Oh wow, another story. I am on a roll! And adding stress to myself. Well, this is a yuri story between Paine and Rikku…or maybe Paine and someone else. I haven't decided yet. So the plot is subject to change from what I say here. Oh and forgive the errors I undoubtedly have in here. I don't own Final Fantasy X-2.
Paine readied her sword as a band of thugs surrounded her. I am now reminded why I hate walking through the Moonflow, she thought dryly. Ruthlessly, she lunged, stabbing the nearest one through the stomach before neatly killing the two that attacked her from behind.
The bandits had always pissed her off to no end when she had traveled with the Gullwings, always trying to steal her money and items. But she supposed she was no better, after all, she was now stealing their pouches of gil. Hey, it's not like they'll be using them anytime soon.
She quickly strapped her sword to her back and continued walking across the dirt road, regretting that she hadn't stolen a Chocobo out of the Bevelle stables when she had run away. Well, it would only take another days travel to reach Luca on foot and hopefully, she could buy a Chocobo off of Rin on the Highroad and if not well…she would worry about that later.
In all honesty, she was surprised that the Chocobo Knights hadn't caught up with her yet; after all it was only Macalania Woods and the Thunder Plains that separated her from Bevelle. This thought made her increase her tempo to an easy jog, too uneasy now to keep a comfortable walking pace.
As she reached the end of the Moonflow, she slid to a halt, suddenly realizing the stupidity in her moves. The Chocobo Knights had an encampment stationed at Mushroom Rock Road. Frustrated, she sat down, resisting the urge to pull at her hair and scream in frustration.
"God Paine, get your act together. You're running on an adrenaline rush right now and not thinking clearly. There has to be a way out of this," she said to herself quietly.
Of course, she still had her dresspheres. Why was she being so stupid? Quickly, she tugged out one of the garment grids, activating the Thief dressphere and letting the change overtake her. She noticed the chill as her skin was more exposed, cursing Rikku for making the dressphere lack large amounts of clothes.
She stood up then and began walking, focusing intently on the gateway that worked as the entrance to the Mushroom Rock Road. There were no guards, there never were, it wasn't like the place needed to be protected or anything, but she knew that just beyond it lay the encampment for the Chocobo Knights.
Cautiously, she slipped through the gate, red eyes darting around warily. There were rows and rows of tents stretched out before her and the camp was clearly busy as all of the members hurried to pack up their things. Obviously, word had reached them that she was on the run. This would just make things that more difficult.
As she stood in the shadows she readied several silence bombs as well as pulled out a Chocobo feather. As an afterthought, she pulled out an item to cast Darkness on anyone she saw before readying borrowed time. The glow of preparing the ability attracted the attention of several of the Knights but she refused to let her concentration be broken as they began rushing towards her, a cry alerting the rest.
The ability suddenly activated, stopping the Knights as she quickly used the Chocobo feather, increasing her own speed at the same time. And then she was gone, seemingly vanishing from sight as she raced through the camp, flying by stunned Knights until she was nearing the stables. She forced herself to slow down as she raced into the stables, quickly deciding on a Chocobo as a siren began to wail.
She vaulted over the wooden barrier and straight onto one of the armored Chocobo's backs, kicking its sides with her heels and forcing it to knock the door down before charging out of the stable, startling two knights that were heading in to grab their steeds. She let the Chocobo take her out of the camp and onto the real road, feeling a sense of freedom overcome her as they flew over the ground, speeding towards the Highroad.
The sounds of pursuit soon reached her ears but she knew that she was home free. They could chase her all they liked but she now had a Chocobo too and they had no idea about the hidden cave at the very start of the Highroad like she did. They could never find her and when they were safely gone she could continue to Rin's and get a new Chocobo before continuing to Luca. From there, she would catch a boat to Besaid to meet up with Yuna and Rikku.
She was free and in charge of her life.
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Paine watched as the Chocobo Knights arrived in Luca, causing a sudden uproar that was so loud it could be heard as the boat began to pull out of the harbor. Relief washed through her and she almost fell from shaky knees. In only one more day she'd be safely in Besaid where Yuna, Tidus, and the others were sure to keep her safe from New Yevon.
Sighing, she headed for her assigned cabin, intent on getting some sleep.
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They arrived at Besaid early the next morning and as Paine stepped off the boat and onto the smooth sand of the beach, she found a sense of belonging over come her. She had come to think of this place as a home; a place to come if she ever needed help. It had turned into just that.
"Hey! It's Paine! That is your name, ya?"
Paine turned to see Wakka running across the beach towards her, waving his hand at her. "Hello, Wakka."
The orange haired man stopped in front of her. "I saw the ship coming in when I was fishing and I could've sworn I saw you. Guess I was right, ya? So what are you here for?"
Paine crossed her arms across her chest, gazing out at the blue horizon. "Visiting, I guess."
"Well that's good, ya. Yuna missed you, and so did Rikku," Wakka told her. "I have to get back to fishing though, ya. I'll talk to you later!"
Paine watched as the man took off for his small boat and pushed it out into the surf before heading for the village slopes. As she walked past the cave, guarded carefully by the four ciphers, she was overtaken by memories from the beginning of her journey with the Gullwings, remembering how the other two women had been her first friends since the incident with the Crimson Squad. Sighing, she continued on, passing under the waterfalls and across the shaky bridges.
Next came the ruins of some machina, what she suspected was an airship, but had never voiced aloud. Finally, she reached the village slope and she paused for a moment, just so she could gaze down at the peaceful village. Down there, she knew she would find her friends. She knew she would have to tell them what happened.