Author's Note: This one took a while! Why? No, not for any good reason. I was sick. I didn't feel like writing. Hooray. Anyways, without further ado, I present Chapter 5. Enjoy and once again, thanks to my dearest Kristenems.

"Why do the good things end so soon?"

This guide she had found was becoming quite a troublemaker. He was much stronger than expected and so was the girl. Was it possible for the darkness to prevail over this alliance? These two were bonded together so strongly that it would be ridiculous to waste effort on trying to separate them. This was a kind of tie that had not been dealt with before... perhaps it was indestructible. Perhaps it was the only glue that could survive here, down where the secrets lie.

-

Dreary, heavy eyelids lifted from deep crimson pools, shifting around their surroundings. A yawn raked through her cramped body, causing her to stretch and her bones to pop. A groggy purr escaped her lungs as she sprawled across the whole width of her bed. She searched her dream-hazed mind for records of the night before. She brought her hands to her throbbing head and ran her fingers through her short-cropped silver locks that stuck out in all directions. Suddenly, she was greeted with fleeting remembrance. In her minds eye, she saw Rikku sprawled on the couch, mumbling nonsensical words and occasionally screaming.

Paine bolted upright in her bed and tore the sheets off her legs, stumbling off the mattress and careening down the hallway. She considered jumping down the stairs, but if Baralai and Gippal were asleep down there, she didn't want to wake them up. Instead, she hurried down them as fast as her sleepy legs would allow. At the foot of the stairs she looked around. Rikku was still on the couch, unconscious, but quiet. Gippal and Baralai were nowhere to be seen. She approached to couch and sat down beside the princess. In the pale morning light she could see the glisten of sweat on her forehead and the pinkish tint of her fevered skin. The warrior wiped away the sweat with her sleeve and searched for the girls hand.

Rikku's arms were stiff and yet oddly loose, moving as Paine dictated, but heavy. She cupped the Al Bhed's hand in her own, her skin extremely heated. With tender, heartened eyes, Paine looked at the girl, feeling a darkening sadness stir in her heart. This was Rikku, young and spunky, so full of life just a few hours ago. She was princess of the Al Bhed, cousin to high summoner Yuna, and tough as nails... sometimes. Paine breathed out a sigh and wondered if this whole situation was her fault, though guilt was only natural at a time like this.

Baralai had not found anything physically wrong with the girl, though he was extensive in his examination and trying many different remedies, even resorting to magic (which was something he didn't like to do) but there was no luck. Her condition remained unchanged. She was gone. The Praetor had told them what he had discovered with a heavy heart, though Paine refused to believe his words. Baralai was never a pessimistic person, though what he had said seemed exactly the opposite of what normally would come from his mouth.

"I've tried everything I could think of, but she is not responding to any of the treatments. This is not a physical illness. It's mental. She's doing this to herself, or so it seems. From everything she's told me prior to this, I cannot think of any reason why this would happen. Usually sicknesses of the mind are born from a tragic event, per say, the loss of someone held in high regards, near death experiences, severe trauma. But nothing that she's ever told me could be serious enough to cause this. Yuna, Paine, is there anything you know of that she kept inside? Gippal, I know you knew her very well back when you were children, is there anything that happened back then?" Questions. Always questions, but Paine had achieved the point of not caring anymore. She just wanted Rikku back, to smile and bring sunlight into the day. She was becoming a sap, which is exactly what she had tried all her life to prevent. It was Yuna who came through with a possible reason.

"Sir Auron..." Her voice was barely audible, especially over Paine's raging thoughts, though everyone's attention was diverted to Yuna. "Back when I was still on my pilgrimage, Auron and Rikku were my guardians. I knew both of them well, what was normal for them and what wasn't. But as we journeyed, I could see as they changed, around me and around each other. I don't think they realized that I knew about them. I think Lulu was the only other person that realized it. Rikku had always turned to Lulu for answers, so she might know more than I do. But I could tell what was happening between them. It was kind of a beauty and the beast deal. Auron was such a stubborn, introverted, rather emotionless man. He was always curt and clipped, but he changed once Rikku began to wear off on him. He became more... human if you will. Rikku, well we all know how she is. But back then, she was much more immature." Gippal snorted knowingly, which received a curious glance from Baralai and a weak smile from Yuna. "After trying her hardest to get Auron to open up, she changed as well. Some of his seriousness rubbed off on her. And the few times I saw them together... I just knew. Guess you can call it female intuition. When we beat Yu Yevon, and I performed the sending, he started to fade. But Rikku just stood there, she didn't make a fool of herself like I did with Tidus. She had an oddly reserved smile on her face, there was no emotion behind it. I think what they shared was beyond words, beyond any expression. Losing him must have been painful beyond tears and far past any breakdowns. Do you think that might be the cause, Baralai?"

Dreadful, disgusting silence followed. A silent understanding passed between all of them. Paine could feel tears of pity for Rikku pool in her eyes, though she held them back. What would they say if she - Paine - the female version of Sir Auron were to cry?

"So she had a thing for Auron, hmm? She always did like older men." Gippal said, rather nonchalantly as he looked at Rikku's writhing figure. His comment was rather out of context, considering what they were going though, though Paine figured it was just his way of dealing with what was happening.

"Jealous?" Baralai quizzed, a taunting smile on his face. She found it amazing that they could joke and laugh at a time like this when Rikku needed them most. Gippal placed a hand on his hip and shifted his weight to one leg, leaning towards the Praetor.

"Not at all. I have you, my dear." He said with a very Gippal-like grin on his face. Paine wanted to smack them for being boys, but knew that their service may very well come in handy in the next few days.

"Baralai, enough goofing." She scolded. "So, if losing Auron is the source of Rikku's dementia, is there anything we can do for her now? Will she ever wake up?" Paine asked, feeling the slight bit of lightheartedness fade from the room. Baralai's smirk faded as he turned to her.

"I don't know, Paine. I've never seen something quite as odd as this. I would like to tell you all that she will come to in just a few days and everything will be fine, but I don't want to raise your hopes falsely. All we can do is wait and help her along the way. Just know that she may take a while to wake up, if not ever." He said, broken. She'd never seen Baralai sad like this before, Rikku must've been closer to him that she had thought.

The darkness was perpetual, tempestuous, never-ending, but she kept trudging on. She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, even though she couldn't see a thing. She had no idea where this path lead to, nor what was lurking in the shadows behind her. She not only had to get out of this prison for Auron, but for Yuna and Paine too. She wondered if they were worried about her. Yuna definitely was, but then again, Yuna worried pretty much about everything. Paine.. God who knows when it comes to that woman. She was just like Auron, well, when she first met him. Paine was a recluse, strong and silent, and occasionally moody. Pretty much the opposite of herself, yet she admired Paine's strength and composure.

Taking in a few deep breaths, she brought back the memories of Auron. That was how she had fought off the darkness before and she was hoping that it would work right now. These memories were her weapons here, even though it was much more reassuring to carry Auron's katana. She had debated going back and looking for it, just for the sake of having it at her disposal, though she didn't want to sacrifice the distance she had gained for a silly blade. Sir Auron would be there with her, she just had to smile and think of him. He'd protect her, just like always. He'd be there, her guardian this time. Not Yuna's, hers. Rikku's. A knight. Yeah! She was a princess, and Auron was her knight in shining armor, only Auron didn't wear armor and she didn't live the cliched life of a princess.

"Well, Auron, this tunnel seems like it's gunna go on forever, wanna help me out with these shadows?" She said, more to herself than to him. She closed her eyes, though it was rather pointless as she couldn't see anything anyways, and thought back on the time they had shared together. She thought back to the Calm Lands and the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth. She remembered their little adventure down there and felt a smile tug at her lips.

Rikku had been awed and yet scared of the cavern. It was dark and spooky, but beautiful at the same time. Normally, she would've skipped ahead of the pack, but something told her that this wasn't the kind of place to be skipping, or even to smile. Nope, not here. So she let everyone pass her by, well... not everyone, so that she would be closest to the exit in case she needed to make a run for it. Auron must've been able to detect her fear, because he hung in the back with her and let Tidus run ahead like a retard. Honestly, she hadn't planned on clinging onto him like a scared little girl, but it's funny how things never work out the way you plan. As she was walking by one of the vents that was extricating that odd purple smoke, it make a very menacing growling noise and erupted in a big cloud. With a yelp that no one seemed to hear, except maybe Auron, she ran into his side and grabbed onto his hand with all her strength. He said nothing, merely smiled and shook his head at her, lacing his fingers with her own. They made their own, slow way through the cave and with each step, she felt her prior fear fade away. Fiends beware! She had Sir Auron, Legendary Guardian, to protect her.

And he was here too, protecting her down where the secrets lie.