Chapter 9: Escape from Bevelle

When Yuna awoke in the prayer chamber, she stretched and sprawled her limbs across the cushions upon which she lay, and crooned softly, sighing as she felt the strength returning to her body. She stood up soon and left the chamber to find Seymour.

Yuna went to the main chamber and found it under heavy guard, but the Yevon soldiers did not interfere with her. She walked into the study room across the temple, and found Seymour standing in front of the book case within once she entered. When he noticed her presence he turned to her with a friendly grin.

"Feeling better?" He asked her.

"Yeah. What's next for us?" She asked him with an upbeat tone, attempting to be amicable. Seymour's smile widened.

"We'll go back to the citadel and prepare for the journey to Remiem Temple. You can train with your new Aeon as well. But first, let's have dinner!" He suggested.

"Sure! Where?" She asked eagerly.

"At the banquet hall in the citadel, of course." He replied. Yuna sulked slightly, and tried unsuccessfully to hide it.

"Okay!" She said. Seymour grinned and looked upon her sympathetically.

"I know you'd rather spend the night out on the town, but as a Maester I can't exactly be seen running about informally. It's important to maintain the proper image, of course. I apologize…" He said. Yuna shook her head.

"No, it's fine. I'd love to dine with you anywhere." She said. She was feigning, she thought, but perhaps it would make things easier for her. Seymour seemed to have taken it sincerely.

"That's very kind of you…" He said warmly, and he took her hand and walked with her out of the temple.

"It's a wonderful day… I hope that the weather is nice when we walk to the Calm Lands." Yuna remarked, making conversation.

"It should be… the storm clouds rarely make their way around Mount Gagazet and Sin's Wake… that's why they call it the Calm Lands." He said, teasing her with a grin. Yuna giggled.

"Well that's good news!" She said.

"Haven't you ever been there before, Lady Yuna?" Seymour asked. Yuna shook her head.

"No, I've never been further north than Macalania. After my father passed away and the Calm began, it was Sir Auron who sent Kimahri to find me here in Bevelle. He took me to Besaid, and that was my home until the pilgrimage." Yuna told him.

"I see… you were seven then?" Seymour asked.

"Yes. I had my birthday after my father left on his pilgrimage." Yuna replied.

"And did your mother have a party for you?" He asked. Yuna shook her head.

"My mother died when I was very little. I only have a few memories of her. She died when Sin flooded the lower districts of Bevelle with a typhoon." Yuna said, a bit hesitantly. She regretted bringing it up now.

"It's a tragedy… how much we've all lost because of Sin. No child should have to endure such things. If I have my way, no more children ever will." Seymour said gloomily.

"I miss them… but they gave me the determination to start my pilgrimage and see it through to the end." Yuna said proudly. Seymour nodded sullenly.

"Indeed. It has made you strong. But in the future, there will be no more need for the pilgrimage, or for any more suffering and fear. Those things bring strength, but they make life bitter and cold, and darken a person's heart and mind." Seymour reflected.

"I'm sorry…" Yuna said softly. Seymour looked upon her curiously.

"For what, Yuna?" He asked.

"I didn't realize that I seemed that way. I shouldn't speak about such things. Perhaps it has made me bitter." Yuna said apologetically. Seymour shook his head and stopped, taking her hand in both of his.

"Not you, Yuna. That's not what I meant… you've always been gentle and kind. I've only seen warmth and compassion from you." Seymour insisted.

"Thank you…" Yuna said bashfully, gazing at the ground. "Do you really think so?"

"Of course. I wouldn't care for you otherwise. I think you are a wonderful young woman." Seymour affirmed.

"So perhaps then, tragedy doesn't always create bitterness? You know… in Besaid there are some old ruins in the forest, where I used to play as a girl, and every year in the typhoon season they flood. After the floods recede, the Hibiscus flowers blossom all over the ruins. Sometimes, sweet things can bloom even in the harshest circumstances… maybe even because of them." Yuna suggested to him. Seymour looked upon her with a poignant smile.

"When I hear you say that, it almost convinces me. But the harshness of life can grind down the spirit and break the heart…" Seymour argued.

"It can, certainly. Hard times bring out the best and the worst in people… that's what my father told me once. He warned to be wise and prudent with everyone that I met." Yuna said. Seymour nodded with a grin.

"Ahh… he taught you well." Seymour agreed knowingly. Yuna was quiet then, and they walked along in silence for a moment, until they reached the plaza at the entrance of the city. Yuna spoke again as they crossed it.

"Is that really how you see life, as bitter and dark?" She asked him. Seymour hesitated before he spoke.

"That's how it has been for me." He answered.

"Well… maybe that should change. Don't you think?" She asked.

"Oh certainly, it will soon." He agreed.

"I meant before that, of course." She continued.

"Hmmm… how could it?" He asked.

"I don't know… but a little compassion goes a long way, doesn't it?" She suggested.

"I wish it were so for me… but to be honest, Yuna, I have never known how to receive or to give compassion. It has always been foreign to me." He admitted.

"Never?" She asked, incredulous.

"Not since the death of my mother. Her kindness was the last I have ever known. But she didn't have the power to keep me from the sorrows and horrors of the world. She died trying… and with her I lost everything but my powers and my status in the world. That is all I have, and all I've needed since then." Seymour reflected solemnly.

"But what about love?" Yuna asked him.

"Love? Well… I don't believe I ever understood it. Do you, young lady Yuna?" He asked her, coming to a stop in the middle of the plaza. They stood gazing at each other with bleak sincerity.

"I do. Perhaps not completely, but yes, I know what it is." She said confidently. Seymour released her hand then.

"Don't be too certain, Lady Yuna. Life repeatedly teaches us our error, in showing us how much we don't know." He advised her austerely, and then he beckoned for her to follow him as he turned and strode away to the entrance of the citadel. Yuna followed him slowly, and reluctantly. She felt the fear and sense of dread returning to her then. She could not predict what Seymour might do next.

Aboard the Fahrenheit, Paine was standing in the upper levels of the ship, nearby the windows where she had first spoken with Barthello. She thought of him then. Barthello himself was with Isaaru and his brothers, palling around and training perhaps, studying, talking, laughing. They all seemed to enjoy a natural camaraderie with each other. It irritated Paine, because it meant that he was never alone and she had no opportunities to approach him one-on-one. She sighed deeply as she gazed out the windows to the clear blue sky and white clouds of late morning. It was an hour till noon. Their flight would be over soon, and she had no idea what to expect on their mission to the capital. Her bright red-amber eyes gleamed with melancholy and anxiety. She saw a bright figure reflected in the glass then. She glanced to her side. It was Rikku.

"What'cha thinkin' about?" The bright, blond girl asked her chipperly. It irritated Paine even further to see her, so beaming with exuberance and pleasure. She remembered what Lulu had told her, however, and she realized that she had no reason to be so incensed against Rikku. She calmed herself and spoke.

"The rescue mission." She lied.

"Yeah, me too. I can't wait to get Yunie free, but I'm worried about what might happen." Rikku said, coming down from her apparent playfulness and whimsicalness.

"You're very devoted to saving her. I admire that." Paine said, attempting to be accommodating. Rikku nodded with a firm grin.

"Yup yup! And I'll never give up!" Rikku affirmed gladly.

"That's good." Paine said, and she gazed back out the window. After a moment she spoke again. "So after we rescue Yuna, then what?" Paine asked.

"We'll take her back Home with us, and keep her safe, until we can think of a way to defeat Sin." Rikku said.

"You really think you can find another way?" Paine asked her.

"We have to! I mean, we can't just keep sacrificing more people!" Rikku insisted. Paine nodded in acceptance.

"I understand. I'll help, if I can." Paine offered. Rikku smiled and perked up immediately.

"Thank you! I'm glad you're with us! Thank you, for volunteering to rescue Yuna. I'm sure she must be a great friend to you. She's lucky to have you as a friend too." Rikku praised her. Paine grinned gratefully.

"She's a great person. She saved my life, and took me in when I had nowhere to go. I owe her… and I want her to have a better life." Paine said. Rikku smiled appreciatively.

"You finally told me! Remember I asked you before, how you became Yuna's guardian. So what happened?" Rikku prodded her.

"I was wounded in Operation Mi'ihen. She found me sitting on the side of the road to Djose, and healed me, and helped me reach the temple. That night she and I went out healing the wounded, and I watched her send the dead off to the Farplane. I could see the sorrow and compassion in her while she danced. I felt her anguish and hope then… I could sense her purpose and why she does what she does. I knew then that she's special… and deserves to live. I knew I had to protect her." Paine told her. Rikku clapped her hands and jumped up excitedly.

"I knew there was a good story behind it! Thank you for telling me. You know, I always thought you were tough and cold, but you've got a heart of gold, haven't you?" Rikku teased her with a pat on the shoulder. Paine scoffed then, and changed the subject.

"So, where's your stud at?" She asked bluntly.

"Oh, Tidus? He's still asleep. It was a late night for us." Rikku said.

"Sure." Paine said shortly. Rikku still didn't let it rest, however.

"You know, he told me something interesting… he said that he saw you walk into the palm trees with Barthello, one day while we were out on the oasis. He said you two were gone for a long time. Did you and Barthello find something interesting back there?" Rikku taunted her with a smug grin. Paine felt a surge of power and fury flood up through her veins, and her forehead was hot with rage, so much so that she nearly snapped, but she took a deep breath and let it out, and then answered calmly.

"Maybe we did, maybe we didn't." She said in a cryptic tone. Rikku frowned, but then shrugged indifferently.

"Well that's okay… I didn't want to know anyway." Rikku said, feigning disinterest.

"What a shame… I was just about to tell you." Paine said, and she lifted up a finger and tapped it on Rikku's nose. Then she began to walk away. Rikku stumbled back and then hurried after her, grabbing hold of her arm.

"Wait! What happened! Tell me!" Rikku begged. Paine laughed then. She was amazed by how quickly her wrath was melted away.

"Well, we went to a nice little glen there, and I laid down on a bed of soft palm leaves. I asked him to rub some oil on me…" Paine said, leading her on.

"And? What did he do?" Rikku asked eagerly.

"He rubbed it all over my body… he has really strong hands, his grip is firm but gentle… just about the perfect touch, in fact." Paine continued.

"So then what?" Rikku demanded greedily.

"We talked about his home island, and I told him a little about me, and we made a vow to respect each other." Paine said. Rikku gazed at her in puzzlement.

"And what happened next?" She asked impatiently.

"That was it. We went back to the airship. He hasn't spoken to me since, really." Paine replied plainly, and bitterly as well.

"Huh? Seriously? He didn't try to take you?" Rikku asked in disbelief.

"No. I invited him to, but he said that his culture forbids it. I'm really furious about it, actually. Can you keep a secret for me?" Paine asked, putting her on the spot. Rikku leaned back against the window and crossed her arms.

"Sure, I won't tell anyone. I'm sorry to hear about that… but you know, maybe you'll find someone better." Rikku suggested. Paine shook her head in refusal.

"Well that's the problem; I really want Barthello, and no one else. So, I need another favor from you. Lulu said that she would help me, and told me to ask for your help too. Can you teach me how to win him over?" Paine asked her, gazing at the floor in shame. Rikku stepped up to her and put her hands on Paine's shoulders.

"Hey, cheer up! We can surely have him chasing after you in no time!" Rikku assured her.

"I don't know if it will be all that easy… he's a very pious man, and he takes himself very seriously." Paine lamented. Rikku shrugged.

"Don't all boys take themselves too seriously?" Rikku said, undaunted. "That's fine, just play along with their ego. But boys like girls because we don't take ourselves too seriously. We know how to have fun and be silly, we're not ashamed to be soft, sweet and sentimental. You can do that, right?" Rikku asked her. Paine hesitated.

"I don't know… I've always been independent, and serious myself. I've always wanted respect, I've never wanted to let anyone see me vulnerable." Paine admitted.

"Well, maybe that's what we should work on first. Come on, let's go to my room and come up with a plan." Rikku urged her, and they hurried down from the walkway to the elevator, and down to their quarters. When they entered Rikku's room she went to her counter and turned on the sphere monitor. She found a music station and turned the volume up just enough to fill the room with a background tune.

"So what should I do?" Paine asked.

"I dunno... do what comes natural, I guess. You should talk to Lulu about luring a man. She probably knows more than me; she's older and she's been married before, after all. She's very mature and womanly. Me, well, I'm just a girl. Tidus already knew that he wanted me. I think you need to learn how to act like a girl, and play innocent, and be sweet. You know, boys go through a lot to protect girls. They like to be our 'guardians' in a way, right? So let him do that for you. I think it will bring him closer to you." Rikku suggested.

"Okay… but how can I do that? I'm a fighter, and a veteran, and I have to be ready for battle. How can I act like a girl in the middle of all that?" Paine asked doubtfully.

"Well, not in battle of course, but in all of the little things that you do and say. Oh! I think I have an idea now!" Rikku said excitedly.

"What is it?" Paine asked.

"In a few days, back Home there will be a celebration. It's the last full moon before the monsoon season hits Bikanel, and it's also the night that the senior students graduate school and hold a ball. All the Al-Bhed people celebrate with parties, dances, and big feasts, sometimes bonfires out on the sand dunes, and all kinds of fun stuff. We might be able to go, if we make it out of Bevelle. If we do, we should get dressed up and try to take the boys there with us. Can you dance?" Rikku asked.

"No… not at all." Paine admitted.

"Okay, then let's work on that, and we can try on some of my dresses. I know I've got a good look for you somewhere in here." Rikku said as she skipped to her closet and slid open the doors.

"Learn to dance?" Paine said in dismay.

"Of course! I'm betting that Barthello doesn't know how either… usually the man leads the dance, but you're strong; you might be able to lead him gently without making it obvious to anyone else. Come on, let's practice! Here, follow with me!" Rikku said, taking Paine's hand and putting one arm around her waist. Paine stumbled and stepped clumsily along with her. Rikku immediately recognized the problem, and glanced down at Paine's heavy combat boots. "Here, take off your boots; we'll have to find you some better shoes in here." Rikku said, and she went back to rummaging through her closet, until she found a pair of sleek black heels.

"High heels? No way…" Paine recoiled.

"You're going to have to get used to walking gracefully in these. We better start now!" Rikku urged her. Paine realized suddenly that this was not going to be easy, at all. She also realized that she could never do it without genuinely becoming Rikku's best friend. It would be far too embarrassing to undergo with anything less than a best friend. She gritted her teeth and went along with everything Rikku could throw at her, though deep down she had to admit that it was the first time in her life that she had truly had fun as a girl.

Auron awoke in his room where he sat in his cushioned chair. He stood up briskly and stretched his back and his arms, and his whole body. He was surprised; ordinarily it would have made him incredibly sore and stiff to sleep in such a position, but now he felt rested and energetic, and in fact eager for activity. He dropped forward onto the floor and started doing pushups, and he was once again surprised to find that he could do much more than he ever thought he could have. He stood up after this exercise and looked into the mirror on the counter beside him. His tawny skin was looking healthier, and his hair was still dark, and his face looked smoother and younger, as it had the previous night. The muscles of his arms seemed to be bulging and toned, and larger than before.

He knew that this could only be explained by the life force that had entered him while he prayed at the shrine on top of Khaibar Peak. He felt strong and rejuvenated in a way he had not felt for ten years at least. He quickly grabbed his red coat and but on his sword belt and the two swords given to him by the sages, and then he left his room to go to the control center. As the doors hissed open for him and he entered the chamber, he found Cid and Tidus standing near the sphere in the center of the floor, while the rest of their companions stood by the sides of the room.

"We'll be there in about an hour, Sir Auron. Are you ready for this?" Cid asked him.

"I'm ready. I hope the rest of you are too. We're only getting one chance to do this, so let's make it count. I want all of you to assure me that you're going to follow orders and be disciplined. I don't want this operation to be botched by any vain heroics or impatience on our part. Understood?" Auron demanded. All of his companions nodded, though Tidus did so with a grim look on his young face. Auron turned from him and faced the two old sages who came striding quietly into the control room.

"We wish you blessings and fortune on your mission, Sir Auron. Personally I do hope you make it back out. We need you." Morihei said to him.

"What, you're not coming along?" Auron asked with a grin. Musashi scoffed.

"Seen enough fighting for one lifetime, old boy. But you all go ahead and enjoy yourselves." He said to Auron.

"We'll pray for you, with all our spirit." Morihei assured him. Auron nodded, and then Cid approached and spoke to him.

"Sir Auron, take this comm device with you… you'll be able to reach Rikku with it. You might have a use for it down there." Cid offered him a small machina handheld device. Auron took it from him and then turned to speak to the others.

"We'll divide into teams. I'll use this to call on you when you're needed. Don't do anything until then, agreed?" He asked Tidus, who nodded in acceptance. Cid spoke up then.

"Alright, I'll be dropping you off in the Calm Lands as promised. Once you've got Yuna, have Rikku send me a signal and I'll come back there to pick you up." Cid reminded them. Auron nodded and took a seat in one of the chairs on the side of the room. After another hour of flight, they were hovering over the vast grassy fields of the Calm Lands. The party went down in the manlift and stepped out into the middle of the plains. Tidus gazed around across these new surroundings. The light, yellow-brown grasses and scattered cracks and steppes of the Calm Lands seemed to be peaceful and quiet, yet bleak perhaps. Mount Gagazet loomed in the distance to the north.

"This is a nice place…" Tidus remarked softly. Rikku stepped up beside him and spoke.

"It's where summoners used to battle Sin, after getting the Final Fayth from Zanarkand. That's why it's so desolate." Rikku said.

"Many summoners lose their way here, or get discouraged and turn back." Lulu added.

"We'll pass through here again soon enough, I suppose. I'll be ready then." Isaaru said confidently.

"Well, for now we'd better get to Bevelle and rescue Yuna…" Tidus said, turning back southward.

"Not yet. First we need to go to the trading post and pick out some cover… we need to disguise ourselves before we try to enter the city. Otherwise they'll spot us immediately." Auron said. Tidus shrugged impatiently, and followed along as Auron led them to the middle of the Calm Lands where a small group of tents stood, the last trading post on the road to Gagazet and Zanarkand. As they approached it, they saw two young Ronso children spot them, and then run northward up to the mountain pass.

"What's up with them?" Tidus asked.

"Don't know, but maybe we should hurry out of here just in case." Auron replied. They went into the dusty grounds of the bazaar and shopped through the clothing. Auron took a red cloak with a large cowl that could partially cover his face. Isaaru, Maroda and Barthello took brown cloaks of the same design, Lulu and Paine took black robes, and Rikku found a green robe. Tidus took the last one available, it was a darker burnished red, and somewhat tawny brown. They paid the merchant and then set off toward the south again, carrying their robes slung over their backs. Before they had gone far, they heard heavy footsteps behind them. Auron turned and put a hand on the pommel of his daito. The rest of the party looked back to see a pair of Ronso warriors rushing to intercept them. It was Biran and Yenke.

"What's the meaning of this?" Auron asked impatiently.

"Maybe they're still mad about what happened in Luca…" Tidus suggested. Soon the two Ronso had reached them and came to a stop before them.

"Sir Auron! We heard that you had come this way. Lord Kelk Ronso ordered some boys to keep watch on the Calm Lands until you arrived. He wishes to speak with you." Yenke said boisterously.

"I'm afraid we cannot go with you now. We have a mission in Bevelle that we must see to first."

"If you come to Gagazet, Lord Kelk would offer you help; he knows of a plot by Yevon, and Maester Seymour himself. We were told by Kimahri when he arrived on the mountain a week ago." Yenke informed him.

"Kimahri is alive?!" Auron asked in shock. Yenke shook his head.

"He came limping home, badly wounded. He was Unsent. After he told us of the ambush at Macalania, he left Mount Gagazet and went down into Sin's Scar. He has not been seen since then." Yenke explained. Auron grimaced with sorrow and displeasure. He knew that camaraderie obligated him to see the Ronso brave sent off to a better fate, and yet he had no time to do so now.

"We already know of Seymour's plans. We have to rescue Yuna, and complete our pilgrimage as soon as possible." Auron replied.

"It will be dangerous. Pilgrimages have been forbidden by Yevon now. New summoners who try to start, have been arrested and imprisoned beneath Bevelle. Maester Kelk left the city when he knew of this. Seymour is gathering many people from Spira into the city for his wedding in two weeks. He has ordered that no Temple business may be conducted until after the ceremony. He wishes to finish the pilgrimage with Lady Yuna himself, before anyone else." Yenke said. Auron nodded.

"Yes, we know. Still, we have to do our duty. We have to try." Auron said firmly. Yenke nodded.

"We go with you, if you need strong warriors to assist you." Biran offered. Auron nodded respectfully.

"We could use all the help we can get… but we're going to try to do this quietly at first. I'm sending Isaaru and his friends to try to sneak into the Temple and commune with the Fayth there. Once they've gotten out, we're going to break into Yevon's citadel and rescue Yuna. After that we'll have to escape as quickly as we can, any way that we can. You think you're ready for that?" Auron asked.

"Ronso always ready! We march!" Yenke said, and then he and Biran took the lead while the party continued on the way to Macalania woods, on the road to Bevelle. In the woods they all donned their cloaks and threw up their cowls, and they allowed the two Ronso to enter the city first and take their positions in the plaza.

"You three go first, to the temple. Get into the cloister of trials and complete the rituals as quickly and quietly as you can. Once you're done, get out of there and try to remain undetected. Wait for us at the plaza with the Ronso… once we get Yuna out we're most likely going to have fight our way across the plaza and the Highbridge." Auron said.

"We will do our utmost, Sir Auron! Good luck…" Isaaru said, bowing to the old warrior. Barthello saluted Auron and spoke.

"May the Valor protect you all, and good luck, Sir Auron!" He said. With that, Isaaru, Barthello and Maroda all strode out of the woods and down the road to the Highbridge. Auron waited for a while to let the other two groups get into the city, then he strode forward, leading his companions onto the wide, majestic tiles and tall pillars of the Highbridge. They walked down the mile-long bridge, and as they neared the bright and burnished red architecture of the city plaza, Auron beckoned for Lulu to follow him, while motioning for Tidus, Rikku and Paine to break off and take to the opposite side of the plaza. When they arrived at the end of the Highbridge, they saw Biran and Yenke loitering in the plaza, pretending to peruse the wares of some merchants who had set up a wagon there. Auron and Lulu walked by in front of the entrance to Yevon's citadel, and the two guards on either side of it paid them no heed. They walked to the street that led toward the city temple, and waited by an alley there, watching for Isaaru and the others to return. Tidus, Rikku and Paine sat on the side of a glistening fountain near the center of the plaza. There they waited.

Meanwhile, Isaaru, Maroda and Barthello had entered Bevelle Temple without any notice by the priests and guards. There were only a few Yevon soldiers outside on the temple steps. Once within, they found the main chamber of the temple mostly empty. An old priest strode out from the prayer room and was heading toward the library.

"May I help you?" He asked them.

"We're just here to pray." Isaaru answered him plainly. The priest nodded, and then went on his way. They were left alone in the quiet chamber.

"Maroda, you go into the prayer room. If he comes back and asks about us, tell him that we forgot our hymn books and went back to the hotel to retrieve them." Isaaru told his brother. Maroda nodded and obeyed. Barthello and Isaaru swiftly ascended the steps to the cloister of trials, and opened the doors quietly. Once within they found many machina devices employed within the cloister. It was far less of a challenge than they had anticipated.

"There's a lot of machina in this temple…" Isaaru said disdainfully.

"Consistent with the hypocrisy of Yevon that we've seen so far… don't you think?" Barthello said. Isaaru nodded with a grim look on his youthful face.

"Indeed. I don't know what to trust anymore. It seems there is betrayal everywhere and everything I thought I knew has turned out a lie or a half-truth." Isaaru said.

"Trust in yourself, and in your true companions. Trust Sir Auron; I know that he is in this for the good. The rest of it makes no difference; we never imagined saving the world would be easy, did we?" Barthello said with a friendly grin.

"Perhaps I did… I was naive. I took the easy path. It would have been easy just to go through with the pilgrimage and sacrifice myself, and never have to think twice about it." Isaaru remarked bleakly.

"True… it's too easy for men to die in the name of duty, never questioning orders or asking themselves if there is a better way. Sometimes it may be necessary, but ours is the honorable path now. We've dared to know and dared to act, even against the whole world, in order to save it. Surely there can be no nobler way." Barthello assured him.

"You're right… and I'm glad to hear it. I've come to trust you, my friend. I can honestly say that you've become my strength. Thank you." Isaaru said gratefully. Barthello smiled contentedly.

"You honor me, Lord Isaaru." Barthello said, with genuine pride.

"The honor is mine… but there should be no more titles or formalities among us from now on. I was only a lord through Yevon, after all, and if I were to be discovered in my quest now I would be excommunicated or worse. You may simply call me Isaaru." The young summoner said. Barthello nodded.

"Very well, though I think that propriety on the part of our quest is higher than any of the titles or formalities of the corrupted institutions of Yevon. It is only a gesture of dignity and devotion in the fraternity of our cause." Barthello suggested to him. Isaaru's face brightened and he nodded in agreement.

"Of course! I see now that you're correct. A brotherhood is what we truly are… from now on, we should refer to each other as such. I'm glad that you were wise enough to propose the idea, Brother Barthello!" Isaaru said happily. Barthello nodded in deep gratitude.

"Aye, a brotherhood! We'll make it so, Brother Isaaru. When the time comes we shall all be sworn into it together. In spirit, we shall all be united as brethren!" Barthello said with cheer. The two of them laughed heartily, and continued through the cloister until they arrived at the chamber of the Fayth. Isaaru entered then, and sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the Fayth statue. As the Fayth began to glow, and appeared in the spirit before him, Isaaru greeted the visage of the young boy.

"I have come to seek your aid. Will you help me in my quest to defeat Sin?" he asked. The apparition nodded.

"Yes, I will go with you." The boy answered.

"Thank you… can you tell me, do you think that this time will be the last? Will Sin finally be destroyed, and Spira liberated?" Isaaru asked him.

"It is difficult to say what may happen to Spira when Sin is gone… however, I do feel that this will be the end of Sin. It is what we have all come to desire now, for even the Fayth wish for our burdens to be over. There are a few among you now, who can make this the end after all. We shall see, if they can find it in them to finish the quest. In many ways, it is up to you, young summoner. I think you can do it, if you are determined to." The boy answered, and then he stepped forth and merged into Isaaru's body, and was gone. Isaaru felt a haze come over him then and he leaned over, propping himself up with his hands on the glass capsule of the Fayth. He was dizzy and tired, from the strain of merging with the Fayth. He felt his body was heavier now, having gained something extra. He remained conscious, however, and sat for a few minutes until he was able to stand up and shuffle slowly out of the chamber.

"It's done, Brother. Let's go to rejoin the others now." Isaaru said to Barthello. The mighty guardian nodded, and took hold of his arm to help him out of the temple.

On the plaza, Auron and Lulu stood together by an alley entrance nearby the road to the temple. Lulu spoke to him in a hushed voice.

"Do you think they'll make it out safely?" She asked him.

"They should… if not, they'll be fighting their way out. In that case, we'll have to break into the citadel quickly and then fight through on our own; they won't be able to help us." Auron surmised.

"I don't know who to pray to anymore… I only wish that this would work out in our favor." Lulu said wistfully.

"Maybe the time for prayer has passed." Auron said plainly. Lulu nodded slightly in acceptance, though reluctantly.

"Yes, I think you're right… still, I can't help wishing for hope… I wish there was some higher power to protect us all." She said.

"There is. I felt it on top of Khaibar Mountain. There are powers in the world that work for the good, and they work with us or through us. Now we have to do our part." Auron assured her. Lulu smiled then, and the light of her pale face and fiery amber eyes was magnificent. Auron was entranced by it for that instant.

"I'm glad… hearing you say that gives me courage." She said warmly, and then Auron felt her hand take hold of his. They gazed upon each other in yearning then, but Auron saw her eyes turn to the street behind him. "There they are… they've made it out!" She said with relief. Auron turned down the street and saw Isaaru, Barthello and Maroda approaching. He led Lulu by the hand then, and walked toward the citadel. He stayed out of sight of the guards, and stopped to send Lulu on her own mission.

"Go over to the merchant's wagon and tell Yenke to start arguing with you and the shopkeep. Try to get the guards involved, and I'll go into the citadel." He told her. Lulu went forth nonchalantly to do as he ordered. Auron held back and waited, while Lulu approached the wagon and did as he asked, giving the hint to the Ronso braves without alerting anyone else to what she was doing. Soon Yenke began to shout boisterously, and the shopkeeper waved his arms for help. The guards standing by the doors to the citadel looked on with concern for all the commotion, and soon they went across the plaza to investigate. Auron took his chance then and quickly slid into the doors of the citadel, and made his way up to the higher plaza of Yevon, and then into Yevon headquarters. He went on his way leisurely, drawing no attention from the acolytes and guards within. He went unnoticed until he entered the headquarters building, and a minister came striding across the misty chamber to greet him.

"Pardon me, have you got some official business with the Maester's?" The priestess asked him pointedly. Auron turned to her with a gentle nod and spoke unhurriedly.

"Yes, I was sent to speak with Maester Seymour regarding some details for his wedding ceremony. The Curator of the temple said it was important to have his approval soon." Auron said. The priestess nodded cheerfully then and gave him directions to Seymour's chambers. Auron bowed to her respectfully and then went on his way through the dim, cold hallways of the headquarters. He slipped by in the shadowy corridors, and watched his surroundings. He felt instinctively urged to open his ghost eye, and through it he saw the energy trails and the auras of those in his sight, as well as the path of their stream of consciousness. He could see that their spirits were diminished, dark in fact, as if the mood of the whole citadel hung heavily upon them. As he rounded the last corner on the way to Seymour's chambers, he saw a guard standing there, gazing wearily in front of him. Auron could see that the guard was not aware of him, nor was he very intently keeping watch. Still, he had no time and there was no other way around. Auron took out his wakizashi and hurled it spinning toward the guard, and the blade slid into his neck. The Yevon soldier was killed instantly.

Auron hurried forth then and recovered his weapon, and he opened the door to the chamber to peer inside with his spectral gaze. He detected Yuna's aura and was aware of her thoughts, but he could not sense Seymour within. He saw that her spirit was a melancholy blue haze, anguished and unfocused. She longed to be free. Auron felt regret then. He should never have left her in the custody of Seymour, in spite of the hardship it would have caused the party. He shut his ghost eye then and entered the chamber swiftly. He strode toward Yuna as she stood in front of the narrow window, gazing down upon the city streets. She heard him and turned around, and her face immediately lit up, her eyes widened with bewilderment.

"Sir Auron!" She cried out. Auron quickly pressed a finger over her slender lips.

"Shhh… I'm here to get you out of Bevelle. We need to go now, and stay hidden." Auron told her. Yuna gazed upon him in silence, and finally nodded. She couldn't believe what she felt then: hesitance. She was not sure if she should leave with him or not, but she went with him anyway.

"Alright… I'm ready." She said. Auron gazed upon her with concern.

"Are you okay?" He asked her softly.

"Yes, I'll be fine. But be careful, Sir Auron… I don't want any harm to come to you. You should not have come… you should leave now while you can." Yuna urged him anxiously. Auron shook his head in refusal.

"I'm not leaving you here. You have to escape now; we won't get another chance." He said insistently.

"Why? What has happened?" Yuna asked fearfully.

"There are things you need to know… it's worse than we all thought. There's no time now; I'll tell you later." Auron said.

"What happened to the others? Is Tidus here? Where are Wakka and Lulu?" She asked him.

"The others are waiting for me to call on them. We need to get out of here. Let's go…" Auron urged her, and he took hold of her hand and led her out of the chamber and through the hallways. As they were nearing the main chamber of the headquarters and the entrance, suddenly Auron had a creeping feeling come over his skin and the back of his neck. He pulled Yuna up against the corner with him, and he peered around with his opened ghost eye. He saw Seymour's aura then, and finally knew him for what he was. It was a blazing red aura, that of a fire dragon coiled around Seymour's form, with its scales covering his skin and its fangs piercing his heart chakra, and its dark talons injecting venomous hatred and fury into his nadii. Smoke and dark haze surrounded him, and the dragon's bright fiery eyes gleamed above Seymour's own icy blue pupils. Auron could see that Seymour was nearly aware of something gone awry. The Maester was speaking with the priestess and with several guards, and then he stormed off down the opposite hall toward the chambers of Maester Mika and Kinoc. Once Seymour had gone, Auron spoke in a hushed tone to Yuna.

"Stay behind me, and no matter what happens keep going. Once we get outside, run for the plaza as fast as you can." Auron told her. Yuna nodded nervously. Auron took out the comm device then and called to Rikku. "We're coming out now. Get ready to fight." He said, and then he put the device away and strode hastily across the floor with Yuna right behind him. He heard the priestess calling to him as they went for the doors, but he said nothing in response and once they were outside he saw three soldiers coming down the upper plaza. Auron flung off his cloak then and unsheathed both of his swords, and in the next instant he sprang forward into combat.

Before the Yevon soldiers could react, he had slid his blades through them all, severing limbs and slicing through torsos, cleaving organs, spilling fountains of blood. All three of them collapsed onto the stone floor at once. Yuna was running toward the steps down to the main plaza and the Highbridge entrance. Auron immediately rushed after her. He heard screams behind him, and as soon as he reached the lower plaza he could hear sirens and alarms sounding. He heard the sound of boots thudding on the pavement behind him. He saw that Yuna was rushing toward the middle of the plaza, where Tidus, Rikku and Paine all flung off their cloaks and rushed to surround her. Biran and Yenke took up their spears then and impaled the two guards who had come to mediate between them and the merchants. Lulu brought up her magic into her palms and prepared herself; a handful of soldiers had heard the sirens and were rushing down the Highbridge toward the plaza. (The battle of Bevelle theme is "Kishikaisei" by Wagakki)

Tidus led his companions to clash with the soldiers at the entrance to the bridge, but soon a whole platoon of quick-response soldiers came marching into the plaza from the garrison inside the city. Barthello and Maroda shed their robes then, and the two Ronso braves joined them as they intercepted and forestalled the platoon from crossing the plaza. They met with a bloody and brutal crash, breaking open the ranks of soldiers and crossing through them to the other side, and once behind them they turned back and smashed their way through yet again. They held them at bay, however, from the parallel street there came several more squads of soldiers who ran to block the Highbridge. Auron went swiftly to join Tidus and the others. He fought through the lines of enemy soldiers with his blades flashing and spraying red mists everywhere around him.

Isaaru stood in the middle of the plaza and saw the embattlements all around him. He could see more soldiers from the garrison pouring down the street toward the plaze. He took up his wand then, and began to summon. He called upon the Aeon Dogoda, from Sanubia Temple. A dark violet hexagram formed within a hazy portal, and out of it came a sandy hot wind, as well as a striding white camel with two humps on its back, and saddled between them was an Aeon in the shape of a man. His face and hands were green, and his eyes were dark brown. The rest of his body was covered by his white duster and his striped black and dark gray baggy trousers, and tall tan leather boots. A belt around his waist held two scimitars, one over either side of his hips. His duster was white and ragged at the ends, with a cowl that covered the top of his head and revealed only his face. A striped cord was wrapped around his forehead, holding the cowl down. Behind the second hump of the camel's back was tied a large gourd with a cap on one end. Dogoda held a riding crop in one hand and the reigns in the other. He rode the white camel a few steps forward out of the portal, and then it closed. Then he dismounted and strode across the plaza to do Isaaru's bidding.

When Isaaru motioned for him to attack the oncoming soldiers, Dogoda raised up his riding crop as if it was a wand, and then a whirlwind gusted up around him, and the two scimitars on his belt flew out of their sheaths. The mirror-bladed scimitars spun around him on the swirling winds, until the Aeon motioned with his crop, pointing toward the Yevon soldiers, and suddenly the torrent of wind flew toward them and the spinning scimitars cleaved through them. Several squads were devastated by this attack, but more came charging in. Isaaru gave the order for a more powerful attack then, and Dogoda strode back to his camel, and reached for the cap on the end of the gourd. His rough, green hand clasped it and pried it open, and suddenly a blast of wind came pouring out. The desert wind brought with it a stream of female Sylphs, wind spirits that grew in size as they left the gourd until they were nearly the size of a human, and they swam through the air gracefully, bringing with them a whole maelstrom of galing force.

Dozens of these Sylphs issued out from the gourd, and then hundreds, and together they glided through the air as if swimming together in a school, and they swirled around in a circle. Soon they gave rise to a small tornado, a spiralling white cyclone that surged across the plaza. All of the companions ran for cover then, abandoning the fight. The Yevon soldiers within reach of the cyclone were swept up into it and carried off into the sky, or else thrown back through the city streets to their deaths. The tornado ripped through the city, creating chaos all across Bevelle. In shock and horror, Isaaru swiftly dismissed Dogoda, and the wind Aeon strode slowly back to his camel and mounted up to ride back through the portal, which then disappeared.

Isaaru ran to help Maroda and Barthello, who slowly climbed back onto their feet. They soon heard Auron shouting at them from across the plaza.

"Let's get out of here!" Auron called for them. They ran across the plaza to join the rest of the companions. When they regrouped, Auron glanced over them all looking for Yuna. A sense of apprehension filled him and he turned back toward the entrance of the steps to the citadel, and he saw Seymour standing there, gripping Yuna's arm in his hand. He was glaring at them with utter contempt. From behind him, a platoon of elite soldiers came pouring down the steps and across the plaza. They were armed with spears and swords, and a row of men with broad shields took the front. Auron assembled his companions for the assault.

"Barthello, Maroda, Yenke and Biran, take the lead and make an opening for us! Tidus, Paine, you're with me! Lulu, give us cover, Isaaru give us protection and healing! Rikku, call for reinforcements!" Auron commanded them. He raised both his swords then, as Barthello, Maroda and the Ronso braves lunged into the fray, crashing against the shield wall of their enemies.

Barthello used his mighty spiked club and Maroda used his great staff to batter the shields, while the Ronso braves used their spears to jab and pierce into the enemy ranks once exposed. They fought fiercely, and the hedge of enemy spears wounded them as they pressed on hard against the shield wall. Maroda received a wound in the chest, right of his solar plexus. It was not fatal, but it knocked him back and Isaaru came to grab hold of him and drag him out of the fight. Barthello and the Ronso sustained wounds to their muscular limbs, now reddened with stripes of dripping blood. Finally they bashed open a gap in the shield wall, and Auron sprang forward with Tidus and Paine, only to find swordsmen ready to receive them. Auron cut through them as expertly as he would any other opponent, but there were dozens of them and more on the way already. Tidus and Paine could not keep up with him, and they were already cut off from their friends and surrounded. It soon became a brutal struggle for survival. They heard Yuna scream then, and saw her pleading with Seymour, who looked on with grim pleasure. Lightning arced through the ranks of the soldiers then, flying across the plaza as Lulu unleashed her magic. This enabled Auron and the others to regroup back behind the shield wall, but they could not break through. Auron shouted to Isaaru then.

"Call us an Aeon!" He ordered. Isaaru left his brother's side then and did as he was asked. He began summoning, and a portal opened up on the floor of the plaza. It poured out dark red plasma, and out of it arose the terrifying creature called Anima, a the dread Aeon from Baaj Temple. Seymour was frozen in shock and fury when he saw his mother's Aeon appear before him. Now he knew that they had discovered the truth. He cried out hatefully then, calling for more troops and raising his wand to summon. As he raised his red drake wand, suddenly he saw Paine run along the shield wall and jump up, stomping on one of the soldier's helmets and propelling herself up further into the air above their ranks. She took a throwing knife into her hand, and with a fluid twisting of her body she flung it. The slender, silvery knife flew spiralling at him, and Seymour gazed ahead with no chance to evade it. The knife blade sunk into his forehead, above his left eye. Seymour's head cocked back from the shock, and he stumbled. In the next instant he collapsed onto his back, struck dead.

Paine rolled across the plaza floor in front of the shield wall, but as she tried to roll back to her feet one of the soldiers sliced across her right leg with his spear. As she cried out, Barthello was immediately standing over her and swinging his spiked club in a frenzy. He beat back the soldiers and then grabbed her up in his broad arms and retreated. Auron and Tidus fell back then, while Biran and Yenke walked backwards along with them, fending off their pursuers with thrusting spears. Isaaru gave the signal for Anima to attack then, and she unleashed a blast from her uncovered eye. Instantly a dozen soldiers were incinerated; clusters of pyreflies whined and dispersed in the air. The rest of the soldiers fell back in terror. Isaaru beheld this death and carnage with dismay. As he saw his friends retreating, he dismissed Anima and then fled down the Highbridge with the others.

They hobbled and ran down the marble floor of the Highbridge as hastily as they could. Tidus was helping Maroda, Barthello was carrying Paine, and Yenke helped Biran as he limped behind them. Now that Anima was gone, they heard the soldier's boots on the bridge behind them in swift pursuit. A gunshot rang out then, and Auron stumbled, coming to a stop. He stood looking down upon his midriff. Blood was seeping out of his stomach, just beneath his lowest rib. He turned back then to face his enemies, and he opened his ghost eye. He could see their auras inflamed, and he saw the line of their aggression. Something else appeared to him then; he could see faint balls of light flying from the barrels of their rifles, before they had actually fired. Now he knew where they would shoot next. Auron ran back down the bridge, dodging bullets and taking down charging swordsmen one-by-one. When he came upon the riflemen he killed half a dozen of them easily, and then the others retreated. He could hear Lulu screaming to him then. As he turned around he saw Al-Bhed soldiers running to them from the entrance to the bridge. The rest of his companions ran past them while they provided cover, in case the Yevon troops should pursue them again. Only Lulu still held back, waiting for him. She came rushing to his side and grabbed his hand, pulling him along with her. Auron hobbled with her until they were behind cover, and then Isaaru and Lulu both took hold of his arms and helped him along.

When they reached the end of the Highbridge they saw that Cid's airship was hovering over the Macalania woods, glistening in the sunset. As they entered the road under the trees, they saw the manlift there waiting for them; it had been lowered through a gap in the canopy that had been shot open by artillery fire from the airship. Tidus and Rikku were waiting there; Paine, Barthello and Maroda had already been sent up to the ship. The Ronso braves stood nearby as well.

"We have to go back and get Yuna!" Tidus shouted fiercely at Auron.

"It's too late for that. We need to get out of here." Auron replied faintly. His wound was making him feel light-headed.

"We can't leave her! The Yevon soldiers are defeated! Seymour is dead! We'll get her and then we can leave!" Tidus insisted. Auron shook his head.

"The whole garrison will have been dispatched by now. The rest of the city guard will join them. We don't have enough men. We're leaving." Auron said firmly, and he stepped forward into the manlift with Lulu and Isaaru. Tidus and Rikku stood outside reluctantly, beaming with anguish upon their comrades in the open manlift. Auron beckoned for them, and finally they stepped in with their heads hung low. Yenke spoke to Auron then.

"We will go to Gagazet, to give this news to Kelk. Farewell, Sir Auron!" Yenke said. He saluted Auron and then both of the Ronso turned to stride down the path to the Calm Lands. The companions closed the doors of the manlift and it took them up into the airship. Cid and some of his men helped them back to their chambers. After some time, the rest of the Al-Bhed were back aboard and they departed amid sporadic cannon fire coming from Bevelle. They escaped across the western ocean, on the way to Bikanel Island and the Al-Bhed Home.

Cid went to Auron's chambers, and found him there lying on his bed with his shirt off, while Lulu and Isaaru tended to his wound.

"I'm taking us back to Bikanel. You'll get the medicine and care that you need there, and you'll have time to rest before we plan our next move. You can tell me what happened in the morning, when you're in better shape." Cid said to him. Auron merely nodded and saluted him with two quivering fingers. Cid left, and Isaaru used his healing magic on Auron, and then bandaged his wound. After Isaaru had finished Lulu told him he could leave to be with his brother. She stood by Auron's bedside, holding his hand.

"You fought well today." She said, with moistened eyes.

"Maybe… still, things could have gone better." Auron remarked sorely.

"Will Yuna be safe there, now that Seymour is dead?" Lulu asked.

"They wouldn't dare to harm the daughter of Lord Braska… but it would have been better if she had escaped with us. Seymour is dead, at least… so he won't be able to become the Final Fayth. Isaaru acquired the Aeon from Bevelle Temple… so perhaps that counts for something. We're all outlaws now, of course. If Yuna knows what she's doing, she'll denounce us all and claim we tried to kidnap her. Since the Al-Bhed reinforced us, they'll believe it is some kind of plot. There may be war soon, if the rest of the Guado and the Maesters have their way." Auron surmised.

"But we'll win in the end. Spira will be safe soon. Rest, Auron. We can't lose you now…" Lulu said tenderly. Auron nodded and closed his eyes, and relaxed on his bed. Soon he fell asleep.