Chapter 90: A New Companion

Ramiel woke up with Samus still in his arms. She was sleeping peacefully, unlike her usual rest where she is always a bit awake. Having a soft smile on her face as she hugged his body and her head on his chest.

"Damn, how am I gonna go about this..." Ramiel sighed. He has to tell Alexandra and Tifa about this. And Samus too, he wasn't a dense brick and noticed Yuna having the hots for him too.

He poked Samus' cheek and she started stirring. Opening her eyes, it was the first time in years that she slept so deeply.

"Hngh, good morning." She looked up at him and had a soft smile on her face. "Good morning gorgeous, but we have a problem. And I think I should talk to you about this first before Yuna."

Samus nodded and she had an inkling. "I noticed her look on you too. She's definitely catching something." She thought that was already complex enough. But he was about to make it even more convoluted.

"About that... That's just a little part of it, you see. You do know I'm not from this world right?" He scratched his cheek and was starting to sweat.

"Why are you so nervous? And yeah, I know you're not from here." Samus raised a brow and his nervousness started to make her anxious.

"Ahhh, my sister right? Alexandra? You remember her?" Ramiel breathed in and out and she nodded. "Yeah? What about her? That she is a bro-con? We'll talk it out." She chuckled.

"Imma be honest with you Samus. Back at home, I have three lovers actually. Though the other one is gone now." He whipped out his phone and showed her a picture of himself and Tifa.

Samus went silent and stared at it, thinking that she was really beautiful. "Who's the other one? Wait a minute... You... You don't mean?" She made a conclusion and she was shocked to her core.

"Yeah, Alexandra is one of my lovers too." He chuckled nervously and she was speechless, just frozen there.

"Your twin? For real?" After a few minutes, she asked again and he nodded. "I... I can't handle this, give me a moment." She sat up and didn't know what to think of it.

Him having multiple women was pretty natural in her opinion. With his power and probable influence. It was a no brainer, but his twin sister was another thing all together.

"What about children?" She imagined their kids being with defects. Especially because they were twins.

"We're genetically perfect. We don't have any genes that can result in defects nor retardation." Ramiel of course still checked and their time with Jenova cells made their genetics perfect.

"What about your parents? Your friends? Do they all know about it?" Samus was confused. "Yup, everyone knows."

She was baffled. "So you're a sis-con too huh? Wait, is the third one your... Your mom!?" Samus shouted out and Ramiel pinched her cheeks.

"What the hell? I don't have an Oedipus complex! My mom might be pretty, but that's out of the question!" He huffed at her and she sighed in relief.

"How? How did it came to be then?" Samus tried to understand and Ramiel thought she was pretty progressive.

"Well, you heard about my talk with Yuna right?" Ramiel sighed and Samus gestured for him to continue with a raised brow.

"It was much worse than that. Before we were even born, we were inoculated by the x-parasite. We call it Jenova cells back home. Almost killed us immediately. And my mother got mentally unstable." He started the full story.

"Our father confronted the scientist that did it and he got killed. Our mother revived him with another complex experiment. But due to her instability, she tried taking us out of the lab, but she was caught. We got abandoned pretty much and I've shouldered almost all the experiments. Making my body pretty unstable." He sighed and thought that was a gamble.

"Alexandra and I were superhuman since birth. And she's really smart, she understood early that I protected her with my all. And it resulted in her having quite the complex for me." Ramiel gave a wry smile, it was actually something he was trying to avoid back then.

"So, she couldn't just resist and is obsessed with you? I can't imagine her agreeing to you having more women by your side." Samus snorted.

"Well, we even had a major fight due to me rejecting her at first. And when I accepted her feelings, she said that it was inevitable. And she didn't want to die of jealousy. So she was thinking of it for a long time already." He sighed and thought he was baited by that too.

"I see... When are you gonna talk about Yuna about this? I imagine she'd be shaken by this. But she'll be more accepting of it. They basically live in the middle ages." Samus sighed and she was still confused about it all.

"Well, preferably today. I don't think I want to lead her on. She's just 17 too, she has a whole life ahead of her. And leaving Spira just to travel with me will be a tough choice." Ramiel scratched his head and thought it would be hard.

"Good, then I won't tell her myself." Samus then thought fuck it. She's a galactic hero, and she knows what she wants. And she isn't afraid to come and take it.

She put her arms around his neck and went on top of him. "You know what? I don't care, Samus does as she pleases. I'm not human anyway, I'm half bird-person, jellyfish, and goop."

Samus kissed him more aggressively. "Your sister and your other lover isn't here anyways." She smirked and walked away, adding sway on her hips as he watched.

"Damn, what a woman." Ramiel whistled and remembered he has to talk with Yuna later. "Fuck, this won't be pleasant. Breaking a teen's heart." He sighed and prepared for the day.

The group gathered for their next destination and it was unfortunately in Guadosalam. Where Seymour is the leader.

They went to the massive river that divided Guadosalam and Djose, called the moonflow.

"Oh wow, this place is something else." Tidus looked at the river with glittering lights. Pyreflies were concentrated in the area.

"Hmmm, the lingering powersource of the Machina are releasing energy, interesting." Samus scanned the place and right below is a sunken Machina city.

"It is said that pyreflies gather here in the night." Lulu explained and was appreciative of the beautiful place.

"Come on then everyone, we need to use the shoopufs to cross the lake." Yuna was quite excited. Tidus, Ramiel, and Samus didn't know what it was though.

"Shoopufs? Sounds like a candy that kids will love." Ramiel commented and Samus was intrigued on what it was.

"What in the world is a shoopuf? And Ramiel's right, sounds like candy." Tidus was curious.

"Well, you'll see later ya? Let's go, shoopufs are going to be awesome." Wakka recovered a bit and was excited as well.

"Hah, boys. Still excited for shoopuf rides?" Lulu snorted. "Hey, what's wrong with being excited for shoopufs eh?" Wakka squinted his eyes and Auron started walking to the terminal where they'll ride shoopufs.

"Come on, let's go. Sir Auron is already leading the way." Yuna followed suit and everybody began walking.

When they arrived at the terminal, Ramiel and Tidus got excited. "This is a shoopuf." Wakka crossed his arms and was like how about that.

It was a brachiosaurus looking dinosaur with a head like an ant eater. It also had a cute little fin on its tail.

"Woah, come on then! Let's go ride one of them!" Tidus was really eager and Ramiel nodded. "Yeah! We gotta ride that dinosaur!"

"All right! We ride as soon as we're ready ya?" Wakka cheered with them.

Samus shook her head with Lulu, chuckling at their excitement. "Boys, they never grow up. Their toys just get more expensive." Samus shrugged and Lulu agreed.

"Ahhh, shoopufs. I haven't rode one of those for a long time." Yuna smiled. "What? You've been in one of those?" Tidus was surprised and was kind of jealous.

"It was ten years ago, just once. With Kimahri when we went to Besaid from Bevelle, remember?" Yuna looked at Kimahri and he nodded.

"Shoopuf shook, Yuna fell to water. It scoop up Yuna with its long nose. Yuna did it three more times for fun. Kimahri worried." The lion-man told a story.

"Uhhh, whoops." Yuna blushed with embarrassment. "Yuna had fun, Kimahri happy." He assured her and she chuckled.

Tidus waited for them to board one and Auron started telling a story too. "Ten years ago..."

"Ugh, a history lesson?" Tidus groaned. But Auron ignored him. "Jecht saw his first shoopuf here. Surprised, he drew his sword and struck it."

"Huh? But why?" Tidus raised a brow. "He was drunk, thought it was a fiend. We gave all our money as compensation. He never drank again after that."

"Oh... Brother." Tidus felt secondhand embarrassment from the actions of his father.

"Hey, Tidus. Let the driver know when you're ready to board eh?" Wakka called out to him.

"Riding a shoopuf isn't 'that' exciting." Lulu rolled her eyes. Ramiel, Tidus, and Wakka gasped. "How little you know!" Wakka looked at her and gave her the stink eye.

"You heretic, I definitely brand you as a heretic." Ramiel pointed at her and Samus snorted. "Well, I counter your branding. It looks slow and it isn't that really exciting." Samus sided with Lulu.

"Take that back woman!" Ramiel was outraged. "Yeah! Some things little boys don't grow out of." Wakka retorted. "Right?" The three of them said simultaneously.

"I don't think you win here, this place is a democracy as I declare. And majority wins." Ramiel huffed and the two girls chuckled at their antics.

"Fine, fine. Go and break a leg." Samus shooed them off and Lulu nodded.

They were prepared now and they went to the frog man driver. "Ride ze shoopuf?" Everybody nodded and a gondola that was being craned by a device dropped down. Acting like an elevator so they could ride the top of the beast.

While they were travelling, Wakka called out to Tidus. "Hey, take a look ya?" He gestured to the river and Tidus looked at it.

"Whoa, a sunken city?" He was awed as it was pretty huge. But it was still in good condition due to it being in a freshwater lake.

"A machina city, a millennium old. They built the city atop bridges. But it collapsed under its weight and it sunk to the bottom." Lulu explained the history.

"Hey Sam, want to check it out later?" Ramiel thought they could get more tech out there or something. It was preserved pretty well.

"Sure, how about we go now and return to the party later?" Samus agreed and it was a good way to spend time.

Ramiel and Samus dived into the water and went exploring the ruins. "Those two are definitely adventurous ya?" Wakka sighed.

"Yevon taught us that when humans have power they seek to use it. If you don't stop them, they go too far ya?" Wakka remembered the war.

"But don't you guys use machina too? Like the stadium for blitzball and stuff?" Tidus was confused.

"Yevon tells us which can and cannot be used by the people." Lulu explained the teachings.

"Then what kind can't be used?" Tidus asked. "Remember operation Mi'hen? Those kinds." Wakka replied.

"Or war will rage again." Lulu closed her eyes and sighed. "A thousand years ago, people waged war using Machina."

"Yeah, they created more and more machina for the war." Wakka was getting agitated. "They made weapons so powerful, it was thought they could destroy the world." Lulu squinted her eyes.

"But it didn't stop and then Sin came. Destroyed the Machina and cities." Yuna had a frown on her face.

"The war stopped, and our reward is Sin." Lulu frowned as well. "Oh man, that's rough..." Tidus learned more of the history of Spira.

"But it's not like the Machina are bad, no?" Tidus raised and they nodded. "Not as bad as their users." Lulu snorted.

"It's because of the people like the Al-bhed that keeps on screwing us up." Wakka got heated.

Suddenly, their peaceful ride got shaken. "What was that?" Yuna stood up and was concerned.

"Sit down!" Auron shouted out. But they were suddenly ambushed and Yuna was taken by an Al-bhed into the water.

"The Al-bhed! Damn you!" Wakka and Tidus were the only blitzball players there that can hold their breathes for a long time.

They dived immediately and saw a Machina imprisoning Yuna. She was in a sphere of glass right above it and the thing was trying to escape.

Tidus and Wakka went to town with it and the Machina began firing some pressurized water at them.

Thankfully, they can maneuver quite well in the water. But the jets of water weren't really that dangerous. Just to push them away.

They continued their pursuit and Wakka targeted the fins below it with his blitzball. It struck true and it was unable to maneuver itself in the water. Going around eratically.

Tidus then slashed at it as much as he could with his sword and Wakka threw his blitzball multiple times at the body of the Machina.

It released Yuna as the machine began to sink from the damage it was dealt with.

They took Yuna above the water and swam to the shoopuf. It scooped them up with its long nose and Lulu went up to Yuna immediately.

"Are you okay Yuna!?" She held her shoulders and looked for any signs of injuries. "Yes, I'm fine." She assured her and Lulu sighed in relief.

Ramiel and Samus then went out of the water, finding nothing as exciting as vegnagun. "Hey, what up? Why are you guys so anxious?" He greeted them nonchalantly.

"Where were you!? Yuna was kidnapped by the Al-bhed you know?" Lulu was angry. "Hmmm? But in our connection, she didn't feel unsafe you know?"

Ramiel looked at Yuna and she hung her head. "What, why?" Wakka looked at Yuna and Lulu had an understanding.

"Ahhh, it's because she knew you guys will save her. Right?" Lulu squinted her eyes at Tidus who also knows she is an Al-bhed from a previous conversation they had.

"Y-yeah, it's because she trusts us as her guardians!" Tidus saw the obvious signs Lulu gave her.

"Well, we would. But next time, please call for your Aeons ya? It will be much easier." Wakka sighed and sat down again.

"Those damned Al-bhed, they always mess things up!" Wakka got angry. Everyone except him was silent and Yuna hung her head low. As she is half Al-bhed from her mother side.

"Hey Wakka, the Al-bhed don't matter yeah? We'll protect Yuna from anyone, anywhere. Isn't that our job as guardians?" Tidus couldn't help it and redirected the conversation.

"Thanks." Yuna mounted out. "You gotta stop being racist man, you already know the Al-bhed aren't at fault you know? You just keep on ignoring it. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. The Machina isn't the cause for Sin's appearance. The Yevon faith did." Ramiel dropped a bomb on them and Auron frowned.

"W-what do you mean?" Wakka, even Lulu and Yuna were shocked to their core. "You heard what I said, how about our little buddy Auron here tell you more about it?" He smirked at the man and he sighed.

"He's right... But let's just continue our pilgrimage, you'll know in time." Auron refused to talk about it and he wanted them to see it with their own eyes.

Everyone went silent once again. Except Samus and Ramiel who were checking out their spoils.

Their journey begun once again and they reached the port without further issues.

And while Tidus was roaming around, he saw a blonde girl in a tight suit just like Samus near the waters.

"Hey, are you alive?" Tidus poked her with a stick and she stood up. She then took off her suit and Tidus started to recognize her. (pic)

"Wait a minute... Rikku? Is that you!?" Tidus was surprised and happy to see her again.

"Ugh, I thought I was done for back then..." She kneeled down and was catching her breath.

"Heyyy! You're okay! How you been?" Tidus remembered that they were attacked by Sin when he got on their ship before he was washed to Besaid's shores.

"Terrible." Rikku shook her head and was looking exhausted. "Yeah, you don't look so good. What happened?"

"You beat me up! Remember!?" She pointed at him and Tidus went wide eyed. "Wait... That was you!? The one piloting the Machina?"

Rikku stood up and shook her head. "That really hurt you know? You big meanie." She nursed her throbbing headache.

"But you attacked us!?" Tidus raised a brow. "Nuh-uh, that's not exactly what you think." Rikku sighed.

And while they were conversing, Wakka and the others went up to them and called out. "Hey! Friend of yours?" He looked at Rikku, but he didn't realize she was an Al-bhed.

"Uh, you could say that." Tidus was feeling anxious, thinking he would notice. "Hi, I'm Rikku! Nice to meet ya." She greeted.

"Yuna, Lulu. She's Rikku, remember her? I told you guys she was the one who helped me before I was washed up on Besaid, she's an Al-bhe...beh..." Tidus stuttered, but Wakka didn't notice still.

"Wow, so you owe her your life! What luck meeting here, ya? So uh, Rikku. You look a little beat up, you alright?" Wakka looked concerned.

Lulu and Yuna gave small gasps and knew she is an Al-bhed. "Uhhh, Wakka." Lulu stared at him, checking if he noticed or something.

"We need to discuss something please, just the three of us." Yuna wanted some privacy. Rikku went up to them. "Girls only! Boys, please wait over there." Rikku pointed to the other direction.

The three started talking and they warned her to not tell Wakka her origins.

They went up to Auron. "Sir Auron, I want Rikku to be one of my guardians." He went up to the blonde. "Show me your face. Look at me."

Rikku showed her face, but she closed her eyes. "Open your eyes." Auron sighed. She opened her eyes and showed Auron the Al-bhed's spiral pupils and green eyes. "Uhhh, no good?" She gave a nervous smile.

"If Yuna wishes it, then it is fine." Auron left it at that. "Rikku, at your service!" She cheered and they continued their journey.

"This is gonna end badly, Wakka's as racist as white people back in the 50's. You guys should tell him soon, if he reacts badly. I'll beat his ass." Ramiel warned Yuna, Lulu, and Rikku.

"Yeah, this will put a wedge in your relationship. We'll beat his ass black and blue if he makes a comment, don't worry. They usually change their minds after that." Samus smirked and cracked her knuckles.

"It's not that easy." Lulu sighed and Yuna was worried too. "Tell him later, I'll help you change his mind for good. All of you except Auron really." Ramiel shrugged and let them make their decision.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.