Well, after a long time (since Febuary 7th, I'm so sorry!) I've finally finished the next chapter! I really am sorry, I was on holiday until Febuary 5th, and since then my mind has been on so many other things - but I finally remembered about this, and I've got the writting bug again! This chapter carries on straight away from the last one - so nothing to fill you all in on - only that this is the longest chapter so far, so I hope you don't mind reading it all! Again, so sorry about the wait - I really hope you'll forgive me!

Okay then, hope you all enjoy the 5th chapter. As always, please read & review :o)

Disclaimer: All things FFX are owned by Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase & Square-Enix

5. A New Guardian?

"Well... Maechen had left, leaving Braska and myself utterly bewildered. We had no idea why he had said what he did, but Braska's curiosity was starting to get the better of him." Auron continued.

(- - Flashback - -)

"Do you really think he meant what he said Auron? Surely that drunkard can't be from Zanarkand... what am I thinking? It's preposterous! Still those words keep ringing in my head... the man said that 'he isn't a criminal at all'." Braska thought out loud.

To be honest, I hadn't taken anything the old man had said as truth. I didn't know the man, why should I trust anything he said? As far as I was concerned, it was all just an obstacle standing in the way of Braska beginning his Pilgrimage.

"I don't think you should take any of the mans ramblings to heart Braska. Come, we must leave Bevelle soon, or we will be travelling towards Besaid in the dark. It would be much safer to travel by daylight." I tried hard to be the voice of reason. We really did need to leave soon; The path through the Thunder Plains was particularly dangerous during the day, but at night it became something far more treacherous.

"I don't know Auron... I want to at least talk to the man. That man, Maechen... he suggested he wasn't a criminal. My conscience wont allow me to leave without searching for the truth in the matter. What if he really is innocent, and we left him in the hands of the guards? They'd have him up for trial within a few days, most likely with a setence of death awaiting him. You know how strict Bevelle is when it comes to the Law." Braska's heart had always been more open than mine, but who was I to stop him? I was but his Guardian; My orders were to follow Braska wherever he may go, and protect him.

"... Very well, we shall make our way to the drunkards cell. You can talk to him, and see if you think he's innocent or not. Regardless however, we need to be leaving soon, so you don't have much time. If you still think he's innocent after talking to him... then I suppose Grand Maester Jyscal should be told, but we can leave that to the Guards." I reluctantly gave in.

"Thank you Auron, I apologise. I promise, we will leave as soon as I've talked with the man."

I grunted. The smile on Braska's face almost made my stomach turn, I couldn't believe I had to go through all of this even before we left. But still, my duty as a Guardian was to follow and protect; I had little choice in the matter.

(- - End of flashback - -)

"Auron... who was the drunkard?" Tidus looked at Auron curiously. He was sure he knew already, but he needed to hear it from Auron's lips. Auron looked up to Tidus, but chose to ignore him for now; He would explain soon enough, and the boy would have to wait just like the others. A look of dissapointment arose within Tidus' facial expression; Why was Auron holding it back from him? Auron turned his gaze back towards Yuna and the others. There was a short pause, and he continued.

"When we arrived at the jail, there were Guards everywhere. It had seemed that the man had regained consciousness before they'd locked him in a cell, and there had evidentally been a struggle. We asked calmly to see the man, Braska posing as an old friend in order to acquire permission to do so. When we finally approached the cell, well..."

(- - Flashback - -)

"My word... this place looks like a battlefield. He must've caused quite a struggle to make this kind of mess." I felt obliged to try and make Braska realise we needn't be there for very long; My aim was to show him that the drunkard was dangerous and then get out of Bevelle as soon as possible.

"We don't know where he got the strength from, he almost turned over the whole watch! We had to call in some Monks to help keep control of him, but he's safely in a cell now. He must've drunk a load though, he keeps shouting that he's from Zanarkand! Have you ever heard something so absurd?" A Guard was leading us towards his cell, and felt the need to talk to us almost all of the way there; I however was not in the mood to dignify his speech with a response. The Bevelle Guards always did have the idea that they had priority over the Monks, and that they could push them around. Such a distinction between the Guards and the Monks didn't really exist, however the Monks always worked hard to make sure they didn't make any mistakes that would endanger their chances of finishing their 3 year service to the Grand Maester; and so the Guards often used this chance to push the Monks around, knowing that any retaliation could be reported to the Grand Maester... and their service, along with their title, could be taken away from them.

"You're not going to reply Monk? I think I'm doing you a favour here, letting you see this criminal... don't you?" The Guard's manner turned from friendly to quite the opposite; Evidentally he didn't like my manner.

"You are not doing anything for me, you are doing this for Summoner Braska. That is what is required of a Guard, is it not? To do as ones in higher positions ask? I suppose we could have approached Grand Maester Jyscal in person before-hand to request direct permission, although I'm sure as a last wish from a Summoner on his way to defeat sin, a Grand Maester would permit such a request. Do you wish for us to do such a thing, and then return?" I spoke as calmly as I could, although I made it obvious that I wasn't in the mood to go traipsing around Bevelle searching for 'permission' to see a criminal that meant nothing to me. The Guard seemed to just give in, it had obviously been a long day for him too.

"Well, here he is. Don't expect to get any sense out of him though." The Guard pointed us towards a dull and dark cell in the corner, and walked back towards his position at the front desk.

"Well?" I looked to Braska. I had no intentions of going near the man, and so I stood still, arms crossed and motioning with my head for Braska to go on without me. The man couldn't exactly hurt Braska, after all... he was behind bars.

"Very well, I won't be long Auron." Braska turned and walked confidently towards the last cell on the right. He peered through, seeing the man laying on the floor. I was about 10 feet away, but could hear clearly what was being said.

"Ahem... Sir? I wonder, if you would do me the honor of answering a few questions I have?" Braska asked in a low tone, unsure of what the answer would be. The man got up, and walked over to the bars, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"Who're you? You a counselor - here to see if I'm insane? Bah! I'm no crazy drunkard... although I have to admit, I've had a few..." The man began to count on his fingers how many drinks he could recall that he had drunk, losing count comically after ten.

"I heard you claim you are from Zanarkand, is this true? Do you really believe you are from that City?" Braska came to the point quickly, seeing how aggitated I had become already waiting for him; He had no time to explain who he was, and why he was there.

"... they told me that it's impossible, that I must have drunk too much... as if the place didn't even exist! But you... you've heard of Zanarkand?" All of a sudden the man seemed sound of mind, and quite interested in hearing Braska's response. It obviously surprised Braska, as he stood back a step.

"Firstly it was not myself who heard your claims, it was my Guardian..." Braska turned to face me, "Auron, please come down here."

I reluctantly began walking towards the man's cell. I knew Braska would try to bring me into this, and there was little I could do about it now, although if I played my card right I could get us out of there quicker.

"You! I know you... you're the one that hit me! I thought you were different, could see something in your eyes that made me think you would listen. Suppose I was wrong..." The man quickly recognised me, but seemed despondant towards me now, and this didn't exactly surprise me. I simply ignored the man and looked to Braska.

"Surely you've been here long enough? We must leave." I told him bluntly.

Braska sighed, and then looked towards the man once again. "There is one more thing I need to ask. Why is it, that Zanarkand is so important to you? I cannot understand, as much as I ponder over it."

The man looked intently towards Braska, with a tear in his eye. "My family... they are in Zanarkand. Everything... it's all in Zanarkand." His head dropped and tilted to one side, this seemed to bring him to state of depression.

Braska looked down towards his feet - raising his hand to his chin in thought, and then after a few seconds looked back up towards the man. "I don't know why I'm saying this, but... I am travelling towards Zanarkand. If you are that desperate to return there, for whatever reason it may be... I could use another strong Guardian. What if I were to strike a deal with you? I can get you out of here, and I can lead you to Zanarkand - providing you are willing to help Auron protect me during our journey there."

"Braska! What on earth are you suggesting? Think about this for just one second - It's insane!" I couldn't believe what Braska was suggesting! He would ask a criminal to be his Guardian? I simply couldn't see why Braska would do such a thing, and I made sure he understood how I felt.

"Calm down Auron, I see no insanity in this man, and I can't leave him to be unjustly trialed simply for believing he lives in Zanarkand! I am aware that it is a sacred place, but that doesn't mean that a man such as this couldn't be living there. I am aware it wouldn't be the most comfortable living conditions, but it's not completely implausable." Braska replied calmly and confidentally.

I was left speechless. I let out a sigh of discontentment, and stood back a couple of feet. "If that is what you wish Braska, do so... after all, it is your journey as I have already said once today... I am simply here to protect you, whether it be from fiends or other people." I turned and walked away, completely taken-aback. This day had been wierd enough as it was, but we still had had to leave for the Thunder Plains before dark. "I will wait for you at the gates." I shouted back to them both as I walked out of the jail.

(- - End of flashback - -)

"That man, he became my fathers Guardian? That must mean that he was Sir Jecht!" Yuna realised, shouting aloud.

"Yes, that is true." Auron smiled, looking over towards Tidus. Tidus looked back and smiled accordingly, he knew now wasn't the time to tell them that his father was still in Spira, in the form of Sin. He tilted his head a little, and Auron nodded towards him, realising what was on his mind. Auron decided to continue quickly before anyone else asked questions that could not yet be answered.

"As far as I am aware, the man... that is Jecht, was ecstatic to hear Braska's proposal, and accepted without delay. Braska went about arranging things, convincing the Guards that it was a worthwhile cause for letting him go, especially considering they had no solid proof against his deeds, whatever they were. I have no idea how Braska knew that they had no proof to this day; Who knows, perhaps he didn't... but whatever the case, they let him go without a fight, and soon they met me at the gate. Braska then decided, much to my dismay may I add, that he actually wished to obtain the Aeon from within the Bevelle Temple whilst we were still here; Then say his last goodbyes to the City that day, before we left." Auron continued.

"So that's where my fathers pilgrimage actually began, in Bevelle." Yuna stated.

"That is true also." Auron smiled at Yuna. "I permitted him to approach the Temple on his own, and to take his time saying goodbye to the City he loved so much. I had by now infact given up on the idea of leaving before it became dark; Besides, we had an extra Guardian, who by what I had seen was quite strong, so I assumed we would cope fine travelling through the Thunder Plains with his help. Of course, I was aware I would need to keep an eye on him at the same time; After all, I had no real reason to trust this man, even if Braska felt we did."

"So, eventually you left Bevelle with the both of them?" Lulu asked.

"Yes, after a little while Braska returned from the Temple, and asked that we leave as soon as possible. He had said his goodbyes, and didn't want to linger around anymore. 'Goodbye is goodbye. It needn't be prolonged by a yearning not to leave, or I may decide never to leave' - I believe that is how Braska put it. Shortly thereafter the three of us found ourselves outside the gates, and starting our very own journey towards Besaid."

Well there we have it, I just really hope it was worth the wait, because not a lot happened! Although I did (finally) introduce you all to Jecht; I took my time huh? Lol! The next chapter will be briefly discussing their journey to Besaid, and hopefully will have them arriving there by the end of the chapter, so most likely I'll post 2 chapters at once next time. That way you won't be bored with them just travelling!

As always, please review - it's the only way my stories will improve! Have your say! Hehe :o)

Thanks! Til next time!