“I felt it near here. I think the fayth is in the base of the tree.” Auron pointed out a large tree, with a stream arcing across one side of it. 

Auron was not unsympathetic to Yuna’s pain. He lost friends to the constant cycle of death that is Spira. He himself died in it. But he could not let his story end without safeguarding his closest friend’s daughter. 

And that meant getting to Yunalesca, and ending this once and for all. 

There is, perhaps, something watching them? Well hidden, but definitely there.

Auron senses it, the thrum of power. He’s not sure what it is, but it’s definitely paying attention to them. 

He guides Yuna to the fayth, but keeps half his mind on the source of power. 

The fayth is small, a boy trapped beneath glass. Yuna feels a thud of pain, of guilt. Without his sacrifice, she could not destroy Sin, and yet he was so young.

Tidus was young too, though not as young as the fayth. She still makes the connection, and her tears are harder to ignore. 

Lulu wraps an arm around Yuna’s shoulders, squeezing softly. “Take your time,” she says. 

After a moment, Yuna leans into Lulu’s touch, and then steadies herself. She kneels by the fayth, closes her eyes, and focuses on that tendril of connection. 

“Yevon, spirit within, hear my prayer,” she whispers. 

-Whatever's watching is closer now, on edge. The woods themselves seem almost panicked.

“We’ve got its attention.”

“How can you tell?” Yuna says, and looks where Auron is.

“Concentrate.”

Yuna returns to praying, but the hair on the back of her neck stands up. 

Flames light over the surface of the stream.

Yuna gasps, and flinches away from the stream, but doesn’t stop praying, hanging onto that little bit of connection. 

Lulu prepares a water spell, not sure how much good it will do, since the water was on fire. 

Kimhari growls, and readies his spear. 

“Something is here. Something that doesn’t want Yuna getting the aeon.”

“And what gave you that impression?” Lulu says drily, though inside she’s worried. 

-Did the fayth's eyes just open?

"You won't have me!"

There's far more fear and panic to the words than any certainty at all.

The fire isn't attacking them. Not really. It's just-

Trying to get them to leave? To drive them away from the tree and the fayth it contains?

The fayth...is awake? 

Yuna gasps and falls back, her heart in her throat. “The fayth is awake!”

“How?” Auron frowns staring at the raging, yet contained fire, one hand on his sword. 

“I don’t know. I didn’t know it was possible!” Yuna leans forward, pressing one hand onto the glass. The fayth’s eyes were open, and she did hear it speak- does he seem scared? 

“I promise I’m not going to hurt you. I need your strength to defeat Sin.”

"You'll just useuseuse, and hurthurthurt."

And it's panic, and resignation, and a sense that that's what everyone does.

The flames surge upwards, twisting together anxiously.

“No! I would never! My aeons are precious to me. I would never cause any of them harm!”

She can feel every single one of them, pressed to her heart. She loves them, they are her friends. Through her connection to the fayth, she sends that feeling, the love and comradery and friendship. 

-Complete confusion. He doesn't understand those feelings, has never experienced them.

Has only ever known hurt and fear and ownership, and pain.

No, not ownership. Yuna doesn’t own her aeons, and wouldn’t own-

Aten? Is that your name? 

The flames flicker, as though-

-A long forgotten memory, a sense of familiarity-

"I- yes? Yes."

(And there's that resignation again, because now she knows, and he can't-)

“Aten, I want you to join us. As an equal. You would be our friend, who would fight beside us against Sin and sorrow.”

Yuna leans a little closer, watching Aten through the glass. She presses her other hand to her heart. “We will not be like those others, we will take care of you. I swear it.”

-He doesn't know how to trust that. (There's a flicker, there's something here, a memory he can't quite reach for any more-)

He's tired. And so tired of being alone.

"Don't make me-" (It's unclear, what the end of that sentence is, there's too many jumbled emotions.)

“I would never,” Yuna promises. 

She opens her heart, ready for a part of him to slip inside.

He's scared, so scared. And that panic is still there, he doesn't trust her - doesn't know how to-

The fire on the stream flickers. It doesn't die, doesn't exactly calm, but there's less heat, it's less frantic, less defensive.

“It’s okay. We’ll help you,” Yuna coaxes softly. 

A feeling like an outstretched hand flows from her heart. 

-And it's like he's taking it, still hesitant, still slow, a raging inferno, and yet a hearthfire on a cold night-

(The fayth's eyes close.)

Yuna gasps at the warmth. It’s like wildfire in her heart. 

“Thank you, Aten.”

“Are you all right, Yuna?”

“I-” The fire is so strong, the power so intense that Yuna can’t- she can’t...

She faints. 

Auron catches her, and gently lays her to the ground. He takes his coat off, and bundles it below her head. 

He sees the fayth’s closed eyes. “She will keep you safe,” he tells it. 

Lulu sits next to Yuna, and gently strokes her hair. Her face is pinched with anger and worry. 

-Over the stream, the fire is shifting and morphing and-

And there's an almost-human figure made out of the flames, it (he?) takes a hesitant step towards the group (towards Yuna, and her warmth.)

“An elemental!” Lulu cries and stands, water spells bubbling over her hands.

“Wait.” Auron grabs Lulu’s arm, holding her back. “That’s not an elemental.”

“Different. Not a fiend,” Kimhari rumbles. 

“What...are you?” Lulu asks. 

He flinches away immediately at Lulu's cry, and doesn't try to move any closer.

There's silence in response to her question, as he-

Remembers how to talk in this form. (It's been so long.)

"I- I'm-" Winces, draws in on himself. "I- Aten? I- Yes."

“You’re the aeon? But Yuna didn’t summon you!”

“How are you doing this? Are you drawing power from Yuna?”

He flinches again, shakes his head rapidly. "I- No, no! I wouldn't- Please- I just- I am? I can- this?"

Auron comes closer, inspecting the aeon. He lets a part of himself seperate from his body, whirling away in the form of a pyrefly. He hopes that would soothe the aeon a little. 

“How long have you been able to summon yourself?”

Aten doesn't quite cower away from Auron, but it's a close thing. He watches the pyrefly in confusion, but his eyes snap back to Auron when he speaks.

"I- I'm sorry, sir, I- It's been- It's hard to keep track. I don't- know. I'm sorry, sir." Beat, and then, much quieter: "Please."

“You don’t need to apologise for not knowing something. I cannot imagine you know much of the world outside Macalania.”

Auron inspects the aeon. “You have control over fire?”

"I- mostly, yes. I- sometimes I- can't. But- but normally."

“We’ll work with both you and Yuna to help you control that. Ifrit, another aeon, has volcanic powers, and can teach you. For now, we need rest, Yuna especially.”

"I- yes. Yes. Thank you yes-"

Pauses, does whatever his equivalent of breathing is.

"It's-quiet here. You're the first to come here in-" (too long) "-You'll be safe to rest, sir."

“Thank you, Aten.” 

He turns and goes to sit by Aten’s fayth, leaning against the tree. He closes his eyes. 

“You will wake us if anyone comes past?” Lulu’s eyes are narrowed at the aeon. 

He nods rapidly. "Yes, ma'am!"

Lulu's eyebrow raises, but she says nothing. She eases herself down next to Yuna and closes her eyes.

Kimhari sits near the stream, and closes his eyes, though he seems to be meditating rather than sleeping.

Aten stays over the stream, although his avatar coalesces into a ball, and there's a sense that he's watching further than just this clearing while they sleep.

Yuna wakes first, blearily blinking as she struggles upright. At first glance, she can't feel where Aten is, but can sense his fire inside herself. She follows that trail to the floating ball, and gasps.

"Aten? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to summon you!"

He'd been gravitating towards her, but jumps back when she gasps.

"I- you- didn't, ma'am. I- I can. Summon. Myself, ma'am."

"Summon...yourself?" Yuna stares a little closer at Aten. He's definitely an aeon, she can feel the pulse of his energy. But she has never heard of an aeon that can summon itself into being, that is truly strange. And a little exciting, if she's honest with herself.

"That's truly a wonder. Do you prefer to be summoned?"

There's a distinct impression of a shrug. "I- not being- hurts less. But- But things get. Hazy. Hard to concentrate sometimes."

"You don't remember who you were before?"

That sounds terribly sad to Yuna, especially because the fayth wer- are, such noble people.

He forms his body again, it's so much easier to communicate when he can use non-verbal signs, and shakes his head. "I remember- bits. But not- not enough."

"I'm so sorry. That's a terrible thing. But you were so brave to become a fayth. And your aeon, I can sense it's power. You're incredible, Aten," Yuna says softly.

He shakes his head again, lost at the praise. (And there's that flicker of a half-forgotten memory.)

"I just-" Shrugs. "I wasn't- good enough-"

"You seem plenty good enough to me."

He shrugs again, shrinks in on himself a little, seems to look her over. "I- didn't- hurt you? Did I?"

"No! No, of course not. It's just...accepting the aeon, it's still hard. Some summoners train longer so that the pilgrimage isn't as hard. But I wanted to go. I'm just not very strong yet. I'm getting better!"

He's still, seeming confused-

"I- no, ma'am- you're- you're stronger than- Stronger than the other summoners, ma'am."

Yuna giggles. "Thank you, Aten." She's blushing. She's very proud of her skills and her aeons, and it's so lovely that Aten seems to see that. 

"I don't think I'm as strong as High Summoner yet, but I hope to be. I want to defeat Sin. I need to. Spira needs another Calm."

He shrugs a little - he doesn't actually understand all that much about what is going on in Spira as a whole, or know all that much about any other summoners.

“It’s all right. We’ll learn together,” Yuna says, hand over her heart.

He nods slowly. "I- as you say, ma'am."

Yuna seems a little taken-aback by the formal address. “The aeons don’t usually call me ma’am. You don’t have to either, Aten.”

Confusion.

"I- then- what? Um. Should I call you? Ma-"

“My name is Yuna. I’m from the Isle of Besaid,” she says, smiling at him. 

He nods slowly. "I- okay. I-I'll. Try. Ma- Yu-Yuna." (It sounds physically painful for him to say her name.)

“Oh, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just- people call me ma’am or my lady, but the people I care about just call me Yuna. I’ve never much liked the formality of other titles.”

He flickers a little - shyly? - and gives another nod.

"I- just. Don't- I was always-" he gestures a little vaguely.

“You weren’t treated like a friend,” Yuna says, and nods. “The summoners you had previously, they must’ve been terrible people. You’re supposed to form a close bond with your aeons. That’s how they become more powerful. They’re- you’re not servants or slaves. Friends.”

There's a sense that that is a completely new concept to Aten.

"I- I don't know how to- I'm sorry."

“It’s okay. It’s not really something I can instruct, it’s more like...building trust. I want to prove myself to you, to prove that I won’t just use you to build my own power. I want us to fight well.”

She ducks her head, blushing a little. “I hope we’ll be good friends.”

-Yup, that flicker is definitely shyness. "I- I think I hope that to?"

Yuna can't help the grin, but she keeps her head down, blushing bright red.

The others wake not long after, and the group readies to leave. 

Auron keeps his eye on Aten, curious about the aeon that acts so much like a young boy.

Lulu regards him with actual suspicion, watching over Yuna, as if waiting for her to faint any second.

He withdraws in on himself as everyone wakes, trying very hard not to look like a threat. Not the easiest task when you're made entirely of fire.

Lulu will keep a careful eye on him, one arm wrapped around Yuna.

"Next stop, the Calm Lands. Keep close, Aten."

Auron leads the way.

He slides out of his human form into a ball of fire, and follows. He stays close, although still somewhat separate.

Yuna smiles at the little ball of flames very fondly.

The sun is going down once they leave the woods proper, and with none of Rin's establishments in sight, they set up camp just on the edge of the forest. 

Yuna pulls out a small sphere, and begins muttering quiet words into it. It's become something of a ritual for her, keeping a journal of their journey.

Aten settles himself out of the way, the ball of fire shrinking somewhat, trying to be less noticeable.

Yuna's voice carries just enough that Aten can hear her talk about him...and someone she lost.

-he doesn't want to intrude. And there's an- alien desire to comfort her? But he doesn't know how.

Yuna can feel his discomfort through their bond, and looks up. 

"Aten? Are you all right?"

He flinches slightly when he realises he's drawn her attention. (And how could he have forgotten that summoners sometimes noticed his feelings?)

"I- yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to- to distract you."

"You're not distracting. I'm just...thinking. It helps when I do it aloud. You can come sit by me, if you like?"

He flickers uncertainly, and then moves a little closer to her. "I- are you alright?"

"I..." Her mouth forms the word fine, but what point is there in lying to someone who can feel your pain? She has a connection to Aten, to all her aeons. And it would help to say his name to someone who would remember him once she was gone. 

"I...was in love. His name was Tidus. When the fayth stopped dreaming, he disappeared. I...I miss him."

He's still for a moment, not sure how to respond. "I-I'm sorry," he says quietly. (And there's a surge of comforting warmth from him.)

The warmth envelops Yuna enough that she closes her eyes in bliss. "It's so strange, having you here without summoning you. I can feel what you are thinking, and I'm not drained by you. You are truly unique, Aten."

There's that uncertain flicker again. "I can- not be here. I-if you'd prefer?"

"No, I wouldn't prefer that. I like seeing you all the time. I would do the same for my other aeons, if I could."

"Should we try some training?" Auron is suddenly before them, a serious look on his face.

He flinches again. "I- yes, sir- if you- if you think- yes sir."

"O-okay." Yuna puts her sphere away and readies her stance-

A warm flood of fire flows from her.

A large creature leaps from her, growling ferociously. 

Aten flinches away and-

Is abruptly between Yuna and the creature. (He feels like he should remember this, but he's not sure he does, and he needs to protect-)

"No! No, Aten! This is Ifrit, he is the Kilika Isle aeon. He's a friend!"

Iftrit growls and curls around Yuna, protecting her from Aten.

He gives off a feeling of contentment and protection.

He flinches away from them all, trying to make himself smaller, less of a target-

"M'sorry. Sorrysorrysorry."

The aeon reaches out, a sense of quiet and calm radiating from it. 

Soft. Calm. Quiet.

-That's- familiar?

(A previous summoner.)

(They'd all been angry and scared and hurt. But this-)

Somehow he's visibly trembling, but he's...not as panicked.

"I-I-" (He messed up, he knows he did, he doesn't know how to make it better.)

Ifrit casts a fire spell, aiming to heal Aten. 

He growls comfortingly.

-Oh. That-

He'd forgotten how nice that felt.

"I hoped you two would get along," Yuna says happily.

"Good." Auron looks approving. "Control of your fire is possible, you just need to be shown how."

Lulu keeps water spells handy, just in case.

Ifrit rumbles pleasantly, like a loud cat's purr.

He seems startled, both by Yuna's happiness, and Auron's approval. (And if he's keeping a cautious eye on Lulu, no-one needs to know.)

After a moment, he shifts back into his humanoid form, holding his hand out to Ifrit cautiously.

Ifrit happily drops his head into Aten's hand. There is fire in him, Aten can feel it, but Ifrit's is well controlled. It feels like a simmering heat, a slow burn.

-Yeah, he's not that, and he's not sure how to be that. But he won't hurt Ifrit, won't hurt someone Yuna cares about, and that's important. Even if the idea of her caring about her aeons is still alien (and yet far too familiar, a memory, just out of reach, something long forgotten).

"I- Yes. I can-" He can't be what Ifrit is, it's too different. But he can- be closer to it. "Yes, sir," he says, thoughtful.

Ifrit growls at the honorific. 

A feeling blossoms from him, Not Better. Same.

Yuna watches rapturously. She's never thought to have her aeons interact like this. It's beautiful.

He flinches a little away from Ifrit. Sorry- Not used to- Difficult.

Ifrit lets him pull away, but keeps sending those feelings. 

Not Better. Same. All of Us. 

He shows Aten images of the other aeons, the ones living in Yuna alongside him. 

He nods, slow and wondering. (He doesn't trust it yet, he can't, but It's- Amazing to see.)

Yuna smiles hugely, feeling the softness between them. It's beautiful.

Ifrit keeps sending warm feelings, and the occasional burst of fire through Aten, trying to calm his racing mind.

By some miracle, it works. He settles. He's still uncertain, but he's not worrying about having messed up, if anything, he's basking in Ifrit's warmth.

Ifrit rumbles happily, nudging Yuna.

Yuna presses her hands to her heart, gasping happily.

"Good. Very good," Auron says with a nod.

Lulu lets her spells go, frowning, but she does seem a little pleased.

Aten responds positively to Yuna's happiness again, and seems...relieved in the face of Auron's approval.

"How do you feel, Aten?" She asks, wanting verbal confirmation of those warm feelings from him.

He pauses! Not sure how to explain it. He doesn't have the words for this.

"I- warm," he settles on eventually.

“Me too,” she says happily, cuddled between two fire monsters. 

-that gets a flicker of happiness. Happy that she's happy. He settles down a little more.

Kimhari shares around campfire cooked food, offering some to Aten with a look of confusion. 

He shakes his head. "I- no thank you, sir, I don't- need."

His confusion cleared up, Kimhari nods and gives it instead to Yuna. 

Yuna accepts it and eats a little, picking at it with half a mind still on Ifrit and Aten.

Auron accepts food, but doesn't seem to eat anything. The group doesn't notice, they appear used to it.

If Aten notices Auron not eating, he doesn't draw attention to it. He does nudge Yuna's attention towards her food a little - she needs to eat.

Yuna looks at her food guiltily. "I know, but I'm just so excited! This is so wondrous."

Lulu's smile is small, but it's enough to be certain that Lulu loves Yuna very much. 

Aten hums a little. "But if you eat you have- more energy?"

"Very true," Yuna says seriously, but her smile somewhat dulls the seriousness. She eats away, though Aten can probably feel how much attention she is giving to the bond between her and her aeons.

Lulu actually smiles, even though it's a small one, at Aten. "The aeon is correct, Yuna. You eat like a bird."

Before, it was because of grief. Lulu is glad that she has a different reason now.

Aten is a little startled when Lulu smiles at him, and- isn't entirely sure what to do with it, except to keep trying to look like not a threat.

Lulu notices this, and looks away, keeping herself appearing nonchalant.

Yuna finishes her food first, and looks to Ifrit, sharing a non verbal conversation with him. 

He nods, and with a final burst of flame towards Aten, he’s gone, slipping back into his place in Yuna’s heart. 

Yuna sighs, and a strain in her shoulders she didn’t know she had loosens. She’s very tired all of a sudden. She guesses that a full days journey plus keeping Ifrit out so long has drained her. 

She yawns, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “Sorry,” she manages to get out. 

There's a momentary sense of loss, but mostly-

Aten understands that keeping aeons out is exhausting, and it's at least somewhat obvious that he doesn't think Yuna should've done it for so long.

“I’m okay, I have to get better at keeping them out for longer. I’ll need them all to fight Sin, and I’ve got to be strong enough to do that.”

"I- you- you will be." (She's already so much stronger than the last summoners who had him.)

Yuna ducks her head shyly, beaming from the praise. “Thank you. I hope I can become High Summoner. That would be the best thing I could ever do, bring the Calm back to Spira.”

-He'll take her word for that. The words are...familiar, but he can't quite reach for what they mean.

"Yuna should rest. We have a long day ahead, crossing the Calm Plains will take a while."

"Oh! Yes- yes of course, Sir Auron." 

She smile guiltily at Aten. "Will watch for us tonight?"

"I- yes. Of-of course."

"Thank you, Aten." 

She curls up with Lulu, settling against the hard ground like it was a feather mattress. 

Kimhari settles near the path, eyes closed but sitting upright.

Auron leans against a tree, and appears to be sleeping.

-Aten isn't so sure that Auron is actually sleeping, but he isn't going to disturb him.

The next morning is just like the previous, with a lot of stern coaxing from Auron to get everyone moving.

"How was your night, Aten? Are you okay?" Yuna asks, once they start out into the Calm Plains.

"I, uh, yes, ma'am, I'm- I'm fine?" He doesn't have a lot of experience of people asking how he is.

"I guess you've been alone for some time. You haven't had friends to look after you."

He nods slowly. "I- don't remember- I've just been- alone." Shrugs. "S'quiet mostly."

“Do you remember why your fayth was hidden? I’m sorry if that’s too personal.” Yuna’s teeth worry against her lip.

He shakes his head slowly. "I just- something about-" he shudders a little. "I was- It kept me safe."

 “I suppose that’s true, though being in a temple would be just as, if not, safer. Not that I’m judging you! I only mean to...” Yuna trails off, fingers gripping the fabric of her skirt. “I’m sorry. I’m just sad to think of your fayth, that young boy...being alone.”

He shrugs again. "I- I guess it was- lonely. But- It stopped people- from-" He shivers.

Yuna doesn’t push, she can see the pain on his face. What kind of white mage would she be if she caused someone pain? 

“Here, Lulu taught me this spell.” She casts a small flame, and sends it to Aten. “Seeing how well you get on with Ifrit, I thought any fire spell would do.”

-Startled gratitude. "I- I- thank you."

Seeing him brighten a bit is a balm for Yuna’s heart. “Anytime. It’s an easy spell to do.”

He flickers shyly. "I- if you- you don't- have to?"

Yuna falls silent. Then her lips tremble a little. “It’s the right thing to do,” she says shakily. It sounds like she’s quoting something. 

She wipes away an errant tear, straightening up and smiling. “A couple of days travel, and we’ll reach the closest Rin’s. We can rest and restock before we head through the mountains. It will be cold, so you’ll be very handy there.”

-Oh. He- he didn't mean to make her upset but-

"I- yes, I can- I can help."

“We found you at the right time, it seems,” Yuna says softly, with a gentle smile to match. 

"I- uh, yes. I- I guess you- did."

(He's brightened a little again, happy to have some kind of use.)

Yuna's smile stays bright, at seeing Aten's.

Half the day goes by with ease, but soon as the sun reaches it's peak, there's a loud roar-

A fiend.

"Sinspawn," Kimhari calls to the group.

"Everyone be ready!" Auron shouts, unsheathing his sword.

Aten flickers out, and is a line of fire between them and the direction of the roar.

The fiend reveals itself as a ruminant, and it baulks at the flames, roaring ineffectually. It takes a deep breath in, flames gathering around its mouth.

"It's going to cast a fire spell!" Lulu yells, already flinging ice spells at it.

Aten spirals up. Any attempts at fire spells will end up focused directly on Aten.

The fiend makes eye contact with Yuna. The flames pour out from its mouth, arcing towards her.

Yuna gasps, halfway through casting protega.

Nope. Aten surges out, consuming the flames before they get anywhere near Yuna, and wrapping around the fiend, intent on destroying it.

"Aten!" Yuna shouts, terrified for her aeon.

The fiend howls furiously, and then drops from the weight of Aten's fire, dissolving into pyreflies.

Aten follows it down, flames folding smaller, clearly worn out from that.

Yuna is quick to cast a fire spell, sending it towards Aten. 

Lulu does the same with a much stronger spell.

Yuna runs up to the little ball of flame.

The fire spells have helped some, but he still flinches slightly at the sudden movement. "I- I-" (It sounds almost like he wants to apologise again, even though he has no clue what for.)

"You were so brave, I'm so proud! You did so well," Yuna soothes, wishing she could hug him.

"You protected your summoner well. Perhaps we should name you a guardian." Auron is only half-joking.

Kimhari nods sagely.

He flickers uncertainly. "I- I did? I just-" (Doesn't have the words for the alien-not-alien desire to protect Yuna, and her guardians, the first people who hadn't hurt him in almost all of his memory.)

"You protected me." Yuna reaches a hand out, first cloaking it with protega, to gently stroke along Aten's embers.

"-S'what m'supposed to do?"

He's not wrong, but Yuna doesn't want to have him expend so much energy every time. "We're a team. We protect each other," she says.

-There's that confused flicker again, but: "I- as you say."

"All of us. Same," Yuna quotes from last night, with a beaming smile.

"Can you move?" Auron asks the aeon.

"I, yes, sir."

"We keep moving then."

Auron leads the way again, not pausing to wait.

Yuna is quick to jump up and keep moving.

And Aten follows as well. He flags a little, but not so much as to cause a problem.

Kimhari keeps pace with him, watching over Aten in thanks for saving Yuna.

-Aten isn't sure what to do with that. "I- I won't hurt her, sir?" he promises quietly.

"Kimhari knows. Watches, so that Aten will not hurt himself."

"...oh. I-" Yeah. He really has no idea how to respond to that. "As you say, sir."

The ronso grunts. He seems to have no need to explain himself. He keeps moving forward, though is careful to match Aten’s pace. 

Aten doesn't seem to feel the need to speak either.

Then they travel in comfortable silence, until the sun dips below the horizon.

Auron calls for camp to be made. They start setting up in the shadow of a hill, relatively protected, but it still worries Auron to be so exposed. 

Fiends aren't the only problem in these plains, Spira's native fauna can be just as deadly.

Yuna casts a huge protega over the camp, shaking a little with the effort, but has a happy smile once she's done.

Aten settles down again. He's looking a little brighter than he did earlier, but still slightly wan.

Yuna summons Ifrit once she's done setting up camp, and he eagerly lopes over to Aten, already summoning fire to heal him.

Well. Good.

There's that pleased flicker again. "Couldn't let it hurt her," he murmurs.

Yes. Protect.

Yuna comes and sits beside them, leaning into Ifrit. "How's he doing?" She says to the beastly aeon.

He. Good. Strong.

He flickers shyly, still unused to praise, and not sure what to do with it.

Yuna sends images of the fight through their bond to Ifrit.

He puffs up proudly, sending another fire spell to Aten.

Learn. Stronger. Brighter.

"I-I'll try. I- don't really. Have training. I just... Do."

Hard. Alone. Easier. Friends. Share. Knowledge.

"I- guess it. Would be. Yes."

I Teach?

Shy flicker. "I-I'd like that."

Ifrit nods approvingly.

He begins to show Aten, through a series of images, how to change and warp the shape of his fire, to attack and defend, to create arcs and walls.

Aten pays close attention. It's not that different to how he shifts and shapes himself. Except it's using the fire as an extension of himself, rather than just a part of him. He learns quickly.

Ifrit shows him how to best use his fire against enemies weak to it, and how to change and vary it for enemies that can resist. He tries to-

Ifrit disappears and Yuna takes a shaky breath in. "Sorry, I'm so sorry," she says to Aten, looking guilty. "I couldn't sustain him for much longer."

-mildly distressed flicker. "I- no, it's fine. I- you shouldn't have- I'm sorry. I forgot. I'm sorry."

“I’m okay, Aten. Just a little tired,” she tries to soothe. 

He flickers uncertainly. "I- you didn't have to- you should've said you were tired-"

Yuna looks twice as guilty at that. “I should’ve, yes. But you two were working so hard, I didn’t want to disturb you. When I’m stronger, I could leave Ifrit out for hours. I’m sorry I can’t do that now.”

"I- no. It's fine. I- should've remembered. I-"

“It’s okay that you didn’t! You looked so happy to be learning. And tomorrow you’ll get to learn some more!”

“Yuna needs food. Then rest,” Kimhari rumbles, handing the summoner food. 

Yuna takes it with a smile. “Thank you, Kimhari. What would I do without you?”

“Yuna will never know,” he says warmly. 

-Good. It's good that Yuna has people looking out for her. (People who remember human constraints.)

The night goes on, and after finishing her food, Yuna wishes Aten a good night and goes to sleep, curled up with Lulu. 

Aten settles in to keep watch again.

A few hours later, Yuna awakes with a gasp, heart racing and brain desperately trying to banish the images. They were so real- he was there and she...

Yuna lets out the tiniest pained sob as tears flow down her cheeks. She gets up and stumbles away from camp, trying to keep herself quiet as she cries. 

Then there's a blanket of fire settling gently around her, warm and comforting but not burning. (Never burning.)

Yuna gasps, looking at the fire. It’s not...it’s not hurting it’s...holding her? 

Aten is giving her a hug. 

That comfort, that warmth, makes her sob even harder, raising one hand to her shoulder, touching the aeon’s flames in thanks. 

Good. Good. It's good that he can help.

Its some time before Yuna calms herself. She takes a few shuddering breaths in, wiping tears from her face. She cuddles into the fire a little more, feeling calmer. “Thank you, Aten.”

Well then. He's just gonna stay here for the rest of the night.

Yuna soon goes back to sleep, sniffiling a little, curled up beneath Aten’s warmth. 

Auron is the first to “wake”, and spot Yuna and Aten a little ways from the camp. He’d heard Yuna wake in the night but hadn’t known how to comfort her. She’s lost too much already, and he didn’t know how to tell her soft things to soothe  

He keeps quiet and watches them from afar. 

Aten is still immediately aware of the attention and flickers away from Yuna, making himself into a small, unobtrusive ball.

Yuna stirs sleepily.

Auron takes that as his cue to start rousing the others. 

Once roused, Kimhari rebuilds the fire and toasts bread over it.

Yuna blearily tries to reach for Aten, but can’t physically feel him. 

She sits up and rubs her eyes, finally spotting him. She’s confused, he gave her affection so easily last night, is he okay?

She waves at him, trying a sleepy smile, rather than the worry she feels. 

He flickers a little. He's alright, but-

(But there's a faint memory there, of the fact that he doesn't really...like physical contact. Doesn't have an expectation of it not hurting.)

Yuna is horrified. “You- you shouldn’t have- if you didn’t- if you don’t like- I’m so sorry, Aten!”

"But- but you were you needed- something."

“I...” She did. That’s true, she needed comfort. But for him to make himself hurt to make her feel better, that’s... 

“It isn’t right! You shouldn’t have to do that if you don’t like it. I- thank you, for what you did. I really appreciate it. I just don’t want you to feel bad.”

"O-oh. I-" (No-one (nearly) had cared about that before. Even in his barely remembered life before he was here.)

Yuna smiles at Aten, a little weak, but still a smile. 

“Never forget yourself, Aten. You’re just as important as anyone else. I trust you with my life, I hope you can trust me with at least making you a little happier.”

He flickers a little. "I- I'll try."

“If...if I do something to make you sad, just tell me. And I’ll stop. I’ll pay more attention to the bond, I promise.” 

Kimhari interrupts to hand her toast, and nods approvingly at Aten. 

“Your eyes- they’re so red. Are you all right?” Lulu croons to Yuna, cupping her face once she reaches her. 

“Oh, yes. I’m fine. Slept poorly but Aten helped with that.”

Aten flickers in a way that might be intended to be agreement, but doesn't say anything.

“If everyone’s ready, we go.”

Yuna waves Aten over and hurries to join Auron. 

Aten follows obediently, but is giving Auron a slightly wider berth than usual.

Yuna worries about that. 

The rest of the day passes the same as yesterday, with a few fiends attacking but all easily defeated by the guardians and Aten. 

Soon, a building can be seen on the horizon, brightly coloured and surrounded by a ramshackle market. 

“We rest here,” Auron says. 

Yuna pokes through the market outside with Lulu, investigating the Al Bhed artifacts curiously. 

Aten makes himself as unnoticeable as possible.

There's a couple(?) nearby, the woman dressed like an Al Bhed, and playing a stringed instrument with a bow, dancing as she does so.

Her companion is stood watching, face entirely concealed by a vibrant carnival mask.

Yuna starts swaying to the music, grinning, and then heads over to give the violin player a few gil in thanks. 

Lulu keeps an eye on them, but isn’t too suspicious of them. She knows the Al Bhed have suffered much recently. 

The violinist is gracious and thankful.

"I am grateful I could bring even a small measure of joy to you, Lady Summoner."

Yuna goes to perform the prayer, but her hands stop. Should she do that when she knows that Yevon isn’t real? 

“Thank you so much,” she settles for instead. “You play beautifully.”

"Thank you," she says again, bowing slightly. "I try to bring solace in the ways I can. I wish you skill and good fortune on your journey."

Yuna bows. “Thank you. And good fortune to you as well.”

She dances back over to Lulu, a real smile on her face. 

And the woman goes back to playing.

(Is the one in the mask watching them? It's nearly impossible to tell.)

Aten relaxes some when Yuna returns to Lulu's side. Apparently he'd been on edge watching Yuna and the stranger.

Yuna looks worriedly at Aten, but doesn’t ask any questions. 

A man, dressed as a priest, walks into view, a few guards with him. He seems to be making his way to Yuna. 

Aten makes himself smaller, but also moves so that he's ready to protect Yuna if needed.

Lulu looks up, and a small smile curls her lips. “I see you drew the short straw,” she calls, walking over to greet the priest.

“I just thought you all could use a friendly face.” The priest bows, smiling sadly. 

“Yuna, this is Father Zuke. He’s an old friend.”

“Hello.” Yuna performs the prayer, even though it feels strange. 

Father Zuke does the same. “Unfortunately I come bearing bad news. Yuna has been excommunicated, the order comes from Maester Mika himself.”

Yuna hugs herself, trying not to cry.

Aten drifts closer, tries to provide comfort somehow.

“So he’s made it clear. It changes nothing.” Auron comforts in his own way. 

“But-“ Yuna doesn’t actually know what to say. But it does change things, she feels bereft. Lost. 

“Gagazet will be hard to traverse.”

Father Zuke nods. “Indeed. Your people are very devout. Hopefully you will get there before news spreads.”

“Hopefully. Thank you for telling us this news, Father.”

Zuke nods. “Of course. And if you don’t mind my saying, stay safe.”

He bows, and heads back the way he came.

Aten continues to just...be there. Warm, supportive. (Yuna has her aeons, they have no less faith in her, regardless of what the Church of Yevon said.)

Yuna rubs a hand up her arm. “It changes nothing,” she says, quoting Auron. 

Lulu wraps her arms around Yuna, stroking her hair. “What would Wakka say if he were here?”

Yuna chuckles weakly. “He’d probably make a joke about Rikku’s machina being all right now.”

“Or he’d try to throw a blitzball at Father Zuke,” Lulu says, laughing as well. 

Yuna tucks herself into Lulu’s arms. “They should be here.”

“Yes.”

Lulu just holds her. 

Well. They can't be, but Aten can. And Yuna doesn't need Yevon to defeat Sin anyway. (He's forgetting something, what's he forgotten?)

After a few minutes Yuna pulls away and wipes her eyes. Her smile is weak, but there. “All right. I’m tired after all that walking. I’m thinking food and then sleep.”

Auron chuckles. “Sounds good to me. Inside?”

The Al Bhed running the shop sticks her head outside. “I’m sorry, but we don’t allow creatures inside the shop. Could the...er...fireball? Could he wait outside?”

“He’s an aeon. He’s not going to hurt anyone.”

“It’s all right, Lulu. I’ll wait out here with him. If you could bring food out to us, that would be wonderful.”

"I- I-it's okay? You don't have to- I'll be okay on my own?"

"But you shouldn't have to be."

"Kimhari will stay too."

Lulu sighs. "Fine. But you're inside to sleep, Yuna."

She and Auron head inside to organise meals.

"O-okay!"

He flickers, shy and grateful. (He was starting to understand that he'd been lonely.)

"I- thank you."

"I had a thought, actually Aten. How fast can you fly?"

"I- I'm not sure. I've never really- Fast? Just not sure how fast."

"Lets find out!"

A wave of energy bursts from Yuna.

Valefor bursts out, crowing happily.

Yuna leaps onto her back, and she takes off. "Come on, Aten!"

He follows, not entirely sure of what the aim is here, but eager to help his summoner.

Yuna lets out a whoop, urging Valefor on. "Bet you can't catch me, Aten!"

He follows after her, never quite 'catching' her, but staying close on Valefor's tail.

Valefor calls out to Aten, a sweet high sound.

Joy.

He shifts into his more humanoid form, looping around. Yes.

(He'd forgotten so much. And this was one of those things.)

Yuna lets one hand go, to wave at Aten. She never feared falling off Valefor, knowing the aeon would catch her. As she always did.

Valefor crows, looping in Aten's trail.