Chapter 6 - The Evil Monster, And The Brave Challenger

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place Of Residence - Present Time

Seymour's mansion is massive. As Auron guides me though countless hallways, I am sure that I will never be able to find my way out on my own. There are numerous paintings of Guado lining the walls. Rather ugly Guado. No wonder Jyscal was the first, and probably only Guado to marry outside his race.

We pass by many servants, butlers, maids and cooks, all Guado. I wonder if they are not only racist to my people, but maybe also to other races, to an extent, you know?

Auron's Journal - Maester Seymour's Place Of Residence - Present Time

We walk into what I can assume if the dining room, Seymour suddenly stops speaking to look at Rikku and myself, and the eyes of my fellow travellers, turn our way aswell. Their thoughts, are portrayed on their face. It is clear to them what they see. Rikku pushes her - my glasses further up her slender nose. They are to big for her.

Just like her dress.

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place Of Residence - Present Time

Everyone is staring at me and Auron, it's scary, you know? Their faces, I have seen lots and lots on other people, its a look of judgment. I push Auron's glasses further up my nose. I've been doing that alot. His head must be rather large, but the lenses hide my eyes, so I am pushing them back up the bridge of my nose, everytime they fall, even if its just a little. But it's hard to do when your left arm is interwined with someone elses, you know?

We start to walk down the long stairs to the center of the room. Its really quiet in here, and tense. I try not to look at the others, and instead focus on the huge stained glass window letting a small amounts of light fall into the room. I turn my gaze to the huge wall hangings, at the exact time Yunie makes eye contact with me smiling sweetly, in turn, I look at my other friends. Tidus is wiggling his eyebrows suggestivley at me, Kimahri seems to be the only one who hasn't judged me and Auron, just like Lulu, except Lulu's smiling faintly. Wakka looks confused. So much for not looking at people. I suck at this kind of stuff.

Even so, even with all these looks, I suppose this could be classified as one of those 'die happy' moments. I walk tall, proud, with my head up high, and at least I'll have one good memory when I get chased out of Seymour's palace.

I looked at Seymour. Only for a second. The second he just happend to look at me.

Auron's Journal - Maester Seymour's Place Of Residence - Present Time

Seymour knows. He took one look. I have heard that the Guado are a very good judge of character. Seeing peoples weaknesses and can read them like books. They are the keepers of the Farplane after all.

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place Of Residence - Present Time

Okay, these are my resolutions that are in effect until I leave my bestest buddy, Seymour's house. . mansion. . .tree. . .

I will not:

Look Tromell in the eye

Ask if I can repeatedly use the toilet, just as an excuse

Look repeatedly at my machina watch pointedly

Instead, I will:

Pass off any Al-Bhed discrimination as a speach impediment

Smile prettily and nod politely when talked to

Refrain from talking

Never take Auron's sunglasses off

I bet they dont actually go with this dress, but its better than my goggles.

Oh wait, shushh a moment, Auron's talking, everyone else has immedietley perked up. Well, who doesn't want to hear Auron talk?

"Please keep this short. Yuna must rush"

Oh, and Seymour's talking again..

". . . . .Have had guests. . . . ."

". . .Glad to see you. . . . ."

I shuffle closer to Auron, he hasn't pulled his arm away, in fact, it's like hes gripping me tighter. I can tell he doesn't want to be here either. I mean, apart from Wakka, and maybe Yuna, who does want to spend with Seymour and his large forelock?

". . . Increase of kidnappings. . . . "

". . . . . Must take precautions. . . . "

Auron gently nudges me, either because it's his way of showing support without being all obvious, or, it is a 'Rikku, wake up, your supposed to be listening'

My guess? It's the later. Wait, what if Seymour's actually saying something I should take note of? Yuna's looking at me through the corner of her eye, it's one of those 'I'm glad your here' looks, very inconspicuous though. Brother gave me one of those looks, it was when Pops was questioning us on why the flight machina he'd been working on for weeks had two very vital parts missing. The look that Brother gave me was inconspicuous for as inconspicuos Brother can get, but the look wasn't 'I'm glad your here' it was an 'What did you do now Rikku?'

Hey, it wasn't my fault that my time machine needed those parts that juust happend to be in the flight machina. Stupid machine didn't work anyway so there wasn't any point in the first place.

". . . . .Al-Bhed numbers rising. . . ."

Oh Yevon, whats he been saying?

Quick, listen.

"You see, Lady Yuna, what I am trying to say, is that the Al-Bhed are kidnapping the Summoners. Please be careful, I will assist you in anyway I can. I am sure your Guardians will agree with me, that your safety is top priority, Lady Yuna"

He looks at us all, but I can see that he looks right through everyone. Right through everyone to me.

He must have worked it out! Oh Yevon oh Yevon, what am I going to do??

Okay Rikku, breathe, act like your calm, collected, like a Spirian. Okay, act like Yuna. . . .Without the urge to go kill yourself for people you don't even know.

"Come Lady Yuna, this way"

Sure, he was talking to Yunie, but we're comming too!!

Auron's Journal - Maester Seymour's Place Of Residence - Present Time

Maester Seymour walks forward, and he activates a sphere. The rooms falls into darkness. This sphere is nothing new to me. For a second, everything turns blinding white, and then the celing above us becomes a replica of space. Yuna gasps, and covers her mouth with her hand as Pyreflies fly past her, like meteorites.

"This sphere is a reconstruction, created by the thoughts of those resting on the Farplane"

The Pyreflies react, and show us Zanarkand. I feel almost a pang of pity for the boy. This sphere gives him more hope that his Zanarkand is waiting for him. I look towards him, his face is stunned.

"Zanarkand!" He breathes. Seymour turns towards him and smiled, "That is correct. The great machina city of Zanarkand, as it stood a thousand years ago"

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place Of Residence - Present Time

In your face Yevon!

Here's my proof! If Zanarkand is such a holy place, then why did it have some machina? And not just some, millions and trillions and billions!! I feel like I've died and gone to Al-Bhed Heaven, where the Yevonites can't hurt us.

I squeal, and bounce up and down on my tippy-toes, as we zoom through Zanarkand's skyline. I'm feeling a little better about this all. Seymour can't have recognised me, or he would've gotten rid of me by now! Or maybe he likes the Al-Bhed!

Wakka is completley star-struck. See? Machina is good you Yevonite!!

"She once lived in this metropolis"

Hey, that's odd. Auron's just stiffened, it's like he's become all closed and guarded once more, I tighten my grip on him slightly, letting him know I saw. But when I look at his face, my grip loosened slightly. He's smirking.

Yunie looks at Seymour, and we all watch them closely, as Seymour turns to listen to her question.

"She who?"

He said nothing, just looked ahead. Hey! That's my cousin you're ignoring there buddy!

The holographic image of Zanarkand fades. Bummer.

Now, I can see another over-the-top room (Geez, what is it with these people?)

And not only that, there's a woman sitting on the bed with an extremely bad taste in dress. And I don't care if half of Spira would say I am a hypocrite for saying.

It's really funny, even us Al-Bhed recognise Lady Yunalesca. And hold her in a somewhat high regard, but I personally hate her so much.

I remember a story from when I was little. About an evil monster and a brave challenger.

The challenger was the man from my dream. And, for some reason, I associate that monster with Yunalesca, and I hate her because she struck Mr. Red down.

Auron's even more tense.

Mr. Red?

That, can't be right...can it?

A/N: Please don't kill me...(hides) Yeah, um, I was in Paris most of this week, so thats why I couldn't update, and now you have another two chapters to look forward to, because I thought, 'well, might aswell get something out'

P.S. The reveiw button loves you.

ImInDenial x