Not today, Not ever...
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, just the story.
A/N: Thanks so much for the positive reviews and personal messages! It really feels good when inspiration comes back to you. I know this chapter is kind of short, but I like ending them this way, and I don't like revealing too much in one chapter. I'm hoping this chapter sends you for a loop, and gets your blood pumping. :)
"You're sure you heard the priest right?"
"Yes, Lady Lulu. The Chamber of the Fayth in Kilika has been destroyed."
"Thank you for delivering the message. I'll talk it over with my husband."
As the acolyte bowed and took leave, Lulu nodded and returned to the hut with Vidina situated on her hip.
"Wakka?" she called out, frozen in the doorway.
When he didn't respond, she sat Vidina down in the makeshift bassinet and made her way to their bedroom. Sure enough, Wakka was sprawled out, snoring loudly with drool crusted on his left cheek. Lulu had thought about raising her voice, but she turned to see Vidina looking curiously at her. Finally deciding on keeping things calm, she knelt down and shook him slightly.
"Wakka," she called out to him, "Get up. I need you to watch Vidina for me."
Lazily, Wakka rolled over placing a pillow over his head, "Gimme five more minutes, Lu."
"Come on, get up."
"What is it, ya? I was sleepin' good."
"I need to run to the temple for something. I just need you to sit with him for a few minutes."
"Take him with you, ya? I still got an hour before blitz practice."
Hearing enough of his whining, Lulu stood and crossed her arms, "I don't have time for this, Wakka. Get up or I'll ice you."
"Alright, alright!" Wakka shot up out of bed, tripping and face planting the floor as he did so, "What's so important you can't take him with you?"
"I have to check on something in the Chamber of the Fayth."
At this, Wakka hung his head, "When are you gonna give it up?"
"You don't understand-"
"No, I understand perfectly! He's not coming back, ya? Practice what you preached to Yuna!"
"Wakka, the Chamber of the Fayth in Kilika has been destroyed!" Lulu yelled, "We have no idea where she is, what she's doing, or what she's capable of!"
A small cry echoed from the next room, cutting the silence that settled between the alarmed parents.
"I just want to make sure it was a fluke, Wakka – nothing more."
Without uttering a word, Wakka brushed past Lulu and picked up the crying baby in the next room. Trying to soothe him, he rubbed Vidina's back and spoke softly into his ear. Watching, from the door, Lulu smiled and caught Wakka's eye.
"You're just going to check to see if the chamber is still intact, ya?"
"Right."
"If there's nothing wrong?"
"Then I will come back and think nothing of what the acolyte told me."
"Alright."
With just a nod, Lulu made her way out of the hut, leaving Wakka and Vidina standing there.
Yuna's POV:
- Day Two -
Entry One – S.S. Winno
Even after explaining the strange occurrence to the priests, it was very clear I was being blamed for the chamber collapsing. Although I had wanted to stay and figure things out, I thought it was best to continue on. The only thing that gives me some sort of comfort, was the fact that Donna offered to investigate in my absence. You wouldn't think she'd offer to help me out, but I'm glad she did.
I'd like to think what happened in Kilika is a fluke, but my instincts are telling me different. For now, I'll reserve judgment and carry on to the temple in Djose. At least there, the Al Bhed will be more understanding and let me pass without questioning my motives. Speaking of which, maybe Gippal will be there, and I can ask him if he's noticed anything strange going on. The only thing I can do right now, is take in the journey as much as I can.
~ Yuna ~
"Did she say where she was going?"
"What do I look like to you? Her secretary?" Donna crossed her arms and turned her back from the girls.
"No, but you're the last one to talk to her." Paine grinned, "We're just trying to make sure she's ok."
"My, my, my. You put so little faith in her, don't you?"
"Why you-" Rikku growled.
"Thanks for all your help, Donna. We'll just be going now." Paine interrupted and drug a flailing Rikku behind her.
"Can you believe her?"
"What I can't believe is you here lately, Rikku." Paine cocked her head to the side as they waited for the Celsius to arrive.
"How do you mean?"
"You're practically on the verge of clawing the eyes out of everyone you come in contact with!"
"Yes, because this is all my fault," Rikku pouted, "I can't believe you're sitting back letting these people say the things they say about Yunie and us!"
"These people are our friends, Rikku. Just because they say things out of fear or anger, doesn't mean we should shut them out. If every time I did that, I'd have no friends – something you're dangerously close to achieving."
"Fine," Rikku stamped her foot and turned on her heel, "I'll just start by cutting you loose!"
"You don't mean that, Rikku."
"Watch me!"
As Rikku walked back toward Kilika Port, Paine stood there, dumbfounded by what had just transpired.
"Lady Lulu," The priest bowed, "We've been expecting you."
"Oh?"
"We've heard some disturbance coming from behind the cloister doors. I was about to send someone for you."
As Lulu ascended the stairs slowly, something pulled at her insides, "What kind of disturbances?"
The priest checked to see if anyone was paying attention. When he seen that the last of the villagers slipped outside, he approached the doors with Lulu.
"Quite frankly, it sounded like a war zone in there. Every one is afraid fiends have taken residence in the chamber."
"I see," Lulu whispered, "I'll go in and take a look around."
"Certainly...but-" The priest hesitated for a moment, "Shouldn't we allow Lady Yuna to take a look around? Maybe she and her friends can get to the bottom of it."
"Lady Yuna is...on vacation. I'll see to this myself." Lulu replied confidently.
With nothing more to be said, the priest bowed and stepped away from the doors as Lulu stepped in.
"Well, well, well," he grinned as I entered, "High Summoner Yuna in the flesh."
"It's nice to see you too, Gippal." I giggled as he walked closer to me.
It almost reminds me of the first time I ever met him – the way he lingers so close to me. This time, though, I didn't allow myself to be trapped by him. Instead, I side-stepped and walked behind him. He chuckled and opened the temple doors, looking for something or someone.
"Where's Cid's girl and Dr. P? Don't you guys flock together...or something?"
I stifled a giggle, shaking my head lightly, "I'm here on my own. Sorry to disappoint you."
"Not at all. Actually, I'm glad you did come alone."
"Oh?"
"You're still...you know...a summoner, right – even though the aeons aren't around?" Gippal asked as he sauntered over to one of the side rooms he'd claimed as his office.
Following him, I sat down and nodded, "I know it may sound a bit...confusing, but just because we're no longer able to summon the aeons, that doesn't mean we're stripped of our titles."
"I see," Gippal sat there, scratching his chin, "So, you still have your powers and all that holy stuff, right?"
I had to grin at his words.
"Mm, I guess you could say that. Why do you ask?"
"Come with me. I can't quite explain it – it's better to just show you."
I agreed, following behind him silently as we entered yet another cloister. Everything was how I remembered it to be – machina lining the corridors, and lighting flowing freely, lighting the path in the damp area. Taking the lift to the upper room, the only thing seemingly out of place were the Al Bhed. Or more accurately, the lack there of. Even the anti-chamber was void of the ultimate machina they had assembled. Gippal came to a halt, just before the door that lead to the chamber of the fayth. He turned to look at me, and then his eyes shifted around. As I did the same, I noticed what he was talking about.
"You see it, don't you?" he asked.
"Of course I see it," I whispered, "I'm just not sure I believe it."
"Can't help but to believe it. Especially when it's staring you in the face."
"Obviously."
"What's happening to this place?" Gippal asked, walking over to the walls and mimicking me as we touched them in disbelief.
The walls were covered in beads of water from the top, and leading down to the floor. The thing is, one would assume that with this much water leaking from a wall, the floor would eventually flood. This was not the case. There wasn't so much as a drop of water beneath my feet.
"It looks like the walls are sweating to me," I supplied, walking over to the door that lead to the chamber.
"Water? In a temple of lighting?" Gippal chuckled, "I may not know much about elements, but I do know we had to remove the ultimate machina out of here to keep from anything happening."
"Would it be too much to ask for me to be alone?" I questioned, "I need to think for a bit."
"Sure thing. If you need me, I'll be at the bottom of the lift."
I simply nodded and turned my attention back toward the door as I heard Gippal exit the anti-chamber. Once his footsteps disappeared, I turned to examine the room once more.
- Day Two -
Entry Two – Djose Temple, Anti-Chamber
In Spira, there were a total of eight aeons. Out of those eight, only three were elementally specific – Ifrit was fire, Ixion was lighting, and Shiva was ice. Upon entering Ifrit's chamber, rather than being hot, it was freezing as Shiva's chamber had been. Further examination of Ixion's chamber revealed that the walls seemed to be leaking a clear watery substance that oddly disappears once reaching the floor.
Now that I know it's no coincidence, it makes me wonder what's going on inside Shiva's chamber. The thing is, since Macalania temple has fallen below the frozen lake, it's impossible to reach – therefore, making it equally impossible to investigate.
I remember something from when I was an apprentice summoner. Out of all the books I studied, never once did I come upon an aeon that represented the element of water. Which, in this case, cancels out my original theory that somehow the elements were thrown out of balance. But if that's not the answer, then what could it be?
For the first time since I've started this journey, I wish I had someone here that could point me in the right direction. Even so, this is something I need to do entirely on my own. I guess my next stop will be Macalania – there has to be a way to reach Shiva's chamber...
~ Yuna ~
Sighing, I approached the door and watched as it opened – no longer amazed at it's ability to sense a summoner. When I reached the actual room where the fayth used to be imprisoned in stone, I stood there with my mouth slightly agape. The walls within weren't slightly beaded with water. It was like being surrounded by a waterfall. Water rushed down the walls, and cascaded down into the pit which lead to the farplane abyss below. Pyreflies swarmed around aggressively, crying louder than I had ever heard them in my life. There was so much noise that I quickly brought both hands to my ears, hoping to drown some of it out.
Falling to my knees, my jaw tensed and every muscle in my body contracted all at once. I've only ever felt this much pain once before, and I had hoped I'd never feel anything like it ever again. Forcing my eyes open, everything had been blurred from the tears that had started welling up in them. The room had gotten much brighter, but only because more pyreflies started to accumulate inside the chamber.
"Stop," I cried out while my teeth gritted together, "Please!"
When my plea went unheard by whatever force was behind this mess, I crawled back to the wall behind me and attempted to stand. In a standing position and using the wall as leverage, I watched in horror as the pit started to grow wider. Wind kicked up, sending debris flying all over, and my feet were unwillingly dragged toward the edge, causing me to slip. I struggled to keep hold of something, desperately digging my nails into the floor, but the more I tried, the faster I was being dragged backward. Just as my body slipped over the edge, my hands gripped the jagged edge of the rapidly crumbling side. My vision impaired by relentless tears tried to focus, but the wind shifted downward, yanking me further down – I felt like I was being stretched. All I could do was turn and look down into the blackness which was about to become my eternal resting place.
"Grab my hand!"
The voice was faint, and I'm not sure how I heard it among the clamor. Of course, I didn't hesitate when I caught sight of a lone hand reaching for mine. I looked back once more, watching pieces of the chamber being sucked down the black hole and refused to become a part of it. Holding on to what floor was left with my left hand, I let go with my right and tried to reach the foreign hand. Our fingertips grazed, but the suction tugged at me angrily, jerking me further down with me dangling there helplessly. Swinging my right arm back up to the floor, I tried to grab a hold of it again. My hands were glistened with sweat, making it harder to get a good grip. When I slipped, I thought this was it. I closed my eyes and began to free fall as the last tear slipped down my cheek and off my chin.
"You can't give up. I won't let you."
The next thing I knew, I felt a sharp jerk and a burning sensation pulsate through my whole right arm and I felt like I was being stretched all over again. Just when I had started to lose all hope, I looked back up and smiled as the persons hand gripped my wrist. Lifting my left hand, I brought it to the arm of my savior, and pulled myself upward until they could get a better grip.
"No, I won't give up." I grunted with determination as the mysterious figure and I rushed out of the chamber.
Not today, not ever...
What awaits Lulu in Valefore's chamber? What's gotten into Rikku, and does she leave the Gullwings for good? Was it Gippal who came to Yuna's rescue, or was it someone else? Find out next chapter!
A/N: I know you're probably sitting there scratching your head, but don't worry. All will come together as it usually does in my stories. If you have any questions about something in particular, feel free to email or PM me. I'll respond as quick as I can :)