"Come on guys! We're almost to Djose!" Stella cried happily, running toward the bridge, "Hurry!"

Garet, Mia, and Noah had to jog to keep up with Stella. She was so excited to receive her new Aeon. "Whoa that's the Temple?" Garet said looking around, "Just how the heck are we supposed to get inside? I mean it's covered in rocks."

"Through the door, silly how else? The Lightning Mushroom Rock only opens when a summoner is addressing the Fayth." Stella smiled at him then walked through the door. They were all surprised by what they saw next. About five Al Bhed were in the temple, praying before the statues.

"Fro yna oui rana?" Stella asked shocked.

"Translation please." Garet whispered to Mia.

"She asked why they are here." She replied chewing nervously on her nail.

"Du bnyo du Yevon."

"To pray to Yevon, it seems some of the Al Bhed are coming to Yevon's side. It must surely be a blessing. Praise be to Yevon." Stella performed the prayer toward the Al Bhed, "Well we have a pilgrimage to complete. Guardians let's go."

They followed Stella into the Cloister of Trials. Mia lingered on the steps, "Ec ajanodrehk nayto vun duhekrd (Is everything ready for tonight)?"

"Oac (Yes)."

"Kuut zicd pa nayto (Good just be ready)."

"Mia, come on. Garet and Noah are arguing. We could really use your help." Stella said tugging on her arm.

"I'm coming." She said following her summoner into the trials.

When they finally came out later that evening, Stella immediately found the warrior monk in charge of the temple. "Would it be all right if a summoner and her guardians spend the night here?"

"That's fine, but where are they?"

"I am the Summoner Stella from Luca. My guardians and I would like to spend the night."

"No thanks. The last thing we need is an Al Bhed heathen spending the night in one of Yevon's sacred temples."

"But what about the Al Bhed that were praying here earlier?"

"I ran them out of here as soon as I saw them. Now you're gonna get the same if you don't make yourself scarce." The monk threatened.

Garet, Mia, and Noah stood protectively in front of Stella, "You will not touch her!" Noah snapped.

"Hey I heard about you. You're that Al Bhed warrior monk. Abandoned at the temple. And brought up by the monks there. Yeah. Well I guess if you're with them…"

Noah stared the other monk down angrily, no one else knew about his past. How did this monk in a temple far from his own find out? "So we can stay?" Garet asked.

"Yeah I suppose so. Just don't cause any trouble." He said walking away.

"Thank you so much, sir." Stella smiled, "Well we should leave early tomorrow, so let's get some rest. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Stella." Noah and Garet said together.

The group separated, Garet and Noah went into one room while Stella and Mia went into another. Mia lay on her side watching Stella, "Hey Stel you asleep?"

"No."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"You know what I'm talking about. You're an Al Bhed. And most of us don't follow Yevon's teachings."

"I know that. But that's how Uncle Marcus raised me. All I've ever known was Yevon."

"Yeah…The people hate you ya know? They hate us all. Why are you willing to go through with this?"

"I know how much happier Spira will be if I can defeat Sin. If I can make people happy then I know my pilgrimage wasn't a waste."

After a short silence, Mia blurted, "I don't want you to do this. I don't want to lose you!"

Stella merely smiled, "I've known since I was a child what becoming a summoner meant. I have accepted my fate. Goodnight Mia." She yawned then turned her back to Mia.

Mia sighed; this wasn't going to be easy. She lay awake staring at the ceiling until she heard the door open quietly. It was the Al Bhed. They tiptoed over to Stella. Mia turned on her side and listened knowingly. The male Al Bhed covered Stella's mouth, waking her instantly. Mia tried hard to ignore her cousin's muffled cries for the help. The man hoisted Stella over his shoulder and ran out of the room with her. In the boys' room, Garet's sleep was awakened by the noises outside, "Noah?"

"Hm…" Noah replied groggily.

"Get up. Something is going on outside." Garet said getting out off his cot. Noah stumbled after him but they found nothing. "Garet, you woke me up for this? Screw it; I'm going back to bed."

"Wait…Let's at least check on the girls."

"I'm sure they're fine. Come on Garet."

"Not until I check on Stella."

"Fine." He said following him to the girls' room. When Garet peeked inside, he found Stella's cot empty.

"See Noah, I told you something was going on. Mia, where's Stella?" Garet said.

Mia, feigning sleep, yawned, "Relax, she's right…well she was right here."

"Come on you two, we've got to find her." Garet said standing, "Check around the temple grounds. I'll head back to the road."

"No way we stick together. Its dark out and I can provide the proper illumination." Noah said waving his finger. A bit of thunder magic began to sparkle on the tip of his index finger.

"Well while we're standing around arguing about it, Stella could be miles away. Just look!" Garet walked out of the room.

"Pushy…" Mia said sitting up.

"No he's just worried. And honestly so am I. Come on let's help him look."

Armed with their weapons, the guardians headed outside. "Check everywhere." Garet ordered. He walked forward a few steps, "Noah give us some light." He ordered.

"All right, Thunder!" He yelled throwing a bolt into the air. It lit the area up long enough for Garet to see the footprints in the dirt. "Do it again Noah."

"Okay. Thunder!" He threw another bolt into the sky. Garet's eyes quickly followed the path of the footprints. "This way!" He yelled running back toward The Djose Highroad. Noah followed him, occasionally tossing a Thunder spell into the sky lighting their path for a few moments. Mia on the other hand lingered near the temple. Hopefully they hadn't noticed she wasn't following them. "One more time Noah!" Garet yelled arming his bow with an arrow. He cast the spell once more. Garet saw the outline of the Al Bhed's body. "Hey you stop!" He said. The Al Bhed whirled around. Spying Garet and Noah, he carefully lifted Stella and began running away. "Noah I need some light. Make it last this time." Garet said getting on one knee.

"Well I have learned this new spell…"

"I don't care just use it!"

"Oh right. Thundara!" He said gathering the lightening in his hands and throwing it in the sky. This lighting spell lasted long enough for Garet to aim and fire his arrow into the pants of the abductor. The arrow pinned his pant leg into the ground causing him to fall. "Noah, get Stella. I'll take care of this creep."

He walked up to the man and aimed another arrow at him, "You picked the wrong summoner to kidnap." He smirked.

"Garet that's enough." Stella said placing her hand on his shoulder, "This isn't right."

"But he…"

"He was trying to save me."

"Save you? From what?"

"My pilgrimage is dangerous and at the end…"

"Hey look I understand what you mean, but that's what her guardians are for. We're her guardians and it's our jobto protect her." Garet said kneeling down and removing the arrow from his pants.

"Oui vuum! Stella femm tea ev fa tuh'd cdum drec bemknesyka (You fool! Stella will die if we don't stop this pilgrimage!)!"

Garet turned to Stella, "What did he say?"

"Nothing it's nothing. Oui haat du ku (You need to go)."

"Stella…"

"Zicd ku huf (Just go now)!"

The Al Bhed got up and disappeared into the night. "That was weird."

"Yeah…hey where's Mia?" Stella asked looking around.

"She might've got left behind. It was dark after all." Garet remarked.

"Let's get back then." She said walking back to the temple. Noah caught her arm, "You didn't tell Garet the truth."

"I know but I can't."

"He deserves to know, ya know."

"Yeah…but it's not that simple."

"Just tell him okay." Noah said catching up with Garet.