A New Saviour
Disclaimer: I own neither Final Fantasy nor Shadow Hearts and you know who does.
Author's Note: I will be passing over the more menial parts of the story like the blitzball games and those little conversations 'cause they're really not that important and are sort of boring to read. So please don't mistake that for me rushing the story along, 'cause I'll still be mentioning them, I just won't describe every little thing in great detail.
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Chapter 5
The creature had the basic shape of a man, yet it's skin was like black, dried out flesh. The face grinned like a skull and two glowing, hollow eyes stared out at them. Large, black, leathery wings spread out behind it as the creature motioned with a sinewy, clawed hand for the others to step away from the Sinspawn.
They weren't exactly sure how to react for little did they know that they were staring at the bringer of death himself: Czernbog. They just stared, mouths wide open as it brought its hands in close to its chest, as if gathering energy. Just as the Sinspawn was about to launch an attack, its hands began to glow and it spread it arms before it, a living darkness forming above the creature's outstretched hands. Before the Sinspawn had a chance to react, the deadly darkness rained down upon it, like meteors. When the dust settled, the monster was already dead, leaving only the fading balls of light. The group stood in awe. They had never seen such power, except maybe from an Aeon. And this horrifying creature was no Aeon.
The same bright light appeared around the creature and was gone again, leaving a slightly dazed Yuri. He staggered a minute before regaining his balance and focus.
"Man, that really does take a lot out of you," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Everyone okay?" he asked as he looked around. They all just stared at him with mixed expressions. Yuri couldn't tell if they were happy, relieved, confused, anything. In fact, he almost thought that they were afraid of him. But that couldn't be it. Could it? Yes, it was true. Kimahri had even stepped protectively in front of Yuna, his lance held ready in front of him. Finally, after what seemed like forever, someone broke the silence.
"I-I-it's really you, r-r-right Yuri?" Tidus asked, the fear evident in his voice.
"What are you talking about? Of course it's me!" Yuri said, slightly angry. He was used to this kind of reaction when somebody first witnessed his fusion, but he never expected it from people who could wield magic and summon monsters themselves. Yuna finally stepped forward.
"So you control the monster, right? It doesn't control you?" she asked timidly.
"Well, yeah. I am always in control. They're inside of me, and I call them, it's not the other way around." Yuri looked around. They still didn't seem convinced. "You know, before you guys couldn't wait to see my fusion. Now you all act as if I'm somebody different. I'm still the same guy I was two hours ago!" he said, getting a little angry.
"Ya, but, you never said that . . . you're monsters were so . . . evil looking," Wakka managed to say.
"I called them monsters! What did you expect? Cute, little kittens? Besides, what does it matter what they look like? Obviously one shot of Czernbog's Revelation was enough to destroy the Sinspawn that you all seemed to be having so much trouble with!" He really couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"We're sorry Yuri, but you just kind of caught us off guard. I guess that your powers are something that can't be explained; only witnessed. And we weren't really sure what to expect. I'm sure once we all get over the initial shock of it, we'll get used to you changing so much," Lulu said, trying to reassure him. Yuri calmed down a bit.
"She's right, and I'm sorry to," Yuna added. "I still think it's great that you can share a mind and a body with your spirits. And you said you have more than the one that we just saw? What did you call it?"
"Yeah, that was my Dark monster, Czernbog. I have 5 more for the other elements."
"So your monsters are element based? That sounds a lot like your spells, Lu," Wakka said, trying to sound cheerful again. Lulu nodded. Yuri had thought about his last statement. He would have 6 more monsters if he had been stronger and was able to successfully fuse with the Seraphic Radiance. He cursed under his breath for being so weak.
"Well, I guess we should get going then, huh?" Tidus asked. "Yeah, that was great Yuri, your monster was really strong. Or was it you?" Yuri sighed. How many times did he have to tell him?
"I assume their form, but it's still me inside."
"Remember when he warned us to get out of the way? Obviously Yuri was still himself and didn't want us to get hurt," Yuna told him, smiling at him. Yuri was glad that she wasn't frightened anymore.
"Sure. Yeah. Okay. But it's still really strong! Why don't you just fuse all the time?"
"Tidus, why would I kill myself to fuse for every little fiend that comes along?"
"Why? Does it hurt?" Tidus asked, his curiosity overcoming his fear.
"Because becoming something else takes a lot of concentration and is hard on the mind," Lulu interrupted as Yuri let out an exasperated sigh.
"How do you know?" Tidus asked.
"He told me," she said simply before turning away from Tidus and following Wakka, Yuna, and Kimahri up the remaining steps towards the temple. Tidus was quick to follow, but as Yuri trailed behind them he couldn't help but think if this was going to have an effect later on. They obviously saw him differently, no matter how much they denied it.
*~*~*~*~
After two bothersome encounters with a rival blitzball team and another Summoner named Dona, they were finally able to enter the Cloister of trials. Yuna had decided right then and there that Yuri and Tidus should officially become her guardians after realizing that they couldn't enter the trials with them. They both agreed eagerly, even with some disapproving looks from Wakka and Lulu.
Yuna had obtained another Aeon and the group had no more business in Kilika. Of course, they stayed a while and helped the villagers while the crew got the boat ready. After they boarded (much to Yuri's disappointment), they set sail for Luca for the blitzball tournament.
*~*~*~*~
"Wow! Would you look at this place?" Tidus exclaimed as they neared Luca harbor. Yuri lifted his head off the railing to try and get a good look, but it wasn't long before he had to throw up again. "This is amazing! It almost reminds me of Zanarkand!"
"Where?" Yuri managed to ask between hiccups.
"I'm from the city of Zanarkand, didn't I tell you? The place run by machines?"
"Oh yeah."
The boat docked and everyone got off quickly, eager for the tournament that was about to take place. Wakka had explained to him that his team, the Besaid Aurochs, were going to be playing. Yet apparently they had never won a game.
"That's all gonna be different this year," Wakka commented, looking at Tidus.
"I can't wait to play!" Tidus exclaimed. Yuri just groaned. Yuna, noticing his discomfort, approached him.
"Yuri, I learned a new spell on the way over here called Cure. It might make you feel better," she offered. Yuri looked up at her.
"At this point I'd be willing to try anything," he mumbled. Yuna smiled and got out her staff to perform the spell. Yuri felt instantly refreshed. "Hey! I feel great! Thanks!"
"I guess it's more of an apology to how we treated you before. That reaction wasn't polite at all and-". Yuri held up his hand before she could finish.
"Forget it, I'm used to it," he said, grinning. Before the group could head to the stadium they had to greet Maester Mika as he came ashore, an elderly man with a snow-white beard and hair.
"What's a Maester?" Yuri asked. Just as Wakka opened his mouth to give what would no doubt be a very detailed explanation, Lulu interrupted him.
"In short, he's the ruler of the world," she said. Yuri looked confused.
"What world? This world? Like, everything?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Why is that so hard to believe?" Wakka asked.
"I dunno. I guess I just can't understand how one person could be in charge of everything. Where I'm from, each country had a leader, that sort of thing." Another man followed Maester Mika off the ship and everyone greeted him as well. He was younger, with deep, purple eyes and bright blue hair in a style that seemed to defy gravity. Yuri heard him greeted as Maester Seymour.
"So he rules the world to?" Yuri whispered to Lulu.
"He is like the second in command," she whispered back. Yuri watched Seymour as he made his way by, noticing how the Maester's eyes seemed to linger on Yuna. Tidus seemed to notice as well as his eyes were narrowed.
There was a lot of confusion as the group tried to head for the blitzball stadium, and when they finally got there they noticed that Yuna had gone missing.
"Great, where'd she wander off to? The game starts in about twenty minutes!" Wakka said, tension in his voice.
"I'll go find her!" Tidus immediately volunteered.
"We don't need a little boy like yourself getting lost as well. You don't know you're way around here," Lulu commented. "I will accompany you." Yuri laughed.
"I may as well come to," he said.
"Kimahri find Yuna," the big, blue Ronso spoke up.
"Well, try to be back before game time, 'cause you still gotta play with us, ya?" Wakka told Tidus as the four of them went off in search of the young Summoner.
*~*~*~*~
They began their search in the crowded streets, but soon realized that it was like finding a needle in a haystack. The group began to ask the many vendors and shopkeepers if they had seen Yuna. Finally, in a small pub, someone recognized her description.
"Yeah, she was in here about twenty minutes ago. Looking for a man named Auron," the man behind the counter told them.
"Auron?!" Tidus asked in surprise. "What would he be doing here?"
"You know him?" asked Yuri.
"Come one, let's go," Lulu said as they four left the pub in the direction that the man pointed them in. It wasn't long before some strange little robots attacked them. They proved to be worth very little effort.
"Ancient Machina that have been salvaged by the Al Bhed," Lulu explained as she cast a thunder spell on the nearest one. The robot short- circuited and fell apart.
"But Wakka said that these kinda things aren't allowed," Tidus said as he ran towards one and thrust his sword into it's middle.
"That's why the Al Bhed are hated by most. They still use Machina and some believe that is why Sin still plagues us. They are betraying the teachings of Yevon," replied Lulu.
"Oh yeah, I remember him bitching about those Al Bhed people during one of his lectures," Yuri added, trying his best to fight off one of them. Kimahri ran up behind it and sliced it into pieces with his lance. "He really doesn't like them."
"Come on, we gotta find Yuna!" Tidus said as they group headed on. They encountered many more Machina attacks on the way.
"Where are all these little bastards coming from?" Yuri exclaimed as he destroyed one.
"I don't know. It's almost as if they don't want us to come this way- " Lulu stopped, her eyes wide.
"What is it?" Yuri asked.
"I just remembered. Wakka's first game is against the Al Bhed Psyches. What if they kidnapped Yuna in an attempt to make him throw the game?"
"Well, I'm not gonna let them get away with that!" Tidus growled, his face completely serious. They continued on, finally making their way onto an Al Bhed ship where a huge Machina immediately attacked them. Lulu continued to hit it with thunder spells, yet they didn't seem to be as effective against a machine of this size.
"Hey Yuri, now would be a good time to become a monster!" Tidus called over after he took a few unsuccessful swings against the machine as it continued to rain down attacks on them. Yuri's eye twitched as he forced himself to keep back a sarcastic comment about Tidus' original reaction to his fusion, and thought a minute. He decided that his wind monster, Seravi, would be the best choice as it attacked with lightning-type attacks. He remembered how the Machina seemed really vulnerable to Lulu's thunder attacks. A bright flash of light and suddenly Yuri was replaced with a large yellow and green bird-like creature that seemed to have no eyes and an extremely sharp beak. It's scaly, yellow feet ended in two deadly looking claws, and it hovered a few feet off the ground.
Lulu and Kimahri didn't react as badly this time, but they couldn't help but throw some odd looks at this strange creature. Tidus wasn't as scared this time, but the giant bird next to him was making him a little nervous. Seravi gathered up energy, folding its wings around its body. It then released it all in one intense shock wave that caused the Machina to explode on impact. The bird floated elegantly to the ground and in a flash of light, Yuri stood in its place.
"Wow! What do you call that attack?" Tidus asked.
"Shock Barrage," Yuri answered, not really paying attention to Tidus. Lulu and Kimahri were looking in the same direction. The explosion had caused many Al Bhed to swarm onto the deck where the foursome had been fighting. Then a familiar brunette made her way through the crowd of Al Bhed towards them.
"Yuna!" Tidus exclaimed.
"What are you four doing here?" she asked.
"What? We came to rescue you because you've been kidnapped by these crazy people so they can win a blitzball game!" Yuri blurted out. Yuna smiled.
"Is that what you think?" came a deep voice from behind them. Another man stepped beside Yuna. He was clearly an Al Bhed, yet she didn't seem the least bit afraid. Tidus immediately got into a fighting stance.
"What did you expect when Yuna disappears, we're attacked by Machina, and Wakka's team is playing the Al Bhed Psyches first?" Lulu asked, narrowing her eyes. The man laughed.
"Everyone, this is Cid, my uncle," Yuna said quietly. They just stared, wide-eyed. Yuna explained how her mother was an Al Bhed and she begged them not to tell Wakka.
"I guess that'd make sense considering he hates them so much. And if he found out you were half Al Bhed he wouldn't like it, right?" Yuri asked. Yuna nodded.
"You still haven't explained why you kidnapped her!" Tidus said, still glaring at Cid.
"Relax, we didn't kidnap her. She just happened to find her way over here and we were having a little family reunion." Tidus didn't look convinced. Finally, Lulu broke the silence.
"We should be getting back to the stadium. Wakka is worried sick and we need to let him know that Yuna's okay." The others nodded and followed her back to the stadium.
*~*~*~*~
To everyone's amazement, the Aurochs had won, 3-2. Next up was the game against their archrival: the Luca Goers. Wakka was very happy to see Yuna was okay, but was happier that Tidus was back on time so that he could join in. The game was quite intense. Yuri watched, amazed, as he got his first look at how the game was played.
"I just can't figure it out. You'd think they'd be drowning in there or something," he kept muttering to himself as the crowd around them cheered. Lulu looked over and saw his puzzled expression.
"Try not to think about it so much and just enjoy the game," she said. Yuri nodded and grinned. Their enjoyment was cut short, however, as the cheers of the crowd changed to screams of terror. Without warning, hundreds of fiends began pouring into the stadium from every entranceway. The crowd became a panicked mob as everyone tried desperately to escape. Wakka and Tidus made their way out of the Sphere, grabbed their weapons, and tried their best to fight them off. Lulu, Kimahri, and Yuri sprang right into action to help the other people around them get out safely.
After a while, Tidus and Wakka joined up with the others, but all of them were growing weary. There were just too many monsters.
Movement from a balcony above the stadium caught their eye as Maester Seymour stepped forward. He motioned with his hands and the symbol for summoning an Aeon appeared on the ground below him. A large hook fell from the sky and plunged into the very center of the symbol. When it came back up, it dragged with it a huge monster. It was a few stories high, it's body wrapped in bandages and chains. Seymour didn't even have to utter one command. Immediately the creature began to howl, as if in pain, as its eyes began to glow and fiends around them everywhere instantly burst into small balls of light.
Within mere seconds, every fiend in the stadium was dead. People just stared at Seymour in awe as he raised his arms in victory. Yuna looked at him, her face shining with respect.
"What the hell was that?!" Yuri suddenly blurted out.
"Maester Seymour can summon Aeons to," Yuna told him.
"Auron!" Tidus shouted as he turned away from them and ran over to a man in a red coat.
"That was unexpected," Yuri commented as he too turned away from Seymour. "Hey Yuna, wasn't that the guy you were looking for?"
"Yes. I knew I had seen him in the crowds when we first arrived here in Luca," she answered as Tidus approached them, followed by the man called Auron.
"He's the reason I'm here!" Tidus exclaimed. "I'm not sure how he did it, but he was there when Zanarkand was getting all blown up and stuff and then he pulled me into this big thing of light and then I was here!
"Explain that again, a little slower this time," Wakka said, though not taking his eyes off of Auron. Wakka almost seemed to worship this man.
"So who exactly are you, other than the guy the brought the blond kid here," Yuri asked, looking at him suspiciously.
"Sir Auron accompanied my father on his pilgrimage as well," Yuna informed him.
"I'm also the guy who brought you here as well," Auron said, looking directly at Yuri. Now everyone was shocked.
"Wha? But I don't even know you!" Yuri said. "And what do you mean 'brought me here'? From Shanghai? So where exactly am I then?" Auron chuckled slightly.
"You're in the future kid. It was either that or get consumed by a God."
"Wait, you knew about that?"
"Sir Auron, I don't understand. What is the purpose of bringing these boys here? And how did you travel to the past?" Lulu asked.
"I will explain it all in time. For now, I have something to discuss with Tidus." He then motioned for Tidus to follow him as the two separated themselves from the group for a moment.
"So . . . so it's true then. I'm really not in my time anymore," Yuri said. "That means Alice, Margarete, Zhuzhen . . . do you think he brought them here to?"
"You could ask him," Wakka said encouragingly.
"All of this just doesn't seem to fit somehow," Lulu said, deep in thought. When Auron and Tidus returned, Tidus' disposition had changed greatly. He hung his head and didn't say anything.
"Sir Auron, I was thinking and . . . I was wondering if you would join my pilgrimage as my guardian, the same you did for my father," Yuna asked timidly. Auron looked at her, as if studying her before finally agreeing. Yuna looked very happy with this and Wakka and Lulu didn't seem to have any objections. While the others began talking about the events that just occurred, Tidus pulled Yuri aside.
"So it looks like we are each here for a reason," he told him. "Although, Auron wouldn't tell me why you were here. What did he mean by 'it was either that or get consumed by a God'?"
"Don't worry about it. What did he tell you?" Yuri asked, wondering about the sudden change in Tidus' mood.
"Well, remember how I was telling you about my old man, Jecht? How he came here before?" Yuri nodded. "Well, apparently my old man . . . is Sin."
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Author: I'm sorry, I must apologize for this chapter. I don't like it at all which is probably why it took me so long to update. I just couldn't get into it. Probably because it's such a boring, awkward part of the story. And I can't write fight scenes to save my life so just use your imagination during those. Also, I'm sorry if I'm not describing the fusion monsters very well. They're just so bizarre looking that I find it hard to find the right words. Other than that, review!
Disclaimer: I own neither Final Fantasy nor Shadow Hearts and you know who does.
Author's Note: I will be passing over the more menial parts of the story like the blitzball games and those little conversations 'cause they're really not that important and are sort of boring to read. So please don't mistake that for me rushing the story along, 'cause I'll still be mentioning them, I just won't describe every little thing in great detail.
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Chapter 5
The creature had the basic shape of a man, yet it's skin was like black, dried out flesh. The face grinned like a skull and two glowing, hollow eyes stared out at them. Large, black, leathery wings spread out behind it as the creature motioned with a sinewy, clawed hand for the others to step away from the Sinspawn.
They weren't exactly sure how to react for little did they know that they were staring at the bringer of death himself: Czernbog. They just stared, mouths wide open as it brought its hands in close to its chest, as if gathering energy. Just as the Sinspawn was about to launch an attack, its hands began to glow and it spread it arms before it, a living darkness forming above the creature's outstretched hands. Before the Sinspawn had a chance to react, the deadly darkness rained down upon it, like meteors. When the dust settled, the monster was already dead, leaving only the fading balls of light. The group stood in awe. They had never seen such power, except maybe from an Aeon. And this horrifying creature was no Aeon.
The same bright light appeared around the creature and was gone again, leaving a slightly dazed Yuri. He staggered a minute before regaining his balance and focus.
"Man, that really does take a lot out of you," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Everyone okay?" he asked as he looked around. They all just stared at him with mixed expressions. Yuri couldn't tell if they were happy, relieved, confused, anything. In fact, he almost thought that they were afraid of him. But that couldn't be it. Could it? Yes, it was true. Kimahri had even stepped protectively in front of Yuna, his lance held ready in front of him. Finally, after what seemed like forever, someone broke the silence.
"I-I-it's really you, r-r-right Yuri?" Tidus asked, the fear evident in his voice.
"What are you talking about? Of course it's me!" Yuri said, slightly angry. He was used to this kind of reaction when somebody first witnessed his fusion, but he never expected it from people who could wield magic and summon monsters themselves. Yuna finally stepped forward.
"So you control the monster, right? It doesn't control you?" she asked timidly.
"Well, yeah. I am always in control. They're inside of me, and I call them, it's not the other way around." Yuri looked around. They still didn't seem convinced. "You know, before you guys couldn't wait to see my fusion. Now you all act as if I'm somebody different. I'm still the same guy I was two hours ago!" he said, getting a little angry.
"Ya, but, you never said that . . . you're monsters were so . . . evil looking," Wakka managed to say.
"I called them monsters! What did you expect? Cute, little kittens? Besides, what does it matter what they look like? Obviously one shot of Czernbog's Revelation was enough to destroy the Sinspawn that you all seemed to be having so much trouble with!" He really couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"We're sorry Yuri, but you just kind of caught us off guard. I guess that your powers are something that can't be explained; only witnessed. And we weren't really sure what to expect. I'm sure once we all get over the initial shock of it, we'll get used to you changing so much," Lulu said, trying to reassure him. Yuri calmed down a bit.
"She's right, and I'm sorry to," Yuna added. "I still think it's great that you can share a mind and a body with your spirits. And you said you have more than the one that we just saw? What did you call it?"
"Yeah, that was my Dark monster, Czernbog. I have 5 more for the other elements."
"So your monsters are element based? That sounds a lot like your spells, Lu," Wakka said, trying to sound cheerful again. Lulu nodded. Yuri had thought about his last statement. He would have 6 more monsters if he had been stronger and was able to successfully fuse with the Seraphic Radiance. He cursed under his breath for being so weak.
"Well, I guess we should get going then, huh?" Tidus asked. "Yeah, that was great Yuri, your monster was really strong. Or was it you?" Yuri sighed. How many times did he have to tell him?
"I assume their form, but it's still me inside."
"Remember when he warned us to get out of the way? Obviously Yuri was still himself and didn't want us to get hurt," Yuna told him, smiling at him. Yuri was glad that she wasn't frightened anymore.
"Sure. Yeah. Okay. But it's still really strong! Why don't you just fuse all the time?"
"Tidus, why would I kill myself to fuse for every little fiend that comes along?"
"Why? Does it hurt?" Tidus asked, his curiosity overcoming his fear.
"Because becoming something else takes a lot of concentration and is hard on the mind," Lulu interrupted as Yuri let out an exasperated sigh.
"How do you know?" Tidus asked.
"He told me," she said simply before turning away from Tidus and following Wakka, Yuna, and Kimahri up the remaining steps towards the temple. Tidus was quick to follow, but as Yuri trailed behind them he couldn't help but think if this was going to have an effect later on. They obviously saw him differently, no matter how much they denied it.
*~*~*~*~
After two bothersome encounters with a rival blitzball team and another Summoner named Dona, they were finally able to enter the Cloister of trials. Yuna had decided right then and there that Yuri and Tidus should officially become her guardians after realizing that they couldn't enter the trials with them. They both agreed eagerly, even with some disapproving looks from Wakka and Lulu.
Yuna had obtained another Aeon and the group had no more business in Kilika. Of course, they stayed a while and helped the villagers while the crew got the boat ready. After they boarded (much to Yuri's disappointment), they set sail for Luca for the blitzball tournament.
*~*~*~*~
"Wow! Would you look at this place?" Tidus exclaimed as they neared Luca harbor. Yuri lifted his head off the railing to try and get a good look, but it wasn't long before he had to throw up again. "This is amazing! It almost reminds me of Zanarkand!"
"Where?" Yuri managed to ask between hiccups.
"I'm from the city of Zanarkand, didn't I tell you? The place run by machines?"
"Oh yeah."
The boat docked and everyone got off quickly, eager for the tournament that was about to take place. Wakka had explained to him that his team, the Besaid Aurochs, were going to be playing. Yet apparently they had never won a game.
"That's all gonna be different this year," Wakka commented, looking at Tidus.
"I can't wait to play!" Tidus exclaimed. Yuri just groaned. Yuna, noticing his discomfort, approached him.
"Yuri, I learned a new spell on the way over here called Cure. It might make you feel better," she offered. Yuri looked up at her.
"At this point I'd be willing to try anything," he mumbled. Yuna smiled and got out her staff to perform the spell. Yuri felt instantly refreshed. "Hey! I feel great! Thanks!"
"I guess it's more of an apology to how we treated you before. That reaction wasn't polite at all and-". Yuri held up his hand before she could finish.
"Forget it, I'm used to it," he said, grinning. Before the group could head to the stadium they had to greet Maester Mika as he came ashore, an elderly man with a snow-white beard and hair.
"What's a Maester?" Yuri asked. Just as Wakka opened his mouth to give what would no doubt be a very detailed explanation, Lulu interrupted him.
"In short, he's the ruler of the world," she said. Yuri looked confused.
"What world? This world? Like, everything?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Why is that so hard to believe?" Wakka asked.
"I dunno. I guess I just can't understand how one person could be in charge of everything. Where I'm from, each country had a leader, that sort of thing." Another man followed Maester Mika off the ship and everyone greeted him as well. He was younger, with deep, purple eyes and bright blue hair in a style that seemed to defy gravity. Yuri heard him greeted as Maester Seymour.
"So he rules the world to?" Yuri whispered to Lulu.
"He is like the second in command," she whispered back. Yuri watched Seymour as he made his way by, noticing how the Maester's eyes seemed to linger on Yuna. Tidus seemed to notice as well as his eyes were narrowed.
There was a lot of confusion as the group tried to head for the blitzball stadium, and when they finally got there they noticed that Yuna had gone missing.
"Great, where'd she wander off to? The game starts in about twenty minutes!" Wakka said, tension in his voice.
"I'll go find her!" Tidus immediately volunteered.
"We don't need a little boy like yourself getting lost as well. You don't know you're way around here," Lulu commented. "I will accompany you." Yuri laughed.
"I may as well come to," he said.
"Kimahri find Yuna," the big, blue Ronso spoke up.
"Well, try to be back before game time, 'cause you still gotta play with us, ya?" Wakka told Tidus as the four of them went off in search of the young Summoner.
*~*~*~*~
They began their search in the crowded streets, but soon realized that it was like finding a needle in a haystack. The group began to ask the many vendors and shopkeepers if they had seen Yuna. Finally, in a small pub, someone recognized her description.
"Yeah, she was in here about twenty minutes ago. Looking for a man named Auron," the man behind the counter told them.
"Auron?!" Tidus asked in surprise. "What would he be doing here?"
"You know him?" asked Yuri.
"Come one, let's go," Lulu said as they four left the pub in the direction that the man pointed them in. It wasn't long before some strange little robots attacked them. They proved to be worth very little effort.
"Ancient Machina that have been salvaged by the Al Bhed," Lulu explained as she cast a thunder spell on the nearest one. The robot short- circuited and fell apart.
"But Wakka said that these kinda things aren't allowed," Tidus said as he ran towards one and thrust his sword into it's middle.
"That's why the Al Bhed are hated by most. They still use Machina and some believe that is why Sin still plagues us. They are betraying the teachings of Yevon," replied Lulu.
"Oh yeah, I remember him bitching about those Al Bhed people during one of his lectures," Yuri added, trying his best to fight off one of them. Kimahri ran up behind it and sliced it into pieces with his lance. "He really doesn't like them."
"Come on, we gotta find Yuna!" Tidus said as they group headed on. They encountered many more Machina attacks on the way.
"Where are all these little bastards coming from?" Yuri exclaimed as he destroyed one.
"I don't know. It's almost as if they don't want us to come this way- " Lulu stopped, her eyes wide.
"What is it?" Yuri asked.
"I just remembered. Wakka's first game is against the Al Bhed Psyches. What if they kidnapped Yuna in an attempt to make him throw the game?"
"Well, I'm not gonna let them get away with that!" Tidus growled, his face completely serious. They continued on, finally making their way onto an Al Bhed ship where a huge Machina immediately attacked them. Lulu continued to hit it with thunder spells, yet they didn't seem to be as effective against a machine of this size.
"Hey Yuri, now would be a good time to become a monster!" Tidus called over after he took a few unsuccessful swings against the machine as it continued to rain down attacks on them. Yuri's eye twitched as he forced himself to keep back a sarcastic comment about Tidus' original reaction to his fusion, and thought a minute. He decided that his wind monster, Seravi, would be the best choice as it attacked with lightning-type attacks. He remembered how the Machina seemed really vulnerable to Lulu's thunder attacks. A bright flash of light and suddenly Yuri was replaced with a large yellow and green bird-like creature that seemed to have no eyes and an extremely sharp beak. It's scaly, yellow feet ended in two deadly looking claws, and it hovered a few feet off the ground.
Lulu and Kimahri didn't react as badly this time, but they couldn't help but throw some odd looks at this strange creature. Tidus wasn't as scared this time, but the giant bird next to him was making him a little nervous. Seravi gathered up energy, folding its wings around its body. It then released it all in one intense shock wave that caused the Machina to explode on impact. The bird floated elegantly to the ground and in a flash of light, Yuri stood in its place.
"Wow! What do you call that attack?" Tidus asked.
"Shock Barrage," Yuri answered, not really paying attention to Tidus. Lulu and Kimahri were looking in the same direction. The explosion had caused many Al Bhed to swarm onto the deck where the foursome had been fighting. Then a familiar brunette made her way through the crowd of Al Bhed towards them.
"Yuna!" Tidus exclaimed.
"What are you four doing here?" she asked.
"What? We came to rescue you because you've been kidnapped by these crazy people so they can win a blitzball game!" Yuri blurted out. Yuna smiled.
"Is that what you think?" came a deep voice from behind them. Another man stepped beside Yuna. He was clearly an Al Bhed, yet she didn't seem the least bit afraid. Tidus immediately got into a fighting stance.
"What did you expect when Yuna disappears, we're attacked by Machina, and Wakka's team is playing the Al Bhed Psyches first?" Lulu asked, narrowing her eyes. The man laughed.
"Everyone, this is Cid, my uncle," Yuna said quietly. They just stared, wide-eyed. Yuna explained how her mother was an Al Bhed and she begged them not to tell Wakka.
"I guess that'd make sense considering he hates them so much. And if he found out you were half Al Bhed he wouldn't like it, right?" Yuri asked. Yuna nodded.
"You still haven't explained why you kidnapped her!" Tidus said, still glaring at Cid.
"Relax, we didn't kidnap her. She just happened to find her way over here and we were having a little family reunion." Tidus didn't look convinced. Finally, Lulu broke the silence.
"We should be getting back to the stadium. Wakka is worried sick and we need to let him know that Yuna's okay." The others nodded and followed her back to the stadium.
*~*~*~*~
To everyone's amazement, the Aurochs had won, 3-2. Next up was the game against their archrival: the Luca Goers. Wakka was very happy to see Yuna was okay, but was happier that Tidus was back on time so that he could join in. The game was quite intense. Yuri watched, amazed, as he got his first look at how the game was played.
"I just can't figure it out. You'd think they'd be drowning in there or something," he kept muttering to himself as the crowd around them cheered. Lulu looked over and saw his puzzled expression.
"Try not to think about it so much and just enjoy the game," she said. Yuri nodded and grinned. Their enjoyment was cut short, however, as the cheers of the crowd changed to screams of terror. Without warning, hundreds of fiends began pouring into the stadium from every entranceway. The crowd became a panicked mob as everyone tried desperately to escape. Wakka and Tidus made their way out of the Sphere, grabbed their weapons, and tried their best to fight them off. Lulu, Kimahri, and Yuri sprang right into action to help the other people around them get out safely.
After a while, Tidus and Wakka joined up with the others, but all of them were growing weary. There were just too many monsters.
Movement from a balcony above the stadium caught their eye as Maester Seymour stepped forward. He motioned with his hands and the symbol for summoning an Aeon appeared on the ground below him. A large hook fell from the sky and plunged into the very center of the symbol. When it came back up, it dragged with it a huge monster. It was a few stories high, it's body wrapped in bandages and chains. Seymour didn't even have to utter one command. Immediately the creature began to howl, as if in pain, as its eyes began to glow and fiends around them everywhere instantly burst into small balls of light.
Within mere seconds, every fiend in the stadium was dead. People just stared at Seymour in awe as he raised his arms in victory. Yuna looked at him, her face shining with respect.
"What the hell was that?!" Yuri suddenly blurted out.
"Maester Seymour can summon Aeons to," Yuna told him.
"Auron!" Tidus shouted as he turned away from them and ran over to a man in a red coat.
"That was unexpected," Yuri commented as he too turned away from Seymour. "Hey Yuna, wasn't that the guy you were looking for?"
"Yes. I knew I had seen him in the crowds when we first arrived here in Luca," she answered as Tidus approached them, followed by the man called Auron.
"He's the reason I'm here!" Tidus exclaimed. "I'm not sure how he did it, but he was there when Zanarkand was getting all blown up and stuff and then he pulled me into this big thing of light and then I was here!
"Explain that again, a little slower this time," Wakka said, though not taking his eyes off of Auron. Wakka almost seemed to worship this man.
"So who exactly are you, other than the guy the brought the blond kid here," Yuri asked, looking at him suspiciously.
"Sir Auron accompanied my father on his pilgrimage as well," Yuna informed him.
"I'm also the guy who brought you here as well," Auron said, looking directly at Yuri. Now everyone was shocked.
"Wha? But I don't even know you!" Yuri said. "And what do you mean 'brought me here'? From Shanghai? So where exactly am I then?" Auron chuckled slightly.
"You're in the future kid. It was either that or get consumed by a God."
"Wait, you knew about that?"
"Sir Auron, I don't understand. What is the purpose of bringing these boys here? And how did you travel to the past?" Lulu asked.
"I will explain it all in time. For now, I have something to discuss with Tidus." He then motioned for Tidus to follow him as the two separated themselves from the group for a moment.
"So . . . so it's true then. I'm really not in my time anymore," Yuri said. "That means Alice, Margarete, Zhuzhen . . . do you think he brought them here to?"
"You could ask him," Wakka said encouragingly.
"All of this just doesn't seem to fit somehow," Lulu said, deep in thought. When Auron and Tidus returned, Tidus' disposition had changed greatly. He hung his head and didn't say anything.
"Sir Auron, I was thinking and . . . I was wondering if you would join my pilgrimage as my guardian, the same you did for my father," Yuna asked timidly. Auron looked at her, as if studying her before finally agreeing. Yuna looked very happy with this and Wakka and Lulu didn't seem to have any objections. While the others began talking about the events that just occurred, Tidus pulled Yuri aside.
"So it looks like we are each here for a reason," he told him. "Although, Auron wouldn't tell me why you were here. What did he mean by 'it was either that or get consumed by a God'?"
"Don't worry about it. What did he tell you?" Yuri asked, wondering about the sudden change in Tidus' mood.
"Well, remember how I was telling you about my old man, Jecht? How he came here before?" Yuri nodded. "Well, apparently my old man . . . is Sin."
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Author: I'm sorry, I must apologize for this chapter. I don't like it at all which is probably why it took me so long to update. I just couldn't get into it. Probably because it's such a boring, awkward part of the story. And I can't write fight scenes to save my life so just use your imagination during those. Also, I'm sorry if I'm not describing the fusion monsters very well. They're just so bizarre looking that I find it hard to find the right words. Other than that, review!