Disclaimer: I don't own Final fantasy or any of its characters blah blah
A/N forgot the disclaimer ....... Applies for all chappys
For the second time in two days a black a yellow figure floated in the wide ocean of Spira. This time the water was bluer and warmer and the crashing of waves could be heard. It was this noise that woke the girl.
"Rikku!" she said with a start as she became aware that she was awake. When it became clear that she was alone again Tida decided she was sick of wakening up in unknown places and must really stop falling unconscious. On the other hand she could be back in Zanarkand.
THWACK!
Something hit Tida sharply on the back of the head. A round blue ball plopped wetly into the water beside her.
"Blitzball?" Tida exclaimed recognizing the ball. Was she really back in Zanarkand. Rikku had heard of Blizall but Tida was hopeful. She turned around in the direction the missile had come from and saw a group of yellow clad men on a beach waving to her.
"Hey! You okay?" one yelled at her his hand cupped over his mouth to make the sound travel farther.
"Heeey" Tida was glad she saw other people and guessing the Ball was theirs she couldn't resist showing off. She scooped the ball out of the water threw it up back flipped in the water and kicked hard. Her aim was true and the Blitzball tore over the water narrowly missing the one who had called out to her's head. She swam after it and was in time to hear the mans reaction to the move.
"Whoa-ho!" he whistled and laughed as Tida walked out of the water. She could see his surprise increase doubly when he saw it was a girl that steped out. Or maybe he recognized her. She turned on the charm at the idea and d shook her spike hair flashing him a smile that said 'pretty neat huh'.
"You wanna try that move one more time?" The man said obviously impressed and not hiding it. Unfortunately Tida didn't think he recognized her. That didn't matter she still let herself be charming as he was pretty cute. He had warm red hair curved in to a graceful spike at the front a blue bandanna holding it up. He was wearing what was obviously a blitz uniform that showed off a broad shoulders and a nicely muscular frame. He looked very exotic with warm brown skin and the whitest teeth he she had ever seen. He had a bit of stubble growing but he looked like a very well rounded cute islander to Tida who actually like leaner guys but was still attracted to this one.
She complied with his request and showed the team her move again and felt herself brighten even more as she got loud claps and cheers.
Finally, things were starting to look up.
"You're no amateur. Who you play for?" the coach-Tida presumed- asked looking her up and down that was not in a way just to figure out who she was.
"The Zanarkand Abes!" Tida said putting her hands on her hips thinking he might not be a particular fan of hers but would know her team.
The look he gave her was exactly the same look Rikku had given her and it made her remember the girl had said not to mention she was from Zanarkeand.
"What team you say again?" The coah asked scratching his head.
"Uh, I meant... Forget that. I got too, uh...close to Sin and my head's all foggy-like. So I don't know where this place is. Or even where I came from."
Tida made a hurried excuse remembering that Rikku had thought It was Sin fault she was acting funny she grasp that but wondered why it wasn't like she believed it.
"Sin's toxin got to you." The coach said with a look of relief it seemed to explain a lot.
"But, you're still alive. Praise be to Yevon!" he continued making a sign that was vaguely familiar to Tida. The red head turned to his teammate
"All right, back to practice!" then he grinned and Tida and extended a hand
"I'm Wakka, coach and captain of the Besaid Aurochs, brudda." He spoke with a thick accent that reinforced the idea he was and islander. Tida took the offered hand.
"Im Tida and we'll just say the unknown blitz champion until I remember" she joked.
For some reason as she let go of Wakkas hand she felt dizzy and stumbled he caught her before she hit the ground. Tida rather liked being this close but smiled in embarrassment.
"You ok? You hungry? Okay! Back to the village. I'll get you somethin'!" Wakka looked at her in concern but Tida wondered why he though she was hungry but now that he mentioned it she could go for some food. The dizziness had passed and she extracted herself from Wakka grip. He gestured with his head to follow him.
Tida walked beside him taking in the tropical surrounding. Everything was a rich green and sun warmed. The smell of salt and fruit surrounded her and made her feel relaxed. She glanced a Wakka.
I felt like I could trust this Wakka, so I just had to ask"It's true Zanarkand was destroyed, right? A thousand years ago? So it's just a big pile of rubble now, isn't it?"
Wakka looked over at her but continued on the wide well worn path. He also seemed to take into account that he thought Tida didn't remember anything so he launched into a long explanation.
"Long time ago, there were a whole lot of cities in Spira. Big cities with machina-machines-to run 'em. People played all day and let the machina do the work."
Sounds like Zanarkand Tida thought.
"And then, well, take a look. Sin came, and destroyed the machina cities. And Zanarkand along with 'em. Yeah, that was about a thousand years ago, just like you said. If you asked me, Sin's our punishment for letting things get out of hand."
Sin again Tida thought what is with this thing.
"What gets me, though...is we gotta suffer, 'cause of what some goofballs did way back when! 'Course, we must always repent for our sins! That's important! It's just that, it's hard to keep at it sometimes, you know?"
Wakka sounded religious, Tida had never really thought about a higher power in her City things where run by machines and temples where a rarity there where some religious fanatics but they grew less with every year. So it's just a Rikku said, Tida though most of her skepticism banishing. Wakka and Rikku couldn't both be lying. Why would they?
Tida must have looked sad because Wakka put his hand on her shoulder and laughed.
"But you from the Zanarkand Abes-that was a good one! Hey, I'm not saying the team never existed, ya? But you gotta figure a team livin' in luxury like that'd be pretty soft, eh?" He joked and walked towards a cliff
I appreciated the fact that Wakka was trying to cheer me up. But at that time, all I could think about was...everything that happened to me- all this-started with Sin. Maybe if I could find Sin one more time, I could go home! For now, I'd just live life until that time came. No more worrying about where, or when, I was. Sure it was hard not to think of home. But I started to feel better already. A little better...maybe.
Tida realized Wakka was waiting for her and took up her loping run to catch up to him.
"Hey" he said when she reached him. "It's this way!" Tida looked around below them was shallowish water where was the way?
"Huh?" Tida looked at Wakka for an answer. She got one in the form of a push off the cliff. She rather ungracefully fell and hit the water with a large splash. Wakka dived in and came up laughing. Tida pouted a little she didn't like looking like an idiot. Wakka pointed in the direction they where headed, a small opening only a few strokes away. He waited till Tida was just about to pass him before he swam in front of her blocking her passage. Se stopped and treaded water.
"Got a favor to ask ya" He smile at her.
"Wanna date" she asked preening herself in a mischievous way.
"Ha ha maby later" he winked "But no. A major blitz tournament's coming up. All the teams in Spira'll be there!" Tida caught on to his meaning
"You want me on your team, right?"
"It's so huge, I'm sure someone there will recognize you! Then you can go back to
your old team, right? It'll be fun! What do you say, huh? Come on, come on!" Tida was rather pleased it was this instead of a date.
"Sure thing" she said swimming past him keeping cool not wanting to show how she felt.
"Dude! Our team is gonna rock, eh? You the best I have ever seen, or at least the best woman, most just don't have the knack for it" the last comment only mildly irritated Tida she was used to similar things from when she was a rising star no one really thought she could do it. She showed them.
I thought then that blitzball and Sin were the only two things that Spira and Zanarkand had in common. I wasn't too far off, either.
The two piled out of the water and continued along the path Tida looked around again at the lush scenery getting dreamy and romantic. Wakka saw her inquisitive stare and begun to tell her about himself.
"This is where I was born. I started blitz when I was five. I joined the Aurochs at thirteen...ten years ago. Ten years...and we never won a game. Well, after last year's tournament, I quit. Time seemed right."
Tida shifted her concentration to the handsome man beside her as he continued with his story.
"So, after quitting, I got this new job, ya? But every time my mind wandered, I thought about the game." Tida wondered what the new job was but didn't ask instead she prompted him into telling more.
"Ten years without a single win'll do that" she said understandingly. Her team was top of the league but at time of bad luck they all got down.
"My first match last year was my big chance. But something else was on my mind. I couldn't focus."
"Nice excuse" Tida teased
"Hey, hey!" Wakka reacted to her jibe but saw she was jokeing and grinned.
"So you want to win the next tournament-go out with a bang." Tida said realizing he was trying to tell her why he wanted her on the team. Wakka nodded thoughtfully. It was then she noticed his eyes there where a dark color and a beautiful shape deep set and wide space. They where very expressive to he looked very pensive now.
"So, what's our goal?" Tida said trying to rally him in the same way she did her team. Wakka didn't catch on.
"I don't care what we do. Long as we play our best. If we give it our all, I can walk away happy."
"No, no, no, no, no. If I say, "What's our goal?" you say, "Victory!" When you play in a blitzball tournament, you play to win!" Tida explained.
"Victory? Are you serious?" Tida nodded and tried again Wakka answered satisfactorily again and Tida glowed. She loved winning a game even a silly one like this. They walked a little longer and came upon two men dressed similar to Wakaa. One had red hair like her friend the other who looked younger had brow hair shaved underneath and the rest pulled back in a ponytail.
"Ah the one from the sea" the older one said Tida wondered how they had hear of her.
"Be on guard. There're fiends on the road today!" the other said
"After surviving your run-in with Sin, 'twould be a shame if something happened now." He spoke rather formal but with that they moved off they seemed to have more important business.
"Who where they?" Tida asked as she and Wakka continued in the direction the two men had come from.
"Luzzu and Gatta-Crusaders" Wakka said glanceing over his shoulder
"Crews of what" Tida asked misunderstanding.
"What, you forgot that, too? Hey, sorry. Don't worry about it. I'll help you out." Wakka patted her on the shoulder but did not explain anything further.
"Cool. In return, come tournament time, I'll make sure we take the cup!" Tida said she had been thinking about Blitzball before they came on the two men and voiced her thoughts.
"About the Crusaders, you can ask them yourself. They've got a lodge in the village." Wakka mentioned as they came upon a small village.
"Besaid Village." Wakka said with pride. It was a small settlement with a collection of lightweight huts clustered around an elaborate temple. It' people milld and somewhere from the village Tida could here drums playing it just added to the peaceful tropical feel of the place. Tida remembered Wakka earlier comment.
"They got any food there?" she asked licking her lips.
"We'll get you something over there later. Take a look around first. Let's see... The Crusaders Lodge is over yonder. Luzzu and Gatta are usually there. Oh, right." Wakka pulled Tida aside from the entrance "Over here!"
"Huh? What's up?" Tida frowned.
"You do remember the prayer, right?" Wakka said a very serious expression on his face this seemed important.
Of course I'd never prayed before in my life. Not that he would know that...
"You...must have forgot or something. Here, I'll show you." Wakka concluded when Tida just shrugged.
Wakka drew his arms around in front of him making a circle and brought them together one hovering above the other. He held it for a brief moment before telling Tida to try. Tida Was shocked at what she saw it was the same gesture he had made on the beach the one that had look familiar. She repeated it when Wakka gave her a playful nudge but was too shocked to say anything. She left her hand hovering over each other, as Wakka spoke not really taking in what he was saying.
"Hey, not bad. Okay, now go present yourself to the temple summoner." Wakka touched her arm in an almost caress and left saying he had something to do. Tida looked at him briefly smiled but quickly went back to staring at her hands.
Any blitzball player would know that prayer. It was the blitzball sign for victory.
Tida shook her head unable to decipher what this meant and entered the village. Quite a few people where milling around and the air of excitement seem to hang. A few of the younger male population noticed the young women and stopped what they where doing to look. Tida recognized their gaze and shook her hair out before walking over to one and striking up a conversation. Soon she was surrounded by a few and she was enjoying the attention till she realized the looks she was getting from the rest of the village. Most where looking with curiosity at the newcomer, but a few where observing her with such venom that Tida decided it was best to stop now rather than make enemies in this village.
A moment ago she saw the Crusaders walk into their lodge and decided to find out what they where all about. Saying good bye to the boys she was talking to she strided over to the Crusades lodge entering.
"Hey, you! You were attacked by Sin...right? Recently was it?" Gazza the younger one said.
"I think so. I'm Tida nice to meet you" Tida shook hands with both of them after they introduce themselves.
"So, Sin can't be far, right? You're not hiding anything, are you?" Gatta said returning to what he was originally saying.
"Why would I" Tida asked confused.
"If Sin's nearby, it'll attack the island for sure. But it hasn't. I wonder why?" the other Luzzu said more to Gazza than Tida. Tida answered anyway.
"I'm sorry. I really don't know anything. To tell you the truth, I don't even know what the Crusaders are."
"You're kidding, right" Gatta said as if it where a mortal offence.
"Sin! The toxin! Gatta, tell her who we are!" Luzzu said in realization.
"Yes, sir! The Crusaders are sworn to battle Sin! We have chapters throughout Spira, accepting all who wish to join our struggle! The hero Mi'ihen formed the Crusaders eight hundred years ago as the Crimson Blades. Later, our ranks grew and we called ourselves the Crusaders." Gatta was obviously reciting something and it made Tida grin and shake her head and his antics. He was probably younger than her and new to his career.
"We've been fighting Sin ever since!" Gatta concluded
"What, you've been fighting eight hundred years and you still haven't beat it?" Tida sounded more accusing than she meant to.
"Well, we've steered Sin away from towns many times! And that's all we can do. Nobody's ever been able to defeat it. Our mission as Crusaders is to protect the temples, towns, villages, and people of Spira." Luzzu spoke up helping Gazza out in enplaning to Tida.
"So then whose job is it to defeat Sin?" This Sin had given her enough trouble she would like to know who job it was to get rid of it and offer them help.
"Is Sin's toxin really this bad, sir?" Gazza said with a qustionig look at Luzzu.
"It does seem rather bad... We could just tell you, but I think it's better for you to try and remember. Go pray at the temple. Perhaps Yevon will help you regain your memory."
Tida thought that was a silly thing to do and she also knew there was no memory to get back but she did remember that Wakka had told her to go to the temple before. The Crusaders nodded a good-bye and Tida left.
She made her way to the huge temple ignoring any looks this time and entered. It was a beautiful building inside with huge brassy statues of people possible gods placed around the room. They look like they where made by hand and the whole room had amore organic feel than of her home.
It was then, standing in that place. I began to realize how different this world was from my own.
Tida walked up to one of the many statues to have a closer look. She scanned its form; it was a man in heavy multie layered robe with an elaborate headdress on he was wearing so much only his faced showed. Tida couldn't see his feature but he seemed a proud person, she wondered who it was. A priest in ceremonial cloths hovering nearby answered her unvoiced question.
"Ten years have passed since Lord Braska became high summoner. And finally we receive a statue for our temple."
"What's a high summoner?" Tida asked aloud this time still looking at the statue when she got no answer she looked at the priest.
"I...I got too close to Sin's, uh, toxin." She stammered when she saw his mortified look.
It was funny hearing myself make the same excuse over and over. Funny, and a little sad.
Her answer had alleviated the priest fears and the explanation about Sin toxins prompted him to give much detail.
"The summoners are practitioners of a sacred art, sworn to protect the people of Yevon. Only a chosen few become summoners, who call forth entities of great power: the aeons. The aeons hear our prayers and come down to us. They are the blessing of Yevon."
So what he meant...was that we should respect some kinda great men or something like that...I figured
"Tida looked at the figure, Braska, again and found herself praying to him. She was a little startled at herself and felt uneasy so she smiled quickly at the priest and left.
She stood outside the temple and suddenly felt very tired it had been a long day right now she didn't really wan to eat she would just like some sleep. She went out into the village and hoped she could find Wakka and was glad when she spotted his red spike standing outside a dwelling.
He wasn't faceing her so he walked up to him, lent on his back and groaned getting his attention. Wakka spun around and laughed.
"Sorry, dear. No time for lunch yet. Take a nap! You look bushed." Wakka grabbed her wrist and led her into the hut it was probably his and showed her a bed also probably his. Tida kinda liked the idea of sleeping in his bed.
"Thanks" Tida said with sincerity as she sat on the bed. Wakka flashed a brilliant white smile and left her to sleep. Tida flopped down on the bed yawning. He not to bad she thought he is a little old for me though...twenty-three or something. Maybe there is someone younger...oh well I'm sure I have the time. She was asleep in no time.
Tida felt herself become conscious and was aware that Wakka was in the room with her crooning softly to himself. She kept her eyes closed not ready to wake up yet but heard someone else come in to the room.
"You could at least go see how they are doing." She had missed the first part of what the new comer said but became more interested when she heard this. Wakka was talking while he the other person where left the hut.
"We can't interfere. It's a rule. But, it's been nearly..." The sounds stopped and Tida drifted back to sleep. Tida dreamt much like before it was a memory rather than a dream.
A man spoke.
"But, it's been nearly... It's been nearly a day already"
A womens voice answerd.
"Perhaps you could go look for us."
"People are searching for him now" the man assured her. The woman thanked him and the man left. In the room was Tida when she was much younger about seven or eight.
"Who cares whether he comes back or not?" the girl spat
"But he might die!" the woman sounded surprised.
"Fine, let him!" Tida sounded as if she might cry but
"Do you... Do you hate him so?" the women asked tentivly.
The young version of Tida nodded.
"If he dies, you'll never be able to tell him how much you hate him." The woman seemed to want Tida to hope for that mans return. It was her mother and it was Jecht her father who was missing.
Tida watched the dream fade and slowly became aware that she was lying on Wakka soft but primitive bed. It was just a floppy piece of material strung between two poles, serviceable but not exactly luxurious.
"Wakka?" she called for the older man.
The house was empty and Tida recalled that it was a priest who was talking to Wakka before maybe he was at the temple. She straightened herself shook her hair so it fell nicely and got up. Wakka was standing inside the temple staring up at some round doors talking in fervent whispers with the priests.
"Something wrong?" Tida asked feeling the somber mood. Wakka nodded at Tida beckoning her over
"The summoner hasn't returned from the trial." He said a worried look creased his face.
"Eh?" she had heard of a summoner but not the trials.
"Well, apprentice summoner, really.." Wakka said clearly not interested in explaining he was too preoccupied with worrying.
"Ah?"
"There's a room in there called the Cloister of Trials. Beyond is where the apprentice summoner prays. If the prayer is heard, the apprentice becomes a fully-fledged summoner, remember?" Wakka said rather quickly when he realized Tida wasn't following.
"So someone is in there somewhere and they haven't come back out. Right, I got it." Tida recited not worrying about the technical terms
"A day's already gone by"
"Is it particularly dangerous in there Tida didn't understand why they all looked so anxious.
"Sometimes, yes" Wakka quickly said distracted.
"Why don't you go in and help?" Tida urged
"There's already guardians in there. Besides, it's forbidden." This statement was meant to reassure Tida but she didn't know what a guardian was so it offered nothing to her.
She was becoming frustrated that they where all really worried but no one wanted to do anything. She fidgeted in the silence before bursting out and running up the stairs enough was enough.
"What if somethin' happens? What if the summoner dies!?" she yelled
"The precepts must be obeyed!" the priest sounded angry but made no move to stop her.
"Like I care!" Tida yelled back she opened the doors and stepped into a bazaar room with two round holes in the center of another doorway.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.
She tried to push the doors but they where shut tight. Ok there is some kind of lock. She examined the holes and saw there where sphere shaped. To her left a glowing spear sat and two her right another. Sweet easy she thought she grabbed the two spheres a shoved them into the holes and pushed on the door they swung open easily. The next rooms where similar it was just a matter of methodically placing spheres in the holes so she could get through the right doors. All the puzzles were solved and she was standing at a dead end.
"Hey!" a familiar voice said. From behind her appeared Wakka scowling slightly. "What's gotten into you?" he came up and stood beside her" "Only summoners, apprentice summoners, and their guardians can enter here. It's a tradition." Very important." She looked at him and bit her lip he didn't seem able to resist the younger girl and lent on her shoulder smiling indulgently.
"So what about you?" Tida wanted to know how he was allowed down here.
"Me? I'm a guardian." He preened
"A guardian?" She guessed it was his other job he was talking about. Beneath them a shining light glowed and a platform appeared it started moving down
"Summoners go on a pilgrimage to pray at every temple in Spira. Guardians protect them. The guardians in there now... One of them's got a short fuse, and who knows what the other's thinking. Well, now that we've come this far...might as well go all the way!"
Wakka still seemed anxious and fidgeted as the platform bumped to a stop.
Tida punched him in the arm and grinned reassuringly. She was excited to be going somewhere forbidden and was also exciting to save a summoner who was potentially in danger.
"What are you doing here? Didn't think we'd be able to handle it?" they had stepped off there platform to be met with a scowling pale faced women with dark lips and an intricate dress of fur and belts. Tida backed up against Wakka put off by such a welcome.
"No, it's uh...it's just..." Wakka stammered then in to Tida's ear he whispered. "See, I told you she gets mad easy."
On the other side of the room to the pale women was a huge blue lion like creature dressed in intricate straps and buckles. The creature looked at Tida and Tida stared back.
"Is the summoner all right?" He asked to neither in particular.
"Who are you?" The women asked spitefully Tida was prevented from answering by the sound of a heavy door opening. Everyone in the room looked towards it and took a few steps closer.
Up a short set of stairs a young man stood silhouetted against some mysterious light. A high pitch song came from within. The man looked exhausted he lent on the wall and dragged himself slowly towards the top of the steps.
Tida was breathless he was beautiful. Out of the overpowering light she could the young man features. He wouldn't be much older than her and had longing brown hair tied back but bits fell on to his carefully shaped white face. He was tall and lean, well built but in a delicate way. Hanging from behind one ear brained into his hair was a long shaft of beads that tinkled as he walked. There were other parts of his costume that made noise to. He had long loose fitting black pants that reached his ankle and high boots laced all the way up. On one side of his hip he wore a long pleated piece of material tucked into his waistband and hung down covering one leg. It was a deep blue with fine prints of flowers on the bottom. He wasn't wearing anything on top but a fine silver chain hung about his neck with a small pendant nestled on his chest.
His breathing was heavy and sweat was beaded on his face and body. The beautiful man walked down a few steps but stopped a swayed precariously. His eyes closed and he started to fall Tida ran forward instinctively but the blue lion creature got there first, Catching him before he fell. The man steadied himself looked at the lion creature grateful and stood back up. He dragged a hand though his damp ponytail flicking it of his neck and smiled at the collection of people before him.
"I've done it. I have become a summoner!"
Man was I surprised. And here I was thinking summoners were all old geezers.
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Did you like my description of Yune????? I was thinking an ultra Cute Bishounen.... And yeah he has got the rest of Yunas out fit he'll put ii on later...... plz review and tell me about Yune..... oh his name is pronounced you-n I hope that helps
lilit