Disclaimer - I own nothing about FInal Fantasy X, including the characters.

A/N: My new FFX fic is here - and yes, the idea has been done to death, but I hope I can bring something new to the table. Enjoy!

Memories Are Nice

Chapter One - Happy

Now, let me make this clear. I'm not an unhappy person. I'm really not. You could pass me in the street and know that much. I'm the epitome of blonde – loud, bubbly and bright. Not stupid. I'll betcha ten Gil I'm smarter than you are.

My life up to fifteen was pretty average. I ate, I slept, I worked, I ran from Sin. All normal stuff – right up till the point when Tidus careered into my normal life and then yanked me into helping Yunie.

Ahem. Sorry, I should remember to call her by her full title. High Summoner Yuna, daughter to High Summoner Braska, the saviour of us all. But she's my cousin, so I get to call her Yunie. Just like I get to call Sir Wakka 'tubby' occasionally. Not that Lulu likes it all that much when I do.

Anyway, back to the point. I'm not an unhappy person. So when I headed up into the Farplane, it wasn't to jump into it. Let me paint a picture of the last few weeks for you. Long story short, me and the Gullwings stopped Vegnagun, and prevented Spira from falling into a big black hole of nothing and the entire world had a big party. In reward for that, Yunie (don't ever tell her, but she's kinda the leader of the group. I, of course, am the brains), got the love of her life back. So all's happy there. Paine and Baralai hooked up at his welcome-back party, which I figured was going to happen anyway, since they definitely have a history. And Lulu and Wakka had their baby (who, by the way, is just about the cutest little nephew an Al Bhed auntie's ever had), so that's all happy there.

But all this happiness is why I'm about to break completely with Al Bhed tradition and go into the Farplane through Guadosalam.

Because Yunie's happy.

Paine's happy.

Tidus is happy.

Lulu's happy.

Wakka's happy.

Vidina...I'll assume he's happy, since he grins and gurgles every time anyone coos over him (which is quite often).

Kimahri's happy.

Which, out of the original seven of us, leaves me and Auron.

And I know I'm happy.

But what about Auron? I knew before we got to Zanarkand and Sin he was Unsent, and I understood why he didn't want everyone to know. So I kept my mouth shut, and mourned a friend when he was gone. Then it occurred to me – people change their minds. And once Tidus was out of the Farplane, what if he got bored? I'm sure I'd get bored. I mean, yeah, Auron would be with his best friends, but I couldn't be stuck there for eternity with Jecht, and though I'm completely one hundred percent sure that Uncle Braska was a bang-up guy, I'm not so sure he was exciting. And don't tell anyone, but Auron likes excitement.

Crazy, I know. I didn't believe it when he told me either, but I guess it makes sense, him being a Guardian twice over and all.

So...what if he got the Farplane, and decided that it wasn't for him? It's not like the fayth would just let him go again. But since it's me, rather than demand him back, I figured I might be over-thinking this just a teensy bit. Hence why I'm off to the Farplane, just to talk to him, make sure everything's still hunky-dory his end.

Until I got here, to the top of the steps, and remembered that I'm not actually going to see him. I was going to see the image of him – the pyreflies reacting to my memories – but it wouldn't actually be Auron. And even if it was, he couldn't tell me if he's okay.

"Oh poopy."

I put my hand on my hip, tilting my head and regarding the shimmering portal before me. To go through, or not to go through. That is the question. "Well...can't see any version of him from out here..."

Head held high, I resolutely marched through the gateway, and became the first ever Al Bhed to enter the Farplane - the visitor's entrance.

Turns out the visitor's entrance is quite spectacular.

"Whoa..." I breathed, walking forward.

The island I found myself on was incredible. The mustard coloured clouds around it roiled and blew apart, only to come together again like the ocean. They looked solid enough to walk on. In the few places they parted, I saw the shimmering waterfalls, the glowing meadows with their jewel-like flowers. It was as beautiful as I'd remembered down there. But, frankly, up here it seemed dangerous. As far as I could see, there was nothing actually supporting it in mid-air. Reminding myself that there was such a thing as magic, I moved forward to the edge.

"Okay..." Right, next step - call Auron. Or rather think of Auron, which apparently would work without me saying anything.

I focused on my strongest memory of Auron; the only time he'd ever smiled at me. Just once, and it didn't last very long, but I still got a smile. It was more than the others got, I'm pretty sure.

Just after Home had gone up in smoke, after I'd pulled myself together in time to fight Evrae. As I stepped out on deck next to him, he glanced at me, gave me an encouraging nod and a quick smile, then we fought. I was so stunned that I actually forgot to dodge the wyrm's attack.

When I opened my eyes, though, the space in front of me was still empty.

Feeling really stupid, I cleared my throat. "Listen up, Mr Grump! I'm here, and I wanna talk to you. Please," I added hastily, just in case phantom katanas hurt too.

Nothing. Maybe I had to use his real name? "Uh, Auron? Sir Auron, Guardian to High Summoner Braska and High Summoner Yuna? Wanna...make an appearance here?"

Apparently he didn't.

I frowned. Maybe I was doing something wrong? Though from what I'd heard off Yunie and the others I was doing exactly what I should be. Irritation began to grow. Maybe he was just being difficult. That seemed like him. I planted my hands on my hips.

"Hey, you big meanie! If a friend's worried about you then you should at least have the decency to show up!"

Still nothing.

"Auron, damn it, Auron!"

When he failed to appear again, I turned on my heel and stalked away. "Fine, be that way!"

My annoyance with my...admittedly dead friend, lasted until I got back to the manor in Guadosalam. Since we'd helped them reclaim their home, the Guado had treated all of the Gullwings like royalty, and that included Tromell inviting us to stay at his - formerly Seymour's - house whenever we happened to be in Guadosalam.

Tromell, of course, had insisted that I take the best room. Which was frankly creepy, since Seymour had once slept in this bed. Was damn comfy though. Before I went to sleep, I went into the dining room, where Tromell was eating.

He stood up as soon as I came into the room. "Lady Rikku!"

I waved him down. "It's just Rikku, Tromell, for the millionth time."

"Thank you for the honour, Lady Rikku, but you have earned your title a hundred times, especially to the Guado."

I blushed. "Well, um, thanks, Tromell. You're a great guy too - but actually I wanted to ask you something."

"Anything," he smiled.

"Well, um...is there something wrong with the Farplane? It's just...I went there today - weird for an Al Bhed I know," I added at his puzzled expression, "but I wanted to see a friend of mine. He didn't appear."

He frowned. "Well, I assume you know that the images the pyreflies create are not truly the...spirits of loved ones. They are simply reactions to your own memories."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know, but the point is some kind of image should appear, right?"

"Yes, in theory," he agreed. "I cannot imagine what would stop it."

"Well when the Farplane was all...squiffy last year, that was Vegnagun right?"

He frowned. "Do you think something of a similar nature might be occurring?"

"I hope not," I said, biting my lower lip. "So you don't know anything?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not, my lady."

I nodded thoughtfully. "Well thanks anyway." Standing up, I headed for the doors. "I think I'll head to bed. Night, Tromell."

He inclined his head. "Goodnight, Lady Rikku."

When I got into my room, I rummaged around in my luggage for my portable commsphere. It wasn't long till it connected to Besaid, and shortly after that, Lulu's skirted feet appeared in the screen.

"Lulu?"

She crouched down with a smile. "Hello, Rikku. Are you okay?"

"Yup yup. You?"

She nodded. "I'm well - as are Vidina and Wakka. They are, however, both in bed."

"Excellent," I grinned. "Gotta get those men out of your hair, right?" Though I'd wanted to speak to Yuna, Lulu would know as well. "Um, Lulu? Can I ask you something?"

She sobered. "Of course."

"Well, I'm in Guadosalam at the moment, and I went to the Farplane to see Auron this evening."

She cocked an eyebrow. One thing I loved about Lulu - she didn't ask too many questions. "But?"

"But he didn't appear," I finished. "And I just wondered if I was...doing it wrong."

"Doing it wrong?"

"Yeah, y'know...since it doesn't seem like Auron to be a no-show."

"Well the Farplane works by feeding off your memories of the person you're trying to call," she explained, more or less repeating what Yuna had told me. "So did you do that?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I picked my strongest memory of him. And nothing happened."

She shrugged. "It doesn't sound normal, but then...this is Sir Auron we're talking about."

The corner of my mouth curled up. "Tell me about it. So you think he's just being obstinate?"

She smiled. "I wouldn't be surprised."

I giggled, then yawned. "I better go, Lulu."

"Alright. Visit soon though, okay?"

"It's a deal," I nodded.

Disconnecting, I put the commsphere away with a sigh. Eventually, I changed and got into bed, lying down with a roll of my eyes. "You could have given a girl a break, you know, Auron," I muttered.

I could almost hear the 'hm' in my head, but pushing it out of my mind, I rolled over and slipped into slumber.

I was woken up, not long after, by a depression in the mattress. Someone was in the room, sitting on the edge of my bed, but whoever it was was a friend, so I didn't have to wake up properly. Instead I turned onto my side and half-opened my eyes.

Soft red. Beads. Earthenware jug. A rough, warm hand on my bare shoulder. "Rikku."

"Mmm?"

"Rikku..."

Hang on...that's- Drawing in a gasp, I shoved myself up. And he didn't disappear. "Holy shit!"

The man sat on my bed didn't disappear. He winced at my shriek instead. "Sorry!" I said, lowering my tone, "but you're... Auron, you're dead. How can you-"

He put his hand to my lips. Shocked as much by the gentleness of the touch as I was by its occurrence, I fell silent. "I was dead when you met me, Rikku," he reminded me, "but don't talk, there isn't time. I came to tell you that there's something wrong. Something terrible is happening to the dead in the Farplane - our souls, Rikku, our souls are-"

I was no longer listening - because suddenly we weren't alone. The huge hulking shape of another man was looming over us both. And then suddenly two clawed hands grabbed Auron's head. Quicker than either of us could move, he twisted.

I shot up screaming Auron's name. It wasn't until I realised that I was covered in cold sweat and that there was no one in the room, that what I'd seen had been a nightmare. Not a nightmare like any I'd ever had before, but definitely not real.

Holy crap my brain had done a doozie on me - I was still shaking. Still, the more I examined the dream, the better I'd feel, so I started. Okay, so...Auron. Auron was here, and telling me something was wrong in the Farplane - which is obviously something to do with my paranoia that something was wrong earlier. And the other guy... I literally felt all the blood drain from my face. The other guy had been Seymour. And he'd... I swallowed. He'd snapped Auron's neck like it was a matchstick.

"But that doesn't mean there's anything wrong," I said aloud. "It was a dream. I'm being paranoid, and silly."

Apparently my still-racing heart wasn't convinced by my brain's cool logic. And neither had the freezing panic in my veins gone away. Before I'd thought about it, I was out of bed and activating my Warrior dressphere. Nice big sword - it made me feel better.

At the door, though, I stopped. Where was I going - the Farplane? Auron was dead, what harm could possibly come to him? But still, I was genuinely freaked out. And no matter how grumpy a ghost he made, Auron would appear if an ally - a friend - was scared. Going there couldn't do any harm, and at this time of night it would be empty.

Making my decision, I left the manor as quietly as possible. Within a few minutes I was standing on the island.

I planted my sword in the ground. "Okay, Auron, I don't care if you don't want to - I'm freaked out! I want to see you, right now!"

Nothing.

"I mean it!" I yelled. "Get your ass here right now!"

There was still nothing. I carried on screaming his name until my throat burned. "Get your ass the fuck down here, or I swear to every single fayth that-"

"He won't come."

I spun around, nearly impaling myself on my own sword. Quickly, I yanked it from the ground and sheathed it on my back before addressing the small boy who had appeared before me. He could only be a fayth.

"What do you mean he won't come?" I demanded.

"I misspoke," he said calmly. "I mean he cannot come."

"Why not? There is something wrong, isn't there?" I asked quickly.

He nodded soberly. "Yes. The dead are dying."

I raised an eyebrow. "You do get the concept of death, don't you?"

He nodded. "Yes, but this is not passing on to another plane of existence, or moving on. Hundreds of souls have simply vanished from the Farplane without trace. Those-"

"Wait, Auron's not one of them, right?"

"No," he confirmed, helping me to breathe a little easier. "But those who are left - those with sense - have gone into hiding. From now on, no one will be able to see their loved ones."

"Why?" I asked. "What's happening? Who - or what - is doing this?"

He shook his head. "You already know, Rikku."

I gulped. So it hadn't just been a dream. "Seymour is doing this?" I asked. "How? And more to the point how do I stop him?"

"Do you believe you can?" he asked.

I scoffed. "I've kicked his ass four times now; I can do it again."

"You had allies then," he pointed out gently.

"Yes, and much as I'd love allies now - they're all spread throughout Spira. Doesn't something need to be done about this whole thing now?"

He nodded with a smile. "Yes. But in order to help, Rikku, you cannot go as you are."

I looked down at my outfit. Alright, it was a bit booby, but most of them were. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

He chuckled. "Nothing, child. I like the sword, in fact. But what shapes your soul, what influences and sculpts it are your memories. And we believe - though nothing is certain - that those with intense memories are the ones who have already been taken. Several High Summoners and their Guardians are gone irreversibly."

My fingers went up to wrap themselves around the hilt of my sword. "No way in hell are Braska, Jecht or Auron going to be next."

"Very well. Then you are determined?"

I nodded firmly. "Yes."

"One last thing."

"What?" I asked impatiently.

"Your motto, regarding the Farplane?"

"'Memories are nice, but that's all they are'? What's that got to do with anything?"

His face was sombre - sympathetic. "The pyreflies react to your memories ... but what if you have no memories?"

I squinted in puzzlement. "Huh?"

He stepped closer, spoke so quietly I couldn't hear him. I knelt in front of him so I could. "I am sorry, Rikku," he whispered, putting a hand to my forehead, "but this is for your protection."

I frowned. "What is?"

In answer to my question, everything went white.

A/N: Review please!