Disclaimer: All characters and situations from the games FFVIII and FFX are property of
Squaresoft. I do not claim ownership of any of them. However, I do own any characters that I
created myself or my co-author, ie. Vira Eronwil, Dorin Vachon, Kravis, ect. That's about it.
You know the drill. We do this for fun and no profit.
Chapter 2
Haunted
1. Incoming Arrival
Squall adjusted his eyes to the lack of light and surveyed the area they'd landed in.
"I don't think we're in Balamb anymore," whispered Selphie.
"Hell, we're not on the same goddamn planet anymore," Seifer muttered.
He was right. The room they were in was a large circular one, that was designed in a
way that wasn't used anywhere on the planet. There were large windows, making the room have
almost a dome-like effect, but only small streams of light filtered through. It looked like
they'd been blocked off. The room looked like it was made of stone, with a faded red carpet
that covered the floor and a grand stairway leading up to two elaborate double doors. On the
other side was another doorway, but the only thing resembling a door inside of it was a mass of
swirling white colors, like the portal that had brought them there, only...softer and brighter.
It didn't look like it led anywhere like the one they'd come through. It looked like people
hadn't lived there in a very long time.
"Yeah, this doesn't look like anything we've ever seen," said Squall.
"Hello?" called Selphie. She was answered by her own echo. "Guess nobody's home,"
she commented.
"Doesn't like anyone's been home for a while, Sunflower," replied Irvine, looking
around at the arcane architecture. "So like, what now?"
"We search the area for any proof that one or more people have been through here,"
Dorin answered.
"Judging from this dust, I'd say no one's been here in a long time. And even longer
since anyone's kept the place up," said Quistis, rubbing the dust off her glove.
"Perhaps not," Dorin replied, crouching down over an area on the floor. Brushing at
the dust, he revealed several dark spots.
"What is it?" Squall asked.
"Blood," Dorin replied. "It's been here a while, though. It's dry and there was dust
covering it."
"Doesn't this place feel...sacred to you?" asked Rinoa. "I don't know what it is, but
I get this feeling that...it's special. Almost like stepping into a museum or something."
Zell looked over to the door of light. "Yeah, well, what about that, yo? It looks
really weird. Don't we have doors in doorways normally? Not...a buncha light?"
"Usually," Irvine said. "Wonder where it leads..."
"One way to find out," Squall said, stepping through. He disappeared behind the light,
leaving no trace of him behind. A moment of silence passed. No one followed Squall, all
hesitant to go through the light. After another minute, Squall stuck his head back through the
light, looking at them impatiently. "Looks like an elevator of some type. What are you guys
waiting for?"
Zell shrugged. "Oh, just to see if we'd hear you scream out in pain or something.
Nothin much."
"...Whatever."
Rinoa giggled as she followed. "Oh come on, it woulda been kinda fun."
Squall arched an eyebrow. "Traitor."
"Professional rebel," Rinoa replied. "There's a difference."
The group walked onto a large stone slab that had a strange symbol on it that no one
had seen before. The symbol glowed when they all stood on it, and the stone slab lifted them
up to another room.
Selphie looked down at the symbol. "Wonder what that means..."
"Hot dog?" suggested Zell.
Selphie rolled her eyes. "As if. Maybe it means-"
"Everybody love and peace?" said Irvine, already snickering.
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Blah! Maybe it means 'cowboy who makes fun of his
fiancee.'"
"But, Sefie, that was too easy," he replied.
Zell scratched his head. "I still say it could mean hot dog."
"I guess we can guess Chickenwuss' first born's name," Seifer observed.
"He'd have to fight Lily for that though," Quistis pointed out.
"Good point."
Zell scowled. "I think I have enough sense not to do that."
"Y'know, Zell, this place might not have hot dogs at all," Rinoa pointed out.
Zell's eyes widened. "Can I go home now?"
Everyone shook their heads in exasperation. "No Zell, you're in this for the long
haul," Squall said.
"Damn..."
The lift stopped and everyone looked around to see their new surroundings. It was a
large room, with several different symbols on octagonal shapes on the floor, then the rest was
a square shaped raised platform, with a floor that looked like it lit up at once point. There
was a diagram of the floor on the far wall, framed, but dim. The rest of the room was made of
the same stone as down below. To their right was a doorway leading into another room. Squall
shrugged and started walking to it. The rest followed.
"What was that?" said Irvine.
Quistis shook her head. "Never seen anything like it before. Look," she pointed to
the floor in the room Squall had just led them into, "here it is again."
"Like a giant board game!" exclaimed Selphie.
"It's a lock!" exclaimed Quistis. "Press the right panels on the floor and it probably
unlocks doors and operates the lift in the other room."
Squall ran one of his hands through his hair. "That must mean this place had been
important. Important enough for them to have an elaborate security system in place. Though,
that's gotta be the weirdest one I've ever seen."
"Everything seems unlocked right now," said Quistis. "None of the tiles are lighting
up."
Rinoa tapped on one with her foot. "Maybe it's broken."
"Or they don't use it anymore," said Seifer.
Squall pointed to another doorway on the far side of the room. "Then let's take
advantage of it and see if we can get out of this place. We'll probably be able to get a lay
of the land from there."
The group entered yet another room, constructed in the same as the previous two.
"Strange style of architecture," Dorin noted. "Almost as if they've managed to manipulate
magic into the structure itself."
Rinoa looked around, a distant look on her face. "There is magic here. Very different
kind of magic. Seems like a lot of it has collected here over time."
"Can you draw it?" Selphie asked.
Rinoa looked thoughtful and raised her hand over one of the glowing lines imbedded in
the wall. She spoke a word and sparks flashed from the wall, but there was nothing else.
"No, you can't. I think it operates on a different system than we're used to," Rinoa
explained.
"So that means we've got to be careful with our expenditures of spells," Squall said.
"If we encounter any enemies, we should try to use our weapons as much as possible, and
avoid using magic unless it's absolutely necessary," said Quistis.
Seifer chuckled and raised his gunblade. "No problem there. It'll be interestin to
see what kinda things they got crawlin around here."
Squall frowned. "We need to be ready for an attack, but that doesn't mean it'll
happen. We don't know. Our main priority right now is to find some locals of any sort and
find out where we are. Then we can ask if anyone's seen Kravis."
"It doesn't look like it'll be here, though," Zell commented as they passed through a
hallway that was in a serious state of decay. "Place looks like it's been deserted for maybe
hundreds of years."
The long hallway they were travelling through now was in more of a state of disrepair
than the previous rooms. There was still a faded red carpet, like in the room they'd landed
in, but there was rubble and debris scattered the length of the hallway. Broken pieces from
columns made the straight forward path through the hallway twisted and winding to the end.
Strange lights swirled around them, like soft shooting stars that had decided not to streak
across the night sky but to settle down and be content to float along as feathers to in the
wind. Squall knew they were nowhere on their planet anymore. Nothing on their planet was
this decimated and yet still full of a calm beauty.
Zell tripped over a loose rock on the floor, nearly falling into Quistis. "Yeah,
definitely deserted. With no janitors."
"Though, it looked like a few people'd been around here since then," said Irvine.
The group reached the entrance of the building, revealing a large stone pavillion,
covered with yet more debris from columns that had long since fallen. More of the tiny lights
floated freely in the air. They looked mostly white, but had trails of green, blue, and pink,
mixing together in perfect harmony. Surrounding the building was a huge circular wall. No,
wall wasn't the word for it. It looked more like a coliseum. Or a stadium. Oddly enough,
there was a pathway of stone slabs, falling apart, but still steady looking, on the other side
of the pavillion. As if people had made it after the place had been destroyed...
Selphie grinned. "That's so pretty!" she exclaimed. "What do you think they are?"
Rinoa let out her hand, and one of the balls of light landed in her palm. She stared at
it for a while, the changing colors of the light highlighting her face in a way that made
Squall catch his breath. Hyne she's so beautiful, he thought.
"They're people!" she exclaimed suddenly. The little ball of light slowly floated
upwards into the sky as Rinoa turned to them. "They're souls of people, actually, but they're
people. I can feel their emotions, their memories, everything!"
Zell raised an eyebrow. "Okay...that's weird."
"Look!" Quistis said, pointing in front of them.
A group of seven people stood in front of them, all dressed in very strange, elaborate
ways. One older man with graying hair wore a long red coat, and carried a large sword. A
younger man had tall spikey red hair, and a strange yellow outfit. The woman standing next to
him wore a black dress, the front of it covered in belts, her hair tied up by lots of clips and
barretts. Behind her was a large blue...the best way to describe him was a man, and a lion
with a horn in his forehead that was cut half way. He was holding a large spear. In front of
him was a short girl, younger than the rest, with blonde hair tied up into what looked like a
high ponytail, wearing a very strange orange and green outfit with a ton of little ornaments
Squall and the others didn't even recognize. At the front of the group was a girl, with short
brown hair, parted in a way that reminded Squall of Rinoa. She was wearing a long blue skirt,
with a white ivy and pink flowers design going up the side, and a white wrap around shirt. She
was holding an elaborate staff. Next to her was a boy, around the same age, with spikey dyed
blonde hair, and mismatched pant sized black overalls. He had yellow and black sneakers, and a
short yellow and white overshirt type thing, with a hood in the back. Like the rest, he had
strange ornaments adorning him, like what appeared to be armor on his left arm. None of them
looked happy. The strangest part of all was that they were all transparent, like staring at
ghosts.
The girl gripped her staff tighter. "Is everyone ready?"
The boy nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry. This'll all work out okay."
The man with the large sword walked ahead of them. "Let's not waste any time."
None of them said anything else, only followed the man with the sword towards the
entrance of the building...walking right through Irvine, Selphie, Zell and Seifer. The people
disappeared as they entered the building, leaving only the glowing lights in their place.
"...Anyone else creeped out by that?" asked Irvine, his eyes wide and his skin going
pale.
Squall looked at Rinoa, who's brow was furrowed in thought. "They're...memories.
Imprinted in the environment here," she finally explained. "You know how some people th ink
ghosts are an emotional imprint on an area after something extremely stressful happens? Well,
it's the same thing, only this place is so filled with magic, it doesn't need the stress of
say a death or something to imprint itself on the environment."
"That's...weird...and I NEVER want any of those memories walkin through me again,"
said Zell.
"Wow! That was the funkiest thing that's ever happened to me! They walked...right
through me! Geez!" exclaimed Selphie. "I mean...wow! Wonder what other funky stuff this
place has..."
CRASH!!!
As if to answer Selphie's question, a gigantic driod smashed through a crumbling wall
next to them. It was a huge boxy machine with two big fists at the end of each arm. Squall
drew his Lionheart, his mind off-handedly noting that the battle droid before them could dwarf
anything the Galbadians could produce.
Selphie shrunk looking at the massive droid. She looked at everyone. "Hey...anyone
got Quezacotl? I sure don't."
"That's the biggest damn droid I've ever seen," Seifer said.
The droid let out a roar through it's amplifiers and raised it's fist as it zeroed in
on Selphie. "Sefie, watch out!" shouted Irvine. Selphie jumped out of the way as it smashed
down on her, the stone floor cracking under the force of the blow.
Irvine pumped a round into the Exeter. "Nobody goes after my Sefie," he growled.
He fired at the droid, hitting it in the chest. It stumbled back a step, but regained
its composure easily.
Zell jumped forward. "I think I got Quezacotl! So...yeah, let's see how it works..."
Zell concentrated for a few seconds, his expression intense. He then faded as the large
Quezacotl took his place, raining down streaks of white lightning onto the droid.
The droid sparked and sputtered, but still stood, though it's armor was scorched in
several places and a few gouges had been torn in it.
"Damn, how do you kill that thing?" Seifer swore.
Zell shrugged. "Hit it really, really hard?"
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Great plan, Chickenwuss. I understand why you're not in the
leadership position."
"Bite me."
Squall shot a quick reprimanding look at the two. "Not now!" he barked.
The droid seemed to be sluggish now, but it still had plenty of fight left. It zeroed
in on another of the group...
"Seifer!"
Seifer spun at Quistis's scream to see the droid raise it's arm and advance for him.
Seifer stood motionless, readying Hyperion. He tuned out Quistis's screams as the droid began
to bring it's fist down an arc on him. At the last second, he lept forward, dodging the
attack, and embedding Hyperion in it's chest. The droid slumped forward, sparking wildly. It's
arms fell to the ground and the body soon followed.
Seifer stood over it, smirking. "See? Nothing to it."
Zell grinned in a know-it-all manner. "And who said hitting it really hard would work?
Huh? Why, I do believe it was me."
Seifer looked at Zell for a moment, then shrugged. "Yeah, uh huh. Good thinking, Zell.
Next time, you try hitting it really hard."
Zell crossed his arms. "I think I will."
Squall looked at the wrecked droid, then down an old stone path that looked to lead out
of the structure they were in. "We better be careful. There could be more of these. We can't
fight all of them."
"There could also be things besides these too," Quistis pointed out.
Squall nodded. "Yeah. Something worse. So, I say we avoid conflict as much as
possible. If we see anything as big as this; run. We'll probably be better off when we get out
of this...whatever it is." He pointed to the pathway. "I think if we follow this, we should be
able to get out. Let's move quickly."
The rest agreed and moved out, into the ruined city, surrounded by monsters, memories,
and the souls of the dead.
* * *
In the distance, when the group had managed to make it to the outskirts of the city,
was a tall mountain. The top was obscured by gray clouds, the sides capped with snow and ice.
An icy wind whipped at them already, telling them loud and clear that all who dared to climb
the mountain would have that much in difficulty. Squall found it odd how much warmer it was
inside the city, and even right before the mountain than it was when he even dared to stare at
the high cliffs. The sunshine of warm day was still upon them, and he was thankful that there
was a nice warm sun on this planet, and that the sky above them was a same famlilar blue. But,
just one look at the mountain and the golden sun was obscured by thick heavy clouds, and if they
weren't snowing already up there, the clouds were definitely threatening to. As cold as the
mountain seemed, it was the only path they could take to get to whatever was beyond, and Squall
didn't get the feeling that there was anything horrible up in the cliffs. After the past few
years, he'd learned to trust his intuition when it came to environments and battles. Though the
city had given him warnings, and he had been on his guard from the start, this mountain didn't
give him a forboding feeling. In fact, it looked more magestic than anything else.
"That sure looks invitin," Irvine quipped.
"That is where we go from here," Squall replied. "There's nowhere else to go."
Selphie pouted. "But it looks so cold! I mean...really, really cold! Lookit me! All
I've got is my jumper! I'm not made for cold weather!"
Irvine sighed, taking off his long coat and placing it around Selphie's shoulders.
"Calm down, darlin. It shouldn't take long, right, Squall?"
Squall shrugged. "Didn't you guys pack anything for cold weather?"
Irvine dug into his bag, pulling out a spare jacket. "I got this. But, without
shelter, it won't take long to get popsicleized up there."
"Don't worry. If we move quickly, maybe it won't be so bad," said Zell.
"And maybe a blizzard will hit us and we can all freeze to death. Fun," said Seifer.
"I say we get to the top as quickly as possible, perhaps find a cave or some other
shelter," Dorin said.
Squall nodded. "Yeah. We can find a cave and stay there as long as we need to.
Regroup, whatever. It's always easier going down a mountain than up it. Besides..." He looked
at Selphie. "Didn't you live in Trabia? It's always cold up there."
"Well, duh, but not for a while now!" Selphie replied.
"Got too used to Balamb, eh?" Zell said.
"Shut it, Dincht, it's not like I've had the opportunity to go back there for a while,"
Selphie said, sticking her tongue out at him. She reached into her duffle bag, pulling out a
red sweater. "This is the best I had. Er...I didn't think of blizzards. Like, at all. Who
woulda thought we'd be climbing up a really high snowy mountain after coming out of..." She
looked back at the ruined city. "Whatever that is. Looks like a city, right?
"Yeah, one that hasn't been used in a long time. Looked like we were in a stadium of
some sort," said Rinoa. She reached into her bag too, taking out a long blue coat and putting
it on.
"Makes the Centra Ruins look modern," Zell commented.
"Hope all the cities here aren't like it, or we're in for a really long mission,"
Quistis said.
"We have the Centra ruins. Maybe these people have this place. Doesn't mean the whole
planet is like this," said Squall.
"Won't find out if keep standing here in the CO-OOOOOOOLD!!!" Selphie shouted, waving
her arms for emphasis.
Squall chuckled lightly, taking the lead. "Okay guys, it's a bit uphill from here."
"Thank you Captain Obvious," Seifer muttered.
Squall looked at Seifer over his shoulder. "Shut up, Seifer."
Quistis threw her husband a dark look as they started up the mountain, but Seifer
merely shrugged. "Hey, somebody needed to say it."
2. Hidden in the Snow on the Mountain
The path wound around the mountain, snaking through jagged rocks as the air got
steadily colder. From the looks of things, the path had been kept in decent condition, which
was strange when it lead only to a ruined city that hadn't been occupied for hundreds of years.
"Wonder where this leads?" mused Rinoa as the group stopped to rest at a high ledge that
overlooked the way they had come.
"Maybe some village," said Quistis. "It is possible for some people to live in extreme
conditions. I mean, a lot of people live in Trabia and it's damn cold out there."
"Strange folks if ya ask me," Zell said, immediately receiving a whack to the back of
the head from Selphie. "Stop hittin me, dammit!" he said.
Selphie gave him a matter-of-fact look. "Then stop saying stupid things."
"That's gonna be hard for Chickenwuss," Seifer said.
Squall put a hand to his head. "Guys...."
There was a loud thud behind them. Squall turned around, his gunblade ready for
another attack, to see the tall lion-man creature from the memory they'd seen back in the
ruined city. He still held a large spear, and looked more intimidating in person, with cold
large flakes of snow sticking to his dark blue fur. He stared down at them, his eyes
suspicious.
"The bloody hell...?" Dorin muttered as he drew his blade.
"I second the motion," Irvine commented.
The lion-man held his spear out in front of himself, in a position to ward them off.
"Stop. Strangers may not pass into sacred Mount Gagazet without permission from Ronso tribe."
He paused. "No one ever come from Zanarkand without coming through mountain first..."
The group looked at one another. "Well, what now?" Selphie asked.
"Introduce ourselves maybe?" Rinoa suggested.
Squall stepped forward, keeping his gunblade easily accessible, but not pointing it
directly at the lion-man. "I'm Squall Leonhart. This is Rinoa Heartilly, Irvine Kinneas,
Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, Seifer Almasy, Quistis Trepe-Almasy, and Lord Dorin Vachon.
We're...not from around here. Who are you?"
The man-lion exhaled a long breath, steam from the cold air shooting down at Squall.
"Kimahri of Ronso tribe."
Squall nodded his head respectfully. "We are looking for someone who may have came
through here a long time ago. About two years before."
"Not many people pass through Mount Gagazet, or Zanarkand. Not since Eternal Calm
started, two years ago," Kimahri replied.
"We think he may have come through here," Squall said. "He wore all black and had a
scar across the left side of his face."
Kimahri thought for a moment, looking off in the distance to the city. "One man came
through, long time ago. Might have been him. Not here now. Went to Zanarkand, and came back
through day later."
"Think it might've been him?" Rinoa whispered.
"Might be," Squall answered. To Kimahri, he asked, "Can we pass through?"
Kimahri sighed and nodded. "Very well. Strange how you not come through the mountain
on the way to Zanarkand. No ones goes other ways." He turned, and began walking farther up
the mountain, following the path that seemed to have been laid out long before, despite the
amount of snow that fell up there.
The rest stayed behind, not sure what they were supposed to do, until Kimahri looked
back at them over his shoulder. Although it wasn't an angry look, it was still damn
imtimidating. Selphie made an 'eep' sound and everyone ran to catch up. Kimahri still stayed
ahead of them, leading them to his tribe, Squall guessed. Like Quistis had said, it was
possible for people to live in extreme conditions, and Kimahri looked like he was made for it.
More snow collected on his fur and braids, coating his blue fur a crystaline white. Squall was
grateful he'd come along, since he hadn't seen any caves that were good for spending the night
on their way up, and someone who knows the terrain was always better than walking blind. That
and Squall was relieved that for a few minutes, he didn't have to take the lead. Although
Kimahri was a few paces ahead of them, Squall kept close enough that he could ask Kimahri
something if he needed to.
"Anyone else get the feeling we're not wanted?" Irvine muttered.
"Little wonder, strange people with strange weapons and strange clothes coming from a
dead city," Dorin replied.
"He's...not like anyone back home. It sounded like this...umm...Zanarkand is an
important place to him," said Quistis. She leaned forward and tapped Squall on the shoulder.
"Hmm?" he said.
"Ask him about as much as you can, Squall. We need to find out where Kravis might've
went...and this place is very different," Quistis whispered.
Squall sighed. "I doubt it'll be worth it, Kravis has two years on us, so he could be
anywhere in this world."
"Yeah, but there's a whole culture we don't understand here. Kimahri might be able to
tell us enough about this world to get started," said Quistis. "You never know."
"Well there is that," Squall admitted.
They entered a rather large village that seemed to be shoved against the mountain side.
Ronso children as large as Selphie played in the snow, the males training with polearms and
shouting challenges to one another. Stern-faced guards greeted Kimahri at the entrance of the
village. One, a huge Ronso with a yellow mane and an eyepatch covering his right eye, stepped
forward. "What have you found, Kimahri Ronso?" he bellowed.
"Strangers coming from Zanarkand, Biran Ronso," Kimahri replied.
Biran eyed the people. There was disbelief etched across his face. "How people come
to Zanarkand without crossing through mountain first?"
"Kimahri doesn't understand it. But will. They mean no harm. Seem very lost," said
Kimahri.
Biran snorted. "Strange. Things very strange."
Kimahri nodded. "Indeed. Spira becoming unsettled. Ronso feel tension even on Mount
Gagazet. Now this."
"Eternal Calm might not be so eternal," said Biran. He looked at the strangers again.
"You talk to them, Kimahri. Mean no harm, but can cause problems. Never know."
Kimahri nodded. "Kimahri will." The guards parted and Kimahri and the group proceeded
onward. They entered a large hut that was decorated with the hides and furs of wild animals, a
roaring fire in the middle.
Kimahri motioned to the floor. "Sit," he commanded. "Need something warm to drink?"
Zell sat down near the fire, looking thoughtful. "Hey, yeah, that would sound kinda-
ow!"
Selphie elbowed him in the ribs again.
"Dammit, Selphie..."
She gave him a sugary sweet smile. "Manners, Zell," she said.
Zell frowned at her. "I have them...but I'm thirsty."
"That would be fine, thank you," Dorin replied cordially, throwing a glare at Zell and
Selphie.
Selphie gave him a shocked look. "What'd I do?"
"Kimahri, can you tell us about this world?" Squall cut in. "Like your recent history,
the people living here. Anything would be very helpful."
"And...what are those apparitions in Zanarkand?" asked Rinoa. "Umm...because...well...
we saw you in one of them."
Kimahri grunted, his back to them. When he turned around, he had a large kettle in one
hand, and carried a tray of cups in another. He set down the tray at an empty spot around the
circle, and poured a dark, watery liquid from the kettle. When he was done, he passed the cups
around to everyone sitting around the fire. Irvine looked at his cup with wide eyes. They
were designed for the Ronsos, which made them bigger than the cups he'd been used to. He let
out a low whistle.
Kimahri sat down, and even then, he still towered over them. He looked at Rinoa first.
"Pyreflies in Zanarkand. They show pilgrimages from long ago. Kimahri went on pilgrimage two
years ago with Yuna. Zanarkand where summoners would go to get Final Aeon. Defeat Sin.
Start new Calm."
"What's Sin?" Quistis asked.
"Sin...hard to explain. People were taught it was punishment for using too much
machina. Sin destroyed everything thousand years ago, left Spira to rebuild again. Came when
Bevelle and Zanarkand were at war. Yevon religion taught summoners to fight Sin. Sin would
come destroy everything. No large cities in Spira because of Sin. Sin came and destoryed
towns and ruined lives. Summoners were taught to fight and defeat Sin." He paused. "But...
Sin really armor for Yu Yevon. Sin really the last summoner's Final Aeon, used as armor to
protect Yu Yevon, stuck in perpetual summoning. Sin always come back because summoners always
use Final Aeon to stop it. Final aeon becomes Sin. Sin come back."
"So it was an endless cycle," Seifer stated.
Kimahri nodded. "Until Yuna, and Tidus found another way. Found out what Sin really
was. Yuna sent all the aeons away, Yu Yevon had no more armor. We defeated Yu Yevon and
started Eternal Calm. Sin won't come back."
"That's good to hear," Irvine said, taking a sip of his drink. He grimaced and put it
down.
"So what did that guard say at the entrance about unrest?" Rinoa asked.
"Yevon religion broken up. Everyone trying to find own way now. Too many arguements.
Something wrong. Biran feels it. Kimahri feels it. Something coming. And then you come,"
he said.
"And this was two years ago," mused Squall. "Right when the Third Sorceress War
ended..."
"Sorceress?" said Kimahri. "Kimahri want to know who you people are and where you
come from. No one comes through Zanarkand without coming through mountain first."
Squall took a deep breath. Hoooboy, here comes the hard part, he thought. "We're....
from another world."
Kimahri let this sink in for a moment before asking, "Like Tidus? You come from dream
Zanarkand?"
"Er, no. An entirely different world," explained Squall. "We come from a world where
there is no Sin. There never has been a Sin."
"Hmm...then why you come? And how?"
"We came because a man that we've fought before came here. He escaped through a
magical portal that links our world with yours."
Kimahri growled, but it was barely audible. "Then you must find this man. Hope he
has not caused Spira any problems. Hope he's not cause of unrest Kimahri feels." He paused.
"You say Sorceress Wars. They have wars?"
"Seems they like to throw one every couple of years or so," Seifer remarked before
getting a glare of death from Quistis.
"Yes, we do have wars," Dorin replied. "Nations have standing armies at all times.
I'm a general in my home country's army myself."
"Sound worse than Spira. We have only one," said Kimahri.
"Consider yourselves lucky. We've all been through at least two wars ourselves,"
Squall said.
"Sorceresses...fight wars?"
Everyone got quiet and Rinoa began to fidget nervously. Squall saw this and put his
arm around her. She was brave, even when she had that nervous look on her face when someone
who didn't understand would mention sorceress. Edea had seen Rinoa a few times after the
whole Ultimecia encounter and had given her some help with her powers. Squall was still
impressed with how Rinoa was able to use her powers in battle, but never give into the side
that makes them lust for power.
"In our world, we have powerful women called sorceresses, who have massively powerful
magic," Quistis explained. "They are decendants of a god from our world, called Hyne.
Unfortunately, the most powerful usually become insane and become heads of nations and armies.
They usually bring war to other nations to enslave them."
Kimahri sighed and shook his head. "Terrible. Very terrible. Good thing Spira only
have one. Magic very powerful. In wrong hands, it devistates."
"You have a sorceress?" Rinoa asked perplexed.
He nodded. "Sort of. Stories come from uncharted parts of Spira. Woman calls
herself Sorceress, fights fiends. Saved people. Some say those are wrong. Some say she
kills. Stories of both. No one say for sure."
Dorin's heart stopped for a moment. Could it possibly be...
"Saves people from fiends," Selphie said. "Wow. Maybe we know this person?"
"It possible. Stories started year ago now. People say she powerful with magic.
Dark hair. It hard to say whether she kills fiends or people. Stories conflict. Depends on
which person you ask," said Kimahri.
"Xana maybe?" Irvine suggested.
Squall shook his head. "It can't be, I saw her die when Ellone took me back."
"Vira..." muttered Dorin.
"But Vira wasn't a sorceress. Only half a sorceress," Zell said.
"Was it possible for Xana to live?" asked Rinoa.
"I didn't think so...I was sure I saw her die..." said Squall.
Irvine looked at Kimahri. "Well, whaddya you think about these stories? You think
whether she's good or not?"
"Kimahri like to believe best in people. It hard. You say sorceresses fought wars,
became insane, try to enslave people. You say about how they become like that often. Hard for
Kimahri to think of she's all good after that. But, Kimahri not know for sure. Reserve
judgement until a time where Kimahri might meet her. Talk to others. They might know better."
Squall nodded. "I agree. We'd better not jump to conclusions just yet."
"Kimahri suggest looking for man in Luca. Popular city. Place of blitzball
tournaments. Far from Mount Gagazet, though," he said. "Reserve thought of Sorceress for
later. Listen to stories first."
Zell raised an eyebrow. "Blitzball?"
"Main sport in Spira. Very popular. Two teams play in a sphere of water, try to score
goals with the blitzball in opposing team's goal. Two rounds. Ronso's have their own team,
Ronso Fangs. Kimahri's friend Wakka used to coach Besaid Aurochs. There is also Kilika
Beasts, Luca Goers, and Al Bhed Psyches. Blitzball even more popular now. Mostly played in
Luca," Kimahri explained.
"Whoooa...cool!" exclaimed Zell. "I hope we get to see some of that while we're
there!"
Irvine grinned. "Yeah, that sounds pretty fun."
Kimahri nodded. "Blitzball very popular. Probably will see kids practicing on the way.
But, Kimahri suggest you stay the night before leaving. Big storm heading this way. Would be
bad to be caught in it. We have spare huts for you to stay."
"We wouldn't want to impose on you, Kimahri. You've been more than generous to us
already, and we feel like we've trespassed on sacred ground to your people..." Squall started.
Kimahri stood up, little jingling sound coming from his many ornaments accompaning it.
He had a very large presence, one that Squall already knew he shouldn't refuse. He was a good
person, Squall knew that. Though he was very imposing and his smile would probably cause
Selphie to yelp, it was obvious that Kimahri was a incredibly caring soul, who did believe that
they were from another world and meant him and his tribe no harm. His cat-like eyes focused on
Squall as he spoke. "You go to Luca, you need more supplies. Must travel through Calm Land,
Macalania Woods, Thunder Plains, Guadosalam, Moonflow, Mushroom Rock Road, and Mi'Hen Highroad
before you get there. Long time on foot. You and your friends need rest before that. And bad
storm heading this way. Never make it to bottom of the mountain in time. You stay here the
night. Leave in the morning."
Squall stood up as well, the rest of his friends following suit. There was no saying
'no' to Kimahri. Squall bowed his head to him in respect, feeling that shaking his hand
probably wasn't a good idea. "Thank you very much, Kimahri. It's very gracious of you to let
us stay. And thank you again for your information on Spira and your hospitality. We really
appreciate it."
Kimahri motioned with his clawed hand to the exit of the hut, saying, "You're welcome.
Come. Kimahri will show you place to stay. You have long journey ahead."
3. The Coming Tide
It was a battlefield, the sky above a dark crimson, adorned with black ash clouds.
Fire, hot, red, blazing, was all around Vira. But she didn't seem to care. In fact, she
enjoyed it, she relished it. It was as if she had caused the fire herself. Yes, the battle
itself was all of her doing. She had caused the chaos around her.
And she enjoyed it.
A familiar man stood in front of her, older, hardened, sad, and with his sword drawn.
It was Dorin. Vira recognized him as soon as his sword had been drawn. The Honor Blade was
unmistakable. He attacked her, letting a fury of silver arcs slice across the heavy air,
nearly all of them missing Vira. The last one hit, black sticky blood flowing from her wound.
She did not care. Not at all. It didn't even hurt.
She took Dorin's sword from his hands, pulling it through her stomach and out the back.
It flew backwards in the air, melting into a silver liquid before it disintergrated. Vira
laughed. Her laugh was not the same as it had been. It was colder. Harsher. It reminded
her...of her mother.
Dorin looked at a loss. His face yelled the sadness and pain he was feeling, a large
contrast to how it had almost always looked to Vira. He had rarely showed emotion. Fighting
her looked downright painful.
Vira laughed again.
He launched himself at her in a last ditch effort. It wasn't good enough. Not nearly
good enough. Vira caught him, her hand wrapping her strong fingers around his neck. He
struggled, telling her to stop the madness, come back to herself. She only smiled, saying,
"This is myself."
A yellow light came from the middle of Dorin's chest. He looked down and saw it spread,
a thin line of golden light going across his body. In its wake was charred skin, burnt beyond
all repair. He gave Vira one more sorrowful look before the light reached his face, leaving
only a charred skull that an instant later floated into ash with the rest of his body, circling
and swirling in the already ash filled air.
Vira laughed again. She felt a presence behind her and as she turned, she saw those
horrible eyes. The eyes that had haunted her for what seemed like forever. She saw them and--
Jerked awake, falling onto the wooden floor. Vira quickly looked around, not
recognizing her surroundings. Then, she remembered; she was in a boat. At the helm. And she
had fallen asleep. She smacked herself in the head, repremanding and saying to herself how
dangerous it can be to fall asleep while trying to steer a boat. Luck had been on her side,
though. There were no boats around her for miles and the nearest island was still off in the
distance. She sighed, took her place at the helm again and stared out to the ocean.
Deep blue skies, dotted with the fluffiest, fullest clouds she'd ever seen stretched
out as far as the eye could see. Underneath, crystal seas calmly laped against the sides of her
boat. The ocean was the most brilliant she had ever seen, the peaceful greens and blues mixing
just right. Not too far in the distance, she could make out the shape of a tiny island. Her
destination.
-Life...is very strange...If you told me two years ago that I would find my mother,
fight her, kill her, and end up in a completely foreign world, I woulda called you insane.
Well, if you had said that I'd make friends, might've had a relationship with a guy, and became
important to the world, and take place in this big new war, I'd also call you insane. Insane
but right. It's been about two years since I came to Spira, two long years. Not all of it has
been fun, but most of it has been worth it. You never know what the future might bring. I
once thought my future was my death. To face my mother was to die.
But it wasn't.
And here I am. Alive. Now my future is clouded. I'm no longer just facing an
inevitable death at the hands of my only living relative or a future as a SeeD that I had never
really wanted to be. In the end, my future will be whatever I want it to be, which is both
exciting...and frightening. Whatever I want? I can be whatever I want? It's never happened
before and I'm still not sure how to handle it.
Two years ago I had made my first friends ever. They liked me for just being me, even
when I was anti-social. And Dorin...he stood by me more than anyone. I'd be lying if his name
hadn't crossed my mind in the time I've been here. What might've been, where he is now, how
I sometimes wish I could see him again. I sent him to save everyone else that day. I can only
hope they all made it out.
Two years ago, I faced my mother, Xana, Anarix, whatever. She hurt me more than anyone
else, and it would've been easier to run away, but I couldn't. I knew. I just knew it was
something I had to do. Like...destiny. Morbid, sad, but inevitable. She was evil. Her power
was evil. I thought I was dead when I fought her the last time...
Except...I survived...and then things got more complicated...-
Vira's expression hardened for a moment. She touched the scar running down the middle
of her forehead across the bridge of her nose lightly.
-There was that portal. That freaky ass portal. And there was Kravis, that cowardly
bastard who has it in for Seifer Almasy and Quistis Trepe for some dumb ass reason. I never
understood what his problem was, but that asshole is seriously deranged. He sucker-slashed me,
leaving me with a scar that rivals Squall and Seifer's, then high tailed it into the mysterious
portal, believing it'd take him to Deling City so he could start his lame revenge plan. That
was his problem. Which became my problem when I jumped through. I wondered where in the world
I had landed myself. None of it looked familiar. I soon realized the question wasn't was
'Where in the world am I?' it was 'What world am I on?' That's right. I had landed myself a
one way trip to lovely Spira, a world so damn far from Deling City it'd make your head spin.
Everything was different, and made absolutely no sense. Hell, I was shoved into some screwed
up prison the first few minutes I got there!
So, I spent a lot of time in that prison, and guess who I should meet? Spira's very
own savior, the bleach blonde jock boy, Tidus. We have a lot in common, though our fashion
sense collides. Then we're broken out by a guy who's anti-social behavior would put mine and
Dorin's to shame. Tidus seemed to know this guy, Auron, who appearantly is dead. Okay then.
Let me know when reality makes a pit stop here so I can hitch a ride back with it. Then we
spend a bunch of time travelling the uncharted parts of Spira because Auron didn't come back
from the dead with a map or an idea of where the hell we were. And we all get to know each
other, and I become friends with these guys. They're really nice people. Tidus and I have a
lot in common, and Auron's sense of humor is similar to mine.
I lost everything I had when I jumped into that portal. Everyone that meant anything
to me, my life. So I try to make the best of it and gain new friends. I know them better
than I knew my old friends. I spent all this time traveling with them until two months ago...
Then I lose them too. Or they lose me. Whatever.
A freak accident caused a landslide. I fell down this cliff, and when I came too, I
couldn't find either of them. So I'm alone in a strange world, with only the gil I had earned
from fighting fiends in my pocket, and my weapons.
I've spent a lot of time with Tidus and Auron, getting rid of fiends haunting forests,
saving travelers from a nasty fate. My style is so unsual here, and people seem to either fear
me or love me. In some cases, the admiration can pay off.
So, making a deal with a sailor I saved, he gives me a boat, and I head for the tiny
island of Besaid, where Tidus probably headed to find his 'girl' as he put it, Yuna. I'm
almost there now. If they're not there...I'll go to Luca. If they're not there, I'll back
to Besaid and wait for them. They'll find their way there eventually. Nearly all their
friends live there, as Tidus told me. The Blitzball guy, Wakka, the black mage, Lulu, and Yuna
all came from Besaid and should probably still be there.
What do I do after that?
Find Kravis? He could be dead. Hah, not with my luck.
My life is so completely weird and screwed up, sometimes I just want to laugh. For now,
I'm content to make my way to Besaid, enjoy the scenery and give a hand wherever its needed.
Maybe I'll find Kravis, maybe I'll find a way back to our world. If not, I really don't
care. I've tried to let go expecting to somehow be able to travel back and have it be like I
never left...Would I really want that anyway? I don't know.
Maybe I can just settle down in Luca or Besaid when this is all over.
A home...that'd be nice.
Well, might as well keep my eye on the prize, and worry about making a home for myself
later. No use in carrying on about something I can't solve now. I'm happy enough right now.
Content, really. And free.-
Vira's boat finally pulled into Besaid's docks, the few people that were there, looking
at it curiously. She stepped off the boat, making sure to tie it to one of the polls on the
docks, getting strange looks from the people there. One particularly curious child walked up
to her, tugging on her coat lightly. She turned to him.
"Are you from one of the unknown islands?" he asked, his eyes wide.
Vira nodded. "I guess I am, yeah."
"Wow!" The boy's face lit up, excited by the revelation.
"Can you tell me where the town of Besaid is?" she asked.
The boy pointed down the beach, to a pathway. "Go that way. Head up and to the left,
and keep heading down the pathway. You can't miss it, ya?"
Vira laughed. The boy's accent reminded her of Raijin for some reason. She nodded
and thanked the boy, walking across the beach.
Besaid was tiny. More tiny than Vira had expected. A few huts lined the sides of the
town, giving way to a town circle, and behind it a little ways was the Besaid Temple, at least
that was Vira's best guess. The Temples hadn't been used quite as much since Yevon had been
dissolved, around the time she had arrived in Spira. But a New Yevon had cropped up. She
trusted Yevon about as far as she could throw a Chimera fiend. It was no different for New
Yevon. She always made it a point to be super cautious near anyone associated with Yevon, or
New Yevon. Hell, anything related to Yevon. She did not want to spend another year half sick
and stuck in a prison. Nope. Not after that.
The townspeople of Besaid walked slowly, going about their everyday lives. Near the
temple, children played with a dog, running around as it followed and barked. Some of the
villagers threw odd glances at Vira; not many visitors came to Besaid. Not to mention the
rumors that followed her around these days. Save a few people and it radiates from even the
farthest unknown reaches of a planet to the most known towns. That still baffled her.
Vira scanned the town, her focus falling on a pregnant woman in a black dress,
speaking heatedly with a man with orange hair that spiked up very tall in the front. Next to
him were two girls; one looked to be Vira's age with short light brown hair, wearing a white
wrap shirt and a long blue skirt. The other girl was younger, wearing shorts, a sleeveless
shirt, and her hair pulled up into a spikey blonde ponytail. The blonde girl Vira recognized
as an Al Bhed; they all dressed a particular way. It took only a second to recognize the rest
from Tidus's long descriptions from the many times he told Vira of his story. They could only
be Rikku, Wakka the blitzball player, Lulu the black mage, and Yuna...Tidus's 'girl.' Yuna was
holding a small and strange sphere in her hands that Vira suddenly recognized...
"Hey!"
She took off running toward the group, taking only a few seconds to reach them. They
all regarded her with caution. Lulu gave her a repremanding look.
"I'm sorry, but Yuna can't talk right--"
Vira shook her head. "No, no, it's not that. I mean, I'm pleased to finally meet you
Yuna," she nodded to Yuna for a brief moment, "but that's not what I'm here for."
"Who're you?" asked Wakka.
Vira smiled. "I'm Vira." She pointed to the sphere Yuna was holding. "And I know
where that came from."
The look of shock the spreaded over their faces almost made Vira laugh. Wakka's mouth
made a strange elongated 'o' shape, Rikku's green eyes widened and she held her hands to her
mouth, Lulu regarded Vira with a suspicious look, and Yuna's eyes squinted as though she was
concentrating deeply.
Vira's smile faltered, turning into a nervous one when their penetrating glances didn't
subside after a moment. She chuckled and decided to tell them what she knew, "That sphere came
from a prison, way up north. I can't tell you exactly where it is because I don't know. Tidus,
he found that sphere in a prison cell and tried taping himself a few times. After a while, he
gave up and threw the thing out. It's odd, I guess it must've found its way here by accident.
We honestly thought we'd never see it again."
Wakka blinked his eye, his face blank.
"Y-you've seen Tidus?" asked Yuna.
She nodded. "Yeah. Up until about two months ago. Y'see, we were in the prison
together for a while, but then his friend Auron--"
"Sir Auron! Impossible! He went to the Farplane!" Lulu protested.
Vira gave another nervous chuckle and scratched the back of her neck. "Weeeell...he
did, but he came back. He's been travelling with us, trying to find our way back here."
"Why Besaid?" said Rikku.
"Because Tidus wanted to see Yuna and make sure she was okay." Vira looked at Yuna,
smiling at her. "He really misses you. You were all he talked about. That, and you guys, of
course. The whole journey."
"But why did it take you so long?" Lulu asked.
Vira shrugged. "It's a long story. We were stuck in that prison a long time. And
then spent an equally long time wandering from island to island because Auron didn't come back
from the Farplane with a map. Actually, I'm here looking for them. I take it you haven't
seen them. I figured they'd be here or Luca by now. We were separated two months ago by this
freak landslide. I've been trying to find them again since."
"What makes you think we believe you, eh?" said Wakka, crossing his arms, his voice
taking a serious tone.
Vira stared Wakka in the eye. Besides the stories Tidus had told her (which anyone
could've found out), there really wasn't any proof that she'd been there with him...unless...
"Wha--hey!"
She grabbed the sphere out of Yuna's hands, looking it over feverishly for a few
seconds, trying to find out how to work this particular one. A moment later, a look of almost
triumph crossed her face.
"Aha!" Vira exclaimed. She held out the sphere for everyone to see. "If you don't
believe me, take a look at this..."
Though the reception was very fuzzy, and the look of the place still very much
underwater, Tidus again was banging on the cell door, yelling for a way out. A garbled voice
of a girl came over the sound of static that Vira recognized as her own.
"I think you should give it up, they ain't gonna hear you. Take this thing for a sec,
okay?"
Tidus nodded, grabbing the sphere from Vira's hands and turning it around until she
came onto the screen. "Yeah, yeah..."
"So these things record stuff?"
"Yep," said Tidus.
"You said this one looks different. Why's that?"
"No idea. But, it's not gonna do us much good anyway. I think the reception's busted
or somethin..."
Vira sighed. "Like a letter in a bottle thrown out to sea, huh?"
"Pretty much," Tidus replied. "I don't think we're gonna get any help from this stupid
thing."
Vira faded out, as did the dark cell around her, static taking over the entire image.
The scene was over, but Vira had proved that she'd been there.
It was good enough for Rikku. She bounced up and down, clutching Yuna's right arm.
"Yunie! Tidus really is alive! And Auron's back too! This is great! We gotta go find them!"
Wakka's brow furrowed as he shook his head. "I dunno, Yuna's still got a lotta people
to see..."
"Wakka! We already talked about this! Yunie wants to find him! It's that much
easier now that we've got--"
"Vira," said Vira.
"Right! Vira! It'll take no time! And I promise that we'll be real stealthy and not
attract attention to ourselves, right, Yunie?"
Yuna didn't respond.
"Yunie?"
Yuna had a far off look in her eyes, like she was remembering something that had
happened long ago. Vira guessed she was remembering something about Tidus. After a moment,
Yuna shook her head, and her focus came back to the moment.
"We can go to Luca. You, me and Vira will go. We'll stay overnight at the hotel, and
search the town for them. It'll take no time at all. But, Wakka, please understand; I have
to do this. Tidus is important to me. You want to see him again, don't you?"
"O-o-of course I do, Yuna. That's not even a question. I just don't want you to get
in trouble or anythin for missin your meetings..." Wakka stammered.
"I have to do what makes me happy. For once, I can put my needs ahead of someone
else's. You wanted more evidence about Tidus, and you recieved it. I don't think it needs
further discussing," said Yuna, her voice steady and full of resolve.
Lulu put an arm around Wakka's shoulder. "We'll stay here in case they come here while
you three are away." She looked at Wakka. "This is absolutely amazing, isn't it? I can't
believe it..."
"Yeah..." Wakka said absently. "Amazing..."
"I'm sorry. I know this is a lot to put on all of you, and it sounds completely
impossible. I've learned that almost anything is possible these days. It...uhh...might be
hard to believe, but I'm not from around here--Spira, I mean," Vira said.
"So where are you from?" asked Lulu.
* * * * * *
Vira sat on the side of the single bed, one of many that still occupied the Crusader's
Lodge. Wakka had told her she could stay there for the night before she, Yuna and Rikku
headed on the boats for Luca the next morning. Not too many of the Crusaders came to the lodge
those days. With Sin a thing of the past, the Crusaders spent more time on the road just
defending those in need of help. So Vira was alone in the Crusader's Lodge that night.
There were six beds, three to a row. Each had a nightstand next to them, with a
little reading lamp. There was a window in the back, letting in soft moonlight, scattered
left over Crusader's supplies underneath it. Next to the two front beds was a partition
leading into the front of the lodge, where there was a table, two benches, and a wooden
desk that had someone working behind it from time to time. Each bed was dressed in the same
light blue decor that surrounded the lodge. It was calm and inviting. Vira felt a good
night sleep was needed. No more falling asleep at the helm for her. Anymore of that and
she'd be having regular nightmares. That would really suck.
Vira took her boots off, carefully unlacing them and setting them next to her bed.
They'd been pretty good to her, considering how much she'd walked in the past year. She
never thought she'd get so much use out of them. The only article of clothing of her old
life left. She didn't even have her necklace anymore. Sometimes this change of style made
her feel like she really had turned into a new person with a new life. But there was still
a side of her that secretly wished that Dorin, Squall and the gang would show up one day and
say how long they'd been searching for her, and how much they missed her. There was a part of
her that still missed them, Dorin the most after this recent nightmare. Killing him was like
killing everything that he had meant to her, like killing the open and good part of her.
Because through all his pestering, he had gotten through to her. Relating to people was sort
of complicated at times, but it had to be worth it. She couldnt've gone through everything
in the past two years on her own. Tidus and Auron had helped her so much, and because she
let them in. She thanked all her old friends for teaching her that. She'd never forget it.
She'd spent the rest of the day explaining most of her life and world to Yuna, Rikku,
Lulu and Wakka, who never balked at any of it. They seemed very interested and believed every
word she spoke. It was refreshing to tell people that she didn't come from Spira and have
them believe her. Lulu asked a lot of questions about magic, the drawing system that Vira had
abandoned a long time ago, and sorceresses. When she explained about sorceresses, she also
explained about knights, which Yuna likened to a summoner and her guardians. Vira had said it
was similar, except that sorceresses were more likely to become insane and lust for more power
because of their powers, talking about Ultimecia, and Adel as good examples. And her mother,
of course. None of them treated her differently for realizing how awful her mother had been.
In fact, she could see them respect her more after hearing it. Lulu said that taking the
responsibility of taking on Xana without thought of her own life was commendable. Wakka
scratched his head a lot, asking questions about the sports played in the various cities, and
how much machina they used. Rikku had been especially interested in Garden. All of them had
been interested in Esthar, saying it sounded a lot like how Tidus had desribed his Zanarkand.
Vira finally had to explain, through the battle with Xana, that she was a sorceress, and the
four all realized how much sense it made, after hearing the rumors. They told Vira that the
rumor stared about a year before, spreading down from the north. Most said that the 'Sorcerss'
was a good person, just trying to help, while other said she was out to destroy the world.
Vira told them that she was the only one, so there was no way another sorceress could be
running around Spira causing trouble. It was the first time Vira had admitted to herself that
she was a full fledged sorceress now. Until then, she'd tried to deny it, but it was staring
her in the face now. Thinking that there might be another one out there was just lunacy. She
was the only one. And her powers had to've come from Xana...
After Vira had finished explaining all she could think of, she had asked Wakka where
she could sleep, which brought her to the lodge. They all thanked her for travelling with
Tidus and Auron for the time she had and all were confident they'd find them soon.
"Vira?"
She looked up to see Yuna, standing in front of her, her small hands clasped in each
other. There was something that told Vira that Yuna had something on her mind. She motioned
for her to take a seat on the bed across from her. "Yeah, Yuna? Have a seat."
Yuna sat down on the bed Vira had motioned to. "I know you talked a lot about
sorceresses, and where they came from, your mother, and having to kill her, and a bit about
your friends. But, I just wanted to ask you about something."
"Yeah?"
"Don't you ever get lonely? I mean, you had just made your first friends before you
came here, then you met Tidus and Sir Auron and then lost them. Sometimes I've felt stuck in
this endless cycle of life where I'm doing the same thing over and over. The same pattern.
Don't you ever feel that's the way it is with you and friends? I don't mean to sound mean or
anything. I'm sorry I--"
Vira put a hand up to stop her. "Yuna, it's okay. I've wondered that myself a lot.
But, I can't let it get to me. I am who I am, and no matter where I go, my friends will
always be a part of me. If I keep myself open, I can make new friends. Like maybe you guys.
It's hard not to feel bogged down sometimes, though."
"You've never had a knight either, or a guardian," Yuna commented.
Vira chuckled. "I don't need one. If there's one thing I've gotten better at in
these past few years, it's fighting. Sorceresses had knights to get rid of people that the
sorceresses didn't want to deal with or something. I never paid too much attention to it. I
think Edea had Seifer as a knight when she was controlled by Ultimecia, and I'm sure Squall is
Rinoa's knight since that'd just be their style, but not all sorceresses have knights. I may
be open to having friends, but I still know how to take care of myself."
Yuna smiled. "It must be nice to just travel around like you have, helping people,
and being able to do it yourself."
"I guess. People need help, I have the power to help them, so I do."
Yuna's smile faltered. "You said sorceresses go insane a lot. Don't you worry about
that?"
Vira shrugged the question off, smiling. "Nah. I'm not too worried."
Her smile came back in full force. "That's wonderful! I wish I had your confidence."
"With what I've heard Tidus say about you, you have more than I ever will."
Yuna blushed. "He...talked about me?" She nearly hid her face in her hands, speaking in
an embarrassed voice.
Vira grinned. "Oh, yeah. Like I said earlier today; all the time. He's crazy about
you. No doubt about it."
"Thank you...for telling me," Yuna said. She stood up from the bed, looking towards
the exit, then back at Vira. "I think I should go to sleep now. We have a long day ahead of
us. Good night, Vira. It's been great meeting you."
"You too, Yuna. G'night."
She waved and then left, Vira alone in the lodge again. She sighed. Yuna's questions
had made a lot of sense. A sorceress and a summoner had some similarities. Vira wished she
had the strength and will power Yuna had. But, she suspected that even when surrounded by
friends, Yuna still felt lonely. Lonely for Tidus, no doubt. She loved him, and still did.
That was the kind of loneliness she was really asking about. Not friends that had been lost
in a perpetual cycle, but losing a loved one, over and over. She brought up a valid point,
though. Were these nightmares a premonition of things to come? Had it started?
"You're on the path now, Vira. It's only a matter of time."
The voice who spoke was unmistakable. It was the cruel voice of her mother. Vira
looked up and saw her, or more appropriately, her ghostly image, floating silently at the edge
of her bed. Vira leapt from her sitting position, taking out her chain-sword and brandishing
it at her former mother.
"Out. Now. I don't care how you're here, whether my mind or some freaky on leave from
Hell, but go back now or I'll--"
"You'll what? Kill me? Please. You already did that. I'm beyond death, daughter.
It's so much better than I had thought," said Xana, smiling. "And since you did me a favor,
I'll do one for you; heed my warning. My powers were forged in hate, and their insanity will
corrupt your soul. You know how sorceresses get the lust for power. I had it, in addition to
my grudge against Hyne. It fueled my searches, and with each sorceress I killed, my power grew.
My madness grew. It grew until the power had its own hate, its own lust for blood, and its own
insanity. It took whatever sanity I had left and pushed me over the edge. It ate at my very
soul until there was nothing left, and it will do the same for you."
Vira scowled. "Thank you, Mrs. Ghost Of Winter Solstice Past."
"It's true," Xana persisted, still smiling. "Some sorceresses have the choice of
whether to become a bastien of hope or the path of destruction by giving into the lust for
power. You, on the other hand, have no choice. My power is poison. You will become worse
than I was. It makes me proud."
"Look, I'm not sure whether this is just my freaky mind playing tricks on me or not, but
all I have to say to you is get the hell out of here. NOW!" Vira yelled.
Xana put her hands up, and Vira saw how they were transparent, the wall across from her
seen through them. "Fine. But I will be back to warn you, among other things."
She receded into the wall, fading into nothing before she actually reached it. Vira
was now finally alone in the lodge. She collapsed onto the bed, throwing her coat on the one
next to her, turning off the light on the nightstand, and tried to fall asleep, hoping it had
just been her mind playing tricks on her.
Author's Comments: Yeah, I know, it's been a while. Probably too long. Oh well! Life
has a way of bogging you down in this area, though I have a lot of this story actually written.
Not a ton of it is editted, though. The next chapter will take place in Luca, as Rikku, Yuna
and Vira spend a day searching for Tidus and Auron, and Vira runs into people who aren't so
into the 'Sorceress.' What's with the vision of Xana dancing in her head? Gotta read more to
find out. And it's not a really cheap way of bringing back a character. :P I'd love to go over
this chapter some more for editting and accuracy, but I'm just too tired. Sorry. :\ Anyway,
stay tuned and we'll have chapter three written up as soon as possible. As always, please R&R
to let us know what ya think. Until next time, this is Eve saying that I cringe when I see Yuna
and Rikku dressed in their new outfits for FFX-2...
Squaresoft. I do not claim ownership of any of them. However, I do own any characters that I
created myself or my co-author, ie. Vira Eronwil, Dorin Vachon, Kravis, ect. That's about it.
You know the drill. We do this for fun and no profit.
Chapter 2
Haunted
1. Incoming Arrival
Squall adjusted his eyes to the lack of light and surveyed the area they'd landed in.
"I don't think we're in Balamb anymore," whispered Selphie.
"Hell, we're not on the same goddamn planet anymore," Seifer muttered.
He was right. The room they were in was a large circular one, that was designed in a
way that wasn't used anywhere on the planet. There were large windows, making the room have
almost a dome-like effect, but only small streams of light filtered through. It looked like
they'd been blocked off. The room looked like it was made of stone, with a faded red carpet
that covered the floor and a grand stairway leading up to two elaborate double doors. On the
other side was another doorway, but the only thing resembling a door inside of it was a mass of
swirling white colors, like the portal that had brought them there, only...softer and brighter.
It didn't look like it led anywhere like the one they'd come through. It looked like people
hadn't lived there in a very long time.
"Yeah, this doesn't look like anything we've ever seen," said Squall.
"Hello?" called Selphie. She was answered by her own echo. "Guess nobody's home,"
she commented.
"Doesn't like anyone's been home for a while, Sunflower," replied Irvine, looking
around at the arcane architecture. "So like, what now?"
"We search the area for any proof that one or more people have been through here,"
Dorin answered.
"Judging from this dust, I'd say no one's been here in a long time. And even longer
since anyone's kept the place up," said Quistis, rubbing the dust off her glove.
"Perhaps not," Dorin replied, crouching down over an area on the floor. Brushing at
the dust, he revealed several dark spots.
"What is it?" Squall asked.
"Blood," Dorin replied. "It's been here a while, though. It's dry and there was dust
covering it."
"Doesn't this place feel...sacred to you?" asked Rinoa. "I don't know what it is, but
I get this feeling that...it's special. Almost like stepping into a museum or something."
Zell looked over to the door of light. "Yeah, well, what about that, yo? It looks
really weird. Don't we have doors in doorways normally? Not...a buncha light?"
"Usually," Irvine said. "Wonder where it leads..."
"One way to find out," Squall said, stepping through. He disappeared behind the light,
leaving no trace of him behind. A moment of silence passed. No one followed Squall, all
hesitant to go through the light. After another minute, Squall stuck his head back through the
light, looking at them impatiently. "Looks like an elevator of some type. What are you guys
waiting for?"
Zell shrugged. "Oh, just to see if we'd hear you scream out in pain or something.
Nothin much."
"...Whatever."
Rinoa giggled as she followed. "Oh come on, it woulda been kinda fun."
Squall arched an eyebrow. "Traitor."
"Professional rebel," Rinoa replied. "There's a difference."
The group walked onto a large stone slab that had a strange symbol on it that no one
had seen before. The symbol glowed when they all stood on it, and the stone slab lifted them
up to another room.
Selphie looked down at the symbol. "Wonder what that means..."
"Hot dog?" suggested Zell.
Selphie rolled her eyes. "As if. Maybe it means-"
"Everybody love and peace?" said Irvine, already snickering.
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Blah! Maybe it means 'cowboy who makes fun of his
fiancee.'"
"But, Sefie, that was too easy," he replied.
Zell scratched his head. "I still say it could mean hot dog."
"I guess we can guess Chickenwuss' first born's name," Seifer observed.
"He'd have to fight Lily for that though," Quistis pointed out.
"Good point."
Zell scowled. "I think I have enough sense not to do that."
"Y'know, Zell, this place might not have hot dogs at all," Rinoa pointed out.
Zell's eyes widened. "Can I go home now?"
Everyone shook their heads in exasperation. "No Zell, you're in this for the long
haul," Squall said.
"Damn..."
The lift stopped and everyone looked around to see their new surroundings. It was a
large room, with several different symbols on octagonal shapes on the floor, then the rest was
a square shaped raised platform, with a floor that looked like it lit up at once point. There
was a diagram of the floor on the far wall, framed, but dim. The rest of the room was made of
the same stone as down below. To their right was a doorway leading into another room. Squall
shrugged and started walking to it. The rest followed.
"What was that?" said Irvine.
Quistis shook her head. "Never seen anything like it before. Look," she pointed to
the floor in the room Squall had just led them into, "here it is again."
"Like a giant board game!" exclaimed Selphie.
"It's a lock!" exclaimed Quistis. "Press the right panels on the floor and it probably
unlocks doors and operates the lift in the other room."
Squall ran one of his hands through his hair. "That must mean this place had been
important. Important enough for them to have an elaborate security system in place. Though,
that's gotta be the weirdest one I've ever seen."
"Everything seems unlocked right now," said Quistis. "None of the tiles are lighting
up."
Rinoa tapped on one with her foot. "Maybe it's broken."
"Or they don't use it anymore," said Seifer.
Squall pointed to another doorway on the far side of the room. "Then let's take
advantage of it and see if we can get out of this place. We'll probably be able to get a lay
of the land from there."
The group entered yet another room, constructed in the same as the previous two.
"Strange style of architecture," Dorin noted. "Almost as if they've managed to manipulate
magic into the structure itself."
Rinoa looked around, a distant look on her face. "There is magic here. Very different
kind of magic. Seems like a lot of it has collected here over time."
"Can you draw it?" Selphie asked.
Rinoa looked thoughtful and raised her hand over one of the glowing lines imbedded in
the wall. She spoke a word and sparks flashed from the wall, but there was nothing else.
"No, you can't. I think it operates on a different system than we're used to," Rinoa
explained.
"So that means we've got to be careful with our expenditures of spells," Squall said.
"If we encounter any enemies, we should try to use our weapons as much as possible, and
avoid using magic unless it's absolutely necessary," said Quistis.
Seifer chuckled and raised his gunblade. "No problem there. It'll be interestin to
see what kinda things they got crawlin around here."
Squall frowned. "We need to be ready for an attack, but that doesn't mean it'll
happen. We don't know. Our main priority right now is to find some locals of any sort and
find out where we are. Then we can ask if anyone's seen Kravis."
"It doesn't look like it'll be here, though," Zell commented as they passed through a
hallway that was in a serious state of decay. "Place looks like it's been deserted for maybe
hundreds of years."
The long hallway they were travelling through now was in more of a state of disrepair
than the previous rooms. There was still a faded red carpet, like in the room they'd landed
in, but there was rubble and debris scattered the length of the hallway. Broken pieces from
columns made the straight forward path through the hallway twisted and winding to the end.
Strange lights swirled around them, like soft shooting stars that had decided not to streak
across the night sky but to settle down and be content to float along as feathers to in the
wind. Squall knew they were nowhere on their planet anymore. Nothing on their planet was
this decimated and yet still full of a calm beauty.
Zell tripped over a loose rock on the floor, nearly falling into Quistis. "Yeah,
definitely deserted. With no janitors."
"Though, it looked like a few people'd been around here since then," said Irvine.
The group reached the entrance of the building, revealing a large stone pavillion,
covered with yet more debris from columns that had long since fallen. More of the tiny lights
floated freely in the air. They looked mostly white, but had trails of green, blue, and pink,
mixing together in perfect harmony. Surrounding the building was a huge circular wall. No,
wall wasn't the word for it. It looked more like a coliseum. Or a stadium. Oddly enough,
there was a pathway of stone slabs, falling apart, but still steady looking, on the other side
of the pavillion. As if people had made it after the place had been destroyed...
Selphie grinned. "That's so pretty!" she exclaimed. "What do you think they are?"
Rinoa let out her hand, and one of the balls of light landed in her palm. She stared at
it for a while, the changing colors of the light highlighting her face in a way that made
Squall catch his breath. Hyne she's so beautiful, he thought.
"They're people!" she exclaimed suddenly. The little ball of light slowly floated
upwards into the sky as Rinoa turned to them. "They're souls of people, actually, but they're
people. I can feel their emotions, their memories, everything!"
Zell raised an eyebrow. "Okay...that's weird."
"Look!" Quistis said, pointing in front of them.
A group of seven people stood in front of them, all dressed in very strange, elaborate
ways. One older man with graying hair wore a long red coat, and carried a large sword. A
younger man had tall spikey red hair, and a strange yellow outfit. The woman standing next to
him wore a black dress, the front of it covered in belts, her hair tied up by lots of clips and
barretts. Behind her was a large blue...the best way to describe him was a man, and a lion
with a horn in his forehead that was cut half way. He was holding a large spear. In front of
him was a short girl, younger than the rest, with blonde hair tied up into what looked like a
high ponytail, wearing a very strange orange and green outfit with a ton of little ornaments
Squall and the others didn't even recognize. At the front of the group was a girl, with short
brown hair, parted in a way that reminded Squall of Rinoa. She was wearing a long blue skirt,
with a white ivy and pink flowers design going up the side, and a white wrap around shirt. She
was holding an elaborate staff. Next to her was a boy, around the same age, with spikey dyed
blonde hair, and mismatched pant sized black overalls. He had yellow and black sneakers, and a
short yellow and white overshirt type thing, with a hood in the back. Like the rest, he had
strange ornaments adorning him, like what appeared to be armor on his left arm. None of them
looked happy. The strangest part of all was that they were all transparent, like staring at
ghosts.
The girl gripped her staff tighter. "Is everyone ready?"
The boy nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry. This'll all work out okay."
The man with the large sword walked ahead of them. "Let's not waste any time."
None of them said anything else, only followed the man with the sword towards the
entrance of the building...walking right through Irvine, Selphie, Zell and Seifer. The people
disappeared as they entered the building, leaving only the glowing lights in their place.
"...Anyone else creeped out by that?" asked Irvine, his eyes wide and his skin going
pale.
Squall looked at Rinoa, who's brow was furrowed in thought. "They're...memories.
Imprinted in the environment here," she finally explained. "You know how some people th ink
ghosts are an emotional imprint on an area after something extremely stressful happens? Well,
it's the same thing, only this place is so filled with magic, it doesn't need the stress of
say a death or something to imprint itself on the environment."
"That's...weird...and I NEVER want any of those memories walkin through me again,"
said Zell.
"Wow! That was the funkiest thing that's ever happened to me! They walked...right
through me! Geez!" exclaimed Selphie. "I mean...wow! Wonder what other funky stuff this
place has..."
CRASH!!!
As if to answer Selphie's question, a gigantic driod smashed through a crumbling wall
next to them. It was a huge boxy machine with two big fists at the end of each arm. Squall
drew his Lionheart, his mind off-handedly noting that the battle droid before them could dwarf
anything the Galbadians could produce.
Selphie shrunk looking at the massive droid. She looked at everyone. "Hey...anyone
got Quezacotl? I sure don't."
"That's the biggest damn droid I've ever seen," Seifer said.
The droid let out a roar through it's amplifiers and raised it's fist as it zeroed in
on Selphie. "Sefie, watch out!" shouted Irvine. Selphie jumped out of the way as it smashed
down on her, the stone floor cracking under the force of the blow.
Irvine pumped a round into the Exeter. "Nobody goes after my Sefie," he growled.
He fired at the droid, hitting it in the chest. It stumbled back a step, but regained
its composure easily.
Zell jumped forward. "I think I got Quezacotl! So...yeah, let's see how it works..."
Zell concentrated for a few seconds, his expression intense. He then faded as the large
Quezacotl took his place, raining down streaks of white lightning onto the droid.
The droid sparked and sputtered, but still stood, though it's armor was scorched in
several places and a few gouges had been torn in it.
"Damn, how do you kill that thing?" Seifer swore.
Zell shrugged. "Hit it really, really hard?"
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Great plan, Chickenwuss. I understand why you're not in the
leadership position."
"Bite me."
Squall shot a quick reprimanding look at the two. "Not now!" he barked.
The droid seemed to be sluggish now, but it still had plenty of fight left. It zeroed
in on another of the group...
"Seifer!"
Seifer spun at Quistis's scream to see the droid raise it's arm and advance for him.
Seifer stood motionless, readying Hyperion. He tuned out Quistis's screams as the droid began
to bring it's fist down an arc on him. At the last second, he lept forward, dodging the
attack, and embedding Hyperion in it's chest. The droid slumped forward, sparking wildly. It's
arms fell to the ground and the body soon followed.
Seifer stood over it, smirking. "See? Nothing to it."
Zell grinned in a know-it-all manner. "And who said hitting it really hard would work?
Huh? Why, I do believe it was me."
Seifer looked at Zell for a moment, then shrugged. "Yeah, uh huh. Good thinking, Zell.
Next time, you try hitting it really hard."
Zell crossed his arms. "I think I will."
Squall looked at the wrecked droid, then down an old stone path that looked to lead out
of the structure they were in. "We better be careful. There could be more of these. We can't
fight all of them."
"There could also be things besides these too," Quistis pointed out.
Squall nodded. "Yeah. Something worse. So, I say we avoid conflict as much as
possible. If we see anything as big as this; run. We'll probably be better off when we get out
of this...whatever it is." He pointed to the pathway. "I think if we follow this, we should be
able to get out. Let's move quickly."
The rest agreed and moved out, into the ruined city, surrounded by monsters, memories,
and the souls of the dead.
* * *
In the distance, when the group had managed to make it to the outskirts of the city,
was a tall mountain. The top was obscured by gray clouds, the sides capped with snow and ice.
An icy wind whipped at them already, telling them loud and clear that all who dared to climb
the mountain would have that much in difficulty. Squall found it odd how much warmer it was
inside the city, and even right before the mountain than it was when he even dared to stare at
the high cliffs. The sunshine of warm day was still upon them, and he was thankful that there
was a nice warm sun on this planet, and that the sky above them was a same famlilar blue. But,
just one look at the mountain and the golden sun was obscured by thick heavy clouds, and if they
weren't snowing already up there, the clouds were definitely threatening to. As cold as the
mountain seemed, it was the only path they could take to get to whatever was beyond, and Squall
didn't get the feeling that there was anything horrible up in the cliffs. After the past few
years, he'd learned to trust his intuition when it came to environments and battles. Though the
city had given him warnings, and he had been on his guard from the start, this mountain didn't
give him a forboding feeling. In fact, it looked more magestic than anything else.
"That sure looks invitin," Irvine quipped.
"That is where we go from here," Squall replied. "There's nowhere else to go."
Selphie pouted. "But it looks so cold! I mean...really, really cold! Lookit me! All
I've got is my jumper! I'm not made for cold weather!"
Irvine sighed, taking off his long coat and placing it around Selphie's shoulders.
"Calm down, darlin. It shouldn't take long, right, Squall?"
Squall shrugged. "Didn't you guys pack anything for cold weather?"
Irvine dug into his bag, pulling out a spare jacket. "I got this. But, without
shelter, it won't take long to get popsicleized up there."
"Don't worry. If we move quickly, maybe it won't be so bad," said Zell.
"And maybe a blizzard will hit us and we can all freeze to death. Fun," said Seifer.
"I say we get to the top as quickly as possible, perhaps find a cave or some other
shelter," Dorin said.
Squall nodded. "Yeah. We can find a cave and stay there as long as we need to.
Regroup, whatever. It's always easier going down a mountain than up it. Besides..." He looked
at Selphie. "Didn't you live in Trabia? It's always cold up there."
"Well, duh, but not for a while now!" Selphie replied.
"Got too used to Balamb, eh?" Zell said.
"Shut it, Dincht, it's not like I've had the opportunity to go back there for a while,"
Selphie said, sticking her tongue out at him. She reached into her duffle bag, pulling out a
red sweater. "This is the best I had. Er...I didn't think of blizzards. Like, at all. Who
woulda thought we'd be climbing up a really high snowy mountain after coming out of..." She
looked back at the ruined city. "Whatever that is. Looks like a city, right?
"Yeah, one that hasn't been used in a long time. Looked like we were in a stadium of
some sort," said Rinoa. She reached into her bag too, taking out a long blue coat and putting
it on.
"Makes the Centra Ruins look modern," Zell commented.
"Hope all the cities here aren't like it, or we're in for a really long mission,"
Quistis said.
"We have the Centra ruins. Maybe these people have this place. Doesn't mean the whole
planet is like this," said Squall.
"Won't find out if keep standing here in the CO-OOOOOOOLD!!!" Selphie shouted, waving
her arms for emphasis.
Squall chuckled lightly, taking the lead. "Okay guys, it's a bit uphill from here."
"Thank you Captain Obvious," Seifer muttered.
Squall looked at Seifer over his shoulder. "Shut up, Seifer."
Quistis threw her husband a dark look as they started up the mountain, but Seifer
merely shrugged. "Hey, somebody needed to say it."
2. Hidden in the Snow on the Mountain
The path wound around the mountain, snaking through jagged rocks as the air got
steadily colder. From the looks of things, the path had been kept in decent condition, which
was strange when it lead only to a ruined city that hadn't been occupied for hundreds of years.
"Wonder where this leads?" mused Rinoa as the group stopped to rest at a high ledge that
overlooked the way they had come.
"Maybe some village," said Quistis. "It is possible for some people to live in extreme
conditions. I mean, a lot of people live in Trabia and it's damn cold out there."
"Strange folks if ya ask me," Zell said, immediately receiving a whack to the back of
the head from Selphie. "Stop hittin me, dammit!" he said.
Selphie gave him a matter-of-fact look. "Then stop saying stupid things."
"That's gonna be hard for Chickenwuss," Seifer said.
Squall put a hand to his head. "Guys...."
There was a loud thud behind them. Squall turned around, his gunblade ready for
another attack, to see the tall lion-man creature from the memory they'd seen back in the
ruined city. He still held a large spear, and looked more intimidating in person, with cold
large flakes of snow sticking to his dark blue fur. He stared down at them, his eyes
suspicious.
"The bloody hell...?" Dorin muttered as he drew his blade.
"I second the motion," Irvine commented.
The lion-man held his spear out in front of himself, in a position to ward them off.
"Stop. Strangers may not pass into sacred Mount Gagazet without permission from Ronso tribe."
He paused. "No one ever come from Zanarkand without coming through mountain first..."
The group looked at one another. "Well, what now?" Selphie asked.
"Introduce ourselves maybe?" Rinoa suggested.
Squall stepped forward, keeping his gunblade easily accessible, but not pointing it
directly at the lion-man. "I'm Squall Leonhart. This is Rinoa Heartilly, Irvine Kinneas,
Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, Seifer Almasy, Quistis Trepe-Almasy, and Lord Dorin Vachon.
We're...not from around here. Who are you?"
The man-lion exhaled a long breath, steam from the cold air shooting down at Squall.
"Kimahri of Ronso tribe."
Squall nodded his head respectfully. "We are looking for someone who may have came
through here a long time ago. About two years before."
"Not many people pass through Mount Gagazet, or Zanarkand. Not since Eternal Calm
started, two years ago," Kimahri replied.
"We think he may have come through here," Squall said. "He wore all black and had a
scar across the left side of his face."
Kimahri thought for a moment, looking off in the distance to the city. "One man came
through, long time ago. Might have been him. Not here now. Went to Zanarkand, and came back
through day later."
"Think it might've been him?" Rinoa whispered.
"Might be," Squall answered. To Kimahri, he asked, "Can we pass through?"
Kimahri sighed and nodded. "Very well. Strange how you not come through the mountain
on the way to Zanarkand. No ones goes other ways." He turned, and began walking farther up
the mountain, following the path that seemed to have been laid out long before, despite the
amount of snow that fell up there.
The rest stayed behind, not sure what they were supposed to do, until Kimahri looked
back at them over his shoulder. Although it wasn't an angry look, it was still damn
imtimidating. Selphie made an 'eep' sound and everyone ran to catch up. Kimahri still stayed
ahead of them, leading them to his tribe, Squall guessed. Like Quistis had said, it was
possible for people to live in extreme conditions, and Kimahri looked like he was made for it.
More snow collected on his fur and braids, coating his blue fur a crystaline white. Squall was
grateful he'd come along, since he hadn't seen any caves that were good for spending the night
on their way up, and someone who knows the terrain was always better than walking blind. That
and Squall was relieved that for a few minutes, he didn't have to take the lead. Although
Kimahri was a few paces ahead of them, Squall kept close enough that he could ask Kimahri
something if he needed to.
"Anyone else get the feeling we're not wanted?" Irvine muttered.
"Little wonder, strange people with strange weapons and strange clothes coming from a
dead city," Dorin replied.
"He's...not like anyone back home. It sounded like this...umm...Zanarkand is an
important place to him," said Quistis. She leaned forward and tapped Squall on the shoulder.
"Hmm?" he said.
"Ask him about as much as you can, Squall. We need to find out where Kravis might've
went...and this place is very different," Quistis whispered.
Squall sighed. "I doubt it'll be worth it, Kravis has two years on us, so he could be
anywhere in this world."
"Yeah, but there's a whole culture we don't understand here. Kimahri might be able to
tell us enough about this world to get started," said Quistis. "You never know."
"Well there is that," Squall admitted.
They entered a rather large village that seemed to be shoved against the mountain side.
Ronso children as large as Selphie played in the snow, the males training with polearms and
shouting challenges to one another. Stern-faced guards greeted Kimahri at the entrance of the
village. One, a huge Ronso with a yellow mane and an eyepatch covering his right eye, stepped
forward. "What have you found, Kimahri Ronso?" he bellowed.
"Strangers coming from Zanarkand, Biran Ronso," Kimahri replied.
Biran eyed the people. There was disbelief etched across his face. "How people come
to Zanarkand without crossing through mountain first?"
"Kimahri doesn't understand it. But will. They mean no harm. Seem very lost," said
Kimahri.
Biran snorted. "Strange. Things very strange."
Kimahri nodded. "Indeed. Spira becoming unsettled. Ronso feel tension even on Mount
Gagazet. Now this."
"Eternal Calm might not be so eternal," said Biran. He looked at the strangers again.
"You talk to them, Kimahri. Mean no harm, but can cause problems. Never know."
Kimahri nodded. "Kimahri will." The guards parted and Kimahri and the group proceeded
onward. They entered a large hut that was decorated with the hides and furs of wild animals, a
roaring fire in the middle.
Kimahri motioned to the floor. "Sit," he commanded. "Need something warm to drink?"
Zell sat down near the fire, looking thoughtful. "Hey, yeah, that would sound kinda-
ow!"
Selphie elbowed him in the ribs again.
"Dammit, Selphie..."
She gave him a sugary sweet smile. "Manners, Zell," she said.
Zell frowned at her. "I have them...but I'm thirsty."
"That would be fine, thank you," Dorin replied cordially, throwing a glare at Zell and
Selphie.
Selphie gave him a shocked look. "What'd I do?"
"Kimahri, can you tell us about this world?" Squall cut in. "Like your recent history,
the people living here. Anything would be very helpful."
"And...what are those apparitions in Zanarkand?" asked Rinoa. "Umm...because...well...
we saw you in one of them."
Kimahri grunted, his back to them. When he turned around, he had a large kettle in one
hand, and carried a tray of cups in another. He set down the tray at an empty spot around the
circle, and poured a dark, watery liquid from the kettle. When he was done, he passed the cups
around to everyone sitting around the fire. Irvine looked at his cup with wide eyes. They
were designed for the Ronsos, which made them bigger than the cups he'd been used to. He let
out a low whistle.
Kimahri sat down, and even then, he still towered over them. He looked at Rinoa first.
"Pyreflies in Zanarkand. They show pilgrimages from long ago. Kimahri went on pilgrimage two
years ago with Yuna. Zanarkand where summoners would go to get Final Aeon. Defeat Sin.
Start new Calm."
"What's Sin?" Quistis asked.
"Sin...hard to explain. People were taught it was punishment for using too much
machina. Sin destroyed everything thousand years ago, left Spira to rebuild again. Came when
Bevelle and Zanarkand were at war. Yevon religion taught summoners to fight Sin. Sin would
come destroy everything. No large cities in Spira because of Sin. Sin came and destoryed
towns and ruined lives. Summoners were taught to fight and defeat Sin." He paused. "But...
Sin really armor for Yu Yevon. Sin really the last summoner's Final Aeon, used as armor to
protect Yu Yevon, stuck in perpetual summoning. Sin always come back because summoners always
use Final Aeon to stop it. Final aeon becomes Sin. Sin come back."
"So it was an endless cycle," Seifer stated.
Kimahri nodded. "Until Yuna, and Tidus found another way. Found out what Sin really
was. Yuna sent all the aeons away, Yu Yevon had no more armor. We defeated Yu Yevon and
started Eternal Calm. Sin won't come back."
"That's good to hear," Irvine said, taking a sip of his drink. He grimaced and put it
down.
"So what did that guard say at the entrance about unrest?" Rinoa asked.
"Yevon religion broken up. Everyone trying to find own way now. Too many arguements.
Something wrong. Biran feels it. Kimahri feels it. Something coming. And then you come,"
he said.
"And this was two years ago," mused Squall. "Right when the Third Sorceress War
ended..."
"Sorceress?" said Kimahri. "Kimahri want to know who you people are and where you
come from. No one comes through Zanarkand without coming through mountain first."
Squall took a deep breath. Hoooboy, here comes the hard part, he thought. "We're....
from another world."
Kimahri let this sink in for a moment before asking, "Like Tidus? You come from dream
Zanarkand?"
"Er, no. An entirely different world," explained Squall. "We come from a world where
there is no Sin. There never has been a Sin."
"Hmm...then why you come? And how?"
"We came because a man that we've fought before came here. He escaped through a
magical portal that links our world with yours."
Kimahri growled, but it was barely audible. "Then you must find this man. Hope he
has not caused Spira any problems. Hope he's not cause of unrest Kimahri feels." He paused.
"You say Sorceress Wars. They have wars?"
"Seems they like to throw one every couple of years or so," Seifer remarked before
getting a glare of death from Quistis.
"Yes, we do have wars," Dorin replied. "Nations have standing armies at all times.
I'm a general in my home country's army myself."
"Sound worse than Spira. We have only one," said Kimahri.
"Consider yourselves lucky. We've all been through at least two wars ourselves,"
Squall said.
"Sorceresses...fight wars?"
Everyone got quiet and Rinoa began to fidget nervously. Squall saw this and put his
arm around her. She was brave, even when she had that nervous look on her face when someone
who didn't understand would mention sorceress. Edea had seen Rinoa a few times after the
whole Ultimecia encounter and had given her some help with her powers. Squall was still
impressed with how Rinoa was able to use her powers in battle, but never give into the side
that makes them lust for power.
"In our world, we have powerful women called sorceresses, who have massively powerful
magic," Quistis explained. "They are decendants of a god from our world, called Hyne.
Unfortunately, the most powerful usually become insane and become heads of nations and armies.
They usually bring war to other nations to enslave them."
Kimahri sighed and shook his head. "Terrible. Very terrible. Good thing Spira only
have one. Magic very powerful. In wrong hands, it devistates."
"You have a sorceress?" Rinoa asked perplexed.
He nodded. "Sort of. Stories come from uncharted parts of Spira. Woman calls
herself Sorceress, fights fiends. Saved people. Some say those are wrong. Some say she
kills. Stories of both. No one say for sure."
Dorin's heart stopped for a moment. Could it possibly be...
"Saves people from fiends," Selphie said. "Wow. Maybe we know this person?"
"It possible. Stories started year ago now. People say she powerful with magic.
Dark hair. It hard to say whether she kills fiends or people. Stories conflict. Depends on
which person you ask," said Kimahri.
"Xana maybe?" Irvine suggested.
Squall shook his head. "It can't be, I saw her die when Ellone took me back."
"Vira..." muttered Dorin.
"But Vira wasn't a sorceress. Only half a sorceress," Zell said.
"Was it possible for Xana to live?" asked Rinoa.
"I didn't think so...I was sure I saw her die..." said Squall.
Irvine looked at Kimahri. "Well, whaddya you think about these stories? You think
whether she's good or not?"
"Kimahri like to believe best in people. It hard. You say sorceresses fought wars,
became insane, try to enslave people. You say about how they become like that often. Hard for
Kimahri to think of she's all good after that. But, Kimahri not know for sure. Reserve
judgement until a time where Kimahri might meet her. Talk to others. They might know better."
Squall nodded. "I agree. We'd better not jump to conclusions just yet."
"Kimahri suggest looking for man in Luca. Popular city. Place of blitzball
tournaments. Far from Mount Gagazet, though," he said. "Reserve thought of Sorceress for
later. Listen to stories first."
Zell raised an eyebrow. "Blitzball?"
"Main sport in Spira. Very popular. Two teams play in a sphere of water, try to score
goals with the blitzball in opposing team's goal. Two rounds. Ronso's have their own team,
Ronso Fangs. Kimahri's friend Wakka used to coach Besaid Aurochs. There is also Kilika
Beasts, Luca Goers, and Al Bhed Psyches. Blitzball even more popular now. Mostly played in
Luca," Kimahri explained.
"Whoooa...cool!" exclaimed Zell. "I hope we get to see some of that while we're
there!"
Irvine grinned. "Yeah, that sounds pretty fun."
Kimahri nodded. "Blitzball very popular. Probably will see kids practicing on the way.
But, Kimahri suggest you stay the night before leaving. Big storm heading this way. Would be
bad to be caught in it. We have spare huts for you to stay."
"We wouldn't want to impose on you, Kimahri. You've been more than generous to us
already, and we feel like we've trespassed on sacred ground to your people..." Squall started.
Kimahri stood up, little jingling sound coming from his many ornaments accompaning it.
He had a very large presence, one that Squall already knew he shouldn't refuse. He was a good
person, Squall knew that. Though he was very imposing and his smile would probably cause
Selphie to yelp, it was obvious that Kimahri was a incredibly caring soul, who did believe that
they were from another world and meant him and his tribe no harm. His cat-like eyes focused on
Squall as he spoke. "You go to Luca, you need more supplies. Must travel through Calm Land,
Macalania Woods, Thunder Plains, Guadosalam, Moonflow, Mushroom Rock Road, and Mi'Hen Highroad
before you get there. Long time on foot. You and your friends need rest before that. And bad
storm heading this way. Never make it to bottom of the mountain in time. You stay here the
night. Leave in the morning."
Squall stood up as well, the rest of his friends following suit. There was no saying
'no' to Kimahri. Squall bowed his head to him in respect, feeling that shaking his hand
probably wasn't a good idea. "Thank you very much, Kimahri. It's very gracious of you to let
us stay. And thank you again for your information on Spira and your hospitality. We really
appreciate it."
Kimahri motioned with his clawed hand to the exit of the hut, saying, "You're welcome.
Come. Kimahri will show you place to stay. You have long journey ahead."
3. The Coming Tide
It was a battlefield, the sky above a dark crimson, adorned with black ash clouds.
Fire, hot, red, blazing, was all around Vira. But she didn't seem to care. In fact, she
enjoyed it, she relished it. It was as if she had caused the fire herself. Yes, the battle
itself was all of her doing. She had caused the chaos around her.
And she enjoyed it.
A familiar man stood in front of her, older, hardened, sad, and with his sword drawn.
It was Dorin. Vira recognized him as soon as his sword had been drawn. The Honor Blade was
unmistakable. He attacked her, letting a fury of silver arcs slice across the heavy air,
nearly all of them missing Vira. The last one hit, black sticky blood flowing from her wound.
She did not care. Not at all. It didn't even hurt.
She took Dorin's sword from his hands, pulling it through her stomach and out the back.
It flew backwards in the air, melting into a silver liquid before it disintergrated. Vira
laughed. Her laugh was not the same as it had been. It was colder. Harsher. It reminded
her...of her mother.
Dorin looked at a loss. His face yelled the sadness and pain he was feeling, a large
contrast to how it had almost always looked to Vira. He had rarely showed emotion. Fighting
her looked downright painful.
Vira laughed again.
He launched himself at her in a last ditch effort. It wasn't good enough. Not nearly
good enough. Vira caught him, her hand wrapping her strong fingers around his neck. He
struggled, telling her to stop the madness, come back to herself. She only smiled, saying,
"This is myself."
A yellow light came from the middle of Dorin's chest. He looked down and saw it spread,
a thin line of golden light going across his body. In its wake was charred skin, burnt beyond
all repair. He gave Vira one more sorrowful look before the light reached his face, leaving
only a charred skull that an instant later floated into ash with the rest of his body, circling
and swirling in the already ash filled air.
Vira laughed again. She felt a presence behind her and as she turned, she saw those
horrible eyes. The eyes that had haunted her for what seemed like forever. She saw them and--
Jerked awake, falling onto the wooden floor. Vira quickly looked around, not
recognizing her surroundings. Then, she remembered; she was in a boat. At the helm. And she
had fallen asleep. She smacked herself in the head, repremanding and saying to herself how
dangerous it can be to fall asleep while trying to steer a boat. Luck had been on her side,
though. There were no boats around her for miles and the nearest island was still off in the
distance. She sighed, took her place at the helm again and stared out to the ocean.
Deep blue skies, dotted with the fluffiest, fullest clouds she'd ever seen stretched
out as far as the eye could see. Underneath, crystal seas calmly laped against the sides of her
boat. The ocean was the most brilliant she had ever seen, the peaceful greens and blues mixing
just right. Not too far in the distance, she could make out the shape of a tiny island. Her
destination.
-Life...is very strange...If you told me two years ago that I would find my mother,
fight her, kill her, and end up in a completely foreign world, I woulda called you insane.
Well, if you had said that I'd make friends, might've had a relationship with a guy, and became
important to the world, and take place in this big new war, I'd also call you insane. Insane
but right. It's been about two years since I came to Spira, two long years. Not all of it has
been fun, but most of it has been worth it. You never know what the future might bring. I
once thought my future was my death. To face my mother was to die.
But it wasn't.
And here I am. Alive. Now my future is clouded. I'm no longer just facing an
inevitable death at the hands of my only living relative or a future as a SeeD that I had never
really wanted to be. In the end, my future will be whatever I want it to be, which is both
exciting...and frightening. Whatever I want? I can be whatever I want? It's never happened
before and I'm still not sure how to handle it.
Two years ago I had made my first friends ever. They liked me for just being me, even
when I was anti-social. And Dorin...he stood by me more than anyone. I'd be lying if his name
hadn't crossed my mind in the time I've been here. What might've been, where he is now, how
I sometimes wish I could see him again. I sent him to save everyone else that day. I can only
hope they all made it out.
Two years ago, I faced my mother, Xana, Anarix, whatever. She hurt me more than anyone
else, and it would've been easier to run away, but I couldn't. I knew. I just knew it was
something I had to do. Like...destiny. Morbid, sad, but inevitable. She was evil. Her power
was evil. I thought I was dead when I fought her the last time...
Except...I survived...and then things got more complicated...-
Vira's expression hardened for a moment. She touched the scar running down the middle
of her forehead across the bridge of her nose lightly.
-There was that portal. That freaky ass portal. And there was Kravis, that cowardly
bastard who has it in for Seifer Almasy and Quistis Trepe for some dumb ass reason. I never
understood what his problem was, but that asshole is seriously deranged. He sucker-slashed me,
leaving me with a scar that rivals Squall and Seifer's, then high tailed it into the mysterious
portal, believing it'd take him to Deling City so he could start his lame revenge plan. That
was his problem. Which became my problem when I jumped through. I wondered where in the world
I had landed myself. None of it looked familiar. I soon realized the question wasn't was
'Where in the world am I?' it was 'What world am I on?' That's right. I had landed myself a
one way trip to lovely Spira, a world so damn far from Deling City it'd make your head spin.
Everything was different, and made absolutely no sense. Hell, I was shoved into some screwed
up prison the first few minutes I got there!
So, I spent a lot of time in that prison, and guess who I should meet? Spira's very
own savior, the bleach blonde jock boy, Tidus. We have a lot in common, though our fashion
sense collides. Then we're broken out by a guy who's anti-social behavior would put mine and
Dorin's to shame. Tidus seemed to know this guy, Auron, who appearantly is dead. Okay then.
Let me know when reality makes a pit stop here so I can hitch a ride back with it. Then we
spend a bunch of time travelling the uncharted parts of Spira because Auron didn't come back
from the dead with a map or an idea of where the hell we were. And we all get to know each
other, and I become friends with these guys. They're really nice people. Tidus and I have a
lot in common, and Auron's sense of humor is similar to mine.
I lost everything I had when I jumped into that portal. Everyone that meant anything
to me, my life. So I try to make the best of it and gain new friends. I know them better
than I knew my old friends. I spent all this time traveling with them until two months ago...
Then I lose them too. Or they lose me. Whatever.
A freak accident caused a landslide. I fell down this cliff, and when I came too, I
couldn't find either of them. So I'm alone in a strange world, with only the gil I had earned
from fighting fiends in my pocket, and my weapons.
I've spent a lot of time with Tidus and Auron, getting rid of fiends haunting forests,
saving travelers from a nasty fate. My style is so unsual here, and people seem to either fear
me or love me. In some cases, the admiration can pay off.
So, making a deal with a sailor I saved, he gives me a boat, and I head for the tiny
island of Besaid, where Tidus probably headed to find his 'girl' as he put it, Yuna. I'm
almost there now. If they're not there...I'll go to Luca. If they're not there, I'll back
to Besaid and wait for them. They'll find their way there eventually. Nearly all their
friends live there, as Tidus told me. The Blitzball guy, Wakka, the black mage, Lulu, and Yuna
all came from Besaid and should probably still be there.
What do I do after that?
Find Kravis? He could be dead. Hah, not with my luck.
My life is so completely weird and screwed up, sometimes I just want to laugh. For now,
I'm content to make my way to Besaid, enjoy the scenery and give a hand wherever its needed.
Maybe I'll find Kravis, maybe I'll find a way back to our world. If not, I really don't
care. I've tried to let go expecting to somehow be able to travel back and have it be like I
never left...Would I really want that anyway? I don't know.
Maybe I can just settle down in Luca or Besaid when this is all over.
A home...that'd be nice.
Well, might as well keep my eye on the prize, and worry about making a home for myself
later. No use in carrying on about something I can't solve now. I'm happy enough right now.
Content, really. And free.-
Vira's boat finally pulled into Besaid's docks, the few people that were there, looking
at it curiously. She stepped off the boat, making sure to tie it to one of the polls on the
docks, getting strange looks from the people there. One particularly curious child walked up
to her, tugging on her coat lightly. She turned to him.
"Are you from one of the unknown islands?" he asked, his eyes wide.
Vira nodded. "I guess I am, yeah."
"Wow!" The boy's face lit up, excited by the revelation.
"Can you tell me where the town of Besaid is?" she asked.
The boy pointed down the beach, to a pathway. "Go that way. Head up and to the left,
and keep heading down the pathway. You can't miss it, ya?"
Vira laughed. The boy's accent reminded her of Raijin for some reason. She nodded
and thanked the boy, walking across the beach.
Besaid was tiny. More tiny than Vira had expected. A few huts lined the sides of the
town, giving way to a town circle, and behind it a little ways was the Besaid Temple, at least
that was Vira's best guess. The Temples hadn't been used quite as much since Yevon had been
dissolved, around the time she had arrived in Spira. But a New Yevon had cropped up. She
trusted Yevon about as far as she could throw a Chimera fiend. It was no different for New
Yevon. She always made it a point to be super cautious near anyone associated with Yevon, or
New Yevon. Hell, anything related to Yevon. She did not want to spend another year half sick
and stuck in a prison. Nope. Not after that.
The townspeople of Besaid walked slowly, going about their everyday lives. Near the
temple, children played with a dog, running around as it followed and barked. Some of the
villagers threw odd glances at Vira; not many visitors came to Besaid. Not to mention the
rumors that followed her around these days. Save a few people and it radiates from even the
farthest unknown reaches of a planet to the most known towns. That still baffled her.
Vira scanned the town, her focus falling on a pregnant woman in a black dress,
speaking heatedly with a man with orange hair that spiked up very tall in the front. Next to
him were two girls; one looked to be Vira's age with short light brown hair, wearing a white
wrap shirt and a long blue skirt. The other girl was younger, wearing shorts, a sleeveless
shirt, and her hair pulled up into a spikey blonde ponytail. The blonde girl Vira recognized
as an Al Bhed; they all dressed a particular way. It took only a second to recognize the rest
from Tidus's long descriptions from the many times he told Vira of his story. They could only
be Rikku, Wakka the blitzball player, Lulu the black mage, and Yuna...Tidus's 'girl.' Yuna was
holding a small and strange sphere in her hands that Vira suddenly recognized...
"Hey!"
She took off running toward the group, taking only a few seconds to reach them. They
all regarded her with caution. Lulu gave her a repremanding look.
"I'm sorry, but Yuna can't talk right--"
Vira shook her head. "No, no, it's not that. I mean, I'm pleased to finally meet you
Yuna," she nodded to Yuna for a brief moment, "but that's not what I'm here for."
"Who're you?" asked Wakka.
Vira smiled. "I'm Vira." She pointed to the sphere Yuna was holding. "And I know
where that came from."
The look of shock the spreaded over their faces almost made Vira laugh. Wakka's mouth
made a strange elongated 'o' shape, Rikku's green eyes widened and she held her hands to her
mouth, Lulu regarded Vira with a suspicious look, and Yuna's eyes squinted as though she was
concentrating deeply.
Vira's smile faltered, turning into a nervous one when their penetrating glances didn't
subside after a moment. She chuckled and decided to tell them what she knew, "That sphere came
from a prison, way up north. I can't tell you exactly where it is because I don't know. Tidus,
he found that sphere in a prison cell and tried taping himself a few times. After a while, he
gave up and threw the thing out. It's odd, I guess it must've found its way here by accident.
We honestly thought we'd never see it again."
Wakka blinked his eye, his face blank.
"Y-you've seen Tidus?" asked Yuna.
She nodded. "Yeah. Up until about two months ago. Y'see, we were in the prison
together for a while, but then his friend Auron--"
"Sir Auron! Impossible! He went to the Farplane!" Lulu protested.
Vira gave another nervous chuckle and scratched the back of her neck. "Weeeell...he
did, but he came back. He's been travelling with us, trying to find our way back here."
"Why Besaid?" said Rikku.
"Because Tidus wanted to see Yuna and make sure she was okay." Vira looked at Yuna,
smiling at her. "He really misses you. You were all he talked about. That, and you guys, of
course. The whole journey."
"But why did it take you so long?" Lulu asked.
Vira shrugged. "It's a long story. We were stuck in that prison a long time. And
then spent an equally long time wandering from island to island because Auron didn't come back
from the Farplane with a map. Actually, I'm here looking for them. I take it you haven't
seen them. I figured they'd be here or Luca by now. We were separated two months ago by this
freak landslide. I've been trying to find them again since."
"What makes you think we believe you, eh?" said Wakka, crossing his arms, his voice
taking a serious tone.
Vira stared Wakka in the eye. Besides the stories Tidus had told her (which anyone
could've found out), there really wasn't any proof that she'd been there with him...unless...
"Wha--hey!"
She grabbed the sphere out of Yuna's hands, looking it over feverishly for a few
seconds, trying to find out how to work this particular one. A moment later, a look of almost
triumph crossed her face.
"Aha!" Vira exclaimed. She held out the sphere for everyone to see. "If you don't
believe me, take a look at this..."
Though the reception was very fuzzy, and the look of the place still very much
underwater, Tidus again was banging on the cell door, yelling for a way out. A garbled voice
of a girl came over the sound of static that Vira recognized as her own.
"I think you should give it up, they ain't gonna hear you. Take this thing for a sec,
okay?"
Tidus nodded, grabbing the sphere from Vira's hands and turning it around until she
came onto the screen. "Yeah, yeah..."
"So these things record stuff?"
"Yep," said Tidus.
"You said this one looks different. Why's that?"
"No idea. But, it's not gonna do us much good anyway. I think the reception's busted
or somethin..."
Vira sighed. "Like a letter in a bottle thrown out to sea, huh?"
"Pretty much," Tidus replied. "I don't think we're gonna get any help from this stupid
thing."
Vira faded out, as did the dark cell around her, static taking over the entire image.
The scene was over, but Vira had proved that she'd been there.
It was good enough for Rikku. She bounced up and down, clutching Yuna's right arm.
"Yunie! Tidus really is alive! And Auron's back too! This is great! We gotta go find them!"
Wakka's brow furrowed as he shook his head. "I dunno, Yuna's still got a lotta people
to see..."
"Wakka! We already talked about this! Yunie wants to find him! It's that much
easier now that we've got--"
"Vira," said Vira.
"Right! Vira! It'll take no time! And I promise that we'll be real stealthy and not
attract attention to ourselves, right, Yunie?"
Yuna didn't respond.
"Yunie?"
Yuna had a far off look in her eyes, like she was remembering something that had
happened long ago. Vira guessed she was remembering something about Tidus. After a moment,
Yuna shook her head, and her focus came back to the moment.
"We can go to Luca. You, me and Vira will go. We'll stay overnight at the hotel, and
search the town for them. It'll take no time at all. But, Wakka, please understand; I have
to do this. Tidus is important to me. You want to see him again, don't you?"
"O-o-of course I do, Yuna. That's not even a question. I just don't want you to get
in trouble or anythin for missin your meetings..." Wakka stammered.
"I have to do what makes me happy. For once, I can put my needs ahead of someone
else's. You wanted more evidence about Tidus, and you recieved it. I don't think it needs
further discussing," said Yuna, her voice steady and full of resolve.
Lulu put an arm around Wakka's shoulder. "We'll stay here in case they come here while
you three are away." She looked at Wakka. "This is absolutely amazing, isn't it? I can't
believe it..."
"Yeah..." Wakka said absently. "Amazing..."
"I'm sorry. I know this is a lot to put on all of you, and it sounds completely
impossible. I've learned that almost anything is possible these days. It...uhh...might be
hard to believe, but I'm not from around here--Spira, I mean," Vira said.
"So where are you from?" asked Lulu.
* * * * * *
Vira sat on the side of the single bed, one of many that still occupied the Crusader's
Lodge. Wakka had told her she could stay there for the night before she, Yuna and Rikku
headed on the boats for Luca the next morning. Not too many of the Crusaders came to the lodge
those days. With Sin a thing of the past, the Crusaders spent more time on the road just
defending those in need of help. So Vira was alone in the Crusader's Lodge that night.
There were six beds, three to a row. Each had a nightstand next to them, with a
little reading lamp. There was a window in the back, letting in soft moonlight, scattered
left over Crusader's supplies underneath it. Next to the two front beds was a partition
leading into the front of the lodge, where there was a table, two benches, and a wooden
desk that had someone working behind it from time to time. Each bed was dressed in the same
light blue decor that surrounded the lodge. It was calm and inviting. Vira felt a good
night sleep was needed. No more falling asleep at the helm for her. Anymore of that and
she'd be having regular nightmares. That would really suck.
Vira took her boots off, carefully unlacing them and setting them next to her bed.
They'd been pretty good to her, considering how much she'd walked in the past year. She
never thought she'd get so much use out of them. The only article of clothing of her old
life left. She didn't even have her necklace anymore. Sometimes this change of style made
her feel like she really had turned into a new person with a new life. But there was still
a side of her that secretly wished that Dorin, Squall and the gang would show up one day and
say how long they'd been searching for her, and how much they missed her. There was a part of
her that still missed them, Dorin the most after this recent nightmare. Killing him was like
killing everything that he had meant to her, like killing the open and good part of her.
Because through all his pestering, he had gotten through to her. Relating to people was sort
of complicated at times, but it had to be worth it. She couldnt've gone through everything
in the past two years on her own. Tidus and Auron had helped her so much, and because she
let them in. She thanked all her old friends for teaching her that. She'd never forget it.
She'd spent the rest of the day explaining most of her life and world to Yuna, Rikku,
Lulu and Wakka, who never balked at any of it. They seemed very interested and believed every
word she spoke. It was refreshing to tell people that she didn't come from Spira and have
them believe her. Lulu asked a lot of questions about magic, the drawing system that Vira had
abandoned a long time ago, and sorceresses. When she explained about sorceresses, she also
explained about knights, which Yuna likened to a summoner and her guardians. Vira had said it
was similar, except that sorceresses were more likely to become insane and lust for more power
because of their powers, talking about Ultimecia, and Adel as good examples. And her mother,
of course. None of them treated her differently for realizing how awful her mother had been.
In fact, she could see them respect her more after hearing it. Lulu said that taking the
responsibility of taking on Xana without thought of her own life was commendable. Wakka
scratched his head a lot, asking questions about the sports played in the various cities, and
how much machina they used. Rikku had been especially interested in Garden. All of them had
been interested in Esthar, saying it sounded a lot like how Tidus had desribed his Zanarkand.
Vira finally had to explain, through the battle with Xana, that she was a sorceress, and the
four all realized how much sense it made, after hearing the rumors. They told Vira that the
rumor stared about a year before, spreading down from the north. Most said that the 'Sorcerss'
was a good person, just trying to help, while other said she was out to destroy the world.
Vira told them that she was the only one, so there was no way another sorceress could be
running around Spira causing trouble. It was the first time Vira had admitted to herself that
she was a full fledged sorceress now. Until then, she'd tried to deny it, but it was staring
her in the face now. Thinking that there might be another one out there was just lunacy. She
was the only one. And her powers had to've come from Xana...
After Vira had finished explaining all she could think of, she had asked Wakka where
she could sleep, which brought her to the lodge. They all thanked her for travelling with
Tidus and Auron for the time she had and all were confident they'd find them soon.
"Vira?"
She looked up to see Yuna, standing in front of her, her small hands clasped in each
other. There was something that told Vira that Yuna had something on her mind. She motioned
for her to take a seat on the bed across from her. "Yeah, Yuna? Have a seat."
Yuna sat down on the bed Vira had motioned to. "I know you talked a lot about
sorceresses, and where they came from, your mother, and having to kill her, and a bit about
your friends. But, I just wanted to ask you about something."
"Yeah?"
"Don't you ever get lonely? I mean, you had just made your first friends before you
came here, then you met Tidus and Sir Auron and then lost them. Sometimes I've felt stuck in
this endless cycle of life where I'm doing the same thing over and over. The same pattern.
Don't you ever feel that's the way it is with you and friends? I don't mean to sound mean or
anything. I'm sorry I--"
Vira put a hand up to stop her. "Yuna, it's okay. I've wondered that myself a lot.
But, I can't let it get to me. I am who I am, and no matter where I go, my friends will
always be a part of me. If I keep myself open, I can make new friends. Like maybe you guys.
It's hard not to feel bogged down sometimes, though."
"You've never had a knight either, or a guardian," Yuna commented.
Vira chuckled. "I don't need one. If there's one thing I've gotten better at in
these past few years, it's fighting. Sorceresses had knights to get rid of people that the
sorceresses didn't want to deal with or something. I never paid too much attention to it. I
think Edea had Seifer as a knight when she was controlled by Ultimecia, and I'm sure Squall is
Rinoa's knight since that'd just be their style, but not all sorceresses have knights. I may
be open to having friends, but I still know how to take care of myself."
Yuna smiled. "It must be nice to just travel around like you have, helping people,
and being able to do it yourself."
"I guess. People need help, I have the power to help them, so I do."
Yuna's smile faltered. "You said sorceresses go insane a lot. Don't you worry about
that?"
Vira shrugged the question off, smiling. "Nah. I'm not too worried."
Her smile came back in full force. "That's wonderful! I wish I had your confidence."
"With what I've heard Tidus say about you, you have more than I ever will."
Yuna blushed. "He...talked about me?" She nearly hid her face in her hands, speaking in
an embarrassed voice.
Vira grinned. "Oh, yeah. Like I said earlier today; all the time. He's crazy about
you. No doubt about it."
"Thank you...for telling me," Yuna said. She stood up from the bed, looking towards
the exit, then back at Vira. "I think I should go to sleep now. We have a long day ahead of
us. Good night, Vira. It's been great meeting you."
"You too, Yuna. G'night."
She waved and then left, Vira alone in the lodge again. She sighed. Yuna's questions
had made a lot of sense. A sorceress and a summoner had some similarities. Vira wished she
had the strength and will power Yuna had. But, she suspected that even when surrounded by
friends, Yuna still felt lonely. Lonely for Tidus, no doubt. She loved him, and still did.
That was the kind of loneliness she was really asking about. Not friends that had been lost
in a perpetual cycle, but losing a loved one, over and over. She brought up a valid point,
though. Were these nightmares a premonition of things to come? Had it started?
"You're on the path now, Vira. It's only a matter of time."
The voice who spoke was unmistakable. It was the cruel voice of her mother. Vira
looked up and saw her, or more appropriately, her ghostly image, floating silently at the edge
of her bed. Vira leapt from her sitting position, taking out her chain-sword and brandishing
it at her former mother.
"Out. Now. I don't care how you're here, whether my mind or some freaky on leave from
Hell, but go back now or I'll--"
"You'll what? Kill me? Please. You already did that. I'm beyond death, daughter.
It's so much better than I had thought," said Xana, smiling. "And since you did me a favor,
I'll do one for you; heed my warning. My powers were forged in hate, and their insanity will
corrupt your soul. You know how sorceresses get the lust for power. I had it, in addition to
my grudge against Hyne. It fueled my searches, and with each sorceress I killed, my power grew.
My madness grew. It grew until the power had its own hate, its own lust for blood, and its own
insanity. It took whatever sanity I had left and pushed me over the edge. It ate at my very
soul until there was nothing left, and it will do the same for you."
Vira scowled. "Thank you, Mrs. Ghost Of Winter Solstice Past."
"It's true," Xana persisted, still smiling. "Some sorceresses have the choice of
whether to become a bastien of hope or the path of destruction by giving into the lust for
power. You, on the other hand, have no choice. My power is poison. You will become worse
than I was. It makes me proud."
"Look, I'm not sure whether this is just my freaky mind playing tricks on me or not, but
all I have to say to you is get the hell out of here. NOW!" Vira yelled.
Xana put her hands up, and Vira saw how they were transparent, the wall across from her
seen through them. "Fine. But I will be back to warn you, among other things."
She receded into the wall, fading into nothing before she actually reached it. Vira
was now finally alone in the lodge. She collapsed onto the bed, throwing her coat on the one
next to her, turning off the light on the nightstand, and tried to fall asleep, hoping it had
just been her mind playing tricks on her.
Author's Comments: Yeah, I know, it's been a while. Probably too long. Oh well! Life
has a way of bogging you down in this area, though I have a lot of this story actually written.
Not a ton of it is editted, though. The next chapter will take place in Luca, as Rikku, Yuna
and Vira spend a day searching for Tidus and Auron, and Vira runs into people who aren't so
into the 'Sorceress.' What's with the vision of Xana dancing in her head? Gotta read more to
find out. And it's not a really cheap way of bringing back a character. :P I'd love to go over
this chapter some more for editting and accuracy, but I'm just too tired. Sorry. :\ Anyway,
stay tuned and we'll have chapter three written up as soon as possible. As always, please R&R
to let us know what ya think. Until next time, this is Eve saying that I cringe when I see Yuna
and Rikku dressed in their new outfits for FFX-2...
