Chapter three- A Warrior's Dilemma
"You know you could always wait for me!" Lulu called falling behind once again.
"Or you could hurry up!" Tidus yelled back angrily, he didn't want her to come with him, it was dangerous, and he didn't want to see any of his friends get hurt. He felt he had a special connection with Yuna, one that bound them together so that he was the only one who could rightfully save her.
Lulu knew better, she had known the child for a good while now, and he was not one to act so macho. He was sad, and everyone knew it, which is why Lulu decided upon going with him. She hoped to make him feel at least a little bit better with some companionship. So far it had done no good; he was acting just as sour as when they first left the campsite.
Lulu came to a complete stop hoping that he would wait for her, at least then she would know he wanted her company even if he didn't show it. He continued to walk, if not at a faster pace tan before. This though, did not discourage Lulu; she caught up to him, and decided to try to make some conversation.
"So um, how is Chappu's sword working for you?" Tidus could detect a twinge of sadness in her voice when she said this. Finally it dawned upon Tidus how badly he had been treating her. If she had reverted to talking about her 'long dead love just to try to make him open up, he knew something had to be done about it.
"I'm so sorry I've been acting so hostile towards you and the others…"
"I know Tidus, it's hard on all of us, but we will find her." The ground started to rumble, and all the sand they had been standing on seemed to get sucked into a single place, until they could eventually see an enormous hole where the sand was pouring underground.
"What is this!" Tidus called to Lulu.
"I think it's a sandragora!" she shouted over the noise. Tidus made a move like he was going to try to run out. He looked back at Lulu to see she was casting numerous spells at the center of the pool. Suddenly, Tidus was dragged down, and Lulu had to momentarily break her string of spells to help him.
Seeing its chance, the sandragora pulled them into the center of the whirlpool where it sprang out and started showering them with sand in an attempt to blind them. It worked.
"Ahh I can't see!"
Lulu had been able to shield her eyes from the attack, and now she pushed forwards to where Tidus was struggling to stand, and she cast Firaga on the sand beast. She knew as soon as the creature died the whirlpool would increase velocity, until the gaping hole where the sandragora resided was filled with either sand or their bodies if they couldn't escape quickly enough.
She pounced on Tidus sending them both flying away from the pool, just as the whole area was sucked in. Tidus was still squirming in the sand when she sat back up. She reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a bottle of eye drops. She administered them expertly, and in seconds Tidus was able to blink the sand away from his eyes.
"Thanks Lulu."
"Of course, any time" she said dismissing it with a wave of her hand. She helped him up, and they once again were on their way.
"You know, I think we should probably wait for the others to catch up, after all, we're going to need them."
Tidus simply shook his head at the idea.
"I want to and all, but we are bound to be delayed again sometime in our search, and to waste any more time could put Yuna in more danger. Besides, we are less likely to get sidetracked if we travel as two instead of as six." Tidus knew it sounded cold, but it was the only way he knew how to put it. He waited for a moment for the snappy retort about how childish he was acting that he knew he was bound to get from Lulu, but when none came, he turned to see if Lulu had heard what he said and she was nowhere to be seen. Tidus began to call her name softly, then louder and louder until he began to panic.
"Lulu! Lulu!" he then realized that Lulu was right. He needed the others. The winds were starting to pick up making it harder and harder to see. I cant die out here I'm not ready. I shouldn't even be here. I should be at home practicing blitzball for the start of next season. Why me…why, what did I do to deserve this? Not until it was impossible to see more than two feet in front of him did he start to think about someone other than himself.
Lulu! I haven't seen her for some time; she could be in trouble and need my help! He pivoted, and flew back the way he assumed he had come from as fast as he could, calling to her all the while. He heard a faint scream coming from the distance, slightly muffled by the storm. He decided now would be the time to pull his sword in case she was in need of help right away. He slid the blade from its sheath; it felt light in his hand. He marveled at the sparkling radiance the brotherhood blade gave off, it was like he was holding a blitz sphere, and he was the only crowd. No matter how many times in the future he used the sword, it always astounded him. Now's not the time, I have to help Lulu! And he rushed off to her aid.
Lulu must have been thinking exactly the same thing, because when he arrived she was just showing up too with her sparkling moomba doll following closely in her wake. They turned and looked at each other puzzled.
"I lost you in the storm and thought I heard you scream, so I came to help." Tidus blurted out.
"As did I, but if it was neither of us who was screaming, who was it?" Just then a large hideous shadow was cast over where they stood. They both looked up to see what it was, but the sun shown through the storm making them both look away. Tidus' vision returned when he was staring at the sand, rubbing his eyes in pain. Tidus eyed something catching the suns glare on the ground, and went over to pick it up; it appeared to be a circle of glass of some sort.
"Lulu come look at this, what do you think it is?" he held up the glass for her to see.
"If I didn't know better, I would have to say it is a lense, much like the ones on Rikku's goggles." The scream came again, but much closer and overhead. This time the monstrous bird-like shadow they had seen before came with it. Tidus and Lulu stood back to back, to avoid any surprises, as the shadow circled.
"There!" the beast passed in front of the sun, revealing a large black blob with wings. Lulu whirled to his call, and cast a Blizzaga spell to try to bring the bird down to earth where Tidus would be more useful. It worked, freezing one of its wings and so it couldn't retain its altitude, and the bird dive-bombed out of the sky.
"Jump!" They both sprang out of the way just in time, as the bird crashed headlong into the sand.
"A Zu." Lulu marveled. It was a giant of its kind; easily five times the size of Tidus in comparison. It was lucky the Zu had landed head first, because in its claws it clutched a 'package' of some sort. It was to far away to identify, and so Lulu approached the bird. It seemed the Zu wasn't yet finished with them, because when Lulu came a little too close the Zu drooped its 'package' and sprang at her. It caught her off guard, giving her a solid blow in her stomach with its long curvy neck. Tidus stepped forward, and lunged at it, landing a series of slashes on its chest and back using his overdrive technique slice and dice. The Zu apparently was not to eager to give up its prize, as it feebly tried to fly away with it. Tidus rolled to the underside of its belly, and stabbed upward just as it was taking off, causing it to burst into a hoard of floresent pyre flies and drop its 'package'.
Lulu having recovered to some extent walked over to inspect it.
"Tidus hurry! It's a badly wounded Al Bhed. He's going to need some potions, have you got any on you?" He fumbled through his pockets until he found a small glass tube filled to the top with foaming green liquid.
"I was saving this for the right time, it's an x-potion, far more powerful than even a hi-potion." He opened the tube and poured it into the unconscious Al Bhed's open mouth. The man bolted up and started looking around as if there was someone after him. When he finally turned to the confused Tidus and Lulu he glared at them and jumped backward.
"Vneaht un vua?" He said taking on a judo like fighting stance.
"Whoa easy there buddy, first of all you need a rest, you were hurt pretty badly and second what the hell are you talking about?" Tidus said snapping back to his senses.
"Ah so you don't speak Al Bhed, I see," he said nodding. He had a heavy accent, but he spoke flawless English. He was about six feet tall and well built. He wore a cut off t-shirt and long black pants with many pockets. He had tanned skin and a shaven head like the players on the psyches but the goggles that hung from his neck were what first labeled him an Al Bhed to Lulu.
"Who are you and where are you from?" he demanded.
"We just saved you from being torn apart by a Zu, so we'll be asking the questions. Got it?"
"You saved me?" He looked the pair up and down, noticing their weapons were drawn. This seemed to be enough evidence for the Al Bhed.
"In that case allow me to introduce myself. I am Shoru, a renegade Al Bhed warrior. I was tracking down the summoner Yuna when I was attacked from behind." Tidus leapt forward.
"Do you have any idea where Yuna is?" Shoru reared back in surprise, so Tidus grabbed him by the throat and moved up close to his face, his anger level rising, and yelled again.
"Answer me!" For a moment they both just stood there staring each other down. Then, unexpectedly Tidus dropped to the ground and started whimpering like a sick puppy. It was all too much for him, the whole Spira experience, but especially the loss of Yuna. Lulu stood up and calmly took Shoru's shoulder.
"Yuna was traveling with us and we got separated, and so we are trying to find her. We are all very worried, as you can see." She gestured to Tidus, who was still lying on the ground cradling his head.
"That must make you her guardians…" he said knowingly.
"My people were wrong. I was to take Ms. Yuna with me and stop her pilgrimage, but I see that you guardians truly are protecting her, not sacrificing her. Now I must find my purpose again. I leave her in your hands." He turned to go, but Tidus stopped him.
"Do you have any idea where Yuna is?"
"I'm sorry." He looked at the ground, then at his rough hands.
"Do you know of anything that could help us?" Tidus asked, hope waning.
"I was on the same lost path as you. I can give you some of my supplies though if you think that would help." He reached into a deep pocket in his pants and pulled out a thick cord with a hook attached to it.
"It's a grappling hook. I can give you this and a healthy supply of potions, but that is all I carry." He tossed the objects to Tidus, who looked bewildered. Why would he still aid us after I lost control of myself like that? I almost harmed him, and still he chooses to help us.
"Thank you for your kindness Shoru, but can you not come with us?" Lulu asked hopefully. She always enjoyed having more company; that one of the many reasons why she became a guardian in the first place; you get a chance to meet new people. She may not have seemed too outgoing at times, but on the inside there was nothing more she enjoyed than hosting company.
He hesitated before saying, "I would like to, but mine is not the path you seek. I must go alone. Although I would like your names before I go if you could."
"Tidus"
"And I'm Lulu." He nodded in approval, and solemnly walked off into the distance of the setting sun.
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I hope you liked this chapter, it seems to be a little slower than the second one but that's ok. Sorry it took me so long to write this chapter, I was really busy. Anyway, reviews are always appreciated.
Next chapter: Auron and Wakka can't make a move with Rikku in her condition, so for the moment they are stranded in the middle of the desert. Wakka decides to leave Auron in charge of watching Rikku and walks off to see if he can find Kimhari, but he's in for a little surprise when he stumbles upon the injured Ronso…
