Welcome to Luca, Kidnapping 101
[Hi there folks, and welcome to Luca! It's a hot day here at Spira's largest city, and peoples from all over have come to see this years Blitzball tournament! Well the ships are pulling in now, so its time to turn it over to the two announcers - Bobba and Jimma - as they narrate the show that's about to start from their booth somewhere in Luca.]
Bobba: Thank you for that introduction Bloodtip! Ah, over there! The ships carrying the players are arriving now! This would be dock number 2. All the way from Kilika, it's the Kilika Beasts! High Summoner Ohalland used to play for them - a big name to live up to. Their hometown was recently attacked by Sin. Isn't that right, Jimma?
Jimma: Yes, Bobba. They're going to be pulling out all the stops to try and bring back the cup this year.
Bobba: Exciting, isn't it, folks? Our next team off the ramp is... Well, well, well! If it isn't the Besaid Aurochs! They're a living, breathing, statistical impossibility! I've never seen a team this bad! That's right! In twenty-three years they've never made it past the first round! Only a few die-hard fans are in the audience today.
Jimma: Best of luck to them, and a safe journey back to Besaid.
Bobba: Right, Jimma. Moving right along, our next team is... Here they are, folks! Our very own Luca Goers! They've got power! They've got speed! They've got teamwork! They're an all-around first-class team! And they're back home in Luca!
Jimma: Without a doubt, they are the favorite this year, Bobba. And after the way they dominated last year, it'd take a miracle for them to lose today.
Bobba: You can say that again, Jimma. Look at the crowd, folks! Look at the crowd! Looks like all of Luca has turned out to cheer the Goers on! They know, I know, and you know, folks! The Luca Goers are number one!
[Link walks to the Aurochs, getting uber angry at the coverage.]
Wakka:(noticing Link) It's like this every year, ya? Don't let it bother you.
Link:(grabs a megaphone and climbs atop a stack of crates) ... Yeah, right... Stop right there, Goers! You guys are smilin' now, but not for long! 'Cause this year, us Aurochs are takin' the cup!
(Link hops down after ruining the Goer's bit of fun, and making a fool of himself in the process)
Wakka: What in Yevon's name were you doing up there?
Link: ... eheheh...
Datto: We sure stood out, though!
Letty: We were on the sphere!
Datto: We were?
[Three people run by.]
Man: Maester Mika is here!
Woman: Already?
Man 2: The number 3 dock!
Link: Now what?
Yuna: Maester Mika has arrived, that's what!
Link: Maester... Mika?
Lulu: Maester Mika is the leader of all the peoples of Spira. He's come all the way from Bevelle. The tournament is being held to honor his fifty years as maester.
Link: 50 years? And he's not retired?
Wakka: Hey! Mind your mouth, now.
Yuna: Let's all go see him!
[They head over to Dock 3. A large crowd is there.]
Link: What a surprise. Can't see squat!
Wakka: Shhhh!
[A strange man with a blue coif heads off the maester's boat.]
Man: That's a Guado, right?
Woman: Who could it be?
Man: Isn't that...Maester Seymour?
[An old man walks off the boat, too, and begins to address the crowd that has gathered.]
Mika: People of Spira, I thank you for your generous welcome. Rise, Maester Seymour. And all of you as well. I present to you...the son of Maester Jyscal Guado, who departed for the Farplane a fortnight past. As some of you already know, he has been officially ordained a maester of Yevon.
Seymour: I am Seymour Guado. I am honored to receive the title of maester. In life, my father Jyscal worked to foster friendship between man and Guado. I vow to carry on his legacy, and to fulfill my duties as maester to the best of my abilities.
[All while everyone is praying, Link is just standing there.]
Wakka:(notcing Link) You, too! Bow your head!
[Mika leaves with Seymour, but not before Seymour gets a good look at Yuna.]
Link: ... I don't know about him...
Wakka: Really psyches you up, ya? All right! Last meeting before the match! Hustle!
(A bit later, Link finds his way into the Locker room, after exploring the city a bit.)
Link: Uh... where's Wakka?
Datto: At the match-up draws.
Letty: We had to play the Goers in the first match last year. The year before that, and the one before that, too!
Keepa: Well, we would've lost to anyone anyway.
[Wakka enters.]
Datto: Cap'n Wakka!
Wakka: We're playin' the Al Bhed Psyches first. If we win, we're in the finals! That's right, we got seeded! Two wins and we're the champions! First things first. Let's go over the basics again, boys.
Link: Did'nt realize this was going to be under the water...
Wakka: Yep. So you better be ready.
[Soon after the team gets some practice time in, Yuna comes running into the locker room.]
Yuna: There you are! Someone said they saw Sir Auron in a cafe!
Link: (startled) D..did you just say Auron?!
Yuna: Yes, Sir Auron! Let's go find him!
Wakka: Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! The game starts like real soon! C-Come back quick, ya?
Link: Don't worry, I'll be back!
Wakka: Yeah, okay.
Link:(walks back over to Wakka). Hey, Wakka. You're stiff, man. No, no, not your face. Just breathe out, relax. Like this. Just breathe, yeah!
(Yuna and Link walks out the locker room.)
Yuna: Maybe now we can find Sir Jecht.
Link: And just how are we going to do that?
Yuna: Sir Auron was also my father's guardian. So, he might know where Sir Jecht is. Let's go now!
Link: (narration) It never occured to me that the Auron, Yuna was talking about...and the one I knew from Hyrule could be two different people. I don't really know why, but deep down, I knew it was the same Auron.
[Link walks after Yuna, who's run ahead. He sees some Al Bhed.]
Al Bhed: "Y myto summoner!" ["A lady summoner!"]
Al Bhed 2: "Fa sicd nabund." ["We must report."]
Link: Hey! Al Bhed Psyches, right? Some Al Bhed saved me the other day, and... a girl named Rikku gave me something to eat... At any rate... If you meet Rikku, tell her thanks for me. Oh, and as for the first game? May the best team win!
[Yuna, Link and Kimahri leave the stadium and run into a large group of people out front and a sphere-camera crew starts to film Yuna.]
Yuna: I'm sorry, please let me through. Hey, let's go.
Link: You really are famous.
Yuna: I hope we don't get separated
Link: Hey, Yuna!
(Link pulls a grass whistle from his bag, and blows into it, creating a loud but serene melody)
Yuna: What was that?
Link: Back home in Hyrule, this grass whistle was used to call forth a hawk that would grab unreachable items when i needed her. but after ... it was adapted for use in the arena to cheer fighters on. (he gives one to Yuna) Here, you try.
Yuna: Like...this?
Link: no, no, like this. Then, you just blow.
[Yuna tries and fails.]
Yuna: It's not working.
Link: Gotta practice.
Yuna: Okay.
Link: Anytime we get separated... just use that grass whistle. I'll hear it, and come running, okay? But, for now I guess we should just stick together, till you can do it.
Yuna: Yes, sir!
[After that moments reprive, the trio walk out into the city square. It has a large fountain surrounded by large buildings, a cafe and the like, all busy with the hustle and bustle of fans there for the tournament.]
Link: Damn, this place is bigger than Hyrule Castle Town!
Yuna: Luca is the second largest city in Spira.
Link: I thought every town was little - you know, like Besaid and Kilika.
Yuna: Towns don't usually get bigger than that. Because when a lot of people start to gather...
Link: Sin attacks? Then is Luca even safe?
Yuna: It's not any different, but the stadium is here. The Crusaders fight to protect it with all their strength.
Link: They protect the stadium?
Yuna: Blitzball's really the only entertainment that we have. Spira's a little short on fun these days.
Link: Talk about pressure then...
Yuna: That's right! Is Hyrule like this, too?
Link: Well, the market area is surrounded by tall buildings, with the Temple of Time off to the right of the main market stalls. There is a bell tower in the middle of the market that reaches high into the sky with a few tall buildings around it...
Yuna: They must be so tall! Don't you ever get dizzy?
Link: 'laughs' Yeah... sometimes.
Yuna: Let's go find Sir Auron!
Link: Right.
[They head into the cafe but see no man in red.]
Link: Not here?!
[Yuna goes to investigate. Meanwhile, two mean-looking Ronso are about to gang up on Kimahri.]
Yenke: Why not talk, Kimahri? Not see Yenke for ten years! Say something! Kimahri forget Yenke? Forget Biran?
Biran: Leave Kimahri, Yenke. Kimahri is small Ronso. Kimahri so small can't see Yenke and Biran's faces.
Yenke: Kimahri forget Ronso friends? We taught you much at time of horn-molt! Biran taught Kimahri to be strong Ronso.
Biran: Maybe taught too much.
Link: Just stand up to them!
[Kimahri uppercuts Yenke and knocks him out.]
Bartender: Take it outside! The tournament's starting, you hear?
[Biran punches Kimahri. Link looks at a sphere screen just as Mika appears and starts his speech.]
Link: Ah! damn the game's starting!
Mika: Today, on this glorious day, players from all over Spira have assembled here...to participate in this great contest of bravery, skill, and strength. All of these fine teams, equally renowned, deserve to win the cup today. Such is the nature of this contest. Let us, the spectators, play our role accordingly: Let us sing to the glory of the winners, and applaud equally the valor of the defeated. Contestants, may Yevon be with you.
( And with that, the sphere pool starts to fill up in preparation for the games and the Aurochs take their places, heading off against the Psyches and the tip-off begins the match. Meanwhile, in the cafe, Link looks around for Yuna.]
Link: Kimahri, where's Yuna at?
[The two bolt outside and find Lulu approaching.]
Lulu: Where in Spira have you been!?
Link: What?
Lulu: Yuna's been kidnapped by the Al Bhed Psyches. In exchange for her safe return, they want the Aurochs to lose.
Link: You gotta be kidding me!
Lulu: If they're only blitzball players, I doubt they'd do anything drastic. But we shouldn't take chances. Let's go get her.
Link: I'm going too! This will be quick, Besides, they're telling the Aurochs to throw the game, as if they needed to! I mean, how good a team can they be?
Lulu: Wakka said the same thing. He'll take care of the game. We should go get Yuna. The Al Bhed boat is in dock 4. Let's go.
[They run down to the dock area and are attacked by machines.]
Link: What in Din's name are these things!
Lulu: Ancient machina, salvaged by the Al Bhed. They are most vulnerable to lightning.
[They defeat them and move on, encountering some more in the third dock and fourth dock areas.]
Link: These things are starting to piss me off.
Lulu: The Al Bhed were expecting us.
[They defeat the machina, and their attention drifts to the sphere monitor, which is covering the Aurochs/Psyches game.]
Bobba: The Aurochs are keeping the score tied with some excellent defense, folks! Ow! He'll feel that one in the morning!
Jimma: But the referee doesn't call the foul! Wakka's taking a real beating out there.
Link: Grr.. just a little longer Wakka...
Lulu: He won't last. Wakka's always like that.
Link: ...
Lulu: Let's go.
[Just as the team arrives, the salvage boat starts to pull of, The team jumps on board just in time...well, in time to get attacked by a gigantic machina that rises up from the belly of the ship.]
Link: Damn. (noticing the crane controls) maybe we can use this. (He tries to activate the crane but nothing happens) Come on damn it ... WORK! This hunk of junk work on magic or something?!
Lulu: It's probably out of power.
[Lulu casts Thunder on it a few times, and Link tries the controls again finally getting the the crane to work, ripping the giant machina's top gears off. They blow it up once its defenceless, and Yuna comes running out of the door nearby.]
Lulu: I hope you hurt them.
Yuna: A little.
(Link walks over to an unconcious guard)
Link: ...
Yuna: What is it?
Link: When I... first arrived here in Spira.. I was taken in by some Al Bhed, They took me on their ship, even gave me food. I was kinda hoping this was the same ship. But it's not. I wonder if they're all gone.
Yuna: What happened?
Link: Sin attacked the ship... I survived... but i really don't know what happened to the rest of the ship though.
Yuna: Um, was there anyone called Cid on the ship.
Link:I really don't know. They were all speaking that Al Bhed language.
Yuna: I see...
Link: Who's Cid?
Yuna: He's my uncle, but I've never actually met him.
Link: Are you Al Bhed, Yuna?
Yuna: On my mother's side, yes. Cid is my mother's brother. He became distant after my mother married. But she told me to seek him out if I ever needed help.
Link: And you're worried he was on that ship...
Lulu: Don't tell Wakka about Yuna's lineage. The thing about Wakka - he never had much love for the Al Bhed.
Link: Oh! I gotta let Wakka know!
Lulu: I thought I told you not to tell Wakka!
Yuna: The game!
Lulu: Oh!
[Lulu casts a magic attack into the sky, signalling Wakka, just as the ship makes it way back to Luca. Meanwhile, Wakka and his team are on the last stretch of the game with only a handful of seconds left.]
Bobba: Thirty seconds left! The Aurochs are launching an all-out offensive! A long pass from Letty! It goes through! He shoots! Gooooooal! Unbelievable! The Aurochs win the match, 3-2!
[The party sees the action on the dock sphere monitor.]
Link: Heh, We won!
Yuna: We did it! We're in the finals!
Lulu: Not the most...graceful win. If it was Chappu, he'd still be standing.
Link: Hey, aren't you being just a little unfair?
Lulu: Excuse me?
Link: I know I could never take Chappu's place. You're the one who told Wakka that, right, Lulu? And I don't think Wakka would ever try to take Chappu's pl-
Lulu: You don't want to finish that sentence.
Link: Me and my big mouth...
[Everyone heads to the locker room. Wakka's pretty beat up.]
Datto: Sure you're all right, Cap'n?
Letty: The game starts in a few minutes. You sure you okay?
Jassu: We're playing the Goers, too.
[Link and company walk in.]
Link: Did ya miss us?
Datto: Lady Yuna!
Letty: Are you okay?
Yuna: All this because of me. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!
Wakka: How can you let some Al Bhed kidnap you?
Link: Wakka, just drop it. She's safe
Wakka: Don't go near Al Bhed anymore, okay? They're trouble.
[Kimahri and Yuna leave sometime later and Link walks over to Wakka.]
Wakka: The game's starts soon. No time for warm-ups. Ready?
Link: (Puts on his Zora Tunic) Let's do this.
Wakka: All right! I got something to tell you boys. After this game...I'm retiring. I promised myself this would be my last tournament. Win or lose, I'm quitting blitzball. But you know... Since we're here, we might as well win!
Aurochs: Yeah!
Botta: A-Am I on the bench?
Wakka: I'm warming the bench. He's taking my place. All right, boys, let's win this one! Let's make the Goers goners!
Link: (To himself) gotta remember, this isn't the same as home.
[The Aurochs and Link go out into the hallway.]
Lulu: I saw you there, floating on the sphere.
Wakka: Hey, you weren't supposed to see that.
Lulu: You really gave it your all, didn't you?
[In the hallway:]
Link: Alright guys, what did we come here to do?
Aurochs: Win!
Botta: For Cap'n Wakka
[They go out to the arena; the two in the locker room watch the game on a sphere.]
Bobba: This is it, folks! In just a few minutes, the championship game!
[On the wall, is writing:] My best memories are here. Wakka, Captain of the Aurochs.
(Back in the arena)
Bobba: But who could have imagined... A championship game between these two teams? Our legendary Luca Goers against...the horrendously ill-fated Besaid Aurochs!
[From a stairwell, Auron emerges.]
Jimma: This looks like history in the making, Bobba.
[The Aurochs and the Goers meet in the sphere pool. Bickson extends a handshake but pulls it away at the last second, trying to punch Link instead.]
Bobba: They're already going at it, folks! The Goers are taunting the Aurochs!
[The game starts and Bickson kicks one in.]
Bobba: What a great play! The Goers score first!
Link: Damn... these guys are good.
[Link gets the ball and lines up, He shield bashes under the ball and gets set for a back slice. He kicks the ball and scores one for the Aurochs. Both teams play pretty well.]
Bobba: And it's halftime!
Jimma: The Goers are just playing great, Bobba. Really great.
[Back in the locker room:]
Wakka: Zone defense, boys! Stop those Goers!
Aurochs: Cap'n!
Link: And what about me?
Wakka: Get the ball and just shoot like crazy!
Datto: Goers are goin' down!
Aurochs: Yeah!
Link: Those Goers won't know what hit them!
Aurochs: Yeah!
Wakka: All right! Hustle!
[The second half begins, but soon...]
Bobba: The fans are getting impatient! They're calling for some action! Everyone seems to be calling for Wakka, folks! Say... Where is that player going? He's leaving the sphere pool! He may be injured!
[Link meets Wakka in the locker room, and they switch places in the middle of the game.]
Link: (Narration)I knew this would happen. It is Wakka's show after all.
Bobba: I wonder what's happening? The crowd is going wild!
[Wakka swims in.]
Bobba: Ah! It's Wakka! He's back on the field and ready to go! The Aurochs seem glad to have him back.
(The clock quickly winds down with both teams fighting tooth and nail, but the Aurochs take the lead as the clock hits 0, winning 4-2.)
Bobba: Unbelievable! The Aurochs win, folks! This is one for the record books!
[Link swims into the sphere pool to see Wakka, but a bunch of Sahagin Chiefs swim in and attack. They defeat them, but the stadium is in chaos now. In the stands:]
Lulu: What's happening?
[Monsters are running through the stadium attacking people. Auron appears with a gigantic sword, and faces off against a
large dragon-like monster, which he kills. Link and Wakka run out to meet him.]
Link: Yo, Auron!
Wakka: Sir Auron!
Link:(to Wakka) You do know him.
Wakka: Yeah. Best guardian there ever was.
[The three of them kill a Garuda, but soon become surrounded by more monsters.]
Link: Oh, come on...!
[In the stands, Seymour summons an evil-looking aeon. That aeon starts shooting beams from its one eye and kills the monsters that are flying and walking around. Later on, after the chaos quiets down, the Aurochs meet up in the city square.]
Datto: You're really leavin', Cap'n?
Letty: Shouldn't you heal up first?
Wakka: Yuna needs me with her now. I can't be lying around in some bed.
Datto: Yeah, but...
Wakka: Come on, look sharp! The blitz season just started! Don't make those faces, ya? Well... See you, boys! You be good!
Aurochs: (dully) Cap'n...
Wakka: I can't hear you!
Aurochs: Cap'n!
[Later, everyone but Link gathers near the city outskirts.]
Yuna: Are you sure?
Wakka: Never liked long goodbyes anyway. Sorry for making you wait, Yuna. I had some promises to keep, ya? From now on, I'll be your full-time guardian.
Yuna: Then welcome back, Sir Wakka. Good to have you with us.
Wakka: Hey, it's good to be back, ya? So, any news on what happened?
Lulu: Not really. We don't know where the fiends came from. Maester Mika is safe, thanks to Maester Seymour. That's about it.
Yuna: Maester Seymour's aeon... It was so powerful.
[Link and Auron are down at the docks, the former about ready to start a fight with the man who brought him to Spira.]
Link: Gah! Dont just stand around, can't you do something about this?! Not being able to go back to Hyrule... I'm telling you, it's all your fault!
[Auron just laughs.]
Link: Just... who the hell are you?! Did you know my old man?
Auron: Yeah.
Link: And you also knew Yuna's father.
Auron: That's correct.
Link: Now that's just impossible... there's no way...
Auron: Nothing impossible about it. Jecht, Braska, and I...Together we defeated Sin ten years ago. Then I went to Hyrule... where I watched over you. So that one day I could bring you to Spira.
Link: But why me... I failed to protect her! and because of that Hyrule...
Auron: Jecht asked me to.
Link: Is he... alive?
Auron: It depends on what you mean by 'alive.' He is no longer human. But then... I felt something of Jecht there in that shell, couldn't you? You must have felt him when you came in contact with Sin.
Link: That's not...
Auron: It is. Sin is Jecht.
Link: You're lying...
Auron: But it is the truth. You'll see for yourself. Come with me.
Link: And if i refuse?
Auron: Every story must have an ending.
Link: I give a Goron's rocky ass about your stories!
Auron: I see. Sorry you feel that way. Fine, then. Come or don't come. It's your decision.
Link: What do you want me to say! It's supposed to be my choice, but I don't really have a choice do I?! You're the only one who can tell me what's going on, anyways! I have to go with you! I have to!
Auron: Irritating, I know. Or are you afraid? It's all right.
Link: Just tell me one thing Auron... will I ever... get back home to Hyrule?
Auron: That's up to Jecht. I'm going to offer my services to Yuna. Come.
[The two start walking to the outskirts to join he rest of the party, whom is already there.]
Wakka: Do you think he's gonna stay here?
Lulu: Sir Auron knows him, apparently. You were right. He did meet someone he knew.
Yuna: Do you think he'll find a way back to Hyrule?
Wakka: In any case, I'll miss having him around.
Yuna: He's still in town, isn't he? I think I'll go see him... Oh!
[Auron approaches the others, with Link in tow.]
Wakka: Whoa.
Yuna: Sir Auron?
Auron: Yuna.
Yuna: Sir?
Auron: I wish to become your guardian. Do you accept?
Wakka: You serious?
Auron: You refuse?
Yuna: No, no! We accept! Right, everyone?
Wakka: O-Of course! No problem at all!
Lulu: But...why?
Auron: I promised Braska.
Yuna: You promised my father? Thank you, Sir Auron! You're welcome to join us!
Auron: And...he comes too.
Link: ... Hey... guys...
Auron: This one I promised Jecht.
Yuna: Is Sir Jecht alive?
Auron: Can't say. Haven't seen him in ten years.
Yuna: I...see.
Auron: You'll meet eventually.
Yuna: Yes, I'm looking forward to it!
[Auron walks to Lulu.]
Auron: What's our itinerary? Where are we headed?
Yuna: (To Link) Hey come with me!
[Link walks to Yuna.]
Yuna: Hey, watch!
[Yuna blows into the grass whistle)
Link: You've gotten good at that...
Yuna: You sound sad.
Link: ... i guess so.
Yuna: Wanna scream?
Link: ... I don't think that's going to help this time around.
Yuna: You know what? It's embarrassing to say this myself... But summoners and their guardians are kind of like Spira's ray of light. A lot of people in Spira depend on us. I learned to practice smiling when I'm sad, you know? I know it's hard.
Link: yeah... i get it.
Yuna: Right, now let's see what you can do!
Link: Come again?
Yuna: Come on!
[Link tries to make himself smile.]
Link: (talking through gritted teeth) This ... is... strange!
Yuna: Next, try laughing out loud!
Link: Are you kidding me?
Yuna: Come on, show me!
[Link belts out laughing and keeps laughing.]
Yuna: You probably shouldn't laugh anymore.
[They both start laughing.]
Yuna: Too funny!
Link: Hey, you started it.
Yuna: Um...thank you. I want my journey to be full of laughter.
Link: Okay.
Yuna: If we should get separated, just use the whistle. I'll come running. I promise.
Link: Let's get going.
[Link turns to Wakka.]
Link: What?
Wakka: We were just worried you guys might've gone crazy!
Yuna: Sorry! Well then, alright. Now, we will go to the temple of Djose. And guardians? Don't forget to smile!
[And with that, they all head out of Luca. Well... a surprise win from the Aurochs, huh? Good for them! With renewed vigor Wakka returns to Yuna as a fulltime guardian, be sure to join us next time as our heroes make their way down the Mi'hen Highroad! Next Chapter: You Take The High Road And Gorons Appear.)