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batsutousaiTitle: Crooked Wings
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: T
Pairings: Tidus/Seymour
Warnings: AU, major canon-fuckery
Summary: On that fateful day when Yunalesca faced Sin, only part of her died, and the part that stayed alive finds itself in Spira a thousand years later.
Disclaim Her: Ugh. Translating of Al Bhed. *stare* If it's bold, it's Al Bhed.
A/N: This chapter was worked on off-and-on over the course of...four years? Give or take. So any odd changes in characterisation can be attributed to that.
The party – and by party, I mean Gina, Tidus, and Rikku – split up in this chapter. As when Tidus and Rikku were split from Gina at the start of this story, I'll touch in with each of them. This does mean that this fic just got expanded from my original figuring, but I'm sure none of you mind. (Assuming I don't let it sit for another four years. *shuffles nervously*)
This chapter has not had a beta read, because I wanted to get it up before I left to housesit for a friend and I'm stuck with her questionable internet access for two weeks. Enjoy anyway? :P
Turning on a Dime
-0-
Tidus smiled. "So what if you sent the armour?"
"Oh," Gina whispered, eyes wide. "Oh."
Tidus turned to where Yuna's party was watching in confusion – except for Auron, who looked approving – and asked, "Yuna, how would you like to help us defeat Sin? For good."
-0-
"Defeat Sin?" Yuna repeated. "For...good?"
"Without the Final Aeon?" Lulu wondered, considering Tidus' grin with sharp eyes.
"But the temples teach–" Wakka started.
"The temples are wrong," Seymour snapped and Wakka's mouth fell open in surprise. Traitor or no, Seymour had still been a maester.
Yuna turned to look at her eldest guardian. "Sir Auron?" she asked, needing to hear his thoughts. If he believed the idea had merit...
Auron glanced past his young summoner to where Tidus stood with his party. The teen met him, gaze for gaze, asking without words for his support. Without looking away from the blue eyes, Auron said, "Yes, I believe he's right." He finally glanced down at Yuna when Tidus smiled. "This is our best chance, unless you wish to return to Besaid in disgrace."
"For once, I think I'm glad he's on our side," Rikku murmured to Tidus.
Yuna nodded and turned back to the smaller party on the steps. "We'll help you," she agreed.
Gina smiled back. "Thank you. Now..." She glanced towards Wakka, who still looked a little shocked at Seymour's earlier announcement. "We travel by airship," Gina said, looking back at Yuna. "Are you willing?"
Wakka shook himself from his shock at that and insisted, "No, no way. I ain't getting on any forbidden machina."
Yuna glanced towards the Fahrenheit – which had found an acceptable landing spot nearby and was unloading a few Al Bhed, led by Cid. "It would be faster," she pointed out to Wakka.
"But it's forbidden!"
Lulu sighed and gave her fellow guardian a stern look. "Wakka, either you walk back over Mt Gagazet and through the Calm Lands by yourself, or you come with us onto the Al Bhed ship."
"But, Lu–!"
Lulu turned to Yuna, her expression cool. "We'll take the airship," she insisted. Next to her, Wakka whimpered.
Cid, who had reached them by then, let out a loud laugh and shot Lulu an approving look. "I think I like her," he informed Gina.
"She's not too bad, for a Yevonite," Tidus agreed, shooting Seymour a smug smile. The ex-maester shook his head in response.
"Alright." Cid looked over the party he was the most familiar with. "What sort of plans have you concocted?"
"Collecting all the summoners we can and have them send Sin," Tidus offered. "Without the armour in the way, we'll have a direct shot at Jecht and Yu Yevon, and those are the two we'll have to get rid of."
"Collecting summoners and the clergy for this is going to be the hard part," Seymour pointed out quietly as Yuna's party joined them, Wakka pointedly shuffling away from any Al Bhed.
"We'll just forget to mention your name," Gina suggested drily.
"Maybe we can have another go with Mika?" Tidus offered. "I mean, with Yunalesca gone, the usual way isn't possible any more, right? So he'll have to listen to us."
"We could just send him," Seymour added, an evil glint in his eyes.
"Wait, what?" Wakka demanded, all fear of Al Bhed forgotten. "Send Maester Mika?"
"Oh, didn't you get the memo? He's unsent," Seymour replied. All of Yuna's party except Auron and Kimahri blanched.
"You're enjoying this too much," Tidus muttered to his lover.
"Let's wait to send Mika until after your name has been cleared, hm?" Gina suggested, glancing back at Cid. "Here's what I propose: Lady Yuna isn't considered to be a traitor to Yevon, so we'll send her down south to start gathering assistance in the islands. Meanwhile, we'll take a trip to Bevelle and speak with Maester Mika."
"If anyone can get him to see reason, it would be you," Cid agreed. "Especially as you are now."
Gina offered him a pained smile. "I know. Seymour, we'll have you go straight to Guadosalam. Can you rally your people to help us? Also, collect those you can think of from Macalania Temple?"
Seymour nodded. "I will...do my best." He grimaced slightly.
Gina considered him for a moment, then looked at Tidus. "Go with Seymour. Rikku and I will be fine in Bevelle, and I'd rather Seymour wasn't left to fend for himself in the current political climate."
"Gotcha."
Yuna cleared her throat. "A suggestion?" she offered. When Gina nodded for her to go ahead, she said, "I don't need four guardians to visit the temples. Perhaps Sir Auron could go with Maester Seymour and Sir Tidus, while Lulu goes with you and Rikku?"
Gina glanced at Tidus, who shrugged a bit helplessly. It was sensible to split their resources a bit more evenly, and three people travelling together would manage better than two. Once they'd reached Guadosalam and everything had been sorted there, Tidus and Seymour would probably find themselves saddled with a group of guado guards, but until then, Seymour was still a traitor.
"Thank you, Lady Yuna. It would be appreciated," Gina said to her fellow summoner.
Cid cleared his throat. "Right. So we'll drop Gina, Rikku, and Dame Lulu off in Bevelle, then swing by Guadosalam to get rid of Seymour, Tidus, and Sir Auron. Lady Yuna, where are we dropping you lot off?"
"Oh, um... Besaid, I guess," Yuna decided. "We can stop by the temple there first, then move on to Kilika." She looked to Gina. "Where, uhm, where are we all meeting back up?"
"Pops can give everyone a transmitter to call the airship," Rikku volunteered. "When you're done with the islands, call for him and he'll come to pick you up, right?" she glanced at her father.
Cid nodded. "Right. And once you've got together the group from Besaid, you can call us and will bring them aboard from there." He looked to Gina. "I assume you're going to do the sending from the ship?"
"It's the only way we'll be able to get close enough," Gina agreed.
"What if Sin attacks the ship?" Lulu wondered.
"He won't," Tidus and Gina chorused.
"Who will be going to the Yevon-Djose Temple?" Seymour wondered. "Lady Yuna will get Besaid and Kilika, Tidus and I will tackle Macalania after Guadosalam. Lady Gina, you'll be in Bevelle and, I assume, going to Remiem while you're in the area?"
Gina nodded. "I think so, yes. Uhm..." She glanced thoughtfully towards the Fahrenheit. "How about, whoever gets back to the airship first will go to Djose? If it was still in the Thunder Plains, I'd have said you and Tidus should handle it..."
"That sounds good," Cid agreed. "Okay, if that's all decided, everyone onto the airship!"
They all made their way back to the ship and climbed on, Wakka only having to be shoved by Lulu once.
The group of summoners and guardians reconvened in the galley while Cid headed for the bridge to prepare for take-off.
"Where will everyone be doing the sending from?" Yuna wondered, glancing around the ship with an expression of awe.
"The observation deck?" Rikku suggested. "Or maybe on the outer deck."
"Perhaps a bit of both," Gina decided, shaking her head. "I mean, we could probably fit thirty summoners on the outer deck, and it would certainly be easier up there, but I'd like to have some guardians up there too, just in case Sin tosses some Sinspawn at us."
"You can't really fit thirty summoners and five or six guardians up there and still have room to fight," Tidus agreed. "Maybe split the summoners? Fifteen on the outer deck, fifteen in the observation deck. Maybe split a couple of guardians, too, just in case some Sinspawn get past the outer deck and down the lift?"
"That sounds reasonable," Gina agreed.
Rikku let out a sudden giggle, clapping her hands over her mouth and bowing her head when everyone looked at her a bit oddly.
"Rikku?" Yuna asked uncertainly.
Rikku let out another giggle from between her fingers and shook her head before gasping out, "Yevonites. Airship."
Lulu understood first, letting out a half-laugh, half-cough. "We'll need to get the summoners onto the airship," she translated.
"This is going to be amazing," Tidus declared, looking towards where Wakka was torn between distrust and air-sick, judging by the green tinge to his cheeks.
Gina looked towards Seymour, uncertain. "That could be a problem," she allowed. "Not everyone is as willing to put aside their hatred of machina."
Seymour frowned out the window. "Telling them this is the only way should help," he offered, "and you, Lady Gina, shouldn't have any trouble convincing people to join on, in spite of the machina involved. Likewise, Lady Yuna is well-known and trusted in Besaid, though convincing the Kilika priests might prove difficult, even with her status as the daughter of High Summoner Braska."
"Hey!" Tidus leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Rikku, why don't you go with Yuna, and Wakka can go with Gina?" At the confused expressions his suggestion earned, he explained, "Rikku and I helped protect Kilika from Sin, and at least one of the priests had family in the village, from what I heard; if anyone here can talk them into trusting in machina for long enough to stop Sin, it'll be one of the two of us."
"I forgot about that," Rikku admitted. "The villagers did seem willing to accept me, in spite of what I am."
Gina and Yuna traded looks and both gave slight shrugs before Yuna declared, "Then Rikku will attend with myself and Kimahri, while Wakka travels with Lady Gina and Lulu." She looked towards her male guardian and called, "Wakka? Is that okay with you?"
Wakka shuffled his feet a bit, but nodded. "Yeah, I'll be okay."
Yuna smiled. "Good. And Maester Seymour should have the most luck with Macalania Temple. Especially once word gets around that he's not a traitor."
Tidus and Gina traded uncertain looks even as Seymour offered, "I hope you're right, Lady Yuna."
Yuna's smile dimmed a bit, but she insisted, "They'll see sense, I'm certain."
"Traitor or no," Auron added evenly, "this is about ridding the world of Sin more than it is about who's in favour with the Maesters at the moment. Any true Spiran should be willing to look past Yevon's edicts for that." His eyes flickered towards Tidus, who frowned at him in response; he might not be from Spira, but he would fight for this world just as he would have his Zanarkand.
"Only time will tell," Lulu announced, standing. "How long before we arrive at Bevelle?"
"Long enough for a nap," Gina supplied, because it was clear the other party was not at the top of their game. Given, she, her guardians, and Seymour weren't at their best, either, having climbed through the ruined blitzball stadium, fiends included, but they looked far fresher than the group that had passed through Gagazet on foot.
Rikku took that as her cue and jumped to her feet. "I'll show you to rooms! Everyone will probably still have to double-up, though."
"No problem," Tidus offered, a gleam in his eyes.
Rikku pointed a finger at him. "No one asked you!" she shot back before half-skipping from the room, Lulu, Wakka, Yuna, and Kimahri following after her tiredly.
"Not going, Sir Auron?" Gina enquired mildly.
"I don't expect he's particularly tired," Seymour commented with the air of someone who knew a secret.
Auron shot the half-guado a bland look. "If you have something to say, then say it."
But it was Gina who said, "Yunalesca killed you."
Tidus shot his summoner a startled look before letting out a snort that brought the other three's eyes on him. "I should have known," he commented as he stood from his seat, turning the motion into a stretch as he reached his full height. "I doubt there's a way for a living person to exist in that world, not for ten years."
"Not for ten years," Auron agreed mildly.
Tidus nodded. "I'm going to go to our room," he offered, looking at Seymour and effectively ending any further discussion of Auron's living status.
Seymour easily got to his feet, but they were stopped from leaving by Gina asking, "Your father?"
Seymour paused for a moment, then looked back at the summoner. "What of him?"
Gina stared at him for a beat, then sighed. "I'd like to know how defensible your actions are, should it come to it."
"To the people of Yevon, who loved him?" Seymour replied, and his tone was bland, save for the hint of bitterness in the word 'love'. "They are not."
Gina sighed. "Then don't defend your actions with them in mind. Defend them to me."
"Gina–" Tidus started, stepping back towards the table.
Seymour reached out and placed a restraining hand on Tidus' chest, shaking his head when Tidus looked up at him. Tidus pressed his mouth into a straight line, but relaxed back enough to make it clear that he would keep his mouth shut, though not happily.
Seymour looked back at where Gina was sitting; her was posture open, but her stare was unbending. "My father married a hume at a time when guado and hume were...less than friendly. My mother and I were not welcome in Guadosalam, so my father sent us to live in Baaj Temple, and the damp is what made my mother ill."
"Revenge, then," Gina said, still watching him.
"Revenge," Seymour agreed, before closing his eyes. "And power," he added, the words heavy between those who knew exactly how twisted Seymour's machinations had once been.
They were all quiet for a moment, Auron watching the stand-off like anyone else might watch two blitz teams they didn't particularly care about, but were proving interesting anyway. Tidus, at Seymour's shoulder, looked between his summoner and lover, expression tight as he waited to see if he'd need to step in to stop any bloodshed.
"Thank you," Gina finally said, "for being honest."
Seymour swallowed and opened his eyes to look at her. Her posture had eased, as close as she'd ever been to friendly towards him, and he felt tenseness he had only vaguely been aware of draining away.
"Dammit, Gina," Tidus complained.
Gina looked over at him, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You know I had to ask," she pointed out.
And Tidus did, because they both knew Seymour, knew exactly how twisted and broken he was. If he was willing to admit to his crimes, with only minimal prompting, that was a good sign. That he hadn't treated them flippantly was even more so.
Still. "I'm pretty sure, out of everyone in Spira, we two have the least right to judge Seymour in this."
Gina's expression twisted with regret and she looked away. "Given," she allowed.
"It's not the same," Seymour offered.
"Maybe not," Gina replied, straightening and looking between Tidus and Seymour, "but that doesn't mean there's no truth to it. Murder is still murder, no matter the circumstances."
Seymour's mouth twisted with an ironic little smile. "Indeed."
Gina nodded to him, then looked at Tidus, offering him a small smile. "Go on, then."
Tidus snorted and touched Seymour's arm, then turned and left the galley, Seymour following close behind him.
"You realise," Gina commented to the silent unsent next to her, once the other two had left, "that you're going to have to put up with a lot of sex noises, travelling with them."
Auron closed his eyes, expression tight. "Dammit, Jecht," he muttered.
Gina couldn't help but laugh as she stood. "You might ask around about earplugs," she suggested before leaving the man to his brooding, intending to at least relax in her and Rikku's room, if not catch a quick nap.
-0-
Tidus woke before Seymour and, after carefully slipping out of their bed and quietly getting dressed, he made his way up to the bridge to find out how far they were out.
Gina was the only member of their party up there, standing alone over the map while Cid berated one of his people. She'd found someone to cut her hair, though she'd had them cut it only to her mid-back, rather than the shoulder-length cut Tidus had mostly managed the first time. She'd also changed out of her summoner robes, wearing a pair of shorts that were less frilly than Rikku's, but the same length, and a familiar orange wool sleeveless top. She wore most of the jewellery she'd received from merging with her unsent self, as well as the ribbons in her hair.
"Stealing Rikku's shirt?" Tidus asked as he stepped up next to her, looking down at the map.
"She insisted," Gina admitted quietly. "When I said I wanted something a little less bulky, she found me shorts and insisted I take one of her shirts. Something about keeping a part of her with me while we were separated."
Tidus blinked, then shrugged off his jacket. "She may have something there," he offered as he gently settled the jacket around her shoulders.
Gina looked over at him, one hand coming up to catch the front of the jacket and keep it from sliding off her shoulders as her hair shifted under it. "You're sure?"
Tidus flashed her his best grin. "One of us needs to make sure you don't catch sick, always wearing–"
"Don't even start with me," Gina ordered, but she was smiling as she slipped her arms into the sleeves and freed her hair from under it.
"Given," Tidus allowed, "you've worn less."
Gina snorted and smacked his bare shoulder. "And you? You're the one who'll be going out to Macalania."
"I'll borrow something from Seymour," Tidus insisted.
"Robes? Really?"
Tidus rolled his eyes. "I'm sure he's got some little...what would you call them? Caplets?" He motioned over one shoulder and down his arm, suggesting something that covered to his elbows. "Serves the same purpose as a jacket."
Gina covered her mouth and had to look away before she started laughing. "Yes," she said as evenly as she could manage, "you would know what he has in his wardrobe."
Tidus snorted. "You can't, honestly, believe I was ever focussed on his wardrobe."
Gina glanced up and caught his eye, and then they were both laughing, holding on to each other's arms to keep themselves upright.
"If you two are done making fools of yourselves," Cid commented, failing to sound irritated, "you can go wake your Bevelle team."
Gina coughed and straightened, one hand going up almost absently to touch one of the talismans in her hair. "Of course," she agreed, humour still in her tone. "Come on, Tidus."
"My job to wake Wakka?" he guessed, preceding her from the bridge.
"Please. I believe he and Kimahri took a room on your end of the hall."
"Whoops," Tidus replied, his eyes practically dancing as he started towards one of the few doors on the side of the hall closer to his and Seymour's room.
Gina snorted and kept on to the room Rikku had said Yuna and Lulu were staying in. She knocked on the door as she reached it, Tidus apologising down the hall as he woke an Al Bhed while looking for Wakka and Kimahri.
Lulu opened the door after a moment, Yuna sitting on a bed behind her and rubbing tiredly at her eyes. The guardian looked far more alert than her summoner, and Gina wondered how long the other black mage had been awake. "We're approaching Bevelle," she offered.
Lulu nodded. "Of course. Let me collect my pack." She left the door open as she walked over to the bed Yuna wasn't sitting on. "Yuna, you can go back to sleep," she said as she picked up a small bag of items and her cactuar doll.
Yuna shook her head and pushed herself to her feet. "No," she insisted. "I'm awake. And I want to see you and Wakka off." She glanced towards Gina, then, flushing. "If that's...okay?"
Gina shrugged. "Far be it from me to tell you whether you're allowed to say goodbye to your guardians."
Yuna smiled at her and joined Lulu in following Gina back towards the bridge.
They met Tidus, Wakka, Kimahri, and Seymour on the way. Wakka was yawning, very clearly not ready to be awake, but Kimahri looked plenty rested, and Seymour looked as he always seemed to be, when not on a battleground.
"Touching," Seymour offered mildly, gazing pointedly at the jacket Gina was wearing.
Tidus lightly smacked the maester's chest. "Shut up," he ordered over the sounds of Yuna gasping and Wakka's noise of disapproval.
Seymour turned amused eyes on his lover. "I suppose I'll have to find you something to wear before we leave for Macalania Temple," he said.
"If you would," Gina agreed while Tidus grinned. "I should like him back in the same condition I'm leaving him in."
"Of course, Lady Gina," Seymour agreed as they reached the bridge.
"He's a maester," Gina heard Wakka complaining quietly to Lulu, as if he truly believe that would change how Tidus interacted with the half-guado.
"It seems they're prepared for us, this time," Cid offered, motioning to where the Highbridge had been magnified to one side of the view screen. A line of warrior monks ran the length of the Highbridge, guns aimed in their direction. A couple of temple priests had been interspersed somewhat randomly along the line, all holding staffs in the same way that Yuna did when she prepared to cast a spell.
"They still lack the ability to damage this airship," Seymour said, unconcerned.
"That doesn't mean they can't start firing as we offload," Tidus pointed out, turning worried eyes on Gina. "Cid could drop you in the Calm Lands, by the entrance to Macalania Woods, and you can just walk it?"
"And delay exonerating Seymour?" Gina returned, glancing towards the frowning half-guado. "No. We'll cast Protect and Shell and continue as planned."
Tidus opened his mouth to disagree, but Seymour touched his shoulder, bringing him to glance back at his lover. "Lady Yuna and I shall take up position on the upper deck and summon Bahamut and Valefor as deterrents."
"Oh, yes!" Yuna agreed, straightening.
Tidus swallowed and reached into his pack. "Hold on, there's a trick that Rikku taught me that will be helpful," he insisted before anyone could leave the bridge. It took him but a moment to pull out two chocobo feathers from the stock he'd started keeping after Rikku had taught him her little trick. He carefully removed the barbs from the shaft, which he dropped into a pocket, then mixed the barbs together, breathing a little bit of uncontrolled magic on them until his handful sparkled.
When his mix was ready, he stepped into the centre of the watching group and tossed the sparkling barbs over them. Shell and Protect shields bloomed into light around all of them and they all twitched, showing the Haste spell had taken hold.
"That," Gina said, speaking a little too quickly, "is extremely useful. Thank her for me."
"Will do," Tidus promised as he grabbed the mobile radio. "I'm coming up top," he added to Seymour and Yuna while waving the radio at Cid, who nodded his understanding.
They docked at the centre of the Highbridge with aeons bracketing the airship. Gina took a moment to breathe, hating that the guardians at her back weren't her guardians, but knowing there were times you had to divide your resources. She glanced back over her shoulder at the two behind her, taking in Lulu's unbending expression and the way Wakka was holding his blitzball like he was ready to throw it at a moment's notice. "Ready?" she asked.
"Better to simply get it over with, ya?" Wakka offered, his voice tense.
"Quite," Gina agreed before hitting the switch to open the door.
The wind sent her hair into tangles around her face, and she had to brush it out of her face before she could move. When she finally started forward, however, she realised the mass of weapons were no longer turned on her. Indeed, all of the priests she could see had bowed their heads, hands forming the prayer, and the warrior monks had stepped respectfully out of the way.
Right, she thought as she jumped off the end of the ramp onto the Highbridge, I look like their first High Summoner, their Yunalesca.
Wakka jumped down behind her and stopped to help Lulu down, while one of the priests stepped forward and bowed low before her. "What service may Bevelle perform for you, High Summoner Yunalesca?"
Gina quickly performed the prayer in response, deciding to go for politeness until given a reason to do otherwise. "I'm here to speak with Grand Maester Mika, if someone might be troubled to show myself and Lady Yuna's guardians to him," she requested, making a point to slow her speech, so those who weren't affected by Haste could easily understand her.
The priest glanced towards the guardians, looking momentarily uncertain. His expression cleared as the airship moved away, taking with it all hints of a threat. "I can assist you with that, High Summoner," he replied before turning in the direction Gina knew the Palace of St Bevelle was located. "This way, please."
The warrior monks and other priests silently moved out of the way of their party as they moved along the Highbridge, many of them performing the prayer as they passed. It was almost...eerie, Gina thought, but she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She did glance back once to make sure Lulu and Wakka were still with her, and Lulu made a point to speed up so she was walking close enough that Gina could hear the clicking of her hair decorations over the sounds of the wind and shifting bodies.
Mika was awaiting them in a receiving room, and he fluidly performed the prayer and bowed over his hands, breathing, "Lady Yunalesca."
"Gina," she corrected once their guide had left, "please."
Mika clearly knew her preferred name, for he straightened with a concerned expression. "I had not been aware–" he started before stopping himself. He took a long look at her, then asked, "Why have you returned?"
Gina took a deep breath. "We have a plan, a way to defeat Sin forever, but we'll need the help of your order."
Mika shook his head. "Sin cannot be truly defeated," he insisted.
"But–!" Wakka called.
Gina held out a hand, silencing him. "I understand that's the belief you and the other maesters have developed over the years, likely born of my own failed attempt, but I disagree. I believe now, as I did the first time I went against Sin, that he can be defeated. Truly defeated."
Mika shook his head again. "Impossible."
"As impossible as my existence as a living, breathing human?" Gina replied calmly, and Mika's eyes widened. She nodded. "I am not unsent, your Grace, and I am not the woman who haunted Zanarkand's ruins. I believe– No, I know there is a way to free Spira of Sin's reign of terror."
Mika stared at her for a long moment, the silence heavy between them, before he requested, "How?"
Gina inclined her head. "Sin's armour is created from pyreflies, gathered and held in place by the soul of the previous 'Final Aeon'."
Wakka and Lulu let out startled noises behind her.
"Only the strongest of aeons can get past such a form of protection in battle, but there is one other thing that affects pyreflies."
"The sending," Mika realised, his body letting out a noise of protest when he straightened out of his customary slouch.
Gina nodded. "If everyone in Spira who is capable of it, were to performing the sending at the same moment near Sin, I believe we would have a direct shot at what is left of my father. And without Yu Yevon, there will be no Sin."
Wakka let out a broken sound.
Mika nodded. "You need the priests and any summoners to gather," he suggested.
"Yes. And I need them willing to step onto the Al Bhed airship, because that's the only thing in all of Spira that can chase after Sin, should it prove necessary."
Mika grimaced. "That will prove..."
"Difficult, I'm aware," Gina agreed. "But I believe it's time Spira buried it's misconceptions about machina born from the devastation of the Machina Wars. Machina can be used for evil, certainly, but is hardly evil in and of itself, and we shall prove that with the use of it in destroying Sin. More importantly, it's time the races of Spira became allied against their greatest foe, rather than placing undue blame upon the shoulders of a single race," she finished, her tone turned frosty by the end, and she sensed, more that heard, Wakka's flinch.
Mika looked away. "It will take time to collect all those capable of the sending," he commented neutrally.
"Lady Yuna is on her way down to Besaid and Kilika to collect those in the south, while Maester Seymour is headed for Macalania," Gina offered a bit carelessly, before narrowing her eyes on the unsent maester. "Speaking of Maester Seymour..."
Mika let out an irritated noise. "I will see to it that he is pardoned of his crimes," he agreed. "Lies, spread by the Al Bh–"
"No!" Gina snapped. "You can't go blaming this on the Al Bhed, not this time! Make your excuses if you believe you cannot smooth his crimes over, but do not put the blame on anyone's shoulders, save your own."
"You expect me to tell the people of Spira I lied?" Mika demanded, turning a cold stare on her.
"Say you were mistaken," Gina returned, unmoved. "You're old, it can be forgiven."
"Mistaken?" Mika asked, his tone disbelieving.
Gina narrowed her eyes. "Make your own excuses, or I will make them for you after I've sent you, I don't care which, but I will not allow you to give any of your followers reason to avoid getting on the airship, be that because they believe the Al Bhed to be spreading lies, or because they think Maester Seymour a traitor."
"You are threatening the Grand Maester of Yevon," Mika warned her.
"And you are acting against the duty of the only living High Summoner," Gina retorted, drawing on the well of self-importance that her unsent had possessed. "I'm here to destroy Sin, not dither over the machinations of politicians."
Gina and Mika stared at each other for a long moment, which was broken by Lulu clearing her throat. "If I may, your Grace?" she offered in a respectful tone, eyes downturned respectfully when Gina and Mika turned to look at her, while Wakka looked mildly panicked at her side. "I did not hear the original proclamation, as it was passed to us second-hand while we were travelling the Calm Lands, but is it not possible you had intended to say that Maester Seymour was hunting the late Maester Jyscal's murderer, rather than that he had done the deed himself? Someone could have misheard and passed on the wrong message."
"That is possible," Gina murmured, glancing back at the unsent. "It wouldn't fully explain the incident on the Highbridge, but it would ease tempers in regards to his father's death."
Mika turned away and stepped over to a door that was mostly hidden behind a drape. "Send word to Maester Kinoc that I require his presence," he ordered to whoever was waiting there. After closing the door, he said, "Maester Kinoc will handle the public corrections." He narrowed his eyes on Gina. "You would be well-served delivering your request for assistance in person."
Gina allowed a tight nod, having expected something like that, given their minor power struggle. "That's fine. I'd like to head out to Remiem Temple while those capable of the sending within the city and in any outlying villages gather, if that's acceptable?"
Mika turned away. "I will see to it that a guide and chocobos are provided for you."
Kinoc hurried into the room through the door Gina, Lulu, and Wakka had originally been led through, his eyes solely for Gina. "High Summoner Yunalesca. It's true," he breathed.
"Kinoc," Mika interrupted, tone sharp. "High Summoner Gina has a plan for Sin, but it requires Seymour be free to move unhindered. See to it."
Kinoc stiffened. "Of course," he said, disgust practically dripping from the words. He shook his head and coolly asked, "Who are we blaming?"
Gina pressed her mouth into a thin line, leaving it for Mika to inform his subordinate, "A misstep in delivering the announcement. Put the Al Bhed in a good light."
Kinoc looked towards Gina, who inclined her head. His expression eased a bit and he suggested, "The Al Bhed got word to him during Operation Mi'ihen that Lord Jyscal may have been murdered, and he travelled out to Home without warning anyone of his intentions to do so, resulting in the attack on the Al Bhed settlement. He returned to update us on his findings and his continued partnership with the Al Bhed in searching for answers, but someone misheard his explanation to you and word got around that he had killed his father and was in league with the Al Bhed to bring down Yevon. The appearance of that airship simply exacerbated events."
That was...a far better cover-up than any of them could have hoped for, and Gina didn't bother trying to sound anything but truly honest when she said, "That's perfect. Thank you, Maester Kinoc."
Kinoc ducked his head, while Mika scoffed. "It's not true," Mika pointed out. "Jyscal was killed by Seymour."
"I'm aware," Gina retorted, ignoring the quiet noises Wakka was failing to muffle as he suffered the darkest of his religion's secrets laid bare. "He gave me his reasoning, and while I can hardly condone them, I do understand his actions, in as much as anyone can. However, it is not my duty to judge him, and Yevon has already passed on that chance, so it hardly matters what his crimes are, so long as they do not hamper destroying Sin."
"Destroying it?" Kinoc demanded, eyes going wide.
"Pass on that correction," Mika ordered. "You will hear High Summoner Gina's plans soon enough. And send someone in on your way out."
Kinoc's mouth tightened, but he gave a short bow and left without further ado.
A warrior monk stepped into the room and performed the prayer. "You asked for me, your Grace?"
Mika nodded. "See to it that Lady Gina and her guardians are provided with food and a place to rest while a forum for their announcement is gathered."
"Right away, your Grace. This way, ladies, sir," the warrior monk said, motioning for Gina, Lulu, and Wakka to follow him from the room.
"Thank you for your time, your Grace," Gina offered with only a hint of irony.
"It was but a pleasure, High Summoner," Mika returned with the same hint of irony, and Gina and her party left him to his duties.
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A/N: So, checking in with Seymour and his welcoming in Guadosalam next chapter, followed by Yuna and Rikku in Besaid. Then probably back to Gina at Remiem and maybe Tidus and Seymour at Macalania. We'll see how chatty people are feeling.
But, yeah! Home stretch! (Which is seriously stretching. WTF?)
On the other hand, I've figured out what I going to do with Tidus, so that helps. (And I wrote it down; if I ever came up with a solution for him before, I didn't make a note of it anywhere. *pulls hair*)
Posting these last few chapters as I finish them, so you may get 11 within 48 hours, you may have to wait a couple weeks. I make no promises, beyond the promise that I will finish this fic. *sweat*
Cheers!
~Bats ^.^x
1 - Otherworld ||| 2 - Neither Friend Nor Foe ||| 3 - Sometimes Good-Bye is a Second Chance
4 - Heaven Sent a Hurricane ||| 5 - My Secrets Become Your Truth ||| 6 - Every Clap of Thunder
7 - Throw Your World Away (For Love) ||| 8 - Poisonous Drugs of Hate ||| 9 - Wisdom, Justice, & Love
13 - ???
Incomplete
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