UNTOLD FANTASY

CHAPTER 1: TWO WEDDINGS AT DAWN

My characters are on DeviantArt, my name there is RiukiArt.
There are others that aren't mentioned too, I'll get to posting them when they pop up. Feel free to peek. Enjoy!

EXCEL

"Cyan!"
Teal screamed as he jumped up from his bed. He was sweating intensely, but didn't care. He had just dreamed about his brother- the one he had killed with his bare hands. Why? It had been four years since then, why was he having nightmares now? Teal spun and climbed out of bed, stumbling toward the shower. It wasn't the great mechanical showers Excel had long ago, but it was soothing, like a waterfall.
"Cyan…why were you in my dream?" Teal thought of every thing he could possibly imagine. There had to be a reason.

Teal thought back to the dream. Cyan had been saying something. What was it?! Teal grabbed the dry cloth he had hung there the night before and began scrubbing himself clean of any sweat and dirt. He stood there, bathing in the hot water for what seemed like forever. He had to head out to Battal soon, he was arriving via Airship, and wanted to look his best. But he couldn't get that damned dream out of his head! What was the big deal?

Stepping out of the shower, Teal walked over to his makeshift wardrobe. He picked up the gray cotton doublet and the dark green half-coat that was standard for Head-Guards. He knew he'd have to look his best, so he had sent it to his friend at the Weaver's Guild to have it fixed up. Pulling out a pair of black pants, he threw it on and then, looking in the mirror, tidied his hair and face up. He put on a pair of Aldgoat hide boots, their light brown color just matching his wooden floor.

He would wake Aureolin and Scarlett in an hour. He had to check something out first, before dawn. Walking out to the balcony, Teal looked in the direction of the moon. At first he felt cautious, but then he just felt odd. He had been so sure there would be something. He stared at it again, up in the deep, spacious dark blue.
Wait, there was something odd about this. Just below the moon, a small sliver of pure white- not like the light, it was just….there. As if it were lurking behind the moon. It wasn't something solid, it was…like a gap in space. Teal shuddered at this, and slowly his eyes widened, he felt panic. He remembered the word in his dream, remembered the slow movement of his brother's lips as he forced the word out, the sad emphasis in Cyan's voice.
"Moon".

SPIRA

Tidus was hogging all the covers again! Yuna had to crawl up close to him, practically using HIM as cover. But she didn't mind, she loved being near him either way. She just wished it would be an option as opposed to something she needed to do to keep warm at night! Not that she was THAT cold. Man, no matter what she thought of, Yuna couldn't get upset, even the slightest bit! She was marrying Tidus at dawn, she had to be up in about an hour to prepare.

Oh, man. Tomorrow, Yuna would get to see everyone she loved, and be happier than she'd ever been! She'd worry about anything else after. Even the moon. Yuna still hadn't told anyone about it, maybe she should mention it to Tidus…no, it was his big day too! She wouldn't ruin it on him like that! Yuna looked over at her blonde hero. He had rescued her, when she needed him he had appeared out of thin air, steadied her resolve, and then helped her save Spira. This wedding… this was a gift from the Fayth.

Yuna took a deep breath. She needed it, especially since she'd be squeezed into a small dress soon! She walked outside of the hut, and took in the fresh air. She felt the cool wind in her medium brown hair, and the way the wind made it sway to her left made her remember how her hair used to look, after Tidus left, she changed it because she wanted to be more grown. Her hair had been really long when she got him back, but she'd cut it down, she wanted to live a new life, forget the time she was without him. Maybe she'd put her hair back the way it was when she'd started her pilgrimage? It would look nice for the wedding, not too formal, just right.

Yuna looked at the moon again, saw it setting over the outline of the horizon, and realized she had been thinking longer than she'd thought. With a quick breath, and a single look at the man she loved, Yuna turned and walked toward Lulu's hut to quietly prepare for her wedding.

"Yuna, you're up early." Lulu looked at the young woman and smiled. She had been up early as well, putting some finishing touches on Yuna's wedding gown.
"Wow, Lulu this is beautiful!" Yuna exclaimed silently so as not to wake the baby and Wakka. It was her first time seeing the silver floral adornments along the waist of the dress, they really made the white dress glow. They also matched her necklace, one that she had worn since she was young. Lulu smiled, and then looked through a small box on her bed. She pulled out a pair of pearl earrings, and a white laced veil, and handed them to Yuna.
"How do they look?"
"Oh, Lulu, they're great!"
Yuna smiled widely, and then shied away. Lulu knew that look, Yuna had something to ask but was embarrassed.
"Yuna, what is it?"
"It's nothing, I just…Lulu, could you help me with my hair? I want it a certain way…"
Lulu smiled and caught on. Yuna wanted her hair like before, on her pilgrimage. Back then, she was starting a new adventure, a new part of her life.
This was the same thing. Almost.

Last time, Yuna had started her pilgrimage to pray at the temples and gather the Aeons, to rid the world of Sin, a monster that wanted to destroy the world.
Yuna was the first Summoner to actually bring about Sin's total demise, but she had set out knowing that she would lose her life performing the Final Summoning. She set out with that resolve, before she met Tidus. Lulu knew Yuna loved Tidus, but she was sure if it meant saving Spira, Yuna would have set out again.

EXCEL

Yynx's wedding would start soon. Teal definitely didn't want to miss it, he and Yynx knew each other longer than their other friends, their bond was the oldest.
Teal didn't have time to check up on Scarlett or Aureolin; he had woken them with a "faux monster attack" alert, and hoped for the best. Aureolin had changed a lot since the fire and losing his memory, he used to be obnoxious and thrill seeking, but he'd matured and was a bid more controlled now. He and Scarlett were together more often than before, Teal was sure they liked each other. He looked outside, it was starting to get light out!
He saw the grand airship flying toward the town, it would dock just a quarter mile off and carry them to the Battalian aerodrome. Teal gave a shout,
"Scarlett, Aureolin, you guys better be ready!"

He knew they were, there had been shuffling from downstairs and frustrated screams of a girl fighting her hair a while back, but that had ceased. Teal closed his window, and turned. He was happy. But why did he feel such a strange emptiness? Was it because Cyan was no longer there? No, he had come to term with that a long time ago.

His brother had been possessed by the Great Beast, by Argathi. He had taken Teal's uniform and burned the village to ashes (letting only a few people see, so as to frame Teal for the crime). Argathi had tricked the villagers into thinking it was Teal who burned the village. But Cyan had died, so the villagers thought Teal was dead. This was 'confirmed' when Teal took Cyan's uniform and name to avoid followers (after all, he didn't want any villagers or Guards getting in his way of avenging his brother). Teal went on as Cyan for a few months, but eventually Scarlett caught up with him and her cousin Yynx, as well as the rest of their friends. Teal was in a deep state of grief and denial (truly believing he was Cyan and trying to avenge the death of Teal, who had "died after setting the town ablaze"). Scarlett had knocked some sense into him, but his friends pushed him out of the group, feeling he should stay back and grieve. Teal stayed with Thy (who he met in a marsh) in a village of wolf people, who didn't judge him or care about his past. He thought he was happy again until Thy's uncle, Dens, returned with a lost traveler of his own. At the sight of Aureolin, a fellow Guard from Arms Island who had lost his memory, Teal's resolve returned. He came to terms with his brother's death, and traveled out again with Dens, Thy, Aureolin, and Kurenai (Den's old friend who lived in Skye) to find Scarlett and the others.

Then they saved the world. That's what helped Teal see that he had moved on, he had mustered up the strength even when things looked down, to move forward and take the final step in ridding the world of that wretched Beast, and clearing up the skies.

"Teal? We're ready! You coming?"
Teal acknowledged Aureolin's call with a loud "uh-huh!" and swiftly exited his room.
He was about to take his first Airship ride in two years!

SPIRA

Yuna smiled into the mirror. Her hair had turned out wonderful, she wanted to keep it this way… but she would do it only for today. Today, she was that girl who never lost Tidus. The one who was sure they would live together forever, happy.
Her veil fit surprisingly well over the hair- it was short in the front but longer in the back, it covered her hair completely. When Tidus pulled it back he would be surprised, she could see his face now, confused and surprised but happy with it all the same.
"Yuna, 'ya ready now?!" This came from Wakka, who had woken up not long ago and had actually put on a shirt, a nice blue one that matched the color of the sea with short sleeves.
"Wakka, calm down. She'll be out in a minute." Lulu nodded to Yuna, then exited.
"Okay Lu, but Tidus is getting kinda anxious, ya?"
Yuna giggled at that- she was sure it was Wakka who was getting anxious. But as she placed the veil over her head Yuna began to feel a tad bit anxious as well. She wasn't scared of marrying Tidus, she just really hoped everyone would be there.

As she walked slowly out the doorway, all of her hopes were realized. Everyone was there, Wakka and Lulu, Wakka wearing his blue shirt with a nice pair of long black pants, Lulu dressed in a light yellow laced dress with white ribbons (Rikku's idea, Yuna liked it very much and Lulu wasn't going to say no to Yuna on her big day), her hair was up and her usual dark facade was completely gone. Rikku had a similar dress with light blue ribbons and white tattle-tails in her blonde hair, and was sitting next to Paine, who wore a nice red dress with some metal chains around her neck. Yuna smiled at this. Walking down the aisle, she noted Isaaru and Pacce, along with Maroda, all dressed nicely in vestments and such. Cid and Brother were even there! Kimahri and Garik were standing close to the front, wearing nice clean fur garments that made the already furry Ronsos look even more wooly. Kimahri being Yuna's oldest friend, would be their witness. No one could ever say Yuna and Tidus had never married, he was sworn to that truth. At the end of the aisle, Yuna saw him. He had a black shirt on, with a pair of suspenders and a little white bow tie. His belt and shoes were white as well, and he had an aroma on him that Yuna could smell as soon as she walked up to him. His hair was parted and tamed down, the first time Yuna had seen this.

Tidus looked at Yuna in awe. He couldn't take his eyes off her, her dress reminded him of her old kimono and she was wearing that necklace. When Tidus reached up to pull her veil over her hair, he saw what she wanted. The Yuna he had left, the Yuna he never wanted to leave. The two stared, eyes locked, and held their hands together in front of them. The representative from the New Marriage Committee of Spira pulled out a white lace, and began wrapping it around their hands.

EXCEL

Yynx looked incredibly beautiful in her white and pink gown, it was a long white dress with Pink Vine sewn along the hem and waist. It was her favorite plant, Pink Vine. Jett's too, he had it embroidered into his wrist cuffs. Yynx's hair was put up and her eyes were aglow, there was not one speck of doubt on her face as she walked the aisle. Teal smiled as he watched her come closer, he was standing in the front. He was going to be their witness, here in Excel as long as they had their witness none could say the two weren't wed. Teal looked around and saw Scarlett and Aureolin guarding the doors, Scar in her usual red and blue outfit and Aureolin in his sashes and cloths that he usually seems to just throw together and still look remarkable. Teal noted Thy and Lukahs sitting nearby, Thy in his normal robes with a few ceremonial sashes along his arms and legs, hair combed and tied on his left; Lukahs with Lola and Keyo, all dressed in frills and garments that reminded Teal that Lukahs had still had a large amount of money left. Briar and Blaine were sitting off to the right of the room, both dressed in chain-mail armor, Briar with light shoulder and hip guards and Blaine in his favorite silver and gold cuirass and pauldrons. The wedding area itself was a thing of beauty, the small shrine at the front housed the Wind Keeper, Uindo (who had been the one to tell Teal and his friends how to stop the beast). There were many bouquets with Pink Vine in vases around the place atop small marble pedestals, and a small white gate around the sitting area.

Yynx looked up to the front of the aisle, toward Teal. Smiling, she gave a small nod to him, he smiled back. Teal turned to face the front, noticing Jett's awkward smile as he awaited his bride to be. Yynx reached the front and smiled again, turning toward Jett as he faced her as well. He gave her cheek a soft brush with his hand, and they held their hands together in front of them. The high Monk began binding their hands with a long white ribbon, and then he spoke.
"Under the light of a new dawn, the bonds that tie you shall forever hold. As the earth below you holds you, you must forever hold each other, and support one another."

SPIRA

"In this new era, Spira has found hope and happiness. So too, shall you and yours, in the name of Spira I bless thee and name thee husband and wife."
It had been a short ceremony, but Yuna didn't care how long it took. She and Tidus were married now! A new life, with him.
Tidus leaned in and pressed his lips to Yuna's, and a small tear emerged from her eye. This was the happiest moment of her life, just behind her was the sunrise, behind Tidus' head was the setting moon. They were in between, it felt almost as if they were standing in the center of the universe. Tidus held her hands gently, and she held back. The kiss lasted for what seemed like forever, with their friends laughing and cheering, clapping too! Tidus and Yuna slowly pulled away, and the man who had married them beckoned to Kimahri to sever the binding, the two would keep their half of the ribbon safe to signify their marriage. Tidus tied Yuna's around her right bicep, and she, too, tied his to his arm.

Suddenly, a cold breeze began to blow. Yuna was the first to notice the white spot on the top of the moon flicker and slide down the moon to its bottom, covering the whole thing, no longer white, now just a black outline and inside were… stars?. She stared at it in shock, with Tidus and Kimahri following her gaze. This wasn't right, the moon was rising! It was moving very slowly across the sky, perfectly in line with the sun. What was going on? At the rate it was traveling, it would block out the sun in no more than an hour. Yuna and Tidus looked back to one another, and ran back down the aisle, Kimahri and Garik following. Seeing this, Paine, Rikku stood quickly and followed, with Lulu and Wakka following after Wakka asked Cid to look after Vidna for him.

Back in Yuna's hut, she and Tidus had already changed back into their regular outfits. Kimahri and Garik had kept their attire under their fur clothes, Garik simply tore his off, while Kimahri carefully removed and folded each piece; there was no rush. Rikku and Paine arrived, followed by Wakka and Lulu, who were all puzzled and wanted to know what was going on. Yuna saw Wakka about to ask, and held her hand up.
"The moon is different. I noticed it a few weeks ago, there was something there that I couldn't explain, but knew it didn't belong. Just now, the whole thing changed. Now it looks like the nighttime sky, and it's moving closer to where the sun is in the sky. I don't know what it is, but it seems something bad could happen when it causes an eclipse." Everyone was silent, and Yuna looked around. "I'm sorry, I should have brought it up." Tidus looked at Yuna in surprise.
"What are you talking about? It's not your fault! We don't even know what's going to happen!" Rikku nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, Yunie! Whatever happens, we'll face it together, so don't blame yourself!"
Paine nodded and Kimahri gave a small grunt acknowledging this. Lulu grimaced, and shook her head.
"Yuna, I'm sorry, but I have a child to look after. I can't fight with you." Wakka turned to Lulu, who walked outside.
"Lulu, hold up! You don't mean that!" He walked outside after her. Rikku ran forward after them, but Yuna stopped her.
"Rikku, no! They have to settle this alone!" Rikku stopped and nodded.
"You're right…"

After a few moments of waiting, Wakka came back inside.
"I'm going to fight, to help protect Spira for Vidna's future, ya? Lulu can take care of him until we get back, we'll both try our best!" Tidus walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. Kimahri looked over to Garik, and motioned for him to go outside and talk. Nobody dared spy on the Ronsos, but after a few moments Kimahri returned.
"Hey big guy, where'd Garik go?" Rikku was the first to ask.
"Ronso need elder, but Kimahri protect Yuna. Kimahri protect everyone. Garik protect Ronso." Kimahri said this with a low growl, as if he thought he might regret it. Reassuring himself, he gave Yuna a look of content. She smiled back, glad to have her oldest friend there. Paine and Rikku went off to change, and the group headed out to see Cid, who was no longer holding Vidna.
Yuna and Rikku stood in front of him, smiling.
"Uncle Cid, would it be okay for us to borrow an airship?" Rikku nodded.
"We'll take great care of it, we promise!" Cid looked at the two with what looked like shock and discomfort.
"I don't think so, I wouldn't want my two favorite girls crashing, that'd be bad."
Paine quickly moved over and reassured the old Al-Bhed.
"I'll fly." At this Cid seemed relaxed. He'd seen Paine fly (Brother had taught her), she was a great pilot.
"Okay, I'll let you borrow one. But only because it's my little niece's wedding! Congrats by the way."
Yuna and Rikku cheered at this, and Paine smiled and walked off toward the airship.

Wakka followed, and Kimahri and Rikku trailed right behind.
"Tidus, come over here. I gotta say something." Yuna smiled and headed off, letting the two talk in private. Tidus walked over to Cid, wanting to hurry off with Yuna.
"What's up?" Cid placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I never thanked you. You kept your promise." Tidus was puzzled.
"Huh?" Cid laughed at this. Tidus had forgotten the promise he'd made to the old man just after the Guado had destroyed Home.

"You promised…that Yuna wouldn't die. That you'd find a way to save Spira without letting her die. You kept that promise, and I thank you. Nobody is more deserving of her than you are. Welcome to the family, kid." He opened his arms for a hug.
Tidus smiled at this, and accepted the hug gladly. He backed away, gave a quick wave and turned to run off.
"It's great…to have a family again. I'm honored!" He shouted this as he ran to catch up with Yuna. The world wouldn't save itself!

EXCEL

It was a nice ceremony, albeit rather long. Teal was beginning to get tired of standing through the excess. There was one thing left to do, he had to cut the ribbon around Yynx and Jett's arms, and both would keep their half as a sign of their union.
Teal was motioned over to the two, and in one quick cut with his dagger, he split the ribbon. Teal stepped back, and Jett pulled Yynx into a soft kiss. Everyone, including Teal, was clapping. Teal looked over to the horizon, and saw the moon. That weird glint at the top was getting to him. And why had the moon not gone down yet? He saw the white part shift (this caught him off guard so he let out an odd surprised noise) and then grow to cover the whole moon.

"What's going on with the moon?" Thy had shouted after seeing Teal's reaction and looking for himself. Everyone, even Jett and Yynx turned to look an the moon which looked as if it were becoming darker. It now had only a black outline, and inside that outline there was a clear image of stars in the night sky. But that wasn't all- Teal had only just noticed it. The moon was rising!

The people in the wedding area were in a panic. Had Teal been wrong to ignore his brother's warning? Had he taken it with too much levity and not thought the whole thing through enough? Teal had plenty of time for that later. Grabbing his Tri-Bo out, he prepared himself for what was surely heading his way- a whole new adventure, another opportunity to save excel from something big. He wasn't so sure how he was going to fight the moon, or even if that was his enemy. One thing Teal was certain of was that something big was coming to Excel.

He was ready for it.

-

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Next chapter is up!