~

Quistis sat outside the SeeDs' room, on a half-circle balcony that was just big enough for its two outdoor chairs. The concrete and metal wall reached almost to her chest when she stood; it was the only thing separating her from a sixty-five floor drop.

She could see for miles, and indeed the city stretched as far. It towered high and majestic, its oddly-shaped buildings twisting among each other in masterful combinations of sharp angles and gentle curves. Hovering aircraft zoomed between them, sometimes past Quistis' window, near enough to see the pilots inside the bubble canopies. One such cargo pilot waved cordially as he passed.

The city glowed. But it was an exotic, beautiful glow. Not the hue of billboard lights as in Extronic City. No, the Nebrian glow seemed to come from the city itself, as if the buildings were alive, and sharing some magical secret of life with each other.

Nebria was an astounding, wonderful place. She only wished she could enjoy it further, but this dreaded ordeal was stretching her terribly thin. She'd like to return someday, she thought, and experience it at peace.

A violent breeze whipped up the frigid air around her. She pulled tight her crimson vest, glad she had taken the time to put on some respectable clothes. She thought it odd that an underground world might have wind. This place was full of surprises.

The sliding glass door behind her swished open. Squall stepped onto the balcony, sipping at a cup of hot coffee. He felt the cold and frowned, and zipped his jacket to the top.

He sat in the free chair, and smiled at Quistis. She noticed how forced it was. But she did not take offense; he remembered how difficult it had always been for Squall to smile. She felt honored that he would even try.

"Well," he shrugged, and said quietly and quickly, as he always did. "...Surprise."

"I'll say," she smiled back. "It's wonderful seeing you again."

"You too."

She sighed inwardly; he was awfully hard to make conversation with. But if he was anything like he had been before, this was painfully difficult for him.

"Thanks for coming out here," she said. "I've been dying for someone to talk to lately."

"Sure," he replied simply.

This is going to be tough, she thought. Maybe it wasn't a good idea...I should forget it...just sleep it off...

To her dismay, Squall spoke. "So...uh, guess you're wondering how I got in..."

She took the comment for all it was worth. "Yes! Of course! It's been bugging me ever since I woke up! I thought all of those jumper things were disabled."

"They were," said Squall, taking a sip from his coffee. He laughed into the mug, a little nervously. "Very well, too."

Quistis giggled along. "Yeah, Irvine called us, he said he couldn't find a way in either."

Squall raised his head. "He's all right?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "It's a long story...and I don't even know it, to tell you the truth! For some reason, he's in Trabia. I think Aren knows what happened. But he's just fine."

"I'll talk to Aren tomorrow, then," Squall seemed to make a mental note. Quistis caught his professional air. It took her years back, to when they fought side by side in the greatest adventure of their lives.

"Oh, but please continue," she egged him on. "So nobody can get in or out, right?"

Squall shook his head. "Guess not."

"But you," she pointed with excitement, which she hoped would put him at ease. "You made it in! How?"

Squall grinned, and set his cup down. "Do you remember Diablos?" he asked quietly.

"Sure...Diablos, the Guardian Force?"

"Mm-hmm," Squall nodded, "remember how you helped to get him?"

Quistis nodded.

"Well, I told him you were in trouble, and he said he'd bring me here as soon as I wanted. He cast a spell called 'Ripspace,' and brought me right to the gates."

She dropped her jaw in amazement. "You...you spoke...with Diablos?"

"He holds you in high regard."

"I...I've never heard of such a thing!"

Squall nodded somberly. He blew into his thin-gloved hands. "Garden did a lot of things wrong," he finally said. "Took the wrong approaches....if they hadn't, things might have turned out differently. Maybe better."

Quistis was at once shocked, amazed, and confused. Squall had discovered something since they had parted ways. It had changed him, how much she had no idea, but there was a change. He seemed burdoned. By this, and perhaps by Rinoa. Of course, by Rinoa as well.

She wished she had a single thing to say. But nothing came; she smiled and pretended to understand.

Squall blinked his eyes, so strangely bright and focused for this late at night. "Ahm...was there something on your mind?"

Quistis rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well...I'm...not sure, now. Perhaps I just need to forget about it...just take my mind off it, you know?"

She stood, and leaned forward on the strong balcony wall. Squall joined her, placing folded hands on the concrete ridge. He nodded, stone eyes staring down at nothing in particular.

"Glad I could help," he whispered a quaint laugh.

"Oh, you are!" she said. "Really, you are... Well, this might sound silly...but, it's comforting to know there's someone on my side. Or...at least, someone who hasn't chosen one yet..." She trailed in a light laugh, with a trace of nervousness.

Squall looked up. His eyes were strong-set and cleanly focused, above heavy lines that trophied his tense SeeD life. His famous scar still ran across his forehead, above his nose, nearly to his cheek. Squall Leonhart was barely older than twenty, but he commanded an air much older, much more mature than his age. He always had.

Quistis found it to be a terrible thing, but at the same time, an incredible one.

Squall changed his gaze. He fixed it upon some point in the glowing Nebrian city. "I remember," he said, "there was a time a few years ago, at Balamb Garden. You took me to the outlook outside the Training Center. You were burdoned...there were some things going on. Some changes. And some of it had to do with me."

"I remember..." she nodded blankly.

He took a deep breath, and turned to face her, once again meeting her with his careful eyes. He stepped close to her, and folded his arms on his coat, and shook his head.

"I wasn't on your side. I'm sorry...I've always regretted it."

Quistis could not contain it, in fact, never thought to - a dry gasp left her lips. Her hands weakened their grasp on the wall, and slipped lightly down before her. Within her perfectly shined, long-legged boots, her knees weakened. Under her neat crimson vest, her heart fluttered with reckless abandon.

What... did he say?

Squall cleared his throat, and wiped his scarred forehead. He offered a smile that showed more like a painful wince. "It's...hard to say everything I need to. I've thought it over... I have been, for a long time now...and I still don't know where to begin...but I'm sorry."

She held herself in bewildered silence. She struggled to remain standing, to keep her mundane, emotionless composure. But everything within her screamed. Her mind spun in painful, pressured circles; her aching heart pounded through the horrid red vest.

Squall watched her for a moment, but frowned sheepishly at her silence. He shut his eyes and nodded, and left her side for the door. His head was low, dejected; he buried it down in the white mane of his jacket collar.

Quistis noticed a light hue upon his shining black sleeve. It was present at the shoulder - a Garden embossment printed into the leather. The golden head of a lion, with teeth bared imposingly. And around it, in a circle, was a bold inscription. Quistis could not make it out behind welling tears. But she had seen the phrase many a time before.

Pride in Power - Garden - High Instructor.

A terrible pain reared itself within her. She cried out, and fell upon her knees. But before she could sink any further, she felt Squall by her side.

~