Chapter 21

 

They returned to the engine room after breakfast, Auron spoke first.

 

“We must formulate a new course of action.”

 

“Let’s go kick his ugly ass.” Buffy suggested, shrugging.

 

“If we rush this we will fail.” Auron said.

 

Buffy gave Auron a patented Slayer glare. “Okay then, ‘humphie’ what do you have in mind?”

 

Auron lowered his head. Kimahri stepped forward and spoke.

 

“Yevon’s teachings.”

 

“The teachings won’t help us fight Sin.” Yuna interrupted.

 

“No answer in  the teachings, answers lie outside. Must know both sides to find answer.”

 

“Both sides…” Yuna contemplated this.

 

“Mika knows much, find him, make him talk.”

 

“That’s it!” Tidus yelled. “Kimahri, you rock!”

 

Buffy balled her hands into fists, looking down at them. “Make him talk, you said?”

 

Spike was surprised, it wasn’t like his slayer to be so intent on violence towards humans- even evil bastards.

 

Cid was setting co-ordinates on the airship, Wakka and Rikku were talking excitedly, Lulu standing near them, arms crossed.

 

“Hey guys.” Wakka called out. “I just had a great idea.”

 

“It was my idea.” Rikku argued. “Let me tell them!”

 

“It’s like this, ya.” Wakka continued.

 

“I just thought..” Rikku jumped in front of him.

 

“The Hymn is the key.” Lulu said.

 

“The Hymn?” Tidus asked

 

 

“Sir Jecht likes the Hymn of the Fayyh, correct?”

 

“Yeah.” Tidus answered.

 

“That’s why he was listening to it in Macalania.” Rikku announced, as though having solved a particularly difficult riddle.

 

“Sin, violence incarnate, listening peacefully.” Lulu mused. “If we attack Sin head on we stand little chance of winning, however if he is weakened by the hymn.”

 

“Yeah.” Wakka said.

 

“Yeah, it could really work.” Rikku said.

 

“But first we get to bash Mika, right?” Buffy asked.

 

“It would seem the correct course of action, pacifying him alone will not be enough. We need to be able to defeat him.” The dark sorceress purred.

 

“Okay, so we talk to Mika and then find Sin?” Buffy summed up.

 

“It is an acceptable plan.” Auron said, walking out of the room.

 

They all spilt up, walking off to various parts of the ship, Spike followed Buffy as she found a place near the window and stared out.

 

The scenery beneath them was beautiful, all of it untamed wilderness, forests and fields, dotted with ancient ruins and the occasional settlement.

 

The ship began to slow and Bevelle came into view, Buffy shuddered, remembering what had happened last time they were there.

 

Spike noticed. “Buffy, you alright, pet?”

 

“I’m fine.” Buffy answered.

 

Spike put his arm around her. “It’s gonna be okay, love.”

 

“Yeah, I know.”

 

“That’s my brave girl.” He pulled her close, she rested her head on him. Suddeny she pulled back, her nose wrinkled.

 

“What.”

 

“Your coat smells.”

 

“It does not.” He looked offended.

 

“Yes it does.” She answered.

 

He took it off, sniffing it. It did have an overworn smell to it, he opened his mouth but whatever answer he had was lost as Cid called over the speaker.

 

“Get your lazy behinds back on deck.”

 

They landed in the calm lands,  near Macalania woods, the walk through the forest, to Bevelle was uneventful and silent, each engrossed in their own thoughts. Kirrel ran around, catching butterflies and plucking berries from bushes, they soon reached the Highbridge.

 

“Infidel!” The guards at the gate to the temple announced as they approached. They raised their guns, pointing them at Yuna’s party.

 

“One, two, three..” Buffy began to count the members of their group. “That’s ‘infidels’- plural.”

 

“You’ll regret showing your face here, we’ll strike you down in the name of Yevon.” They answered, annoyed.

 

“Blah, blah, blah.” Tidus commented.

 

“If they want a fight let’s give ‘em one!” Rikku announced.

 

“Prepare to charge!” One of the guards said.

 

“Stop!” They heard a female voice call out.

 

The guards lowered their weapons as Shelinda, the girl Buffy had met in Macalania, ran towards them.

 

“Captain?” One of the soldiers asked.

 

“Lady Yuna is not to be harmed.” Shelinda said. “She’s no traitor, that is an evil rumour spread by the Al Behd!”

 

“What!” Rikku asked angrily.

 

Spike glowered at the newcomer.

 

“Maester Mika himself told me.” Shelinda continued.

 

“Then, what are we to do?” The guard asked.

 

“Stand down!” Rikku ordered.

 

“As she says.” Shelinda agreed.

 

The guards walked back to their post.

 

“What was that about evil Al Behd?” Rikku asked.

 

“I… Truly I do not understand it myself.” Shelinda answered. “All Yevon seems to be in a state of confusion. Why, yesterday they called me out of the blue and made me captain of the guard!”

 

“Short on Believers?” Auron said.

 

“Yes, the chaos in the temples is worse than I’d imagined.” Shelinda answered. “It’s horrible and all the priests do is blame each other. I worry what will become of Yevon. But no! I must be the rock that stands against the swirling tides, right?” Shelinda looked at Yuna as she said this. “Lady Yuna, I must tell you, your courage has become a great inspiration to me.”

 

Tidus interrupted. “Yeah, that’s great but we came here to see Maester Mika, is he here?”

 

“Yes, I shall arrange an audience.” Shelinda answered. “Please wait in the courtroom.”

 

“Hey!” Rikku called after her. “Hey, wait! What was all that about the Al Behd lying and stuff?”

 

“Simple.” Auron answered, Rikku turned to look at him. “Yuna has become Mika’s only hope.”

 

“Oh… Okay.” Rikku said.

 

“Just what does he think he can get away with?” Lulu enquired, one hand on her hip, the other scratching her head.

 

“Let’s just get this over with, this place gives me the super wiggins.” Buffy said.

 

“Yes, let’s.” Yuna agreed.

 

 

“Why are you here?” Mika asked, standing on the balcony, overlooking the city. “You must go and defeat Sin quickly! You have obtained the Final Aeon from Yunalesca, have you not?”

 

“Well, we did meet her.” Tidus said.

 

“We fought and defeated her.” Yuna said.

 

“What!” Mika turned, shocked.

 

“Summoners and guardians will be sacrificed for the Final Summoning no more.” Auron said.

 

“You have profaned and subverted a thousand year old tradition.” He complained.

 

“Ah, I do that a lot.” Buffy said dismissively.

 

Mika shook his fist. “Fools, infants, do you realise what you’ve done? You’ve taken away the only means of calming Sin.”

 

“Hey, maybe that’s not the only way, we think we’ve got another.” Tidus said.

 

“Why… Preposterous, there is no other way!”

 

“The grand Maester running away?” Auron asked.

 

“Spira has lost its’ only hope, destruction is inevitable. Yu Yevon’s spiral of death will consume us all. I have no desire to watch Spira die.”

 

“It won’t die.” Yuna answered.

 

“Who is this Yu Yevon guy?” Tidus asked.

 

“Lady Yunalesca also mentioned him.” Lulu said.

 

“Wait, gramps, who’s Yu Yevon!” Rikku asked.

 

“He who crafts the souls of the dead into unholy armour. An armour called Sin. Clad in it Yu Yevon is invincible. And the only thing that could have pierced that armour you have destroyed! Nothing can stop it now.” He raised his arms in the air, beginning to glow, pyreflies floated upwards as he faded away.

 

“Disappear on us will ya? Rotten son of a shoopuf!” Wakka said.

 

“That was unexpected.” Spike said, surprised, Buffy put her arm around his waist.

 

“Well I didn’t expect for us to be attacked by a dead hooker with silicon implants and a g-string bikini. Life’s full of surprises.”

 

He looked down at her, then grinned. “Have I told you that I love you, slayer?”

 

“Maybe once, better tell me again in case I forget.” Buffy answered.

 

“A thousand times.” Spike said, his voice filled with passion.

 

Shelinda ran towards them. “Where, where is the grand Maester?”

 

“He, um…” Yuna began.

 

“He’s not here yet. How long must we wait?” Auron said.

 

“That’s odd, I’ll go look for His Grace.”

 

“I think he left his grace in his underwear drawer, with his looks and his brain.” Buffy said dryly under her breath, to her surprise Kimahri’s blue muzzle pulled into a reluctant smile.

 

A flicker of colour in the air nearby caught Buffy’s attention. A figure she recognised floated in the air.

 

“It’s you.” Tidus said to Bahamut’s Fayth.

 

“Come, to my room.” The Fayth answered.

 

“Okay.” Yuna said.

 

Wakka, Lulu, Auron and Rikku turned to look at them. “Who you talking to?” Wakka asked.

 

“Oh, uh, no-one.” Tudus answered.

 

“I must go see the Fayth.” Yuna told Auron.

 

“I see.” Was his only response.

 

They waited, impatiently outside the chamber of the Fayth for Yuna and Tidus to return.

 

Tidus came down the stairs, turning back towards the chamber to where Yuna came walking out.

 

“I..” They turned, seeing Shelinda run in. “I’m afraid the Grand Maester is nowhere to be found!”

 

“S’okay we were just leaving.” Tidus said.

 

“Oh… I see.” She looked downcast.

 

“Hey!” Rikku announced. “Maybe you could help us, with the Hymn.”

 

“Hey, good idea!” Tidus said.

 

Rikku continued. “It’s like, we need you to tell as many people as you can.”

 

“What should I tell them?” Shelinda asked.

 

“A ship in the sky will sing the Hymn of the Fayth. When they hear it we need everyone to sing along!”

 

“Everyone in Spira.” Wakka said.

 

“I’m not sure I understand.” Shelinda held her head in one hand, puzzled.

 

“You don’t have to, just tell everyone.” Rikku ordered her.

 

“A ship in the sky will sing the Hymn of the Fayth? So.. when they hear it, everyone should sing along, correct?”

 

“If they do we might be able to defeat Sin!” Tidus answered.

 

“Truly?”

 

“Yes!” Yuna answered.

 

“That’s wonderful, you can count on me, I shall tell all of Spira!”

 

When she left Buffy turned to the others. “No offence, but, there’s only one of her, how many people is she supposed to be able to tell, and how many are going to listen to her.”

 

Auron ‘humphed’ a wry grin on his face.

 

“She is very… insistent.” Lulu said.

 

“And persistent, also.” Auron added.

 

They left Bevelle, heading back to the airship, Tidus and Yuna insisted that they had all that they needed to defeat Sin. They flew the ship to an inn, near what Buffy was told was the ‘Mi’ihen highroad.”

 

Buffy recognised the place from the sphere Yuna had dropped, it was afternoon and they gave all of their clothing- including, much to his dismay, Spikes Coat- into the care of the receptionist. As they were so close to the sea Buffy bought herself a black, high-cut string bikini and sheer sarong in sapphire blue. To her surprise, as she sat on the warm sand looking out over the sea, Spike walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist, taking it off to reveal his absence of clothing and diving into the water. To her horror she felt a her cheeks warm and redden at the sight, luckily the vampire was underwater at the time, she giggled softly to herself, laying her sarong gently on the sand and jumped in after him.

 

The sun glided across the sky, falling behind the distant ruins in the sea and Buffy found herself, on the starlit beach, lying sleepily on Spike’s chest. She heard the door to the inn open, she turned around, curiously and saw the figures of Tidus and Yuna slipping off into the darkness, she smiled warmly, if the world could remain this way forever it would be perfect. She snuggled contentedly back into Spike’s bare chest and didn’t even feel him pick her up and carry her back into the darkened inn.

 

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