Muwahahahahahahahahah (cough)(choke)(cough). sorry bout that. we had another snow day, so you get 2 updates in 2 days. this chapter took me from 5:30 am to 2:39 pm to write, so you'd all better freakin' review or burn in !#!
first off, i'd like to welcome Da KeR MysTeRr to the story! i'm glad you like the story. i do plan on continuing. And probably make a sequel. who knows. i know i plan to.
Sephirothxx- well what do you expect? i have no life aside from this and school, and we've had off the past four days because of snow. so i've had no life for four days. i think i'm starting to go a little crazy actually... and i'm glad you liked the "Sublimely Magnificent Jecht Shot Mark III"since it was annoying to write. i haven't played the game in awhile. just wait until this chapter. You see it twice.
and now on to the chapter!
Chapter 6:The Men of Light and Dark
"I hope Lu, Tidus, and lil' boy blue are okay. We just might need their help." Matt said as the three took off up the loading ramp, ducking on a regular basis to dodge the fast flying blitzballs.
"Drao'ja kuddah bycd dra machina! Nih! Nih!" An Al Bhed yelled as the few that were scattered around the docks started for the stadium. They didn't make it far. As soon as they started to run the machina began peppering them with blitzballs.
"Ouch." Andy muttered as they got onto the boat. The deck was almost completely clear, except for a lone crane.
"Wonderful, no place to hide." Ryan muttered with a nervous laugh. "Ideas anyone?" He asked hopefully.
"That's your department." Matt replied. "And I'm pretty sure that, since you asked, we're pretty much screwed?"
"Well, yeah. 'Bout the only thing I can think of is, well, lightning. It did work on the little ones after all." Ryan said with a sigh. "Other then that… pound the hell out of it I guess."
"Brilliant idea master tactician." Matt muttered as he slammed a thunder spell into the machina, which replied via blitzballs at the entire group. "That didn't go so well."
"Did anyone else notice that those big generator like things always spin when it shoots blitzballs?" Andy asked as they got back to their feet.
"Maybe that's the answer. Stop those things from spinning and maybe we'll be able to stop it from shooting us with blitzballs. At the very least, maybe it'll slow them down enough to dodge." Ryan stated with a great deal more confidence than he had.
"Okay, so how do we do that? Unless you can cut through steel we're kind of out of luck." Matt said.
"Ever the optimist, aren't you?" Ryan replied. 'There's gotta be something…' Ryan thought as he glanced around quickly. Nothing. 'Read the signs beneath the beneath. Why am I quoting Kakashi in at a time like this?' Ryan thought as his gaze fell on the crane. "Crane…? Crane!" He yelled as he sprinted towards it, barely dodging a blitzball that nearly took off his head. 'Shit.'
"What's wrong? Hurry up and do whatever the hell you were gonna do!" Matt yelled as the thing peppered him and Andy with blitzballs again.
"It doesn't have any power!" Ryan yelled back. He jumped ten feet in the air when a lighting spell hit the thing. "Holy shit, warn me next time!"
"Clear!" Matt yelled sarcastically as another bolt hit the crane, and another, and two more after that. "That enough?"
Ryan didn't answer. Instead he tried to turn it on. It started, he grinned, and Matt and Andy laughed in nervous relief. 'Okay you ball slinging mofo. Let's see how you look from underneath!' Ryan thought as he turned the crane and locked the claw onto the machina.
"Did you… know Ryan could work… a crane?" Andy asked Matt as they watched the machina get pulled higher into the air.
"Are you complaining?" Matt replied and Andy laughed. "I didn't think so. And now's not the time to be asking him things like that anyway."
"Good point." Andy admitted. Suddenly there was a loud crash as the machina came crashing back down to the deck, the generator looking things still in the claw's grip. "Well, think that finished the thing?"
"I hope so, but I have the oddest feeling that it didn't." Mat replied in a somewhat sad voice. As if to confirm Matt's suspicions a blitzball went flying past them, but it was moving significantly slower then the ones that had been shot at them earlier. "Didn't think so."
"Hey, we can see them, which means we can dodge them." Andy replied as he stood up and brought his fists blades into a defensive position.
"Clear!" Ryan yelled as he released the generator, which landed on the machina. "Well, that was fun."
"Yeah, but it was so… anti-climatic." Matt replied quietly. Suddenly the generators started shaking. "Or maybe not."
"What the fuck does it take to kill this thing?" Ryan screamed as he drew his sword.
"Damn you, you fucking machine!" Matt yelled as he charged the thing.
"What the fuck dude! Get back here, it can still kill you!" Ryan yelled as he took off after Matt, hoping that the different weights of their weapons would let him catch up. It didn't. With a primal battle cry Matt drove his into the machine causing a wave of sparks to wash over him, singeing his skin.
"Fuck you!" Matt yelled. His hands flew through three ninja seals that Ryan knew all too well.
The first was the left hand laid horizontally in the air, with it's fingers spread while the right hand came up from underneath it, interlocking the fingers with the middle and ring fingers bent flat against the left hand while the pinky and index finger were straight up in the air. It was known as the Seal of the Ox. The second was a little simpler. The right hand looked like he was making a gun out of it, only the pinky, ring, and middle fingers weren't only partially bent. The left hand was still horizontally flat, with the right thumb and the left pinky interlaced. That was the Seal of the Hare. The last was much simpler. It was simply both hands pressed together with the right hand on the bottom and the left on the top, and the right thumb and left pinky being intertwined. That was the final seal, the Seal of the Monkey.
"Chidori…" Ryan muttered in disbelief as Matt grabbed his right wrist with his left hand, palm facing upward. Sure enough a ring of lightning surrounded Matt, jumping into the ball of electricity forming in his hand.
"What the fuck!" Andy yelled as he watched the strange turn of events. Suddenly the group heard the sound of thousands of birds chirping in unison. "This is so fucked up! I can hear the birds, but I can't see them!"
"There are no birds." Ryan said, a smile tugging at the sides of his mouth. "It's the electricity. It's giving off a sound that is exactly like 10,000 birds chirping in unison. Only instead of 10,000 birds, it's 10,000 volts of electricity."
"Hey, you told me about this in 9th grade, didn't you?" Andy said, vaguely remembering Ryan describing something similar on one of their many walks home.
"Yep. That's the same thing I was telling you about." Ryan admitted.
"Lightning Edge!" Matt yelled as the ring of lightning faded away, along with the sound of the birds. "Go to hell." With those three icy words he thrust forward with his right hand, easily piercing the heavily armored machine. He quickly jumped back once smoke started coming out, landing halfway across the deck next to Andy.
"Holy shit!" Ryan yelled as he threw himself to the ground and covered his head, waves of flames flying over him.
"Down!" Andy yelled as he jumped to the ground, dragging the half-dazed Matt with him. "Ryan!" He yelled when the flames subsided enough for him to look towards his friend who was laying face down, and was also way too still for Andy's liking. "No way…" Andy muttered in disbelief.
"Andy go! Get Yuna!" Matt yelled upon seeing Ryan covered in burns. 'Shit Ryan, why'd you get so close?'
"Ryan!" Yuna gasped in surprise as a door the three had missed earlier opened to reveal the Summoner. "Cure!" She yelled, pointing her staff at Ryan more on instinct and panic then anything else.
"Oh my god!" Ryan cried out as the healing spell washed over him, snapping him back to painful consciousness. He picked himself up on his elbows, trying to ignore the disorienting pain in his back.
"I'm so sorry!" Yuna squealed, thinking the pain was the reason for his cry.
"Andy! The signal!" Ryan yelled, ignoring Yuna for the moment.
"Shit!" Andy yelled, spinning around and casting a fire spell high above them.
Ryan collapsed back to the cold deck of the ship and felt another healing spell wash over him, nearly nullifying the pain. "Thanks." He said, standing up slowly. His vision was a little blurry, and his back stung like hell, but other then that he seemed to be fine.
"Yuna!" Lulu yelled as her, Tidus, and Kimahri came around a corner.
"Lulu!" Yuna yelled, waving to the three.
"What kept you? You missed a hell of a show!" Andy yelled as he walked over to the side to watch the three approach.
"What do you mean? What did we miss?" Tidus questioned when he, Lulu, and Kimahri reached the ship.
"Later, we've got to get back to the locker room!" Ryan yelled as he, Andy, and Matt took off. "The rest is up to you!"
"What does he mean the rest?" Lulu asked.
"What the hell is that!" Tidus yelled, pointing at the burnt remains of the machina.
"It was a machina. They Al Bhed were going to use it to keep people from helping me." Yuna said quietly.
"And those three…" Lulu trailed off, glancing at the boys who were just rounding the corner. Yuna nodded.
"They blew it up. It nearly killed them too." She said with a hint of sadness.
"Well Yuna is safe, so let's get back to the Locker room. I've gotta get ready for the next game!" Tidus said with a grin.
"You mean we're in the finals?" Yuna asked in disbelief. Tidus grinned and Lulu nodded. "Then let's hurry!"
888
"Wakka! Did you miss us out there?" Ryan asked as he, Matt, and Andy threw the doors to the locker room open.
"Whoa, you okay Wakka?" Matt asked, noticing the team captain lying on the bench.
Datto shook his head. "He got hurt in our game against the Pshyces. But even hurt he managed to score the winning goal."
"Wow, that's a hell of a guy for ya." Ryan said quietly. The rest of the Aurochs nodded.
"So who are we playing?" Matt asked.
"The Goers. Without Wakka we don't have a chance." Jessu responded sadly. Ryan laughed. "What's so funny, this is serious!"
"The Goers! Those pansy ass wanna-bes?" Ryan asked in disbelief. "Come on, are you gonna let Wakka go out without winning a single cup?" Ryan said before switching to a more serious mood. "That's not exactly what I'd call a team playing to win."
"But who do we have that can play as well as Wakka. Not to mention that me, Datto, and Letty are beat up bad." Jessu said quietly.
Wakka tried to pick up a blitzball but it dropped and rolled across the floor. "Miss me?" Tidus called from the locker, holding the ball.
"Lady Yuna!"
"Are you okay?"
"All this because of me! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Yuna apologized, bowing repeatedly.
"How can you let some Al Bhed kidnap you?" Wakka called out from the bench.
Tidus stepped in. "Hey, let it go, all right?"
"Don't go near Al Bhed anymore, okay?" Wakka requested. "They're trouble." Yuna nodded and walked out with Kimahri.
"No time for warm-ups guys. Who's hurt?" Wakka said. Datto, Letty, and Jessu raised their hands slowly, wincing as pain shot through their bodies. "Ryan, Matt, and Andy will replace you three until half time, at least." Wakka informed. "And Tidus is gonna replace me."
"Alright!" Ryan and Tidus yelled in unison.
Wakka turned to the Aurochs. "I got something to tell you boys. After this game… I'm retiring."
"Is that really the kind of thing to tell your team right before a game?" Matt asked Ryan, surprised that Wakka would tell his team this right before the biggest game of their lives.
Ryan grinned. "When you played baseball, if you were really good friends with the team captain, and you were in a tournament final, and you hadn't won a game in 10 years, and he said that he was quitting after that game, what would you do?" Ryan asked as Wakka finished his speech.
"I guess I'd play harder then ever before." Matt admitted with a grin.
"Then why'd you bother to ask?" Ryan wondered aloud as he followed Tidus and Keepa into the area right before the sphere entrance.
"Okay guys, hands in. What are we gonna do?" Tidus asked.
"Win!" They all shouted together.
"Why are we gonna do that!" Tidus demanded.
"For Cap'n Wakka!" Keepa yelled as they all threw their hands up and started out into the sphere.
From inside the locker room Lulu and Wakka watched them enter.
"What's this Jimma? The only people I recognize one the Aurochs are Keepa and the kid that said the Aurochs were gonna take the cup! Where's the rest of the team?"
"I'm not sure Bobba. It really makes you wonder what Wakka's thinking, sending in four nobodies in the final match of a tournament. But the Aurochs have already managed one victory, do they really expect to beat the Luca Goers?"
"I'm not sure Jimma. But it looks like the four new guys are Tidus, Andy, Matt, and Ryan. They're the subs! Oh my god, the Aurochs are using all of their available subs in the final match!"
'I never did like commentary.' Ryan thought as he listened to the announcers' continual ridicule of the Aurochs. Tidus lined up in the middle, with Matt and Ryan on his sides. Botta and Andy lined up behind the three in the defensive position, and Keepa swam to the goal. Ryan noted that Bickson lined up right in front of him, and flashed the Goer the same ice cold smile he'd given Bickson on the boat to Luca. Bickson shuttered visibly and Graav took a swing at Tidus when he wished him good look.
"Well it looks like they're already going at it folks! This looks like it might be one of the most intense games we've ever seen from the Aurochs. And who knows what to expect from these four new guys!"
Tidus and Ryan shared a glance and grinned as the ball shot up from the bottom of the sphere. Graav grabbed the ball and passed it to Bickson who had to stretch to catch it. As he turned to start swimming Ryan slammed into him, knocking the ball loose and sending Bickson out of the pool.
"Oh my god! The game has literally just started, and already people are being knocked out of the sphere! Hold on folks, this may not be so boring a game after all!"
'That felt really good.' Ryan thought as he grabbed the ball and started swimming. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a Goer coming straight for him. Rather then try to dodge Ryan turned and threw the ball to Tidus who caught it and charged forward, dodging to tackles. Turning back to his current problem Ryan felt the Goer wrap his arm around Ryan's waist and start swimming towards the edge of the sphere. 'Ass-hole!' Ryan thought angrily as the edge of the sphere get closer. Desperate to get out of the tackle Ryan slammed his elbow down on the man. The guy relaxed his grip due to the sudden pain, and Ryan slipped out and pushed off him just in time to see Tidus score the first goal of them game. Turning and smiling wickedly at the guy Ryan swam back to where he'd started.
"I don't believe it Jimma! The Goers are actually losing to the Besaid Aurochs! Between Ryan's impressive checking, Tidus' shooting, and Matt's passing they've certainly go passing covered!"
"I can't believe it Bobba! I never expected the substitutes to be better then the normal players!"
The ball shot up again, and Graav grabbed it. Instead of throwing it in Bickson's direction he turned and threw it in the opposite direction. He realized too late how big of a mistake that was as Matt's hand shot forward and intercepted the pass. The three forwards took off towards the other end of the pool. One of the Goers' defensive players ent to check Matt, but he passed the ball to Tidus. Just as it was about to reach it's destination Graav nailed Tidus, took the ball and started swimming the other way.
'Shit, counter attack!' Matt thought as he took off, pushing off the man guarding him to gain momentum.
"There it is folks! The Goers are the best when it comes to counter-attacks! Nobody can catch their forwards, no one!"
"Watch what you say Jimma! Tidus, Matt, and Ryan are gaining on Graav quick! But wait! It's the fourth sub, Andy! He's knocked Graav out of the sphere! The Goers' are taking an amazing amount of punishment from this new Aurochs! What is driving them to play so hard? And only two of them are regular players too!"
"Look at this! It's a three-on-two reverse counter attack!"
'Shut up!' Matt thought as he threw the ball at Tidus. At the last second Graav jumped up and tipped it, sending it high. 'Shit!'
Before it reached the hands of the Goer above Tidus Ryan slammed her out of the way and knocked the ball down to Tidus with a thumbs-up.
Tidus grabbed the ball and grinned. Two Goers were charging at him, and the goalie was barely ten feet away. Tidus kicked the ball into the first Goers' face, and punched it into the face of the second. When it came back he knocked it up, swam after it, did a bunch of spins and kicked it. The goalie dove for the ball but he never had a chance. The ball hit the next just two seconds before the end of the half.
"I don't believe it! At the half the Luca Goers, the number one team, are down by two, and to none other then the Besaid Aurochs, who are, or were, without the least favored team this year! This is history in the making folks! Look at those Aurochs fans folks! They are going completely crazy! Can the Goers come back, or will the Besaid Aurochs at long last take the Crystal Cup back to Besaid?"
"That was amazing Tidus!" Datto yelled as the six entered the locker room. He sat down quickly, pain shooting through his arm. "Think you can teach me how to do that?"
Tidus grinned. "Sure, like I said," He quickly glanced over at Ryan who grinned back, "anyone can learn it! But we've still got a second half to play!"
"And now they're gonna be gunning for Tidus too." Ryan added. "Matt, you and me are gonna have to step up and be a little more active. We've gotta make sure Tidus can get the ball." Matt nodded and grinned evilly. "And Andy, you and Botta have to make sure they don't get the chance to shoot. That's their strong point, putting pressure on the goalie until he slips up. If we can keep them from doing that, I really don't think they can win."
"So now we get to knock them around?" Andy asked hopefully. Ryan nodded. "Yes!"
"Well it's time for us to get back out there. Keep cheering us on! This is for you guys!" Tidus said as the players walked back out and dove into the pool.
"Here's the start of the second half folks. And who would've thought it was possible for the Luca Goers to be losing by two points to the Besaid Aurochs. I'm watching the game right now, and I still can't believe it! What are the Aurochs gonna do in the second half to stop Tidus from shooting the ball. And how are they gonna stop Matt from getting the ball to Tidus?"
"I'm not sure Jimma, but I do know one thing. This game may be half way done, but the war has just begun! Stay put folks, this is gonna be one for the record books no matter who wins!"
The ball shot into the water and Tidus grabbed it, throwing it to Matt just before getting hit. Long before the ball ever reached Matt the Goer facing him tackled him, pinning his arms to his side and allowing Graav to grab the ball. Before anyone could stop him he was right in front of a very surprised Keepa, easily kicking the ball passed the dazed goalie.
'That was fast. Too fast. What is going on here?' Matt wondered as they lined up again. The same thing happened, only this time it was on Ryan's side. 'Now I know something isn't right.'
'We need to calm down.' Tidus thought as he signaled for a time-out. Both teams swam out of the sphere for a two-minute break. "What the hell did they do?"
"Haste." Wakka stated. "They cast haste on themselves just before they went out, that way they were much faster. It's not normal, but it's not illegal either. Even if it was, this is their hometown, ya? There were at least two penalties out there, but they didn't get called."
"This isn't my game." Tidus whispered, smiling sadly.
"What was that? What'd you say brudda?" Wakka questioned.
Tidus sighed and stood up. "I'm taking your place on the bench." He said, drawing a startled gasp from everyone. "This is your final game, and you wanna spend the whole time on the bench? I don't think so Wakka. You aren't getting off that easy!"
Wakka laughed. "You sure about this, ya?"
Tidus nodded. "They're gunning for me anyway. As long as I'm out there, we don't have a chance to score."
"Go Cap'n! You can do it! Show those Goers what a real blitzer can do!" The Aurochs around the room shouted, cheering their captain on.
"Alright, alright, ya? I'll play!" Wakka said with a grin before turning to Tidus. "Thanks brudda." Tidus nodded and then cast something on the six players about to return to the sphere.
"Haste, just to even the odds." He informed with a grin. "Go show them who the Besaid Aurochs really are!" Before Wakka walked out Tidus grabbed him by the shoulder. "Listen, in the last few seconds of the game, get the ball to Ryan, regardless of the score. Just trust me on this, he'll know what to do." Tidus added and Wakka nodded.
"Right brudda." He said before heading into the sphere. "Hey, hey, hey! Wait up guys, I got something to say!" Wakka yelled to the rest of his team. "Look, if the referees aren't calling the Goers penalties then they can't call ours either, ya? If they wanna play rough, we'll show them how to play rough. Easy, ya?"
"So in other words fight fire with fire? Or penalties with penalties in this case?" Ryan asked, a smile tugging at his face. Wakka nodded. "This'll be fun."
"What's this! Wakka's back in the game! But where's Tidus? Did he get hurt in those last two plays? And what are the Aurochs gonna do about the speed of the Goers' attacks?'
As Ryan lined up Bickson smiled at him. In return Ryan flipped him off, and put on that icy smile that unnerved people so quickly. Even after seeing it before Bickson still shook visibly at it.
The ball shot up and Wakka grabbed it. Bickson went to tackle Ryan, but instead found Ryan's fist.
"Would you look at that! Ryan just leveled Bickson! Apparently the Aurochs have decided to fight fire with fire folks!" Jimma said as Matt kneed Graav in the nuts, doubling him over in pain instantly.
"This is turning into an all out war! And none of the referees are calling penalties! What is going on? There goes Wakka! He's flying down the center, forcibly moving any Goer that tries to get in his way! Goal Aurochs! With a little under a minute left to play the Aurochs have once again taken the lead! It's now 3-2 with 51 seconds left in regulation time!"
The ball shot up and Graav grabbed it. The Goers went to charge down the sphere, hoping to use their speed to score before regulation time ran out. Andy and Botta did manage to level two of the Goers out, but when Graav dropped the ball Bickson pushed off of Ryan and got it. Before Keepa could move the ball was in the net.
"What a match up! Just 15 seconds left in the game and the score is all tied up! Who would've thought that the Goers would have so much trouble beating the Aurochs folks? I know I never saw this coming. Don't leave you seats, because this one is bound to be exciting until the last second of the match!"
'Shit. We can't keep this up into overtime!' Ryan thought as he lined up. Wakka looked at him and nodded. 'I'm getting the ball? Tidus, what the hell did you do, tell Wakka?'
The ball was launched and Wakka grabbed it. He started charging down the sphere, but was intercepted by two Goers. 10 seconds left. He looked around desperately and found Ryan near the top of the sphere. He passed it to him and tackled one of the Goers in front of him, as did Matt.
'Please Chappu, let him make it, ya? This is all we ever wanted. To bring the cup back to the village! Please!' Wakka thought as he watched the pass sailed through the water towards Ryan.
Only 8 seconds on the clock and Andy and Botta teamed up on one of the remaining Goers. Ryan grinned as the goalie came out of the net and started to charge him with the others. Ryan let go of the ball and punched it into Bickson's face with his left hand. When it came back he punched it into the goalie's face next. Then he kicked it into the last one's face. 5 seconds left. Ryan threw the ball up out of the sphere. The crowd started the five-second count down as he jumped out after it, spinning.
"What is he doing folks! Look at that spin, it's the same shot Tidus used earlier! 3 seconds left!" The entire stadium fell dead silent as Ryan kicked the ball with all of his might, the smack of his shoe hitting it echoing impossibly loud in the packed stadium. 2 seconds left, 1 second. The ball hit the net at the same time Ryan landed back in the sphere. One buzzer went off, another following so quickly that they seemed to be one…
'Did it go in? Did it make it?' Ryan wondered, panicking.
'We did it. We had to have done it!' Botta thought.
'Please god, please. Let that one have made it.' Andy silently prayed.
'Holy shit. Please let this be over. We can't win if we have to go into overtime.' Matt worried, his mind racing.
'We did it! I know we did! This was for Cap'n Wakka!' Keepa thought.
'Please Chappu. Please, let'em have made it! I know you won't let me down Chappu. This one was for you!' Wakka thought.
"I don't believe it folks! The Goers have lost the finals! The Aurochs are the champions! What a game! What a game!" the announcer yelled into the microphone, but no one could hear it. More then half the stadium roared, drowning out all other noise except the cheering for the stunned team!
The entire Aurochs team swam out, huddling together and congratulating everyone. 'We did it Chappu. We brought the cup back home for ya brudda!' Wakka thought as a single tear of joy ran down his face.
'We did it! We did it!' Matt thought as he and the rest of the Aurochs tackled Ryan.
After a few seconds Ryan managed to free himself, and started swimming towards the Goers' goal.
"What's this folks? Is Ryan going to gloat over the Goers? He certainly has the right to!"
"Hey!" Ryan yelled to the Goers, surprised at how easy it was to talk underwater after having used the blitzing pills. The Goers stopped and turned as Ryan swam up to them. "Good game. Let's do it again sometime!" He said with an earnest smile.
There was a laugh from the middle of the group and they parted to let Bickson through. "Every dynasty falls eventually. And it's always to the little guys, right?" He asked as he took Ryan's outstretched hand. "I must admit, I expected you to be bragging and gloating."
Ryan shrugged. "I'm not that kind of guy." He said. "Besides, it was way too close for me to have anything to gloat about." He said as Bickson shook his hand. "So no hard feelings?"
Bickson laughed again. "No. But watch out, next time you guys are gonna be the ones going down." Ryan grinned.
"I doubt that." He said calmly.
"We'll see." Bickson replied as the rest of the Aurochs swam up behind Ryan.
"Hey, good game, ya?" Wakka said happily.
"Yeah, good game." Bickson replied again as the two teams intermingled, congratulating each other.
"Now that's what the game is about folks! Not gloating, or winning. It's about heart! And both these teams have it! Let's hear it for our new champions, and the team that gave them such a good run for the cup!"
"You know, I think that's the first thing he's said that I actually agree too." Bickson stated.
"Well what do you know? We do have some similarities!" Ryan said with a laugh as the two teams dispersed and headed back to their respectful locker rooms.
"You ok?" Tidus yelled to Wakka who was floating alone in the middle of the pool.
Wakka shook his head. "No brudda. I'm incredible! I can't believe we actually won!"
"Neither can I!" Ryan yelled, swimming back out with his sword, Matt and Andy close behind with their weapons, Andy also holding Tidus' sword. Before anyone could say anything else a bunch of fish darted towards Andy, who spun around and brought Tidus' sword up just in time to block the attack.
"Man, you guys are raining on my victory!" Wakka yelled as he grabbed the blitzball and hurled it at the fish. It hit one, killing it instantly, and then bounced off and hit another. "Get lost, ya?"
"Tidus!" Andy yelled as he threw Tidus the sword Wakka had given him. Spinning around he punched out with the one fist blade he had been able to draw, burring it deep into the side of one of the fish. It burst into pyreflies a second later when Wakka's blitzball nailed it. Screams from outside the sphere alerted them to the presences of fiends outside as well.
"We'll handle these ones! You three go help the people outside!" Tidus yelled as he swam by one of the fish, cutting it clean in two. "Go, now!"
"Right, don't die on us!" Ryan yelled as the three took off towards the Goers' goal where there were only two fiends, which they dealt with quickly. As soon as they were in the Goers' locker room the took off running, Matt quickly taking the lead, followed by Ryan and then Andy. "Don't leave this room!" Ryan yelled to the Goers' over his shoulder as they ran out, slamming the door into one fiend and Matt cleaving another in two in the process.
They ran, trying to get into the stand, despite the massive crowd of people pushing to get out. "This is annoying." Matt muttered as he let Ryan, who had his sword held out straight forward and looked like he really would kill anyone in his way, in front of him. Once the three were in the stands they found that much of the people had managed to get out, and their weren't many fiends there. There were actually only three weak fiends, which ran right into their own deaths.
"That was way too easy." Ryan muttered as he watched Tidus and Wakka manage to make it out of the pool. "Apparently Tidus and Wakka are finished in the pool."
"Hey, look at that one!" Andy yelled, pointing to a massive fiend amidst the people running past the door.
"You had to say it was too easy, didn't you?" Matt wondered aloud as they took off towards the massive fiend. Just as the reached the doorway a black and silver blur came down on the fiend's head, and then there was nothing but pyreflies. "What the hell?"
"Come with me." A man wielding a giant, black sword with a silver edge demanded. He had a red jacket on, and a belt tied around the waist over that. His left arm wasn't in the sleeve, but rather rested in the parting of the jacket, just above the blue belt. Underneath the jacket he wore what looked like black leather armor. He had black hair, with gray streaks along the sides, and he wore sunglasses. The kids also noticed that his right eye had a massive scar running through it, and figured it was probably useless.
"Who the hell are you?" Ryan asked, backing nervously out of the reach of the man's sword despite the fact that it was resting on his shoulder.
"Auron!" Tidus yelled as he and Wakka came running up the steps towards them.
"Sir Auron!" Wakka yelled.
"So you do know him."
"Ya. Best guardian there ever was." Wakka replied. Suddenly a giant bird flew up in front of the group.
"Perhaps we should save the 'who-knows-who' for later, eh?" Andy asked as he jumped out of the way of one of the fiend's attacks.
"Darkness Shot!" Wakka yelled, hitting the thing in the face with his blitzball. When it bounced back it left a cloud of darkness in front of the things face.
"What the hell!" Matt and Andy complained, thunder and fire spells since they couldn't reach the fiend with the limited reach of their weapons. "Come on, come over solid ground damn it!"
"Move." Auron said flatly. Picking his massive sword up with both hands he charged the beast with speed that surprised Ryan, Matt, and Andy. The thing screeched as the blade dug deep into its flesh, but it was still standing. "Tough bastard." Auron muttered in annoyance.
While Auron backed up Tidus and Ryan ran forward, each slicing a different side of the fiend's body. Tidus slashed the left, his sword digging almost as deep as Auron's, but Ryan, lacking Tidus' upper body strength, aimed for the exact same spot that Auron had already cut into. Already seriously wounded from combination of spells and Auron's massive cut made even deeper by Ryan, the combined pain of the final two attacks proved too much for the beast as it exploded into pyreflies.
"Gimme a break!" Tidus cried as another group of fiends came running towards them. Before they were anywhere near close enough to hit, even for Wakka, they erupted into pyreflies. The group looked up to see a mummy with fins coming out it's back, bound in chains, and with only one eye sending powerful magic attacks at all the fiends in the area.
"Wow. That's impressive." Ryan admitted, despite the horrible feeling that the Aeon was giving off. Auron just turned and started walking towards Yuna, Lulu, and Kimahri, the others following him
888
After Seymour's Aeon had dispatched of the fiends Wakka had gone off to say good-bye to the Aurochs until his job as a guardian was done. Auron had gone off alone as well, but before he got too far away he called for Tidus, Matt, Andy, and Ryan to follow him.
"I wonder why we're being pulled along too?" Matt muttered, using Tidus' shouting as a cover to hold a private conversation with Ryan and Andy.
"Only one way to find out really. Unless you're a telepath." Ryan added sarcastically.
"Sorry, forgot my crystal ball at home." Matt muttered. "But seriously, why would this guy wanna talk to us?"
"You three. Introduce yourselves." Auron ordered suddenly, snapping them out of their own little world. Apparently Tidus had given up on trying to pry information out of Auron.
"My name's Matt."
"Andy."
"Ryan."
"Where do you come from? You're not from Spira." He said so bluntly that Ryan winced. He'd thought they were doing a decent job of not drawing too much attention to themselves.
"We're from Earth." He said somewhat reluctantly.
"Are you the ones those damn Fayth told me about?"
'So that's what the Fayth meant.' Ryan thought, remembering the Fayth mentioning that someone would come to guide them. "Yeah, they're us."
'Damn.' Auron thought bitterly. 'Here I thought they'd be at least somewhat decent in a fight. The two with magic could be a little useful, but this third one, Ryan was it, seems utterly useless.' As if he knew that Auron was thinking about him Ryan looked up, studying the older man. Auron felt the surprising weight of the gaze fall on him. 'What the hell? What did I agree to do here? Baby sit a bunch of kids, or guide a couple of warriors?' He wondered to himself. Even after the kid had stopped look at him Auron could still feel it lingering on him, gnawing away at the corner of his mind. There was something so familiar, so different about the gaze, but what? 'No time to worry about that now. Whatever it is, it will show itself eventually.' He told himself as Tidus started questioning him again.
"Is he alive?" Tidus asked, and for some reason that drew everyone's attention.
"That depends on what you mean by alive." Auron said quietly. "He is no longer human. But then… I sensed something of Jecht there in that shell, couldn't you? You must have felt him when you came into contact with Sin."
"It can't be…" Tidus muttered.
"It is. Sin is Jecht." Auron confirmed. Ryan, Matt, and Andy each did their own double take from Auron to Tidus and back to Auron.
"Wait, so Yuna's trying to kill your friend," Matt said pointing to Auron, "your dad," He said pointing to Tidus, "and one of her father's guardians? That's just so… fucked up."
"No! That's ridiculous! No way! I don't believe you!" Tidus yelled.
"But it is the truth. You'll see for yourself. And you three." He said, turning on Ryan, Matt, and Andy.
"Yeah?"
"What's up?"
"What now?"
"Don't mention this to Yuna. She'll distance herself from Tidus, we do not want that." Auron said before starting to walk off.
"Where are you going?" Tidus yelled to Auron.
"To offer my services to Yuna. Come." Auron replied before walking off again. The five of them walked in silence, each of them thinking about something different. Wakka's voice snapped them back to reality.
"Whoa!"
"Sir Auron?" Yuna greeted the powerful man quietly, as if afraid of him.
"Yuna." Auron said quietly. "I wish to become your guardian. Do you accept?"
Yuna gasped in surprise. "You serious?" Wakka asked in disbelief.
"You refuse?"
"No, no! We accept, right everyone!" Yuna stated more than asked.
"O-of course. No problem at all." Wakka stammered.
"But… why?" Lulu asked.
"I promised Braska." Auron stated in an indifferent voice. "And… he comes too. This one I promised Jecht. And I promised three very old friends that they could come too. Whether or not as guardians is up to you." Auron said pointing towards Ryan, Matt, and Andy.
"What! Hey, don't we have any say in this?" Matt demanded.
"But that is why you are here, is it not? After watching your blitzball game you could easily make a living with Aurochs. Yet you don't offer them your service. And you risked your lives to save Yuna despite the fact that you had no obligation to." Auron stated, pointing out several reason why they should.
"First off, we try not to force ourselves upon anyone, like forcing ourselves onto the Aurochs for example." Ryan stated holding up one finger. "Second, we did have an obligation to help Yuna. You don't leave a friend in danger. That's not what a friend does."
"So you don't wish to become my guardians then?" Yuna asked.
"It's not that. I just don't like the fact that this jerk here," Matt said, pointing at Auron who smirked while everyone else gasped, "didn't bother to ask us about it. I know I've been having way too much fun to not join up as one of your guardians." Ryan and Andy nodded in agreement.
"Then welcome." Yuna said, doing the prayer gesture, which they returned.
"What's our itinerary? Where are we headed?" Auron asked as Yuna and Tidus ran off alone.
"Djose temple." Lulu replied.
Ryan faintly noted a high-pitched whistle as Auron turned towards them. Before he could do anything Wakka spoke, "We were just worried you guys might've gone crazy!"
"Sorry." Yuna said with a giggle. "Alright then, on to Djose Temple. And guardians, don't forget to smile." She added which Ryan and Andy couldn't help but grin at. "That's the spirit!"
Five minutes later the group was standing in front of the largest stretch of road anyone but Auron had ever seen. "Holy crap, it must go on for miles!" Andy muttered as he blocked the sun out of his eyes with his hand and tried to see the end.
"The Mi'Ihen Highroad." Lulu said as she started walking forward. After several fiend battles, all of which were ended by a few strokes of Auron's massive sword, they came across some ancient ruins and a man that looked like he could've been five when they were still new.
"Do you know what these ruins are from?" He asked when they approached.
"Some old city?" Tidus replied, and Ryan and Matt nearly slapped themselves in the face at the question. Where else did you get the ruins of ancient cities from?
"Yes! A city most ancient. A testament to Sin's power!" The old man said in a surprisingly lively voice. "I tremble every time I see them. Compared to Sin, humans are mere mudpuppies."
"But aren't humans the ones that keep beating Sin?" Matt asked.
"That's right. I believe humans are the only ones capable of defeating Sin." Yuna added.
"I'm relieved to hear you say that m'lady Summoner. Where are my manners?" The old man cried, finally realizing he'd never given his name. "I am Maechen, a scholar. At your service m'lady. I am on a journey, studying the history of our world, Spira, seeking its stories and secrets… My travels have taken me to many places, and I am troubled by what I see. Fragile smiles crumble at the mere mention of Sin. They are counting on you m'lady Summoner. Giver them a reason to rejoice once more."
"I will." Yuna replied in a determined voice. As the group moved on 2 chicks and a guy on armored chocobos rode up.
"Lady Summoner I presume?" The first chick asked.
"Yes. I am Yuna."
"I am Lucil, Captain of the Djose Chocobo Knights." The first girl answered.
"And I am Elma. We've been charged to guard the Highroad." The second chick stated proudly.
"There have been reports of a large fiend in the area, with a taste for chocobos. Do take care, Summoner Yuna, if you are to rent any chocobos."
"We will." Yuna replied before praying. Soon after starting up again they met a little girl whom Yuna held a conversation with. And after that they came across Luzzu and Gatta who were part of something called Operation Mi'Ihen. They also commented on how close the game was. A little farther along the road they encountered a very annoying disciple of Yevon named Shelinda who took forever to leave.
"We rest here." Auron ordered when they reached a shop called "Rin's Travel Agency"
"But this is an Al Bhed shop, ya?" Wakka complained.
"Deal with it." Ryan said, already half way to the door.
"Sir Auron is just concerned about your health." Yuna said.
"I'm not tired one bit." Wakka stated defiantly.
"Well I am." Auron said as he walked into the travel agency.
well there you have it folks. Chapter 6. i hope you enjoy. don't forget to review! hope i get new reviewers, because that always makes my day. Next chapter should be interesting. an impossiblely screwed up event, and a few people know more then they're letting on. find out next time!