Sorry this is so late! But better late than never, right? This one's super short, but I hope that's okay.
Enjoy!


Chapter Thirty-One

The party left early the next morning. After just a few minutes' walk through the edge of Macalania woods, they emerged on a cliff overlooking beautiful plains. There was nothing but thick green grass, swaying in the wind, and far as the eye could see.
"The Calm Lands," Lulu said. The gentle, cool breeze stirred her long black hair. "Long ago, the high summoners fought Sin here. The road ends here. Beyond, there're no towns, no villages. Only endless plains."
"Many summoners stray from their path and lose their way here," Auron said.
Yuna strode out to the front of the group, staring out over the Calm Lands. Rippling grass, bright blue sky, the occasional grazing wild chocobo; that was all there was to see. Yuna leaned backward, falling to rest in the soft, thick grass. She stared wistfully up at the sky, odd eyes bright.
"I've always known where to go," Yuna breathed out.
Tidus walked over to Yuna and bent down, taking her hand and helping her back up.
"I… I won't let you die," Tidus said softly. "I'll find a way, somehow."
Yuna stared back at him for a few moments before turning back to the others.
"Let's go."
I told Yuna I would find a way. I guess I wanted to believe that words could make it come true.

The party carried on through the Calm Lands. They were, as the name implied, blissfully calm. Auron explained, however, that this was not the reason they were called that. The Calm Lands, because of the lack of people there, were the traditional place for a High Summoner's battle with Sin. Therefore, the Calm Lands were the place where the Calm was brought about. They traveled all throughout the day, stopping briefly at noon for a quick meal. As the sun was setting, bathing the Calm Lands in a beautiful crimson light, the party came upon a Travel Agency. It was agreed they would rest there for the night. This Travel Agency was much smaller and more ramshackle than the others, but it would serve their purposes.
The party dispersed just outside the agency, within their fence where the grass was shorter. They all were silent, watching the sunset. It was so quiet and peaceful; talking almost seemed like a crime.
A man dressed in long green monk's robes entered the Travel Agency's gates, head for the party. Lulu spun around, looking shocked.
"Father Zuke!" she cried.
"Long time no see," Zuke said to Lulu, then turned to Yuna as she approached. "You are Yuna?" he asked. "Hmm… You certainly don't look like Maester Kinoc's murderer."
"What'd you say?" Wakka asked, eyes wide. Tidus, too, couldn't believe what he was hearing. People though they killed Kinoc?
"Please, tell us what happened!" Yuna said.
"Maester Mika just issued a personal order, you know," Zuke explained. "It said that you and your guardians murdered Maester Kinoc and fled. We are to kill you on sight, or so it says."
"What of Bevelle?" Auron asked.
"Things are calm on the surface," Zuke replied, "but the depths are turbulent. After the death of Maester Kinoc, Kelk Ronso left Yevon."
"Convenient," Auron said with a scoff. "Getting around will be easier with Yevon in disarray."
"But be careful my friends," Zuke said. "You have been branded enemies of Yevon. You should avoid temples for the time being."
"Thank you, Father Zuke, for your warning." Yuna made a prayer bow to Zuke.
Lulu walked up to Zuke. "Father, you came all the way here just to tell us this?"
"To tell the truth," Zuke replied, "I was a little curious to see this summoner you are guarding. I hope her pilgrimage goes well. For your sake, too."
Lulu nodded. "Thank you, Father."
"I must be off," Zuke said. He made a prayer bow to Lulu, and she returned it. "I shall pray for all of you."
Zuke turned and left, walking away over the green plains, awash with sunset light.
"Who was that?" Tidus asked, turning to Lulu.
"Until half a year ago, he was a summoner," Lulu replied. "Wakka and I were his guardians."
"It was kind of a short pilgrimage," Wakka said.
"He gave up halfway," Lulu sighed. "Here, on this plain. Now, he is a monk at the Bevelle Temple." Lulu let out another sigh, turning her gaze towards the blazing red horizon. "This is my third pilgrimage as a guardian. Father Zuke was my second. And my first, well… It ended here, too. I've never been to the lands beyond."
Leaving Lulu with her thoughts, Tidus went over to talk with Rikku. She was staring nervously at Yuna.
"She's not stopping, is she?" Rikku asked.
"Yuna… She's made her decision," Tidus said with a sigh.
"But, I can't just let her go," Rikku said. Her voice was edged with desperation.
"We won't have to," Tidus said. "We'll save Yuna even if she calls the Final Aeon." Somehow. I've got no clue how, but… somehow.
"But how?" Rikku asked to one question Tidus couldn't answer.
"Mmm… I'll think of a way," Tidus replied. A terrible answer, but it was the best he had.
"But what if you can't?" Rikku asked.
Tidus let out a groan. "I'm tired of talking to you. It's always 'but' this, 'but' that."
"But…" Rikku trailed off, hanging her head. Tidus let out a sigh; maybe he had been a little harsh.
"Let's think together!" he said, hoping his cheerful voice would cheer Rikku back up.
"Okay," Rikku sighed.
"And, if we can't think of something…" Tidus said resolutely, "we find another way!"
"Okay!" Rikku nodded vigorously. She plopped down on the grass, wearing her intent thinking face. Tidus had to try hard not to laugh at her. She leaned her head on one hand, her face all scrunched up. At least she's trying hard. Hopefully one of us can come up with something, and soon. Time is running out…

They left early the next morning. The Calm Lands were just the same as they had been the day before, vast and peaceful. The party traveled until noon, when they reached the foot of a mountain. The grass grew sparser here, and great rock walls on all sides made Tidus feel like he was at the bottom of a gorge. There was a large gorge below them, past where the trail dropped away. From the dusty path they traveled on, Tidus spied a cave entrance down below.
"Hey! What's down there?" he asked, pointing to the cave.
"That is the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth," Lulu said. She spoke slowly, her amber-red eyes looking distant.
"Here, summoners can obtain the aeon known as Yojimbo," Auron explained. "This powerful aeon can be useful, but it is not an essential part of a summoner's training. Braska did not obtain Yojimbo."
Lulu nodded. "Many summoners do, however, attempt to reach the fayth. It is a very dangerous path."
Wakka suddenly gasped. "Hey. This where…" Lulu nodded. Her eyes held that faraway look.
"Where what?" Tidus prodded.
"The summoner I guarded on my first pilgrimage…" Lulu sucked in a deep breath, "died here."
There was a moment of silence, then Auron turned to Yuna.
"Yuna. Do you wish to train with Yojimbo, or shall we carry on towards Zanarkand?"
"We will continue on," Yuna replied without hesitation. "I do not believe it is worth the risk."
"Very well," Auron nodded. "Let's go, then." He carried on down the path towards a bridge that crossed over the gorge. Everyone followed, but Lulu lingered a moment. The wind stirred at her inky black hair, pushing back her bangs enough that her right eye could be seen. She stared down at the cavern, perhaps saying a final farewell to her first summoner.

The group crossed over the bridge. The structure was old and made of wood, but surprisingly sturdy. It made quiet creaking noises as the party crossed over it. Beyond, the path sloped upward abruptly, climbing the stony cliffs up to the mountain beyond. As they crossed the bridged and headed for the path, Yuna stopped and stared over the peaceful plains of the Calm Lands. She did this often, just staring off into the distance. Tidus finally understood why.
She was saying goodbye to the placed she'd never see again.