No Turning Back
Chapter 5 Dreams
For once Quistis had a good night sleep. While most people are having trouble sleeping on a boat, for Quistis it is a blessing. She always thought her parents must have been adventurous, sailing across the world. She always had a feeling of homecoming by the ocean, like she was born there.
Edea was glad for the change she could see in Quistis, in her sleep her face was soft just like the face she remembers from Quistis' childhood. The hard lines are gone and so are the concern and hurt that she couldn't hide for Edea.
"How is she doing?" Ellone sits down next to Edea and leans against the older woman. "She still looks so tired."
"She has a lot of sleep to catch up to." Edea replied, placing her arm around Ellone's shoulder.
"Does she know that we know about her and Seifer?"
"I don't believe so. We will ask her…later."
Ellone nods her head, while she had a lot of questions, she would wait until Quistis is ready to answer them.
"You should get some rest too," Edea nudges the younger woman towards the bed next to Quistis. "You've got lots of work to do before this vacation is over."
"I know." Ellone yawns and crawls into the bed. "But I never sleep well on boats."
Edea giggles while kissing Ellone's forehead, "And you have lived for months on this boat."
"It was hell." She mock whispers. Ellone turns on her side so she faces the sleeping Quistis. "Good night."
"Sleep well, child."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
A scream woke her up.
She bolted upright to see Quistis having a nightmare. Her whole body was twisting, shivering, her head shaking and tears were streaming down her face.
"No-no-no-no-no-.." She repeated that word non-stop.
Ellone tried to wake the trembling girl, but whatever she did try, Quistis didn't wake.
"Edea!" She shouted. "Matron! Come quick!"
Hurried footsteps and Edea was on Quistis other side, whispering quiet words in her ears.
But she didn't stop shivering.
Ellone didn't know what she could do to help Quistis, she felt so helpless. Just like the tears that were leaking from her eyes. "We have to do something!" She yells desperately.
"Ellone." Edea's sharp tone makes Ellone calm down. "Can you see what she is dreaming about?"
"I don't know." Ellone confesses. "I've never tried something like that before."
"You must do it now. Try to bring both of us into her dream, can you do that?"
Wiping her eyes with her arms Ellone nods her head determined and chants softly under her breath.
It didn't take long before Edea heard a ringing in her ear and she was fast asleep.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
She opened her eyes to see the red walls of Galbadia Garden.
It didn't take her long to figure out she was in the middle of the Battle of the Gardens. It was dreary quiet in this Garden; she could hear the sirens of Balamb Garden in the distance and the occasional bomb or magic spell, but nothing more. Here it was quiet, except for a pair of footsteps.
She hides behind the pillar to see Selphie and Irvine slowly crossing the hallways.
She doesn't know why, but she has the feeling she has to wait here, so she does.
Not much later Squall, Zell and Rinoa follow the same route Selphie and Irvine have followed.
She knows this strategy, two persons scout the area while the others follow at a distance, but where is Quistis?
She walks in the opposite direction as her children; she knows where they are going to, the headmaster's office. Edea however walks in the direction of the auditorium, the place she knows Seifer and herself (at least, herself in this dream world) will flee to after their first encounter there.
Near the entrance she waits.
She doesn't have to wait long.
Quistis is running down the hall, stopping just a few meters away from her. She knows Quistis can't see her in this dream world, but still she holds her breath, afraid that Quistis will hear her.
Not much later Seifer strolls through the halls. He is limping; the fight must have taken a lot out of him, more so than she taught at the time.
When he walks past Quistis she comes out of her hiding places and stops him.
"What is wrong with you Seifer? What do you think you are doing?"
Seifer turns around so fast that Quistis stumbles back a few paces. Seifer's face shows thunder and Edea can see that Quistis is getting uncomfortable around him, so unlike how they were as children.
"I'm fulfilling my romantic dream." Seifer sneered back at her.
"And what is that?" Quistis asks angrily. "Destroying the very people you once called friends, even family? Destroy the place that has sheltered you and given you a place to call home."
"Garden never was home for me. And the way I see it, you're destroying me! Not the other way around."
Edea can see the emotions swimming in Quistis eyes. She wants to help her so badly, but she knows she can't in this world.
"You're crazy." Quistis whispers, slowly backing away. "You are the one who ordered the missiles against both Balamb and Trabia Garden. Do you know how many people, children even, died because of that?"
Quistis has the right to be afraid. Edea can see the grip the sorceress from the future has over Seifer right now. She knows from experience that at some moments you are in full control of your body and the next you are just like a passenger, only along for the ride.
In three steps Seifer is by Quistis, his right hand grabs her around her throat. Quistis tries to remove his hand, but he is only tightening his grip.
"You want to know why I did that, huh? I did that for you! I will destroy the world if that will save you."
"I don't need saving." Quistis can barely get this world out of her mouth. "Not from anyone but you!"
His grips loosened and Edea feels Ultimecia retreating from Seifer.
Quistis must've seen some change in him too. One hand travels to his face to cup his cheek. "Seifer?" She asks carefullly.
"Quis?" Seifer acts like he is just waking up, which in a way he is. His hand falls from her throat and he involves her in a strong hug.
"You're back!"
Looking around Seifer is trying to figure out where he is and what has happened. Before he has a chance to ask Quistis anything her lips are on his.
Edea knows something will happen; it is only a matter of time before Ultimecia will do something. That Sorceress from the future is as manipulative as she is evil.
The two blonds couldn't enjoy their sweet reunion for long. Ultimecia took control again and Seifer was back at strangling Quistis.
Quistis kept whispering "No-no-no-no-no-.." before she lost consciousness.
Seifer let go of her, not even sparing a glance back at her, before he walks towards the auditorium.
Edea rushes towards Quistis.
Rules be damned, she will help Quistis.
Warm magic spring from her fingers into the limp body of Quistis. She is starting to waken. Edea wants to stay, but the running footsteps from her other children make her hide again.
Quistis was fully awake by the time the others arrived.
"Where have you been?" Selphie asks while supporting her friend. "This isn't the time to wander the halls by yourself."
Rinoa cast cure on her friend and they are on their way again, all six of them.
Edea follows at a distance.
To see your own face staring back at you is an unnerving feeling, as Edea found out. It's scary to see your own face, own body, but not your own mind attacking your children. Edea knows all of them will come out of this fight okay (mostly) but still it is hard to see her children fight each other.
She notices that Quistis is hanging back, together with Rinoa. The two women who can't seem to fight against the man they (once) loved.
The fight with Seifer is over relatively fast. They ignore him when they all attack….her.
It hurts to see herself hurt her children; thankfully the fight was over quickly.
While the sorceress left her in the dream world and possessed Rinoa, Seifer walks towards Quistis, lifting her head gently and kissing her sweetly before leaving.
She herself sits down next to Quistis, whispering words of love to her. Hoping it will help her to wake up from this nightmare.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
It seemed to have worked.
Edea woke up and not long after that Quistis, too, was awake.
"Are you all right?" Ellone asks to both women.
Edea waves the question away and holds Quistis in her arms, giving her the support she needs.
While Quistis is still hiccupping in her arms, Edea strokes her head and back until she falls asleep again.
Keeping a watchful eye on her, Edea stays awake while Quistis sleeps.
A dreamless sleep.