The Moonflow~

Mana: *repeats the process a few times before grinning at the shoopuf* Do you like water, Shoopuf~?

*The shoopuf trumpets its horn in agreement with Mana. Yuna calls up to Mana*
Yuna: Mana! They have to prepare the shoopuf to board now!
*Rikku calls up too*
Rikku: Yeah! Get down from there and get over here! We gots shoopuf to ride!

Mana: (whiny) Can't I ride this one? I feel like it's Chocina and I want to stay with it. *clings to the shoopuf's trunk lovingly*

*The shoopuf trumpets again*
Rikku: Well, at least let'em put some travelling gear on it! You can't ride a shoopuf bare-back!
*Rikku pauses*
Rikku: ...Or can you? Yunie, what would it be like to ride a shoopuf without the seats on?
Yuna: ...I think it would be windy...
Paine: And bumpy.
Rikku: Yeah, but think of how fun it'd be to hold on to its back~!
Paine: Have fun.
*Rikku sticks her tongue out at Paine*

Mana: *looks in the shoopuf's eyes* Shoopuf~? Would you mind if we put travel gear on you or do you not want any? *tilts head* Also, I didn't catch your name.

*The shoopuf blinks its large eyes and trumpets out another response. From what is intelligible, it doesn't have a name, though it does show a disdain for the equipment*

Mana: Then no equipment for you~! *hops onto the shoopuf's back* And how do you like the name Freedom~? Too cliche? Or do you like it?

*His trunk bellows quite happily in agreement with the name, and Rikku sweatdrops*
Rikku: What is it about us that attracts all the nuts, huh Yunie?
*Yuna giggles*
Yuna: It makes life interesting~
Paine: ...We're going to have to ride that thing without any seating, aren't we?
*Yuna and Rikku both nod, and Paine sighs*
Rikku: All aboard that's coming aboard!
*The four of them raise up a nearby elevator and climb up onto the elephant-animal's back. The Hypello, whom doubles as a driver, doesn't seem very happy with going seat-less*
Hypello: Ish ebillibody ready?
*Yuna, Rikku, and Paine all nod, and Sugar gives a short bow of her head as well. The shoopuf sounds off as well, causing the Hypello to sweatdrop*

Mana: *points happily in a random direction, grinning widely* Onwards! To victory!

*Freedom begins walking to Mana's order, almost tossing off the Hypello*
Hypello: SH-SH-SHOOPUF ISH GOING CRASHY!
*Though the pace is indeed a little quick and causes a nice breeze to the riders, the Hypello acts as though they're going hundreds of kilometers per hour and grips the bridal for dear life. The others, however, adjust to the speed fairly enough, despite the lack of saddle*

Rikku: Mana! Come here!
*Rikku beckons for Mana to join the others*

Mana: *crawls over to them with a smile on her face* (singsong) Yes~?

*Nobody seems to look very excited, barring Paine, whom looks about as excited as usual*
Yuna: Mana.... we're not too far away from Guadosalam now... so.... how are you feeling?

Mana: *her expression of lightheartedness drops like a bowling ball and she looks away from the group* Right... There's that... *looks back at them with determination set on her expression and she nods* I'm going to do my best, regardless of what may come. *although the fiery passion to stand strong doesn't waver, somehow, doubt moves into her expression as well* Although... I suppose I should've trained with the Aeons more... *her wand materializes into her hand* I've only fought with Valefor and the Magnus Sisters...

Rikku: That's right, but they respond to you pretty well, huh~?
*Rikku gives Mana a thumbs up. Paine turns to Yuna*
Paine: Yuna. Why don't you train her?
Yuna: Train her? But... I'm not sure-
Rikku: You can do it Yunie! You're the best summoner in Spira!
Yuna: With Mana here, I'm not so sure that applies anymore... ^v^;
Sugar: But... you're High Summoner Yuna... the first High Summoner to live with the title. If anybody can help Mana train, it's you, My la-, ah, Yuna...
*Yuna flushes from the praise, but nods her head*
Yuna: A-alright then. Mana, if you'll have me, I'll be glad to help you become used to your summoning of the Aeons.

Mana: *eyes light up in excitement* That would be amazing! *tackle hugs Yuna* Thank you Yuna~!

*Yuna blushes even more*
Yuna: It's the least I can do to help!
Paine: The least you can do to help is nothing.
*Rikku nudges Paine*
Yuna: So... I suppose we can begin as soon as the shoopuf reaches the other end of the Moonflow.
Sugar: ....And... this training will be safe, right?
*Yuna nods her head, and Sugar secretly sighs in appreciation*

Mana: *tilts her head in thought* Hey Yuna... I've been thinking, actually... *looks at her shoes as she clacks the toes of them together* Why did Tidus have to leave again?

*Yuna's eyes immediately drop and she looks over the edge of the shoopuf*
Yuna: ......The Fayth told me... they couldn't keep dreaming... so he couldn't stay...
*Both Rikku, and even Paine to an extent, seem concerned for Yuna*

Mana: But the fayth are awake, or, er, "sleeping" right now, aren't they? Wouldn't that mean there's a chance he could be... re-dreamt? I mean... *she purses her lips, hesitant by the flow of ideas churning in her head* I... I don't want to get your hopes up for nothing, honestly... But... There has to be a reason why I keep seeing him all over the place, wouldn't you think? Maybe... *eyes brighten with an idea, but furrow in thought* (to herself) Hrm... No... That's... a little extreme...

*Yuna doesn't respond, but Rikku piques her curiosity*
Rikku: What? What's too extreme?

Mana: *looks at the shoopuf's back in order to avert her gaze, but she addresses Rikku's question regardless* I... was thinking... *shakes her head again* No, it's kind of messed up... I don't know if it's even to be considered a solution... It seems... wrong...

*Rikku doesn't seem to want to push, but...*
Paine: A lot of solutions seem wrong at first.
*Paine adjusts one of her legs to rest her arm on as she sits on the shoopuf*
Paine: But if you keep wussing out-
Yuna: P-Paine!
Paine: -then you won't ever have a solution.

Mana: *purses her lips, before sighing and looking at the three with pleading eyes* Just... don't hate me, alright? *looks down at her hands contemplatively before voicing her idea* I thought... Maybe... If Tidus is somewhere, materialized right now... Or even if he's not... Maybe... Maybe I could make a plushie that could give him a living form...

*Everyone goes silent*
Paine: ...On the other hand-
Rikku: A plushie?
Sugar: She means, like those boys that she summoned before... to help her against Seymour...
*Rikku regards Sugar as if she'd forgotten the rabbit was there*
Rikku: But... he's not even an Aeon... even if he were out there somewhere, would you be able to find him...?

Mana: *shakes her heads* They don't need to be Aeons. Zatch and Kiyo were... Well, Kiyo was human. Zatch is a different race, but still... All they need to be is someone with a soul and I can tie them to a plushie. As for finding him... *looks up to meet Rikku's gaze* It's better to try and fail than to not try and have the chance to succeed slip away, don't you think?