"Hey, Yuna! It's time!" A blonde haired man called down a hall.
A beautiful, brown haired woman came out of the room at the end of the hall. She was dressed in a blue, frilly outfit with brown boots. Her hair was also brown and her eyes had heterochromia. One eye was green, while the other was blue. The woman hurried up the hall to the man.
"You ready?" He asked.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this."
"Righto. By the way, that costume looks great on you."
"Thank you, honey. Your outfit looks pretty good too."
The blonde haired man was dressed in a yellow, zipped up shirt with a white hood. He had black pants with chains hanging off the sides. His shoes were back and yellow, with zippers running down their middles. All in all, he greatly resembled a rock and roll band member.
"You think so? I just sort of cobbled it together."
"It looks great, Tidus. Now, do you have your guitar?"
"Of course. And get this, their letting me use a hover board for the show. I hope I don't fall off. I really don't feel like going to the medic today."
"I'm sure you'll be fine. You're very acrobatic and you have great balance. Remember when you and the others came to rescue me from Seymour at Bevelle?"
"Yeah, although that's one asshole I could do without thinking about ever again."
"Well, even so, I remember it well too. And looking back on some of the smaller details of it, I remember you zipping down on the wires from Uncle Cid's air ship. Everyone else did too, but you were moving far faster and you even jumped and flipped across a few of the wires to dodge gunfire. And you never lost your footing once. If you can pull that off, I'm sure that you can handle a hover board. And, even if you do fall for some strange reason, don't worry about a medic. I'll always be there to treat your injuries."
Tidus took Yuna's hands in his own. The golden bands they wore on their left ring fingers clinked quietly when they touched.
"Thanks, Yuna. You always know how to make me feel good."
Yuna pulled her hands away and then playfully flicked Tidus on the nose.
"Of course I do. I'm your wife. It's my job."
Tidus smiled and nodded.
"Well, come on. This show ain't gonna perform itself."
"Right behind you. By the way, is Ranu in the audience?"
"Yep. Wakka, Lulu and Vidina are keeping an eye on him. It's a funny thing that we need three people to keep an eye on our son."
"And it still doesn't feel like enough, I know. He gets that from your side of the family, you know?"
"Knowing my family, yeah, I'll agree with that. Okay, enough chit chat. Let's go give the people what they want."
"Lead the way."
Tidus and Yuna made their way to their appropriate positions. The lights lit up the stadium and a young woman dressed in a green and white dress with a bright green hat walked out to the center of the stage. She held a microphone up to her mouth.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Shelinda and I'd like to welcome you to the fifth annual orphans benefit concert here in Luca stadium. As always, tonight is about raising funds for the unfortunate children of Spira who have lost their parents to various tragedies. From fiend attacks to natural phenomena like quakes, poor young souls have had their loving mothers and fathers ripped from them. Tonight, we unite to show them that they aren't alone. Tonight we show that Spira cares!"
There was a roar of applause.
"Now, we'll be taking donations throughout the night. And speaking of donations, I was informed that the Spiran Coalition, led by governors Baralai, Nooj and Gippal, has donated a unbelievable sum of twenty million gil!"
The crowd roared and began chanting.
"Spira, Spira, Spira." The chant, which was now nigh on customary when applauding the coalition's actions.
"Unfortunately, the governors couldn't make it tonight. We do, however, have several celebrities with us. With us tonight in the audience are four very special guests. First, please welcome Sir Wakka."
A spot line shined down upon Wakka and a camera machina came up to him, causing him to wave enthusiastically to the crowd.
"Sitting next to him is his wife, Miss Lulu."
Lulu stood up and waved politely to the crowd.
"Of course, they are two of the guardians who defended our only living high summoner with their very lives so she could bring a permanent end to Sin. Despite not even having the backing of Yevon and having to fight the corrupt Maestor Seymour, they bravely pushed forward to victory. I believe we all owe them a big thank you, don't you?"
The crowd roared the words thank you, which made Wakka scratch his head sheepishly and Lulu slightly blush.
"Now, our third celebrity is yet another member of this family. The up-in-coming ace of the Besaid Aurochs and major contributor to their spectacular second place finish in last year's blitzball season, please give a warm welcome to Vidina."
Vidina smiled into the camera as came in for a close up. He was wearing the typical Aurochs uniform, with the only modification being black bracers on his wrists. He held the blitzball he had with him constantly high into the air.
"Man, you can really see it on that big screen." Wakka said to Lulu quietly, while looking a huge sphere screen in the heart of Luca stadium.
"You mean how much Vidina resembles Chappu? Yes, I see it too. It's not identical. His nose is a little different and he definitely has your eyes. But, the family resemblance is strong."
"And last, but certainly not least, we have a legend to be. Please give your warmest to the most famous son in all of Spira, the son of Lady Yuna and Lord Tidus, Sir Ranu!"
The camera shot over to the young man sitting next to Vidina. The young man waved, but made no effort to stand up. He was wearing a blue shirt and a red, hooded jacket with black pants bearing the symbol of both the legendary Blitzball team, the Zanarkand Abes, and his family on the right leg. His shoes were red and black. His hair was blonde and spikey, slightly resembling his maternal grandmother's. His eyes were blue, but had spiraling pupils, an inheritance from his mother's al-bhed half.
"Why'd she have to call me sir? I haven't done anything to deserve a title. And 'legend to be'? Geez, Shelinda, don't make me up to be some kind conquering hero." Ranu thought.
"And now, with all the non-performing celebrity introductions out of the way, allow me to introduce our performing celebrities. First, he's the son of Sir Jecht and husband to our high summoner. Please welcome tonight's lead guitarist, Lord Tidus!"
Tidus rocketed up from the depths of the stadium on his hover board. He gave quick solo before flying off to his starter position for the actual concert.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! Here's a woman who needs no introduction. The slayer of Sin and destroyer of Vegnagun, all of Spira get on your feet and welcome High Summoner Yuna!"
Yuna strolled onto the stage a roar that shook the stands. Ranu held his hands over his ears, but still tried to support his mother.
"Break a leg, mom!" Ranu shouted as loud as he could.
Soon after the crowd finally quieted down, Tidus began to strum his guitar and Yuna began to sing. It was a number loved by all of Spira, though no one except Yuna's inner circle knew that the song had been originally sung by a gang leader named Leblanc who was disguised as Yuna. Still though, it was a catchy song that men, women and children alike could enjoy. Its title was real emotion. While Wakka tapped his foot, Lulu patted her legs and Vidina swayed to the beat, Ranu was distracted. The overall loudness of concert drowned out a woman's cry for help. But, Ranu could see her. She was seated in the row of seats directly below the balcony Ranu was currently in. A thug was trying to steal her purse and every else was too focused on the concert to hear or notice her. Ranu knew he was the only one that knew what was going on. So, without a second thought, Ranu went into action and jumped over the railing of the balcony.
Ranu landed five feet from the scene of the crime, but by the time he'd stood up from his landing, the crook had taken off running. Ranu gave chase, pushing past the crowd in his way.
"Excuse me, pardon me. Trying to stop a criminal here."
Now the crowd began to take notice. Some tried to grab ahold of the crook, but to no avail.
"Oh now they notice. Just took a 'celebrity' getting involved." Ranu thought to himself as picked up the pace.
It was now that Ranu could hear a familiar flittering noise coming from behind him. When he looked over his shoulder, he could see a camera machina following closely behind him. He looked over to the screen to see the chase being shown to everyone. He was positive that, while his mom might not see it due to the big screen being positioned high above the stage, his father certainly would.
"Damn, I am gonna get such an earful. Oh well, more important things first."
Ranu slid into his fastest running speed and quickly caught up to the crook. He jumped up and slammed his fist into the back of the man's head, knocking him to the floor.
"Show's over for you, buddy. Now give back the nice lady's bag."
"Actually, we have other ideas." Ranu heard.
Ranu looked up to see four more men starting to encircle him.
"Oh really? And what would those other ideas be?"
"We walk out of here with the bag and all its gil and we don't have to rough up Lady Yuna's son in public like this." The obvious leader of the crooks said.
Ranu smirked and then laughed loudly.
"What's so funny?" the lead crook asked.
"Well, it sounded like you thought that the five…" Ranu looked down at the crook he had been chasing. He was still on the floor and obviously out cold. "Make that the four of you could beat me up."
"Of course we can. You're Lady Yuna's son. You're practically the prince of Spira. You live a life of ease, so you must be as soft as the fresh fallen snow on Mt. Gagazet."
"Mr. Ugly, you have no idea how wrong you are. I believe an example is in order. So then, shall we?"
"Heh, your funeral son. Get him guys."
The men attacked Ranu. The first came right for his head with a right hook. Ranu blocked the attack and then spun the man's arm around. He then planted his foot into the man's back, kicking him to the floor. Another man came at Ranu from behind, ready to cold cock the young man in the back of the head. However, Ranu anticipated this and, spinning on his left heel, Ranu slammed his right leg into the man's stomach. He then punched the man in the head twice, left first, right second. He then jumped up and planted his foot into the man's stomach. With this foe down, he turned his attention to the third man. Ranu blocked several punches from him, before hitting him hard with a blitzball inspired shoulder ram. He then grabbed the man by the collar and threw him over his shoulder. Without giving the man time to get up, Ranu brought his right leg up and performed a powerful axe kick to the man's ribs. Finally, Ranu turned to the leader. The leader quickly revealed a small talent for magic. He casted a diminutive fire spell at Ranu, which Ranu was able to block with his shoulder without damage due to its weak power. Ranu then rushed in, elbowed the man in the chest, hammered him in the face with a flurry of punches and then turned around. Ranu leaped into the air and performed his father's signature blitzball kick as his finishing attack. His foot caught the top of the man's head and slammed him face first into the floor, knocking him out cold. It was at this time that the stadium security finally arrived.
"Ah, hello, gentlemen. Do me a favor and clean up the mess, please? I've got a delivery to make." Ranu said, scooping the bag that had started it all off the floor.
"O-of course, Sir Ranu. Thank you for your assistance." One of the security men said.
"No problem. Oh, and, uh, be careful with them, okay? They talk big but they all have a glass, well, everything. I didn't even really hit them at full strength and look them. Just be careful not to break any bones while carrying them away. Now then, if you'll excuse me."
Ranu hurried through the crowd and back to the woman.
"Here we are, ma'am. I believe this belongs to you."
"Oh thank you so much, Sir Ranu. Your parents must be proud of you."
"Yeah, heh, we'll see about that. Anyway, let me apologize for all the trouble. Uh, please, try to enjoy the rest of the concert."
"I will. And thank you again."
Ranu then hurried back to where Wakka and family were. Ranu could see Lulu staring daggers at him.
"What? Nobody else was doing anything, aunt Lu."
Lulu simply shook her head and sat down.
"It's not that she's upset that you helped that woman. She expects that out of you. She's upset about the fact that you didn't shoe away that machina that followed you. You could've done that without having every moment recorded. Lu taught you thunder magic and thunder magic blows up any machina, remember?" Wakka asked.
"Oh, yeah. She's upset that I forgot about her teachings. Uh, guess I was caught up in the moment and in a hurry and I just sort of forgot about the machina following me. So, uh, everybody saw that."
"Yeah, everybody saw you lay a beating on those crooks. Everybody." Wakka said, looking toward the stage.
Ranu could see his father, still on his hover board and positioned near the stage, starring right at him. Ranu waved nervously and sat down next to Vidina.
"You are dead. You know that, ya?" Vidina asked.
"What else is new?"