Chapter 5: Sorrow/Tribulations

The lights in the temple burned all day and night. Priests and other caretakers kept the flames lit so all travelers would be able to stop in and pray. No one really came to the temples anymore. Since Yevon was officially declared corrupt, it just didn't seem right to pray at the temples anymore.

However, for Yuna, the temple was the only place she could fine peace. Kneeling beneath the statue of her father, she lowered her head to touch the ground and prayed.

"Oh, father," Yuna whispered, "Lend me your strength your strength to see this endeavor through."

In the back of her mind, she could here the words Felix had spoken to her.

And here you are now, a shell of that person they fought for,

Tears ran down her face as she sat back up. It was hard to carry on with this second pilgrimage. Even with the thoughts of reclaiming him, it was hard to go on. Didn't Felix understand? Her soul had been wounded when he had dove off the side of the airship. Since then, no potion or elixir could heal that wound. How could he have been so cruel to her?

Then there was the way he had looked at her when she was talking with the people of the highroad. He seemed agitated, almost envious of her. Why? What was going on with him?

Suddenly, Yuna heard footsteps. Looking up, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a person entering the cloister of trials.

"Hello?" Yuna called out, walking towards the stairway that led to the trials.

She descended into the trials, the ancient maze designed over a thousand years ago had laid dormant since the defeat of Sin and the fayths being allowed to rest. Yuna pushed the heavy metal door open into the darkened labyrinth. It was dark as she stepped in, the energy by the fayth to light the chamber was gone.

"Hello!" Yuna called out, hoping the stranger hadn't made his way too far into the darkened chamber.

Crawling through the darkened labyrinth, Yuna pushed aside the cobwebs that had gathered over the last two years. Climbing the stairway to the second level of the chamber, Yuna noticed the doorway to the chamber of the fayth was laid open. Inside, a light was burning.

Creeping towards the doorway, Yuna peeked in. The strange man was inside, facing the chamber which held the ancient fayth.

"Come in, Yuna," he spoke, startling the ex-summoner.

"It can't be...!" Yuna gasped, stepping into the light to confirm her suspicion.

"Yes, it is," Braska spoke, "I've come to see you, my daughter."

* * *

"Get away!" Lulu's voice echoed through the wooden doorway in the inn outside the temple.

Outside the door, Wakka leaned against the wall listening to her cries.

"Damn it," Wakka pounded his fist, "I wish there was something I could do."

"Then why don't you?" Felix asked, leaning against the wall across the hallway, "Her cries get worse every night."

"Wish I could," Wakka slumped his shoulders, "Don't know how much help I could be."

"You're her friend," Felix offered, "You grew up together."

"That's not it. Lulu....she's having a tough time...I..I don't think 'I' can help her."

"I see," Felix lowered his head to stare at the floor, "Perhaps I should talk to her."

"No, you stay away from her!" Wakka pounced, "This is Lulu's problem and Lulu can handle it, ya? She don't need you getting in her way."

"How naive," Felix laughed, "Did Yevon teach not to help others?"

"Well....yeah," Wakka rubbed his head, "Why does that matter?"

"You blindly follow that faith, Wakka," Felix explained, "You should think for yourself more, like when you're in the sphere playing."

"Who are you telling me what I need to believe?"

"I'm merely offering you advice," Felix continued, "I came from Bevelle, and I'm warning you all. Yevon has changed drastically in two years, and the changes are not all good."

"Bah!" Wakka stormed off, "I've had enough of your riddles"

"Suit yourself," Felix shrugged.

* * *

"Father!" Yuna bowed, overtaken with emotion, "How? How are you here?"

"My soul has yet to rest in the Farplane," Braska explained, "There are some things here I have yet to do."

"What things, father?" Yuna asked.

"I cannot say, as they would impede your journey," Braska apologized, "Will you forgive me?"

"Of course. Father, can I ask you something?"

"Anything," Braska smiled.

"Is there really an Otherworld?" Yuna asked, clutching her hand over her chest. Braska paused for a moment, lowering his head to the ground, "There's not is there?"

"I'm sorry, Yuna," Braska apologized again, "I know your hopes were up."

"Then, why would Felix lie to us?"

"Felix is a man filled with turmoil in his heart. He has led a scorned life," Braska explained, "I only pray you can ease his pain."

"How?"

"It is not my place to decide," Braska smiled, "You must make that decision. The only thing I can tell you is that you will be faced with a choice before Spira is safe."

"A choice?"

"Yes," Braska nodded, "You will be forced to choose between the two you care about. One will die, Yuna, and the other will live. I pray you make the right choice."

"But....I love only one man," Yuna protested.

"You will have to choose Yuna," Braska restated his prophecy, his image disappearing slowly into a flurry of pyreflies, "Goodbye, my Yuna. Know that your mother and I will always love you."

"Father!" Yuna reached out, her hand passing through the fading visage of Braska.

In an instant, he was gone. Yuna stood trembling for a moment before falling to her knees and crying.

* * *

The light from the stars illuminated the pathway outside the temple as Wakka walked along the bridge. His motions were calm and precise, but his mind was a turbulent nightmare.

Stupid fool, Wakka cursed Felix, Telling me what to believe in, like he has any beliefs.

Wakka stopped, leaning against the railing of the bridge. He tilted his head back and watched the stars glitter in the night sky. It was amazing, how bright the stars always shined. No matter how bleak things were, or how much carnage was ravaged on Spira, Wakka always found comfort in the stars.

Behind him, Wakka heard something splash in the water. He turned his head to see the outline of someone swimming through the crystal waters. Wakka watched the person, wondering who would be out for a swim near midnight. He watched the figure glide through the water gracefully like a needle through the canvas. Almost an hour pasted until the figure headed towards the shore bank. Climbing out, Wakka recognized the figure as being Rikku.

The young Al Bhed girl stood on the edge of the bank, the light from the stars illuminating her wet skin. Wakka had never paid much attention before, always regarding her as just another Al Bhed, but he noticed she was extremely beautiful, carrying an innocent kind of grace and beauty. Rikku tossed her hair back over her shoulders, the water dripping down her back as she made her way up the bank.
"Hey, Rikku!" Wakka called out as she approached the bridge.


"Wakka?" Rikku turned around, a little startled at the ex-Auroch being there, "What are you doing out here?"

"Oh, just getting some fresh air," Wakka laughed, "And you?"

"Swimming," Rikku laughed, "But I'm sure saw that."

"Haha," Wakka rubbed the back of his neck, "If you wanted to be alone, I can go back inside."

"No, it's okay," Rikku replied, "I usually don't get much company when I go swimming. Most Al Bhed hate water."

Wakka and Rikku stood quietly for a moment, Wakka leaning against the railing and Rikku sitting on it. Silence passed for a little while, until Rikku hopped off the railing.

"Hajan keja ib, Wakka," she spoke in her native language, holding a finger out in front of her.

"Huh?" Wakka looked surprised, "What's that mean?"

"It means, 'never give up'," Rikku explained, "My father always told me that when I was little, and I kept telling Yunie that during the pilgrimage. It was my personal motto to find some other way to defeat Sin and save Yuna. Low and behold, we did it!"

"Haha," Wakka laughed, "I guess you're right, ya."

"Yup," Rikku spun around and looked out over the lake, "The water is so clear, you know, the way it reflects the stars."

"Ya," Wakka joined her.

"I like to sit out at night, lying in the cool sand after a swim and just watch the stars. They're so peaceful. I know Yevon teaches that souls go to the Farplane when they're dead, but the Al Bhed, we believe that the stars are those souls, watching over us. I know it sounds silly to you, but..."

"No, it doesn't," Wakka interrupted, "Rikku, I'm sorry for the things I said about you and the Al Bhed. You're a really great group of people and we wouldn't be here today if it weren't for what you all did for us."

He found his arm was on her shoulder as she watched the river brush along the shoreline. Wakka noticed a shimmer on her cheek, a tear illuminated in the moonlight.

"Hey, there's no reason to cry," Wakka wiped it away with his finger.

"I'm sorry," Rikku rubbed her eyes, "But, it's been two years since he left. Do you think he can come back?"

"I sure hope so."

"Me too," Rikku nodded, "I hope Felix is right, there's so much riding on this."

"Huh? What's that mean?"

"Nothing," Rikku pulled away from him and started back towards the inn, "I better get some sleep, we're leaving for the moonflow tomorrow, right?"

Wakka watched as the Al Bhed girl walked sullenly back towards the inn. It must be hard, Wakka wondered, she had so much happen to her in such a short time. It was amazing how she kept a cheery attitude about her.

He followed her back to the inn, his mind wondering on Rikku and how she had acted.

"What did she mean by that?" he wondered about her parting statement.

* * *

"I don't like this, Miki," Tidus voiced his objection.

"Oh, come on!" Miki replied, "If Auron wanted you to come here, I'm sure it's all right."

"That's not it," Tidus shook his head, "Something is going on around here and Auron and my dad are in on it and they won't tell me."

"Maybe Auron'll tell you once we're inside."

The Blitzball stadium was set overlooking the bay and was often times highly guarded, as it was the most prestigious building in Zanarkand. Tidus and Miki had taken her parents' skimmer and approached from the bay. Hopefully, most of the guards were at the festival.

"There!" Miki announced, the lock on the maintenance entrance falling to the ground, "Come on!"

Tidus watched as Miki disappeared into the darkness of the arena's underground. He clutched the sword Jecht had given him, the red blade reflecting the light from the city. Slowly, he climbed off the docks and entered the arena. Miki was fiddling with the light switch as Tidus's eyes adjusted to the darkness.

"This thing looks like someone busted it," Miki explained, "I can't fix it."

"Let me see," Tidus looked at the switch. It looked like a large sword had slashed through at a downward angle, cutting through a lot of the wiring, "Auron?"

"But why would he destroy the lights?"

"I don't know," he took Miki's hand, "Come on, we have to find him."

Making their way through the darkness, Tidus tried to maneuver the corridors as best as he could remember. He had only been in the underground once, when he was little and got lost looking for the locker room where his father and mother were.

The underground was larger than the stadium as it housed the maintenance wing and the plumbing and conversion systems that allowed normal sea water to be oxygenated before Blitz games. It was almost and endless maze of pipes and machinery.

"This is hopeless," Miki complained, "There's no way out."

"We'll find a way, I promise," Tidus reassured her.

But what if you can't? a strange voice echoed through the hallways, Yunie'll die, you know!

"Who said that!" Tidus shouted.

"What?"

"I'm hearing voice again," Tidus collapsed to his knees, "They won't leave me alone!"

"Tidus, get up," Miki tugged on him, "We have to keep going."

"No!" he shouted, "Not until they leave me alone!"

"Tidus!"

"Get out of my head!"

* * *

Morning. Yuna was the last to leave the inn, having been up longer than the others in the temple. The last time she was late, it was a humorous occasion as they laughed and joked about Yuna's hair, but things had changed since then, changed forever.

Everyone was waiting for her, Wakka sitting against a rock, Lulu clutching her moogle, Felix standing silent near the bridge and Rikku running about.

"Where is Kimarhi?" Yuna noticed the Ronso had disappeared.

"Disappeared earlier," Wakka announced, hopping to his feet, "Said he had something to check out."

"I see," Yuna lowered her head.

"Let's get going," Felix announced, "We're wasting time."

The final leg of the Mushroom Rock Road was uneventful at most. Fiends were staying off the path and they were able to move quickly. It was when they were approaching the top of the final hill that they got a pleasant surprise. O'aka XXIII, the famous merchant was heading in the opposite direction and stopped when he saw them.

"Ah, M'lady summoner!" O'aka bowed, "It has been so long."

"O'aka," Yuna returned the grace, "How is business?"

"Excellent, my dear," O'aka laughed, "Though that Rin fellow is still making expansion hard."
"Keep at it," Yuna smiled, "I have faith in you."

"Thank you, M'lady," O'aka bowed again, "Can I interest you in some business?"

"Felix?"

"Do as you want," he replied.

"Oh, I've seen you before," O'aka turned and looked him over, "Yes, I've seen you before. In Bevelle."

"Maybe," Felix shrugged.

"Well, if you're a friend of Lady Yuna's you're a friend of mine. Though I've got to warn you, there have been some suspicious characters hanging around the shoopuf rentals. I'd keep an eye out if I were you."

"I see," Felix rubbed his chin, the statement obviously having an affect on him.

After Yuna bought a few things from O'aka, mostly potions, the merchant bid them a safe journey and continued on his journey.

"Felix, do you really know...," Yuna turned to find that he was gone.

"This is odd," Lulu announced, "Did anyone see him leave?"

"No," Wakka replied, "It's like he just vanished."

"Maybe he went ahead, like Kimarhi did," Rikku offered an explanation.

"Perhaps," Lulu lowered her head in thought, "Anyway, we should go find Kimarhi."

The moonflow was still brightly lit by pyreflies in the morning sunlight. Yuna tried not to look at them, but her heart kept drawing her towards the dancing lights along the water.

"Yuna," she felt Lulu's hand on her shoulder.

"I'm okay," she nodded.

"Hey!" a voice called out. They all looked towards the shore to see Felix and Kimarhi pushing a small craft into the water.

"What are you doing?" Lulu asked, "I thought you were.."

"I've talked to some merchants," Felix interrupted her, "Seems the quickest way to Mount Gagazet since the flood a few months ago is the moonflow."

"How long will this take?" Yuna asked.

"One day, maybe two," Kimarhi answered, "Gagazet not far."

The group piled into the boat, Lulu and Rikku last.

"Are you coming?" Lulu turned to the Al Bhed, "We're leaving."

"Can't we go to the station for a little while?" Rikku pleaded.

"No!" Felix shouted harshly, "We're leaving now."

He took Rikku's arm and pulled her onboard. Kimarhi pushed the boat out into the current and leapt over the edge inside.

Felix walked to the front of the boat as everyone else settled in. He stood silently until Lulu approached him.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Taking Yuna to Zanarkand," he answered.

"I thought you were supposed to drop us off at the moonflow?"

"I couldn't do that," he shook his head, "It wasn't the right thing to do."

"How come? Or am I getting the feeling a lot of your story has little clout to it."

He sighed, looking down.

"Tell me the truth," Lulu demanded, "We won't hate you for it."

"Not now. Wait until we get to Zanarkand."

"I won't wait!" Lulu shouted, startling everyone else on the boat, "Tell me now!"

"Ok..." he nodded, "The truth is..."

"Al Bhed!" Rikku shouted. Behind them, the cannons from Al Bhed boats opened up, the tracers tearing through the water, "But why are they shooting at us?"

"Rikku, get down!" Wakka tackled Rikku to the ground as bullets flared overhead.

"Protect Yuna," Felix ordered to Lulu.

Lulu nodded, taking Yuna's arm and pushing her to the deck of the boat out of the firing angle. Felix unhooked his cloak and it blew into the river from the wind. Kimarhi grabbed the engine controls and floored the tiny boat's acceleration. Felix drew his machina weapon and fired back, the small arms fire doing light damage to the Al Bhed boat.

"This is useless!" he yelled, tossing the gun overboard. He drew his sword and took a leap over the edge of the boat.

The others thought it was luck, but whatever it was, Felix landed on the hull of the closest Al Bhed boat. They tried firing on him with handheld weapons, but he dodged the bullets, slashing the driver across the chest with his blade before knocking the gunner over the side. Quickly, he dropped down and took the controls of the boat. Steering it through the wakes in the moonflow river, he caught up to the second boat.

"He's crazy!" Wakka shouted.

"Felix!" Lulu yelled.

Felix drew his whip and snapped it. The leather whip wrapped tightly around the boat and Felix was violently yanked from the boat. Skidding across the water, he pulled himself towards the boat. The Al Bhed gunner in the second boat turned around and started spraying the water with bullets. Suddenly, Felix's sword shot through the bottom of the ship, impaling his right leg. The gunner dropped his weapon and it fell into the water. Fighting the wind, Felix pulled himself onboard. Avoiding the punches from the wounded Al Bhed, he grabbed the attacker and tossed him overboard.

"Felix! Look out!" Rikku shouted.

Felix looked up at the driver who clutched the detonator to a bomb in his hand. He yelled at Felix in Al Bhed before depressing the switch.

In a ball of fire, the moonflow erupted. Kimarhi tried his hardest to control the craft, but their boat crashed into the bank and started smoking from the hood.

"Everyone out," Kimarhi ordered as they jumped out.

Wakka grabbed Yuna over his shoulder as they ducked into the forest along the bank. Lulu, however, stopped, watching the smoldering barge that was the Al Bhed boat float down the river.

"No," Rikku gasped, rushing back into the water until it came to her knees, "No!"

"Oh, Yevon," Wakka whispered.

Yuna turned her head to see Lulu. Silent as always, she seemed the least disturbed of the group. However, Yuna noticed something running down her cheek. It was a tear.