Chapter10 – Secret Area

As Cid and the girl entered the elevator, Squall entered the hall and walked along towards the elevator, lost in himself once again, wondering what all this was all about with Quistis and why he was the "fortunate" one she had chosen. He lamented to himself how he just wanted to go to bed and doubted her request had anything to do with Balamb. Squall decided to go along with it…he owed her for saving his life earlier that day and other than today, she's usually pretty cool.

As he reached the elevator, he remembered the times she stood up to Seifer on his behalf, how she was always willing to be there for guidance. As much as he hated to admit it, in the past he had relied on her a lot, whether he asked or not.

This is why he hated relying on people. It always trapped you into owing them. Next you're agreeing to stuff like going to the training zone, where super dangerous monsters and prehistoric beasts walk freely when you can barely keep your eyes open.

He reached his dorm and changed, then quickly downed a WAKE energy drink in hopes to combat his exhaustion. He left for the training center and found Quistis waiting for him, dressed in something more suitable for combat this time in a sensible t-shirt and cargo pants.

"Oh, good!" she smiled. "You made it."

Squall tried to be polite and flashed a smile at her. He knew it must've came across as forced as hers melted away.

Let's get this done and over with…

They started walking inside the hallway to the training center in total silence. It evidently made Quistis uncomfortable because she wouldn't stop with the small talk.

Squall hated small talk, even on the best of days. He absolutely loathed it when he was dead tired.

It was all pointless and tedious.

"Have you fought the T-Rex in here yet?"

Squall simply looked at her with a dead expression.

"Xu and I found a super easy way to knock it out." She continued as they walked in, completely oblivious that Squall wasn't really feeling the conversation. "All you do is junction sleep magic onto your weapon and it's night night time. You can draw on it for days and get some REALLY good magic."

"I'll keep that in mind," Squall said completely emotionless.

Quistis kept blathering on about monsters she's fought in and outside the garden as they walked. Her constant talking was really starting to ride the last nerve Squall had today. He decided to share a tip of his own and abruptly spoke over her.

"Here's another fun tip," Squall started sarcastically, "The more you engage in useless conversation, the less aware you are of your surroundings, giving any predators out there an advantage."

Quistis was visibly taken aback again.

Squall looked at her and felt a twinge of guilt. He just wanted to be left alone. He didn't like being nasty to people…but damn, she was pushing him.

"I'm really tired." He said. "Just don't want us getting ourselves killed."

"Its fine…" she said.

They walked in silence the remainder of the way.

"Here we are." Quistis said.

They both walked into a corridor that lead them to a small enclosure outside the Garden. They were not the only ones there. Squall counted about 3 couples and a group of giggly girls looking through a tablet, all wearing their evening wear from the party.

Quistis went to the edge of the fence and stared off at the glow of the Garden in the distance.

"I haven't been here in awhile." Quistis reflected.

Squall followed her.

"What time is it?" She asked.

Squall checked his chrono.

"Its past midnight." He replied.

"I guess this is it…"

Squall studied her.

"As of midnight, I, Quistis Trepe, am no longer an instructor."

Squall sat in a moment of silence. "Oh…really?" Squall inquired.

"Yep. I've returned to being a SeeD. Who knows, we might get to work together sometime.."

"Ok.." Squall said indifferently.

Quistis turned to him. He turned away.

"Is that all you're going to say?" she asked, slightly irritated.

What else can be said? He wasn't in any position to object.

What more did she want?

"Quistis…"He began as he looked her way again, "If that's their decision, what choice do you have but to honor it?"

"They called me a failure, Squall." She lamented. "They said I lacked leadership qualities.. I don't make sound decisions…"

Well, if today was any indicator, Squall thought.

Quistis continued. "I became SeeD at 15. I moved up the ranks, worked my ass off and got my instructor license at 17! I was the youngest to do that."

She sighed.

"I was only an instructor for a year…I tried my best.."

So I'm missing out on sleep to hear you complain about being demoted, Squall thought angrily.

Sometimes ones best isn't enough.

And sometimes life just isn't fair…

Squall began to stare off into space. Quistis looked over at him.

"Squall, are you even listening?!" Quistis demanded.

Sigh..

This is getting to be ridiculous…

"Are you done crying yet?!" Squall demanded.

"What?" Quistis whispered. Tears began to form in her eyes.

Gosh, I hate this, Squall thought, but damn, grow up!

I really don't have the time or patience for this..

"Quistis, I honestly don't understand what you want me to say or do here…."

She interrupted.

"You don't have to say or do anything. I just want you to listen.."

Squall had reached his breaking point. She took zero consideration over the fact he was beyond tired and was pushing being awake for 24 hours..yet he was supposed to be her morale support therapist right now because she didn't like the Garden's decision?

"You want someone to listen? Then go talk to a WALL!" Squall turned to leave.

"I got enough going on…I don't need nor want someone else's drama."

With that, Squall left.

Quistis could no longer hold back the tears.

"Maybe it's all true.." she said to no one.

She watched as Squall and Quistis met in the lobby in front of what they called the training area. She quickly followed as they went inside, however, by the time she reached the entrance, she couldn't find either of them in the dense foliage. The girl with brown hair was not going to give up that easy. Squall needed to remember. So did Quisty. Touching both their minds felt so alien anymore. What Cid allowed to happen here was unacceptable.

The further she went in, the more lost she became. Had she just past this tree before? The rocks looked all the same.

There was a loud buzzing over head as a massive insect started to try and dive bomb her.

She cowered as it made another pass.

"HELP!" She screamed.

"AHHHHHHH!" she screamed as twisted her ankle and went falling to the ground.

The girl admitted she should have thought this through better.

Too late now….

She could hear a woman in the distance say "She's over here. Quickly, Squall!"

Just then two people appeared.

She looked up.

"Squall! Quisty! Please help!"

Squall called out to her.

"Get DOWN!"

The girl did as he threw a fire spell at the massive flying creature.

The thing then flew at Squall. He ran at it with his gunblade, leaping into the air and doing a downward thrust, knocking it out of the air.

The girl scrambled towards Quistis as Squall raised up his gunblade and skewered the overgrown insect. The loud buzzing of its wings were finally silent.

"Step back from her!" A male voice shouted at Quistis.

Both Squall and Quistis turned to look as two identically dressed men in white jumpsuits joined them. They both wore sashes across their chests.

"We heard cries and were only trying to help." Quistis defended.

Squall put down his gunblade.

"We mean no harm." Squall said cautiously raising his hands.

The one who barked at Quistis turned to the girl.

"Is this true?"

She nodded. "Yes! That creature attacked me and I cried for help. Squall and Quistis came to help."

Quistis looked at the girl.

"Excuse me, but how do you know our names?"

"That's unimportant." The strange man in white interjected and raised his hand towards Quistis. He approached the girl and gently took her hand.

"Come back with us. It's much too dangerous here." He said.

They began to leave. The other young man turned towards Squall and Quistis and saluted them with the one hand raised Garden salute. Confused, they returned it.

"Thank you both for your assistance. "

"Sure…" Squall answered.

Quistis turned to Squall with a look of utter confusion on her face.

"Squall, who the hell was that? Who are those men with her?! She knew our names…she called me Quisty. No one that I remember called me that but my Grandmother." Quistis frantically asked.

"That's the girl I was asking about from the infirmary. She said "Squall, so we meet again. "and yet I have no memory of ever meeting her."

Quistis stood frozen, still trying to make sense of it.

"Its really late, Quistis." He said. "Maybe we can ask the Headmaster tomorrow?"

She nodded.

They left the training center in silence. So much on both their minds and now this new mystery. Quistis broke the silence.

"Squall?" Quistis said.

"Yeah..."He answered back.

"Its not like everyone can get by on their own, you know." She said as she looked down. "Maybe you're stronger than me…"

"It's not about strength…its a choice." Squall answered sternly. "And its one that I have to stand behind every day." He answered.

She looked at him with a renewed sorrow in her eyes.

"Good night." He waved and turned to the dorms.