Blue Magic: Chapter 4- Dragon's Bane
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Read 'Only the Lonely' before reading this, then the Prelude. Other then that- beware strong language and enjoy!
Four years and 7 months old Seifer ran close on the heels of his age mate, Quistis, through the emerald fields near their home village. His heavily lashed electric blue eyes glowed intently as he saw the girl stop before a stranger, turning slightly him in confusion; her posture screamed fear only to him, however. Not even slowing down, he past her with his wooden sword in hand to protect his friend and village from the intruder.
Quistis giggled slightly as her best friend charged, as a knight that he imaged himself at times to be, at the person that dare defile the Village and Area with his foreignness. Turning to face the two males fully, the green dressed girl watched the adult male with suspicion, while Seifer with adoration. Very rarely did the Village have visitors and she immediately dislike him... especially since her mother told her most visitors were evil.
The man, however, ignored the children as his eyes fell upon the village. It was a human village, corporate an old Centra village into it's own... In other words, somehow part of an ancient civilization had survived the Lunar Cry and had remained just as he recalled it when he last came here. Finally, his warm brown eyes fell upon two beautiful children, as the boy came up to him fearlessly.
"Go away! We'll not have you here, disturbing our peace!" Seifer snarled aggressively, mimicking a guard, while point his toy sword at the man.
Cocking his head sideways, the strange man inquired, "and why? Isn't up to the Elders of Ketran Village suppose to be the ones to decide who can stay and who will not?"
The young girl with corn silk hair stepped forward. Her stormy eyes looked at her feet as she muttered, "Elders say all outsiders that come here are evil... Because of the Sorceress War. They fear you might be a spy of the witch Adel or Kitana, her rival."
Chuckling, the man replied, "well, tell them that Cid Kramer, husband of the Sorceress Edea, wishes to speak with them. She would like to request permission to build a Orphanage in this area..."
Seifer looked thoughtful at that. Looking at his friend, then back at the Village where several guards now approaching the trio. "I guess, you can talk to Elders... but we're not in charge. You should ask those guards that come towards us."
Cid looked to see the guards too and smiled. Touching his fingers forehead, then his lips, and bringing them to his heart, Cid greeted the guards formally. Grinning at their surprise, he walked forward and cried out, "Hallo and bless be peace! I'm Cid Kramer, the Elder Myra's brother. I've come to approach my sister to permission for something... But may I first have permission to enter my home town?"
Looking from one another, the one of the guards replied gruffly, "hail to thee, Lord Kramer. Of course you may enter the village... and bring the two kids with you. They shouldn't be out this far... Especially with Adel's spies lurking and wanting to capture some of us for information."
Nodding thoughtfully, Cid knew that Adel wanted the Centra technology. And the only way for her to do is it get the people who help repair and alter it for the villages or take control of the villages themselves. She already had two of the three converted Centra villages. Ketran was last one and the most rumored to hold the secrets of the Centra Technology.
Looking down the little blonde boy as he walked back with the troops and kids, he smiled, "I take it your the knight of this village?"
Snorting, the girl rolled her eyes and giggled, "no. He's just my Knight..."
Sitting a stone and playing with the strings of her boots was getting old with Selphie. In fact, she seemed to ready to run off to the hills, screaming due to boredom. With bright green eyes searching for something more amusing to do when Seifer and her where waiting for Quistis to come back, which her eyes finally fell upon a Seifer who had a very sorrowful and long look on his face.
"What's wrong, Seifer?" Selphie inquired, bouncing up from her rock and over to him.
His dark eyes darkened with annoyance as Seifer snapped from his thoughts and glared at Selphie, "nothing."
"Oh come on, Seifer! Don't be such a super-duper downer!" Selphie declared, hopping up and down.
"And why shouldn't I be? I'm worried about Quistis," Seifer snapped, "and being with you isn't helping my mood, either. Will you stop that? You're like a bunny on speed."
Giggling innocently as if Seifer was joking and trying to cheer up the mood between them, Selphie started to ramble off something from Garden Festival from last year, "Are you gay? Are you gay? Pick up the phone! Mommy think you gay. If you don't pick up the phone then you gay. Only gay screen call. You are gay. Why don't you tell mommy you gay? you don't have to hide from mommy. You so lucky that mommy know everything about the gay and you can talk to mommy about everything because you have a cool mommy. You mommy is so cool and mommy knows all about the gay and the lesbian and it is so fine to be gay you know they have gay all over the world... BUT NOT TRABIA!!!"
Now staring at Selphie as if she grew another head and declared her love for Squall, Seifer shook his head. Slowly, however, a smile appeared on his lips, then a chuckled erupted slightly from them. Running a hand through his hair, he said, "I take it you really took to that Trabia Transfer student, Margit Chow."
Bobbing her hand up and down, Selphie replied, "yeppers! But on a serious note, I liked to ask you something, Seifer."
Looking a girl that sat near his knee, the Knight cocked his head sideways and muttered, "yes?"
"What's going on between you and Quistis?" The girl asked innocently, completely leaving the last subject for the new one, and caught the glare Seifer sent at her head on. Swallowing, she added softly, "I'm worried about her. She's grew more distance and hateful towards us. I know for a fact you know about it since I saw you and your posse hanging out with her more and more ever since we got back from Ultimecia."
Bitterly he answered, "easily. She discovered who her real friends are and where she belongs. Not with that emotionless bastard Squall, not with Chicken Wuss, not with that flirt Irvine, not with you, and most definitely with that witch, Riona. She belongs to the Disciplinary Committee because we understand her and she understands us. We are, and were, there for her, while you guys were off in your little 'Perfect Worlds' that you created for yourselves."
Angry and slightly hurt by Seifer's words and by his sudden attack mood, she retorted, "so she belongs with traitors? What makes you think you understand her! If I remember correctly from what Quistis once told me, you always called her mediocre and was mean to her!"
"She knows why I was mean to her and forgives me!" Seifer hissed, laughing darkly. Standing, he glared down at Selphie, "as for us being traitors- we left to follow our dreams. We wanted to want to dreams to become real and once they did... It didn't crack up to be all that seemed to be. Unlike your people, we had the courage to presume something we wanted."
"All I hear is super-duper shallow reasons!" Selphie snapped, also climbing to her feet. "She belongs to us! You turned her against us, Seifer! You're just angry because we kicked your butt! And what better way in getting revenge then turning friends against friends!"
Laughing outright in Selphie's face, Seifer snarled, "O-contraire, my little bunny on speed. If you really her friend, you might have known all about the suicide attempts or known she was growing apart for your little group... But no. It took you two fucking years to notice- not to mention it was only you!"
Selphie felt a cold wave of reality as it slapped her in the face. Slowly she stumbled back, realizing what Seifer had said was true. The Orphanage group is, and had, excluded Quistis directly and indirectly since Riona had shown up and they been reunited. No wonder the Instructor had been finding company and friendship with Seifer, Fuujin, and Raijin.
Realizing he had won, Seifer added cruelly, "like I said- she belongs to us. You were never her friends. Before Ellone left the Orphanage and she wanted to mother Squall, Quistis was my best friend. I've knew her longer and had been her friend longer. As you can see- she loves me best of all. She loves me best of all from the former Orphanage group. So tell me, Selphie, how does it feel to see I've finally won and made my dream true."
"You meanie... How could you..." Selphie began.
"How could I what? Free my Lady from the chains that you put on her? Set her free from your claws? To give her the love she deserves so much?" Seifer hissed, standing tall and sadistic over the small pixie girl.
'He... loves her?' Selphie thought suddenly. Catching on why Seifer was so angry and cruel to her about friendship she thought she had with Quistis. He was protecting the woman he loved.... As she did for him against Squall earlier! Gasping, the SeeD woman put her hands over her mouth and gazed with uncertainly at the blonde.
"Finally caught on?" Seifer asked, his voice dark with emotions as he almost read her mind. Spreading his arms wide, he added, "how do you feel about me, the traitor, now?"
Selphie's eyes misted over, "I-I-I never would have would have suspect you and... her. No wonder you hate Squall... He hurt the woman you loved..."
"As he always did... stealing her affections and then hurting her..." Pulling his Gunblade from its sheath, Seifer pointed it at the Trabian female. "She respected you... Thought you had potential and you ignored her in her times of need. You should all pay. Starting with you, Selphie Tilmitt..."
When Quistis turned 6, her village was destroyed. Burned to the ground and people were slaughtered because Adel wanted the Technology and sought the few rumored natural Elemental-Sorceresses that had taken refuge there. The greed bitch wanted it all... destroying what the blonde girl had known. And leaving her homeless with Seifer, Fuujin, Raijin, and several other children.
Edea had came, however, to save the children from the soldiers as they were herded into a van to be taken off to Adel for inspection to see if bore any of the rumor magic tales. Casting her powerful spell on the van, while casting a protective barrier on the children, she wanted to end this insult to humanity and herself. Her husband village was completely obliterated, people needlessly slaughtered, and children being kidnap!
Standing for it no longer, she raised her arms, the children seemed to float over to her, as she turned to face the army troops that she had attracted. Foolish idiots... how dare they think they had a change to go against a Sorceress with TWICE the power of their ruler, who was angry and in her prime?! HA!
Raising her arms, purple bolts of energy slammed into the ground and into the troops. Her eyes glowed with power, as she turned her back as a blackish violet explosion followed the lightening. Hostile gaze softened as her eyes fell upon the unconscious children. They would join her orphanage and she would protect these children...
Edea sat up in bed, her breathing quick and labored. Old memories and recalls from when she took the seven children from Ketran Village to her Orphanage almost two decades ago. She could remember when she brought the children to the stone place, them asking her over and over where their mothers and fathers were. It broke her heart.
Going to place three of children in homes, two children at another Orphanage which her good friend ran, while the remaining two- Seifer and Quistis- would remain with her, Edea would hide them from Adel. She still, however, had to deal with the fact that all their birth records were destroyed in the fire.
Cid came to her rescue then, when he came home for a visit from the newly founded Garden. Creating and recalling old memories from talking with the children, he had collected most of their birthdays, age and parents. Documenting them and registering them through different contacts, the children took on new last names and some new parents for their protection.
Quistis and Seifer, also, had to take on the new identity, even with Edea protecting them. They had been children of the elders or related to the elders, so Cid made sure they had a iron-clad backgrounds then. Adel was still searching the lands for a child for her Succession and the surviving children of Ketran.
Running a hand through her silken black hair, Edea forced herself to stop thinking of the past. Her children were safe now. Adel was gone, but if she still lurked, she had none of her powers and SeeD was strong. Yes, she had nothing to worry about... but why did she feel so afraid for her foster children?
'Why are you so angry? What made you so angry? Why is your so hateful towards those of your past?'
'Angry? What do you mean 'angry'? I'm not angry, well a little upset. But not angry...'
'Yes you are... Why?'
'... I'm not sure...'
'You know why... just you don't want to admit it. Isn't that the real reason you won't tell me?'
'I don't understand... You're confusing me...'
'Look within, Quistis. Tell me why you're so angry... Let me help you...'
'What are you doing to ME!?'
'Removing barriers set up by the usage of Guardian Forces, sorting and clearing your thoughts... now tell me...'
'... ... ... ... I'm angry because he hurt me... then SHE showed up and hurt me too...'
'Everyone is hurt sometime in their life because of something... What makes this time so different from any other? Why is makes you lash out in blind rages at times?'
'... Because I was never loved as a child, expect for Matron- she was the only one who loved me as a child. I was always rejected by people when I left the Orphanage, so I finally gave up, for a while... When I did finally reached for someone I thought I loved, he hurt me badly... I thought he understood my pain... but he didn't. Then Riona flaunted him off when she finally sunk her little claws into him... Both of them ENJOYED in hurting me. Damn them... Damn them all...'
'Do you want to hurt them for it? Do you want Revenge on them?'
'W-what? Revenge? Why?'
'Yes, Revenge. I have the power to help you get it, Quistis. You are different from them... Better then that cruel one, Squall, and that manipulative Sorceress-Bitch, Riona. I can give you power to do it... do you want it?'
'Yes... NO! This is wrong... Who are you! And what are you doing to me!?'
'Heh... You should know by now... Or at least recognize my voice...'
'... All I know is that you come to my dreams and bring back things I rather not remember...'
'Something things are needed to be remembered... For your own protection and the protection of loved ones. Do you remember who you are now with those blocks removed, Quistis? Do you know why I'm here? Hmmm, seems to me I might have missed a unlock those memories...'
'STOP! Get the fuck out my head! STOP IT! I DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER! I blocked those!'
'This is for the best and you know it, little one. Now tell me- do you remember?'
'Yes... damn you... DAMN YOU. I didn't want to REMEMBER THAT! Dear Hyne... why did you do this to me? No wonder I wasn't loved... damn you... My mother... my father. They're gone. Dead. Murdered in their sleep. You had to make me remember. Damn you!'
'Tsk-tsk, little one... Shouldn't talk to me like that... Now you are ready...'
'...damn you... Mom, Dad... oh Hyne... damn you...'
'Ready for the knowledge of the...'
'FUCK YOU! Fuck you and your fucking knowledge! I didn't want to remember!'
'-Dragons of the Sea. Time for you to Awaken. As did Fuujin, as did Seifer and Raijin... But you are slightly different, even from them. Heh... Calming down now?'
'I didn't ask for this... I never wanted to be different...'
'Accept it. It is your fate, Mistress of the Seas. The Thread Master has Woven your fate, so embrace it. Embrace it and take the power and Knowledge I now offer to you.'
'For what? Revenge? Because if that's it... I don't want it!'
'No... Something much more important... But for revenge if you want it... Quistis, someone comes for you. Time is short, do you want the Power and Knowledge or not?'
'... ... Even if I didn't want it, you'd force it upon me... As you did to my mother and my mother's mother... As you did to every female of my line...'
'True. But it is easier when you want it... So, do you?'
'... since I have no choice- I do, Poseidon. Give me the Power and Knowledge of the Sea...'
It seemed like hours went by when Quistis finally opened her eyes. Rubbing them with a stiff arm, she looked around, realizing she was in the cave still and had something warm and stiff holding her place. Looking down and letting her eyes adjust even more to the dark, she gasped and froze... It was the ebony Dragon curled around her protectively.
Swallowing nervously, she reached out and touched the glittering scale gingerly. It was like ice- hard, yet smooth and cool to the touch. Putting her full palm onto the massive beast, she ran her hand against it even more, smiling slightly as she did so.
It was a beautiful beast, it's scales polish like fine jewels, while the deep blue under belly scales glowed against the darkness, battling it back. The long tail with sapphire spikes waved slightly back and forth, as its eyes remained closed, as if it was in a deep sleep.
Attempting to free herself from her lovely prison, she looked to find an area around her where the Dragon wasn't too tall for her to climb over... Without awakening the beast either. Seeing that the Dragon was completely even around her, she settled for a place where there were several ridges in scales near the stomach.
Placing her hands on the Dragon's belly, she screamed when she saw the Dragon's eyes fly open and stare at her intently. Backing away slowly, she swallowed slowly, and held up her hands to show that she meant no harm. The Dragon stared at her, its huge nostrils taking in her scent, and tasting it with a forked tongue.
"You are... QuisSstisss, yesss?" The Dragon asked slowly, it's mouth moving awkward movements to speak the human's tongue.
"Huh?" Eyes widen in comical proportion when she heard the Dragon speak. Blinking rapidly, she looked at him hardly, she took a step forward. "Did you just speak to me?"
Chuckling, cocking its head sideways, "Yesss. I attempt to ssspeak your language... To make you... more less likely to panik."
"Um, just who and what are you?" Quistis inquired, hysteria ringing in her voice.
"I am kalled Possseidon, I am the Voike from your dreamsss." The Dragon attempted a human smile, flashing its long, arm length teeth.
"Poseidon?" Disbelief rang clear in her life. "You're the one who pasted on the power onto me?! Why?!"
Laughing, the Dragon hissed, "you ssseem to be falling apart. The passssssing of powers ssseem to do that that at times. I passssssed on powersss that rightfully belong to you... Asss it did to your mother and your mother'sss mother. And," Poseidon paused, "I am to be your Guardian Force."
Author Notes:
Okay, okay... so I lied about releasing another Chapter of 'Last of Cetra' before this. People told me I need to develop the relationship and past of Quistis and Seifer, so I am. So the next Chapter will be full of past secrets and appearance of the Red hair Witch, Edea, and Squall and team... not to mention Riona.
Sorry for the spelling and sentence errors in it. I plan to have a better version of it up when the lovely editor sends it back, but this is for the people who wait patiently for a Chapter, once more. No flamers, but reviewers are welcomed!
~Akira