This movement is dedicated to Densetsu No Yume who has been an endless source of revelation and enlightenment. Thank you so much for your overwhelming support. It's taken to the heart by this little girl. Oh, and to a wayward tourist, who will now and forever be my inspiration for Irvine.

Tempodi Minuetto

Whoosh!

Selphie glanced over at the sound of the door gliding open. Dimples flashed in her cheeks as she greeted her newly acquainted comrade. Bubbling with excitement she gestured toward the window.

"Isn't train travel terrific?" She turned her face back to the glass, tightening her fingers on the sill. "I never got much of a chance in Trabia." The world passed by her amazed visage in a pageant of mountains, lakes and trees. All vibrant and strong. The natural world reassured her, reaffirmed her purpose. "You can see so much in so little time. Kinda like what I imagine flying is like." She looked back again to grin.

Moving out of the doorway, Quistis allowed the electronic mechanism to do its work and it closed swiftly at her back. She joined Selphie at the window in the narrow hall. Two faces reflected back at her. One round, wide-eyed, and sparkling. The other oval, fair, and composed. When she looked beyond the glass to the spread of nature, the realm that lay untouched by borders and material concern, she felt a bit of that composure slip.

To Quistis, the train had been a necessary facet of life. They got her where she needed to go in relatively short time. The ride itself was generally smooth and uneventful. Her mind was on the mission ahead, not on the clank of the wheels or the power of the engines. The trip's duration was put to better use preparing or resting than sightseeing. But now that she had taken the moment to just gaze, she decided to take another. And another. All thoughts of re-briefing Selphie on the Deling Operation were filed away to a back compartment in her mind.

"It's absolutely lovely," Quistis said with a hint of surprise.

Trains had the advantage of journeying to places not traversable by car. In between canyons and around crystalline lochs. An old advertisement flitted through her head. "Join Balamb Garden's Elite Force," it had read above an enticing photo of a Southern beach on the island. "See the world." As she looked out upon the dusky forests of Galbadia, she finally realized to what the poster had been referring. Her home in Balamb might be known for its breathtaking sunrises across the waves, but Galbadia would be forever famous for its setting sun. Brilliant brush strokes of orange and red illuminated the mountains in the distance. It was as surreal as a painting.

"Yeah," Still grinning, Selphie cocked her head. "Grinding cranks, pounding tracks, and shrieking gizmos. Killer. Maybe some time I'll get to learn how to drive one of these babies!"

For the first time since departing from Balamb, Quistis let out a short laugh. She regarded the younger girl with admiration. Nothing seemed to get her down. "I'm sure. A skill like that could come in handy."

With a positive nod, Selphie shifted in her stance so that she was facing the other female completely. One hand on the wall for balance, she used her other to grasp an ankle in a move designed to stretch tightened thigh muscles.

"Quistis?"

"Yes?" Ripping her eyes from the waning sun beams she met the smaller female's gaze.

"Do you like being a SeeD?"

"Of course." The answer came out before Quistis even fully registered the question. She watched as Selphie switched legs. "I've never wanted anything else."

"I was just wondering." Giving another nod, Selphie dropped her foot to the floor and shrugged. "'Cause it just seems so different. Y'know, from the way they kept telling me. Everyone kept talking 'bout the glory and the glamour, made it seem all easy peasy once the exam's over. But, I don't know. What we do is real."

A little startled by the earnestness in her stare, Quistis raised her brows. Though she had yet to get to know the new graduate, in the short time they'd been travelling companions she had never heard her discuss anything with such gravity. She'd assessed the girl as high-strung but innocent, essentially obedient and with better than average magic skills. Apparently, she'd missed a layer or two somewhere along the line.

The intensity of Selphie's expression caused her to think about the questions she had proposed with greater insight. When most people - as in civilians - referred to Garden, they did it with either a depth of marvel, for the heroes of the living world, or with disgust, for the soldiers that killed for the highest bidder. To the latter they were nothing more than classy hit men. But no one joined Garden with that image in mind. They joined to make a difference, to support those who could not fight for themselves. To save the world.

And then there was vain glory.

"It's nothing like the books," continued Selphie. "There's no glamour in uncoupling train cars or washing Caterchipillar spit out of my hair. It's work. And most of the time it's gross."

Quistis smothered a snort. "Don't forget Geezard breath."

"How could I?" Wrinkling her tiny nose, Selphie grinned. The sparkle reappeared in her eyes. "Na-a-sty."

"Totally," agreed Quistis before she turned back to look out the window. The sun nestled amidst two peaks in the distance, waiting for the right moment to vanish completely. Then the bustling train took a sharp turn and the mountains moved behind them.

"So why do you do it?"

She watched the light drift from the lawn and the hills fade to plain before answering. "Truthfully?"

"Please."

"I like the uniforms." Now it was Quistis who grinned. Eyes dancing impishly she tilted her head. "I'm serious," she asserted when Selphie giggled. "Black is a very sophisticated colour. And the hemline is classic. Never goes out of season."

"I've always liked the fitted jacket," confessed Selphie. "When I was a cadet in Trabia and all the other girls had developed earlier, the jacket was very kind to me."

"See? And when I go to a banquet I never have to worry about what to wear or if someone else will show with the same dress."

"Guess I never thought of it that way." Giggling, she shook her head. "But don't you find it a bit repressive?"

"Sure and it's reserved. But there's no restrictions to what I wear underneath."

A smirk and then the two girls shared a wild laugh. All bets were off, all masks were down. It did not matter that within the next fifteen minutes they would be commencing on the biggest mission of both their lifetimes. They were young, they were healthy, and they were free.

Calming down, Quistis took a deep breath. "Why do you do it?"

Selphie bit at her lip as she formed her answer. In truth, she was not quite sure. It seemed the best option at the time. She could have remained in the snowy hills of the north instead of arranging the transfer. Could have taken the exam to become a teacher instead of taking the risk of leaving everyone and everything she had ever known. But it was not in her to remain in one place, following the expected line. SeeD was a challenge, a dangerous one. More often than not it was mundane, as she was beginning to discover, yet even in those moments there was a camaraderie. A bond had already formed between her and her squad mates. Of the variety she knew would never break. It was different than anything she had ever known. Excitement lay ahead of them. She could feel its pull dragging her forward like a lodestone. There was something big opposing them all in Deling. Selphie was counting on being around for every second of it.

"Adrenaline." Indigo had replaced gold in the heavens. Her reflection glowed brighter than ever as the train rattled over the rocky terrain. "I'm addicted to the rush."

A keen shimmer of awareness glistened over Quistis' pale features when her eyes met Selphie's in the window. She was well familiar with the draw of battle and the quickening of blood to which it led.

Battle was what made a SeeD. The pain, the blood, the sweat. The sizzle and flame of magic. The rough feel of a weapon in bare hands. The knowledge of what it was to be truly alive. Of what it was to kill. The euphoria of victory. There was not one member of the elite ranks who preferred a boardroom to the front lines of war.

And if they did, there was always teaching.

In that moment, under the garish cabin lights, to the steady rhythm of the wheels against the iron tracks, Quistis had an epiphany.

"Couldn't have put it better myself," she murmured.

The two stood in companionable silence the rest of the way to Galbadia's capital. Where a sorceress hid among the shadows.

On the other side of the doorway, four other teenagers reposed in silence. Each caught up in his or her own wool-gatherings.

Uncomfortable with the apparent verdict the others had come to on his position, Irvine was the first to break the tranquillity. Nudging the one he had come to know as Zell, he attempted to readjust his character in the other male's estimation.

Zell snapped to attention. He had been dozing for the last couple of miles. The gentle movement of the train, paired with the physical exhaustion of the past two days was enough to lull him into peaceful security. Irvine's elbow rid him of that illusion.

"Ow!" Zell jerked his chin up and snapped his neck in the other man's direction. Glared. "The hell do you want?"

"Ssh." Shooting a glance at the only female in the car, Irvine put a finger to his lips. "You'll wake the princess."

Grumbling, Zell struggled into a better position, his back against the wall and his legs bent in front of him on the floor. His rear had begun to ache with lack of exercise. "Big deal."

"If there's one thing I've learned," Irvine rolled his shoulders and slid his hat lower on his forhead. "A lady hates to be woken up." He stretched his lanky frame and crossed one ankle over the other on top of the well-used floor boards. From his spot next to Zell against the side of the train he had a view of the entire cabin, from the girl curled up on the floor, to the stoic man stood rigidly by the exit, to the sliding door the brilliant pixie of a girl had disappeared through almost an hour ago. Wistfully, he modified that line of thinking. His eyes moved from the door and over the napping female with fondness. "Especially this particular filly."

"You know her?" Suspicious of the unknown Galbadian, Zell narrowed his eyes. "How well?"

Irvine was too smooth for his liking. Too composed and self-assured. He almost reminded him of someone else from his not-so-distant his past. Would have if it weren't for the cowboy drawl and long ponytail. But it was enough to bug him. He had no reason to trust the stranger of the easy manner and flippant remarks. The guy had called them all rubes.

"Well enough." A cheeky grin curved Irvine's wide mouth. "I don't reckon there's a fella in the country who don't. Or at least, hasn't wanted to." He winked in an effort to bring Zell into the male suggestion that hung ripe in the air. The age-old jest - "if ya know what I mean" - glimmered from his eyes if not from his lips.

However, Zell immediately took offence. Not that he knew the girl very well himself. She was pretty, very much so. And nice. Had stood up for him a couple times after the chaos of the Timber episode. But he had seen the way Squall had looked at her. The way she had looked at him. That was enough. No one insinuated anything, even teasingly, about Squall's girl.

"Back off, Kinneas," he snarled between clenched teeth. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Surprised by the reaction he received, Irvine lifted his hands, palms up, to the ceiling. "Sorry, buddy. Just makin' an observation. I ain't a poacher. Didn't know I was encroachin' on chartered land."

"Yeah, well, watch it." Not wanting to be appeased but vulnerable to the other man's charm, Zell settled back down. "She's worth two of you."

"Don't I know it. That there gal's got the ability to wear a man sore out." Irvine patted his shoulder jovially and bestowed him with another knowing wink. "You're a lucky man. And a brave one."

A deep flush the colour of vermilion snuck up Zell's neck from the collar of his jacket. The obvious misunderstanding embarrassed him greatly. Irvine actually thought that he and Rinoa…The blush climbed higher.

"No! No! You've got it all wrong!" To cover, he shook his head vehemently and waved his hands. "I-I'm not…I mean, she doesn't…Argh." He voice was an agitated whisper. His next glance was darted at Squall whose back was toward him at the window, obviously ignoring their heated conversation. "I would never…She's with Squall," he finished lamely.

Tipping his head back, Irvine enjoyed a couple low chuckles, rising deep within his chest. "Gotcha. Rin belongs to Type A over there, who would gladly slice my gullet if I set a dirty finger on her virginal skin. After which he would hand me over to you, his ever ready side kick, to beat whatever feeling I had left outta my body." Pushing back his hat, Irvine looked Zell in the eye. "Is that 'bout right?"

Zell's jaw opened and closed. There was no response for a remark like that. Insulting and crude as it was, he had to admit, it was pretty much along the lines of his thinking. His fists clenched but he wasn't exactly sure what to do with them. The guy had been making fun of him, he knew, which pissed him off. But he had done it in such a harmless manner. He couldn't rightly thump a guy for speaking more or less the truth. Seeing that he had him, Irvine eased his features back into a smile.

"Listen, Zell. I can call you Zell, right? I'm thinkin' we somehow got ourselves off to a poor start. Now I'm willing to begin again if you are. I'd hate to cause problems in the team just 'cuz we couldn't get along. Seein' as we're both important to this mission's success, I figure it'd be a better situation all round."

"Maybe." With lowered brows, Zell thought over his suggestion. His face was a mask of doubt. It all came down to trust and credibility. Irvine just had not proven himself yet.

A muffled noise rose up from the opposite corner. Three sets of male eyes immediately shot toward the sleepy female. Rubbing her eyes, Rinoa sat up, legs awkwardly tangled in front of her petite frame. When she felt their gazes upon her she lowered her arms and smiled.

"Are we there yet?"

"Not yet, darlin'." Using his arms to support him, Irvine sung himself up to a standing position. "But I can see the lights through the window. Almost home." The look he gave her was full of nothing but tenderness.

"Yuck." Rinoa made a face. Wide eyes turned to address the male who had remained taciturn throughout the short journey. "Squall."

"Yeah?" Jerking his eyes away, Squall returned to staring blankly out the glass. He ran a hand through his uncombed hair in an instinctive move.

"No matter what, do you promise to keep me with you?" Held hope, and more than a little apprehension.

Zell frowned and looked to his leader who seemed unaffected by her display. "Of course we do!"

She shot him a tiny smile of gratitude but kept the majority of her gaze on the solemn youth. "Squall?"

"Whatever." It came out as a sigh. "Look, Rinoa. This is a SeeD mission, not a game. We don't have time for your questions. You can stay as long as you don't get in the way."

"I won't. I promise!" Scrambling to her feet, she straightened her posture and flung her shoulders back. Lifted her hand in a wobbly attempt at the traditional salute.

Sensing Irvine's stare, Zell swivelled his neck. The other man's brows were raised and he rolled his eyes toward Squall in a questioning manner. Zell shrugged one shoulder and shoved his hands into his pockets. He had no idea why Squall acted the way he did sometimes. Especially around Rinoa. It was not for him to judge. He owed him.

"Well, now. We're not about to leave a gorgeous female like you in the alleys of Deling, now are we Squall?" Slanting his hat forward, Irvine made a wide gesture. "Don't you worry your head 'bout such things." He stepped closer to the girl and caught her chin in one hand. "We're all watchin' out for you."

It was that moment Quistis and Selphie decided to return. Quistis moved into the room, took one look at Irvine and Rinoa, and rolled her eyes. Men. They were all the same. Nothing but a bubbling puddle of hormones.

Selphie burst from the hall in triumph. "We're just about at the station! Whoo-hoo! I'm ready to kick some presidential butt!"

Just as she finished, the train let out its tell-tale whistle. Squall visibly relaxed and he finally turned around to face his fellow warriors. For the first time most of them could recall, his lips curved.

"So am I."