Hey all, Im updating faster than I thought! We get to see a little more action in this chapter...

b4k4-san: Just google search 'al bhed translator'. I use the second one, it gives phonetics (how to pronounce it) as well.


Sin…Yevon…Summoners…Farplane…

It was a lot to take in. Thankfully, as many of the problems caused by Spira's previously corrupt government had apparently been solved, Riku hardly needed to worry about it.

At first, he had though that Besaid was all there was to this world, perhaps a few other islands, much like the tiny archipelago system he grew up with back home. But as the enthuastiac girl who shared his name continued in her explanation, he began to realise that this planet was a lot larger than any other he had visited. Riku assumed that meant they were aware of the multitude of other worlds that awaited them beyond the stars.

"Wait," said Rikku, pausing as she concluded the tale of Shuyin and Lenne, and of Tidus' return. "Here I am, telling you all this, but…how come you don't know anything about Spira?"

Apparently not.

"Did you grow up on the ocean floor, or something?" She punched his arm playfully. It didn't hurt, but he drew back in mock offence.

"Certainly not!" He looked around. The story had carried them from dawn right through to the afternoon. The sun was shining much more brightly now, and everyone was going about their daily business. Children played, dogs yapped, and some of the older villagers were simply wallowing in the peace. One advantage of being unaware of other worlds, he thought carefully. Is that they don't always have to worry about the dangers of the Heartless or Nobodies all the time. Things were…peaceful here. "I come from far away," he said, turning back to look at Rikku. "I-" He suddenly felt a twinge of regret and guilt. He had grown up in a place just as timeless and peaceful as this. A year ago, he would never have suspected anything.

Was this safe haven really so safe?

He noticed the girl gazing at him intently. She had sparkling, emerald eyes with a swirl in them that, if you looked at it right, seemed to reflect the sun in every direction. It was…mesmerising. He realised he was ogling, and mentally slapped himself.

You're on an important mission. No time for chatting up girls, you need a way off this world, fast. Luckily, she hadn't noticed his slip-up. "I- I don't want to talk about it."

"Ok, I understand," she said, and bounded up on her feet. "Well, Rick, I have to get going. I'll see you round."

"Err- wait!" He stuttered as she turned to leave the village. She looked back at him. "Why did you call me Rick?"

"Well, It gets confusing using the same name for each other."

"Wait- um…" She huffed and folded her arms. Riku was furious with himself. What the hell are you playing at? You're like some stuttering fanboy! "You're leaving?"

"You were listening to the story, right? I'm a sphere hunter, so it's my job to hunt spheres!" her face lit up as if it were the most amazing thing in the world. "Yuna, Paine and Tidus are coming too."

Riku's face remained impassive, but a furious battle of will was taking place inside. On the one hand, he needed to get back on his mission, ASAP. However, he wasn't going to be able to do that unless he found out some more about this world and, more importantly, how to get off it. These spheres apparently held a lot of information. Should he become a sphere hunter with Rikku and learn more?

Or was that just an excuse to get closer to her?


In the ruins of Zanarkand, something stirred.

At first, it puddled on the ground, then rose up and became, a dark, twisted parody of some vaguely humanoid creature, warped beyond all humanity. Where fingers and feet should have been, three sharp claws glinted, yet no light came from them. Rows of black teeth lined its mouth, and long, jagged antenna ran from its head. Its eyes were a hawk like yellow, with no pupil.

It was hungry.

Two lone figures approached the creature, which hid, unnoticed, in the shadows. The two women talked and giggled, pleased at how easy it had been to get into the dome. Spheres waited.

A sudden strike, a scream, but no sound came out of the lady's mouth. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head as her friend looked in horror at the creature that had stabbed into her chest, and pulled out her heart. Her companion fled, and didn't once look back.

The woman's body shimmered and faded, and the shadow creature pricked the heart with its claw. Tendrils of darkness appeared, not from the creature but from the heart itself. It engulfed itself, and dropped onto the floor.

Another puddle. A rising of Antenna and Claws and yellow Eyes. Hissing softly, the two creatures looked at each other, and then at the open door that the retreating woman had fled through.

They were hungry, and they were multiplying.


Rikku pouted on the bridge as Brother and Riku (or Rick as she now liked to think of him) stared at each other intently. At least, Brother was staring; Riku was looking at him with an annoyed expression on his face.

"I say it again! He is not a Gullwing! No! Never in a thousand years!"

"You said exactly the same thing about Tidus." Said Paine nonchalantly. Brother glared at her, as if daring her to go further. She didn't, and he huffed.

"It was bad enough taking on one bizarre man!" Tidus looked affronted, and Yuna sighed as they and Paine stuck together in one corner of the room. It was best to give Brother some space when he started ranting. "He is only here because Yuna says so!" He now looked at her adoringly, as if any decision made by her was utterly flawless. He still either remained oblivious to the fact that she and Tidus were together, or to stubborn to do anything about it.

"Well, what if Yuna says whether she wants him in or not?" said Buddy, who was desperately trying to get at the controls while Brother neglected his post.

"Me? Umm…" started Yuna with a blush. It will always difficult with Brother, especially when decisions were forced upon her like this. "I- I don't have a problem with."

"Hmm." Just then, a bright light flashed from Buddy's sphere wave and communications panel. "Aha!" Yelled Brother, leaping into his seat while Buddy checked the message. "Muugc mega fa ryja y secceuh! Ev ra ec du zueh, ra crymm bnuga rescamv vencd!" Looks like we have a mission! If he is to join, he shall prove himself first!

"Eh?" said Riku, scratching his head and adjusted his blindfold.

"He says that we have a mission," offered Rikku helpfully. "You can take part, and if you do well, you can join."

"Sounds fun."

"Um… I'll think we'll have to redefine 'fun'" said Buddy, a worried expression on his face. "The message is from Isaaru. He says that a stray tourist in Zanarkand had been attacked by a strange creature, and that her friend had been killed."

"Strange creature?" said Tidus with a frown. "Probably just a big fiend, the ruins are overflowing with them. There's nothing we can do about that, she should have stayed back and headed the warnings."

"Its dangerous as well as sacred." Added Paine. "They knew the risks."

"No, she says it was something else." Insisted Buddy. "She said it was like some sort of shadow-person." Suddenly, Riku went rigid. Everyone looked at him.

"What?" asked Yuna, concern now etched upon her face.

"A shadow-person?" He asked, his voice hoarse. "Did it have yellow eyes?" Buddy looked surprised, and nodded. Riku turned and gazed out the window, silent for a few moments. Then, he stretched out his right hand.

Almost instantly, a dark void seemed to appear at his fingertips. It lengthened and solidified, becoming what was most certainly a weapon. It was a sword, with a blood red hilt, which had six purple studs coming out in a circle where blade met handle. A ruby was set into the dark purple pommel. The blade itself was shaped like a bat wing, the membrane being a dark purple-black, the colour of a bruise, the edge and main body, a deep maroon. It was cruelly into a sharp point, with a second jagged piece appearing halfway upon the edge, completing its wing like appearance.

"I think you've found the right guy for the job. When it comes to darkness…" He spat the word, like it were a sour poison. "…I'm afraid I'm an expert."