Holy cow, guys, you left me eleven reviews for that last chapter!
Thanks a bunch. Glad to know you all care so much. This chapter deals with Rikku's P.O.V., as you all know, so here it is.
By the way, has anyone ever had gummy candy corn before? If you haven't….I suggest you be very careful if you find some. They're dangerously addictive.
Oh, and a random fact for you all: the guy who does Wakka's voice-over in the game is known as John DiMaggio, and he also does the voice of Bender from Futurama!!!!! Sorry, thought that was exciting, cause when I played the game recently I was noticing a lot more similarities between the two….
Erm…okay, moving on….
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Rikku
Hmm….what's worse? Being struck by lightning, or freezing to death?
I think the first one's worse…though the second one comes pretty close.
Once we were in Macalania, of course I was ecstatic. What girl wouldn't be?
"YAAAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! WE'RE OUTTA THERE!!!!!!!!"
I was so happy, in fact, that I decided it would be a good idea to twirl around with Yuna, like we used to when we were little, innocent, and not waiting on one of us to die. She enjoyed it….I know it. Though I think Tidus over there was a bit jealous at first. HA! You want to hold her hand, you gotta EARN it, blondie! Operation Love Machina, Phase One is in action.
I felt the urge to rub it in Red's face.
Poking him in his rather hard armor, I squeaked, "HA, HA, NO MOR LIGHTNING!" I ignored the death glare he gave me, and instead jumped out of the way and felt giddy enough to skip. And really, that was the only interesting part of the days we spent in the woods….other than of course, the butterflies, the Jelly Death, and the little close encounter with doom.
The first was fun. Tidus got wicked obsessed with these glowing blue butterflies…like, really obsessed. So obsessed, he managed to get all of us to follow the said obsession and help him catch 'em. We got some good items, but there was a random prize we could have gotten if we had managed to get all seven butterflies before the end. Tidus and I wanted to continue, but Auron stopped us. Stupid Red…he didn't want to do anything fun. He was the one who slowed us down. What a meanie. And we had it going so well too…GRRRRR…
Jelly Death had been a doozy. It's stupid elemental attacks pissed me off, cause we had no idea when it would change. Though, thanks to Lulu's amazing skills, we found a pattern and the thing became ridiculously easy. Gems all the way, baby.
Ahem…the third, the encounter with doom….not as much fun. It all started when I was cold, and for bloody hell's sake, man, it's FREEZING up here! Snow everywhere, winds blowing at like a hundred miles an hour, and a frozen lake? You tell me that's not cold with a straight face. I was so cold, I could have used my hair strands as chopsticks.
I was shivering, and can you blame me for just letting out my frustration a little bit? I had a right to, you know?! And Yevon-forbid, should YUNA have any issues with staying out here, I KNOW no one would complain. It's just cause I'm the freaking youngest one, that's all! Stupid….meanies…jerks….GAH. Anyways, Yuna was cold too, and to my utter happiness Tidus put his arm around her comfortingly. I, however, lacking in the department of gentlmen, wanted to stop at the nearest Travel Agency again. Mr. Dead Red had a problem with that.
"Aww…it's cold!!" I crooned.
"No surprises there." He says, sounding totally mean and nasty.
"Shut up, you meanie." I glared at him, and he glared back at me. No way, mister, you're not getting the win that easily….HA! Staring contest!!!!!!!!...
……come on, Rikku….hold out a bit longer…..
I can't. He looks way too handsome, and unless I'm going to jump on him I'd better look away. I turn my head away, muttering curses in Al Bhed. Why does his eye have to do that to me all the time?
Oh, and I've admitted something to myself. Auron…is….cute. He is. No denying it. He's handsome, very ruggedly handsome, and I do have the occasional thought of him without his shirt on. But, THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT HE'S MORE THAN TWICE YOUR AGE, RIKKU!!!! Oh shut up, you. Really. You don't even know how old he is!
Damn…better make sure to ask him that soon. But anyways.
"I used to live in the desert, for your information, so these clothes were perfect for that kind of weath-" Oh CRED….Hela uha, Rikku.
"You used to live in the desert?" Wakka asks, suddenly turning my fear into near-hysteria.
"Uh…heh heh heh…well, just near the desert…not completely in it, you know….hey look! A butterfly!" I pointed spontaneously to a random area of a tree.
They all look and groan, when Blondie puts his head up at the mention of the word and begins to search frantically for the butterfly. PHEW! Good save….
And we end up staying at the Agency. Where we are right now, actually.
Everyone is in their respective places. Tidus was running around as usual, talking to that hyperactively insane lover of chocobos, Clasko. Lulu and Wakka were in one corner, but I avoided them. Lulu was in a pissy mood, I could tell. Yuna was thinking of something hard, sitting down on a couch. Kimhari was right behind her, darting his eyes sharply this way and that. I decide to go to him first.
"Hey, Kimhari." I say, popping next to him and craning my neck to let my eyes stare at his face. He glances at me through the corner of his eyes, and nods a response. "Whatcha doin'?" I ask, sounding more inquisitive than I felt.
"Kimhari guard Yuna." He said. Oh. Well. Couldn't tell that from the way he was standing, now could I?
"Uhhh…okay…well, what do you think I should do? I'm bored." I say, sighing loudly.
The Ronso glances at me once more, though this time there's a slight spark in his eyes. "Kimhari think Rikku should talk to Auron."
I'm taken aback. What? Does he WANT me to die? Then again…Ronso vs. Handsome Dead Legendary Guardian…eh. What do I have to lose?
I sigh and nod. "Mkay. Bye." He grunts in response and I begin to walk over to Dead Dude, who is standing by himself near the door, sinking far into his cowl and thinking deeply. I suddenly have an idea.
"So…" I sneak a look around me slowly, making sure there's no one listening in, "anything new on the dead scene?" I ask.
He shifts, looking slightly agitated. "No." Cryptic. Short. To the point. What else is new?
I pout, angry. "Aww…come on, don't you get some kind of reception or something? A sixth sense? Being Unsent, and all?" Hey, it could happen!
"No." Cryptic. Short. To the point. ARGH!
I look at him dully, and decide that if he wasn't going to talk, then I was. I'm gonna rant about the one thing on my mind right now. And that was….Seymour.
"Y'know…I'm really ticked off. Seymour has no damn right to come in now, when Yunie's going to die, and try to get her to marry him. What, does he want more confusion for her? Vilg, he's a selfish rat! I HATE HIM!" I didn't realize the loudness of my voice until the clerk turned her eyes on me suddenly, with a slight annoyance. I lowered my eyes slowly, blushing and reciting apologies in my head. Then I notice that Auron hasn't said anything, he's just been staring at me. Oh crap, hope he doesn't disagree…goddammit, Rikku, why do you have to say stuff like that without thinking?
I shift uncomfortably underneath his russet glare. "I mean…doncha think he's going a little too far with this?" I say, sounding meek.
"I don't care what he wants, as long as Yuna is able to continue her pilgrimage." His words stop me in my tracks.
…What? He wants her to continue? He doesn't CARE?
His words hurt me. It means he doesn't care about my cousin, but only for his motives…which no one knew but himself. He didn't care that Seymour seemed like a manipulative jerk, or that Yunie and Tidus have something going on. He doesn't care that Yuna's going to die, her being the daughter of his best friend. He doesn't care that I care. He cares only for himself, in all his dead glory. He cares only for so much that will get him to the Farplane. To get away from annoying little brats like me. I don't realize I'm almost ready to cry until the tears threaten to fall. But…no. He won't see me cry. Not this time. Yuna is not going to marry that jerk. I won't let her. And if this meanie won't help me, then I don't give a dam. I suck it up and stand up to my full height…which doesn't really help, but it made me feel better.
" Sorry you feel that way. Guess we can't wait for Yuna to die, can we?" I remark, and even I'm surprised by the scorn and repulsion evident in my voice. I turn on my heel and walk away. Slowly. Why isn't he stopping me…?
Tidus walks in then, and everyone is ready to go. Time to forget about certain russet-eyed, red-coated meanies, Rikku. Move on. I walk outside with the others, and watch as Yuna gets taken away by Dumbell…I mean, Tromell.
"Well...we must follow Guado tradition. I'll have to ask you to wait here a little while longer. I'll send someone to escort you." Somehow, I doubt that a lot…he seems way too sketchy and aloof for it to be that easy.
Yuna turns around and says, "I..." She sounds really kind of….scared. Oh, Yunie…
"We're all with you. Do as you will." I glance up at Auron in some surprise. I can't believe he said that….
……..it doesn't change anything.
He mutters something to Tidus, and then Tidus runs up and whistles at Yuna. She turns around and smiles at him, shouting, "Yessir!" At the top of her voice. I don't get it-
OH MY GOD, NO!
"Oh no!" I scream, panic flooding my voice. I hear Wakka shout, "Al Bhed!" And I start muttering curses to myself as I run towards my brethren.
Auron's following me.
I quickly run in front of my cousin, facing of one of the men on the snow-sliders (A/N: Uh…what are you talking about…I did not totally make that up…). I stare into his eyes, covered by goggles, willing him to see my reasons. He looks…familiar…the shape of his nose, the slight frown upon his lips…I-I know him…wait…it's Keyakku! Oh god…what are you doing here?! I wanted to scream.
Auron brushes up next to me, and I am unable to comprehend anything. Focus…you have to fight 'em, Rikku, no other choice. I can take one…Lulu can take one…Auron and Tidus and Wakka and Kimhari can take a few more…I think that should do it…don't listen to the memories, Rikku…Keyakku doesn't understand…
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Six Years Ago
A girl with sun-kissed blonde hair sprinted on the white, searing hot sands of Bikanel. Her little skirt fluttered in the light, grainy winds, her eyes filled with determination and resolve. Rikku was looking for someone. Her voice carried out far over the dunes.
"KEEEEYYYYAAAKKKUUUUU!!!!" She called.
A boy slightly older than she stepped out from one such dune, standing tall and attempting to make himself look bigger than he was. "Oayr? Fryd tu oui fyhd?"
"Vydran cyet oui cruimt lusa rusa huf." Rikku responded haughtily, folding her arms.
"E lyh'd. E dumt oui, E's uh y secceuh du cyja y cissuhan." Keyakku replied, shaking his head at her absolute stupidity.
"Pid...fyed, fru'c dra...dra...cissuhan...oui'na dnoehk du cyja?" She narrowed her eyes, now curious. She knew everyone in Home, so who was this new person?
"Hud dammehk." The boy sighed, knowing she would be too young to hold his heavy burden. She hmphed and was about to turn her back when a new question struck her.
"Fro tu oui ryja du tu ed?" She posed.
"Palyica." The boy smirked, enjoying his authority over the girl slightly younger than him.
"Lusa uh, damm sa!" Rikku pouted angrily, and threatened to wail.
"Ed'c fryd E's cibbucat du tu. Cissuhanc tea vun baubma, cu E drehg E cruimt cyja dra cissuhan." Keyakku rolled his eyes and gave her a little frown. She was so young…so naïve. She would never know the wisdom he had, the wisdom of an eight-year old. What a little girl…
"Fro tu drao tea vun baubma?" She was REALLY curious now.
"Drao fyhd du cyja suna baubma, cu drao tea." It was the truth.
Rikku slowly processed this in her six-year old brain. "Cuihtc cdibet du sa." She says, after much thought.
"Ed ec." He agreed, thinking some more on the subject.
"Fuh'd yhouha cdub oui?"
"Oayr. Dra kiynteyhc." He shuddered a little, just thinking about it. But then he steeled himself. He would scare them with his big gun….yes, he would show them…stupid Yevonites, always killing people!
"Fru'na drao?" She looked at him inquisitively, her eyes as big as saucers.
"Drao bnudald dra cissuhan. Ihdem dra cissuhan teac."
Again, Rikku thought and thought. After a few seconds, she came to a conclusion, speaking her words slowly. "Pid...ev dra cissuhan'c kuehk du tea, drah fro bnudald dra cissuhan?"
"...Oajuhedac yna cdibet, dryd'c fro." He said. He didn't tell her he didn't know the proper answer to this, but it was a good explanation, he thought.
"Oayr. Rao, lyh yh Ym Prat pa y cissuhan un y kiynteyh?" Her face suddenly perked up.
"Hu. Ed'c cdibet. Tuh'd ajan pa uha, ugyo?Bnuseca?" He looked at her seriously.
"...Ugyo. E bnuseca." She grumbled, upset at having her idea shot down.
"Lusa uh, mad'c ku rusa." He said, rubbing her hair childishly.
"Ugyo. Nyla oui!" Her face took on a devious expression and she cackled, running off once again into the sands.
"Oui'na uh!" He wasn't to be outdone.
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I will myself not to break down then and there. I made a promise to him, and I broke it. I was six….he was eight. Now, as I look into his spiral eyes once more, and remember his childish hopes, I feel nostalgic….and upset. I want to go to my Home…to my people…this…just stinks. His eyes are staring me down. I wonder if he remembers the conversation. I can't fight him, I just can't-
Yunie? She's…fighting with us?
I stand up, ready to attack. Alright, Rikku. She might have to die soon, but that doesn't mean that you can't protect her from anything else that could cause her harm. Even if it means….going against the people you loved. I wipe my tears which now begin to run down my cheeks, and get into a defensive stance. Come on…I'm ready.
I look up at a shout of, "Rikku!"
My eyes travel upwards and I see…..oh holy SUDRANVI-
It's my brother. In all his mohawk-and-tattoo-glory.
I groan inwardly. This is…not good.
"Tuh'd ehdanvana un oui kad drec!" A large machine moves up next to him…OH MY GOD….NOT THE…..OH MY GOD…the crawler….
"Ouin bnaleuic magic yht aeons yna caymat!" He cackles…why that son of a-
"Oh, no!"
"Translation?" Blondie looks horrified.
"He's gonna use an anti-magic field on us!"
"Kad dras!"
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Erm….I was wayyy too lazy to repeat the fight scene….so I'll do it later when I actually have time to…sorry! (runs away and cries)
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"My lady!"
We're all exhausted from that fight, breathing heavily and panting. I wipe the sweat off my brow, and look over at Auron, who stands as if nothing ever happened. How the hell does he-
"Rikku! E femm damm Vydran!" I. Will. Kill. Him.
"E ys dra guardian uv Yuna, oui caa? Yuna ec cyva! Fa femm kiynt ran! Cra ec cyva!"
"Oui tu drec ymuha, cecdan!"
He runs away like a little girl. I'll make him suffer later for that….oh, he won't see it coming….
Oh yeah. There's people here now…probably wondering what I'm doing speaking Al Bhed….yeah. Oh, Rikku, you're dead. DEAD.
"I told him I was a guardian. Well, guess I had to, really." I giggled nervously, hoping it would distract some of them. Wakka peered at me, and I uncomfortably returned his stare.
"How come you speak Al Bhed? Why?" I look at him in slight disbelief. Okay….two and two are too hard for Wakka to put together, so…well, I've dug this far, no point in stopping now.
"Because I'm Al Bhed. And that...was my brother." I let out a breath. Done.
He looks at me for a second, completely blank, then turns to Tidus and Lulu accusingly. "You knew?" He roars slightly.
They both nod. "Why didn't you tell me?" Oh, I don't know…
"We knew you'd be upset." Lulu responds, calmy. BOOM, HEADSHOT! NONE FOR WAKKA, ONE BILLION AND ONE FOR LULU!
"This is great. I can't believe I've been travelling with an Al Bhed! A heathen!" I flare up. So sick of hearing those words…how DARE he insult my people…the bastard.
"You're wrong! We have nothing against Yevon!" I yell a little. Actually, I would rather stuff a duck up my nose than admit that Yevon isn't a stupid way of worship.
"But you Al Bhed use the forbidden machina! You know what that means? Sin was born because people used machina!" I refrain from screaming, ÝOU IDIOT!
"You got proof? Show me proof!" I snap.
"It's in Yevon's teachings! Not that you'd know!" He shoots back. LAME.
"That's not good enough! Yevon says this, Yevon says that. Can't you think for yourself?" I angrily screeched.
"Well then you tell me! Where did Sin come from, huh?" he asks, sounding annoyingly smug.
"I…I don't know." I said….god, I hate the way that I sound. So defeated. I know where Sin came from- from the piehole of some old priest wanting to play a prank on the younger ones.
"Hmph! You bad mouth Yevon, and that's all you can come up with?" Absolute idiot. Can't he see how much of a bigot he sounds like?
"But...that doesn't mean you should do whatever they say without thinking! Nothing will ever change that way!"
"Nothing has to change!" Stupid Yevonite, mindless follower. I hate them. I hate them all.
"You want Sin to keep coming back? There might be a way to stop it, you know!" Please try and listen, Wakka.
"Sin will be gone once we atone for our past mistakes!" NO IT WON'T!
"When? How?" COME ON, DIPSTICK, TELL ME!
"If we keep faith in Yevon's teachings it will be gone one day!" Fool! You FOOL!
"Why do I even bother?" I muttered. I am so tired right now….
"Rikku! Will this move?" I turn and look at the one person I had made up my mind not to look at. He stands there, bent over a snow-slider, and he cocks his head to one side and gazes at me. He's….trying to stop the conversation. He's helping me.
My heart flutters and I can't keep the smile off my face. I nod eagerly and run over to help fix the machina. Then I hear more of that bigot's words…
"We're not using that, are we? Wait... Sir Auron isn't Al Bhed too, is he?" I want to laugh out loud at that one. Wouldn't it be the best thing, actually…his beloved guardian, a heathen.
"Come on, Wakka..." Tidus sounds pissed. I stop for a moment to listen.
"What?"
"I mean, getting angry just 'cause you found out Rikku's an Al Bhed...you guys got along fine till now, didn't you?"
"That's different. I mean..."
"Well, I don't claim to know that much about Spira. And I probably know even less about the Al Bhed, but...I know Rikku's a good person. She's just Rikku!"
That kid deserves something big. I'll give him a hug later. I realize then that I might start crying again.
"Lu?"
"Just think of this as an oppurtunity to learn more about the Al Bhed." BOOM, HEADSHOT! Wakka is an idiot, and Lulu wins for life!
"Ha!"
He turns and walks away. I stand up and watch his back. Tidus tries to run after him, but Auron stops him.
"Let him go. Give him time to think."
I…feel…like an idiot. I broke up the party…we were getting along just fine and now…I had to ruin everything….
"I'm sorry." I said, rubbing my toe in the snow, suddenly feeling very small.
"You've done nothing to apologize for." Lulu looks at me, and for once there is gentleness in her eyes. I smile weakly at her, thankful for her presence.
"All right! Let's ride!" Tidus yells, punching his fist into the air and sprinting for one of the snow-sliders. Uh…I'm slightly worried now.
"You sure you know how to drive this?" I ask carefully, uneasy at his enthusiasm.
We all begin to watch as Kimhari basically almost kills himself riding it down the lake and snow landscape.
"Better than Kimhari does." Blondie snorts.
Lulu jumps on the back with him, Kimhari's gone, Wakka's left….and…oh great.
I get Auron.
Awesome. Just awesome.
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Alright, since I forgot to include the Al Bhed translations, I'll insert them here. The ones close together are the story lines in the memory of Rikku's.
Nice one
Yeah? What do you want?
Father said you should come home now.
I can't. I told you, I'm on a mission to save a summoner.
But...wait, who's the...the...summoner...you're trying to save?
Not telling.
Why do you have to do it?
Because.
Come on, tell me!
It's what I'm supposed to do. Summoners die for people, so I think I should save the summoner.
Why do they die for people?
They want to save more people, so they die.
Sounds stupid to me.
It is.
Won't anyone stop you?
Yeah. The guardians.
Who're they?
They protect the summoner. Until the summoner dies.
But...if the summoner's going to die, then why protect the summoner?
...Yevonites are stupid, that's why.
Yeah. Hey, can an Al Bhed be a summoner or a guardian?
No. It's stupid. Don't ever be one, okay?Promise?
...Okay. I promise.
Come on, let's go home.
Okay. Race you!
You're on!
Don't interfere or you get this!
Your precious magic and aeons are sealed!
Get them!
I will tell father!
I am the guardian of Yuna, you see Yuna is safe! We will guard her! She is safe!
You do this alone, sister!
Oh and the other chapter is coming up tomorrow…don't worry, I already wrote it and stuff, it's just that it's very late and I'm VERY tired right now….so I'll update it first thing in the morning, okay?
Oh and one question- was Rikku way OOC in this chapter? I felt so, at some points…lemme know in a review, please!
Loves.
-SV