Author's Note: Square=FFX. Damien Rice=Volcano. Me=This ficcy.
"And what I am to you
Is not real
And what I am to you
You do not need
And what I am to you
Is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I ask for the sea"
Damien Rice "Volcano"
Chapter Six:
"Hey Auron! Hey Kaeli," Yuna said. "We're here, just outside Guadosalam. I had to land the ship a bit outside of Guadosalam because they do not like having any machinas within their borders."
"Yeah...so we'll have a bit of walking," Rikku said, then muttering under her breath, "Mdobut Koety.*"
Yuna looked at Rikku somewhat disapproving and before Yuna could say something about Rikku's comment, Auron spoke up, "Perhaps we should go and announce your presence to the Guado. Exactly, how are they doing since the fall of Yevon and the lost of their Maester?"
Auron saw Yuna looking down at the floor, it was after all, their fault that the Guado no longer have a Maester. Yet, they weren't completely to blame and Auron had to let Yuna know, "Yuna, it wasn't yours or our fault; Seymour chose that path by himself."
Yuna nodded, "Right," and smiled gently at Auron, "Well, after the fall, Tromell took the position as the new leader. With the Yevonites falling apart, there were no Maesters. Tromell is the leader of Guados, but he and the Guado are still deeply devoted to the teachings. Outwardly, they seem to accepting to the changes that are happening in Spira..."
"But inwardly," Auron prompted Yuna.
"Well, they seem to be angry and bitter about how it all ended. But since the Farplane is located within their land, they cannot bar people from visiting without offending many people so..."
Auron nodded, "Well, we'll only be there for a moment. Long enough to find a few answers. After that, we'll be out of their way. Let us go."
Yuna nodded and then took the lead. Despite what she may have done to the former Maester of Guadosalam, she was still the Great Summoner in the eyes of Spira. The Guado cannot ignore that. They all left the airship and made their way to the heart of Guadosalam.
A young Guado greeted them at the entrance to Guadosalam with a prayer to Yevon. Yuna returned in kind but not Rikku, who was an Al Bhed or himself since he was ex-communicated from the Temples long ago. Kaeli herself merely stared at the Guado. Yuna told the young man what her purpose was and with a nod, the Guado escorted them to the grand room that led to the Farplane. Auron noticed that nothing, nothing had changed within the trees and the walls of Guadosalam. Although he didn't really expect it to considering how the teachings of Yevon and the idea of never-changing were embedded in the minds of the Guado. Knowing that Tromell was now the leader, Auron guessed that changes would probably not occur very often or to great extent. They continued their way until they were standing in front of Farplane. Auron looked around and at the group of people who was beside him. The last time he was here, he was with Tidus, Yuna, Wakka, Lulu, Kimahri, and Rikku. He had refused to enter the sacred chambers because he himself was an unsent. Now, he was going in...
"Ahem," Kaeli coughed softly. Auron and everyone else looked at Kaeli.
"If you don't mind, I rather not go in. I'm not particularly fond of the place."
Echoes of the past.
"You're not an unsent are you?" Rikku asked. Yuna kicked Rikku on the shin.
"Ouch!" Rikku belt over to rub the area, "Well, the last time someone said that, he was an unsent!"
Yuna kicked Rikku on the other shin.
"Ouch ouch ouch!" Rikku was now hopping up and down and rubbing her shin alternatively.
Kaeli just stared at Yuna and Rikku and then at Auron. Auron remained expressionless.
"Well, no. I'm not an unsent" Kaeli said, " I just don't like the place. I'm sure you can understand Rikku."
Rikku stopped hopping and stared rudely at Yuna before looking at Kaeli, "Yeah...I understand. I don't like the place either..." She looked at Yuna and Auron. "Does this mean only you two are going in?"
Auron looked at Yuna and Yuna nodded, "I guess so. Come on Sir Auron."
Auron walked up the steps to Farplane. He turned around and saw Rikku waving goodbye at them. Kaeli had taken a seat at the base of the staircase, facing away from the entrance of Farplane. Auron turned back and walked in. Inside, was a large room with pyreflies everywhere. The room glowed with a soft light. Yuna walked up to the edge of the room, Auron walked next to her. In front of them was an image of Yuna's parents, Lord Braska and his Al Bhed wife. He stared at them, how happy they were together. The next image was that of Jecht and then it was Kinoc. After that....nothing, just pyreflies flying around.
"Auron..." Yuna said softly.
Auron shook his head. He did not want to talk about it. He looked at Yuna, "Think of me. See if I'm..."
Yuna nodded and they stared...nothing.
"Well," Yuna said. "You're alive."
It was Auron's turn to just nod. He was alive! Alive! He couldn't believe it. Now that he knew for sure that was alive, he wanted to know why. Why he was given a second chance?
Yuna continued talking, "I wonder..."
Nothing, no image of anyone...
"Who were you thinking of?" Auron asked.
"Tidus..."
"Well, he's not here so..." Thinking back to Kaeli's comment, "We just have to find the answers."
"Right," Yuna looked at Auron and smiled, a wave of paternal instinct flooded him. He wanted Yuna to be happy and if that means finding Tidus...
"Lets try someone else...like the guy in the sphere," Yuna closed her eyes and Auron could tell Yuna was focusing on the only image she had of him, the image from the sphere. Then slowly, the pyreflies gathered and an image of the young man who looked a lot like Tidus materialized.
"Auron!" Yuna exclaimed, "It's him."
*Stupid Guado