Dude000152005, tessa, GuardianAmy: Thanks for the reviews and the support.
Glaciours: You are very generous in your praise and I thank you for your high opinion. Reviews such as your can really give inspiration to a writer. I will do my best to keep you as enthralled and impressed as you have been so far. It always good to hear from an equally genuine author such as yourself.
Drowchild: You should give the rest of the game a go, thank you for your review regardless. Not to worry there will be much more to come.
Taco: I gave great thought to what weapon Tidus should use but I couldn't see him coming back from the "dead" with a weapon in his hand. He'll change his weapon later but I haven't decided to what yet. Thanks for the review.
I apologise if I left anyone out, that was not my intention. My thanks extends to you as well.
Chapter 3As vast as the plains were, the trip across them took Tidus the entire day, even on the motorcycle. The bike had been a surprise. Tidus remembered them clearly from Zanarkand and the controversy that had surrounded them. He had only been ten when he saw a guy riding a red bike, doing tricks and generally showing off. Immediately he had wanted one, but the answer had been a resounding no.
The one he rode now was completely black and Tidus had to laugh when he thought of what Auron would have said. Riding the bike was quite a thrill but it didn't distract him much from the task at hand. As he had expected, the trip across the Calm Lands was took only the day and by nightfall he had reached the familiar entrance to the Calm Lands.
Immediately he thought of the first time he had been there and the promise he had made to Yuna that day. At the time it had seemed impossible but somehow he...no, they had pulled it off. Shaking his head to rid it of reminiscent thoughts, he turned the bike down the hill and entered the sparkling forests of Macalania.
Intent on avoiding Bevelle, Tidus would take the short cut past the forest directly to the Thunder Plains. But before that there was one place Tidus had to visit. The spring. Leaving the bike on the path Tidus walked down to the water's edge.
He stood breathless for a few minutes floating dreamily in recollection of the magical night he had spent there with his beloved Yuna.
As tired as he had been the visit to the spring renewed his energy as he thought of seeing her again. He remounted the black bike, glanced one last time at the sparkling tree that towered over the pond and sped away into the encroaching darkness.
Yuna was restless. Sitting in the large room just off the main office of the Free People, her former guardians and her were being served tea. The room was sunny and warm, giving the companions a comfortable feeling as they sat in plush armchairs in a hasty circle. A visit from Yuna was considered an honour and thus she was treated well. But she was anxious to be going. They had slept the night in her ever-ready quarters at the main tower of Luca and Yuna was feeling optimistic about her upcoming meeting with the New Yevon.
But politics being politics they were expected to make an appearance to the committee of the Free People. The members were also seated in the sunroom and wanted to discuss the possibility of war.
"Lady Yuna," Counsellor Lucil, formerly of the Chocobo knights addressed the former summoner, "How do your negotiations with the New Yevon Order go?"
Yuna made a face and put down her teacup, "Not well," she told her audience, "They are becoming increasingly impatient and have threatened force if we do not follow their way of thinking."
There were many outcries and snorts of disgust at this statement.
"I'm presently on my way to Bevelle to talk with the leaders of the Yevon Order," Yuna continued, "I hope to avert the use of violence by them and bring if not peace then at least an treaty between them and the...um, us."
"You mean between them and the Al Bhed," Lucil said with a hint of a smile.
Yuna blushed, "Well, I guess," she said, "They are not going to take the threat lightly and I suppose it is directed more at them then at the rest of Spira."
"Do you really think it might spiral down into war," another member, Shelinda formerly of the Yevon clergy, asked.
"If left, yes. I think the situation will only get worse and worse until war is declared," Yuna said.
"And if war does come about who will fight for us?" Lucil asked.
"The Al Bhed, obviously," Shelinda piped up.
"Yes and the Ronso would too," Lulu said.
"The crusaders are still around, ya?" Wakka offered.
"Yes, they are, not to mention all the former guardians scattered across the continent," Yuna said.
"What of the Guado?" a new voice asked. They all turned to window of the room where Maechen, something of a moral leader to the committee sat.
The former scholar stood and came to sit closer to the gathering, "Where do the Guado's loyalties lie?"
There was a silence before Lucil answered, "No one has heard much from the guado since the beginning of the Eternal Nagi, Maechen," she said, "They allow no one into Guadosalam and none come out. It seems the fall of their race is owed to Seymour."
"Indeed," the old man agreed, "However they have made no attempt to reconcile with the rest of Spira, not even the New Yevon. I wonder why that is."
"They refuse other races to enter their borders, thus denying them access to the Farplane," Lulu said, her voice harbouring slight bitterness, "This problem will have to be dealt with sooner or later but for now..."
"Yes, there are more prominent problems on our collective horizon," Lucil agreed, "Lady Yuna, we wish you luck with your negotiations. Will you be leaving soon?"
"Immediately," Yuna replied, "The day is still young and we have a long road ahead of us, even if we do have the use of a hovercraft."
The former summoner stood and Lulu and Wakka followed suit, "We thank you for your hospitality and look forward to bringing home good news," she said bowing.
The rest of the committee stood and return the gesture of respect as Yuna, followed by her former guardians, left the room.
That evening Tidus had no choice but to stop at the Thunder Plains agency. He was wet, tired and the bike needed mechanical attention, which he was sure an Al Bhed at the agency would be able to provide. He parked the bike around the back, under an over hanging, before entering. He breathed a sigh of relief as warm air washed over him and walked to the front desk.
He opened his mouth to ask about a mechanic when the attendant gave a little shriek of disbelief and pointed at him.
"It can't be!" she exclaimed as all the people in the agency turned to stare.
Tidus felt surprisingly self-conscious, considering his background, and wished they wouldn't.
"It is," said someone else, "It's Sir Tidus."
At these words, there were suddenly half a dozen people crowded around him asking questions on top of each other. Tidus, feeling overwhelmed was relieved when one voice boomed above the others.
"Stand back, give the lad some air," said the Al Bhed manager of the travel agency.
He held out his hand to Tidus with a grin, "I don't know how this is possible, sir, but it's an honour to have you in my agency. I hope you'll stay the night? We'll have our best room prepared."
Tidus started to say no then realized he could use the help, "Thank-you," he said gratefully shaking the man's hand.
The appearance of one of the legendary guardians who had defeated Sin forever and brought the eternal calm filled the agency and it's occupants with excitement. For the rest of the evening Tidus was plagued with questions as to how he was back and where he had been. Mostly he just feigned ignorance and told them he didn't know how but he was back for good.
Eventually, at a late hour, he managed to sneak off to his room. Flopping down on the bed his mind wandered as exhaustion took over. He chuckled lightly as he thought of the peoples' reaction to him.
"So I'm a hero now," he murmured amusedly as he drifted off into a deep sleep.
Tidus stared down at the Calm Lands from his vantage point above it. He was aware he was dreaming but wondered at how real it felt. He could feel the sun on his face and the light breeze in his hair. He frowned as he noticed two large groups of people at either end of the plain.
No, he realized, not a group. An army.
The one group appeared to be made up of Al Bhed and Crusaders. Here and there were a few Ronso. Tidus squinted hard and could just make out their leader.
Me? he thought incredulously.
He immediately looked to the other army. This army was made up of Warrior Monks and Yevon clergy. Tidus stared at their leader.
No way, he thought, Mika? He shook his head. This isn't real, he reminded himself.
As he watched Mika seemed to signal to his army, at the other end of the plains he watched himself do the same. The two armies rushed at one another, shouting warcries as they went.
Tidus stared at the battle in confusion. He became aware he not alone and turned. Behind him stood Auron, who watched him with a typically blank expression.
Tidus eyed him warily, "You real?" he asked suspiciously.
Auron seemed to waver in and out of sight for a moment, "Your story isn't finished yet," he said.
Tidus opened his mouth to reply but at that moment the world around him melted away. As it disappeared, he fancied he could hear the clash of swords from faraway.
Tidus awoke with a start, sitting up abruptly. He was surprised to find it was still dark outside and surmised something must have woken him. He listened carefully for the sound but heard nothing but the chirping of night crickets outside the window.
He lay back down but sat up almost immediately as he heard a distinctive noise. The doorknob of the door to his room swivelled slowly as someone endeavoured to sneak into the room.
Tidus slipped off his bed, snatching the gun off his nightstand, and crouched for a moment eyes on the door, as it swung open almost soundlessly. As he watched a dark figure entered cautiously, a knife in his hand glinted in the moonlight. The figure seemed to be peering at the bed, where he assumed his intended victim would be.
Tidus considered his options. He had the better weapon by far, and the advantage of not being where the assailant thought. However the man was obviously a trained assassin and Tidus was crouched almost underneath him.
The assassin stepped up to the bed so Tidus' face was a foot from his knee. The young blitzer grinned in the dark. Scooting backwards he lashed out with a foot before the figure could react. Tidus heard a satisfying crack and a yelp of pain as his kick connected with the man's knee, forcing it the wrong way.
The assassin fell into an awkward crouch as Tidus leapt to his feet and aimed the gun. "Lights," he called and the voice-activated lamps came on bathing the room in brightness.
The assassin looked up at Tidus with surprise, "What..." he started then scowled as he realized he'd been outdone.
"Who are you?" Tidus demanded indicating the man should stand.
The assassin did so, favouring his injured knee, "I have no name. I live only to serve," he replied haughtily.
Tidus rolled his eyes, "Serve whom?" he asked impatiently.
"Yevon," the man replied, reverence in his voice.
Now it was Tidus' turn to scowl, "I should kill you now, but then I'd be like you. Why were you trying to kill me?"
The assassin shrugged, "I was only following orders."
"Yevon is dead. We killed him. So whom you serve must only be a man. Who is he?" Tidus asked.
The man paused, "What you say is true. We follow only Yevon's teachings in part, not him. But as for who gave me the orders, I cannot tell you."
"Can't or won't?"
"Can't. I don't know," the man replied and for some reason, Tidus believed him.
"But," the assassin continued, "He is referred to as Keeper of Yevon."
Tidus shook his head wearily, "Whatever," he said.
Just then someone knocked on the door, "Sir Tidus?" the voice of the manager called, "I heard noise, is everything in order?"
"Come in," Tidus called.
The manager entered and stared horrified at the man by the bed.
"I will call the guard at once, sir," he said.
At the same moment not far away, Yuna lay awake staring at the ceiling. She and her companions had travelled all day using a borrowed hovercraft. The hovercraft wasn't as fast as Cid's air ship but was still a lot faster than walking or even chocobos. After an entire day's journeying they had arrived at the old Djose temple just as it was getting dark. The temple was now a library and museum that held memories of the time of the Yevon Empire, which fell as all empires must.
Yuna and her former guardians were staying at the Travel Agency just outside. After dinner all three had retired but for Yuna there was no sleep. For an unexplainable reason she had a sense of anticipation and was feeling restless.
For this reason she rose the following morning feeling weary still and struggled to stay awake through breakfast.
Lulu watched her with an amused smile, "How did you sleep?" she asked knowing full well as she had heard the former summoner tossing and turning from the next room.
"Hmm?" Yuna looked up from her plate, "Oh, not so well."
"Something on your mind?" Lulu asked.
Yuna hesitated, "I keep feeling as though I've forgotten something," she admitted, "Like there's something I'm not paying enough attention to."
Lulu's smile widened, "Well the simplest answer would be...you," she said.
Yuna looked blank and glanced at Wakka to see if he had understood. But the blitzer hadn't even heard, he was too busy eating.
"You're not paying enough attention to yourself," Lulu clarified.
"Oh," Yuna said, "No not like that...it's hard to explain."
Lulu shrugged, "It's probably nothing, you're too meticulous to have let something slip."
Yuna narrowed her eyes jestingly, "Was that an insult?" she asked.
Lulu raised her eyebrows and endeavoured to look innocent, "Maybe," she said mischievously.
Wakka pushed his plate away, "Maybe what?" he asked catching the end of the exchange.
"Maybe you're to absorbed in your breakfast to follow a conversation," Lulu teased.
"Hay, hay," Wakka said in mock protest.
Yuna laughed along with her friends some of her weariness lifting. She glanced out the window at the new day and wondered briefly what it would bring.
"Four hours!" Tidus exclaimed incredulously, "Why that long? What's wrong with it?"
The Al Bhed he had hired to fix his bike shook his head to show his helplessness, "It's in bad condition, never restored properly. And with the rain..." the man shrugged.
Tidus sighed and thanked the Al Bhed anyway. He wondered if Cid had been the one to salvage the bike and remembered Rikku's comment on her father's machina with a smile. He returned to the agency to have breakfast musing about the previous nights' events.
The would be assassin had been arrested by the Crusaders, who were still around to Tidus' surprise. According to the one cadet there were still enough fiends around to warrant it. Not to mention the threat posed by the New Yevonites.
"They're causing problems," the cadet had said, "They want everyone to follow their way."
Which explained why they wanted Tidus dead. His return would only increase the people's freedom from Yevon, as he was one of those who had killed him.
Tidus wondered if the New Yevon would go to war with the Al Bhed. He was slightly depressed by the idea as he had dreams of settling down into a calm life with Yuna. Tidus groaned as he thought about how much time he was loosing. He had hoped to reach the Mi'hen Highroad by the end of the day and with any luck Besaid by the next.
Two years, he thought to himself. How much had changed? How much had Yuna changed?
Tidus looked up as the attendant brought his breakfast and asked, "Do you know of Lady Yuna?"
"Of course, sir. She is on the senate of the Free People. And was of course the summoner who you guarded," the attendant said admiration in her voice, "Will you be going to see her?"
Tidus smiled, "Yes," he replied, "Does she still live in Besaid?"
"Yes, but she may be in Luca on business."
"Luca!" Tidus exclaimed, "That close." I could see her tomorrow, he thought, if that bike co-operates.
"Yes, sir," the attendant said, "That is the base of the Free People."
Tidus turned to his breakfast but had suddenly lost his appetite. He smiled as he thought of seeing Yuna so soon, his heart gave a little flutter and he realized with some amusement that he was slightly nervous.
Tidus sobered as he thought, Two years is a long time.
After their own breakfast Yuna, Wakka and Lulu boarded their Hover Craft and continued on their way. The craft was made for both land and water and therefore riding the Shoopuf was unnecessary. Wakka, although he would never admit it, was disappointed.
It was the blitzball coach of all of them who helmed the Hover Craft and he was often teased, mostly by Lulu, how quickly he had grasped the concept of Machina. Rikku had taught him a lot about it and he was now starting to restore old machina himself. Yuna was surprised he too didn't have a machina weapon but had opted instead to wield the Brotherhood, the same sword he had given his brother and subsequently Tidus. Yuna supposed it was out of a sort of respect or honour.
The trio were making good time and Lulu estimated they would arrive at the Thunder Plains at noon. It might have been sooner but they had to circumnavigate Guadosalam as no non-Guado were allowed to enter.
This had caused many problems and grief for the people of Spira as the Guado, by denying others entry to Guadosalam, had also barred them from the Farplane. Lulu in particular was bitter about it, as she had no means of visiting Chappu.
Yuna was secretly glad she had no means of going to the Farplane as it something she dreaded those days. She was afraid if she went there she might see Tidus and then she would know he was gone forever. Then again she might not and that would somehow be worse.
Tidus was bored. After hours of milling around the Agency the mechanic seemed no closer to fixing the bike and Tidus was running out of things to occupy his time. He'd read a few pamphlets and looked at the weapons for sale. Then he'd gone outside for a moment or two but the cold and rain had driven him back.
At the moment he was half-heartedly looking at a scrap wall someone had started. It had photos and memorabilia of all the past pilgrimages that had stopped there. He was about to turn away in search of something more enthralling when one picture caught his eye. He stared at the familiar scene with an immense sense of Dé Jevu.
He remembered clearly now the time they had exited the Agency and Wantz, O'aka the 23rd's brother, had taken the snapshot before running away, leaving them feeling slightly befuddled. It showed in their expressions as they stood in the pouring rain. The picture was framed and hung next to a plague which read,High Summoner Yuna and the Legendary Guardians, Sir Tidus, Sir Kimahri, Sir
Wakka and Dame Lulu.Tidus remembered Auron and Rikku had been arguing off to one side about the storm and her fear of lightning when the picture was taking and thus were not in it.
He stared at the image of Yuna and tried to imagine what he would say when he saw her.
She must be really famous now, he thought. She was after all the only Summoner ever to become High Summoner without dying. Tidus heaved a sigh, again feeling impatient and frustrated at his situation.
He exited the Agency and walked around the back to check on the bike's progress for the tenth time.
"Yo," he called as he approached the mechanic but the roar of the storm drowned him out and the man didn't hear him.
Tidus frowned, put his fingers to his lips and let out a piercing whistle.
R&R please :)