You know, I’m adding this after thinking about the last chapter and comments from people. Do not read this if you don’t want insight into After the Fall, or at least some aspects of it! First, some answers without giving much away to the plot.

First, yes, this was what the reason for the break up all along. Actually, in chapter nine, I believe while Squall and Zell are talking on the boat, he comes out and says it directly. Of course, reading then, you wouldn’t have caught onto it…but I’ve given clues throughout. Don’t ask me where, it’s been forever! Still, Rinoa’s greatest fear, as far as my writings go, is about the world hating her. When Squall felt that way too, even if he really didn’t, it was hard for her to accept. She was young too and rather lost and one of the reasons in this story she moved to Timber. She grew up, basically.

Now to Cid, in the game to me, had a hard time standing up to authority (Norg) sometimes things came out wrong, but he had good intentions, he just may go around them the wrong way. This story, because of the nature, magnifies this aspect. Sometimes things just take him awhile, I’ll leave it at that…for now.

Last, I was specific not to give it any real life names of Squall's situation. Why? Well, terms change a lot, and most of all we are still working in a fictional world. It was based around a story I heard as child, about my grandfather in WWII. He was a pilot, one night after a training run, not even a mission, a member of their squad woke up and forgot where he was, and attacked two of the men in his barracks. There were no weapons or death, and as a general story rather uninteresting, and the man honestly didn’t remember any of it. He blacked it out. He went into a survival mode, although they were not under fire.  Back then it was Shell Shock, but again terms have changed over the last sixty years (Even PTSD fits into the category). After research, Squall had fit so many of the ‘common’ factors; add in that, the mental the confusion of being a knight and feeling weak because of Rinoa at that moment, well, it seemed plausible.  He was twenty one at the time in the story, and somehow everything added up.

FYI, the person in my grandfather’s unit was never removed. Honestly, I never asked why specifically, I doubt the men even reported the incident. Again, different era. However, the man in question I knew well, and called him ‘Uncle’ though no by blood. He was an amazing man, and if I had not known about what happened, I would have never thought it of him. People handle, war, combat, and even ‘training missions’ differently.

Eek, that was long, I just hope that gives you some insight. I’ll of course go into more in the following chapters, now that I said. Hey, it only took me 25 chapters! I guess, after all this time, I just didn’t want to go to write another ‘misunderstanding’ (As in Castles in the Sky) nor did I want to write that one cheated on the other, etc. I think Rinoa once said something about the words hurting her more than anything, because to her, hearing Squall say those words to her was her worst fear was the ultimate betrayal.

…I will go hide under my rock now. Anybody want to join me?