(A/N – Chapter 4 already, wow! I'm surprised at myself! So how am I doing? Is this thing still believable and is everyone still sounding in character as much as possible? Please let me know of any improvements I could make. This thing is now getting on track to where I wanted to go to involve the dialogue from the International versions 'Last Mission' (thank you Youtube!) but having never actually played the International version I'm not familiar with the full story-line! If you have played the game and think you have any info that could help me out, please get in contact - I will be sooo grateful, promise! ^_^ Doms xxx)

An Ending

Chapter 4

Business was booming!

The Gullwings Transportation Service had taken off beyond their wildest dreams and jobs were pouring in by the hour. Most clients were regulars, O'aka (the XXIII no less!) and Rin kept them pretty busy from week to week replenishing their depleted stocks. The trade business from Besaid had also gone crazy since Yuna had become Spira's biggest celebrity - saving the world twice had to be some sort of record! Shipments of woven goods and the Island's fruits were flying out all over Spira, which for the Gullwings meant many a regular visit to the Island. Despite this, Rikku, now wrapped up in her new business venture with her fellow Gullwings, had seen little of her cousin or Tidus. The last time they spoke on a brief collection stop on the Island, neither of them had heard anything from Paine. Yuna hadn't even been aware that she had left the Gullwings at all. Most of the visits involved fleeting conversations with Wakka or Lulu on how everyone was, how Vidina was growing up all too quickly and what part of the Island Yuna and Tidus were exploring that day. Rikku hadn't realised that there was that much of the Island that warranted exploration, but she remained tight-lipped and smiled at her friends.

A vast part of their weekly work came from the Machine Faction. Constant digs in the Bikanel Desert meant lots of Machina parts to ship back and forth to Djose and ultimately resulted in at least 2 visits a week from the Gullwings. Brother was rather less than impressed with this fact, particularly if his Father happened to be anywhere near either station. It was quite obvious that Cid thought very highly of the young leader of the Machine Faction and had claimed him as his own protégé years earlier when he had made use of his skills within the confines of Home. This continually rubbed in his face every time Gippal's name was mentioned had started to somewhat grate on the older sibling. Rikku knew this and whenever possible attempted to divert the conversation, though in recent visits she had barred Brother from leaving the Bridge for fear that he might attempt to beat his own Father senseless with Machina parts… 'Then again, that wouldn't take much' she had mused, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Despite being busy and distracted, Rikku's mind set had not greatly improved. She still very much missed the companionship of her girlfriends and naturally being stuck day in day out with a ship full of boys, one a child and the two grown men often possessing the mental age of a child -things didn't really come close in comparison! Now, some of the highlights of her week were when they dropped in on the Machine Faction's Head Quarters at Djose and the leader himself was there to wind her up, poke fun and generally keep things as they had always been. Gippal for one had noticed a change in the usually light-hearted and cheery Rikku and deep down she knew that his actions were as a result of his heart being in the right place and wanting to cheer her up. The only female Rikku saw on a regular basis was Nhadala, leader of the Excavation Camp in the Bikanel Desert. Although she was very often preoccupied keeping her diggers out of trouble, she tried to put some time aside to chat with the Gullwings.

"We've had a call from Nhadala." Buddy called as Rikku came through the door and padded down the stairs.

"Really? What's she want now? It's not that long since we saw her." Rikku replied lightly, munching on the last of the Red Pear Barkeep had saved her from their last supply run to Besaid.

"More machina parts for Djose!"

"Seriously? That's like the third lot this week, she must be working those poor diggers into the ground!" Rikku furrowed her brow as she went down the second set of steps toward her seat.

"That's not all, she's asked if we'd be willing to take some of them back to Djose too."

"Actual people! On board the Celsius?" Rikku's face lit up slightly.

"Yeah, them!" Buddy chuckled.

"Tell her yes!" Rikku leapt into her seat excitedly. "Wait, what else is on for today?"

"Just the Moonflow again." Shinra called back.

"So we can go see people?" Rikku grinned.

"Yeah, we can go see people!" Buddy laughed at her.

"Woo-hoo!" Rikku cheered, punching the air.

"What are you cheering at?" Brother asked following Rikku's path to his own seat.

"Just - today's looking like it's not going to be so bad, that's all!" Rikku shrugged.

"Hmph, that makes a change!" Brother grumbled.

"Well then stop complaining!" Rikku poked her tongue out at her older brother. "First stop, Bikanel Desert!"

"Again…!!!" Brother's cry hung in the air as the ships boosters engaged and they were off.

The sands of Bikanel Island whirled as the Celsius prepared to land, it's thrusters kicking flurries out in all directions as the air ship descended. Nhadala stood by waiting under cover for the dust to settle. Rikku stood, stretched and wandered across the Bridge to Shinra.

"Figured out what that hunk o' junk Rin gave you is yet?" She asked pausing behind his chair.

"Not yet." Shinra replied glumly shaking his head. "I thought I was getting somewhere but now…"

"Why doncha come see Nhadala with me? No-one sees more machina scraps than she does!" Rikku offered.

"You might be right!" Shinra nodded.

"Rikku, wait!" Brother called. "I am coming also!" He announced walking toward his little sister.

"What? Awww, why?" She groaned. "Things always run smoother when you stay outta the way!"

"Two guesses…" Buddy grinning following his old friend.

"Hmmm, Nhadala…" Rikku sighed. "Y'know, she has a deeper relationship with the stuff she digs up than she ever would with you!" She continued looking up at her older brother. He pulled a face back at her as Buddy laughed.

"I am going for the fresh air!" He replied obstinately.

"Fresh air? In a desert?" Shinra turned to him.

"Shut up!!!" Brother flapped his arms at the youngest of the Gullwings as Rikku and Buddy chuckled softly behind his back.

"Well I ain't stayin' in here on my own so… looks like you got the full complement Riks!" Buddy stretched behind her.

"Great!" She replied. "You can keep him out of trouble!" She gestured from Buddy to Brother.

The Al Bhed were naturally at ease in the somewhat inhospitable conditions of the desert - a benefit from the years of being shunned by Yevon. The four Gullwings walked steadily down the ramp from the Celsius, Rikku leading the way with her scarf pulled up over her nose and mouth to shield against the choking sand particles as she headed toward Nhadala.

"Ah, the Gullwings, perfect timing as usual - and the full set today!" She smiled as Rikku lowered her scarf and smiled back.

"Hey Nhadala." Buddy smiled stopping beside Rikku. Brother hung back slightly looking even more awkward than usual as Shinra passed him.

"What've we got today?" Rikku continued as Shinra stopped at her other side.

"More crates… but I was hoping that you wouldn't mind transporting some of my diggers to Djose too, they're in serious need of a break!" She smiled. "Of course they're all willing to pay their way!"

"Looks like it!" Rikku nodded.

"How many are we talkin'?" Buddy asked glancing at Brother who was lurking behind him and fidgeting.

"Ten crates in total… and probably the same for passengers. Err, is he… alright?" Nhadala replied furrowing her brow and looking past him to Brother. "He looks like he's got sand-fleas the way he's dancing around!"

"Ten crates?" Buddy's eyebrows shot upwards.

"No problem! We will take them!" Brother opened his mouth for the first time during their visit and filled it with his foot once more. "Ten is not a big amount!" Rikku and Buddy groaned in unison.

"Hang on there 'Captain'… don't forget we have to take into consideration the load we have on board already, plus the weight of the crates for the Machine Faction! And then another ten people on top of that!" Buddy turned to Brother, already looking deeply confused as he did some simple math on his fingers and looked back up totally baffled. Rikku groaned again.

"Seriously, is he okay?" Nhadala whispered leaning toward Rikku and peeping around Buddy to Brother.

"Nothing a good beating about the head wouldn't fix!" Rikku grumbled in her siblings general direction. Nhadala laughed.

"So… will you be alright to take the others?" She smiled looking up at Buddy and Rikku.

"Should be okay, might be a bit of a squeeze but shouldn't be too bad. We'll have to contact Barkeep and warn him about the additional passengers!" Buddy replied. Rikku nodded in agreement.

"They'll have to be ready pret-ty soon though! We got a delivery for the Moonflow and who knows what else will have come in by the time we get back!" She warned.

"That's alright, they're all ready and waiting in the camp for you." Nhadala smiled gratefully. She led the Gullwings toward the diggers and waved them over. "All those for the transport ship, this way!" She called over the various noises of hover-craft around her.

Ten rather dusty looking figures trudged through the sand toward her, goggles and dust masks obscuring any recognisable features for the time being.

"All aboard!" Brother called out with a huge grin.

"Would anyone mind if I hit him with something big and heavy when we get back on the Celsius?" Rikku enquired. Both Buddy and Shinra shook their heads.

"What's with him today? Doesn't he usually stay on the ship?" Nhadala asked.

"Uh, yeah… actually you're the reason!" Rikku grinned glancing over her shoulder to see if Brother was paying attention. Nhadala looked genuinely surprised.

"Rikku…" Buddy cautioned her with a smile.

"Me?" Nhadala stared back at them, eye's wide.

"Excuse me, Nhadala… could I speak with you briefly?" Shinra asked tugging her sleeve.

"We'll go load the ship!" Buddy smiled ushering Rikku out of the way.

"Rin found this on one of his expeditions and sent it to me. I've done some research of my own but Rikku suggested asking you. Have you ever seen anything…"

Shinra's question drifted off into the hum of the Excavation sites noise as Buddy dragged Rikku away toward the crates.

"You contact Barkeep!" He pointed a finger at her. "And no more embarrassing your brother, he can do quite well on his own!"

"Aww! You're always spoiling my fun!" Rikku pouted giggling before heading away slightly to contact Barkeep.

"Yesh Mish Rikku?" The familiar Hypello voice replied

"Hey Barkeep! Think you're up to caterin' for some company?" Rikku smiled.

"Companysh?"

For a while, the Celsius felt full of life once again. The diggers, now free of their dust masks and milling around the communal bar, laughed and joked and once again the ship resonated with voices. Rikku spent little time in her seat on the Bridge, instead choosing to do something which she now felt years out of practice - Socialise! Hadn't she once been the life and soul of the party? Fun? Bouncy? When did she make the switch to quiet, downtrodden little wall-flower?

Glancing out of the window on the upper level, Rikku was shocked as she realised where they were.

The Mushroom Rock beach flew by below where, during Operation Mi'ihen, she had lost countless friends and familiars. She felt a pang of dread - that meant they were practically at Djose. All this laughter, the voices… she didn't want it to go again. She didn't want the Celsius, once a home she had loved with all of her heart to return to the lifeless, silent shell it had become over the past few weeks - wait no, months!

As Brother and Buddy skilfully positioned the Celsius at the cliff edge, the diggers made their way to the Engine Room to disembark. It wasn't long before Buddy and Brother joined them and the ramp made contact with the once sacred ground of Djose. Rikku forced a smile as the Celsius' passengers left the ship one by one giving their thanks.

"Only ten crates to go!" Buddy sighed, looking at the mass of wooden boxes in the hold behind them.

"And don't forget those for the Moonflow!" Shinra reminded him as he squeaked down the steps in those funny little boots. Buddy groaned.

"How many?" Rikku asked staring off toward the Moonflow. "For the Moonflow..." She elaborated when she looked up at the older men to see blank expressions. "How many?"

"Just two!" Buddy replied eventually.

"I'll take 'em." She sighed distantly.

"What!?" Brother snorted out a laugh. "You? how will you do that? You are not strong!"

Rikku frowned at him.

"Want me to demonstrate...?" She almost growled as she looked back at him.

"So, you will take them - good, good!" He nodded backing away and hiding behind Buddy.

"But Rikku... how?" Buddy asked concerned. "They're smaller boxes but they're still heavy!"

"I'll get one of the hover driver to take me." She trotted down the ramp to where some of the diggers and the Machine Faction members were approaching to assist with unloading. Rikku smiled as she passed them and headed over to the nearest hover transport.

"Got my transport sorted!" She called back to Buddy as she returned. "Where's my stuff?" He gestured toward two small crates stacked at the base of the ramp.

"Hey Rikku, after we move these we're headin' in to see Gippal, alright?" She pulled a face, she knew how those meetings always went - much yawn time for Rikku! Buddy smiled at her. "It's alright, you don't have to come! Take your time if you want, I'll give you a call when we're done, alright?"

"Thanks Buddy!" She called back lifting a crate, only to have one of the diggers take it from her to load it on the hover.

The hover driver took Rikku along the South Bank Road all the way to the South Wharf where the giant Shoopuf stood waiting patiently for it's next carriage of passengers gently bowing its long curled trunk into the water.

"Want me to wait and give you a ride back?" He offered as she slid from the seat and lifted a crate down followed by the other.

"No, thanks." She shook her head smiling. "I think I'm gonna spend some time here..." She added looking up at the sinking sun.

"If you're sure! Be careful Lady Rikku." He smiled back turning around and setting off back up the road. Rikku watched him steadily round the corner back onto the South Bank Road and disappear from view.

'Lady Rikku'? It had been a while since she had heard that. Shaking her head she obediently lifted a crate in each hand and carried them toward the tent to exchange the goods for payment. Counting the Gil in her hand, Rikku turned to look at the Shoopuf again.

"All aboardsh!" The Hypello called as the passengers drew near. She hurriedly made her way over.

"Room for a little one?" She smiled at the Hypello.

"For you Mish Rikku, of coursh!" The friendly creature smiled and nodded.

(A/N: Hypello's are not easy to write dialogue for!!!!!)