Tifa awoke in the shadow of a building she looked next to her Lenne was waking up as well. She noticed Rimoru lay there as well but the teen made no movement.
"You ok Tifa?" Lenne asked. Tifa managed to nod her head even though it felt twenty pounds heavier. Lenne checked on Rimoru.
"How is she?" Tifa asked.
"Battered and bruised." Lenne replied. "But she'll live." Lenne noticed people from the temple coming. They went to them
"By the holy are you three ok?" one asked.
"We are." Tifa said. "The girl is hurt I think."
"Yes so unlike the Tribal Viera's to raid here." He replied.
"They had reason." A voice said it was female, Tifa noticed a woman with pale skin, and she had on a red robe and had light red hair tied into a ponytail.
"What is their reason?" Lenne asked.
"They have been on what they call Holy Mission to cleanse the Viera race." She said.
"Jayma." The man said. "There is no need to worry these young ladies."
"We want to know." Tifa said. "How will the cleanse the Viera race?"
"It's simple to them all Viera who have mingled with humans must be killed." Jayma said.
"Marjorie and Katejina." Lenne gasped. "We have to do something!" Tifa glanced at a Viera lying unconscious. Solders where in the process of tying her up.
"We'll question her." Jayma said. Tifa nodded and they where led to the temple, where the Viera was strapped down to a bed. Rimoru was carried in and placed on a bed. Thunderpaws nuzzled Rimoru's hand that hung down from the bed, she moaned softly but gave no other response. Tifa's attention then turned to the Viera as she woke up. Tifa went over and joined Lenne; the Viera looked with seething hatred Tifa never saw such hate.
"Where are my friends?" Tifa asked. The Viera looked at Tifa and spat at her.
"They'll be dead soon." She snarled. Lenne went to the Viera she placed a hand of the Viera and began to hum. The Viera struggled as if she was in serious pain her body convulsed the humming only lasted a few seconds when it was done the Viera seemed pacified and Lenne sunk to her knees.
"Ask her." She muttered. "Make it quick though." Tifa helped Lenne to her feet. Jayma looked at the Viera.
"Where are your captives?" she asked.
"In a secret camp the base of Kiapo Peak." She answered her voice devoid of any emotion.
"What do you plan to do with them?" Jayma asked.
"Sacrifice them at the High moon tomorrow night." She replied. Her body then convulsed again and the hate was back in her eyes. She struggled her muscles bulging she glared at Lenne, with a feral growl the Viera broke free and leapt for Lenne, the tumbled she was on top of the singer. She was about to kill Lenne when Lenne saw a spearhead through the Viera's midsection. The Viera was tossed to the side where she lay dead.
"Dammit." Jayma swore. "You ok?" Lenne nodded.
"What did you do?" Tifa asked.
"An entrancement song." Lenne said. "When I took up singing I noticed the magic within me actually had an effect on my music. I could help even hurt with my music. What I did with her was open her mind so she would answered any questions."
"Well that worked." Jayma said. "I guess they remember when they snap out of it." Lenne nodded again.
"That they do." She replied. Lenne then went to Tifa she turned to Lenne.
"You seen Yuna or Shara?" she asked. Lenne shook her head.
"No but I find it hard that those two would go anyplace with each other. They don't like each other that much." Lenne said
"You asking about a girl and a short haired Viera?" Jayma asked as she came up.
"Yes." Tifa said. "You know something?"
"Saw them leaving shortly before you two woke up." Jayma continued. "That's an odd couple if I ever saw one." Jayma then left the two. Lenne shook her head and sighed.
"Something wrong Lenne?" Tifa asked.
"Yuna is just surprising me more and more lately." Lenne said. "Doing things I figured she would never do. Like this with Shara."
"She'll do a lot of things to save her friends." Tifa said. "But she's also growing up a lot here. She's becoming more of a secure woman now." Lenne nodded, she noticed changes in Yuna since she came back from the dead. Lenne cast a longing gaze at the mountain in the distance. Tifa came up to her friend.
"She'll be fine Lenne." She assured. "She might be getting more assertive but she's still Yuna." Lenne chuckled.
"As long as she's true to herself, I welcome these changes." She finally said. Tifa nodded her agreement, the two went back to check on Rimoru. The young girl still lay on the bed; Tifa noticed something out of the corner of her eye. It looked like a bunny ear. Tifa tapped Lenne and pointed to a corner where there where several large crates and boxes. Lenne nodded. Tifa came up quietly to where she saw the ears. A young Viera was crouched there peering over the crates to catch a look. She was caught unaware as Tifa grabbed her!
"HEY!" she protested. "I'm not here to hurt anyone!"
"Why are you here?" Lenne asked.
"I wanna help you!" she said.
"How?" Tifa demanded not easing her grip.
"I can show you where they took your friends." She said.
"How do you know?" Lenne asked.
"I overheard them." She replied. "Ow you're hurting me!" Tifa released her grip.
"How can we trust you?" Tifa asked.
"Marjorie and I knew each other." She replied. "She was taken from us many years back by raiders. They sold her to humans after they killed her parents. She was branded a heretic, I followed her I keep an eye on her from time to time."
"So you know she'll die tomorrow?" Lenne asked. The Viera nodded.
"That's why I am here." She replied. "I know a shortcut I can help you get there. But we have to go now." Lenne shook her head.
"We have to stay here with out hurt friend. Besides we don't know if they will come back," She said. The Viera looked disappointed.
"I see." She muttered.
"We have two of our friends going up there." Tifa said.
"You mean the brown haired one and the short haired Viera?" she asked. Tifa nodded. The Viera brightened up.
"Far out!" she exclaimed as she left. "Thanks!" Tifa and Lenne both managed a smiled then they heard Rimoru moan softly as she woke up. Tifa and Lenne went to her. She saw then and looked around.
"Where are the others?" she asked weakly.
"Kidnapped as far as we know." Lenne answered. "Yuna and Shara went after them."
"They attacked so fast." Rimoru remembered. "Shaden got hit so hard. She didn't look like she was even breathing. They.. they where like animals. I don't even think they would have cared if they killed one of us!"
"I hope that they are all fine." Tifa said. "I hope Yuna and Shara get there on time."
"Me too." Rimoru said wistfully. The other two nodded. All they could do now is wait and hope.
"Hurry up." Shara ordered as she and Yuna went along. They did so for the better part of an hour. The entire time Shara barked orders, Yuna was getting tired fast. Shara didn't seem to notice or care.
"Shara." Yuna said. "I can't keep this up much longer."
"I forgot." Shara said. "Your not used to actual work are you?" They where on a narrow bridge now, Shara kept balance well but Yuna struggled and slipped smacking her shoulder and she tumbled off, she grabbed a branch that stuck out.
"Pull yourself up." Shara said.
"I can't I hurt my other arm." Yuna said. Shara looked down Yuna hung there her left arm hung limply. Shara snorted as she pulled up Yuna, she led her to the other side where Yuna sat down.
"I didn't say to sit." Shara said. Yuna ignored her and concentrated on healing her arm. Shara grew more agitated.
"If you want to save them so badly you can go." Yuna said.
"I see and let your friends die?" she asked. Yuna glared at Shara. "Might as well stay here, your all washed up anyway. I never see how someone like you could be high Summoner. You'll never be like your father. But anyhow aren't they in the past now? Which means your old news?" Yuna was silent for a few minutes before she spoke.
"You will take those words back." She said her voice serious. Shara snorted.
"Lets go. If you indeed want to go." She said. She climbed the formation ahead of them. Yuna followed, the two climbed a steep cliff edge in order to get to the tribal areas. Yuna made it to the ledge first Shara had trouble. Yuna sat there taking silent comfort in Share's displeasure. Then as Shara neared the ledge she lost her grip, she sighed.
"Help me up." She ordered.
"No." Yuna replied sitting there. Shara looked stunned.
"Fine I see." Shara said. "Please help me up."
"Nope." Yuna said. "Why should I?"
"Because I'm telling you too." Shara said the anger becoming evident.
"Take back what you said." Yuna said. "And I will."
"Dammit!" Shara raged. "Help me up this instant!" Yuna sat there she made no move.
"Take back what you said Shara." Yuna said. "And I'll help you up here." Shara looked pissed off at this point. Her grip started to slip.
"Fine, FINE!" She yelled. "I take it all back!" Yuna reached her hands down to Shara, and then pulled them up.
"You mean it?" she asked.
"Oh for the love of!" Shara exclaimed. "I said I take it back! I mean it! Please I'm losing my grip!" Yuna grabbed Shara's wrist and roughly pulled the Viera up. She landed next to Yuna, she glared at her.
"Feel better?" she asked a snarl on her lips. Yuna continued on the path ignoring Shara. "Yuna wait!" Yuna stopped and turned.
"Why?" she asked.
"Come back here, aren't you the tired one?" Shara asked. Yuna came back and sat down. Shara seemed different, she seemed almost afraid. Yuna felt something prick her neck.
"Ouch!" she yelled. She then took out a dart from her neck. "This isn't good is it…." Yuna passed out.
"Damnation!" Shara cursed, she lifted Yuna and draped her over her shoulder. Shara ran as fast as she could down the path. It was long and winding and worst of all in Tribal Territory. Shara ran as fast as she could darts where getting fried at her from all directions. Shara saw the clearing ahead she leapt and made it she fell with a thud and dropped Yuna whole rolled and lay still. Yuna woke up with a moan.
"Shara?" she asked. Shara looked at Yuna.
"Nasty little things." She muttered. "Glad your safe." Yuna looked surprised.
"You going to be ok?" Yuna asked.
"Just go." Shara said. "Your friends need you. Go be a hero it's what you do best." Yuna nodded. "And stay in that getup." Shara said noting the thief outfit. "You'll need it to match their speed."
"I'll come back for you." Yuna said. Shara nodded and lost consciousness. Yuna dragged Shara to a safe place. Shara looked almost peaceful in her sleep. Yuna pondered what made Shara so cold to the world, but she didn't have much time she had to find her friends and she was in the dark as to where to find them. Yuna looked she saw smoke, looked like it came from a campfire. Yuna went to check it out, as she got closer she saw hanging cages Katejina was in the one closest to her she was awake, next to Katejina was Marjorie's cage the young Viera was out cold. She didn't see the others, there were a few Viera in the camp none of them seemed to be paying attention to their captives. Katejina saw Yuna and motioned she come closer. Yuna crept closer to the cage keeping an eye on the guards.
"You ok?" she whispered. Katejina nodded.
"For now." She replied in a whisper. "Poor Marj is still out."
"What about the others?" Yuna asked.
"Being carted up now I think." Katejina replied.
"How can I get you free?" Yuna asked. Katejina searched her pockets and tossed Yuna a pouch full of dust.
"Sleep dust, some of that in their faces and they will be out like lights." Katejina whispered. Just then a Viera turned and went to the cage, Yuna dove to the surrounding woods.
"Who were you talking to?" she demanded shaking the cage.
"I was praying to our gods to forgive you for persecuting your own kind." Katejina retorted.
"You did this to yourself." She snorted. She then heard a noise, she went to investigate and got a face full of sleep dust she fell to the ground. Yuna searched her but found nothing.
"One down three more." Katejina whispered. Yuna saw another one approach another Viera went to the left, the third stayed behind. Yuna hid she waited for the other one. The Viera came with caution, she looked around she saw Yuna before Yuna tossed the dust in her face. The Viera fell to the ground, Yuna searched her and found keys/ Yuna smiled as she went to grab them but got jumped by the third Viera. Yuna went for the dust but the Viera knocked the pouch to the ground.
"Clever for a human." She said. Yuna tried to get the Viera off her, but she had a good grip. Katejina watched helplessly from her cage, she looked and noticed the keys from the other Viera where gone. Katejina heard a noise she looked, the other Viera was unlocking her cage, and she had Katejina's bow and arrows with her as well as Marjorie's sword. She handed Katejina her weapons.
"Help your human friend." She said. "I'll help your other friend." Katejina took her weapons and nodded at the other Viera. She wasn't certain why they where helping but she didn't argue. She looked to the battle Yuna was on the ground struggling to get up.
"Humans!" the Viera snarled as she kicked Yuna again. "You think you're so special. I'll take pleasure in skin y…" she was cut off Yuna saw an arrow piercing her throat. The Viera fell dead to the ground. Yuna saw Katejina standing there.
"You ok?" she asked. Yuna nodded.
"What about these two?" she asked looking at the sleeping Viera. Katejina grabbed one and lifted her, she put her in the cage that used to be hers. Katejina helped Yuna do the same thing with the other Viera. Yuna looked and saw that another Viera was with Marjorie who was waking up.
"We owe you thanks." Yuna said to the Viera. She nodded and looked to the road.
"Your other friends are here." She said. They saw Shaden, and Hastings come up with two Viera.
"Kupo!" Hastings exclaimed. "Your ok kupo!" Yuna looked at the three tribal Viera's
"Why help us?" she asked.
"We might be Viera." The first one said. "But we don't like what they are doing. It's almost like we are going to war but our Spiritual Leader demands it. She says she got advice from a powerful totem. By the way I'm Fiera, and these are Kerala and Zanza." Yuna was thoughtful, this whole thing reminded her of what Tariu tried to do with the outcasts.
"Fiera." Yuna said. "Has anyone seen this totem?" Fiera nodded,
"We all have." She said. "A huge bull like creature."
"Fiera." Yuna said. "He's a fake! He tried to do this before he tried to throw his own people into a war with Ivalice!"
"Why should we believe you?" Kerala asked. "You're a human! You humans need us to help you!" Yuna summoned her staff and she did the dance that summoned Valefore. Kerala gasped in wonder.
"How?" Zanza asked.
"On her home world humans can summon." Marjorie explained. "Yuna is a High Summoner." Yuna nodded.
"Yuna." Katejina asked. "You came alone?"
"No Shara was with me." Yuna said. "she got hit by several of the darts, I left her by the clearing not too far back." They all heard something Katejina drew aim and they saw a very young Viera come out.
"Roxanne!" Marjorie cried as she ran to her and hugged her.
"Big sister!" Roxanne said. "I am happy you're alive!"
"Big sister?" Yuna questioned.
"Quite a story." Katejina said. "If we live I'll have to tell you."
"Roxanne!" Fiera admonished. "Why are you here."
"The short haired Viera is in trouble." Roxanne replied. "A patrol found her wandering. She's doing ok but she'll fall soon."
"Shara!" Katejina exclaimed. "Yuna can you take me to her?" Yuna nodded as she climbed on Valefore, Katejina joined her.
"Shaden stay here and keep them all safe." Yuna said.
"Ok but you be careful too." Shaden warned. Yuna nodded as she flew off
They sent 6 after the shorthaired Viera. They where cocky six of them against one of her. Shara proved to be more than a match she killed two before they saw her, She killed two more before they reacted, the other two where easy pray for her. Shara then noticed six more came after her. This time she wasn't lucky she only killed 2 so far and the other four where giving her a hassle. If she wasn't groggy she would fight better, if she wasn't worried about Katejina she would fight better. Shara made a lot of excuses for herself in her mind, she got struck with a spear in her side she fell clutching her side. She felt pain as her arm got pierced, she fell to the ground. She heard a sound like wings flapping, she heard brief combat sounds then all went black to her. Yuna and Katejina fought off the attackers they fled those who lived. Katejina went to her cousin.
"Don't you dare die on me now Shara." She said. Shara opened her eyes.
"Wouldn't dream of it." She whispered. She looked at Yuna. "Looks like you do have a use." Yuna looked as the others came.
"Thought it would be best." Shaden said. "So now what do we do?"
"I guess we look for whoever this Spiritual Leader is." Yuna said. Yuna then heard a bull like snort she looked up and saw Tariu standing there. The Minotaur charged down at the group, Kerala tried to stop him but he flung the Viera into a tree she hit the tree and lay still. Zanza attacked with two small daggers Tariu tried to fight off the aggressive Viera, Fiera tensed as she sprung onto Tariu. Kerala struggled to get up she was healed by Yuna.
"Thanks." She said. Tariu grabbed Zanza by the throat, she choked, the group then heard a crunching sound and he dropped Zanza the Viera fell to the ground. Fiera ran to her side, she shook her friend.
"ZANZA!" she cried. Zanza looked at her she coughed and spurted blood. She struggled to speak but couldn't. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, she was dead. Fiera looked at Tariu hatred in her eyes.
"I want you to BURN!" she cried. Tariu at first snorted then looked as his skin started to ignite.
"What is this! Stop this at once!" he demanded.
"I want you to burn but I want you to live!" Fiera said. "I want you to live with this pain FOREVER!"
"NOOOOO!" he raged. "Please this pain is unbearable!"
"This is the price you pay for killing my friend!" Fiera raged she cradled Zanza's body in her arms. Tariu ran off his tortured screams heard in the echoes. Yuna went to Zanza the Viera was too far-gone for her to do anything.
"I'm sorry for your lose." Yuna said simply. Fiera nodded, she still cradled Zanza in her arms. She heard a chilling laugh as she saw another Viera in black robes stood before them.
"Your spiritual leader I assume." Katejina said. Fiera nodded.
"How could you turn on us!" Fiera raged.
"Call me the Prophet!" the other Viera said. "I will lead all Viera into a glory age! One free of the inferior moogles, lazy Nou-Moo, hostile bangaa's and you judgmental humans!"
"NO!" Marjorie screamed as she stepped forward. "Your WRONG!" The Prophet looked at Marjorie.
"I could kill you with a thought." She snarled. Yuna stepped forward.
"Leave her alone!" Yuna shouted. "I won't let you do more harm to anyone!"
"A challenge?" The Prophet asked. Yuna nodded slowly. The prophet came down with amazing speed Yuna dodged and stuck the Prophet. The battle was even neither could get an advantage. Katejina took a step forward she was blocked by Shara who held her arm out.
"It's a two person duel." Shara said. "This is where Yuna proves her worth to me. I must admit, she is pretty good." Katejina sighed as she watched the battle. Yuna was tiring quickly, the Prophet was quick, quicker than she expected.
"Why fight me human?" she asked. "You have gifts, gifts no one else of your pathetic race has. Join me, really whom do you have to fight for? Them? They will betray you, your friends in town, if they where your friends then where are they. Why aren't they here? With you? I have a point and you know I do. Shed the bonds of loyalty, join me." Yuna was silent she thought, she though of Wakka and Lulu and their child on Besaide, she though of Rikku, Brother and Buddy of the Gullwings. She thought of Tifa and Lenne back in Cove of Honor, Yuna looked and saw her friends.
"I won't join you." Yuna said. "you tell lies, you say what you need to say to get others to turn on each other. What good will it do? After all the other races are dead what will you do? You'll kill your race for the thrill of it because you have nothing better to do. I won't let that happen I stop you today!" Yuna then came at the Prophet and sunk a dagger into her heart, she grabbed Yuna and Yuna felt agonizing pain, Yuna drove the dagger in ignoring the pain, the pain stopped, Yuna fell to the ground, she looked over the Prophet lay there her eyes wide open, she was dead. Yuna sighed a breath of relief she looked around at her friends, Marjorie went to her.
"You ok?" she asked. Yuna nodded.
"I'll live." She said. She looked at Fiera, she still held Zanza in her arms.
"Garbage." She muttered. "All I fought for, The Prophet was right we can't trust the other races!"
"Fiera!" Kerala yelled. "You can't be serious!"
"You ignorant fool!" she cried. "Look! Zanza is dead all for some foolish dream! Can you really trust them?" she pointed at Yuna. "this one is the worst she pretends to be like us!"
"I don't pretend anything!" Yuna shot back. "I know your hurt Fiera, I've lost many loved ones too. You can't give in." Fiera snorted and leapt away with Zanza's corpse still in her arms. Yuna noticed something she turned and saw Viera, more than she ever saw before. She didn't know what they where going to do. Karela looked at the Viera. She spoke in an unfamiliar tongue, the Viera seemed to understand.
"Ancient Viera." Marjorie whispered to Yuna. "A tongue we thought long dead."
"So is she saying we are good or that we are bad?" Yuna asked.
"She is saying that we need to trust each other, we can't hate." Marjorie said. "She said that Fiera lost her mind when her friend was killed fighting for her dream. She is saying dreams are worth anything if they can come true." Yuna looked down. The Viera then cheered as Karela finished then they all left back to where they came from.
"Are we safe now?" Yuna asked.
"Yes." Karela said. "I'm staying here, they need a new leader. Marjorie I have a request for you."
"What can I do?" she asked.
"Roxanne has been like my own blood as she has been to you." Karela said. "I request you take her with you. Teach her the ways of life."
"Karela." Yuna said. "Life can be harsh. We all know that, don't you think that Roxanne would be safer here with her own people? Or that she should have a say in the matter?" Karela looked to Roxanne.
"I want to go." She said firmly. "I want this." Yuna nodded, she looked at Marjorie who also nodded.
"Hold it." Shara said. "She's a kid!"
"So is Rimoru." Marjorie said. "But she is useful to us. Why are you so negative on everything? You doubted Hastings and he saved us!"
"He got lucky." Shara snorted.
"She's coming with us." Yuna stated. "And that's final." Shara looked taken back.
"Is that an order?" Shara asked. Yuna nodded.
"You bet it is." Yuna said. Shara turned away and left.
"About time you took charge!" she called as she leapt off. Yuna shook her head. What did she mean by that? Yuna looked, Katejina, Marjorie, Roxanne Hastings and Shaden where gathered.
"You're leaving?" Karela asked.
"Yes." Yuna said. "We did our job here. It's a long trip back too."
"Not really." Roxanne said. "Follow me I'll take you back the quick way!" Yuna nodded. They followed the young Viera, she led them down a path it was narrow and steep but it seemed safe. They followed for about a half-hour, that's when they saw the gates of Cove of Honor.
"That was fast." Shaden said.
"Old secret." Roxanne said. "come on I wanna meet your friends." Yuna nodded and they went in they saw a girl in a red scarf talking with two other women.
"Ooooh how long do we have to wait?" Rikku complained. She came in about a half-hour ago and was distraught to hear Yuna was gone.
"Yuna is a grown girl." Tifa said. "she's more than capable."
"Yeah..well….I still wanna know." Rikku said.
"Know what?" Yuna asked as she came up from behind Rikku.
"YUNIE!" she squealed. "Hey you trying to steal my job?" she noted Yuna still had on the thief garment. Yuna giggled.
"Course not!" Yuna said as she zapped back into her gunner dress. "There better?" Rikku giggled.
"Yep." She said. "Only room enough for one Rikku here!"
"Sometimes I think one is too much." Katejina muttered.
"Be nice Katey." Marjorie giggled. Rikku saw Katejina.
"Can I touch them now?" Rikku asked.
"Touch what?" Katejina asked innocently.
"Your ears." Rikku said. "You said I could!"
"When?" Katejina asked.
"When I went to save Yunie and Lenne!" Rikku said. "Tifa was there! She heard it!"
"Sorry Rikku that time was a blur to me." Tifa admitted. Rikku moaned.
"So I don't touch them?" she asked.
"Rikku." Marjorie said. "A Viera's ears are very sensitive, what could seem like a harmless touch could bring us pain."
"Really?" Rikku asked. "Never mind then!" Rikku then spotted Kremis and ran after him like a shot and she chased him up a sloping hill. Yuna giggled.
"Sometimes I wonder if anything keeps her down long." Yuna said. "I envy her sometimes, she so get up and go."
"Whatever suits her." Lenne said. "We are all different Yuna. It would be boring if we were all the same."
"Yes." Tifa agreed. "A world full of Rikku's and Viera's would have to be careful of their ears." Katejina looked at Tifa.
"Don't joke about that." She said.
Yuna left the group, she went on her own for a while thinking. Shara pushed her and pushed her these last few days. Why? Was it to get Yuna to take charge? Yuna sat down on a hill, she thought some more in the end she still couldn't figure it out. She heard footsteps as Marjorie, Katejina, Tifa and Lenne came up.
"You left before I could tell of Marjorie and Roxanne." Katejina said.
"Where is Roxanne?" Tifa asked.
"Sleeping." Marjorie responded. "Shaden is watching over her."
"What's this story?" Tifa asked.
"OOOOH Story time." Rikku exclaimed as she ran up with Kremis, the monkey and bear in tow. The monkey sat on Rikku's head, the bear and Kremis lay on either side. Katejina sighed.
"Marj?" You want to tell this?" she asked. Marjorie nodded.