November 7, 2011
Summary: The Eternal Calm was the name given to the birth of peace after Sin's death. Spira was supposed to be safe, never again to suffer as it once had. Until now, as a new threat lingers in the shadows of parts unexplored and Tidus and Yuna, strangers to each other, must find a way to save Spira. AU.
Disclaimer: All characters and locations belong to Square Enix, except what I have created from my own imagination.
A/N: This story is beta by 6jrz422.
Shadow of a Chance
Chapter 1: The End Game for Peace
Shaded white clouds that promised rain sauntered over the Luca Stadium. Patrons of the infamous Blitz Ball Tournament moved almost haphazardly to find seats to the second day of matches. The tournament lasted about a week, and people from all over Spira would travel to glimpse amazing acrobatic feats. However, the daughter of High Summoner Braska didn't have to scramble to find good seats to see the brawny, powerful players stream across her view. She was considered "one of the fortunates." Faction leaders and other important dignitaries of Spira were allocated a special area to view the games without worry.
Layered in beautiful reds, blues, and purples, the walls were catered to the upscale. Tables were placed in the back of the spacious room for the special guests to partake in. Leaders from the four factions: Machine Faction, Youth League, New Yevon, and Old Yevon, and representatives from different islands all gathered in harmonious celebration as dozens of teams from separate parts of Spira competed for the glorious Blitz Ball Cup.
Standing as still as a temple statute Yuna listened to her father and Praetor Tont, one of the leaders in New Yevon, talked about her future. New Yevon was led by a council of praetors as opposed to Old Yevon, or Yevon for short, who used a feudal system, per se.
"Kunimi and I have practiced and ensured that Yuna be aquatinted with her heritage, both Yevon and Albhed," claimed Braska. Yuna was always impressed with her father's calm air. No matter the situation, he was confident and self-controlled, but never cold. The young woman listened, her fragile hands clasped by her chest.
"We would love to have Yuna stay with us. I assure you Baralai will be the utmost gentleman," Praetor Tont said, with a waggle of his eyebrows. Both men shared in a few chuckles. In the background the trumpets called for the commencement of the opening ceremonies to begin.
"Ah, well, I would be so pleased to release Yuna into your care, but it will have to wait. Cid has imparted on my wife that his niece stay with him, first. I imagine his daughter had a hand in Cid pressing Kunimi for Yuna to visit prior to her studies at Bevelle's temple."
For a moment Praetor Tont looked insulted, but then laughed. "Cid is an excitable and determined man. If nothing else, a smart man for knowing when to cave and stand his ground. I'm so happy that when Ayame announced her pregnancy, she gave birth to a boy, not a girl." His eyes trailing and then spotting Yuna beside her father, he added, "Not that having a daughter is a bad thing – though, Yuna is the exception – the exceptional exception."
Braska smiled and nodded, noting the arrival of sports casters and Grand Maester Yo Mika, Braska moved to watch the opening ceremonies, gesturing for Praetor Tont and Yuna to follow. The conversation ended with Yuna's visit being expected within a few months.
Everyone crowded to watch the ceremony: the singing, opening acts, and finally the players saunter in to wild calls and screaming women. Yuna watched, absently. Her mind on the conversation just moments ago and the fact she never said one word.
-FFX2-
Within the hour, the first game had been delayed due to an injury. So, as the crowed waited for the two teams to regroup, Yuna moved to the food area. She didn't need to turn around to know her cousin, Rikku, was bounding to her. Since Rikku was Albhed, she often waited for Yuna to break away from the other Yevonites before approaching. The Eternal Calm began ten years ago, but many old feelings of distrust lingered. The peace her father and the consulate were making slow progress. Yuna, though she would never say it, believed it would be generations before the blanket of intolerance would dissolve. That's why sanctioned events like this were so important. Yuna was no fool; the reason her father attended was not just to enjoy the sport as a sport, but to ensure things went without uninvited distractions.
"Hey, Pops said you're comin' to Home with us, like right after the tournament," Rikku squealed. Yuna gave a meek smile in return. The blonde's uncontrolled energy was okay – for her. An ambassador-in-the-making needed to have poise and grace, and so Yuna tilted her head in a bow, her hands lightly clasped in front of her.
"Ugh, Yunie," she whined, "lighten up. I mean, I know your parents told ya you have to be serious, but they aren't gonna be there, ya know?" Her younger cousin, barely seventeen, swayed from the tips of her toes to her heels with impatience and frustration.
"Yes, but I am sure that Uncle Cid will report to Mother," Yuna rebuked. The daughter of Braska eyed the bowl of punch, but held strong not to get a drink, yet. Rikku was . . . rough and . . . ungraceful, sometimes . . . most times. Anything, like a drink, was easily susceptible to being cannon fodder to say, a white dress, such as Yuna's.
"Ah Yunie, have some fun, will you? I mean do you even want to be an ambassador?" Rikku crossed her arms over her chest, poignantly.
"T-to be a-an ambassador is an honor, Rikku," Yuna hushed, trying not to draw attention to them.
Rikku, who was dressed in tiny green short-shorts, orange tank that revealed her midsection, and high boots that reached her knees, just rolled her eyes. Yuna took a note of dress difference between them and pondered how Rikku pulled it off, like she wasn't half naked.
"I know, I know, great honor and stuff, but do you want to do it, Yunie?" Rikku's eyes bore into Yuna's and it made the fair skinned girl shiver. Yuna never recalled being asked by others or her parents! It was bestowed like a fated prophecy. Yuna's eyes strayed, not willing to answer her cousin's question.
"Listen, Pops doesn't want me to be on Brother's airship 'cause he doesn't trust me, like Uncle Braska –"
"Rikku, Father trusts me," Yuna cut off, glowering. How does he not trust me? Yet is willing to have me visit foreign lands without them and study for a very important and pivotal position. I am to mend two races!
"Okay, Yunie. Sorry, I was just saying . . ." Yuna watched Rikku play with the long, oversized scarf, with trims of orange, yellow, and green. "Never mind."
The daughter of the Albhed leader, Cid, skipped back to the other Albhed, the game called back into action. Yuna watched, almost stupefied by what had happened. Her mind caught on her cousin's words. It's not true. I do want to be an ambassador, I do . . . I think.
-FFX2-
Tidus felt his face compressing under the strength of the wall. Most of Norio's threats were muffled as one of his ears was suctioned to the stone column, the vibrations from the stands jostling his brain. Tidus hit the floor, bracing with his hands at the last minute. "Are you crazy?" he snapped.
"I'm not joking, runt," Norio clarified, foam collecting at the sides of his mouth. The youthful, blonde blitzer looked over his shoulder from the ground.
"Well, beating on your star player certainly isn't going to win you the cup," Tidus reminded. He slowly rose, rotating his arm in a quick test to see if Norio's hold had done any damage.
"The Mighty Faction better win the cup or I'll end your life." Norio turned, no longer caring about the young man he had just manhandled in the empty Machine Faction locker room. The rest of the team was warming up outside. They cleared like frightened chocobos when Norio, the machine-excavating captain asked to speak with Tidus, alone. As much bull shit as Norio spat, Tidus held no reservations Norio would do something like beat him senseless if he didn't lead the sad and pathetic blitz team to victory.
While most would suspect that a Machine Faction team would bring some value, they held little potential. Since most muscled Albheds that worked for the Machine Faction, an excavating group that dug up Spira's history with special attention to machines were not permitted absence for a game, only the scrawny were left. Now, Tidus wasn't scrawny, but he was not a towering man. His physique spoke of fitness and attention to appearance, not burly and beast-like. Tidus grasped the door knob, when a memory stopped him.
A robed man stood at the edge of a city in ruins. Tidus was young, crying and dirty with tattered clothes evidence of narrow escapes. His name was Father Zuke. His deep, serene voice flooded the small ears of seven year old Tidus. "Whatever happens, Tidus. You must be like a chocobo and keep hidden. Lay low my young boy."
"Chocobos are those yellow birds, right?" Father Zuke nodded. "They're weak and scared of everything!" Rubbing his eyes from poured tears and grime, Tidus searched the eyes of his escort.
"That is not . . . Tidus, I need you to always be on your guard. Remember that, son."
Tidus grew angry, just another person that left. I don't understand why I have to hide? Tidus growled in frustration, entering the outside area of the stadium with renewed motivation. The day, though cloudy, would not bring him down. He would lead his team to victory.
-FFX2-
In the kaleidoscope of oranges, blues, and purples, the sun was setting over Luca. It was the last and final game for the cup. Yuna was wandering the room, completely within her own thoughts. It was the syrupy, proper voice of Leblance, daughter of a prominent sphere hunting group that grabbed Yuna from her reverie. Leblanc's heels, even on carpet, trumpeted her arrival, as well as the thud, thud, thud of her two subordinates, Logos and Ormi. The older men were hired babysitters more than legitimate sphere hunters. If Yuna wished, she would have disappeared, but sadly, not the case.
"No surprise to see you here, Love." The pixie cut of golden hair seemed to emulate Leblanc's intentions – malicious and dangerous. "Though, that's why we're all here. The sprouts growing in the shadow of better flowers . . . that's until they wilt and die then we take over."
Yuna thanked Yevon that her hair swayed like thick flimsy branches, covering her face so Leblanc couldn't see the fear in her eyes. Looking at the table of food, yet not hungry in the least, Yuna finally responded. "Y-yes, I suppose so."
"Yes, but for some it is more a shelter . . . given a cushy position in society, never to feel the burden of arduous work." Yuna flinched, knowing Leblanc was reloading for another insult. The magenta outfit was more than a glimmer in Yuna's vision, calling to the young woman to face Leblanc, a siren's song she couldn't resist.
"Actually, I'm studying to be an ambassador," Yuna softly defended. Her bi-colored eyes met the chocolate one's of Leblanc's.
"I'm sure you'll study, or at least clock in the time, but really Yuna, what is Spira to you but a glass exhibit you'll never truly touch, only see. You are the most decorated person to look the part, and that's all."
Yuna trembled under the low cackle in Leblanc's words. Yuna scrambled to come up with response to Leblanc's biting attack. Suddenly, a voice, collected and assertive, slipped into the conversation uninvited, but demanding of attention. "What's wrong Leblanc, jealous? Sphere hunting not the most elegant career here?"
It was Paine. Her crimson eyes, so rare they were memorizing regardless how many times seen. She was the daughter of the Crusader's High Commander. They protect the citizens of Spira outside the influence of Yevon, old or new.
Her nonchalant warrior stance overwhelmed the percolating argument, at least for Leblanc. Sensing the cavalry, Rikku not far behind, Leblanc scoffed and left. Believed to be a celebration of victory, Yuna felt a hallowed anger.
"Nice job, Dr. P," Rikku chirped. The young and spirited Albhed was pumping her fists in congratulations. So caught in the moment, Rikku lightly punched the silver-haired woman in the arm. "Yeah, you showed that nasty b-witch," the blonde corrected, searching for her father to see if he had heard her.
"Yes, thank you, Paine," Yuna bowed in gratitude, melting inside. Leblanc was wrong, Spira is not the glassed piece never to be touched – it's me!
-FFX2-
In the shadows stood two figures conversing in secret; the empty, small arena box was set aside for Grand Maester Mika and his associates to watch the game. Solely for tradition and nothing else, Mika would sit there. Yevon did not hold the presence it had while Sin was alive. Sin, a monster birthed from a war so very long ago in its death took with it the power and reverence Yevon held. For some, it was a loss too great to live with.
"We are very close, but without being able to bring in large machinery without suspicion, it is taking the men longer," Maestor Wen Kinoc said, pointedly.
"What is close?" Masestor Seymour Guado demanded. He paced, his figured almost entirely outlined by his long, vine-like blue hair.
Kinoc sighed; he had no other details to give the impatient half Guado, half Yevonite. "It's close, that's all I can tell you! But, know that very soon will we have possession of Vegnagun."
~ End Chapter 1
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