The roar of the crowd filled her ears. The songstress could barely hear herself think as she took in deep breaths, eyes closed, trying to calm her nerves. The cheers and applause grew steadily louder and stronger, as did Lenne's fear.
Suddenly, bright lights flashed on around and on the stage, causing the crowd to scream uproariously. The noise was all around. Her eyes flickered open as the music began to play.
What can I do for you?
The spotlights focused on Lenne as she walked to the center of the stage, transforming from her Summoner's clothes into her songstress dressphere. It was a bright display that got a lot of feedback from the crowd.
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
I can hear you-
Once transformed, she caught her microphone and began stepping in time with the music.
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
She had begun singing along with the chorus, her pink lips shining as she sang into the hand-held microphone. Her mocha-brown eyes glittered under shimmering lavender eyelids, partially covered by her silky, brunette bangs. The bright spotlights seemed to illuminate her fair skin.
"Never thought that I would wind up by myself,
You got all my wild-
Ima-gi-na-tion,
But I hear, I am finding myself so lost,
Everyday is a way, for me to turn back-"
Two dancers materialized behind her on the stage, copying her exact dance moves.
"All of the things I see,
They are different from,
What I had imagined they would be-
Everything is different,
Now I'm getting dizzy spells-"
For dramatic effect, Lenne threw out her free arm into the air and squeezed her eyes shut as she held out that last note. Her audience cheered even louder.
"It's real emotion,
Shaking up the world,
I'll never give it up,
I don't ever want to lose, this far,
No more than I can do but I am just too wrong,
And in my heart I can hear you say,
That I am not alone-"
She broke out into her dance routine as the chorus played, the lights flashing with the beat of the song. Her long, colorful earrings flew around with her hair as she moved around the stage.
"What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
Lenne stopped dancing suddenly and raised her head, bringing the mic up to her lips, a sort of smile on her face.
"I can hear you-"
A man with an electric guitar flew by on a type of flying machina platform. Then she continued, singing and dancing across the glowing stage.
It's real emotion, It's real emotion, What can I do for you?
Shaking up the world,
You're always here with me,
So deep in my heart,
And I, am near,
Beside you where you need me,
Since I'm finally strong,
Just close your eyes and you'll see me here,
'Cause you are not alone-
Shaking up the world,
I'll never give it up,
I don't ever want to lose, this far,
No more than I can do but I am just too wrong,
And in my heart I can hear you say,
That I am not alone-
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
I can hear you-
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
What can I do for you?
I can hear you-
I can hear you."
Lenne threw her hands up for the finish on the last beat, as sparks sprayed and confetti exploded all over the stadium. The crowd cheered and clapped and screamed and whistled, all the noises mixed into a dull, loud roar as the songstress left the stage.
In less than a few moments time, the canons had been activated, and a large, rotating sphere of water had replaced the stage. A group of men swam into the ball from either side of the arena and began the game. The blitzball announcer came over the loudspeaker and began introducing each player by name as they entered the playing area; "…now entering, star Blitzer and son of Blitzball-legend Jecht- Tidus of the Zanarkand Abes!" She only caught part of the game before leaving the dome after being barraged by fans and speculators.
It was obvious that people were going to be partying and celebrating long into the night. It was the season-opening game, anyway, and Zanarkand was always lit up, through the night and long into the morning.
Lenne strolled through the streets, occasionally being approached by someone asking for an autograph or praising her for her performance. Zanarkand truly was the city that never slept.
She had just walked away from a group of people who had congratulated her when, suddenly, the ground shook. Lenne paused and looked around her. People stopped and stared, some people screamed or cried out, while others began running past in a frenzy. A baby began crying somewhere nearby and Lenne could hear people calling for things, like help or other people. On instinct, she turned and began running against the crazed crowd back to the stadium.
Somewhere in the distance, something like an explosion went off and ricocheted through the upper levels of the city, slicing off the roofs of buildings and scattering debris onto the streets below. "Oh Yevon," she cursed under her breath once she had stopped to see the horrible scene. Some fiends were running rampant through the arena, chasing down some unfortunate civilians who failed to get away. A large body hung in the sky, surrounded by water and spewing it's spawn all over the city. Lenne recognized it immediately; Sin.
Another explosion went off that shook the ground so hard, the songstress lost her balance and nearly fell. A woman ran by, clutching a child to her chest as she yelled, "Ur Yevon, cyja ic!" In despair, fear, and frustration, Lenne whipped out her Summoner's staff, ready to defend herself, when suddenly someone grabbed her by the arm. For a moment she fought back, then looked up to see a soldier, heavily clad in silver armor. Lenne's eyes grew wide. A Bevelle soldier. Her staff was taken from her, and before she could utter a prayer, the man forced her into a dark, crowded machina ship and slammed the door.
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Whew, I've had this idea for awhile, and I decided to listen to the crazy voices in my head.
This chapter is supposed to be taking place at the beginning of Final Fantasy X (when Sin attacks). However, to make my story work, there were also Bevelle armies attacking Zanarkand at the same time, using Sin as a 'weapon'.
This story will take place in the two years in which Zanarkand and Bevelle were at war; The Machina War.