Hello, it's me, Blurredfate again with chapter one of Dream a Little Dream! I know it kind of started off a little confusing, but I just want you all to know that from now on, I'll either be telling this story from the third person or the first person. I think I'll alternate it. This chapter it will be in Rikku's point of view, the next it will be in the third person. Okay? Everyone follow? Good!

So here it is.

Dream a Little Dream

Chapter 1: Along My Merry Way

It was bright when I got up this morning. I took a ship out from Kilika yesterday. I don't really know if Yuna's figured out if I've left or not. But hopefully she won't until I'm on solid ground.

Hm. I don't really know if any of you actually know me. so....

Ahem. I'm Rikku. I'm an Al Bhed. For those of you who don't really know about us, the simplest way to describe us would be......um....engineers? I don't exactly know if that would be the right term to use, but we work with machines.

Heh, don't mean to brag or anything but my dad was the leader of the Al Bhed up till two years ago when our home, 'Home' in Sanubia Desert on Bikanel Island was blown up by an evil meanie named Sin. People really didn't like the Al Bhed back then. But then again, they were really dark times, two years ago. People have lightened up a lot since then, I guess because the High Summoner Yunie....er...Yuna is half Al Bhed. She's my cousin you know.

Looking back I guess I did have something to do with defeating Sin. Although, respectively, that seems like a lifetime ago.

I guess I should summarize my adventures, unless you've already heard about it from somewhere else in Spira. But word gets spread and far-fetched. So you'll hear it from me.

Two years ago, Pop's and I, (Brother wasn't smart enough to actually think of a plan of action, he was too busy goofing off, setting his hair on fire and all that stuff) hatched a brilliant plan, we wanted to go into the Underground ruins and fish out some old Machina, machines, as they call it now, from those ruins.

We thought that maybe something in there might help us with the second part of our plan but then we met a guy named Tidus....woah, I'm kinda getting ahead of myself, so lets back track a bit. Two months prior to that event (meeting Tidus and unearthing new machina and all) we heard that my cousin, Yuna, was trying her luck as a Summoner. Pop's kinda exploded.

" 'Damnit! She's gonna end up like her old man! I'm not about to lose the only connection left I have with my sister! Rikku, git' over here and listen, we're gonna stop her from throwin' her life away.' " Is what Pop's said, only with more swearing.....and in Al Bhed.

Heh, mind you, I wasn't exactly tickled in my toes, finding out that my only cousin was going to throw her life away, just so she could get immortalized in stone, and only to have the thing she threw her life away for, (Sin) come back.

Needless to say, Pop's and I were on the same page.

After we meet Tidus, Pop's forced him to come hunting for Machina with us. I felt kinda bad, since, you know, I was the one that punched him.

I know isn't important, but, my first impression of Tidus was that (hopefully Yuna doesn't hear about this) he was insane, he said he'd come from Zanarkand. Cute, but a little unhinged, was what I thought. Zanarkand had been destroyed over a thousand years prior. So I figured he couldn't have lived that long. But you never know, stranger things have happened.

I guess you know the rest. He met Yuna, the two fell in love (with a little jealousy on my part, not about their love, no, I was happy for them, but about the fact that they would be there for one another) and lo and behold. We find out that good old Tidus (my future cousin-in-law, heh heh) was only a dream. And he faded away after we beat Sin.

But the funny thing was, he knew he was going to disappear if we beat Sin. And yet he still went through it.

That takes a lot of courage. To top it all off, his dad was Sin. Yeah, strange right? Destroying your own father. I mean yeah, I'd like to bop Pop's on the head once in a while but kill him?

But he did it. All for Yuna.

I can't help but wonder. Will I ever have a love like that?

Someone that'll love me enough to give up everything they've ever known, and possibly fade away for it?

I guess I'm a little jealous of Yuna. Seems like every where I turn people are finding love.

Like they've been hit but some love missile.

Yeah....I guess who ever is pulling the trigger on those missiles has bad aim. At least towards me.

Yuna and Tidus are blissfully happy together.

I'm starting to suspect something's going on between Paine and Baralai. (Except I'm too afraid to ask, Paine might deduct more respect points)

Gippal's never had a problem with finding women. They flock to him (though I can't imagine why).

Great Spira, even Nooj and Leblanc are happy.

Heh, but then love lives tend to make things dull and un-interesting, at least in my perspective.

..........did I tell you where I'm headed?

To......da da da daaaaaa! Macalania Woods!

..............tch, fine don't be happy for me. I'll be happy for the both of us.

Heh, I guess you'd be happier if I actually told you why, I'm headed there.

Yesterday back in Kilika, this old couple was talking, and they told me (actually I was eavesdropping, but that's not important) that there was some strange phenomena of some sort happening in Macalania. I have a hunch that it has nothing to do with the vanishing of the woods either. I don't know if I'm right, but hey, it wouldn't kill me to go check it out right?

Don't answer that. Okay, I know I'm clumsy, but that doesn't mean that people can just say I'm clumsy like that. It hurts my feelings. Well, not exactly, but I don't exactly like being reminded that I'm not very coordinated.

Anyways, Phenomena. Macalania woods. Right. So I'm gonna check it out, maybe buy a few supplies from O'aka. But generally enjoy my travels without having to be dictated with some save the world stuff. Anyway, lunch time, I'm starving!

I was walking to the Cafeteria, in the ship, when I kinda bumped into someone. Well....more like collided with him....her....it. It's not my fault! I swear! It wasn't my fault that he was in my way as I was running to the cafeteria, honest! And I was watching where I was going! Anyway, she/he/it (I couldn't tell, it was wearing a cloak) and I collided.

To tell you the truth, he was very rude. He didn't even say sorry. he just got up and walked away, er....more like glided away, at the time I didn't really think I was seeing things correctly, cause I was on food deprivation. but he dropped something. And I was trying to be a good citizen, and return it to him, but when I turned around, he wasn't there anymore, it was like he was never there in the first place.

So I checked, I turned around and called:

"Ahem....um....Mister....sir? Hey! Are you there? Heeellooooo? You dropped your....thing....hey...."

He dropped a case. It was a rectangular case, not unlike a suitcase. I didn't want to open it, cause I didn't want to invade his privacy. (besides it might have had some icky stuff in it.) So I just carried it around with me and searched the entire ship for him. I couldn't find him. At all. I was beginning to think that I just imagined the whole thing. But I couldn't have, right? I mean there was the case in there.

Okay, I just want to make clear that I don't make a habit of looking into other people's things. (Except maybe Brother's, cause he takes my stuff all the time). But by this time it was creeping me out, The guy drops something that could be essentially important to him or something, and then he disappears? I would categorize that as creepy.

Anyways, so I'm in my cabin right? It was sitting right there on the bed. I had my knives out, you know, just in case something popped out. I opened it.

It was a sword.

..........What the heck am I gonna do with a sword?

Sure I have a samurai sword, and sword of darkness kinda thing for my dress spheres, but this was a sword.

It was a pretty sword. it had some or something, reflecting in the light. And it was made entirely of Macalania crystals.

Macalania crystals are like diamonds, only much prettier, and a hell of a lot better to make weaponry with. they're also really, really expensive, and really hard to make.

This sword was an old model. I'd seen it in some manuscripts in Bevelle, when we last went. I picked it up,

it was light weight, and very well made. I got a feel for it instantly. Which is odd, cause I usually have to train for years to get the swing of things.

I couldn't help wondering why the people who dropped this could have left without it.

It also kind of strengthened my resolve to going to Macalania woods to see if there were still good quality Crystals there. And to check out the weird phenomena of course.

Next day. I got off the ship into the Luca harbor. Great....it would take me at least two weeks to get to Macalania on foot. I didn't bring very much money either.

Stupid Rikku. Stupid!

So my way of going is to.....lets see....After asking for directions there's one clear route to take.

From Luca. to Mi'ihen Highroad. Then through Mushroom Rock Road. Then through Djose (please don't make me meet Gippal, Please!) Across the Moonflow, through Guadosalam(Leblanc....oh dear...), through the Thunder Plaines (yeck, thunder) and finally to Macalania.

.............Who came up with the stupid Idea to go on they're own adventure?

You did Rikku.

Next time I suggest something. Remind me not to listen to myself.

Ho, boy. Is it to late to go back to Kilika?

Maybe no- Oh poopie! They were supposed to have left Kilika this morning. With the airship they could be anywhere in Spira in Hours! Drat, drat, and drat again!

You wanted this Rikky, stick to it.

Okay then. Along my merry(not) way we go!

However do I get myself into these things?