"Some day I'll really practice," I said resolutely. "I'll be good enough to join a team."
Jai rolled her eyes. "Yeah," she agreed sarcastically. "You'll be a blitzball star." We laughed. "Come on; we should get to our seats."
"Wouldn't want to miss the filling of the sphere," Alexia agreed.
I hooked my arms in those of my friends and led them into Luca Stadium. I'd always been a huge fan of blitzball; my father, Karzov, had taken me to quite a few matches when I was young and taught me to play as well. He hadn't been an exceptional blitzer, but he'd shown me how to love the game. He also wasn't my real father. He told me I'd been left on his doorstep with only a name. He'd taken me in and raised me as his own, even though it was obvious that I had guado heritage. Funnily enough, people often said that we looked alike.
"I'm always just embarrassed when we come see the Aurochs play," Jai said as we took our seats.
"They're lucky they're playing the Psyches instead of the Goers this time," Alexia added.
"I'm sure it'll be entertaining at least," I replied with a shrug. The Besaid Aurochs were known as the worst team in the league and hadn't won a game in at least ten years. The Luca Goers were the best, and always a fan favorite. The Al Bhed Psyches weren't necessarily a bad team, but they were wildly unpopular. "The problem with the Aurochs is that they have no fighting spirit. They're okay with losing."
"I bet you'd whip 'em into shape, though, right?" Jai asked with a cheeky grin.
I shrugged and let out a laugh. "I'm sure I couldn't hurt their performance."
"When was the last time they even scored a goal, anyway?" Alexia asked.
"Oh, stop. They can score, they just can't win," I said, trying to defend a team who probably didn't deserve it.
As fanfare began, Maester Mika started us off with some opening words. "Today, on this glorious day, players from all over Spira have assembled here to participate in this great contest of bravery, skill, and strength. All of these fine teams, equally renowned, deserve to win the cup today. Such is the nature of this contest. Let us, the spectators, play our role accordingly. Let us sing to the glory of the winners, and applaud equally the valour of the defeated. Contestants, may Yevon be with you." Everybody cheered, music played, and the sphere pool filled.
The players took their places, and the game began. Amazingly, the Aurochs were able to keep up with the Psyches. Three minutes into the first half, the score was 2-2. Some of the Psyches were being really aggressive with Wakka, the Auroch team captain, but the referee wasn't calling it.
"Poor guy's getting the snot beat out of him," Jai said, wincing.
The rest of the match continued in a similar fashion, but the score remained the same. It wasn't until there were only thirty seconds left in the match that the Aurochs launched an all-out attack on the Psyches. Letty through a long pass to Wakka, who caught it and scored the final goal of the game. It was a miracle, and much of the crowd cheered for the underdogs who managed to turn it around.
"That was amazing!" I couldn't help feeling second-hand bliss. I'd never really tied myself down to a favorite team, so I was happy enough to root for anyone.
The next game was about to start. We'd grabbed a quick snack and headed back to our seats. "This is it, folks," Bobba, one of the announcers, began. "In just a few minutes, the championship game! But who could have imagined a championship game between these two teams? Our legendary Luca Goers going against the horrendously ill-fated Besaid Aurochs!"
"This looks like history in the making, Bobba," Jimma added.
Both teams entered the sphere. Wakka had been replaced by someone I didn't recognize. He was facing the Goers' captian Bickson, who took a swing at him.
"They're already going at it, folks," Bobba remarked. "The Goers are taunting the Aurochs!"
Bickson swam away and the players took their places.
"Who's Wakka's replacement?" I asked.
"No idea," Jai said.
"Rumor is that his name is Tidus. No one knows much more than that, though," Alexia said.
"Whoever he is, he's cute," I admitted with a grin.
"Come on, Phyrah," Jai said as she elbowed me. "Head on the game no the boy."
He turned out to be the best player on the team. He was able to score a goal in the last few seconds of the first half. At the beginning of the second half, Tidus unleashed a really impressive shot that took out the two Goers blocking him. He made the same shot again, a little later in the game, the Goers still without a goal. The crowd went wild, and started to cheer for Wakka. It seemed only right that the captain should be part of the reestablishment of his team.
"Say! Where is that player going?" Bobba announced, drawing attention to an exiting Tidus. "He's leaving the sphere pool! He may be injured."
He probably wasn't, though, because Wakka entered the sphere and finished the game. We were all cheering when the horn signaled the end of the match. "Unbelievable! The Aurochs win, folks! This is one for the record books!"
Wakka looked exhausted as he floated on his back. Tidus reentered the sphere and swam up to him. All of a sudden, fiends attacked. The two blitzers defeated the ones in the sphere pool, but more were in the stands. Most people fled, but my friends and I stayed to fight. I summoned Boninio and it my best to help.
Maester Seymour called forth his aeon, which destroyed many of the fiends. It was an impressive display, and the pyreflies filled the stadium. We decided to stick around to make sure everyone was okay.
When we finally left the stadium, we were stopped at one of the docks. "Excuse me," an older man said.
"Sir Auron!" I said with a start, recognizing him as one of high summoner Braska's guardians. I bowed to him.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Phyrah, sir. These are my friends, Jai and Alexia," I replied, confused as to what I'd done to deserve such an honor.
He nodded. "Thank you for assistance fighting the fiends in the stadium. Are you a summoner?"
I blushed and shook my head. "No, and I believe me I've been tested. Boninio's special. He is an aeon, but I've had him for as long as I can remember. I never prayed for him."
"How does that work?" Tidus, who had been with Auron before we approached, asked.
"I don't know my real parents. The man who raised me found me on his doorstep. He said Boninio has been protecting me since then. I don't really know where either of us come from," I explained.
"Where are you headed?" Auron continued. I was incredibly flattered by his attention.
"Back home to Bavolla."
"I believe I am to be headed in that direction also," he said. "It would be advantageous for us to travel together as long as we're going the same direction."
I bowed deeply. "That's incredibly kind of you. Thank you."
He nodded and started walking away. "I'm Tidus," the blitzball player finally said as we followed the legendary guardian through Luca.
"I know," I said with a small giggle. "You're a great Blitzer. Congratulations on the win."
He smiled at the praise. "Thanks."
"What you call that shot that you did?" Jai asked, coming upon on his other side.
"It doesn't really have a name," he said.
"I heard it was called Jecht Shot," Auron said, and Tidus grimaced.
"Like sir Jecht?" Alexia asked. Sir Jecht was another of high summoner Braska's guardians.
Tidus was about to reply, but a better look at Jai's face stopped him. "You're an Al Bhed." He seemed surprised.
She raised an eyebrow. "Is that going to be a problem?"
He held up his hands and surrender. "No. I met some Al Bhed once that saved my life."
Jai smiled. "E's rybbo du rayn dryd."
His face scrunched at the foreign language. "Huh?"
She laughed. "I said, 'I'm happy to hear that.'"
"Hey, maybe you can teach me some Al Bhed," he suggested.
"I'd be happy to. Maybe you'll be a better student than Phyrah."
"Cunno," I replied with a hesitant grin.
"Sir Auron!" someone called out in surprise as we approached the lookout before Mihen. It was lady Yuna, Braska's daughter.
"Yuna," Auron said.
"Sir?"
"I wish to become your guardian. Do you accept?"
She was surprised, and Wakka, who was standing with her, said, "You serious?"
"You refuse?"
"No, no!" Yuna said hastily. "We accept, right, everyone?"
"O-Of course! No problem at all!" Wakka said.
"But why?" the woman on Yuna's other side asked.
"I promised Braska."
"You promised my father?" Yuna paused. "Thank you , Sir Auron. You're welcome to join us."
"And he comes, too." Auron yanked on Tidus's arm.
"Hi guys. Eh, howdy," he said awkwardly. I stifled a giggle.
"This one I promised Jecht."
Yuna gasped. "Is Sir Jecht alive?"
"Can't say. Haven't seen him in ten years."
"I see," she said slowly.
"You'll meet eventually," he added cryptically.
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it."
"This is Phyrah, Jai, and Alexia. They're headed in the same direction as we are, and they're talented fighters. I've offered to travel with them until our paths depart."
"Of course," Yuna said, finally turning to us.
I bowed to her. "Thank you, Lady Yuna. It is an honor to meet you."
"These are my guardians: Wakka, Kimhari, Lulu."