Goodbye, part 1

***

Previously on the Kings Power:

*"How is she, doctor?"

"It's not going well. Yuna is in a very bad condition. Her burn marks are severe, but there is something that we found on her skin. I know it may seem hard for you, but there is still a chance that she'll survive."

"Survive what?" Snow asked softly.

"The coma." The doctor said looking Snow directly in her eyes.*

-------

*What happend?" Fay asked immediately when she saw the state Thea was in. Her head snapped up when she heard Fay's voice."Yuna... Yuna had a setback."*

--------

*She looked at herself in mirror. Her face was still red from the blush, and her hair was messed up. She put on her nightgown and tried to make her hair presentable. Then she thought, why do I want to make myself pretty for him, he is just a friend. When she thought back to Nate, her heart began to beat faster and her breathing picked up. Her palms also began to sweat a little. No way, she thought, I can't be feeling something for him, I mean everyone warns me about him.*

------

*Their lips crushed together, and Snow threw her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss, she felt his hand go to her waist.

Nate and Snow pulled away, looking into each others eyes, Snow can't believe what just happened, she and Nate just kissed.

"Wow," Snow said, her arms still around his neck.

Nate laughed, "I've been waiting a long time to do this."

Snow smiled, "Oh believe me, I know."*

--------

*"Those flowers on your dresser, I lied, I did send them."

Snow's eyes widened, "What? You send them?"

Nate looked away, while a blush appeared on his face, "yeah, I mean, and I'm glad to know you like it though."

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I don't know, I guess I didn't want you know that there are different sides of me. I always show people the one side, and that is the only side they get to see, but with you, it makes me want to show you all my sides, the good and the bad."*

--------

Present:

Snow woke up with an arm around her waist. She turned around to face Nate and saw that he was still asleep, so she carefully lifted Nate's arm and sat up. She looked back at Nate. He looks so peaceful, Snow thought, I wouldn't mind waking up like this every morning. Wait what am I saying? Just last week, I was head over heels for Noctis, and now I'm developing feelings for Nate? Is it possible to like two guys at the same time? Snow shook her head and sighed, she then crept out of the room and walked down the hall. Snow felt really refreshed. She didn't feel so exhausted like yesterday. Snow suddenly got an idea, she stopped walking, and held out her palm. She concentrated and then suddenly a bright flame appeared. She could feel the power running through her, it was a warm tingling sensation that stretched throughout her whole body. The flame started out small but then the it grew until it was the size of her hand. A smile appeared on her face and she watched the flame in awe. I will never get use this, Snow thought, then she made the flame dissapear. I wonder what else I can do, she thought. Then she lifted her hands and concentrated again until a red glow surrounded her hands. She looked around and saw a few vases with flowers in them standing on the floor. She lowered one of her hands and directed the other one in the vases direction. Snow then concentrated on the vases, and it was not long when she saw the same red glow appear around the vases and then they began to lift off the ground, floating mid-air.

"Cool," she whisppered. She made the vases float toward her and then back again. She made them float higher then lower, before she put them on the ground. The glow around the vases and her hands disapeared. Snow lifted her hands, and thought, I have to see what else I can do, but first I gotta get food, because I'm starving. She made her way down to the kitchen, and what she found truly shocked her.

Everyone was there, except for Yuna, of course, but the thing is everyone looked like a bus had hit them, except for Noctis. He looked like his usual self, wearing a light black shirt and trousers, with shoes that looked comfortable to run in, he's right leg's trousers were a bit shorter than the left side, he wore dark blue gloves on his left hand that only covered his hand, not his fingers. He's shirt was longer on the left side than the right, but without his usual light jacket without the sleeves. He looked almost like the first time they met, when he came to her and proposed that they train together, but he didn't look like his normal self, none of them did. Cinthea was sitting at the kitchen table, and it looks like she's been crying. Actually it looks like all of my friends has been crying. Their eyes were bloodshot and they were staring into nothingness. When Snow stepped into the kitchen Thea and Fay's heads snapped up, eyes wide with shock, before Thea ran and to Snow, hugging her. Snow knew something terrible happend, because of Fay's behaviour, she is the youngest of them all. Cinthea stood up abruptly pushing her stool back, glaring daggers at Snow.

"What's going on?" Snow asked, with a look of confusion on her face.

Fay's face was buried in Snow's shoulder, while sobbing, but looked up when Cinthea spoke.

"What's going on?-" Cinthea's voice began to raise, "That's all you have to say? Where were you last night? Some of us were worried sick you know, but it doesn't seem like you care, because you keep disapearing!"

"Cinthea, calm down, Snow is a grown woman, she can come and go as she pleases," Fay intervened.

"Not if her friends need her, Fay!" Cinthea turned her icy glare toward her.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Snow asked loudly enough to draw Cinthea's accusing gaze from Fay back to her.

"It's Yuna. You know the set back she had yesterday, it was worse than we thought." Thea explained.

"Worse how?" Snow asked, trying to look everyone in the eye, but none would meet her gaze.

"Worse, as in...-" Thea's voice began to break, before leveling her gaze with Snow, "she didn't make it, I'm so sorry Snow."

Snow could feel the colour draining from her face, her eyes wide with shock. She could feel the tears, beggining to slide down her face.

"No. No, it isn't true, you are lying to me!"

"Snow, I know this is hard for you. You and Yuna were very close, but we would never lie to you about this." Thea said, walking toward her, engulfing her in a hug.

Snow numbly hugged her back. When they broke apart, Cinthea still stood there, eyes cast to the ground, fists clenched.

"When did you guys get the news?"

"Earlier this morning. The doctors were working to keep her alive all night, until it was to late." Cinthea answered, "I'm going to my room, it was a long night and I'm really tired."

Cinthea brushed past them, not meeting anyone's gaze.

"She really is mad at me," Snow said, walking toward the kitchen table and sitting in the stool where Cinthea sat.

"No, I think she is just hurt and disapointed." Noctis said for the first time.

"Noctis is correct, we have all suffered a great loss, losing one of our best friends is a terrible tragedy." Fay explained.

Snow only nodded. It all felt so unreal. My best friend is dead because I couldn't protect her. I was so caught up with being in love, I didn't take my training seriously, so I didn't get stronger, and that resulted me losing my best friend. Snow thought back to that day.

The day of the tragedy:

*Snow looked back and forth between Yuna and the monster, but when she was certain he was still alive she wanted to warn Yuna. Before she could do that Snow saw how he lifted his hand and aimed it at Yuna.

Snow became very alert, and yelled at Yuna to watch out, but she didn't hear. Snow was already on the move trying to get Yuna's attention.

Lava came out of the demon's hand, aimed straight at Yuna.

"Yuna!"

When Snow yelled Yuna' name, she finally looked in her direction, but it also made her see what was aimed at her.

Then everything happened so fast, Snow saw that Yuna wouldn't get out of the way quick enough, as the ball of lava was very close to her, so Snow tried calling on her powers, but neither of them would come. Snow held out her hands, trying to get her powers to work.

The lava was right in front of Yuna, she looked toward Snow again, her eyes betraying her fear, but a soft, sad smile was on her lips, showing that she knew what was coming, and excepted it. Snow couldn't except it, it was then that Snow felt the energy leave her body, enveloping Yuna.

But it was too late. The lava hit Yuna with full force, sending her flying backwards. When she landed with a thump on the floor, she was unconscious. One could see the burn marks on her skin, it was all over her body.*

Present:

"Snow? Earth to Snow."

Snow was yanked back to the present. She felt something wet on her cheek, and when she wiped her face she saw it was a tear.

"Snow are you okay? You were just like staring into space and then a tear just rolled down your face." Thea asked.

"No, I'm not okay." Snow's voice cracked, a few silent tears rolled down her face.

"I know, I'm sorry, that was a stupid question." Thea took one of Snow's hand and gave it a squeeze. Snow only nodded, not knowing what to say until a thought accord to her.

"Why aren't you guys angry at me?" Snow asked, looking at each of them.

They first looked at each other before Noctis answered.

"We knew how hard it must have been for you to see Yuna like that, and we also know that you blame yourself for her injuries, and now probably, her death. So it's understandable if you wanted to be alone."

Snow nodded, thinking this over. If only I was alone.

"I wasn't alone, exactly." Snow said, carefully. She knew they were going to be mad, especially Noctis, that's why she's going to play it safe and leave the part out where Nate spend the night, and the part where they kissed, because she didn't want to lose his friendship.

Noctis stepped away from the counter, as he was leaning against it. Fay and Thea went completely still, watching Snow with wide eyes.

"What do you mean? If you weren't alone, who were you with?" Thea asked.

Snow took a deep breath before answering. She knew it would be better to lie, to tell them that she was in a coffee shop surrounded by people, and to avoid seeing Noctis' face when she tells them. Snow didn't know how Fay and Thea would react, but she has to tell them, she just hope that they would understand.

"After I ran out of the hospital, I was wandering around, and I ended up down town-"

"Wait, what were you doing down town? You know that is a dangerous place, Snow! What if something happened to you? You could've easily been killed!" Noctis interrupted Snow, his gaze shooting daggers.

"Calm down, Noctis, Snow is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. No one could harm Snow even if they tried." Fay told Noctis, before turning back to Snow.

"Tell us what happened then, Snow."

"I found Nate there."

"What!?" Noctis yelled smashing his fist against the table, but Fay hold up her hand to silence him. Thea was watching the whole thing with wide eyes, not saying a word.

"Nate was there? What was he doing there?" Fay asked more calmly, but Snow only shrugged.

"I don't know, as far as I could tell he wasn't doing anything."

"Alright, but he was the one with you right?" Fay said looking Snow in the eyes.

"Yes. Yes he was."

Noctis stormed out of the room, and left the rest with an eerie silence. No one said anything for a few seconds before Thea spoke up.

"Well, that sure was something, and I think I'm also going to go to my room, this whole thing made me quiet tired, so please excuse me." Fay got up and walked out of the room.

"I think I'm also going to go." Snow said, getting up and walking out of the room.

She returned to her room, closing the door behind her. Without any warning she burst into tears, sliding down against the door, until she was on the floor.

"Princess, is that you?" Nate came out of the bathroom, wearing his own clothes, but stopped short when he saw Snow sitting on the floor, crying.

When Snow heard his voice her head snapped up.

"Nate! I didn't know you were still here." Snow quickly got up, wiping her eyes. She doesn't know how he got over to her so fast, but suddenly she was engulfed in a big hug. Feeling Nate's warmth around her made her cry again. She buried her face in his jacket and continued to cry.

After, what felt like a long time, Snow quieted and Nate pulled away, resting his hands on her shoulders. He looked at her with concern.

"So are you going to tell me what happened?"

Snow nodded and went to sit on the edge of the bed, Nate sat next to her, and then she told him everything that happened, when she finished, his eyes were wide with shock.

"Damn, princess, that's just horrible." Nate lifted her chin, so that she could look him in the eye.

"I truly am sorry for Yuna, and for the way your friends are treating you, you don't deserve it." Nate wrapped his arms around Snow, kissing her head.

"It's okay, it's not your fault, besides, you're the one who's actually sticking around."

"Of course, but your friends will come around, I'm sure of it."

Snow sat up straight with a smirk on her face.

"What? No sassy comment?"

"I can always throw my sympathy away, you know. Go back to my sexy, uncaring self." Nate said, making Snow laugh.

"There she is. I love it when you smile." Nate said, making Snow blush.

Snow and Nate talked for a bit longer before he said that he has to go. They shared a passionate goodbye kiss, before Nate leaped from her balcony, disappearing from view. Then Snow went down to the kitchen, again to get herself the meal she didn't get before.