Chapter 28: Ex-Summoner

Tidus's POV:

Swiping effortlessly in an attempt to shoo away whatever was bothering my sort of slumber, I realised that the annoyance would not go away. Lazily opening an eye I was quick to shut them again as the sun blinded me.

Morning.

Shading my face away from the rays, I hugged a bottle against my chest and thought of going back to sleep when I suddenly realised that I wasn't with Yuna.

Sitting up abruptly I observed my surroundings and all I saw were other people asleep on the deck. They had all had a big night and had just decided to crash wherever they wanted it seemed.

Remembering why I had gotten up in the first place I scrambled to my feet, dropped the bottle I was holding on to and began to make my way down to the cabins below in order to find Yuna.

Reaching the staircase I had to be careful in stepping over people who had passed out on the stairs the night before. They were all going to have headaches when they woke up that was for sure. Sliding aside empty bottles with my feet and being careful not to slip on spilt liquor, I finally managed to reach the bottom of the stairs safely.

Walking along the corridor I thought back to the night before, when I had been thinking a few things over while I had been partying. Yuna was going to make all of the fun that people were having right now carry on. She was going to make Spira a better place.

But that will only last for ten years at the most. A voice tried to reason with me.

Nodding I agreed. I don't want to do this. I don't want to follow something fake and then have to fail in the end once again. I wasn't going to follow Yuna anymore with the intentions of bringing the calm for only ten years. The only way I was going to follow her is if she brought the calm forever and lived to tell the tale.

Eventually I arrived at the door, which I believed to be ours. Gripping onto the doorhandle I opened it ever so quietly in case I was mistaken. Sticking my head inside I saw that Yuna was already awake. It looked as though she had just gotten dressed, as I watched her tie the laces up on her left boot.

Seeming to notice the crack of light that was now shining through the slightly ajar door she looked up suddenly and raised her eyebrows at me as she said, "Thought you weren't coming back."

Opening the door fully and resting against the doorframe confidently, I raised my own left eyebrow at her and replied, "Just because you don't want to enjoy what's left of your life doesn't mean I have to do the same."

"Look it's obvious to both me and you that…you're just not cut out for this." Pausing she bit her lip and stared directly at me. Brushing the hair away from her eyes she continued, "So I think the wise thing to do here is to continue this journey on my own."

For a moment we both just stood there quietly as if waiting for the other to say something. I was kind of waiting for her to back down and take it all back and I supposed that she was waiting for me to get down on my knees and beg for forgiveness and to tell her to calm down.

However when no one said anything (obviously too proud to yield) the decision was made silently. With that she headed towards me in order to go through the door. Letting her pass, not even trying to make her see reason, I called out after her, "You really are stupid you know that? You can't do this all on your own. Not everything is going to be smooth sailing and not just anyone is going to become your guardian now."

Turning back to me she stared me up and down and responded, "I must have been out of my mind when I thought of making you my guardian. Now I don't even care if you get taken away to trial. You don't care about anyone but yourself and you know it."

The next I knew she was flying off with Valefor and had disappeared into the skies above me. Staring upwards into the sun I listened to the quiet waves that crashed against the boat around me.


Yuna's POV:

It wasn't too long after flying off on Valefor that I had arrived at Mt. Gagazet. I was determined to finish my journey as soon as possible without any further delays. Going back to Bikanel was just another waste of time. I should have already been at Zanarkand summoning the final aeon. Instead I was only just arriving at the mountains.

After dismissing Valefor I started to make my way up the chilly path towards a few Ronso I had seen while I had been flying overhead.

It was then that I saw Kimahri and a smile lit up on my face, however it quickly disappeared once I saw that he was fighting with Maester Kelk…a Ronso Maester.

Running up to see what the fuss was about immediately silenced them. Then suddenly I felt my arms pulled behind me as someone held onto me tightly. Trying to turn around to see what was going on I yelled out, " What's going on. You all know who I am."

It was then Maester Kelk stepped forward and nodded, "Indeed Lady Yuna. But we Ronso have been instructed to capture you if found. You walked right into our laps."

"Why? What for? I'm a summoner." I cried.

"And you were protecting the one who killed Seymour. A crime such as that is unforgivable and you chose to help him escape."

Shaking my head I replied, "Praetor Baralai gave me permission to do so. I would never do anything to go against Yevon."

"THEN WHY IS IT THAT YOU CHOSE TO ALSO PROTECT AN UNSENT WHEN IT IS IN FACT YOUR DUTY TO SEND THEM!" he shouted now standing only inches away from my face.

Agape I answered truthfully, "I don't know what you're talking about. Baralai was possessed by Lord Seymour and now he's dead anyway." I finished regretfully.

It was then Kimarhi spoke up, "Not Baralai. Tidus."

Confused I turned to him and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Suddenly he disappeared and so did the others. My arms were now free and I turned around to see who had been behind me before. No one was in sight. Hearing something up ahead I turned once more and looked for any sign of life. Keeping a sharp eye out I suddenly saw someone appear over the mountain running towards me.

"Here he comes." A familiar voice stated from somewhere on my left.

"Bevelle…I have to get to Bevelle…" I heard a gasping voice cough from up where I had seen the man running only moments before.

Turning to my left I saw three Guado's. One of them was a much younger Maester Seymour and the other two I believed to be his guards.

It was then that Seymour ran out in front of me and a gasp for air was heard. Slowly I turned and saw that Tidus was lying before me on the snow-covered ground with a blade through his chest. His eyes were lifeless and his body now unmoving as blood trickled out from his left side, leaving the snow the colour of dark crimson.

Just as I moved forward to touch him I was flung back into the present and saw that I was still in the same position as before, only this time my head hung low and my eyes were fixed on the sphere in front of me.

"Now do you see? He died ten years ago." Stated Maester Kelk. "And…" he continued, "As a Maester of Yevon I have the authority to remove any summoner who betrays the ways of Yevon."

Eyes widened I stared directly up at him and began to panic, "No you can't do this to me. I was told that if Tidus were to escape then there would be consequences but I did no such thing."

"Oh really? Where is he now then?" he questioned.

It was then that I froze at the sudden realisation of my actions only hours before. I had not thought that dismissing Tidus from his duties as a Guardian would also mean that I had freed him.

"Take her to Bevelle. We will strip her of her title as a summoner formally." Announced Maester Kelk gruffly.

I watched as Kimahri tried to help me as he fought the other Ronso in the vicinity but he was soon knocked out and dragged away somewhere into one of the many caves of the mountain.

Feeling completely helpless I didn't even try to escape as I let them take me away. It was all over now. Never again would I be able to become a summoner or even associate myself with Yevon. I was banished to put it more bluntly. I was now no longer to be involved with the only thing I had ever believed in. I was an outcast. To try and join the Al Bhed would be ridiculous. I could never adapt to thieving, partying or to live around Machina. I was doomed to forever live in Limbo and most likely be the most disappointing thing to ever happen to Spira.

What had I done? I had risked it all for a man who was guilty of an unforgivable crime and who was also an unsent.

I may as well die anyway. My life is over from this day forward and I will never be accepted into any society again.


Tidus's POV:

"To be honest I really couldn't handle the whole 'watching her every move' anyway."

"Yeah but you may as well finish what you started. Even though I don't believe in the whole thing, I think she still needs help along the way." Gippal shrugged as he examined a piece of machina in his hands sceptically.

"Nah she reckons she's got it all figured out so I'll leave her to it. I'm going to enjoy what's left of my time here and I won't spend it worrying about the end of hers or…whatever." I waved off as I slouched back against the side of the ship with a fresh bottle of bourbon in my hand.

Closing my eyes I took a swig and decided that the conversation was over.

Hearing my friend stand up I heard him mumble as he walked away, "Hope ya didn't promise you'd always be there. Coz that's what'll be on her mind at the moment."

Shouting back, "She left me remember!"

Burping a little I snuggled into the fishing nets behind me and dozed off.


Yuna's POV:

It had taken a long walk back to Bevelle. I guessed that it was all part of my punishment because I wasn't even offered a drink along the way. However I should have enjoyed what was left of my free life because now I was in the temple undergoing the trial that should have been for him.

Maester Kelk, Maester Mika and Lord Jyscal were all standing on a balcony above me and I stood directly in the centre of the room with everyone's saddened, disappointed and angry eyes all on me.

I tried not to let them get to me but it was so hard not to. Having the people who once believed in you now condemning you, was the worst feeling.

"Lady Yuna, daughter of Lord Braska, today we, followers of theYevon belief convict you of many, many offences against the people of Yevon and also of Spira." Began Maester Mika.

Hanging my head low I tried not to listen to the many voices around me that whispered the fact that I was now a huge disappointment to Lord Braska instead of an achievement.

"It is apparent that you have not only allowed a guilty man to walk free but that you also refused to send him to the Farplane. It is your duty as a summoner to send those who are no longer living. You have shown reckless behaviour from day one." Maester Mika continued.

Pausing he turned back to his fellow leaders and had a moment of whispered conversation before facing me once more.

"As you are responsible for this fugitive and because he is not here as yet to suffer the consequences, we will therefore strip you of your robes and title and you shall pay the penalty until he is found." he stated firmly.

Then with a sneer he continued, "Although I doubt the punishment will cease once we do find him."

Moving his gaze to the auditorium full of other men and women he announced, "This woman is now no longer a summoner. She will not continue her pilgrimage. Anyone who should refer to her as Lady Yuna will face the consequences. Once her punishment is over she will be banished for life."

With that Lord Jyscal and Maester Mika both vanished, leaving a trail of pyre flies behind floating around Maester Kelk.

Feeling nauseas I fell to my knees and failed to see why no one had even tried to defend me. I suppose they didn't want to be banished themselves I guessed.

Feeling myself pulled to my feet roughly I was immediately removed from the centre of the room and taken down to the place in which held many cells. One of them I recognized as being Tidus's only a short time ago.

This time I would be staying in the temple as a criminal just like he was.


Tidus's POV:

"What do you think you're doing?" a high-pitched voice yelled as something kicked me in the leg.

Rolling over I squinted up above me to see who was disturbing my snooze. I could make out two green eyes frowning down at me and once again I was kicked in the leg.

"Oi piss off!" I shouted, moving myself away from what I guessed to be Rikku.

"Idiot! Get up! We have to go help Yunie!" She shouted as she tried to pull me up by my arm.

Smiling stupidly and in a mocking tone I replied, "But she doesn't need help. She can do it all herself." In reference to Yuna.

"How the hell is she supposed to get out of Bevelle with guards watching her every move?" she questioned now letting go of me.

Raising an eyebrow I turned away from the sun once more and mumbled, "She should almost be at Zanarkand by now. What are you talking about…Bevelle…?"

"That's why we're here. She's been taken away because of you and now she's locked up in a cell at Bevelle temple. So get up and come help us get her out."

The next I knew someone much stronger had pulled me up by the neck and began shouting, "You help Yuna! Yuna our family! You help too!"

Looking up I saw that it was no other then badly tattooed Brother staring down at me threateningly.

Rolling my eyes I replied, "Only if you let go and learn how to speak English."

With a frown and a grunt he let go and started to push me onto the airship with Rikku at my side whimpering about how horrible everything was.

Losing my cool a little I grabbed her by the shoulders and whispered dangerously, "If you don't shut up for the rest of the journey I will personally throw you off this airship and don't think I won't. I've already killed a Maester, I won't have any trouble killing you."

Gulping and trembling a little she ran ahead of both Brother and I. That was the last I saw of her until we were to land.


A/N: Wow after a year of no updates I was able to post my second chapter for the year within less then a month.

Before I go on…I GOT A HOLDEN GEMINI! After having my last car stolen and ridden off into a pole and then sent to the wreckers this is the best thing that has happened to me in ages. I also feel like I've got the same passion for writing back again like I did last year…or was it the year before?

Anyways moving on, thank you to the people who are still reading and reviewing this story. It feels good to know I'm making someone's day with an update.


Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot. Square-Enix owns FFX and everything associated with it.


Yunie Tidus