Part 2:
Minfilia didn't answer at first, just stayed silent, thinking. Her suggestion had been a 'spur of the moment' thing, not planned nor thought out. She had meant it to cheer Annabel up, get the woman out of her self induced funk. But now she had to follow though on it and she had NO idea how to go about it.
Annabel for her part stayed silent, watching, waiting. Although she was inpatient to see what Minnie would do, it was tempered by curiosity. So the blonde woman held her tongue and waited.
Finally Minfilia spoke, breaking the silence. "Annabel, as a spirit with no money or corporeal capability, you know I cannot give you the usual things a mortal is accustomed to." To her surprise, Annabel didn't react negatively to that; Minfilia was SURE she would have, perhaps aging HAD actually matured the silly woman some.
"But I DID say I would give you a gift and here it is. Floating up to Annabel, the spirit made the motion of touching the head of the other woman. A flash of light appeared startling Annabel, make her cry out in surprise. As quickly as it appeared, the light faded, leaving Annabel bewildered at what just happened. Minfilia floated back to her previous position and gave the blonde woman a satisfied look.
"There, it worked, I hope you make good use of it dear."
Annabel's mouth opened, closed, opened again. It looked like she wanted to say something but seemed too confused to get the words out. Finally she found her voice. "Excuse me? WHAT worked? What the hell did you do Minnie?"
Minfilia sighed, "what do you think I did Annabel, I gave you your gift like I said I would. Happy Birth day. Do make good use of it."
"Minnie, all you GAVE me was partial blindness from that light. NOT very useful if you ask me."
Minfilia suddenly felt like a ditz herself. Of course the silly woman probably had no idea what she just did. She sometimes forgot that even with all the power in her, Annabel was usually as clueless as ever about stuff. How the woman managed to do half the things she DID do was a miracle in itself.
"Annabel, let me explain. I just gave you a wish. It's......"
Annabel interrupted the spirit, an expression of utter disbelief on her face. "A WISH? Your kidding!"
"If you would be quiet a second Annabel, I am explaining it to you, and you know very well I never kid."
Annabel huffed, annoyed. She waited for a few moments, then when Minfilia stayed quiet gestured for the spirit to continue. "Well, go on."
"Sorry", Minfilia said with a smile, "I was enjoying the respite from your whining." Annabel was not amused. "Cute, well I suggest you hurry up or you will REALLY hear me whine."
The spirit sighed, "fine. Like I said I gave you a wish. Yes Annabel, before you ask it IS a real wish. What you wish for will come true within limits. How I gave it to you you need not know, and is probably way over that ditzy little mind of yours to even comprehend. Let's just say it is something Hydaelyn let me do for you and leave it at that."
Annabel let the slight of her pass as she contemplated this information. A wish....wow, an ACTUAL wish? was it real? True? Should she believe Minnie? The spirit had no reason to lie to her, and she DID say the Crystal gave her the ability to give it. Maybe it WAS real. Realizing this, Annabel began to fret which made Minfilia sigh again.
"What is it now Annabel?"
"Minnie!" Annabel whined, causing the spirit to flinch. "What if I waste it? You know how I am! I'm likely to just blurt out something like; 'I wish I could be somewhere far from here or I wish I had that outfit.' I just know I'll do it!"
"Well Annabel," Minfilia said simply, "you better watch what you say then, and like I said, there are limits to the wish. You can't wish someone dead, you can't wish for vast wealth or great power, though you kind of already have the latter. Just think of it as a 'lesser' wish for lesser things."
"Lesser wish for lesser things," Annabel repeated quietly. "And anything within reason, right?"
The spirit nodded, "yes, anything within reason. Heck, you could even become another race if you wanted to be." Minfilia gave a sly smile. "How would you like to be a Lalafell, I think you would look adorable and make a cute companion for Tataru."
"Minfilia Warde", Annabel exclaimed, using the spirits full name; "Are you KIDDING? Never in a million YEARS would I do THAT! Those things are SMALL and PLUMP! My outfits would look like crap on that body!"
"Just a suggestion dear, what you do with your gift is not my concern. Just TRY not to waste the boon I so generously gave you. Oh and by the way, you're welcome Annabel."
"Huh?" Annabel looked startled, then realization dawned on her pretty face, and she blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm sorry Minnie. Yes, thank you for the gift, it was unexpected and very kind of you to do it. I promise I will try to make good use of it."
"Well”, Minfilia said, "I suppose that's the best I can hope for with you, it will have to suffice. Now Annabel, I hoped that I cheered you up some and you will stop worrying so much." Minfilia turned to look at the obelisk in the distance. "Yes, those things look bad but we have faced bad before and have come out on top. I am sure we will do so again. Whatever those two are planning with these machines will be stopped, believe in yourself Annabel like others do."
Annabel gave a sigh as she turned to look where Minfilia was looking. "Yes, I know, I know. So many believe in me, look TO me to do what needs to be done. I just fear Minnie that one day it just won't be enough. THEN what do I do?"
"Your best Annabel, your best." Minfilia moved and touched a corporeal hand to her friend's face. "That is all we can ask of you. Do the best that you can do and be satisfied in your heart that it was the best you could have done." Annabel stared back at the spirit, not saying anything, just thinking on the words she just heard. then she spoke.
"I guess I better get going, the latest reports are probably in by now and we need to make a plan on what to do about those things. Too bad I can't just wish them away."
Minfilia shook her head no. "I wouldn't advice it Annabel. Oh, by the way, if you try to wish for something that is beyond the power of the wish, it simply won't work. But don't worry dear, the wish won't be wasted."
Annabel looked relieved, "well that's good to know. Ok, time for you to poof and me to scoot. Lots to do and seemingly little time to do it. Gods, Eorzea just never gives me a rest anymore it seems."
"Maybe one day Annabel, you never know. this can't go on forever. One day it WILL all end."
"Now THAT is something I would be glad to wish for." The pretty blonde smiled at that thought as she left the room.
"Yes", Minfilia said to herself as she watched her ditzy friend leave. "I do wish I could have given it to you....."
