Yuna makes a play for allies that does not go as planned, but quick thinking allows for an unplanned surprise.

Other than a massive amount of editing for grammar/sentence clarity and a few new sentences added here and there this chapter remains mostly untouched. I just wrote the final chapter for the sequel today (save the epilogue and a few bonus!chapters) so expect these updates to come rather frequently now (maybe even two today?).

Thank you for the follows/reviews.

italics = denotes thought or memory

Not Mine

The First Summon

Yuna shivered wrapping her arms around her slight frame to try to warm herself. She didn't remember Macalania being so cold. She shivered again and hugged herself tighter, she looked over at Rikku a little jealous as Rikku happened to look overly comfy in her White Mage outfit. She would give anything to be wearing what Rikku was but she had chosen to wear something a little more appealing to the mages of Macalania and so she was wearing her Summoner outfit, which didn't cover much. Not only that but her head hurt. Trying to keep the greatest evil from invading her mind and figuring out a way to beat it at the same time was hard work and she had a constant headache behind her eyes now. It was like little pinpricks in the back of her mind stabbing her over and over again. Tidus seemed to be helping best he could and every once in a while the pain would fade, but in the end Tidus couldn't really do much since he was himself slowly being taken over by that same evil. She puffed on her hands in a failed attempt to warm them up.

After a while Rikku noticed her discomfort and gave her the dressphere that she was wearing going back to her thief garb and refusing to take it back when Yuna insisted that she didn't need it. Yuna thanked her and quickly changed, the priests would just have to deal. Of course now Rikku was cold leaving her body in a bit of a predicament. And as she gripped her body as Yuna had once done, trying to warm herself up it made Yuna felt guilty - even though there was nothing to be done. Auron noticed Rikku's plight and being rather immune to the cold lent her his coat, draping it over her shoulders, Rikku smiled up at him wondering if this was how they were now, at the stage of giving each other comfort but silently as they figured each other out, "Thanks."

Tidus was laughing in Yuna's head at the scene in front of them, Yuna sighed, "What is so funny?"

"He likes her, I couldn't see it before but he likes her."

Yuna, realizing that this was a private conversation stopped speaking aloud and went into that space in her mind where only she and Tidus could hear what was being said, "What? No! That's gross! He's too old for her!"

"That's an understatement if there ever was one."

Yuna's face screw up as she tried to think of her baby cousin and her father figure like that, it didn't do her mind any favors and she ended up scrunching her nose up even further. Everyone looked at her, she waved them off, "What do you mean?"

Tidus remained silent refusing to answer her and Yuna sighed and rubbed her temples as a small headache overtook her. It was about this time that she looked up and saw the large building that housed the fayth, they had arrived without her realizing it. Everyone remained quiet as Yuna entered the place of worship. A priest was the first to see her and stop her from coming inside, "The traitor is not allowed to enter this sacred establishment."

"I wish to speak to the priest in charge of this temple. We won't cause a scene we have already done enough damage." Yuna said softly.

The man in front of them seemed to consider what Yuna was saying and finally nodded - what was the worst she could do at this point. He stepped aside to let them in. When they reached the main entrance of the temple they had to wait for a few moments before the priest in charge came out from the main cloister. His face was marred in lines his jaw set, nothing about him was friendly. Yuna bowed to him, "Can we speak in private?"

"No. If you have anything to say traitor, you can say it in front of the Gods."

A scowl of anger appeared on Yuna's face and she quickly drew it back before anyone could see it. She tucked a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face behind her ear and looked him in the eyes defiantly, "I wish to become your high summoner, since you don't have one. I know that I am a traitor, but I wish to do good. I understand it is a foolish venture but The Calm has come, surely forgiveness must follow."

Yuna could see the priest laughing at her with his eyes, mocking her for coming to see him. For even attempting what she was trying to do. Of course he was actually silent, but she could just see the wheels in his head moving. Inside Yuna was a whirlwind of emotion. She was getting sick of this; sick of people telling her she was wrong that she wasn't worth anything. Tired of people dying for a cause that was unjust. And when the priest answered she felt like throttling him, "You?" he almost sneered, "You want to help us? After all you did? After killing our high summoner you want to take his place? Are you mad? You preach goodness but there is not a good bone in your body."

"I did what I thought was right. What Lord Seymour was doing was wrong."

He clicked his tongue, spit flew from his mouth as if he was a rabid dingo, "So you take him from us? You acted as if you are Sin himself, come to judge us."

Yuna shook her head, "No that's not…"

He hissed at her, "Get out."

Yuna felt the tick at the back of her mind grow and she wanted to shout at him, yell at him. Something pushing her into anger when normally she would be calm. She had done what was right. Yuna was able to fight off that feeling and center herself. She nodded and motioned to the rest of the group that had come with her that it was time to go.

Once outside she stared downward at the ground dejected - which is how she noticed something and she found herself actually contemplating it. The pathway to the fayth was right below the small ice road they were standing on. She gauged the distance to see if she could make it. And came to a conclusion - she could. Changing quickly into the thief dressphere she took a rope out of one of the pouches and tossed it to Rikku who grabbed it uncertain of what her cousin was going to do. She opened her mouth to ask just what Yuna was going to attempt but it was too late. Yuna changed into her gunner outfit and then rushed forward, jumping over the edge. This happened all within seconds. Rikku watched in fear and then in confusion digging her feet into the ground as to not go over the edge herself. Lulu saw what was going on ran to help smaller girl, taking hold of the rope as well.

Yuna landed perfectly and looked up and waved at Rikku and Lulu so that they would know that she was okay. The women up top waved down at her in recognition that she had survived, and Yuna then ran to the chamber of the fayth.

Inside the chamber the fayth of Shiva appeared and looked at Yuna, when Shiva finally realized what she was looking at she became frightened, "How dare you bring that into this chamber!"

Yuna looked at the fayth confused, "Bring what into the chamber?"

The woman narrowed her eyes, "Don't play coy with me. I know you brought him with you!"

At that Tidus's voice resonated throughout the chamber, "I don't mean you any harm. And Yuna's intentions are good. Do not belittle her because of me."

Yuna had the good faith to looked startled. She didn't know the fayth would be able to tell that she was carrying Sin around with her. That Sin was part of her soul. She knew she shouldn't be surprised however, the fayth were almost like gods. Shiva could see into the depths of her soul. And she saw the darkness in it. The darkness that was waiting to consume Yuna.

Yuna wondered if it also saw that Tidus was fighting to keep himself at bay, if it saw the she too was fighting to keep him from truly destroying her. And she believed it could, "Sin? Protecting a summoner, I have never seen anything like it in my life." the fayth spoke awed confirming her suspicions, "I do believe that this is something new to me."

The fayth smiled at her. Yuna bowed again, "It happened when I killed Sin." she paused, "I have come to you to inquire upon a second contract between us, a partnership."

"Ah, so the final summoning does drain the summoner of their abilities to summon. I never knew if it were true or not. Although we have never had a chance to find out - until you. A rare sight indeed. So be it. My power is yours again."

A bright light filled the chamber and when it cleared the fayth was gone and Yuna was standing alone in the circle breathless.

Far above her everyone else wasn't faring as well. As soon as Yuna had jumped off the small ledge they had been attacked by temple guards who had started questioning them as to why they were still there and where Yuna had gone. The guards had charged the group of adventures and they had been instantly drawn into combat.

Lulu dodged the one that was attacking her and found that another guard was behind her. She turned around and cast flare, quickly getting rid of him. She looked round to see Rikku playing around in the thief outfit, dodging, attacking, and pilfering gil from the unsuspecting guards. Finally one of the guards got the better of her and managed to stun her. That gave the other three guards a chance to attack, and they were on her like ants. Lulu tried to reach her in time but found her path blocked by another guard. This one happened to have a macina by his side and she growled aggravated at having to deal with two at once. She watched as Paine rushed to Rikku's side and quickly changed from the Trainer dressphere to the Warrior outfit so she could slice and dice her way to the badly beaten girl, who to her credit was fighting the men attacking her as well as she could.

Auron on the other hand was easily beating off the people who were attacking him, just dodging and counter attacking, his large sword making quick work of those that came at him thinking him an easy target. Lulu glared at the men in front of her, and cast Ulitma on the two guards who dared to attack her and then sent her moggle after the last man who was still standing there stupidly. Her own fight over she rushed over to help Paine who was still struggling with the two guards who were left around Rikku, who was now free from the group attack and doing her best to give them hell. Lulu heard a cry from below the ravine and watched as Auron ran to help Yuna climb back up the rope as he was the only one free to do so. When Yuna got up to the icy path there were still three guards left, "Everyone clear!" she yelled.

Everyone scattered as Yuna began her summon. Ice crystals dropped behind her and the transparent figure of Shiva appeared behind them. When the ice crystals broke Shiva was standing there. She pulled off her scarf and threw it at Yuna who caught the familiar object with an odd sort of happiness that she could once again summon these creatures of beauty, but a small part of her felt hatred for what had happened to Tidus. This is what he had become after all, how he had been taken from her. Shiva looked her way and suddenly all the hate was gone because she knew just by looking at the icy woman that the Aeon was just as sad and devastated about what had happened as Yuna was. She looked up just as Shiva let out a destructive diamond dust attack, destroying everything in its path. As Yuna watched the people be defeated she knew, that some part of her, some deep, dark part of her, a part of her she called Sin was rejoicing. When the battle was over Shiva disappeared and they were left with the remains of a dark and lonely battlefield.

Yuna took this time to walk over to Rikku who Lulu had done her best to heal. Yuna knelled down and laid her hands on Rikku slowly curing her wounds, "You okay?"

Rikku nodded yes, and looked at Yuna, "That's the question I should be asking you isn't it?"

Yuna sighed, "I'm fine, really."

Next to them Lulu pulled out her communicator device and called the down the airship. As soon as Rikku was fully healed and able to move again properly they went back inside. Yuna with a darker mind than she had when they had left.

A/N: Shiva is tied for my first favorite Aeon, I love it so much. Things start to get a little murkier next chapter as being close to Sin begins to take it's toll on Yuna.