Authors note: I have tried to update sooner, but again it was updated a lot later then I had hoped as I have been busy helping with house stuff (room and kitchen redecorated), college work and the social life/life issues kind of stuff. Hopefully I may update sooner for the next chapter, luckily for this and the next one (if I don't have to shorten it again) that I had already typed up parts of it in advance.
So hopefully with the partially already started chapters, this story can be updated sooner (if I get my College stuff/University application stuff sorted out quickly and no more things to distract me).
Enjoy your read!
Disclaimer:I do NOT own Final Fantasy or its real owners, Squaresoft/Enix. How many times do I have to repeat this to make sure I don't get sued…? Lots unfortunately…I want to be safe. I own only OC characters; Taelea and Salanica, also my phrase 'what the fren?!'
Chapter 10: Late Leavings and Contests to Fight Boredom
White mages were busy running to areas of the devastated stadium of Luca; the recent release of fiends had actually taken quite the toll on the large town, with citizens and tourists alike had been injured, there had also been a few killed from the fiends attacks, people paying respects to them before they were sent.
But it had seemed the people of Spira were not too distraught from this, glad it was nothing like the slaughter of what Sin would have done, like previous occasions; most knowingly the recent Kilika strike a night or so before.
Soon enough, people had been quickly healed, even revived by some of the more professional healers or summoners that lurked the area, returning to back to what they had planned for after the tournament.
Sighing, I had been left to walk alone, except for the company of Wakka, for Tidus and Auron had left after the battles in the stadium, Tidus not knowing he would be told something that would shock and anger him, making him think and decide what to do next after this arriving in Luca.
Even with not being left fully alone, Wakka had soon gone his own way, to find his team mates and celebrate in their grand victory of finally winning the tournament.
'What I would give to have some company…' frowning, I shook my head at this thought, 'why am I thinking like that. I've never wanted company before like this, so why now?' Sighing once more to stop my thoughts, walking onward to where we had all agreed to meet.
Five minutes had passed slowly, tormenting me by acting as if it were half an hour or longer. Standing up from where I had stood, I span round to kick the empty air in boredom, to accidentally swing round and kick into the stone seating.
Sudden pain reached my foot and rose up my nerves to knock at my brains door to tell it that I should react to this pain; this ended up with me jumping about holding my foot in pain, with doing my best not to swear out loud from this pain.
It had literally been a second later for me to hear a familiar laugh to reach my ears, to quickly be followed by an also familiar voice, "Just what are you doing, all the fiends have gone haven't they?"
Turning round to see who this person was, with a good guess, I had been able to soon see that it was Sarah, yet my thoughts had yet again thought of her being Salanica rather than the Sarah I knew for a couple of years.
"I was just…oh it doesn't matter," I said, sitting back down to my seat and looking up to the sky, soon regretting this as I had still not gotten used to the nicer weather here in Spira than on Earth, in miserable Britain, "ouch…well, anyway," I soon began to grin slightly, "so…how did your meal go with the maester?"
She had then blinked for a second then realised what I had said and meant, "Oh shut up…it wasn't like that," she then looked more directly at me, "although I had another one of those visions…of our pasts." Now looking more seriously and less peeved off at me.
Staring, my eyes grew wide with interest, giving her the signal to carry on talking about it. Taking a breath in, she smiled and begun, "It was kinda funny, cause I ended up chasing you," I frowned, unsure whether I wanted to know of this vision, but did not interrupt, "well, I find out I was actually, Lenne fan," she blinked for a second, still a bit surprised by it, "and I chased you because you weren't bothered by this concert we were going to, making fun of Lenne…so I got angry and you ran off." She finished with a bit of an embarrassed smile and could possibly be seen with a sweat drop on her head.
Nodding my head, I looked up to the sky again, but did the more intelligent thing, by closing my eyes, "Hmm…at least Taelea is like me, cause I really wouldn't be bothered of concerts like that and you know that don't you." Laughing as I stood up to look back at her.
"Yeah that's true…" she spoke, with rolling her eyes, "but still isn't it good to know more about, this past life of ours?" To which I had shrugged my shoulders, "I guess…but something like that doesn't tell much. Only that we still act like our true selves."
Groaning at how I was reacting to her information, she sat down where I had sat, feeling a little moody. I had then remembered something that had slipped to the back of my head, "Oh yeah…just before the fiends attacked, I noticed that Seymour was, how should I put it…was eyeing you up while you were jumping around cheering for the Aurochs." I laughed slightly after, to soon regret this.
With hearing this, she was growing red in the face, "W-what?! Your not meaning in that way are you?" speaking more sternly and narrowing her eyes at me.
Shaking my head I looked up, "Hey I'm joking…well he was looking at you closely, that I know, but I doubt it's for that reason." I then laughed a bit louder, to get a hand hit the back of my head before I could even say 'what the fren'.
Folding her arms she didn't look too pleased, but a faint smile could be seen, "Well whatever it was, it can't be that important or anything…maybe its just cause I'm the great changeling?" she then laughed, blinking as she soon spotted something; or more likely someone…well actually some people, but anyway…
I had been thinking of her version of why it had happened, until a loud accented voice called out through the air of where we had appeared from, "Hey! Guys!" following through with that voice, Wakka had soon come into our sight, with his fellow Aurochs, in possession of a grand shining blue trophy cup.
Right behind the group of tanned men were Yuna, Kimahri and Lulu, with a great big smile on Yuna's face, being glad that the Aurochs won.
But smiles soon faded as Wakka raised his hand and reminded his team that he was now leaving to be a fulltime guardian for Yuna.
"It is good to have you back as a guardian, Sir Wakka." Yuna spoke up, from the steps of the now leaving the Auroch team.
"Hey it's good to be back and there isn't anything else I'd rather do than protect you Yuna, ya?" he replied, grinning and beginning to head up the stairs, followed by Lulu.
Also walking up the stairs, Yuna had caught up the other two being closely watched by Kimahri, as if there were ninjas about to ambush them and he would protect Yuna from them or something.
They had then started to bring up a conversation of how the fiends had appeared and why, with speaking of Maester Mika and Seymour had been safe through this attack. From this Yuna had said, "Maester Seymour's aeon… It was so powerful"
A growl that was luckily only heard by me erupted from Sarah, to which I had to whisper her about it, "Hey, your not being jealous again, are you?" speaking of a certain thing that Sarah had always felt angry about.
Instantly turning towards me, her eyes now burning, "I'm not…!" to which I laughed quietly, "Ok, ok… I believe you. Just remember, Yuna is a summoner who is questing to defeat Sin. Don't forget that she still has a long way and is unsure of herself if she can or can't do this pilgrimage." Trying to explain Yuna's comment to Sarah.
To this answer, she had sighed. We all reached the top of the stairs, to which the conversation had changed to how Tidus had actually found someone he knew here in Luca, giving opinions on whether he was or not going to stay with them.
The two of us had started to die of boredom; it was easy to tell that Sarah had become bored as she blatantly groaned "Boredddd…" like a zombie and begun poking me to try to fill in her boredom gap with a little fun. Although who could say I was any better at the time, as I just plainly groaned and yawned about as if I was hardly living, 'Never mind actually being unsent…this wait is killing me mentally' slumping to the floor with my energy leaving me.
A turn for the better had come, when a call was heard, "Hey!! Wait up for us!" travelling from the stairs down to the town circle…square…whatever the Lucans called it.
Everyone had turned round to see Tidus rushing up at first to then regret rushing so madly as he tripped up clumsily on one of the more worn out steps, to be compensated by being followed by the calmly walking Auron, who had seen sense to not run up such old steps that were used so frequently.
The expressions of the group had differed; with Yuna's blink of surprise and worry to Tidus' fall, soon changing to match Wakka's expression of complete astonishment, "Whoa." had suddenly jumped out from Wakka's mouth and "Sir Auron!" being gasped by Yuna.
A thing had started to poke me harder in my dieing arm, so of course I had sat up to investigate what…or more likely who it was. The culprit was soon found to be Sarah, still prodding a finger still into my arm but this time incredibly harder, with grinning evilly at me, "Hey, don't tell me you were that sleepy to not notice him."
Making a dumb sounding "Huh…?" I had slowly turned my head, thinking I could hear a creaking coming from my neck. Looking out to where she was now pointing, my eyes seemed to wake up from the sight.
Keeping at his pace…or maybe even going at a slower pace, the red warrior had reached the group properly, "Yuna." looking seriously down at the currently shaken from amazement summoner of the group.
Shaking her head, she then quickly replied, "Sir?" speaking shortly, being a polite and obeying summoner and most likely not sure of what to say in this situation.
Keeping his same expression, he spoke up again to let his words be heard over his huge collar, "I wish to become your guardian. Do you accept?" still staring down at her for an answer.
The second quietest person of the group 'when not in a mood…' had risen her eyebrow now at the request, "You are serious?" Lulu seeming to cover major surprise of this legendary guardian's appearance…while trying not to rush over and order for an autograph from him.
Turning away slightly to look over towards the view of Lucas' buildings and streets, "You refuse?" with his own eyebrow being raised slightly, as if sounding to try to persuade her to reconsider even though she had not said no.
Shaking her head and hands quickly, "No, no! We accept! Right everyone?" Looking round with a weary eye and slight twitch in the corner of her mouth; this to be a convincement to not argue with her on the decision.
Before I realised it I had suddenly shouted out, "Of course! No refusing a legendary guardian!" freezing to look down at my side to see the mischievous grin on Sarah's face appear again but with a quick knock on the head she had stopped, with being too busy trying to rub her head better and pout at people for sympathy to try to continue thinking anything to annoy me with.
With twitching his own mouth in slight fright at Yuna's face and sweat dropping, Wakka had stuttered his answer, "Um, o-of course! No problem at all!" shuffling over to behind Lulu who still raised her eyebrow almost to the top of her forehead, "But…why?" becoming nosey as to wanting to know more of the legendary guardian's intentions, 'I wonder if she also has a diary to write up on these happenings…?' laughing a little under my breath at the thought.
As Auron was starting to explain of it being a promise to Braska, the two of us; me and Sarah, were having a small fight from when I had hit her on the head for 'unnecessary reasons' as she said, while I argued back that I had all the reason to with what she had been thinking at the time.
It was only when she threatened me with a hug that we noticed Yuna's final decision, "Thank you Sir Auron! You are welcome to join us!" with which Sarah gave me one last quite painful poke in the arm, giving a quick glare at her before listening to them.
Well more like watching as Auron was about to make his second request, "And, he comes too." With a firm grip, he had pulled the messing about Tidus into the matter of the situation quite literally, as he was almost flung right into Yuna, giving me a funny image in my head if he did actually get fully pushed into Yuna.
Unable to hold our laughter, we laughed at his reaction to his predicament of suddenly coming into the discussion, giving nervous hellos and of course his back of head scratch.
The second promise of Auron's was then said, to start another mini conversation, with Yuna at the start, "Is he…Sir Jecht I mean, really alive?" with a look that actually would be seen as hopeful, Tidus in the background having an opposite expression, even if he had just been told the truth…at least part of the truth.
With casually walking past Yuna then stop to stand, Auron looked back to Yuna to answer, "Can't say. I haven't seen him in ten years" and hearing this answer had made Yuna sigh in disappointment, "I...see."
As if he may have felt slight guilt, he had a reply to give her hope, "You'll meet him eventually." Colour bursting onto Yuna's face with a smile, "Yes, I will be looking forward to it!"
But an opposite expression could be seen on Tidus' face, with also worry now starting to build at the thought of Yuna to find out that his father is actually Sin, the one who she had trained to fight.
After the little conversation, the legendary guardian had walked to this side toward Lulu, who had been plotting on how to get Sir Auron's autograph without being refused it, for him to then speak, "What's our itinery?"
An uncomfortable silence now washed over from the question, the only cure being for him to speak again after a short sigh, "Where are we going?" making everyone around him smile and nod heads with understanding.
It was wrong of me to think that I would not suffer anymore pokes from Sarah as she had just made me suffer another as I was smiling nervously as if with a sweat drop upon my head, to then look down to her.
"So, even you didn't know or remember one of his lines, huh?" laughing a bit afterwards, but I took no notice as I looked back to pull a face as Tidus and Yuna were making conversation by the railing, dreading the maniacal laughter they would call out to Luca with.
Turning to face the other way as it would have been worse to face them when they would laugh, another sight caught my eye as the warrior in red was reluctantly handing back a piece of scribbled on paper to Lulu, with a few looks off of Wakka, 'Hey is he looking a bit jealous..?' laughing to myself to earn another poke.
"Hey, just what are you laughing about now…?" the ever so nosey Sarah had asked, for me to look down at her with my face showing a not amused look.
"It doesn't matter so...would you kindly stop poking me all the time!" crying out my frustration of all the boredom I had accumulated from earlier.
Stepping away with her back toward me she went over to stand just behind Tidus, but not without grumbling, "Fine, I was just asking and you overreact over people poking you…"
It was confusing to see Sarah go over there. There had seemed no reason for her to join their conversation…'Wait a second…oh no! She's…she's not going to, to…?!'
There was no luck of the good kind today as the event happened; first Tidus had breathed in to then start to laugh out in a fake like tone, to be followed by Yuna with a little pause for them to laugh at the same time. But worst of all and what I worried of was the new addition of a third laugh…Sarah's.
Her laugh isn't bad but…with the combination of all 3 of them it had been too much, forcing me to slowly walk backwards holding onto my ears as both my eyes twitched madly at the insane sounding laughter.
All were staring even those who were strangers on the lower levels of the stairway looked up, but then again who wouldn't if you heard 3 sets of laughter in synchronisation...that sounded mostly fake. Even Kimahri was not looking too pleased at the behaviour…that or the fact of Yuna hanging around Tidus again.
Now in a more safe area they had decided to stop laughing, leaning down at the railings with laughing a bit at themselves for doing such a thing, Sarah just smiling a bit then turning back to grin at my expression.
Rolling my eyes, we had only noticed the other 2 able to talk just now, hearing a certain comment from Yuna, "Um…Thank you. I would like my journey to be…full of laughter." With a smile towards Tidus.
He had obviously smiled back to nod, "Okay. Sure."
Walking over, Sarah was still grinning, "Oh I'm sure we'll have quite a lot of laughs….right leeee-abi…?" blinking at almost calling me lea but nudged me all the same with a smile on her face.
Sighing, I couldn't help but smile a bit back, "Yeah…I just hope most of it won't be for annoying the hell out of me, got that?" laughing a bit.
"Ooh but it's fun to annoy you!" sighing with a slight pout and looking back to the in making couple, Tidus now turning round at them all and the expressions they all gave the both of them, "What're you all looking at?
Not surprisingly, Wakka was the one to answer to this, "We were just worried you guys might've gone crazy! Especially the great changeling."
The end of the comment had made her pout even more, looking directly toward Wakka for this, "I was only having some fun…"
With a nod, the blonde blitzballer was agreeing, "Yeah lighten up Wakka, Yuna did just say she wants us all to laugh." Walking over to pat Wakka's shoulder.
I was still not all that convinced by it, "Well I'm not so sure I'll be laughing too much if it's me to be the one to suffer." quickly glancing to my side to look at Sarah, who laughed quietly and nervously.
Sighing at the whole situation, Yuna stepped forth, "Well, let us leave to head down the Mi'ihen Highroad and on to Djose." calling to the whole group, as she left walking up the stairs leading towards the Highroad. Kimahri, lulu and Wakka closely followed her up the stairs.
We soon began to follow up the stairs as well, until footsteps could be heard behind us and Sarah was pulled backwards by someone, "Hey, where do you think your going?" Sarah could instantly recognise that voice anywhere; it was Graav.
"Is it really any of your business?!" she had replied back, trying to shake out of his grip, but to no avail.
A smirk was now clearly showing on his face, "Well, why don't you stay here with me. We have some kissing to finish." his hand slowly gripping tighter on her arm whilst pulling her closer to him.
Her eyes grew wide in both shock and anger at this, "What?" She would have said more, if he had not pulled her closer to him suddenly, trying to kiss her cheek. But before she could let anything like this could happen, a quick turn round and her hand slapped him full force onto the centre of his face.
The others had finally heard what was going on, rushing back down the stairs to see what was exactly happening, "Hey, hey, hey! What's going on, ya?" Wakka yelled as he and the others reached the bottom of the stairs.
Yuna raised her hand to cover her mouth, "Oh my!"
Tidus looked confused for a moment but soon looked cross with what Graav had tried to do.
Lulu gave a cold look at the Luca blitzer, "Serves him right." She mumbled.
Whilst Auron glared at the troublesome Luca Loser, aggravated that they had to hold the pilgrimage up again.
I stared in awe at the way Sarah reacted, 'Go Sarah!' cheering on with a grin upon my face.
Graav stumbled back, about to fall when another one of the Luca Losers had appeared to just about catch him; Bickson.
"What's going on? Why has one of my team mates been injured outside of a blitzball match?" he questioned looking from us to Sarah, "You!" he shouted, pointing a finger at Sarah.
She simply glared back at Bickson, "Well, maybe you should try keeping track of your team mates more closely and making sure they don't try to force people to kiss them!" she shouted back, enraging Bickson by insulting his leading skills.
"What! Isn't one of the great Luca Goers good enough to get but a simple kiss?" Bickson bellowed out at her taking a step forward.
But she was not going to keep listening to their big egos, quickly replying back "Who would want to even be with one of you Luca Losers, never mind kissing that pervert, Graav!" her face now going red in anger.
I now ran down to stand next to Sarah, "Yeah Sarah! You tell them big headed Luca Losers that they can just frell off!" backing her up.
An infuriated expression now covered Bickson's face, "I have had enough of you two and you're dissing of our team name and members! Come on Graav, let's show what we do to bitches like them!" he exclaimed, whilst cracking his knuckles, a grin clearly on his face.
Graav sighed, "Okay captain," to then look back at Sarah with a slightly apologetic expression, "I'm sorry it has to be this way. We could have been a great couple, but now it came to this." He then stood in a fighting pose, with his fists out at the ready.
She had looked at me and I nodded, grinning, "You first." to be responded with a quick and firm nod back from her, "Thank you." before she charged straight into Graav, her fist punching him upwards by the chin.
The Luca Captain looked horrified at how powerful her attack was, seeing Graav fall flat on his back with a groan, "Your gonna pay for tha…" but was cut off when I had kicked him in the place that no man should really be kicked in if they wished to have children.
"You should be lucky I didn't use the shoes of doom on you…this time" smirking down at him as I said this, 'That…felt so good!' laughing to myself in my head at finally getting a chance to do such a thing.
A burst of giggles had then sounded from the side of me as Sarah was now laughing at the two of them, both now lying on the floor in pain, "Yeah so never call us bitches again, jerks." heading over to me with her hand held up flat.
Meeting my own hand with hers to high five then walk back to the group, most staring in shock, some unsure whether to applaud our actions or lecture us to behave more sensibly with out status and one of course was also laughing madly, holding onto the side of the stairway; this obviously being Tidus.
Shaken from the disturbance, our summoner had made a cough to try to settle the group down after this and pointed her staff up to the stairs that lead to the Mi'ihen highroad, 'Now we leave for Djose temple!" a slight irritation in her tone of voice could have been picked up as she speedily walked up the stairs without making the same tripping up mistake as Tidus had done earlier.
A few relieved sighs could be heard but also a slight grumble from the blitzballer who had enjoyed seeing the Luca blitzball players get what they had deserved but soon cheered up a bit with walking to catch up with Yuna, trying to talk to her without getting glared at by Kimahri.
So the long walk had only just started, the group feeling able to walk the whole way as they easily got past the first groups of fiends; praise being given to Auron by Wakka with showing his advantages in battle against the heavy defence fiends of the Highroad.
Moments before setting off I had hoped Sarah would behave herself until we head gotten a quarter of the way down the Highroad, but I should have learnt by now that she would always find a way of annoying me early, as she spotted her chance to tease me while I was watching Auron's show off in battle to the group.
"Look I just haven't got much to do when forced to not battle, I didn't ask for him to show off how much of a legendary guardian he is?" my tone giving off a bit of a warning tone to her, speaking before she said anything.
She did not pick this up and just smiled a bit evilly at me, "Aww, are you sure you weren't just staring at his muscles on his arm?" laughing afterwards, to make me blush more.
Heading off on my power walk to get away from her, she suddenly asked for a death threat when I had noticed her heading over to Auron. Taking action, I leapt for her to grab her in a headlock and started to give her a noogy, only letting go when she promised she wouldn't say anything.
"Ow…" she grumbled, rubbing her head and keeping a bit of distance from me now.
A few of the others hearing and noticing this, with Yuna looking a little shocked at our small silly argument, Tidus just plainly laughing and Auron raising an eyebrow at the sudden random commotion which came out of nowhere.
As things finally calmed down between us, we had finally gotten to the point of the journey that we would soon be drained of our energy to trek along this Highroad moderately happy, as Tidus and Yuna had reached the scholar of ultimate boredom and champion of long speeches… It was no other than Maechen.
Tidus had immediately got caught in his trap of teaching when he had walked over to see what Maechen had been staring up at. Soon, Yuna was also caught up in his explanations of the broken ruins of buildings from the time of Zanarkand still being around.
Not wishing to feel more tired out than I already started to feel on the journey along the Mi'ihen highroad, my location had been at the other side of the road, glancing back over to them to see when the elderly teacher would have finished his speeches.
On the third glance, Sarah was now seen to be walking over with slightly dulled eyes, before dropping to the ground beside me, "I never knew that guy would talk as much as this, I'm sure he wasn't this enthusiastic in the game?" she slightly complained.
From the look she gave me, I sighed before answering, "Yeah, it's been a bit like this so far. I guess it's just a more realistic version to the game we've played, though…maybe that will be a good thing if things change, even not so repetitive." smiling back down at Sarah.
For a moment she frowned, but eventually nodded in reason, "I guess…huh?" quickly standing up when noticing Tidus and Yuna move out of the way, looking toward the two of us.
But it was not this that confused us the most; Maechen had suddenly begun to rush over with his squat, old legs seeming to just lift over the ground to cause a shuffling effect. It was not a very good idea on a dusty roadway.
Coughing, my eyesight soon grew back after the dust settled to be staring at the scholars face which I now noticed how big his hat was compared to his face, "um…hello?" blinking in confusion.
As if he were an abandoned puppy that had found a home, his eyes grew bright and gleaming, staring at the two of us with them, "Sorry but I had to come over. Lady Yuna had spoke to me telling that she was travelling with the Master Guardian and the Great Changeling, directing me towards the two of you." Taking a wheezy breath in between his sentences, "I wish to confirm this myself, though I do not doubt in a summoner's word."
"Uhh…?" was all that Sarah could say, pulling an unsure face. It would seem that she still did not fully realise how her status as the Great Changeling would affect people.
Stepping forth, it seemed like I would have to be the one to answer, "Yes. I'm Taelea and this is Salanica." Mumbling under my breath our real names, "We're not all that special." My own nervousness now showing; I still didn't feel too comfortable with all this attention from people; it was strange compared to living as just Abigail.
Taking in a breath, he seemed to gasp, quickly bowing before our presence and looked ready to shake our hands madly…to which he did, "I am honoured to meet the two of you! If it is not too much trouble," his hands seeming to reach back into his green heavy looking robes, before producing a notepad and quill pen, "May I ask you a few questions?"
But if it were not for what we knew of this character and the over interested smile on his face, we would have gladly answered them, but knew that his questions would last until the next morning or so.
Backing us up, the others arrived and Auron seemed the most peeved off at the upholding of the journey, making a simple suggestion, "3 questions, that is all."
This was now clear to Maechen, as his eyebrows furrowed toward the centre of his face, carefully calculating the best 3 questions for the two of us, "Very well. I would like to know if the people of Zanarkand had any particular celebrities, whether important like Yunalesca or those just for entertainment?" his tone giving off the faintest feeling that he may already know what our answer may be.
Though technically it was just Sarah to answer, with a burst of energy, leaping up and slightly forward. Her eyes were glistening as something had just sparked in her memory, "Oh, Lenne! There was Lenne!"
"Uhh…?" my left eyebrow was slowly rising at the sight of her enthusiastic answer to his first question, "Sarah, what's with you…? You've never liked Lenne so much-" before my own spark flashed in my head, remembering what she had said about a flashback she had had while in the company of Seymour before the blitzball matches begun.
But the scholar was only affected with having a delighted smile on his face, "Ah yes, I have some information on the great songstress Lenne…obtained from one or two spheres that surprisingly lasted over the thousand years." The added part sounded more like some sort of an excuse.
"Really? Well she truly was great, I loved her songs and…and…um," suddenly stopping in thought to then blink as if something unlocked in her mind, "And her first concert was just…stunning!" Sarah exclaimed, jumping about a bit as she was slowly becoming hyper.
The Old man in green nodded with a smile, before scribbling something on his notepad, "Yes, yes that sounds just about right compared to the spheres information of course," his head slowly turning toward me, "Now, what about the schooling and education at the time? Was there anything particular about them that might be different due to the times of being near to the machina war?" the second question sounding like it was asking for a specific answer (cannot remember the name of the term).
From hearing this, we were both frowning by what he meant, trying to figure out what would have happened…The it hit me while I had a slight vague idea what it may have been, as a short flashback of a couple of images showed, shaking my head afterwards to look back at Maechen.
"Some of the schools in Zanarkand also trained students in different areas of fighting…it had increased when more rumours and even an announcement of the chance that war may begin in a short few years…" my voice seeming to drift off a bit as I spoke the words, feeling something but not remembering. All I could do was guess from the subject.
With a slow few nods of his head, his hand reached up to stroke the small, white beard he had upon his chin, "That sounds quite possible…though just how did they teach the fighting and how do you mean by different areas of it?" raising a curious eyebrow.
"Um…I'm also remembering a bit…it was like, some days had normal education, where as others were fighting education." Sarah chipped in, also not sounding fully certain on these new facts even to us.
More nods came from him, waiting for more detail if it were to appear, to which it had, "Uhh…the fighting education had lessons like magic, weapon handling, technique learning and a few others," before shaking my head as it became the end of my knowledge to this part of Taelea's past, "that's all I can say about it for now."
Sarah did not look like she had anything either, with a shrug of her shoulders. But Maechen was not displeased with what he had gained up to now, "It is perfectly ok lady Taelea, lady Salanica. It certainly has reminded me…of things learnt from old documents, you see." smiling to convince us.
Looking up at the sky, he begun to stroke his beard again, readying for something, "Also, I would like to know if-" yet as soon as his words travelled into the air, the coat of the ex-warrior monk had blocked our views.
Leaning our heads round his figure, we saw him staring down at the short elderly scholar, "It was agreed that you would only ask three questions. You must know the importance of keeping the summoner on their pilgrimage, so we cannot be held up any longer," taking a one step turn to look in the direction of where we were headed and begun to walk off.
Before even one word left my mouth he had grabbed my arm, as I in turn grabbed Sarah's to make sure she wasn't left out or behind, "Whoa! Um, I guess we're saved." Sweat dropping at being dragged away, only being let go after about being 10 metres away from Maechen.
"I'm not sure whether to thank you or be annoyed at how you pulled me along as well." Sarah moaned on, as she was now able to slow down to a walking pace that she felt comfortable with.
The guardian in red simply just looked round to see the others regroup with us after the escape, making an 'hmph' sound before speaking, "Try not to get caught up by people like that. We cannot have Yuna stood about in an area that has many fiends around," before chuckling slightly, "the both of you need to keep safe also, there is always the chance that even might fiends can get overpowered by groups of weaker fiends."
Frowning, we looked at each other then back up at Auron, but he had already power walked off in search for any future fiend encounters, leaving us there feeling just slightly guilty but not all that much. We had phoenix downs anyway so it wasn't all that worrying.
Now away from the scholar, the both of us were feeling more relaxed even though the fiends were attacking us at times, Sarah being a bit lazy as to run off to collect items and gill from the treasure chests strewn at the sides of the highroad.
At a calm point we looked back at the others to see that they felt just as relieved and relaxed as we did, particularly Tidus' grin returning and Auron now looking less grumpy from the uphold, not attacking any unsuspecting fiend randomly anymore.
I had begun to chat about random things to Sarah; like if we would see farm areas that keep stock of animals for food, as animals have been mentioned in a couple battle phrases in FFX-2 e.g. duck soup. Yet we were soon joined by the blond newbie guardian.
"Hey, guys, got any ideas as to how this walk can be livened up…the others don't seem too big on the game of 'eye spy'" rolling his eyes at the others, with a slight pout before returning to look at us in hope, "Well?"
At the time of the beginning of this conversation, the others had met up with the summoner Belgamine, giving Yuna a challenge to make her aeons stronger. Giving reason as to why they wouldn't want to play eye spy at such an important time for Yuna to concentrate on her control of her aeons and the others to observe.
Stuck for what to say, only a small unclear sound escaped my lips before Sarah seemed to rush in front of me, blocking the sight of my head from his eyes 'eh? Since when was she this tall?' staring at the back of her head, "Well we won't play that game but…how about this, we make up our own game. Maybe some sort of own entertainment…that we could compete with each other in!" it was easy to tell that she was slowly becoming hyper, for no reason at the moment.
Raising my eyebrow, I came back into view, "You mean like…some sort of competition for who can be the most funniest or…annoying?" grinning slightly as I half spoke this sarcastically.
However Tidus took this into full consideration and enjoyed the sound of it very much, "That sounds like a great idea! Who can be the most annoying to others or make the most people laugh. By any means necessary, right?" an unknown evil grin appearing on his face, making me shudder slightly.
Sarah on the other hand enjoyed the sound of it too, though seemed a bit hesitate at it being no holds barred, "Maybe not like that, we should have a few rules or anyone could be the winner…maybe no hurting others, huge messes, no more than 2 strangers involved and…no real bullying of course."
Knowing all too well what Sarah was like and the knowledge that I did know about Tidus lead me to the conclusion that there would be no getting out of this. Though it didn't sound all too bad, "Ok then, it's settled. Those are our rules so…let the competition begin!" pulling on a grin.
With a cheer from the other two, our talking's were finally overheard by the rest of the group, a suspicious look on Wakka's face, "Heyyy, what's this commotion about ya?" as he walked over, mainly standing behind Tidus. Most likely thinking that he would be the master mind of whatever bad thing was going on and doubts that the Master Guardian or Great changeling would do anything.
Turning to face him as we were setting off to walk again, Tidus was lifting an eyebrow back up at him, "What?! Wakka we're just trying to figure a way to liven up this journey…don't tell me you actually enjoy long, boring walks?" sniggering afterwards to look at the two of us.
A slight groan heard from Wakka as he shook his head at Tidus, "Well no. But you better not be thinking of doing anything against Yevon's teachings." A firm tone in his voice when he mentioned Yevon.
With a slight skip, Sarah was beside Wakka now, poking his arm, "Relax, it won't be anything like that Wakka. Besides, it was more mine and Abi's idea." Grinning back at me, causing me to sigh while Wakka looked a bit confused at hearing this.
But was stopped as Yuna rushed up, walking by Tidus but closely followed by her bodyguard like guardian, Kimahri, ready to give her opinion, "Wakka, it sounds like a good idea whatever it might be. If it makes us all smile then I am all for it." Her beam mainly headed toward Tidus, reminding him of the conversation they had before stepping foot onto Mi'ihen Highroad.
More reassurance came as Lulu now walked up beside Wakka, "It sounded like they would not involve others or cause danger. You should have a little more faith in them. You never know, you may be the one laughing the most." Continuing to walk on a bit further ahead now, a slight smile on her face.
He sighed in defeat and just grinned to quickly rush over and give Tidus a quick noogy, "Ok, you heard us all. Make sure it's fun and safe!" chuckling when he lets go as he sees the half pout Tidus had on his face, "Hey, they said it was their idea not mine…" looking toward the two of us.
I laughed a bit back while Sarah just giggled at how Tidus was the one being warned by Wakka. While this was happening, Auron was already taking quite the lead down the highroad, speaking to us all from where he was, "Just do not let this distract Yuna from the pilgrimage, or even lead us to troublesome danger."
Simply rolling my eyes, I decided to walk faster to try to catch up to him and go past the others, before Sarah could say or even poke me about a certain subject I knew she still had to talk to me about.
Even before thinking of anything to speak to Auron about, dust was suddenly in the air…as well as a few large yellowish golden feathers. In our paths way, three chocobos were there, looking down happily at us with riders upon them, all wearing armour, yet only two of them looking confident.
Looking up, I was smiling at the chocobos. I knew who the riders would be so I did not feel I had to worry about anything, but as I was looking along the row of them, my eyes strayed up to meet those of the male of the group; Clasko.
When my eyes saw him, he had seen me and within a second, his eyes had widened as if in surprise, enough to almost overbalance him off of the chocobo. I could not help but laugh at this, but still wondered why I would startle him like that.
The others were now arriving, and the chocobo rider that stood out front of the row instantly looked to see Auron then Yuna, eyes brightening a bit, "Lady Summoner I presume?"
With a bow, Yuna answer, "Yes, I am Yuna." beginning the introduction.
The chocobo rider responded with her own short bow, "I am Lucil, captain of the Djose Chocobo Knights." sounding as formal and respectful as she can, for the other female rider to also introduce herself, "And I'm Elma. We've been charged to guard the Mi'ihen Highroad."
Before Lucil could continue what she was about to say, Sarah just had to squeal out at this point when stroking Elma's chocobo, as it had made what she had thought to have been the cutest animal noise ever.
Hearing and seeing this, Yuna blushed to then look toward the two of us before looking back at Lucil, "I'm so sorry. I almost forgot to introduce Taelea and Salanica…or Abi and Sarah as they seem to call themselves currently." Looking back at us again, as if waiting for us to do what we should do in such a situation.
I simply blinked at her to then realise, "Oh!" turning to face the chocobo knights, "Sorry, as said, I'm Abigail or nowadays here Taelea." a sweat drop growing on my head.
Straight after, Sarah stepped forward to speak, "And I'm Sarah or Salanica…I need to get used to what I've been told about being the Great Changeling and how she, uh, I mean I fight." sounding and looking very confused at the deeper thought of the situation.
The captain of the Chocobo Knights was now staring in unbelief then smiling quite pleasantly, "Ah it is good to know that the small rumours of the at last appearance of the Master Guardian and Great Changeling did not create the false hopes in some of my troops."
But with a glance up away from Lucil, Clasko was now looking even more stunned and wide eyed towards me for still unknown reasons. Just as I was going to look away, I could have sworn his cheeks were growing a shade of pink.
Clearing her throat and sitting up straighter on her chocobo, Lucil continued, "Well, I came to warn you of a large fiend that has been reported around the area that has a taste for chocobos. From what I see, hopefully it should not be too much trouble with such a guardian group as yours, though I still wish for you to take care, Summoner Yuna, lady Taelea and lady Salanica, if you were to rent chocobos with such a fiend on the prowl."
With yet another short bow, Yuna looked up smiling, "Thank you. We will be careful then." Her eyes looking quickly toward the two of us, making sure that we also bowed or do something in the same range of thanks toward the chocobo knights.
"Very well then. We should get back to our rounds. Farewell." Giving some sort of quick salute with her arm, Lucil now begun to lead the way, slowly being followed by Elma, "Our prayers are with you all." Giving the same salute and rushing off.
But the last paused, still staring at me which made me uncomfortable, but was broken off as Lucil called back to him, "Clasko! Hurry or someone may very well be in danger if we are not on duty."
Stuttering and looking from one to the other, he hastily replied, "C-Coming!" turning back to me one last time to nod, "I-I hope we meet again…!" suddenly making the chocobo move to rush after the other knights.
'Strange…?' was all I thought before I felt a hard sharp nudge in my arm, to look down instantly to see Sarah there, grinning up at me slyly. It had looked like she had just used her elbow as she was now putting her arm down by her side now.
"Well it looks like I'm not the only one who has a admirer," yet her expression now looked sour, "you're lucky, you don't have some big ego-ed pervert after you." Now walking on, leaving me behind for a few seconds before I started to walk also.
My face's expression being a frown to then realise what was going on, for my eye to twitch at the oddness, "No…He can't actually, can he?" tilting my head at Sarah.
But before she could answer, Tidus now walked up grinning, "I think it was kind of obvious to all of us. That Chocobo Knight definitely looked like he had something for you." laughing a bit afterwards, moving out of the way before I had the chance to hit him.
Now pulling a face, I looked around to see if it was true that it was obvious. Unfortunately it was.
Yuna was smiling politely toward me but there was another hint in her smile, showing that she thought so too. Then Lulu wouldn't look toward me, Wakka walking by her to give a short grin to me instead.
Luckily Kimahri stayed expressionless and devoted to watching out for any danger toward Yuna or even to me and Sarah. Then I looked to see that Auron didn't seem affected by it either, walking along yet now trying to look over his collar to see his expression, he seemed to be in some sort of thought process at the moment.
Another stroke of luck as I was saved from any further embarrassment, as Tidus realised something, stopping the group as he spoke, "Hey, if there's a large fiend, why don't we get him!" his tone making it sound like the best thing to do ever.
But the idea was soon being picked on, "Why?" Auron had simply questioned Tidus' idea, quickly being responded in an undefeated voice, "It's the right thing to do."
Auron now copied him but in a slightly mocking tone, "It's the right thing to do…" before making his typical hmph noise then laughing at the idea of it.
Now I was pouting toward him, though could not help the feeling of my lips trying to pull in a smile at the sound of the laughter, "Hey, he's just trying to make a suggestion that helps people…?"
He glanced toward me for a short moment of time then back toward Tidus, before staring off into the distance, "It's just…Jecht said that a lot too," a small chuckle breaking up his sentences, "And every time he said it, it had meant trouble for Braska and me."
Already he was going to walk off ahead of the group. A sighing sound heard from the direction of Tidus as I sped up again from the short stop, Sarah quickly doing her best to keep up with me.
It had not been long before there was yet another stop on the Highroad, as Yuna was called over to talk to a woman and her child.
In this time of staying away, seeing Auron grumble about all the stops the group has had to make so far on this road, it was thought of going to be the start of the competition. At least between me and Sarah; Tidus was staying close to Yuna.
To my displeasure, my guess of what she would start with was correct, as she started to poke my arm numerous times, grinning evilly at me, "Ok admit it, this is annoying Abi." now poking harder into my arm, then faster as I shook my head in slight boredom.
I was looking around for anything to help me get my revenge and be my first entry into the competition, just noticing the girl now circling around Yuna happily. All I could see other than that was our group, the woman and child, the dry dusty long road and tall grass…
"That's it!" I cried out, hoping I would have only cried it out in my head but had done the opposite, now looking at Sarah nervously.
"What's it?" she frowned up at me, giving me one last very hard poke into a sensitive part of my arm, making it flinch oddly. Her eyes were not leaving me until she got an answer.
After rubbing my arm, I sighed before quickly rushing out for the grass to look as hastily and carefully as I could, doing my best to ignore Sarah's constant repeated questioning into my behaviour. Yet soon enough I found what I was looking for.
She was now being very wary, stepping back a bit as I was very carefully reaching down before taking hold of one or two of the long grass strands, ripping it up before turning around to her slowly, "Ok, you annoy me with poking," a grin rose on her smile when I admitted that it had annoyed me, "then I will scare you!" suddenly extending the long grass strands out toward her.
For a short while she was confused, not knowing what she was meant to be seeing on them, before suddenly jumping back, "Leaaaaa! Get it away from me! I don't like them!" taking more steps back as I marched on forward, "Hey, it's just my entry and it's not dangerous…I mean it is only a small spider." laughing at her reaction.
However she still did not find it funny, moving back quickly as I begun to walk closer to her with the spider on the grass, to eventually walk into the group who had just now finished speaking with the woman and the child named Calli.
Tidus had laughed a bit at the sight of the spider entry before shaking his head to start to wonder about what he had heard, "So what's the calm?" looking at the others for answers.
As usual, it was Lulu to start to explain things, "The calm is a time of peace. It comes after a summoner defeats Sin and lasts until Sin reappears again." Thinking this would be enough information on her own part she turned around to try to sort out her hair after some wind blew some dried leaves and grass toward the group earlier.
Stepping forward, Yuna took her turn in explaining, "Sin dies and is reborn." putting it more simply for the blitzballer.
Once heard, Tidus now smiled in understanding after thinking hard on what they meant, "I get it! I thought it was weird, when Yuna's dad defeated Sin ten years ago and Sin was still around here! It didn't make too much sense till now." now frowning to look back at Yuna with a questioning expression, "Wait…if it just comes back…"
Both me and Sarah felt the annoyance that was slightly building up in Yuna at the beginning of his words, as she quickly interrupted him, "Don't say it isn't worth it…Because it is." her now very serious looking eyes burning at Tidus as he slowly nodded his head.
Yet to our surprise, Yuna had then smiled, "But, this time we have Taelea and Salanica. It has always been said that when they appear, that it will be the time when Sin is finally defeated." smiling brightly but it was still not quite a natural smile. As if she was still hiding something.
I raised an eyebrow up but had suddenly dropped the grass when Sarah had suddenly hugged me from my said, "Heh, Looks like we better keep our end of the bargain then. Don't want to disappoint Spira right, Lea?" slowly letting go of me as I slowly smiled.
"Yes I know that…I remember the promise so I won't break that any time soon, ok?" giving her a slight shove so that we could continue walking on. But a thought was picking at my brain now, 'Sarah's calling me Lea a lot more…do we really have our incarnations within us now?' looking down at myself to roll my eyes, 'It would explain a lot of things…but my thoughts don't seem so different.'
However I had stopped, looking out at nothing, 'But…we're just fighters to what I can tell at the moment. Nothing special has shown itself so, except that Sal, uh Sarah can change into animals but that's Sal's ability…yet how do we actually help them defeat Sin…even though they should be able to defeat it without our help.' my mind starting to hurt a bit from self annoyance from the confusing questions, to only be slapped back into reality when a hand was put on my shoulder.
Instantly I turned around, not knowing my own reaction either as I was about to reach out to punch who it was. Luckily I had stopped before anything could happen, as I saw that it was Auron stood there behind me, an eyebrow now raised at my behaviour.
"I would have thought the Master Guardian would know friend from foe," chuckling under his breath a bit before looking more seriously at me, as I put my hand down in slight embarrassment, "but do not over think on things…sometimes it is better to just follow what path you are currently on, then make decisions when something tries to change that path."
Silence fell before a sudden call from Wakka irrupted, asking for Auron's assistance in a battle against a hard shelled fiend. He gave a slight hmph before walking on past me. Staring at his back, I half understood what he meant, half didn't.
"Forget about things until they are a true worry…for this kind of situation I guess it's for the best." Whispering to myself before rushing forward to just miss out on the battle, but didn't miss out on a look from Sarah that said she wanted to know what just happened.
Before she had the chance to run over, hold my arms down and interrogate me, another one of the cutscene moments was about to unfold, as the crusaders were there with a caravan, moving to the side to talk with us.
Gatta was congratulating the guys on their blitzball match, Luzzu also congratulating mainly Wakka for his winning goal. But the chat did not last long.
"Hey! Stop loafing around!" Elma shouted as her and Lucil appeared again, looking sternly at the two crusaders.
Sarah was giggling a little at this, watching the events unfold and how Luzzu was explaining to Gatta he should just say sir and keep his head down.
"Looks like it's not all too fun being a crusader at his level then…" Sarah mentioned to me once the Chocobo Knights had gone. I nodded in response, feeling that I guess it was true, 'but at least he would be safe with what's to come.'
We then overheard Yuna giggle, before Luzzu turned back toward her, "Hey, Yuna. Even though Yevon has rejected us…we still believe in you," then surprisingly turned to me before suddenly spotting Sarah, his eyes widening a bit, "Ah, I am sorry, I did not notice you until now. You are the great changeling, correct?" this had made Sarah quickly nod in response, to which he smiled back, "So what I heard in Luca was true. Then our beliefs in Yuna are much greater, knowing that the both of you are with her and that will not change."
Looking to Sarah, I grinned as she was nervously laughing at the attention she was still not used to, as it was a very strange thing for the both of us, giving her a poke to make sure she was ok…she poked me back, harder, "Oww…" rubbing my arm slightly.
Yuna was now smiling brightly and shortly bowing to them, "Thank you, Sir Luzzu, Sir Gatta," she paused, letting us have the chance to thank them also, before continuing, "But you know…It is not too late for you to go back to Besaid and…"
But before anything more was said, Gatta had broken her off, "We should be going sir!" already running off for the caravan, quickly followed by Luzzu.
Looking to see her expression, Yuna was saddened by the rude interruption to her suggestion, but was soon comforted by Tidus, looking as if he was about to give his entry for the first set of the competition.
From the moment he opening his mouth, his arms had move to form what would usually be counted as chicken wings but the sound didn't match at all, "Keweehhh…kweeee…kweeeh!" he attempted, trying to sound like a chocobo but with slight failure until slowly getting better at it.
All our eyes were turned to him and Yuna. Her face was surprised but was slowly unable to hold off the smile and giggle within her at his acting of the big yellow bird creature.
Wakka was now joining in laughing but still a bit hesitantly after the kind of subject that Yuna was put down from.
The two of us couldn't help but laugh, "Ah hahaha! Oh…god, or should I say oh yevon!" I was just able to say between laughs and breaths to Sarah, "This…is a definite win for him for this round."
A quick firm nod from Sarah as she slowly calmed down looking to see Tidus slowly stopped making the noises; half of the reason being due to the looks from Kimahri.
"That was quite good, a lot better than your spider idea," pouting moodily at me as I sweat dropped back at her before she sighed, "and he did cheer up Yuna so that's bonus points I guess." Her expression changing to one I could tell was when she was thinking of a certain wedding scene she despised.
Once all the laughter had quietened down and Yuna's face stopped going a shade of red from the laughter, Tidus was simply smiling at her, "Come on Yuna…if they decided to take this mission then I don't think they're going to change their minds about it…"
To then be backed up by Lulu who smiled down at her, "Yuna, you decided to be a summoner and they have decided to be crusaders. They will follow their own hearts choices." giving her a slight pat on the head.
Hearing these words, she smiled up at them and the rest of us to nod, "Ok then…we better keep walking before it becomes sunset, everybody." now taking the lead after saying this, followed by Kimahri and Tidus, then Lulu and Wakka. The last of us surprisingly walking slower than the rest of the group.
Taking this time in the period of no fiends popping up yet surprisingly, again the whole feeling of being in Spira was weird, seeing the backs of the others in front of me, Sarah being here too, being told of being a reincarnation…just everything was piling up again.
Then another thought hit me; I still had not truly seen Sarah's fighting skills. She had mentioned she found it to be berserker skills and outfit, but still she was seeming to keep out of the battles, 'I bet she just wants to wait for the next big battle to show off' sighing to myself, but then again who wouldn't want to show off at least once when they gain those kind of abilities.
Breaking out of yet another set of my thoughts, there was some sort of commotion going on ahead where the others now just stopped to listen to it; in the distance, a man who looked like he was a part of the crusaders had left the vicinity of where the others were located.
With a frown, I tried my best to listen in to see who it was…and at the mere hearing of one word that the person spoke, I felt the urge to just wish to be at the travel agency by now. It was of course Shelinda who had argued with one of the crusaders about their upcoming operation.
I was not the only one to notice in our slow group, as my sight caught Sarah's expression; not quite finding Shelinda as annoying as I did, yet still had certain dislikes toward her.
"Should we…try to just walk past and hope the others don't invite us over to join in on the conversation?" asking Sarah who was quickly replying with a nod.
Another guess appeared in my mind of why Sarah also did not want to get involved; the many other interruptions earlier, all things that we had already heard of to which we tried to keep out of the way but ended up involved and creating our new responses from the side characters.
Once we started sneaking past them, our good luck seeming to build as they had not noticed to our knowledge, we got to safety and Sarah begun to word the reason why she followed me here, "Yeah, it's great and all to be in Spira but…not all that much differences have appeared that are worth being a part of," sighing, "I know the pilgrimage is serious business and our roles but…I want a little fun and excitement. Not generic scenes." She grumbled on.
Joining in with my own sigh I patted her on the shoulder, "Sorry but things only get good when its resting time, boss battles and probably the big dramatic scenes…most likely our own to create." explaining to her, then silence fell and boredom beginning to creep up once more on us.
However, something begun to spawn out from this, a grin arising on my face to then look slowly back toward Sarah, "So, do you mean by 'fun and excitement' being when you try to create some sort of…I don't know, romance with a certain someone?" giggling straight after while I had the chance.
She was not amused by this when she had noticed what I was talking about as she had been paying attention as to when the others would be freed from the grasp of Shelinda's talking time, "I-I didn't mean anything like that!" though something was showing on her face to say otherwise, "That…would be something I'd love to happen but," heavily sighing now.
Knowing what she would say, I had to speak before she could, "Hey, you didn't think you'd get the chance to come here right? Now we're here and meant to be reincarnations of people who had lived here!" her face brightened at my words yet Sarah still felt doubt within her, "I guess but…actual romance with," a blush appearing on her cheeks now, "him? It just sounds too good to be true."
Slumping down to the ground, Sarah felt her hope dropping again, though her hope did spring up once or twice while she was in deep thought on the chances.
Like a contagious disease, I was soon also feeling a bit down at some of the hopes I had dreamed of when arriving to this game's world, even making me feel a bit off. But I was not going to let it defeat me.
With a nudge of my foot into the side of Sarah, I stared down at her as determined as I could, "Sarah. We're here, we're the Master Guardian and Great Changeling and if there is a chance for anything like that then I know either of us will take it." slowly giving her a smile in reassurance.
Eventually, she returned the smile and stood up with me, "Ok then. I guess I was being silly just then," the smile now turning nervous and spread her arms out, "hug?" she asked as cautiously as she could.
I wouldn't blame her for how she acted with asking for it, she knew how I was with hugging and other such similar things. Yet I nodded and complied to give her a small hug before pulling away, "Ok then. Let's check if the others are ready to carry on walking yet?"
In spite of saying this, before we even had the chance to turn our heads around our ears were picking up on the sound of hurrying shuffling feet and a dread was beginning to grow inside of us.
With the slow creaking of our heads, we turned to see Shelinda suddenly behind us, hands out ready and grabbing our own hands to overenthusiastically shake them one at a time, "Oh it is such an honour to meet the both of you! Now I have more hope that the crusaders operation will be stopped before they can use the machina!" her eyes shining out to us in pure happiness.
"Umm…?" slowly turning my head to Sarah nervously as I was totally surprised by what she said and did not know of how to reply back.
With hope fading, Sarah looked back with the same expression yet looked back in defeat to be the one to begin the speaking, "I…don't really know if we can actually do anything to help stop them." putting it simply for the acolyte.
In a matter of seconds, Shelinda's face was dropping; her expression looked much like that of a child who was just told that there would be no more deserts sold at lunchtime break ever again, "But…but you must have the power to stop them, to tell them that using machina is wrong and goes against Yevon!"
The group was now surrounding the three of us, their eyes watching all over us, making it more difficult for me to take my turn in the conversation, "Look, you see that would be still very difficult for us to do. They just have their hearts set on the idea…and there are more complications which you don't know about that may displease you," making sure to not say what these unpleasant things would be, "Also…remember me and Sal grew up in Zanarkand when it was at the time of machina usage so it would technically be a bit hypocritical." Nervously laughing a bit and scratching behind my ear to finish the talk.
Her face told us very well she could not believe what she was hearing and looked very saddened by our words, "I see…Sorry, I just thought that maybe you could have done something…"
Guilt was washing over us from the sight of Shelinda's disappointment, as well as the stares that were coming from Yuna and Wakka of the surprise by our words.
Shaking my head and forcing a smile upon my face, I took a breath to talk one last time to Shelinda, "Look, we don't actually want the operation to happen either…We know how dangerous it is to use machina like that. I know you're more worried about this going against yevon," the urge to bite my tongue increasing, "but since the operation is so far in its processes, all we can do now is try to decrease the amount of injuries of whatever may be coming."
With a sigh she nodded and a small smile on her face, "Ok…Lady Yuna said that I shouldn't give up after just this mistake. So I will try my best then even after this." Doubt still hanging in her tone.
Having enough of her tone, Sarah stepped forward this time, "Look, you and the rest of us can't stop it but it's not the end of your training. Carry on your choice while they carry on their choices. Just don't put too much on your shoulders ok?" giving a smile.
With a nod, Shelinda had thought it through now and surprisingly beamed at us, "Very well, I will do only what I can do for the time being," to then suddenly bow to us, "I wish you luck in yours and Lady Yuna's journey. May Yevon bless you all!" rushing off quickly down the path we had come up along.
Sighs of relief escaped both our mouths at this to go to continue walking, but it was not the end of the talk about machina and the uses of it as the orange haired Yevonite walked directly to us, "What was that about the two of you using machina?"
I groaned, to look back toward him with my eyebrow raised, "Wakka, whatever tales about us have been told to all of you over these thousand years, you still knew we came from Zanarkand at the time when it was the machina war and creation of Sin right? Then why did you expect us of not using machina." Not feeling up to an argument with him, knowing that Sarah would get a lot more moody than me on these kinds of subjects with Wakka.
The ex-blitzballer guardian was now left stunned and speechless, not sure of how to argue back or what to argue back with, as his mind very slowly worked through the facts to see a bit more reason but still had a question nagging him, "Then tell me straight. Did you ever use the bad kind of machina?"
It seemed a reasonable question from his view we guessed, "Well no…I've had no memories as of yet at least of using any harmful type machina. But even so, I think the nearest thing would have only been things to do with training in the fighting classes." Beginning to get into my power walk and try to catch up with Auron to get away from more questions, 'How much more of this…All this talking is tiring me out…'
With a shrug of his shoulders, Wakka seemed to deal with this answer at least and give up on his thoughts of us secretly being entities that were actually against Yevon…though ironic as it was.
Looking back to see Wakka now discussing something with Lulu, I begun to feel relaxed again. Sarah was closely walking behind me but had begun talking to Tidus about something…something that gave me the feeling that she was complaining about the spider event earlier.
The sun was beginning to reach the end of its appearance for the day, a sunset just slightly starting, to only increase the exhaustion that was now dawning on me. This Mi'ihen Highroad had certainly been longer to walk with my own two feet than that of controlling Tidus to run down along the road in the game. And I was sure that the others were also getting pretty tired from the amount of walking.
As if he had some sort of radar that could sense this and spotting the perfect opportunity, Auron had stopped and turned back to the others when he saw that we had reached the travel agency.
The loose sleeve that was not filled up by his left arm had surprisingly hit me while my concentration was starting to drop from tedium, blinking to look round then turn round and watch the others stop also, awaiting for what Auron was about to say.
"We rest here." making it sound like a command; a simple and forward one, but there had to be one problem…Wakka.
Crossing his arms, he wasn't thrilled by the idea, "But this is an Al Bhed shop!" he simply complained back.
Looking over, I could see Sarah was starting to get annoyed again at Wakka, but not ready to burst out and shout at him yet as Auron was about to speak again in response, "Is that a problem?"
"They don't believe in Yevon and in Luca they," pausing as he was also getting annoyed, "They had kidnapped Yuna!" not willing to ease up and go along with the idea yet.
This had just about done it, and now right in front of Wakka, Sarah was glaring up at him with her bad mood, "Look just because some tried to do that, doesn't mean they all will!" she exclaimed, not calming down one bit as of yet.
With a smirk, Auron was about to also say his part in the matter, "And where were her guardians?" staring in particularly at Wakka and his useless complaints.
This had done the trick, leaving mostly silence except for a nervous whistle from Wakka, as he put looked away, putting his head into his hands in realisation to his point. Even Lulu looked a bit disappointed in herself at this small mistake.
Trying to help give reason as to why we should stay at the travel agency, Yuna stepped forward and looked back at the others, "Sir Auron's just concerned about your health." speaking from another point of view that may convince Wakka otherwise.
Yet he kept being stubborn about this, "I'm not tired one bit!" who truthfully sounded like a little kid arguing back to his parents.
Enough was enough and my mood now sparked off as well, "Look, aren't you meant to be a guardian to Yuna? If so then you should think of her needs. I'm sure we're all tired from this long walk and it is best for us to rest. I mean what good can come from continuing and ending up being the next meal for fiends due to exhaustion huh?" my voice growing louder toward the end.
"Dah, uh…umm…but…!" feebly trying to think on the spot of a come back but nothing came, groaning in defeat.
Before Auron turned to leave to head into the travel agency, he had 'hmph-ed' with a small smile on his face, "Face it. Taelea is correct as I am tired, she is tired and can you not tell that the others are tired… We stay here for the night." now heading in without another word.
Slowly the others were heading in, Tidus carefully following Yuna as best he could while Kimahri was still on bodyguard duty to her. A moment later, Sarah was at my side, calm and even smiling up at me…but the kind of smile that made me worry.
Not giving it much thought, I turned my attention back onto heading inside, Wakka being the last and hesitant of the group.
'Finally… Food, rest and no more walking' smiling to myself. The coming of another end to a day in Spira, the first for Sarah as Salanica and still more to come as this was still just the beginning part of the journey.
AN: Finally…I got myself into a mood for updating. I truly am sorry that it has yet again taken so long. My thoughts have been on all sorts throughout this year and will continue to focus on all sorts of things as it becomes closer to the time of when I go to University and sooner to deal with my last year in College. I do wish to be able to continue this story and even maybe finish it, especially since there are future chapters that I have already typed parts of.
Constructive criticism appreciated but of course NO FLAMERS! If you really don't like it so much then don't bother to read or comment. Also any techniques of getting through the slow parts which are my main cause for being put off updates are even more appreciated.
I wish all other Fanfic writers the best and to not be like me with slow updates n.n'''