40 Final Fantasy 10 Part 2 (1/2)

”Where the heck am I?” I thought to myself. Looking around I didn't see anything recognizable. Walking forward I came across some people. ”Excuse me what is the closet town?”

One of the men pointed to a small corner around the hill up ahead. ”The nearest town is a little past the corner up ahead.”

”Thanks.” I started walking past then stopped when I felt something wrong. Witha slight move to the side I watched as a ball of fire flew pass. ”What the heck is your problem?”

”Heh, hand over your Gil and there won't be any!” The man said.

I looked at him like he was stupid. ”Dont have any idiot.” I turned back and continued to walk away. I heard the sound of footsteps right afterward. They were rushing me from behind.

System: Acrobatics Check Succesful 24

I flipped behind the two. While in the air I sent to magical needles down there backs.

”Thud, thud,” both fell down dead. My skills in the Lin Kuei had become better since sleeping. I didnt like assassin work but... I remembered how dumb it would be to not use it.

A few others came out of the way dressed the same as the other two. ”What did you do to them?!”

”I protected myself,” I said squinting my eyes. I raised my sword up pointing at them. ”They thought to try an rob me. They paid for it.”

”You bastard!” One of the men screamed. He ran towards me sword drawn. Before he could get close enough a Sai hit him in the forehead.

The others looked around trying to determine where it came from. With a gust of pink wind, Mileena appeared. Drawing her other Sai, she threw it at the other members. Before I could go to join I was stopped.

A Ronso about the height of my self stopped me. I didnt feel any hostile intentions coming off her. Looking closer I saw that it was Hotshot. The name floated above her head. Thought that was weird that I couldn't still view her real name.

”Let her do this. She wants to prove to you she is not useless. It has been a while.”

”How long is a while?” I asked alarmed.

”Just a few days. Maybe three. But...” Hotshot looked away from me before continueing. ”I kind of did something... did something .. awful.”

”What did you do?” I asked never taking my eyes off Mileena. 'It cant be that bad.'

”I arrived in a baby Ronso a few years ago... 20 to be exact.” She said softly to me. It didn't really register in my head for a moment. ”How!?” I nodded toward Mileena, ”did she come during that time frame too?”

”When we went through the Rift Alita asked me if I wanted some time to become stronger. As well as gain a better foothold here. Considering she is not assigned to anyone except you. I was given the option to come here ahead of time. Hope you are not upset.” She stepped forward to get in my view scrutinizing my face. Guess to see if I was mad. Pulling back she continued to talk. ”No, she arrived about three hours ago. I was her arrival point. It was easy considering I just dipped into a cave and opened the gate for her.”

”It was not stupid but dangerous. Why risk it?” I gave her a quick glance before returning my sights to the fight. ”Was it to have an advantage or for some alone time away from everyone else?”

”No! I was still skeptical about everything.” She said to me in a little whisper. ”Not anymore. I feel wonderful. I have a family again. Well had a family again. Till I was exiled for not marrying the village chiefs son. Didn't help I broke both his legs and broke the arms of most of the other warriors who pursued me. I told them how weak and pathetic they were when I left.” Her tone became even lower afterward. ”I just wished my mother didnt cry so much.. but she will get over it. I know she will once we save Spira.”

”Haa, you have had it rough. As long as you are ready for what comes next. Seeing the fight end I prepared a healing spell. Using it on Mileena when she came up to me. I wiped her neck of the blood that spilled on her. ”You worked hard. A little reckless but you did great. No real damage besides. Just a few scratches yes?”

”Mhmm,” Mileena purred against my touch. ”A few scratches is all. Did you enjoy my fighting?”

”I did.” Looking back to Hotshot, I was surprised to see her waving her hands over the bodies. In a few seconds, they were encased in magical energy and disappeared. ”What was that?” I asked not knowing what I just witnessed.

”A special sending for the dead we kill. You should be able to do it as well. Mileena already can. We confirmed a few hours ago. A side effect of the changing world.”

”Tell me what you have been up to,” I said as we walked. A map appeared to my side before disappearing.

It didnt take long before we came across our destination. A few different things I noticed. Riku was here and the number of houses along the way.

Galtea: Glad everything is ok. Are you ready to use your pulls?

'Yes, let's do it.' I kept my eyes on Yuna performing her first summon.

System: High pull.. User currently in changing world.. unavailable to pull.. pulling from adjacent worlds... The Administrator has removed block.. pulling from a greater distance.. Speedy Gonzales Los Gatos Bandidos chosen. Activating Custom Sphere Grid.. summoner chosen... Speedy Gonzales has agreed to be a summons.

'You are freaking kidding me.!?' My jaw dropped. I have not played that game since I was a freaking kid. I did not want to be a summoner. 'How would that work anyway with me actually being a summons?'

Galtea: You are different. You were made into a fayte and then turned back corporeal. You have the ability to summon if you meet the conditions with them. It works in your favor. Speedy was very far away. I recommend you relax a little about it. They will see him as a Summons considering he just appeared the same way Yuna summons just did.

”What?!” I looked down and watched as the pyreflies gathered and formed into Speedy. The little mouse appears the same way he always did in the show. Hat and all in white. He had no shoes on still.. which bothered me. ”Hi, Speedy.” I reached out offering him my hand to shake.

”Hola Senor.” Speedy shook back with his little hands then sped up my arm to sit on my shoulder. ”So... what are we going to be doing?”

”Hehehe.. nothing. We are currently waiting. Just relax for now.”

”No problemo.” With that, he slid down into my chest pocket. His hat disappeared into energy and disappeared inside him. In a few seconds, he was comfortable.

Mileena looked up at me. I could see her smile behind the veil. She leaned back on my lap and closed her eyes. Not a care in the world. I watched as Tidus came up.

”So... you are here to. I cant believe we are in the future. Cant believe everyone is gone... mom.. is gone. Do you think Auron made it to? The wave was massive.” His biotic waves were troubling, to say the least. His mind was weakened somehow.

Galtea: The accident and the transition from there to here kind of did that to him. Dont worry he will be fine in a few days. Just let him be for a bit.

”Tidus everything is about to get even weirder as we go. Do yourself a favor and keep your mind open to all possibilities.” Seeing his eyes drop even more so I decided to help him a little. ”Auron is alive. Just somewhere else right now. We will see him again. Especially if you keep around that girl Yuna. As for your mom... you may yet see her again.”

”Right. I will try.” Tidus said giving a little smile. He gave Mileena a look before looking away from a little embarrassed. ”I will go rest up for now. Later bro.”

”Yeah later.” I waved him away as I finished processing the information from the soul back in Zanarkand. I was raised with him like a brother. His mother and mine knew each other. The memories were very weak at best. Just enough for me to enjoy the world but not enough for me to become overly attached. In a few hours, everything was cannibalized and I felt fine. Spira was just another home for me. Just another place I can save or screw up. I looked over to Hotshot talking to LuLu. Before I knew it Riku came up to me. ”Whats up?”

”Nothing too major. We leave in the morning. Wakka put up a bit of a fight till Hotshot punched him in the gut laying him out.” Riku smiled before noticing my gaze. She looked back to see me still looking. Like what you see?”

”I do. But you look better as a black mage. Well, intimidating wise. Just wished your clothes were black instead of those bright colors you had.”

”Huh?!” Riku eyes went wide before she remembered. ”Oh, you mean the dress sphere clothing change. I forgot about that. So you weren't staring ar LuLu?”

”I was but not in that way.” I looked at her. ”Riku in this world right now. Besides Mileena, Hotshot and yourself there is no one else I care about female wise.” I felt the tense energy wash off her. ”You should relax for a while. Its what I am doing.”

”With all the different women her you aren't interested? I find that hard to believe.” She sat next to me then leaned against my shoulder.

”I care about one or two people here truly. I few I want to talk to, but not much care for them anyway.”

”What about Yuna?”

”That's Tidus girl all the way. Besides she is too self sacrificing. I am not into that shit much.”

”What do you mean?” Riku tensed against me.

”Dont worry about it. Nothing to get worked up about.”

”What about LuLu?”

”She is hung up on Chappu right now. Considering her and Wakka have a child later... I am not interested.” I leaned over and kissed Riku's forehead. ”Would you like me to look at them that way. I guess I could.” I felt Mileena bite my thigh at that statement. ”Ouch.”

”No. If you are not interested dont. That is the worst thing you could do.” Riku said snuggling deeper. She looked at me a little sad.

I could not read her at this time. Wish I could but to no avail. ”What is it?”

”I.. will do anything to save my world. Anything to save Yuna. If you liked Yuna... I would have done everything to get her to go with you. I dont care about the consequences. I would even become a summoner and absorb Sin myself if I have to.”

”Riku...”