Part Twenty Six

The Sun's Gone Down

Balamb Garden

Seifer Almasy was in a coma. He wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. He wasn't going to start snapping at students or strutting around the Garden as if he owned the place. Seifer Almasy wasn't going to wake up and Squall Leonhart felt dead inside. Riku was in a state of deep sleep and he had a higher probability of waking up than Seifer.

Kadowaki explained that because Seifer took the full force of the magical attack his brain overloaded and in the process his GF was pushed out. When Riku tried to help him he got shocked by the magic. Edea had explained about the Sorceress power passing on and if Seifer should wake up he would be the first Sorcerer in centuries.

Riku was also affected by the attack and although he didn't get hit by the full force of Ultimecia's magic he would still carry some Sorcery. Sora had refused to leave the teenager's side. The Keyblade Master had tried everything he could think of.

He used his curative magic, Potions and other items he obtained but nothing could awaken Seifer or Riku. Even Edea didn't know why they were asleep after receiving the Sorceress power. For now Cid ordered the Garden to be taken back to Fisherman's Horizon for the time being. Now that Edea was returned to her normal self the Galbadian forces would be at a loss without their leader.

Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Quistis were getting reacquainted with Edea and Rinoa was trying to get Sora to leave Riku's side for even a few minutes. The brunet was still being stubborn. Leon, Cloud, Baralai, Ienzo and Roxas had gone to meet up with Edea on what to do next.

Squall couldn't bring himself to talk to anyone right now so he retreated to his room to think. He didn't understand why it hurt so bad to think that he wouldn't hear Seifer mocking him again or see those lips turned up into that infamous smirk. Squall angrily wiped away a stray tear that escaped his eye as he thought about that memory he recalled at the orphanage.

He was just a kid, about six years of age. He had been sitting on the beach away from the others. Sis had just left him yesterday and now he was alone. He didn't want to talk to the others. He was safer this way. He couldn't get hurt when the others left so he wanted to stay alone.

Of course there was one person who constantly annoyed him and followed him around. The blond boy Seifer Almasy wouldn't leave him alone for a moment. Even now the blond was sitting next to him trying to get him to talk. Squall ignored him but Seifer just pressed onwards.

"Why can't we be friends?" Seifer whined. Squall just ignored him. "I promise I'll be the bestest friend ever!"

"Go away." Squall whispered.

"But you're alone Squall." Seifer pointed out. The 7 year old scooted closer to Squall. "Let's go have some fun."

"What's the point?" Squall said.

"You need friends." The blond boy smiled.

"No I don't. I don't need anyone." Squall turned away.

"Yes you do!" Seifer whined again. "I like you and I wanna be your friend."

"I don't like you ok!" Squall yelled angrily.

"But we played at the beach all the time." Seifer stammered.

"Just go away! I hate you!" Squall screamed then he took off towards the house.

The seventeen year old Squall choked back the lump forming in his throat. Seifer only wanted a little acknowledgement and Squall had spat back in his face. He remembered what happened the next day. Seifer became more violent and angry. He started picking on the others a lot more, especially Zell.

Those jade eyes, once so warm, where now just chips of glass. For the first time in his life Squall needed to talk to someone. Getting up he left his room and made his way towards the infirmary. The Garden was empty at this time of night thankfully. By the time he got there the infirmary was empty save for Seifer and Riku.

Sora had fallen asleep in his chair next to Riku's bed; his head was resting on Riku's chest. Squall looked away from the sight and made his way to Seifer's bed. The blond was still, his chest barely moving and his breathing shallow. Kadowaki had commented that his skin was icy to the touch.

Squall swallowed thickly before sitting down on the chair next to the bed. He wrung his hands as he tried to think of something to say but what would it do for Seifer anyway? He was in a coma. He wasn't waking up. But Kadowaki said that if you talk to a comatose patient they can hear you.

"Seifer..." Squall murmured softly. "I don't know what to say to you. I just...you need to wake up ok."

"Hmmm...Riku...give me back Mr. Fuzzles." Sora murmured in his sleep. Squall allowed a tiny smile to grace his features.

"Listen Seifer...dammit." Squall brushed his eyes. "Why the hell do I feel like this? What the hell did you do to me?" Seifer didn't respond.

"I'm sorry ok!" Squall cried suddenly. "Just wake up and start calling me puberty boy if you want. Anything but this silence."

"Squall?" a voice asked. Roxas was standing at the doorway. "Are you ok man?"

"Yeah...what are you doing here?" the Commander asked quickly.

"Axel wanted to talk to Seifer. He feels bad about what happened." Roxas explained. The red head had been absorbed into Roxas after the battle. Axel was now Roxas' Guardian Force.

"It wasn't his fault." Squall muttered.

"Seifer's tough. He'll wake up." Roxas sounded so sure of that. "The same goes for Riku."

"How can you be so sure?" Squall asked.

"Riku would never leave Sora behind. And Seifer is just too damn stubborn. Besides he's got friends here. He's got a reason to fight." The small blond answered.

"I guess so." The brunet turned away.

"I can come back later if you want to be alone." Roxas murmured.

"No...I'll go now." Squall got up and left before Roxas could respond.

Library

If there was one thing that could calm the mind it was a good book. Squall needed to take his mind off of Seifer and the business with the Sorceress. Edea had explained about this Ultimecia woman. She was an evil Sorceress with immense power and she had possessed Edea somehow. There was a chance she could take control of Seifer and Riku now that her magic was in them. Squall slumped in his chair and placed his head in his hands. He couldn't think of anything except Seifer.

The sound of footsteps walking into the library made Squall turn around to see a young woman with dark hair and warm eyes. She was wearing a green and skirt with a white blouse with a blue shawl. She looked very familiar and Squall felt that he should know her name at least. She was smiling warmly at him. Cocking his head to the side Squall stood up and approached her.

"Squall..." a soft female voice asked.

"Do I know you?" he questioned. The woman smiled sadly.

"My name is Ellone." She said gently. "You always called me Sis."

Squall felt all the air leave his lungs. He suddenly felt light headed and weak. How could she be Sis? She left him years ago; she just left without a word. Squall fell back into his chair in shock, his mouth agape. Ellone sighed sadly as she watched her adoptive little brother staring in shock at her. She had never wanted to leave him but she had n choice. Ultimecia had been after her because of her power and she had been forced to leave Squall and the others.

"I know you're shocked to see me again but I'm here to help you." She said softly.

"What?" Squall breathed out.

"I don't have a lot of time to explain but I can help you stop Ultimecia. You have to stop her." Ellone said.

"You...where were you?" Squall asked harshly. "Why did you leave?"

"Squall," she wanted to tell him but he beat her to it.

"You turn up after ten years and you want me to fight some evil Sorceress because you say so?" Squall was shaking with anger.

"I'm so sorry Squall but I had no choice." She tried to explain.

"You just left me!" Squall cried. "You left ok and then everyone else got adopted except for Seifer and me!"

"I never wanted to hurt you." Ellone whispered.

"Do you wanna know something ironic? I always ignored Seifer because I was afraid that he's leave me too but he never did. He wasn't adopted and he came to the Garden with me. He was always there and I...I never even looked at him." Squall couldn't stop the tears this time.

"Oh Squall..." Ellone felt wretched but she couldn't do anything about it now. "I'm so sorry."

"He's not gonna wake up." Squall sniffed. "Riku might but Seifer...I was told his brain activity is very low."

"Listen; there is a way to save Seifer and that other boy." The woman explained.

"What? How can you help Seifer and Riku?" Squall stared at her.

"That's why I had to leave." Ellone said. "I have the ability to manipulate the past. I can send you back to help Seifer and Riku."

Note-I'm back!!!! I'm so sorry for the late update but my dad got me this new RPG for the PS3 and it so FUCKING AWESOME!! It's called Enchanted Arms and it's got a fantastic storyline, brilliant characters and great battles. The main character Atsuma is a cross between Zell and Sora. And there is a canon slash pairing! Well Makoto is in love with Toya but I'm not sure how Toya feels. But I'm not complaining I saw those two have a good snog. Anyway play the game, it is so worth buying. It's also out for the XBOX 360. Next chapter coming soon.