Author Note: Sorry I haven't updated in a while but I've been having writer's block issues. Hopefully they are resolved and I'll be able to write at a better pace. A big thank you to my reviewers and my beta reader, Lady Sei, for kicking my butt to get me to continue the story. I will also try to post the Al Bhed translations that appear in each chapter.

// = translated from Al Bhed.

* = telepathy or any thoughts being heard by Ceres.

Song of the Wanderer: Chapter 3

It was three days before the Aeons let Ceres travel again. Not that she was complaining, having only woken up half way through the second day. She hadn't understood exactly what had happened any better than Ixion and Ifirit. The only thing she knew was that Auron was alive- which rendered the trip to Guadosalam unnecessary. Ixion privately thought that this whole situation seemed rather odd. However, since Ceres had given up the Farplane idea and was heading for Macalania temple without further complaint, he wasn't about to press his luck by voicing doubts. Besides, this was the happiest he'd seen the Wanderer. This Auron must be special indeed. Even Ifirit had noticed the change in their mistress' attitude.

Ixion and Ceres continued on in relative peace for the next few days. The fire Aeon had gotten bored and, after being assured that Ceres' life wasn't an issue anymore, retreated into her mind and was silent…for now.

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This had definitely been one of those weeks, Ceres decided as the last thunder flan exploded in to pyreflies. That brought the total to fifteen flans, five zuus, ten fire elementals, twelve thunder elementals, sixteen marbros, and three master tonberries. Not that she was counting.

"Why does it seem like the entire fiend population tripled over night?" she mused, out loud. There was no reply, and that was another source of irritation. Ixion had been summoned, for about the sixth time that week. The first time was because people were at his temple; the second time was The Ritual of Proof (this proved that a summoner had actually obtained an Aeon and could successful summon them). The rest had been for random battles, nothing that note worthy, except that the last time there'd been absolutely no warning. Ceres had been ridding Ixion when suddenly, she found herself ridding thin air. Needless to say, her tailbone was still sore. She chewed her bottom lip in annoyance as she considered asking the Aeons if they could ignore the summonings once in a while.

"No," she thought with a rueful shake of her head. She had no right to ask that. A Summoner's life depended on their Aeons. If they were unsuccessful in the attaining or the calling of one, the Church branded them as heretics….and their guardians were duty bound to dispatch them. Ceres shivered at the thought, she didn't want more people's deaths on her conscious. So here she was, trudging down the trail, alone with her thoughts. It just wasn't fair! Sacrificing your life should count for something, but obviously this was not the way to defeat Sin. Every ten years, like clockwork, it was back to destroy more lives. And what did the "All Mighty Church of Yevon" do? Send out more summoners and guardians, like lambs to be slaughtered. It was wrong….it felt wrong.

Lost in her thoughts, Ceres didn't even notice she'd strayed from her original path. Nor did she notice that the path she was now on veered off in two directions. The left headed along a small river and continued west. The right path, however, stopped suddenly and dropped a good five feet into a small valley. Ceres didn't realize what was happing until she felt the ground abruptly vanish from beneath her feet. Luckily, before she could even think to scream, she was grabbed by her cloak and hauled back to safety.

"Is it not possible to leave you alone for more than five minutes?" asked a rather perturbed unicorn. He and Ifirit, who was still holding her cloak, were now beside her on the new path.

"Sorry…" the Wanderer mumbled, as she looked over the edge into the valley below. She only half listened as the lightning Aeon rambled on and on about 'being aware of ones surroundings'. Sometimes, Ixion was a real nag. Still smirking at her own pun, Ceres studied the valley with a critical eye. She'd never been here before, yet this place felt familiar to her.

The valley was heavy with vegetation, tall trees towering over them even though they were on a hill. The small river seemed to wind down to a lake in the valley, but she couldn't be certain of its source. Gazing at the distant body of water, Ceres frowned and squinted. There! Just through those trees it looked like……

"Hey!" Ceres exclaimed, breaking Ixion from his lecture (which had moved on to her daydreaming at inappropriate times). "Look down there, it's a building!" She pointed towards the far side of the lake. Ixion moved forward to see where she indicated.

"Indeed," said the unicorn in a neutral tone. A somber expression passed over his face as he regarded his young charge. Ceres missed the look he gave her in her haste to climb on his back. She settled herself quickly on his back and leaned forward a little in anticipation. She had to get down there, something was calling.

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Hmm? I wonder what's in the valley. Oh well you'll have to wait till next chapter to find out. MUWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't worry I'm sure we'll meet up with our favorite guardian and friends…eventually.

Oh, and as promised…….Ceres' Guide to Swearing in Al Bhed

English - Al Bhed

Bites - Pedac

Fools - Vuumc

These appeared in chapter one.