Chapter Fifteen: Dead Or Alive?

Just then Quistis came in, a pale, shocked look on her face and bloodshot eyes as if she'd been crying. After a few moments, Fujiin, Raijiin, Zell, Selphie, Irvine, Squall, Ellone and Rinoa came in also, looking curious. "What's wrong, Quistis? What happened?" Selphie asked.

Quistis sniffed, her voice thick with tears. "I was in the office-speaking to Headmaster Martine and Cid, and…we got a phone call."

"What's wrong with that?" Zell inquired, sounding stupid.

"Let me finish!" she snapped. "Anyway, we got a phone call, and it was from the Dratilian g-g-government…and…they called to tell us that…that…"

"What, Quistis? What?" Laguna implored impatiently.

"They executed Kyonae!" she sobbed out loud, burying her face into her hands.

There was absolute silence as the group of friends attempted to absorb this new information. Selphie fainted, and Zell had to catch her before she fell to the floor. Irvine placed his hand firmly over his chest, as if this would stop his heart from pounding so fast. Rinoa's jaw dropped in a silent scream and Squall and Ellone had to sit down, all strength leaving them. Laguna's face was one of pure agony. And I…I could only stare at Quistis, mentally pleading that what she said wasn't true.

"Whoa-whoa, Instructor, that's not cool, ya know? Don't joke about things like that, y-ya know?" Raijiin stuttered nervously.

"Who's joking?" Quistis said quietly, sniffing. "They killed her."

"Those Dratilian bastards," Irvine gasped softly.

"RAGE!!!" Fujiin declared.

"How could they do something like that?" Rinoa wondered sadly, shaking her head.

"Yo, Selphie, are you okay?" Zell said, trying to wake up the hyper brunette.

"She never knew she had a family waiting for her…" said Ellone aloud, holding the shell-shocked Squall Leonhart in her arms. "She never knew she had a sister…"

"Or a brother," said Squall tonelessly.

"Or a father…" Laguna whispered, holding his head in his hands.

I could only watch the grievance around me, as I was too shocked yet to feel it. Kyonae? Executed? It didn't make any sense. The Kyonae I knew would never stand for something like execution. Of course, I wasn't sure whether or not the Kyonae I knew was around anymore…

"No," I said softly.

"No? What do you mean, 'no'?" Rinoa said bitterly, wiping away tears.

"No!" I rose my voice, standing up. "Kyonae's not dead! She can't be! She'd never stand for it!"

"Seifer, we know you're upset. We all are. But we have to accept the fact that-" started Quistis.

"There is no fact! " I cut her off, pounding my fist down on the table. Suddenly I heard a tapping at the window. I looked over my shoulder to see the small white figure of Sa-Shenu tapping her sharp beak against the glass. Quickly I ran over and opened the window, and she flew in, a fearing and foreboding look in her deep blue eyes.

"A bird!" Selphie exclaimed, waking up from her faint.

"A falcon," I corrected, grabbing the falcon necklace from Laguna. "H-hey!" he protested. "What was that voice?"

As soon as the metal figurine touched my fingers, Sa-Shenu's frightened voice filled my mind.

(Seifer Almasy! Thank the gods I've found you! Have you heard the news?)

"Yeah, I've heard. Is it- is it true?" I asked her hopefully, though the others watched me as if I had three heads.

"He's talking to the bird," Zell murmured.

"He's gone nuts," Irvine agreed.

(I do not know. It is very confusing, Seifer Almasy, and frightening…I cannot feel her life force anymore, but I have this feeling…like she's not dead, nor alive…whatever has happened, it has been something terrible!)

"Seifer, do you need to lie down?" Rinoa asked worriedly.

"Don't worry, Sa-Shenu. She was taken to Dratilia and whether she's alive or…or dead, we'll find her there. And Sorceress Maika."

Sa-Shenu gazed sadly upon me. (So, you have finally figured it out, have you? Yes. Maika is the one who you shall have to look out for. She is a very powerful sorceress, Seifer Almasy…stronger than Edea…than Adel…and when her powers are fully unleashed, she will be even stronger than Ultimecia herself. You cannot even begin to comprehend the things that she's capable of. Be careful, Seifer Almasy, be careful…)

"What caused her to be like this?" I had to ask.

The noble bird did not answer me right away, her bright blue eyes reflecting in mine. (She lost her only daughter to a traitor. Maika was once a very loving person…but the loss of loved ones can make the warmest heart grow cold and hard. She wanted revenge and dedicated her life and soul to sorcery. Then she saw Kyonae, just a small girl, who looked almost exactly like her daughter…) She went silent, not able to say anymore.

"How do you know all this?" I asked quietly.

(Seifer Almasy…I can tell you only this. I owe Kyonae more than I can ever repay. I vowed I would keep her secret forever within my beak. But I can tell you my secret…I have been a falcon all my life, but I wasn't always a falcon.)

"What…"

Before I could ask what she meant, she had flown out the window and out into the night.

"What the hell was that all about?" Irvine muttered.

"I'm going to Dratilia," I ignored him. "Who's coming with me?"

Everyone just stared, thinking I'd gone crazy. Even Fujiin and Raijiin had their doubting looks, and who could blame them? But then one person stepped up to me, the one person I hadn't expected: Squall. His face was grim and pale blue-gray eyes were shadowed with silent hate, for once not directed at me. "Seifer, if you have forgotten, we're still SeeDs. We need to be assigned to go on a mission."

"Then I say we assign ourselves!" I retorted haughtily, raising my fist into the air. "Come on, Squall. She's your sister! Are you just going to sit back and watch her get killed, just because it's against orders?"

Squall lowered his head in what looked like a mix of shame and thoughtfulness. Then, after a brief moment, he rose to meet my eyes, a small, somewhat mischievous smile on his lips I had never seen before, his face full of confidence. "Where is this Dratilia?"

A/N: That was so short it disgusted even me! But don't worry, Ch.16 will be loads better. Please R/R!