"Now, this hardly needs to be said, but..." Headmaster Cid Kramer scanned the five Garden students who stood before him. "But I want you all to realize that you have my deepest thanks. Everyone participated in the fight against Sorceress Ultimecia, but the five of you performed well beyond what was expected of you. It is because of you that our world is still intact, and no thanks can ever make up for that." From behind him, he produced a wooden strongbox. "But you certainly deserve these, a small token of our gratitude."

From the strongbox, he produced five metal necklaces, at the end of which hung the universal Garden symbol. Medals? Squall thought. They look a little...plain.

"I know these aren't much," Cid continued, "But I want you to always have something to remind you of the service you have done the world. We are all very proud of you."

The six of them were standing in Cid's office, what had until recently been the highest point in the Garden. Although they were arrayed in much the same fashion they had been when Squall, Zell, and Selphie had graduated as SeeDs, the tall pillar supporting the Garden's newfound bridge was glaring evidence of how much had changed.

"Where's Rinoa?" Squall asked, frowning. She had helped out as much as anybody; she deserved to be here.

"She left for Timber right away," Cid replied. "She seemed very anxious to get back."

Oh, right, Squall thought. He remembered her saying something like that to him the previous night. He hadn't thought she meant right away, but....

"Oh, and Mr. Kinneas?"

In response, Irvine merely nodded and tipped the brim of his hat.

"Since Galbadia Garden seems to have...disappeared, I wonder if you would consider a transfer here. I'm sure we'd be happy to have you."

Irvine glanced sideways at Selphie. "I'd love to."

"Excellent. Please talk to Xu about your class schedule." Again, Cid looked across the five of them. "To the rest of you, I have a little something else. For your great service to this Garden and the world, it is my honor to grant you with SeeD's highest reward. It is my pleasure to announce that Quistis Trepe, Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, and Squall Leonhart have all achieved a permanent SeeD 'A' rank, with subsequent increase in pay. This is irrevocable by any actions other than your departure from SeeD. Again, thank you."

A shouted "OHH YEAHHHHHH!" broke the silence. Squall winced at the noise, and looked to see that Zell had jumped nearly his own height off the floor. Selphie looked like she would be next, and Quistis was just shocked.

Whatever, he thought. Since many SeeD missions required a degree of stealth, they would hardly be able to display their ranks. And Squall had never run short on money before. Achieving 'A' rank was simply a reward. A reward for something they could hardly help not doing. If we hadn't stopped Ultimecia, we would have died, too, he thought. We didn't really have a choice. Who wants to die?

"Squall, you could at least try to look happy." Quistis was now eying him with that little smile she got whenever she was about to read his mind, or whatever it was she did.

"Whatever," Squall said, turning away from the amused looks of his companions.

Cid cleared his throat, obviously trying to stifle a laugh. Why am I so funny to all of them? Squall wondered. "Well, I think that wraps up the official business. Squall, Zell, Selphie, Good luck on your mission."

- - = = = = - -

The Grat lunged at him, tentacles twining around his arms and legs. Gritting his teeth, Squall raised his gunblade and brought it down with all his might on the monster's "head." Just as it struck, he depressed the trigger, sending a bullet arcing along the blade. Although the thing managed to deflect the weapon to one side, the blade still managed to slice off a fair number of its tentacles. Making an indistinguishable sound, it backed off, its remaining tentacles crawling over the wound as fluid leaked off onto the path. Seeing an opportunity, Squall lunged at the thing, this time slicing through the flaps covering its mouth, which served to catch any prey foolish enough to mistake it for a true plant. In response, the monster belched out a sticky acid goo that was intended for Squall's face, but instead merely splashed all over his boots. Slightly angered about having to clean up the mess, Squall raised his gunblade, hoping to cleave the thing in two.

"I am Ultimecia."

The soft, whispering voice caught Squall completely off guard. He quickly backed up, returning to a guarding stance as he tried to resolve the intrusion on his mind.

"Time shall compress...All existence denied."

Suddenly, Squall's feet were swept out from under him, and his gunblade flew out of reach. The Grat had taken advantage of his disorientation to coil one of its remaining tentacles around his leg. Now, it hovered menacingly over him, mouth open for the kill.

Holding out a gloved hand in front of him, Squall threw all his attention into harnessing the magic he had junctioned, just in case. Firaga....

Under his stare, the monster exploded in flames, and what remained would not be a threat to anyone ever again.

Struggling to his feet, Squall retrieved his gunblade and mentally contacting one of the Guardian Forces residing within his mind. He instructed the GF, named Diablos, to psychically repel the other monsters in the Garden's Training Center. He couldn't trust himself in a fight at the moment.

He remembered the words. Sorceress Ultimecia had said them during the battle. Squall hadn't paid them much attention then, as he had had many more important things on his mind. But now....

All existence denied? Ultimecia wanted to compress time, create a world where only she could exist. But why? From what he had seen, she already had control over the world she lived in. Why was she so desperately trying to destroy it? Squall had had a universe to himself for a short time, and the experience had not left him wanting more.

Looking up, Squall saw that he had found his way into the 'Secret Area,' a part of the Training Center where students would gather after curfew. Since it was now late morning, the area was deserted. Squall leaned on the railing and stared out at the massive structure of the Garden. Below, he could see the giant spinning ring that, somehow, kept the building in the air.

Ultimecia...create a universe all her own. As hard as Squall could try, he could not think of a single explanation. There had to be one, but he could not imagine what. Spending eternity...alone. Was she that angry at the whole world?

It was easy to condemn her. 'Ultimecia's evil; she has to be stopped.' But Squall knew that wasn't the case. There's no such thing as evil. Friend or foe, it all comes down to circumstance. I've always believed that. Everyone has a reason for what they do.

So what was hers?

His reverie was shattered by the pinging of the Garden intercom. "May I have your attention," came the Headmaster's voice. "I'm sure you are all still exhausted from the battle we have just completed, but there must come a time when we look forward to the next. SeeD was created for a purpose, and that purpose has yet to be fulfilled."

Of course, Squall thought, remembering the bodies of future SeeDs lining the path to Ultimecia's castle. Our battle might be over, but SeeD's won't be until that future, Ultimecia's reign.

"For the moment, at least, we will continue as usual. The past few weeks shall have no effect on Garden's operation, or its future. Please continue about your business as usual.

"Oh, and would the Timber Team please report to the Main Entrance and prepare to disembark. That is all."

Looking out, Squall could see the famous Timber forest spread out in front of the Garden. With a sigh, he pushed away from the railing and made his way out of the Training Center.