The New Pilgrimage

By: cool-kitsune

Author's Notes: Chapter III is up of course!! For all those FFX fans who absolutely love the trio, just e-mail me and we could do a group fic if you want. Heck.. well, let's continue on.. wait.. Well, umm.. read and review, minna!!!

"Speech"

'Thought'

(Author's Notes/ Al Bhed Translations)

Summary: A person could change much in time.. but does not change into a completely different person. He could feel the way he used to and could act the way he used to.

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Chapter III: Change

The Macalania is not such a good place for people wearing sleeveless shirts and shorts.. This thought was running through Aya's head as she shivered and held her hands to her chest. They were there just for a few minutes and she was shivering to death. She stayed behind most of the time and barely moved in fiend battles.

Bivelle looked at her cousin with much concern. Aya was turning into a light shade of blue. She then looked at Auron, still not stopping from walking.

Aya looked at her cousin with pleading eyes, which said: "Please, Bivie.. I'm freezing to death already.." She could've been able to say that but she was shivering too much to even talk.

Datty was looking at Aya worriedly. 'Man, she's blue.'

Auron stopped walking when he heard someone weakly call his name. He turned around and saw Bivelle pointing at Aya.

"Auron, Aya might get a fever if we continue on like this.. Could we stop just for a while? Let's build a campsite and a fire so that we'll all feel warm.." Bivelle pleaded.

He looked at Aya.. Those dark sunglasses hid the concern in his eyes. He closed his eyes and nodded. "We rest for a while." He looked around for a good camping spot. "There.." He pointed at a place where there was a blue sphere. A place perfect for camping. Which was just a few meters away from the lake. (The lake where Tidus and Yuna kissed.. Or was that a lake? What the heck..)

Aya jumped in happiness and relief. "OYRUU!!! (Yahoo!!)" She smiled at Auron brightly and said a silent thanks. Datty followed her and left Auron and Bivelle behind.

Bivelle smiled at her best friend. "Thanks, Auron.. I.. I really appreciate this.. Thanks.." She gave him a soft pat on his shoulder and smiled sweetly again.

Auron let a smile appear on his face and he hesitantly held Bivelle's hand and went on to Aya and Datty.

"Hey, let's make a fire, ya? So that it'll be nice and warm.." Datty told Auron.

Auron nodded and went towards the woods to get some wood. Bivelle looked worried. She stood up and followed Auron. "Let me go with you."

Datty and Aya swore that Auron had a hint of red on his face that Bivelle didn't notice. They just snickered and kept quiet.

Auron nodded and looked away, aware of the color of his face. Bivelle just smiled innocently and didn't notice a thing.. (I swear she is just like Haruko Akagi of Slam Dunk.. eeeshh..)

When they entered the woods, they saw O'aka XXIV. (O'aka's son, ya??) "Hello there.. I am O'aka XXIV. Son of the great O'aka XXIII, Merchant Extraordinaire!! He he.. You need anything, m'lady?" He did the prayer and bowed down.

Bivelle giggled and said, "No need for such formalities.. I'm just starting out. I am Bivelle and this is Auron, my guardian. No thanks.. we already have items.."

"You only have one guardian, Lady Bivelle?" He asked.

She sighed. "Please.. just call me Bivelle.. No.. I have other guardians, they're at camp right now.. We need firewood.. that's why we're here.."

O'aka (the twenty-forth) suddenly had a look of shock on his face as if realization hit him like a pile of bricks. "Yo-you're.. you're.. you are.." He stammered.

Bivelle looked at O'aka (the 24th) who had just started bowing apologies. She looked at Auron who just shrugged.

"I.. I'm so sorry my lady!!! I didn't realize!!"

"Err.." Bivelle just looked at him with utter confusion. Auron just rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry.." He breathed in deeply. "I didn't quite really expect to see the daughter of the High Summoner, Lady Yuna here.. and also the son of the Legendary Guardian, Sir Auron. Please accept my sincerest apologies!!"

"It's really okay.. We must really hurry.. our friend might freeze to death.." She smiled sheepishly.

"You need fire wood my Lady? I have plenty here in my bag!" He opened his bag up and showed Bivelle the content.

"Yes.. How much for 10?"

"No, Lady Bivelle!! No need for payment!! It is my pleasure to give it to you."

"I.. I certainly can't accept. We must pay you."

"No really this is on me, Lady Bivelle."

"Are you really sure? I mean.. you might need the money."

"Money is of no importance to me right now, m'lady.. I wish for your own sake."

"Okay.. since you insist so much." Bivelle took the pile of wood from O'aka (the 24th) and felt uncomfortable because of its heaviness. "Thank you so much.. We'll repay you, I promise."

"No need m'lady.. I bid you farewell and good luck on your pilgrimage." O'aka (the 24th) went on towards the southern part of the woods.

"Thank you so much.."

Auron offered a hand to her and carried all the firewood towards the camp. While on their way, Bivelle asked him, "You were quiet.. is there something wrong?"

Auron just shook his head silently.. But in his mind, he was always bothered when people addressed him as the son of the oh-so-great Legendary Guardian.. But it's not like he hates his father.. he just seems bothered.. for he had seen him for only once.. in the Farplane, during his childhood days. (Auron's childhood journey towards the Farplane will be posted in later chapters.. I think in Chapter 6 and on.. chapter 6 will have one major part, and 6 minors.)

There was silence until they reached the campsite. "Hey Bivie!! That's an awful lot of firewood! Where'd you get it?" Aya asked her enthusiastically. There were two tents, one for the boys and another one for the girls. It seemed that Datty and Aya already prepared the camp for the two of them.

"From a traveling merchant." She answered as she watched the two boys make a fire.

"Hrr.. this is damn frustrating.. I'll cast a fire on it!!" (Datty was taught by his mother how to cast black magic and thought by his father on how to attack physically. Except his defense and magic defense ain't that high.)

Before Auron could protest, he felt a burning sensation on his left hand. It seems that he didn't take his hand away before Datty cast the spell! "THAT wasn't so nice, Datty.." He raised his hand to find out it has a burn.

"Sorry, ya? My mistake.." Datty scratched the back of his head.

Bivelle looked at the burn and told Auron, "Hold still.. I'm going to cast a cure."

"There's no need, Bivelle." Auron insisted. He pulled his hand away from her sight and held it tightly.

"But Auron.."

Aya watched worriedly at the two. 'Uh-oh.. I think I know what this going to get at..' she thought. Datty just stood by her side.

"No. Don't you waste your curative magic on this little thing, Bivelle.. I could handle it." While saying this, he raised his burned hand and showed to her the minority of the injury.

"Au-auron.." Bivelle tried to hold back tears.. He could've said it in another way.. She turned around and covered her face with her hands.

"Bivie!!" Aya gave him a glare and hugged Bivelle. "You didn't have to say it that way you know.. you didn't have to say it that way.. You meanie!"

Datty looked at Auron who was looking at Bivelle. Auron just sighed and went in their tent. Datty followed him.

"Bivie.. you okay now? He left.." Aya told her and ran her hand through her cousin's hair. "Hey.. Bivie.."

"......." Bivelle was silent and her face was tear-streaked. She just sat on a log near the fire. She looked down on the ground for a few seconds and there was silence.

Aya sat beside her and held Bivelle's hand. She spoke gently and softly. "Don't worry.. he's always like that, ne? He'll apologize to you pretty soon.. haven't you gotten used to him yet? He's different from what we first knew him, Bivie.."

Bivelle just sobbed and cried more. That was what made it more painful.. Auron was not the same person she met 10 years ago. He was not the same person whom she became best friends with. He didn't care for much of them as indicated in his actions (she thinks this way.. ). For her, he was just a cold man right now.. changed by time and loneliness. He was different now. A completely different person for her. It was as if he was the exact opposite of what he was before.

She wanted to say everything to her cousin.. but through her sobs, she just couldn't say anything at all.

"Bivie.. I'm asking you to forgive him in his behalf. We can't go on in a pilgrimage if we're like this.. We're just starting but we are failing our jobs." Aya tried to comfort Bivelle.

Bivelle forced herself to stop crying. She rubbed her eyes lightly and faked a smile to Aya.

"If you're okay now.. I'll go to bed 'cause I'm so tired and cold.. I'm gonna go to bed okay?" When she saw Bivelle nod and smile, she proceeded to the tent but before entering she said, "Don't worry.. We know him.. He's probably really sorry. Anyway. If you get tired, just go in the tent, okay?"

Bivelle just nodded. When she saw Aya enter the tent and get in her sleeping bag, she left camp and went to the lake to contemplate on things.

In the boys' tent..

Datty was just reading a book about Yevon's teachings. Auron was just silent.. looking at the hand, which was burned.

After a short while, Auron stood up, which caught Datty's attention. He went out of the tent and realized that Bivelle wasn't in camp. He was about to go when..

"Hey, If you decide to rest, Auron.. umm.. come back here, ya? And uhh.. good luck." Datty told him.

Auron stopped in his tracks and nodded. He understood what Datty had just meant.

Datty smiled and swore that he heard Auron say a thank you.

Auron looked around. He left camp and was in an intersection. He headed straight and arrived at the lake where he caught sight of Bivelle sitting at its shore. He was certain that Bivelle was crying for he can hear soft sobbing sounds.

Bivelle, with tears running through her face, made ripples in the water with her fingers. She was somehow writing a sentence in the water.

Auron stepped forward and Bivelle suddenly turned towards him.

There were a few moments of silence between the two of them. The two teens were now both sitting at the lake's shore. (No.. they will not have a kiss here.. for those expecting it)

"... Bivelle.. I.. I'm.. cunno.. (sorry)" He told her with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry too.." Bivelle told him shyly.

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.. Please forgive me." He looked down at the water. 'Shit.. I'm not used to this..'

"I forgive you.. coz you're my best friend!" She hugged him tightly and smiled. "And friends should forgive and forget!!"

"We should go back to camp.. they might worry about us."

"Sure, Auron.."

The two went back to camp and got a good night's sleep.

The next day..

Bivelle covered her mouth and yawned. "Aaaahh.. another nice day!" She went outside the tent and saw Auron asleep near the campfire. "Must've been keeping watch.."

Aya then hung her head lazily through the entrance of the tent. She then yawned. "Mornin' Bivie.. Auron.." She yawned once again.

"Good morning, dear cousin!" Bivelle smiled at her.

"Hey, Aurie.. I said, mornin'!" Aya yelled grumpily.

"Aya.. please.. He's.." Bivelle was cut off when Aya stood up and went towards Auron and shook him.

"Wake up! I said good mornin', grouch!!!" Apparently, Aya was kind of grumpy cause she just woke up.

"What's the noise all about, ya?" Datty peaked out of the tent. "ACK!!!" He exclaimed when he saw Aya waking Auron up. "Stop that!!! He kept watch all night!!! Don't, Aya!!" He said with a very panicked voice. He knew it would be bad if he woke up.

"Hmph. Everyone's quite mean today." Aya said when she stopped shaking Auron's shoulders.

"And everyone's just rude today." Said a really annoyed voice.

The three looked at where the voice came from: Auron!! He looked really annoyed. (and really he is!!) "Good mornin' Aurie!!" Aya chirped energetically.

"Hmph. We might as well reach the Agency and have breakfast there. It's just a few hours walk." Auron told the party.

"A /FEW/ HOURS?!!" Aya exclaimed. "I can't wait that long for breakfast!!!! I'll starve to death by that time!!!"

"It's better than having nothing at all." Auron replied back, crossing his arms.

"Hmph!! Meanie!! Fine!! Let's go then!!"

The party went out of their camp and headed for the woods. They had a lot of encounters with fiends of all different shapes and sizes. Since the fiends were powerful there and they were just starting out, their potions easily ran out..

"Hmmnnnggg.." Aya moaned in cold and in pain. "This is too much.. I'm cold, my body aches and I think we're out of potions.. Bivie.. do you still have your curative spells?"

"Unfortunately.. I could cast an esuna or cure in my condition.. I'm sorry.." Bivelle said softly.

"Don't be sorry, Bivelle.. you did your best to sustain your magic." Datty told her.

Auron was somehow staggering behind them. Most of the time, he was ahead but for some unknown reason, he was staying behind. The others didn't seem to notice this, since they were all injured.

"Bivie.. my body's getting numb.." Aya said through shivers. Her stamina was not as strong as Auron's so she fell on the ground.

"AYA!!!" Bivelle ran to her cousin and cast a cure, out of instincts. "Aya.."

Datty sat near Aya, worried about her. While Auron was just standing stiffly, his shades covering his tired eyes, which were concerned for his friend's cousin.

"I don't know if I could hold much longer too.. Auron.. how much farther?" Datty asked with a barely audible voice.

"We're getting nearer.." Auron said, trying to hide from them his injuries, trying to show no sign of weakness.

"Hmmmnnnggg... My God, I don't feel so good.. but I feel a lot better.. thanks Bivie.. even though it was your last cure.." Aya groaned.

"It's okay.. Shall we continue?" Bivelle looked at Auron who just nodded.

Half an hour later, only one hi-potion was left.. and it was with Auron.

They all sat down for a while, contemplating on to whom they should use the potion to.

"Maybe to Bivie.. she can't go on.."

"No, no.. it should be with Auron, Aya.."

The stoic guardian just shook his head as an indication he did not need it.

"Damn.. we all need it. Why don't we just share it?"

"It'll be useless.. It'll only restore some of our health." Auron replied.

Then something jumped up from the bushes (if there were any bushes in the woods.. whatever..) And landed straight on Auron.

He grunted and they all saw the most powerful (to me) fiend in the Macalania Woods, a Chimera. It growled and did a Thundara to Datty.

Datty almost passed out from the powerful magic. "I'm okay.. no need for potions. It was just magic."

Aya threw a grenade to the beast, which had little effect whatsoever.

Bivelle was in the background watching closely as her guardians tried solely to get up and protect her. Especially Auron who had been weakened from using his Guard ability too much to protect his fellow guardians and his summoner.

Aya was breathing loudly and panting. "Tysh oui!!!!!!!! Oui Chimera, oui!!! (Damn you!! You Chimera, you!!)" She said as she threw another grenade at it and the effects were the same as before.

Datty tried casting a Thunder on it but unfortunately, he had the power to cast only one.

Auron used his Guard again. Grimacing when blood started to come out of his open wounds. He groaned and went in the Chimera's way when it was about to attack Datty. He almost fell to the ground because of that attack.

"Auron! Stop it with that guarding!!" Datty yelled.

Auron reached into his robe and grabbed the last potion. Ready to throw it to the next one attacked by the Chimera, which was Aya. He threw it at her and she accepted it gratefully. When it was his turn to attack, he lifted his sword and struck it at the fiend's heart, which instantly killed it.

The group all fell down on the ground to rest. Aya smiled at Auron for having given her the potion, which he kept. Auron didn't return the smile and wasn't even looking at her. It seemed that he was having trouble breathing and his head was down.

Aya looked worried. And was shocked when she saw him stand up. "Aaahh.." She tried to stop him when he spoke.

"The.. Agency is just a few minutes away.." He said. His left arm out of his coat and holding his chest which nobody noticed.

"Okay.." They all stood up.

Auron stayed forward as to not let the group see how serious his injuries from the battle were. He kept his heavy eyelids from closing. He looked down at his left hand, holding his broken chest plate all stained with his blood and grimaced at the horrid sight.

Aya was just being silent. Getting concerned about Auron wasn't do anything. She had to speak up. But Auron wouldn't like that. But pride or no pride she had to speak up and help her fellow guardian.

"Bivie.. I think we should.." Aya started.

Hearing this, Auron quickly interrupted. 'We are almost there."

"But.. Aurie.."

He shook his head one last time and then his vision wavered and he fell on the cold ground. (They were near the place where the first Jecht Sphere was.)

Bivelle gasped. Her guardian with the most stamina fell on the ground, unconscious. Unable to move on. And utterly helpless. '"AURON!!" She ran towards her guardian and turned him over. She gasped at the horrible sight.

Aya and Datty, with eyes wide, and mouth nearly touching the ground, went over to Bivelle.

Auron had his hand on his injury.. Blood staining it so much it was colored crimson all over. His chest plate had been completely ruined and blood was gushing out like Kingdom come. And there was his bracer all mingled and torn. And where the bracer was, was a large gash running from his elbow to his wrist.

Aya touched his ribs to see if it was bruised. Auron let an involuntary groan escape his lips and his back arched slightly. "This.. this must be the result of his guard ability.. why didn't he stop.." Aya said as tears of concern (first time I heard that..) streamed from her eyes.

Datty carried him and slowly, they reached the Agency. But.. Auron's condition was not any better now.

As they got their rooms, they started treating Auron's injuries right away. They put his left arm in a sling and bandaged his chest and bandaged his left arm (before putting it in a sling.)

Auron frowned in his sleep.. dreaming about something.

* dream sequence *

Young 8 year-old Auron was walking around the fields, alone. He picked up a flower and then someone's shadow cast over him. "... Hello.. what do you want?" He asked silently.

"I want to apologize if I wasn't there for you when you were born." A gruff voice told him.

'Hmph.. like life will be much easier now that you apologized to me.. it's still the same.." Young Auron said, while twirling the flower. He sat down on the grass. "Life will still be hard even though you visit me in my dreams, dad.. it's not easy.. not getting your support in real life." He tried to hold back his tears.

"I know." Sir Auron told his son and took him in a heart-warming embrace. "I know how you feel.."

"How should you know.." Young Auron said through sniffles. Tears fell from his eyes once his father had embraced him. "I had to live on my own for 8 stupid years.. all alone.."

"It made you much stronger.. didn't it?"

"Yeah.. maybe a little.. but those years weren't the happiest days of my life!" Young Auron frowned and looked at his father with russet eyes, with the same piercing gaze, with tears in the eyes.

Sir Auron chuckled. "You're a strong boy. You won't need your mother or me now.. you're a very strong boy."

"So what? I lacked of the tender-loving care parents give their children."

"I'm sorry.."

"I wish I'll see you again.. I'll miss you, dad.."

"You'll see me again.. either in the Farplane or in your dreams.. I'll be there to guide you, always.."

"Thanks, dad.." Young Auron said as he returned his father's embrace. "I really appreciate this even though I can't really see you in real life.. but your guidance means so much to me."

Sir Auron turned towards his old friend Jecht, who had been calling him.

"Hey, stiff!! Stop it with that mushy stuff already!! You're making me cry!!" Jecht said with his loud voice.

"Hey, little Auron!! Tell my grand daughter my regards!!" Braska told the little boy.

"Yeah.. And to my daughter too!!" Tidus exclaimed from the background.

"Yeah!! To little Bivie!!" Jecht continued.

"Yeah!! I will!! You can count on me!" Young Auron smiled and all the people there faded except for him. "Thanks dad.. I love you.."

* end of dream sequence *

Auron smiled in his sleep.. he wished he'd have good dreams just like this every night..

To be continued..

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AAAAACKKK!! So very sorry!! I promise it won't take too long next time!! I was busy writing other fics!! I'm sorry!! Please review or else I won't continue.. What's the point of writing without anyone reading it?? Well, ja ne!!!!!! Okay.. I'll update soon.. but then again, school is coming again! Well.. anyhow.. I'll see you again next time!! On chapter 4!!! My Summoner, Your Summoner..