Chapter 22
'Well, I'd hoped that since we're here anyways
We could end up saying
Things we've always needed to say
So we could end up stringing.
Now the story's played out like this
Just like a paperback novel
Let's rewrite an ending that fits
Instead of a Hollywood Horror"
-Someday (Nickelback)
Alice dressed quickly, no longer needing to worry about Auron and able to concentrate on her clothing. Durable jeans and a t-shirt were her garments of choice, not quite knowing what she'd need. She shrugged on a jacket over her shirt – she hadn't looked at what the flowers were doing today. They'd quieted earlier, but you never quite knew what they were going to do.
Slinging a small purse over her shoulder and shoving the key inside of it, she almost collided with Tidus. "Whoa!" the blonde warned, barely skirting around her. "Watch out!"
She grimaced. "Sorry." Paying the collision no mind, she jogged easily to the front door. She laced up the tennis shoes placed there, tying them before Auron arrived there. "You're late," she reminded him, looking up at him as she finished her last knot.
He grinned. "I'll try to be closer to on time next time." He offered her his hand, pulling her onto her feet. "Where are we off to?" Like a gentleman, he opened the door for her, closing it behind them.
"Someplace that no one ever goes." She rubbed her eyes, seeing the complete lack of people outside. "You know, this would have been much easier if we had . . . thrown a barbeque or something." She crossed her arms, leaning back on her heels. "I don't know where no one goes. You got a clue?"
Auron smiled an impish smile, making her raise her eyebrows. "That's why I was late. Leana was worried about you, so she gave me an idea to give to you. She says that no one has ever gone by the tall silver bridge at the edge of the East Field."
Alice looked around. "Silver bridge. Got it. I say we go find out what's up with that bridge." She grinned her broad smile, lighting up her pale face. "I swear, this is the most optimistic I've been all day."
Auron threw his arm around her shoulders fondly, nudging her forward as he walked beside her. "I can't say that I can blame you for that one though. You've had a rough morning. Anyways, to the silver bridge we go." He hiked his sweatshirt up, grateful that the flowers had decided to slumber from their spell-casting today. His red sneakers wouldn't be soaked today, nor would they be scorched. The sun, artificial or not, shone brightly, and he placed his sunglasses on his nose. "Silver bridge . . . . Maybe the Wizard is over there," he teased, rolling his eyes.
Alice giggled. "You've certainly got the shoes for it." The familiar fairy tale that had been made into sphere form and song notation had always been one of her favorites. "I'm just the Lion – I need a little bit more courage."
"No, you're not," he argued, rolling his eyes. "You're the good witch. You know, the one who helps out the girl with the ruby slippers . . ." His memory was faltering on the children's tale. "Oh man, it's been forever since I've seen that sphere in the Sphere Theater."
"Did you go there a lot?" she asked, looking up at him with interest.
He chuckled a little bit, reminiscing. "When I was much younger. After I refused to marry Dahlia, I went back to Luca to see a Sphere, but I think that was the last time." He looked down at her. "I think we should petition to get one here."
She chortled. "I don't think that would work. Close though," she commended, swiping some hair behind her ear. "Anyways, we're almost there. What's the plan?"
Auron pressed his mouth together, pondering the best plan of action. He tended to forget things like that when she was around. "I . . . don't know what to expect. We can't really plan without anticipating something."
Alice bit her bottom lip. "Lenne hinted that it was going to be dangerous. I don't know what to expect though." She always could dance her way out of the situation.
Auron paused for a moment. A large blade materialized itself in his hands. "I'm getting better at this," he murmured proudly. "Whatever happens, we can deal with it. Because I'm guessing that you're not going to allow me to go alone." He'd figured it was a hopeless case, but he might have been wrong.
Alice raised her eyebrows skeptically. "No. Not even an option," she said flatly. He nodded. "Now, let's go." She darted to the bridge quickly, somewhere between anxious, nervous, and excited. Different emotions kept mixing themselves inside of her.
The bridge wasn't really made out of silver. It was a white stone, arcing high into the sky. She shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked up at the steep angle. "Wow," she muttered, impressed. It had looked so much smaller from farther away.
Auron joined her on the patch of grass before the bridge. "That's . . . extraordinary." Alice nodded mutely. "Are you ready?" he asked, reaching for her hand. His eyes were concerned as they locked with hers.
She looked at the ground for a moment, pausing at the first few inches of the bridge before looking behind her. She knew where her home was. She was with someone she loved. What could possibly go wrong? "Let's go," she said, no regard to how her heart fluttered in her chest (and how she knew it had nothing to do with love this time) and how her mouth suddenly felt dry.
A/N: So sorry - it's been almost a full month! I hope everyone missed the story, but not too much!
Finally getting into real plot! Yay!
Inspiration - All of 'Dark Horse' (Nickelback)
Read and review? Por favor? Kudosai? Please?