A Generation of Aeons
Chapter Twenty-Four

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

Last Time:

The city of Bevelle was not completely unlike the way Lenne knew it. High maroon towers watched over the city that seemed to have never ending layers to it. In the center of the city was a building so large that the only things Lenne could compare it to were the aeons she acquired in this time, and the buildings were still larger than all the first four aeons put together. Unlike the rest of the city adorned in red, this structure took on a color scheme of darker colors. All over the walls were indistinguishable symbols and in the midsection were statues. On one side was Suzaku and Byakko while on the opposing side were the images of Genbu and Seiryu. Centered in between them was the figure of an artist's rendering of a dark blue Cheribum. Larger than all the others, different representations of the Cheribum were featured all over the city.

Cutting into Lenne's thoughts, Kiron spoke simply, "Bevelle."

"Yeah," was all Lenne could respond back.

"You ready?" her guardian asked.

"Not really."

Getting off the airship was certainly an ordeal with all the grateful passengers. Lenne shied away from the attention, and her four friends did their best to shield her from it. But that was easier said than done.

As many thankful passengers there were, there were even more Bevelle citizens who were curious to see the manifest summoner. Apparently, if it had been any other city, there wouldn't have been such a crowd, but then again, according to Takoire, this was a city which revolved around the aeons.

Eventually, the group escaped and was currently attempting to walk down a street and head towards the temple. Although the group was sure no one had recognized Kiron, there were still whispers and strange looks following them.

"Why, oh why, did something have to happen to the airship and we had to land on the outskirts of the city? If it had landed properly, we would been within the temple's reach and wouldn't have had to do all this ducking and sneaking around," Kiron exasperated. Strangely, Lenne had noticed that his clothes no longer displayed his summoner's rank. All he wore was a blue and silver outfit. His pants and top were of the same shade of somewhat dark blue while it was outlined in a silver stripe. He wore a cape similar to that, the exception, his cloak, bore his summoner's brand in silver.

"As I said earlier," Zaon answered, "the airship's engines were meddled with."

The prince rolled his eyes. "And right after you said that, Zaon, I suddenly got a warm and fuzzy feeling. Then again, I am traveling with a manifest summoner."

Lenne let out a small laugh. "Would you cut that out? I told you I didn't have much of a choice. Seru, how can you stand this guy?" she asked jokingly, but she didn't receive a response. "Uh, Seru?" Looking to the side, she saw her friend looking around anxiously, her hands in constant motion. "Seru?"

"Huh?" She snapped out of her trance. "Sorry, did you say something?"

Lenne gave her a skeptical look. "I was asking how you put up with Kiron, but is there something you have on your mind?"

"Me? No, not really."

Thinking for a moment, Lenne spoke again, "Right, you grew up here, didn't you? Is this your first time back since you moved to Zanarkand?"

"Yeah," the female guardian replied uneasily.

"If you don't mind, Seru," Kiron said, "why did you move to Zanarkand? You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I'm just curious. It's kind of a drastic change considering the two cities are at each other's throats."

Seru only shrugged. "My mother and I weren't exactly welcome anymore."

Her tone said that she no longer wanted to continue the subject so Lenne turned to teasing her guardian.

"Hey Mr. Former Star of the Zanarkand Abes, you're awfully quiet."

"Just thinking," he said simply.

"About what?"

"The crime this city commits by not having a blitzball team and/or stadium." Takoire finished with a wide grin.

"Are you serious?" Kiron asked.

"Maybe," he answered, "but I think Lenne's asking the wrong question aimed at the wrong person."

Lenne gave him a puzzled look. "Wrong questions?"

"When we arrive at the temple-palace, there'll be someone there to meet us. All summoners in Bevelle must be presented to someone on the Bevelle High Council. When you're presented, they may or may not ask you questions. Hopefully, if we get Arkon, he won't ask us any."

"Arkon?"

"Uh, he's the only prince of Bevelle. I hear he's pretty easygoing. But like I said, if we get anyone else, it's almost one hundred percent guaranteed that you will get interrogated. Especially since you're a manifest summoner, and almost everyone in Bevelle saw you do it. Suzaku's kind of big," Takoire whispered as if the last part had been a long kept secret.

"Prince Arkon is currently in Kilika preparing to take Byakko's test. He arrived there yesterday," Zaon added bluntly.

"Okay then," Takoire said grimacing, "so forget almost. It's one hundred percent guaranteed that you will be interrogated. You up for it?"

"Not really, but I'm still going to have to deal with it."

"They'll probably call a formal presentation. Has Takoire told you anything about that?" Zaon questioned.

She shook her head.

"It's a protocol that has the guardian walking behind their summoner an arm's length across and behind. The head guardian stands to their summoner's right and then so on and so forth," he continued.

"Sounds degrading," Lenne said after hearing it.

"Extremely," Seru replied, "but those are Bevelle's rules unfortunately."

"But we should start soon; the closer we are to the temple-palace, the higher the class of citizens. And we do want to make a good first impression.," Takoire said. "But in the mean time, you, my summoner, haven't had a real interview seeing as we have been able to sneak you out at every encounter. I think it's time you had a little mock interview."

Lenne looked at her guardian skeptically. "Explain to me again why I'm going to be interviewed and/or interrogated."

Takoire looked away rolling his eyes, and Kiron exhaled exaggeratedly before answering her question. "You are important. You are a high summoner under six months with absolutely no summoner's training. And you just revealed to the entire city of Bevelle that you are a manifest high summoner. That hasn't been seen in Spira for a few generations, remember our history lesson?"

"Lenne," Seru continued, "as much as I know you hate to admit it, you're something Spira hasn't seen in generations. The last manifest high summoner was Koberth."

"High Summoner Koberth?" Lenne asked.

Kiron nodded. "Yeah, my great-great-grandfather. He was the closest thing to a maester before my father."

"So, do you think you can handle it?" her guardian asked.

"I'm game."

"All right then, where were you born?" Takoire started.

"Zanarkand," she answered quickly, "I've lived there my entire life."

Seru was next. "Who are your parents?"

"I can't say. I don't know. I grew up in an orphanage."

Takoire sighed in approval. "Not too bad. That answer will avoid questions."

"Why did you choose to become a summoner?" Kiron asked.

"There's always been this feeling I've had. I've never been able to explain it, and it drove me to take a chance in Besaid. That's why I've kept going."

"Cheesy," Seru said with a wink, "but very political. It'll work."

"Come on you guys!" Lenne urged. "Give me something harder!"

Everyone became silent, thinking of something they had missed that would be important.

Zaon spoke simply, "There are rumors around Spira that you can summon things that are not aeons, are they true? And if so, what are you summoning?"

Everyone now looked to Lenne who was obviously stumped at the question. They all knew that it was a question that would eventually come up, and it was better that Lenne had been caught off guard now rather than in the face of some important Bevelle figure. But that didn't mean between the five of them, they had been able to come up with a story.

It was true; rumors had been flying around about the aeons Lenne had been calling, especially at Takoire's last blitzball game. She had summoned Valefor in the wide open with hundreds of people watching. The story of the giant bird that resembled Suzaku had spread through Spira like wildfire, as well as the summoner who had become a high summoner without any proper training. Who also had the former captain of the Zanarkand Abes as her sole guardian and traveled with the sole prince of Zanarkand who was second in line for the throne.

Lenne continued to think hard before she finally spoke, "I don't know what your definition of summoning is, and I don't know if what I did fits under your definition, but they're my friends, and they protect me and everything I care about. So it shouldn't matter what they are but what they do."

The conversation ended there, everyone satisfied with her answer. Not long after, Takoire took his place behind Lenne on her right while Zaon took his place behind Kiron similar to Takoire and Seru behind Kiron's left.

The temple-palace soon came into view, and with it, a circular layout in front of the entranceway. Tiles lined the floor, a dark representation of the Cheribum in the center surrounded by Suzaku, Byakko, Genbu, and Seiryu. Stationed outside the enormous archway leading into the temple-palace were two Bevelle soldiers who made Lenne feel slightly uneasy. Standing in the center was a young man, probably the same age as Lenne, if not slightly older.

He wore layers of rich purple clothing with gold embroideries. Clothing covered almost every part of his body, baggy long sleeves covered until his wrists. His hair was a deep purple, which could easily have been mistake for black; although it was cut similarly to Kiron's, it was kept shorter and neater… and something kept reflecting light back at them on the bearer's right hand.

As they came closer, Lenne watched as he paid them no mind and toyed with what Lenne now noticed was a ring. She also took note that he was slightly taller than herself but not as tall as her guardian.

Stopping a few paces away, Kiron nodded to Lenne, and she nodded back. Seru and Zaon also got the cue, bowed deeply and spoke.

"I am the guardian Zaon."

"I am the guardian Seru."

"We present to you our high summoner, Kiron."

At those words, all three bowed their heads deeply, and the young man quickly grabbed the ring with his one hand, slipping it back onto his finger. He had a presence around him that seemed to command respect, and he made sure everyone around him did just that.

He approached Kiron with a smirk. "So you're that prince of Zanarkand I've heard so much about." Kiron grimaced. "What is your highness doing here exactly?"

Kiron stared at the other young man. "I'm here supporting a friend, nothing else."

"A little risky to be in Bevelle for one who happens to be Zanarkand royalty, don't you think?"

The prince glared. "Considering you know all about me, I think it's only fair that I know who you are."

The man put on a fake sense of shock. "It is such a crime for you not to know, but nevertheless, he bowed his head slightly. "I am Lord Marshal Apprentice Sareth, third in line for the throne of Bevelle."

Kiron's eyes widened as he slightly turned his head to the right to glance at one of his friends. He quickly resumed his first position before the royal noticed. "So, you're Sareth…"

"Ah, that's Lord Sareth to you."

"My apologies, but you certainly grew up! I heard you were the worst brat in your younger years, always complaining you never had what was coming to you. Lord Sareth, I think you should know we in Zanarkand remained in the dark of your somewhat important rank."

Instead of showing his distaste, the man called Sareth let out a hearty laugh. "You'll soon know me. How could anyone not? If the summoner of yore is to appear within our generation, then it is my solemn duty to become her guardian."

"Her?"

"Oh yes, prince. There is a last stanza in the Prophecy of the Summoner of Yore that only Bevelle royalty knows. It states that the summoner of yore is a woman and her guardian a man."

"Well then," Kiron continued, "what happens if the summoner of yore is already here?"

Lord Sareth answered quickly, "Then it is my solemn duty to protect her and become her guardian."

"And if she already has guardian?" Kiron returned.

The Bevelle lord raised an intrigued eyebrow but answered anyway. "Well, we'll just have to do away with them, now won't we? There is not point in believing you're something you're not, and why not correct them on their… mistake." Moving over to Kiron's right, Lord Sareth eyed Zaon. "So you're the infamous General Zaon. Excuse me, former General Zaon. You no longer hold rank in the Zanarkand army, do you?" Zaon continued to look down. "You're also engaged to High Summoner Yunalesca, are you not? I have to hand it to you; you must have a great deal of faith in your fiancée to go weeks and perhaps months at a time without her under your careful eye…"

Not only had this seemed to touch Zaon, Kiron was clenching both his fists. "I warn you, lord, do not push your luck with us," Kiron said. "It is true we are guests in your city and therefore desire the respect and dignity given to those under the summoner name."

Lord Sareth quickly glanced at the prince. "Quite the diplomat." He switched his attention back to the guardian. "So tell me, did you ask Yunalesca to marry you so you could become an heir to Zanarkand, not that anyone would want that second rate city."

With a small twitch below his eye, Zaon answered forcefully, but still soft enough not to be considered a threat, "I would advise you to watch yourself, Lord Sareth. Everyone has their own limits to their temper, and my patience is running low."

Taking the hint, Lord Sareth moved to Kiron's last guardian. By this time, a small crowd had formed. It was a rare sight to see summoners in Bevelle, let alone two.

"You know, I must say that…" Taking two of his fingers, he lifted Seru's face so he could look at her at eye level. "If by the Cheribum, if it isn't the long last Lady Seru…" Glancing behind, Kiron's eyes were filled with confusion. Lord Sareth circled her, not bothering to hide his amusement. "I never imagined seeing you again in Bevelle after all these years. After you and your mother became outcasts of course."

"Outcasts?" Kiron questioned, his breath quickening. "Seru, what is he talking about?"

Laughing, Lord Sareth continued, "Not only are you a guardian to the prince of Zanarkand, but he doesn't know you were once Bevelle royalty!"

Everyone was looking at Seru now, all except Takoire who continued to look down. The crowd began whispering to each other, and all strained to look at Seru.

"Seru…" Kiron drifted off.

Unable to look at her summoner, Seru looked down. "Lady Doma, Maester Arheist's wife, her nephew was my father, Lord Roener; he died when I was barely thirteen. Without my father, there was nothing linking us to the family anymore, but Lady Doma was rather attached to my father, her favorite nephew I guess. She didn't want to see us separated from the family, so she proposed an engagement to Maester Arheist's nephew. The marriage was to take place when I turned eighteen, and because he would be third in line, our family would have strong ties again."

Pacing back and forth excitedly, Lord Sareth motioned. "Yes, yes, get to the exciting part."

Full of hesitance, Seru continued, "But the man I was engaged to… he ran away from Bevelle. The entire royal family disowned him, there was nothing left to keep my mother and I within the family. We became outcasts. No matter what Lady Doma could have tried, there was nothing left."

"Yes, yes, I know this," Lord Sareth said impatiently. "Who were you engaged to? Tell them."

Seru looked away. "I was engaged to your brother, Sareth."

Clapping his hands together and rubbing them quickly, Lord Sareth's voice conveyed that he was almost gleeful. "Yes, my only brother she was engaged to! Seru was to be my sister-in-law as of this year." He brought his face to hers, breathing in her scent. "But if I had a choice, Seru, you could have been my wife."

She glared at him. "I'd sooner die."

He laughed. "Sooner die than marry me? Then who would you have preferred, my brother?"

"Your brother is a respectable man! He has earned my respect time and time again! And he is someone you should respect! If he hadn't run away, you wouldn't be in the position you're in right now! He would be the one welcoming us into the city."

Pointing a finger at Seru, not touching her face, he looked at her with a strict gaze. "Watch yourself, Seru. Now that I know who you are, and you serve the prince of Zanarkand as a guardian, you will be treated as a traitor. And besides," he sighed, "you're right. Without my brother running away, I would never have inherited my right as heir to the legacy of ages." Moving back, Lord Sareth motioned to the three. "Move aside, I must inspect this other summoner and her guardian, but do not stray too far, I doubt your accommodations will be ready by then."

Together Lenne and Takoire stepped up and both bowed "I am the guardian Takoire II. I present to you my high summoner, Lenne."

"You! Guardian! I command you to look up!" Lord Sareth's voice sounding almost frantic. Regretfully, Takoire did as he was told, but his eyes revealed nothing but conviction and determination. "Well, well, I never dreamed of seeing you again, brother…"

Author's Notes:

Final Revision