Chapter 8 - New Determination/Harrowed Emotions
The darkness would not end and Tidus could feel his strength beginning to give out. Forever was the only way to measure where he was, either in time or distance; there was no end. He stopped again, resting his sore and aching arms.
I knew you couldn't do it, the voice returned.
"Shut up!" Tidus yelled back it, "Leave me alone!"
You want to be alone? You are alone.
"Get out of my head!" he yelled, "I'll find her, and escape from this place, I'll show you!"
You can't escape. There is no end or exit. No matter where you go, you will always be just a figment created to preserve and era many are ready to forget.
"That's not true!" Tidus shouted, "I exist, regardless of what anyone else thinks!"
Do you? If so, how come you cannot protect her right now?
"What are you talking about? Whom am I supposed to protect?"
You said you'd always be there for her, but you're not. You failed.
"I won't fail!" he shook his fist at the darkness, "Give me a chance, and I'll prove I can protect her!"
Is that what you're heart desires?
"Yes!"
You can be real again, but even I don't know if you can protect her.
"Give me the chance!" he shouted, "You think I can't do it?"
It's time you went to her; her pain is so great without you.
"How do I get out of here?"
Keep going, you're heart will take you where you belong.
* * *
Morning broke and they started on their travel again. It was the common consensus among the group that whatever attacked the Al Bhed camp was the Ochu. What sent it, however, was beyond any of their comprehension. They really didn't know why they waited until morning, since none of them were able to sleep after the ordeal.
Rikku and Yuna had a few light bruises from the tentacles, and it was agreed that they would not need any first aid to get them going again. Lulu, on the other hand, was a wreck. Felix had taken her to the Al Bhed camp to get cleaned up, but she wasn't acting the same. She cried through the rock, threatening bodily harm on anyone who approached her.
Felix had taken a few supplies from the Al Bhed camp, namely another machina weapon and a near shirt. He had made a comment that morning to Rikku he wished he had his cloak back, but said it really wasn't a big deal.
They passed silently over the bridge leading to Mount Gagazet, the planks creaking underneath their feet. Felix walked in the rear with Lulu, who constantly stared at the ground. However, as they passed over the bridge, Lulu stopped, looking down into the canyon gorge.
"I don't want to be here," Lulu mumbled.
Felix stopped, turning to face her, "Are you okay, Lu?"
"I don't want to be here," she repeated to herself.
"This place," Wakka put his hand on Felix's shoulder, speaking in a whisper, "Holds bad memories for Lulu."
Her nightmares? Felix thought.
"I have to go see it again," Lulu clenched her fist, "To apologize again."
"Go ahead, Lu," Wakka nodded, "We'll wait here."
Lulu turned and headed back across the bridge. Felix watched until she turned into the gorge and started heading underneath the bridge.
"What are you waiting for?" Wakka asked him, "She wants you to come with her. Said she had something to tell you, ya?"
Felix looked at the Auroch for a moment before crossing his arms over his chest.
"Does this mean you trust me now?" he asked.
"Nope," Wakka laughed, "But if Lu does, I guess I can put up with you, eh?"
"Funny."
Felix turned and followed Lulu down into the gorge. When they were both out of sight, Yuna approached Wakka.
"Is she going to tell him?" Yuna asked.
"I think so," Wakka nodded, "I don't believe it though."
"Believe what?" Rikku asked.
"Lulu's heart grows warm," Kimarhi replied to the Al Bhed girl.
* * *
When Felix caught up to Lulu, she was kneeling next to the cavern that led to the underground tunnels where the stolen fayth had once laid dormant until Yuna had rescued it from its prison. Now, it was gone, to wherever the fayth had gone since they stopped dreaming.
Lulu was praying silently, so Felix stood behind her and waited. After a few minutes, the black mage stood up and pushed her hair back over her shoulder.
"Do you know what it's like," she began, "To be a failure. It's the worse feeling in the world. It feels like someone takes a sword and plunges it right through your heart. I...am a failure."
"Lulu," Felix approached her, reaching out with his hand, but she shook him off, "You're not a failure."
"Twice," Lulu continued, "How could I fail twice? Both former summoners I guarded, they both quit while we were passing through the calm lands. Actually, my first was killed because I failed to protect her. I failed."
"Lulu, no one's asking you to be perfect. We all make mistakes. Move on with your life."
"No!" Lulu shook her head, the obvious sobs could be heard, "I was awake...you know...in the moonflow when Yuna showed you the picture."
"Oh," Felix lowered his head, "Lu, I didn't mean to pry. I just wanted to know what's wrong with you."
"What's wrong with me?" she spun around, angry, "There's a million things wrong with me!"
She wanted to scream more at him, but Felix stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her and letting her cry into his chest.
"I..." she sobbed, her anger subsiding, "I want to tell you what happened, why I'm the way I am now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she nodded, "It was in Besaid, five years ago, shortly before Chappu and I were to be wed. He didn't tell us anything, but Wakka had arranged a village-wide celebration for us. It was his way of celebrating our marriage. I wasn't like I am now, I was just a girl in love and I didn't know what I was doing..."
She sobbed more, while Felix stroked her long hair.
"I...I had too much to drink at the party," she continued, Felix hearing the pain in every word. He wondered if he should stop her, but decided it best that she tell someone and exorcise her demons haunting her, "It was late, and I went to the hut that I shared with Chappu. I don't remember much, but the morning after made everything clear. It was the day of my wedding, supposedly the happiest day of my life, but it turned to hell quicker than anyone could imagine."
"Lu...?" Felix comforted her.
"There was a scream, which stirred me from my sleep. It was Chappu standing at the doorway to the hut. He was yelling at me, calling me names in Al Bhed, a language he had taken a fancy to learning. Words like 'ruf luimt oui? e mujat oui? fro tet oui tu drec du sa?'. I remember every one of them."
"What happened?"
"When I turned my head, the person I thought was Chappu," she cried, gathering her strength, "Was Wakka."
"My god," Felix whispered under his breath.
"It was horrible. We were both drunk, drunk like damn fiends. We didn't know what we did, but Chappu thought otherwise."
"Lulu," he held her close, "I'm so sorry."
"Don't pity me," she shook her head, "Shortly thereafter, Chappu left to join the Crusaders. He left a note saying he was sorry. It was the last time we heard from him..."
Lulu's voice trailed off into tears as she buried herself in Felix's chest. They stood there, Felix letting Lulu cry the demons away for nearly an hour. It must have hurt so much, for such a strong and independent woman to break down and cry. He figured that Lulu must have changed her attire and outlook on the world after Chappu left Besaid. It seemed logical enough.
"Thank you," she whispered, her tears subsiding.
"You're welcome, Lu," he replied.
Lulu leaned her head back to where she could see his face.
"You know," Lulu wiped her eyes with her hands, "When you showed up, I thought of something funny."
"What?" he asked.
"You looked, so much like Braska, but you're so different," she smiled a little.
"Lulu..." Felix sighed, "I have to show you something."
He reached up to his right eye, holding his face steady. When we brought his hands down, the blue in his eye was gone, replaced by green. Lulu gasped.
"Don't tell Yuna, not yet," Felix pleaded.
"Why didn't you tell us?" she demanded, still overtaken that Felix's eyes were the same as Yuna's. Two different colored eyes were the sign of a hybrid, one bred between an Al Bhed and a Yevonite. Felix was related to Yuna, he was her brother.
"I couldn't, it would upset Yuna," he explained.
"Yuna never even mentioned having a brother."
"That's because she doesn't know," Felix looked back towards the gorge they had come down, "I was Braska's first born, but I didn't have the talent. I was five when Yuna was born, but when it was discovered she had the talent to be a summoner, I left."
"Why?"
"She was favored over me," Felix turned away from Lulu, "I wasn't needed, so I left Bevelle. I lived with a traveling group of Al Bhed until I was old enough to fend for myself. Rikku didn't come looking for me because I was a good fighter or anything, I grew up with her."
"So you still had ties to your family," Lulu tried to summarize the story.
"I bought this," he held up the contact in his hand, "From the Al Bhed. Even Rikku doesn't know I'm related to them."
"You could have told me," Lulu approached him, "I would have understood."
"I didn't want to change your opinion about me," he shook his head, then turned around to face her, "I didn't want you to hate me."
"I don't hate you, Felix."
He smiled, a smile she had never seen from him before. His hands found their way to hers, pushing them behind her back and holding them against the cloth of her dress. Their faces met slowly in a kiss, one that lasted, to them, for eternity.
"We should get back," Lulu whispered as they parted their lips, "The others are waiting."
"Let them wait," he whispered back, kissing her again.
* * *
"How long are they gonna be gone?" Rikku whined.
"They'll come back when they're ready," Wakka replied, "Lulu's got a lot of demons to get out, and from what I can tell, Felix is the one who can help her do it."
"Are you saying they're in love?" Rikku laughed, grinning, "That's adorable."
She hopped off her perch as Felix and Lulu appeared from the gorge, walking side by side.
"It's about time, ya?" Wakka laughed, "You're looking a lot better than last night, Lu."
"Thank you, Wakka," Lulu smiled a little, "Shall we be going?"
"Let's do it!" Rikku jumped up and down.
"Zanarkand is just over the mountain?" Felix asked.
"Thought you knew everything, man?" Wakka laughed.
"I'm a little nervous," Felix admitted, "I've never been to Zanarkand before."
"Zanarkand not far," Kimarhi started walking up the hill that would take them to the Ronso tribal land, "Be there by tomorrow."
* * *
Mount Gagazet, the home of the Ronso, loomed before the group. It was almost always snowing in the mountains many different paths. On the other side of the mountain rested Zanarkand, birthplace of Sin.
Yuna stood at the entrance to the mountain, the place where the Ronso had constructed a large stone gate to welcome travelers, mostly summoners and their guardians, to the mountain. She looked at the inscription on the gate, the words written in the Ronso's native language.
"It say 'To all who pass here, may the blessings of Ronso guide you through your journey'," Kimarhi translated.
"It's nice," Yuna turned to her Ronso guardian, "How old is it?"
"Kimarhi not know," he shook his head, "Built before Kimarhi was little Ronso."
"We should get moving," Felix said from underneath the gate, "There's a bad storm brewing on the mountain peak. We should get past before it sets in."
"Agreed," Lulu nodded.
"Let's do it, ya," Wakka pounded his fist.
"Zanarkand, here we come!" Rikku jumped around energetically.
The snow crackled underneath their feet as they emerged onto the path that would lead them to the summit of the mountain. From there, they would have to pass through the mountain itself, the Prominence, as the Ronso tribe knew it, before emerging at the entrance to Zanarkand.
"Man, it's cold," Rikku shivered, "I didn't like it the first time we came through here."
"Relax, ya," Wakka put his hands on her shoulder, laughing, "We'll be through here before you know it."
"I hope so," Rikku did all she could to keep warm, "I wonder if dad's okay?"
"He'll be fine," Wakka rubbed her shoulder, trying to warm her a little, "We'll rescue him and make you brother pay for what he's done."
The storm, as Felix had predicted, was getting worse every hour. They climbed to near the peak of the mountain, prying through the storm.
"This weather is unbearable!" Felix shouted, pressing forward.
"This should help," Lulu casted a fire spell in front of them, keeping some warmth to their group.
Most fiends were fearful of the weather on Gagazet and would stay away so they didn't bother with walking in a defensive formation. Their only goal was to reach the Prominence before the storm hit its apex.
They were walking over one of the rock bridges that led through the maze of Mount Gagazet's slope. Kimarhi, his tough Ronso hide protecting her from the elements, cradled Yuna. Felix stuck close to Lulu's flame, as did Wakka and Rikku. Rikku was the first to feel it; the ground was crumbling underneath them. Her foot suddenly slipped through the ground as the rock bridge collapsed.
"Aagh!" Rikku screamed, feeling herself falling.
"Rikku!" Wakka lunged out to grab her arm before she fell into the icy depths below.
"Wakka!" Rikku screamed, gripping his muscular arm with all her strength, "Help me!"
Kimarhi acted, securing Yuna first, then went to Wakka's aide.
"Felix?" Lulu turned to him.
"If I had my whip!" he cursed, recalling Yuna's tumble back in Besaid.
"Help me!" Rikku cried, "I'm slipping!"
Suddenly, Rikku's hand slipped out of Wakka's and she tumbled into the mass of gray clouds below. Her screams echoed off the clouds in a horrifying sound.
"No!" Wakka shouted. Without thinking, he dove into the abyss after her. He turned to face the group he was leaving behind and shouted back to them, "Meet you in Zanarkand, ya!"
"The fool!" Lulu shouted.
* * *
Wakka felt the clouds passing through him and the sudden impact with the snow. Rikku was there too, lying unconscious. Luckily, the snow was so deep; it broke his fall in an almost comical fashion. His body was racked with pain as he climbed out of the crater. The fall was not as deep as he first thought, only a few hundred meters probably.
Quickly, Wakka scrambled to where Rikku laid face down in the snow. He spun her over to see she was bleeding from her nose. He quickly wiped the blood away with his hand.
"Rikku, Rikku!" he shook her, "Wake up, ya?"
"Wa...Wakka..." she blinked, her vision slowly shifting back into focus.
"You okay?" he asked, "You took a nasty fall."
"My leg hurts," she informed him, the cold, luckily, was numbing most of the pain, "It might be broken."
"Here," he put her arm around his shoulder and started helping her up, "I'll carry you. We need to get inside before the storm gets worse."
He carried her in his arms towards the mountain. Through the snow and wind, Wakka managed to make out a cave entrance in the side of the mountain.
Might be fiends, Wakka thought, But I need to get Rikku inside before she dies out here.
Taking his chances, Wakka entered the cave to find it was empty, a luck break considering parts of their journey. He sat Rikku down next to the wall in the cave and started looking for something to start a fire with.
"Let me help," Rikku leaned forward, wincing in pain, "Watch. Fire!"
From her hand, a small fire spell jumped forth and lit a patch of dirt on fire. The good thing about magical fire, it didn't need have the same properties as regular fire, or any other elemental spell, and would burn without the necessary catalyst.
"How'd you do that?" Wakka watched amazed as Rikku warmed her hands with it.
"Lulu showed me," Rikku smiled, "Before we fought Sin, she showed me some basic spells."
"Thought you hated magic?" Wakka eyed her, pulling a potion out of his pant leg and popping the cap off, "Now this might sting a little."
"Lulu told me.... Aagh!...before we fought Sin, that I shouldn't be afraid of magic just because I was scared of thunder," Rikku winced as Wakka rubbed the contents of the vial over her injured leg. Hopefully, the potion would accelerate the healing process.
"Was...was Milevan the one who...you know," Wakka tried to ask.
"Yes," Rikku nodded, gritting her teeth from the stinging feeling in the potion.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
"It's okay," Rikku rubbed her injured leg, "The pain is starting to subside."
"Can you move?" Wakka asked, "We need to find a way to the Prominence."
"I can try," Rikku started pushing herself off the ground, "Help me up, will you?"
Wakka slid her arm around his shoulder and helped her to her feet. She leaned against him, hobbling on her good leg as they started walking through the cave. Wakka helped her the best he could, but it was difficult for them to make it through the cave network.
"You know," Rikku said as they made their way through one of the long tunnels, "I never figured Felix and Lulu would get together."
"Ya, I know," Wakka nodded, "But if she's happy, then that's even better for her."
"Have you ever thought about getting a girl, Wakka?" Rikku asked.
"Oh, I've swooned over hundreds of girls," Wakka laughed a little, "None I really wanted to settle down with."
"Oh," Rikku sighed a little.
"What's wrong?" Wakka asked.
"Nothing."
"Okay, if you say so," Wakka turned back towards the tunnel they were in. It led up and they were hoping it would take them to either the Prominence or the Ronso tribal lands. Suddenly, a light entered Wakka's view from directly ahead, "Rikku! An exit!"
"All right!" Rikku giggled, "I hope Yunie and the others are there."
Indeed, as they emerged from the cave tunnel, the others were sitting around a small campfire.
"Wakka!" Yuna was the first to notice them.
"Guys!" Wakka shouted back, "Miss us?"
"What happened?" Lulu took a look at Rikku's leg.
"I'm okay," Rikku looked at her bum leg, "Wakka helped me."
"Yuna should look at it though," Lulu insisted.
"Make it quick," Felix noted from a short distance across the pool where the fayth once rested, "Zanarkand's close and something tells me we're running out of time."
The darkness would not end and Tidus could feel his strength beginning to give out. Forever was the only way to measure where he was, either in time or distance; there was no end. He stopped again, resting his sore and aching arms.
I knew you couldn't do it, the voice returned.
"Shut up!" Tidus yelled back it, "Leave me alone!"
You want to be alone? You are alone.
"Get out of my head!" he yelled, "I'll find her, and escape from this place, I'll show you!"
You can't escape. There is no end or exit. No matter where you go, you will always be just a figment created to preserve and era many are ready to forget.
"That's not true!" Tidus shouted, "I exist, regardless of what anyone else thinks!"
Do you? If so, how come you cannot protect her right now?
"What are you talking about? Whom am I supposed to protect?"
You said you'd always be there for her, but you're not. You failed.
"I won't fail!" he shook his fist at the darkness, "Give me a chance, and I'll prove I can protect her!"
Is that what you're heart desires?
"Yes!"
You can be real again, but even I don't know if you can protect her.
"Give me the chance!" he shouted, "You think I can't do it?"
It's time you went to her; her pain is so great without you.
"How do I get out of here?"
Keep going, you're heart will take you where you belong.
* * *
Morning broke and they started on their travel again. It was the common consensus among the group that whatever attacked the Al Bhed camp was the Ochu. What sent it, however, was beyond any of their comprehension. They really didn't know why they waited until morning, since none of them were able to sleep after the ordeal.
Rikku and Yuna had a few light bruises from the tentacles, and it was agreed that they would not need any first aid to get them going again. Lulu, on the other hand, was a wreck. Felix had taken her to the Al Bhed camp to get cleaned up, but she wasn't acting the same. She cried through the rock, threatening bodily harm on anyone who approached her.
Felix had taken a few supplies from the Al Bhed camp, namely another machina weapon and a near shirt. He had made a comment that morning to Rikku he wished he had his cloak back, but said it really wasn't a big deal.
They passed silently over the bridge leading to Mount Gagazet, the planks creaking underneath their feet. Felix walked in the rear with Lulu, who constantly stared at the ground. However, as they passed over the bridge, Lulu stopped, looking down into the canyon gorge.
"I don't want to be here," Lulu mumbled.
Felix stopped, turning to face her, "Are you okay, Lu?"
"I don't want to be here," she repeated to herself.
"This place," Wakka put his hand on Felix's shoulder, speaking in a whisper, "Holds bad memories for Lulu."
Her nightmares? Felix thought.
"I have to go see it again," Lulu clenched her fist, "To apologize again."
"Go ahead, Lu," Wakka nodded, "We'll wait here."
Lulu turned and headed back across the bridge. Felix watched until she turned into the gorge and started heading underneath the bridge.
"What are you waiting for?" Wakka asked him, "She wants you to come with her. Said she had something to tell you, ya?"
Felix looked at the Auroch for a moment before crossing his arms over his chest.
"Does this mean you trust me now?" he asked.
"Nope," Wakka laughed, "But if Lu does, I guess I can put up with you, eh?"
"Funny."
Felix turned and followed Lulu down into the gorge. When they were both out of sight, Yuna approached Wakka.
"Is she going to tell him?" Yuna asked.
"I think so," Wakka nodded, "I don't believe it though."
"Believe what?" Rikku asked.
"Lulu's heart grows warm," Kimarhi replied to the Al Bhed girl.
* * *
When Felix caught up to Lulu, she was kneeling next to the cavern that led to the underground tunnels where the stolen fayth had once laid dormant until Yuna had rescued it from its prison. Now, it was gone, to wherever the fayth had gone since they stopped dreaming.
Lulu was praying silently, so Felix stood behind her and waited. After a few minutes, the black mage stood up and pushed her hair back over her shoulder.
"Do you know what it's like," she began, "To be a failure. It's the worse feeling in the world. It feels like someone takes a sword and plunges it right through your heart. I...am a failure."
"Lulu," Felix approached her, reaching out with his hand, but she shook him off, "You're not a failure."
"Twice," Lulu continued, "How could I fail twice? Both former summoners I guarded, they both quit while we were passing through the calm lands. Actually, my first was killed because I failed to protect her. I failed."
"Lulu, no one's asking you to be perfect. We all make mistakes. Move on with your life."
"No!" Lulu shook her head, the obvious sobs could be heard, "I was awake...you know...in the moonflow when Yuna showed you the picture."
"Oh," Felix lowered his head, "Lu, I didn't mean to pry. I just wanted to know what's wrong with you."
"What's wrong with me?" she spun around, angry, "There's a million things wrong with me!"
She wanted to scream more at him, but Felix stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her and letting her cry into his chest.
"I..." she sobbed, her anger subsiding, "I want to tell you what happened, why I'm the way I am now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she nodded, "It was in Besaid, five years ago, shortly before Chappu and I were to be wed. He didn't tell us anything, but Wakka had arranged a village-wide celebration for us. It was his way of celebrating our marriage. I wasn't like I am now, I was just a girl in love and I didn't know what I was doing..."
She sobbed more, while Felix stroked her long hair.
"I...I had too much to drink at the party," she continued, Felix hearing the pain in every word. He wondered if he should stop her, but decided it best that she tell someone and exorcise her demons haunting her, "It was late, and I went to the hut that I shared with Chappu. I don't remember much, but the morning after made everything clear. It was the day of my wedding, supposedly the happiest day of my life, but it turned to hell quicker than anyone could imagine."
"Lu...?" Felix comforted her.
"There was a scream, which stirred me from my sleep. It was Chappu standing at the doorway to the hut. He was yelling at me, calling me names in Al Bhed, a language he had taken a fancy to learning. Words like 'ruf luimt oui? e mujat oui? fro tet oui tu drec du sa?'. I remember every one of them."
"What happened?"
"When I turned my head, the person I thought was Chappu," she cried, gathering her strength, "Was Wakka."
"My god," Felix whispered under his breath.
"It was horrible. We were both drunk, drunk like damn fiends. We didn't know what we did, but Chappu thought otherwise."
"Lulu," he held her close, "I'm so sorry."
"Don't pity me," she shook her head, "Shortly thereafter, Chappu left to join the Crusaders. He left a note saying he was sorry. It was the last time we heard from him..."
Lulu's voice trailed off into tears as she buried herself in Felix's chest. They stood there, Felix letting Lulu cry the demons away for nearly an hour. It must have hurt so much, for such a strong and independent woman to break down and cry. He figured that Lulu must have changed her attire and outlook on the world after Chappu left Besaid. It seemed logical enough.
"Thank you," she whispered, her tears subsiding.
"You're welcome, Lu," he replied.
Lulu leaned her head back to where she could see his face.
"You know," Lulu wiped her eyes with her hands, "When you showed up, I thought of something funny."
"What?" he asked.
"You looked, so much like Braska, but you're so different," she smiled a little.
"Lulu..." Felix sighed, "I have to show you something."
He reached up to his right eye, holding his face steady. When we brought his hands down, the blue in his eye was gone, replaced by green. Lulu gasped.
"Don't tell Yuna, not yet," Felix pleaded.
"Why didn't you tell us?" she demanded, still overtaken that Felix's eyes were the same as Yuna's. Two different colored eyes were the sign of a hybrid, one bred between an Al Bhed and a Yevonite. Felix was related to Yuna, he was her brother.
"I couldn't, it would upset Yuna," he explained.
"Yuna never even mentioned having a brother."
"That's because she doesn't know," Felix looked back towards the gorge they had come down, "I was Braska's first born, but I didn't have the talent. I was five when Yuna was born, but when it was discovered she had the talent to be a summoner, I left."
"Why?"
"She was favored over me," Felix turned away from Lulu, "I wasn't needed, so I left Bevelle. I lived with a traveling group of Al Bhed until I was old enough to fend for myself. Rikku didn't come looking for me because I was a good fighter or anything, I grew up with her."
"So you still had ties to your family," Lulu tried to summarize the story.
"I bought this," he held up the contact in his hand, "From the Al Bhed. Even Rikku doesn't know I'm related to them."
"You could have told me," Lulu approached him, "I would have understood."
"I didn't want to change your opinion about me," he shook his head, then turned around to face her, "I didn't want you to hate me."
"I don't hate you, Felix."
He smiled, a smile she had never seen from him before. His hands found their way to hers, pushing them behind her back and holding them against the cloth of her dress. Their faces met slowly in a kiss, one that lasted, to them, for eternity.
"We should get back," Lulu whispered as they parted their lips, "The others are waiting."
"Let them wait," he whispered back, kissing her again.
* * *
"How long are they gonna be gone?" Rikku whined.
"They'll come back when they're ready," Wakka replied, "Lulu's got a lot of demons to get out, and from what I can tell, Felix is the one who can help her do it."
"Are you saying they're in love?" Rikku laughed, grinning, "That's adorable."
She hopped off her perch as Felix and Lulu appeared from the gorge, walking side by side.
"It's about time, ya?" Wakka laughed, "You're looking a lot better than last night, Lu."
"Thank you, Wakka," Lulu smiled a little, "Shall we be going?"
"Let's do it!" Rikku jumped up and down.
"Zanarkand is just over the mountain?" Felix asked.
"Thought you knew everything, man?" Wakka laughed.
"I'm a little nervous," Felix admitted, "I've never been to Zanarkand before."
"Zanarkand not far," Kimarhi started walking up the hill that would take them to the Ronso tribal land, "Be there by tomorrow."
* * *
Mount Gagazet, the home of the Ronso, loomed before the group. It was almost always snowing in the mountains many different paths. On the other side of the mountain rested Zanarkand, birthplace of Sin.
Yuna stood at the entrance to the mountain, the place where the Ronso had constructed a large stone gate to welcome travelers, mostly summoners and their guardians, to the mountain. She looked at the inscription on the gate, the words written in the Ronso's native language.
"It say 'To all who pass here, may the blessings of Ronso guide you through your journey'," Kimarhi translated.
"It's nice," Yuna turned to her Ronso guardian, "How old is it?"
"Kimarhi not know," he shook his head, "Built before Kimarhi was little Ronso."
"We should get moving," Felix said from underneath the gate, "There's a bad storm brewing on the mountain peak. We should get past before it sets in."
"Agreed," Lulu nodded.
"Let's do it, ya," Wakka pounded his fist.
"Zanarkand, here we come!" Rikku jumped around energetically.
The snow crackled underneath their feet as they emerged onto the path that would lead them to the summit of the mountain. From there, they would have to pass through the mountain itself, the Prominence, as the Ronso tribe knew it, before emerging at the entrance to Zanarkand.
"Man, it's cold," Rikku shivered, "I didn't like it the first time we came through here."
"Relax, ya," Wakka put his hands on her shoulder, laughing, "We'll be through here before you know it."
"I hope so," Rikku did all she could to keep warm, "I wonder if dad's okay?"
"He'll be fine," Wakka rubbed her shoulder, trying to warm her a little, "We'll rescue him and make you brother pay for what he's done."
The storm, as Felix had predicted, was getting worse every hour. They climbed to near the peak of the mountain, prying through the storm.
"This weather is unbearable!" Felix shouted, pressing forward.
"This should help," Lulu casted a fire spell in front of them, keeping some warmth to their group.
Most fiends were fearful of the weather on Gagazet and would stay away so they didn't bother with walking in a defensive formation. Their only goal was to reach the Prominence before the storm hit its apex.
They were walking over one of the rock bridges that led through the maze of Mount Gagazet's slope. Kimarhi, his tough Ronso hide protecting her from the elements, cradled Yuna. Felix stuck close to Lulu's flame, as did Wakka and Rikku. Rikku was the first to feel it; the ground was crumbling underneath them. Her foot suddenly slipped through the ground as the rock bridge collapsed.
"Aagh!" Rikku screamed, feeling herself falling.
"Rikku!" Wakka lunged out to grab her arm before she fell into the icy depths below.
"Wakka!" Rikku screamed, gripping his muscular arm with all her strength, "Help me!"
Kimarhi acted, securing Yuna first, then went to Wakka's aide.
"Felix?" Lulu turned to him.
"If I had my whip!" he cursed, recalling Yuna's tumble back in Besaid.
"Help me!" Rikku cried, "I'm slipping!"
Suddenly, Rikku's hand slipped out of Wakka's and she tumbled into the mass of gray clouds below. Her screams echoed off the clouds in a horrifying sound.
"No!" Wakka shouted. Without thinking, he dove into the abyss after her. He turned to face the group he was leaving behind and shouted back to them, "Meet you in Zanarkand, ya!"
"The fool!" Lulu shouted.
* * *
Wakka felt the clouds passing through him and the sudden impact with the snow. Rikku was there too, lying unconscious. Luckily, the snow was so deep; it broke his fall in an almost comical fashion. His body was racked with pain as he climbed out of the crater. The fall was not as deep as he first thought, only a few hundred meters probably.
Quickly, Wakka scrambled to where Rikku laid face down in the snow. He spun her over to see she was bleeding from her nose. He quickly wiped the blood away with his hand.
"Rikku, Rikku!" he shook her, "Wake up, ya?"
"Wa...Wakka..." she blinked, her vision slowly shifting back into focus.
"You okay?" he asked, "You took a nasty fall."
"My leg hurts," she informed him, the cold, luckily, was numbing most of the pain, "It might be broken."
"Here," he put her arm around his shoulder and started helping her up, "I'll carry you. We need to get inside before the storm gets worse."
He carried her in his arms towards the mountain. Through the snow and wind, Wakka managed to make out a cave entrance in the side of the mountain.
Might be fiends, Wakka thought, But I need to get Rikku inside before she dies out here.
Taking his chances, Wakka entered the cave to find it was empty, a luck break considering parts of their journey. He sat Rikku down next to the wall in the cave and started looking for something to start a fire with.
"Let me help," Rikku leaned forward, wincing in pain, "Watch. Fire!"
From her hand, a small fire spell jumped forth and lit a patch of dirt on fire. The good thing about magical fire, it didn't need have the same properties as regular fire, or any other elemental spell, and would burn without the necessary catalyst.
"How'd you do that?" Wakka watched amazed as Rikku warmed her hands with it.
"Lulu showed me," Rikku smiled, "Before we fought Sin, she showed me some basic spells."
"Thought you hated magic?" Wakka eyed her, pulling a potion out of his pant leg and popping the cap off, "Now this might sting a little."
"Lulu told me.... Aagh!...before we fought Sin, that I shouldn't be afraid of magic just because I was scared of thunder," Rikku winced as Wakka rubbed the contents of the vial over her injured leg. Hopefully, the potion would accelerate the healing process.
"Was...was Milevan the one who...you know," Wakka tried to ask.
"Yes," Rikku nodded, gritting her teeth from the stinging feeling in the potion.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
"It's okay," Rikku rubbed her injured leg, "The pain is starting to subside."
"Can you move?" Wakka asked, "We need to find a way to the Prominence."
"I can try," Rikku started pushing herself off the ground, "Help me up, will you?"
Wakka slid her arm around his shoulder and helped her to her feet. She leaned against him, hobbling on her good leg as they started walking through the cave. Wakka helped her the best he could, but it was difficult for them to make it through the cave network.
"You know," Rikku said as they made their way through one of the long tunnels, "I never figured Felix and Lulu would get together."
"Ya, I know," Wakka nodded, "But if she's happy, then that's even better for her."
"Have you ever thought about getting a girl, Wakka?" Rikku asked.
"Oh, I've swooned over hundreds of girls," Wakka laughed a little, "None I really wanted to settle down with."
"Oh," Rikku sighed a little.
"What's wrong?" Wakka asked.
"Nothing."
"Okay, if you say so," Wakka turned back towards the tunnel they were in. It led up and they were hoping it would take them to either the Prominence or the Ronso tribal lands. Suddenly, a light entered Wakka's view from directly ahead, "Rikku! An exit!"
"All right!" Rikku giggled, "I hope Yunie and the others are there."
Indeed, as they emerged from the cave tunnel, the others were sitting around a small campfire.
"Wakka!" Yuna was the first to notice them.
"Guys!" Wakka shouted back, "Miss us?"
"What happened?" Lulu took a look at Rikku's leg.
"I'm okay," Rikku looked at her bum leg, "Wakka helped me."
"Yuna should look at it though," Lulu insisted.
"Make it quick," Felix noted from a short distance across the pool where the fayth once rested, "Zanarkand's close and something tells me we're running out of time."
