Chapter 40: Lindblum: Homesick

It has been three days since we arrived in Lindblum, and Zidane hadn't awakened yet. During the time, I continued to train Vivi, and he continued to train me. Vivi was showing much more skill in his attacks now. My magic was gaining in power. I haven't learned any new spells, but what spells I did know were stronger now. During our stay, I kept having dreams about my home on Earth. For the first time since coming her; I was feeling a little homesick.

On the fourth day of our arrival, Vivi and I decided to leave the castle, and head towards the Business District. We went to the shopping area, and bought what little we could from what little they had. Vivi was able to purchase a new staff; the 'Cypress Pile.' I also bought an 'Angel Bless' for Zidane, and new weapons for the others.

Vivi and I left the market area, and went back towards the air cab. Before we entered the station, someone called to us.

"Michael! Vivi!"

Both of us turned around, and came face to face with…Dan. I smiled. "Dan, good to see you. So, you managed to make it here."

He nodded. "Yeah, thanks to your warning. When I heard what happened to Cleyra…" he paused.

I nodded. "I know, I whish it never happened, but…" I paused as well.

Dan turned to Vivi. "Hey, Vivi. How've you been doing?"

Vivi looked at him. "Okay, I guess. So, where's your family?"

He smiled. "They're back in the Theater District. They're all fine, thanks to you." he said, turning towards me.

I smiled. "Well, I'm glade you and your family managed to make it here safely. Vivi and I have to return to the palace."

He nodded. "Very well, hopefully I'll see you guys again."

I nodded. "That would be nice. Come on, Vivi." Vivi and I walked into the air cab station, and took the air cab back to the palace.

As soon as we got off the air cab, Blank approached us. "Yo, guys. Zidane's up. He's gonna go see the regent. You two better get to the conference room, fast." We both nodded, and ran for the elevator.

Once we reached the upper level, we ran towards the meeting room. When we entered, I noticed everyone was there; except for Dagger and Zidane. I knew where Dagger was, but knew that the others would find out in time. During our time here, Dagger seemed to avoid all of us, and shrugged off any attempts at conversation.

Everyone turned to look at us. Eiko's eyes lit up when she saw Vivi. During our stay, Eiko hung around with Vivi quite often. I would excuse myself and give the two of them some time alone. Sometimes, she would watch me train Vivi. I don't know what they said to each other that night at the dock, but it must have been something spectacular for Eiko to react like this. It was obvious to me that she had given up on Zidane. Much to my joy, I always found her childish flirting with Zidane annoying. That problem seems to be taken care of now, thankfully.

Eiko smiled. "Vivi! Michael! You guys made it. Zidane just got up, and we're gonna have a meeting."

I smiled. "Yeah, Blank told us on our way here. So, when's this meeting going to start?" That's when the regent's throne descended to the meeting room. Zidane and Artania walked into the room as well. 'I guess that answers my question' I thought, as everyone turned to the regent.

Cid spoke. "Is that everyone?"

Steiner spoke. "We are still missing the princess."

Eiko spoke. "I'll go get her."

Zidane turned to her. "wait!" but it was too late, she had already left. Zidane sighed. "Oh well."

Cid spoke. "Let's begin. Where should I start?" Steiner spoke up and talked about what happened during the attack. I zoned out, and decided to meditate while standing.

During my meditation, I was plagued by more visions of my home. I tried to shake the images off, but they just kept coming back. I began to see memories; memories of when I lived in my house, both good and bad.

I was shaken from my meditation by a loud voice. "WHY? Why are they with Kuja?" I opened my eyes, and looked at Vivi. I could feel anger radiating from his body.

'Cid must have told them' I thought. I turned to Vivi. "Don't worry, Vivi, we'll save them from Kuja's grasp."

He looked at me; he seemed determined. "Yes, we will."

Cid spoke. "Before you do that I must tell you everything that happened between my wife and me."

Zidane turned to him. "Alright, tell us."

Cid seemed to blush slightly. "Well, you see, I met this lovely woman at the pub on night." I saw where this was going.

I spoke. "Let me guess, you had an affair with this woman, your wife found out about it, she got royally pissed, turned you into an Oglop, and ran off with the Hilda Garde 1." His eyes widened. "Yes, that's what happened. How'd you know?"

I smiled. "I've seen things like this happen before."

Zidane spoke. "So basically, your wife got mad at you and used magic to turn you into an Oglop."

Cid nodded. "Sad story, isn't it? My lecherous character has led to my undoing."

I muttered, "apparently" and continued to listen.

Steiner spoke. "But how did Kuja get a hold of Lady Hilda's airship?"

Cid turned to him. " Gwok! That's what I'd like to know. He probably commandeered it to further his mad schemes, whatever they may be. In any case, I must get Hilda and her airship back somehow gwok !"

Freya spoke. "What a shame, for a ruler to end up like this...but we can't ignore this situation. Kuja must be stopped!"

Steiner nodded. "Indeed! We must deal with him before it's too late!"

I spoke. "That's easier said than done. We don't know where he is. We don't even have an airship to look for him." Zidane and Cid nodded.

Cid spoke "He's right. No. 2 is completely gwok out of commission. And I doubt I can oversee the construction of a new airship in my current form. If only I were gwok a man again...Artania, is there anything that can be done?"

Artania turned to him. "I have spoken to Doctor Tot regarding this matter and asked him to join us. He should be here any minute."

Steiner spoke. "That's wonderful! I'm certain Doctor Tot will be most helpful!"

At that moment, Doctor Tot walked into the room. Tot looked at the minister "I'm sorry I'm late."

Artania turned to him. "Please forgive me for calling you on such short notice, Doctor. Thank you very much for giving up your precious time to come here."

Tot waved his hand. "Please, Minister. You need not be so formal. I heard what happened in Alexandria." He turned to look at us. "I am so relieved to see you all again." That's when he noticed that two people were missing.

"Hmm? Where is the princess? Eiko is missing, too." A shocked look crossed his face. "Are they alright?"

Zidane nodded. "Don't worry, Doc. They're alright. Eiko's out looking for Dagger right now."

Tot let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, I see. Well, that's a relief."

Cid spoke. "so, Doctor Tot, I was wondering-" he was interrupted by a loud voice.

"HEY GUYS!"

I turned and saw Eiko run into the room. Zidane turned to her. "Geez, what's up?"

Tot laughed. "ho-ho-ho. I see you are as energetic as ever."

Eiko spoke. "It's Dagger. She's…" she paused.

Now Zidane was concerned. "What? What's wrong?"

Eiko looked worried. "I think she's lost her voice. She can't talk anymore."

Zidane's eyes widened. "What?"

That's when I heard someone bellow, "WHAT?" I didn't even have to turn around to know that it was Steiner who had yelled.

Eiko spoke. "Just come with me! She's in the guest room." She turned and ran off.

Zidane spoke. "Wait! Hold on!" he turned to us. "I'll be back in a minute!" he turned towards Dr. Tot "come on, Doc!"

Steiner spoke. "I'm coming, too!"

Cid turned towards Artania. "Let's postpone this meeting."

Artania nodded. "I agree sire."

He turned towards us. "We will resume this meeting later."

Cid looked at Zidane. "Zidane, report back to me after you find out more about her condition."

Zidane nodded, and left the room with Dr. Tot and Steiner. The rest of us dispersed as well. Each one going of to do there own thing until the meeting resumed.

Vivi and I decided to go up to the telescope and meditate for a while. Well, he was meditating, I was thinking. 'Man, I never thought I'd say this, but…I miss my home. Even if it's burned to the ground I just want to-' my thoughts were interrupted by Vivi.

"Something's bothering you, brother. What is it?" I turned to look at him; he was still meditating.

I smiled. "You're getting better, Vivi. You're right, something is troubling me, but it's nothing you need to worry about."

He nodded. "Alright, I just thought…" he paused.

I smiled. "You're worried about me." He nodded.

I walked towards him and sat down next to him. "I'm glad we met, Vivi. To tell the truth, I don't know what I would have done if we hadn't met."

He didn't open his eyes, but responded none the less. "I'm glad we met, too, Michael. Really, I am." I smiled and began to meditate, again.

My meditation was still plagued by more images of my past, but they seemed to be less intense. That's when I felt someone approach us. I knew who it was before the person even spoke.

Before I could speak, however, Vivi spoke. "Is the meeting being called back into session, Freya?" I opened my eyes, and saw that Vivi was still meditating.

I looked over towards the stairs, and saw that it was indeed Freya who was approaching us, just as I had felt. Vivi had obviously felt her to. I couldn't help but smile.

Freya seemed surprised that Vivi knew it was her without even opening his eyes. She regained her composure and spoke. "Yes, the regent is calling everyone back to the conference room."

Vivi opened his eyes and we both stood up. I looked down at him. "Well, let's go." We made our way back to the conference room.

When we entered I saw that everyone, including Dagger, was here. Artania stood in front of the throne. He spoke. "Thank you for coming. The regent has an important announcement." He moved away from the throne, and now we could see that the regent had been changed into a frog.

Steiner spoke. "Now he's a frog!"

'Thank you for pointing out the obvious, Steiner' I thought.

Cid spoke. "I wanted to ribbit become a man again, but this is all I got. We all know that Kuja holds the key to our fate ribbit . We must find him at any cost!"

Steiner spoke. "But we don't have an airship."

Cid turned towards him. "We can use that ribbit ship we stole in Alexandria." He turned towards Artania. "Artania, order Zebolt to service that ship immediately."

He nodded. "Yes, sire."

Zidane spoke. "So, where exactly are we going?"

Cid looked at him. " Ribbit ... I'm still working on that."

I spoke. "Let's go to the Black Mage Village. I'm sure we can find clues there."

Vivi nodded. "Yeah, let's go to the village."

Zidane nodded as well. "I'm with them. I think we should go to the Black Mage Village."

Steiner nodded. "Yes. Brilliant idea, Master Michael." He turned to Dagger. "Princess... will you be going as well?"

Dagger couldn't say anything so Eiko spoke for her. "Of course she will!"

Zidane looked worried. "I don't know if that's a good idea." Dagger gave him an annoyed and angry yet pledging look.

Eiko spoke for her. "Don't worry. I'll take care of her."

Cid nodded. "Alright then! Ribbit! let's go to the Black Mage Village! We'll all meet onboard the ship at the harbor in the Base Level."

We walked out of the conference room, and approached the elevator. There were too many of us, so we had to go in groups of five. Zidane, Dagger, Vivi, Eiko, and I were one group. Freya, Steiner, Amarant, Cid, and Artania made up the other group. Cid's group went first. We waited for the elevator to get back up.

My thoughts turned to my home again. I couldn't help but let out a depressed sigh. Vivi looked up at me. He looked worried. "What's wrong, Michael?" They all turned to look at me.

I decided to tell them. "Well…lately I can't seem to stop thinking about my home. I guess I'm just feeling homesick."

Zidane spoke. "You never really said anything about your home. Where is it anyway?"

I looked at my pearl ring. "It's somewhere. I just really want to go back home, and see it again." That's when the pearl on my ring began to glow.

My eyes widened in surprise. The light intensified and it began to engulf us. "What's happening?" I knew it was Zidane's voice.

I yelled, "everyone, hang on!" that's when I felt myself falling as the light surrounded me.

After a few seconds the light faded. I hit the ground hard. I slowly turned myself over, and looked for the others. They were all close to me, and all of them were lying on the ground. "Vivi, Zidane, Dagger, Eiko…are you guys alright?" They all began to move. I slowly got up to my feet, and so did the others.

Zidane turned to me. "Michael…what was that?"

I shrugged "I don't kno-" I stopped talking abruptly, and looked at my surroundings. We were standing in the remains of what looked like a burned down building. My eyes widened as I looked around. 'It can't be' I thought.

The others looked worried. Vivi spoke. "Michael, what is it?" I was so shocked at what I saw that I collapsed to my knees.

The others came to my side, but I barely noticed them. I was shocked. "I'm…I'm…I'm…home."