Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Ann and Auron stood at the end of the tunnel from Guadosalam and looked out into the plains
Ann~D-dad?
Auron~Yeah?
Ann~I'm scared
Auron~We just have to keep walking and stay near the lightning rods
Ann~This isn't cool...C-can't we take a r-ride with the Gullwings i-instead?
Auron~It isn't that bad. There's an inn that isn't too far
Ann~W-what happens if we get shocked?
Auron~You won’t if keep moving
Ann~L-let's hurry then…
Auron~There's still fiends, Ann
Ann grumbled and held onto his arm as they left the safety of the tunnel
Ann~Y-you know...I-if Kakashi was here, he could split those lightings bolts in half…Or so I'm told
Auron~But he could only do it once here considering the amount of chakra just to cut one back at the village. It'd be difficult to use chakra here
Ann sighed~Yeah…I sometimes feel it when reaching for magic and it's hard. I wish Kiba was here…
Auron chuckled and led her along
Auron~It seems like these rods are actually doing it's job now. This is actually a great place to learn a new spell
Ann~Really?
She held on tighter when they passed the first rod as it got hit
Ann~Does the lightning ever stop?
Auron~No...You shouldn't worry about it
Ann~H-how can i not worry?!
Auron gave her a bag of mints and she started
giggling as she stuffed some in her mouth
Auron~Can you focus on casting magic?
Ann~What’s the spell?
Auron~I think this'll be an easy one. Water
Ann~That does sound easy. So water opposes lightning and vice versa?
Auron~That’s right, dea–
He frowned. Ann giggled some more
Ann~Annoying, isn't it, dear? Revenge feels good against him.
Auron~Don't start, brat.
She giggled harder

As they continued on, Auron explained to her what casting Water might feel, building off what she shared with him from Lulu and Yuna's magic lesson from before. He also made the distinction that this shouldn't feel like comfort otherwise she might end up with Cure instead.
Ann~So I got an explosion when I messed up Fire. What do you think would happen with Water?
Auron~I'm between you casting Cure or getting yourself wet. Do you want to pause to try?
Ann~No. I don’t like the idea of stopping with lightning around…
She reached up to touch the charm at the end of her sword. Metal attracts electricity and that story the merchant said about her charm was giving her a bit of comfort.
Auron~Ann?
Ann~Science
Auron~I'm usually good at following your train of thought, but you actually lost me this time, honey.
Ann~Metal and lightning.
Auron~Ah. That's what the lightning rods are for. Two years ago they were pretty shotty and we had several close calls. Several. We've been safe since we left.
They passed another rod and a few bolts hit it in succession
Auron~Try using Water before we come across any fiends.
Auron lowered her mints when she tried to reach for another handful
Auron~I don't recommend having anything in your mouth while you make your attempt
Ann nodded in agreement and put them away. She put her hands together as they continued, pulling together her magic and focusing on water being a destructive force. When it felt right, she waved her arm at a rock in the distance and a water jutted up from below
Ann~Was that that it?!
Auron chuckled~That's right. What did you picture, though? It almost looked like it took a shape
Ann~Really? Does magic do that?
Auron~Usually no, but it isn't unheard of. What did you think of?
Ann~Right, uhhh…Water dragon jutsu. You said not calm, so I went with an offensive jutsu.
Auron~Keep making those connections. It seems to be helping you really well compared to Fire.
Ann~I don't know any fire jutsus though
Auron~You might not know any, but your teammates do, right? Try to imagine how it might feel if you used any of those on your next cast.
Ann~Okay. Oh, hey! What was that one you used on me at the highroad?
Auron~Hm? Oh, that was Haste.
Ann~So that means there's also Slow?
Auron nodded~Be careful if you decide to explore magic without instruction. And at least warn me if you try anything. It'll make it easier to fix any miscasts that way.

In a few hours they safely got to the inn. As they were entering the building, a lightning bolt struck too close for comfort, and Ann ducked under Auron's arm to get inside first. Auron followed her in and found her on a cushion, appearing calm but her hand opening and closing told him otherwise. He rented a room and motioned Ann to follow.

Inside their room, he pushed her towards the bed and took her mints
Ann~But but but daddyyy
Auron~You can have more later. We haven't eaten since this morning.
She sighed and removed her pack and weapons so they could get a proper meal.

After they ate and Ann indulged in ice cream, they went back to their room.
Auron~Go take a shower. Remember, no magic inside
She blew him a raspberry and he lightly smacked her as she passed. He pulled out a set of pajamas for her then sat in a chair, waiting for his turn to bathe.
He thought back to the friction between the Guado and the Ronso and how it would affect their travels. That grunt blocking the Farplane warned not to stay in Macalania Forest or Mt. Gagazet. Those were the two places he figured Ann would enjoy the most and wanted to stay a while.
And then there was that ancient machina. And the political factions. Gippal seemed harmless enough. He'd probably have to protect the teen from Ann than the other way around. But Nooj was concerning. He didn't give off the same kind of vibes Seymour had, but it was still unsettling that Ann felt a massacre type of death around him. He didn't get that same type of feeling. To him, Nooj felt more dead than alive without being an unsent. It was more likely they were both right about the Meyvn than one of them being wrong. And they still have yet to meet the New Yevon leader.
He scoffed at how the maester's over ten years ago had wanted him to denounce his marriage with Ane. It was easier to explain that they didn't believe that he was already wed than to say they didn't recognize their union and wanted to control him. He scoffed again when he imagined how they'd react if Ane was present, heavily pregnant, and decided to destroy a district in Bevelle for even suggesting she be cast aside.
Ann~Daddy? Are you okay?
She was at the end of the hall, wrapped in a towel.
Auron~Yeah. I was thinking about the logistics of our travels. Are you going to sleep? Do you need more time alone?
Ann~Oh, okay. Yeah. The lightning was really taxing. No, do you?
She moved to the bed to get dressed while Auron headed to the bathroom.
Auron~Go sleep. I'll be there when I'm done
Ann~Okay. Love you, dad.
Auron~I love you, too, honey.

The next morning they sat on the cushions for a bit after breakfast when Rin approached them
Rin~Hello, Sir Auron. What a surprise to meet you again. And who is this lovely young lady with you? The gossip doesn't do her any justice
Ann blushed, unsure if she should be offended or not.
Auron~Hello, Rin. This is my daughter, Ann
Ann~Good morning. Nice to meet you.
Rin smiled~And I, you. Oh, forgive me, word has already gotten around my fellow Al Bhed that your companion is actually your daughter. I had to confirm. The Machine faction’s leader is a bit…
Ann~Stupid?
Rin chuckled~You gave him quite the scare. Has your journey been well?
Auron~Yes. It’s pleasant this go around.
Ann~It’s been fun seeing everything. Scaring Gippal was almost too easy
Rin~I’ll not tell him you enjoy that. Have you not had the pleasure of traveling Spira before?
Auron~She isn’t from here
Rin~Is she like Tidus?
Auron~No, no. Nothing complicated. She doesn’t live in Spira.
Rin~Interesting…Another continent?
Ann~That’s what I thought about Spira. It’s very relaxed comparatively.
Rin~I would hope so with the Eternal Calm that Lady Yuna brought. We no longer need to worry about Sin returning. Might I ask one more question?
Ann~Is it my scar?
Rin~More gossip. It’s quite uncanny for a father and daughter to have similar injuries.
Ann nodded in agreement but turned to Auron before answering. He gave her a nod of permission.
Ann~Back home, my team and I took an exam to prove our survival and combat skills to move to the next rank. I got injured while protecting my friend.
Rin~That’s very noble compared to the half-baked rumors. I bet that rough lifestyle keeps things more interesting for you though, isn’t that right?
Ann~It does. But I guess fighting fiends is cool too
Ann gave a cheeky smile as he chuckled. He then bowed his head
Rin~Oh, my apologies. I must be keeping you from your journey. Please continue to visit Rin's Travel Agency on your adventures.
He turned to go speak with the attendant. Auron held out his hand to help Ann stand up
Ann~So that's why he said sorry...Dad got up