DISCLAIMER: I do not own FFX or FFX-2 or any of the characters or places associated with it. I do, however, own the twisted idea for this story.

DO NOT COPY MY STORIES!

If anyone wants to post my stories anywhere else, please just ASK and then give me credit for writing it. Email with any requests.

I have had problems with my fics being stolen. Reviewers of the Silver Wings trilogy know all about the situation. Please keep an eye out for this story or any of my others posted on any other sites. I only post here and I only use the name "akksgurl". If you think my story has been stolen, please contact me so that I can look into the situation. Thanks a lot in advance for your help.

Author's Notes: The Aeon they get in this chapter is one of the hidden Aeons. I modified the quest to get it for this story. This is not the correct way to get the Aeon. Also, there are more allusions to FFX-2. This chapter is the end of "Part One" and "Part Two" will begin with the next chapter. I'm not entirely sure how many chapters are going to be left, but I'm betting at least 5 or so.


TWISTED DESTINY
by akksgurl
Chapter Sixteen: Face Off

Auron wasn't too happy with Tidus' desire to accompany them back to Spira, but Yuna didn't care. She was elated and nothing was going to bring her down; not even her eventual fight with Sin. When the couple went out onto the deck of the houseboat to tell Auron the news, his face had said it all. He hadn't needed to reply with words to convey that he was not pleased. Yet he had replied with words after a few angry and silent moments, "Just how do you plan on helping us?" he snarled to Tidus, "Are you going to club Sin with your crutch?"

Tidus wasn't fazed and smiled, "What are you going to do? Glare it to death?"

"Sir Auron…" Yuna pleaded, lacing her fingers through Tidus' and staring at her mentor with pleading eyes, "Can we please just put aside everything else and make this work? Please be civil."

Auron thought for a moment and then nodded curtly, "If that is what you want, Yuna, than that is what we'll do." He pointed to the sun setting on the horizon, "It's getting late. We need to get you an Aeon immediately. The closest would be in Bevelle."

"Bahamut?" Yuna questioned thoughtfully. She scratched her chin softly, "I suppose he would be the logical choice. He's the most powerful Aeon."

Tidus shook his head, "You actually want to sneak back into Bevelle?" he asked Auron, "You've got to be joking."

Auron's jaw tensed and his fists tightened at his sides but he managed to ask rather nicely, "If it's not Bevelle temple, then it'd be Besaid, Kilika, or Djose. All of them are too far away and the aeons are not as powerful. Bahamut is our best choice."

"He may be the closest, but that doesn't make him the best."

Auron sighed angrily, "Then what do you suggest? Valefor? Ifrit? Ixion? They aren't powerful enough for this!"

Tidus grinned and kissed Yuna's head, "So much for civility." He muttered into her hair.

"I'm trying, but you make it so difficult." Auron snapped. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Now more calmly, he asked, "What do you suggest then, Tidus?"

"Anima."

"Anima?" Auron repeated.

Tidus shrugged, "Don't like him? What about Yojimbo? Or the Magus Sisters?" he paused then shook his head, "Scratch that. The Magus Sisters only come out when Anima and Yojimbo are present. At least…that's what Lenne always said."

Anima…

Anima…

Where had Yuna heard that name before?

"Ah, of course. Protect the summoner even at the cost of one's life." The Code of the Guardian. How admirable. Well, if you're offering your lives, I will have to take them."

"Maester Seymour. I trust my guardians with my life. But they are also my friends. I will not stand by and watch them be hurt. I will fight you, too"

Yuna blinked back the memory as it came forth. It was one of the lowest points of her pilgrimage – second only to her horrid and short-lived marriage to Seymour.

"Feel my pain. Come, Anima"

Yuna let out a little squeak. Seymour had Anima! He had been so powerful. So awe inspiring. She spun to face Tidus, "I can get Anima!"

"You know of him?" Auron asked her.

She nodded, "Yes. I…we had to fight him during my pilgrimage." At Auron and Tidus' confused look she'd shrugged and added, "It's a long story."

Tidus seemed content with that explanation and he'd said, "Sure you can get Anima. He's at Baaj Temple."

"And where is that?" Auron asked, "I've never heard of it."

Tidus replied, "Shu and I found it once when we were playing blitzball out in the open water. It's half underwater out passed the Zanarkand border. Middle of the ocean really. It's been abandoned for years after a spiraquake hit and buried it in the water."

"We have to swim there?" Yuna was dismayed. She was never a very good swimmer.

"We can take one of the old fishing boats by the pier." Tidus had offered, "But at some point you are going to have to get your feet wet, babe."

And she had gotten her feet wet. They squished with water as Tidus – leaning only slightly on his crutch - led them along the narrow stone bridge that led into Baaj Temple. She'd never heard of this temple before, but it was no wonder. Baaj Temple was truly out in the middle of the ocean as Tidus had said. After taking the fishing boat out to the shallows surrounding Baaj Temple, she had regretfully followed Tidus and Auron into the ankle-deep water and up the stairs to the bridge. The water was the dirtiest she'd ever seen and Yuna kept pushing the idea that there was sewage mixed in out of her mind. She didn't want to think about that disgusting prospect.

Besides the fact that Baaj Temple was half buried in possible sewage infested water, the temple was lovely. Sunstreaked stone walls and beautiful statues resembling those in the temples of her home were lining the various bridges leading to the various entrances of the temple.

Tidus stopped suddenly halfway across the bridge and looked down into the water below. He squinted against the light that reflected back up from the setting sun on the liquid and then pointed, "That's where we need to go."

Yuna followed his pointed finger and her eyes caught sight of a small door under at least 10 feet of water. Yuna let out a surprised laugh, "You're kidding, right? We can't possibly need to go into an underwater temple to get Anima."

"It's not totally underwater." Explained Tidus, "Just the entrance. There are stairs immediately after that leading to the Chamber of the Fayth."

Auron was skeptical, "How do you know that?"

"I told you. Shu and I found it." Tidus said again, putting his hands on his hips, "That's where Anima is. Lenne came back with us a few days later and that's what she said."

"How can anyone be sure?" Auron asked, "She didn't receive Anima, did she?"

Tidus glared at Auron, "Are you calling Lenne a liar?"

"No." Auron glared back, "but she may have been mistaken."

"The only mistake she ever made was trusting you." Snapped Tidus, "but then again, all of us made that mistake once. I won't be making it again."

Yuna sighed and stepped between the two men with her arms out to her sides, "Guys, can we please just focus on what's important here?" she pleaded with Tidus through her eyes, "Please…"

"Tch…" Tidus muttered, "Fine." He walked to the side of the bridge again and looked down, "You coming or not?" he asked as he threw his crutch into the water and dove in after it.

Yuna let out a little yelp and dropped to her knees by the side of the bridge. She wasn't even sure if he was able to swim. What if he wasn't? She certainly wasn't a very good swimmer. She hadn't needed to be. And Auron was wearing so many clothes he'd probably sink to the bottom immediately. She felt a relieved breath escape her when Tidus surfaced a few seconds later with his crutch in one hand. He tossed his head back and called up, "Come on in! The water's great!"

Yuna wrinkled her nose and called down, "It looks really dirty!"

"Eh!" he shouted in reply, "It's not that bad. Come on!"

Yuna looked at Auron, "You coming?"

"Do I have a choice?" the disgruntled older man asked with a shrug.

Yuna smiled at him and turned to look back at Tidus. He was still wading in the water with his crutch in his right hand skimming the surface. She stood and took a deep breath. She wasn't relishing taking a jump into that water – 'not bad' or otherwise – but she knew she'd have to do it. Auron came to stand next to her and gave her a half smile. She returned it and looked back down at the water. Tidus was moving now and Yuna noticed several Sahagin fleeing from the water. They jumped high in the air over Tidus' head. Tidus dove under the water for a second and then surfaced.

"What's going on?" Yuna called down, but he didn't answer. He started swimming as fast as he could toward the temple, diving down in an attempt to reach the door.

That's when Yuna saw it.

At the bottom of the water a large fiend with two large fins and stomach consisting of bones. It looked like a skeleton, but it certainly didn't swim like one. Currently the fiend swam with astonishing speed toward Tidus.

Yuna let out a startled shriek and dove into the water without thinking. As she fell, she realized that this wasn't going to do Tidus any good, but it was already too late and she felt herself break the surface of the water.

She broke for the surface, pumping her legs as hard as she could. Her head broke through just in time to see Auron shrug and dive in as well. Tidus surfaced next to her, "What are you doing!" he shouted, but she didn't have a chance to respond. The creature had momentarily lost sight of Tidus but regained its bearings and was charging toward them with all his might. He grabbed her arm and pulled Yuna below the surface.
The monster was closing the distance between them quickly. Yuna wanted to scream but she couldn't. Her lungs felt like they were going to explode if she didn't get oxygen soon.

Just as she saw the door to the temple coming closer, Yuna began to feel the pull of the fiend's mouth as he took in a deep breath to catch them. She let out a startled cry and the water rushed into her mouth with a fury. Tidus held onto her hand as tight as he could, struggling against the monster's pull when suddenly the creature let out a cry of pain and released the suction that had been pulling them closer. The momentum of his exhale sent the couple crashing into the temple entrance followed by a flood of water, a violent shaking of the temple, and then finally stone falling to block the entrance when the monster crashed into it.

Yuna coughed the water out of her lungs as she watched the stones fall before them. It effectively blocked the monster from getting to them, but it also left Auron alone to fend for himself against it.

Tidus was shaking his head back and forth, droplets of water forming a tiny puddle between his legs, "Geosgaeno…I thought he was a legend."

"I don't think that really matters right now." Yuna said, "What matters is that Auron's still out there with it! We've got to do something."

Tidus sniffed and wiped some water from his eyes, "Why? He didn't do a damn thing for Shu and Lenne."

"This isn't about revenge!"

"Then maybe it should be!"

Yuna gaped at him for several seconds as he stood shakily on his legs. For the first time she noticed that his crutch was missing. He must have lost it trying to escape the fiend. She asked him, "How can you be like this?"

"You're asking me how?" he asked, incredulously, "How can he be so cavalier about Shu and Lenne? He hasn't asked once how I'm taking it! He doesn't care, Yuna! He doesn't care about you. He doesn't care about me. And he sure as hell didn't care about them." He looked at her with his bright blue eyes and asked simply, "How can you expect me to give a shit about what happens to him?"

She understood what he was saying. Auron hadn't been the most kind person since Shuyin and Lenne's death, but that didn't make it right. Besides…, "We need him." She claimed, "We can't do this without him."

"Yes we can. You did it before."

"But…" Yuna stammered, "We should at least try to help him!"

Tidus shrugged, "You want to go ahead, be my guest. He's probably already dead, Yuna. You don't take that thing on and live to tell the tale." He waved his hands wildly, motioning to the blocked doorway, "That's Geosgaeno! He's an undead, unsent fiend with a massive amount of energy. No matter how powerful Auron may think he is, he stands no chance against that thing. Neither do we, for that matter."

"But…"

Tidus groaned, "No buts, Yuna. Do we finish what we started here, or not? It's up to you."

Yuna took a breath in thought. Tidus was right. Auron was probably already gone. If the fiend didn't kill him, his clothes would have dragged him under. It didn't feel right to continue without him, though. However, she knew that Auron wanted to get her home and he'd still want that. She nodded, "Let's do it."

Tidus pointed up to the top of the stairs behind them, "We've got to go up there. The Chamber of the Fayth is in that main hall."

Yuna didn't want to question him, but felt she had to, "Tidus…did Lenne sense a fayth here? Or was it just speculation?"

"There's a fayth here, Yuna." He replied, "Lenne wouldn't lie about something like that."

"I never said she would. I was just making sure."

Tidus wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind and kissed her cheek softly, "This isn't going to be a wasted trip, babe. I promise."

Yuna nodded and Tidus proceeded to lead her up the stairs. His limp wasn't great, but it was there and Yuna knew that even if Anima proved worthless against Sin, he'd be able to let her heal Tidus. That alone would be worth the trip.

The main hall outside of the Chamber of the Fayth was abandoned, just as the rest of the temple was. Yuna took in the area carefully. Water leaked from various cracks in the walls telling her that at least half of this building was still underwater. That didn't comfort her much to know that they could be washed away at any moment.

Six large statues surrounded a walled area that blocked the entrance to the Chamber of the Fayth and Yuna frowned. This was another trial. She hadn't done these in several months and without her guardians, she wasn't sure she'd be able to figure it out.

"Is it a puzzle?" Tidus asked as he saw her examining each statue closely.

Yuna nodded, "Yes. It's a trial to see if I'm worthy of the aeon."

"Can you figure it out?"

That was a very good question and one that Yuna was not sure she could answer positively until she touched the statue furthest on the left. She felt an aura surround her and then the statue sunk into the ground with the seal of Bevelle taking its place on the floor.

"What was that!" Tidus asked, rushing up to stand next to her.

Yuna bit her lower lip in thought, "I wonder…" she muttered to herself as she moved to the next statue and touched it softly. She felt that aura again and the statue sunk into the ground leaving behind it the seal of Macalania.

"What's it doing, Yuna?"

She shrugged, "I think it senses that I've been to the other temples and completed their trials." She said, her eyes traveling to a large sphere visible above the entrance to the Chamber of the Fayth. She pointed to it, "That looks like a large version of the destruction spheres that were in each Cloister of Trials that I went through on my pilgrimage. Each led to a special hidden item."

"And…?"

"Maybe…" she wondered aloud, "Just maybe these statues can sense if I've discovered all the spheres. Maybe that's what's happening."

She moved to the next statue and touched it. It sunk to the ground in the same fashion with the symbol of Zanarkand left behind. Filled with more confidence, Yuna touched the three remaining statues in order.

Bevelle.

Djose.

Kilika.

All three sunk to the ground quickly with their symbols as the only sign they'd been there in the first place. The wall surrounding the stairs to the chamber began to shake and finally sink slowly into the ground, revealing her entrance.

"I don't know how you did it." Tidus said with a grin, "but you did it."

Yuna smiled back at him and kissed his nose, "Stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You know, Lenne said that to Shu and me once. She was gone for two days."

Yuna just grinned, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Two days!" Tidus reiterated with a wink, "Don't make me wait that long. I'll be really cranky."

The inside of the Chamber of the Fayth was much the same as the previous chambers Yuna had been in. It was in the same disrepair as the rest of Baaj Temple, however there still remained a certain religious aura that seemed to make the place look better than it actually did.

Yuna walked slowly over to the middle of the room and dropped to her knees. She wasn't sure if the fayth would hear her prayer and pay it heed. As an apprentice she had needed to gain Valefor first. She couldn't have jumped straight into receiving Bahamut. She hoped that this wouldn't be the case again.

"Hello, Lady Yuna."

Yuna's head shot up and she saw the fayth floating casually in midair about a foot from her nose. Yuna backed away slightly, "Hello."

"You're probably wondering how I know you."

Yuna nodded slowly, "Well…yes."

"As a fayth, I know the future of things. I knew to expect you here at this time and in this time. It's as simple as that."

"So I am meant to be here?"

"Yes."

Yuna licked her lips in nervous consternation. She wasn't sure what to say to this fayth. Would he approve of her plan? She asked, "Will you grant me your powers? I wish to…"

"Defeat Sin." The fayth interrupted and finished her sentence for her. She could almost see him smiling at her, "I know this. It is what you are meant to do."

Yuna felt relaxed instantly. So this was her fate. She didn't have to worry anymore. She smiled at the fayth, "So you'll grant me your powers?"

"You impressed me, Lady Yuna. When you defeated me in Macalania, I knew you were more powerful than any of us had ever considered before. I would be honored to assist you in your fate."

"Thank you." Yuna spoke softly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and felt the familiar weight of an Aeon fill her being as she became a summoner once again. She felt instantly tired. She always did after gaining an Aeon and she never fully understood it. She would pray with all her strength and yet would be physically tired instead of the mental exhaustion one would expect. This time was no different. She slowly rose and made her way out of the chamber and then she stumbled and fell into Tidus' arms.

"Yuna!" he cried. She could tell he was concerned. She hadn't warned him about this, "Are you okay! Yuna!"

"She's fine." Came a gruff voice from a corner of the hall surrounding the main room.

Yuna lifted her tired eyes and saw the tall man coming toward them. She smiled, "Sir Auron. We thought you were dead."

He touched her head gingerly, "You can't get rid of me that easily, my dear." He looked at the chamber door and then back at Yuna, "Did you receive Anima?"

"Yes."

"What's wrong with her?" Tidus asked Auron, before turning down to Yuna, "What's wrong with you?"

"She's exhausted." Auron explained, "Gaining an Aeon is very tiring on a summoner's body. She'll be fine in a little while."

Tidus nodded and cradled Yuna to his chest as he asked Auron, "How'd you survive?"

"Disappointed?" asked Auron with a sneer before becoming serious, "The fiend knocked himself unconscious after slamming into the wall. I simply swam back and got back onto the bridge and came in that way. It took a few more minutes to figure out where I was, but I did it as you can tell."

Tidus sighed, "You want me to be honest, Auron? I am a little disappointed that you're not dead. I admit it." He shrugged and kissed Yuna's head, "Maybe that makes me a bad person, but that's the way I feel. But you know what? Yuna wants us to get along, so I'm going to make the effort." He extended his right hand to Auron, "Truce?"

Auron took Tidus' hand and nodded, "Truce."

"Praise be to Yevon!" Yuna let out in a happy sigh as she smiled up at Tidus and Auron, "I was beginning to think that'd never happen."

"You feeling better already?" Tidus asked, releasing his hold on her waist as Yuna stood up and stretched.

"Yes. It just takes a few minutes for my body to get used to the first Aeon." She said. Yuna looked around casually. She needed to see what powers she had from Anima. She walked over to an empty wall and closed her eyes, "Fire…" she breathed and a fire spell shot out and smacked the wall before disappearing.

"Neat!" Tidus squealed, climbing to his feet, "Could you try the cure on me?"

Yuna nodded, "Stay still." She admonished. She focused her attention on his bad knee and took a deep breath. If she had Fire, she'd definitely have Cure. She wasn't sure, though, if she had the second level or third level spells. There was only one way to find out, so with a shrug she closed her eyes and whispered, "Curaga…"

A blast of blue light surrounded Tidus' knee and then dissipated. Tidus was still for a moment and then pressed his weight on the knee. He didn't wince. That was a good sign. He lifted the leg and bent it at the knee until his heel touched his rear end. He didn't wince or cry in pain. He grinned at her, "I think its all better."

"With just one shot?" she asked.

"Lenne had been curing me pretty regularly." Tidus told her, "So I guess that's part of the reason. That and the fact that I'm sure it'd been healing itself on its own for a while too."

"Maybe I should do it one more time?" Yuna suggested.

Auron shook his head, "Don't waste your powers. If he says its fine, then it is. We need to conserve your abilities for when we face Sin."

000000000000000000000000000

Seymour was just reaching the upper level of Mushroom Rock Road when he heard the trumpets sounding the approach of Maester Mika. He quickly dusted himself off and knelt before the elder man as he came closer, "Lord Mika."

Mika nodded at Seymour, "Rise, my good friend." Mika waited until Seymour had done what he'd asked before taking Seymour's elbow and leading him away from the throng of followers that dogged Mika's every move, "Tromell informed me that there was another disturbance." He said once they were out of hearing range.

Seymour nodded, "Yes. It appears to be under control now, though, Lord Mika. The doors are still firmly in place and there is no sound coming from inside."

"Excellent." Mika said quietly, ringing his fingers together in thought, "I won't have the celebration ruined because of the disturbances."

Seymour nodded, "I understand, Lord Mika, but I don't think there's anything to worry about. With the doors firmly sealed, there isn't a way for him to escape."

"He's escaped before, Seymour." Stated Mika with a frown, "He could easily do it again."

It didn't surprise Seymour that he'd escaped before. He'd heard about the mysterious shooting after the Crimson Squad incident from Baralai himself. At least Baralai had believed that his old friend had actually pulled the trigger of his own accord. That was one less thing to worry about. And no matter what Nooj said, Seymour was relieved to know that Baralai wouldn't believe it. Especially since Nooj was now starting a rival leadership of Spira.

Seymour nodded, "I wouldn't worry, Lord Mika. If something happens, I'll take care of it – quickly and quietly. You have my word."

"I knew I could count on you, Lord Seymour." Mika replied with a small and rueful smile, "Keep me informed."

"Yes Lord Mika." Seymour replied as he watched the old man walk away.

00000000000000000000000000000000

"So where exactly is Sin suppose to attack. And when?" Tidus asked as he rowed the fishing boat back to the dock at Zanarkand. Auron moved the other oar in time with him.

"He attacks the main center of Zanarkand first." Yuna replied, her gaze fixated on the horizon and Mt. Gagazet in the distance, "As for when…I'm not sure. All we know is that he appeared just before Bevelle began a full assault. Bevelle soldiers said they heard mysterious chanting and then saw Sin. They turned and ran as quickly as they could. They never saw Zanarkand again."

"Fun…" Tidus muttered under his breath as he maneuvered their boat as close to the dock as possible. He climbed out first and reached back for Yuna. Auron was the last to hit dry land.

"Does Yunalesca and Zaon know about Shuyin and Lenne?" Yuna asked suddenly, her eyes still fixated on the outline of Gagazet against the sky.

Tidus shook his head, "I haven't seen them since the party. Lenne was supposed to be in Lesca's unit, so I guess she probably figures something's wrong." He touched her chin and turned her face to his, "Why?"

"Just wondering." She murmured before absently turning and following a stalwart Auron back along the dock to the main road. Tidus frowned and followed. If she was getting nervous, that was fine, but he didn't want her to freeze up on him. He was in this mess just as deep as her. He wasn't going to let her leave him behind.

He reached her just as she turned left onto the main road leading to Auron's house. With a hand on her shoulder, he caught her attention and she turned. He smiled at her, "You okay?"

"I'm nervous." She admitted with a shrug, "Sin will be here today."

Tidus lifted a brow, "I thought you said that you didn't know when."

"I don't know for sure." She said with a sigh, "But I can feel it."

"Will you be able to beat him with only one Aeon?"

Yuna shrugged, "I'm not sure. Since this will be the first incarnation of Sin, he should be easiest to beat. According to history, the Final Aeon didn't even exist until after Yunalesca and Zaon defeated Sin."

"So it's possible to beat him with just Anima?"

"I hope so…"

Tidus snaked his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him as they walked. Tidus was surprised that Auron wasn't yelling at them about something, but then he decided that maybe the older man was taking their truce seriously. It didn't really matter anyway. No matter how many barbs Auron shot at him, Tidus wasn't going to let Yuna go. She was too important to him.

The sun was rising over the horizon as they made their way along the road. Tidus sighed. They'd been gone all night long. They hadn't rested at all. This felt like the longest night of his life. So many things had happened in such a short amount of time. All he wanted to do was crawl into bed and go to sleep.

Yuna let out a little gasp and stopped in mid-stride, her eyes focused directly on the Mt. Gagazet again. Auron stopped too and was staring at the same place. Tidus found his eyes drawn there as well. He couldn't see well from the sun in his eyes, but he thought he saw the outlines of some people cresting Gagazet. He squinted and lifted his hand to shield the sun from his eyes.

"It's starting." He heard Yuna murmur as she stiffened at his side.

Inoreyo…hatenaku…ebonju

Tidus spun in place, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. They were the only ones on the street. All of Zanarkand was still holed up in their houses, afraid to come out after Bevelle's initial attack.

Who was singing!

Auron reached for his sword tucked nicely beneath his flowing red jacket. Tidus felt a lump form in his throat. This wasn't good. Yuna had said that Sin appeared when Bevelle soldiers heard an odd chanting…

Sekae…tamae…

That was definitely odd chanting. Tidus felt Yuna pull away from him, but he made no move to stop her. He was frozen.

Yume…miyo…Inorigo.

Yuna and Auron's eyes stayed focused on the distant Gagazet and Tidus saw the outline of the soldiers scrambling back down the mountain. Yuna's fists stiffened at her side and Auron lifted the sword menacingly, glancing around and taking in his surroundings. Tidus just stood there. He felt foolish, but he didn't know what else to do. He had no weapon. Why didn't he have a weapon! What had he been thinking!

Silence engulfed them for several minutes. They maintained their positions as if not moving would make Sin not come. For a brief moment, Tidus thought that it worked, but then the world started to shake and a loud roaring sound came from behind them. He didn't want to turn around, but found himself unable to stop the turning of his head.

"Shit…"

It wasn't the most eloquent of responses, but it seemed the most logical. Before him was the largest thing he'd ever seen in his life. It looked like something straight out of a horror movie. At least three times the size of Zanarkand A-East. Sin had eyes all over what appeared to be the head. It looked more like a giant blob than a monster, but the roaring from its cavernous mouth told Tidus that it was very much alive.

Tidus' mouth opened and shut a few times before he stuttered, "It looks like a giant booger!" Yuna and Auron both looked at him in silence and Tidus felt himself blush a little. He pointed at Sin, "Well…it does!"

"Well that giant booger," snapped Auron, "Is going to kill us if we don't stop standing around here!"

Sin let out another giant roar and it was as if the bubble surrounding Tidus, Yuna, and Auron burst. Suddenly the residents of Zanarkand were screaming, fleeing for their lives and making a mad dash for all four corners holding their escape.

Sin shuddered and shook off several thousand sharp objects that resembled leaves until they broke apart and revealed monsters the size of the average 10-year old. The wings of these creatures glowed and shot spikes at the citizens who fled past them in panic.

"Come on!" Auron shouted, leading Yuna and Tidus into a darkened weapons shop to the side of the road.

"What's the plan?" Tidus asked, squinting in the dark to make out what surrounded him.

Auron slammed the base of his sword into something and Tidus heard the sound of glass shattering. Then he felt something heavy being put in his hand, "Don't cut yourself. You'll need your fingers to wield this."

A sword…

"I've never used one before." Tidus said, watching as the bleak light from outside reflected on the blade.

"It's not hard." Auron stated simply, moving quietly back to the door and peering out, "Just whack it at anything that threatens you."

Tidus smiled softly. That seemed easy enough, but he soon found out that it wasn't. The three split up slightly, each taking a different part of the main road Sin had taken up occupancy upon. Tidus was to the right. Auron to the left. Yuna in the middle. Auron and Yuna fought like pros. Auron slicing the fiends apart with ease. Yuna shooting spells wildly. Tidus struggled vainly to keep up, but Auron's advice wasn't as easy as he'd thought. He whacked, but the monsters didn't even seem fazed by it aside from a slight daze he seemed to be putting them in. After a few moments, he found himself several feet behind them and completely surrounded.

"Um! Little help please!" he shouted, whacking harder, but with even less result.

Auron doubled back, shaking his head at Tidus the entire way, "Whack with the sharp end! Not with the side of the damned blade! All you'll do is give them a headache that way!"

Tidus blushed, "Oh…yeah."

He found it much easier once he was using the sword properly and was soon on an even keel with Yuna and Auron as they fought their way to Sin, reaching him within 30 minutes.

"Yuna! Now!"

"Right!" Yuna lifted her arms in the air and closed her eyes, "Anima!" she shouted.

Auron rushed Sin while Anima was being summoned and brought his blade down firmly on Sin's left front leg. Tidus decided to follow suit and slammed into Sin's right leg. The monster roared in anger and pain and rushed toward Yuna, but Anima arrived just in time and took the brunt of the attack.

Tidus had never seen Anima summoned and shook slightly as he took in the sight of him. Anima didn't look much different from Sin, in Tidus' opinion. He looked smaller, sure, and a bit more gray but just as menacing. He appeared to be tied up as his arms were firmly against his body in a criss-cross position. Only half of him appeared above the ground, but that seemed to be enough. Sin was shaken up for a moment after colliding with Anima, but only a moment. He was back before Tidus could believe it, but Yuna was ready.

"Attack!" she shouted. Anima's main attack hit Sin right between the eyes and the creature roared in anger. Auron lunged forward with his sword when Sin was distracted and sliced into his leg again. Tidus did the same to give Yuna enough time to order another attack on Sin. Anima struck forward again, harder this time but Sin was braced and ready, pummeling the Aeon with a counter attack.

Yuna bit her lip, "Anima! Overdrive Oblivion!"

Tidus had heard of Aeons having powerful overdrives, but he'd seen nothing like Anima's before. The monster's overdrive sliced through Sin easily, with both of Sin's legs falling off under the strain.

"It's almost done, Yuna! Finish him off!"

Yuna nodded, "Anima! Attack!"

The Aeon thrust forward delivering a powerful blow directly to Sin's head. The monster's mournful wail filled the sky as he started to fall to the ground and as he hit the ground, the world went black.

00000000000000000000000000000

"So why are they celebrating Sin?" Rikku asked as she and Lulu walked slowly along the bridge overlooking the waterfalls on Besaid.

Lulu sighed, "They're not celebrating Sin, Rikku. They're celebrating the fact that this is the anniversary of Sin's arrival and we're in the middle of a Calm. It doesn't happen very often."

"Oh…" Rikku shrugged, "And why aren't we there?"

"Because there's no reason for us to be." Lulu replied, "Until Sin is gone forever, no amount of partying is ever going to make Spira truly happy. The celebration is just too depressing to me."

Rikku giggled, "Too depressing for you!"

"What's so funny?" the mage shot back.

"Nothing." The blonde replied, skipping ahead of the mage and down the dirt path leading back to the town.

"Rikku! Will you slow down please!" Lulu shouted, shuffling as quickly as she could in her long black dress to keep up with the spunky Al Bhed. Rikku paused and waited so that she and Lulu could crest the hill overlooking the town together.

Lulu slowed down by the statue and sighed. The last time she'd prayed there had been when they were leaving on Yuna's pilgrimage. It'd seemed odd for Yuna to pray for a safe journey when she knew she'd die no matter what. Yet that was just how Yuna was. She was always looking on the bright side of things, no matter how bleak the destined outcome was.

Lulu heard shuffling in the tall grass to the other side of the path and turned quickly. Rikku had heard it as well and was in her fighting stance, "Fiend?" she asked Lulu.

"Maybe. Stay alert."

It wasn't a fiend, though that lifted his head from the grass. It was a handsome blonde man who looked completely confused when he saw the two women standing before him ready to beat him to a pulp.

"Um…"

"Name, rank, and serial number!" Rikku yelped, punching the air to look menacing.

"What?"

Lulu rolled her eyes, "Ignore her. She's Al Bhed." She took a few steps closer to the man, "Are you all right?"

"I think so…"

More shuffling from a few feet behind the blonde brought Rikku's fists to an even higher punching stance. Lulu rolled her eyes. Rikku wasn't a boxer, yet she was acting like one. How pathetic.

This time it wasn't a blonde but a brunette man that sat up. His back was to Lulu and Rikku as he rubbed his temples and cracked his back. The blonde looked at him, but didn't say a word or even make a sound. After a few seconds, the man turned and Lulu gasped at the sight of him, "Sir…Au…"

"Ow…" came a female voice from the same brush, silencing Lulu's gasp with another as a familiar girl sat up and blinked.

"Yu…" she stammered, but was quickly interrupted when a squeal echoed through the woods.

"Yunie!"