Well, Here I am! Back with chapter 3. Okay, Now, This chapter is going to give a little background on Leonn and Paine. As I said in the Ramblings at the end of the last chapter, what of Paine's past is revealed is taken from the game itself, so it is accurate. Also, I will reveal the name of the female Summoner whom I created as Leonn's pairing. Btw, I also have an idea of a pairing for Paine, but I don't know right now. This chapter will consist primarily of Leonn's backstory. Count on at least one or two Rikku/Yunie moments in this chapter. Oh yeah, Lots more Rikku/Yunie moments are going to be throughout this fic! Btw, In case you're wondering why I chose the particular dresspheres I did in the last chapter, here's why... I chose the 'Power' dressphere(i.e. Warrior, Dark Knight, Samurai, & Berserker) for each of the three characters that I like best for them (in other words, Warrior is my favorite 'Power' dressphere for Rikku and Dark Knight for Paine... I, however, don't like any of the 'Power' dresspheres for Yuna, hence I went with a good balanced one: Gun Mage). Anyway, Let's get started, eh?
-----Fierce Storm-----
-Celsius/Cabin-
Rikku and Yuna, both passed out from exhaustion, are lying akwardly on Yuna's bed asleep. Yuna's long 'ponytail'(for lack of a better word) is laying across Rikku's back, who's lying face-down, and Rikku's arms are wrapped around Yuna's left arm, her head laying against Yuna's shoulder. Rikku snuggles up against Yuna's side smiles subconsciously. After sitting on her bed and thinking quietly for awhile, Paine decides to go up on the Deck for some fresh air. She gets up and exits the Cabin, walks to the elevator and presses the button for the Deck.
-Celsius/Deck-
As soon as the elevator door opens, Paine sees Leonn training with his nodachi. Paine watches as Leonn slices against the wind, then with his right hand, he swings his nodachi in an upward diagonal right-to-left swing, followed by an upward diagonal left-to-right swing (an X motion). As he completes the second swing, he follows through by spinning on his left foot and performing a right back roundhouse, switching positions with his nodachi into a reverse-grip as he kicks. Leonn continues his spin and jumps up slightly, performing another right roundhouse in the air before landing. Leonn reaches back and grips the lower part of his nodachi's handle with his left hand, releasing it with his right hand, and he performs a left-handed diagonal upward right-to-left swing. He then twists his left wrist and regrips the upper-part of the handle with his right hand, brings it in a circular motion around himself and performs a diagonal downward right-to-left swing.
Leonn takes a few moments to breathe a few breaths, then walks forward to the end of the Deck and sits down, his right foot placed on the Deck with his knee brought up and his left leg outstretched infront of himself. He places the tip of his nodachi's blade against the Deck and lays the sword against his right shoulder, holding the handle in his right hand and placing his elbow against his knee. The wind blows through his long hair, causing it to wave behind him, he blinks twice, then says, "So, Paine? What's up?"
"Hm, Guess I just never had you pegged as a strickler for training." Paine says, walking up beside Leonn.
"I figure you felt that way cause o' my laid-back, easy-going personality, eh?" Leonn responds, "Appearances can be deceiving, y'know."
"I suppose you've got a point." Paine says, looking off at the clouds flying by, "But, I wasn't expecting to find you up here... I just wanted to clear my head in the fresh air."
"I see..." Leonn responds, "I would, though, like to ask... Why would a former Crusader become a Sphere-hunter?"
The question takes Paine slightly by surprise and she turns to Leonn, "How'd you know I was a Crusader?" she asks.
"Your style of swordsmanship... it's obviously the same as the Crusaders' Blade Unit." Leonn replies, still looking forward into the wind, "So, How'd you wind up here, eh?"
"Hmm... truth is, I was selected as a recruit in the Crimson Squad while I was in the Crusaders." Paine reveals, folding her arms, "Since the Crimson Squad was primarily machina weapon users and I was a member of the Blade Unit, I was assigned the task of being the recorder for Nooj, Gippal, and Baralai... then, on a certain assignment, things went crazy and we were seperated. But, There was also someone else who was very important to me that disappeared during that same assignment..."
"It's okay, you don't have to say anymore. I understand."
"So, Leonn, What's your story?" Paine asks, "I'm not usually the type to ask questions, but--"
"... well, my mother was a Summoner and I was born with an intimate knowledge of magic." Leonn begins, "When I was about nine, Sin attacked and my mother chose to undertake the Pilgrimage to defeat it and bring the Calm. My father stayed by her side, becoming her Guardian. And I, too, was 'labeled' her Guardian. We met Yuna's father, Braska, and his Guardians along our journey. Soon thereafter, though, Sin attacked us and I was knocked away, but my parents were killed by it..." he stops to take a deep breath, then lets it out slowly,"I was later taken in by an elderly swordmaster, who trained me in the ancient ways of swordsmanship. He knew of my desire for revenge against Sin, but he told me, 'Revenge nevers brings Redemption, the path through the past leads to nothing. You must live your life in the present.' I, of course, didn't listen and when I thought I'd learned everything from him I could, I left out on my own... I was about fourteen at the time." he continues, "I then joined the Crusaders, thinking it would get me closer to defeating Sin. I quickly became leader of the Blade Unit and eventually became known as the 'Hero of Djose' after the battle with the Al Bhed near Djose Temple."
"'You' were at the Battle of Djose Temple?" questions Paine.
Leonn nods, then continues, "I still remember seeing the Al Bhed bodies amongst the wreckage of their machina transport... not just warriors' bodies, but childrens' bodies too... it was shortly after that that I left the Crusaders and ended up joining up with the Al Bhed, I guess, to try to redeem myself for what I'd done. That's how I came to know Rikku and Cid." "I remained an ally to the Al Bhed for awhile, but ultimately left... I guess you could say I've lived asa bit of a vagabond." he continues, laughing once,"A short time later is when I met 'her'... someone who changed my life..."
"'her'? Who?"
"... Sarah... she, too, was a Summoner like my mother." Leonn says, "I met her about three years ago... a year later, Sin returned! Sarah chose to begin her Pilgrimage to bring the Calm and I followed, becoming her only Guardian."
"You were in love with her, right?" asks Paine.
Leonn nods, "However... again, it was ill-fated... as, during the Pilgrimage, we were attacked by Sin and... she and I were seperated..." he says, reaching into his vest with his left hand to pull out the object from the Omega Ruins... a locket. He flips it open and looks at the picture inside, which is of Sarah, "I know she's still alive, somewhere, but I... haven't seen her since that day..."
"Aha! So you 'were' the guy on the sphere!" Rikku's perky voice states from behind Leonn and Paine.She points toward him twice in succession with her right index finger.
Leonn takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly, "... yes." he responds, then glances uptoward the sky above,"That happened 2 years ago..."
"2 years..."
"Sarah and I learned about the traitor, Omega, and she was persistent for wanting to 'save' him..." Leonn continues, "The two of us, together, were able to topple the monster he was." "But, then, Just as Sarah began the process to Send him... he vanished." he says, "It was as we left the Omega Ruins that Sin attacked and separated me from Sarah..."
Rikku walks over and crouches next to Leonn's left side, she uses her right hand to pat him on the back and says, sympathetically,"She musta been really special to you, huh?"
"Yep." Leonn replies, "As special to me as Yuna is to you, Rikku." this causes Rikku to blush slightly.Leonn closes the locket and places itback inside his vest, then stands up and brushes his left hand through his hair, "Ah, well... I guess that's just the way things played out, eh? Nothing I can do about it since Sin's already gone, anyway." he turns and starts walking away from the edge of the Deck, "Life is full of happiness and sorrow, best to embrace it all as it comes, right?" Rikku and Paine stand up and turn around as Leonn walks toward the elevator.
As Leonn starts by Yuna, she says, "I'm sorry..." lowering her head slightly.
Leonn stops beside Yuna and places his right hand on her right shoulder, momentarily, then continues walking, "Nah. You did a great thing for all of Spira by defeating Sin... besides, 'Revenge never brings Redemption.' It was better the way it played out." Yuna turns and the three girls watch as Leonn heads back down, via the elevator, and Rikku walks up just behind Yuna's right side, placing her hands on Yuna's right shoulder.
"Y'know, I get the feeling Leonn's not tellin' us everything." Rikku says, trying to look thoughtful.
"Well, What d'you expect from the 'Fierce Storm'?" Paine says, folding her arms.
"Huh? 'Fierce Storm'?" asks Yuna, as she and Rikku turn toward Paine.
Paine turns back toward the edge of the Celsius' Deck, "I heard stories while I was in the Crusaders, but..." she says, folding her arms, "I never thought I'd actually meet him."
Yuna runs up to Paine's right side, Rikku to her left side, and she and Rikku both lean in, "Okay, Paine, Spill it!" Rikku states, "You know something, don't ya?"
"Yes, Paine." Yuna adds, "What is it?"
Paine rolls her eyes and sighs once, "Alright..." she relents, "Just give me a little room to breathe, would you?" Rikku and Yuna both take a step back and stand up straight. "It was a few years back and the Crusaders in my unit commonly talked about a swordsman who never stayed in one place for long. They said how he was likea force of naturein battle, yet he was nonchalant and laid-back when off the battlefield... and, they kept referring to him as the 'Fierce Storm'."
"So... you think that's Leonn?" asks Yuna, bringing her right index finger to her chin.
Paine nods, "I think so. Yeah." she replies, "Especially after seeing him fight."
-----!!To Be Continued!!-----
Ramblings: Well, Here we are at the ramblings again. Yeah, I know, My new stories have really short chapters as compared to some of my older ones, eh? Well, I just can't find the words to type longer chapters anymore... I'm sorry. However, I am trying to keep the chapters of each story in-sync, as far as length. Well, Tune in for the next chapter. Lots of Rikku/Yunie moments planned for the next chapter! Check back then okay? And, be sure to check out Flaming Soul's 'The Troubles of Love' fic, if you like the Rikku/Yuna pairing. Ja til the next chapter.
