Chapter 2: Old Friends
"Aren't you kind of nervous?" Elma whispered to me. We were standing outside of the
old Temple of Yevon, waiting to meet the High Summoner.
"Naw," I said, smiling. We had only been in Bevelle for a couple of hours and had gotten
the troops ready and in their stations. Now, Lucil had gone into the temple to meet with the High
Summoner, and then we were to meet the High Summoner and her guardians.
Elma stood up perfectly straight, and both of us were dressed in the shiniest armor we
had. I felt more ridiculous than anything, being that my armor was somewhat large on me. We
also had shiny badges to show who we were, and Elma stuck her chest out, proud of her badge.
I was proud too, but didn't feel like I needed to show off to anyone, even if it was the
High Summoner herself.
I leaned against the wall, trying my hardest to stifle a yawn. It had been a long day, and a
long ride from Mi'ihen Highroad.
Elma gave me a warning look, however, so I stood up, and stood up straight too, trying
not to let a smile crack on my serious face.
Elma's head shook. "This is all just some joke to you, isn't it?" she said, her eyes
looking at me, although her head was still focused straight ahead, at the door, as if it were to
open in any second.
"Well, this is," I said, "But once we actually start, then I promise it won't be a joke!"
She raised her eyebrows, as if she didn't quite believe me. We didn't have any more time
to talk, because then the door that we were waiting by opened, and I found myself standing up
tall, and, to my surprise, puffing out my chest like Elma was.
Lucil was the one who had come out, and saluted to us. We saluted back.
"The Lady Yuna and her guardians will be out shortly," she reported to us, "We are to
meet them, and are to act as guardians to her guardians. Does everybody understand."
We nodded. Lucil nodded in return, and stood between Elma and me, with her chest
puffed out as well.
"Must just be one of those habits..." I thought to myself, puffing my chest out again. The
large armor cut into my ribs, and it was painful, but I couldn't stop showing off that nice shiny
badge...
I didn't have any more time to think, however, because right then, a ronso and a girl came
out from behind the door. A larger man with orangish hair came out then, followed by a grim
looking woman.
The grim, all black and gray woman came in front and smiled to Lucil and then nodded to
us.
"Everything's all settled," she said.
Elma and Lucil smiled, and I wondered what it was they were talking about. I was
finding myself quite confused.
"It is an honor," Lucil said, and smiled, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Elma was smiling, and I hoped my expression wasn't as confused looking as I felt.
The girl, who was standing on the opposite side of the ronso smiled fondly, and then
looked over at me. Her vaguely familiar green eyes met mine, and she stared at me, making me
feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"She probably realizes I'm Al Bhed," I thought to myself, and then immediately ran those
thoughts out of my head. "Wait! She's Al Bhed too?"
Lucil, Elma, the grim lady, and the orange haired man were deep in discussion, and I
supposed I was supposed to be listening as well, but the Al Bhed girl and me just continued to
stare at each other.
"Why is she staring at me?" I thought to myself, and tried to make it obvious that I saw
her staring at me, but she didn't seem to care.
"We'll guard the back doors, definitely," I heard Lucil saying from somewhere.
"Wakka and me will be right up there with her," the grim lady was saying, but I wasn't
completely listening.
We just stood there, staring. Finally, I shook my head at her and tried to snap into the
conversation that I was supposed to be in.
"Wait a minute!" the Al Bhed girl said then, breaking the conversation, "Don't I know
you?"
She was pointing the question at me, and all of the others had now begun to stare at me
also. I felt myself blush, and was cursing the Al Bhed girl in my mind. "No, I have no idea who
you are!" ran through my head, "Don't make me stand out anymore than I already am!"
It was really then that it became clearest to me at how embarrassed I truly was of being an
Al Bhed.
"Wait a minute!" the girl said again, and pranced up to me, looking at me close, "I know
you! You're Vance!"
"Hey, how'd you know that?" I asked, and Lucil and Elma, as well as the High
Summoner's guardians just stared at us.
"Duh!" the girl said, giving a little giggle, "I'm Rikku! Cid's daughter! Don't you
remember me?"
It hit me then. "Rikku!" I said, "Hey, how are you?"
"You two know each other?" the man I supposed to be Sir Wakka asked us.
"Sure do!" Rikku said, and I hadn't realized until then how much I missed her
cheerfulness, "I helped Vance out a lot when we were younger! You any better with machina?"
I blushed. "Nope. Not a single bit," I replied.
"You're a chocobo knight! That's awesome! You must be like the first Al Bhed
Chocobo Knight, right?"
I blushed again. "I'm not Al Bhed!" my head screamed at her. I knew I was though, and
it was something I'd just have to live with.
"Well, you're an Al Bhed guardian!" I said, "Wow, that's cool."
"I'm also Yunie's cousin!" she giggled. Her smile faded then, and she looked at me with
intensity in her eyes. She blinked a couple of times then, and smiled again.
"I'm afraid your little reunion is going to have to wait," Lady Lulu said, and Rikku's
mouth snapped shut.
Lucil smiled. "Well," she said, "we'll make sure Lady Yuna's wedding goes by
smoothly. It'll be perfect."
I looked over at Rikku, and noticed she was scowling. I wondered why. It was really
great to see her. She had been my only friend back at Home, and I greatly respected her. After
all, she could handle machina better than most Al Bheds. She was definitely much better at it
than me. I smiled, however, and thought: "I bet I'd kick her rear any day in a chocobo race!"
The door opened again, however, and Lady Yuna walked out then. She came in, quickly,
wearing a smile. It was the same smile that I had seen that morning on the sphere, and I found
myself studying it, trying to figure out what was off.
Her face had a familiar form, and I wondered about this for a little bit, and then
remembered what Rikku had said about Yuna and her being cousins. "They must have the same
face shape," I thought to myself.
Lady Yuna shook Lucil's hand, and then Elma's, and then shook mine. To most people,
it would have been an honor to shake her hand, but to me, it was just another handshake. The
important thing, the unbelievable thing, was the fact that I was here, shaking her hand, practically
one of her guardians.
Only two months ago, I'd been a chocobo trainer in the Calm Lands, barely getting by.
Now, I was standing here in shiny armor, with a badge to prove my importance, and shaking the
summoner's hand.
"I trust you all have everything figured out?" she said with a smile. It was a slightly
different smile than the two others, but something was still off.
"Yuna," Lady Lulu said, in an almost motherly tone, "You just worry about the wedding,
and leave the rest to us, okay?"
Lady Yuna nodded, but I couldn't help but realize how distracted she looked. Rikku was
staring at her too, with a worried look on her face.
"Congratulations on everything!" Lucil said then, breaking off my stare.
Yuna smiled, the same missing-something smile, and said, in a quiet tone, "Thank you."
I figured she was just shy. Like me. However, something about the look in her eyes told
me that she was thinking about something, but wasn't about to tell us what it was.
I stifled yet another yawn, wondering how long this little "meeting" would last. I just
wanted to get started. I let my mind wander elsewhere, to me, fighting off a bunch of people
with a sword, even though I still could barely handle one, and saving the wedding.
I snapped back to reality then, deciding that it would be best if I didn't let my mind
wander. Rikku was looking off into the distance too, and I wondered what it was she was
thinking about. Lady Yuna too, seemed to be deep in thought, although she nodded her head
every now and then as Lucil told her the plan. I knew I myself should have been focusing on
whatever the plan was, but I was too busy wondering what it was that Rikku had on her mind.
"Dang-it, Rikku!" I found myself thinking, "Must you always distract me?"
"Then it's settled," Lucil said, breaking into not only my thoughts, but also Rikku's,
"Does everyone understand?"
I had no idea what was going on, but I nodded anyway. I didn't want them to know I
hadn't been paying attention after all. If there was one thing I hated more than being Al Bhed, it
was getting unwanted attention.
Rikku nodded too, and I had been praying that she'd ask. She looked at me though, and
gave me an obvious confused smile, and then laughed silently, almost as if she was giving me
some sort of sign language.
"Goodbye, and take care Lady Yuna!" Lucil said cheerfully as Rikku waved, and the
group left, back into the door, Lady Yuna leading, followed by the ronso, Rikku running up
ahead, and Sir Wakka and Lady Lulu deep in conversation.
"So, where's the husband-to-be?" I found myself asking then, and was surprised that I
wasn't asking about the plan.
"Oh, he's taking care of other things, I'm sure," Lucil said, smiling, "Quite an odd bunch,
don't you think?"
"It's amazing though, you and Lady Rikku knowing each other, isn't it?" Elma said to
me, smiling.
"Yeah," I said, finding myself feeling rather distracted, "So, uh, should we like, I don't
know, go over the plan, or something?"
"Sounds good," Lucil said, as if thinking, "Elma, Vance and you should go over the plan,
okay?"
Elma nodded.
"I'm going to go check on the troops!" Lucil exited the temple, and I watched from the
window as she gave Sheea and Elma's chocobo a pat, and then got on her own and left.
"Okay," Elma said with a yawn, "You and I will stay back, and there will be troops
posted all over. The wedding is going to be broadcasted on sphere, so it's invitation or nothing.
So, the troops ask to see invitations. Then, what do you do?"
"Uh," I said, and should have known that Elma was going to quiz me, "I...I uh..."
"You make sure that there's no one in there without an invitation!" Elma said, and rolled
her eyes at me, "And if there's an attack, you..."
"I...I..."
"I wasn't paying attention," Elma finished for me, smiling a nice, smug smile, "I knew
it!"
"You get the rest of the troops to help. Half of them cause the guests, the other half
attack."
"But if they didn't go over fighting..." I said slowly, "How are they going to be much
help?"
"They'll use their common sense," Elma said, "If they have any, at least..."
"Then what do I do?" I asked, now that it was out that I hadn't been paying attention.
Elma smiled, "It's slingshot time!" She laughed, and then said, "Hopefully they'll be
guys! I want to see you hit one in their area!"
I smiled too, and felt my had reach to my sling just to make sure it was still there.
Together, my sling and I had been through quite a bit.
"So, that's it, got all that?" Elma said, "'Cause I'd really like the rest of the day off, to go
celebrate Lady Yuna's wedding! Just think Vance, only a select amount of people got
invitations, and we're practically one of them!"
"Hey, does that mean we have to get dressed up?" I asked, sticking my tongue out at the
thought.
Elma laughed, "No worries," she said, "We'll be in full armor! Ready to protect the High
Summoner!" She nodded at me then, as to dismiss me, and went out the door, and jumped on
her chocobo's back and was off.
"Rest of the day off," I muttered to myself, wondering when it was I'd get to see some
action. I didn't know why, but for some reason I highly doubted that there would be any trouble
at Lady Yuna's wedding. In fact, I was positive that there would be little trouble.
I was just about to leave, when Rikku exited from the door.
"Hey Vance!" she said, greeting me.
I turned around and smiled my 'hello.'
She smiled at me then, and said, "Whatchya been up to?"
"Not much," I said, "After I left Home, I moved to the Calm Lands, and I was a chocobo
trainer. Then, just two months ago, I joined the chocobo knights."
Rikku laughed, and said, "Chocobos! How perfect for you!"
I gave her a friendly shove, and said, "Wanna race sometime?"
"Only if you race some machina!" she said with a giggle.
"Wanna know what I really want?" I said, not knowing why, but suddenly felt like telling
someone, besides Sheea.
"What?" Rikku asked.
"I want to Blitz," I said, a dreaming look coming into my eyes.
"Hey! You may be in luck!" she said, "Wakka's team, you know the Aurochs, need a
player to fill in! You could be their bench warmer and practice with them and everything!"
"Seriously?" I said, my eyes brightening.
"Yeah, seriously," Rikku said, "'Course, you couldn't be a chocobo knight anymore."
My heart did sink a little. And I had already climbed this high.
"Well, I'd have to think on it," I said.
Rikku laughed, "I'll talk to Wakka about it later!"
A moment of silence passed between us, before I finally asked her what she'd been up to,
and what fighting Sin was like. When I mentioned Sin however, her bright face dimmed.
"Uh, I don't really want to talk about that right now," she said, "But lately I've just been
hanging out with Yunie, and...I don't know, being bored, I guess."
"So, you're excited about Lady Yuna's wedding, right?"
At this Rikku burst out laughing. "Yeah right!" she said, "Have you ever met stupid
Pinelli? He is such a.... a... a jerk!"
I was shocked. Rikku must be the only one besides me who wasn't excited about Yuna's
wedding.
"So you don't want them to marry?"
Rikku let her eyes roll. "Of course not. It's stupid, really. Yunie thinks that if she goes
off marrying this goon, then people will be happy, and all of the Yevonites will be satisfied.
Then, they're going to offer her, and stupid Pinelli a spot as Maesters of Spira, and Yuna's going
to turn them down, to satisfy those Anti-Yevon Weirdos. So, she's not even doing this for
herself."
"How can she just marry some guy to satisfy others?" I asked, trying to take everything
in.
"Look Vance," Rikku said in a tiny voice, "When you've been through what she's been
through, you kind of stop caring about yourself. Got it?"
I nodded, as if I understood, but truly I was quite confused.
"Anyway," Rikku said, still with that small voice, "It's hard to think about it now.
Especially since we can basically wash the idea of Yunie marrying for love out of our heads."
"Why's that?" I said, and, trying to cheer my old friend up, said, "I'm sure there's
someone out there for her!"
She glared at me in a flash, and said, "No there isn't!" Then, she stomped back through
that door, saying something under her breath in Al Bhed. I wished I still understood the
language, but I didn't.
"Well, bye Rikku," I said before she shut the door, not knowing what I'd said.
"Bye," she said, and slammed the door shut, leaving me standing there, looking, and
feeling, quite confused.
I was still standing there, when the door inched open again, and Rikku came back out,
looking at the floor.
"Actually," she whispered, "there is someone for Yunie."
"Who?" I said, letting my curiosity get the best of me, and then bit my tongue, "I mean,
what?"
"His name was Tidus," she whispered, and kept looking to see if anyone was coming,
"Promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, okay?"
"Okay," I said slowly, somehow not wanting to get involved, but at the same time curious
to know what it was that Rikku was talking about.
"Here, come with me!" Rikku said, and grabbed my arm. The next thing I knew, Rikku
was dragging me outside, past Sheea, who gave me a curious look, but then returned to her food,
and out onto a balcony, overlooking a gorgeous garden.
People were everywhere out in the garden, planting and watering, and adding a large
parapet.
"What's going on here?" I asked.
Rikku's eyes rolled. "This is where the wedding's going to be held." Her voice was
dreary, and I realized that this whole wedding idea really had Rikku down.
"So, uh," I said, looking up at the sky, "What about this Tidus guy?"
"Oh, right," Rikku said, and looked around again, "See, Yuna actually had two more
guardians."
"She did?"
"Yeah, Sir Auron, surely you've heard of him, and then Tidus. Anyway, Sir Auron was
dead...I guess, and Tidus disappeared."
I laughed, but stopped when I saw the serious look on Rikku's face.
"He just disappeared?" I asked, biting my lip to keep myself from smiling.
"Yeah. It's kind of a long story. Um...Let's just say that Tidus' departure kind of...hurt
Yunie." Rikku looked at the ground then, and back to the many workers who were preparing for
the High Summoner's wedding.
"Rikku," I found myself asking, "Why do you care? I mean, if he's gone, he's gone."
"That's just it!" Rikku said, "He has to be somewhere, doesn't he? I mean, you can't just
disappear! Look, I don't think he's at the farplane or anything."
"Have you even checked?" I asked, looking away from Rikku and appearing to be in
thought.
Rikku blushed. "That place gives me the creeps, alright! But, Wakka and Lulu have
gone there in the last two years, and they haven't said anything about Tidus."
"Maybe they just don't want to bring it up," I suggested, wondering how it was that
Rikku could be so ignorant of the facts, "People don't disappear, Rikku. It just doesn't happen.
Are you sure he didn't just die or something, and for some reason you think he disappeared?"
"Ah! I thought you might be able to help!" Rikku said loudly, "I don't want Yunie to
marry, and I seem to be the only one who cares! Wakka and Lulu are being so dumb about the
whole idea, and who knows what Kimarhi's thinking! It's just not right! I want Yunie to be
happy!"
"Maybe she is," I said bluntly, "She sure smiles enough."
I thought Rikku was going to explode.
"THAT"S JUST IT!" she nearly yelled at me, "None of those smiles are real! They're all
just fake! So everyone thinks that Yuna is happy, but she's not! Oh, and before you go on
saying, "Oh, how would you know," I do know!"
"None of those smiles are real." Rikku's words played over and over in my head. I
knew it then. That's what had been missing in all of Yuna's smiles. True happiness. I knew it
then, in my heart, that Yuna wasn't happy.
My head shook, and I said, "Look Rikku, there's not much we can do now. She's getting
married in what, two days, and she can't just disappoint all of Spira. Not now. Not when they're
so happy."
I was sure I could feel Rikku's heart sink. I could see it in her eyes. She turned around
and looked at the gardens, with a sad expression on her face.
"You're right, Vance," she said, "You are completely right. Yunie got herself into this,
and there's no way I can get her out of it. Not now."
Rikku stomped off then, but I called her back. Her eyes rolled again, and she stomped
back over to me.
"What now?" she said, looking annoyed.
"Do you think someone will try to crash the wedding?" I asked, almost more for my own
well-being than hers.
"I sure hope so," she said, more to herself then to me.
"If someone does," I said slowly, "Maybe the wedding will be postponed. Then, it'll give
you more time to stop the wedding."
Rikku nodded slowly, taking in what I had told her.
"Yeah, I guess so," she said, and then smiled, "Yeah! I sure hope someone attacks!
Anyway, see ya later, Vance-o!"
"Uh, yeah, see you," I said, waving as she skipped off. "Well, at least I'm no longer the
only one who is hoping for someone to crash the wedding!"
"Aren't you kind of nervous?" Elma whispered to me. We were standing outside of the
old Temple of Yevon, waiting to meet the High Summoner.
"Naw," I said, smiling. We had only been in Bevelle for a couple of hours and had gotten
the troops ready and in their stations. Now, Lucil had gone into the temple to meet with the High
Summoner, and then we were to meet the High Summoner and her guardians.
Elma stood up perfectly straight, and both of us were dressed in the shiniest armor we
had. I felt more ridiculous than anything, being that my armor was somewhat large on me. We
also had shiny badges to show who we were, and Elma stuck her chest out, proud of her badge.
I was proud too, but didn't feel like I needed to show off to anyone, even if it was the
High Summoner herself.
I leaned against the wall, trying my hardest to stifle a yawn. It had been a long day, and a
long ride from Mi'ihen Highroad.
Elma gave me a warning look, however, so I stood up, and stood up straight too, trying
not to let a smile crack on my serious face.
Elma's head shook. "This is all just some joke to you, isn't it?" she said, her eyes
looking at me, although her head was still focused straight ahead, at the door, as if it were to
open in any second.
"Well, this is," I said, "But once we actually start, then I promise it won't be a joke!"
She raised her eyebrows, as if she didn't quite believe me. We didn't have any more time
to talk, because then the door that we were waiting by opened, and I found myself standing up
tall, and, to my surprise, puffing out my chest like Elma was.
Lucil was the one who had come out, and saluted to us. We saluted back.
"The Lady Yuna and her guardians will be out shortly," she reported to us, "We are to
meet them, and are to act as guardians to her guardians. Does everybody understand."
We nodded. Lucil nodded in return, and stood between Elma and me, with her chest
puffed out as well.
"Must just be one of those habits..." I thought to myself, puffing my chest out again. The
large armor cut into my ribs, and it was painful, but I couldn't stop showing off that nice shiny
badge...
I didn't have any more time to think, however, because right then, a ronso and a girl came
out from behind the door. A larger man with orangish hair came out then, followed by a grim
looking woman.
The grim, all black and gray woman came in front and smiled to Lucil and then nodded to
us.
"Everything's all settled," she said.
Elma and Lucil smiled, and I wondered what it was they were talking about. I was
finding myself quite confused.
"It is an honor," Lucil said, and smiled, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Elma was smiling, and I hoped my expression wasn't as confused looking as I felt.
The girl, who was standing on the opposite side of the ronso smiled fondly, and then
looked over at me. Her vaguely familiar green eyes met mine, and she stared at me, making me
feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"She probably realizes I'm Al Bhed," I thought to myself, and then immediately ran those
thoughts out of my head. "Wait! She's Al Bhed too?"
Lucil, Elma, the grim lady, and the orange haired man were deep in discussion, and I
supposed I was supposed to be listening as well, but the Al Bhed girl and me just continued to
stare at each other.
"Why is she staring at me?" I thought to myself, and tried to make it obvious that I saw
her staring at me, but she didn't seem to care.
"We'll guard the back doors, definitely," I heard Lucil saying from somewhere.
"Wakka and me will be right up there with her," the grim lady was saying, but I wasn't
completely listening.
We just stood there, staring. Finally, I shook my head at her and tried to snap into the
conversation that I was supposed to be in.
"Wait a minute!" the Al Bhed girl said then, breaking the conversation, "Don't I know
you?"
She was pointing the question at me, and all of the others had now begun to stare at me
also. I felt myself blush, and was cursing the Al Bhed girl in my mind. "No, I have no idea who
you are!" ran through my head, "Don't make me stand out anymore than I already am!"
It was really then that it became clearest to me at how embarrassed I truly was of being an
Al Bhed.
"Wait a minute!" the girl said again, and pranced up to me, looking at me close, "I know
you! You're Vance!"
"Hey, how'd you know that?" I asked, and Lucil and Elma, as well as the High
Summoner's guardians just stared at us.
"Duh!" the girl said, giving a little giggle, "I'm Rikku! Cid's daughter! Don't you
remember me?"
It hit me then. "Rikku!" I said, "Hey, how are you?"
"You two know each other?" the man I supposed to be Sir Wakka asked us.
"Sure do!" Rikku said, and I hadn't realized until then how much I missed her
cheerfulness, "I helped Vance out a lot when we were younger! You any better with machina?"
I blushed. "Nope. Not a single bit," I replied.
"You're a chocobo knight! That's awesome! You must be like the first Al Bhed
Chocobo Knight, right?"
I blushed again. "I'm not Al Bhed!" my head screamed at her. I knew I was though, and
it was something I'd just have to live with.
"Well, you're an Al Bhed guardian!" I said, "Wow, that's cool."
"I'm also Yunie's cousin!" she giggled. Her smile faded then, and she looked at me with
intensity in her eyes. She blinked a couple of times then, and smiled again.
"I'm afraid your little reunion is going to have to wait," Lady Lulu said, and Rikku's
mouth snapped shut.
Lucil smiled. "Well," she said, "we'll make sure Lady Yuna's wedding goes by
smoothly. It'll be perfect."
I looked over at Rikku, and noticed she was scowling. I wondered why. It was really
great to see her. She had been my only friend back at Home, and I greatly respected her. After
all, she could handle machina better than most Al Bheds. She was definitely much better at it
than me. I smiled, however, and thought: "I bet I'd kick her rear any day in a chocobo race!"
The door opened again, however, and Lady Yuna walked out then. She came in, quickly,
wearing a smile. It was the same smile that I had seen that morning on the sphere, and I found
myself studying it, trying to figure out what was off.
Her face had a familiar form, and I wondered about this for a little bit, and then
remembered what Rikku had said about Yuna and her being cousins. "They must have the same
face shape," I thought to myself.
Lady Yuna shook Lucil's hand, and then Elma's, and then shook mine. To most people,
it would have been an honor to shake her hand, but to me, it was just another handshake. The
important thing, the unbelievable thing, was the fact that I was here, shaking her hand, practically
one of her guardians.
Only two months ago, I'd been a chocobo trainer in the Calm Lands, barely getting by.
Now, I was standing here in shiny armor, with a badge to prove my importance, and shaking the
summoner's hand.
"I trust you all have everything figured out?" she said with a smile. It was a slightly
different smile than the two others, but something was still off.
"Yuna," Lady Lulu said, in an almost motherly tone, "You just worry about the wedding,
and leave the rest to us, okay?"
Lady Yuna nodded, but I couldn't help but realize how distracted she looked. Rikku was
staring at her too, with a worried look on her face.
"Congratulations on everything!" Lucil said then, breaking off my stare.
Yuna smiled, the same missing-something smile, and said, in a quiet tone, "Thank you."
I figured she was just shy. Like me. However, something about the look in her eyes told
me that she was thinking about something, but wasn't about to tell us what it was.
I stifled yet another yawn, wondering how long this little "meeting" would last. I just
wanted to get started. I let my mind wander elsewhere, to me, fighting off a bunch of people
with a sword, even though I still could barely handle one, and saving the wedding.
I snapped back to reality then, deciding that it would be best if I didn't let my mind
wander. Rikku was looking off into the distance too, and I wondered what it was she was
thinking about. Lady Yuna too, seemed to be deep in thought, although she nodded her head
every now and then as Lucil told her the plan. I knew I myself should have been focusing on
whatever the plan was, but I was too busy wondering what it was that Rikku had on her mind.
"Dang-it, Rikku!" I found myself thinking, "Must you always distract me?"
"Then it's settled," Lucil said, breaking into not only my thoughts, but also Rikku's,
"Does everyone understand?"
I had no idea what was going on, but I nodded anyway. I didn't want them to know I
hadn't been paying attention after all. If there was one thing I hated more than being Al Bhed, it
was getting unwanted attention.
Rikku nodded too, and I had been praying that she'd ask. She looked at me though, and
gave me an obvious confused smile, and then laughed silently, almost as if she was giving me
some sort of sign language.
"Goodbye, and take care Lady Yuna!" Lucil said cheerfully as Rikku waved, and the
group left, back into the door, Lady Yuna leading, followed by the ronso, Rikku running up
ahead, and Sir Wakka and Lady Lulu deep in conversation.
"So, where's the husband-to-be?" I found myself asking then, and was surprised that I
wasn't asking about the plan.
"Oh, he's taking care of other things, I'm sure," Lucil said, smiling, "Quite an odd bunch,
don't you think?"
"It's amazing though, you and Lady Rikku knowing each other, isn't it?" Elma said to
me, smiling.
"Yeah," I said, finding myself feeling rather distracted, "So, uh, should we like, I don't
know, go over the plan, or something?"
"Sounds good," Lucil said, as if thinking, "Elma, Vance and you should go over the plan,
okay?"
Elma nodded.
"I'm going to go check on the troops!" Lucil exited the temple, and I watched from the
window as she gave Sheea and Elma's chocobo a pat, and then got on her own and left.
"Okay," Elma said with a yawn, "You and I will stay back, and there will be troops
posted all over. The wedding is going to be broadcasted on sphere, so it's invitation or nothing.
So, the troops ask to see invitations. Then, what do you do?"
"Uh," I said, and should have known that Elma was going to quiz me, "I...I uh..."
"You make sure that there's no one in there without an invitation!" Elma said, and rolled
her eyes at me, "And if there's an attack, you..."
"I...I..."
"I wasn't paying attention," Elma finished for me, smiling a nice, smug smile, "I knew
it!"
"You get the rest of the troops to help. Half of them cause the guests, the other half
attack."
"But if they didn't go over fighting..." I said slowly, "How are they going to be much
help?"
"They'll use their common sense," Elma said, "If they have any, at least..."
"Then what do I do?" I asked, now that it was out that I hadn't been paying attention.
Elma smiled, "It's slingshot time!" She laughed, and then said, "Hopefully they'll be
guys! I want to see you hit one in their area!"
I smiled too, and felt my had reach to my sling just to make sure it was still there.
Together, my sling and I had been through quite a bit.
"So, that's it, got all that?" Elma said, "'Cause I'd really like the rest of the day off, to go
celebrate Lady Yuna's wedding! Just think Vance, only a select amount of people got
invitations, and we're practically one of them!"
"Hey, does that mean we have to get dressed up?" I asked, sticking my tongue out at the
thought.
Elma laughed, "No worries," she said, "We'll be in full armor! Ready to protect the High
Summoner!" She nodded at me then, as to dismiss me, and went out the door, and jumped on
her chocobo's back and was off.
"Rest of the day off," I muttered to myself, wondering when it was I'd get to see some
action. I didn't know why, but for some reason I highly doubted that there would be any trouble
at Lady Yuna's wedding. In fact, I was positive that there would be little trouble.
I was just about to leave, when Rikku exited from the door.
"Hey Vance!" she said, greeting me.
I turned around and smiled my 'hello.'
She smiled at me then, and said, "Whatchya been up to?"
"Not much," I said, "After I left Home, I moved to the Calm Lands, and I was a chocobo
trainer. Then, just two months ago, I joined the chocobo knights."
Rikku laughed, and said, "Chocobos! How perfect for you!"
I gave her a friendly shove, and said, "Wanna race sometime?"
"Only if you race some machina!" she said with a giggle.
"Wanna know what I really want?" I said, not knowing why, but suddenly felt like telling
someone, besides Sheea.
"What?" Rikku asked.
"I want to Blitz," I said, a dreaming look coming into my eyes.
"Hey! You may be in luck!" she said, "Wakka's team, you know the Aurochs, need a
player to fill in! You could be their bench warmer and practice with them and everything!"
"Seriously?" I said, my eyes brightening.
"Yeah, seriously," Rikku said, "'Course, you couldn't be a chocobo knight anymore."
My heart did sink a little. And I had already climbed this high.
"Well, I'd have to think on it," I said.
Rikku laughed, "I'll talk to Wakka about it later!"
A moment of silence passed between us, before I finally asked her what she'd been up to,
and what fighting Sin was like. When I mentioned Sin however, her bright face dimmed.
"Uh, I don't really want to talk about that right now," she said, "But lately I've just been
hanging out with Yunie, and...I don't know, being bored, I guess."
"So, you're excited about Lady Yuna's wedding, right?"
At this Rikku burst out laughing. "Yeah right!" she said, "Have you ever met stupid
Pinelli? He is such a.... a... a jerk!"
I was shocked. Rikku must be the only one besides me who wasn't excited about Yuna's
wedding.
"So you don't want them to marry?"
Rikku let her eyes roll. "Of course not. It's stupid, really. Yunie thinks that if she goes
off marrying this goon, then people will be happy, and all of the Yevonites will be satisfied.
Then, they're going to offer her, and stupid Pinelli a spot as Maesters of Spira, and Yuna's going
to turn them down, to satisfy those Anti-Yevon Weirdos. So, she's not even doing this for
herself."
"How can she just marry some guy to satisfy others?" I asked, trying to take everything
in.
"Look Vance," Rikku said in a tiny voice, "When you've been through what she's been
through, you kind of stop caring about yourself. Got it?"
I nodded, as if I understood, but truly I was quite confused.
"Anyway," Rikku said, still with that small voice, "It's hard to think about it now.
Especially since we can basically wash the idea of Yunie marrying for love out of our heads."
"Why's that?" I said, and, trying to cheer my old friend up, said, "I'm sure there's
someone out there for her!"
She glared at me in a flash, and said, "No there isn't!" Then, she stomped back through
that door, saying something under her breath in Al Bhed. I wished I still understood the
language, but I didn't.
"Well, bye Rikku," I said before she shut the door, not knowing what I'd said.
"Bye," she said, and slammed the door shut, leaving me standing there, looking, and
feeling, quite confused.
I was still standing there, when the door inched open again, and Rikku came back out,
looking at the floor.
"Actually," she whispered, "there is someone for Yunie."
"Who?" I said, letting my curiosity get the best of me, and then bit my tongue, "I mean,
what?"
"His name was Tidus," she whispered, and kept looking to see if anyone was coming,
"Promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, okay?"
"Okay," I said slowly, somehow not wanting to get involved, but at the same time curious
to know what it was that Rikku was talking about.
"Here, come with me!" Rikku said, and grabbed my arm. The next thing I knew, Rikku
was dragging me outside, past Sheea, who gave me a curious look, but then returned to her food,
and out onto a balcony, overlooking a gorgeous garden.
People were everywhere out in the garden, planting and watering, and adding a large
parapet.
"What's going on here?" I asked.
Rikku's eyes rolled. "This is where the wedding's going to be held." Her voice was
dreary, and I realized that this whole wedding idea really had Rikku down.
"So, uh," I said, looking up at the sky, "What about this Tidus guy?"
"Oh, right," Rikku said, and looked around again, "See, Yuna actually had two more
guardians."
"She did?"
"Yeah, Sir Auron, surely you've heard of him, and then Tidus. Anyway, Sir Auron was
dead...I guess, and Tidus disappeared."
I laughed, but stopped when I saw the serious look on Rikku's face.
"He just disappeared?" I asked, biting my lip to keep myself from smiling.
"Yeah. It's kind of a long story. Um...Let's just say that Tidus' departure kind of...hurt
Yunie." Rikku looked at the ground then, and back to the many workers who were preparing for
the High Summoner's wedding.
"Rikku," I found myself asking, "Why do you care? I mean, if he's gone, he's gone."
"That's just it!" Rikku said, "He has to be somewhere, doesn't he? I mean, you can't just
disappear! Look, I don't think he's at the farplane or anything."
"Have you even checked?" I asked, looking away from Rikku and appearing to be in
thought.
Rikku blushed. "That place gives me the creeps, alright! But, Wakka and Lulu have
gone there in the last two years, and they haven't said anything about Tidus."
"Maybe they just don't want to bring it up," I suggested, wondering how it was that
Rikku could be so ignorant of the facts, "People don't disappear, Rikku. It just doesn't happen.
Are you sure he didn't just die or something, and for some reason you think he disappeared?"
"Ah! I thought you might be able to help!" Rikku said loudly, "I don't want Yunie to
marry, and I seem to be the only one who cares! Wakka and Lulu are being so dumb about the
whole idea, and who knows what Kimarhi's thinking! It's just not right! I want Yunie to be
happy!"
"Maybe she is," I said bluntly, "She sure smiles enough."
I thought Rikku was going to explode.
"THAT"S JUST IT!" she nearly yelled at me, "None of those smiles are real! They're all
just fake! So everyone thinks that Yuna is happy, but she's not! Oh, and before you go on
saying, "Oh, how would you know," I do know!"
"None of those smiles are real." Rikku's words played over and over in my head. I
knew it then. That's what had been missing in all of Yuna's smiles. True happiness. I knew it
then, in my heart, that Yuna wasn't happy.
My head shook, and I said, "Look Rikku, there's not much we can do now. She's getting
married in what, two days, and she can't just disappoint all of Spira. Not now. Not when they're
so happy."
I was sure I could feel Rikku's heart sink. I could see it in her eyes. She turned around
and looked at the gardens, with a sad expression on her face.
"You're right, Vance," she said, "You are completely right. Yunie got herself into this,
and there's no way I can get her out of it. Not now."
Rikku stomped off then, but I called her back. Her eyes rolled again, and she stomped
back over to me.
"What now?" she said, looking annoyed.
"Do you think someone will try to crash the wedding?" I asked, almost more for my own
well-being than hers.
"I sure hope so," she said, more to herself then to me.
"If someone does," I said slowly, "Maybe the wedding will be postponed. Then, it'll give
you more time to stop the wedding."
Rikku nodded slowly, taking in what I had told her.
"Yeah, I guess so," she said, and then smiled, "Yeah! I sure hope someone attacks!
Anyway, see ya later, Vance-o!"
"Uh, yeah, see you," I said, waving as she skipped off. "Well, at least I'm no longer the
only one who is hoping for someone to crash the wedding!"