Author's note: Thank you so much to all who reviewed. I haven't gotten any flames yet - I assume that's a good thing. Maybe I'm better than I think I am. Oh well, keep reviewing people! Please? Make me a happy writer. A happy writer updates more, right? Well, I've been really busy with school and shtuff, so this chapter was long in coming. By the way, the reason this chapter switches from a humorous theme to a little dark is because right now, I could use a little cheering up. Life is not good. Happy Holidays everyone, and sorry for the delay, but it's here!
Chapter 4 - Bevelle Shenanigans
"Toys, toys, toys!" I yelled as I ran down the Highbridge waving my sword wildly in the air. I slowed, then finally stopped because the guards standing at the entrance to the city proper gave me a very strange look. But when I stopped, I also noticed that I had drawn quite a few stares from other passer-by as well. A slightly embarrassed look crawled across my face, and I turned around and walked back to the rest of the party, whom I had ran far ahead of.
"Stop staring at me!" I yelled to all the people on the Highbridge. They didn't flinch.
"Don't stare at crazy people! Especially not crazy people with swords!" Joatha said. I could tell she was suppressing a smile, or maybe even ready to crack up. I shrugged and told her,
"I don't think they care."
My eyes rolled heavenward as we finally walked on after my little "interruption."
"You know that was really gay, right?" Tidus said to me.
A contemplative look crossed my face, and I said,
"Maybe you're right. It is more of something I'd more expect you to do."
His only response to my wisecrack was to redden and turn his head away from me. But I had said it loud enough so that everyone could hear. Even Auron looked amused. But, as always, Tidus was the only one who looked like he wanted to kill me right at that very spot.
"You really need to lighten up, Tidus." I said, a little disgusted with him.
"Maybe I could if you would keep your mouth shut. I'm sick of hearing all this crap. And stop being such a maniac. We seem to have a bad image to a lot of people already, and all you're doing is making it worse." he replied.
"Wow. That seems to be the only intelligent thing you've said all day." I said sarcastically. "Maybe even the whole week."
As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I had to swing my hand up and block his fist. Suddenly, Auron came out of nowhere and now stood between Tidus and I.
"Stop acting like such a child. You're too sensitive. I though I taught you better than that." Auron told Tidus. He turned to me and said, "And you don't need to antagonize him all the time."
I nodded, but felt a little ashamed at being reprimanded like a five year old. The short remaining walk to the entrance to Bevelle was in silence. Whan we reached the gate, the guards, upon recognizing us, left their posts and marched up to us.
"Halt. You are all under arrest. Please come with us." the higher-ranking of them said.
"Please, I must speak with Maester Mika." Yuna told them.
"Oh, you'll speak with him alright." another guard said, with an evil sneer on his face.
I watched in slow motion as another company of guards came out and subdued the party members who were known, myself and Joatha not included. The guards asked Yuna if we were with her, and she just shook her head, and gave us a pleading look. I felt a unimaginable conflict of emotions at that moment. I knew she was being compassionate and trying to make sure we stayed free, but I felt like I was failing her as a guardian. It was all I could do to keep a straight face as her and the others were led off into the bowels of Bevelle. The large doors resounded with a loud boom as they shut, and to me, it sounded so final. It sounded like the end of my friends, her pilgrimage, and the end of everything I had to live for. I started running. Running from everything, and consciously, I didn't know where I was going. Down the Highbridge, out the vaulted arch, and over the green grass and sandy dirt I ran. Through the tall reeds, and past the rock outcroppings, and I finally stopped upon reaching the edge of the huge cliffs north of the Al Bhed trading post. I stood at the precipice, and just thought about my life. I could recall one fateful day as well now as I could a week after it had happened.
------
Flashback - Trau's childhood. Setting: a small house in Luca.
------
"Mom, where's daddy? He's been gone an awful long time!" my child-self said, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I woke up from a cat nap. My mother didn't say anything, just hung her head, and started sobbing. She looked up with red eyes, and from my view now, I relaized how worn she looked. The wrinkles on her face had been more noticable then ever, and her hair was graying at the edges.
"Sweetie, this is going to be hard to tell you, but your father was in a fishing accident...
------
End of flashback. I left a little room for imagination as to the event. Don't want to write myself into a corner later on.
------
I backed a few steps away from the edge, tears streaming down my face.
"Why!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. The echoes floated back to my ears, and it seemed that the ocean itself was asking me the same question. Why was I still here? Why did I have to live through this? I needed a way out. I needed ultimate release from my suffering. I backed away a few more steps, and then ran full speed, and leaped off the edge. I imagined myself free as a bird in the peaceful existence of the Farplane. A peaceful existence that included my parents. And as soon as I had jumped off, my face slammed against the brown rock of the cliff.
------
What's going to happen now? I don't know, but I like to leave the suspense in the air. R & R please.
Chapter 4 - Bevelle Shenanigans
"Toys, toys, toys!" I yelled as I ran down the Highbridge waving my sword wildly in the air. I slowed, then finally stopped because the guards standing at the entrance to the city proper gave me a very strange look. But when I stopped, I also noticed that I had drawn quite a few stares from other passer-by as well. A slightly embarrassed look crawled across my face, and I turned around and walked back to the rest of the party, whom I had ran far ahead of.
"Stop staring at me!" I yelled to all the people on the Highbridge. They didn't flinch.
"Don't stare at crazy people! Especially not crazy people with swords!" Joatha said. I could tell she was suppressing a smile, or maybe even ready to crack up. I shrugged and told her,
"I don't think they care."
My eyes rolled heavenward as we finally walked on after my little "interruption."
"You know that was really gay, right?" Tidus said to me.
A contemplative look crossed my face, and I said,
"Maybe you're right. It is more of something I'd more expect you to do."
His only response to my wisecrack was to redden and turn his head away from me. But I had said it loud enough so that everyone could hear. Even Auron looked amused. But, as always, Tidus was the only one who looked like he wanted to kill me right at that very spot.
"You really need to lighten up, Tidus." I said, a little disgusted with him.
"Maybe I could if you would keep your mouth shut. I'm sick of hearing all this crap. And stop being such a maniac. We seem to have a bad image to a lot of people already, and all you're doing is making it worse." he replied.
"Wow. That seems to be the only intelligent thing you've said all day." I said sarcastically. "Maybe even the whole week."
As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I had to swing my hand up and block his fist. Suddenly, Auron came out of nowhere and now stood between Tidus and I.
"Stop acting like such a child. You're too sensitive. I though I taught you better than that." Auron told Tidus. He turned to me and said, "And you don't need to antagonize him all the time."
I nodded, but felt a little ashamed at being reprimanded like a five year old. The short remaining walk to the entrance to Bevelle was in silence. Whan we reached the gate, the guards, upon recognizing us, left their posts and marched up to us.
"Halt. You are all under arrest. Please come with us." the higher-ranking of them said.
"Please, I must speak with Maester Mika." Yuna told them.
"Oh, you'll speak with him alright." another guard said, with an evil sneer on his face.
I watched in slow motion as another company of guards came out and subdued the party members who were known, myself and Joatha not included. The guards asked Yuna if we were with her, and she just shook her head, and gave us a pleading look. I felt a unimaginable conflict of emotions at that moment. I knew she was being compassionate and trying to make sure we stayed free, but I felt like I was failing her as a guardian. It was all I could do to keep a straight face as her and the others were led off into the bowels of Bevelle. The large doors resounded with a loud boom as they shut, and to me, it sounded so final. It sounded like the end of my friends, her pilgrimage, and the end of everything I had to live for. I started running. Running from everything, and consciously, I didn't know where I was going. Down the Highbridge, out the vaulted arch, and over the green grass and sandy dirt I ran. Through the tall reeds, and past the rock outcroppings, and I finally stopped upon reaching the edge of the huge cliffs north of the Al Bhed trading post. I stood at the precipice, and just thought about my life. I could recall one fateful day as well now as I could a week after it had happened.
------
Flashback - Trau's childhood. Setting: a small house in Luca.
------
"Mom, where's daddy? He's been gone an awful long time!" my child-self said, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I woke up from a cat nap. My mother didn't say anything, just hung her head, and started sobbing. She looked up with red eyes, and from my view now, I relaized how worn she looked. The wrinkles on her face had been more noticable then ever, and her hair was graying at the edges.
"Sweetie, this is going to be hard to tell you, but your father was in a fishing accident...
------
End of flashback. I left a little room for imagination as to the event. Don't want to write myself into a corner later on.
------
I backed a few steps away from the edge, tears streaming down my face.
"Why!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. The echoes floated back to my ears, and it seemed that the ocean itself was asking me the same question. Why was I still here? Why did I have to live through this? I needed a way out. I needed ultimate release from my suffering. I backed away a few more steps, and then ran full speed, and leaped off the edge. I imagined myself free as a bird in the peaceful existence of the Farplane. A peaceful existence that included my parents. And as soon as I had jumped off, my face slammed against the brown rock of the cliff.
------
What's going to happen now? I don't know, but I like to leave the suspense in the air. R & R please.