Lombardi Guado appears courtesy of Auron No Aijou. Go read Guardian Father Now!!!!

It had been a week since they had left. Life for Seymour had returned to normal… he would travel to the temple each day to pray, then return to Guadosalam.

He could not stop thinking about them. Every day he would wake up and think "Where are they now?" "Where are they fighting?" "Are they near Zanarkand?"

He walked slowly  through the streets of Guadosalam to his home… his father was waiting for him, ready to give him his Yevonite history lesson… he'd heard it all before. "Al Bhed bad" "Yevon good." "Machina bad" "Summoners good".

Maybe it was the anticipation of it that was slowing him down so much. He continued walking through the square, pausing for a moment to look at his family mansion.

"Erm, excuse me, Mr Seymour?" he looked about for the origins of the voice. "Err, Mister? Down here!"

He felt a sharp tug on his robe. Looking down he saw a young Guado child. "Hello there, little one!" he giggled at the child, who scowled.

"I am NOT little! I'm a fierce warrior, Lord Lombardi Guado to you!" the kid puffed himself up. He was a sorry sight; drenched from rain, bearing a small scar.

"Did you get your scar in a battle?"

"Yup! I fought a big ol' Fiend! Almost killed me! I wanna be a guardian one day!"

"Really? Do you think you'd be good?"

"Sure I will! I'm brave an' fun an' loyal an' very very very very very very tough!"

"And that's all you need, is it?"

"Well, yeah! And luck. But I got my lucky earring in!"

Lombardi indicated to the shimmering gold band through his ear. "It's very nice, Lombardi"

"Thank you Mr Seymour!"

"Please, call me Saimouri." He chuckled, walking towards his house. "I just wanted to ask you if you're gonna go on a pilgrimage and if you are would you like me to be your Guardian? I'm real good! I am!"

"I'm not planning to. But I'll tell you what. If I ever go, you'll be my greatest guardian."

 "Heey! Cool!" laughed Lombardi, following the tall man to the door of his house. "Where we goin, Saimouri?" asked the concerned little guy. Seymour picked up the tiny child. "Oh, I thought you could come inside and help get me off my Yevonite History class. We could just sit, chill, eat mango's…"

Just at that moment little Lombardi's stomach gave an almighty rumble. "Oooooh, I really really really really like mangos! Are they green!?"

"Some are. I tell you what: you eat all the green ones and I'll eat all the red ones and we can see who can eat them quickest."

"But what about the red AND green ones?"

"Well, whoever wins can eat them! How does that sound!"

The tiny Guado laughed excitedly and began telling Seymour everything about his life as they entered the mansion.

Jyscal could hear him approaching. He prayed to Yevon silently for strength for what he was about to do…

"And then I'm gonna Blitz for the Glories! Yeah! I'll be the best player EVER!"

"You know, I knew Averus, the star of the Luca Goers!"

"WOW! REALLY! How come? Was he nice? I heard he likes to swear!"

Seymour laughed loudly as he pushed open the door to the dining hall. "I'll tell you about it after our-"

He stopped as soon as he saw his father's concerned face. He gently dropped Lombardi and addressed his father. "Sir" he started, bowing down in prayer. "I am sorry for my lack of punctuality. You see I have a new friend!"

"Seymour, I have some news. Perhaps it would be better if little Lombardi came back later."

Trommell entered the room and picked up the child. "I shall take him to his parents, my Lord."

"Thank you, Trommell."

Lombardi cringed as the old man bent double to pick him up. "What about our contest Saimouri!? I wanna EAT! C'mon! Awww, Saimouri!" Trommel now had the little one over his shoulder. "Awwww! Jus' cause I'd beat ya! C'mon!"

Seymour couldn't help but laugh as the boy kicked and shouted at Trommell. Jyscal noticed his son's joy and his heart sank… it was so unfair to bring his spirit down now…

"What did you wish to talk to me about, Sir?" asked Seymour, sitting himself down on a chair. Jyscal paused and tried to find the right words. "What is it?" Seymour continued, noticing the sadness in his father's face. "It's bad news, isn't it?"

"I… I'm afraid it is, Seymour. You may wish to be seated again."

"No father! You must tell me now! What could possibly be this bad…?"

He knew from his fathers' expression. "It's Belgemine, isn't it? She…"

"She failed, Son. I am sorry. Touka is gone also… We could not recover him…"

"But… that means they died for nothing! How could something like that happen? I…"

Just then a thought crossed his mind. "Oh Yevon, no…"

"What is it son?"

"If… Belgemine is dead, then what of the others…?"

"Averus has not been found yet, but it is believed he may be…"

"And what of her? What of Behel, father?"

Jyscal's dropped his head and turned away. "I… I'm sorry Seymour."

"No…" he whispered, slowly backing away towards the door. "You… YOU'RE LYING! How could you!"

"Son, don't do this…"

"I… WHY, Father? Why did they have to…?" He couldn't say any more through the tears. He ran out of the dining hall, unable to look his father in the face. He collapsed in hysterical sobs at the base of the staircase. "Why… Why you? Why… now…"

He felt a sharp poke on his shoulder "Hey! Hey Saimouri, whatsup?"

Seymour looked up to see Lombardi, frowning at him. "Whas' the matter? Why are ya sad? Did your dad eat the mangos?"

Seymour laughed slightly and hugged the young boy. "I'm just sad that's all. Nothing's ever going to be the same again."