Author Notes: While I openly admit that I am not great at multi-tasking, I felt a second story starting to bubble up. I plan to still put the majority of my time into A Call of Tomorrow but when I have those extra free moments on the train, I thought I would fill in that extra time with this little fic. I leave this as a "what if" fic. In this case, what if Quistis were chosen as the successor of Edea's power instead of Rinoa. I hope that you enjoy.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII nor its characters belong to me.
Piece of a Moment
Chapter 1: Curse
The world spun out of control. Bright lights, loud screams and a malicious cackle tumbled together in her head, even as she tried to fight against the vice grip an evil witch held over her soul. She had been trapped for years now, pulled away from her beloved children and the man who held her heart. Or perhaps it was because she had been away from them for so long that an evil sorceress had been able to take a hold of her, possess her mind and manipulate her very actions. Edea had never been sure what it was, and in this moment, it didn't matter.
Feeling the foul witch's control slip for just a moment, Edea jerked back on her own defenses, willing herself to die rather than let her children be further harmed by this assault. It was enough. She felt the blasting cold of a Blizzaga spell combined with the strength of a gunblade coming down against her body.
The body of a sorceress had high endurance and could withstand more than any normal human but the onslaught was enough. Edea could feel strength and power fading. She smiled, at peace with the idea of death. At least in death, she wouldn't feel the burden of all that had been done by her body while possessed by another power.
As she relaxed, however, the hostile force seized control once more, lifting her hand to cast the most powerful spell she could muster. Inside, Edea screamed in despair, fighting against it with everything she had, turning what would have been a killing blow in to one that merely knocked the party out.
Edea herself collapsed to the ground, her body weak. She could barely force each breath in and out of her broken and bruised body. She probed around in her mind, feeling nothing but her own thoughts for once. And the extra presence of the sorceress power that had been hers since she had been a young woman. But something felt different now.
As she pushed herself up on to one elbow, she realized what she felt. The power was seeking to abandon her and find a new host that had more strength, that could cocoon it in a younger woman's vitality and spirit. Given her state, she knew she would be unable to travel far to find a new host, meaning it left but three options: Rinoa, Quistis and Selphie. Tears fell hot and searing along her pale cheeks for she was going to destroy one of their lives.
No, thought Edea furiously. She could fight the power, hold it against her. But she knew deep down that if she forced the power to stay, if she clung to it, the pain of trying to support it and keep herself going would be too much. If she held the power, she would die. If she released it onto an unsuspecting child, she would be responsible for whatever would happen next.
Fear made her indecisive. Was she truly ready to die? The power would still be passed on if she died but as an incorporeal spirit, she would be able to travel far from here and doom another person to this life before she completely faded away. Or would it be wiser to place such a great gift and burden in the hands of one she knew had the strength to possess it, instead of it controlling her.
The power pushed against her once more, struggling to be free of her and with great regret, she released it, let it fly free. It swirled through the room, seeking one that had the strength to be the host for such an unearthly power. It tasted the flavors of the room, examining each girl.
Rinoa was kind and sweet but with hidden strength that could make for an excellent foundation. Quistis was already in possession of the rare blue magic which this power could augment and expand but it could sense a stubborn rigidity that it did not like. It might pit its strength against her and lose. Selphie had her own special magic within her but it was not compatible with the sorceress magic. It could feel a protective golden aura surrounding her, keeping the soul of a witch far away from her.
The power could feel everyone beginning to stir. It did not have much time. It needed to choose. Gathering its might, it arrowed down toward Rinoa, aware that it could mold that sweetness into its own image and reign supreme.
Edea sat up with a gasp, each labored breath searing her lungs. She reached out her hand, holding the power within her control. It had been hers for so long that even though she had been abandoned, she was still able to manipulate it. At least she would be able to until it entered the new host. Fearing for what could come, she took every ounce of strength she had and jerked it away from Rinoa, molding it and cursing the fate of the next sorceress to Quistis. With a whispered apology on her lips, Edea fainted once more.
For two weeks, Quistis lay in an unnatural sleep. Garden hovered just outside of Fisherman's Horizon as it sought out fresh repairs and let the wounded rest in the strange but quiet town. No one could quite believe that they had succeeded. The conflict with the sorceress was over. They celebrated and rejoiced. They laughed and talked. But no one could say anything about the solitary occupant who looked to be a new permanent resident of the hospital wing.
Trepies and other admirers brought flowers to rest by her bedside. Colleagues and friends came and spend a few minutes here and there whispering platitudes and good thoughts before turning to their days. The only ones who spent significant time with her were Irvine, Zell, Selphie and Rinoa. Squall had gone once when she was first brought in but refused to return.
It took those two weeks for Edea to rest and heal in rooms far away from the rest of the population of Garden. It took those two weeks before she could come to face her own guilt in what she had done to Quistis in forcibly passing along her sorceress power or to her other children in actively waging a war against them.
But at the end of the time, Edea met quietly with the five souls who had been willing to face her while under the control of another.
Cid was the one to bring the meeting to order, quietly clearing his throat and plucking nervously at the berry red sweater vest he wore. "Ah… I know that a lot of bad things have happened," he began slowly. "But Edea believes she has some information that she needs to share with all of you." He paused. "The fight isn't over yet."
There was an immediate outcry but Squall silenced the rest with a glare. "What do you mean that the fight isn't over? We defeated you, didn't we?"
Edea's smile was sad. "Yes, but the one who used my body to do her will is still out there," she replied softly. "An evil witch bent on destroying the world as we know it to suit her own needs." She waited for them to speak their outrage again. "Her name is Ultimecia. She is a sorceress from the future. She goes back in time and possesses sorceresses of our timeline."
"Ellone," Squall immediately replied. "She's looking for Ellone, isn't she?" he asked.
"Exactly, Squall," Cid said. "It sounds like Ultimecia is using artificial means to move into the past, but as we all know, Ellone has the power to transcend any time limit and send someone back to any place in time that she may want."
"But why would she want Ellone if she can already go into the past?" Selphie asked, drumming her little fingers against the table in agitation.
Edea hesitated before responding. "Have you heard of time compression?" she asked. When no one answered, she continued. "Time compression is when a sorceress goes back in time and is essentially able to meld all timelines together into one. The only ones who would be able to survive are those imbued with the power of a sorceress. We believe that is Ultimecia's final goal and she needs Ellone to achieve it. It seems that the machine being used currently has its limitations. It may not be able to send her far enough back to achieve the time compression."
"That's freaking nuts," Zell exclaimed, shaking his spiky blond head. "We gotta stop her. She'd kill everyone."
Edea's face was grave. "I received word this morning from those who had been charged with the task of protecting Ellone," she said quietly. "They were only to contact Cid and myself under the direst of circumstances as I couldn't trust myself when I was a sorceress." She looked over to Cid. The news had been painful for her to hear given that she had loved and protected Ellone for so many years. "Ellone was taken by Esthar yesterday afternoon."
Squall looked at his companions and as one they nodded. "Then we're going to Esthar to get her back."
Cid smiled to all of his children. "I knew you would say as much. Walking the FH bridge is probably the best way to get there."
Even as the rest of them began to sketch out the plans of what supplies they would need and the best routes to take to find the mysterious lost city, Selphie scowled and piped up. "What about Quistis, you guys?"
Edea just looked away in shame.
Hello there, little one…
Who are you? Quistis replied in her mind. She couldn't move and there was only unending darkness surrounding her. Where am I?
Do you know what that horrible woman did to you? She who called herself a mother to all of you. When the time came, she abandoned you. They've all abandoned you.
What are you talking about? Quistis demanded.
Poor, sweet child… you're a sorceress now, little one. Edea forced the power to choose you. It wanted an innocent, malleable puppet like Rinoa, but instead she chose to curse you for life with this heavy burden.
I… I don't believe you, Quistis thought.
Do you not feel the power coursing through your body? Do you not feel the strength humming and begging for release?
Quistis could indeed feel a difference, even in this bodiless place where she didn't know how to get back. It was only the hard discipline of being an elite SeeD that kept her from going mad from the feeling of power within her.
You know that it doesn't have to be a curse, little one… you could learn to not fight the power but instead embrace it. Just imagine the world that could be yours.
Images flashed through Quistis' mind. She saw people looking on enviously to the gifts that she possessed. She saw how the power could protect thousands from wild dangers. She could be a goddess among men. The ultimate protector of humanity. And then the image of Squall kneeling before her, gunblade offered up in service to her as a knight. He could love and protect her from anything and anyone who might seek to harm her. It was an image that she wanted to be real.
Even though she had assured their friends that her feelings for Squall were purely platonic, a leftover of wanting to be a sister, she knew that it may have started that way but it had grown into a blooming love that had never been returned. Perhaps as a sorceress… But no. Rinoa's innocently beautiful face appeared, along with the tender way Squall would look at her. Jealousy burned in the back of Quistis' throat. The next instant, images of Rinoa being burned to a crisp appeared, followed by her frozen and lifeless on the ground.
No! Quistis immediately thought. I am many things but I would never harm one of my comrades. I may be jealous of Rinoa at times but I would never want to harm her.
Are you sure about that?
Another flash and this one was of Squall and Rinoa locked in a tender embrace. He gently stroked back her hair with a tenderness that Quistis had never felt from anyone. "It's only ever been you," he whispered into her ear. "No one could ever compare to you…"
Why should a child like that deserve such love and devotion when you are a golden goddess, Hyne's descendent. I can teach you how to use your power and let you rule this pathetic world.
Who are you? Quistis asked, fear dripping down her spine like droplets of cold water.
Ultemecia. Let me guide you, daughter.