(Carmina's POV)
When we got off the shoopuf, Tidus had immediately headed off towards Guadosalam. Oneechan and I decided to follow him. "Ti! Wait up!" I shouted to him as Neechan and I caught up. Tidus paused when he saw Rikku kneeling on the ground, panting.
"You're….not dead?" he asked.
"Rikku!" I shouted happily.
"Rikku." Neechan acknowledged her with a small nod. Rikku stood up and removed her suit, revealing her regular outfit for the game.
Rikku said, "Thought I was done for back there."
"Rikku! You're Rikku! Hey! You're okay! How you been?" She shook her head. Kita-nee and I crouched down to her level.
"Terrible." she replied. Tidus crouched down with us to take a good look at her.
Kita-nee asked, "You all right?"
"Yeah, you don't look so good. What happened?" Tidus questioned. Rikku pouted and pointed a finger at him accusingly.
"You beat me up, remember?" she told him.
Tidus asked surprisingly, "Oh! That machina…that was you?"
"That really hurt, you know. You big meanie!" I started to giggle, but hid it behind my hand. Oneechan just simply smirked.
"W-wait! But you attacked us!"
"Nah-uh. It's not exactly what you think!"
"Yo!" Wakka exclaimed. We turned to him and the rest of the group. "Friend of yours?"
Tidus and I both stuttered, "Uh….u-uh you could say that." Yuna had faced Rikku and let out a look of realization.
"Oneechan. Go clear things up with the girls. I'll go keep Wakka and the other guys occupied." I offered with a smile as I gave her a slight shove in their direction. I skipped to all the guys and waved.
"Who's that?" Collin and Deneo asked.
"Rikku. A friend." I answered with a bright smile.
Auron let out a grunt and looked at me with a weird look. I just looked around innocently as I played around with my staff. We all turned around once the rest of the girls came back from their little discussion.
I grinned from ear to ear as I watched Rikku slowly become one of Yuna's other guardians.
"Nice! Let's go Rikku!" I exclaimed happily.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Rikku shouted back at me as we ran off.
Wakka sighed, "Hoo boy." We heard Deneo and Collin chuckling. Rikku and I killed some of the fiends in the way, and she even showed off her moves to the gang.
"Come on you guys! We're almost to Guadosalam~" I sang as I cast Blizzard on a wasp. I jumped on Collin's back, which made him gasp in surprise.
"Hey there Collin! I feel so happy." Collin grabbed my legs and carried me in a piggyback. Deneo chuckled.
"Is this because Rikku joined the group or you're on Collin's back while he's holding you?" Deneo teased.
"Oooh what's that I see? I see loooove!" Rikku teased as well. I heard Tidus laughing as my cheeks turned red. Collin's ears turned red as well. Yuna was chuckling.
She commented softly, "I do think you two make a great couple." Wakka chuckled, and so did Lulu. Kimahri and Auron remained silent as we walked along the path.
"Shut up you guys. Can't you see they're getting embarrassed?" Oneesan told everyone with an annoyed look on her face. Collin just kept continuing to give me a piggyback ride all the way to Guadosalam. Once we got in there, we were greeted by none other than Tromell…..
Kita's POV:
"We have been expecting you, Lady Kita and friends. Welcome to Guadosalam."
This way, my lady. This way.." Tromell said grinning.
I pointed to myself and muttered "Me?"
Tromell reached out to grab my arm but Wakka stepped in front of me, forcing Tromell to step back.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Wakka said, holding his hand out in front of him.
"Oh, I beg your pardon. I am Tromell Guado." Tromell smiled in greeting. "I am in the direct service of our leader, the great Seymour Guado. Lord Seymour has very important business with Lady Kita"
Everyone looked at me surprised. I shrugged. "What business could he have with me?"
"Please, come inside the manor. All will be explained. Of course, your friends are also welcome." Tromell said, he gave a small bow and started leading us to the manor.
We walked behind him while Carmina, Tidus and Rikku stayed behind to learn something. While walking through Guadosalam we saw Maechen but we just walked passed him as though he was invisible.
"This way please." He walked into a room filled with multiple tables of food. "Please, wait here. I shall go inform Lord Seymour of your arrival."
I watched Auron walk over to Tidus to go have their little conversation, so I walked over to Lulu and sat beside her, waiting for Seymour to come out.
Tromell then came out of the door and went on his little rant about Lord Jyscal and Lord Seymour.
"That is enough Tromell." Seymour walks into the room smiling. "Must I always endure such praise?"
He turns to the rest of us and does the prayer gesture. "Welcome."
I grinned and waved at him. "You wanted to see me?"
"Please, make yourselves at home. There's no need to rush." He smiled back at me.
"Please keep this short. Lady Yuna and Kita..must rush." Auron said, glaring slightly at me.
"Pardon me. It has been a long time since I have had guests. Kita, this way." He gestured to the doorway behind him.
I walked passed him cautiously and opened the door. Gasping at the sight before me, I turned to Seymour in shock.
"This sphere is a reconstruction created from the thoughts of the dead on the farplane." Seymour said as though that explained everything.
I stared, looking around at the beauty of what was once Zanarkand.
"Zanarkand..." Tidus said in awe.
"Correct. Zanarkand as it looked one thousand years ago. The great and wondrous machina city, Zanarkand. She once lived in this metropolis."
I looked over to Seymour. "She, who?"
Seymour stayed silent, looking forward into what looked to be a large, well decorated room. We watched as a young woman appeared, she had long white-hair and was wearing what looked to be a bikini, as she sat on the bed in the middle of the room.
I gasped. "Lady Yunalesca.."
He smiled. "The woman who Lady Yuna is named after."
Yuna blushed softly. "It was my father who named me."
He gave a small smile to her before turning back to me. "Her father was entrusting her with a great task. He wanted her to defeat Sin, just as Lady Yunalesca did. But she had only one guardian and that guardian could not protect her..." He did the prayer gesture again. "Without an unbreakable bond of love."
We watched as a young man who looked quite similar to Seymour, except he had a golden crown on his head, and another young woman who looked similar to me, walk in and sit on the bed beside Lady Yunalesca holding hands.
I looked over to Seymour, wondering what he was planning. He leaned over to me and whispered in my ear. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. He nodded with a small smile and we went back into what I guessed was the main room. I turned to the side and grabbed a glass of water, drinking it quickly before setting it back on the table and turning to face the rest of them, blushing.
Carmina grinned widely. "Wow! Your face is beet red!"
I glared slightly when Tidus spoke up. "You okay?"
I stuttered a bit while speaking. "H-he...he asked me to marry him!"
Tidus stared wide-eyed. "You serious?"
I nodded, blushing bright red as Auron spoke up. "You know what Kita must do."
Seymour smiled slightly. "Of course."
"Kita-no, all guardians-are charged with protecting their summoners and helping to bring peace to Spira. But this means more than just helping to defeat Sin. She must help ease the suffering of all Spira. I proposed to Kita as a maester of Yevon."
"Spira is no playhouse." Auron said, glaring at Seymour.
"Even so, the actors must play their parts." He turned to me and leaned down. "There is no need to answer right away. Please, think it over." He said with a begging tone to his voice.
I smiled at him and whispered. "Alright."
He grinned. "Kita, I await your favourable reply." He turned to Auron. "Why are you still here sir? ...I'm sorry. We Guado are keen to the scent of the farplane."
We walked out of the Manor and Lulu turned to me.
"Kita, the guardian of Yuna, the high summoner's daughter. Seymour, the leader of the Guado. Married in the name of Yevon, overcoming the barriers of race. It would give Spira something cheery to talk about, for a change."
"Come on! Let's just get on with the pilgrimage. I mean...marriage?" Tidus said cutting off whatever Wakka was going to say.
"Hmm...Jealous?" Mina said, grinning from ear to ear like the chesire cat, while getting a piggy back ride from Collin.
"W-what? No way! We gotta defeat Sin, romance can wait." Tidus shouted at Mina.
"He sure picked a fine time to lay this one on us." Wakka said, his voice leaking sarcasm.
I sighed softly. "Maybe it is a fine time.."
"You serious?" Tidus said, shocked.
"If my getting married would help Spira...if it would make people happy... If I could do that for people... maybe I should do what I can. I never imagined doing anything like this. But, I won't answer till I know what's right." I said, shaking my head lightly.
"Seriously?" Tidus said.
"You could always quit helping Yuna and get married oneechan." Mina said to me.
I glared slightly. "No. I will go on, helping Yuna. I'm sure Lord Seymour will understand."
"Oh...uhm...okay." Rikku and Mina said.
"I am her guardian. I must keep her safe until she completes her pilgrimage."
"Like other guardians before you." Auron nodded to me.
I sighed. "I need some time alone. Why don't you guys go visit the farplane and I'll go find somewhere to think."
"Alright. We'll...see you later. I guess." Tidus said, turning to follow everyone else to the farplane.
(Carmina's POV)
I followed everyone into the Farplane as Oneechan walked away. 'I hope she's okay….' Seymour proposing to her did come to us as a shock. It was supposed to be Yuna.
"Carmina?" I heard someone call. I looked up and saw Yuna looking at me with a smile. "Is everything ok?" I nodded.
"I'm fine!" I shouted as I ran to catch up with the others. When I went through the liquid-like door with Tidus, we both stared in awe at the sight. Pyre flies were everywhere and we were floating on a piece of rock!
"I'm going to go to Wakka." Tidus announced as he patted my head. Collin and Deneo walked over to me, putting their arms around my shoulders.
Deneo said, "Come on girlie. Let's go visit my parents." I looked at Collin and Deneo in surprise.
"Your parents?….oh. They're…" Deneo nodded. Collin smiled at me sympathetically.
"My parents died as well. We're going to go visit them. Do you want to come?" Collin asked. I shook my head.
"It's all right. I um. I'd like to be alone for a while, thanks." Collin looked at me worriedly as he walked with Deneo. I walked over to an empty space and looked at all the pyre flies. 'Maybe….just maybe.' I thought that, I could see what my parents looked like if they were dead. The people at the orphanage told me that my parents got into a car accident when I was little and died. I miraculously survived the crash. I clutched my staff tightly as I looked down and closed my eyes.
"Mom…Dad…" I whispered. I opened my eyes and looked up. My mood was ruined. No one appeared. I buried my face in my hands as I sobbed. I felt someone hug me, but I didn't know who. I just stood there, crying in that person's arms. I looked up and saw it was Collin. He wiped my tears and gave me a smile. I looked behind him and saw everyone waiting for us.
"Are you all right?" Yuna asked as she took me in her arms. I nodded and smiled.
"I'm ok." I managed through my hiccups. As we left the Farplane, Lord Jyscal appeared and Yuna sent him. As we walked through the halls that led us back to Guadosalam, everyone talked about Lord Jyscal.
"Was that really him?" Deneo asked as he rested his arms behind his head. We all shrugged and Tidus yawned.
"Well, if it really was, then that was creepy."
Kita's POV:
I had been sitting under a large tree thinking about what to say to Seymour. I knew by now that Yuna and everyone else were probably out of the farplane, considering the commotion that was just made about Lord Jyscal. I stood up and walked to where I though they might be, and found them all standing in front of the inn. I looked at Carmina and saw the sad look on her face and figured she tried to see her parents.
"I have my answer." I said and they all turned to look at me. "I'll go tell Seymour. You guys don't have to come."
I sighed and turned towards the Manor and started to walk over to it when Carmina came up beside me.
"Don't do anything stupid, k?" She said grinning.
I laughed. "Wouldn't dare."
She smiled and turned back, going to the inn where everyone was staying. When I got to the Manor I opened the door cautiously and found Seymour to be standing in the main hall. Watching the doorway I was standing in.
'He...is supposed to be gone.' I thought
We stared at each other, not blinking, for a few seconds before I giggled quietly.
"What is so funny?" Seymour said, not hiding his smile.
"O-oh..nothing." I grinned.
"Alright. I'm guessing you have your answer." He said with the hint of a smile.
"That I do. I...uh..I'll marry you. But...I'm still going to keep protecting Yuna. You know this right?" I said with a small stutter.
"Of course." He smiled.
"Right then..We're leaving for Macalania tomorrow so..." I said, sighing softly.
He smirked. "I shall accompany you. I was going to go there anyways."
"O..kay..." I said. "I better get back to the inn then. See you tomorrow Seymour."
"See you tomorrow." He said as I turned and left the Manor.
'That was...awkward.' I thought before heading towards the Thunder Plains since I figured they would be at that inn instead. When I got there I saw Carmina and Rikku standing outside shaking because of their fear of thunder. I sighed and walked over, shoving them both inside the inn. I turned to the rest of the group.
"I gave him my answer, he is going to come with us tomorrow. Also, Yuna...I need to speak with you in my room." I said.
"A-alright." Yuna said with slight hesitation leaking into her voice.
I walked into the inn and spoke with the innkeeper a bit before turning to go and find my room. It was a little while after when Yuna walked in.
"The sphere, please." I said, holding out my hand impatiently.
She squeaked and handed it to me. Shocked that I knew about it. I grinned and held it in my hands, and started to watch the sphere with her. What shocked me was instead of Jyscal being killed by Seymour, he was killed by Kinoc and the Ronso that I had met when we were at the Operation. I stared wide-eyed as Seymour came out of his room to find his father dead. I wondered if he could have performed the sending but I'm guessing he couldn't or he just was in too much shock to even try.
"Holy shit." I said, covering my mouth after cursing. "Sorry.." I mumbled to Yuna.
"Oh...it's quite alright. We must speak to him about this on the way to Macalania." She said.
I nodded and collapsed on my bed. "I think I'm going to go to sleep now. Night Yunie."
"Night Kita." She smiled before leaving the room.
I closed my eyes and fell asleep immediately only to have nightmares about dying by my mothers hand and watching Carmina die and not being able to do anything about it.
'Obviously I'm not going to get much sleep' I thought after waking up on the floor. 'Why me?'