WOOT! Finally, I updated. I'm sorry that took forever! I started school, got sick, my computer broke, my friend's mom died of cancer... long story... Anyways, here's the chappie, for all you lovely fans. YOU ROCK!

Tales of an Al Bhed Princess

Chapter 7: Over the Edge

Gippal's steps got heavier and heavier the higher up he climbed. He was growing very tired, and he really didn't want to pass out from exhaustion. Yet, something was telling him to keep going. Probably the fact that he didn't want to be stuck on that icicle of a mountain any longer kept him going.

"I just had to go to your stupid party… Now look at this, I'm stuck on a mountain, in the snow, with an unconscious, surprisingly heavy chick. Plus, I had to jump off an airship that was in flight because it was under attack. I'm gonna call this the worst day of my life. Ya' know what, Cid's girl? I think you're a disaster magnet. I really do. I don't see how you saved the world twice. Really, I don't."

Rikku, still being unconscious, had no idea that Gippal was rambling on about basically nothing. He looked at her and frowned. "Are you ever gonna wake up? I mean, it's not like I miss being hit when I make fun of you, but seriously, you've been out for more than an hour."

'She got shot, you moron…' he thought to himself.

"For crying out loud, I'm arguing with myself and an unconscious person. I've freckin' lost it… I've totally FRECKIN' LOST IT!" Gippal yelled in frustration.

At that very moment a Killer Hound rounded a nearby corner, growling menacingly. Hunger burned in its eyes, drool hung from its bared fangs.

"Oh come off it…" Gippal spoke each word with pure distain. "You're kidding me, right?" He stared at Rikku, still dozing away like nothing was wrong. She was still smiling blankly, completely unaware. "You… are… a disaster…magnet…if there ever was one…" Gippal complained under his breath.

The Killer Hound came in closer, taking smooth, precise steps, much like the hunter it was. Gippal had no way to defend himself. He backed away a little, trying to think of a plan. 'I could use Cid's Girl as a weapon….' Yeah, that's ever gonna happen…

"Hey Fido," Gippal shouted. The beast's face was taken over by a look of confusion. It stopped stalking its prey momentarily. 'Bingo.'

"Yeah, you," he continued, his voice sounding both brave and sarcastic. "Why ya' gotta be tryin' to eat me and my buddy? I mean, what did we ever do to you?"

The hound had begun to close in again, but slower, as he was confused as to why this fool was talking to him. Fiends don't speak English. The fiend howled and tackled Gippal with a powerful leap.

Gippal, however, was expecting this. Just as the creature struck, he turned his back to it. As he fell, he would be able to protect Rikku that way. Thinking quickly he picked up a small rock and smashed it against the canine's face. It yelped in pain as it was thrown from Gippal's body. He picked up Rikku and began to run.

Soon after, he heard the sound of fast, soft footsteps behind them. He spun around to see the Killer Hound charging him. On a reflex, he threw the rock at the fiend. When it struck the fiends head, there was a shirt cry, then the fiend was knocked out.

"That's right! Never mess with Gippal the Amazing One! You stupid dog, you suck at hunting." With that (followed by a short victory dance) Gippal walked away, secretly afraid that that dog had some nearby friends…

"YYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNAAAAAAA!"

As Yuna and Tidus trudged onto the beach, that was the sound they were greeted with. Brother had begun to run towards his beloved cousin, arms outstretched, but he was stopped by Paine pulling back on his suspenders.

"You do know that she's your cousin… right?" Paine asked him in disgust.

"Yeeeessss," he replied, beaming.

Paine sighed. "You… are so hopeless. Not to mention idiotic and disturbing."

"So, it's wrong to love your cousins now?" Brother asked, genuinely confused.

"In your case, yes. Very, very much so." With that, Paine let go of Brother and walked toward the slowly approaching couple. She couldn't help but smile slightly when she saw them.

"Enjoy your swim?" she asked sarcastically. Yuna shoved her playfully. What she really wanted to do was hug Paine, but that wasn't really Paine's thing.

"What about you? Have fun with my cousin?" she shot back. Paine scowled.

"That's not even funny… He's the biggest idiot I've ever seen…" As Paine said this, Yuna glanced at that very idiot, who was now jumping up and down, waving frantically.

"So, where are the others?" Tidus asked, shaking the water out of one of his shoes.

"Well, Buddy is back in the village, forming a search party for you guys, which I guess we should cancel…" Yuna smiled at Paine's words. She wondered how she managed to stay so relaxed. "And the rest of us are right here…"

"Where's Rikku?" Yuna asked, her smile faltering.

"We… uh… we couldn't find her anywhere…" Paine stared down at the sand. She knew Yuna wouldn't be happy about the fact that her cousin (Paine assumed her favorite cousin) was still missing.

Yuna's smile faded completely. "Well, I've got something to tell you," she said, remembering the man who threw her off the ship. "Get everyone together. We need to have a meeting."

Gippal had been hiking upward for well over 2 hours now. He was tired and irritable. In fact, the littlest, strangest things would bother him. For example, why was it that the higher he climbed, the less snow there was? Wasn't that a little backwards? And why were there so many fiends? It was like every time he ran away from one battle, there was another monster five feet away.

Gippal had been rambling about things like that for a while now. He kept on looking down at Rikku, half the time he was glaring, the other half he was wondering if she would live until he got help. All the time he was complaining.

"Here's one for ya' Cid's Girl. Why are we all alone up here? I mean, someone's supposed to be here. Who was it…? Hypello…? Shoopufs…? Al Bhed…? wait… ARGH!" Gippal kicked the air in front of him. This resulted in a loss of his balance and he fell over backwards, Rikku landing right on top of him.

"AH! YEVON, NO!" he shouted as he pushed her off of him. She was still smiling away. "Is that smile, like, frozen to your face, or something? Why is it there, Cid's Girl? What about this situation is good? What about it is happy?"

Gippal scooped her up again, and started walking along the path. "You wouldn't be smiling if you knew what was happening. You just… wouldn't…"

He had to come up with a plan to help her. After all, she would do the same for him. 'Didn't someone say there was a hot spring up here?' he thought. 'Look, she's already wearing a bathing suit and everything…'

"Cid's Girl, I gotta ask, what's with that outfit? I mean, you're all up in the snow and crap like that all the time… and you're in a bikini. That's crazy… It really is… Sure, you've got a scarf, but how helpful is it?" 'She's got to be freezing…'

Gippal sighed and pulled off his overcoat. Never in his life had he been so thankful for undershirts. "Just… don't get it dirty… You'll ruin the rest of my day…"

So, he decided he would be taking her to the hot springs. The only problem that he could think of was that her clothes would be all wet, so she'd probably freeze after word. And he was not going to use the obvious solution to that problem. He'd figure it out later…

Meanwhile, in Rikku's dreams…

Thirteen years old. Rikku was thirteen years old when her family found out she and Gippal where more than just friends. That was also when they decided that they didn't like Gippal.

She remembered the night she snuck out to see him. She had done it many times before. She was a great thief all ready, so no one had ever caught her. This time was different.

She met him on the bank of the oasis, greeting him with a warm hug.

"How ya' been, Rikku?" he asked.

"Over worked, I'm tired of building machine and improving Home's defenses for when Sin comes back," she replied. "I just wanna have some fun."

"I feel ya'," he said, smiling. He put his arm around her shoulders. "So, let's go have some fun." Gippal raised his eyebrows at her, smiling. She laughed.

"What did ya' have in mind?"

"Well…" he said, pretending to think, when suddenly he picked her up and threw her into the water in front of them. Rikku shouted before hitting the water. There was a big splash as she went under.

When she poked her head back up, she found Gippal laughing. She smiled. "You can be really mean, you know that?"

"But ya' love me anyways…" he commented as she swam closer. When she reached the surface, she cupped his face in her hands.

"Yeah, well, maybe I need a new boyfriend…"

"You think anyone else could handle dating you?" he asked. He was about to kiss her when they heard a voice.

"Stay away from my sister!" Brother shouted from behind them. They both jumped in shock.

Brother ran up and pulled her away from him. "I mean it, Gippal, when I tell my dad…"

After that, when she snuck out to see him, he started calling her Cid's Girl, because her over protective father would almost always catch her…

Well... tada! One more down, a countless number to go... As long as the fans are happy, then it's all good...

Icewolf9- I'm glad you like. I thought Gippal should be funny, so I'm glad that worked out. Too much seriousness would ruin it, don'tcha' think?

Fullmetal Fool- Yay! A new fan! So happy you were pleased! Hoping not to disapoint you in the future.

Pod Sara- Another new fan! I'm really having fun with this. I thought that Vidina should be a brat for the comic relief effort. I'm glad you like the story. I know, I saw some of the typos when I was re-reading it. I'll go back and fix them when I feel less lazy, I promise.

Shadray- Hey, you're back! Thanks for the review. I know I've said this alot already, but I'm so gald you like it! Also, thanks for wishing me luck. I was kinda begining to run low on connecting ideas.

Kingleby- Will I ever remember to review your story? Well, I'm gad you didn't abandon me over it. Glad you like the funny. Like I said, I don't want it to be too serious. Especially not Gippal, who is losing his mind. (as if you couldn't tell...)

Rayne Shadow Goddess