Notes: cusses out the computer DAMN IT! I finally get this chapter exactly the way I want it, and when I tried to upload it, or open it, I got that can't open it crap. Why the hell did it go wrong? Why?! Such a long chapter to write! DAMN IT!!!!!!! It's not going to be as good as the revised version. DAMN! cries

Chapter 27: Answers, and More Questions

     Irvine looked into Selphie's  wet, green eyes. Tears came to his own as he embraced her. He buried his face into her abdomen, and she ran her hand through his hair. She placed her hand on his head, and continued to stroke the now weeping Irvine's head. She had almost died, and he just had to take it all in. She lay wondering if her injury, and his were her punishment for giving him what he wanted pre-marriage. She blamed herself for everything, and kept it all in.

Selphie: Are you all right?

Irvine (faces her): Yeah, I'm fine. Are you in any pain? Can I get you anything?

Selphie: I'm okay. Sorry about everything.

Irvine: It was an emergency landing, Selph, it's not your fault. You were only doing what you thought was right. Get some rest. (reburies his face)

Selphie: Yeah, but… Where's Quistis?

Irvine: Probably she, and Zell are out somewhere.

Selphie: Rinoa?

Irvine: (grabs her waist) …

Selphie: She's…dead?

Irvine: …Yes

Selphie: Did I-

Irvine: The sorceress murdered her. It wasn't your fault.

Selphie: Oh….We…failed?

Irvine: …Yes.

     Selphie cried, and Irvine got into bed with her, holding her as close as possible. Her cast, and his got in the way, but the gesture was felt. Selphie's watering green eyes looked into his, and they lay there, in grief.

Selphie: Where's Squall?

Irvine: We don't know exactly. Ellone found him sorta, but not exactly.

     Selphie broke into giant sobs, her body trembling from it. She couldn't help, but blame herself. If she hadn't…She grasped Irvine's shirt in dismay, her tears dampening his clothes. He held her closer yet, and kept himself from crying. He was at a loss for words.

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

    Zell rolled over to find Quistis by his side. The had wed the night before, fearing that the other would die the next battle. He touched her bare arm, and removed the hair from her face. She groaned, and rolled over, out from under the covers. Her nude body was awoken by the sudden chill, and she grabbed at the blankets blindly. Zell wrapped her back up, and smiled. She turned to him, and asked him what he was looking at, still groggy. He said he was looking at the most beautiful woman in the world, and snuggled up to her. She grinned, and kissed him on the cheek. Soon the down comforter covered them totally, and the rest is up to your imagination…

^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

     A servant sat two mugs of hot cocoa on a table outside. He immediately turned to Ellone, bowed, and returned inside. Ellone laughed, and turned to her smaller guest. Dewn stood bye her, stiff with a large, red coat. Red mittens covered her small hands, and she looked at Ellone, who wore a matching jacket, in grief. They had bought the coats the day before, as the snow fell on the ground. The two had bonded over the past few days, Ellone becoming protective of her new charge.

     Ellone picked up the child, and sat her in a chair playfully. Dewn's white hair peeked out of her hood, and Ellone tucked it back in. Dewn smiled, and grabbed a handful of marshmallows, placing them in the mugs. Ellone grinned, and handed Dewn her cup, and then took her own. They sat under the awning, and watched the snowfall.

Ellone: So, how do you like it here?

Dewn (gives a grimace, and then forces a smile): …It's okay.

Ellone: Just okay? How old are you?

Dewn (serious): 2,565 years old.

Ellone: It's not nice to fib.

Dewn (offended): I'm not.

Ellone: Okay, let's play a game. I'm going to go into your past, okay?

Dewn (her stormy blue eyes looking into Ellone's): …Okay.

Ellone (smiles): Okay! Now give me your hand, it's easier that way.

     Dewn nodded, and relinquish her tiny hand to Ellone. Ellone removed the red glove with her own-gloved hands, and took her own off with her teeth. She placed Dewn's hand in between her own, and closed her eyes. The past flooded to her quickly, the memories fresh in the girl's mind.

^*^*^*^*^*^* Memory 1 ^*^*^*^*^*^*

     Ellone found her consciousness in the almost immediate past. The slain SeeDs lay at her feet as Dewn watched in horror. The tiny girl hid behind a bench in fear, but realized who was killing. Ellone watched the sorceress brutally kill Rinoa, but before Ellone could do anything, she was pushed into the girl's further past, many millenniums beforehand.

^*^*^*^*^*^* Memory 2 ^*^*^*^*^*^*

     Ellone found herself in a dense forest. Dewn sat crying on the ground, no more than a year, and a half old. She tiny hands rubbed her big eyes, and Ellone sought the reason for the distress. She looked up to find a woman, dressed in ancient garb, holding a dying man's body. The woman's white, blue, and black hair stained red with blood. Her eyes were green, and wet with tears, which ran down her fair face.

     The man, dressed in ancient apparel as well, had dark brown hair, with stormy blue eyes, wet with tears as well. In his chest stuck out an arrow, blood seeping from the wound. He gasped large breaths, unable to breathe. The woman clutched him, telling him not to go, and leave her. His bloody torso breathed shallowly until he coughed up more blood, his lips stained from it.

     He saw the little girl, and looked to the woman, smiling. She nodded, and bade the girl come. Dewn ran to her mother, and hid in her chest. The man wept more, and caressed the woman's face, leaving bloody streaks on it. They looked at each other, and he smiled one last time. The girl screamed, "Daddy," after the woman whispered to her who he was. He looked at his little girl in agony, and kissed his lover farewell. That moment he died, his body collapsing back onto the woman's lap. She cried out, "No," and held his lifeless body closer to her own. She called out for Death to take her, but no answer came. The woman clutched her chills as well, rocking back and forth. She sang a lullaby to her, tears streaming down her face. Dewn stayed by her mother's side, until the laughter came.

     Three woman dresses oddly stood by a large tree. The taunted the woman incessantly, mocking her. The finally tried to bind her, and attacks of magic were exchanged. One of them grabbed Dewn, and took her away, her mother helplessly bound, and gagged. They cried out to each other in vain.

^*^*^*^*^* Memory 3 ^*^*^*^*^*^*

     Dewn, now appearing to be her present age, sat on the ground near the Centra +orphanage one cold day. She watched two children from afar. They were none other than Squall, and Ellone as children. She almost went to play with them, but she didn't. She enjoyed just watching. Soon Matron called them into the house as it began to rain, and Dewn found herself alone again. However, soon a Shumi tribesman came, and took her into her arms, patting her back as she sobbed. He took her away, and a Moomba trailed behind them.

^*^*^*^*^* End Memories ^*^*^*^*^*^*

     Ellone sat in her chair in awe; the child was extremely old. Dewn put back on her glove, and sat in silence. It was then Ellone remembered who the child reminded her of.