A Generation of Legacies

Chapter Nineteen

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X, X-2, or any of its characters

Last Time:

"So you noticed," a voice said as a hand touched him on the shoulder.

Koiray's eyes widened in realization as he turned. "Lord Sareth!"

Before he could continue, Sareth held up a hand. "It's fine. Don't worry yourself." He sighed and turned back to the tapestry. "You noticed my brother isn't on here."

"…yes, milord."

"I've been debating for some time now whether or not to put him back on."

The Deputy Crimson Knight attempted to keep his voice as neutral as possible. "But I was under the impression that he was the one who murdered the royal family."

Sareth scoffed and scratched his head absentmindedly. "It's a complicated issue." He paused. "I wanted to ask you a question, Koiray."

"What is it, milord?"

"Tomorrow morning there is a council session. I would like you to accompany me to it."

"General Harken has served this council for decades. His loss-"

"Harken was a fool who couldn't see past his own ego! He was no longer an asset to this council, in fact, he was only holding us back!"

"Please! You're just looking for a scapegoat!"

"And you're just getting anxious because you were one of Harken's biggest supporters!"

"Don't insult me! You-"

"Ladies and gentlemen, please!" Sareth burst without warning. Standing up from his chair, he leaned over the furnished table with an impatient look on his face. "It was my decision to let Harken go, and I have no intention of changing it. So, the present discussion shouldn't be whether or not it was the right decision, but what are we going to do now?"

There were twelve people stationed inside the room, normally the typical number but not the typical people. Former General Harken's seat was empty, but Koiray sat quietly off to the side.

The meeting had been raging for hours, but the only thing that had taken place was more and more arguing.

"Lord Sareth, do you really think this is the correct path?"

Sareth inhaled a breath solemnly and sighed. "Because of the war between Bevelle and Zanarkand, thousands in Spira are suffering. We must seek to end it or it never will. I want emissaries sent to Zanarkand first thing in the morning."

"But will Maester Yevon even listen to us?" another argued. "He still claims that we had something to do with Prince Kiron's death."

The ruler paused thoughtfully before speaking. "I think we're done for the day. Pyre, I want to see you for five minutes. I'll tell you what to do about Maester Yevon. Koiray, do you mind waiting outside? I want to speak with you as well."

Koiray bowed his head. "Of course, milord." Turning around, the future Deputy Crimson Knight exited the private council chamber and into the main hall. He sighed heavily and ruffled his hair, wandering back to the display of his family's lineage.

"How intriguing that I'd find you here, Lord Koiray."

The young man turned and found a familiar general walking towards him. Koiray cocked his head. "General Tynas? I would have thought anyone else would scramble as far away as possible from the council chamber."

Tynas smirked. "Why? I can't hold a civilized conversation with someone?"

"I'm not sure, yesterday it seemed you couldn't get away from me fast enough."

"My apologies," Tynas answered, bowing his head, "there was something on my mind."

Koiray cocked his head. "May I ask what?"

The general chuckled and turned to look at the tapestry displaying the Bevelle royal family. "Before you came along, milord, there was only one in Spira who could boast of having defeated me. That man used the exact same move as you to defeat me. I found it interesting that that particularly unique move was used against me twice by two different men."

The Deputy Crimson Knight cocked his head curiously. "Really? May I ask who?"

Tynas smirked and pointed to a blank space on the tapestry adjacent to Sareth. "He did."

"Takoire II?" Koiray burst without warning.

"Very good," the general replied automatically replied. "I'm surprised, particularly because Takoire II has been disowned and is no longer shown on this lineage." Silence. "You know, Takoire and I were friends. Good friends. Just like he was a good man." He sighed. "We used to spar in the training facility. It was never on purpose either, we would just happen to see each other randomly."

Koiray swallowed hard, trying to remain as casual as possible. "What was he like?"

The general laughed to himself quietly. "When I knew him, he was a bit headstrong but always tried to be the good son and do what Lord Marshal Takoire expected of him. He began to disagree with his father more and more before he finally ran away."

"Do you believe he was truly responsible for the deaths of the royal family?"

"Not a word of it," Tynas abruptly answered. "Takoire may not have agreed with his family or their policies, but he loved them. He'd never be so heartless." As suddenly as he began, Tynas stopped. "Why… Why am I telling all of this to you?"

Koiray paused. "I'm not sure. Why are you?"

"For some reason, I find it easy to speak with you, Lord Koiray. I haven't spoken of my friend in years."

"Would that be a good thing or a bad thing, general?"

Tynas cocked his head, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "A good thing." He paused. "You look a little like him, you know."

Koiray suddenly stopped himself from stepping back in surprise and attempted to remain as indifferent as possible, clearing his throat. "Look like him? What do you mean?"

"I can't explain it… The way you walk and hold yourself, the way your eyes analyze everything around you… I just can't help thinking of Takoire whenever I see you."

"Well," the young man answered, "considering this character was a good friend of yours, I'll take it as a compliment, but for appearances sake, try not to praise me too much in public."

Tynas smiled and nodded.

'Oh, by the way,' Koiray thought to himself, 'the reason I remind you of Takoire is probably because I'm his son…'

"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

Koiray found himself in a mad run, jumping and ducking ancient ruins on occasion. Although he was no doubt the fastest among his group, the stormy gray-eyed young man ran behind all the rest. The broken foundation of a building lay in his way. As he placed a hand on the jagged cement, he heard someone yell, indistinguishably, and his eyes shot towards its source.

One of his trainee had fallen, and a giant behemoth towered over him. Its beady eyes reflected a glint of evil, and Koiray reached for the pistol at his side, leaping over the ruins.

"Eron, get out of the way."

The trainee barely had a chance to glance back at his squad leader before a gunshot cut through the air. The trainee suddenly turned back to the Behemoth and watched its eyes slowly become dilated as it tipped towards him.

"Eron, what the hell are you doing?! Move!"

Before he knew what was happening, Koiray pulled his trainee up and into a run with the rest of Alpha Squad. As they continued, Koiray's grimace turned into a small smirk as he saw the clearing coming into view.

"All right, Alpha Squad, secure the perimeter!"

Koiray watched his squad disperse into the area, and he turned back to Trainee Eron, squatting over and catching his breath. The squad leader pat him on the back. "Hey, are you okay?"

Eron looked up at him. "Yeah, I'm good. Just give me a minute, sir."

At the title of sir, Koiray rolled his eyes. Holding the title of squad leader, Koiray was addressed as sir. Before coming to basic training, Koiray had wanted to be just another trainee, but the day he had seen Hara and Jassen together, that had all changed.

"Sir," one of the trainees began to report with a salute, "we've secured the perimeter."

"Sounds good," he answered, He moved to another section of the clearing. "Squad, form up!"

Over a dozen city trainees formed themselves four by four, and Koiray nodded his head in approval. They all appeared exhausted and a mess, but Takoire III couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. "I want all of you to get some water from your canteens. Don't drink too fast either." Watching his trainees, he cocked his head, smiled, and took his own advice. As he sipped his now warm water, the sound of numerous footsteps caused his smile to grow even wider, but he quickly suppressed it to an indifferent face.

A new group of trainees came running into the area, but Koiray continued to ignore them. They wore the same drab, gray uniforms he and his trainees had on, but a think band of black was sewn on their right sleeve as opposed to their blue.

From the corner of his eyes, Koiray saw the new squad's leader and brought down the canteen from his mouth, placing down the canteen from his mouth and back onto his belt. "Nice of you to join us, Jassen." Koiray turned to his left, and a silver-haired young man appeared with a sly smile.

"Glad to see you too, Koiray," Jassen answered. The two faced each other and saluted. After all… they had to keep up appearances.

Koiray dropped his salute. "We've already completed a sweep and have secured the area. You missed all the fun."

Jassen just continued to smile. "Bravo Squad," he yelled, "conduct a sweep of the area and form back up!" He paused. "It's a shame city and summoner guardian trainees don't train together more often; we don't really see each other as much as we should."

"You're right, but that hasn't stopped you from moving up in the ranks."

"It hasn't stopped either of us," the summoner trainee answered slyly. "After all, we are tied for the top individual placement." When Koiray didn't answer, he continued. "Mind if I ask you a question, Koiray?"

As Jassen's trainees began to return and form back up, Takoire III felt a small smile sneak onto his face. "Shoot."

"I heard some rumors before training that you were thinking about going summoner guardian, were you?"

One of the summoner trainees ran toward the two squad leaders and held a salute. "Sir, we've completed our sweep; the area's already been secured." Koiray shrugged innocently. "Thank you, Naro. Fall back in with the others." He turned back to his city rival. "Well, were you?"

"Not a chance," Koiray dismissed. "City guardians all the way."

Jassen cocked his head. "Really? That wasn't what I was hearing."

The stormy-gray eyed trainee held up his hands innocently. "I suppose it crossed my mind once or twice, but I've pretty much stayed loyal to city guardians. I thought I might break family tradition."

"Considering how close you are with your parents, I would have thought you'd aspire to be exactly like them." He laughed crudely. "How's it feel to have your uncle and dad be instructors at your basic training?"

Koiray bit his tongue and held back the sharp comeback he had waiting. "I'm indifferent. In fact, because my dad and uncle are instructors, I have to put up with more shit than you or anyone else does."

Jassen smiled as two other squads started to wearily come onto the scene.

"Charlie Squad, fall in!"

"Delta Squad, fall in!"

The messy group of guardian trainees aligned themselves off of Koiray and Jassen's already centered squads. The two other squad leaders joined Koiray and Jassen, and together the four held a salute before dropping them.

"Typical that Koiray and Jassen's squads would have gotten here first," the new summoner squad leader commented.

"And you're surprised, Maekin?" the other squad leader returned.

"Not really," Maekin answered. "I'm just curious on who got here first between them."

Koiray shrugged innocently.

"Figures Sir Takoire can't give a straight answer," the city squad leader returned.

Koiray sighed. "We've gone over this. I'm Koiray. Not Takoire."

Jassen smiled smugly. "Doesn't stop you from being the grandson of High Summoner Yuna and Sir Tidus and the son of High Summoner Lenne and Sir Takoire II."

Maekin's head suddenly turned to the right before he started in a run for his squad. "Instructors at ten o'clock!"

The three other squad leaders sprinted in a similar fashion, telling commands as they went.

"Delta Squad, atten-hut!"

"Alpha Squad, atten-hut!"

"Bravo Squad, atten-hut!"

"Charlie Squad, atten-hut!"

Instructors Takoire II, Garren, and Baed came up from behind a hill the four squads couldn't see past. Their faces remained neutral, neither happy nor sad. The three all wore their formal guardian uniforms, and Koiray knew they had all run the course, but it looked as if there wasn't a spot on them.

"Charlie Squad: eighteen minutes and thirty-nine seconds," Garren began. "Delta Squad: seventeen minutes and forty-three seconds. Bravo Squad: fourteen minutes and nine seconds. Alpha Squad: twelve minutes and twenty-two seconds."

Takoire cleared his throat. "Congratulations, all of you finished the approximately two mile run while fighting fiends."

Baed quickly looked them over. "One hundred points are awarded to Charlie Squad. Two hundred to Delta. Three hundred for Bravo and four hundred for Alpha." He paused. "The current individual standings have also been updated. There is not longer a tie for first individual standing." Koiray swallowed hard. "Squad Leader Jassen is deducted twenty points for running a sweep when another squad leader had already done so and had informed him. One hundred points are awarded to Squad Leader Koiray for refusing to leave one of his trainees behind. Alpha Squad Leader Takoire III is now ranked first in individual standing."

"I see you and General Tynas have been talking."

The Bevelle general had disappeared a few moments before, excusing himself for a meeting with his officers. Koiray was left alone to his own devices as he continued to wait for Sareth.

He shook his thoughts free from the memory as he answered the speaker.

"We happened by each other in the training room one day."

Sareth cocked his head, and the two began to walk. "More than just happened by from what I hear. It was my impression that you beat him in a one-on-one match." Koiray shrugged, not encouraging the subject. "Few can boast of what you can."

The Deputy Crimson Knight pulled at his collar uncomfortably and said as casually as possible, "Only one other from what I've been told, Lord Sareth."

Sareth didn't answer immediately, and Koiray feared he had said too much.

"You catch me yet again, Koiray. It was my brother who defeated General Tynas. I recall the two were once friends."

"Milord, would it be too bold of me to ask what happened the day the royal family died? It was never truly disclosed to the public, and the most information I am aware of is no doubt based on rumors."

It had not been long since Takoire and Lenne had told him the truth about their past, but from the moment Koiray had heard it, he had wondered what his uncle had been thinking as everything had unfolded. How could someone do that to their own family? But the man Sareth was not what he expected. Not in the least.

But maybe now both he and his parents could have some questions answered.

The Bevelle ruler shook his head softly and sighed. "You truly know how to pick them, don't you, Koiray?" Sareth came to a stop astride from a large panel window that overlooked the bustling city. The young ruler ran a hand through his hair in frustration as he allowed himself to lean against the thick pane.

"It was a combination of reasons," Sareth continued. "The generals of the time began to disagree with my father and uncle, causing some confusion among the top brass of the army. The sudden appearance of my brother and his summoner also caused confusion among my family and their advisors, wondering whether or not his summoner was the summoner of yore. Then…" his voice began to drift, "everything went bad at once. Someone fired a gunshot when the council was in session, and my father got in the way. And then… no one could stop what happened next…"

"But what of Lord Takoire and his summoner? Spira has been led to believe that they were the ones at fault!" Koiray blurt without warning, losing all self-control.

Then he suddenly regretted what he had said. He had said too much. He was probably going to lose what favor he had with his uncle and that would be the end of it.

But it seemed Sareth hadn't minded. "Everyone wanted someone to blame… even me… and my brother and Lenne were in the middle of everything."

Koiray cocked his head. It was the first time Sareth had referred to one of his parents by name.

"But what of Lord Takoire's escape?"

Sareth looked down on Bevelle. "I will do as all good rulers would. I captured the man who is believed to be responsible for the royal family's death. But as a brother, if he has escaped, I will not go looking for him."

Author's Notes: 'Tis a bit late, but for those American folk, Happy Turkey Day. Why I used the term 'tis I'm not sure, but oh well. I'm sorry it took awhile to update, life's been a bit hectic and whatnot. Hopefully you'll understand. Twists and turns everywhere, I hope you're enjoying. Drop me a review, please!