Chapter 9: Live and Learn
If only it were just a figment of his imagination waking up in a dark surrounding atmosphere, Seifer still hadn't grasped what he was experiencing. Rubbing his eyes with his fists and walking around the darkness, he could see that the Pupu and his incapacitated flying machine was still non-functional. As he moved closer to its destination, the Pupu jumped out of the ship and ran over to him.
"Oh, Mr Seifer, you are back again. As you can see, I'm still stuck here with no way of leaving. Could you help me?". The Pupu pleaded once again.
Seifer rolled his eyes and clenched his fists, squeezing so hard he could feel pain within his palms.
"Why do I keep having the same dreams? What does this all mean?" Screaming out into the silent void as he could no longer control his anger and frustration.
The Pupu looked up at him with a frightened look as it slowly stepped backwards. With a small tool in its grasp, the Pupu reached Seifer, offering him the object. Seifer snatched the thing from the little alien and walked over to the ship lying in tatters.
"Didn't I fix this part last time I was here?" Seifer asked, feeling a sense of deja vu.
Kneeling against the ship, he got to work screwing in bolts and panels back onto the side of the vessel. Seifer continued working on the machine, thinking about his recent events about how he had acted no differently than he had in the past. Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly dropped the tool he had been holding. The Pupu quickly rushed over after hearing the metal's sound rattling against the ground and picked it up, offering it back to Seifer.
"Thank you for helping me, Seifer. Every time you appear here, I get closer to leaving". The Pupu smiled, although that was enough to get a smirk out of Seifer.
"Where is here?". Seifer asked as he turned and faced the alien taking the tool from its loose grasp.
"I don't know, Seifer, but all I know is every time you appear here and help me, the happier I become. For that, I thank you.". The Pupu responded.
Before he can answer with a reply, Seifer could hear someone calling his name in the distance. Louder and louder it got until he awoke in his bed.
—
Seifer jumped up out of bed, letting out a scream nearly knocking over Raijin as he felt disoriented and dizzy.
"Whoa, Seifer, calm down. It's only Fuu and me". Raijin uttered.
Fujin was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed.
"FINALLY". Fujin muttered.
Raijin held Seifer by his shoulders to calm him. Seifer's mind was racing.
"Sorry, Rai, I was just in a deep sleep. What time is it?". He asked.
"It is still early, and the sun is still rising. We were worried about you". Raijin continued.
"CARE". Fujin added.
As the trio moved into the small living room, they poured a drink and discussed the unsettling events from the night before. Raijin and Fujin described their battle with the Guardian Force Ixion first. Raijin stated how shocked they were to come out of the fight, barely with Quistis receiving the most damage.
"GF". Fujin stated mid-conversation.
"Oh yeah, you know that vase Martine gave us smashed. But that's not the best part. There was a Guardian Force inside. A wind summon called Sylph helped us in Ixions defeat. Fujin got herself a powerful spirit to call upon". Raijin wore a big smile on his face while it didn't compare with the expression Seifer wore, donning a wide frown across his face.
"I failed again. I didn't keep the Seeds safe". Seifer started to talk as his head hung low. He was feeling the defeat of loss.
"What happened up there?" Fujin asked with curiosity.
"Yeah, that storm last night didn't seem natural, ya know". Raijin added.
Seifer raised his head to look his comrades in the eyes. Raijin and Fujin were the only friends Seifer had. He had put them in dangerous positions in recent times, yet their loyalty to him still stood.
"When we got to the top, the seed boys and I found an altar with a female figure standing by. She announced herself as Dhalia but even weirder because a Guardian Force was junctioned to her named Lilith. We entered into a battle, and she overpowered us. I wasn't strong enough to protect them. I feel responsible for the injuries they obtained". Seifer explained.
Before being allowed to continue, there was a knock at the door. Quistis stood at the entrance as Fujin opened the door to let her enter.
"I see everyone is awake. Seifer, the students have given me a brief description of what happened to you all. In those regards, let us all meet in the hotel lobby. We can further discuss the details there.". Quistis asked.
Seifer rose from his chair, asked Quistis about her health, and apologised for not protecting Balamb Garden's students.
"Seifer, I am well, thank you. Being a leader isn't easy and no game. What happened last night was unfortunate. Use these times to learn and grow and become a better leader". Quistis flailed her arm in Seifer's direction as she finished her speech.
"Did you learn that speech from Headmaster Cid? It was good". Seifer replied, being sarcastic with a slight smirk on his face as Fujin and Raijin cringed in emotion.
Pushing her glasses back towards her face, Quistis turned to leave. "Seifer, you need to learn there is a place for games and a place for seriousness. I will see you all at the hotel in 30 minutes. Please be there on time".
—
The party returned to their rooms to prepare for the day, gathering any supplies they may need and, for some, fixing their hair. They left their home and made their way over to the hotel. The morning sun was still rising with the chirping of birds filling the air blowing across the town. Seifer pushed the hotel doors in and allowed his friends to enter as he saw a circle of people filling the hotel entry. Dotti standing behind the hotels counter with Cyrus speaking to her, his back to their arrival. Quistis was patiently waiting with Cedge beside her.
Quistis smiled in Seifer's direction, pushing her hair behind her ears. "Shall we begin?".
Seifer looked around. "Is Vicks alright?".
Quistis tried to begin her following sentence when she was interrupted by a voice from the staircase.
"Didn't think someone like you would have cared about me. Maybe I judged you too quickly". Vicks walked down the stairs looking stable and healthy.
Seifer could see the bandages to his wound poking out of his clothes.
"Wasn't sure if I was going to make it through. That monster last night was no easy combatant". Vicks continued.
Quistis chimed in next. "Yes, let us talk about that. By the way, thank you, Raijin and Fujin, for your help last night. I do appreciate it."
"No, probs, ya know". Raijin answered as Fujin shot Quistis a nod instead of speaking directly.
"Seifer, what do you know exactly about this foe," Quistis asked, ready to take down some mental notes.
Seifer explained the events that had occurred—encountering Lilith and battling what would be a losing battle. Seifer wasn't sure what else to say. He also mentioned the name Dahlia who Lilith had mentioned she possessed. Quistis was quite puzzled at the last piece of information.
"Why would a Guardian Force need a human body?". Quistis mumbled to herself.
"Anyway, there isn't much we can do at the moment with such little information. I must be heading back to Galbadia Garden". She continued.
"And we need to get back to Balamb Garden in Fishermans Horizon". Cedge added.
"So I guess we will be riding the train together, boys". Quistis continued.
"Cedge and I would appreciate the company Instructor Trepe". Vicks whispered.
As the conversation came to a close, Quistis was accompanied by Vicks and Cedge as they exited the hotel. Cedge was yelling back his thanks to Dotti for help brothers aid. Seifer turned to his friends and smiled a sigh of gratitude.
"What now?". Raijin began as he looked at his friends.
"I am going to step out of my comfort zone and venture out into the world again". Seifer sounded hesitant to leave as he had become comfortable and, in a way, felt safe in Balamb after the events of his past. Seifer had settled down, which allowed him to evade dealing with the world's events and his negative consequences.
"Well, we are coming with you, Seifer. You can't travel without us, ya know!". As Raijin spoke, he held out his hand. "Come on, Seifer, we are your friends. Where you go, we go. Right, Fujin?".
"RIGHT". Fujin shouted in agreement.
Seifer took his comrade's hand and shook it. He thanked him for his support. As the three concluded their discussion, they all ran out of the hotel's entrance and sprinted up the street. Seifer was leading the pack, with Fujin bringing up the rear.
Seifer stopped at the train station and handed over a gil's payment to pay for his teams' train ride. Fujin arrived before Raijin with a big smile on her face.
"SLOW". Fujin said, criticising Raijins running pace.
"Hey, not fair you pushed me over". Raijin shouted as Seifer let out a loud laugh hugging both his friends together.
They boarded the train just before the whistle blew into the air, and the train came to life. The train roared with the sounds of its engine and started to move along the tracks.
Moving into the centre of the primary car Seifer and Raijin began a conversation about Fishing as Fujin looked out the window as the train moved quickly. Behind them, they heard the beep of a door open. Quistis waltzed through the opening.
"I thought I heard you three. You guys heading out too?". Quistis asked.
"Instructor Trepe! Yeah, we are going on a little journey. Nowhere in particular yet". Seifer responded.
"Oh good, why don't you come and join us in the cabin?" Quistis asked as she waved her hand through the door entrance towards the cabin.
Seifer looked at Raijin and then turned his head to Fujin. Fujin, as always, is short and sweet with her communication. "REST".
With that settled, they followed Quistis into the cabin.
"Please sit wherever you would like". The Quistis politely offered.
They were entering the room as they saw Vicks laying on one of the bunk beds to the side of the room, resting his wound, yelling at his brother, who was sitting at a small table. Raijin and Fujin sat down on the lounge as Quistis joined them. Seifer walked over to Vicks and knelt beside him. Still feeling guilty, he apologised again.
"Seifer, you need to stop apologising, man. It's happened. Let's move past it." Vicks smiled as Seifer returned the smile and nodded.
Quistis began a conversation with Seifer and Fujin about how much had changed recently. They spoke about Squalls leadership of Balamb Garden and his newly found relationship with his Father Laguna. Raijin joined Cedge for a game of Triple Triad at the table. Raijin was yelling as he was getting beaten badly. Vicks had dozed off amongst the room full of energy when an announcement came across the trains speaker system.
DING DONG! "Just to let you know, we will be arriving at Timber in 20 minutes."
