A/N: Alrighty, fifth chapter is up. I am currently writing the sixth chapter of this story. And I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me how I'm doing. This is only my first fanfic. I've written other ones before (not on this website) but this is my first FFX fanfic as well as my first one on this site.

Chapter 5: New World, New Games.

At lunchtime, I grabbed a roll from the canteen and looked around for a place to sit.

When the bell had rung, Yuna had gone somewhere else, as had everyone else.

Then I heard someone yelling.

"Marla, over here!" I whirled around. It was Wakka and Tidus, yelling at me from the other end of the oval. I followed the sound of the voices, eventually stopping when I saw them all, sitting down on the grass, in a circle. I grinned when I saw Yuna and Rikku.

"Come on, sit down," Yuna and Wakka said in unison, grabbing me and dragging me down. There was another girl there, one who I hadn't seen before. She had on a black dress.

"That's Lulu," Yuna explained, "She doesn't have History with us." To Lulu she said, "This is Marla, Rikku's sister."

I noticed Lulu staring at me closely.

"Eep." I muttered. Then, "Yuna, can I have a word, please?"

Yuna stood up and we moved towards the bin, which was out of earshot.

"We need to tell them. The truth about me and where I really come from. Lulu was looking at me. If she realizes that I'm not Al Bhed, then we're all toast."

Yuna seemed to consider the point, "you got me there."

We headed back to the group, who were arguing over who was better: the Besaid Aurochs, or the Besaid High version the Besayers.

"Guys," I said loud enough for them to hear. They stopped bickering and looked at me. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Fire away," Baralai muttered. Wakka glared at him.

"It's about me, and where I come from." I sat down. "I've actually been lying to everyone here, except for Rikku and Yuna, who already know. See, I don't even come from your world at all. I come from a place called Earth. How I got here, I don't know. I was practicing karate in my bedroom and the next minute I'm in Yuna's bedroom. I want to find a way to get home, but I can't. I barely know anything about Al Bhed, Yevon, Blitzball, summoners, everything here is strange to me." I turned away from the group, "And now you're probably going to think that I'm this dumb freak."
Silence.

"No way. We can help you, ya?" It was Wakka. He put a hand on my shoulder and turned me to face the group. I looked straight up at them, my ice-blue eyes boring holes in them.

"If you help me," I began, "I'll show you some of the sports that I'm good at. My main ones are soccer and karate." I didn't mention that I was also a talented gymnast, who'd nearly broken her leg when on the beam. I'd quit because of it.

Suddenly BRRRRRRIIINNNGGG!

The bell!

"Whatcha got next?" I wanted to know.

"Warrior training," Tidus, Paine and Wakka said in unison.

"Magic," Lulu, Yuna, Gimbel and Baralai said together.

"I've got Al Bhed," Rikku cut in. We split off into our different classes.

As it turned out, Warrior training was held in the gym.

When we got there, everyone else was pairing off.

"Settle down," the teacher stepped out. Wakka stepped forward, dragging me along as well.

"Um, Sir Auron," Wakka began, "this is a new student, Marla Haptoka ya?"

"Well, it's nice to meet you," Auron had a deep voice, that sent a chill up my spine.

"Same to you sir," I said, slightly uneasy.

"OK, everyone into pairs." Auron called out. He looked over at wakka and me, "You two better work together."

Tidus headed off with Paine, while Wakka and I took our places together on the floor, which was very similar to the floor at my new dojo. I'd never actually trained there, but I'd watched a class.

"Alright, today we are going to continue sword and unarmed combat." Auron began.

"That's where one person uses a pretend sword while the other has no weapons and they're supposed to try and attack back." Wakka hissed at me.

"Begin sequence number one." Auron called out.

Wakka swiped the sword at me. Having watched my sensei (karate teacher for those of you who don't know) use a bo (stick) against someone with no weapons at all, I knew what to do.

I executed a series of strikes, kicks and blocks that would have made my sensei proud. Wakka continued the sequence, but I could tell that he was faltering.

I finished by doing a back walkover, using my legs to kick Wakka in the chest.

"Woah," Wakka slumped to the floor, exhausted. "That was amazing."

"Mr. Ouaka." Auron headed over towards us, "Would you like me to tell your parents that you are failing again?" I looked suspiciously at Wakka.

Just then Auron executed a flying kick aimed at my face. I turned and blocked it just in time.

We sparred for about two minutes and then stopped.

"You're a pretty good fighter." Auron looked astonished, "For a first-timer, you are pretty amazing."

I looked at Wakka. His face was downcast.

"I can help," I said, trying to make the best of a situation. Wakka still looked downcast.

"My parents want me to pass warrior training, ya?" he said, slightly gloomy, "They think I can become Chappu."

"Huh?" I replied. Auron seemed to notice.

"Take five you two." He said. We sat down on a bench.

"Who's Chappu?" I asked.

"My little brudda," he began, "He died while trying to fight Sin six years ago. My parents haven't gotten over it and they think that making me a warrior will make Chappu live again."

"Nasty," I muttered. He nodded.

"I can help you out," I repeated, "My sensei—"

"Sensei?" he cut me off.

"Karate teacher, sorry," I winced, "used weapons during my training sessions with him. I can help you out after school."

Wakka seemed to consider the idea. I could tell though, that he wouldn't pass up the chance to be with me one-on-one.

"Alright," he held out a hand. I slapped it then shook it.

"Welcome to my world." I said, grinning.

That afternoon, Yuna, Rikku, Paine, Tidus, Wakka and I walked home together. Although I wasn't officially living there, I'd come to call Yuna's place home.

Tidus and Wakka did have blitzball practice, but it was cancelled, due to the coach not showing up. I later discovered that the coach was in fact Cid.

After dropping everyone else off at their houses-Tidus blowing Yuna a kiss and Wakka blowing me a kiss-we headed for home on our own. Yuna pulled a photo out of her pocket.

"Hey, take a look." She grinned and passed me the photo. I took a look.

It was a shot of the entire gang, including Rikku, but not including Gippal and Baralai.

"Who's that?" I wanted to know, pointing at something standing up the back. It looked like a blue-grey panther with human-ish clothing, a horn at the front of it's face and it had hair…or something like that.

"That's Kimahri," Yuna explained, "He's a Ronso," she noticed the look on my face and laughed, "they all look like that, well nearly all of them. Kimahri doesn't talk much, but he's been sorta like a body guard to me since I was a child. Lately he's taken to hiding off somewhere, and I don't know why." She looked at Rikku.

"Don't look at me!" Rikku squealed.

The house was unusually quiet as we walked in through the door.

"Hello…" Yuna called out, "dad…Uncle Cid?" we moved further inside the house.

Then I saw it.

A note on the kitchen table.

I moved closer and read it.

To the daughter of the priest,

If you want your father and your uncle back, you must bring the daughter of the Guardian to the Djose temple and sacrifice her before my eyes.

I let the note drop.

"Yuna!" I yelled out, my voice rising a note higher.

She and Rikku came in from the master bedroom.

"look at this," I said, my hand shaking as I passed them the note.

They each took it in one hand, then looked up at me, horrified.

"Who's the daughter of the guardian?" they asked as one.

I looked down at the ground.

Then I realized why I was here.

"I think…I know why I'm here." I whispered, "the note doesn't say son of the guardian, and Tidus's father is dead anyway." I looked up at the cousins, "I'm Auron's daughter."