Disclaimer: I do not own any characters of the FF series. I offer my original characters as a gift to Square for the gift they gave me with the FF series.

Chapter VIII: Fugitives
Connie reached the entrance of a bar called the Al-Bhed Central in the language of her people. She went in, and it was crowded with a variety of people waiting for the concert of Marie to come on the screen. At the bar was an Al-Bhed man serving drinks to the customers. He looked just like Connie except he was taller and more muscular along being a male. He was her older brother Cid.
He looked up and stared at her with amazement. She walked up to him, and he completely stopped what he was doing.
"Connie is that you?"
She could only answer with, "Yeah big brother. It's been a long time."
"About three years little sister," he said with delight.
Cid jumped onto the bar and then to the ground next to her. He then took his younger sister into his arms, not letting go for several moments. Once he let go he began laughing.
"What are you doing here?" he smiled.
"I am with a friend; a special friend," she replied looking down with shame.
"What do you mean?"
"I think I love my friend. His name is Mason, and I don't know what to do."
"It's obvious you should go back to him, and tell him your feelings."
Connie replied with defeat with a tinge of anger, "You're right big brother, but I have a feeling he will not respond. To caught up in someone else."
"Come over her Connie. You can tell me all that has happened. We have a lot to catch up on," he brother said taking her into his arms.

The time had come for the concert, and Maylina had to join Trevan and Seymour. She felt safer with Renac and Mason behind her as she walked to her seat at the Blitzball Stadium. It was a special area reserved for guests of Trevan.
They reached the stadium's special area, and Seymour and Trevan waiting for her. Seymour took her into his arms and gave her a kiss upon the cheek, but she pushed as fast as he took her in. She took a seat next to Seymour, and Renac stood behind her.
Mason felt kind of left out. Maylina got back up, and went to him. Seymour followed and just looked at his face; almost like he was analyzing him.
"Seymour this is Mason Rexx, one of my guardians."
He did not even say anything to Mason, but rather just turned and sat back down. Maylina had Mason sit in a seat right behind her.
The concert began, and Mason could see Marie sing to the people. She had never changed in all these years. That was why he never liked her. She was always better at singing then he was, and now she was the most popular human in all of Spira. Instead of watching Marie, Mason found himself drawn to Maylina. He did not understand why, but he just wanted to look at her. Even though this Seymour-guy was trying to hold her hand. Who exactly was this guy, and why did he disturb Maylina so much when he was near? Already Mason had a deep dislike for this man.
As the music went on, Mason felt something behind him. Time began to slow down, and a sudden sharp pain overwhelmed Mason. Everything stopped except for Maylina and Seymour. There was something wrong though. They both looked different now. Maylina was that woman again he saw at the Djose shore. Seymour was the same except his hair was different, it was divided into three separate sections and looked hideous, and he wore clothing from the days of Yevon. Clothing priests wore that Mason saw along the Moonflow.
Mason's anger towards Seymour intensified now. He wanted to get up and kill Seymour right there to free Maylina. Except that was not Maylina, but Lady Yuna. Mason could not get himself up, but another man came from behind him. The mysterious man was dressed in odd clothing, and he had dirty blonde hair. He approached Mason and stood in front of him now.
He spoke, "The time is almost near. Give up, and allow me to guard her."
Mason was confused, "What do you mean?"
"That man is the same Seymour from 300 years ago. He is trying to use that girl's power to bring back Sin. Something dark is coming from Zanarkand. It has brought back the Fayths, thus the aeons return. The Farplane has been disturbed greatly, and Seymour has been able to come back by taking Prince Jyn's body. Maylina and the darkness are connected. They are connected the past and the war that waged over 1300 years ago," the man continued.
"Who are you?" Mason asked.
"I'm Tidus. I live within you also. Except I haven't taken your body yet. I came from the Farplane in hopes to end this dilemma before it truly begins. If you would not fight it would make it a lot easier. Allow me to protect her, stop Seymour, and defeat the darkness."
"No!" was the harsh replied he gave. He continued, "I can do this on my own. You had your chance 300 years ago. Let the people who live here in this time deal with their own problems," Mason said forcefully.
"You'll only make it harder," Tidus finished with defeat.
Everything returned to normal, and Tidus was gone. The concert had ended. Maylina had gotten up with Seymour, and they were leaving.
She came to Mason to tell him, "I will retire for tonight, but I would like you to stay here as a guest."
Mason only nodded in agreement, and Maylina had a face of worry.
Maylina and Seymour went to their room together, and Renac waited outside. Mason stood with Renac when he saw a group of guards walking as they surrounded someone. They stopped in front of Mason, and he heard a soft voice say, "All of you guards can leave now."
The guards left, and a human woman was standing there. She had long silver hair, and she was quite tall for a woman. She wore a long black dress that was strapless and symbols of an unknown language sewn into her dress. The dress was so tight it looked confining for the poor woman.
"I knew it was you Mason," she said.
"Marie," was all Mason said.
"You can only say my name. No 'hello' or 'it's been a long time'. Where have you been brother?"
Marie went up to him, and gave him a slight slap across the cheek.
She continued, "You ran away from home. How could you do that to Mom and Dan?"
There was a scream suddenly from within Maylina's room; her own scream. Renac and Mason both went into her room to discover what the problem was.

Maylina stood alone with Seymour in her room.
"I am going to accompany you on your journey for now on," Seymour began.
"Why? I am doing just fine on my own," she retorted.
Seymour then grabbed Maylina by the shoulders, and kissed her.
When he moved away he lied to her by saying, "I want to be at my wife's side as she gives the people hope."
She pushed herself away, "You only lie to me Seymour. I refuse to be at your side."
Seymour then grabbed her again with more force this time.
"You will obey me," he said with anger.
Then a dark lightning began emerging from Seymour's hands, and it began to electrocute her. She screamed as the lighting slowly made her pass out.
The doors to the room then swung open as Renac and Mason came running into the room. The singer Marie was right behind them also.

Mason followed Renac into the room to find Maylina passed out in Seymour's arms.
"Leave you fools. This is none of your business," Seymour said angrily.
"What did you do to Maylina?" Mason asked.
Seymour began to move away to leave through the other entrance of the room, but Renac moved forward to stop him. Seymour turned to him.
"You would not strike me down, because I am a fellow Guado and leader of the Guado."
Renac put up his spear down, and did nothing. Seymour began to laugh at Renac's submission.
"Well I am not as submissive as him," Mason yelled as he went for him. Before he could reach Seymour a great wind came from him and threw him back. He landed on the ground next to Marie.
"Help her sister," he begged Marie.
Marie looked at her brother and nodded. Then she turned to the half Guado.
"No one hurts my little brother," she exclaimed.
From her hands several markings began appearing and began flaming. Then fire engulfed Seymour, and he dropped Maylina as he struggled to put out the fire.
Get the girl," she told the guardian.
Renac went and picked up Maylina. Marie got Mason up, and they all left the room. They ran through the building until they reached the streets of Luca.
Marie said, "We need to go see Cid at his bar. He can help us."
Without questioning they all left for Cid's bar.

Seymour could not believe that singer knew black magic. Not very many people knew black magic these days, and she knew. What were the odds of that, and also the odds of her being the sister of that pathetic human? They were able to escape with Maylina. It was no lost for him for now. He would have what he wanted soon.
That man, Mason, though worried him. If the spirit of the son of Jecht was within him, then he would prove to be a formidable foe later on.

The group of fugitives reached their destination to find it empty except for Cid and a young Al-Bhed girl.
Marie went to Cid, "Cid, I need an aircrusier to get out of Luca."
Mason found Connie was there as Marie handled with Cid. She explained everything that happened.
Marie returned with Cid to the group. Renac held Maylina who was still unconscious.
"Let's go. We need to get out of Luca. I can get us to Kilika easily," Marie said quickly.
Cid approached Connie saying, "Be careful sis, and remember what we talked about."
She gave her brother one last hug before she joined Mason and the others. They went to the back of the bar, and go onboard an aircrusier ship. Marie was able to pilot, and they left Luca leaving for Kilika across the sea.
As they made their way across the sea, something was following them. A creature that had traveled all the way from New Zanarkand and it came to finish off this small group of adventurers.

To continue...