Author's notes:

Sandstone: First off, as of now, there is a winner for the 'guess that pokemon' contest. You know who you are, so cookies are in order...

Luin: (Walks up, and presents the winner with a bag of cookies)

Sandstone: That being said, thanks for all the reviews, and all that jazz.

Luin: Sandstone, you're acting wierd again.

Sandstone: (grumbling) stupid doberman nearly drove me insane...

Luin: (sweatdrop) uhm... right...

Sandstone: (pulls out a giant plasma cannon) Say hello to my plasma boomstick!

Luin: (shakes head, and walks away) He's been dealing with one too many dogs, and it's gotten to him. Don't mind him that much. He's just more of a cat person.

Sandstone: (blasting away merrily at the landscape, as well as shooting zero-like figures from Megaman)

Stupid1058: Urgh... am I alive? (Gets shot by a stray burst of plasma, and turns into ash) Ow...

Gagazet's heights:

Yuna looked out the windows (or whatever they're called), and said in amazement, "Hey, the rocks are floating!"

Rikku groaned, "Don't tell me we gotta climb up that thing!"

Buddy laughed slightly, and pressed a few keys on his control station. "No worries. I'll take you to the top."

Rikku turned to me, then to the other two girls. "Uhm…"

Yuna smiled slightly at me. "Mind coming along?"

I shrugged. "Not like I want to hang out with gonzo or something… sure."

&&&&&

We landed on a slim stone… for lack of a better word… decoration. Yuna first, then Paine, Rikku, who fell on her butt, and then I went last. I landed harshly (nearly fell over myself), then looked around, and then down. I blinked at the height. You could really get dizzy. I looked over at the others, and they seemed to be fine. That was, until Yuna started to stagger, and fell off.

Rikku and Paine managed to grab her. I hissed, and threw Erastrani's ball. The Flygon hovered underneath Yuna, just in case.

Rikku suddenly said, "Disasterrific!", as her grip started to waiver, then Yuna slipped free from her grip. I grabbed her (Yuna's) arm with both hands before she fell too far, Paine managing to hold Yuna's weight in that moment.

Rikku growled, then helped Paine out, uttering loudly, "I'm not listening..."

After another pause, Paine asked Rikku, "You want me to hurt him?"

Rikku gasped, "That'd be great!"

I chuckled, then pulled strongly. Rikku shouted "Pull!", and the two of them (plus myself) pulled Yuna up onto the structure. She laid flat on the stone, gasping. Sis weakly said, "Thanks. That was a little close."

Paine asked blandly, "A little?" I chuckled, then returned Erastrani into her ball.

Yuna tilted her head for a moment, winced, and then said, "We're here. Everything's fine now." Another pause… then Yuna giggled slightly, saying, "You got it", while Rikku frowned.

I looked at the three of them, then rolled my eyes. "Right… who were you talking to?"

Rikku gasped, then hit herself on her head. "Oh… I forgot to give you a communicator."

I laughed, then poked her in the stomach lightly. "Brother, right?"

Rikku grinned faintly in response. I looked over at Paine, then said, "Can I help?"

Paine looked slightly quizzical as she asked in a monotone, "Help with what?"

I grinned, and deadpanned, "Hurting him."

There was a pause, then Yuna and Rikku burst out laughing. Paine coolly passed me, though she had a faint smirk on her face as she walked onwards. "We're wasting time."

&&&&&

A short time later, we looked at a bunch of wreaked stairs. Rikku moaned, "We're not getting across this way."

Paine walked down another path, saying, "Let's find another route."

&&&&&

At the bottom, there was a surprise waiting for us. Four coyote fiends were there. Paine called out in a bored tone, "This won't be much fun."

Yuna sprayed one with bullets, while Paine hacked at another one. I shrugged, then jumped up into the air. I said silently, 'let this work…'

I landed, then looked at myself. I had a pistol in my right hand, and a rumpled blue shirt on, that stopped mid-forearm. My firing hand had a black band around the wrist. A pair of baggy shorts with a loose belt (again, blue) completed the outfit. I momentarily felt for my pokeballs, but shrugged when I didn't feel them. Yuna had mentioned they disappeared whenever they went into combat – I guess the pokemon trainer dressphere (as the others were now calling it) was the only one that allowed pokeballs.

I grinned as a coyote raced for me. I opened up, firing five rounds strategically. In mid-pounce, it shuddered, then slumped in the air. I dove under it, then looked around. The last one Rikku had gotten with her daggers.

I looked at the one I'd gotten, just as it burst into pyreflies. "I'm not sure I like this…" I jumped up again, into my… well, 'normal' outfit, complete with baseball cap.

Rikku called out, "You'd better get used to it. 'cause you promised you'd stay."

Hanging my shoulders in mock defeat, I followed the two of them.

&&&&&

Paine said calmly, "A dead end."

Rikku growled, "Just great." I arched an eyebrow at her, and she shook her head. Yuna, on the other hand, was examining a sphere in the wall. She asked, "Think this machina still works?"

Before we could answer, she activated it. The elevator shook for a moment, then slowly began to move downwards.

"I wonder how safe this is..." I hissed, then the elevator began to literally fall. I managed to get out, "You jinxed it!", before everyone started screaming, myself included.

Finally, we smashed to a stop. I went flying into Rikku – I have no idea why, and the two of us were sprawled on the ground. Yuna gasped "It stopped..."

Rikku moaned, "Owwie…", then looked up at me. Well, sort of. I had to pull myself out of her cleavage first, since somehow I'd been sent headfirst into her. She kissed me on the cheek, then asked, "Mind getting off?"

I remained still for a moment, then slowly got up. "Ok, that wasn't a good idea. Next time, we use the Flygon express."

Rikku lightly punched me, saying, "Why didn't you do that before?"

I rubbed the back of my head, and admitted meekly, "I forgot."

Rikku started to draw in a breath, then stopped, tilting her head like she was listening to something. After a moment, Yuna replied to some speaker (probably Brother, that windbag doesn't seem to know when to shut up), "Things are..." she coughed as the dust began to settle, "disasterrific."

Another pause, then Rikku moaned. "What about me?", hanging her shoulders, looking upset.

I tapped her lightly on the shoulder, then hugged her from behind. I nuzzled her neck for a moment, then asked lightly, "What about you?"

She reddened slightly at Paine's stare, then said, "nothing…"

Paine finally said, "That's enough, you two. We don't need any more mush."

I looked over at her, thought for a moment, then stuck my tongue out at her, letting go of Rikku. Paine merely rolled her eyes at the childish display.

&&&&&

My hand went to the pokeballs at my waist, then I stopped. Instead, I shifted to the gunner dressphere, and started shooting, spraying one of the flying fiends with lead.

Yuna shot the same fiend, and it fell over, dead. Rikku and Paine were holding large swords, slicing up another fiend.

After it died, I blinked, then just concentrated, getting back my 'outfit'. After a moment, I followed the others up to a broad expanse of stone.

We were walking along it when a cry of surprise made us all snap around. Yuna called out, "Who's there?"

Leblanc appeared, climbing up the same stones we had. "Er, Leblanc. Remember that name well, loves!"

Yuna paused, taking on a thoughtful look, before relying dryly, "Ah, the thief."

Leblanc sounded indignant as she said, "Whatever do you mean? That's what I hate about amateurs..."

I said softly, "amateurs? Didn't you three kick her ass?"

Rikku whispered loudly, "Maybe she'll go away if we ignore her."

I sighed, then said, "Tuh'd luihd uh ed." (Don't count on it)

Leblanc glared at Rikku and myself. "You! I heard that!" She continued vainly, "Just as I was saying: amateurs! They have no concept of what it takes to be a TRUE sphere hunter." Jeez. Mental note: puncture her over-inflated ego, which is long overdue for a good popping.

Paine crossed her arms, and smirked slightly at Leblanc. "Amateurs? Weren't you following us?"

Leblanc froze, then said, "Following? A mere coincidence."

A fat guy with a shield, and a thin man with two guns climbed up the stone, then walked into positions escorting Leblanc. I'd seen them before… didn't Yuna, Rikku, and Paine kick their asses at Luca?

The fat guy said, "You was right, Boss, as always." Mew, he sure doesn't sound like the brightest light bulb in the galaxy.

Thin man added on with a flourish, "Indeed, following them has paid off splendidly."

I blinked, then as Yuna, Rikku, and even Paine began to giggle, I laughed softly.

Leblanc glared at us, then shouted, "Laugh while you can!"

She drew her fan, then waived it at us. It didn't seem to do anything, but suddenly, cuts opened up on my skin. From the expressions on the others, they got the same.

Yuna had already changed into Songstress, and was starting to dance.

I grinned darkly, though they couldn't see it (they had liquid darkness covering their eyes). "Ya know, they said the Aeons disappeared. Too bad for you, I have different allies." I palmed Sunseeker's pokeball, then smirked, tossing up the sphere. "Yuna, let them see."

Yuna turned to me, already holding a gun in her hand, and a grin on her face.

Sunseeker came out with a broad grin, she'd probably been listening in.

Yuna and Rikku were used to her appearance, they didn't react. But Leblanc and her goons froze for a moment (the darkness faded just as Sunseeker appeared), allowing Rikku, Yuna, and Paine to get in free shots.

Leblanc looked over at me, and I took off my cap, calling out, "Sunseeker… let's do it. Razor Leaf."

She looked back at me, then her eyes narrowed. I shook my head, then she lightened up, shooting sharp leaves at them. The thin guy was already down, but the fat guy with a shield was still standing. Paine was taking care of the head honcho with her blade (Rikku and Yuna taking potshots at both). Unfortunately, his shield was fairly good protection against the two.

Until he was hit by the Razor Leaf, which cut him up a lot. The leaves came at him in a cyclone, which meant the shield was useless… "Ow ow ow ow! What the heck?"

Leblanc staggered, her bruises from Paine's sword evident on her. She managed to stand fully erect, then snorted (I'd put back on my hat). "Hmph! And this is the thanks I get for going easy on you."

Leblanc threw something on the ground, making smoke blur the area, and having us all cough.

Yuna coughed, "Hey!"

Rikku said in a rather angry tone, "Who does she think she is?"

Paine said darkly, "She's getting hurt."

I coughed again, then threw Erastrani's ball. She must have known what to do, because she blew away the smoke with her wings. "Well, since they're so fond of cheating, how about we skip the fiends?" I pointed to where Leblanc and her goons were running into a entrance of some kind, as I returned Sunseeker with my other hand.

Rikku looked up at Erastrani, then laughed. Erastrani had already leaned down to the ground. Yuna was already halfway on her. "Gullwings, let's go!"

I slipped on in front of Yuna, grinning apologetically. "Sorry, but I don't think you have a flying-type… yet, anyway." As I said that, I had pulled out a potion to close the open wounds. The others had already done so.

Erastrani slowly got up, then flapped her large wings for a moment, hovering, before she flew over the gap, landing on the slim edge. We got off her, and I pulled out her pokeball, about to return her, when… "You look a tad flushed. Why not stop to catch your breath?" I turned, and saw skinny guy with a few goons and two machines that looked capable of firing machine-gun rounds. Rikku shuddered, saying, "Snakes? Snakes!"

I said in a deadpan tone, "How about I blast you all straight to hell? Erastrani!"

Erastrani shot a Fire Blast at the snake / machines, melting them. The two male goons froze – the thin guy had disappeared. I crossed my arms, scowling. "What do you want on your graves?"

They remained immobile, then one managed to gasp out, "Ice…wind?" I nodded slowly, my arms still crossed. The two exchanged looks, then dropped smoke bombs. Erastrani blew away the smoke, but they had disappeared.

Paine said to the empty air, "Well, that was no fun."

I grinned slightly, then followed Rikku as she ran inside, returning Erastrani as I did so. She (Rikku) was already muttering about what she'd do to Leblanc when she found her... heh.

&&&&&

We raced through a cavern full of mist. Leblanc's voice echoed, "Urrgh… you know I hate the damp!"

Two voices: "Sorry boss."

I laughed softly, keeping up with the others. "You know, she calls us amateurs? She can't even deal with getting to a sphere without complaining!"

Yuna laughed as we raced onwards.

&&&&&

Fatso came out, looking better. He must have drank a potion. Anyway, he called out to the goons who were following him, "Let's show the ladies a nice, warm welcome!"

Three goons (females), and a snake-machinegun rushed us, Fatso disappearing.

Rather than tossing a pokeball, I jumped up.

When I landed, I had on something that felt like leather armor, and… Great Sword in my hand. I tossed the weapon around for a second before I charged in, sword swinging. "I'm liking this!" A fireball flashed towards me, but I managed to duck it. I swung with the blunt side of the sword, smacking the spellcaster on the head. She woozily stumbled, then fell over.

I turned… and was greeted by machine-gun fire. Several bullets hit me… but instead of killing me, they just hurt like hell, and I knew I lost blood. I stumbled backwards, wincing from the feeling of what SHOULD be the death of me, and finally fell. After this was over, I had a few questions for that child prodigy…

When I managed to get up, Rikku was standing over the snake-thing, her sword still inside it. "Stupid machina."

I froze, a silly expression on my face. One spellcaster Paine had dealt with, and Yuna had disabled the other one. I finally said, "Yuna?"

Yuna looked over at me, breathing heavily. "Yes?"

"I think we lost the real Rikku along the run. She said 'stupid machina'."

Yuna smiled helplessly, then giggled. "We'll worry about that later." She started running again, occasionally shooting at fiends that got in the way.

&&&&&

We started climbing up a steep staircase. Yuna, leading the way, suddenly stopped. I looked curiously at her, and she pointed, one hand going to her mouth.

Leblanc and her two goons were hanging from a ledge, human-chain style. After a moment, Rikku burst out laughing. Leblanc turned to us, and said, "Would-Would you, would you stop staring!" I wasn't sure who she was talking to – thin man, who was stroking her ass (that's got to take one hell of a SICK mind to think of that when you're hanging on for your life), or us.

Paine, unaffected by the sight, continued onwards and upwards.

&&&&&

We entered the dome, and surprisingly, it was empty. I looked around, then shrugged. "Looks empty."

Paine looked upwards, then said, "Looks can be deceiving." With a crash, a spider / crab thing hit the ground, claws snapping. Ugly looking thing…

Rikku whimpered, "It figures we'd run into something like this…" She shifted into Gunner. "Li, save the big guns for if we need them, ok?"

I rolled my eyes, changing into Warrior with a light jump. The thing looked at the four of us as we circled around it, then rushed me. I didn't move, waiting. Finally, it started to come close, and I swung my sword, blocking it from attacking me. Its eyes locked onto me, and I gave it a dark grin. "Hey… uh… it's stuck, you know… KILL IT!"

Belatedly, I heard two guns open up, and I saw Paine rushing the thing's neck.

The thing swiped at me with its mouth, pushing me back at the same time with sheer force. But Paine must have gotten it, because it shuddered, and twisted, wrenching itself out of the deadlock (well, actually, I was just trying to distract it so they could get free shots on it).

"Where do you think you're going?" I raced after it, and swung at a leg, slicing it off. It stumbled, barely able to keep its balance.

Another spray of gunfire hit it, and it convulsed again, loosing its balance and falling over.

Paine delivered the deathblow, striking deep into the thing's body. It screeched, and became pyreflies.

I panted, rubbing my right arm. "That was… fun." The muscle was complaining like hell, I guess it must have gotten torn when I used my blade to stop the rushing fiend.

&&&&&

Yuna peered at the sphere, and said, "Found it," smiling slightly. I snorted, but turned when I heard weary footsteps behind us. "Well, if it isn't the amateurs. Enjoy hanging off a cliff?"

Leblanc straightened up slowly and looked pained, before she regained that shred of cloth she calls 'dignity' (though how you can be dignified when you dress like that is beyond me). "It's obvious to the trained eye. That sphere's just a dud. Perfect for the Dullwings."

She staggered out, leaning on her two goons. Rikku giggled, and said, "Youth wins again!"

Yuna watched them for a moment, then turned to the sphere. "Well, I guess we'll be taking this." She picked it up, and jumped up, holding it skyward, a triumphant look on her face.

I shrugged lightly. Meh, wasn't that tough. If those losers are the 'competition', this job doesn't seem that difficult. "Let's go," I said in a quiet tone, watching Yuna and Rikku dance around, giggling.

&&&&&

Rikku called out to the airship, "Brother, mission complete!"

Another pause, and Rikku tilted her head. "Huh? Why isn't he on board…" She looked around, then sighed. "Guess we gotta go look for our 'leader'."

I looked at Yuna, then blinked mildly. "Yuna, you're not in charge?" She shook her head, smiling, and I sighed. "Could have fooled me. Not like Brother's really good at leading…"

Rikku whacked me lightly, more for show than anything else. "Hey! He is my brother, ya know!"

I grinned, rubbing my arm where she'd whacked me. "And it isn't true?"

Rikku flushed slightly. "Uhm… let's just go find him."

Paine whispered to me as the other two walked off, "He really isn't in charge. More like a figurehead."

I said in a deadpan tone, "Ugly figurehead." Paine smirked, and followed the other two. I waited for a moment, then changed back to normal, drawing a pokeball from my belt.

A/N final note:

Luin: (Sweatdrops at the damage done to the backstage) Jeez, he really is going insane.