Ughh.What can I do to actually space this out? The first time I uploaded this, everything was just crunched together, and no paragraphs showed. I hope this is better. A/N~I've had this for some time, and finally decided to upload it. Don't expect another part up in at least two weeks, though, since my school homework, plus all these college apps I gotta do, are so difficult-they just seem to suck up time, especially apps.

"SEIFER." The tall, handsome figure turns around, smiling at his posse. Fuujin salutes, and Raijin gives a respectful nod. "What is it?" he asks them.

"MATRON. EDEA."

"She came by while we were fishin' an' said that she wanted to see you, ya know? Said it was important business."

Seifer frowns, not knowing how to face up to someone he had betrayed. Sure, he had been the Sorceress' Knight, fighting alongside her, but he had served Ultimecia, not Matron. He had betrayed Matron's intentions by serving that witch. Ultimecia even went as far as brainwashing him after the first encounter at the Timber TV Station. Seifer's actions during that time had been like a nightmare, recurring again and again in his dreams even now. He was at that time infused with intense loyalty to Ultimecia, a loyalty that strangely disappeared when she died during that fight in the Time Compression. But in other aspects he was, and still is, the same old Seifer. Only Fuujin and Raijin had understood, so Seifer was spared at least from having to explain to them his infamous past which, even now he himself could neither describe nor defend. But now, all of a sudden, here comes Matron, walking towards him from 20 meters away, smiling, and he is still at a loss of words to even try to plead for forgiveness. Words aren't enough to compensate for his actions, he realizes. Shame and disappointment suddenly overwhelm him, reminding him that the only way to be sincere now is to drop his attitude. Drop that façade behind which he hid his pain, and hope that Matron will understand, as well. But how dare he hope for understanding when he himself could not even put into words what had happened? Still, all that happened seems so unreal to him. He could only faintly recall those taunts to Squall, and the corridors of Lunatic Pandora.

He turns his back to Edea and looks out over the horizon into the ocean, searching the blue color, the depths, as if expecting to find an answer, some way to reply Edea, at least. He hears her voice: "How have you been, Seifer?" No response. She is beside him now, gazing into the pellucid blue waters, and though she makes no sound as she paces leisurely on the seashore, in her elegant way, Seifer could tell she is close. He dare not look at her; it would be too painful. She speaks again, but more quietly now. "My, my, the Balamb seashore is practically breathtakingly beautiful. No wonder you chose to return here." Silence. "We miss you, you know."

Edea observes the strained look on his face, an expression Seifer rarely showed. Kindly, Edea reaches out to take his hand, and guides the unwilling figure down along the beach to some sand dunes. She attempts a smile, then notices pervading sadness on Seifer's face.

"You know, Matron," he grins wryly, "I don't know what to say. I want to express my regret, yet cannot find words strong enough to convey them. The only thing I could tell you right now is that I'm not worth your concern, or your attention, for that matter. Not you, not anyone from Garden or the orphanage. I thank you, though; deeply thank you."

Edea sighs, shakes her head, and laughs a little, very softly. "Well, I see that you need quite a bit of persuasion. Seifer, look at these dunes. All the time, wind and water, tides, creatures, and even we humans, threaten to level the dunes. Wind tries to disperse the sand, and water attempts to drown and wash down the buildup, but the dunes have resisted effectively against the very elements that have shaped their existence. Why? Hardship builds character and spirit, and the more weathering, the stronger you become. The sand piles do not give up their struggle to anything that tries to wear it down. Instead, they rise ever higher. So why should you surrender, capitulate, give in to the forces that want to wear you down, and prove yourself to be unworthy even to tread the sands on this beach? Your enemies only laugh when they see you despair, see your resolve vanished and your dreams forgotten. That is exactly what they would like to see. That you are nothing but a wretched, DEFEATED r a t!."

By this time Seifer's hands have clenched into fists, and he punches the sand pile directly in front of him. Edea stops talking. After a long while, when the air clears of the hazy clouds of fine sand, he finally speaks once again. "Matron. You of all people should know what I have been through. I'm not like what people believe me to be; you know that. I'm not a monster."

"Yes, Seifer, perhaps. But why can't you prove your worth to us? Otherwise, how can I be sure that you have not forgotten your dreams, your pride?"

"How?.Then HOW could I, SHOULD I, prove myself to the world?"

Edea gracefully turns, and points. "See that coming in from the sea? You should come home, back to Garden. Become a SeeD. The Headmaster and I cordially invite you back, Seifer."

Seifer, who had been heretofore crouched amongst the sand dunes, now looks with Edea over the horizon. He smiles, a genuine smile, and stands up, facing the rippling currents that bring forth his salvation. "And what about Fuujin and Raijin, Matron? May they come as well?"