While Kuja ran off to find his own way home, the rest of us had gone to rescue Yuna—with the exception of Wakka, who was playing Blitzball—and I might add, that he was getting his ass royally kicked by the Al Bhed Psyches.
We’d found Yuna on an Al Bhed boat, and destroyed their mechanical beast. Yuna came out and was talking to Lulu, Kimahri and Tidus about the Al Bhed and her uncle Cid, who, silly me, sounded a lot like Cid Highwind. Then Lulu did some kind of spell to make the Besaid Aurochs win or something like that, and we had to watch Tidus play.
Lucky for the Aurochs, Tidus was an all-star player for the Zanarkand Abes. Their win would be difficult, since Wakka was out, and the Aurochs had no sense of teamwork when Tidus was Captain. And to make matters worse, they were playing the Luca Goers… Brickson’s team.
Reno watched on with disinterest, latched onto Rufus as Tidus played.
"How do they hold their breaths that long?" Vivi wondered. Sephiroth patted his head.
"It took time and training, young Vivi."
Vivi looked up at the One-Winged Angel, his oval yellow eyes stared in wonder.
"You look like you can do that, Mr. Sephiroth."
Sephiroth laughed wholeheartedly, something the two ShinRa employees Reno and Rufus had never heard from the black-clad silver.
The game held on at 1-0, Goers winning, but Aurochs held a good defense. Then Tidus did his Jecht shot, scoring for the Aurochs and tying the rival teams. Reno looked around for any sign of any other people he might recognize, only finding a well-fought warrior, seeing that his right eyes was useless and it seemed that his left arm was heavily damaged as well, the way he held it inside his red jacket.
"Hey… doesn’t he look almost like a well-aged Vincent Valentine?" Reno pondered as he nudged Rufus. The young president glanced at the warrior.
"Yes… hey—why are they calling for Wakka? Don’t they know he’s injured?"
"They seem to think that he’s fit to finish the game… but that will lose the game for the Aurochs," Sephiroth mused. Vivi looked up at the Demigod again.
"You think so, Mr. Sephiroth?"
He nodded solemnly.
"I know so…"
Auron glanced at the small party of four, but the glint from the sun made it difficult for him to see if they were the warriors from the past. More importantly, he still had to watch over Tidus to fulfill Jecht’s wishes. He blinked, watching Tidus exit the sphere. Jecht wouldn’t be happy.
"Good luck out there, Wakka." Tidus said, rocking back on his heels as he watched the Aurochs Captain enter the sphere for the last time. Of course he felt out of place… but it was, after all, the Aurochs and Wakka’s game.
Kuja cursed softly. He was still in Luca and, judging by the surroundings, in the Theatre Sphere. Theatre? He thought. I may be able to find him… if he was sucked here as well. Concentrating hard, Kuja was able to locate a Life-force. Oh Dearest brother… wherefore art thou? … Aha! There you are…
Kuja glided over to a walkway, past a couple of people selling items. The signal was getting stronger. He opened a doorway—
"Oh dear Alexander… what in Holy’s name are you doing?!" Kuja nearly shrieked.
"Mmph hrmph murrmph!" a monkey tail exclaimed.
"Ugh… swallow, then tell me what you’re doing here." Kuja sighed exasperatedly. A blonde head poked out from under a large plate of fruit and swallowed.
"‘Said I was hungry…"
"Zidane, you’re hopeless."
Zidane took another bite of an apple he was holding.
"Am not." he blinked. "Where am I, anyway? This place looks like Alexandria… but it’s not."
Kuja stood impatiently.
"Do you want to remain here, or find a way back to your Garnet?" he asked. Zidane perked up at the sound of his beloved’s name.
"GARNET!"
"Good, good," Kuja replied. "There are others we have to meet up with. Follow me, then."
"Damnit! There are too many of ‘em!" Reno cried out as fiends surrounded the four. Sephiroth unsheathed Masamune, and Rufus took out his saw-end shot gun.
"I say we all work together," Sephiroth responded. The others nodded. While Vivi cast Thundara, Reno threw Turk Light at a fiend, Rufus used his shotgun and Sephiroth cast Ice3.
"No good… only miniscule damage…" Rufus growled as he began reloading his shotgun.
Sephiroth, however, didn’t hesitate to slice the fiends in half with his Masamune.
"Come on… free way—ungh!" he spat out as a large tail hit him back.
"That’s one ugly monster…" Reno mused as he helped the ex-General up again.
"It’s coated with a thick skin… if I wasn’t distracted—"
The beast then fell dead, leaving the black-clad Demigod speechless, as well as the others.
"So, it is you. Where are the others from your worlds?"
Auron glanced around, hoping to count 14 fighters from the past, only coming up with four.
"What? What the Hell are you talking about? Who are you?" Reno demanded.
"Auron!"
"Sir Auron!"
Reno sighed.
"Question answered."
Tidus looked at Wakka.
"So you know him, too."
Wakka was about to speak when two other people ran up behind them.
"Ah, the Genomes," Auron replied. Kuja glared at Auron.
"I apologize. One Genome, and one White Mage."
Now I was getting confused. How in the Hell did this… Auron… know who we were, and why the Hell were we here? Did he know? I was getting a headache from all the information and the lack of knowledge as well.
We battled fiends, of course, and Sephiroth kept glancing over at Auron all the while. Did he feel threatened by the swordsman because of his power?
Soon there were more fiends than we could count. I had just about used up all of my nightstick’s energy on a flying fiend when it spontaneously combusted. I had looked to Kuja to see that his eyes were on something else. To me, a Summon… to Kuja, an Eidolon… to the people of this world I now know as Spira, an Aeon.
Not long after the Aeon dispelled, we all headed towards the docks, where… we… found Cloud Strife, Cid Highwind and another. He was a bulky guy with flaming red hair and a menacing look. Zidane had called him Amarant.
"Are we there yet?" Reno drawled, hoping to annoy the party of 14. It seemed to be working.
"No, Reno… and quit asking before I use my shotgun on you."
"Can’t we just ride a Chocobo? I saw one in the Engine room on that boat I was on."
"No Chocobos, Reno. Just shut up already."
"Hey Amarant… hear any good gossip lately?"
"…"
"See? That’s why I like this guy. Reminds me of R—"
Amarant suddenly turned and grabbed Reno by the throat.
"Another word out of you, pipsqueak, and I’ll smash your skull in like you were an oglop," he said calmly. Reno immediately shut up.
"Silence at last," Tidus cheered. Reno sulked, placing his glasses over his eyes.
"Don’t threaten him too much, Amarant… we might need the annoying voice again sometime," Cloud smirked. Rufus laughed softly.
I felt lonelier than ever. We passed an ancient temple and I, after making sure no one would see me, sat down inside the temple, softly humming the hymn that the fayth sings. Little did I know that I was followed.
"That’s a pretty song…" Vivi whispered, standing next to the Turk. Reno stopped humming and looked at the young Black Mage. "Where’d you learn it?"
Reno looked down again and shrugged.
"It’s been plaguing my mind. I sing it when I’m frustrated, then I feel better afterwards."
Vivi cautiously sat next to the Turk.
"Are you sad?" he squeaked. The Turk shrugged and sighed.
"Is it because of Amarant? Well… he doesn’t like people very much…"
"It’s not that…" Reno whispered. "I kinda feel alone here…"
"You have us, Mr. Reno."
The Turk looked at the Mage.
"Just call me Reno, t'avére?"
Vivi nodded and Reno patted his head.
"You should… catch up to the others, kiddo… I won’t be far behind…"
Oval yellow eyes saddened as Vivi looked at Reno.
"I just need time to think about things, okay?" Reno replied.
Vivi nodded and got up, dusting his outfit off.
"The sun will be setting soon. I hope you come back before it gets dark," Vivi started as he straightened his hat, "I don’t want you to get lost okay? Mages stick together."
Reno smiled slightly and nodded. He sighed when Vivi took off then glanced down at the object in his hand: a Shiva Materia.
Mama… what should I do?
The only sound then was the crickets chirping and birds singing. Reno got up and headed towards the group once more.
Cid Highwind looked back as Vivi ran up to the party.
"Well, now… the kid’s back." Rufus perked up.
"Did you find Reno?" he asked.
Vivi nodded and said, "But he was sad… he should be coming soon."
Auron stopped then, halting the rest of the party.
"We rest here," he said. Wakka stammered.
"But that’s an Al Bhed shop!"
Sephiroth looked at the shop and shook his head.
"Al Bhed or no, it will be nightfall sooner than we think."
"B-but I’m not tired!"
Auron started for the door saying, "Well I am." The rest of the party, except for Wakka and Rufus, concurred.
"What?" Wakka snapped. Rufus glared at the ex-Auroch.
"I’m waiting for Reno. That’s not a bloody problem, is it?" he growled, making Wakka think twice about getting on Rufus’ bad side before it was too late. Wakka headed inside and Rufus sat near the water, watching as the sun began to sink.
Yuna came out a short while after and sat next to Rufus.
"Are you okay?" she wondered. Rufus looked at her.
"Of course not. I’m a long ways away from home, and Reno still isn’t here." Rufus looked out to the water again.
"You two are… friends?"
Rufus shook his head.
"More than that… but I also control how much he gets paid…"
Yuna blinked.
"I’m his boss… and a special friend to him…"
"Oh," Yuna looked out toward the water. "Has he always been like this?"
Rufus blinked.
"How?"
"Well… he seems scared of something and yet… he shows no emotion."
"You’re talking about me? How rude."
Rufus and Yuna looked back at the redhead.
"Where in Holy’s name have you been?!" Rufus demanded.
"Lost in the depths of my thoughts," Reno replied as he sat next to Rufus. The young president was about to say something when Tidus called for Yuna.
I knew Rufus wanted to yell at me then—to say that hiding away shows fear and that a Turk should never show fear. I would have let him; too, if he hadn’t kissed me passionately, knowing no one was looking.
The rest of our night was spent talking quietly, as we didn’t want to disturb the others sleeping. We snuck outside to look at the stars at around 1:30 AM, wishing that they were the same stars from our Planet, knowing they weren’t.
"Do you think that’s Terra?" Reno asked, pointing to a blue dwarf. Rufus sighed sadly.
"I don’t think it is… Reno… sing that song you sing when you’re frustrated… for me…"
Reno blushed.
"You hear me?" he asked, gazing at the ground. Rufus smiled.
"Of course."
The Turk hugged Rufus tightly then, humming fayth’s hymn again.
We snuck back in without anyone finding us out and slept the rest of the night.
When we woke up, I realized that everybody else was already waiting for us. I had cursed and woken Rufus up, getting ready as quickly as we could. We rushed out just in time to hear a woman scream and declare that Chocobos needed help.
"‘Bout time!" Reno whooped and rushed out with the party.
"Goddamnit, that’s one ugly creature!" Cid exclaimed.
The stampeding Chocobos headed behind the shop and the one in the monster’s hand pecked and ran after the others.
"It’s time," Auron said, unsheathing his Shimmering Blade as well as unclothing his left arm.
The Chocobo-Eater lurched forward as a first attack, hitting Sephiroth. The silver Demigod countered with Demi3, smirking as the monster let out a screech. Both Kuja and Vivi attacked with Firaga, and Lulu hit the monster with Blizzara.
The monster then extended out his arms and lurched forward again, hitting the party back to the edge of the cliff.
"So we’re to be pushed off a cliff…" Auron pondered as Kimahri jumped and speared the Chocobo-Eater. It fell onto it’s back, struggling to get up.
"Everyone, hit it now!" Auron commanded. Tidus and Cloud took a swing at the beast, Wakka threw his Iceball while Amarant threw Gil, Zidane mugged the monster and Reno threw a Turk Light while Rufus shot the beast. The party advanced as the fiend retreated back. Yuna summoned her Valefore and, with everybody else standing back, the Valefore attacked and went into Overdrive, promptly destroying the Chocobo-Eater with its Energy Ray.
With that monster gone, the Al Bhed named Rin congratulated us and let us all use Chocobos for the journey across the Mi’ihen Highroad. I was the first to hop on a giant golden bird, lifting Rufus onto its back as well. The others took well to the gentle creatures, especially Tidus, who’d never ridden a Chocobo before.
I challenged all the riders of the Chocobos to a race, and of course Rufus refused to ride with me while I raced on a Chocobo, since my driving was reckless in the first place. But he stayed on the Chocobo with me.
"Okay Spikes, Highwind, Monkey-tail, Salamander, Blitzball, Goth, Fido, here’s the deal. Whoever gets to the end of this Highroad, I’ll give ya 1,000 Gil. If I do lose, I promise not to make anymore smart-ass remarks for the rest of the trip," Reno announced.
"I’m not going to ride while you people race," Kuja huffed.
"All in good fun, bro," Zidane smirked.
Cloud looked at the Turk and grinned sadistically, saying, "I’m definitely gonna win so I don’t hafta hear that voice of yours."
Reno sneered back.
"On the count of uno, due, tre… uno…"
"Reno… please don’t," Rufus whimpered, as the Chocobos got ready.
"Due…"
"I beg of you, Reno…" Rufus whispered, whimpering, as the Chocobos got set.
"TRE!"
And they were off. Rufus squealed and grabbed tight onto Reno as they raced to the end of the Mi’ihen Highroad.
"Relax, sugar… we’re way ahead of them—little do they know that I know how to charm Chocobos. I gave this one speed."
"Reno… you’re a cheater."
"You hate to lose as much as I do, puddin’," Reno coaxed, looking back and giving Rufus a sweet smile. Rufus smiled in return and pecked the Turk on the cheek.
"Smart boy. Good boy."
"Damn! I lost him!" Cloud cursed as he and Cid rode neck and neck.
"The damned so-and-so probably cheated," Cid replied. Sephiroth shook his head.
"Remember, Cid… a Chocobo can be pushed to his limit, as well. I estimated his Chocobo to go around 183 mph. And that’s just how fast the bloody thing went," Sephiroth responded.
Cid looked at the One-Winged Angel.
"How fast we going now?"
"About half our top speed. We just happened to pick Chocobos that can reach 217 miles and hour." Cid cursed. Cloud narrowed his eyes.
"Well then, let’s mosey!" he whooped as he kicked the Chocobo’s side. She squawked and nearly threw the ex-SOLDIERs off, but she concurred and reached her top speed.
"Ten seconds too slow. We still beat you, Spikes," Reno harassed. Cloud glared at the redhead as he dismounted after Sephiroth. The silver Demigod looked past the cart.
"That must be the way we have to go," he concluded. Rufus nodded.
"No other way."
"Hey… there they are—Highwind and Salamander are neck and neck… and Highwind gets third! Felicitazione!"
"Huzzah…" Sephiroth muttered.
It wasn’t long before the rest of the party made it. I was still giggling about how nobody but Rufus and myself knew that I charmed the Chocobo.
We met up with Luzzu and Gatta as they headed through… Mushroom Rock… as they called it, and we weren’t supposed to go in. I threatened the guard with 50,000 volts of electricity, but they never concurred until Maester Seymour told them to let us pass. I continued to uphold my suspicions about the guy, as did Wakka, Kuja and Sephiroth.
Soon we were all walking the road to Mushroom Rock. I didn’t want to stay on the road, so I bounced on the rocks, Vivi following me, as well as Yuna. And riding the lifts made me feel nauseous, so I decided to look toward the sky.
We had finally made it to the Precipice and were about to ride the lift when we heard an argument break out between Luzzu and Gatta. I stayed back with Vivi and Amarant while the other 12 went to see the problem.
"…"
"I’m…" Reno looked down at Vivi then up at Amarant. The tall flaming-haired man looked down at the Turk.
"Uhmm… Amarant… I’m… apologizing for getting on your nerves back there on the Highroad…"
"I don’t care."
Reno blinked.
"Were you dropped on your head as a child? I just apologized to you for Holy’s sake!"
"…"
"Fine…" Reno grumbled and crossed his arms, leaning on the lift’s railing.
Not much was said, since Vivi was more so looking at the lift in awe, then the scenery. Reno started to hum the fayth’s hymn again as Luzzu walked past. He stopped and looked at Reno.
"I hope you succeed on finding your way home, and my sincerest apologies to you all," Luzzu replied and walked away. Reno watched on as Luzzu disappeared.
Something wasn’t right.
He began singing the hymn softly, the words flowing from his mouth. He just had a feeling he had to sing it instead.
We headed onto the lift and met with the Crusaders not long after. Auron had a conversation with another Maester and, meanwhile I was charging my nightstick, having a feeling I’d need it fully charged for a 50,000-volt attack.
We readied ourselves and waited for Sin to attack. And it did.
Sinspawn Gui posed a problem for all of us, since we needed long-range for attacking the head, which Wakka, Lulu, the Mages (including myself), Rufus, Materia Wielders and Amarant handled. But the creature still wouldn’t die. Sephiroth, Auron, Cloud, Tidus, Kimahri, Amarant and Zidane tackled the arms while Yuna continued her healing on the wounded.
The arms of Gui disappeared and all of the party started to dish out our strongest attacks.
The beast finally collapsed after five minutes worth of being literally pounded on. Yuna finished healing us all and I gratefully thanked the young Summoner. But it wasn’t over yet. Sin was still attacking, and as much as the Al Bhed tried, they couldn’t defeat the monstrous foe.
The ground shook violently as Sin let out a powerful ray of energy. Most of us fell off the cliff, but luckily, I held on tight, Rufus clinging to my midsection. I cried out for assistance, but Yuna and Auron were busy with the reawakened Gui, with Seymour’s help, of course. I didn’t get to see if they defeated it, as I lost my grip and the two of us fell, landing hard on the sand just barely missing wreckage.