I apologize for the wait. I have been super busy these last few months. I was also working on another fic (which I need to stop doing.) But hopefully there will be more updates more regularly.


Being the only people to know a huge secret was overwhelming. Going to confront a man about a murder was even worse.

There wasn't much time for chit chat in the Thunder Plains, but once they arrived in the Macalania Woods, the conversation became easy once again.

Except with Yuna and Tidus. They were both uncharacteristically quiet and stayed at the back of the group.

"Hey, you two okay?" Wakka asked what everyone had been wondering.

"Fine, just kind of tired," said Tidus, while he stretched.

"I'm...I'm just thinking about how I'm going to turn Seymour down. I'm nervous about it."

"Well, he can't get that upset. Especially since he already knows you're married."

"Yes, well…"

"And he's a Maester. We can trust him."

Tidus and Yuna shared a look, a look that Auron noticed but said nothing about.

"So, Rikku," asked Wakka, as they walked the winding tree trunks. "The Al Bhed…for them, you said they have nothing against Yevon. But do you guys practice? Or do you have a different religion? Or none at all?"

"Well, it's hard to not believe in the Fayth, since we see Aeons in battle. It's just…hard to follow ceremony and decorum and all the pizazz of the temples when they don't let us. So, Yevon is respected, the Fayth is honored, but all the extra stuff is ignored."

"What extra stuff?"

She scoffed. "Seriously?"

"To me, Yevon is all connected. The tenants must be upheld."

"Yeah, but was it always like that? Was Yevon really even a religion to begin with? Or have people just turned it into more than it should be?"

Wakka frowned at that, but then shook it off. "I'm not a priest. I don't know how it all comes together, but it does!"

"Yunie would know! She studied to be a summoner for years!"

Yuna answered. "Being a summoner and a priest are two very different things. Summoners must learn to convene with the Fayth, and the Fayth is really all we deal with."

"Then, what do the priests do?"

"In Zanarkand," Tidus began, "we had a different religion. The priests spoke and gave lessons on the Holy Book from God. Anything like that?"

"They are usually very good mages, as the temples control the distribution of magic scrolls," said Lulu. "That being said, a mage, such as myself, would have to study on their own or find a teacher. The temples don't hold lessons."

"Auron! You were a monk, weren't you? You would know!"

Auron had avoided this conversation this long, but it seemed like it would persist until he ended it. "Priests of Yevon are ruler enforcers. They tell people how to act and pray, what to think, who to hate. They give aid to those who ask, but they…they weren't there from the beginning. The Maesters, Bevelle, it's all been adding up since the start, but was never part of Yevon's vision."

"Wait," said Wakka, "you mean that Rikku's right?"

"In a world where not every day is guaranteed, people will give their time and money to anything that makes them feel safe. Yevon being the only thing that's effective against Sin? A lot of time, and a lot of money."

"So…what are we supposed to do?"

"Get Yuna to Zanarkand. That's what matters, and that's the part of Yevon that is true and real."

Tidus and Yuna shared a look, still suffocating in their guilt of forbidden knowledge. Until they faced Seymour, all they would have were these glances. A check in to make sure the other was still on board. It had to be quick and silent, but it's all they had.

Eventually, after many a battle in the woods, they emerged from the trees and came upon Lake Macalania.

"Whoa! It's all frozen over!" Tidus exclaimed. But the air was only a little colder than it had been in the woods.

"It's the Fayth in the temple that makes it that way," explained Lulu. "She's ice themed."

"She? Oo another girl in the party! We're even with the boys!" Rikku cheered.

"Uh, aren't you forgetting Yuna's other summons?" Tidus chided.

"No? Ifrit is a boy and Valefor is a girl!"

"Wait, they have names?" He gawked. "I've just been calling them 'Big Bird' and 'Hot Dog'."

"The summons are all named after the Fayth that sacrificed their lives to become Aeons." Lulu explained patiently. "And Rikku did forget one. The newest one, Ixion. So even when we obtain Shiva, the boys will still have us outnumbered."

While this little debate was going on, Tromell spotted them and hurried over. "Lady Yuna! We're so glad you came so quickly."

"How did he beat us here?" Rikku muttered.

"Probably slipped past us while you were cowering at the Inn in the Thunder Plains," Wakka teased.

His reward was another punch to the gut.

"In Guado tradition, Lady Yuna will come with me now, and we will send someone to escort the rest of you soon."

Yuna grabbed onto Tidus' arm. "My husband comes with me. After all, he is not just my guardian."

Tromell seemed surprised by her insistence, but ultimately agreed. "If that is how you would prefer it, My Lady, we will comply."

Before they left, Yuna handed her bag and inventory to Rikku. "Would you hold onto this for me?"

"Of course! I won't leave it out of my sight."

"Make sure you don't."

"Are we prepared to leave now?" Asked Tromell, with thinly veiled irritation.

"Yes, I'm ready now." Yuna bowed graciously.

"Are we walking to the temple? Looks kind of slippery…"

As he spoke, Tromell waved his hands and a disc of ice under the feet cracked away, and started to float them to the lake.

"The Guado are very mystical and profound mages. This is ice magic I couldn't do."

"It's cool…no pun intended."

The couple were very quiet as they made their way to the temple. Who knew what Tromell would hear and use against them? It was cruel, but true.

"Why did you give Rikku your inventory? You know she's going to snoop through it."

"Perhaps she will. But I have nothing to hide."

Ah, so this was how she was going to tell them about Seymour?

She offered a sheepish smile. "We'll meet up with them soon, anyway."

The ice disk came to rest at the front steps of the temple. A handful of Guado stood guard nearby, and as they arrived, a pair departed inside.

"Maester Seymour will be notified of your arrival, if you will wait here in the temple."

"This guy loves to make us wait…" Tidus muttered, thankfully not overheard by Tromell.

"And every time, it gives me anxiety," Yuna lamented back.

As Tromell wandered away to get back to his duties, Tidus stepped closer, resting a gentle hand on the small of her back. "So, what's our game plan?"

"I'm going to convene with the Fayth and get the Aeon. That way, if things go south, we can flee and not come back to this temple."

"Great! And then what?"

"Then we talk to Seymour. Maybe he can be reasoned with, or has a reason for what he did."

"I think he should be prepared to fight in that event. Once he knows we know, he may not let us leave."

"So let's hope Rikku snoops through my bag soon."

Then, the side door opened, and Seymour in all of his festering glory appeared. "Lady Yuna, we meet again. I hope you have an answer for me?"

"With all due respect, Maester Seymour, I would like to pray to the Fayth before we discuss your proposition."

The man's cold purple eyes slid over to Tidus. "Should I assume that his presence here means you are declining?"

"As I said, a prayer to the Fayth first, and then we will talk. We have much to discuss."

"Oh we do? How very interesting. Let me not waste anymore time then. If you will follow me to the Cloister of Trials."

Yuna and Tidus glanced at each other, sharing that reassuring gaze, as they were led up the stairs and into the Cloisters. Tidus nodded once, while Yuna's lip trembled.

Surprisingly, there was just a long hallway made of ice, and nothing else.

"Where are the trials?" Tidus asked, walking in step with Yuna.

"This Temple is unique in that its trials are backwards. You must complete them in order to leave the temple." He peaked over his shoulder. "And I might just help you. Though I think you know my price."

"Bribing a summoner. Very becoming of a Maester," bit Tidus.

Seymour laughed. "An expert in Yevon you are now? My apologies."

Tidus rolled his eyes, but let him go.

"It was only a joke, of course."

"Sure. Whatever."

Soon they arrived in a large chamber where the only doors were the one they came through, and another leading to the Fayth.

"Please, go on, Lady Yuna. We will both wait here for you."

She looked at Tidus, worry all over her face.

"Go on. I can handle it."

"We'll behave," Seymour smiled maliciously.

Unconvinced, Yuna went in to pray.

As soon as the door shut, Tidus withdrew his sword and set it in front of him, to lean on.

Seymour just glanced at it. "I'm afraid we've gotten off on the wrong foot, Sir…Tidus, wasn't it? Shall we start anew?"

"Are you serious, man?"

"What ever have I done to you?"

"You mean, besides trying to tear me away from the woman I love?" Whoops, a little too honest there. Probably more honest than he even was with himself.

"You love? And here I thought you were just trying to bask in Yuna's glory. I only had the noblest intentions for what I did."

"Whatever your intentions were, you're still a homewrecker, dude."

"How did you and Yuna meet?"

"Oh, so now you want all the juicy details?"

"As I said, I thought you had less than altruistic intentions in your marriage with Yuna. I didn't realize it was puppy love."

Tidus scoffed, "Puppy love…if you must know, I met Yuna in Besaid. I'm friends with Wakka first, and he introduced us."

"When you arrived in Besaid? Is that before or after Zanarkand?"

"You heard about that?"

"Quite the rumor. The Lady Summoner Yuna, traveling with Sir Auron and a man from Zanarkand. Another rumor is that you are Sir Jecht's son. Any credence to that?"

"Yeah. Jecht was my old man. Like father, like son, huh?"

"Hmm. How interesting. And how does it feel to have Sin as your father?"

Tidus decided to keep the fact that he already knew close to his chest. Maybe he could play dumb. "What?"

"You didn't know? My apologies."

"How do you know about a thing like that?"

"It's a Maester's job to know all there is to know about Sin."

"Then…you would know if a Summoner is really the only way to beat it."

"The final summoning. It is the only way. To hope for more is foolish."

"I see."

"So you understand?"

"That Yuna has to finish her pilgrimage? Yeah, I got it. I had it a long time ago. Thanks."

"What I mean," Seymour took a step closer. "Is that to be the spouse of a summoner is not a privilege or a coveted role. Truly, you are to be pitied. When the end comes, you will not receive her praise, but suffer instead. Suffer so much you'd wish you were dead."

The threat was vague and didn't make much sense. So it was easy for Tidus to simply cock his head and ask, "then why do you want it so badly?"

"No one knows suffering as I have."

"Seymour!" Auron's voice filled the room as the door from the Cloisters opened.

"Stay silent, please. Yuna prays to the Fayth."

"Make us!" Rikku shouted.

Just then, the chamber to the Fayth opened, and Yuna descended, looking nervous.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Rikku asked Yuna, "Gave me your bag with the sphere?"

"I didn't know how to tell you."

"I'm afraid I'm missing something," Seymour smiled. "I assumed that you all would be joining us later."

"You killed your father," said Auron. "We saw your father say as much."

Seymour slid his gaze over to Yuna. "And you knew? You came here with that knowledge? And for what?"

Yuna raised her staff with resolve. "We came to stop you. Just as your father asked."

Seymour chuckled, looking far too carefree for anyone's comfort. "Because of my father…you are swayed so easily. Say I did kill my father. What of it? You are to complete your pilgrimage and defeat Sin. What happens to me has nothing to do with you."

Tidus scoffed, "Oh yeah? And what about after we come back? You think Yuna will stand for having you as a Maester? As the one that killed Sin, I'm sure she'll have you excommunicated, or imprisoned or whatever! So you can come clean now, or we'll kick you out of Yevon later!"

Silence echoed through the room, making goosebumps rise on Tidus' arms. Why was no one backing him up?

Seymour laughed outright, not even hiding his delight. "Oh Lady Yuna…your boy is so funny. Did you not tell him the Truth? Or is he so massively in denial?"

"What are you talking about?" Tidus asked, softly, unnerved.

Yuna spoke up. "Lord Seymour, I kindly ask that you leave that topic alone. It is something he should hear from me."

"Then by all means, go ahead and tell him."

Yuna hesitated, holding her staff close to her chest. "Not…not right now…"

Seymour smiled, knowing that's how'd it be. "I see. Then you really must care very little about him. Does he even know what he's gotten himself into? You are much more manipulative than I thought. Not pure at all. Keeping secrets from your guardians, hiding the biggest truth from your husband…you conned him into marrying you, and he didn't even know what his fate would be." He glanced over his shoulder at Tidus. "Your reaction earlier makes so much more sense now."

Tidus barked back, "Don't talk about her that way! If Yuna has a secret, she's entitled to it. You don't know anything about her!"

A beat of silence passed as Seymour's dirty words cut deep. Then Yuna confessed, quietly, "I'm going to die."

"What?"

"When I call the Final Aeon I get in Zanarkand. It will kill me. That's the big secret."

It was mostly shock that had Tidus whisper back, "Why…didn't you tell me?" There was no accusation, no hurt, just a question, like it was all he could manage to get out.

Yuna answered honestly. "It hurts too much." She attempted to reach out for him, but thought better of it at the last second. "I didn't want to lie, but…I guess it was a lie by omission."

"And everyone else knew, except me."

"I'm so sorry," Yuna breathed.

"Lulu...Wakka?" He turned to look at them. "You let her do this? You knew, and…" Rage rocked his voice. "Isn't she like a sister to you!? What about you, Kimahri? I thought you swore to protect her!"

No one could look him in the eye, as he was absolutely right.

"I tried to stop her," Rikku whispered, with tears. "That's why I came along. To try to find a way…"

"And it looks like you're the only decent person in this party!" His furious eyes landed on Auron. "And you! You're trying to rush us there! Was watching one Summoner die not enough for you!?"

"Calm down." Auron snapped. "This was Yuna's decision, as was Braska's. It's a Guardian's duty-"

"Yeah yeah, to protect them so that they can die when the time is right!"

"Tidus," Yuna spoke with her soft tone, and yet sounded stern. "I told you...every day for ten years, they asked me if I was sure. I'm not a summoner because they didn't try hard enough. I'm a summoner because I wanted to be one. And it's an honor."

Tidus clenched his eyes shut and willed himself not to cry. But how badly he wanted to.

Seymour broke the reverence, "That wasn't too bad, was it? Now everyone is on the same page."

"Shut up," Tidus growled. "You monster."

Seymour's carefree and mirthful attitude vanished in a flash, as he frowned. "That's not a very nice thing to say, Son of Jecht." He cracked a smile again as he looked over the group. "Well, now that you know my secret, and I know that you won't let it go…foolish as that is…I suppose I'll have to kill you."

Auron shouldered his sword and pushed Tidus behind him, as he was vulnerable. "We came prepared for a fight. Did you?"

"No. But I always have someone who's ready to go." He raised his hands, and gestured in a circle.

Auron shouted to the group. "He's summoning! Move out of the way!"

A giant anchor fell out of the sky and melted into the floor.

"It's the Summon from Luca!" Yuna cried, joining her guardians on the other side of the room.

"Yuna, the new Aeon!" Lulu reminded.

Yuna nodded once, and raised her staff, calling forth a giant ice crystal to descend.

"No!" Seymour shouted, furious.

Shiva arrived in an explosion of ice, and stepped forward onto the battlefield. However, instead of waiting for instructions, she narrowed her eyes in anger and put herself solidly between Anima and Yuna.

The door to the Fayth opened, and a massive tremble went all throughout the temple. "Traitor!" Shouted a woman's voice, booming and echoing as if it was coming from the walls. "How dare you turn an Aeon against another summoner in my temple!?"

Shiva, the Aeon, raised her hands and began to build a wall of ice.

"You didn't deserve my Aeon then, you don't deserve my temple now, Seymour Guado!"

"What's happening?" Tidus asked, standing close to Yuna's side. "What is she doing?!"

"I don't know!" Yuna trembled as the Temple shook again. "I just summoned her!"

"Anima! Share your pain with that Aeon!" Seymour commanded, in effort to control the situation.

His Aeon shot a beam of light from it's bleeding eye, and it hit Shiva head on. She took it in stride and continued to build her thick ice wall, now forming a dome around the summoner and guardians.

The temple rocked again, now parts of the ceiling falling.

Tromell and a monk ran in. "The Temple is collapsing! Lord Seymour!"

"Lady Yuna and her guardians are trying to destroy the Temple! Run!" Seymour shouted. And with that, a huge chunk of the ceiling came down right on him and Anima, crushing him. Anima seized up, her connection to the mortal plane being severed, and started to fade into Pyreflies.

"My Lord!" Tromell shouted, trying to run for Seymour.

"We must go or we will die!" Said the monk, grabbing at the Guado. "There's nothing we can do!"

A loud cracking noise came as the temple floor started to shift. But the dome of ice was so thick, no one could see what was happening.

Then the lanterns blew out, and they were left in the rumbling dark.

"Are we...going to die?" Asked Rikku.

Shiva just kept building up ice.

"It all depends on if this holds," Auron said. "And that's all we can hope for."

Yuna hugged Tidus around the waist. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."

He couldn't say anything, but held her back tightly.

The fall came. It was sudden, sharp, and threw everyone around to slam into the ice.

When Tidus came to consciousness, he was laying on soggy cold ground. Definitely not the stone floor he'd been standing on a moment ago.

"Ugh, my head."

"You survived the fall, I see," Auron was nearby, watching over him.

"Hmm mmm, but I bumped my head, I think." He rubbed the tender spot on his skull.

"We all did. Yuna's the last to wake from unconsciousness."

"It would be the healer," he laughed.

"We still have potions."

"The temple?"

"It's gone. Just a pile of ice and rubble now."

Tidus stood on wobbly legs and looked around the debri covered cavern. Light came from the broken ice up above, but it was dim, like the day was ending.

"The Fayth survived," Lulu stated, emerging from the wreckage. "It's intact. But it's about the only thing that is. Yuna will have to perform a sending when she comes to, as well."

Wakka was only a few steps behind her. "This is so many degrees of messed up, man. We destroyed a temple, killed a Maester...we're finished man. Totally traitors of Yevon!"

"The Fayth destroyed her own temple," Auron clarified. "Something that never would have happened if Seymour hadn't summoned his Aeon."

"Where's Yuna?" Tidus asked, too exhausted to really care about all the trouble they were in.

"She's over her," Lulu beckoned.

She was laid out on a dry piece of stone, with Kimahri watching nearby.

"Yeah, just leave her on the cold ground, great idea." He scooped her up so she could sit in his lap and lay her head on his shoulder.

Kimahri sat behind him, resting his back against his own. "Ronso fur will keep warm."

"Can't you start a fire, Lulu?"

"Sure, what material would you like me to burn? Stone? Metal? Or maybe ice?"

"A simple no would have been fine too."

Rikku came back, with a small handful of burnable material from the wreckage. "It's all I could find that was dry. Has she stirred?"

"Mmm," Yuna grimaced, and fluttered her eyes open.

"Good timing," Tidus chuckled, mirthlessly.

Yuna turned her head, but didn't move to get up. "What...happened?"

"We fell," informed Lulu. "The temple is destroyed."

"The Fayth!" Yuna shouted and leapt from Tidus' lap, staggering. Immediately, she started summoning, and the ice aeon appeared once again.

"Thank goodness, the Fayth is okay."

Shiva started to walk into the wreckage, and everyone followed, curious to see why the summon was acting independently. She led them to the Fayth statue, safe, where Lulu had found it.

The ghost of a woman emerged, and she bowed. "Lady Summoner, I am glad to see you are safe. I apologize greatly for my actions, but they had to be done."

"You hated Seymour?" Tidus asked.

"Seymour Guado came here as a summoner, as a child. He was not worthy of my Aeon, though he persisted and prayed several times. I could see that his heart was clouded in hatred. His intentions were not in Spira's best interest. Eventually, he moved on. I thought that was the last of him, until he was appointed High Priest of my Temple. I could feel his contempt for me every time he arrived. In my many years here, there have been plenty of Priests and Summoners alike to gain my ire, but none so fervently as Seymour. And to see him call his Final Aeon against you...I would rather be left without a temple, than to have someone like him decide who and who cannot pray to me."

"Wait, that's the Final Aeon? He has it?" Yuna asked, horrified.

"The Final Aeon is different for each Summoner. But yes, it seems that he obtained it, and then neglected to finish the fight against Sin."

"Selfish prick," Tidus muttered.

"What must we do now?" Asked Yuna. "No other Summoners will be able to pray to you down here. No one else will be able to get the Final Aeon!"

"Child, calm yourself. I am not the first Fayth to be lost. And if a Summoner really does desire me, they will find a way to me."

"There's...other Aeons?" Yuna asked.

"At least two, in the Calm Lands. One that was stolen, and one that was abandoned. There may be more still. So do not fret, Lady Yuna. Sin can still be defeated."

"Well, at least that is covered. But now what do we do? We're stuck at the bottom of the lake." Tidus commented, gesturing at the rapidly darkening sky.

"Not to mention," added Wakka, "That Yevon warrior monks will be coming soon to arrest us for the murder of a Maester and the destruction of a temple! We're fugitives! Nowhere is safe!"

"We'll go to Bevelle and tell Maester Mika. We have Jyscal's sphere, and...and if we can convince them to come here, Shiva's Fayth can corroborate our story."

"Maester Mika will not speak to Fayth. Fayth are for summoners only to convene with. He won't make an exception," said Lulu.

"We need a place where we can lay low for a while, where Yevon will not find us." Said Auron.

"Um," Rikku piped up. "I have a place...but it's a little bit of a detour."

"How much of a detour?"

"...Bikanel Island?"

"The desert. You want us to go to the desert!" Wakka threw his hands up in exasperation.

"It's not just a desert! It's Home!"

"Wait," Lulu raised her hand. "The Al Bhed settlement is in the Bikanel desert?"

"Clever, huh? We can catch a boat from the Facd Luycd, just to the West of here."

"An Al Bhed guardian to a summoner? How very interesting," said the Fayth. "I can grant you one more favor, as a sign of good will." Her Aeon ran over to the edge of the cavern, and began spraying ice over the wall. As it built up, it formed a staircase.

"Go, and be well."