Strength In Our Bonds (The Strength in Generations Accompanying Book)

Life on Besaid

Living on the island of Besaid was drastically different from living in the big city of Balamb, although the two were less than twenty miles apart. On the island, things were much simpler, and time seemed to move a lot slower. It was as if everyone knew everyone there, like a great big family. Oh, and of course, everyone loved blitzball.

It was morning, and Vidina was helping his mother with the laundry. He figured that, if he was swift enough, he'd be able to practice more blitz techniques before everyone else came to play...

"Vidina." Lulu handed him a basket full of clothes. "Here, take this one next."

Doing laundry in Besaid was a little different than in the city. There were still washing and drying machines, but they were all located in a washing house up on a hill. Whenever anyone wanted to wash their clothes, they'd take them there.

Halfway to the washing house, Vidina realized that the basket he was carrying was full of underwear.

"Mom! Did you have to give me this one?!" he complained. "You didn't even put a lid on it!"

Lulu didn't even flinch. "Where were these complaints when I first handed you the basket, Vidina?"

"Oh, yeah. About that. I may have not been paying attention..." he admitted.

"Is there something more important on your mind?" questioned Lulu.

"What? Uh, no. Of course not..." Vidina chuckled nervously. "Just, laundry is such a mundane task that you don't realize what you've got sometimes, ya?"

Lulu just gave him a deadpan look, before turning around and continuing to walk.

When they'd finally made it, Lulu asked, "Do you have any plans for the day?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. I was gonna go with Berrik to train in the forest, or maybe in the wilderness on the mainland. I don't know. He just wants to train, and I think it'll be good."

"Indeed." Lulu nodded. "Have you ever thought of learning magic?"

"Can't really say I have." Vidina shrugged. "Dad said that some of it is necessary anyway so he can teach me some of the moves he used to use, but I don't ever see myself needing them. Especially since I'm usually with my friends when there are creatures around. At the very least I'll have Berrik, and he knows some sabotage magic and Haste."

"You don't have him now," pointed out Lulu.

"Yeah, but I have you."

"What if I'm unable to use any magic?"

"Ma, I honestly can't think of any reason why you would be unable to use magic. It's not like any of the things here can use Silence." Vidina shrugged. "I've got this under control. Just trust me."

Lulu had a mind to do a great many things, but none of those were trusting Vidina on something like this.

"Oh, but first, Dad was gonna help us with some new blitz techniques," he added as they made their way back home. "But if you need some more help around the house-"

"No, just go." Lulu loved her son, but he was best in small doses during the day, especially when it had to do with housework. Vidina had a habit of ruining things around the house when he meant to help.

"Don't feel bad, my mom refuses to let anyone else in the house when she's cleaning," Berrik said to him as they walked together to the beach. "Including my dad! Especially my dad, actually..."

Vidina laughed. "Well, in her defense, the last time I tried to help with dishes, I broke at least four glasses..."

"No one should blame you for that though! It's like those glasses are specially made for dropping!" Berrik looked around. "Have you heard if Gale and Lin are practicing with us today?"

"Uh... I think they might be," Vidina nodded. "We'll see in a few minutes, I guess."

~ * ~

"Okay, let's try this one." Wakka picked up his blitzball, which was floating on the water near him. "Vidina, to Linna. Lin, you pass to Gale, who passes to Berrik, then back to me. The trick is to do this either as quickly or as powerfully as possible. This maneuver is usually done with four people, and that's why it's called the 'blitzball square.'"

"So now it's the 'blitzball pentagon,' ya?" asked Vidina.

Wakka laughed. "Exactly."

Communication may be strained between himself and his mother, but Vidina couldn't recall a time where things weren't idyllic between himself and his father. He could remember being a small child and just rolling the blitzball on the ground because it was too big for him to pick up.

After a few practices, Wakka went to go find Tidus, and the youngsters practiced a little on their own.

"Can we practice swimming a little?" asked Linna. "Swimming in the warm water here feels kind of weird after playing back home. It's like a wedgie... with water."

Vidina laughed, and turned to Berrik. "Your cousin says the strangest things sometimes." Then, to Linna. "Let's do it, Lin. We got to work on Gale not being slow anyway."

"Hey!" he complained.

"I meant in the water... but we should probably work on the other way, too."

"I hate you sometimes." Gale threw the ball at Vidina's head.

"You love me." Vidina laughed. "Just wait here, I'll go change into my swim gear and we can go."

Inside his home, Vidina searched his room for his swim trunks until he realized- they were in the wash with the rest of his mother's laundry haul. "Oh, great..." he sighed. "Now what?"

"Looking for something?" asked Lulu, coming from her and Wakka's room.

"Yeah, I need my practice trunks so I can swim with the guys," he replied. "I put them in with the wash. Are they done yet?"

"They're on the dry cycle," replied Lulu. "You can wait, or you can wear an old pair in the basement."

Vidina sighed. "Guess I'll take the old pair."

Needless to say, by the time Vidina got down to the beach again, he was feeling the pain of borrowing ill-fitted swim trunks.