[Authors note]
Hello again! This chapter is kinda like a link between the prologue and the
actual plot. It shows the start of the continuation of the pilgrimage.
Also, I want to give a thank you to my reviewers (yay all 3 of them!)
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Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any of its characters. I do
however own a very nice red ball point pen which is going for sale. Shall
we start the bidding at 20p? Any takers? No? Just me then...
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The Secret
Chapter 2 – Guadosalams Hatred
It was in fact, several days until we were at last going to continue the pilgrimage. At first there had been argument's over whether the group should continue without me, until one day I caught them, told them all exactly what I thought of them and insisted that even if they did not agree to me tagging along, then I'd just follow along behind. After that they had all agreed but Lulu had insisted that they stay for a few more days, just to "let open wounds heal a little" as she had put it. But man was I bored! I know they were all just trying to do the best by me, but staring at the same four walls for more than 3 days is enough to drive me mad. Especially with no relief, from the caring empathetic looks I kept receiving and the constant questions, bombarded at her, "are you ok" "do you need a lie down" and a class one from Wakka "if your needing anyone to talk to, you can always talk to Auron, if not one of us ya". Auron! I couldn't even look at him, let alone talk to him. I was still puzzling over the incident in the bedroom. Why had he acted so weirdly? It's not like there was anything for him to be embarrassed about. Now, whenever we met in a room, he'd mumble something about polishing his sword and leave. I swear to you, even when new, that his blade, no scratch that, any blade has never been that shiny. But I'd decided to save him the bother. I took to avoiding the group during the day, only meeting up for meals, which was fine by them. They'd no longer have to keep asking if I was ok. So that's where I would be. Sitting in the cute little garden behind the inn, doing what I do most days... re- reading my dads letter.
Because I am certain now that it is his. I can quote it in my sleep, I have read it so often and I am positive that it matches his handwriting and the stamp is the same. The only reason I hadn't recognised it before was that I had not seen it since I was a child. My mother had picked it out and once she had died, he stopped using it and changed to a different one. Now this was my first clue to the puzzle. Why would dad send me a letter that was dated just after his death, but with a stamp that had not been used for about 13years? The person who wrote it could not have known about it, there were only 3 people who did. Me, mum and dad... but then, why would dad send me a letter, telling me he was dead, yet with this major clue hitting me like a neon sign saying that he wasn't? The letter had to have been written by him. Only, that would mean...he wasn't dead?
This is what kept me occupied through out my entire stay at that inn. Was this letter, a pre-written one, with the stamp, a coincidence, or, was he really alive, and in trouble, and trying to subtly let me know he was still alive. But even if he was alive, then why bother being subtle about the whole "alive" thing when he has just told me, to be careful of the one race of people that could have "killed" him, in black and white, easy for them to read if the letter was intercepted? It was at this point that I had stood up and yelled in anger at the letter, wishing I hadn't received it in the first place. Unfortunately, Tidus and Auron had been standing behind me, and after giving me the strangest looks at my sudden outburst, told me to pack what was left and be ready to leave in 20 minutes...
So, back on the road, last as usual, choking on the dust, as usual, and not having a clue where we are headed to next....as usual. I think that the main disadvantage to being at the back of the group, was that fiends often find it more useful to attack from behind, as opposed to directly in front. By nightfall, I was bruised, tired and very hungry. I could not wait for my bed. I watched from the sidelines as Tidus, Auron and Wakka gathered firewood from the nearby trees that surrounded our "camp". One of Lulu's animated moogles obediently gathered stones and placed them in a large circle on the floor and the wood was piled inside it. Then with a simple, Fira from Lulu, the wood was ablaze and sleeping positions being decided. To my horror, Auron suggested I do first watch and before I even had time to moan, they had all turned in to they're comfy tents, Auron promising to take over at midnight. I looked at my machina time device,
"Great" I thought, "4 hours off staying awake in front of a warm fire, staring at black nothingness and freaking myself out by bumps in the night. Well isn't this going to be fun!"
I made a mental note to spit in Auron's soup next time we ate and settled down, my poison claw by my side. Reaching into my side pocket, I pulled out the now slightly creased letter and began to struggle over the puzzle yet again. After staring at the paper for what I thought was only 10 minutes but was more like 2 hours, I heard a crack that seamed to echo all around. The fire had gone down considerably and the logs were now no more than smoking embers. I cautiously picked out one and, after blowing on it for a while, managed a half hearted flame. I held it up high above me head and stood on tip toes to get more light into the dark forest that closed us away from the rest of the world. A snap behind me, made me spin round so fast I almost lost my balance.
"Chill Rikku" I told myself mentally, "It's probably an owl or something"
A low growl and two yellow eyes appeared at the edge of the darkness.
"A very big owl" I said, not even bothering to lower my voice, as another pair of eyes joined it. I began to back away from the fiends as they drew in closer and closer, putting the fire between myself and them. The only trouble was, they were fast approaching the tents. I need if I cried out, "fiend" then there would be a scuffle, even before the tents were open, and that would be ample time for the beasts to pounce and rip my friends to shreds. "Ok Rikku," I whispered quietly, "You need a plan...and fast." I did the only thing I could think of. I ran. And I ran screaming, waving the barely burning torch like a sword, drawing the fiends to me like a moth to a flame. It worked! They chased after me, leaving the tents, far behind. The only trouble was, it worked too well and they were now gaining on me. I felt the first snap at my heals and jump, dodging the beasts teeth and swung around slightly, catching the animal in the jaw with the dim torch. As the wood connected I heard a yelp and felt it drop back a little. Well that was one down and off my back for a while, now for the other one. I threw my head backwards to see how far ahead I was, and didn't see the tree root sticking up. I flew an impressive three or four meters before coming to halt, my torch now a glowing ember another five or so yards away, and slowing dying. I whipped my head around again and saw the first beast apon me. I felt its claws digging into me and felt pain all over my body. I cried out in terror and agony and tried to push it off me.
At first I thought that I actually had somehow managed to lift the beasts' entire weight off of me. My second thought, well besides ouch anyway, was wow, I am strong, but then I heard a distinct grunt and a thud, followed by the first of two yelps from the hounds and then, just too confirm my thoughts, felt Auron leaning over me.
"Rikku!" He shouted into my ears, practically deafening me, and shaking me all the while, "Rikku are you okay?" "Argh..."I managed to get out, at least letting him no I was alive. I opened my eyes and saw him looking down at me. As soon as our gazes met, he pulled away. "Here," he said gruffly, his back facing me, "Use this." He handed me a shining green bottle, a high potion and I gingerly sat up and swallowed the swirling mass of blue healing liquid, the familiar warm head-rush you always get with one following soon after. I raised my hand to my head, where a dull thud had been growing steadily worse. A small bump had risen from my fall. Great, that's gonna look attractive when it's all bruised up.
"What happened?" said Auron's back.
I turned to face him or his back at least, "The camp was attacked and I thought it best to lure the fiends away." I shrugged, not that he'd see it.
"To get killed in the dark, Rikku what were you thinking?" Came his reply. I couldn't work out his tone. It was angry, but kinda sad.
"I was doing what I thought best for the pilgrimage!" I shouted back at him, matching his own tone, "And anyway, since when do you care you big meanie!"
"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?" He barked, turning his head fully. "Nothing" I sulked feeling embarrassed. What did it mean? Why was I so angry? "It doesn't matter." I stood up and swayed a little, meaning to walk back to camp, expecting a reprimand from Auron, but I got nothing. Just his back...again...
I hurried back through the darkness, still expecting to hear my name called but Auron made no sound. But then again, that's a good thing. I won't have to listen to him lecture me for hours.
I was back at camp before I even realised it and out of breath. Had I run? I shook my head, and noting that everyone else was still asleep after my little outburst decided to crawl into my tent and let Auron finish watch. I stared at the ceiling of my tent, watching the moths flicker in the moonlight outside, casting shadowy images across the material and listened to Yunie and Lulu's steady breathing, and Wakka's loud snoring. As far as I could tell, Auron still hadn't returned, but then he was always so stealthy so I wouldn't have been able to notice anyway.
It was at least another twenty minutes before I finally began to feel my eyes close. I had inspected my wounds from the fiend, and even though I drank the hi-potion, I could still see a faint white line on my side, about two centimetres long. Not much, but still, my first battle scar.
"And hopefully your last" I reminded myself silently, "You don't want to turn into Auron" I added before rolling over and giving in to my body's wish of sleep...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- Well here you go. Its kinda short but YAY I'm on my 6 week holiday which should mean a few more chapters for you. That's another thing. Do you want longer chapters that will take longer or shorter ones that will be updated quicker? Let me know! I live for reviews! Right I'll go away now and let you go and read your other fan fics that I know you are all dying to get to. Till next time! Ciao Bambino's!
It was in fact, several days until we were at last going to continue the pilgrimage. At first there had been argument's over whether the group should continue without me, until one day I caught them, told them all exactly what I thought of them and insisted that even if they did not agree to me tagging along, then I'd just follow along behind. After that they had all agreed but Lulu had insisted that they stay for a few more days, just to "let open wounds heal a little" as she had put it. But man was I bored! I know they were all just trying to do the best by me, but staring at the same four walls for more than 3 days is enough to drive me mad. Especially with no relief, from the caring empathetic looks I kept receiving and the constant questions, bombarded at her, "are you ok" "do you need a lie down" and a class one from Wakka "if your needing anyone to talk to, you can always talk to Auron, if not one of us ya". Auron! I couldn't even look at him, let alone talk to him. I was still puzzling over the incident in the bedroom. Why had he acted so weirdly? It's not like there was anything for him to be embarrassed about. Now, whenever we met in a room, he'd mumble something about polishing his sword and leave. I swear to you, even when new, that his blade, no scratch that, any blade has never been that shiny. But I'd decided to save him the bother. I took to avoiding the group during the day, only meeting up for meals, which was fine by them. They'd no longer have to keep asking if I was ok. So that's where I would be. Sitting in the cute little garden behind the inn, doing what I do most days... re- reading my dads letter.
Because I am certain now that it is his. I can quote it in my sleep, I have read it so often and I am positive that it matches his handwriting and the stamp is the same. The only reason I hadn't recognised it before was that I had not seen it since I was a child. My mother had picked it out and once she had died, he stopped using it and changed to a different one. Now this was my first clue to the puzzle. Why would dad send me a letter that was dated just after his death, but with a stamp that had not been used for about 13years? The person who wrote it could not have known about it, there were only 3 people who did. Me, mum and dad... but then, why would dad send me a letter, telling me he was dead, yet with this major clue hitting me like a neon sign saying that he wasn't? The letter had to have been written by him. Only, that would mean...he wasn't dead?
This is what kept me occupied through out my entire stay at that inn. Was this letter, a pre-written one, with the stamp, a coincidence, or, was he really alive, and in trouble, and trying to subtly let me know he was still alive. But even if he was alive, then why bother being subtle about the whole "alive" thing when he has just told me, to be careful of the one race of people that could have "killed" him, in black and white, easy for them to read if the letter was intercepted? It was at this point that I had stood up and yelled in anger at the letter, wishing I hadn't received it in the first place. Unfortunately, Tidus and Auron had been standing behind me, and after giving me the strangest looks at my sudden outburst, told me to pack what was left and be ready to leave in 20 minutes...
So, back on the road, last as usual, choking on the dust, as usual, and not having a clue where we are headed to next....as usual. I think that the main disadvantage to being at the back of the group, was that fiends often find it more useful to attack from behind, as opposed to directly in front. By nightfall, I was bruised, tired and very hungry. I could not wait for my bed. I watched from the sidelines as Tidus, Auron and Wakka gathered firewood from the nearby trees that surrounded our "camp". One of Lulu's animated moogles obediently gathered stones and placed them in a large circle on the floor and the wood was piled inside it. Then with a simple, Fira from Lulu, the wood was ablaze and sleeping positions being decided. To my horror, Auron suggested I do first watch and before I even had time to moan, they had all turned in to they're comfy tents, Auron promising to take over at midnight. I looked at my machina time device,
"Great" I thought, "4 hours off staying awake in front of a warm fire, staring at black nothingness and freaking myself out by bumps in the night. Well isn't this going to be fun!"
I made a mental note to spit in Auron's soup next time we ate and settled down, my poison claw by my side. Reaching into my side pocket, I pulled out the now slightly creased letter and began to struggle over the puzzle yet again. After staring at the paper for what I thought was only 10 minutes but was more like 2 hours, I heard a crack that seamed to echo all around. The fire had gone down considerably and the logs were now no more than smoking embers. I cautiously picked out one and, after blowing on it for a while, managed a half hearted flame. I held it up high above me head and stood on tip toes to get more light into the dark forest that closed us away from the rest of the world. A snap behind me, made me spin round so fast I almost lost my balance.
"Chill Rikku" I told myself mentally, "It's probably an owl or something"
A low growl and two yellow eyes appeared at the edge of the darkness.
"A very big owl" I said, not even bothering to lower my voice, as another pair of eyes joined it. I began to back away from the fiends as they drew in closer and closer, putting the fire between myself and them. The only trouble was, they were fast approaching the tents. I need if I cried out, "fiend" then there would be a scuffle, even before the tents were open, and that would be ample time for the beasts to pounce and rip my friends to shreds. "Ok Rikku," I whispered quietly, "You need a plan...and fast." I did the only thing I could think of. I ran. And I ran screaming, waving the barely burning torch like a sword, drawing the fiends to me like a moth to a flame. It worked! They chased after me, leaving the tents, far behind. The only trouble was, it worked too well and they were now gaining on me. I felt the first snap at my heals and jump, dodging the beasts teeth and swung around slightly, catching the animal in the jaw with the dim torch. As the wood connected I heard a yelp and felt it drop back a little. Well that was one down and off my back for a while, now for the other one. I threw my head backwards to see how far ahead I was, and didn't see the tree root sticking up. I flew an impressive three or four meters before coming to halt, my torch now a glowing ember another five or so yards away, and slowing dying. I whipped my head around again and saw the first beast apon me. I felt its claws digging into me and felt pain all over my body. I cried out in terror and agony and tried to push it off me.
At first I thought that I actually had somehow managed to lift the beasts' entire weight off of me. My second thought, well besides ouch anyway, was wow, I am strong, but then I heard a distinct grunt and a thud, followed by the first of two yelps from the hounds and then, just too confirm my thoughts, felt Auron leaning over me.
"Rikku!" He shouted into my ears, practically deafening me, and shaking me all the while, "Rikku are you okay?" "Argh..."I managed to get out, at least letting him no I was alive. I opened my eyes and saw him looking down at me. As soon as our gazes met, he pulled away. "Here," he said gruffly, his back facing me, "Use this." He handed me a shining green bottle, a high potion and I gingerly sat up and swallowed the swirling mass of blue healing liquid, the familiar warm head-rush you always get with one following soon after. I raised my hand to my head, where a dull thud had been growing steadily worse. A small bump had risen from my fall. Great, that's gonna look attractive when it's all bruised up.
"What happened?" said Auron's back.
I turned to face him or his back at least, "The camp was attacked and I thought it best to lure the fiends away." I shrugged, not that he'd see it.
"To get killed in the dark, Rikku what were you thinking?" Came his reply. I couldn't work out his tone. It was angry, but kinda sad.
"I was doing what I thought best for the pilgrimage!" I shouted back at him, matching his own tone, "And anyway, since when do you care you big meanie!"
"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?" He barked, turning his head fully. "Nothing" I sulked feeling embarrassed. What did it mean? Why was I so angry? "It doesn't matter." I stood up and swayed a little, meaning to walk back to camp, expecting a reprimand from Auron, but I got nothing. Just his back...again...
I hurried back through the darkness, still expecting to hear my name called but Auron made no sound. But then again, that's a good thing. I won't have to listen to him lecture me for hours.
I was back at camp before I even realised it and out of breath. Had I run? I shook my head, and noting that everyone else was still asleep after my little outburst decided to crawl into my tent and let Auron finish watch. I stared at the ceiling of my tent, watching the moths flicker in the moonlight outside, casting shadowy images across the material and listened to Yunie and Lulu's steady breathing, and Wakka's loud snoring. As far as I could tell, Auron still hadn't returned, but then he was always so stealthy so I wouldn't have been able to notice anyway.
It was at least another twenty minutes before I finally began to feel my eyes close. I had inspected my wounds from the fiend, and even though I drank the hi-potion, I could still see a faint white line on my side, about two centimetres long. Not much, but still, my first battle scar.
"And hopefully your last" I reminded myself silently, "You don't want to turn into Auron" I added before rolling over and giving in to my body's wish of sleep...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- Well here you go. Its kinda short but YAY I'm on my 6 week holiday which should mean a few more chapters for you. That's another thing. Do you want longer chapters that will take longer or shorter ones that will be updated quicker? Let me know! I live for reviews! Right I'll go away now and let you go and read your other fan fics that I know you are all dying to get to. Till next time! Ciao Bambino's!