Chapter 2 - Chrysalis/The New Pilgrimage
Morning was never something he liked. Though it was regarded as a new beginning for some, he thought of it as an ending. He much preferred sunset, it seemed so calm and it relaxed him in a way he couldn't find the words to explain.
Sitting on the beach, watching the waves, he liked to think about everything that was happening to him. Sometimes, he would lie back and watch the setting sun until he dozed off into sleep. It was that sleep, on the beach under the sun, which worried him the most. Images, violent images, serene images, comical images, all flooded his mind as he dreamt. The only problem was, they were of people and places he did not know. Who were these people that danced in his mind, creating the illusion of another place and time.
"Hey!" his father's voice shouted, "You gonna sit there all day or are you coming to practice?"
"Coming!" he hopped to his feet and ran back towards the city, the daylight streaking across the majestic building line created by the metropolis that was Zanarkand.
* * *
"She's got to be joking!" Wakka protested, "I mean, we don't even know the guy. How do we know what he's saying is the truth, eh?"
"Yuna seems convinced," Lulu stood next to him and Kimarhi, "I really don't think she'd have it any other way."
"Kimarhi, back me up here," Wakka turned to the Ronso, "We can't just let Yuna go off with that guy all alone."
"Yuna not go alone," Kimarhi replied, "Kimarhi go too."
With that, the Ronso turned and headed towards the edge of the village where Yuna was waiting. Felix had disappeared over the course of the evening but left instructions to meet at the dock if they were interested in his proposal.
"Lu?" Wakka turned to the black mage.
"Kimarhi's right," Lulu clutched her moogle, "We're guardians and we must go also."
"Oh man," Wakka slumped his shoulders while Lulu followed Kimarhi and Yuna, "By Yevon..."
"Everyone ready to go?" Yuna asked.
"You're awfully cheerful this morning," Lulu smiled, pleased.
"Oh," Yuna blushed a little, "Well...you know...it's just that...."
"It's okay," Lulu laughed a little, "We understand your enthusiasm, let's go."
The group left Besaid as they walked around the path leading to the mountain trail. The trail was deserted mostly, which meant the crusaders must have been doing a better job at controling the fiends. They passed the shrine at the top of the hill when Wakka stopped to pray.
"You know, it seems like yesterday we were just here, me and him, praying to Yevon for victory in the tournament, ya," Wakka kneeled and began to pray for their safe trip, "This really brings back the memories."
"Come on Wakka," Lulu scolded him, "We don't have time for you to fool around."
"Just a sec, Lu," Wakka replied, a bit of sarcasm in his voice, "Let me finish, ya?"
"Whatever."
Suddenly, Kimarhi turned around, a new spear in his hands. From the bushes leapt a fiend, the ones that looked like dogs. Kimarhi rammed the spear in his chest and tossed the fiend over the edge of the cliff, it disappearing into a cloud of pyreflies before disappearing into the jungle.
"Fiends!" the Ronso shouted.
Lulu clutched her moogle and shoved Yuna back towards Wakka. The former blitz star grabbed Yuna's wrist and held her close to him as two more fiends leapt from the underbrush.
"I'll handle this," Lulu raised her hands over her head, "Thundaga!"
Instantly, the heavens sprang forth, piercing the two fiends with bolts of pure lighting. The fiends howled before dissipating. Wakka noticed a pair of flyers bearing down on them and unleashed with his blitzball. It pierced through the sky and slammed into the first flyer before smashing the second on the rebound.
"Where are they coming from?" Lulu yelled as a trio more came out of nowhere.
"Who cares, just fend them off!" Wakka replied.
Yuna stood between Wakka and the shrine as she noticed a pair of flans slithering across the ground, unnoticed by Lulu or Wakka. Kimarhi was otherwise occupied, smashing more of the wolf fiends to see the flans, either.
"Lulu!" Yuna yelled, leaping forward and smashing the nearest flan with her staff. She knew it would do little damage to the jelly creature, but maybe it would delay them until Lulu could blast them with a thunder spell.
To her surprise, the flan latched out with its tentacle, seizing Yuna's staff. The force from the recoil launched Yuna around in a circle. She stumbled backwards until she felt her thighs touch the rope signaling the edge of the cliff.
"Help!" Yuna screamed, careening over the edge.
The three guardians tried to rush to save her, but the fiends seemed to attack more viciously to prevent them from getting there in time.
"No!" Kimarhi yelled, leaping over the fiends, "Yuna!"
His hand reached out to grasp Yuna's arm, but missed by merely a few inches. Yuna screamed as she fell, the deep chasm awaiting her. Suddenly, there was a loud cracking sound as a whip came out of nowhere and clasped tightly around the ex-summoner's right ankle. Kimarhi turned his head to the left to see Felix holding the other end of the rope.
"Don't just stand there!" he ordered, "Help me pull her back up!"
The Ronso snarled to himself before taking the whip in his mighty paws and pulling Yuna back to safety. Behind them, they could here Wakka and Lulu finishing up the fiends. When the last disappeared back into the woods, they ran to where Yuna was sitting on the ground.
"Yuna!" the two cried in unison.
"Are you all right?" Lulu asked panicked, holding her in an embrace.
"I'm fine," Yuna replied, her head resting on Lulu's shoulder. She pushed Lulu away from her and turned to Felix, "Thank you."
Felix stood silent for a minute, as if thinking up his response. Kimarhi glared at him while he silently pondered what to say.
"We should be going before anymore fiends show up," he turned and started walking down the path towards the waterfall, his black cloak swaying in the breeze.
"That's being awfully rude, ya," Wakka yelled after him, "Are you listening?"
"Let it go, Wakka," Lulu stood, helping Yuna to her feet, "I have a feeling he's not used to praise."
* * *
"You're doing it all wrong!" Jecht yelled, smacking his forehead in disgust, "Put some hip drive into it!"
On the deck of there ship/home, Tidus cursed at his father under his breath. Why was he cursed to have the legendary Jecht as his father? Sure, some people thought he was the greatest thing to ever happen to Blitzball in Zanarkand, but to Tidus, he was just a washed up drunk that thought the whole world revolved around him.
"He appears to be doing it right considering the form you presented earlier," Auron, a friend of Jecht's replied.
"Yeah!" Tidus supported his claim.
"Still, you should use your hips more," Auron laughed a little to himself.
"Oh man, is everyone against me?" Tidus fell on his back in mockery.
"Ha ha!" Jecht laughed, "Keep practicing, kid. Auron, let's get a drink."
"I don't drink, you know that," Auron replied, following Jecht into the ship.
Tidus climbed back to his feet and stared at the blitzball sitting on the beach before him. He took it on his foot and launched it a few feet above him. As the ball came down, he leaped to meet it. Spinning in the air, he launched it out over the ocean towards the city. It was his special shot, the sphere shot.
"Whoa!" a strange voice spoke, "You show us that shot again, ya?"
"Huh?" Tidus landed on the deck, looking for the source of the voice, "Who said that?"
"Said what?" a female voice asked. He turned to see Miki, a girl that lived in East block with him sitting on the edge of the boat, "Are you hearing voices again, Tidus?"
"I guess," he rubbed the back of his head, "What's up, Miki?"
"Just came by to see if you wanted to go to the festival tonight?" the blonde girl hopped onto the deck and walked towards him.
"I don't know, we got the championship game tomorrow night," Tidus grinned sarcastically, "I might go to bed early and get my rest."
"Don't give me that!" Miki punched him playfully in the arm, "I know you haven't missed the festival in ten years and you're not starting now!"
"Okay, okay!" he fended off her mock assault, "I'll go with you!"
"That's better," she grinned, "I'll come by around sunset."
"Sunset, right," he signaled with his trademark arm pump.
"Bye!" Miki waved before doing a back flip off the side of the ship into the water.
"Crazy girl," Tidus shook his head, "Wants me to go everywhere with her."
"Hey, you should go to Luca!" another strange, feminine voice said.
"Who's doing that!" he shouted, "Stop it!"
"Don't cry over it," Auron spoke from the doorway.
"Auron?"
"Hearing voices again?" he laughed a little.
"Kinda..." Tidus scratched his hair, "It told me to go someplace called 'Luca'. You ever heard of it, Auron?"
"Luca!" his voice jumped a little before he quickly regained his composure, "No, I haven't. You're probably just overstressed. Get some rest before your date tonight."
"My date? That's not a date!" Tidus replied, scrambling for a comeback, "Hey, why are you spying on me anyway?"
"Hah," Auron turned and walked down the plank towards the dock, "See you tonight."
* * *
The boat dock leading out onto the ocean was unchanged since the last time that Yuna and her guardians had departed from Besaid. The every vigilant watchman, it kept is arm draped along the waves, holding the SS Liki close to its safe harbor, away from the dangers that could lurk in the sea.
Yuna walked slowly to the edge of the dock, her boots clicking against the wood the way they had the previous day. She stood facing the water, silently praying.
"What is she doing?" Felix asked, standing on the edge of the ship.
"Praying," Wakka replied, almost angrily. It was the first time he had heard someone so openly question Yuna's actions in a long time.
"Let it go, Wakka," Lulu walked past him, "Let her do her own thing."
Felix almost laughed at the comment then walked to the bow of the ship. Standing at the bow, he could see as far as the sea stretched into the horizon. He ran his fingers through his brown hair, pushing it out of his face. The breeze was blowing calmly across the deck of the ship as he noticed it begin to move.
Turning around, he saw that Yuna had come aboard and the ship was pulling out of the dock.
Why would Braska send his daughter to this deserted island? Felix thought to himself, What was his motive?
"Ahem," Felix noticed Lulu walking towards him, "I want to talk to you."
"Yesterday you didn't even want to be around me."
"This is no time for joking," Lulu glared evilly, her cold eyes piercing his, "Who sent you?"
"I told you, I came on my own."
"Really?" Lulu continued to stare him down, "Yuna almost died today. I've lived on Besaid my entire life and I've never seen fiends act the way they did today. What's going on?"
"The fiends?" Felix turned his gaze back over the sea, "How should I know, I'm new here."
"Don't give me that innocent crap!" Lulu grabbed his head and turned it to face her, "Tell me the truth."
"I suggest you don't do that," he smirked.
Suddenly, Lulu felt a pressing in her stomach. When she looked down, she saw the protrusion of a machina weapon sticking out from under Felix's cloak.
"So you're Al Bhed?" Lulu released him.
"I told you this before," he reholstered the weapon, "I pledge allegiance to no one."
"I see," Lulu brushed her hair back over her shoulder, "Interesting. Any other surprises under there I should know about?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
* * *
Sitting on the observation deck with Kimarhi and Wakka, Yuna watched a seagull flying about in the sky. Smiling, she watched it dance amongst the breeze, riding the airflow like it was gliding through water before flapping its wings to remain aloft.
Behind her, she heard the clicking of Lulu's heels as she climbed the stairs to the observation deck.
"Hey, Lu," Wakka shifted his weight against the mast of the ship, "What did you and mister mysterious talk about?"
"Nothing," Lulu replied, leaning against the railing of the ship.
"Oh come on, I saw you touching him," Wakka laughed, "You like him better than we thought, ya?"
"Shut up you moron," Lulu chastised him.
"Please stop fighting," Yuna bowed, begging her two guardians to stop with their bickering.
"Sorry," they both apologized.
"It's all right," Yuna smiled a little, "No big deal."
"Yuna happy," Kimarhi observed.
"I suppose I am."
"It's the first time we've seen you smile like that in a long time," Lulu commented, "Perhaps you actually believe our stranger's story?"
"Maybe I do," Yuna giggled, "I sure hope so."
"It's good to have the old Yuna back, ya" Wakka thrusted his fist into the sky, "It's gonna make this journey a whole lot easier."
Yuna laughed, then smiled. It did feel good to be smiling. She turned her head back to the seagull. It still weaved about in the air, flawless and graceful.
* * *
Sunset, his favorite part of the day. Tidus stood at the front of his house watching the sun set. One by one, the lights flickered on across the city until all of Zanarkand was shining beautifully against the red background.
"It's beautiful, Auron," Tidus commented, watching the sun dip behind the buildings.
"Yes, it is," Auron replied, leaning against the mast, "Are you and Miki going to the festival?"
"I guess."
"You sound like you have some doubts. Is something bothering you?"
"I don't know," he turned away from the sunset and flopped down onto the deck, "I can't shake this feeling that I want to go with someone else, but I don't know who."
"I see," Auron stood up straight, "Perhaps you shouldn't tell your date that."
"Huh?" Tidus followed Auron's line of sight to see Miki jogging across the pier towards the house/boat.
"Tidus!" she waved, "Come on or we'll miss it starting!"
"Okay!" he waved back, "You coming, Auron?"
"Later," the old man replied, "I have some things I have to look into."
"Sure thing."
Tidus leapt off the side of the boat into the water and swam to where Miki was standing. Grabbing the edge of the pier, he hoisted himself up, doing a handstand on the edge of the pier before tipping his feet over to where the rested on the ground.
"Oh, I'm impressed!" Miki clapped, "You're so strong!"
"Thanks, shall we go?"
"Of course."
They walked across the pier towards the heart of the city as Auron watched them go. Standing alone, he readjusted his glasses before walking back inside the boat.
* * *
Throughout Kilika, the news of the arrival of the high summoner had created much buzz and excitement. The people frantically put together a small celebration for the summoner and her guardians as the SS Liki pulled into the port.
As the boarding plank was laid out, a crowd gathered around the pier to catch a glimpse of the high summoner. Felix stood at the edge of the boat, overlooking the crowd as they cheered and shouted at Yuna. He lowered his head and shook it slowly.
"Something you object to?" Lulu asked.
"They're like sheep crowding the herder," he replied, his arms propping him up next to the edge of the ship.
"Hardly," Lulu crossed her arms under her chest, "Yuna is the one who gives them the most hope. She's personally favored her because of her actions on our last visit."
"You mean after the attack of Sin?"
"Precisely," Lulu nodded, "The people see Yuna as a pillar of strength, even if she does not see that same image in herself."
"I see," he stood up and walked towards the boarding plank, "Still, there's changes in Spira since you all have become recluses, I pray you are able to avoid the dangerous ones."
He walked across the pier, following behind the procession to the inn where they would be staying the night. When he reached the door, Kimarhi was standing between the crowd and Yuna. An older gentleman, walking on a cane stepped forward from the crowd and addressed Yuna.
"Greetings, Lady Yuna," the man nodded, probably the most of a bow he could perform in his old age, "I am Lenoir, provincial leader for Kilika. Please, won't you join us for the festival we have planned this evening?"
"I suppose," Yuna bowed, "Since you have gone through all this trouble. I shall attend."
Yuna performed the ceremonial bow to Yevon before entering the hotel followed by Kimarhi, Lulu, and Felix.
"That's a bad decision," Felix stated once they were inside, away from the ears of the villagers, "You shouldn't be out there tonight."
"Why not?" Wakka stepped up, "You hiding something from us?"
"I'm merely stating that Yuna shouldn't be out in such a large crowd. The danger it poses in general is great," Felix offered the explanation, "I'm merely stating this from a guardian's point of view."
"Yeah!" Wakka banged his chest, "Well you leave the guardian stuff to the real guardians, ya."
"Besides," Lulu added, "We know how to protect our summoner."
"Whatever," Felix stifled a laugh, "But I'm only warning you."
He turned and left the inn, shutting the wooden door loudly behind him.
"I'm telling you I don't like that guy at all," Wakka shook a fist at the closed door, "He's hiding something, you know? And he won't tell us what."
"It's obvious," Lulu shook her head, "I guess he'll tell us when it's time."
"Until then, we have to follow him. He's the only one who knows anything about this 'Otherworld'," Yuna added.
"Aagh!" Wakka shook his head, "Why do I even try?"
Morning was never something he liked. Though it was regarded as a new beginning for some, he thought of it as an ending. He much preferred sunset, it seemed so calm and it relaxed him in a way he couldn't find the words to explain.
Sitting on the beach, watching the waves, he liked to think about everything that was happening to him. Sometimes, he would lie back and watch the setting sun until he dozed off into sleep. It was that sleep, on the beach under the sun, which worried him the most. Images, violent images, serene images, comical images, all flooded his mind as he dreamt. The only problem was, they were of people and places he did not know. Who were these people that danced in his mind, creating the illusion of another place and time.
"Hey!" his father's voice shouted, "You gonna sit there all day or are you coming to practice?"
"Coming!" he hopped to his feet and ran back towards the city, the daylight streaking across the majestic building line created by the metropolis that was Zanarkand.
* * *
"She's got to be joking!" Wakka protested, "I mean, we don't even know the guy. How do we know what he's saying is the truth, eh?"
"Yuna seems convinced," Lulu stood next to him and Kimarhi, "I really don't think she'd have it any other way."
"Kimarhi, back me up here," Wakka turned to the Ronso, "We can't just let Yuna go off with that guy all alone."
"Yuna not go alone," Kimarhi replied, "Kimarhi go too."
With that, the Ronso turned and headed towards the edge of the village where Yuna was waiting. Felix had disappeared over the course of the evening but left instructions to meet at the dock if they were interested in his proposal.
"Lu?" Wakka turned to the black mage.
"Kimarhi's right," Lulu clutched her moogle, "We're guardians and we must go also."
"Oh man," Wakka slumped his shoulders while Lulu followed Kimarhi and Yuna, "By Yevon..."
"Everyone ready to go?" Yuna asked.
"You're awfully cheerful this morning," Lulu smiled, pleased.
"Oh," Yuna blushed a little, "Well...you know...it's just that...."
"It's okay," Lulu laughed a little, "We understand your enthusiasm, let's go."
The group left Besaid as they walked around the path leading to the mountain trail. The trail was deserted mostly, which meant the crusaders must have been doing a better job at controling the fiends. They passed the shrine at the top of the hill when Wakka stopped to pray.
"You know, it seems like yesterday we were just here, me and him, praying to Yevon for victory in the tournament, ya," Wakka kneeled and began to pray for their safe trip, "This really brings back the memories."
"Come on Wakka," Lulu scolded him, "We don't have time for you to fool around."
"Just a sec, Lu," Wakka replied, a bit of sarcasm in his voice, "Let me finish, ya?"
"Whatever."
Suddenly, Kimarhi turned around, a new spear in his hands. From the bushes leapt a fiend, the ones that looked like dogs. Kimarhi rammed the spear in his chest and tossed the fiend over the edge of the cliff, it disappearing into a cloud of pyreflies before disappearing into the jungle.
"Fiends!" the Ronso shouted.
Lulu clutched her moogle and shoved Yuna back towards Wakka. The former blitz star grabbed Yuna's wrist and held her close to him as two more fiends leapt from the underbrush.
"I'll handle this," Lulu raised her hands over her head, "Thundaga!"
Instantly, the heavens sprang forth, piercing the two fiends with bolts of pure lighting. The fiends howled before dissipating. Wakka noticed a pair of flyers bearing down on them and unleashed with his blitzball. It pierced through the sky and slammed into the first flyer before smashing the second on the rebound.
"Where are they coming from?" Lulu yelled as a trio more came out of nowhere.
"Who cares, just fend them off!" Wakka replied.
Yuna stood between Wakka and the shrine as she noticed a pair of flans slithering across the ground, unnoticed by Lulu or Wakka. Kimarhi was otherwise occupied, smashing more of the wolf fiends to see the flans, either.
"Lulu!" Yuna yelled, leaping forward and smashing the nearest flan with her staff. She knew it would do little damage to the jelly creature, but maybe it would delay them until Lulu could blast them with a thunder spell.
To her surprise, the flan latched out with its tentacle, seizing Yuna's staff. The force from the recoil launched Yuna around in a circle. She stumbled backwards until she felt her thighs touch the rope signaling the edge of the cliff.
"Help!" Yuna screamed, careening over the edge.
The three guardians tried to rush to save her, but the fiends seemed to attack more viciously to prevent them from getting there in time.
"No!" Kimarhi yelled, leaping over the fiends, "Yuna!"
His hand reached out to grasp Yuna's arm, but missed by merely a few inches. Yuna screamed as she fell, the deep chasm awaiting her. Suddenly, there was a loud cracking sound as a whip came out of nowhere and clasped tightly around the ex-summoner's right ankle. Kimarhi turned his head to the left to see Felix holding the other end of the rope.
"Don't just stand there!" he ordered, "Help me pull her back up!"
The Ronso snarled to himself before taking the whip in his mighty paws and pulling Yuna back to safety. Behind them, they could here Wakka and Lulu finishing up the fiends. When the last disappeared back into the woods, they ran to where Yuna was sitting on the ground.
"Yuna!" the two cried in unison.
"Are you all right?" Lulu asked panicked, holding her in an embrace.
"I'm fine," Yuna replied, her head resting on Lulu's shoulder. She pushed Lulu away from her and turned to Felix, "Thank you."
Felix stood silent for a minute, as if thinking up his response. Kimarhi glared at him while he silently pondered what to say.
"We should be going before anymore fiends show up," he turned and started walking down the path towards the waterfall, his black cloak swaying in the breeze.
"That's being awfully rude, ya," Wakka yelled after him, "Are you listening?"
"Let it go, Wakka," Lulu stood, helping Yuna to her feet, "I have a feeling he's not used to praise."
* * *
"You're doing it all wrong!" Jecht yelled, smacking his forehead in disgust, "Put some hip drive into it!"
On the deck of there ship/home, Tidus cursed at his father under his breath. Why was he cursed to have the legendary Jecht as his father? Sure, some people thought he was the greatest thing to ever happen to Blitzball in Zanarkand, but to Tidus, he was just a washed up drunk that thought the whole world revolved around him.
"He appears to be doing it right considering the form you presented earlier," Auron, a friend of Jecht's replied.
"Yeah!" Tidus supported his claim.
"Still, you should use your hips more," Auron laughed a little to himself.
"Oh man, is everyone against me?" Tidus fell on his back in mockery.
"Ha ha!" Jecht laughed, "Keep practicing, kid. Auron, let's get a drink."
"I don't drink, you know that," Auron replied, following Jecht into the ship.
Tidus climbed back to his feet and stared at the blitzball sitting on the beach before him. He took it on his foot and launched it a few feet above him. As the ball came down, he leaped to meet it. Spinning in the air, he launched it out over the ocean towards the city. It was his special shot, the sphere shot.
"Whoa!" a strange voice spoke, "You show us that shot again, ya?"
"Huh?" Tidus landed on the deck, looking for the source of the voice, "Who said that?"
"Said what?" a female voice asked. He turned to see Miki, a girl that lived in East block with him sitting on the edge of the boat, "Are you hearing voices again, Tidus?"
"I guess," he rubbed the back of his head, "What's up, Miki?"
"Just came by to see if you wanted to go to the festival tonight?" the blonde girl hopped onto the deck and walked towards him.
"I don't know, we got the championship game tomorrow night," Tidus grinned sarcastically, "I might go to bed early and get my rest."
"Don't give me that!" Miki punched him playfully in the arm, "I know you haven't missed the festival in ten years and you're not starting now!"
"Okay, okay!" he fended off her mock assault, "I'll go with you!"
"That's better," she grinned, "I'll come by around sunset."
"Sunset, right," he signaled with his trademark arm pump.
"Bye!" Miki waved before doing a back flip off the side of the ship into the water.
"Crazy girl," Tidus shook his head, "Wants me to go everywhere with her."
"Hey, you should go to Luca!" another strange, feminine voice said.
"Who's doing that!" he shouted, "Stop it!"
"Don't cry over it," Auron spoke from the doorway.
"Auron?"
"Hearing voices again?" he laughed a little.
"Kinda..." Tidus scratched his hair, "It told me to go someplace called 'Luca'. You ever heard of it, Auron?"
"Luca!" his voice jumped a little before he quickly regained his composure, "No, I haven't. You're probably just overstressed. Get some rest before your date tonight."
"My date? That's not a date!" Tidus replied, scrambling for a comeback, "Hey, why are you spying on me anyway?"
"Hah," Auron turned and walked down the plank towards the dock, "See you tonight."
* * *
The boat dock leading out onto the ocean was unchanged since the last time that Yuna and her guardians had departed from Besaid. The every vigilant watchman, it kept is arm draped along the waves, holding the SS Liki close to its safe harbor, away from the dangers that could lurk in the sea.
Yuna walked slowly to the edge of the dock, her boots clicking against the wood the way they had the previous day. She stood facing the water, silently praying.
"What is she doing?" Felix asked, standing on the edge of the ship.
"Praying," Wakka replied, almost angrily. It was the first time he had heard someone so openly question Yuna's actions in a long time.
"Let it go, Wakka," Lulu walked past him, "Let her do her own thing."
Felix almost laughed at the comment then walked to the bow of the ship. Standing at the bow, he could see as far as the sea stretched into the horizon. He ran his fingers through his brown hair, pushing it out of his face. The breeze was blowing calmly across the deck of the ship as he noticed it begin to move.
Turning around, he saw that Yuna had come aboard and the ship was pulling out of the dock.
Why would Braska send his daughter to this deserted island? Felix thought to himself, What was his motive?
"Ahem," Felix noticed Lulu walking towards him, "I want to talk to you."
"Yesterday you didn't even want to be around me."
"This is no time for joking," Lulu glared evilly, her cold eyes piercing his, "Who sent you?"
"I told you, I came on my own."
"Really?" Lulu continued to stare him down, "Yuna almost died today. I've lived on Besaid my entire life and I've never seen fiends act the way they did today. What's going on?"
"The fiends?" Felix turned his gaze back over the sea, "How should I know, I'm new here."
"Don't give me that innocent crap!" Lulu grabbed his head and turned it to face her, "Tell me the truth."
"I suggest you don't do that," he smirked.
Suddenly, Lulu felt a pressing in her stomach. When she looked down, she saw the protrusion of a machina weapon sticking out from under Felix's cloak.
"So you're Al Bhed?" Lulu released him.
"I told you this before," he reholstered the weapon, "I pledge allegiance to no one."
"I see," Lulu brushed her hair back over her shoulder, "Interesting. Any other surprises under there I should know about?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
* * *
Sitting on the observation deck with Kimarhi and Wakka, Yuna watched a seagull flying about in the sky. Smiling, she watched it dance amongst the breeze, riding the airflow like it was gliding through water before flapping its wings to remain aloft.
Behind her, she heard the clicking of Lulu's heels as she climbed the stairs to the observation deck.
"Hey, Lu," Wakka shifted his weight against the mast of the ship, "What did you and mister mysterious talk about?"
"Nothing," Lulu replied, leaning against the railing of the ship.
"Oh come on, I saw you touching him," Wakka laughed, "You like him better than we thought, ya?"
"Shut up you moron," Lulu chastised him.
"Please stop fighting," Yuna bowed, begging her two guardians to stop with their bickering.
"Sorry," they both apologized.
"It's all right," Yuna smiled a little, "No big deal."
"Yuna happy," Kimarhi observed.
"I suppose I am."
"It's the first time we've seen you smile like that in a long time," Lulu commented, "Perhaps you actually believe our stranger's story?"
"Maybe I do," Yuna giggled, "I sure hope so."
"It's good to have the old Yuna back, ya" Wakka thrusted his fist into the sky, "It's gonna make this journey a whole lot easier."
Yuna laughed, then smiled. It did feel good to be smiling. She turned her head back to the seagull. It still weaved about in the air, flawless and graceful.
* * *
Sunset, his favorite part of the day. Tidus stood at the front of his house watching the sun set. One by one, the lights flickered on across the city until all of Zanarkand was shining beautifully against the red background.
"It's beautiful, Auron," Tidus commented, watching the sun dip behind the buildings.
"Yes, it is," Auron replied, leaning against the mast, "Are you and Miki going to the festival?"
"I guess."
"You sound like you have some doubts. Is something bothering you?"
"I don't know," he turned away from the sunset and flopped down onto the deck, "I can't shake this feeling that I want to go with someone else, but I don't know who."
"I see," Auron stood up straight, "Perhaps you shouldn't tell your date that."
"Huh?" Tidus followed Auron's line of sight to see Miki jogging across the pier towards the house/boat.
"Tidus!" she waved, "Come on or we'll miss it starting!"
"Okay!" he waved back, "You coming, Auron?"
"Later," the old man replied, "I have some things I have to look into."
"Sure thing."
Tidus leapt off the side of the boat into the water and swam to where Miki was standing. Grabbing the edge of the pier, he hoisted himself up, doing a handstand on the edge of the pier before tipping his feet over to where the rested on the ground.
"Oh, I'm impressed!" Miki clapped, "You're so strong!"
"Thanks, shall we go?"
"Of course."
They walked across the pier towards the heart of the city as Auron watched them go. Standing alone, he readjusted his glasses before walking back inside the boat.
* * *
Throughout Kilika, the news of the arrival of the high summoner had created much buzz and excitement. The people frantically put together a small celebration for the summoner and her guardians as the SS Liki pulled into the port.
As the boarding plank was laid out, a crowd gathered around the pier to catch a glimpse of the high summoner. Felix stood at the edge of the boat, overlooking the crowd as they cheered and shouted at Yuna. He lowered his head and shook it slowly.
"Something you object to?" Lulu asked.
"They're like sheep crowding the herder," he replied, his arms propping him up next to the edge of the ship.
"Hardly," Lulu crossed her arms under her chest, "Yuna is the one who gives them the most hope. She's personally favored her because of her actions on our last visit."
"You mean after the attack of Sin?"
"Precisely," Lulu nodded, "The people see Yuna as a pillar of strength, even if she does not see that same image in herself."
"I see," he stood up and walked towards the boarding plank, "Still, there's changes in Spira since you all have become recluses, I pray you are able to avoid the dangerous ones."
He walked across the pier, following behind the procession to the inn where they would be staying the night. When he reached the door, Kimarhi was standing between the crowd and Yuna. An older gentleman, walking on a cane stepped forward from the crowd and addressed Yuna.
"Greetings, Lady Yuna," the man nodded, probably the most of a bow he could perform in his old age, "I am Lenoir, provincial leader for Kilika. Please, won't you join us for the festival we have planned this evening?"
"I suppose," Yuna bowed, "Since you have gone through all this trouble. I shall attend."
Yuna performed the ceremonial bow to Yevon before entering the hotel followed by Kimarhi, Lulu, and Felix.
"That's a bad decision," Felix stated once they were inside, away from the ears of the villagers, "You shouldn't be out there tonight."
"Why not?" Wakka stepped up, "You hiding something from us?"
"I'm merely stating that Yuna shouldn't be out in such a large crowd. The danger it poses in general is great," Felix offered the explanation, "I'm merely stating this from a guardian's point of view."
"Yeah!" Wakka banged his chest, "Well you leave the guardian stuff to the real guardians, ya."
"Besides," Lulu added, "We know how to protect our summoner."
"Whatever," Felix stifled a laugh, "But I'm only warning you."
He turned and left the inn, shutting the wooden door loudly behind him.
"I'm telling you I don't like that guy at all," Wakka shook a fist at the closed door, "He's hiding something, you know? And he won't tell us what."
"It's obvious," Lulu shook her head, "I guess he'll tell us when it's time."
"Until then, we have to follow him. He's the only one who knows anything about this 'Otherworld'," Yuna added.
"Aagh!" Wakka shook his head, "Why do I even try?"
