[EARLY ACCESS] Shrunken on the Celsius - CHAPTER 31

“Hi-YAH!”

You were half-submerged in literal hell when you heard it. Rikku’s voice, sounding above the droning, guttural gurgles of Paine’s gut. At first you wondered if you were imagining it, because you were half-delirious at that point.

In a way, you had started to accept that you were maybe going to die. Not just maybe, probably. At least it would happen because of a beautiful woman, but goddamn…

Your mind clung to Rikku's voice like a lifeline though, the sound cutting through the oppressive, humid darkness surrounding you. The rhythmic churning of Paine's stomach had nearly drowned out everything else—her gut an unforgiving, wet prison, sloshing you from side to side as the walls squeezed in tighter with each rumble. The acidic air stung your skin, the burning sensation growing worse with each moment as her digestive enzymes began to work on you.

"Rikku...?" you managed to croak, your voice barely a whisper, swallowed by the cacophony of Paine's digestive system. The heat was suffocating, your limbs heavy, but you forced yourself to focus. You weren’t sure how long you had left before Paine’s body finished the grim task.

Suddenly, there was a sharp jolt from above, shaking the entire cavernous space. You were thrown against the stomach walls, the sound of Paine's grunt reverberating through the fleshy chamber. A rush of movement—Paine's body convulsing—signaled something was happening outside. The gurgles and growls of her stomach seemed to intensify in response to the external chaos.

Then you heard Yuna's voice, stern and commanding. "Paine, hold still! Rikku, now!"

There was another sudden movement, violent and abrupt, as if Paine had been hit or knocked off balance. You felt the pressure on your body increase, then suddenly diminish as Paine’s stomach lurched and tightened again, this time more aggressively. You were being forced upwards, as if her body was trying to expel you.

"Come on, come on!" Rikku shouted from above, her voice filled with determination. You could sense her urgency, her fear for you.

The walls around you constricted and then relaxed, pushing you further up the slick, narrow tube of Paine's esophagus. The sensation was disorienting, but you felt hope rise with each passing second. You could hear the muffled sounds of Yuna and Rikku working frantically to save you, their voices becoming clearer as you neared the surface.

With one final heave, Paine's body convulsed violently, and you were launched into the open air, tumbling out onto the cold, hard surface of the desk in her room. You gasped, sucking in fresh air, coughing up the remnants of stomach acid as you blinked through blurry vision.

Rikku immediately leaned over the desk, peering at you worriedly, while Paine staggered and clutched her stomach in the background. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

You nodded weakly, still disoriented but incredibly relieved to be out of that nightmare. Yuna leaned down beside you too, her face filled with concern. "We got you," she said softly, brushing a strand of hair from your face with her pinky finger. "You're safe now."

You had never felt super safe with either of them, granted, but compared to Paine they were practically angels.

Paine crossed her arms once she recovered, her expression dark and clearly annoyed. "I wasn’t finished," she grumbled, shooting a frustrated glance in your direction. The way her eyes narrowed at you sent a shiver down your spine—it was as if she still considered you nothing more than an unfortunate snack.

Rikku huffed, stepping in front of you protectively. "Seriously, Paine? You didn’t have to actually try and kill him like that! You’ve had enough fun!"

Yuna, standing between them, looked conflicted, her gentle nature at odds with the situation. She had allowed this game to go on far too long, and she knew it. You were just lucky that she and Rikku had figured it out in time; exactly what Paine was trying to do. Even a little bit later and you might have been dead already.

Her expression softened as she looked down at your battered, shrunken form. The guilt in her eyes was unmistakable. "This has gone too far," she said softly, her voice tinged with regret. "We need to stop. He’s been through enough."

Paine rolled her eyes, exhaling sharply. "He seems to survive anything and everything. But fine, whatever. You’re the boss." Though she relented, there was still a hint of frustration in her voice, as if she hadn’t fully accepted Yuna’s decision.

Rikku crouched beside you, giving you a warm smile, though there was still a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Sorry about all that. We might’ve gotten carried away, but you know how Paine gets when she’s in a mood." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Between you and me, I think she’s just mad because she didn’t get to finish her dinner."

You grimaced. The joke didn’t land too well. 

Yuna’s frown deepened as she turned to the others. "No more games," she declared, her tone more firm. "We’re landing the Celsius. We need to find someone who can actually help him—someone who can get him back to normal."

Paine scoffed but didn’t argue further, while Rikku gave a quick, enthusiastic nod. "Yeah, that’s probably for the best. I think he’s had enough 'adventures' for one day." She winked down at you, still clearly amused by the whole ordeal (and secretly kind of happy she’d had the excuse to kick Paine’s ass for a bit).

Yuna turned back to you, her eyes softening again. "I’m sorry," she said quietly. "I didn’t mean for this to happen. I thought it would be harmless fun, but… it wasn’t right."

You could tell by her expression that she meant it. There was genuine remorse in her voice, and it felt like she was trying to make amends for everything you’d been through.

"We’ll get you back to normal," Yuna promised. "And we won’t stop until we do."

Rikku grinned and ruffled your hair gently with her fingertip. "And hey, once you’re all big and strong again, maybe you can boss Paine around for a change. Y’know…if you ever feel like coming back and seeing us three again.”

Paine shot her a glare, but said nothing, clearly still annoyed that her little game had been cut short. You couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief, though—finally, there was an end in sight to this nightmare.

…

The Celsius hovered over the port city of Luca, its engines humming softly as it began its descent. The crew aboard had been unusually quiet, with Yuna, Rikku, and even Paine lost in their own thoughts. They had decided it was time to fix their mistake, and Luca, with its wealth of knowledge and resources, seemed the best place to find someone capable of helping you.

It was a little sad though. Paine was just pissed she couldn’t finish the job properly, but both Rikku and Yuna were already missing you. 

Once the airship had landed, Rikku wasted no time, scooping your small form up in her hands with a soft giggle, though there was a note of tenderness this time. "Almost there, little guy. You’re gonna be back to your old self soon!" she said, flashing you a wink before gently placing you into a small pouch for the journey through the city.

Yuna led the way as they made their way to the outskirts of Luca. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden light over the cobblestone streets. They passed bustling vendors, musicians, and townsfolk enjoying the evening air, though none seemed to notice the shrunken figure being carried through their midst.

At the edge of town, they arrived at a small, weathered-looking hut nestled among some trees. A sign out front read "Shaman of Luca - Healer of Curses, Mender of Souls." It looked old and mystical, the kind of place where ancient knowledge and power might reside.

Yuna stepped forward and knocked gently on the door. 

As the door creaked open, the shaman who greeted them was not the elderly figure they had expected. Instead, she was a striking young woman, with long, silken hair that cascaded over her shoulders in rich waves. Her skin was smooth and sun-kissed, and her robes clung to her lithe figure, hinting at the toned curves beneath. Intricate glowing tattoos danced up her arms and along her collarbone, giving her an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence.

Her eyes, deep and captivating, glimmered with ancient wisdom as she sized up the group. There was a quiet power in the way she moved, every step graceful, her presence commanding yet alluring. She wore a subtle smile, the kind that hinted she knew more than she let on. Her robes shifted slightly as she walked, revealing flashes of smooth, bare legs beneath.

"Ah," she purred softly, her voice carrying a sultry, melodic tone. "You’ve brought me someone special." Her gaze flickered down to the pouch Rikku carried, her eyes twinkling with curiosity and amusement.

Yuna cleared her throat, her cheeks tinged slightly pink. "Yes, we were hoping you could help him… return to his normal size."

The shaman stepped closer, her scent—earthy, with a hint of jasmine—filling the small space. She leaned in, her fingers brushing the edge of the pouch as she inspected you closely. Her touch was soft but sent a shiver through your tiny form, as if her very presence commanded attention.

"Let’s see what we can do," she murmured, her lips curving into a playful smile. She motioned for the group to enter her hut, her figure gliding with the elegance of a practiced sorceress.

Inside the hut, the air was thick with the scent of herbs and incense. Strange artifacts and talismans lined the walls, and a low fire crackled in the hearth. The shaman gestured for Rikku to place you down on a table in the center of the room, and she began to circle around you, murmuring softly in an ancient tongue.

After what felt like an eternity, the shaman paused and looked up at the group. "The curse is not beyond my power to break," she said, "but it will take time. Days, perhaps, or even weeks. He will need rest, and I will need to gather certain ingredients from across Spira. But fear not—he will be restored."

Yuna breathed a sigh of relief, her hands clasping in front of her. "Thank you," she said earnestly. "We’ll be forever grateful."

Rikku, her usual exuberance tempered by the weight of the situation, smiled down at you. "Looks like you’ll be in good hands for now. Just hang tight, okay?"

Even Paine, who had been mostly silent, gave a curt nod. "You’re lucky. Could’ve ended differently."

Yuna knelt beside you, her face soft with genuine remorse and warmth. "I’m so sorry for everything. I promise, when you’re back to normal, things will be different. We’ll make it right."

One by one, they said their goodbyes. Rikku, always the light-hearted one, gave you a gentle poke and said, "Don’t have too much fun without us, okay?"

Paine merely turned on her heel with a final glance, her expression hard to read.

Yuna lingered the longest, her hand resting gently near you on the table. "I’ll come back to check on you," she said softly. "Take care of yourself until then."

With that, they left the hut, the door closing softly behind them. You were left with the shaman, who began preparing the ritual to restore you. 

At least you were alive. Now, you only hoped, this would work.