5. DEATH
Some hours of peace were spent resting at the only inn along the road to the coast. I found myself alone in my room for much of the time, naked except for my undergarments and trying to ease the pain flowing over my body. As a 'legendary' guardian I could afford to show no weakness at any time; doing so could result in their strength and resolve failing, and this was something I could not allow to happen.
After a long bath of near-boiling water (provided through pipes, in a show of Al Bhed defiance through their use of machina) I stood before a mirror and examined my scars. They covered my skin from the neck downwards, long slashes that served as reminders of the life I had led. I noted in particular the scar I had dreamt of, the one that had rendered me near-blind and convinced me to take up my glasses.
I touched a finger to it, repulsed at the smoothness and angry that I could feel my eye behind the skin and yet could do nothing to bring back my sight. It had been irreversibly damaged. I could recall laying at the base of Gagazet, dying alone in the cold snow, watching Kimahri fade into the distance toward Bevelle and feeling warm liquid fall from my torn eyelid. My hair had been matted with blood, numerous cuts refusing to heal.
And that one single wound inflicted by Yunalesca- a gap across my torso where her spell had torn it just enough that I would bleed to death before I reached help -had left the largest scar of all when it murdered me, and not only a physical one.
I turned from the mirror and pulled each piece of my clothing back on, allowing myself the freedom of not wearing my constricting belt. The overcoat felt lighter without it and allowed me decency without restriction.
Glancing out the window, I noted Yuna sitting on the edge of the cliff that lined the road, hunched over but seemingly calm. Before I could discover what exactly held her attention so strongly Tidus strode across the road, stumbled as a fast-moving chocobo rider went running past, and then sat down beside her and smiled.
He was a ridiculous boy sometimes, but as I watched Yuna laugh and smile brightly at him I knew he was exactly what she would need to keep going.
We reached the coast the following day following a run-in with a fiend who had taken to tearing apart the chocobos and spreading them across the road. I had my doubts that he had merely 'happened' to come across the well-guarded inn and eat the only form of transportation, but as I had no proof I kept my concerns to myself. There had been enough left afterwards for most of our group and Tidus and Yuna had been paired on the same to accommodate this.
We were stopped at the arch of rock that signaled the transition from the plains of Mi'ihen to the stone path along Mushroom Rock Road. The reason given was weak- that any and all civilians would be required to set up camp until after Operation Mi'ihen, the attack on Sin, later that day.
"So that we all can die alongside you?" I remarked dryly. The guard's expression faltered only for a second.
"The Operation will be successful and you will be allowed to continue on your way after it's completion. At this time, however, you must either travel back to the inn on the plains or find some place to sleep here."
I gripped the hilt of my sword on my belt tightly and narrowed my eyes at him. "Your Operation is foolishness and you will let the Summoner pass."
"I'm sorry, sir. My orders come straight from the Maester."
"Let them pass." I turned to the source of the voice and found before me the same Maester that had been present in Luca for the attack on the stadium. He stepped forward and waved a hand to the guard, who nodded in resignation and went back to his post.
The Maester's eyes, I noted warily, dwelt on Yuna. He turned to face me and I stared openly back at him, our considerable height equal and therefore not in the least intimidating for either. An eyebrow raised, he gave me a look that chilled to the bone and for the first time I noted his tendril-like fingers and the pattern on his chest that resembled the rings of a tree. He was a Guado.
He knew I was dead.
I stepped away from the group as his dialogue turned to Yuna and her journey, panic rising in my chest. Were the rest to know, the Pilgrimage would end, and with it any chance of being rid of Sin. I looked over my shoulder back to the Maester, who now seemed amused and unconcerned with matters related to a long-dead guardian.
We were led down the road along the coast. Machina lined the cliffside, their use a mystery to all save the Al Bhed now working on them. The Maester- Seymour being his name, I discovered whilst listening to whispered sighs thanks and praise from Wakka at my side -was taking us toward what he called the 'Command Center'. In reality it was a line of couches, tents and curtains had been raised to house the Maesters as they oversaw the final preparations for their last-ditch attack.
Maester Seymour excused himself for a final inspection and we were left standing alone on the ridge looking out over the disturbingly still water and listening to the din of conversation around us. Soon after Seymour left, the young Crusader that had identified himself as Gatta in Mi'ihen strode past, pausing as he noticed the Lady Yuna.
I listened only half-heartedly to their conversation, something about being free to fight for his family and Luzzu being unfair- I was distracted by a form that now stood near the cliff with his hands on his ample hips, calling out cheerful commendations to the men below.
The last time I had seen Wen Kinoc he had been accepting my promotion to leader of the Bevelle branch of warrior monks and preaching about the glories of Yevon. He had also been far more in shape. He turned, panting as he descended the wooden platform beneath his feet to reach the grass, and for the first time noticed me.
"Well I'll be an Al Bhed's aunt. If it isn't Auron!"
I nodded shortly to him in reply. There was no desire in me to speak with Kinoc. Not since he had assented to my imprisonment following my refusal of betrothal and had laughed as I sat in my cell, waiting for the freedom that Braska eventually offered.
"Where have you been, old man?" he asked with a jovial slap of my elbow (he stood no higher than mid-chest, and yet wider than Tidus and I side-by-side).
I ignored his query. "You're a Maester now?" I could barely disguise the tone of disgust. Kinoc seemed not to notice, grinning widely.
"Promotion is all it is. Commendation of service, blah blah, nothing important. A lot has changed in ten years. What about you?"
I felt a smirk tug at my lips and I removed my glasses. Kinoc took in a sharp breath of surprise as he noted the scar stretching far down past my collar and he immediately tried to keep from staring. As the conversation with Gatta continued beside me, Kinoc led me away from the group a short distance and lowered his voice.
"What...happened to you, Auron?" he asked, his face possessing all the sympathy of a life-long friend. I contained my disgust.
"I grew up," I replied, suddenly aware of how gruff and hoarse my own voice had become. Kinoc, for all his physical changes, sounded and acted roughly the same. And yet, I had changed so much, even after death.
Perhaps it was a manifestation of my inner self.
Kinoc did not seem content with this answer, but chose not to press it. I halted any further discussion by asking, "What do you hope to accomplish with all this?"
He gestured to the machina lining the ridge. "What, this? These guns?" Kinoc laughed. "You know as well as I do this isn't going to work."
I looked sharply at him. "What?"
"Let them have their hope for a short time longer." Kinoc smiled sadly but, rather than empathy, I felt disgust. He had become so fully twisted by Yevon he truly believed Sin was a God incapable of defeat.
His name was heard then and Kinoc excused himself politely before he meandered back toward a group of other Maesters, Seymour included. They conversed for a few moments and then a chorus of "Sin comes!" was heard.
I looked out over the water and, indeed, he was in the distance, still no more than a dot on the horizon. All around men forced spears into the cages that now stood uncovered, stabbing the sinspawn within just enough to make them cry out in rage but not die. On the beach, men and women alike sat poised on their chocobos or stood on their own two feet, all a mask of bravery and terror.
Tidus and I shared a look. The sinspawn were not needed. Sin would come to any coast that Tidus stood on, would kill anything to get to him. There was still some of Jecht left within.
Sin drew closer, a low growl reverberating across the coastline. At the same time, a large structure resembling a canon seemed to thrum to life, a beam of energy forming at it's tip. I watched as Sin came almost deathly close and the cannon finally fired.
In the same instant Sin drew a field of energy around himself and the gun struck with little effect. The entire field of fighters below drew in a collective breath and we all watched and waited as the projectile fought to penetrate Sin's armor.
And then, with an ear-shattering blast that came on a rush of air, the beam reversed and struck the cannon. It exploded in a haze of fire and smoke and collapsed, taking with it anyone who dared to stand too close to the base.
I heard Yuna's gasp at my side as Sin surged forward, the spawn making their way across the water on nimble legs. The soldiers below rushed forward to meet them, swords held aloft as they cut through the fiends as if made of rice paper. Somewhere along the way I lost track of the two boys our group had been so focused on in Mi'ihen and silently hoped for my Summoner's sake that they would survive.
Then, as the Maesters shouted orders from above and the fighting became so frenzied that both Spirans and fiends seemed as a mass of one, Sin opened his mouth. At first the air went still, nature seeming to tremble in fear. The men and women carried on fighting, the Maesters shouting, and all I could hear was an awful, calm silence.
"Get down!" I yelled the instant the ball of energy released itself and surged toward the shore, growing greater in size with every inch it covered. I pulled Yuna against my chest, Tidus along with her, and shielded both beneath my body. The heat on my back was so strong I was forced to bite my cheek to keep from yelling in pain, and I couldn't see anything through the dust the attack had risen. Yuna shook against me, her tears soaking into the shoulder of my coat
Finally, everything was still.
I looked up and, seeing nothing but clouds of sand drifting across my field of vision, released the two of them from my grip. They rose to their feet, Yuna shakily performing the prayer of Yevon in thanks to me, and we three turned to look out over the sea.
Carnage, everywhere. Bodies lay torn and battered, only a few select still moving. Some had been reduced to mere piles of dust in the shape of Spirans and Al Bhed alike. There was no sign of the two boys from Besaid. All I could see for some distance were corpses and blood.
"It is worse than I thought," I said, my voice hoarse. I realised I was struggling not to kneel, biting back cries of rage and horror. What has Yevon done?
Tidus shook in anger, staring in amazement at all that surrounded him, and with a yell he ran forward, sliding down the embankment before us to reach the beach. I watched in dismay as he dove into the water after Sin's fast-retreating form, his strong swimming skills no match for the current.
I left him to his task and turned back to where our group had stood. With some relief I noted them all unscathed, but each bore a look of horror and dismay. The mage, Lulu, looked as if she would be sick and Wakka wrapped both arms around her shoulders, holding her tight as the tears fell. I turned away, my attention once more on Yuna.
She nearly dropped to her knees, save my catching her at the last moment. I watched as her face collapsed and she gripped the lapels of my overcoat, burying her face against my chest and silently crying. I stood there, allowed her some time for tears, and then pushed her back and lifted her chin.
"You are a Summoner. You are Spira's hope. You must remain strong, especially now."
Some seconds passed and then she nodded, her face now a mask of false bravery. She reached for her staff and turned from us, striding toward the beach where Tidus now moved slowly amongst the bodies having given up his chase. Reaching him, they shared some words, and then she began her dance of sending.
I left them, making my way back to the main road, the call of rest and of peace too great for me even from the distance I stood. I was not done here yet, and I refused to leave.
Come for the aurikku, stay for the naked! Or...vice-versa. In any case, timeline: pause in Djose, ride across the Moonflow, and then fwa-bam: Rikku. That's when the fun starts.
Until then, here. Have more description. Long chapter is long. :D Thanks for reading!
