Eyes on Me~~
Heehee! I don't own FF10! Heh. I don't own FF9. I don't own FF8. ...I don't own nuttin'. Thank you, Nef, for stating the obvious.
Anything in * * is thoughts or telepathy.
Rikku woke up in her room at Bevelle Palace. How did she get here, and when had the party ended? Even more importantly, what time was it? Rikku opened her eyes further. Yunie was asleep in the chair on the other side of the room, and Rikku's father was standing outside on the balcony, most likely armed with a point he had to make. Rikku sat up. Her father noticed and turned around. He did indeed appear angry.
"Have you any idea how worried we all were?! Four in the morning, Rikku, what were you doing out in the garden at four in the morning?! You're lucky Jecht found you when he did or we never would have known..." Cid attempted to begin. Rikku collapsed on her pillow again. What was she doing up at four in the morning? Why the garden? It took her a minute, but then she remembered what had occurred the night before. She had met that boy who wore a scarlet trenchcoat, and they had danced together for quite some time. Around midnight, they had returned to the garden to rest after so much dancing. They had talked back and forth about guarding summoners and pilgrimages and somehow, they had gotten onto the subject of the most recent pilgrimage in which the boy had taken part. He couldn't remember much, with the exception of one other guardian on the pilgrimage. Rikku found it ironic that while he could remember only one of the other guardians, she could remember all but one; however, her train of thought was interrupted when Yuna awoke. Cid turned to face Yuna.
"Ah! What time is it? How long have I been asleep? Is Rikku alright?" Yuna yawned.
"I'm right here, Yunie, and it appears to be about 10:00 in the morning," Rikku replied.
"Your cousin has been extremely worried. She hasn't left your side since you were brought up here. I think you owe us both an explanation," Cid ordered to Rikku. It was Braska who intervened.
"I'm sure she'll tell us when she's ready. Until then, we wait. I'm sure patience is not a problem?" Rikku was quite thankful. Cid was displeased, but he had to admit that Braska was right. Rikku was an adult, and she would tell them when she saw fit to do so. Cid left the room. Braska laid his daughter on bed next to Rikku's and placed the blankets over her carefully. Yuna fell asleep very quickly. "I'm glad to see you've made a friend," Rikku's uncle said.
"Huh?"
"From the party. You two were together for how many... eight songs before disappearing?"
"Yeah. He's a nice guy."
"Did he introduce himself?"
"Funny you should ask, Uncle Braska..."
"Oh no. Why?"
"He couldn't remember his name."
"Does he know your name?"
"...No." Braska laughed.
"I find that somewhat ironic. You two were getting along so well, and you never even found out each other's names. What irony."
"It's not so funny when you're the one who forgot to introduce yourself. Heyyy... Do you know who he is, Uncle Braska?"
"I'm not completely sure, but I'm fairly certain I've met him before."
"Tell me, tell me, tell me!" the Al Bhed girl urged.
"I don't know if I should tell you. If the one I think is behind all this truly is, I should ask her before telling you. No one can really predict how she'll react."
"Who?Who?Who? Please tell me, Uncle Braska!"
"I'll see what I can do. You should get a bit of rest now. Yuna wants to go to Remiem Temple this afternoon to investigate something about a ninth Aeon." Hehheh. Whenever a bit of an enigma regarding Aeons surfaced, Yunie was always the first to check it out, but Rikku decided to take her uncle's advice and recover her strength. Once Braska was certain that both Yuna and Rikku were asleep, he slipped quietly out of the room to contact the Fayth.
Remiem Temple was a lot scarier beyond the very first floor. Rikku could understand why a Fayth would be hidden here. Someone did not want the Aeon to fall into the wrong hands. This Aeon appeared to be from some sort of creature other than a human, but it was neither Guado or Ronso, and it went without saying that the Fayth was NOT Al Bhed. That left only fiends and animals, from which a Fayth could not come. Rikku had much time to think, as she had no one with whom to converse.
The group had split up, Wakka with Lulu, Yuna with Kimahri, and Braska with Jecht, to search for the Fayth. Unfortunately, this left Rikku to search alone. Braska had felt bad about leaving his niece alone, but Rikku assured him she was capable of making short work of any malevolent organism with which she should cross paths. Rikku, of course, could decimate any unfortunate fiend she found, but the environment was giving her trouble. There was something oddly familiar about this place, almost as if she was RETURNING here as opposed to coming for the first time, but she knew this was not the case. This valley was deserted even of Yevonites, right? Apparently not. A shadow flickered in and out of visibility, only detectable to Rikku as she was on high alert. The shadow ran ahead of her and toward a room filled with light: the Chamber of the Fayth.
The Fayth stretched out her graceful body slowly, as if she hoped that by extending her arms to the sky she would grow. Rikku watched jealously. She knew she wasn't the most beautiful girl in Spira, but the Fayth didn't have to go and rub it in. The Fayth fell to the floor of the Chamber on her knees in fatigue. Rikku could sense much about this Fayth, almost as if they were temporarily bound by telepathy. The Fayth had lived in the valley below thirty years ago, before the Temple had been built, and now she was imprisoned in the very place where she had been born. The Fayth stepped forward and began to brush her fingers lightly over Rikku's forehead. Feeling something in the very middle, just at the hairline, the Fayth stopped and waved her hand, then attached her soul to Rikku's. Having never before received an Aeon, the impact hit Rikku's spirit hard, knocking her out. The last thing she remembered before her mind falling into darkness was the sensation of two strong arms catching her and supporting her as she struggled with the force of the Aeon.
Rikku became aware of a large crystal blue waterfall passing through her before she noticed anything else. The water felt very strange, as if it was not truly water, but some other liquid... or maybe, not liquid at all. A small figure turned around to face Rikku from where she was standing a few feet away.
"Hello. Welcome to my home," the being said.
"Wha... who?" Rikku began.
"Well 'who' would be myself. I brought you here. Pleased to meet you. My name is Iifa. And you are Rikku?"
"Y-yes... what happened? Why am I here?"
"I have been wanting to see you again for a long time. When Yu Yevon rose to power, I was driven out of Spira. Now that I have returned... Spira has... changed... very much..."
"But why bring me here? Where is here, anyway?"
"Here is the Astralplane. I live here, alone. I used to have company, but they have long since gone to the Farplane. One stayed with me for a time, but he too was forced to leave. I have brought you here because I believe that, together, you two could restore life to Spira."
"Who is this other?"
"I believe you have already met, many times in fact. He is quite worried about you... I suppose I should release you to him now..."
The scarlet clad boy was coming near to tears. He had only just found her again, and it appeared that he would lose her again. He began to sing some of that first song they had danced to at the party, hoping that she would recognize it and awaken,
"...Darling, so there you are/ With that look on your face/ As if you're never hurt/ As if you're never down/ Shall I be the one for you/ Who pinches you softly but sure/ If frown is shown then/ I will know that you are no dreamer..." He leaned over her face gently, praying to see spirals reflecting malachite and the vibrant energy that was stored up behind them...
Iifa dispersed the blue world as suddenly as Rikku had become aware of it. A pair of strong arms cradled Rikku, the one to whom they belonged praying that she would wake. As if in response to his prayer, Rikku's eyes slowly pulled themselves open. She found herself getting lost within a pair of hopeful, and worried, russet spirals.
"Rikku..." The young Al Bhed simply stared up into the winding swirls as logic gave way completely to emotion.
Heehee! I don't own FF10! Heh. I don't own FF9. I don't own FF8. ...I don't own nuttin'. Thank you, Nef, for stating the obvious.
Anything in * * is thoughts or telepathy.
Rikku woke up in her room at Bevelle Palace. How did she get here, and when had the party ended? Even more importantly, what time was it? Rikku opened her eyes further. Yunie was asleep in the chair on the other side of the room, and Rikku's father was standing outside on the balcony, most likely armed with a point he had to make. Rikku sat up. Her father noticed and turned around. He did indeed appear angry.
"Have you any idea how worried we all were?! Four in the morning, Rikku, what were you doing out in the garden at four in the morning?! You're lucky Jecht found you when he did or we never would have known..." Cid attempted to begin. Rikku collapsed on her pillow again. What was she doing up at four in the morning? Why the garden? It took her a minute, but then she remembered what had occurred the night before. She had met that boy who wore a scarlet trenchcoat, and they had danced together for quite some time. Around midnight, they had returned to the garden to rest after so much dancing. They had talked back and forth about guarding summoners and pilgrimages and somehow, they had gotten onto the subject of the most recent pilgrimage in which the boy had taken part. He couldn't remember much, with the exception of one other guardian on the pilgrimage. Rikku found it ironic that while he could remember only one of the other guardians, she could remember all but one; however, her train of thought was interrupted when Yuna awoke. Cid turned to face Yuna.
"Ah! What time is it? How long have I been asleep? Is Rikku alright?" Yuna yawned.
"I'm right here, Yunie, and it appears to be about 10:00 in the morning," Rikku replied.
"Your cousin has been extremely worried. She hasn't left your side since you were brought up here. I think you owe us both an explanation," Cid ordered to Rikku. It was Braska who intervened.
"I'm sure she'll tell us when she's ready. Until then, we wait. I'm sure patience is not a problem?" Rikku was quite thankful. Cid was displeased, but he had to admit that Braska was right. Rikku was an adult, and she would tell them when she saw fit to do so. Cid left the room. Braska laid his daughter on bed next to Rikku's and placed the blankets over her carefully. Yuna fell asleep very quickly. "I'm glad to see you've made a friend," Rikku's uncle said.
"Huh?"
"From the party. You two were together for how many... eight songs before disappearing?"
"Yeah. He's a nice guy."
"Did he introduce himself?"
"Funny you should ask, Uncle Braska..."
"Oh no. Why?"
"He couldn't remember his name."
"Does he know your name?"
"...No." Braska laughed.
"I find that somewhat ironic. You two were getting along so well, and you never even found out each other's names. What irony."
"It's not so funny when you're the one who forgot to introduce yourself. Heyyy... Do you know who he is, Uncle Braska?"
"I'm not completely sure, but I'm fairly certain I've met him before."
"Tell me, tell me, tell me!" the Al Bhed girl urged.
"I don't know if I should tell you. If the one I think is behind all this truly is, I should ask her before telling you. No one can really predict how she'll react."
"Who?Who?Who? Please tell me, Uncle Braska!"
"I'll see what I can do. You should get a bit of rest now. Yuna wants to go to Remiem Temple this afternoon to investigate something about a ninth Aeon." Hehheh. Whenever a bit of an enigma regarding Aeons surfaced, Yunie was always the first to check it out, but Rikku decided to take her uncle's advice and recover her strength. Once Braska was certain that both Yuna and Rikku were asleep, he slipped quietly out of the room to contact the Fayth.
Remiem Temple was a lot scarier beyond the very first floor. Rikku could understand why a Fayth would be hidden here. Someone did not want the Aeon to fall into the wrong hands. This Aeon appeared to be from some sort of creature other than a human, but it was neither Guado or Ronso, and it went without saying that the Fayth was NOT Al Bhed. That left only fiends and animals, from which a Fayth could not come. Rikku had much time to think, as she had no one with whom to converse.
The group had split up, Wakka with Lulu, Yuna with Kimahri, and Braska with Jecht, to search for the Fayth. Unfortunately, this left Rikku to search alone. Braska had felt bad about leaving his niece alone, but Rikku assured him she was capable of making short work of any malevolent organism with which she should cross paths. Rikku, of course, could decimate any unfortunate fiend she found, but the environment was giving her trouble. There was something oddly familiar about this place, almost as if she was RETURNING here as opposed to coming for the first time, but she knew this was not the case. This valley was deserted even of Yevonites, right? Apparently not. A shadow flickered in and out of visibility, only detectable to Rikku as she was on high alert. The shadow ran ahead of her and toward a room filled with light: the Chamber of the Fayth.
The Fayth stretched out her graceful body slowly, as if she hoped that by extending her arms to the sky she would grow. Rikku watched jealously. She knew she wasn't the most beautiful girl in Spira, but the Fayth didn't have to go and rub it in. The Fayth fell to the floor of the Chamber on her knees in fatigue. Rikku could sense much about this Fayth, almost as if they were temporarily bound by telepathy. The Fayth had lived in the valley below thirty years ago, before the Temple had been built, and now she was imprisoned in the very place where she had been born. The Fayth stepped forward and began to brush her fingers lightly over Rikku's forehead. Feeling something in the very middle, just at the hairline, the Fayth stopped and waved her hand, then attached her soul to Rikku's. Having never before received an Aeon, the impact hit Rikku's spirit hard, knocking her out. The last thing she remembered before her mind falling into darkness was the sensation of two strong arms catching her and supporting her as she struggled with the force of the Aeon.
Rikku became aware of a large crystal blue waterfall passing through her before she noticed anything else. The water felt very strange, as if it was not truly water, but some other liquid... or maybe, not liquid at all. A small figure turned around to face Rikku from where she was standing a few feet away.
"Hello. Welcome to my home," the being said.
"Wha... who?" Rikku began.
"Well 'who' would be myself. I brought you here. Pleased to meet you. My name is Iifa. And you are Rikku?"
"Y-yes... what happened? Why am I here?"
"I have been wanting to see you again for a long time. When Yu Yevon rose to power, I was driven out of Spira. Now that I have returned... Spira has... changed... very much..."
"But why bring me here? Where is here, anyway?"
"Here is the Astralplane. I live here, alone. I used to have company, but they have long since gone to the Farplane. One stayed with me for a time, but he too was forced to leave. I have brought you here because I believe that, together, you two could restore life to Spira."
"Who is this other?"
"I believe you have already met, many times in fact. He is quite worried about you... I suppose I should release you to him now..."
The scarlet clad boy was coming near to tears. He had only just found her again, and it appeared that he would lose her again. He began to sing some of that first song they had danced to at the party, hoping that she would recognize it and awaken,
"...Darling, so there you are/ With that look on your face/ As if you're never hurt/ As if you're never down/ Shall I be the one for you/ Who pinches you softly but sure/ If frown is shown then/ I will know that you are no dreamer..." He leaned over her face gently, praying to see spirals reflecting malachite and the vibrant energy that was stored up behind them...
Iifa dispersed the blue world as suddenly as Rikku had become aware of it. A pair of strong arms cradled Rikku, the one to whom they belonged praying that she would wake. As if in response to his prayer, Rikku's eyes slowly pulled themselves open. She found herself getting lost within a pair of hopeful, and worried, russet spirals.
"Rikku..." The young Al Bhed simply stared up into the winding swirls as logic gave way completely to emotion.
