This story will eventually get completed, but I'm betting it's going to be after twenty more chapters...so maybe by 2020 this will be done, knowing me.
Thanks always to Twiliprincess who makes this story a hundred time better with her wonderful skills!
::Chapter Nineteen: Broken Wonderland::
"Seriously Auron? Didn't your mom ever tell you to let sleeping fiends lie?" I asked sarcastically, crouching next to Auron, who was leaning on a tree, waiting for Spherimorph to change elements again. For a fiend made out of freaking water, when it decided to play Bunny Foo-Foo and it pounded us in the head, it really hurt! My body ached from being pummeled by the fiend and I desperately just wanted to flop into to cool shallow pool-but there was no telling when Spherimorph would change elements and Leviathan's Tidal Wave became ineffective. Or worse, heal the stupid thing.
A month or so ago, I would have said screw it and done so anyways. It looked like Belgemine may have instilled a sense or maturity, or whatever, after all. I was still going to yell at her when we caught up with her. Stupid, meanie Summoner.
"Jecht left a memento here," he answered simply. "Tidus needs to see it."
Leviathan countered the fiend, slamming against him by whipping his tail through the blob of water, his razor sharp fin slicing through and hitting the stone core of the fiend.
"The same guy who struck the shoopuf?" Auron's quiet sound of agreement was almost lost in the fiend's strange cry, but my mind was already turning away from the fight and once more to the confusing mess of Jecht, Tidus, Auron, and how the three existed a thousand years ago and now in about the same situations. "Where did he come from? I mean, what town, or island, or whatever?"
Before Auron could answer, Spherimorph's core shifted again, magic sparking across its surface as it changed elements. My question was forgotten as we rushed forward while Yuna dismissed the Aeon. I fired Penny as rapidly as I could, for all the damage her bullets caused. Which, by the way, was nil. At most, the fiend's watery shell lightly rippled from the shot, but little else.
Not that anyone else did much damage for that matter. Not even when Kimahri charged with a fierce roar, swinging his spear through its shell with all his strength did the fiend act if it was even a little wounded. Even Auron had trouble eliciting a reaction from it. Magic was the only way to hurt it. And here I was, fresh out.
Stupid magic.
Spherimorph decided to make my day worse as it transformed into a cylinder once more and homed in on me. I scrambled out of its way, but to no avail. Its watery yet-solid mass slammed into me like a ton of bricks, shoving me into the ground. When it finally lifted itself off my back, I spluttered for breath as I jerked out of the shallow pool and desperately searched for Penny, knocked out of my grasp. I didn't care if she did little to no damage to the fiend, I was going to open fire on it until my bad mood went away. Target practice!
Except my machina started to appear as if it were malfunctioning. The decorative grooves in its barrel had started to glow and bright blue sparks of electricity start to race along the pathways. Great, first she jammed during a fight with a chimera, and now it was going to explode on me! Was my day going to get any worse?!
"Rikku!" I yelled across the battlefield, where she was giving Wakka one of her Al Bhed potions. Not that Wakka knew what her 'special' potions were, thankfully. She gave me a worried look, probably expecting me to need a dose, but I waved glowing Penny in the air with a frantic look. She held up a finger once she realized I wasn't on the verge of passing out, and thankfully didn't appear especially worried about the machina's new look.
Okay. Good. Obviously this wasn't a sign impending catastrophic failure. I think. Please, Alexander, don't let this thing blow up in my face.
"Please tell me this isn't going to go boom," I begged once she ran over to me, Wakka once more distracted with tossing his spiked blitzball towards the fiend.
She shook her head, "No, it's not going to explode. Promise. It means it's fully charged…" she trailed off before sighing, recognizing the confusion on my face. Why in the world did it have to charge? And how?! I certainly didn't have any socket I could plug it into at the moment. "Right, you didn't read those instructions."
"Can't!" I reminded her defensively.
"Shh!" she hissed, as if anyone else was going to pay attention to us while they had Spherimorph to deal with. "The Bahho model draws and stores kinetic energy and mana of its user. Once it's repository is full it can fire the gathered energy."
"The fiend isn't going to be defeated by small talk!" Tidus yelled back at us. The blitzball player looked more than a bit frustrated as he gave us a pointed look. Apparently I wasn't the only one getting annoyed by the fact our weapons did little to no good.
"Important girl talk!" Rikku shouted back, "No, wait! Brainstorming! Just give us a second, okay?!"
He gave her the same look he gave me, an annoyed look that befitted someone more like Lulu or even Auron. I really wish he would keep his upbeat attitude more in fights and not be all Shuyin-like.
Rikku pushed those thoughts out of my mind as she pulled Penny out of my hand. "Here, see this little button?" she pointed to a small button I thought had merely been a part of the decal. "Push this and pull the trigger. Boom! It should do a fair bit of damage, at least, since it's part magic."
"Probably not," I grumbled under my breath as I accepted the machina back. More than likely it was kinetic energy. Still, I turned and took aim at the stubborn fiend that still refused to let us know what it current weakness was. I'll admit I gave a second of deliberation of if Wakka could be 'accidently' caught in the crossfire before the redhead unknowingly moved out of the way.
Now, Penny wasn't the a sleek, precise kind of gun like Bessie had been. And Bessie really hadn't been, considering she was a shotgun and all. Penny had always fired like the mini-cannon she looked like, and it had only been familiarity with kickback that prevented me from me falling down each time.
The 'blast' looked like a Bahamut's Mega Flare, and felt exactly the same as it knocked me once more into the ground. My butt splashed into the cool water as the stream of sparkling white energy blasted through the fiend, creating a rather nicely-sized hole in its shell. It sputtered and screamed unnaturally as it had been hit by magic while water rushed in to fill the hole. "Holy Judgment," I swore, more than a little awestruck. Did I seriously just do that? That was so awesome!
I didn't see the Blizzara spell until I felt every damp part of me freeze. Which, considering our environment, meant being encased in a ice prison for a moment before it shattered and stabbed me with thousands of tiny icy needles.
Well, at least we knew what element to hit it with now. Lulu's Firas rained down on the fiend in a desperate attempt to kill it before it could change elements again. Usually that had meant the fiend's attention was on her.
Not this time. Instead, the Spherimorph ignored Lulu's black magic, the small Fire Spells Yuna knew, and even Kimahri's trick of fire-breathing. Despite the damage all three were causing it, its attention seemed focused solely on me. Apparently blowing a hole in it was the sure-fire way to gain its undivided attention.
A proper Guardian would have stood their ground and fought back. I knew that from the voice in my head that sounded like an eerie and disturbing combination of Auron, Belgemine, and even Yunalesca. I ignored that piece of advice and scrambled to my feet and ran as fast as I could away from it. I was not going to be pounded into the dirt again! Or lake. Whatever!
The chase probably lasted only for a dozen or so minutes, but in all honestly it felt like forever as I clambered over fallen tree limbs, stomping through the calf-deep water in a mad dash away from the looming fiend. From the outside I'm sure it looked hilarious: me running away from the fiendish sphere of water, while the two mages were casting spell after spell after it. I'm not sure what the rest were doing, but swore I heard Rikku, Tidus, and Wakka's laughter ring through the forest before the Spherimorph caught up with me and once more slammed me into the mud.
Then everything went black.
X.x.X
Auron said nothing as he looked down at me, but it didn't help my embarrassment any.
"So, let me guess," I started out as I looked back up at him while the rain continued to dance around us. "You saw that, huh?"
"It would have been hard not to," he replied, amusement tinting his words. and if I didn't feel so silly, I would have enjoyed it. As it was, it only made my face feel warmer against the raindrops.
I still offered a grin and jumped out of the puddle I had landed in and onto my feet. Act like it was all a part of the plan. "It was pretty amazing, wasn't it? I call it 'Terra's Terrific Slide!'"
The was a slight snort of laughter, "I'd call it not knowing better than to run after it rains."
X.x.X
The fluttery feeling of white magic brought me peacefully into the waking world. As peaceful as the white magic was, I was still completely disoriented while I stared groggily at my muddied feet. All I could think clearly was how I really needed a new pair of shoes. My poor sandals looked like they were about to fall apart at the seams.
"Lady Terra?" Yuna's soft voice brook through the fuzziness. I looked up at her mix-matched eyes, slowly recalling my dismal defeat.
"Aw man," I groaned as I rubbed my face. "Sorry Yuna." I wasn't sure if I meant passing out after my face had been plowed into the mud, or for my antics at trying to avoid the fiend in the first place. Either way, there was a very faint but amused smile on her lips as she gripped my hand tightly in one of hers in a reassuring gesture.
"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad you're okay."
Her response was so drastically different from what I had come to expect from Belgemine that I was stunned for a second. I mean, I've always known Yuna was, like, a million times nicer than Belgemine, but I still kind of expected some kind rebuke or reprimand. But no, I get a Summoner that healed me completely, and looked very much like she was torn between honestly concerned and trying not to laugh.
Wait, was that Belgemine's plan? She had hinted that I was to help Yuna and then yet dragged me away from the younger Summoner, which had left me more than a little confused. Had she abandoned me knowing that Yuna would be there and would readily accept me into her fold? If not outright demand me to come along for my own safety?
Even if that was the case, it was still a completely mean and crapshot move.
"You're way too nice, Yuna!" I half-heartedly complained before giving in to impulse and giving her a hug. I wasn't even that surprised when she returned the gesture without little reservation despite the mud that plastered my clothing and everything else. Yeah, I would happily follow this Summoner to whatever was at the end of this pilgrimage.
"Ooh! Free hugs!" Before either of us could react, Rikku all but glomped her cousin from behind, sending us careening into the muddy ground. The wind was briefly knocked from my lungs with both the Summoner and Al Bhed's weight crushing down on me before Yuna quickly moved and displaced her cousin and dirtied her otherwise pristine dress. Rikku wasn't untouched by the mud either, in fact she landed in the mud on her back with a loud, gross-sounding 'squelch' that was honestly the funniest sound I had ever heard. A snort escaped my lips about the same time I heard Yuna's delicate chuckle and even Rikku's boisterous laugh. I was somewhat aware of everyone else's bemused and worried expression, but at the same time it had been so long since I had actually laugh, I couldn't stop. From the fact that Rikku had flopped back on her back, howling with laughter and Yuna was nearly doubled over, it seemed like I wasn't the only one.
"You guys are nuts," Wakka eventually called out, "You know that, right?"
"I'm still confused," I heard Tidus not-so-quietly mutter. "What are they laughing about?"
"Same thing you and Yuna were laughing about back in Luca. Nothing."
"If you three are finished, perhaps we should continue?" Lulu asked dryly, as was somehow the only one of our group not covered in mud, though the fur collar on her dress still looked damp. She probably cheated and used her black magic to clean up. Cheater.
"Yes, of course," Yuna answered, her smile fading slightly. Lulu must have noticed as well, her own teasing expression darkened slightly and she appeared almost regretful. Rikku's words about Yuna's betrothal echoed in my mind as I watched the Summoner stand, a distant yet resigned look on her face. I didn't care if marriage was nothing like had been, it still shouldn't make the bride-to-be look as if it was a death sentence.
Rikku bounced to her feet, a cheerful smile plastered to her face as she stuck to her cousin's side and filled the silence with chatter while Kimahri once more claimed his place as Yuna's shadow. I was tempted to join them in trying to cheer the Summoner up, but decided to get more information about this wedding.
Besides, I hadn't irritated Wakka in a while.
"Did you want a hug too, Lulu?" I asked and quickly wrapped my arms around the mage from the side before she could answer. Wakka started laughing when she tried to push me off with a huff of annoyance, which grew when I wouldn't let go. It only lasted for a moment before a water spell splashed down on my head, ice cold and somehow missing the mage completely. I yelped and jumped back, before using the opportunity to at least clean of my face. "Thanks! I need that!"
Lulu glowered at me, "You criticize Sir Auron for provoking fiends, one would think you would heed your own advice."
"Yeah, but you're not a fiend. Plus, you didn't have any mud on you so I'd figure it only be right to share."
Her look darkened while Wakka was still chuckling. "I'm starting to think Sin really messed with your head, ya know? Machina, blatant disregard for Yevon and losing your Summoner. And now provoking both Sir Auron and Lu? You sure you're not suicidal?"
"Nah, Auron doesn't mind," I said cheekily. Speaking of which, I turned around and waved at him at Tidus behind us. Tidus half-heartedly returned the gestured, about as lost in his thoughts as Yuna. Auron meanwhile shook his head slightly, his partial smile not completely hidden.
"I still say you're crazy."
"I said I wasn't suicidal, I never claimed I wasn't crazy," I pointed out with a grin at the red-head before trying to skirt around the subject. It was way too easy to devolve into an argument with him, mostly because it was so fun. "But anyways, about this wedding…."
"Let me guess, you heard it from the Guado," Lulu sighed, confusing me.
"Huh? Why would I have heard it from them?"
"'Cause they were telling everyone before Yuna even made her choice," Wakka grumbled, crossing his arms and glaring. It was actually kinda strange, considering it wasn't either me or the Al Bhed he was upset with. "I know she decided to say yes, but still!"
"Oh…" I was quiet for a moment, picking my brain. Why would the Guado care? Did something elese happen in Guadosalam that I hadn't heard about? I finally gave up and asked what I thought was the obvious question, "Why would they care?"
The look from both said I should have known that fact already. Crap.
"Because it is Maester Seymour who proposed," Lulu explained, using that thankfully patient-teacher tone of voice. Thank Alexander she wasn't like Belgemine, who would be making me feel like an idiot right now. Still, I didn't want to push my luck, so I decided just to pretend as if I understood how the two were related and nod my head.
So, Seymour was somehow connected to both the Guado and the Lord Jyscal guy. I admit, I couldn't really remember if I had met the guy despite the name sounding familiar.
"You're as bad as Tidus," Lulu pointed out less than a minute later, sounding wearied. "Maester Seymour is the leader of the Guado and is half-Guado himself. Surely you remember him from operation Mi'ihen? Or when you were blatantly disrespectful in asking for passage for Lady Belgemine and yourself?"
All I really remember from operation Mi'ihen was Sin, and punching Auron (and that was more of a vague did-I-really-do-that? feeling.) But then the image of the creepy blue-haired Maester joined in among the carnage, along with the baldy that had hugged Auron despite Auron obviously disliking him.
I think his name was Kenny or something.
"Oh yeah! Okay." There was a pause before another idea struck me, "Hey wait, why's she marrying him? I thought that was the first time they had met!"
"It was," Lulu confirmed. "But they are marrying for the unity of Spira and to bring some happiness to the people."
"...Seriously?" My scoff earned strange looks from the pair. "What? Yuna's pretty and nice and everything, but how would her getting married to someone she just met and obviously doesn't like make people happy?"
"They would see a Maester of Yevon and a Summoner, and would assume love was involved. When times are grim, any bit of joy is cherished and celebrated."
"I suppose...but it's a lie." Something inside twisted at the thought. Lying to bring hope and joy. Why did that sound familiar? And why did it irritate me so much? "I don't think that's right."
"Hey, it's Yuna's choice, ya?" Wakka butted in. "She think it's a good idea, and it ain't our place to say otherwise. We just need to be there to support her. That's what Guardians do, ya know?"
"Not when it's a stupid idea," I rebuked hotly. "We're her friends, and where I come from, when your friend gets a stupid idea in their head and thinks it's brilliant, you gotta make them see sense, even if it means beating it into their head!"
"She's not just our friend, she's our Summoner!" Wakka argued predictably, and in the background I heard Lulu sigh yet again. "That comes before all else!"
I shook my head. "A stupid idea is a stupid idea, no matter who thinks it up! I don't care if they were an actual Summoner or not, but if Lenore pulled that, or even one of our friends, I would've argued with them!" I had, though usually they were usually the ones telling me that my ideas sucked.
Not that I was telling Wakka that.
"It is a Summoner's privilege," Auron spoke, scaring the bejeebers out of me and causing me to jump with a small scream. I had been so caught up in the argument that I had failed to notice he and Tidus had drawn close enough to join in. "As long as she journeys, she may do what she wishes."
"But…" I tried to argue, and received a sharp look in return. Obvious Auron-speak for 'that's final. Don't argue with me because you won't win.' Another strange similarity between him and my Auron. I was so worked up over the issue, I forewent any common sense and challenged his look with one of my own.
Guess who won? Yeah, not me. "ARGH! Fine! I'll shut up!" I threw my arms up before settling into a pout.
One of these days, I would actually win an argument. I swear.