A/N: Well I resurrected this fic cause I thought it had potential. Nearly this entire chapter was the result of a very late night so apologize if it's bad. J Thanks to Becky and Mandy for help with Zell's scene.

LEGACY

CHAPTER 3

It had been a typical day.

For Nida, a typical day was nothing spectacular. He had gotten up, showered, brushed his teeth; conducted all of the mundane everyday rituals that everyone grows so accustomed to. He had attended the funeral for Zell's mother, and then the reception. Cid had been there; Cid, and his wife Edea, and Xu, who collectively seemed to be the only members of the Garden faculty that acknowledged his existence. So he had sat with them.

It was amazing to see Cid and Edea together. Almost 20 years of marriage, and they still seemed to be just as much in love as they had been when they said their wedding vows. Edea was such an incredible person herself; a stunning blend of beauty and uncanny intelligence, tempered by a characteristic warmth that she conveyed to nearly everyone she came in contact with. There wasn't a human being who had met her that didn't take notice of her genuine smile. Cid was the same way. Nida wondered idly if he was the only person to make such an observation.

Cid and Nida made arrangements to meet for dinner at six o'clock. Nida smiled at the prospect, as he and the old man hadn't spoken in a long while. Over the course of the past year, Cid had become a kind of surrogate father to Nida, not to mention a much-needed close friend and confidante. Dinner sounded like a wonderful idea; finally, an opportunity for them to catch up.

Six-thirty rolled around, and Nida was still waiting for his Headmaster to show up. So he decided to check on him in his office. It was a well-known fact that Cid Kramer was not the most conscious man on the campus-- many even dared to call him oblivious--so it was perfectly understandable that he had perhaps gotten caught up with his work or with someone else and had forgotten all about his dinner plans. This didn't phase Nida at all. He could handle that. A year with Cid had prepared him for that.

And yet, Nida was not prepared for the sight he encountered in Cid's office.

Cid was dead.

He was just lying there, arms splayed across the floor, an expression of horror permanently embedded in his features. Scarlet blood stained his clothes and the formerly off-white carpet below him, creating a ghastly scene, one that not even a year in SeeD had prepared Nida for.

That's when Nida noticed he wasn't alone in the room. Knelt beside Cid was his wife, Edea, her face stricken with a look of shock and stark horror. Tears fell from her eyes and to the floor-- to her husband's corpse. To his shirt-- his good dress shirt, now soaked through with blood. It was the same one he worn just earlier that day, and on numerous formal occasions in the past. Like the SeeD Graduation Ball, back when Nida had first become a SeeD. Back when the world had been pregnant with hope and Cid had started taking him under his wing. When Cid would come up to him everyday and smile, just smile, a friendly, honest smile… and offer support. And they would talk, and Nida would feel like he was the most important person in the world.

But now he was gone.

Nida's hazel eyes met Edea's cloudy yellow ones, and then watched as they rolled back into her head. He sprang forward as she fainted in his arms.

He looked down-- at Edea, limp in his arms, and Cid's lifeless body on the floor-- and felt something expand in his chest; a burgeoning seed of despair, and anger… a sensation that until now had been foreign to him. He cried out in anguish as the tears began to flow…

~~~

The world was passing by in slow motion as Rinoa walked to the infirmary. She felt disconnected, distant-- as if the world around her existed, but was miles away, and therefore impossible for her to get a solid grip on. Squall was there-- beside her-- silent, just holding her, a grim expression chiseled across his features. But to her he might as well have been a million miles away.

"You ok, hon?" he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear.

His words held no meaning to her. They passed through her as if they were nothing, a silent blip on the radar screen of her mind.

She continued walking, silent, her blank eyes staring at everything and nothing; the world as it existed, and the world as she saw it. And right now all she saw was a blur.

The infirmary was strangely silent as Squall and Rinoa entered. For the first time in several minutes the world came into focus for Rinoa, but the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach lingered like a parasite.

And there stood Dr. Kadowaki, beside the cot on which Edea Kramer was lying, eyes closed. Nida was sitting leaning up against the wall, his knees pulled up to his chest, his face flushed a bright red and streaked with tears.

"H-how is she doctor?" Squall asked. "Why … is she…?"

The pudgy woman shook her head sadly, taking a moment to glance down at her clipboard and scribbling down a few notes to herself. "She's been like this for an hour and a half. Nida found her in shock by Cid's side and watched as she fell unconscious. Then he brought her here." She paused, tapping her pen against her lip thoughtfully as he eyes trailed over Edea's still body. "She's in a bizarre kind of coma. I would usually just knock it off as normal-- after all, she did just witness her husband get murdered before her eyes. She's in shock, and comas do result from that…"

"So what's different this time?" Now it was Irvine's voice, as he strode into the room with a kind of ease that would cause one to question if a person had just indeed died. But while his presence remained impressive, his confused and tragic eyes betrayed his true emotions.

"Well…" She paused, making eye contact with everyone assembled. "I think she's willing herself into the coma."

Squall seemed perplexed. "I- I don't understand," he said, quietly.

Dr. Kadowaki continued. "At one point about fifteen minutes ago she seemed to be pulling out of it; showing all the casual signs of consciousness. But then I noticed her whispering what sounded like the words to a spell and before I knew it she was out cold again."

The doctor's words were a distant blur to Rinoa, as she gazed blankly upon Edea's unconscious form. She thought of Cid's corpse, laid grotesquely across the floor of his office, and then of Edea. She thought of her dreams, of Ultimecia.

"Your will…You can feel it, slipping away… along with your sanity."

The dream. All those simple, terrifying words. And now this.

I did it all. The horrible realization washed over her like a breaking wave in a storm, causing her to tumble in its intensity. I killed the Headmaster. I brought her into this helpless state. It's all my fault.

"…she want to do that?" Rinoa was forced back to reality by Squall's voice, as she heard the last words of his query.

"Why would she want to do that, Mr. Leonheart?" Dr. Kadowaki stopped speaking altogether. She looked from Nida, to Edea, and then back over to Irvine. "She doesn't want to wake up," she concluded finally. "She doesn't want to return to a world where her husband has been murdered, and… " Her voice began to tremble. "… I don't blame her."

"Why would anyone try to kill our Headmaster in the first place?" Irvine asked, tossing the previous issue aside.

A tear glistened in the doctor's eye, but she bit her lip and forced the emotions away. "I don't know… I just don't know."

It was all she could say. It was all anyone could say in the face of such a horrible, inexplicable tragedy. No one could possibly comprehend the truth…

Except Rinoa.

~~~

The gym seemed uncharacteristically quiet. Even late in the evening, SeeDs usually busied themselves with intense exercise routines to keep themselves conditioned and ready for the occasional surprise mission thrown at them. Be prepared. It was an anthem to them.

It was a saying that the late Headmaster Cid had used over and over again.

Needless to say, very few SeeDs felt like being prepared this night. Everything they did seemed to remind them of their headmaster, as if he was still there with them.

Zell was the only one present, losing himself in the one stable thing in his life; his martial arts. The lights were dim and the temperature was just right, and for the first time in days, he felt centered.

Kataa, inward block, knife hand--

The world seemed to melt away as he performed the routine with uncanny precision.

Outward block, left palm strike--

His mind conjured an image of Mrs. Dincht's casket; the only mother he had ever known. Stop thinking. Just feel.

Step back, right inward block, step back, left inward block--

And there was Cid. Cid who had been the only person to try to comfort him in his sorrow. But now he was gone too. Shut up, dammit! Stop thinking!

C-step, outward block, outward block--

He performed the moves without thinking. His training had become as much a part of him as breathing. But Cid wasn't breathing anymore. And neither was his mother.

C-step, inward block, knife hand--

Why? Why was all this happening? How cruel was fate to allow two of the most important people in Zell's life to die? What had they done to deserve death? Why?

Forward step, jump-front kick--

It was unjust. They shouldn't have died. Why did they die? Why does everyone close to me die? Why?!

"WHY?!" he shouted out loud, furiously attacking a suspended punching bag. "Dammit!" he choked out, as tears brimmed in his eyes.

Spinning sidekick, spinning hook kick--

Each kick held more fury than the last. A vicious leaping 360 hook kick ripped the punching bag from its hinges and sent it sailing across the floor to crash into the wall.

Zell slumped down, punching the floor, his body wracked with sobs. "Dammit…" he whispered, a sound that seemed to echo in his ears and travel through his body. He felt slightly sick, like there was something caught in his throat. The slight pain it caused seemed to increase with every sob that escaped him, until he was literally choking.

Suddenly he felt a nearby presence; someone's embrace. He felt her hand gently pat his trembling back, her other clutching his shoulder. He turned his head and looked into striking hazel eyes and silky blonde hair, creamy-white skin and a sad, somber expression. "Qu… Quistis," Zell choked out, messily swiping at his tears with his gloved hands. He hurried to pull himself up, shaking his head. "I.. I'm sorry, I'm ok, I--"

Quistis Trepe's expression didn't change. "Zell… It's okay." She began to speak; gentle words to soothe the upset teenager. "We're all grieving. We're all grieving with you."

"I - I know that--"

"Cid… You know how much Cid meant to me, to all of us. No one can put into words what the man has done. And your mother meant the world to me, Zell. You loved her, and she loved you more than you could imagine. She still does, Zell. She's still alive, if only in spirit. So is Cid. Remember what he said?"

Zell stopped trying to speak and succumbed to his emotions, wrapping his arms around her and burying his tear-streaked face into her shoulder. "Thank you," was all Zell could say. Several moments passed before he let go of his former instructor and stood along with her.

He turned around and almost fell back to the floor again.

"Seifer?" Zell gaped; how long had it been since they had seen one another? And how long ago still had it been on friendly terms? But still, there he was, standing tall in his favorite white jacket, the old scar across his forehead reflected clearly in the lighting of the gym. "Seifer," he repeated, this time nodding his head in acknowledgement.

Seifer nodded likewise. "Chickenw-- Zell," he amended quickly.

There was an awkward silence, and it wasn't until Quistis walked over to stand beside Seifer that Zell realized he was here with her. So that means Seifer saw my whole breakdown? And yet, for some reason, Seifer didn't seem to care. Months ago he would have reveled in the fact that he had witnessed his favorite Chicken-Wuss become a blubbering mess of tears and sobs. But now he just seemed… sympathetic, friendly… honest? Huh.

"Um…Well…. I hate to say it but I feel like crap," Seifer said, scratching the back of his head, blushing slightly. He seemed to be desperately seeking a way out of the situation. "I should…be getting to bed. It's late."

"It's been a long day," Quistis agreed. It was such an obvious statement, for sure, but it seemed like the right thing to say at the time.

Seifer nodded. "I had a good night, instructor. Thank you for listening."

Zell's sorrows were momentarily pushed aside for this momentous event. Was Seifer being… civil?

Quistis shook her head and playfully fixed his collar. "I'm not your instructor anymore. I'm Quistis."

A boyish smile tugged at the corners of Seifer's lips. "Quistis." He said the name slowly, as if he were rolling it around on his tongue, testing it for sweetness. "So Quistis, are we still on for breakfast?"

Quistis leaned over and brushed her lips against his cheek.

"I take that as a yes?"

He grinned, and suddenly the world seemed full of promise. Seifer; the introvert, the badass, the one that no one liked… was happy. Zell couldn't help but grin too, watching as the face of one who had once been his archrival transformed so.

"Yes," she answered, a slight giggle escaping her lips.

"Then I will see you then," he said, his eyes smiling. And then he left.

She stared after him wistfully.

Zell was dumbfounded. "You and Seifer--?!" he began.

"No," she said simply, turning her eyes on him warningly. "No. We're friends."

"Sure," he joked, and laughed. And it felt good; to still be able to function and be friendly. He would miss his mother and Cid terribly, but life always went on. And seeing Seifer in such a changed state was an inspiration. If Seifer could pick himself up, anybody could. "He's changed," Zell remarked, turning to regard Quistis.

Her lips curled in a slight smile as she looked down at her feet. "He has." The words, and the way she in which she spoke them, were enough for Zell. Seifer Almasy meant much to Quistis; just how much remained to be seen.

"I'm going to bed too Zell." She turned and wrapped him in another hug. "We'll all get through this. Together."

He simply nodded, and smiled at her as she left. Together. The word rang in his mind, like a chant. She was right. She, Zell, Irvine, Selphie, Rinoa, and Squall… They were a family. Their strong bonds had kept them alive in a time-compressed world; certainly they would survive this.

"Together," he said, satisfied, as he too left the gym for his dorm.

~~~

I killed him.

The words reverberated in her head; an endless, haunting litany. But how? And why? What were all of the terrifying dreams, the visions? How had they caused her to react in such a manner?

Rinoa had left the infirmary in a hurry, trying to simply distance herself from everything relating to the situation at hand. That's it, she concluded grimly. I need distance. I need to get away from here… from everyone. She thought of Zell's forlorn expression, Irvine's friendly face… Squall; oh Hyne, she loved everything about him. She didn't want to leave him, or any of them. Would she be able to cope without them?

But she had to. Tonight she would sleep, and then she would dream, and she would wake up having committed another murder. What if this time it was Zell? Or Irvine? Or Hyne help her, Squall?

No. She forced the thought from her mind, but it did nothing to dispel the storm of emotions raging inside of her.

"Hi Rinni," Irvine's voice startled her, as it had earlier in the day. But this morning it had been jubilant, jocular; now it was … tired, worn, and lacking any form of emotion.

She jumped. "H-hi Irvy," she managed, swallowing a lump in her throat as her eyes turned to meet his. He had pulled the ponytail out so his hair fell gratefully behind his shoulders.

"Don't be so startled." He smirked, attempting to inject some humor into the bleakness of the day. "You look you've just seen a--" He stopped himself, as he decided that this was most likely not the best choice of words at the moment. "You look frightened," he amended.

But she didn't hear him. All she could hear were the whispers.

"You… know what you must do…"

The nightmare, it was coming back to her. The image of a bloodied, broken Irvine Kinneas superimposed itself over the man standing before her. "You're killing me, Rinni," he was saying again.

"Kill him…" These voices were new to Rinoa. But their source was clear. They were the voice of Madness. They were the voice of Ultimecia. "Kill him… impale… stab… iccceee striiiike…"

"No," she said, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Stab… kill… impale…"

"NO!" she repeated, firmly. The images dissipated, until all she could see was the concerned, confused face of Irvine.

"You alright, Rinni? Rinoa?"

His words didn't register. The world was again a blur. "I… need…" Rinoa clutched her head, her fingers massaging her temples.

Heat. Her temples burned. What was this sudden sensation? "I need to…" It began on her face, but then spread to her bosom, her hips, legs. A searing pain, unrelenting in its intensity, it cut to her very essence. Her lips opened in a tortured scream, but no sound emerged. Oh Hyne it hurt.

"I need to get out!" she screamed, throwing back her head and releasing a kinetic blast that knocked everyone within a 10-foot radius to their knees.

Irvine reached instinctively for his holsters, but stopped short.

The burning ceased. The sharp impulses of pain surging through her body were now nothing but a memory.

She looked around and exhaled heavily, watching all of the confused and frightened students as they stood from the floor and made hasty retreat.

But then it started. "Your will… you can feel it… running away…"

Rinoa's fists suddenly clenched themselves. She hadn't done that, had she? She hadn't had any conscious thought or impulse to do that…

"Your will…"

Everything in her nightmares had suddenly taken on a new meaning.

"Irvine…" she spoke, barely above a whisper.

Irvine leaned in toward her, breathing slowly and deeply himself. "What, Rinoa? Tell me what's wrong…"

Rinoa trembled, and tears came to her eyes. "Run. Now." Her hands began to shake, her fingertips surging with ethereal energy.

Irvine began slowly backing away, stark terror finally taking hold. Something was wrong… very, very wrong. "W-why, Rinni?"

She raised her eyes to his, and he was taken aback by the look of fear they still possessed. "If you don't run, Irvine," she said slowly, her voice trembling, "I'm going to kill you."