A/N: Not much to say, except that I think that Auron's hot (Oh yeah, I actually went there and admitted it!) and I think Aeris is the prettiest female character in any gaming role. So it was absolutely perfect making these two into a team. I should save myself from anymore embarrassment and let you guys read. . . . . . . Well here you go. . . .

Chapter 4: The Mystifying Woods

When leaving Devoid behind, Auron couldn't help but feel completely lost, now that he was in a foreign world. They continued to walk north. After several hours, Aeris lead him to a big, thick forest where they entered. The forest wasn't dark, but a bright green light shinned all around them from above; which was odd, since most of the trees barred the sight of the sky above them. A large dirt path lead them to their next destination, (wherever that place was, Auron thought), as they followed it. Pyreflies continued to roam freely here too. It appeared to be a nice, quiet forest, with the beautiful nature surrounding them. Yet looks can be deceiving.

"We are in the Mystifying Woods now. Not many travel through here because the forest plays trick on them, making it very easy to get lost. In a way, this forest is indeed alive; it likes to play mind tricks on those who dare venture through here. Sometimes those who enter here never come out, because they've lost their way. They could practically wander in here forever!" Aeris explained.

Yeah, that sure made Auron feel comfortable.

"And, you think that this person of yours is somewhere in here?" Auron asked bluntly.

"No, I don't think so. He may act stupid, but he really isn't. He's the type of guy that can always get out of the worst situations. So he might have passed through here already without a scratch on him." Aeris responded optimistically.

Suddenly, some fiends came from out of the bushes startling them; about a dozen of them. The fiends were no doubt the common Dingoes, fiends that were all too familiar to Auron back in Spira. The Dingo pack had circled Auron and Aeris in; they were surrounded. Auron kept Aeris behind him, as he removed his left arm from his coat and busted out his big katana. He cautioned himself as he waited for one of the fiends to strike first. He was willing to take the beating for Aeris.

Then one of the Dingoes from behind Aeris attempted to attack her. But Auron was quicker; as he wheeled around, pushed Aeris aside and shielded her. The fiend bit into Auron's bare, muscular arm. As the fiend bit viciously, blood squirted from his arm. Auron punched the head as it fell back, recoiled. Auron immediately felt a strong surge of pain, as the blood gushed out of his arm.

Blood?! Why. . .?! Why do I feel such pain?!

Before Auron could finish thinking, another Dingo jumped at him. Auron quickly thrust up his katana as the fiend landed on it, impaling itself to death. Afterwards, the Dingo faded into Pyreflies. One down; eleven more fiends to go.

Two more fiends began to strike at Auron, but he effortlessly swung his katana around him, causing the two Dingoes to burst into Pyreflies as well.

Meanwhile, as Auron was occupied with three other fiends, the remaining focused their assault on Aeris. Completely powerless without her guardian, she took the metal staff from her back and guarded herself. Terror overwhelmed her as she could feel and hear her heart beating at a alarming rate. Two Dingoes dashed at her. But she successfully bounced them back with her staff. As they flinched, Aeris ran clumsily towards them and whacked them with her staff, causing little damage. Fear jolted inside of her; she was no match for all four fiends. One of the Dingoes was about to thrash at her. Aeris withdrew, preparing for the impact.

As the fiend was about to ram into her, Auron came to the rescue as he elbowed back the fiend, impaling it with his katana as it hit the ground. Three fiends were left. They suddenly jumped onto Auron all at once, biting furiously at him. He kicked one of them off, but it ran back at him again, this time plunging him into the ground. Auron lost his grip on his katana as it flew out of his hand. The Dingo ran at full speed at Auron, baring its sharp fangs. Luckily Auron reached for his katana in time as he thrust it at the Dingo just as it was about to gnaw his face off. It exploded into Pyreflies.

Aeris was fending for herself, as one of the Dingoes began to bite away at the bottom hem of her pink dress. She tried to hit it with her staff, but the other Dingo gnawed at the end of her metal staff, holding it in place so she couldn't even move it.

Auron quickly got up from the ground as he ran at full speed and slashed away at the fiend that was tearing away at Aeris' dress. He skimmed to a stop, dirt flying in the air. Then he wielded his katana in a 180 degree angle, slicing the last of the Dingoes into twos. The fiend gave a monstrous howl before bursting into Pyreflies. The Pyreflies fluttered gently around the forest.

Auron maintained his position for awhile, but suddenly fell to the ground; exhausted and badly injured. He heaved, gasping for air. He had never been so tired; it took so much energy to fight off just twelve Dingoes. Normally, his original party could finish them all off in just one turn. Surly these Dingoes were far too powerful than the original ones back in Spira. And he was alone too, so it wouldn't be a wonder why that he took on all twelve fiends by himself with difficulty. He no longer had his team mates by his side anymore; no Kimahri, no Wakka, no Lulu, no Rikku, no Yuna, and no Tidus.

"Auron. . .?" Aeris said suddenly, still recovering from her terror.

"I'm sorry, Aeris. I. . . I haven't fought fiends in quite awhile. . . I'm afraid I was a little rusted during combat. . . We normally don't have to worry about fiends back in the Farplane. . . . . . . Are you alright?" Auron responded breathlessly. He was ashamed that she had to see him like this; he was supposed to be a highly skilled warrior.

"Oh yes! I'm fine now. But--?! Auron! Oh no, you're hurt!!" Aeris said with concern, as she clamed her hands around her mouth.

Auron had bruises and bites all over his arm. Blood was still surging from his deep wounds. Indeed, he was in great pain, but strongly refused to show any signs of it in front of Aeris.

"Oh!" Aeris quickly reached into her tiny pouch that hung from her slender hips. She pulled out, what seemed to be a small clear-green sphere that glowed mysteriously. She rushed over to Auron and kneeled down in front of him. "Here, let me help. . ." She pleaded softly.

As she reached out a hand to comfort his wounds, Auron quickly slapped it away. "Humph!" He grunted. He didn't like to be cared for when he was injured; he always thought that it showed a sign of weakness. Auron was very stoic, he had always been that way. He absolutely refused to let anyone know that he was hurt or that he was in pain.

Aeris quickly stood up and put her hands on her hips as she puffed impatiently. "Oh you are so stubborn!! I am trying to help you, but you're acting like such a tough guy and act as though you don't even need me, when you really do need me!" She said irritably.

Auron grunted again.

"Come on. . . Please don't act that way. . ." She pleaded gently, that was persuasive. She grasped her hands together, lifting them up to her chin. Aeris' emerald eyes sparkled so adorably to refuse.

". . . . . . Fine." Auron responded firmly. He turned his head in defeat.

Aeris smiled in delight as she held the glowing green sphere to his wounds; they began to heal instantly. The blood stopped streaming and Auron could feel relief in his arm again.

"There now, that wasn't too bad now was it? Feel better?" Aeris asked softly.

Auron ignored her question and asked something else instead. "What is that sphere?"

"Oh, this? It's called Materia. Materias are special spheres that allow us to do magic. They have various uses; most known for casting spells, summoning, and other actions as well. They are infused with Mako; energy from the Lifestream. This one I used here was a Green Materia. It allows me to perform the Cure spell."

"So, you were once a White Mage, correct?" Auron queried brusquely.

"Why yes! That was originally my job class!" Aeris said in her benign tone.

"Good. While you may not be very helpful in actual combat, you will be helpful in healing afterwards." Auron said, rather relieved. "But. . . What I'm wondering is. . . Why did I start bleeding? Why could I suddenly feel pain, something that only the living could feel? And these fiends. . . There aren't supposed to be any in the afterlife. . ."

"Oh, I don't know. Let's just get out of this forest already. . . Before another fiend attacks us." Aeris said frightened.

"Yes, wise decision." Auron said in agreement. Aeris tried to help him up, by gently pulling up on his other arm for support; but he quickly smacked her hand away from him again. Aeris responded with a pout on her face.

The two continued to walk down the path east when they came to a stop. Many branches blocked the path, refraining them from continuing any farther. The branches were thick and impossible to see through.

"Oh, what do we do now?" Aeris said disappointedly.

Auron walked up to the branches, then suddenly wielded out his katana again and started slashing vertically at the blockade. Only to find that it grew rapidly back together again. Auron grunted in frustration.

"Well that's one way of getting through, but I have a better way."

A voice said suddenly.

The two immediately looked around themselves, alarmed. Auron prepared his katana, while Aeris rushed towards him and hid behind him for safety. A woman suddenly emerged from the thick trees. She wore strange clothing; obviously she wasn't from around here. She wore what seemed like a long, green dress-robe. She had a calm disposition.

"Well, what a surprise. . . A pleasure to meet you again, Sir Auron." She said with a smile.

Auron slowly lowered his katana in shock.

He couldn't believe it; it was Belgemine.

The Unsent Summoner that had met Yuna for the first time on the Mi'ihen Highroad. She used to always challenge Yuna when they crossed paths to an Aeon battle. Ultimately, she failed to defeat Sin and had been wandering as an Unsent ever since; until Yuna finally put her soul to rest by sending her to the Farplane at Remiem Temple.

"Lady Belgemine. . . ?"

"And what an odd circumstance to meet under in as well." Belgemine said, laughing.

"Auron, you know this woman?" Aeris said suddenly, as she came into view.

"Oh, and have you guarded this young girl through her pilgrimage too? Sir Auron, I see you like to favor being a guardian to beautiful, young Summoner girls only." Belgemine laughed.

"What are you doing here? Why aren't you in the Farplane?" Auron demanded.

"Well, I would have thought that's what you wanted to know. As you already know, I'm a traveler. So I came here, still expecting that this place was still the Farplane; but as you can see, it wasn't. I came to these woods, only to lose my way. I happened to find my way to the heart of the forest to find a pedestal that held this." Belgemine held up what seemed to be an old mirror. "You see this? It's called the Mirror of Truth. Interesting artifact; it has the power to see the truth obviously. This ancient mirror is vital if you want to make it out of here. It can see the falsities of this forest. And it has the power to see rightful paths."

Aeris looked at it with passion. "So we can make it through these branches?"

"That's right my dear. You two can borrow it from me. I can leave here anytime I want, but I don't feel like it. I happen to inhabit these woods now, assisting lost travelers, such as yourselves. I happen to find it more peaceful and quieter than the Farplane." She said with a smile.

Aeris merrily took it from her. "Thank you very much! We really appreciate it! I was starting to get worried that I would never find my boyfriend."

"Thanks. I owe you." Auron said.

Belgemine shook her head. "No, defeating Sin was enough for me. Thank you for your sacrifice." She looked over at Aeris, "And I hope you find your lover, my dear. Good luck on your journey you two." She said before walking away, disappearing into the thick forest.

"Gee, that was awfully nice of her." Aeris turned to the thick branches that impeded their path, and faced the mirror to it. Instantly, the branches slowly dissembled and made a clear way. "Yay!" Aeris shouted in delight. "Well what are you waiting for, my guardian? Let's get going."

Auron didn't respond, but silently followed her.

Eventually, they made their way through the never ending forest. Aeris decided to hold on to the mirror, revealing the lies of the forest along the way. In no time, the have reached the end of the Mystifying Woods to have wide-open plains that were lustrous green facing them.

A/N: Well there you go! Another chapter from me, LadyDarkKnight. I'll have to inform you all that writing combat situations and adventures are not my strong point, I had a hard time writing the ambush scene. But hopefully I did a good job on that. Anyways, it may be awhile before I can write the next chapter, I'll be busy in the next two weeks. But don't worry, I shall return!!