![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
danko_kaji) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomweekly2016-05-28 06:00 pm
[#015] Leader of the New World (Final Fantasy X | X-2)
Title: Leader of the New World
Fandom: Final Fantasy X | X-2
Rating/Warnings: PG-13, violence
Bonus: No
Word Count: 1000
Summary: Tidus thought it would be simple – meet up with Yuna, join the bandwagon of saving the world again – until the Chancellor of Spira stole the spotlight, casting him out into the role of a helpless spectator while he fought to protect his own people from another crisis. Post-Will-. Hints of Tidus/Yuna/Baralai.
When Tidus finally arrived at the Moonflow, he saw the crowd of people gathered before the river, their eyes riveted on the beautiful, silver-haired woman standing alone in front of a shoopuf wading in the water. A heavy hush fell over the scene, and everyone appeared to be waiting for something. He looked around, confused.
“That’s the Head Coordinator of the Senders, Ilyria,” Chuami whispered, filling in the blanks for him. “An ex-Summoner, and the lord Chancellor’s mother. Kurgum told me Lady Ilyria wanted to host a public Sending in response to the beckoned Shoopuf.”
She started to dance, twirling in her elegant, blue dress and spinning her long, golden staff. It brought to mind the first time Tidus witnessed Yuna perform a Sending, and he ripped his eyes away from the haunting spectacle to search for Yuna. He found her soon enough, standing at the forefront beside a tall, dark-skinned man dressed in fancy-looking green robes. He recognized the guy, saw his pretty face plenty of times flashing on the billboards and live streams of Bevelle. The Chancellor of Spira, previously known as the Praetor of New Yevon.
He scrunched his nose, disliking the fact they were standing together. ‘Is this the guy Yuna’s in love with…?’
A primal shriek shook the air, followed by an earth-pounding march of hooves.
The male shoopuf barrelled into the scene, heading straight for the stunned Head Coordinator; a blur of black snatched Ilyria in a bridal carry, teleporting them out of harm’s way; the Chancellor charged in, brandishing his razor rod to deflect the shoopuf’s mighty lunge with a quick-timed barrier spell.
Tidus sprinted down the incline with Lulu and Chuami following close behind, but before they could join the fray, Baralai subdued the shoopuf long enough to withdraw. Tidus scrambled to a halt, confused; a small, emerald-green animal perched on his shoulder leapt into the air, emitting ruby light from its forehead and conjuring an iridescent barrier to separate him and the rampaging shoopuf from everyone else.
“Baralai!” In a rare show of passionate concern, Yuna banged her fists against the magical wall. “Let me in! Let me fight with you!”
“I apologize, Lady Yuna.” He smiled back at her, before facing forward again. “But civilians must stay back.”
The shoopuf goes for a skull bash, and Baralai rooted his feet in the ground, twirling his staff to parry its headbutt. He continued to weave an entire series of consecutive barrier spells until he shoved the creature back with a harsh flick of his wrist. It staggered for a moment, allowing him the chance to tuck his staff and make a dash for it. He slashed at its four legs in a sweeping circle, avoiding its angry stomps and the violent swipes of its elongated snout.
Baralai stopped in front of the river, clenching his free hand to his chest, gathering mana. He waited for the shoopuf to survey the area and find him, bulldozing straight for him, before releasing the gravity spell to haul its titanic weight into the river behind him. He pulled out his handgun to unload about three-to-fight shots, rune-laden bullets that exploded upon contact, to rob the rest of its strength to fight.
Sheathing both his gun and staff, he turned to approach the crowd, unaware of the pyreflies gathering behind him.
The female shoopuf returned from its wake, coiling its long, thick nose around his body. Baralai struggled in place while it lifted him up in the air, and then it slowly started squeezing him, crushing his bones in its unforgiving, vice grip. He screamed in pain, causing the crowd to erupt in fear and panic. His scream wouldn't die until it tossed him in direction of the river, followed by a harsh splash!
The shoopufs reunited on land, coming together in a tangle of noses, nuzzling foreheads; a loving sight too tragic and sickening to behold for the living.
A rune of white light appeared on the riverbank, followed by Baralai’s trembling, drenched form. His breaths were haggard as he attempted to stand, and he thrust his hand out towards the beckoned shoopuf – milky, white light shot from its body straight into Baralai’s, enveloping him in its sinister glow. He prolonged the absorption spell until pyreflies dispersed from its body, unable to maintain physical form.
The male shoopuf howled in rage and grief, setting its sights on him.
Another rune bled into being beneath his feet, glowing red and growing wide in diameter. Baralai stood lighter on his feet, breathing deep, forsaking his staff to hold his hands out to the sky, before bringing them close in, channeling the mass amount of mana soon to be unleashed, all the while unafraid of the shoopuf’s advance.
Sharp lightning and plasmic fire burst forth, scorching it alive.
Tidus stared, stunned by the man’s prowess. Only the shallow rise and fall of its chest indicated that the shoopuf still lived.
Baralai exhaled, lowering his arms, dispelling the remnants of his mana along with the magical wall. His animal familiar returned to his side, and he walked forward, brushing his hair back, shaking his robe off, attempting to dignify himself in front of his people.
“If I die, my mother will grieve, but she will Send. If my father dies, my mother will grieve, but she will Send. Many of us believed that the era of Summoners had ended, but the truth is: Summoners never cease to be relevant. Summoners are our past, present, and future, just as life and death are a natural cycle we must follow. We all struggle with loss, with letting go… But if any one of you find yourself incapable of moving forward, allow me to take that first step for you. Allow me to shoulder all of your burdens. This beckoning epidemic may not resolve in two years time, or ten years or twenty, but rest assured I will be there with you every step of the way.
"I swear it.”
no subject
But is it bad that I feel sorry for the shoopufs?
no subject
And I feel sorry for the shoopufs as well, but it had to happen. Because Baralai is a man of duty, he had to separate them to show the public beckoning is wrong (bringing back their loved ones from the dead, which is phenomenon that shouldn't be possible outside of a unique location, but the balance is all disrupted).
Plus, I wanted the shoopuf couple to symbolize Tidus/Yuna, because Tidus is the one beckoned by his (ex)lover. It's a really sad situation everywhere.
no subject
no subject
I'm babbling, though. Thank you again for reading. <3
no subject
no subject
no subject