Lady of Fortune

Chapter Nineteen

Much to Baralai's annoyance, the Clan Leaders arrived the next day. Gippal had come to represent the interests of the Machine Faction and as Rikku's future husband. With them was the oldest Al Bhed that Rikku had ever seen. Her skin was dark brown and wrinkled from the sun, her hair a glowing white blonde.

They were escorted deep into Bevelle to the chamber where the egg was being stored. Gippal held Rikku's hand and made idle commentary about where various hallways went or if they were dead ends.

At the sight of the egg, the clan leaders of the Leviathan gasped and murmured among themselves.

The elderly woman walked over to the circle, looking down at it, she smiled. "Our Alchemist has left us a path." She said.

Baralai stepped forward. "Wait," he held up a hand.

The woman ignored him and lightly stepped into the circle, looking like she was dancing as she moved through the lines.

"She won't hurt it. Relax, son." Cid said. "She can't hurt it."

The Priestess eyes widened in amazement as the old woman put her hand on the egg and magic gathered around her, white magic. "A white mage?"

Cid sighed. "One of our last and she has no apprentices." He shook his head.

"Many of our mages were killed over the years during the rule of Sin," Rikku said gently. "Our white mages, those with the potential to be Summoners, were hit harder."

The woman patted the egg. "The egg is healthy, if a bit cold. Our tales say they liked to nest in near hot springs in order to keep their eggs warm." She nodded. "Lady Rikku has done a solid job on her circle. It will maintain the egg's overall health."

Rikku bit her lip. "I could add a warmth element for the water going over it."

"A few heat lamps would do the trick. We would want to be careful not to over heat and cook it." The woman said. She lightly walked back out. "All we have are tales and not exact science." She shook her head. "Even we have lost much."

"But it is a Leviathan egg," Rin said, sounding a bit dubious.

"It is," the old woman nodded.

The clan leaders of the Leviathan made happy noises among themselves. One stepped forward. "This is no place to raise a baby leviathan. Once this egg has hatched, the baby should be moved to a friendlier environment."

Baralai stiffened.

"It will need a great deal of care and attention. It will have to learn to hunt on its own and be taught that Shoopufs, as big and slow as they are, aren't food. Nor are people." The Al Bhed continued. "This baby will need a great deal of water to swim in, water that is relatively warm but deep and without many dangerous fiends that would try to kill it."

"You just want this egg for yourselves." Baralai accused.

"We wish to see our totem free and growing happily and in peace alongside our people. Yes." The clan leader said.

"We'll wish to study it and keep it healthy." Another said.

"And if there is one egg, there may be more. We'll want to find another so there can be a small population again." The first said.

Cid spoke up. "We wish what is best for the creature inside the egg, Praetor."

"That is a dragon," Baralai pointed at it. "A dangerous beast."

"A beast that will have no choice but to be fed by men and women, bathed by men and women, will swim with men and women." Rikku said. "It will be socialized by men and women. It will be dangerous and in no way tame, but it will be safer and perhaps thrive than tossing it into the ocean and leaving it alone."

"That is the last thing we will allow." The clan leader said. "Please, understand our position, Praetor Baralai."

Baralai crossed his arms. "If you can't have it, no one can have it."

Rikku sighed.

The Priestess grimaced. "That's not what the Al Bhed are saying, Praetor Baralai."

"Everyone will have a chance to be around this leviathan. Probably a good idea," Cid rubbed his chin. "Wouldn't want it to get the idea that Guado, Ronso or Hypello are food. We're just saying that Bevelle doesn't have the water sources to sustain a creature as big as this leviathan is going to be. Now you can get your panties in a bunch over it, or accept that while we'll let Bevelle have guardianship over the egg. Once the egg has been hatched, it will need a better home."

"Like the Moonflow," One said.

"All the more reason to teach it that Shoopuf and those of us with two arms and two legs aren't food." Cid said.

"We will discuss this with High Summoner Yuna, Maevyn Nooj, Commander Lucil and the Summoner Donna when they arrive." The High Priestess said. "They also deserve to have input. I have sent invitations to Elder Kimhari and Master Tromell as well. I haven't received their replies yet."

"But, High Priestess." Baralai gaped at her.

"I want to see this door my daughter found." Cid said. "Before we go."

"Doors, Pops."

"Doors." Cid corrected himself. "She's so smart, she out does her old man from time to time."

Gippal rolled his eyes. "Given you two studied completely different disciplines." He trailed off at Cid's look.

Rikku sighed.

The Priestess led them out. "It really is quite fascinating to watch her work." She said idly to Cid. "Though I don't understand anything of what she is doing."

"I don't either, but it looks pretty." Cid said.

Rikku flushed.

The Priestess led them to the library. The Al Bhed murmured at the shelves and shelves of books.

"This way," Rikku said. She walked over to one of the doors. "You see, the main design is in the floor in order to catch the patterns of light coming through the ceiling." She knelt down. "These are wells for holding items. They combine and key the lock on the door." She stood up and ran her hand along the door edges. "Despite being so big, the doors open and close quickly."

Gippal leaned against the wall. This wasn't anything he understood.

Cid knelt down and ran his fingers over the metal inlay. "Pretty I suppose." He looked up at the ceiling. "Do you think all of them need ceilings like that? Seems like a lot of work."

Rikku shrugged. "If they use alchemy, there will be a key somewhere, either the ceiling like this one or in the design itself. It will be evident to other alchemists."

"Huh." Cid said. "Interesting system. What's behind the doors?"

"More books," Rikku said. "A catalog system of the books."

Cid rubbed his chin again. "Anything useful?"

Rikku grimaced. "It's in an ancient language, Pops. Unless we can translate it, they might as well be gibberish."

Cid nodded. "Well, I'm sure we've got young folk just eager to do so. Sands, Dario has a couple at that camp of his as soon as they sniffed out the fact the ruins had writing in them."

Mentally Rikku started swearing. "That's great." She said instead.

"They're getting more in each other's way than actually solving anything." Cid stood up. "But it hasn't been that long." His eyes narrowed. "Course it didn't take too long for your Chocobo Knights to set up a chocobo back gunner's gauntlet outside the port."

Gippal brightened. "A chocobo back gunner's gauntlet?"

Rikku wrinkled her nose. "Yes."

"What is this and why did no one tell me about it?" Gippal rubbed his hands together.

"Because I wanted to surprise you on a date to the Calm Lands." Rikku put her hands on her hips. "And now it's ruined." She pouted.

"Oh." Gippal stopped. "Forgotten. What were we talking about? No. Wait. It wasn't important. Back to these doors that only alchemists can open and books we don't know how to read."

Cid put a hand over his eyes. "You two are so close to the Calm Lands right now, why don't you just get going?"

"Sure thing." Rikku beamed at him. "Thanks for being so understanding. Have Mep show you the locked shelves." She grabbed Gippal's hand.

"Locked shelves," Gippal yelped. "Rikku wait! That sounds interesting."

"No. You. Me. Date. I have to come back here tomorrow when Yuna shows up." Rikku told him and pulled him towards the lift.

"Kids," Cid muttered. "You got to love them."

The Priestess watched them go bemused. "How long have they been together?"

"Long enough all my hair has fallen out," Cid grumbled.

"Not my fault!" Rikku shouted down. "Anikki gets half the blame."

"Rikku!" Gippal grabbed her and pulled her back into the lift. "You're going to fall."

"Not with you around to catch me."

Cid sighed.

The Priestess smiled. "Let me show you the locked shelves. Mep relayed to me that your daughter thought they were shelves for rare books with climate control."

"That sounds interesting." Cid said. "Show me the way."

The Next Day

Rikku wiped at her brow. "Angle it a little more to the left." She said and pulled against a large light fixture that she and the other Al Bhed workers were installing in the leviathan egg's chamber.

There were three other lights already installed, turned on and aimed at the egg. And because of the constant water washing over the egg, the air had turned quite humid. The workers were sweating as were the guards. They'd put the electrical source for the lamps outside of the chamber so it wouldn't get damaged.

One of the workers turned the light on. "That should do it." He said in Al Bhed.

"Thank goodness," Rikku leaned against the light and panted. "These things aren't light."

There was some general laughter as the others started packing up. They saluted her and jogged out the door, greeting somebody as they walked down the hall. Rikku picked up a meter and checked the temperature of the air. It was steadily rising. The meter beeped as the temperature rose.

Yuna, Tidus and the members of the Youth League that had been invited stepped into the room.

Rikku turned and smiled at them. "Welcome to the improved Leviathan Egg chamber, now heated for all your baby water dragon egg needs."

Tidus gulped. "That's a water dragon egg?"

"Yep." Rikku beamed.

Paine crossed her arms. "The egg was doing fine before without all of this."

"Sure, it seemed to be doing okay, but there's no reason it can't be comfy and cozy." Rikku shrugged. "These lights are the type we use on our ships and at our salvage sites, and things like Leblanc's concert, I'm sorry, Yuna's concert. They radiate a lot of heat. In fact, a lack of heat may explain why the egg has been dormant so long."

Paine shifted on her feet. "It just seems like a risky experiment."

"We have workers that go near the volcano vents," Rikku gestured at the egg, "where the leviathans according to story had their breeding grounds, and they know the temperatures of the water and what's safe for humans. Nothing above safe for humans and the egg should be fine. Eggs need incubation."

"Didn't we fight a leviathan, here, in Bevelle, twice?" Tidus asked. "I mean, the zombie version counts, right?"

"We fought a dragon," Rikku rolled her eyes. "Leviathans don't have wings. This was probably a replacement for Evrae."

Yuna came closer.

"Woah," Rikku stopped her. "There is a circle powering the spells keeping the egg alive."

"A circle?" Yuna blinked.

"Alchemist circle," Rikku said. "Look down."

Yuna stared down. There was a chalk circle on the ground filled with designs. It glowed but it was still chalk. "That's chalk. That's powering the spells?"

Paine frowned. "Yeah, won't the humidity cause condensation and wear the circle away."

Rikku shook her head. "I sprayed a sealant over it. Once the egg hatches, I'll come back with a solvent and clean it all up." She smiled at Yuna. "Would you like to go and touch the egg?"

Yuna blinked hard. "Yeah."

"All right, follow me." Rikku said and took her hand, leading her through the circle. She let Yuna's hand go and put her own on the egg. "It's warming up nicely."

Yuna reached up and slowly put a hand on the egg. "It's warm!" She murmured. She jumped as water splashed on her hand and moved it away. "I don't understand. Why the water and regeneration spells?"

"Magic," Donna said.

"The egg is like Macalania Woods. With the magic of water fading away, Macalania Woods fade, the waters of Mt. Gagazet recede." Rikku said softly. "And this egg loses life."

Yuna bit her lip.

Donna crossed her arms. "Why all the Al Bhed guards?" She asked. "We ran into them on almost every crossing."

Rikku sighed. "They're members of the Leviathan Clan. They consider it their sacred honor and duty to guard the egg of the totem creature of their families."

"This egg is important to the Al Bhed?" Tidus sounded shocked.

"Evrae was important to us as well. A dragon!" Rikku said. "The Dragon Clan gave us permission to end Evrae's life. They hated seeing Evrae cooped up in Bevelle, tormented into doing Yevon's bidding. The dragon was old and in pain. He should have been flying free wherever he pleased." Rikku's hand curled into a fist against the egg. "He was a prisoner with no way to survive on his own in the wild. He'd been a captive too long. So, yes, we freed him. We offered him a merciful death." Tears sprung into Rikku's eyes. "The last dragon."

Cid stepped into the room. "This egg has put fire in our hearts. If there's one egg, there may be more. We have young folk talking about expeditions and all of them dying to come here to look at the egg. And plenty more volunteering to help raise and train it to survive out there in the wild."

Word had spread quickly.

Nooj shifted his hand around the grip of his cane. "I see how this is a marvelous thing." He said slowly.

Cid put a hand on Nooj's shoulder. "Son, no one is going to use this baby as a weapon of war."

Nooj looked over at him. "You say that, but it feels to me that the Al Bhed are willing to start a war over having it."

Cid shook his head. "This is a sign of hope for all our futures. Now, if Bevelle had kept this news to themselves or we weren't discussing letting all peoples have their chance at seeing and helping it. Then, yes, war would likely be on the horizon. Leviathans are dangerous if provoked or trained to make war on others."

Nooj's brow furrowed.

"They also can be socialized." Cid said. "We Al Bhed lived beside creatures such as this one for centuries before Sin. If we did it once, we can and will do it again." He looked at the egg. "I would love to see all of our people find all the great creatures of Spira again. But that may not be possible." He sighed. "So, we'll do our best to look after this one." He smacked Nooj on the back.

Nooj rocked back and forth on his feet. He struggled, but maintained his footing. Looking at Cid didn't prepare him for how strong the older man was.

Rikku rolled her eyes, shook her head and looked at the ceiling.

Yuna put her hand on the egg. "But," She turned to face the leaders. "If the magic in Macalania fades, it won't matter how much care we put into this egg. It will fade too."

"Yes, Yunie, it will." Rikku said softly.

"But we can't stop it." Yuna turned and fisted her hands. "That's not fair."

Donna shook her head. "There was nothing ever said about life being fair."

Yuna turned to Rikku.

Rikku smiled at her. "We're doing everything we can."

Donna sighed. "This isn't an apply force type of problem. It's a magic problem."

Rikku grimaced. "Tromell and the Guado have given up on the Farplane Viewer. At best, right now they say they may collapse it. The strain on the viewer is getting too great to try and keep it up. Otherwise, several teams of them have gone to Macalania to see if they can measure the rate the forest is fading, how fast the magic is leaving for the Farplane. It might not be measurable given the forest's massive area, but they want to try."

Cid nodded. "And Gippal's got people going around to all the temples installing those metal caps like he's got at Djose. We can make the inner sanctums safe to be inside. It's the least we can do."

Donna tapped her chin. "We don't know if that will stem the tide of pyreflies, but it's a start."

"The Ronso have agreed to try and see if they and the Al Bhed together can find a way to get into Macalania Temple." Rikku paused. "I think they're enjoying mountain climbing or in this case ice wall climbing with our equipment."

Nooj frowned and turned to Donna. "You seem well informed on this situation."

"Once Rikku told me about the problem, I offered my advice as a former Summoner and as a magic user." Donna said looking down her nose at him.

Gippal stepped into the room. "The cap over Bahamut is installed. But we're at a loss on how to do anything to Vegnagun's chamber. It's too big and there is nothing for anything we put down to get it grip on, so to speak." He scratched the back of his neck. "Right now, we're settling for slamming the doors shut and welding them closed."

"Bar them off, we might need to get into the area at some point," Rikku said.

Baralai's eyes bugged. "This is my temple."

"Correction," the High Priestess said. "It is my temple. I asked the Al Bhed to come and close those areas off for the safety of everyone, Praetor."

Baralai crossed his arms. "Why am I even a leader, High Priestess? You're making all the decisions of late."

"I've been making decisions because you haven't." The Priestess snapped. "You're supposed to be leading the people, Praetor, and listening to their concerns, working with the Youth League to create a peaceful future for all of us. I will make what decisions I feel benefit this temple and all the temples as I see fit. You must learn to care for all the people, not just those in the temples. If you don't, then, then, we're no better than before Sin was destroyed." The Priestess picked up the skirt of her robes. "Excuse me. I have work to be done." She nodded at them all and marched out.

Gippal moved out of her way. He watched her go and once she was out of earshot said. "Smooth, Baralai, real smooth."

Baralai flushed.

Gippal shook his head. "Okay, I'll go tell them to just bar the doors per my ladies wishes." He mock bowed at Rikku.

She blew him a kiss.

Gippal caught it and sauntered away.

Barthello's brow furrowed and he stepped back to watch Gippal leave. He frowned.

Donna lowered her voice. "Something wrong?"

Barthello shook his head. "Nothing."

Lucil tilted her head. "This is fascinating. Though I'm not sure what it has to do with me. But thank you for showing us all the same."

Elma bounced on her toes. "I wonder what it's going to look like."

Rikku shrugged. "We have artist interpretations but we aren't sure ourselves. Sorry, Elma."

Elma waved her hand. "No matter."

"A moment of your time, Major." Lucil said.

"Sure," Rikku nodded. "Let me lead you out, Yuna." She said.

Yuna's brow furrowed and she mouthed. 'Major?'

Paine widened her eyes and shook her head. She didn't know either.

Yuna stepped over the edge of the circle.