodstain was seeped into the wall directly ahead of him.

Terra soon entered the room behind him, her eyes widening as the terror set in.

Their eyes shifted from the blood on the wall to the floor.

A female student with shoulder-length, dark green hair was lying lifelessly on the floor next to the bloodied wall, signs of blood trickling from her head. She was completely motionless, yet only faint signs of breath could be heard escaping her mouth.

Standing between them and the unconscious girl was another, male student. He had dark, blond hair tied back in a long tail. He was evidently breathless and obliviously had his back to them, acting as though he was also in complete shock.

"Wait, that's…!" Terra breathless gasped in sudden realisation, racing over towards the unconscious girl. “RYDIA!!!”

Terra carefully yet frantically tended to the limp Rydia’s wounds, using the material from her uniform to secure the head injury. She also noticed that Rydia’s Hair Ornament was missing from her head, assuming it was either stolen or separated from her during the situation.

Onion Knight stood frozen in place, glaring over to the male student before him. It had not taken him long to identify the student, immediately recognising the blonde-furred tail that was far to iconic to ignore.

The boy gradually turned to Onion Knight, his body shaking as his expression was filled with confusion.

His heart racing in terror, the bewildered Onion Knight called to the student.

"Zidane … what have you done?"

Chapter 9: Vol.3 - Investigation

"I-I … I didn't do it!"

Zidane took a step back, his body uncontrollably shaking in terror.

"I swear to you … this wasn't my doing!" He yelled out in a sheer panic, pleading that Onion Knight and Terra would believe him.

In retaliation, Onion Knight took a cautious step forward. His intense gaze refused to deviate from Zidane, feeling the suffocating tension in the air. Zidane glanced over toward Terra and the unconscious Rydia, before switching back to Onion Knight with fear draining the colour from his face.

“You’ve … got to believe me.” He begged in a whimper, acting as though he was on his last moment alive. “…Please.”

With his expression growing tense, Onion Knight took in a deep breath so he could recompose himself.

Thinking the situation through, he wished he could believe his classmate. Zidane was known throughout the Academy as a cheeky delinquent and trickster, yet there had never been a time where his petty pranks would purposely harm a victim – at least, not to Onion Knight’s knowledge.

Ultimately, questions would need to be answered, regardless of Zidane’s pleading to be ‘innocent’ in the eyes of the public. There need to be an alibi, otherwise the consequences will fall on the yellow-tailed thief.

"I cannot simply let you go, Zidane." Onion Knight sorrowfully shook his head, glancing around the entirety of the room as he spoke. "Regardless of your innocence, you are a key witness. You need to tell me everything about the incident from your point of view."

Zidane froze up, sweat forming from his forehead whist anxiously taking in a breath.

"I … I got here not long before you guys did." Zidane desperately began to explain, his body entirely shaken up. "I heard a crash! I heard a scream and I-!"

Step-step-step-step…!

"What's going on here!?"

Zidane was then interrupted by a loud, commanding voice, causing every conscious student in the room to jump up in fright.

Onion Knight swiftly span round to face the new arrival. Although he acted surprised, he knew exactly who owned that voice – much to his displeasure.

As he met the gaze of the new onlooker, Onion Knight could only scowl in bitterness as his body tensed up.

Warrior of Light stood at the open door, his gaze left wide open with horror. He scanned the entirety of the room, taking in the extent of the incident to the miniscule detail. He was left speechless, sick to his stomach at the deplorable sight before him.

Onion Knight hastily glanced at Zidane, who had stood frozen in fear at the sight of Warrior of Light. The beads of sweat were now a waterfall, his mouth trembling as he realised his chances of leaving the room as an innocent man was next-to-nothing.

Onion Knight then switched to Terra, who continued to cradle the unconscious Rydia in her arms, tending to her wounds – particularly the blood trickling from on her head.

The atmosphere was cold and silent, the breeze from the smashed window creeping in like a curious ghost. Shivers crawled up their spines, setting the severity of the situation.

Onion Knight couldn't think at all, with the inclusion of Warrior of Light's unexpected appearance … everything for Zidane was about to become ever-so worse. He was desperate to find a solution, one that would resolve the impending disaster that would soon fall on them.

Finally, however unpleasantly, Warrior of Light was the first to break the silence.

"What’ve you done to that girl, Zidane!?" Warrior of Light bellowed out in absolute disgust, eyes locked onto Zidane like daggers prepared to strike. "What were you trying to steal from her that made you commit such a heinous act!?"

"W-wait! You've got it all wrong, Light!" Zidane pleaded back, stuttering and shaking violently as ever. "I would never-!"

"She's missing a valuable Hairpiece; something that she would always wear wherever she goes." Onion Knight regretfully analysed, remembering the times he had seen Rydia hanging around in the Academy. "The only time I would suspect she wouldn't wear it is during P.E. or at home. Even then, jewellery of such value would certainly be kept somewhere safe and secured.”

Zidane watched Onion Knight with a terrified expression, not knowing how to defend himself from the sudden influx of allegations.

“To see her in such a condition – and with the room in a damaged state, no less – it is more than likely that there was resistance between the 'culprit' and the ‘victim’ before the final blow was executed. The victim was knocked unconscious … and the jewellery was promptly stolen."

Warrior of Light nodded in silence, taking in what Onion Knight had stated whilst continuing to glare at Zidane with further detest. It was apparent that he had already made up his mind.

Just then, another student appeared from behind Warrior of Light, hearing the commotion from the distance.

“There seems to be quite the commotion over here…”

It was Firion.

At first, he was oblivious to the situation, showing off a playful curiosity as he wondered why his classmates where gathered in the room. However, he quickly realised what had occurred, dropping his façade in an instant as he looked on in sudden shock.

Warrior of Light swiftly turned to Firion with a serious expression, holding a strong resolve as he finally took necessary action.

"Firion, I need you to get assistance from the Medical Room.” Warrior of Light demanded calmly, keeping a cool mind as he spoke. “Whoever is in charge over there, inform them that an incident has occurred in Math Room 3 – and be quick about it!”

Without hesitation, Firion gave a firm nod and rushed off to the stairs, passing oblivious students without so much of an acknowledgment. As Firion disappeared down the staircase, Warrior of Light directed his attention back to the scene of the incident.

This time, his attention was directly on Onion Knight, temporarily dowsing any resentment for the boy in order to cooperate.

"Onion Knight, once Firion returns, I need you to locate the Headmistress and inform her of the situation – and preferably direct her to this room, if possible." Warrior of Light commanded. "For now, though, please close off this room from the rest of the Academy – the last thing we need would be a spreading commotion from the other students.”

Onion Knight nodded compliantly, not speaking a word.

“Thankfully, this room should be empty for the rest of the day.” Warrior of Light then sighed, feeling somewhat relieved. “It’ll be free for thorough investigation.”

"Wait, then ... what’ll be you’re plan?" Onion Knight questioned as he came to an odd realisation. "In a situation like this, I’d expect you to be the one to grab the Headmistress."

There was a moment of silence, Warrior of Light glaring at a cautious Onion Knight before expressing his answer.

“Normally that would be the case...” He admittedly nodded at first. “However, there’s something that I should have done since the first day of the Semester…”

As he spoke, his piercing glare was set on Zidane.

"…and detain the Thief."

““You're going to … WHAT!?!?””

Onion Knight and Zidane yelled out in abrupt shock and despair.

BANG!

It was all over in a flash.

Warrior of Light immediately charged over to Zidane, sending him to the ground in one swift swoop. Ensuring that no window shards were near Zidane as he struck the floor, Warrior of Light detained his fellow classmate with a firm grasp of his wrists and a locked down position.

"You won't get away from me this time, you piece of filth!" Warrior of Light growled in disgust, gaining control of the two as he forced Zidane back to his feet.

"Hold on, President! We're still unsure if Zidane’s the culprit to this whole mess!" Onion Knight desperately objected, finding Warrior of Light actions entirely absurd. "We should at least hear what he has to say before forcing such actions."

"He's called Zidane the Thief for a reason!" Warrior of Light firmly argued back, shifting Zidane towards the door in the process. "Stealing is his specialty – that’s an undebatable fact! If he had the chance, I'm sure he’d place the blame on Bartz and escape with his tail between his legs!”

His tone then lowered to a haunting degree, showing no remorse in his decision.

“But not this time … this time he'll be locked up in the Detention Room for questioning.” He growled intimidatingly, tensing his grip on the silent Zidane. “And soon … he'll finally be kicked out of the Academy with his reputation in ruins."

The moment the last sentence was stated, Zidane's gaze erupted with terror and despair.

"No, Light! Please! You have to understand!" Zidane suddenly resisted, frantically flailing about to release himself from Warrior of Light’s unbreakable grasp. "I didn't-!"

"THAT’S ENOUGH!" Warrior of Light abruptly bellowed, his eyes flaring with fury. "You’ll NEVER call me by that nickname!"

Onion Knight could only watch as Zidane was taken away by Warrior of Light's, failing to break free. There was nothing he could do at this point, feeling ultimately defeated.

Before they disappeared, Onion Knight caught a glimpse of Zidane's final expression: He was mortified.

Onion Knight gave out a loud groan, soothing his head as though he was trying to get rid of a migraine. He then turned to Terra – who had been keeping strong pressure against Rydia's head injury.

To his surprise, Terra's expression was something he had rarely seen from her: a combination of sadness and regret.

"Do you really believe that Zidane’s the culprit?" Terra hesitantly questioned, her eyes serious and pure as she gazed back at him. "I mean, seeing his reaction and everything … is it really true?"

"Zidane was the only person in the room when we discovered the crime scene. It's no surprise that he's at least a suspect." Onion Knight analysed with certainty, although showing hints of hesitancy. "It doesn't help either that he has a proven record of past mischievous antics."

"But it doesn’t seem reasonable. Zidane wouldn’t just go so far just to steal a piece of jewellery. That’s not like him at all." Terra instantly rebutted, her seriousness brimming from her expression. "I've seen Zidane do some mischievous acts in the past, but he’s always been considerate and has never gone beyond playful banter.”

Onion Knight fell silent as he gathered his thoughts, his brow raised at the surprise of hearing Terra’s statement.

He considered her argument, agreeing to the fact that Zidane would not go as far as intentionally injuring someone for the sake of stealing – based on the normal circumstances. If injuries did occur … he would no doubt show guilt and apologise – such as the situation with Sephiroth during the Great Globe Incident.

Onion Knight’s gaze wondered around the room, continuously searching for any kind of clue to help the case. To his dismay, there was nothing else aside from the obvious – meaning he would need to investigate to the smallest detail.

Unfortunately, with Rydia’s safety and wellbeing set as the priority, his time was overwhelmingly limited.

The Lunch Bell will sound off at any moment…

Much to his frustration, Onion Knight would have to do as Warrior of Light requested before assembling further investigations. Hs mind was at light speed, imagining potential plans he could execute before the allotted time would run out.

He switched back round to Terra, his gaze set with determination.

"If we're going to find out the truth behind this incident, we’ll have to structure a plan-of-action." Onion Knight began to explain to her, feeling adamant to find the truth. "Once Rydia is safe in the Medical Room and this room is fully closed off from the public, we'll join with the rest of our class for the upcoming lesson."

"But, wouldn't that mean abandoning the crime scene and the investigation entirely?" Terra wondered with concern, biting her lip in the process as she cradled the unconscious Rydia in her arms. "We can't just walk away!"

"There’s no need to worry. It’ll only be a temporary setback." Onion Knight assured with certainty, understanding Terra's worry. "As soon as the lesson ends, we'll return here and fully investigate the room.”

Terra listened on in silence.

“Admittedly, it’ll be difficult.” He then continued. “By the time we get back: The Headmistress, other members of the Student Council, and possibly the public services would also be investigating the scene. We may end up being turned away."

As she glanced down towards Rydia, a question of uncertainty formed in Terra’s mind.

"But … how are we going to convince both the Headmistress and the Student Council that Zidane is innocent?" Terra cautiously asked, thinking the situation through. "By the time we get back, rumours of the events would have already spread across the Academy.”

Onion Knight drew in a deep sigh, raising his head and crossing his arms as he wondered the depths of his mind.

"True … I was wondering about that myself." Onion Knight spoke out, trying to solve the problems at hand. "Consulting the Headmistress wouldn't be too much of a problem, but the rest of the Student Council will certainly be tough – especially Warrior of Light."

Dipping his head, Onion Knight glanced towards Terra, desperately attempting to figure out how to pass the obstacle.

However, in the end, he only let out a small shrug.

“We'll continue as we were told … at least, for the time being." Onion Knight sighed in defeat, deciding not to waste any more precious time. "I'll stand in front of the door and wait for the Medical Staff to arrive. In the meantime, you can continue managing Rydia's injury."

Terra gave a determined nod, accepting her current role.

Satisfied, Onion Knight turned and stepped outside of the room, securing the scene of the incident from the rest of the Academy. Closing the door almost entirely – with a small gap so he could communicate with Terra, he watched on for any signs of Firion or the Headmistress.

Drring…! Drring…!

Only a minute after Onion Knight stood guard, the Academy's bell rang throughout the halls.

He drew in a deep breath, expecting for a plethora of students to appear from the corner at any given moment. Praying for the Headmistress to arrive soon, he held up a firm stance.

As expected, Students began to flood from the staircase, gossiping and chatting away without a care in the world. Many walked past Onion Knight, most of them completely ignoring him as he continued to stand in front of the room. There were a few who noticed him awkwardly standing at the door, glancing oddly in his direction before continuing with their own business.

And then, Onion Knight caught notice of his fellow classmates appearing from the staircase.

Cloud Strife, Squall Leonhart and Tidus appeared as a three-man group: Tidus had taken the lead as he constantly ranted away. Behind him, Cloud and Squall seemed equally bored out of their minds, wishing there was an end to his non-stop chatter. Between them, Squall had fallen into a very gloomy expression, whilst Cloud seemed to be close to nodding off – something that was the norm for them.

“Ah!”

Abruptly, Tidus spotted Onion Knight and immediately rushed over to him – much to Onion Knight's sudden displeasure. He was one of the few people Onion Knight truly did not wish to meet at this moment in time, knowing it was wishful thinking that Tidus would leave him be no matter how he tried to avoid conversation.

Cloud and Squall decided to follow Tidus, hoping Onion Knight would be a fresh cast of sanity.

Onion Knight hastily took a swift peek through the gap of the room behind him, checking on Terra and Rydia whilst he still had the chance. As he confirmed they were safe, he closed the door completely and switched back to the trio.

“Hey man!”

“Wha-!?”

To his abrupt shock, Tidus had loomed over him with a cheesy, obnoxious smile.

A shiver ran down Onion Knights spine, feeling a sudden sense of claustrophobia. This was further impacted by Cloud and Squall as they stood either side of Tidus, enclosing the young Onion Knight into a minuscule, cornered space. With Cloud's drained expression on the left, Squall's gloomy expression on the right, and Tidus' hyperactive expression at the centre: Onion Knight was left struggling to breathe.

"What's up, Onion Knight?" Tidus innocently greeted him, his cheesy grin as large as his enthusiasm.

With his back flat against the door, sweat began to break from the skin of his forehead.

"I-I'm fine!" Onion Knight stuttered, unable to hide his hyperventilation. "I-is it possible for you to … t-take a step back?"

"Oh? How come?" Tidus asked back in surprise, unable to grasp the reason behind Onion Knight's request.

Onion Knight gulped, anxiously clearing his throat.

"I-it’s just that…" He then struggled to answer, failing to form his words as the tension of his surrounding classmates loomed over him.

His mind, on the other hand, began to call out in frustration:

Please don't make me say it…!

“‘It's just…’ what?” Tidus obliviously echoed, showing confusion in the matter.

"Well, I…" Onion Knight muttered almost inaudibly, his legs shaking whilst he felt the world began to collapse around him.

Just get the hint already!

Unlike Tidus, Cloud suddenly snapped back to reality from his daze and realized Onion Knight's crippling dilemma, nudging Tidus as he took a necessary step back. Squall – glancing over to Cloud with a confused expression, at first – decided to follow his action and give Onion Knight some space.

On the other hand, Tidus did the exact opposite.

"Also, why are you standing here? The classroom for our Food-Tech lesson is across the other side of the corridor!" Tidus pursued to question, abruptly shuffling forward towards Onion Knight. "Is there something happening on the other side of this room?"

I'M GOING TO SAY IT!

Onion Knight's thoughts cried out in agony, desperate to break free.

"Please, just...!"

"Uh, Tidus…" Cloud called to his friend with caution, noticing that Tidus was oblivious to the situation he was causing.

"Huh? What's the matter?" Tidus wondered and he glanced back.

But it was too late.

"IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR YOU TO BACK OFF!?” Onion Knight abruptly roared, his mind completely snapped. "I CAN’T BREATHE WITH YOU TOWERING OVER ME LIKE THAT! DO YOU EVEN KNOW THE MEANING OF ‘PERSONAL SPACE’, YOU DENSE FOOL!?"

Tidus leapt back in fright.

Around them, passing students suddenly glanced over to them with a curiosity, wondering what was causing such a commotion. With such an outburst, many assumed a fight between students was soon to break out.

DAMN! I said it! I said it! I SAID IT!

Onion Knight cursed himself over-and-over in a constant loop, feeling to pits of despair for admitting his height complex. The numerous eyes that gazed upon them intensified, all now growing curious of the sudden event.

"I-I'm sorry, Onion Knight." Tidus innocently apologized, showing off a sorrowful expression. "I didn't mean to trip you out."

"N-no … don't worry about that, you didn't know." Onion Knight hastily answered back in an anxious stutter, feeling a desperate need to deflate the situation before rumours were to spread.

However, his mind still held an inkling of malice:

Yes, don't worry ... I'll kill you in your sleep…

"Is something wrong out there, Onion Knight?" Terra then called out in curiosity, having heard his sudden outburst. “Also, did I hear Tidus just now?”

"Huh? Hey! Is that Terra in there?” Tidus gasped out in surprise, trying to sneak another peek into the room. “What's going on?"

"Erk!? D-don't concern yourself with what she's doing!” Onion Knight quickly snapped, desperately attempting to deter Tidus from catching a glance of the situation. “She's … just treating someone at the moment."

“She’s … treating someone?” Tidus echoed in vacant wonder.

Feeling his own curiosity growing, Cloud decided to pursue Onion Knight on the situation.

"So, let me get this straight: you’re standing here because someone’s gone and injured themselves?" Cloud casually summarised.

“…Yeah, that’s about right.” Onion Knight mumbled in a low sigh, feeling caught in a corner.

Straightening up his posture, Onion Knight begrudgingly gave in. He decided to reveal the situation as quick and simple as he possibly could, informing the trio on a mild level – avoiding a few details for confidentiality reasons. He specifically opted to avoid mentioning the identity of the victim – aside from her gender – and the student that was apprehended at the scene.

Finally, Onion Knight requested the trio keep the information to themselves for the foreseeable future.

"That's horrible…!" Cloud gasped in shock, horrified to hear such an incident occur. “Is she going to be okay?”

"Ahh, I'm sure she'll be fine! I bet you that she's a real trooper!" Tidus cheerfully laughed off, holding a positive vibe for the sake of lightening the mood.

Cloud and Onion Knight returned an anxious smile, appreciating his never-ending beaming grin for once.

On the other hand, Squall refused to share the sentiment, rolling his eyes in mental agony.

"Tsk…! Whatever..." He muttered with an arrogant tut, lacking in the sympathy shared by the other three. “I'm sure the culprit will get what he deserves … it'll save me further headaches in the future, anyway.”

…Eh?

Onion Knight froze in a sudden jolt, his expression dropped in an instant.

Hold up … he knew Zidane was involved!?

Onion Knight's struggled to comprehend the new revelation, his thoughts wild and unreasonable.

But … how!? How did he know!?

Just then – as if perfectly timed – four members of the Medical Staff appeared, carrying bags and cases of necessary medical equipment. Amongst said equipment included a stretcher to move Rydia securely to the Medical Room.

The four students stepped aside to allow leeway for the staff, Onion Knight even holding the door open for them to pass through.

In that moment, Firion appeared before Onion Knight, previously following the Medical Staff from behind after directing them to the room. The two nodded to one another, fulfilling their tasks as requested. They then stood next to each other and waited for Rydia to be tended to.

The group of students watched as Terra assisted the unconscious Rydia’s safe move from the room, her expression still sick with worry for her friend.

Firion then checked the time, flicking his wrist to glance at his watch.

"Aren't you guys supposed to be in class right now?" Firion questioned his additional three classmates. "I'm sure Food Tech has already started."

Onion Knight checked his own watch, only now remembering the time.

"Ah, man! Do we have to go!?" Tidus suddenly complained, as though hoping to find a way out what awaits them. "This looks so much more interesting!"

"You idiot, this isn't some simple entertainment." Squall responded in disgust, reminding Tidus how severe the situation is. “Read the atmosphere for once.”

"I know, I know!" Tidus sighed back in a mixture of frustration and sorrow, looking down on himself. "I just felt like skipping Food Tech, you know."

Cloud looked on to Onion Knight and Firion, “What are you guys going to do?”

Hearing this, the three Class 13A students directed their attention to Onion Knight and Firion – whilst also implying Terra based on Cloud’s wording.

Onion Knight and Firion glanced at one another, wondering to themselves what was to be done from here. The investigation took priority, that was for certain. Anything else – Food Tech included – would need to be placed on the backburner.

The thought of missing a class was painful for Onion Knight and Firion. Their perfect attendance for the foreseeable semester would never be the same.

However, this case was a necessary exception.

"We'll join the class once we’re done here.” Onion Knight finally answered, keeping a determined mind. "It’d be great if you could inform the teacher."

"Fine by me." Cloud coolly accepted. "We'll make sure she understands the situation."

With that, the three classmates began to make their way towards the Food Tech room, Cloud leading the trio whilst dragging the pouty Tidus against his will. However, Squall halted his movement, seemingly acting as though there was something on his mind. He then glanced back to Onion Knight directly, his glare sharp and condescending.

"Onion Knight…" Squall called out to him in a low murmur. "Choose your friends wisely … you wouldn't want to end up with any odd-balls."

With that, Squall left them and followed the other two. The speechless Onion Knight watched him disappear with a suspicious expression, feeling a sense of rising caution in the air.

…He had to tread carefully around Squall from now on.

“I'll … update the Headmistress." Onion Knight warily stated, shaking his head to return to reality.

"Go on ahead, I'll hold down the fort." Firion nodded back, positioning himself at the door with a firm stance.

Onion Knight thanked him and hurriedly rushed up the staircase, praying that Headmistress Cosmos would still be in the Council Room – or at least in her Office by now. If not, the only other possibility of her whereabouts would be with Cid of the Lufaine.

Regardless, he was desperate to find her as soon as possible … even if it meant searching the entire Academy.

And then, the moment he reached the 5th Floor, he noticed Headmistress Cosmos rushing towards him in a controlled yet hasty pace.

"S-sorry for the delay – *huff … huff...* – I heard about the incident." Cosmos apologized through her exhausted panting, trying to regain her breath. "Is the Female Student safe?"

"She’s being treated by the Medical Staff and is currently on route to the Medical Room as we speak." Onion Knight explained with a serious nod, giving a confident expression.

Cosmos gave out a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness…”

Without the need for another word, Onion Knight lead the Headmistress back towards the room of the incident.

The moment they returned to the 4^th Floor of the Academy, Cosmos and Onion Knight had entered the room. Firion followed behind them, glad to see them return so soon. However, he was also deep thought, his eyes wandering at the sight of the crime scene before them. During the short time he had guarded the door, he was able to claim a pair of latex rubber gloves.  

He began to investigate the Math Room, crouching close to the floor of where the incident took place and picked up possible evidence of the event that occurred not too long ago.

It was as though he was a true Detective.

During this time, Terra chose to stand out of the way, taking her time to recover from managing Rydia's injury and wellbeing. Taking a seat in the far-off corner of the room, she watched her two classmates and the Headmistress search the crime scene from tip-to-toe.

Onion Knight took in the scene at great detail, his mind analysing the many aspects to this whole ordeal and hoping for it all to make some sense.

Silence filled the room … until the Headmistress spoke her mind.

"Has the culprit been detained?" Cosmos turned to question the students, an evidence of concern breaking through her expression.

Onion Knight initially hesitated to speak out, wishing not to namedrop a fellow classmate without definitive proof that he was the true culprit.

For now, he decided to answer truthfully.

"Warrior of Light apprehended a possible suspect. Our … classmate: Zidane Tribal." Onion Knight admitted to her, expressing mixed feelings on how to approach the topic. "Terra and I had found him here facing an unconscious Rydia. There was … no one else in the room at the time we found them.”

Cosmos slowly nodded, "Was there any crucial details about the victim we should take into account? Injuries or anything that could enlighten the case?"

"She was found with a head injury from colliding against the wall after – what my guess was – some sort of conflict with the culprit.” Onion Knight recalled from memory. “She was also missing a Hairpiece that she usually wears in public."

Cosmos then fell silent, furrowing her brow as she came to terms with the situation.

Onion Knight switched over to Firion, who was preoccupied with taking photos of the scene. Through his reconnaissance, he took photo evidence of the broken window and the small, cracked blood mark on the wall, believing they were the key to finding out the truth. Additionally, Firion jotted down notes regarding details of the crime scene with a small notepad, breaking down the important facts whilst they were still fresh in his mind.

There was no doubt that he was prepared for everything.

"Have you found anything, Firion?" Onion Knight curiously called to him, noticing the level of focus he had on the investigation.

"Well … I found evidence that would certainly work against Zidane." Firion stated with certainty, causing Onion Knight to tense up in caution. "However, there's also evidence that contradicts Zidane as the culprit. In fact, it doesn’t make any sense with the knowledge we have on the situation at this point in time."

Onion Knight stared at him in confusion, "What do you mean by that?"

"There were a few strands of long brown hair found on the floor. No student involved in the incident has this hair colour, so that rules the possibility there may have been another person here at the time of the incident.” Firion openly explained, acknowledging Rydia, Zidane, Onion Knight and Terra as persons ‘involved’ with the incident.

As he continued, Firion placed the hair-strands in a small, clear-plastic pouch that emerged from his pocket.

"Also, if you look closely, there are small pieces of fabric caught on the shards of glass from the smashed window." he pointed out to Onion Knight and Headmistress Cosmos. “It’s clearly torn from a student’s blazer.”

"I see…" Onion Knight murmured with intrigue, squinting at the glass shards upon being directed by Firion. "So, how would this prove a complication in the what we know of the incident.”

Firion coolly smirked, as though he was proudly one step ahead of Onion Knight, "If you look closely, the direction of the torn fabric is facing as though the cloth was exiting the room instead on entering, meaning that the potential culprit had smashed the window during an escape."

"…Eh?"

Onion Knight, Cosmos, and even Terra were left in a state of confusion.

“Wait … but Zidane was still inside the room when we found him!” Onion Knight pointed out, further validating Firion’s position on the matter. “What about Rydia’s uniform? Maybe it’s possible that she hit the glass during the confrontation."

"See, that was what I first thought as well. However, I noticed her uniform was fully intact when the Medical staff tended to her." Firion quickly verified as he shook his head, showing no hesitation or uncertainty in his tone. "Taking that into account, the fabric on the window shards seemed far too unlikely to be a coincidence."

Onion Knight was left deep in thought, feeling as though more holes regarding the incident were continuing to appear by the second.

He then murmured to himself, "…The Hairpiece…"

Headmistress Cosmos caught his whisper, glancing over to him with a curious gaze.

“Would you like to speak your mind, Onion Knight?” She asked him.

Onion Knight nodded, a cast of confidence eclipsing him.

"When we found Zidane, there was no sign of a ‘Hairpiece’ in his possession. He had no bulky pockets, nor anything hidden in his hands.” He explained to them, remembering everything he could about the event. “Considering how swift Terra and I were when we reached the room, it would’ve been impossible for Zidane to hide the Ornament in time. Maybe he knows where it is, but … judging by his reaction when we found him, I think he only knows as much as we do right now."

A small moment of silence filled the room. All were deep in thought as the one vital question emerged in their minds.

Was Zidane truly the culprit?

CLAP!

Just then, Headmistress Cosmos abruptly clapped her hands together. Onion Knight, Firion, and Terra leapt up in sudden fright, returning to reality as the switched to the Headmistress.

"Well then, it seems a difficult ordeal has been brought upon us." Cosmos narrated in an upbeat tone, as if she were planning to speak out in riddles. “However, as much as it pains me to say: we won't be able to find our answers standing idle. We'll have to move this investigation up … to the 'next' level."

The students were left speechless, unable to grasp this sharp change of expression in Headmistress Cosmos’ approach.

Eventually, Onion Knight decided to break the silence.

"What do you have in mind, Headmistress?" He curiously asked her.

"I have an idea in mind that may help us solve the case." Cosmos proceeded to enlighten them, as cunning smirk forming from the corners of her mouth. "Given the current circumstances, I’ll need some time to prepare. I’ll have this room closed off from public access for now and will set up for an Academy Assembly."

"Is it a good idea to have an Assembly so soon?" Terra then questioned with concern as she approached the trio. “I don’t mean to step out of line, but … I’m just concerned we may accidentally spread misinformation.”

"Hm-hmm…! You don’t need to worry about that, Miss Branford.” The Headmistress assured her, showing an aura of playful confidence. “I’ll explain everything in due time. You three just worry about your lessons.”

Onion Knight, Firion, and Terra turned to each other in oblivious confusion.

However, they ultimately decided to place their trust in the Headmistress. The three followed her requested and prepared for their current lesson, retrieving all their belongings and proceeded to leave for Food Tech.

However, before he was about to step through the door, a small glimmer caught the corner of Onion Knight’s eye.

“Hm?”

He turned towards the direction of the glimmer. There – hidden underneath a nearby desk – Onion Knight noticed a miniscule shining object on the floor. He wondrously approached the desk and knelt before it, examining the object at a closer angel.

To his surprise, it was a red, crystallized jewel.

Without a moment of hesitation, he picked up the jewel at the cusp of his palm. Feeling conscious that he could lose it, he held it as securely as possible during his brief observation.

Was this part of Rydia’s Hairpiece…?

“Onion Knight! Are you coming?”

As he heard Terra’s voice call out to him from outside the room, Onion Knight carefully dropped the jewel into his Blazer pocket and left the room to join Terra and Firion.

 

Finally, upon reaching the Food Tech Room…

Onion Knight, Terra, and Firion immediately caught a whiff of the mixture of aromas engulfing their surroundings, entrancing them of the beauty of freshly cooked food. They could hear the voices of their fellow classmates, gossiping and discussing with each other as they continued cooking their exquisite food.

Firion and Terra were drawn to the smell with great anticipation, unable to resist the temptation of the fresh aroma. However, Onion Knight felt a sense or irritation overcome him, unable to appreciate the art of cooking as he refused to make eye contact with the teacher leading the class.

"Sorry we're late, Miss." Terra apologetically called out, oblivious to Onion Knight’s change in attitude.

Footsteps then approached the trio, causing a cold shiver to run up Onion Knight’s spine.

"No Problem. Your classmates informed me of the situation." The Female Teacher answered back in understanding. “I’m sure you three are already aware, but we’ve just begun making scones.”

“…”

Onion Knight grunted in disapproval, refusing to acknowledge the Teacher standing before them. Noticing the attitude, the Teacher then switched to Onion Knight directly, glaring down on him with ominous intimidation.

"Is something not to your liking … Onion Knight?" the teacher warily questioned; her piercing glare stuck deep within the boy.

"N-no … it's nothing." Onion Knight regretfully answered back, biting the inside of his lip as he spoke.

"Then look me in the eye when you're speaking, you ungrateful child." The Teacher then strictly demanded, crossing her arms as she towered over him.

Onion Knight hesitantly abided to her demand and lifted his head, glaring directly at his Food Tech Teacher in displeasure.

The Teacher was wearing a neat, white chef uniform over her plain-white shirt and smooth, black-laced office skirt. Although held back by hair-netting, her dark-silver, wavering hair was thick and luscious – giving off a sense of dark beauty underneath her strict aura.

Her name: Cloud of Darkness.

"S-sorry … Miss." Onion Knight apologised in detest, feeling belittled by the presence.

"Apology accepted." Cloud of Darkness calmly nodded, returning to her initial tone. "Now then: Firion, I need you to assist Bartz with his scones as he’s on his own … and clearly struggling. Terra and Onion Knight: you two will be paired up for this session."

The three responded with accepting nods, shifting to their designated workspaces without question.

The Food Tech room was styled exactly like a large, open kitchen. Filled with various cooking equipment and several machines processing at once, the walls were covered in various posters and sheets of paper reminding students of the ideal diet and unique recipes. Air vents were situated throughout the room’s ceiling, allowing for steam and smoke to be vented out efficiently.

And, of course, the ingredients found throughout the room were of plenty.

For the next 30 minutes, Onion Knight and Terra had quickly set up and began cooking making their scones. Hoping to catch up with the rest of their class, it had not taken them long to prepare the first set for baking.

Everything was going smoothly … until it came to the baking.

Every attempt was an utter failure – burnt to a crisp and left completely inedible.

"Onion Knight! Throw them away and try again!" Cloud of Darkness commanded the instant she spotted Onion Knight's failure. "You’re wasting tonnes of valuable ingredients."

"Wha-!? Again!? B-but … it's my 5^th attempt!!!" Onion Knight yelled back in despair, unable to accept his constant failures.

"Tsk…! Such irony! You call yourself the 'Onion Knight' and yet you cannot even cook something as simple as scones!" Cloud of Darkness returned in a mocking tone, a low, darkened chuckle escaping her breath as she spoke. "Just look at Squall's! Utter perfection! I would even consider it a masterpiece compared to the travesty on your baking tray!"

Feeling humiliated beyond belief, Onion Knight glanced over to Squall’s workspace … and was left in complete shock.

The entirety of Class 13A gathered around Squall's work area in awe, gazing at his tray of perfectly browned scones with admiration and inspiration. Squall showed off no expression whatsoever, finding the attention agitating and a clear invasion of his personal space.

"Woah! How did you make them SO TASTY!?" Tidus wondered out loud with his usual burst of excitement, chomping down on one of the scones. "Are you an undercover Chef or something!?"

Squall glared at his over-excitable classmate with scorn.

"Err … no." He flat-out denied, desiring to end this overwhelming attention. "My pathetic Dad refuses to cook at home with using his usual 'Leg Cramp' excuses, so … I just do it myself."

"Wow, this is amazing!" Bartz shouted out cheerfully, feeling the taste of greatness in his mouth as he followed Tidus’ in scoffing down a scone.

Slap!

“Knock it off!” Squall yell out, immediately slapping the scone out of Bartz’s grasp. “…Take your time with it, at least.”

Onion Knight dipped his head in depression, feeling the utter defeat from his terrible cooking skills. Terra placed a hand on his shoulder and quietly giggled, giving her usual sweet smile of assurance.

"Don't worry, Onion Knight." Terra comforted him, briefly eyeing Squall's workspace in the process. "I'm sure you'll get it right … one day."

“It doesn't help with ‘Miss Strict' over there constantly dragging me through the mud whenever I slip up." Onion Knight depressingly pouted, glaring towards Cloud of Darkness with detest. "She's been mocking me about my poor cooking skills since Day One!"

"Well, look on the bright side: at least Warrior of Light isn't here to mock you senselessly." Terra then reminded him, pointing out that the Class and Council President was nowhere in sight.

"That’s … true." Onion Knight admitted as he raised his head, only just realising the absence of his rival. "I’d expected him to return by now.”

Click!

Just as he finished his sentence, the door to the Food Tech Room suddenly opened. A member of the Medical Staff entered the room and instantly caught attention of Terra and Onion Knight. The rest of Class 13A turned and watched the Medical Staff with curiosity, wondering about the commotion.

"Onion Knight. Terra Branford." The Medical Staff Member hastily called, trying to gain back her breath. "Rydia’s just regained consciousness … and she wishes to speak to you!"

Onion Knight straightened up. His eyes were set as the thought of finally escaping the lesson crossed his mind. He switched to Cloud of Darkness’ direction, hoping she would approve of his unexpected leave.

"It's fine, they can go." Cloud of Darkness formally approved, nodding towards the Medical Staff Member without a second thought.

Onion Knight felt his heart leap with determination, swiftly packing up his work surface and leaving the room with Terra within seconds of approval.

Cloud of Darkness glared as the two left, wondering as to why they were in such a rush.

 

The Medical room, Dissidia Academy’s 1^st Floor…

Both Onion Knight and Terra reached the Medical Room with no time to waste. As they opened the door, they both caught a glance of Rydia sitting up on one of the medical beds – conscious yet seemingly distant to the world.

"Rydia, how are you feeling?" Onion Knight politely asked her, stepping up beside the bed with Terra by his side.

"I'm … fine, thank you."Rydia returned with a cheerful yet absent smile. "I just wanted to say Thank You for earlier."

Onion Knight and Terra smiled back appreciatively, relieved to see Rydia making a safe recovery. However, a sense of uncertainty crossed Onion Knight’s mind as he noticed the lack of focus in her eyes.

He sat down on the chair close to the bed and focused solely on her.

"Rydia – if it’s ok with you – there’s something important I'd like to discuss." Onion Knight informed her, expressing a serious tone as he spoke. "Do you remember anything about the incident that took place earlier? Do you know the person who attacked you? DO you know why they attacked you?"

Rydia hesitated, having trouble to form her words.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, Rydia.” Terra then assured her kindly, feeling her friends struggle to speak.

"I…"

As she finally broke her silence, tears could be seen forming in his eyes.

"I’m sorry … I can't remember the incident at all."

Just then, her tear-filled face fell into the palms of her hands, breaking down in tears. Terra hastily perched next to her on the bed and placed an arm around her to comfort her, feeling pained to see Rydia in such a state.

"M-my Hairpiece…" Rydia continued to weep, unable to stop sobbing. "It was a gift from my Mother! I m-must get it back!"

Onion Knight leaned back on his chair in silent frustration, feeling as though they hit a sudden roadblock in finding the truth.

Without Rydia unable to recall anything in context of the incident that befell her, the difficulty of solving the case rose exponentially. He was left in his own thoughts, brainstorming for whatever potential leads that was left at his disposal.

However, aside from Zidane, he was at a loss.

Click! Swing…!

Just then, the door to the Medical Room opened. A proud yet unexpectedly excitedly Headmistress Cosmos emerged, approaching the students with an aura of positivity.

"There’s no need to worry.” She assured the sobbing Rydia, showing a calm smile as she stepped up to the bed. “We'll solve this case and reunite you with your Hairpiece in no time."

At first, Onion Knight and Terra glanced to one another, unable to determine what the Headmistress had up her sleeve. They then switched back, hoping to hear some good news from all of this.

"Could you please tell us what’s on your mind, Headmistress Cosmos?" Onion Knight openly requested, his heart beating with anticipation.

"Well, it's rather simple." The Headmistress answered, giving a rare, excitable smirk during her explanation. "During the upcoming Assembly, the Academy will proceed with a ‘Court Trial’."

Onion Knight stared blankly, struggling to process what he had just heard.

"I-I’m sorry, did you say … a Court Trial?" He vacantly requested, rising from his seat in the process. "Won’t we need Lawyers? A Prosecutor? …A JUDGE!?"

The Headmistress looked upon him with light amusement, showing no change in attitude.

"I'll be bringing in an old friend of mine: an official High-Judge in the Court of Law." Cosmos proudly answered. "However, I have decided that two gifted Students will be bestowed the roles of ‘Lawyer’ and ‘Prosecutor’."

Onion Knight and Terra listened in intensely.

"I will appoint Warrior of Light the role of Prosecutor.” Cosmos then announced. “Whilst you – Onion Knight – will defend Zidane in the upcoming Court Trial."

Onion Knight stared at her in bewilderment.

“…What?”

Chapter 10: Vol.3 - Fuelling the Fire

The Detention Room, Dissidia Academy’s Top Floor…

Situated close to the Headmistress' Office and Student Council Room, the Detention Room was small, plain, and as boring as one would expect. Used to isolate delinquent and rebellious Students from the rest of the Academy, many would compare it to an Interrogation Room or a Prison Cell.

The walls of this room were blank and devoid of personality, only a small sized window existed – its sole purpose to allow a limited amount of natural light into the room. Situated within this room holds only a small, mahogany desk and two plastic chairs opposing one another, further verifying the room’s primary purpose to interrogate those who had committed heinous acts on the Academy and its occupants.

Thankfully, there are specified limits to the use of this room.

As stated within the rules of Dissidia Academy:

• Students can only be held within this room for the maximum of 2 Hours.
• Students must always be supervised by a qualified member Staff or a selected Student Council Member.
• The Detention Room must never be locked when in use.

It was simple … yet effective.

SLAM!

Just then, the door to the room abruptly swung open, colliding against the wall with significant impact.

Two Students entered the room: a stern-faced Warrior of Light leading the way with Zidane Tribal in tow.

The moment they entered, Warrior of Light forcefully shoved Zidane forward, acting as though he was an aggressive warden in a prison. His eyes were burning with intensity, showing no remorse in his expression as he stared down his troublesome classmate.

The anxious Zidane stared back at him as he regained his balance, unable to finds the words to break the tension between them.

Squeak…! Click!

Warrior of Light gradually closed the door behind him, his gaze refusing to shift from Zidane in the process – giving off the perception that Zidane was merely a cockroach to him.

"C-come on, Light. There’s no need to be so forceful." Zidane playfully yet nervously stuttered, hoping to settle the vitriol cast upon him. "I mean, you could have just-!"

"Sit down."

Warrior of Light showed no hesitation as he interrupted the yellow-tailed boy, gesturing him to one of the chairs in the room.

Immediately falling silent, Zidane complied with Warrior of Light's command.

Screech…!

He drew back the seat from under the table and perched down in silence, eyes wavering towards Warrior of Light with increased caution. Warrior of Light sat down on the opposite seat, his attention solely set on Zidane as he continued his intimidating silence. Zidane sat uncomfortably on his seat, awkwardly averting Warrior of Light's death glare as best as he could.

Finally, with a pen and a notebook set on the table, Warrior of Light broke his silence and began his interrogation.

"Due to previous reputations, I’m sure you understand why I detained you." Warrior of Light expressed with a severe tone, his intimidation towering over the anxious Zidane.

Zidane hesitated at first, feeling as though the walls around him were gradually closing in.

"Hehe… Y-yeah.” Zidane nervously chuckled, playing off the serious aura to prevent becoming overwhelmed. “You could say – I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

As he spoke, Warrior of Light commenced with jotting down his notes – further setting Zidane on edge.

"I see…” Warrior of Light lowly murmured, glaring back at him with a clear cast of doubt. “For someone who’s just been accused of Theft and Assault, you seem more ‘chilled’ than I expected you to be."

“Hahahaa…! You know me, Light!” Zidane reactively played off. “Considering everything that’s happened, I’ve got to keep a cool head … right?”

“…”

Warrior of Light was completely unconvinced, staring back at Zidane in judging silence before jotting down a few more notes.

Zidane let out a deep, frustrated sigh.

“Tsk…! Who am I kidding…?” He then quietly muttered, throwing away the playful demeanour like a useless mask. “You’ll never believe me, no matter what I say.”

“…Oh?” Warrior of Light glanced back at him with intrigue, a hint of ridicule in his tone. “And what makes you say that?”

“You’ve detested me since Day 1.” Zidane then exclaimed, remembering their brief encounter on the first day of the new Semester. “All because I temporarily stole your dumb badge.”

“I can’t deny, you certainly made things … inconvenient.” Warrior of Light formally admitted. “However, to simply claim that I ‘detest’ you is unfounded.”

“Unfounded? I’m not a moron, Light.” Zidane scoffed amusedly. “The way you acted when you detained me earlier was proof enough that you despise me. If I remember correctly, you called me: ‘a piece of filth’.”

“Hmm … so I did.”

Hearing Warrior of Light’s uncaring response, Zidane sat back in his seat as he continued to speak his mind.

“You think I’m ‘guilty’, don’t you…?” He playfully assumed, hoping to turn the tables on the accusation. “You believe I was the one who assaulted Rydia. You believe I was the one who stole her Hairpiece. In fact, I bet you already saw me as the ‘guilty’ party the moment you entered that room.”

"Do you have any proof that I'm wrong?" Warrior of Light hit back in an instant, his glare intensifying as he awaited an answer.

Zidane abruptly froze up, thrown completely off his stride as he backed into a corner once again.

"No, I don't…” He regretfully admitted, his body tense as he thought of a snappy comeback. “Do you have any proof that I’m the culprit, though?”

"Don't get cocky with me." Warrior of Light growled with a slightly raised voice, holding his dominance. "There is an investigation in progress as we speak. So, I'd suggest you mind your mouth if I were you."

A hidden grin began to curl from the corner of Zidane’s mouth, noticing the slight change in tone from the Council President.

"Face it, Light. You're blinded by your own arrogance." Zidane assured him, waving off the serious tone. "If you weren’t so ‘self-centred’, things would go a lot smoother for you."

"Tsk…! I told you not to call me by that nickname." Warrior of Light reactively gritted his teeth. "How can I – or anyone else with a sense of logic – consider your opinions as ‘truth’ if you’re always pulling such pranks and rebellious acts?"

Zidane leaned back on his chair, placing his hands behind his head as he coolly answered, "I can’t deny, I like to pull a few pranks every now-and-then. But … I do have my own ‘Code-of-Conduct’. I will always prioritize the safety and wellbeing of others over my own. And, I always return the items I steal … eventually."

"Somehow, I doubt that…" Warrior of Light cautiously grunted, adding a few more notes in the process. "Does that mean you considered the safety of Sephiroth and your classmates when you carelessly collided into the Great Globe?"

"THAT … was an accident.” Zidane lurched forward in hasty response, the sense of lingering trauma rearing its ugly head. “No one was injured in the end, remember? And besides, Bartz and I were … justifiably punished for it."

"Fine…” Warrior of Light mumbled, swiftly returning to the main topic at hand. “When I detained you, you claimed that you were ‘not the culprit of the incident’ that transpired in Math Room 3. Tell me, why were you at the scene of the crime?”

“Erk!”

Zidane's tail suddenly twitched, causing Warrior of Light to narrow his gaze with intrigue.

As though to purposely avoid eye contact, Zidane awkwardly glanced away from Warrior of Light's tense gaze.

"I-I … was just-! You know…! I was just i-in the room next door … when it happened." Zidane stammered as he spoke, sweat appearing to slide from his brow. "I heard the scream … and I came running to check it out, that’s all."

Slam!

"Too vague!” Warrior of Light slammed in complaint, straightening up his posture as he pursued the interrogation further. "What are you hiding from me, Zidane? I require a fool-proof alibi! What were you doing in the room next door to the incident?"

"N-nothing! I was doing nothing!" Zidane hastily shook his head, refusing to comply.

It was then that he knew: Warrior of Light had hit the jackpot.

"Come now, Zidane." Warrior of Light menacingly teased, refusing to dwindle. “You can’t surely believe that you’d get away with just ‘that’? I need details.”

"I know that!" Zidane yelled back, his demeanour falling apart completely. "It's just … I don't feel it's the right time for me to explain my side of the story. At least … not right now."

"And when would be the right time?" Warrior of Light hastily pursued, towering over Zidane as he took to his feet. “Honestly, I see NOW as the best time for you to come clean. The more secrets you hold from me, the more it’ll bite you back when all the cards are on the table.”

“Come on, man…!” Zidane then sighed in a slump. “What happened to the fair Light who helped Bartz when he was in a jam on the first day of Semester?”

"I told you ... to stop calling me by that nickname!" Warrior of Light blurted out, agitated by Zidane’s insistence.

"But your name is such a mouthful!" He complained in a moping expression. "If it bothers you so much, why don't you just tell everyone your 'actual' name?"

"My actual name…?" Warrior of Light hesitated in surprise, lowering his head in a somewhat shameful expression. "I was never given one."

"Wha–…? Wait, seriously!?" Zidane abruptly gaped, leaping up on his seat. "Man … that must suck! I mean, that must REALLY suck for you!"

"Stay on topic!” Warrior of Light demanded, refusing to diverge any longer. "Why are you trying to avoid this!? You were so desperate in proving your innocence, and yet you’re constantly refusing to explain your side of the situation!"

"Because you have a clear bias against me!” Zidane shot back, standing his ground against his accuser. “If I told you now, you’ll only spin the narrative in your favour!”

Warrior of Light fell silent, frozen in place as he stared daggers upon Zidane.

Zidane saw right through him. The yellow-tailed boy had seen it before: people who care little of the situation aside from their own benefits. Even though he was backed to a corner, he refused to give in to the pressure.

Letting out a small groan in frustration, Warrior of Light realized the inevitable had arrived. He felt it was unnecessary to pursue the interrogation further, believing he would only be wasting time. Instead, he opted to leave this mess to the higher-ups – the Academy Teachers – whilst he figured out his next move.

He left his seat and stepped towards the door, “We’re done here.”

"H-Hey! What am I supposed to do now!?" Zidane demanded in bafflement; his palms firmly pressed against the desk as he yelled. "You can’t just leave me here!”

Warrior of Light veered his head back in acknowledgment, "Relax. I'll have a member of staff watch over you whilst I consult with the Headmistress. Just sit tight and behave."

Zidane then watched as the Council President left the Detention Room, slumping back on his seat in defeat.

Alone in the room, he let out a long-winded sigh.

“…But it wasn’t me, I swear…”

 

Outside the Detention Room…

Click!

Warrior of Light stood in silence in the middle of the Top Floor corridor, hearing the room close behind him.

He took a moment to regain his composure, staring towards the large, open widow before him – deep in thought.

"…I told him not to refer to me by that silly nickname." Warrior of Light groaned, crossing his arms and keeping his usual elegant posture.

“Why don’t you just tell everyone your ‘actual’ name?”

Hearing Zidane’s words echo throughout his mind, his expression twisted into an angered scowl.

“How can I when I don’t even have one?” He bitterly growled, his body completely tensed up at the thought.

That name. ‘Light’.

Why was he so against such a petty – yet harmless – nickname?

He was fully aware that others only used it for convenience, yet deep down he felt as though he was being mocked for lacking a true name. It was a reasonable concept on the on the surface, as still it irritated him more so than anything else.

Was that due to their misguidance? Or, was it an internal issue that he needed to resolve?

Swiftly returning to reality, Warrior of Light focused on his attempted interrogation with Zidane.

Overall, it was unsuccessful. Nothing crucial was gained from Zidane fir the case, and all it left was more questions and frustrations for the Council President. All he could recollect was the words directed at him, echoing throughout his mind in a repetitive loop.

“What happened to the ‘fair’ Light who helped Bartz when he was in a jam on the first day of Semester?”

“Tsk…!”

Warrior of Light bluntly tutted in rejection, brushing off the lingering reflection before it became to troublesome.

"You seem like a lost lamb standing in the middle of this corridor.” A sudden, deep voice then called out to him. “Is something on you mind?"

In that instant, a repulsive shiver crawled up Warrior of Light’s spine as he regrettably recognised the voice that approached him. He could feel a looming shadow tower over him, breathing down his neck like a ghoul closely observing its next victim.

"Some breathing room would be much appreciated, Garland?" Warrior of Light moodily retorted.

“…Apologies.”

As requested, Garland took a step back, allowing Warrior of Light room to feel comfortable with the space around him.

Warrior of Light let out a low sigh in relief.

"Well, now I know how it feels like to be Onion Knight…"

He then directed attention onto Garland, an irritable expression cast upon him.

"So, why are you here?"

"Well – if you must know – I was taking a short stroll around the Academy…” Garland began to explain, setting an odd tone of gracious and formal under his demonic-looking helmet. “During this stroll, I just happened to notice your presence nearby.”

Warrior of Light’s gaze narrowed with a cast of doubt, feeling an ulterior motive was being considered by the ominous teacher.

“I had recently heard about the incident. It saddens me to hear about the assault on the poor girl.” Garland continued, expressing his sympathy for Rydia. “I was just discussing with the Headmistress on the subject, and she spoke about you dealing with the supposed 'suspect' of the case at hand. And so, I thought it would be wise to check up on your interrogation."

With a sigh, Warrior of Light nodded in understanding as he complied.

"I see … unfortunately, the investigation was unsuccessful." Warrior of Light admitted as he switched his sight towards the Detention Room door. "I gained nothing out of Zidane … and in the end, all he did was waste my time."

"Do you wish for any assistance?" Garland suggested upon hearing his woes, showing his generosity.

Warrior of Light glared towards him with hesitation, cautious as to whether to take him up on his offer.

"Yes … I could do with some help.” He bitterly admitted as he eventually gave in, gritting his teeth as he spoke. “I need you to watch over Zidane whilst I speak with the Headmistress. He has just over an hour until he’s able to leave the room."

Garland nodded as he understood the situation.

However, Warrior of Light found himself already regretting his decision, grumbling to himself. He despised the fact that he required assistance from the Garland – the last person he wished to be associated with right now.

Unfortunately, the decision was already made.

"if you require The Headmistress, she is currently situated in the Medical Room currently." Garland indicated, stepping past the student as he approached the Detention Room.

In contrast, Warrior of Light began to step passed Garland with the Medical Room set on his mind. Feeling there was no need for further discussion, he refused to speak another word to the teacher.

Even so, he heard Garland call out to him.

"Just on a side note, it would be rather pleasant if you began calling me as 'Professor' Garland."

Just then, Warrior of Light whole body horrifically jerked in abrupt reaction.

"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" He bellowed out in a burst of anger.

With haste, Warrior of Light disappeared down the staircase and out of sight.

Garland silently watched him leave, seeming amused underneath his demonic metal helmet.

He then turned … and entered the Detention Room.

 

Medical Room, Dissidia Academy’s 1^st Floor…

Onion Knight was seated on his chair, frozen in place with eyes widened in shock.

The room was in complete silence, the three students staring at their Headmistress in disbelief. On the other hand, Headmistress Cosmos stood was standing with a proud, gleaming smile across her face.

Struggling to comprehend the absurdity he just heard, Onion Knight broke the tension for clarification.

"I’m … defending Zidane?" Onion Knight muttered with disbelief. "Th-that's ridiculous! How could I be a Defense Attorney!? I don't have the training, the qualifications, nor even the knowledge for the profession! How can I defend someone of the accused!?"

Terra and Rydia nodded in agreement, wondering if the Headmistress had lost her mind.

“It may sound absurd, but your determination and calculative mind-set is more than perfect for the job.”  Cosmos assured him, giggling away nonchalantly. "Also, do consider that this isn't a 'true' Court Trial. This is more of a … first-hand experience for the Academy’s students. I plan for this Trial to help the Students towards an effective thought process in the event of a real-life setting. Additionally, it’ll allow both you and Warrior of Light to overcome a long-restrictive psychological weakness."

"A psychological weakness…?" Onion Knight vacantly echoed, questioning her meaning of the phrase.

And then, as he briefly thought about it, he leapt out of his chair in sudden detest.

"Wait … Are you referring to my ‘short stature’!?"

"Oh! N-no! Not at all!” Cosmos hastily corrected, waving her hands to show her innocence. “I would call that more of a … 'physical' weakness.”

“Erk-…!?”

Onion Knight reactively shuddered, feeling as though he was insulted regardless of her reasoning.

“Anyway, you'll understand what I mean in due time." Cosmos then casually admitted, chuckling away. "Hm-hmm…! Just thinking of the rivalry between you two on the stage just enthrals me with excitement! Oh, I can’t wait!"

Onion Knight blankly stared at the Headmistress, unable to comprehend what was dancing around in her mind.

Then, Terra decided to pose a question, taking the Court Trial into account.

"Sorry to butt in, Headmistress Cosmos. But … what would happen to Zidane if he’s given the Guilty verdict?" She curiously asked.

The Headmistress switched to her with a raised brow, thinking about the question before answering.

"Well … he would be excluded from the Academy with immediate effect." She casually admitted.

““Excluded!?””

Both Onion Knight and Terra felt terror run down their spines as they blurted out their shock, concern set upon them at the realisation of Zidane’s potential fate.

“*A-hem!*”

Clearing her throat, Headmistress Cosmos returned attention on her and continued.

"Now then, there’s something I wish to ask you, Onion Knight." She confidently announced, refusing to let such a daunting reality soil her anticipation. "Without a shadow of a doubt, do you believe Zidane is Innocent?"

Onion Knight hesitated upon hearing the question, lowering his gaze to the floor as he recollected the events.

The Evidence came to mind.

Whist some pointed the finger on Zidane as the culprit, others were clearly a contradiction to the case. There were too many questions to confirm the true context of the case, and a Court Trial may just be the necessary way of resolving the looming mystery set upon them.

With that, Onion Knight gazed up at the curious Cosmos.

"I believe in Zidane’s innocence." He admitted in truth, hesitation in his tone yet eyes set on his task. “I’ll defend him to the end.”

Cosmos acceptingly nodded, "Then it is settled."

Click! Swing!

Just then, the door of the Medical Room opened, a familiar figure entering in haste.

"Headmistress Cosmos, I’m sorry! I wasn’t successful in Zidane’s-!”

He halted his apology, noticing who was in the room with the Headmistress.

“…Huh?"

Completely caught off guard, Warrior of Light stood amongst Onion Knight, Terra, Rydia, and Headmistress Cosmos like a deer in the headlights.

"…And so, the fool finally entered the field." Onion Knight murmured underneath his breath, gazing upon his ‘rival’ with mocking eyes.

Warrior of Light felt veins pop out from his skull the moment Onion Knight made his small quote. His eyes piercing the boy like daggers locked on its target.

"Oh…? Is that a threat?" Warrior of Light murmured in a dark, creepy voice, provoking the situation.

“And what if it was a threat?” Onion Knight confronted him, standing up to show he was no pushover.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The Headmistress slowly clapped, deciding to break the tension.

"Now then, it’s nice to see you two in good spirits! However, shall we-?"

She was rudely cut off before she could finish her sentence.

"I see … so the pint-sized 'genius' developed a mouth to go with his cocky demeanour." Warrior of Light mockingly taunted, crossing his arms as his glare towards Onion Knight intensified.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING ‘PINT-SIZED’!?" Onion Knight suddenly snapped in fury, refusing to let such an insult slide.

YANK!

“AH!?”

“OW!”

Just then, both Warrior of Light and Onion Knight suddenly felt their ears being pinched against their will. Terra and Rydia reactively wince at the sight, caught off-guard by the sudden intervention.

The two slowly turned their heads, feeling a sense of despair as they noticed it was Headmistress Cosmos who was aggressively pinching their ears.

"I would prefer not to be interrupted." Cosmos eerily expressed to them.

Warrior of Light and Onion Knight gulped as their bodies trembled.

"…Do I make myself clear?"

““Y-YES, MA'AM!!!”” The two yelled out in unison.

Cosmos gave them a silent yet simple nod, showing her dominance in the situation. Terra and Rydia held their silence as they watched the fearful event unfold, feeling they would only make the situation worse if they spoke up.

"Good. I’d prefer you two save your disdain for each other until we enter the Court Trial." Cosmos admitted as she released their ears from her grip, casually reverting to her usual personality.

"Did you just say … ‘Court Trial’?" Warrior of Light echoed in a confused manner, blankly staring at the Headmistress as he soothed his ear.

"That's correct." Cosmos proudly confirmed.

Shen then proceeded to explain the details of the upcoming Assembly, hoping that everything she said was clear to him

During her speech, Warrior of Light began to show a variety of emotions – some rather unexpected: It began with curiosity … and then immediately followed by shock and uneasiness.

“Are you sure about this, Headmistress? This all seems rather…?” He then cautiously asked.

“AH-AH! I haven’t finished!” Cosmos instantly interrupted him, shutting him down before he could question her mindset.

“…Sorry.”

Headmistress Cosmos then proceeded to detail the roles given to him and Onion Knight, fully engrossed in her own words to notice the stark shift in Warrior of Light’s expressions.

From the previous signs of uncertainty, Warrior of Light’s expression curled to an abrupt sense of pride and cunning intrigue. Hearing that he would face Onion Knight in a battle of wits along with bringing Zidane to justice, he could not help but show his enthused interest in the role of Prosecutor.

Finally, as Cosmos concluded her explanation, Warrior of Light glanced over to Onion Knight with a confident – yet, somewhat malicious – smirk.

"Oh … this will certainly be interesting." Warrior of Light lowly muttered.

Sensing the threat, Onion Knight’s eye twitched irritably as he knew his task of defending Zidane was going to be an uphill battle. Just seeing Warrior of Light’s smugness irked him, feeling his disgust rapidly boil over at the seams.

However, instead of expressing his anger through the usual bickering and arguments, he chose to shift the subject.

"Please enlighten me, 'Prosecutor’.” He mockingly pressed Warrior of Light, the corner of his mouth twitching as he grinned back. “How was your interrogation on Zidane? Were you able to retrieve anything useful from him?"

In a blink of an eye, Warrior of Light's reaction switched from smug to annoyance.

"No." He admitted in honesty, letting out a depressed sigh. “His answers were either too vague … or he would avoid the question entirely.”

Onion Knight, Terra, Headmistress Cosmos, and even Rydia looked on in surprise, all wondering why Zidane refused to comply.

"I don’t understand.” Onion Knight murmured under his breath, deep in thought. “Why would he try to hide his alibi? When we found him, he was certain of his innocence."

“Tsk…! Is it not obvious?” Warrior of Light bitterly waved off, finding their reactions pointless. “He has no alibi. He’s simply avoiding the subject to hide his guilt.”

Abruptly, the four of them – including the Headmistress – instantly shot a glare towards Warrior of Light without warning, causing him to jump back in shock.

"H-hold on now … why are you all glaring at me like that?"

"Did you provoke him, by any chance?" Cosmos questioned, curious as to how the interrogation had unfolded between them.

"N-no, I didn't-!"

"Zidane may have clammed-up due to the constant pressure." Terra then suggested, accidentally interrupting him.

"I did what I was required to-!"

"Well, no wonder you failed!" Onion Knight then blurted out, intentionally interrupting him. "Why would anyone want to speak to you after all your nagging!?"

It was at this moment that Warrior of Light finally snapped.

"WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING ME-!"

Drrring-Drrring…!

The Academy bell suddenly rang throughout the building, an indication that the current lesson had concluded, and the Afternoon Homeroom was soon to begin.

Clap!

Just then, Cosmos clapped her hands together.

"Right then, you three!" She heartedly announced, indicating to Terra, Onion Knight and Warrior of Light. "Without further ado, we must leave Rydia to her recovery. We’ll move on to the Theatre Hall and prepare for the impending Trial."

With that, the Headmistress swiftly took lead and exited the Medical Room in an excited rush.

Onion Knight and Terra decided to follow, shrugging to each other. As they left, the two waved to Rydia in hopes for her successful recovery. On the other hand, Warrior of Light was left gazing blankly towards the door, unable to move his body in disbelief.

He then quietly sighed to himself.

"…Perfect ... just perfect…" Warrior of Light muttered as his eyes expressed a lack of enthusiasm. "Even the Academy Bell decided to interrupt me.”

He stepped to the opened door, following the others out the room.

“What has the world come to…?”

 

Main Hall, Dissidia Academy…

The Headmistress lead the group to the Theatre Hall, a hint of pride in every step she took as she anticipated the upcoming event.

As he followed close behind, Onion Knight began to wonder about the process of the Trial. Would the structure be exactly like an official Court Trial? Or, will liberties be taken due to the lack of experience from both the Defence and the Prosecution?

However, as he cast aside the thoughts, he noticed Terra squirming anxiously beside him – causing him to grow cautious about her involvement.

"Terra, you don’t need to involve yourself in the Court Trial." Onion Knight suggested to her, keeping his eyes forwards. “If it gets overwhelming for you, you can step away at any time.”

Terra shook her head in response.

"Thanks for the concern, Onion Knight … but no. I want to do everything I can to assist you." She exclaimed, expressing a strong resolve in her tone. "Rydia’s my friend and I’m a witness to the incident. It would be wrong for me to cower from this."

Taking her feelings into account, Onion Knight returned an earnest smile to her.

"Well, I couldn’t ask for better company." He admitted in complement, cheerfully nodding away as he emulated her resolve. "And besides … I'll need all the help I can get."

It was not long before the group reached the Theatre Hall’s entrance.

With a small push of the doors, Headmistress Cosmos stepped into the Hall with a grand stride – revealing the room at its absolute finest. Onion Knight and Terra looked on with amazement, taken aback by the sheer transformation of the Theatre Hall's grand appearance.

Even Warrior of Light – as he caught up with the other three – was left in sheer amazement of the transformation.

It was completely redecorated to replicate a Court of Law: Various strong wooden stands were set to house the Judge, the Defence, the Prosecutor, and what would be the Witness’; Flags were positioned throughout the various areas of the Hall, all designed elegantly with the logo of the Academy; Furthermore, it was all lit up accordingly to focus on the stage.

It was as though this upcoming Trial had a high-production budget.

"Welcome to the Court Room. Cosmos proudly announced, gesturing towards the stage as though she was a tour guide. "This will be where the battle for the truth will commence."

The three students were speechless, observing the Hall with trance-like stares.

The Headmistress continued, “Our audience will arrive at any moment, and the Judge for this Trial will soon make his appearance. So, we’d best set up before the chaos ensues."

"Wait … an audience?" Warrior of Light echoed abruptly.

"That’s correct." Cosmos cheerfully answered with an excitable nod. "The entire Academy will be watching the Trial – both students and staff. So … no pressure!"

With that, Cosmos stepped over and onto the Stage to gain a closer inspection of the Court design, acting completely nonchalant on the entire scenario. Warrior of Light was left frozen on the spot, finding this all too sudden for him.

Onion Knight noticed him standing in bafflement, turning to him with a low, mocking grin.

“Are you having doubts, Warrior of Light?” He teased, fuelling the fire for their upcoming battle of the wits. “You needn’t worry. I’ll be sure to hand you your loss before the day ends.”

Warrior of Light immediately broke out of his frozen state.

"Your confidence is endearing, Onion Knight.” He answered back in retaliation, returning the taunts. “I’ll be sure to wipe off that smugness from your face before you realise your failure.”

As they stared daggers at each other, Onion Knight and Warrior of Light stepped up to the stage – With an embarrassed Terra following behind.

With Headmistress Cosmos directing them, Onion Knight and Terra headed to the Right side of the Court whilst Warrior of Light took the Left side. Warrior of Light held his elegant posture as he took his position on the Prosecutor Stand, showing his perfectionism in embracing the role.

However, the moment Onion Knight stepped up to his own position ... he immediately noticed a design flaw.

"T-this Stand … is too tall for me."

Upon that moment, a sudden burst of laughter echoed throughout the Theatre Hall.

“Pfft! AH-HAHAHAHAA! AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA…!!!”

Warrior of Light was the first to notice Onion Knight's predicament – hence the laughter. From his point of view, only Onion Knight's head could be seen emerging above the Stand.

"*Snicker…!* T-that's … that’s perfect!" Warrior of Light wheezed, almost collapsing due to the loss of breath.

"DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH!?!?" Onion Knight bellowed out from his Defence booth, his temper rising to boiling point.

He then noticed Terra desperately holding back her own laughter, placing her fingers over her lips as tears began to emerge.

"Don't fall to his level, Terra ..." Onion Knight threatened her, eyes glaring at her in betrayal.

"I-I'm sorry, I c-can't help it!" Terra struggled to respond, showing her back to him as she attempted to subdue her giggles.

Unbeknownst to the three students, Cosmos was also chuckling – albeit silently.

Snap!

She then snapped her fingers.

"Prishe! I need a box!" She called out to the area behind the stage.

"PRISHE IS HERE!?" Warrior of Light desperately spat out, instantly dropping his laughter.

"YOU’RE GIVING ME A BOX!?" Onion Knight also bellowed out in embarrassment.

In that instant, the Elvaan girl – Prishe – appeared from behind the curtains of the stage without delay. In her procession, she was carrying a sizable, wooden crate she had found in storage.

"Is this the box you required, Headmistress?" She curiously wondered as she stepped up to Cosmos, showing an upbeat grin.

"That will do perfectly."

As per Headmistress Cosmos’ request, Prishe swiftly placed the box behind the Defence Stand. She then turned to Warrior of Light, suddenly giving him a cheerful and energetic wave.

"Hey Light!" she called out to him, showing him a large, boisterous smile.

"Stop calling me by that nickname!" Warrior of Light reactively yelled back, the nickname becoming a psychological trigger. "A-anyway … why are you here, Prishe? What happened to you assisting Professor Shantotto?"

"Headmistress Cosmos personally requested my help to set up the Court Trial." Prishe pridefully answered back, emulating a joyful expression. "So, I thought: 'to Hell with being the Doc's errand girl!' and now … I’m the Bailiff! Awesome, right!?"

Warrior of Light slumped forward onto his Stand upon hearing Prishe's answer, feeling somewhat concerned at the thought of her taking the role as the official Bailiff.

…And he was not the only one thinking this.

"Why do I have the feeling there'll be some 'intentional' injuries during the Trial?" Terra whispered to Onion Knight.

"I think The Headmistress desired some 'muscle' to keep the Court from becoming difficult to manage." Onion Knight silently replied, losing colour in his skin at the thought of Prishe unleashing a rampage on the Court.

SLAM!

“Eep!”

Just then, the Door of the Theatre Hall abruptly opened.

Onion Knight, Terra, and even Warrior of Light leapt back in sudden fright – even a small Eep! accidentally escaped from Terra’s mouth in reaction.

As they all peered over to the direction of the door, they saw a large, bulked figure – sporting a clad of silver armour – approach the stage. The clad of armour was shaped and morphed into an intricate design, featuring a cape that dropped to the figure's feet and horns of the helmet that curved downwards. The individual armour echoed throughout the Theatre Hall as the mysterious person stepped forward, embracing an aura of intimidation to all that face the figure.

This intimidating atmosphere caused Onion Knight to suddenly feel a chill crawl up his spine, not knowing how to approach this new individual.

"Ah, High-Judge! It’s an honour to see you again after so long." The Headmistress gracefully greeted the armoured man, bowing to the large figure.

The 'High-Judge' responded by silently shaking her hand and bowing in return, still engulfed in his intimidating aura.

Onion Knight and Terra looked on in surprise, conscious at the thought of answering to the armoured individual as the Court’s Judge. They silently glanced at each other, both feeling the events of this Court Trial may take unexpected turns.

However, it was Warrior of Light who decided to enter the lion's den.

"Excuse me, High-Judge, may I ask as to who you are?" Warrior of Light requested, oblivious to the engulfing aura of intimidation.

The armoured individual switched to Warrior of Light, judging eyes glaring from behind the Helmet … and then chose to remove it and reveal his identity.

Click! Click! …Shift.

As he removed his helmet, Onion Knight, Terra, Prishe, and Warrior of Light watched in cautious anticipation.

The first aspect of the High-Judge was his short, blond hair and hazel eyes. His expression was tense and stoic, hinting of his experience throughout the many years as a Judge.

"My name is Noah fon Rosenburg.” The High-Judge answered upon request, his dark yet sophisticated tone booming as he spoke. “However, you shall refer to me as the High-Judge ‘Gabranth’.”

Chapter 11: Vol.3 - Battle for the Truth

Bartz Klauser was amongst the group of Class 13A, obliviously following their lead as they made their way to the Theatre Hall. He gazed around wondrously, unable to hide his bounding curiosity as he looked upon his fellow classmates.

During Homeroom, Professor Shantotto had announced to all students that they were to move towards the Theatre Hall for a 'surprise event'. This was announced throughout the Academy, all directing classes to group at the Theatre Hall.

Students were understandably confused by the sudden announcement, glancing and whispering to each other as looming rumours began to transpire. With the lack of Warrior of Light, Onion Knight, Terra Branford, and Zidane Tribal in the room, more questions continued to rise within Class 13A.

Back in Present Time, the group passed through the corridor towards the staircase.

Bartz caught notice of Firion – who was on his lonesome – walking almost ahead of his classmates. Without a moment’s hesitation, Bartz decided to catch up to him, hoping to find the answers they all wished to know.

As he caught up to his classmate, he immediately noticed Firion was focused solely on the corridor ahead of him – as though distracted by his own thoughts.

"Hey Firion!” Bartz called out to him in a curious tone, showing his usual light-hearted expression. “Do you have any idea what this is all about?"

In that instant, Firion snapped out of his immense concentration, acting startled to being called out. Upon realising it was Bartz, he turned to his fellow classmate with a wistful smile.

"Ah! Apologies, Bartz.” He regretfully responded, acting somewhat hesitant. “I'm somewhat wondering about that myself."

Bartz briefly fell silent as he heard Firion’s answer, feeling an uncertain vibe from his fellow classmate.

"Oh, Ok … thanks anyway."

And with that, Firion returned concentration on the corridor before him, his mind completely immersed in the depths of his thoughts.

Left feeling unaccomplished, Bartz decided to brush the lingering questions aside with a defeated sigh – ultimately deciding to hold his patience until they reach the Theatre Hall.

However, just as he was about to settle, Bartz then heard a small conversation echoing from behind him – reigniting his curiosity in an instant.

He glanced over to the source of the conversation, instantly noticing Tidus and Cloud muttering away to themselves – acting seemingly aware of the situation. On the one side, Tidus showed off an obnoxiously excitable expression, continuously fidgeting as he anticipated the upcoming event. Whilst on the other, Cloud was expressing an odd sense of caution, as though attempting not to jump to conclusion.

"Man … what do you think, Cloud?”  Tidus whispered to his friend, consciously holding back on his exaggerated excitement. "Could this ‘surprise event’ be to do with that?"

"Maybe … but we’d best keep it to ourselves." Cloud responded in an equally low whisper, "I’d rather avoid spreading unnecessary rumours."

Huh … ‘That’…? ‘Rumours’!?

At this point, Bartz was unable to hold back, his mind racing as he gradually connected the dots.

Without hesitation, he shuffled towards the two classmates, a cheeky smirk curling at the corners of his lips as he approached them with all ears open.

"Hey! Do you guys know what’s happening?" Bartz asked them in wonder, hoping they would shed some light on the situation.

Noticing Bartz approach, Tidus' initially showed an equally energetic grin.

He started to answer in a low whisper, “Well, you didn’t hear this from me … but-!”

Nudge!

Just then, Tidus suddenly stopped speaking as he abruptly jolted.

Both Bartz and Tidus peered towards Cloud, who had elbowed Tidus before he could run his mouth. With a serious glare, Cloud slowly shook his head to his friend, silently reminding him of their earlier conversation.

The enthusiastic grin that Tidus wore was now wavering as he switched back to Bartz, acting somewhat apologetic.

“Err…! Never mind, I haven’t a clue.” He hesitantly admitted, forcing his smile as beads of sweat poured from his brow. “Sorry, dude…!”

Bartz drew himself back with sudden confusion.

Did … did Tidus just lie to me!?

After overhearing their earlier discussion, this answer seemed far too contradictory of Tidus’ usual personality for Bartz to simply ignore.

What’s going on!?

Feeling completely out of the loop with everything around him, Bartz then looked upon the five present members of his class … and realised there was a pattern.

Firion, Squall, Cloud, Cecil, and Tidus were all showing rather distant expressions – as though they were conflicted with what was about to occur.

This is weird…

Finally, before he could pursue further, Bartz realised his class had reached the doors to the Theatre Hall.

The members of Class 13A began to line up in an orderly fashion, awaiting confirmation to enter the Hall before them.

Bartz swiftly shifted into position, standing behind Tidus and Cloud as he kept his ears open for any more curious conversations. With his curiosity growing ever so desperate, he was considering other methods to force his classmates into revealing details on the situation.

However, these ideas were not necessary at this point.

Click!

The large doors of the Theatre Hall majestically opened, slowly emerging the contents of its swift reconstruction.

The entire class gasped in awe upon the sudden transformation before them, unable the believe it was possible to change in such a short amount of time. Bartz was particularly left dumbfounded, causing more absurd questions to form in his mind.

As they took in their surroundings, they had noticed that other allow classes from the three separate year groups had already found their seating arrangements.

Professor Shantotto guided Class 13A towards the designated seating … situated within the front row seats of the Hall.

Considering that the class would usually be seated further back in the cluster of seats, it was odd to find themselves in such an exposed area of the Hall. They all glanced to one another in question yet spoke no word as they continued to follow their Homeroom Tutor.

They all sat in silence, joining their fellow students of the Academy in wondering what was about to occur.

Amongst his classmates, Bartz was completely clueless of the events that were soon to unfold.

 

Meanwhile…

In the distance from the cluster of seats – towards the back corner of the Theatre Stage – stood Terra Branford.

Peering through the gap of the grand curtains that concealed the hidden backstage area, she was visibly anxious as she continued to watch students obliviously take their seats. Her body was trembling, her thoughts racing as she began to doubt her involvement in the upcoming Court Trial.

She soon caught sight of her class as they all sat down before the stage, many eyes gazing ahead in thoughtless anticipation.

"This is it…"

It was then a voice could be heard sighing out, along with steady footsteps approaching Terra.

The voice had originated from Onion Knight, who appeared beside Terra, curiously peering through the gap to the crowd of seated students in the distance.

Although he was able to hide it in his body language, there was a hint of intensity surrounding the boy – as though fighting back any natural emotion that could jeopardise his upcoming performance.

“I feel like we’ve been thrown in the deep end here.” Terra quietly commented, her heart racing as she attempted to calm herself down. “I mean, wouldn’t there be an extensive process to a case like this - before we hit trial?”

Onion Knight let out a light sigh in response, “It is what it is, I guess. All we can really do at this point is trust in the Headmistress’ judgement.”

After meeting with the High-Judge Gabranth, Onion Knight and Terra was left pacing around in the backstage, extensively recapping the incident beat-by-beat and what was revealed in their initial investigation. They briefly reminded themselves of the Key Evidence related to the assault and what they could utilise to convince the Court of Zidane's innocence.

Speaking of whom, Onion Knight turned back and immediately found the defendant for this Trial approach them.

By appearance, Zidane seemed rather calm about his situation. Maybe this was due to him being used to the trouble presented to him. However, as Onion Knight glanced down, he swiftly noticed Zidane's blond-furred tail was shaking anxiously – the fur itself standing up on end.

"How’re you feeling, Zidane?" Onion Knight warily questioned, facing him with a somewhat sorrowful expression.

Zidane shrugged back, "I've been better. I would say I’ve been worse … but then I’d be lying."

Both Onion Knight and Terra nodded in an amused smirk, appreciating the sense of humour during the immense pressure bearing down on them.

However, there was a thought irritating the back of Onion Knight’s mind … one that had to be resolved before proceeding to the court trial.

"Zidane, if we’re to have any chance of winning this case, I need you to clarify with me.” Onion Knight requested with a severe glare, "Did you assault Rydia?"

Zidane's eyes widened as he heard Onion Knight’s question, his expression turning to surprise. And yet, this was quickly followed with a firm shake of the head.

"No.” Zidane answered him with certainty. "I may be a thief. I may be rebellious … at times. But I live by a code – and I refuse to cross the line."

Onion Knight gave a small grin as he took in Zidane's every word.

"That’s all I needed to hear."

In agreement, Terra smiled to Zidane with an appreciative nod, thankful that everyone was on the same page.

And yet, this was short lived.

"Well then, Zidane. I hope you're prepared for the guilty verdict." A sudden gloating voice echoed. "Because I see this ending the moment it begins."

Onion Knight, Terra, and Zidane all diverted their attention in unison, feeling their positive mood get shot down in an instant.

Warrior of Light stood before them, his arms crossed and grin full of smug. This uncharacteristic approach felt like he had turned into a clichéd final boss from a videogame, taunting his opponents until they would eventually cave in on the pressure.

Onion Knight was the first to respond, unable to subdue his agitation.

"I recommend not getting too cocky, Warrior of Light." He warned his adversary, deciding to play along in spite. "I wouldn’t want to ruin your image when it bites you back tenfold."

Warrior of Light's smug expression suddenly dropped like a hat, gazing upon his rival like daggers.

“Tsk…!”

As he let out a tut in disgust, the two continued to glare at each other with disdain – acting as though they were mentally crossing swords.

Terra waved her hand in between the two, anxiously attempting to snap them back to reality. Zidane simply watched on with an awkward expression, feeling as though he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

This feud continued to thrive … until Headmistress Cosmos finally approached the group.

"I told you two to save the dramatic glares until we begin the trial." The Headmistress irritably expressed, her arms crossed as she stared at them expectedly.

As they heard her speak, Onion Knight and Warrior of Light snapped back to reality, switching to her as they took on an innocence stance.

"I’m sorry, Headmistress Cosmos." Onion Knight hastily apologised, flushed with embarrassment. “I’ll be sure reinforce professionalism during the trial.”

"We’re just discussing our thoughts on the upcoming trial." Warrior of Light waved off with an excuse, acting nonchalant on the whole ordeal. “Giving each other some much-needed encouragement and … what-not.”

Onion Knight abruptly gave him a brief death-stare.

You two-faced liar!!!

The Headmistress obliviously nodded to the two, calmly smiling away.

"Well then, if that’s the case, I’ll go ahead and announce the event to the academy.” She stated in satisfaction, brimming with anticipation. “Oh, and Zidane…?"

Zidane unexpectedly perked up upon hearing his name.

"…Good Luck." Cosmos earnestly acknowledged.

Then, the four students watched as the Headmistress proceeded to walk onto the Theatre Stage. What was constant curious chatter from the audience turned to immediate silence, awaiting the Headmistress’ impending speech.

As this happened, Warrior of Light subtly leant over to Onion Knight.

"Just so you know, Onion Knight: I have no intention of holding back." Warrior of Light warned in a low tone.

Onion Knight gave off a light chuckle, amused by Warrior of Light's ironic caution.

"I’ll be sure to keep that in mind." Onion Knight acknowledged with a small nod, showing a hint of sarcasm in his tone and expression.

Warrior of Light showed off a cynical smile before ultimately returning to his side of the backstage, taking in a deep breath in the process to clear his mind.

Onion Knight watched his opponent move away, instantly dropping his forced expression the moment Warrior of Light broke sight. Giving out a small sigh, he cleared his own thoughts in the process – praying for this court trial to go as smoothly as he could possibly imagine.

…Something that he knew was never going to happen.

Step … step … step…!

However, he then noticed another figure step into view, the sound of a full-clad of armour scraping and clashing against each other as the figure approached the curtain.

Gabranth was now prepared to fulfil his role as the Court Judge.

To Onion Knight's surprise, the High-Judge had not changed out of his armour since arriving to DIssidia Academy – he was even holding his helmet under his arm as though he was ready for war.

"He seems … very intimidating." Terra murmured warily.

Zidane was silent, although his tense body aura was enough to show he was in agreement with Terra.

"Don't worry. As long as we hold our ground … we'll be fine." Onion Knight assured both Terra and Zidane, holding his confidence intact.

Terra and Zidane glanced to him with hopeful assurance, placing their faith in Onion Knight.

During this time, Headmistress Cosmos stepped up to the mic that was situated at the centre of the stage. Standing before the silent crowd, she let out a light cough as she cleared her throat.

"Students and staff of Dissidia Academy, welcome to the end-of-week assembly." Cosmos began to call out, her voice echoing throughout the hall through the corner speakers. "As many of you may be aware – mostly likely from various rumours – a special event will be held herein the Theatre Hall for the remainder of the day.”

The audience looked on as a sudden realisation of the meaning behind her statement was cast over them.

“Yes, this does in fact mean that final lessons of the day are cancelled.” The Headmistress then revealed, nodding to the audience before directing her attention to the teachers dotted around the Hall’s seating area. “Now, I have already informed the Academy’s teachers. However, I must apologise again for the sudden change in schedule.”

Within that moment, the seated students began to whisper amongst one another with absolute glee and surprise. Some were beginning to wonder if the Headmistress was being too generous to the students, whilst others began to speculate whether this was some sort of ploy.

"Prior to this assembly, many of you may have heard of an unfortunate incident that occurred during the latter half of today’s Lunch Break." Headmistress Cosmos continued on, her attitude and expression abruptly turned to a more severe tone. "In this Academy, we take the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students as a core priority. It is our duty as teachers to ensure Dissidia Academy is a safe and secure place for students to learn and grow as individuals for the future of our society. This is a stance that we must respect and follow, regardless of personal expression.

“So, let me make this clear – to all students and teachers within this Hall: incidents such as the one that occurred today WILL NOT be tolerated under any circumstance. What happened to the student during the incident was nothing short of disgusting, heartless, and immoral. I will no stand for this behaviour to go unpunished, and neither will the world beyond our walls.

“As such, I would like you all to consider this event as an example the lengths our society must go through in other to ensure that justice is served."

There was complete silence in the Hall, not a student nor a teacher would dare to speak.

Never had they witnessed their Headmistress express such a severe side to her before, quickly believing they would be treading on uncharted waters if they were to ever oppose her. Even the teachers were hesitant on speaking out of term, finding her fiery glare somewhat intimidating.

It was clear that Headmistress Cosmos cared deeply for the students and staff, further reinforcing her position as Head of Dissidia Academy.

She then took a moment to calm her mind, drawing in a deep breath as she recollected her previously calm, ambient aura. This also allowed the students and staff to express signs of relief, glad to see their Headmistress return to her normal self.

"Now then, without further ado, I shall now pass you all onto Prishe – who will begin the event." Headmistress concluded her introductory speech, acting as though she had never been anything but cheery in the first place. "Please enjoy."

With that, Cosmos stepped off the stage with grace and authority, perching herself on an empty corner seat of the bottom row.

Then, the lights in the room abruptly dimmed. The Theatre Hall quickly became engulfed in complete darkness with only a single spotlight beaming at the centre of the stage. The students were all gazing ahead in sudden confusion, wondering what they were about to observe.

Finally, a figure stepped into the spotlight, hands behind her back in a formal manner and an energetic grin across her face.

Prishe was ready to begin.

Within the darkness surrounding the Elvaan girl, silhouettes had shuffled to their designated stands in silence.

Prishe then closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath before announcing to the crowd of students and teachers sitting before her.

"*Ahem!* … All rise for the Honourable High-Judge Gabranth!" She commanded in an unnaturally formal yet loud and clear voice, keeping any urges for outbursts behind a mentally reinforced wall.

No one moved.

The students were all left completely confused, many looking to each other for someone to make the first move.

Upon reopening her eyes, Prishe immediately noticed the students had not complied with her order.

Due to this, the mental wall holding her back had instantly disintegrated.

"I said … RISE! YOU ASSHATS!!!" Prishe demonically roared out, emitting unrelenting rage to the freaked-out audience.

Her voice boomed around the Hall; her arms crossed intensely as she showed her fangs to the crowd.

"I SWEAR I'LL PUMMEL YOUR ASSES LIKE NO TOMORROW! SO, DO AS I SAY!!!"

The students had all shot up from their seats in unison, terrified at the overwhelming fury brought upon them.

Prishe watched the crowd finally rise before her, easily satisfied by this sense of control. And for a brief moment … she desired to further grasp of control on the audience, dynamically imagining the hijinks she could achieve with this new power.

"That's Enough, Bailiff." A sudden deep voice suddenly echoed out in an elongated sigh, causing Prishe to switch back in alert. "You may stand aside."

Another spotlight appeared beaming towards the top centre of the stage – where the Judge’s Stand was situated. Appearing before the audience on his high seat, the High-Judge Gabranth glared down upon the bailiff Prishe with his sharp hazel eyes.

Prishe, in retaliation, gave out a cheeky grin whilst awkwardly placing a hand against the back of her head – completely losing the sense of demanding authority she had thrived on just a few seconds ago.

"Eh-heh-heh-hee…! Sorry, Judge! I got carried away." She apologised to him in admittance, somewhat embarrassed by her previous outburst.

Then, as requested, she stepped aside from the centre of the stage, positioning herself beside the main Judge’s stand and faced the audience with a formal posture.

However, she then quickly caught sight of her boss: Professor Shantotto. The Professor was sitting with the remaining members of Class 13A, showing off a sophisticated posture on her seat with eyes seemingly closed.

And then, as Prishe adjusted her sights, an abrupt chill crawled up her spine.

It was swiftly apparent that Professor Shantotto was glaring at Prishe with dagger-like furious eyes.

Wh-why is she staring at me like that!?

…It was a question that Prishe had no desire to hear the likely answer.

“You may be seated.”

The High-Judge Gabranth ushered the crowd of students to sit back down, feeling they had enough torment for one afternoon.

"The court is now in session for the trial of Mr Zidane Tribal." Gabranth announced in his booming voice, echoing throughout the Theatre Hall.

Click!

As he announced the name, another spotlight flickered onto the stage, shining a beam of light on the Defendant's Stand.

There were small gasps amongst the audience as they spotted the publicly shamed Zidane. Conversations and whispers began to murmur as baseless speculations and rumours already arose in defamation of Zidane’s character.

And yet, Zidane simply stood there, his body completely motionless, tail hidden between his legs, and eyes downcast in despair. Usually, he would not care for the opinions of others, waving them off as ‘inconvenient’ and ‘simple opinions’.

However, there was one face he could not bare to see, a face that was staring directly at him in speechless horror.

With widened eyes and mouth gaped in shock, Bartz Klauser felt the world around him freeze over. His mind was rattled, trying desperately to recall what happened during the Lunch Break and justify the reasons behind why Zidane was positioned on the side as the Defendant.

Click!

At that moment, a third spotlight appeared to illuminate the left side of the court stage – the Prosecution Stand. Appearing under this spotlight was Warrior of Light, showing his usual elegant posture with his eyes closed and arms crossed, giving him an intense formal aura.

"The Prosecution is ready, Your Honour." Warrior of Light proudly announced, awaiting to slam the guilty verdict on the Thief that opposed him.

Click!

Finally, the last spotlight on the opposing side to Warrior of Light, illuminating the two figures standing in Defence of Zidane Tribal. Standing side-by-side with prepared stances, Onion Knight and Terra Branford were set to prove Zidane’s innocence.

"The Defence is ready, Your Honour!" Onion Knight announced with a loud, determined tone, his gaze set on his opponent.

With that, the remaining lights of the Hall turned back on – albeit dimly to sustain the mood. At the same time, the spotlights began to disappear, allowing the overall lighting in the room to even-out.

Upon hearing the two side, Gabranth nodded in stern acceptance.

"Very good." He formally commented, expressing his approval. "Now then, before we commence with the trial, I must first clarify with the Defence and the Prosecution on one aspect: Do you both know the full extent of the roles you've been placed in?"

Both Onion Knight and Warrior of Light's glanced upon the High-Judge with absolute certainty in their expressions.

"I do, Your Honour."

Warrior of Light was the first to respond, acting as though he was constantly trying to one-up his opposition.

"The Prosecution's role is to investigate the incident, build the relevant case around using applicable evidence, and ultimately locate the truth.” He then continued to explain. “As the Prosecutor, I must present this case with the intention of bringing the offender to justice using lawful practice."

"That was a very in-depth description." Gabranth not to him in compliment before shifting his focus to the opposing side. "And … what of the Defence?"

Onion Knight drew in a deep breath, set to demonstrate his intellect.

"Yes. I do, Your Honour."

There was nothing but absolute confidence in his tone, proceeding to detail the role as though he had perfectly rehearsed to the bathroom mirror not too long before.

…Which was what he did a few minutes prior to the trial.

"The Defence's role is suggested by its name: to defend the accused and allow for a fair, unbiased trial.” He clearly explained. “They must cross-examine the information bestowed upon the court, find irregularities within the witness testimonies using established case evidence. Ultimately, the Defence would be able to demonstrate the possibilities of innocence within their clients."

There was then a moment of silence within the Theatre Hall.

The High-Judge Gabranth took in everything that both Onion Knight and Warrior of Light had analysed about their roles, seemingly satisfied by their answers.

During this time, Onion Knight a moment to switch to his assistant, who seemed to be showing her nerves. With her body shaking and her expression tensed, there was no doubt that the numerous eyes staring was quickly overwhelming her.

It was quickly apparent in she was suffering with severe stage-fright.

Seeing this, Onion Knight swiftly retaliated, hoping to calm her down before she caves-in.

"Terra, don't concern yourself about the crowd. Trust me on this, they’ll be far too focused on the trial to notice you.” He assured her in honesty, showing sympathy for her wellbeing. "If you think about it, Warrior of Light and I will mainly be the focus of their concentration. So, you'll be completely fine."

"I-I know. I-It's just t-that…!" Terra stuttered under her hyperventilative breath, hunched over with a hand on her chest as she struggled to hold her composure. “I-I … I can’t…!”

Onion Knight instinctively placed a hand on her shoulder, refusing to give up on her.

"Terra. Breath." He directed her in clear, concise words. "I know it's hard, I know its daunting. But I can say without a shadow of a doubt: you are one of the strongest people I know. I – or should say: we – need your help in this, and I know you’ll pull through this inconsequential fear."

"R-right. Ok." Terra nodded back with an uneasy smile, taking in stuttering breaths to calm her mind and recompose herself. "Thanks … Onion Knight."

Onion Knight gave out a small yet genuine grin, happy to see her facing the stage-fright. However, this also reminded him of his own mental wellbeing, feeling conscious about the weight that hung on his shoulders.

Then, just before he refocused on the trial at hand, Onion Knight caught a brief glance of the crowd – mainly a certain individual.

He then immediately drew back with sudden shock.

Sitting beside Headmistress Cosmos, Cid of the Lufaine was perched watching the trial in anticipation.

It was understandable for him to be here, considering her was still on the Academy premises at the time of the incident. Onion Knight had also assumed he was told of the situation by the Headmistress, hence seated next to her in the audience.

A heightened sense of responsibility had cast itself over Onion Knight, feeling it was his duty to prove Zidane’s innocence for everyone’s sake.

"As the both of you know your roles well enough, we shall proceed with the details of the case." Gabranth then announced to the court, his sharp eyes set on the court before him with high expectations. “Prosecutor, please inform the court of the case details.”

Warrior of Light gave a confident nod, ready to disclose the details of the incident to the court.

As this occurred, Onion Knight watched on warily.

The battle for the truth had commenced.

"Approximately around 1:05pm, Friday the 14th September – today.” He described in a formal voice, setting the tone for the case set before them. “An incident occurred on the 4th Floor of the Academy building – specifically in Math Room 3. The victim of this incident was 2nd Year student Rydia of Class 13D. It is to our understanding that Rydia was seemingly assaulted with blunt trauma to the head, rendering her unconscious. In addition to this, a valuable Hairpiece – A family heirloom to Rydia – was stolen during the time of the incident. A sole suspect arrested at the scene of the crime – our Defendant: Zidane Tribal.

“More details on this case and the approved evidence of the crime scene will be explained by the Detective of this investigation: Student Council Member – Firion.”

The Theatre Hall was once again silent.

Students were taken aback upon learning the details of the crime, many struggling to process the incident. Speculation on Zidane’s potential guilt was already circling the audience, the buzzing whispers and murmurs echoing eerily around the Hall.

In the meantime, Gabranth had taken in the details thoroughly, nodding to Warrior of Light in satisfaction of the details given.

Onion Knight was listening carefully. However, as he already knew the details, he was more focused on the legitimacy of the details given - what was fact and what was opinion in Warrior of Light’s statement?

He had a sneaking suspicion Warrior of Light was going to cause problems during the trial, feeling he would throw every argument at Onion Knight just to spite him. There was even a part of him wondering if Warrior of Light would be desperate enough to forge fake evidence.

However, Onion Knight hastily pushed that thought aside, knowing Warrior of Light well enough to know he was too prideful to fall to such devious tactics.

Regardless, Warrior of Light continued his statement.

"To summarise the aftermath of the incident: Rydia is currently recovering in the Medical Room. It is to our knowledge that she will make a full recovery – much to our relief. However, it is likely that she may still suffer a form of trauma due to the lasting psychological effect from the incident – so we all must take that into consideration. Authorities are now investigating the crime scene for any further clues and evidence that may further reveal the extent of the situation.

“However, in my opinion, it’s my belief that a further investigation will not be necessary for the case."

"…And why is that?"

Just as Warrior of Light concluded his introductory statement, Onion Knight was quick on the trigger to question the last section of his statement.

In response, Warrior of Light shrugged his arms and shook his head mockingly, showing off a cocky grin.

"Is it not simple?" Warrior of Light carelessly chuckled. "These was only a sole suspect found at the scene of the crime. If we take his past of thievery and mischief into consideration, it would be understandable for many to quickly deem our Defendant as the true culprit."

"Objection!"

The entire Theatre Hall erupted in powerful echoes as Onion Knight bellowed out that single word, throwing out his arm and pointing his index finger towards his opponent with a determined expression on his face.

"An objection…? Already?" Gabranth curiously murmured, cocking an eyebrow. "Fine. Speak your mind … child."

"I shall – ACK!?"

Onion Knight bit his tongue the moment he spoke, the 'trigger word' striking a cord in his mind.

"CHILD!?!?” Onion Knight roared in disdain, switching to the Judge with a wild gaze. “CALL ME THAT AGAIN AND I'LL BREAK YOUR LEGS AND STICK THEM ON YOUR HEAD!"

In reaction, Onion Knight broke out in kicking and punch the air at the Judge's direction, almost leaping at him in ferocious attack.

Grab!

Just then, Terra latched her arms around Onion Knight's abdomen, locking him in place to prevent him from reactively attacking the High-Judge.

"Onion Knight, don't attack the Judge!" Terra yelled out in desperate warning, struggling to keep him grounded. "We'll look bad in front of everyone! We'll never get anywhere with you throwing tantrums every time someone mentions your stature!"

In a small instant, Onion Knight halted his reactive tantrum, flexing his body and mind whilst acting as though he had simply pressed the off switch.

"*Ahem…!* … Fine. I'll leave the leg-breaking for another time." Onion Knight bitterly accepted whilst clearing his throat, his eyes closed as he gave off a sophisticated appearance.

The audience was left staring at Onion Knight in silence, terrified by his abrupt outburst – some even hiding below their seats in fear.

"Anyway…” Onion Knight in sighed out, returning to the subject at hand. “The reason for my objection was due to Warrior of Light’s deviation into his own personal thoughts and assumptions. The entire purpose of his introductory speech was to outline the facts on the case – and only the facts!"

"Hah! I'll have you know I AM detailing the facts of this case!" Warrior of Light hastily snapped back in argument, defending his statement. "I'm just simply stating how this case will likely conclude within the near future. You could even consider it as an ‘insight into the future'."

"Objection sustained!"

The bewildered Warrior of Light and the satisfied Onion Knight switched to the High-Judge Gabranth upon hearing those words. The Judge took a moment to recompose himself after the unexpected shock of the outburst, electing to ignore the Defence’s threat of violence for now.

"The Prosecutor will only state the facts when detailing the case.” He announced with finality, his stern expression alone shutting down any further arguments.

"WHAT!?"

Understandably, Warrior of Light immediately spat out in retaliation, completely baffled by this sudden turnout.

"How could you accept THAT!?” He yelled in protest, feeling insulted by the shutdown. “His objection was foolish and juvenile!"

"WHO’RE YOU CALLING JUVENILE!?" Onion Knight roared out in the background.

"I will not accept such 'assumptions' that would compromise the statement of facts – or as you would say, 'an insight into the future'.” Judge Gabranth explained in his strict manner, ignoring Onion Knight's distant outbursts. “…unless you’re a qualified fortune teller."

"Great … now the Honourable Judge himself is siding with a child standing on a box." Warrior of Light murmured in a depressed pout.

"I HEARD THAT!"

Onion Knight's voice echoed out again in the distance, his body being desperately pinned down by his assistant.

"Well then, we’d best move on with the case." Gabranth announced in a huff, towering over his subjects as he grew impatient of this constant diversion of the subject. "Prosecutor, you stated that you issued a Detective to investigate the crime scene?"

"That is correct." Warrior of Light calmly answered, his arms crossed and eyes closed and he nodded to the court. "And so, I would now like to ask our Detective to step up to the Witness Stand."

As Warrior of Light announced to the court, Firion rose from his seat upon request.

With his face lacking expression, he took to the witness stand with a formal approach. His aura was emitting a serious tone, showing his immense focus to the task at hand.

Warrior of Light cleared his throat, keeping his posture strong and formal as he watched his fellow classmate take the Stand. His eyes were locked onto Firion as a series of questions were set in his mind.

"Please state your name, role, and Academy status to the court." Warrior of Light requested for the courtroom.

"My name is Firion and I am the Detective of this case." Firion answered in confidence, keeping consistent to the tone of the room. "I am a 2^nd Year Student of Class 13A and member of the Student Council."

Warrior of Light nodded with a small grin in satisfied response, accepting Firion's introduction.

"Firion, it’s to my understanding that you were able to find numerous pieces of evidence relating to this case?" Warrior of Light then proceeded to question him, his mind ready to gather the necessary information.

"That is correct."

Firion gave him a prepared nod, taking out his abundance of notes in the process.

"The court would like you to further detail the crime scene.” Warrior of Light then explained, keeping to how a qualified Prosecutor would formally express statements during court cases. “Please, could you include specific information regarding the assault and any potential evidence that was found at the scene of the crime."

Firion happily accepted this request, taking in deep breaths as he prepared his testimony.

"Before I proceed to my testimony, I would like to present to the court the official Accident Report of the incident." He then formally announced, revealing an A4-sized envelope from his bag. "Within this report details the head injury that the victim had sustained along with the cause – a forced collision against the Math Room’s wall. Additionally, the report includes a detailed description of the Hairpiece that was stolen from the victim."

"The court accepts this into case evidence."

Upon Gabranth’s acceptance, Prishe stepped over to receive the envelope from Firion’s grasp. She then handed it to the Judge, who immediately scanned through the notes.

Finally, he placed the report to the side and gave another nod for confirmation.

"You may now begin your testimony, Detective Firion."

 

Witness Testimony: Detective Firion.

 

"I had entered the crime scene soon after the victim was securely transported to the Medical room.” Firion commenced with his testimony, his mind racing with the relevant information required to be revealed. “During that time, I was able to discover key evidence in relation to the crime.

"The first most important evidence at the crime scene was the cracked wall at the windowed-end of the room. This was where the victim had struck her head during the possible conflict between her and the culprit. A distinctive bloodstain was found on the crack of the wall. I can confirm that this very bloodstain is from the victim – based on an extracted blood sample.

“Another crucial piece is the smashed window to the right of the cracked wall. The placements of the broken glass shards prove that the window was smashed from the outside. However, minuscule tufts of blue fabric were also discovered on the window – their direction facing away from the room.

“Other evidence includes tufts of blonde 'tail' fur, strands of long 'green' hair, and marks of unidentified footprints.”

Letting out a sigh, Firion then followed up with his conclusion.

“I wish I had more time to investigate the scene. However, time was against me. So, this was all I was able to find during my investigation."

 

Witness Testimony … Complete.

 

High Judge Gabranth was silent throughout the duration, casually jotting down notes and using the time to review the testimony.

Onion Knight and Warrior of Light were also focused on jotting down notes from the testimony, preparing them as backup if they were to forget important statement and evidence during future cross-examination. Due to her rising curiosity, Terra peaked over Onion Knight's shoulder in wonder for the contents of his notes.

After completing his own notes, Gabranth gave out a lowly amused chuckle – causing some students to abruptly shiver.

"I must say, that was a long and 'informative' testimony." He admitted with a dark grin. "I shall accept these additions as case evidence to the court."

“Thank you, Your Honour.” Firion bowed in formal gratitude, appreciating such generous praise.

"Firion is one of our must talented students at the Academy. His top-of-the-range observation skills are impeccable. Honestly, we would’ve struggled on numerous occasions if not for his assistance." Warrior of Light complimented with utmost pride. "I am proud to have him by my side as a member of the Student Council."

"Heh…! Kiss-ass."

Onion Knight could be heard murmuring under his breath, keeping his voice low enough so his opponent would not overhear his mocking jab.

In that instant, Warrior of Light struck a deathly glare at Onion Knight, feeling as though he was just insulted.

Onion Knight ignored the distant scowl and proceeded to scan through his scribbles of notes, quickly noticing something was off with the testimony.

"Is something the matter, Onion Knight?" Terra wondered to him, noticing his sudden change in expression.

"No … it's nothing important." Onion Knight warily shook his head.

And yet, he felt as though Firion had neglected to mention a piece of evidence from the investigation.

Why would he neglect the Brown strands of hair…?

However, before he had the chance to delve into his thought process, Gabranth spoke out directly to him.

"Now then, the Defence may Cross-Examine the Detective." The Judge announced in a loud and clear voice.

Onion Knight hastily snapped back into reality, shaking his head profusely before answering the Judge.

"I accept, Your Honour!" Onion Knight confirmed with complete confidence, directing his focus to Firion.

 

Cross-Examination: Detective Firion.

 

Onion Knight sporadically glanced over his notes, pinpointing sections that immediately stood out to his curiosity.

He then began his first query.

"Firion, I'm curious. As part of your 'crucial' first evidence, you confirmed that the bloodstain was ‘from the victim’." Onion Knight questioned his classmate, casually stroking his chin as he spoke. "How were you able to confirm this so fast?"

"Simple. I had asked our Homeroom Tutor – Professor Shantotto – to analyse the sample of blood." Firion cheerfully shrugged, finding the question a walk in the park. "Through her analysis, she was able to determine the DNA match with the victim."

"I see..." Onion Knight then murmured, feeling the answer was too vague. "Could you explain the process?"

"I’ll be perfectly honest … that would be impossible.” Firion hesitantly admitted, somewhat expecting this question to be brought up. "Professor Shantotto refused to reveal her research process … no matter how many times I’ve asked."

Onion Knight shook his head in disappointment.

"Then this evidence cannot be 100% reliable! It's impossible to…"

"Objection."

Warrior of Light interrupted Onion Knight, pointing his finger at the boy.

“A rule to live by: never question our Homeroom Tutor and her 'science'.” He casually pointed out, letting out a light sigh. “She has every Academy Student and Staff's DNA on record from the moment they’re accepted at the Academy. It was clearly stated when filling out the entrance form."

Onion Knight stared at Warrior of Light blankly, struggling to find her words.

“Wait, where did it say…?”

“The Terms and Conditions small print.”

“Oh, dammit.”

And with that, Onion Knight’s pursuit was shot down.

Seeing no point in wasting the court’s time, he swiftly pressed on to the next query … one that was not on the initial testimony.

"Firion, were you able to find any relevant data on the Academy’s ‘Security Camera System’?" Onion Knight openly wondered; his eyes set on target.

"S-Security Camera System!?" Firion echoed in a sudden stutter, taken aback by the unexpected question.

"That is correct." Onion Knight seriously nodded. "As we’re all living in the age of technology, I’m sure you’re aware of the Camera System installed throughout the Academy building. And as the Detective, you must’ve considered retrieving the camera footage of the incident."

"I … I haven't." Firion murmured out, his expression left completely distraught.

Slam!

"Objection!"

Warrior of Light swiftly intervened, slamming a hand on the table as he noticed where this conversation was going.

“I suggest you rethink your strategy, Onion Knight.” He informed his opponent, his condescending eyes locked. "As Firion had limited amount of time to investigate the crime scene, he was clearly unable to check the system – let alone have time to consider it."

"Objection!" Onion Knight countered hastily, refusing to lose the subject at hand. "Even though Firion had no time to check the footage, the fact that he was unable to even acknowledge the security camera in the Math Room is rather concerning. This one camera could be damning to the case at hand!"

"Is that the argument you’re going with? Interesting…" Warrior of Light chuckled as he shook his head in a teasing manner. "Then let me ask you: did you 'acknowledge' the security camera in that room during the time of the investigation?"

"I was aware of its existence…" Onion Knight playfully excused, giving off a cunning smirk as he answered. “However, I was certain that Firion had it covered.”

"That’s a shame…” Warrior of Light sighed out in forced disappointment, deciding to drop a bombshell in the process. “Maybe if you weren’t so sloppy in your duties, you’d already be aware of the Camera in that room being out-of-order."

Onion Knight froze up in an instant, his mind at an abrupt loss.

WHAM!

"W-WHA-!? How is that possible!?" Onion Knight yelled in disgust as he slammed his palms against the stand surface. "How did you know of this!?"

Warrior of Light let out an amused chuckle.

"Did you not read the email you were sent days ago? Headmistress Cosmos sent out emails to all staff and members of the Student Council regarding certain Security Cameras being out-of-action due to a malfunction in their wiring." Warrior of Light admitted as he mockingly shrugging his arms. "One such camera just so happened to be situated in Math Room 3. How you didn’t know of this is beyond me."

As though by instinct, Onion Knight slipped out his smart phone from his Blazer pocket and swiped to the highlighted email.

It was then that he found the very words that killed his argument in an instant:

'IMPORTANT: Numerous Security Cameras in Dissidia Academy are OFFLINE for the Foreseeable Future!'

WHACK!

In retaliation, Onion Knight subconsciously slammed the phone against his forehead, cursing out in relentless fury.

“DAMMIT! HOW COULD I BE SO CARELESS!!!”

However, upon of the phone colliding against his head, his thoughts snapped into overdrive.

What other cameras are down?

Onion Knight tapped on the screen, opening the email in a rush of desperate adrenaline. Flicking through its contents, he located the list of cameras suggested to be out-of-order.

There were many, yet none were highlighted to be the one he was thinking of.

"Hold it!"

Onion Knight bellowed out in quick response, the muscles in his body intensified. "Firstly, is it possible that this could be something other than a coincidence?"

"Your mind must be fooling you, Onion Knight." Warrior of Light struck back in amusement. "The email – of which you have not read – already proves that this issue is a mere coincidence. I wouldn’t dare consider you as illiterate, but you certainly need to get your priorities in order."

"I see … and what of the other cameras?" Onion Knight sneakily added, beginning the counterattack.

"…What do you mean by 'other’ cameras?" Warrior of Light muttered cautiously, feeling a shift in his opponent’s aura.

"What else am I speaking of?” Onion Knight shot back in response. “The Security Cameras positioned in the 4^th Floor Corridor!"

"Wha...? WHAAAAAT!?" Warrior of Light abruptly yelped from his Stand, realising the purpose of his opponent’s comment.

Chatter could be heard from the audience, several students discussing and gossiping in shock and awe, equally taken aback by the sudden realisation.

"One camera may be out-of-order … however, there are multiple cameras still in operation!" Onion Knight continued his refute, his thought-process set on overdrive. "The fact that they were neglected entirely is a serious flaw in the investigation!"

"N-no! How could I have missed this!?" Warrior of Light growled in contempt, his jaw locked in a bitter snarl.

"I can't believe it…" Firion murmured under his breath, unable to comprehend his mistake. "I completely overlooked the idea of Academy’s Floor Cameras. How could I be so foolish!?"

With that, Onion Knight took a satisfied bow, eyeing his opponent with deep pleasure.

"Your Honour! I suggest the Detective analyse the Security Cameras and collect any necessary data … with immediate effect!" Onion Knight called out, concluding his cross-examination.

"…I approve."

Answering the Defence in an observant manner, the High-Judge Gabranth raised his gavel.

BANG!

 

Cross-Examination … Complete!

 

"I hereby conclude the testimony of Detective Firion.” Gabranth announced in his booming voice. "Detective, please retrieve the necessary date from the Security Camera footage as requested!"

Firion gave a silent nod in acceptance, his competence as an investigator completely broken.

As requested by the Judge and Defence, he turned and left the Witness Stand, leaving the Theatre Hall without uttering a word – only a depressed aura looming over him.

Onion Knight slumped against this stand with an exhausted sigh of relief. He was glad to see the pursuit had worked in his favour.

He had won the first battle … paving way for many more victories in the immediate future.

Terra placed a hand on his shoulder, showing an equally joyous smile.

"With this revelation, I believe it’s time we take a small recess." Gabranth decided to conclude, somewhat satisfied in what he had just observed. "We shall wait until-!"

"OBJECTION!"

Gabranth, Onion Knight, Terra, and the crowd of students had leapt up in abrupt shock, completely blindsided by the unexpected outburst.

They all switched their focus onto Warrior of Light, who was standing with a confident grin curling from his mouth.

"Why must we rest so soon?" He wondered to the audience, unable to hide his growing amusement.

"We … have no witnesses." Onion Knight cautiously answered back, unsure as to why his opposition decided to object to the recess.

"Oh-ho-ho! On the contrary, Onion Knight." Warrior of Light called out in refute, his grim smile curling as clear as day. "When in fact … we do indeed have a confirmed witness!"

In that very moment, the entire Theatre Hall erupted in utter astonishment.

“““WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?”””

Warrior of Light fell silent as he heard the yells of surprise engulf the Hall, awaiting his time to speak. During this time, he held his dark, twisted smile in anticipation for the chance to turn this trail on its head.

Finally, as the audience fell silent once again, he proceeded to reveal the surprise witness to the court in a powerful, booming voice.

"I hereby call BARTZ KLAUSER to the Witness Stand!"

Amongst the thick of the crowd, Bartz Klauser drew back on his seat. He was left frozen in abrupt disbelief, his eyes widened as the sudden horror of the situation eclipsed him.

All he could see was numerous eyes set on him whilst Warrior of Light's finger pointed heavily in his direction.

Chapter 12: Vol.3 - Partners in Crime

Step … step … step … step…

Firion made his way up the forever-ascending staircase, his consciousness drifting aimlessly as he continued to climb in a zombie-like state.

There was no denying it: his vital mistake was eating away at him.

Flashbacks of the trial were looping through his mind, reminding him constantly of the moment that Onion Knight called him out on his mistake.

“How … could I … be so careless?” Firion voicelessly murmured, the self-confidence he once had completely diminished in one fell swoop.

He was adamant to prove his worth, hence why he voluntarily took on the role as Detective of the court case. He felt as though he was born to take on such a task, believing he was efficient and versatile enough to overcome such a formidable challenge.

So, to not only find out he had made such damning mistake in his investigation – but also to have the mistake called out in front of the entire Academy – was nothing short of crippling humiliation for Firion.

And yet, the only person he blamed was himself.

He respected Onion Knight immensely, seeing his classmate's tough approach during the Testimony a marvellous sight to behold. Although he was only fulfilling his designated role, Onion Knight’s dedication to his performance was compelling to watch throughout the duration of the trial – whether one was sitting amongst the audience or standing on stage as a core member of the cast.

Comparing that to the quality of his own involvement, Firion felt he had slacked.

“I need … to do better.” He then muttered to himself, focus gradually returning to his gaze.

It was at this moment that Firion snapped back to reality, a slight realisation striking him like a jackhammer.

This was his chance to improve on himself, to ensure that such a reckless mistake would not be made again. If he was found to be a weak link to this court case, it could spell the end of the case with the wrongly accused receiving punishment.

In his mind, the thought of such a consequence weighing down on his conscience would be suffocating.

Firion controlled his pace as he leapt up the flight of stairs, determined to correct his mistake. With the Academy Building unusually vacant, there was no worry of being delayed in reaching his destination.

He had one target in mind: The Academy’s Security Room.

Based on the Top Floor of the building opposite the Headmitress’ Office, the Security Room was the grand hub that ensured the safety and wellbeing of the Academy’s occupants – although not without its critics. Some students – and even a small number of staff – consider the Security Room operation as a breach of privacy, citing the levels of security used as obsessive and unnecessary outside of recording everyday student life.

However, for this very occasion … all criticisms became mute.

“Huff … huff…!”

Only a few minutes passed – along with most of his energy – and Firion finally reached the Top Floor.

He took a small moment to regain his breath, leaning against the wall to his right as he purposely calmed his gasps for oxygen. Then, feeling ready to move forward, his eyes targeted the door at the end of the corridor.

He then froze.

“Oh no…”

The Security Room was not secured.

Firion spotted the door slightly open with a small key neglected in its lock, indicating that someone had recently entered the room in a careless rush – or was still roaming in there at this current time.

Considering the options, Firion expected the latter to be true – considering the carelessness od the door’s security. However, deep down, he prayed the former option was the true scenario for concern of his own safety … as much as the possibility of permanently losing the evidence pained him further.

Taking a deep breath, he cautiously stepped over and peeked through the gap of the door. From his restricted point-of-view, Firion could only see the Security Camera System's control centre – consisting of a variety of desktop monitors, connecting wires, and a control panel filled with a keyboard and a plethora of extra buttons.

However, the crucial aspect was that there was no sign of trespassing.

Shudder!

A sudden chill erupted through Firion’s body, feeling as though he was being watched. Hesitant to enter, he first checked his surroundings, expecting a pair of menacing eyes to appearing directly staring back at him.

And yet, he came to the inevitable conclusion that he was completely alone on this entire floor.

Finally, he gradually entered the room, taking the key from the lock in the process and slowly closing the door behind him until he felt the click. He then took a brief glance at the key in his hand, wondering as to who this key belonged to.

Examining it, this key seemed identical to the one he had borrowed from Headmistress Cosmos before leaving the Theatre Hall – from the shape of the teeth all the way down to the near-perfect shaped rounded base. There was no attached keyring or any marks to hint at the owner’s identity.

Firion then switched his sights to the Security Control System – pocketing the extra key in the process – and stepping forward to closely observe its contents. He placed his hand on the attached mouse and began to click away, opening all required folders on the system’s data and carefully browsed on.

With an improved visual of the Security Room, its appearance was what one would expect: Aside from the system setup itself, there were numerous shelves scattered across the walls of the room, all housing numerous videotapes and DVDs detailing camera recordings over the past several years.

However, none of them were dated recent, only categorized up to the middle of last calendar-year.

Continuing through the server, Firion began to subconsciously mutter key words almost – barely a sound escaping his mouth as he searched through the data.

Narrowing his search down to the time and area of the incident, he peered closer to the screen.

"Today ... 1:00pm – 2:00pm ... 4^th Floor ... Math Room 3." Firion carefully murmured underneath his breath, his body tensing up as he prayed for a gasp of success.

His search came up empty.

He gazed as the screen in confusion, "Wait ... did I make a mistake?"

In instant retaliation, Firion scanned and double-checked through several of the surrounding security cameras.

The more he searched, the more he began to realise the problem.

He straightened up, his shoulders drooped, and eyes widened in despair.

“The footage … it’s all gone.” He muttered in realisation, the sense of failure looming close over his head.

Without hesitation, Firion threw himself back onto the system. He clicked away at immense speeds, desperate to find any scrap of for footage or evidence.

And then, after a few minutes of ferocious clicking and typing, he eventually came to terms with the situation – much to his despair.

The missing footage was manually stolen and wiped from every camera on the 4^th Floor, specifically around the time of 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Even the possibility of backups were made impossible as FIrion’s frantic searching left him with the dreaded ‘Not Available’ notice on the monitor.

Using every ounce of hope he had left in him, Firion diverted and dissected the security-related programs in desperation for a hint or spec of evidence essential for the court case.

However, it was pointless.

He was left with nothing.

SLAM!

“ARGH! Dammit!”

In a brief burst of anger, Firion slammed his fist against the system desk in defeat.

He then sighed out, wiping away the beads of sweat from his forehead as he decided on his next course of action.

At first, he was considering cutting his losses and returning to the Theatre Hall, seeing no point in delaying the inevitable any longer. However, a brief sense of curiosity emerged from the back of his mind, wondering on whether he had overlooked a crucial detail during his frantic search.

It was a long shot at this point, but Firion decided to take the chance.

Using various known methods – some previously attempted in his search and others not done before – Firion continued to search through many vaguely connecting files and folders. He scanned every name and timeframe, feeling his teeth clenched and body tense as he prayed for any spec of evidence for the case.

And then … his heart skipped a beat.

Within the deep depths of the system's memory, a 7-second video file – titled 'September 14th – Unknown' – sat alone in a folder full of random numbers and useless temporary files. Firion anxiously anticipated the video, knowing that he had to take this with a grain of salt after being burned too many times before.

Clicking on the file, Firion analysed the 7-second video on loop – mentally noting the time in the bottom corner of the screen as 13:05:56.

He immediately recognised the Hall of the 4^th Floor, seemingly set within the farthest corner from the room of the incident. This made it difficult to determine the details of the events that transpire within those 7-seconds.

This is it.

He thought to himself in determination, knowing there was nothing else he could find.

Surely, this must be it!

As the video continued and looped, Firion caught on to various moments of interest.

The video showed Zidane rushing out from Math Room 4 – directly beside the room of the incident. He then hastily barged into the room of the incident, acting desperate to see what was occurring during this time.

Although the camera was considerably far away from the action, Firion could easily identify Zidane from his iconic long tail and swift pace in his movement. With that said, he was unable to determine the purpose of his actions – given the lack of sound and context of the scene.

And, even if he were to assume the context of the scene, there was no way the court would accept it without definitive supporting evidence to back him up.

And to further Firion's disappointment: just as Zidane enters the room where the incident occurred, the video cuts out and resets the loop.

Eventually, Firion paused the video.

Will this really be enough?

Unfortunately, he could only speculate, believing it to be better than nothing … but not definitive enough to sway the court’s decision.

With time against him, he took out a blank USB Stick from a draw below the system’s desk, sticking it in an available USB port and swiftly copied the data over. Once complete, Firion slipped the USB Stick into his inner-blazer pocket and finally exited the room.

Click!

With him now standing outside the Security Room, he closed the door and had his eyes set on the staircase – ready to return to the court trial.

However, before his considering proceeding, he hesitantly clanked back to the Security Room. He felt the spare key in his trouser pocket, staring at the door’s lock in deep consideration.

He wondered whether he should place the key back where he initially found it, conflicted on whether the key would be useful to the case. He ultimately decided to keep the key, feeling it was at least linked to the missing footage.

…step … step.

It was then that he felt a shadowy presence standing close behind him, causing his body to freeze up in abrupt terror.

 

The Court Trial...

 

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum…!

Bartz Klauser was fidgeting on the spot, his mind completely blank.

Ba-doom! Ba-doom! Ba-doom!

His eyes were shifting from back-and-forth in a frantic motion, feeling his heart leaping from his chest with every beat. His breath was stuttering, sweat dripped from his brow and body quivering in his shoes.

On the witness stand, Bartz was terrified.

From his perspective, the entire courtroom had their eyes set directly on him.

Zidane – who was watching silently on the defendant stand – felt sorrowful for his best friend, feeling a deep sense of guilt that Bartz was thrown deep into the chaos of the court trial.

Throughout the many occasions of their mischievous escapades, this was the one-time where Zidane wished his friend was not involved. He felt ashamed of himself to see Bartz in such turmoil, believing he failed as a friend.

Shifting focus, Onion Knight stood in silence upon the Defence Stand, his arms firmly crossed and deep in thought. His eyes were locked on his irritable opponent’s direction, cautiously questioning what other moves his rival had up his sleeve.

He assumed that Bartz would be involved in this mess at some point during the trial, knowing mischievous pair were usually near each other when a prank was conducted. However, Onion Knight had never expected him to appear this soon, feeling suddenly blindsided by the unexpected turn of events.

He had to permanently be on his guard from this point onwards, as the smallest of slip-ups could cost him the trial.

On the other hand, Warrior of Light had a confident yet calculative smirk, bathing in confidence that he would win the case with ease. He watched Bartz cower on the Witness Stand, expecting the boy to stumble on himself in defending his close friend.

…It was only a matter of time and opportunity.

Onion Knight believed this 'confirmed witness' to be a mere bluff, seeing this was just a cheap way for his rival to find loopholes and waste the court’s time. However, he was unable to deny the curiosity of Bartz's potential involvement to the case, wondering where he was and what he was doing during the time of the incident.

"Now then … shall we begin?" High Judge Gabranth queried in a low murmur, his deep formal voice echoing throughout the hall. "We cannot waste time."

"I agree, Your Honour." Warrior of Light answered with a single nod, keeping up his presentable, formal tone – even with his menacing smirk still morphed across his face. " Witness, please state your name and Academy status to the court!"

Bartz suddenly drew back in hesitation, started by Warrior of Light’s demanding voice as he was unable to adjust to the situation.

"Er... the Name's Bartz. Bartz Klauser." He finally began, breathing heavily as he carefully answered. "And I'm … a Student in Class 13A."

Onion Knight watched both the Prosecutor and the Witness carefully, analysing the conversation and their reactive expression.

Warrior of Light immediately followed up on the next question without so much as a hint of pause.

"It is to my understanding that you’re close friends with the Defendant?" Warrior of Light queried, eyes locked firmly onto Bartz.

"Defendant...?" Bartz then obliviously echoed in question, acting genuinely clueless.

"He means Zidane."

Bartz switched to Onion Knight in surprise, who had instantly answered the clueless Witness before Warrior of Light – or anyone in the court room, for that matter – could attempt to tease and mock him for the simple blunder.

Bartz mouthed ‘thanks’ back to him in awkward gratitude.

"Right! Yeah … we're great friends." Bartz then answered with a sense of pride.

"Is that so?” Warrior of Light responded in acted intrigue, pressuring further on his interrogation. "Then, I must be right in assuming you two have enacted in many mischievous acts during your time in Dissidia Academy?”

"Ah-hah-haa … you know us all too well, Light!" Bartz playfully responded. "In fact, there was this one time when we-!"

“HOLD IT!”

Before the ‘oblivious’ Bartz could damage their reputation any further, Onion Knight was swift to interrupt.

"That's enough, Bartz." He hastily called out, feeling a migraine emerging. "Please keep to the subject at hand."

"Oh? I don't see the problem, Onion Knight.” Warrior of Light chuckled away, although hiding the annoyance of hearing the unwelcomed nickname once again. “I'm sure you’re as curious as I am to hear about their tales of mischief. And, you never know … it could be important."

"What matters in the court of law is the relevance of the witness to the case at hand." Gabranth added in a low, agitated mutter, scowling directly at the Prosecution as his patience was thinning. "From what I can tell, I do not see such relevance."

"Your Honour, I can guarantee you that Bartz is crucial to this case." Warrior of Light explained in announcement, holding control in the matter. "It is my belief that the Witness was closely involved with the crime."

““Wha-!?””

“No way…”

A few gasps and comments could be heard from the seated students, echoing through the hall as eyes bore down on Bartz.

"Where’s your proof, Warrior of Light?" Onion Knight called out, slamming his palms against the surface of the Defence Stand. "On their own, baseless accusations mean nothing to the court. You know this as much as I do."

"Hmph ... I am aware." Warrior of Light carelessly shrugged yet refused to shake off his grin. “However, all I can say for now is … there is no proof.”

There was a moment of silence.

The entire Hall froze up as if time stopped momentarily.

"What...?" Onion Knight breathlessly gasped, taken aback completely.

Small discussions began to emerge amongst the observing students, wondering why Warrior of Light would stoop to this level. Some wondered if he was doing this to stall for time, whilst others speculated the possibility that he had a long-term plan in mind.

On the Defence Stand, Onion Knight and Terra glanced to one another in confusion, wondering what was on the opposition’s mind.

It was then where Onion Knight noticed Zidane's reaction to the statement.

He was suddenly anxious.

"Let’s be honest here. We threw ourselves into the deep end of this court case without adequate preparation." Warrior of Light casually continued, his eyes switching between his rival, the Judge, and the audience as he explained his reasoning. "Our evidence is lacking, we have barely any leads, the initial investigation was rushed, and we have yet to find any credible Witnesses. A normal ‘case investigation’ would take days, weeks, even months before heading to trial. And yet, here we are – only a few hours after the incident occurred."

Onion Knight was silent, listening to his rival with the utmost focus.

As much as he hated the thought: Warrior of Light was correct. They were thrown into the court trial far too hastily and underprepared, lacking in the simple fundamentals that would justify the case.

Even so, Warrior of Light proceeded, directing his attention to the audience.

“However, I am certain all members of the court here are aware of the companionship between our Defendant and Witness. The Partners in Crime and their various antics inside – and outside – the Academy campus, terrorising their fellow classmates for their own amusement.”

Just then, numerous heads in the audience nodded – including staff members, unable to deny the assumption.

“So, is it not fair to assume that when one is caught in the act, the other wouldn’t be far behind?” Warrior of Light then asked the audience, the corner of his lips curling once more. “Or – to word it differently – would it not be wise to pursue our Witness when his partner had potentially conducted a serious misdemeanour?”

Onion Knight tensed up.

The audience glanced upon each other with uncertainty and consideration, many understanding the Prosecution’s point of view.

Even the Judge was silent, observing where this would lead.

And then…

"Whatever game we're playing here ... I'll play along."

Bartz calmly broke the silence, his prior anxiety now completely dissipated.

All eyes had now shifted onto Bartz in a snap.

Not one person had expected him to speak out on the matter – let alone accept his position so abruptly.

Onion Knight and Terra stared in bafflement, cautious on what Bartz had on his mind. Furthermore, Zidane stared at his best friend in bewilderment, unable to what was going through that head.

Gabranth gave out a small, intrigued nod, "Well then, if the Witness wishes to testify, then by all means ... let him testify."

 

Witness Testimony 1: Bartz Klauser.

 

“Zidane and I were in the Math Room 4 when it happened." Bartz described to the court, reflecting on the events. "There were two screams. We both heard the first one and Zidane immediately rushed out the room to inspect the situation. The moment he left, I heard another – second – scream and the sound of smashed glass.

“I didn't know what happened, so I panicked ... and ran out of the room."

 

Witness Testimony ... Complete.

 

The Court was completely silent.

During this time, Onion Knight had hastily jotted down notes and skimmed over the evidence.

In his current possession, he had:

• The Accident Report.
• Photos of the Cracked Glass and the Victim's Bloodstain on the wall.
• Three separate plastic pouches containing Zidane's hair-strands, Rydia's hair-strands, and strands of mysterious brown hair.
• Pieces of Fabric found on the Smashed Window.
• And finally, the Small Red Jewel.

In Onion Knight’s mind, nothing seemed out of the ordinary with Bartz's testimony.

The key points of the testimony matched his evidence so far, leaving little room to pursue a potential contradiction. This was not helped by the vagueness of his testimony, feeling as though he needed to delve deeper to achieve something substantial out of Bartz.

However, he then noticed a single contradiction, yet he was unsure if he could force it out of Zidane with the lack of supporting evidence.

"What do you have in mind, Onion Knight?" Terra quietly wondered to him.

"Well, his testimony is strikingly vague … but I can see a potential lead." Onion Knight answered back in a whisper, indicating to the 'two screams’. "I’ll need more out of him if I’m going to be able to land a contradiction, though."

Terra nodded in acceptance.

"So, Onion Knight, do you have a ‘game-plan’?" Warrior of Light curiously teased, purposely pressuring his opponent.

"Patience is a virtue, Warrior of Light." Onion Knight snarky responded, sneering at his rival before switching to the Judge. “I’m ready to Cross-Examine the Witness, Your Honour.”

"If that is the case, Defence … then you may proceed." Gabranth firmly stated with a single nod.

 

Cross-Examination 1: Bartz Klauser.

 

"From what you’ve stated in your testimony, you were with Zidane before the incident occurred." Onion Knight immediately began his questioning, switching between the Witness and his notes as he spoke. "So that the court is aware: why were you two in Math Room 4 during this time?"

Bartz was hesitant to answer, glancing over to the fidgeting Zidane as he struggled to find his words.

Onion Knight noticed this reaction, subtly jotted down another note for possible future use.

Although silent, Zidane nodded back to his friend as though giving permission for Bartz to reveal their intended plans.

"We ... we were setting up a prank against a certain Math tutor." Bartz admitted in cautious honesty, knowing their reputation would take a further hit upon this reveal.

Onion Knight briefly veered his gaze towards Warrior of Light in curiosity, expecting a reaction from him. From what he could see, his opponent was biting the inside of his lip – as though holding himself back from causing a sudden outburst.

"I-it was going to be harmless, though!" Bartz hastily added in a stutter, expressing innocent intentions behind their mischief.

Taking a deep breath, Warrior of Light spoke up, “Out of curiosity, Bartz: Who was the poor staff-member who would’ve been your intended victim?”

"Professor Gabbaini." Bartz answered in a low tone, acting as though he had a guilty conscience. "He had a lesson in that classroom after Lunch Break."

Setzer Gabbaini ... the infamous ‘gambling’ Math Tutor.

Similar thoughts echoed across the audience, many rolling their eyes or snickering in appropriate reaction.

Even Onion Knight was unable to hide his reaction, letting out a small chuckle underneath his breath.

That … makes sense. He placed the two in constant detention throughout last year over negatively rigging his casino-based lessons.

Warrior of Light simply nodded in response to the Witness’ answer, holding his intimidating silence.

Both he and Onion Knight knew the man in question was watching with the rest of the Academy staff … so decided not to go into further detail.

Onion Knight easily transitioned to the next question; his mind set on the highlighted topic. However, he decided to use his words carefully, prioritising information over contradiction for now.

"You stated that there were two screams in the room of the incident.” Onion Knight then asked, watching Bartz’s body language in the process. “Are you certain there were ‘two’?"

"I'm positive." Bartz nodded with confidence, although proceeded to waver. "...I think."

"You … ‘think’?" Onion Knight echoed with risen curiosity, pressing ahead with the opening to further interrogate. "Are you suggesting that you’re not certain?"

"The Witness answered the question, Onion Knight." Warrior of Light calmly interrupted, his eyes shut, and arms firmly crossed. "There's no point in beating the dead horse."

Onion Knight was quick to strike back.

“The Witness expressed uncertainty in his own statement.” He argued, ensuring his reasoning was clear and concise. “It would be a mistake to not question him further.”

“Witness, please state the reason for your uncertainty.” The High-Judge formally requested, his deep voice booming and commanding.

Suddenly feeling cornered, Bartz had no choice but to speak his mind, “I mean … there could’ve been a third scream after I left the room. But … I wasn’t there to hear it, so…”

Onion Knight – and the rest of the court – stared down on him in utter disappointment.

He did that on purpose…

With a groan escaping his frustrated breath, Onion Knight swiftly moved on.

"Near the end of your testimony, you stated that you panicked and ran when you heard the second scream." Onion Knight expressed, giving context to his upcoming question. "Why did you run away from the crime scene?"

Bartz’s entire body tensed up. He expected this question to emerge eventually, but he was unsure how he should respond.

However, Warrior of Light was quick to answer in his stead.

"It makes sense. Hearing a scream of pain would cause anyone to run away. I'm sure it was a simple case of instincts kicking in."

Slam!

"OBJECTION!"

Onion Knight bellowed as he slammed his hand against the stand.

"Do you not know your own classmates!?” He yelled out at his rival in bafflement, “Bartz is Zidane’s best-friend! Why would he just run away and leave Zidane in the centre of this entire mess? Surely, there’s a valid reason behind his decision!"

"OBJECTION!"

Warrior of Light shot back, pointing firmly towards his rival.

"It obvious that Bartz ran away to save his own neck!” He spat out, amused by his opponent’s attempt to defend the Witness and Defendant. “If he had stayed, he would’ve been exposed as an accomplice."

"NO! That WASN'T the reason why I ran from the scene!" Bartz interrupted the debate in a desperate yell, feeling he was being psychologically beaten down by the assumptions and accusations. "I would never leave Zidane behind!"

Normally, it would be the other way around...

A part of Onion Knight felt a desire to make the snarky comment, and yet knew the ramifications would become dire very quickly if he followed through.

Instead, he pressed forward with another question.

"If that’s the case: then why run off, Bartz?"

"I ran to get help." Bartz finally admitted, lowering his head in guilt. "When I saw what happened, I didn't care about being caught red-handed for the prank … I just knew I had to find help."

"Hold on." Onion Knight blurted as he was taken by abrupt surprise, "So you SAW the incident!?"

There was a sudden burst of gasps from the surprise audience, falling into heavy discussions.

In that moment, Onion Knight swiftly gathered his thoughts.

If Bartz witnessed the incident before he and Terra arrived at the scene, what was he able to see? Additionally, where was he when they arrived on the 4^th Floor?

Throughout all of this, Warrior of Light seemed oddly calm, keeping his somewhat eery silence.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The High Judge Gabranth instantly slammed his gavel against his desk, hushing the audience’s sudden outburst.

"Order! Order in the Court!" He roared out, causing all to immediately freeze up in silence. "Master Klauser, in your testimony, you stated very clearly that you ‘did not know what happened’ before you ran from the scene. Does this mean that you lied to the court?"

"N-no, that's not true at all!" Bartz objected to the Judge in a sudden panic, realising his mistake. "I saw the incident, but I didn't know what to make of it! The room was so dark and all I could see was Zidane entering the room."

"So, why was this not included in the testimony?" Gabranth pressed the Witness directly, seemingly taking over Onion Knight’s role. "You DO realise this is a very important inclusion to the case?"

Bartz shook his head in denial, unable to speak.

Gabranth sighed in response, finding Bartz’s obliviousness to the situation rather frustrating.

"Due to this revelation, I must ask the Witness to testify what he witnessed of the crime scene before leaving the area." He concluded, holding up his gavel.

However, before he could slam his gavel, there was an unexpected interruption.

"WAIT, YOUR HONOUR!"

Onion Knight yelled out in haste, knowing he would lose his chance if he had not spoken up.

Both Gabranth and Warrior of Light switched over to Onion Knight with intimidating glares, wondering as to why the trial was now held up. This was followed by the rest of the court, causing both Onion Knight and Terra to feel forced against a corner.

"There are crucial points I MUST clarify before we continue." Onion Knight gritted his teeth as he explained his reasoning, his fiery eyes glaring back at the Judge. "This may turn the case on its head.”

"Fine, do as you must." Gabranth growled in bitter acceptance, disgusted by the sudden interruption.

Warrior of Light watched on in curious silence, an eyebrow raised with intrigue.

"Bartz, I would like you to recite the second line in your testimony." Onion Knight demanded, oblivious to the desperation in his voice.

"Erm ... Ok." Bartz stammered in response, wondering why Onion Knight was taking such an odd approach. "There were … two screams-"

"I OBJECT THIS STATEMENT!"

Onion Knight interrupted Bartz completely before he could even finish the request, throwing every member of the courtroom completely off-guard.

“Why are you objecting?" Warrior of Light questioned his rival in confusion. “Bartz clearly stated that there were two screams. End of story."

Onion Knight began to chuckle away, finding this all rather amusing. "That is very true, and I can respect that ... until I realised that it's a fatal contradiction!"

"H-HUH!?"

Warrior of Light blurted out in shock, his eyes widening at the baffling statement.

The crowd of students – and even teachers – began discussing amongst themselves with excitement. Onion Knight gave off a cocky grin, feeling as though he was playing his cards right.

"You see, there was clearly one scream during the incident!" Onion Knight revealed to the court, pursuing his attack in full force. "Either the witness is confused, or he's lying to the court!"

"OBJECTION!" Warrior of Light roared back in retaliation, pointing out in sudden anger. "Where’s your proof!?"

"You ask a valid question, Warrior of Light." Onion Knight commented cheekily, eager to continue. "The answer I must give you is ... We are the proof!"

There was sudden silence in the hall, every person froze up in confusion, and their mind's unable to process Onion Knight's statement.

"W-what are you talking about?" Warrior of Light gasped in confusion, almost speechless. "How is THAT proof!?"

"How is that NOT proof!? Don’t forget, Terra and I are also valid Witnesses to the case. We heard one scream before we reached the scene of the crime." Onion Knight argued with a confident expression, backing up his claim. "Answer me, Bartz! The 'two screams' statement was false, and you know it!"

"W-wait, Onion Knight!" A worried Terra called out in haste, noticing Onion Knight had made a misstep.

"What the matter, Terra?" Onion Knight asked back obliviously, noticing Terra concern.

BANG!

"The initial objection has been overruled!" Gabranth suddenly announced as he slammed his gavel, a stern glare shot directly at Onion Knight. "A penalty will be placed against the Defence unless valid proof is shown to the court."

"WHAT!? But that WAS solid proof!" Onion Knight yelled back in sudden anger.

"No evidence was shown to back up the claim. Instead, you chose to use your own accusations for the purpose of gaining a false lead." Gabranth explained with a low sigh, showing disappointment in the Defence.

Onion Knight instantly felt his burst of excitement drain out of his body, falling pale in the process. Instead, he was now filled with the weight of despair for losing his ideal lead, sending him back to square one.

Terra felt somewhat sympathetic for him, saddened that he was unable to continue with what they knew was the truth. However, she expected this outcome the moment he brought up the topic, wishing she had intervened sooner.

"Give it up, Onion Knight." Warrior of Light suggested as he shrugged, showing off a teasing grin as he tried to hide his laughter. "Giving such baseless assumptions only leads to downfall. You know that all too well."

Onion Knight snarled in bitter response, struggling to comprehend his mistake. His mind was racing, hastily considering his next form of approach.

Seeing such turmoil from the opposition, Warrior of Light gave of a satisfied posture as his expressed further amusement in watching his rival fall over his own mistake.

"F-fine.” Onion Knight murmured, a heavy breath escaping him as he returned to form. “However, I must ask one more question before we press on.”

He then switched to the Witness directly.

“Bartz, why didn’t we see you when we arrived at the crime scene?"

"Wha-!? I, err..." Bartz suddenly blurted out, abruptly fidgeting on the Witness Stand.

Got him.

Onion Knight's mind clicked as his confidence returned, knowing exactly where to go from here.

"You're persistent, Onion Knight." Warrior of Light infuriatingly growled, believing this to be a waste of time. "You know this will get you nowhere! Is a penalty not good enough for you!?"

"You may wish to rethink your approach, Warrior of Light." Onion Knight warned with a cunning grin. "When we reached the 4^th Floor, Terra and I should’ve seen Bartz whilst we approached the crime scene. We both heard one scream before we reached the 4^th Floor, so – through his own testimony – Bartz would’ve still been on the 4^th Floor by the time we arrived."

"But, that's-!"

Warrior of Light attempted to counter him, only to halt himself as Onion Knight's continued to interrupt.

"And don't forget, you also reached the crime scene mere seconds after we arrived.” Onion Knight revealed as he struck the definitive blow, pointing directly at his opponent. “Meaning … YOU also heard the scream!”

"ACK-!? NO!"

Warrior of Light roared out in anger, reflecting on the moment he arrived at the crime scene.

"Finally, Bartz was nowhere to be seen during the entirety of Lunch Break. The next time any of us had seen him was during Class 13A’s next lesson – which was Food Tech." Onion Knight also pointed out, his focus verging on the audience as he spoke. “If he had tried to seek for help, a teacher or fellow student would’ve reported the incident.”

In that moment, he caught an eye of Class 13A perched on the front row of seats, all nodding and agreeing to his statement.

"Do you deny this, Master Klauser?" Gabranth questioned in response to the new claim, his piercing gaze set directly on the Witness.

"N-no..." Bartz answered in a barely audible mumble, showing his defeat.

However, it was then that the court heard the most unexpected response from the Witness, causing even the Judge to fall speechless.

"Heh-heh ... So you caught me, Onion Knight."

Bartz’s entire expressing switched to his usual cheery self, grinning from ear-to-ear as he acted playful to the situation.

"You’re absolutely right. I was lying about the screams.” He then revealed, “There was only one scream after all! AH-HA-HA-HAA!"

 

Cross-Examination 1 ... Complete!

 

Onion Knight's and Warrior of Light stared at the Witness in utter disbelief, their minds completely blank. The rest od the court was silent, baffled by this unexpected turn of events.

It was then that the two sides slammed down against their stands and roared in unison.

““IS THIS A JOKE TO YOU!?!?””

The crowd of students and teachers soon followed their outburst, expressing confusion from the entire scenario they just witnessed.

Onion Knight placed his hands against the sides of his head as he leant on the Defence Stand’s surface, frustration overwhelming him. Beside him, Terra was consoling him, soothing his shoulder in growing worry.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Gabranth was the first to snap back into reality, slamming his gavel down in response to the rising commotion.

"ORDER! I WILL HAVE ORDER!" The Judge furiously bellowed, veins popping out from his forehead. "Master Klauser! Have you been toying with us this whole time!?"

"Yep!” Bartz admitted in truth, beaming away.

Watching from where he sat, Zidane face-palmed in embarrassment as he realised Bartz had not taken this seriously from the get-go.

And then, a towering shadow loomed over Bartz, causing him to freeze.

Slowly, he gazed up towards the direction of the shadow's owner, beads of sweat forming from his forehead as he met a furious figure standing before him.

Warrior of Light stood towering over the terrified Bartz, his shoulders hunched and deathly gaze bearing down on the Witness.

"Er, L-Light...?" Bartz squeaked in a cowardly tone, stepping back cautiously from the Witness Stand. "I-Is something wrong?"

"How dare you..."

Warrior of Light’s echoed hauntingly throughout the Hall, doom set upon the inevitable victim.

Suddenly, six ghostly long blades appeared, surrounding Bartz in a circular motion as they all aimed in his direction.

"HOW DARE YOU TAKE THIS SO LIGHTLY!" Warrior of Light then bellowed out in fury.

“Light! Wait! I can-!”

Ignoring Bartz’s desperate plea, Warrior of Light commanded the blades.

"RADIENT SWORD!"

SWOOSH!!!

"GHAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!?!?"

The entire Theatre Hall was filled with Bartz’s blood-curdling scream, causing all who witnessed the event to both cower and watch on in intrigue at the sight.

Terra had no choice but to look away, knowing there was nothing she could do at this point to save the poor Witness from his fate. On the other hand, Onion Knight watched on is morbid satisfaction, feeling he got what he deserved for wasting everyone’s time.

Even both the Headmistress and Cid of the Lufaine watched in intrigue.

As the blinding light dissipated, Warrior of Light returned to his stand without another word. What remained of Bartz was a crumpled body with various phantom-like blades stabbed into him.

"...Worth ... it...!"

A small, dying whisper could be heard echoing from the body.

Warrior of Light cleared his throat, his eyes closed as he reverted to his usual calm composure.

"I'm sorry, Your Honour.” He openly apologised, bowing to the High-Judge somewhat sorrowfully. “It seems that our Witness has ... passed on to the next life."

"I see..." Gabranth nodded in an understanding manner, his expression equally calm and motionless. "Condolences shall be passed on to the family and friends of this ‘poor’ soul."

Various members of the court nodded and saluted, accepting the unfortunate demise of Bartz Klauser.

Err … I don’t think he’s actually dead, people.

Onion Knight considered correcting the court … yet chose to keep his thoughts to himself for this occasion.

"I-I'm … f-fine!" Bartz weakily called out as he gradually emerged before the Witness Stand once more. "I c-can … keep going."

"Is that so, Master Klauser?" Gabranth wondered with his expressionless face, a hint of disappointment escaping his tone. "We shall then summarise your previous testimony."

Gabranth took a moment of silence to prepare his speech, allowing the court to return to form.

“From the results of your testimony, you revealed to the court that there was only one scream during the incident. Additionally, you had at least seen a glimpse of the crime scene before fleeing the scene.” The High-Judge reflected, his voice clear and to the point. “For your next testimony, you must explain to the court whether the scream had occurred before or after the defendant left Math Room 4 to inspect the situation. Also, you will need to elaborate on what you witnessed at the scene of the crime and the location of where you escaped to. Is this understood?"

Bartz nodded in mild pain, "Y-yes, Your Honour."

"And, for your sake … the court requests you stick to the truth this time.” The High-Judge then emphasised, ensuring caution and warning was clear in his tone.

"I've learned my lesson." Bartz agreed to the request in a formal bow, mostly out of fear for his safety.

Onion Knight clenched his fists as he set his mind with determination, knowing his battle was far from over.

"Onion Knight, try not to get carried away this time." Terra then reminded her Defence partner, warning him of his previous mistake. "Don't forget why we're here."

“No problem.”

Understanding the situation, Onion Knight responded with a nod to his partner.

During this time, Warrior of Light looked on with a stubborn scowl, attempting to read his opponent like an open book.

"Come, Onion Knight. What's your next move?" He murmured almost inaudibly.

 

Witness Testimony 2: Bartz Klauser.

 

"The scream occurred after Zidane had left the room.” Bartz informed the court. “We both heard noises within the room next door prior to the scream, but we thought nothing of it at the time.

“After the scream, I rushed out of Math Room 4 in a panic. I mostly saw darkness in Math Room 3 – aside from Zidane’s back.

“I heard him shout: 'Hide!'. So, I ran and hid inside Math Room 2 and waited until the end of Lunch Break."

 

Witness Testimony ... Complete.

 

There was a moment of silence throughout the Theatre Hall, the High-Judge Gabranth staying silent whilst the two sides jotted down the key points of the testimony.

Finally, Gabranth spoke his mind.

"I believe this testimony was stronger than the previous – which is surprising given the lack of time to prepare." He expressed in honesty. "Prosecution, do you have anything to add before we proceed?"

All eyes shifted to the Prosecution’s direction, where Warrior of Light stood in silence. With his arms crossed and eyes closed, he acted as though he had no intention of speaking his mind … for now.

Seeing this, the High-Judge swiftly switched to the Defence.

BANG!

"Defence, you may now Cross-Examine the Witness." Gabranth formally granted, banging his gavel.

"Thank you, Your Honour." Onion Knight accepted in confidence, keeping a strong stance.

"I can't see anything out of place with the testimony." Terra cautiously whispered, skimming over Onion Knight's recent notes. “How should we approach this?”

"We’ll be fine." Onion Knight assured his partner, his mind focused almost entirely on analysing the testimony. “As long as we continue to question his testimony, we’ll eventually have our opening.”

 

Cross-Examination 2: Bartz Klauser.

 

"Bartz Klauser, you admitted that there was one scream in this new testimony."

Onion Knight began his interrogation, his eyes locked onto the Witness.

 "Are you certain that this occurred after Zidane had left the room?"

"I’m sure of it, this time." Bartz spoke out in confident response, no pause in his answer whatsoever.

"In that case, you also stated that you both ‘heard noises’ before the scream.” Onion Knight then followed through, desiring to find out more. “Could you describe the loud noises?”

"Hmm … from what I can remember, we could hear a lot of general movement. They were small at first – nothing that would draw any concern.” Bartz answered in reflection, thinking back as hard as he could. “But … then we heard a few ‘bangs’ against the wall and tables toppling over. That was also when I heard the window shatter.”

He then shrugged.

“With what we were doing at the time, it made sense for Zidane to check the situation."

"OBJECTION!"

Onion Knight suddenly shot out with a pointed finger, instantly noticing the flaw. All eyes were now set on the Defence, eerie silence filling the room in anticipation.

"That was an interesting description, Bartz.” Onion Knight complimented, easing his way into the next bombshell. “However, you clearly made a contradiction."

He then revealed one of the photos from the verified stock of evidence, showing it to the court.

"I would like to briefly touch on Bartz’s previous testimony." He announced, taking out his notes to quote on. "In this testimony, Bartz stated specifically to the court – and I quote: ‘The moment he (Zidane) left, I heard another – second – scream and the sound of smashed glass.’"

"OBJECTION!"

Warrior of Light swiftly proceeded to counter his opponent.

"Bartz may have heard the broken glass both times.” He calmly suggested, casually waving off the contradiction. “They could have been from two different objects like a lamp!"

"OBJECTION!"

Onion Knight struck back at the counterclaim without hesitation.

"Do you recall Firion's Testimony?" He asked his opponent.

"What about it?" Warrior of Light stubbornly snarled in response, taking a cautious stance.

"Firion clearly stated in his testimony that he found ‘the smashed window to the right of the cracked wall’." Onion Knight revealed, somewhat insulted his rival acting oblivious. “There is nothing in his testimony that suggested he found any other items concerning smashed glass. Furthermore, we have no evidence to confirm any other smashed items at the time of the incident.”

"Tsk-!"

Warrior of Light tutted upon hearing Onion Knight’s explanation, unable to counter his opponent.

Gabranth chuckled deeply, showing amusement in the argument before him. "Well played, Knight of the Onion."

Wha-…? ‘Knight of the Onion’?

Onion Knight’s was taken aback by the High-Judge’s odd choice of name for him, unsure whether to be honoured by the acknowledgement or irritated by such a nickname.

"What do you say, Bartz?" Onion Knight curiously questioned as he returned to the Witness.

"Ah! That right!” Bartz blurted out in innocent realisation, showing off an apologetic expression as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Sorry, I accidently mixed it up in my new testimony."

"So … that was an honest mistake?" Onion Knight murmured disappointedly, his shoulders drooped upon hearing the answer.

"Yeah, sorry man. My bad." Bartz once again apologised, giving off a shrug in admittance to his mistake. "I heard the smash after Zidane left the room."

"Mistakes can happen." The Judge commented in simple acceptance, nodding away.

"Aaargh...!" Onion Knight sighed out, his head in his hands as he groaned out irritably.

He quickly noticed a smirk on Warrior of Light's face, causing further agitation to rise.

"Fine … I'll let that one slide." Onion Knight bitterly concluded in a grumble, rubbing his forehead as he shifted topics. "You stated in you r testimony that you only caught a ‘glimpse’ of the room. Are you sure you did not enter the room?"

"I was in too much of a panic to see what was happening." Bartz assured him, knowing Onion Knight would be disappointed in his answer. "And besides, Zidane told me to hide before I’d even considered looking into the room."

"I see..." Onion Knight sighed out once again, losing any friction to the discussion.

At least, that was until a thought emerged in his mind.

Wait, what if I used … 'that'?

Onion Knight carefully took out the pouch containing the brown hair-strands, holding it low so that it was hidden from the court’s eyes.

He considered using it against Bartz, wondering if the hair-stands matched the Witness – seeing as the hair colour were similar from initial viewing.

However, he was left in uncertainty.

There was a strong possibility that the pouch would lose its worth as ‘evidence’ if he used it too soon. Considering there were still potential witnesses at this point in the case, using it so soon would only leave the Defence at a clear disadvantage.

With a certain individual in mind, Onion Knight could not afford to take the risk. 

Glancing over towards the seated students of Class 13A, Onion Knight caught sight of Squall Leonhart – who seemed bored stiff and uninterested in the court trial.

Ultimately deciding against the idea, he slipped the pouch back in his pocket and began to think of other possibilities.

However, to his frustration, nothing else came to mind.

He was completely stuck.

"Is that all from the Defence?" Gabranth curiously queried, expressing his impatience.

"I think our genius has run out of bluffs and reasons to waste our time." Warrior of Light spoke out in a teasing response. "Maybe we should end this whilst there’s still some daylight left in the day."

"No! Not yet!" Onion Knight hastily yelled in reactive response, feeling the pressure building upon him. “Just give me some time, please.”

Terra watched him as he continued to stress out from thinking every possible lead. She was also in deep thought, hoping to assist Onion Knight as best as she could.

She then decided to add in her own thoughts into the mix.

"Onion Knight, why don't you think outside of the box?" She suggested to him. "There's a possibility that we neglected to mention from the testimonies."

"How can I 'think outside the box', Terra? I have no other leads." Onion Knight whispered back in stress, his fingers tapping against the Stand’s surface.

"What about the broken window?" Terra then pointed out, refusing to give up.

"We've been over the window already." Onion Knight dismissed, rubbing his forehead as the stress continued to rise.

"...Not everything." Terra murmured under her breath as she leaned in, her eyes veering back to Bartz in the process.

“What do … you…?”

Onion Knight's head gradually raised, as though Terra's comment snapped life back into his dormant brain.

"One last thing before we finish." Onion Knight announced, placing all his faith on this new approach. "Bartz. I need you to think back to the moment when Zidane left the room and the glass window shattered."

"Sure! Although I'm not promising that anything else would come up." Bartz accepted in genuine eagerness, yet equally expressing caution.

"That's fine." Onion Knight nodded in confirmation, brimming with confidence. "Now then … you didn’t leave the room until AFTER the window smashed in the other room. Is that correct?"

"Yep."

"Perfect. And now, for the defining question ... from the window in Math Room 4, did you see a person escape from that shattered window?" Onion Knight carefully questioned, his heart beating fast.

"How ridiculous..."

The court could hear Warrior of Light’s irritable murmur hidden within the conversation, attempting to interrupt as much as possible.

Everyone ignored him.

"Not ... that I know of." Bartz carefully admitted, thinking back as hard as he could.

Onion Knight felt the disappointment beginning to fill his heart, feeling as though the sense of failure was setting in. Everything was banking on this approach, so to see it potentially blow up in his face would be beyond humiliating.

...He paused.

A sudden voice from the back of his mind echoed out to him, causing his body to lurch up in realisation.

"Wait ... there was something there before I ran." Bartz admitted as he corrected himself, deep in thought. "A shadow … it was hard to make out, but … I'm certain that a shadow had escaped out of the next-door window."

With his eyes growing wide, Onion Knight almost went insane with renewed anticipation.

He threw out his pointing finger and took his rival head on.

"THAT'S IT!" Onion Knight roared out with pride, "I'VE FOUND MY LEAD!"

Warrior of Light instantly froze up, reacting from the completely unexpected response.

"Wh-what do you mean ‘that’s it’?"

"I present to the court: a photograph of the shattered window!" Onion Knight pressed on, holding out a photo in his hand.

Prishe – who was fidgeting restlessly throughout the entirety of the trial so far – almost stumbled over herself when she realised it was her time to shine. She hastily snatched the photo from Onion Knight's grasp and passed it over to the High-Judge.

"What am I looking at here?" Gabranth questioned as he scanned the photo.

"Please analyse the photo, Your Honour." Onion Knight eagerly requested. "If you examine it carefully: the broken window has small tufts of blue fabric caught in the sharp corners."

"I see ... what’s your point?" Gabranth questioned further, squinting at the photo.

"A comment Firion had given during his testimony was that the fabric directed itself towards the outside of the room.” Onion Knight then elaborated. “This assumes that someone had exited the window."

"OBJECTION!"

Warrior of Light bellowed out in immediate backlash, noticing an easy flaw.

"Onion Knight, you must also remember from Firion's testimony that he specifically stated that the ‘window was smashed from the outside’!"

"Yes … and that’s one of the many factors that prove my revelation." Onion Knight pointed out, completely throwing his rival off-guard and ignoring the 'objection' entirely. " Granted, we don’t know how the window was smashed from the outside. We now know that the culprit had used the window for his own escape. This also means that we have undeniable proof that Zidane had not even touched the window when he entered the room!"

SLAM!

"No ... NO-NO-NOOO!" Warrior of Light yelled in sudden fury as he slammed his fists against the Prosecution Stand’s surface.

"That's right!" Onion Knight pointed out in close triumph, "And the final kicker here ... is that someone else had to be in that room!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Warrior of Light roared out in despair, completely losing his composure he was engulfed in defeat.

"Bravo. Bravo, Knight of the Onion!" Gabranth clapped joyfully, enjoying every second of this battle. "Such an amazing battle of wit!"

BANG!

 

Cross-Examination 2 ... Complete!

 

Onion Knight could hear the crowd of students and teacher clapping away at his victorious battle. He noticed Terra smiling at him joyously, relieved to see him break through his moment of self-doubt.

And finally, shifting his sights, Onion Knight noticed a glimmer of hope appear on Zidane's face.

"Don't go celebrating just yet, Onion Knight." An eerie voice then called out, causing the Theatre Hall to fall silent.

Warrior of Light had calmed from his tantrum after the bitter loss.

"If Zidane didn't commit the assault ... who did?" He then vaguely wondered, lowkey refusing to accept Zidane’s innocence.

"That ... is what we still need to find out." Onion Knight awkwardly admitted, knowing his battle was far from over.

"That’s all too true." Gabranth agreed, deciding to conclude the current trial. "As such, I must suspend this trial until a further date.”

All eyes were now set on the High-Judge.

“In that time, I request further investigation of the case, including the gathering of more evidence and witnesses.” He then added, emphasising their importance to the trial. “I also request the Prosecution to place Master Klauser and Master Tribal under further questioning, for there are many secrets hidden within a prankster's mind."

"I accept, Your Honour." Warrior of Light formally nodded.

"As such, court is adjourned." Gabranth announced loudly, raising his gavel.

BANG!

 

After the Court Trial…

 

Drring…! Drring…!

The Academy Bell rang not long after the court trial concluded, with numerous students feeling overjoyed to have missed the final lesson of the week. Many students merged and grouped up as they wondered to the Entrance Gates, chatting enthusiastically about what they had planned for the weekend.

However, the big commotion upon leaving the campus was the Court Trail.

No one expected such a battle, with many anticipating the eventual follow-up. Students began to discuss who they would personally support for the next trial.

A majority were seemingly rooting for Onion Knight’s success, inspired by watching his triumphant performance. Opposingly, many others felt that Warrior of Light could make a comeback, showing faith that he would be fully prepared for the next trial.

Ultimately though, no one knew what to expect for the future of the court case.

During this time, Warrior of Light was standing in front of the Academy, his arms crossed as he observed the students leave for home.

A few fellow students stopped to spoke with him, eagerly expressing their enjoyment of his performance during the trial – some even considering themselves as fans of him. Although he preferred not to be involved, Warrior of Light reluctantly gave in and conversed with his new 'fans'.

There were a few occasions post-trial where he hastily hid away from the crowd, mainly due to noticing a familiar group of female students looming around the Academy’s entrance. He was swiftly reminded of the trauma he endured during his unfortunate previous encounter with the notorious group.

Back in current time, he continued to watch the Entrance Gates, sighing away at the thought of bitterly losing the trial. Then, he unexpectedly felt a tug on his lower trouser leg, causing him to curiously lower his head.

He then leapt in abrupt fright.

"You played a valiant battle during the trial." Cid of the Lufaine highly complimented, gazing up at him.

"Cid of the Lufaine! I’m so sorry! I didn't notice you there." Warrior of Light hastily apologised, feeling anxious at the Moogle's sudden appearance before responding to the compliment. "Ah, yes. Well ... I have to admit, Iacted rather antagonistically during the trial."

"I must disagree.” Cid expressed in denial, hoping to assure him on his role of the court case. “Personally, I saw a man motivated in finding the truth."

"I guess you could say that..." Warrior of Light murmured back in uncertainty. "If I was more prepared, maybe I could have fared better against Onion Knight."

"Granted, you utilised the limited tools to the best of your ability." Cid then expressed, considering the situation in a more positive light. "However, may I speak from my own personal experiences?”

Warrior of Light gazed at him with a cast of confusion, curious to hear his words.

“All beings – no matter who or what they are – have a preferred outlook on life. Many will dedicate themselves towards keeping to their viewpoint, regardless of the opinion of others. I like to call this … the Narrow Road.” Cid then revealed, acting as though he was speaking from the heart. “If two beings with opposite viewpoints meet upon this ‘Narrow Road’, there is a likelihood they will clash to ensure their ideals."

"Sound very reminiscent of Onion Knight and myself." Warrior of Light commented, noticing the relation to their numerous squabbles.

"If that’s how you see it…" Cid nodded in understanding, continuing with his explanation. "These clashing viewpoints may battle on for an eternity, leading to conflicts and bloodshed both great and small. However, if one were to consider ‘widening the road’ by considering a more open outlook, the two opposing forces could avoid the conflict in its entirety.

“Whilst they would still have clashing viewpoints, arguments and conflict would likely be replaced by conversation and debate.”

“I call this … the Open Road."

"And ... how could one widen this 'Narrow Road'?" Warrior of Light openly wondered, picturing the description in his mind.

"That question can only be answered though your own journey." Cid pointed out, believing the Student Council President was enough to figure it out for himself. "All I can really say is: Those who can widen the road successfully … will likely become great 'leaders' in the future."

"Leaders...?" Warrior of Light echoed with confusion, "What do you mean?"

"A ‘food for thought’..." Cid wistfully chuckled, giving off a pleasant aura as he spoke.

With that, Cid of the Lufaine casually waddle off in the direction of the Entrance Gate, disappearing amongst the crowd of students.

"The 'Open Road'..." Warrior of Light murmured underneath his breath, deep in thought.

 

Meanwhile, in the Medical Room ...

 

"How are you feeling, Rydia?" Terra wondered with a soothing smile, sitting formally on the chair beside the bed.

"I'm improving." Rydia meekly replied, carefully lifting herself up into a sitting position on the Medical Bed. "The Medical Staff suggested I should be able to travel back home."

"I'm glad." Terra expressed in relief, sighing out with tired joy.

Terra then informed Rydia of the events that occurred during the Court Trial, detailing the numerous clashes of wit between Onion Knight and Warrior of Light. Rydia listened to every detail, intrigued by the events that took place.

"Speaking of whom: where is Onion Knight?" Rydia curiously wondered, peering towards the door to the Medical Room. “Has he gone home already?”

"No. He left to find Firion." Terra answered after shaking her head. "After he left for the Security Room, Firion never returned. Onion Knight was worried about him and rushed off to find him."

"I see … I hope Firion’s ok." Rydia murmured back, lowering her eyes as she fell silent.

A sudden feeling of insecurity emerged from the back of her mind, wondering if Firion’s disappearing could be related to the same person who attacked her.

 

On the Top Floor of the Academy Building...

 

"…Firion? …Firion?"

Onion Knight’s voice echoed throughout the Academy Halls, reaching the Top Floor in the process.

He had searched every level of the building, checking every potential place as he made his way towards the Security Room. He also checked with various teachers and students along the way to see they had witnessed him.

So far … there was no luck.

Growing increasingly anxious, Onion Knight began his search on the Top Floor, checking every room and hidden corner for his whereabouts. He pressed on cautiously along the corridor, wondering if he had even left the Security Room.

And then, he finally found him … unconscious and slumped against the Security Room’s door.

"Firion!?" Onion Knight yelled out as he rushed over to his location, heart leaping from his chest in worry.

He carefully knelt beside his classmate and immediately began to check his condition, looking for signs of injuries and abnormalities.

He first noticed a bloodstain trickling from the side of his head, assuming he was struck by a blunt object. He then noticed Firion’s clothing was considerably ruffled and unkept, likely meaning the perpetrator was searching for a specific item on his person.

“Nn-nngh..!”

In that moment, he heard a groan weakly escape Firion's breath.

"Wh-what ... happened…?" Firion murmured out in a groan, wincing as his head wound began to throb.

"Don't rush yourself, Firion." Onion Knight carefully warned him, wary of the injury’s severity.

"Wait … d-did I ... fall over?" Firion then questioned, feeling a sense of light amnesia cloud his mind.

"I don't think so. It looks like you were hit on the head relatively hand." Onion Knight then answered in assumption, searching for anymore signs of visible injury.

Then, Onion Knight gradually assisted Firion back onto his feet, supporting his balance as effectively as possible.

"Firion, can you recall anything when you reached the Security Room?" Onion Knight then asked him, wondering what caused this new incident.

"I remember ... exiting the room." Firion answered as best as he could, irritably soothing the injury on his head. “I found … all the video files erased on the system.”

"The video files were ERASED!?" Onion Knight blurted out in abrupt disbelief. "How’s that possible!?"

"I don't know." Firion shook his head, wincing in the process. "I could only find-… Wait."

Just then, Firion hastily searched his pockets, trying to find the USB Stick with the only video file he could find.

"No...! No! It's gone!?" Firion anxiously yelled out, his hands continuing to rustle through his pockets in rising panic.

Onion Knight stared at him in confusion, wondering what was missing.

However, before Onion Knight could question what his classmate was referring to, Firion had cluelessly taken one hand out of his pocket.

In his hand … was a lone scrap of paper.

He passed it over to Onion Knight, showing no recollection on how it appeared in his pocket. Onion Knight then flattened the paper, noticing it was a mysterious note.

The two observed the note, both growing pale as they read the single line.

‘An Enemy amongst Friends.'

 

End of Volume 3.

Chapter 13: Vol.4 - No Stones Left Unturned

Volume 4: The Innocent Thief – Part 2

 

“‘An Enemy Among Friends…’”

Onion Knight stood gazing out his bedroom window, entranced by the pitch-black darkness of the night as he subconsciously recited the ominous message found in Firion’s pocket.

“So, this is all just a petty game to this person?” He then questioned, feeling his jaw tense up as he felt his anger rise. “Tsk! How repulsive.”

His mind was completely distracted, unable to think of anything else besides the events that occurred throughout the day. He was mentally exhausted, wishing he could set aside the entire situation for the night and get his well-deserved sleep.

However, his mind was racing, knowing he would never be satisfied until he found the truth behind the incident.

Somewhat against his will, he was reflecting on the events in its entirety: the moment he stumbled upon the incident; the process of the initial investigation; and – of course – the extent of the trial itself. From this, questions inevitably formed in the depths of his mind, refusing Onion Knight from giving in to his fatigue.

Amongst the many that appeared, three core questions took priority:

What are we still missing?

How will we be able to gain stronger leads for the next Court Trial?

And … who else could be involved?

On the windowsill in front of Onion Knight was the flattened slip of paper – the very same paper found from Firion’s pocket.

‘An Enemy among Friends…’

The words played through his mind once again, repeating itself like a broken record.

It was a question of the message’s context that seemed to escape Onion Knight, feeling his mind was running in circles as he attempted to crack the code for the past several hours.

“*Sigh…*”

In a frustrated huff, he picked up the piece of paper and moved it over to his work desk that stood alongside the window. Dropping it with the other pieces of evidence gathered from the case so far, he glanced over them as he was left deep in thought.

All evidence on the table were carefully placed and labelled, every piece surrounding the detailed notes from the previous trial that was situated at the centre. Although it was as organised as one would expect from the young methodical student, he was only left unsatisfied.

Deep down, all he could think about was the lack of hints and potential for certified leads. And with only two days to prepare for the next battle for Zidane’s innocence, he had no idea where to start.

No matter how much he turned the imaginary cogs in his head, he was only left with nothing.

Onion Knight slumped on his desk chair, his body language expressing his exhaustion. His head tilted back, shoulders slumped back, and continuing to sigh away.

Holding up his wristwatch lazily, he checked out the time.

It was 12:14am.

He realised he had wasted the past four hours getting nowhere with his thought process.

For now, he at least knew what his plan was to further the investigation process – starting the following morning.

I will begin the day with meeting up with Terra and Firion - if he’s up for it, of course - and discuss about the case at hand.

Onion Knight continued to recollect in his mind, his eyes closed yet still conscious.

Depending on the time, we’ll head off into town to see if anyone else we know is available. I’m certain we’ll at least spot Warrior of Light near the Academy … considering his persistence. However, our priority is to find potential witnesses and new, concrete evidence. We need to get ahead of the opposition – for Zidane’s sake.

He then slightly shifted his thoughts.

Considering what was confirmed during my meeting with Headmistress Cosmos, I cannot allow for any stones to be left unturned...

 

The Headmistress’ Office, 8 hours previous …

 

“To think someone would have the gall to assault another student in Dissidia’s Halls.” Cosmos murmured in both sadness and disgust. “Whatever game they’re playing … I won’t stand for it.”

The Headmistress was perched behind her desk. Situated before her were books and files of plenty stacked sky-high on table – as per the norm. In the centre of the desk was the note from Firion’s pocket, flat against the table surface as she observed the ominous message.

Onion Knight and Firion were placed on chairs opposite to the Headmistress: one kept momentarily silent as he stared at the note on the table; whilst the other was preoccupied soothing his head injury with a medical icepack.

Not long after Onion Knight and Firion had found the mysterious note, Headmistress Cosmos arrived at the Top Floor. She had not expected to meet them, completely taken aback as she spotted the Firion’s head injury.

After carefully tending to his classmate’s injury, Onion Knight proceeded to explain the situation to Headmistress Cosmos.

She was left horrified beyond belief, her face falling pale like a ghost.

Reality dawn on the Headmistress in an instant, any enjoyment from the previous Court Trial completely dissipated.

It was at that moment Onion Knight showed her the note from Firion’s pocket, wondering if she could decipher the handwriting.

She stared at the note momentarily, her brow furrowing as she held her silence.

And then, she invited them to her Office…

“I’m fine, Headmistress. I think I’ll live another day.” Firion politely assured her, showing a calm grin as he continued to sooth his head. “Besides, we could take this as our ‘culprit’ growing desperate.”

Headmistress Cosmos glanced at Firion in sorrow, appreciating his optimism.

“Even so, the safety and wellbeing of my students takes priority … no matter the cost.” She firmly assured her students, aligning her posture to further remind them of her responsibility as a teacher. “The Failure of your safety falls on me … and I’m sorry.”

Silence engulfed the room as the Headmistress apologetically bowed to the two students, causing a depressing aura to set on the three.

Seeing her in such uncharacteristic way, Onion Knight decided to speak his mind – using it as an excuse to change the subject.

“Headmistress Cosmos … what do you believe would be the best approach from here?”

The Headmistress straightened up upon hearing this question, returning to her usual self.

“Well, I’ve already had confirmation from the authorities that they’ll be investigating throughout the entire weekend. So, all we can do is to continue with our own separate investigations … as much as it pains me.” The Headmistress glumly admitted, showing hints of irritation in her words. “I will say this though … this second assault has given us a new shed of light on the matter.”

“You mean regarding the possible second suspect?” Onion Knight questioned in a small murmur.

As expected, he came to the same conclusion not long after finding Firion and the ominous message.

“You’re right on the money, Onion Knight.” Cosmos nodded with a firm expression, “Zidane was still in the Theatre Hall at the time of the assault on Firion, so he’s already ruled out as a direct possible suspect. Whether it was the main culprit – or the presumed secondary suspect – is still up in the air...”

“I thought as much…”

Onion Knight’s eyes lowered as he made his comment, unsure whether to feel triumphant his correct accusation … or frustrated that this culprit had made another move.

“I’ll check the security footage for any evidence on the culprit of Firion’s assault momentarily.” The Headmistress then assured the two, although showed hesitation in her voice as she continued. “It’s best not to get your hopes up, though … the culprit has likely covered their tracks and wiped the footage from the system’s memory.”

Onion Knight glanced away, hiding his rising anger over the situation. As much as it pained him, he expected this likely outcome over the fact that the culprit had already wiped the security footage of the main incident.

Upon seeing the reactions of the young student, Headmistress Cosmos decided to shift topics. She shuffled on her seat as she reached out on her desk, taking the mysterious note, and held it up in view before Firion and Onion Knight.

“I have to admit, the handwriting style here doesn’t match any staff or student I know from this Academy.” She expressed, her grasp firm against the small note. “I’ll examine my files to confirm, but … it may mean the note was purposely forged to throw us off. On the other hand, this would bring a possibility that someone not directly affiliated with the Academy could be involved.”

Onion Knight tensed up further upon hearing this new possibility.

It was a fear that haunted Onion Knight’s mind, yet he could only agree with the Headmistress on the possibility of outside involvement.

If the second suspect was an outsider to the Academy, this would mean that the authorities would have to take full control of the investigation. This would result in Onion Knight being forced to give up his involvement on the case – even though he had reached so far.

Although this was only a small possibility, Onion Knight refused to head down the dead path.

I shouldn’t think like that…

Onion Knight’s thoughts were running wild, his intense gaze showing the undying flames of determination.

…Not when I still have the lead on this case.

“What we seem to lack from the previous trial were solid witnesses.” Headmistress Cosmos expressed as she decided to continue, placing the note back down on her desk. “Even though we had Bartz testify to the court, it wasn’t enough to warrant any decisive conclusions to this case. In fact, it had led to more questions and possibilities than answers. What we’ll need going forward are more witnesses … and ones that are fully prepared.”

“But that’s a problem within itself.” Onion Knight abruptly pointed out, noticing the flaw to this idea. “The only confirmed student on the 4^th Floor at the time were Zidane, Bartz, Rydia, and the mysterious second suspect. Who else could there be?”

“That’s … true.” The Headmistress murmured in deep thought, disheartened slightly by that fact.

However, Onion Knight and Firion then noticed a small hidden grin curl from the corner of her mouth, causing the two students to grow curious.

“Thankfully … this is where the court trial came in extra handy.” She spoke up in admittance, a cunning spark in her eyes. “There may be students and staff in the audience who hadn’t realised they were witness to the crime scene. Some could’ve even been aware that they were witnesses … but were maybe just too shy to speak up.”

Onion Knight and Firion continued to listen the Headmistress, understanding her thought process albeit uncertain on the accuracy of this hypothesis.

“Whatever the case – with the court trial’s influence – these witnesses may decide to finally surface.” The Headmistress then added, acting optimistic with her theory.

Onion Knight leaned back on his seat as he took the Headmistress’ self-assured suggestions into consideration. There was no denying that the idea of more potential witnesses lifted his spirits, yet part of him was hesitant to fully place trust in the outcome.

What if no one came forward?

What if there were no other witnesses to the case?

And, if there were witnesses that came forward…

“Would these witnesses have a relevant testimony?”

Firion murmured in question, seemingly speaking Onion Knight’s mind.

“And if so, would the testimony help the case … or just waste the court’s time?”

The Headmistress’ eyes focused on Firion, her curiosity arose by the questions.

“Speak your mind, Firion.” She offered the student, expressing openness to the discussion. “You seem rather doubtful.”

“Ah! No. Not in the slightest, Headmistress Cosmos.” Firion reactively denied, removing the icepack from his head in the process. “I was just thinking that most of the students were outside at the time of the incident. So, even if students witnessed the event: would it be enough for the court case?”

The Headmistress paused upon hearing Firion’s words, understanding his concern.

“Any witness testimony – both large and small – are crucial for the court case.” Cosmos breathed out in a sophisticated tone, standing firm by her statements. “Whilst the smallest of testimonies may seem disposable in the short term, it’d could become the greatest asset to turning the tables on the entire case.”

Onion Knight glanced over to Firion, wondering how he would react to the Headmistress’ response.

Firion was in deep silence, his hands fiddling with the slushing icepack as he processed his thoughts.

He then switched to Onion Knight, his eyes set with heightened resolve.

“It’s seems we’ve got a lot of work to do, Onion Knight.” He stated with a firm grin. “Let’s ensure that no stones are left unturned.”

 

Present time …

 

“That’ll be easier said than done.” Onion Knight admitted underneath his breath, knowing they were swept up in the moment at the time. “Hopefully, we’ll have some luck on our side.”

Before heading to bed, Onion Knight took a moment to idle in his room. He cleared his mind, knowing he had to ensure his focus was primarily on the weekend-long investigation.

He was also praying for a decent night sleep.

Onion Knight then scanned the room, ensuring no tasks would be forgotten.

The room was simple in design. Due to only moving into his new student accommodation two weeks prior, many boxes and bags holding his belongings had yet to be unpacked. Due to this, his room still had numerous boxes and bags stacked in the corners.

Even so, he kept the place a tidy as effectively as he could: barely any mess on the floor; clothes neatly folded and placed in the cupboards; and a lack of dust could be found forming in the typical areas. Items such as electronics and books were neatly displayed on the shelf above his single bed, ordered in terms of importance and efficiency. His walls were plain amber colour, giving a warm, tranquil glow whenever the light shines through the window break.

Overall, the room was expectedly comfortable.

After changing into his lounge clothes, Onion Knight threw himself onto his bed. His eyes were immediately heavy, giving him the indication that he was more exhausted then initially expected.

The room had fallen completely silent, allowing a perfect atmosphere to drop off into slumber.

Before the desire for slumber overtook him, Onion Knight drowsily reached out to the desk next to him. He grasped the slip of paper once again, deciding to hold it up high above in the light of the window break.

An Enemy among Friends…

He read the line one more time … and murmured sleepily as a response.

“I’ll win the case … and I will track you down.”

 

The Next Morning, 9:30am …

 

Now groggily eating his breakfast, Onion Knight was perched silently in front of the small dining table of his cramped kitchen. The Kitchen was basic for student accommodation, giving the residents the necessary essentials for cooking, washing, and cleaning.

Sitting opposite Onion Knight was a boy around his own age.

He had light brown hair, hazel eyes and numerous freckles scattered on his skin. In terms of his characteristics, the boy was rather timid and soft spoken.

To Onion Knight, the boy was a childhood friend and housemate who entered Dissidia Academy around the same time as him. Unfortunately, as they entered the new semester, they had found that they were situated in separate classes.

The boy’s name: Arc.

He seemed to be fully engrossed in one of his books, completely oblivious of the real world around him. Onion Knight quickly recognised the title ‘The Mana Chronicles’, wondering if it had any relation to a popular game franchise he occasionally played.

Onion Knight then noticed of Arc anxiously shuffle on his chair, acting as though something was on his mind.

“Is something troubling you, Arc?” Onion Knight curiously questioned.

Arc lifted his head, acting as though he had just snapped back into reality.

“O-oh, no … I’m fine, thanks.” Arc responded in a light murmur, showing a wavering smile. “It’s just one of the chapters I’m reading, that’s all.”

“I see…” Onion Knight warily murmured, staring somewhat judgingly at his friend as he took another bite of his cereal.

Onion Knight and Arc continued to chatter on occasions, Onion Knight deciding to bring up Arc’s book out of curiosity – and just to create conversation. It seemed the book was a related novel spin-off to the game franchise that Onion Knight had in mind.

However, the conversation soon dropped back to silence as Onion Knight finished his food and stretched out from his chair. Feeling more awake than before, he decided to strike up one more conversation with his friend – believing it was an appropriate time.

“How was your first week at the Academy?”

Twitch…!

That was when he noticed Arc’s body abruptly shudder, taken completely off-guard by the unexpected question.

“Err … about that…” Arc awkwardly muttered, his eyes anxiously veering away from Onion Knight.

However, Onion Knight could read his friend like a book. He crossed his arms, his expression turning serious as he pursued further.

“…You’re not enjoying it, are you?” He immediately assumed. “Are you being bullied again?”

“T-that’s not the reason at all!” Arc then anxiously raised his voice. “I just feel … like I don’t fit in with my class at all.”

Onion Knight gazed at his friend, giving out an irritable sigh as he understood the situation.

“That’s typical…” He nodded, deciding to wave off the severity of the issue. “Just be patient. It’s only the first week, so you still have plenty of time to build relationships.”

“Right…” Arc then pouted, turning his head away. “Says the guy who’s been getting all the attention.”

“Wha…!?” Onion Knight blurted out, taken aback by the unexpected comment. “Wait, how is that related? I didn’t exactly choose to take up the Defence Attorney role in yesterday’s court trail, you know.”

There was a moment where time seemed to freeze, the two glaring at each other as they attempted to read the other’s mind.

Eventually, Onion Knight decided to stand up and shifted to the kitchen sink, cleaning away the dish and cutlery for later use. In the corner of his eye, Onion Knight noticed Arc slouching back on his chair.

“*Sigh…* Maybe it’s best to change subjects.” Onion Knight ultimately decided, breaking the tension. “Actually … Where in the world is Refia? I thought she would make an appearance by now.”

Onion Knight glanced over towards the direction of the stairs, wondering if their other housemate/childhood friend would appear.

He then switched his sights back to Arc, wondering why there was no answer to his question.

“Arc?”

He immediately noticed Arc had completely frozen up, his face turning pale as beads of sweat began to form from his forehead.

“U-um … you might want to tread carefully around her right now.” Arc fearfully murmured in warning.

“For what reason?” Onion Knight wondered in response, confused upon Arc’s sudden reaction. “Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?”

BANG!

Suddenly, the two felt a sudden impact from directly above, followed by a growing rumble.

Onion Knight lifted his head, a sense of terror building upon the back of his mind.

“I’ll … take that as a ‘yes’, then.” Onion Knight muttered in answer to his own question, taking a cautious mindset.

“No … you don’t understand.” Arc began to warn, knowing the level of fury that would soon dawn upon them. “Refia is furious with you. You stayed locked up in your room the entire night without any communication since returning home.”

“THAT’S THE REASON!?”

Onion Knight was unable to hold back his bellow of disbelief, finding the reasoning completely absurd.

“Oh … the horror.” Arc then continued to mumble, beginning to trail off. “How she ranted on through the night … How she threw fits of rage … I could barely sleep a wink.”

“I don’t understand. Why couldn’t she have just knocked on my door?” Onion Knight complained, finding this situation somewhat pointless and irrelevant. “It wasn’t like I was being completely anti-social.”

Just then, quickened steps were heard from above.

“Whatever the case … I suggest you cover your ears.” Arc concluded in almost a whisper, covering his ears with his hands as his eyes followed the echoing footsteps.

Onion Knight stared at his friend with a blank expression, finding the melodramatic performance rather outlandish. Then, taking a deep breath, he then decided to turn and face the inevitable.

He stepped out through the open door and into the hall … and waited.

It was at that moment, she appeared.

“WHAT’S WITH YOU!?!?”

The young girl that suddenly appeared before him let out an infuriated roar, unable to hold back her overbearing temper.

“You lock yourself up in your room the moment you got home from Dissidia yesterday like an antisocial bum, and now you’re complaining about me behind my back!?” She continued to yell. “You have no sense of shame!”

Refia – Onion Knight’s other housemate and childhood friend – was a light-ginger haired girl with a slim figure for her age. She usually wore light based clothing, such as a long-sleeve blouse and simple leggings.

She was the undisputed boss of the student household – at least, in Onion Knight’s eyes. She kept the two boys in constant check, ensuring they were able to manage the house efficiently along with keeping themselves respectable.

If anything were to become out of line, she will chew them out like a rabid dog.

“You seem misinformed, Refia.” Onion Knight casually pointed out, keeping himself calm as he explained his reasoning. “First of all, I was aware that you were in earshot of the conversation. Secondly, just because I stayed in my room throughout yesterday evening does not automatically class me as an ‘antisocial bum’.”

“You could have at least come down for dinner, though!” Refia argued back, accepting no excuses.

“Refia, missing one meal doesn’t result in the end of the world … at least not that I know of.” Onion Knight irritably sighed out, soothing his forehead as he felt a headache forming. “And besides, I have enough on my plate as it is. So, the last thing I need right now is criticisms on my current lifestyle.”

“…Noted.” Refia bitterly huffed, her eyes glaring at her roommate. “Just be aware that if this happens again … I’ll place you on cleaning duty for an entire week.”

“HUUUHHH!?!?”

Onion Knight’s mouth dropped in utter despair.

“By the way…” Refia followed up, deciding to change the subject she finally releasing the pent-up steam. “Your performance yesterday during the Academy assembly’s court trial … was pretty cool.”

With that, Refia casually brushed past him and entered the kitchen without another word, leaving Onion Knight to stand in the hall in awkward silence.

He never expected to receive such a sudden compliment from – especially after being relentlessly chewed out. He mentally appreciated it, even if he was unable to express it to her in this current time.

After his mind processed the whole ordeal, he glanced over towards the clock that hung up high on the wall.

It read close to 10am.

Ding-dong…!

The doorbell rang out not long afterwards.

Onion Knight was sitting in the living room as he awaited the bell to finally ring, clicking away at his laptop as he was researching various topics related to the recent – and upcoming – court trial.

Upon hearing the ringing doorbell, Onion Knight rushed over to the hall without a moment of hesitation, unlocking the front door upon reaching it. Arc and Refia were both preoccupied in the kitchen, aware that Onion Knight would expect at least a single visitor.

“Ah, Terra! Good morning.”

Onion Knight cheerfully greeted upon opening the door, showing his politeness to his classmate and court partner.

Terra stood at the door with her usual well-mannered expression, greeting back with her usual kind yet somewhat timid smile.

However, Onion Knight noticed the smallest of twitches appear from the corner of her mouth, causing him to suddenly become anxious. He gestured for her to step in, in which she swiftly accepted and entered the house.

He then realised the reason behind Terra’s nervous twitch … as there was a second visitor who turned up at Onion Knight’s door without invitation.

“Yo! Onion Knight! Do you mind if I-!”

SLAM!!!

Onion Knight automatically slammed the door in front of the surprise visitor, causing Terra to let out a quiet squeak in sudden fright.

Onion Knight glanced over to his friend, his expression seemingly a balanced blend of confusion and annoyance. The surprise visitor was one of the last people he wished to see at this current time, and the fact that the visitor now knew his home address infuriated him even further.

Gradually, Onion Knight opened the door once again, hoping the surprise visitor had left.

“Now that was rude-!”

SLAM!!!

He had not.

Onion Knight turned towards Terra, who had been standing beside him nervously. There was a moment of awkwardness between the two, Terra trying to avert her eyes … whilst Onion Knight glared at her with rising agitation.

“Terra … why is he here?” Onion Knight eerily questioned her, his eyes glaring like daggers.

“H-he saw me walking down the street … and decided to follow.” Terra anxiously answered, a sense of guilt could be heard in her tone.

“And … you couldn’t shake him off?” Onion Knight continued to question, crossing his arms in disappointment.

“No. He was very persistent.” Terra admitted in a guilty murmur.

Onion Knight let out a defeated groan, his frustrations building on top of each other to the point of almost toppling over.

However, he made the ultimate decision to open the door once again.

“What do you want, Bartz?” Onion Knight asked the uninvited the visitor, his judging eyes set as he found this whole thing a nuisance.

Bartz Klauser was standing idly at the door, sporting his casual attire.

“Was there really the need to shut the door on me?” Bartz complained in disgust. “…Twice!?”

“I’ll shut it again if you want…” Onion Knight then blankly murmured, slowly closing the door in the process.

“N-NO NO! There’s no need for that! Hehee…!” Bartz hastily muttered out, showing his desperation as he switched to his usual attitude. “Please let me in. I promise not to be a bother.”

Onion Knight and Terra momentarily glanced at each other in silence, considering how to proceed.

Bartz fidgeted on the spot, curious as to what they were thinking.

“Bartz, you can come in.” Onion Knight confirmed to him in a serious, clear tone. “However, we need all the help we can get for this investigation.”

“That’s the reason why I’m here!” Bartz instantly blurted out, relieved that it was brought up. “I want to help out! Zidane is my best friend and so I want to do everything I can to help in proving his innocence!"

Onion Knight nodded as he understood Bartz’s reason, although caught off-guard by the outburst.

He welcomed his classmate inside the house and lead the two into the living room, closing the door behind them.

The three sat on sofa chairs that circled around the room, shuffling on them as they made themselves comfortable. During this time, Onion Knight brought out two spare seats, knowing his housemates would likely join in on the conversation eventually.

As Onion Knight finally perched himself on his seat, the conversation started…

“I heard that Firion was injured yesterday after he left the court trial.” Bartz first mentioned, giving a somewhat worried expression as he broke the silence. “What happened to him?”

Onion Knight sat on his own seat and glanced at both Bartz and Terra, knowing that one of them would eventually bring up the event in question.

Prior to eating his breakfast, Onion Knight had received a call from Firion. Firion had apologised to him on being unable to meet that day, blaming it on the developing concussion from the recent incident. Saddened yet understanding by this, Onion Knight wished him well and ultimately decided to carry out the plans without his involvement.

Onion Knight began to explain everything that happened during the aftermath of yesterday’s trial: how he found the assaulted Firion on the Top Floor of the building; they’re unplanned meeting with the headmistress; and the contents of the mysterious note.

Both Bartz and Terra listened carefully to the explanation, silently expressing their distraught that another classmate was physically assaulted by this mysterious culprit.

“If Firion was assaulted during the court trail … then surely there’s legitimacy of a second culprit?” Terra expressed upon realisation, noticing a clear contradiction. “It’s impossible that Zidane could have attacked him at any point during the trial.”

“That’s correct. During the time Firion had left the court room, Zidane was either present in the eyes of the court or in further questioning with Bartz.” Onion Knight nodded as he answered, remembering the discussion he had with the Headmistress the previous day. “I’m sure Bartz would be able to clarify.”

Both Onion Knight glanced over to Bartz with intense glares, causing him to suddenly feel cornered.

“Y-yeah, we were both being questioned by Headmistress Cosmos.” Bartz anxiously admitted, fidgeting on his seat. “I told her everything I knew about the situation, and Zidane was … completely silent.”

“So … he’s still acting that way.” Onion Knight disappointedly murmured, somewhat expecting the outcome. “We may need to question him ourselves before the next trial.”

Terra nodded in agreement upon hearing this, believing it was inevitable. On the other hand, no word came out of Bartz, his eyes diverting as conflict filled his mind.

“Do you have a plan in mind for our weekend-long investigation?” Terra curiously questioned him, deciding to shift the subject.

“There’s no way I’m throwing us into this case blind.” Onion Knight responded in confidence. “So, yes. I have a plan.”

Knock-knock!

However, before Onion Knight was able to continue, there was a knock on the living room door.

“Hey, Luneth! Is it possible for us to join in?” Refia densely asked out as her and Arc stepped into the room.

In that moment, the entire room froze.

Both Bartz and Terra reacted in abrupt shock as Refia gasped and covered her mouth, realising she had made a critical mistake. Arc also realised what had just occurred, hiding away completely upon noticing Onion Knight’s own reaction.

Onion Knight’s eyes were widened beyond belief, utter betrayal setting in.

“Really…? You just had to give that away so carelessly?” He questioned out to Refia in despair.

The two sat down in their seats in silence, Refia turning bright red due to the embarrassment. Bartz and Terra’s enlightened eyes were locked on Onion Knight upon hearing this revelation, their expressions almost unreadable.

It seemed Onion Knight had more baggage to deal with … much to the unbearable headache that was consuming him.

“W-wait a moment … your true name is ‘Luneth’!?” Bartz blurted out in amazement.

Oh, great … here we go…

He had no choice at this point, he had to explain the truth to his name.

“Technically, ‘Luneth’ is my middle name. My first is ‘Ingus’.” He resentfully explained, feeling exposed to the world. “When I was younger, the title of ‘Onion Knight’ was bestowed upon me by a family member. I was told I had to use it as my official name for most of my life, so … I’ve stuck by it to this day.”

“Really? Huh … I always thought your first name was ‘Onion’.” Bartz innocently commented, chuckling away. “That makes so much more sense!”

…Is this guy serious?

Onion Knight felt as though he had lost a plethora of braincells due to Bartz’s baffling idiocy.

“Whatever the case, I would prefer it if you would call me by my title.” Onion Knight earnestly requested, wishing he had avoided the issue entirely. “I don’t need people throwing my name around with little meaning.”

“Aaargh…! But it sounds so much simpler to say!” Bartz then moaned out in denial. “Could I at least call you ‘O-Knight’ or something?”

“Would you like me to show you the door, Bartz?” Onion Knight then passively threatened with a horrid grin, pointing towards the direction of the front door.

“…Sorry, I’ll stop now.”

Bartz quietly sank into his seat, deciding to listen to Onion Knight.

“So then, before the rude interruption…” Onion Knight sighed as he directed his words towards Refia and Arc, before returning to the initial topic. “My plan is to meet up with Warrior of Light for an update on the case. Hopefully, he will be kind enough to share some insight on any new evidence or witnesses. If our stuck-up Prosecutor reveals any significant information, we will use our time location any of these potential witnesses or evidence to help boost our side of the case. If we are lucky, they should give us some details of the ‘second’ suspect that fled the scene during both assaults.”

“How will we know who the witnesses are? I honestly don’t see Warrior of Light revealing any information of the case.” Refia pointed out, involving herself in the discussion after her initial blunder. “At least … that’s what I’ve heard.”

“For now, it’s best to ask any of the students you might come across when we’re in town.” Onion Knight shrugged in response, expecting the issue to be mentioned. “It’s already established that most of the Academy students were outside during the time of the incident. So, it’s highly probable that someone could’ve seen our suspect.”

“That sounds like a drag.” Bartz moaned, straightening back up on his seat. “Are there any other ways we could consider?”

“I know it sounds like a mediocre task, but it’s necessary.” Onion knight truthfully admitted, understanding the complaint. “We will also be checking up on the crime scene, seeing if any new evidence is found. And we will also meet up with Zidane and Firion whenever possible, depending on their availability. Firion would want to know of any updates on the case, and Zidane … well, I would like to find out what he’s hiding.”

There was a moment of silence throughout the room as Onion Knight finished his explanation, the four taking his words into account.

Although Zidane had a stronger possibility of showing his innocence after the previous trial, the fact that he continued to refuse on revealing his point-of-view on the incident made their situation unnecessarily more complicated.

There were still far too many questions … and not enough answers.

“What could he be hiding from us?” Terra cautiously wondered, showing her uncertainty in the issue. “He’s said numerous times that he’s innocent … so, why not prove his alibi by testifying his case?”

“I don’t know…” Onion Knight lowered his head, feeling dragged down by the looming headache.

“I think … he’s protecting someone.” Bartz unexpectedly murmured out, causing all the eyes in the room to abruptly focus on him.

“What … do you mean by that, Bartz?” Onion Knight hesitantly asked, finding his opinion rather sudden … and intriguing.

“I’ve known Zidane for a long time. We’ve pulled off numerous pranks over the years – both big and small – and we’ve dealt with many consequences in the process.” Bartz thoroughly explained, standing up from his chair. “In the many cases where we were caught, he would either admit to his guilt or try to prove his innocence. I can’t deny that he would use me as a scapegoat at times, but I accepted that as a necessary aspect of the job.”

Onion Knight had a desire to call out an issue in Bartz’s reasoning to the admitted scapegoating. However, he chose to hold his tongue to not interrupt his classmate.

“I have to say, though … I’ve never seen him act this way before.” Bartz then admitted, his tone growing more concerned. “I thought he was acting odd because he knew he was student life in Dissidia was on the line, but…”

“…You then realised that his reasoning wasn’t selfish.” Onion Knight muttered as he finished Bartz’s sentence, his face suddenly lighting up in realisation. “He doesn’t want to testify because it would mean revealing the second suspect’s involvement.”

Onion Knight stood up instinctively, picking out the ominous note from his pocket as he connected the dots.

An Enemy among Friends…

It finally made sense.

Bartz responded to him with a severe nod, “I think the reason why Zidane is protecting the identity of the true culprit behind Rydia’s assault … is because Zidane personally knew the culprit.”

“Oh no…”

Onion Knight let out an almost inaudible murmur, his face falling deathly pale as he finally understood the context of the note.

Terra, Refia and Arc watched him in equal confusion, feeling as though they were left out of the loop.

“What’s wrong, Onion Knight…?” Terra anxiously questioned, her voice quivering as she felt tense aura engulf the room.

Onion Knight gradually switched to Terra. His gaze was barely focused, unable to hide his distraught expression as he struggled to speak his mind.

Based on Bartz’s assumption, there was a strong possibility that the culprit was a friend of Zidane.

And, if that was true, then…

“The culprit … is likely to be one of our classmates.”

Chapter 14: Vol.4 - Unintentional Catastrophes

Zidane Tribal was hanging silently upside-down on the branch of a large sycamore tree, using his own tail as a makeshift hook. He silently watched the world around him, observing time move by the second.

He was overlooking Crescent Lake in its full sun-lit glory, the rays glinting against the ripples of the water as if they were jewels. With not a single cloud in the sky, the atmosphere was perfect for clearing the mind. Even the calming breeze was perfection, allowing him to feel refreshed and at peace with himself.

Due to the decent conditions, Crescent Lake was currently at its most popular with visitors – both local and distant.

There were families, couples, exercise enthusiasts, sailors, open water swimmers, and many others enjoying the day to its fullest, conversing with each other and utilising the Lake to their preferential benefit.

It was somewhat therapeutic to watch.

As time ticked on, many visitors had passed underneath Zidane. At first, the majority were oblivious to him, only brief yet unfazed glances catching him before returning to their own business. However, as time continued to pass, curious eyes gradually wonder in his direction, some even pointing and watching in awe at the boy hanging nonchalantly on his tail.

Zidane was not fazed by them in the slightest, his eyes set in a complete daze as he continued to hang.

“…Nom…! *Munch-Munch-Munch…!*”

During the entire time he was hanging on the branch, he was munching down on a large bag of popcorn. At the rate he was gobbling them up, the crumbs of popcorn were raining intensely.

Admittedly, it was odd for Zidane to be acting so distant.

On a usual day in the weekend, he would be using this free time as an opportunity to cause as much mischief as possible. With Bartz by his side, they would conduct various yet harmless plans to amuse themselves at the expense of their victims’ patience.

However, on this day … Zidane had completely lost his motivation.

“Wha-…? H-Hey!”

In that moment, a disgruntled voice had called out to him.

Zidane immediately snapped back to reality, raising his head towards the ground below with a confused reaction.

He noticed children playing at the tree he was hanging from, staring back at him with popcorn crumbs on their heads. One of the children – a frizzy-haired young girl – began to irritably ruffle her hair to get rid of the crumbs.

During this time, her friends were staring back at him with large, gleaming eyes, causing Zidane to feel guilty.

Swing! Whoosh!

Zidane swung off the branch and descended to the ground with a swift somersault, the bag of popcorn held firm in his grasp. Using his momentum, the tailed boy successfully landed with perfect balance, appearing next to the frizzy-haired girl before proceeding to help her with her predicament.

Whilst doing so, he placed the popcorn to the side, out of sight from curious bystanders.

“Sorry about that, I … I was miles away.” Zidane awkwardly excused himself, helping the girl pick off the sticky crumbs lodged in her hair.

The other kids stared at Zidane in awe, taken aback by the smooth yet flashy transition to the floor.

In that moment, Zidane grew conscious as more eyes from the Crescent Lake visitors were directed upon him. He was hesitant, uncertain as to whether they were glaring at him in scorn or for separate reasons.

Whatever the case, more watching eyes from the public was the last thing Zidane desired right now.

Finally, the last popcorn crumb was removed from the girl’s hair, allowing her hands to brush through without any stickiness or obstruction.

“I’ll be more careful next time.” Zidane promised with a disheartened sigh, stepping back and giving the children a kind yet somewhat forced grin.

“C-can you do that again?” One of the male kids asked out with abrupt excitement, his eyes still gazing in sheer admiration.

“Yeah! What you did was AWESOME!” Another kid shouted out, acting ecstatic.

“Err … huh?”

Zidane stared back in confusion, struggling to process this sudden turn of events as he could barely speak a word in response.

“You know! The trick you did when you jump off that tree branch!” The first child then pointed out, mimicking the somersault via twirling his hands. “It was so cool!”

Zidane’s mind clicked upon realisation.

“Oh … that?” He then questioned, his eyes switching between the children and the tree branch above. “Sure, but … that was nothing.”

He realised at this moment that the surrounding spectators were also staring at him in awe and curiosity, wondering how he was able to perform such a skill so seamlessly. Many seemed to be expecting him to do more, as though he was a street performer.

Zidane’s eyes then shifted back to the kids, who were all gleaming with excitement and anticipation.

“Hmm…”

A thought then appeared to Zidane, his once forced grin now cheesy yet cunning as he began to formulate an idea.

“I’ve got time to spare.” He accepted with a cocky shrug, expressing his determination on giving them a show. “A little word of warning, though: I am a trained professional, so don’t try this at home.”

The kids gasped with excitement, whispering to one another, and fidgeting as they were waiting with anticipation.

Zidane ushered them to stand back, allowing space for his body to prepare. At the same time, various lake visitors drew closer, forming a surrounding crowd in the process.

Expectations grew exponentially as all eyes were now exclusively set on Zidane.

Clap!

It was then that Zidane clapped his hands together, calmly closing his eyes as his mind was set at ease. In response, the crowd fell into complete silence. The children were shaken up with anticipation and excitement, struggling to contain themselves as they waited for the performance.

Positioning his stance, Zidane then glanced over to the staring children.

In that moment of pause, the children wondering why he was giving them a dead-serious glare. The rest of the audience muttered amongst themselves, equally wondering what was on his mind.

Suddenly, Zidane gave out a large, cheesy grin, sending them a small wink before he vanished from the spot.

Leap! Vroosh!

Without any further delay, Zidane launched himself up high into the air.

His entire body curved back as he performed his first acrobat, expressing complete control in his ability in the process. He allowed the transition between mid-air techniques to be as seamless as possible, spinning between several somersaults and sideway spins as though he was able to freely control his body without the necessity of a surface to push off from.

Within a flash, Zidane returned to the ground, landing perfectly on the palms of his hands with absolute ease. The crowd gasped in amazement at the inhumane skill, eagerly whispering to themselves and recording with the cameras on their cell-phones.

This flash of brief performance could be seen as more-than-enough to satisfy the audience.

However, Zidane had other plans.

“Hup!”

Fwoosh!

He swiftly pushed up from his handstand, using the momentum of his body to aim for a nearby firm tree-branch that was hanging directly above him. With another somersault, his tail latched onto the branch in a snap, allowing him to swing up with use of his flowing momentum.

The audience gasped in disbelief, struggling to believe they would witness such a gravity-defying, mind-bending skill be pulled off without visible effort.

Zidane heard the reactions load and clear, his gleeful smirk beaming from ear-to-ear.

Even though he knew he was showing off … he could not deny the fact that he was enjoying every minute of it.

Vroosh! Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!

In that moment, he grasped the next firm branch with both hands and continued to use the momentum to swing at immense velocity. Flowing into a series of consecutive twists, Zidane quickly tightened his grip on the branch and balanced his body into an upside-down, handstand-like position.

With numerous eyes locked-on to him from below – with even more joining over the course of the performance, Zidane needed his full concentration at maximum percent.

Imagining as though he was on a tightrope, Zidane continued to balance his body. There was no fault in his position, his body was perfectly balanced and no sign of difficulty. He then placed one hand in front of the other, moving towards the edge of the branch in a casual manner.

Upon reaching the edge of the branch, Zidane turned his balanced body towards facing the audience.

Brimming with confidence, Zidane gracefully released his balance.

With his grasped still tightly locked in place, his proceeded to swing at complete 360° rotations. Speeding up his momentum, Zidane threw out with as much strength as needed. He span up in the air whilst crouched up like a beach ball. It was then that he performed his next move.

Reaching out with his tail, he was able to grasp the branch higher from him. As he was able to hold his momentum, Zidane began to naturally swing on the branch. His arms and legs were crossed as he continued to swing, acting as though he was using no effort whatsoever in the performance.

The crowd began to laugh out, finding Zidane’s expressions amusing. The children were clapping out with joy, loving every trick and movement he made. Zidane chuckled, acting rather laid back. However, his mind clicked whilst his eyes turned serious.

“It’s time … for the FINALE!” Zidane roared out, leaping from the branch higher up into the air; acting as though he was reaching for the sky.

The audience’s expression turned from amazement to shock in a matter of seconds as they watched the final part of Zidane’s performance.

The velocity of Zidane’s next series of acrobats were on another level of velocity, causing some of the audience to struggle with keeping track of his position.

Some even felt out of breath just by watching him.

Zidane used the entire tree at his disposal, leaping towards various sections with no halts or mistakes. He was spinning, swinging, twisting, flipping, and throwing his entire body at a ridiculously swift pace, climbing higher up the sycamore tree in the process.

It was then that he had gained enough momentum for the final move.

Using every muscle in his body, he completely tensed up and launched himself up towards the sky above. His body flew up high about the tallest point out the tree.

The entire audience gasped out, squinting as Zidane reached the heights of sun – metaphorically speaking.

Time then froze momentarily.

Zidane peered towards the clear-blue sky above, beaming as he felt free from the shackles of reality.

Ever since the incident yesterday, he felt grounded by the depression consuming him, unable to act as his own mischievous self. However, with the crowds watching him and cheering from below, he was able to flex his unique skill set without impending prejudice.

It was as though he was able to breathe again.

Swoop! Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh!

Zidane’s body span into a consecutive, unstoppable somersault high in the air, continuing his descending momentum as he dropped back to the ground.

And then, his timing upon the final landing was impeccable.

He was able to place his feet perfectly, void of any stumbles whatsoever. This was swiftly followed by a strong bow, lowering himself slightly to one knee and placing an arm below his abdomen.

Albeit sightly exhausted from the spontaneous performance, Zidane felt he could easily extend the performance if he had time to prepare beforehand.

“““WOOOOOOOH-!!!”””

CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP!!!

Regardless, the audience roared out with an enthusiastic cheer, unable to contain their excitement. The children raced towards Zidane and circled him in an instant, cheering and yelling ecstatically in response to the show.

Zidane rose back up and regained his bearings.

A large, meaningful breath escaped him as he observed the audience in front of him. He was completely blown away by the reception, unable to comprehend the level of applause surrounding him.

He then nodded back to the crowd with a firm, appreciative smile.

“Th-thanks.”

…Crack!

Zidane’s eyes widened in an instant, drops of sweat appearing from his brow. His grin completely disappeared, the enjoyment of the attention washed away and replaced by … horror.

Incidentally, the crowd before him – including the children – fell silent immediately as their sights shifted towards the area behind Zidane.

Zidane regretfully switched towards the tree behind him, his mind filled with looming terror as he predicted what was about to follow.

…Crack!

 Crack-crackcrack!

The large sycamore tree continuously twitched, growing evermore violent as its stability gradually weakened.

Zidane gulped, sweat streaming down his face as his fear turned to reality.

It was fine throughout my performance! Why’s it breaking apart now!?

…Crack-crack-crack!

…SNAP!

Branches began to snap away from the tree, falling to the grass below whilst a plethora of leaves fluttered away. Significantly large cracks severed through the wood of the tree, causing it to splinter and split apart.

And then … the tree swayed.

…Crackcrack-SNAP!

Creak…!

“…Oh crap!” Zidane muttered as he watched in terror, switching back to the crowd before roaring in emergency. “Everyone, get back! NOW!”

The crowd scattered in an instant, gaining as much distance from the tree as possible.

Zidane grabbed hold of the children that surrounded him and leaped out of the way in haste.

The cracks from the lower area of the tree connected, breaking off from the roots below entirely. The entire tree swayed forward under the pressure of its unbalanced weight and fell towards the ground where Zidane completed his performance.

CRASH!!!

Finally, the sycamore tree was no more.

Zidane gradually turned back and gazed on with horrified disbelief, unable to comprehend the situation.

Upon releasing the children, he slowly approached the fallen tree, the flush in his cheeks falling pale as the sweat continued to stream from his forehead.

As he stood over the tree, his eyes widened.

He realised from the observation that the entire centre of the tree was hollow. Additionally, the base of the tree had rotted so severely that it was guaranteed to fall at any given moment.

The fact that he was able to complete his performance before the inevitable fall was nothing short of a miracle.

“Well … that was certainly a magnificent performance.”

A familiar voice then called out to Zidane in an amused tone, causing him to leap in abrupt fright.

Zidane switched back and found Onion Knight approached him with Terra and Bartz by his side, all three seemingly unfazed by the situation.

“H-How much did you see?” Zidane then murmured anxiously, struggling to form his words.

“Well, I’d say … since the beginning.” Terra answered with a sweat yet conscious smile. “It was very entertaining.”

“Yeah, it was awesome, man!” Bartz blurted out excitedly. “I’ve got goose-bumps just from watching it.”

Zidane dropped to the floor on his hands and knees, his head lowered as he gave out an elongated sigh of defeat.

“…I give up.”

 

Moments later…

The four classmates had moved away from the area just as the authorities arrived to deal with the aftermath.

Onion Knight led the group to a large social area of the lake, far enough away from the area of the tree incident. Terra and Bartz followed in his footsteps, seemingly calm and cheerful.

However, the three continuously looked over their shoulders as they checked up on Zidane – who trailed behind in awkward silence. His head dipped, shoulders hunched over with hands in pockets, and his tail dragging across the dirt below: the young monkey-tailed boy was overwhelmed with embarrassment.

Finally, the four perched themselves around a circular table upon reaching their desired destination, perfect for resting their feet as the overlooked Crescent Lake.

At first, there was silence. The trio struggled to find their words whilst Zidane sat with his gaze lowered to the table, causing them all to feel awkward and restless.

“*Ahem…!*”

A mannered cough then escaped Onion Knight’s mouth, clearing his throat before deciding to break the tension.

“So then, now that we’re away from the unfortunate mess…”

However, his tone then switched mid-sentence as he noticed Zidane’s defeated expression, staring irritably at his classmate.

“…Staying depressed isn’t going to get you anywhere, Zidane.”

“Mm…” Zidane groaned as he proceeded to rest his head on the bench table.

Bartz gazed at his friend with a sorrowful gaze, understanding his friend’s grief over the immense dilemma looming over him.

“If you think about it, Zidane, we’ve survived much worse. Don’t forget, we broke Sir Sephiroth’s Globe-thingamajig the other day.” Bartz assured cheerfully, relating the tree incident to their previous one during Geography class. “You’ll be fine, I’m sure of it!”

Zidane’s body then shivered reactively, remembering the consequences he and Bartz faced following the ‘globe-fiasco’.

“I … didn’t need to be reminded, Bartz.” Zidane murmured lowly.

“A-ha-haa … sorry.” Bartz apologised anxiously, feeling guilty as he realised his mistake.

“A-anyway … that’s not the main reason for why I feel like this.” Zidane then sighed out, deciding to admit his thoughts. “It’s just … whenever I do something with good intentions, everything gets screwed up and I end up getting blamed – unless it’s not serious, then I just pass the blame over to Bartz.”

“Wha-!? Hey!”

Zidane smirked subtly at the sound of Bartz blurting out in bewilderment, feeling a hint of amusement with the sneaky jab.

“You two certainly know how to get yourselves into messy situations.” Terra murmured awkwardly. “No wonder you were falsely-accused.”

“Okay, that’s enough of that conversation.” Zidane quickly shut down, finding the constant humiliation unbearable. “Bartz messaged me earlier that you guys were spending the day investigating the case. How’s that going?”

Onion Knight suddenly shot a leering glare towards Bartz, causing him to nervously lean back against his seat nervously.

“W-what are you looking at me like that for?”

Onion Knight then shook his head in disappointment before proceeding to answer Zidane’s question.

“Well, I would say it started off well, but…”

 

Dissidia Academy Entrance Gate, 3 hours previous…

 

“Are you a moron!? Why would I tell you any details about my end of the case? The whole idea is asinine!”

Onion Knight, Terra, and Bartz had approached the Entrance Gate of the Academy where Warrior of Light was situated.

As part of Onion Knight’s plan, the first stop of the investigation was to receive an update of the case through Warrior of Light. However, Onion Knight had a distinct feeling his opponent would refuse to co-operate, expecting the distraught reaction.

Even so, Onion Knight felt it was worth a shot to ask.

“Just as I thought, you’re as stubborn as ever.” Onion Knight murmured with a disappointed sigh. “Maybe I’ll reword your statement to: ‘nothing has surfaced whatsoever’.”

Warrior of Light’s eyebrow twitched.

“Oh, I see. You’re bored so you decided to spend your time acting like a little brat and ticking me off in the process.” He retorted irritably, his jaw tensed at the thought. “Well, just to inform you – my short, foolish classmate, we both have important jobs we need to fulfil and so you should be ON. YOUR. WAY.”

“WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT MY SHORT STATURE!?” Onion Knight bellowed out in abrupt fury, losing his composure upon hearing his trigger word. “I DARE YOU TO SAY THAT AGAI-!”

“Onion Knight … now’s not the time.” Terra intercepted swiftly, stepping between the two with a firm stance. “Same goes for you, Warrior of Light.”

The unexpected interference caught both Onion Knight and Warrior of Light off guard.

Even though she spoke in her usual soft voice, Onion Knight noticed a hint of agitation breaking through her tone.

Onion Knight hastily breathed out and forced himself to calm his anger, allowing his mind and composure to return to normal. On the other hand, Warrior of Light turned away in disdain, finding the whole encounter pointless.

“Listen, we’re just as desperate as you on finding the truth, so any piece of new info or clue would help us dearly.” Onion Knight admitted in a genuine tone.

“Well, unfortunately for both you and I … I have none to give.” Warrior of Light answered back spitefully, cementing his earlier statement.

“Tsk…!”

Onion Knight tutted in defeat, unable to come to terms with his rival.

Signalling Terra and Bartz, the three turned and exited the academy grounds.

“…I couldn’t find a scrap of evidence nor any witnesses.”

Onion Knight froze up upon hearing Warrior of Light’s abrupt mutter, causing both Terra and Bartz to almost walk into him by accident.

“…Say that again.”

“You heard me.”

Onion Knight could not believe his ears: Warrior of Light – the Prosecutor of the case and the most stuck-up Class and Council President in the Academy – admitted to his failure.

Onion Knight switched back towards his rival, approaching his opponent with a growing smirk.

“I’m surprised.” Onion Knight admitted mockingly, crossing his arms as he leaned in.

“What do you mean by that?” Warrior of Light questioned warily, finding Onion Knight’s sudden change of expression repulsive.

“You’re the Prosecutor. You’re supposed to track down witnesses and evidence to back up your accusations.” Onion Knight explained brutally, using every means to undermine him. “And yet, no one has approached you since yesterday’s trial?”

“Where’s this going?” Warrior of Light growled as he sharpened his gaze.

“…You must’ve scared them off due to your intimidating presence.”

BONK!

“-OW!”

Onion Knight clutched the top of his head in sudden pain, moaning out as he soothed his cranium.

“THAT HURT, YOU EGOTISTICAL PRICK!”

Warrior of Light had struck down with a firm chop on the top of Onion Knight’s head in annoyance.

“Maybe you should’ve kept your thoughts to yourself then.” Warrior of Light answered back in a spiteful tone.

Onion Knight grumbled as he continued to sooth his aching head, ignoring the snickering from Bartz and Terra in the background.

“Listen … we have until Monday to find evidence and witnesses for this god-forsaken case, yet you’re acting as though you’ve already failed.” Onion Knight continued as he brushed aside of the pain. “Granted, our roles are no walk in the park. It takes time and preparation to build a case – along with a boatload of stress and mental gymnastics. But, giving up so early would be insulting to the Headmistress’ faith. She gave you the role of Prosecutor for a good reason, so fleeing from the responsibility would only cause her to lose her trust in you.”

Warrior of Light hesitated momentarily.

“Who said I’m ‘giving up’?” He then blurted in denial “You don’t need to tell me about the importance of my role!”

“Then we cannot let her down.” Onion Knight warned in firm response, his eyes lit like a flame.

Warrior of Light fell silent, too stubborn to argue back.

Onion Knight breathed out as he finished his speech, feeling refreshed. He nodded over to Terra and Bartz, indicating that they were leaving before turning away from his rival.

“Onion Knight … I have one question for you.” Warrior of Light then called out to him with a serious expression. “Are you hiding any evidence from me?”

There was a moment of silence in the area, Onion Knight frozen in place as he glanced over his shoulder.

“Nope.” Onion Knight smiled as he switched back, shaking his head in honesty. “Just like you: I have none to give.”

Warrior of Light nodded in understanding, deciding not to speak any further.

With that, the trio of classmates left the school entrance with Warrior of Light watching from a distance.

For the next two hours, the trio wondered around the city in hope that they would find fellow classmates, or anyone associated with the Academy who were aware of the incident.

During their travels, the trio reunited with Arc and Refia, who were preoccupied with investigating the escalating rumours relating to the case. However, all rumours were immediate dead ends with most gossips summarized to: “I believe Zidane is guilty due to his past actions!” and “I believe Zidane is innocent because … I don’t know. Reasons, I guess.”

Hearing the disappointing results to the investigation, Onion Knight opted to brush aside the looming negativity and strived to hold his optimism.

And so, the group continued their investigation, praying for the smallest hints of true evidence amongst the rumours and speculation.

 

Present Time…

 

“I gave Warrior of Light that pep-talk, and yet here I am eating my own words.” Onion Knight groaned as he concluded his recap to Zidane, his gaze filled with defeat. “So, to answer your question … our investigation is in shambles.”

Zidane sighed out as he observed the three classmates hanging their heads in shame, scratching the side of his head restlessly as he attempted to find a way of lifting their sprits.

“It’s no doubt you guys have hit a snag, but … it’s only Saturday, right?” Zidane shrugged in honest response, causing his fellow classmates to raise their heads in a mixture of surprise and confusion. “Give it a bit more time and I’m sure something’ll come up. I mean, are you guys sure you’ve crossed off all potential leads?”

Twitch!

Just then, Onion Knight’s body jolted, his eyes locked onto Zidane as a new possibility crossed his mind.

It had occurred to him that Zidane was correct in his statement. There were still leads he had yet to investigate, including one potential lead perched directly in front of him.

Onion Knight then straightened up in his seat, clearing his mind as he focused on his next approach. Terra and Bartz noticed his sudden shift in expression yet was unable to read his current thought-process.

“Well, there’s one lead we haven’t crossed yet ... and it’s the reason why we’ve decided to meet up with you, Zidane.” Onion Knight then proceeded to explain. “Aside from checking up on your well-being, we also wanted to ask you a few questions related to the case.”

Both Terra and Bartz reacted with surprise, taken aback by Onion Knight’s unexpected statement.

However, Terra nodded back in understanding, realising the topic would be addressed eventually. On the other hand, Bartz was fidgeting uncomfortably, feeling conscious of Zidane’s reaction.

In response, Zidane raised a curious eyebrow, finding Onion Knight’s sudden request rather unexpected. He was silent as first, considering his words.

“Yeah. Fire away, O-Knight!” Zidane called out coolly, accepting the challenge.

Onion Knight locked sight Zidane, his expression firm.

 

Interrogation: Zidane Tribal

 

“Zidane. We need all the information for this case to succeed in our favour – including your perspective.” Onion Knight proceeded, shutting out the rest of the world as he focused solely on the client in front of him. “All you’ve given us so far are vague answers, and it’s hindered our investigation considerably. So, why all the secrecy?”

“…I have my reasons.” Zidane shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes deviating as he spoke.

(He’s already trying to dodge the question...)

Onion Knight tensed up as he analysed Zidane’s body language.

(He’s holding himself back deliberately. It’s like his mind is preventing him to co-operate – even when we’re trying to help him.)

Fixated on Zidane, Onion Knight considered every possibility behind the shift in attitude.

(Who did he see at the time of the incident? What happened to him that could’ve caused him to clam up?)

Regardless, Onion Knight pressed on with the questions, deciding to change his approach.

“Can you describe what you witnessed when you entered the room that day?” He requested sincerely, expressing caution in his words to ensure Zidane was comfortable enough to comply.

Zidane breathed out, reminding himself that he was amongst friends.

“When I entered the room, I found Rydia slumped against the wall. I noticed the bloodstain above her, and I also saw ... him.”

Onion Knight straightened up on his seat as his curiosity piqued.

“Him?” He echoed.

“No. Never mind, ignore me.” Zidane then brushed off hastily.

“Zidane, we’re only trying to help prove your innocence.” Terra attempted to reassure him carefully, expressing sympathy for his wary stance. “Any information you can share with us would help tremendously.”

Zidane was silent, yet he responded with an understanding nod.

Holding his patience, Onion Knight continued his questions.

“Were you able to identify either culprit at the time of the incident?”

“I … might’ve recognised them.” Zidane murmured, hesitating once more.

“...”

Onion Knight sighed, feeling agitated by Zidane’s constant vague answers.

“Zidane. Whilst we’re certain you’re not the culprit, you are still an important witness to the case.” Onion Knight then emphasised crucially, his mind racing through various other approaches he could use in the process. “The moment you enter the stand in court on Monday, you’ll be torn apart by both Warrior of Light and the High-Judge Gabranth. If you tell us everything you witnessed during the incident, we’ll have plenty of information to back up your innocence during upcoming trial.”

“Heh...! Light failed interrogating me already.” Zidane chuckled with a nonchalant shrug. “I know how to handle him.”

“No, that’s not how it-!”

Onion Knight halted his retort, realising he had reached a dead-end.

(I need to change the conversation...)

“Fine, let’s try something else.” He accepted in a huff. “Bartz explained during his second Testimony yesterday that Rydia’s scream was heard after you left Math Room 4. He also revealed that you told him to ‘hide’. What was happening at that specific moment?”

“…”

Zidane failed to respond, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead as he struggled to hold eye contact.

“Zidane … What happened?” Onion Knight echoed firmly.

“H-he … was about to…” Zidane murmured anxiously, his breaths heavy and heart racing. “…attack us.”

“Wha-...?” Onion Knight gasped in shock, almost lifting from his own seat. “Who?”

“Zidane...” Bartz murmured worriedly.

“Zidane, what happened after that?” Onion Knight confronted firmly, feeling he was on the verge of revelation.

“He … he just…” Zidane shook his head, expressing distress. “I-I can’t … he w-would never…!”

Onion Knight’s eyes widened, realising Zidane had entered an early stage of a panic attack.

Terra acted on instinct, shifting around the bench hastily as she placed a hand on Zidane’s shoulder in an attempt, hoping to ease the tension.

“Zidane, stay calm.” Terra spoke out to him soothingly. “We’re here for you.”

Bartz shuffled to his friend’s side, consoling him as he was worried for his wellbeing.

On the other hand, Onion Knight rose from his seat, his eyes locked on Zidane as he refused to yield.

“Zidane. What happened in that room?” Zidane continued to question, unable to find any other approach. “Who was the culprit? What did he do!?”

However, Zidane had finally snapped.

“I-it wasn’t him…! I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT WAS HIM!”

Swoosh!

Zidane leapt out of his seat, pushing both Terra and Bartz aside as he bolted from the table.

“Zidane!”

“Wait! Zidane!!!”

Terra and Bartz yelled out to him respectively, and yet they were never heard.

Within seconds, he was gone.

 

Interrogation: Zidane Tribal … UNSUCCESSFUL!

 

Onion Knight slumped back to his seat, attempting to process what had occurred.

Terra and Bartz stared off towards the direction of Zidane’s position before he disappeared, both stricken with worry.

Terra then switched to Onion Knight, glaring at him in visible anger.

However, Bartz shifted towards Zidane’s direction, unable to sit idle after witnessing his friend in pain.

“I have to find him.” Bartz murmured under his breath.

Upon hearing his words, Terra reached out to Bartz in haste.

“Bartz! You can’t-!”

“Don’t stop me!” Bartz yelled as he cut Terra off.

Whoosh!

Before Onion Knight and Terra could stop him, Bartz had raced off in Zidane’s direction.

Terra shifted forward.

“Leave them be.” Onion Knight persuaded as he shook his head. “Bartz will calm Zidane down.”

Terra twisted her body in an instant, overwhelmed with anger.

“I can’t believe you, Onion Knight!” Terra yelled out. “You knew Zidane was distressed by the questions, yet you just kept pressing for answers!”

“It was necessary.” Onion Knight reasoned calmy, his eyes refusing to waver. “I needed to be sure.”

Terra proceeded to glare at him.

She knew Onion Knight long enough to express her thoughts to him where necessary, appreciating his companionship yet accepting his flaws and direct approach. With that said, she had never reached such a point where she felt obligated to call him out.

“What does that mean?” She questioned warily.

“Didn’t you see his face? Did you hear how he answered the questions?” Onion Knight then retorted. “He was completely out of character the moment we began questioning him. He barely answered any of them and waved them off with vague answers.”

Terra froze as she realised what Onion Knight meant, reflecting on her previous interactions with her yellow-furred tailed classmate.

Although her conversations with him were occasional, she could never remember a time Zidane had acted with such traumatic emotion – always brushing off issues with a cunning yet endearing grin.

“I knew something was preventing him from answers truthfully, but I never expected him to break at that level … and also so soon into the questioning.” Onion Knight expressed openly, attempting to fix the puzzle in his mind.

“What do you think happened to him?” Terra then wondered anxiously, perching herself back on the bench as she settled herself. “Who did he see that caused such a horrific reaction?”

“There are some possibilities.” Onion Knight deduced, tapping his fingers against the table surface restlessly. “It’s possible that either culprit – or even both – were closely associated with him to such a considerable degree that he couldn’t bring himself to reveal their names. Alternatively, it’s possible that he was forced to stay silent against his own will.”

“But then … who would be ‘that’ close enough to Zidane where he would refuse to reveal a name?” Terra responded with confusion, struggling to find reason in Zidane’s actions. “And if he was forced to keep quiet … how would either the culprits be able to blackmail him/”

“I don’t know. However, one new piece of information we have now is that one of the culprits was male.” Onion Knight then analysed, reflecting on the questioning. “If we assume the culprit was a close associate of Zidane … then I have an idea of who we may be up against.”

Onion Knight then placed a hand against his pocket, feeling the evidence pouch that contained the brown strands of hair.

“However, if it’s ‘him’ … then my previous suspicions were correct.” Onion Knight murmured underneath his breath, consumed in his own thoughts. “But … what’s his motive? Why would he go to such drastic lengths just to frame Zidane?”

“Who’re you talking about?” Terra wondered blankly. “You’ve completely lost me.”

“Ah, sorry.” Onion Knight apologised exhaustively, smiling back at her. “I think it’s time we visit Firion.”

“You’re leaving already?”

Just then, a sudden voice echoed over the two classmates, causing them to leap up in abrupt fright.

“How disappointing. after all the recent commotion, I was hoping I’d get the chance to speak with you both.”

Terra and Onion Knight switched towards the owner of the looming voice.

With a tough expression and powerful stance, Onion Knight and Terra immediately recognised the fellow student before them.

“Celes?”

Chapter 15: Vol.4 - An Eventful Day

The glowing Sun broke emerged from the horizon, rising above the grand city with its warm, golden glow. It was the perfect sunrise, allowing for the peaceful atmosphere to dissipate gradually as the birds sang and tweeted in unison.

It was a brand-new day.

it was a Sunday.

The fragrant scent of heated toast and grilled bacon greeted the man who rose from his slumber.

Unlike other days where he would rush to work, Sunday was a day of relaxation. It was his time to remove the looming weight from his shoulders and embrace the desire for laziness.

With that said, the toasty aroma invited him to step away from his bed, his stomach grumbling at the thought of consuming such a delicacy.

Fighting off his dreamlike state, the man smiled gleefully as he stepped out of his bed. Stretching out his weary limbs, he proceeded to follow the distinct aroma – yielding to its constant teasing.

His mind was in the clouds, imagining himself gouging away at the bread and bacon.

Step…! Twitch!

However, as he took his first step of the day, his leg gave out.

Thwomp!!!

Before he realised what had occurred, the man dropped to the floor in an instant.

His long, jet-black hair was tangled and covering his face entirely as he processed the situation in his collapsed state – clutching his leg in agony.

“Squall…! Squall! I’ve got another leg cramp!” The man called out in desperate plea, hoping for a response. “Come help me up!”

However, after a moment of silence, he was met with an unsavoury response.

“Tsk…! Do it yourself.”

Squall’s distinctive monotone voice echoed, expressing no mercy.

“I’m busy.”

The man pouted in disappointment.

“Aw, Squall. Don’t be so harsh on your Old Man! I’m helpless down here!”

And yet, Squall’s words were final.

“Cooking breakfast takes priority.”

The man groaned out, acting as though he was imitating a lazy seal.

In his mind, he felt betrayed that his own son, struggling to believe that the boy would refuse to help him in his desperate time of need.

(Man, where did I go wrong with him…)

The man sighed out in defeat, chuckling away at the thought.

In the end, he gave up on persuading Squall to help him any further, feeling it was completely futile. Instead, he rolled to his front, his body lying flat against the carpet floor as he forced himself to move.

With all the morning strength he could muster, the man used his arms to crawl towards the door, aiming for the kitchen with the glorious smell of breakfast to guide him.

His legs dragging from behind, the man refused to allow Squall’s stubbornness to control his fate.

(…I am Laguna Loire. President of Esthar. And this heart of mine refuses to give in to such an obstacle!)

 

Meanwhile, in the Kitchen downstairs…

 

With earphones covering his ears to as he drowned out anymore of his father’s whines, Squall finished preparing the breakfast.

Consisting of the traditional bacon, eggs, and toast: it was impossible to fault the level of care placed in his dish.

The bacon was sizzling and crisp with perfection, engulfing the entire Kitchen in its rich, irresistible aroma. Additionally, the eggs were fried to perfect texture, a balance of the golden-brown egg-white and a gooey yolk. Finally, the toast emerged from the toaster browned and crisped to perfection, completing the trio of an ideal breakfast.

Squall was satisfied by his creation, believing he had made an artistic masterpiece through the simple concept of breakfast – even though his lack of visible emotion suggested otherwise.

After adding a few final touches, Squall split the food into two dishes – one for himself and the other for his father. Balancing the dishes in his hands, Squall turned and stepped towards the dining room with eyes locked on the sturdy table situated at the centre of the room.

Squall was in his zone, music playing loud through his equipped earbuds as he anticipated the taste of his new masterpiece.

Nothing could distract him.

“Ah-HAH!”

In that very moment, a voice bellowed out at the unsuspecting Squall abruptly.

“Fork over the food!”

Snatch!

A hand then latched around Squall’s ankle.

“WHAT THE-?!”

Taken aback by the sudden interception, the oblivious Squall leapt back in a startle, stumbling back in the process.

Attempting to regain his footing, Squall lost his balance entirely – causing the plate of breakfast in his hand to slip.

As if the world’s time slowed to a crawl, Squall could only watch in despair as the bacon and toast fell towards the floor. Underneath the falling plate, Laguna’s expression dropped from a cheeky grin to a horrified gasp, noticing he mistake far too late to save it.

Eyes wide and mouth agape, Laguna switched hastily into a bracing guard.

SMASH!!!

Squall glared with a combination of frustration and disgust, his earphones slipped out from his ears and dangling loosely from the neck of his shirt.

Pushing the plate aside and wiping the large parts of toast and bacon off his mug, Laguna was left to sulk and groan.

“Karma … why are you so cruel?” Laguna murmured with a disheartened pout, holding back the tears. “First the leg cramp ... now this! I swear, the Goddess has forsaken me…”

Squall’s eyes rolled at the pathetic attempt for sympathy, questioning how they were related.

However, his gaze then switched to the devastation below him.

Once the result of an edible masterpiece – now an unfathomable mess covering his pathetic excuse of a father along with plate shards, bacteria, and other detestable unmentionables staining the kitchen floor: the breakfast was beyond saving.

Squall then returned his attention to his father, death emulating from his eyes.

“You better eat every last scrap of food that was on that plate.” Squall warned antagonistically, his aura thriving like a raging fire regardless of his emotionless exterior.

“Wha-? HUUHH!?!?” Laguna blurted out in heightened despair, his mouth agape and eyes wide from the blasphemous horror. “Y-you’re kidding me, right?! I can’t eat this crap! I’ll be out of commission for the next week! Think about the three-second rule, Squall! THE THREE-SECOND RULE!”

Squall stared unfazed.

“Not my problem.” He murmured back coldly.

“B-but … it’s practically inedible.”

“So … you’re saying my cooking is bad?” Squall growled judgingly, his deathly eyes piercing through the soul of his own father. “Is it not up to your expectations?”

“N-no, that’s not what I-!” Laguna stuttered hesitantly, realising the implications of his words. “I-I mean … Y-you’re cooking is amazing! It’s always amazing! it’s just that-!”

He then noticed Squall’s eyes sharpen upon him.

“…Never mind.”

Attempting to scramble to his feet, the defeated Laguna scooped as much of the food from the floor as possible. After that, he wiped away the mess from his face and straightened his posture, facing Squall with a guilt-ridden expression with the spoilt food in his hands.

Squall glared back, his expression indicating that his father was nothing more than an annoying pest.

“Eat the food … it’s getting cold.”

Laguna attempted to grovel once again upon hearing his son’s spiteful command, and yet no words could escape his mouth.

He was at the mercy of Squall.

Gazing down at his plate in silence, Laguna sighed underneath his breath as he accepted the reality of his predicament. He then shifted reluctantly and perched on a seat before the dining table, struggling to find the resolve to consume the inedible dish.

At first, he picked though his food as he prayed for any scrap of descent sections. However, he could only pout in disappointment.

On the other hand, Squall perched himself on the opposite side of the dining table and took no time in digging into his own breakfast, acting satisfied upon tasting the results of his cooking – as well as watching his father suffer the consequences of his actions.

Eventually, Squall finished his food and stood up from his seat, shifting over to the dishwasher with his empty plate.

With his head placed against the table surface, Laguna was left sulking in despair. Unlike his son’s, his plate was only half empty, his stomach unable to consume another bite of revolting slop.

Upon his return, Squall glared down at his father, expecting the outcome yet equally disappointed.

“…You failed.”

Laguna could feel a sudden stab into his soul, his heart shattered at the brutal verdict.

His entire existence was reduced to atoms instantly, the story of his life and achievements flashing before his eyes as the damning judgement engulfed his mind.

Squall groaned irritably, unable to withstand his father’s insufferable mannerisms.

“Screw this … I’m heading out.”

(…What a pain.)

However, just as he turned away and mumble to himself, he heard his father’s voice leap into action abruptly.

“Ooh! Who’re you going to see?” Laguna asked his son eagerly, reviving from the dead. “Are you meeting your mates from the academy? Or … maybe you’re meeting a girl?”

Squall stumbled upon the question, glancing back with an exasperated expression.

“Do you always have to ask about my personal affairs?” Squall complained in a flustered response.

Laguna then gave out a light chuckle.

“I’m just curious, Squall. Isn’t it part of the Old man’s job to ask these important questions?”

“That’s got nothing to do with anything.” Squall growled back, believing his father’s priorities were skewed. “Mind your own business.”

An idea then clicked in Laguna’s mind.

“Ah, I know! I’ll go enrol myself into Dissidia!” He announced on sudden whim. “Maybe a teacher or an undercover student! You never know, I can be your all-almighty wingman.”

Squall’s eyes widened in horror.

“NO! No-no-no! Don’t you ever joke about that! That idea is lethal.” Squall warned in heightened distraught, unable to fathom the idea of his own father as a teacher and a classmate.

“Aw…! There’s no need to shut me down, Squall.” Laguna continued to tease, beaming with amusement. “You never know … me joining Dissidia would do wonders.”

Overwhelmed with disgust, Squall slipped a pair of cabled earphones in his ears in haste, drowning out his father’s insufferable voice along with any other needless noise. He then stormed out of the room – followed by the front door closing in the distance.

Laguna watched him leave, snickering away at the sight of his son’s predictable reactions. He then picked one last piece of breakfast, ignorant to his crying stomach as he muttered to himself with a lofty grin.

“Hah-haa…! Foreshadowing is such a delight…”

He chewed down on the piece of bacon…

“MMPH!?!?”

…Only to lurch forward with a sudden sickly gulp.

 

A moment later…

 

Squall stepped through the peaceful streets, music blasting through in his ears as his mind drifted into the far reaches of his imagination.

The bright Sunday Sun was beaming down upon him, engulfing his body in a warm glow as he proceeded down his path. The street was almost empty: a few kids were found playing with a foam Blitzball; a few adult residents working on the lawn along with other household chores; and other meaningless distractions.

Squall felt that he was in his comfort-zone, listening to his preferred music alone and free from any unnecessary inconvenience.

However, it was at that moment when he heard an inkling of noise attempting to break through his music – like an irritating itch refusing to leave. Additionally, the Blitzball-playing kids had halted their game abruptly as they stared off towards the distance ahead, their ball rolling down the hill as they stood idle in the middle of the road.

Feeling the eyes staring upon him unwelcoming, the irritable Squall removed one of the earbuds as he checked the surrounding street, noticing the noise growing more prominent by the second.

He then slowed to a halt, noticing the cause of the noise was from a nearby argument.

“You always do this, Old Man! I swear, there’s no end to your assholery!” A familiar obnoxious voice bellowed out.

“Ah-hah-hah-hah-haa…! Don’t act so sour, kiddo! Just because you couldn’t take a small loss, doesn’t mean you can throw a tantrum!” Another familiar, gravelly-tones voice mocked loudly in response.

Squall recognised the two voices immediately, feeling a sense of Déjà vu with their needless squabbling.

“Screw you! Those dirty tricks were unfair!” The son’s voice yelled in outburst, his voice echoing throughout the street without a hint of restraint. “I had barely any room to counterattack!”

“ ‘Any room’!? Is that not the entire point!? Admit it! You were slaughtered!” The father’s voice provoked with a bellowing chortle. “And you call yourself my son! You still have a long way to go before I consider you my equal!”

SLAM!

“GO TO HELL!!!” The son bellowed back at the house in fury; face beet red and popping with numerous veins. “…You damn old fart!”

After the sound of a door slamming hard, Squall noticed a figure storming out to the street.

“Thanks for the reminder! I’ll pay the place a visit at some point! Ah-hah-hah-haa!” The father’s muffled voice chortled within the house, claiming victory of the argument. “Oh! And don’t forget to return home on time this evening, Tidus! I’ll be sure to make your next P.E. lesson a living hell if you’re back late!”

Kicking the pavement in a sulk, Tidus grumbled to himself to vent his lingering frustrations. He then gazed up to the clear sky above, spacing out momentarily as his imagination ran wild.

Noticing he was exposed in the open, Squall shuffled back with a cautious frown.

(If he sees me, I’ll never hear the end of it…)

He then twisted around in haste and stepped off towards the opposite direction, acting oblivious to the commotion as he returned to listening to his music.

Tidus was the last person he needed for company, believing his classmate’s overtly-energized personality would ruin his entire day – especially after witnessing the events that had unfolded before him. Just imagining him trailing off regarding his grievances with his father and waffling continuously about random topics would send the poor Squall into a spiral of insanity.

Squall’s tactical retreat was strategic, believing he still had a chance to avoid the obnoxious classmate without unnecessary intervention.

And yet, his music merely drowned out the truth.

“…SquaaaAAAAAAAAALLLL!!!”

Wham!

“GAH-!?!?”

In an instant, Squall’s body left the floor without warning and hurtled against his will, tumbling across the concrete ground in uncontrollable momentum. Additionally, he felt a body had latched around his arms, preventing any attempt to save himself from further torment.

After screeching to an eventual stop, Squall laid motionless. His eyes were wide with shock as he gasped out for air to return to his lungs.

Beside him, the culprit of the unexpected tackle scrambled to his feet, peering over the bewildered Squall with a curious yet oblivious gaze.

“Squall, my man! You’re the spark of my day!” Tidus exclaimed in exaggerated delight. “You’re like a guardian angel! I don’t think I’ll be able to thank you enough.”

“R-right … happy to be … of help.” Squall responded breathlessly as his earphones slipped out from his ears, his body full of scrape marks and lungs screaming for air.

(Why me…?)

After the mumbling Squall recovered to his feet, he decided to continue his trek with inconvenient Tidus as additional company.

As expected, Tidus took the opportunity to rant away regarding his life’s woes – much to Squall’s increasing displeasure.

“Man … that old fart has no sympathy! He’s an uptight, selfish asshat who enjoys the suffering of others.” Tidus complained with a pout. “The moment I screw up or something didn’t to his liking, He’ll gruel me to kingdom-come!”

He then scratched his head vigorously.

“And worst of all, he competitive as all hell! I’m sure he’s a sore loser, but it’s impossible to expose him because he never loses a damn game!”

“Says the guy who – not only damaged the Academy’s Blitzball Arena – but also refuses to take the blame by passing off the incident as a ‘minor accident’.” Squall murmured with an agitated sigh.

“Huh!? Who told you about that!?” Tidus blurted out in abrupt surprise, almost stumbling over his own feet.

“Cecil told me about it the other day.” Squall shrugged carelessly.

“Urk-! Damn you, Cecil…!” Tidus growled underneath his breath, feeling betrayed by his close comrade. “I swear … if he’s spreading rumours…”

Squall raised an eyebrow at Tidus, wondering what he was mumbling about.

However, he then threw away the thought, attempting to understand Tidus’ predicament.

“So, you lost a game against your dad, end up throwing a tantrum … and now you’ve decided you’re going to spend the entire day moaning and groaning about how much you hate his guts.”

Squall sighed at the summary.

“…Seems legit.”

“Oi! Don’t twist the issue on me!” Tidus yelled out, taken aback by Squall’s low comment. “Surely you can relate with me here, Squall. I mean, haven’t you said before how much you dislike your dad?”

It was in that moment where the atmosphere between the two shifted, Squall lowering his eyes as his pace slowed.

On that rare occasion, Tidus noticed his mistake as he glanced at his classmate.

“Err … heh-heh…! Did I push the wrong button?” Tidus questioned awkwardly, bracing himself for the consequences of his own actions.

Squall was silent, refusing to look at Tidus in the eye as he was left deep in thought.

However, Squall then sighed out, raising his head.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. Sure, I find my dad annoying, foolish, lazy, frustrating, and a complete pain in my neck…” He answered. “But … he’s still my dad.”

“R-right … I’ll keep that in mind.” Tidus nodded back anxiously, feeling he had dodged a bullet.

With that, Squall spoke no other word, satisfied by the conclusion of the conversation.

Tidus followed close beside his classmate, attempting to speak his mind yet unable to utter a word as he was left to wonder in his own thoughts.

As they continued walking, Squall returned one earphone to his earhole, keeping the other ear open out of caution for anymore unexpected tackles from Tidus. However, he then noticed Tidus fiddling away with his cell phone, attempting to contact a familiar name on the screen.

Ring-ring, ring-ring…! Ring-ring, ring-ring…!

There was no answer.

“Hm…! Hm-hm-hmm…!”

Tidus chuckled eerily, amused at an idea that sprung in his mind.

“What’s with the creepy laugh?” Squall questioned in an unamused tone, switching to him with a cautious gaze. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“Heh-hee…! Oh, nothing much.” Tidus chuckled back with an amused shrug. “Do you mind if we take a detour?”

“Huh…?”

Before Squall could understand his classmate’s mindset, Tidus stepped on ahead, not speaking another word as a cunning grin was strapped across his face.

Squall stared at him as the two picked up the pace, feeling he would soon face another unnecessary predicament.

After a short detour, the two reached their destination.

What stood before them was a small, comfortable house, grouped with several other identical homes that created the neighbourhood.

Squall had no idea who owned the house before them yet assumed he would recognise the owner upon entry. Additionally, upon observing Tidus’ approach, Squall guessed that a member of the house was another fellow classmate.

He wished to slip away without a sound. And yet, he felt inclined to follow through with Tidus’ schemes.

Without hesitation, Tidus rang the doorbell eagerly.

A fanfare-like tune rang out in echo, the tune feeling familiar to both Squall and Tidus.

Click!

The door then opened, revealing a tall man with spiky jet-black hair, sky blue eyes, and wearing casual attire with the iconic ‘SOLDIER’ logo strapped across his belt.

The man standing before them was none other than Zack Fair.

“Ah…! Morning, boys!” Zack greeted the two with a large, cheerful grin strapped across his face. “Are you two here for Cloud?”

“The one-and-only!” Tidus answered back with an equally cheerful grin. “I’m guessing he’s still dreaming of girls and chocobos.”

“Nailed it. That kid would sleep the entire day away without a care in the world.” Zack admitted with a mixture of cheek and complaint. “Do you mind giving me a hand waking him up?”

“Do you even have to ask?” Tidus chuckled deviously at the request, as though anticipating the outcome. “What have you cooked up for him this time?”

“Heh-heh-hee…! It’s going to be a good one.” Zack teased cunningly, stroking his non-existent beard. “It’ll involve a bucket of water, a few trip hazards, and…”

As the two discussed the impending plan, Squall stood watching them in judging silence.

(So … now I’m stuck with a pair of over-excited lunatics … great. Just great.)

Squall sighed out with an inaudible groan, wishing he had ignored his curiosity and slipped out of sight when he had the chance.

All he desired was his solitude, away from the nuisances of other people.

“Everything is set up already. All we need now is someone to trigger the process.” Zack then suggested, gazing at the two for a suitable volunteer.

Both Tidus and Zack’s eyes then veered towards Squall automatically, both emulating dark, menacing grins as though expecting him to step up to the role. Squall stared back at them with a widened gaze, feeling as though he had no say in the allocated role.

Deciding it was pointless to argue back, Squall sighed out begrudgingly.

“Fine. Whatever...”

Zack and Tidus switched back to each other gleefully, their excitement reaching the boiling point.

The three entered the house to unleash their plan, Zack leading Tidus and Squall upstairs to showcase the sleeping Cloud. During this time, Squall received a summary of his role, showing a neutral expression as both Zack and Tidus attempted to amuse him with their plan.

In basic explanation, Squall’s role was to throw a bucket filled with cold water onto the sleeping Cloud, setting off a domino-effect of pranks and mayhem.

It was a simple task, yet there was no doubt that the plan was immensely immoral.

On the one hand, the mere thought of abuse from such an intricate prank was diabolical to imagine, Squall believing large quantities of the perpetrators’ blood would be spilled if he were in Cloud’s shoes. However, on the other hand, Squall was morbidly curious with the results of the prank, expecting Cloud’s reaction to be hilarious to witness.

Noticing he was falling into the simple primate-like mentality of some ‘notorious’ classmates, the horrified Squall shook his head vigorously and returned to reality.

Finally, the three stood over Cloud’s bed where the oblivious Cloud slept, mumbling in his sleep as he was facing another of his ‘Fan-girl’ nightmares – a trauma both Squall and Tidus were all too familiar with.

“Right. Time to get into position. Squall, get the bucket ready.” Zack commanded with a whispering voice. “Tidus … follow me.”

As the two exited the room, the awkward Squall was left alone standing over Cloud’s bed with a bucket of freezing cold water in his grasp.

His initial thought was the sudden realisation that he was in a precarious position, praying no one else would spot him creepily towering over the innocent, sleeping Cloud. Squall then shifted his thoughts to wondering whether he should sabotage the plan and wake up Cloud.

However, he opted to fulfil his role, holding the bucket over Cloud’s head.

At first there was silence, and then…

“NOW!”

Squall heard Zack’s signal loud and clear.

“Zzzz … H-huh...?”

In that moment, Cloud awoke groggily, his eyes squinting as he wondered the reason behind the unexpected commotion.

“…Sorry, Cloud.”

With sudden haste, Squall threw the bucket over the bewildered Cloud, submerging him in freezing water. 

Fwoosh!

“MMPH-!!!”

The blinded Cloud scrambled out from his soaked bed in frantic motion, wrapped from head-to-toe in his binding bedsheet whilst the bucket covered his head entirely. With no idea on his bearings, he stumbled around the room aimlessly.

Watching him approach in a scurry, the silent Squall stepped away.

“Wha-?! What’s going on-?!” Cloud yelped as he stumbled over, throwing his arms out.

As the bewildered Cloud passed him, Tidus took over the prank with an eager expression.

Standing opposite the opened door, Tidus held out his leg nonchalantly, feigning his innocence as he tripped up his friend expectantly.

“WHOA!”

Just as he caught Tidus’ foot, Cloud momentum carried him across the hall uncontrollably, losing all sense of balance in the process. Additionally, he stumbled into a collection of ‘appropriately-placed’ pots and pans dotted throughout the floor.

Donk! Pang…! Bang-bang-bang! SMASH! CLANG!!!

Loud, rattling noises could be heard echoing throughout the entire house.

In that moment, Zack stepped into position, flexing his shoulders in preparation for the final stage of the domino effect.

As Cloud staggered over to the edge of the descending steps, Zack assisted his direction with a small shove from behind.

“Wah-?! Woah-woah-woah…! AAAAAHHHH!!”

Bangbangbang…! CRASH!!!

With the bucket on his head and drenched bed sheets wrapped loosely throughout his body, the motionless Cloud was left spread out on the ground floor.

Tidus and Zack raced down the staircase, both expressing sudden concern for the victim. Squall followed from behind, descending the steps at a slower pace with a half-hearted expression.

“Cloud! Are you okay?!” Zack called out, rushing to his side as he was consumed with regret.

“Oh, crap! Zack, do you think we took it too far?” Tidus asked him worriedly, kneeling opposite with an anxious sweat.

As they surrounded him, Tidus removed the bucket from Cloud’s head awkwardly, revealing a dazed, barely-conscious Cloud.

“Oh, good! He’s fine!” Tidus breathed out in relief, throwing his arms up in victory. “Crisis-averted, people!”

“Nngh…”

As he heard Tidus’ obnoxious voice echoing through his head, Cloud gradually regained consciousness.

“How’re you holding up, buddy?” Zack wondered with a relieving chuckle, patting his friend’s back. “Was that an epic alarm or what?”

Cloud groaned out in lingering agony, his entire body aching and shivering as he struggled to lift himself of the ground.

“You’re all … dead to me.” Cloud wheezed out underneath his breath, refusing to look at them in the eye.

Squall watched the three from half-way down the staircase, sighing out as he found no enjoyment in the prank.

“…I think we’re done here.”

 

An hour later…

Squall, Cloud and Tidus strolled through the city centre, Tidus chatting up a storm whilst Cloud held an ice pack on his head and groggy bags underneath his eyes. Treading behind them silently, Squall had zoned out completely, earphones plugged back in his ears so he could avoid Tidus’ constant yapping.

The city centre was filled with busy locals and visitors – a typical Sunday for the area.

Numerous shops and restaurants were still open, utilising the opportunity to advertise their plethora of promotions and deals whilst also maximising interest in their wares. In Squall’s eyes, the customers were ‘suckered in’ to the shops like dogs craving for new treats.

In addition to the crowding shops, the trio could see various street performers showcasing their routines, amazing the audiences that surrounded them. The entertainment on display ranged from extravagant acrobatics, spectacular magic tricks, ‘human’-statues, and comedic slapstick performers.

It felt like the city was thriving like a festival.

Just then, Tidus and Cloud rushed ahead of Squall, Cloud pulled against his own will whilst Tidus found an event that caught his attention.

Noticing them rushing off in haste, Squall held back casually, feeling a sense of solitude return to his mind. He swerved between the growing crowds, avoiding any unnecessary confrontation whilst searching for anything of interest.

However, as he passed the wall of flatscreens through an electronic shop’s glass panel, he halted abruptly and faced the familiar face on display. As he watched, a muffled narration from the television echoed in the background, celebrating a special announcement.

“Today marks the seventeen-year anniversary of Sir Laguna Loire’s reign as the president of Esthar.” The Anchor Lady described on the channel in a professional tone. “Yesterday, upon celebrating the occasion, Sir Laguna announced that a special stage play would be held in a year’s time. Tickets for the planned dates were sold out in minutes with more dates to be announced in due time. Sir Laguna proceeded to state that: ‘those who were unable to buy tickets can view the play via live broadcast and other streaming methods...’”

Squall glared at the screen in bafflement, unable to comprehend his father’s sudden announcement.

(You and your spontaneous announcements...)

“Wha-aaaAAAH!!!”

During that moment, a light, feminine scream echoed throughout the city centre, causing Squall to twist in alert.

He noticed the girl who screamed immediately … as she headed towards him at an uncontrolled, erratic pace.

“Wha-?”

“Watch out! WATCH OUT!!!”

It was too late.

CRASH!!!

The girl collided into him, collapsing to the ground upon impact.

The surrounding crowds watched the situation unfold with curious eyes, no one showing a hint of interest in intervening before the girl collided into Squall.

“Woof! Woof!”

What followed was a loud, deep series of barks, causing children and animal-lovers in the crowds to point out to the crumpled pair cheerfully.

A large, long, brown-furred dog was running around the pair manically and licking Squall’s face, overwhelmed with excitement and adrenaline.

Wiping the dog-drool from his face, Squall eased himself up from the concrete floor with a pained groan.

(Again…?! Why did this have to happen to me … AGAIN?!)

Shaking his head, the irritable Squall shook his head as he regained his own bearings. However, no matter his attempts to stand back up, he was pinned down by the girl lying on top of him – one arm wrapped with a dog-lead whilst the other was latched onto him.

Staring at the situation before him, Squall was left frozen in place, unable to find a viable escape as numerous eyes towered over them.

Upon clearer inspection, the girl had jet black shoulder-length hair, areas seemingly highlighted with a fair caramel tone. She had soft, pale skin and – upon what Squall noticed before the fated collision – dark, brown eyes. Finally, she was wearing a blue sleeveless sweater, a black tank-top, and black, knee length cycling shorts.

“Nnngh…! Angelo...” The girl moaned out as she regained her bearing, sitting up on top of Squall obliviously. “Would you calm down … for once in your life.”

“Woof!”

The dog barked in response to the name, bouncing and wagging its tail ecstatically. It then perched as though awaiting further instructions from its master.

As the girl sat up, she glanced down and gasped out immediately, realising she was sitting on Squall.  

“I-I’m so sorry!” The girl apologised as she shuffled off from Squall’s abdomen, grasping his hand instinctively. “Angelo gets excited a lot when she’s in a crowded place. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine…” Squall murmured back as he sat up, his cheeks red with fluster. “Nothing you should be concerned about.”

He instantly slid his hand from her grasp awkwardly, struggling to hold eye-contact with her. Squall then lifted to his feet, holding his other hand reluctantly to help the girl up.

At first, the girl hesitated before accepting his assistance, feeling embarrassed by the ordeal. However, as she returned to her feet, the dog leaped up and latched onto the two eagerly.

“He’s very … jumpy.” Squall commented irritably, attempting – yet failing – to push the dog away from him.

“She.”

The girl then corrected him sternly, acting as though she was insulted by Squall misgendering the dog.

“Right, sorry. ‘She’s’ a very excitable dog.” Squall murmured in acknowledgement.

Just then, her gasped out in surprise, pointing at him as though she recognised him. Squall leant back reactively, feeling conscious of his personal space.

“Wait a minute … you’re Squall Leonhart, right?” The girl asked him in abrupt curiosity.

“Yeah … what about it?” Squall answered awkwardly.

“Oh…! Nothing much, I just see you around at the Academy quite regularly.” The girl then smiled cheerfully. “Also, I hear you’re one of the ‘Fangirls’ prime targets.”

Squall’s eyes widened in sudden alert.

“You … you’re not one of them, are you?” He questioned cautiously, debating whether to hold his ground or run away whilst he had the chance.

“Nope! There’re a few of them in my class so I overhear their gossiping every now-and-then.” The girl admitted amusedly, laughing at the thought of associating herself with such harpies. “Honestly, those girls need a new hobby.”

“I see…”

Squall murmured with an uncertain tone, glaring at her with judging eyes as the alarm bells were still ringing in his mind.

 “Oh! Could I get a selfie with you?” The girl then requested, rushing to retrieve her smartphone from her pocket. “My best-friend would lose her mind when she sees-!”

“No.”

In that moment, Squall slipped out of sight through the large crowds, shutting down the girl before she could snap a shot of him.

Within a flash, he was gone.

“Ah! Wait, I-! …And, he’s gone.”

With she held a firm grasp on Angelo’s lead, the girl pouted in disappointment.

“That guy needs to really lighten up. Isn’t that right, Angelo?”

“Woof!”

The dog barked in agreement.

Just then, another female voice called out from the depths of the crowds.

“Rinoa! Where’ve you rushed off to…?” The voice called out curiously. “Rinoaaaa!”

The girl then switched to the direction of the voice.

“I’m right here, Selphie!”

The girl – Rinoa – glanced back to the direction of Squall’s escape, shrugging her shoulders with a light sigh before leaving to meet up with her friend.

 

Afterwards…

Squall reached an open area, pausing momentarily to catch his breath.

Although he considered the girl sweet and sincere from surface value, the mention of the notorious ‘fangirls’ sent a series of nightmarish flashbacks through his mind – forcing him to retreat before he faced the consequences.

After calming his mind, Squall took in the surrounding area.

He exited the city centre and was standing on a track leading towards Crescent Lake, free from the claustrophobic crowds. The area was calm, open, peaceful, and full of natural scenery – a perfect place for satisfy his desire for solitude.

After a further walk along the track, Squall found a nearby bench underneath a small yet sturdy tree to rest his poor feet. Plugging in his earphones, Squall leaned back on the seat in a daze and watched the vast blue sky above.

After an eventful day, he was able to finally fulfil his initial desire: relaxing in his own headspace without a care in the world.

Time passed on, the music in Squall’s ears shuffling through random tracks of his preferred playlist. People passed him obliviously, taking no notice of his existence as they kept to their own business.

Squall was in perfect solitude, a calmed smile breaking through his lips.

And yet … his happiness was only temporary.

“BOO!”

“GAH!”

Squall lurched in abrupt fright, taken aback as a horrific, clown-like face shot inches from his sights.

“Hohoo-! Hehehee-! AHAHAHAHAA!!!”

The clown-faced trickster bellowed out in a demonic chortle, over exaggerating the laughter as he was successful in his spontaneous jump-scare.

“My lord, I can’t get enough of this! It’s all … EXHILARATING!”

Kefka Palazzo – Dissidia Academy’s infamous Art Teacher – was floating in mid-air, clutching his sides, kicking his feet, and laughing manically.

Any nearby visitors of the Crescent Lake area watched him in absolute terror: children clutching onto their parents whilst bawling their eyes out at the sight of the hovering clown; dogs either barking defensively or whimpering behind the legs of their owners; and other tourists avoiding the path entirely.

Squall’s heart was racing at the sight of Professor Palazzo, unable to prepare himself for the Art teacher’s notorious jump-scares no matter the frequency.

“W-why are you here…?” Squall questioned in a stutter, his body shaking in his seat. “…Pr-Professor Palazzo…?”

“It’s MASTER PALAZZO to dirt like you!” Kefka snarled in an abrupt, menacing tone. “…Or Kefka – if you’re so inclined.”

Squall stared at him warily, struggling to find his words as he attempted to regain his composure.

“…Whatever.”

“How rude…! I just so happen to be – umm… – ‘strolling’ along Crescent Lake. And then, along my travels, I just so HAPPENED … to see one of my ‘prize’ students daydreaming on the bench.” Kefka answered back casually as he circled above Squall’s head in free flow, the tone of his voice inconsistent. “I just HAD to mingle!”

Squall stood cautiously, wishing he could escape the madman before he was thrown into another unwelcomed event.

“Hohoo…! Giving me the silent treatment?” Kefka giggled as he hung himself underneath the tree, crossing his arms. “Well, I guess there’s … another reason for me to meet you here.”

Squall raised an eyebrow, wondering why Kefka wished to meet him.

And then, another – eerily lustful – voice spoke up from close behind the unsuspecting Squall.

“What the pitiful Kefka is trying to say, my dear Squall … is that you’re an important player is tomorrow’s fated court trial.”

Frozen on the spot, Squall felt a soft hand caressing his cheek, causing a cold shiver to erupt up his spine

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING ‘PITIFUL’, YOU LONESOME HAG?!” Kefka bellowed in retaliating fury, his menacing insanity breaking through his trickster persona momentarily. “Hee-ahahahaa…! I was just getting to the GOOD part, my … lovely Ultimecia.”

Just then, Squall broke through his frozen state and twisted to meet the figure standing behind him.

Ultimecia – Dissidia Academy’s History Teacher – stood tall and gracefully as she emerged before Squall. With her long, silky-silver hair; golden, serpent-like eyes; and strong, red-toned lips: she emulated the appearance of a corrupted angel.  Additionally, her attire consisting of a long, feathered blood-red robe; numerous unique-shaped tattoos; and … nothing else.

Her cleavage was exposed and lacked any undergarments.

Most men – especially Squall’s father – would struggle to resist her mature charm.

However, from Squall’s perspective: she was a possessive witch.

“You’re being hunted down, Squall.” Ultimecia then warned him smoothly. “A fellow classmate believes you were involved with the recent incident to some capacity. He’s stubborn and will stop at nothing to shift the blame on you.”

“Hohohoo … AHAHAHAHAA!!! It’s simply thrilling watching the CHAOTIC drama unfold!” Kefka yelled out energetically, hovering overhead as though he was swimming in the air. “I can’t wait for more!”

“…And why should I care about how he feels?” Squall questioned with a snarl, him mind pinpointing the exact ‘classmate’. “The incident has nothing to do with me.”

“Hmhmhmm…! Are you sure, boy?” Ultimecia queried curiously, gazing into his eyes as she licked her lips. “To me, you are a key importance to the entire case – even more than anything would believe. It’s only a matter of time until the cat’s out of the bag and the Academy find’s their truth.”

Squall stepped back reactively, wary of the witch’s eerie approach.

“Why does it concern you?” He retorted in a tense tone.

“We are merely SPECTATORS of the event … Heyahhahaa…! All we want is to add a bit more ‘fun’ to the case.” Kefka explained in his quirky approach. “Will you be so kind as to … create a bit more CHAOS for us? …Pretty pleeeeeaaaase…?”

“And we don’t mean ‘help us’ … we simply want you to get involved.” Ultimecia added, giggling alongside Kefka.

Squall fell silent.

“And … if I were to participate…” Squall then murmured, considering his options. “What’s in it for me?”

“Oh-hoh! I like your thinking!” Kefka leapt up with glee. “Well, don’t you worry! We’ll reimburse you … considerably. Anything you ask: WE’LL provide! Do you want all the answer to your exams for the rest of the academic year? Would you like some extra recommendations on your future endeavours? Or, my personal favourite: Why not ERADICATE your troublesome tag-alongs?”

Squall’s ear perked up at the suggestions.

In his mind, his two closest friends situated before him from the dark depths.

Zidane, devoid of emotion and locked to the chains of his fate, awaited his inevitable fate. Whilst Bartz, his emotions broken and overwhelmed with despair, stood watching his friend helplessly as he was unable to comprehend the damning questions of the incident.

The two then disappeared into the darkness, causing Warrior of Light and Onion Knight to stand in their place. The duo glared towards Squall with condescending eyes: the Prosecutor offering a hand to strengthen the ‘Guilty’ verdict; whilst the Defence was prepared to rip Squall’s testimonies apart to twist the narrative of the case.

Accepting the ultimatum, Squall answered with a firm nod.

“Fine. I’ll play along.”

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Vol.4 - One Time

Onion Knight and Terra Branford stood in silence as they watched their next objective step up to the table. Both were unbelievably tense, Terra’s heart racing whilst Onion Knight stood firmly as a statue as he examined the recognisable male approaching them.

Squall Leonhart, emotionless and set to challenge whomever inconvenienced him, refused to divert his attention as he understood the purpose of the poorly-timed meeting with his two classmates.

As though they were in sync, the three sat at their designated table in complete silence.

It was a question of who would initiate the conversation along with the conversation's subject matter. Both Onion Knight and Terra had one topic fresh in their mind, yet was anxious to kick off the conversation considering Squall’s condescending demeanour. On the other hand, Squall glared at them blankly, his patience already diminishing.

The three classmates were situated in a café, surrounded by a variety of spectators. Students, families, social groups, locals, and visitors who entered the café all wondered what occurred at the centre table. Even the employees of the café were wary of the situation, nervous to approach the table to ask for their orders yet unable to keep away. News and rumours spread fast across the city regarding Dissidia Academy’s intense battle for the truth. The fact that they would soon watch the progression of the court case before their eyes excited them beyond belief. On the other hand, some café regulars wanted nothing more than to avoid the unwarranted tension and sit in peace.

“You could’ve picked a less crowded area…” Squall murmured in his typical unamused expression, conscious of the eyes surrounding them. “You know what they say about ‘personal space’, right?”

Onion Knight shrugged, smirking confidently in response.

“This is simply a game to them. Pay them no mind and I’m sure you feel more comfortable. Besides … some freshly-made tea and coffee during an interrogation works wonders.”

Terra glared at Onion Knight abruptly, finding his words stubborn and crude. However, she then switched back to Squall, deciding to let it slide.

“If this place is too crowded for you, Squall, we could always move to somewhere else.” She offered him kindly, conscious of his discomfort.

“Its fine. I can live with a crowd for the time being.” Squall shrugged with a sigh in return. “I’d rather get this thing over and done with anyway.”

Onion Knight and Terra glanced to each other intensely, wondering how Squall would approach their interrogation.

Questions were running through the pair’s minds:

(What’s going on in his head...?)

(What’ll emerge from the conversation...?)

(What is he hiding...?)

These were questions that Onion Knight had wondered prior to the meeting. However, the two questions hid many others that Onion Knight wished to pursue, considering his suspicions about Squall in relation to the case had yet to subside.

Onion Knight and Squall then locked eyes against each other, as though ready to kill if given the chance. The atmosphere grew intense, the surrounding spectators quivering by the abrupt change of tone. They edged closer, eyes and ears open with anticipation.

“So be it, Squall.” Onion Knight grinned with confidence, accepting the challenge set before him. “However, let me tell you, I will not be holding back.”

“Hmph … Whatever.” Squall murmured in his monotone, his arms crossed. “But, I would like to ask one question before we begin.”

Onion Knight cocked an eyebrow, curious yet cautious to the impending question.

“And, what would that be?” he responded warily.

“If I remember, Firion was the one who took up the detective role. So why am I being questioned by you two?” Squall asked out, his eyes glaring intimidatingly.

Both Onion Knight and Terra tensed up upon hearing the question. To Terra, she realised that Squall was not aware of Firion’s current situation, believing he was unaware that Firion had developed a concussion from the culprit’s second assault. To Onion Knight, however, the question hinted at Squall’s potential innocence supported by the consistency of his attitude. Whilst Onion Knight still assumed that he was lying to cover his likely involvement with the case, he remained cautious on his next move.

“Firion’s was involved with an accident late Friday at the Academy and suffered a concussion. We're just standing in for him today.” Onion Knight then decided to explain, avoiding details based on the cause of Firion’s concussion to ensure only the necessary information was given. “Warrior of Light is doing the same on his end. So, it should be fair on both sides.”

“I see.” Squall nodded in acceptance, leaning back on his seat. “I did hear something happened to him, so I was only curious.”

(Wait, so he WASN’T oblivious to the incident with Firion?)

Onion Knight’s thoughts erupted, causing him to re-evaluate.

(Why does he have to be so mysterious about these things…? Fine then, we’ll have it his way; all the more reason to interrogate him.)

Onion Knight then straightened up, his eyes fixated on his current opponent. Squall watched on, showing no emotion as though he was about to play a game of poker.

“If that’s all you wished to ask, then we'll begin.” Onion Knight commented in preparation, ending the relaxed tone.

 

Interrogation: Squall Leo-

 

“Homemade Tea for Mr Onion Knight?” a young pink-haired female waitress abruptly approached the table, a large cup of brewed tea in hand.

In that instant, the high tension in the atmosphere shattered entirely, almost every spectator groaned out as they felt the anticipation dissipate. Even the trio on the centre table broke their concentration upon this unexpected interruption.

The waitress glanced around the room curelessly, wondering why all the spectators and customers reacted in unison.

“Y-yes, that’s me.” Onion Knight raised a hand shakily, his head planted against the surface of the table.

The waitress then placed the mug on their table and stepped away in silence, feeling awkward with the encounter. Meanwhile, as Onion Knight recovered, he noticed Squall frozen in a face palm position and Terra with her face in her hands in embarrassment.

“Well, that killed the mood.” Onion Knight sighed out in a murmur, picking up his mug and blowing the scalding steam away.

“Tch! You’re one to talk … seeing as you were the one who ordered it in the first place.” Squall groaned bitterly, glaring back at him.

Taking a moment to recompose himself, Onion Knight recollected his thoughts, as though he had a second chance to prepare his mind and consider the situation in front of him. Terra and Squall reorganised themselves, sighing out to refresh themselves. The audience kept silent, praying for no further interruptions.

Onion Knight took the first sip of his freshly-brewed tea and locked eyes with Squall.

 

Interrogation: Squall Leonhart

 

“Squall, I would like to question you about your relationship with both Zidane and Bartz.” Onion Knight commenced, deciding to get straight to the point.

“Oh? Is that how we’re starting this?” Squall replied with a cocked eyebrow. “Why do you need to know?”

“You see, in order for us to have the best chance in proving Zidane's innocence, we need insight on every aspect of this incident.” Onion Knight admitted in convenience. “To you, it may sound random and obscure. However, sometimes the most important answers lies within the most unexpected places.”

Squall shrugged carelessly.

“Fine then. The three of us were close friends for years – I would say, since we were around 10 years old. The more I think about it ... the more it gives me a headache.”

“Is that so…?” Onion Knight nodded back thoughtfully, as though considering the hardships Squall had to endure over the years. “I feel your pain.”

“You gain a tolerance for their mischief after a while.” He brushed aside lightly, “And besides; it’s always a joy to watch their pranks backfire on them from time-to-time.”

“Karma is a tough mistress.” Onion Knight chuckled in agreement, before his eyes sparked up abruptly.

Terra caught a glance of the lit up glare in Onion Knight’s eyes, confident that she was on the same wavelength as him. The surrounding spectators watched on, most somewhat clueless, yet a few fidgeting upon hearing Squall’s words.

(No doubt about it now … he has a hand to play in all this.)

The wheels turned in Onion Knight’s mind, attempting to connect the dots.

(Question is: How will he play this out?)

“Squall, have you ever been involved in their pranks?” Terra then questioned curiously.

Squall switched to her, a distinctive silence engulfing him. Onion Knight also glanced over to her, intrigued by the question. The sudden shift of eyes caused Terra to fluster, sliding down her seat gradually to hide herself from the attention.

“Ah, s-sorry, I … I was just curious…” Terra added in defence hastily, her cheeks glowing bright red.

Onion Knight grinned subtly, appreciating the courage she mustered up to voice her thoughts. It was an ideal question needed to be answered, and Onion Knight felt he neglected the topic.

After a long pause, Squall answered the question with lowered eyes, “Bartz and Zidane would always try and get me involved with their shenanigans in some way or another. To begin with, they would ask me to join in constantly, poking me until I finally accepted. When I did, I would just observe from the side-lines waiting for one of them to screw up spectacularly – which happened on a regular occasion at the time. Ultimately though, I never accepted to join in their so-called ‘games’. After a while, they would revolve the pranks around me without me even knowing about it – probably in spite or just for kicks. Those plans never worked out though, as – by that time – everyone knew who to blame if they became a victim of a prank. Zidane even attempted to pin the blame on me ... but no one believed him. He and Bartz sure enjoyed those back-to-back detentions … then again; I certainly enjoyed the convenient personal space.”

“You sound as though you were happy to get away from them whenever you had the chance.” Onion Knight commented casually.

Squall paused once again, his eyes glaring like daggers ready for a rebuttal. Glaring back, Onion Knight was aware of Squall’s avoidance, noticing a few cautious hints in his attitude. Silent sparks were flying between them, awaiting for the other to crack. The surrounding crowd felt the tension tighten, feeling the adrenaline circle the air.

“You could say that … then again, I’m sure you’d understand more if you had those two pestering you every single day starting from the crack of dawn.” Squall then sighed, as though reflecting on the days when he ‘suffered’ the most. “It's just nice to get some fresh air every once in a while. It was … refreshing.”

Just then, Terra felt a shiver crawl up her spy unexpectedly, almost leaping up from her seat in reaction. She was oblivious to the cause of the sudden reaction; it was as though Squall’s last comment set off alarm bells. Onion Knight was observant of Terra’s reaction, considering it to be a sign of change in the atmosphere surrounding Squall.

However, he refused to end it there, believing he needed more from Squall before the end of the interrogation.

“Was there ever a time when you opted to help those two?” He questioned bluntly, the tone of his voice growing stern. “Aside from the times you watched from the side-lines, of course.”

“As I said, I only watched their pranks from the side-lines.” Squall reiterated, his voice clear as day. “Besides, would you really see me as someone who gets involved in something so petty and asinine?”

Onion Knight shook his head hesitantly, unsure if it was the right choice to respond. His mind like clockwork, he prepared for the next string of questions within an instant. Yet, before he could press on, he was halted  abruptly.

“No, hold on … there was that one time.” Squall admitted lowly, a thought crossing his mind.

“That ‘one time’?” Terra echoed his words curiously, her interest peaking. “Whatever do you mean, Squall?”

“It was during the time at our old school, not long before we entered Dissidia Academy.” Squall answered, thinking hard to remember. “At least … I think it was then.”

The audience eyed in closer, a few gasping in awe at this sudden revelation. Onion Knight groaned underneath his breath, feeling irritated by the constant intimidation of the surrounding stares. Brushing it aside, he kept a strong posture and pressed on.

“It seems our audience is showing interest, Squall.” Onion Knight decided to point out, a clue that was obvious to even the densest of people. “Could you give us more detail?”

Another long pause, as though Squall carefully considered whether to enlighten the two who sat before him – and the surrounding crowd. However, it was too late to back away without setting off unnecessary rumours.

“It began during Lunch Break…”

 

2 Years Ago, within the facilities of Balamb Elementary…

 

“But Squaaaaallll…! You HAVE to help me with this!” Zidane begged Squall, gazing up at him with large, hopeful eyes. “It’s our final day and I have the PERFECT send-off prank for the Headmaster! I can’t do this without you, man!”

“For the millionth time, I’m not getting involved with whatever you’re scheming.” Squall spat in frustration, wishing to eat his lunch in peace.

The two were situated in the large, spacious dining hall of the school, lines of tables stationed in a parallel position with a mass of students scattered among them. The typical echoes of the student’s voices echoed like wildfire, conversations of excitement for the summer break and what was to come for them when they enter their new schools and academies. Squall, sporting a youthful appearance and a jet-black school uniform, was hunched over his food with an irritated expression engraved deep into his monotone face. Zidane, also sporting the same uniform and equally youthful appearance, sat opposite leaning forward and fidgeting in hopes of his friend’s acceptance.

“Come on, buddy, I’m desperate here!” Zidane continued to pry, refusing failure. “Think about it, it’s the last day! The teachers can’t punish us even if we got caught, and everyone will walk away talking about it for weeks!”

“Not exactly…” Squall rebutted Zidane instantly, noticing a flaw in his excuse. “The school can refuse our entry into Dissidia Academy without even lifting a finger … at least that’s what I’ve heard.”

Zidane stared at him blankly in return, acting as though he was unable to process the thought. Squall’s own eyes narrowed as he sipped on his drink, irritated by Zidane’s ridiculous dense outlook.

“…We’ll be fine!” Zidane then brushed off with the thumbs up, his upbeat expression proving he had discarded the possible consequence. “Bartz and I have already set up most of it, anyway. Just a little bit more tweaking and we’ll be good to go.”

Squall groaned out irritably, feeling the uncontrollable desire to run away. And yet, he endured, knowing there was no way he would escape Zidane’s demand no matter how hard he tried..

“If you shut up and show me what you’ve done ... then maybe I’ll help.” Squall murmured regretfully, resenting the decision.

“YES!!!” Zidane roared out ecstatically, throwing his arms up in the air as he leaped up from his seat.

At that moment, the dining hall fell silent. Students turned curiously to see why there was a sudden shout for joy. Meanwhile, Zidane was oblivious, his mind psyched up with anticipation to notice. In contrast, Squall had his face in the palms of his hands, continuing to groan with regret.

 

Not long after their conversation, Squall and Zidane stood in the empty Theatre hall of the school, staring upon the complete set up for the prank. Zidane struggled to stand still, his excitement reaching its peak. Squall, on the other hand, glared with an expression of absurdity, dumbfounded by the contraption situated in front of him.

“So, what do you think?” Zidane wondered cheerfully, his hands on his hips and his chest pumped up with pride. “It’s awesome, right?”

“Y-you … you must be joking.” Squall stuttered his words, his eyes wide as he processed the reality of the predicament.

Situated in the centre of the stage was an enormous blue bucket, filled to the brim with freezing cold water and a vast array of ice cubes. Beside it was a group of small rolling apparatus, used commonly for exercises and stretching. In an instant, Squall gathered that Zidane had stolen the items from the P.E. Equipment Store.

“Ha-ha-haa…! You need to lighten up, Squall. The school never used these during lessons, so I thought they’d be more suitable for what I have planned.” Zidane chuckled, acting all care-free. “Now then, this is the plan: I’ll have the bucket balanced up in the rafters of the stage – directly above where the Headmaster will be standing. In the meantime, you’ll be hiding in the backstage, ready to bowl the rollers.”

“…And what’ll Bartz be doing?” Squall questioned.

“I’ve placed Bartz on filming duty.” Zidane answered cunningly, a grin beaming from his dace. “He’ll be sitting in the crowds recording the whole prank and sending it to all the students afterwards. I guarantee you, it’ll trend like wildfire.”

Squall was silent, uncertain about the entire plan considering everything Zidane had told him. There were a few issues he wished to address.

“Why not place me on filming duty?” Squall decided to express. “Bartz has more experience in your pranks, whilst I'm watch from the side-lines.”

“Well, I wanted to change things up and give Bartz a break from being at the forefront.” Zidane admitted truthfully, feeling compassion for his best friend. “I felt it was your time to shine.”

Squall nodded slowly, acting as though he understood Zidane’s reasoning. On the other hand, considering Zidane’s tendency of using Bartz as a scapegoat, there was no wonder why he came to such a decision.

With that said, there was something else Squall needed to point out.

“I know you’re agile and everything, but I don’t think you’ll be able to carry that bucket up to the rafters with all that water weighing it down.”

Zidane froze upon hearing Squall’s criticism, realising his mistake as his expression dropped from excitement to horror. Squall rolled his eyes at the sight, finding Zidane’s oversight typical.

“BARTZ!!!” Zidane then bellowed out abruptly.

Within seconds of Zidane’s call, a youthful, innocent-eyed Bartz appeared from amongst the curtain folds of the Theatre stage.

“Aye, Sir!” He saluted, attempting to pull a forced straight face.

“We screwed up!” Zidane crossed his arms with a serious pout.

“How so!?” Bartz blurted in shock.

“We put the water and ice in the bucket BEFORE we set it up on the rafters!” Zidane explained to him.

There was another pause, Bartz glancing over to the equipment as his mind gradually connected the dots. There was an odd ticking noise clicking as he tried to figure out the problem. Squall face-palmed, infuriated by the useless pair.

Tick, tick ...Ding!

“*Gasp!* OH NO!” Bartz yelled out, placing his hands on his head. “The ice and water took me AGES to steal from the Kitchens! Whatever shall we do now!?”

(So that’s how they got the ice and water…) Squall’s mind clicked.

“Don’t worry, we still have time!” Zidane assured him, approaching Bartz and placing his hands on his friend’s shoulders. “The prank will work no matter what’s thrown against us!”

“…Well great, now we’re all screwed.” Squall murmured underneath his breath.

 

Shifting to the end-of-year Balamb School Assembly, the Theatre Hall was filled to the brim with students and teachers. They all sat watching the Headmaster – a cheerful yet sophisticated man referred to many as Mr Kramer – stand on the stage to offer his final speech in hopes to inspire the students with their future endeavours.

Squall was in position behind the stage curtains with the rollers, ready for either Bartz or Zidane to send out the signal. Zidane, set with the bucket up in the rafters, was also ready to go. Bartz, sitting amongst the crowd with their class, were set filming the Assembly with his cell-phone.

Now all they required was the perfect timing.

“…And so, students of Balamb Elementary…” Mr Kramer concluded in a clear and upbeat voice.

Zidane nodded over to Squall in anticipation, in which Squall indicated back with a confirmed nod. Bartz zoomed the camera on his cell phone, ensuring he had the clearest image possible.

“…I thank you wholeheartedly for the great years spent at this school, and I have faith that you will follow your ambitions to a promising future!” The Headmaster bowed as he ended his speech.

That was the signal.

Zidane tipped the bucket, allowing it to fall on target nonchalantly. At the same time, Squall stepped forward, the stage on his right, and aimed the rollers.

Bang!

“

“WHAT IN THE-!?”

The bucket landed upside-down on top of its target, causing Mr Kramer to shriek as the freezing water and ice soaked him all over.

Squall followed up and released the rollers, timing it just as Mr Kramer lifted a leg. As the rollers made contact, Mr Kramer lost his footing obliviously and collided against the stage floor on his back. He then laid motionless and dazed, the large wet bucket of covering his head and torso entirely.

“““HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA...!!!!”””

The room erupted in amazement and laughter, even cheering at Mr Kramer for a spectacular ending. Bartz was able to snap the money-shot on his phone, grinning from ear-to-ear at the sight before him.

Zidane indicated with an ecstatic fist-pump towards Squall, who glanced away awkwardly in response. Deep down, Squall felt bad for Mr Kramer, a man he had some respect for out of all the teachers at the school. However, a side of him was amused by the result of the prank, trying his absolute hardest to hide his quivering smirk from Zidane.

However, the amusement was cut short as Squall noticed his homeroom teacher glaring at him with unrelenting fury in her eyes.

In that instant, they were caught.

 

Present Day…

 

“…What we didn’t expect that day was that our Homeroom teacher called out the register before Assembly; meaning she pinned the blame on Zidane without a second thought.” Squall concluded his story, a sly smile hidden beneath his cold expression. “Mr Kramer took the whole situation as a positive thing, so both of us escaped any real repercussions. If it wasn’t for him, neither of us wouldn’t've been allowed in Dissidia Academy.”

Onion Knight and Terra were silent as they listened to Squall’s story, not expecting to gain insight on both Squall and Zidane’s time prior to Dissidia Academy. Throughout the time Squall spoke, Onion Knight was able to finish his mug of coffee, swirling the final drops as he figured out how to connect the story to the current case. The surrounding crowds were lowly discussing the story, enlightened and curious about the revelation.

“I’ve got to say, that was a nice little story you gave us, Squall.” Onion Knight then chuckled, placing his mug back on the table. “Considering the amount of detail, one would accuse you of actually enjoying the prank.”

“Tch-! That’s just your imagination talking.” Squall dismissed in spite whilst avoiding eye contact.

“If that’s how you see it, then I’m not going to pry.” Onion Knight shrugged back, deciding it was time to further the interrogation in his favour. “Instead, shall we discuss about Zidane’s most recent ‘mess-up’?”

Within the instant of Onion Knight’s question, the surrounding environment of the café changed. It felt as though the climate heated up exponentially, individuals in the audience quivering as the unexpected excitement rushed through their veins.

Squall glared at his classmate hesitantly, readying himself to fight back if necessary.

“What … would you like to know?” He asked cautiously, his posture tensioning.

“Oh, just a few things … for now.” Onion Knight admitted confidently. “Firstly, were you aware of Zidane and Bartz’s plans to prank Professor Gabbiani two days ago?”

Squall shook his head in reply, “No, they didn’t mention any plans about that prank whenever I was with them.”

“Considering from what you’ve already told us, do you ever wonder why they didn’t tell you about it?” Onion Knight then followed up, the story and earlier questions still fresh in his mind.

“The day I'd care about such things, I'll send myself to the nearest mental hospital.” Squall growled bitterly, “It’s Zidane’s fault for getting into this mess in the first place. He reaped what he sowed, and I don’t want any part of it.”

Both Onion Knight and Terra’s thoughts echoed in unison.

(…Harsh.)

“How did you feel when you heard about Zidane’s petty prank possibly leading to the recent ‘incident’ with Rydia?”

“I couldn’t care less.” Squall crossed his arms as he answered, emitting a piercing glare.

Onion Knight glanced to Terra in reaction, the two noticing a darker shift in tone with Squall’s approach. He was aware they were entering topics that would surface during the next court trial, yet Onion Knight needed a plausible counter argument against Warrior of Light when the Defence’s suspicions of Squall becomes the central topic.

“If you wouldn’t mind me asking then; what were you doing during the time of the incident?” He then pressured Squall, committing to the risk he faced..

Squall’s eyes widened upon hearing the question, a reaction Onion Knight memorized immediately. Squall’s eyes then lowered as he tensed up further, struggling to answer.

Onion Knight knew he struck a chord.

“…That is a question I don’t need to answer right now.” Squall murmured in low response.

“And why it that, Squall?” Onion Knight interrogated, eyes glaring to prove who was in control.

“That’s because right now … I’m speaking to someone who believes me to be the suspect of this case.” He answered in an abrupt threatening tone, his eyes shooting daggers back at his opposition. “And that question just proved it.”

Onion Knight froze, feeling as though his mind was pried open. It had not occurred to him that Squall was aware of his suspicions.

(How did he know? Was I too obvious...?)

Onion Knight straightened up, conscious not to reveal any further cracks, regardless of the likelihood that Squall was pulling a bluff on him.

“That’s a rather antagonistic way of thinking, Squall.” Onion Knight struck back. “We’re all classmates here, it'd be unwise for me to accuse you of such things.”

“Hmph!” Squall chuckled, seeing right through his opposition’s mental armour. “Fine then, prove to me – right here and now, in front of all these people – why I should or shouldn’t be deemed a suspect.”

Onion Knight felt he was forced to a corner, defending himself from exploiting a weakness in front of their audience. Without realising, he had placed a hand against the pouch of his pocket- where the strands of brown hair sat in preparation. However, he knew it was the worst time to reveal the damning evidence, remembering it as his main weapon for the upcoming court trial.

“Well, it looks like you’ll have to wait until court day.” Onion Knight returned with a small grin.

Squall nodded silently upon hearing Onion Knight’s answer, understanding his words fully. He rose up from his chair and stretched out, feeling the stiffness leave his body.

“So be it. I’ll see you when I take the witness stand tomorrow.” Squall concluded, turning away from Onion Knight and Terra. “We’re done here.”

 

Interrogation: Squall Leonhart … SUCCESSFUL!

 

Squall left his seat and headed towards the door of the café without another word, his expression hidden from view.

Onion Knight slumped on his seat just as Squall disappeared, a large sigh of relief escaping his breath. Terra, on the other hand, sat silently as she processed the entire conversation.

However, Onion Knight then glanced over upon realising that the surrounding crowd was still staring at them.

“Show is over, people!” He then raised his voice, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Instantly, the audience scattered from the café, returning to living their lives and acting oblivious to the event. Some hung around, ordering from the various waiters and waitresses or finishing off their mugs of drink before heading home.

Onion Knight then turned to Terra curiously.

“What do you reckon?” he wondered to her, noticing her silence.

“I don’t know. There’s ... a lot of baggage on Squall, but I don’t know if there’s anything there that hinted to him as a potential suspect.” Terra expressed with uncertainty, shaking her head.

“That's true, I somewhat sympathise with him there. However, I can assure you that this will all fall into place in due time.” Onion Knight nodded, a sign of confidence gleaming from his eyes. “For starters, I saw you shiver when Squall spoke about Zidane and Bartz messing up. A reaction like that isn’t something that can be easily glossed over.”

Terra’s eyebrows raised up in realisation, remembering the moment her reaction occurred.

Onion Knight then reached underneath the table, grabbing an object locked against the underside of the table's base. Unhooking it from its position, he revealed the device he had hidden prior to the confrontation and placed it on the table. The device was a Voice Recorder – the Record light blinking red to show that the entire conversation was saved.

“With the new evidence, the information Celes gave us yesterday, and everything on this voice recorder: we have a strong chance to win this case.” Onion Knight grinned with motivation, set on Zidane’s innocence.

Terra smiled back anxiously, mixed emotions coursing through her mind ranging from uncertainty and worry, to confident and trusting her friend.

Just then, the door of the café sprung open, revealing two figures. They entered silently and directed themselves towards Onion Knight and Terra’s table. Onion Knight and Terra had not realised they had approached until the two figures were standing over them, both almost leaping up from their seats with fright.

“Wha – Firion!?” Onion Knight blurted in surprise, shocked to see him in healthy condition. “Are you feeling fine now?”

Firion – with no signs of injury or bandaging to be seen – nodded with a calm smile.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. By the way, look who I stumbled upon during my travels.”

The second figure, hiding slyly behind Firion, stepped to the side and revealed himself.

“Zidane!” Terra this time blurted out in surprise.

Zidane gave a small yet soulless grin in response, his eyes gazing to the floor below.

 

Later that day…

 

Squall Leonhart stepped towards the sealed Dissidia Academy Entrance Gates, his hands in his pockets and his expression as dull as per norm. The sky was dusk, barely a cloud in the sky and the first signs of stars breaking through the red and orange. The trees were still, not a gust of wind in sight. Everything was quiet and motionless, emitting a calm aura perfect to end the day.

However, as he stepped up to the gates, three figures emerged before Squall, the first of whom being Warrior of Light.

“How much were you able to discuss with him?” Warrior of Light questioned warily, hoping that Squall had avoided various compromising details.

“Relax, I only told him what was necessary.” Squall reassured him nonchalantly.

“Good. There’s no need for unnecessary implications when the trial restarts tomorrow.” Warrior of Light accepted in relief, his tall posture easing at the relief.

“And what about you?” Squall then returned a question, curious to hear his end. “Were you able to find suitable evidence against Zidane?”

Warrior of Light nodded with a confident chuckle, “I have all the necessary ingredients to turn this trial on its head. Onion Knight’s chances of winning are diminishing.”

“What about them?” Squall followed up, noticing the two other figures stepping up closer into the light.

“Their testimonies are sufficient.” He answered firmly, showing no signs of wavering. “With you three as the key witnesses, there is no doubt in my mind that we’ll see Zidane receive the guilty verdict.”

The two stood amongst both Squall and Warrior of Light in full view, wondering about Warrior of Light’s plan.

One of them stood with a powerful yet elegant stance and held a tough unbreakable expression. A fellow and vocal member of the Student Council: Celes Chere was primed to testify.

The other stood rather tall and lean with a kind-hearted and trustful expression. A fellow classmate and friend within the group of Class 13A: Cecil Harvey was concerned for Zidane, yet was unable to hide the truth of what he saw that day any longer.

“Let the final battle for the truth commence.” Warrior of Light concluded, his pride shining brightly as the setting sun fell behind the horizon.

 

End of Volume 4.