Chapter Six: The Highroad to Luca
Auron finished cleaning his blood-stained blade. His mind was only half-focusing on the task. He was still confused.
Only an hour or so had passed since Jecht had gone into care and Auron's mind wasn't settled. Braska saw the trouble in his friend's eyes, but he knew better than to ask. Auron preferred to deal with his own problems himself.
Auron slipped his black glove back on and put his sword in its sheath. He gazed over the sea for a moment, half expecting Sin to show himself again. But it never did. Still, Auron was not one to relax.
"Let go of me!" A gruff voice demanded. Auron turned to see Jecht yanking his arm from a crusader's grasp.
"Sir, you're still not well!"
"I'm well enough!"
"Jecht!" Braska called, rushing to him. "Are you alright?"
"Of course!"
"Are you sure?" Auron asked, stepping up. "You got pretty beat up back there."
"Nothing a couple Hi-Potions can't fix, or Braska's magic."
"But you should still rest." Braska advised. "We'll need you in top condition."
"Braska's right." Auron said. "Things can only get tougher from here."
Jecht crossed his arms. "Can either of you honestly tell me that if you were in my place that you would just lay down in some bed?"
Auron hesitated. "He's got us there."
"We have important things to do! And the sooner we do, the better."
Braska sighed, knowing he wouldn't get anywhere with Jecht's stubbornness. "You're sure?"
"Positive."
"Only fools are positive." Auron pointed out.
"You sure about that one?" Jecht tried.
"And only naïve fools fall for that one." Auron countered.
"Mm." Jecht grumbled. "C'mon! Let's get moving!"
"Alright, then." Braska said. "Sir Jecht, Sir Auron, we leave!"
The crusaders gave the trio a few items and allowed them to continue. Soon, the rocky terraces leveled out and began to spring with life. Tall grass soon lined the dirt road.
"We're on the Mi'ihen highroad now." Braska explained. "It was named after the first Crusader, Mi'ihen. He founded the organization 800 years ago."
"800 years?!" Jecht exclaimed. "And they still haven't beaten it?!"
Auron had to chuckle at that.
"Well..." Braska defended, "They have kept Sin at bay several times."
"Mm." Jecht mumbled.
The road was a fairly long one. At the middle of the long road was an Al Bhed travel agency.
"Why does this place look familiar?" Jecht asked as they went inside.
The man at the desk looked up. His green eyes widened.
"Ah! Rammu ykyeh!"
"Hey!" Jecht exclaimed. "I know you! Rin, isn't it?"
"Oac. Good to see you all again."
"How on earth did you get down here before us?"
"I have many means of transportation, many faster than walking. I go from shop to shop, as I own many, and look in on things." Rin looked at Braska. "You have come a long way."
"Just two aeons more, then the Final Aeon. The Calm will come soon, Rin."
Rin sighed with mixed emotions. "I see."
Braska began speaking in Al Bhed.
"Tu hud pa cyt, so vneaht."
"E lyhhud ramb ed. E ryja ghufh oui vun cu muhk."
Braska sighed. "Yd maycd bid ah y kuut vyla...Jecht toec'd ghuf ypuid dra aht."
Rin's eyes widened. "Ri toec'd?"
"Hu. E ryjah'd dumt res."
"Fro hud?"
"E fyhdat du keja res ruba...bmayca, tuh'd ceo yhodrehk."
Auron understood every word of it, having learned from Braska's late wife. Braska was asking Rin not to be sad, or at least pretend to be happy. He asked this because Jecht didn't know...everything.
Rin nodded and smiled again. "Well, feel free to rest here as long as you all wish."
Auron looked at Jecht. So naïve...
Suddenly, an Al Bhed woman rushed into the agency.
"Rin!" She cried. "Dra mynka fiend fyc cbuddet rayn po!"
Rin's smile faded. "Mulg ib dra chocobos."
"Oac, cen!" And she was off.
"What is it?" Braska asked.
"We've been having some problems with a large fiend that feasts upon chocobos." Rin explained. "It was just spotted nearby, so I advise you all to stay inside for now." Rin then ran into the back.
"Hey, Auron." Jecht said. "C'mere." He walked outside.
"Where are you going?"
Jecht got out his sphere and gave it to Auron. "Turn it on!" Auron gave him a look. "Just do it!"
Auron turned it on.
"A large fiend." Jecht repeated, looking around. "Come on out and fight!"
Auron couldn't believe it. He was calling the monster out?!
"Jecht! Why are you doing this?" Auron groaned.
He turned to the camera. "It's the right thing to do! Everyone's counting on us!"
"The right thing to do?" Auron repeated.
"Yep." Jecht nodded.
Suddenly, the monster jumped out and punched Auron, who dropped the sphere and flew across the road.
"There he is!" Jecht exclaimed, getting out his sword. "Auron! Let's get him!"
Auron got up and drew he blade. "Right!"
Braska ran by and shut off the sphere before joining in.
The Chocobo Eater was an odd monster with two small feet, a large head for a body with a gaping, hungry mouth, and two long arms with large fists. It let out a long roar.
"Someone needs to cut back on the garlic." Jecht choked. He made the first move with a simple slash. The monster ignored it and knocked him away. Auron sliced its body as well, but then blocked the next hit with his blade and struck again, followed by Jecht.
The monster jumped back and swiped again, getting them both. Then, a lightning bolt struck it down. It looked at Braska.
"Thundaga!" he declared, striking the beast. It fell onto its back. When it tried standing, Jecht kicked it back. The monster got up and jumped back again. Auron got an idea.
"Let's keep this up!" he said. "Keep driving it away!"
"Got it!" Jecht said, seeing his plan.
Auron struck once more, but was once more knocked away, as was Jecht. The monster became angry and cast a Blizzard spell, striking Jecht, Auron, and Braska. For a moment, they were all slowed with the cold, so the Chocobo Eater could knock them all back with a charge.
"Alright, then." Braska said, spinning his staff. "Firaga!" A great fiery blast exploded right in the monster's face. It roared and ran a round a bit.
"It doesn't like fire, I see." Braska observed.
When the monster calmed down, it launched a Blizzaga spell at Braska, bringing him to his knees. Auron and Jecht began fighting again.
"Alright." Braska said. "Now, I'm mad. Drain!" A yellow sphere surrounded the Chocobo Eater and sapped it of its strength, then transferred the energy to Braska, healing him. The beast glared at Braska and started up a spell.
"No, you don't!" Braska snapped. "Osmose!" This time, a blue sphere appeared, sucking the magical energy from the monster and transferred it to Braska. Without its magic power, the monster couldn't cast its spells.
"And with this extra power," Braska said. He began spinning his staff around above his head. "Firaga Fury!!" Several Firaga spells began bombarding the poor monster, blasting it away. With what little energy it had left, the monster jumped back, trying to get away from its foes.
However, it only jumped right off a cliff. With a roar and a heavy thud, the monster was no more.
Jecht and Auron turned in amazement to Braska, who did a few fancy staff-twirls and smiled.
"Didn't know I had it in me, did you?"
"I'm sticking with you." Jecht said.
"Very well done!" Rin said, coming from the Agency. "Thank you all very much. To show my gratitude, Braska, why don't you and your guardians take some chocobos to Luca, free of charge!"
"That would be great!" Braska said.
"Alright!" Jecht said. Then, he turned to Auron. "What's a chocobo?"
"So," Jecht hollered, "This is a chocobo!" Jecht was hanging onto the chocobo's neck for dear life. Chocobos, of course, were much faster means of transportation than just walking, so it only took a few moments to reach the end of the highroad. At that end, everyone got off their chocobo and returned them to the attendant at the entrance.
"Man!" Jecht marveled, scratching the bird's large neck. "We wouldn't mind having these back home!" Jecht looked below at the rather large town. "Wow. This place is pretty big!" "It is second only to Bevelle." Braska told him. "This is Luca."
The three of them began walking down a large flight of stairs, heading down into the city. When the crossed a bridge to reach the second set, Jecht shot a double take of the city. "What?!" he exploded. "A-A blitzball stadium?!"
"Oh, no." Auron groaned. He hadn't counted on this.
"Ah, yes!" Braska said. "I forgot! There is a tournament today!"
"There is?!" Jecht asked, in excitement.
"Braska, please..." Auron quietly pleaded.
Braska ignored him. "It's to honor Grand Maester Mika's 40th year in office."
"Uh...what, who, or whatever the correct word is."
"He's the leader of all the free peoples of Spira."
"Oh. 40 years, huh? Pretty incredible!"
"Indeed."
"But anyway, c'mon! Let's go watch the game!"
"I don't think so." Auron shook his head.
"Aw, come on!" Jecht pleaded. "I haven't seen blitz in days, much less played it!"
"I think he's right, Auron." Braska said. "It will be good to relax."
"Relax?!" Jecht laughed. "You don't see enough games."
"I haven't seen any, really. Not in a stadium, at least."
"Ah, then you must treat yourself to one!"
Braska turned to Auron. "I would like to see a Blitzball game for once..."
Auron got the hint. "Alright. We'll go."
"YEAH!!" Jecht rejoiced.
Jecht couldn't sit still, he was so excited. He kept hollering at them to hurry up the entire way. But they were often halted by the media. Everyone wanted a shot of Lord Braska. He did a bunch of waves and said some words, but not too much.
The reporters also wanted shots of the guardians. Auron said very little. Jecht couldn't keep his mouth shut. Auron shook his head. Some things never change, do they?
Auron thought of the only way to get him away from the cameras.
"Jecht!" He called. "The game is starting soon!"
"GOTTA GO!!" Jecht exclaimed, running off.
Inside the dome, the ushers made sure that the summoner and his guardians had good seats. Before the game started, Jecht began briefly explaining Blitzball to Braska. Auron didn't try to listen, but he found himself learning, unintentionally.
"Auron!" Jecht said, pulling out his sphere, "Record the game!"
Auron didn't want to, so he looked for an excuse.
"You can't possibly have enough room."
"Sure I do! I bought a couple new ones in case I ever did run out of room. I have plenty of room to record every game on this one!"
Auron rolled his eyes. "Why can't you do it?"
"When I watch blitzball, I tend to get angry. When I get angry, I throw things." He held out the sphere. "You, on the other hand were born without a personality, so it'll be safe with you, okay?"
Auron sighed and took the sphere and turned it on.
Maester Mika gave his opening speech for the blitzball players and it began. Fireworks went off in the air and the blitzball sphere was filled with water.
The first group was the Besaid Aurochs vs. the Luca Goers.
"Man!" Jecht said. "They suck...they REALLY suck!!"
"Who?" Braska asked.
"The Auroch! They're getting killed out there!" Jecht stood up. "DEFENSE, YA PATHETIC LOSERS!!"
Auron made sure to tape that.
Throughout the games, Braska found himself getting more and more excited. Auron just recorded and made no emotion. The Aurochs lost the game 7-0.
"Well, that was rather dull." Jecht grumbled.
The next game was much more exciting, with the Kilika Beasts vs. Al Bhed Psyches. Braska decided to cheer for the Psyches, remembering his wife.
Jecht did too, just so he had someone to yell at.
"HEY!!" Jecht shouted. "I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SEE WITH YOUR HEAD UP YOUR BUTT, BUT KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL!!"
Braska laughed loud and long at Jecht's spirit. Auron got sick of it.
In the final game, the Kilika Beasts faced the Guado Glories.
"My throat hurts." Jecht grumbled.
"From shouting so much, I'm not surprised." Auron said. "After we leave the game, we'd best leave quickly before you get us into a mob fight."
"That's the after-game entertainment!" Jecht argued.
In the second half of the game, one of the Guado Glories suddenly made an illegal tackle, hurting one of the Kilika Beasts.
"Ouch." Braska cringed. "Foul, right?"
"Definitely." Jecht said.
But the referee said didn't call it!
"What?!" Braska exclaimed. "No foul?! He practically killed him! HEY! REMOVE HEAD FROM SPHINCTER, AND THEN MAKE THE CALL!!"
Everyone around Braska froze and stared at him. Braska slowly saw down, eyes wide. He turned and pointed at Auron, who had recorded every word.
"Delete that."
Jecht leaned over him to Auron. "And you thought I would start something."
"I have never been more embarrassed in my life." Braska groaned, covering his face. They were outside the dome now, going to the docks to catch their boat to Kilika Island.
"You've been around Jecht too long." Auron said.
"I've never been more proud of you, Braska." Jecht laughed. "I'm gonna go into town and get some stuff." With that, he left.
Auron and Braska waited around for a moment.
"My Lord," Auron finally said. "Why haven't you told Jecht about the end?"
Braska was surprised by the question. "You believe he really doesn't know?"
Auron sighed. "I really don't know what to believe anymore, Braska. But whether is because of Sin's toxin or because he's really from some other Zanarkand that cannot possibly exist, Jecht doesn't know what will happen when you obtain the Final Aeon."
Braska took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know."
"So why haven't you told him?"
Braska shook his head. "I'm not sure. I don't want to lie to him...but then again, I wanted to give him a sense of hope. You know we don't have much of that left, but he still does."
"Like a child in his innocence?" Auron observed.
"Exactly."
Auron shook his head. "But Jecht has the right to know."
Braska had to smile. "Since when do you care so much about Jecht?"
Auron looked away, but admitted, "Well, I do owe him my life."
"Or perhaps you're considering the fact that he isn't as bad as you accused him to be."
"Either way, Jecht is going to find out sooner or later, and it would be better if you told him."
Braska sighed again. "I know, I know. But not now. I'll tell him when I'm ready...and when he's ready."
"Alright." Auron agreed, "But we don't have much time."
They were silent for a moment, and then Auron turned on Jecht's sphere to get a good look at the Luca docks. Only a second later, Jecht came back.
"Hey, Auron! Did you get that last game?"
"Yeah." Auron replied. "But I don't know why you wanted me to."
Jecht chuckled. "Not a sportsman, are you?" Auron shook his head. "I wanted to show my son a few things."
Braska looked at him. "Your son plays blitzball?"
"Yeah, he's trying to be just like his old man." Jecht shook his head with disgust. "I once told him to give it up. He didn't speak to me for a week!" Jecht's face grew remorse. "I wonder what he's doing now..."
Jecht stepped to the side, looking away and thinking. Braska was in Auron's way, so he moved around him and Jecht saw the sphere.
"Hey!" He said. "What are you recording me for? Turn that thing off!" Auron did.
"Sorry."
Jecht waved him off. "It's okay...so...where to now?"
Auron finished cleaning his blood-stained blade. His mind was only half-focusing on the task. He was still confused.
Only an hour or so had passed since Jecht had gone into care and Auron's mind wasn't settled. Braska saw the trouble in his friend's eyes, but he knew better than to ask. Auron preferred to deal with his own problems himself.
Auron slipped his black glove back on and put his sword in its sheath. He gazed over the sea for a moment, half expecting Sin to show himself again. But it never did. Still, Auron was not one to relax.
"Let go of me!" A gruff voice demanded. Auron turned to see Jecht yanking his arm from a crusader's grasp.
"Sir, you're still not well!"
"I'm well enough!"
"Jecht!" Braska called, rushing to him. "Are you alright?"
"Of course!"
"Are you sure?" Auron asked, stepping up. "You got pretty beat up back there."
"Nothing a couple Hi-Potions can't fix, or Braska's magic."
"But you should still rest." Braska advised. "We'll need you in top condition."
"Braska's right." Auron said. "Things can only get tougher from here."
Jecht crossed his arms. "Can either of you honestly tell me that if you were in my place that you would just lay down in some bed?"
Auron hesitated. "He's got us there."
"We have important things to do! And the sooner we do, the better."
Braska sighed, knowing he wouldn't get anywhere with Jecht's stubbornness. "You're sure?"
"Positive."
"Only fools are positive." Auron pointed out.
"You sure about that one?" Jecht tried.
"And only naïve fools fall for that one." Auron countered.
"Mm." Jecht grumbled. "C'mon! Let's get moving!"
"Alright, then." Braska said. "Sir Jecht, Sir Auron, we leave!"
The crusaders gave the trio a few items and allowed them to continue. Soon, the rocky terraces leveled out and began to spring with life. Tall grass soon lined the dirt road.
"We're on the Mi'ihen highroad now." Braska explained. "It was named after the first Crusader, Mi'ihen. He founded the organization 800 years ago."
"800 years?!" Jecht exclaimed. "And they still haven't beaten it?!"
Auron had to chuckle at that.
"Well..." Braska defended, "They have kept Sin at bay several times."
"Mm." Jecht mumbled.
The road was a fairly long one. At the middle of the long road was an Al Bhed travel agency.
"Why does this place look familiar?" Jecht asked as they went inside.
The man at the desk looked up. His green eyes widened.
"Ah! Rammu ykyeh!"
"Hey!" Jecht exclaimed. "I know you! Rin, isn't it?"
"Oac. Good to see you all again."
"How on earth did you get down here before us?"
"I have many means of transportation, many faster than walking. I go from shop to shop, as I own many, and look in on things." Rin looked at Braska. "You have come a long way."
"Just two aeons more, then the Final Aeon. The Calm will come soon, Rin."
Rin sighed with mixed emotions. "I see."
Braska began speaking in Al Bhed.
"Tu hud pa cyt, so vneaht."
"E lyhhud ramb ed. E ryja ghufh oui vun cu muhk."
Braska sighed. "Yd maycd bid ah y kuut vyla...Jecht toec'd ghuf ypuid dra aht."
Rin's eyes widened. "Ri toec'd?"
"Hu. E ryjah'd dumt res."
"Fro hud?"
"E fyhdat du keja res ruba...bmayca, tuh'd ceo yhodrehk."
Auron understood every word of it, having learned from Braska's late wife. Braska was asking Rin not to be sad, or at least pretend to be happy. He asked this because Jecht didn't know...everything.
Rin nodded and smiled again. "Well, feel free to rest here as long as you all wish."
Auron looked at Jecht. So naïve...
Suddenly, an Al Bhed woman rushed into the agency.
"Rin!" She cried. "Dra mynka fiend fyc cbuddet rayn po!"
Rin's smile faded. "Mulg ib dra chocobos."
"Oac, cen!" And she was off.
"What is it?" Braska asked.
"We've been having some problems with a large fiend that feasts upon chocobos." Rin explained. "It was just spotted nearby, so I advise you all to stay inside for now." Rin then ran into the back.
"Hey, Auron." Jecht said. "C'mere." He walked outside.
"Where are you going?"
Jecht got out his sphere and gave it to Auron. "Turn it on!" Auron gave him a look. "Just do it!"
Auron turned it on.
"A large fiend." Jecht repeated, looking around. "Come on out and fight!"
Auron couldn't believe it. He was calling the monster out?!
"Jecht! Why are you doing this?" Auron groaned.
He turned to the camera. "It's the right thing to do! Everyone's counting on us!"
"The right thing to do?" Auron repeated.
"Yep." Jecht nodded.
Suddenly, the monster jumped out and punched Auron, who dropped the sphere and flew across the road.
"There he is!" Jecht exclaimed, getting out his sword. "Auron! Let's get him!"
Auron got up and drew he blade. "Right!"
Braska ran by and shut off the sphere before joining in.
The Chocobo Eater was an odd monster with two small feet, a large head for a body with a gaping, hungry mouth, and two long arms with large fists. It let out a long roar.
"Someone needs to cut back on the garlic." Jecht choked. He made the first move with a simple slash. The monster ignored it and knocked him away. Auron sliced its body as well, but then blocked the next hit with his blade and struck again, followed by Jecht.
The monster jumped back and swiped again, getting them both. Then, a lightning bolt struck it down. It looked at Braska.
"Thundaga!" he declared, striking the beast. It fell onto its back. When it tried standing, Jecht kicked it back. The monster got up and jumped back again. Auron got an idea.
"Let's keep this up!" he said. "Keep driving it away!"
"Got it!" Jecht said, seeing his plan.
Auron struck once more, but was once more knocked away, as was Jecht. The monster became angry and cast a Blizzard spell, striking Jecht, Auron, and Braska. For a moment, they were all slowed with the cold, so the Chocobo Eater could knock them all back with a charge.
"Alright, then." Braska said, spinning his staff. "Firaga!" A great fiery blast exploded right in the monster's face. It roared and ran a round a bit.
"It doesn't like fire, I see." Braska observed.
When the monster calmed down, it launched a Blizzaga spell at Braska, bringing him to his knees. Auron and Jecht began fighting again.
"Alright." Braska said. "Now, I'm mad. Drain!" A yellow sphere surrounded the Chocobo Eater and sapped it of its strength, then transferred the energy to Braska, healing him. The beast glared at Braska and started up a spell.
"No, you don't!" Braska snapped. "Osmose!" This time, a blue sphere appeared, sucking the magical energy from the monster and transferred it to Braska. Without its magic power, the monster couldn't cast its spells.
"And with this extra power," Braska said. He began spinning his staff around above his head. "Firaga Fury!!" Several Firaga spells began bombarding the poor monster, blasting it away. With what little energy it had left, the monster jumped back, trying to get away from its foes.
However, it only jumped right off a cliff. With a roar and a heavy thud, the monster was no more.
Jecht and Auron turned in amazement to Braska, who did a few fancy staff-twirls and smiled.
"Didn't know I had it in me, did you?"
"I'm sticking with you." Jecht said.
"Very well done!" Rin said, coming from the Agency. "Thank you all very much. To show my gratitude, Braska, why don't you and your guardians take some chocobos to Luca, free of charge!"
"That would be great!" Braska said.
"Alright!" Jecht said. Then, he turned to Auron. "What's a chocobo?"
"So," Jecht hollered, "This is a chocobo!" Jecht was hanging onto the chocobo's neck for dear life. Chocobos, of course, were much faster means of transportation than just walking, so it only took a few moments to reach the end of the highroad. At that end, everyone got off their chocobo and returned them to the attendant at the entrance.
"Man!" Jecht marveled, scratching the bird's large neck. "We wouldn't mind having these back home!" Jecht looked below at the rather large town. "Wow. This place is pretty big!" "It is second only to Bevelle." Braska told him. "This is Luca."
The three of them began walking down a large flight of stairs, heading down into the city. When the crossed a bridge to reach the second set, Jecht shot a double take of the city. "What?!" he exploded. "A-A blitzball stadium?!"
"Oh, no." Auron groaned. He hadn't counted on this.
"Ah, yes!" Braska said. "I forgot! There is a tournament today!"
"There is?!" Jecht asked, in excitement.
"Braska, please..." Auron quietly pleaded.
Braska ignored him. "It's to honor Grand Maester Mika's 40th year in office."
"Uh...what, who, or whatever the correct word is."
"He's the leader of all the free peoples of Spira."
"Oh. 40 years, huh? Pretty incredible!"
"Indeed."
"But anyway, c'mon! Let's go watch the game!"
"I don't think so." Auron shook his head.
"Aw, come on!" Jecht pleaded. "I haven't seen blitz in days, much less played it!"
"I think he's right, Auron." Braska said. "It will be good to relax."
"Relax?!" Jecht laughed. "You don't see enough games."
"I haven't seen any, really. Not in a stadium, at least."
"Ah, then you must treat yourself to one!"
Braska turned to Auron. "I would like to see a Blitzball game for once..."
Auron got the hint. "Alright. We'll go."
"YEAH!!" Jecht rejoiced.
Jecht couldn't sit still, he was so excited. He kept hollering at them to hurry up the entire way. But they were often halted by the media. Everyone wanted a shot of Lord Braska. He did a bunch of waves and said some words, but not too much.
The reporters also wanted shots of the guardians. Auron said very little. Jecht couldn't keep his mouth shut. Auron shook his head. Some things never change, do they?
Auron thought of the only way to get him away from the cameras.
"Jecht!" He called. "The game is starting soon!"
"GOTTA GO!!" Jecht exclaimed, running off.
Inside the dome, the ushers made sure that the summoner and his guardians had good seats. Before the game started, Jecht began briefly explaining Blitzball to Braska. Auron didn't try to listen, but he found himself learning, unintentionally.
"Auron!" Jecht said, pulling out his sphere, "Record the game!"
Auron didn't want to, so he looked for an excuse.
"You can't possibly have enough room."
"Sure I do! I bought a couple new ones in case I ever did run out of room. I have plenty of room to record every game on this one!"
Auron rolled his eyes. "Why can't you do it?"
"When I watch blitzball, I tend to get angry. When I get angry, I throw things." He held out the sphere. "You, on the other hand were born without a personality, so it'll be safe with you, okay?"
Auron sighed and took the sphere and turned it on.
Maester Mika gave his opening speech for the blitzball players and it began. Fireworks went off in the air and the blitzball sphere was filled with water.
The first group was the Besaid Aurochs vs. the Luca Goers.
"Man!" Jecht said. "They suck...they REALLY suck!!"
"Who?" Braska asked.
"The Auroch! They're getting killed out there!" Jecht stood up. "DEFENSE, YA PATHETIC LOSERS!!"
Auron made sure to tape that.
Throughout the games, Braska found himself getting more and more excited. Auron just recorded and made no emotion. The Aurochs lost the game 7-0.
"Well, that was rather dull." Jecht grumbled.
The next game was much more exciting, with the Kilika Beasts vs. Al Bhed Psyches. Braska decided to cheer for the Psyches, remembering his wife.
Jecht did too, just so he had someone to yell at.
"HEY!!" Jecht shouted. "I KNOW IT'S HARD TO SEE WITH YOUR HEAD UP YOUR BUTT, BUT KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL!!"
Braska laughed loud and long at Jecht's spirit. Auron got sick of it.
In the final game, the Kilika Beasts faced the Guado Glories.
"My throat hurts." Jecht grumbled.
"From shouting so much, I'm not surprised." Auron said. "After we leave the game, we'd best leave quickly before you get us into a mob fight."
"That's the after-game entertainment!" Jecht argued.
In the second half of the game, one of the Guado Glories suddenly made an illegal tackle, hurting one of the Kilika Beasts.
"Ouch." Braska cringed. "Foul, right?"
"Definitely." Jecht said.
But the referee said didn't call it!
"What?!" Braska exclaimed. "No foul?! He practically killed him! HEY! REMOVE HEAD FROM SPHINCTER, AND THEN MAKE THE CALL!!"
Everyone around Braska froze and stared at him. Braska slowly saw down, eyes wide. He turned and pointed at Auron, who had recorded every word.
"Delete that."
Jecht leaned over him to Auron. "And you thought I would start something."
"I have never been more embarrassed in my life." Braska groaned, covering his face. They were outside the dome now, going to the docks to catch their boat to Kilika Island.
"You've been around Jecht too long." Auron said.
"I've never been more proud of you, Braska." Jecht laughed. "I'm gonna go into town and get some stuff." With that, he left.
Auron and Braska waited around for a moment.
"My Lord," Auron finally said. "Why haven't you told Jecht about the end?"
Braska was surprised by the question. "You believe he really doesn't know?"
Auron sighed. "I really don't know what to believe anymore, Braska. But whether is because of Sin's toxin or because he's really from some other Zanarkand that cannot possibly exist, Jecht doesn't know what will happen when you obtain the Final Aeon."
Braska took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know."
"So why haven't you told him?"
Braska shook his head. "I'm not sure. I don't want to lie to him...but then again, I wanted to give him a sense of hope. You know we don't have much of that left, but he still does."
"Like a child in his innocence?" Auron observed.
"Exactly."
Auron shook his head. "But Jecht has the right to know."
Braska had to smile. "Since when do you care so much about Jecht?"
Auron looked away, but admitted, "Well, I do owe him my life."
"Or perhaps you're considering the fact that he isn't as bad as you accused him to be."
"Either way, Jecht is going to find out sooner or later, and it would be better if you told him."
Braska sighed again. "I know, I know. But not now. I'll tell him when I'm ready...and when he's ready."
"Alright." Auron agreed, "But we don't have much time."
They were silent for a moment, and then Auron turned on Jecht's sphere to get a good look at the Luca docks. Only a second later, Jecht came back.
"Hey, Auron! Did you get that last game?"
"Yeah." Auron replied. "But I don't know why you wanted me to."
Jecht chuckled. "Not a sportsman, are you?" Auron shook his head. "I wanted to show my son a few things."
Braska looked at him. "Your son plays blitzball?"
"Yeah, he's trying to be just like his old man." Jecht shook his head with disgust. "I once told him to give it up. He didn't speak to me for a week!" Jecht's face grew remorse. "I wonder what he's doing now..."
Jecht stepped to the side, looking away and thinking. Braska was in Auron's way, so he moved around him and Jecht saw the sphere.
"Hey!" He said. "What are you recording me for? Turn that thing off!" Auron did.
"Sorry."
Jecht waved him off. "It's okay...so...where to now?"
Author's Note: Crud, crud, crud. That's what this chapter is. I'm sorry, but I hit a lotta blanks at this point. Not a whole lot happens in these areas, you know? I'll try to do better next time.