Here's chapter two! Again, this chapter is really long, but I just couldn't find a place for a smooth break.
From now on, I'm planning on releasing a new chapter every Tuesday afternoon. Keep checking back!
Read, enjoy, and please leave a review. Both praise and criticism are welcome!
Chapter Two
Silence. All around was silence. Tidus felt like he was floating but could feel no water around him. He lay there for a moment, eyes closed, trying to make sense of what had happened.
"Hey!" the shout was in a rough, harsh voice that stirred remembrance in Tidus' mind. He tried to summon the will to open his eyes.
"Hey!" the cry came again. This time Tidus knew without a doubt whose voice it was. He opened his eyes.
"My… old man?"
As he took in the sights around him, Tidus nearly forgot his surprise at his father's voice. Below him he could see Zanarkand, peaceful and untouched by the disaster Sin had brought. None of the lights were lit, and the great towers were swathed in thick shadows. Not a sound stirred the air. Tidus hovered a great distance above the city, wondering dimly what kept him from falling.
Tidus shook his head, willing his thoughts to clear. Hovering just above the city, he spotted a large platform. Behind it was a tall pillar lit aflame, illuminating the surreal city with a warm glow. Tidus didn't try to make sense of the sights around him or the voice he had heard. It would just be a waste of time.
With a blitzball player's instincts, Tidus kicked his legs and swam towards the platform. Though he seemed to float in midair, the motion propelled him forward.
Tidus couldn't tell how long the journey took. There was no sound, no feeling, just the foggy dreamscape of the city below, gliding slowly by.
When Tidus reached, he floated in the air above it, staring at the seven-year-old boy who stood there. The image was cloudy, almost transparent, but Tidus knew who it was. It was him, ten years ago…
Tidus felt light-headed and sleepy. He didn't know what was happening. Thoughts reeled through his mind. He thought about where he was, and what he'd gotten himself into. Slowly, he drifted away into a haze of a dream; a dream of being alone. He wanted someone- anyone- there beside him, so he didn't have to feel alone anymore…
Tidus groggily opened his eyes. He was chilled to the bone and ached all over. He lay on some cold stone surface, and lapping water covered his legs. Above him, the sky was thick with dark clouds that threw bright flashes of lightning back and forth to one another. The dense rumbling noise echoed off of the many hunks of stone that rose from the frigid waves. A heavy fog clung to the surface of the ruins, holding with it an atmosphere of mystery.
On the large stone where Tidus lay, a plump bird preened its grey and red feathers. It seemed not to notice the man beached upon its piece of rubble.
Tidus rubbed his head with one hand. He could remember floating over Zanarkand, though whether this had been a dream or not, he couldn't tell. He remembered clearly his father's voice shouting.
It must have been part of my dream, he decided. My old man's been gone a long time.
Tidus took in his surroundings. The dank, forbidding ruin offered little hope to counter his despair.
"Anybody there?!" he shouted. The only reply was the damp echo of his own words off the rock around him.
"Auron!" Tidus cried. Again, no answer. He wondered where Auron had ended up. Wherever the encounter with Sin had placed him, it wasn't with Tidus.
"HEY!" Tidus shouted at the top of his lungs, but still, the only response was the harsh ringing of wet stone. The grey bird looked up from its feathers and stared at Tidus with beady black eyes. It considered him for a moment before stretching its wings and soaring away over the ruins. Following the bird's path with his eyes, Tidus spotted what seemed to be a large building shrouded in mist. It rose, dark and looming against the stormy sky.
It looks like a temple or something, he thought. Maybe I can get some shelter there. As to what he would do once he got there, Tidus didn't really know. But at least he would be safe for the time being.
With a sigh, Tidus slipped into the chilly water and began to swim towards the towering ruins.
As a blitzball player, Tidus was more than used to swimming. Paddling through strange, deep waters normally wouldn't unsettle him in the least. But now he was tired, cold, and hungry, alone and unsure of what to do or where he was. The sooner he could reach that temple, the happier he would be.
Tidus spotted several arching bridges of stone, crude and crumbling, rising from the water. Their tortuous tracks seemed to lead into the temple.
Oh, well, Tidus thought with a sigh, this is better than swimming around aimlessly.
He quickly made his way to the nearest arch of stone snaking out of the chilly waves. The rock was wet and slick and it crumbled at the edges when Tidus scrambled on to its surface. He glanced warily down at his reflection in the rippling surface below. The cloudy black water allowed no view beneath its surface. Tidus marveled at the train of events that had brought him to this place. He was supposed to be celebrating the Abes' victory right now, not trekking through stormy ruins. With a sigh, Tidus climbed farther up the slippery stone walkway, straining for the temple ahead.
Tidus followed the path for a long while, until he found himself over a large pool of water. It seemed to have once been a courtyard of sorts, or maybe it had just been a room, and the pathways were really what was left of the roof.
Tidus sighed and stared down at the sloshing water. Water weeds climbed up the sides of the chamber below, there sickly green hues reflecting the feeling of decay in the air. Forlorn-looking statues sat in various poses, their features worn away by years of erosion.
Tidus pulled his eyes away from the ancient courtyard and took a step forward. The fragile stone beneath his feet cracked, and he leaped backward. Tidus watched the buckling stone, and had just enough time to gasp before the bridge gave way he fell into the water below.
Splash! Tidus landed in the freezing water. He kicked his legs and held himself above the surface, breathing for a few moments. Hunks of rock landed in the pool around him, splashing and sinking away.
Tidus shook his head and took in his surroundings. There was no way to get back onto the arches above.
I guess I'll have to-
Tidus' thoughts were cut off as something leaped out of the water, sailed over his head and splashed back under the surface before he had a chance to see what it was. Tidus floated in the water, his muscles tense, senses alert. Again, the thing jumped from the water. A large green fish flew overhead, followed by two others. Sucking in a deep breath, Tidus dove underwater, swiftly drawing out the long sword Auron had given him.
Three great green fish surrounded Tidus under the water. They had gleaming needle-like teeth and tiny black eyes. They moved with purpose and intelligence uncommon among animals. However intelligent they were, the creatures were hungry, and they would stop at nothing to make Tidus their next meal. One fish swooped forward, snapping its jaws with unnatural strength. Tidus jerked upward, quickly avoiding the ram. Another fish lunged for him, but Tidus barrel-rolled aside. He almost smiled. This was too much like blitzball.
The third fish flew towards Tidus, and he narrowly avoided it vicious jaws. Unlike blitzball, this game would have dire consequences if he lost. With a swift sweep of his sword, Tidus ripped a long gash in the side of one of the fish. Like the scale-insect creatures in Zanarkand, orbs of light swirled from its side instead of blood. It writhed for a moment, then completely dissolved. The little spheres of solid white light rose swiftly through the water, dragging tails of shimmering aqua and azure radiance.
The two remaining fish dove at Tidus, and he ducked beneath their attack. He flipped around at hack at them, catching one by the fin. It jerked in pain and backed away, letting out a hiss. The third fish lunged straight at Tidus, but he decapitated it with a quick slash of his sword. Like the other before it, the green fish dissolved into bright lights.
Tidus turned his attention to the last fish. The creature flexed its fins, hesitating for a moment. It seemed to be considering if Tidus was worth the danger. Suddenly it snapped its head to the side, staring intently into the thick shadows behind one of the larger statues. The fish let out a chirrup and darted away, but not quick enough.
A massive creature slunk out into the open water. It was unlike anything Tidus had ever seen. Horny plates covered its back and its long, thick tentacles. Its mouth was more like a turtle's beak than anything else, hard and shelled. It had no teeth, but it was strong enough to crush the poor green fish's body. Throwing aside the dissolving corpse of its victim, the massive creature turned it attention towards Tidus.
Tidus gasped, looking around wildly for somewhere he could hide. The great creature slunk forward, its long tentacles groping over the statues in the courtyard. As it drew closer, Tidus gave up searching and held his sword in front of him, gripping the leather of its handle tightly. No matter what fish tried to make him its meal, he wouldn't go down without a fight.
The massive creature lunged forward, but Tidus dodged aside, slashing at one of its tentacles with his sword. The blade made contact with the shell and made hardly more than a scratch. The creature brought its massive arm around and launched a punch at Tidus, but he dodged, and the blow landed against the wall of the courtyard instead. The walls shook and more loose stones slashed into the water. Darting through the water as fast as any fish, Tidus slashed his sword over the creature's back. Again, he made barely a scratch on the beast's armor. The creature wheeled around with a deep growling noise, and Tidus narrowly dodged its grasping arms. Still holding his sword firm, Tidus scanned the ruins, searching again for an escape route.
There! In the wall, a small window sat just beneath the waters' surface. Breaking from the combat, Tidus swam desperately towards the opening. The creature swam up behind him, gaining rapidly. Fear pounded in Tidus' chest. He was so close, he could almost reach the entrance, but the creature was almost on him. It opened its mouth wide, and Tidus felt the water flowing back around his feet.
You're almost there, he thought in a panic. You're almost there! Just keep swimming!
Tidus closed his eyes, kicked his legs, and thrust his head through the opening. The creature was about to close its jaws around his legs when he grasped the opening with both hands and yanked himself through. The creature slammed into the small opening, sending rocks crashing down from the ceiling.
Tidus rolled over and over one hard, jagged rocks, the frustrated roars of the water-beast and the crashing of stones still ringing in his ears. When his jarring descent finally stopped, he was lying on a damp, frigid stone floor. Tidus pulled himself up into a sitting position, wincing at the pain in his muscles. He stared at the curving flight of stairs he had tumbled down. The entrance was completely blocked, huge hunks of ancient stone clogging the path.
I guess I won't be getting out that way, he thought with a sigh.
Tidus stood, gingerly testing his bruised legs. He was relieved to see that he was relatively unharmed.
It was colder inside the ruins than outside. White mist clung to the ground, and pools of icy water had frost collecting around them. Tidus rubbed his hands together, lamenting his lack of dry cloths.
Great, he thought. I've made it out of the frying pan and into the freezer. Shaking off the clinging feeling of despair, Tidus gazed down the hallway ahead of him.
I guess that's the only option I've got. Tidus swallowed hard before walking down farther into the mist and cold.
Tidus strained his muscles, shoving aside a piece of debris at the end of the tunnel. He was shocked by the rush of cold, stagnant air that met him. It seemed the farther down he went, the colder it got. The room he was in now had a massive doming roof and none of the statues and decorations of the others. Apart from dripping water and pieces of rubble, it was entirely empty. Frosty white mist clung to the walls, and Tidus could see his breath billowing in front of his face.
"Cold…" he breathed shakily, rubbing his hands together again. One picture came into his mind: a warm, crackling blaze, chasing away the shadows and frost. Tidus pulled in another shuddering breath.
"Need… fire."
Tidus walked into the open, his wet shoes squelching against the stone floor. He fought to keep his eyes open against the gnawing fatigue that threatened to engulf him. He couldn't just go to sleep know. He needed some way to make…
Tidus stumbled, his feet catching on something on the floor. He frowned and looked down, and his frown melted to almost to a smile as he saw the charred remains of a fire. Arranged on a rare dry spot on the ground, the half-burned wood was still dry enough to burn.
Yes! Tidus thought. Finally! Now I just need to start it.
He sighed at that thought. There's got to be something around here, something to use for flint and tinder.
Pushing the logs back into place, Tidus took in the view of the soaked ruins.
I guess I'd better start looking.
Hope birthed in Tidus' hopelessness as he crouched over the dry logs, scraping two flint stones together. He couldn't tell how long it had taken him to collect the items necessary, but he was glad to be on dry ground, the promise of warmth driving him on. For tinder, he had found a vase of withered flowers sheltered from the continuous drip of water. The flint he had found in a drawer on one of the castles higher floors. As he searched, Tidus had realized what a fabulous place the ruins must have been when they were in use. He seen decaying tapestries, water-worn carvings, and elaborate chambers, all which must have been stunning a hundred or some years ago. But now, water dripped off the walls and collected in the corners, and the artwork lay in ruins.
As he continued to scrap the stones together, Tidus thought about what the room he was in must have been. There was no furniture or anything, no draperies on the wall. Several windows high up on the walls provided views of the stormy skies over head, but Tidus could imagine a time when the sun cast slanting rays through the openings on to crowds of cheery people congregating in the hall below, chattering and laughing.
I wonder why people left this place at all?
Tidus' musings were cut off as a spark found the dry tinder and luminous, vibrant flames leaped to light. The bright orange fire leaped and danced, throwing out a warm glow of heat and light. All else forgotten, Tidus held his frigid hands over the twisting flames, allowing the heat to ease feeling back to his numb fingers. He sat there for a while, relishing the comfort of the crackling fire.
How does the star player of the Zanarkand Abes, the most famous player in blitzball, end up here? he thought with a sigh. Now that he wasn't in fear of dying from the cold, Tidus notice and gnawing hollowness squeezing his middle. He sighed and lay back on the stone floor, staring up at the high domed ceiling.
"I need food!" his voice echoed in the empty room, a lonely, far away sound. Tidus sighed and closed his eyes. Ignoring his hunger, he gave in to the slumber that had been so eager to take him earlier.
Tidus frowned at the figure standing in his doorway, biting back an exasperated sigh.
"What do you what?" he asked, folding his hands behind his head. He knew it was useless to tell Auron to leave, so he might as well find out what he wanted. The sooner it was over, the sooner Tidus could go back to nursing his bruised body and injured pride.
"It was a bad call," Auron didn't move, but stared at Tidus from the top of the stairs. His black glasses glinted in the light. "Your team lost because of you."
"You came to say that?" Tidus almost winced as Auron delt anew the wounds that had come with Tidus' first loss.
"It's been… ten years," Auron looked down at Tidus, meeting his eyes. "I thought you'd be crying." Auron's eyes held no anger, only concern. Tidus bit back a harsh response, seething under his friend's pity.
The memory shifted in Tidus' dreamscape, warping to allow in a misplaced visitor. The boy in the dark hood, whom Tidus hadn't had a chance to puzzle over, ran out of the wall and stood beside Auron near the doorway. He spoke the truth that Tidus wouldn't have told Auron for anything in the world.
"You cried."
Tidus caught the scent of billowing smoke and woke from his slumber with a start, fixing his eyes on the sputtering remnants of his fire.
"Hey, wait! Wait!" Tidus scrambled to his feet, rushing up to the dying flame. The threat of returning to the deathly cold made panic echo through him.
"Don't go out on me!" Tidus blew desperately on the withering fire, but to no avail.
"Just hold on," he glanced around for a moment. "I'll get more wood!" Tidus had no idea where he would find more dry wood in the soaking ruins, but he knew he had to try. Standing up franticly, Tidus scanned the walls, trying to determine which pathway would be the driest.
Tidus spotted a few loose stones clanked down the wall. He tracked the movement up the wall, and what he saw made his heart sink.
Oh, I've had enough with all these weird creatures! Tidus clenched one hand around the hilt of his sword, the feel of the leather grip now familiar against his palm. On the wall perched a large insect-like creature, staring at Tidus with keen black eyes. The creature's head was like a mantis's, but with no antennae and a mouth full of sharp teeth. It had four prong-like legs, each tipped in vicious-looking spikes. The creature had a long, whip-like tail and was plated with shiny bronze-colored armor. It leaped swiftly along the damp wall, climbing down to the ground.
Fed up with running, Tidus held his ground, ready to strike as soon as the beast came close enough.
The creature sprang towards Tidus, slashing with both its front talons. Tidus dived aside, not as gracefully as when he was underwater, but effective enough to avoid the beast's claws. Before it had a chance to recover, He swung his sword against its side. The weapon cut into the beast's plates, slipping through the thick armor and biting into its flesh. The beast let out a howl and swung around, lashing at Tidus with both its front claws. Tidus scrambled backward, using his sword to block the vicious attacks.
It's just one thing after another, isn't it? Tidus thought angrily, the creature's front claws clanking off his bright blade. I don't know how long I can keep this up…
An explosion broke through Tidus' despairing thoughts. The old, sealed door behind him blew off its hinges, sliding over the floor and clattering to a halt to the right of Tidus' meager fire. Shoving away the thrashing beast, Tidus turned his head to see what in the world had happened.
A cloud of pale grey smoke filled the now empty doorway, obscuring the view to outside. The dense mist swirled as a figure emerged. A girl in a red-and-tan wetsuit walked out, tense and cautious. Goggles hid her eyes, but Tidus could only assume she was taking in her surroundings. Her wild, yellow-blond hair, still damp, was tied in a ponytail on top of her head.
The smoke began to clear, and four men in masks and other underwater gear emerged from behind the girl. They all held guns and seemed equally as mysterious as the girl who led them.
Tidus held his sword tensely, ready for either the monster to lunge or for these strange people to open fire.
The girl made a quick gesture to Tidus, signaling him to come closer. Without waiting for a response, she stepped forward, her face set stonily towards the creature.
"You on my side?" Tidus asked, his eyes wide. The girl in the wetsuit gave a quick nod. Tidus felt relief welling up inside of him. "Cool!"
Though she held no weapons, the girl took a defiant step towards the monster. The creature had long since gotten to its feet, and now its tiny black eyes studied the new arrivals carefully. It seemed to think that its hunt had gotten far more dangerous.
Not giving the beast a moment more to consider, the girl pulled something out of her belt and threw it in the creature's direction. As soon as the small cylindrical object hit the ground at the beast's feet, it burst into flames. The beast let out a shriek, and Tidus saw the mysterious spheres of light rising from the billowing smoke. As the haze cleared, the beast was no longer there.
Tidus let his taut muscles relax. He dropped his sword, and it clattered on the stony floor at his feet. He blew out a deep breath, relief filling him. Not only had Tidus survived to fight another day, which no longer seemed a given, but he had found people. Now these guys can bring me to some nearby city, and from there, I can get back to Zanarkand! Finally, this crazy misadventure will be over!
The girl in the wetsuit reached up and pulled her goggles from her face. Her green eyes watched Tidus silently, showing no signs of emotion.
"Whew!" Tidus panted, leaning on his knees. "That was close!" He took a moment to look over the strange people who had rescued him. Those who weren't wearing breathing masks bore the same cold expressions as the girl in front. Tidus also noticed how tensely they held their guns. He eased out a long sigh. I guess I'm not out of the woods yet.
One of the men circled behind Tidus and grabbed him by the hair, forcing him to stand straight.
"Hey!" Tidus cried, squirming in the man's grasp. "Lemme go!"
The rest of the men raised their guns ready to fire at a moment's notice. Tidus fell silent, wondering what they were going to do with him.
"Fryd ec drec?" one of them shouted, the foreign words falling harshly on Tidus' ears.
"Y fiend!" another answered. "Eh risyh teckieca!"
"Oac! Ed ec cu!" the man holding Tidus spoke firmly. He pulled a knife from his belt and held it to Tidus' throat. Tidus felt dread creeping up inside him. This has gone from bad to worse. I really am going to die here!
"Fa gemm ed?" the man with the knife asked. Tidus was unsure who the man was addressing or what he said, but he figured his time was quickly running out.
It was the girl who answered.
"Fyed!" her voice was sharp and high but carried a commanding note. "Fryd ev ed ec risyh?"
The man holding Tidus flipped his knife around pointed it at the girl. When he spoke, his voice was as cold as the steel he held.
"Drao yna dra cysa eh taydr."
"E vunpet ed!" the girl shouted, her voice sounding angry. "Fa pnehk ed fedr ic."
The man made a low scoff and slowly put his knife away. Tidus allowed himself to believe that he had a chance of surviving.
The girl walked up to Tidus, staring sharply at him, but not seeming as cold as at first. Tidus decided that speaking would be a wasted effort. They probably won't understand me.
The girl leaned forward and whispered one word, though Tidus did not know its meaning.
"Cunno."
A hard blow landed on Tidus' stomach, and stars exploded in his head as he doubled over, gasping for breath. He found himself vaguely wondering how the girl was so strong as the cold ruins around him fuzzed into blackness.
Tidus smell salty sea air, warm and pure compared to the dank ruins. The hum of machinery mixed with the gentle sounds of ocean waves lapping around the hull of a boat. He opened his eyes and stared into a sky sprinkled with countless tiny stars, tiny glowing pricks pierced through the black night. They're so much brighter than in Zanarkand… he thought. But that thought reminded Tidus that he was no longer in Zanarkand. Where am I?
Tidus reached up behind him, grabbing the railing to help him stand up. He quickly inspected the boat he stood on; it was fairly sized, with short railings all around. Just to his left stood the group of strange people who had helped him in the ruins. One of them noticed Tidus' movement and turned around.
"Ced, lybdeja!" he shouted, shoving Tidus back into the railing.
"Hey, that hurts!" Tidus protested angrily. Can't I catch a break here? he thought with exasperation.
"Hu sujehk, rayn?" another snapped, pointing a gun at Tidus' chest.
"Whoa… Okay." Tidus swallowed hard and held as still as he could, hoping that was what the man wanted.
"Caynlr res!" the shout drew Tidus' attention, and he turned to watch the girl and a tall man with a blond mohawk approaching. One of the men walked up to Tidus and began to search him. Tidus realized then that, even though his hands weren't tied, he didn't have his sword. I must have left it at the ruins… he thought with disappointment. Or else these guys took it…
The man with the mohawk began to make several hand gestures, but Tidus was at a loss as to what he meant.
"Right, whatever," Tidus sighed. These guys won't be much help getting me back to Zanarkand, he thought hopelessly. Why couldn't I be caught by people who speak the same language I do?
"Tu oui hud cbayg?" the man asked, frowning at Tidus. He held up pair of goggles and pointed at it, making more abstract gestures.
"I said I don't understand!" Tidus snapped back impatiently, wondering how he was going to get out of this mess.
"Ehcumahla!" the man with the gun shouted, cocking his firearm. Tidus sucked in a sharp breath, his shoulders rigid.
"Fyed!" it was the girl who shouted the command. She quickly turned to Tidus. "He says you can stay if you make yourself useful."
To Tidus, the sound of common speech was like the sweetest music ever composed. "You… understand me?" He stared at the girl wide-eyed, glee bubbling through his disbelief. Maybe he wasn't doomed after all.
Tidus' relief was broken as the man with the gun smacked him in the back with his firearm.
Tidus frowned and grudgingly replied. "All right, I'll work."
Tidus tried hard to listen to the girl's instructions of what he was supposed to help with. This isn't quite as glorious as being a blitzball star, but I still should try to do my best.
"We found some ancient ruins right beneath us," the girl explained. "It's not active now, but there still should be some power left. We're going to go down there and activate it. Then we should be able to salvage the big prize!" At the last words she smiled, holding up one fist in a gesture that reminded Tidus of cheering blitzball fan.
"Roger!" Tidus replied, returning the gesture.
The girl climbed over the short railings and dived into the ocean beyond. Tidus followed her path, climbing over the railings. He gazed into the waters for a moment, trying to see beneath the sky's reflection. He pulled in a deep breath and plunged into the starlit waters, down into the unknown sea.
Below the water's surface, Tidus could see the vast underwater ruins. They were nothing like the ancient temple he had been rescued from; these ruins looked somewhat like Zanarkand, with towering buildings and arching walkways. He could easily imagine a busy night when people walked through the streets of this city and lived lives very similar to the life Tidus was used to. The way things are going now, I wonder if I'll ever get back to that life…
Tidus pulled himself out of his hopeless thoughts and scanned the water for the girl. He spotted her descending along the anchor chain from the ship above. He pointed his face downward and followed her.
The work in the ruins was done in silence; being underwater made conversation impossible. However, Tidus piled up many questions to ask once they were on the boat again.
Who are these people? What are they looking for in these ruins? How does this girl know my language when none of the others do? What are they going to do with me when I'm no longer useful?
After an uneventful half-hour of switching on power cables, Tidus and the girl swam back towards the surface. Tidus found it hard to ignore his hollow stomach, but figured asking for food would do him little good.
Just somewhere out of the wind and cold will be good enough…
Fatigue plagued Tidus along with hunger. Save his little nap in the ruins, Tidus had had no rest since his encounter with Sin in Zanarkand. I guess I was unconscious when I was taken to the ship, but I don't think that really counts…
The cold ocean water stung ever bruise and scrape Tidus had received since his troubles began, and the promise of lying down in a bed seemed worth any trouble.
Tidus climbed out on deck, and the girl walked over to confer with a group of others. They spoke in their own language, so Tidus didn't bother listening. He just wanted to get below deck.
The group of people began to move towards the door, still conferring amongst themselves. Relieved, Tidus followed. One of the men noticed him and shoved him backward.
"Oui, uidceta!" he barked, then followed the others below deck.
"Hey, I helped out, didn't I?" Tidus shouted at the closing door. I guess I should have known better…
Tidus sighed, determined to have a goodnight's sleep despite his host's abuse.
Tidus drifted in and out of sleep for about an hour. When he was awake, his empty stomach tormented him, and when he did sleep, he dreamed about Zanarkand, and Sin's attack. Auron's words rang in his ears. This is your story. It all begins here…
What story? What exactly happened to me and Auron when Sin attacked? How far from Zanarkand am I?
A hollow rumble and twist of hunger distracted Tidus from his puzzlement.
"Uhh…" he groaned, rolling over where he lay underneath a large crane. "Hungry…"
A sharp kick in his shoulder caught Tidus' attention. He didn't even think about the pain; he was already used to being smacked about by his hosts. With a sigh, Tidus rolled over to see who it was and what they wanted.
It was the girl in the wetsuit. She stared down at him without a word and dropped a tray of food in front of him.
"Whoa! Right on!" Tidus grinned. He didn't stop to see what was on the plate but set straight to scarfing down as much as he could. He barely took time to chew before swallowing, and didn't bother to taste the food; he focused on filling the hollowness in his middle.
Tidus swallowed once more and the food clogged in his throat. He choked once and the girl held out a small flask of water. Tidus snatched the jug from her hand and poured the liquid down his throat, then set it down with a contented sigh.
The girl chuckled quietly. "It's 'cause you eat too fast."
Again, Tidus marveled at how wonderful it was to hear words he understood. He stood up and chuckled, relieved to finally feel like he wasn't dying. He stretched away the cramps in his tired body. It's time to get some answers.
"Hey!" the girl said, walking up beside Tidus.
"Hello there," Tidus greeted her. "What's your name?"
"Rikku," the girl answered plainly.
"Whoa! You really do understand!" Tidus smiled and sighed, relieved once more that someone understood him.
He turned back to Rikku. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I didn't get a chance to!" Rikku defended herself. "Everyone thought oui were a fiend!"
"Uh… oui?" Tidus asked, frowning in confusion.
"Oh, 'oui' means 'you.'" Rikku explained.
Tidus paused for a moment, considering which of his questions to ask first. "So, who are you guys, anyway?"
"We're Al Bhed. Can't you tell?" Rikku seemed confused by the question. "Wait, you're not an Al Bhed-hater, are you?"
"I don't even know what an Al Bhed is," Tidus answered, feeling more clueless than ever.
Rikku frowned at him for a moment, still looking puzzled. "Where are you from?" she asked, changing the topic.
"Zanarkand." Tidus answered proudly. "I'm a blitzball player." Tidus made motions with his feet, mimicking a simple goal shot. "Star player of the Zanarkand Abes!"
Rikku stared at him silently for a few moments, looking more perplexed than ever. At last, she spoke.
"Did you… hit your head or something?"
"Um, you guys hit me?" Tidus replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, right…" Rikku turned and leaned against the railing, staring off into the moonlit sea for a moment. Then she turned back to Tidus. "Do you remember anything before that?"
Tidus sighed and leaned against the railing beside Rikku. He told her as much as he could about Zanarkand; about life there, blitzball, and Sin's attack. He told her about what happened to Auron and him when they reached Sin. He just said everything that came to mind, but the way Rikku looked made him wonder…
As Tidus finished talking, Rikku looked somber. She stared over the waves, seeming distant.
"Did I… say something funny?" Tidus asked, feeling uncomfortable.
"You were near Sin," Rikku gazed over the water for a few more seconds, then turned back to Tidus.
"Don't worry!" she said enthusiastically. "You'll be better in no time!" Seeing Tidus' confused expression, she continued.
"They say your head gets funny when Sin is near. So maybe you just had some kind of dream?"
"You mean I'm… sick?" Tidus rubbed the back of his neck uncertainly. He didn't really understand what Rikku was saying, but figured going along with it was the best way to find out.
"Because of the toxin, yeah," Rikku answered.
"You sure?" Tidus persisted.
"Yeah, there is no Zanarkand anymore," Rikku's words surprised Tidus more than anything he'd seen since Sin's attack. "Sin destroyed it a thousand years ago. So… no one plays blitzball there."
Tidus now understood what Rikku had meant about him being sick, but he couldn't believe it.
"What do you mean, a thousand years ago?" Tidus heard his tone growing angry. "But I saw Sin attack Zanarkand! You're saying that happened a thousand years ago? No way!"
Rikku stood unflinchingly under Tidus' tirade. After he had finished, she thought for a moment, then spoke.
"You said… you play blitzball?"
Tidus nodded.
Rikku smiled slightly. "You should go to Luca. Someone might know who you are, or you might find someone you recognize."
"Luca?" Tidus asked, feeling silly for knowing so little.
Rikku shook her head and sighed. She turned around and paced for a few moments. Then she walked quickly back over a tapped Tidus on the shoulder.
"Okay, leave it to me!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "I'll get you to Luca, promise!"
Tidus felt uncomfortable, trying to think of way to tell Rikku that he didn't think it was such a good idea.
Rikku frowned, reading the disapproval on his face. "You'd rather stay here?"
Tidus sighed and shook his head.
"Okay," Rikku nodded. "I'll go tell the others." She turned and walked a few paces, then turned back.
"Oh, and one thing," she held up a finger to emphasize her point. "Don't tell anyone you're from Zanarkand, okay? Yevon says it's a holy place. You might upset someone."
Rikku continued her walk and disappeared below deck, leaving Tidus with no further explanation.
My Zanarkand? Some kind of holy place? he thought, leaning against the railing. Yeah, right. Since when?
Yevon? Sin? Luca? I thought Sin just took me to a faraway place, and I could go back in a day or two. But a thousand years into the future? Tidus clenched his teeth in frustration.
"No way!" Tidus gave the crane he had slept under a solid kick, hard enough to send him flopping to the deck. Tidus sat up, frowning at both his predicament and his throbbing foot.
Tidus forgot his frustration as the deck began to shake. The sea frothed and the waves beat angrily against the ship. A dark shape glided through the water beyond.
As Tidus scrambled back up to his feet, the Al Bhed came rushing out onto the deck.
"Sin!" one of them shouted. "Sin ec lusa!"
Another pointed towards the waves beyond. "Ihtan ic! Ihtan ic!"
Water blasted over the deck, sweeping some of the Al Bhed off their feet. The rush caught Tidus and threw him back. He grabbed franticly for the crane but missed, and the water carried back over the short railings. The last thing Tidus remembered before he crashed into the angry sea was wondering if he would be so lucky as to survive this second encounter with Sin.
