Parallel

A New Ally

He grunted as he hit the ground hard - the impact sending him rolling backward as he landed.

He slowly rose to his feet – glaring ahead at his adversary across the great distance between them. The dark, empty sky seemed to stretch for miles across the endless landscape in the desolate, lonely world. He was tired, but he couldn't give up – not yet. As long as he drew breath, he could still fight…and that was exactly what he was going to do. He'd been lost in this battle for what had now felt like ages. Since it all began, he had been seeking a way out; a way home back to the world he knew – never really understanding how he'd arrived here in the first place. He didn't know how long he'd been gone, but he'd do whatever it took to make it back there – back to the world he once called home that had since forgotten him…or, so it might as well have.

As he caught his breath, bracing to continue his fight, the usual thought came to mind – the one that had always been his driving force: what had compelled him to keep going; fighting until he found the way out – out of this undying and ruthless struggle. Her face – it was clear as ever. Though it killed him not to be able to recall her name – he still remembered her, at least. She was waiting – waiting for him to come home and come back to her. He couldn't let her down. He wasn't going to.

"…Fine." he grumbled, staring ahead again, "We'll do this your way."

He closed his eyes only for a moment before a great beast appeared behind him – its loud roar piercing the skies as its wings spread around Squall. It appeared to be some kind of monstrous lion as it prepared to fight alongside him.

"Griever!" he said, loudly, as he threw his sword-wielding arm to the side.

The lion proudly and ferociously dashed forward as Squall jumped aboard its back – both racing toward their adversary in anger. This fight had carried on long enough by now.

The great lion approached a deck and leapt over it with ease as the two flew through the air – staring ahead at the foe before them as they rapidly approached from the air and Squall revealed another trick of his.

"Lionheart!" he said, a bit gruffly.

His gunblade immediately took on a whole new appearance – a thick, black hilt with what appeared to be a single, silver wing at the top end – and emerging from it…a big, thick, light-blue blade that practically glowed with a strange light.

He immediately threw the sword out to the side again as a strange aura of sorts appeared around him – his foe showing no fear as the duo came down toward him at great speed.

At the last minute, Squall jumped off Griever's back and lifted his sword into the air – a fierce look on his face as he flipped and came down on top of the mysterious foe, yelling loudly and in anger as the unending battle continued.

Rinoa jumped back to avoid one of the officials as she and Seifer kept fighting. It was nearing the end of their battle, but it was getting harder for her to keep up. She still wasn't quite used to fighting, especially having practically quit altogether upon Ultimecia's defeat – and Squall's death, and it was beginning to finally take its toll in this fight.

As she made another blow with her Blaster Edge, she felt someone coming up behind her and quickly turned around to see two guards teaming up on her – coming at her quickly with no time to react as she stared at them with wide eyes.

"RINOA!" Seifer yelled.

He immediately came down in front of her and knocked them back with a hard swing of his gunblade – a look of sheer pride and confidence on his face as he smirked, and the battle finally ended.

Rinoa looked at him in surprise. She didn't know what to think. She wanted to thank him, but she still found it hard to bring out such words. He hadn't quite proven anything just yet – or, so she felt. She needed more proof he wasn't just all talk - and saving her life, even twice, still wasn't quite enough. After all, without knowing his true intentions…how could she be sure this wasn't all just another act?

Seifer turned around to look at her as she stood up.

"You okay?" he asked.

Rinoa nodded lightly in response.

"…I'm fine."

She stood silently for a moment as she looked at the floor. She wanted to say it, but it was just too hard to bring it out. He still had a lot to make up for after all he'd done and it wasn't going to be that easy to forget…or forgive. As much as it pained her to think in this way…she just couldn't let it go.

Seifer could tell she was struggling with something as he looked at her in anticipation. It was like he knew what she was thinking, but wondered why she hadn't said it. It was indeed an awkward moment – even for him.

Rinoa shook her head lightly as she took a deep breath and Seifer closed his eyes for a moment in understanding.

"…Come on. We still have to get out of here." he said.

Rinoa nodded in response. As they started walking, they heard an alarm echo through the prison.

"Intruder alert! Hostile units in flight!"

Rinoa and Seifer looked around frantically as panic overtook the young sorceress once more.

"Oh, no…" she said, as she thought she felt her heart stop momentarily.

"Should have seen that coming," Seifer scoffed.

He looked toward the stairs.

"Change of plan. We'll have to go up." he said.

Rinoa looked at him like he was crazy.

"What are you talking about? They're coming from that direction. We have to go down. That's what you said earlier." she argued.

Seifer grumbled a little.

"I know what I said, but we don't have time. I have to get you out of here – and the fastest way to do that is going up." he stated.

He started to move when Rinoa held back.

"No," she said, nearly crying again, "I can't. They're going to kill us if we go that way, Seifer. I can't stand to lose someone else that way!"

She thought back on that moment with Squall while they were fleeing Galbadia. It was practically the same thing all over again – and the first time…it hadn't ended so well. She couldn't stand the thought of the same thing happening once more. She may not have completely trusted Seifer just yet…but, she still wasn't willing for him to die – suffering the same fate Squall had.

"Rinoa, they'll try that no matter which way we go," he said, "But, we have the best chance of getting out of here going up. There are less floors to cover."

Rinoa shook her head as she crossed her arms along her stomach and leaned over as if she were going to be sick. All she ever knew when it came to Galbadia - most specifically, the Faction…was fear. This was the worst it had been yet – even compared to earlier when they were about to execute her.

Seifer could see how she was breaking down from nerves and fear. It was even too much for him.

He walked up to her and looked at her closely – the look in his eyes something entirely unexpected. It was almost comforting, to say the least. They showed no hint of deception or any devious intent. It was an honest look – nothing but a genuine concern; a determination that knew no bounds and would give or do anything to make sure she made it out of here alive.

"Rinoa, trust me. I won't let that happen," he said, "I promise."

She stared back at him momentarily and finally gave in as she smiled. This was the Seifer she'd known five years ago - the one she'd fallen in love with and had would have done anything for. She was sure she could place her complete trust in him now. It was enough.

She nodded approvingly at him.

"Come on." he said, holding his hand out.

Rinoa willingly placed her hand in his and they tore off through the prison again – now climbing upward in attempt to escape in time.

Floor after floor, guards came at them, but Seifer's determination showed through with each encounter as he cut down any foes they came across – Rinoa's hand still in his as they ran.

As they were halfway across the twelfth floor, Rinoa began to really feel they may get out after all. However, her relief was short-lived as another alarm sounded throughout the building.

"Code Red! Safe Mode activated! All floors…disengage!"

"That can't be good…" Rinoa said.

Just then, the floors of the prison closed up – the twelfth rapidly collapsing behind them as Rinoa watched in terror at the thought of falling that great distance below.

"Seifer!" she cried.

"HURRY!" he hollered, as they raced toward the last flight of stairs.

Rinoa was near tears as they reached the stairwell when the last panel beneath her gave way.

"AAHH!" she screamed.

Seifer quickly grabbed her wrist just before she could fall and pulled her onto the stairs with him.

"See?" he said, "I've got you."

Rinoa looked at him in complete gratitude. He really had now proven that he'd meant what he'd said upon freeing her from her cell. Her only problem now…was how she could ever show exactly how grateful she was to him. Like Squall, Seifer was risking his life to save her – and they still weren't even out just yet. She had no idea what they'd do once they reached the top of the prison…but, her renewed trust in him was enough to believe they'd think of something; that they could indeed make it out of here.

Finally, they reached the floor with the torture chamber – where Rinoa had previously been on her way to. It sent shivers down her spine when she recalled how close she had come to that.

They moved up another flight of stairs and finally came to the control room for the cell lift. This all brought back memories of when she, Squall, and their friends had been making their escape from this very place just a few years earlier. She had never really imagined being back here – and now, for that to be exactly the case…it was a strange sense of irony, in a way.

"It's kind of funny…isn't it?" she said to herself.

Seifer led her up one last flight of stairs and suddenly she could see the sky as she breathed a sigh of relief – a great sense of comfort and joy coming over her in an instant. To be honest, a part of her had been so sure she'd never see daylight again. Even upon encountering Seifer, her fears hadn't totally been remedied. Now, however…it was the exact opposite. Seifer had kept his promise and gotten her out of harm's way. They had eluded the guards and officials bent on eliminating her – seeing her as some sort of dangerous threat without any real logic behind their reasoning. And, just when things had seemed too bleak…here they stood – her freedom: her safety, within reach. It was all thanks to Seifer – she had to give him that.

"Seifer, I…" she said, softly.

"Don't." he said, abruptly, as he lifted his hand, showing the back of his palm to her.

She looked toward him in confusion at his words as he turned his head a little to see her.

"…You're not completely safe just yet." he warned.

Rinoa looked down at the ground. She hadn't thought about that, but he was right. They still had to get off the prison grounds before she could officially be declared "rescued". She was embarrassed for having not realized this before.

"…Right." she mumbled, nodding her head lightly.

Seifer walked over to the long bridge-like path before them as he looked over the edge. The great height was even enough to make him dizzy as he backed up.

"Whoa…" he said, "I guess we don't really have a choice."

They both looked ahead at the path before them. It led straight across to another part of the prison resembling the one they were currently atop. It was scary to think about traversing it so high up, but then again…she'd done it before. As nervous as it made her, she also knew their options were severely limited. Jumping was completely out of the question – and short of going back inside and descending all of those floors to the bottom like originally planned…they really didn't have any other way to go.

Seifer looked at Rinoa closely.

"…Are you ready?" he asked.

Rinoa mustered up the courage she needed to do this and nodded at him lightly.

"…Yes," she said, softly, "Let's go."

When they were halfway across the walkway, they heard a familiar voice – and rather discomforting, at that.

"HALT!"

Rinoa and Seifer froze in place and turned around to see some guards where they had just come from.

"Oh, no!" Rinoa thought, immediately starting to panic again.

She and Seifer looked ahead to see more guards had suddenly appeared in their path.

"What?" she asked, looking back and forth between the two ends of the walkway.

Seifer glared at the guards ahead of them. They were so close and he wasn't about to give up now. He had promised to get Rinoa to safety – and it had already been hard enough just gaining her trust again.

The two stood back to back – one looking down either end of the walkway as the guards started moving toward them slowly.

"Hand over the sorceress and we'll let you go free, kid!" one guard said, "We have no interest in you."

Rinoa closed her eyes tightly at those words.

Seifer just cocked his head as another smirk formed on his face.

"Sorry, but…I'm under orders," he said, "Catch ya' later!"

He immediately raised his hand and the GF, Ifrit, appeared – a giant Hellfire created in seconds that shot down both ends of the walkway towards the guards as they cried in pain.

"JUMP!" he shouted.

"What?" Rinoa asked, in complete shock.

Before she could think or say anything else, Seifer grabbed her hand and jumped over the edge – Rinoa's high-pitched scream filling the air as they plummeted below.

"Did Seifer…did he really just use a GF?" she thought, "But, that would mean…"

She glanced toward Seifer and then back down at the ground that was rapidly approaching. If they didn't act quickly, there was no way they'd survive this. If this was Seifer's way of "saving" her, he still had much to learn about playing such a role. Had this really been all he could think of? She found that hard to believe. However, she had to remember…it was Seifer. When it came down to it – he tended to act before he thought things through, or spoke.

At that moment, she remembered something. How could she have possibly forgotten about it? After all the time they'd spent during their quest four years prior, how could she not remember that one detail? It could have gotten her out of this whole mess before it had even started if only she had thought of it a while back. She blamed it on fear – and herself, for succumbing to it so often so easily. Normally, one whom wasn't a SeeD was illegible to junction a GF, but Rinoa had won over Garden, and all others, at that, due to her role in Ultimecia's defeat – and her power as a sorceress. Plus, not really known for her fighting prowess, it did not go unnoticed that she had developed a unique bond with two specific GF – something that was of the utmost interest to Cid, especially.

"I've got it!" she cheered.

She closed her eyes and concentrated – the ice queen GF, Shiva, appearing as she used Diamond Dust, creating an ice slide that Rinoa and Seifer landed on just in time – sliding down toward the ground as they stood up safely on their feet.

Rinoa looked up at Shiva with a smile and nodded thankfully. The GF appeared to acknowledge her gratitude before it disappeared once again.

Seifer walked past her toward a car. Rinoa looked at the vehicle and noticed the design of it. She had seen ones like that all too often in the last few years, so she could easily recognize one upon first glance by now. It all made sense to her – Seifer's timing in her rescue, his fighting skills, the GF. This was no mere coincidence or a simple twist of fate. So many questions swirled in her mind – all ending with what he'd said atop the prison about having his orders. What did that mean?

She watched Seifer as he approached the vehicle – unaware of her suspicion and rising doubt.

"Rinoa," he said, looking back toward her, "Come on. Let's get you out of here."

He started to get in the car when she spoke.

"Seifer?"

The tone in her voice caught his full attention as he turned back toward her immediately to see her standing a few feet away with a strange look on her face. It was as if she'd felt betrayed somehow, but he couldn't begin to imagine why. What had he done to suddenly make her distrust him again?

"...I want to know everything," she said, "And, I'm not going with you until I do."

*Author's Note* - Holy crap! Yet another lengthy chapter – sorry about that. Hope this wasn't too long a read, lol. I know this chapter seems a bit odd or so, but...just go with it.