Ok. So maybe I couldn't help myself and I HAD to write the second chapter.
I apologize, well; at least you're not on a cliffhanger right? It works out
for the both of us. Anyway, perhaps I just like wasting my time. But you
know, a friend once told me that my writing improves every time I write
something. So, call it practice. Anywho, as Brother would say, "GULLVVINGS,
CONTINUE ZE STORY!"
(Verona lies over a bloody body, the sphere is obviously on the ground.)
"Why... WHY? Why did you take my blow?" Verona cried onto a lifeless body.
"I guess I missed. Well, I never had thought I'd end up killing a lady, a pretty one at that. No, I meant to kill you, you demonic monstrosity! It's your fault she died. She gave her life in order to save you, you beast!"
(Buddy shuts sphere off)
"Hey you guys, we're here. You need to go NOW. They need your help down there. Forget the sphere, watch it later." Buddy insisted.
Rikku and Paine complied, getting off the Celsius.
"Why are you still here, Yuna?" Buddy asked.
"Full speed ahead, take me to Kilika. I want to speak with Verona, again. Paine and Rikku can handle it. Just call me if they need any help, okay?" Yuna asked.
"It's alright with me. What about you, Brother?" Buddy asked.
"YES! IF YUNA WANTS TO GO, WE GO! YEEEHA, FULL SPEED AHEAD!" Brother shouted.
"I really did want to watch the rest of Verona's sphere, but I decided to wait until Paine and Rikku returned. I kind of felt lonely, and vulnerable without them. But I knew Besaid needed the Gullwing's help. And even if I couldn't be there, I would make sure someone else could. And I wasn't there, because I wanted to find you. Call me selfish..." Yuna thought.
She sat and talked to Shinra for a while, until they arrived, hovering in front of Verona's house. She got off.
She arrived at Verona's house, and knocked, numerous times. The Celsius hovered off, a little while ago and she felt silly just standing and knocking.
"Helloooo. Verona, It's me, Yuna, are you home? Please open up." Yuna kept knocking. But then she heard a beautiful melody, coming from the back of the house. And she heard water splashing also. She walked around to the back of the house.
Yuna was amazed. Verona had a magnificently elaborate, lustrous, beautiful garden. It was more beautiful than the Moonflow. Pyreflies aimlessly dotted the lavish garden. Green hedges, laced with white, red and pink roses surrounded the patch of the farplane, with a grand archway, entwined with ivy and blue roses. There were flowers, meticulously planted, in every colour and shape. Butterflies mingled with the scenery, the ground was speckled with various small flowers, like buttercups, and cornflowers.
But the most impressive feature of this enormous garden was the pond in the center. The water was clear and fresh. Lilies floated on the surface, as the clouds in the sky, brightly colourful fish swam amongst the sapphire- tinted water. If this wasn't a piece of the farplane, it had to be the farplane. What was striking was the large, golden harp, which was being strum by a Coeurl (by the long protrusions on the sides of its face of course).
There was a gentle fiend, making harmonious sweet melodies amongst a farplane garden. It was an unreal sight. Yuna noticed something splash out of the water. It floated there on the surface, looking right at Yuna. It was Verona.
"I didn't expect you to be back so soon." Verona climbed out of the water. At the edge of the pond, was a towel, she grabbed it and wrapped it around her left arm before Yuna even got a glimpse of it. Something else jumped right out after her. It was another Coeurl, except its stripes were inversed. Verona bent to pet it.
She glittered in the mid-evening sun. Her 2-piece was gold and the bottom piece was attached to a long, totally transparent skirt, which parted in the middle. It was dotted with gold sparkles. It was some mesh fabric. It looked so light and delicate, like the tail on a fish...
The White striped, black, Coeurl came up to Yuna and rubbed its body against her legs, like a housecat.
"You tame fiends? I can't believe I'm actually petting one..." Yuna knelt down and petted the purring Coeurl.
"I do not tame fiends. They come to me as gentle creatures, and I care for them. They are free to go and come as they please. However, These Coeurl's never leave my side. They live in my home, and I see them as family. Their the only family I have, ever since Misu died." Verona looked to the sky.
"I see. I'm sorry." Yuna nodded.
"She was my half-sister. She knew our mother. She knew her father, but not mine. Mine was another face in the crowd. But because of him supposedly being unsent, I am cursed. And I drag others with me. Did you not watch the Sphere?" Verona asked.
"... Most of it. We had gotten to the part where the sphere lay on the floor. But I don't understand, what happened?" Yuna asked. She regretted that. It sounded so rude to ask about the death of another.
"Come inside." Verona insisted. She walked into the house, and Yuna followed. She got a blanket and laid it down on her furniture, so she would not make it wet. Yuna sat across from her, in a recliner.
"Misu and I were sitting at that table over there. It was around dinnertime. It was right after your calm, we were celebrating. She had her sphere with her, trying to get it to work, but I insisted she eat. As soon as she picked up her knife, someone broke my door down. I was alarmed. The man ran into our dining room, with a long dagger. Misu immediately got up. I stood up. 'What are you doing here?' I asked. 'Why, I am here to kill a demon. And when I kill it, its death will ensure the Eternal Calm. We wouldn't want Sin to be resurrected, would we?' the man retorted. He was a Yevon monk. I understood. 'I do not wish to omit such an evil crime. I want the same thing you and every other person in Spira wants. I am glad the Eternal Calm is here. And we are blessed, why would I take that blessing away? I am human too after all, why would I seek destruction? Please understand that if you kill me you are committing murder. You will put to death. You won't be a hero. Think about what you're doing.' I told him. It was utterly pointless. He was insane. 'Have it your way, beast!' And then he threw the dagger, aimed at my heart. Misu... she..." Verona explained.
"It's ok. You don't need to tell me any more." Said Yuna.
"She jumped in the way. It went straight through her body, her blood sprayed onto me. I was horrified. She fell onto the ground, and the sphere hit the floor, that's how it turned on. And then I cried on her body asking her why. The monk then told me it was my fault and, he grabs the sphere and turns it off. There's no more than that on the sphere. So you really did see it all." Said Verona.
"Oh. Okay." Yuna confirmed.
"Then my faithful Coeurl, the white one, I didn't have the black one yet, attacked the monk, and knocked him out. I pulled the short sword out of Misu's chest. 'I have no more purpose... but you do. You are worth something. And I'm glad I'm going instead of you. And for that reason, I don't need to be sent. I've accepted this as my fate. Hey, do me a favor; don't resurrect me, no matter how much it hurts. I'll always be right there, watching you. Besides my time's up. I can feel it. It's all right. But hey, I want you to always remember that you are NOT a monster, or anything. You're just a normal person, and.... I'll see you on the farplane, okay?' She asked weakly. I promised her. I cried and cried. I even forgot about the monk. But he came around, as I lay, covered in blood, over my big sister's body. The monk crept up on me and... he... I don't want to talk about it. And now I was bleeding, I lost my mind. I picked up the bloody weapon and I brought it to the monk's heart. 'One push is all I need to kill you,' I threatened. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I collapsed to my knees, but I wanted to kill him. I called for my cats but they did not come. He took the dagger from my hands and he brought it above my head, ready to kill me. As I looked down at my blood-soaked arm, I heard something hit. I looked up, and the monk fell backwards. I stood up and there, embedded in his skull was one of my dinner knives. I looked back and saw Shiva, my white Coeurl, propping up Misu. She had thrown the knife. I ran to her, and held her. 'Hey, I still... got... it. Hey, I know I was kinda mean to you sometimes, but I really love you and wish the best for you...' then she coughed a very large amount of blood up. 'I'll... put in a.... good word for you, to Seymour... He'd like you.... Okay... They're calling me... goodbye, little sis.' She weakly said. She went limp and I set her down..." Verona explained.
Yuna was teary. It was a very sad story...
"Distraught, I ran through the house, and I flung myself into the pond, hoping I'd drown. Hoping to open my eyes to see Misu dragging Lord Seymour by the arm screaming, 'Come and meet my sister! There she is now!' But no.... I opened my eyes and I saw a Black, white striped Coeurl. He had saved my life. It was night. I had taken the monk's body and threw it into the sea. However, Misu's body was important to me. I cremated her in a blue flame. Blue was her favorite colour. I bring blue roses to her grave every month. And a bouquet, of flowers on her birthday, and other holidays. And now every time I look at my left arm, it reminds me of what I've been through, and it reminds me of how I... never mind." Verona vindicated.
Yuna stared at Verona's mysterious left arm. It was still wrapped in a towel. Verona seemed very self-conscious about her arm. She noticed Yuna was staring and put her right arm on top of it.
"Sorry..." Yuna apologized.
"It's... okay. Let's find your boyfriend, shall we? That's why you're here." Verona nodded.
"No! This time I came to help you. I swear. I want to help you... resurrect Lord Seymour. I know you don't want me to, but I will anyway. If you only resurrect one person for me, I want it to be Lord Seymour. I want you to be happy. I want you to be a normal person and lead a normal life. I want you to 'Fall asleep next to him holding his hand. I want you to feel like the luckiest person alive, Verona. And you have my protection. And smile my permission, okay?" Yuna insisted.
"That is so very kind of you. But I do not require your assistance. Thank you, though..." Verona smiled softly.
"So then you will resurrect him?" Yuna asked.
"Perhaps, but if I did, it'd be something I'd have to do on my own." Verona replied.
"I wish there were some way I could help..." Yuna pondered.
"... I don't want to impose, but there is. Could I possibly use your airship? I... need his ashes. The Guado have them. I know. I have resurrected for a Guado. Someone named Tromell. Do you know of whom I speak? Most of the Guado have retreated into the Macalania Woods. And I could never go that far." Stated Verona.
"Yes! You can use our airship! That means you're gonna resurrect him right?" Yuna asked happily.
"Yes... I think I will. I have nothing to lose. And besides, I can't turn down an order from High Summoner Yuna." Verona smiled.
"Great! I'll call it over right now!" Yuna shouted with glee.
She commed Buddy and Brother.
"YAHOOO! All right, full speed to that one chick's house!" Brother screamed.
"Hey, Yuna. You don't suppose Verona has any other sphere's lying around, do you? I just watched this sphere. Hey with this Misu's girl's awesome recording skills, another sphere like that, it'd be worth big amounts of gil." Buddy brought up.
"Yeah, I can see it now, going for bids, '1,000,000 starting bid! The Secret Life Of The Last Summoner, Lady Verona. Do I hear 2,000,000 gil?'" Shinra dreamed.
"Hey! She's not even a Summoner! And she's not the last one, Shinra, what are you talking about?!" Yuna asked.
"Think about it. There aren't any Aeons to summon, so the Summoner's can't summon them. On the other hand, Lady Verona can summon the dead!" Shinra commented.
"YES! WE'D BE THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN ALL OF SPPIIIRA! We could exploit Verona's ability, and charge a large amount of gil, and everybody would want it! YEEEESSSS!!!" Brother added.
"You guys, that's not even right. And plus, she's standing right behind me." Yuna giggled.
Verona looked angry. "I have values and morals, you know. I don't go exploiting my talents for money. I can't play god for just anyone. I thought you wanted me to be treated like a normal person, not some sideshow freak? Well that's all good and fine. I can see why you wanted to help me. You just wanted me in your debt. So I would resurrect your boyfriend. Hmph..." Verona snapped, very angrily, very un-methodical, and very, very pissed with the Gullwings.
"No, no, no, no! That's not it at all. They were just kidding! No, I would never manipulate a human being like that. I meant what I said, Verona. I want you to be treated equally, just like everyone else. Because you ARE like everyone else the only difference is, is --," Yuna began.
"I can't go to the farplane, no matter who sends me. I'll be stuck here, unsent, immortal, for all of time." Verona glared at Yuna.
"No! Why would you think such a thing? You'll go to the farplane when it's your time! Just like everyone else!" Yuna exclaimed.
"NO I WON'T!!!" Verona screamed. In a rush of anger she threw aside the towel that concealed her arm. She held it out. She calmed down.
"You see... I can't go there. I can visit, and mingle, but I cannot stay, for the eternal rest. I am a.... monster. No better than a fiend in Spira's eyes... I'm sorry..." She picked up her towel and walked into her bedroom. "I'll be out in a minute, let me change." She sighed. Yuna was shocked. She had never seen such a thing. But... she HAD to be allowed onto the farplane, she had done nothing wrong. Verona walked out and once again, her long sleeve concealed her left arm.
"Why... do all these things happen to you?" Yuna asked.
"I do not know. I do not understand either. In my lifetime, I have never sinned. Thus I cannot resurrect Sin. But if I haven't done anything wrong, why should wrong things happen to me? I don't know anything.... anymore. I've said it twice, I'll say it again, all I want to do is live out a normal life..." Verona protested.
"As the High Summoner, I will give you my best, and give you my word, to protect you and give you a normal life." Yuna joked.
"All right." Verona smiled.
The Celsius hovered out front. No sooner did they board the ship, did Paine and Rikku ring in.
"Brother! Come in! Go get Yuna! We can't handle these many fiends, by ourselves! Go to Kilika and pick her up, okay?" Rikku insisted.
"I've got Yuna and Verona on board, they're coming." Buddy replied.
"Make it fast." Paine snapped.
"As fast as we can." Buddy retorted.
"Alright. I guess I'll help out." Verona lifted up the right side of her dress, to reveal a staff strapped to her leg. It was a murky gray colour, it had two serpentine dragons intertwining, until they crossed heads at the end of the staff, and a clear sphere rested in the center of the dragon's crossed heads. The end of their tails held a dagger at the end of the staff. The dagger was long and slender and it came to a very fine point.
Everyone was staring. "What?!" Verona asked. Everyone immediately returned to what they were doing.
"I thought you don't need to fight fiends." Yuna pointed out.
"Oh this isn't for hurting fiends, it's for hurting the people that get in my way." Verona smiled. Yuna looked kinda puzzled but she shrugged.
They arrived at Besaid, and jumped off the Celsius, right at the door of the temple. Verona picked up her dress with her left, free hand, and she and Yuna ran. They met Paine and Rikku inside, and the two girls were whipped from fighting.
They came into the chamber of the fayth, and met Valefor. Yuna remembered fighting Bahamut at Bevelle and she knew what she and Verona had to do, but the fiends were still pouring out.
Verona sighed deeply and raised the staff above her head, with both hands. She closed her eyes, and she plummeted it into the ground and a great white light swept throughout the entire temple. Every non-human there, burst into Pyreflies.
The temple was silent as the dead. Verona's eyes turned white and she limply collapsed onto the floor. It was a loud sound, and it echoed throughout the temple.
Rikku ran up to where Verona and Yuna were standing. She screamed, "SHE'S NOT DEAD IS SHE??? NOOO!!!"
Paine bent over and felt for a pulse. "She's got a pulse, but just barely. She'll be all right. C'mon, let's go." she instructed.
Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, picked up Verona and her staff and carried her away...
Later that night
"So, this is her then. She can really resurrect the dead?" Lulu asked Yuna.
"I believe so." Yuna nodded.
"She's a real hero, ya know." Wakka added.
"Ooo I hope she's ok..." Rikku hoped.
"That was some pretty impressive magic." Paine inputted.
"No... it wasn't magic... it was something else. Whatever it was, I don't think she could do it again if she tried." Lulu crossed her arms.
"She gave it everything she had. But I wonder why..." Paine commented.
"... A compromise..." Yuna thought aloud.
"A compromise?" Paine asked.
"Yes. In her eyes, if she helps us, we'll help her. And... I thank her for everything's she's done." Yuna replied.
"I get it!" Rikku nodded.
"Yeah, she didn't think we were gonna give her a free ride." Paine sat back.
"She just didn't want to impose, ya?" Wakka stated.
"I suppose." Said Paine.
The next morning
Verona awoke. She rolled out of bed. Her head spun, her body ached. She felt drained. Her vision blurred, her movements, weak. Yuna sat by her side.
"Verona! Are you alright?!" Yuna knelt by her side. Verona managed to stand; without a word. She looked at Yuna and smiled. She then fell over, into Yuna's arms, limp as a corpse. (Anyone smell shojou-ai? Lmao....)
Luckily, Wakka walked in to check on Yuna. When he noticed Yuna holding up Verona, He ran over to her and gently picked up Verona's body, in both of his strong arms. Yuna looked for a pulse, but they could clearly see the rise and fall of her chest. She was just overly tired.
"She's a tiny thing, like Rikku, ya?" Wakka smiled. Yuna smiled and put her hands on her hips.
"What's that supposed to mean, tubby?" She asked jokingly, imitating Rikku.
Wakka shrugged and they walked out into the village square. Everyone was cheering and hollering.
"YEEEEEEHA! GO GULLWINGS! YOU'RE HEROES!" Someone screamed. Rikku and Yuna blushed, and raised a modest, waving hand.
Paine and Rikku boarded the Celsius. Lulu walked over to Wakka holding Verona. She brushed away Verona's red hair from her face, revealing her pale face.
"She stays inside a house all of the time, you can tell. It's because of the cruel society. She's an outcast, she'll never be accepted, but she's trying... I admire her... for not seeking revenge on the people who shun her... but... you never know. It's never to late. You are now responsible for her actions Yuna. Most would use that to their advantage. Be cautious. Farewell." Lulu nodded slightly.
Wakka walked her onto the ship, where Brother took her from there. The door closed and the people of Besaid waved in thanks. Brother took Verona to the cabin, as everyone followed.
"She is as light as a feather! ...I say we make her a Gullwing!" Brother suggested.
"Because she's light?" Rikku asked.
"No, no, no! Because she did a good job in Besaid." Brother explained.
"That's her decision to make, not ours." Paine added.
"But we could make her an honorary Gullwing." Shinra put on the table.
"Yes! But I want to make her a Gullwing!" Brother whined.
"Well when she wakes up, we'll ask her. We can't make her." Rikku countered.
"Yeah, especially if she's gonna resurrect Seymour. She's not going to want to be a sphere hunter. She'll want to settle down and have a family. Besides, She'd be the oldest one here." Buddy offset.
"Who's the leader here? I am! I make the rules, and I say who gets to be a Gullwing, and who doesn't! If she wants to then she can, if she says no, then she can be an honorary Gullwing, and no complaints!" Brother justified. He walked up the stairs and placed Verona on a bed.
"Where to now, Yuna?" Brother asked.
"Well, I think we should..."
END OF CHAP 2
Don't you love my Cliffhangers? Where do you think they'll go? It's sorta neat how I skip the details and cut to the chase in the next chapter. It doesn't tell you where they went right away. It's starts out when Verona wakes up, FINALLY. Do you think she'll become a Gullwing? ....I wish I had a FF game maker... Yeh, wishful thinking. Me and a million other people. I think all the people who love FF should live in one big city. AN FF CITY! Okay... now that's pushing it... like maybe... Somewhere in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Nothing's there, but a lot of trees. We could have our own Macalania woods or... our own Moonflow, with Chocobos and fiends, and Tidus, and Seymour, and Auron, and Lulu, and Rikku, and the Aeons, and Jecht... oh Yeh, Sin can come too, we can't have an FF City without a main bad guy, and perils... Oh Yeh! WE MUST HAVE BLITZBALL! How are we going to put water in a gigantic bubble, and have it defy gravity? ... I'll get back to you on that. Anyway, enjoy, and leave me a review! (And P.S. let's get our own city!) (GO READ CHAPTER 3!)
(Verona lies over a bloody body, the sphere is obviously on the ground.)
"Why... WHY? Why did you take my blow?" Verona cried onto a lifeless body.
"I guess I missed. Well, I never had thought I'd end up killing a lady, a pretty one at that. No, I meant to kill you, you demonic monstrosity! It's your fault she died. She gave her life in order to save you, you beast!"
(Buddy shuts sphere off)
"Hey you guys, we're here. You need to go NOW. They need your help down there. Forget the sphere, watch it later." Buddy insisted.
Rikku and Paine complied, getting off the Celsius.
"Why are you still here, Yuna?" Buddy asked.
"Full speed ahead, take me to Kilika. I want to speak with Verona, again. Paine and Rikku can handle it. Just call me if they need any help, okay?" Yuna asked.
"It's alright with me. What about you, Brother?" Buddy asked.
"YES! IF YUNA WANTS TO GO, WE GO! YEEEHA, FULL SPEED AHEAD!" Brother shouted.
"I really did want to watch the rest of Verona's sphere, but I decided to wait until Paine and Rikku returned. I kind of felt lonely, and vulnerable without them. But I knew Besaid needed the Gullwing's help. And even if I couldn't be there, I would make sure someone else could. And I wasn't there, because I wanted to find you. Call me selfish..." Yuna thought.
She sat and talked to Shinra for a while, until they arrived, hovering in front of Verona's house. She got off.
She arrived at Verona's house, and knocked, numerous times. The Celsius hovered off, a little while ago and she felt silly just standing and knocking.
"Helloooo. Verona, It's me, Yuna, are you home? Please open up." Yuna kept knocking. But then she heard a beautiful melody, coming from the back of the house. And she heard water splashing also. She walked around to the back of the house.
Yuna was amazed. Verona had a magnificently elaborate, lustrous, beautiful garden. It was more beautiful than the Moonflow. Pyreflies aimlessly dotted the lavish garden. Green hedges, laced with white, red and pink roses surrounded the patch of the farplane, with a grand archway, entwined with ivy and blue roses. There were flowers, meticulously planted, in every colour and shape. Butterflies mingled with the scenery, the ground was speckled with various small flowers, like buttercups, and cornflowers.
But the most impressive feature of this enormous garden was the pond in the center. The water was clear and fresh. Lilies floated on the surface, as the clouds in the sky, brightly colourful fish swam amongst the sapphire- tinted water. If this wasn't a piece of the farplane, it had to be the farplane. What was striking was the large, golden harp, which was being strum by a Coeurl (by the long protrusions on the sides of its face of course).
There was a gentle fiend, making harmonious sweet melodies amongst a farplane garden. It was an unreal sight. Yuna noticed something splash out of the water. It floated there on the surface, looking right at Yuna. It was Verona.
"I didn't expect you to be back so soon." Verona climbed out of the water. At the edge of the pond, was a towel, she grabbed it and wrapped it around her left arm before Yuna even got a glimpse of it. Something else jumped right out after her. It was another Coeurl, except its stripes were inversed. Verona bent to pet it.
She glittered in the mid-evening sun. Her 2-piece was gold and the bottom piece was attached to a long, totally transparent skirt, which parted in the middle. It was dotted with gold sparkles. It was some mesh fabric. It looked so light and delicate, like the tail on a fish...
The White striped, black, Coeurl came up to Yuna and rubbed its body against her legs, like a housecat.
"You tame fiends? I can't believe I'm actually petting one..." Yuna knelt down and petted the purring Coeurl.
"I do not tame fiends. They come to me as gentle creatures, and I care for them. They are free to go and come as they please. However, These Coeurl's never leave my side. They live in my home, and I see them as family. Their the only family I have, ever since Misu died." Verona looked to the sky.
"I see. I'm sorry." Yuna nodded.
"She was my half-sister. She knew our mother. She knew her father, but not mine. Mine was another face in the crowd. But because of him supposedly being unsent, I am cursed. And I drag others with me. Did you not watch the Sphere?" Verona asked.
"... Most of it. We had gotten to the part where the sphere lay on the floor. But I don't understand, what happened?" Yuna asked. She regretted that. It sounded so rude to ask about the death of another.
"Come inside." Verona insisted. She walked into the house, and Yuna followed. She got a blanket and laid it down on her furniture, so she would not make it wet. Yuna sat across from her, in a recliner.
"Misu and I were sitting at that table over there. It was around dinnertime. It was right after your calm, we were celebrating. She had her sphere with her, trying to get it to work, but I insisted she eat. As soon as she picked up her knife, someone broke my door down. I was alarmed. The man ran into our dining room, with a long dagger. Misu immediately got up. I stood up. 'What are you doing here?' I asked. 'Why, I am here to kill a demon. And when I kill it, its death will ensure the Eternal Calm. We wouldn't want Sin to be resurrected, would we?' the man retorted. He was a Yevon monk. I understood. 'I do not wish to omit such an evil crime. I want the same thing you and every other person in Spira wants. I am glad the Eternal Calm is here. And we are blessed, why would I take that blessing away? I am human too after all, why would I seek destruction? Please understand that if you kill me you are committing murder. You will put to death. You won't be a hero. Think about what you're doing.' I told him. It was utterly pointless. He was insane. 'Have it your way, beast!' And then he threw the dagger, aimed at my heart. Misu... she..." Verona explained.
"It's ok. You don't need to tell me any more." Said Yuna.
"She jumped in the way. It went straight through her body, her blood sprayed onto me. I was horrified. She fell onto the ground, and the sphere hit the floor, that's how it turned on. And then I cried on her body asking her why. The monk then told me it was my fault and, he grabs the sphere and turns it off. There's no more than that on the sphere. So you really did see it all." Said Verona.
"Oh. Okay." Yuna confirmed.
"Then my faithful Coeurl, the white one, I didn't have the black one yet, attacked the monk, and knocked him out. I pulled the short sword out of Misu's chest. 'I have no more purpose... but you do. You are worth something. And I'm glad I'm going instead of you. And for that reason, I don't need to be sent. I've accepted this as my fate. Hey, do me a favor; don't resurrect me, no matter how much it hurts. I'll always be right there, watching you. Besides my time's up. I can feel it. It's all right. But hey, I want you to always remember that you are NOT a monster, or anything. You're just a normal person, and.... I'll see you on the farplane, okay?' She asked weakly. I promised her. I cried and cried. I even forgot about the monk. But he came around, as I lay, covered in blood, over my big sister's body. The monk crept up on me and... he... I don't want to talk about it. And now I was bleeding, I lost my mind. I picked up the bloody weapon and I brought it to the monk's heart. 'One push is all I need to kill you,' I threatened. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I collapsed to my knees, but I wanted to kill him. I called for my cats but they did not come. He took the dagger from my hands and he brought it above my head, ready to kill me. As I looked down at my blood-soaked arm, I heard something hit. I looked up, and the monk fell backwards. I stood up and there, embedded in his skull was one of my dinner knives. I looked back and saw Shiva, my white Coeurl, propping up Misu. She had thrown the knife. I ran to her, and held her. 'Hey, I still... got... it. Hey, I know I was kinda mean to you sometimes, but I really love you and wish the best for you...' then she coughed a very large amount of blood up. 'I'll... put in a.... good word for you, to Seymour... He'd like you.... Okay... They're calling me... goodbye, little sis.' She weakly said. She went limp and I set her down..." Verona explained.
Yuna was teary. It was a very sad story...
"Distraught, I ran through the house, and I flung myself into the pond, hoping I'd drown. Hoping to open my eyes to see Misu dragging Lord Seymour by the arm screaming, 'Come and meet my sister! There she is now!' But no.... I opened my eyes and I saw a Black, white striped Coeurl. He had saved my life. It was night. I had taken the monk's body and threw it into the sea. However, Misu's body was important to me. I cremated her in a blue flame. Blue was her favorite colour. I bring blue roses to her grave every month. And a bouquet, of flowers on her birthday, and other holidays. And now every time I look at my left arm, it reminds me of what I've been through, and it reminds me of how I... never mind." Verona vindicated.
Yuna stared at Verona's mysterious left arm. It was still wrapped in a towel. Verona seemed very self-conscious about her arm. She noticed Yuna was staring and put her right arm on top of it.
"Sorry..." Yuna apologized.
"It's... okay. Let's find your boyfriend, shall we? That's why you're here." Verona nodded.
"No! This time I came to help you. I swear. I want to help you... resurrect Lord Seymour. I know you don't want me to, but I will anyway. If you only resurrect one person for me, I want it to be Lord Seymour. I want you to be happy. I want you to be a normal person and lead a normal life. I want you to 'Fall asleep next to him holding his hand. I want you to feel like the luckiest person alive, Verona. And you have my protection. And smile my permission, okay?" Yuna insisted.
"That is so very kind of you. But I do not require your assistance. Thank you, though..." Verona smiled softly.
"So then you will resurrect him?" Yuna asked.
"Perhaps, but if I did, it'd be something I'd have to do on my own." Verona replied.
"I wish there were some way I could help..." Yuna pondered.
"... I don't want to impose, but there is. Could I possibly use your airship? I... need his ashes. The Guado have them. I know. I have resurrected for a Guado. Someone named Tromell. Do you know of whom I speak? Most of the Guado have retreated into the Macalania Woods. And I could never go that far." Stated Verona.
"Yes! You can use our airship! That means you're gonna resurrect him right?" Yuna asked happily.
"Yes... I think I will. I have nothing to lose. And besides, I can't turn down an order from High Summoner Yuna." Verona smiled.
"Great! I'll call it over right now!" Yuna shouted with glee.
She commed Buddy and Brother.
"YAHOOO! All right, full speed to that one chick's house!" Brother screamed.
"Hey, Yuna. You don't suppose Verona has any other sphere's lying around, do you? I just watched this sphere. Hey with this Misu's girl's awesome recording skills, another sphere like that, it'd be worth big amounts of gil." Buddy brought up.
"Yeah, I can see it now, going for bids, '1,000,000 starting bid! The Secret Life Of The Last Summoner, Lady Verona. Do I hear 2,000,000 gil?'" Shinra dreamed.
"Hey! She's not even a Summoner! And she's not the last one, Shinra, what are you talking about?!" Yuna asked.
"Think about it. There aren't any Aeons to summon, so the Summoner's can't summon them. On the other hand, Lady Verona can summon the dead!" Shinra commented.
"YES! WE'D BE THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN ALL OF SPPIIIRA! We could exploit Verona's ability, and charge a large amount of gil, and everybody would want it! YEEEESSSS!!!" Brother added.
"You guys, that's not even right. And plus, she's standing right behind me." Yuna giggled.
Verona looked angry. "I have values and morals, you know. I don't go exploiting my talents for money. I can't play god for just anyone. I thought you wanted me to be treated like a normal person, not some sideshow freak? Well that's all good and fine. I can see why you wanted to help me. You just wanted me in your debt. So I would resurrect your boyfriend. Hmph..." Verona snapped, very angrily, very un-methodical, and very, very pissed with the Gullwings.
"No, no, no, no! That's not it at all. They were just kidding! No, I would never manipulate a human being like that. I meant what I said, Verona. I want you to be treated equally, just like everyone else. Because you ARE like everyone else the only difference is, is --," Yuna began.
"I can't go to the farplane, no matter who sends me. I'll be stuck here, unsent, immortal, for all of time." Verona glared at Yuna.
"No! Why would you think such a thing? You'll go to the farplane when it's your time! Just like everyone else!" Yuna exclaimed.
"NO I WON'T!!!" Verona screamed. In a rush of anger she threw aside the towel that concealed her arm. She held it out. She calmed down.
"You see... I can't go there. I can visit, and mingle, but I cannot stay, for the eternal rest. I am a.... monster. No better than a fiend in Spira's eyes... I'm sorry..." She picked up her towel and walked into her bedroom. "I'll be out in a minute, let me change." She sighed. Yuna was shocked. She had never seen such a thing. But... she HAD to be allowed onto the farplane, she had done nothing wrong. Verona walked out and once again, her long sleeve concealed her left arm.
"Why... do all these things happen to you?" Yuna asked.
"I do not know. I do not understand either. In my lifetime, I have never sinned. Thus I cannot resurrect Sin. But if I haven't done anything wrong, why should wrong things happen to me? I don't know anything.... anymore. I've said it twice, I'll say it again, all I want to do is live out a normal life..." Verona protested.
"As the High Summoner, I will give you my best, and give you my word, to protect you and give you a normal life." Yuna joked.
"All right." Verona smiled.
The Celsius hovered out front. No sooner did they board the ship, did Paine and Rikku ring in.
"Brother! Come in! Go get Yuna! We can't handle these many fiends, by ourselves! Go to Kilika and pick her up, okay?" Rikku insisted.
"I've got Yuna and Verona on board, they're coming." Buddy replied.
"Make it fast." Paine snapped.
"As fast as we can." Buddy retorted.
"Alright. I guess I'll help out." Verona lifted up the right side of her dress, to reveal a staff strapped to her leg. It was a murky gray colour, it had two serpentine dragons intertwining, until they crossed heads at the end of the staff, and a clear sphere rested in the center of the dragon's crossed heads. The end of their tails held a dagger at the end of the staff. The dagger was long and slender and it came to a very fine point.
Everyone was staring. "What?!" Verona asked. Everyone immediately returned to what they were doing.
"I thought you don't need to fight fiends." Yuna pointed out.
"Oh this isn't for hurting fiends, it's for hurting the people that get in my way." Verona smiled. Yuna looked kinda puzzled but she shrugged.
They arrived at Besaid, and jumped off the Celsius, right at the door of the temple. Verona picked up her dress with her left, free hand, and she and Yuna ran. They met Paine and Rikku inside, and the two girls were whipped from fighting.
They came into the chamber of the fayth, and met Valefor. Yuna remembered fighting Bahamut at Bevelle and she knew what she and Verona had to do, but the fiends were still pouring out.
Verona sighed deeply and raised the staff above her head, with both hands. She closed her eyes, and she plummeted it into the ground and a great white light swept throughout the entire temple. Every non-human there, burst into Pyreflies.
The temple was silent as the dead. Verona's eyes turned white and she limply collapsed onto the floor. It was a loud sound, and it echoed throughout the temple.
Rikku ran up to where Verona and Yuna were standing. She screamed, "SHE'S NOT DEAD IS SHE??? NOOO!!!"
Paine bent over and felt for a pulse. "She's got a pulse, but just barely. She'll be all right. C'mon, let's go." she instructed.
Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, picked up Verona and her staff and carried her away...
Later that night
"So, this is her then. She can really resurrect the dead?" Lulu asked Yuna.
"I believe so." Yuna nodded.
"She's a real hero, ya know." Wakka added.
"Ooo I hope she's ok..." Rikku hoped.
"That was some pretty impressive magic." Paine inputted.
"No... it wasn't magic... it was something else. Whatever it was, I don't think she could do it again if she tried." Lulu crossed her arms.
"She gave it everything she had. But I wonder why..." Paine commented.
"... A compromise..." Yuna thought aloud.
"A compromise?" Paine asked.
"Yes. In her eyes, if she helps us, we'll help her. And... I thank her for everything's she's done." Yuna replied.
"I get it!" Rikku nodded.
"Yeah, she didn't think we were gonna give her a free ride." Paine sat back.
"She just didn't want to impose, ya?" Wakka stated.
"I suppose." Said Paine.
The next morning
Verona awoke. She rolled out of bed. Her head spun, her body ached. She felt drained. Her vision blurred, her movements, weak. Yuna sat by her side.
"Verona! Are you alright?!" Yuna knelt by her side. Verona managed to stand; without a word. She looked at Yuna and smiled. She then fell over, into Yuna's arms, limp as a corpse. (Anyone smell shojou-ai? Lmao....)
Luckily, Wakka walked in to check on Yuna. When he noticed Yuna holding up Verona, He ran over to her and gently picked up Verona's body, in both of his strong arms. Yuna looked for a pulse, but they could clearly see the rise and fall of her chest. She was just overly tired.
"She's a tiny thing, like Rikku, ya?" Wakka smiled. Yuna smiled and put her hands on her hips.
"What's that supposed to mean, tubby?" She asked jokingly, imitating Rikku.
Wakka shrugged and they walked out into the village square. Everyone was cheering and hollering.
"YEEEEEEHA! GO GULLWINGS! YOU'RE HEROES!" Someone screamed. Rikku and Yuna blushed, and raised a modest, waving hand.
Paine and Rikku boarded the Celsius. Lulu walked over to Wakka holding Verona. She brushed away Verona's red hair from her face, revealing her pale face.
"She stays inside a house all of the time, you can tell. It's because of the cruel society. She's an outcast, she'll never be accepted, but she's trying... I admire her... for not seeking revenge on the people who shun her... but... you never know. It's never to late. You are now responsible for her actions Yuna. Most would use that to their advantage. Be cautious. Farewell." Lulu nodded slightly.
Wakka walked her onto the ship, where Brother took her from there. The door closed and the people of Besaid waved in thanks. Brother took Verona to the cabin, as everyone followed.
"She is as light as a feather! ...I say we make her a Gullwing!" Brother suggested.
"Because she's light?" Rikku asked.
"No, no, no! Because she did a good job in Besaid." Brother explained.
"That's her decision to make, not ours." Paine added.
"But we could make her an honorary Gullwing." Shinra put on the table.
"Yes! But I want to make her a Gullwing!" Brother whined.
"Well when she wakes up, we'll ask her. We can't make her." Rikku countered.
"Yeah, especially if she's gonna resurrect Seymour. She's not going to want to be a sphere hunter. She'll want to settle down and have a family. Besides, She'd be the oldest one here." Buddy offset.
"Who's the leader here? I am! I make the rules, and I say who gets to be a Gullwing, and who doesn't! If she wants to then she can, if she says no, then she can be an honorary Gullwing, and no complaints!" Brother justified. He walked up the stairs and placed Verona on a bed.
"Where to now, Yuna?" Brother asked.
"Well, I think we should..."
END OF CHAP 2
Don't you love my Cliffhangers? Where do you think they'll go? It's sorta neat how I skip the details and cut to the chase in the next chapter. It doesn't tell you where they went right away. It's starts out when Verona wakes up, FINALLY. Do you think she'll become a Gullwing? ....I wish I had a FF game maker... Yeh, wishful thinking. Me and a million other people. I think all the people who love FF should live in one big city. AN FF CITY! Okay... now that's pushing it... like maybe... Somewhere in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Nothing's there, but a lot of trees. We could have our own Macalania woods or... our own Moonflow, with Chocobos and fiends, and Tidus, and Seymour, and Auron, and Lulu, and Rikku, and the Aeons, and Jecht... oh Yeh, Sin can come too, we can't have an FF City without a main bad guy, and perils... Oh Yeh! WE MUST HAVE BLITZBALL! How are we going to put water in a gigantic bubble, and have it defy gravity? ... I'll get back to you on that. Anyway, enjoy, and leave me a review! (And P.S. let's get our own city!) (GO READ CHAPTER 3!)