After the attack of the fiends and sinspawn, Yuna was having a hard time accepting the thanks of the people of Luca. They were giving her gifts and she wanted to give them back.
"Just accept it Yuna, I'll store it for you don't worry. It would be rude to not accept, you saved Luca after all." Ramiel had a grin on his face and took all the gifts and gil into his inventory.
"What an opportunistic man you are." Samus commented on the side and thought he was being a little unethical.
"What? You're a bounty hunter, don't talk to me about the opportunities Samus." Ramiel rolled his eyes and Samus couldn't retort to that.
"Yes, Yuna. Just accept them all, we've got a very efficient person that can just store them all." Lulu had a smile on her face as they were receiving tons of supplies and money.
"Uhhh, do we even need all that?" Tidus and Wakka questioned as they saw the gifts that the people were giving.
"Of course, it might not be right now. But we'll need those eventually, prepare for a rainy day as they say." Lulu nodded sagely.
After things calmed down, everyone was in a park and Tidus went with Auron. He immediately grasped on his coat.
"This is all your fault! Getting swallowed by Sin! Getting carried to Spira! Not being able to go back to Zanarkand! Everything, everything is your fault!" Tidus unloaded all his frustrations on Auron.
"Everything is your fault. Everything, and I can't come back to Zanarkand anymore. Ramiel already told me it's impossible." Tidus went limp and he felt helpless.
"Who are you anyway?" Tidus was confused and lost. He was in Zanarkand a thousand years ago, but he was here again in Spira.
"It does not matter." Auron replied and Tidus glared at him. "Why do you know Yuna's father, and my father!? That should be impossible."
"Jecht, Braska, and me defeated Sin ten years ago. It is possible." Auron was patient and could understand the teen's angst.
"Is he alive?" Tidus questioned as his father disappeared 10 years ago when he was still a child.
"Depends on what's your definition of alive. He isn't human now." Auron closed his eyes and remembered what happened 10 years ago.
"You must've felt him in that shell. When you made contact with Sin." Auron implied and Tidus shook his head in disbelief.
"No way... I don't believe you! Nothing makes sense!" Tidus was in denial and Auron sighed.
"Uhhh, yes way." Ramiel overheard them and he came with Samus. "Ramiel... What do you mean?" Tidus saw him as a more trustworthy individual that explains things.
"Well, we are Aeons yeah? We can feel the pyreflies more. And there's a person inside of Sin, sorry Tidus. But you gotta accept the truth, Sin is a shell that is being controlled by your old man." Ramiel explained and Tidus frowned heavily.
"Then... Why? Why is he trying to destroy all these places and kill people?" Tidus remembered his old man as a bad father, but he wasn't a bad person.
"Well, it's the fault of something inside Sin. But how about you become a man and unravel those secrets yourself Tidus? What'll become of you if you knew everything? You will just mope at a corner." Ramiel snorted.
Auron nodded. "Every story has an end Tidus. Come with me, you'll understand more."
"Will I. Will I ever go back to Zanarkand?" Tidus still had some hope that he will go back. Ramiel looked at Auron and waited for what he will say.
"That's up to Jecht. He even went here to Luca in order to see you, but he is slowly losing control." Auron turned and would travel with them.
"I'll offer my services to Yuna. Come and you'll unravel more of this story." Auron gave him his hand.
"Do I even belong here? I don't think I can help much with this kid, I'm not a therapist Ramiel." Samus commented and he chuckled.
"Don't worry, the more people he thinks he could count on. The better, besides aren't you the powerful Aeon that took care of those monsters in a jiffy?" Ramiel patted her head and she snorted.
"Stop treating me like a kid!" She huffed and they went to Yuna in order for Auron to be a guardian with Tidus for the pilgrimage.
When they arrived at Yuna's group, they were surprised to see Auron, thinking that he was just passing by.
"Ahh! Sir Auron!" Yuna, Lulu, and Wakka bowed. Idolizing the guardian of Yuna's father that defeated Sin.
"Yuna, I wish to offer you my services." Auron went with it immediately and they were surprised.
"Really? I mean, why?" Yuna was excited, but she was confused on his decision. "I promised Braska."
Yuna went wide eyed and thought of her father. "Do you refuse?" Auron didn't hear a reply, so he doubled down.
"Ahh, no. We're happy to have you." Yuna looked at the others and they nodded. "It will be an honor Sir Auron." Lulu bowed and Wakka too.
"This one comes as well. This, I promised Jecht." Auron pulled the gloomy Tidus. "H-hello everyone, howdy?" He wasn't sure still, but they didn't have any complaints.
"And this one's coming with us as well Yuna. As you guys know, she's Samus. A good friend of mine. Though you shouldn't mess with her, she's a bit more militaristic than I am." He put his hand on her head and Samus had a scowl on her face.
With the large amounts of energy on her due to her Metroid powers. They could feel her strength roll in waves. And the scary face she had on wasn't helping.
"Uhhh, sure thing. Please take care of us as well Samus." Yuna bowed and Samus couldn't help, but get uncomfortable with her politeness.
"Yeah, take care of me too." She replied succinctly and Ramiel chuckled. "If she's a bit socially awkward, please do forgive her. She doesn't have any friends and I'm one of the rare few." He teased her and she slugged him on his side again.
The ground cracked, but he didn't have any reaction. "They're ridiculously strong." Auron commented from the side as he knew that he'll be flying like a ragdoll from her little jab at him.
"Yes, we're lucky to have them by our side." Lulu was once again thankful that they weren't maniacs that wanted to kill anything on sight.
"What's our itinerary? Where are we headed?" Auron went to business and they discussed their next destination.
"Guardians, we'll be going to the temple at Djose. And remember, smiles on your faces everyone." Yuna smiled, Ramiel and Samus got blinded by her optimism.
"Ramiel, that girl is too bright for my eyes." Samus complained. Remembering herself from years ago when she lived on Zebes with the Chozos.
"Yeah, and those types are the ones who'll encounter a lot of crap. Well, we're here to prevent her from becoming like you." He squinted his eyes and Samus nodded.
"Wait, I'm just monitoring you. What makes you think that I'm a part of you guys?" Samus raised a brow at him.
"Well, isn't it better to be with other people? You can't just be alone forever Samus." He patted her head and gave her some of his soothing energy. His wings then covered her and she felt a core memory resurface.
She felt warm, remembering the Chozos back in her new home in Zebes. "Hmph. I'll think about it."
They then travelled to Djose port and would go to the next temple there.
__
After a nice little ride on a boat, after a few days. They arrived at their destination and were going to the temple of the Fayth there in order for Yuna to get another Aeon.
The team traversed the Mi'hen highway, named after the person who created the crusaders who fight against Sin.
Everybody were quite tired in travelling in a ship, so they went to a nice little inn and retired there for the day.
"Hey, Yuna. I've been wondering this for a while now. What is the goal of the pilgrimage anyways?" Tidus asked as he was ignorant of its purpose.
"Ahhh, you came from Zanarkand so you do not know... As a summoner, it is my duty to get the help of a number of Aeons while being protected by my guardians. And then I will obtain the final Aeon at Zanarkand to defeat Sin in order to bring the calm." Yuna explained patiently.
"The calm? I've heard that before, but what does it mean anyway?" Tidus remembered the words.
"It means that Sin will be gone for ten years. That's why it's called the calm. And when those ten years are up, Sin will return to Spira and continue the cycle of life and death." Lulu chimed in and Tidus frowned.
"Then, Sin is undefeatable?" Tidus thought that was wrong and there must be other ways to defeat it permanently.
"Not really no, it would've been destroyed years ago if the Machina were used to its full potential. But there's a conspiracy that prevented the development of the Machina." Ramiel dropped another bomb on them.
"What!? B-but Sin attacks those who uses Machina extensively. Isn't that why it's prohibited?" Wakka who was a firm believer of the Yevon faith hated the Al-bhed who uses the Machina.
Because the religion's teachings said that was the reason why Sin is there in the first place. Which is true, but the people of Spira didn't know that their supposed god created as a tool of war.
"Because it can destroy it, think man. Do not let your dogma and beliefs blind you. People of Spira has no idea what the hell the Machina can do. If it was developed continuously. Then Sin wouldn't even be a problem right now." Ramiel shrugged and Wakka was having a crisis.
"Stop it, you're definitely murdering that man's beliefs." Samus commented and thought Wakka was a poor bastard that has been lied to all his life.
"Well, he needs to hear it. Your faith has been built upon lies. It's the cold hard truth. And the slimy bastards that you call Maesters will use everything to try and get influence. You'll see what I mean later." Ramiel could feel the Machina that was around in the area due to their power source.
Samus scanned the area and she learned of what he was saying. "Hmmm, they ban the use of Machina because of Sin right? What a poor man you are." She looked at Wakka pitifully and they went outside.
"Damn, they're ruthless aren't they?" Auron saw Wakka was about to cry as they dismantled his faith and beliefs. And the worst part is, they knew them as the sacred Aeons. In their faith, they were nigh absolute due to being the dreams of the Fayth.
"Are you okay Wakka?" Yuna patted him on the back and she thought that their words did a lot of damage on him.
"I... I'm fine, leave me alone for now please." Wakka went to his room. "Let him be, Yuna. Ramiel has spoken, it must have dealt a huge blow on him. Especially because his brother died to Sin. Being told that everything he believed was a lie by an Aeon will definitely give him a crisis." Lulu advised Yuna.
"Well he has never been wrong before. And he definitely knows more than he lets on." Tidus added.
"Let's get some rest for now, we have a big day tomorrow." Auron suggested and they went to their rooms to sleep.
Outside, Samus and Ramiel were having a walk. "Why'd you gotta do the guy that dirty?" Samus pinched him.
"Well, he's gotta wake up and stop blaming the wrong people. It will only hurt him in the long run." Ramiel shrugged and Samus reluctantly agreed.
"So? Why did we go outside? Are we going to do something?" She was curious on what his plans were.
"We're going to Bevelle." Ramiel smirked and with Samus by his side, they can loot the knowledge of Machina at the ruins there.
"What is that place?" Samus didn't know and he just flew there to show her what's beneath the city's depths.
"Hey, tell me what's going on there or I'll shoot you." Samus was getting anxious that he'll trap her there.
"Oh relax will you? You're too vigilant, that's why you don't have friends except me." Ramiel laughed and she huffed at him.
"Can you map out the underground of the city?" Ramiel requested and Samus didn't see how that'll be a problem, so she quickly scanned the city and was quite surprised on what she found out.
"There's tons of those things below. Machina is what's they're called?" Samus pieced the puzzle and looked at him.
"Yup, tons of blueprints and lost tech here. And we'll be taking them all." Ramiel rubbed his hands and hoped that they could at least find things there that could help him return to Gaia.
"Fine, let's get on with it." Samus was interested in the upgrades she could get there as well, having more contingencies is never bad after all.
They cloaked themselves and entered the underground of the city. Samus scanned everything she could and managed to scrounge up a lot of blueprints for weapons.
"Was this city in a war? The majority of what they created are weapons." Samus checked the blueprints she scavenged.
"Yes, remember Tidus' city? Zanarkand? This city was in a war against them. Their leader basically killed everyone and made them into a dream so they would live eternally. He then created Sin to protect it and destroy Machina, Bevelle's main weapons." Ramiel looked around and was trying to find the weapon of mass destruction they created.
"Ahhh, so that's how their bogus religion came to be? Interesting, this planet is messed up." Samus gave a wry smile.
"They are, bad decisions galore. I'd destroy this city if the civilians and those who aren't involved were evacuated from here." He squinted his eyes.
"Well, I would too. But we need to take care of that thing called Sin first." Samus was cooking up a plan in her head.
"Well, well, well, I guess you're a part of my party after all?" Ramiel smirked at her and she blushed in embarrassment.
"Shut up, that's just the right thing to do." She huffed at him and he patted her head. "Stop being such a tsundere." He chuckled and Samus glared at him.
"What's the meaning of that anyway?" She swatted his hand and was dying to know what that means. He shrugged and poked her forehead, transferring some information.
"Wh- I am not a tsundere!" She got angry and they chased each other. Samus fired an ice missile on his legs and he tripped because of it. She then jumped right at him and pinned him down.
"Say that again, I dare you." She squinted her eyes at him. "It's okay to be happy with more socializing Samus, you tsundere." He smirked at her.
She was about to retort again, but noticed that she was right on top of him and her butt was rubbing something.
Samus froze and she looked behind her. "W-what was that?" She didn't want to believe it. "I don't know, you tell me." Ramiel laughed and she jumped away from him immediately.
"Ahem... Let's continue exploring." She couldn't meet his eyes and he decided to let it go. But he'll definitely bring it up later.
They continued their own pilgrimage and finally found a pretty big Machina there. It was roughly the size of Sin. (pic)
"Oh wow, that thing is pretty impressive." Samus scanned it and the Machina was basically a superweapon.
With enough energy, it could lay waste to the planet and it was like a Metroid. Sucking up energy and then using it as its power source.
"That's what she said." He chuckled and put it into his inventory so they could study it more later.
Samus deadpanned at him, but she remembered their little incident and was thinking of firing her cannon at him.
"Don't be trigger happy now, come on let's go back to Djose and get some rest." He soothed her with his energy and she won't attack him, for now.
They flew back to their inn and they planned on doing something about the Machina they found later.
"What are you going to do with that thing anyways?" She thought that he could just do what it could, but even better if he wanted to destroy the planet.
"To return to my home. It might help me you see." Ramiel lied down on his bed and looked at the ceiling.
"I see, must be nice. Having a home to return to." Samus looked outside the window and remembered her homes that were destroyed.
"Then wanna come with? Have a new home with us?" He offered, knowing that she's been through some rough times.
"Hmm, let me think about it." She looked at him and had a small smile on her face.
"No, you gotta decide now. Come with me, or I kidnap you." He chuckled and Samus snorted.
"Like I'd let you. I'd like to see you try." She gave a smile and lied down on her bed too, having enough trust in him to be vulnerable.
"Don't think about it too hard, and can I get some of your blood for that juicy Metroid DNA? My plans would be much much easier with it." Ramiel tried asking for some again.
"No." Samus put her tongue out and turned her back on him. "Well, it was a good mood to ask." He shrugged and went to sleep as well.
__
Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.