Calm Lands:

The next morning, I could tell that whatever Yuna and Tidus had done, it sure had made them closer. They walked hand in hand a lot, and were a lot more relaxed around each other. Suicune was quiet, seemingly deep in thought. She'd reappeared in the morning, just as we were getting ready to leave.

Rikku walked up behind me, and said softly. "It's nice to see Yunie happy."

I nodded, and slowed down so I didn't have to turn around. "Yea. I might have pushed things a bit, but they really do make a good couple. Tidus might be an idiot sometimes, but Yuna's sometimes so naive…"

I could see her smiling in the corner of my eye. I smiled myself, looking at the crystal beauty of the forest. Suicune turned around, and nodded slightly. I'm… all right with it now. I… spoke with Ashley. You should too, when you get the chance. I nodded softly. "So you ran to Guadosalam to visit the Farplane. What she say?"

That she loved us… and wanted us to move on. She's… accepted her death… come to peace with it. She said something about you and Rikku… something about how you saved Rikku's life… or you'll save it in the future…

I glanced quickly at Rikku, and she smiled nervously. "Uh… you know that you can't talk to people from the Farplane, they're just illusions…"

I shrugged. "Suicune isn't crazy. Maybe she just called Ashley's soul, and she responded. But it is strange… she must have used the third stage of a resurrection… calling the soul to the living plane… I guess she got that from Ho-oh." I turned to Suicune, and said softly, "So you're fine now?" Suicune paused, then nodded.

Rikku looked at me. "Was I…"

I sighed softly. "Suicune… she was captured by Ashley, remember. She loved her… and it's kinda hard to see the one who kissed her to do the same to someone else, even after a long time. Like your mother or father kissing someone else. Creepy, and wrong at the same time. You can only see the two of them together."

Her eyes widened. "Oh. But… aren't you…"

I grinned. "She's over it. So everything is ok. Well, except for the Final Aeon thing. Got any ideas?"

Rikku shook her head bitterly. I know it's awfully stupid to bring up someone's past girlfriend, but I think Rikku's mostly ok with the issue. After all, she's no competition when she's dead. Well… less so. You can't really compete with someone who's dead. And Ashley had her share of faults, just like everyone else. I know that – but some people… they build idealized versions of the dead… I guess.

&&&&&

I looked at the massive plain that Suicune and I had raced across, after the rest stop. It looked a lot larger when you weren't on someone that could move as fast as sound, if not moreso.

"This place again. I wonder if they remember us, Suicune?"

She smiled bitterly. Forget that. First… I don't want to see Yuna sacrificed. "Reminds you of that too?"

She nodded softly. Yuna turned at my comment, and gave me a questioning look. I shrugged "past thing. I'll… well… tonight, I'll explain. Ok?" Yuna's eyes widened, but she nodded.

Rikku smiled, from next to me. "You don't have to worry, you know. It's not as bad as you think… since you're so nice now, it seems like that was a different person doing the stuff in the sphere. Well, besides Wakka."

I smiled back at her. "I'd kiss you for that, but…"

She looked around, and said softly. "Go ahead."

This time, the kiss lasted a lot longer… and was more passionate. By the time she broke it off for air (I have the modified lungs, remember), we were both breathing heavily. She gave me a happy smile, and held my free hand (I didn't buy a sheath, so I always had my sword at hand). I forgot about that… I'm going to have to buy one. It never was an issue before.

&&&&&

Yuna set herself slowly on the ground, looking up at the sky. Tidus and her exchanged a few words, and he helped her back up again. She turned to the rest of us, and said, "let's go."

"Do you think Tidus is going to figure out a way to stop everything?"

I shook my head slowly. "I… don't think so. Something's telling me that things will work out… I hope."

"Me too. I don't want Yunie…"

"She won't. I… I'd ask her to wait – I think a Big Bang might be able to do something to Sin… if… I manage to draw on Mewtwo's powers…maybe. We'll find out later."

"Mewtwo? Who's that?"

I laughed slightly. "Didn't Yuna tell you? He's basically a demi-god. I don't know HOW he didn't kill me when we tried. He's the catlike figure you saw in the sphere. Right before I charged Giovanni."

She looked at me. "That thing… was Mewtwo? You want to become LIKE HIM?"

I smiled softly. "Uh… Rikku? The thing I shattered was a master ball. Those things have a record… they control a pokemon, binding it to the trainer's will. Mewtwo… he had absolutely no control, for all his power. When I shattered it… he was free, and fled. I talked to him recently; he thanked me for that. That's when I disappeared while you were fighting Seymour."

She sniffed "Don't do that again… please?"

"The overdrive? I have to. But I won't disappear again… not willingly."

She sniffed again, and a few tears leaked out of her eyes. She said something softly in Al Bhed, something I couldn't understand. It sounded like "Ayo utuyd…" (You idiot) I squeezed her hand, and altered my pace so she didn't get left behind.

(Author's note: Free cookies / cudos to anime knowledge if you know WHERE I'm drawing that line from. Here's a hint: 'sayo senchicoyo' (It's spelled wrong, I know))

&&&&&

At the rest stop I remembered from earlier, a man approached Yuna. Lulu gasped, "Father Zuke!"

Zuke bowed to Lulu. "Long time no see." He turned to Yuna. "You are Yuna? Hmm... You certainly don't look like Maester Kinoc's murderer."

Wakka growled "What'd you say?" Geez Wakka, you should be able to figure it out…

Yuna looked alarmed "Please, tell us what has happened!"

I sighed. "Are we accused of murdering him?"

Zuke nodded. "Maester Mika just issued a personal order, you know. It said that you and your guardians murdered Maester Kinoc and fled. We are to kill you on sight, or so it says." He looked at me, and his eyes widened. I smiled humorlessly in return. I probably made a grim sight, except for the blue hair messing that up. "Well, someone's ego was injured. I wonder if mocking them at that joke of a trial was worth it. Or maybe it was killing Seymour, I've done too much that'd piss them off recently."

Auron said coolly "What of Bevelle?"

Zuke shook his head "Things are calm on the surface, but the depths are turbulent. After the death of Maester Kinoc, Kelk Ronso left Yevon."

I smirked. "Good. At least that means there will be plenty of confusion to let us slip through." Auron nodded, agreeing. Bonus points for me having experience with criminal syndicates… well, religion, criminal syndicate, same same.

Zuke said "But be careful, my friends. You have been branded enemies of Yevon. You should avoid temples for the time being."

Yuna bowed to him. "Thank you, Father Zuke, for your warning."

Lulu gave Zuke a searching gaze. "Father, you came all the way here just to tell us this?"

Zuke smiled. "To tell the truth, I was a little curious to see...this summoner you are guarding. I hope her pilgrimage goes well."

Lulu bowed to him "Thank you, father."

Zuke bowed in return. "I shall be off. I shall pray for all of you."

The others walked to the store, but Zuke motioned for me to wait. "You said you killed Maester Seymour. Why?"

I sighed. "He was going to kill us – besides Yuna, and sacrifice her later. He killed his own father. Need I say more? That's why the Ronso quit."

He turned without a word, a disturbed look on his face. Before he got out of earshot, I said "don't tell too many people about that. We're traitors, you don't want that."

He nodded distractedly, and continued on.

I grinned, and went to the store to buy a sheath. I know they'd displayed it with the sword, I'd just been too stupid to buy it.

&&&&&

At the travel agency, we split up. Tidus went off to go train a chocobo, Yuna went exploring – she'd heard something about a temple (Wakka and Lulu went with her), and Auron went to the monster trainer's place (he gave me directions, I guess he knew what I'd do).

I let loose Erastrani. "Hey, want to help catch those chocobos?"

"Fly! Fly gon fly…" She nodded. I grinned, "they're light, and you could carry one in your claws. Drop them off at the crack in the wall over there" I pointed towards where Auron had "Ok?"

She just took off in response. I think she'd eat one first, but the job would get done. I went to release Suicune, but a hand restrained me. "Icewind…"

I turned, and then blinked, looking at the fluid in Rikku's eyes. "What's wrong, Rikku?"

"I… what happens if you get stuck in an overdrive?"

I shook my head. "I won't. The Fayth said the only way for me to get stuck is to lose myself into the change... so I don't want to come back."

"Oh… but that means…"

I smiled softly. "Not if you stop it from happening. So long as you're around, I won't have a reason to regret what I am."

She looked down. "I… don't know if I can…"

I kissed her on the cheek. "You will, love."

She nodded, not really paying attention.

I sighed, and held her hand. Besides looking up for a moment, she didn't respond.

&&&&&

Erastrani flew over me, carrying the still form of a chocobo. It looked like she'd knocked it out. She circled once, then flew towards the monster tamer's place I'd pointed out earlier.

Rikku squeezed my hand, and looked up from the ground. "I'll… try."

I nodded softly, and kissed her for a moment. "Thanks."

&&&&&

The rest of the day was fairly un-eventful. Yuna came back, saying that she couldn't pray until she received other Aeons. That, and possessed the items – "blossom scepter", and "blossom crown". I don't know what the hell that was about. She said she had one of them already, though. Something about getting it from Belgimine.

I noticed a flicker of recognition on Auron's face when he heard that, but I didn't say anything. Erastrani must have caught at least 5 chocobos, from the number of times I'd seen her fly by.

&&&&&

I sighed softly. Tidus had been talking about a chest he'd found – one he couldn't open. "That's strange… couldn't you slice it open?"

He shook his head. "No… that's the weird part. I couldn't. There was some weird design on it… a mirror."

Yuna's eyes widened. "That's… it needs the celestial mirror… but where…"

I shrugged "what's the big deal?"

Lulu said softly "legendary weapons are contained within chests like that. Ancient and powerful ones. If we were to gather them…"

I glared directly at Auron, who was looking away. "You know where it is. Say it. I'll run off with Suicune, and pick it up. It won't take long at all."

Auron didn't say a word. I walked up to him, and gave him a direct look, removing his sunglasses as I did that. I said intently, "Say it. Or I say it."

He remained silent. I just waited. Tidus asked "what're you talking about?"

I snorted "Auron knows where this mirror is. I can tell that much. Now where is it? The better weapons we get, the better chance we have of coming out of this with everyone alive… or do you want everyone to die?" I glared at him again with that last tidbit.

He cracked with that line. "It's at the temple Yuna visited. At the lower end of the stairs. But it's not charged, you'll have to power it up at Macalania Wood. Suicune should be able to identify the crystal that's needed to charge it."

I nodded grimly, and turned to Yuna. "Sorry, but I'm taking off. Those weapons should come in handy."

She nodded slightly. I called out Erastrani (she'd returned when we started to set up camp), and climbed onto her back slowly. I glanced over at Rikku "you want to come?"

She perked up, and jumped on. I said softly "Erastrani, we need to go upwards. There's a temple near here, we need to get there. Once we get what we need, we'll go for the forest. That ok with you?"

She took off in response.

I heard someone say before we were out of earshot "what about what you were going to talk about?"

&&&&&

I looked around. A chocobo was running down the stairs. Erastrani started to lunge towards it, but I said "ignore it. Go for the chest down there. We've after that."

"Icewind… what's the big deal? I mean, we can get along without these things!"

I turned to her "it's… a way. Think about it. If… if we get powerful weapons… then at least Yuna won't get hurt as much." Erastrani set down, and I jumped off, walking towards the chest.

Rikku fell silent. Even when we did out best to protect her, Yuna did get hurt sometimes. To be honest, she was too brave for her own good. I kicked the chest open, pulled out the mirror, and got back on Erastrani. "Shall we go?"

Erastrani said something, and we flew off towards the forest. A bridge of sparkles stood out – Auron had mentioned that the crystal was up there, so I directed Erastrani to land on it.

&&&&&

Suicune looked at the gemlike object, then to the mirror in my hands, and back again. This is it. I nodded, and stepped towards the gem. I held the mirror up, and light from the gem flew into the mirror. It began to shine brightly.

After a few moments, the light from the gem faded. I glanced at Suicune, and she nodded. It's done. I'll run the two of you back.

I helped Rikku get on, then climbed carefully onto Suicune myself.

&&&&&

We got back as everyone else was settling down to sleep. Tidus said sleepily "that was fast…"

I nodded. "Sleep now. Talk later…" I yawned, and started digging for my camp bed. I curled up on top of it, and nodded off.

&&&&&
&&&&&

Suicune shook her head, and nudged Balrog's pokeball. It shook, and Balrog popped out.

Icewind was getting careless.

&&&&&
&&&&&

I woke up early the next morning. I stretched, and dug out the mirror. It still had a faint light.

"Looks like it worked."

I heard Auron snort. I turned to him, and shook my head. "Do the dead even need to sleep?'

I saw a flicker of something cross his face, but it disappeared.

The answer was no. The dead don't need to sleep – Auron was just faking it. How he didn't get bored was beyond me.

I sighed softly. As much as I hated threatening people, sometimes he was a complete jackass.

&&&&&

"Hey, uh… what were you going to talk about earlier?"

I shrugged, and tossed Tidus the sphere I'd 'received' earlier. "That. Go ahead and watch it, most the stuff I've done will make sense after you've seen it."

Yuna looked from it, to me, and then to Rikku (she was looking at the ground again.) "Was this the sphere Rikku was watching… in the lake?"

I nodded. Tidus held it out, and clicked it on. I sat down, and closed my eyes. "Uh… is that…"

Rikku said it for me (thankfully) "uh-huh."

&&&&&

I felt someone shaking me gently. "Wakey wakey! The sphere's nearly done!"

I nodded, and opened my eyes. It was nearly over – it showed me charging into Viridian Gym, Suicune out and looking murderous.

I sighed softly, and waited for it to end.

&&&&&

After the sphere ended, a deadly quiet fell. I figured on that happening, so I just sat there, looking up at the sky. "Now you know everything about my past."

Tidus said it for everyone, "you really did that?"

I nodded. "Yea. Why do you think I know assassination techniques for my swordplay? At least Auron should have noticed…"

"I did. I must admit, I wondered when I first saw you fight. Now it makes sense."

Yuna's voice was sad "so many people…"

I shook my head. "Here's one thing about my world… we don't have a Sin. So, naturally, we make our own. The Rockets… each one of them has probably cut down at least one other person. I'm not trying to justify my actions – but their hands are stained too."

"I don't know man. Maybe you shouldn't have showed us this. The past may be the past, but when it's like that…"

I smiled sadly. "Maybe. But I can't take it back."

Rikku looked at Wakka, who was looking down. "H… hey! He's still the same person from before, right?"

"Yea… maybe."

I shrugged. "Wakka, am I different now? What's changed? Your perception, or me? It's the same thing as when you found out Rikku is an Al Bhed. You went berserk on her when you should have known all along. I mean, Tidus practically screamed it…"

Lulu chuckled softly. "Still the same, I see." I grinned at her. "Yea. Making fun of Wakka's a fun time-waster. Just like he is."

"Hey!"

I chuckled again. "Well, it IS funny. You couldn't tell by her eyes, or when Tidus nearly blurted it out…"

"Argh! I get it!"

I snorted, but Lulu said it before me "do you?"

I grinned slightly when I saw Yuna's frown disappear. I turned to Auron, and said softly "well, anything for you to ask?"

"Why did the Fayth bring you here?"

I felt eyes slide onto the two of us. I shrugged. "I guess to protect Yuna. Dunno why for that, you're well off without us." I caught Rikku looking down, and added softly "but maybe it's because I'll see things through a different angle – maybe find another way to kill Sin without…"

Auron snorted "feel free."

I grinned "I'm glad you said that. I've always wanted your approval for what I was planning."

He gave me a stunned look. I just grinned merrily, and acted shocked. "What? Sir Auron just got insulted, and couldn't come up with a riposte? You're no fun at all, Auron."

That broke the seriousness of the situation. Given a chance, I can make a serious conversation go to Hades whenever I want. It's a gift.

Yuna laughed along with them, and after a moment, led the way onwards.

&&&&&

Tidus led us to the chest, and I looked at it. "This it?"

"Yea."

I held up the mirror to the sun at an angle. Light reflected off the mirror, onto the chest. It slowly opened.

It was a sword – one that it looked like either Tidus or myself could use. I grabbed it slowly, then tossed it to Tidus. It lit up in his hands for a moment. "That's yours. I have my weapon already."

"That's your ultimate weapon?"

I shrugged. "I'll keep it until something else comes along."

Auron turned his head away, then pointed off into the distance. "The monster tamer has a staff that I suspect Yuna can use. But there is a cost…"

I arched an eyebrow. "What?"

"We have to defeat his ultimate creation before he lets us see it."

Rikku groaned.

&&&&&

The group walked into the monster tamer's place, the crevice in the wall. "You here with more of those crazy fiends?"

I growled loudly, and sent him a look of sheer rage. "Shut the fuck up. They're not fiends, they're from MY WORLD. We don't HAVE FIENDS!"

He laughed, and then said "whatever kid. You here for a reason?"

"I'm here to get the legendary weapon you've been holding onto."

"Heh, feel free to try opening that chest. But to even get to it, you have to beat my ultimate monster."

I shook my head. "Whatever."

He laughed again, and motioned for us to follow him.

&&&&&

Auron looked up at the monster. "A chimera… a powerful chimera."

Tidus pointed his blade at the monster, and said "Slow!"

It slowed down slightly, then started to attack. I grinned, and released ALL my pokemon. "Let's have some fun. Everyone, free attacks!"

&&&&&

The supposedly 'ultimate fiend' didn't last very long. Everyone got in two shots on it, then Erastrani's final Hyper Beam destroyed it. But all the others got to use their overdrives on it first. We were that considerate at least.

&&&&&

The man muttered under his breath. I chuckled, as he hauled out a chest with a staff emblem on it (no wonder Auron knew what was inside). "Good luck. You get to keep the chest… but there's no way to open it!"

I chuckled, and held up the mirror. With a small click, the chest opened, and a staff stuck out of it.

I grabbed it, and tossed it to Yuna. She gasped as it glowed in her hands. "It's so beautiful…"

The man reached for it, but I glared at him. "Try me. Just try me. I've assassinated people before, I'll have no trouble taking you on."

Yuna sounded scandalized, as she shouted, "Icewind!"

I sighed, and nodded. "Fine. No killing. Despite however much I'd like to. We won the chest fair and square, summoners can call Aeons, I call my own allies. Don't challenge it." I shifted slowly, changing into a Sceptile. The leaves sprouted from my forearms, and I gave him a grin, holding up a glowing Leaf Blade (it made the leaves into a scythe of energy). "But you won't do that, would you?"

He shook his head, and we left.

&&&&&

As we were crossing an area of bridges, a voice cut us off. "Halt!"

I hissed, and glanced around. "Damn."

Three Guados ran towards us. "Summons from Lord Seymour. Come with us!"

I snorted softly. "And we'd obey these stupid summons because… why?"

A giant machine ran up from the lower pass. "Because we don't need you alive" one of the Guados commented, as they ran off a safe distance.

I cracked my right knuckle. "I'm getting tired of this." I glanced to the others, most of them looked pissed off as well. I grinned, and began to shift. My skin began to turn yellow, and my ears became fox ears at the top of my head. I turned to the Guado, and said softly "Agility"

I rushed for them, and sliced three times. I then rushed back in an instant, charging the machine they'd called.

Three bodies fell to the ground. I didn't care, they were threatening Yuna. So they were taking their own life in their hands.

"Lesse if you like Thunder, you giant scrap pile!" Electricity ran over my form. "Everyone, back off! I'm not a great shot yet!"

Tidus nodded, and backed off from where he'd been slicing at the thing's rocklike covering. Rikku shot me a worried look, and I gave her a grin. "Rikku… I'm sorry. I'm using Thunder… get down!" I fired, as it ran over to me. The thing seemed to find it amusing, up until the electrical currents fried the arms, making them fall off.

Auron rushed the machine, and swung hard. His blade glowed with a white light, and a lot of the rocks that armored the thing fell off.

Tidus rushed the machine, and then jumped up. Energy swirled around his sword, and he swung it at the machine. Lots of energy balls hit the thing, and it exploded. I whistled softly, and felt the Jolteon change wear off.

&&&&&

Lulu stared at the gap where the machine had come from. "Yuna… wait. A Fayth lies below."

Wakka turned to her. "I never heard of any Fayth down here!"

I shrugged softly. "What's your point? Would she lie?"

Yuna nodded, and walked down the path the machine had rushed us from. Rikku walked silently next to me. I said softly "are you alright?"

She nodded, but remained silent.

&&&&&

We reached the end of the cavern, but were ambushed. A summoner called forth an Aeon I hadn't seen before. I heard Lulu say "Yojimbo." I guess she knew the summoner.

I turned to the Aeon, then to Yuna. She nodded, and started to summon.

&&&&&

Yojimbo faded away, and Yuna sent the summoner.

After a few moments, Yuna went into the camber of the Fayth.

&&&&&

She came out later, sighing, "That… was strange."

I arched an eyebrow. "New Aeon?"

"No… you have to hire Yojimbo… to be able to summon him. I didn't nearly have enough gil."

I shrugged. "We'll come back later. Mercenaries lower their prices if they're not desperately needed."

Wakka crossed his arms, and scowled at me. "Sounds like you're talking from experience."

I shrugged, grinning. "Don't we have a very cold mountain to climb?"

Several people shuddered. I laughed softly, as I felt Rikku's hand dart into my pack for that sweatshirt again.