Balamb Garden Balamb Garden is a major location in " Final Fantasy VIII " , situated east of the town of Balamb . Students ( usually orphans ) attend school in hopes of becoming SeeD s . Balamb Garden is one of the three Garden s in the world . Squall Leonhart , Zell Dincht , Seifer Almasy and Selphie Tilmitt live and train at Balamb Garden , and Quistis Trepe works as an instructor . The Garden works both as a location , and as a method of transportation around the world map . Using the Garden is made redundant by the game ' s end as the player obtains an airship that can be used to move around the map more efficiently . Profile . Rules . Occupants may not use weapons or magic in the Garden , apart from the training center . One may not bring animals into the Garden . Loitering , eating in classes and the library , violence and sexual abuse is prohibited . T - Board s ( a floating type of skateboard ) and similar forms of transportation are also not allowed . Cadets must respect a curfew . Students may not leave their dorms post - curfew unless at the training center or with special permission from Garden Faculty . Cadets must abstain from purposefully injuring fellow cadets while training . Cadets who break the rules may be reported to SeeD or Garden Faculty . The student - run Disciplinary Committee oversees cadet behavior . SeeDs who break Garden rules will be referred to their superior officer , and may face demotion or court martial . Uniform . Gardens require students to wear cadet uniforms for formal occasions or external operations where the Garden is represented . The uniforms of each Garden are in similar design with patterned shoulder pieces and silver linings . The Garden logo appears partway down the right sleeve . The main difference between the uniforms is the color : Balamb Garden ' s consists of a navy blue base with yellow accent . Upon graduation , SeeD members receive their own formal uniforms . Story . Founded 12 years ago by Cid and Edea Kramer , and funded by NORG , Balamb Garden was remodeled from an old Centra shelter by Esthar ian technicians allowing it to transform into a mobile form with the power of limited flight . Cid was instructed to build the Garden to train SeeDs , an anti - sorceress army , as per a premonition of the future his wife , Edea , had foreseen . Shortly after its construction , Galbadia Garden and Trabia Garden were created on the Galbadia n and Trabia n continents , respectively . Specializing in Guardian Force training and Para - Magic , Balamb Garden is the only Garden authorized to conduct the SeeD field exam , which cadets must pass to join the ranks of SeeD . Cadets attending other Gardens must transfer to Balamb to complete this final requirement . After the Siege of Dollet Balamb Garden ' s most recent class of SeeDs enjoys the graduation ball , while cadets prepare for the annual Garden Festival . When Seifer , a Balamb Garden cadet , threatens the life of the Galbadian president Vinzer Deling , Garden attempts to distance itself from the incident . Galbadia Garden is threatened by both Deling and the rise of his ally , Sorceress Edea . Because the true purpose of Garden as an organization is to fight the sorceress , Cid , along with the Galbadian Garden Master Martine , orders Balamb Garden SeeDs Squall , Quistis , Zell and Selphie and Galbadia Garden student Irvine Kinneas to assassinate her . When the assassination plot fails the sorceress vows revenge . This creates a rift between NORG , the Garden Master , and Cid , the Balamb Garden Headmaster . NORG believes the Garden is doomed if they don ' t appease the sorceress , and plans to hand over the SeeDs involved in the assassination attempt to Galbadia . Cid is enraged by NORG ' s plot , and an all - out riot breaks out with the Garden Faculty , who are loyal to NORG , and the SeeDs , who are loyal to Cid , both trying to recruit as many people as they can on their side . NORG loses and eventually disappears from the Garden , his ultimate fate unknown . Sorceress Edea takes command of Galbadia Garden and launches a missile strike against Balamb and Trabia Gardens . Trabia Garden is destroyed , but Squall and his friends save Balamb Garden by restarting the ancient Centra machinery , morphing Balamb Garden to its mobile form . Barely evading the missile attack , the Garden speeds out of control past Balamb town and heads out to sea . With its navigation and piloting systems malfunctioning due to lack of maintenance , the Garden crashes stern - first into Fishermans Horizon whose mechanics are familiar with the Centra technology , being the ones who originally built the Garden , and renovate it . Headmaster Cid appoints Squall as the Garden ' s commander before going into hiding at Edea ' s Orphanage . Once the mobile machinery is repaired , the SeeD Xu takes on the role of Garden navigator , while Nida fills the position of pilot . With both NORG and Cid out of the picture , Squall gains sovereign control over Garden , and embarks on a mission to defeat the sorceress . The newly retrofitted Garden engages the mobile Galbadia Garden now under the sorceress ' s control near Edea ' s Orphanage . While Balamb Garden cadets prepare for an assault , the flying Gardens butt heads as their pilots ram the hulls together , tangling the structures . Balamb Garden takes heavy damage , and part of its quad is destroyed . Galbadian paratroopers and motorcyclists board Balamb Garden , breaking classroom windows and wreaking havoc on the Garden ' s interior as SeeDs and cadets defend their home . The conflict is resolved when Squall and his friends board Galbadia Garden and defeat Sorceress Edea , who is released from the clutches of the evil sorceress Ultimecia who has been possessing her . Balamb Garden students can focus on repairing damage to both the Garden and each other . Some time after the incident Squall leaves the Garden to head to Esthar , and the Garden stays docked at Fishermans Horizon . It is never revealed who takes over when Squall and his friends have left . The party returns to the Garden after defeating Ultimecia to engage in celebration . Balamb Garden flies all around the world and Cid and Edea appear to have returned to the Garden . Location . Balamb Garden is located on Balamb continent to the east of the Alcauld Plains , nestled at the foot of the Gaulg Mountains . After becoming mobile , the Garden ' s location is no longer fixed , although it does dock at Fishermans Horizon frequently for repairs and supplies . Layout . Balamb Garden ' s layout is a series of stacked rings surrounding the central elevator . It has three main floors , plus a large basement . The first and second floors are accessible to the entire Garden population , while the third floor and basement level require special permission . The front gate is the Garden ' s main entrance . Upon entering the gate ' s outer part , visitors travel up a set of stairs and through a landscaped area before proceeding to a security checkpoint at the inner gate . SeeDs , students , and visitors must present their IDs for inspection to enter the Garden . The front gate leads to the lobby , the Garden ' s unofficial center and a gathering point for students . Its main features are a directory and an elevator , which allows access to other floors . The lobby is shaped like a ring and the first - floor sections branch off it like spokes on a wheel . Before the Garden becomes mobile , the directory can be used to fast travel between different sections in the Garden . Following the lobby to the right , the southeastern corridor branching off from the ring leads to the Balamb Garden library . Open from 9am until curfew , its materials are available to students . Zell can embark on a sidequest to gain the affections of a student employee : Library Girl with a Pigtail . When Rinoa is not in the party she can be found in the library , and Zell can be found just outside it . Continuing up the lobby ring counter - clockwise , the eastern corridor leads to the training center . Known by students as the " monsters ' lair , " it is open 24 hours a day , even after curfew . Monsters inhabit it , mainly Grats and T - Rexaur s , to challenge students ' fighting skills . A save point can be found inside . The player can find the CC Joker , part of the Card Club who also works as a merchant , randomly in the center ' s easternmost screen . Training center has a hidden section called the " secret area " where students go to socialize or otherwise meet in private after curfew to avoid being caught by the Garden Faculty . First floor . If the Joker will not show up regardless of how many times the player re - enters the screen , it may be necessary to re - enter the screen from the left side of the map instead of the bottom . The northeastern corridor leads to the parking lot , an underground complex that houses most of Balamb Garden ' s road vehicles , including the SeeD Personal Carrier Vehicle s for student transportation . The parking lot is accessed via a road that travels past the Balamb Garden front gate . The northern corridor leads to the dormitories . Cadets share dorms with two single bedrooms connected to a shared living space . SeeDs have individual rooms . During curfew students can only leave their dorms for the training center . A save point can be found here . The northwest corridor leads to the cafeteria . The cafeteria is open from 9am till 9pm , and students can order meals for the night and pick them up before curfew . The most popular dish is the Balamb Garden hot dogs . The cafeteria is a popular hang - out spot for cadets to meet and exchange gossip . The Garden ' s Disciplinary Committee is often found here . The western corridor leads to the quad , an open - air garden and a place for students to relax . It has a stage where students can watch performances or films . The annual Garden Festival takes place in the quad . The southwest corridor leads to the infirmary where Dr . Kadowaki takes care of sick or injured students . No items can be taken from the infirmary without the doctor ' s permission . The classrooms are located on the second floor , circling around the main elevator in a ring . Students are obliged to be present in classes five minutes before the bell rings . There are 36 shared study panels in every class . Each student has a log - on screen where they store school - related and personal information . Students may also store Guardian Forces in their computers . SeeDs don ' t attend classes , as they have completed their training . The balcony at the second floor ' s end is used to enter Fishermans Horizon while stationed there , and next to it is the emergency exit that , when used , opens a yellow inflatable slide . The emergency exit is used once during the Battle of the Gardens when Squall is trying to evade a G - Soldier riding a jetpack . The Balamb Garden balcony glitch can occur to trap the player on the balcony during the FMV scene on disc 2 . The ballroom is only used for special occasions , such as the SeeD graduation ball and other formal events . It is a large , two - story room with a dome ceiling and a stone balcony . The player can never visit this area and such , it isn ' t clear where in the Garden structure the ballroom is supposed to be located . The headmaster ' s office is on the third floor , accessible by the main elevator . Students may only visit the headmaster ' s office when summoned by Headmaster Cid . The bridge replaces the headmaster ' s office once the Garden transforms to become mobile . Navigation and piloting controls are accessible from the bridge . The MD level is only visited once to save the Garden from the oncoming missiles . Headmaster Cid gives Squall a key to use in the elevator which opens a hatch and leads into an oil stratum . The team will find a console to activate the Garden ' s transformation into its mobile state on this level . The Balamb Garden basement is accessible by the main elevator with special permission from the headmaster . It is home to NORG and the machinery to transform the Garden from its stationary form to its mobile form . After NORG ' s defeat a hidden draw point can be found on the pod . Shop . A student in Balamb Garden training center appears randomly on the bridge to sell items . He is called CC Joker and is part of the Card Club and holds the rare Leviathan card . The player can win the GF Meter from him to view stats on kills and KO ' s for the party ' s Guardian Forces . CC Joker will be met in " Ragnarok " on disc 4 where he will also let the player model weapons . Quests . Study Panel . The player can access the Balamb Garden intranet from the study panel in the classroom . The player can operate it to get Shiva and Quezacotl at the beginning of the game , but the panel can also be used to view tutorials and learn more about the Garden . In the Garden Square message board the player can view posts left by the students , hinting about the Disciplinary Committee ' s " nosiness " and the affection the library girl has for Zell . The player can even see which books are late from the library , giving context to the scene where Zell tries to loan out a book that is never available . Selphie transforms the Garden Festival page and adds a blog she will update throughout the game . She will also start a Sir Laguna ' s Page , a fanpage for Laguna Loire she adds more entries to the more Timber Maniacs magazine s the player finds . Triple Triad . Balamb Garden uses the Balamb region rules , where Open is the only default rule . The rules get mixed up if the player plays games with mixed rulesets . Card Club . On disc 2 the player can start the Card Club quest after having won enough Triple Triad games within the Garden to gain fame . Squall must find and win all Card Club members to gain the chance to challenge the secretive Card Club King itself . Even if the player participates in the quest as Irvine during the time the Garden is stationed at Fishermans Horizon , the player will still be referred to as " Squall . " Rare cards . Many rare Triple Triad cards can be won within the Garden : Library girl with a pigtail . Zell and the girl with pigtails of the Library Committee have a crush on each other , but are too shy to let their feelings be known . The player can unite the two by frequently visiting the library with Zell in the party to view scenes with the two , which culminates in a romantic encounter in Balamb Hotel on either disc 2 or 3 . " Garden riot " items . NORG attempts to take over the Garden and the player party must locate Cid . Many items are available if the player refuses to join NORG ' s cause : SeeD rank demotions . There are couple events in the Garden the player can do , but if the player follows through their SeeD rank will go down . In the beginning of the game , showing off Squall ' s gunblade to the two students sitting on the floor outside the 2nd floor classroom lowers the player ' s rank by one ; even if the player isn ' t a SeeD yet , it will later be deducted . Trying to sneak out of Balamb Garden during the night of the SeeD graduation lowers the rank by one ; if the player tries to leave three times , the rank will drop . After defeating NORG there will be a boy outside the 2nd floor classroom asking Squall to show him magic . If the player complies the player ' s rank decreases by one . As a vehicle . After the events in Fishermans Horizon the player can use Balamb Garden to traverse the world map . The Garden is slow , and can only ascend on land from beach es , and it cannot cross the Horizon Bridge . The player can move the Garden by talking to Nida on the bridge . On disc 3 the player can still find Balamb Garden on Fishermans Horizon and use it if they wish , but acquiring " Ragnarok " makes using it obsolete . Musical themes . Balamb Garden ' s musical theme is " Balamb GARDEN " that plays whenever the player walks its corridors . The song " Fear " plays in the Training Center . " Waltz for the Moon " plays during the SeeD graduation ball . Other appearances . " Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy " . Balamb Garden is mentioned in the Mognet letter sent by Mohnny , who describes the ' Garden ' as a giant school campus . The player may reply either " The disciplinary committee scares me , " " There was this one hot teacher . . . " and " I don ' t want to remember . " The first option describes Seifer , Raijin , and Fujin , while the second option describes Quistis . " Theatrhythm Final Fantasy " . Balamb Garden appears in the background of the Field Music Sequence for " Blue Fields . " " Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call " . Balamb Garden appears as the FMS for " Waltz for the Moon , " and can be seen in the background for " Ending Theme " , alluding to the ending of the original game . " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " . Balamb Garden 1 . Having passed his final exam , Squall becomes an official member of SeeD . At the graduation party , he meets Rinoa , with whom he reluctantly agrees to dance . Quistis takes Squall aside to talk after the party , and as they head back to their quarters , they hear a woman scream . Balamb Garden 2 . Now full members of SeeD , Squall and the others receive their first deployment orders , and with them , a mysterious lamp from Headmaster Cid . . . Balamb Garden MD . On orders from Headmaster Cid , Squall ' s team descends to the MD Level beneath Balamb Garden , where they must activate an emergency console to save the academy . " World of Final Fantasy " . Balamb Garden appears as a location . Balamb Garden is a large Mirage named " Eden " . Although Balamb Garden is used as the headquarters of the League of S and only a small portion of it is explorable , the 1F directory is shown and is laid and labeled the same as it appeared in " Final Fantasy VIII " .