Disclaimer : I own nothing.
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(Just off Besaid, Blake's POV)
When I came to, I was instantly aware of being underwater. Pulling my head up, I gasped for breath, my lungs stinging for holding my breath so long. But I didn't understand. Just how long was I out? Remembering the ship, I looked around, grateful it was day and I could see clearly. "Dustin!" I called, hoping to see the strange guy. Hell, right about now I would've been happy seeing any of those gun weilding maniacs!
Something hit me in the back of my head, and I let out a surprised and pained cry. "Son of a...huh?" I'd noticed a strange blue and white ball floating in front of me and picked it up curiously, treading water as I checked it out. It looked just like a volleyball, but seemed more durable. A blitzball. I guessed, remembering Cam describing one.
"Hey! You ok?" came a shout from behind me, and I spun around, seeing an all too familiar face and grinning. "Finally!" I stated happily. Shane Clark, one of my friends, stood on the beach. Taking in his outfit, I frowned. He was dressed in a pale yellow muscle shirt with yellow long shorts. Shaking it off, I waved. "Hey!" I called back, letting him know I saw and heard him.
Swimming to shore, I wondered if that was really my friend. He looked just like the Shane I knew, but a lot more carefree, and I knew that was unusual for him.
"Sorry 'bout that ya. We weren't watching what we were doing." He muttered, rubbing the back of his head nervously. Holding out his hand, he grinned. "Name's Shane, Coach of the Besaid Aurochs ya, and you?"
Shaking my head, I dropped the ball on the ground and clasped my arm with his. "Man Shane, it's good to see you bro." I stated with a grin. "I thought I was the only one here."
He looked confused. "Do I know you?"
Frowning, I nodded. "Yeah, it's me. Blake."
"Sorry. I don't know a Blake ya." he said, shaking his head. "You ok?"
"This isn't funny man." I stated, crossing my arms in front of my chest. Then a thought hit me. "Are the others here?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Others?"
I had a bad feeling and began to wonder. Was that guy on the ship telling the truth? Was he really Dustin? And why didn't Shane know me? Weren't these my friends? "Nevermind." I muttered shaking my head. They couldn't be my friends. They were the same but also...different. I found myself beginning to miss home even more and wishing I could go back.
"Where you from ya?"
I think, I wanted to be honest with him, but I knew I couldn't. I was still in Spira, obviously, and they wouldn't know anything about earth. Sadly, I decided to fall to plan B. "I...don't remember." I stated hesitantly, shaking my head and looking out over the water. "I think I got too...close to Sin's toxin or something. My head's real fuzzy."
He looked sad and understanding and did a strange move with his hands, bowing at the waist. "Sin's toxin got to you, but you're still alive. Praise be to Yevon." Turning to the other guys on the beach, he nodded. "Back to practice."
Turning to the water as he walked away, I frowned and wanted so badly to break down and cry. It was obvious now. It seemed I was going to run into different versions of my friends on this world, but they didn't know me. I wondered...why was I brought here? Then I got a thought. Will Tori be here too? I realized just how painful it would be to see her, knowing she wouldn't know me.
"You look distracted brudda." Shane called.
I turned back to look at him a moment, not knowing what to say or do.
Shaking his head, he grinned. "Ah, no worries. I'll help you out any way I can ya. Maybe your head will clear soon and you can go home."
I wish. I thought sadly. I appreciated the fact that Shane was trying to cheer me up, but at that moment, all I could think about was what happened to me. I'd been taken from my world, ripped from my family and friends. Ripped from Tori. I realized that this all started when that red creature hit me. I thought that, maybe, if I could find it again, I could go home.
Until then, I planned to try to live in this world. Sure it would be hard not thinking about home, but maybe...just maybe, it would make it more bearable.
"Come on."
Turning around, I noticed Shane beckoning to me, and turned to leave. Before I could, a rather, ummm...thick man came running up.
"Before you go, take these. They'll help with the fiends, ya." he said, handing me a small amount of items and running away.
Looking into my hands, I noticed a few more of those coins, some more vials, a couple of golden feathers, and a small red ball that glowed slightly. I felt a presence behind me, and turned around to see Shane smiling slightly.
"Ahh. 40 gil, 2 potions, 2 hi-potions, 3 phoenix downs and a strength sphere. Good catch brudda." he said with a smirk.
Gil? Potions, hi-potions, phoenix downs, and strength sphere? What the hell? To say I was clueless would be an understatement, but for now, I shrugged and put the items in the pouch on my waist. Then with my eyes widening, I quickly reached behind me and let out a sigh of relief, feeling my Thunder Blade still strapped to my back. They'd attached a strap right before the mission on the ship, so it would be easier to carry and wield.
"Let's go ya." Shane spoke up, motioning for me to follow him. He led me down a long pathway, that crossed a couple of waterfalls. Stopping for a moment, I took in the beauty of the area and wished I could bring Tori here. She'd love it. I thought sadly.
We kept going up, fighting the occassional fiend, and made it to the top of a hill, breathing hard as I held a hand over my side which had a nasty gash on it.
"You should use a potion ya." Shane suggested with a raised eyebrow.
A potion? Pulling one out of the pouch, I held it in my hand until Shane grabbed it and slammed it to the ground. I was about to protest when a cloud of light green smoke poured up and as I took a breath, my pains disappeared and I felt restored. Oh. So that's how they work. I thought blankly. I had to fight the urge to grin. I can't wait to get home and tell Cam all the info I've come across! Man would he be jealous!
Looking to Shane, I nodded. "Thanks." We continued our way to the village, and just outside, he stopped me. "You know how to do the prayor?"
Frowning, I shook my head. "No. Sorry."
Sighing, he looked ready to strangle me. "Follow what I do." he instructed. Doing that move with his hands again, I watched closely and followed after him, doing the same move, only a lot more akwardly. "Eh, that'll do for now." he said in a bored tone.
It was there, looking at the village, I began to realize just how different this place was from my home.
"Come on." Leading me to a hut, we went inside. "This is my home."
We had something to eat, and he filled me in on a lot. I knew there was still even more to learn, but didn't question it. He told me a lot about Summoners, Spira, and Yevon. I could tell he was suspicious, but he didn't seem to feel threatened by me, so I eventually let up on the questions, laying down for a rest.
Hearing a voice come into the hut, I didn't even open my eyes.
"You should at least go see how they are doing."
I heard Shane's slightly concerned voice. "We can't interfere. It's a rule."
"But, it's been nearly..."
At that, I finally fell asleep, remembering how my brother and I had minor plans of going to visit our parents. We'd had an arguement, and gone separate ways for a while. It had been almost a day before we found each other and apologized.
Waking up, I noticed that Shane was gone, and exited the hut. Looking around, I noticed the unusual version of my friend heading into, what I guessed was, the temple. Following him, I saw a bunch of statues all around, with people doing that hand sign as they bowed in front of them. I paused a moment to watch as a priest walked over to Shane and they began talking. I was seriously ready to start calling them Shane 2 and Dustin 2, just to make it easier.
Going up to him, I noticed him frowning and grew concerned. "What's wrong?"
"The Summoner has yet to return from the trial." he informed me gravely.
"Huh?" Ok, so I knew a bit about Summoners, but trials? What was that all about?
"Well, apprentice Summoner really."
"Oh?" That's not helping out here Shane. Wanna try again? I thought with a raised eyebrow.
He seemed to get the hint that I didn't understand, and began explaining, though a lot of what he explained would likely...need explanation.
"There's a room in there called the Cloister of Trials. Beyond is where the apprentice Summoner prays. If the prayor is heard, the apprentice becomes a full-fledged Summoner, remember?"
How could I remember? I never knew it to begin with. "Uh yeah. I knew that." I stuttered, looking at the door quickly to avoid prying eyes. "So...someone's in there, somewhere, and they haven't come back out. Right, got it." I think.
"A day's already gone by."
I looked at him in confusion and noted his concern. He knew more about this world than me. If he was concerned, then I was really worried. "Is it particularly dangerous in there?"
He nodded slightly. "Sometimes, yes."
Raising an eyebrow, I turned to him and crossed my arms over my chest. "Dude! Then why don't you go in and help?" Dumbass! Even I know that!
He shook his head. "There's already a Guardian in there. Besides, it's forbidden."
Excuses, excuses. "And if the Summoner dies?" I started up the stairs.
A priest ran over and yelled at me. "The precepts must be obeyed!"
"Like I care!" I yelled, rushing through the door and down into this cloister of trials. I honestly didn't think anything of it, but part of me really felt...drawn to go in. It was too powerful for me to ignore, but also, for the most part, too subtle for me to notice. It also crossed my mind what was said to me before. I had to go to the Summoner. I had to protect the Summoner.
It seemed, that was what I was doing.
Going through the halls and seeing doors and pedestals, and strange spheres, I honestly thought I was going to get lost, but somehow, I knew what to do. I didn't realize it right away, but I was being guided. Someone or something was helping me get to the Summoner.
I'd finally gotten a sphere and put it in the pedestal in the wall. It glowed brightly and I jumped back in surprise, grabbing my Thunder Blade, just in case. When the wall disappeared and the sphere was on a moveable pedestal, I noticed a similar shape on the foor in the center of the newly revealed room and realized I had to push it there. Knowing what I had to do was a lot easier than actually doing it. "Damn this thing's heavy!" I muttered as I finally got it into the right place. It sank to the floor and I watched, hoping for a sign of what to do next.
"Hey!" I spun around to see Shane looking at me in confusion. "What's gotten into you?"
I felt kind of guilty. I knew nothing about this world and was acting on instinct. What if I only ended up making things worse?
"Hey." It was said softer this time, and I noticed him come up to me. "It's alright." He pulled me to his side, and I jumped a bit as a glowing pattern appeared on the ground and it suddenly began moving.
It hit me that this was like an elevator of some kind.
"Only Summoners, apprentice Summoners, and their Guardians are allowed in here." Shane told me, scowling slightly. "It's tradition. Very important." he stressed, looking into my eyes.
Raising an eyebrow. I turned to regard him. "Oh? What about you then?"
He laughed. "Me? I'm a Guardian."
Feeling sheepish, I lowered my eyes. Ok, so I hadn't thought about that. Then something hit me and I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes. Guardian? Just like on earth. Ok, so maybe it was different, but in our own ways, Power Rangers were the Guardians of earth.
"Summoners go on a pilgrimage to pray at every temple in Spira. Guardians protect them. The Guardian in there, he's got a short fuse."
I couldn't hold back my laugh. "Sounds like my brother. He's usually pretty cool, but when he loses his temper..." I trailed off, realizing just how painful it was to remember him, knowing I couldn't see him.
"You got a brother?" Shane asked curiously.
I nodded. "Older, adopted brother."
He nodded in understanding. "I'd take you out of here, but now that we've come this far. Might as well go all the way brudda."
Raising an eyebrow, I turned my head away and struggled not to laugh. I doubted he realized just how wrong that sounded.
The elevator finally hit the ground and we stepped off. Following Shane's lead, we stepped into a big room, and my eyes filled with tears at who I saw standing at the bottom of a large staircase. I hadn't even thought I'd see him there, and now that I did, I wasn't sure what to say or do.
Dressed in a crimson, long sleeved shirt, and black leather pants, my brother stood at the bottom of the steps, glaring coldly at us. His eyes flickered to me, but they only grew colder, and I realized...this wasn't my brother. This wasn't the Hunter Bradley I grew up with.
I felt my heart break in the realization that I was now positive I'd run into all my friends here. I'd already met Shane, now I'm sure that Al Bhed was Dustin, Hunter was standing right in front of me, and that left three more.
"What are you doing here?" Hunter demanded coldly, moving over to stand in front of Shane. "Didn't think I'd be able to handle it?"
Nope. That's not Hunter. I thought sadly, desperately wishing I could go home. I kept begging who or whatever sent me here to send me back. I didn't want this. Shaking my head, I forced myself to focus. "Is the Summoner alright?"
Hunter turned and glared at me, but he also looked taken aback for the way I spoke up. "Who...are you?" he almost seemed hesitant to ask.
Before I could answer, the door at the top of the stairs opened and I stopped breathing. My heart constricted painfully, and for a brief moment, I wondered if I was going to have a heart attack.
As beautiful as ever. Shoulder length blonde hair, and eyes I couldn't see because her face was turned down. Wearing a white wrap for a top, with detached, long sleeves that swept the ground, and a long blue, flowing skirt with a slit up one side and knee high black boots under it, Tori Hanson stood. She staggered a bit as she slowly made her way down the stairs, and once she reached the bottom, she ran a hand through her hair, pushing it out of her sweaty face. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes to reveal stunning sky blue gems, and smiled.
"I have done it." she said softly, in a tone I've never heard her speak. "I have...become a Summoner."
Not being able to take any more, I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head and heard Shane's worried voice, and a terrified, feminine scream as I collapsed. The last thing I remembered, was a look of minor concern etched into Hunter's colder-than-ice face.
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Yeah...the broody blonde is even more broody in my story. :) Tori's a Summoner...hmmm...wonder what other surprise await? You think it'll only be the Rangers in this fic? You'll see... ;)
So, I hope you like it. R+R please!
Thank you.
Tenshi.
