Chapter Six: The Thunder Plains
Author's Notes -- Okay, here we are at one of the most crucial points in the re-enactment of Aurikku stories. Have fun reading~!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
The Thunder Plains
We arrived at the most fearful area in Spira -- the Thunder Plains. I had always avoided this area, for I had a bad experience with lightning. As mentioned by the books, it was always dark and damaged pillars that absorbed the destructive element that plagued the area.
"Oh, no...." I was beginning to feel scared of crossing this region as I huddled up. "We're here." A ball of lightning struck, with thunder following behind, which made me shrieked. In the distance, a powerful bolt struck one pillar.
"How are we supposed to cross that?" I saw Tidus asking the group.
"See the lightning rod towers?" Lulu pointed to the structures in the distance. "The lightning is drawn to them...hopefully."
'Hopefully?' I was beginning to have wild guesses. 'Fuh'd dryd sayh dryd fa luimt pa cdnilg po mekrdhehk?' I continued to look into the distance.
"We head north, not too near and not too far from the towers, ya?" Wakka asked the black mage, giving his opinion.
"Meaning we should avoid wide, open areas," Lulu deciphered. As she finished her statement, another lightning struck the tower, and made me shriek again in fear.
"I think I forgot something in Guadosalam," I spoke as I cowered in fear of the powerful thing that struck the lands.
"Nice knowing you," Auron replied back. At this time, I was angry with him for giving such sarcastic remarks.
'E's hud kuehk du pa tnejah uvv po oui zicd mega dryd,' I looked at him annoyingly. "Okay, okay, I'll go!" I responded, refusing to give in to this mean guardian but could not show my anger from the bad aura of this place.
***
Another bolt of lightning came down on one rod, making me shriek again. I came close to Yunie, holding her hand as we traveled across the dark plain.
"It's okay, Rikku," she assured me. "The chance of lightning reaching the ground is low."
"Yunie, you know how I was hit by lightning!" I replied back, making her recall the time when I told her about my bad relations with lightning. She gave a slight nod as a reply and continued on the journey. Another thunder rumbled throughout the area, making me afraid again.
We came under a rod tower, noticing an acolyte there. I was feeling afraid that she might notice me but it was not to be. "Ah, good day!" she noticed us as we approached, making the same Yevonite gesture.
"Hi there," Tidus exclaimed, coming towards her. She noticed Yunie and me as we followed Tidus behind.
"Is it true?" she asked Yunie, taking no notice of me. I heaved a sigh of relief that she had not noticed my identity yet. "I heard that Maester Seymour and Lady Yuna are to be wed! It's such great news! I have to tell everyone!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"Where'd you heard that?" Tidus interrogated, obviously displeased about Yunie's marriage case.
"From the Guado," the acolyte answered. "They were all very excited!"
"I'm afraid you heard a little wrong. Yunie's gonna turn him down."
"Oh...really?" she was a little shocked from Tidus' opposing answer.
"Yep! No wedding!" he replied proudly.
"I see..." her tone came down in disappointment. "That's unfortunate. Well I'm sure that people would have rejoiced all over Spira," the acolyte gave a sigh. With that, Auron made a signal for us to proceed further. Yunie bade the acolyte farewell before I followed her behind.
We advanced across the cursed lands, avoiding lightning and fighting off lightning-based fiends as well. As we engaged in battle with an iron giant, I was shaking from attacking it. I felt a bolt of thunder hit me from behind before blacking out.
***
I regained consciousness to find myself under another rod. The roar of thunder had woken me up again. In front of my eyes, I saw a worried Yunie and Tidus looking at me.
"What happened?" I got up, looking at them.
"You fainted upon being struck by lightning," Yunie answered.
"Hey Rikku!" Tidus replied back with no feeling of worry but that of a cheery type. "You are one lucky girl to have survived lightning, ya know?" I smiled at his encouraging words. Another lightning struck near as I cupped my ears and curled up.
"We have no time for resting," Auron replied harshly. "We leave." I looked back at the red-clad guardian; he did not have a heart to let us rest.
"Hey!" I began to pick a fight with him. "Can't we just rest here for a while, although it's dangerous? I bet you were secretly smiling that I had been struck by lightning." I heard nothing but silence around me. Even outgoing Tidus was quiet.
"Er...Rikku," Tidus gave me a poke. "Auron carried you here."
"Oh..." I looked at the giant man with guilt. He turned back to observe the next route to travel across the Thunder Plains. Suddenly, two bolts of lightning hit the tower consecutively, making Tidus and Yunie gasp.
"Whoa! That was a close one!" Wakka joked, laughing at his own joke.
"Stop kidding around," Lulu gave him a stern look.
"Yes, ma'am..." he replied to her.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh..." I trembled at the sudden blow of lightning. Wakka turned back to look at me in confusion.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" he asked, showing an ignorant look on his face. Obviously, he had not noticed that I was afraid of lightning.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh..." I continued my chattering and stammering.
"'Heh heh heh...' You're givin' me the creeps!" Tidus spoke, somehow annoyed that I was repeating my words. A lightning blow followed, making me to shriek and fall to my knees, covering my ears. Needing someone to guide me through, I crawled up swiftly and grabbed hold of Tidus' leg.
"I wanna go home!" I cried out, pulling his leg. "I hate lightning! I hate thunder!" I lamented, looking in fear for any nearby dangers. "Let's go rest over there! Please?" I pointed to another pillar, for we had advanced to the open again.
"This storm never stops," Auron advised, trying to oppose my suggestion. "Better to cross quickly."
"I know, but...Just for a little while?" I felt compelled to convince this stoic guardian of my idea.
"Heh, well?" Tidus looked at both of us giving different views. "What now?" Auron gave a sigh as we walked on to the rod.
***
We walked across the Plains when a blinding flash flared in front of me. Without warning, I heard the same familiar cracking of thunder. As I regained sight of the area, I noticed that everyone was gone, except for Auron.
'Uv ymm baubma...' I cursed in my mind. 'Fro sicd ra pa dra uha fru'c cdilg fedr sa?' I grumbled as I came over to him. Lightning still caused me to fear as it flashed across the dark skies.
"We have to find Yuna and the rest," he spoke frigidly. A thunder roared and another ball of lightning hit the ground, making me run into the nearest thing possible. I felt hard metal as I looked up at the nearest thing beside me -- Auron! I looked in fear as he gave me an irritated look. Suddenly, his face changed to look like that of a worried person.
"What did you say?" I asked as I heard him mutter some words under his breath.
"Nothing," he spoke. I noticed that he had not pushed me away, his breath was warm and this guardian gave me a strong sense of security. Coming to my senses, I pushed myself away from the crimson man.
"Okay, we've got to find Yunie and the others," I spoke bravely, hoping that another dose of lightning attack would not dampen my spirits. He nodded as we continued on our journey across the plains.
***
Yunie and the others had been found. It was easy for they were searching for us too, and affinity had brought us back together. I came near Tidus as we continue our journey and in fright too.
"Pretty please? Just a few minutes?" I begged Auron as we crossed one of Rin's travel agencies. To my surprise, no one heard me and continued on. "I'm scared of lightning! Let's rest, please? Pretty please?" I was beginning to feel desperate, hoping that the group would hear me.
"I'm too young to die!" I shrieked to the group. Even Yunie was ignoring me. "You're mean...cruel! Yours moms would be ashamed of you!" I cursed at them. I lowered my head, preparing to go with them when I saw the group turn back. "Are you having fun doing this to me?" I glared at them, noticing Auron chuckle while Yunie giggled.
"Fine, we rest," Auron decided. "She's worse than the storm."
I came into the agency and crawled into one corner of the room. Rin looked at me and shook his head as he passed by. I looked as Yunie entered a room to rest, with Tidus following her after a few minutes. Another lightning struck, making me afraid of it. I closed my eyes and began to enter a state of unconsciousness.
***
I woke up again to the rumbling of thunder. It was still frightening. I looked around to see that everyone was gone. I looked around to see that only Rin was there.
"Frana'c ajanouha?" I asked him. He somehow looked a little younger.
"Rir? Drao yna eh draen nuusc, teth'd oui nasaspan?" he answered in disbelief. I heaved a sigh of relief, relieved that they had not abandoned me behind. Another roar of thunder sounded as I squatted down, covering my ears.
I walked down the corridor, hearing for any voices. As I strolled down, I heard familiar voices that came from my dream previously.
"I bet ya were enjoying her company?" I heard an unfamiliar voice sound.
"Don't spout nonsense," the familiar voice sounded. His voice belonged to the man in red whom I had seen before at Bevelle. "She's an Al Bhed, and I don't care whether she is scared of the lightning or what. We should leave soon."
"Hey, I thought all monks were compassionate?"
"I'm a warrior monk," he replied coldly. "Warrior monks do not communicate with the Yevon-forsaken race." I was shocked at his bias against my race. I swung open the door to see the same red man and the other, a topless man with tattoos painted over his chest.
"To think I treated you as a friend!" I suddenly spoke out the words without knowing it. With that, I ran back to the main hall, squatting down in fear of the roaring of thunder.
'Fryd syta sa cyo druca funtc?' I pondered in my mind. I heard silence, and opened my eyes. Everything seemed back to normal; Lulu and Kimahri were standing in the hall. 'Fryd rybbahat zicd huf?' I wondered at how they could re-appear in the hall again.
"Lyna was just like that; always afraid of lightning and thunder too..." I heard Auron mumble a few words.
"Huh? You've got something to say?" I looked up to him. He turned to look at me before returning his gaze to somewhere else. A loud clap of thunder made me close my eyes once again, shivering in fear.
"He didn't mean it," I heard a gentle voice as I opened my eyes. I saw the same silvery hair summonr before my very eyes as he looked at me. "I guess too much Yevonite teaching can cause too much prejudice."
I looked around to see Lulu and Kimahri gone again. In the background, I saw the same two men standing. A thunder rumbled, making me shriek in terror. As I looked up again, I saw the topless man give the redcoat man a push in front.
"Hey, ya should apologize to her, ya know?" he taunted. The man with the long ponytail, also wearing the red coat, came forward to me. Suddenly, everything blacked out in front of me as a girl came towards me. She was the girl as Maester Seymour had described -- a scarf wrapped between her back and arms, short brown hair etc.
"Hello Rikku," she spoke. I got up in the surrounding darkness and took a step back. "I mean no harm," she assured me.
"Y-you a-are unsent!" I exclaimed. She looked down and back to me again.
"No doubt," she spoke softly, her tone as gentle as Yunie's. "I'm an unsent."
"Why are you here?"
"To help you."
"Help me?" I was confused at her objectives. "In what way?"
"What you have just saw is just the process of your fragmented memories being pieced together," she explained, her words still too hard to interpret.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out in due time," she replied. "Now it's time for you to wake up," she snapped her fingers before disappearing. I opened my eyes to find myself back at the agency, with Auron, Lulu and Kimahri still standing in the background. I saw Tidus approaching me. I looked at the outside window.
"It's not stopping, isn't it?" I asked, hoping for a positive answer.
"Don't tell me you were hoping it would," Auron responded sarcastically. Another lightning struck, making me shriek from it. "Fine, stay here," he taunted as he exited the building. I stood up, determined to give him a piece of my mind for his coldness.
"All right, already!" I screamed at him. "But! You didn't have to say it like that, you know!" I was feeling anger stirring up within me. "You could be more comforting or something! You know, try to cheer me up?" I felt him stop in his tracks before continuing. "You just don't get me at all, do you?" I was certain that I heard the scarlet meanie chuckling. "Hey! Are you listening?" I yelled. A thunder roared, making me huddle.
'Pa pnyja, Rikki!' my conscience instructed me. My fear was gone temporary. "I'm not scared! I'm not scared, you hear?" I spoke out against the most powerful member in the group. He chuckled and walked out of the agency. As we exited the building, a man came in front of us and took a photograph of us before running off again. The group simply stared at him running off. Ignoring the strange encounter, we proceeded into the Thunder Plains while I tried to conquer my fear of lightning and thunder.
***
"Everyone, wait," Yunie spoke abruptly, stopping everyone, even Auron.
"What's up?" Wakka asked.
"I have something to tell you," she replied solemnly.
"Here?" Lulu questioned, looking at the open plain that we were standing on.
"We're almost out of here! Let's go!" I exclaimed, eager to exit the treacherous plains, afraid of any impending lightning that could struck the ground any moment.
"I have to say it now!" Yunie yelled, showing her seriousness on the matter.
"Over there," Auron directed as we looked at one nearby pillar. We proceeded, encircling Yuna. She took a deep breath.
"I've decided to marry," she disclosed her secret.
"I thought so," Lulu answered with an emotionless tone. I heard silence before another lightning struck the ground once again, making me cower in fright.
"B-but why?" Wakka stumbled, probably confused at her sudden change of decision. "Why'd you change your mind?"
"For Spira's future...and Yevon's unity," she elaborated. "I thought it would be the best thing to do."
"That's not good enough," Auron gave his view. I was glad that he was opposing Yunie's decision too.
"Wait, is it..." Lulu queried. "Is it because of Lord Jyscal?"
"Hey! That sphere!" Tidus exclaimed. Auron came to her, raising his palm.
"Show me," he requested; his tone in a demanding one.
"I can't. I must speak to Maester Seymour first," she refused his request. "I truly am sorry, but this is...It is a personal matter."
"You're kidding, ya?" Wakka tried not to accept the truth.
"As you wish," Auron spoke as he turned away. I knew that he was not at all concerned for my cousin summoner but only cared for the pilgrimage. I looked at him, deeming him to be uncaring.
"I'm sorry," she approached him, his back facing her.
"Just one thing," he requested of her.
"I won't quit my pilgrimage," she assured him, knowing his true intention.
"Then it is...fine," he replied back. He was really an uncaring human; correction, an uncaring inhuman creature. I looked at him with hatred. Auron began to walk away when Tidus accosted the red-clad guardian.
"Wait a minute, Auron!" he stopped the mysterious one. "You don't care? I mean, you're not going to stop her?"
"No, I'm not," he replied coldly, ignoring Tidus' intention to stop Yunie from marrying one that she did not love. "As long as she is willing to face Sin...all else is her concern," he showed his heartless intentions. "That is a summoner's privileges. As long as she journeys." I noticed that Wakka was nodding and agreeing with Auron, the heartless guardian in red.
"But that's..." I saw Tidus still trying to fight back. Instead, he gave an argh. I felt obliged to do something about Yunie's loveless engagement.
"Yuna, just one question," Wakka asked. "Can't you just talk to Maester Seymour? You've got to marry him?"
"I don't know," she answered. "But I think it is the right thing to do."
"Okay, I guess," Wakka spoke softly, knowing he had failed to change Yunie's mind. It was now up to me to help in solving this dilemma.
"Yunie..." I approached her, placing my hands on her shoulders. Soon after, a lightning flashed across the sky, obviously trying to deter me from talking. "Quiet!" I shouted to it, angry that it was unneeded at this moment. "I wish we could help somehow, someway!" I faced her. Yunie placed her hand on mine.
"It's okay...I'll be fine," she re-assured me. I gave a slight smile back. Auron walked near us.
"Next, we are going to Macalania Temple. Yuna can talk with Seymour there," he told us. "We guardians will wait until they're done, and plan our next move. Understand?" At least this time, Yunie could still consider on her marriage to Seymour.
In the distance I saw the exit, a place where the lightning no longer reached. I was jubilant at its sight as I rushed towards it the fastest, with the group following behind.
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Not much Aurriku content here, but never mind~! It does unfold some part of the story already. I'll try to write more Aurikku as soon as possible. Bye!
Author's Notes -- Okay, here we are at one of the most crucial points in the re-enactment of Aurikku stories. Have fun reading~!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
The Thunder Plains
We arrived at the most fearful area in Spira -- the Thunder Plains. I had always avoided this area, for I had a bad experience with lightning. As mentioned by the books, it was always dark and damaged pillars that absorbed the destructive element that plagued the area.
"Oh, no...." I was beginning to feel scared of crossing this region as I huddled up. "We're here." A ball of lightning struck, with thunder following behind, which made me shrieked. In the distance, a powerful bolt struck one pillar.
"How are we supposed to cross that?" I saw Tidus asking the group.
"See the lightning rod towers?" Lulu pointed to the structures in the distance. "The lightning is drawn to them...hopefully."
'Hopefully?' I was beginning to have wild guesses. 'Fuh'd dryd sayh dryd fa luimt pa cdnilg po mekrdhehk?' I continued to look into the distance.
"We head north, not too near and not too far from the towers, ya?" Wakka asked the black mage, giving his opinion.
"Meaning we should avoid wide, open areas," Lulu deciphered. As she finished her statement, another lightning struck the tower, and made me shriek again in fear.
"I think I forgot something in Guadosalam," I spoke as I cowered in fear of the powerful thing that struck the lands.
"Nice knowing you," Auron replied back. At this time, I was angry with him for giving such sarcastic remarks.
'E's hud kuehk du pa tnejah uvv po oui zicd mega dryd,' I looked at him annoyingly. "Okay, okay, I'll go!" I responded, refusing to give in to this mean guardian but could not show my anger from the bad aura of this place.
***
Another bolt of lightning came down on one rod, making me shriek again. I came close to Yunie, holding her hand as we traveled across the dark plain.
"It's okay, Rikku," she assured me. "The chance of lightning reaching the ground is low."
"Yunie, you know how I was hit by lightning!" I replied back, making her recall the time when I told her about my bad relations with lightning. She gave a slight nod as a reply and continued on the journey. Another thunder rumbled throughout the area, making me afraid again.
We came under a rod tower, noticing an acolyte there. I was feeling afraid that she might notice me but it was not to be. "Ah, good day!" she noticed us as we approached, making the same Yevonite gesture.
"Hi there," Tidus exclaimed, coming towards her. She noticed Yunie and me as we followed Tidus behind.
"Is it true?" she asked Yunie, taking no notice of me. I heaved a sigh of relief that she had not noticed my identity yet. "I heard that Maester Seymour and Lady Yuna are to be wed! It's such great news! I have to tell everyone!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"Where'd you heard that?" Tidus interrogated, obviously displeased about Yunie's marriage case.
"From the Guado," the acolyte answered. "They were all very excited!"
"I'm afraid you heard a little wrong. Yunie's gonna turn him down."
"Oh...really?" she was a little shocked from Tidus' opposing answer.
"Yep! No wedding!" he replied proudly.
"I see..." her tone came down in disappointment. "That's unfortunate. Well I'm sure that people would have rejoiced all over Spira," the acolyte gave a sigh. With that, Auron made a signal for us to proceed further. Yunie bade the acolyte farewell before I followed her behind.
We advanced across the cursed lands, avoiding lightning and fighting off lightning-based fiends as well. As we engaged in battle with an iron giant, I was shaking from attacking it. I felt a bolt of thunder hit me from behind before blacking out.
***
I regained consciousness to find myself under another rod. The roar of thunder had woken me up again. In front of my eyes, I saw a worried Yunie and Tidus looking at me.
"What happened?" I got up, looking at them.
"You fainted upon being struck by lightning," Yunie answered.
"Hey Rikku!" Tidus replied back with no feeling of worry but that of a cheery type. "You are one lucky girl to have survived lightning, ya know?" I smiled at his encouraging words. Another lightning struck near as I cupped my ears and curled up.
"We have no time for resting," Auron replied harshly. "We leave." I looked back at the red-clad guardian; he did not have a heart to let us rest.
"Hey!" I began to pick a fight with him. "Can't we just rest here for a while, although it's dangerous? I bet you were secretly smiling that I had been struck by lightning." I heard nothing but silence around me. Even outgoing Tidus was quiet.
"Er...Rikku," Tidus gave me a poke. "Auron carried you here."
"Oh..." I looked at the giant man with guilt. He turned back to observe the next route to travel across the Thunder Plains. Suddenly, two bolts of lightning hit the tower consecutively, making Tidus and Yunie gasp.
"Whoa! That was a close one!" Wakka joked, laughing at his own joke.
"Stop kidding around," Lulu gave him a stern look.
"Yes, ma'am..." he replied to her.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh..." I trembled at the sudden blow of lightning. Wakka turned back to look at me in confusion.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" he asked, showing an ignorant look on his face. Obviously, he had not noticed that I was afraid of lightning.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh..." I continued my chattering and stammering.
"'Heh heh heh...' You're givin' me the creeps!" Tidus spoke, somehow annoyed that I was repeating my words. A lightning blow followed, making me to shriek and fall to my knees, covering my ears. Needing someone to guide me through, I crawled up swiftly and grabbed hold of Tidus' leg.
"I wanna go home!" I cried out, pulling his leg. "I hate lightning! I hate thunder!" I lamented, looking in fear for any nearby dangers. "Let's go rest over there! Please?" I pointed to another pillar, for we had advanced to the open again.
"This storm never stops," Auron advised, trying to oppose my suggestion. "Better to cross quickly."
"I know, but...Just for a little while?" I felt compelled to convince this stoic guardian of my idea.
"Heh, well?" Tidus looked at both of us giving different views. "What now?" Auron gave a sigh as we walked on to the rod.
***
We walked across the Plains when a blinding flash flared in front of me. Without warning, I heard the same familiar cracking of thunder. As I regained sight of the area, I noticed that everyone was gone, except for Auron.
'Uv ymm baubma...' I cursed in my mind. 'Fro sicd ra pa dra uha fru'c cdilg fedr sa?' I grumbled as I came over to him. Lightning still caused me to fear as it flashed across the dark skies.
"We have to find Yuna and the rest," he spoke frigidly. A thunder roared and another ball of lightning hit the ground, making me run into the nearest thing possible. I felt hard metal as I looked up at the nearest thing beside me -- Auron! I looked in fear as he gave me an irritated look. Suddenly, his face changed to look like that of a worried person.
"What did you say?" I asked as I heard him mutter some words under his breath.
"Nothing," he spoke. I noticed that he had not pushed me away, his breath was warm and this guardian gave me a strong sense of security. Coming to my senses, I pushed myself away from the crimson man.
"Okay, we've got to find Yunie and the others," I spoke bravely, hoping that another dose of lightning attack would not dampen my spirits. He nodded as we continued on our journey across the plains.
***
Yunie and the others had been found. It was easy for they were searching for us too, and affinity had brought us back together. I came near Tidus as we continue our journey and in fright too.
"Pretty please? Just a few minutes?" I begged Auron as we crossed one of Rin's travel agencies. To my surprise, no one heard me and continued on. "I'm scared of lightning! Let's rest, please? Pretty please?" I was beginning to feel desperate, hoping that the group would hear me.
"I'm too young to die!" I shrieked to the group. Even Yunie was ignoring me. "You're mean...cruel! Yours moms would be ashamed of you!" I cursed at them. I lowered my head, preparing to go with them when I saw the group turn back. "Are you having fun doing this to me?" I glared at them, noticing Auron chuckle while Yunie giggled.
"Fine, we rest," Auron decided. "She's worse than the storm."
I came into the agency and crawled into one corner of the room. Rin looked at me and shook his head as he passed by. I looked as Yunie entered a room to rest, with Tidus following her after a few minutes. Another lightning struck, making me afraid of it. I closed my eyes and began to enter a state of unconsciousness.
***
I woke up again to the rumbling of thunder. It was still frightening. I looked around to see that everyone was gone. I looked around to see that only Rin was there.
"Frana'c ajanouha?" I asked him. He somehow looked a little younger.
"Rir? Drao yna eh draen nuusc, teth'd oui nasaspan?" he answered in disbelief. I heaved a sigh of relief, relieved that they had not abandoned me behind. Another roar of thunder sounded as I squatted down, covering my ears.
I walked down the corridor, hearing for any voices. As I strolled down, I heard familiar voices that came from my dream previously.
"I bet ya were enjoying her company?" I heard an unfamiliar voice sound.
"Don't spout nonsense," the familiar voice sounded. His voice belonged to the man in red whom I had seen before at Bevelle. "She's an Al Bhed, and I don't care whether she is scared of the lightning or what. We should leave soon."
"Hey, I thought all monks were compassionate?"
"I'm a warrior monk," he replied coldly. "Warrior monks do not communicate with the Yevon-forsaken race." I was shocked at his bias against my race. I swung open the door to see the same red man and the other, a topless man with tattoos painted over his chest.
"To think I treated you as a friend!" I suddenly spoke out the words without knowing it. With that, I ran back to the main hall, squatting down in fear of the roaring of thunder.
'Fryd syta sa cyo druca funtc?' I pondered in my mind. I heard silence, and opened my eyes. Everything seemed back to normal; Lulu and Kimahri were standing in the hall. 'Fryd rybbahat zicd huf?' I wondered at how they could re-appear in the hall again.
"Lyna was just like that; always afraid of lightning and thunder too..." I heard Auron mumble a few words.
"Huh? You've got something to say?" I looked up to him. He turned to look at me before returning his gaze to somewhere else. A loud clap of thunder made me close my eyes once again, shivering in fear.
"He didn't mean it," I heard a gentle voice as I opened my eyes. I saw the same silvery hair summonr before my very eyes as he looked at me. "I guess too much Yevonite teaching can cause too much prejudice."
I looked around to see Lulu and Kimahri gone again. In the background, I saw the same two men standing. A thunder rumbled, making me shriek in terror. As I looked up again, I saw the topless man give the redcoat man a push in front.
"Hey, ya should apologize to her, ya know?" he taunted. The man with the long ponytail, also wearing the red coat, came forward to me. Suddenly, everything blacked out in front of me as a girl came towards me. She was the girl as Maester Seymour had described -- a scarf wrapped between her back and arms, short brown hair etc.
"Hello Rikku," she spoke. I got up in the surrounding darkness and took a step back. "I mean no harm," she assured me.
"Y-you a-are unsent!" I exclaimed. She looked down and back to me again.
"No doubt," she spoke softly, her tone as gentle as Yunie's. "I'm an unsent."
"Why are you here?"
"To help you."
"Help me?" I was confused at her objectives. "In what way?"
"What you have just saw is just the process of your fragmented memories being pieced together," she explained, her words still too hard to interpret.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out in due time," she replied. "Now it's time for you to wake up," she snapped her fingers before disappearing. I opened my eyes to find myself back at the agency, with Auron, Lulu and Kimahri still standing in the background. I saw Tidus approaching me. I looked at the outside window.
"It's not stopping, isn't it?" I asked, hoping for a positive answer.
"Don't tell me you were hoping it would," Auron responded sarcastically. Another lightning struck, making me shriek from it. "Fine, stay here," he taunted as he exited the building. I stood up, determined to give him a piece of my mind for his coldness.
"All right, already!" I screamed at him. "But! You didn't have to say it like that, you know!" I was feeling anger stirring up within me. "You could be more comforting or something! You know, try to cheer me up?" I felt him stop in his tracks before continuing. "You just don't get me at all, do you?" I was certain that I heard the scarlet meanie chuckling. "Hey! Are you listening?" I yelled. A thunder roared, making me huddle.
'Pa pnyja, Rikki!' my conscience instructed me. My fear was gone temporary. "I'm not scared! I'm not scared, you hear?" I spoke out against the most powerful member in the group. He chuckled and walked out of the agency. As we exited the building, a man came in front of us and took a photograph of us before running off again. The group simply stared at him running off. Ignoring the strange encounter, we proceeded into the Thunder Plains while I tried to conquer my fear of lightning and thunder.
***
"Everyone, wait," Yunie spoke abruptly, stopping everyone, even Auron.
"What's up?" Wakka asked.
"I have something to tell you," she replied solemnly.
"Here?" Lulu questioned, looking at the open plain that we were standing on.
"We're almost out of here! Let's go!" I exclaimed, eager to exit the treacherous plains, afraid of any impending lightning that could struck the ground any moment.
"I have to say it now!" Yunie yelled, showing her seriousness on the matter.
"Over there," Auron directed as we looked at one nearby pillar. We proceeded, encircling Yuna. She took a deep breath.
"I've decided to marry," she disclosed her secret.
"I thought so," Lulu answered with an emotionless tone. I heard silence before another lightning struck the ground once again, making me cower in fright.
"B-but why?" Wakka stumbled, probably confused at her sudden change of decision. "Why'd you change your mind?"
"For Spira's future...and Yevon's unity," she elaborated. "I thought it would be the best thing to do."
"That's not good enough," Auron gave his view. I was glad that he was opposing Yunie's decision too.
"Wait, is it..." Lulu queried. "Is it because of Lord Jyscal?"
"Hey! That sphere!" Tidus exclaimed. Auron came to her, raising his palm.
"Show me," he requested; his tone in a demanding one.
"I can't. I must speak to Maester Seymour first," she refused his request. "I truly am sorry, but this is...It is a personal matter."
"You're kidding, ya?" Wakka tried not to accept the truth.
"As you wish," Auron spoke as he turned away. I knew that he was not at all concerned for my cousin summoner but only cared for the pilgrimage. I looked at him, deeming him to be uncaring.
"I'm sorry," she approached him, his back facing her.
"Just one thing," he requested of her.
"I won't quit my pilgrimage," she assured him, knowing his true intention.
"Then it is...fine," he replied back. He was really an uncaring human; correction, an uncaring inhuman creature. I looked at him with hatred. Auron began to walk away when Tidus accosted the red-clad guardian.
"Wait a minute, Auron!" he stopped the mysterious one. "You don't care? I mean, you're not going to stop her?"
"No, I'm not," he replied coldly, ignoring Tidus' intention to stop Yunie from marrying one that she did not love. "As long as she is willing to face Sin...all else is her concern," he showed his heartless intentions. "That is a summoner's privileges. As long as she journeys." I noticed that Wakka was nodding and agreeing with Auron, the heartless guardian in red.
"But that's..." I saw Tidus still trying to fight back. Instead, he gave an argh. I felt obliged to do something about Yunie's loveless engagement.
"Yuna, just one question," Wakka asked. "Can't you just talk to Maester Seymour? You've got to marry him?"
"I don't know," she answered. "But I think it is the right thing to do."
"Okay, I guess," Wakka spoke softly, knowing he had failed to change Yunie's mind. It was now up to me to help in solving this dilemma.
"Yunie..." I approached her, placing my hands on her shoulders. Soon after, a lightning flashed across the sky, obviously trying to deter me from talking. "Quiet!" I shouted to it, angry that it was unneeded at this moment. "I wish we could help somehow, someway!" I faced her. Yunie placed her hand on mine.
"It's okay...I'll be fine," she re-assured me. I gave a slight smile back. Auron walked near us.
"Next, we are going to Macalania Temple. Yuna can talk with Seymour there," he told us. "We guardians will wait until they're done, and plan our next move. Understand?" At least this time, Yunie could still consider on her marriage to Seymour.
In the distance I saw the exit, a place where the lightning no longer reached. I was jubilant at its sight as I rushed towards it the fastest, with the group following behind.
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Not much Aurriku content here, but never mind~! It does unfold some part of the story already. I'll try to write more Aurikku as soon as possible. Bye!