Hello! Thanks so much to Saranomy for agreeing to beta for me! You rock! Anyways, I've done a little revision to this chapter (fixing the spelling of Kimahri's name and such) and reposted it. Chapter 2 is coming soon; I've already sent it off to be beta-ed! With any luck it should be up within a week.
This story takes place after Final Fantasy X ends, so don't read unless you've beaten the game or don't mind spoilers. But you probably expected that coming in. ^^;; Also, this story completely disregards anything that might happen in FFX-2. I haven't played it yet, but I do have a basic knowledge of the plot and this fic is completely unrelated.
This disclaimer applies for this chapter and all future chapters in this fic: All Final Fantasy X characters, places, and things are copyright to Squaresoft (or is it Square-Enix now?). No infringement is intended and no money is being made in the production of this story. It is purely for fun, so let's keep it that way. Various random characters (Zara, Xan, etc.) do belong to me; do not take them without permission.
I will be using Al Bhed in this story, and the translations are at the end of each chapter.
Now… without further ado, I present to you…
* * *
Shattered Dreams
Chapter 1
Stained
The streets of Bevelle were dark, eerily empty and devoid of the noise and nightlife that one might expect in such a major city. Perhaps it was not so strange, though, if one took into account the recent events that had bombarded the city. Barely four months prior, the huge entity known only as Sin had fallen, finally defeated, and in the process crushed Sectors D and E of Spira's capitol city. Though Sin had been a monstrosity that the people were happy to be rid of, the Yevon religion was based on the idea that Sin was their punishment for their crimes, and they must repent to be free of it's reign of destruction and terror. That Sin should be brought down by seven individuals and an Al Bhed airship caused the entire religion to come crashing down around their ears. With thousands dead and their religion bust, Bevelle was thrown into a state of mourning. Some reconstruction had begun, but the city was at a loss without its leaders and people didn't know where to begin.
But the dark cloaked figure that moved silently through the deserted streets neither knew nor cared of the city's pain. It moved purposefully, never pausing or once deterring from reaching its destination. Its quick, strong strides led it east across town, towards the remnants of Sectors D and E, but then it turned north and continued away from the wreckage, away from the death and destruction it knew nothing and yet everything about. Eventually it came to the beach, sand littered with debris from the explosion but the moonlight still reflecting off the water in a symphony of colors and kaleidoscope patterns that dazzled the eyes.
The figure knew none of this. It simply stood- waiting, watching. And at about two in the morning, a limp form washed up on the sand, half submerged in the water and unmoving. The figure moved forward briskly and picked the unconscious form up, and then turned and began to walk back the way from which it had come. And in the dark, under the cowl, a sinister smile played upon its lips.
~*~*~*~
Zara Guado was not one to be easily discouraged.
On the contrary, she could be described as the type of person who waits patiently for the perfect blackmail opportunity to catch her brother on sphere and play it in front of the entire community after he steals her favorite staff. Indeed, he didn't dare leave the house for several weeks after the incident in question. And certainly, it was Zara who pulled the Guado back together after the loss of Seymour, Yevon, and all that they had previously believed in. She lifted the spirits of her people, put the punch back into blitzball team, and helped select a new leader, Xan, who, through her, became as well loved and respected as any of the previous leaders of Guadosalam. She wondered now, though, if she had been wise in choosing Xan to lead their people. After all, he was the reason she was now on this mission alone, without backup. Technically, she wasn't even supposed to be here at all.
Which was why Zara Guado was becoming increasingly frustrated with the whole situation, and began to wonder if her entire journey was futile and if she might be better off going straight home.
"Please," she repeated for the eleventh time to the guard blocking her path up the ramp way, "I need to get to Besaid. I must speak to the High Summoner immediately!"
The Lucan guard sneered at her. "I told you, we don't take Guado on this ship! Are you deaf, or just plain stupid?"
"But I must see High Summoner Yuna! It's urgent!"
"I'll bet it is," laughed the guard, "Listen, missy, just run along home to your rat hole in the woods before I have to call security."
"Some guard you are if you have to call security," piped a scornful voice behind Zara. She spun around to find a young girl grinning amiably at her, with blonde tresses pinned up at the back of her head and framing her face.
The guard quickly assessed the situation and tried to take control. "This- this Guado," he spat, "is trying to force her way onto the ship. Claims to have 'urgent business' with the High Summoner."
"Really?" asked the blonde with mild interest, "So why don't you let her on board?"
The guard looked taken aback. "But… but… surely you don't mean… but… look at her! She's a Guado!"
The girl raised an eyebrow. "So?"
The guard gave one last valiant attempt: "I have strict orders not to allow any Guado on this ship."
The girl's green eyes flashed. "Bullshit," she snapped, "You have no such orders and you know it. I hope you realize you're losing business by being a prejudiced ass. You certainly deserve it. You big meanie!" she added as an afterthought.
The guard gaped at her for a few minutes like a fish out of water, trying to come up with a retort in his defense. Finally he sighed in defeat and turned to Zara. "It's 100 Gil to Besaid Island," he said resignedly.
"Oh, no, you don't! You're not getting her business after the way you treated her!" The strange girl grabbed Zara by the elbow and proceeded to drag her away from the S.S. Winno and its dumbfounded guard.
"Wait! Please, I must get to Besaid!" Zara protested.
"No problem," the blonde interrupted her, "That's where we're headed. Dad just stopped here for gas and sent me to find Brother at the stadium after his game. Good thing I saw what was going on. We can give you a lift. Honestly, people these days! First it was the Al Bhed, now it's the Guado. Next I suppose they'll be discriminating the Ronso! So what is it you need to talk to Yunie about anyways? Have you ever met her before? She's really sweet; you'll love her. She's my cousin, you know?"
Zara's head reeled as she tried to process everything this hyperactive teen was relaying to her. The girl was talking a mile a minute and not even pausing for air! "You have… a boat?" Zara asked, "You'll take me to Besaid?"
"Boat?" The blonde seemed to find this immensely funny. "No, we don't have a boat!" she laughed, "But don't worry, we'll get you to Besaid!"
Zara frowned, confused, but before she could speak, they rounded the bend into Dock 1 and were confronted by the most amazing sight Zara had ever seen. 'The forbidden machina airship!' she thought in awe. 'Though I suppose it's not forbidden anymore…' "It's beautiful," she whispered aloud, "I'd love to ride it someday… though… I don't suppose I ever will," she added sadly.
"Why do you say that?" The blonde tilted her head in a slightly confused fashion.
"Well, I'm Guado… and the airship belongs to the Al Bhed. They'd never let me on."
"Wouldn't they?" The girl winked at her. "C'mon, we don't want Dad to leave without us!" Grabbing Zara's hand, she began to race towards the airship, the guards at the ramp letting her pass without a second glance.
"Tyt! E's pylg! Yna fa nayto du ku oad?" she called as she bounded onto the bridge.
"Tyshed, Rikku, frana'ja oui paah?" yelled a big bald man that Zara realized must be Cid, leader of the Al Bhed and captain of this airship.
The girl, whom Zara now presumed was called 'Rikku', pushed her in front so that she could be seen. "Cusa sunuh fuimth'd mad ran uh dra puyd du Besaid zicd palyica cra'c Guado. E druikrd fa luimt keja ran y neta?"
"I don't see why not," Cid said, switching to Spiran and smiling down at Zara. "Welcome aboard, little lady."
~*~*~*~
"So, uh… how long does it take to get to Besaid?" Zara asked.
"Oh, just a couple of hours." Rikku was sitting on a big metal desk with her feet propped up on some sort of screen, tossing a ball back and forth in her hands. "Hey, what's your name, anyways?"
"Oh! I'm Zara," the Guado said, embarrassed. This girl had done so much for her without even knowing her name!
"Zara? Cool. I'm Rikku."
Zara nodded even though she already knew this. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Zara feeling rather awkward and out of place. Finally she felt she had to ask. "Not meaning to offend, but… don't the Al Bhed… well, dislike the Guado?"
Rikku looked surprised at the question. She thought about it for a minute, then replied, "I suppose some of us, yeah, hold grudges for stuff that happened, but most of us have moved on. It's true that not everyone on this ship will welcome you, but then, I bet some of the Guado still hate the Al Bhed, too, you know?"
Zara nodded, thinking this over.
"It's too bad, really," Rikku continued, "There's nothing wrong with the Al Bhed and there's nothing wrong with the Guado. But when we've grown up learning to hate each other, it's so hard to change, you know? It's really just ignorance. If we took the time to get to know each other, we'd see that we're all really just people like you and me."
Zara wondered if this was the same bubbly Rikku who had been sprouting nonsense not too long before. She sounded so… mature.
"Before we defeated Sin," Rikku said slowly, "I had… a friend- a devoted Yevonite. He didn't know I was Al Bhed. When he found out, he was so mad. But… gradually… he remembered that there is more to me than just being Al Bhed. I'm Rikku, too. He remembered why I was his friend before, and realized that just because I'm Al Bhed, doesn't mean I'm a bad person." She smiled fondly, and Zara realized that the girl was off in her own little world, lost in memories.
"I had another friend," Rikku continued after a pause, "who didn't know or care about Yevon. He didn't know or care about the difference between Al Bhed and Guado, or about the discrimination that divided Spira. All he cared about was defeating Sin so that no one should have to suffer. He did it, too." Here, Rikku's voice began to crack. "He did it for everyone, for Spirans, Guado, Ronso, and Al Bhed. So that none of them should have to suffer." She fell silent as she struggled to keep herself from crying.
Zara stared. There was so much more to this girl than first met the eye! She had obviously been through something traumatic, but one couldn't tell from her bubbly, cheerful exterior.
There was the metallic sound of doors sliding open and Cid marched in. "Rikku, kad oan pidd uvv dra luhdnum byham!" he barked.
Rikku, having regained her composure, rolled her eyes and leapt to the floor, sticking her tongue out at her father when he turned his back.
~*~*~*~
The rest of the trip passed fairly quickly for Zara. Rikku introduced her to Rin- who was extremely kind and polite but seemed determined to get her to buy something- and to the team members of the Al Bhed Psyches- who seemed nice enough but didn't speak any Spiran, which kind of put an end to any conversation potential. She then showed her the observation deck, where Zara was immediately captivated with the view and refused to leave the window for the rest of the flight. Thus, it wasn't until Besaid Island came into view that she remembered the reason she was here in the first place. She was suddenly overcome with dread as all sorts of complications arose in her mind. What if the High Summoner wouldn't help them? What if the High Summoner couldn't help them?
By the time the airship had docked safely at the beach, Zara was feeling so nervous that she could barely bring herself to walk off the ship. As it was, Rikku was already skipping down the ramp, dragging her by one arm.
"Rao, Rikku, kad oan pidd pylg rana!" Cid yelled.
Rikku groaned. "Pid, Tyt, E fyhhy caa Yunie!"
"Yvdan dra nuideha syehdahyhla lralg. Oui ghuf dra tnemm."
"Tyshed," Rikku growled. She pointed up the path in front of them. "Just follow this path to reach the village," she said to Zara, "You can't miss it. Ask anyone there for Yuna, they'll know where she is. I'll be along as soon as I can. Ymm nekrd, ymnayto! E's lusehk!" She turned and ran back up the ramp.
Zara stared at the deserted path in front of her, the comfort she had felt in knowing that Rikku was coming with her now slipping away fast. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and resolutely set off down the path, one foot after the other.
~*~*~*~
"Excuse me, but could you tell me where I might find the High Summoner Yuna?"
The old woman stared at Zara suspiciously. "What do you want with Lady Yuna?" she snapped.
"Please, I have come a long way to speak with her," Zara said as politely as she could.
"Well, you can turn around and go right back!"
"Maura, that was unnecessary," interjected a soft voice. "You forget that I listen to all who come to me, regardless of what they look like or where they are from. I do not wish to have discrimination on Spira." The speaker- a young woman wearing a blue skirt and yellow flowered obi- turned to Zara. "I am Summoner Yuna. What is it you wish to discuss with me?"
"Lady Yuna," Zara murmured in awe, bowing. "It is an honor to meet you. I… my story may take some time. Is there somewhere we might…?"
"Yes, of course. Maura, would you find Wakka and Lulu and ask them to meet me in the conference room as soon as they are free?"
"Of course, m'lady," Maura mumbled as she backed away, still glaring suspiciously at Zara.
~
The 'conference room' turned out to be one of the spare rooms in the temple equipped with a table and some chairs.
"Please, sit down," Yuna said, indicating one of the chairs. She herself sat down opposite from Zara, and a moment later, the door opened and a woman dressed all in heavy black and wearing a skirt covered with belts hurried in. She nodded at Zara and silently took her seat beside Yuna, who introduced the woman as 'Lulu'.
Zara nodded and licked her suddenly dry lips. "I am Zara of the Guado," she began, wincing as she realized how stupid that sounded. She was obviously Guado; she didn't need to announce it! Gulping, she continued, "Our leader, Xan, sends his regards to the High Summoner Yuna, although… I came here of my own accord. There have been some… occurrences that I feel Lady Yuna ought to know about." She paused, trying to think of how to phrase what she had to say next.
"Please continue," Yuna urged gently.
"Since the defeat of Sin and the awakening of the Fayth, the Guado have noticed some… discrepancies in the Farplane."
Lulu spoke up. "What sort of 'discrepancies'?" she asked slowly, as though she was not sure she really wanted to know the answer.
Zara took a deep breath and looked Yuna directly in the eyes.
"It's breaking, Lady Yuna. The Farplane is crumbling."
~*~*~*~
'Lu's gonna kill me for being late again!' Wakka thought as he hurried through the village of Besaid. 'It's not like it's my fault! How am I supposed to know when visitors are gonna come to see--'
"WAKKAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
An orange blur came hurtling through the crowd towards him. "Oomph!" Wakka grunted as it launched itself onto his back and gave him a noogie.
"Hey, Rikku," he said in a slightly strangled voice, "Good to see you, too."
"Hi, Wakka! Have you seen Yunie?" she asked, still perched comfortably on his back.
"She's in the conference room. How 'bout gettin' off me now, ya?"
"In your dreams!" she giggled. "Giddiyap!"
Sighing, Wakka set off down the road towards the temple, wobbling a bit unsteadily.
"You make a pretty pathetic chocobo," Rikku teased.
"I'm heartbroken that I won't be joinin' the ranks of the Crusaders' cavalry," Wakka retorted dryly.
"Awww, you're no fun!" Rikku pouted.
"Y'call this 'fun'?"
"Yup! Faster, my valiant chocobo! Yah!" Rikku laughed and dug her knees into his waist.
"Ow!" Wakka cried.
"Onward!" shouted Rikku, flinging her arm out and pointing at the temple. Unfortunately, this caused Wakka to lose his balance and they both went crashing down in a heap.
"Uhg…"
"Ouch."
"Some chocobo."
~*~*~*~
"The Farplane is… breaking?" Yuna repeated slowly. "Are you sure?"
"It certainly seems that way," Zara replied sadly.
"But… what does it mean?"
"We don't know," whispered Zara, "That's why I came to you. Xan said not to, but… we can't just let it go on like this. We don't know what to do. I thought… I thought you might be able to help."
"I don't know if I can help," Yuna said truthfully, "but I'll do my best."
"Yuna," Lulu interjected, "You can't just abandon your post here. The people of Spira look to you for the support and guidance they need to solve their problems. If you just run off, it's going to cause problems."
"But I can't just sit by and do nothing! You heard what she said- the Farplane is breaking!"
"I didn't say you should do nothing."
Yuna sighed. "You're right. But what can I do? I need more information…"
The door slammed open and a tornado sped into the room, followed by Wakka at a more leisurely pace.
"Yunie!!" Rikku cried, but stopped short when she saw the serious, forlorn faces. "Uh… is this a bad time?"
"No…" Yuna said slowly, a smile forming on her face. "No, this is a perfect time!"
~*~*~*~
"So… what are we doin' again?" Wakka asked, running a hand through his hair as he gazed out the window of the airship.
"I'm supposed to show you what's happened to the Farplane and see if you can make head or tail of it. Basically, Lady Yuna needs more information than I can give her, and you're going to get it for her," Zara explained cheerfully. She was so relieved that the High Summoner had so readily agreed to help her.
Wakka glanced at Rikku. "And why us?" he asked, "Why not Lu or Kimahri? They'd probably do a much better job than we would, ya?"
Rikku shrugged and looked up at him, tilting her head to one side. "'Cause Yunie said so?"
"Izat really all the answer you got?" he asked skeptically.
"Think about it, Wakka. Kimahri wouldn't leave Yunie's side for an instant, and Lulu is really helpful in dealing with all the people who come to her with problems and proposals for her to join the New Yevon and stuff. So that leaves- us!" Rikku grinned and twirled around.
"Well, I suppose it is a nice change of scene, ya?" Wakka admitted, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
"Yup!" Rikku giggled happily, "This is gonna be fun!"
And we all know that when someone says that, something is definitely going to go wrong.
********
Translations:
"Tyt! E's pylg! Yna fa nayto du ku oad?" = "Dad! I'm back! Are we ready to go yet?"
"Tyshed, Rikku, frana'ja oui paah?" = "Damnit, Rikku, where've you been?"
"Cusa sunuh fuimth'd mad ran uh dra puyd du Besaid zicd palyica cra'c Guado. E druikrd fa luimt keja ran y neta?" = "Some moron wouldn't let her on the boat to Besaid just because she's Guado. I thought we could give her a ride?"
"Rikku, kad oan pidd uvv dra luhdnum byham!" = "Rikku, get yer butt off the control panel!"
"Rao, Rikku, kad oan pidd pylg rana!" = "Hey, Rikku, get yer butt back here!"
"Pid, Tyt, E fyhhy caa Yunie!" = "But, Dad, I wanna see Yunie!"
"Yvdan dra nuideha syehdahyhla lralg. Oui ghuf dra tnemm." = "After the routine maintenance check. You know the drill."
"Ymm nekrd, ymnayto! E's lusehk!" = "All right, already! I'm coming!"
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Hope you enjoyed! Now, follow the magic arrow!
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