6/30/02: ARGGH! I have been unsuccessful at getting this chapter onto the
board. Many apologies to my readers! If and when this is up, I hope you
enjoy it.!
De-gone
Hello all! Until they fix the review like thing, I heartily encourage you
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I have bored you all enough, ON WITH THE SHOW!
Battles we've Fought
Fanfic by Degone-Gin. Chapter 7:
Tidus watched with the others, his jaw dropping with terror and awe. He gripped his Avenger with a grip that made the leather of his glove creak in protest. Before Yuna and the party stepped a large Aeon, summoned from the forest of their communal vision. Its face was covered by a golden mask and large red hat. The phantasmal terrain faded with the appearance of the man shaped being. The giant creature stopped to stand protectively beside the undead summoner. It was dressed in a red over kimono with a gold obi. Placed with in the belt was a set of large swords, larger than the mammoth blade the warrior-monk rested on his shoulder. At its feet was a foo-dog, a guardian beast of the temples. The image before them was of a very large samurai, garbed and ready for dealing death. Rikku gulped as she stood next to Lulu, intimidated was too small a word.
"Hmmph." Auron was not amused, nor was he completely sure what this strange summon was. "I haven't seen this before. Be on your guard." The red robed swordsman took his own advice and freed his captive left arm, settling into his relaxed and deadly opening battle stance.
Lulu breathed a single word. "Yojimbo." She stood shocked, her chants dieing on her lips and her small focus doll looking up at her in confusion.
"What!?" Shouted Wakka. He held his ball ready for battle.
"It's Yojimbo, the stolen Aeon from the temple. Lady Gemnine and I tried to get it remember, it's what she died for." Lulu spoke through clenched lips, guilt and anger warring in her crimson eyes.
Gemnine, hate and anger shining in her sightless eyes motioned once again with her right hand. The Aeon nodded to her and stepped forward, his left hand outstretched and open. Beside him the dog growled at the party arrayed before it. The wraith placed a bag on the open palm of the gigantic creature. It seemed to weigh the bag and turned its attention upon the summoner's party before it.
Auron took the seconds of the money exchange to form up the group; he placed Tidus, Lulu and himself at the front ranks. Wakka was motioned to be ready as well as Kimahri. Yuna and Rikku were left to the back, to support as needed. The large samurai found its enemies lined and ready for it. With an almost human grunt it motioned to it's canine companion. The battle had begun.
Tidus hurriedly cast his "Hastaga" on the front ranks, giving Lulu and, more importantly, Auron more actions. He motioned and chanted quickly. Lulu pulled forth the motions and words for her poisonous "Bio" spell. With in moments the sickly green glow of her spell had incased the red monster before them. Yojimbo seemed to chuckle and throw off the poison. He then reached into his robe, pulling out three large and deadly throwing daggers. With a casual flick he sent them at Auron, recognizing the warrior as a potential threat.
Auron growled with pain and quickly pulled the sharp knives from his shoulder, chest and leg. He felt his inner strength double with the pain. He closed his eye and brought forth his powers with his sword. Glowing crimson he charged the samurai giant, a mighty swing of his blade was the catalyst for his powerful strength draining attack. He brushed off his kimono as he stepped back into formation, his eye never leaving the unmoving mempo of his enemy.
Tidus moved back to stand with Wakka and Kimahri. He tapped the Blitzball captain and settled into a crouch to wait. The red haired man took the spot left for him and aimed his ball carefully, hoping to blind and silence the Aeon. The shot was bounced out of the air by the large temple dog, rendering the attack useless. Yojimbo seemed to laugh and motioned again to his companion. The Foo-dog barked and attacked, fangs bared.
Lulu, her chanting rising to a manic pitch, could do nothing to stop the blow. Auron moved to stand before her, protecting the mage as she cast. His sliced leg slowed him, limping he did not quite shield her and took the hit badly on his wounded shoulder. He returned to his place in the front lines, pain causing sweat to form on his fore head. In his mind he heard the mingled grunts from his two "haunts", Braska and Jecht it seemed shared in this fight with him.
The dark mage, having been saved from the attack of the dog, motioned her most powerful fire spell into being. "Feel the heat?" She smiled as the spell was cast by the wave of her hand. Fire coated the monstrously large samurai and his statuesque canine. It seemed to put the creation in some pain. Yuna, seeing a place for herself, ran up and tapped Auron out. With a sour expression that was covered by gray leather, the warrior-monk moved back, Rikku taking the time to bandage him up and give him a potion to quaff.
The wraith of the Lady Summoner Gemnine screeched in fury. Her dark eyes gleamed with the madness of pain and death. She motioned again to the Samurai shaped creation she had summoned forth and placed another bag of coins in its palm. Yojimbo took a second to weigh the gil and grunted in surprise. He placed the bag on his obi and stepped forward; pointing at Yuna he settled his hand to the swords hanging there, thumb on the tsuba of his katana.
"Be wary, my lady," Shouted the red robed warrior monk from the back ranks, his current position giving him the luxury of watching all the enemies with little fear of reprisal. "That Aeon has challenged you, it will use its weapon. Summon a good foe for it!"
Yuna nodded to her guardian leader and began the motions for a summon. She moved her rod and called with her soul for the power of Shiva, the frost Aeon. With a blast of frigid cold and a shower of sharp ice, the blue female form of the elemental of the blizzard came down to the summoner. Wakka and Lulu made for the second rank, keeping clear of the giant woman. Yuna stood by her summoned companion and caught the flowing silk the frozen woman tossed. The Aeon of Ice frowned as she took in what she had been called to fight as Yojimbo, with a bow of respect drew his katana. The two giant humans stared at each other for a moment, giving each other time to contemplate the eventual clash.
Shiva opened the duel with her strongest spell, named "Diamond Dust" for the sparkling ice dust. Yojimbo and his Foo-dog companion we quickly frozen to stillness. Shiva snapped her fingers and the ice shattered, the dog and samurai were shredded by the blade sharp shards of ice. Yojimbo stood back up with painful slowness; his hat was sitting on his head at a crazy angle, his mempo scarred from the last slashes of ice. He settled in to a battle stance and with an unearthly cry, he charged the woman shaped ice elemental. His large blade crashed down upon the defenseless Shiva. With a moan of the deepest winter, she fell to Yuna's feet, her bear chest showing the deep gash created by the samurai's blade.
Wakka and Lulu ran back to the side of their summoner, spells and Blitzball at the ready. The large samurai stumbled back to its summoner, stopping to give his dog a final pet. The summoner Gemnine gave voice to her stymied rage and motioned at the group before her.
Lulu closed her eyes, and whispered, "Let go, Lady Gemnine. Please, just let him go and consent to being sent to where you belong."
It seemed as if the wraith heard the plea as she pointed to Lulu, placing a very large bag in the shaking and bleeding palm of her summoned protector. Yojimbo sighed and with a flick of his sword to clean the snow and ice off of it, he replaced his katana back to its sheath. He placed the bag with the others in his obi and stood before the party.
Lulu set loose another hit of Firaga against the giant man. The edges of his red kimono and the brim of his cock-eyed hat turned charred black and he staggered, dropping to an armored knee. Wakka took this weakened position as a sign to attack and placed his double penalty right where the opening to the golden mask allowed for sight. Again the attack was kept at bay, this time by the mempo itself, its metal protecting the eyes and face of the samurai.
Armor creaking, Yojimbo reached into it's kimono. In a blink of an eye, it had launched three knives at Lulu. Moving quickly, she tried to dodge the blow. But she failed, with a sigh she sunk to the ground, knives protruding from her throat and chest. Wakka bellowed in denial, and began to spin his ball on one upraised finger. Never taking his eyes off the creature against him, the blitzer powered the orb with the power of thunder and kicked it with all his fury at the monstrous samurai.
Unable to deflect the blow, Yojimbo took the lighting powered strike to his chest, and with a final bow to the victorious party he fell, turning into a cloud of light and pyreflies. The graceful death was made all the more hideous by the soulless scream of the wraith that had summoned him. Gemnine stood in quivering rage; mouth open even after her unearthly voice had quit. Yuna shook her head and began the Dance of Sending. In moments it was over, and the long lost spirit of Lulu's first summoner flew on wings of light to the Farplane.
Auron had dragged Lulu away from the end of Gemnine and had begun to carefully treat the dark mage's wounds. The knives had been sharp, but had not penetrated far. He looked at Rikku and Tidus for help and received it. Soon the Blitzball champ was chanting for his one healing spell as Rikku and Auron dressed the remaining wounds. Lulu would be sore but completely recovered after a good night's sleep. Grunting with suppressed pain himself, the red robed warrior gently gathered the spell caster in his arms and stood.
"Let's get out of here, Yuna. Lulu needs a bed to rest in, or at the least a warm cave." Concern colored the gravelly baritone, a fact that escaped everyone but Yuna.
"No, there is the Fayth." Yuna shook her head, "Sir Auron, please take Lulu and Rikku with you back to the entrance. I should be safe with the rest."
The red robed warrior nodded and headed out to the teleport pad, he knew it would take them back quickly. The young summoner and the remains of her party headed to the back of the large cave. There they found the entrance to the rocky opening that served as a sacred chamber for the lost Fayth. Yuna motioned to Tidus and Kimahri to wait at the mouth of the hall. Wakka watched where the others had gone, worry plain on his open tanned face. Yuna summoned all her courage and walked alone into the darkness.
Light sprung into being as the young white mage moved to the center of the cave. Resting as if tossed by an angry god, the stone Fayth glowed in the fire light of many oil braziers made of stone. Yuna bowed and mad the motions of the prayer of Yevon. With a soft, caring voice she spoke to the living stone.
"Fayth of the Aeon Yojimbo, I am Yuna, daughter of High Summoner Braska and Seeker of your lost power."
Tidus watched from his position just inside the defiled chamber. He shook with suppressed fear and anxiety as he watched the woman he cared for kneel in supplication to a seeming lifeless stone. Above his white robed summoner the air began to glow and sparkle. In the shifting colored light the form of a man and a dog coalesced. Yuna rested her head on the dusty ground, following the protocols set down by the church of Yevon.
The shadow of the man nodded and motioned to the young summoner to rise. He spoke with a deep voice, resonant even in death, his large dog curled up next to him. "Summoner Yuna, you must prove yourself to me, what will you give?"
Yuna was taken aback No Aeon had spoken to her in such a manner. She looked up from her respectful bow an expression of shock clear on her face. Tidus walked up and helped his summoner to her feet. The spirit stood patiently before them waiting for the young woman to gather herself.
"W, what do you mean?" Yuna was confused; nothing was going as it had before.
"I am not your typical Fayth. I hold no allegiance with your god, Yu-Yevon. I am my own, free to ask what ever I wish, Summoner. Now, what will you give?"
"Give?"
The man frowned, "Must it always be this way?" he seemed to talk to his dog, the furred animal panted. "I wish to be paid for my power." The man looked directly into the eyes of the woman before him. "You wish to have my power, yes?"
"Paid?" Yuna thought back to the fight, the constant exchanging of money. "You want gil?"
The man nodded, "Yes, how much are you willing to give?"
"How much will this take?" asked Tidus, having enough of this mercenary spirit.
The spiritual warrior turned and looked at the blitzer a hard expression on his face. "No less than one hundred thousand."
"I must see what we have." Stated the summoner, she turned to Tidus. "Run out to where ever Sir Auron is and tell him we need gil. Lots of gil."
Tidus snorted, "This . thing. was easy to take. Are you sure you want this power?" He gestured dismissively at the Fayth and his dog.
"Just go, Tidus, please."
"On my way." Tidus left the spirit and the summoner. A dark feeling of foreboding rode his mind all the way back to the entrance. He was not relieved to find the man he was looking for. Auron was resting against the entrance to the caves; his face was pale and shown with sheen of sweat. Next to him was the unconscious form of Lulu. The legendary guardian opened his one good eye at the sound of footsteps. He peered over his blue tinted sunglasses at Tidus. His eye opened quickly and he forced himself to sit up, tossing back the potion in his gloved right hand.
"What is it?" the warrior-monk demanded.
"Something's not right about this Fayth, Auron. It's demanding money, one hundred thousand gil to be exact." Tidus' scowl matched the older man's expression perfectly.
"Money?" Auron's usually dour expression deepened, "A Fayth that asks for money. This feels wrong."
"Don't I know it. But Yuna's bound and determined to have this Aeon. Do we have that sort of capital?" the young blitzballer looked back at the cave entrance nervously, expecting the worst.
"We have that much." Auron levered himself to his feet. He stretched and rotated the sore shoulder. "I'd better come with you. I don't like this." The legendary guardian raised his gloved hand to the hilt of his enormous sword. With a practiced pull he had his katana resting across his shoulders, the end of the curved blade hanging like a scorpion's stinger behind the man.
"What ever you want, man. I just don't want Yuna harmed by this . thing." Tidus could not bring himself to think of the monstrosity they had just fought as an "Aeon". To him they were sacred, scary beasts you wanted on your side. This Yojimbo would likely turn on the party if the enemy offered enough money. His blue eyes squinted in disgust as he thought this, his hand subconsciously grasping the hilt of his "Avenger".
"To the transporter stone then, Tidus. Let's not keep them waiting long." Auron rubbed the back of his neck, loosening up the pressure and tension building there.
The two walked back into the darkness and foul atmosphere of the cave; each resting their weapons in the ready position.
Yuna watched her guardian leave and turned back to the spirit floating over the stone statue. She settled down to wait, the spectral dog padding over to sniff near her. The Fayth waved his hand and "sat" hovering over the stone nearest the summoner. With respect and care he set out a very fine set of tea service. Delicate porcelain fired a light red with gold painted trim and gold interiors. A simple design, suggesting a bird with the fewest strokes possible, decorated the sides of the cups.
"You like tea?" Asked the man.
"You would serve me tea? What kind of Fayth are you?" Yuna was blunt in her surprise and quickly bowed to apologize.
The man, far from being insulted, chuckled. "I am the Lost. The forgotten. And I am lonely for the simple pleasures of human company. Forgive my lack of "Faythly" actions."
"You are forgiven." Yuna bowed from her sitting position, raising a tentative hand to the specter of the dog. Cold washed her hand instead of wetness as the ghost licked her hand. "And, yes, I like tea."
"Good, because I have little else to serve you." The man smiled.
Yuna watched as the man poured tea into the light ceramic cups. He waited for her to take her cup, which seemed more substantial then his own. Yuna was surprised that the cup before her was as real as she was. This spirit was different, and intriguing.
Over the steaming cups, Yuna asked a question. "Fayth, why do ask for money?"
"It is the only thing that everyone cares about. It means something to you, and to me. Soon I will be free of this stone prison and I will walk the face of Spira again, I will need gil to purchase my things."
"You believe you will return?" Yuna sipped from her cup to hide her expression of disbelief.
"Oh yes, once someone kills off all the sacred beasts and elementals, we Fayth will be free. Free to finally die and return. I will leave my money where I will find it in my next life. The Farplane was not meant to hold our souls forever, dear child. It is merely a place to rest and recuperate for your next journey."
"Next journey? You mean next life?" Asked the young summoner.
The man nodded. "Only I plan ahead for this, being so isolated and nearly forgotten has given me time to think, plan, and create a course of action for myself. You might say I am the Fayth of humanity. I never plan on just one path."
Yuna allowed this to sink in. "Then there is more than just a sacrifice of life to becoming a Fayth?"
"That is something I will allow others to tell you about, Summoner Yuna. I have an," he paused to take a sip from his faded, ghostly cup, "Unorthodox view of what the Fayth are and do."
Yuna heard the sounds of heavy boots walking up to the entrance to the chamber of the unusual Fayth. She recognized the familiar stride of Auron. Auron walked up to the opening in the cave, stopping to look at Kimahri and Wakka. With a kindly hand on the tall blitzballer's shoulder, the leader of Yuna's guardians talked with Wakka.
"I think it would be best if you went back to watch over Lulu and Rikku, don't you?" he asked.
"Ya." Wakka nodded vigorously, sending his red freestanding hair bobbing. "I think it would be good, eh?" He tucked his Blitzball under his arm and headed for the transporting stone in the next cave. He turned back after a few strides and looked at Auron. "Thanks, ya. I'll keep a real good eye out for 'em." The tanned man smiled at the pale continence of the legendary guardian.
"Be wary, I don't like the feel of this place and the sooner we can get Lulu out of here the better." Auron turned back to the entrance of the chamber of the Stolen Fayth, his attention taken up by the faint reddish- golden glow made by many stony braziers. With a practiced motion he settled his sword on his right shoulder and with his bare left hand pushed his sunglasses up his long nose. "Let's get this over with, shall we?" he asked in an aside to Tidus.
The blonde blitzer just nodded, his hand once again tightly gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword, concern for the woman he was sworn to protect written on his expressive tanned face.
Ok, another chapter down. for those who know the game well this is quite a change from what happened. Forgive this storyteller the need to embellish her honest tale and allow me the licence to tell my story with a bit more emotion. I like the Aeon Yojimbo, I just think that the Stolen Fayth needs his own stage, and thoughts. I mean, other than Belgamine, no other summoner gets him. But enough of my soup boxing. Please just read and enjoy. And please remember to tell me what you think. I don't mind the email, since the review system seems to be Sent to the Farplane.
Thank you!
Battles we've Fought
Fanfic by Degone-Gin. Chapter 7:
Tidus watched with the others, his jaw dropping with terror and awe. He gripped his Avenger with a grip that made the leather of his glove creak in protest. Before Yuna and the party stepped a large Aeon, summoned from the forest of their communal vision. Its face was covered by a golden mask and large red hat. The phantasmal terrain faded with the appearance of the man shaped being. The giant creature stopped to stand protectively beside the undead summoner. It was dressed in a red over kimono with a gold obi. Placed with in the belt was a set of large swords, larger than the mammoth blade the warrior-monk rested on his shoulder. At its feet was a foo-dog, a guardian beast of the temples. The image before them was of a very large samurai, garbed and ready for dealing death. Rikku gulped as she stood next to Lulu, intimidated was too small a word.
"Hmmph." Auron was not amused, nor was he completely sure what this strange summon was. "I haven't seen this before. Be on your guard." The red robed swordsman took his own advice and freed his captive left arm, settling into his relaxed and deadly opening battle stance.
Lulu breathed a single word. "Yojimbo." She stood shocked, her chants dieing on her lips and her small focus doll looking up at her in confusion.
"What!?" Shouted Wakka. He held his ball ready for battle.
"It's Yojimbo, the stolen Aeon from the temple. Lady Gemnine and I tried to get it remember, it's what she died for." Lulu spoke through clenched lips, guilt and anger warring in her crimson eyes.
Gemnine, hate and anger shining in her sightless eyes motioned once again with her right hand. The Aeon nodded to her and stepped forward, his left hand outstretched and open. Beside him the dog growled at the party arrayed before it. The wraith placed a bag on the open palm of the gigantic creature. It seemed to weigh the bag and turned its attention upon the summoner's party before it.
Auron took the seconds of the money exchange to form up the group; he placed Tidus, Lulu and himself at the front ranks. Wakka was motioned to be ready as well as Kimahri. Yuna and Rikku were left to the back, to support as needed. The large samurai found its enemies lined and ready for it. With an almost human grunt it motioned to it's canine companion. The battle had begun.
Tidus hurriedly cast his "Hastaga" on the front ranks, giving Lulu and, more importantly, Auron more actions. He motioned and chanted quickly. Lulu pulled forth the motions and words for her poisonous "Bio" spell. With in moments the sickly green glow of her spell had incased the red monster before them. Yojimbo seemed to chuckle and throw off the poison. He then reached into his robe, pulling out three large and deadly throwing daggers. With a casual flick he sent them at Auron, recognizing the warrior as a potential threat.
Auron growled with pain and quickly pulled the sharp knives from his shoulder, chest and leg. He felt his inner strength double with the pain. He closed his eye and brought forth his powers with his sword. Glowing crimson he charged the samurai giant, a mighty swing of his blade was the catalyst for his powerful strength draining attack. He brushed off his kimono as he stepped back into formation, his eye never leaving the unmoving mempo of his enemy.
Tidus moved back to stand with Wakka and Kimahri. He tapped the Blitzball captain and settled into a crouch to wait. The red haired man took the spot left for him and aimed his ball carefully, hoping to blind and silence the Aeon. The shot was bounced out of the air by the large temple dog, rendering the attack useless. Yojimbo seemed to laugh and motioned again to his companion. The Foo-dog barked and attacked, fangs bared.
Lulu, her chanting rising to a manic pitch, could do nothing to stop the blow. Auron moved to stand before her, protecting the mage as she cast. His sliced leg slowed him, limping he did not quite shield her and took the hit badly on his wounded shoulder. He returned to his place in the front lines, pain causing sweat to form on his fore head. In his mind he heard the mingled grunts from his two "haunts", Braska and Jecht it seemed shared in this fight with him.
The dark mage, having been saved from the attack of the dog, motioned her most powerful fire spell into being. "Feel the heat?" She smiled as the spell was cast by the wave of her hand. Fire coated the monstrously large samurai and his statuesque canine. It seemed to put the creation in some pain. Yuna, seeing a place for herself, ran up and tapped Auron out. With a sour expression that was covered by gray leather, the warrior-monk moved back, Rikku taking the time to bandage him up and give him a potion to quaff.
The wraith of the Lady Summoner Gemnine screeched in fury. Her dark eyes gleamed with the madness of pain and death. She motioned again to the Samurai shaped creation she had summoned forth and placed another bag of coins in its palm. Yojimbo took a second to weigh the gil and grunted in surprise. He placed the bag on his obi and stepped forward; pointing at Yuna he settled his hand to the swords hanging there, thumb on the tsuba of his katana.
"Be wary, my lady," Shouted the red robed warrior monk from the back ranks, his current position giving him the luxury of watching all the enemies with little fear of reprisal. "That Aeon has challenged you, it will use its weapon. Summon a good foe for it!"
Yuna nodded to her guardian leader and began the motions for a summon. She moved her rod and called with her soul for the power of Shiva, the frost Aeon. With a blast of frigid cold and a shower of sharp ice, the blue female form of the elemental of the blizzard came down to the summoner. Wakka and Lulu made for the second rank, keeping clear of the giant woman. Yuna stood by her summoned companion and caught the flowing silk the frozen woman tossed. The Aeon of Ice frowned as she took in what she had been called to fight as Yojimbo, with a bow of respect drew his katana. The two giant humans stared at each other for a moment, giving each other time to contemplate the eventual clash.
Shiva opened the duel with her strongest spell, named "Diamond Dust" for the sparkling ice dust. Yojimbo and his Foo-dog companion we quickly frozen to stillness. Shiva snapped her fingers and the ice shattered, the dog and samurai were shredded by the blade sharp shards of ice. Yojimbo stood back up with painful slowness; his hat was sitting on his head at a crazy angle, his mempo scarred from the last slashes of ice. He settled in to a battle stance and with an unearthly cry, he charged the woman shaped ice elemental. His large blade crashed down upon the defenseless Shiva. With a moan of the deepest winter, she fell to Yuna's feet, her bear chest showing the deep gash created by the samurai's blade.
Wakka and Lulu ran back to the side of their summoner, spells and Blitzball at the ready. The large samurai stumbled back to its summoner, stopping to give his dog a final pet. The summoner Gemnine gave voice to her stymied rage and motioned at the group before her.
Lulu closed her eyes, and whispered, "Let go, Lady Gemnine. Please, just let him go and consent to being sent to where you belong."
It seemed as if the wraith heard the plea as she pointed to Lulu, placing a very large bag in the shaking and bleeding palm of her summoned protector. Yojimbo sighed and with a flick of his sword to clean the snow and ice off of it, he replaced his katana back to its sheath. He placed the bag with the others in his obi and stood before the party.
Lulu set loose another hit of Firaga against the giant man. The edges of his red kimono and the brim of his cock-eyed hat turned charred black and he staggered, dropping to an armored knee. Wakka took this weakened position as a sign to attack and placed his double penalty right where the opening to the golden mask allowed for sight. Again the attack was kept at bay, this time by the mempo itself, its metal protecting the eyes and face of the samurai.
Armor creaking, Yojimbo reached into it's kimono. In a blink of an eye, it had launched three knives at Lulu. Moving quickly, she tried to dodge the blow. But she failed, with a sigh she sunk to the ground, knives protruding from her throat and chest. Wakka bellowed in denial, and began to spin his ball on one upraised finger. Never taking his eyes off the creature against him, the blitzer powered the orb with the power of thunder and kicked it with all his fury at the monstrous samurai.
Unable to deflect the blow, Yojimbo took the lighting powered strike to his chest, and with a final bow to the victorious party he fell, turning into a cloud of light and pyreflies. The graceful death was made all the more hideous by the soulless scream of the wraith that had summoned him. Gemnine stood in quivering rage; mouth open even after her unearthly voice had quit. Yuna shook her head and began the Dance of Sending. In moments it was over, and the long lost spirit of Lulu's first summoner flew on wings of light to the Farplane.
Auron had dragged Lulu away from the end of Gemnine and had begun to carefully treat the dark mage's wounds. The knives had been sharp, but had not penetrated far. He looked at Rikku and Tidus for help and received it. Soon the Blitzball champ was chanting for his one healing spell as Rikku and Auron dressed the remaining wounds. Lulu would be sore but completely recovered after a good night's sleep. Grunting with suppressed pain himself, the red robed warrior gently gathered the spell caster in his arms and stood.
"Let's get out of here, Yuna. Lulu needs a bed to rest in, or at the least a warm cave." Concern colored the gravelly baritone, a fact that escaped everyone but Yuna.
"No, there is the Fayth." Yuna shook her head, "Sir Auron, please take Lulu and Rikku with you back to the entrance. I should be safe with the rest."
The red robed warrior nodded and headed out to the teleport pad, he knew it would take them back quickly. The young summoner and the remains of her party headed to the back of the large cave. There they found the entrance to the rocky opening that served as a sacred chamber for the lost Fayth. Yuna motioned to Tidus and Kimahri to wait at the mouth of the hall. Wakka watched where the others had gone, worry plain on his open tanned face. Yuna summoned all her courage and walked alone into the darkness.
Light sprung into being as the young white mage moved to the center of the cave. Resting as if tossed by an angry god, the stone Fayth glowed in the fire light of many oil braziers made of stone. Yuna bowed and mad the motions of the prayer of Yevon. With a soft, caring voice she spoke to the living stone.
"Fayth of the Aeon Yojimbo, I am Yuna, daughter of High Summoner Braska and Seeker of your lost power."
Tidus watched from his position just inside the defiled chamber. He shook with suppressed fear and anxiety as he watched the woman he cared for kneel in supplication to a seeming lifeless stone. Above his white robed summoner the air began to glow and sparkle. In the shifting colored light the form of a man and a dog coalesced. Yuna rested her head on the dusty ground, following the protocols set down by the church of Yevon.
The shadow of the man nodded and motioned to the young summoner to rise. He spoke with a deep voice, resonant even in death, his large dog curled up next to him. "Summoner Yuna, you must prove yourself to me, what will you give?"
Yuna was taken aback No Aeon had spoken to her in such a manner. She looked up from her respectful bow an expression of shock clear on her face. Tidus walked up and helped his summoner to her feet. The spirit stood patiently before them waiting for the young woman to gather herself.
"W, what do you mean?" Yuna was confused; nothing was going as it had before.
"I am not your typical Fayth. I hold no allegiance with your god, Yu-Yevon. I am my own, free to ask what ever I wish, Summoner. Now, what will you give?"
"Give?"
The man frowned, "Must it always be this way?" he seemed to talk to his dog, the furred animal panted. "I wish to be paid for my power." The man looked directly into the eyes of the woman before him. "You wish to have my power, yes?"
"Paid?" Yuna thought back to the fight, the constant exchanging of money. "You want gil?"
The man nodded, "Yes, how much are you willing to give?"
"How much will this take?" asked Tidus, having enough of this mercenary spirit.
The spiritual warrior turned and looked at the blitzer a hard expression on his face. "No less than one hundred thousand."
"I must see what we have." Stated the summoner, she turned to Tidus. "Run out to where ever Sir Auron is and tell him we need gil. Lots of gil."
Tidus snorted, "This . thing. was easy to take. Are you sure you want this power?" He gestured dismissively at the Fayth and his dog.
"Just go, Tidus, please."
"On my way." Tidus left the spirit and the summoner. A dark feeling of foreboding rode his mind all the way back to the entrance. He was not relieved to find the man he was looking for. Auron was resting against the entrance to the caves; his face was pale and shown with sheen of sweat. Next to him was the unconscious form of Lulu. The legendary guardian opened his one good eye at the sound of footsteps. He peered over his blue tinted sunglasses at Tidus. His eye opened quickly and he forced himself to sit up, tossing back the potion in his gloved right hand.
"What is it?" the warrior-monk demanded.
"Something's not right about this Fayth, Auron. It's demanding money, one hundred thousand gil to be exact." Tidus' scowl matched the older man's expression perfectly.
"Money?" Auron's usually dour expression deepened, "A Fayth that asks for money. This feels wrong."
"Don't I know it. But Yuna's bound and determined to have this Aeon. Do we have that sort of capital?" the young blitzballer looked back at the cave entrance nervously, expecting the worst.
"We have that much." Auron levered himself to his feet. He stretched and rotated the sore shoulder. "I'd better come with you. I don't like this." The legendary guardian raised his gloved hand to the hilt of his enormous sword. With a practiced pull he had his katana resting across his shoulders, the end of the curved blade hanging like a scorpion's stinger behind the man.
"What ever you want, man. I just don't want Yuna harmed by this . thing." Tidus could not bring himself to think of the monstrosity they had just fought as an "Aeon". To him they were sacred, scary beasts you wanted on your side. This Yojimbo would likely turn on the party if the enemy offered enough money. His blue eyes squinted in disgust as he thought this, his hand subconsciously grasping the hilt of his "Avenger".
"To the transporter stone then, Tidus. Let's not keep them waiting long." Auron rubbed the back of his neck, loosening up the pressure and tension building there.
The two walked back into the darkness and foul atmosphere of the cave; each resting their weapons in the ready position.
Yuna watched her guardian leave and turned back to the spirit floating over the stone statue. She settled down to wait, the spectral dog padding over to sniff near her. The Fayth waved his hand and "sat" hovering over the stone nearest the summoner. With respect and care he set out a very fine set of tea service. Delicate porcelain fired a light red with gold painted trim and gold interiors. A simple design, suggesting a bird with the fewest strokes possible, decorated the sides of the cups.
"You like tea?" Asked the man.
"You would serve me tea? What kind of Fayth are you?" Yuna was blunt in her surprise and quickly bowed to apologize.
The man, far from being insulted, chuckled. "I am the Lost. The forgotten. And I am lonely for the simple pleasures of human company. Forgive my lack of "Faythly" actions."
"You are forgiven." Yuna bowed from her sitting position, raising a tentative hand to the specter of the dog. Cold washed her hand instead of wetness as the ghost licked her hand. "And, yes, I like tea."
"Good, because I have little else to serve you." The man smiled.
Yuna watched as the man poured tea into the light ceramic cups. He waited for her to take her cup, which seemed more substantial then his own. Yuna was surprised that the cup before her was as real as she was. This spirit was different, and intriguing.
Over the steaming cups, Yuna asked a question. "Fayth, why do ask for money?"
"It is the only thing that everyone cares about. It means something to you, and to me. Soon I will be free of this stone prison and I will walk the face of Spira again, I will need gil to purchase my things."
"You believe you will return?" Yuna sipped from her cup to hide her expression of disbelief.
"Oh yes, once someone kills off all the sacred beasts and elementals, we Fayth will be free. Free to finally die and return. I will leave my money where I will find it in my next life. The Farplane was not meant to hold our souls forever, dear child. It is merely a place to rest and recuperate for your next journey."
"Next journey? You mean next life?" Asked the young summoner.
The man nodded. "Only I plan ahead for this, being so isolated and nearly forgotten has given me time to think, plan, and create a course of action for myself. You might say I am the Fayth of humanity. I never plan on just one path."
Yuna allowed this to sink in. "Then there is more than just a sacrifice of life to becoming a Fayth?"
"That is something I will allow others to tell you about, Summoner Yuna. I have an," he paused to take a sip from his faded, ghostly cup, "Unorthodox view of what the Fayth are and do."
Yuna heard the sounds of heavy boots walking up to the entrance to the chamber of the unusual Fayth. She recognized the familiar stride of Auron. Auron walked up to the opening in the cave, stopping to look at Kimahri and Wakka. With a kindly hand on the tall blitzballer's shoulder, the leader of Yuna's guardians talked with Wakka.
"I think it would be best if you went back to watch over Lulu and Rikku, don't you?" he asked.
"Ya." Wakka nodded vigorously, sending his red freestanding hair bobbing. "I think it would be good, eh?" He tucked his Blitzball under his arm and headed for the transporting stone in the next cave. He turned back after a few strides and looked at Auron. "Thanks, ya. I'll keep a real good eye out for 'em." The tanned man smiled at the pale continence of the legendary guardian.
"Be wary, I don't like the feel of this place and the sooner we can get Lulu out of here the better." Auron turned back to the entrance of the chamber of the Stolen Fayth, his attention taken up by the faint reddish- golden glow made by many stony braziers. With a practiced motion he settled his sword on his right shoulder and with his bare left hand pushed his sunglasses up his long nose. "Let's get this over with, shall we?" he asked in an aside to Tidus.
The blonde blitzer just nodded, his hand once again tightly gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword, concern for the woman he was sworn to protect written on his expressive tanned face.
Ok, another chapter down. for those who know the game well this is quite a change from what happened. Forgive this storyteller the need to embellish her honest tale and allow me the licence to tell my story with a bit more emotion. I like the Aeon Yojimbo, I just think that the Stolen Fayth needs his own stage, and thoughts. I mean, other than Belgamine, no other summoner gets him. But enough of my soup boxing. Please just read and enjoy. And please remember to tell me what you think. I don't mind the email, since the review system seems to be Sent to the Farplane.
Thank you!