A/N:

OCAdam: Actually, I didn't think that was humorish... but my sense of humor is drier than a desert at noon.

ross heuchan: Correct, but also a bit short. All the remaining Aeons.

Luin: Sandstone, what took you so LONG to update?

Sandstone: Uh... uhm... well, I kept on sleeping for 12 hours straight, and didn't have time.

Luin: (Crosses his arms) Sure.

Sandstone: Look, I'll finish up your story, I swear. Maybe even give you the sequal.

Luin: And you're going to explain what the Eternal Calm is?

Sandstone: You know about that?

Luin: I read the outline.

Sandstone: (Sweatdropping) Damn it, I need to password lock the computer from now on.


Gathering Weapons: Masamune, Godhand:

We landed in Bevelle, Cid's reluctance aside. They didn't shoot at us, and didn't seem to be interested in capturing the airship at all. Though the Yevon people kinda glared at us, we still got to the Cloister of Trials.

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Tidus held Yuna's hand, and said to us, "We'll take care of the destruction sphere. We'll be back at the airship in an hour."

Yuna nodded, and led Tidus into the Cloister. The rest of us split up once we got out of the temple. Lulu and Wakka went one way, Auron another, Rikku and myself towards the center of the city, Rikku directing.
I said to her once the Temple became distant "Uh, where are we going?"

Rikku looked over at me, and smiled. "I heard about this big market in the center of the city. Come on, it sounds like a nice place… and you can buy me lunch, I'm hungry."

I grinned. Why do I manage to hook up with the weird girls? Not that I'm complaining.

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Rikku looked into the store display of jewelry (she was window shopping), her face practically glowing. She was having fun, I could tell. As for me… meh. It's not as bad as guys make it sound. My only problem was that occasionally, people would start asking if I could teach them to do the Blue Sphere Shot. Every time they asked, it became slightly more annoying.

"Wow…"

I chuckled softly. I'm an experienced trainer, I've seen a lot of stuff. Nuggets of pure gold, huge pearls from a Clamperl, shed Corsola horns made into pieces of art, Stardust (basically crushed rubies… Staryu for some strange reason carried the things), crystal works of art (you should SEE some of the stuff they manage to shape glass to look like)... lotsa stuff. These things were good, but I'd seen better.

Rikku looked over the display, then at me. "What's so funny?"

I grinned. "Try Corsola art, the stuff's just as beautiful… just like pink ivory." I blinked, remembering something. I started to dig through my pack, blinking back a stray tear. I'd bought something for Ashley a while ago, but I'd completely forgotten about it – I'd planned to give it to her as a wedding gift. It was Corsola ivory… a necklace, made into the shape of a Luvdisc. I finally found the jewelry case, and pulled it out. I managed to weakly say, "Rikku, here."

She flipped open the hard jewelry case, and gasped. I looked over her shoulder, and grinned slightly. It was unharmed, and looked EXACTLY like the pokemon. Onyx (the stone, not the pokemon) was used for the eyes, and the lighter pink of the cheeks and mouth were from a mix of crushed Corsola horns, intermixed with… well, I don't remember anymore. Some white stone – (Marble, maybe?). The thing wasn't as expensive as you'd think, we'd gone to Pacifidlog Town. Rikku said weakly "is… this for me?"

I nodded silently. She looked at me, then wrapped me in a tight embrace.

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I checked my Pokenav for the time, and sighed. I said tightly (my throat was still tight) "Rikku, we've spent nearly an hour out here. We've… got to get back to the airship."

Rikku nodded, and started to sedately walk towards the airship. She looked down at the pink heart hanging around her neck, and then wrapped me in a hug again.

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Lulu, Auron, Kimahri, and Wakka were already there. After ten minutes, Yuna and Tidus reached the airship. Yuna was smiling happily, and Tidus had a goofy grin on his face. As soon as they got on the ship, Cid started the engines, making the ship lift off. We were used to it now, no one fell over. Rikku called to Yuna "Have fun?"

Yuna smiled broadly. "Yes. What about you?"

Rikku fingered the Luvdisc image, and smiled. That was answer enough.

&&&&&

We arrived at Baaj, and Yuna walked into the chamber. Tidus shook his head, and walked into the chamber after her.

Everyone else (myself included) exchanged looks, and remained where we were. Well, most of us… I went over to Rikku, and like she already was doing, I bent my head to listen to what was happening within.

"If you will use me to stop my son, I will unite with you, and grant you my Aeon."

I could hear Yuna say reverently "Yes, I will."

&&&&&

Yuna walked out, leaning on Tidus. She looked at us, and said "well, let's go."

I paused, and said "Uh, Yuna? How much did Yojimbo want?"

Yuna thought it over, and said "about two and a half million gil."

I thought it over, and then sighed. "And we need him to get the Aeon at the Calm Lands temple, correct?"

Yuna nodded. "The Summoner guarding the temple said we needed all the Aeons to acquire the Magus Sisters."

I sighed heavily. "Well, we're coming close to about one million gil with all the fiends we've nuked, let me talk to him… if that's possible."

Yuna looked over at me in shock, her face twisting slightly. Eventually, she nodded. "Sure. But I'll have to come with you."

Wakka gave the two of us a disgusted look.

&&&&&

As we flew on towards the Calm Lands, I sat beside Suicune as they sought the rest of the legendary weapons.

She gasped, and they lost their focus. Suicune said Quickly, have Cid stop! There's one on the Mushroom Rock Road!

I nodded, and waved madly at the bridge. "Cid! We found another weapon! It's at Mushroom Rock Road!"

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We set down at the place near where the ill-fated Operation Mi'hen had happened. Suicune looked around, and then gave me a look. We'll need the flyers. The weapon is in a crevice that would kill someone if they jumped to get it.

I nodded, and released Erastrani, Mindstrike, and Psymachine. Rikku smiled, and released Vib.

I grinned. "Everyone find a pokemon to carry you. Erastrani can carry four, Vib two, Mindstrike and Psymachine will work together to carry everyone else." At Rikku's questioning look, I explained "Vib's not as strong, Erastrani has had a LOT of training to strengthen herself. Vib's newly evolved, he's not as strong. Besides, female Flygon are naturally bigger… and slightly stronger than the males."

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It ended up that Wakka, Lulu, Tidus, and Yuna rode Erastrani (she's really strong, remember), Rikku and myself took Vib, and Auron and Kimahri were levitated by the psychics.

Suicune led the way on the ground. Rikku looked down at the swiftly moving Suicune, and then me. "How's she getting down?"

I shrugged – Suicune could take care of herself, she'd been doing so for centuries. "For all I know, she'll climb down the rock wall, and use her Hydro Pump to slow her descent when she jumps. Or she could just ask Psymachine to levitate her down."

Rikku said "oh," and nothing more.

&&&&&

Turns out Suicune just ran down the cliff (I have no clue how she does that, and she never tells me), and then led us to an empty space.

Vib, Erastrani, and the two psychics set down, then everyone got off. Suicune chuckled at us, and then blasted a hole in the ground, revealing another chest.

Tidus walked over to it, and held up the mirror, making the chest pop open.

He opened it up, looked inside for a moment, then called out, "Uh, Rikku? This is yours."

Rikku's eyes opened wide, and she peered into the chest. Once she saw it, she smiled happily, pulling out a claw-weapon (hers are always long, but jeez). After Rikku had a few moments to admire it, we went back to the airship.

&&&&&

Cid looked sideways at the claw on Rikku's arm. "Rikku… what is that?"

Rikku laughed, and said "It's what Suicune felt."

Cid snorted, and went back to the command station. "We're going to the Calm Lands still?"

Suicune nodded. The gorge, actually. The last legendary weapon is there, as is an Aeon. Luin already has his legend-weapon, so we will be ready… as soon as Yuna aquires all the Aeons, minus the Final Aeon. That one will never be needed again, if I have anything to say about it.

Cid shot Suicune a twisted look. It was part speculation, part gratitude.

&&&&&

We walked through the cavern again. This time, the fiends were a joke. Basically one strike from anyone's weapon would destroy the fiend we were fighting. Well… those of us that actually were physical fighters. Lulu and Yuna just used spells to destroy the fiends.

Heck, Yuna had gained all her healing / holy magics (she'd even learned Tidus's Haste and Slow spells), and was now slowly learning Lulu's Black Magic.

Lulu was doing the same for Yuna's healing spells (strange as that sounds, but having a backup healer helps).

&&&&&

Yuna looked at me, and then nodded. She motioned to the pad, and I joined her on it. Both of us were lugging all the gil we as a group had gathered. She pressed her foot softly on the forward glyph, and we disappeared.

Yuna bowed, and the spirit appeared. It was that armored guy again. Once the prelim of his grandiose introduction was complete, I settled in for a bit of bartering.

Ashley may have been the best at this, but I paid attention to what she did as well.

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Rikku leaned on the wall separating her from the Fayth. She could faintly hear the Hymn, and Luin's voice, arguing at a high speed with another male voice.

Eventually, the two came to an agreement. Luin sounded slightly displeased as he agreed, but so did the other male voice. A few moments passed, and then Yuna and Luin re-appeared, Luin looking slightly dour, and Yuna smiling happily. She said to the group "Yojimbo has agreed to work with us… and we still have 100,000 gill." She gave Luin an amazed look, and asked, "Luin, how did you do that?"

Luin chuckled, and said in a merry voice "everyone on my world likes to barter. I was a trainer; I had to buy some stuff… I learned the tricks of the trade quickly, trainer items are expensive. Besides, Yojimbo won't see a lot of action, anyway."

&&&&&

&&&&&

Tidus chucked, and led the way out of the cavern. I shook myself mentally, and called out to Suicune. "You said the last weapon is here. Where?"

The sly / smug look on her face ought to be fined. She shot me a grin, and said I'll lead you to it... but then I want something from you.

I groaned. "Not another Rare Candy… we're almost out!"

Suicune's look said it all – 'too bad'.

&&&&&

Auron walked up to the statue, and touched the sword held in its grip. After a moment, the sword glowed, the rust that had been on it disappeared, and it fell into Auron's waiting hands. He swung it around experimentally, and then set it on his shoulder. Strange blade, it was devided in two, black and flame red (kinda reminded me of Balrog)."Well, we're done here."

Yuna nodded. "Yes. Now all I must do is defeat the guardian summoner in a duel of Aeons."

At that, everyone except Lulu and Wakka gave her surprised look.

&&&&&

Once we got out of the chasm, we used the psychic / flying pokemon to just get to the temple quickly. All of us were feeling rushed, as if there wasn't much time left.

&&&&&

Yuna stepped forward to face the other summoner. She's tested Yuna along the way – but Yuna always won against her.

The other summoner (I forget her name, I'm just calling her B – it's been WAY too long) called Anima, and Yuna countered with Bahamut. The two fought it out, but Yuna had the advantage the whole time. I could just tell, when it comes to watching fights, I have a great eye. It's a skill that helps when you're a trainer, after all.

The next Aeon B called was Yojimbo. I watched the summoning with interest, then chuckled. That Fayth was really vain. Look who's talking (I somehow show off when I transform into more powerful pokemon), but still…

Anyway, Yuna defeated him with Anima. After that, she bowed to Yuna, and handed her Flower Scepter.

Yuna bowed to her in return, and Sent her.

The barrier blocking off a room disappeared, and Yuna walked determinedly towards it.

&&&&&

Yuna came out looking energetic, instead of the usual drained. She looked at us, and smiled. "Tomorrow?"

Auron said calmly "After we rest, we challenge Sin."

I added quietly "If anyone has someone to say goodbye to, now would be the time. We can't afford distractions when we're fighting."

Luin… is Mewtwo…

I shook my head. "No. I'm going to talk to the Fayth." I walked into the chamber. Wakka made to stop me, but I looked back at him, and shook my head.

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&&&&&

Wakka flinched. Luin's eyes had gone from blue to purple in an instant. He could almost see the thing he called 'Mewtwo' as a shadow standing over Luin. And it didn't look happy at what he was trying to do. Its arms were crossed, and its eyes were burning purple, looking malevolent.

Luin walked into the chamber, Suicune walking beside him. "Uh… did anyone else see something shadowing him?"

Yuna nodded, as did everyone else. Rikku said tentitivly "Uh… that's Mewtwo…"

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I smiled merrily. "You're sure about that?"

The three women nodded. "We are quite sure. Your… Mewtwo has taken an interest in watching what is happening in this world. You have the power to take his form… and you may call him to aid you. We cannot be sure, however… it will be his choice to respond."

Suicune chuckled. Psychics are big on repayment. You rescued him; he'd rescue you to repay the dept. I can't be sure… but Mew was that way when I met her.

I bowed formally to the Fayth, and left the room. Suicune followed me.

&&&&&

Rikku grabbed me as soon as we got onto the airship. Once we were alone, she knocked me onto the bed, and kissed me.

Once she broke it off, she asked carefully "Are you sure about Mewtwo?"

I nodded. "I talked to him… didn't I say? He's a lot more mellow, and didn't try to kill me. He'll help… or at least won't take exception to me borrowing his form for a little while."

She frowned slightly, then smiled. "So long as you come back." She nussled my neck, and her smile shifted slightly.

No more words were said that night. I'll leave it at that.