Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or any of its characters. I only own my character, Danaya. The following OCs belong to the following people. Any of my plot similar to anyone else's is simply pure coincidence.
Alisa, Taehyr - Xedina Fairlady
Rhys - Teamplaya101
Analise - MemoriesoftheForgottenGuardian
Xanxus - Big K Studios
Iyana - Roseria Sylvester
Sargent - AcidRain14
Hi, guys! I hope you enjoy this next chapter I put out for everyone! Sorry for not updating in months. I know, I know. I have no excuse LOL. But really, I've only been able to update this because I had a week off for Presidents Break aha. ^^ Anyways, consider this a super-late Valentines gift to everyone! XD Anyways, please read and review. Let me know how you guys feel about this chapter or the story in general! If you guys have any issues, problems, or complaints, please feel free to message me and I'm sure we can sort things out some way. ^^ I try my best aha. If anybody is curious, yes, I am planning to finish this story. I want to finish this before starting anything else. I know I'll be busy, but the least I can do is finish what I started ^^
Danaya's POV:
"It's just like Luca…" I murmured. Trees were on fire, people were screaming and running away from fiends, and people with weapons were trying to fend off the fiends. Without a word, all of us spread out and tried to defeat all the fiends and save the people. Tears threatened to spill out of my eyes as I knew I had to perform the Sending again. *No more…please…* I begged as I slashed down three Dingoes. I heard the sound of a whip and turned around to see a man getting lashed by an Ochu. I powered up my sword and shouted, "Flame Tongue!" I struck down the Ochu and watched it turn into pyreflies. I helped the man up and brought him to a nearby tree to heal him.
"Thank you, Lady Danaya." the man whispered as I hovered my hands over his stomach wound. I couldn't say anything because I was too busy trying to heal him and draw back my tears at the same time. "!" the man displayed an alarming look as he pointed behind me. I turned around, only to be struck in the face by an Ogre. I was sent back into a tree, and blood dripped down from my mouth. I wiped it away and rushed at the Ogre before it could get the man. I slashed it up and finished it with a Grenade. I back-flipped away from the pyreflies and went over to the man to make sure he was okay. I told him to stay where he was, letting all the others know the survivors should gather all in one place.
"Fire Stampede!" I heard Uncle Rhys shout loudly as he struck the ground with his sword. *I think Mirage got him pissed…* I thought as a group of fire horses were created and rushed through all of the fiends in Uncle Rhys' surrounding areas, making them all burn to death. The sound of an airship never felt so good to hear as Gippal got off it and began to help us with his gun shooting down all the fiends that got in his way. Auntie Rikku jumped off the airship and helped Uncle Rhys battle off the fiends. "About time!" Uncle Rhys shouted over to Gippal.
Gippal smirked as he struck a Dingo on the head with his gun. "Sorry! You can only go so fast on an airship, Rhys."
I watched as Alisa and Taehyr worked together as the perfect team. They tore down fiend after fiend, fueled with anger from the previous battle. While Alisa struck the fiend up close, Taehyr threw her small scythes as boomerangs, which sliced the fiend and came back to Taehyr. Sargent and Xanxus managed to get up to the cliffs, shooting all the fiends that grouped up into clumps. I teamed up with Iyana as we clobbered all the nearby fiends while saving people at the same time. I just finished up three Tonberries when something punched me in the back, causing me to fall flat on my face.
"Chocobo Eater!" I heard Iyana exclaim. I quickly got back up and ducked just in time to miss the punch from the Chocobo Eater. I cast Firaga on it, but that seemed to strengthen it. *I thought they were weak to that.* I tried a small Blizzard and saw it affected the Chocobo Eater negatively, so I shrugged it off and continued to cast Blizzaga. Auntie Rikku went over to help us by using her scythes and slicing the Chocobo Eater all across its huge arms. Iyana climbed up a tree and jumped off it as she powered up her monkey wrench. "Ice Diamonds!" she shouted as she struck the Chocobo Eater on the head with her diamond-crusted wrench. Large shards of ice grew on the Chocobo Eater from within its body as they eventually dispersed the fiend into pyreflies. Iyana landed successfully onto the ground as she and I both split ways, noticing two different groups of people being attacked by fiends. Where I was headed, Uncle Rhys was fending off so many fiends that he just couldn't save the people at the same time. I guided all the people as best as I could to the forest where there weren't that many fiends. I looked up at the cliffs and signaled Xanxus and Sargent to protect the huge group of people near the forest. They nodded as I successfully got everyone to the huge group, all except for one little girl.
I heard her cry, "Mommy!" to a dead body lying on the ground. Flashbacks of my parents on the ground came back as I hurried over to the girl to save her. Three Assassin Bees and a Cephalotus stood in my way to get the girl. I cast Waterga on all four fiends, hoping it was enough to defeat them. The Assassin Bees were killed, but the Cephalotus was still standing. I barely dodged its Seed Cannon attack as it just grazed my arm, still creating a cut. I cast Firaga and slashed it with my sword as I ran past it and went over to the girl. "Mommy…" I heard her whimper. I kneeled beside her so I was at eye level.
"We have to get you to safety. Come on." I whispered.
"I'm not leaving without my mommy!" she exclaimed. I shut my eyes tight to prevent the tears from falling, but they did. "Why are you crying?" she asked as she wiped her tears away. I didn't answer her as I turned to her mother and tried to heal her. The mom scared me as she grabbed my hand.
"Save my daughter." she whispered. Her hand went limp, and I checked for a pulse, but there was nothing. I bit my lip and carried the girl out of there, no matter how much she struggled against me. I gave her to a man and asked him to not let her out of his sight. I looked over where Uncle Rhys and Gippal were, and I swore they were fiend magnets or something. I hurried over there and raised my sword up with both hands.
"Holy!" I called out as my Holy attack took out at least a third of the fiends that were swarming them. Uncle Rhys looked over in my direction and smirked. Gippal shouted a thanks as he took out three Evil Eyes. I saw them run towards Wharf to defeat the fiends on that side. I nodded and went over to Alisa, who had split up with Taehyr to cover more ground. Taehyr ventured further to the Moonflow, going near the Wharf where Uncle Rhys, Gippal, and the Shoopufs were – or used to be. "Need some help?" I asked Alisa as I performed Slice and Dice on a Nashorn.
Alisa shouted, "Yep!" as she dodged an oncoming attack from an Iron Giant. "These things are huge!" she exclaimed as she quickly climbed up its sword before the Iron Giant could put it up. She jumped high into the air and shouted, "Light Whip!" A beam of light wrapped around the Iron Giant and squeezed tightly. Alisa landed successfully onto the ground as she held her sword with both hands. The Iron Giant was squeezed tightly until it burst into a cloud of pyreflies.
I complimented, "Good job!" In a matter of seconds, I was surrounded by five Sallets. *Shit…* I tried to do an all-around attack by powering up my sword with Fire and slashing it around, but it only killed two of them. The other three Sallets ganged up on me and basically battered me to the ground. If it not had been for Taehyr's scythes killing them, I would have been really injured. I thanked her by casting Holy on the fiends that were about to attack her from behind. After what seemed like a while, I finally felt the affect of all the cuts and injuries I had taken. My body ached as I collapsed onto the ground, unable to move anymore. My sister came to my side and placed her hands over my body, trying to heal me as much as I could. While she was doing that, I kept the fiends at bay by casting Flare multiple times. I had to drink an Ether to replenish my magic before more fiends could come.
Finally, all the fiends were gone and all that remained were tons and tons of pyreflies, a mess of dead bodies on the ground, and a traumatized group of people. "Danaya…" Xanxus called out as he jumped down from the cliff. I nodded. I knew I needed to send them all. I started on the group in front of me, waving my sword around and twisting my body. There was another raid today, and more people had to die. Is this what my mother felt like when she had to send all the people killed by Sin? Is this how the summoners felt during their whole pilgrimage? I came to the little girl's mother, so I looked back and at the little girl. She nodded her head, knowing what I must do. Her tears had disappeared, but the pain in her eyes remained. I nodded back and sent her a comforting smile as I turned my head and began the Sending for the mother and the dead around her. After sending them, we needed to walk further over to Moonflow near where the Shoopufs had been. Uncle Rhys, Gippal, and Taehyr were panting for air. All of us were tired. Iyana and Sargent had guided the survivors at a place to sit down, so Xanxus and Alisa could go back into the airship and cook up some food for the survivors.
Uncle Rhys notified me that he saw a Shoopuf coming over here. I looked down at the remaining people I needed to send, and one of them crushed my heart and left me devastated. Tobli was one of the people dead. I kneeled down next to him and placed his little head on my lap. Next thing I knew, I began to sob loudly. Gippal went over to comfort me, but I could feel his tears drop onto my hair. I knew Tobli and Gippal had a close friendship as well. I shook my head, not wanting this nightmare to be true.
"Tobli…" I whispered. My voice…it sounded so…devastated. I kissed Tobli on his little forehead and laid him down next to the other people that had died today. I raised my sword and spun it around once again. I could hear the bodies begin to turn into pyreflies. I finished the Sending and almost collapsed from exhaustion. I didn't even notice it was really dark and probably around 8 or 9 in the evening. I really just wanted to go back home, but I couldn't. *I have a mission, and that is to find and destroy Mirage. I have to help Spira, just like my mother did. Malfonse was nothing compared to this.* From the corner of my eye, I saw something glinting on the ground. I turned my head and saw a sphere partly buried in the ground. I slowly got up and walked over to the sphere. I picked it up and was about to watch it, but figured I needed to watch it with everyone else.
After everything was sorted out and all the survivors had calmed down, the group and I boarded the airship and stayed floating in mid-air. "Alisa." I called. "Go get Xanxus, Sargent, and Taehyr from the Cabin, please. I have something to show everyone." Alisa nodded and tiredly walked into the hall. We were all tired because two huge battles in one day just took out all out. If that wasn't enough, my parents and Baralai were dead. I looked down at my boots. *I can just imagine Spira in chaos right now.* When everyone was on the Bridge, I took out the sphere and placed it on the Sphere com, where we can watch spheres on the screen. "I found this after sending everyone. It looks exactly like the sphere Mirage had given us." I explained as everyone gathered around me. The sphere showed the same place that was on the first sphere, except this time, Mirage was sitting on the huge throne.
"I do not have to apologize for the destruction I had bestowed upon Moonflow. This was Rhys' choice. He wanted to 'control his own destiny.' Well, here you go, Rhys. Your new destiny will be your demise, and as for you, Alisa." Mirage paused to chuckle darkly. I grabbed my sister's hand and squeezed it. "You chose to agree with him, and I'm sorry, but you chose wrong my dear. Alisa, you and Rhys will both suffer the same consequences. All of you will suffer." Mirage smirked and looked straight, as if she was staring right into my eyes. *What brightly colored aqua eyes for someone evil…* I thought. "As for you Lady Danaya, whom I'm sure is watching this right now, you be careful now. I'm sorry, but this too couldn't be helped. Watch your backs from now on." She said my name with such a reprimanding tone. Mirage straightened herself up and took one last look at the sphere. I glared at the screen, studying her looks. She had steel blue hair with messy bangs that completely cover the right side of her face. The sphere ended, and the screen turned black. I almost crushed the sphere as I placed it in the storage with the other Mirage sphere. I breathed in deeply as I looked at everyone.
If we weren't pissed after our encounter with Mirage, we were pissed now. I slid the chair I was sitting down on over to the Commsphere network. I turned it on and pressed a few buttons. "Go drive straight to Guadosalam. Let's go rest up at Leblanc's Chateau." I asked of Iyana. She nodded and went to the pilot's seat to start up the airship. "I'll be at the Cabin real quick." I announced, deciding I needed to change my outfit before leaving the airship. When I got on the elevator, Alisa and Taehyr squeezed in with me. I glanced at them and noticed their outfits were ruined as well. Alisa's long skirt had rips and tears through it. Her hair was taken out of its ponytail, and her boots were very dirty and scuffed up. Taehyr was in horrible condition as well. Her skirt was torn at the side, and her ribbon was completely gone. Her hair had come out of its ponytail, and Taehyr's midriff was blood stained. We all were blood stained. I went first, grabbing a new set of clothes and heading into the bathroom.
I showered and changed into my new set of clothes. A new black tank top and blue cloak, along with new black shorts and a new low high skirt. My boots were okay. I tied up my damp hair and went out of the bathroom, going over to Pello as Taehyr and Alisa took turns freshening up and changing. "Pello! Will you be coming out of the airship when we arrive at Guadosalam to restock?" I asked.
"Yesh, Mish Danaya. I will be reshtocking on everything for yoo. Do not worry." Pello answered in his calm voice. I smiled and thanked him. I waited for Alisa and Taehyr to be finished before going back to the Bridge with them. When we got on the Bridge, Iyana had already announced that we arrived at Guadosalam a few minutes ago. She opened up the ramp, and we all left the airship. I could see some of the survivors from earlier take refuge in Guadosalam. All of us walked up to the chateau, and the two Goons guarding the door smirked at us.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Band of Misfits." one of the Goons teased. I was about to retort, but Iyana had taken the initiative.
"Sorry, I thought the Circus came only in the winter. You guys came early." Iyana counteracted as she placed her hand on her hip. The Goons growled, and Uncle Rhys gave Iyana a stare.
I explained, "Don't worry, Uncle Rhys. The Goons and we, well Iyana, are always like this. We have a…special… friendship." Xanxus and Sargent chuckled. The Goons let us in, and while we were going in, Sargent placed his arm around Iyana. However, he had to instead just hold Iyana's hand as Uncle Rhys landed a glare on him.
"Watch it, Sargent. You may have had all the time you wanted with my daughter while I was gone, but while I'm here, don't try anything funny." Uncle Rhys threatened. Taehyr, Alisa, and I snickered at Iyana, who huffed in anger at her father. Sargent just stayed close to me, the only person he knew who could stand up to Uncle Rhys. When we got into the main hall, we found Leblanc, Logos, and Ormi discussing something. "Leblanc. Logos. Ormi." Uncle Rhys greeted. The three of them turned to us.
Iyana greeted, "What's up, Terrible Trio!" Leblanc scoffed and took out her fan.
Leblanc answered, "We were just discussing about what happened in Moonflow, loves. A bunch of people had traveled on the one remaining Shoopuf and informed us about the raid. My, what trouble has been brought upon Spira." I asked Leblanc if we could spend the night first. "Why of course, my loves! My Goons will have the spare bedrooms prepared in the lower level."
"I need to ask you something. Have any of you heard of a woman named Mirage?" I popped the question, then explained everything about her and the spheres. Leblanc and Logos shook their heads, but Ormi had hesitated on shaking his head. All of us turned to him.
Logos asked, "Ormi? You have something to say?" Ormi squinted his eyes and had a very concentrated facial expression.
"I think so. Mirage sounds like a familiar name ta me. However, this Mirage can't be da same Mirage, you know? The Mirage I heard about was a good kid, boss." Ormi answered. *Well, that was no help…* I thought as I crossed my arms and looked down. We all kind of stood in silence before a Goon reported to Leblanc that the bedrooms were ready.
"Well loves, I think you should all rest up. You all have a long day ahead of you." Leblanc suggested. Everyone followed the Goons into the lower level except for Alisa and me. When Uncle Rhys turned back to us, I told Alisa to leave the Chateau.
I explained, "We're going to go visit the Farplane." Understanding our reason, Uncle Rhys nodded and left us be. I jogged to catch up to Alisa, and we both walked quietly to the Farplane. My arm wrapped around my sister's shoulders as I pulled her in close. "Everything's going to be okay…" I whispered, trying to reassure my sister. She was 15; she needed her older sister there for her. Spira had just lost a valuable leader and their High Summoner. I had lost my parents. Everyone had lost something today, and they needed someone. Something in the back of my mind was saying that someone was me. *Me? Taking care of Spira? I just turned 18...* 18. A realization had stabbed me in the chest. All of this happened on my birthday, and I would have to live with this for the rest of my life. My parents died on my birthday.
*Danaya…you're okay. It's not your fault. And remember, your mother became High Summoner at 17.* Analise reminded me. Alisa and I entered the beautiful and bittersweet Farplane. We both went to an edge of the area and both thought of our parents. Seeing them, I knew they really were dead. Tears flowed down my cheeks as the nostalgia of it all came back. Memories of our whole family sitting on the Besaid Beach and playing, flooded my mind. Alisa dropped to her knees, and I placed my hands on her shoulders to help her up. "Alisa…" I whispered. "Get up. It's okay."
"It's not okay!" she shouted. I drew my hands back, but slowly brought them to her shoulders again. "It's not okay…" Alisa sobbed. I knelt down to her level and placed her head against my chest as we mourned together. *How are we going to get our life back?*