A/N: Damn, that chapter broke my review-receiving record… Twenty for one chapter?! You guys are all magnificent. Love ya all! sends kisses to everyone
Most of you found one of the movie references, which was from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes back. Don't you just love Han and Leia? : ) They remind me of Sei and Quis on the bickering part… To anyone who missed that reference, too, it was the following dialogue:
"Let go."
"Shh."
"Let go, please."
"Don't get excited."
"Commander, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me excited."
"Sorry, sweetheart. We haven't got time for anything else."
It's exactly the same, only Leia says 'Captain'.
The other one (which no-one found) was from a movie starring Harrison Ford again : ) It's called Six days, Seven Nights. Dialogue 'borrowed' is:
"I'm sorry…"
"For kissing me?"
"No… For this."
On a final note, much credit goes to Chris for this chapter, as we worked a great deal to reach a conclusion onto who the Knight would be. So I hope our work won't go to waste and that you'll enjoy this.
Last chapter summary: The final battle between the two Gardens commences. Quistis and Seifer are the first to reach G-Garden and right when they're about to infiltrate it, Seifer betrays Quistis but putting her to sleep and enters the Garden alone…
A second chance
By: Sickness in Salvation
Chapter 25: The Sorceress's Knight
"Listen Quistis… I… I just… I just want you to know…"
His green eyes, looking at her as if they'd never looked at anything before…
- "Quisty… Quisty, wake up!"
His strong arms, wrapping around her in a tight embrace, as if he'd never truly held anyone before.
- "How do you remove a Sleep spell?"
- "Dunno… It usually wears off if you're hit in battle…"
His lips, touching her own as if they'd never touched another pair before…
- "OK… So slap her around a bit… That should do it…"
- "YOU slap her around a bit!"
- "What? Are you afraid of her?! We need to wake her up and go after Seifer!"
"I'm sorry…"
The smell of his masculine perfume as her face pressed against the crook of his neck… Sweat, perfume and his natural scent all mixed together…
- "Grrr… That rotten bastard! I knew I shouldn't have trusted him!"
- "Will you both stop it?! We're losing time!"
Her eyes shutting in dejection. Why was he sorry? It had all felt so…desperate, emotional… Her lips trembled as she spoke a phrase whose answer she dreaded…
"For kissing me?"
"No… For this."
- "I'm tellin' Zell to slap her babe, but he won't do it!"
And then… Betrayal…
- "Clearly, you've never been on the other end of Quistis's whip… Do you have any idea how pissed she'll be if she wakes up and I'm slappin' her?!"
He left her… Left her alone… He'd used them all to get to her…
- "OH, FOR THE LOVE OF HYNE!"
Her eyelids fluttered open. The bright light stung her eyes and her vision blurred for a second. She blinked and opened her eyes half-way this time. Her peers were standing over her; Selphie, Irvine and Zell. They hadn't even noticed she had woken up.
- "I'm up…" Quistis mumbled wearily.
All three heads turned to her side immediately.
- "Quisty!" Selphie exclaimed "Are you alright?!"
- "Did that bastard hit you?" Zell asked, his eyes narrowing to slits.
- "Calm down…" Quistis muttered, resting her bodyweight onto her elbows.
- "What happened? Why did Seifer leave?" Irvine asked.
- "I… I don't know… He just told me her was sorry, cast a Sleep spell on me and left…" Quistis replied, shaking her head.
- "What's going on here?"
Quistis and her three peers turned around, only to find Squall and Rinoa standing above them.
- "Rinoa!" Selphie squealed "You're OK!" she added, jumping up and wrapping her arms around her friend's neck.
- "Oh, thank Hyne…" Quistis said, sighing in relief.
- "I'm fine," Rinoa said, as she freed herself from Selphie's grasp "But what happened here? Why are you all gathered outside?"
- "Where's Seifer?" asked Squall.
Awkward silence spread all over the small group. Squall and Rinoa turned to look at each other questioningly.
- "He's not…" Squall began.
- "Dead?" Rinoa finished for him, voice barely audible, face pale.
- "No, no…" Quistis replied, shaking her head in negation "He just… left."
- "What do you mean 'left'?" Squall asked, narrowing his blue eyes.
- "He left." Quistis repeated, shrugging "He told me he was sorry, cast a Sleep spell on me and ran inside."
Squall pursed his lips, sighing. His normally calm facial features turned into a vicious frown.
- "That damned fool…" he mumbled, storming inside the building before them.
The young Commander's instincts shifted into alert the moment he walked inside the Main Hall. Galbadia Garden was completely empty; all their forces were gathered outside, in the heated battlefield. He approached the Directory only feet away from him and scanned it.
There was only one place the Sorceress could be…
Squall rushed inside the Auditorium, closely followed by his comrades. The six young fighters stopped on their tracks, looking around the great chamber bewildered. Suddenly, the atmosphere inside the Auditorium became very heavy. As if arranged, all six of them backtracked, forming a circle, each covering their backs, pulling out their weapons. An eerie silence spread all over them. It was so quiet, that one could almost hear the picked up heartbeat of six hearts, beating together. One could almost hear the trickles of sweat, running down everyone's faces and spines. And then, it happened.
The glass roof above them shattered into pieces, making everyone move aside. Out of the great crack on the roof, a slender figure clad in black descended into graceful flips, still in mid-air; Sorceress Edea. The woman twirled with admirable elegance, then, like a feline animal, landed onto her two feet onto the podium, only feet above them. She opened her amber eyes and looked at each and every one of them, now lined in front of her.
- "So… The time has come." she spoke, in her rich, deep, feminine voice "You're the legendary SeeDs destined to face me?"
Her lips upturned and she threw her head back, erupting into booming laughter. She brought her head back forward, becoming serious all of a sudden.
- "I must say that I'm impressed." she said, in a mocking tone "…An impressive nuisance. Your life ends here, SeeDs. Let me introduce… my Knight."
The sound of footsteps could be heard. Someone was approaching from behind the podium upon which Edea was standing. A tall figure appeared behind the shadows, slowly becoming more and more visible as he loomed forward.
Six pairs of eyes widened.
Quistis felt her breath dying within her throat and her heart stopped beating for a split second.
- "No…" she whispered breathlessly.
Seifer tightened his grip on Hyperion and leered down to all six of his peers, a superior expression spread on his face. His eyes were cold, dark, distant and spoke of determination. His stature, rigid, firm. His weapon at the ready, shining in its silver glory among the shadows that spread like back veils around him.
The Sorceress's Knight…
- "You'll have to get past me first." he spoke in a gruff voice.
Squall was the first to snap out of his trance and approached Seifer.
- "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he hissed at him.
- "Fulfilling my duty as a Knight…" Seifer replied, still as calm and serious as ever.
- "She's our enemy!" Squall spat back "How could you betray everyone like that?!"
- "The only person who can't be a considered a traitor in this room is me." Seifer replied, narrowing his green eyes "I'm only doing what all of us should be. Protecting the woman who raised us as if we were her own."
- "Do you think she even remembers you?" Squall asked him sarcastically "Or any of us?"
He knew the answer long before Seifer was able to phrase it. The coldness and hurt in his eyes betrayed it.
- "She will." Seifer replied eventually.
- "She won't." Squall persevered "And you know it. End this now Seifer. You're one of us."
Seifer turned away and looked at everyone else standing behind Squall. His eyes traveled onto each and every one of them, meeting with either unspoken pleas or anger. But he didn't care…
The only thing he did care about, was a pair of blue eyes, looking back at him with disdain only for a split second, before turning away.
'It's too late for me now Squall…' he mentally replied to his former peer 'Even if I do come back now… I've lost her.'
Enough play. Show them what you're capable of…
Edea's voice echoed inside his head. He nodded firmly.
As you wish, my lady.
The Sorceress's lip upturned into a sardonic smile.
Now destroy them… Start with him…
Seifer raised Hyperion at shoulder height and brought the tip in front of Squall's throat.
- "On your guard, Leonhart." he ordered.
Years and years of endless rivalry immediately ceased to remain stagnant in childish levels and reached their climax at that moment. It was time to settle old scores once and for all…
Squall took a couple of steps back and drew out his own gunblade. There was an unspoken agreement among everyone to step aside. This was between the Commander and the newly appointed Knight.
Squall watched his opponent attempt a smirk and raise his hand, beckoning him to come forward. His pose was grimly familiar, a reminder of one fateful dawn out in the rocky slopes of Balamb, when they were both scarred for life by each other's hand. Only this time, the blond's eyes didn't hold the same spark and innate arrogance, but carried themselves with fear and dejection.
- "Come at me, then." Seifer spoke again.
Squall took a deep breath and lunge towards the blond Knight. He twisted his Twin Lance in one arm and brought it down to Seifer's face. The blond countered Squall's attack with ease and the first set of sparks flew as the two weapons collided. The two young men remained solid in position, eyes locking, both not moving a single inch. What seemed like countless moments passed before Squall felt a shooting pain in his stomach, a result of Seifer's knee making hard contact with the brown-haired boy's abdomen. Squall stepped backwards, holding his aching area with one hand in comfort. Seifer stood up straight, bringing his Hyperion once again up to shoulder length, waiting for Squall's next move.
'So… He wants to play it rough?' Squall thought, staring at his enemy's expressionless gaze 'I'll show him rough.'
- "Blizzara!" Squall yelled, extending his left arm towards Seifer.
A bluish-white aura escaped his fingers, rushing its way towards the blond. Seifer moved his Hyperion forward just in time, partly shielding himself from the Ice spell which was destroyed before it was even formed. Seifer felt his cheeks and neck chill rapidly and form tiny crystals on his tanned complexion, which soon began to melt into trickles of water from body heat. The cold rivulets of water traveled down Seifer's skin, as the blond recovered from the diversion Squall had attempted to create, in order to gain time.
And he had succeeded.
Within the blink of an eye after the spell was cast, the young Commander was already inches away from his lifelong rival, engaging into a new attack with his gunblade. Seifer reacted barely in time, but the intensity of the blow threw him backwards and onto the floor, back-first. The tall blond winced and groaned once he made hard contact with the marble beneath him, but lost no time as he saw his opponent approaching once again. Still lying down, he swung his legs onto the air, aiding his torso up. His tall frame would have made such a move quite a struggle, if it weren't for the almost fifteen years of practice that adorned his record in Garden. While in mid-air, he pushed his body forward, ending up standing on his feet in a cat-like move.
There was no time to plan another move however, as Squall was already before him, bringing down his gunblade with tremendous speed. Seifer took a step back, swinging his gunblade forward as well. This time, Hyperion won the fight, by ramming onto Twin Lance, bringing it down to scratch the floor furiously. Squall and Seifer remained on their feet, bent over, their weapons plunged into a minor hole on the floor. They took a moment to look at each other, breathing heavily, the first traces of sweat making their way down their bodies.
The Shumi monks of Northern Trabia say that you only truly know someone if you fight them.
And these two men knew each other too well. Well enough to anticipate every move the other made and counter it skillfully. They knew each other's strengths and weaknesses; Seifer had the advantage of one more year on his shoulders, a year of SeeD training to be exact, a taller, more built frame, a biting demeanor and a heart full of fury. Squall on the other hand, had a shorter frame that allowed him to move much quicker, a patient spirit and a calm, tranquil mind. A mind which was now screaming back at him to never leave his guard, as Seifer was prone to resort to less 'honorable' methods if stuck in a tough spot.
Too late.
The heel of the Knight's boot found its way onto Squall's chin with admirable velocity, sending the latter a fair amount of steps backwards and earning him an aching chin to accompany the now dull pain in his stomach. He only had less than a second to regroup and plan his next move after Seifer's booming voice filled the Auditorium.
- "Thundaga!"
A sliver of yellowish light slithered through the air and onto the floor beneath Squall's boots. The brown-haired Commander followed his instinct and jumped to his side, right before the space under him cracked upon and a surge of electricity rose up towards the ceiling furiously. Still in mid-air, he lowered his palms onto the floor, rolling down and rising up to his feet with ease. With a primal cry, Seifer lunged forward, slashing the air between them with Hyperion.
Every move happened in thunderous speed, in fluid, liquid motion. A grin crept upon Edea's features as she watched her two puppets engage into a dance-like battle.
The dance of war and destruction.
In a moment of heat and madness, Squall's clear state of mind was clouded from his battle intuitions. He felt the adrenaline fill him to the core and sensed his arms growing stronger, faster. He wasn't taken by surprise to see Seifer's already fiery spirit go literally berserk as well. He almost didn't think any more; just drove his gunblade forward again and again, as if he was born to do nothing else in life.
Without realizing it, Squall's fist clenched and made hard contact with Seifer's jaw, momentarily ceasing the swordfight. The blond muttered a curse and stepped back. Wiping his bleeding lip with his free palm, he spat to the ground, ridding his mouth from the blood that had concentrated inside. He leered at his opponent, seeing upon him a reflection of his own current state. Damp hair now clung on both flushed faces, their bodies had become slick and were glistening with sweat and their breathing was uneven.
Narrowing his eyes, Seifer plunged the ever-so-sharp edge of Hyperion down to the marble floor, piercing it without the smallest amount of effort. Freeing both his hands, he removed his long trench coat, tossing it haphazardly to the side. Squall followed his lead, discarding his leather jacket, wiping his moist face dry with his white, cotton T-shirt. He grasped Twin Lance with both gloved hands firmly once again, sprinting forward.
More sparks flew at the clash of the weapons, as the two men engaged into a vicious game of swordplay once more. As the moves they performed grew more ferocious with each passing moment, it became clear that this battle wasn't going to be judged by their skills with a gunblade, but by their knowledge of combined combat and magic tactics.
Deciding to use Seifer's upper bareness to his advantage, Squall pushed his opponent backwards with all the might he could muster and brought one free arm forward.
- "Fira!"
A loud cry of pain echoed among the walls as Seifer fell to the floor with a set of nasty burns on his forearms. Hyperion hadn't been able to shield him fully from the spell. As he hit the ground, the blond felt the anger seep deeper within him. Opening up his emerald eyes into a murderous expression, he used his position to tackle his rival as he dashed towards him. Squall tripped, falling with his turn onto the floor. Seifer lost no time in rising up to his feet and, grabbing Hyperion's handle with both gloved hands, he brought it down to the ground.
Squall rolled away only seconds before the marble next to him shattered and aided himself up as Seifer unstuck his gunblade from the floor. The Commander swiftly swung Twin Lance low, aiming for Seifer's legs, but the blond was fast enough to react. Jumping up, it was his turn to swing Hyperion across the air before him. Squall ducked, avoiding the blow. He held his weapon tightly and raised it quickly behind his head, as Seifer's gunblade aimed for his back this time.
More sparks, and another swing from the blond, who spun almost in a three-sixty in position, bringing Hyperion to Squall's chest this time. The latter countered the attack once more, by bringing his gunblade in front of his chest, but Seifer's strong and rapid combo made him lose his balance once again. Moving one free arm backwards, Squall prevented his fall, performing a backward flip which brought him back onto his feet. He ducked once again, avoiding yet another slash of Hyperion.
The moment he rose up again though, he met with a strong kick from Seifer, which landed right onto the side of his head. The world momentarily spun around him and without realizing it, he was kneeling on the floor.
Seifer twisted back in place on one leg, then brought down the other one. He'd finally brought his opponent in a position of weakness. He could almost taste the flavor of victory as he brought Hyperion down one last time.
Time stopped for Squall as he found himself getting engaged into another one of Fate's cruel games. A scene of déjà-vu replayed before his eyes, when Hyperion raced down at him once more. Only he was certain that this time the blood to be shed would not belong to a minor scar…
- "ENOUGH!"
Seifer turned around behind him as he felt Hyperion being held back tightly. Squall followed his lead, releasing the breath he didn't know he had been holding, looking at the slender figure standing behind them both.
A tight, stiff, yellowish 'rope' was tied around the blade of Hyperion, belonging to none other than Quistis Trepe.
The blonde was holding her Save the Queen firmly, her face livid, enraged. She was tired of watching two men who held a special place in her heart struggle to spill each other's blood. She was tired of waiting patiently for tragedy to take place before her very eyes.
She was going to end this.
Right then and there…
With a swing, Quistis yanked Hyperion away from Seifer's grasp and closed the distance between them in two long strides. Digging one hand into the waistband of his jeans, she drew out what appeared to be a long and extremely sharp blade. Thrusting it into his grasp, she brought the sharp edge of it right next to her neck and looked at him straight in the eyes. She was breathing heavily and her eyes were glistening with tears threatening to spill any minute now.
- "Do it." she hissed at him.
Seifer stared at her, bewildered.
- "You wanted to kill us all? Then be my guest, Almasy. Do it. Start with me." she repeated firmly, never breaking eye contact with him.
Seifer's breathing became uneven. He swallowed with difficulty and his grip on the blade became shakier and unsteady.
- "Come on, then." Quistis said in a daring manner "Do it. Do it, because I can't even stand looking at you anymore, knowing that you'd sell your soul and betray us all for a dream so cheap." she spat at him venomously.
Seifer's jade eyes widened at those words. And for some reason, they just hurt so much coming from her. She'd once said she believed in him. But now she came and told him right to his face that he was disgusting her. And then it hit him; was he disgusting himself?
- "What are you waiting for?" she hissed at him.
She's toying with your mind… Kill her…
- "Seifer, stop this madness!"
- "Let her go!"
- "Quistis, don't tempt him!"
Kill her…
- "Go on, Almasy. What are you afraid of? Kill me!"
Seifer looked around him, bemused. Everything around him was going crazy; everyone else was yelling either to him to stop and snap out of it or to Quistis to stop provoking him, Quistis was shouting at him, daring him, Edea was whispering inside his head, urging him to kill Quistis…
That wasn't what he dreamed this would be like. Being a Sorceress' Knight was supposed to be about him, protecting someone in need; not following a deranged woman, who wanted to exterminate the people she once considered children and gain power over the world by enslaving humanity. But no… That was what everyone else thought about Edea. He knew better though; she was their Matron, the woman who came closest to what any of them could call a 'mother'. He knew her better than them and he had to protect her… He had to protect his childhood memories… But… In order to do that… In order to protect his past, he had to destroy his present… His future…
- "DO it!" Quistis shouted at him, tears now streaming down her eyes.
She'll only be getting into your way… You don't have to sense any confusion anymore… Destroy her!
- "Almasy, don't do it!"
- "Seifer! I know you're not like that!"
- "Let her go!"
- "Quistis, step back!"
- "Don't let that witch toy with your mind!"
They're all just trying to hold you back! Kill her!
- "DO IT!" Quistis yelled, breathing though clenched teeth.
KILL HER!
- "Seifer, don't!"
- "DO IT, DAMN YOU!!" Quistis yelled.
Seifer shut his eyes and covered his ears with both palms, letting out a scream. He couldn't take this anymore; he was going insane. Quistis pulled the blade back on her throat.
- "Quisty, what are you doing?!"
- "NO!"
KILL HER, YOU USELESS FOOL!!!
- "DO IT!! I DON'T WANT TO LIVE KNOWING YOU HAVE FALLEN SO FUCKING LOW!" Quistis screamed at him, now wailing in tears.
He was left with no choice.
It all happened within a heartbeat. Seifer opened his eyes and pulled the knife out in a battle position, narrowing his eyes at her. Quistis looked at him with an expression of mixed terror and relief. She closed her eyes, brushing her hair aside with one hand, waiting for the inevitable to happen. Squall's eyes widened.
- "QUISTIS!" he shouted, making a move to run towards them.
Seifer's blade swung to the side. The blond tightened the grip of his gloved hand on the handle and brought the blade back in, speeding it down to Quistis' bare neck. The blonde took a deep, but wavering breath.
- "Remember me." Seifer whispered to her.
Quistis opened her eyes suddenly. The knife slashed the air, speeding dangerously down to her neck. Less than half an inch away, Seifer brought his other hand forward, grasping the handle with both palms now. Within the blink of an eye, he turned it around.
- "NO!" Quistis screamed, trying to push the gunblade away.
She wasn't able to move it more than an inch.
SLASH!
Blue and green eyes widened at the same time.
- "Ahh…" came Seifer's low, sharp, hardly audible voice.
His eyes closed half way down and he felt his knees weak. He sank down, still gripping tight onto the blade, his knuckles white.
- "No…" Quistis whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.
The room had gone awfully silent… Seifer fell down to the floor, back first, feeling the cold blade of the sword move within his insides again. He hissed and winced.
- "Oh Hyne, Seifer…" Quistis whimpered, falling down on her knees by his side.
The blond's vest was stained with a great crimson spot on the left side. He was holding the area where the knife had penetrated him with both hands, eyes half open, breath shallow. His vision was getting hazy… He felt someone drag him for a while, then settle him down. He sensed one hand on his forehead. Another one on his chest.
- "Seifer? Seifer, stay with me!"
Pitiful… Worthless excuse of a Knight…
- "Come on… Cura!"
Seifer gasped as a surge of pure energy surrounded him, making his blood race in his veins for a second and his back arch, then fall back down.
I should have known you'd never be of any use to me…
- "Oh Hyne… Selphie! I don't have any more Curas! Help me here!"
I'm no longer willing to pursue you. Traitor… You and this woman have stalled me enough…
And I know someone else who will help me fulfill my plans… Whether she likes it, or not…
- "No, don't pull the blade out! It'll maximize the blood loss! Give me an Elixir, quick!"
He felt his lips being pressed open. He swallowed with difficulty the fluid within the bottle that was forced against his half-open mouth. His eyes rolled back and his veins went on fire the moment the fluid reached his stomach. He let out a weary sigh.
- "Seifer, don't give up! Stay with me, Seifer! Stay with me!"
He blinked. A hand ran through his hair. Within his blurry vision, he could make out a waterfall of the most beautiful honey blond, and a pair of startlingly cerulean orbs.
- "Quisty…" Seifer barely spoke, hoarsely.
- "Seifer?! Can you hear me?" Quistis spoke desperately.
- "I… I… I'm glad…" he muttered.
- "Hyne, Seifer… Shh… Don't speak. Don't strain yourself…" she said softly, caressing his forehead.
- "What is he saying? I can't hear him!"
- "SHH!"
- "I'm glad… that… you'll… you'll be…" he said, hissing "I'm glad that…you'll be the… the last thing… last thing… I see…"
- "SEIFER, NOOOOO!"
A/N: The original idea was that Seifer would plunge Hyperion into his stomach, but Chris was observant enough to tell me that it would be quite impossible for him to turn a three-foot sword around in the close space between him and Quistis. So he suggested a knife, which I later on had Seifer carry from the previous chapter. So yet more credit for him
ON THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'A SECOND CHANCE':
I think I've already said this but…
Hehe… Yeah, right! :-p