Chapter 4 - A Change of career Seifer kicked a little stone while walking along the road. He missed his old days before he became a sorceress's knight. "Fujin...Raijin...the Disciplinary Committee...the cry-baby Zell...my fights with Squall..." - "What's troubling you, Seifer", Kasumi asked. - "What do you mean?" - "You're being so quiet. Are thinking?" - "Yeah, what's it to you." - "Well, why don't you tell me what was all that knight babble about? Is that your life story? Who is Ultimecia?" - "It's my problem. My problem alone. Besides it is really a long story." - "It doesn't matter. I like long stories, they're usually the most exciting", Kasumi replied. - "Do you really wanna know?" - "Yeah. I do." - "Will you leave me alone after that?" - "It depends." - "On what?" - "Well...you might need help solving your problem. And if it's dramatic enough I wanna jot it down." - "Hmph! Jot it down? I said it's a long one. You can't just jot it down. You'll screw it." - "I won't. It's a true writer's technique. You just jot down a bit and make up the rest." - "That's idiotic. Who the hell made that up?" - "The former journalist in Timber Maniacs. A guy called Laguna Loire." - "The president of Esthar?! You actually listen to him? He's an idiot." - "He's a cute idiot. I like it. You know he just published his life story recently." - "Hah, how do you tell the truth from false. Maybe he made it all up!" - "That's because he's a man of honesty!" - "And he told you that in his book, right?" - "Yeah, well..." - "I knew he was a fake!" - "He is not, I've met him in person!!!" - "Anyways, you wanna hear the story?" - "So I've won?" - "No, I'll win, because you won't hear the story." - "What? That's not fair!" - "Hehheh", Seifer snickered, although he was still serious about his dark past. - "You- you!" - "Don't worry you'll hear it after we camp here near this forest." - "Why not in the forest?" - "There are monsters in there. They'd keep interrupting me. Here in the open they might just ignore us." - "That's not so logical. I've heard animals are afraid of fire." - "They are. But these are monsters I'm talking about not animals. Don't mix them. They came with the Lunar Cry, so they are not the same. They have their weaknesses and strengths. For instance that Ruby Dragon we just met absorbed my Fire Cross. And..." - "Okay, I get the idea, Kasumi said." They camped to the place Seifer had suggested and he began his story. He told everything about him becoming Ultimecia's knight. That he had offered Rinoa to Adel. Then Squall his ultimate rival and enemy tried to desperately save her. He almost succeeded, but Seifer had been there to stop him and so Rinoa died still junctioned to Adel, thus leaving her powers to Adel. Squall went berserk and killed Adel with his Lionhart Limit Break. Adel, then transferred her powers on again to Ultimecia. So she succeeded in getting all the power she wanted, but Zell led an attack against her in the future, but without Squall it was impossible to defeat her. They also asked Seifer along them, but in fear of losing it again he refused. So all they could was to weaken her a bit. They succeeded in that, but now Ultimecia is slowly regaining it back. "The way she summoned me must mean that she is almost at her full power... should the sorceress die without her knight dead, she will be revived...but I don't see why she needs me again. She hasn't died and the way she called me seemed desperate...but I'm no t her knight anymore. She's gonna have a new one. And the fact that she needs her knight means that she is weak. Even at the peak of her power.", Seifer told Kasumi thinking to himself "So the ultimate power has something to do with love. Motherly or that other...Rinoa and you Squall...damn, this world is doomed." So he finished his story. Kasumi asked Seifer politely: "Have you ever thought of a career change?" Seifer looked at her, puzzled. "What kind of question was that...", he thought. "I don't get you.", came the answer. "I asked a simple question. Have you ever thought of a career change?", Kasumi said. "Hmph...no...never...", came the answer again. "Maybe you could...try a few?" Seifer turned away gazing at the starry sky and turned to Kasumi again "Like what? A bartender?", he said mockingly thinking "Like Van Burace that stuttering bartender in Dollet...what was that bar's name again?" Kasumi looked bright and it looked like she had been waiting for this kind of situation all her life. "No. How about a Dream Chaser? " Seifer's eyes widened. This conversation was going into a interesting direction. - "A what?" - "A Dream Chaser, ya know? No job, no address, no permanent place to live. You just chase your dreams throughout the world." - "Sounds like a life of a bum to me", Seifer said. - "They're not bums! Dream Chasers are free like birds, ready to conquest any hardship under the sky to find their dream." - "Well, they're quite obviously living in a dream. When did this idiotic trend come in fashion?" - "Umm, you may not like this, but it was...umm...a man called Laguna..." - "What?! That dimwitted president of Esthar?!? He seems to like to screw the people a lot." - "He's not lying!!! He began to chase his dreams too. He left his post as a president to some woman. She's the first female president in the world! Laguna's so stouthearted!" - "And what if you can't find your dreams. What if you die poor leaving nothing to your children. That's plain idiotic! If that Laguna really believes so, he shouldn't pull others in too." - "The Dream Chasers are well organized and if you can't find your dream when you're old the Dream Chasers' Society will give you enough money to live your life till the end." - "Oh, is that so? How 'bout those who try to screw them. 'Oh, man I'm gonna be a Dream Chaser' and the next day he gets some money to spend his whole life happily ever after." - "Wow...I never thought of that." - "That's it I'm gonna find that idiot Laguna and teach him a few things about life." - "But you can't go to the DCS unless you're a Dream Chaser. They won't let you in." - "Damn! Well, I guess I'll have to go chase my dreams...to kick Laguna's dimwitted ass." - "Wait I'm a Dream Chaser! I can get in! I have a pass. And I don't think they'd let you register with that kind of dream to chase." - "Register? Why all the formality? It's just plain stupid. People chase their dreams all the time!" - "But that's the only way they can fund you when you're old!" - "Oh yeah, right!" - "And besides they wanna know the dream you're after. It's all here in my DC-pass." - "So let me see what kind of dream you're after?" - "No, I'd rather not." - "C'mon I told you my life story", Seifer begged. Then quicker than the eye he took the pass. - "Oh my God! Here it comes", Kasumi mumbled. - "You are chasing...a blonde handsome guy with a short hair and a gunblade??? Whatta hell??? Is this a description of...me...?" Seifer blushed and looked confused. - "Yeah...well, and then I found you", Kasumi said with a silent voice. - "So was that the reason you were clinging into me when I tried to kill myself? Hmph! I can't believe this. Hahhahhahhaa!!!!!", Seifer laughed uncontrollably. Kasumi saw Seifer this happy the first time, but she couldn't laugh with him. No...deep inside she was hurt. The laughter that filled the air stopped quickly. Seifer noticed that Kasumi was going to cry at any minute. So he grabbed her and hugged her. His chest was amazingly comforting. Then Kasumi whispered..."Please don't laugh at my dreams...you shouldn't laugh at anyone's dreams...even if they were foolish...", she sniffed. Seifer looked at her "I wasn't laughing at your dreams...no...but the coincidence...this is...incredible... you know...and I'm flattered...am I actually handsome?", Seifer snickered. Kasumi looked up at him. She smiled and a part of Seifer's bitter heart melted. Then suddenly a strange voice filled the area. They were close to Timber and Seifer believed that was the voice of a Wendigo. The monster was all muscles and Seifer recalled that it didn't use magic at all. "Brute force, huh? Just my type.", Seifer leered. He didn't use any junctions as junctioning anything required a Guardian Force. A Guardian Force required some space of its own inside the owner's body. Usually they wiped away some of the memories. That's why Seifer didn't use them. He wanted to remember Rinoa and his rivalry with Squall, well, actually everything. His gunblade was lying on the other side of the camp. In the direction the Wendigo was standing. The Wendigo seemed furious so Seifer expected an attack. Seifer prepared his Fire Cross. The Wendigo rushed towards Seifer. He didn't have time to burst the fireball so he pushed Kasumi out of the way and took in Wendigo's furious ram. Seifer was stunned. "That power...I've never fought these...dammit!" It was late at night and he felt exhausted. The Wendigo howled. That gave Seifer some time to run to his gunblade. He lifted his Hyperion and rushed towards the Wendigo. The Wendigo did the same. Then he jumped over the beast and plunged his gunblade in its back. Blood stained his Hyperion and a monster's death stained his mind. Seifer fell on to the ground out of exhaustion. "Did that Wendigo get me...dammit...she'll be all left alone...I need to live at least until we get to Timber... then...I don't know...her voice...maybe...I'll protect her some...more..." Seifer blacked out. - "Cure!!!" - "Shi-!!!", Seifer jumped up. "You used magic...? Are you equipped with a GF? Why didn't you say so?" - "Well, I...I..." - "Don't bother explaining. Did you know that they cause loss of memory?" - "Yeah." - "Then why do you keep using them." - "Why did you get yourself drunk, it was dangerous to your body!" - "Hmph. Whatever. I don't wanna be hard on you, but since I'm dead tired and you have GFs you take the first turn." - "What are you talking about!?" - "Turns! There might be some more Wendigos around here!" - "But I..." - "Please, just a fifteen minutes", Seifer begged. Kasumi nodded and so Seifer took a fifteen-minute nap. Then he was woke up by Kasumi who in turn got her sleep. Seifer didn't bother waking her up so he stayed awake until sunrise. He was thinking about things that whole night. He figured that it was about an hour's trip to Timber. There he would rent for a room. He'd sleep out his fatigue. Then...he didn't know . Maybe he'd have to start a new life as a Dream Chaser. But what was the dream he'd chase. Maybe he'd have to get Ultimecia first or there wouldn't be a world to chase his dreams on. "Ultimecia...you've caused nothing, but pain...for me...your...knight...no...former...knight ...so...for Rinoa and Squall...I'll take you down...Ultimecia...you'll be taken down by your own...no former...knight...but...I think Twin Dream can't do it...for now I'll chase you Ultimecia...my nightmare...by the time I get to you I'll have devised a new Limit Break... " Somebody touched him on the shoulder. "Good morning, Seifer." Seifer turned to the familiar voice. "Yeah, good morning...Kasumi...", he replied. They wrapped up their camp and started their trip towards Timber. It did last about an hour just like Seifer had figured. On their way they met only Bite Bugs. Seifer took them down with only one of his slashes not bothering to use Limit Breaks. "This is strange...I thought Bite Bugs appeared only in Balamb...well, whatever...were almost in Timber." They went to look for an inn right away. After some thinking and looking they found it. Seifer, though had only 53 Gil in his pockets. The fee was 100 Gil. And Kasumi wasn't too rich either. She had only a few Gils in her pockets. "So, I guess were broke...", said Seifer. Seifer had quit the Garden long ago and since he never qualified as a SeeD he didn't have a permanent source of money. "Dammit!", Seifer shouted. Then he figured something out. "I'll be right back, Kasumi", Seifer said. He ran to a shop they had just passed. - "Hey, you do you want these steel pipes I found?" - "What? Steel pipes? Why would I want steel pipes", the thin shop owner asked, puzzled. - "This is a shop right? So why don't ya buy what I've got. They're steel pipes." - "Well, I don't have anything to do with those. Why don't you tell me what I can do with them and maybe I'll consider." - "Hmph. Well, for one you could remodel them into weapons and sell them with a better price, my goodness, you don't know anything about making money, do you." - "Well, yeah, erm, actually this is my first day", the shop owner said nervous, "and I haven't sold anything yet." - "Oh? Well, let me be the first customer. Give me one potion. It's 50 Gils, right?" - "O-Okay, the owner said and handed Seifer a potion." - "Now you'll buy something from me, okay?" - "Yeah, sure." - "You'll get these with 100 Gil each. So you'll give me 300 Gils." - "OK! Sure! Here...by the way my name is Tim. Thank you very much!" - "No, thank YOU! Tim...I'm Seifer Almasy and I guess you'll remember my name for a long time", said Seifer as he rushed away. "Heh, whatta jerk..." Seifer made his way back to the inn. Tim the shop owner looked at the Gil he had earned on his first day. A glorious 53 Gils. "What? Mr. Almasy gave me three Gils too much. Oh my goodness. I have to find him and return these.", Tim slapped his head. A night passed. Seifer was still sleeping like a baby. Kasumi watched him sleeping. "He looks so insecure while sleeping...his eyebrows bent down...he looks so sad..." Kasumi bent down to kiss Seifer, when suddenly he woke up scared. Seifer looked forward with his empty eyes. "Ultimecia was calling me...in my dreams...", Seifer said to worried Kasumi. "I can't believe it!", said Kasumi a bit afraid. "Me too!", said Seifer. "But I'm not gonna give up...not now that I have you", Seifer said stunned of what he just had just blabbered accidentally. Kasumi stayed silent and Seifer thought that she had missed the last words. He sighed in relief. Then Kasumi taunted "I heard what you said." and smiled, "That was sweet of you!" and hugged the puzzled Seifer. He wasn't used to this. It felt good, but odd since Seifer wasn't hugged by anyone, except Rinoa that summer long ago. Kasumi released her gentle hold and looked at Seifer, "I think you should shave". Seifer touched his rugged chin. "Yeah, perhaps. But how I'm gonna do it? I don't own a razor. You don't suppose I shave with my Hyperion" Kasumi looked at him, "Well, don't you?", making his terribly clumsy joke somehow funny. Seifer laughed. It was the second time Kasumi had seen Seifer laugh. His laugh was a warm kind of one. It was not cold at all, contrasting his past and the moments he fought with monsters. She started laughing too. Seifer rose up and took his clothes. He went to ask the innkeeper if they had any extra razors. He managed to lend a one and some shaving foam. "Wait here.", Seifer said as he opened the toilet's door. He slipped inside thinking, "I haven't shaved for almost a year...wonder if I can still do it..." Seifer started shaving as a strange, but a beautiful melody started playing, he recognized it soon after it. It was an oldie. An evergreen oldie. Older than Seifer himself. A song he recognized as 'Eyes on me'. He hummed along it. "What? It's done...? I didn't screw up a single time...whatta luck..." Seifer stepped out of the toilet. "So where did you get that song..." Kasumi looked him smiling "You look great! Umm, this? I don't...well, the innkeeper gave this to me after hearing me talking with you. It says here in the cover that the singer is Julia Heartilly?" Seifer smiled back, "Yeah, I know. Julia Heartilly with Eyes on me. She used to sing her songs in Deling City." Kasumi rolled her eyes, "He seems to know everything..." , she thought. Seifer studied her a moment and then saying, "I know this because she was the mother of Rinoa...Heartilly. And your voice is like Rinoa's. I think the innkeeper knew her.". Kasumi looked at him "Oh?", she said. "Hey, I think we've gotta keep goin'", Seifer suggested. We'll take a train from Timber to Balamb. Seifer put his long grayish jacket on. "Well, let's go!...Oh, crap! I forgot that it costs...too much! Well, anyway our time here is out. We have to leave." Seifer and Kasumi stepped out of the inn after politely saying goodbye to the innkeeper. They went to the edge of the town where the trains were. The price was a whopping 3000 Gils each. Chapter 5 - Confrontations Seifer walked around anxiously. "Hey, chill down, Seifer. It's not the end of the world, ya know.", Kasumi tried to calm him down. "Not the end of the world? Not the end of the world?! You don't have a clue, do you? It is the end of the world!!! I'll have to stop Ultimecia!!!" - "Seifer Almasy!!!!" A strange voice called. - "Huh", Seifer turned wondering... - "I have something you own", a thin boy said. - "You!?" - "Yesterday you gave me 3 Gils too much. I am here to return it to you", Tim said determined. - "What?! I can't believe you!" - "Here it is and because it was my mistake I'll pay it to you in double, no triple...well, whattaheck, I'll pay it to you thousand times." - "What?!? Are you out of your mind!!!" Seifer yelled furiously. - "Wait a minute, Seifer", Kasumi interrupted, "3 times 1000 is 3000, that's exactly what we need to get you in Balamb." - "I know. This sick kid's lost it", Seifer replied, "I can't accept the money and besides it isn't enough for us both." - "You forget that I'm a Dream Chaser I have the DC-pass that's how I got in Dollet in the first place", Kasumi whispered. - "So here's the money...I'm afraid I'm broke now so I'll have to start a new life as a Dream Chaser." - "That's it! To hell with the Dream Chasers! Tim I can't accept your money. Here's the truth: I cheated you! Any normal person would've seen it, but you didn't! You're an idiot and it looks like you can't manage by yourself. I'll take you with me or you'll be ripped off and exploited in every corner of the world. Keep your money!! Kasumi, take him with you to Balamb and wait for me there. I'll figure out a way. Tim, stay with her all the times", Seifer commanded. - "But- but", both Tim and Kasumi mumbled. - "No buts, go!!" So they went into the train Seifer watching from the outside. Kasumi looked at Seifer with sad eyes. "Her eyes...they don't want to let go...let go of the dream...they've searched...like me...I didn't...let go...being the sorceress's knight..." The train started moving. Seifer looked into her eyes. She did the same. They both felt the same. They felt something was missing, although they had known just for a while. Seifer felt totally empty again. He clutched his Hyperion tighter. - "LOVE?" - "Fujin? Is it really you", Seifer turned his head. - "Yeah, no Raijin with me, though, he's still in Balamb Garden." - "What? You're talking normally. And your outfit. Man, you've changed." - "I became a SeeD. And, well, the way I talked wasn't very practical when talking with children." - "What are you talking about." - "I'm a mother, Seifer..." - "A mother...? But you're just, how old?" - "It isn't very polite at asking women's age, Seifer, but since you were a friend I'll tell you...I'm 22 years old." - "22...huh? I always thought you were younger than me. So who's the lucky guy?" - "..." - "Hmm...don't tell me...it's Raijin...?" - "..." - "Hey, I've got a favor to ask. Could you borrow me 3000 Gils?" - "Yeah, sure", Fujin reached for her moneys and handed 3000 Gils to Seifer. - "Wow, money's flowin' now that you're a SeeD, huh? I remember the time you wouldn't have borrowed money even to your..." - "Why are you being so friendly and warm...?" - "What do you mean." - "You're talking a lot more than you used to", Fujin stated. - "Huh? Must be because of her..." - "The girl in the train?" - "You know, she sounds just like Rinoa." - "Rinoa. Squall's girlfriend?" - "No, she was my girlfriend. There was something much more with her and Squall. Then I killed her", Seifer put his head down. - "You don't need to tell if you don't want to. Besides you're train just arrived." - "Wha-? The train. Yeah, it seems so, Fujin...Thanks for everything. And sorry too...", Seifer said as he stepped into the train. "Me? Changed? Look at yourself then, Seifer...", Fujin thought in her mind. The train left and Seifer smiled to Fujin one last time. The wind blew through Fujin's silver hair revealing her eyepatch. She turned to walk away. "...You're not so full of yourself nowadays...", Fujin whispered to the wind. The train arrived to Balamb station. Seifer stepped out as soon as he could. "Whatta hell?! I told them to wait.", Seifer looked around swearing. He walked around for a while. Then he got bored and went asking around the town, if anyone had seen them. "Lessee an old man saw them leave towards Balamb Garden...that is if the Garden's still there...", Seifer concluded. He walked to the gate of Balamb noticing one of the Balamb SeeDs' vehicle parked there. A certain impulsive young man was visiting his mom for a while. "He hasn't changed at all...even with Squall dead, he hasn't changed...heh, for the old time's sake then.", Seifer hopped in the car looking for some paper and a pen. After a while he found them and fiddled the car with the pencil he found. Suddenly it started. Seifer wrote down a certain word only this certain young man would link to him. "Hehheh, me? Changed?", Seifer thought as he dropped the piece of paper and drove away. "Now I'll reach them wherever they went on this continent...", Seifer figured to himself. A young man with an energetic and impulsive nature came back to his car. "Dammit! Where's the car?", he yelled panicking. He saw a boy sitting near the Balamb gate. "Hey, dude, where's my car?", he asked. "Some guy took it. He left a note for ya", the boy answered. "Wha-! Stole my car. Why, I oughta...", the young man said as he lifted a piece of paper to read it. Only one word was written on that paper in capital letters: CRYBABY! "Hmph...Seifer...", Zell thought to himself. "Looks like I'll have to jog again...that jerk hasn't changed a bit. When I find him he's gonna have some!", Zell dropped the paper in a trash can and started jogging. Seifer had driven for awhile as he saw two figures. "It must be them...leaving without me...but I don't wanna fight with Kasumi..." Seifer drove closer. He could see the two figures clearly now. It wasn't them. "Just a couple of musicians", Seifer muttered to himself and drove past them. - "Hey, man! Wait for a second", the other seemed to be begging. - "Yeah, man! Wait up", the second one started too. "What now...", Seifer muttered stopping his...Zell's car. - "What do you two want", Seifer stepped out of the car a bit annoyed. - "Oh, man! We thought you were Zell! That looks like his car ya know." - "Yeah, man! Is that Zell's car. If it is yer in some trouble, man!" - "Hah, that crybaby." - "Huh? Ya know him, man?" - "Yeah, man? You his friend? Zell's the best, man!" - "Heh, you could say that I know him, yeah. We knew each other when we were young. But what are talking about him being the best." - "Well, ya see, man. We're the Tenacious T, ya know. I'm Tenacious Terry", the young man with a laid-back attitude said," and Zell's the best 'coz he feeds us ya know. We walk this road everyday back and forth hoping we'd find it again, ya know! When we tired he feeds us and listen to our stories an' songs, man." - "And I am the Tenacious Toby. Pleased to meet ya, man", the other one with the guitar introduced himself, "Ya know, someone ya knew in past may not be yer best friend in the future, man. Like us we the best friends with Octave, man. Unbreakable, ya know. Then we met it and, man. Nobody believed us , man. We saw it and sang the best song in the world, man. Octave believed us, but they jealous now, ya know man. We hate each other now, man." - "Wha-? You're totally weird, both of you. In any case since you walk this road everyday you must've seen a girl about 18 and a thin boy walking this road, haven't you?" - "A girl and a boy, man? You askin' me Tenacious Terry? I don't know, man." - "Yeah, man. Tenacious Terry and Toby just seen a Kasumi and a Tim here, ya know. No boys or girls here, man." - "Man, you're hopeless, but thanks! I meant exactly Kasumi and Tim." - "You mean them, why not say so, man." - "But you good man, man. You said 'man' jes' like us , ya know." - "STOP!!!(huff, puff)", a voice filled the air. - "Zell...", Seifer turned around before reaching the car. His look was amused. - "Yo, Seifer that wasn't nice of you!", Zell yelled, taking my car and all. "You haven't changed at all. How's the murderin' goin'?" - "Hmph, look who's really changed. You can have your car back I don't need it", Seifer said seriously turning to walk away - "So who's the chicken-wuss now, Seifer, come back to get some", Zell roared in anger. - "I don't have time, Zell, I have to reach my friends." - "Friends?! Since when did you have friends since Fujin and Raijin. Who the hell would wanna be friends with you? You murderer!!!" Seifer was already walking past the car ignoring Zell's words. Still deep down inside he couldn't deflect them. And so his pride rose its head again. - "Shut the f*** up, Zell! You know nothing about my past struggles. And if you want a fight so bad, come HERE and get some", Seifer yelled in rage too. - "I'm comin' you, SOB!", Zell raised his fists ready to battle. - "Hey, mans! Stop it yo! We know what happenin'. This is like we and Octave. You gonna hate each other, ya know", Tenacious Terry said interrupting. - "Yeah, mans! Chill out, ya know! We not gonna let it happen, ya know. Peace, man", Tenacious Toby continued grabbing Seifer arm, "Do this peacefully, man." - "We ain't no friends, Terry! Not now. And never were!", Zell said knowing what the music band was talking about. - "Still, man! Do it peacefully, ya know. Play some Triple Triad, man." - "Yeah, man! And that's what Octave said to us when we told them we saw the thing, ya know." - "I don't have an idea what the hell you two are talking about, but you seem to be smarter than you looked like", Seifer said, "...but I don't have time for this. I need to reach my friends." - "So you do have friends?" Zell asked stunned of the fact. - "Now that's better, man." - "Yeah, man. Keep goin', ya know." - "Hmph, yeah. What's it to you? I'm in a hurry", Seifer said still back turned to Zell. - "Then let me help..." - "Way to go, Zell-man. This is goin' well!" - "Yeah, man. Ya gonna give a ride to Seifer? Can we come too, man? Never know when ya gonna fight again, ya know. We tired walking, maybe it comes even if we go by a car, ya know." - "Yeah, whatever", Seifer muttered. - "You know what? You're beginning to sound like Squall", Zell said starting his car. The car started to roll its wheels towards Balamb Garden. Then the Tenacious T started to tell their big story of how they met it. - "It was totally weird, man! First me an' Tenacious Toby just walked along this road at evening, ya know." - "Yeah, man. Then we met it! It told us to play the best song in the world, man. It was creepy, ya know." - "But then we played, just what come into our mind, man." - "Yeah, man. Then we noticed it was the best song in the world." - "It was stunned. Then it asked: 'Be ye angels?'" - "Yeah, man. But we answered so coolly, ya know. 'Nay, we are, but men!'" - "An' we started hollerin', ya know." - "An' we played some more an' it vanished...disappeared...an' after it we tried to remember how to play the best song in the world, man." - "But we couldn't an' we told about it to everyone. No one believed except Octave our rival band, ya know." - "They started loathin' us, man." - "Now we can only sing our tribute to it. And try to meet it again, man." - "That's where Zell helps us, ya know. We can't just leave this road, ya know. Maybe it come back, man." - "So he bring some food to us everyday, ya know. We very grateful to Zell", Tenacious Terry said and noticed how Zell was feeling flattered. - "Yeah, man. So that's our story...Our only song now is the 'Tribute', ya know." - "Hey", Zell interrupted, although there was nothing left to interrupt, "Ain't those your friends?" - "Yeah", Seifer hopped out of the car, "Thanks..." "Or maybe you have changed...", Zell thought to himself, "That's the first thanks I've heard from you...in my life..." Seifer was walking towards Kasumi and Tim. They turned to see who was following them. "Seifer!!!", Kasumi shouted overflowing with joy. She ran towards Seifer hugging him. "Why did you leave without me?", Seifer started questioning. "Well, you see Tim wanted to become a SeeD and not a Dream Chaser and you said he can't manage by himself, so...", Kasumi explained. "A SeeD, huh? That's great! The Garden can take care of him and I can go take care of Ultimecia.", Seifer thought out loud. - "What did you say about Ultimecia?" Zell came interrupting. - "Who're you", Kasumi asked. - "Wha!?! You sound just like Rinoa!" Zell jumped backwards. - "He's Zell, Kasumi", Seifer introduced them. - "Yo, man. Don't leave us out", both members of Tenacious T said. - "Oh, hi Tenacious Terry and Toby", said Kasumi, "Have you found it yet?" - "No but they're lookin' hard", said Zell, "Kasumi, right?" - "Who's a what now?", Tim said confused. - "Oh, yeah.", Kasumi said, "That's Tim..." - "Hiya, Tim", Zell said offering his hand to shake. - "Oh, hello.", Tim said nervously shaking his hand with Zell. - "I thought you left, Zell", Seifer said. - "Hey, I wanted to see what kind of friends you have...since that...", Zell said his voice darkening as he neared the end of the sentence. - "Yeah, I can't ask for your forgiveness...but I do regret it.", Seifer turned his head down. Again he clutched his Hyperion's handle tighter and tighter. - "Yeah, I can't. And I'm still gonna punish you the hardest way.", Zell said as he couldn't control his anger. "What did you say about Ultimecia?" - "I'm gonna go against her. She is regaining her powers. I can sense it. Besides she tried to call me back possessing an Anacondaur.", Seifer explained. - "What? You can't! You said yourself that, she is regaining power. What if she'll possess you?! Sheesh! You're not able to defeat her alone. We couldn't do it! And there were 5 of us not including the SeeDs!!!", Zell roared. - "Who said I'm gonna do it alone!!!", Seifer countered. - "Then with whom? Your only friends are a girl and a retard!!!", Zell kept pressing. - "That's it, you son of a -!!!", Seifer exploded. He raised Hyperion preparing to slash Zell. - "C'mon, jerk!!!", Zell raised his fists ready to fight. - "Stop it, you idiots!!!", Kasumi screamed. - "Yeah, mans! Peace! It was going so well before, ya know. You were almost friends a few minutes ago.", Tenacious T suggested in chorus. - "Who's a what now???", Tim asked puzzled. They all turned to look at Tim in amazement. Tim wasn't even aware of what was going on. Seifer felt sorry for Kasumi and Tim, so he sheathed his Hyperion. "Let's go, Kasumi and Tim.", he suggested. "This sucks!!! Big time!", Zell said furiously hopping in his car leaving all of them behind and heading for the Garden. "Hey, Zell!!! Don't leave us here man!!!", the Tenacious Terry shouted. "It's no use, man. We gotta walk. Now let's go see if we find it.", Tenacious Toby stated. Since Seifer, Kasumi, Tim and the Tenacious T were all on foot, they decided to do it together. "Their way of talking is killing me...I wish...", Seifer thought to himself snickering. After 20 minutes they reached Balamb Garden's front gate. Seifer looked up at it. "This is it, Tim. This is where you'll be staying for few years. I'll come back someday to check on you, okay?" Tim looked confused. Seifer tried to study him from his facial expressions, but it was hard since he hadn't met many retards in his life. And when he did he usually mocked them or took advantage of them all the time. They walked in... Chapter 6 - Appearance Memories flooded in Seifer's mind while he strolled in Balamb Garden's peaceful corridors. He pushed them away as he saw the welcoming committee waiting for him. "So...our betrayer's back in the Garden...", said Quistis bitterly. She had had some sort of feelings towards Squall, though now she knew that it wasn't love for him. "Why did you come back?", said Irvine. "I don't have time for you...", Seifer said ignoring them, "Come on, Tim. Let's find headmaster Cid." Kasumi followed him. He bumped into Xu. "Seifer? What are you doing here? ", she asked. "Xu, I need to find headmaster Cid. I suppose you're not as polite as my welcoming committee here was.", Seifer took an icy glance over to Squall's friends. "He's on the bridge as usual. But I can't say I'm glad seeing you here.", Xu answered. "Yeah. I thought so too. Thanks...", Seifer walked Tim and Kasumi with him to the elevator. "Wait a minute!!!", Zell shouted, "I said I was gonna punish you for what you've done! Stop right where you are and face me!" Seifer stopped. The words seeped deep into him. "Punish me...for what I've...done...", Seifer turned to face Zell. "...for what...I have done...you...you think YOU could punish me...", Seifer said furiously. "Kasumi take Tim to the headmaster...no, wait you don't have clue where it is.", Seifer said. "Xu, would you mind taking Kasumi and Tim to headmaster Cid.", Xu nodded "Yes, I would, but I'll do it." Kasumi grabbed Tim's hand and they went on Xu with them. Seifer pulled his gunblade out. He started speaking "Zell...you're not a crybaby anymore. You've grown. I accept it. But you haven't changed. Still picking a fight." and Seifer took a defensive posture resembling Squall's one. Zell looked, "I don't care how much I've grown or changed. You're insulting Squall again. That's his battle posture, you jerk!" Seifer looked angry as he explained fiercely, "This? This is no Squall's posture! It's not anyone's. You don't know anything about swordplay so don't go explaining things you shouldn't! This is the defensive posture, because I'm not gonna hurt you. To prove it I'll use the blunt side of Hyperion", and he spun Hyperion to grab its handle upside-down. Gunblade was a sword with a revolver or some other gun as its handle. So holding a gunblade so that the blunt side was hit at the opponent was quite impossible, unless done on purpose. Also fighting with a blunt side was usually a lot more dangerous to the fighter himself than the opponent. The defensive posture even worsened it. Seifer never bothered to study this kind of swordplaying so he was totally at Zell's mercy. "Do what you want. I'll show no mercy!!!" Seifer's eyes widened. Zell's made a run towards Seifer. He couldn't do anything, but dodge Zell's fierce punches and kicks. Then Zell pulled a roundhouse hitting Seifer's gunblade. The blunt side did nothing to Zell, but the sharp edge of the gunblade was struck into Seifer's chest due to his defensive posture. He fell to his knees. A long line of blood was escaping his chest. "...Well, looks like you did punish me anyway...", Seifer said his eyes blurred. "Nooo!!!", Kasumi screamed. She run as fast as she could to Seifer. "Ka...Kasumi...looks like I'll die anyway...since you weren't here to stop...me...", Seifer huffed. "No, please don't die. Please...", Kasum i cried. "Yeah, I can't die...Ultimecia's coming...she wants me...but a sorceress doesn't revive her knight...", Seifer muttered. "Don't say that, Seifer...you're not her knight... remember...you refused twice...Seifer", Kasumi sniffed. "Cure!", Kasumi cried out. No effect. Seifer removed his glove and touched her cheek. "You are so much like Rinoa...maybe that's why I wanted to...protect you...", Seifer whispered. "No. You can't die now, Seifer!", Kasumi kept on, "Cure!!". Seifer felt that bliss was about to come. He had no intention of trying to fight anymore. "Kasumi is safe...here in Balamb Garden...", he thought. Then he thought no more...Seifer had passed out..."Cure!! Cure!! Cure!! Cure!! Please, Seifer...fight...", Kasumi cried. She had only one Cure left. "Cure!!", she shouted desperately. Tears fell down on Seifer's stained coat. Irvine, Selphie, Quistis and even Zell felt bad. Maybe Seifer had really changed. "You're all, so heartless...", Kasumi began, "Why the ones destined to save the world are so heartless?" Quistis remembered how coldly she had acted towards Rinoa in Deling. Irvine started to feel bad being a ladies' man. Selphie was silent with wet eyes. Zell remembered how crazily he just was during that fight against Seifer. Like he was a monster with no mind of its own. "Seifer tried to kill himself several times...because of Rinoa...I was there to stop him...Then an Anacondaur possessed by Ultimecia called Seifer...he wanted to listen, but...he wouldn't...he isn't a sorceress's knight anymore...another one came...it transformed into a Ruby Dragon...again Seifer refused...he saved Dollet from destruction...and he's the first one who didn't laugh at my dream...even if it was foolish...He has more heart than all of you together...you... you...are nothing compared to him...and this Squall...what was he like...?" Suddenly they all remembered Squall "Whatever...", Quistis recalled. The usual answer he gave was a whatever. "What? Are you gonna leave Rinoa just like that?!", Irvine saw the scene before his eyes. himself had to make sure that Squall went back for Rinoa in Deling. "Scroooooge!", Zell heard his own voice ringing in his head. He wanted to have a look at Squall's gunblade. The answer was not whatever, but a no. Selphie had no bad memories of Squall, but she felt sorrier for Kasumi than anyone else did. "Seifer was gonna go against Ultimecia...not to seek forgiveness. ..he had been thinking Rinoa and Squall over half a year...everyday...and got himself drunk.. .still he managed to get over it...not like you...you are no heroes...you are no heroes...", Kasumi cried relentlessly. They all felt sorry and guilty. "No, we...are not heroes...none of us was...none of us is...but we can try to help...", Quistis said. "Curaga!!!", shouted Selphie. Seifer still lied there motionless. "Zell, let's take him to the infirmary!", Irvine shouted. Irvine and Zell lifted him up and ran to Dr. Kadowaki. Surprised of who was brought in Dr. Kadowaki started her treatment without further questioning. There was time for that. - "Seifer can't be cured. I'm sorry.", Dr. Kadowaki stated. "It seems like he has lost his will to live." - "What?!", Kasumi asked with wet eyes. - "He can't be cured. My apologies.", Dr. Kadowaki repeated. - "Isn't there any way?", asked Irvine. - "Well, if you are able to restore his fighting spirit...he may be able to wake up. Even then I can't affect the situation.", Dr. Kadowaki explained. - "How do you contact the dead?", Zell asked with a bit sarcasm in it. - "Seifer isn't dead, Zell.", Dr. Kadowaki said, "He's just in a coma-like state. Consider it as a dream he can't wake up from...yet." Dr. Kadowaki thought to herself, "The word I just added...'yet'...I think it isn't true...but that girl is in a scary state...she might have a breakdown..." - "Then...how're we supposed to?", Irvine blurted. - "Hey, mans! I think Tenacious T has an answer, ya know.", Tenacious Terry interrupted everybody. - "Yeah, mans! Calm down. We heard what happened to Seifah-man, ya know.", Tenacious Toby continued, "Long ago, ya know. We met a Dream Walker, man. He not a Dream Chaser...a Dream Walker. He walk in dreams...he solve nightmares, man. He the last from his tribe. Maybe he can enter Seifah's mind, ya know. And save Seifah." - "That means one problem's been taken care now how do you wake him?", Selphie said. - "Ya don't know, man? We use powah of the Phoenix.", Tenacious Terry said. - "You mean Phoenix Down. It doesn't work", Quistis said interrupting Tenacious Toby's line. He was used to continue straight after Terry. - "No. Not Phoenix Down, ya know. Powers of the Phoenix. We heard true Phoenix rests not in this world, ya know. It's all in this song...ya wanna hear, mans?", Tenacious Toby suggested. - "But what's the use reviving Seifer? He's not the one destined to save the world. Squall was ...No matter how cold he was. It's just the destiny...and he could feel love, too...with Rinoa.", Quistis asked. - "So, Seifer felt it with me. I'm sure of it!", Kasumi cried tears in her eyes. "What if the responsibility fell on Seifer? He...he can fight too, ya know. He just didn't want to fight with you Zell...that's all." - "This is taking time, all of you.", Dr. Kadowaki reminded. "And it's what Seifer doesn't have..." - "Okay, I'll come with you. It was my fault in the first place. I feel responsible.", Zell said punching his fists together. - "Yo, man. Where Zell goes we go. But we might miss it.", Tenacious Terry said. - "Yeah, man. Where Zell go we go. Maybe it changes places. Maybe we must go search it all over the world, ya know. And we'll meet Alundra. Maybe he can scan our memories to find it again, man.", Tenacious Toby continued. - "Let's go!!! I don't care who comes, I'll save Seifer alone if I need to!", Kasumi wiped away her tears, rising up. Then suddenly a bolt of lightning struck through the Garden's ceiling. The bolt was somehow different. It was not formed of light, but darkness. Soon a Hexadragon stood in the Garden, waiting. The students panicked. They had never seen a Hexadragon before and if they had they would've still looked its deformed and mutated body with fear. Kasumi froze. Zell looked at the Hexadragon. "How in the hell did it get here?", yelled Zell raising his fists ready to do battle. The Hexadragon looked as if didn't have any intentions to fight. Then it opened its mouth. This Hexadragon spoke, "Where...is...Seifer...my child...?" Kasumi understood what was going on immediately. "Zell! It's possessed by Ultimecia! Wait a minute.", she said to Zell. Zell was frozen this time. The sorceress could control Hexadragons. Was she that powerful already? Zell couldn't stand looking at the mutated dragon. He turned his head away. "Where is my precious...Seifer...that is my knight...no more...Kwahahaa!!!", Kasumi was relieved, but also scared. If Seifer was not her knight any more it meant that she had found a successor. "Seifer...meet your doom...the dark lion warrior Gale..." and a strong whirlwind formed next to the ugly deformed dragon. After a minute there stood a young man with a gunblade. His eyes looked wicked and evil. His hair was pretty long like Squall's except that he had longer and a darker hair, almost jet black and with a tail. His clothes were black leather. Somehow Zell found them annoyingly same as Squall's, but they weren't. He oozed with darkness and the edge of his gunblade was black as raven. "Are you the previous knight...", he asked with an unexpectedly low voice. "Hell no!!", answered Zell with anger. "I seek only the previous knight...Seifer Almasy...he must die...", Gale said laconically. Kasumi found his low voice interesting. It was deep as some bass's. Gale sounded abnormally attractive. Kasumi was horrified at Gale's words though. "Oh, yeah?! Well, over my dead body!!!", Zell shouted not believing he was defending Seifer. He lunged forwards to throw a punch at Gale. Gale simply dodged Zell's series of punches. Then as he was countering Zell pulled a roundhouse, the same one Seifer had fallen for. Gale took the blow not caring too much of it and severed back with his gunblade. Zell with amazing luck managed to dodge it. He didn't have much time wondering how Gale managed to endure Zell's roundhouse, as Gale was approaching. His wicked eyes didn't reveal anything about his intents. Zell focused on summoning a GF. "Hmph, a Guardian Force won't help you...", Gale said forming an icy blade in front of his hand. Kasumi watched the battle terrified. "That move...it looks like...Fire Cross...", she thought, now afraid more than ever. Gale stayed silent releasing no other sounds than the icy breezes forming into one razor-sharp icicle. "Peist Pierce", Gale whispered and the blade shot forward. Before Zell realized he was skewered by an enormous ice blade. Zell fell onto his knees. The only thing that saved him was the GF he was summoning, now too weak to come out. Zell was shocked. He knew he wasn't hurt, but he just saw an icy blade pierce through him. No human mind could take it as if nothing would've happened. So still stunned, Gale had again approached him. Gale kicked him in the face dropping Zell onto the floor. "Over your body then...", Gale stomped on Zell's back. "...but I'll let you live to spread the glory of my name...Gale Leonhart...", he said calmly. The dark figure moved on leaving the Hexadragon and Zell writhing in pain behind. "Gale...Leonhart...no way...Squall was a Leonhart...no f***in' way...", Zell thought. Kasumi looked at the dark youngster walking towards him. She felt weird. Those eyes were so enticing. She couldn't move as Gale walked past ignoring her. After he was at a safe distance Kasumi rushed to Zell. "Are you okay?", Kasumi asked. Zell stood up, "Yeah, thanks to Leviathan. But he's not in good condition now. Damn, that Gale was strong." The Hexadragon roared. "Seems like its not possessed anymore, but Seifer and the others are in danger.", Zell said, "You go inform the others! I'll take on that ugly thing!", continued Zell. Kasumi rushed away. Zell was left alone with the dragon. It roared again. Zell called for the other SeeDs. He managed to get some help and so they attacked it. Kasumi was running as fast as she could again. She was afraid of that Gale. How could a man like that interest anyone. She had no idea of how could she reach the infirmary before Gale. Even if she could, because she ran and Gale was walking she didn't want to bump into Gale again. "Gale Leonhart...wasn't Squall a Leonhart too...", Kasumi thought as she ran. "Huh...?", she found Gale. He was walking quite calmly. "If I cast Haste first he'll hear it...then...", Kasumi thought. "Stop!", she shouted. Gale turned to look who told him to stop, and suddenly the magic reached him freezing him for a short time. "Now!", Kasumi thought exploding into a run and casting Haste on herself at the same time. She had run past the stopped Gale. She reached the infirmary first and dived in. Gale looked at the corridor. "Deserted...but who asked me to stop then...?", he turned to check the next section...the infirmary. - "Quickly! We have to get Seifer out of here!", Kasumi screamed. - "What? Why?", Quistis asked. - "A sorceress's knight...he's coming for Seifer. Quickly!!!", Kasumi ran out of breath. - "He's coming this way?", Irvine asked. - "No...he's already here...", a deep, low voice said. No doubly it was Gale's. - "You're the sorceress's knight?", Selphie asked. - "I'll ask the questions.", Gale said calmly, "Which one of you is the previous sorceress's knight, Seifer Almasy?", he asked tossing his gunblade on his shoulder reminding everybody about Squall. - "I am!", said Irvine. He had secretly grabbed Hyperion. - "So you're the one...Ultimecia regards as her best...? You don't look so powerful. Frankly this one dead looks stronger than you.", Gale said pointing at Seifer with his gunblade. "You're the one that must fall...or...hmm...should I die I won't reveal it to you...let's battle outside..." Gale raised his hand. He seemed to focus for some magic. Then he seemed to understand something. "You", he whispered. He had seen that girl in the corridor. He had walked past this girl. How was it possible to this girl appear here. "Hmph, very clever of you...", Gale seemed to have figured out everything. He let his arm down. "So is this man here the actual Seifer", Gale asked. "Yeah. And he's dead!", Selphie yelled thinking that Gale was here to kill Seifer. "So...my job here was done before I got here? How disappointing!", Gale said looking, naturally, disappointed. "I expected a good fight. But since it looks he's dead...wait, how do I know you're not lying again?" Dr. Kadowaki raised her voice, "Look at the monitor, does it look like he's alive?" Gale was even more disappointed seeing that they were not lying again. "Then it looks like I'll have to fight you. Let's see if you SeeDs of the past are any better than in future...", Gale said laconically sighing. He raised his gunblade and blasted the wall open. He jumped out of the hole dropping down on the grass. "Well, what are you past SeeDs waiting for?", he said just with a louder voice. He didn't seem to have to shout. Irvine, Selphie, Quistis and Kasumi jumped down too. The Tenacious T and Dr. Kadowaki stayed there to move Seifer out of the place. "Have you ever seen a blade like mine?", Gale asked politely. "I'm pretty proud of it. This is not a normal gunblade. It was forged with a Guardian Force in it. I call this the Griever. This is my Guardian Blade...", Gale said suddenly a Griever by his side. "And, oh, did I already tell you that Griever is the..." He was interrupted by the whole group "The mightiest GF in the universe!" Gale looked amused. "So you've seen it? Darn, I thought I might surprise you. Well, did you also know that Guardian Blade makes it possible to have a GF in the battle all the times with its summoner along...How many Shockwave Pulsars are you interested in having...?", Gale smirked. It was strange seeing someone as evil as Gale have feelings, but even stranger it was to see a Griever, the mightiest GF in the universe. Instead of appearing once and striking its best blow at its summoner's foes, this one was all the time ready to help its master. It was not normal seeing something like that for a party that was used to disappear from the battlefield as soon as their GF arrived. No it was abnormal. They were ready to battle now. Gale raised his Guardian Blade. The others pulled their weapons out, except Kasumi, she didn't have any. "Kasumi, stand back! We'll take care of this...just be ready to heal us.", Quistis commanded. Kasumi did as was told, although she didn't have any Cure left. She had to use items. Suddenly a bright light blue light approach Gale. "Whatta?...Is that a natural phenomenon?", he asked his enemies. They all remained silent . Then Irvine started, "Yeah, it is...kinda..." Gale looked puzzled, "Kinda...?" The light hit him with enormous power. "My Final HEEAAVEENN!!!!", came a roar like thunder. The ground crackled under Gale and his Griever, then something exploded sending Gale and Griever high in the air. After a while they landed with damaging results. "Hah! That's all?", Gale laughed raising his unarmed hand ceremonially in the air. "Griever...punish them a little for doing so little damage...", Gale raised his voice. He was lifted in the air for being so close at Griever. Griever unleashed its attack notorious attack, Shockwave Pulsar. (We all know what happens here, right? I don't need to start explaining how it goes(in fact I've forgotten how it goes!!!)) Irvine, Quistis, Selphie, Zell and Kasumi took a lot of damage. "Again, Griever do it again...this time for taking so much damage!" Griever did as its master told and started focusing. Soon enough Griever released Shockwave Pulsar again. Only Zell and Quistis stayed in critical state, the others had already blacked out. "We've gotta run for it, instructor", Zell said still calling Quistis his instructor. "How were supposed to, I'm exhausted...and we can't leave the others here.", Quistis replied coughing some blood. "Hehheh...you're a little better than the future SeeDs! They couldn't take the second blow at all...Let's how much can you still take...Griever...What!?!", Gale fell down in agony. His head was bursting and he roared like a madman. "Why are you calling me...back now... Ultimecia!!!", Gale shouted as he vaporized in thin air. He was gone. "Probably teleported back by Ultimecia...somethin' like that he yelled in the end...", Zell said. Quistis was relieved, "Let's heal the others..." Chapter 7 - The Dream Walker A man walked through darkness. Suddenly it was light. Then a maze. He was used into this. The constant change of environment. "Human mind is capricious...", he thought to himself. A monster looking like a spider attacked from the back of the corner which, had now turned into an open space to fight in. The red haired man took his knife and severed it. Then he jumped back to change his weapon. He took a bow and shot a few arrows at the monster. The man loved using these weapons. A flail, a long knife or a short sword and a bow. He didn't trust anything else since he met a boy who had a nightmare about a horror film, in which machines turned against humans. The man didn't like looking his gun turning against him, due to the boy's imagination. He had to solve that nightmare totally without his other weapons. The spider collapsed forming into a hole. The surroundings turned in to light. The man hopped in to the hole with his red pony tail swirling behind him. He dropped down next to a scared girl. "Come on, wake up!", the man asked offering his hand to the girl. The girl was shaking. "This is a nightmare", the man told, "Don't be afraid...I'll save you...", the red-haired man . The girl tried to smile too, but couldn't. She grabbed his hand. The red- haired man was illuminated with light. A red-haired man collapsed on the floor. He woke up seeing the girl again. This time smiling. "How...How could I thank you enough, Alundra!", a man with a thick beard said. Alundra smiled. "You saved my daughter from her horrible nightmare. I could never thank you enough. Just name the price...nothing too much of course.", the girl's father said panicking. "Well, I could use some Gil, maybe from 300 to 600?", he answered. "What!?", the girl's father asked amazed from what Alundra had just suggested, "I do not accept such a low price from my daughter's life. Here take this.", he said handing a money bag, "There should be about 5000 Gils. A small price from my daughter's life I know, but still...take it and walk in peace." Alundra thanked and stepped out of the house. "Deling's pretty busy, but generous...", Alundra thought to himself. "And it's pretty dark here all the time..." Alundra took a bus to the Deling hotel. "Walk in peace...", the words reminded him of the time he and Meya had to part. Alundra was deemed to walk the path of darkness. - "Hey Alundra, man! Long time no see!", a quite familiar voice said to him in front of the hotel. - "Huh? Tenacious T?", Alundra said surprised. "What're you doing here?" *Author's note: Shoot this Word! It's not functioning properly, so forgive me. In case you didn't notice the characters' speeches(lines or what're they called?) jumped a bit to the left. Not a big deal actually. And the fault could be mine too...* - "Umm, well, man. We need yer help, ya know.", Tenacious Toby said. - "Yeah, sure. I'm not in a hurry right now. Just solved a couple of nightmares...I need some sleep myself.", Alundra said relaxed. - "Well, this is actually quite urgent.", Quistis said. - "Really urgent. Actually the fate of the world is...", Selphie said just to be interrupted by Alundra. - "Oh? That's not new, but if I don't sleep myself I'm not any good to you.", Alundra smiled and made his way to Deling's newly named hotel Bliss. They rented rooms next to one another so Alundra could start his Dream Walking right after sleeping a bit himself. Alundra dozed off quickly. In the morning he came knocking on the door. "Alundra, please come in.", Quistis said to the red haired Dream Walker. "Why are you dressed so funnily?", Selphie asked. "Don't have time to explain. Let's just say I'm prepared for anything. How long has he been dreaming?", Alundra said kindly. "Uh, yeah...well actually, he's in coma.", Quistis said. "Coma? I've...I've never been into a coma patient's mind...some say they don't have a will to live any more. The body just doesn't let go. Psychosomatic error...", Alundra said. "No, you have to convince him to live, Alundra!", Kasumi said desperately. "I would. I would, but you don't see the point. In a nightmare the person wants out. His/her mind just creates too many barriers and blocks. I'm there to solve them if he or she can't wake up. But like I said a person in coma lives on the edge. One wants to die, but is deemed to stay alive. Too strong to die, too weak to live. I know it's cruel, but it's just the way it is. His mind is sealed. Even if I was possible to enter. I couldn't reach him. And one more thing. If the person doesn't wake up, and I'm still I'll also stay there. Or should I become too weak. I'm talking about my physical self. If I've been there too long for a few days or so. My physical self will die. No actually it'll become a shell. My astral self will be trapped inside, possibly forming schizophrenia. And oh, yeah, I'm the last one from my tribe. So you understand why I can't. Even if it was about world's fate. I can at least save a few from suffering all the time until the end. I'm sorry I can't answer your plea.", Alundra put his head down his red hair covering most of his face. Kasumi looked at him with wet eyes. So after all the trouble...Seifer is doomed. "It's not fair, you know...", Kasumi sniffed. Alundra raised his head. He recognized the expression. He had seen it many times. But the price was too expensive. The risk was too high. The problem was too big. "Maybe Meya...you're out there somewhere...but why haven't I heard of you...", Alundra thought. "No...I can't take the chance...sorry...", Alundra turned to go away. "It isn't fair that those who have struggled for so long...those who were born as fighters...they don't have hope at all...", Kasumi whispered. The sad tone flowed into Alundra's ears. "So the girl loves him...huh? I didn't make out her whisper...I'm sure it was something great...they always do it...", Alundra thought to himself. He had seen many of these cases. None of them were in coma though. It flipped the whole situation upside-down. Alundra turned around and walked to take Kasumi's hand to comfort her. "I know the situation is desperate...I know...that it isn't fair that those who've fought the most of their lives don't have hope at all...", Alundra consoled Kasumi with those words he just extracted from Kasumi's consciousness. "I know you love her, Kasumi..." Kasumi's eyes widened. How did Alundra know her name and her deepest desire. Was he so strong? A man with this kind of power... couldn't save Seifer? "I know your real name, Kasumi...it's not this name...you just hide it... but don't worry...I won't tell it to anyone...", Alundra whispered with a soft voice. Such power that allowed him to step into people's minds and help to solve the things troubling the mind. An incredible power that scanned, Kasumi just like that. This unique power was possessed only by one man left in this world. Alundra. Kasumi started to understand Alundra and why he refused. "Even I...can't help you...", Kasumi heard ringing in his head. "Kasumi...even I can't help you...", Alundra whispered softly again. Kasumi shed a tear for she couldn't do anything else anymore. Hope was lost. Gone. Away. Then Alundra whispered his last words before he turned to walk away. To Dream Walk again. Softly. Kasumi's tear landed on Alundra's hand. He felt its warmness. "Don't lose your hope..." Kasumi heard Alundra's warm and kind words in her ears. "Don't lose hope...", Kasumi shed another tear. Alundra still hadn't released her hand. "Don't lose hope...follow me..." were Alundra's last words. He pulled Kasumi up and dragged her next to Seifer. He held Kasumi's hand tightly. "I'm going to give it a go...Please make sure my hand holds Kasumi's or we'll lose each other...and my hand must also hold Seifer's or we'll lose him...", he said to the others. Alundra smiled at Kasumi and the others. "Maybe this is a good bye or a farewell, I'm not sure...but here we go...", Alundra said continuing, "Kasumi, can you feel my beat...". She nodded. "Good. to breath along it.", Alundra said. He held Seifer's ungloved hand firmly trying to find a beat from it. Kasumi tried breathing along Alundra's beat. It was fast. Then it slowed tremendously. Alundra had found his beat... Alundra and Kasumi were standing in a dim lighted stone chamber. "Let's move", said Alundra and walked on through a tunnel leading to unknown Kasumi following him. "So this is the coma patient's mind...", Alundra thought. "Why did you take me with you...", Kasumi started asking. "I've witnessed human kind's potential power...", Alundra said kindly smiling. "If there's faith or love enough...things usually work out...not always though.", he continued. "Like I said...Seifer's mind is sealed...and this place reflects his mind... see...nothing changes...usually in a nightmare constant change dominates the dreamworld...", Alundra lectured. They went on, no monsters appeared even once. "Damn, this is easy...but for how long", Alundra muttered to himself. "So if we find him...Seifer will not come with me... no way...I'm not sure if he'll even come with you...this is not fear he has to fight against you see...he has suffered a long time...it's just simply said...that he's fed up with struggling against himself and death...maybe his only life in the material world was reminiscing the past...it's not good to you if you do it too much...there's so many possibilities...oh, yeah...was Seifer cleverminded...", Alundra asked after his other lesson about dreams. "Uh...pretty...", Kasumi answered a bit unsure. "Well the faster he thinks the slower time passes...here I mean...", Alundra said. "Huh? How?", asked a bit curious. Alundra stopped to explain since the environment didn't change and Seifer was quick-witted. "Umm...sure...erm...you see it's not about mind's fastness... well...the fast-minded just...they come up with more thoughts then the slow ones...you know... if I say ice-cream...you'll think of a few things that come into your mind...the quick get a lot more thoughts...", said Alundra. "But isn't memory...what if you're clever but scatterbrained?", Kasumi asked quite interested. "Yeah, you see...the more you come up with thoughts the more your mind's packed up with them. In a dream-like state a man can't regulate the way he thinks or remembers and forgets...so it'll fill quite fast. And we Dream Walkers are just an extra thing packing their minds. So even if the mind could process all the knowledge, when we are inside...he'll start processing on us too. And the mind has to slow the flow of time in the mind. So that everything works fine. That's how you see many dreams in a night. Sometimes just one, forgetting the others totally. But I think we'll have to move on now...", Alundra said stopping his this time improvised lecture. "She'd make a good Dream Walker, but...her astral isn't so powerful...I think without mine with her she'd...crush in here...", Alundra thought with a dark face. "Hey that's Seifer!!!", Kasumi yelled with joy and some something else in it. Seifer was in an another dim chamber. He was attached onto the wall...not unlike Rinoa was junctioned into Adel's chest. He wasn't awake. They could hear weak whispers filling the air echoing inside the chamber. They called for Rinoa. A bit of jealousy stung Kasumi's heart. But before they could reach to Seifer the chamber closed. A wall formed in the place of the doorway. Before it closed totally Kasumi could hear one more weak whisper...Kasumi. Alundra pulled his ice staff flinging an icy blade filling the hole before it closed. He punched the wall. "Damn it! If it wasn't for me and my big mouth he might be saved by now.", Alundra said fiercely blaming himself. Kasumi found it strange to see this kind man to burst in anger, but it was not her worst concern. Alundra pulled his other trusty staff the flame staff and melted the ice blade. The wall didn't keep on closing. The hole remained. Kasumi cried for Seifer through it. "Seifer!!!", Kasumi cried, "Can you hear me?" Alundra was leaning against the wall. If they couldn't reach for Seifer they both would be stuck in Seifer's mind. The death was coming. But Alundra wasn't sure when. He had no idea how much time had went in the material world. Selphie was looking at the clock. "Half an hour, already. Wonder where they are.", wondered Selphie. The others remained silent. - "Hey we can't stand here doing nothing, ya know.", Tenacious Terry said. - "Yeah, mans. Time is running out, ya know. The Phoenix remember? We gotta find it too, ya know.", Tenacious Toby went on. - "But the hands must be held together or they'll lose it.", Quistis threw an argument. - "Yeah, but they are right. Some off us could go searching for the Phoenix.", Irvine said agreeing with Tenacious T. - "You others go look for it we stay here, ya know", Tenacious Terry suggested. - "Yeah, mans. Remember Phoenix not lie in this world, ya know!", Tenacious Toby continued, "Wanna hear the song now?" - "Yeah, let come!", Zell said. - "Ahem!", Tenacious T cleared its voice. "After life...After life...there will be death... After death...after death...there will be light... After light...after light...there will be life... The cycle of the Phoenix goes like so... In the other worlds the Phoenix lives like so... Rebirth, the rebirth is full of flames Fiery and strong, burning to live..." - "Sheesh! What crappy words!", Zell snorted, "Who the hell made these up?! And the song...YUCK!" - "Yo Zell, man! We don't know who made these up(me actually(yeah they suck. I'm not a song writer.)), ya know", Tenacious Terry said. - "Hey, man! Don't mock ancient songs. This is fine and, ya know. It tell you where the world can be reached, man." - "Yeah, but you don't need to sing it. Just say what the song tells.", Irvine said.(phew, I couldn't have made any more lyrics for this.) - "Oh? Right, man. Why didn't we think of it.", Tenacious Terry smacked his forehead. - "Okay! We didn't have time to sing it but the port to the other world lies in...", Tenacious Toby paused, "In the place where souls of the evil dwells...Moon, man! How can ya reach the moon!?!?!" - "Hahhah! So you were just worried about that...? We can reach the moon! Done it before.", said Zell proudly, "Wait! We just saw it...but I'm sure we'll find a way!" - "Then let's get goin'!!!", Selphie said and so they left Deling leaving the red-haired Dream Walker, Kasumi and Tenacious T there to complete their job. - "Well, bro. Wanna practice some Eyes on me, ya know?", Tenacious Terry asked. - "Yeah, man. Let's do it. Nobody's hearing us right?", Tenacious Toby said. Tenacious T prepared their voices for some singing. "Whenever sang my songs..." Kasumi had tried to wake Seifer up for a while now. There's was no reaction. Alundra was losing hope. He pushed Kasumi back and pulled a shining sword out. "This is the Bastard Sword...hopefully I can cleave the wall open...", Alundra thought watching the sword that he managed to get from the statue of King Righteous. He raised the sword and slashed. Alundra wasn't used to use a sword, but this time he had to...even try if not anything else. He focused his strength into one powerful cut. And exploded. No...the wall showed no sign of damage. "Not a scratch...?", Alundra thought, "His mind is this strong...?" Alundra backed a little to stop and think. Kasumi went back to the hole and cry for Seifer, "You must wake up, Seifer! You must!". Alundra kept thinking. "Kasumi, stay here.", Alundra said. He headed back to see if Seifer's mind had formed any other paths. After a while he came back. No. Alundra started regretting he didn't take any stronger weapons for this trip. Then a book dropped out of his backpack. It was the book of Fire. "Of course!", Alundra shouted. He put his book back taking an another out. "I think this book will do it...", Alundra said as he lifted it. "Kasumi, go back, and come here when the noise is all over.", he said. "Don't worry about me! Go now!", Alundra shouted watching his book. Kasumi ran away. She didn't look back. A loud roar filled the tunnel. Alundra shut his eyes so the debris wouldn't hurt his eyes. Large rocks blazing of fire struck all around Alundra. Some of them hit the wall Alundra tried to break. Some others crushed against the tunnel's walls sending off debris. Then something bit Alundra in the back. He knew what happened. "The debris he thought. Some piece of rock had flown right into his back. The pain flowed throughout his body. "Uh?...the pain...it's killing me...", Alundra fell to his knees. "No! Just a little more...", Alundra felt everything blurring in his eyes. "No...not yet...", Alundra stood up feeling a shooting pain in his back. Then one more meteor-like rock hit the desired target. Seifer's will gave up. The wall gave in. Alundra fell down to the ground dropping the book on the ground. Kasumi heard nothing anymore. It was time to run back. She ran as fast as she could. She ran into Alundra. "Alundra! Are you okay?!", she screamed. "No I don't think...so", Alundra whispered, "Go help your Seifer. Now..." Kasumi saw Alundra shut his eyes under his red-hair covering most of his face. "No...I can't let you die!", she cried. "Yeah, you're here only because my astral self holds you together...I guess...", Alundra whispered as if speaking any louder would've killed him. "Pull this thing out of my back...I'll do the rest... quickly!", he commanded silently. Kasumi did as told and grasped the bloody piece of rock. She couldn't pull it off. "I...I'm not strong enough...", she said. "Have I ever said that human minds...possess limitless potential...do it again...", he whispered. Kasumi pulled several times. Nothing, nothing, but roars of Alundra trying to withstand the pain. She cried her own helplessness, "I can't..." Alundra had shut his eyes again. "Don't lose hope...", he coughed, "Do it one more time..." Kasumi looked at Alundra. "Don't lose hope...", it was what Alundra said before they entered Seifer's mind. And they had gotten this far. Kasumi grasped the rock again. And she pulled...she pulled again and again. Finally the rock that was shaped like an icicle came out of Alundra's back. But he didn't make a sound anymore. "Tha...thanks", he coughed quietly. Kasumi stood up and made her way to Seifer. Alundra took a gold adorned bottle out of his backpack and opened it. Looking it with his now blurry eyes Alundra thought of Meya. Then he drank the sweet nectar in the bottle. He felt warmness spread all over his body...then he shut his eyes again "Seifer...Seifer...can you hear me? Wake up please...Seifer...it's me, Kasumi.", She whimpered. No answer. "...Darling, so share with me...your love if you have enough... your tears when you're holding back...", a familiar voice echoed throughout the chamber. Kasumi recognized the voice as Terry's and the song as Eyes on me. She started to cry again, "Can you hear it Seifer? It's Eyes on me..." She had no idea of what was going on outside, but whatever it was it was helping. Seifer looked like he was breathing stronger. "Seifer, please wake up!", Kasumi kept crying. No reaction. - "Actually. I don't think he can hear you...", Alundra's voice filled the chamber. - "What?", Kasumi turned to see Alundra leaning against the wall as vibrant as ever. - "Try kissing. It tells a lot more about your feelings than words. I know this sounds like a corny fairy tale, but I've seen it work once. That was the time when a princess had slept for a long time and this prince came there. You know, I couldn't enter her mind... What am I babbling kiss him! Go on!", Alundra said smirking and thought to himself, "Wait, did I see it or was it a fairy tale? Hmm..." It didn't take long as Kasumi was kissing Seifer's lifeless, but warm lips. The kiss turned out quite passionate and soon she was all over Seifer. "What...where am I...is there something after...nothing...", Seifer slowly reached consciousness(quite literally). "Kasumi, quick! Grab his hand!" Alundra shouted and rushed next to her. He grabbed Seifer's other hand and light surrounded them all. "...Just reach me out and you will know that you're not dreaming..." Alundra and Kasumi collapsed on the floor. "Oh, man! We were so busy singing they released their hands!!! What now, man?!?", Tenacious Terry panicked. Alundra jumped up, "Hah! You forgot this, Terry!? This is normal after a Dream Walk-session.", he said smirking. Kasumi rubbed her temples and got up. "Seifer! Please talk to me!", she grabbed Seifer's arms shaking him. "Hey, easy!", Seifer said a bit mockingly. He had no idea of what happened. Then it came into his mind. His face darkened. "I...I'm not gonna stay here am I...?", Seifer said worried. "You are! You are!", Kasumi cried with wet eyes. "No, Kasumi...I think...", Seifer said, but was interrupted by Tenacious Toby who didn't have the chance to continue after Terry, "No, man! Don't act so desperate, ya know! You know there's still hope, but you wanna die...! That ain't fair, man! Kasumi loves ya! You're bad! Bad to the bone, man!" Seifer just lied on the bed listening to Tenacious Toby's scolding. There was a time he couldn't take it. A time his pride rose against it. "You don't have a right to judge me you lousy musician!", he would've thought long ago. "That's...absolutely ...", Seifer said swallowing his pride the first time in his life. Kasumi looked at him, "But you've changed now, Seifer! Please stay with me!", Kasumi said hugging Seifer as tightly as she could. Seifer felt defenseless. "Don't lose hope, Seifer..." Seifer looked at a strangely dressed red-haired man. "You're...you're the one who saved me?", he asked. "No...it was Kasumi...she saved me and you...", Alundra answered, "But Kasumi, it's true, Seifer can't stay awake much longer. We just speeded up his first awakening. He would've done it in time by himself...maybe.", he continued. "No! I'll stay awake! I'll have to win Ultimecia for all she has done and made me...Uh?", Seifer coughed. He felt it. He couldn't stay awake much longer. "Seifer, Ultimecia has a new knight now!", Kasumi said still clinging on Seifer. "What?!", he was surprised. "A new one...that means... that she's recovering slower...", he thought. "He calls himself the dark lion warrior Gale Leonhart. Wasn't that Squall you talked about a Leonhart too?", Kasumi asked. "Leonhart...dark lion...Gale...the new sorceress's knight...he can't be...", Seifer widened his eyes. "His gunblade almost got us.", Kasumi went on. "A gunblade almost got you...how's that possible? Is it alive? Or was it...", Seifer was even more amazed. "He called it Griever the Guardian Blade. Seifer I was so scared! Please don't leave us! I know that you can beat Ultimecia. Please...", Kasumi cried clutching Seifer's body tighter again. Seifer put his arm around her too. He watched her and swiped her tears off gently with his ungloved hand. "I won't leave you...I'll just...", Seifer smiled warmer than ever. His eyes' radiant glow was blurring. Alundra already realized Seifer was going to doze off any minute. But he kept his mouth shut. "She's so pretty...and her cry...it breaks my heart...why can't I stay awake...just to watch her...Gale, huh? Wonder how strong you are...? Are you better than Squall...I doubt...", Seifer thought to himself. "Kasumi...I...", Seifer said and passed out. "...love you...can you hear me...? Kasumi...? Where did you go!? Kasumi!!!" Nobody was there anymore. Seifer was all alone in a dark stone chamber...whispers echoing around. The whispers called for Kasumi... "This is my cue...", said Alundra and he left the room. Then suddenly he stopped and turned around. "Oh, yeah. Terry, could you tell me were did that Phoenix live again?", Alundra asked cheerfully. "In the moon...", came the short and serious answer. He even forgot to say 'man'. "Thanks.", and Alundra left. The door closed... *Author's note: (this is a spoiler->)I was gonna make Alundra do something in the moon. Ya know help them with a really dramatic way, but then like all the time I forget my plans and they don't end up like they should. It's like this fanfic. This is going somewhere out of this world. In fact, umm, this fanfic's name wasn't The Phoenix Saga it was...I can't recall. Maybe the story will go off course again soon and it'll become something else again. And to all those who know Alundra I apologize you for altering him a bit. I thought it was simply stupid to have Alundra to not talk at all. For those who don't know, well, Alundra doesn't say a word from the beginning to the end of the game, but he can speak. I think the game-developers tried to create a sort of rpg-feeling in it. You know how often people speak to their games, right? No? Well, I caught myself doing it lately. Oh, and I want to add this fact that all this dream walking stuff just came into my mind while I was writing it. They was not taken from anywhere and I swear it. I'm meaning the mind and how it blaablaablaa. I'm sorry that these so-called notes are branching into little novels themselves, but I can't stop writing. Yeah, so...on you go!!!*