A/N: I first want to apologize for the use of X2 characters in this story. I haven't played it yet, and am judging what they would do by all of the wonderful fan fiction I read by other people. Sorry, but they just fit in with the story. At least for what I am using them for. If it bothers you I might change them into OCs, I'll think about it. And before you ask why I didn't put this in that section, it's because with Auron back I thought it best belonged here.

Disclaimer: I know I typed it out sometime during the first five chapters. Somebody tell me I'm right. :silence: Okay, fine. I don't own final fantasy X or X2.

--

Slowly Rikku pulled herself to her feet using the tree she had been thrown against. She glanced up to see Tidus and Yuna watching her. Worry was all over their faces.

"Hey, guys. What are you doing here? And what happened to that ochu I was fighting?" She scratched her head sheepishly.

"What are you talking about, Rikku? That aeon you summoned finished it off." Tidus told her.

"Aeon? I didn't summon anything. I was knocked out before I could finish summoning Vala..." She stopped midsentence as she pieced together as to what happened. "Yunie, what did the aeon look like?"

"Well, it was, um, a big fire bird. It used a sphere of fire to defeat the fiend, then circled you in the same thing. But it revived you unlike the ochu." She answered.

Rikku tried to walk over to her friends, but stumbled before finding her footing. "A fire bird, huh? That's the aeon I tried to summon in Besaid. He really did save me." She whispered to herself not caring that they were still there.

"Rikku?" Tidus questioned.

"In my tribe there is a story that has been told to children for many generations. It is a legend of the great fire bird, Phoenix. It's supposed to live somewhere in the expanse of the Bikanel desert, but no one really knows for sure. It is said that Phoenix dies and is reborn every hundred years. It is a bird of great power and wisdom. It is also known to bring healing and rebirth. So if it appeared without me summoning it, then that means the ochu must have killed me." She held a hand to her chest in shock. She had died, or at least come close to it. Not something she wanted to think about now. "Well enough about me. I want to know what the healers said about you Yunie." She smiled and gave a small hop. Seeing her here, it couldn't have been bad news.

"Well, I had been feeling sick for a couple weeks." Rikku frowned, but didn't say anything. "But the healers told me why."

"We're going to be parents!" Tidus interrupted excited.

Rikku's eyes grew wide and she lunged to hug her cousin. "Yunie, that's great! You'll make a great mother. I just know it. Do they know if it is a boy or girl yet?"

"Well, it's still too early."

"No matter. This is a reason to celebrate. Come on. My treat!" Rikku said as she pulled them back to the temple behind her.

--

The celebration for the trio went well into the night. The moon was beginning its decent before any of them went to bed. Rikku was the last to lie down.

"Auron, you there?" She began the conversation.

"I never left."

"Did you know about Yunie? Is that why you didn't want her to come?"

If he could have, Rikku would have sworn she heard him sigh. "Yes I did. This journey would have put a strain on her. She is happy now, I had to make sure it stayed that way."

"Why didn't you tell me? She wouldn't be here right now if you did."

"It would have interfered. She had to find out on her own." He explained to the young Al Bhed.

"I see. Auron, there's still one more thing I want to say." She barely managed to get the sentence out before a yawn escaped.

"Go to bed, Rikku. You have an early start in the morning."

She did as she was told, but one more things slipped passed her lips before she drifted off. "Thank you, Auron."

Auron watched as she fell into unconsciousness. He knew he would do everything he could to protect his young charge. The fayth believed that the two of them together would be able to defeat Yu Yevon. He wondered at times what they were thinking. He thought back to the farplane when he had first encountered the fayth of Bahamut.

"Sir Auron, we have been searching for you." The young boy said as he appeared in front of the ex-guardian.

"And why is that?" He asked gruffly.

"We fayth have found out about something and would like to request your help."

He lifted an eyebrow. Just as quickly it dropped back. "I don't think so. I have found my peace."

"I am sorry to hear that, Sir Auron. We had planned to send you to help an old comrade of yours."

His interest was peaked now. It would have been nice to travel with Braska or even Jecht once again.

"No, not them." The fayth responded as if reading his mind. "They are here as well, but ties to loved ones keep them here. That, Sir Auron, is why we would like your help. You have nothing keeping you here."

"And what is this that you need me for? There are others you could ask, are there not?" He snapped.

Bahamut smiled as if he was withholding information. His hood hid most of his face so Auron did not see it. "Yes, but we feel you may be the most qualified for this. You have helped not one, but two summoners defeat sin. You cared enough about your friends to die for them. That is the dedication we are looking for."

The red coated guardian gave a humph and turned away. "So you plan on using a summoner again?" He asked accusingly. "Just promise me it will not be the Lady Yuna."

"We cannot ask her. She will be with child and will not be able to make the journey." The fayth explained. "One of your comrades will receive a visit from us soon. I will be talking to them as well. Will you do this for us, Sir Auron?"

Auron thought about this. To be among the living again was something he wanted, and yet... What did he want exactly? He found his peace, did he not? "What... must I do?" He finally asked.

"Yu Yevon still lives. You must prevent him from creating sin anew."

Auron turned abruptly. Two journeys, the death of friends, and still he lived? Yevon was still alive while he was here. Not if he could do something about it.

"You are eager to travel again. That is good. You are to guide your summoner until the end. You must not let her die or all will be lost. We are using the last of our ability to this. Until Yu Yevon is defeated we will not be able to help you anymore. However there is one thing you must know before you go. You will not be able to travel as an unsent again. We will make you into something greater."

He narrowed his eye at what the fayth implied. 'Something greater'? Was he going to live again? "What is it?"

"We are going to make you a fayth. But you will not be like us. As a guide you will be able to communicate with your summoner."

"Communicate, as in talk to them?" He asked in conformation.

"Precisely. But you will not be alone. Shiva and Valefor have expressed interest in helping. Now it is almost time. Are you ready?"

"Yes. There will be no turning back for me now."

"Very well. Here she comes now." Bahamut pointed to the blond who struggled to rise. "We have crashed her ship to bring her here, but do not worry. She and everyone else are fine."

"Oh, what happened?"

--

"Rikku, get up. We must leave soon before our ship sets sail."

Rikku stretched and yawned in the early morning light. She had not expected to be up so soon. If she had, she might not have stayed up so late. "Is it time already?" She lifted a hand to rub her tired eyes. "Do I at least have time for a shower?"

"I suppose. But you must hurry before Yuna or Tidus notice us missing."

"Yeah, I know. They need to go back to Besaid. I don't want to see something happen to Yunie or the baby." She agreed as she walked into the bathroom.

After getting cleaned and drying her hair, she left a note telling Yuna why she could not be found. Rikku packed what little clothes she had and left to find a boat. Fiends had left her alone in the jungle, and for that she was thankful. She stopped at the item shop in Kilika before heading to the pier.

"Excuse me, can you tell me where this boat is going?" She asked the first sailor she found.

He put down the barrel he was carrying before looking her over. "This boat isn't going anywhere until tonight. Shouldn't children like you be at home this early in the morning?" He answered before going back to work.

"Well thanks for all the help!" She shouted to his retreating back. He ignored her and kept working. She looked around hoping that maybe someone else would be able to help her. It was just as she was about to give up, she saw a tuft of blond hair. "Gippal, he'll help me." She ran to the end of the pier where she had last seen him. "Gippal!"

He turned to see who was calling his name and smiled when he saw his Al Bhed friend. /Rikku, what are you doing here/ He asked when she made her way next to him.

/I am trying to get to Macalania. Where are you heading to and when/

/Well, as soon as these slowpokes finish loading the boat I am heading for Djose. I just came here for supplies./

/If I help you load, may I come with you? I'll even help with things on board./ She suggested as payment.

/Hey you know I would do anything for Cid's girl./ He gave her a wink./ Now grab that case and let's go./

She spent nine days on board with Gippal's crew. It was faster then the two weeks it would have taken to walk the roads. Besides, it kept her from becoming tired and travel worn. She was true to her word and helped out with normal ship duties. Many of the sailors on board were happy for her help, it gave them a break. And seeing the young Al Bhed running around certainly made the days go by faster for them.

Happy to be off the ship, Rikku continued her journey from Djose to the moonflow. It was getting dark when she came to the spot Tidus had told her about where the moon lilys glow. She gathered some sticks together to make a fire, and set up camp. "I might as well stay here for the night. I can watch the moonflow like Tidus wanted to. I can tell him all about it when I get back," She told herself.

--

Back in Kilika Yuna had found Rikku's note. She ran to show it to Tidus. Two days later they were on a boat heading back to Besaid.

Dear Yunie and Tidus,

Sorry to run off like this. But I couldn't risk something happening to Yunie or the baby. You guys deserve to be happy. In fact I paid for you to stay for two extra days. Enjoy yourselves.

I'm sorry I can't tell you where I'm going either. You would just end up following me anyway, you know. Don't worry I will be safe though. A friend is with me. He is watching out for me. I hope to see you guys real soon. Until then.

Rikku

--

Filler, filler, and more filler. But I needed something or it wouldn't go as smoothly. I really wanted to get this up yesterday, but it wasn't quite done. oh well. It just added to the list of crappy things that happened to me. Gin

ladyamelia2008: thanks for reviewing, and here you go.

chibi-sorrow: that would have been hysterical! laughs along with you

atheshar: thank you. it just seemed to fit him.