Author's Note: I do not own Final Fantasy or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.


Gry17: Well, I'm still unsure about having Sofia's world (that being ours) and Spira be connected, but odds are I'll do it.

Guest: Thank you for the kind words.

And BlazingEdge: Yes, I will be doing the side quests. And as for what Sofia said in Al Bhed, it was as follows: "That overactive bonehead is going to be the death of us, I swear."

And now, here's the next chapter!


Ch.8 A Tourist Attraction

Once Yuna and the rest of us climbed onto the Celsius, it flew straight north. "We didn't go after that sphere in Zanarkand first, now we gotta push it if we're going to be the first ones to get there!" Buddy reasoned. "There any way I can help?" I asked. Buddy was about to say something when Brother shook his head, saying "Hud rybbahehk! Just stay in your seat!" I rolled my eyes and did as he said, while Rikku stuck out her bottom lip and said "Aw, is someone still a little mad for earlier?" Buddy and I laughed while Yuna and Shinra let out a small chuckle, and Paine simply stood there. "I'm glad that you all find crushing my feelings so funny," he said venomously. Yuna frowned and walked next to him, looking up at him in the pilot seat.

"It's not like that Brother, we just like making jokes to keep us smiling. It means we find you funny!" Yuna said. Brother looked at her, and being smitten as he was he took that as a compliment. "Um... thank you, Yuna!" he said. Yuna smiled and nodded, an I smiled as well, me in exasperation. There were times when my sister was just too nice. But then again, that' what I loved about her. Eventually we had reached close enough to Zanarkand that the airship couldn't go any further without landing in the ruins themselves, so we got off. We walked down the path that led from Mt Gagazet to it, and I looked around. "Man, it has been a long time since we came here, huh?" Rikku said. I nodded, but then I noticed that the smile Yuna had earlier was gone, replaced a rather solemn expression.

That's right... The last time we walked down this path, Tidus had been with us. And not just him, but Auron and Deiru as well. All three of them had given their lives so that we could live in peace. This place had once been considered a holy place, and even now Zanarkand still held a special place in my heart. As we drew closer to the ruins though, I began to hear a voice. No, it was several voices. "Do you guys here that?" I asked. "I hear it," Paine said. "Me too," Yuna said, frowning. We came to the end of the path and stood before the beginning of the ruins, greeted with the reason for all those voices. A small crowd was gathered, peoples standing at every place and talking. "What... the... shoopuf... is this?" I said. "Looks like a tourist attraction," Paine answered.

"Whose idea was that?" Rikku asked. It was then that noticed someone standing on the rock formation that Tidus had, overlooking the ruins. Yuna saw it to and gasped, rushing forward. As we came close though, it turns out it wasn't Tidus. It was Isaaru, a former summoner and someone we had met on Yuna's pilgrimage. He saw us and blinked, saying "Yuna? It's been so long, I hardly recognize you! Do you remember me?""Of course I do! It's good to see you again, Isaaru," Yuna said. Issaru smiled. "I'm glad that you remember. Sofia, Rikku, and..." he said. "Paine," Paine said, nodding her head. Did the same, albeit with hesitation, and I asked "So what are you doing here?" "Ah, yes. I'm helping Cid with his work," he said. We all looked at Rikku, and she shrugged. "I have no idea what he's talking about," she said.

"I guide people through Zanarkand, once the most sacred of places. People come from all over Spira. Sphere hunters, too," he explained. I stared. It was Cid's idea to turn Zanarkand into a tourist attraction. Echoing my thoughts, Rikku said "Ugh, what the heck is Pop thinking?" "I can see that this is upsetting you. But the ruins are of great historical importance to all of Spira," Isaaru reasoned. "I know, but still... I never wanted anyone else to stand there," Yuna said, lowering her voice on that last part. "Yuna?" Isaaru said, seeing that she had drifted off. Coming back, she shook her head. "It's nothing. Forget it. "If you say so..." he replied, before suddenly a group of people began calling for him. "Ah, I must be getting to work, now. Please, take care, Yuna," Isaaru said, before walking off.

I watched him go, and sighed. "There are some things about this Eternal Calm that I just don't like- this being one of them," I announced. "No kidding," Rikku said, and Yuna nodded. But we couldn't leave yet; we had a sphere to find. We started towards the the dome but stopped- there were three kids blocking our way. One of them was Pacce, Isaaru's younger brother. "Taro, Hana, you ready?" he asked the other two, a boy and a girl. The boy, Taro, said "Um, what was the clue again?" "Come on! It's 'key'!" Hana said. "Okay, let's move out!" Pacce ordered. "Yes, sir!" they both replied, and they ran for the ruins. "What the-? They can't in there! There are fiends!" Yuan said. "Then let's follow and make sure they don't get eaten," I said, drawing my swords.

The others nodded and pulled out their weapons, and we ran after Pacce and his friends. Inside the dome we could hear their voices, Taro saying "This way?" "That way!" Pacce said. "Yes!" Hana replied. We finally caught up to them, and I called "Hey, stop!" They froze, and turned to see us come towards them. Relaxing, Pacce said "Hi, Lady Yuna!" "Hello, Pacce. How are you?" Yuna asked. "I'm doing great! Oh, this is Taro and Hana," he said, gesturing at his two friends. "Nice to meet you, Lady Yuna," Taro said. "What are you guys doing here? There are fiends around this place," I warned. Hana scoffed, saying "Fiends? Ha!" "Uh-huh! That's right! We're sphere hunters!" Pacce said. Paine raised an eyebrow. "You three, sphere hunters?" she asked.

They all nodded, posing and saying as one "Yeah! We're the Kinderguardians!" I kept myself from laughing- that was actually kind of cute. "So, you here on some kind of treasure hunt?" Rikku asked. "So 'key' must be a clue to finding the treasure," Yuna realized. "That's right!" Pacce said, nodding. Hana punched him in the arm. "Shhh! We paid fifteen whole gil for that clue! Come on, let's go!" she said. "Okay. Kinderguardians, move out! See ya, Lady Yuna," Pacce said, and the three of them ran off again. "Fifteen gil for a clue?" Paine asked. I shrugged, but then something hit me. "Wait. If their sphere hunters, and their looking for a treasure..." I said. "They could be looking for the same sphere as us!" Rikku finished. "Which means that 'key' could be part of how to find it," Yuna said.

With that in mind we kept going, surprisingly finding no fiends. After everything with Sin and the destruction of the fayth, maybe this place had lost its power as well. I was just about to come to that conclusion when we stopped- not a dozen feet from us with his back turned was a goon of the Leblanc Syndicate. He was talking on a phone, and said "Come in. Come in. Do you read me? Oh, hey. I wanted to double-check that clue. It's 'mon,' right? ...Nah, it's just that I heard some kids saying it was 'key.' Yeah, I figured it was 'mon.' Over and out." "The clue are 'key' and 'mon'?" Paine said. Hearing that the goon turned around and jumped. "Wha- The Gullwings?!" I smirked, saying "In the flesh." Just then we heard a chittering, and looking to see a monkey sitting on top of a pile of rubble.

It clicked, and Yuna said "Key-mon?" "Monkey!" Rikku exclaimed. "Hey, we won't let you off so easily this time!" the goon said, taking out a knife and charging. I blocked him easily and Rikku kicked him in the stomach, sending him to the ground. "Too easy," she said. The goon stood and held an arm over his stomach, saying "Okay, but you're not gonna live after this!" He pulled out some sort of ball and threw it at us, and the ball burst into a strange smelling liquid that rained on all of us. "Aw, gross! This smells like raw meat!" Yuna said. The goon laughed. "Exactly! With the four of you smelling like that, the fiends will be coming in no time. Adios!" he said, and ran away. I was about to chase after him and shove my foot in his ass when we heard a deep growl, and all four of us froze.

Very slowly we turned around, and saw a Behemoth crouched in front of us. We heard another growl, and turned again to see another one on the other side. "Ur..." I said. "Cred," Rikku finished. Despite realizing how much trouble we were in, Yuna held up her pistols and said "Well, the fiends are here. Let's fight!" "It's not like we have much choice, smelling like choice cuts," Paine said, moving into a fighting stance. I groaned, but conceded that she was right and held up both of my blades. Rikku pulled out her daggers, and the Behemoths roared before charging at us. We split into into two groups- Yuna and Rikku, and me and Paine- and each group attacked a Behemoth. Paine used Power Break and her blade glowed red. She hit the Behemoth and gave it a cut in the shoulder, also weakening its strength.

I tried to cast Poison but the Behemoth was immune to it, so I cast Demi instead. The massive fiend fell to the ground and Paine used Armor Break, lowering its defenses. I took the chance to use Darkness, threads of black enveloping me and by blades. I jumped forward and swung at the Behemoth, scoring a trio of cuts and releasing the energy in a burst of darkness. The Behemoth growled and I smiled, jumping back even as I fell to one knee. The cost of using Darkness was part of your own health, but no matter. I started casting Drain, hoping to replenish my health while also taking away the Behemoth's. Behind us the other Behemoth growled and cast Thundara, blasting Rikku with a bolt of lightning. She screamed in pain from the voltage and feel back, and Yuna called "Rikku!"

Quickly Yuna changed to White Mage and cast Cure, healing her cousin. Rikku stood and glared at the Behemoth, saying "That hurt, you big meanie! Take this!" She ran up and stabbed both of her daggers into the monsters front right paw, before quickly pulling them out and doing the same to its left. The Behemoth snarled and pain and held up one of the paws, licking it. While It did that Rikku ran and slid underneath the fiend, raking her daggers down its chest. It roared and moved back, trying to get her out from under it. But then Yuna changed back to her Gunner outfit, and used Potshot twice. Two bullets buried themselves it its side, and the Behemoth roared, glaring at her. Just as it was about to charged at her Rikku stood behind it, and stabbed it in the tail.

On the other side I had finished replenish myself with Cure, while Paine used Magic Break and Mental Break. The Behemoth tried to bite her but she moved out of the way, attacking with fluid ease. I was impressed. I had never really paid attention until no, but Paine was a really good fighter. I changed into Black Mage and cast Fire three times, hitting the Behemoth with three fireballs. It fell back burnt and bleeding, and Paine but it out of its misery with a stab to the heart. The other Behemoth met its end when it turned around to attack Rikku for injuring its tail, and forgot about Yuna. She ran to the side and made sure to stay out of its sight. As she ran she used Trigger Happy, and as such its entire right side was covered with bullet holes.

Both Behemoths groaned and feel over, dissolving into pyreflies. Even with them gone though, we knew that smelling like this we'd attract more fiends if we stood around too long. "Let's go!" Yuna said, and we started running.


The crew has made it to Zanarkand, but can they brave it to find what they seek? And how will the phrase "monkey" help? The next chapter tells!

Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)