Summary: Two lived a thousand years ago in ancient Zanarkand, two hail from present day Spira, they were never supposed to meet but a twisted fate of events send the four of them hurtling through time and space into another universe. Lenne and Shuyin are revered by the Wutain people as the Cetra, the people of the planet and soon fight for their cause. Yuna and Tidus are captured by Shinra and placed under the supervision of Sephiroth. Two summoners with equal power are fated to clash on the battlefield, their two guardians destined to protect them until the very end. Will they ever break free from the chains of destiny and return to their rightful world? Or will they usher in a new era unheard of on Midgar?

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Bonds

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Chapter I

-Bevelle, 1000 years ago-

Lenne rushed through the darkened corridors of Bevelle's underground labyrinth, panic setting in with every step taken. If what she thought was correct then Shuyin was going to activate Vegnagun to wipe out the entire army before the war could even start. She couldn't let him do this, not if it involved sacrificing innocent lives. When Yevon ordered all Summoners to the frontlines in preparation for the battle, Lenne was prepared to lay down her life for her people, but Shuyin wouldn't let her sacrifice herself like this.

The sounds of a piano drew closer as Lenne turned the corner.

Then she saw it.

Vegnagun.

In all its activated glory as Shuyin commanded it via the organ-like instrument atop its head.

"Stop!" she shouted.

Her voice caught his attention as Shuyin paused in his playing and looked at her.

"You must stop this!" Lenne cried, hands held out to either side.

Shuyin leaned over the edge and was about to say something when both of them heard the heavy footsteps of soldiers approaching. A spotlight was suddenly cast down upon them and Lenne leaned against her guardian as he held her close.

A small group of Bevelle soldiers appeared and raised their guns at the duo. Lenne knew they wouldn't make it out of this alive and turned to face her love, her eyes wavering uncertainly for a brief moment before tears fell as she met his gaze with love. His own sapphire orbs mirrored her sadness as they conveyed their silent message to one another.

Bang.

Bullets pierced through their bodies as the two lovers fell apart. Shuyin tried to reach for her weakly while tears continued cascading down Lenne's face.

'So this is where it all ends...' Lenne thought.

"I love..." her words desperately tried to form the words for him to hear.

Then darkness swallowed her.

Voices.

Unfamiliar voices whispering to each other.

Something cool and wet touched her face and Lenne slowly opened her eyes, startling the person who was wiping the grime and dirt off her skin. The songstress slowly sat up and realized she was in unfamiliar surroundings. The one who had been tending to her was an elderly woman, a wet cloth in hand as she hastily backed away a few steps when she saw Lenne regain consciousness.

She tried to move her body but the bandages around her upper torso reminded her of what had happened.

'That's right...Shuyin and I were shot...this place...it can't be the Farplane. Where in Yevon's name am I?...'

Placing a hand over her heart and closing her eyes, Lenne tapped into her magical powers and felt it responding to her call.

"Cure," she said.

White magic burst forth from her fingers and spread throughout her body, mending the bullet holes that had riddled her moments ago. The woman gasped in shock and instantly fell to her knees while repeating one word over and over.

"Cetra!"

'Cetra? What is that?'

Turning to the side to get a better view of her surroundings, Lenne's fingers brushed against another body and she glanced down, eyes widening in shock upon realizing it was Shuyin.

"Shuyin! Shuyin open your eyes!" she said, gently shaking his shoulders.

No response.

Could he still be?...

Closing her eyes once more while drawing deeper into her magic reserves, Lenne placed both hands over his lifeless body and concentrated.

"Bring back those who have fallen. Life!"

The sheer force of the spell alone drained half of her reserves but Lenne could feel her magic working, and moments later Shuyin stirred.

By now the woman had witnessed everything and left the tent while screaming in her unfamiliar language. Lenne ignored this and took Shuyin's hand as the blond guardian opened his eyes groggily.

"Lenne?...Are we...in the Farplane?..." he whispered hoarsely.

"No Shuyin. We're alive but...in another world. This place...this place isn't Spira. I can feel it, the planet seems similar but it's not."

"Then where..."

Their conversation was cut short when a stranger appeared inside their room. Lenne studied the new stranger and saw she was a girl most likely around her own age. She was dressed like a priestess based on her robes, leading the songstress to believe she could possibly be one.

Shuyin tried to protect her but his body refused to move.

"Who are you?" Lenne asked quietly.

"I am Kaya, Priestess to the mighty Leviathan."

Lenne's eyes widened in shock upon understanding the priestess's words, whereas she couldn't earlier with the old woman.

"Y...You can understand me?"

"Yes. It is part of my training to study various languages, be it present or past. You do not speak Wutain, but your language is one I have studied before. Now tell me, what are your names?" Kaya said.

"Lenne...and this is Shuyin."

Kaya cocked her head to the side upon hearing their names.

"Lenne and Shuyin, are you two Cetra?"

Now it was Lenne's turn to cock her head in confusion.

"Cetra? What is that?"

"You can cast magic can you not?"

"Yes...but everyone is able to if they study and train themselves," Lenne explained.

The priestess reached into her robes and withdrew a circular object that glowed yellow. She held this out to Lenne, inviting her to take it, which the latter did to examine as she turned it over in her hands.

"This is Materia, without it, we cannot cast magic. From what Trayni has told me, you are able to cast magic without it."

"I suppose," Lenne answered.

"Then you are a Cetra, your companion as well?"

"No. I'm not a Cetra, I'm a Summoner. Shuyin is my guardian," the songstress tried to explain.

"Summoner? Guardian?"

Lenne frowned as she tried to process what was happening.

"What is a Cetra? You keep repeating that word but I have no idea what it means."

"Cetra, our word for your people, those who can commune with the Planet itself. They were born from the Planet, speak with the Planet, and unlock the Planet. Your ability to cast magic without the aid of Materia is proof enough," Kaya explained.

People? Since when did she have a people? The only people Lenne knew of was back home in Zanarkand. Or could Kaya be referring to Summoners as a people? But they just happen to call them Cetra here?

This world was starting to make her head hurt.

Suddenly shouts could be heard coming from outside while Lenne became alarmed when she could hear fear and terror in the screams.

"What's going on?"

"Shinra! They've come to attack! Lady Lenne, if you are a Cetra, I beg of you to help us end this war!"

Upon hearing the word war being spoken, the summoner's mind was immediately made up as she stood, only to feel Shuyin's hand grip her own.

"Don't. You'll die," he said.

"No. Not this time. This time I'll have you by my side," Lenne said with a smile.

Shuyin pulled himself out of the bed and gave her a brief embrace. Kaya had slipped out of the room during that moment and returned briefly after with weapons in her hand.

"These were found by your bodies when our guards spotted you near our border," she explained.

The pair took up their weapons and followed Kaya outside.

For the first time Lenne got a clear look of the outside and concluded they were in a village, a village that was now half aflame with screaming mothers carrying children in their arms, and men trying to escort them out of sight. Even the elderly were not spared as many tried to hobble as fast they could to escape the carnage. Gunfire attracted her attention towards the rear of the village, and Lenne caught her first glimpse of what she assumed to be Shinra.

Soldiers whom all bore a distinctive helmet with three holes that glowed an eerie red which was a stark contrast to the blue uniform they were clad in. However the thing that stood out the most to Lenne were the guns they were holding.

Lots of guns.

Lenne had seen enough of guns to last several lifetimes.

Gripping her staff tightly in her hand, she was about to cast her magic when Shuyin charged forward and started engaging the enemy.

"Shuyin!"

"Cast your magic on me and the others!" he shouted.

Shuyin began cutting down the soldiers left and right, boosting the morale of the Wutai forces when they realized he was on their side. Deciding to even the odds by allowing everyone to dodge the bullets, Lenne raised her staff in the air.

"Hastega!"

The speed boosting spell served its purpose well as the Wutai forces suddenly found themselves able to dodge the bullets, allowing them to cut down the soldiers with ease. Lenne supported the troops as best she could, casting white magic wherever she needed. However the strain of casting multiple spells was starting to take its toll on her, and her body grew sluggish with effort.

One of the guards was busy defending himself from some of Shinra's forces when Lenne noticed two gunmen aiming at his open back.

"Thundaga!"

Thunder descended from the sky and struck the gunmen, effectively electrocuting them to death as their bodies slumped onto the ground. Lenne was completely drained of magic at this point and sank to her knees, but her efforts alongside Shuyin's were enough to drive back Shinra.

"Lenne! Are you ok?" Shuyin ran over and helped her stand.

"Yea. Would be nice...if I had a Ether," she said with a weak smile.

As if hearing her request, one of the guards from earlier rushed over and held out a bottle to her. Lenne sniffed it and recognized the scent of Ether, prompting her to bring the bottle to her lips and drinking the bitter contents in one go.

"Better?" Shuyin asked.

"Yea. My energy is being restored."

"Lady Lenne and Guardian Shuyin, our lord wishes to speak with you," Kaya said.

The two exchanged brief looks and decided to follow the priestess.

Sephiroth was never one to be taken by surprise.

Indeed, out of his companions he was always the calmest one.

So what was this feeling he was experiencing as he listened to a soldier reporting about the loss they suffered at one of the borders of Wutai.

"Tell me again. What exactly happened?" he said calmly.

"Our forces were winning at first but then..."

"Spit it out," Sephiroth snapped.

"Someone unknown to us cast a speed spell that allowed the troops to dodge our bullets, and there was a blonde male on the battlefield as well. He could easily best ten of our men singlehandedly. Whoever was helping out the Wutai forces also had the ability to cast healing magic, and that's what caught us off guard."

Sephiroth's peripheral vision caught sight of his companion stirring in her seat upon hearing this.

"Leave us," he ordered.

The soldier was more than glad to leave the room and hastily made a retreat before Sephiroth could skewer him with his eyes.

"Entertain me Lady Yuna, what my guard just said, does any of it sound familiar?"

Yuna gripped her staff tightly but remained silent while her guardian rested a hand on her shoulder, giving her comfort. When Shinra first discovered the Cetra known as Lady Yuna, she and her companion were found unconscious near Midgar. One of the soldiers on patrol found their bodies and reported it to Sephiroth. He had ordered them brought back to headquarters but Yuna had woken up during the ride back.

That's when he witnessed it.

Yuna casting magic without the aid of Materia to revive her companion.

That act alone was enough to convince Sephiroth she was a Cetra.

He was obligated to report to Shinra like the good SOLDIER he was, but a part of Sephiroth wished to keep the Cetra for himself. Somehow, he managed to convince Shinra to give him custody of the Cetra to help them win the war against Wutai, but Yuna proved to be far more stubborn than he predicted.

"What are your thoughts?" he prodded again.

"If what he said was true, then there is another Summoner here."

Summoner.

That was the term Yuna referred to herself with.

Sephiroth didn't bother correcting her if she insisted on using Summoner instead of Cetra.

"It seems Wutai has found their own Cetra. I can't allow this to happen."

"You're going to kill them? Don't!"

"May I remind you Lady Yuna, you are under my custody. I am not obligated to listen to your requests, and should you wish to be free to live on your own without Shinra's forces going after you, I suggest you listen to me for the time being."

"Listen here you bastard-" Tidus began.

"Stop Tidus. You can't beat him," Yuna said, gripping her guardian's arm.

The blonde male glared at the general but settled down nonetheless. He tried fighting Sephiroth on multiple occasions but every time he found himself beaten. Tidus understood his skills were nowhere near that of SOLDIER, but he still kept up hope he'd be able to free himself and Yuna one day.

"Now come with me Lady Yuna, it's time for you to use your powers to help us win this war."

Resigning herself to her fate, Yuna took up her staff and followed after Sephiroth silently with Tidus right behind.

Next time: Yuna and Lenne call upon their Aeons and the two forces clash on the battlefield. Lenne realizes she isn't the only Summoner on the planet and plans to discover the identity of the other one.