Auron’s headache had returned and brought along a friend.
There were only three nations actually trying to accomplish an end to the worldwide epidemic of random disasters—he had wondered what had happened to Macalania; apparently most of it had been eaten. He decided not to ask for a less vague description.
Guadosalam just wanted things to be repaired, including their relations with the humans.
Djose wanted Guadosalam, but knew the risk of starting a war. At first they tried to insist that since Seymour was not legitimate, the Guado had been wrong in putting him in charge, even if that was all they had. Because of this and the fact that his mother, who followed Guado rules perfectly, was from Djose, they had a claim on it.
Not only did Seymour refuse, considering the proposal an insult to his mother by using her as blackmail, but the whole thing became moot once Yuna had agreed to the proposed marriage. This meant Seymour and Yuna could both become legitimate leaders.
Sticking with the blackmail strategy, Djose captured two of Yuna’s friends to hold as hostages to convince her to back out. However, Djose was too late in delivering the message, rumor was they shot their hostages due to miscommunications. By that time, Yuna was gone and Seymour was no longer in charge.
Meanwhile, Bevelle had been sitting on their hands, refusing to get involved while in fact they were spying on Djose to collect information.
"… to bring us up to date, we were hoping to intercept someone from Djose to sabotage their sabotage, but all we found in three days was you," the ambassador said.
"Which improves things how?" Auron asked, shoving Anzi off his robes and wishing they had something other than just tea to drink.
"Seymour’s been missing for two days and we got news that the leader of Djose knows where he’s hiding and intends to kill him."
"How’s that involve me?"
"Actually, it involves both of you," the ambassador said, looking towards Anzi. As usual, she looked dumbfounded and terrified. "We couldn’t find out where Seymour’s hiding. If Djose manages to kill Seymour, they’ll blame us. They are also taking their hostages to Besaid and plan to execute both of them."
"But what’s the point in—" Auron started.
"To kill an unarmed man and a baby? Probably to make us look bad. Djose is taking advantage of the fact hat no one has seen Yuna since Seymour’s orders were rescinded and she was led out of the city. They plan to say the Guado had her executed."
"And they’ll use the ensuing war to get at Guadosalam in whatever way they think is easiest," Auron stated.
"So far they plan to wait the war out and take over everything that can’t defend itself. They have plans to stir up trouble between Luca and Kilika if they get too interested. They already have plans to take Macalania—what’s left of it, if it becomes strategically important."
"Again, how does this involve both of us?" Auron asked.
"Like we said. We don’t know where he’s hiding. We overheard your friend."
"She’s been talking gibberish about Seymour and Jyscal for four hours."
"Exactly. She seems to know Seymour rather well. She either knows where he is, where to start looking, or someone else who can tell us. Plus, we need to stay out of things, but warning Besaid would turn the tables."
"You’re going to use as hostages against hostages?" Auron asked.
"Not quite; one doesn’t really abandon a hostage."
"Fine. HOW does this involve ME?"
"We’re neutral. We’re not going after Seymour."
"But…"
"The whole world goes to war and then down the drain. You don’t have to, but it’d be nice. We’re short of good sol—okay, so we’re short of people panicking less than we are now."
"And if I don’t, you’re still going to just sit here and watch," Auron said.
"That’s pretty much the gist of it. It’s rather complicated to be neutral and concerned at the same time."
"I don’ wanna go to Besaid," Anzi squeaked.
"Of course you do. It’s nice this time of year," The ambassador said. "But if you don’t tell us where Seymour went, we can’t rescue him. Besides, Besaid knows what could happen to them if anyone finds you dead. Even by accident."
"I hate spiders," she said. "But don’t hurt him, Mr. Auron. He went to Baaj."
"Don’t tell me I’m going to have to swim!" Auron said. "That’s in the middle of nowhere."
"A very wet nowhere. Actually, this is extremely simple."
"If the explanation is more than three sentences I quit," Auron said.
"The leader of Djose has decided to leave in two days. We deliver her now, they not only have ample warning, but your Al Behd friend has an airship."
"I need something stronger," Auron said, realizing all of Spira depended on a woman who coddled Seymour and would lose at shadow boxing. "A lot stronger."
………………………………………………………………………………..
"Hello?" Anzi said, quietly to the jungle. "Hello? Anyone there?"
A bird chirped to tell her how boring it thought she was.
"I’m scared," Anzi said. "Hello—"
She spun around as the bushes rustled.
"Hello?" Is there someone over—"
Someone leapt down and landed right behind her.
"—there?" She turned around and screamed. "What’s a Ronso doing here?"
"Kimahri live here," it answered.
"You… you talk?" she squeaked, backing up.
"Kimahri not like Guado."
"But… but… they’ll kill him! And… and Djose! And Bevelle told me to—"
"Guado not make sense."
"Djose’s coming here to kill two people and there was something about a baby."
"Why?"
"They plan to blame Bevelle, so you’ll go to war. And they’re gonna kill Seymour and blame you and no one can find Yuna and that guy in the red jacket is grouchy—he’s in Bevelle and he needs your airship and I’m hungry and scared and please don’t eat me."
"Gaudo come with Kimahri." He grabbed Anzi around the waist and walked off toward the village.
"Hey! Put me down! Lemme go!" Anzi screamed and uselessly struggled against him. "I can walk! I can walk!"
…………………………………………………………………………………
"Paine, I really think you’re overdoing it with the sword," Rikku said.
"It helps me concentrate," Paine said.
"At a time like this? Everyone else is tired of thinking."
"Well, I’m not," Paine said, her tone indicating she just might start on target practice.
"Help! I’m being abducted!" they heard. "Get this Ronso off of me! I wanna go home!"
"Finally, SOMETHING!" Paine said, tossing the whetstone away and getting up. "Come on."
"You’re taking your sword?" Rikku asked.
"Who knows what’ll happen."
………………………………………………………………………………
"Jungle too crowded," Kimahri said, dropping Anzi in the middle of the village.
"Uh…" Anzi said, timidly picking herself up. She was about to attempt explaining again, but she couldn’t get a word in with the gossiping crowd.
"Look at that!"
"What’s a Guado doin’ on Besaid?"
"Wow. Guado chicks look nice."
"Dumbass, she’s like forty!"
"What’s she want?"
"Hey, are the Guado dangerous?"
"I wonder what they eat."
"Mommy, what’s with the funny lady’s hair?"
By now Kimahri had left.
"Hey! What’s going on?" a chirpy voice interrupted.
"Kimahri found some Guado wandering around in the jungle."
"I wonder how their hair does that."
"Whoa! Get a load of the stuff on her face!"
"I wanna go home," Anzi cried.
"Where’s Yuna!" Paine yelled, grabbing Anzi’s arm angrily after threatening her way through the crowd.
The crowd was silent. Anzi started crying.
"Uh, Paine, maybe you should let go," Rikku said. "I don’t think she likes that and I’m damn sure she’s not going to attack."
"But—"
"Paine, let her go," Lulu said, emerging from the crowd. Silently, the villagers left, not wanting to be in Lulu’s way, considering the circumstances.
Paine dropped Anzi’s arm.
"What’s your name?" Lulu asked in her usual cold and almost blank tone.
"Anzi."
"Kimahri told me you knew where Vidina was. Tell me."
"What’s a Vidina?" Anzi asked.
"She’s faking. She’s gotta be a spy," Paine said.
"Why would the Guado spy on us?" Rikku asked.
"No, Bevelle’s been spying," Anzi said. "On Djose. That’s why I’m here."
"I thought you were from Guadosalam," Paine said.
"I was, but Seymour snuck me out because he was afraid Lord Jyscal—"
"Lord Jyscal came back?" Lulu asked.
"Not good," Rikku said.
"Wait, what did YOU do to Lord Jyscal?"
"A… lot of things, but the important thing is Seymour—"
"I think the important thing is my Vidina," Lulu corrected.
"I don’t know what that is," Anzi said.
"He’s my son," Lulu said sternly.
"Orange hair, about a year old, looks kinda cabbagey." Rikku said.
"They said something about a baby when they were talking about hostages."
"They’re holding my baby hostage?" Lulu asked. "Who said so?
"Bevelle, said so," Anzi said. "But only because they’re spying on Djose."
"So, which one has Vidina?" Paine asked.
"Actually, they’re bringing them here."
"They’re bringing Chappu and Vidina here?"
"What’s—"
"Screw it," Paine said, more as a warning than anything else.
"Why are they bringing them back here if they’re hostages?" Lulu asked.
"They’re going to kill them."
"That’s not what you do with hostages," Paine complained.
"They were going to use them to get Yuna to leave, but Yuna left anyway before they could deliver the message, so they’re going to come here and kill them and blame Bevelle so you’ll go to war."
"Why would Djose want us to go to war with Bevelle?" Paine asked.
"So they can blame you for killing Seymour. You have to help him!"
"What exactly do they want?" Rikku said. "They’re just confusing people."
"They want Guadosalam. And they’ll take anywhere else to get it."
"Wait, if they—then—but—" Rikku said, making hand gestures as she tried to work things out.
"Even if we stop them from killing Vidina and Chappu, we’ll still have a war," Lulu said.
"Two-way and not three-way," Paine said. "And no one’ll be trying to stop Djose."
"But, if Bevelle knows—" Rikku started.
"They don’t want anything to do with this. They don’t want it to happen, but they want to stay neutral. That’s why they left me here instead of coming themselves. And they want you to pick up your friend there with the airship."
"What friend?" Lulu asked. The only people she knew were missing were her fiancé and her son.
"Mr. Auron. He’s really grouchy."
"Auron’s back?" Rikku exclaimed.
"Bevelle wants you to take him to Baaj. Or go yourself and leave him there. They really didn’t seem to care."
"Why Baaj?" Paine asked.
"That’s where Seymour’s hiding. The leader of Djose knows he’s there and is going to kill him. You can’t let him!" Anzi said, clinging to Lulu’s arm as she pleaded.
"I guess we have no choice," Lulu said, shoving Anzi off.
"That’s what Mr. Auron said," Anzi said. "Please don’t let them kill my sweetie."
"Sweetie?" Rikku asked.
"Oh boy."