Sometimes there are two copies of Timber Maniacs in an area, and getting one but not the other (or not getting either) can have an effect on the Laguna flashbacks.

For example, in Balamb early on, if you get the Timber Maniacs issue in the hotel instead of at the train station, you get a different scene with Laguna and Julia in the Deling City Hotel. Instead of Laguna and Julia having a long conversation, at one point Laguna falls asleep.

I'm assuming the event with the Ruby Dragon was affected in a similar manner.