Disclaimer: the great gods of Squaresoft own Final Fantasy. Not me.

~*Chapter 19*~

Seifer grunted, salt sweat running into his eyes, temporarily blinding him. His opponent seized the opportunity presented and a crack of whip on flesh resounded around the hilltop. He gasped as the whip bit through the soft flesh leaving a stinging wound, staggering as he tried to level the gunblade back into a fighting stance. His rival smirked and moved in for the kill. A flick of the wrist and the whip was entwined around his left ankle, a small tug and he was on his back with the antagonist offering her hand to help him up. He sighed and batted away the proffered hand, instead letting the gunblade take the brunt of his weight.

"Not quite as cocky as you once were Mr. Almasy."

He scowled at her through lowered brows. "Not quite as weak as you once were Instructor."

Quistis smiled at her pupil's jibe and walked over to face him. "I think you're ready for the Fire Cavern. How do you feel yourself?"

The arrogance returned and he sneered at her. "I can take on anything that damn GF can throw at me! You'll be able to stand back and enjoy the show."

She placed a finger on her chin thoughtfully, pursing her lips. An evil grin appeared replacing her quiet contemplation. "Well, if you feel Ifrit is below you, why don't we make this challenge a little more…suitable for someone of your skill."

He looked at her suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

She allowed a fleeting smile to pass her lips before regaining her composure, "Well, why don't we see how you fare against the King of Dragons himself? Would he be an opponent worthy of your time?"

The youth gulped but showed no outward signs of fear, "Bring it on." She nodded her head in satisfaction and contacted Garden to let them know of the change in plans.

~*~*~

Muscles rippled below the surface of the boys skin, a quiet strength radiating from his body. His master beckoned him forward and he let loose a warrior's cry, dashing with his gunblade raised to end the spar. The man laughed at the pitiful efforts of his pupil, a noise that sent shivers down the boy's spine. It was as if a thousand trapped voices were screaming for release. A wave of pure energy hit the boy, throwing him to the ground and winding him. The man never hesitated for a second as he brought his blade down between the boy's eyes, leaving in its wake a ragged, bloody wound.

He nodded, satisfied at the day's events. "It will scar. Perfect. All goes as planned. The boy squinted through the veil of blood, reeling from the pain.

"Why have you done this to me, my master?" He pleaded with the man only to receive a warning look.

"Do not question my motives. All is done for the greater purpose; you should know it gives me no pleasure to hurt my blood." He smirked inwardly at the lie.

Handing the boy a videotape he continued, "Study this man. This is who you will be. Study his movements, his technique. Know him inside out, the pretence must be wholly believable. The time draws dangerously close, my son. You must become this man in order to destroy the accursed SeeD."

"What is the name of the one I am to become?"

"Your name is to be…it is of no consequence at the moment. You will be told all at the appropriate time. That time is not yet upon us. Take these, clean yourself up and make yourself identical in every respect to the one I have told you of." He threw the boy some clothes and made to leave.

The boy called after the retreating figure, "Father? What is my name?"

The black figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light. Facing away from the boy, he smirked at the cruelty of his words. "You have no name. You are not deserving of one." He left the boy, broken, looking at the video in his hands.

He wiped away a tear and held the tape fiercely. "I will become the best. I will become deserving! I'll make him proud…"

~*~*~

"Get up Seifer! You can't just lie there, he's going to use Ultima!"

Seifer grimaced and looked across at Quistis. She was unscathed, not a hair out of place. She looked as if she was enjoying the thrill of the fight, the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"Frickin' moron." He muttered. He hauled himself to his feet and forced himself to use Scan.

He spoke under his breath, calculating the figures rapidly. "He's weakening, slowly but surely he's weakening. That gap in his defence…if I get in there with a quick hit, let Quistis…yeah. One more hit on that wound on his left flank and he'll be out for the count. Almasy, you're a fucking genius."

He was down to his last ounce of strength as he yelled to Quistis, "Instructor, heal me. Let me rush him first off, then you take the next move!"

She nodded her understanding and he felt a cool wind surround him as the Curaga took effect on his battle weary body. He slashed at Bahamut, squeezing the trigger to double the impact.

On cue, Quistis cut a wound through the Dragons flesh that would have felled a lesser antagonist. Seifer hollered triumphantly as his last move hit home and the King of Dragons lay at his feet. The dragon opened one eye lazily at the boastful youth. Quistis hung back, looking over the black mass to ensure the GF was not seriously injured. The GF winked at her and she giggled a little with nervous relief.

"YOU HAVE BECOME STRONGER, BOY, YET STILL NOT WORTHY OF MY POWER."

Seifer's nostrils flared in anger and he pointed the gunblade at the prone Guardian. "I defeated you in battle! It took three of them when they found you, I did it myself. You lent your power to them, why not me? I am obviously more deserving if I can defeat the King of Dragons with minimal assistance! Unlike some."

He shot an accusing glare at Quistis who was enjoying Bahamut's show; she simply shrugged at him and grinned.

"HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE SAYING, "WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILTY"? THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO USE THE POWER GRANTED TO THEM FOR THE GREATER GOOD. YOU ARE NOT YET THAT RESPONSIBLE; THEREFORE, YOU ARE NOT YET WORTHY. WHEN YOU PROVE YOUR WORTHINESS TO US, WE WILL AID YOU."

The dragon disappeared leaving a bewildered Seifer behind. He looked stunned for a moment before regaining the use of his faculties.

He looked up at the sky and screamed. "What a crock of shit!"

Quistis laughed at the outraged Seifer, which only fuelled his fire.

"Did you put him up to this? If you did, I swear to Hyne, I'll…" He rounded on her, she simply let the amusement dance in her eyes.

"You'll what? Exactly. Don't make empty threats little boy, there's no need. I didn't put Bahamut up to anything; the GF's are quite capable of making up their own minds. You hurt them; you killed one of their brethren. Did you really expect them just to forgive and forget? You have to prove yourself worthy again in their eyes."

He stopped his ranting and thought for a second. "I never realised."

"Well you wouldn't would you? You're always too damn busy trying to pick a fight, trying to blame your mistakes on others." She shot back at him.

He regained his cool demeanour and looked down his nose at her; "Did I pass?"

She rolled her eyes, "Yes. You can take the field test tomorrow. Last chance then, you nervous?"

He smirked, "What do I have to be nervous about my dear Instructor? I was trained by the best." He sauntered off, leaving a bemused Quistis to ponder his words. Sarcastic or no, she took the words as a compliment.

"Talk to Irvine, Seifer! I think you'll want to hear what he has to say!" She called after him, but to no avail. She set about clearing up the mess the battle had created when a voice popped into her mind.

"still stubborn i see? what can you do with a boy like that?"

She laughed softly at the not unwelcome intrusion; "You're a lot quieter in there anyway! You're right though Bahamut, he's just as stubborn as when he left us. Maybe even more so. It is…a good thing, I think. It's that alone which has stopped him from breaking, even after all he's been through."

"you do not despise him then?"

She shook her head sadly, "No. I feel sorry for him; none of it was his fault. He was brainwashed, caught up in circumstance's outwith his control and yet no one attempts to understand that. No one wants to forgive, they need a scapegoat and it's just unfortunate that Seifer fits the role so well. He was there, he did terrible things and he was the Sorceress' right hand man. They don't want to hear he didn't know what he was doing; they just want to blame him."

She could feel the GF's silent agreement, "You said he must prove himself worthy, what must he do?"

Bahamut laughed, a low, grumbling noise, "all will be revealed soon. do not worry yourself child, he will be redeemed." She felt the presence fade from her mind and she was left alone, puzzling over the words he had left in his wake.