The Fantasy Games (Final Fantasy Fanfiction)

Chapter Two: The Reaping

Neat, orderly lines of sorrowful and fearful looking teenagers faced the grand stage in the centre of Sector Ten. The sky was a gorgeous blue, the sun was shining and birds went about their merry business, it seemed all of nature was oblivious to the cloud of depression hanging over the teens of Sector Ten. No one dared to utter a word as each of them shuffled closer to the person next to them so as not to stand out. They all wore their best and brightest clothes as heavily armoured SOLDIERs strolled around the teenagers, armed and ready to dispose of any rebellious trouble makers. Parents and children stood outside the invisible perimeter, watching with anxiety and terror and praying to Yevon that their child wouldn’t be picked at the dreaded reaping.

The soft breeze rustled through Yuna’s short brown hair, making her brush her side fringe back once again and sending involuntary shivers down her spine. The piece of white fabric wrapped around her neck and crossing over her breasts exposed her shoulders and top back to the cool tropical breeze. Her bright yellow obi kept the material from shifting, as the green flowery patterns seemed to form a circle around her thin waist. Wrapping her arms around herself for warmth, she surveyed the crowd, spotting both Tidus and Rikku standing stiffly with their own age groups. Neither looked happy, Tidus wore an emotionless mask that mirrored her own. She knew he was hiding his fear, everyone knew, but at least they both had the guts to do so. People such as Rikku made no attempt to hide their fear and let it clearly flourish their features. She had the sudden to rush to her cousin and reassure her that everything would be alright, but she couldn’t, not unless she wanted to be punished by the SOLDIERs for ‘rebellious behaviour’ as they called it.

Of course, she’d been punished by the SOLDIERs before for stepping over the boundary lines of Sector Ten, or being caught hunting with Tidus. One time she’d been whipped for standing up for a group of children who had been caught stealing apples from the weekly market. The SOLDIERs wouldn’t dare put her in the Via Purifico for a night or punish her too severely because she was known and respected in the temple. The Yevonites had a great influence over the people and since she had a great grip on her talents in the art of summoning, the priests admired her as they once admired her father.

Though she had to admit, the SOLDIERs here weren’t as strict as SOLDIERs that she’d heard of in Sector Thirteen. They allowed certain things, such as not banning the Yevon religion or turning a blind eye when some of the locals wandered around at night. The captain was laid back enough and only did the bare-minimum in order to keep his job but he could still be quite strict at times.

Yuna grew impatient as her nimble fingers began to tug at her long purple skirt. The soft material was slightly soothing under her fingertips but the long slit up the side allowed the breeze to tickle her leg. Goosebumps appeared on her bare shoulders but she kept herself upright as her tight obi made it hard to breathe if she slouched. Isaaru made her wear the profane, lung-squeezing device to training; he always said it forced her to have good posture and balance. Her long kimono sleeves swayed softly in the breeze as her eyes were drawn to the two large glass bowls full of slips of paper. Her name was in there… on five different slips of paper. What were the chances they’d pick her? Or for that matter, what were the chances that they’d pick Rikku? Everyone would be devastated if Rikku was chosen, especially Gippal, Rikku’s boyfriend. They’d been going out for two years now and Yuna fully approved of them even though her uncle, Cid, didn’t. They were perfect for one another; both were funny, energetic, attractive, popular and sporty. Rikku had tonnes of friends, both boys and girls and she could put the best of models to shame. Her blonde hair always seemed to glitter in the sunlight and her green eyes were like captivating tunnels of forestry with their swirled pupils. Her cream skin was like silk and even for a young girl of fifteen she had more curves than a fully grown woman. Yuna had always wanted to be like Rikku, young, attractive, care-free and fun but her studies and her talents prevented her from doing so.