Part Twenty Four

Galbadia Vs Balamb

Balamb Garden

Cloud Strife wasn't the kind of man to easily show what he was feeling. It was a miracle that he and Leon ended up together considering their stoic natures but despite his often cold attitude Cloud could easily tell what other people were feeling.

It didn't take a genius to figure out Seifer had had his heart broken and that drinking excessively was a way to numb his emotions. Cloud knew all too well that drinking could never solve anything. When Zack died he had drunk alcohol until he forgot his own name...but he could never forget Zack. Leon helped to heal that pain along with his best friend Tifa Lockhart. The blond swordsman approached the door then he knocked a few times.

When no one came to the door Cloud pushed it open and stepped into the dimly lit room. He noticed that the place was just as he had left it last night. Clothes were strewn everywhere and broken pottery and furniture lay all over the place. Cloud shook his head as he spotted the empty bottles of whiskey lying around.

Cloud walked on through the mess and stopped when he came to Seifer's bed area. The blond was lying on his stomach, an empty bottle in his hand and the sound of his soft snoring filled the room. Cloud shook his head then approached the man. He could understand that Seifer was hurting but right now there was a war about to erupt.

"Seifer get up." Cloud commanded. When Seifer didn't budge Cloud started to shake him forcefully.

"Go away..." the man muttered painfully.

"I know you're hurt Seifer but right now you have a job to do." Cloud replied as he grabbed the bottle.

"I'm taking the rest of the fucking week off." Seifer snarled as he sat up.

"Squall and the others have gone to Edea's house. He told us about your connection to the Sorceress." Cloud answered.

"And what should I do about it?" the Gunblader asked angrily.

"Look they need you out there as well as the Phoenix." Cloud pointed out. "You can wallow in self-pity later but there's a war coming."

"And that's my problem?" Seifer walked into the bathroom.

"Seifer, it's everyone's problem. You need to move your ass now." Cloud crossed his arms.

"My head feels like it's gonna spilt apart." Seifer moaned when he emerged from the bathroom.

"Excessive drinking will do that to you." Cloud remarked. "Cid wants you up on the observation deck now."

"Shit..." Seifer muttered as he grabbed Hyperion. "I need to ask Kadowaki for some painkillers."

"Listen...I'm sorry about Squall." Cloud said when the two of them walked down the empty corridor towards the main hall.

"Yeah well I'm used to being disappointed when it comes to him." Seifer snorted.

"That sucks." Cloud snorted.

"I really don't give a fuck anymore." Seifer shrugged. "Squall doesn't want anything to do with me then I'll live with that."

"Still I feel bad for you." Cloud said gently.

"At least you've got Leon. He's a nice guy." Seifer replied with a hint of a smile.

"Yeah..." Cloud smiled wistfully.

"So when are the others getting back from Edea's place?" Seifer questioned.

"When they sort out their memoires they'll be back." Cloud replied.

"Maybe I should go there too. It's been a long time since I've seen that place." The Gunblader said wistfully.

"How did you end in that place anyway?" the spiky haired swordsman asked.

"My parents died." Seifer answered. Cloud looked bad for saying it but Seifer waved him off. "They died in front of me. I was sent to Edea."

"My mom died when Sephiroth burned my home town to the ground." Cloud muttered.

"Sorry man." Seifer said truthfully.

"The others are in Cid's office." Cloud walked to the elevator. "They want to talk about the Galbadia situation."

"Fine...Axel wants to see Roxas anyway." Seifer walked into the elevator.

The two blond men ascended towards the Headmaster's office in silence. Axel was trying to take care of Seifer's headache but the pounding sensation wouldn't die down for a moment. He made a silent vow never to drink this badly again. Once they reached the third floor they entered the office were Cid stood near the window.

Seifer had summoned Axel up before entering the office and the red head was gliding towards Roxas as Cid spoke to them. He wanted to take care of the Galbadian situation and find a way to cut off the Sorceress from her army. The Headmaster wanted Squall to lead the attack now that he had been made Commander.

"Sir there's something on the radar." Nida called from the flight controls.

"What is it?" the Headmaster walked behind the pilot.

"There's something approaching from the south." Nida pointed to the green blip on the screen. "You should be able to see it through the observation window."

"I can see something." Sora called out. He had found a pair of binoculars lying next to the desk.

"What can you see?" Riku asked.

"I think...I think it's a Garden." Sora handed the binoculars to Cid.

"Hyne...it's Galbadia Garden." He threw the binoculars away and ran to the intercom. "All students this is the Headmaster. Prepare for an immediate attack."

"We need to get Squall and the others back." Baralai was already heading for the exit. "I'll warn them."

"Riku, Sora I need you two to go to the second floor classrooms and find the children. Keep them safe." Cid ordered.

"We won't let you down sir." Sora motioned for Riku to follow him.

"What can we do?" Ienzo asked.

"You and Roxas can go to the first floor and organize the students. Make sure they have the means to defend themselves." Cid replied.

"Right." Cloud nodded then he, Leon and Ienzo left the room.

"What can I do?" Roxas spoke up.

"If they come in from above we'll need someone up there to hold them off. Seifer, you take Phoenix and go with Roxas." Cid ordered quickly.

"Let's go." Seifer motioned for Roxas and Axel to follow him out.

"I can reach the roof from here." Axel pointed to the open observation window. "I'll meet you up top."

"Ok." Seifer nodded as his GF flew off.

"May Hyne protect us." Cid murmured as he watched as the red coloured Galbadian Garden approached them.

The Garden was in chaos. The more mature students were already armed with various weapons while the teachers helped them get into groups. Leon and Cloud were giving some of the students the more basic rules of handling a sword. Ienzo had gone after Sora and Riku to the classrooms to help get the kids to a safer place.

The Training Centre was sealed off to prevent the monsters from escaping. Baralai had brought Squall and the others back just in time. Nida had to control the Garden so that it was heading towards the Galbadian Garden. Squall had taken Zell and Selphie with him to the top floor while Irvine, Quistis and Rinoa went to help Cloud and Leon with mobilising the students.

The Galbadian forces decided to come in via the air. Once the red Garden got close enough vents opened up along the building and soldiers on vehicles were able to take them along the mechanical runways and out into the air. The bikes were designed for brief air flight and the Galbadians managed to reach the upper floors. Some came in via the windows that led into the classrooms.

Ienzo, Sora and Riku were already there and Ienzo called up Siren to unleash a tidal wave of fury upon the invaders. On the roof of Balamb the Phoenix raised his hands and created a thick shield made from white hot fire. When the Galbadians flew into the shield they were incinerated instantly. Seifer didn't know how long his GF would last though against the continuous assault.

Nida scrambled with the controls when the red Garden rammed into Balamb. He flew the Garden towards a thickly wooded area around the southern part of the continent but his red opponent followed him wherever he went. Nida swore loudly when the red building crashed into him again and he lost control for a moment.

Whoever was flying Galbadia was better than him. At this rate he would have no choice but to land. He didn't want the damn Garden crashing. As soon as the white Garden hit the ground the red one followed suit and a ground assault happened. Leon and Cloud were waiting on the bottom floor for the invaders along with Quistis, Irvine and Rinoa. Squall, Zell and Selphie made it to the roof just as Axel's shield failed.

"Here they come!" Zell pointed towards the incoming soldiers.

"Are you ok?" Roxas fell to Axel's side. He was breathing harshly from using the shield.

"I'll be fine Roxy. Just make sure you don't go dying on me." Axel smirked.

"That assault took a lot outta him." Seifer commented. "I'll have to call him back."

"I can still fight!" the red head objected.

"You staved off three attacks Axel. You're exhausted." Seifer didn't wait for Axel to complain. He called the GF back.

"Look out!" Selphie called just as the next wave hit.

Roxas and Seifer attacked first. Their weapons clashed with their enemies while Squall, Zell and Selphie took on some more soldiers. Roxas used Oblivion and Bond of Flames to slice through the torrent of attacks. Seifer swing Hyperion with all the strength he possessed and he cut a path through. Some Galbadians fell over the side of the Garden but they managed to split the group up. Squall, Zell and Selphie backed away towards the door as they struggled to prevent the Galbadians from getting inside.

Roxas was separated from Seifer during the scuffle and the small blond ended up on the centre of the roof. Scowling he cut through the men before him with ease. It seemed that slaughtering countless Heartless and battling Riku had done wonders for his fighting skills after all.

Seifer was pushed back against the ledge of the roof. Just as he defeated his final opponent Zell looked up in time to see a small missile being fire from the red Garden. He yelled at Seifer to run but the blond was too late in moving. He jumped away in time just as the missile hit but he was still standing on a piece of the roof that was now falling away.

"Seifer!" Roxas ran to reach the blond man.

"Roxas get away from there!" Selphie cried. The roof fell away and Seifer fell off the edge.

"Dammit!" Squall yelled and he ran to the edge with Roxas. Glancing down they saw Seifer had landed on a piece of metal that was beginning to loosen under his weight.

"We'll look for a rope." Zell shouted back as he and Selphie took off into the building.

"I can't hold on..." Seifer moaned as his arms began to go numb. His body was already dangling over the outcrop.

"Don't you fucking let go Almasy." Squall warned.

"Ahhh! The blond man yelled when his hand fell against a piece of hot metal that sliced his flesh open through the black leather glove he wore.

"No!" Roxas screamed when Seifer drew back his hand and his body fell towards the battlefield below.

As he fell Seifer reached into his own mind and drew Axel from his rest. The Phoenix came forth in a flurry of dancing flames and his wings spread out beneath him. He flew underneath Seifer and grabbed hold of his body.

When they hit the ground Seifer felt the air leave his body in one go and he rolled through the dirt as Axel held onto him from behind. Crimson and gold wings brushed against his skin and Seifer felt his GF nearing exhaustion at being called up so soon again. He heard fighting around him and weapons clashing together. The fight had escalated so that the ground outside the Gardens became a battlefield.

Seifer glanced back towards Axel when he got his breath back and he smiled thankfully at his GF. The red head however wasn't looking at Seifer but up towards the red Garden. When Seifer followed his gaze he felt his heart hammering against his chest.

From the second floor observation deck he caught sight of one of Edea's Knights, the one with the blue hair. Snarling Seifer grabbed Hyperion which Axel had also retrieved during the fall. He stopped moving towards the Garden when he heard someone called his name. Turning around he saw Baralai on the battlefield.

"Where are you going Seifer?" the white haired man questioned.

"I saw one of Edea's Knights in there." Seifer replied. "She'll be in there too."

"I'm going with you. You can't face her and her Knights alone." Baralai was firm.

"Wait for us!" Sora was running towards Seifer and Baralai with Riku in tow. "We saw you fall Seifer. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine but I'm going in there to find Edea." The blond replied.

"We'll come with you." Riku nodded. The sound of a gun going off drew their attention towards Irvine.

"I know my way around that Garden. I can help you." He stated. They were about to move out when Seifer noticed someone running out of Balamb Garden.

"He can move fast." Seifer commented when Squall reached them.

"Where are you going?" Squall demanded. Seifer quickly explained about the Knight being inside Galbadia Garden.

"If we stop her now then this war will end right?" Seifer said. "We won't get another chance like this."

"He's right." Sora nodded.

"Follow me then." Irvine ran towards the entrance.

Before Squall could protest the others followed him inside. Snarling the brunet gripped his Gunblade and followed them into the enemy Garden.