Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Domestic ❯ Recruitment Day ( Chapter 1 )

Domestic

WARNINGS:

1) I do not own FF8, Squaresoft, or get any profit out of this story

2) Rated PG-13 for violence, language, and sexual content

Chapter 1: Recruitment Day

Squall looked down onto the Quad below him. He sat comfortably in his leather chair, looking at the mayhem unfold 200 feet down. With Ultimecia gone, Edea safely at her orphanage, and Galbadia slowly demilitarizing, Squall set his attentions back on the Garden. He still acted like he didn't want his job, but recently he was getting a lot of entertainment out of it. Take today for example. Today was a very special day. It was Recruitment Day. Squall liked to look at it as a military draft. People all over the world brought their swords, guns, and knuckles to attempt to get into the Garden. The brunette smiled to himself, and watched a small kid in a black sweatshirt almost lose his hand to his own blade.

(**********)

Zell hated tests. Actually, he hated the English language in general. He was a much more 'hands-on' learner. Yet here he sat. He hadn't taken a written exam in over two years, but he wasn't too concerned. Slouching angrily in his seat, the blonde looked around at his neighbors. Along with 200 other garden students, Zell sat in a second floor classroom taking the written test. Hungry and somewhat tired, the blonde groggily flipped through the exam.

1) What is your name?

Zell Dincht

2) Current Residence?

Balamb

3) Are you a current member of the Garden/SeeD?

Both

15) Name the three prominent Gardens that exist today

Galbadia, Balamb, Trabia

34) A Chimera eats…

Anything stupid enough to go near it

72) Oh No! You got bitten by a Bite Bug! Where should you report to?

The wimp room cause you're fricken' weak

104) Why should the Garden accept you?

I passed the SeeD exam last year. I helped kill Sorceress Ultimecia. I'm cooler then 90% of the people here. I dress well. I don't know why I'm taking this.

200) What will you provide for this Garden, granted you are accepted?

My strength, my energy, my life. You'll be providing my lunch, room, and entertainment.

Dropping his pen, Zell slouched further into his chair. His head hurt. His back hurt. His wrist hurt. "At least there's some exercise coming up." He looked around the classroom. New desks and chairs were crammed into the once comfortable class room, now holding well over its capacity of students. A majority of them Zell didn't recognize, however he saw Selphie still combing over her test in the front row. Irvine was sleeping in the far right corner, and to the blonde's direct left, Rinoa was looking blankly into space.

Zell had grown to dislike Miss Heartily over the years. He wasn't exactly sure why though. She always seemed a little slow-witted, but Zell knew that since the day he met her. As for her relationship with Squall, that was questionable. With peace restored, Squall put his attention back on the Garden. Rinoa was once again put in the number two seat. Of course they spent time together, however Zell didn't know if that qualified her as his girlfriend.

Shrugging it off, the blonde decided to steal Irvine's idea and take a nap.

(**********)

"This is a weapons only fight," Squall announced into the speaker, as a new group of students entered the Quad. "No magic. No junctions. No GFs. First, you will fight a randomly generated monster with your preferred weapon. Tomorrow you will compete in a hand-to-hand fight against another applicant.

"Woo-hoo!" yelled Zell. "Double-Easy!"

Irvine smirked at him, but was semi-distracted by a leather clad female to his left.

"Azerton, Travis." Squall muttered.

A black haired boy stepped into the center of the quad and pulled a battered quarterstaff out of its sheath. It seemed to be comprised more of tape then wood. Zell covered his face; he might as well be fighting with his fists.

Out of nowhere, a screeching Buel descended upon him. His knuckles clenched the staff, as the hell spitting creature shrieked around the room

"Piece of cake," Zell muttered, nudging Irvine in the side. The cowboy paid him no attention.

Staring at his opponent, the Buel made a dive straight at the boy's head.

Travis swung as hard as humanly possible. He felt the staff connect…and then shatter. It was like the Buel won a marathon and crossed the ticker-tape. The momentum caused Travis to fall to the floor. A downpour of splinters fell on top of him, as the Buel continued to flap around unfazed.

Squall dropped his head into his hands; he knew this was going to be a long fight. There were a lot of long fights today.

The Buel made another dive at the now petrified boy. Luckily, Travis rolled to the left just in time to avoid the beast's sharp wings. He was screwed. It was hard enough to hit a flying monster with a sword, more or less trying to punch it. This couldn't be happening Not after all the training.

Cruel snickers erupted from the bystanders. "What kind of weapon was that?," laughed a chubby kid to Zell's left. "I've seen hobos with better self-defense. This guy'll be dead in three years. I swear."

"He might not be able to fight off a Buel, but at least he can fight off a ho-ho," Zell snapped, glaring at the kid.

"What was that?" Chubby snarled, turning red.

"What's your name?" Zell asked sharply.

"I'm Wix Kr…" he started, but was cut off, as the giant Buel flew inches over their heads.

Travis picked himself off the ground and tried to think of a game plan. Luckily, the Buel became distracted with the Quad, and decided to take a tour of it.

With splinters in his hair, the boy grabbed the largest chunk of the quarterstaff he could find, and prepared for the Buel's attack. Adrenaline pounded through his ears, as the fearsome Buel came back to strike. Giving off a shivering screech, the beast twirled its pointed wings and aimed to cut the boy in half. Travis pointed the splintered end of the staff at the Buel, closed his eyes, and swung. Then he was flying. The momentum of the beast was incredible. Like being thrown off a merry-go-round, Travis felt the room spin around him. He hit the ground two feet away.

The Buel was in worse shape. The splintered staff scraped away its eyesight, and it fluttered aimlessly around the room. Screeching as loud as possible, the beast bounced across the Quad.

A rare smile spread across Travis's face. Gripping his quarterstaff, Travis climbed to his feet and approached the beast. The sharp quarterstaff easily tore through the Buel's leathery skin. With one final screech, the monster fell.

Covered in cuts and bruises, the boy slowly made his way back into the crowd.

"Impressive," Squall scribbled on his notepad. "An unorthodox victory,, but he's resourceful. Can execute in the clutch. Overall, B+," he concluded. "Wix Kramer."

Zell glared as the chubby child walked past him. "Come on Ruby Dragon. Give me a Ruby Dragon," the blonde muttered under his breath. To his great disappointment however, an Imp appeared in front of Wix.

"What is this?" Wix laughed aloud, as he pulled out a bow. "I was hoping for something bigger then my shoe." Drawing an arrow from his quiver, the brown haired boy took aim at the beast's back.

With a 'twing' Zell watched the arrow sail dead on towards the Imp. Then the room changed. Out of nowhere, the air became unbearably heavy. It felt as if the room at submerged four hundred feet under water. It was unbearable to stand. "Demi," smirked the blonde, crouching under the weight. He watched the look of horror on Wix's face, as the pressure caused him to go to one knee.

The Imp then turned all the way around to face the struggling Wix. The audience cringed, as the beast cast a heavy cloud into the brunette's face

It felt like his face was covered in an oil that couldn't be brushed away. The darkness was thick, and the heavy air was of no assistance. Wix was helpless. Zell cringed in pain, as the imp turned full circle and slashed the panicked boy across the chest.

Seeing it was a losing battle, Squall shook his head. Reluctantly, he focused on the Imp. The Quad's floor trembled ferociously, and the hell beast Ifrit exploded out of the floor. The heavy air disappeared at once. Ifrit let out a deafening roar, causing sever students to jump in surprise. Before the Imp could move, Ifrit slashed it with its' claw and devoured the beast. When Squall broke the focus, the room returned to its regular state. "Azerton, take him down to the Infirmary," Squall muttered with a hint of disgust.

Nodding, Travis gathered the bloody mass that was Wix, and led him out of the Quad.

"Cocky, unprofessional, annoying," Squall began scribbling. "No knowledge in enemy weaknesses or abilities. Old Headmaster's son. Overall A-," he concluded. "Zell Dincht," the brunette muttered. "This should be interesting."

The blonde slowly walked forward, and waited for his monster to appear. He took his Gauntlet Knuckles out of his pocket and slid them onto his wrists. A thunderous roar from his left made him pivot and take a step back. A giant Grendel was currently scaling the Quad stage. It was tearing apart the loosely put together planks with its dagger like claws.

"A Grendel?!? What the hell happened to fighting Imps and Buels?!?" Zell thought to himself. He didn't have much thinking time however, as the speedy beast lunged two feet in front of him. It let out another bone-chilling howl, and glared at the blonde.

"Good Luck!" Irvine called.

Zell snarled at him, and waited for the monster to make its first move. Breathing heavily, Grendel jumped for Zell's chest. The blonde dived to the floor, and heard the swipe travel past his right ear. He hopped back to his feet, and smiled at the aggravated Grendel. The dragon was fast, but Zell considered himself quicker. The beast took another swipe at him, but this time the blonde held his ground. He caught Grendel's scaly wrist, inches before it would have torn into his side. The surprised beast tried to pull back, but Zell kept a tight grip on the arm. He moved his right arm to the monster's hairy chest, gripped, and tossed the fiend towards the crowd.

Many of the students cried in fear, as the hairy Grendel skidded across the floor. The fiend slowly got to its feet and refocused its energy on the blonde. With a handful of hair, Zell cracked his knuckles and retightened his gloves. The monster howled at his tosser, and within seconds, landed inches from Zell's face. He took another swipe of his giant claw, this time aiming for Zell's face. The blonde jumped back, but wasn't quick enough. He felt a searing pain travel down his face, as the spiked claw ripped through the edge of his ear. Feeling the blood trickle down his face, Zell decided he needed to take the offensive. Before Grendel could stage another swipe, Zell delivered a kick below its chin. Grendel toppled back with the momentum, and once again almost rolled into the crowd. It's jaw seemed fractured, as blood began to drop onto the floor. The foe's once yellow hair was now turning a shade of magenta. Distracted with its injury, Grendel didn't see Zell start to throw a right hook. The consequences were painful. Zell's metal infested gloves tore into Grendel's soft skin, causing the beast to cower to the floor. It's mouth and side bleeding profusely, the monster tried to look for a way to escape. Zell didn't allow it. Before Grendel could react, Zell delivered a right hook to its eye, and followed it up with a punt to its midsection. Grendel hit the floor four feet away and did not get up.

With a bloody ear, bloody gloves, and bloody shoes, Zell tiredly returned to the crowd.

"Not bad," Irvine snickered. "Could have been a lot worse."

"You're telling me," Zell sighed.

"Dincht, report to first aid," Squall said into his speaker. Reluctantly, the blonde got to his feet, and left the Quad. "Amazing hand-to-hand combat. Strong knowledge in enemy weakpoints. Sometimes headstrong. Overall A," the brunette scribbled on his clipboard. "Donner, Oren." Squall announced next.

(**********)