AN: I may have got the order of some of the events wrong in the operation, but this is my fic and it's still good. I hope. Please review. Oh and when Arkinlae closes her eyes it's meant to be an effect something like on The Matrix when the agents take peoples places only the appearance is the same so no other people replace her, just in case anyone has trouble trying to imagine what it's like. Oh and don't worry if you are confused by Arkinlae's thoughts. All will be revealed

Well that's it. On with the fic I say.

Sesh, Kinny and Zen: Talley ho!

Bekayla: Talley fru?

Chapter 6:
Changes and a Pardon From Yevon

The Sinspawn attacked all the opponents it could at a time. It was a tough enemy and Sesh had fainted because of it. Out of the four Al Bhed Sesh was the white mage, cure, haste jinx and flee, things like that were her speciality and she was the thief. Bekayla could use power break and extract mana etc. Zen was the one who could use fire and thunder, poison, petrify etc. And Arkinlae could use fire, water, blizzard, thunder, watera, cure and esuna as well as aeon powers and anything else, she didn't know of yet.

Eventually from sheer weight of numbers the Sinspawn was eventually destroyed. Worse was still to come though. Sin.

"No, go!" Arkinlae begged and held Yuna's arm so she felt at ease.

"If only it were that easy." Yuna said looking at what was happening in horror, while Arkinlae had looked away. Still though Arkinlae couldn't see it she could hear it. Screams suddenly ended in a flash and the Sinspawn cries could be heard all over the beach. Then Arkinlae decided to look she then closed her eyes as if she wanted to feel a cool breeze on her face and couldn't care less about Sin. Although she was struggling to resist. She took her hand off Yuna's arm and opened her eyes which had manage to fully close, and went to the edge of the cliff. Sesh, Zen, Bekayla and the others had disappeared, it seemed they had fallen over the edge when Sin came. Suddenly there was a blasting sound. Some Al Bhed had fired a sort of mana gun at Sin. Sin, Jecht had formed a shield round himself. At first it looked as if the Al Bhed would win, but the counter blast Sin had used eventually overpowered the strength of the gun. The gun blew up and all the Al Bhed on the gun were killed. Arkinlae though instead of crying as she would normally have done did the last thing on Spira anyone would have thought her doing.

It started quietly as a breath, but then got louder and more pleasure filled. She threw her head back and laughed. It was a cold evil laugh filled with pleasure, but no emotion.

"Why are you laughing?" Yuna asked her. Arkinlae continued as if she hadn't heard. "I said WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING!" she repeated shouting.

Arkinlae looked at Yuna, there was something not right about her Yuna thought, there was a malicious smile wiped across her face and her eyes looked just as wicked and had changed colour to a piercing blue, bluer than any Al Bhed eyes.

"Because." She said hissing on her s's and then pausing, "It's funny." Her voice also was different. It sounded deeper, Yuna felt a wave of fear fill her. Yuna, Seymour who had been standing behind her who had also witnessed Arkinlae laughing and Arkinlae herself whirled round to find another Sinspawn. Seymour rushed up to it and held its arms back so it couldn't attack, Yuna ran beside him.

"Stand back Lady Yuna." He ordered.

Auron came to join them Arkinlae stood away from them.

"Give them what they deserve." She said seeming to address the Sinspawn. The Sinspawn brought its arms to hit the ground, it only did it once. It injured all three enemies and the shaking of the ground caused Arkinlae to loose her balance. Warriors who believed she posed a threat to Auron, Seymour and Yuna went to take her away, but the shake from the ground caused them to fall into Arkinlae and all four of them fell of the edge. The falling seemed to go in slow motion at that moment. Closer and closer she got to the ground. She hit it and the old Arkinlae seemed to bounce back. She flew back up shakily from her fall. To meet Sin's gaze.

Meanwhile Yuna, Seymour and Auron had defeated the Sinspawn.

"Everyone stand, back." Arkinlae heard Yuna order, "I'll summon."

"No!" came Seymour's reply

"But I must do something."

"Your powers are still too weak."

Arkinlae though had more to think about than an argument between summoner and maester.

"No! No more death!" Arkinlae shouted in anger. That's when it happened. Still in the air, she summoned all the power to her she could and it came swiftly, heightened by her anger. Those still alive and those on the cliff top heard a rumble and for a minute the sky went dark.

Arkinlae raised her arms higher and higher and as she heightened them, a huge tidal wave behind came the form of Sin came that seemed to have come from Arkinlae. It came higher than Sin himself. Arkinlae ordered it to collapse over Sin. Sin gave a cry, as it was wounded by the power of the wave. It was water element magic on a scale that no one had ever seen before. For a moment those alive stopped fighting and looked. Then when the wave had shrunk to no more than a movement on the water things started rising from it. Warriors made out of water, they went to assist the crusaders and chocobo knights still alive. Arkinlae again out of pure fatigue and it seemed pain floated down from the air and blacked out.

When she woke up the beach was silent. She was lying at the sea's edge. There was a sphere camera floating by her. It was on. For a horrible moment Arkinlae picked up and thought it was Bekayla's, she then realised. The others. Oh Fayth, please don't say-. Well I suppose it's more than they deserve. Shut up! she thought angrily.

She saw Yuna sending the fallen, "Guys? Guys! Where are you?" she frantically ran searching for her guardians. She heard the camera break and she threw it away in anger. She went over to Lulu. She then took time to look at all the dead crusaders, Al Bhed and chocobo knights. Arkinlae felt so helpless and angry. She knelt down by a dead crusader and cried.

"I should have done more!" she shouted angrily through tears.

"You did all you could." Said Lulu caringly putting a hand on her shoulder.

"No. It's my fault. It's all my fault." Arkinlae wept to herself. She then got up and looked at the water. She felt as if she was entranced, she walked quickly to the water's edge. The walk turned into a run and she dived into the water.

"Kinny! No!" it was Seshay. She Zen and Bekayla had survived and ran down the road. Sesh knew what Arkinlae was trying to do. She dived into the water after her friend and the others followed. Arkinlae had surfaced and was floating on her back. She just let herself sink and let the water wash over her. It was so quiet she thought. Yuna and the others that were alive just watched in silence curiously, why wasn't Arkinlae trying to kept herself above the water, until Lulu realised.

"She's not planning to come back up, if she can help it."

Arkinlae under the water had her eyes closed and let herself succumb to a dream. She saw the tree. She'd seen it many times in dreams before, she was used to it. The same child in a purple hood appeared out of the shadows. All the dead from Operation Mi'ihen were there two walking around.

"You enjoyed that didn't you?" the child said, "Well part of you, it's good to see most of you has a heart. Lady Arkinlae, remember you must not give up. Resist for as long as you can, we can only buy you time and as we perceive our time may be running out."

The water having gone from around her roused Arkinlae. She opened her eyes and registered the water that had filled her lungs. She gave way to a fit of coughs and saw Seshay, Zen and Bekayla dragging up the beach. She was placed down beside Tidus and Seymour. Seshay slapped Arkinlae and started shouting at her.

"What on Spira you thinking!" she shouted in Al Bhed almost in tears, "You wants reach end defeat Sin don'ts you!" Arkinlae nodded. "Thens stop bleeding well trying to die!" she muted the shouted so Zen and Bekayla didn't hear, but someone else did.

"Sorry Sesh, I am so so sorry. It's getting harder you know, but we will get to the end." She then stood up confidently and hugged her friend. Yuna was about to do the sending and called Seshay over to ask her something. Oh great probably going to ask what in Spira I was doing laughing at the death of Al Bhed-. Well I don't see what was the problem. It's about time I had some fun-. Yeah your idea of fun. What do you have against humans anyway?…

"I hope you guys find your way to the Farplane okay." Arkinlae muttered.

"Oh they will." Said a mocking voice, which Arkinlae took to be no other person, or rather Guado.

"Thanks to Lady Yuna. If you really are a summoner, the least you could do is release people from their pain and send them."

"Look blue boy." Arkinlae retorted cheekily and in an irritated manner, "I don't know whether you are either, stupid, blind, ignorant or if none of the others stated generally like this, but I was unconscious. Do you know what that means? It means I am unable to do anything. Like I'm dead only I'm not." She trailed of reflectively at the end.

Seymour chuckled for a minute, "I see that whatever comments I throw out you'll be able to answer impertinently. I suppose people find that to be one of your finer qualities."

"No more my defiance actually or me being more of a free spirit as I prefer it." She answered in a similar manner to her last sentence, "Don't bother answering I always get the last laugh." She ended this with a few ha ha ha's but then feeling like a laugh at the expression left on his face. Confusion mixed with disgust. She laughed like she had on the top of the cliff only joyful. Her guardians came to join her and Seymour went over to Yuna.

"You do not look so well." He said to her, "But now more than ever you must be the peoples strength, their confidence. Anyone else would be expected to show their sorrow. But you are a summoner, you are Spira's hope until Sin is defeated you must not relent. Do you understand?"

"Yes I understand." Yuna replied

"Are you afraid?" he asked and Yuna made no answer. There was and awkward silence for a second, which Arkinlae broke. She went over to Yuna and put her hand on her shoulder.

"Hey Yunie. I going to go ahead okay?" she asked and Yuna nodded, "Because if there's one thing I don't understand, it politics."

"Yuna, take me as your pillar of strength. As Yunalesca had her Lord Zaon." Seymour continued as if she wasn't there.

"Yeah as if she needs anymore pillars of strength. That's what guardians are for, she doesn't need a big blue blob bad excuse for a maester as a 'pillar of strength'." Arkinlae muttered loudly on purpose, "Come on guys," she said giving her guardians one armed hugs, "To Djose temple, we mustn't let anything get us down." and she and her friends made their way to Djose temple

"Lady Yuna until next we meet. Farewell." Seymour left soon after them.

As they were walking down the Djose Highroad Arkinlae noticed he was there but blatantly ignored him.

"I see taking the cowards way out. Not wanting to see it anymore." He called tauntingly Arkinlae tried to ignore him by going la la la very loud, but temptation to insult him was to great. Anyway she had told him she always got the last laugh.

"I was wrong." She began, "You aren't either stupid, blind or ignorant." She paused and turned round to see his expression, "You're all three." And with that she and her guardians gave up to laughter. Seymour was insulted by that it didn't take a fool to work that out. He left in silence up the road to The Moonflow. Arkinlae however carried on and the all entered Djose temple.

"Welcome Lady Summoner." The priest said doing the prayer gesture towards Arkinlae who did not return in the same manner.

"Thank you I am summoner Arkinlae from the isle of Bikanel." With that there were more gaspers realising what coming from Bikanel meant.

"Oh come on can we stop all the gasps and whispers it's becoming such a cliché. 'Oh my goodness look at the summoner from Bikanel oh no this defies Yevon.' I'm used to it."

"It's not that M'lady." A priestess explained. It was Shelinda who they'd met on the Mi'ihen Highroad, "It's the crusaders, well the ones that lived they've been telling us about the operation on Mushroom Rock. How did you do that?" she asked in reverence, "We know if you were able to use powers such as that of the aeons the Fayth must bless you. We now do not fear you or your guardians entering the temples of Yevon." She then did the prayer gesture.

"Thank you Shelinda is it?" Arkinlae replied doing the prayer gesture out of respect for her kind words, "And now The Cloister of Trials?"

"Of course M'lady it is at your disposal."

"Oh and about the operation, could we keep it quiet please. I would like it if no one else knew."

"Of course, if that is what you wish M'lady."

"Thank you." Arkinlae finished and she and the others went into the trials.

The trials weren't that hard Arkinlae sometimes wondered if it was Yevon's idea of a challenge. If it is then just imagine how easy might be to fight Yevon himself. Arkinlae thought then realised the fatal mistake she'd made. If you could. They eventually reached The Chamber of the Fayth. Arkinlae went inside. The statue was there on the floor as normal. Arkinlae knelt down and prayed. The Fayth appeared to her.

"I don't know whether to give you my aeon or not." It said, "After what has happened with the last two."

"You must." Arkinlae prayed, "I need it for The Final Summoning. To end this, or at least try. I want to be rid of this too you know." The Fayth then disappeared.

"No don't go!" Arkinlae shouted. Zen and the others heard her outside.

"Are you okay Arkinlae!" Zen called, "Don't worry I'm coming in."

"Don't I'll wait." Came Arkinlae's reply. And she did, she waited until The Fayth appeared again.

" I have discussed it with the others. We will all bestow you with aeons when you reach the temples. End it Yunalaesca end it soon."

"Yunalaesca? Ahh yes. I will. Or if not I will try."

"At the time it is reaching it may be past trying, but that is all you may do now as you are not your old self. We appreciate it." Then she disappeared for good, bestowing Arkinlae with the thunder aeon. Arkinlae came out feeling lifted.

"Come. Let us go and wait for Yuna."

When they came out of the trials someone else was standing at the bottom of the steps.

"Ahh." Said he, "I knew there was a summoner in The Chamber, but I do not believe we have met."

"Arkinlae." Arkinlae replied extending a hand, "And these are my guardians Zen, Seshay and Bekayla." The man shook her hand and then saw her eyes and looked at her guardians.

"Ahh Al Bhed," he speculated. He then chuckled, "An Al Bhed summoner so you are the one the people in the temple are talking about."

"Yes and you are?"

"Oh forgive me I am Isaaru." He did the prayer gesture towards her, "And these are my guardians and brothers Maroda and Pacce."

"Hela du saad oui." Arkinlae said to them smiling

"Aww cute." Seshay said looking at Pacce

"Hey! I'm tough. I'm doing great right big brother?" Pacce asked Isaaru

"I'm sure you are little buddy." Arkinlae said ruffling his hair and Isaaru laughing, "Well Lord Isaaru I will not delay you from the trials." She finished

"Yes it was helly doos add we too." He replied and Zen laughed, "Sorry my Al Bhed pronunciation is a bit off I know." He added to in reply to Zen's laughter "And your guardians it was helly doos add we. " With that he went up the steps to the trials.

"Mm nice guy." Arkinlae said dreamily. This made Zen narrow his eyes. Seshay laughed and grinned flashing her red train track teeth she knew what Zen was getting at, but then she had for a long time. Bekayla hadn't known but caught on pretty quick.

"E tuh'd drehg Kinny sayhd ed mega dnyd Zen." (I don't think Kinny meant it like that Zen.) Bekayla said putting his had on his friends shoulder. Arkinlae turned round from where she had been looking in Isaaru's direction and asked what she'd meant. Sesh just grinned, winked and said 'you see'.

It did not take long for Issaru to come out and Yuna come through the doors. She and Isaaru greeted each other and Yuna went into the trials. Arkinlae's part meanwhile made another sphere while the waited and soon the doors to the temple opened and in came none other than Dona.

"Ahh." She commented looking at Arkinlae and her party, "That means that poor excuse for a summoner Yuna must be here seeing as these riff-raff are." And with that she proceeded to ascend the stairs

"Hey!" Arkinlae called, "Leave Yuna alone she's doing this, because she believes in it. It's her choice to become a summoner." Dona turned before she went through the door.

"I didn't ask you for an opinion. Al Bhed." She spat, "I hear Maester Seymour's quite taken with her. If you get what I mean."

"Maester smaeshter, Yuna can do what she wants, she's a fully fledged summoner and she doesn't need scum like you putting her down." Arkinlae dominated getting her blades, (which were back together as a staff) out.

"Barthello." Was all that Dona said clicking her fingers. Barthello came down the steps cracking his knuckles and looking down at Arkinlae. Arkinlae was not intimidated though she stared Barthello straight in the face and said

"So you're letting you big muscled monkey brained guardian to take the hurt. You call yourself a summoner? Anyway if it's a fight you're looking for two things wrong. One I could defeat you in maybe less than ten seconds and two I'm not looking for one." Arkinlae then put her staff away. Dona called Barthello and they both went up into the trials.

"Heh coward." Dona muttered.

"We'll see whose the coward if you ever have to face the consequences of The Final Summoning." Was all that Arkinlae replied before Dona and Barthello disappeared out of earshot.

About half an hour later the door to the trials opened and Yuna came out.

"Hey Yuna. You got it?" Arkinlae asked Yuna nodded in the affirmative. "I don't know, but I think it's time to hit the hay." Arkinlae then said and then all the guardians realised how tired they were so they did. Yuna and Arkinlae however went to heal people and send those who had fallen. Healing was not pleasurable for Arkinlae. She liked being able to help people, but it seem to hurt her. Like every time she healed someone she received an electric shock. Arkinlae though despite this persevered and soon all were healed. Sending was different. Arkinlae tried as hard as she could, she always put everything in what she did, but the problem was she nearly always failed. The sun had gone down when she and Yuna started the sending. Yuna danced and Arkinlae watched. She heard the voices again. They're still in pain even though they're being sent. They just don't send like they used to. Wait I know.

Arkinlae cleared her throat and started walking up as if she were walking up invisible steps she stopped when she was satisfied with her height and started dancing. Also remembering the words to a song long forgotten by the people of Spira, she sang.

Ar vay sita vo see ayta

Oh deee ves may eeto la su yuna

Ar see ayta oh naaa ves calm na mayla

As she sang the flames changed from blue to white and some beams of light came through the sky. The voices in her head stopped but they were replaced by a scream and a great pain filled Arkinlae. She knew who that scream belonged to. It was in anger, outrage and it was not anyone of those being sent either. Arkinlae for the second or was it third time fell from the sky and blacked out. When she woke up she found her guardians standing round her.

"Are you okay Arkinlae?" Zen asked, "You conked out again."

"This is becoming so cliché." Arkinlae began sleepily rubbing her eyes, "As if everything else isn't." she then said.

"Come on lazybones." Zen heaved her out of bed, "We're heading for the Moonflow." Unfortunately Zen had heaved a bit to hard and Arkinlae ended up falling out of bed. The came out the agency laughing, as were Yuna's guardians were saying something about hair and also. Arkinlae and the others followed the others to the fork in the road.

"Where to now?" Tidus asked

"We cross The Moonflow, then onto the Guado city of Guadosalam." Lulu explained.

"Gotcha" Tidus, "Moonflow baby here we come."

I know. That was a long chappie. My bad don't kill me (cowers). Ahem I mean thank you read again. (And don't forget to review).