"It's true that Seifer fought with Zell more than he fought with me." Squall began, addressing his words directly to Cid. "That's because I didn't let Seifer provoke me. I only fought with him when he presented me with no physical alternative. Did that keep me out of the Infirmary? No. Did that keep me out of your office? No.
"Maybe Seifer made Zell who he is today. I can't presume to know. But take one look at my face, and you know what Seifer's done to me. He's on trial here for the events following our field exam. I received this scar the same day. I will never look in a mirror again without remembering Seifer. How we fought before the field exam, and how he waged war on me after it. He compromised the Timber mission in an effort to show me up.
"He brutally tortured me in Galbadia's D-District Prison. Zell's torment consisted of bullying. My torture consisted of thousands of volts of energy coursing through my body.
"He instigated the Garden Wars to strike at me. That was a battle I never wanted to fight. He and I, as opposing commanders, share responsibility for every death in that conflict. That's a responsibility I never wanted.
"He endangered the life of someone very special to me, and he did so on multiple occasions. He tried to hand her over to the Sorceress Adel. He tried, repeatedly, to take my life.
"There are a lot of people here that he's hurt. But I take my place at the head of the line, and when I say that I'm entitled to sentence him, I speak both as Commander of this Garden, and as someone he's tormented for years."
Cid nodded slowly, looking at Squall. His eyes narrowed, almost as if he were trying to see within Squall's mind. Gradually, by degrees, he leaned forward in his chair.
"I'm convinced," he began, and Seifer could feel the noose tightening around his neck. "Squall, you may proceed."
"Thank you, sir," Squall said, turning to Seifer. "My verdict is this: that Seifer resume his status as a cadet, beginning next term."
Stunned silence. No one dared to breath. No one so much as moved.
"Squall. I'm afraid I don't find your joke very funny. I suggest you sit down at once."
"I'm not joking, Headmaster. Garden will benefit from Seifer's return. His attack was as precise an operation as I've ever seen. It was as well planned and executed as any SeeD mission.
"He proved that Garden is vulnerable to an outside assault. We need to secure the Garden and Seifer is the best possible troubleshooter.
"I defeated Seifer three times during the Neo-Sorceress War. In two of those battles, I had Quistis and Zell supporting me. Three SeeDs should be more than a match for anyone.
"You can't deny Seifer's ability. He's more useful working for this Garden than against it and executing him would be a waste."
When Cid spoke, his voice sounded heavy. "So you want to ignore all the evidence of this trial, and just restore him to his former status? Should we give him a medal as well?"
"Sir, I suggest reinstating Seifer as a first-rank cadet, on the fifth degree of probation. One mistake and he's gone. He'll follow the rules, and I'll take responsibility for his actions."
"Squall," Cid began, leaning forward once more, "I really don't think that you've considered..."
"I agree with Squall!" Selphie piped up from her seat. "Give Seifer one more chance." Without waiting for his consent, Selphie grabbed Zell by the arm and hauled him to his feet. He looked around uncomfortably for a while, clearly wanting to sit back down. When he saw that Selphie wouldn't let him off the hook, Zell turned to Cid and spoke.
"Seifer's a royal pain in the ass and all, but I trust Squall's judgment. If Squall says Seifer'll behave, I believe him."
"And you, Squall," Cid replied, "are you willing to stake your career on a single throw of the dice? More importantly, are you willing to risk the safety of everyone here on your hunch that Seifer has reformed?"
"I'd ask that you trust my judgment in this matter, sir. As commander of this Garden, I think this is in our best interests."
Cid took another long look around the room. Squall stood at perfect attention, his face deadly serious. Seifer sat in his chair, stunned, looking from Squall to Cid and back to Squall again. In the back of the room, Edea met Cid's gaze once more. She smiled at him gently, and Cid knew what he had to do.
"I'm not entirely comfortable with this, Squall. Your arguments, while sound, do not fully convince me. However, I've seen fit to rely on your judgment in the past. If not for you, this Garden would be a pile of rubble sitting on top of a bit of scorched earth. You earned your title, and if you're willing to stand in Seifer's defense, I have no compelling reason to disagree with you."
Cid turned, making his announcement to the entire courtroom. "As such, Seifer Almasy is reinstated to his position as a first-rank cadet. His disciplinary record is marked to the fifth degree. I'm going to hand out some further disciplinary sanctions, since I cannot, in good conscience, allow his actions to go unpunished. However, that is a matter for another time.
"There is, I'm aware, a somewhat thornier issue. I realize that many of you have grudges against Seifer. If you need to settle them physically, you may do so in one of the sparring rooms, but I hope we can accomplish this transition with a minimum of violence. This is an official decision. It has my full backing, and I expect you all to comply with it as you would any other such decision. However, as Commander Leonhart has so graciously agreed to take responsibility for Seifer, you may address all your complaints or concerns to him. He's available to you, be it in his office, or around the Garden in general. You can talk to him at any time." Cid looked down at Squall, smiling as he did so. Squall seemed frozen in place, horrified at the prospect of a line of cadets at his office door, clamoring for his attention in the cafeteria, or interrupting him in the Training Center.
"If no one else has any more dramatic surprises," Cid paused here, taking a long look around the room, making sure that no one intended to stand up, "I believe this matter is adjourned." He pressed one of the buttons near him and, as before, the doors to the room swung open and the lights raised to full power, eliminating the spotlight over Seifer's chair.
The room exploded into sound. Seifer, through the haze of his disbelief, struggled to pick up individual voices. Over the din, he heard Selphie yell a triumphant, "Whoo-hoo!" The next thing he knew, she'd tackled him with one of her hugs and bellowed, "Welcome home, Seifer!" in his ear. Before he could react, the five-foot bundle of energy hurtled across the room, assaulting Squall in the same way. She caught Squall off-guard, and he toppled to the ground with Selphie on top of him. "Boy, Squall," she said, her grin threatening to split her face in half, "I could get used to seeing you from this angle." She planted a kiss on his surprised cheek before jumping to her feet and running off to find Irvine.
Squall, shaking his head, rose to his feet, automatically smoothing the wrinkles out of his uniform. Seifer walked over to him, still stunned by the events of the last few minutes. All around him, people filed out of the courtroom, discussing the decision that would dominate their conversations for weeks to come.
"What," he asked, "the hell was that? Do you mind explaining what just happened?"
"You heard what I said," Squall replied. "I'm not doing you any personal favors. You'll do less damage here where I can keep an eye on you."
"Squall," Seifer grinned, "I think that's about as close to a compliment as I've ever heard you get."
"Whatever."
Zell ran up, looking somewhat uncomfortable after he arrived. He put one hand behind his head and extended his other hand to Seifer. "Welcome back."
Seifer took Zell's hand, smiling softly. "Thanks, Zell. Look, I really am sorry about everything..."
"So... umm... do you want to get together some time and talk? You said you had something you wanted to talk about."
"Yeah," Seifer replied, his voice oddly soft, "that'd be nice."
"Cool!" Zell turned and started to jog in the other direction. "Oh, Squall! Lunch in the cafeteria today. They're serving hot dogs!" With that, Zell ran out the door, no doubt to ensure he had an ample supply of hot dogs to himself.
Squall shook his head, his face wearing an almost pained expression at Zell's one-track mind.
"The more things change..." Squall began.
"...the more they stay the same," Seifer answered, finishing the sentence for him.
"Yeah." Squall nodded. "Welcome back."
