A/N: Yeah yeah, I messed up on my al-Bhed, thank for reminding me. x-x So... I personally think the last chapter was lame... just cuz it didn't have much Gippal in it. I'm happy to say that this chapter will be in his POV and it is the fight between our heroes. I'm so happy you've enjoyed my story, I've put a lot of thought into it and I really wanted it to be something you would enjoy.

Gippal's POV

Emerald On Emerald

Chapter 7 – "The Fight"

I had just gotten done talking to Nhadala about the ancient machina using the Comm-Sphere Shinra had left back in the Vegnagun days. But anyways, Nhadala told me that the machina seemed over a thousand years old. How was I supposed to bring a machina back to life that was that old? Seriously now... I thought as I made my way towards my room.

A light peered into the front hall. Whoops, forgot to shut the door. I walked up to the door and was about to close it when I saw Rikku's blonde hair floating with the wind. I sat there a stared at her for a few moments, smiling gently. What was she doing out there alone? Just as I was about to call out to her I noticed that she actually wasn't alone. Was that... that Zenira guy?

I continued to watch the two, not really knowing much else to do. I saw there lips move but I couldn't hear their voices over the loud static that the electricity created. I saw Rikku facing this way... but strangely enough she didn't seem to see me. And that was a GOOD thing too; I think my heart stopped for a moment there.

Then... it happened... before I understood what was happening in front of me, Zenira had Rikku in a full lip lock. I stood there in shock as my world literally came crumbling down all around me on all sides. I wanted to hurt him in the worst possible way at this point. I rubbed my eyes, hoping that they were deceiving me, but reality hit me... and hit me hard. Zenira had won... I had lost...

I guess Zenira had seen me moving because at that moment he broke the kiss, looking at the temple doors hard. Maybe now's a good time to go to bed. I walked to my room in a daze and collapsed onto my bed. None of this had happened; it all was just one giant dream. I curled into a ball and held my head. "This dream... had turned into a nightmare."

So basically, I had a sleepless night. I mean, all I could think about was how stupid I was and how I actually lost her. I never thought I was actually going too. I thought about it so long... my body started going numb. My hands were numb, my cheeks were numb... my heart was numb. It was actually kind of nice...

Finally... light poured into my room from the window above my bed. It filled the room with warm rays from the sun. But today... they didn't feel as warm and welcoming. I looked out my window; I guess the airship hadn't arrived yet. Figures... what else could go wrong?

I really shouldn't have asked myself that question because everything else that could have gone wrong... did. The machina finally arrived... TWO hours later. And I was so upset that I started yelling at Nhadala even though I had no real reason to be yelling at her. She looked very scared, and very hurt.

They unloaded the machina, quite clumsily might I add. Right after that... Nhadala flew the airship back to Bikenal. I figured she wanted to get away from me as quickly as possible. That left was to discover the damn thing was too big to fit into the temple. So my men had to work outside in the heat.

An hour had passed and not even my top technicians could start the ancient piece of junk. Nothing! Zip, zilch, nada, we weren't getting any responses.

I watched Halgrid, one of my most skilled technicians get his face singed as the wire he was using started to spark fiercely. He cried in pain and winced, covering his blackened face with a gloved hand.

I shook my head and turned the other way, only to bump into the young blonde Al-Bhed girl I was trying SOOO hard not to think about. Rikku looked up at me. Not the person I wanted to see right now. "Oh... look who finally decided to get up." I said coldly.

"Oh! Looks like SOMEONE woke up on the wrong side of the bed!" She responded harshly. Balling her little hands into fists and placing them at her sides.

I rolled my eyes, was it me or was it getting louder and louder out here? "Whatever." I mumbled. "Listen Rikku, you would have been up earlier if you hadn't spent the entire night with that pathetic excuse of an Al- Bhed." I growled, totally not thinking.

"FRYD?!?!" She looked at me resentfully. "Were you watching us, Gippal?" I could tell she wouldn't be happy either way and it would be stupid to just lie to her... I could just try to get off the subject. I had too many other things to think about right now.

I turned and looked into her eyes. I sighed and looked towards the machina again. "We don't need you to be in the way right now." I shouted over an explosion. I looked to see the wire that Halgrid was working on explode in his face. "Oh my-"But Rikku cut my words short.

"What are you saying, Gippal?" She yelled back to me over two more, louder explosions. Man... what have I gotten myself into...

"Go back to bed Rikku..." I sighed. "You will just be in the way. Don't you understand? This is serious! Not just something we can do whenever we want. It's reality, the real world now. This is what the machine faction's all about! You and Paine... and Yuna all parade around and steal spheres... and that's great! But when are you going to come out of your childish dreams?! When are you going to see what really matters... and what really cares..." I said getting softer and softer because the noise died down at once and now everyone within a mile could hear me.

"Sphere hunting isn't just a childish dream! It is reality! I don't just live a childish dream Gippal!" She shouted at me in anger, not realizing everyone around us was watching us intently. "You NEVER seem to care about how I feel! But if you don't want me here FINE! I'll go back to living with Yunie and Tidus! E ryda oui, Gippal!" She shouted at me hatefully and stormed back into the temple.

I stared after her and then looked around. Everyone was staring at me. "What are you all doing? Kad pylg du fung!" I shouted and stormed back inside as explosions immerged all around me once more. I swear... I was going to go deaf at this rate.

The temple had been emptied out; everyone was outside with the machina, so my footsteps echoed louder than usual. I heard sniffles coming from Rikku's room then I heard her voice. "Yunie? Yunie is that you? I can't stay here anymore. I'm coming back to Besaid. I'll be there by Saturday."

Then I heard the summoner's overly cheery voice. It made me sick, "What? Did you and Gippal get in a fight already?" She asked with a small giggle. I felt my face burn and my fists clench. How could someone say that to his or her own family sounding so happy and upbeat when Rikku was in tears? And it was my entire fault...

Rikku started sobbing.

"Hey! Hey! I was just kidding!" Yuna said quickly, her voice had grown panicky.

"Hey honey, who's making all that noise?" I heard the familiar voice of Yuna's clumsy boyfriend that had reminded me of Rikku. I think his name was Tudis... or no... maybe it was Tidus.

"Oh, It's just Rikku. She's coming back to Besaid soon Tidus! Isn't it great?"

"I can't wait to see you again Rikku!" Tidus's voice came.

Rikku giggled. "Thanks Tidus." She sniffled. "I'm leaving as soon as I get all my stuff together!"

"That's great!" Came his voice once again, more enthusiastically, too enthusiastically. "Well, I'm going to go visit Wakka now, I'll see you when you're back... alright?"

I assumed the Tidus had left the sphere before Rikku had a chance to reply because she started talking about me. "Oh Yunie... sometimes Gippal can make me SOOO mad. He got on my case because he saw me with Zenira last night and-"

"Oh! Who's Zenira?"

There was a long pause from Rikku side then she finally said, "Some guy..." Some guy? What did she mean by that? He certainly meant more than that to her! "But he made me feel so awful Yunie... he always manages to make me feel so awful."

"Sounds like he was jealous." Yuna inquired. Oh... smart one there.

"What?" Rikku laughed. "No... not that rock. He doesn't get jealous Yunie! He doesn't care about me and he wouldn't give a poop if he knew how I felt about him."

"Oh... that's right, you told me and Paine that one day that you-"

"I have to get ready now! I'll be there soon, okay? Tell everybody I said 'Hi!'"

"Will do!"

Then I heard Rikku shut off the Comm-Sphere and sigh, falling onto her bed. Or at least that's what it sounded like. I sighed and rubbed the back of my head and was about to go apologize when Jona came in.

"Gippal!" She shouted. "We've managed to break into its core!" She said excitedly. Well... now Rikku knew I was in here...

I nod slowly and followed her out to look at the new development.

"FRYD?!?!" – "WHAT?!?!"

"Kad pylg du fung!" – "Get back to work!"

A/N: Hmmm... that should start the real story off. Not too bad. Gippal can be such an ass, huh? x-x Okay, I've figured out why I've been translating my Al-Bhed wrong and am terribly sorry for that. It wont happen again, scouts honor! =) Please please PLEASE R&R. I'm not writing this fic for myself you know. =)

Riu