whoa it's been a while since i've updated this thing. exactly one year since i posted the first version. but now that winter break has started, i plan on finishing this once and for all. and this is completely random, but i happen to be eating a popsicle right now and i feel like sharing the riddle with you children out there. so, what do windows bring when they go out in the sun? answer's at the end ;)
Chapter 2 : Kidnapped!
Straining their eyes against the sun, the group glanced upwards at the cloudless sky. In a flash of blinding light, Bahamut swooped down in front of them.
At first, everyone was confused about why Yuna would summon an aeon when it was perfectly safe, but at second glance, they noticed it wasn't Yuna's aeon; this Bahamut was darker. A sense of foreboding grew in Tidus' mind, and he jumped forward, slashing his Brotherhood through Bahamut's tough covering. Bahamut counterattacked, wounding Tidus' left leg. He collapsed in pain, but Rikku rushed forward quickly, throwing him a hi-potion, which Tidus gladly took. "Thanks! I owe you one!" Tidus said, as his grimace was replaced with a grateful smile. Everyone began hacking away at the aeon, while Rikku rummaged through her pack for a flash bomb to give themselves a chance to run for it. Unfortunately, Lulu became knocked out at a critical moment, and everyone got distracted; searching frantically for a phoenix down. Rikku finally located a flash bomb, but just as she whipped it out, Bahamut used Impulse, momentarily disabling everyone. Sensing their vulnerability, Bahamut rasped Rikku between his claws and flew off south towards Macalania.
"No!" Tidus shouted, attempting to run after them, but he was too weak. Everyone else was in a similar state; they were all gripping their sides, pain written all over their faces in a nice big font.
"There's no use trying to go after them like this," Wakka gasped. Yuna cast Curaga on everyone, easing their pain a bit. At least they were able to walk now.
But this didn't satisfy our ever-stubborn hero Tidus. "What do you mean we don't go after her? Rikku's in danger! We have to save her!"
"Look at us, Tidus. Look at yourself," Lulu replied calmly. "We're in no condition to go chasing after anyone right now, even if it's Rikku."
Tidus looked at her in utter disbelief. Instead of responding, he turned to face Yuna. "You'll come with me, right? We have to save your cousin! Who knows what will happen to her! Or what if something's already happened!"
Yuna thought for a moment, and feeling pressure from Auron's stare, came up with her decision quickly. "I'm sorry Tidus. I agree with Lulu. I mean, I don't think we have the strength right now to take down fiends. I think the best plan would be to rest at the inn and leave first thing tomorrow morning for Macalania."
Tidus was stunned. "She's your cousin, Yuna. Your family. Doesn't that matter to you?"
"Of course I care about her!" Yuna replied angrily and defensively. "But just take a look at us! We'll be killed before we step three feet into Macalania!"
By now, Tidus had had enough. "You wouldn't risk your life to save Rikku? Well I will! She saved my life once and I'd do the same for her! I would do the same for any of you!" He turned and half-limped, half-ran off towards Macalania, his heart bursting with anger, disappointment, and apprehension.
Rikku awoke and found herself bound to a lightning tower in the Thunder Plains. "No," she whispered, "W-Why am I here again!" She tried to remember what happened, rewinding through her memories like a videotape. As she recalled the battle with Bahamut, she felt spurts of pain shoot throughout her body. The pain and the fact that she was in the Thunder Plains, apparently alone, made her feel miserable like never before. "Owie…"
She heard someone approaching in the distance, their footsteps echoing across the plains. She hesitated, unsure of whether to ask for help or not in case that person turned out to be an Al Bhed hater, but then she realized that her situation couldn't really get any worse. "HELP!" she screamed, hoping that person would be nice enough to help her to the inn. However, as the figure approached closer, she was struck with surprise when she realized who it was.
"Dona? What are you doing here? Well whatever, can you help me out of these?" Rikku frantically tilted her head towards the ropes around her hands.
However, to Rikku's surprise yet again, Dona chuckled softly. "Silly girl. Don't you see it yet? Who else would have summoned that aeon?"
Rikku narrowed her eyes in confusion. "But why…? I've never done anything to you, you meanie!"
"Don't be so self-centered, little girl. It's not all about you. I had to kidnap you to lure your precious cousin here. But not to worry, I won't hurt you unless you force me to."
"No!" Rikku's eyes widened to the size of Tidus' ego. Trust me when I say that's pretty damn big. "Not Yunie! What do you want with her? Why!"
A mixture of resentment and disgust crossed Dona's face, twisting her features, making her appear remarkably like a particularly ugly horse. "Everyone in Spira is always 'Yuna this, Yuna that'. And why? All because her father is famous. Personally, I don't believe that's a legitimate reason to be treated above the rest of us. I'm doing this for the sake of all the summoners in Spira, including myself, who are just as well-qualified, if not more."
answer : shades! personally, i thought it was going to be something about sunglasses or something, since windows are made of glass and all. but i guess i'm just dumb. wow that was completely irrelevant to the story.