Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Green Flame ❯ Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Tom heard everything the commander said, and was giving Lexa a quick once over to determine if she was okay. Okay, no visible broken bones, no external abrasions, he assessed quickly. He asked her to move her fingers and toes, and, with much wincing, she complied. She wouldn't speak and kept her eyes on all of the carnage that was left behind.

He didn't have any sort of understanding of what had transpired while he and Sam were away, but from what he could see, it had been really bad.

Then he felt, rather than saw, Commander Leonhart standing beside him. "Is she ready, cadet?" he said lowly.

"Yes, sir. I think she can walk with assistance."

The commander ignored the rest of what he said, swooped down like a protective older brother, and easily held her in his arms. "Get her weapon, Tom. Bring it to her quarters and then I give you leave to stay with her."

Tom looked suspiciously at him because he should be the one holding her, he loved her. The commander just arched an eyebrow and carried Lexa toward the infirmary. Tom had no doubt that if he were the one carrying her; he would be far gentler. But he wouldn't dare disobey orders, not since she was safe. He set off toward the dormitories, he girlfriend's gun blade held awkwardly in his hands.

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When Squall arrived in Dr. Kadowaki's domain, Sam was still explaining what little he knew about the situation. The Doctor stood up as he entered and nodded. Squall set her on the bed he had occupied after receiving the cut that gave him his trademark scar, and stood back, letting the doctor do her work. Since young Mr. Fox had no idea what had happened to her, the questioning gaze turned on the young man she had once tended. He gave her a patient glance that plainly said he was waiting for something.

A moment later, Rinoa appeared. She took in the sight of her husband safe, and one of the students on the bed. She immediately went to Lexa's side, and took the younger woman's hand in her own. Kadowaki continued her exam on the cadet, but stopped as the exams told her what she had suspected: shock and internal damage. She was ill equipped to deal with either. Good thing doctors always had an alternative. She looked to the dark-haired sorceress and silently asked for her help. All was quiet as she nodded back and closed her eyes. She inched forward and opened them again, scanning with the magic in her eyes.

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Tom skidded to a halt outside the infirmary door, which slid open too slowly for him to keep his pace. He tried to breathe normally, not to pant, but it caught in his chest as the door finally opened. Mrs. Leonhart was being thrown back with extreme force into her husband's arms. Green fire was all over the room, and it engulfed Lexa hungrily. He ran forward, but then saw her face. Lexa's green eyes had tiny green flames in the pupils, and she was lucid. Gone was the shocked woman he had found in the Training Center. She was awake, and she knew what she was doing.

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"Stand back!" came the beautiful voice of Rinoa Leonhart. When her husband would not move from her side, she used her magic to form a barrier around the two young women. Squall banded his hand against the wall in protest, but she just smiled and said, "For your own safety." Her sorceress aura brightened, and she still tried to heal the ailing girl of her injuries. Maybe when the injuries are healed, this madness will stop. Using a display to keep the defenses occupied, she searched the insides and started to repair them. Again, as soon as her healing aura tried to help, green fire repelled her. This time, though, she was prepared and only took two steps back. Now it was clear that she couldn't help. Her scan spell told her the injuries might turn fatal if not treated soon, and her eyes started to tear. This had let her wall fade slightly, and Sam came in. She immediately put it back up.

"What are you doing, Sam?" she said. "You stay in here, and you could be in the next bed."

He shook his head and smiled. With that, he started to glow a faint, light blue the color of her duster. She felt power radiate from him equal or greater than the power of a sorceress. Her mind screamed that it wasn't possible, but Sam's presence wasn't to be ignored. He smiled a little wider and his aura engulfed everyone in the room, comforting. Then he slowly approached Lexa and laid a hand on her shoulder. The blue glow and green flames clashed momentarily and Lexa finally looked at him. The green flame in her eyes brightened, but at the same time, grew softer. It no longer seemed like fire, but an identically powerful glow as Sam's. They smiled, and each one seemed to hold an embrace just for the other. The lady arched an eyebrow in silent request and Sam nodded, letting his aura (Rinoa now realized that's what they were) surround her, and send her off into sleep.

Rinoa's gaze shifted from the now cured cadet to her healer. Sam was still glowing and they talked mind to mind.

"=How on earth did you do that? When I tried to help, we repelled! =" Rinoa's inner voice questioned and demanded at the same time.

"=We don't have time. Everyone's looking at us. I need you to look like you're healing her, and help me erase their memories of this, ="he sensed her about to protest, so he continued, "=You'll have to trust me. Together we can do it. If they remember this, Lexa won't be able to go on the mission tomorrow. She needs to take this exam. So do Tom and I. You'll be able to remember everything, but it needs to be kept secret. I have my reasons for this. I need you to cooperate with me. Please. ="

You couldn't lie in this form of communication, so she believed what he said, but there was a lot he wasn't telling her. No matter. She'd ask him later. Right now, they had something to do. She concentrated her aura for a third time and tentatively searched Lexa, making sure of no further injuries. She encountered no resistance this time, and made sure everything was in perfect order before withdrawing most of the way. Then she turned to Sam and nodded that she was ready to start the next stage. Hers and Sam's auras mingled together, making a glow so bright, it was difficult to look at. Rinoa saw, out of the corner of her eye, that Squall wouldn't turn away, no matter if he went blind first. So first, they put everyone but themselves in a trance. Slowly, they backed up everyone's memory to the moment Rinoa tried to heal Lexa the first time. Rinoa let her barrier down, and Sam moved back to where he was standing before. He withdrew with just a silent instruction, a mocking one, "=As you were. ="

Rinoa was back to her chair at this point and silently laughed at him. As Sam withdrew fully, the others blinked and continued to watch Rinoa work her magic. To them, she had never stopped.

A/N: There you have it, folks. Chapter Five. This should've been longer, but I decided to make it into separate chapters. The next couple of chapters are just humor, and in Chapter Seven, a new character will appear. Who is she? What's with her and Sam? And why are Lexa and Tom arguing? Find out!! Chapters Six and Seven will be on in a few days. No set date yet. This fulfils what I typed in my bio about the two chapters for this fiction. Now on the YGO CYOA. Caffeine and sugar, don't fail me now… Later, RedFox.