Disclaimer - I don't own Final Fantasy 9 or any of the characters. All I
own is the idea for this story and any characters original to it.
Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews! I wasn't expecting such nice comments. Very sorry this chapter has took so long to come out, but I had trouble with the plot and some inspiration took a good while in getting here.
Anyway, now I have a basic plot (Yippee!) the story can progress. Here goes:
Helix - Kuja's Story
Chapter 2 - Sentence
Eventually the pain had died down sufficiently for him to think clearly. In the agonising minutes, following what he had dubbed "The Trial" he had slowly become aware of his surroundings, though the pain in his head kept his eyes firmly shut.
As far as he was aware, he was lying on something soft and damp, in the open air. He could hear the wind in the trees, and feel the sun on his face. Only - something was very wrong.
That sun.it's so strong!
The sun was burning him. He could feel it. Not just warm but blisteringly hot. He groped around him for something to cover his face, but all he felt was moss. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he rolled onto his side; and fell.
In shock, he opened his eyes just in time to see the ground rushing up at him. He landed on a bed of leaves and branches but his leg was dashed against a rock and was cut open. He collected himself after a minute or so, and discovered that the shade of the trees stopped the glare of the sun. He took a good look around for the first time.
A thick forest barred his path. The drop behind him was the only clear spot. Leaves hung together in front so that no light passed between them and branches intertwined on the floor so that a person would sink up to their knees in vegetation. Looking down at himself, he realised that his leg was not the only problem he would have in the future. He still wore his Terran clothes, and they would offer no protection against his environment. They were now torn and dirty, mostly he guessed from his fall.
Quickly he checked over his physical condition. He was thinner than he should have been, and weak, though he thought he would be able to walk even with his leg, which was rapidly beginning to pain him. Tearing off a strip of his cape, he bound it tightly.
It will be infected soon if I cannot clean it. If only I had opened my eyes sooner!
However, looking up through the tress, he was glad he hadn't. The glare came from the sky itself, which was an eerie yellow with flashes of green. Even with the trees, it hurt to look at it for long.
This world, it's dying.
Now he understood. He had to help this world, wherever it was. The only question was how? After all, the very sky was sickened. Perhaps Yushan could help him, but then, she had not decided where he was to be sent, Kalat had done that much.
"Yushan! Hello? Can you hear me? Kalat! Where is this place?"
There was silence. Even a possible echo was lost in among the trees. He wasn't that surprised. This was his punishment, and it was fully deserved as far as he was concerned. Well in any case, I had better get out of this place and find people. They will tell me where I am.
He then realised that his appearance might become a problem. There were not many silver haired people with tails on Gaia, never mind Terra where he himself was made. If he was going to explore this place, it would be wise to be careful. His appearance usually caused quite a stir.
"Some sort of disguise, at least to hide my tail and the feathers. Until I find out where I am it would be best to be cautious and treat it like I am still on Gaia."
Turning towards the thick forest, and selecting a direction, Kuja started walking, trying to find something for a disguise.
Fifteen minutes later, it was complete. He had coated his hair in mud, which not only made it a very dirty colour but also plastered the feathers to his head, hiding them from view. He had managed to secure his cape so is fastened in the centre, and the tail was curled up out of the way. Realising he still looked very odd; he gave a sigh of frustration.
Well at least I look human now. Even if I make a bit of a strange human. Of course, this is no use at all if I am in a world of monsters!
The forest seemed to close in on him, and his instincts told him he must find shelter as soon as possible. Making sure not to head back the way he had come, he set off again into the forest.
After what seemed like ages, Kuja tired and dirty, came across a stream running through the forest.
At last! A landmark!
He was sure he had been going in circles, but now he had something to follow his progress was much quicker. The sides of the stream were reasonably clear of vegetation, and he was able to clean the cut on his leg.
The only thing worrying him as he walked was the unending silence. There were no birds or animals as far as he could see, and there was no sound except for the running water and the wind. It only confirmed his greatest fears.
Most if not all species dead, or worse! Perhaps I am the only person on this world.
The though of being alone forever tormented him, and he started to run, staggering through the trees. As he sped up, he saw that the stream was gradually widening, becoming a small but fast flowing river. The plants changed too, becoming less dense and damp.
Yes! I am nearly at the edge of the forest!
Spurred on by hopes, he continued to run, until suddenly be burst through some trees and he was out of the forest.
What the-?!
He stood on the edge of a desert. A sandy plain only about fifty meters wide. A belt of sand between the forest and.
A city!
It stood directly in front of him. A mass of silvery white towers reaching forever up into the sky. Things like giant birds hovered around them, and the powerful light from the doomed sky made everything shimmer, blurring together until all he could see was an ethereal glow.
Stunned, he shaded his eyes from the incredible sight. The city was bigger than any he had ever seen, bigger than Burmecia, bigger than Alexandria, bigger even than Bran Bal, his birthplace. He could only imagine what kinds of wondrous beings lived in such a place, and what he would say when he met them. Then his eyes found the river again. It cut effortlessly through the sand, artificially straight now, heading directly towards the city. Following it, Kuja was able to see exactly where the desert ended and the city began: a wall. The river flowed through the shimmering barrier and on through the city, though anything past it was only a blur. Kuja followed it up to the barrier, enduring the great heat and discomfort. When he reached it, he realised that it radiated a kind of energy, it was humming slightly, and its structure seemed to change inside.
Trembling, he reached out his hands to touch it.
"Aaaahhhhhhhhhh!"
A great blast of energy knocked him back, burning his hands and searing his eyes. Shaking, he washed his hands in the river, well away from the wall, then returned to try to find a way in.
The river was no good, it flowed through the wall, and he had no doubts that it would hurt him again even if he was in the water. There were some sorts of towers at intervals along the wall, but they were seamless and had no markings on them, not even something to identify them.
Getting desperate, he came as close as he dared to the wall, and stared as hard as he could. Suddenly, shapes became visible, and he could see inside the city!
Unfortunately, they also saw him.
Well I hope you liked it! Sorry if this one is a bit boring, but I needed to establish a few things, and I didn't want to dump him in the middle of a dilemma right away.well not a big one anyway. ^_^
Please read and review, constructive criticism respected and encouraged!
~Kuja~
Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews! I wasn't expecting such nice comments. Very sorry this chapter has took so long to come out, but I had trouble with the plot and some inspiration took a good while in getting here.
Anyway, now I have a basic plot (Yippee!) the story can progress. Here goes:
Helix - Kuja's Story
Chapter 2 - Sentence
Eventually the pain had died down sufficiently for him to think clearly. In the agonising minutes, following what he had dubbed "The Trial" he had slowly become aware of his surroundings, though the pain in his head kept his eyes firmly shut.
As far as he was aware, he was lying on something soft and damp, in the open air. He could hear the wind in the trees, and feel the sun on his face. Only - something was very wrong.
That sun.it's so strong!
The sun was burning him. He could feel it. Not just warm but blisteringly hot. He groped around him for something to cover his face, but all he felt was moss. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he rolled onto his side; and fell.
In shock, he opened his eyes just in time to see the ground rushing up at him. He landed on a bed of leaves and branches but his leg was dashed against a rock and was cut open. He collected himself after a minute or so, and discovered that the shade of the trees stopped the glare of the sun. He took a good look around for the first time.
A thick forest barred his path. The drop behind him was the only clear spot. Leaves hung together in front so that no light passed between them and branches intertwined on the floor so that a person would sink up to their knees in vegetation. Looking down at himself, he realised that his leg was not the only problem he would have in the future. He still wore his Terran clothes, and they would offer no protection against his environment. They were now torn and dirty, mostly he guessed from his fall.
Quickly he checked over his physical condition. He was thinner than he should have been, and weak, though he thought he would be able to walk even with his leg, which was rapidly beginning to pain him. Tearing off a strip of his cape, he bound it tightly.
It will be infected soon if I cannot clean it. If only I had opened my eyes sooner!
However, looking up through the tress, he was glad he hadn't. The glare came from the sky itself, which was an eerie yellow with flashes of green. Even with the trees, it hurt to look at it for long.
This world, it's dying.
Now he understood. He had to help this world, wherever it was. The only question was how? After all, the very sky was sickened. Perhaps Yushan could help him, but then, she had not decided where he was to be sent, Kalat had done that much.
"Yushan! Hello? Can you hear me? Kalat! Where is this place?"
There was silence. Even a possible echo was lost in among the trees. He wasn't that surprised. This was his punishment, and it was fully deserved as far as he was concerned. Well in any case, I had better get out of this place and find people. They will tell me where I am.
He then realised that his appearance might become a problem. There were not many silver haired people with tails on Gaia, never mind Terra where he himself was made. If he was going to explore this place, it would be wise to be careful. His appearance usually caused quite a stir.
"Some sort of disguise, at least to hide my tail and the feathers. Until I find out where I am it would be best to be cautious and treat it like I am still on Gaia."
Turning towards the thick forest, and selecting a direction, Kuja started walking, trying to find something for a disguise.
Fifteen minutes later, it was complete. He had coated his hair in mud, which not only made it a very dirty colour but also plastered the feathers to his head, hiding them from view. He had managed to secure his cape so is fastened in the centre, and the tail was curled up out of the way. Realising he still looked very odd; he gave a sigh of frustration.
Well at least I look human now. Even if I make a bit of a strange human. Of course, this is no use at all if I am in a world of monsters!
The forest seemed to close in on him, and his instincts told him he must find shelter as soon as possible. Making sure not to head back the way he had come, he set off again into the forest.
After what seemed like ages, Kuja tired and dirty, came across a stream running through the forest.
At last! A landmark!
He was sure he had been going in circles, but now he had something to follow his progress was much quicker. The sides of the stream were reasonably clear of vegetation, and he was able to clean the cut on his leg.
The only thing worrying him as he walked was the unending silence. There were no birds or animals as far as he could see, and there was no sound except for the running water and the wind. It only confirmed his greatest fears.
Most if not all species dead, or worse! Perhaps I am the only person on this world.
The though of being alone forever tormented him, and he started to run, staggering through the trees. As he sped up, he saw that the stream was gradually widening, becoming a small but fast flowing river. The plants changed too, becoming less dense and damp.
Yes! I am nearly at the edge of the forest!
Spurred on by hopes, he continued to run, until suddenly be burst through some trees and he was out of the forest.
What the-?!
He stood on the edge of a desert. A sandy plain only about fifty meters wide. A belt of sand between the forest and.
A city!
It stood directly in front of him. A mass of silvery white towers reaching forever up into the sky. Things like giant birds hovered around them, and the powerful light from the doomed sky made everything shimmer, blurring together until all he could see was an ethereal glow.
Stunned, he shaded his eyes from the incredible sight. The city was bigger than any he had ever seen, bigger than Burmecia, bigger than Alexandria, bigger even than Bran Bal, his birthplace. He could only imagine what kinds of wondrous beings lived in such a place, and what he would say when he met them. Then his eyes found the river again. It cut effortlessly through the sand, artificially straight now, heading directly towards the city. Following it, Kuja was able to see exactly where the desert ended and the city began: a wall. The river flowed through the shimmering barrier and on through the city, though anything past it was only a blur. Kuja followed it up to the barrier, enduring the great heat and discomfort. When he reached it, he realised that it radiated a kind of energy, it was humming slightly, and its structure seemed to change inside.
Trembling, he reached out his hands to touch it.
"Aaaahhhhhhhhhh!"
A great blast of energy knocked him back, burning his hands and searing his eyes. Shaking, he washed his hands in the river, well away from the wall, then returned to try to find a way in.
The river was no good, it flowed through the wall, and he had no doubts that it would hurt him again even if he was in the water. There were some sorts of towers at intervals along the wall, but they were seamless and had no markings on them, not even something to identify them.
Getting desperate, he came as close as he dared to the wall, and stared as hard as he could. Suddenly, shapes became visible, and he could see inside the city!
Unfortunately, they also saw him.
Well I hope you liked it! Sorry if this one is a bit boring, but I needed to establish a few things, and I didn't want to dump him in the middle of a dilemma right away.well not a big one anyway. ^_^
Please read and review, constructive criticism respected and encouraged!
~Kuja~