Chapter Nine
Bevelle
Tidus jerks awake and looks around to see he's on a bed inside the Al Bhed airship. "Tidus?" The blonde looks over to the voice and smiles gently at Jaidon. "Sorry I worried you love." Jaidon hurries to his blonde's side and hugs him. "I know you don't mean for these things to happen but I'm just glad you finally woke up." Tidus sighs and he tightens his hold on his summoner. "How long was I out?" Jaidon snuggles closer as he replies, "Two days. We are currently approaching Bevelle. Cid thought it would be easier on us if he gave us a lift before they find a temporary place to live." Tidus makes an understanding noise before he asks quietly, "Is the door locked?" Jaidon leans back in confusion before seeing the look in Tidus' eyes. The silver haired boy blushes but gets off the bed and goes to the door and makes sure no one can disturb them.
Yuna and Maroda walk to the room Jaidon and Tidus have to tell them that Bevelle is real close but a loud moan stops them in mid-step before the couple blush deeply and hurry back to the bridge. Their swift return have their friends and family giving them confused looks before Auron looks up and laughs. "It looks like you two heard Tidus and Jaidon having private fun." The two blush even deeper as they sit down across from Lulu and Wakka.
The group sit quietly reflecting on the events that has lead them to the current time before a rejuvenated Tidus and a slight limping Jaidon enter the bridge. The two draw Kimahri's and Kyota's attentions before the two snicker making the others look up to see Tidus sitting down by Auron before pulling Jaidon into his lap. "Did you have fun?" The blonde smirks and that's all Auron needs to know that the two did indeed have fun. "How close to Bevelle are we dad?" Auron snorts an hour away but don't get your hopes of an easy landing. "Bevelle hates the Al Bhed so they will no doubt send Evrea to knock the airship out of the sky." Tidus sighs, "Well I guess Jaidon will just have to use his latest spell to help us bring it down." Jaidon snuggles into Tidus as he sighs in contentment. "I don't think Whither will do much on Evrea." Tidus raises a hand and starts running it through Jaidon's hair as he comments, "True but it will reduce its defense, strength, and evasion down by twenty percent." The others blink in confusion before Lulu asks, "What type of magic would that be?" Jaidon opens his eyes and looks over at the black mage and replies, "It's known as green magic because it reduces an enemy's statistics such as the three Tidus said. I also have two other spells one that increase the same stats for an ally and the other makes a person immune to certain status effect. The spell mainly makes silence, poison, darkness, petrification, berserk, confusion, zombie, and doom completely useless on an ally." Rikku gapes at Jaidon and squeaks out, "Seriously? That one spell nullifies all those status effects on the one the spell is on?" Jaidon laughs softly but nods to confirm her questions.
Before anyone else could ask about the other spell the airships alarms go off and Auron stands up and leaves the bridge to head to the deck saying, "That would be Evrea." The others roll their eyes at Auron before they all follow him up to the deck. "Tidus, this time around don't shift once you've managed to weaken it to half dead let me finish it off with Canis." The blonde blitzer kisses his husband lightly on the lips before nodding in agreement. The group gets into places and the battle starts with Jaidon casting two multi-spells and one single spell. On the group he casts Status Guard and Invincibility while on Evrea he casts Whither.
One Evrea is half way dead Tidus makes everyone pull back and Jaidon steps forward to summon Midnight Canis. Jaidon raises his staff into the air and then slams it onto the deck creating a large circle before shoving it into the center of the circle. He steps back and from the crystal on top of the staff a beam of black light shoots up into the sky blocking out the sunlight temporarily. Once the sun is fully blocked a loud howl is heard by everyone and they look up to see a dark purple fireball falling towards the deck fast before all of a sudden it vanishes to be replaced by a wolf-like aeon that lands gracefully onto the deck beside Jaidon. Its height stops at Jaidon's waist and is dark purple with red covering its paws and half of its powerful legs almost looking like stockings. It has horns in the shape of a behemoth's that are black with grey tips. The aeon nuzzles Jaidon's hand before it steps forwards and takes an offensive stance. The silver haired summoner smiles down at his first aeon and calls out, "Saorta I want you to use your Astral Slash twice before you finish Evrea off with Shadow Reaper!" The aeon growls her understanding and leaps up into the air spreading wings made out of darkness to keep her from falling.
Following her summoners orders Canis gathers energy to use Astral Slash a first time. Once the energy is collected she uses her wings to shoot the special attack the fiend before her knocking it backwards as well as dealing damage. Canis does this once more before finishing up with Shadow Reaper. A black bolt of lightning from the staff still in the ground strikes the aeon. With the added power the aeon unleashes its overdrive and two black chains appear from below to trap Evrea into its current place. The aeon vanishes from sight only to reappear under the fiend to let loose a stream of black fire from its jaws but then it vanishes again to reappear above the fiend to this time send a large ball of darkness. Then the aeon finishes up by diving straight through the fiend ripping out a glimmering image of the fiend that it uses its claws to rip to shreds causing the fiend to be ripped to shreds as well. Once the fiend is gone the aeon once again nuzzles Jaidon's hand before melting into the shadows on the ground dismissing itself to the Farplane.
"Wow, that is an awesome aeon you have there Jaidon. Where did you find her?" Maroda asks as Yuna wraps her arms around his waist. "Midnight Canis is the aeon that Saorta Ronso granted me when I went to her Fayth above the Fayth Scar at Mt. Gagazet." Maroda nods his understanding and everyone returns to the bridge. "Nice job taking out that beastie guys." Cid praises as he motions for them to look at the screen. "As you can see we're now right above Bevelle. So how do you want to enter it?" Jaidon ponders for a few minutes as he leans against Tidus' chest. "I say get us close enough to the highest path and then we can fly down on Tidus or Valefor if Tidus can't fit us all on his back." Tidus chuckles as he lays his chin on Jaidon's right shoulder commenting, "I can probably fit six on my back and with my dragon's power over water I could help the River Stallions carry those that want to ride them down a ramp of water." Jaidon giggles and he links fingers with Tidus as he says, "I married a genius." Everyone laughs at that before Cid has Brother get the airship to the highest point that can hold the three summoners and their guardians.
An hour and a half later the three summoners and their guardians land safely on the ground in front of the Bevelle Temple. "Jaidon, Yuna go get Bahamut I'll go and see if Measter Kinoc and Measter Kelk are here." The two nod their understanding and enter the Temple as Isaaru and his two guardians head towards the mention Measter's quarters. It takes the group thirty minutes to pass the Cloister of Trials before Yuna enters the inner chamber to gain Bahamut. "Jaidon, do you still want me to come inside with you?" Tidus quietly asks his husband as the two sit near the door Yuna just entered. Jaidon leans against Tidus nodding to show Tidus he wants the blonde to enter with him. After a few minutes Yuna exits the inner chamber and Kimahri helps her to sit near Lulu and Rikku. "Jaidon the Fayth for some reason wants to talk to Tidus alone after you get Bahamut." The silver haired boy nods his understanding before he and Tidus enter the inner chamber.
Jaidon kneels before the crystal as Tidus leans against the wall by the door. Bahamut's Fayth appears a few seconds later and the young boy nods to Tidus before searching through Jaidon to see if he is worthy of Bahamut. The Fayth blinks in shock at seeing the River Stallions as well as Midnight Canis before he nods his acceptance and fades long enough for Bahamut to settle down with Jaidon's other aeons. Jaidon stands before asking quietly, "Is Machina the other key to defeating Sin for good?" The Fayth reappears and smiles gently as he nods and Jaidon smiles in return before leaving the room trailing his fingers along Tidus' chest as he passes the blonde.
Tidus watches his husband leave before turning back to the Fayth and stepping up to the edge of the crystal. "I am sorry I never got the chance to tell you about you being a dream of the Zanarkand Fayth." Tidus smiles softly and shakes his head. "You're a busy Fayth I understand and besides I'm sure now even when Sin is destroyed permanently I won't fade away." The boy nods his understanding and asks, "When you face Yunalesca in Zanarkand will you ask her something for me? Will you ask her why she abandoned me? I've always wanted to know why mother killed herself and father just to bring a small time of peace to Spira." Tidus blinks in shock but replies, "I will ask her for you." The boy smiles his thanks before fading again but he leaves one final sentence for Tidus to ponder over, "You should learn how to become immune to Death, Zombie, and Stop."
Tidus sighs and leaves the inner chamber. The blonde blitzer walks up to Jaidon and hugs him as he sighs sadly. "What did he want to talk about?" Tidus steps back and looks around at his friends and family. "It turns out Yunalesca is unsent and we'll need to face her in Zanarkand and he wanted me to ask her why she abandoned him instead of being a mother and raising him. He also gave us a hint on what status effects we'll need protection against." Everyone has different looks as the information sinks in before Rikku asks, "What status effects?" Tidus links fingers with Jaidon as he responds, "Stop, Zombie, and Death."
Another thirty minutes pass before the two summoners and their guardians leave the Temple. As they exit they are surrounded by Bevelle troopers and Measter Kinoc sadly has to escort them into the grand court room for a trial that shouldn't even have to come to pass. As the group is place into their spots by the armed forces Jaidon and Yuna are dragged away to be placed on separate platforms. Jaidon looks back at Tidus who is trying to keep his dragon side from breaking out and he silently conveys his undying love which manages to calm Tidus for now. Yuna sighs as she looks up at the Grand Measter and the other three Measters. "Lady Yuna and Lord Jaidon you have been arrested on the counts of killing a Measter and being traitors to Yevon. How do you plead?" Yuna just looks away refusing to answer for something that is false while Jaidon snorts and speaks clearly and calmly, "Leave it to a dead man to use false accusations to get his way. If anyone here is a traitor to Yevon it is you and Seymour as you are both dead and unsent just like Yunalesca in Zanarkand." His words have Kinoc and the Ronso Kelk blinking in shock before the Ronso calls out, "What proof do you have of this?" Jaidon simply says, "Ask Tidus it was he who had no choice but to kill Seymour. Tidus is a dragonite and will always do what needs to be done to protect me and any other summoner near me as he is my guardian." Kelk and Kinoc look to Tidus who finally looses control and shifts into dragon form. Auron grabs hold of Tidus' wing to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Tidus however only says to all present through his telepathy ~I gave Seymour the chance to turn away from the fight but he summoned Anima to attack us instead. That was the only reason I killed him. I am a guardian and it is my duty to protect my summoner. Perhaps you should try listening to the whole story before accusing anyone of anything.~ With that Tidus plops his scaly butt on the floor and sits rigidly trying to regain his control.
After a few moments of silence Jaidon speaks up once more and addresses Kelk Ronso, "Measter Kelk if I may I believe my first aeon will prove to you that what I say is true. My aeon has an innate ability to tell the dead from the living." The Ronso ponders this for a moment before looking to Kinoc the militant Measter nods his agreement to Jaidon's request. The elder Ronso looks to Seymour and Mika and the two nod acceptance just to see if this aeon can indeed do as Jaidon claims. "Very well Lord Jaidon's staff is to be returned to him for this demonstration." A guard walks up and unbinds Jaidon's hands before handing him the staff. Jaidon nods his thanks before he raises his staff into the air and then slams it onto the platform creating a large circle before shoving it into the center of the circle. He steps back and from the crystal on top of the staff a beam of black light shoots up into the sky blocking out the sunlight temporarily. Once the sun is fully blocked a loud howl is heard by everyone and they look up to see a dark purple fireball falling towards the platform fast before all of a sudden it vanishes to be replaced by a wolf-like aeon that lands gracefully onto the platform beside Jaidon. Its height stops at Jaidon's waist and is dark purple with red covering its paws and half of its powerful legs almost looking like stockings. It has horns in the shape of a behemoth's that are black with grey tips. The aeon nuzzles Jaidon's hand before it sits down by him and looking up at the Ronso Measter with twinkling eyes.
Measter Kelk gasps as he sees the aeon of Saorta before he quietly asks, "Is that really you Saorta?" Midnight Canis nods her head to confirm his question before Jaidon scratches her ear. "Sao, Measter Kelk needs proof that two among us are indeed dead." The aeon stands and leaps into the air spread wings of darkness before sending out a multi-directional pulse that reveals pyreflies. A gasp from the guardians' area reveals Auron to be unsent as well but he doesn't mind and simply says, "I stayed to keep promises to Jeckt and Braska." As the pulse did to Auron pyreflies are revealed around Measters Mika and Seymour proving that Jaidon is indeed being truthful. Canis flies over to Kelk and nuzzles his shoulder before she returns to Jaidon's side where she nuzzles his hand once more before dismissing herself.
Measter Kinoc clears his throat before announcing, "As the charges against Lady Yuna and Lord Jaidon are false this court session is dismissed and the accused are free to go as well." The Ronso nods his agreement before the guards let the two summoners and their guardians leave the court room. Outside in the hall the group meets up with Isaaru, Maroda, and Pacce once more. Maroda immediately sweeps Yuna into a hug asking softly, "Are you alright?" The female summoner just smiles up at her love nodding to assure him that she was unharmed. "Ah so this is why Lady Yuna refused Seymour's marriage proposal." Yuna looks over at Kinoc and nods saying, "Maroda and I have been dating for three years now and once this coming Calm begins we're getting married." Kinoc smiles and congratulates them saying, "I will pray to the Gods to make sure your happy day comes soon." The two young people smile their gratitude before Maroda leads Yuna out of the building with her guardians following after along with Pacce.
"Jaidon I believe Measters Kinoc and Kelk should be in the loop of what you and Tidus went through while we were at Bikanel." Isaaru says with a small smile before he follows after his guardians. Kinoc blinks in confusion before turn to Jaidon and his guardians. The silver haired summoner smiles and says, "If we can go somewhere less open I'd be glad to tell you the news." Kinoc nods his agreement and leads the summoner and his guardians to the shared living room of Kelk and himself. Once inside Jaidon and Tidus sit down beside each other on one of the sofas as Kyota lays at their feet and Auron leans against the wall behind them. Kelk enters the room from a side door and is surprised to see them but at Kinoc's expression sits down in a chair next to Kinoc's chair. "Alright Lord Jaidon what is this news that Lord Isaaru says we should be party to?" Tidus links fingers with Jaidon as the summoner replies, "While we were on Bikanel Island before some rouge Guado attacked it Tidus and I felt the need to go around a particular Teaching." Kelk looks at their joined fingers and sighs before saying bluntly, "You got married." Jaidon and Tidus both look at the Ronso wide eyed before Kinoc asks, "Is this true?" The two still wide eyed only manages to nod to confirm the answer.
Kinoc breaks out into a big smile and says, "Well I for one am glad you found a way to go around the Teachings. In fact I've been researching them ever since Mushroom Rock Road and I've come across quite a few unneeded laws. So far I've only found about four but I am not finished with them yet so there might be more and when I am done I am going to set in action to have them all revised or out right erased." Auron snorts and asks, "I take it seeing how heartbroken both Jaidon and Tidus were during the operation opened your eyes to some of the civilian pains?" The Measter nods to confirm Auron's question before he turns to Kelk asking, "Did you realize that one of the Teachings prohibit education to any Al Bhed?" Kelk blinks in shock at this before he growls lowly, "Kinoc when you are done researching them let me know so that I can sign to have them abolished if need be." Kinoc chuckles and nods his agreement before asking Tidus, "So that other form I saw you change into at Mushroom Rock is known as a dragon?"
The blonde blitzer laughs a bit before replying, "It's not just you average dragon. Apparently the Gods gave me the emperor of the water dragons as my dragon form and I learned all this from the Macalania Fayth." Kinoc nods his understanding before a glimpse of black over Tidus' shoulder catches his eye. "What is that?" Tidus raises an eyebrow before pulling Black Widow out of his second sheath. "This is Black Widow a gift from the same Fayth who told me I am known as a dragonite. I think it used to belong to her when she was alive before becoming a Fayth. According to her this sword has a few innate abilities which I know is true since I used her on a fiend that had both Shell and Protect cast on it. Black Widow did normal damage as well as shredding the protective spells." Kelk chuckles as he comments, "It seems the Gods truly do favor you, young dragonite." Tidus smiles sheepishly as he replaces Black Widow into her sheath.
Jaidon timidly asks Kelk a question that has the Ronso looking at him with shock, "Um…Measter Kelk is there anyway I could speak with Biran Ronso? I recently found out that he's my biological grandfather." Kelk stares at Jaidon for five minutes tops in shock before he shakes himself out of it and asks, "Show me the proof if you can?" Jaidon stands up and reveals his birthmark that is located on his right hip. Kelk gasps as he sees the mark that is proof of Biran's lineage. Kinoc blinks in surprise at his fellow Measter's next move which is to hug Jaidon tightly. "Biran has searched for you for many days and always returns sad. I will journey with you to Gagazet to confirm that you are indeed Biran's heir. He will be so happy to know that you are alive and well and also will bring about an ever lasting Calm. No doubt he and Yenke will want to fight by your side to keep you safe." Jaidon though shocked by the Measter's action smiles brightly at the thought that his grandfather will want to be in his life.
Calm Lands
A week passes as Jaidon, Yuna, Isaaru and their guardians arrive in the Calm Lands. True to his word Measter Kelk Ronso also travels with them and the group makes their way to the edge of a high cliff to look out over the vast plains. "Yuna, you need to get the aeon at Remiem Temple before we cross. The Magus Sisters will be to you as the River Stallions are to me." Jaidon announces before he walks over to a chocobo wrangler. "May I rent four of your chocobos please?" The woman smiles before nodding motioning for four of the larger birds to trot up to them, "Here you go. Please take care of them." Jaidon returns her smiles before climbing onto one of the chocobos. He then leads the other three over to the group and motions for Tidus to hop up behind him. "The only way to get to the Temple is by chocobo so Yuna if you want to ride with Maroda then go for it. There wont be any fiends near the temple so we wont have to fight but it would be safer if two guardians cam with us." Yuna nods in agreement and with Maroda's help climbs onto one of the birds before he climbs on behind her. Yuna nods for Wakka to be her other guardian and Jaidon asks for Auron.
Once the chosen people are on a bird they set of following Jaidon's lead letting the others sit down and rest up for a few hours while they get the Magus Sisters for Yuna. The four chocobos leap over a small gap at the edge of the cliff near the cliff wall to the right from Macalania's entrance. After trotting on the path for a few minutes the small group comes across a Temple suspended in midair by four humongous chains with a long rope bridge crossing a seemingly bottomless pit connecting their current spot to the Temple. "We have to continue on foot from here." Jaidon says as Tidus helps him dismount before following him. As the group crosses the bridge Tidus looks over and sees two lone chocobos on either side of the Temple's massive doors. "Jaidon, what's up with the chocobos here?" The silver haired summoner giggles as he says, "The one on the left is a champion racer and the one on the right will let anyone ride him during a one on one race with the champ. If you win you get three awesome prizes. If my memory is correct the first prize is the Celestial Mirror which allows you to upgrade your weapons to make them obtain unique abilities. The second prize I believe is about fifty Supreme Gems which does damage but I think Rikku could use them to mix up an even better damaging attack. The last prize is a unique staff that I tried to win the last time I passed by and failed miserably."
Tidus ponders what Jaidon just said and decides to win that staff for his husband so when the group made it to the Temple Tidus hangs back and walks up to the chocobo that he can ride as the others enter the Temple. Tidus climbs onto the bird and pets its neck before the race commences and he works with the bird to win the race. The champion chocobo tries to distract Tidus by opening a few of the chests along the path but the blonde just nudges his bird to keep focused on the race. A few minutes later and Tidus snickers at the chocobo he just beat before the bird ruffles its feathers and leads him to a large chest at the edge of the center platform. Tidus nods his thanks to the bird before the bird nuzzles his shoulder as a 'thank you' for the race. Tidus opens the chest and inside on a ruby colored velvet pillow lay the three prizes Jaidon mentioned. The mirror is gold with celestial designs. The fifty Supreme Gems sparkle as the sunlight hits them. The staff is a beautiful work of art with its body carved from obsidian. The crystal attached to the top by two lightning shaped spires is a deep blue sapphire. There are bright glyphs of red, silver, blue, white, and yellow burned into the staff's body. As Tidus picks up the staff he feels the power of Ice, Fire, Thunder, Water, and Holy emitting from the colored glyphs.
Once Tidus has the other two prizes tucked away he leads the chocobo he rode back up to where it was at before. After making sure the bird has enough water and food he walks around and into the Temple. Once inside he sees Yuna battling an unsent summoner that has remained to find a worthy summoner for the Magus Sisters. The blonde blitzer walks around the battle to Jaidon and presents the staff to him. Jaidon gapes at the staff before immediately kissing his husband soundly. "Thank you." Jaidon says with so much love as he grasps the staff and hugs Tidus tightly. The blonde blitzer just smiles throughout the whole thing before Yuna's battle is over. "Well done Lady Yuna you have proved yourself worthy of the Magus Sisters. I pray you will use them to defeat Sin." Yuna nods her acceptance and the unsent allows Yuna to send her to the Farplane.
Yuna sighs and walks into the inner chamber to gain the aeon as the others look around at the beautiful carvings on the Temple walls. After a few minutes Yuna returns with a large grin and she walks over to Maroda who hugs her. "I am going to assume that you got them since you're smiling like that." Tidus says before they leave the temple gaining a nod to confirm his question. As they cross the bridge Tidus pulls out the Celestial Mirror before placing it onto Black Widow. The black blade glows for a minute before he feels a new ability added onto the blade. He then does the same with Brotherhood and again the blade glows for a minute before three new abilities appear. "Wow it actually worked. Hey Wakka Brotherhood just gained three new abilities." The red head hurries over and studies the blade grinning madly as he feels the ability Evade and Counter. "Nice Tidus maybe you could do that for me when I manage to find an awesome weapon." Tidus nods his agreement before handing the mirror to Auron.
Auron uses the mirror on Masamune and four new abilities appear one of them being Shield Breaker which is an ability that can pierce through even Mighty Guard. The small group returns to the chocobo and mount them before returning to the others. Jaidon returns the birds to the wrangler and helps her out by feeding and watering them as well as giving them a rub down to make them feel cooler. "Thank you for caring for them." The woman calls out as Jaidon waves and walks back to everyone. The group moves down into the valley before starting to cross the vast plains every now and then having to defeat fiends. Half way across the group decides to rest for the night at the outdoor Travel Agency.
Tidus remembers the Gems he won and calls out to Rikku, "Hey Rikku I got you some items that you can tinker with to make even better." The blonde thief bounces over and Tidus hands her the fifty Supreme Gems causing Rikku to squeal, "Oh my Gods! Tidus you're awesome! I've been looking for some of these everywhere." Tidus just laughs and returns the hug Rikku gives him before he pulls Jaidon to a quiet area and the two cuddle up before falling asleep.