Hi everybody, again, apologies for this taking so long. Hope it was worth
the wait!
I couldn't believe it either. There we were, all eight of us, against the very person who was supposed to help us. It didn't make sense. I saw Yuna working hard to keep us protected from Seymour's minions but I knew she was feeling the strain. A Firaga spell shot at her from nowhere and I couldn't watch.
"YUNA!" I shouted, and threw her a potion. She stood back up and nodded all me. She looked okay again, albeit slightly steaming. Tidus ran forwards, sword held high.
"No!" A few of us screamed but, again, this new companion surprised us. He skidded around Seymour and his Guado servants, slashing and splicing, ducking and dicing until he jumped back to us. The minions collapsed and their souls began their journey. I looked at him in awe. He smiled back.
"Nice one, brudda," said Wakka and we continued to fight Seymour. We hit him again and again, endless sword hit after another. When Ruthy and I cast spells, they made no difference..
Or so it seemed..
He began to show that his will was cracking. He bent down and Kimahri stuck his spear into him. He ran back and I exhaled as a compliment. He growled quietly, which I think was a sign of thanks. Seymour fell to the ground. 'This is it!' I kept thinking, 'This is it! We've defeated him!'
"Come, Anima. Feel my pain!"
"Oh.. no.." said Yuna, breathless. "Not.. now..not that aeon, please no.."
Sure enough, the room went blood red and everybody clutched their heads to try and deafen the disgusting humming sound. The metal claw plunged into the floor in front of my very eyes and I wanted to give up. I wanted to pack it all in and just say 'Sorry.' But I looked over at Yuna and knew I couldn't.
Everybody winced at her roar. The beast had finally made her first attack, right at Kimahri behind us, in the wings. A ray of blue light shot out of her hideous eye and pierced him in the heart. Kimahri collapsed and Rikku ran to his side and began her work.
"Kimahri!" screamed Yuna. She looked devastated. She wanted to be there, to heal him herself but we needed her more than ever now. I knew what she had to do and I felt the sadness brimming inside me.
"Yuna! The new aeon!" said Tidus.
"Be strong, Yuna. Show us what your training has taught you." I nodded at her to go on.
Yuna looked at me with her odd, innocent eyes and I could only look back and wait. I couldn't read her eyes; she was too scared. Or was I too scared? Yuna took a step back and held her arms high above her head. I took Tidus by the hand and we ran to the others.
"Is the Kimahri okay?" said Tidus, breathing heavily.
"He'll be fine; he's a fighter," said Auron. I patted Rikku's shoulder.
"Great job," said Ruthy. Rikku beamed at him. Her gaze went past Ruthy and I and focussed on Yuna. Ice crystals had formed a cage around my dear summoner; she bent down shivering.
"Is Yunie okay?" Rikku's face contorted into panic. I sat down beside her and hugged her tightly.
"She's fine, Rikku. She knows what she's doing." This was good enough for Rikku and she nodded.
I looked up and saw her float down. That shimmering coat of moonlight only showed her feet. She landed on the cold ceramic tiles and threw the cloak to a star struck Yuna. She clicked her fingers and the crystals shattered and melted, running over the crooks and gaps in the grout of the temple tiles.
"What's up?" said Ruthy, spotting my strange expression.
"Hmm," I said, gazing at the aeon, "My mother just arrived."
***
"How is she?" said Orrin as he paced up and down the dirt track.
"She's fine," said the tired midwife. "Well, apart from the labour pains but it's all normal, Orrin. Calm down."
"You know I trust you, don't you Ferri? I mean, you delivered that other boy in the village a few weeks ago, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did. Healthy and flame hair. He was desperate to get into the world; I've never seen one come out so fast! It seems that your little one is a little more leisurely in their arrival." Orrin nodded and Ferri pushed the bedroom curtain aside and entered.
Orrin shivered. He wasn't used to Macalania. When Shiva insisted on their baby being born in Macalania, Orrin insisted on the midwife being Besaidian. Ferri was a wise woman, he told himself. She'll look after Shiva. Shiva could look after herself of course but he couldn't help but notice that her lips were when she started. He peeked through the curtain. It was again a Macalanian tradition that the husband wasn't there at the birth but he wanted to see the baby so much. Shiva's face contorted from pain to exhaust to strain and then back to pain. He had to be in there, he'd do anything to be in there.
He didn't have to be outside much longer. There was a sound of a large exhale and young screaming. He ran in and sat beside his wife.
Her black hair was matted on her forehead, pearls of sweat were on her brow and her cheeks had returned from burgundy to their pale cream. Orrin stared into his wife's moon-like eyes.
"You're so beautiful. I love you," he kissed her hand. Shiva would have replied but she was still breathless.
"Here she is," said Ferri, beaming. She handed a bundle of rags to Shiva. Orrin poked his fingers gently around the cloths.
Inside was the baby, their baby, a girl. Her hair was midnight black and her wrinkled skin like cream.
"Most babies' skin is red when they come out but," Ferri scrubbed her hands and turned to smile at them, "she is going to be different."
"Yes she is," said Shiva quietly. Their daughter yawned. Wow, thought Orrin, my daughter, our daughter. "I know what she'll be called now."
"What?" said Orrin, enthralled.
"Lulu," was all that Shiva said. Orrin accepted this with quiet admiration. He kissed his wife's forehead. Suddenly Lulu opened her eyes. They were dark red-brown, fire eater's eyes as Orrin's grandmother used to call them.
"Wow," was all that Orrin could say, "Wow, wow, wow.."
***
"Why?" wailed Lulu. "Why mother? I don't want you to go, no!" she started to cry. Shiva looked at her daughter at the same eye level and felt pearls of salt water run down her cheeks.
"I love you, Lulu. This is something I have to do."
"No you don't! You don't have to do anything! You can come and live with me! Stay with me mother, don't go!"
"I have to, Lulu. I love you and take good care of your father." Shiva clutched her daughter tightly. "One day, Lulu, you will understand. When you love someone and want to look after them, you will do anything to make sure they're safe."
"Mummy?" said Lulu quietly.
"Hmm?"
"Are you going because I spilt my drink all over your dress?" Shiva laughed at her daughter's innocence, shook her head and kissed her all over her face.
"I love you, Lulu." Her daughter fell silent.
"I love you too."
Then she disappeared from this world and Lulu's life. All her daughter could do was stand there and cry.
***
"I knew we'd get an 'icy' reception," said Ruthy, trying desperately to cheer me up. I groaned and gave him a playful punch.
I was upset after seeing that blue sphere in the woods. Yes, it was a long time ago but watching Braska with Jecht and Auron like that, just so carefree but always cracking under the burden of what they did. I stared into Jecht's eyes as he gave his final message to his son. I could read people's eyes, my grandmother said I had a gift for it. These were brown and deep; surprisingly I couldn't see a conscience. I always thought he was a great, brave man but he couldn't even build up enough courage to say 'I love you' to his son. I never wanted to turn out like that man. More specifically, I didn't want Wakka to turn into him.
Chappu and Auron no longer plagued me but Wakka continued to amaze me. He was angry and discontent. I heard myself thinking this and I knew what a hypocrite I was. There we all were, below the lake, the strange fog above us keeping us all dry. It was either the fog or the fact that we were so far down that no water could reach us. That was unnerving. We'd faced many fiends and monsters; even a Maester of Yevon and still being deep underwater gave me shivers.
"Wait," said Tidus.
"What's up?" said Wakka.
"The Fayth," I said. "They've stopped singing."
I couldn't believe it either. There we were, all eight of us, against the very person who was supposed to help us. It didn't make sense. I saw Yuna working hard to keep us protected from Seymour's minions but I knew she was feeling the strain. A Firaga spell shot at her from nowhere and I couldn't watch.
"YUNA!" I shouted, and threw her a potion. She stood back up and nodded all me. She looked okay again, albeit slightly steaming. Tidus ran forwards, sword held high.
"No!" A few of us screamed but, again, this new companion surprised us. He skidded around Seymour and his Guado servants, slashing and splicing, ducking and dicing until he jumped back to us. The minions collapsed and their souls began their journey. I looked at him in awe. He smiled back.
"Nice one, brudda," said Wakka and we continued to fight Seymour. We hit him again and again, endless sword hit after another. When Ruthy and I cast spells, they made no difference..
Or so it seemed..
He began to show that his will was cracking. He bent down and Kimahri stuck his spear into him. He ran back and I exhaled as a compliment. He growled quietly, which I think was a sign of thanks. Seymour fell to the ground. 'This is it!' I kept thinking, 'This is it! We've defeated him!'
"Come, Anima. Feel my pain!"
"Oh.. no.." said Yuna, breathless. "Not.. now..not that aeon, please no.."
Sure enough, the room went blood red and everybody clutched their heads to try and deafen the disgusting humming sound. The metal claw plunged into the floor in front of my very eyes and I wanted to give up. I wanted to pack it all in and just say 'Sorry.' But I looked over at Yuna and knew I couldn't.
Everybody winced at her roar. The beast had finally made her first attack, right at Kimahri behind us, in the wings. A ray of blue light shot out of her hideous eye and pierced him in the heart. Kimahri collapsed and Rikku ran to his side and began her work.
"Kimahri!" screamed Yuna. She looked devastated. She wanted to be there, to heal him herself but we needed her more than ever now. I knew what she had to do and I felt the sadness brimming inside me.
"Yuna! The new aeon!" said Tidus.
"Be strong, Yuna. Show us what your training has taught you." I nodded at her to go on.
Yuna looked at me with her odd, innocent eyes and I could only look back and wait. I couldn't read her eyes; she was too scared. Or was I too scared? Yuna took a step back and held her arms high above her head. I took Tidus by the hand and we ran to the others.
"Is the Kimahri okay?" said Tidus, breathing heavily.
"He'll be fine; he's a fighter," said Auron. I patted Rikku's shoulder.
"Great job," said Ruthy. Rikku beamed at him. Her gaze went past Ruthy and I and focussed on Yuna. Ice crystals had formed a cage around my dear summoner; she bent down shivering.
"Is Yunie okay?" Rikku's face contorted into panic. I sat down beside her and hugged her tightly.
"She's fine, Rikku. She knows what she's doing." This was good enough for Rikku and she nodded.
I looked up and saw her float down. That shimmering coat of moonlight only showed her feet. She landed on the cold ceramic tiles and threw the cloak to a star struck Yuna. She clicked her fingers and the crystals shattered and melted, running over the crooks and gaps in the grout of the temple tiles.
"What's up?" said Ruthy, spotting my strange expression.
"Hmm," I said, gazing at the aeon, "My mother just arrived."
***
"How is she?" said Orrin as he paced up and down the dirt track.
"She's fine," said the tired midwife. "Well, apart from the labour pains but it's all normal, Orrin. Calm down."
"You know I trust you, don't you Ferri? I mean, you delivered that other boy in the village a few weeks ago, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did. Healthy and flame hair. He was desperate to get into the world; I've never seen one come out so fast! It seems that your little one is a little more leisurely in their arrival." Orrin nodded and Ferri pushed the bedroom curtain aside and entered.
Orrin shivered. He wasn't used to Macalania. When Shiva insisted on their baby being born in Macalania, Orrin insisted on the midwife being Besaidian. Ferri was a wise woman, he told himself. She'll look after Shiva. Shiva could look after herself of course but he couldn't help but notice that her lips were when she started. He peeked through the curtain. It was again a Macalanian tradition that the husband wasn't there at the birth but he wanted to see the baby so much. Shiva's face contorted from pain to exhaust to strain and then back to pain. He had to be in there, he'd do anything to be in there.
He didn't have to be outside much longer. There was a sound of a large exhale and young screaming. He ran in and sat beside his wife.
Her black hair was matted on her forehead, pearls of sweat were on her brow and her cheeks had returned from burgundy to their pale cream. Orrin stared into his wife's moon-like eyes.
"You're so beautiful. I love you," he kissed her hand. Shiva would have replied but she was still breathless.
"Here she is," said Ferri, beaming. She handed a bundle of rags to Shiva. Orrin poked his fingers gently around the cloths.
Inside was the baby, their baby, a girl. Her hair was midnight black and her wrinkled skin like cream.
"Most babies' skin is red when they come out but," Ferri scrubbed her hands and turned to smile at them, "she is going to be different."
"Yes she is," said Shiva quietly. Their daughter yawned. Wow, thought Orrin, my daughter, our daughter. "I know what she'll be called now."
"What?" said Orrin, enthralled.
"Lulu," was all that Shiva said. Orrin accepted this with quiet admiration. He kissed his wife's forehead. Suddenly Lulu opened her eyes. They were dark red-brown, fire eater's eyes as Orrin's grandmother used to call them.
"Wow," was all that Orrin could say, "Wow, wow, wow.."
***
"Why?" wailed Lulu. "Why mother? I don't want you to go, no!" she started to cry. Shiva looked at her daughter at the same eye level and felt pearls of salt water run down her cheeks.
"I love you, Lulu. This is something I have to do."
"No you don't! You don't have to do anything! You can come and live with me! Stay with me mother, don't go!"
"I have to, Lulu. I love you and take good care of your father." Shiva clutched her daughter tightly. "One day, Lulu, you will understand. When you love someone and want to look after them, you will do anything to make sure they're safe."
"Mummy?" said Lulu quietly.
"Hmm?"
"Are you going because I spilt my drink all over your dress?" Shiva laughed at her daughter's innocence, shook her head and kissed her all over her face.
"I love you, Lulu." Her daughter fell silent.
"I love you too."
Then she disappeared from this world and Lulu's life. All her daughter could do was stand there and cry.
***
"I knew we'd get an 'icy' reception," said Ruthy, trying desperately to cheer me up. I groaned and gave him a playful punch.
I was upset after seeing that blue sphere in the woods. Yes, it was a long time ago but watching Braska with Jecht and Auron like that, just so carefree but always cracking under the burden of what they did. I stared into Jecht's eyes as he gave his final message to his son. I could read people's eyes, my grandmother said I had a gift for it. These were brown and deep; surprisingly I couldn't see a conscience. I always thought he was a great, brave man but he couldn't even build up enough courage to say 'I love you' to his son. I never wanted to turn out like that man. More specifically, I didn't want Wakka to turn into him.
Chappu and Auron no longer plagued me but Wakka continued to amaze me. He was angry and discontent. I heard myself thinking this and I knew what a hypocrite I was. There we all were, below the lake, the strange fog above us keeping us all dry. It was either the fog or the fact that we were so far down that no water could reach us. That was unnerving. We'd faced many fiends and monsters; even a Maester of Yevon and still being deep underwater gave me shivers.
"Wait," said Tidus.
"What's up?" said Wakka.
"The Fayth," I said. "They've stopped singing."