Bikanel Bikanel is an island to the west of the Spira mainland in " Final Fantasy X " and " Final Fantasy X - 2 " . It is primarily a large , arid desert with an oasis , featuring palm trees and a drinkable water source . Many ruins and sand - swept camp sites dot the landscape . Story . " Final Fantasy X " . The Sanubia Sands is the home of the Al Bhed and the cactuar species . Bikanel Island had hosted at least one large city in former times , most likely in the time around the Machina War . As the signs on the ruins are all in the Al Bhed language , it seems the former city of Bikanel was already an Al Bhed city . According to Rikku , that city was destroyed by Sin , which is why the Al Bhed were scattered throughout Spira . Sometime prior to Tidus ' s arrival , Cid has reunited his people and built a new Al Bhed city in secret , known as Home . In the northeast of the desert , a sandstorm is raging over an area known as Cactuar Village . By locating the ten Cactuar Gatekeepers scattered throughout the desert , they will quell the storm and offer some nice prizes . If one returns to the desert after Home has been blown up , the player can find two Al Bhed men blocking the way to the ruins . If one tries to pass they ' ll simply engage into conversation with each other and the player explaining that there is nothing to find that way . In some versions of the game , it is possible to return to Home after acquiring the airship , but it results in a glitch . It is also possible to fight Dark Ifrit after offering help to a summoner in disguise as an Al Bhed woman . " Final Fantasy X - 2 " . The Al Bhed are hard at work excavating the desert for machina . Yuna and her friends can assist in the work , if they choose to , by getting a letter from Gippal in Djose Temple . The desert is divided into several expanses which the Al Bhed have mapped for safe digging : western , southern , northern , eastern , and central ( the largest expanse , requiring a chocobo for safe travel ) . The player can find Al Bhed Primers , Sphere Break coins , parts for the Experiment , and other treasures from the excavation minigame . Other areas available to visit are the oasis and the Cactuar Nation , where the leader of the cacti , Marnela , asks the Gullwings to search all over Spira for the ten Gatekeepers and return them to Bikanel . There is also an ancient and powerful fiend called Angra Mainyu dwelling beneath the sands of Bikanel after being sealed by the Cactuar millennia ago . Quests . " Final Fantasy X " . Village of the Cactuars . After gaining control of the " Fahrenheit " , the player can return to Bikanel Desert and find a rock with a picture of a cactuar . Each time the rock is examined the player will receive a clue to find one of the ten hidden cactuars in the desert . After finding one the player is challenged to a minigame where the goal is to sneak up on the cactuar within a time limit . While the cactuar has its back to the player the player can make their move , but when it is facing the player they must stay still . The player can facilitate the process , advancing using the D - Pad , thus the Cactuar will not recognize the movement of Tidus and the player can advance without stopping until they get to it . In the HD Remaster version , this doesn ' t work . The cactuar will turn around regardless . There are two courses in particular : If the player successfully reaches the cactuar before time runs out , a fight will ensue against a regular Cactuar enemy ( except with the Cactuar No . 9 called Elio ) , it doesn ' t matter if the player wins the battle or flees . No matter what the outcome of the minigame is the player will receive a sphere , but if the player loses at the game three times , they will only receive a Sphere del Perdedor ( Loser Sphere ) . After the fight the player must return to the rock where they obtained the sphere from to receive a new clue where the next cactuar is hidden . Cactuar locations : After placing nine spheres of either type into the rock , the sandstorm protecting the Cactuar Village will cease . Inside the player can find plenty of Cactuar encounters and two chests ; one of the chests will contain the sigil for Rikku ' s Celestial Weapon . The contents of the other chest depend on the player ' s performance in the minigame . Al Bhed Primers . A few Al Bhed Primers can be found normally , but if previous Primers were missed they may be found in certain areas around the desert . Dark Ifrit . In the International , PAL and HD Remaster versions , Dark Ifrit can be encountered here after the player has control of the airship . It can be encountered on Bikanel , near the entrance to where the Al Bhed Home was . The player must offer help to an Al Bhed woman , who says she has lost her child , who is later discovered to be a summoner in disguise and summon Dark Ifrit to attack the party . " Final Fantasy X - 2 " . Oasis Events . After completing the Water We Doing Here ? mission in Chapter 2 , different events may occur at the Oasis . Furthermore , the object that floats in the water is subject to further randomization . The Cactuar Connection . The player can talk to the mother cacti in the area to receive clues to the Ten Gatekeepers all over Spira . Chocobo Treasures . Sending a chocobo to Bikanel to look for treasures finds the following items ( depending on the chocobo ' s level ) : Excavation . The Excavation minigame allows the player to search the Bikanel Desert for treasures hidden in the sands . " Dig up the machina parts that Nhadala asked you to find in the desert and transport them safely to camp . " " Too late to say ' no ' now - so it ' s off to check the Oasis for Nhadala . If anyone gets in your way hurt first , ask questions later ! " " The Ten Gatekeepers have ventured into the world proper to train . Round them up and bring them home to the Cactuar Nation ! Think you can unravel the Cactuar Mothers ' clues and sniff them out ? " " Who ' d have thought the last cactuar would be so close ? Use the help of the nine gatekeepers you ' ve already tracked down to bring that rascal home ! " " The fiend that was ousted from the Cactuar Nation is raiding the Al Bhed camp ! Wipe it out once and for all . . . Gullwings style . " Episode Complete . To get Episode Complete in Bikanel , the player must fill the following criteria : Musical themes . In " Final Fantasy X " , the theme that plays while in the desert is called " The Burning Sands " . An arranged version plays in " Final Fantasy X HD Remaster " . In " Final Fantasy X - 2 " , " Bikanel Desert " plays during the excavation minigame .