This is my first time writing a fanfic, so please be kind to me. It is based on a string of original quests I made in the game. I hope you will enjoy it.

Squall's Story

As the sun rises, one by one, pair by pair, the Warriors chosen by the Goddess of Harmony sets off on their regular patrol around the Order's Sanctuary. Brunette bombshell Tifa Lockhart had woken up a little later than usual on this particular day and found out that her usual partners, Yuna and Cloud, had already set off from the Sanctuary with others.

Thinking that this might turn out to be a rather miserable day of lonely hunting and fighting, Tifa turned to see that one man has yet to make it out of the Sanctuary. The tall and handsome figure of Squall Leonhart stood against a backdrop of glorious red hue cast by the dawn. It was a common agreement between the girls that the taciturn Squall was the most desirable bachelor in the group of Warriors.

In a split second, Tifa changed her mind. This may just be the luckiest day in her life as a Warrior. Never before has a chance to partner up with the lonesome lion appeared so readily. Sweeping her fingers along her dark brown hair to ensure that it is neat, Tifa hastily approached Squall before he gets a chance to set off alone as he usually does.

"Hey, Squall!" Tifa cheerily called out to him, "seems like we should partner up for the day."

"I work better alone," came Squall's condensed answer.

Being ready for the refusal, Tifa quickly replied, "don't you think it's safer to be working togeth-"

"Hey~! You guys working together today? I'm so jealous~!" Before Tifa could wrap up her suggestion, Prishe, the Elvaan, has cut in. Staring at the purple haired and cheerful elf-like girl who has just appeared out of nowhere, Squall's eyes radiated disgust and discontentment. But before he could make any comments, a shard of ice suddenly burst around the three, sending sharp shards flying in all directions.

"Watch out!" Squall shouted as the mad mage, Kefka, materialized in front of them. The clown, to whom the terms "insane" and "lunatic" would be considered an understatement, was a Warrior chosen by Chaos, Cosmos' opposing faction. The Warriors of Chaos seek nothing short of domination or destruction and are always seeking out sly and evil ways to rid the world of the Warriors of Cosmos.

Squall readied his gunblade in an instant and swung it against the bouncy mage, missing him by hardly an inch. Tifa and Prishe too readied in their action stances, needing no form of weapon to decimate the enemy.

"Is that all you can do? Kehehehe" Kefka taunted, leering his tongue at the three. "Posey, mosey, Leonhart with two girlies~. This is gonna be fun! Kyahahaha!"

Irritated, Squall shot Thunder magic at the mage, snapping him out of his delirious laughter, while Prishe and Tifa closed in from both sides. But before the two monks could land their kicks on Kefka, the clown had teleported out of the way, reappearing behind Squall. However, Squall's mercenary training was not for naught. He quickly sensed the danger and spun round, drawing an explosive circle around him, knocking Kefka back.

Being hit for the second time, Kefka's morbid humor turned into anger. He fired a string of spells at the three, screaming hardly coherent phrases along the lines of "don't mess with me" "teach you to respect me" and "burn you into crisps". The senseless firing of spells was a double-edged blade for Kefka. On one hand, Squall, Tifa and Prishe could dodge or block them rather easily. But on the other hand, the relentless firing did not leave Tifa and Prishe, who blocked them with their arms, totally unhurt.

Knowing that he has to act fast, Squall rushed towards the mad clown, dodging and blocking fireballs and ice shards along the way. Once he was sufficiently close, he charged his gunblade and slashed through the air ahead of him in a flash of light. The glowing, white blade found its mark. Realizing that his idea of fun has turned dangerous, Kefka fled the scene.

With the enemy gone, Tifa and Prishe finally relaxed a little. But Squall's facial expression did not change the least bit.

"Lighten up, Squall!" Prishe called out.

"I'm going to do my rounds," again came Squall's short reply.

"Don't go about doing it alone," Tifa said anxiously, "wouldn't it be better if we-"

"I don't enjoy being treated like a show dog!" Squall spat out, "to you girls, I am just something for you to flaunt about and show off. Don't think that I have no idea about it."

"What!" Tifa exclaimed, shocked at Squall's vehement reaction. "No, we don't…"

"Look Squall," Prishe started, warily looking at Squall who had flushed bright red with anger and embarrassment. "We kinda agreed that you're really cool and mysterious but that doesn't mean that we treat you as some prized trophy to snatch and flaunt off."

But before Squall can reply to Prishe's blunt explanation, another interference in the form of the time witch, Ultimecia, appeared before them.

"Well, well, Squall," she said sleekly, "aren't you popular? Is that opinion about being cool and mysterious shared by a certain pink haired lady we both know you're after?"

"Shut up!" Squall angrily retorted, but the witch only laughed mockingly at his reaction.

Tilting her lavishly adorned head to the side, Ultimecia pretended to be considering an invitation. "My, Squall, maybe it's time I joined your little fan club. Kyahahaha." And in an instant, she was gone. Her laughter lingered even after her physical self was gone.

Pulling herself back together, Tifa plucked up her courage to ask Squall about Ultimecia's comment. "Squall… Did she refer to Lightning just now? What's going on between you and her?"

"It's not any concern of yours, Tifa." Squall replied rudely, the anger and disgust in his eyes which had been evident since earlier that day not decreasing, but instead amplified. Tifa knew at once that she had made a wrong decision.

"I just want to know-"but without even waiting for Tifa's explanation, Squall had stridden off hastily, fighting the urge to stomp with every step he made. Tifa was left speechlessly staring at Squall's broad back, moving further and further away from her.

"I'll try to explain things to him!" Prishe said, "I'll help you too, Tifa!" And with that, she sprinted off towards the grudgingly striding Squall.

But Squall refused to be caught up just like that. Sensing Prishe's footsteps approaching, he broke off into a run. Fortunately for Prishe, and unfortunately for him, Prishe was a fast runner. Her years of practice in the field of martial arts had left her with a very quick foot. It wasn't long before Prishe finally managed to catch up with the irritated Squall Leonhart.

"Wait!" Prishe shouted at him.

"What do you want?" Squall retorted impatiently.

"I happen to know a few things about Lightning that you might be interested in," she said, grinning mischievously.

"What makes you think-"Squall began, but was cut impatiently by Prishe.

"I KNOW you ARE interested," she said, stressing every word. When Squall did not answer, she continued in a sing song manner, "tough for you though with Firion and Kain around~"

"Don't beat about the bush," Squall finally relented. He cannot deny that he was interested in his occasional partner in patrols. Her strong individuality, her drive, her deep sense of purpose, her skills… All of them piqued his curiosity in the ex-military officer, although he cannot say for sure if that feeling he harbored is called love.

Prishe grinned even wider at Squall's reply and turned to whisper something in his ears…

...

Elsewhere, Kain and Lightning have completed their regular patrols. Feeling that they have accomplished their job faster than usual, Kain turned to ask Lightning. "Since we are early, care to walk to the springs?" Lightning, oblivious to any form of romantic hints and tensions, simply replied, "sure" before striding off past the mysterious dragoon.