2

I had no dreams that night. Pacce and I set out early the next morning. Why Issaru owned an airspeeder, I had no idea, but he seemed disinclined to explain. Although I worked with smaller machina for Rin, I had never flown before. Although it was exhilarating, my confidence in Pacce was not enough to keep me from flinching several times.

An hour or so later, we flew over Luca and the view opened onto the ocean. It was a clear day, and Pacce descended to skim the surface of the water. I really began to enjoy myself, though I was still not completely at ease. Something was nagging me, like a sound I couldn't quite identify. It grew in intensity steadily, until I was forced to yell "Stop!" over the sound of the waves.

Pacce looked concerned, and slowed the speeder until we were hovering six feet or so above the waves. "What is it?" he asked, turning back to look at me.

"I don't -" I trailed off as a shadow appeared above us. We looked up and saw a giant fiend between us and the sun. I had never seen one before, but it looked wrong for the ocean.

"A thunder plains larvae?" Pacce looked incredulous. "But what..." His question was cut short by the fiend's attack. He was hit, but not down. "Can you use magic?" I nodded, frightened. "Water. And hold on," he managed. I prepared a spell, but suddenly the speeder shot forward. Pacce had apparently decided to outrun it.

The fiend was surprisingly quick. Although we were flying faster than we had all day, it was gaining on us. I tried to throw a spell at it, but missed. We were just moving too quickly, and I was too weak a mage. I mentally cursed my parents for making Aunt Lulu wait until I turned 14 to train me.

The fiend didn't seem to tire. Finally, a well-placed blast sent Pacce off the speeder. Without a pilot, it turned over, dumping me into the ocean. Though I knew how to swim, I was still under attack. Unable to use its magic without risking backlash, the fiend began attacking physically. Just before I went under, I saw something hit the fiend from behind. I tried to call out, but I had taken too much damage.

--

I dreamed I was falling, but slowly, as if through sand. I relaxed into the sensation, floating downwards. Though I couldn't see anyone, I knew someone else was nearby.

We meet again, daughter of Wakka.

It was one of the three voices from my previous dream. I tried to open my mouth, but was afraid the sand would rush in. The voice chuckled, as if sensing my dilemma.

No need to open your mouth. Our communication is not physical.

Slightly confused, I thought Who are you?

One sent to help. At this rate, you will be able to see me soon.

At this rate? What are you talking about?

I thought I felt a hand on my shoulder, but I may have imagined it. Surely you realize your dreams are more than just dreams?

As I continued falling, I realized that he was right. I knew somehow that my dreams were different lately. There was a quality of reality to them, which had made them frightening initially. But I was not frightened now. The voice continued, It took you a relatively short time to be able to hear our voices, and soon we will be visible. For now, you must allow me to guide you.

What are you guiding me to? Whose side are you on? Possibly the Guado or Yevonites had developed some new form of magic, but somehow I didn't think so. The voice felt powerful, but not threatening.

I sensed amusement in the voice as it replies I am on Spira's side. My concerns are not those of the war. Ah, we are here. In the dream I had stopped falling. Stand up, he said to me. I was sure my voice was male, though how I was sure was still beyond me. Perhaps I was going insane. But I stood. I realized I was underwater, and noticed a cavern directly in front of me.

The voice nudged me, and I half-swam, half-walked into it. Inside, I couldn't see much, but gentle pressure guided me into an air pocket. During this expedition I was still aware I was dreaming, but somehow there was a reality in my actions that frightened me a little.

Look up. I did. On a small rock shelf, I saw a tiny flash of light. It was as if a sliver of metal was reflecting the sun, but there was no light source for it to reflect. On an impulse, almost a compulsion, I reached for it. My hand brushed the object, and it flashed brighter. As I watched, the light flowed into my hand, up my arm, and filled me until I was lit up like a beacon. I saw the dim outline of a sword in front of me, and then a massive light enveloped me.

When I regained my vision, a man was standing in front of me. He was tall and dark, but a massive scar prevented him from being truly handsome. He gave me a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes, and I heard someone call me from far away. "First piece," the voice, now the man, said. And then I was jerked violently back to reality.

--

"Reke, can you hear me?" Chappu was inexplicably standing over me. There was sunshine all around, and we were gently rocking. We must still be on a boat, I thought dreamily.

This time he shook me. "Reke!" I looked into his eyes, and immediately woke up completely.

"Chappu! What...what happened?" I sat up. We were, indeed in a boat. Pacce was sitting in the stern, and a woman I didn't recognize was at the motor. "How did you get here?"

"As soon as you disappeared, Rin called Aunt Rikku. She wanted to come herself, but Uncle Gippal convinced her she couldn't. She called me." He ran his fingers through his hair. "It was luck that Clasko told me he saw you heading South. If we hadn't arrived when that fiend was attacking you..."

Impulsively, I hugged him. Something about seeing my brother made me realize how long I had been dreaming. For how long had I been physically underwater? Gently, he removed my arms and looked into my face.

"What happened? Something more than the fiend." I looked furtively at the woman. I felt I could trust Pacce, but I didn't want it getting around that I heard voices. My brother noticed my gaze and understood. "What am I thinking? You two need food and a warm fire. Let's go home."

The woman said "Besaid?" and Chappu nodded. We skimmed over the water, cresting the waves.

Pacce looked shaken, and I wondered what had happened to the airspeeder. Chappu put a hand on my shoulder, and I looked up at him. There were things about how he found me he hadn't shared. I guess both our secrets would come out when we arrived.