Chapter 1 : Auron's Arrival
In Luca, the Blitzball tournament had ruled the day from morning to afternoon. People from across Spira were gathered there, to watch their teams compete. The games were now drawing to a close however, with a very climactic and unexpected conclusion; the Besaid Aurochs had swept the victory and taken the cup. Their two best players, Wakka and the newcomer Tidus, had narrowly beaten the Luca Goers. Now the crowds are roaring in both shock and glee, and Tidus was helping the wounded and exhausted Captain Wakka to leave the arena.
As they were about to reach the exit, suddenly something changed in the arena, and they could hear the crowd screaming outside the water-sphere. Sahagin fiends appeared in the water around them, and they had to fight their way through to the exit. Once Tidus and Wakka had made their way into the benches of the arena, they saw that the legion of fiends was still pouring in.
"What's happening?" Tidus shouted out loud.
"No clue brutha… this is crazy! Sin must be nearby, ya?" Wakka replied, and he prepared for an attack. Tidus cleaved through a lupine fiend as it charged toward him. Then they saw a large drake fiend appear in the arena, and it turned toward them. Just then, Lulu, Yuna and Kimahri rushed up behind them to provide support. As they stood awaiting the attack, suddenly a figure in a long red coat with a big katana dropped from a ledge above and landed nimbly on the floor between them and the fiend.
"Wait… isn't that Sir Auron?" Lulu asked, bewildered and amazed. Tidus immediately recognized him, but he was surprised that he had appeared then out of nowhere.
"Hey! Auron!" he called to him. He could see Auron turn slightly and look over his shoulder at them briefly.
"Get ready for a hard fight!" Auron said to them with his rough, wizened voice. He slid his crippled arm out from the folds of his coat, and took a swig from his jug of whiskey. Then he took hold of his katana and stood ready in his battle stance, staring down the drake with a sharp gaze. He looked like a lion in winter, emanating natural power and purity of mind, with blazing courage of the heart. Lulu was drawn to his side then, and she rushed forward, conjuring up her magic to aid him. Auron glanced aside at her then, and their eyes met, just before he lunged forth and cut through the chest of the drake, slaying it instantly.
"You made that look easy!" Lulu said, impressed. Auron grinned confidently.
"Remember to pace yourselves…" He said. More fiends appeared on the aisle of the arena seats, and began moving toward them. The arena was swiftly filling up with the devils, but then suddenly there was a magical light flashing from the VIP section of the arena. It was Maester Seymour, performing a summoning. The magical doorways opened, and a large anchor suspended from a chain pulled up a creature from out of the darkness of another realm. Soon there materialized a giant, monstrous Aeon. It was the beast called Anima, an Aeon which no other summoners had conjured since the Baaj Temple had been destroyed by Sin. The Aeon let out a blood-curdling screech and then it's one good eye began to glow. Abruptly it shot out a beam of magical power, incinerating its target instantly, turning it to scattering pyreflies. Garuda birds were blasted to pyreflies as they flew around the arena, and lupines, drakes and coeurls were blown away as well. Soon the fiends had all fled or been dispatched, and the whole arena gazed upon Seymour and his Aeon in awe, murmuring in bewilderment.
They soon left the arena, and Lulu followed after Auron as he walked toward the docks.
"Sir Auron, is it really you?" She asked him. Auron turned and looked back at her.
"Yes, that's me. And you are?" He asked her.
"My name is Lulu… I'm a guardian. Lady Yuna's guardian, specifically; Lord Braska's daughter…" She said.
"Yes, of course. I'll be speaking with her soon. Right now I need to meet with Tidus. It's been my pleasure to meet you, Lulu." He said, and he stepped closer and extended his hand. Lulu hesitated a moment, but then she placed her hand in his gentle grip. Their eyes met for that moment, and she felt a tender warmth flowing throughout his aura. He released her abruptly and turned to walk away down to the docks.
Auron reached the cargo pier in the docks, where he had said he would meet with Tidus. He found the youth waiting for him there, clearly agitated and impatient. As soon as Auron stepped near Tidus immediately flew into a tangent.
"Where the hell have you been, Old Man? I've been dragged all across this world since you brought me here! Why? What the hell am I doing here?" Tidus demanded. Auron simply gazed at him in silence. Tidus lunged forward then and slammed his fists against Auron's chest. He gripped the sides of his coat and shook him.
"Hey you! Don't just stand there! This is your fault, do you hear me! All of it! You brought me here! I got swallowed by Sin, dropped off in Spira, now I can't go home to Zanarkand! It's your fault old man!"
Tidus was standing there fuming and glaring at Auron, who still said nothing. Then slowly he began to chuckle, and then he laughed loudly. Finally Tidus released him, and paced about anxiously. Auron looked back toward the city then. Finally Tidus spoke again.
"Who are you, anyway?" He asked. "You knew my old man, didn't you?"
"Yeah." Auron answered plainly.
"And you also knew Yuna's father?" Tidus continued.
"That's correct." Auron replied.
"Hey man, there's no way… that's just impossible!" Tidus retorted, blustering.
"Nothing impossible about it…" Auron insisted. "Jecht, Braska and I… together we defeated Sin ten years ago. Then I went to Zanarkand, where I watched over you… so that one day I could bring you to Spira."
"Why did it have to be me?" Tidus asked indignantly, and he turned and faced away.
"Jecht asked me to." Auron said. Tidus hesitated for a moment, then he turned back to face Auron again.
"Is he alive?" Tidus asked.
"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?" Auron pondered aloud. Then he spoke words that shook Tidus to his core. "You must have felt him, when you came in contact with Sin…"
Tidus was deeply disheartened then.
"It can't be…" he said.
"It is. Sin is Jecht." Auron told him. Tidus tensed up, and abruptly he snapped.
"No! That's ridiculous! I don't believe you! No way!" He shouted, and he faced away.
"But it is the truth. You'll see for yourself. Come with me." Auron urged him. Tidus shifted uneasily.
"What if I say no?" He asked.
"Every story must have an ending." Jecht said, almost as if indifferent, but that was not the truth of it. In truth he knew that his part in Spira's destiny had to be fulfilled.
"I don't care about your stories!" Tidus snapped.
"I see. Sorry you feel that way. Fine then, come or don't come it's your decision." Auron said. Tidus panicked then and began to rant.
"So what am I supposed to say? You tell me it's my decision, but I don't really have a choice, do I? You're the one who knows this world, you know what's going on… I have to go with you! I have to!" Tidus shouted. He walked away a few steps and slumped over.
"Irritating, I know. Or… are you afraid?" Auron asked him. He stepped closer to Tidus then and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. Believe me, I've been through a lot, but as long as you just keep going, it'll be alright. Everything has to work itself out eventually, after all. That's the way of things."
Tidus stood up then, a bit less tense, but still anxious. After a long moment he spoke again.
"Auron… will I ever go back home to Zanarkand?" He asked.
"That's up to Jecht. I'm going to offer my services to Yuna. Come on." Auron beckoned him. Auron strode away then, leaving Tidus alone in the docks. Tidus lingered there in solitary contemplation for a few moments, but then he followed after Jecht, through the city of Luca to the steps of its northern exit. They met Yuna and the others on the platform there, just beneath the Mi'ihen Highroad. When they arrived Lulu was speaking to Yuna.
"You were right, he did meet someone he knew. Apparently Sir Auron knows him somehow…" She said.
"I wonder if he'll stay… I wonder if he'll be able to get back to Zanarkand."
"Who knows…" Wakka said. Then they saw Auron step onto the platform and walk toward them, with Tidus in tow.
"Sir Auron!" Lulu exclaimed when she saw him. He stepped forward then and nodded at her. He turned to Yuna and spoke.
"Lady Yuna, I've come to offer my services as a guardian." He said. Immediately everyone gasped in shock.
"You have?!" Yuna said, bewildered.
"Yes. If it's alright. If not, just say so…" Auron said.
"Yes! Of course! Thank you…" Yuna said hastily.
"But why?" Wakka asked incredulously.
"I promised Braska that I would." Auron replied.
"You did? Well… it's an honor to have you, Sir Auron. Truly it is. I'm grateful." Yuna assured him. Auron reached back and grabbed Tidus by the arm, yanking him up to the forefront.
"This one comes with me. I promised it to Jecht." Auron said. Tidus shyly waved to them all.
"Is Sir Jecht… still alive?" Yuna asked him.
"Can't say. Haven't seen him in ten years… but I have a feeling we'll meet him before the end." Auron surmised. "So then, what's the plan? What is our itinerary?" He asked Lulu as he turned to face her and stepped closer. Yuna and Tidus went to the side of the platform then and were talking together. She made a loud whistle, which interrupted them briefly, while Auron spoke with Lulu.
"I'm honored to serve with you, Sir Auron. You're a legend after all…" Lulu said to him, gazing away, a bit sheepishly. Auron nodded with a grin.
"People say that about me often. They must think I'm some kind of sage. I know how to get by. I learned a lot on the pilgrimage with Jecht and Braska, and of course my training from Yevon helped. Anyway, thank you for saying it. So now then, where are we headed next?" He asked her.
"We will cross the Mi'ihen Highroad, then take Mushroom Rock Road to Djose." She informed him. He nodded briefly, but not in approval.
"I understand that's the most direct route, and we shouldn't skip Djose Temple… but I suggest we take another way, or else forestall the pilgrimage for a brief time. I've heard of the operation about to commence on Mushroom Rock Road. We should stay clear of it." Auron advised ominously.
"Really? What do you think will happen?" She asked him anxiously.
"They're going to try to fight Sin, without Aeons. It won't go well. The Crusaders and the Al-Bhed are over-matched. Yevon is letting them do it, but I don't think they're ready. It will be a disaster." Auron predicted. As he said this, suddenly Wakka had a heated outburst.
"Damn those Al-Bhed! Them and their machina weapons! They'll lose 'cuz they defy Yevon's teachings! Why would the Maesters allow this mission, with our own Crusaders?" Wakka asked indignantly.
"To humble them… perhaps to punish them. Either way, we shouldn't get involved. I say we should steer clear." Auron repeated his warning.
"Where would we go then?" Lulu asked him.
"We should find a boat to take us up the east coast, and drop us off near the bridge to Djose Temple. Sin may be in the waters nearby, but if we take a small schooner and keep to the shallows it won't come after us." Auron suggested. Lulu nodded slowly.
"I understand. We should ask Yuna. It's her pilgrimage after all…" Lulu said.
"Of course. But she is young, and needs guidance. It's good that she has your wisdom and experience on her side." Auron said. Lulu blushed then, and tried with every fiber of her being to suppress it.
"Well it's a good thing we have you with us then. Of course, I'll ask her now…" Lulu said, and she turned to face Yuna and Tidus. Suddenly the two of them began laughing loudly, and intentionally. Lulu and all the others were taken aback by this, yet the laughter continued, sounding more awkward than ever, then finally it became natural and genuine. They spoke to each other, then Tidus turned around and saw all of their companions watching him in bewilderment.
"What are you looking at?" He asked them.
"We were just worried you guys might have gone crazy…" Wakka replied.
"You two are feeling alright, I hope?" Lulu asked.
"Never better. Well now… are we ready to go?" Tidus inquired eagerly.
"Not yet. We need to go back to the docks, and find a boatman to take us up the coast to Djose." Auron said. Yuna looked wide-eyed upon him.
"Sir Auron, are you sure?" She asked, puzzled. She had planned to take the customary route of the summoners' pilgrimage, on foot through Mi'ihen and on the Mushroom Rock Road.
"I would strongly advise it. The choice is yours, however." He said.
"I trust in your wisdom… but I'm not sure we have the gil to spare." She said with concern.
"I've got a decent sum saved up. I'll find someone who will take us all, in a timely manner. Leave it to me." Auron said to her. Yuna nodded and bowed respectfully. Auron bowed briefly himself, and then strode back into Luca. The rest of the party followed after him at a leisurely pace. When they reached the docks, Tidus and Yuna walked together to the cargo pier. Kimahri went with them, and Wakka and Lulu as well. Auron walked up and down the docks until he came to a small pier to the northeast. He saw what he wanted there. Fishing vessels and small schooners were docked there, and their captains tended them or went about their work drawing in and cleaning up fish. Auron approached one boat with two bright green sails. A white-haired and bearded old man kept it.
"Excuse me. You wouldn't be interested in hiring out as a transporter, would you?" Auron asked him. The old man gave him a curious look.
"To transport what exactly, old boy?" The old man asked him.
"A summoner, and her five guardians. That's all." Auron answered plainly. The old man's eyes lit up then.
"A girl summoner? Would that be the young lady Yuna? Braska's little girl?" He asked.
"Yes, it's her." Auron said.
"Well then… it would be an honor. I hope you'll be comfortable aboard my boat; it's not very big, the cabin and under-deck are cramped maybe, but cozy I think. Where would I be taking you to?" He asked eagerly.
"Up the coast to Djose, staying in the shallows close to land." Auron said. The old man nodded.
"Of course, of course. I'm afraid you'll have to give me some time, but I'll be ready by evening. If you don't mind departing by night, that is…" The old man said. Auron nodded in acceptance.
"That will suit us just fine. What would you like for payment?" Auron asked him.
"Well, what have you got?" The old man asked.
"Five-thousand gil." Auron said.
"I'll do it for two then. Best keep yourselves well-funded on the pilgrimage, right?" The old man said. Auron grinned with appreciation.
"Thanks a lot… by the way, what's your name?" He asked.
"I'm called Ryu. And you? You seem familiar… you are Auron, aren't you?" The old man guessed.
"Yes. How did you know?" Auron asked.
"Well most people know of you. I heard you were back. I'm an old man, Sir Auron, and I know a thing or two. I can see some things that other people can't. I guess I don't know exactly why you're back, but I'm sure you have a good reason, so I'll help you however I can." The old man said knowingly. Auron pondered this a moment with his head tilted a bit. He nodded in acceptance and went to go back to the rest of the party. On the way, he saw Lulu walking toward him alone. He met her beside an empty pier.
"Did you find what you were looking for, Sir Auron?" She asked him.
"I did. We'll be ready to leave tonight." He replied.
"That was quick…" Lulu remarked.
"I've got the luck of a vagabond, I suppose…I've been doing this for a long time after all." Auron said.
"Really? That's quite a life. Where were you all this time, since the last pilgrimage?" She asked him.
"I've been keeping to myself mostly. No one would have seen me around, I know that." Auron said vaguely.
"And doing what?" She asked, perplexed.
"Meditating. Training. Focusing. I had to be ready for this, like I promised to Jecht and Braska. They're counting on me now." He said with determination.
"Did he really want Yuna to become a summoner?" Lulu asked him.
"No. But he knew it would happen. And he made me promise to see things put right. And you? Did you want to keep her in Besaid?" He asked. Lulu nodded.
"Of course. She's like a little sister to me. She has a mind of her own, however, and very strong heart. I certainly couldn't let her go without me." She said. Auron nodded.
"It's good that she has loved ones and friends with her on the journey. But it will get hard at times. That's the tradeoff… trust and love, or discipline and duty. I think trust is stronger though. That's how it was for us on my first pilgrimage, when we finally became friends rather than just colleagues." Auron said, reminiscing. Lulu gazed upon him in the sunlight that shone a golden hue upon him between the flags and banners above them, and in that moment he glowed a magnificent color. She nodded once her awareness returned, and replied to his sentiment.
"I understand, and I agree. Hopefully we'll all grow to trust each other on this pilgrimage as well." Lulu said. Auron nodded solemnly, and strode past her then.
"Let's get the others, and find a place to rest until tonight." He spoke as he went. Lulu watched him for a moment, observing the confident but steady and solemn nature of his strides. She followed him then, and they found their companions still waiting on the cargo pier. Yuna saw them first and called out to them.
"Auron! Lulu! Did you find a boat for us?" She asked. Auron nodded.
"We're fortunate that he gave us a good price. The boat is small, but it should fit us comfortably for the trip. It won't take too long after all." Auron surmised.
"Excellent! We'll wait in the cafe until it's time to go!" Yuna suggested. Auron merely nodded, and they all went back into the market district of Luca, to the cafe where they had searched for Auron earlier. They took their seats and ordered a round of drinks. The Aurochs were there, celebrating their victory, with the tall trophy sitting in the middle of their table. When they saw Wakka again they all cheered uproariously and came to meet him, and they dragged him away to their table.
"I'm so glad that we decided to take your advice, Sir Auron. I didn't want Wakka to say goodbye to his team so quickly. They won the tournament after all, for the first time in years!" Yuna said gleefully, smiling at Auron. Auron grinned.
"Enjoy it while it lasts." Auron said, and he took a seat in a booth near the corner, sipping whiskey from his white clay jug. Yuna and Tidus sat together nearby the Aurochs, and Kimahri stayed with them. Lulu was alone then, and not wishing to delve into the riotous noise of the victorious team, she instead walked slowly over to sit with Auron.
"May I sit here, Sir Auron?" She asked.
"Sure." He replied. Lulu pulled the chair out from the table across from him, and sat down with her hands rested upon the table, showing her delicate fingers and many fine rings. Auron merely grinned faintly at her and sipped his whiskey once more.
"What do you think will happen on the way to Djose? What will happen to the Crusaders? And if we encounter Sin, what then?" She asked him with concern.
"I think the operation will fail… and if any of them survive it will be a miracle. I don't think Sin will come after us. I doubt it will even notice as we slip by, if it's not already gone before then." Auron surmised. Lulu gazed down gloomily.
"Is there nothing we can do for them?" She asked. Auron shook his head.
"I told their commander, Lucille, not to go through with it, when I met her in Luca a couple days ago. I had heard of their plans, and Yevon's sanction of it. She wouldn't listen; they seem determined to go through with it. I understand… they want to rid the world of Sin without sacrificing anymore young people. I once wanted the same. But it's too late for them; we have to move on and complete the pilgrimage. Then you'll see the truth." He said cryptically. Lulu watched him anxiously then, wondering what he might mean, but she was afraid to ask then.
"I see… and you have already seen it, Sir Auron? But you don't seem to be content with the truth. Will we be as distraught with it as you are?" She asked. Auron shrugged his shoulders.
"No… it will be different this time, I hope. Time will tell. Until then, we shouldn't make the journey harder with low morale. Can I get you a drink, Lulu?" He asked her. Lulu was slightly taken aback by his offer, but she nodded graciously and smiled. Auron motioned for the barkeep to come to them, and asked for white wine. Lulu was poured a generous amount in a perfectly round sparkling glass, and she sipped it appreciatively while Auron drank more of his whiskey.
"You fought well today in the stadium…" Lulu complimented him. Auron nodded gratefully.
"Your magic was of great help." He replied. Lulu got up from her seat and sat in the booth beside him then, and looked at his scarred, bad eye, which was no longer of any use to him. Having shed her inhibitions in a pool of white spirits, she reached her hand up and gently traced her fingers over his scar.
"How did you lose your eye? Was it on the pilgrimage?" She asked him softly.
"No, it was afterward. I lost it in battle with a powerful fiend." Auron said vaguely. Lulu simply nodded in understanding.
"Did you have to face it alone?" She asked.
"I chose to… but yes, I had to do it." He answered. Lulu gazed upon him sympathetically, but in bewilderment.
"You should get over that habit; I saw it in you when you stood alone in the stadium. You don't always have to stand alone." She said to him. Auron looked upon her, and saw the warm light glowing in her amber eyes, and he nodded in acceptance.
"Maybe not. But if I have to, I will." He assured her. Lulu glanced away then, and saw that the rest of their friends were watching them, and were quiet. She stood up from the booth quickly then.
"Thank you for the drink, Sir Auron." She said, and she walked away swiftly toward the tavern door.
"Anytime." Auron said to her back as she went. Tidus came striding over to Auron then and spoke.
"Something going on, Old Man?" The youth asked. Auron shrugged.
"I don't know. But I'm sure I'll find out. Probably the hard way, as usual." Auron said with a low chuckle, disdainful of his hard luck.
"We've got important things to think about now, we don't need any extra drama." Tidus said to him. Auron looked upon him with a beam of amusement in his one good eye.
"So much like Jecht; that's how you sounded just now." Auron said, and he laughed shortly.
"What are you trying to say, Old Man?" Tidus demanded. Auron merely shook his head and stood up from the booth, striding slowly past the youth.
"That you're right… and it's time for us to go. The boatman will be waiting for us in the docks, and we've got a long way to ride." Auron replied plainly. As he walked out of the tavern, all the rest of the party followed him, and they walked through the city streets under the dusk light, toward the docks.
When they arrived, they found the old boatman and boarded his schooner, and he took them gliding upon the waters northward, straddling the coastline, on the way to Djose. A bright crescent moon was above, and shimmering on the waters beside them as they went, and they knew that the next step in their journey would be a profound one.