The New Pilgrimage

By: cool-kitsune

Author's Notes: Hey here I go again.. Just a note: WE ARE SKIPPING THE MACALANIA TEMPLE SCENE BECAUSE TEMPLES JUST BORE ME.. okay.. back to the discussion.. make sure you read that..

Anyway.. to the one who asked me the three questions..

No.. Bivie-chan is kawaii and innocent and I don't like Yuna that much when she was in FFX-2.. Villain?? That's a secret.. hehehehe.. I wanna leave you guys in so much suspense.. wahahahahah!!!

REMEMBER: I SKIPPED THE MACALANIA TEMPLE SCENE! I AM NOW IN THE THUNDER PLAINS!!!
I DON'T USE THE NORMAL FFX BATTLE MODE. I DO IT AS WHAT PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY DO
IN REAL LIFE

~*~*~*~ Chapter V: A streak of Lightning

Aya let a shiver cross her as they entered the Thunder Plains. "This place is reeeeeaaaalllyyy creepy if you ask me.. lots of lightning hitting everything in sight.. this place is almost impassable!!" Aya complained as she saw a thunderbolt just strike a few feet from her. They were under the safety of a lightning rod tower but Aya wanted to check if there were fiends and kept on its edge.

"Well, we didn't ask you.." said Auron irritably. He had had enough of Aya's constant complaining about how bad the weather was, or her legs hurt from so much walking. He had sheathed his sword as he assumed that it may act as a lightning rod and you know what'll happen.

Aya 'hmphed' and quickly thought of something to throw back at him, "Well, at least I didn't keep us from traveling for THREE days!!" She said quite angrily. She was getting fed up with Auron's cold attitude towards them. It was like his sacrifice of giving his potion to Aya was completely forgotten.

That remark hit a nerve and Aya realized she had gone to far. Auron, young as he was and had a bad temper, gave Aya a death glare. "I was just trying to protect Bivelle there, Aya. If you consider that as a mistake, fine.. I respect your decision and won't do so anymore."

Meanwhile, Bivelle and Datty looked concerned. They've heard stories about Sir Auron (the one in the Farplane.. sheesh.. I shouldn't have been lazy and made up some name..) when he was still in his pilgrimage with Bivelle's grandfather, Lord Braska. They heard he really had a bad temper and was on the verge of chopping Bivelle's other grandfather, Jecht's head off. She smiled and giggled as she thought that the two Aurons really were sticking up to the "Like Father, Like Son" thing.

Aya after having said, "I didn't mean that!!" looked at Bivelle and asked, "What's up, Bivie?? You okay??" She took a few steps towards her cousin as another bolt of lightning hit the ground a few inches from her this time.

"Yeah, Bivelle.. what's up? You've been giggling a lot lately.. are you sure the Cloister of Trials in the Macalania Temple didn't loosen a screw in your head?" Datty asked in an amused sort of way.

"Nothing, Datty, Aya.." She giggled again. "It's just that.. I keep remembering things.." She looked at Auron who was staring at her strangely.

The other two looked at Auron with an expression that was obviously suspicion. He frowned and asked, "What is it?" His temper was rising yet again. He had had enough of these people looking at him strangely as if he had just risen from the dead.

Bivelle smiled sweetly as she clearly saw that Auron was about to say something again about how they were holding-up the pilgrimage. "No need to be mad, Auron. I was just thinking how you were like your father.. Sir Auron the Legendary Guardian.. who had accompanied TWO summoners in their pilgrimage to vanquish Sin. You are so much like him, Auron."

Auron raised an eyebrow. "How would you know? You haven't even met the guy.. and neither have I.." He set aside the fact that he was having dreams about his father leaving him more often now since they were nearing Guadosalam, where the Farplane was.

"Mother often told me stories about him. How he often acted as a leader of the group during the pilgrimage. And through my thorough research in the Bevelle Records of summoners and their guardians, I have found something about my grandfather's pilgrimage. And about my mother's pilgrimage, too. I figured out that Sir Auron journeyed twice so that he could stop the Spiral of Death. And would continue on and on to help other summoners if the Spiral didn't end after my Mother's pilgrimage." Bivelle stopped and thought for a moment. "And I'd call that heroism, courage, and the strong will to go trudging on to help the people of Spira!!" She pointed at Auron. "You could've done that too!!"

"Now that had no relevance to my question, Bivelle. I was asking how we were alike.. not how he had a large statue in front of the Bevelle Temple.. which was apparently destroyed after the attack of Sin..." Auron told her.

"No it was not destroyed, Auron. If it was.. they'd make another one because your dad was a great man, mate." Datty told him, patting Auron's shoulder.

"Like I was saying.. you look so much like him, act so much like him.. both stubborn Mother once told me.. and both who lived to fulfill their duties. See?? You and Sir Auron are so much alike.. I wouldn't be surprised if we discovered one day that you were some reincarnation.." she stopped as she found it funny.

"Yeah.. look on the bright side, Aurie, your dad's famous even though he's dead and worshipped like some kind of hero.. hahaha.. wish I'd see my pop again.. he's staying in the Sanubia Desert with the other Al Bhed, with Granddad.." said Aya.

"Well, I wish I saw my dad alive.. just once.." Auron said in a sad tone, which the others suddenly thought out of character so they changed the topic.

As the others talked about their food rations, Auron thought, 'Well, he was never alive anyway.. he was dead from the start he joined Aunt Yuna in her pilgrimage..'

"Hey come on, Aurie.. just stop thinking about it.. it's getting really out of character of you.. and I'm feeling quite uncomfortable if you're acting like that." Aya joked.

"Hmph." He stood up and said, "Well, I think we had enough rest.. let us continue on then. The faster we get to the travel agency in this Plains, the better."

"Grouchy little-" Aya was cut off when a pair of Iron Giants suddenly ambushed them. (I just love those Iron Giants) "Oh noooo..." If there was something she feared, she feared large chunks of metal holding a humongous sword. (No, she didn't fear lightning.)

Aya backed away a bit, a childhood trauma making her whimper.

* flashback *

Aya and Barthello were walking a bit shaken in the path towards Rin's Travel Agency: Thunder Plains Branch. "Barthellie.. I really think we shouldn't be wondering far towards them qactuar things.." said a reluctant little five-year old girl.

They were passing the Thunder Plains and planned to visit Bevelle, so that they can see Bivelle, her favorite cousin. "No need to worry, Aya-chan.. fiends are rare in this kind of time." Said the 9-year old Barthello as he touched the qactuar stones as to activate them and it made a strange light.

Aya looked away towards her mother, Rikku, who was talking with Barthello's grandfather, Rin. And clearly saw her little Chocobo friend, Choby go towards her.. "Choby!! Don't go out into the middle of the Plains!! You might get hit!!" She said with a worried tone.

"No problem with that, Aya-chan. Here.." He focused for a while and grabbed his acolyte staff and suddenly yellow balls were surrounding Choby as he walked towards them.

"What was that, Barthellie?" Aya asked as her green eyes reflected the yellow balls circling Choby's small Chocobo body.

"It was a Nul Spell.. one of the basic white magic.. learned it just yesterday." Barthello responded as he patted the little Chocobo.

"Wow.. you're so good at magic, Barthellie!!" She said, her eyes full of awe.

"Well.. almost all people are better than me.. since I only started a month ago.. Well, what do you say, Aya?? Wanna ride?"

"I'd love to!!' She hopped on Choby's tiny rigid back. "NIH!!! CHOBY, NIH!! (RUN!! CHOBY, RUN!!)" she exclaimed as they ran around the Thunder Plains, the lightning nearly hitting them.

"Aya, be careful!!!!" said Barthello but he was too late. The pair already went towards a cramped up place where they met an Iron Giant. "AYA!!!! NIH!!!!!!" said the half Al Bhed.

Aya, having heard Barthello's command jumped off Choby and landed on the mud, face first. "Owww.." she said, tears streaming down her eyes. She gasped as she saw Choby still running towards the Iron Giant and the Iron Giant raised its huge sword and..

Aya closed her eyes and heard a shrieking chirp. She opened her eyes to see her mother fighting off the Iron Giant. Her eyes then came to look at a bloody yellow bird. "CHOOOOOOBBBYYYY!!!!!"

* end flashback *

"CHOOOOOOBBBYYYY!!!!!" She cried out as she hit the Iron Giant with her weapon fiercely, her eyes swelling with tears. And she hit it again and again and again in combos of rage. She focused her power to do an Armor Break so that Auron could beat it to a pulp with his Masamune. (Masamune, the Celestial Weapon doesn't have the Piercing Ability, right?) She cried out one last time as she hit the fiend with her weapon and successfully made an Armor Break.

Auron, from behind the Iron Giant hit it with precise accuracy and damaged it well. Datty then cast a Fira Spell at it. Bivelle then stole some items from it. And after that, Auron hit it again and it exploded in a swarm of pyreflies.

As the battle had ended, the three looked at Aya with confusion. Bivelle was the one to speak first. "Aya, umm.. what's the problem?" She approached her cousin now sitting on the rain drenched ground.

"Choby, my pet chocobo was killed by an Iron Giant.. Do you remember the time when I was five and I arrived at your house crying? It was about Choby's death.. they really couldn't do anything about it.. and that Iron Giant just reminded me about him.." Aya answered. She rubbed her eyes and stood up, part of her clothing, covered with mud. "C'mon, let's go. The Travel Agency is not far away.." She trudged on forward, not bothering to speak anymore.

Auron followed her and Datty and Bivelle were left behind.

"Hmm.. I'm getting really worried.." Bivelle murmured softly. Her voice was barely audible in the storm.

"Huh? Why? Is it about Aya? Don't worry about her, she'll be fine. It's been 10 years fro Pete's sake. She already got over it, right?" Datty replied.

"It's not her, Datty.. It's Auron.. he's acting real weird lately. He's been really irritable lately, you know.."

"Well, he's like that always right?"

"Well, not that much, Datty.. he tends to not show any traces of emotions.. but now he.. he actually said he wished he saw his father alive for once.. If he'd been his self lately, he wouldn't have made that confession. It just reminds me when we were still children. He used to say it a lot."

"I guess you're right. Let's go."

The group got together and tried to avoid stray lightning bolts. "This is getting really annoying.. lightning striking at every tysh (damn) second!! It's getting on my nerves.. and it must really hurt if we're hit by lightning, you know." Complained Aya and suddenly she had an idea. "Hey, Bivie!! Could you umm.. what's it called.. you know the Nul Spells.. I think they work against the thunder.."

Bivelle nodded. 'It won't hurt to try." She prayed hard and suddenly yellow balls circled around them. She smiled as she realized she had done it successfully.

"You know, Barthellie was able to do this spell when he was nine." Aya told her. She giggled as her cousin's cheeks turned slightly red.

"Well, he's really advanced. I.. I began my study at nine too.. and worked out the Nul Spells after a month.." She said her voice so soft.

"WOW! He also studied a month before he got it right! Wow!!" Aya said, full of awe.

"Really?" Bivelle said, her face going redder. "Just a coincidence.. I think.."

"I'd say it's destiny.." Aya told her, making Bivelle's cheeks go redder.

Auron narrowed his eyes as he listened to the conversation. He suddenly spoke, stopping the two teenage girls' conversation. "Let's go before thunder strikes us here." He took long strides and stayed as far away from the girls as possible.

Datty caught up with him and taunted, "I'd say you're just jealous, Auron." He could have sworn he saw a hint of red through Auron's shades.

"Hmph. That's not funny." He said with irritation.

"You just can't take a joke, huh, Auron?"

"That's funny, I don't see myself teasing you about Aya." He said and watched quite amused as Datty's face turned into a bright shade of red.

"NOW, WHAT WAS THAT?! I was only joking!" exclaimed Datty, trying to defend himself.

Auron shrugged and said, "Whatever you say.." and walked on forward.

"Bivelle's right.. you really are acting out of character lately." Datty told him.

Auron just stayed silent. He didn't want to hear anything about his attitude or Bivelle as of now. His mind was preoccupied about what Bivelle had said about his father. Had they been that alike when his father was still young? He just didn't know. But weren't all those dreams telling him at least something about his father? It was all weird and all this thinking is giving him a headache so he let the questions pass.

"Hey man, don't get mad.. we're just concerned, ya?" said Datty and put a hand on Auron's shoulder.

'Yeah.. concerned.. maybe they're right.. or I just need a break.. after all.. my injuries aren't all healed.' He looked down at his still useless left arm, currently in a sling. He suddenly got the idea to ask Datty about his father, but hesitated. "Err, Datty?"

"Err, yeah, what do you want, Auron?" Datty said, his orange hair finally gave up to the storm and fell down on its owner's face.

Auron frowned and said, "Nothing.."

"You sure you're okay, ya? Is it about your.. dad?" Datty guessed and knew he guessed right.

Auron nodded hesitantly. Datty smiled. "Knew you want to know about the guy.. luckily, dad often told me stories about the pilgrimage.. don't know much and I hope this piece of information will add to your knowledge about your dad. Well, Dad always told me that Sir Auron's always hurrying Aunt Yuna towards her death. Took it as a joke, you know. Often really silent and stuff.. hmmm.. and got along well with some Ronso named Kimahri. Well, some Old guy named Maechen visited us and told us something about your dad's first pilgrimage.. told me he was the talkative type.. well.. not in the sort of way you think.. he talks when he argues with Jecht, Bivelle's granddad. And they argue A LOT!!" Just after Datty had finished his statement, they heard a shriek.

The two boys looked at their backs and saw Bivelle on the ground, the yellow balls no longer there. She was scratching the back of her head. Apparently, she got hit by lightning.

"Oww.. that really hurt.." she said as she stood up.

Auron, apparently was really not acting like himself, found the situation funny and laughed out loud. Tears were seen in his eyes as he continued on laughing like some maniac whom didn't laugh for years..

Datty, Aya and Bivelle looked at him with a strange expression on their faces. 'He's laughing..' their thoughts were the same. "I.. I think you've lost your head, Aurie.. umm.. you sure your injuries didn't loosen a screw in your head?" Aya asked, concerned.

Auron laughed even louder, finding the statement funny. "Never.. felt.. hhahahaha.. better.." he said in between laughs.

Bivelle burst into fits of laughter and smile really widely. "Auron, I can't believe it.. you're laughing.. you're acting really strange today.."

Auron finally stopped laughing and smiled. "Maybe the thunder's driving me mad.."

"Well then, let's stay here forever!!" cheered Aya.

"Now that's not gonna be good.. we're on a pilgrimage, remember?" Datty told her.

"Well, at least we see Aurie happy!!"

"You've got a good point. But he wouldn't be so happy about stopping now, huh?"

So they chatted on happily, with a really, really happy Bivelle on Auron's side. Bivelle held his hand in hers as they walked on towards the Travel Agency, not noticing Auron's reddening face.

~*~*~*~

Author's Notes: Yo, minna-san!! Sorry for the late update yet again.. I'm such a failure.. but anyway.. the mushy stuff ain't here yet.. wait for other chappies then. Well, till we meet again, ya? Ja ne!!!