Another chapter? The same day? I must be ill


Isaaru's surprise at the aeon Yuna summoned was as short lived as the aeon battle. The older summoner had called upon Ifrit while Yuna had summoned her newest aeon. The dragon, Bahamut.

Bahamut was by far the largest aeon Yuna had ever seen. His scales were as black as the waters that swirled beneath the city that held his fayth and, though shaped much like a dragon, he stood upright, his forearms crossed, barely moving as he cast powerful magic attacks. He was imposing and terrifying and Yuna felt sorry for both Ifrit and Isaaru as they battled to withstand the onslaught of spells. Before long Ifrit was dismissed in a flurry of pyreflies and Isaaru sank to his knees in defeat and exhaustion.

Yuna stepped forward, dismissing Bahamut with a nod of thanks as she did so. The aeon left stoically.

Isaaru kept his head bowed, "Stay away," he snapped causing the younger summoner to hesitate, "There is a way to the exit up ahead."

Yuna relaxed and bowed her thanks before turning to her guardians. Lulu stepped forward quickly swept Yuna toward the passageway that would lead them out of the Via Purifico with Kimahri following closely. Auron lingered only long enough to look down at Isaaru and say, "Your pilgrimage is over."

Isaaru looked up abruptly, but the legendary guardian had already moved past him leaving the summoner to realize the truth of his words. He had made both an ally and an enemy of Seymour and only an enemy of his own brothers and guardians.

Auron caught up with his charge and fellow guardians just as they had reached the exit of the Via Purifico. The exit was as unimpressive as the entrance but the hallway beyond led them swiftly upwards and out of the gloom below the ground into a resplendent courtyard which prefixed a long walkway. Beyond was the Macalania forest and freedom. Before was the very welcome sight of three drenched people.

"Yunie!"

Rikku skipped up to the summoner and gave her a crushing hug. Tidus and Wakka trailed after her at a more sedate pace. The blitzball captain approached Lulu and briefly grasped her arm while the blonde blitzer offered Auron a wry smile. The legendary guardian nodded in response.

"We were so worried," Rikku was telling her cousin, still hugging her. Yuna smiled gratefully at her enthusiasm and met Tidus' eyes over the Al Bhed's shoulder.

"Thank you," she told her Rikku as she pulled away, her eyes still on the blitzer. Tidus tried to give her a smile but obviously failed because Yuna returned a concerned frown.

"I...um..." Tidus started then fell silent. What could he say? All he could think of as he looked at her was the terrible truth he'd learned. Unwelcome thoughts of death. He felt his anger rising again and tried to quell it. He was glad she was safe, so he concentrated on that and felt something unwind. His relief must have been evident on his face, because she smiled again.

The moment was ruined somewhat as Auron turned, his body language indicating his disquiet. Seymour and Kinoc approached and it took a moment for Tidus to realize, over the surge of anger that suddenly assailed him again, that Kinoc wasn't walking. He hung limply from Seymour's inhumanly strong grip and dropped to the ground like a sack of wet rice as soon as the half guado released him. Kinoc was clearly dead.

"Kinoc!" Auron sounded as shocked as Tidus had ever heard him. The blitzer took the time to remind himself that the Maester had once been Auron's friend.

Tidus turned his glare on Seymour, who stood calmly.

"Why you..." the blitzer clenched his fists, itching to draw his sword.

"I have saved him," Seymour said glancing at each of them in turn, a smile gracing his face, "He was a man who craved power. And great power he had, but he feared losing it. Trembling at unseen enemies, he spent his days scheming petty schemes. Chased by his fears, never knowing rest."

Tidus glanced at Auron, aware that the legendary guardian, despite his calm demeanour, must have been smouldering with rage beneath the surface. He'd seldom seen Auron lose himself in anger, but when he did it tended to be sudden and violent.

"You see..." Seymour went on, seemingly oblivious to the mixed reactions he was receiving from his audience, "Now he has no worries. He has been granted sleep eternal. Death is a sweet slumber. All the pain of life is gently swept away. So you see...if all life were to end in Spira, all suffering would end. Don't you see? Do you not agree?"

There was a shifting of stances amongst the party, each making themselves more ready for either fight or flight. The half guado seemed to be only half aware of their presence. Tidus wondered if they shouldn't use the opportunity to escape but he was intrigued and revolted by what Seymour was saying. Did he honestly plan to destroy the world?

"That, Yuna, is why I need you," Seymour's gaze suddenly focused on the young summoner, causing her guardians to instantly bunch around her, "Come, Lady Yuna. Come with me to Zanarkand, the lost city of the dead. With death on our side, we will save Spira, and for this...I will take from you your strength, Yuna, your life, and become the next Sin. I will destroy Spira! I will save it!"

A stunned silence greeted this last from the Maester which Tidus felt obliged to break.

"You're totally nuts!" he said bluntly.

Kimahri also seemed to have had enough of Seymour's rambling, he took a series of quick strides forward and, before anyone could move to stop him, buried his spear in Seymour's chest.

Another stunned silence descended while Seymour observed the weapon protruding from him. Tidus absently noted that the Maester wasn't bleeding which led him to disturbing thoughts on how to kill someone who's already dead.

"Unpleasant," the half guado noted. He raised his staff and energy accumulated around him swiftly, distorting the air and making Seymour appear to transform. No wait, Tidus corrected himself incredulously. He really is changing. The Maester's skin was paling, his fingers were growing longer and his eyes were turning black. The blitzer noted with revulsion that Kinoc's body had dissolved into pyreflies which were absorbed into Seymour. Out of the air a stone emblem materialised, to which Seymour's body was crucified. As they watched, he rose up in the air, pulling himself free of Kimahri's spear.

"I will give you your death," he told them, his voice echoing strangely, "You seem to want it so."

Kimahri glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the party, still holding his spear toward Seymour, "Run," he growled, "Protect Yuna."

Auron immediately turned to Tidus, "Go," he ordered, drawing his katana.

"No way," the blitzer said, his translucent sword already in hand, "I'm fighting."

Auron scowled in irritation, a sure sign of his anger toward to Seymour, "I said go," he said, raising his sword threateningly. The movement surprised Tidus, even though he knew the legendary guardian would never hurt him. It indicated to the blitzer just how angry the man in red was. And how desperately he was trying to protect them.

Tidus looked at Yuna and saw the same realisation in her eyes. As one they nodded in agreement and turned to run. Lulu, Wakka and Rikku quickly followed. Even as he ran by Yuna's side, Tidus heard Auron's heavy footfalls follow them, leaving Kimahri to cover their escape. The blitzer scowled, feeling cowardly for leaving one of their party behind. Even as this thought entered his head, Yuna stopped running. Tidus quickly skidded to a halt and looked back at her, breathing hard, his eyes wide with expectation.

"I won't leave Kimahri behind," the young summoner declared.

Auron and the others had since stopped fleeing as well. The legendary guardian shook his head, "He is a guardian," he stated bluntly, "Protecting you is everything."

Tidus gave a start at this, realizing something with a grin, "That's right!" he exclaimed, earning himself a dismayed look from Yuna, "We're all guardians. You know what that means, Yuna? Anywhere you go I'll follow."

Yuna's expression was wiped clear with a smile, "Anywhere I go?" she echoed.

Tidus nodded and raised his sword in a pseudo salute, "Anywhere," he said firmly.

"Alright then," Yuna nodded, "Let's go."

As one the young summoner and the blitzer took off back the way they'd come.

"Hey Kimahri," Tidus yelled recklessly as he ran, "Leave some for us!"

Wakka jumped, "Hey, wait for me," he called as he ran after them with an unexpected grin.

"Me too," Rikku cried, quickly following them.

Auron watched them go in vaguely stunned silence. Lulu walked up to him and gave the legendary guardian a sidelong look and smile.

"I'll go too," she offered before jogging after them.

Auron shook his head with a chuckle, the readjusted his grip on his sword. His face briefly mirrored his pain before he looked up with a steely glare and rejoined his comrades.

Kimahri looked somewhat resigned as the party rejoined him but shook his head nonetheless to indicate his displeasure.

Auron walked to the front of the group, as close to Seymour's new form as he dared. The Maester regarded him in silence.

"Kinoc was no longer the man I once knew," Auron said simply, "But he was once my friend. And you will pay for his death!"

This last was delivered as Auron darted forward his sword held in front of them at a deadly angle. Seymour new cumbersome body meant he could not move in time but the strike from the legendary guardian's blade did little to damage him. Seymour laughed and waved a careless hand.

"Move!" Lulu screamed.

Auron did not hesitate to obey. As he leapt backwards the ground where he had been standing erupted in swirls of orange magic which tore the ground asunder. Tidus gaped openly at the powerful spell.

"Was that a fire spell?" he asked no one in particular.

"Flare," Lulu told him grimly, not taking her eyes off of Seymour, "Yuna!" she called abruptly, "Just like before."

Tidus darted forward at this, clearly remembering the first fight against Seymour. Kimahri and Auron followed suit, seeking to distract their enemy. Lulu, for her part, raised arms wide and whispered, "Firaga."

Seymour was instantly engulfed in flames and as they dissipated, he was assaulted by a barrage of physical attacks. As unaffected as the Maester seemed by these attacks, Tidus was grateful to hear the sound of a summoning from behind him. Once again Yuna summoned Bahamut, her most powerful aeon, who landed amongst them with a deafening crash and a roar. Upon seeing his prey, the dragon aeon hunkered down on all fours and began to gather energy. The air became heavy with it and Tidus felt the hairs on his arms stand on end.

"Step away," Yuna called, her voice authoritative. Her guardians were quick to obey and a moment later the aeon unleashed a bean of pure energy so bright the party had no choice but to avert their eyes. As it slowly died down and Bahamut straightened from his crouch, the disturbing sound of Seymour's laugh drifted throughout the courtyard.

"Death awaits you," the Maester's voice echoed. Instantly Bahamut disappeared in a cloud of pyreflies, as though dismissed. Judging from Yuna's bewilderment, she had not been the one to banish him.

"Perfect," Seymour's voice reached them through the smoke and haze left by Bahamut's attack, "Perfect."

The party readied themselves for the next onslaught but once the smoke had dissipated and they could see clearly, Seymour had disappeared. Tidus turned a full circle, expecting to see the Maester creeping up on them from the lengthening shadows of the afternoon but the courtyard was empty save them. Seymour was gone.

"What..." Rikku started to say.

"Let's go," Auron's voice cut through their bewilderment and, as a complete group, they escaped Bevelle into the crystalline forests of Macalania.


Given his intentions, at this point I think Seymour is just testing them. Thanks for reading :)