We've arrived on the Thunder Plains!
Soon I'm going to be starting a new Fanfiction story. I sorta briefly mentioned that a few weeks ago. It's going to be FFXII, and not a strict novelization like this one. Let's just say, when I played FFXII, I found the story somewhat lacking. So I changed it! Over a year- or has it been two?- I've worked on remolding the story of FFXII into something a lot better. It just kept on growing and growing, and now it's expansive! I didn't take away anything, I don't think, but I changed a lot. First of all, Vaan is so not the protagonist; I think we all know who the real leading man is. Secondly, I expanded the storyline, so it includes times before and after the events of the game. What I'm trying to say is, my FFXII is divided into four distinct parts, and the game is only included in the second one. Yeah! So I'm really, really excited about finally writing this new story, but I want to have everything perfect before I start releasing it. So keep an eye out! It's be soon!
Anyway, enjoy this chapter, and please do leave a review.


Chapter Twenty-Two

Outside the exit of Guadosalam, the path opened onto a massive plain. Short, dark grass covered the sandy ground, and the sky was black as night. Rain was constantly pelting down on them, so hard Tidus had to squint. But the most noticeable thing about the otherworldly landscape was the lighting. Every few seconds, brilliant white lighting came crashing down from the heavens, striking either the ground or one of the various lightning rods that flanked the pathway.
"Oh no…" Rikku's voice whimpered. "We're here."
Tidus turned around to see the Al Bhed girl huddled down at the rear of the group. Another bolt of lightning struck the ground with a loud crash, and Rikku let out a squeal.
Tidus turned back from the cowering little girl and surveyed the plains.
"How are we supposed to cross that?" he asked.
"See the lightning towers?" Lulu asked, pointing towards one of the tall rods. "The lightning is drawn to them… hopefully."
"We head north," Wakka said. "Not too near and not too far from the towers, ya?"
Another crack of raucous lightning split the air, and Rikku dropped to her knees on the wet ground with another squeal. Everyone turned back to look at her. Shuddering, Rikku glanced back towards the entrance to the underground Guado city.
"I, uh…" she started, still shivering. "I think I forgot something in Guadosalam."
"Nice knowing you," Auron said, turning back to the plains.
"Okay, okay!" Rikku stood back up abruptly, brushing wet grass from her bare knees. "I'll go!" She glared indignantly at Auron's back and followed him. The rest of the group tailed them, continuing on through the plains.

The party kept on with no break. The sky was completely covered by thick black clouds, and there was no way to tell how long it had been. Luckily, Tidus had gotten used to lots of walking throughout their journey. Lots and lots of walking.
A particularly loud crash of lightning sounded, lighting up the dark sky and drawing a little squeak from Rikku. The light glinted off the windows of a travel agency that stood nearby on the soaked pathway.
"This storm is really going at it." Tidus stopped, tilting his head back to look at the gloomy skies above. "I guess it must storm here a lot, especially if they had to build all those towers to keep the lightning away from travelers."
"Actually, this storm never stops," Lulu said, pausing as well. The whole group came to a halt.
"Yeah." Wakka joined in. "That's why they call this place the Thunder Plains."
"Oh." Tidus nodded, processing this new information. A storm that never stops, huh? I guess it's no weirder than most things in Spira.
Two more bolts of lightning dropped from the heavens, striking a tower just adjacent to the travelers, near the inn.
"Whoa-ho-ho!" Wakka let out boisterous laugh. "That was a close one!"
Lulu rounded on him, glaring sharply. "Stop kidding around," she commanded.
Wakka drooped. "Yes, ma'am…"
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh…" a bout of nervous laughter drew the company's attention. Everyone turned around to face Rikku, who had lagged behind. She wrapped her arms around herself, huddled together as though she were cold.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Wakka asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
"Heh heh heh heh…" Another burst of laughter seeped from Rikku.
"'Heh heh heh heh…'" Tidus copied. "You're giving me the creeps!"
Another bolt of lightning crashed, and Rikku dropped to the ground. For a moment, she just knelt there, then skittered forward like a wild animal. She sprang forward and wrapped her arms around Tidus' legs.
"Hey, whoa!" Tidus fought to keep his balance under this sudden impact.
"I wanna go home!" Rikku cried, sounding truly terrified. "I hate lightning! I hate thunder!"
Tidus hadn't really taken Rikku's fear of lightning seriously until that moment. Yowch, I guess she really is afraid.
"Let's go rest over there!" Rikku nodded towards the roadside inn, her voice quivering, "Please?"
"This storm never stops," Auron said stonily, glaring down at Rikku. "Better to cross quickly."
"I know, but…" Rikku drooped, staring at the muddy ground for a few moments before continuing. "Just for a little while?"
Tidus took a step back, extracting himself from Rikku's grip. The Al Bhed girl climbed warily back to her feet, hugging herself. She had her eyes closed and didn't bother to brush off the mud that clung to her legs and arms.
"Ah, well?" Tidus' turned to Auron. "What now?"
Auron let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head. He made a quick motion for the others to follow, then started off. Everyone followed Auron, except Rikku. She stood there, quivering. Rainwater soaked her hair, plastering it to the sides of her face, and wet grass and mud stuck to her arms and legs. She looked as though she were going to cry.
"Pretty please?" Rikku begged, calling after the group. "Just for a few minutes?"
Tidus did his best to ignore her like the others.
"I'm scared of lightning!" Rikku continued to plead, not moving from the spot. "Let's rest, please? Pretty please? I'm too young to die!"
Auron paused for a moment, then kept walking. Tidus glanced back, worried that he was actually planning on leaving Rikku behind.
"You're mean… cruel!" Rikku slumped down to her knees on the soaked pathway. "Your moms would be ashamed of you! Are you having fun doing this to me?"
Auron came to a halt, not looking pleased.
"Fine," he said with a heavy sigh. "We rest. She's worse than the storm."

Tidus would never have admitted it, but he was glad to get out of the rain. As a blitzball player, he didn't mind water, but there was something about constantly dripping that was starting to annoy him. The bright lights inside the travel agency were also a welcome change after the dark and gloomy skies of the Thunder Plains.
Yuna turned back to the others.
"I'm… a little tired," she said tentatively. She walked up to the table and addressed the innkeeper. "Do you have a room available?"
"Ah, Lady Summoner." The innkeeper gave a slight bow and gestured to a doorway leading farther in. "Yes, just over that way."
"Thank you," Yuna replied quietly, then headed for the hall.
"Yuna?" Wakka called after her, but she didn't hear.
Lulu shook her head. "That's not like her."

The party dispersed around the inn's reception room, waiting for Yuna. Outside, the storm raged as strong as ever, thunder bolts renting the air every few minutes. In one corner, Tidus spotted Shelinda, the acolyte, reading some kind of book. Hey, she was in Guadosalam too, right?
Tidus approached her, and she looked up from her reading.
"Ah, good day!" she called brightly. She's in a good mood.
"Hi there," Tidus replied.
Shelinda closed her book and turned to Tidus.
"Is it true?" she asked. "I heard that Maester Seymour and Lady Yuna are to be wed!" A wide smile took over her face. "It's such great news! I have to tell everyone!"
Tidus frowned. Just the thought of Yuna and Seymour getting married made him sick.
"Where'd you hear that?" he asked, trying not to sound too antagonistic.
"From the Guado," Shelinda answered. "They were all very excited!"
"Eh, I'm afraid you heard a little wrong," Tidus said tentatively. "Yuna's gonna turn him down."
"Oh…." Shelinda's smile faded. "Really?"
"Yep! No wedding!" Tidus folded his hands behind his head.
"I see…" Shelinda let out a sigh, looking very put down. "That's unfortunate. Well, I'm sure people would have rejoiced all over Spira." Shelinda opened her book somberly and returned to her reading. For the first time, Tidus could see how Yuna had found it in her to consider Seymour's proposal. Tidus didn't want her to accept, not by any stretch of the imagination, and he still didn't think it would be right, but he could see how she could consider it a possibility. Yuna had been thinking of all the people like Shelinda who would have rejoiced for a change. But we're going to beat Sin. That will make everyone happy, just like Yuna wants. She doesn't need to marry a guy she doesn't even like, because we're going to beat Sin.

Tidus found Rikku crouching against the wall beside a plant, covering her head with her hands. Lulu stood a little ways off, pointedly ignoring the cowering Al Bhed girl. Another crash of thunder sounded, and Rikku let out a squeak.
"Are you that scared?" Tidus asked, raising one eyebrow.
Rikku nodded pitifully. "When I was little, a fiend attacked me while I was swimming at the beach. My brother tried to beat it back with a spell." Another lightning strike cut Rikku off, and she let out another squeal. She let out a breath and continued.
"But he missed and hit me instead! It was a thunder spell- Bzzzzzt!" Rikku waved her hands through the air for emphasis.
"Ouch!" Tidus said, trying to be sympathetic.
Rikku swallowed and looked down at the floor. "I've been scared of lightning ever since."
"But…" Lulu came over and joined the conversation. "It can be effective. Lightning is effective against marine fiends."
Rikku looked up at the mage. "My brother said that, too."
Lulu looked thoughtful. "Perhaps you could learn some spells, too."
Lightning hit somewhere nearby, and Rikku let out a scream and covered her ears.
"Hmm…" Lulu sighed. "Maybe later."

Tidus left Rikku and Lulu and leaned back against a wall, waiting for Yuna. It is nice to stop for a moment, but Auron is right. We shouldn't dally too long.
A door leading to the back storage swung open, and a tall man with dark skin and long yellow-blond hair walked out. Tidus recognized him as Rin, the owner of the Travel Agency on the Mi'ihen Highroad.
"Nice to see you again," Rin greeted Tidus, the Al Bhed accent very potent in his voice. "Welcome to the Rin Travel Agency." Out of the corner of his eye Rin noticed Rikku crouching by the plant and glanced over towards her.
"Oh?" he said. Tidus could tell that he recognized her. Rikku looked up and raised finger to her lips, and urgent look on her face. Rin gave her a slight nod in reply. I guess they're both Al Bhed. Does Rikku know him?
Rin turned back to Tidus and pointed over at Auron. "I wonder… Would that be Sir Auron, by any chance?"
"Yeah!" Tidus replied with a nod. "That's him."
"As I thought." Rin nodded slowly. "I've been wondering since I saw him at the Mi'ihen Highroad branch." Rin left Tidus and approached Auron.
"Sir Auron!" Rin called out. "I wonder if you remember me? Ten years ago, at the beginning of Lord Braska's Calm?"
Auron turned to face Rin, keeping his face neutral. "Yes," he replied. "I should thank you."
"Not at all." Rin shook his head. "I could not leave a wounded man to die. However, I was surprised when I saw you gone the next morning, with that wound. An ordinary man would not have been able to walk."
Auron was frozen for a moment before answering. "I'd rather… drop that subject, Rin." Auron turned away quickly.
"As you wish," Rin replied, giving a slight bow to Auron's turned back. Tidus ground his teeth, not at all guilty about eavesdropping. When I saw Auron in Luca, all I wanted was for him to tell me why I was here. I never wondered why he was here. But with what Seymour said, all the little hints Auron's been dropping, and now this… He's hiding something. I don't want to believe it, but there is something Auron is not telling me.
Tidus had known Auron since he was seven years old. He saw the older man as a mentor, almost like an uncle. He'd always been mysterious, but Tidus had considered that as just part of Auron. He didn't want to think that Auron really had dark secrets, that he really was hiding something from the rest of them…

After a bit, Tidus left his position at the wall and walked back over to Rikku. She seemed to have calmed down a little. Instead of cowering with her head in her hands she sat under the plant, wincing whenever lightning struck.
"You okay now?" Tidus asked her. "We'll probably be leaving soon."
Rikku let out a long sigh. "I know, I know."
"So." Tidus crouched down to get eye level with Rikku. "Do you know that Rin guy?"
"Uh-huh," Rikku nodded. "He's an Al Bhed, too, so he spends a lot of time at Home."
"Home?" Tidus frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, Home is the secret Al Bhed city," Rikku replied, keeping her voice low.
"Secret city?" Tidus tried to keep quiet as well. "And it's just called Home? Couldn't you come up with anything more creative than that?"
Rikku scowled at him and didn't even blink as lightning hit nearby.
"Yeah, forget it," Tidus sighed. "But, you actually know Rin? He seems like a pretty important guy."
Rikku leaned over to Tidus and whispered. "Okay don't tell anyone, but my dad's Cid, the leader of the Al Bhed people. I know all kinds of important people."
"Wait. Cid?" Tidus gasped. "Yuna said that her uncle's name was… so, are you-"
"Yeah, I'm Yunie's cousin," Rikku replied, not sounding surprised. "I know that. Yuna knows it, too. That's partly why she made me her guardian."
"Yeesh," Tidus sighed, standing back up. "No one tells me these things."
"Yeah, well, don't say anything, alright?" Rikku pleaded.
"Don't worry," Tidus chuckled. "My lips are sealed." The last thing we need is Wakka finding out that either Rikku or Yuna are Al Bhed.

Tidus left Rikku and strolled down the hallway, watching lighting dance through the skies out the window. He tried to focus on that flashing light and nothing else. He and his friends were going on a journey to save the world. That itself was complex enough without everything else: Seymour's proposal, Auron's secrets, even Rikku and Yuna hiding their heritage from Wakka. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
A voice broke through Tidus' thoughts. He couldn't make out the words, but the voice of an old man was coming from behind one of the doors. Tidus stopped and listened for moment. That's coming from Yuna's room, isn't it?
His curiosity peaked, Tidus turned to the door. He bent over and pressed his ear to the door, straining to make out the words. He didn't recognize the voice. Who's in there?
Tidus frowned and leaned harder. I still can't hear…
Apparently, Yuna's door wasn't locked. Tidus leaned a bit too heavily on the door and it swung open, sending Tidus sprawling on the floor. He sat up in a daze, catching sigh of a sphere resting on the desk where Yuna sat, playing the recording within. Yuna quickly switched it off, staring at Tidus, looking just as dazed as he was.
"Y-Yes?" she stammered uncomfortably.

"I… well… It's nothing, really. I… I just, uh…" Tidus quickly stood up, trying to think of something to say.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come in," Tidus rubbed the back of his head nervously. He started to leave but turned back. He had to know what was on that sphere recording. The face had looked familiar…
"H-Hey!" Tidus called to Yuna, who had stood up. "Wasn't that that Jyscal Guado guy?"
"Oh!" Yuna gave a quick nod. "Ah… The sphere is his will…" Yuna looked down at the small object for a moment. "It says, "Take care of my son."
"Huh," Tidus frowned. "His son…? Seymour?"
Yuna nodded solemnly.
An image materialized in Tidus' mind, a picture of Seymour, wearing that self-assured smile of his, lording over everyone.
Tidus clasped his hands behind his head. "Well, I know one way to take care of him."
Yuna looked down at the ground. Something was wrong with her. She looked almost… afraid.
"I'm sorry," Yuna said, suddenly dashing out the exit. Tidus stared after her for a few moments, wondering what was wrong. What's going on here?
The sphere was still lying alluringly on the desk, alone and unguarded. It was right there! What would be the harm in taking a quick peak at Maester Jyscal's will?
Tidus edged towards the sphere, making sure to keep quiet even though no one was there to stop him. He almost had it when he heard footsteps. Uh-oh, that's not good. Tidus grabbed the sphere but didn't have time to turn it on before Wakka strolled through the doorway.
"What do you think you're up to?" Wakka asked, sweeping Tidus into a headlock. Tidus, stuck under Wakka's arm, struggled to get enough air to explain himself.
"Yuna… Yuna was acting funny, s-so…" Tidus stammered, but Wakka cut him off.
"Yeah, yeah!" the bigger man said. "She'll tell us when she's ready, so hold your chocobos till then, ya?"
"Alright! Alright! Alright!" Tidus consented. Anything to be able to breathe again!
Wakka released him. Tidus bent over and rested his hands on his knees, sucking in air. Wakka let out a chuckle and headed back out the door. Tidus let out a sigh. This is getting more complicated by the moment. What is going on?

Tidus strolled back into the lobby, trying his best to look nonchalant. Auron, Lulu, Wakka, and Yuna were standing by the door, all ready to leave. Rikku stood by the plant she'd been hiding underneath, staring wide-eyed out the window.
"It's not stopping, is it?" Rikku asked, her face falling.
Auron scoffed. "Don't tell me you were hoping it would."
Rikku glanced over at Auron with a scowl. She was just about to speak when lightning struck, drawing another squeal from her.
"Fine." Auron turned his back and threw the door open. "Stay here."
"Alright, alright!" Rikku ran over to join the group, then addressed Auron's turned back. "But you didn't have to say it like that, you know!"
Auron ignored her and started out the door.
"You could be more comforting or something!" Rikku continued to scold the red-cloaked man. "You know, try to cheer me up? You just don't get me at all, do you?"
Lulu started down the path after Auron, and the rest followed. Tidus glanced back at Rikku, who stood in the doorway looking very ruffled.
"Hey!" she shouted at the departing group. "Are you listening?!" A loud clap of thunder cut off Rikku's shouts. She cringed, then threw a defiant glare at the sky.
"I'm not scared, you hear?!" she shouted up into the heavens, hands cupped around her mouth. With that, she dashed from the doorway and caught up with the group.
"Don't worry, Rikku!" Tidus said cheerily as she joined them. "Just stick with us. Kimahri's the tallest, so if anyone gets struck by lightning, it'll be him."
Kimahri glanced back over his shoulder but said nothing.