Chapter Nineteen

Aurora walked slowly down the stairs leading to a long dark corridor, out of the room with the large blue light. (I hope that nobody saw me…) she thought as she remembers closing the door and her invisibility spell stopped working.

She walked slowly and heard behind the door opening and people coming in. Aurora dodged around a corner and kneeled down into the shadows so nobody would see her. “C’mon, this way…” she heard somebody whisper and watched for who it was. The footsteps moved closer and stopped right in front of where she was kneeling in the shadows.

Aurora inched backwards slowly and quietly so that she was more hidden and looked to see who it was, it was her father, Quistis and her grandfather. They began to whisper again so Aurora strained her ears to hear.

“Quistis, Laguna… we should split up! We’ll find them faster.” Her father whispered. “I’ll keep going straight this way. Quistis, you go down those stairs up the hall to the left and Dad, you go straight to the right, down the corridor. I have no idea where to look so we have to hurry, when one of us finds them, leave immediately and go out to the ship. At 7:00 bring the three from the ship here! Find the other two of us.”

Aurora noticed that Laguna hesitated before nodding but after a while he agreed anyway. “Be careful…” her father whispered again and at that they all drew out their weapons and separated into different directions.

Aurora stood up and stayed in the shadows for a moment considered where to go, all three of them took the only passage ways that there was to go and she didn’t want to be caught in there. (Why am I here? What the hell am I doing?) She thought.

She covered her face with hands and groaned, thinking about what an idiot she was to be there. A moment later she heard something down the hall and decided to leave, it wasn’t her place to be in there so she went back up the stairs to the door.

As she reached the top of the stairs she stopped dead and ducked again, into the shadows, two soldiers were at the top. “How the hell did they get there?” she muttered under her harsh breaths. She peeked back into the room but nobody was there anymore, just a large blue light set in the middle of the room, but it was there before.

She stood up and walked into the room, warily, and looked around, all she saw was the door to outside and the door leading into the dark corridor that she had just come from. Aurora tried to go outside but the door was locked, solidly locked, so that nobody could get in or out.

“Oh no! NO!” she whispered while trying to unlock the door but it wouldn’t budge. She turned around and slumped down on the floor and put her arms around her knees. (Why did I do this? I’m so…. Stupid! What am I going to do…? What’s going to happen to me?) She thought while some silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

Down the stairs and into the corridor soldiers were heading towards her. Aurora lifted her head quickly and panicked. There was no way out, she was trapped. She stood up and looked around frantically, the soldiers were coming up the stairs now.

Right behind the large blue light she saw something silver glitter so she ran over to it and pulled it upwards, it was a hatch. Through the hatch was stairs leading out of sight. The soldiers were almost at the top of the stairs from the corridor.

“Well, this is It.” she murmured as she climbed down the hatch and closed the hatch door with a soft click. She listened as the soldiers talked. “Where are the intruders?” one said in a formal voice. The other muttered something and they took off down the stairs to the dark corridor again.

Aurora let out a long deep breath and looked down the stairs and figured she might as well go, there was no sense in going back up there. She inched down the stairs slowly and saw the bottom and stopped to listen but heard nothing. She continued down the stairs and began walking down the long dimly lit hall. She stopped and heard something else, soldiers were coming from behind her. She ran forwards but stopped dead as she heard soldiers in front of her, they were just around the corner.

Aurora leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. That was it, she gave up. From behind her, on he wall, she felt something move, the wall was gone and a hand went over her mouth and she slipped behind the wall and the wall appeared again.

Aurora looked around frantically but saw nothing but the wall because the person behind her was holding her tightly with their hand on her mouth. “Shhh…. And I’ll let go…” the person whispered. Aurora stopped moving and the person let go Aurora turned around and saw someone very familiar dressed in a green soldier’s uniform.

“Sirus?” she whispered in a shocked voice. Before he could answer Aurora looked over his soldier and noticed a long hallway behind him and tried to run for it but he grabbed her around the waist and swung her back in front of him. He covered her mouth with his hand again as she faced him, his hand holding her wrist so she wouldn’t leave.

“Shh! Listen… I’m not going to hurt you… calm down.” He hissed and let go of her. Aurora stared at him in disbelief. “You’re with Adel! Is that why I saw you in the Garden? You were after me!”

She tried to run again but Sirus grabbed her wrist and pulled her back in front on him. “Stop that, just listen to me… your in danger…” he whispered. “Oh, and I didn’t know that…” she said sarcastically. “Why are you warning me, you’re with Adel!”

“No! I’m not with Adel but I should be…” he said hastily. “Her hypnotism didn’t work on me, I have to strong of a mind, it only really works on weak minded people…”

Aurora stared at him, still in disbelief. “Then how come all of these people are hypnotized… how come they can’t fight it…?” she whispered, Sirus seemed to be pondering this before answering.

“I’m not entirely sure… most of these people were supporters of Adel before anyway, like my father. Adel simply took all of them and their sons… usually their sons are supporters to so they have weak minds towards Adel so she can take them over easily… except me… I don’t support her… I never did.” He said quickly.

“C’mon, I’m getting you out of here, I know the way.” He said and began to pull her but she stopped dead and so did he. “What?” he said still trying to pull her but Aurora remained in her spot, staring at him.

“Why were you at the Garden? How did you get in?” she said with her eyes narrowing. “We got in through the bottom, theirs a hole and when the Garden was moving slow we got on… We were there to get you, your mother and Aunt…” he said softly looking down at his feet.

“That’s not what I asked, I already knew that… why were YOU at the Garden? If your not hypnotized then why don’t you run… how can I trust you?” Aurora said quietly, her eyes boring into his.

“I came to warn you… I know Adel’s plan… I couldn’t let you get taken away, that’s why I saw in the training center… I changed into normal clothes so that the other soldiers wouldn’t know.” He said while his eyes stared into hers.

“Oh… and you could let my mother and aunt get taken!” she nearly shouted but said it quietly trying to hold in her anger. “NO! I didn’t mean it like that… I didn’t get the chance to get to them first… so I went to you. They have a better chance… and if Adel gets you the world won’t exist was we know it…!” Sirus whispered.

“What’s Adel’s plan?” she said quickly. “If you’re really not hypnotized then you’ll tell me now!” Aurora stared at him, waiting for an answer that seemed to come slowly.

“Adel is going to take your mothers power, then yours… she’ll use Ellone’s power to get into the minds of all sorceress’ and take their powers and there will be no sorceress’ left in all time. She’ll be able to use your power to take over time and be the only one left, nobody will exist anymore. Once she gets to you she’ll kill while taking her power Rinoa then use Ellone and kill her too, but if she can’t get you then she can’t kill Ellone…”

Aurora looked at him, taken aback… she wasn’t sure what to say. “What about my mother… she’ll be ok, right?” she said after awhile of staring into his eyes but Sirus looked away. “That can’t be guaranteed unless your father or someone gets to he before 7:00 when Adel will take Rinoa’s power regardless of whether or not she has you in her grasp.

Aurora stared at him… without a word said she took off down the hall, Sirus chased after her and when he caught up instead of stopping her he said, “If your going to save your mother… I’m coming too, I won’t let you go alone…and I know where to go!”

Aurora looked at him and kept running until they reached the end of the hall, Aurora looked at her watch and it read 6:45. “Oh no…” she muttered while she looked at Sirus. They ran through the doors and down halls and corridors, dodging the sight of soldiers until they reached a solid door, two guards on either side.

She looked at Sirus, panicked on what to do but the next thing she knew Sirus had his gunblade out and killed the soldiers soundlessly. Aurora stared at him, her eyes widening but didn’t stop to think they opened the door and inside lay Ellone.

Aurora ran over to her and kneeled beside her, Ellone looked up at Aurora and her eyes widened and then looked at Sirus and her eyes widened even more. “What are you doing here…. Aurora? Why are you with him?” she murmured slowly.

“No time to explain now, but it’s ok, we’re going to be ok, Aunt Elle. Where’s mom?” Aurora said softly as she picked up Ellone and swung Ellone’s arm over her shoulder, Sirus helped on the other side. “I’m not sure… they just took her away, just now…” she muttered with her head limp.

Aurora looked at Sirus, she was afraid. “It’s ok… Aunt Elle…! We’re going to be fine.” Aurora said once again as they helped Ellone out of the cell. They walked slowly until they reached a room with large doors… and they opened the door, once they closed it they locked it and heard loud shouting of the soldier’s finding Ellone gone.

They turned around and Aurora let out a gasp and let go of Ellone, leaving her with Sirus and ran across the rather large room towards a platform. On it lay and unconscious Rinoa. “Mom!” Aurora cried as she darted towards the platform.

Chapter Twenty

Squall walked warily down the dark corridor, his heart beating heavily and his gunblade drawn. He walked until he met two soldiers standing guard in front of a door.

The soldiers stared at him then tried to jump him but Squall was too fast, even in his age. The soldier’s tried to shoot him but Squall blasted them with Ultima and they lay there, dead. Squall stepped over them and entered the room and looked around.

It was Adel’s layer. This is where she stayed but she was no longer there, she was gone. Squall was about to leave but stopped when Laguna entered the room.

“Hmm…” Laguna said as he looked around then brought his attention to Squall. “Have you found anything?” he said quietly as he walked towards Squall.

“No… I heard shouting about someone missing though, I wasn’t sure what or who it was.” Squall replied and looked at Laguna thoughtfully. “Have you seen Quistis?”

“Yeah, she isn’t too far away from here I don’t think. She hasn’t found anything either.” He said. Squall looked at him and then turned around and they both walked to the far side of the room, everything was so large in there. “So this is Adel’s place, huh.” Laguna said quietly.

Before Squall said anything they both turned at once and looked to see someone talking boldly. It was Seifer Almasy. “So… long time no see Commander and Mr. President!” he said boldly.

Squall glared at him but said nothing, he knew that it wasn’t really Seifer in there, he was hypnotized. “What’s the matter… got nothing to say? To afraid it will make you, ALONE!” Seifer snarled at Squall as he approached them.

Something inside Squall exploded and he charged at Seifer but Seifer was expecting and knocked Squall to the ground and pointed his gunblade at his throat. “I thought age meant experience but I guess not in your case, Squall.” He said and was about to shove his gunblade though Squall’s neck but Laguna swiped in and hit Seifer, not with his gun but with his fist.

Squall watched as Seifer stumbled backwards, Laguna tried to hit him again but Seifer was once again to fast. Before Squall had the chance to get to Seifer and stop him, Seifer shoved his long gunblade into Laguna stomach.

Squall stood up quickly and ran to his father, who lay on the ground. “Get him, Squall…” he whispered. “It’s going to be ok… you get Adel too…! Don’t forget what I told you, You’ll never be alone, I’ll always be with you.” He whispered more faintly, and he closed his eyes. Laguna died. “No! Dad! Don’t die on me…!” Squall whispered with tears rolling down his face.

“Oh… so sad… poor Mr. President died.” Came Seifer’s voice from behind Squall. “Now stand up and fight like a man.”

Squall stood up, tears still rolling down his face but the anger inside him was at a high and he lashed out.

Quistis ran into the room where she heard fighting and saw Seifer and Squall fighting. She ran towards them but Seifer hit her backwards and told her that she’d be next. “Seifer?” she whispered as she watched them fight and looked over to see Laguna, he lay dead. “No!” she whispered.

She tried to stop the fighting but Seifer repeatedly hit her backwards with his arm so she stopped. She watched how Squall’s face had turned to a fit of rage and Seifer had his smirk intact.

She saw Seifer slice Squall’s side heavily but Squall kept fighting, it seemed to go so fast. Back and forth came the gunblades and spells of fire and ice. She stood up and once again tried to stop the fight but this time Squall yelled and told her to stay back so she did.

What seemed forever of blades clashing and spells being thrown Seifer landed to the ground with a thud, at that Squall stuck his gunblade right through Seifers chest.

“Noooo!!!” Quistis cried and ran over to Seifer and kneeled over him, held his hand tight. Something flickered in his eyes. Seifer was back. Quistis looked at him sadly as he looked around and saw Laguna lying dead. “No! Please tell me I didn’t do that!” he whispered and looked up at Squall who let his gunblade fall to the floor and knelt in front of Seifer.

“I’m so sorry…..” he whispered looking at Squall who nodded with more tears rolling down his face. Quistis looked into Seifers eyes and he bored his back. “I… I love… I love you Quistis…!” he whispered and shut his eyes, he grasped her hand tightly and took his other hand and grasped Squall’s hand. “I have to tell you… it wasn’t me…” he murmured.

Quistis nodded, tears rolling down her face leaving tear marks and onto her clothes, Squall nodded too with some fresh tears rolling down his face. Quistis bent her face to his and kissed him. “I love you too, Seifer.” She whispered as Seifer shut his eyes again and died.

Quistis stood up, more tears streaming down her face but she wiped them away and looked at Squall who stood up too and said nothing. They silently left the room and headed down the halls until they reached a large room with large doors and tried to get in but it was locked. Quistis looked at Squall who had pulled out his gunblade and used it to slice through the crack where there were locks.

They opened the doors and walked inside, shocked to see what was happening. Quistis looked to see Ellone lying on the floor, a green soldier kneeling over her, it was Sirus. She looked across the room to see Aurora kneeling over Rinoa.

“Rinoa! Aurora! Ellone!” she heard Squall cry and he ran straight over to Aurora and Rinoa. Quistis ran to Sirus and Ellone. “What…? Why…?” she whispered as she looked at Sirus who said quickly, “It’s ok… I’m ok… I’m not with them…!”

Quistis brought her attention to Ellone who looked up at Quistis solemnly. “Where’s Uncle Laguna?” she whispered. Quistis looked down at her sadly, “Ellone… He’s… he’s…” she began but had to stop, she couldn’t even say it, just like she couldn’t believe her husband to be was also dead.

“No…!” Ellone whispered as if reading Quistis’s mind. “NO!” Quistis looked at her and nodded, Ellone closed her eyes, silent tears flowing down her face. “No… I won’t have it, you have to stop this…”

The next thing Quistis knew her eyes turned blank. Ellone was using her power. Quistis strained to look but saw nothing, then slowly a picture came through; she was looking through Laguna’s eyes. She saw Laguna’s fist raise and he hit Seifer. (Laguna! Move back, NOW!) She said through his mind, she knew what was going to happen. (Move back!) She repeated, Laguna heard, she saw through his eyes that he moved, but not quite quick enough, he was still hit, but not deep.

Quistis saw through his eyes Squall stand up and fight Seifer, Laguna lay on the ground, hurt but not dead. She thought for a moment… she could save Seifer if only… (ELLONE! Are you here!)? She said in Laguna’s mind. (I’m here…) Ellone said through his mind. (What’s going on!) Laguna thought but they ignored him.

(Ellone… Put me in Seifer’s mind, I need to save him…!) Quistis said through the mind. There was no answer but everything turned white again and then she was looking through Seifer’s eyes. She saw Squall and Seifer battling. She saw herself come in and try to stop it.

(Seifer! Seifer… take control!) She said through his mind. (Quistis? I can’t…) he replied while still fighting Squall. (Yes you can… I need you, Seifer. I need you) she said as she noticed Laguna stand up and try to stop the fight too but couldn’t.

(I love you Seifer.) She said. (I love you too, Quistis) he said back as Squall came in for a kill hit but Seifer took control and grabbed Squall’s wrist to stop him. There was a flash of white light and Quistis was back in her own body, kneeling beside Ellone.

“What’s going on.” Ellone said quietly, not saying anything about what had just happened. Quistis looked at her, then looked to her one side, Seifer was next to her and across the room was Laguna with Squall, Rinoa and Aurora. Quistis saved them.

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