I want to thank Nikki of Spira for being my beta reader for the last few chapters. My writing has significantly improved with your advice. Thank you!
The boat ride to Bikanel Island was relatively smooth. At least after it got started.
Tidus climbed on board with Yuna in his arms and went to go inside to find a cot.
"Ah…only Al Bhed can enter here…" Rikku trailed off, rubbing her neck awkwardly.
"Seriously!? Then where am I putting Yuna?"
As he spoke, Yuna shifted in his arms, hugging him.
"You could sit with her on your lap?"
"Hey! She's half-Al Bhed! What if I take her in and then leave right after?"
"Uhhh…well…" she glanced inside. "Fine. Follow me." She led him into the cramped ship and he immediately understood why the Al Bhed were the only ones allowed inside. Pipes with knobs and pressure gauges, levers and switches on every wall, and lots of exposed wire.
If the Health and Safety Department in Zanarkand could see this place, surely, it would not pass.
Carefully, Tidus sidestepped through the narrow corridors, following Rikku in the depths of the ship. The bunk room was just as narrow, with plenty of beds jutting from the metal walls.
"I think this one is unoccupied," Rikku gestured to a bottom bunk on the left.
"Thanks." Tidus set Yuna down gently. "I know she'll be disoriented when she wakes up, but I think she'll feel better sleeping on a bed and not on the deck."
"I think I'll catch a few Zz's myself." Rikku flopped on the bunk adjacent to Yuna's. "I'll make sure to hook you up with a comfy bed on Bikanel."
Tidus felt the bags under his eyes pulse. "Thanks."
Doing his best to remember his way out of the maze that was the ship, Tidus arrived back out on the deck. Wakka was sprawled out, basking in the sun. Lulu and Auron leaned against the railing, watching the horizon change. Kimahri leapt up on top of the crane that sat on the back of the deck, and used it as a perch to keep a vigilant watch.
"Wow, looks like this is where the party is." Tidus smirked. "Are we having fun yet?"
"Had I known this was on the schedule, I would have brought sunscreen," Lulu said, adjusting her dress to cover more of her cleavage from the sun.
"Aw, don't do that. You'll lower the morale of the whole party," Tidus quipped.
"My man!" Wakka called from the ground.
"Careful, little boy, or I'll tattle to your wife," Lulu shot back.
"Hey, I call it like I see it. And no one likes a tattle tale! Right Kimahri?"
From his perch, Kimahri grunted. "Don't involve Kimahri in your trouble."
"Wow. Cold shoulders all around."
"It'll be a while before we get to Bikanel," Auron mentioned, changing the subject. "I suggest you rest while you can. We hope that Rikku can get us a sanctuary, but there's no guarantee that's what we'll have. None of us know what to expect. Though, we can hope for some sort of shelter, since the Al Bhed allowed us on their ship."
"So…no one knows anything about the island we're going to?" Tidus asked for clarification.
In her infinite wisdom and patience, Lulu answered, "Bikanel island is primarily made up of the Sanubia Desert. The notes on it state that there are ruins within the desert, but it's so harsh and random sandstorms erupt so often, the island hasn't been fully explored."
"Not that anyone would want to, with trying to rebuild their homes from Sin," Wakka added.
"Ah, so that's why the Al Bhed live there! But…how do they survive in a desert?"
"That's something we'll have to see for ourselves, dontcha think?" said Wakka. "I'm sure it'll be an experience for the ages."
Tidus crouched, then rolled back on his heels to plop onto his backside. He unzipped his harness and removed it along with his hoodie exposing the farmer's tan that had developed as they traveled. Then he flopped onto his back and sprawled out next to Wakka. "I mean, this whole trip has been an experience for the ages for me. I know you guys don't really believe me, but up until Besaid, I hadn't experienced anything outside of my Zanarkand."
"I think–I think I changed my mind. I think you really are from another world," said Wakka.
"I agree," said Lulu as she came to sit on the deck beside them. "I had my doubts, but you really had no idea of Sin. It wasn't a concept that filled you with dread and heartbreak. It was just a mystery. Oddly enough, what cinched it for me was when Sir Auron talked about the coffee in Zanarkand being different from ours."
"Oh, so you trust Sir Auron's delusions, but not mine?"
"Is it a delusion if you both share it?" she asked.
"I thought about that too. But it really hit me when you recognized all those landmarks on Seymour's light show of Zanarkand, ya? It didn't seem improv. You knew it! And then back at the dock, Sir Auron said after the fight with Sin, he went to your Zanarkand to watch over you. So maybe you traveled forward in time, and he went back in time? Maybe Sin doesn't just corrupt the air and space around it, but the time around it too," said Wakka.
"I guess so. I must be even older than a thousand years then, because there was no war with Bevelle in my time. But–if Sin went back in time to before the war and destroyed Zanarkand–"
"This loop you're drawing will not make sense when you're done with it," Auron warned. "Best to stop there before you hurt yourself."
"Fine. No more thinking for me, I guess." He pouted and crossed his arms.
Lulu wiped the sweat off her forehead. "I have to respect the Al Bhed's wishes to not have us go inside their ship. But I wish they had some shade out here instead."
"A little sun will do you some good, Lu. You always burned in the summer."
"Some people just don't tan, Wakka." Regardless, she removed her necklaces and pulled her arms out of her sleeves. Then she laid on the deck next to Tidus.
Auron raised an eyebrow over his glasses.
"If I'm going to burn, I might as well be even."
"Does Esuna work on sunburn?" Tidus asked.
Wakka guffawed. "Only one way to find out! Burn and beg Yuna for help!"
The trio laid on the warm metal deck, listening to the roar of the motor and slapping of waves against the hull. It was a different trip from the S.S. Liki. It felt less like a pleasure cruise and more like a trip on a warship.
Maybe it was the lack of voices.
"Hey Tidus, you remember when we first met on Besaid? You kicked our Blitzball back to us with that move?"
"A sphere shot? Yeah, I remember. That was fun getting you guys all excited about it."
"You didn't use it in the tournament in Luca. I mean, we still won, but I really wanted the Goers to pee themselves when you pulled it off."
Tidus snorted. "As amazing as that would have been, I was only in the pool for, like, two minutes in that final match. And I was on Defense. That move is for shooting."
"Oh brother," Lulu moaned. "We finally get some peace to relax and you two have to talk about blitzball. Were you not serious about retiring, Wakka?"
"Just because I retired doesn't mean I can't enjoy the game. Besides, I can adapt the moves for the battlefield."
"So picture this," Tidus continued as if Lulu hadn't protested. "The Abe's and the Ozarks are tied, 4-4, with thirty seconds left in the game. The Ozarks have a killer move that paralyzes players, and the Abe's are now down to right-front, that's me; left-defense, Gordo; and the goalie. The Ozarks still have a full team and are focused on me, the main shooter. All five players formed a defensive line in front of the goal, waiting for Gordo to pass it to me. Gordo instead, prepares to shoot for the goal. I swam up to the top of the dome while the Ozarks went to defense.
"Gordo shoots, and the ball sails straight up instead. The Ozarks laugh for a moment until they realize I'm up there to intercept it. Gordo kicks it so hard that the ball flies out of the dome. The Ozarks relax as they assume it's out of bounds. I swam up, and right as the ball was preparing to reenter the water, I flipped and performed the Sphere Shot. It sails over their heads and goes directly onto the goal. Abe's win 5-4."
"I remember that game," said Auron. "The stands broke out in fist fights after you did that."
"What I wouldn't give to see that!" Wakka laughed. Even Lulu chuckled.
The air turned cold when Tidus asked something he hadn't even thought about yet. "I wonder when I'll get to play blitzball again?"
The short answer—-after the pilgrimage, if he survives.
But would he even want to?
"Yeah," said Wakka, reserved. "You're kinda young to retire from the game already. I'm sure the Aurochs will need you next season."
"Who knows what the future holds?" Auron mused. "Your father wanted you to be a blitz star. You'll have to start from the beginning in Spira."
"And I'll never get back to my Zanarkand either, will I?"
Auron was quiet for a while and then responded, "Just don't get lazy."
Despite Auron's warning, the sun was perfectly warm and his balled up hoodie under his head was a decent pillow. Before he knew it, he was asleep on the deck.
It was a light doze, really. The kind that weighs your body down and keeps your eyes closed. But you know there's people moving around you.
When he woke up, Yuna was sitting in Lulu's place. Rikku leaned against her back so they could both sit on the deck comfortably.
"Yuna…?"
"Hello, how was your nap?"
"Good. Good." He sat up, his spine stiff from laying on hard metal. "Gah…a little sore. How about you?"
"I slept very well, thank you. Rikku told me you carried me inside. I would have assumed I would wake up in that situation, but I suppose I was more tired than I thought."
"So you needed your rest."
"Bikanel Island, off the bow," Auron called.
The group peered around the massive hulk of the ship to see a landmass on the horizon. It was almost hard to spot, not having any big mountains on it. It was just a brown mass.
"Looks…lovely?" Yuna tried to say nicely.
"It's discreet," Rikku retorted.
When they finally landed, the sun was setting. At the dock, a man with an eyepatch was waiting.
"Gippal!" Rikku shouted.
"Hey! If it isn't Cid's girl!" he shouted in return. "Where have you been?"
"Is that really how you're going to greet me?!"
"How am I supposed to greet you?"
"'Sweetie'? 'Darling'? 'Honey'?!"
"Ew gross! I'll compromise with 'babe'!"
"Your boyfriend, I presume?" Auron asked.
"Yeah, my piece of work, long time boyfriend," she said with an eye roll. Despite this, when the boat was close enough, she leapt off the dock and into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.
"Did you miss me?" she sang.
"Does one miss a fog horn?"
"Rude!"
The rest of the party disembarked calmly with the rest of the Al Bhed crew.
"Guys, this is Gippal. Gippal, Summoner Yuna and her husband Tidus. And guardians Lulu, Wakka, Kimahri, and Sir Auron!"
"A pleasure," he greeted pleasantly. Then he looked at Rikku. "What are you doing traveling with a summoner?"
"I'm a guardian," she said proudly. "And Yuna is my cousin."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you had an aunt that married a non-Al Bhed. But a guardian?"
"The best way to find a way to save the summoners, don't you think?"
Gippal shrugged. "I guess so. Hey, we can finish catching up at Home. The sun will set soon, and it'll get cold."
The party split up and boarded the assembled hovercrafts. The giant fans on the back were too loud to talk over, so the group just had to sit in silence as they traveled over rolling dunes and assorted ruins. This place was an absolute wasteland.
Eventually, they came across a citadel of metal. Giant metal buttresses extended out from a cone shaped center. Each part was connected by a pulley system, which seemed to work as a gondola track. The center hosted a large crane.
All of this was visible in the fading light of the sun and several spot lights that illuminated the towers.
The crafts came to rest at the front door.
"Welcome to Home!" Gippal announced with a sweep of his arms. "Try not to get too comfortable, okay?" He laughed.
As soon as they walked inside, they got the joke. Home was a utility facility, and not a luxury hotel. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't soothing. Just solid metal from floor to ceiling.
At least the air felt good.
"Ahhh, air conditioning!" Tidus proclaimed with a sigh of relief.
"And who the devil are you lot?" A deep gruff voice shouted down the hall.
A bald man walked briskly toward them.
"Hey pops!" Greeted Rikku. "I brought some friends for a visit."
"They don't look Al Bhed, but you decided to bring them here anyway?"
"Well, er…uh…"
Yuna bowed to him politely. "Uncle Cid, I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Yuna."
"Oh wow, really? My, have you grown. I guess you would have, since Rikku's nearly all grown up. But still, to see it…and who are all these folks? Friends of yours?"
"They're my guardians."
"Guardians? Then that means you—oh, no, no, no! I will not have my little niece sacrifice her life!"
"Pops, we've already been through all of this with her. She's set. I'm going with to see if there's a way to stop it."
"So what? You came here to say goodbye before you both die?! Is that what I'm hearing?!"
Yuna only bowed her head this time. "Uncle Cid, we came here looking for sanctuary."
He scoffed. "From what? You know if the temple could find this place they'd wipe it out, right? Not really a sanctuary."
"We are in trouble with Yevon."
"Trouble with Yevon? Boy, you are your daddy's daughter. Whatcha do? Kill a Maester?" He laughed at his great joke, only to stop when he noticed no one else laughing. "Oh no, don't say it's true!"
Auron calmly began to explain, "A Maester threatened Yuna and we protected her. He died in the resulting battle."
"We didn't kill him," Yuna emphasized. "An Aeon destroyed her temple because of his actions."
"Well damn." Cid rubbed the back of his neck. "Tell you what. It's getting late. You can stay tonight for sure. Tomorrow, we'll discuss this further." He gestured down the hall. "Gentlemen, you'll be staying in the Barracks. Ladies, I think Rikku has some cots in her room."
"What about Yuna and I?" asked Tidus.
Cid tapped him on the head. "Boys in barracks, girls with Rikku. Capiche?"
Tidus shook his head. "My bad, you see, Yuna and I are married."
There was a brief pause as Cid's face lit up like a firework and he went ballistic. "Married?!. Who the Sam Hill thought it was a good idea to get married!? You're just little babies! Why would you get married?!"
"Uncle Cid, please understand." Yuna took Tidus's hand. "I asked him to marry me when I discovered that I had feelings for him. I knew that my pilgrimage meant I wouldn't get to live a normal life, but I wanted to enjoy something I thought I would never have—-love."
Tidus squeezed her hand in return.
Cid groaned. "Now you're going to pull on my heart strings! How long have you been married?"
"What—-a week?" He looked to Yuna for confirmation.
"Feels like so long ago with all that's happened, but yes."
"Got it done in the temple, no doubt."
"Yes, at Djose."
"Alright! New plan!" Cid clapped his hands. "Tomorrow, we begin wedding preparations. You two are going to get a proper Al Bhed ceremony. I'll tell you what—-tonight, you'll be separated. We'll find a room for you to share later."
"That's not necessary—" Yuna tried to interject.
"Nonsense! I want to see my flesh and blood get married! And it's been a while since we had a proper ceremony! It'll be great!"
"More delays…" muttered Auron.
"Get plenty of rest! I'll see you bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning!"
