A/N: I know Chapter 11 sucked a little… I'm still trying to clean the tomato stains (mark my words, I'm gonna get that punk). But Chapter 12 will explain a lot of stuff and hint about what's to come. P.S. I know this is genred as Romance/Action/Adventure, and it still is, but this particular chapter might contain a wee bit of fantasy. Plus, I'm thinking of changing Action/Adventure to Angst. What do you think?
Chapter 12: Kyonae Is Scarred
The captain entered her dim-lit, chilly chambers, his confidence and morale running high. She had summoned him specially. No doubt he was going to get his promotion for obtaining the Falcona girl from the SeeDs. The others would be so jealous…
He squinted through the darkness to see her dark outlined figure sitting on her throne. In truth she was a president, but the old Dratilian ways had not died out completely, so she was more or less their queen…not like anyone was complaining. She was a wise ruler. Wise enough to promote an aspiring captain such as himself.
"My queen…" he said, bowing deeply.
"Ah, Captain Avilo. I have been waiting for you." She did not rise. Her face was hidden by the darkness of night.
"Do you wish for me to light a candle?"
"That is not necessary, my dear captain. I see you perfectly from where you stand."
"Why has Your Majesty sent for me?" he asked, trying to keep the excitement from his voice.
"I wish to implore upon the health of Kyonae. Is she well?"
"Oh, the girl. She is secure in our care and couldn't be better. She is sleeping now."
"She hasn't been…hurt…in any way, I hope?"
"No, Your Majesty. She is fine."
Her eyes were beginning to glow a dim yellow. "…You are lying to me, Avilo."
"Your Majesty…?"
"Have you forgotten that I have the power to tap into any mind I want?" She said coldly, her eyes glowing a bit brighter. "Have you forgotten I can also see through one's eyes?"
"Uh…" he had forgot.
"So if she is not hurt, why does she bleed from her scalp? Why did I see her being harmed by no one else but you? Why did you not put her into a sleeping spell like I ordered?"
"I did, Your Majesty-!"
"Do not trifle with me!" she rose her voice. Outside, thunder boomed and lightning flashed softly through the silk curtains.
Captain Avilo quailed under her voice. "Please- I can explain-it is my impatience-"
" No, my dear captain," she cut him off in a low voice, standing up. "It is not your impatience that dares to defy me. It is your ignorance." Her eyes were a shocking bright yellow that stood out in the darkness like two candles.
The captain felt his breath begin to shorten, as if something were gripping tightly to his windpipe. "No, Your Majesty, please…" he choked.
"Do not think of it as a punishment. Think of it as a promotion above all ranks. And a valuable lesson…"
He dropped to his knees, holding his throat. He could no longer breathe at all, his heart beating in rapid thuds like someone knocking on a door, his eyes bulging…
"…No one harms my daughter and gets away with it. Goodbye, Captain Avilo."
He had no time to scream, just enough time to hear his heart suddenly come to a freezing stop. He hit the marble floor dead; his eyes wide open in eternal shock.
Captain Avilo had received his promotion.
I sat up suddenly from my place on the ground, breathing heavily. The campfire had gone out, and the moon had slipped between the gathering dark clouds. I held my head in my hands. The dream had been so vivid, so real, as if it had just happened. That queen had killed the Dratilian captain, the one had just seen this morning. She had also mentioned Kyonae, and said something about her being her daughter…
I stood. Enough was enough. I was going to go look for her.
"Where are you going?" a quiet voice said behind me.
I turned. It was Squall…and Ellone…and Laguna. The whole Leonhart family stood before me with the exception of one.
"I'm going to go find Kyonae," I said bitterly, drawing my gunblade and pointing it at Squall. "Wanna try and stop me?"
He stared blankly at the Hyperion, at me, the Hyperion again, then back to me. "No. But you shouldn't go alone."
"Well that's just too damn bad, because that's what I plan to do."
Squall looked at me as if he was going to object, but then Ellone tugged at his jacket, subduing him. "Just bring my sister back alive, Seifer. That's all I ask."
Laguna nodded, agreeing. "Bring back my daughter, Almasy, and I'll never say another ill word toward you."
"We trust you, Seifer," Ellone popped in.
I was taken aback by this. It was the first time I could ever remember that being said to me. I nodded curtly, and turned to head deeper into the dark forest…
And Fujiin and Raijiin were standing there.
"You want us to come along, ya know?" Raijiin asked.
"No. I'm going alone, guys. Stay here and take care of the trouble makers."
They looked at each other and nodded. Fujiin spoke. "LUCK."
I shook their hands briefly. It reminded me that even though I may have been a traitor to everyone else, I was still a good guy in my true friends' eyes. Without another word, I walked past them; my Hyperion raised, into the woods.
I woke briefly to strange whispering that had broken into my peaceful dreams. I was scared. Still bound by my restraints, I had no defense against anyone or anything that may have lurked into my cloth prison.
"Who…who's there?" I said softly, my voice shaking.
'Tis no one else, but only me
A person which you cannot see
With my arms I draw you near
You'll find none but safety here…
A glowing pink haze surrounded me from no where, like a fine mist. I suddenly felt calm, at peace…I felt so blissful and oblivious, like I was floating in a dream. The voice continued to whisper…
We trade for a little while
You'll see a world where dreams roam wild
And to this vow that I am bound
That when you wake, you'll be safe and sound…
The pink mist was entering my mind now, numbing my senses, veiling my eyes with fairy dust, and soon I felt the bindings dissolve from my wrists and ankles, and I was floating away…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had traveled very deep into the forest; by now it was dawn and somewhat light, for the sky was cloudy and threatened rain. That was when I stopped to realize…
I didn't know where the hell I was going.
"Fuck…" I felt like slapping myself. In my haste, I'd forgotten the one, miniscule, unimportant fact that I, Seifer Almasy, had no frickin' sense of direction whatsoever.
(Do you need a helping wing, Seifer Almasy? I'd be more than glad to show the way if you are lost.)
I turned to find the location of the voice, but no one was around. I must have been hearing things…
(No, you are not hearing things, I'm afraid. You are hearing birds. Up here.)
I looked up to see a familiar white bird perched upon a branch, one with very human looking eyes. "Sa-Shenu?"
(Tut, tut…I do not understand humans sometimes. They recognize, but they ask anyway. But I suppose that is wise. A familiar face doesn't always have a familiar name.) She spread her wings and landed perfectly onto my broad shoulder.
"What are you doing here?"
(Well, I was soaring high upon the air pockets that abound the sky over the forest, sailing through the morning mist as its dew gathered on my wings…but then I spotted with surprise a young man. Wielding a gunblade, with deep emerald eyes like the Nile and hair as golden as the sun disc which the ancient Ra sat upon, on his face a scar holding dark memories like the chest of the ancient Seth...I knew it could be none other than Seifer Almasy. It is you, is it not?)
"Yeah."
(My sharp eyes never fail me. Anyway, I saw you searching through the forest in vain, like the ancient Apep searching for a way to destroy the sun. If my intuition does not fail me either, I believe you and I search for the same thing.)
"Kyonae…"
(Yes. If we join forces, we may be able to rescue her before it is too late…)
"Before what's too late? Sa-Shenu, tell me!"
The gorgeous bird stared thoughtfully into my eyes. (I am sorry, Seifer Almasy. A long time ago I made a pact with my mistress…a pact promising I would never reveal her secret to anyone…not even you, I'm afraid. I am sorry. You will have to discover it for yourself. I would rather be shot from the sky and ripped from wing to wing by jackals before I betrayed her trust. You understand, don't you?)
"Yeah. I guess so."
(Good. Then let us move onward.)
"I don't know which way to go."
(Of course, how silly of me. It is that way.)
"How do you know?"
(You'd be surprised how much you can see high up in the air. The soldiers are resting so we should have an easy time getting past them.)
Onward we went, Sa-Shenu perched on my shoulder. I felt a little nervous around this bird, I felt crazy simply by the fact that I was talking to her…
(What is wrong with talking to a bird?) She said suddenly, sounding slightly offended.
"Well-uh-" I flinched, forgetting that she read my thoughts. "Nothing, really. I just never talked to one before."
(A falcon or hawk are the best birds you can speak to, I'm not ashamed to say, if you want to have a civilized conversation. Eagles are too arrogant and boastful, blue jays are cocky and aggressive, and you can't even understand sparrows, for they only squabble…a falcon is dignified and attentive. Owls are the only ones who match us, I suppose. They are wise…)
"Uh, Sa-Shenu, I was wondering. How is it that I can speak to you? I never heard you before."
(Before, you did not hold Kyonae's luck charm in your possession. Any person who holds it has the power to speak to me. But Kyonae can still hear my voice even without it. She hears many voices. Sometimes they tell her things…) Sa-Shenu cut herself short. (But I have spoken too much. Let us keep moving. I sense we are coming near.)
Sure enough we came to a clearing a few moments later. Hiding behind the bushes, we saw a couple of soldiers standing in front of a crudely built tent.
(Kyonae lies within that one,) Sa-Shenu confirmed. (Approach with caution. I will wait here in case something happens.)
"No problem," I said, shrugging. "Leave it to me."
Without fear I casually walked from out of the bush and up to the two soldiers. I acted so normally they didn't notice I was the enemy until I was right in front of them.
"Hey guys, what's up?" I grinned, holding up my hand.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
"What the hell-?"
They both took out their weapons, but I was a mile ahead of them. They hit the ground before they realized they'd even had an accident.
(Bless his self-willed soul…) I heard Sa-Shenu mutter wearily in the brush.
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" I objected. I lifted open the tents' flap and stepped inside.
It was a sorry sight to see. Kyonae lay in the tent, her wrists and ankles bound by rope. She was still and silent.
I came closer and knelt down. The left side of her forehead was spattered in dry blood, looking dark against her pale skin. She was in a cold sweat and her body was trembling as I gently shook her shoulder.
"Oh…" She moaned softly in her sleep, her tone one of pain. Her eyelids fluttered open gradually, revealing her pale cerulean eyes. She peered at me weakly through the dim light. "Seifer…?"
"I was the last time I checked," I smiled slightly, taking out my gunblade and carefully cutting her restraints. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay." There was a strange look in her eyes.
"You sure? You look a little dazed."
She shrugged, smiling tiredly as she rubbed her wrists. "Must've been when I hit the tree. Really, I'm fine. Where's my Talon? Oh here it is."
She grabbed the gunblade from its resting-place a few feet from where she had been lying and tried to get up. But she shot up so fast she stumbled. I caught her just in time. "Careful."
"Whoops! Lost my balance!" she grinned widely. Then she emitted a high-pitched giggle that I had never heard come from her lips before.
"Are you…sure you're all right?"
"I'm wonderful," she said happily. "Let's go."
***
I have never been in such a place. Every good dream I had ever had, from birth till now, ran amok in this fantasy world. Unicorns swept past me chasing flocks of brightly colored birds, mists of colors stood in the air for no reason at all but to exist, and the sky was bright pink and orange. I stood amidst a field of beautiful flowers. The excited laughter of children rang in the air like many bells.
There I stood, gawking at the world around me. Then, I fell back among the sweet smelling flowers that sparkled with dew and laughed. Everything was safe now.
All of a sudden a swarm of children surrounded me, looking scared. One small girl stepped forward to speak for them. I recognized her as Nevina.
"Lady Kyonae! Thou must get up!" she pleaded.
I stood, studying the looks on their faces. "What is wrong?"
"Oh, Lady Kyonae, thou must help us! The Dark Knight draws ever closer, and we are only poor children. Will thou protect us?"
I peered across the flower field to see a knight in the blackest of armor, wielding a large sharp looking sword. His helmet blocked his face as he came nearer. Behind him, a great thundercloud darkened the sky, following him like a dog.
I felt for the handle of my gunblade. The trusty Talon was still there. "Do not worry, dear children. Step aside. I shall protect thee."
They cheered and ran off. I felt a chilling wind against my face as the thundercloud blocked out the warm sun. We stood five feet away from each other.
"Who art thou?" I demanded without fear.
"I shall only tell thee in my death. If thou can defeat me and pull this helmet from my head, thou shall see my face."
"So it be done!" I cried, raising my gunblade.
***
We ran, bolting through the forest of trees and fog until we came to a dirt road, which was just as misty. I couldn't help but feel that Kyonae was acting strangely. She did not even acknowledge the fact that Sa-Shenu was there, and she didn't seem to know where she was going. Sa-Shenu, therefore, perched on my shoulder as we walked.
(I feel there is something wrong with Kyonae, Seifer Almasy. I speak to her and she does not listen. She seems to be in a world of her own.)
"It's probably just nerves. She'll come to her senses soon, I'm sure."
(I do hope you're right.)
Suddenly Kyonae began slowing down. At first I thought she was getting tired and weak, totally understandable in her case, so I held her shoulder and led her along. But then she stopped completely and pushed me very roughly away from her, staring at me with a mix of dark amusement and hate.
"Draw thy sword."
"What? Kyonae, what are you talking about?"
"I'm challenging you to a duel, you fool. A duel to the death. Your death." She drew her own Talon, her eyes glinting murderously in the gently flashing lightning. The sky was dark with thundercloud. "The Kyonae you know is too weak to hurt you, so the true Kyonae-me- has taken over. Are you scared, Almasy? Do your bones tremble as if you are having a nightmare? You should have seen this coming." She rose her gunblade and swiped at me. I jumped back.
"I don't want to fight you."
"No? You would rather die without a fight? Ugh. How cowardly. I hate people who can't fight back. That is why I had to send Kyonae away." She lunged again, but this time I blocked it with my own blade. She kept swiping and I kept dodging and blocking until I fell. That's when Sa-Shenu swept down over us and yelled in my head.
(Seifer Almasy, you must fight!)
"No, I can't…"
(Seifer, a familiar face does not always carry a familiar name! This is not our Kyonae! Something has crept its way inside of her mind! That is what is attacking you, not Kyonae! You must fight! Don't you see it in the eyes?)
I looked up. Sa-Shenu was right. The look in 'Kyonae's' eyes was not her own. It was something else, something wild and evil…
I leapt back up and swung. The creature was stunned by this sudden effort and jumped away. "Ah, you wish to fight now, eh? Perfect! YAH!"
The Dark Knight was strong, but he was burdened by armor so he was slow. I, however, was small and quick compared to him and easily dodged his blows. The wind ripped fiercely through the field of flowers, the lightning flashing and the thunder booming, but no rain.
He was advancing on me, so I quickly leapt aside and jumped behind him. He hadn't known where I had gone. Perfect.
"Thy time has come, Dark Knight. Face me."
He turned on his barreled figure, crying out in surprise as I plunged my gunblade right into the depths of his chest and out the other side.
"Thou hath fought well, sir knight. May thou rest peacefully in thy grave of thine own blood."
I ripped my Talon from him, and he fell backwards onto the soft grass. He was surely dead. The gunblade dripped with blood.
I knelt down beside the Dark Knight's body, and lifted the hood of the helmet to find the Dark Knight's identity.
There was nothing. It was an empty suit of black armor.
"Wha…"
Suddenly Nevina appeared out of nowhere in front of me, pointing a frightened finger behind me. "Lady Kyonae, watch out!"
I turned to see Seifer, his fine golden hair standing out amongst the black clouds, his emerald eyes now full of murderous intentions. He held the Dark Knight's sword in his hand.
Because he was the Dark Knight.
"Don't want to scar your pretty face," he taunted, raising the sword up high. It was transforming into the shape of his Hyperion.
I was frozen. I couldn't move.
"Lady Kyonae! No! No!" Nevina screamed.
But the frightened child's voice dimmed away. The fierce wind forgot to roar again. All sound was blocked from my ears, except for the dreaded sound of the Hyperion swishing upward, preparing to come down like an eagle for its prey. I was trying to get up, but an invisible weight was weighing me down.
The Hyperion came down upon me; there was a flash of light…
***
The rain came pouring down.
The creature inhabiting Kyonae's body had suddenly stopped fighting, stood straight, making Kyonae's eyes go wide and her pupils went as small as pinpricks.
But I had lunged forward with my gunblade anyway, not able to stop.
Now we stood there in silence, the rain hitting the dirt road the only sound. The swipe had caused her head to turn abruptly to the side in fear of being hit. Who was in that body now? The creature, or Kyonae? I held my breath.
She turned her head to face me. Her pale cerulean eyes were clear of any murderous thoughts, only confusion. Kyonae had returned.
Lightning flashed against her pale face, and I saw the damage I had done.
The blood was flowing freely down her cheeks, her nose, her lips, her chin, and her neck, staining her white shirt with awful red. My breath caught in my chest at the sight. I had delivered her a great long slash across her face.
Just like Squall's.
Staring at me expressionlessly, Kyonae rose a trembling hand to touch the wound. She winced painfully, and she shook even more when she saw her blood on her fingertips. Her Talon fell into the mud. Her expression changed into fear as she stepped shakily backward.
"Kyonae…I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…" I stepped forward, reaching for her hand.
Her reaction was uncharacteristic. She backed away quickly, grabbing her hand as if something had burned it, whimpering and stifling sobs.
She was afraid of me.
"Kyonae, come here," I pleaded, outstretching my arms. "I'll take you back to Squall and
Rinoa and everyone else, and we'll get you fixed up…"
"NO!" she screamed. "You just want to kill me!"
"Kyonae…"
"Keep away! Oh Hyne please stay away from me! Please don't hurt me!" she sobbed now. Her blood, tears and the rainwater made a strange combination on her terrified face.
I stood still, not coming any further. She was horrified, terrified, any word for scared that you can think of. She thought I was going to kill her. Sa-Shenu broke the silence.
(Kyonae, listen to me! Can you hear? Seifer Almasy will not-)
"You've been on his side the entire time, haven't you?!" she cried frantically at the bird on my shoulder. "You've both been trying to kill me-"
"Kyonae, that's not true!"
She couldn't even talk anymore. She was too busy crying. The sight of Kyonae down on her knees in the mud, her face in her hands trying to stop the bleeding, sobbing in fear of me…it broke my heart. And I could do nothing but watch.
"What is going on here, my dear?"
We all turned to see a cloaked black figure standing there in the road, her velvety voice protruding from her hood. She was alone.
Kyonae staggered to her feet and tried to stop crying, but she couldn't.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
"It is no business of yours, boy," she answered coldly. "This is between Kyonae and I."
"Don't you dare hurt her!" I said fiercely, stepping between them.
The woman laughed lightly. "Silly boy. Why would I hurt my daughter?"
"Daughter?!"
"Did I stutter? Come near, Kyonae, let me see you."
Kyonae stood still at first, but then took a shaky step toward her. Soon she was running to the woman with all the strength that she could muster, looking ready to faint. But the woman held her up, studying her bloody face.
"My poor Kyonae! What did that barbarian do to you?"
"I don't-know!" she cried. "It was like I was asleep, and then I was fighting a Dark Knight, and all of a sudden- it won't stop bleeding…"
"You are frightened and cold. Do not worry. I shall take you away from this pain. I will bring you back to Dratilia. You will never feel pain again. Please come with me."
I watched as Kyonae looked up into this strange woman's face, listening to her words, as if this was salvation. Sa-Shenu cried loudly. (No, Kyonae, no!)
"I will come with you, Mother," she said finally.
Mother? "No! Kyonae, that isn't your mother! Your mother died giving birth to you! Her name was Raine! Your father is Laguna Loire! Your twin brother-"
"Goodbye, Seifer Almasy," Kyonae said bitterly, not listening to a word I said.
"No! You're not going with her!" I cried. I raised my Hyperion and lunged forward.
The woman held out a hand toward me, and all of a sudden I froze. A stabbing pain filled my head, making me back away and fall into the mud screaming with pain. I heard Kyonae laugh-laugh at my pain.
And when I could finally open my eyes and sit up, they had vanished.
A/N: Is anyone else crying right now besides me? Sniff…I cry just thinking about it. Please read and review if you cried or got the sniffles! Sniff…J
