THE KNIGHT...
Quistis huddled in the far corner of the cavern. She had never felt more alone in all of her life. Even the Trepies weren't here to save her now... She smiled at the thought. Obviously she wasn't that bad a person or else she wouldn't have her own little fan club, would she?
Quistis had given up shouting long ago. No-one in their right minds would be out in the woods in the cold... The pain had numbed in her leg. Maybe it was frozen... Maybe she would have to have it amputated... That would sure end her SeeD career... She laughed. Who cares? I failed as an instructor... Why not fail at being a SeeD too? The tears began to stream down her streaks again. Angrily, she rubbed them away. I will not cry...
Suddenly, a noise came from above, several tiny stones fell to the cavern floor. Quistis hoisted herself up using her hands.
"Hello?" Her voice was hoarse. The noise above continued. Someone was there, someone was walking about!
"Hello??" She tried again, this time willing herself to shout. The shuffling stopped.
"Is someone down there?" Quistis heard a familiar male voice.
"Sq-Squall?" The pain in her legs began to throb again and she dropped to the floor, suddenly dizzy.
"Hey, you down there!" The voice called again. Not Squall... Who then?
"Zell?" Quistis whispered, "Irvine?"
"Hey!!!" A foot appeared at the top of the hole, then a head.
"...Seifer?!?"
"Instructor Trepe. My, my what have we gotten yourself into. Lucky I was around, huh? But why should I help you? I could just leave you to rot... or... I could decided to be generous and get you out... Hmmm, the possibilities..." He smirked.
Anger surged through Quistis.
"Go to hell, Seifer."
"Well that's not the attitude that you should have with someone who can save your life, is it?" He laughed and reached his hand down the hole, "pass me your whip, we can use it to hoist you up."
Quistis' head began to spin but nevertheless she obeyed him. She threw her whip to him and clutched onto the other end. He was her last hope even though she didn't trust him.
"Now climb up..." Seifer ordered. Quistis attempted to use the whip to help her climb the rocky face but it was useless.
"I can't... My leg's injured..." She said weakly. Seifer leaned deeper into the hole.
"Come on, this isn't the instructor I know and love... You can do it!!" He looked straight at her and Quistis felt a sharp jolt in her heart.
"Here, grab my hand." Quistis felt some of her spirit coming back. Painfully she stood again and took for the end of the whip. Struggling, she pulled herself up against the rocks, reaching for Seifer's hand. What if this is a trick? She paused warily, her SeeD senses warning her.
"Damn, Quistis. Will you just get hold of my hand!!! I do have better things to do!" Seifer yelled at her. Quistis was filled with shock and surprise as he quickly grabbed her arm and using all of his upper-body strength, pulled her to the surface. Once there, she crumpled to the floor.
"C'mon. We'll get you back to the Garden... Squall will be very impressed with this!" Seifer smirked to himself and wrapped his arm around Quistis, almost carrying her all the way to Balamb Garden.
BLIZZARD STRIKES...
Irvine looked gloomily out of the car window. A blizzard... Just what we need... Selphie had finally fallen asleep in his arms but she was still freezing. Her lips had turned a worrying shade of purple and her hands were deathly cold. He hugged her to him. She seemed so fragile and so lifeless, not her usual sunny, hyperactive, warm self.
The chunks of snow beat down upon the car roof and the ferocious wind began to rock the car violently. So much for my new car... Selphie began to stir, awakened by the sounds outside.
"Hey..." Irvine smiled lovingly at her.
"Irvine... Oh geez... are we still here?" She grumbled and sat up, "I just wanna go to Trabia."
"It looks like we'll not get there anytime soon... Sorry..."
"It's OK Irvy. But I don't think I can get back to sleep." She rubbed her eyes and then stared at him, shocked, "oh Irvine. You look awful!"
"Thanks a lot..." He grinned.
"No seriously. Have you been to sleep since I woke you?" Selphie reached to touch his face and then thought better of it.
"Well... A little..."
"Irvine, you're lying!"
"Alright, no. I've been too worried about you..."
"Yeah right..." Selphie snickered.
"It's true. Selphie, I really care about you..."
Selphie giggled, "I bet that's what you say to all the girls!"
Irvine shook his head sadly.
"No, just you Sefie," He tucked her hair behind her ears. She flinched, slightly.
"Why do you do that?" She asked, shaking.
"What do you mean?" Irvine looked puzzled.
"Why do you say stuff that you don't mean? Why do you flirt around all the time with all of the female population? Why do you lead people on like that? It really annoys me!" Selphie's eyes began to water, she covered her face with her hands. Irvine felt like he had just been stabbed in the heart.
Why had she gotten so mad? It must be the cold... She was very tired...
"I..." He paused.
He lightly touched her shoulder and she shrugged him off and curled up against the car door.
What had he done...? Had his constant flirting destroyed his one chance with the girl that he actually did love, the girl that actually meant something...
"Selphie... How can I say this...? I... I don't think about what I'm doing sometimes... I don't think about who I hurt, and why should I cos no-one really cares about me... No-one has ever really cared about me... Girls just want a good time with me, there's never been anyone special... Until you. This isn't a pickup line cos I know that you don't fall for them anyway... I truly mean it, Selphie. What can I do to show you?" Irvine paused, choked up with emotion, waiting for an answer.
"Selphie?.... Selphie?"
He tapped her gently on the back, she was snoring deeply, fast asleep.
"Well that went well..." Irvine put his head in his hands.
FRIEND OR FOE?
"Well Seifer... I'll have to thank you..." Squall shook his hand reluctantly back at Balamb Garden. Quistis was safely in Dr. Kadowaki's room being checked for broken bones.
"Anytime Squall. You'll have to be more careful with your SeeDs in future. A good leader wouldn't anything like the incident today happen."
"As usual Seifer, thanks for your opinion. However, after a faculty discussion, we'd also like to offer you your old position in the Garden for your efforts"
"Gee thanks a lot Squall, you're much too kind," Seifer smirked, "you really think I'd return to this dump?"
"Raijin and Fujin have come back..."
"There's no accounting for taste. I don't want your pity, OK. Have a nice day now, I'll see you around..." He sneered, "oh and Merry Christmas..." He strolled out of the office. Squall Leonheart, Mr. Perfect, Mr. Justice... Seifer rolled his eyes, Loser.