Okay… this is quite possibly the last time you will see a disclaimer, so remember it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story. Well, except the story itself…

Tales of an Al Bhed Princess

Chapter 2: One Ca-razy Party!

Gippal sat on the bridge outside of Djose Temple waiting for the Celsius to come pick him up. He was actually looking forward to going to this "party". He smirked to himself. Sometimes he wondered why he gave everyone a hard time. Most of the time, though, he just didn't care. He had always been thatway, and he knew that he always would be.

'Wonder how it is that you can be inviting all these people up and not call it a party…' he thought to himself. These people were all crazy. He would have loved to say that Rikku was the craziest, but that would be a lie. Brother was definitely crazier than her. And, also, much less attractive…

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a familiar voice interrupted Gippal's completely random thoughts.

"Bet you're tired of waiting, huh?" he heard the very girl he was thinking about call.

He looked up and saw the Celsius sitting not too far away. How could he have missed that? I mean, the thing is HUGE!

"You know I hate waiting, Cid's Girl," he replied as he hopped off the railing.

"And you know I hate being called Cid's Girl, so I guess this makes us even."

Gippal smiled at her. He couldn't help it; she was so easy to pick on. She almost always over reacted. Every time he had to hold back the urge to laugh. This time, though, it was different. She hadn't gone completely nuts. She hadn't even whined about actually having a name. Nothing but, '…I guess this makes us even…'.

"Chill out there, Cid's Girl. I didn't mean to offend you," Gippal said with a sound of something almost like regret in his voice.

Then he noticed that Rikku had already started walking to the Celsius without him. He ran to catch up; afraid she might just leave him there on that bridge. Honestly, he was glad the Gullwings were throwing this… whatever it was. All he had been doing after giving his part of Nooj and Baralai's speech, he had been nothing but sit around in the temple with nothing to do. No interviews, no machina, nothing. Sure, it had only been a week, but he hated waiting…

"Gippal, I have a question," Rikku said, turning to look at Gippal.

"Then ask it," he replied.

She glared at him, knowing full well he would just smirk at her, (which he did) and continued with her question.

"Why do you never call me by my real name? I mean, everyone else you gave a stupid nickname to is only called that name sometimes…"

"They're not as fun to mess with as you," he offered as his reason. He couldn't really tell her…

They started up the ramp. What was she to think of Gippal's answer? He had said it so quickly.

"Nuh-uh. I don't buy that for a second. Tell me the truth," she commanded.

Gippal put on his best confused face. "That…was the truth," he said, pretending to not know what's going on.

"You're lying," Rikku stated as they stepped into the elevator.

"Why would I lie to you?"

She offered up some options. "'Cuz you hate me? 'Cuz you know I'll hurt you for telling the truth?"

"'Cuz I just don't want you to know!" Gippal yelled.

Rikku backed away because of his outburst. When he looked at her, he could see her fear.

"Sorry…" she whispered. The elevator had just reached the bridge.

"Hey, don't be. It's my fault anyways," Gippal said. He placed his hand on her shoulder as the door opened. He flashed her a warm smile. "Now let's try to be happy, alright?"

Without waiting for her response, he walked out the door, leaving her standing in the elevator alone, blushing.

Yuna had finally gotten Brother to calm down some. It had taken her the entire trip from Besaid to Djose. This isn't very long, if you think about it, seeing as how they're in an airship, but she was Yuna, and he was Brother…

"We need you in a good mod right now," Yuna was saying. "We can't have an honorary Gullwings-style get together if our leader is being so miserable."

"We are… having a party?" Brother asked. This seemed to cheer him up greatly.

"Erm, kinda," Yuna said. She had told Tidus to go sit on one of the beds above. She knew his presence would only make Brother worse. So how was she to tell him that this whole "party" was because of him?

"Who's coming?" Brother asked, growing increasingly excited.

As if to answer his question, Buddy's voice crackled these words over the intercom: "Gippal just got here Yuna. Only eight more to go…"

"Thanks Buddy!" Yuna said sweetly. Brother, however, was once again unhappy.

"Gippal! Dryd kuut vun hudrehk beala uk lnyp!" ("Gippal! That good for nothing piece of crap!")

Yuna, having no idea what he said, but doubting it was a good thing seeing as how he hated Gippal and sounded angry, was instantly trying to calm him down again.

"Hey, hey, Brother? How about you get to chose where we have the party then, huh?" she suggested.

Brother was lost in thought for a moment before shouting," THE DECK!"

Yuna smiled. "Then you tell everyone to go up to the deck," she suggested. He nodded and walked (if you could even call it walking) drunkenly to the elevator.

"You can come down now," she called. Tidus jumped from the upper level and landed almost silently next to his love.

"Should I be afraid of this Gippal guy?" Tidus asked. After hearing (but not really understanding) Brother's reaction, he had grown a little afraid.

"Nah, Brother just hates Gippal 'cuz Rikku totally loves him…" Yuna answered, smiling.

'Just like he hates me 'cuz I'm the one you chose...' he thought to himself. This was immediately followed by the thought that Brother liking Yuna that much was gross, since they're cousins and all.

After programming the auto-pilot to run it's course to pick up the guests, Buddy headed off to the deck where Brother, Yuna, Tidus, and Paine (for "security" reasons cough Brother going crazy cough.) were already waiting.

Rikku had offered to get drinks from the cabin. This was the excuse she came up with when Yuna and Tidus, trying to get to the deck, called the elevator and found her inside. She had been frozen there, blushing, for well over ten minutes.

Gippal had gone to the engine room to stare in awe at the wonderful machina. When they had given him a lift back to Djose after destroying Vegnagun, Rikku had insisted that he stay in the cabin. She had said he was still hurt (although he had used enough potions to make him pain-free for three days) and that he needed to rest. So he was now staring in awe at the wonderful machina…

All of them were apparently too busy to notice that they were being followed by three small airships with just one thing in mind…

Well, there you go, another chapter to my story. Yes, I know, you're all dying to know what happens. Well, maybe you aren't… but I'll update soon anyways just in case. This is gunna be so cool…

Ria-baalinda: I'm glad to hear you think my story's good. It's just something I started 'cuz I was bored, and it turned out to be pretty nifty! (I know, geeky, aren't I?"

Icewolf9: Yes, this will end up being a Rikku/Gippal fic. I just haven't gotten that far yet. They're such a cute couple, I love them so much. It's comin'. Don't worry.

Rayne-ShadowGoddess