Author's note: This is a compilation between Ceara Ivory and myself. We do not own Final Fantasy X.
Ambitions: A Final Fantasy X Fanfiction
Chapter 7:
Luca
Lucia stepped out onto the deck of the ship and stared out at the ocean as the moonlight shimmered on the water. She sighed looking out at the ocean. "What will happen when we defeat Sin? Will we vanish? Back to face that bullet that was coming at us?" She murmured softly, listening for any signs of people coming to eavesdrop on her. She shivered as the gentle breeze caressed her cheek. "So long as Mindy is happy… that's all that matters." She whispered to herself again as she lost herself to her thoughts.
Seymour noticed the sister leave the room, but said nothing. He could understand the need to be able to think. Plus it gave him a chance to speak with Melinda further. "So Melinda, how long have you had this power of yours?" It was hard for him to really openly converse with people because most fawned over him or despise him quietly.
Melinda was finally getting the ability to speak around him and answered. "Well, we're born with it but it doesn't usually manifest until our fifteenth birthday. Sometimes it comes earlier, sometimes later. Sort of like puberty. For some the power is stronger, for others weaker."
The tall half-Guado man nodded, barely noticing that Baralai left the room. "So did you have questions for me? I feel like I've been doing all of the questioning." He chuckled.
Mindy blushed a little. "Well I would love to know more about you... As a person as opposed to who you are as a Maestor."
He laughed. "Well give me an example of something you want to know… It's a bit of a wide spectrum."
She smiled. "Like um how about your favorite color..." Start easy.
He laughed again. "Blue, and like you both I don't have either my mother or father any longer."
Lucia turned around sharply as she heard the door open behind her. "Sir Baralai?" She turned to hide her blush, something about him had always fascinated her. "Are you alright?"
Baralai shook his head. "No, I was just concerned about you. You just lost everything and yet you're hiding out here, all alone…"
She shrugged, "I'm not hiding. I just couldn't take the toxic air anymore. I've seen enough death and pain to last me five lifetimes and yet there are those who will unabashedly make no move to even try to get past being hurt at having to be rushed to Kilika. So I wanted to clear my head." It hurts that I have to lie to almost everyone because no one will understand where we're really from.
Baralai gave her a look, as he knew what she was really saying. Discretion dictated his response though, "From what I can tell, Lulu is just… Yes it's best just to ignore her from the looks of it. Like Lord Seymour has been doing. You'll notice she doesn't trust him either and he's a Maestor." He came closer to her, to prevent others from overhearing if they came above deck. "What's really bothering you Lucia?"
Lucia looked down at the ocean, whispering in response, "In Luca… a few people will attempt to kidnap Lady Yuna. Or at least they did in the game. I'm going to advise her that she needs to stay close to the group to remain safe." The brunette shivered at the closeness of the tan skinned man.
Baralai put a hand to her forehead as though checking her temperature as she shivered. "I think you should go down below where it's warmer. I don't want one of the saviors of Kilika getting a cold."
She looked at him, blushing a little. "I came up to clear everything away and try to focus on what's coming. That's how I deal with my grief. But with Lady Yuna, if she stays close… we should be able to avert the kidnapping if it's going to happen. Because, after all, sometimes the general atmosphere can 'hinder' my sight." She explained as if worried that someone else might try to come up.
Baralai nodded, picking up on her fear. "That makes sense. But I still think you should come below. We don't need you becoming ill. I'm sure that would make it harder to 'see' too."
She nodded, "Yeah, let's go back down below…" Walking down with him she closed her eyes for a second as she remembered what Tidus had said to her before on the Machina ship… Something still bothered her about that as she thought about how Wakka was going to be forced to throw the match because Yuna got grabbed. Still… It didn't make sense on who grabbed her. They had no reason to. "I have one clearer 'vision… Auron is at Luca and will be joining Lady Yuna on her pilgrimage."'
Baralai gaped at her. He'd heard of Auron. Everyone had. He was famous. "Auron! Sir Auron! Guardian of High Summoner Braska!"
She nodded, "Yes. Sir Auron will be joining them on the pilgrimage." Lucia couldn't help the blush that came to her cheeks with the tanned skin man being so close to her.
Baralai felt like fainting. "The Sir Auron! You're sure, you're positive!" Sir Auron would be joining their pilgrimage? He couldn't wrap his head around the idea.
Lucia laughed at how he was close to being a fangirl. "Yes, tall man, long red coat, big sword, arm tucked into the crook of his jacket usually… Right?" She indicated about the height of Auron with a measure of her hand.
Baralai felt his mouth opening and closing like a fish. "I… I… I should tell Lord Seymour… Master…" He went down below deck, apparently in shock.
She giggled as she went down the steps, fully expecting more bracing words from some of their already large group. Lucia hadn't expected for Mindy to be sitting next to Seymour, having been in some sort of chat as Baralai was halfway screaming. "Sir Baralai, I believe they can hear you just fine."
Baralai nervously chuckled as he told Seymour what Lucia had told him. "Sir… Sir Auron… joining Lady Yuna… Sir Auron…"
Mindy giggled as she saw Baralai doing a very good imitation of what she felt like doing when she first saw Seymour. "So Lucia told you she saw Sir Auron did she? I told her to save it as a surprise." She sent Lucia a playfully scolding look.
Lucia shook her head, feigning innocence, "Better that which I can fully see than trying to explain what I can't always see in full, because pieces are always moving." She hoped Mindy would pick up on that meaning of what was to directly come.
Mindy nodded. "Auron will likely join us in Luca…" She said. "I could see it too. I bet Yuna would like that…"
Yuna nodded, "I'd love to see Auron again. The last time I saw him was when father went on his pilgrimage."
Seymour nodded thoughtfully, "So Auron is still alive? Strange. I hadn't heard anyone surviving that pilgrimage, but I'm glad I was wrong."
Lulu growled angrily, "How can Sir Auron be alive?! Sure she was right about Kilika, but that doesn't mean that she's right this time! Anyone could have said Sin was coming towards Kilika! It's a sea creature, she's bound to be right once in a hundred times!"
Mindy looked at Lulu and said deadpan. "Shut up Lulu. All we know is Sir Auron will most likely be in Luca when we get there and he'll join us at some point in time. How he's alive, neither of us can tell. Maybe you should ask him."
Lulu merely glared at Melinda. "You need to be respectful of those who are older than you! I bet you both are sent from Sin to try and break apart the pilgrimage!"
Lucia shot Lulu a deadly glare. "We've been nothing but respectful where we can and as we can! I don't need to apologize to you for doing what was right for the people of Kilika. I've already apologized to the pertinent people thank you very much. So you need to show some respect to others lest you get none in return!"
Seymour raised his voice, tired of the bickering. "Enough!" He looked at Lulu, "You need to be kind to those who choose to try and help with their abilities. Being spiteful does nothing but create problems." He looked over at the others, "Ignore her when her mouth gets to be too much for her to control. Now Sir Auron being alive is an incredible fact, The fact that he will be joining is doubly important. He may have seen things during the battle with Sin that could help us to end it for good."
Melinda blushed and looked down, ashamed she had let Lulu bait her. "He will be a good asset too. My vision showed he was good at fighting with a sword."
Baralai looked as though his wildest dreams were coming true. "He's regarded as one of the best Guardians in the last century. Helping High Summoner Braska to defeat Sin and oh to meet him. I bet his faith in Yevon must be incredible. To survive the battle…"
Lucia frowned in thought. "I have a question for you Maestor Seymour. Because we have always been isolated in our little village, we've never had one become a Maestor… How long does it take to become a Maestor if you were completely devout? And beyond that to become a Grand Maestor…"
Seymour nodded, "To become a Maestor, the youngest you could be is twenty five. That is if you're starting from when you're old enough to be able to start talking and learn how to read. For a Grand Maestor, if you reached Maestor at twenty five, you'd have another thirty five years to go."
She nodded, "So that would put the youngest Grand Maestor at sixty then, correct?"
He nodded. "Yes, does that help?"
Lucia nodded with a bright smile, "A lot, thank you!"
They were about to converse again when a man knocked on the door. "Maestor Seymour, Sir Baralai, Lady Yuna, Luca approaches. We should be there in the next half hour because of a strong wind."
Baralai stood. "We should go then. Sir Wakka, I remember you're the coach and captain of Besaid's team. Will you be participating in the Blitzball tournament then?"
Wakka nodded, his eyes brightening up. "You betcha! Tidus here is gonna help us out too! You should see him play, it's incredible!"
They went up to the deck to see the huge city of Luca approaching as Lucia felt her breath catch. "It's beautiful!" She saw a large dome in the near distance. "That's where the tournament will be right? My vision showed me part of Luca… I saw Besaid playing there." She gave a faint smile.
Mindy smiled brightly. "I bet you anything they'll win this time!" She said excitedly.
Tidus stepped forward with a cocky grin. "That's right because I'm going to be playing with them."
Mindy looked at the boy. "Are you sure it's not because the whole team is going to be on their game today?"
Wakka nodded. "Everyone's going to be on their game, but we'll have Tidus too which will be the clincher!" The ship slowly came to dock as Seymour looked at Melinda.
"We should go get you your spectacles Melinda. Follow me." He said as the gang plank was quickly put in place and the ship tied off.
She was following him off the ship when reporters and photographers flooded their path. She hid behind the larger figure with a shriek at the flash of the cameras.
Seymour frowned as he nodded. "Everyone, make a path please, let me through with Lady Yuna and her Guardians!"
Lucia hid her wince carefully as she followed with Baralai nearby. The flashes bothered her, reminding her of the storm, of their loss. "Let's get through this quickly, shall we?"
The reporters and photographers reluctantly made a path though many took many pictures of the Maestor and the Summoner. Mindy shivered as she apologized for her reaction. "I didn't expect all these… cameras…"
He chuckled softly. "They're a bit annoying, but they mean well. It's the new way to document things because Spheres have proven unreliable… Easily corruptible." He led her to a shop off the main street where the glass maker was.
Lucia followed after her sister when Baralai turned to a nearby store, "What's this?"
Baralai pointed at the sign. "It's the tanner. He makes gloves with the finest hides and leathers. Then we'll go to the weapons shop for a pair of knuckles to turn your fists into lethal defenders."
She laughed, "You're really fascinated that there's a female fighter aren't you?"
He nodded excitedly. "I can't wait to see you in action."
Going inside, she found a pair of beautiful ruby red leather gloves and a pair of gloves that were identical in sapphire blue. "They're beautiful…" She looked at the price and turned around. "I couldn't do that to you. They're much too much!"
Baralai laughed at her hesitation. "Not at all. If it bothers you that much consider it partial payment for helping to save Kilika." He suggested.
She sighed, "Very well Sir Baralai." She picked up the pair of sapphire gloves, "These would be amazing. The quality on them is just astonishing."
"This guy is the best tanner in Spira. He's perfectly located for traders from Kilika and coming off the Mi'ihen Highroad," He pointed to the north of their location. "And both have the best monsters to use for hides."
Lucia nodded, "Thank you Sir Baralai." She looked into his brown eyes, "Thank you for everything." She hoped he couldn't see the blush on her cheeks.
Baralai smiled at her. "I think these gloves are made of…" He inspected it. "Wow… I didn't know the Mi'ihen Highroad had Grand Dragons…"
A man chuckled as he came out, "Normally no. But a trader friend of mine who went far north ran into some and got me their hides to make gloves. I got to keep the rest of the hide as my fee, so I in turn made them and are reselling them." He looked at the gloves in her hands, "I can tell you use your hands. I can see the abrasions from here."
Baralai nodded. "We'll take two pairs, the red and the blue." He told the tanner. "A pair for your sister. I don't know how likely she is to use them but if she has studied the same martial arts, she should be prepared to fight at some point."
She nodded, "Thank you Sir Baralai. Thank you very much." Lucia watched as he paid the sum for the gloves before she put them on her hands. "They're so soft inside! These are going to last me a lifetime, I can tell."
The tanner nodded, "I like to make them that way. Sometimes it doesn't always work out, but with these, they certainly will."
Baralai led her down the way to the weapons dealer. Along the way they saw Seymour and Mindy coming out of the optometrist. "Wow… I can't ask you to spend that kind of money on me… that was… wow…"
Lucia chuckled, "You'd faint if you knew how much Sir Baralai spent on gloves…" She handed her sister a pair of blue gloves. "These are for you, because there may come a time where you need to fight."
Melinda gasped at the beautiful blue gloves. "Wow… wow… Thank you… both of you…" She felt her cheeks growing red again.
Baralai pointed to the weapons dealer. "I was going to get her a pair of knuckles and perhaps Miss Melinda should at least have something to hit people with… to at least deter idiots."
Seymour chuckled, "Most certainly. There are idiots in this world of ours after all. Come now, let's make sure you two can fight properly."
Inside the shop was an incredible cache of weapons. Lucia immediately went to the knuckles and found a good pair that would lace up tightly, and had spikes along where they'd sit on the knuckles. "This should be good Sir Baralai…"
Baralai looked at the knuckles and helped her to fit them on her hands. "Yes, those would be perfect."
Melinda huddled as far away from the weapons, tools of hatred, as she could. Her eyes hit on the firearms and she shivered.
Lucia hurried to her sister and hugged her tightly. "You need something to protect yourself." She whispered so the men couldn't hear, "There will be times where we can't avoid fighting. Please Mindy. I can't lose you too. Think of it as for defense only…" She turned to the men and explained, "There was a terrible accident during a hunt to get food for the village and someone died because they weren't careful with their weapons." It was her way of reminding them about the murder.
Melinda nodded understandingly to her sister and gravitated over to the staves, similar to the ones that Yuna used. "Maybe a stick…"
Lucia nodded, "A bo staff would be good for you sister. It's a weapon of range, meaning you can use it to keep people away from you if they get too close. So it'll keep you safe."
Baralai looked at Seymour. "Perhaps it would be possible to teach her some white magic. An extra healer can never hurt."
Seymour nodded. "I've been thinking the same thing Baralai. I don't know if Lucia will be as adept to magic, but she's welcome to learn too. Even basic ones can help save a life."
Baralai nodded as he paid the sum for both chosen weapons. He looked at Seymour, "How long before her spectacles are ready?"
Seymour nodded. "They should be ready by time the tournament is over. Speaking of which… I'm expected to make an appearance with Maestor Mika. Melinda, why don't you come with me. Baralai, you take Lucia to see about getting our usual private box."
Baralai nodded as he turned to Lucia, "Shall we then?"
She nodded, "I just want to see Lady Yuna first if we may…" At his nod, they went outside and towards the others only to see that Sir Auron was indeed there, speaking at length with Tidus before they came up. She frowned. "Tidus, where's Lady Yuna?"
Tidus jabbed his thumb at the item shop. "She's restocking supplies. Potions, Hi-Potions, Ethers… you know staples for traveling."
Lucia frowned as she looked up at Baralai, "I'm gonna go check on her. I'll be right back." She dashed off for the item shop only to hear something nearby. "Lady Yuna?" She questioned as she went around the corner to see men there, trying to grab her. "Let her go!" She recognized the uniform as that of the Al Bhed Blitzball teams.
The Blitzball Players jumped when they saw the woman. Yuna took the chance to flip one guy as she'd seen Lucia do not too long ago.
Lucia grinned as she launched herself at them, ducking down to avoid one sweep as she swept her foot out to trip the man. "Go Lady Yuna! Run to the right and get back to the others! I'll handle these thugs!"
The Blitzball Team surrounded Lucia creating an impenetrable wall after Yuna ran off back to the others.
She realized quickly what was happening. "You were never after her to begin with this time… were you…" She jumped up and grabbed a rail and began to swing her legs, kicking two men before another grabbed her and slammed her against the ground. Winded, she scissored her legs and sent one more man sprawling before someone punched her and knocked her unconscious.
Yuna ran down and back to the others, "Lucia's in trouble! Please, we have to help her!" She cried wildly as she made it to the others. "A team of blitz players tried to kidnap me and she got me away… but she's in trouble… there's so many of them!"
Rikku cried out a curse. "Cred!"
Lulu frowned, "Why didn't she have us come with her? How do we know this isn't a ploy?"
Baralai growled. "Why would she have you go anywhere with her you bitch!" He knew as a student aspiring to one day be a Maestor he shouldn't talk that way but it seemed fitting. "You've been nothing but a witch to her and to her sister!"
Yuna held a hand up, "Let's go. She was this way…" She led off towards just past the item shop. "I was being dragged out through a side door. She must have heard me and came around the corner."
A few members of the Al Bhed blitzball team lay unconscious, bruises forming on their bodies.
Rikku went over to them. "Oui'na hud Al Bhed… fro yna oui faynehk dra ihevuns uv dra Al Bhed days…"
Baralai frowned, "So then who are these thugs, why were they after Lady Yuna and why did they take Lucia?" He felt himself being oddly worried… if these men were in the shape they were, how badly had she been beaten?
