A Generation of Aeons
Chapter Fifteen

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or X-2

Last Time:

"You know, Takoire, you're a real sucker for sunsets and sunrises."

Hearing a now familiar voice come from behind him, the former Zanarkand Abes captain turned around with a bright smile on his face. "What? You spying on me or something? Or is this one of your guardian's business therefore summoner business things."

Walking towards him, Lenne shook her head. "No, it's one of those things that your best friend notices."

"Well," Takoire sarcastically responded, "my sincerest apologies, best friend. How ignorant of me."

"Now don't you sound all prim, proper, and egotistical" she replied. "But onto other things... So what's this I hear about you carrying me from my room?"

"Would have you preferred to stay behind?"

"Maybe," Lenne raised an eyebrow, "if I'd known you were going to carry me." They eyed each other seriously for a moment before they both broke into laughter.

"So this is Luca?" Lenne questioned. Peering around, the airship had landed at what seemed the beginning of the city. Looking around, one long main cut the city into two parts. The tall, decorative buildings were built along the sides.

Skipping the last few steps, Takoire jumped down and joined her on the ground. "Yeah, this is it. Pretty big, huh?"

"Actually…" As Kiron, Zaon, and Seru came off the airship, Lenne walked forward on the path, trying to familiarize herself with the surroundings.

"Well, actually what?" Kiron asked, looking at Lenne with an intrigued look.

"This is what we call the Mi'ihen Highroad where I come from." Jogging to the opposite end of the tiled circle and finding she was standing at the edge of a cliff, the others joined Lenne and saw hills of grass and beach until the shoreline. "Luca's actually built down there. This," Lenne said, looking at the city, "this is all ruins."

"Hm," Takoire commented, "sounds depressing."

"Maybe," Lenne pointed to the edge of the water, "but in my Spira, Luca has the only blitzball stadium of all the cities."

The former blitzball player's eyes widened. "You only have one blitzball stadium in all of Spira?"

"Uh, well, yeah…"

"What kind of place is that!"

"Tsk, tsk," Seru patted Lenne on the shoulder, "poor poor Takoire. Can't survive without seeing a blitzball stadium every now and then."

"Ah, but that's what made him such an asset to the Zanarkand Abes," Kiron pointed out.

"Milord Kiron, we should contact your father."

"Zaon…"

The warrior grunted. "Fine, Kiron…"

The Zanarkand summoner smiled smugly. "There, see? That wasn't too bad. But sometimes I wonder, how the hell did you get my sister to fall in love with you?"

Zaon coughed uncomfortably.

"That's right," Seru added slyly, "with the communicator, he can talk to Lady Yunalesca."

Seeing Kiron wince at the name made Takoire laugh. "That's High Summoner Yunalesca, Seru."

The prince pouted. "I'm already half way to being a high summoner… Cut me a break, would you?"

Lenne began to laugh. "Kiron, why don't you take care of your father? How long will you guys take?"

"I'm not sure," Kiron answered, "but knowing my father, it could take awhile."

"Where can we meet you?" Seru asked.

"Well, I'm not sure. You see… I… well… nevermind…"

Takoire glared at his summoner. "You know I hate it when you do that. What were you going to say?"

"There's this place in my Spira, in Luca. A sphere theater. You can see prominent memories there, and… what?"

"Yep," her guardian said, "Luca has one. Every city has one."

"You're kidding me."

Takoire continued smiling. "Nope, I take it you wanna go?"

Lenne rolled her eyes. "Howdya guess?"

With a carefree shrug, Takoire laughed. "I'm psychic, don't ya know? We'll catch you guys later at maybe the main plaza across from the north sphere theater?"

The walk to the sphere theater was an entertaining one. As Lenne looked at the city, she was caught in wonder and awe. The buildings were similar to Zanarkand with the exception of the excessive lights, and there was a wide road separating the north and south sides of Luca.

Takoire continued to joke around as he gave Lenne the grand tour. He also partially recounted on what had happened when they left the temple while she was asleep and Ryak's good-bye. Not forgetting to mention his immeasurable strength from carrying her from the temple all the way to the airship.

"We're here."

They stopped at a building that overshadowed all the others standing nearby. "So this is the Luca sphere theater?"

The guardian shrugged. "One of 'em. There's another one on the south side."

Lenne rolled her eyes. "Never mind. I just wanna show you something."

Taking him by the hand, Lenne pulled Takoire with her into the open entrance of the building. "Hey! You don't even know where you're going!"

"So?"

"So," he continued, "you don't know where you're going!"

Switching sides, Takoire led her to a front desk where a woman pointed them in their left. The pair walked into a lighted room which quickly dimmed as they entered. "Would you like your memories projected as they are recorded?"

"Uh…" Lenne looked around the room confused.

Takoire only shook his head sympathetically. "Yes."

"Very well then, please continue when ready."

"I hope you know that voice creeps me out, Takoire."

He laughed. "I thought you said you had sphere theaters in your time."

"Well, yeah… but there's only one, and it's not this advanced."

"Right…" Takoire drifted. "Whenever you're ready, just touch that blue sphere on the table and think about what you wanna show me."

"Hmph," Lenne scoffed, "who said I wanted to show you?"

Takoire rolled his eyes and looked around the dim room. "Let's just hurry up with this, 'kay?"

"Fine."

"Now, all you have to do is concentrate…"

Following his directions, Lenne closed her eyes for a moment and touched the lightly glowing blue sphere.

In the blink of an eye, Takoire found himself in a very depressing place. Buildings lay waste all around him, tossed about on the ground, long destroyed. The place seemed to glow with pyreflies. In wonderment, Takoire jogged forward on a road for some time until he reached a building that he knew all to well.

"Welcome to the Zanarkand I know, Takoire." Lenne's voice laughed lightly. "I see you found the blitzball stadium… or what's left of it."

Lenne suddenly appeared on Takoire's right; her eyes closed and slowly blinking open. Her guardian didn't seem to have to look at her to know that she was already there.

"I still don't understand how Zanarkand could ever get like this."

"I don't have any memories of Sin. My parents took care of that a long time before I was ever born."

"No," Takoire shook his head, "if this is the destruction that Sin causes, then I'd hate to actually see Sin."

"You do know the last Sin was my grandfather, Sir Jecht."

"Cheribum…" Takoire started. "This isn't another one of those fayth things is it?"

Lenne rolled her eyes. "Yeah… thanks, Takoire."

Within another instant, Takoire stood on a maroon colored bridge that gave the impression of something ancient and maybe even royal.

"Lenne, give me one guess. Bevelle?"

She appeared at his side. "I take it no matter what happens, Bevelle doesn't change much."

"Is it still run by arrogant, egotistic old men?"

"Pretty much yeah," the summoner responded.

"Then no," was Takoire's quick response. "It barely changes."

In another instant, Takoire was brought to another city slightly smaller than Bevelle, but livelier, different colors stretched out everywhere.

"This is the Luca I know."

Looking around, Takoire found himself on a bridge leading from one section to the city to another, running to an edge and peering over the edge, Takoire spoke, "You weren't kidding when you said it was built right on the shoreline."

"What? Did you think I was lying or something?"

"Maybe…" was her guardian's quick and sarcastic reply. "Remember, I still haven't let go of the whole crazed fan theory."

Following him, Lenne shook her head and led him to the edge of the city where a long dirt road began. Pointing to the ruins, Lenne began, "I think this is your Luca, but in my time, they call this the Mi'ihen Highroad."

"Why's that?"

Lenne shrugged, "I don't know… It has something to do with the founder of the Crusaders. I don't remember the story."

Takoire chuckled softly. "I know I'm such a great influence, Lenne, but next time, I'll coach you, and you'll have a better comeback. But remember, one thing, Lenne."

Stopping to look at him seriously for a moment, she paused. "What?"

"I," Takoire said dramatically, "am always better than you."

Lenne looked at her guardian with a sense of shock and expectation. "What kind of answer is that!"

Takoire shrugged. "An honest one."

"Yeah right. You know, Takoire, you can be a real ass sometimes."

He bowed. "I take pride in my ability to tick you off."

"Hmph," Lenne crossed her arms, "and I was going to show you my sanctuary."

The female summoner had successfully peaked her guardian's interest. "Huh?"

"No big deal," she said, walking away, "I'm sure everyone's ready by now."

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Wait a sec would you?" Takoire ran up to her, giving her a pleading look. "Come on, Lenne. You know you wanna show me."

"Maybe I did. But not anymore…"

"Come on, best friend to best friend?"

Lenne continued to walk. "What happened to the crazed fan theory?"

"Not a bad comeback, but you still have a lot to learn."

"You suck."

Within another instant, Takoire found himself on a cliff at night, stars shining down on him brightly. Moss was growing on old, broken buildings as well as aged vines, which seemed to crawl up the old ruins. Lenne appeared next to him and went through the motions of pushing him off from the cliff.

He scoffed. "You're just jealous of my obvious talents as your wonderful guardian…"

Lenne looked at him skeptically. "Ego…"

"Anyway, this is your sanctuary? I like it, cozy yet spacious, a nice view, the hammock's a nice touch…"

"What are you doing?" Lenne asked. "Selling it for me?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Maybe."

Walking towards him and looking him squarely in the eye, Lenne answered, "Sometimes I wonder… how'd I get stuck with a guardian like you?"

Looking into her blue and green eyes, Takoire swallowed a cold, hard lump caught in his throat as his heart seemed to skip a beat. "I guess I was just lucky enough to meet you."

Author's Notes:

Final Revision