Chapter 1 - Journey's Beginning

[Storyteller]

Auria~


SeeDs Zacke Mercutio, Tomoe Sephirot, Gaiea Walker, Kyoui Gokai, Blaze Sanaku, Rika Liani, Sym DeUltim, and Stardust Infinity all filed into Administrative Headmistress Xu's office.

"Okay, find a place to stand everyone. I don't exactly have the seating for eight." she said offhandedly, walking around to the front of her desk.

"I hope the fact that us and the other two Gardens, even combined in forces, are loosing the war, doesn't come as a surprise to any of you. We have been loosing ground little by little each day. Just last week Timber was taken by the witch Adel.

"And I'm sure you're all wondering why you were called here in the first place. You're going on a mission. A particularly difficult, not to mention extremely crucial, mission." Xu said gravely.

"We've come up with a plan to take Adel down. It's very risky, but it's the best plan we've had for a while. Any hope is good enough.

"We are aiming to recover the lost gems of Trinity, put them back into the sword, and restore it to it's former power. This weapon alone would kill Adel in one blow, her army wouldn't have their big bad sorceress leader anymore, and our chances of winning would sky-rocket.

"You are to go after Suthieal's Sapphire, one of the three gems. This isn't a mission, or assignment, this is an order, an act of selflessness you can undertake for your Garden, and it's allies in this war. I can't say there will still be eleven SeeDs coming back, if and when you do bring the Sapphire back, but we can hope.

"You were chosen for your ranks. Your skills, talents, specialties, and maybe a bit of your luck. The way you have performed not only in battle, but in stressful situations, and handled a great deal of responsibility, over your years in SeeD, has earned you the position you are now in. You are the best of the best from our three Gardens, combined.

"I will warn you now, this will most probably be the most dangerous mission you will ever take in your entire life. And what awaits you upon arrive? Expect to have few if any day's rest, because you will also be the group to retrieve Edendielle's Emerald...and Rhirawen's Ruby. Both equally, if not more, difficult to attain.

"I would give you time to think things over, become more at peace with the fact that this could be the start of the last week you're alive, and all those other luxuries, but time is of the essence.

"So, onto where you would first look for the Sapphire. Brenda Marrenfield took the gems from Trinity during the year 2327. She left in her daily log this riddle for finding the Sapphire, it reads "Suthiel's blue - from cold embrace to warm sands. The bed of blue has seen it all.

"All I can derive from this is that wherever the Sapphire is, maybe it travels? Whatever sense that makes...I did my best. It's up to you to figure this out." Xu said, with a sweep of her hand. She sat down in her chair, and crossed her arms.

"I wish you all the best of luck, and please do your very best...for the time being, this is our only hope at turning the table for this war." she said, almost sadly.

[Storyteller]

Quistard~

Alyeena Valentine tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ear, frowning. She'd read of the legend of Trinity, how the gems had been taken from the sword by the time it had been discovered in 2327 by Dr Brenda Marrenfield.

"With all due respect, Headmistress Xu," Alyeena began to speak, voicing her thoughts, "Wasn't Dr Marrenfield half-crazy to begin with? What is there, beside her journals and this age-old legend to prove that Trinity existed in the first place?"

Alyeena bit her lip, waiting for a rebuttal. Her waiting was shattered when the blue-eyed, dark haired Colum spoke up.

"So, where do you propose we look?" He asked Alyeena, raking a hand through his hair.

Alyeena frowned. "O'Donahue, my question has not been answered by Xu yet. Do not presume too much about what we don't know."

Turning back to Xu, she awaited her reply.

[Storyteller]

Auria~


"Good question." Xu spoke up. "Trinity was uncovered from Dr. Marrenfield's study, along with her daily log, and some other notes and books she kept close at hand. It is in the custody of Headmaster Leonhart now."

"Any more questions?"

[Storyteller]

Quistard~

Alyeena smiles at Xu. "Actually, there is one other thing. If we are to retrieve Suthieal's Sapphire, I will need the journals. Would it be possible for you to loan the journal to me for the duration of this quest? It will be returned afterwards, I promise on my honor as a SeeD."

Alyeena waits patiently, thinking about what possible things she could discern from reading the journals.

[Storyteller]

Ani~


Stardust solemnly stood at the corner of the room, listening to the Headmistress and Alyeena's conversation. She looked at the other girls.

Don't tell me all these girls...

"With all due respect Headmistress." The pink-haired girl raised her hand, cutting in to Alyeena's query. "It seems to me that this group is far too big to search for a single Sapphire."

Stardust gawked at the others, inside she didn't like the most of them. She assumed that not all these girls were fitting for the job. If things got worse, they would just became a burden.

"Is it possible to split the group in half?"

[Storyteller]

Ash~


Blaze had no questions for the mission. She just wanted to get going. She loved jewels, sapphires, rubies, diamonds. Anything that sparkled. People often told her that she was crow- on the lookout for anything shiny to steal.

She felt edgy with so many people in the room, so many people she did not know.

[Storyteller]

Mari~

Rika silently shook her head and frowned, as she watched the happenings from her spot in the back.

If this is how it's going to go, it's going to be quite the adventure... she thought to herself. It seems quite obvious who's who. This Alyeena seems to think she's running the show, and Stardust... what the hell kind of name is that... doesn't even have the decency to wait until the previous question was answered, before interrupting.

She looked around the room at the assorted types of people. They all clashed, based on outward appearances, but Rika wondered what everyone was really like.

Absentmindedly adjusting one of the chopsticks in her hair, she remained silent, waiting for answers.

[Storyteller]

Quistard~

Colum stretched an arm out lazily above his head. He was going to have fun retrieving this gem. Vaguely, he wondered how much it would fetch on the black market, his mind working out kinks and twists in the plan.

And Alyeena, that bitch....She would pay for that rebuttal.

Alyeena frowned at Stardust. "Stardust, in the future, would you kindly refrain from voicing your thoughts while I am waiting to hear what Headmistress Xu will say about my request for the journals.

Turning, she scanned the room. Her eyes rested on Rika.

"Hello, Rika," Aly said kindly before addressing the group, "It looks like you've got a lot on your mind...As do we all. I'm sure we all have our differences, and some of us may not get along, but, for the sake of the world, let us try."

"And as for you, O'Donahue..." Alyeena's voice turned stern, commanding, "You will not resort to philandering ways to get the gems. Hyne, I swear, you pull one toe out of line, and you're gone!"

Colum smirked. "Yeah, whatever Alyeena-bitch. You think you run this fucking show, don't you?"

Alyeena frowned. "I am the historian, therefore, I am doing what I believe is imperative to the success of this quest."

[Storyteller]

Ani~


Keeping all her composures inside, Stardust looked at Alyeena. She couldn't help but notice the over "self-confidence" the historian kept showing.

Shut up, already... She thought to herself as Colum and Alyeena bickered. She shifted her gaze towards the Headmistress, silently waiting for an answer.

[Storyteller]

Auria~


Zacke stood up from his position, leaning against the back wall.

"Hey, Miss Historian, could you please stop giving orders and actually listen to the answers Administrative Headmistress Xu has to give?" he cut-in snidely.

"I can already see where this is going." Xu said sternly.

"Yeah, we already know who's not coming back..." Zacke muttered, amused with his own thoughts. Xu glared at him.

"To answer your questions, yes, you can take the journal," she addressed Alyeena, then turned to Stardust "and no, we will not split up the group. There are so many of you because this mission is very difficult, power in numbers." she stated.

[Storyteller]

Quistard~

At Zacke's snide comment, Alyeena whipped her head around to face him. "You, Mercutio, you are a smart one," she said sarcastically, before turning her attention back to Xu, who was telling her she could borrow the journals.

Alyeena saluted, bowing her head deferentially at Xu before striding over to her side. "I think they're in the library, right, Xu?" Alyeena asked, a polite smile on her face.

Colum frowned. "Hey, Zacke! What do you say we go have some fun, and leave the stodgy historian behind?" he said, laughing.

Aly heard the comment, turning her head to face him. "Colum, for the last time, stop it! I know you're pissed 'cause they won't let you fly the Ragnarok. But, there is a reason for that....They don't fucking trust you."

Before he could reply, Alyeena walked past him, towards the glass cabinet containing Marrenfield's journals.

Trinity - A Piece of the Past the cover read.

[Storyteller]

Bunny~

Tomoe glanced around the room, realizing with an inward frown that the people around her would be working with her on such an important mission. Already, she could see signs of tension that could endanger the assignment--mainly the constant bickering between two of her fellow SeeDs. I'll be working with these people? The question remained in her mind, infusing doubt inside Tomoe. How did they even make SeeD with all this arguing?

"I suppose there is no room for error in this mission," she said out loud. Tomoe glanced around the room. At least...none of the error will be on my part. She nodded, almost imperceptibly. This is something we cannot possibly screw up...

[Storyteller]

Ani~


We can't...? Power...

Stardust knew that the Headmistress would say that. She glared at the bickering duo. She was a bit surprised at the historian's outburst. She didn't know that such a well educated person could result to cursing. Well, that's if she really was well-educated. It looked like her true colors were showing already.

What a lowlife...

"I suppose there is no room for error in this mission." A girl named Tomoe said out loud.

"It had better be..." Stardust muttered as she turned her purple blue eyes away from the pathetic SeeDs.

[Storyteller]

seiferfetish~

Gaiea raised an eyebrow and glanced around the room at all the unhappy faces, before rolling her eyes and facing Xu. She saluted and walked out of the room, mind bent on the clues she was given. Bed of blue. Obviously the ocean. And it traveled, as it had seen it all.

As she stepped into the elevator, her brows furrowed and she paused. The ocean was a huge place. Find one tiny gem stone amidst all that water and sand and ocean life. Impossible. Unless...Her dark gray eyes lit up and she turned back, crossing the waiting room quickly, her long legs eating up the distance.

Xu looked up as Gaiea saluted once more. "I think I have an idea of where to start." She gazed at the rest of the room and raised her voice above everyone else's bickering. "I SAID I think I know where to start!"

"So tell us already!" Kyoui spat, red eyes flaming. Obviously he was ready for a fight and it didn't matter with who.

Gaiea regarded him coolly. "Simmer down, Carrot Top."

"What'd you call me?!" His red eyes grew brighter and seemed nearly to grow fangs. His muscles tensed beneath his shirt, but underneath Gaiea's gray gaze, he twitched and forced himself to relax. He glared at her all the same. "You can call me by my name if you have to call me at all," he bit out, before leaning back against the wall, looking like a cat about to attack.

Gaiea simply raised her eyebrow and set her hands on her hips. A good two or three inches above the rest of the girls in the room, she scanned the group and sighed. Very few looked like they were going to be of any use. And seeing how they still hadn't quieted down, she believed it time to break out the big guns. Boredly, she mouthed, "Silence," and smiled sweetly as all eyes turned to her, glaring, as the Status magic took effect.

"I propose we try and find the Deep Sea Research Center," she declared. "That travels around the ocean and as far as we know, it still exists. It's the place where Squall Leonhart fought and received Bahamut, and fought Ultima Weapon. But they had to return to find Ultima Weapon. Perhaps, if we return now, the Sapphire will have made it's own appearance even lower down."

She grinned and said, "Thank you all for listening," before casting Esuna.

[Storyteller]

Quistard~

Alyeena smiled. "Yeah, I was thinking something like that too," she said to Gaiea.

"Colum, go get the airship, you're piloting this quest," Alyeena said with sincerity.

Colum nodded, glad that for once Aly wasn't pissing him off.

"Kyoui, come with me?" He asked the only other male he knew.

Aly walked towards Gaiea, extending a hand. "I'm Aly," she said genially, "I see you know your history. Any help would be great...I mean, you said it yourself. The ocean is a huge expanse."

With a glare at Colum, Alyeena whispered to Gaiea, "Ignore the asshole who's piloting, I tell you, he's not worth being friends with."