Alright, next chapter. Again, thanks to all reviewers…
Lyrics used: "Broken Down" by Sevendust, Seasons album…
Oh, and the bold italic stuff would mean lyrics sung on a CD or cassette within the story, that's not on the songfic part.
Chapter 15: Chicken Soup for the Tortured Soul
It takes time…to heal the wounds I've made along the way…
The first thing she heard was…music, but at a low volume. Silently opening her eyes, Selphie had found herself inside the Infirmary, and to her right were three other people. Seifer, Zell, and Marianne. Zell was sitting in between the two beds, facing away from Timlitt and towards the other two. Seifer wasn't focusing anywhere but toward the music that played from Marianne's CD player. Marianne was in the other bed, looking towards Almasy while finishing up the rest of her dinner. "Hey…" Selphie called softly, and they all looked in surprise and relief to see Selphie alive and okay.
"Welcome back Selphie," Zell said as he stood up, about to put the roller chair back where it belonged. "Ya hungry?" The girl in slightly blood stained yellow dress sat up and stretched. She got out of the bed without a problem. "…Starving," Timlitt said, whose attention was partially drawn to the music. "May impair your ability to operate machinery! Can't quite tell just what it means to me. Keep out of reach of children. Don't ya talk to strangers! Get your philosophy from a bumper sticker," sang the male vocalist of this interesting band that seemed very interesting to her ears. "…Is this music from your world, Marianne?" "Yeah, they're known as Green Day," replied Marianne, slightly grinning.
It seemed as if her head pains were gone, but she knew that Bahamut was still doing all he could to numb the pain. Why? The battle with NORG has been over! "You've still got a while until I am unable to hold back the pressure for a time. Please, enjoy yourself," Bahamut offered his life partner. Bahamut was giving her a break? Well, in feeling through what he thought and felt, the dragon king decided that Marianne deserved it. After all she's done for the rest of her new found friends, who would help find her way back to Earth in return, Bahamut's way of helping her was trying to ease the pain, every once in a while. Even the itching from her bandaged right leg was gone.
Smiling, she turned to Seifer. "Sound familiar to you?" Distracted from his full attention towards the first song on her Green Day CD, Almasy was confused. "Hm?" "The words… They're something you relate to, right?" Zell and Selphie looked to Marianne in confusion as well. "Oh…" replied Seifer, with a hint of a smirk in the direction of the only person in bed. The song, titled "Warning" was a song he could definitely relate to. Questioning authority was what Earth's known male vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong, was singing about. She giggled. "I thought so. The song so reminds me of you anyway."
Turning to Timlitt, Marianne got her attention by saying, "I'm sure you would want to wash that dress and change into something else, right?" Looking upon herself, Selphie nodded, moving a strand of her short and straight brown hair to the side of her face.
Walking up to Marianne, she noticed that she was doing just fine. Didn't seem to be bothered by any pain. "Oh, how's your head by the way?" she asked, wondering if the pain was all gone. If so, how could she have healed so quickly? "Bahamut's easing the pain some. He's being generous and giving me a break for once." From Marianne's words, the dragon inside inwardly grinned. Now, why do I have a feeling that you have a bit of an ego? Lightly laughing, Bahamut replied to her, "Guilty as charged." Giggling a little more, Selphie smiled back. "What's so funny hun?" For once, Timlitt was very glad to see Marianne in a good mood. Out of the scared and grumpy moods, there was something positive for once. "Bahamut's got a bit of an ego."
Dincht raised an eyebrow as Selphie quickly yelled, "Be right back!" Running out of the Infirmary, she did want to change into some clean clothes, but didn't want to miss much. People liked her liked people a lot, and would try to be friends as with many people as possible. And so quickly in first seeing her, she wanted to bond. And this proved that maybe Earth wasn't so different from Gala.
"I never knew a Guardian Force like Bahamut would have an ego," Almasy laughed as he walked back to the chair he had placed next to the right side of Marianne's hospital bed. "Like humans, Seifer, each of us immortals have separate personas," Leviathan, his now known Guardian, spoke. "Huh," Seifer mused in response, settling himself in the chair.
A little while later, the same CD still playing, Selphie had come back. She wore a cute white T-shirt with a little green creature in brown robes, with a little lantern in its hand. A Tonberry. The rest of her attire included navy blue and comfortable jeans, white socks, and brown loafers.
For a time, all of Marianne's worries had left, but this would be temporary. Her parents and the rest on Earth were in danger. She knew that, but it was as if it partially slipped from her mind. She was even singing a bit to the fifth track on the Warning album, "Castaway." "Green Day, huh? What a silly name for a band," Selphie said, having the giggles. Really, now what a seemingly ridiculous kind of name for a music group. What are Earth's customs, exactly? "Well, it's actually an inside joke kind of thing. Kinda complicated," Marianne briefly explained. "The trio, Mike, Billie, and Tre, live on all the way on the west coast of the country I live in. It has to do with lying around and smoking pot all day, but I don't really know them." "And where on your country are you from?" Zell asked her curiously. "The northeastern coast." "Ah… Pretty far then…"
Before Seifer pressed the play button on the white, round CD player, a little before Selphie woke up, Marianne had insisted to keep the volume on low. Surely the unfamiliar music would attract the many other people of Balamb Garden. The two blondes understood why. She probably wasn't quite adjusted to being here yet, and a crowd of people would make her feel nervous and definitely, the ultimate secret that was kept was not to be shared with them. It would only cause havoc.
Selphie knelt down to Marianne's eye level, remaining friendly as much as possible. Inside, she still felt really bad for her losses, but wanted to help her be happy for at least a little while longer. After this short while of forgetting, the smile faded. Sighing, Marianne slowly sank under the covers and onto the pillows. The feeling of a slight depression was coming onto her.
Looking into those forest green eyes of hers, Marianne said, "I'm reminded too much about home, Selphie." The shorter girl stroked the ride side of her face with the back of her hand. "I understand you're worried, and that miss your mom and dad sweetie." At times like this usually, Seifer would usually make gagging sounds in the background to resist the cheesiness, but this evening was an exception for sure. Marianne had felt homesick most of this afternoon and he felt like she deserved to be comforted like that.
Dincht boiled in anger from the inside. How could a woman so cruel do this? Doesn't she have…a conscience?! He wasn't there on the previous night when Seifer had no memory of her first arriving, until after Edea was leaving, but he could understand on how scared Marianne must have been. He looked to Almasy, whose blue green eyes looked very sad towards the injured one.
Zell moved to stand next to Selphie, trying to express some comfort too. For now, it was all they could do. "Yo, don't let up hope or else all is lost." Marianne nodded to his kind words and felt her eyes drift away from him and Timlitt. "I'm not going to give up, and don't ever plan to," Marianne convinced herself, the tone of her voice tensing up. Her depression was now turning to the same kind of anger Dincht just had a few seconds ago. "That's the spirit!" Selphie cheered, oblivious to the fact that a part of her newest friend was feeling pretty angry. Her optimism had somewhat reached Marianne, with Zell's help, and it gave her something to bite at courage with. To bite down the smite of evil known as Sorceress Edea…
High heeled shoes clapped onto the shiny tiled floor of the boys' dormitory. Of course, this golden blonde young woman was not one to try and break her own Garden's rules by sleeping with the opposite sex. A MAJOR no-no in this facility. She used to work in the teaching staff. No she could never forget that career. Quistis loved to teach with a passion.
Her main purpose was to find Squall. This was not on chit chat terms like several other times throughout her life, but Trepe needed something from him. Money.
There was his dorm, number one-three-four. The door was closed so no one could possibly peek in and see what Leonhart would be doing. And these were just one of those times in which the now appointed Commander did not wish to be disturbed at all. Politely knocking, Quistis patiently waited. No answer after a minute, so she tried again, lightly tapping on the wood of Squall's dormitory room.
From the other side of the door, he tossed and turned for a bit, trying to block out that annoying tapping. By the third set of knocks, it was clear that the visitor was being a pest and would not go away until he answered the door. "Alright, give me one second, goddamn it," Leonhart grumbled as he trudged out of bed. The tone of his voice let Quistis know that he had been sleeping. Wow, someone is sure cranky without any beauty sleep, she mused to herself, smiling. Squall opened the door to see who was bugging him. "I'm sorry to intrude," Trepe softly, and politely apologized. "But I need the money to buy Marianne some clothes. She is going to stay with us for a while, I'm thinking." Oh, so that's it? Squall thought, the hardened stare from his red eyes easing up a little bit. "Oh, alright," he said, much less grumpy than he was to start with.
"Hang on a second," said Leonhart, closing the door. He thought of it wise to keep it closed while getting out his hidden sack of Gil. That way so no one would know where it was. Going to the drawer beside his bed, he opened up just a little. Hidden under his favorite issue of Timber Maniacs was a brown sack that was tied closed with thin, darker brown string. Squall wasn't much of a reader, but still…it was a nice place to keep it. A nice place where he wouldn't forget where his paid salaries were, out of the rest of his organized room. Place a obsessive compulsive in that dorm, and he or she would walk out satisfied with Squall's very clean room. Only this time, it wasn't very clean. Those other magazines Leonhart had piled up on his desk were still all over the floor on the other side of his bed, opposite to where his secret drawer was. There were other sacks of Gil stashed, so it wouldn't hurt to give Quistis just one that had over one hundred Gil in it. That should be plenty enough for a few casual outfits for Marianne.
The door opened again and Quistis had out an open palm. With one hand, Squall placed the sack into it. "…Is there anything else, Quistis?" Leonhart asked. Trepe took the advantage of his tired version of being polite. "No, is there something else?" she asked, being nice as possible and to see if she could loosen up that grump and get a friendly conversation out of him for once. To her unsatisfaction, a door being closed was the response. Yeah, to leave me alone, Squall thought, referring to Trepe as he turned off the lamp on his drawer and fell forward, face partially buried into his pillow. In not much time at all, sleep took him in…
Back in the Infirmary's resting area, Irvine had come to visit for a while. He had paid attention to some of Marianne's Green Day CD, and heard Selphie giggling and mentioning it for a second time on how silly the name was for such an interesting rock band. He looked upon the tired Seifer Almasy. Zell Dincht was comforting the homesick person the best he could. "Where's Quisty?" Timlitt asked Kinneas curiously. "Oh, she went to see Squall for some money for some clothes for you know who…" He said it like that to lighten the mood, for the group had obviously needed it. Marianne smiled. Selphie ran out in a hurry, shouting, "Is she leaving now?! I wanted to go! She'd better not forget about me!" A light laugh emitted from Marianne's lips as she saw Timlitt make her comical exit. "That Selphie… She tries too hard to make others happy," she mused as Zell smiled back, agreeing.
Seifer shook his head from side to side as he smiled upon Selphie leaving as well. I'd have to say that Timlitt is a kid sister for anyone. The Galbadian cowboy took Selphie's spot. "Hey there. How's your head feelin?" "Bahamut's been numbing the pain lately, so I'm fine." was the answer. "How are you?" Kinneas grinned, happy to know that he had turned a light on among the depressed atmosphere of the hospital area. "I'm just fine. Well fed, nothin' to do but visit the sick for right now." "Yeah, I don't think she likes being alone in here," Zell said, as if reading Marianne's thoughts. "Right you are, dude," the spiky blonde heard her crack in response. Her little smile remained this time. "Having to be here sucks… But then again, like Seifer said, it's only for a few days."
From then on, it was mostly just chit chat at random. Nothing of much importance but the need to socialize and temporarily shake off the problems Marianne's been having since first arriving in Gala. The Green Day CD had finished playing and Kinneas placed it back in its case. The next CD to be played was by a group named Hoobastank. The volume remained the way it was, on low and softly playing in the background. And in a matter of another long while of time passing, Marianne started to feel sleepy. The others weren't able to not see that. So after a few sayings of goodnights and hugs, Zell, Irvine, and Seifer left her to rest up. She needed it…
If I'm blind, open my eyes
'Cause I need to see again…
After about an hour or two of sleep, the raven haired young lady decided to wake up the person sitting across from her, head buried into her arms on the glass patio-like round table. "Marianne," Rinoa called, while Bahamut was in the same area, a few feet behind them. Slowly, she saw her raise her head up from the table's surface, eyes fluttering open. When Marianne's eyes came into focus, she realized that the previous night's promise was well kept. Getting up, the two hugged, Marianne feeling thankful for this second visit. Rinoa, embracing her back, moved a comforting hand along the back of her scalp.
Letting go of Marianne, Heartilly showed her a warm smile. "Have a seat. I have something for you." It wasn't until then that she felt that…something…was behind her. It was only a very, very big dark blue and perwinkle dragon. "Hey, Bahamut…" Marianne spoke to her Guardian softly, while Rinoa came back to the table with a tall glass, filled with pinkish white liquid. "Good evening, Marianne," the dragon king replied in a polite manner. A straw was inserted too. "A milkshake?" Marianne quirked. Though she'd have to admit, strawberry was her most favorite flavor when it came to milkshakes. Rinoa nodded, smiling sweetly. Slowly sliding the glass towards her, she took a sip. The taste senses on Marianne's tongue seemed to have fully recovered, since it has been a while since she was afraid or intimidated by Squall's hawk stare.
Rinoa half smiled, feeling relieved that she could help Marianne relax. "Is that all you have to offer? A milkshake?" questioned the Guardian of Wisdom, his tone of voice sounding disappointed. "No," Heartilly replied simply, looking to Bahamut. After a swallow of the delicious drink, Marianne spoke up. "I think it's rather nice, Mr. Almighty." She meant to say it as a joke or pun, and with her Guardian in connection with her mind, Bahamut was not angered. Instead, he chuckled lightly. "It's to lighten the mood of course," Rinoa agreed, smiling in response. So with that, Marianne felt her life partner ease up and his emotions were calm.
"You've been through a lot today, from what I've seen," Heartilly told Marianne, bringing up the past current events. "…Yeah," was all that she heard her say before taking another sip of the milkshake she provided.
After that, Rinoa watched the curious young woman look around at the surroundings. The two were sitting in two white cushioned metal chairs, across from each other at this round patio table. The setting looked to be a restaurant of some sort. There was a bar and young dark haired male bartender in a white shirt and buttoned up black vest, located to the right of the other three beings. Ambient music that sounded oddly familiar was playing softly in the background. Was this music…? "Hey, I have this tune on an audio cassette," Marianne said to Rinoa, recognizing the flute and Caribbean instruments playing a nice melody. "Yeah, it's from your memory," the dark haired angel replied, softly smiling once more. "Huh," Marianne uttered in somewhat emotions of surprise.
Pulling aside from these little distractions, she brought the subject back up. "Yeah, today was partially scary. I had to do all I could for Seifer though." "And I'm glad you did," Heartilly replied quickly. "Despite the foolishness, yes, it was the right thing to do," Bahamut said, joining this conversation. He was lying down, front five fingered clawed hands/feet spread out forward. Like a cat. His wings were tucked in above his back. Looking down at the table where her light tannish arms rested, Marianne added in a firm tone, "And I'll never be like that again." She looked up to Bahamut's huge head, which slowly nodded to confirm this matter.
Just on the mentioning of the most recent events didn't make Marianne feel any better, but depressed. Sure, it was cool to have prevented Almasy to leave, but the battle with NORG was SCARY. Other than that, she was starting to think about her parents twenty-four seven now. In her heart, she so wanted to see her mom and dad, but her brain told her it was not possible.
Burying her face into her hands, she almost felt like crying again. Heartilly reached over to touch one of Marianne's arms. Bahamut could feel the grief from his life partner. He frowned upon the matter in a lack of words, and looked toward one of the most recent angelic humans of Hyne. Marianne in return could feel Bahamut's wants to be able to help lift her spirits.
If I can feel again,
Will you tell me now or wait 'til I'm broken down again?
Save me now. I'm broken…
With face covered still, she managed to make a small plea to Rinoa. "Please, tell me there's some good news. Bahamut and my own gut agree on returning to Earth being a very small chance, but am I wrong?" Heartilly's eyes expressed sadness as her pretty pink lips came flat together. It was crystal clear that the Earth girl was homesick. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke the unpleasant truth. "The both of you are right, but…don't think like that."
Unable to restrain herself, the compassionate raven haired one crossed over to Marianne's side and drew her into a hug. "I know I can't give up hope, and before going to bed, I've prayed long and hard for a miracle." Marianne informed. This was something the other used to encourage her. "Then keep at it, sweetie."
Bahamut, sitting behind the two mortals felt himself nodding his huge head in agreement once more. He couldn't let Marianne wallow in sorrow, and she's only been far from home like this for a day at least. He remembered from seeing into her mind a few times, came some appropriate words of advice. "Marianne, like you've told others before, miracles take time. So, why don't you follow your own advice?" He reached her back with one of his front claws and very gently stroked down her back. This caused Marianne to release from Rinoa to look at the dragon, tears in her eyes.
If I bleed, my lies won't fill the emptiness inside…
"Yeah," Bahamut heard her whisper. He watched her wipe a tear away from her cheek, and Rinoa wrapping an arm around her.
Marianne had a big hole inside her. Would the others help her recover? She was sure they would try really hard. But how long could she pull herself together? How long would she be able to keep faith in going home? Questions that were complex to answer and trying to fill up that giant crater in her soul would be a difficult task.
I just need…for something real to open up my mind…
Heartilly remained sitting beside her on the floor, with Bahamut in front of them, laying down. Silence had spread among the three as one of them was mentally struggling to get it together. Trying to prevent from crying out to her parents when she knew she could not reach them. They were to be the sorceress's slaves until she would arrive on Earth to liberate their freedom, and the freedom of others. So far the solution seemed to point down on Esthar and Odine. Marianne's Guardian Force could feel the disapproval of a scientist whose kidnapped children to perform his own experiments for spare time.
"You and I both know that Odine is a shameful being, but he seems to be one of the best options we have." Forming a plan, trying to get out of the empty feeling of depression, Marianne nodded in somewhat agreement. "Tomorrow, Squall, Zell, Seifer, Selphie, any of them, would have to go to Esthar for me." "If you were the Headmaster, who would you send?" Rinoa wondered in curiosity. Looking to the naturally beautiful teenage female, Marianne's facial expression seemed uncertain through a few tears she had shed. "I wouldn't know exactly…" "What about Squall?"
Squall…I don't know, Marianne thought to herself. Bahamut heard her thoughts, but didn't feel the need to say anything, because this was only a question not needed to be answered. Squall, I think, would be still angry on being Commander. Possibly doesn't want to go anywhere. "No, I doubt he'd volunteer to go to Esthar," Marianne confirmed, sharing her thoughts with Rinoa. "I know he's not happy at all of having the responsibility of Balamb Garden to be balanced on his shoulders. I know I wouldn't."
To Heartilly, it made sense. "Yeah, you're probably right," she started to agree. "But I wouldn't be too sure…" Marianne looked into her eyes. "What do you mean by that?" The other just smiled. "You do know that a part of him cares, right? Deep down, he's a really caring person?" Rinoa got a shrug in response at first. "Well, yeah. I know he cares, because he's saved my life a couple times. He just doesn't want to open up really…"
"Seifer would volunteer in a heartbeat I think," Marianne said from the heart. "Yes, he's significantly concerned for you lately," Bahamut uttered in agreement. Shortly, that subject was over. In a way, she felt a little better. It was better to have a hope than none at all. She was still pretty down of what all has happened still.
If I can feel again,
Will you tell me now or wait 'til I'm broken down again?
Save me now. I'm broken…
Breaking down, I'm breaking down…
Unable to say anything more, Rinoa and Bahamut left Marianne to fall silent. Then, something unexpected happened. A tune that was one of Marianne's favorites on her New Age of Jazz audio cassettes, started playing. Heartilly saw the surprised look on her face, and smiled. Bahamut smiled on the inside, knowing this was one of her favorites. "It's just really cool to listen to. This one, and yet, I've only recorded half of it." "The first half was recollected from your memory," Bahamut explained. "I know this seems strange to you, but such as myself and Rinoa, we can create these different realities as you dream…using your memories."
Nodding, Marianne decided to scoot over close to whom she thought was the coolest dragon she ever befriended. Reading her thoughts, her Guardian lightly laughed. "I'm the only dragon you've ever met." Relaxing, leaning up against one of the dragon king's front feet or arms, or both, Marianne listened to the rest of the tune. Rinoa hummed along with some of the melody, finding this piece of music amusing.
With the same knowledge as whose memories were used, Heartilly didn't know the name of the artist who did the current piece. Bahamut didn't know either, who was making a home inside Marianne's mind.
The music finally ended, the same time Marianne felt like this dream should end. A rather good ending to a dream in her opinion. And she was feeling tired. "Bahamut," she softly called to her immortal friend. "Is it okay if I rest here?" "Of course," he replied, not objecting at all. Looking to Rinoa before her eyes closed, Marianne told her a goodnight. "Thanks for the milkshake and all," she added. "It was nice." "I'm glad," Rinoa said, smiling once more. She gave the sleepy one a hug and kissed the side of her head. A type of kiss that would be just like a sister would do onto another.
Rinoa stood up, and slowly vanished as Marianne closed her eyes. Before turning in as well, Bahamut just wanted to stay up a little bit longer, watching his life partner rest peacefully. In order to help her adjust to Gala and being so far from home, it would have to take a lot of patience.
It takes time…
Bahamut and Marianne's own essence returned to the bed in the Infirmary, to have a long and peaceful sleep. All was calm throughout the Balamb Garden facility now. Everyone was asleep in their beds, not disturbed. Squall, one of the lightest sleepers, thought he heard something, but his Guardian, Quezacotl, assured him it was the wind. It was not. A plastic bag, too dark at night for anyone to see it, had been dropped and placed there in between the two doors of the dormitory that separated the females from the males. The first one to awaken from the dorms would see this surprise. Surely, the next morning would bring an early riser that Marianne wouldn't expect…