Disclaimer: I definitely do NOT own anything Final Fantasy related. Please do not sue me as I am but a poor student who spends all her money buying your products anyway.

Author Note: For those who missed it in the summary, this is the story of an Original Character in an alternate FFX universe. There will be some lemony action in later chapters, so you have been warned.

// = translated from Al Bhed.

* = telepathy or any thoughts being heard by Ceres.

Enough rambling… Enjoy the story.

Song of the Wanderer: Chapter 2

*CERES NO DIE!!!! * A loud masculine voice bellowed in her mind.

Ceres stopped walking and clamped her hands against her throbbing head. *Ifirit, how many times have I told you not to yell in my head?* She could feel the fire Aeon hang his head in shame. Ceres chewed on her lip in frustration. Phenomenal cosmic powers and the vocabulary of a three year old . . . who'd have guessed? Ceres pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping the pain would soon subside. *Ifirit, I'm not angry with you. Just try to remember that you don't always have to yell when you get excited.*

*Ok.* the Aeon replied, still sulking

*Great. Now, since I've got a feeling this will be one of 'those' conversations, you both better come out.*

*That should make for an interesting scene for the unsuspecting traveler.*

*Can the sarcasm, Ixion. I don't really need it right now.*

Ceres 'heard' a snort, a grumble, some muttered curses, and then they were there. Before her stood, or rather, pranced the lightning unicorn known as Ixion. Next to him crouched the ferocious looking fire demon, Ifirit. Neither looked extremely pleased with her. Great.

As she approached the two, Ifirit dutifully picked her up and placed her on Ixion's back. After Ceres adjusted her position, she wove her hands into the unicorn's mane and signaled she was ready. The Aeon pranced a bit, readjusting himself to having a rider, then set off at a leisurely walk. Ifirit ambled along beside them as the trio made their way along 'The Thief's Way'. According to Ixion, a thief had stolen a faith from one of the temples and, in order to escape pursuers, had taken this overgrown path despite all the fiends. Ceres had rediscovered this path several years ago while exploring with Yui. The Al Bhed supply runner / bounty hunter had been thrilled to find this road and, after some heavy fiend extermination, used it to run supplies to Rin's Travel Agencies and who knew what else. Ceres used 'The Thief's Way' as a reliable short cut. The path itself branched off into different directions and, depending on how far away you wanted to get, would weave through mazes of underground tunnels and caves. She suspected that one of the tunnels could get a person from her position, somewhere to the South of Lake Macalania, as far as Luca. This was just a theory, however, as the farthest she'd wandered along it was the Mi'ihen Highroad.

Ixion still hadn't said anything to her and Ceres was beginning to get a little nervous. After all, it wasn't a good idea to piss off a creature that radiated bolts of lightning. They moved on in silence down the winding path. As they approached the trail that led to the Moonflow, Ixion turned right instead of left, onto a different Road.

"Hey!" Ceres exclaimed, "That was the turn!"

"I'm well aware of that."

"So go back!"

"No."

"Why not?"

The unicorn craned his neck back to look at the Wanderer with a look that could only be described as sheer annoyance. Ixion regarded the young woman sitting astride his back. She had come to mean more to him than any other Summoner he'd had, and over the years there'd been thousands. It wasn't just because of the hope she represented, though it'd be nice to finally rest. Ceres was loyal, caring, and very generous with her affections. If she didn't like someone it was for a very good reason. If the horse could've smiled, he'd have done so now. Instead Ixion returned his attention to Ceres, who was glaring at him. He mentally sighed . . . warm, caring, and stubborn as all Ramm: that was the Wanderer of Spira. "We, or should I say you, are going to Macalania Temple."

Ceres sat stunned for a few seconds while her brain processed this information. "Why is it so important, all of a sudden, for me to go there?" she asked suspiciously.

"Because you are planning on . . ."

"CERES NO DIE!" Ifirit bellowed, interrupting his fellow Aeon. Ceres jumped, having forgotten about the fire beast.

"It's all right, Ifirit." She soothed, reaching over to scratch behind the Aeon's ears. Ifirit sighed contentedly and rested his head on her right thigh, letting her pet him. Ceres smiled fondly at the large beast, he was just like an enormous puppy. Looking back at Ixion, she groaned, sensing another lecture coming.

"While I don't phrase things quite like Ifirit, I do share his sentiments. And while I understand that it hurts, you can't simply throw your life away for one person."

"Oh? And it's all right for Summoners and their Guardians to throw their lives away on something that keeps coming back?" she replied bitterly.

Ixion snorted. They'd had this argument before. "What would your young man say if he was in this position? Ceres? Are you listening to me?" Ixion craned his head back to look at Ceres again and halted in his tracks, causing Ifirit to stumble and trip. The fire Aeon glared at the lightning unicorn until he noticed the reason for the abrupt stop.

Ceres' eyes were wide, with a far away look in them. She felt like all her senses were on fire, waiting for something. Then it slammed into her and she gasped as she doubled over in pain. It burned in her mind and through out her body. She twisted sideways, violently, and fell off Ixion's back. Ifirit managed to catch her before she hit the ground.

"Ceres! What is it? What's wrong?" Ixion asked as he nuzzled her arm, trying to get her to come back to herself. Ceres could only faintly hear her Aeon's concerned voice as she struggled to breathe. All of a sudden her senses were filled by a familiar presence. It overwhelmed her and shocked her to the core. Then it subsided. Ceres' lungs burned as if she'd just run to the Calm Lands and back. She could still feel the presence, there in the back of her mind. If she hadn't been so exhausted, she would've done cartwheels.

Well, well…what do we have here? Auron's back, huh? What will that mean for Ceres? Will she meet up with the legendary guardian…and the rest of our favorite heroes? Remember: reviews = love = updates! -Lady Knight

Also: majority of the swearing will be done in Al Bhed…..let me know if you want me to include a dictionary of terms.