A note from the Hime no Argh herself–
New chapter, blah blah blah, yadda yadda.
Actually, I have a dedication to make today. This chapter is dedicated to my friend and fellow author Galaxy Girl, who has written numerous and hilarious parodies of everything from Revolutionary Girl Utena to Final Fantasy X. I've been a long-time follower and fan of her Zelda: Ocarina of Time musical parody, Hey, Ocarina!, which I highly recommend to anyone who wants a good laugh. Anyway, we had a deal going, in which she already filled her end of the bargain quite spectacularly. This fic being a drama, I unfortunately wasn't able to go all-out, but hopefully she'll like what I've done. ^^ This chapter is for you, GG, and thanks for waiting so patiently for me to deliver.
And now, without further ado, I present...
***
Chapter 22
Vision of Death
Rikku, Wakka, Kimahri, and Jecht were all for a rescue, but Auron and Lulu stood firm.
"We wait," Auron told them in a voice that provided for no argument. "As it stands, we can do absolutely nothing alone if Bevelle is holding Yuna and Tidus. We have to contact the central government in Luca and explain to them the situation. The Grand Summoner and her closest guardian are valuable assets to everyone in Spira. Luca will fight for them. We should inform Cid and the Al Bhed as well. With pressure on all sides, Bevelle will likely surrender them."
"That's yer plan?" Jecht demanded. "Pressure? What if Tidus an' Yuna get hurt while yer worryin' about applyin' pressure?"
"Did you hear a word I just said?" Auron snapped. "Tidus and Yuna are valuable assets to everyone in Spira–including Yevon's followers! It's highly probably that Bevelle is holding them for political reasons, in which case they won't be hurt."
"We can't be sure of that!" Rikku protested. "I'm with Jecht. We have to rescue them!"
"You're crazy, Rikku," Lulu snapped. "Do you honestly think that the six of us can penetrate a well-defended city, rescue Yuna and Tidus, and escape with our lives?"
"We did it once!" Wakka argued.
"With the help of the Al Bhed, the airship, the aeons, and sheer dumb luck!"
Rikku brightened. "That's it! We'll call in Cid and the Al Bhed to help us out! He'd never refuse, you know that!"
"It's going to be awfully hard without the airship," Lulu pointed out.
"But–"
"Rikku," Auron said quietly, "think about what you are saying. You don't want to see Tidus and Yuna hurt, correct? Then listen to what I am telling you–attack them now, and we may very well provoke them. Attack them now, and you are taking the lives of your friends into your hands. Are you willing to do that?"
For a moment Rikku gazed at Auron defiantly, then she bit her lip and looked away.
Auron nodded. "We'll do whatever we must to get them back, but we cannot do it alone. Our first step is to contact Luca and explain to them the situation."
When the meeting dispersed, Rikku went down to the shore, feeling tense and wired. The sky was overcast with gloomy clouds, the ocean blanketed in a thick white fog. When Rikku stepped in the chilly surf gooseflesh rippled up her legs, the hair on the back of her neck prickling.
She waded knee-deep into the surf and stood looking out at the sea. Please, she prayed silently, please, Fayth, ancestors, anyone who might be listening. Please return Yunie and Tidus home safely.
"Rikku?"
"Hi, Wakka," Rikku said unhappily, turning to face him.
"You okay?" he asked, concerned.
"No." Rikku bit her lip. "I'm scared."
"Dey're gonna be alright, you know," Wakka said gently. "Dey're strong, de both of dem."
"Yes, but even they aren't strong enough to fight off an army of warrior monks," she pointed out.
Wakka hesitated. "But maybe Auron's right, ya? Maybe it's political, ya?"
"Political or not, they're still in danger. Those damn priests!" Rikku spat. "I knew they were up to no good! To think one of them had the audacity to show up in Home–oh, they just wanted to help! If I ever get my hands on them, I'll–"
"Dey're not gonna get away with it," Wakka promised, wading into the surf. "We'll get Yuna and Tidus back, and den dey'll pay for what dey've done."
"How exactly are we going to get them back?"
"Like Auron said," Wakka replied firmly. "De government won't stand for dis."
"And if they hurt Yunie and Tidus before the government can intervene?" Rikku demanded. "We can't just wait around and take that chance!"
"But...what else can we do?" Wakka said gently.
Rikku sighed. "I don't know. But I won't just sit around and wait! If the government can't get them back, then I will. Somehow."
For a moment Wakka was silent, then he smiled. "I'll help you."
Rikku blinked up at him. "Really?"
"Of course! You can't go to Bevelle and take on dose priests all by yourself." Wakka smiled. "I'll protect you."
Rikku was silent for a moment, twisting her hands behind her back. Then, overcome by a sudden, strange impulse, she leaned up on her toes and kissed him on the lips.
"E muja oui," she whispered.
Then she darted away up the beach, leaving behind an utterly baffled Wakka.
* * *
The hot springs in the caves beside the beach were actually cold springs, but the villagers warmed them with stones placed in a fire to heat. It was a good place to sit and think when one was alone. Fortunately for Wakka the baths here were single-sex. He didn't think he could handle running into any of his female friends, especially Rikku.
Finding the springs empty, he settled in to soak and think. After a while, though, it became clear that thinking was only leading him in circles and confusing him even more. Then before he could think any more, the sound of footsteps echoing through the cave made him look up.
It was Auron. The man nodded to Wakka in greeting as he reached the side of the spring, removed his clothes piece by piece, and settled into the water without a word, wearing only his shaded glasses. Wakka thought it funny that he wore them everywhere, even in the baths.
"I tought you and Lulu were sending a message to Luca," Wakka said after a while, just to make conversation.
"We did," Auron said shortly, staring up at the ceiling of the cave. "A few village people are going south for us." He sighed. "We'll have to think of some way to repay this village. They've been very gracious."
"You really tink dis'll help?" Wakka asked worriedly.
Auron's eyes flickered to him momentarily. "It's all we can do."
Wakka sighed. "Maybe. I just know Rikku's not gonna sit around forever."
"Let Rikku do what Rikku wants to do."
Wakka looked at him, shocked. "You wouldn't let her go to Bevelle alone, would you?"
This time Auron's eyes lingered on him a bit longer, as if the man were interested in something. "Would you?" he asked shrewdly.
That made Wakka hesitate. After a while he ventured, "Auron?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you someting?"
"If you want."
"Well...I have dis friend, ya?" Wakka winced inwardly, but plowed ahead anyway. "He's got a problem. One of his girl friends...um...she kissed him, ya? And he doesn't know what to tink of dat."
"Seems to me that she likes him."
"Well, yeah, I guess maybe she does. But...I mean...is dat just like? Or is it like, like-like?"
Auron sighed a bit. "What was the kiss like?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, was it a kiss on the cheek, or a peck, or...?"
"Um...it was definitely a kiss, if you know what I mean."
"Well then." Auron paused for a moment to dunk his head beneath the water and emerged shaking droplets from his hair. "I'd say your friend's girl friend like-likes your friend. Either that or it was just an impulse."
"So...what should my friend do?"
Auron shrugged. "It all depends on how your friend feels about this girl. Does he care about her in the way that she cares about him?"
"I don't know," Wakka said truthfully. "But...what'll he do if it was just an impulse?"
"Hmm." Auron eyed Wakka. "Perhaps your friend should ask this girl what she meant by that kiss."
Wakka winced. "I was afraid you were gonna say dat. I mean, y'know, for my friend," he added hastily.
"Of course."
"But dere's someting else. She said someting...someting he didn't understand. In anudder language, ya?"
"What did she say?" Auron asked calmly.
"Um...I tink it was 'e muja oui'."
"I'm not familiar with that phrase," Auron admitted. "But if your friend thinks it was something important, then he may as well ask her to clarify."
"Yeah, I guess." Wakka sighed. "Dis is a stupid ting to be talking about at a time like dis, anyway. Sorry for bringing it up."
Auron shrugged. "Emotions are important, even in hard times."
"Maybe you're right." Wakka tried musing it all over for a few minutes, but it gave him a headache, so he stopped. "Anyway, tanks for listening."
Auron nodded. "Anytime."
* * *
The afternoon wore into evening, and evening into night. Eventually Lulu and Rikku retired to their hut and their beds. "I feel bad going to sleep in such a comfortable bed," Rikku confessed to Lulu as they settled between the sheets. "I bet poor Yunie and Tidus are sleeping on a cold floor somewhere in Bevelle."
Lulu was silent for several long moments. Then she whispered, so softly that Rikku could barely hear her, "I'm so afraid."
Rikku sat upright and looked at Lulu in astonishment. "You? Afraid? But you're never afraid!"
"Of course I am," Lulu snapped. "I just don't show it as easily as you and the others do. What's the point of getting excited and upset? It isn't going to change anything. It's not–it won't bring them safely back home!"
Through the darkness Rikku could just barely make out a tear running down Lulu's cheek. Before she even knew what she was doing, she was out of bed and at Lulu's side, holding the older woman tightly in her arms.
"Don't cry," Rikku pleaded. That Lulu was scared enough to cry–that frightened her. "You never cry. It's not like you. You're strong and fearless, Lulu."
"I'm not," Lulu sobbed. "I can pretend as long as Yuna is here, but without her, I don't know what–I don't know what I'll–"
"Shhhh." Rikku held Lulu as tightly as she could. "Don't cry. It'll be okay, you'll see. They'll be fine."
After a few moments Lulu brushed away her tears and drew back. "I'm sorry," she said thickly. "I didn't mean to do that."
"It's okay." Rikku watched her anxiously. "Are you all right now?"
"Yes. Yes, I'll be fine. Go to sleep, you need your rest." Lulu flapped a hand at her, suddenly much more like her normal, business-like self. Relieved, Rikku hopped into her own bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.
"By the way," Lulu added after a few moments of silence, "I...accidentally saw you with Wakka earlier."
Rikku bolted upright yet again. "You what?"
Lulu yawned. "I didn't mean too, I swear. I was just passing by on one of the walkways. The fog cleared for a moment, and..."
Rikku winced, laying back down. "You saw?"
"Indeed." Lulu yawned again and turned over onto her side, facing away from Rikku. "Congratulations on finally taking some initiative."
The woman's steady breathing soon indicated that she had fallen asleep, but Rikku remained awake for quite a while, staring at the ceiling. She had a lot to think about.
* * *
Sometime during the night Rikku woke suddenly, nervous and sweating. Judging by the pale gray color of the sky, dawn was an hour or so away. She climbed out of bed, wondering what had made her wake so suddenly, and noticed that Lulu was sitting up in her bed, eyes wide open.
"Lulu?" she whispered.
The woman's eyes turned to her, and Rikku felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. "You feel it too?" Lulu murmured.
"Yeah, I definitely do. But what is it?"
Lulu shook her head slowly. "I don't know."
"I'm going to find out," Rikku decided, crossing their room to the door. She flung it open and abruptly let out a gasp. "L-Lulu!"
Lulu was at her side at an instant. Rikku heard her draw in a sharp breath. "Oh, my," she whispered softly.
Pyreflies were swimming across the sky by the thousands, lighting the village below them with their glow. They clustered together in one steady stream, heading in a set direction. Their soft cries filled the air, making the women shudder as they watched.
"So many pyreflies!" Lulu gasped. "What are they all doing? What in the world is going on?"
"We've got to wake up the others," Rikku whispered, her eyes never tearing from the spectacle. "They have to see this."
"You're right," Lulu agreed grimly. "Let's split up. Get the others out here if you have to bang pots in their ears."
The two women finally tore their eyes away from the pyreflies and spread out to bang on the doors of their friends' huts. It didn't take long for any of them answer.
"Alright, I can here you!" Jecht bellowed as he flung the door open at Rikku's incessant knocking. "What in the hell are you–whoa." He focused on the pyreflies. "Holy crap."
Wakka let out a startled epithet when he saw the pyreflies, but Auron and Kimahri were their usual unmoveable selves. "This is interesting," Auron commented, gazing up at the sky.
Faren came dashing along the wooden walkways to join them, securing a robe around her as she ran. "You all see dis too, ya?" she demanded breathlessly when she reached their side. "I'm not just going crazy, ya?"
"No, we definitely see it," Rikku assured her.
"Den what's going on?"
Auron shook his head. "I haven't the slightest. Why in the world would the pyreflies all leave the Farplane? For what?"
Kimahri pointed in the direction the pyreflies were streaming. "They go north."
Lulu gasped sharply. "He's right. You don't suppose–they couldn't be heading for Bevelle?"
Faren shook her head. "I'd better wake up de village councilmen. We gotta decide what to do about dis."
She darted off. Auron, Lulu, Rikku, Jecht, Wakka, and Kimahri faced each other.
"If they're heading toward Bevelle, there must be a reason," Auron said grimly. At that moment, the vision hit them.
* * *
A pale gold light in the east suggested the arrival of dawn. Bevelle's towers and spires gleamed in the early morning sun. On a rail-less balcony stood an entire squad of warrior monks, two dozen or more, spread out with rifles pointed at the two figures on the edge of the balcony. The figures were Tidus and Yuna.
A woman in the blue robes of a priestess moved forward. She spoke, but they could not hear the words. In unison, Tidus and Yuna stepped back, into open air. They fell.
* * *
"They're going to kill them," Rikku whispered as the vision faded away. "They're going to kill Yunie and Tidus."
"Now, let's try to think about this rationally," Lulu said. They could all tell she was trying as hard as she could to stay calm. "We don't know that this vision even had any truth to it–"
"Come off it!" Rikku snapped. "You know as well as I do that it had plenty of truth to it!"
"I am...inclined to agree with Rikku," Auron said, very quietly. "The pyreflies are warning us. Somehow they know."
"We gotta help dem," Wakka said immediately.
Auron shook his head hopelessly. "How?"
"Dere's gotta be a way," Wakka insisted, but then he fell silent.
"What in the world are we going to do?" Lulu whispered. "Tidus and Yuna are going to die at dawn. It's barely half an hour away!"
"Ain't there anythin' we can do?" Jecht demanded, his voice cracking. "Yer tellin' me we're just gonna sit here and let it happen?"
"Jecht's right!" Rikku cried. "We can't just let them–" She suddenly stopped, cocking her head. "Hey...does anyone else feel the ground shaking?"
She was right. The ground beneath them was trembling just the slightest bit. A faint, familiar roar was sounding over their heads, growing louder and louder by the second. The six of them looked up, toward the stream of the pyreflies. A shape appeared in the middle of the stream, passing through the thousands of spheres of light–a very familiar machina, the most beautiful sight any of them had ever seen.
"Hiya, kids!" Cid's voice called from the airship, magnified by the speakers spaced around its hull.
"DAD!" Rikku bellowed as loudly as she could. "Lower the cable and get us up there! It's an emergency!"
"What's that? An emergency? Alright, hold on a tick–"
Once the six of them were safely within the airship's hull, they went to the bridge without hesitation. Cid and Brother were there waiting.
Rikku wasted no time. "Dad, we've got to get to Bevelle right now! They're going to kill Yunie and Tidus!" She repeated herself in Al Bhed for Brother, who turned white with fury.
"Fana kuehk," he snapped to Cid.
Cid looked fairly enraged himself. "You're sure about this?" he demanded of Rikku. "How do you know?"
"The pyreflies gave us a vision. They know it's going to happen, and were warning us. Warrior monks captured Yunie and Tidus yesterday, but we never thought–"
"How did you know that we would need you?" Lulu demanded. "I thought the airship was broken!"
"We got it fixed a lot earlier than expected," Cid admitted. "And we didn't know you would need us, but we saw this here ocean of pyreflies–" He indicated the pyreflies all around them, among which the airship flew, "–and figured we'd better check it out. Cad y luinca vun Bevelle!" he barked suddenly at his crew. "Those damned priests made a big mistake, and they're gonna pay!"
* * *
To be continued.
* * *
Translations
Fana kuehk – We're going
Cad y luinca vun Bevelle – Set a course for Bevelle