Golden Silence

Lady Mars

Chapter VII: Winged Savior

Disclaimer: Standard rant: don't own FFX. I'm in this for the fun, that's all.

* * *

The firery aeon basks in the morning light

Leaving only to aid in a fight

For his summoner's life and protection.

The trio will be reunited without detection

Of the one most feared

* * *

Tidus stretched, trying to remove the kinks from his battered body. He sat up slowly, his worn muscles screaming at that gentle movement alone.'If it is this bad now, I'm really going to love myself when I actually get to REAL movement.' He sat for a moment, trying to figure out if he would be ok to get up. After a few moments of contemplation, he slowly got up to his feet. He sighed; it was going to be a really long day for him. He didn't get much sleep the night before and the pile of chain on his table was a stark reminder of his failure the day before. 'Why did he have to leave that there? Must he remind me of my failure or is he doing that to be nice?' He sighed before stepping out of his hut. He squinted in the early morning sun. 'Damn it. It's too fucking bright out here.' After his eyes had adjusted, he scanned the area. 'Figures. No one else on all of Spira would be up this early BESIDES me.' He slowly walked along, enjoying the early morning quiet. He stopped at the summoner's circle. 'I can't escape it, can I? It's going to haunt me forever. Stupid bird! Why can't anything go right for me?' He stood quietly, listening to the wind rustle past his ears. He shifted nervously when a large shadow loomed over his head. He turned and looked around, but didn't see anything. He didn't realize how much danger he was in until he turned around and heard the voice boom in his head.

'YOU!'

* * *

Yuna walked slowly through the forest, coming down from on of the higher peaks. She had watched the sunrise, like she did every morning. She smiled as she thought of the serenity of the area in the early morning. She slowly approached the small shrine for Tidus. Standing on top of the stone was the last thing Yuna ever expected to see. The beast loomed over her; a good 20 to 30 feet tall. The red feathers of its body and the orange feathers of it wings glittered in the early morning sun. A steel plated mask covered the majority of its face. It didn't seem to notice Yuna was standing there; it seemed more contented with the sunrise itself. Yuna stood and watched the giant bird, wondering where it had come from. Before she and more time to ponder it, the bird's eyes shot open and he tore off into the sky, Tidus' necklace grasped in its black hand. Yuna watched the bird silently sail towards the small village.

'Now what was that all about?'

* * *

Tidus took a few steps back from the looming form of the aeon Bahamut. The dragon snorted with each breath it took, making the boy even more nervous than he was.

'You,' the aeon hissed. 'I would have never figured that you have the nerve to do something as stupid as return here. You have no idea what you have done to her and now you shall pay!'

'Wait a minute,' Tidus stuttered. 'I have no idea what you're talking about! I didn't do anything!'

'SILENCE! You have wronged the lady I have been indebted to serve and you will PAY!'Tidus shrunk backwards as the aeon prepped an impulse attack. He shut his eyes and braced for the final blow. It never came. Tidus cracked an eye open to happen a glance at the ten white claws surrounding him. He craned his neck to look up at the long red arms looming above him. He stood, staring, for a moment before he reached out and touched the long chain dangling close to him. The metal was cold under his hands, but real nonetheless. Tidus' throat went dry at the thought of what was going on. The aeon poked the end of its beak between his arms.

"Are you ok?" the aeon asked. Tidus put his hands on the beast's covered beak.

'Tell me something,' the boy said.

"Hmm?"

'Are you real, or am I dreaming all of this?' The aeon chuckled slightly.

"I am as real as far as I can figure out. Why?"

'I thought the smoke was getting to my head.' The aeon laughed heartily.

"Was it really that bad?"

'I'm really not sure; my head's not with me right now. If you ask again later, I may be able to give you a reasonable answer.' The aeon chuckled again.

"Has it really been that bad down here without me?"

'You would never believe.'

"You know it's only going to get worse from here, right?"

'Yes, just don't squash my happiness JUST yet.' The aeon smiled.

"Deal. Should I take care of this demon next?"

'Oh PLEASE do. I have no desire to be torched.' The aeon rose back up to his full height, dropping the necklace to Tidus in the process. The boy caught it and put it on.

"Done." The aeon shifted his gaze from Tidus to Bahamut. "I have heard of low, but attacking another summoner? This is the lowest." Bahamut snorted.

'He deserves it for everything he's done. He will pay!'

"You'll have to go through me first."

'It makes no difference to me; one or a hundred, I'll go through them all if I have too to get to him.' The red aeon shot off into the air with the dragon on his heels. The pair spiraled around each other, coming to a stop a few hundred feet off of the ground. Bahamut, without warning, sent an impulse attack at the bird. The bird, in turn, meekly deflected it.

"Is that all you're packing?" The dragon growled at the other aeon. He launched a thundaga spell at him, hitting the bird this time. Tidus shuddered as the beast smashed into the ground.

'This is going to get really ugly real fast if I don't do something.' He scanned the area for a moment before returning his gaze to the dueling aeons. They were on the verge of ripping each other to pieces. 'I hate to do this, but it has to be done.' The boy formed a small black orb between his hands and launched it between the beasts, driving them apart. The two aeons stared at each other from the opposite ends of the orb. 'Now that I've got them separated, how do I get rid of Bahamut?' The man stood, pondering for a moment, coming up with no solution in the end. The two beasts pummeled at the orb, both trying to get to the other. Tidus shuddered and fell to his knees. 'Shit. I can't hold onto this very much longer. And the moment I let go, these two are going to turn the island into shambles. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO!'

"What in the name of a bloody shoopuff is going on here?" Tidus' head shot around to see Wakka approaching.

'WAKKA! Go find Yuna, NOW!'

"What? Why?"

'Don't question, just do!' Wakka shrugged and ran off to find Yuna as Tidus struggled back to his feet. Fortunate for the both of them, Yuna had walked into the village at that precise moment.

'YUNA! Recall Bahamut NOW!'

"What?" the lady asked.

'DON'T QUESTION ME! JUST DO AS I SAY DAMNIT!' Yuna stared at the dragon for a moment before nodding.

"FAYTH! RETURN TO YOUR RIGHTFUL RESTING PLACE!" The dragon let out a hollowing screech and disappeared. Tidus dropped the orb and the other aeon settled down next to the boy.

"Tidus?" it asked quietly. The blonde whipped around to look at it.

'Don't you ever, EVER do that again! Do you have any EARTHLY idea how many innocents could have been KILLED?' The aeon didn't reply. 'Fine, whatever. Just get out of my sight, NOW!' The aeon bowed, folding its massive wings, and too disappeared. Tidus pushed himself up to his full height and slowly walked towards the temple.

"Tidus?" Wakka called after him.

'I need to be alone. Just don't bother me.' And with that, the boy disappeared into the temple.

* * *

Tidus stared blankly into the distance, his chin resting on his arms, which were resting on the railing in an area behind the Besaid temple. After his brief stay in the chamber of the fayth, the boy had come to this spot to think for a while.

"Tell me something." Tidus looked up to see Lulu approaching him. "Please assure me you're not going to summon Braska next." Tidus chuckled lightly at her comment.

'No Lu, I'm not.'

"Good. I don't think I could handle that." Tidus chuckled lightly.

'Catching onto my antics, are we?'

"Maybe I am. What's it to ya?"

'Absolutely nothing. I have two aeons that could rip you in two.'

"What says that they would?" Tidus sighed.

'You've got me there. They're to good to do anything like that…' Lulu chuckled.

"That they wouldn't." The pair stood in silence for a little while.

'Where's Yuna been? I haven't seen her all day.'

"She down at the docks, waiting for her husband." Tidus stared at Lulu, a bit confused. Lulu gasped. "Nobody has told you, have they?" Tidus continued to stare at the mage.

'Tel me what?'Lulu absentmindedly rubbed the back of her neck. 'Lulu…'

"Ok, ok. Wakka was supposed to tell you SOONER…. But that's beside the point. Yuna is married; she has been for a couple of years now. I guess she needed to fill the void that you left behind."

'Void? Who..'

"LULU!" Yuna's call cut the blonde off.

"Why don't you come with me and find out?" Lulu slowly started to walk away. "Coming Yuna!" Tidus slowly pushed up off of the railing and followed the mage back to the front of the temple. Tidus could hear the prattle of the girls before he even got there. He came around to the front to see the two girls chattering away and a rather bored man. Tidus approached him.

'And you would be?' The man turned around to look at Tidus and the blonde immediately recognized him. 'IZARRU? Have I lost my mind?'

"It's good to see you too Tidus," Izarru replied. The other man stood, a bit dumbfounded. 'She chose him?' Tidus thought. 'Of all the men…. WHY HIM?' The two stared at each other for a moment, before Tidus spoke again.

'I really must be off though.'

"Why?" Yuna asked.

'I have things to take care of.' The blonde nodded to Izarru and left without another word.

* * *

Tidus sat, gently preening the bird's feathers.

'Why can't dad do this?'

"I don't know. Its just something I can do."

'Oh.' The pair sat quietly for a few moments before the aeon interjected again.

"Why did you leave?" Tidus didn't say anything. "Tidus?" The boy still didn't reply. The bird flew off his shoulder and onto his knee; it's long, multi-coloured tail fanning out on the boy's tanned skin. "Tidus?" The boy still didn't respond; he stared more through the bird than he did at the bird. "TIDUS! WILL YOU ANSWER ME!?"

'I don't know. I don't know any more.' The bird stared at his master for a moment.

"Don't know what any more?"

'I don't know why I bother. I was always DESTINED to be alone and this is the capper on everything.' The bird stared at the boy, speechless. 'I should just give up now.' The boy got to his feet, slowly walking away from his resting place. The bird flew silently behind the boy, wondering what was going through his head. The pair came into the village without saying anything to each other.

"THERE YOU ARE!" Rikku shouted. "You're never gonna BELIVE who's back!" Tidus stared at the blonde funny. She dragged him over to where Yuna was standing, talking to someone.

'What do you mean back?' Before the girl could answer, Yuna stepped out of his view and Tidus stumbled backwards. Before him stood the one person he never expected; the blue haired man smiled gently back at him. 'BRASKA?'

* * *

Yes, I am evil, VERY evil. No souls are safe from me.