A/N: Yeah, I finally updated!  And I will be gone for Christmas break so expect the next update after I get back.  The beginning is really slow, but I PROMISE it picks up. 

Untitled

Chapter 5

By Maureen

            "You want to go to Esthar now?  No problem, take the transport," Zanger told Quistis kindly. 

            Quistis smiled and covered her mouth as she yawned again.

            "Didn't get much sleep?" Zell asked.

            He didn't know half of it.  Quistis had stayed up all night, thinking.

            Was is Seifer so protective?  How could he change?  Could he change?  If Seifer actually does change, for the better, would I like it?  Would I be able to…embrace it?  Seifer is just like a thorn in my side that I can't yank out!  But I want to help him.  I want to be "sissy".  And this time, I want to succeed. 

            Adan.  I couldn't go to sleep.  And now, I don't feel like talking to anyone.  I mean, why can't I understand what's going on?  Yes, granted, I know I like Quistis.  I know I was, at first, attracted to her because of her…appearance, but now…it's more then that.  I've never had a girlfriend, I've never had a relationship with a girl that's felt like it's supposed to be more, but…is it…love?

            Seifer swaggered in, posse at side.  He wore a nasty schowl on hi face and looked like he had gotten just as little sleep as Quistis.

            Why the hell does she have to be such a bitch?  Can't she stop sticking her nose into other people's business?  And why do I act differently around her?  Just cause she's beautiful?  Or because she could actually be right?  Psh.  Fuck.

            "Hello?" Zell interrupted everyone's reflections.  "We're going to Esthar, yes?" 

            Quistis nodded solemnly.  "Ok, come on."

            "This way," Zanger supplied helpfully.  He led the way to the transports, ignorant of the angry glares he was receiving from Adan and Seifer for his attempts at conversation with Quistis.

            "Well, have a good trip, hope to see you soon," Zanger bid them farewell. 

            "Thank you so much."  Quistis smiled, "Amie, you go first.  Zell…Seifer…Fujin…Raijin…Adan." 

            Adan shook his head and gestured for her to go first.  "I insist."

            Quistis felt slightly annoyed, but at the same time smiled at his boyish charm.

            "Thanks."  She stepped in and felt an almighty swoosh, like a giant wind was sweeping her away.  She felt herself lurch down and landed.  She quickly straightened herself up; she noticed Adan appearing on her right.  She tentatively stepped out of the transport pod and asked, "Everyone here?"

            "Yep."

            "Uh huh."

            "Ok.  I guess we should go find Odine's lab."  Quistis silently walked to the door and opened it.

            "Oh.  My.  God," Amie voiced everyone's thought.

            The door led to this great hall; it was like an airport, but just so incredibly huge, they could barely see the other side.  The port was completely packed, yet everything seemed so orderly and organized.

            "Can I help you?" the attendant at the door offered.

            Quisits regained her composure.  "Uh…where's Odine's lab?" she asked stupidly.

            The attendant gave her a strange look, as if he didn't know if she were joking or not.  He let out half a laugh.  She turned to face him, with an angry look.

            He stuttered, "U-u-uh…you program your pod to go…to…Odine's lab."

            Quistis stopped herself from snarling.  She was tired, she was frustrated, and now this stupid, blatantly obvious truth was slapping her around in the face.  She whirled around and marched back through the door; silently went to the console and punched in directions.  Everyone treaded in after her.

            "Quistis, what's wrong?" Zell asked.

            Grumble, grumble.  Grr…

            "Uh…ok."

            Quistis and everyone else somehow managed to get to the entrance of Odine's Laboratory, but Quistis didn't remember – she seemed as if she were half dead.

            Zell took initiative.  "Come on, let's go!"  He approached the door and immediately jumped back as they heard the zap of a screen turning on.  "What business do you have here?"

            "Umm…we're here to see Odine – well, uh, whoever's in charge now," Zell said.

            The face gazed a calculating look.  "Ezekiel Odine is very busy -"

            "It's urgent.  It has to do with the-the-the Sorceress."

            The face's eyes widened.  Abruptly, the screen snapped off and the door swished open.

            The moment everyone entered, a young boy appeared and pointed, directing them to a door. 

            "Look, just!  Can we talk to Ezekiel Odine?" Zell asked.

            The boy rolled his eyes and pointed.

            "How stupid would we be to listen to you?" Seifer spat.

            The boy's eyes narrowed.  He raised his hand and did a twirling motion, triggering a loud chu-chink! Noise. 

            Quistis' eyes darted around looking for any threats.  Suddenly, they all felt an invisible barrier pushing them towards the door, which automatically opened. Everyone whipped out their weapons, preparing for a fight, but the room was…empty.  The door slammed shut behind them.

            Quistis whirled around and saw the little boy standing there silently.

            "We asked to speak to whoever's in charge!" Zell said in exasperation.

            "Fine, leave."

            Amie quickly inserted the presence of reason.  "Ok, wait.  We'll tell you.  WE need help.  We're a group of SeED -" Seifer snarled, "-I mean travelers…from, we think, the past…WE think we're here because of something to do with the sorceress. 

            "There hasn't been a sorceress for years and what makes you so important that a sorceress would draw you out from the past?"  The boy's monotonous, childish voice was really annoying.

            Quistis decided to speak up.  "In the future, a sorceress of the future goes into the past in order to create time compression."  She frowned at her own confusing explanation.

            The boy wrinkled his forehead.  "No…it can't be possible," he intoned.

            "Why the hell are we dealing with you?  We want to talk to Ezekiel Odine!" Seifer demanded.

            "The information you have given us is false.  Leave now."

            "Whoa, wait!  Look…isn't there some…way you could test us?" Zell asked.

            "We are not willing to waster our time on this."

            Seifer started to approach the little boy but was stopped by Quistis.  Don't, her eyes told him.  "Look, we need your help.  If there is a simple way to test our story, then please allow us to take it.  That is all we ask." 

            The boy blinked.  Rolled his eyes.  "Ugh," he spat.  He raised his arm and, immediately, Quistis and Seifer were being pushed towards the wall.  What seemed to be a hologram flickered off, revealing five chairs with little hats.

            Ellone Machine 10000, the label read.

            "Hey!" Seifer growled angrily.  He flung out as the invisible force pushed him into the chair, Quistis at his side, grimacing.

            "Seifer, shut up and be still!" she yelled.

            "I don't want to die with you!" he glared.

            Needles.  It felt like hundreds of needles had just pricked Quistis' eyes.  Her eyes began to well up.  She sat, frozen, staring at Seifer as he struggled.

            The machine hummed.  The lights shimmered and she heard a little zap

            Emerald eyes…

                        *                                              *                                              *

            "Quistia!  You can't leave now!"

            "Don't worry, little sister, I'll be back before…next week."

            The little girl groaned.  "Mother said you weren't allowed to play with that stupid Seifur squire boy!"

            "Aeona. I don't care.  He's my best friend, remember?  And, plus, he's not a squire!  He a knight."

            "Quistia…" Aeona whined.

            "Shhp," Quistia hushed her.  She threw the tied blankets out the window and hoisted herself over the balcony edge.  As she neared the ground, she whistled.  Tut, tut, tut – along came her horse.  "Muah!" she blew her little sister a kiss.  "Bye!"

            "Aww, such a loving sister," a sneering voice came from behind Quistia.

            "Seifur!  You were supposed to meet me at the forest!  Huh!" she mocking fumed.

            He grinned.  "Change of plans.  The gypsies are as boring as…your parents in comparison to what I found."

            Quistia smiled.  "Alright!  Lead on, Furball!"

            "You haven't called me that in forever, Quis."

            "Well, it's time to start again, because you need to shave."

            He clutched his heart in mock pain.  "How could I?  A manly beard is all part of the knighthood."

            "Yeah…some knight…a knight doesn't lose when he races a lady to the forest!"  Quistia spurred her horse and galloped off.

            "Wrong direction, you half-wit!"

            20 minutes later…Quistia and Seifur were in the depths of the forest.

            "Are we almost there?'

            "Yes."

            "That's what you said 10 minutes ago!"

            "Quis, stop being the spoiled brat you are."

            Quistia huffed.  "I am not spoiled."

            Seifur rolled his eyes.  "We've been over this before."

            "Well, I still don't understand why you don't like my family."

            Seifur gave her a look.  "Your cousin is the most obnoxious guy on the world."

            "Don't say that Seifur.  I probably have to marry him one day."

            "Why do you let your father do that to you?  I mean, you aren't the obedient type with me."

            Quistia sighed.  "It's family obligation!"

            "Well…some things are more important then family."

            "Like what?" Quistia turned to look him straight in the eye.

            "Well…friendship!" he gave a half-grin, "And…love…"

            "What?!"

            Seifur looked away to prevent Quistia from seeing the blush spreading up his face.  He cleared his throat.  "Hey, we're here!"

            Quistia turned her gaze on a lake in front of them.

            "This is what we missed the gypsy party for?  A lake?"

            "Shut your mouth for at least 2 seconds, would ya, Quis?"  He dismounted gracefully and disappeared as behind a boulder.  Quistia quickly dismounted as Seifur dragged out a board of wood.

            "Levio," he cast the spell, a result of countless hours of studying knight magic.

            "On," he instructed.

            Quistia looked around nervously and carefully stepped on.  Seifur stepped on behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

            Quistia gasped as the board flew up and led them to what was like a wall of leaves.

            "Revela," Seifur whispered.

            The curtain of leaves drew apart.  Quistia gasped again, but this time from the sheer beauty of what she saw.

            They had entered paradise.  Waterfalls, water holes, clear, crystalline water flowed around silkily.  A velvet carpet of lush grass covered the ground, at the edge of the lake, a huge weeping willow acted as guardian to the beautiful scene.  The moonlight wrapped the lake, making it glow a golden, bluish-green color.

            "Seifur…"

            "I know."  She turned to face him and saw the look in his eyes, as if they were drinking in something stunningly gorgeous.

            "It's the most beautiful thing to grace this planet!" Quistia expressed.

            "…almost."

            Quistia searched his eyes.

            "Let me show you something even more beautiful."  He tentatively took her face in his head and pressed his forehead to hers.  "Vire," he whispered gently. 

            Suddenly, Quista saw a blinding light, so beautiful; she almost couldn't bear to look at it.  She felt the presence of unalterable beauty.  She reached out her hand, which found the perfect hand of someone else.  But she couldn't see this person.  She gently pulled at the hand and drew it closer.  Then she saw it.  It was…herself.

            Quistia gasped as Seifur broke the bond.

            "Wh-wh-what was that?"

            Seifur did not evade her gaze this time.  "It was you…the way I see you."

            Emerald green…

            "Quistia…please just listen to what I have to say.  Ever since we were kids, we always had a connection.  And now we're grown up and nothing has changed, but just…developed.  Quistia, I don't know if it's love or what, but I know that when, I'm with you, everything feels so right.  And I know I want to be next to you when you die.  I want to die with you."

            Movement.  Thought.  Rationality.  All not functioning.  All Quistia knew was the pounding of her heart.  That and the fact that she felt the same what as Seifur did.

            Quistia slowly reached up to touch his cheek.  She drew his face in and – her world was forever changed.