. . . . . . . .

"Uhhm, just a minute!" She quickly swiped the towel over her damp skin and threw on some shorts and a tank top. She wrapped her wet hair with the towel before grabbing a dark blue cardigan off the floor. She walked to the door, thought better of the towel on her head, threw it into the bathroom, and simply tied her hair up. She fluffed the cardigan up at the shoulders, in an effort to dry the remaining moisture from her arms, then proceeded to the door. Squall stood with an amused expression gracing his face. A small smirk crept up the corners of his mouth.

"Sorry to intrude…" Rinoa blushed under his gaze and shook her head as she swept a hand toward the room, inviting him in.

"No, not at all," she spoke and stepped aside. She felt her face flush as he walked passed her. His smell was intoxicating. Was it his cologne? She walked past him to her bed and sat, looking expectantly at him. He followed her lead and sat as well. Heat seemed to emanate from her and he took care to sit just far enough that her magnetism wouldn't pull him in, but not so far that he couldn't smell the light perfume of her damp locks. He swallowed before speaking.

"So I went to Cid's office," he began. He clasped his hands between his legs, angling himself toward the wall in an attempt at formality. Rinoa was oblivious to his efforts, and sat facing him, one leg tucked underneath her, eyes wide with attention.

"What did he want?" she questioned. Her heartbeat sped, and she wasn't quite sure if it was from anticipation of his answer, or the almost palpable static she felt in the space between their bodies.

"Laguna has called for a world conference regarding the war. Among the topics discussed will be you…" Rinoa's face crinkled in concern.

"Should I be worried? What are they going to say about me? I thought nobody knew?" She was feeling light-headed. She knew this would come up eventually, but God she didn't want it to. Her eyes turned to the floor as her mind raced.

"No, no. I mean, Cid doesn't seem very concerned and I don't think we should be either. Nobody except for us and a few people in Esthar know about you. I don't know if you've been watching the news lately, but the public is well aware of the succession of powers from Edea to another woman and, well, they're a little afraid… they want answers." Squall paused, wondering if he should do something comforting. Touch her shoulder? Hug her? What do people do in these situations?

He continued slowly, doing his best to gauge her reaction in order to act accordingly, or at least attempt to. "Cid has said you'll be allowed to stay at Garden. This is the safest place for you. You don't have to worry." He smiled hoping that news would uplift her. Her eyes remained fixed on the floor.

"So… at this meeting… everyone there's gonna find out it's me?" Squall was torn as he looked at Rinoa's ashen face and red-rimmed eyes. She looked kind of… awful. He decided to take a stab at compassion and slowly reached his hand out and placed it on top of hers.

"Don't worry, Rinoa. I'm going to protect you no matter what. Laguna's on our side and your father is a higher up in the Galbadian government. We have the three most powerful nations already 100% behind you. Plus, I'm going to the conference too, and if anyone says anything negative – swish, bam – I'll knock 'em good for you." Squall smiled and hoped his attempt at humor cheered up his broken angel. Rinoa smiled and linked her fingers through his. She looked up at him, her feeling of dread dissipating as a light euphoria consumed her. It was hard to believe that a few short months ago, this man in front of her didn't bother to mince his words when it came to the truth, regardless of how it made his companions feel. Now, here he sat, understanding her concern and doing his best to wipe it away. Their eyes locked and she felt her heart fluttering as they inched closer, electricity building as their bodies neared…

A knock on the door prevented the two teenagers from closing the short distance between their lips. Rinoa froze in place and opened her pained eyes. Squall's eyes were also open, looking downward. Was he as frustrated as she was right now? She sighed and rose, walking to the door. She hit the open button, revealing the former sorceress Edea.

"Oh, hi, Mrs. Kramer, how are you?" Rinoa smiled, embarrassed, greeting Edea formally. Edea laughed and waved a hand in dismissal.

"No need for formality, Rinoa. Call me Matron. That's what the others have been doing and that'll do for you, too. May I come in? I'd like to speak with you about something."

"Oh. Please," Rinoa gestured hesitantly inward. Edea moved past her and smiled at Squall.

"Hello, Matron," Squall said politely, waving awkwardly, to which Edea replied with a slight nod. He didn't know what she'd think about him being in Rinoa's room and was suddenly incredibly self-conscious. "Well, I should go, Rinoa," he said quietly as he began inching to the door. Rinoa nodded and clasped her left elbow with her right hand. She took a slow breath through her nose as he walked by and her body tingled as his hand brushed hers with a silent goodbye. The door slid shut and Rinoa turned to Edea as she sat in the empty desk chair, waiting for Rinoa to sit in front of her on the bed. Rinoa sat, thoughts of her encounter with Squall fading, and eager to hear what the wise woman had to say. She'd heard so much from the others about her, and seeing as how they had something very rare in common, she felt she could benefit greatly from her.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt, but I didn't get the chance to speak with you before. I remember when I first acquired my powers, I was confused and angry. I was very young and lucky that my mother was there to help me through such a rough time. And now I'm going to be here for you. Plus, having gone through the process myself, I can give you a little more insight than most other counselors." Edea smiled at Rinoa, who was pleasantly surprised at the offer. She was going through a hard time. She thought she'd be doing it all herself.

"Thank you, Mrs. Kr- Matron, that's actually perfect. I really appreciate it."

"Certainly. Now, firstly I must ask, how are you?" Rinoa raised her eyebrows and shook the surprise off her face again. She didn't think the questions would be so generic.

"Oh! Um. I'm fine." She let out a soft laugh. "A little tired, a little sore, but who isn't at this point?"

"You haven't been sleeping well?" Rinoa looked at her hands, clasped in her lap. She couldn't lie or bend the truth. It was written all over her weary face.

"Well, no, I guess I haven't." She didn't relish admitting her suffering. She wasn't looking for a pity-party.

"You've been having nightmares about your powers," Edea stated. Did she really lose her abilities? Because it sure seemed like she was a mind-reader at this moment. Rinoa looked up at Edea, unable to hide her pain. Tears welled up in her eyes and she tried to keep them in. She nodded, not wanting to speak, lest her voice crack.

"It's actually one of the most common symptoms a new sorceress displays. I had them too, when I was young. They went away relatively quickly for me, but my powers were not as formidable as yours are. The more power a sorceress has, the more subconscious warning she'll give herself."

"Warning?"

"Yes, that's what the nightmares are. As you know, every sorceress has a knight. Their relationship is crucial to the sorceress' mental well-being. The knight is the protector. Keeping her safe from harm both within the sorceress and without. Until I met Cid, my mother was the equivalent of my knight. She was my confidant, my best friend, and now that she's gone, Cid has taken that place. However, the knight-sorceress relationship is a slippery slope. If the two become so entrenched in each other that they forget the life outside of themselves, the sorceress no longer cares about anything or anyone else. Jealousy and greed spawn from this kind of relationship. You know of one sorceress to whom this happened." Edea paused and waited for the recognition in Rinoa's eyes. She nodded when she saw it.

"Adel and her knight, Caius, were madly in love. She was young when she acquired her powers, about the age you are now. She met Caius not long afterward. She loved him for his charm, his looks, and his talent. She was blind to the fact that he only loved her for her powers. She declared him her knight, and before long, they became so deeply interwoven in their give and take relationship, that they merged, spiritually and physically." Rinoa stared wide-eyed as Edea spoke. She never thought about the fact that Adel lacked a knight in the history books. She never would have imagined why.

"That is an example of a sorceress and knight relationship in which the sorceress rejected all humanity besides her knight. What do you think would happen if a sorceress lost her knight?" Rinoa shrugged and shook her head as she waited eagerly for Edea's answer.

"This happened to the sorceress you know as Ultimecia. In her past, and the world's future, Ultimecia met and fell in love with her future knight, Erro. Her name, before his death, was Nasrin. They met when they were teenagers and married on the cusp of adulthood. A few years later, Nasrin became a sorceress. With the help of her knight, she maintained her sanity, and lived quietly and peacefully on the continent of Centra. They lived alone for many years. One day, Erro was tragically killed. Nasrin was beside herself with grief. All she knew, all she ever loved was him and the thought of a life without him tore her apart. She lived for years on her own, slowly spiraling into madness. The lack of a knight left her vulnerable to her own mind. One day, she left her house she had shared with him, and set it on fire. The villagers came to help put it out, but she stopped them, brutally. She burned the entire village to the ground. She travelled across the continent, burning as she went. She became known as Ultimecia. All mercy denied, all life denied. Somewhere along her way, she found out about Odine's creation. The Junction Machine Ellone. She could send her mind into the past. She could see Erro again. That's how it started. She proceeded to Esthar, stole the machine, and created her castle where she stayed night after night, watching her Erro. Years went by. She eventually forgot why she viewed the past. All she knew was that she wanted it back. It became her mission to bring the past to herself… you know the rest." Edea paused. Rinoa stared at the wall in a reverie. She never knew any of this.

"So the dreams… they're to warn me to not become like them?"

"Exactly. A sorceress needs a knight. But she also needs to know how to be alone. Ultimecia did not. Adel never got the chance to know. That's why it is important to foster your relationships with care – your relationship with Squall, with your friends and family, and with yourself." Rinoa nodded. She was relieved to know that the nightmares would not be a permanent thing. They were horrifying.

"I've been having the nightmares pretty much since I woke up from the coma. When will they stop?"

"It all depends. On you, Squall, and everyone around you. With which relationship you start is up to you, but I recommend you start soon."

"I will. Thank you, Matron. I really appreciate you telling me this." Edea stood and Rinoa mirrored her.

"You're very welcome, my dear. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate."

. . . . . . . .

'This is it… it's over. Goodbye, Selphie. Goodbye, everyone. It's been fun.'

'I can't believe I let this happen. How could I let them talk me into all that? I really shouldn't drink so much.'

'Oh man, I've really done it this time. I don't think I'll get off with just scrubbing the west dorm bathrooms again… Man, this is horrible...'

'Deny deny deny deny deny deny deny...'

"Thank you for coming, everyone," Cid greeted the four fearful fools as they stood straight as sticks in front of him. "I do hope you were able to make it here without too rough a tumble with any of the grats that seem to have gotten loose," he continued with a light chuckle. "But I suppose a few measly plants are hardly a challenge for the great heroes of the Second Sorceress War." He paused, waiting for a reaction from the teenagers in front of him. They stood unmoving like statues, save the perspiration building on each of their faces. "Anyway, I suppose you know why I called you here..." he stopped again, looking closely at the nervous wrecks in front of him.

'Here we go...'

'I'm gonna kill Selphie.'

'I'm sorry mama!'

'Deny deny deny...'

"I wanted…"

'Take it like a man.'

'I hope this doesn't go on my permanent record.'

'He's gonna string us up!'

'Deny deny deny deny...'

"...To commend you."

'Eh?'

'Huh?'

'Wha?'

'Deny den- wait, what?'

Four pairs of eyes pried themselves from the metal wall behind Cid's desk and shifted to look at the headmaster himself. He smiled warmly at the young adults, hands behind his back, and cheeks glowing like a merry little Santa Claus. "It takes great strength to meet an enemy in battle, and even greater strength to forgive the enemy." The air in the room lightened as the students realized this had nothing to do with the training center. "Bringing Fujin and Raijin to me, and standing up for their chance at redemption was even more admirable than their own desires for redemption. Holding on to anger is easy," he explained, bringing a clenched fist in front of him for emphasis. "However, forgiveness..." he waved the same hand outward, palm open as if allowing a hidden dove to float out. "… is the harder and more virtuous path."

The quartet took a moment to allow their breaths back into their bodies. The truth was that forgiving them had come almost as second nature. Sure, they had been angry when they had to come up against the two in battle, in Balamb Town and in the Lunatic Pandora, but in the end, it was easy to see that they did it for a reason. Fujin and Raijin… they were helping their friend. They would all do the same for each other. And after their shenanigans last night, the terrible two seemed more like friends than ever.

"Thank you, sir. It really seemed like the right thing to do," Quistis spoke up, eager to focus on the accolades the headmaster saw fit to bestow upon them. If he at all had suspicions of their involvement in the training center, she wanted to be sure to steer his mind toward the things they did right, rather than what they did wrong. The others nodded in agreement.

"Of course," Cid replied, hands back behind his back, and a glowing, warm smile overtaking his features. "Now, go about your business, you four. I've got matters of my own to take care of. Particularly this dreadful grat situation," he said as he walked behind his desk and sat down, reaching for piles of paper that he picked up and tapped against his desk. Four hearts skipped a simultaneous beat as they shared a sly glance.

"Yes, sir!" the four snapped a salute as they quickly turned to leave the office.

"Oh, boy," Cid sighed to their turned backs, voice low yet loud enough to reach their ears. "I hate to have to expel Reagan and Monty..." he spoke quietly, almost to himself, but not quite.

The four teenagers paused and slowly turned around.

"R-Reagan and Monty, sir?" Quistis asked.

"E-expel?" Zell added.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. Their weapons were found at the doors of the training center. This leads me to believe that they were the ones responsible for this whole Great Grat Fiasco or whatever the kids are calling it," he went on, his voice sad and woeful. "Such a shame, too. They really had so much potential," he went on, looking out the window as if looking at their lost careers. The four heroes exchanged guilty looks as Cid went on. "Yes, yes… Reagan was the top of his year, wasn't he. And he fought so well in the Battle of the Gardens. Hm. And Monty, oh, Monty had such a talent in magic. Blue magic, too, just like you, Quistis," he said nodding his head at the frozen ex-instructor. He turned back to the window of lost opportunity, looking out forlornly. Quistis' lips drew inward as she looked at Selphie, Irvine, then Zell. Zell began shaking with his repressed guilt. Irvine's hat had slipped over his eyes as he looked at the floor. Selphie's brows drew together into a steeple in the middle of her forehead.

Quistis couldn't do this. She couldn't allow two innocent students to take the fall for something she and her reckless comrades did. Whatever the consequences were, she wouldn't let her mistakes bring anyone else down.

Quistis took a breath and began raising her hand, only to be grabbed by Selphie, one hand gripping her wrist, and the other clutching her mouth. Quistis attempted to bring the other arm up, which was again tackled by Selphie. The two struggled against each other until a voice rang out.

"IT WAS UUUUUSSSSS!" Zell suddenly shouted, falling to his knees and eyes peering far out the window of lost dreams. Selphie and Quistis froze in their awkward position, Irvine standing behind them, arms outstretched in a delayed attempt to stop their scuffle.

Cid lowered his eyes to the group, shocked by the outburst. The four were once again frozen in fear. Cid stood from his chair, and they all stood at attention, once again preparing their minds for any and every punishment possible. Cid walked around his desk and stood in front of them. His face was blank except for the discerning spark in his eye. He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels a bit, allowing the silence to wash over them and the guilt to sink in.

"I know," he said.

Four mouths dropped as they looked at the headmaster.

"You… kn-know?" Zell asked, a strange sense of betrayal taking root.

"Yes. I know," Cid repeated and suddenly began laughing. "I knew all along," he continued, reveling in his deception.

The friends looked at each other as confused humiliation made its way through their bodies. Irvine's mouth fell open as he looked at his comrades. Quistis brought a hand to her head as the headmaster's laughter seemed to surround her like dancing tweetie birds. Zell's face crinkled inward as tears threatened to spill from the utter rollercoaster of emotions. Selphie shook her head and searched her mind to figure out how he could have known.

"The ta- hahaha," the headmaster had now devolved into hysterics. "The-the taaaappes- hahahahaha!"

A panic took over the group as they made out the words the headmaster was saying.

"What tapes? What tapes?!" Selphie shouted, claw-like hands spread out in question.

"Th- the security tapesssshahahaha!"

"Aww shi-"

"Oh my God!"

"Ahhhh-"

"NOOOOO!"

"Aaahhahahahahaha!"

The four had collapsed to the floor in defeat as Cid finally managed to reel in his hysteria. He wiped his teary eyes under his glasses as he leaned back against his desk, looking at his despondent heroes. "Oh.. oh, come now. There's no need to be so upset. Don't worry. I'm not going to expel you. Or Reagan or Monty or anyone. For Hyne's sake, I just allowed two ex-Galbadian warlords back into my Garden. I think I can allow you all to stay, despite your questionable antics last night. After all, you did save the world, you know." Slowly the group got to their feet, not quite standing at attention, still dazed by the revelation that their epic secret only managed to stay secret for 12 hours.

"Anyway," Cid began again, standing from his desk, causing the four to stand at attention and focus on the next words he would say. "Of course, this event can't go unpunished. Repairing that training center is going to take a lot of work. Not to mention taking care of all the grats that are running around Garden. So, as punishment, I think it's only fair that you clean up your own mess and kill all the grats that have gotten out." The four nodded, accepting their punishment without complaint. "It won't be easy either. In large spaces, those little buggers are fast. And they breed quickly too, so make sure to destroy any nests you may find," he continued. He walked behind his desk, all the while keeping his eyes on the students. When he sat down he finished his instruction. "You'll need to take care of this starting now and not finishing until it's done. I regret to tell you it'll take a few hours, but if you work quickly, I'm sure it'll be easy enough. Dismissed."

With that, the fearsome foursome turned and began to leave the office.

"Oh, and one more thing," the headmaster called out. They turned and braced themselves for another barrage of punishment. "I'll be requiring special services from all of you in the upcoming weeks. Be prepared for my orders. That is all." He finally looked down from them at his papers, allowing the woeful teenagers to leave.

. . . . . . . .

Author's note: I like to imagine the four of them running around to the tune of yakety saks as they chase grats all over Garden, and I encourage you to do the same.

Also, if you like, please review!