Hello all you FFX fans out there! The next chapter is coming up. Do you all remember when I said that I would bring characters in so slowly that it would drive you all insane? Well I meant it! Mua ha ha ha ha! (continues to laugh evilly)

Tidus: Hey, do you have to laugh like that?

Veronia: Why, what ever do you mean?

T: I'm talking about that evil laugh?

V: What's wrong with my laugh? (Clenches hands into fists)

T: It's just stupid and it only freaks me out (finally trying to stand up for himself)

Bonk! (Slams Tidus over the head)

V: How dare you say something like that about me!

T: (Rubs bump on head) But the audience agrees with me.

V: (Turns to audience) Is that true?

Audience: Yes.

Bonk! Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

V: Now then, should we get started with the story?

T: Uh... how can we start? You've knocked out everybody in the audience.

V: Oops. (looks around for a few seconds) I guess that means that I can get these legal writings over with without any interruptions. Ahem... I do not own anything from FFX or any other Final Fantasies.

Audience member: That's right! Because I own them all!

Bonk! (Audience member falls to the ground)

V: Everybody ready to be quiet? Alright, then let's start chapter 8!

T: Is what she said true?

V: Shh! Of course not! I own you.

T: (gulp) Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 8: Unexpected Opponent

"Hey Tidus! Come on! We've got a game to practice for." Zen called as he bolted into the house.

"Why did I ever give him a spare key?" Tidus mumbled to himself as he pushed himself up from his comfortable bed.
It had been several weeks since both he and Yuna had the search for their lost friends. The biggest problem of all was actually knowing how to start. Most of their time was spent wandering about Zanarkand, searching for them. There wasn't much more they could really do.
They both knew that asking for help from the police or putting up flyers was out of the question. None of the others were really missing, that is if they were actually in Zanarkand like Yuna had predicted. It only would have gotten them into a lot of trouble if they tried to search for missing people that didn't really exist.

"Practice, now?" Tidus dropped back down to the pillows. "I just got into bed." He had been up all night searching the streets with Yuna trying to find any clues that may lead to any of their friends.

"What's up with you man?" Zen asked as he closed the door and came closer to the sleeping blitzball player. "Ever since you told me about that dream you've been acting strangely. It's as if that young girl coming into your life has changed you."

"You can say that again." Tidus mumbled into his pillow.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." Tidus said before he hid his face with his arms. "Just let me get some sleep first."

"You see." Zen said as he took a step forward and motioned his hand towards his friend. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. Before she came you would play blitzball no matter how much sleep you had."

"Let me sleep." Tidus mumbled again as he pulled the blankets up over his head.

Zen sighed out loud and started to leave. "By the way, I should mention that it's a new team playing us so we all need to practice as much as possible."

"A new team?" Tidus pushed himself back up and looked towards his friend. "Where are they from?"

"I don't know." Zen said as he leaned against the doorframe. He smiled inwardly, knowing that he had found something that would get Tidus up and out the door. "All I know is that they're not from anywhere near Zanarkand."

Could it really be them? Tidus wondered. He looked up and saw that Zen was already leaving.

"Hey Wait!" He called out as he bolted up onto his feet. He became entangled in his sheets and tumbled down to the ground. After he fought his way free he ran to the doorway to see Zen still walking away.

"Hey! Just wait a minute!" When he saw that his friend wasn't leaving he moved back into the house. He quickly changed into his blitzball outfit and ran back out of his home, slamming the door shut on the way. Not knowing if it was locked or not and not really caring. If his suspicions were correct then he would soon be seeing another one of his friends soon.

"Do you know what their name is?"

"Nope." A smile spread over Zen's face as he realized that he could turn this into a game. He actually knew a few things about the unknown team but it was much more fun to withhold the information and watch Tidus's reactions. "Don't you know anything about them?" Tidus was getting aggravated at not knowing anything.

"Not a thing." The smile on Zen's face grew.

Tidus knew that his friend wasn't telling him the truth and playing this stupid game was only getting him aggravated. They traveled the rest of the way without saying a word. Occasionally, Zen would try to start up a new conversation but Tidus would always ignore them and bring the unknown team back up. Zen was relieved when they made it to the stadium because it seemed to relieve some of the tension.

"Hey everyone! Are you already to practice?" He said as soon as he entered the Abes locker room. All of the players stood up and started moving towards the door.

"Wait a minute." Tidus started as he stood in front of the door to prevent anyone from leaving. "Does anybody here know anything about the team that were going against?"

Everyone just looked at him for a few moments before someone answered. "Zen knows more about them then any of us." One of the female blitzers answered.

"He is, is he?" Tidus looked back over to his friend a slight smile spreading over his lips. "Well then captain Zen, would you be so kind as to enlighten us all on who it is we're going against so we all will be prepared for what is ahead of us?"

Zen let out a loud sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. The game was over and he had lost. "They're called the Aurochs. I don't know where they're from but I know it is a long distance away. I'm not sure if it's true but I heard that they are the top team from wherever they are from."

"It doesn't matter how good they are. We're still gonna beat them." Another blitzball player interrupted.

Tidus just stood there in shock. He couldn't do anything but stand and wait for Zen to continue but there was nothing else to be said. Every other player left the locker room to go begin practicing.

"Zen?" Tidus whispered after everyone else had left the room. "Do you know the name of their team captain?"

Zen looked up towards the ceiling and closed his eyes for a few minutes before answering. "Sorry, can't think of any of the players that are on the team." Tidus sighed out loud. "And I'm telling the truth this time. I truly don't know."

"It's alright. It doesn't really matter. I'll figure out who it is when the game starts."

The smile came back onto Zen's lips. "Come on. We need to catch up with the rest."

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V: I just love leaving chapters off at cliffhangers!

T: Well I don't.

V: I don't care what you think.

T: Then what am I doing here?! You said that you only kept me here because you value my opinion in this!

V: Well, it's more like you're my muse instead.

T: Great. Can I go now? I'm locked in here.

Audience member: Yes! You have to let him go! He belongs to me!

Bonk! (Audience member falls to the ground)

V: He belongs to me now.

T: Can I go?

V: Never! You belong to me now! Mua ha ha ha ha!

T: (whispers under breath) Oh no. There's the evil laugh again.
See you all next time... if I survive.

V: (all cheerful again) Good bye!

End Transmission