Alma Mater
A Final Fantasy X Fanfiction
By BG-57
Chapter 1
An airship streaked through the bright blue cloudless sky. It was built like a giant silvery pistol that was missing the barrel. A gently curving lavender hoop wrapped around the middle section. At the far back a giant golden wheel with arcane symbols on its surface revolved slowly within a segmented frame. Propellers on either side turned to give additional lift although exactly how the airship flew was a mystery to even its crew.
A young man with shaggy blond hair sat on the nose of the upper deck, lost in thought. The wind whistled through his blue and yellow hooded shirt that lay under a black vest and suspenders over shorts of the same color. A silver triskelon dangled from a chain around his neck. His cerulean blue eyes scanned the horizon as if it could answer his nagging questions. After confronting Maester Mika for the final time there was nothing left to do but go after Sin. But he had so many regrets….
"Sulking on the roof kid?" inquired a friendly baritone voice. The young man turned to see a tall muscular man with bronze skin and flame red hair under a blue headband. He was wearing a golden vest and yellow waders over black trousers. Bracers decorated his arms and sandals his feet.
"Not a chance Wakka," protested the young man as he stood up, "I'm just…thinking." Secretly he was relieved it was Wakka that had come to see him. It would have been worse for Lulu or especially Yuna to see him like this.
"Well don't think too much Tidus, ya?" said Wakka wrapping an arm around the younger man's shoulder in a vicelike grip.
"Yeah, okay," said Tidus with a faint sigh as he pulled himself free. Wakka folded his arms across his chest as he watched Tidus walk astern.
"We're all on your team!" he called, "Don't forget that!" Tidus couldn't help but grin; Wakka's enthusiasm was infectious.
"You bet!" said Tidus sticking a fist into the air, "Let's go!" He reached a metallic hemispherical dome that rose to reveal an opening door. They walked through a door onto a ramp, which lowered into a long corridor lined with bay windows.
"So where are we going?" asked Wakka curiously as they strolled down the corridor.
"Baaj Temple," replied Tidus purposefully. They reached a staircase and went down. Through the doors at the base was a brightly lit gleaming corridor. A man with sandy blond hair and a pair of goggles on his forehead stood at the far end of the corridor. He wore a yellow jacket over navy blue trousers.
"Famlusa," said the man in a soothing voice. Up close Tidus could make out his emerald green eyes with swirling pupils, the mark of the race on Spira known as the Al Bhed.
"Re drana Rin," stated Tidus haltingly, "Ruf'c ed ryhkehk?" Rin chuckled quietly at his unorthodox greeting.
"Your Al Bhed is much improved," he stated approvingly, "But your pronunciation needs work."
"Thanks for all your help," said Tidus.
"You're welcome," said Rin with a slight bow. Tidus gave a friendly wave as he and Wakka entered into narrow corridor. The door on the far end rose abruptly with a bang, revealing the bridge. It was surrounded by panoramic windows and dominated by a glowing blue sphere in the center of the room. There were three control stations at the front, the center one manned by a heavily tattooed muscular man.
"Hey Brother!" commanded Tidus, "Get ready to kick this bucket of bolts into high gear!"
"I kick bucket?" inquired the pilot quizzically.
"Rumt uh!" barked a gruff voice from a side console, "Frana yna fa kuehk?" Tidus turned to see a bald-headed solidly built man with impatience visible in his swirling green eyes. However, it was only fair for Tidus to tolerate Cid's quirks since the old man was letting him use his airship for free.
"We're going to Baaj Temple," replied Tidus evenly, "With your permission of course."
"Don't get smart with me kid," growled Cid good-naturedly, "Cad luinca vun Baaj Temple, puo!"
"Oac vydran!" gulped the pilot nervously as he steered the ship around towards the south. Brother had learned long ago not to try his father's patience.
"So what's in the temple?" asked Cid as he peered at the spherical display, the light casting a bluish tint over his rough features.
"Just a loose end that needs tying up," stated Tidus.
"Come again?" asked Wakka with surprise. It was unusual for Tidus to be evasive.
"You'll see when we get there," said Tidus with a grin as he patted Wakka's shoulder, "Hope you don't mind going for a swim."
"Hah!" snorted Wakka contemptuously, "As if!"
The sun was setting in the western sky as the airship made a careful landing in the flooded ruins of what had once been the forecourt of an impressive temple. But it was in ruins, like much in Spira. Stone staircases led up to empty platforms lined with broken pillars. A ramp lowered on the underside of the airship, with Tidus and Wakka making their way down to the waterline.
"Give us an hour!" exclaimed Tidus up toward the bridge.
"We'll be waiting!" reverberated Cid's voice through an external speaker.
They waded up the shallow water to a staircase that led up to a ramp. It tapered off into a narrow bridge that spanned across a massive flooded chamber that was open to the sky. Tidus nodded to Wakka before they dove into the crystal blue water. The water concealed a door inset into a wall flanked by pillars. As the door trundled open, Tidus peered into the long dark rubble-strewn passageway. As they swam through they found a broken staircase that led up to an air pocket at the far end.
"So tell me why we're back here again," said Wakka as they shook the water off their clothing. As Blitzball players they were used to getting wet.
"The Fayth said something that bothered me," began Tidus, "They know we can defeat Sin, even without the final Aeon."
"Yeah, but…," prompted Wakka as they walked into a passageway lined with three idols on either side, each with votive bowl that glowed with a different element.
"But we'll still have to make some sacrifices," continued Tidus sadly.
"Whoa!" yelled Wakka as he grasped Tidus' arm, "So Yuna really has to die after all!"
"No she won't," he replied firmly.
"So who does?" asked the redhead as he released his grip.
"Nobody I hope," finished Tidus, "Wait here, okay?" Wakka looked troubled, but nodded purposefully.
"Sure thing little buddy," he averred.
A triangular door raised and membranous wings moved out of the way in the passageway beyond. He walked into a circular airless chamber with a large dome embedded in the ground. Through the translucent stone Tidus could make out the entombed body of a woman lying facedown resting in membranous wings wrapped with chains. At her feet lay a white haired skull with four tasseled horns.
"Why have you returned?" inquired a shadowy voice.
"Sorry," he said apologetically, "Am I bothering you?" He saw a ghostly apparition materialize over the dome. It took the form of a lovely and sad faced woman with long black hair and aquamarine eyes. She wore a long sleeved blue and white dress.
"You cannot disturb me further," she replied enigmatically, "What is it you desire?" Tidus rubbed the back of his neck bashfully.
"I-er need to know what will happen when beat Sin," he said.
"Once Sin is defeated the Fayth will awaken and the dream will come to an end," she explained, "But surely you know this already."
"Well, yeah," he said, "But what will happen to you?"
"My chains of duty and conscience will be broken," said the Fayth, "And I will find a welcome oblivion."
"What if we freed you before then?" inquired Tidus hopefully. She looked at him directly with her strangely piercing gaze; it was almost painful, like she could see through him.
"Why would you do this?" she asked before the realization dawned on her, "I see, my son is waiting for me inside of Sin."
"You shouldn't have to fight against Seymour," protested Tidus, "It's too cruel!" She smiled sadly and held up an insubstantial hand to his face.
"You would willingly fight your own father," she murmured sympathetically, "Yet you would try to protect me from a similar fate." Tidus took a hesitant step back.
"I just hate it," he said as his hands curled into fists, "I don't want to see it happen again."
"You blame your father for your mother's death?" she inquired, finishing his thought. He nodded helplessly.
"She couldn't live without him," said Tidus, "And now I see you and…."
"I remind you of her," stated the Fayth demurely. Tidus reddened and sighed deeply.
"Yeah, sorry about that," he said, "I must be too easy to read."
"No, it is I who should apologize, Tidus," she stated quickly, "I am connected to you through your Celestial weapon." He blinked at her blankly and pulled out a long azure colored sword with a golden pommel and trim. He held it aloft with both hands and peered at the intricate carvings of the blade.
"You're connected to Caladbolg?" he asked.
"Each Aeon is bound to a Celestial weapon;" she explained quietly, "This makes Anima your Aeon."
"Why?" asked Tidus, dumbfounded.
"Because that was your fate," she stated simply.
"Does that mean I can summon you?" he asked, still lost. The Fayth shook her head slightly. He swore he could hear a faint rattling sound in the distance.
"The Dark Aeon has an insatiable appetite," she warned, "She feeds off your power." Tidus had a million questions but was afraid to ask any of them.
"Okay," he said with a nod, "I'll be careful."
"Yuna will have to summon me," she added as he turned to go, "For Spira's sake." Tidus frowned; he found the pervasive fatalism in Spira annoying.
"Yeah, it's too bad I won't be able to keep my promise to her," he said as he walked down the passage.
"To take her to Zanarkand, you mean," she whispered, "There is a way." Tidus stopped dead in his tracks, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck.
"There is?" he asked in a raspy voice. His mouth was suddenly dry.
"A terrible way," she clarified, "A path fraught with peril."
"But you can take me back home?" he demanded as he turned around.
"I cannot," she explained, "My bindings prevent it."
"So how do I break your chains?" he asked. She looked at him longingly.
"It must never be done!" she protested, "The unchained power of the Dark Aeon would bring nothing but destruction!"
"But you want to be free!" he exclaimed. She looked away from him.
"That is selfishness on my part," she stated remorsefully, "You must leave now." Tidus suddenly felt like he was freezing down to the marrow of his bones.
"Of course," he said woodenly, "I'm sorry I bothered you."
When he emerged through the door he found Wakka arguing with a petite Al Bhed girl. She had honey blond hair tied into a ponytail, except for two braids tied to long blue ribbons. She was dressed in a brown tank top and green shorts. Gloves were on her arms and matching boots were on her feet. Her swirling green eyes were bright with indignation.
"How could you Wakka, you big meanie!" she snapped in a high pitched voice, "Leaving me behind like that!"
"Hey, it was his idea!" protested Wakka with his hands up defensively, "Besides, he's been acting a little strange lately."
"I'm telling Yunie!" she taunted.
"Hey Rikku!" yelled Tidus with a cheerful wave.
"And you're just as bad!" she stated, "What's going on?"
"Yeah, that's what I'd like to know," said Wakka, relieved he was no longer bearing the brunt of Rikku's wrath. Tidus cleared his throat dramatically as he led her to a corner.
"Rikku, luimt oui ku kad ouin bag uv goodies?" he inquired in halting Al Bhed.
"Cina Tidus," she replied blinking back confusion, "Fryd vun druikr?"
"Hey, guys," stated Wakka with a sigh, "Could you include me here?"
"We're going to Guadosalam," explained Tidus, "I think it's time to visit Tromell."
"Tromell?" gasped Rikku, "You mean that old servant of Seymour's?"
"Yeah," stated Tidus grimly, "It's time to get him to talk."