Author's Note: Okay, no one has to punish me anymore, as I submitted a new chapter to 'Recollections' today. I'm a little afraid that it's not up to par though. Sigh. Anyway, back to the daily grind…

Hmm, I might write another chapter for 'Indifference' later. Maybe.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X. I do own my sense of wit and humor though, and I hope it makes you laugh. Like parmesan cheese in a tire factory. Now THAT'S classic hilarity.

Helpless Alliance

Chapter Two:

Conference

Lucil stepped into The Guardian Alliance headquarters, located in Kilika Port. After The Youth League base was finally done undergoing construction, there wasn't much need for it anymore, seeing as how The Youth League itself was a thing of the past. Both leaders of The Alliance had agreed that it was the perfect locale, they certainly didn't want to have HQ in Bevelle, it represented too much of Yevon. And Mushroom Rock Road wasn't exactly a high class, or a highly accessible location, either.

Kilika was perfect. The village was just large enough. They didn't want to relocate to Luca, where there would be too much attention on the organization. Nor did they want to recycle an old temple as the Machine Faction had, it would also stand too strongly for Yevon's beliefs, most of which had now been dismissed.

This location was not only perfect in all economical means, but it was also perfect for Lucil's personal needs. Before the congregation of both groups, Lucil had mostly lived in The Youth League headquarters. After the assemblage, she had moved to Kilika Port, it was, after all, where she wanted to live her entire life, she was just too busy to settle down before.

And even though she loved living in Kilika, she missed the busyness a great deal. Kilika basically represented the same thing The Guardian Alliance did, the proof that the destruction of one thing can mean the birth of another. But, like The Alliance, it was something she couldn't tear herself away from, no matter how hard she tried.

Lucil knocked on the large door of Baralai's office. He was no longer known as Praetor Baralai, in fact he was no longer known as anything Baralai, just simply; Baralai. The leaders had decided to forego all formalities, such as Maester and Praetor. They reasoned that it was because they didn't want to get caught up in ancient traditions, and that it was time to create new ones.

"Come in." She heard his voice call from behind the richly decorated mahogany door.

She stepped into his office, a large, circular room with many chairs, cabinets and pictures adorning the green and auquamarine walls.

"You asked to see me, sir?" She took a seat as her eyes wandered the room freely.

"Yes, I did." He put his feather pen down gingerly and placed his elbows matter-of-factly on the paper he was writing.

She noticed a forest green cloth hanging on the wall behind him, a symbol of Yevon embroidered with deep red yarn.

"Sir, may I ask you a question?" She asked, curiousity overwhelming her.

Baralai just chuckled.

"You just did, but you're free to ask me another. And no need for the 'sir', Lucil. You're here as a friend, not a Commander, or a member of The Alliance." He smiled and awaited her question.

"Um… alright. Well, I was only curious as to why you have the symbol of Yevon in your office, if The Alliance insists so strongly that it no longer represents Yevon."

Baralai laughed lightly.

"You always speak so seriously," He smiled, not turning to look at the hanging cloth. "Just because The Alliance does not represent Yevon does not mean we cannot be reminded of the old ways, even if we no longer stand for them. Now let me ask you a question, Lucil, do you still wear the same armor you wore while servingi n The Crusaders?"

Lucil was a little taken aback. What in Spira's name did his inquiry mean?

"Yes… ?" She eyed him questioningly.

"Exactly. Even though the Crusaders no longer exist, you wear it as a reminder, so you never forget your past. Just because the past is no longer with us, does not necessarily mean it should be forgotten."

"But Yevon was… deceitful." Her face reddened. Was she questioning authority?

"Yes, it was. And no one can change what Yevon did, no one can change the past. We all make mistakes, some more dire than others. Hanging this cloth reminds me not to make those mistakes. It also reminds me that trying to correct them is futile. But despite those things, it reminds me that even though the past cannot be altered, the future can."

Lucil nodded, now understanding.

"Sir-"

"Baralai," He interrupted. "Call me Baralai, Lucil."

Lucil's face reddened again.

"… Baralai, with all due respect, why did you ask me to come here today?" She was beginning to become slightly uncomfortable.

Baralai laughed.

"Calm down, Lucil. I'm not coming on to you, I have a… I have Paine." He pointed to a framed picture of a crimson eyed girl on the edge of his large wooden desk.

Upon closer inspection, Lucil recalled seeing her during the days of The Youth League. She was accompanying Lady Yuna and Lady Rikku on their quest as a sphere hunter.

"I invited you as a favor to Nooj." Baralai's soft voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Nooj? Now she was even more puzzled than before.

"You and he are good friends, am I right?" Baralai inquired. Lucil merely nodded.

"And good friends know when something's wrong. He told me he was noticing your somewhat... odd behavior recently. He would have requested you come in himself, but he was called off rather abruptly to a conference in Luca. He didn't know when he would return, so he asked me to get it out of you myself. So, the real question is: is there something wrong, Lucil?" She saw worry in his eyes.

Lucil shook her head, knowing there was something wrong. But she didn't want to appear weak to one of her superiors. Especially not to one of Baralai's rank.

"You know, Lucil. For all you accomplishments, you do have some faults. Everyone does."

Lucil answered him with a puzzled look.

"Just because you're not happy doesn't make you weak. Nooj doesn't think of you as weak, and neither do I."

"I'm fine." She didn't like where this conversation was going. Was he going to ask her to resign from her post as Commander?

"You're also a terrible liar. Listen Lucil, it's not only clear to Nooj, but to me aswell, that you are plainly not happy here. And let's face it, there's not much action. Things have been running extremely smoothly since The Alliance was formed, no fiend attacks, no nothing. So, and I say this in your best interests only, I think it is time you take a vacation." He smiled.

Lucil was dumbstruck.

"Are you asking me to resign?" She asked, confusion very apparent in her tone.

"Of course not, you're one of the best military women Spira has ever seen. But, seeing has how there has been no negative activity in the past few months, it's safe to say someone of your rank isn't exactly needed at all times. Your friend, Elma, knew this, and that's why she resigned. No one thinks less of her for it. But that's not what I'm asking you to do, Lucil. I just want you to know that you don't have to stay in Kilika, with The Guardian Alliance, all the time. Hell, even I like to go off every month for a week or so and cruise Spira with Paine." He chuckled.

"So you're saying you that you wish me to… slack off?" Lucil was absolutely taken aback.

"To put it bluntly, yes. And keep in mind that these are not only my wishes, Lucil, but also Nooj's. And, contrary to what you may think, Nooj, too, likes to take a week off once in a while."

"Really?" Lucil couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Really really." He grinned.

"Ho-…how much time do you want to take off the Si-… Baralai?" She stumbled over her words. Not something she was usually known for.

"Take a month or two."

"A whole two months?"

"Maybe more. Listen, Lucil, we all need time off once in awhile. And considering all you've contributed to Spira, two months isn't enough. If we need you, we'll call you." He smiled and held out his hand for her to shake. She reached out hesitantly.

"But, I can come back to The Alliance?"

"Of course."

She smiled and took his hand. Maybe she could finally have the adventure she had been craving for so long. And she knew exactly where to look for it.

Author's Note: Oh yeah! Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Lol, just kidding. Don't smoke! Anyway, I hoped you liked it, I certainly did! I didn't even wanna write this chapter when I started, but I'm glad I did! I'll tell you the truth, I did contemplate making Lucil and Baralai a couple, but dismissed it. We'll find someone else for her. NO! NOT ELMA! Stop thinking those dirty thoughts!

… No, not Clasko either. They are SO wrong for each other. And no, not Yaibal.

Reminder: If two or three words are combined likethis, orlikethis, I did not do it! The website did! Wah, it ruins the dramaticness of the story.