The Trials
By kimetara
3rd In-game POV
Disclaimer: Eesh, are you really going to sue me? Really? You sure? If you're THAT concerned about legal matters, erm, maybe a new hobby is in order. Ah well, if you're sure you care that much... I do not own Final Fantasy X.
A flying ship...amazing. It's wonderful and thrilling to see the land from such heights... I press one hand against the glass as I look out the window, my Cactuar Scope peering out from my other arm.
"Aye, Lu." I turn my head to see Wakka standing nearby with a somewhat sheepish expression.
"What did you do now?" I ask resignedly. The recent happenings – between Yuna being kidnapped and Home destroyed – have taken too much of my energy for me to engage in idle talk. Much better to get straight to the point.
"Uh...I feel kinda bad for Rikku, you know?" He spreads his hands helplessly. "I mean, with the Guado attacking and blowing Home up..."
"And you finally realize you weren't helping matters by your racial prejudice," I finish dryly. "Well, I'm glad it's managed to sink in, Wakka. Even if it did take seeing a young girl's home and life being burnt to the ground."
"Aw, c'mon Lu!" His eyes drop to the ground. "I already feel bad enough, ya."
I observe him for a moment, then sigh. "So apologize to her."
"Err..." he glances at where Rikku's sitting, "she's kinda mad at me right now."
"Naturally." I return to my window. "I saw you trying to talk to her earlier. Just give her some time, Wakka. It's only been a few hours, after all."
"Yeah, you're right..." He rubs the back of his neck and sighs.
"Don't worry. I'm sure she'll forgive you; Rikku is very open-hearted," I reassure him quietly.
"I hope so." Wakka takes up a position next to me and crosses his arms, also looking out the window. "I can't believe the Guado would do that," he says quietly after a short while. "What were they thinking?"
"...I'm not sure," I reply slowly. "At first, I thought they had found out Yuna was being kept there, and were seeking revenge for Maester Seymour's death. But there's no way they could have found out so quickly..."
"Eh..." he tilts his head upwards, his brows furrowing in concentration. I raise an eyebrow and half-smile.
"Remember Wakka, imagination isn't your strong point," I tease gently. He is actually a very good strategist – undoubtedly from being a captain in blitzball – but this sort of analyzing and critical thinking are my fortes.
"You're cruel, Lu," he tugs lightly on my braids and grins at me. I give a small smile back, but it fades quickly. There's something else he hasn't told me.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?" He looks surprised, as if he doesn't know what I'm talking about. Subtlety isn't his strong point either.
"Don't act clueless. What's wrong?" I know he's upset about something. I can guess what it is too. "Yevon?"
He nods. "I never thought they'd do something like that, y'know? Yevon's supposed to be atonement for our sins, not making new ones! Maybe Maester Seymour taught the Guado-"
"Maester Seymour," I interrupt softly, my eyes widening slightly. Maester Seymour...it's impossible. They would never...
"Lu?" Wakka's giving me a quizzical look. I swiftly shake my head.
"It's nothing." It's nothing. It has to be. "I don't understand what's happening either, but I'm beginning to see that Yevon isn't all we thought it was." I close my eyes. "As Sir Auron said, we will go against Yevon if necessary. For Yuna."
His response is silence. And then, "...man. I wish this never happened, ya. This pilgrimage is something I never wanted to do," he mutters.
"I agree." There's nothing left to say after that. We look out the window a little longer, and then he returns to his post.
"Hey Lulu."
Well, I certainly seem to be popular today. Only half an hour after Wakka left and Tidus is talking to me. "Hello. You want to talk about Yuna, right?" I guess. It isn't difficult.
"Uh...yeah," he admits. "I don't get it. How can you let her do this?"
"What else would you have us do?" I turn to him. Although I didn't show it, his accusation earlier, of lying, of not caring, cut deeply. "I told you. Yuna chose her own path."
"So? Why didn't you stop her?" he argues. "Or find another way!"
"We did everything to stop her short of binding her in chains," I tell him coolly. "And there is no other way to defeat Sin. He in unstoppable without the Final Aeon."
"How do you know?" Tidus presses. "Have you ever tried?"
"Of course not! To do so would be suicide!" I snap. For some reason, he grins. "I don't see anything amusing."
"We~ell, it's suicide to fight Sin with the Final Aeon anyway, right? At least for Yuna."
"...yes." What is he getting at?
"So, if she's going to die anyway, why don't we try it? Fighting Sin without the Final Aeon."
I blink. There does seem to be some logic in that...
"C'mon Lulu." Tidus' expression changes slightly, unreadable. "Think about it! I know you'd risk your life for Yuna, you're her guardian. We all would. Together, we can beat Sin, without the summoning!"
He's still watching me, as if for confirmation. Something clicks.
He wants my approval.
Tidus, cocky and confident, is waiting for my judgment. He wants to know if I believe his plan could succeed.
I think this, of all things, convinced me. The fact that he is seeking judgment shows he placed thought into this idea. And why not? One way, Yuna dies for certain. The other way, there's a slight chance Yuna may live. Sin may live no matter the choice. Why not take the chance?
"It may work."
"Yeah!" Tidus nods, grinning. "Glad to see you're with us, Lulu!"
"But," I interrupt, "we will continue the journey to Zanarkand to obtain the Final Aeon." Tidus opens his mouth to object, but I continue. "When we face Sin, we can try to defeat it without summoning. Still, if worst comes to worst..." I shake my head. "It is always good to have a back-up plan."
He frowns, but nods. "Okay. But she won't have to use it," he says under his breath, walking away. "I swear she won't."
I refrain from commenting. I know promises won't stop death. I learned that a year ago, when Chappu died in the waters of Djose.