Final Fantasy 1

Final Fantasy

X-2

Awakening from

A Dream

By: David Carter

CH.1: Interview in Luca

The waters in Luca Harbor glistened in the sun and the excitement in the air was evident. A red ship shaped like a crab was hovering near the south dock and three people stood near the open hatch. One of them wore coveralls and had blonde hair, his name is Brother. The man next to him wore something similar, except in pilot like fashion, his name is Buddy. The smaller person wearing everything to hide his true appearance is Shinra. They still wore the happy smirks and smiles they had during the trip to Besaid. The calm had prevailed and the hideous machina Vegnagun was destroyed.

"Cheer up Brother at least Cid is out of your hair," Buddy offered. Looking at his friend he could tell he was miserable after they dropped Yuna off at Besaid. The guy shouldn't be moping around like a blitzball player caught in a current, Buddy thought. Shinra bounced up in excitement and Buddy grinned.

"I hear there's a new sphere break champion," Shinra said, "he is supposed to be the toughest in all of Spira. I could beat him in my sleep," Shinra said cockily. Brother moaned and Buddy walked ahead. "Can't he face the facts that Yuna-."

"Oh he knows. He is still living in his fantasy dream where he and Yuna have two kids on Bikanel desert. Yuna wants to be alone and who could blame her. After searching for him and getting nothing; must be tough to lose someone."

"I'm just a kid…remember?" They walked farther into town and met applause and congratulations from every specie-Guado, Ronso, Al Bhed, and even blitzball players. Brother lingered behind dragging his feet and not looking at any of the cheering crowds. Buddy and Shinra stopped and Brother bumped into them. Two camera people were waiting.

"Here they are the crew of the Celsius: famous for aiding Yuna in her quest to destroy Vegnagun. Can I please have an interview with the Captain of the Celsius?"

"I…am," Brother said hesitantly. The camera swung towards him and a microphone was shoved in his face.

Iella: Hello I am Iella and today I am here with…

Brother: Brother

Iella: Brother, who is the Captain of the Celsius, can

You tell us how it was to have Yuna aboard your ship?

Brother: It was very…intense and when Yuna

Danced it brought up morale. Everyone

Loved her and…I too cherished her time…

With us.

Iella: You come from Bikanel desert, how

Did you first meet Yuna?

Brother: Our city was under attack and Cid gave

Me strict orders to leave as soon as group

Came. Back then we weren't trying to kidnap

Her, just keep her safe. She was to be

Married to Maester Seymour, but I get them

There to stop it. We didn't speak much and after

Sin was destroyed I saw her again.

Iella: So what was the real reason Yuna became a

Sphere hunter?

Brother: To find someone…a very special person

In her past. Why all questions of Yuna?

Iella: Well her fans and everyone in Spira are very

Concerned of her whereabouts. Do the Gullwings

Perhaps know where Lady Yuna could be?

Buddy: Hey quit hogging the microphone (Buddy

Pushes Brother aside and smiles at the camera)

Hi, I'm Buddy and am the pilot and navigator

Of the-

Shinra: My name is Shinra and I'm just a kid, but

Being a kid has its many-

Brother: Enough this is my interview not yours!

Iella: Ah that's all the time we have so, this

Is Iella signing off.

"Ok off the camera, do you seriously have any clue to where Lady Yuna is?" Brother folded his arms and behind him both Buddy and Shinra shook their heads. Iella sighed and led her camera man to a group of monks. Brother kicked the ground and went over to the pond:

"Yuna this, Yuna that-it makes me crazy! It's all because of him that Yuna is at home instead of…" Buddy patted his back and Shinra bought a balloon. "Why don't people like me?" Buddy took off his goggles and looked at him.

"Maybe you need to cool down," he suggested. Brother sat on the bench and cupped his hand to support his chin. "You know, don't take everything so…" A disturbance just then broke through the crowd like Sin. An Al Bhed woman held a glass and in the glass was a swirling gas of light. It exploded and sent the woman to the ground with 2 glass shards in her.

"Where's backup when you need it?" A Luca fisherman said. A gunshot was heard and the swirling gas wheeled up into the sky. A man in his early twenties limped forward and waved his hand reassuringly. He had a brown mop of hair and spectacle glasses. What should have been his leg was replaced by metal, the same with his arm. "It's the Meyvan Nooj!"

"No need to panic, it's just another spirit trail. Continue with your usual business." Nooj spotted them and limped over with great leadership shining in his eyes. Buddy seemed to recall that the Youth League leader had once seeked death. He was part of a group called Crimson Squad; it retired and went its separate ways. Eventually Nooj, Gippal, and the Gullwings formed up to defeat Vegnagun and save Baralai. "Are you ok?"

"Nothing like a few spirit trails to open up your eyes," Shinra said. Nooj regarded him with a smirk and led the group over to a cafe. "Can I get one of those famous Luca spirit drinks?"

"Sure, oh while you're up can you order a Luca pink spice, and Brother will have an Al Bhed glutzer, and Nooj will have-."

"Some tea would be nice. I'm surprised to see the Gullwings in Luca so soon. Don't you want to spend time with family or friends and take a break? Believe me work bites, occasionally, so liven up a little will ya?" Both Brother and Buddy were stunned.

"Fun and relaxation you say? We are not on a mission; we are here to enjoy the calm. Rikku and Paine are with Yuna taking care of Lulu's baby. Besides how many chances can I get away from troublesome Rikku?" They all shared a laugh.

"Just because I'm a kid and talented dress sphere wiz, does not give you the right to make me order and carry drinks." Shinra's knees buckled and Nooj relieved him of his duty and handed out the drinks. "What is the leader of the Youth League doing in Luca, alone?" Nooj sipped his tea and answered:

"I was tracking the Al Bhed woman because she had stolen that spirit from the Farplane. Many more occurrences are happening around Spira and Aeons are awakening too. Baralai got me an update and the source of all this is coming from space. Something in this new hole has awakened."

"What…another hole?" Buddy exchanged worried glances with Brother and Shinra then returned his focus on Nooj. "How can the Aeons still exist after Yuna destroyed each and every-?"

"Not exactly, you see the Fayths were all supposed to be in deep slumber until awoken. They still linger in the Farplane and over a few months people have been visiting often. Baralai showed me a graph of recent trails; they all lead to outer space.

"I know our ships are not capable of this, so that's why I enlisted the help of the best mechanic around-." Out of Luca bar was a man in his 40's or 50's; bald and still a little overweight wearing an Al Bhed mechanics outfit. His sharp eyes picked out Brother and went to tiny slits of ice.

"What the hell is he doing here? Oh don't tell me, you already found a test dummy!" Brother got out of his chair and felt a cold right to his face that sent him over a table. Cid stood there and first his gaze went to the recovering Brother, then to Nooj. Nooj nodded then brought out a blue sphere that held many white pin points of light. Brother returned to his seat nursing his bruise and Cid sat across. "Will you already show the damn thing?" Cid stole Nooj's tea and one sip made him spit it out.

"This sphere landed in Bevelle a couple nights ago. Baralai tried to analyze the contents but it was frozen solid. The ship Cid has prepared is capable of spaceflight and can land on any planet; with the exceptions of Mercury or Saturn. Our target is the gap in space where the trail is leaking. This is a very dangerous mission, but if successful life on Spira can have new meaning." Nooj nodded to Cid who gladly took over.

"The ship can reach a top speed of 50," Cid looked over at Brother and glared back, "can hold a maximum of 12 and can blow anything up that is a threat. This is strictly volunteer and any who don't wish to go will be at Bevelle helping Baralai analyze new data. Are there any questions?" Shinra was the first to ask.

"Why is the sphere frozen?" Cid picked up the sphere and the tiny pin points of light moved. He then shook it and the dots of light connected to form what looked like a hole.

"If you were to go into space your body would freeze and until pulled into the gravity of a planet would keep moving. Space is like a cold kitchen, not a place to be without air or heat." Shinra is handed the sphere, who in the process removes from his pocket a red hand held object.

"My new pocket warmer for the dress sphere can unthaw or freeze anything." Holding the device close to the sphere everyone held their breath as the blue sphere erupted in to a green color. Nooj took out a flat machina device and within minutes Captain Lucil and troops had them surrounded. "What the-." Cid remained calm and gave Brother a reassuring grin and Shinra a nod of confidence. Buddy sat there being observant.

"Sir you called?" Meyvan Nooj whispered in her ear and the troops motioned the group to follow. After hours of walking they reached the South dock where Barkeep bounced up and down nervously. Brother eyed Cid and saw him flex his hand.

"Brother you will be taking me to Bevelle; all those who wish to come will surely be accepted. The contents of this very sphere may make a difference of life or death. Now, shall we?"

"You heard him-get in!" As everyone boarded Cid stayed behind to confront Brother-his son. "If you're going to hit me again do it right," he challenged. Cid stood his ground somberly.

"Son you may not want to hear this, but Yuna is your…cousin," Cid said. Brother hid his surprise by biting is tongue and flapping his arms. In his deepest thoughts some maturity was there along with the fact that what Cid was true, to the other part it was new. "Another thing is you are alone because you are always busy giving orders. You're like your old man, just younger and a little more active. I managed to get very little from the sphere; the stuff I did get is this:

"My eyes won't open, am I dead?

Nah if I was dead I wouldn't…

There's movement all around me, and

My dad thinks I'm paranoid. My body

Is drifting, where I don't know…Yuna!

"The voice belongs to a dream and his wondering is growing weaker. That hole in space is mapped out and from the satellite we sent it's clear it's another Farplane. I am asking you not to alarm Yuna or Rikku about this discovery. This trip may prove painful enough and I don't want Yuna to go on another goose hunt. Do you understand me…son?"

"Roger," Brother said gloomily. The engines of the Celsius roared again and Brother ran up after Cid. The view was now of the ship as it lifts out of the waters of Luca and its new destination is Bevelle.