Happy beginning of March! I know better, but maybe we'll see a little of spring here before the month is over.
Well, what better way to start a new month than with the next chapter of the Final Fantasy X Novelization? I originally had this chapter combined with the next one, but it seemed too long. Now, I'm worried that they're both too short, but it will do. It's probably not as bad as I think.
Read and enjoy, and please do leave a review. Praise, criticism, or just quick comments to let me know you're sticking around; any kind of review is extremely welcome!
Chapter Nine
Luca.
It's sure not Zanarkand, but I could almost feel at home in a place like this!
Tidus couldn't help but grin at the sight before him. Luca certainly wasn't a little island village like Besaid or Kilika. Luca was a city! Hundreds of buildings were crowded together along the waterfront, and from his perch at the front of the Winno, Tidus could see crowds of people swarming through the wide streets. The city couldn't touch the size of Zanarkand's metropolis, but it was certainly a refreshing break from the rustic settlements he'd seen so far. Bright morning sunbeams bounced off a thousand shiny surfaces within the city, making it aglow with sunlight.
"Hey, Tidus! Over here!" Tidus looked over to see Wakka standing a little ways off with the Aurochs. The Luca Goers and the Kilika Beasts also stood in their own groups, all ready to depart as soon as the ship docked. Tidus sprinted merrily over to Wakka and the team, a big smile on his face.
"We'll be getting off soon," Wakka continued as Tidus joined them. "We'll have time for a little warm-up, then straight to the games!"
"Roger!" Tidus answered. Even though he'd had a bit of trouble getting to sleep the night before, Tidus was full of energy. Maybe he wasn't as pumped as he'd been when they left Besaid, but he was still ready to blitz. The sight of Luca's crowded streets had again fueled his longing for Zanarkand, but Tidus did his best to ignore these feeling.
"This year, we're bringing the Crystal Cup home to Besaid!" Wakka exclaimed, gesturing excitedly. "This year, no team will be able to stand against the Aurochs! This year, we're going for victory!"
Tidus smiled at Wakka's enthusiasm; this was just what the Aurochs needed if they were going to win the tournament.
"Victory! Victory!" The Aurochs responded to their coach's pep talk with a lively cheer, drawing annoyed looks from the Goers' circle. Tidus let his gaze wander from the blitz team to where Yuna stood with Lulu and Kimahri. The summoner and the mage were chatting lightheartedly in the morning sunlight. Tidus wondered what he would do after the games; would he really stay in Luca? If so, he might never see Wakka, Lulu, Kimahri or Yuna again. Or did he truly want to be a guardian, someone who Yuna entrusted her life to? Was Tidus really the kind of person deserving of that trust? Tidus couldn't help but think about the things he'd said the night before about his father, and how Yuna reacted; the guilt had grown slowly over the night, but Tidus still wasn't sure how to apologize, or even if he should.
"Alright, boys, that enough!" Wakka's firm but bright call pulled Tidus out of his thoughts. He turned back to the Auroch's coach.
"We're docking now, so be ready get off!" Wakka instructed. Tidus looked over the railings at the great city of Luca. It wasn't as modern as Zanarkand, but still wonderfully crowded and busy. Great crowds of people swarmed over the wharf, ready to greet the incoming blitzball teams. Amidst the fans were reporters holding sphere cameras, struggling to get a good view of the boats.
So they broadcast blitzball in Spira, too! Tidus thought with a grin. But I thought they didn't use machina…
the voice of an announcer echoed over loudspeaker, loud enough to be heard over the creak of the ships.
"Ah, over there!" the announcer's voice called. "The ships carrying the players are arriving now! This would be dock number two." The first team, the Kilika Beasts, moved to depart as the gangplank was lowered onto the pier.
"Come on, guys, let's get in line!" Tidus called to the Aurochs. This was blitzball! Not matter how down about Zanarkand he was, Tidus couldn't be this close to a tournament and still feel pouty.
"Right!" Wakka answered with a smile.
"All the way form Kilika, it's the Kilika Beasts!" the announcer called as the Kilika team walked down the gangplank, waving to the crowds. "High Summoner Ohalland used to play for them- a big name to live up to!" The announcer paused for a moment. "Their hometown was recently attacked by Sin. Isn't that right, Jimma?"
"Yes, Bobba," a second announcer joined the first over the speakers. "They're going to be pulling out all the stops to try and bring back the cup this year."
The Kilika Beasts made their way off the gangway, making room for the next team.
"Our turn, Aurochs!" Wakka called, motioning for his team to follow as he walked out onto the gangplank. The rest of the Aurochs followed, seeming a bit apprehensive. Tidus wondered what was up.
"Exciting, isn't it folks?" the first announcer, Bobba, picked up. "Our next team off the ramp is… Well, well, well! If it isn't the Besaid Aurochs!" He stopped for a moment and let out a chuckle. "They're a living, breathing, statistical impossibility! I've never seen a team this bad! That's right! In twenty-three years, they've never made it passed the first round! Only a few die-hard fans are in the audience today."
The second announcer, Jimma, let out a chuckle. "Best of luck to them and a safe journey back to Besaid."
Tidus frowned at the commentator's words. We'll show them all. The Aurochs moved to the side, away from the crowd, near a stack of crates.
"Moving right along our next team is…" the announcer Bobba paused dramatically as the Goers took the stand, looking as smug as ever.
"Here they are, folks!" he exclaimed. "Our very own Luca Goers! They've got power! They've got speed! They've got teamwork! They're an all-around first-class team! And they're back home in Luca!"
The crowd of gatherers cheered and hollered at the Goers arrival, nearly drowning out the commentators.
"Without a doubt, they are a favorite this year, Bobba," Jimma added. "And after the way they dominated last year, it'd take a miracle for them to lose today!"
"You can say that again, Jimma!" Bobba chuckled. "Look at the crowd, folks! Lok at the crowd!" Looks like all of Luca has turned out to cheer the Goers on! They know, I know, and you know, folks! The Luca Goers are number one!"
The announcers' mocking of the Aurochs had been bad enough, but their lifting up of the Goers really made Tidus mad. He hated it when the commentators were so impartial. Seeking some output for his anger, Tidus kicked over one of the crates lying near the Aurochs. Hearing the crash, Wakka turned around.
"It's like this every year, ya? Don't let it bother you."
Tidus couldn't comprehend how Wakka and the Aurochs were so calm about it. Sure, they were probably used to being pushed around. But Tidus was a member of the Zanarkand Abes! He wasn't going to just stand by and listen to all that.
Tidus looked down at the spilled contents of the crate he'd kicked over. Amongst other equipment, a megaphone lay on the ground in front of him. An idea came to mind, and Tidus grinned mischievously. He was impulsive by nature and didn't think twice about grabbing the megaphone and leaping up on one of the larger stacks of crates.
"Stop right there, Goers!" he shouted, his voice booming through the speaker. Tidus had no planned speech, but his shouting was enough to get everyone's attention. Even the commentators had stopped talking. Tidus smiled. He had never had any trouble causing a spectacle.
"You guys are smiling now, but not for long! 'Cause this year, us Aurochs are taking the cup!"
Some of the people in the crowd jeered, while other laughed outright. The Goers just smiled in amusement and continued on their way. Though no one rose to defend Tidus' claim, he was pleased with his announcement. Tidus leaped off the crates wearing a big grin.
"What in Spira were you doing up there?" Wakka asked, looking quite exasperated.
"We sure stood out, though!" one of the Aurochs piped up before Tidus could defend himself.
"We were on the sphere!" another Auroch commented.
"We were?" a third said, sounding a bit nervous.
Tidus chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Yuna and her other two guardians had joined the Aurochs on the pier and were standing a little ways away. Lulu was shaking her head, and Yuna looked like she'd been laughing. Kimahri was as stony as ever, his leonine features expressionless.
A commotion started in the crowd at the dock, and Tidus strained to hear what the people were chattering about. One by one, they were all racing away down the streets, all seeming to be in a hurry.
"What's up now?" Tidus asked. Yuna came over to the group, smiling excitedly.
"Maester Mika had arrived, that's what!" she announced.
"Mika? Maester?" Yet again, Tidus had no idea what his friends were talking about.
"Maester Mika is the leader of all the peoples of Spira," Lulu explained. "He's come all the way from Bevelle. The tournament is being held to honor his fifty years as maester."
"Fifty years?" Tidus' eyes widened. "Shouldn't he be, uh, retired by now?"
"Hey! Mind you mouth, now," Wakka said sternly. Tidus didn't have time to reply before Yuna spook up.
"Let's go see him!"
This Mika guy really is important, Tidus thought as he watched the massive vessel pull into the Luca dock. This ship was much larger and more ornate than the Winno. However, Tidus could barely get a glimpse of the ship through the equally massive crowd of people.
"Can't… see… a thing!" he muttered as he pushed and shoved in the crowd, trying to get a view. The crowd wouldn't part even for a summoner and her guardians.
"Shhh!" Wakka whispered harshly to Tidus as a gathered band began to play.
Shoving around someone, Tidus finally got a view of what was happening on the boat. The gangway had been lowered, and someone was walking down it. The man was very tall, almost as tall as Kimahri, wearing a heavy flowing robe. His hair was a shade of pastel blue, the long locks bound together in a strange style that made them look almost like antennae. On his face he wore a finely designed smile that seemed genuine enough. This guy doesn't look like he's fifty years old…
"That's a Guado, isn't it?" someone ahead of Tidus commented.
"Who could it be?" another asked.
"Isn't that… Maester Seymour?" a third person piped up.
Wait, there's more than one of these maester guys?
The Seymour person turned back to the ship once he reached the bottom of the gangway and kneeled deeply, moving his arms in the prayer gesture. The rest of the crowd also dropped to their knees, and Tidus quickly followed. Wow, this guy really is important…
At the top of the gangway appeared a man who definitely looked old enough to be Maester Mika. The old man walked a down onto the dock and stopped in front of Seymour.
"People of Spira," Maester Mika's voice was quiet and delicate, yet still carried over the crowd. "I thank you for your generous welcome." He paused for a moment and turned to the kneeling maester before him.
"Rise, Maester Seymour. And all of you as well." At Mika's command, all those gather rose back to their feet. "I present to you… the son of Maester Jyscal Guado, who departed for the Farplane a fortnight past."
Seymour rose up from his kneeling position and bowed regally to the crowd of onlookers.
"As some of you already know," Mika continued, "he has been official ordained as a maester of Yevon."
"I am Seymour Guado," Seymour called, his tones silky and refined. "I am honored to receive the title of maester. In life, my father Jyscal worked to foster friendship between man and Guado. I vow to carry on his legacy, and to fulfill my duties as maester to the best of my abilities."
Again, the whole crowd dropped to their knees. Tidus was familiar with those keen in rhetoric, but this Seymour seemed to be a master of it.
"You too!" Wakka's urgent voice caught Tidus' attention. "Bow your head!"
Tidus quickly but grudgingly dropped down with the crowd. He sat there until the two maesters departed from the dock with their entourage. When they were gone, the crowd stood up and began to chatter excitedly amongst themselves.
"Really psyches you up, ya?" Wakka said with a large grin. He seemed just the same as the rest of the group. Tidus wasn't so lit up. I get that they're important and stuff, but what makes these maester guys so great?
Then Tidus noticed Yuna. She seemed worried for some reason, staring at the ground, a troubled look on her face. Tidus was about to ask her what was wrong when Wakka spoke up.
"Alright! Last meeting before the match! Hustle!" he cheered and started off with the Aurochs.
Tidus lingered a moment. "Uh, who's that Seymour guy?" he asked.
"He's another of the maesters, a Guado," Lulu was the one who replied.
"Okay," Tidus rubbed the back of his head. "But what's a Guado?"
"You don't even remember the Guado?" Lulu said in exasperation. Tidus chuckled nervously.
Lulu sighed and shook her head. "The Guado are a Spiran race, like the Ronso or the Al Bhed."
"Ah ha," Tidus nodded. New discoveries like this no longer startled him. Spira was a strange new world, and he had come to accept that fact.
"You should hurry along a catch up with Wakka," Yuna encouraged, breaking her silence.
"Oh, yeah!" Tidus jumped to attention. "I'll see you guys soon, then!" With a quick wave, Tidus left Yuna and Lulu and darted out into the busy streets of Luca.
"I'm here!" Tidus pushed his way into the Aurochs locker room. They were just below the blitzball stadium, which would soon be filling with water, ready for a new game of blitz. Inside the room the Aurochs sat about, looing dejected.
"Uh, where's Wakka?" Tidus asked, noticing the leader's absence.
"At the match-up draws," an Auroch named Datto sighed.
Letty, one of the other players, spoke up. "We had to play the Goers in the first round last year."
"The year before that, and the year before that, too!" another player, Jassu, exclaimed.
"Well, we would've lost to anyone anyway," the goalie, Keepa, sighed.
Before the Aurochs had a chance to sound any more depressed, the door swung open behind Tidus and Wakka came strolling in.
"Heh-heh," he chuckled as he came in to address the team. "We're playin' the Al Bhed Psyches first. If we win, we're in the finals!"
A gasp rippled through the small group of blitzers.
"That's right, we got seeded!" Wakka was grinning wider than Tidus had ever seen, which was saying something. "Two wins and we're champions!"
The Aurochs all jumped to their feet and cheered. Tidus laughed and cheered along with them. There's nothing quite like blitzball!
"First things first, boys," Wakka interrupted after a few moments, still grinning broadly. "Let's get to warmups!"
Before anyone could respond, the door swung open and Yuna and Lulu came rushing in. At first Tidus thought something might have been wrong, but Yuna's ecstatic expression told him otherwise.
"There you are!" the young summoner exclaimed. She looked more excited than Tidus had ever seen her. She turned to Tidus. "Someone said they saw Sir Auron in a café!"
"A-Auron?" Tidus was thunderstruck.
"Yes, Sir Auron!" Yuna continued. "Let's go find him!" Without even waiting for a response, Yuna started out the door.
"Hey!" Wakka gasped. "Hey, hey, hey! The games starts, like real soon! C-come back quick, ya?"
Tidus hesitated in the doorway. He'd promised to help in the game but… Auron! Tidus had been thrown into Spira by Sin, why not Auron, too? The chance to find someone else from Zanarkand in this foreign world was one Tidus just couldn't pass up.
"Hey, I'll be back," he reassured the Aurochs' coach.
"Yeah, okay," Wakka wrung his hands nervously.
"Hey, Wakka, you're stiff, man," Tidus quickly said to his friend. Wakka tried to plaster on a strained smile.
"No, no, not your face," Tidus shook his head. "Just breathe out, relax. Like this. Just breathe, yeah."
After a few deep breaths, Wakka looked less like he might faint from worry. Tidus heard Yuna giggle and Lulu let out a long sigh.
"Alrighty!" Tidus turned back to Yuna. Let's go!"
Kimahri was waiting silently outside the locker room. Lulu had stayed behind with Wakka and the Aurochs.
"Maybe now we can find Sir Jecht," Yuna said excitedly.
"Huh? How?" Tidus asked. He couldn't see what Auron had to do with his old man.
"Sir Auron was also my father's guardian," Yuna explained. "So, he might know where Sir Jecht is." Yuna continued down the hallway, not wasting a moment. "Let's go now!"
Auron was Yuna's father's guardian? And he knew my old man? It never even occurred to Tidus that the Auron Yuna was talking about, and the one he knew from Zanarkand could be two different people.
Tidus hurried after Yuna, but on the way down the hallway, he spotted two blitzers leaning against the wall outside their locker room. They wore goggles and strange outfits, thought Tidus guessed they were just their team uniform. As Tidus passed they spoke to each other in a foreign language.
Oh, I guess these are that Al Bhed team.
"Hey! Al Bhed Psyches, right?" Tidus asked the pair. They didn't answer.
"Some Al Bhed saved me the other day," Tidus continued, "and this girl Rikku gave me food, and…"
Tidus trailed off as the two men continued to give him blank stares.
"Uh, you don't understand me, do you?" Tidus sighed. "Anyway, it you meet Rikku, tell her thanks for me," Tidus made sure to pronounce the words clearly, especially Rikku's name. "Oh, and as for that game? May the best team win!"
The two Al Bhed still didn't respond, staring at Tidus as if they could see straight through him. Ignoring their manner, Tidus followed after Yuna and Kimahri. He didn't notice that the two Psyches lifted their heads to watch as he walked off, and even had he heard, he wouldn't have understood the things they said.
