A/N: Okay, revisions are still being made and it's time for this chapter to get a facelift. As I revise this, I'll hopefully remove all spelling and grammatical errors, as well as misplaced commas.(Edited November 29, 2005)
As I did last chapter, I would like to thank all of my reviewers by name. It is because of you guys that I continue to write this fanfic. Reviews boost what little ego I have, and make me happy. Thanks guys!
Special thanks to: Ffpanda, SavannahX, Dragon-Charmer16, ihatefish, Litwolf689, ChloeBrunetteRocker1, and Damson.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X. If I did I would keep the game the same except for one thing: Tidus wouldn't have left Yuna!
Angel Wings
III. Journey Begins
"Yuna, it's time to wake up." Lulu's voice broke through Yuna's dream, which had been pleasant. She had dreamt of floating in sparkling water, hands linked with Tidus', his lips pressing against hers; his smile making her heart beat faster…
Yuna sat up silently, blinking her eyes to dispel the sleep lingering and clouding her mind. She smiled at Lulu nervously, her hands unconsciously clasping together.
"Are you ready? Kimahri and Wakka are waiting for us outside." Yuna nodded and stood, her hands smoothing her hair and flattening her Summoner's outfit. She followed Lulu down the stairs and outside, finding Besaid alive and buzzing with activity despite the sun only just beginning to rise.
"Lady Yuna!" A crowd of people chanted, bowing and performing the Prayer of Yevon. Yuna couldn't stop her cheeks from coloring, she felt she would never get used to all the attention. Because she was a Summoner everyone treated her like a God and put her needs above his or her own, which Yuna felt was wrong; she was no better than anyone else in Spira.
"Hey, sleepy head!" Wakka's cheerful voice startled Yuna, and she grinned.
"Sorry, Wakka, I had a long night!"
"Ah, it's okay, ya? Take all the time you need!" Wakka said seriously.
"We leave as soon as Tidus joins us." Lulu stated, stopping beside Wakka and nodding at something he said to her. Yuna stood beside Kimahri, grateful for the Ronso's silent nature since she didn't feel like talking.
Though the Fayth had brought her back to the beginning of her Pilgrimage, she now had the double load of not only finding a way to keep Tidus from leaving her, but also defeating Sin, again. Yuna felt confident she could succeed at both missions, but doing so would take all the strength and perseverance she possessed.
Yet having knowledge of her Pilgrimage would come in hand, and hopefully she could get to know Tidus better, but…. Yuna mentally shook her head; now wasn't the time to dwell on dark matters. And besides, Tidus was walking towards their small group, and Yuna could feel her heart beating just from seeing charismatic swordsman.
'He looks tired,' Yuna thought, concerned. 'I hope he hasn't been worrying about me. But wait, it's too early. He doesn't know that I'm supposed to die, so I wonder what's bothering him? I'll have to find out.'
"Yo, bruddah, over here!" Wakka called, waving his arms wildly and practically jumping up and down, trying to get Tidus to notice him. He would have continued making a spectacle, too, if Lulu hadn't given Wakka her patented death glare.
"Stop it, Wakka," Lulu hissed, "You're making a fool out of yourself. Guardians don't make nuisances out of themselves, they are calm and collected."
Wakka's mouth fell open in shock and Yuna giggled, covering her lips and looking at her Guardian innocently. Wakka smiled and laughed too, but stopped when Tidus neared him. Yuna smiled at Tidus shyly before she moved back to where Kimahri stood.
"Tidus," Wakka muttered, rubbing his arm nervously. "I wanted to give this to you." Tidus' eyes widened in awe as he gazed at the sword Wakka pressed into his hands. "This used to belong to Chappu, so take care of it, ya?"
Tidus nodded and swung Brotherhood experimentally before he fell into step behind Wakka. It was time; they were leaving Besaid village and starting her quest for the Final Aeon.
$$&&$$#
Yuna watched as Wakka and Kimahri walked Tidus through his first battle. "This," Wakka stated, pointing to the bird beast, "Is a Condor. It's a flying fiend. It's my specialty, so leave that to me." Wakka finished his sentence by throwing his Blitzball at the Condor, and it dissolved into a cloud of sparkling pyreflies.
Before Wakka could speak, Tidus yelled, "Leave this one to me!" as he leapt foreword and slashed a Dingo, the brown fiend howling as it fell to the ground dead, before it, too, disappeared in a shower of flickering pyreflies.
"Good job!" Yuna said happily, clasping her hands together, impressed. Tidus turned and flashed her a smile, and Yuna found herself beaming back at the young man.
Even now, at the beginning of their journey, Tidus was strong and sure of himself. And he was so energetic and hyper, that it caught her attention. She was unsure how she had managed to resist the alluring man for as long as she did.
"Look out!" Wakka cried as the only remaining fiend, a Water Flan, cast water on Tidus, sending the young man flying backwards and onto his back.
"Ohh!" Yuna cried, worried. 'What if Tidus is injured? He's not as strong as he will be by the end of my Pilgrimage, he could get seriously wounded. I don't know what I'd do if he died…' Yuna thought, close to tears.
Kimahri stepped back, and Yuna dashed to where her Guardian had stood previously, her Rod of Wisdom appearing in her outstretched hand, her staff's weight soothing her jangled nerves.
Yuna closed her eyes and found her magick deep inside her; its power cool, easing her fear even more. Yuna raised her staff in the air, and waved it over Tidus, her Cure spell healing Tidus' minor wounds, and the young Blitzer groaned and staggered to his feet.
"What happened?" Tidus asked dazed.
"You were attacked by this fiend," Wakka snickered, pointing to the gelatinous blue blob. "You nearly gave Yuna a heart attack."
Tidus blushed and looked at Yuna sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
Yuna smiled and lowered her staff, her face still pale. "It's okay. Just don't do it again."
Before Tidus could answer, Wakka switched with Lulu who was calm and focused and unaffected by Tidus' plight. The Mage's Booster Cactuar twirled in the dirt as Lulu cast Thunder, defeating the remaining fiend.
"Wooh, that was close!" Wakka said, dropping to the ground and wiping his brow with his arm.
"Tidus hit. Yuna save Tidus. Kimahri relieved." The Ronso stated simply, arms crossed, his tail twitching.
"Ah, sorry about that, guys," Tidus laughed, rubbing his neck with his gloved hands.
Lulu glared at the Blitzer, eyes narrowed. "Over confidence helps no one. Do well to remember that."
Wakka laughed weakly and did his best to take the sting from Lulu's reproof. "Ah, it's okay, bruddah, that's why we have our Summoner. She's handy in tight spots."
"You should have brought me in, Wakka, a fiend needlessly attacked us. I could have easily defeated the Water Flan with no trouble whatsoever." Lulu chastised, her red eyes shooting daggers at Wakka.
Yuna laughed and leaned against Tidus, reveling in his warmth. 'And thank Yevon he wasn't hurt badly. But that's my Tidus, always giving me a scare.'
Yuna had forgotten the perils of her early Pilgrimage. Granted, her journey had never been simple, or a walk in the park, but she already missed her Cousin's grenades and Sir Auron's piercing swords.
Kimahri was a big help, too, but with their inferior weapons and an increased fiend population, by the time their small party made it to the first camp site, both Wakka and Tidus were exhausted, Lulu was out of magick, and Yuna was breathless and sore from using so many healing spells.
'That's odd; it seems this time around the fiends we're facing are more powerful. I wonder, if…maybe my knowledge of my Pilgrimage somehow changed the enemies we are destined to face?'
"Yuna!" Tidus' voice broke Yuna from her confused thoughts and the young Summoner perked up. "Hey, where are we going?" Tidus asked, looking around the small campsite as he kneeled beside her.
"We are setting out for the first stop on my Pilgrimage." Yuna whispered, moving closer to Tidus. The Blitzer nodded, his eyes on her face, hanging onto her every word. "We will take a ship to Kilika, where we will travel to the next Temple."
"Wakka told me that you get a new Aeon at every temple. Does that mean there are more powerful Aeons than the one you already have?"
Yuna nodded and turned so that she was facing Tidus' handsome face. She felt nervous and breathless, Tidus' presence even now affecting her deeply. "Yes. I must visit every temple so that I can gain new Aeons. And, finally, I will gain the Final Aeon and defeat Sin."
Yuna swayed, exhaustion finally catching up with her as the adrenaline in her body faded. The last thing Yuna heard before she passed out was Tidus crying out in alarm, and than she felt Tidus's warm body against hers, and she knew no more.
$$&&$$#
Yuna's eyes fluttered open and she found her Guardians and Tidus already awake and talking amongst themselves. Only Kimahri, her most loyal Guardian stood by her side, though Yuna caught Tidus staring at her.
"Yuna awake. Kimahri glad." Yuna yawned and accepted Kimahri's paw as the Ronso pulled her to her feet. Her friends gathered around her, Lulu peering into her eyes and feeling her forehead.
"I'm all right, Lulu," Yuna assured the Black Mage, gently removing Lulu's hand from her forehead. "I just overexerted myself. I'm not used to so much fighting."
"Yeah!" Tidus exclaimed, instantly coming to her defense. "Yuna's a healer, right? So, just leave all the hard work to us Guardians!"
Lulu groaned. "You're not a Guardian yet, remember?"
Tidus' shoulders dropped and his face fell. "Oh yeah."
&()$$
They were almost at the dock, just one more hill to descend, and then they were on the beach, and the ship. They walked in comfortable silence, Yuna staying beside Kimahri, Wakka and Lulu walking together, and Tidus bringing up the rear, lost in thought.
Yuna was grateful, though, that the battles they encountered, while challenging, were nothing that her Guardians couldn't handle, though Yuna did find herself healing Tidus often.
'My brave warrior is rusty.' Yuna thought smiling at Tidus affectionately.
"Yuna, look out!" Tidus cried suddenly, rushing foreword and diving onto Yuna, bringing her to the ground and covering her body with his. Yuna heard Tidus grunt in pain, and a rush of air blew over her, nearly dislodging Tidus' body.
"Oh Shoopuff," Wakka cursed. "It's a Garuda!"
Tidus helped Yuna to her feet, and Yuna paled. This was not good, not good at all. She gripped her staff in her hands and moved closer to Tidus, her eyes riveted on the massive flying fiend, its gigantic wings beating in the air, its beady eyes fixed on their party.
'I know we can defeat this,' Yuna thought as she moved foreword, Wakka and Tidus beside her, 'its just going to take some teamwork.'
"We can do this!" Yuna shouted as she healed Tidus. "I'll Summon Valefor!"
"Not yet!" Lulu called from behind her, causing Yuna to start in surprise. "Let us Guardians weaken it first, Yuna! If we loose Valefor and this fiend is not defeated than we're in trouble!"
Yuna nodded, understanding what Lulu was trying to say. Her friend was right. Valefor was their strongest ally as of right now, at least until she gained Ifrit, and Sir Auron showed up. It would not do them any good if she Summoned Valefor too soon.
Tidus began with Cheer, raising their defense, and Yuna switched with Lulu, who immediately cast Thunder on the fiend. The Garuda shrugged the attack off, unfazed. It countered Wakka's attack with Gust.
The battle was ugly. Yuna found herself switching with her Guardians often, running back and forth casting Cure. The main problem was that Lulu kept getting killed. The giant bird would focus solely on the Black Mage and kill Lulu before the woman could cast Thunder.
Tidus did his best to attack often, but he had trouble hitting the fiend. Finally becoming frustrated, Tidus switched with Kimahri, the massive Ronso having better aim and strength than he.
Lulu managed one more Thunder before she called Yuna in. "We need Valefor now, Yuna! Show us what you can do!"
Yuna nodded, her eyes closing as she connected with Valefor, calling upon the powerful Aeon. Yuna spread her arms and her body became surrounded by a massive whirlwind. At her side beams of light shot into the air and twirled together to form a vortex which Valefor traveled through before landing next to its Summoner.
Yuna patted Valefor's beak before she fixed her eyes on the fiend that threatened her friends. "Please. Help us!"
Valefor held its own against the powerful fiend, alternating between Sonic Wings and Thunder, the attacks slowly eating away the Garuda's health. Valefor finished off the fiend with its powerful Overdrive Energy Ray.
Yuna and her Guardians let out a collective sigh of relief as the fiend vanished in a cloud of pyreflies. Yuna dismissed her Aeon with a bow and staggered over to her exhausted friends.
"I'd forgotten how much Summoning an Aeon costs me," Yuna sighed, wiping her sweaty forehead.
Lulu shot Yuna a confused look, and Yuna blushed. 'Oops, I need to be more careful. My Guardians cannot suspect anything.'
"Being a Guardian is hard work!" Tidus complained, wiping Brotherhood in the dirt and collapsed next to Lulu and Yuna who were sitting in the dirt.
"At least I got a better weapon." Lulu said, grinning as she picked up her new Moomba, a Blinding Cait Sith.
Yuna sighed and shouldered her staff, her eyes drifting to the bottom of the hill they had been traveling down. "We had better get moving. We don't want to miss the ship."
Lulu and Wakka nodded, the two Guardians moving instantly, Kimahri close behind. Yuna held her hand out to Tidus, who helped her to her feet. Tidus released her hand as soon as she was standing, and Yuna couldn't stop herself from stepping towards Tidus, wanting to feel his cool hand in hers.
Out of nowhere another Garuda attacked, its massive wings knocking Yuna down before she could react. Tidus reached for his sword, but the fiend was on him in an instant, sending the young man over the mountain's edge. Yuna could only watch in horror as her love fell, his body fading from view in seconds.
End of Chapter
A/N: I couldn't remember what attacks Garuda had, so I just made one up. I did try to find its attacks online, and in the back of the FFX strategy guide, but to no avail.
I'm not familiar with Kimahri's weapons, so I'm not sure if he'd have been able to hit the Garuda, but just for the purpose of this chapter, he can. I've never been very fond of Kimahri or Wakka, in fact I HATE Wakka, so as this fanfic progresses I'll more than likely have Wakka not fight, though Kimahri will probably get some action.
When I played Final Fantasy X my main characters were Tidus, Auron, Lulu(My three main fighters), with Lulu switching out for Yuna to Summon and heal, and Rikku for back up. During boss fights I actually had to devise my own strategies because I refused to use Wakka and Kimahri(IE, when Wakka was supposed to hit a flying fiend I had Lulu use magick, or Rikku use gernades…)Because of this if I have Wakka and Kimahri fighting and something is off, that's why.
All set with this chapter? Than on to chapter four!
Kristen