Disclaimer : I don't own anything.
Note : I had no idea what to call this chapter. LOL.
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(Balamb Garden, Normal POV)
It had been two full days since Kapri fell into her coma. No one knows what happened or how to cure her. Spells were useless, and everyone was worried. That included Shane.
Laying on his bed silently, he frowned as he tried to recall everything that happened. After their last battle with Sorceress Miko, she'd returned to her old self, except for her appearance, and had gone to see Kanoi.
Is it over...? he wondered silently. The Galbadian Garden had retreated, promising no more threats to us. The Sorceress was defeated, the threat of war stopped, but... Blake... He was still out there, doing god-knows-what. What happened...? It was like he was in a trance when he walked away. His eyes were glazed and his face devoid of any emotion.
Shane's frown deepened as he thought about Kapri, lying so helplessly on a cot in the infirmary. Kapri... What happened to Kapri...? One minute she was fine, the next, she was in a coma. It just didn't make any sense. And what happened with Blake?!
Nothing made sense. Once again, Shane found himself in a world of confusion. All sorts of questions swirled in his mind and with a groan, he pulled himself up, heading out of his room and making his way to the infirmary.
Standing solemnly beside her bed, Shane felt the guilt and pain rise in his heart and bit back a bitter tear as the PA beeped.
"Shane, can you hear me?" came Tori's voice. "Head to Miko's house at once." It sounded like she wanted to make it more of a request but since everyone could hear her, she went for stern instead. "Sorceress Miko... Matron, is back at the orphanage."
(The Orphanage, Shane's POV)
Making our way to the old stone orphanage, I led the group to the front door and watched as they all paused with nervousness and fear. Not because the woman they were about to face was the same woman we'd just fought as the sorceress, but because it was our Matron. The only real mother figure any of us ever knew, besides Dustin, who had a loving adopted mother.
"...I feel uncomfortable seeing her." Tori murmured with a worried frown. She wrung her hands nervously, and I knew she was recalling the fact that we fought our Matron, and she was probably worried about Matron's reaction to that.
Marah nodded and turned to me, giving me a weak smile. "I'll go in after you, Shane, ok?" she asked weakly.
With a sigh, I walked on ahead, ignoring Dustin's comments about feeling nervous, and Hunter's about having all kinds of questions. I felt the same way, and had questions of my own, but once again, I was put in the leader position.
Stepping up to the door, I paused and frowned, recalling how I stood on the back porch, crying for 'sis Kelly'. Shaking my head to clear the image, I pushed open the weak door, wincing when it fell off the hinges and leaned against the wall. I walked through the decrepit building, my mind flashing back to all the times I'd shared here, with the others.
Finally, I found Matron, still dressed as the sorceress but with the yellow gone out of her eyes, standing near Headmaster Kanoi, who looked a little troubled as he watched her with concern. I'm sure it was out of worry that something would happen to her again.
Going to him first, I saluted and watched patiently as he chuckled wryly. "...Many thanks for your hard work." Sighing, he looked at me closely, warily. "...Are you mad? I don't really blame you. All I do is talk big, but in times of trouble, I run away." Shaking his head, he grinned dryly. "I was in a no-win situation. Your loss would mean your death, and your win would mean the death of my wife. I just couldn't bear..." He blinked back obvious tears. "To face either situation. I don't care about myself, but please...forgive Miko."
Nodding a little, I bit back the urge to tell him I never really blamed her. I knew there were forces greater than her at work, and something had a hold of her. It wasn't our Matron we fought.
I went to her next, deciding to hear what she had to say.
Giving me a soft hug, she sighed and looked at me sadly as the rest of the group entered. "My children..." Her voice was soft and loving, the voice we remembered from our Matron. "Please, forgive me. I raised you as my own, yet still, I..."
As she trailed off, I felt my mouth quirk up in a little smile. "We feel the same." We fought her, knowing who she was.
Dustin voiced that. "We fought you, knowing you're our Matron..."
"Matron..." Hunter said softly.
"You are SeeDs, I know, you may not back out of battle. You were magnificent, but it is not yet over. I may yet stil..." She trailed off as she looked away, clearly upset with what happened. "...I have been possessed all this time. I was at the mercy of Sorceress Ultimecia. Ultimecia is a sorceress from the future, a sorceress many generations ahead of our own. Her objective is to find Kelly. I know Kelly very well, and I know about her powers. Ultimecia is a fearful sorceress, who's heart is filled with anger and hate."
Her eyes hardened and she sighed. "There was no way I was going to let her get her hands on Kelly. The only thing I could do was to lose my soul to Ultimecia, and surrender control of my mind. The end result was, well, you know. The sorceress that appeared in Galbadia was, in fact, Ultimecia...inside my shell."
It made a lot of sense. It explained why President Deling seemed so confused by her behavior, despite her being his ally.
"Ultimecia has yet to achieve her goal. I believe she may try to use my body again, to achieve her goals. I plan to make a stand this time...but if it fails... I may have to face you again in battle. I ask for your support, young SeeDs."
Looking down, I frowned. I didn't want to face Matron in battle again. There had to be a way to keep Ultimecia from getting control of her, but...how? And if we could, what was to stop her from finding someone else with sorceress abilities and possessing them?
"Have you all heard of Sorceress Adel, before?" Matron continued softly.
Looking back up at her, I nodded a little, recalling General Baliton speaking of a Sorceress Adel who once ruled Esthar. Apparently, she was a tyrant and ruled the people with fear and pain.
"She was the ruler of Esthar." Dustin said quietly. "Back during the Sorceress War. No one knows of her whereabouts... That's what I learned."
I nodded to him, confirming what he said.
"The Galbadians must have thought I was the one who received her powers. However, that is not the case. I received the powers of the previous sorceress at the age of 5."
"I don't quite understand..." Hunter statted with a frown.
Biting my lip, I knew what was coming. If Adel has disappeared some time ago, but no one had received word of a successor to her powers... Chances were...
"I believe Sorceress Adel is alive." Matron stated grimly with a frown or worry and fear. "And that Ultimecia used my body to... To get to Adel, to use the body of Sorceress Adel. Sorceress Adel is the type that would not hesitate to use her powers for her own gain. Should Sorceress Ultimecia from the future, bequeath her anger and hatred unto Adel, their power would be unimaginable..."
Hearing this, I shook my head. I don't care about all this. I thought darkly as I turned and headed to the door. My concern at that moment had nothing to do with these two evil sorceress' or their plans for the world, but for the young woman lying helplessly on a cot in the infirmary. The only thing I care about is Kapri..
"Shane! I'm sure Matron has much more to say!" Dustin cried in protest as I got to the open doorway.
I've heard enough! Spinning to the doorframe, I lashed out and punched it as hard as I could, ignoring the shocked, worried looks I got from everyone, as well as the pain that shot up my arm from it. I understand that listening to what Matron has to say is important, but Kapri... "Matron, do you know what's wrong with Kapri?" I asked quietly, letting my fist drop to my side and my head sink to my chest.
She seemed to think about it a moment. "Kapri is the girl in light blue? I remember vaguely...what happened to her?"
That's what I'd like to know. "She was with us when we fought you..." I winced at the reminder and frowned as the images flashed through my mind of her and Blake. "After the battle...her body was cold...she didn't move..." She wouldn't wake up...
"Did Kapri die?!" Kanoi yelled in shock.
No! "NO!!!" I yelled, spinning and glaring at him, swinging my arm in emphasis for him not to go there.
"Forgive me, Shane." Matron said quietly, looking pained and sad. "I don't think I can be of any help."
I nodded after a moment. "...It's ok."
Kanoi began to go on about how he felt about what was going on. How he understood my pain and confusion, but also, how I was in a role of leadership and needed to focus on the many instead of the few.
He didn't understand anything at all...
...Dammit!
"Ultimecia's objective is to find Kelly." Matron stated again, going over some of the more important information.
But I wasn't paying attention at him. I could hear the words, but they sounded like they were coming from so far away. Distant, faint, they were more of a nuisance than anything. My thoughts were on one thing...one person alone.
First time we met was the day I became a SeeD. We met again...in Timber.
"Kelly's mysterious power...being able to send people's consciousness' into the past." Matron continued solemnly.
"So, Ultimecia wants to use Kelly's power, right?" I faintly heard Tori asking.
I faced the ground, feeling my fists shake with helpless anger at our situation.
We argued a lot at first. You were always upset at the way I was treating the others. But...in time, things began to change.
"I get it. Ultimecia wants to use the power to send her thoughts further into the past." someone stated, but the voices had faded so much, I couldn't figure out who it was.
"What's she want in the past?" That was Marah...or Dustin... I couldn't make it out.
You were looking at me... You smiled when our eyes met.
"Time compression."
"Time compression?"
It made me feel...tranquil.
"It's time magic. Past, present, future, they all get combined into one."
"What's going to happen to the world? Why would someone want to live in a time like that?"
Kapri...give me another chance....
"I can't even imagine a world where time is compressed!"
"Yo! Shane! You even listening?!"
Blinking a moment, I winced when the sharp tone dragged me out of my thoughts and back to the present. Looking up, I noticed everyone either glaring at me in confusion or staring at me in worry. "So basically..." I began, surprisingly remembering everything I'd barely heard to begin with. "All we need to do is prevent Ultimecia from getting her hands on Kelly."
"Yeah, but..." Tori looked troubled.
"We're going back to Garden." I cut her off, glaring at the ground and taking up the role of the leader. "We need to let everyone know." And I want to see Kapri.
"Hey, we're worried about Kapri, too, y'know!" Hunter shouted angrily.
"Then why don't you...?!" Managing to control my anger, I shook my head and turned my back on them. "Never mind." Heading away from the orphanage, I made my way back to Garden alone, knowing they'd follow me sooner or later. They knew what our mission was, and they also knew we didn't have the time to sit and chat with Matron.
Once I got back, I headed straight for the bridge and ignored Xander as I grabbed the mic and began my report to the Garden. I filled them in the best I could, on our situation at hand and sighed quietly as my mind wandered back to Kapri. With a frown, I forced myself to concentrate on the mission at hand.
"That about covers the update. our task at hand is to find Kelly. Then we'll deal with Ultimecia. I believe that Kelly is on the White SeeD ship, but we still need to find it. We'll gather information for the time being, be prepared for battle at any time. And...Sorceress Miko is back at her home now. She's no longer our enemy, so let's just leave her alone."
I knew not everyone would take kindly to that order, or would be so forgiving. With a frown, I replaced the mic and turned off the PA system.
Heading down to the infirmary, I sighed as I knelt beside Kapri's cot. This wasn't right. After everything she'd done, this was her reward?
I took her pale hand and held it against my cheek lightly, wincing at the coolness of her flesh. Kapri...you feel so cold. Are you going to be like this forever? No... I didn't want to think like that. "Isn't there anything I can do?!" I demanded loudly as I felt tears come to my eyes. "You were so full of life... Now you don't even make a sound." I couldn't get over how peaceful she looked. Her pale face was relaxed in her coma-like state, and her beautiful blue eyes hidden behind her eyelids. "I want to hear your voice." I whispered as a single tear made it's way down my cheek. "Kapri... Call my name." I begged.
Suddenly, I felt dizzy, and watched curiously as the room spun. I know it was Kelly, using her power to send me to the past, and relaxed, letting it carry me away from my troubles.
Falling face down on her cot, I let the sleep overtake me.
(With Tommy, Normal POV)
"Why the hell do I have to do this?!" Tommy yelled, wearing some light, decorative armor and holding a prop gunblade. Looking at the weapon with a face, he turned to his friends.
The trio were standing on a large rock cliff, surrounded paths, deep drops, high rock walls, and sparse plants. There were also Mesmirs, a type of evil unicorn, and Bite Bugs hunting around here.
If one looked carefully, you could see the giant, lime green, rectangular shaped, floating ruin that climbed over the distant city. It was the same place Tommy had been chased out of, where Jason lost his voice.
Zack shrugged and raised an eyebrow. ""Cause we have no money." he stated pointedly.
Jason raised his own eyebrow and stared silently at Tommy, obviously trying to say something with his look.
Wincing, Tommy raised his hands. "Alright, I'm sorry!!!" He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah, so it was kinda my fault we stayed at the hotel so often. But hell, I'm not cut out to be an actor!!!"
"So you say..." Zack grinned with a chuckle. "But we know you're really quite excited..." He exchanged a look with Jason, who nodded silently and smirked.
"Ok everyone!" a voice yelled from around the corner. "Take your positions!"
Frowning, Tommy walked over to a pile of costume stuff on the ground and rifled through it, pulling on heavier, silver armor. "Man, I can't believe this director, making a movie with me...an amateur... What am I supposed to do?!"
Jason glared silently at him and Tommy sighed loudly. "Alright, alright! So we were lucky to get the job. As long as we make some money, right?" He finished pulling on the heavy suit of armor and winced as he clomped forward, trying not to lose his balance. "A-Are you serious?!" He demanded incredulously. "What kind of costume is this?!?"
Jason chuckled silently and Zack snickered as they gazed upon their friend. "Ah, ah, ah! No complaining." Zack stated sternly. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" He shooed Tommy around the corner.
Stumbling to the director, who was a young man with long blonde hair, Tommy sighed. The director on the other hand, looked mightily impressed by the look of the costume. "Hey, look at you. Not bad." He gestured to a young woman with shoulder length brown hair and black eyes, dressed in a white gown with pink trim and a silver scarf around her shoulders. "This is your co-star, Alyssa, who'll be playing the part of the sorceress."
"Hi, nice to meet you!" she stated with a bubbly personality, smiling brightly.
"All we need now, is someone to play the dragon..." The director paused as Jason and Zack wandered on to the set absently. "Oh...! Perfect. Hey! You two back there!"
Zack looked surprised and wary. "Yes...?"
"Look, I'm kinda in a bind. I really need someone to play the dragon, but I'm short on actors. Do you think you could go put on the dragon suit? I'll pay ya..."
Hesitating for a moment, Zack slowly nodded. "I...guess so." He and Jason left, and the director gestured for Tommy and Alyssa to follow him a little ways away.
Unfortunately, that meant they didn't hear the roar, or the screams of terror from Zack.
Once the director had Tommy and Alyssa set up, he nodded and ran over to his small camera crew, nodding happily. "Alright everyone! Scene 12, Death of the Sorceress, take 1!"
Alyssa put on a clearly fake terrified expression and clasped her hands in front of her dramatically. "Oh, Sir Knight...Please save me from the wicked dragon!"
"Oh...ok..." Wincing, Tommy took a quick, deep breath. "I...I'll s-save you from the dragon." Damn! I'm gettin' nervous up here! Looking at the gunblade, he raised it over his head. And what's with the gunblade? Haven't used one of these since training. Kind of like this...? Swinging the blade experimentally, he smiled a little to himself, pleased with the effect.
"Hey, not bad." The director mused. "I'll just put in some voice overs. Ok!!! Bring on the dragon!!"
There was silence as everyone waited for the dragon, but nothing happened. With a slight glare, the director sighed. "Come on, guys! The dragon!" he called impatiently. Hearing a rumbling, he nodded happily. "Alright! Here we go!"
A giant red dragon appeared, it's scaled shining a ruby red in the faint sunlight. It stomped down the path, towards Tommy and stopped in front of him, roaring loudly.
"Woooow!! Just like the real thing!" the director whistled in awe. "Excellent work Zack!! ...!" Pausing a moment, he frowned. "Wait... Was the costume that big?"
Whoa! Tommy ducked under an attack from the dragon and raised an eyebrow. ack and Jason are takin' this pretty seriously. "Man, looks like the real thing." he mused quietly, taking in the realistic scales and sharp fangs that glinted malevolantly at him.
The dragon roared again and attacked Tommy, but he managed to block it with the gunblade. Luckily, it was a real weapon. It just had a dulled blade. Frowning, he stared at the dragon as he got back up. G-Geez! Take it easy, Zack...! His eyes widened as they locked on the golden, slit eyes of the Ancient, Ruby Dragon. "...What the...! Is this the real thing?!?"
The director's eyes widened and he shook his head. "WHAT?!?! No wonder... What am I doing?! I'm getting outta here!!" Grabbing his camera, he bit a hasty bow to Tommy. "W-Well Sir Knight... It's all yours!" he stuttered, running off.
Alyssa's eyes went wide and she took a step back, visibly swallowing at the sight of the massive dragon. "S-S-Sir Knight...I must bid you farewell." With that, she turned and ran off as fast as she could, tripping over her skirt and hitching it up as she ran on.
"Wait!! Don't just leave me here!!" Tommy yelled. He tried to take off after them, but was blocked by an attack from the dragon and groaned. "Tch!" It's not gonna let me go. Hmmm...the gunblade...
Raising the blade, he swiftly blocked an attack before lunging forward and digging the blade into the neck of the dragon. He repeated the gesture a few more times until he took a hit in the side, wincing at the hole in the armor and the bite mark in his side. Slashing forward, again, he managed to knock the dragon out and took off down the path as fast as he could, removing the armor and running to where he'd stashed his gun. Grabbing it, he sighed in relief and ran down a sandy path until he ran into two figures, walking warily along the path, looking a little worse for the wear.
Together, they ran along the path until they ran into another Ruby Dragon which they fought and defeated easily with their regular weapons, only to have another one appear in the distance and make it's way towards them.
"Man, how many of these things are there?! They just keep comin'! We gotta get outta here!" Tommy shouted.
Zack seensed to sense something and looked in the distance, to the city. "What...is that?"
Tommy followed his gaze to notice the large, green ruin moving slowly past the hi-tech city of Esthar and towards a monument.
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Hope you like it.
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"YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH!! What did I say?! WHAT DID I SAY, HUH?!?!? I told you to take care of her!!"
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R+R please.
Thank you.
Tenshi