Yeah, I know, this chapter is short. Hopefully the next one will be a bit longer. This is my first fanfic, so it may not be very good... Oh well, hope you like it anyway.
Disclaimer: I do not own Square Enix or Final Fantasy.
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Chapter One: The Thunder Plains
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I'd like to say that when I woke up I felt the warm rays of the sun on my face, saw the blue sky above me with clouds randomly placed on its pure blueness. That I was somewhere nice, calm and peaceful, where everyday is full of warmth and sunshine.
I'd like to, but then I'd be lying.
The sky was a dark grey, mottled with dark blues and purples.Lightning was illuminating the otherwise pitch black sky, turning everything slightly more blue than it should have been. The rain beat down hard on the rocks andalready sodden earth, and the wind whipped past visciously.
I hate- and always will hate -the Thunder Plains. I find it unsettling that there is somewhere the sun barely ever shines. But, most of all, I hate the thunder. The sound of it makes me feel like the world is being ripped in half. I wasn't always this scared... But now...
"Rikku? You there?" I heard a worried voice call, and saw a tall woman with silver hair walk into the small cave I had taken shelter in. She seemed to spot me and jogged over to my side and crouched a few feet away from me,a relieved smile on her face. "I thought I'd lost you. Brother's having a panic attack."
"Sorry..." I managed to say. Since when had speaking been so damn hard?
"Well, at least you're safe now." she sighed, and loked as if she was about to get up, but stopped herself. "Can you walk?"
I nodded and forced myselft intoa sitting position, my face contorted in agony. Every muscle felt as if it was burning with pain. I didn't want to imagine what walking would be like. "Heh...Paine..."
She nodded and picked me up gently, carrying me to the huge red airship that I could hear outside. It wasn't like Paine to be this nice... "Rikku since when did you get this heavy?" Okay that's more like the Paine we all know and love.
I smiled slightly and looked at the Celsius as it came down to land,the familiar bad paintwork a welcoming sight. "What happened?"
"I'll explain later..."
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"...And that's how you ended up so badly injured," she walked down the steps of the cabin and I heard her mention a few words to Brother, who Paine had forced to wait down there until she had finished informing me of the past day or so's events.
Apparently Paine and I had gone their to see Pops who had to see me about something. We were attacked by a huge fiend, one that managed to nearly kill me, and severely injure Paine. She made it back to the Celsius- only to find that I wasn't there- and had spent a whole day searching for me in the Thunder Plains. That's when she found me.
"Rikku? Oui ugyo? E raynt oui kud paydah ib bnaddo pytmo," (You okay? I heard you got beaten up pretty badly) Brother sighed, he was standing by the stairs, looking very worried.
"Yeah..." I managed, closing my eyes. "Why did Pops wanna see me?"
I heard him sigh and begin to make his way down the stairs. "It is not for me to say Rikku," then he paused and added. "Ra'mm pa rana cuuh ahuikr! Ycg res ouincamv." (He'll be here soon enough! Ask him yourself.)
I could hear the door to the cabin slide open, and then close again automaticaly. I was alone at last... Well except for Barkeep, but he didn't exactly count.
I wonder why Pops wants to see me... Probably one of his crazy plans involving Yunie. Even though she and Tidus were now married and living quite peacefully in Besaid, she was still getting swamped by media. But Yuna's always been good with the media... Unlike me.
I let myself drift off into a deep sleep, as I was unbeleivably tired and even thinking hurt. That must have been some strong fiend...
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"Rikku? You awake girl?"
"Hunh?" I mumbled,rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Wha...?"
"It's me," I looked up at the person standing by the foot of my bed. Cid was standing there.
"Hi Pops..." I managed, frowning slightly. "What do you want?"
"Can't a father just come by and see his daughter?" he smiled innocently, Iglared at him. "Well, I could really use your help with the rebuilding of Home. Brother's going to help transporting parts and people with the airship and-."
"Fine," I mumbled, getting ready to go back to sleep.
"That's great news! I'll go tell the Machine Faction. They were looking for experienced workers to help 'em," he ran down the stairs to the exit, I heard the door slide open, and then close. I was alone again...
...Machine Faction!
"Wha!" I shouted after what he had said had registered. "You didn't say anything about the Machine Faction!"
Too late. We were already well on our way to Djose.
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