(Well what do you know after almost 2 months of oh hard work on other stories I can finally work on this one. I only can work on it for 5 days until 8/30/04 I ship for Basic Combat Training. I'll be back sometime late December. If I don't finish the story by the time I ship out I'll finish it as soon as I get back.)
Ochu's cave
Yuna took lead of the group as they walked through the damp cave. Elma was almost shivering with the memory of the 3 days she spent in this cave. Lucile walked next to her holding her hand. Rikku and Paine were walking behind the group watching for any fiends that might try and ambush them. Yuna was holding the small sphere that cast just enough light for them to see where they were going. They had been walking for almost 30 minutes and the cave continued to go on with no end in sight.
"Does this cave ever end?" She asked as they turned a corner.
"It has to." Rikku said.
They continued to walk for another 10 minutes until Yuna stopped.
"Do you hear that?" She asked.
They all listened and could faintly hear the sound of running water and what sounded like people laughing and talking.
"The way to Zanarkend has to be right up ahead." Yuna said getting rather excited.
She started walking very fast to the sound of the water. When the others caught up to her she was standing at a pool of water that was swirling around. There was a light coming through the pool they all looked into the pool and saw the buildings of Zanarkend.
"There it is." Yuna said smiling.
"So how do we get there" Elma asked.
Without hesitation Yuna jumped into the pool.
"Yuna!" Everyone yelled as she disappeared into the pool.
"She's crazy." Rikku said.
Elma and Lucile looked at each other and grabbed each others hands and jumped into pool.
"Well we can't be the only ones that are sane." Paine said.
They held hands and took a deep breath and jumped into the pool. They were surrounded by light and they healed each other tightly. They both shut their eyes as they fell weightlessly through the worm hole. Next thing they knew they were laying on the ground in between two buildings.
"Yuna?" Rikku said standing up.
"I'm here." Yuna said walking up behind them.
"Elma and Lucile?" Rikku asked.
"Still in tacked" Elma said.
"That was weird." Yuna said looking around for the pool. "Where is the pool?"
"I can still hear it." Rikku said. "So it has to be here still."
"Ok let's go see where we are." Yuna said. "We need to find the blitzball stadium."
They all walked into the streets and looked around.
"This city looks wonderful." Rikku said. "It looks like Sin hasn't been here yet."
"If he hasn't been here yet then Tidus won't know who I am." Yuna said a little saddened.
"Well let's see." Rikku said.
The group started walking through the street getting looks from everyone they passed.
"What are they looking at?" Elma asked.
"Us." Paine said looking at her sword and Rikku's blades. "We're all armed."
They continued to walk through the streets looking for the Blitzball stadium. They tried asking for directions but nobody would help.
"This is gonna take forever." Yuna said.
"Can I ask who you are?" A voice from behind them asked.
They turned around and saw a man sitting in a hover craft with a rifle in his lap.
"We're looking for the blitzball stadium and a man named Tidus." Yuna said.
"Does he know you?" The man asked.
"He might." Yuna said.
"Might?" The man asked.
"It hard to explain." Yuna said.
"Well the stadium is straight down this road about a mile." The man said. "But I can't let you go."
"Why not?" Rikku asked.
"Because you are causing a panic with your weapons." The man said. "I am a keeper of the peace and have to take you to the station."
"Listen to me." Yuna said. "We don't have time to talk we have to find Tidus."
"I'm sorry but your gonna have to lay your weapons down." The man said and lifted his weapon.
"Do it." Paine said.
They all set their weapons down and looked over at Paine.
"As soon as he gets close to us let's knock him out and run for it." She said to Rikku in Al Bhed.
Rikku smiled and nodded. They both stepped forward so the man would have to take them first. He walked up to them and put his hand on Paine's arm. Paine grabbed his hand and whipped him towards Rikku and Rikku landed a hard kick to his stomach. The was a sound of air escaping the man's lungs as he fell to the ground unconscious.
"Let's go." Pain said picking up her weapon.
They started running as fast as they could and still stay together. They could see the stadium and ran right up to the gates.
"Do you have tickets to the game?" A man asked.
"No." Yuna said. "But we want some."
"They are 300 gil each." The man said.
"How close to the action?" Paine asked.
"Last row." The man said. "The front row tickets are very expensive."
"Are there any seats still open?" Yuna asked.
"Yes there are plenty." The man said. "But their 2,000 gil each."
"We'll take 5." Yuna said. "On the Abes side."
"Ok." The man said. "10,000 gil."
Yuna paid the man and got the tickets. They found their seats and sat down.
"I hope he sees me." Yuna said.
"We're the only people in the front row." Rikku said. "He'll see you."
They were sitting waiting for the game to start when several guards walked up.
"I'm sorry but there are no weapons allowed in the stadium." One of them said. "You'll have to hand them over."
"Will we get them back?" Paine asked.
"Yes we will hold them in the security room." He said.
"Hand them over." Yuna said handing her Braska .45's over. They all handed their weapons to the security team and they walked away.
"At least we still have out dress spheres." Rikku said.
"Yep." Paine said. "But I don't think we'll need out weapons."
They sat back and waited. The sphere was filled with water and the opposing team took to the field. They all did a warm up lap around the sphere then waited. Finally the Abes took to the field Yuna watched as the team did their lap around the sphere.
"There he is." She screamed seeing Tidus swim past her.
The teams took their positions and waited for the Blitz off. Yuna's heart was pounding and she couldn't stop smiling as Tidus got ready to start the game. The buzzer sounded and the game was underway.