Shades of Wings – Chapter 9 – Yellow Wings
Thanks to all my great reviewers out there! I adore you darlings! It seems Kevi is the most popular character, but that's why I've decided to do THIS!
Shades of Wings Popularity Poll!
For the next ten chapters, I'll be doing a popularity poll for your favorite character! Here's a list of choices!
Juka
Tiffa
Tai
Spiler
Luna
Kevi
Ashnigh
Adrian
Briu
Praika
Zarai
Michiku
Carolynin
Lindsayay
There you go! Now vote (Note: No leaving loads of anonymous reviews just to vote. If you're going to leave an anonymous review, it must be at leastten lines and must say something about the story.) Remember! At Chapter 20 - I shall announce the results!
"Well…here we are," Adrian spoke softly as the group exited the blue forest that eventually molded into hard dark ground. The group saw as the road went on that the ground was hard, and almost caked black from travelers beating it down. Juka looked up, and squealed.
"EEEKS!" she ran behind Tiffa as above them, a bolt of lightning struck. She cowered under the sound and gulped a little.
"Oh stop making a fool out of yourself," Adrian lowered her eyes, "The lightning towers should pick up the bolts for us."
"Yeah…" Tiffa told her, "They were created by an Al Bhed, so they'll be fine."
"Funny how he got struck by lightning while building them," Ashnigh spoke softly and Tiffa shot her a glare, "Maybe the wrath of Yevon."
"I'd like to see the "Wrath of Yevon" come down on you…" Tiffa muttered under her breath and walked forward onto the plains.
"But hey…" Juka questioned as they began to walk through the Thunderous plains, "The weather will clear up…right?"
"Don't count on it," Kevi told her, "The Thunder Plains has always had rain and thunder…never one ray of sun."
"Geez…" Tai grimaced, "So we'll have to watch out right?"
"Not to mention any fiends that might come out," Briu told them.
"Fiends…fiends…" Luna sang softly as she and her doll danced along the path.
"Right," Adrian nodded to Briu, "Keep an eye out, everyone."
As the group walked through the plains, Juka practically screaming every time a bolt of lightning struck, the group remained silent. No one talked over the thunder and the rain, and even Luna was keeping quiet. Only the light "bump, bump" on Spiler juggling his blitzball could be heard.
"You know…" Adrian grimaced, "That's getting very annoying…"
"Hey…" Briu asked Spiler, "Why don't you get a fighting blitzball? It would be more useful then this one…"
"Cause then I can't juggle it," Spiler told him, "And I need to keep practicing, don't I?"
"What's more important to you?" Adrian asked him, her eyebrows raised, "Being a guardian, or being a Blitzball player?"
"Well…we're stopping in Luca to see the tournament right?" Spiler inquired.
"Don't be an idiot," Adrian had to restrain herself, "Luca is a tourist spot, no aeons, no nothing. We'll just go through it to reach the boat to Kilika, that's all."
"But hey"
"I could really care less about your stupid Blitzball…" Adrian told him, "And your stupid tournament…I'm going to beat Sin…I have no time for these trivialities."
Spiler remained silent after that comment, and Ashnigh, looking sympathetically at him, spoke up, "But Adrian…" she pointed out, "Blitzball is what takes the people of Spira's minds off of Sin and death. Isn't that important?"
"If you take your mind off something doesn't mean it doesn't exist…" Adrian told her, "I learned that a long time ago…"
"Adrian's right," Juka nodded and Adrian looked slightly surprised that Juka was actually agreeing with her, "But so is Ashnigh. Sometimes people just gotta have fun, right?"
"Right!" Spiler smiled, "See Adrian?"
"If Juka says something is right then it's automatically wrong…"
"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!"
"Nothing…"
"Grr…"
"But still…" Kevi spoke up, "I don't think that stopping in Luca would be a bad idea."
"See?" Tai said, "Even Kevi thinks that stopping would be a good idea! Now THAT'S something!"
"I think so too," Ashnigh smiled warmly.
"As do I!" Briu told her.
"I really don't care what all of you think," Adrian snapped, "This is my pilgrimage and we'll do what I want!" With that, she turned sharply on her heel and continued to walk swiftly down the muddy path. Spiler looked solemnly after her and then hung his head.
"Hey, sorry man," Briu gave him a sharp pat on the back, "I guess we can't stop…"
"Maybe I should get a better blitzball," Spiler sighed, "After all…I'll never have to use this one."
"Will you PLEASE get out of my way?" Adrian's voice could be heard from up ahead and the group's heads snapped up to see what or whom she was talking to.
"I'm looking for someone…I think you know him…"
"I don't care if I do!" Adrian growled, "Get out of my way!"
"Let's see what's wrong," Kevi walked forward and the troupe followed until they finally saw Adrian talking sharply to someone under a lightning tower.
"Excuse me?" Juka called and Adrian and the person she was talking to snapped their heads around. "Who are you?"
"I'm Adrian you dolt!"
"Not you!" Juka sighed, "Who are you talking to?"
"That would be me," the voice that had been speaking to Adrian before stepped forward and the group turned their heads to get a good look at the man. He was wearing a long pair of pale blue pants that matched his pale blue top. Over his pale blue top was a short white tunic that looked similar to Spiler's. The man had sandy blonde hair that had a pale blue and white head band. "Hey."
"Umm…who are you?" Tiffa asked and the man looked at her oddly.
"You don't know me?" he asked and they all shook their heads, except for Spiler, who had lowered his head. "What rock did you all grow up under?"
"Djose!" Juka raised her hand, only to have Adrian give her a sharp punch on the head.
"He wasn't asking you where you live…"
"Well…since you all seem to be totally unaware of the genius that is before you," the man puffed out his chest, as if to accentuate his importance, "I am Stiven Athana!"
Silence. The man waited, and then looked at the group with an annoyed look in his eyes, "I was expecting applause…"
"Umm…yay?" Juka clapped her hands lightly to be greeted by another sharp punch from Adrian.
"Well…" Stiven sighed, "I'm not really interested in knowing you people, so we can skip introductions. I just know that you have someone with you that I need to talk to."
"Who might that be?" Adrian asked, "And how do you know he's with us?"
"Well…" Stiven paused, "I don't. I've accused every person that's passed of having this guy in his or her party."
"You're…joking…" Tai facefaulted.
"This is a waste of my time," Adrian growled, "C'mon!"
"But wait!" Stiven called after her, "You've got to know him! I've been here for five days looking for him!"
"I'm sure I don't, now let me pass!"
"His name is Spiler Nairmen!" She stopped, as did the rest of the group and turned their heads toward Spiler, who looked up, blushing. He stepped forward and looked at Stiven.
"Hey…"
"HA! I HAVE FOUND YOU!" Stiven screamed, as though congratulating himself, but he quickly retained his cocky air. "Well, well, well, Spiler, I never would have thought I'd run into you in a place like this."
"THEN WHY WERE YOU ASKING IF HE WAS HERE?"
"Given up on Blitzing and became a guardian?" Stiven chuckled, "Good choice…there would be no way you could stand up to me."
"Please…" Spiler sighed, "Why in the world did you seek me out Stiven?"
"Because I want to tell you how much of a loser you are!" Stiven told him, "Look at you! You fight with a blitzball!"
"Well…what am I supposed to do!"
"Get a blitzball like this one…" Stiven pulled out from behind his back, a ball that had a ring of spikes on it, colored mauve. "It's a special one, built for fighting."
"Idiot…" Spiler spoke and Stiven facefaulted, "How the heck are you supposed to kick it?"
"Ahh…well…umm…I dunno yet!" Stiven told him, "But it's still better than yours!"
"Umm…clue us in," Tiffa asked the two men, "How do you guys know each other?"
"We grew up together…" Spiler explained, "Unfortunately."
"We've always been rivals," Stiven said, "But I was always better, so it didn't really matter."
"WHY YOU!"
"So…Miss Summoner," Stiven smiled, "I bet you wouldn't want an old hack like Spiler in your guardian group…how about I replace him?"
"ACK! How dare you try to take my job!"
"I bet you want the best, don't you?" Stiven asked her, ignoring the raging Spiler.
"Yes…I do…" Adrian nodded and the group looked at her with fear on their faces.
"You wouldn't really replace Spiler would you!" Juka asked, "That would be mean!"
"I propose this…" Adrian explained, "You…Mr. Athana…follow us through the Thunder Plains, and we'll see who does a better job of being my guardian. I will base my decision on that."
"You're joking!" Tai screamed.
"No…I'm quite serious. Mr. Athana, please, feel free to destroy any fiends that you wish."
"Well…usually I wouldn't be into this kind of thing," Stiven chewed his words delicately, "But…if it's another chance to show Spiler who's better of us two, then I'm in."
"Glad to hear it." Adrian continued to walk forward, "We should be at the Inn soon…"
(Author's Note: Never stay up until 2 A.M. It's bad…very bad…)
The group continued on, Stiven following them. Every person in the group shot him icy cold glares at any possible moment, even Kevi, although Tai commented that he would shoot an icy cold glare at a passing pink bunny rabbit. So far, it was calm enough. No fiends would bother them as they walked down the path, Stiven and Spiler always on their toes, making sure that no fiend would escape them.
"Hey Stiven," Spiler hissed and Stiven turned his head.
"Huh? What?"
"Why in the world are you doing this! You don't want to be a guardian!"
"Just to make you mad…" Spiler facefaulted. "It's fun."
"EURGG! YOU PISS ME OFF!"
"Screaming, minus one for Spiler," Adrian announced and made a mark on a clipboard that she held.
"YOU'RE ACTUALLY KEEPING SCORE!"
"Minus one more for screaming…" Adrian made another tally.
"That puts me two points ahead," Stiven chuckled.
"Minus one for acting smug."
"Make that one…" Spiler smirked.
"Minus one for acting superior."
"Make that two!" Stiven cackled in Spiler's face.
"Minus two for cackling."
"Eat that!"
"Minus one for…"
"Well, at the break…you're both doing horribly with a score of -24." They had arrived at the Travel Agency and Adrian was reviewing her clipboard. "Spiler achieved a total of 1 plus points for noticing a rock on the ground that we could have tripped over. Stiven achieved a total of 2 plus points for noticing a bolt of lightning, but then immediately lost them by trying to push Spiler under the bolt."
"You grade hard…" Juka shivered.
"Minus one for sniveling."
"WHAT!" Juka screamed, "I'm not even in this stupid game!"
"I've made a decision," Adrian announced, "The game starts over anew, and this time, everyone's playing…"
"Hey!" Briu asked, disbelieving, "So that means that Stiven could replace anyone of us?"
"Yes…the one with the least amount of points at the end will trade places with Stiven," Adrian explained, "So I suggest you all be on your best behavior."
"Okay!" Juka pulled out her sword, "I'm ready!"
"Minus one for acting stupidly mature."
"Ack!" Juka squealed, "Does that mean I'm at -2!"
"Yes…I'd work hard to bring the points back…" Adrian suggested, "Now…let's go."
"Minus one for not being on guard."
"Minus one for almost tripping."
"Minus one for yawning annoyingly."
If Juka was keeping the points straight…the score was as followed.
Juka: -7
Tai: -3
Kevi: 2
Ashnigh: 5 (Adrian was grading in her favor…she knew it!)
Tiffa: 1
Spiler: -4
Briu: -3
Luna: 0
Stiven: -4
"Plus two for thinking that that rock was a fiend," Adrian added two points to Ashnigh's score, "Good job Ashnigh! Always be alert!"
"THAT'S STUPID!" Juka screamed.
"Minus one for calling me stupid. Minus another one for screaming. Minus another one for arguing."
Juka: -10…
"Eeeeks…" Juka squealed. I've got to find a way to boost my points… "Look! A fiend!" Juka pointed to a rock and Adrian swiveled her head.
"That's not a fiend, stupid! It's a rock! Minus one!"
Juka didn't scream out, she just scowled and kept walking along.
"HYAH!" Juka gave the Large Drake in front of them a slice, followed by Kevi's finishing blow.
"Plus one for vanquishing the fiend," Adrian added a point to Kevi's score.
"What about me…?" Juka asked, "I helped too…"
Adrian looked at her…then scowled, "Fine…plus one for helping to destroy the fiend."
"Hey Spiler," Stiven spoke and Spiler turned his head, "When the next fiend comes, then I'll show you the power of a fighting Blitzball."
"Hope you get holes in your feet…" Spiler scowled.
"WATCH OUT!" Tiffa screamed and a giant shaking noise filled the air around them. Everyone covered their heads as a giant wind blew over them. Juka turned her head up and gasped with the rest of the group at the giant flying drake above them.
It was a drake…only with wings and two giant purple horns that were pulsing electricity. It gave a large growl and looked on them menacingly with red, blood wanting eyes. It landed with a giant "SMASH!" and the earth seemed to shake beneath their feet.
"Crap!" Tai screamed as the entire group went down. They got up to see the monster, teeth bared, ready to attack them and destroy them all.
"Heh," Stiven stood up, "I've got this covered…" He took his blitzball and threw it up, "EAT THIS, HYAH!" Stiven's foot connected with the blitzball and a look of pain shot through his eyes. "OW, OW, OW, OW!" He grabbed his foot and started jumping around, "OW, OW, OW!"
"Idiot!" Spiler laughed, "I told you that would happen!"
"SHUT UP!" Stiven screamed, "EAT THIS!" He then proceeded to chuck the blitzball in Spiler's direction. Spiler gave a small "eep!" and proceeded to put up his own blitzball in a desperate defense. A loud "CLICK!" came as Stiven's blitzball connected with Spiler's, and somehow, the spikes retracted. Everyone looked at it in awe. "Hah! Of course, I was hiding the fact that I knew where the button that activated it was! Now!" He hastily snatched the ball from the ground and held it in front of him, "Watch this!" He gave it a swift kick and as it sailed toward the monster, the spikes exploded from the ball and gave the monster an enhanced smack, leaving a few blood traces. "Yes!"
"Big whoop!" Spiler launched his own ball, not doing as much damage as Stiven, "Dang…"
"Hey! This ain't a "whose sports equipment is better" match!" Adrian snapped, "Everyone, let's go!"
"Right!" They all nodded and unsheathed their weapons.
"Tiffa, distract it with a few weak rounds!" Kevi ordered, "Tai, Juka and I will do a follow up attack! Luna, use some water magic on it! Adrian, summon if things get bad!"
"What about us?" Spiler and Stiven asked simultaneously.
"Yell at each other," Kevi shrugged, "You're not doing much help now."
"HYAH!" Tiffa launched her knives, making the monster turn on her.
"I said "rounds" not "knives"!" Kevi said.
"Does it matter?" Tiffa asked incredulously, "Attack!"
"HYAH!" Tai ran up and gave the monster a deep gash in its face, Juka following up with a stab to the back.
"AXE SLASH ROUND-A-BOUT!" Kevi launched his axe, flinging it as the monster, severing one of its ears, making it scream with pain. The axe came flying back to him, and he caught it in his hand.
"Nice one!" Juka laughed.
"NOW, TIME FOR ME TO SAVE THE DAY" Stiven yelled.
"THE DAY DOESN'T NEED SAVING MORON!" Spiler screamed to him, making him stop in his tracks.
"WILL YOU JUST GET YOUR HAS-BEEN SELF AND GET AWAY FROM ME!"
"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WAS LOOKING FOR ME!"
"WAS NOT!"
"WAS TOO!"
"WAS NOT!"
"WAS TOO!"
"WAS NOT!"
"WAS TOO!"
"WILL YOU BOTH SHUT THE HELL UP?" Adrian screamed, stopping them as they were about to start beating each other up, "WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING!"
"Adrian!" Ashnigh yelled, "I don't have enough magic strength left to cast!"
"We're all pretty beat up!" Juka insisted, dodging an attack from the monster, "We need to beat it!"
"I'll summon, stand back!" Adrian stepped forward.
"No!" Spiler yelled, making everyone turn their heads towards the two. Spiler paused, then gulped slightly, "We'll fight it."
"You idiot!" Adrian sighed, "You two can't even share a sandwich together, let alone fight this monster."
"Gack!"
"What's sad is that she's right…" Juka sighed, "Adrian, go!"
"SHIVA!" Adrian performed her danced and out of the ground came the Ice Dancer Shiva to aid them. "Attack!"
As Shiva did a spinning kick to attack the monster, it recoiled with a slash of its claws, sending her flying back. "Blizzara!" Adrian commanded and once again, Shiva launched an attack, only to have the Drake throw fire from its mouth and hit the aeon. "Oh no!" Adrian cursed as Shiva faded into pyreflies, "Shiva…didn't stand a chance against that thing."
"We've just got to fight it!" Kevi insisted, "Go!"
"No!" the group turned around to see that it had been Spiler that had spoken, Stiven at his side, "You're all too beat up to continue, leave this to us."
"Are you joking!" Adrian asked, "Leaving it up to you would be suicide!"
"Trust us!" Stiven insisted, "C'mon you idiot," he called to Spiler, "Let's get it…"
"Right!" Spiler nodded and launched his blitzball, Stiven launching his own. The Spiler reeled back as it was hit and turned its attention to the two players.
"Hey Spiler…do you know Round About Diversion Play, or are your skills really that lame?" Stiven asked.
"Of course I know that play stupid!" Spiler grimaced, "So…am I bait or receiver?"
"…" Stiven stopped, "Receiver…I'm faster than you."
"Hey!"
"It's true, now get over there!"
"R-right!" Spiler nodded and quickly ran to the other side of the monster. The drake turned its head toward Spiler, but stopped as it was once again hit by Stiven's ball.
"Now…" Stiven smiled as he received the ball back, "You want it?" He held it up, "Adrian! Heads up!" he pointed at Adrian and Adrian looked at him with wide eyes.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IDIOT! I DON'T PLAY BLITZBALL!"
But the monster had gotten the idea and quickly moved in the way of Adrian and prepared himself for the ball coming. Hoping to block it, he stood his ground, gathering power. Stiven smiled, and his eyes flicked toward Spiler, now open. "You're stupider than you look…aren't you? SPILER, HEADS UP!" He threw the ball towards Spiler and the monster turned his head toward the blitzball player, but it was too late.
"OVERDRIVE," Spiler screamed, "TWO HIT VOLLEY!" Spiler launched the two balls from his hands and his feet, sending them both straight into the monster's eyes, blinding him. He screamed and bled, and then burst into pyreflies and dispersed throughout the plains.
"We did it…" Tiffa sighed.
"I can't believe you two actually could work together," Juka laughed.
"Well…I must say, it was pretty degrading," Stiven nodded.
"Hey!"
"Hey, we're at the exit!" Ashnigh said, "Finally!"
"Time for the final point counts…" Adrian announced. "First…some last minute points. For Spiler…" she looked at him, "Plus eight for swallowing your pride and working with your rival."
"Yay! Spiler's not going!" Tai, Luna, and Juka cheered.
"As for Stiven…" Adrian raised her eyebrow, "Plus one point…"
"Why only one?" Kevi asked and Stiven shrugged.
"I don't really mind."
"And as for you Juka…" Adrian looked at her, "You…get…"
Juka gave a gulp.
"Plus ten points."
"Huh?" Juka asked, "Wh-what for?"
"Do I really have to tell you?" Adrian asked and Juka smiled, "I don't think so."
"Thank you so much!" Adrian was met with a large glomp from Juka that made her blush furiously.
"GET OFFA ME OR I'LL TAKE OFF TEN POINTS!" Juka promptly got off Adrian as she brushed off her clothes, "That means that you Stiven are the loser. Nice fighting with you."
"Hey, I'll take it like a man," Stiven shrugged, "Hey, maybe I'll see you guys again later? Especially you Spiler," Stiven smirked, "We've got a score to settle."
"You bet," Spiler nodded, "Next time, none of this "getting along" crap."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Yay! The group stayed together!" Juka cheered, "I'm so happy!"
"You really are naïve…" Adrian sniveled, "You do know what's going to happen after I beat Sin right?"
"Oh…yeah…" Juka nodded as the entered Guadosalam.
"Lady Adrian!" From nowhere, a Guado ran up to the group, panting, "Maester Seymour wishes to have you at his manor immediately! Please follow me!"
"Should we go?" Tai asked.
"No other option," Kevi shrugged, "He is the Maester."
"All right then…" Adrian nodded, "Let's see what he's got to say."
CLIFFY!
Oh yeah! Have fun reading! Don't forget to review with your favorite character!