Another chapter done with, so, on to the reviews!

Iron-Reaver: Yes, slippers. I couldn't think of a better description, so sue me. Oh, and I'll get my defensive item soon enough. Don't worry.

discord2chaos: Thanks for the compliment. And yes, Ben will get a more active role in the story. As a matter of fact, that is somewhat set into motion by the event at the end of this chapter. Read on to find out. Also, it's going to be a little bit of both. More of a novelization, but some key things will be changed by Ben's presence. Just wait.

Radszilla: Glad you like the outfit's description. I had to stop and think about it for a while, and juggle around several ideas, until that one just seemed to stand out.

Andinel: Really? Wow. Didn't think a story I write could make you want to play the game over. And thanks for the compliment as well. I'm trying hard to keep the storyline coherent, but at the same time add new things, and change some. That really hasn't happened much, though. Yet.


Chapter 11—Scheming

As I enter the stadium, back from my shopping trip, I'm met by the grinning faces of Wakka and Tidus, who seem unusually happy about something.

"What's got you two so happy?" I ask.

"We're playin' the Al Bhed Psyches first! If we win, we're in the finals!" he says, grinning from ear to ear, and I realize why now. "That's right, we got seeded! Two wins, and we're the champs!"

"Well, I know nothing about blitzball, so I guess I'll just say good luck and leave it at that." I say, walking into the locker room with the rest of the team. Just then, Yuna and Lulu walk in, the former looking very excited about something.

"There you are! Someone said they saw Sir Auron in a café!" Yuna exclaims, smiling.

"Au-Auron?" Tidus stammers, standing up.

"Yes, Sir Auron! Let's go find him!" she says, turning to leave, Tidus and myself following.

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! The game starts like real soon! C-Come back quick, ya?" Wakka says, apparently confused as whether to hurry us along, or protest completely.

"Hey, I'll be back." Tidus says, waving at Wakka.

"Yeah, okay." he mutters.

"Hey, Wakka. You're stiff, man. No, no, not your face. Just breathe out, relax. Like this. Just breathe, yeah!" he says, running out, Yuna giggling at Tidus the whole way out. Lulu just shakes her head, as do I, before we walk out behind them.

"Maybe now we can find Sir Jecht!" Yuna says, once we're outside. Tidus gives her a skeptical look.

"Huh? How?"

"Sir Auron was also my father's guardian. So, he might know where Sir Jecht is. Lets go now!" Yuna says, running off. I sprint off after her, wanting to stay close if what I remember is true. Kimahri runs off after us after a moment, followed by Tidus.

As we hit the outside of the stadium, I notice two of the Al Bhed Psyches standing outside. When Yuna passes, they say something to each other, and run off.

"Oh, no you don't." I say to myself, walking after Yuna. Finally reaching the front gates, Yuna finds herself surrounded by a group of people. Apparently, they know she's Braska's daughter. Giggling, she looks at the group.

"I'm sorry, please let me through." she says, motioning to Tidus as the group dissipates some. "Hey, let's go."

"You're really famous." he says, earning another giggle from Yuna.

'Way to state the obvious there, Tidus.' I think, shaking my head. "Guess it comes with being the daughter of a High Summoner, huh, Yuna?" I say, smiling at her.

"I hope we don't get separated." she says, looking around as we leave the stadium area. Suddenly, a sharp whistle breaks the silence. The cause, you guessed it, Tidus.

"Yuna!" he says, causing her to turn to him.

"What was that?" she asks.

"In Zanarkand, we do this to cheer on blitz players." he says, whistling again. "You try it, too. Put your fingers in your mouth like this."

Yuna tries to place her fingers in the position, looking back at Tidus. "Like...this?" Tidus shakes his head.

"Uh-uh, not like that, like this." he says, showing her again. "Then, you just blow."

Yuna places her fingers in her mouth correctly this time, and blows twice. It doesn't make any other sound than moving air, though.

"It's not working." she says, a slight look of frustration crossing her face.

"Practice!" Tidus says, smiling.

"Okay." she says, returning the smile.

"Hey, use that if we get separated. Then I'll come running, okay?" he says, causing Yuna to nod. "Well, guess we should stick together, then, till you can do it?" he suggests, and Yuna and I both nod, turning to walk down the street. Tidus seems intrigued by the grandeur of the city, much as I first was.

"Whoa! This is a pretty big town!" he exclaims, causing Yuna to turn to him.

"Luca is the second largest city in Spira." she explains, causing me to quirk an eyebrow.

"Would the largest be Bevelle, by any chance?" I ask her, to which she nods.

"Yes. That is where the Maesters reside."

"I thought every town was little—you know, like Besaid and Kilika." Tidus asks, Yuna shaking her head 'no' in response.

"Towns don't usually get bigger than that. Because when a lot of people start to gather..." Her voice trailed off, and Tidus connected the dots.

"Sin...?" Yuna nods. "What about Luca? It's safe here?"

"It's not any different, but the stadium is here. The Crusaders fight to protect it with all their strength." Tidus gives Yuna a look that's a mixture of shock and confusion, before speaking again.

"They protect the stadium?" he asks, and Yuna nods, giving a slightly lopsided smile.

"Blitzball's really the only entertainment that we have. Spira's a little short on fun these days."

Chuckling, I listen to the conversation with mild interest. It's a lot funnier to see Tidus' confused reactions first-hand, rather than just watching from an outside view.

"Whoa! Talk about pressure!" he exclaims, as we turn the corner onto another street.

"That's right! Is Zanarkand like this, too?" Yuna asks.

"Well, there are more buildings. All tall ones and cramped together." he replies.

"They must be so tall!" Yuna says, before looking confused for a moment. "Don't you ever get dizzy?"

Tidus and I both laugh at the question, before Yuna looks up, noticing the café ahead of us. "Let's go find Sir Auron!" she says, walking forward, the both of us trailing behind. Walking in the front door, I look around for a moment. Looks like a normal café, with spheres instead of televisions. That's really the only difference I notice. Oh, and the 2 Ronso over at the counter.

'Biran and Yenke. Oh boy.'

"Auron's not here." Tidus says, breaking into my thoughts yet again. I watch Biran and Yenke approach Kimahri, as Yuna walks over to talk to a small group of people.

"Why not talk, Kimahri? Not see Yenke for ten years! Say something!" Yenke says, smirking at Kimahri, if you could call it a smirk. I'm not sure. "Kimahri forget Yenke? Forget Biran?"

"Leave Kimahri, Yenke. Kimahri is small Ronso. Kimahri so small can't see Yenke and Biran's faces." Biran says, taunting the smaller Kimahri.

"Kimahri forget Ronso friends? We taught you much at time of horn-molt! Biran taught Kimahri to be strong Ronso." Yenke says, causing Biran to step up and examine Kimahri, who remained on guard.

"Maybe taught too much." Biran says, pushing Kimahri slightly.

"Take em on!" Tidus says, clenching a fist. Just then, I hear something strange. Almost sounds like something being...muffled.

'Wait a minute...Yuna!' I think abruptly, glancing around to catch a small glimpse of her skirt disappear out a side door. Dashing for the door, I get to it just in time to see it shut, almost ramming my face into it in the process. I can hear Kimahri hit Yenke as I yank open the door and dash out, but I could care less about that right now. Running down an alley, I turn the corner leading out of it, just in time to be met with the faces of 3 Al Bhed, and they don't look like they want to talk.

"Alright boys, you want to kidnap the summoner I'm protecting? Come on!" I say, charging the nearest one. Ducking under his telegraphed punch, I smack him in the face, sending him stumbling back, just as I duck and sweep the legs out from under the second. The third gets a kick in, knocking the wind out of me a moment, but I turn my momentum into a roll, and spring back to my feet, just barely avoiding a punch from him. I smash my elbow into the side of his head, knocking him out cold, and deliver a spinning heel kick to the side of the first's head. As the second gets up, I run at him and soccer kick him in the chest, knocking him back down, before sprinting off in the direction they came from.

"Gotta make it to the docks..." I say to myself, running as fast as I can. Fortunately, it's not that far, maybe half a mile. As I reach the docks, I'm met by 4 more Al Bhed. Luckily for me, they're not wielding any weapons.

"You guys are starting to make me mad." I state, rushing this group as well, but not throwing a punch. Instead, I simply clothesline the two nearest to me, but leave myself open to a duo of punches from the two standing Al Bhed. Wincing, I spin and smack one in the face with the back of my right fist, but get kicked in the back by the other. Landing on the ground, I grimace, the dirt and rocks cutting into my skin. Standing back up, I turn to the now three Al Bhed, the two I first hit having gotten up, and run up to meet them as they charge me. Using my anger to my advantage, I unleash a roundhouse kick at the trio, hitting all three in one move, knocking them all down. While they're disoriented, I run onto the ship that Yuna was at in the game.

Unfortunately, I forgot one detail. Another machina. The Oblitzerator, to be precise. And the first thing it does upon seeing me, is move towards me and shoot a blitzball. Now, a normal blitzball throw wouldn't hurt too much, as a normal person can't throw that hard. But, when you have something the size of a soccer ball shot at you with a lot more force than any person, it's going to hurt. So, I'm sent to the ground, the wind completely knocked out of me, almost to the point of seeing stars. Realizing quickly I have no hope of beating this thing alone, after a moment of lying still to regain my bearings, I stand up slowly and run off, albeit a lot slower than I ran in.

"Ouch. I...don't think I'll try that...again anytime soon..." I mutter, trying to find Tidus and the others. Luckily for me, they seem to have heard the news too, and I see them running towards me about a couple hundred yards from the dock.

"Ben! You okay?" I hear Tidus yell, and I shake my head.

"What...do you think?" I tell him, turning to the three of them. "Anyone got a potion?" Lulu nods, and pulls out one of the magical items, handing it to me. Quickly drinking it, I feel the cuts and bruises heal up some, and regain a little of my strength.

"Alright, let's go." she says, running ahead of us.

Reaching the boat for the second time, I turn to the group. "Ok, get ready. Lulu, get ready to use Thunder spells." She looks confused for a moment, but as a blitzball goes flying past us, her eyes widen, and she nods. Casting a Thunder spell on it, the machina shudders a moment, before hitting Tidus with a blitzball now, sending him to the ground much like me. Kimahri charges the machina, and I draw my sword, rushing in as well. His halberd doesn't do much, and neither does my katana. Backing up, I make my decision quickly.

"You guys think you can handle this thing?" I ask them, and they nod. "Good, I'm going after Yuna. Lulu, a tip. Use Thunder spells on the crane over there. Don't worry, trust me." I tell her, before running towards the thing again, this time with a plan.

"Payback time! Renzokuken!" I yell, having gotten angry enough to use my Overdrive. Slashing several times at the thing, I'm rewarded with the comforting sounds of metal being sheared off, and I jump back for the finishing move.

"Rough Divide!" Charging in again, I jump upwards with my katana outstretched, but I put forward momentum in as well this time. The result, is a nice, jagged line, straight up the front of the machina, and myself landing behind it, directly in front of the door leading to the ship's interior. As I enter the door, I spare one glance back, and see Tidus and Kimahri following my lead, as Lulu casts Thunder on the crane, trying to power it up.

The ship's interior doesn't look all that complex. I find myself in a room of some sort, tables all around me. Apparently, the dining area. Two doors are in the back, one each on the left and right.

"Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo!" I say, picking the right door. Opening it, I run in, and find myself face to face with an Al Bhed.

"Wrong door." I say, kicking him in the chest before he can react, and then uppercutting him, sending him to the ground. Jumping over him, I dash down the hall. I hear a noise to my right, and open a door, only to see an Al Bhed stumbling backwards, right out the now-open door. I'm bowled over by the falling body, and crash against the opposite wall.

"Sorry!" I hear Yuna yell, and I shake my head.

"Well, guess I'm not the only staff fighter around here." I say, smiling. Standing up, I walk in the room, just in time to see Yuna turn around and smash the bottom part of her staff into another Al Bhed's skull, knocking him out instantly.

"That all of them?" I ask, and she nods. Just then, 3 more run in the door.

"Man! I just can't catch a break!" I exclaim, now thoroughly ticked off. These Al Bhed, unlike the others, are wielding long swords. They look like they know how to use them, too.

"Stand back!" I tell Yuna, drawing my sword. I've never fought three armed people at once, but I'm not backing down.

One of the Al Bhed makes the first move, slashing downward with the sword. I jump back, letting it impact the floor, and duck just in time to avoid being decapitated. I trip the Al Bhed who swung, and kick his sword away from him. Suddenly, I feel a sharp pain in my back. Apparently, the third decided to slash at me, and he connected. Reaching back, my left hand comes away bloody, and I glare at the offending swordsman.

"You are dead." I say, casting Haste on myself and running up to him before he can react. Slashing my sword twice, he's sent to the ground, an X-shaped line of blood on his chest. He's not dead, but he won't get back up. The first Al Bhed slashes at my leg, and catches me in the ankle, drawing blood again. Dropping to my knees out of surprise, I dodge to the left, parrying a stab at the same time, before bringing my sword straight up, knocking his sword up into the air, and punching him in the gut. As he doubles over, I bring the end of the sword hilt into his face. Instant knockout. The last Al Bhed has gotten his sword back by now, and is eyeing me intently. Suddenly, he lunges for Yuna, sword outstretched.

"No you don't!" I yell, running in front of Yuna and blocking the downward slash, before kicking him in the kneecap, dropping him to one knee, before I soccer kick him in the face. The crunch I hear lets me know that his nose is broken, and he slumps to the ground. I follow suit a moment after, starting to feel dizzy from the loss of blood. I haven't ever lost that much that quickly, I don't think. After a moment, a wave of sparkles washes over me, the result of Yuna's Cure spell, and the cuts on my back and ankle close up, being replaced with thin red marks.

"Are you okay?" she asks, kneeling down. I nod slowly, before standing up, leaning on my sword for support.

"I'll be okay. Just dizzy. We have to get out of here right now." I say, as Yuna and I walk out, making our way back to the deck. Before we can move, the boat shakes, and I know what happened immediately.

"Well, Lulu got the crane working." I chuckle, imagining the top of the machina being ripped off. Leaving the room, we make our way back into the dining area, just before another crash goes off, this one just as loud as the first. "And that's the end of him." I mutter, stumbling a little bit. Opening the door, we're instantly met with the faces of Lulu, Tidus, and Kimahri, looking a little bruised.

"Blitzballs hurt a lot more when they're shot at you." Tidus tells Lulu, who shakes her head, looking at Yuna and myself.

"I hope you two hurt them." she says, and Yuna smiles.

"A little." she replies, sounding almost innocent.

"Yeah. She hit me with one." I say, earning a smile from Lulu, and a laugh from Tidus. Tidus stops laughing after a moment, and looks around.

"What is it?" Yuna asks him, and he looks back at her.

"There were these Al Bhed that saved our lives when we first came to Spira." he says, motioning to me. "They took us on their ship, even gave us food. I was kinda hoping this was the same ship. But it's not. I wonder if they're all gone."

"What happened?" Yuna says, sounding intrigued.

"Sin came up near us. We made it out okay, but I don't know what happened to their ship." he says, and Yuna looks down slightly, looking worried.

"Um, was there anyone called Cid on that ship?" she asks. Tidus shrugs.

"I don't know. They were all speaking that Al Bhed language."

"I see." Yuna says, sounding concerned.

"So who's Cid?" Tidus asks, causing Yuna to look up.

"He's my uncle, but I've never actually met him." she replies, causing Tidus to think a moment.

"Wait. That means you're Al Bhed too, Yuna?" he says, to which she nods.

"On my mother's side, yes. Cid is my mother's brother. He became distant after my mother married. But she told me to seek him out if I ever needed help." she explains.

"Don't tell Wakka about Yuna's lineage." Lulu cuts in. "The thing about Wakka—he never had much love for the Al Bhed."

"Whoa! I gotta tell Wakka!" Tidus exclaims, turning around.

"I thought I told you not to tell Wakka!" she says, before Yuna places a hand on her shoulder.

"The game!" she says, causing Lulu's eyes to widen.

"Oh!" she says, quickly casting a Fire spell in the air, which makes a bright flash in the sky.

"And that was for?" I ask, even though I know the answer.

"The reason they kidnapped me, is because they wanted the Aurochs to lose. They agreed to return me safely if the Aurochs threw the game." Yuna says, turning to me. Lulu has already followed Tidus, and I start to walk after them, but Yuna stops me.

"Can I ask you something?" she says, and I nod.

"Sure."

"That...was really brave of you back there. I want to ask you to become my guardian, if you want to, that is." she says, smiling.

"Lady Yuna, I would be honored to become your guardian." I reply, doing the prayer gesture. She smiles, and does it as well, before the two of us quickly follow Tidus and Lulu back to the stadium.


So, Ben's now a guardian. Wonder what's going to happen now. As always, please review! I was quite happy with the reviewers from last chapter, so thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far!