Dark Summoner

The morning dawned bright the next day and Harry was up with the sun. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he sat up, trying vainly to escape the light that was flashing across his face. He groped for his glasses on the bedside table out of reflex before he remembered that he no longer wore them and glared at the curtains through squinting eyes. As if in response a gentle breeze coming off the ocean blew the material higher, sending the light lancing across his eyes once more. He shut them with a groan and flopped back to the mattress with an ‘Oof’.

‘Sometimes I really hate mornings.’ He thought as he heard Tidus roll over next to him. Two Summoners, their guardians and a few refugees that hadn’t gone to the temple staying in the small and partially ruined Inn meant that they’d had to share rooms. Putting him into the undeniably frustrating position he as in now. Sharing a bed with the blonde blitz baller. Normally it wouldn’t have bothered him, after all it wasn’t the first time he’d had to share with someone else. On his first pilgrimage though Europe he’d ended up stuffed in a tent with a snoring Ron, a twitching Remus and a talking Neville. If he could sleep through their combined annoyances he should have been fine now… But then again he’d never really been attracted to any of them, thus bringing him to the source of his problem.

The curtain blew up again and with a growl of annoyance he finally got up.

“Alright, alright! I’m up!” Swinging his feet over the side he slid his feet into his sandals and stood up groggily. There had been an unspoken agreement to wear their clothes to bed the night before and now Harry was lamenting the loss of modern showers. Sighing he picked up his staff from where it was propped against the end of the bed and waved it carelessly. He didn’t really need incantations or spells anymore, having surpassed the need for them years ago. Finally feeling somewhat clean he turned around and leant down to shake his new guardian awake.

“Hey Tidus…” The blonde mumbled in his sleep and turned face down in the pillow.

“…Mmmmm… five more minutes…” Rolling his eyes Harry tried again, with much the same results.

“…nnnn… go away… having dream about Harry…” The said Summoner froze in surprise, a faint haze of red breaking out over his face before he even registered it. Still red he took a step back and waved his staff through the air. The space between Harry and the sleeping blonde rippled and out of nothing came a bucket. The teen had just grabbed it’s handle when without so much as a knock Rikku bounded into the room in all her bouncy “morning person” glory.

“Good MORNING!” She squealed loudly, throwing her arms around him. Time seemed to slow as he let go of the bucket to pry her off but even as she let go the bucket had already finished its arc, its icy contents going all over Tidus. Rikku stared open mouthed as the blonde shot upright after the rude awakening, only to get hit as the plastic bucket bounced off his head and vanished. Although it had been his original intention to drench Tidus in the first place Rikku’s exuberance had turned it into something possibly more deadly.

“Owww.” Tidus curled out clutching his head as the Al Bhed girl burst out laughing.

“Rikku!” Harry gave his own indignant shout. Still smiling brightly she stopped laughing and put a hand over her mouth, the other tucked behind her in the classic ‘I’m a cute little girl’ pose.

“Oops, I wasn’t interrupting something was I?” She asked innocently. Tidus saw red and leapt out of bed.

“Rikku! Start running!” Rikku squealed and raced out of the room as the misplaced Blitzer ran out after her, hurling insults. Behind them Harry blinked, wondering what had just happened, then deciding it wasn’t worth thinking about he shrugged it off. At least he wasn’t the one getting blamed. It had been very obvious from the start that the pair where quickly developing a brother-sister relationship. Rikku bugged Tidus, Tidus threatened pain, Rikku bugged him again, Tidus threatened death, Rikku goes for a third round…. and things just deteriorate from there…

With a sigh of exasperation Harry gathered up the things Tidus had left behind and slung his robe over his shoulder before following them downstairs. Passing a stunned Yuna on the way.

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It had taken an hour to stop them from trying to drown each other but after the pair had made up they quickly got ready to go to the Temple. Technically Harry wasn’t going to see the Fayth; he had gone when he’d first woken up on Kilika. The priest who had been caring for him had encouraged him to go. Curious about the Aeons of Spira he’d dragged Rikku into the cloister of trials, only to have her lecture him after. She’d reminded him about the Final Summoning and the promise he’d made to her people...

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“Summoner Harry, we will be taking you back to ‘Home’ with us when our people have finished salvaging the relic.” The captain of the ship had approached him only moments after his guardian by default had jumped into the still gray waters below.

“I can’t begin to thank you enough for your assistance.” Harry said, giving a bow as best he could with the awkward way he’d been sitting. The Al Bhed looked at him pensively before lowering himself to the deck and sitting cross-legged.

“Where did you really come from?” He asked taking Harry by surprise. “There are few who would thank the Al Bhed, Summoner’s and priests especially. We have never heard of a Summoner named Harry, in fact the only places names like that are seen are in the ancient records that came before the time of Zanarkand.” Harry looked at his face in confusion before he sagged slightly.

“So that’s how far displaced I am.” It was the Al Bhed’s turn to be confused, Harry continued. ”Where I came from Zanarkand and Sin didn’t exist. From what little I saw when I was there I guessed it was either a parallel world or the muggle future.” The men stared at him amazed.

“You are no ordinary Summoner.” The captain’s voice rumbled not unkindly. “We do not condone the sacrifice of the Summoner’s to bring the death and rebirth of Sin.” He said, assuming Harry knew. “My people want to make them promise, not to go after Sin until another way can be found to stop it. The tradition of the Final Summoning is something that must end.” Harry looked at him and in spite of how much he didn’t know he nodded.

“Then I won’t, I won’t use this Final Summoning and I won’t go after Sin.” The captain looked at him in surprise before he too nodded, sealing the promise…

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...Harry had come up with a compromise after that. He would go to the other temples and get the other Aeon’s but he would break off the pilgrimage and avoid getting the final summoning. Looking at the map of Spira that the priest had given to him they agreed to go as far as crossing Gagazet. If only to see what had happened to the city he had been in briefly with his own eyes.

But for now they where headed to the temple to meet Kilika’s people once more.

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To Tidus, what the other’s had referred to as a forest, looked more like a Jungle. Tall trees with large emerald green leaves spread above them in a high canopy but dappled sunlight streamed through where the leaves didn’t quite meet. The ground around the large and well-worn paths was covered in shrubs with tropical flowers growing in nearly every nook and cranny, there where even some that Tidus would have no hope of recognizing, even if he knew what they where.

As they moved deeper into the jungle they began to encounter Crusaders and soon Tidus noticed some familiar faces.

“Hey! Luzzu! Gatta!” He waved to get their attention and they returned the greeting.

“Greetings once again.” Luzzu said respectfully as his company came to a halt behind him. “I see you have found your Summoner.” He bowed slightly to Harry but didn’t make the prayer like some others would have. He looked over their group. “Lady Yuna has already passed this way to the temple.” He turned and gestured toward a path that lead away from the one they currently stood on.

“They took that path but in their haste they didn’t take the time to listen to our warnings.” He faced them once more. “Up that path a fiend well known in this forest has made it’s home. We’ve had trouble with Lord Ochu in the past, they would have done well to remember that discretion is the better part of Valor.” Harry’s eyes crinkled in a smile as he recognized the advice. He had received something similar to it from an old muggle in Ireland who had seen him for what he was.

“Maybe my guardians and I should go and find Lady Yuna.” He suggested. Tidus and Rikku shifted either side of him. They still had a lot of energy to burn off, besides, it would be good practice for when they had to face the real challenges. Luzzu looked faintly relived.

“Of course, but be careful. There are always many fiends that get left in the wake of Sin and I fear that the people of Kilika would lynch us if anything where to happen to you.” Rikku laughed at that while Harry’s face went red with a blush. He didn’t ask for people to follow him, god knows he had no idea what made them so loyal to him to begin with. Tidus was grinning at him in amusement and Harry stuck his bottom lip out in a pout.

Oh god! Now he was pouting!

Pulling himself together Harry shook his head slightly.

“They won’t.” He assured them. “We have more than enough tricks up our sleeves.” With that they bid their goodbyes and the Crusaders marched off on their patrol. Tidus looked at Harry and then Rikku in turn.

“So are we going to go?” He asked, the green-eyed Summoner nodded.

“We have time.” Harry answered as he wondered toward the path. “Coming?” Both Tidus and Rikku didn’t have to answer, instead simply running up either side of him. They hadn’t gone far when they heard the explosion of a small lightning strike. Harry began to walk a little faster and as they rounded a bend in the path they got their first look at the battle beyond. Lulu and Kimahri where standing before a great plant like fiend with large whip like arms bombarding it with spells and physical attacks while Wakka was out cold off to one side with Yuna knelling beside him, rapidly muttering to herself as she waved her staff but to no avail. A quick glance at the battle was all they needed to see that the others where tiring. Rikku crept off into the jungle without prompting, while Tidus dashed up beside the drained Lulu, not even looking at Wakka or Yuna.

“Need some help?” He asked cheerfully. The dark woman gave him a condescending look but nodded nonetheless. Without wasting another second the blonde drew his sword and pounced. It did have some effect, more than the other’s attacks in any case, but it wasn’t quite enough.

“Hey Harry!” He called back to the Summoner. “Do you have something that will help… Whoa!” His question was cut off suddenly as he had to dodge a jet of water Lord Ochu had sent his way.

“I’ll be right there Tidus, but I’d stand back!” The blonde leapt out of the way and the two other fighters took their cues from him. Harry stepped up to the now clear area and held his black staff horizontally over his head. Sweeping it down in front of him he let go of one end and waved it around in a circle. Above him the sky turned stormy and the rapidly spinning vortex made a screech as a large golden creature soared out of it. The sight left the others gapping. Its body was shaped like that of a lion but instead of a normal head it had the head of an eagle. Sharp eyes glared at the Fiend as it landed beside the Summoner and crouched down low. It’s gigantic wings folded against its body and it awaited orders, its tail lashing impatiently behind it.

“Go on Godric, slash that overgrown pot plant to pieces.” The Aeon called Godric didn’t need to be told twice. It dashed forward and a few brutal moments later the former lord of the forest burst into the same bright motes of light as all the other fiends had. Godric was purring when it turned back and nudged Harry to be pet. The green-eyed boy grinned and ran his hands over its neck before it took to the skies. Once it had returned to the grey vortex the sky cleared and the forest canopy settled back in to fill the hole the Summoning had created. Rikku appeared a moment later and waved her find under their noses.

“Look! I got some of the poison.” The bottle she’d stored it in was filled with a sickly looking goop. “We can use it to make an antidote for that Eteud when we get to the temple.” She tipped her head toward where Wakka lay his skin tainted green. Harry, understanding the brief slip into her native language, was having a hard time deciding whether to laugh or tell her off. Instead he settled on shaking his head in exasperation, Tidus laughed however as they set off down the path once more, leaving Yuna and her guardians to fend for themselves.

The rest of the short journey was relatively uneventful and they reached the temple just after mid morning. The people there where happy to see them and Tidus was reminded of the scene back on Besaid where he’d seen all the villagers flocking to Yuna, but this time it was Harry standing in their midst. He felt a flash of jealousy when one of the villagers got to close and it must have shown on his face because Rikku came over and dragged him off to one side, although she made sure Harry was still within their line of sight.

“You like him don’t you.” Tidus couldn’t help but gape a little at the other blonde’s blunt words.

“Wha?” he made a questioning noise but Rikku gave him a ‘don’t mess with me’ look that totally clashed with her normal sunny demeanor.

“You. Like. Him.” She said, punctuating every word with a poke to his chest. It certainly wasn’t a question. Tidus nodded dumbly after a few long moments, actually scared of the ‘Serious Rikku’. She looked him over with a critical eye once more before her overall mood did another 180.

“Oh that’s good then.” She babbled brightly. “Just don’t go showing it all open like that. There are people who don’t approve of that kind of thing and might make trouble.” With that she skipped back off to her former post leaving Tidus to figure out what she’d been getting at.

Needless to say he nearly choked a moment later.

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Yuna frowned at the gaggle of people that filled the temple. She knew that they where taking up residence here but she couldn’t help the surge of irritation that rose when she saw the other Summoner. He was smiling as he was pushed around from group to group, chatting and laughing. She felt herself torn between wanting to idolize him and wanting to hate him. The Aeon he’d summoned was proof that he was far more powerful than his appearance let on, but then he had Tidus as well. Wakka had told her late the other evening that Tidus had let slip that his father was her own father’s guardian, Jecht. Not only that but he’d also revealed that Auron had been with him at some point. The female Summoner averted her eyes from the sight of her male counterpart and looked at the blonde standing off to one side glaring at Harry’s other guardian, his arms folded over his chest ill temperedly.

“Something’s not right.” Yuna murmured to herself as she stared longingly at the blonde who had returned his gaze to Harry. “I’ll talk to him later… on the boat.” She nodded to thin air as she followed Kimahri toward the great hall. “I’ll find out what went wrong.” So caught up in her new resolve she didn’t see the look Lulu gave her. The black mage’s face twisted into a frown as she followed her young Summoner’s gaze to Tidus.

‘I’d better watch this.’ Lulu thought to herself. ‘She’ll only get her heart broken if she pursues what is clearly already taken.’ She was still deep in thought a while later when they passed into the Cloister of Trials, leaving Wakka on his own in the care of the villagers and the monks.

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Harry looked up at the stars later that night from the observation deck of the S.S. Winow. He’d been very surprised to recognize some of the constellations, confirming his theory that he’d been flung into the future. He stopped his stargazing when he found himself yawning. It had been a very busy day. There had been a few altercations at the temple between some of the Blitzball teams that had visited. The Aurochs that had come with Tidus from Besaid and the team from where they where headed, the Luca Goers had nearly broken out into a fist fight in the middle of the temple, and then there had been Dona, the other female Summoner that had arrived that morning on the boat from Luca. She’d somehow gotten wind of Yuna’s lineage and had confronted her. The monks had intervened though before they’d entered an all out contest.

Then there was the small problem of the Sin spawn that had been waiting for them on the stair that lead to and from the temple. Harry had been forced to reveal another of his Aeon’s in the confusion or risk the villager’s lives...

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The Sin spawn crouched on the landing, its roots where pushing up from the ground as it turned its sights to the Crusaders who had come at it from behind. Luzzu and Gatta had lead the charge but half where thrown away by a powerful swipe of the long feelers that extended from its sides. As much as he didn’t want to have to do it he had little choice. He could have Summoned Godric again but he’d already called the Aeon once today. He didn’t want to do it a second time and since Athena and Oddish couldn’t really stand against the oversized plant type fiend, it left only one… Salazar.

Harry pulled away from everyone else and lined himself up with the sin spawn. Gripping his staff in both hands he made a horizontal slash through the air before him. Only Tidus had noticed what he was doing. Holding the black staff vertically in front of his face he did a full turn on the spot before swinging it above his head and bringing the end down on the ground like a hammer.

Then the rumbling started.

The sin spawn returned its attention to him as the ground began to shake and then, all of a sudden, the stones split in half as the earth below them gave way, leaving a gapping crevice. Somewhere in its depths, something began to stir. A long body uncoiled itself and surged toward the surface, bursting out to loom over everything. The poisonous, neon green skin of the king of snakes cast a shine over the people watching. They all shielded their eyes and finally the Basilisk opened its own. The great yellow orbs glanced around before it settled on the creature that had been threatening its master. It hissed its displeasure loudly and glared. The Sin Spawn stopped all movement and froze to the spot, from there it began to change color, almost as if the glare was leaching the life from it, leaving it a uniform shade of stone gray.

But the great serpent wasn’t done yet. It reared back it’s head and shot forward at an incredible speed its jaws opening wide to snap down on the stone fiend. It shattered instantly, sending shards flying but before they could reach those watching they disintegrated. Its work done the snake simply turned around and slithered back into the crevice and its chamber below, the ground sealing itself behind. Harry had collapsed around then, falling on his ass in the most ungraceful manner possible before he registered the cheering of the villagers who had climbed up onto the stones around the temple to see from the mountain top…

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...The thought of the incident still made his cheeks glow red-hot whenever he thought of it and half the people had turned out on the dock to bid them goodbye as they left at sunset. Rikku had asked him earlier why he hadn’t tried using the Aeon he’d received from the fayth in the temple in Kilika. He’d had to admit, the Aeon had totally slipped his mind. Ifrit, as the fayth had called it, would have been useful, but Harry had simply forgotten about it. His old Aeons where just too close to his heart to be pushed aside by a new set.

He sighed again and looked down at the deck where Tidus stood staring out at the ocean, lost in memories...

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He stood on the deck of his old boat looking down at the ball that sat innocently before him. He’d be damned if he didn’t get it right this time. Drawing back his foot he tried to kick it but at the last second he saw an unwelcome figure out of the corner of his eye. His foot missed his target and he went sprawling to the deck. Jecht walked over from where he’d been watching and stood above him. Tidus scrambled to his feet and glared at his father. He’d caused him to mess up the shot!

“Well, well, trying to follow in my footsteps are you?” He asked sauntering over to the ball. “I usually charge for lessons, you know… That shot is done like this!” He gave the ball a powerful kick toward the wall of the cabin and it rebounded toward him, his father punched it back at the wall one more time before he jumped off the deck and twirled in mid air, giving it a hard kick that sent his ball sailing out into the distance.

“You can’t do it, kid. But don’t worry, my boy. You’re not the only one.” He gave and arrogant laugh. “No one else can do it. I’m the best!”

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...The very though of his father sent him into a rage. Now thoroughly pissed off he kicked the ball. It knocked against the edge of the stairs in front of him. Desperately trying to ignore the memories of his father pounding through his mind he punched the ball on the rebound and leapt into the air. As he twirled he caught sight of Harry’s eyes watching him from the shadow of the sails and it pushed him further. For the first time in his life he connected with the shot, the blonde’s foot lashed out and the Blitzball sailed out over the moonlit ocean, almost to fast to follow before it became a speck over the horizon. Tidus landed lightly on his feet and couldn’t help but grin as a feeling of triumph welled within his chest. He’d done it; he’d finally done the impossible.

“HA! You’re not the only one who can do it Old Man!” He crowed to himself as he turned and sent a grin up at Harry. The Summoner, beginning to understand the significance of what he’d just done, silently applauded before pointing to something behind him. Tidus wheeled around and came face to face with Wakka, whose nose was only an inch from his. The blonde stumbled back with a soft cry of surprise.

“What was that shot called? Will you teach us how to do it?” He asked, his awe reflected in all the faces of the Blitzers present. The Aurochs stood behind him and off to one side, largely unnoticed, was one of the Kilika beasts. Tidus scratched the back of his head, embarrassed at being caught by Wakka.

“It doesn’t have a name,” He said automatically. “And anyone can learn it if they try, I’ll teach you if you want.” Wakka was nearly bouncing with excitement.

“Alright! We’re having a team meeting now so you can go over it with everyone.” He turned around to the gathered Aurochs with a goofy grin and Tidus shook his head in disbelief. Honestly, Wakka was just way to energetic for this time of night.

“That was really a Jecht shot wasn’t it.” The blonde jumped in shock and span around, his hand going for his sword before he realized that it was only Yuna who had spoken. He could feel Harry watching him as he narrowed his gaze on the female Summoner.

“How did you know that?” He asked, a little more harshly than he’d originally intended.

“Sir Jecht, my father’s guardian, showed it to me when I was a little girl. He called it the ‘Sublimely Magnificent Jecht Shot Mark III’.” Tidus turned away and scowled in irritation.

“A stupid name for and even stupider man’s ego.” He muttered darkly.

“Sir Jecht is your father isn’t he, Wakka told me that’s what you said.” Tidus didn’t even look at her; he leaned against the railing of the ship and looked out at the ocean trying to fight back the anger that was surfacing for the second time in nearly an hour. This time it was focused on the red head as Yuna continued. “It’s strange that you’re here though, Sir Jecht said he came from Zanarkand, did you come from there too?” It was possibly the worst thing she could have said and even Harry could see that it wouldn’t end well. The only one who didn’t seem to notice was Yuna.

“As far as I’m concerned I don’t have a father.” He said savagely, pushing himself off the railing and taking a few steps toward the other side of the boat. Yuna chased after him.

“But what if he’s alive?” She asked. “Don’t you think you ought to find him?” Tidus stopped dead and turned to look at her.

“He left me and my mother on our own for nearly ten years!” He burst out loudly, getting the attention of Wakka across the deck as Yuna took a step back in surprise. “Even if I did find him again I’d just kill him on sight! Even when he wasn’t there he ruined my life and no one’s thanking him for it.” He bit off the next comment and left Yuna standing there stunned as he stomped off, tears leaking from her odd colored eyes. The blonde simply ignored her as he dashed up the stairs onto the same level as Harry before he kicked the mast in an attempt to vent his frustration. A few minutes later he had sufficiently calmed down and went to lean against the ropes that guarded the observation deck beside Harry’s sitting form. Down below Wakka was giving a dirty look at the direction he’d gone in while he comforted Yuna. Kimahri now stood stoically beside them, glaring at anyone who came even close. It was a while before Harry broke the silence.

“It’s hard to live in the shadows of the expectations of others.” He said in a whisper, not looking at the blonde. Even if he hadn’t experienced what Tidus had he still understood the reasoning behind it perfectly well. Feeling unloved and abandoned where only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Tidus shook his head to clear it and slumped to the ground beside him. It hadn’t been this bad when he’d raged about it in the S.S. Leki but this time around his reaction had been much worse.

“Yeah, well I can live with it just as long as people stop bringing it up.” He spat out bitterly and a ghost of a smile crossed the green eyed Summoner’s face.

“Hear, hear!” He muttered to himself and let out a small giggle before his face fell slightly. Ron had said that all the time, especially when food was mentioned in the comment before. Tidus smiled when he giggled, he shoved the thoughts of his father to the back of his mind and focused his attention solely on Harry.

“So how have you been since we got to Spira?” He asked seriously enough. Harry shifted around and pulled his black robe closer as a particularly cold wind blew across the observation deck. Unconsciously, Tidus slung an arm around his shoulders.

“It’s… different.” Harry said slowly, his eyes finding the stars once more. “There are some things that haven’t changed like the sky and my Aeons… but Spira is so different. I wish I knew for sure where I was. Then it probably wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Hmmm.” Tidus made a small sound of agreement. He hadn’t even known anything ever existed outside of Zanarkand so it would have been much harder to be thrown into a world where nothing was the same. Each of them where lost in their thoughts for a long time before a slightly huffing O'aka jogged up the stairs.

“Oh there you are!” He exclaimed loudly, paying no heed to the way they where sitting. “Your friend, Rikku is looking for you both. She said you ought to go down and get some sleep. It will be a big day tomorrow.” Waking up from his slight daze Tidus sent O'aka a smile.

“Thanks.” He said easily before getting to his feet and stretching. He leaned down and helped the now groggy Summoner to his feet. O'aka skipped off smiling and Tidus resolved to get his story out of the man. He just seemed too happy in helping them out.

Leading Harry down to the cabin he settled him in near Rikku and went to sleep himself.

And this time, he didn’t dream.

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