Ahoy, mates! Here we go! This one is longer, and more fun. Its sweet at the end too.
I don't' own FFX-2, nor do I want to. The idea and story are all mine. Enjoy!
No one liked Rikku going alone into the depths of the ocean. There was no other solution to the problem except to send the Kraken back down alone, and even Wakka could not say he wanted to do that. It was just a baby, after all. Rikku had been amused by their concern for some reason. She was already two hours gone, having reassured the Kraken before going. It was sleeping now, and Rikku had said it would stay that way for at least a day if uninterrupted. Auron was still at the cliff, watching over it. Braska and the others had gone back to Besaid to warn the village. They would return to the cliff later on.
None of the indigenous wildlife seemed willing to come anywhere near the Kraken. Not a rustle of greenery was seen or a single sound heard. Not even the fiends came near. It was a welcome relief not to worry about being attacked from behind. Auron sat on the thin line of grass, thinking, and waiting for Rikku to return.
What in the world possesses me to act that way around her? She's just a woman after all. Yet the more he thought about it, the more he wondered. He finally came to the conclusion that he would probably never know. There was no single thing he could pinpoint, or any combination of things. Even his thoughts were affected by her. They kept going back to her, or the things she said or did. She isn't even around me, and I'm thinking about her. Yevon help me, I can't control my own thoughts. Auron had always been able to keep focused no matter the circumstances. Then, here came a stranger, and she tugged at his thoughts and kept him off balance with nothing but her presence. Even the memory of her had the same effect. He was not sure he liked it, yet he craved it, craved her.
He did not notice when Braska returned with Wakka as a guard until Braska cleared his throat politely.
"Forgive me, my lord. I was lost in thought."
"You often are, my friend. You do realize that you needn't call me 'lord' anymore."
"It isn't proper to address you so."
"I'll never break you of calling me that, will I, Auron?"
"There's always the possibility, my lord. I'm sure it will happen. How did the village react?"
"They are all either in the temple praying, or in their homes. Chappu stayed with them incase anything should arise. Not that there is much to do if it's a water surge. Still, having a warrior there is calming."
"You should have stayed in the village with them. They would feel better with your presence."
"There is nothing I can do there that the priests can not do better. And I may be needed here." Auron nodded his head in agreement. "I take it there's been no word from her."
"No. No word. And he hasn't moved at all since she left." He said, pointing at the sleeping Kraken. "I don't like this at all. How are we to know if something has happened to her?"
"Waiting is never easy. At least we don't have to act as baby-sitters as long as he sleeps. An amazing creature. He was terrified of me when I jumped in the water. Something that size was afraid of me. Amazing. He really does talk, too. Not that I understood it, but it was incredible to hear."
"Yes."
"Auron." He looked over as Braska sat next to him on the grass. Wakka was tossing a blitzball to himself, trying his best to ignore the creature in the lagoon. "Do you know why she made a reference to 'Sin'?" Auron frowned slightly at the question.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"Because, while I was at the village, I gave the temple histories a quick glance. There was an ancient copy of a scroll from nearly a thousand years ago, around the time of Yevon's founding. I saw it years ago and only just now remembered it. It made a reference to a Summoner, put to death, for trying to create a summons for his own purpose. Some of the text was so faded or damaged that I couldn't read it, but after that, it said something about 'Sin'. Not a sin of the soul, but Sin, like a name." He gave Auron another one of his looks before continuing. "How did she know about something not even the high priest knows of? Who is she, Auron?"
"That's a question for her, not me, my lord. I know nothing of her past beyond her being Al Bhed." And the fact that Braska, Chappu and I are dead where she's from. That she knows my secrets when I've never met her before. But I'm not telling you that, Braska. Not when it puts her in possible danger. The temples don't like people to know the truth behind the teachings. And if she knows something then they'll want her silenced.
"I've asked Wakka and Chappu not to say anything about her, or what she said. I've no intention of turning her in for questioning, Auron. Who ever she is, she needs to be warned. The priests here are more easy-going than in Bevelle or Djose, but she shouldn't go around spouting things like that where others can hear her. We need to have a talk, and not about your personal business. I want to know why she knows about this 'Sin' thing. She can't be protected if we don't know, Auron."
"I agree. There are things I want to know as well." But I'm not going to ask them in front of you, or anyone else. "You'll have to be prepared for her not to answer you, Lord Braska. I can't, and won't, force her to answer."
"I know. But I'm counting on her having some sense in the matter. I want to keep her safe, not put her in danger."
"And if what she knows is dangerous in itself? If telling us puts us in danger? She's been on a pilgrimage. She won't put a summoner, even if it's one she isn't Guardian to, in danger."
"I'd think a Guardian like her would have been noticed."
"If only for her clothing. She has other outfits. Perhaps she wore one of those during the pilgrimage."
"Perhaps. I won't be dissuaded from this, Auron. As I said, I want to keep her safe. Some one who has such empathy for a Kraken is one I want to keep around as a friend and ally."
"Indeed. Just be pre-"
"Wha... Where'd all the pyreflies come from?" Wakka said, staring at the multitude of glowing orbs rising from the ocean beyond the lagoon entrance. Auron jumped to his feet and looked not at the pyreflies, but at the rising water line. It was much higher than before. Auron cursed under his breath and made his way through the forest to the entrance of the lagoon for a better view. The water was indeed rising in the open ocean, a large bump forming where the pyreflies were centered around. Suddenly, the surface broke, revealing a gigantic fiend, loosely shaped as a fish, but with three horns on the top of its head and a jaw lined with teeth that must be larger than he was. Eyes large enough for him to walk through were rolled back in its head. Long appendages ended in talons. It spasmed several times, creating waves that would destroy anything near sea-level. Which was everything on Besaid. Auron turned to yell for the others to get to higher land, when a strange thing happened.
The waves never reached the shore, or even the shallow waters. They stopped as though there was a wall blocking their path and doubled back to their origin. The water in the lagoon stopped rising as well. When the fiend was finally gone, the water level stayed where it was even though there was another swelling of water near where the fiend had been. A booming 'click' resonated through water and air alike. A response came from nearby. The baby Kraken was awake and clicking and moaning excitedly. Auron watched as a truly enormous creature broke surface close to shore. It was another Kraken, like the baby in the lagoon, but three times as large. The deep booming sounds were coming from it.
This was the Mother Kraken. It loomed overhead, eyes blinking furiously in the sunlight as it made its way toward the lagoon. Long scars marred its body, presumably from fighting the fiend. The baby was practically chirping with delight once it laid eyes on its mother. Auron thought it even hopped a little. The mother finally reached the entrance, and the baby went out to its mother, happily twining tentacles and clicking like a mad thing. The mother boomed back at it, and turned several eyes on Auron, then Braska and Wakka. None of them moved. Then, it reached out to Braska, just as the baby had done. The end of the tentacle was little more than two feet from Braska, unmoving. He saw Braska swallow, then slowly reach out with his hand to touch it. A few booms and a short hum from the Kraken, and it was on its way back to the deep ocean, baby in tow. They watched it go, fascinated by its size.
It took some time for the water level to drop back to normal once the Krakens were gone. There was no sign of Rikku, and that worried Auron more than the appearance of the mother Kraken. Auron returned to where Braska and Wakka were standing.
"I think we ought to go to the beach. Rikku might not be able to return here."
"Yes." and "Ya." were his replies. The way back to the beach was much easier than getting to the lagoon. The path was already trampled and nearly clear. They arrived to find Rikku waist deep in the water, slowly trudging to the shore. She was grasping one arm to her chest, and blood leaked into the water from it. Red colored her side as well, running down from her arm. Auron was running to her before the idea could be suggested.
By the time he reached her, she was struggling to walk. Her skin was gray from exhaustion instead of the tan he was used to seeing. Auron stopped her from walking with his hands on her shoulders. Rikku looked up at him, taking several seconds to recognize him before collapsing. He swept her up in his arms bridal style and carried her to the beach where Braska was waiting. Auron knelt down on the wet sand, still holding Rikku. Her head lolled against his shoulder, but she kept a firm grip on the arm against her chest. She did not relinquish it until Braska used a minor Cure spell on her. Her skin was white instead of gray, and she moved of her own accord, letting Braska take her arm.
Auron winced at the sight of it. Her arm was bruised to the bone, with the flesh so badly hurt it was broken open and bleeding. She cried out when Braska gently touched it, turning her face against Auron's shoulder. He held her tightly against him, trying to offer what comfort he could.
"It's broken. Shattered is the word I'd use, actually. She should be passed out from pain alone. Well, here we go." Braska had been speaking to himself, a habit he had when assessing what Healing magic was required. It was not always comforting to the one being healed. He never closed his eyes when casting magic like so many mages. He said it impeded his will to make it work if he did not see who and what he was healing. Auron watched as the arm was healed. Nothing seemed to happen at first, then the broken flesh healed, and the bruise faded into a memory. Rikku stirred, looking over to Braska.
"I wish...you were there, when Mama died...Uncle Braska. You'd have...saved her."
"Hush now. I'm not through healing you yet." Braska continued with the healing after giving Rikku a puzzled look. Rikku sighed when he was done, but did not offer to move. "It'll be best for you to get your energy back naturally. I can heal your wounds, but your energy is another matter when you're as exhausted as you are. I insist that you do nothing more than eat, sleep, and relax for the next few days."
"I can deal with that." She laid her head back on Auron's shoulder and closed her eyes. "I'll get up in a minute."
"You'll do no such thing." Auron lifted her from the sand quickly, causing Rikku to squeak and grasp his coat in a tight fist. "Shall we return, then my lord?"
"Yes, we shall."
"Hey! I can walk!"
"You can barely keep your eyes open, let alone walk. I'd rather you didn't fall off one of the bridges on the way back." Auron said. "I'd have to jump after you if you fell, and I detest leaping off of cliffs or high places." Rikku laughed softly.
"You'd jump after me? That's sweet, Auron." She closed her eyes again, smiling. Sleep soon took her, though she did not relax her grip on his coat.
Happy ending? For now, anyway…hehehe, I'm so devious!
Review if you read this, please! Thanks a heap.
tagg
