Episode II

Exiting the temple was harder than I thought, when my robe got caught on a piece of rock to the side. I casually tried to free it, but to no avail! How could I rip any of my lovely robes?

Maroda noticed this, and turned to me. "What's the problem, Isaaru?"

"Nothing!" I said instantly.

"It doesn't look like nothing..."

"Well...it is, you fool!"

I tugged a bit on my robes, trying to free them from the rock. Maroda rolled his eyes, moved towards me, and with the greatest of ease, freed my robes from the rock. I sighed in relief. How smart I was to conjure such a plan to free my robes.

Meanwhile, Pacce was bouncing forward. I hoped he would go too far ahead and get lost, but Maroda called, "Pacce! Wait for us,"

I felt a twinge of annoyance, but nevertheless, smiled and began down the road with Maroda.

On the way to the Moonflow, I was almost ran over by a chocobo. I glared at it, my death glare, and it sqeaked innocently. That's when I got angry! I shook my fist five times in the chocobo's general direction, and it bounced a bit. I bonded towards the foolish animal, ready to strike it with my staff, when suddenly, it moved out of the way, and I fell into the Moonflow's waters. Maroda looked at me, gave me that look he always did when I did something smart, then offered me a hand.

I smartly declined, realizing I could prove my independence to Maroda by refusing his help, for once. I giggled with glee to myself. How smart could I get?

I walked past Maroda, and towards the chocobo. It looked at me, which enraged me. then, in my rage, a brilliant idea popped into my head. Maybe I could sacrifice Pacce to the chocobo! Then my revenge would...most likely...be complete!

With that, I grabbed Pacce's hand and led him to the chocobo, that was standing there dumbly like it didn't now or ever have a purpose in life.

"Isaaru..? What's going on?" Pacce squeaked annoyingly, and I stood him before the chocobo.

"Pet the chocobo, my dear boy!" I told him.

Pacce shrugged and nodded. "Okay." He reached his hand up and petted the chocobo's yellow feathers. The chocobo made sounds of delight, which I assumed were really sounds out preparation for destruction!!

...But the chocobo never did attack Pacce. It was then I realized chocobos weren't blood-thirsty monsters. I shook my head, sadly, and approached the animal. I reached for it like Pacce had done, and I took a big bite out of my hand. I screamed like a girl, and fell to the ground.

Maroda noticed me, and started over to help, but not before I'd summoned Ixion!

I grinned widely, pointing at Ixion, then to the chocobo.

Ixion gave me a weird look as if I were abnormal for summoning him to attack a chocobo. I smacked him suddenly. I was getting tired of those looks! I didn't need them from my aeons!

Ixion did a motion that resembled a shrug, then readied Aerospark, directing his horn at the chocobo. I smirked.

It was then that Maroda ran in front of Ixion, and I called him to stop the attack. I needed that boy for the trials, afterall.

"What do you think you're doing, Maroda??" I asked, feeling quite outraged.

Maroda rolled his eyes. "I could ask you the same question! Why in Spira are you attacking a chocobo, Isaaru!?"

I suddenly realized I was surrounded by stupid people. How could Maroda not understand my actions after seeing that evil chocobo so mercilessly shove me into the Moonflow's waters?? Maroda may be smart in the trials, but that is certainly all he is good for.

I simply shrugged, not wishing to argue with Maroda, because I didn't want him to feel bad when he lost to me.

So, I dismissed Ixion, he shrugged again and disappeared. By then, the chocobo had run off somewhere...maybe, with any luck, it had accidentally slipped into the Moonflow!

It was then that I saw that chocobo being ridden off by a weird looking girl in green and purple with red hair. I hoped Maroda wouldn't make us talk to her later on.

A/N: There you have it. Yes, the chapters are supposed to be short. I'm not going to be writing his entire pilgrimage...because I don't think my insanity expands so creatively. The next part will most likely be the Al Bhed's Home.

And thank you to my one reviewer, LM11. bows You have my gratitude, and thank you for the encouragement. I don't imagine this fic will fall into the "unfinished fanfiction graveyard" since I'm very much enjoying writing it.