AN: For anyone who wonders I know I have spelt Yunalesca 'wrong'. You will find out soon. All will be revealed eventually. The sphere room where everyone watches the sphere of Zanarkand is supposed to be in the passage way in X2 that you down to find the Zanarkand sphere half just to tell you. That's all I need to say. Thanx. Oh and mind my Old Guado. It is terrible I know, but oh well it was the best I could get it.
Sesh: Now let's look at these lovely reviews that people have been sending us.
Nightfire04:Glad you like it yeah I'm glad you are erm well more stuff is happening now including some of the stuff I told you about.
Your friend Amanda: Yay I'm glad you looked at it and that you enjoyed it despite you've never played FFX. If you want to dear get a PS2!
Fortunefavoursthebrave: Yeah Jen glad u like the first few chappies. Hope u read more in the future.
Kinny: Yeah thanks everyone. Glad you're enjoying my story.
Everyone boarded the shoopuf and the set off across The Moonflow. Wakka and Tidus were talking. Tidus suddenly looked over the side. Arkinlae and Zen were sharing a bar of chocolate and enjoying the ride."Whoa!" he exclaimed "A sunken city."
Arkinlae's face suddenly had an expression on it like she had just realised something. She peered over the side and stared at the city.
"A machina city a thousand years old." Wakka continued, "They built the city on top of bridges across the river."
"But the weight of the city caused the bridges to collapse and it all sank to the bottom." Lulu added
"Pnetkac?" Arkinlae shook her head, "Ev uhmo ed ryt paah mega dryd."
"It's a good lesson." Wakka said retorted to Arkinlae. He hadn't liked her tone of voice that was enough, as he couldn't understand Al Bhed.
"A lesson?" Tidus questioned. He obviously couldn't see what lesson there was to learn from all this, being from a machina city himself. You could kind of sympathise with him for that. Of course he wouldn't have been able to see that machina were bad.
"Yeah why build a city over a river ya?"
"Uh well it would be convenient with all that water there." Tidus replied as if he was stating the obvious. Which for once he was. Wakka of course was too stubborn to accept that fact.
"Nope that's not why. They just wanted to prove they could defy the laws of nature."
"Hmm I'm not so sure about that." Tidus said, Arkinlae agreed but for a different reason.
"Tuh'd pa cdibet. Hu fydan. Hu cehgehk." She said
"What do you mean no water Kinny?" Sesh asked totally baffled over the conversation between Tidus and Wakka. Only Yuna and Auron were properly listening to Kinny and Lulu tuned in at various intervals. Sesh then sighed seeing there was no point in asking, as Arkinlae remained silent.
"More than a thousand years ago mankind waged war using machina to kill." Yuna said adding to Wakka and Tidus' conversation. This sparked and interest in Arkinlae who looked up from The Moonflow's depths.
"They kept building more and more powerful machina." Wakka said
"The made weapons so powerful that it was thought they could destroy the entire world." Lulu lamented
"The people feared that Spira would be destroyed." Yuna said fear in her voice
"But the war did not stop." Wakka finished
Arkinlae then resumed looking at the water and the city. Suddenly she saw something floating there. She squinted and peered closer gripping the side of the cabin. Then the thing turned over and Arkinlae saw what it was. It was a man. Dead. His face was pure white he had a look of terror on his face and his eyes were opened wide and glazed.
"It's because of people like the Al Bhed screwin' everything up!" Wakka finished.
"Hey!" Sesh protested.
Arkinlae screamed at the sight she had just seen and ran back to Zen. Everyone stared at her. She was breathing heavily. Breaths, which turned into sobs.
The ground rumbled under everyone's feet. They all looked around in fear and confusion to see what was happening. Machina surrounded them all guns pointed at every civilian. The Fayth of Bevelle watching the cowering civilians. Then they saw her. She rose up into the sky. Hair and eyes as blue as the water She looked down on the city.
"Lady of the Water!" someone shouted, "What is going on? Please help us."
"Yunalaesca!" The Fayth shouted, "What are you doing here? You are and enemy dismissed from 'The Council of Fayth'. You are not fit to be called one. Why aren't you dead? You jeopardised this land."
"You're the one's that are jeopardising it. Anyway I'm giving what you deserve. You took everything away from me" Was all she said. She then clapped her hands above her head. Dark clouds gathered together and it proceeded to rain."
"Heh. Yunalaesca indeed." The Fayth laughed, "Is that all you can do?" It was a stupid plan for my son to give up his soul for the good of Bevelle. Bevelle has won he can see that now." He then laughed, "Battalion beta, get read to fire on my command." All the guns pointed towards her, "Fire!" The machina fired and She then fell limp in the air. She was dead. The Fayth laughed. Then pyreflies started to gather around Her and she sprung back up.
"You Bevellians are stupid." She laughed, "If knew anything you'd know." The Fayth then looked bemused. " I'm already dead." She then said laughing. Then a great tidal wave swept across the land commanded by Her. It plunged over the city. There were screams of terror and all the people started to flee. Only the machina continued to fire at Her to no avail. The screams of civilians never got a chance to end as the sheer power and coldness of the wave consumed them. The screams echoed round the land for an hour at least heard in Djose, Bevelle and The Tidal Lands. All She did was laugh. Laugh and laugh and laugh…
Suddenly the cabin shook. Zen held Arkinlae close to him.
"Whatsh could thatsh be?" The driver wondered. Everyone had stood up suddenly in surprise.
"Sit down!" Auron instructed, but it was too late. An Al Bhed jumped up on the shoopuf and grabbed Yuna
"The Al Bhed!" Wakka exclaimed and he and Tidus both dived into the water.
"Let's go!" Arkinlae instructed her guardians getting up and wiping her tear-filled eyes. Zen held her hand and all of them dived in after Tidus and Wakka. Then they saw Yuna. She was being kept in a bubble like container on top of an extractor.
"We need to get inside." Kinny instructed, "We have to make them understand." All four of them swam round the back of the extractor. Sesh swam up to the machina and started banging on it. There had to be a door somewhere. Suddenly the extractor rose and used Depth Charge. Charges fell amongst Wakka, Tidus and Kinny and the guys.
"Right," said Zen I say if these guys don't want to play nice, then we don't either. They're probably the guys from Luca. Bekayla!" he called to his friend, "Kud yho aoatnubc? E lyh'd caa y drehk!" (Got any eyedrops? I can't see a thing!) Bekayla got out eyedrops, but Kinny took over.
"Esuna!" she called and cast the spell with the hand that didn't have her blades in. Zen was cured immediately. Bekayla who saw Seshay was in the same position as Zen was before used the eyedrops on her. She was grateful and got read to attack.
"Haste." She called speeding up her attacks.
"Remember we don't want to blow it up. We want to talk to the guys inside this thing. Sesh if those two do somehow manage to defeat this thing we want the guys inside to be safe, think you and Becks can sort that out?" Arkinlae asked
"No prob!" Sesh said giving a thumbs up, "Come on Becks." And they both started hacking at the metal looking for a control panel.
Zen called Arkinlae's name only it was something Arkinlae had not been called for a long time and did not like to be called
"You and me will help take this one out." Zen continued confidently. He looked over Arkinlae who was staring at him.
"You called me…" She said the name amazed, "Zen," her voice then changed to a growl, "Never call me that again." Her eyes filled with anger, guilt and sadness.
"You okay?" he asked her, "Fine I won't. It's okay I'm here." And he held her hand and squeezed it affectionately, "Come on," he then said brightening, "We've got a job to do remember. Yuna's are mate now let's help her."
"Okay." Arkinlae said also brightening, "Thunder!"
The thunder was most effective against the extractor, but Wakka and Tidus were getting a fair beating by the extractors Aqua Shooter. Arkinlae saw this.
"Sesh? You done yet?" she called
"Hu," came her reply, "Almost."
"Think Becks will be alright on his own?"
"Yeah almost got it."
"Then help those guys out will you!" Arkinlae finished gesturing towards Wakka and Tidus who looked pretty rough.
"Cure!" Sesh shouted and cured both Tidus and Wakka
"Mental Break!" Zen called and attacked the extractor.
"Where'd you learn that?" Arkinlae asked Zen.
"After Operation Mi'ihen." He replied smugly
"Thundera!" Kinny called and with that the spell frazzled the machina and it blew up. Yuna was released from the bubble and Kinny and Zen grabbed her. Ropes were let down for them and the all climbed back on the shoopuf.
"How did it go?" Arkinlae asked Sesh and Bekayla while Wakka was again damning the Al Bhed.
"We manage to set it so that just before it would be destroyed it would release the crew inside, so thankfully no one would have got hurt badly."
"Good. Wakka, when you're finally finished." Arkinlae told him, which made Lulu smile. Then after telling the driver everything was fine the shoopuf ride continued. After about half an hour they arrived at the north bank. Everyone who was there flocked around Yuna. Arkinlae just sat there on the edge of the bank and dangled her feet in the water again. She lay on her back and looked at the sky. Sesh sat there too. While Zen and Becks were at the bar having a drink.
"Me and Zen have been thinking." Arkinlae said after a while, "We need a name."
"Huh?" Sesh didn't understand.
"I mean say if we do defeat Sin right. I don't want people just to give me credit and say oh we must thank High Summoner Arkinlae for the Calm. I mean you guys helped too. A summoner is nothing without his or her guardians."
"Hmm." Sesh agreed she looked up at sky too. Some gulls were flying overhead. Sesh thought of animals and randomly started reeling off animal names.
"Shoopuf!" she exclaimed revealing her newest idea.
"No Sesh we are not being called The Shoopufs." Arkinlae laughed, "Maybe something with wings…"
"Gulls?" Sesh enquired trying to be helpful.
"Gulls and wings?" Arkinlae questioned to which Sesh started saying gull and wings very quickly so it sounded like gullawings.
"Gullawings? Gullawings? Gullwings!" Arkinlae exclaimed sitting up. Sesh you're a genius."
"Zen, Becks!" Sesh called running to them. Zen and Bekayla looked over in surprise.
"Guess what." Arkinlae said about to tell them about their team name.
"I'm a genius." Sesh butted in wrapping her arms around her brother's neck and started to pull his head into her embrace. Zen pulled them off with an annoyed 'Get off Sesh I'm trying to drink here.'
"Yeah, but I got us a team name. You know what we were saying on the shoopuf Zen? Well we're The Gullwings."
"Okay. Gullwings good to go!" Zen called.
"Come on we should start making our way to Guadosalam even if the others aren't ready." Arkinlae said. And with that they did.
Tidus decided to join them as he was getting bored of waiting. Then they saw someone lying on the roadside. She wasn't dead as she got up and started taking her wetsuit off. She stood up then in an orange top and green shorts. She looked at Arkinlae and the others and Tidus.
"Kinny?" she said, "Kinny is that-."
"Riks!" Sesh exclaimed and ran to hug her, "How's baby cousin?"
"Hey I'm the same age as you!"
"Nuh uh me month older." Sesh grinned.
"At least I don't wear braces." She retorted
"Nothing wrong that is there Kinny?"
"Well," said Zen, "She may not be your baby cousin Sesh but she is mine come here." He pulled the girl away from Sesh's grip and got her in a headlock.
"Zen you creep I'll get you!" she shouted.
"Thunder." Called Arkinlae and Zen got zapped.
"Ow what was that for?" Zen protested
"For picking on little kids." Arkinlae laughed, "I know how it feels."
"Yeah you big meanie." The girl said, "Picking on girls like that."
"Yeah well Kinny does put up more of a fight than you Rikku." Zen pointed out. To which Rikku pulled a face. It was then that Tidus realised.
"Rikku! You're Rikku! Hey you're okay how you been?"
"Terrible."
"Yeah you don't look so good. What happened?"
"You beat me up remember."
"Oh that machina, that was you?"
"That really hurt you know, you big meanie."
"Wait but you attacked us."
"Nuh uh. It's not exactly what you think." She finished
"Yo!" called Wakka. He Yuna and the others came towards them.
"Seems like the people let Yuna go. Eventually." Arkinlae said to which Sesh snorted.
"Friend of yours" Wakka asked addressing Tidus and the others
"Uh you could say that." Tidus was the one to pipe up
"Pleased to meet you I'm Rikku."
"Yuna, Lulu I told you about her remember? She was the one who helped me before I washed up on Besaid. She's an Al Bhe… beh." He trailed off remembering at that moment about Wakka. Wakka though luckily didn't take the last bit into account.
"Wow so you like owe her your life. What a luck meetin' here ya. Praise be to Yevon." He did the prayer gesture as always. "So Rikku you okay? You look a little beat up."
"Uh Wakka." Lulu who had been conferring with Yuna spoke up, "There's something we need to discuss."
"Oh go ahead."
"Girls only boys please wait over there." Rikku ordered. And she Lulu and Rikku got into a huddle.
"Come on." Said Sesh taking Arkinlae's arm.
"I think this is just to do with them Sesh."
After a while they came out of the huddle. Yuna went over to Auron.
"Sir Auron, I would like Rikku to be my guardian." She said solemnly.
Auron looked at Rikku whose head was directly looking at the ground.
"Show me your face." He instructed. Rikku looked at Auron her eyes firmly shut. "Open your eyes." She did so. "As I thought."
"Uh no good?" Rikku asked worriedly
"Are you certain?"
"Yes a hundred percent. So anyway can I?"
"If Yuna wishes it." Auron finished turning to Yuna.
"Yes I do."
"Rikku's a good girl she helped me a bunch." Tidus said almost as if he was trying to confirm that Rikku was fit to be a guardian.
"Rikku at you're service." She announced
"Well I'm for it." Wakka then said and it was then as if everyone breathed a sigh of relief, "The more the merrier."
"Then I'll just have to be the merriest." Rikku piped up.
So after that turn of events they eventually after taking a look at Rikku's overdrive the continued up the road to Guadosalam.
"Seshay seems to be pretty pally with Rikku." Lulu said to Arkinlae
"Yeah she and Zen are Rikku's cousins." Lulu looked slightly confused and she looked between Yuna and Seshay and Zen. "On her mums side." Arkinlae added.
"Oh so they and Yuna aren't-."
"No."
Then some an Ochu jumped out at the party.
"No problem." Arkinlae said.
Tidus, Auron, Zen, Bekayla, Wakka and Kimahri all started to attack the Ochu.
"Fira!" Arkinlae called.
"Fire!" Lulu called. Both fire spells hit the Ochu taking out most of HP. The others attacked it and it blew into a shower of pyreflies.
"Well that wasn't hard." Arkinlae declared
"You're getting to become quite the black mage." Lulu congratulated her.
"Here Lu." Arkinlae said picking up an ability sphere that was hers and giving it to Lulu, "You take it." With that Lulu fitted it into her sphere grid.
"Hmm Blizzarda." Lulu mused, "Thank you." She paused, "Kinny."
Lulu and Kinny were actually getting to become quite good friends. Now Lulu to most people didn't seem like the best person to be a good companion, but for Arkinlae she was just a good a friend as Sesh, Zen or Bekayla was. Lulu could take things seriously and knew when to keep her mouth shut, which couldn't be said for Wakka, Tidus or Rikku. Lulu still could have fun to even though to most people she seemed that she could never. Also there seemed to be something else though neither of them could say what.
"So how long to Guadosalam?" Arkinlae asked when they came to a tree with huge bows intertwining into a sort of arch.
"We're standing at the entrance to it." Lulu replied laughing, "You really haven't left Bikanel before have you?"
Arkinlae looked. Yes yes she recognised it. This was…
"Where are the gates?" she asked
"Gates?" enquired Yuna, "To what?"
"This place."
"There's never been any gates here you stupid Al Bhed." Wakka laughed to which Lulu looked sternly at him which made him go quiet.
"Come let's go." Auron said.
They all entered the twisted tree like interior. Surprisingly when they entered a man was standing there. Arkinlae, Zen and the others tried to get past, but he remained obstinately stood there as if he was waiting for someone.
"Yunie come on." Arkinlae called. She turned back to the man, "Look mate I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but would you mind moving out the way?"
The man however ignored her,
"Ah we have been expecting you Lady Yuna. Welcome to Guadosalam. This way M'lady, this way." He proceeded to reach out and take Yuna's hand, but Wakka intervened.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa."
"Oh I beg your pardon. I am called-."
"Tromell Guado." He and Arkinlae chorused
"I am in the direct service of our leader, the great Seymour Guado. Lord Seymour has very important business with Lady Yuna."
"Buisness with me?" Yuna sounded astonished, "Whatever could it be I wonder?"
"Please come inside the manor all will be explained. Of course your friends are also welcome."
"Twist our arms why don't ya." Rikku commented
"Riks I couldn't agree more." Arkinlae said
Arkinlae had no wish to go into the manor with the others so she and the rest of The Gullwings decided to go and get some rest in the inn. Tromell noticed this.
"Where are you going?" he asked quite confused
"We're going into the inn where does it look like?" Arkinlae said sarcastically.
"I did say that you guardians were welcome." He said and walked towards the manor, "So if you would follow me." The guys did out of curiosity to see this great 'manor'. As they were walking Arkinlae was giggling with Sesh.
"He thinks we're Yuna's guardians guys. False alarm. We don't need to follow Tromell the XXXVIII. It is XXXVIII isn't it?"
"Oh you must be the Lady Arkinlae. Yes M'lady it is XXXVIII. Lord Seymour also requested your presence he said-."
"You don't need to tell them Tromell. I can do that myself." Came a voice. Tromell bowed and Seymour came out of it seemed nowhere. Arkinlae rolled her eyes.
"Go and see to our other guests if you would Tromell." Seymour commanded. Tromell bowed again and went into the manor.
"So." Arkinlae sighed, "This is the 'beautiful' Guadosalam." She did a sarcastic quote movement with her fingers on beautiful, "I've seen it better." She then started laughing to herself, "And what a name Guadosalam. Oh and by the way tell your servant over there I am not an object so I have no need to be called The Arkinlae."
"Lady Arkinlae-." Seymour was about to tell her of his business. For some reason Arkinlae noticed his eyes seemed to be glancing down towards her hands. His face stayed looking at all The Gullwings.
"Just Arkinlae will do dear. I do not wish to be called Lady twice in the same name." She interupted
"Arkinlae." Seymour then said confused, but correcting himself nonetheless, "Come into the manor with Lady Yuna I have business to discuss with both of you."
"Well soooo sorry Seymour but no. 1 I do not wish to be ordered around. 2 I will come into the manor when I like as it is my right and 3 no I will not give up my pilgrimage so Yuna can go and defeat Sin and maester or not you will not dissuade me from any of the things just said."
"Fine." Was all that Seymour said, "You know it is fun to have people defy or argue with you sometimes. It makes life more interesting. You know how many people do that me being and everything nowadays?"
"I will have no pleasure in answering nor will I."
"Well none would be a good start. Well Arkinlae until we meet again-."
"Which if at all will hopefully be an extremely long time or when I'm on the Farplane." Arkinlae interrupted again.
"You think of death as a gift."
"In some cases it can be. I just do not fear death as most people do."
"So I have noticed. That's another interesting thing about you. Well as I said before until next we meet. Farewell."
The Guado then left into a back entrance to the inside of the manor.
"Fayth he does my head in." Zen complained
"Ditto." Agreed Sesh
"He deccac me off." Arkinlae swore
"Oui kud dryd nekrd." (You got that right.) Bekayla also agreed.
"Come on guys lets go for something to eat. I'm starving." Arkinlae then said. The others agreed and the entered the inn and waited for Yuna and the others. In there they had something and met up with Shelinda again.
"It seems Maester Seymour has returned to Guadosalam. He is young, but he deserves our respect."
"The day thine Guado doest get mine respect ist the day that he recognizes and doest respect the true powers of this land." Arkinlae said between mouthfuls of food.
"M'lady Arkinlae I did not know you spoke Old Guado."
"Well thine life mayst be filled with several suprises." Arkinlae then changed her tone and addressed the others, "I wonder what they're talking about?"
"We could find out."
"Zen you read my mind." Arkinlae smiled finishing, "Come on let's go and find out our own way what's going on behind those doors."
So The Gullwings went up to the doors of the manor. Arkinlae edged the door as quietly as possible. The door still made a slight rumble on its hinges, but no guards were roused by the noise.
(That door.) Arkinlae mouthed to the others pointing towards a door on the ground floor. They all crowded by the door to a dining room and pressed their ears to it. They heard faint voices behind it. Yuna, Tidus once and of course Seymour who was doing most of the talking.
"She was the first person to defeat Sin and save the world from its ravages. And you have inherited her name."
"It was my father who named me." Yuna explained
"Lord Braska was entrusting you with a great task. He wanted you to face Sin, as Lady Yunalesca did. However, Lady Yunalesca did not save the world alone. To defeat the undefeatable Sin…it took an unbreakable bond of loveof the kind that binds two hearts for eternity." Seymour continued.
The vision that Seymour and the others were watching went like this with the following events. A man in an outlandish outfit, complete with a large golden crown, walked into the room, right through Yuna, to the bed that Yunalesca was sitting on. Yunalesca stood up; they held hands and hugged each other. Yuna thought it could be no other person than Lord Zaon. Yuna looked at Seymour, who looked back at her, silently. Yuna then returned her gaze to Yunalesca and the Zaon hugging. Yuna turned to face Seymour. He leant over and whispered something to her. She covered her mouth with her hand and gasped. He then backed away and nodded slowly in typical Seymour fashion. Yuna seemed lost in thought. Everyone exited the sphere room and Yuna went the middle of the room towards the others, who were standing at one end of it. Yuna approaches them, then turns to the side and got something to drink. She gulped it down hastily afterwards sighing a breath of relief, and then ran to the group, which crowded around her
"Wow! Your face is beet red!" Rikku commented,
"You okay?" Tidus enquired
"He…he asked me to marry him!" Yuna exclaimed hesitating
"You serious!" Tidus was also now in surprise and it seemed disgust, though he tried to hide it.
Then at that moment someone, Arkinlae never found out who leaned on the handle of the door. With that The Gullwings toppled over as the door opened, their support having gone. They crashed to the floor with a chorus of 'whoa' and all somehow managed to land in a rather dignified pile with Bekayla on top and Arkinlae on the bottom. Sesh stared rather sheepishly at Seymour and gave a nervous grin. Arkinlae was rolling her eyes leaning on one hand and tapping the floor with the other waiting. Zen had no other option but to look up at the ceiling and Bekayla was waiting for someone to say something.
"Well." Arkinlae finally said calmly and then changed her tone completely, "Get off me!" they all did hastily and Zen pulled her up. Suddenly some guards who had heard the noise ran in from outside. They grabbed all four of The Gullwings and stuck daggers to their throats. Arkinlae tried to grab it away from its position, but the guard only threatened to draw it closer to her neck.
"I suggest thou removest thine knife from its position." She warned and when the guards did not Arkinlae raised and arm and clenched her fist. The guards dropped their daggers as if they were hot and doubled up in pain.
"I didn't know you spoke old Guado." Lulu said quite interested.
"I only know a bit. I can say it is something else which the Guado seem to be neglecting." She took an accusing look at Seymour.
The guards got up again to take back their captives, but Seymour shook his head at them.
"So Yunie a proposal from a maester." Arkinlae said, "Dona did say he was quite taken with you." She paused and looked around the room she then peered behind Seymour to look at the entrance to a room, which Yuna and the others had just been in. She smiled in confusion and astonishment and smiled. Her eyes seemed to widen on seeing the door.
"My Fayth this place really hasn't changed. Well apart from size maybe."
She then walked to the darkened door way and looked and she and the other Gullwings peered inside.
"No!" Seymour objected but made no move to stop them. Tidus who was nosy also sneaked a look too and Seymour and the others also tried to peer in, but couldn't see very well.
What Tidus and The Gullwings saw bemused them well at least four of them. There was a scene of a crowd of people gathering round just like it had been at Tidus' house before Sin came and he came to Spira. Tidus thought for a second it was that very scene, but remembered that Seymour had said it was thoughts from the dead. It was obviously from someone's point of view as the scene moved around glancing from person to person to a lady in a silver dress and who had bright blonde hair. Then a voice was heard, but it did not come from the lady mentioned.
"Why did Ieafzaonlec bother to call this meeting? This is between Zanarkand and Bevelle."
"It is just as much our concern as it is theirs." The blonde lady replied, "You know that some of the machina Bevelle hold could destroy all Spira."
"Then if Bevelle know their machina is greater why bother to prove it in war? Why does it not take its place in the regions? Or are Zanarkand trying to prove something?" the previous voice said
"Lady of the Water you may be a Fayth, but you are young." She replied.
"That I may Endra. So how does Djose prosper?"
As the two women were having the conversation they had been walking. The original speakers gaze then turned again down the vast walkways of Zanarkand as they climbed into some machina. All of a sudden Tidus and The Gullwings eyes almost fell out of their heads at the sight they next saw. Even Arkinlae stepped back in surprise. As they whizzed along passing building after building, the unseen speaker looked to her right there was a gap where a building should have been and they saw none other than them standing looking through the doorway. Tidus raised his hand while still looking at the scene before them to see if it was them. It was. Then the POV changed to the blonde lady that they had seen. And The Gullwings and Tidus saw who the unseen speaker had been. Her skin was the brightest silver ever seen and her hair certainly looked like if not certainly water reflecting the lights and buildings of Zanarkand, but still somehow managing to retain it's sky blue colour. Her dress was similar, but did not reflect the Zanarkand landscape but remained a darker blueness of water. They could not see her face, but she was staring at a building. The Gullwings and Tidus had disappeared from the scene.
"Lady Kin what are you looking at?" The speaker addressed the blue lady. The blue lady was about to turn round and reveal her face, but Tidus and most of The Gullwings did not get to see her face.
While Tidus, Zen, Sesh and Bekayla had been staring at themselves in the scene of Zanarkand, Arkinlae had been making her way right from the doorframe across the wall it was on. She found a spot on the right from it and drummed on a particular spot. A secret panel opened to reveal a sphere that had been placed in the niche. It was dusty and looked as if it had been there for some time. Tidus and The Gullwings watching the scene seemed to come back to reality as the scene disappeared like on a sphere when someone's turned it off
"Aha found you." Arkinlae took the sphere out of the wall and the panel closed." Seymour looked surprised. "All you had to do was read the clues." Arkinlae said as if he was stupid, "Nuh uh it's mine. I found it." She said when Seymour came and held out his hand to receive it.
"You know what Yuna must do." Auron remarked as if to warn the maester
"Of course. Lady Yunano, all summoners." He looked over at Arkinlae, "Are charged with bringing peace to Spira. But this means more than just defeating Sin. She must ease the suffering of all Spira. She must be a leader for the people. I proposed to Lady Yuna as a maester of Yevon."
"Spira is no playhouse. A moment's diversion may amuse the audience, but it changes nothing." Auron pointed out and Arkinlae couldn't help nodding in agreement.
"Even so, the actors must play their parts." Seymour retorted in a neutral way. He seemed to have an argument for everything. Arkinlae made a noise with which to say she didn't like being thought of as simply an actor. She frowned. Seymour who had still been looking at her then walked towards Yuna
"There's no need to answer right away. Please, think it over."
"We will do so, then. We leave." Auron stated bluntly. Arkinlae liked Auron for this. At least someone is taking the right approach to all this. She thought.
"Lady Yuna, I await your favorable reply." Favourable he doesn't even know whether Yuna will feel like that. Of course she will he had this all planned out. He knows Yuna's weakness.
Everyone started to walk away; Seymour spoke up, which caused Auron to stop
"Why are you still here, sir?" he enquired after doing what seemed to be a discreet sniff.
"I beg your pardon." Auron replied.
"We Guado are keen to the scent of the Farplane."
"As are the Ar's." Arkinlae muttered though it she couldn't tell if anyone heard, "Don't worry Sir Auron. I've known from the beginning. Your secret is safe with me."
Tidus walked up to Auron before he and Auron left and started sniffing him. Auron pushed him away and walked out of the building Arkinlae laughed at this in a laugh as if to say 'amateur' or 'no idea' and shook her head, but there was some cheerfulness in there. Everyone else followed Auron to the outside of the manor The Gullwings went to follow him. Zen, Sesh and Bekayla exited the manor. Arkinlae was about to when Seymour suddenly addressed Arkinlae
"Arkinlae, thou mightst correct me if thee is wrong, but might that be-est thou's?" he gestured to the table nearest the door. Arkinlae sighed and looked anyway. To her surprise and shock on the table was one of her black wristbands. She stared at the wristband then at her wrists. Her right one wasn't covered. She quickly looked at the wristband again then at Seymour who was smiling smugly and looking at her right wrist which Arkinlae immediately covered with her left hand and looked away from Seymour's gaze. She then with her hand still covering her wrist picked up the wristband and put it on. Then she worked out that's what he'd been looking at. How long had it been missing? And had he seen?
"It came off sometime in Operation Mi'ihen I believe." He explained as if he'd read her mind, "I was gracious enough to keep it until you came by here which I knew you would. I would be more careful to keep belongings safe. Especially when they maybe of some importance." With that Arkinlae nodded staring nervously at him though trying not to show it. He was suggesting something and she didn't like it. She didn't know what but she didn't like it. It was obvious he hadn't worked out what she feared. She went to exit the dining room until Seymour hindered her again.
"Whose got the last laugh now Arkinlae?" he said and Arkinlae could tell he was trying not to laugh.
"Well I think you'll find it's me. Well I suppose you are a Guado, but not to be able to work out clues and thinking that the scenes from Zanarkand are from the thoughts of dead on the Farplane." Arkinlae then gave a tried to laugh heartily, but the expression on her face showed that she'd rather be anything, but happy at this moment in time.
Suddenly the doors to the manor opened and Arkinlae jumped. She whirled round and Zen came through into the dining room.
"What's keeping you Kinny?" I wondered where you'd gone. Are you alright?" he asked when he saw her face.
Arkinlae took one last look around the dining room at and at Seymour who was still smiling and then made her way to go.
"Pack our things." She said firmly.
"But-." Zen protested
"We're leaving for Macalania temple." Arkinlae repeated in the same tone. Authoritively.
Zen and Arkinlae went outside the manor to find Sesh, Bekayla, Yuna and the others standing there. Lulu and Tidus had just been talking about something. Yuna's proposal Arkinlae suspected. Arkinlae didn't know Yuna as well as Lu or Wakka, but she did know that Yuna would put Spira's happiness above her own. She knew the answer Yuna was going to give already.
"Bekayla, luumt oui kydran uin drehkc?" (Could you gather up our things?) Zen asked, "Kinny fyhdc du mayja." (Kinny wants to leave.) Bekayla nodded and disappeared for the inn.
"We're heading for The Farplane." Yuna explained and she and her guardians all went up the ramp to the entrance of The Farplane, "Aren't you coming?" She asked Arkinlae when only Seshay was following.
"Kinny? No no good for her." Seshay muttered, "She want to leave past as past what done be done you know?"
"I understand." Yuna said though Arkinlae knew she could never understand. Yuna and the others and Sesh started to carry on up to The Farplane.
"Seshay!" Zen called, "We're leaving."
"Are you sure?" Yuna asked quite astonished and disappointed. Although Arkinlae had scared her at Operation Mi'ihen that had passed and she still had valued and enjoyed the company of all four of the Al Bhed.
"Yes well we did say we would at some point." Arkinlae said, "And well there's no reason for us to linger here much longer."
"But surely you are tired?" Yuna asked
"We will stop somewhere at the Thunder Plains." Arkinlae answered, "I don't want to stay here for much longer. I wish you luck Yuna and to all the rest of you." Arkinlae finished and as a sign of respect did the prayer gesture. However it wasn't the normal one. It was different, but Yuna still took it as if it had been the normal prayer gesture. Arkinlae crossed her left leg over right and circled her left arm round head as she spun. Her legs were then crossed right over left and she bent down in a curtsy and her left hand was crossed over her body like a male would when he bowed.
She then went over to Yuna and gave her a hug, which she also gave to the other guardians who wanted it. Even Wakka softened up and went 'come her you' to Arkinlae and Seshay, who followed in the hugs. To Auron however she just shook his hand and to Kimarhi she said these words.
"Never doubt yourself Kimarhi you are a good guardian and I respect you. Do always what you feel is right. Follow your heart."
Lulu then went over to Arkinlae
"Arkinlae never forget who you are and what you are setting out to do. Try not to let other things cloud your mind."
"I will try not to. Thank you Lulu you have been a great friend." Arkinlae said before giving the black mage another hug she then turned to the others, "You have all been great friends to me, but now we will depart. We will not keep you from The Farplane much longer." She then went over to Yuna and muttered in her ear. "A word of advice and maybe warning Yuna. In the case of recent events try not to do what you would normally do or try not to do what you feel is right. Sometimes that is what evil wants." She ended on a note which left Yuna slightly confused, "No matter which of us defeats Sin Yuna I know we will meet again sooner or later Yuna. I bid you farewell not goodbye for we will meet again." She then finished.
Seshay then came to join her and the others.
"Alright Gullwings!" Arkinlae announced, "To the Thunder Plains we go." And with that they proceeded down the path to the Thunder Plains and out of sight of the others who then went to The Farplane.
"Erm this wouldn't be good time to say me scared of lightening storms is it?" Seshay's echo was heard down the tunnel.
"Sesh!" the others chorused exasperatedly
"What is it with girls and lightening?" Zen asked
"Hey I resent that!" Arkinlae replied and on that bright note echoes of laughs were heard in Guadosalam getting fainter and fainter.
About ten to fifteen minutes later the doors of the manor opened.
"Come on." Ordered Seymour to his guardians, "To the temple."
Whew finally me's done that was a very very long chapter. 12 well creeping on to 13 pages whew I'm suprising myself. I apologise if it was too long. It wasn't my fault Arkinlae made me do it.
Arkinlae: Hey no I didn't you're the one writing this story mate. This just happened. Don't you blame me for making my chapters to long. I'll get you for that where are you?
Me: (running off stage.) No Kinny I didn't mean it! Please reviewwwwwwww. (Voice getting fainter and fainter.)
Arkinlae: (now Bracey face is off stage.) Neither did I. Hee hee ;) but yeah please review.