A Generation of Aeons
Chapter Seventeen

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

Last Time:

"But you both knew Ryak, at Byakko's temple, didn't you?"

"Yes," Seru nodded, "I've known Ryak since I was a child. Childhood friends, I guess you could call us."

"How do you know him?"

The female guardian laughed. "I think we're related, and if we are, it's really distant. In some form or another, I think we're cousins."

"Oh," Lenne said, sounding more excited, "I didn't know that. Did he live in Bevelle?"

Seru shook her head sadly. "No."

Lenne grimaced. "You don't happen to know how Takoire and Ryak know each other, do you?" The summoner laughed. "Or are they related too?"

Seru joined her in laughing slightly. "Can't say. Takoire's business, stays business."

It was a strange place to say the least; an intricate city built on the Moonflow, with skeletons of metal that almost seemed to touch the sky. It was a wonder that it was able to stay above the water.

Exiting from the port, Lenne walked from the airship that had carried them to the city. "This-This is Djose?"

Following his summoner with an amused smile, Takoire answered, "Yep, I'm pretty sure this it."

"Don't tell me this city is destroyed in your time as well, Lenne," Kiron joined.

Lenne shrugged. "It's not as if I can help it. In my time, this city is sitting at the bottom of the Moonflow, and if my history's correct, it sunk for some reason and was a casualty in the Zanarkand-Bevelle war."

"Well, I can assure you, Lenne," Kiron said comfortingly, "if my father can help it, there will be no war."

"Hey, Lenne," Takoire said bluntly, "who started the war?"

All eyes were on Lenne now, including Zaon who had been quietly listening nearby. Feeling the pressure on all sides, Lenne answered as truthfully as she could. "History lost track of who started what. Everyone pointed fingers at the other. No one knows or remembers."

"There goes stopping it before it happens," Kiron said. "If I knew which side started it, maybe I could somehow prevent it."

"But think of the consequences it would have," Takoire retorted. "If we prevented the war, that summoning, Sin, would never have been created, and those aeons Lenne has, they would never have been created."

Kiron insisted, "So? The war would never have been started in the first place. How many people could be saved?"

"I'm not disregarding that fact. But who's to say that if we stop it now, that it won't happen anyway? Everything would be changed. Not to mention the fayth's dream." Lenne's ears seemed to perk up at the words. "The fayth would never have dreamt Tidus, Sin would continue to terrorize Spira, Lenne's mother would have died sacrificing herself, and Lenne would never have been born. Do you see the repercussions this could have if we meddle?"

The prince scoffed. "I suppose you'd know about it. After all, your family would know…"

"This has nothing to do with my family!"

Unable to continue, a man dressed in appearingly light silver armor came towards them; a gun carried at his belt, and two smaller daggers tucked into his boots. His pale eyes were overshadowed by his short flaming red hair. "Excuse me, Prince Kiron?"

Glancing behind him, Kiron had a smile spread on his face. "Alor!" He held out his hand. "I didn't expect to see you out here. Why aren't you with my sister?"

He squirmed uncomfortably. "About that…" the man called Alor drifted.

Kiron's eyes widened. "You're joking. Don't tell me she's here."

"Sorry, Kiron. It was either us or a battalion of your father's soldiers."

Kiron's smile quickly faded as he grasped Alor's hand. "Then I suppose it's safe to say that Tanay and Ralia are here as well."

The man shrugged. "Yeah… sometimes I wonder how I can travel around Spira with those three women."

"My sympathies," the prince responded.

"Alor, how are you?" Seru asked, coming up from behind and giving Alor a tight hug.

He smiled and hugged her back. "Fine, considering the circumstances I'm forced to live under," he finished with a wink to her.

Kiron didn't notice. "Alor, where is she?"

"Waiting for you and your party at the temple."

Zaon looked up. "Alor, have the three of you secured the perimeter yet? We don't want a repeat of Kilika, especially since we have both Zanarkand royalties here."

Standing up straight and saluting, Alor responded in a dignified voice. "Yes, sir! It was our first priority when we arrived in the city! We've performed and completed a level two sweep, sir!"

The older guardian chuckled for a moment. "I'm not in the army anymore, Alor, and neither are you."

"Yes," Alor started and abruptly ended, "yeah…"

"Well," Seru said laughing, seeing Zaon not have his expressionless face for once, "aren't we the regular hypocrite?"

"Huh?"

"I get it," Kiron said, realization sinking in. "I tell Zaon all the time to just call me Kiron, and he never remembers."

"So now," Lenne continued, "Zaon's been telling this guy not to call him sir."

Being alerted to her presence, Alor spoke, "Ah, you must be the lady summoner, Lenne. Kiron and the others brought you up when they contacted Zanarkand."

Kiron nodded smiling. "Yeah. Alor, the summoner Lenne. Lenne, Alor. If you haven't figured it out by now, Alor is one of my sister's guardians."

Alor politely bowed, lowering his arm beneath his chest. "An honor."

In amazement, Kiron couldn't help but let out a big laugh. "Since when did you become such a gentleman of stature?"

Alor looked him squarely in the eye. "With all the banquets, parties, and meetings I'm dragged to, Yunalesca's put me through everything. She can barely take me standing next to her in my old army uniform."

Kiron scoffed. "Sounds like her."

Yunalesca's guardian now turned his attention to the last guardian. "So, you're Sir Takoire." He held out his hand and was unable to hide his wide grin. "It's so great to meet you, I'm a huge fan. Have been since you joined the Abes."

Takoire grinned. "Is that so?"

Lenne looked at the two skeptically. "Careful, Alor, I've been working on deflating his ego… and you're not helping."

"Sister."

Watching him, Yunalesca laughed softly. "Don't worry, Kiron. I know you wouldn't have wanted to see me until after your pilgrimage was over."

Genbu's Keep was similar to the Temple of Byakko, only its skeleton was circular. Through the forest in the center, there ran a great river with pure, clean, sparkling water running through it. Like Byakko's Temple, little light came through the trees with the exception of the river, which reflected light back into the dark forest.

Walking to the Djose Temple, just outside of the city, the group of summoners and guardians made their way to the entrance in order meet the heir of Zanarkand. Lenne was surprised at first; she had on barely any clothing but still presented herself as dignified royalty. Her silvery colored hair flowed down to her ankles, and on her face was a pleasant smile. How could this woman eventually try and kill her parents? Glancing at Zaon, Lenne became confused. How could you sacrifice someone you loved so much?

"Lenne," Takoire cleared his throat as subtly as he could, "you're staring at me. There something you need?"

Catching herself, Lenne quickly shook the notion away. "No, sorry. I just had a few things on my mind, that's all."

"Believe me, Kiron, I realize how much you don't want me here, but it was either seeing me here once or traveling around with a Zanarkand battalion the rest of your pilgrimage," Yunalesca continued to insist.

"Of course," the Zanarkand prince grunted. He walked past Yunalesca and her three guardians, two of which were slightly laughing; Zaon and Seru attempted to follow him, but Kiron waved them away. "Why don't you catch up with your fiancée, Zaon? And Seru, don't you have better things to do? Like catch up with Alor?"

Looking down and embarrassed, Zaon ceased to walk, and Seru did likewise.

"I should have expected a reaction like this," she said, watching Kiron disappear inside the temple, but then again, "when I went out on my pilgrimage, I wouldn't have exactly been happy to see one of my relatives checking up on me."

Zaon tried to justify her statement. "But you didn't have assassins sent after you."

Looking to her fiancé, Yunalesca tried to gain a more cheery disposition. "I suppose… Anyway, that was certainly a thrill. Seru, how have you been?"

Bowing her head, Seru responded, "Very well, milady, thank you."

Yunalesca lifted her back up. "You don't serve me anymore; you are a guardian to an heir of Zanarkand. You hold the same rank as a general in the Zanarkand army. You should look it."

Seru smiled weakly. "Right."

"Just so you know, we were able to move your mother into her own house. She no longer lives in the palace."

Seru immediately lifted her head. "My mother?"

"Let's just say," Yunalesca said, "when the matter was brought up with my father, it was pointed out that it was degrading to have his son's guardian's mother working for him as a servant. So it was suggested she be given a house and a monthly salary for her daughter's services to Zanarkand."

Seru's eyes widened. "You're kidding."

Alor grinned and padded Yunalesca on the shoulder. "Yunalesca's being modest. The minute you three left Zanarkand and she got her mind off her engagement, she went straight to the Maester and brought up the subject of your mother. She has a small estate to herself with her own servants and enough monthly money coming so that she'll never have to work again."

In disbelief, Seru smiled weakly. "I can't believe it." She looked at Yunalesca unsurely. "I can't thank you enough."

Putting a hand on her shoulder, Yunalesca looked on at her gently. "It was the least I could do. You're a gifted mage, one of Kiron's guardians, and both you and your mother were the hardest workers in the palace." She nodded her head in the direction of the city. "You should send her a communiqué, Seru." Turning her attention elsewhere, Yunalesca looked to Lenne. "So, Alor tells me you're Summoner Lenne."

Lenne bowed her head slightly. "And you're High Summoner Yunalesca, Kiron's sister."

Yunalesca shook her head. "There's no need for formalities, is there? Kiron spoke of you very highly in his communiqué to Zanarkand."

Lenne blushed slightly red. "Really?"

"Seru and Zaon as well." Yunalesca said, nodding in the direction of Kiron's two guardians who were looking away.

"I'm flattered."

"You must have also really impressed Zaon. I've rarely heard him speak so highly of someone who wasn't somehow associated with the military."

For the second time, Lenne blushed. "Thank you."

Finally turning to Lenne's guardian, Yunalesca looked at him unsure of what to do. "I never thought I'd see you as a guardian, Takoire."

The former Zanarkand star only shrugged. "Neither did I."

The heir to Zanarkand continued to look at him unsurely. "If you don't mind me asking… Is this because of…"

"No," he bluntly answered, "this was my choice."

She nodded. "Well, I still owe you."

Takoire shook his head good-naturedly. "No, milady, I'm the one who owes you."

The rest of the day played out: Yunalesca went out with Zaon into Genbu's Keep, while Seru spent most of her time catching up with Alor, apparently the two being old friends, as well as going into the city and sending a communiqué to her mother as Yunalesca had suggested. Takoire and Lenne went off into the city as well, and Lenne was given the tour, courtesy of the former Zanarkand Abes team captain.

Before anyone could tell, night had fallen, and everyone was fast asleep, but Takoire found himself awake while it was still dark. But the air smelled differently, which meant the sun was about to come up. Getting up from bed, Takoire put on his old Abes uniform and ran his fingers through his hair, spiking it up slightly.

Takoire always seemed to be a morning person as long as he could remember, seeming to always wake up a few minutes before the sunrise. Splashing some cold water on his face seemed to fully refresh him as he walked over to the door and opened it wide; his arms crossed and leaning against the doorframe. Maybe Lenne was right. He was a sucker when it came to sunrises and sunsets. Takoire laughed slightly, even his brother had once called him a hopeless romantic.

The sun began to creep up on the sky. Maybe Lenne wanted to see it too? Oh well, if she got up, she got up, if she didn't, she didn't. On the way to her quarters, Takoire thought about his love for sunrises and sunsets. What was there not to like about them? They were slow, peaceful, and steady. Beautiful no matter where they took place, and everything it touched became equally as bright.

Knocking on the door softly, Takoire called to his summoner, "Lenne? You up? I wanted to know if you wanted to watch the sunrise with me."

Maybe he could tell her now? Slowly opening the door, Takoire peeked in slightly.

"What the hell?"

Pushing the door completely open, Takoire found Lenne's bed rumpled as if someone had slept in it, and her sword, which she never went anywhere without, was still leaned up against a corner. Running inside the room, Takoire found nothing. Where could she be? Going into the corridor, Takoire ran to Seru's quarters. "Seru!"

A few moments later, the female guardian wearily opened her door. "Takoire? It's too early, what do you want?"

"Lenne's gone. I don't know where she is. She didn't bring her sword, and she takes it everywhere. Have you seen her?"

Seru shook her head. "No, I'll go wake up Kiron and ask him."

With a nod Takoire began running throughout the compound, his head frantically turning back and forth. The sun was a fourth of the way up when Takoire head Seru yelling to him.

"Takoire! Kiron's gone too!"

Author's Notes:

Final Revision