Disclaimer: Nope, Final Fantasy X belongs to Squaresoft. *sobs* However,
original characters (my summoner and her party) belong to me.
This is my first FFX fanfic and reviews are greatly appreciated. I've always thought that Auron was a closet romantic (especially when he was younger), but to reveal it would take so much away from his bad ass demeanor.
Also, this story will roughly follow the game up until Bevelle, but I won't be writing out each and every scene. The story will contain spoilers, so if you've beaten the game and/or don't care to be surprised, please read on.
Read and enjoy!
"Kiss From a Rose" Part Seven
Copyright 2003 by Amie Martin
highlander_bellflower@hotmail.com
*****************************
~Yuna--Bevelle~
Traitor.
I had never really thought about the word before, or the ramifications being branded a traitor could have. I was not a traitor in my mind. Almost my entire life had been spent in the service of Yevon, training to become a summoner so I would one day defeat Sin. I would never knowingly go against those beliefs, the same beliefs that had steadied me through my childhood. Now, one man stood between me and everything I had come to stand for.
Seymour.
He had killed his own father; Lord Jyscal himself told me, in his sphere from the Farplane. It was an accusation that stayed with me, distracting me further from my thoughts on Seymour's marriage proposal. I couldn't marry a man who was capable of murder, even if it would make all of Spira rejoice in much needed joy.
Still, I didn't let my guardians know of my suspicions. There was already doubt in Lulu's eyes, and there was a vague sense of jealousy from Tidus. Anything I said would amplify those feelings, and I couldn't have any more distractions. I would have to deal with Seymour on my own, and no one would be forced to worry about me.
The logical path was to confront Seymour about Lord Jyscal's death and give him a chance to explain what had happened. Part of me wanted to believe that a Maester of Yevon wasn't capable of such a heinous crime. At the same time, a part of me had a sinking feeling that it was true...
Had I expected Seymour to fight us rather than turn himself in for his crimes? No, but I had learned one thing from my pilgrimage--expect the unexpected. I wasn't as naïve as I was when I left Besaid, and if we had to fight Seymour, I refused to be afraid and intimidated by him.
But I did know one thing: the dead did not come back to life. We fled Macalania Temple without sending Seymour, and we didn't have the time to think about the possibilities. Seeing him, in Bevelle, seemingly alive and well... it was quite the shock. As a summoner, it was my duty to ensure that the dead did not wander Spira. Maester or not, Seymour could not-- would not--stop me from doing my duty.
The wedding was my only idea that would bring me close enough to Seymour to send him. I had no intention of actually going through with the marriage; the mere thought sent shivers down my spine, and besides, I couldn't marry a dead man. Vainly I wished for my guardians' support--a smile from Tidus, a grunt from Auron, a giggle from Rikku. I didn't know if they were all right; I knew I was on my own.
Everything had spiraled so quickly that it was almost impossible to know everything that had happened. The wedding ceremony was completed, Seymour almost murdered my guardians, I fled to the Chamber of the Fayth. I vaguely remembered receiving the aeon Bahamut, but nothing after that. I awoke in the custody of Bevelle's warrior monks to find myself awaiting trial.
Traitor... I was not a traitor. The true traitor was the self-serving Seymour, the only thing standing between myself and the Final Aeon. If only the greedy Maester could be tried for his crimes by a jury unbiased in his favor... it would never happen. This was a charge I had to face alone.
"Lady Yuna, you are charged with the crime of high treason against Yevon." Grand Maester Mika's voice boomed through the large audience chamber. "How do you plead?"
I held my hand up high, refusing to admit defeat just yet. "Not guilty."
Mika clasped his hands in front of him. "Very well, then. Begin your explanation."
Drawing a deep breath, I tried to expel all of my fear and nervousness along with the air. "While in Guadosalam," I began slowly, "the ghost of Lord Jyscal appeared outside the entrance to the Farplane. While I did send him back, he left a sphere behind."
"What did the sphere say?" The question was asked by Kelk Ronso, Maester of Yevon and leader of the Ronso tribe. Of all the Maesters, I placed my trust in him above all others.
"That Lord Jyscal had died by the hands of his son, Seymour." My hands started to shake, and I gripped the railing of my tiny podium in an attempt to hide it. "I decided to confront Maester Seymour at Macalania Temple and convince him to turn himself in."
To Mika's left, Seymour had a small, sly smile on his face, as if he had already escaped the blame for his father's murder. Mike either ignored or didn't notice Seymour as he asked, "Why would Maester Seymour murder his father?"
"I am unsure." Had I been more relaxed, I would have shrugged my shoulders. "Perhaps he wanted to become Maester in his father's place," I suggested.
Seymour chuckled. "And tell us, Lady Yuna, where is Lord Jyscal's sphere now? I would very much like to see it."
Flinching, I looked away. Quietly, I admitted, "The sphere was destroyed by Maester Seymour's servant Tromell."
"So you have no proof." With a satisfied smile, Seymour glanced at Mika, who nodded. "Lady Yuna, please, continue with your story."
"Maester Seymour refused to turn himself in and chose to fight my guardians and I." The words rushed out of my mouth, inspired by fear and adrenaline. "Maester Mika, Maester Seymour attacked first--everything we did was in self-defense--"
The Grand Maester held up a hand to silence me. "And what of your wedding, Lady Yuna? That was quite the fiasco."
Helplessly, I wrung my sweat-covered hands in front of me. "Technically... Maester Seymour did after our battle in Macalania. Tromell and his other servants took him away before I could send him." I paused a moment before continuing. "The dead cannot be allowed to wander Spira. It is a summoner's duty to ensure that does not happen."
"Is that so?" Mika closed his eyes, looking like he was deep in concentration.
It was a moment before I realized what Mika was doing. I gasped and took a step back from the podium in surprise and shock. Maester Kelk Ronso let out a low, guttural sound; apparently the discovery was new to him as well. Never in my life could I have predicted this. A handful of pyreflies danced around Mika's body, as if they were under his command. Seymour was not the only unsent Maester of Yevon! Mika, the beloved leader of Spira for so many years, could not be this corrupt.
"You see, Lady Yuna," Mika explained, his eyes remaining closed, "if you send Maester Seymour, then you will have to send me as well. I am well aware of Maester Seymour's crimes, and I have found that Lord Jyscal's death was... necessary in the grand scheme of things."
"No," I whispered in disbelief. I was not hearing this, this couldn't be true!
"Spira needs its summoners to keep hope and faith amidst the darkness that is Sin," Mika continued, looking out over the audience chamber. "But Spira also needs strong leaders to lead us through these troubling times. Our combined experiences will only benefit the people."
Shaking my head, I had to resist the urge to cry. My entire world, every belief I had ever had, was falling down around me. "Then it was all a lie," I managed to whisper, a lone tear streaking down my cheek. Was this why my father had given his life--why *I* would give my life? So Spira could be ruled by heretics and liars?
"For the sake of Spira and its people, this court finds you, the Lady Summoner Yuna, guilty of high treason," Mika decreed, his voice growing louder in volume. "As a traitor, I sentence you to the Via Purifico, a maze from which no one has ever survived."
Everything inside me screamed that this was wrong. With every second that passed I realized more and more just how corrupt Yevon had become. Seymour was just the tip of the iceberg, and although I had just been condemned to die, I still had to believe that the good would triumph in time.
Two guards moved to either side of me to escort me from the chamber, but Seymour held up a hand to stop them. "Leave Lady Yuna for now," he ordered. "Let her see how well her predecessor fares."
My predecessor? At first I was confused, but then a door opened behind me, revealing Lulu's aunt Katralina and two more guards. I remembered seeing her with my guardians during the wedding, but why she was at the ceremony remained a mystery. Katralina had been a summoner around the same time as my father, and while I turned to her for guidance during my apprenticeship in Besaid, I hesitated to call her my predecessor.
As the guards escorted her to her podium, Katralina caught my eye and flashed me a small smile. I couldn't see any sign of her nervousness or fear in her at all; on the outside, she seemed cool, collected, confident. With that one glance, some of my anxiety eased, as if Katralina had passed some of her peace onto me. Inside, I breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Lady Katralina," Mika began, his voice void of emotion.
"I am a lady by grace, not by title," Katralina answered, her dark rippling as she spoke. "You of all people should know that, Maester Mika."
"So it would seem." The Grand Maester didn't show any sign that her comment had affected him. "You have been charged with high treason against Yevon. How do you plead?"
Katralina spread her hands before her in explanation. "I am not guilty of treason as I see it, but you, undoubtedly, will see otherwise. Just look at the jury who will decide my fate: Maesters Mika and Kinoc remember me as a summoner and it was Maester Seymour's wedding that was so rudely interrupted. My odds of receiving a fair trial are thin indeed."
Seymour narrowed his eyes. "Those are brave words for someone in your position," he said darkly.
"As are yours," she replied, unflinching. "Lord Jyscal was a good man, and he deserved better."
Gesturing to Katralina, Mika asked, "Tell me, what was your involvement with Lady Yuna's guardians prior to the wedding ceremony?" It was clear that Mika would be in charge of Katralina's interrogation.
"Very little direct contact. My niece and her close friend are two of Lady Yuna's guardians."
"Isn't it true that you raised your niece like your own daughter?"
It seemed to me like Mika had intended to break Katralina's calm demeanor, but she only smiled. "We're as close as sisters."
"And was it she who told you to come to Bevelle?"
"Yes."
"Why did she send for you?"
She shrugged. "Her message didn't say, and so far she hasn't had the chance to tell me." Her sky blue eyes darkened as her gaze shifted from Mika to Seymour. "Although I'm beginning to have some idea now."
Anger flashed in Seymour's eyes, but he said nothing. Katralina appeared unmoved, but I was starting to wonder how long she could continue playing her game. At this point, I was more worried than she was.
"One more question before I make my ruling. Why did you fire upon Bevelle's protectors? What you say will greatly influence my opinion." Mika folded his hands behind his back and glared at Katralina.
"The answers lie with your warrior monks, for they fired upon me before I fired upon them." Katralina's voice grew deadly serious; she was finished playing games. "I was making my way to Yuna, to try to put together everything that had happened. Tell me--if you had been in my place, what would you have done?"
The look in Mika's eyes was cold and unfeeling. Ignoring Katralina's question, he decreed, "Have it your way. This court finds you guilty of high treason and sentences you to the Via Purifico, the same as Lady Yuna." He waved a hand to the guards. "Take them away."
I flinched as both guards grabbed me roughly by the elbows and practically pulled me down from my podium. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see another pair of guards dragging Katralina in the same manner. She shot me a reassuring glance as we both reached the landing, telling me that she believed it would all be all right. For her sake as well as my own, I wanted to believe her.
"Oh, Mika, one more thing before we go," Katralina called, glancing over her shoulder at the Grand Maester's retreating form. "We both know what lies in Zanarkand. What Yuna will learn during her journey will influence her decision, the one that she must make alone. Compared to that, everyone else--including your efforts to silence her--are insignificant. Remember that fact well." She had barely finished her speech before the guards pushed us out of the audience chamber.
On the way to our respective cells, I came to an important realization, one I should have known before leaving Besaid. Despite all of Yevon's lies, one truth still remained.
The answers to all of my questions could be found in Zanarkand...
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A/N: I'm not sure if I got the characterization of Mika down pat, so I'd like to get everyone's opinion.
Oh, and I forgot to thank UnsentAuron for her review. This story is written for all of the Auron Fangirls out there!
And cool-kitsune: Do you like how it's coming along?
This is my first FFX fanfic and reviews are greatly appreciated. I've always thought that Auron was a closet romantic (especially when he was younger), but to reveal it would take so much away from his bad ass demeanor.
Also, this story will roughly follow the game up until Bevelle, but I won't be writing out each and every scene. The story will contain spoilers, so if you've beaten the game and/or don't care to be surprised, please read on.
Read and enjoy!
"Kiss From a Rose" Part Seven
Copyright 2003 by Amie Martin
highlander_bellflower@hotmail.com
*****************************
~Yuna--Bevelle~
Traitor.
I had never really thought about the word before, or the ramifications being branded a traitor could have. I was not a traitor in my mind. Almost my entire life had been spent in the service of Yevon, training to become a summoner so I would one day defeat Sin. I would never knowingly go against those beliefs, the same beliefs that had steadied me through my childhood. Now, one man stood between me and everything I had come to stand for.
Seymour.
He had killed his own father; Lord Jyscal himself told me, in his sphere from the Farplane. It was an accusation that stayed with me, distracting me further from my thoughts on Seymour's marriage proposal. I couldn't marry a man who was capable of murder, even if it would make all of Spira rejoice in much needed joy.
Still, I didn't let my guardians know of my suspicions. There was already doubt in Lulu's eyes, and there was a vague sense of jealousy from Tidus. Anything I said would amplify those feelings, and I couldn't have any more distractions. I would have to deal with Seymour on my own, and no one would be forced to worry about me.
The logical path was to confront Seymour about Lord Jyscal's death and give him a chance to explain what had happened. Part of me wanted to believe that a Maester of Yevon wasn't capable of such a heinous crime. At the same time, a part of me had a sinking feeling that it was true...
Had I expected Seymour to fight us rather than turn himself in for his crimes? No, but I had learned one thing from my pilgrimage--expect the unexpected. I wasn't as naïve as I was when I left Besaid, and if we had to fight Seymour, I refused to be afraid and intimidated by him.
But I did know one thing: the dead did not come back to life. We fled Macalania Temple without sending Seymour, and we didn't have the time to think about the possibilities. Seeing him, in Bevelle, seemingly alive and well... it was quite the shock. As a summoner, it was my duty to ensure that the dead did not wander Spira. Maester or not, Seymour could not-- would not--stop me from doing my duty.
The wedding was my only idea that would bring me close enough to Seymour to send him. I had no intention of actually going through with the marriage; the mere thought sent shivers down my spine, and besides, I couldn't marry a dead man. Vainly I wished for my guardians' support--a smile from Tidus, a grunt from Auron, a giggle from Rikku. I didn't know if they were all right; I knew I was on my own.
Everything had spiraled so quickly that it was almost impossible to know everything that had happened. The wedding ceremony was completed, Seymour almost murdered my guardians, I fled to the Chamber of the Fayth. I vaguely remembered receiving the aeon Bahamut, but nothing after that. I awoke in the custody of Bevelle's warrior monks to find myself awaiting trial.
Traitor... I was not a traitor. The true traitor was the self-serving Seymour, the only thing standing between myself and the Final Aeon. If only the greedy Maester could be tried for his crimes by a jury unbiased in his favor... it would never happen. This was a charge I had to face alone.
"Lady Yuna, you are charged with the crime of high treason against Yevon." Grand Maester Mika's voice boomed through the large audience chamber. "How do you plead?"
I held my hand up high, refusing to admit defeat just yet. "Not guilty."
Mika clasped his hands in front of him. "Very well, then. Begin your explanation."
Drawing a deep breath, I tried to expel all of my fear and nervousness along with the air. "While in Guadosalam," I began slowly, "the ghost of Lord Jyscal appeared outside the entrance to the Farplane. While I did send him back, he left a sphere behind."
"What did the sphere say?" The question was asked by Kelk Ronso, Maester of Yevon and leader of the Ronso tribe. Of all the Maesters, I placed my trust in him above all others.
"That Lord Jyscal had died by the hands of his son, Seymour." My hands started to shake, and I gripped the railing of my tiny podium in an attempt to hide it. "I decided to confront Maester Seymour at Macalania Temple and convince him to turn himself in."
To Mika's left, Seymour had a small, sly smile on his face, as if he had already escaped the blame for his father's murder. Mike either ignored or didn't notice Seymour as he asked, "Why would Maester Seymour murder his father?"
"I am unsure." Had I been more relaxed, I would have shrugged my shoulders. "Perhaps he wanted to become Maester in his father's place," I suggested.
Seymour chuckled. "And tell us, Lady Yuna, where is Lord Jyscal's sphere now? I would very much like to see it."
Flinching, I looked away. Quietly, I admitted, "The sphere was destroyed by Maester Seymour's servant Tromell."
"So you have no proof." With a satisfied smile, Seymour glanced at Mika, who nodded. "Lady Yuna, please, continue with your story."
"Maester Seymour refused to turn himself in and chose to fight my guardians and I." The words rushed out of my mouth, inspired by fear and adrenaline. "Maester Mika, Maester Seymour attacked first--everything we did was in self-defense--"
The Grand Maester held up a hand to silence me. "And what of your wedding, Lady Yuna? That was quite the fiasco."
Helplessly, I wrung my sweat-covered hands in front of me. "Technically... Maester Seymour did after our battle in Macalania. Tromell and his other servants took him away before I could send him." I paused a moment before continuing. "The dead cannot be allowed to wander Spira. It is a summoner's duty to ensure that does not happen."
"Is that so?" Mika closed his eyes, looking like he was deep in concentration.
It was a moment before I realized what Mika was doing. I gasped and took a step back from the podium in surprise and shock. Maester Kelk Ronso let out a low, guttural sound; apparently the discovery was new to him as well. Never in my life could I have predicted this. A handful of pyreflies danced around Mika's body, as if they were under his command. Seymour was not the only unsent Maester of Yevon! Mika, the beloved leader of Spira for so many years, could not be this corrupt.
"You see, Lady Yuna," Mika explained, his eyes remaining closed, "if you send Maester Seymour, then you will have to send me as well. I am well aware of Maester Seymour's crimes, and I have found that Lord Jyscal's death was... necessary in the grand scheme of things."
"No," I whispered in disbelief. I was not hearing this, this couldn't be true!
"Spira needs its summoners to keep hope and faith amidst the darkness that is Sin," Mika continued, looking out over the audience chamber. "But Spira also needs strong leaders to lead us through these troubling times. Our combined experiences will only benefit the people."
Shaking my head, I had to resist the urge to cry. My entire world, every belief I had ever had, was falling down around me. "Then it was all a lie," I managed to whisper, a lone tear streaking down my cheek. Was this why my father had given his life--why *I* would give my life? So Spira could be ruled by heretics and liars?
"For the sake of Spira and its people, this court finds you, the Lady Summoner Yuna, guilty of high treason," Mika decreed, his voice growing louder in volume. "As a traitor, I sentence you to the Via Purifico, a maze from which no one has ever survived."
Everything inside me screamed that this was wrong. With every second that passed I realized more and more just how corrupt Yevon had become. Seymour was just the tip of the iceberg, and although I had just been condemned to die, I still had to believe that the good would triumph in time.
Two guards moved to either side of me to escort me from the chamber, but Seymour held up a hand to stop them. "Leave Lady Yuna for now," he ordered. "Let her see how well her predecessor fares."
My predecessor? At first I was confused, but then a door opened behind me, revealing Lulu's aunt Katralina and two more guards. I remembered seeing her with my guardians during the wedding, but why she was at the ceremony remained a mystery. Katralina had been a summoner around the same time as my father, and while I turned to her for guidance during my apprenticeship in Besaid, I hesitated to call her my predecessor.
As the guards escorted her to her podium, Katralina caught my eye and flashed me a small smile. I couldn't see any sign of her nervousness or fear in her at all; on the outside, she seemed cool, collected, confident. With that one glance, some of my anxiety eased, as if Katralina had passed some of her peace onto me. Inside, I breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Lady Katralina," Mika began, his voice void of emotion.
"I am a lady by grace, not by title," Katralina answered, her dark rippling as she spoke. "You of all people should know that, Maester Mika."
"So it would seem." The Grand Maester didn't show any sign that her comment had affected him. "You have been charged with high treason against Yevon. How do you plead?"
Katralina spread her hands before her in explanation. "I am not guilty of treason as I see it, but you, undoubtedly, will see otherwise. Just look at the jury who will decide my fate: Maesters Mika and Kinoc remember me as a summoner and it was Maester Seymour's wedding that was so rudely interrupted. My odds of receiving a fair trial are thin indeed."
Seymour narrowed his eyes. "Those are brave words for someone in your position," he said darkly.
"As are yours," she replied, unflinching. "Lord Jyscal was a good man, and he deserved better."
Gesturing to Katralina, Mika asked, "Tell me, what was your involvement with Lady Yuna's guardians prior to the wedding ceremony?" It was clear that Mika would be in charge of Katralina's interrogation.
"Very little direct contact. My niece and her close friend are two of Lady Yuna's guardians."
"Isn't it true that you raised your niece like your own daughter?"
It seemed to me like Mika had intended to break Katralina's calm demeanor, but she only smiled. "We're as close as sisters."
"And was it she who told you to come to Bevelle?"
"Yes."
"Why did she send for you?"
She shrugged. "Her message didn't say, and so far she hasn't had the chance to tell me." Her sky blue eyes darkened as her gaze shifted from Mika to Seymour. "Although I'm beginning to have some idea now."
Anger flashed in Seymour's eyes, but he said nothing. Katralina appeared unmoved, but I was starting to wonder how long she could continue playing her game. At this point, I was more worried than she was.
"One more question before I make my ruling. Why did you fire upon Bevelle's protectors? What you say will greatly influence my opinion." Mika folded his hands behind his back and glared at Katralina.
"The answers lie with your warrior monks, for they fired upon me before I fired upon them." Katralina's voice grew deadly serious; she was finished playing games. "I was making my way to Yuna, to try to put together everything that had happened. Tell me--if you had been in my place, what would you have done?"
The look in Mika's eyes was cold and unfeeling. Ignoring Katralina's question, he decreed, "Have it your way. This court finds you guilty of high treason and sentences you to the Via Purifico, the same as Lady Yuna." He waved a hand to the guards. "Take them away."
I flinched as both guards grabbed me roughly by the elbows and practically pulled me down from my podium. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see another pair of guards dragging Katralina in the same manner. She shot me a reassuring glance as we both reached the landing, telling me that she believed it would all be all right. For her sake as well as my own, I wanted to believe her.
"Oh, Mika, one more thing before we go," Katralina called, glancing over her shoulder at the Grand Maester's retreating form. "We both know what lies in Zanarkand. What Yuna will learn during her journey will influence her decision, the one that she must make alone. Compared to that, everyone else--including your efforts to silence her--are insignificant. Remember that fact well." She had barely finished her speech before the guards pushed us out of the audience chamber.
On the way to our respective cells, I came to an important realization, one I should have known before leaving Besaid. Despite all of Yevon's lies, one truth still remained.
The answers to all of my questions could be found in Zanarkand...
*****************************
A/N: I'm not sure if I got the characterization of Mika down pat, so I'd like to get everyone's opinion.
Oh, and I forgot to thank UnsentAuron for her review. This story is written for all of the Auron Fangirls out there!
And cool-kitsune: Do you like how it's coming along?