Lots of feedback.. I sorry Auron is so out of character. -_- I guess I
could finish this story, then start again whilst attempting to keep him
colder if you want. My other apologies on the mistakes in names and such…
-_- I just kinda wanted to explore the possibilities.
Chapter 9 Evrae
The Airship was quiet that morning. The steady thrum of the engines droned out the beeping and chirping of the cockpit's machina. Dawn broke slowly outside, dim rays of scarlet light ascending above the clouds. Several floors up, a single figure rolled to his side, smooth arms wrapping around heavy fabric. Breaths soft and even, the man's face was pressed gently into the comfort of a pillow, facing a young Al Bhed.
Rikku was sitting on the floor several feet away, back resting heavily on the metal wall. Her thoughts were a cascading river, never stopping and churning out of control. Yuna was missing. Gods, she could be anywhere. She could be in danger. Home was destroyed in an inferno of death and pain, destroyed by her own people. All the work was for nothing. And Auron… Auron was dead. Or so he had said. Fully awake, Rikku pondered the concept. His heart was beating. His flesh was warm. His breath drew to and from his lungs. He did have feelings, regardless if he hid them or not. How could he be dead? It made no sense.
Sighing, she gently held her head in her hands. Tysh ed all to hell. Life was so complicated. She pondered her bare hands for a moment. Hands… that had taken lives. That could easily control, build, and disassemble machina. Hands that held the life of a summoner… and they were so small. Discouraged, she rose, silently exiting the room to the hallway beyond. Alone, her small footsteps echoed softly through the empty corridor. She ran halfway into her father before realizing it.
"Rikku! There you are!" He addressed, his voice commanding as usual. Rikku didn't respond, but shuffled back and forth on the balls of her feet. She shouldn't be nervous, it's not like she'd done anything wrong. Regardless, she didn't meet her father's gaze until his hand gently forced her chin upwards. Cid sighed, and embraced his daughter. So much for the young girl to take, he though to himself. Rikku clutched her father tightly. At least she still had part of her family. And Auron… She opened her eyes. Was Auron a part of her 'family?' Did she love him? Yes… Does that make him…?
She shook her head. Her father looked at her quizzically. She just shrugged and smiled. Releasing his bear hug, the two walked to the cockpit. She was surprised to find Wakka and Lulu already there, gazing at the sunrise. It was beautiful… Until the deck was washed in a blinding red light. Rikku gasped. The entire crew started to jabber hysterically in Al Bhed, flailing and yelping.
"Whah, What is it?" Cried Wakka, looking around full circle. Rikku raced to the observation board, pecking at the controls. She didn't need to, because moments later they saw the problem in living color.
A massive red blur rammed into the ship, tipping everyone over. A great snake, translucent wings flapping, roared mightily at the ship. It struck again, and Rikku went flying into one of the dashboards. She collapsed to the floor, grunting. Wakka knelt beside her, eyes wide. "What is dat thing?" He cried, gripping a nearby chair for dear life.
"It is called 'Evrae'," came the even reply from the approaching Auron. "It is the guardian of Bevelle. To reach the city… we must destroy it." Wakka's eyes somehow managed to grow wider.
"You kiddin me! That thing? It's huge!" Auron only nodded. Tidus came flying through the cabin door, running straight into the swordsman, knocking them both over. Good thing, because the great beast smashed it's tail into the airship again, sending everyone whom was unfortunate enough to be standing straight into the right metal wall.
"My ship can't take much more of this! Go! Kill it!" Commanded Cid, holding a metal guardrail in a death grip. Hauling herself to her feet, Rikku followed the others to the ship's outer deck.
The wind bit her face forcefully as Rikku and the others lined themselves to fight the flying beast. It caught their sight, and roared loudly. "Brace yourself!" Called Auron, as he, Lulu and Wakka began a deadly dance, dodging, hollering commands to Cid and launching their assault to the monster above. Wakka heaved his blitzball to the creature, whooping. It retaliated with a swooping scythe, and knocked the man to his knees. Kimahri raced to his aid, relieving the wounded man. Yuna could not heal them… but she could!
Prancing to Lulu's side, she began casting her potions to her wounded comrades. As the large beast hissed in rage and pain, it fell farther away. "Come on!" Rikku yelled, dragging Auron away from the battle, letting Wakka return to use his long range attacks. The swordsman was heaving, blood soaking his chest. Rikku's mind faltered from battle. If he was dead, then how could he bleed?
She shook her head, and returned to the present. She cast a strong potion to the guardian, it's swirling light entering his body and curing his ailments. He nodded his thanks, still hunched over.
Surprising the guardians, the large creature faltered from battle, and swung it's mighty tail into the ship itself. The aircraft lurched, tipping to its side. Rikku screamed as she and Auron, closest to the edge, slid to their sides. They landed harshly on the slick metal and began to slide to the edge of the deck. Rikku flailed, one hand grabbing Auron's cloak whilst digging her claw into the metal of the deck, slowing their decent towards oblivion. The ship struggled to right itself, and it sprang the opposite direction, throwing everyone off balance, but sending the falling pair of guardians speeding to the hull of the ship. They smashed into the hard metal, Rikku's back and head thwacking against the hollowed form. Dizzy, she struggled to move, but there was something in her way. She realized the heavy but limp form of Auron was sprawled over her body. Her head was in horrible pain, the world spinning regardless if her eyes were open or not.
Struggling, she somehow managed to lift the unconscious man from her chest, and stumbled back to the battle. The world was being overly cruel, spinning out of control. The sounds of magic and the screeches of the snake filled the thick air around her. Not fully aware, she simply cast her potions over and over again until she fell to the ground beside Auron, her head resting on his thigh. Her side was on fire. Colors were swirling together, but the large, watery form of the dragon was most apparent as it howled and fell from the sky.
"Rikku!" a gasping Tidus cried, racing to her side. "Auron!" Tidus reached out to the Al Bhed, grasping her hand. He gazed beyond her, mouth agape in horror at the blood flowing freely down Auron's head. Oh Gods. "Lulu! Wakka! Help!" He cried, his voice shrill in panic. "I, I don't have any more high potions!"
"Neither do we!" Gasped Lulu, still panting hard.
Rikku groaned, her back ribs on fire. It felt like she was the unfortunate victim to an enraged Rhonso, herself the punching bag. "Rikku! Rikku!" Yelled Tidus… was that Tidus? She couldn't tell. She just nodded, the world spinning. "Do you have any more potions?" He questioned franticly. She nodded. Only one. She retrieved the small bottle, handing it to whomever that large swirly blur of a person was. "Oh no…" He murmured. Only one?
Tidus swallowed. He was terrified. Auron looked horrible, more and yet more blood collecting though his hair and onto the cold metal ground. Yet Rikku was in bad shape… He shook his head. What did he do? He couldn't just let one die! Rikku let out a strangled gasp, and her hand fell limply to Auron's foot. Oh gods, no. But the large puddle of Auron's blood dwarfed her small hand. Gods forgive him, he prayed, as he opened the bottle to Auron's head wound, as Rikku's breaths grew shorter.
*** ok. A couple more chapters at least. Eee suspense!
My website, my most recent Aurikku Artwork under updates. (I consider myself a far better artist than a writer… o_o)
http://blackcatcrossing.ascifi.net
-spazkit
Chapter 9 Evrae
The Airship was quiet that morning. The steady thrum of the engines droned out the beeping and chirping of the cockpit's machina. Dawn broke slowly outside, dim rays of scarlet light ascending above the clouds. Several floors up, a single figure rolled to his side, smooth arms wrapping around heavy fabric. Breaths soft and even, the man's face was pressed gently into the comfort of a pillow, facing a young Al Bhed.
Rikku was sitting on the floor several feet away, back resting heavily on the metal wall. Her thoughts were a cascading river, never stopping and churning out of control. Yuna was missing. Gods, she could be anywhere. She could be in danger. Home was destroyed in an inferno of death and pain, destroyed by her own people. All the work was for nothing. And Auron… Auron was dead. Or so he had said. Fully awake, Rikku pondered the concept. His heart was beating. His flesh was warm. His breath drew to and from his lungs. He did have feelings, regardless if he hid them or not. How could he be dead? It made no sense.
Sighing, she gently held her head in her hands. Tysh ed all to hell. Life was so complicated. She pondered her bare hands for a moment. Hands… that had taken lives. That could easily control, build, and disassemble machina. Hands that held the life of a summoner… and they were so small. Discouraged, she rose, silently exiting the room to the hallway beyond. Alone, her small footsteps echoed softly through the empty corridor. She ran halfway into her father before realizing it.
"Rikku! There you are!" He addressed, his voice commanding as usual. Rikku didn't respond, but shuffled back and forth on the balls of her feet. She shouldn't be nervous, it's not like she'd done anything wrong. Regardless, she didn't meet her father's gaze until his hand gently forced her chin upwards. Cid sighed, and embraced his daughter. So much for the young girl to take, he though to himself. Rikku clutched her father tightly. At least she still had part of her family. And Auron… She opened her eyes. Was Auron a part of her 'family?' Did she love him? Yes… Does that make him…?
She shook her head. Her father looked at her quizzically. She just shrugged and smiled. Releasing his bear hug, the two walked to the cockpit. She was surprised to find Wakka and Lulu already there, gazing at the sunrise. It was beautiful… Until the deck was washed in a blinding red light. Rikku gasped. The entire crew started to jabber hysterically in Al Bhed, flailing and yelping.
"Whah, What is it?" Cried Wakka, looking around full circle. Rikku raced to the observation board, pecking at the controls. She didn't need to, because moments later they saw the problem in living color.
A massive red blur rammed into the ship, tipping everyone over. A great snake, translucent wings flapping, roared mightily at the ship. It struck again, and Rikku went flying into one of the dashboards. She collapsed to the floor, grunting. Wakka knelt beside her, eyes wide. "What is dat thing?" He cried, gripping a nearby chair for dear life.
"It is called 'Evrae'," came the even reply from the approaching Auron. "It is the guardian of Bevelle. To reach the city… we must destroy it." Wakka's eyes somehow managed to grow wider.
"You kiddin me! That thing? It's huge!" Auron only nodded. Tidus came flying through the cabin door, running straight into the swordsman, knocking them both over. Good thing, because the great beast smashed it's tail into the airship again, sending everyone whom was unfortunate enough to be standing straight into the right metal wall.
"My ship can't take much more of this! Go! Kill it!" Commanded Cid, holding a metal guardrail in a death grip. Hauling herself to her feet, Rikku followed the others to the ship's outer deck.
The wind bit her face forcefully as Rikku and the others lined themselves to fight the flying beast. It caught their sight, and roared loudly. "Brace yourself!" Called Auron, as he, Lulu and Wakka began a deadly dance, dodging, hollering commands to Cid and launching their assault to the monster above. Wakka heaved his blitzball to the creature, whooping. It retaliated with a swooping scythe, and knocked the man to his knees. Kimahri raced to his aid, relieving the wounded man. Yuna could not heal them… but she could!
Prancing to Lulu's side, she began casting her potions to her wounded comrades. As the large beast hissed in rage and pain, it fell farther away. "Come on!" Rikku yelled, dragging Auron away from the battle, letting Wakka return to use his long range attacks. The swordsman was heaving, blood soaking his chest. Rikku's mind faltered from battle. If he was dead, then how could he bleed?
She shook her head, and returned to the present. She cast a strong potion to the guardian, it's swirling light entering his body and curing his ailments. He nodded his thanks, still hunched over.
Surprising the guardians, the large creature faltered from battle, and swung it's mighty tail into the ship itself. The aircraft lurched, tipping to its side. Rikku screamed as she and Auron, closest to the edge, slid to their sides. They landed harshly on the slick metal and began to slide to the edge of the deck. Rikku flailed, one hand grabbing Auron's cloak whilst digging her claw into the metal of the deck, slowing their decent towards oblivion. The ship struggled to right itself, and it sprang the opposite direction, throwing everyone off balance, but sending the falling pair of guardians speeding to the hull of the ship. They smashed into the hard metal, Rikku's back and head thwacking against the hollowed form. Dizzy, she struggled to move, but there was something in her way. She realized the heavy but limp form of Auron was sprawled over her body. Her head was in horrible pain, the world spinning regardless if her eyes were open or not.
Struggling, she somehow managed to lift the unconscious man from her chest, and stumbled back to the battle. The world was being overly cruel, spinning out of control. The sounds of magic and the screeches of the snake filled the thick air around her. Not fully aware, she simply cast her potions over and over again until she fell to the ground beside Auron, her head resting on his thigh. Her side was on fire. Colors were swirling together, but the large, watery form of the dragon was most apparent as it howled and fell from the sky.
"Rikku!" a gasping Tidus cried, racing to her side. "Auron!" Tidus reached out to the Al Bhed, grasping her hand. He gazed beyond her, mouth agape in horror at the blood flowing freely down Auron's head. Oh Gods. "Lulu! Wakka! Help!" He cried, his voice shrill in panic. "I, I don't have any more high potions!"
"Neither do we!" Gasped Lulu, still panting hard.
Rikku groaned, her back ribs on fire. It felt like she was the unfortunate victim to an enraged Rhonso, herself the punching bag. "Rikku! Rikku!" Yelled Tidus… was that Tidus? She couldn't tell. She just nodded, the world spinning. "Do you have any more potions?" He questioned franticly. She nodded. Only one. She retrieved the small bottle, handing it to whomever that large swirly blur of a person was. "Oh no…" He murmured. Only one?
Tidus swallowed. He was terrified. Auron looked horrible, more and yet more blood collecting though his hair and onto the cold metal ground. Yet Rikku was in bad shape… He shook his head. What did he do? He couldn't just let one die! Rikku let out a strangled gasp, and her hand fell limply to Auron's foot. Oh gods, no. But the large puddle of Auron's blood dwarfed her small hand. Gods forgive him, he prayed, as he opened the bottle to Auron's head wound, as Rikku's breaths grew shorter.
*** ok. A couple more chapters at least. Eee suspense!
My website, my most recent Aurikku Artwork under updates. (I consider myself a far better artist than a writer… o_o)
http://blackcatcrossing.ascifi.net
-spazkit