Hilo! I know this took forever to post but I've been busy and strapped for ideas. I started this story a long time ago and just now decided to post it so I'm trying to make sound better and more interesting.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this story really belongs to me. It all goes to Squaresoft, except for my cliché mad scientist dude.
I'd also like to thank the following people:
Miss d: Thank you so much for your review! You made me blush!
Athena9784: Thank you for reviewing also!!! It means a lot because you write very well also! I really like your story Penal Complex.
Cailin: Thank you for the review. I'm glad you enjoyed the battle scene, I must have been watching old war movies all day or something.
Thanks again guys and please enjoy this chapter =)
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"This train is taking way to long." He thought to himself. He had traveled for five days straight going by boat then train for the rest of the way. Every step he took he had to cover up and all precautions were taken to make sure he looked innocent all the time no matter where he went or who he was with.
"It's only a matter of time before she is found and we can rule the world." The man stopped to contemplate this for a moment. "Or if we don't rule the world we could destroy it and make a new one." Suddenly ideas of all sorts began to rush to his head about what he could do with her powers. The research he had secretly compiled from different sources was small and he needed more to understand her so she would follow him. Unfortunately, most of the data indicated her strong will and determined head. "It won't matter about those independent qualities. I will break her will no matter what it takes." Then another idea popped into his demented head.
"To do that, however, I may need more information and a much better plan. Perhaps someone she knows can help." He sifted through his laptop to see some of the people who she was close to or who knew her well. After skimming the pages one name stuck out in particular to him. As he read the file he grinned devilishly. "Hmmm, a Mr. Seifer Almasy, how wonderful."
Rinoa smiled brightly as Squall came into the room the look of fear washed away by a good night's sleep after it was found that she would make a full and quick recovery. He came with a fist full of yellow flowers specially picked by Selphie. Laying them on her lap he kissed her fore head.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked.
"I feel like leaving this room. I wish they could see that I am fine that it is just a back wound they could treat it with Curaguas and stuff!" she yelled hoping that the doctor or even a nurse might hear her. Squall stifled a chuckle.
"You know they hold those for emergencies."
"Yea yea… I like your flowers. Did Selphie pick these out?"
"Yes. How did you know, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Simple, Selphie is in love with yellow so I figured they were hers just like yesterday's bouquet was from Irvine's 'Country and Western Collection' of prairie flowers and Galbadian field roses. Tomorrow I bet that Zell will bring me Fighting Glories from Ma Dincht's indoor garden." She said smiling to herself. "All I wonder now is if they bring the same things to Quistis." Rinoa's previous cheer was brought down by the mention of her friend's name. Squall comforted her by rubbing his hand on her shoulder. Rinoa was still remorseful about giving up her powers so quickly.
"Have you talked to Matron about it yet?" she asked quietly.
"Of course, she practically came running when she found out you two were in the Infirmary."
"What did she say about her condition?"
"She did not say anything, only that it was very odd and she had to look into it." They sat in silence for a few moments both staring off into their own little worlds.
"I just don't understand why she has had such a terrible reaction to it." Rinoa whispered softly as she gazed at the bleach-white walls. Squall looked up sharply.
"You went into a coma after you received your powers."
"I know, and I thought about that to at first but I was an untrained weak person when that happened never experiencing magic or dealing with it before in my life! Her body seems like it's fighting to survive, you said mine was fine like it was resting. Something didn't happen the way it should have." Squall nodded grimly. What his lover had just said made sense and he began to worry even more about the woman down the hall.
" I vaguely remember something when I transferred my powers to her. She looked like she was struggling and she was mouthing something weird."
"Huh?"
"Never mind, perhaps it was just my imagination." He was about to argue when a new nurse of Dr. Kadowski's cut in.
" Commander Leonhart I have just received a message from the Headmaster and Madam Kramer. They wish to see you immediately." The Commander nodded his head and she left as quickly as she came.
"I guess I better let you go then." Rinoa said sullenly. Squall sighed and rubbed her cheek with a callus hand.
"Don't bother yourself thinking about Quistis. She will pull through, and we will all work through this." Rinoa looked up at him in surprise.
"Do you know that is the most un-Squallish thing I have ever heard you say?"
"Whatever."
"Much better. I love you," she took his hand.
"I love you too." With that he turned and left closing the door silently. Going down the new hall of the Infirmary he stopped to peer into Quistis' room. It was dark and bare except for the piles of flowers that had been brought to the room by friends and Treppies. The only thing making noise were the machines monitoring her vitals. She looked odd lying there on the hard metal bed breathing through a tube. Shaking his head he left to see what the Headmaster wanted.
*
"Sir!" the Commander saluted as he met the Headmaster in his office. He saluted back then offered him a seat nodding his head at the secretary to close the doors and permit no one in until it was over. When the doors were shut Matron came over from her place beside the large desk n the office to hug Squall. He hugged back very grateful for her presence and knowledge of the problem at hand.
"How is Rinoa?" she opened.
"She is doing very well and she wishes to leave the infirmary as soon as possible."
"Good." She paused, " What about Quistis?"
"So far her condition hasn't changed at all. I peered at her through the door window on my way here…she doesn't look like herself."
"What do you mean?" worry beginning to show in the creases of her face again.
"She just look so helpless and frail and all of us know that Quistis isn't either one of those." Matron and Cid nodded.
"You must be wondering why I brought you here?" Cid asked. Squall nodded. " I need your opinion first on how you think that Quistis, being one of our esteemed instructors and valued member of SeeD, is going to do here with her…change. Should she remain here?" Squall looked at him appalled.
" Headmaster are you actually thinking of removing her from Garden?"
"Well yes what if something happens? She…" he was interrupted by his secretary. Cid controlled his temper and looked up at her.
"Ms. Griffin I know I asked you to not to let this meeting be disrupted by anything." She blushed slightly but her reason empowered her to go on.
"Yes Headmaster you did but this is from Dr. Kadowski." She said as she handed Cid a small note. Cid read it and smiled. "Instructor Trepe is awake." Matron breathed a visible sigh of relief. Cid thanked the secretary and apologized for snapping at her then instructed her to hold all calls because he was going to the Infirmary. Ms. Griffin accepted and left again. Matron quickly went to the door and told the other two to come on. Squall walked out ahead of him in a gesture of defiance and stood by Matron's side. Together the two walked down to the Infirmary Cid following behind them very confused at Squall's behavior. When they arrived at the doors, Dr. Kadowski welcomed them with a worried grin. Matron picked up on it right away and replaced her smile with a frown.
"Doctor, what's wrong?" she asked quickly.
"I am, as much as I hate to say it, not sure. She, well you need to see her. I hope that you may know what is wrong. I haven't dealt enough with this situation to understand everything." She said leading them to Quistis' room. When they arrived Squall went in first, going to the far side and taking her hand. The room was very dimly lit but there was enough light to see the many flower arrangements people had sent to her. Matron paused in the doorway unable to speak. Cid did not notice her behavior and went to Quistis' other side, the one closest to the door. Kadowski did notice Matron however, and asked what was wrong. Matron was barely breathing and then she laughed.
"Her mother always knew something like this would happen." Then she passed out. Cid was at her side in a minute. He tried to wake her but to no avail. Dr. Kadowski was taking some of her vitals and getting one of her nurses to take the woman to another room. Squall tried to go to her but Cid told him to stay and see what Quistis would say. After the nurse took Matron to a free room, Cid and Dr. Kadowski tried to make sense of her behavior in the hallway outside the two rooms. Squall sighed and Quistis squeezed his hand gently. He looked at her blue eyes concerned.
"How do you feel?"
"I don't know." She said sadly.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know."
"Quistis?"
"Sir?" He looked at her in shock.
"Quistis use my name! You don't have to be formal, we're not in front of anyone important." She stared at him, deep blue eyes searching for something familiar. She began to cry.
"Sir I don't know who you are. Please, stop asking me questions." Her voice didn't seem to match her body. It still looked like the same Quistis Trepe, strong and unafraid, the voice said she was weak and terrified. Squall gasped at her and pulled his hand way quickly. She panicked.
"Where am I? Do you…am I…don't send me away. I don't want to leave, I just got here." Squall was confused and he felt sorry for her mind. Sighing, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You aren't going anywhere, I promise."
"Thank you sir." Squall nodded then turned for the door to tell Cid and Dr. Kadowski about his encounter.
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" Are you saying she doesn't remember anything?" Cid asked after Squall explained his encounter with Quistis.
"Yes." He turned to Dr. Kadowski. "Why do you think this happened? Rinoa didn't go through memory loss."
"I'm not sure but a highly probable explanation is that the transferring of powers to her body at such a fast and unexpected rate caused her mind to, in a sense, shut down. This is very common when something unexpected happens to the body." He nodded in understanding.
"What should we do about it?"
"Well there is new treatment that is very successful in Esthar…"
"No we are not sending her away! What is wrong with you people! First you Headmaster, want to send her away because something might happen and now you Dr. Kadowski…"
"If you would calm down for a moment Commander Leonhart!" Cid snapped. Squall stopped ranting at them.
"When I questioned you on sending Quistis away I meant sending her to another hospital for treatment, or perhaps Dr. Odin." Squall suddenly feeling embarrassed tried to speak but was cut off by Dr. Kadowski.
"I am also looking for the best treatment for her Squall, and that treatment is very effective in helping people regain their memories. For treatment here, I suggest having familiar things around her, you know people and things of that nature. Her body is beyond healthy she shouldn't have a problem with this." The commander nodded and in his head organized enough thought to ask Selphie to get some things together. After apologizing he left to find her, she had to know more about this than he did. He was about to leave the Infirmary when he remembered Matron's episode. Cid and Kadowski were still talking so he slipped into the room and found her sitting up staring at the wall in front of her.
"Matron?" he asked walking up to her.
"Squall, my child, what are you doing in here? Better yet, what am I doing in here?" he smiled at her.
"I came here to see you. You passed out when we went to see Quistis."
"Oh yes! What did she say? I know you spoke with her."
"She doesn't remember anything, not even who she is." Matron saddened.
"Nothing at all?" Squall shook his head and told her what Dr. Kadowski had said.
"Well then that is what we shall have to do." Squall turned to leave after she dismissed him but stopped to ask, "Matron why did you say what you did about Quistis' mother and why did you pass out?" She grinned at him.
"All will be revealed at the proper time my dear. Now go and find the others, we need to speak."
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Thank you for reading this chapter, and congratulations for staying awake! I know it was completely uneventful and a bit dull but I promise later it will lighten up. Please R/R. please please please please!!!!!!!!!! It means a lot to me! Also, I'm trying to decide if it should be a Quistis/Seifer or Quistis/Original character. Your vote counts! Please let me know in a review.Enjoy!