Chapter 27

            'There is nothing physically wrong with her- she's entered a sort of Traumatic Shock. I'm not sure how long this comatose state will last. . .'

            'When she wakes up, will she be okay?'

            'I'm not sure. . .like I said, this problem isn't a physical one. Patients who suffer such types of episodes are often prone to psychological disorders and dysfunctions. Depression, anxiety, paranoia- and amnesia is a definite possibility.'

            'She's a SeeD- her entire life is based on amnesia. . . And I have a feeling she might welcome this. . .'

            'I don't agree with that type of repression, Commander Xu. If she does awaken without her memories, it will be severely detrimental to her mental heal. . .'

            'I'm taking her back to Garden- I can't have her wake up here. Is she okay for transporting?'

            '. . .Everything is normal, save her state of consciousness. . . Commander, were you listening to. ..'

            'yeah. . .I was. And I don't care. You don't understand what's happened here and you never could, doctor. Some things, like potentially destroying the universe through manipulated ignorance, are best left to the subconscious to sort out. Now that was just an example- but a truthful one could be the fact that the love of her life has just died.  It seems wrong, but if she doesn't remember him, then I'm not going to remind her. We'll see what happens when she wakes up, but I'm acting as her friend, as her sister, not as a doctor and not as field commander. Now. ..I'm taking her back to Balamb Garden. She should never have left. . .'

            The first thing Quistis saw when she opened her eyes was a white wall. The second thing she saw was a voluptuous woman with a thick brown ponytail.

            "Doctor. . ."

            "Kadowaki. Yes, hello Quistis. Welcome back to the realm of the living."

            Quistis smiled and tried to sit up, but found that her limbs were paralyzed.

            "Quistis- you haven't used those in awhile. I've worked on it a little, but it might be a few hours before your mind remembers how to work those things. . .Now. . ."She paused to stroke back Quistis' hair. "I'm just going to contact Commander Xu- she's been here everyday looking after you. I'm sure you have a lot of questions and I think she's the only one who can help you. Just give me a sec. . ."  Doctor Kadowaki exited the room.

            'Questions. . .like What the hell happened and why am I here? Damn it hurts to think. . .'

            Five minutes later the Balamb Lieutenant General-.no, Field Commander. She'd been promoted, hadn't she?- strode in. To Quistis, Xu looked older, colder and anxious. Really anxious. But happy. A light smile graced those dark red lips. Xu sat  beside Quistis and helped her to a seated position.

            "Quistis. . .my god, I thought you were dead."

            "Xu. . .why?"

            "Why.  . .well, you've been unconscious for a month. School started up again last week and you've just lain here dead still. I figured if work couldn't get you up, nothing could."Xu chuckled. Quistis thought about it all. Her head really did hurt and she felt so sluggish and slow- like she couldn't process everything quite as fast as she was used to.

            "I've been unconscious for a month?  School. . .I. . .can't remember. . ."She whispered. Suddenly, Xu looked. . .relieved? "Xu, what is it? What happened to me?"

            There was a long, uncomfortable pause. Then Xu sighed.

            "You were teaching at Galbadia Garden, doing a demonstration in the Training center, when you got attacked by a Rexaur. Since you couldn't junction any GFs you had no magic and nothing but your whip. Even you can't defeat a Rexaur with just a bloody whip, Trepe. You managed to distract the beast long enough for the cadets to retreat, but it knocked you down. You almost died, but you limited and slaughtered the beast.  The power of your limit sent your mind into a coma.  Martine contacted me and I brought you back to Balamb."

            "Martine. . .brought. . ."Everything was a jumbled blur. Quistis tried to think about it hard. " I. . .remember Martine.  . .the headmaster. And. . .Seifer was there too. . .and. . .I think I remember the rexaur. . .attacking it with my whip then my limit. . .oh, I don't remember."

            "No. .no, Quistis you're doing great." Xu exclaimed. Pausing, she took Quistis' hands in hers and closed her eyes. Suddenly, great warmth and rapture seeped into Quistis mind. It no longer hurt- she felt wonderful and it felt wonderful to think.

            " Yes. I taught at Galbadia Garden. Seifer was there and I fought the rexaur with my whip. I remember it charging after me. I remember. . ."

            "Stop remembering, Quistis. You need to rest." Xu stroked back her hair as though she were a child. "I junctioned Shiva and Quezacoatl to you- I figured you needed the extra support. I'm going to go get you some dinner and we'll talk about how you can build up your strength. Don't worry- I won't bring any of those damned hotdogs."

            Quistis smiled as Xu left.

            She definitely remembered not liking hotdogs.

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            Serenya Laurentide-Viator strode through the Garden halls with the purposeful air she was known for. Every cadet and SeeD acknowledged her, but few garnered a reaction. However, there was one wayward cadet who merited a private consultation with the Field. . .no. . .Commander-General of Balamb Garden.

            After retrieving a hearty meal for her and Quistis to share,  Xu pulled Seifer from his rowdy gathering in the cafeteria for a chat.

            "Xu- what the hell? I was busy, y'know?"

            "Seifer- I think you spend too much time with Raijin."

            "Is that what this is about?"

            "No. . .it's just an observation. I need to talk to you about Quistis."

            "What about her?" He sneered.

            "She's awake." Xu replied coldly.

            "I guess that's a good thing right?"

            ". . .she doesn't remember much. About most of the summer in general. Not surprising, considering that missile crisis happened on her second day of teaching. . ."

            "I don't see why I can't talk to her about what happened? I mean. . ." he slammed his hand against the wall. "There's so much I need to know about. I don't even understand what happened to them.  One moment I'm fighting dragons and guys in gray uniforms, and the next minute Martine, Deling and Caraway come outta the mouth of the mountain carrying Quistis and Ellone and saying that Irvine is dead. I mean. . .shit, xu. I don't know. . ."

            "She doesn't remember. So don't tell her. If her memories come back- fine. We help her- yes, help her- Almasy. But if they don't, then it's for the better. No one should have to go through that. . ."

            "But don't you think she'd wanna know about Kinneas? I mean. . .Sorry Xu, but those two were the real deal. Not like Rinoa and me. They were. . .I don't know- soul mates or some shit. Shouldn't she have the opportunity to mourn him?"

            "No."  Xu replied coldly.  Seifer's eyes widened. "No. . ."She echoed gently. "You have no idea what it's like to lose the one person in your world that you can love. . .It aches deeply. I dream of Lukan every night and, when I wake up, I have a breakdown, knowing that he is dead to me. It's torture. I'd rather that I had never met him- never laid eyes on him. Then. . .at least I could live in blissful ignorance instead of withdrawal. I. . .wouldn't wish this on anyone. . especially not Quistis. Don't say anything about him, or I'll kill you. And I mean it."

            Serenya Laurentide-Viator returned to help feed her sickly ward. She was reminded of her youth, when she had spoon fed Quistis her gooey carrots and applesauce after Vesper had died. She remembered asking matron if she could keep Quistis so she could pretend that she herself was the Matron. Years later, Quistis had done the same thing- asking Matron if she could marry Irvine and adopt Selphie. The Orphanage had been a tragic and beautiful place.  Everything about them was beautiful and tragic. Irvine Kinneas was dead. Sweet little Irvy- the boy with the copper hair and sunburned nose. The boy she and Lukan had rescued from the bowels of Adel's castle. The boy who had won Quistis Trepe's heart at six years of age, and again ten years later. He was dead. Matron was unsealed. Quistis was lost and Seifer was going to make her life a paranoid hell. She could feel it in her bones- something was coming. Something beyond mortal sensory perception.

Something was coming.

It had been foretold by Seto Almasy. The Trance Prophecy.

This was her nightmare.

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            He was dead.

            And yet. . .he could walk and smile and enjoy the breeze like any living man.

            No. . .he was dead.

            He had died that day. . .

            'You're awake. . .About time. . .'

            'Martine. . .Quisty. . .'

            'Well. . .at least you said my name before hers. . .'

            'Don't laugh. . . where is she. . .'

            'Irvine. . .don't. . .'

            'Let me handle this, Martine. . .'

            She'd come before him, dressed in a shimmering gown of purple-blue. Her face was still so smooth and her amber eyes loving. She was the second most beautiful woman in the world.

            'Matron. . .'

            'Irvy. . .sweetheart. . .how are you?'

            'I'm fine, Matron. . .just. . .I was, like, wonderin' where Quistis was. . .'

            'Irvine. . .I'm sorry.  . .but she's gone back to Balamb.'

            'Can I call'er up? Tell'er I'm awake?. . .'

            'No. . .my dear. . .I'm afraid that. . .you really shouldn't do that. . .'

            'But. . .why not? Won't she be glad to see me?'

            'Irvine. . .I'm sorry. But she might not be. You see. . .the Garden organization found out about your. . .exploits. . .and, I'm sure you didn't see it, but it's quite a crime for an instructor to take advantage of a cadet. . .'

            'But. ..'

            'Irvine. . .There was an inquiry and. . .I'm sorry, but the court decided that a restraining order should come in effect the moment you awoke. She's not allowed to come near you until you're are legally an adult- so until your eighteenth birthday. She. . .relinquished the right to see you so she could keep her job. I'm sorry, son- this really isn't what I wanted to tell you the moment you woke up.'

            'No. . .'

            'Irvy, sweetheart. . .'

            'NO!'

            'Irvine-this is the way it had to be. . .'

            'No! It can't! I just can't. . .'

            He tore himself from the bed, but fell, incapacitated, at Matron's feet. Cooing, she sat beside him and stroked his hair. She sang to him.

'There was a boy with eyes full of rainbows

He sang a song that welcomed the sparrows. . .'

            'My mama used to sing that song to me, I think. How do you know it, Matron?'

            '. . .You sang it to Quistis. . .'

            His chest heaved forcefully as he quietly sobbed into her hair.

            '. . .don't worry, little Irvy. You're still mine."

            And he was.

            Spreading his lambs wool duster on the ground, he buried his nose and cheek in the delicate cotton and wiped his wet eye.

            He knew that she wasn't his matron and she wasn't his mama. She was something altogether different to him-what, he didn't know. But as she came up behind him, sat down, and pulled his head onto her knee, he knew what he was to her.

            He was her PeRFecT LiTtlE IrVy.

            Whatever that meant.

                                           Here ends

                       Part one of  The Diadem Trilogy