REVISED!!!!

A.N.: I don't know what happened. The original chapter 3 that I posted was the one that I didn't correct all of my spelling and grammar errors in. My husband pointed it out to me and I removed the buggy chapter and here is the CLEARER version. I can't believe I did that.

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A.N.: This one is a bit longer and a complete rewrite from what it was originally intended to be. I did this one a bit differently also, than from the first two chapters. I won't spoil it, just let you see for yourself. Also, the next two chapters where originally apart of this one, but in the spirit of making the fiction have better flow and to make sure the story line stays clear, is the reason for the rewrite. Again sorry for the delay, but I am sure you will think that it was worth it in the long run.

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Chapter 3: The Importance of Being Rikku

Day 72 A.S. Yes, A.S. stands for After Sin

It seems the majority of the world has taken to a new calendar system. A new era has begun, with a new High Summoner to reign over it. I don't envy her one bit. She can't even grieve without it becoming public knowledge, which is why she is so quiet, I suppose. Of course, she has been in one spotlight or another her entire life. First for being half Al-Bhed, then for being the High Summoner's daughter, let's just hide the fact your mom was Al-Bhed, ok dear? . . . And now, for bringing the eternal calm.

It has been two and a half months since we have parted, and I have to say I have seen some sides of Spira that even surprises me. That's considerable, considering that as little as two months ago, I was one of the inferior.

I always knew, that when a Yevonite married an Al-Bhed, they were both shunned. What surprised me was how the children were treated. I guess I shouldn't have been. Yuna once told me that she preferred not to think of her childhood in Bevelle. By the Fayth, to be a half Al-Bhed child in Bevelle makes me wake up with cold chills at night when the thought passes across my mind. I never questioned Yuna about her childhood, but hell . . . If a 'half-breed' near Djose is treated like scum, even by other Al-Bhed, then I can only imagine the hell that is Bevelle.

What really infuriates me is the bigotry of my own people! How can a self respecting Al-Bhed man, woman, or child, treat any human being as being less than they are when we ourselves face persecution on a daily basis? Unreal!

I will always remember the look on everyone's faces, when Yuna introduced me as her cousin. One lady, point blank, asked her how was that possible. With pride, I can tell you, without missing a beat, Yuna told exactly how that was possible. Hehe, all because the temple guard would not let me enter with the High Summoner. 'I will not enter any place that will not allow my cousin to enter with me.' I will remember that forever!

While, I have noticed, that since her mixed heritage has become common knowledge, it has become considerably easier for Al-Bhed, mixed and pure, to move and work in Spira. There is still a group that is out for us. I won't say small, because it probably isn't a tiny organization, and one we should be looking out for.

Another thing I have learned in my short fifteen years of life is the following: People are STUPID! The individual can be caring, compassionate, and thoughtful; however, put a group of people together and the person with the least amount of sense suddenly becomes the alpha male. Notice I said male, I have also noticed that women as a whole have considerably more sense then men. This thought is leading somewhere I assure you, and it absolutely makes me sick to put it down in words.

Someone tried to kill me! Not just me, but my entire group! Father was furious, of course, but proud that his 'little girl' was big enough to take care of herself. Well duh, dad, I did help defeat Sin, but anyway. . . The idiots tried to take on a group of fully armed Al-Bhed, with ME as the section leader. Pleeeease, I've fought tougher fiends at the age of five in Bikanel, than the fight those misguided fools sought to give.

What really Pissed me off, though, was what the leader shouted as they attacked.

"For the purity and enlightenment of Spira!"

Just what in the name of the Fayth is that supposed to mean? Well, purity I understand. We have always been the unclean, unguided, and unaccepted of Spira, but enlightenment? That burns me up!

Let me record, here and now, fundamental proof of the Al-Bhed's superior enlightenment. Let us start with what most children know before the age of ten.

What does 'ampacity' mean? Why, it is the amount of flowing current (in amperes) that a conductor can carry continuously for specific use conditions and does not exceed the temperature rating of the conductor! Hah! Fundamental electrical sciences.

What is a branch circuit? You may ask and I am hired to explain. It is the conductors that originate from the load side of a fuse or circuit breaker and extend on to provide power for the entire circuit in a particular run.

Of course, all this may confuse YOU, but not a child of my tribe. I could rattle off basic properties of electricity and how they apply to circuits, breakers, system operations etc. by the time I was seven. This used to tickle my father to no end. I didn't find out until much later that I had committed to memory at the age of seven that our instructors didn't start teaching other children till twelve. Heh, go figure. Gippal and Brother, feeling left out, set out to make me miserable, so in retaliation, I set out to out shine them both. Put together! I succeeded until I heard about my misguided cousin and what my father proclaimed her 'fool's errand.' But I digress, I believe I was talking bout the obvious intellectual superiority of my people.

I could tell you so much about electrical engineering, like magnetic fields are created in a conductor when a current flows though it; or that a mutual inductance is the linkage of flux between two coils or conductors, caused by the current flowing within one or both of the coils or conductors. I could tell you all that, and more, but I won't. For the simple reason, that there is not enough pages in this book to describe, in detail, my knowledge of electrical, chemical, and biological engineering. Not to mention my love of tinkering and the theories of my own that I have recorded elsewhere.

"The pursuit of knowledge and self awareness is the truest, purest of sciences. May only the brave and open minded, venture forth."

My mother said that, and I will never cease to strive for the true realization of that lofty ideal.

That doesn't mean I can't have fun on that trip, does it? Of course not. It's just hard, really hard, to remember to always be open minded and positive, when folks are TRYING TO KILL YOU!

insert deep breathe here…

On a positive note, I have been invited to go shopping with Yuna and Lulu. Haha! Maybe we can get Lu to buy something that isn't black! And even though we will be in Bevelle, I will not let anything ruin the three of us from having a good time. My other goal, is to make sure Yuna 'MEJAC ED IB!' which loosely means 'live it up!' I have been so worried about her, but I haven't been able to stay with her like I really wanted. As daughter of Cid, and apparently 'heir apparent' (Brother sure isn't fit) I have an obligation to hire myself out as a teacher to the people of Spira so they don't hurt themselves trying to use machina, or machines as we are calling them now. Of course, my next step is to send all monetary gains back to base camp for the eventual rebuilding of 'Home'. I am not complaining, but I am about to be sixteen, Yuna is approaching her seventeenth birthday, we just defeated Sin and well I guess what I am trying to say is, "We are to young for this shit!" Really, we are going to be old before we are allowed to do anything we want to do.

Well, that about sums up my rant for today. I have some gadgets to fix for my trip to Bevelle. Can't have the High Summoner or myself come in harms way, can I? I will forever and foremost be a guardian, funny how a pilgrimage can change you on the inside, even if you don't show it on the outside.

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Sunlight spilled into the room as the petite blonde readied herself for the day. It was amazing luck that the proprietor of this inn recognized her as a guardian of the High Summoner. She almost didn't get a place to stay at all.

Not much can get this girl down, but by the fourth inn that turned her away because of her… um, heritage, it got downright frustrating. She almost started to cry when a man named Hazis approached her and told her not to be troubled by their inhospitality. "After all, not all of Bevelle is as biased, of course not all of Bevelle is as orderly as this part either." That last phrase of his, confused Rikku, but she didn't show it. It was starting to get into the early part of the evening and she really needed to freshen up before the evening tide came in bringing her dearest friends with it.

When the man, Hazis, started to lead her into a part of town that wasn't as well kept as the rest of the city, she didn't worry. She didn't even worry when she started to hear the talk of people that were obviously dockworkers and the bottom of Bevelle's social ladder. She did start to worry, when she was shown one of the most run down inns in the city. This place couldn't possibly be safe for her or Yuna, not with all the hostilities that have been happening!

Stepping inside, however, she was immediately reminded of home. There was at least a dozen Al-Bhed in here, some half Al-Bhed and about twenty others that looked to be Bevelle born and bred. No fighting, though. Singing, laughing, children playing under the tables, this 'inn' was obviously the neighborhood-meeting place to unwind after work, and the bottom 'tavern' part of this inn had to be the area soup kitchen, cause of the line of people joking and waiting for their turn to get some food. Amazing is what it was! She suddenly realized that the entire room had fallen silent and was staring at her and Hazis as he introduced her.

Everyone suddenly wanted to shake her hand. Some of the people around her own age, all talking at once, was trying to tell her that they even remembered Yuna when she was small and wow did Rikku sure look like the high summoners mom. 'Well duh, she was my aunt.' She remained quiet, not speaking that sentence out loud. Thankfully, the women shooed the men and children away so Rikku could get settled into her room. And what a room it was. Who knew that such a shabby neighborhood could boast such a clean and comfortable sleeping area, and the people were great!

All that was several hours ago, and Rikku just pondered her good fortune of that find. 'Now if I can just convince Yuna and Lulu that we really need to stay there instead.' She wasn't to worried though, knowing Yuna's do good side; all she would have to do is tell them what happened to her in the more 'respectable' side of the city. And where Yuna decided to go, Lulu would most definitely follow.

The warning bell sounded, alerting the dockhands that the vessel they had been waiting for is now approaching. Thankfully it was already getting late and the surprise of Yuna being there will not draw too much of a crowd to fight away from.

It was still more of a crowd that any of them would have liked, though. Rikku noticed grimly that Yuna was still very pale, and looked too not gained any weight back. 'Can't let that spoil the visit!' She did manage a rushed explanation, as she rushed her cousin and friend towards 'Cheap-side' Bevelle, as the locals called it.

The force of their reaction almost knocked her down.

"They didn't," hissed a very pissed black mage. Lulu never missed a step, though, in following Rikku towards the end of town.

"Of all the nerve…" was what Yuna started to say until she noticed the direction Rikku was leading her in. Her steps started to slow down as long buried memories started to fall on her. There was the store that the nice people always gave her a treat, on her mom's shopping days. Over there was where the local school used to be, she even started to attend until the local priest informed the teacher she was a half-breed. The others had stopped and looked at her with worry, and the summoner shook off the memories, good and bad, and started to follow once more.

Having arrived at the inn, both Lulu and Rikku watched Yuna with curiosity. Unidentified emotions would flash across her face and disappear just as suddenly. A brown-headed young woman, with green swirly eyes that belied at least a small amount of Al-Bhed blood, came up behind Yuna.

"Well, well, well. Our Captain Mischief has returned." Yuna turned around in looking confused, her question clearly seen in her eyes.

"You don't remember me, do you?" The young woman feigned deeply hurt feelings; "Oh the times we had, the pranks we pulled, with me chasing after you with our mason jars to gather enough ants to…"

"Fill the local priests bedroom with," Yuna ended with a flash of recognition. "Mandy!" She exclaimed and the two friends who hadn't seen each other in ten years embraced.

"I can't believe you came back to this run down hovel. I would throttle you, but I am to happy to see you again." The girl called Mandy, chocked out. "Mom is going to flip when she sees you." With an evil smile, she handed Yuna a plate, "Quick, stand in line and surprise her! Oh this is going to be great!" She nearly squealed out.

Needless to say, Rikku and Lulu just watched in fascination at all of this. Rikku just murmured, "Who knew?" and Lulu just nodded dumbly, that in it self totally out of her character.

Yuna, having been taken so by surprise, didn't even remember to give proper introductions. 'That will just have to wait until after I catch Ms. Mia's attention. Then I can make up for just dumping Lu and Rikku like that.' She thought with some guilt. Not even an hour back at the place she used to call home and already she was being swept away. She stiffened her resolve, to not let the past affect her so, but at least these memories were good. 'Maybe I can get through this without to much pain, it has been a long time, after all.'

A blonde older woman, without even looking up, poured some soup into the offered bowl. "I don't suppose you can spare some bread with that, or maybe some of your cupcakes. Oh better yet, I always did like your nut bread best." Now that got the woman's attention. Looking up sharply, she dropped her ladle into the soup and looked to almost pass out or cry, or maybe both.

"My god, it can't be." She started, raising her hand to her mouth in disbelief.

Deciding to play it up, Yuna gave herself a good one over and then looked back at the woman with a small smile tugging on her face. "It certainly appears to be." The sarcasm came with ease, she found, something she NEVER used around the others, at least very often, but she knew such a comment would be expected here.

The older woman jerked her apron off and ran around the corner of the bar and embraced Yuna for all she was worth. "By the Fayth, you do look like your mother. What in the world are you doing back in a place like this? Oh, if Jon were still alive he would have a fit. Has Mandy seen you yet?" The storm of question went on from the woman that Yuna used to consider as her second mom. Laughing Yuna answered the best she could before being swept away into the back kitchen. This time, at least she had enough composure about herself to wave her guardians to follow her.

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It was amazing, Yuna seemed to be comfortable and uncomfortable all at one time. This is certainly a side that she never showed us on her pilgrimage, but then again, she didn't have the time to show much of anything on that trip. Lulu just looked amused, as if she knew this side had always existed. I mean, yes, I knew that Yunie had a mischievous streak in her, but she never let it go like this. Wow. I really wish I had the opportunity to grow up with her, everyone here seems to just take this carefree side of her for granted. Well maybe not Lulu, and I certainly don't.

We must have drunk tea and visited well past midnight until Ms. Mia decided that we should all turn in. I was disappointed, these were really great people, compared to the upper class part of town.

Oh and can you believe how nonchalantly Lulu just dropped the bomb on me?

"Oh, by the way Rikku, Wakka and I will be married in a few more weeks and the reason we are here is to make sure we all have our dresses fitted properly." I just sat there with the dumbest expression ever. I just know it. Yuna laughed at me. Laughed I tell you and even Lulu giggled. Geesh, who knew what getting married would do to a normally stoic personality? Lulu then told me about Yuna's reaction, now that got a few laughs from me.

My next surprise came when we were all turning in. No sooner did Yuna lay her head down did Lulu cast one of the most powerful sleep spells I have ever seen.

She just looked at me, allowing the trouble she had been hiding to show through. I must have done the same. If anyone needed to know about the attacks, it was this woman before me. At the same time, we both said,

"We have got to talk."

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Well, that is end of chapter three! I hope you enjoy it. My husband and my best friend really like my rewrite so far and I will have the next two chapters ready once they give me the green light. ANY tips are appreciated. I also collect ideas for future stories if you want to pass those along also, hehe. Well please R&R, you know you want to.

Mandyfanforevr-Girl thanks for your review, I had to change the name of Yuna's childhood friend in your honor! Plus it was also a shameless ploy to get you to update your fiction! You can't just leave me hanging girl. Please update please!!!!

I can't find a way to add F-chan, Motet, or Laney1 so sorry guys. I do like the name Laney though… hehe. Besides, I am sure you guys understand if ya'll have read Mandy's fic. Just got to dangle that carrot.