The next morning ...

Rikku was fixing the last broken hover. After this one, she would get her paycheck and be without a job for a while. They said they would call her if more then 3 hovers were broken again.

She looked at the chocobo that she has been ridding for a while now. His feathers were a bit grey and he had a scar from when he was young: the shape of a lighting bolt. Rikku named him Ixion, after the aeon of thunder. After this hover, she could use her paycheck to buy Ixion, together with food and health care if he needed it. Rikku petted the big bird. "you'll soon be all mine" she said quietly against the frisky creature.

Rikku just exited the Travel Agency -with the note that Ixion was her chocobo now- when she noticed the chocobo was playing with something. Nothing new you would say, but while Rikku was putting away her stuff, she noticed something missing: the locked sphere.

Before Rikku even could double check, the orange like orb rolled passed her, right into a puddle. Rikku turned around at the chocobo: "how many times do I have to tell you? No playing with my stuff! ". Ixion looked sad and nodded his head. Rikku turned around to get the sphere out of the water, when she noticed something weird. In the glow of the water, there had two letters appeared: GR.

Rikku pulled the sphere out of the water and they instanly dissapeared. "okay ... this is getting kinda creepy ... " she said without thinking of it.

Rikku was thinking out loud what GR could mean, maybe it could help her get the password.

"GR ... a ronso? Garik Ronso? or a guado? Guado and then some name with an r? "

Rikku decided she would ask Paine the next time she saw her, she didn't want to disturb Yuna now she was getting married.

Yuna! Rikku still had to ask Gippal ... something she wasn't looking forward to.

Rikku could easily see the conversation in her head.

G: Hey, if it isn't Cids girl!

R: I have a name ...

G: do we have to save the world again or so?

R: no no no, I'm here for something else. Yunie is getting married and I ... euh ... am gonna be bridesmaid, but I need ... someone ... to accompany me ...

G: so you came running to me ... always thought you had a thing for me ...

R: WHAT?

G: you think I'm cute, come on, admit it!

R: wanna know what I think? oui yna yh ynnukyhd, lulgo, ...(you are an arrogant, cocky, ...)

and the rest of the conversation would be calling each other names in Al Bheds

yep, SO not looking forward to it.

He would be right, that was the worst. She had a thing for him, a serious thing. But Rikku would rather be eaten up and spit out by a Sand Worm then to admit it to him.

Rikku had packed her things and jumped on the chocobo. "come Ixion, let's get to the Muschroom Rock Road first " she said to it. Ixion knew the road, so Rikku didn't had to lead them. Not much later, they went through the gate to the Rock Road.

She just got there when she suddenly heared "stop there, stranger!" yelled at her. Rikku slowed Ixion down and got her daggers ready, just in case. But then she saw Yaibal, who looked suprised to see her.

Yaibal: "Lady Rikku! I didn't see it was you."

Rikku: "hello Yaibal. It's nice to see you again."

Yaibal: "Isn't the Lady Yuna with you?"

Rikku: "sorry, afraid it's just me. what's with the blockade?"

Yaibal: "just a precaution, lately a lot of uncarefull travelers got in trouble with fiends. but I doubt you will have trouble handling them."

Rikku: "you better believe it! Besides, I have chocobo-company now. Meet Ixion"

Yaibal: "Clasko should have seen this, I think he would love it. Anyway, I'll let you through."

Rikku: "thanks. See you next time!"

Yaibal shouted a few words to the guards and let Rikku pass through the gates. As expected, Rikku didn't encounter any fiends because of Ixion and she soon reached the crossroad.

Which way should she take? Left would lead to the moonflow and was the road to Home, while right leaded to Djose Temple ... and Gippal.