Disclaimer: As the same with all the other chapters, we don't own anything we didn't come
up with. That belongs to Square. We do this for no profit. Blah, blah, blah.
Chapter 14: If You Only Knew...
The group heading for Galbadia Garden rented a car in Timber and drove the distance,
staying away from the main roads just in case Galbadian patrols were watching the roads into the
country. Everyone was quiet as Irvine drove the SUV across the terrain. Squall looked out the
window in thought. He felt someone squeeze his hand and he looked over to see Rinoa looking at
him, her warm brown eyes studying him.
"You've been quiet ever since we left Timber. What's the matter?"
Squall shrugged. "Nothing. Just thinking, mostly." Squall frowned, staring out the
window. "You notice how we haven't seen one monster since we left Draconia? Hell, ever since we
left Balamb."
Seifer shrugged. "Maybe their laying dormant after that Lunar Cry."
"Besides, they don't like attacking vehicles," Irvine called back. "They usually stay
away if there's any machinery in the area."
"True, but you almost always see one in the distance when you go through Timber Forest,"
Quistis replied. "At least a Fungasaur or something. I haven't seen one Bite Bug for Hyne's
sake."
Selphie shrugged. "I don't really care why they're not around. I'm just glad they're
not."
Rinoa laughed lightly. "I can't argue with you there."
Squall silently agreed too, but it was still too strange to ignore, especially with all
that had happened. Was Xana controlling the monsters too? Was she going to use them in some way?
-Now THAT'S paranoid, Squall. How about we stick to reality, okay?-
Squall sighed and squeezed Rinoa's hand as they came upon Galbadia Garden. He looked
back at Seifer and and he noticed a bland expression on Seifer's face.
"What's wrong, Seifer?"
Seifer shifted in his seat. "If it's all the same to you, I think I'll stay with the
car. They probably don't have fond memories of me there."
Squall nodded. "I think that'd be smart. I don't think all six should go in, as a matter
of fact. Quistis and Rinoa will go with me to talk to Headmaster Martine and you three can stay
with the car or wander around. Just don't go too far from the parking lot."
Irvine and Selphie agreed. Seifer merely nodded and stared out the window, silent. Squall
had to feel a little sorry for Seifer. After all, there were still some people out there,
especially SeeDs, that hadn't forgotten his betrayal, whether it be under the influence of a
sorceress. But at the same time, part of it had been his own free will. Squall knew that he
couldn't forgive that part.
-And how does Seifer feel about it? Does it eat at him every waking hour? Does it haunt
him at night, the deaths of those students that were killed in the missile attack on Trabia, the
deaths of the students when he attacked Balamb? How does he live with himself?-
Squall glanced back at Seifer and noticed for the first time the dark circles underneath
his eyes and the gaunt face that he now wore. Squall knew that his conscience had to be beating
himself up. And with Xana on the warpath, it opened up wounds that hadn't completely healed.
Squall, Quistis, and Rinoa walked into the Garden as Seifer remained behind. Irvine and
Selphie walked off across the lot towards the main entrance, Irvine talking to several people
while Selphie remained at his side, eternally smiling and giggling.
Seifer kept his distance, staying near the car. He didn't want to talk to anyone, and he
hoped to Odin that none of the SeeDs recognized him. He didn't need anything to remind him of a
few months ago. His conscience did a good enough job of that.
"Does it now? Are you sure? After all, you enjoyed seeing Squall writhe in agony while
you were interrogating him..."
Seifer stood stock straight, trying not to alarm anyone close by. It was Xana, her
seductive, purring voice singing the siren song.
"I told you once already. I'm not going to be your slave," Seifer muttered under his
breath. He didn't want anyone seeing him talking to himself. He climbed back in the SUV and shut
and locked the door.
"Ah, but someone like you must have some desire for killing. Like those students in
Trabia? Like those students in Balamb that died because you attacked them? Even those Galbadian
soldiers that died at your command. How many deaths were caused by you, Sir Seifer?"
Seifer clenched his teeth. She was mocking him. "Too many. But I guess you wouldn't care
about that, would you? I mean, hey, what's one innocent defenseless village to you?"
Xana's voice laughed, a silvery sound with a cold menace to it. "You mean that Draconian
town? They died because of the deeds of their ancestors. But that is not important. What is
important is what you want. Do you want to feel free of your guilt? Do you want to stop seeing
the faces of the dead at night?"
Seifer swallowed thickly. She was good at tempting him, he had to give her that. "I'll
get past that on my own. I don't need your kind of help."
The voice sighed. "Maybe so, but then you never relied on anyone's help, have you? With
me, you won't need anyone's help ever again. You can be free of your guilt, of your pain. You
can be happy and triumphant over your enemies. Is that not what every warrior wants?"
"This warrior wants you to shut the hell up. You can tempt me with your lies, but I know
that's all they are. Lies. You would throw me away like a piece of trash once your goals are
achieved," Seifer bitterly replied. "Now get the hell out of my head."
"Very well. I have enough knights for now. But I will be here, waiting. Good bye for
now, Sir Seifer." Xana laughed mockingly as she bit out the last phrase. Sefier shivered
uncontrollably and got out of the car. This time was stronger than before, and he had nearly
accepted before. He could keep on fighting, but he couldn't hold out forever. She'd wear him
down, and she would win.
Seifer strode the distance across the lot to where Irvine and Selphie stood. He tried to
put on a calm face as he walked up to them.
"Uh, guys? Could you show me to where the others went? I need to talk to Quistis."
Seifer tried to sound casual, but from the look on their faces, he was sure they knew otherwise.
"Sure, Seifer. No problem," Irvine said, looking at him strangely.
Selphie studied Seifer hard. "What's wrong? You look...scared almost."
-If you only knew-
"I'm alright. I just need to talk to Quistis. Now."
The two exchanged glances and nodded. "Sure. Just follow us, Seifer." Seifer followed
Irvine and Selphie, keeping his eyes fixed at the back of Irvine's coat, avoiding everyone elses
glances and looks as they entered Galbadia Garden.
After Martine had been expelled from his headmaster job at Galbadia Garden, he had
traveled to Fisherman's Horizon to get a perspective on his life. The townspeople there accepted
him without judging him on his past. Not too long later, one of them suggested that he try to get
his job back, saying that if it was what he really loved to do, he could prove to everyone that
he could be trusted again. Martine was convinced and headed back to Garden. Cid, and the
headmaster of Trabia Garden were reluctant to allow Martine to get his job back, but relented
when they saw how dedicated he was to getting it back and proving he had changed. Since then he
had resumed his position of headmaster at Galbadia Garden. His demanor was still strict towards
the students, trying to make sure that they all were obediant and followed orders that would
prepare them for becoming SeeDs.
His office hadn't changed since the last time he had been there, and was still the same
when Quistis, Rinoa and Squall entered to talk to him.
Quistis frowned. "What do you mean, Headmaster? They just up and left?"
Martine nodded grimly. "Indeed. We investigated and we found that most of them had bad
grades as far as classroom work went, but training wise they were some of our best. We did a
psychological profile on them and almost all of them were also very ambitious, ready to do
anything to get ahead."
Squall frowned. "The other Gardens have reported something of the same thing, though
Balamb has only lost a few, while Trabia was able to stop most of those that were leaving."
"Maybe it's because of the strict discipline here?" Rinoa said. She turned and smiled
nervously at Martine. "With all due respect, Headmaster, Galbadia has stricter discipline here
than both Balamb and Trabia."
Martine nodded. "It's alright, Miss Heartilly. We thought of that ourselves and have
given the students a little more leeway in the hopes of discouraging them from leaving. But
still, a mass defection that's sweeping not only the Gardens, but also militarys from across the
globe is something for concern."
Squall raised an eyebrow. "Which militaries?"
Martine sighed. "Dollet and Galbadia mostly, although we've had some reports of Esthar
soldiers leaving their posts."
Quistis stared at Headmaster Martine, displeased and confused at what was going on.
There was no doubt in her mind that Xana had something to do with this, but what she had planned
was beyond her. This left Quistis very frustrated and angry. She should have been able to figure
it out by now.
The sound of someone knocking at the door surprised not only Quistis, but everyone else
as well. Cautiously, Seifer poked his head in and asked, "Quistis? Can I just talk to you for
one minute? It's important."
"All right..." Quistis returned, now even more confused. She turned to Headmaster
Martine. "Excuse me, I'll only be a minute. Continue without me."
Quistis walked out of the room into the hall. Selphie and Irvine nodded to them and left
them alone in the hall.
Quistis turned to Seifer and crossed her arms. "What now?"
Seifer looked at her, and Quistis was shocked at the haunted look on his face. "She came
to me again," he said. "Xana."
Quistis was stunned. "Why? You beat her the first time, right?"
Seifer looked down. "Yeah. But she's not one to take no for an answer. She promised to
take the guilt away this time."
Quistis raised an eyebrow. "Guilt?"
"Being the reason that over a hundred people are dead is kinda hard on the soul, ya
know," Seifer said bitterly.
Quistis was shocked. She hadn't really thought about Seifer feeling guilty about what he
had done before. The thought really didn't cross her mind. But there he was, telling her about
it. Inside, it made her feel sorry for him, that he had to face that kind of pain all the time.
"I didn't know you felt that way, Seifer. We have to find a way to stop her. As quickly as
possible. Then she can leave you alone," she answered.
Seifer smirked. "Gee, that was simple. Why I feel better already," he said sarcastically.
"There's no need for sarcasm, Seifer." Quistis frowned. "I'm just trying to help you
out. Maybe you need to see Doctor Odine or something. He might be able to help get Xana out of
your head," she suggested, just thinking of it off the top of her head.
Seifer shook his head. "I got enough people in my head as it is. I don't need him in
there too."
"Then what do you want to do?" she asked. "Keep battling her in your head until she
wins?"
Seifer shook his head vehimently. "No, of course not! But at the same time, I don't want
anyone else to know. I've done a lot just to get back into Balamb. Letting everyone know that
she's trying to recruit me will be like putting a big target on my back and telling everyone
it's open season on Seifer."
Quistis siged. "We don't have to tell anyone. Dr. Odine isn't going to go running around
telling the world about it. ut you can't just stand here and bitch about it without doing
something. And that's the only thing I can think of."
Seifer sighed. "I know, I know. But..." He stopped, sighing. "I'm afraid that she'll
find some way to break through even after Odine gets done. She's more powerful than Ultimecia,
I can sense it."
"I'm sure by then, we'll have figured out some way to defeat her. You gotta think a
little more positively about this. And at least you should try to see Dr. Odine. Or else..."
Quistis trailed off, not sure what else to say.
Seifer nodded darkly. "Or else I go over again. And I'd rather kill myself than let that
happen again."
Quistis was shocked at the seriousness he said it with. "Seifer, you can't be serious!"
Seifer looked her dead in the eye. "I am."
"I..." Quistis searched her mind for something meaningful to say, but almost every word
failed to come from her. The best she could do was, "I....think you should go see Dr. Odine. As
soon as you can."
Seifer looked down and smiled slightly. "I know. And thanks for keeping this all a
secret. It means alot."
"You're welcome." Quistis smiled back. "I just want to make sure you're going to be
okay. I'd much rather have you as a friend than an enemy."
Seifer looked up in surprise. "Well...I guess that makes two of us."
Quistis almost grinned, but then remembered the seriousness of the situation. "Good.
Look, I got to get back to Headmaster Martine now. We should only be another few minutes. You
gonna be okay?"
Seifer nodded, his grin dying. "Yeah. I'll be out in the car-"
Several alarms went off and SeeDs began rushing around. Quistis saw several students and
SeeDs run in from outside, several wounded.
"Come on!" she said as she grabbed the whip at her side. She rushed down the stairs with
Seifer behind her. They were joined by Squall and Rinoa in the main hall. As they rushed for the
entrance, Quistis dimly knew that Irvine and Selphie were outside, and prayed that they were
alright.
Irvine and Selphie walked arm and arm across the main hall in Galbadia Garden, Irvine
nodding to several familiar faces. As they walked out the main entrance into the warm sun,
Irvine couldn't feel any happier. Even through out all the bloodshed in Draconia and Xana's
attacks, he felt like a little kid again. It was probably selfish of him to feel that way, when
hundreds had died because of a power hungry woman, but he couldn't make himself feel any
different. He always felt this way when he was with Selphie.
As they walked across the marshalling ground, a cool breeze ruffled Selphie's hair. She
smoothed it back and smiled up at Irvine. Irvine smiled back, almost giddy with happiness. He
kissed her, her full warm lips meeting his. After a moment, they parted, Irvine hugging Selphie
close.
"I wonder what they're doing. They're taking a reeeeaaaaally long time," Selphie mumbled
as she snuggled closer.
"I dunno. I hope they keep it up, though," Irvine answered, stroking Selphie's deep
brown hair.
Selphie giggled and looked up at him. "You're bad, y'know?"
Irvine shrugged and grinned from ear to ear. "Maybe, but you like me that way."
Selphie giggled again and pulled away from him. She nodded towards the entrance. "We
really need to see what they're up to."
Irvine feigned disappointment. "Do we have to?"
Selphie smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Besides, you wanna know what we're doing next, don't
y-"
Selphie's happy expression suddenly turned into one of shock and confusion, and for a
moment Irvine couldn't understand why. Then he saw the small ragged, bloody hole in Selphie's
chest, saw her fall back as she reached out for him that it hit him.
She had been shot.
"SELPHIE!!!" Irvine screamed, lunging forward to catch her before she hit the ground.
Several more shots came out of nowhere, the only sound was the high pitched ping as
they ricocheted off the concrete. SeeDs and cadets rushed for cover as Irvine carried Selphie
behind a parking barricade, shielding them from the barrage. Irvine set her down gently, his
mind rushing with emotions.
-Dear Hyne, not her, please Hyne not Selphie-
Selphie looked at him, her emerald green eyes filled with fear and pain, her breath
coming in short, labored gasps.
"Irvy?" she said in a wavering voice that freaked Irvine out even more.
"Don't talk, baby. You'll be okay," he replied, dimly noting the crack in his voice. He
didn't have any potions, and he didn't have any cure spells junctioned. He noticed that the
gunfire had stopped, that there were others wounded, but he couldn't leave her.
Irvine pressed his hand over the wound to stauch the blood flow, the red liquid staining
her yellow jumper a dark crimson.
"Irvy?" she said again, weaker this time. Irvine brought her close to him with his free
arm, trying not to act as scared as he felt in order not to freak her out.
"Don't talk, Sefie. Just rest," he said quietly.
Selphie looked into his eyes. "Irvy...I love you...always..." She suddenly became limp
in his arms, her eyes rolling back before her head rolled to one side, her breath coming out in
one final gasp.
Irvine cracked. He started shaking her, shouting her name again and again, crying
freely.
"Oh my Gods." Irvine looked up to see Squall, Rinoa, and the rest running towards him.
Rinoa quickly knelt and felt for a pulse. She then cast Life and a few balls of light twirled
around Selphie for second before they entered her. Selphie began breathing again, though it was
very weak and shallow.
"We have to get her inside, Irvine." It was Squall talking, putting a hand on Irvine's
shoulder. Irvine nodded numbly and let Seifer and Squall take Selphie. Irvine stood up and
looked at Selphie's blood on his hands and his stained oilskin coat. His heart felt torn in two,
and a terrible rage began to settle in on him. He drew the Exeter from it's back holster,
pumped a slug round into it, and started walking to the distant woods. The shots had come from
there, and there was still a chance that the sniper was still there.
"Irvine, where are you going?" Rinoa asked.
"To kill someone," Irvine said darkly. He began running, not hearing the shouts from
Quistis and Rinoa, only the one thought that kept running through his mind.
-Somebody's going to pay...-
Irvine had jogged the distance into the woods when he was fired upon. He dodged to the
side and rolled behind a tree, returning fire as the Exeter bucked in his hands. He peeked from
cover long enough to see the shooter half hidden behind some rocks, firing at him with a semi-
auto rifle. He was wearing all black and as he fired again, Irvine thought he looked familiar.
Irvine pumped another round into the Exeter and fired again, keeping the sniper pinned
down. He had to find a way to get the drop on the shooter, he didn't have the ammo to waste.
-Come on and think, Irvy. What can you do...?-
Spells. Irvine almost smacked himself in the head. He hadn't had any healing spells,
but he did have several attack and status spells junctioned. He waited for the shooter to step
out of cover again and cast Blind on him. There was a flash of light and the shooter dropped his
weapon as he cried out in pain and surprise, clutching his eyes.
Irvine wasted no time and flew into the shooter full tilt, slamming the butt of the
Exeter into the sniper. The sniper fell to the ground, holding his hands up. Irvine finally got
a good look at the shooter and nearly collapsed in surprise.
"Drax! What the hell are you doing?" Drax had been the second best sniper in Galbadia
Garden next to himself. Irvine had always looked upon Drax as a friend, but he had also been a
sort of trouble maker. As a result, his grades were extremely poor and it was only his skill
with a gun that kept him in the Garden. Now, he had on a sick parody of a SeeD uniform, all
black leather with no decoration.
"Hey, Irvine," Drax said, blinking his eyes at Irvine. He sneered up at him. "That your
girl I got? Damn shame. I was going for you, y'know."
"Why, Drax? Why did you shoot at us?" Irvine felt like he had been hit in the stomach.
The person he loved the most had been shot by a friend. How it got much worse than that, he
didn't know.
"Because the mistress demanded it. So I did it. I'm not a SeeD anymore, Irvine. I'm a
Black SeeD." Drax looked at Irvine smugly, his face contorted into a hateful visage of glee.
"You were always better than me, Kinneas. Too bad I got that bitch friend of yours instead of
you. I would've liked to see how she reacted when she saw you fall with a bullet in your
head..."
Irvine was so stunned that he didn't see Drax pull out the hand gun until it was too
late. Drax fired, the round hitting Irvine in the shoulder, an electric pain that coursed up
and down his left arm. Irvine fired with his right, the solid slug obliterating his former
friend's skull. Irvine let the gun fall to the ground, sick to his stomach.
"Irvine!" Quistis shouted. She and Rinoa jogged up to Irvine as he slumped against a
tree, weak from pain and exhaustion. "What happened?" she asked, looking down at the cooling
body.
Irvine shook his head. "I'll explain later. Just get me back to the Garden. I need to
see Selphie." The girls nodded and helped him up before Rinoa cast Cure on him and healed the
worst of the wound before they set off back to Galbadia Garden. Irvine said nothing, wanting to
feel nothing. It seemed like a sick joke to him, that all of fifteen minutes ago he had been the
happiest man alive. And in that space he had become a man who had nearly lost everything.
Irvine silently swore to himself that whoever the "mistress" was, she was going to pay.
With interest.
* * * *
The trip to Esthar had been an awkwardly quiet one. Vira had barely said a word, only a
few apathetic sounding sentances to Zell, apologizing for her behavior. Zell had said that is
was nothing, and went back to being silent. They all hoped that going to Esthar might brighten
things up a bit, or at least relieve the tension between the three.
When they arrived, they were immediately taken to the Presidential Palace and Laguna's
office. As they walked there, Dorin stared wide-eyed at the city, never seeing anything quite
like Esthar before.
Laguna grinned in his friendly manner and shook each person's hand. When he shook Vira's
he said, "Hey! I remember you. You were the one that pushed me out of the way, right?"
"Yes, sir," she answered.
Laguna nodded, still grinning. "That was real nice of ya." He let go of her hand and
looked at Dorin. "This one of them guys from that mysterious Draconia?"
Zell almost snickered, then answered, "Yeah." He seemed to be feeling better now that
he'd reached Esthar.
"That is so cool!" Laguna exclaimed, shaking Dorin's hand vigorously.
Dorin kept his poker face and bowed. "Lord Heir Dorin Vachon of Draconia, sir."
Laguna look thrilled. "Pleased to meet you, Dorin. I'm President Laguna Loire. You can
call me Laguna."
Kiros half-smirked. "Compared to some of the other things you've been called."
Laguna turned to Kiros. "Man, why you always gotta rag on me like that?"
Dorin leaned in close to Vira. "So is he the president, or is he just not sure?"
Vira almost laughed, but kept her face straight. "He's the president all right. He
just "fell" into the job from what I heard."
Dorin shook his head. "Rather informal, aren't they?"
Zell nodded. "Yeah, but you get used to it real quick."
At that moment, a slender young woman walked into the room, her short black hair
shimmering in the light. Zell smiled and stepped forward. "Hey Ellone."
"Hello Zell," Ellone answered, hugging him. Laguna smiled and turned to Dorin.
"Dorin, this is my niece, Ellone. Ellone, this is Dorin....Vachon, was it?"
"Yes. Lord Heir Dorin Vachon," Dorin said, slightly annoyed. If Vira was right about the
"falling into the job" crack, he couldn't have thought of any other way this man had come into
his position.
"So...umm..." Laguna scratched his head, trying to remember something. "Oh yeah! Squall
said he wanted you guys to check and see if we got anything more on Xana, right? Well, we got
some pretty farfetched stuff here."
Kiros shook his head. "I told you she was no good."
Laguna rolled his eyes and turned to his friend, "Hey, it wasn't my fault! It was some
sorta spell thing."
"Right, right," Kiros replied.
Vira looked at Laguna and cleared her throat. "Sir? Squall said I should probably go see
Dr. Odine while I'm here. Is he available?" She asked.
"Huh?" Laguna's face went blank for a second. "Oh! Yeah! I remember. Squall said
something about that. Yeah. You can Kiros can go ahead. I'll show Zell and...Dorin, right?
Yeah. I'll show these guys what we found out."
Dorin looked stricken at the thought of going on with Laguna and shot a look at Vira for
help. Vira shrugged, smiled slightly, and followed Kiros out of the room. "Tell me what they've
found later, guys." she called over her shoulder.
Dorin nodded then turned back to Laguna and Zell. "Shall we then?"
Laguna nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Excuse us, Elle." He ruffled her hair as he passed and
Ellone smoothed it back down, a childish grin on her face.
They entered the presidential study and walked over to a desk with a huge leather and
metal bound book on it.
Dr. Odine stood in the middle of his office, observing something on the large computer
screen in front of him. From behind him, his assistant came in and tapped the doctor on his
shoulder. Odine jumped slightly, almost knocking into the assistant with his large collar. "Vat
iz it?!" He demanded.
"Kiros and a young SeeD are here to see you. Kiros said that President Laguna wanted the
SeeD to get a physical or something. He wasn't too clear." The assistant backed up slightly, to
avoid another close encounter with Odine's outrageous clothing.
"Fine...fine, send zem in," he grumbled back, turning his attention back to the computer
screen.
"Yes, sir," the assistant replied, opening the door for Kiros and Vira.
A moment later, Kiros and a young woman dressed in black walked through the door. Odine
turned and nodded to Kiros and shook hands with the girl. "Velcome, Kiros. Vat iz it zat you
vant from Odine?"
"Dr. Odine, this is Vira Eronwil, a SeeD from Balamb."
"Oooh, SeeD eh? Tell Odine, how iz Mizz Rinoa doing deze dayz? She vaz in very bad
condition ven last I saw her."
Vira stared at Odine's collar and then back at him. "She's...good. Very healthy and
everything."
"Good, good." Odine nodded approvingly. "Now, vat iz it that you need from Odine?"
"Umm...some tests, I guess. I've been having terrible nightmares that could be memories
I've forgotten. I guess some sort of physical or something. Is that all right with you, sir?"
Odine shrugged, although it was hard to tell underneath his clothes. "Yes. Zat iz all
right vith me. Come zes vay and I'll run some blood tests." He motioned to the chair nearby.
Vira sat down as Odine took out a large needle.
Vira's eyes widened and Kiros stepped forward quickly. "Uh, Dr. Odine, don't you think
you ought to hear what exactly is wrong with Vira?"
"Vat? Ze problem iz zat she iz having ze nightmares. Odine vill take proper care of ze
patient."
Kiros rolled his eyes. "Well still, just to be on the safe side and so I can report to
President Laguna what the problem is."
Odine looked disappointed as he put away the needle. "Alright, alright. Tell Odine vat
kind of dreams you've been having."
Vira sighed, annoyed. Yet another person she had to tell. "I've been having nightmares
of being in this dark room, where it's either raining or snowing outside. There's always a woman
with evil looking eyes mocking me, telling me that I'm a mistake, and usually a man is there to
stop her from hurting me. Except for the last time when she stabbed me in the arm." When she
had finished explaining, Vira exhaled deeply.
Kiros looked thoughtful as Odine shrugged. "Zo you vant me to get rid of ze dreams, no?
Zat is easy. But I vill need some blood tests first." He reached for the needle again.
"No no, that's quite alright," Vira said quickly.
"Miss Eronwil, do you think that these maybe memories and not dreams?" Kiros asked.
"Yes, I think they're memories. The one where I was stabbed, I woke up and my arm was
bleeding." Vira pulled the sleeve of her jacket back to show the two her scar. "And I've had
that scar for as long as I can remember."
Kiros thought for a moment. "I think there might be someone else who would be more
helpful in the memory department." He turned to Odine. "Thank you, Doctor. We're sorry to take
up your time."
Odine shrugged and returned to the computer. "It iz okay. But Odine must vork now."
As they left the lab, Kiros leaned near Vira. "I'm sorry about Dr. Odine. He gets rather
carried away with his experimentation."
Vira nodded. "I'll say. But what's with his collar?"
Suddenly, Vira stopped. There was still one question she hadn't asked. Something that in
the back of her mind had been worrying her since they left Draconia. What about that thing she
did to Xana? Could she do it again? Not hearing Kiros' reply about Odine's collar, she rushed
back into the lab, much to the surprise of the doctor.
"Vat iz it? Did you forget your coat?" he asked, looking a mixture of annoyed and
puzzled.
"I have one more question," she started. Vira took out her kamagunblades and showed them
to Odine. "I can do something with these...and...each time I do it, it become worse. The last
time I was unconcious for a while. And...have you ever heard of...a Dragon Rage? Like it could
be caused by something? I'm sorry to just come back and dump this on you, but I just
remembered."
Odine looked perplexed, then began to think. "Vellll, zere might be a connection with
your ability. But I am not sure Odine has heard of ze Dragon Rage. I would be interested in
knowing more about zis."
Kiros walked into the lab, startled. "Is something wrong, Vira?"
Vira turned to Kiros. "I'm sorry for running off, sir. I just remembered a few things I
needed to ask Dr. Odine." She then turned back to Odine and began to explain. "The Dragon Rage
is this...sort of limit break...for the Draconians. They are junctioned to their guardian
force dragons by mixing their blood. The more blood they take in, the more the rage is capable
of coming out...I think. When they get hit pretty bad, they can just go into a blind rage and
go after everything in sight. I...had a similar experience in Dollet, but I don't have a
dragon guardian force...and I'm not really Draconian."
Odine thought for a moment. "If zere vas a Draconian around, I could do a blood
analysis."
Vira reluctantly said, "There is...at the palace."
Odine hopped up and down eagerly. "Vell then! Let's meet ze fellow, shall ve?"
"All right..." Vira started following Odine out the door. "But, I'm not so sure he's going
to be that pleased."
"Okay, this is getting a little out of hand," Kiros casually mentioned, following the
two out.
"I'm sorry, sir," Vira replied. "There are just some answers I really need to know about
myself."
Kiros nodded. "I understand. But in my experience, when things get out of hand, things
happen. Good or bad, well, that depends."
* * * *
"Really, guys, I'm fine now. Thanks." Selphie laid in a hospital gown in the infirmary
bed. Although she was rather pale, the sparkle in her eye was there again.
"No, you need to rest, honey," Irvine said as he sat down next to Selphie's bed, taking
her hand with his. His coat had been covered in blood, so he had had to discard it, though
Squall noted that he had been reluctant to do so.
"Irvine's right, you need to rest," Quistis agreed. "We need you at a hundred percent."
Selphie pouted, then nodded and smiled. "Thanks, guys."
Irvine looked up at Headmaster Martine, who was also in the room with them. "So why did
Drax leave?"
Martine shrugged, looking deeply troubled. "I don't know. Like the rest of them, he just
disappeared one day."
Squall shook his head. "This has to have something to do with Xana. I mean number one,
SeeDs just don't disappear. And two, they don't shoot on their comrades."
Irvine looked down. "He said that he was a Black SeeD and that the mistress had told him
to do it."
Rinoa arched an eyebrow. "Black SeeD? Who are they?"
"I'd guess they probably Xana's SeeD." Everyone looked at Seifer, who had kept silent
until this point.
"How do you know?" Selphie asked.
Seifer took a deep breath and let it out. "Because..."
"Seifer, I thought you wanted to keep it a secret," Quistis said. Squall noticed her
looking at Seifer very worryingly.
Seifer shrugged. "It doesn't matter now. Xana might've done it to get me to go over with
her." He looked at the rest of them. "Yeah. Xana's been calling to me. Through dreams and
stuff. She wants me to join her." He looked down, his shoulders slumped.
"And what have you said?" Martine asked, his arms crossed.
Seifer shook his head. "That I wasn't going to play her game. The thing is though, she
knows how to push my buttons." Seifer looked up, a haunted expression on his face. "In
Draconia, that night when we were attacked by the wolves, she tempted me with the power and
victory part. Then just an hour ago, when I was in the car, she said that she could make all
of my guilt and pain to go away, to forget about the past." Seifer leaned against a wall,
seemingly exhausted over his confession. "Gotta give her points for trying, she knows what I
want," he said bitterly.
Squall thought for a moment. He had to admire Seifer's willpower thus far. He hadn't
done anything stupid or rash, and he hadn't given in to Xana's temptations. However, it was
still a security risk to have him on the team...
"Squall, can I talk to you alone for a second?" Quistis said. Squall nodded and turned
back to the others.
"I'll be right back." After he followed Quistis out into the hall, he asked her point
blank. "So he told you what was going on?"
Quistis nodded. "Yes. He was afraid that if he told anyone else, he'd lose the
confidence everyone had put in him when he was welcomed back. But..." She trailed off,
shaking her head. "He's changed, Squall. He's not quite the cocky arrogant SOB we knew once.
He's got a lot on his mind that he still can't come to terms with."
Squall was a little surprised at Quistis' defense of him, but he had to agree. Ever
since Draconia, hell ever since the SeeD exam, Seifer had been a little more subdued, a little
more accepting of his orders, though he did have his moments.
"Well..." Squall thought for a moment. "I can't take him off the team, because we need
him. At the same time, he is a security risk." He sighed. "Can you keep an eye on him? You two
seem to have an understanding of each other."
Quistis nodded. "Yeah, that'd be alright."
"Okay. Let's go see what our plan is, then." Squall motioned for the door.
* * * *
Laguna opened the large book, particles of dust flying up from it slightly. He coughed a
little, then pointed to a drawing on the page. "Okay, this is what we found. Y'see that
picture there? That's Anarix, the one sorceress who ruled the world for a while. She was
defeated by some Galbadian with kamagunblades. The only thing that was able to hurt her,
appearantly. She disappeared."
"What are you getting at?" Dorin asked.
Laguna took a television remote that was on a nearby table and used it to turn on one of
the television screens. "Now, you see this shot of Xana there?"
"They look...almost exactly the same," Zell gawked at the screen and back at the drawing
a few times.
Laguna nodded. "Yeah, but that's pretty far fetched. Sure, Anarix wasn't confirmed as
dead, but this was centuries ago."
Zell raised an eyebrow. "Yep, I'd say that's far fetched."
Laguna nodded. "All we've had to go on is this picture and what was in the archives. They
say this book has the entire story, but we haven't been able to decipher the language yet."
Dorin looked at the book again and began to read aloud. "Teras nich, fertha pach gordo
Anarix liber drin nema..."
Laguna and Zell looked at Dorin, astounded. "It's old Draconian," he explained. "It says
'though defeated, Anarix had the power to warp time and space and escaped to regions unknown.'"
Laguna shook his head, amazed. "So she ended up here, in our time."
"Great, first we get a sorceress from the future, then we get some sorceress from the
past?" Zell rolled his eyes in disgust.
Laguna shrugged. "That's the best explaination. How she warped to this exact time and
decided to start again...well, I guess that's open for discussion. But, one thing's for sure,
she's not here to make up for what she's done."
"Ya think?" Zell asked, sarcastically.
Footsteps from outside made the three stop and turn to their attention to the door where
Odine ran in, looking excited, followed by an almost nervous looking Vira and slightly bemused
looking Kiros. Laguna blinked a few times and then looked at Kiros.
"What's going on, man? I thought you were having a phsyical at his lab or something. Not
in here."
"He wanted to see a Draconian, for some tests," Kiros replied, pointing to Dorin.
Dorin looked at the small doctor, bemused. "As long as I don't have to wear the
collar..."
"Dorin!" Zell hissed.
"You are Draconian?" Odine questioned, inspecting Dorin thoughoughly. "Yes, yes. Zes iz
very interesting. Come. Come to Odine's lab. I must have blood tests." Odine grabbed Dorin's
arm, trying to drag him back to the lab.
Vira looked at Dorin apologetically. "I'm sorry I said anything."
Dorin followed, confused. "What exactly did you tell him?"
"Just some questions about myself. You had that theory about the rage..." Vira trailed
off. "So..."
Dorin rolled his eyes. "Lovely."
Zell laughed. "Ah come on Dorin, just sit back and enjoy it!"
Vira elbowed Zell in the ribs. "Do you think we're going to enjoy getting stuck with
needles?"
"Needles?" Zell asked. "You didn't say anything about needles..."
Odine chuckled. "Ah yes, ze needles. I only take those things out to scare ze patients.
I like to see zeir reactions. It's funny, I get ze giggles."
Laguna, Kiros, and Zell shook their heads, while Vira looked positively ready to kill the
little man.
Through gritted teeth, Vira asked, "Then how do you take blood tests, doc?"
Odine shrugged. "Ze normal vay, through ze prick test. I only need a small amount of ze
blood."
"Then can we get this over with?" demanded Vira. "There is a lot about myself I don't
know and I'd like to before the end of the century."
Zell smirked as they neared Odine's lab. "Funny you should mention that..."
"What is it, Zell?" Vira asked, eyeing him suspiciously. "Something you haven't told me?"
"You could say that..." he started.
"What is it?"
Dorin sighed. "They have an old Draconian book that suggests that Xana is really Anarix,
the sorceress from before the Age of Strife. It says that Anarix warped time and space to
escape, and that they didn't know where she went."
Vira smacked herself on the forehead. "Great. Juuuust great. Now I have to deal with that
too. Hyne...why me?"
"What do you mean?" Laguna asked as they entered the lab. Dorin followed odin over to a
machine. He put his finger on a small pad in front of a large machine and Odine pushed a
button. With was a pop and then the machine began to work, analyizing and processing the blood.
Dorin stepped back and sucked on his finger. "Stings a bit."
Odine motioned for Vira to do the same as he took Dorin's sample out of the machine. Vira
frowned. "Zell, remind me to shut myself up next time. I am beginning to get the bad habit of
talking out loud."
"Gotcha," Zell answered.
Vira's frown grew when Odine pushed the button for the machine again. Once she had her
hand back, Vira shook her finger a little bit and told Laguna the story in a very short format.
"Xana is my mother."
Laguna's and Kiros' eyes grew large, and Dr. Odine nodded a bit. "Yes, zat iz probably
vhy you are remembering zese things through you dreams. Zhey may have been shut avay by ze
Sorceress, or you may have forgotten because of ze GF. Either way, Odine vill help you."
"Great..." Vira said, without any enthusiasm.
Laguna stared at Vira, his face full of shock. "Umm...how do you know this?"
"She told me. Before I...uhmm....did that big bright white spell thing..." Vira answered.
At that moment, the machine beeped. Odine peered at the screen and began to jump and
down. "Oh, zis iz good! Zis iz VERY good!"
Dorin raised an eyebrow. What is it?"
Odine turned to Vira. "Miss Eronvil..."
"EronWIL", corrected Vira.
"Zat iz what I said! Anyway, I am pleased to say you are half Draconian!"
Zell stood there, his mouth agape. Dorin merely nodded. "It would make sense. Draconia
used to be Anarix's seat of power before the Sundering."
"I am also pleased to announce zat you are half sorceress. Ze first case of half
sorceress I've ever zeen. You are the most interesting case I've had zince Ellone!" Odine
jumped up and down with glee.
Vira stood, mouth open, trying to speak, but words failed her. Finally she made out,
"I'm a-I'm a-I'm a what?" Vira gaped at Odine, confused beyond belief. "How do you get a half
sorceress?"
"I am not quite sure," Odine started. "Zis iz ze first case I've ever zeen. You see,
your mother was a powerful sorceress..."
"Skip ahead, we know that," Vira grunted.
"Right right, vell, she passed on some of her powers to you through genetics. Zat mean
zat you are as powerful as some of ze sorceresses on the planet, but not a full fledged one."
Vira frowned. "Yeah, that really explained it."
Odine shrugged. "Vell, you vanted to know, zo zat is what I did. And your spell is
because of your Draconian blood. It iz like zis Dragon Rage you described, only because you
are a sorceress, you trigger a very powerful spell."
"Okaaaaay, so what about this thing with the kamagunblades?" Vira asked. "The rage thing
wasn't nearly the same thing."
"Aaah," Odine took one of Vira's kamagunblades. "Ze kamagunblades vere popular weapons
among ze Galbadians back in Anarix's time. Zhey vere emotionally attatched to zeir weapons. Ze
warrior who defeated Anarix did so vith a spell similar to ze one you mentioned. It iz zort of
like a....zelf destruction spell. It takes out ze enemy...and ze person using the
kamagunblades. It's called ze Final Justice, I believe."
Vira's frown deepened even more."And just my luck, I can't control it."
"Now, zat iz a problem. If you use ze spell one more time, it might very vell kill you."
Odine explained.
Dorin began to frown. "Is there another way of defeating the sorceress without using the
spell?"
Odine scratched his head. "Not zat I know of. Zhat's ze only thing zat did ze the trick
in ze legends."
"This day just keeps getting better and better..." Vira shook her head.
Zell looked at Vira. "C'mon, it's not that bad."
"Yeah, it is," she replied.
Dorin's frown increased. "So there is no way around it."
"I'm afraid not. Ze sorceress must be killed by the one with ze kamagunblades and ze
Final Justice spell."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Vira put her hands up for a moment. "Hold up. I just want to get
everything clear here. The only way to kill Xana, my mother, is using my kamagunblades and
using the Final Justice spell I do by accident. And, I'm the only one that can do it?"
Odine nodded. "Zat iz correct."
"I'm gonna die," she simply stated.
"Yes, zat iz true," Odine continued nodding, until he was given an annoyed look from
Kiros. "Umm...vell, zat iz all. I must get back to verk."
Odine entered another part of the lab and left the five alone there. Vira looked
miserable, plopping down into a chair. Kiros and Laguna looked at each other.
"We'll be outside if you all need anything," Laguna said to Zell as they left. Dorin
frowned as he thought, then sat down next to Vira.
Vira sighed heavily. "Maybe I can try that time warping thing and go back to last
week..." she said absently, almost to herself. The tone of her voice made it clear she was
having a difficult time dealing with what was just presented to her.
Dorin smirked slightly. "I don't think that will solve anything. We'll still be in the
same problem by the time this week rolls around."
"Oh...right...well...then I think I'll just...." Vira stopped, not knowing what she
should say next.
Zell looked back at the two. "We should probably tell Squall this."
Sighing, Vira nodded and Dorin got up. "Agreed. But there still has to be some way around
this. There can't be just one way to kill her..."
Vira picked up her kamagunblades and attatched them to her belt. "If there isn't, then
there's just two things that can happen. Either I kill her, or I don't."
"We can't just let you die, though." Dorin replied.
Vira stepped outside to where Laguna and Kiros were waiting. "Yeah, you can. Because if
it's the only way, then it'll just have to be. It's one of those things where I have to dig
deep, find a way to face my mother, and then just do it. If I don't the world might not be
such a nice place to live. Can't let that happen....can I?"
Dorin sighed. "It still won't be if you do," he muttered.
Vira threw up her hands. "So one person dies. Big deal! People die all the time. But if
I don't do this, the world'll probably end up in some chaotic form and most will be killed by
Xana. That's not good! So what if I die? It's not like it matters. At least my life won't be
so damn complicated anymore."
Dorin shut his mouth and said nothing.
-Odin, if she only knew...-
Zell turned to both of them and said, "Let's take the car back to the palace. I'll call
Squall and tell him what's going on. I think he's still in Galbadia Garden."
Following Zell into the car, Vira muttered, "Whatever."
Author's comments: Yeah, this is going by real quick now, isn't it? I've had a lot of
time on my hands today to reformat all the writing into chapters. Lucky guys, aren't you?
Things are moving along quite briskly now, with a lot more about Vira revealed. There are still
the pressing questions, like how her father died, but we'll leave that for later. ;) Next
chapter will deal with Vira almost losing her sanity completely, and Quistis and Seifer
embarking on a reconassiance mission that gets way out of hand. Stay tuned, please R&R, and
there'll be more soon. :D
