I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or Final Fantasy 10

Folks some of you are complaining about the shortness. Keep in mind this; this is my first foray into this genre. I may know a bit about 10 and 10-2, and know a little bit as well about 7. The fact of the matter is...THIS IS MY FIRST.

I'm kind of trying hard not to screw it up. You want it longer, you write it yourself. Talk to James D Fawkes and see about doing his challenge as I have done.

Anyhow hope you like and please continue to review as you have been. Thank you very much!

Flounces away with a swirl of skirt...

Chapter 16

Djose Temple 1

With the temple itself only being a few short hours walking from the battle site, it did not take long for Yuna or her guardians to make it to the temple. The young woman smiling with joy, she paused as her eyes widen.

"Oh...someone is inside the temple praying to the Fayth."

"Really?" Tidus asked as he took in the floating rocks. Cloud and Vincent beside him looking up as well, both men could sense the intense thunder magic infused within the rocks of the mountain.

"Yes." Lulu responded as she tried not to sound exasperated as she exclaimed. "Here, whenever a summoner is praying to the Fayth in Djose, the rocks will fly and spread out. Signifying that the summoner is undergoing their test..."

"Who is the one they are praying to?" The younger blonde asked inquisitively.

"Ixion." Yuna piped in as she approached with a bright smile. Her features lighting up, as the rocks go back to their positions. "Oh...whoever it is must be done now. Come it is our turn is it not?"

The guardians nodding their head simply, Tidus links arms with Yuna as they talk. Both young and seemingly innocent, Cloud is startled as Vincent speaks up. The other man had been quiet as he usually is, had been simply observing, and he could not help but notice the reactions of those other then himself and Cloud watching.

"This journey of hers...it is one that will take her life isn't it?"

"More then likely." Cloud responded quietly. "All summoners who have gone to face Sin since Yunalesca's time have died in the process of fighting the creature. Most of the time, they take it with them. But it always comes back... time and time again."

"Then why journey if that always happens?"

"Because even if only for a little while. A chance not to worry can go a long way to having a peaceful life." Auron replied as he had been behind them. "It is a story that never ends..."

"All stories end." Vincent states as he shouts of his name as well as Auron's and Cloud's erupt from Wakka and the younger blonde. "You just have to read between the lines to see how to do it."

"Hn... That is my point exactly." The former monk said simply. "It is why I seek to end it."

No comments being made at his response the two men nod their heads in understanding. Vincent silent and thoughtful, he looked to the older man with a curious gaze. "You know why this is happening."

Nodding his head simply, the older man responds as he keeps an eye on his charges. Both of which even now were meeting a young man named Isaaru and his brothers Maroda and Pacce.

"I know many things." He commented without missing a beat as he joined the others. "No one has asked the right question though to find out."

His words just as puzzling as that of Bahamut's, the two men were thoughtful and quiet as they all went to take the trials. Thoughtful to say the least, they stopped as Tidus's name was shouted out by the youth. The younger blonde startled, Cloud and the others watched as he ran to the dark haired youth,

Words being exchanged, the dark haired youth eventually left as he followed his older and younger brother away from Djose. Tidus thoughtful as he stood there, it was Cloud who approaches the youth as he stands there looking out into the distance.

"What happened?"

"Maroda was warning me about something, he and Isaaru thought we should know."

"What is it?"

"Apparently there's a rumor that someone is kidnapping summoners as they take their journey, when they least expect it."

Listening as he did, Cloud nodded his head as Isaaru nods his head towards them one last time before the doors of the temple close. "It was good of them to tell us."

"They could be lying for all we know though." The younger man stated. "I mean take Dona for example. She did all she could to sabotage Yuna those times we ran into her."

"True, she did." The older man said simply. "But tell me Tidus, while you and the others were talking with him and his brothers. Did Isaaru seem the type?"

Shaking his head the blond replied in the negative. "No in fact, he was a good guy. He and Yuna agreed to have a race of sorts to see who gets to beat Sin first. In fact if anything, I would say he was to honest."

"If that is the case, then why would he lie?" Cloud responded with a tilt of his head. "He would truly have nothing to gain by it. By taking their journey and taking on Sin are they not helping the people?"

"I don't know..." The young man answered as he was deep in thought. Watching as he pushes it to the back of his mind for now, Cloud hears the curiosity in his voice as he speaks again. "So if what Maroda said is true. What do we do?"

"We do nothing." Replied Vincent, who had been listening to the two blonde males speak.

"We just can't sit back and do nothing! Yuna is in danger!"

"No she isn't." Vincent said simply. "Yuna is here. Will you ever leave her side?"

"Of course not! I'm a guardian now and I have to help protect...." Realizing what the black haired man was doing, Tidus just gave him a look and shook his head sheepishly. "Thanks."

A simple nod of his head is his response as the blonde runs by to join said young woman who looked at him with puzzlement. The others wondering what the long discussion had been about Vincent just went up to join them along with Cloud. The two of them silent, as they join the others to do what must be done...

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

Three hours later

Having gone through the trials fairly quick, Yuna had gone to pray to the Fayth. Cloud, Tidus, and the rest of the guardians just waiting outside, as the stoic and yet paternal figure of Kimahri guards the entrance to the Fayth.

Prayers and thoughts filling the room, they all stand as the door to the chamber opens. Walking out in a daze the young woman, as she had done before in Killika and on Besaid, collapses into the arms of the Ronso who had raised her, "I am all right..."

Turning to Cloud and Vincent now, the young woman gives a look of determination as in her hand is a violet swirling ball of electric energy. Like before with the one of pure black, the fire red, or the swirling light...

This small orb pulsed with intense power.

"Ixion bade me give this to you Cloud and Vincent. He said you would know what it was and what it can be used for."

"He is one I do not know, but tell him thank you and that we will use it well."

Smiling brightly, the girl's eyes flash momentarily with lighting. "He says that you are most welcome." She chirped with warmth. Leaning onto Kimahri, who supports her, the blue cat man swung her easily onto his back.

"Yuna rest now..."

Nodding her head tiredly, the young woman closes her eyes and promptly goes to sleep. As the others were smiling indulgently as she slumbers, Vincent takes in the young woman with quiet thought.

His own experiences with the beast aside him not good. He can not help but wonder how this young woman handles the spirits of the summons within her. Each one immensely strong in their own right, he can not help but admire her quiet strength of will.

"How...how does she do it?"

"Keep control?" Auron worded as he approaches. Cloud talking with Lulu who was currently quizzing him about what he has been receiving from the Aeons along with Wakka. "They train for it in the temples. Constant practice to shield one's mind from that of the others within the body, it allows them to prepare for when they are able to obtain the Final Aeon in Zanarkand."

"Final Aeon...what makes this one different?"

Smiling Auron looked at Vincent who stared back at him in wonder. "It is said to be the husband of the first ever Summoner Yunalesca." The man replied without missing a beat. The way he said it seemingly as if it was nothing, Vincent looks at him with a look of knowledge in his eyes.

"He's dead isn't he...?"

Pausing in mid stance, Auron looks at the all too perceptive Vincent with a calm gaze about his features. "Now that was the first right question anyone has ever asked me."

That said, the man still walks off without ever answering it. The simple look he had given the gunman was enough to know that the thoughts Vincent was having concerning what was going on in Spira.

Were more then likely the correct ones....