A Generation of Legacies

Chapter Thirty-Five

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X, X-2, or any of Square Enix's characters.

Last Time:

"I commissioned the creation of that dagger a year and a half after you left, and it was finished a year following." He chuckled to himself softly. "I took that dagger with me when I visited all the temples on behalf of Maester Bevle. That dagger has been blessed by all the aeons. Whereas the sphere I gave you earlier was blessed by only one aeon, your dagger has been blessed by all four," Kokon commented. "So, if you're ever in a tight spot, that should be able to help."

Straightening his clothes, Koiray admired his new weapon. "Kokon, you've done so much for me."

He placed a hand on his counterpart shoulder. "We'll see if it is enough. I wish you well, Koiray."

Koiray nodded confidently. "I'm glad I got to meet you, Kokon. You've helped me to see a few things differently."

The high summoner nodded in recognition and turned towards the railing. Closing his eyes and bowing his head, Kokon inhaled the freezing air into his lungs. "Seiryu, I call you forth. Come before me!"

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Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Thunk.

Click. Click. Click. Thunk.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Thunk.

Pause.

Click… Click… Click…Thunk.

"Do you plan on just sitting there playing with your blitzball while I type up my applications?"

"Yep…"

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Thunk. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Thunk.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Thunk.

"You're telling me that you have nothing else to do?"

"Yep… I'm not allowed to train, let alone work. Ro's busy with his own training at the temple. Teyh and Maru are busy training with your dad. My parents are in Bevelle for a council session. So… I'm going to sit here and watch you type."

The half Al-Bhed girl rolled her eyes and brushed back her hair, turning back to the sphere station at her desk. "You know the internship I'm applying for is highly competitive, right? I need to concentrate while I'm doing this."

The city guardian's face changed to match his confusion. "I'm not bothering you; I'm just sitting here with my blitzball."

Click. Click. Click. Thunk.

"Bouncing your blitzball. It's throwing off my rhythm."

"Fine. I won't bounce my blitzball."

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

"Well, you're bothering me by just sitting there anyway." She received no answer. With a frustrated grunt, Desa pushed away from her desk and eyed her friend almost angrily. He shrugged innocently in return. "You know, the fact that the only reason you're here is because I'm not terribly busy like everyone else isn't exactly flattering."

The blitzball landed in Koiray's hands as he threw up in the air and it came back down, and he shot a similar look at his friend. "That's not the only reason. I knew you'd be the only one not to act weird around me. Ever since I got back, everyone's been treating me like a bomb about to go off. You're the only one who's always straight with me."

"Fair enough," she answered. "So what have you been up to since you got back?"

Gaining an earnest look about him, he held up the ball in his hands. "Blitzball?"

Desa rolled her eyes. "I should have known." She began to organize scattered papers around her station. "Well, since I'm being straight and pretty much the entire family knows what happened in Djose, have you talked to Hara since you've been back?"

Spinning the blitzball on his finger, Koray's expression remained neutral. "Last week, but that's about it."

"I see."

"Why? Have you?"

"Yeah, actually," she answered, "yesterday."

"…how's she doing?"

Desa smiled softly. "Good… she's talking to Jassen again."

"Really? Is she?" Koiray asked, unconcerned.

"Apparently after you and Jassen had your little brawl, Jassen went out and investigated what happened himself. From what Hara tells me, he came and apologized on his knees." Silence. "Hara says they made-up, but it's still pretty rocky… Wow… I'm actually not getting anything from you. You almost look like you don't care."

The city guardian shrugged. "I don't." Gripping the blitzball by his fingertips, he looked at his friend calmly in the eye. "Whatever happens, it's Hara's decision, and I'll respect it. I won't deny that I have feeling for Hara, but the way I am now, I'm in no condition to do anything about them. I have to start figuring things out for myself… My whole life, I've tried to keep control of every aspect, and when I lost that control, I took it out on people I care about. I want to change. I need to change if I'm ever going to be the kind of son my parents can be proud of."

The young woman looked at him quietly before a small sigh of approval escaped her lips. "You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?"

"Yep…"

"Well, I guess I'm behind you one hundred percent."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"If you ever need to talk to me on this new outlook of yours, my door's always open."

"I'll keep that in mind." Placing the blitzball at the side of his chair, Koiray looked back to Desa. "Actually, Des, there is something I wanted to ask you."

"What?"

"I've been thinking about getting my own apartment. Want to help me look for one?"

She smiled and nodded. "Sure, why not?"

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A hard wind suddenly came up from nowhere, chilling all living things to the bone as it picked up and dropped snow drifts as if they were nothing. Kokon and Koiray struggled to stay firm as the winds blew harder once more before finally settling. As the gusts and snow settled, a large dragon revealed itself to them.

The aeon was an impressive sight. It was as large, if not larger, than the three other aeons Koiray had seen. The body of the aeon was thin and wiry, but its wings made it ten times more impressive.

'Cheribum, what need do you have of me?' the dragon seemed to ask, although there were no signs of such speech.

"You have heard of my descendent Koiray who has an ability to shift, have you not?" Kokon asked in a dignified manner.

'I have.'

Kokon remained stern. "Then you know what you must do?"

'You wish me to place a seal on this young man,' Seiryu answered calmly.

"Yes, but you must also give him an additional surge of power. With that power, Koiray would return home, and with your final seal, he might stay there."

The dragon aeon bowed its head. 'As the Cheribum commands, so do I obey.' Seiryu lifted its head once more and looked to the Deputy Crimson Knight. 'You are the one descending from the line of the Cheribum?'

"I am," Koiray answered, just as dignified as the high summoner standing next to him.

'I sense that you have the same level of faith in the aeons as an esteemed high summoner.'

"I have never seen the aeons perform any ill actions, and my mother is a maester who raised me to respect all the aeons for what they do for Spira."

'A good summoner you would make. 'Tis a shame you have no wish to wear the title.'

Koiray allowed his mouth to curve into the tiniest of smiles at the sound of the remark. "I believe that a person doesn't need to be a summoner if they want to make a difference."

'Indeed, you are right,' the aeon agreed. 'I only wished to note what I sense of you. You, Koiray, are a unique being of incomparable proportions. You have the blood of an aeon, the Cheribum, coursing through your veins, and generations of leadership instilled in you. I have no abilities that allow me to peer into future events like the Cheribum or yourself, but I do not need them to know you will make an impact someday.'

"I thank you for your praise, Seiryu."

'All the aeons, I among them, wondered what the Cheribum wished to achieve by taking human form, but I believe I am beginning to understand. Aeons are remarkable creatures, but not to the degree humans raise us to. We are simply guardians of what is. The power we wield is not ours, but those of our domains. Humans are no less remarkable, and that, I believe, is what the Cheribum saw in the race. Although humans have not the same abilities as the aeons, they have traits we do not: passion, hate, and love. It is my belief that you are best of the two races. Perhaps the reason you chose not to be a summoner was because of your aeon instinct to protect first, and yet you protect those around you with the same vigor and passion as any summoner.'

Koiray stared up at the aeon at a complete loss for words. He looked up into the chilly of the eyes of the dragon, the meaning of Seiryu's words washing over him. He nodded his head. "I will take your words to heart."

The aeon bowed its head in return, then turning to Kokon. 'Cheribum, are we ready?'

"One moment," Kokon answered, looking to Koiray. "Are you ready?"

"Not quite," Koiray answered. The guardian held out a hand and grasped the high summoner's as he accepted it. "You're a good man, Kokon. Thank you for everything."

"No thank you needed."

The Deputy Crimson Knight patted him on the shoulder. "I'll tell my family about you. The story of the real Cheribum."

"Take care of yourself." With a final nod, he suddenly became much more solemn. "Close your eyes, Koiray. I want you to clear your mind. I wish for you to concentrate on only one thing: home. Think of your parents, your family, friends, and loved ones. Think of the life you left behind; the life that's waiting for you."

Koiray stood adjacent to Kokon, completely relaxed and concentrating on one thing. With the tiniest of smiles, Kokon looked to his descendent one last time before speaking to the aeon. "Seiryu, begin!"

The seal instantly showed itself on Koiray's forehead as he grimaced, taking the pain silently.

"Keep your thoughts on home. Think of nothing else. You can do this, Koiray."

Koiray's hands had turned to fists, but as he squeezed tighter and tighter, blood began to run down, tainting the white snow. Seiryu remained focused, and a new wave of energy passed over the young man.

"Aaaahhhh!" he yelled, finally falling to his knees as the pain grew greater and greater.

"Home, Koiray!" Kokon continued to guide. "Think of your mother! Think of your father! Think of Hara, Koiray!"

Something was happening, he could feel it. He could feel his connection to Seiryu growing weaker, but the pain continued to increase. His senses suddenly hit overdrive, and it felt like some force was attempting to rip him apart.

"Home, Koiray! Home!"

Then it hit him. A sudden moment of clarity where he did not just have the five senses of touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing, but a sixth… of shifting. It all felt different. He could feel time all around him like water, and he had just learned to swim. Then, he suddenly grew tired and fell into the snow.

The darkness of sleep greeted him welcomingly.

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"You men, go north of the temple. You, go south. You, go west. Caiten and I will go east. Stay in radio contact, if you find anything, let us know immediately. All right, let's go! We don't have a minute to lose!"

A small group of summoner, guardians, and temple priests stood outside the Temple of Seiryu before dispersing following the woman's short speech. The woman who led them was older than most of the rest and was dressed in warm, icy-blue clothing that matched the surroundings. She wore short, black, curly hair that was paired with an usual sight of pale blue eyes. She moved to a pair of snow-runners parked next together. The machine was a simple mode of transportation in these parts and had been built by one of the larger machine manufacturers in Spira. The design had been based off the ancient machina found by the Al Bhed and improved upon. Spira was no longer held back and greeted the future at top speed.

A young man of fourteen or fifteen approached the same pair of snow-runners and moved to mount one. "Mom, you still haven't told me what's going on. What are we even looking for?"

The woman mounted her own snow-runner and started up the machine. "Seiryu said we would know when we see it."

"Are you sure?"

"Caiten, when Seiryu appears above his temple and tells you to send out search parties, you don't say no."

"But why did he manifest himself in front of everyone? I don't even remember him doing that," the son answered. "Why not just tell you? You are his personal summoner, aren't you? His representative to Spira?"

The head summoner shrugged and began to move her snow-runner forward. "I can only imagine it must be very important. Seiryu hasn't manifested himself since he and the other aeons returned to us all those years ago."

The engine of the snow-runner began to roar, and any further conversation became impossible. Although the majority of the land looked the same with snow drifts and various rock formations, the woman was able to distinguish exactly where it was she was going. After all, she had spent almost half of her life in this place, working diligently as Seiryu's head summoner. Snow drifts changed, of course, but the rocks which they were built on did not. Over the years she had learned to recognize the rock formations underneath and take into account the wind directions to judge where she was. Who needed machines to judge exactly where you were in Spira? She suddenly laughed as she glanced behind to see her son using just one of those machines.

The terrain was subtly changing, and the woman was beginning to see the little ruins left of the ancient temple of Seiryu. The temple had long been destroyed and abandoned; in fact, the majority of the temple had fallen into the lake when the cliffs had caved in. Little or nothing was left.

"Hey, Mom," she heard her son's voice from her earpiece communicator, "I think I see something up ahead at the old ruins. I'll go check it out."

She touched a finger on her earpiece to answer. "I'll go with you. Those ruins aren't stable."

She could see what he meant. There seemed to some kind of dark blue entity standing out from the white. As they grew closer, the head summoner gasped, "Sweet Cheribum." Her snow-runner hit its last gear, pushing her even faster. It was a figure lying face down in the snow, and she stopped the machine just shy of his location.

"Caiten!" she yelled. "Caiten, help me with him!"

The head summoner reached for the figure, settling herself next to him, and turned him over. "Cheribum…"

"Mom!" Caiten ran to his mother's side, looking at the man. "What- Mom, is that Sir Koiray?"

The woman bent over him checking for signs of breath and any warmth left in the body. "Yeah, High Summoner Lenne and Sir Takoire's son, but I'll be damned if I know how he got out here. He's been missing for months. Good, he's breathing, but he's as cold as ice. Let's get him on your snow-runner; you can ride better with a passenger than I can."

Caiten and the woman lifted him together and moved to take him to Caiten's snow runner. "Gently, place him down gently." She turned her communicator on. "All teams report back to the temple. We found what we were looking for."

"What are you going to do?"

"If Seiryu sent us out here all to find Koiray, then I'm sure the aeons will be willing to help us out just a little longer." The head summoner closed her eyed momentarily before opening them, revealing an icy blue aura. She placed her hands on Koiray's still body, somehow warming him. As the power left her, she shook away its remnants to re-examine the Deputy Crimson Knight. "Koiray? Koiray, can you hear me?" she called to him.

He stirred slightly but did not answer.

"Mom, we don't know how long he's been out here. Who knows if he can even get better?"

"No," she shook her head, "Seiryu wouldn't have sent us out here if it was hopeless. Koiray, do you know where you are? Do you know who I am?"

The Deputy Crimson Knight stirred once more, and his eyes slowly opened. "…Lady… Jesa…?" He found it almost impossible to move his lips.

Head Summoner Jesa nodded and smiled. "Good, and do you know where you are?"

"…somewhere…cold…."

"I see you haven't lost that sense of sarcasm of yours. Just hold on, Koiray, we'll have you back at the temple before long."

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Author's Notes: So Koiray's finally home…. Hopefully. I hope you all liked this chapter, it's a bit longer than usual. Kudos to Jezzi for being my BETA as always. R&R