A note from the Hime no Argh herself–
The last couple of chapters haven't gotten nearly as much feedback as the ones before those did. ^^;; Is it selfish of me to be worried? Probably, since I never read my reader's fics. -.-; That deserves an apology. I'd love to read more fanfics than I do, but I just can never seem to find the time when I'm online. Gomen nasai, or, because I should really stop trying to pretend I know Japanese, I'm very sorry.
Well, hope this story is still being read. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated.
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Chapter 12
The Airship's Return
Brother immediately began barking orders at various Al Bhed. "Oui yht oui! Ku pamuf yht nyeca dra machina ynsc!" As the two Al Bhed hurried to obey him Brother raised his voice for the others to hear. "Tuhd zicd cdyht drana! Aedran ramb fedr dra myhtehk un kad uid uv dra fyo!"
Whatever his words meant, they seemed to have an effect on the Al Bhed. Many of them hurried back, out of the path of the descending airship, while others darted forward, passing red flags from hand to hand. A group of Al Bhed took up positions around the airship's estimated landing point and began waving their flags in various patterns, directing. There was a groan of gears turning as the ground beneath them shuddered, then suddenly a large section of the ground was opening, sand falling into the newly created chasm. Dark metal arms with clamps attached to the end extended from the hole, rising upward and fanning out, ready to catch the airship.
Rikku grinned at Yuna's openmouthed surprise. "Good thing Brother's here, eh?" she yelled over the roar of the airship's engine. "He's Dad's successor, you know! He runs things when Dad's away!"
"I didn't realize he was such a good leader!" Yuna yelled back, marveling at the smooth efficiency with which the Al Bhed performed their tasks, Brother supervising and directing. She glanced up at the airship again. "Oh dear..."
Black smoke spewed from the airship's exhausts and it gave a large shudder as it sank into the waiting clamps. The clamps locked it securely in place and the engine began to slow down, its roar receding into a low hum. A door appeared on the side of the hull and opened slowly as a boarding ramp extended to the sand below. A large figure appeared in the threshold and a familiar, rough voice swept over the watching crowd...
"DAMN STINKIN' USELESS BUCKET OF BOLTS!"
"Vydran!" Rikku cried happily, darting forward as Cid stomped down the ramp, looking madder than a stung bull. The moment he saw Rikku, however, his normally scowling face broke into a warm, friendly smile.
"Rikku!" Cid yelled, laughing, as his daughter leapt into his waiting arms. "How's my honey bunch?"
"Dad!" Rikku reproved, blushing scarlet. "Not in front of my friends!"
"Friends?" Cid peered over the top of his daughter's head and saw Yuna and Lulu hovering in the background. "Hey, ya made it after all!"
Yuna smiled, happy but a bit puzzled. "'We made it after all'?" she repeated. "Were you expecting us?"
But Cid didn't have a chance to answer. The Al Bhed were crowding around him with cries of "fimlusa Home!" and inquiries as to how he was and where he had been. Cid fended them off until he reached Yuna and Lulu, his arm still wrapped around Rikku.
"Nice to see you kids again!" Cid exclaimed, offering his free hand for them to shake. This made even Lulu smile–she was rarely called 'kid' these days. "How've you been? Gettin' on alright?"
When Yuna and Lulu assured him that they were, Cid's gaze shifted to Brother, who had appeared at Yuna's left shoulder.
"Esbnacceja maytancreb, drana," Cid told him gravely. "Zicd mega ouin vydran."
"Paddan," Brother replied just as seriously, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
Cid blinked at him, then grinned broadly and clapped his son on the shoulder. "Dnia, dnia." He glanced back at the airship and shook his head. "I'm gonna put that damn thing out to pasture soon," he said irritably, switching back to Spiran for Yuna and Lulu's benefit. "It was never right after we flew it into Sin, ya know? I think that messed it up somehow." He shook his head. "'Course, I'm sure the makers never intended fer it to be flown inside Sin, of all places, unless maybe that had a death wish or sommat–"
"Cid," Lulu murmured, catching his attention, "it seems you were expecting us. How-"
"Oh, that's an easy 'un," Cid interrupted, jerking a thumb back toward the airship. "Met up with a friend of yours in Luca."
Rikku let out a sharp gasp and whirled around just as another very familiar voice sounded from the airship.
"Hey, Cid, you know when dis ting is gonna be in commission 'gain-" A large figure halted midway down the ramp and stared down at the three women staring up at him. His white teeth flashed in a wide, cheerful grin. "Hey hey! Dere's my girls!"
"Wakka!" Rikku disentangled herself from Cid and dashed up the ramp to throw her arms around Wakka's neck. Yuna and Lulu exchanged grins as Wakka swung Rikku around once and then set her back on her feet, beaming down at her.
"Good to see you all again, ya?" he said brightly, strolling down the ramp arm-in-arm with Rikku. "How's it been? You found 'im yet?"
"No, we haven't," Yuna said regrettably, but she gave Wakka an enthusiastic hug and a kiss on the cheek. "It's so good to see you, Wakka!"
"Aw, you missed me?" Wakka grinned down at her, then leaned forward to steal a kiss on the cheek from Lulu, who actually blushed slightly.
"Of course we missed you, Wakka," she said hurriedly, glaring at Yuna, who stifled a giggle.
"Alright, kids, very cute." Cid waved a hand toward Home. "Why don't you girls get your friend here settled in while I see if we can't fix this useless airship. E fyhd salryhelc!" he yelled abruptly in Al Bhed, striding away across the sand toward the airship. "Madc caa ev fa lyhd vuq drec machina..."
"Caa oui mydan," Brother told the women and Wakka and darted off after his father.
Wakka sighed. "Cid's nice, but I don't get what's saying half de time. Maybe he's insulting me in Al Bhed, ya?"
"Of course he is, Wakka," Rikku replied seriously. "He just called you a meathead with chocobo dung for brains."
* * *
It seemed as though Yuna's plans would finally be realized–at least until Cid reported back with the bad news.
"Airship's broken down," he said glumly, settling into a seat at their table (Yuna, Rikku, and Lulu had taken Wakka to get breakfast in the mess hall).
"It's broken?" Yuna couldn't believe her ears. "But–you just flew it–"
"Yeah, an' we were lucky to get here in one piece," Cid said darkly. "It's never been right since it got inside Sin, like I said. Messed it up somehow. It breaks down routinely."
"So you can fix it," Lulu concluded, but Cid heaved a sigh.
"Well, there's the problem. We don't really know what's wrong with it, see. The engine keeps going haywire; we might have to take it apart or sommat–"
"How long will that take?" Yuna asked, dreading the answer.
Cid shrugged. "Dunno. Few weeks, maybe."
Yuna gave a little moan and put her face in her hands. Lulu patted her shoulder.
"We've got a good crew workin' on it," Cid told her sympathetically. "Brother's overseein' 'em– which reminds me," he looked at Rikku, "if you wanna tinker with the airship, Brother could use all the help–"
"I'm off," Rikku announced before he could finish. She stuffed a pastry into her mouth, waved happily, and dashed off out the doors.
"Mechanics," Cid muttered, shaking his head. He rose and nodded to the girls and Wakka. "Well, I'd best be off, kids. Gotta see what's what in Home. See y'all later." He waved, then turned on his heel and marched out of the hall.
Yuna, Lulu, and Wakka all stared at each other for a moment. Yuna took in her big friend's unkempt hair and stubbly chin, the weariness in his eyes–she suspected that too much Blitzball and too little sleep were the culprits. Then she blinked.
"Oh, Wakka!" Yuna gasped. "I completely forgot to ask–how did your season go?"
Wakka rubbed his chin. "Eh, not so good," he admitted. "We got knocked outta de running a week ago. It was dem stinkin' Guado. Dey made some changes in dere lineup dis year–dey got good," he added ruefully.
"I'm sorry," Yuna said sympathetically, patting his hand. "There's always next year, right?"
"Yeah, next year." Wakka was silent for a moment, gazing out into space. Yuna was sure he was already planning the Auroch's approach for next season.
"Wakka," Lulu murmured, "just how did you and Cid find each other?"
Wakka shrugged. "Sometimes tings just work out dat way, ya? 'Coupla days after our loss Cid and de airship showed up in town. He told me dey were delivering machina to Luca–did he tell you dey're building a new stadium?"
"A machina one?" Yuna asked, fascinated.
Wakka nodded. "Yup. Cid was supplying some parts to get dem started. It's gonna be ready in three years, dey tink."
"Well, it's about time, isn't it?" Lulu shrugged. "Everything is becoming mechanized."
"I was tinking," Wakka said slowly, "I bet dey had a machina stadium in Zanarkand, you know?"
"I bet they did," Yuna agreed quietly.
"I bet dat's what Tidus played in, you know? So he'll prolly know all 'bout it." Wakka nodded and leaned back in his chair, fixing his eyes on Yuna. "So no sign of him yet?"
Yuna shook her head. "Not a one."
"He could very well be further north," Lulu pointed out, and they all nodded. The problem, Yuna privately thought, was that Tidus was not likely to stay in the north. If they were lucky, they might intercept him–if not, they could keep going around in circles, missing each other.
"If he's even in Spira," Yuna added under her breath, but her friends heard.
"Look, dere's always a chance, ya?" Wakka leaned forward and patted her shoulder. "You can't give up."
"Wakka's right," Lulu said quietly. "As long as you still feel it's worth searching for him, then that's what we'll do."
Yuna stared at her hands in her lap. "What if I said it wasn't?" she mumbled.
There was a long silence. Finally Wakka let out a long, slow breath and leaned back in his chair.
"Then I'd search," he said abruptly. "He's like my brudda, you know? I want him back."
"I'd also search," Lulu announced. "And Rikku would, as well. We love him, too, and we love you most of all, Yuna. It's worth anything to try and make you happy."
Yuna saw the sincerity in their faces and had to look away. "I don't deserve friends like you," she whispered, staring into her lap.
Wakka ruffled her hair affectionately. "Sure you do. And we're gonna find Tidus for you, you just wait and see."
Yuna smiled at her friends. "I'll look too," she assured them. "I have to keep my hopes up, right?"
At that moment the double doors of the mess hall flung open, each striking the wall with a loud bang. Rikku darted in and skidded to a stop before their table, clutching a stitch in her side.
All of them stared at her as she panted hard, obviously trying to spit out whatever she had to say. "Outside–waiting–wants to see Yuna," she gasped. "Priest–"
Lulu rose quickly to her feet. "A priest?" she demanded, eyes flashing.
Rikku nodded vigorously. "About–about Tidus–"
"What?" Lulu cried.
Yuna didn't wait to hear the rest. She tore out of the hall, Lulu and Wakka on her heels.
Outside of Home she found Al Bhed grouped in suspicious huddles, whispering and openly pointing to the blue-robed priest in their midst. Cid stood beside him; he beckoned Yuna quickly forward.
The priest caught sight of her and strode forward to meet her. "Am I addressing Lady Yuna?" he demanded.
"Yes, I am Yuna," she replied breathlessly.
The man bowed quickly. "I bring you greetings from Lady Mirana, priestess of Bevelle. You recognize the name?"
"I do."
The priest bowed again, nodding as he straightened. "My lady bids you good day, and happy hunting. She begs you come to the forest of Macalania, for that is where Tidus of Zanarkand has last been seen."
* * *
To be continued.
* * *
Translations
Oui yht oui - You and you
Ku pamuf yht nyeca dra machina ynsc - Go below and raise the machina arms
Tuhd zicd cdyht drana - Don't just stand there
Aedran ramb fedr dra myhtehk un kad uid uv dra fyo - Either help with the landing or get out of the way
Vydran - Father
Esbnacceja maytancreb, drana - Impressive leadership, there
Zicd mega ouin vydran - Just like your father
Paddan - Better
Dnia, dnia - True, true
E fyhd salryhelc - I want mechanics
Madc caa ev fa lyhd vuq drec machina - Let's see if we can't fix this machina
Caa oui mydan - See you later