A/N: I know.. I know… some of my reviewers and readers are like WHEN THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO UPDATE ADJUSTING TO A NEW LIFE YOU PROMISED ME SEYMOUR WOULD GET HURT! NOW DO SOMETHING! And I'm like ok ok I will! Which I will and I promise I will do it ASAP. Just I have work and I haven't been home to write it and this story I write in a book first so yea… SORRY! And although I know not nearly as many people read this as my other story, I still updated it, because I really like this story!
Disclaimer:Muse is holding me down: Take the meds Ker
Me: NEVER!
Some random announcer voice: Please stand by we are currently having technically difficulties with forcing Kerri to take her meds and state she does not own any of this…
Pain Comes in Many Forms
I was in a dark room with a dim light shining on me. I was wearing a long, low cut red dress. The sleeves belled out by my elbow and my hair was down.
"You look lovely this evening, Lady Brooke."
I rolled my eyes. Great… Tyseuh "Oh wonderful... it's you…"
He laughed before he said, "You care about them, don't you?"
I crossed my arms. "No… why would I care about them?"
He stepped into the light besides me. "Why would you risk your life to save theirs if you didn't?" he asked me as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
I glared at his hand that was touching me. "It's my job. Save Spira, they're included in the job description…"
"You may say that, but I know better…" He took his hand off my shoulder and stood in front on me with a smirk plastered on his face. I wanted to punch him. "The dark haired one… He reminds you of someone else, no?"
I looked away from him as I replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."
He took a step closer to me and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Oh, but dear, I think you do. Would you like me to replay the image for you?"
I took a quick step back away from him and through clenched teeth I replied, "No…"
He crossed his arms, obviously bothered by the fact that I keep avoiding any kind of contact with him. "You know… you're bringing harm to them, especially now. Zanarkand is looking for you."
I closed my eyes; I didn't want to hear this. He walked over to me and grabbed both of my shoulders. "They know who you are and they want you dead. You are only putting these people in danger by staying with them."
I opened my eyes and looked at him. His facial expression was hard to read. It was saying that he was being sincere about this, but something about this whole ordeal didn't feel right. Though, he is right. I looked down at the floor. I was only bearing problems for them…
"If you leave now, you can reach Guadosalam by noon. They won't be able to catch up with you." He put his hand under my chin and lifted my head so I would look at him in the face. He smiled. "I'm only looking out for you Brooke. And if your scared… Don't be… I'll be nearby." Then went a swift movement of his hand he was gone.
I woke up and realized Vincent was still holding me. His arms were still wrapped around my waist. His grip wasn't quite as strong as Auron's but strong, nonetheless. I slowly pried his arms off of me, waking him in the process.
"Where are you going," he whispered.
"Bathroom," I lowly replied as I stood up. I started to walk for the exit before another person called my name.
"Brooke?"
Damn it, another distraction. I turned and saw Lenne. "Yea?"
"Where are ya going?"
I was growing impatient. "Bathroom."
She looked at me curiously. "With your weapon?"
I sighed; this is going to be a tad bit harder than I want. "Well, I don't wanna get attacked by a fiend while I'm going to the bathroom. I mean what a story, 'The one prophesized to save Spira died while taking a leak…' I don't know about you, but that isn't how I'd like to be remembered."
She didn't reply. I was beginning to wonder if she fell asleep on me, but soon enough she talked again. "Thank you, for before. You saved both Shuyin and Me. I really appreciate it and I'm sorry for being nasty before, I thought you were trying to steal Shuyin."
"I'm engaged," I bluntly replied before she could take that thought any further. "Listen you are welcome and I forgive you. Now, I have to pee so I'll be back."
I jogged out of the cave and took off running down he path. I didn't stop running till the sun had fully risen over the horizon.
I bent over forward to catch my breath. I looked at the sky and took another deep breath before I continued down the path. A few hours must have passed because the day was becoming warmer and the fiends were growing in numbers. I had just finished killing my 15th fiend when my fatigue caught up with me.
I was tired, thirsty, and hungry. But I had no time to think about that. A pack of three skolls found me and they looked a tab bit hungry. Once of them attacked me and I brought my sword up, stabbing it in the abdomen. Ultimately gutting it. As I pushed the fiend off my sword the other two jumped at me. I rolled to the left, dodging one attack, the while on one knee; I brought up my sword, slicing the skolls neck. I stood up quickly and turned to face the remaining skoll, only to find another two joined him.
"You got to be friggin' joking," I said as I swung at the oncoming Skoll.
It jumped back and released a small whimper. A few seconds passed and a loud roar was heard and the skolls ran away. I took a few steps back, checking my surroundings. "That can't be a good thing…"
I wasn't about to stay to find out what belonged to that roar. I took off running to Guadosalam. Unfortunately, when I was 200 yards from the city, I had the chance to meet the thing that chased off my foes before. It was a Chimera Brain. Standing at 11 feet and colored a menacing looking black, this chimera did not look happy to see me.
He's not supposed to be here. He's supposed to be in the Clam lands, I'd even believe it if I saw him in Macalania, but outside Guadosalam? He looked at my curiously and I stood still hopping he'd go away.
Of course my luck isn't that good. It pounded its chest and let out another roar. "This… is bad…" I said as I dodged an ice attack. I jumped forward, bringing my sword down on its arm. It quickly grabbed me with its other arm and lifted me off the ground. "Real bad…" I muttered before he tossed me into a nearby tree.
I stood up as quickly as I could and grabbed my sword again. It threw a flame at me, which I barely missed. However, the water attack was a whole other story. The force of the water sent me back a good five feet. I wiped the water off my eyes just in time to see the monster bend over and let its 'electrical tail' have a go at me.
The electricity seared through my body. The pain was something I never ever wanted to feel again. I screamed out in pain as I fell to the floor. I was breathing heavily and when I opened my eyes I was seeing doubles from the pain.
The fiend came over to me and grabbed the front of my shirt and lifted me off the ground. I reached for my sword but it was gone. The monster grasped my neck fiercely. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the final 'snap' but it never came.
Instead I heard a pained cry come from the Chimera. I opened my eyes to be greeted with the sharp point of a blade that was protruding from the beast's chest. It dropped my to the ground as it burst into pyroflies, to reveal my brunette 'guardian angel.'
I watched him for a few moments before I said, "You… you saved my life…"
He wiped the blood off his long sword before sheathing it. He looked at me with a smirk. "I said I'd stay near by…" He sauntered over to me and extended his hand. I slowly accepted it and he pulled me to my feet. He handed me my sword and I sheathed it.
Then I realized something was wrong. I didn't feel any pain. I mean unless I died, which would suck, so I asked him about it. "How come I don't feel any pain?"
"Time itself is stopped. Therefore, so is everything associated with time." He turned his gaze to me and smirked. "It's a little something I picked up over the years." He started to walk away, motioning for me to follow. He walked me to the entrance of Guadosalam. "I'll leave you here, ok?"
I nodded. "Thanks…"
"Ok, the pain is gonna come back once I leave," he looked right into my eyes and continued, "Until next time, Lady Brooke…"
The moment after he disappeared I felt as if a shoopuff had stepped on me. I stumbled a few feet into Guadosalam before I collapsed to the floor and passed out.
Vincent's POV"Well we have to search for her!" I shouted at them as they all took off running down the path.
Idiots, the whole lot of them. Well, I guess I'm included in that group. We just let her go. I mean who knows what happened to her. She could have been killed or abducted. We have to find her; the destiny of Spira depends upon it…
Auron's POV
It'll be a week tomorrow from where she left. It seems like I'm the only one taking this seriously. I don't know why her running off bothers me. Maybe it's because she's unarmed and alone, but… something tells me it's something more. I'm not usually like this. I normally would have shrugged it off and let it go, but something inside of me is screaming at me to find her.
I could feel Rikku's eyes on me. She's a bit worried. Ok, I'll admit, I haven't slept much since she ran off. Now we're in Bikanel and Rikku's going to see her father. To say the least. I am not happy about this respite from my search.
"Auron, while we go see my father, why don't you sleep?"
I raised my head and glared at her. She continued with her speech, stuttering slightly as she spoke. "I mean, well, uh… um… I mean you're just going to be sitting here and you haven't sleep in like days. You really need your rest and…"
"Don't worry about me, Rikku," I bluntly replied.
"Fine!" she stomped her foot in the ground. "Do whatever you want, ya big meanie!" She then stormed out of the room and left the airship.
I sighed. Rikku was right. With the exception of dozing off every so often, I haven't slept more than a few hours here and there. I haven't even been in my room since then. I stood and walked down the hall to my room. I figure sleeping is better than sitting here doing nothing.
When I opened the door, I shut it again. I sighed again as I opened the door once more and stepped into the room. The bed was still unmade and the clothes Brooke had been wearing the night before she left we thrown on the bed.
Involuntarily I let a yawn escaped my mouth. I was overcome with weariness. So, I made my way over to the bed and picked up the clothes from my bed and placed them on a chair. I laid down in the bed and tried to relax, but it wasn't working. It took a while of tossing and turning, before I finally fell into slumber.
I seemed to walking along the bank of the Moonflow. I was admiring the sunset over the water when something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a slender girl with raven colored hair. I couldn't see her face because her hair was down and blocking my view of it. She had her legs curled up against her chest and her chin resting on her knees.
I made my way towards her, making some noise as I walked. She turned to face me and I finally saw her face. It was her, Brooke. She looked at me curiously, as if she wasn't sure if it was I or not. "Auron?"
I nodded. She smiled brightly. "Finally, someone else is here, I've been so bored!"
I looked at her, not understanding what she meant. "What?"
"I've been here for like two days and I mean yea, it's nice, but seriously it is soo boring!" she explained to me as she stretched her legs out.
I laughed. This may not be real, but it's close enough. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "And just what is so funny?"
"Nothing," I replied. Then I said something that was very out of character for me. "I just realized how I miss you."
She seemed shocked. "You miss me? But… like, you barely know me. When I was there you were mean to me and then…" she lowered her voice, and pulled her leg back up to her chest. "I tried to kill you…"
I raised an eyebrow at her. This dream is a little too real. "What was that back on the Mi'ihen?"
She turned her gaze back to the river as she muttered, "My darkness…"
I took a seat beside her. "Well, what exactly is it?"
She sighed. "It's a very strong power. And it would be helpful, if I could control it. However, the fayth told me that more than less likely, it will control me…" She looked at me with a hint of fear in her eyes. "And to tell ya truth, I'm kinda worried…"
I put my hand on her knee and gave it a squeeze. "Don't be. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Thank You," she said with a smile. She turned her gaze back to the water. We sat there silently for a few moments before she said, "Pretty isn't it?"
"Yea… I haven't seen a sunset quite like this in a while," I admitted.
She nodded. "Besaid used to have sunsets like this, it was always calm looking this, but this sunset, you can almost feel the turmoil growing beneath the light, no?"
That wasn't something I expected to hear. I looked at her and sighed. Even if I couldn't feel it, I knew there were problems growing with in the temples and within Zanarkand. "I know…" I pushed the hair out of her face and said, "Listen, I'm going to find you…"
She stood up and smiled down at me. "I hope it's soon." She started to walk away. I stood up and took a step to follow her but she disappeared.
Brooke's POV
"Auron…" I slowly opened my eyes, blinking to get used to the light. I shifted slightly. I closed my eyes once more and sighed. That was such a strange dream, so real and yet I know it wasn't. "Wishful thinking…" I muttered to myself.
I heard some movement to my left, so I opened my eyes and glanced that way. The, uh, I believe it's a guado was standing over me peering down at me.
"Praise be to Yevon. You are alive," he addressed me.
I looked at him strangely before I replied, "Where am I?"
"You, milady, are in Guadosalam, home of the Guado." He turned and walked for the door. "I must go inform Maester Seymour of your awakening."
I sat up quickly… immediately regretting doing so as well. I became lightheaded so I closed my eyes and put my hand to my head. "Maester Seymour?" I muttered.
"Yes, he is the one that found you." Once he reached the door he looked back at me and continued, "Please, rest while I go get your lordship."
I nodded and slowly laid back down in the bed, resting my eyes. After about fifteen minutes of waiting I heard some voices outside the door.
The familiar voice of the master echoed in the hallway. "Did you at least ask her for her name?"
"No, Maester, my instructions were to come for you as soon as she woke up..."
"Let me get this straight. You saw she was awake, said hello, then ran off to get me from my bed in the early hours of the morning without even learning the girl's name?"
"Yes, sir."
He sighed. "I see." He walked into the room and I turned my head towards them. Maester Seymour smiled and turned to the other guado. "I see you were only following orders. Now, you may go home. You have the day off."
The man bowed. "Thank you, sir."
Seymour watched him leave and when the door shut he turned back to me with a smile that sent chills down my spine. "I am pleased to see you are finally awake. I was not sure if you would survive."
"I've survived worse," I muttered as I closed my eyes.
"Indeed." I heard the movement of a chair across the floor before he continued, "You have most certainly proved your strength."
When I opened my eyes again he was sitting besides me staring at me. Now, I know I'm a faithful follower of the temple and this next statement is probably sacrilegious, but Maester Seymour gives me the creeps. He placed his hand on top of mine as if to ask for my attention. I looked at him strangely. Why is he touching me?
"What is your name?"
I closed my eyes once more. It seems I'm more tired than I thought I was. "Brooke Rassi."
"Oh." He seemed startled. "There was a group of people looking for you. A man named Vincent was very persistent about finding you."
I opened my eyes wide and looked at the Maester. "What did you tell him?"
"Nothing," He said as he sat back in his chair. "I said I'd never seen you before. I didn't know your name and I did not expect you to wake either."
I kept my eyes on him as I nodded. He looked back into my eyes and said, "You have blue eyes."
Way to state the obvious. "Yea…"
He looked at my carefully and asked quickly, "How tall are you?"
I raised an eyebrow at him. "Uh.. 5'4"… 5'5" maybe. Why?"
He pushed his chair back and stood. "Can you stand?"
"I can try…" I tossed the covers off me and slowly sat up. He offered me his hands for help. I accepted as I slowly stood. Now, I knew Maester Seymour was a tall man, but compared to me he was a giant. He must have been about 6'1" The top of my head didn't even reach his chin.
"Hmm…" He looked down at me and studied my features. I was beginning to get uncomfortable under his gaze.
Before he could start questioning me I asked, "How long have I been here?"
"You were unconscious for nearly three days now." He allowed me to sit on the bed. "You were really beat up."
I was stunned. I couldn't believe I slept three days. I mean I know I was by the moonflow for over two days, but that was just a dream… right? "Three days? What is today's date?"
"September 13," he informed me.
"Wonderful, I slept right through my own birthday," I said as I crossed my arms. I was angry that I slept through my birthday. Not that had I been awake it would have made any difference, but that isn't the point.
"Well, that is truly dreadful. How old are you now?"
"18," I muttered angrily. I looked down at the floor. I can't believe I slept through my own birthday. This is gonna piss me off for the rest of my life! Honestly, who the hell sleeps through their own friggin birthday?
While I was raging on in my head about sleeping through my birthday, Seymour had been babbling on about something I only caught the end of. "…in celebration of your awakening and birthday."
I jerked my head up and looked at him. "Huh?"
"A party if you will," he said as if I didn't understand what celebration meant.
"For me?"
He laughed. "It isn't every day a girl wakes from a coma, or that one turns 18." He paused before he added. "There hasn't been much excitement or happiness in Guadosalam in a while. This will be something of much joy to the people."
I shrugged and agreed. Why not? If he wants to spend his time and money on me then so be it. Who am I to fight it?
"We'll begin preparations immediately." He looked at my unrefined clothes with disgust as he added. "And I'll be sure to find you something suiting to wear…"
888
A/N: I hoped you liked it.. hehe I have this whole story like planned out, ok well not really but sh that is ok! Ok well I'm gonna cut this note short cause I gotta go to work! Toodles!
Thanks:
Anasazi Darkmoon:whistles innocently: Maybe… I probably will write out Lenne and Shuyin's wedding, maybe it's something I'm toying with in my mind, but I'm not sure yet. Also, I'll just tell you since well I kind of told you in this chapter. She will meet up with Auron and Rikku again, just how and when… and what will happen is what I'm not going to tell you! Oh and I realized after I posted the last chapter. Nooj is already in the story… Brooke fought him on Kilika, I think chapter 3? Lol and Thanks I'm glad you like the way I worked the characters… Vincent is great! I'm actually playing FFVII now, and I'm almost up to the part where we get him :jumps for joy:
ChakaTehMoogle: Yupp I don't bout you but do you see a pattern, loosens up and then runs away lol… hmm Am I going anywhere with that thought? Nope not at all, just found it kind of interesting myself lol
CeE CrOw: lol it's ok, As long as you like it… I don't care