Chapter 11: Sanubian Nights Are Lonely Without You
Amanda's Ramble:
Amanda: Once again, I have some more things to get out of the way before I start the chapter.
Auron: *grumble*
Amanda: 9_9 Anyway….
Auron's Biggest Fan: I apologize if I embarrassed you with my earlier response. It was not intended to do as such.
Auron: Spoken like I would have.
Amanda: Shush you.
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"Damn that Seymour!" Ophelia fell face first in the snow and picked herself up, already on the move. "Even with him dead he's getting on my nerves." She heard Auron grunt before swinging her into his arms and picking up speed, his way of telling her she was moving far too slow. She gave and irritated sigh and buried herself in his warm jacket, shivering in the cold air. She wished now that she'd bought that sweater in Macalania, but, being mad at Auron once again, she had marched out of the shop with her nose in the air, commenting that she'd rather freeze.
"Can you stop your incessant griping for five minutes?" Auron panted. Ophelia huffed and fell silent, tightening her grip around his neck. Bully.
She glanced up the path, surprised to see Tidus running back toward them.
"Auron! Grab your sword, we got problems!" Tidus did an about face and ran back up the hill.
"What else is new," Auron mumbled as he lowered Ophelia to her feet and unsheathed his sword. "Stay here. You aren't ready for this."
"Like hell I am." Ophelia brandished her staff and took off before Auron could say anything else, nearly tripping every step of the way, but, thankfully, just barely remaining upright. She topped the hill, knowing exactly what they were facing. She ignored the looks of the others and took her place next to Rikku, her staff ready. Auron's approach could be heard a few moments later, and all eight stood ready for combat, their expressions unnervingly the same.
"Let me guess," Ophelia said mockingly to the Guado guards, a brow raised. "You're here to avenge Seymour, take back Guado honor, and make sure Guado problems stay among the Guado, right?" The two guards gave each other a puzzled look before nodding at Ophelia. "I'm not giving you the chance."
Her hands moved quickly, and her staff traced patterns in the air, leaving golden streaks with every pass. The ground didn't rumble this time, but the clouds parted and a ray of sunlight fell on her, illuminating her in its burnished brilliance. A whistling sound was heard far above them, and a large figure with beautiful white wings landed before Ophelia and bowed, his golden hair falling in large blue eyes.
"Heh. I guess it worked." Ophelia gave a sheepish grin at her summon. He nodded and returned her smile.
"I am Alexander, summon of life. How may I serve you, Lady?"
Ophelia's eyes widened. "Alexander? I thought the summon Alexander was a giant castle-thing with wings, not an angel." Alexander smiled again before turning away.
"All will be explained later, Lady. Now we fight."
Ophelia shrugged and raised an arm, casting a powerful fire spell on one of the Guado. He howled in pain, which was cut off as Alexander summoned a sword from the air and plunged it through the man's heart, ending his life. Auron struck down the other with his sword, and all attention turned to the third enemy, a large wooly creature with four arms. It roared and raised its arms over his head and Ophelia just managed to stop Tidus from attacking it.
"No! When it's like that, we have to use magic. Any physical attack will cause it to go berserk, and it'll hit twice as hard!" Tidus lowered his sword and Ophelia turned to Lulu. "Ready?"
"Of course. How do you wish to end this?"
"As quick as possible. Alexander," she said, addressing the aeon. "Any tricks up your sleeves?"
"I have a few, Lady." Alexander rose into the air, and in a few moments, a spell Ophelia recognized as Holy was well on it's way to being cast. She cursed and dove behind the nearest rock, only to be landed on by seven other people following the same train of thought. She gave a muffled curse, and clawed her way from underneath the others. There was a loud explosion, and a great flash of light, when everything grew still. She peeked over the rock and saw Alexander floating in the air, which was crowded with pyreflies.
"It's over, my lady," he said, landing next to the rock and holding out a hand. "Allow me to assist you." Ophelia took his hand and stood, brushing off the snow.
"Thanks a lot, Alexander. We owe you one."
"It was nothing, Lady. Call me again if you have need." With that he streaked off into the air, leaving Ophelia with the other guardians and summoner, who were all struggling to untangle themselves. She laughed at their grumbles and turned away, moving onto the battle field.
"Hey! I found a couple of healing potions! Score!" She tucked them away in the pouch at her waist and turned to the others, who'd finally managed to dislodge from one another and move to where she stood. "Okay, that was kinda fun!"
"Fun?" Wakka gave a weak laugh. "Whatever you say, ya?"
Ophelia started to retort, but the ground trembled beneath her and then buckled, and they were falling into a dark cavernous area far below the ice. She luckily landed on top of Auron and sat up, looking around.
"Where are we?"
Auron sat up, knocking her over. "Under the temple."
Ophelia smacked her forehead. "Of course! And that sound, that the fayths of the temple singing, right?"
Auron raised a brow. "Right."
Tidus frowned and quickly moved off of a glaring Kimahri. "I know this song. My old man used to sing it. Of couse, it never sounded anything like this."
Ophelia smiled before looking around. "I guess we should try to find a way out of here. No doubt more of the Guado will figure out where we are. I don't think I can summon here."
"Nor I," Yuna said, a small frown pulling out her mouth. "We should press on."
"Agreed." Auron shouldered his blade and moved through the cracks in the ice and rock, everyone else single file and close behind. Ophelia grabbed onto the sleeve of his jacket and reached back, grabbing Kimahri's hand. The stoic Ronso gave her a surprised grunt, and she sighed in irritation.
"Everyone grab onto everyone else. Just in case, you know?" Realizing the merit of such an action, they all formed a human (and Ronso) chain, and much to Kimahri's dismay, he was linked with Tidus. Slowly they moved down the winding and tight path, finding it hard to keep contact when someone would slip or get stuck in one of the closer areas.
Auron stopped abruptly, and everyone smashed into everyone else, nearly falling over.
"What's the big idea?" Tidus's voice was full of indignation, and Kimahri turned, glaring at the small man. Tidus had accidentally goosed the Ronso in a very sensitive area. "Sorry, Kimahri."
"Sin." That one word sent a shiver down everyone's spine, and on instinct, they all pressed closer, nearly suffocating Ophelia. Before she could complain, she felt herself being sucked into the sky, and wasn't really surprised when others were as well.
"Hang on!" Her voice was small over the wind, but everyone had heard and grips tightened. "Don't let go, no matter what!"
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Ophelia awoke in a bedroom, and she frowned in disorientation, the room unfamiliar. Also, she was alone, which was very odd. She hadn't slept alone in nearly two weeks. Besides, she didn't think their little group could afford digs like this.
"Ah, so you are awake." Ophelia froze and slowly raised her eyes to the approaching figure. "Lady, it is nice to see you again, and without that dreadful, gloomy guardian of yours."
"Seymour," she spat. She raised an arm to attack, but he waved a hand carelessly and she was flung back against the bed's headboard, her head resounding with a loud crack. She groaned and righted herself quickly, glaring daggers at the man before her.
"Don't be so hasty, Ophelia." Seymour gave her a small smile, one that didn't hide his insanity. Ophelia swallowed and drew tighter against herself, not wanting to leave anything exposed.
"I can help you. I'm hear to make you an offer. One, I'm sure, you will not refuse."
"What the hell do you want?"
Seymour raised a brow at her choice of language. "Well, you certainly are refreshing after dealing with that mealy-mouthed sister of yours." Ophelia growled deep in her throat and he gave a low chuckle.
"You have two choices. Either you can marry me and your companions can continue to live, or you can refuse……Well, I'm sure I don't need to explain. Which will it be, Lady?"
"They'll stop you, you know." She sat straighter, and was surprised at the confidence in her voice. "They won't let you do this."
He laughed and shook his head. "That remains to be seen. However, I don't see how they will, as they are in the Sanubian desert. Make your choice."
Ophelia, seeing no alternative at the moment, gave an inward sob. "Fine, I'll marry you. But you'd better keep you end of the deal, Seymour Guado. I'll expose you, I swear it."
"As you wish, Lady." He gave a small bow and left the room, and Ophelia wrapped her arms around her knees, finally letting the sobs free.
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Auron awoke, his mouth full of sand, the sun hot on his back. He sat up and spat, trying to clear his mouth of the offending grains. Where the hell was he?
A surprised cry came from the top of the dune and he staggered to his feet, his hand groping for and finding the hilt of his sword. His fingers closed around it and he ran up the dune, finding Tidus facing a large black bird with murder in it's gleaming black eyes.
"Need some help?" Tidus gave him a wide smile and the two began their attempt to kill the desert creature, when a familiar figure in black leather rushed up, panting for breath.
"How shall we do this?" Her voice was breathy, but both men were glad to see the black mage in one piece.
The battle raged, and Auron felt a certain amount of triumph when the bird at last cried out and exploded in a flurry of pyreflies after one last swing of the katana. He leveled it's blade on his shoulder and squinted across the sand, frowning.
"Have either of you seen Ophelia?" He wasn't surprised when they shook their heads, and he failed to see the look the two exchanged behind him as he began to cross the sand. Finally, they followed, and hours after wandering around the desert sands they had recollected themselves. All, that is, with the exception of Ophelia. Finally Rikku scuffed her toe against the dune and gave them all an uneasy look.
"Look. I'm gonna take you somewhere, but you have to promise you won't ever tell anyone about it ever." Everyone but Wakka quickly agreed, and the young blitzer grumbled in irritation.
"Wakka, you must promise," Lulu scolded. Wakka scowled but nodded in agreement, and Rikku led them through a gate and up a high rise. The others trudged through the sand behind, and gazes narrowed at her mournful exclaimation.
"No!" Rikku dashed over the rise and off into the distance toward a large complex obviously under attack. The others rushed after, not about to see the young Al Bhed get herself killed.
It was a bloody massacre. Al Bhed ran in every direction, yelling at the top of their lungs in their native tongue. Explosions sounded every few seconds, and the small group found it hard to maneuver through the throngs of the desert peoples together.
"Hurry!" Rikku's voice was panicked and she darted off down a side path, which the others blundered through. Yuna screamed as a young Al Bhed fell before her, his body mangled nearly beyond recognition.
Rikku led them through doubled doors and stopped, her head lowered on her shoulders.
"How?" Her voice was strained, evidence that she was holding back tears. "Dammit, they can't destroy Home!"
Wakka wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her as she sobbed against his chest, almost languidly eyeing the fiend that rose from under the platform on which they stood.
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They stood on the deck of the airship, eyes wide. It had risen into the air, and the captain, an Al Bhed by the name of Cid said something to Rikku in their tongue which caused her to burst into tears.
"What's wrong, ya?" Wakka's voice was full of concern, and Rikku's teary eyes met his, her bottom lip trembling.
"They going to destroy Home."
"Hey, it's not so bad, ya? Just like festival fireworks!"
Rikku's eyes narrowed at the red-haired man, her hands curled into fists. "You can stuff your fireworks, you big meanie!" Wakka looked abashed, but said nothing as the girl ran past him and out of the cabin.
"No worries!" Cid patted a strange device in the center of the cabin. "With this baby we'll be able to pinpoint anyone anywhere in Spira." He flipped a switch and hummed the sending hymn as he did so, and it was obvious that Wakka wanted to say something, but thought better of it.
"How?" Tidus moved to the device and gave it a once over. "How does it work?"
"Don't really know!" Cid's voice was cheerful, as though he didn't see their disbelieving faces. "After all, this baby's a thousand years old. Doesn't matter, though, we'll find my niece in no time." He turned his attention back to the overhead display and scanned it, his brow furrowed. "There she is! Brother, zoom in!"
The young Al Bhed grumbled but hit a couple of keys on the pad in front of him, and a scene unfolded right before their eyes. There was Ophelia, in a beautiful white dress, a bunch of flowers gathered in her hands.
"What the hell is she wearing?" Auron's voice sounded brittle, even to himself, and Lulu shot him a wry glance.
"It's called a wedding dress, Sir Auron."
"What?" Auron moved closer to the screen, and cursed loudly when Seymour appeared in the display. Quick as a flash he had Cid pinned to the wall of the cabin by his throat, his one eye narrowed dangerously. "I don't care how you do it, but you get us there now."
Cid easily broke Auron's grasp, his glare rivaling Auron's in intensity. "Back off. We're almost there now. She's just in Bevelle."
Auron cursed again. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Look, I'm just as worried as you are. She's my niece, and I want to make sure she makes it through in one piece. You do your job and I'll do mine. As for now, get the hell off my bridge."
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End of Chapter 11. Aren't you all so special?