Chapter 6

The Crusaders stopped Katara and Jonathan on the Mushroom Rock Road because of an operation they was performing today. The Crusaders was planning an attack on Sin the next time he appears. They figured if they captured some Sin Spawn they could lure Sin here. Katara thought to herself, Do they even remember what happened 19 years ago when they lured Sin here. Thousands of people died. Innocent bystanders also. They can't possibly repeat this. It's not right. More people will die. "Are you repeating what happened 19 years ago?" Katara asked as she stared at the young man who was in his middle twenties.

"No, Lady Katara. We are doing something totally different. As you noticed the Al Bhed have become very skilled with the machina and technology. There is a young Al Bhed by the name of Shinra. He has created a gigantic barrier that can protect us from Sin and lets us attack Sin without getting hurt."

Jonathan asked, "Has the barrier been tested on anything or anybody? And are you sure that this Shinra person knows what he is doing?"

The man said, "It has been used on simulated Sin Spawn, but not the real thing, but with Shinra's genius, I'm quite sure everything should turn out well."

"It's not going to turn out that way," Jonathan faced Katara, "we have to stop them."

"We can't interfere. As the old saying goes 'Leave Ronsos to Ronso's problems.' are in this case 'Leave Crusaders to Crusaders problems."

"But..."

"No buts about it so lets go," Katara said as she pushed Jonathan forward.

"Sir Jonathan," asked the young man.

Jonathan looked over his shoulder, "Yes?"

"It would be an honor for you to witness our project. Like your father before you."

Katara said softly, "Jonathan, no."

Jonathan said, "It would be an honor." He bowed and smiled, "Could you take me this Shinra person?"

"Yes sir. Follow me." The young man walked down the road. Katara sighed to herself as she watched Jonathan follow the young Crusader. From the stories that her mother told her and the terrible feeling she got when she heard the tale of when the Crusaders and the Al Bhed came together to destroy Sin, but their plan backfired. So many lives was taken that day and she didn't want a repeat of what happened. But as a guardian she had to follow and as a summoner she still had to follow. Katara said a silent prayer as she slowly walked behind Jonathan and the young Crusader. It was his decisions and she made a vow to protect him. She would not let him die. Not today. Not never.

"Shinra, this is Sir Jonathan Guado. He is here too witness Operation Destroy Sin."

Shinra, a 29 year old Al Bhed who was wearing a strange looking suit, which looked more like he was going deep sea diving. "Hi. So you're Maester Seymour's son," he looked at Katara who had her arms folded as she stared at Jonathan, "and you're High Summoner Yuna's daughter? You look so much like her."

"Yeah and thanks," Katara said softly. She couldn't take it anymore. She tried to hide what she felt, but she couldn't. "Why are you doing this! Don't you understand machina cannot destroy Sin! You should leave this up to the summoners! That's why we are here to summon the Final Aeon and bring the Calm!"

"I know Lady Katara, but once the Calm ends Sin will return. This operation will destroy Sin for good."

"How can you be so sure when you haven't even tested it on the real thing?"

"Then we will find out today."

"What if you don't live to see the ending result?"

Jonathan interrupted her, "Katara, that's enough with the questions!" He looked at Shinra, "When are you starting?"

"In five minutes. Maybe you should gather your armor and potions," with that Shinra walked off.

Katara ran over to Jonathan with pleading eyes. "I won't watch them suffer! I won't do it! You know what they are doing is useless! You know that, but yet you're doing nothing to stop them! Do you even care for these people!" She shook him, "Do you!"

"You know I do, but if they want to sacrifice their selves to save Spira, then let it be!"

Katara took a step back she couldn't believe those words was coming out of his mouth. Did he actually believe the things that he was saying? It was almost like he was a different person. "So you're serious? I can't stop you," Katara walked off without saying another word. There was nothing she could say to make him change his mind.

"Shinra, are you ready," asked Jonathan.

"Yes, everything is all ready," said Shinra as he stared out at the ocean. "Sin is here!" He watched the large, gigantic fin quickly make its way towards the shore. "Activate barrier!" He pressed the small controller that he held in his hand. Two round machinas that was at the beginning and the end of the beach, glowed a bright, red color. A beam shot up into the sky and spreads up and down the beach forming a large fence-like barrier.

Jonathan stood at Shinra's side and asked, "Will it work?"

"Lets find out." He typed in a number code, the barrier glowed again making a beam in front of it and shoots directly towards Sin. Boom! The beam hits Sin, but barely harms it. Sins makes a loud roar, which could burst your eardrums.

The young Crusader who spoke to Jonathan and Katara earlier held a similar device in his hand. "Sir there is a large crack forming in the middle of the barrier. If Sin sends another attack like that one, the barrier is done for."

Shinra said, "Key in 012..." He stopped talking once Sin sent another blow into barrier, causing it to split down the middle and shatters. Shinra knew there was nothing he could do as he watched Sin rear back and shoots out a very large beam. He said a silent prayer in Al Bhed as everything went black.

Katara was now on the stone bridge to the Djose Temple when she heard a loud explosion coming from Mushroom Rock Road. "No! It can't be!" She quickly summoned Valefor and flew to the site of Operation Destroy Sin. Once she arrived she was welcomed by a departing Sin and a beach full of dead, lifeless bodies. Katara frowned as she flew down low and landed on the beach. She got off of Valefor and walked along the beach, checking everybody she came across hoping to find somebody who was alive. She knew it would be a repeat of the Mi'hen Operation 19 years ago. Her mom and father witnessed the whole thing, but she never thought she would ever have to deal with something this big. I knew it. I knew it. Why? Why did they have to be so stubborn and naive. They knew this would happen again. And Jonathan. How could he be so stupid? So stubborn? From the way my mom described Seymour, it seems like Jonathan does have his genes. The way he dealt with this situation reminds me of Seymour. Near the entrance to the campsite, where Katara left Jonathan and Shinra, it seemed like it took the most damage. The ground was charcoal colored black and it smelled like bodies were being burned. Katara couldn't possibly picture what had happened here. She was worried and afraid. "Jonathan! Shinra! Are you okay! Speak to me!" As she continued to walk, in the distance she saw a large figure and a smaller figure. The larger figure was shaped more like an aeon and the smaller figure was shaped more like a human. Katara stood a few feet away as she watched the large aeon, who was chained down and shrieking as if it was in pain. Anima. Katara watched as the smaller figure fell to the ground. She ran towards the man as Anima vanished. Once she approached the man, she realized that it was Jonathan who had summoned Anima, but she couldn't understand how, when he haven't even visited the temple where Anima is located. She kneeled down to him. "Jonathan? Wake up? Say something! Please! Don't put me through this again!" She managed to place his head in her lap. "Jonathan! Don't die on me! Please don't!" She said as she saw how bruised up his face was. His body felt slightly cold. A sure sign that a person was dead or close to dying. "Jonathan," she cried. "Wake up! I can't loose you! If I do, I don't know what I would do! Don't leave me, please!" As tears streamed down her face, she sighed and said, "Jonathan...I...I...lo...lo..."

Jonathan began to stir and gave her a small smile as he winced from the sharp pain that shot through his body. "Yeah...I know."

Katara had tears of joy streaming down her face as she stared into his blue eyes. She thought she had lost him for good. "You survived!" She wrapped her arms around him. "We gotta get you out here."

"No," he raised up and tried to stand up. "We have to perform the Sending. It's the least we can do." He then used his summoner's rod to hold his balance.

"No let me. You're too weak. It's not like I haven't done it before."

"We should do it together. I feel responsible." He walked out into the ocean slowly, with Katara right behind him. He looked over to her and took a deep breath as he held his rod out into the air. Katara did the same as they twirled their rods into the sky. As two spirals of waters raised them into the sky, the spirals of water entwined with one another, forming one big waterspout. It was more as if they united as one.

Thirty minutes went by once Katara and Jonathan finished the sending. They continued their search to find people who were alive. Even though Jonathan was badly hurt his self, he was determined to heal anybody who needed to be healed, even send them if it was their last and final wish. Jonathan stopped walking as he approached a body that looked familiar. "Shinra," said Jonathan.

Katara stood on the other side of Shinra's body and kneels down. She touches the side of his neck to check for a pulse. "His pulse is still beating, but it's faint."

Shinra began to move a little. "Lady Katara?" he said in a weak voice.

"Yes Shinra."

"You was right...It was a stupid thing...To do."

Jonathan said, "Don't say things like that."

"Could you...Do me a favor...Before I die?"

"Sure, but you're not dying," said Katara.

"Could you go to Bikanel Desert?"

"Yes," said Jonathan.

"There you will find an Al Bhed woman...By the name of Kira...Give her this for me." In his hand was a small black box. He flashed a small, but weak smile and said, "It's her engagement ring...I was going to propose to her when I return." Shinra then closed his eyes.

"Shinra?" asked Katara.

"He's fine. He is just resting," said Jonathan.

Katara casts Float and then summoned Valefor. By casting Float on Shinra and Jonathan, it caused them to float on to Valefor's back. Once they were in a comfortable position. Katara climbed on and order Valefor to fly slow, but fast enough to get them to Djose Temple. Once they arrived at Djose, Katara beckons for the Fayth to open the entrance to the temple. The large stone mountain breaks into huge boulders, which were kept in the air by the gravitational pull of electricity that held the rocks together. Katara then climbed off of Valefor, runs inside the temple and looks for the High Priest of the temple. "Can you help? I have two people who were injured during the Operation Destroy Sin mission."

The priest, a short, bald man, with a long fall colored robe said, "Yes ma'am. We still have room available for the wounded." The priest gathered some men to bring in Shinra and Jonathan, then took them into a room in the back of the temple.

Katara sighed as she sat on the steps to the entrance of the Cloister of Trials. "Why me?"

The priest that helped her earlier walked towards her and asked, "Are you the summoner who beckoned to the Fayth?"

"Yes. My name is..."

The priest interrupted her, "Katara. High Summoner Yuna's only child. And that young man you brought with you is Maester Seymour's son, Jonathan." He turned around and stared at Yuna's statue. "Strangely, Maester Seymour never mentioned him. I thought he was so fond over Lady Yuna, but I guess not."

Katara looked up with a confused look on her face and asked, "What do you mean fond?"

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

The priest faced her once again. "That Maester Seymour and your mother, Lady Yuna was wed?"

"Married! When! Where!"

"It was about 19 years ago in Bevelle. Lady Yuna and Maester Seymour wanted to reunite human and Guado. And also to take the people of Spira's mind off of Sin."

So mother decided to leave that little incident out of the story. "I see."

"Strangely, Yuna tried to send Maester Seymour, but failed to do so."

"So you mean Seymour was already dead."

"Yes. Rumor has it that he murdered his father, Lord Jsycel."

The door to one of the back rooms opened and a voice softly said, "That's enough."

Katara stood up. "Jonathan!"

"I will not let my father's name be deemed as a murderer. Why are you people still believing that rumor. My father would never do such a thing."

The priest bowed, "I was just giving Lady Katara some information."

"You gave her too much information. Whatever wrongdoing that my father did, don't blame it on me. I wasn't born then and I have nothing to do with it."

"Yes, Sir Jonathan." The priest walked passed Katara and softly said, "He is his father's son," then walks away.

Jonathan sighed as he heard the words that the priest said to Katara. He just couldn't understand why people blamed him for the things that his father did. It wasn't his fault. He heard the stories, but he will not believe any word of it. Until, he hears it out of his mother's mouth. "Katara, are you ready?"

Katara was in a slight daze as she tried to figure out the things that the priest had told her. Her mom and dad never mentioned that event to her. Once she heard Jonathan's voice she said, "Yeah, but I think you should rest a little while longer. We have time to rest."

"No, we just took a break three weeks ago in Luca. No more pit stops. Okay?"

"Sure," Katara sighed, "but lets get some rest for now. We can go to the Cloister of Trials in the morning."

"Fine."

The next day Katara waited for Jonathan at the steps to the Cloister of Trials. She yawned since it was so early in the morning. "It's too early." She tried to talk Jonathan into staying at the temple a little longer, but he wouldn't do it. Stubborn. The fact that she was up so early didn't have much to do with why she was so sleepy. She just couldn't get over the things that the priest had told her yesterday. They was down right bothering her. She looked up as she watched Jonathan walk towards her. "Are you ready, Jonathan?"

"Yes." He slowly walked up the stairs and opened the door to the Cloister of Trials. Katara and his self worked together as they placed the stones into the correct portal, forming the lightening aeon's symbol in the middle of the floor. Once they finished, they made their way to the entrance to the Chamber of The Fayth. "You can go in first."

Katara softly said, "Alright." After all the things that she heard from the priest, she felt distant from Jonathan. She wondered, What if my mom did marry Seymour? That would mean me and Jonathan would be brother and sister. She sighed at that thought as she slowly walked up the stairs and into the Chamber of the Fayth.

Jonathan sighed as he hummed the peaceful song that the Fayth sung. He could sense that Katara was a little uncomfortable. He figured it had to be because of what the priest said. Yes, I am Maester Seymour Guado's son, but I would never harm anyone...especially the one that I love. I love Katara too much to harm her or put her in any danger. But by being a summoner, danger kind of follows us.

Twenty minutes later Katara reemerged from the Chamber of The Fayth. She smiled at him as she sat down next to him. "Your go," she softly said.

"You look weak," said Jonathan. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes I'm fine," she smiled, "Go inside the Chamber. I'll be fine. I just need to rest that's all."

"Okay," he said as he smiled at her and entered the Chamber of the Fayth.

As Jonathan and Katara exited the Cloister of Trials a young Al Bhed girl, around the age of fifteen ran towards them crying and yelling in Al Bhed. "Ra'c kuha! Ra'c kuha! " (He's gone! He's gone!)

Katara looked over at Jonathan and then to the girl, who most likely could not speak English. "Lyms tufh." (Calm down.) She waited for the young girl to calm down. "Huf, fru'c kuha?" (Now, who's gone?)

The girl tries to hold back her tears, but they continued to flow out. She managed to get out, "Crehny. Ra...Ra...Ra...fyc so pacd vneaht. E lysa fedr res vnus Pegyham Tacand du ramb fedr dra secceuh. E syhykat du aclyba yht vummufat oui, Myto Gydyny du Tzuca. Rana dra baubma rambat sa. E...E...E druikrd dryd Crehny fyc tuehk veha, pid ed caasc mega rec fuihtc fyc duu silr vun res du ryhtma." (Shinra. He...He...He...was my best friend. I came with him from Bikanel Desert to help with the mission. I managed to escape and followed you, Lady Katara to Djose. Here the people helped me. I...I...I thought that Shinra was doing fine, but it seems like his wounds were too much for him to handle.)

Katara gasped as she tried to hold back her own tears. "Pid ra fyc tuehk cu kuut!" (But he was doing so good!)

"Ruf lyh E buccepmo ku pylg yht damm Geny! E fyc cibbuca du bnudald res! Fryd femm sus drehg?" (How can I possibly go back and tell Kira! I was suppose to protect him! Oh what will mom think?)

Jonathan softly said, "Mom?" He looked at the girl, "Ec Crehny ouin pnudran?" (Is Shinra your brother?)

"Oac." (Yes.)

Katara said, "Ajanodrehk femm pa zicd veha. E bnuseca oui dryd." (Everything will be just fine. I promise you that.) She bowed, "Ed fuimt pa yh ruhun ev oui fuimt mad sa caht res?" (It would be an honor if you would let me send him?)

"E's cunno Myto Gydyny, pid yc yh Ym Prat E lyh'd mad oui tu dryd. Ed fuimt pa hela yh ymm, pid Crehny'c yh Ym Prat duu yht fa tu hud pameaja eh Oajuh. E's mayjehk huf yht dygehk rec puto fedr sa." (I'm sorry Lady Katara, but as an Al Bhed I can't let you do that. It would be nice an all, but Shinra's an Al Bhed too and we do not believe in Yevon. I'm leaving now and taking his body with me.)

"Pid ypuid dra desa oui syga ed du Pegyham, rec puto fuimt pa talyoehk un ajah dinh ehdu y veaht. Rec cuim luimt lusa yvdan oui. Bmayca, mad sa caht res." (But about the time you make it to Bikanel, his body would be decaying or even turn into a fiend. His soul could come after you. Please, let me send him.)

"Hu, Myto Gydyny! E ryja so ufh fyo uv kaddehk so pnudran pylg du Pegyham!"(No, Lady Katara! I have my own way of getting my brother back to Bikanel!) She lowered her voice, "E dryhg oui vun ouin uvvan." (I thank you for your offer.) The young girl began to walk off.

"Fyed!" (Wait!)

The girl looked over her shoulder, "Rir?" (Huh?)

"E teth'd kad ouin hysa." (I didn't get your name.)

"So hysa ec Wahy." (My name is Zena.)

"Kuut milg du oui," said Jonathan and Katara. (Good luck to you.)

"Oui duu." (You too.)