This is a possible alternative to the "happy" ending of FFX-2 for those who, like me, could have gone without seeing Tidus again. Ever. I don't claim to own anything like characters or the like regarding FFX or FFX-2. I just wrote this for fun.

She had done it again. Standing there in the Farplane, Yuna soaked up the realization that she had in fact saved Spira a second time. She smiled, a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction overcoming her. She closed her eyes and thought of all those that had influenced her life to that exact moment and second. The resolve of her father, the youthful devotion of Tidus, the reason her journey began, and then to Auron, the duty-bound and loyal guardian whose strength and determination influenced her to pursue her goals to their very end. A smile played across her lips. She had heard Auron's voice in the battle, his words guiding her movements as she tore apart Vegnagun piece by piece along with her companions Rikku and Paine, until the vile device was sundered. Auron's life had been snuffed out in the prime of his youth, unable to truly enjoy the life of promise that lay before him, like the life that she enjoyed now. It was not fair to him, to be such a hero and to receive only death as his reward. Yuna opened her eyes suddenly. There before her stood the Fayth of Bahamut, Inoringo. The childlike ghost hovered before her.

"Do you want to see him again?" it asked.

Yuna cocked her head slightly as she looked at the Fayth. Did he mean Tidus? The reason her journey started? Looking back, she wondered why she would bring him back from his place on the Farlplane. She questioned her heart, a question that had been building over the journey: did she really need him or was he just a youthful relationship she had built into something beyond reality? She was strong now because of him, yes, but had she grown past that now? Tidus would understand, she thought, and he had admired Auron. This would be the greatest thing, the greatest gift she could give to someone who had served Spira, her father, and herself with such selfless devotion for his whole life, forsaking his own peace for the good of the world. He deserved a second chance to make his own way; a better way.

"There is one who gave his life for Spira, who never felt joy, comfort, or a moment's peace…my reward would be to see him live his life again from the point that it was taken," Yuna replied.

The Fayth was silent for a moment. This answer seemed to surprise it.

"Very well, then, it is as you request, Lady Yuna", Inoringo replied and faded away.

Yuna looked around the Farplane then. The field of flowers surrounding her smelled sickeningly sweet, like that of false hopes and bittersweet romance. Would the Fayth really manifest Auron again? And if so, where? And what would he say? Instantly it struck her where he would be. Yuna hastily ran for the airship and the Gullwings.

"Yuna!" Rikku cried, motioning to her cousin to hurry up. "Yunie hey come on we have to get out of here!"

"You have to take me to him!" Yuna gushed out to her cousin as she reached the ship, almost out of breath from running.

"Him who?" Rikku asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"No time! Go to Zanarkand! Tell Brother to get us to Zanarkand!" Yuna yelled.

"All right! All right! I'm goin!" Rikku replied as she made her way to the front of the ship with due haste. Yuna ran on board and slumped against the walls of the hold as the large door shut. She felt the ship lift off moments later. Breathing somewhat better, Yuna staggered up and made her way to the bridge.

"Yuna make crazy requests after saving Spira!" Brother moaned, "A party is what should happen! Not going to dead city!"

"Brother, please, this is very important…someone is waiting there for us," Yuna replied, her gaze locked on the horizon ahead of the ship.

"Ahhhhh! Girls crazy! All of you!" Brother wailed as he helmed the ship to Zanarkand. The city was fast approaching. Yuna could make out the shape of it in the distance. Apparently Rikku had expressed the great urgency of the situation to Brother, for he was pushing the ship as fast as it could go. Only moments later they were orbiting around the city at a level low enough that Yuna ran down to the hold and jumped out of the bottom of the ship.

Yuna landed hard on her feet before the entrance to the dome. Hastily she ran inside all the way to the platform where two years before she had defeated Yunalesca with her friends by her side.

And there he stood.

His back was to her. She could make out his features in the light, his hair black and shining, his form sturdy and straight, not that of a man who bore horrible burdens. He turned his head to the side, looking at her cautiously from the corner of his eye. He then turned around…and looked at her with both eyes. Those dark, deep brown eyes.

"Yuna?" he asked cautiously, the hard edge of his voice softened by his returned youth.

"Sir Auron?" she asked cautiously.

"What have you done?!" he asked, shock and horror playing across features that were in her memory stoic and reserved.

"I saved the world," she replied, a shy smile playing across her face, "and the Fayth granted me a request."

"Why? I do not understand…"Auron started, his voice tired and filled with confusion.

"Because as I stood in the farplane after defeating Vegnagun, I remembered that I heard you during the fight. You were there with me. Even after death and a sending, you were still there to aid Spira in its darkest hour. I could think of no better reward then, when I was staring at the Fayth, than to give you the second chance at life that you so deserve," Yuna explained.

Auron closed the distance between them. He stood before her and slumped to his knees, still trying to take in everything that had happened.

"I…merely did my duty. I wanted no reward but peace…", he said weakly.

Yuna bent down, looked at her guardian in his eyes and smiled, "There is peace in Spira now, just like you wanted, Sir Auron, and now you can enjoy it with your friends and live the life you have justly earned."

Auron half-smiled at Yuna and she admired the way his much younger face appeared. In turn, she noticed that he studied her a moment, noting the change in her dress. She extended a helping hand to Auron, and he took it as she helped him up to his feet. He blinked as he felt the strength of her grip in his.

"You've changed," he noted, raising an amused eyebrow at her.

"Well you've missed some things," She replied.

"I look forward to hearing all about them," He said smiling down at the girl.

"Well, it all started when I found this sphere of him..", she began, and the two walked to the direction of the waiting airship, their destination the island of Besaid.

Well, dear readers, let me know what you think!