Part Eighteen

Decaying Garden

Balamb Garden

By the time Seifer Almasy arrived back into Balamb Garden it was obvious that the students and faculty hadn't heard of the impending missile strike. Baralai and the others were nowhere in sight so that left the blond to try and find the Headmaster and explain everything. Axel returned to Seifer's mind after he left him just outside the Garden gates.

The place looked deserted but when Seifer entered the Garden he heard voices yelling and people barking orders about. After traversing the steps Seifer stopped when he reached the top and the entrance into the Garden itself. Students were running into the building, all of them were armed and the white robed guards were yelling for Cid Kramer to be brought to them.

Seifer never did like those guys in white robes. They never talked and when they did it was enough to make your blood you run cold instantly. They wore strange bird-like helmets covering their faces and their faces sounded almost mechanical. Seifer remembered seeing them guarding the Headmaster's office along with the elevator.

They never let anyone down into the basement. Seifer made his way through the front entryway and he reached the front gate. Passing through he stopped when he saw some of the guards chasing after some students with weapons. Seifer felt bile rising in his throat when he saw the monsters from Training Centre roaming the Garden.

Grats spat their poison on the humans around them then the familiar roar of a rampaging T-Rexaur rang out through the Garden. Seifer held Hyperion in both hands before running into the main entrance of the building. What in Hyne's name had happened here?

The robed men used the Grats to attack the students. It didn't matter how old they were. Seifer felt his blood boil when a guard forced a Grat to attack a little girl. She only looked to be eleven at most. Seifer growled then tossed a fireball at the Grat.

"Get the hell away from her." Seifer warned the robed man.

"Seifer Almasy..." the man snarled. "Why have you returned here?"

"I need to find the Headmaster. What the hell is going on here?" Seifer barked.

"Cid Kramer is a threat to us. We're also looking for him. Bring him to us and NORG will reward you greatly." The robed man said.

"Who's NORG? Just tell me what the fuck is going on?" Seifer yelled.

"Are you on our side Almasy?" the man asked stiffly.

"Fuck you." Seifer snarled before bringing Hyperion up in an arch through the man's neck.

"Y-You saved m-me." The girl stammered after a few moments.

"Are you ok?" Seifer knelt down to see if she was injured.

"I'm ok." She nodded.

"Can you tell me where Cid is?" Seifer cast a Cure on her anyway.

"I haven't seen the Headmaster. Nobody knows where he is." The girl sniffed.

"What about the guards." Seifer helped her to stand up. "What happened to them?"

"They just went crazy!" she cried miserably. "They kept telling us that NORG would make everything better if we hand over the Headmaster."

"Ok, go to the Infirmary and stay there ok." Seifer said.

"What about you?" the girl sniffed.

"I'll try to fix this mess." Seifer smirked at her. "Go before more Grats turn up."

"Thank you so much." The girl gave him a watery smile before taking off for the Infirmary.

Now what are we gonna do? Axel questioned.

"Fine Kramer and find out just what the fuck is going on." Seifer muttered angrily.

You wanna summon me to help? Axel offered.

"Make sure the kids are safe ok. Destroy any creatures you find and tell the kids to go to the Infirmary or to stay with the adults. I'll try and find Kramer." Seifer ordered.

You got it boss. Seifer could see that smirk. He summoned up the winged red head.

"If you find Kramer stay with him." Seifer said.

"Watch your back." Axel said before spreading his wings and flying to the top floor.

Seifer made his way to the library first. Maybe some of the students barricaded themselves in there to escape the monsters and the guards. He met up with some Grats on his way to the library but he cut through them like a knife through paper.

Blood, poison and pieces of flesh littered the floor when Seifer was through with the beasts and the way to the library was now free. When the blond entered the room he was greeted to four teenagers holding swords.

"Are you with the guards?" one girl demanded.

"No but I need to talk to the Headmaster now. The Garden is in danger." Seifer explained quickly.

"What are you talking about?" a young boy asked.

"Look the Sorceress is planning to destroy the Garden and I need to talk to Kramer now." Seifer cried.

"The Sorceress?" a girl gulped loudly.

"The last time I saw him he was heading to the Infirmary." A girl said.

"Thank you. Listen, get as many people as you can and get them out of the Garden ok." Seifer ordered and when the teens nodded he left the library.

As he made his way back to the main hall he stopped when he heard fighting coming from the gate. He saw three robed men and some Grats fighting against four people. Zell, Riku, Sora and Baralai were fending off the Grats as best they could while the three robed guards took off for another part of the Garden. Baralai was using his White Magic to protect the others while they defeated the beasts. Seifer made his way to them in time to see Zell finish off the last Grat.

"Are you guys ok?" Seifer asked when he reached them.

"I was slightly off when I teleported here. We ended up a few miles off." Baralai explained.

"Listen, get the students out of the Garden and I'll track down Kramer." Seifer said.

"Is Leon and the others here?" Sora asked.

"Not that I know." Seifer shrugged. "Axel is on the top floor looking for more students."

"What the hell is going on with the guards?" Zell asked.

"They want control of the Garden. They mentioned something called NORG." Seifer answered.

"Where do you want us to look?" Zell asked.

"Look over there." Sora pointed to the elevator. The robed men were guarding it. "What about going to another floor?

"The only place that is forbidden to the students is the basement." Zell explained.

"Do you think you can get us down there?" Riku stated.

"I'm going to get Kramer. You guys see if you can get down to the basement." Seifer turned and took off.

The blond ran towards the Infirmary but stopped when he saw a T-Rexaur stomping towards him. Gritting his teeth Seifer raised Hyperion and attacked the large reptile. He sliced through the thick scaly flesh the used fire to hit the creature in its open mouth.

Seifer was running on adrenaline and it didn't take him long to kill the beast. He sprinted down the corridor that would take him to the Infirmary and hopefully to the Headmaster. Seifer reached the room in time to see Kadowaki examining some children who were cut and bloody.

"Seifer!" the doctor cried when she saw him. "Thank Hyne. Melody told me that you saved her. I can't believe the guards are doing this."

"I need to talk to Cid." Seifer said quickly. "Something bad is coming."

"What is it?" Kadowaki was bandaging up a thirteen year old boy. "What can possibly be worse than this?"

"The Sorceress." Seifer remarked. Kadowaki's face went pale then she cocked her head to one of the private rooms.

"Thanks." Seifer nodded then he approached the door.

"Seifer..." the Headmaster was sitting at a desk going over some papers. "What happened?"

"The Sorceress fucking got away." Seifer hissed angrily. "And she's aiming missiles at the Garden."

"What?" Cid jumped out of his chair.

"Leonhart told some of the others to go into the base and stop the launch. If it goes well then the Garden is safe." Seifer said.

"I can't believe this is happening." The man fell back into his chair.

"Zell, Sora, Riku and Baralai are heading into the basement. Maybe that's where this NORG is." Seifer glanced towards the door.

"What did you say?" Cid breathed. Seifer turned back and stared at his Headmaster. "How do you know about NORG?"

"I heard the guards talking about it." Seifer glared at the spectacled man. "What's going on sir?"

"I'll take you down to NORG. I've kept this a secret for too long." Cid got up from the chair and made his way to the main hall.

"Do you know what's happening?" Seifer demanded. Before Cid could answer Axel landed nearby.

"I told the kids to go to the Infirmary." He reported. "I see you've found the wayward Headmaster."

"We're gonna meet up with Baralai and the others." Seifer commanded Axel to return to his mind so the GF could be rejuvenated.

At least Sora, Riku, Zell and Baralai are safe. Axel breathed out. I hope Roxas and the others are safe.

Seifer said nothing but he silently hoped so too. He followed Cid into the elevator and he noticed the unconscious men lying around the floor. Cid hit the button and the lift started to descend into the basement.

The lift fell into darkness for a few moments and then orange light poured in when the lift came to a complete stop. Seifer spotted Zell, Sora, Riku and Baralai near the lift and they were hiding behind a large marble pillar. Seifer was about to exit the lift when Cid grabbed his arm.

"Let me go first." The Headmaster opened the door and stepped out before Seifer could protest.

"I want to see NORG." Cid stated as he passed by the other hidden four behind the pillar. Seifer joined them quickly.

"So you've finally shown your face Cid Kramer." A mechanical voice asked.

"Stop attacking the students." Cid ordered desperately. "You can have me but don't hurt anyone else."

"You are of no use to me Kramer." NORG growled. "I designed this Garden and by right it is mine to have and control."

"I know Edea asked you to build the Garden but you cannot control it." Cid pleaded. "We need it to stop her."

"The Gardens were guilt to combat the Sorceress threat." NORG roared. "This Garden cannot be controlled by mere humans."

"That's not true. Humans stopped Adel, they can stop this Sorceress." Cid declared. Seifer glanced at the others but was met with confused gazes. What the hell was the Headmaster up to anyway?

"I tried to stop Edea..." Cid murmured brokenly.

"Yes...tell me Kramer, how does it feel knowing that you ordered the assassination attempt on your own wife, the Sorceress?" NORG goaded.

"What the fuck?" Seifer growled.

"Edea isn't my wife anymore." Cid sounded remorseful. "That power corrupted her and I will stop her by any means possible. It's what she wanted me to do before she succumbed to the dark magic."

"And you will use the SeeD? Humans are pathetic creatures. As long as I control this Garden I shall destroy the Sorceress and all who oppose me." NORG proclaimed.

"I won't let you have this Garden NORG. I'll stop Edea with the help of my SeeD. I should've gotten rid of you a long time ago." Cid clenched his fists.

"And do you wish to fight me?" the machine demanded.

"Not him..." Seifer yelled and he stepped out from the pillar along with the others. "But we'll kick your ass."

Note-Ok so in the next chapter I will give a description of NORG and explain more of his role with the Garden. So sorry I took so long in updating but I finally finished FF12. I screamed so loudly when I beat the final boss my parents thought I saw a spider. (I really hate spiders). Also I'm starting a new Kingdom Hearts story after this one. I still haven't come up with a title but here's the basic summary.

For Demyx it was a simple job. Sneak in, grab the jewel, sneak out. Meeting pirates, falling in love with royalty, battling an Empire and saving the world wasn't in the job description.

Take a guess as to what I based this story on? Anyway next update will be very soon.