Gabriel stood at the window, watching as the sun broke free of the tree line, spilling its golden light out over the fields. At this time of the morning, most of the residents of the tiny farming community had already been up for over an hour, tending their livestock and going to work in the fields.

He'd been unable to sleep, finding himself tossing and turning, staring at the ceiling for what had felt like an eternity. Every time he attempted slumber, she haunted him. Her cerulean eyes, the silky smooth feel of her skin, the captivating whisper of her voice…

And then there were the dreams. Even there, she troubled him.

            I know her. I remember her. But from where? Who is she really? And…why can't I stop thinking about her!

            His energy and desire to be angry had run out some time ago, and now he simply stood and stared out at the landscape, somehow hoping that Hyne would show him mercy and give him an answer, tell him what to do.       

            "Gabriel, dear," a voice he had not wanted to hear this morning snaked its way into his room, breaking the blissful silence. "Did you hurt yourself? Oh, poor baby…"

            Gabriel looked down at his bandaged hand, not bothering to turn around. "Yes, Ana."

            He felt her hands on his hips as she slid up beside him. "Well, you better take care of that. I trust you have found the portal."

            "Yes."

            "Wonderful. What did you tell her?"

            "The legend of the healing portal, just as you instructed."

            "Good.  We have a busy day ahead of us!"

            "Hmm. I thought you would wait for nightfall."

            "No time," the crimson skinned woman replied. "The bait is on its way.  You have one final task, and then you can be on your way."

            Gabriel's heart lurched at her words. "And the task?"

            "Get her to the portal, with the rod. Make sure she uses it properly, and be certain she and her friends do not interfere. They are well trained professionals, but I do not imagine someone of your caliber will have much difficulty holding them back long enough for us to complete our task. Are we understood?"

            Gabriel gave a curt nod.

            "Oh, and here." She slipped a slender silver vial into his hand. "Just in case you get in the way, or someone gets a little overzealous."

"That's very kind of you, Ana," he said dryly.

She chuckled. "I did promise I'd never make you one of us unless you asked it. I will meet you at the portal."

Gabriel continued to stand at the window for several long moments after Ana left. He looked down at the vial he held in his hand, and thought hard about what he was going to do in the next few hours.

            Coming to a decision, he dropped the vial into a pocket, grabbed up his sword and cloak, and left his room.

            A short, determined rap on his study door caused Gefrey to look up from his notes. "Come in," he called, expecting Benton.

            "Good morning, sir," his young blonde houseguest said quietly as she stepped into the room. Her face looked strained, and he noticed creases of worry marring her pretty face.

            "Ms. Trepe! How can I help you this morning?"

            "Well, sir….I don't have much time, so I will be blunt. I have come to ask to use the Finder's Way."

            Gefrey blinked. "What? I mean, hmm, what do you need it for?"

            "I…want to investigate some of the city today. I believe the rod may have been made by the residents." Well, it's not a complete lie. The carefully composed speech she'd planned to use to convince Gefrey to let her use the rod had flown right out the window. "I just need it for an hour or two, I'll bring back. I'll rent it even, if you like."

            Gefrey stared at her, taken completely by surprise by her request. "Well, I'm sure your reasoning must be sound. I don't see where there'd be a problem…"

            Quistis didn't give him a chance to say anything else. "Thank you, sir! You won't regret it." She whirled out of his office just as quickly as she'd spoken.

            Gefrey was left staring at the empty space in front of his desk, not entirely certain what had just happened.

            Zell set the Ragnarok down in a field just north of Vanderstyll Manor. Quistis had been standing out on the front lawn, keeping an eye out for the dragon shaped vessel, and reached the field as the ramp was lowered. She stood patiently while Zell and Selphie wheeled a gurney down the walkway.

            Quistis's breathe caught in her throat as she looked over her fallen commander. He was sleeping, but his face did not tell the tale of a peaceful slumber. His skin was flushed with fever, his solemn face creased in a dark scowl. A blanket covered his mid-section, and she did not have the heart to more closely examine the wound.

            Selphie hugged her tightly. "Quisty," she whispered, pulling away and looking at her with doe-like eyes. "You can do something about this?"

            Quistis nodded. "Follow me."

            "I am sorry, Mr. Andovar, but Ms. Trepe is not here. She left just a few moments ago to report to her commander."

            Gabriel frowned at the door man. The bait Ana spoke of…She's probably already on her way to the garden. "Is Lord Gefrey in?"

            "Yes," the young man replied. "Right this way."

            He led Gabriel down the hallway to Gefrey's study, where the young lord sat going over his daily reports. He looked up as they entered, raising an eyebrow at Gabriel.

            "Lord Gefrey, this gentleman asked to see you…"

            "You can go, Mik," Gefrey smiled at him. "I am acquainted with Mr. Andovar."

            The boy slipped out of the room as Gabriel moved forward to shake Gefrey's hand.

            "What brings you here today, Gabriel?" Gefrey asked gently.

            "Only a simple question, with a simple answer."

            "Ask away."

            "Ms. Trepe…did she come and see you this morning?"

            "She did," Gefrey responded warily.

            "Did she ask to use the Finder's Way?"

            "What business is it of yours?"

            Gabriel sighed. Gefrey was not a stupid man, nor a gullible one. He knew he'd have to play his card to gain the lord's cooperation. Slowly he pulled a rolled parchment from the inside pouch on his cloak. He unrolled it, and laid it before Gefrey for him to read.

            Gefrey's eyes widened as he read the document, looking back up at Gabriel.

            "I have a duty to fulfill," Gabriel said quietly. "And it is not one listed in that contract. Please, Lord Gefrey, I have no time to discuss this."

            "I…understand. Yes, she did take it."
            "Thank you." Grabbing the document off the desk, Gabriel turned and strode out of the room.

            Quistis hesitated for a moment beneath the stone angel. She felt a fluttering of apprehension as she realized she was about to lead them into the rose garden. On the way up the trail, she had explained to Zell and Selphie about the healing portal—although she did not mention who she had found it with—and the rod she held in her hands. She had not given it much thought until now. Despite Squall's condition, she did not want anyone else to see the garden.

            A soft moan reached her ears, and she turned back to see Squall stir. They had pulled up the legs on the gurney; now Zell and Selphie carried him between them.

            He needs you, Trepe. Don't fail him now.

            Quistis took a deep breath and, with determination in her eyes, pressed the feather that opened the angel's hidden door. She led them down the corridor and out into the rose garden, hurrying them through as if to keep them from looking at it too long.

            Ana stood leaning against the wall of the small corridor, lazily studying her fingernails while the men clad in dark robes shifted restlessly around her. One of them turned to regard her, no hint of his intention showing on his emotionless face.

            "Patience, Raok," Ana said softly. "They are coming. Can't you hear them?"

            "Not all of us are gifted like you," the man hissed back.

            Ana chuckled quietly. "This is true." She stood straight, stepping away from the wall. "Take your positions. They are near."

            They watched as three figures appeared in the softly lit cave, a fourth carried on a gurney between two of them. The blonde woman led the others straight into the shallow pool, across the water and up the smooth steps to the dais where the portal sat, dark and dormant. Ana found herself holding her breath with anticipation as the two laid their precious cargo on the stone before the portal.

            Quistis turned the slender rod over in her hands, studying it carefully. She could guess easily enough from the shape of the slot in the portal that the sparkling blue sapphire atop the rod was the actual key. She looked up at the words carved into the arch of the portal.

            "Finder's Way out of the Darkness," she whispered softly, thinking of what she'd been able to put together from the symbols. A nervous knot began to tie itself in the pit of her stomach.

            "What do we do, Quisty?" Selphie asked timidly, staring at the cold stone structure.

            "Just be ready to pass Squall through the portal," Quistis said grimly. Hyne, please let this work. She stepped up to the stone portal, carefully sliding the sapphire tip of the Finder's Way into the slot.

            She heard movement behind her, and glanced back as Gabriel rushed into the chamber.

            "Quistis, no!" he cried.

            Too late.

            The rod seemed to come alive in her hands, a loud resounding click echoing through the chamber as it slid itself into place. A moment of silence followed, and then the portal burst into a blinding halo of light so powerful Quistis found herself flung backwards.

            She rolled down the steps, stopping just short of the pool. She blinked, looking up, and through the white cloud that had been stamped on her vision, she saw Gabriel standing at the other side of the pool. She saw, too, a second corridor entrance they hadn't noticed the first time they'd come here, and out of it stepped a woman dressed in a flowing red gown, split up the side to reveal very smooth, very toned, very red colored legs. Around her a host of men clad in black flowed, running to the sides and taking up positions around the room.

            "Gabriel!" Ana screamed angrily, glaring at the treacherous mercenary. "What do you think you're doing?"

            Gabriel drew his sword, looking at the crimson skinned woman with a deadly mask of calm over his face. "I am here to stop you, Ana."

            Ana laughed, a horrible, sick, twisted sound. "But you're too late for that! Look!"

            She pointed towards the portal. The glowing halo of light, while still intense, had faded from being blinding. And in the light, Quistis could see shapes moving. Slowly the shapes began to take shape, terror clutching at Quistis's heart as she discerned what was coming through the gateway.

            The demons from her dreams.

            They were twice the height of any man, and twice as broad. Their taunt red skin was stretched over an impossible configuration of muscles that twitched with anticipation at the scent of living mortals. Massive arms ended in wicked claws dripping with a thin reddish liquid, the same liquid which dripped from the barbed ends of their powerful tails.  Several of them were growling and gnashing their teeth, occasionally licking their lips with a long, slithery tongue. A sickeningly sweet smell washed over the chamber as the things poured out of the portal.

            While he stared at the awful sight, Gabriel kept one eye on Ana, and saw as she slid a slender golden rod from a hidden place in the folds of her gown. A ruby light flared angrily from the tip of the rod, emanating from the multi-faceted crystal that topped it.

            That must be how she plans on controlling them, he concluded. Whispering a prayer for luck, he leapt at her, hoping to take her by surprise.

            "I know you too well for that, dear Gabriel," Ana snarled, her voice lethally soft, as she brought up the long sword she'd had clutched in the other hand to meet his blow. He smiled at her, stepping back a little.

            "We'll see," he answered. For I know your tricks as well.  He launched into a flurry of attacks, whirling and spinning the broadsword expertly in his hands. His ears filled with the sound of ringing metal as Ana met his assault.

            Quistis forced herself to calm down, reaching up and grabbing her pendant. Although there was little room left in the cramped chamber for the platinum dragon, she knew they needed Bahamut's aid.

            A wicked gleam shone in the dragon's eyes as he took in the sight of the battle. With a draconic grin, he began to lay in to the creatures, drawing in his breath to release an awful flare of energy.

            The Guardian was not alone as the Ice Queen appeared on the other side of the chamber, waving a shock of cold air through the ranks of the black clad fighters. Several of them were literally frozen in their tracks, but many more continued to move in to the fray.

            Quistis scrambled to her feet as a demon escaping from the path of destruction Bahamut was spewing made its way towards her. She swung around Save the Queen, cracking the whip a few times to get the feel of it before launching an assault against the creature. Soon, however, she realized her efforts would be futile as the end of the whip clacked uselessly against the demon's hardy hide.

            Selphie found herself having much better success with her whirling nunchaku as the nimble young woman fairly danced around another demon. She whispered a few words of magic and could not keep from giggling just a little as the magic rushed through her veins, giving her a boost of energy and making the movements of everything around her slow in a comedic sort of fashion. Several good hits in quick succession in varied places all over the demon's body set if off balance, distracting it long enough for Selphie to put her plan into action. Pulling the pin from one of her grenades, she practically ran up the creature before stuffing the volatile egg-shaped explosive device down the thing's throat.

            Obviously unaware of its peril, the creature just grinned a ghastly smile at her and swallowed. Imagine its amazement a few seconds later as the grenade exploded, showering Selphie with reeking red goo.

            "Gross!" Zell exclaimed from behind Selphie as he wiped some of the demon's internal fluids from his eyes. His moment of distraction gave the black clad man he faced the opportunity to land a solid punch to Zell's nose.

            "Ouch! Man, you're gonna pay for that one!" Zell threw a few lazy punches before bouncing back and snapping up his leg towards the man's head. As predicted, the man grabbed Zell's foot, effectively stopping the blow. Zell leapt into the air, using the man's grip as a platform as he swung the other leg around, connecting with the man's temple. Agile as a cat, Zell spun in the air to land on his stomach in a position ready for push-ups.

            Ana was good, parrying every blow Gabriel could throw against her as they danced the ringing dance of swords. She was distracted, however, and reluctant to use the golden rod in her hands to block him, allowing his foot to find an opening. He kicked her hard in her abdomen, knocking the air from her lungs. Her grip loosened, a simple flick of his wrist twisted his sword into the handguard on hers, flipping it out of her hand and sending it scittering across the stone floor.

            "Gabriel," she smiled at him, her eyes betraying her fear. "You wouldn't attack an unarmed woman, would you? It wouldn't be very honorable, would it?"

            Gabriel set his mouth in a thin line. He paused a moment, studying this woman who had once been so much to him.

            But that had been before her skin became blood.

            In a single, liquid movement, Gabriel plunged his sword into her breast.

            The demon grabbed the end of Save the Queen, yanking the whip towards it and dragging Quistis with it. It reached out a huge clawed hand, smacking the side of her head painfully.

            Her vision turned red as blood streamed freely down the side of her face. A moment of dizziness swept over her, but it brought with it a cold sensation as the door to the blue light within was opened. Drawing on that inner strength, Quistis whispered an incantation. The pain in her head was relieved immediately as she felt herself lifting up off the stone floor. She turned, an intense look of determination stamped on her face.

            "Lisara neye," she whispered, her eyes glowing red. The demon laughed, stupidly taking a step towards her, just as twin beams of ruby light shot across the small space, burning the creature's eyes.

            It cried out in pain and anger, reaching up to its face. It took a few steps towards her, forgetting in its rage that she was no longer standing on the floor. With all the grace of a rock the creature fell into the shallow pool.

            Quistis smiled, but then stared in awe and horror at the writhing creature in the pool. It hissed and popped, the flesh literally melting away, and then the water became clear again.

            Quistis looked up to see Selphie also staring at the spectacle. The perky brunette raised her gaze to meet Quistis's, and grinned. She kneeled down and scooped up a handful of the water, twisting and flinging it towards another demon. They were rewarded with another show of screaming, melting flesh.

            "Booyaka!" Selphie cheered, as she began scooping more water and flinging it all over the battlefield.

            Gabriel kneeled down beside Ana, gently sliding her body off his sword. She stared up at him, anger and disbelief scrawled across her face.
            "I am sorry, Ana," he said quietly as he ripped the golden rod from her clutching hand. "But honor is reserved for men, not monsters."

            He stood, turning to walk away.

            "You'll never win," she choked. He turned, glaring at her.

            "Oh?"

            "Yes. You're right…about that rod. It will close the gate. But only from the other side."

            He stared at her, the implications sinking in slowly. She chuckled, a rasping sound made macabre as blood bubbled up out of her mouth.

            "So either way, Gabriel, I win."

            "No, Ana," he said solemnly. "Because thankfully for the world, there are those who care about more than themselves."

            "Oh? Like you? Why…." A fit of coughs racked Ana's body as her lifeblood crept slowly out onto the stone floor. "Why don't….you tell your precious Quistis….why you're here? What you were…paid to do?"

            Quistis looked over from the other side of the pool, catching the sound of her name. She stared at Gabriel, confusion on her face.

            He sighed deeply before wading into the pool. A soft golden light emitted from the rod, and the demons began to retreat towards the portal. Selphie and Zell rushed protectively to Squall's side, standing around him while the creatures flowed past. Quistis barely noticed, however, looking into Gabriel's face as he walked up the steps towards her. He reached out and grabbed her hand, leading her to where the portal stood. The brilliant light still streaming from the opening rushed around them almost as if it were alive, the sound of the wind thundering in their ears.

            Despite the cacophony of sound, however, Quistis could hear Gabriel's voice clearly as he began to speak.

            "I am sorry, Quistis. I was not honest with you. I was hired to seduce you and convince you to use the Finder's Way to open this portal, which is not a healing portal, but a gate to the creature's plane."

            Her mouth opened in an outraged gasp. He put his finger to her lips.

            "I am a mercenary, Quistis. Just like you. I was hired to do a job. That was all. But it became something more. I failed, you see. I failed because I fell in love with you."

            Tears began to sting her sapphire eyes, her heart breaking at the sight of the unfathomable sorrow she saw gathering in his pools of amethyst. He leaned close to her, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke softly to her.

            "I know who you are. I didn't understand at first, and now it is too late."

            "Too late?"

            He held up the golden rod. "This will close the gate. But it must be done from the other side."

            She stared at him, horror evident in her face as she understood what he meant. A tear slid its quiet way down her cheek. He reached up and wiped it away before leaning closer and kissing her gently.

            She swallowed a sob as his lips left hers. He placed two small objects in her hand.

            "These are for you," he whispered. "Save your commander. Remember me. I will see you again."

            He stepped away and began walking towards the portal.          

            "Wait!" Quistis cried.

            Gabriel stopped and looked back at her. His face was calm, serene, his eyes brimming with emotion.

            "You said you know who I am. Who am I, then?"

            He smiled, the last she would ever see of him. "You are my soul."

            He stepped through, and the portal closed.