"Final Fantasy X: The Final Fight for Spira"

Part 2: "The Gathering"

Onboard the Celsius

Embraces and well wishes were the order of the moment (but no more than just for that), as the seven fighters and their support reunited for the first time in months on the Celsius.

Yuna and Rikku had not actually seen Paine since the assault on Yamadoki, even though they had written often. The two were very happy to see Paine actually opening up and having some fun.

Vidina was the center of attention, as everyone was smitten at how cute he had become over the last few months.

All had to come to order, though, as Brother called them all to the bridge.

Paine was waiting for them.

Paine: "I wouldn't have done this if I didn't have to. A few hours ago, I observed a massive energy reading at the top of the tower we assaulted six months ago…"

Yuna: "It's after me… I've been told…"

"We must journey -- again…"

Wakka: "You're sure??? We haven't fought in so long…"

Tidus: "We'll just have to become familiar with it all over again, old buddy…"

Wakka laughed…

Rikku: "Yunie, what's this all about?"

Yuna struggled to put it all in words.

She then said, "They're trying to re-create Sin…"

The whole group gasped at Yuna's pronouncement.

Kimhari roared, and then said, "Kimhari remember the pain of Sin… Kimhari NEVER let that happen again!!"

Yuna: "They're called Dark Yevon."

Another gasp.

Rikku: "I know we saw people in dark summoners' robes coming around Djose Temple…"

Lulu: "And we must've seen the same group coming by Besaid…"

Just then, a klaxon went off on the Celsius.

Brother and Paine went to the pilot and co-pilot stations. Buddy was now working the bar, as Barkeep and his new wife were comfortably living on the surface.

Paine: "Oh, crap. We have to go to Bevelle!"

Brother didn't even wait for an order -- from Yuna nor anyone else. It was off to Bevelle, and the source of an even larger energy reading.

Over the Palace of St. Bevelle

Major Numerous was wasting no time taking over. He had basically destroyed the Highbridge and was creating an energy field, with the assistance of numerous Dark Yevon summoners.

Paine tried to arm the Celsius for a direct assault, but no sooner had she begun the arming that she saw New Evrae -- the new protector of Bevelle, get repelled by the energy field.

Just then, eight seals had formed on that energy field, and the field prepared to blow the Celsius completely out of the sky and kill them all.

Major Numerous had a home -- a base of operations. Where Tidus and Yuna had planned to tell everyone that they were going to marry at the earliest convenience.

Just then, the Celsius got the biggest push of all time as Numerous used the energy field to repel the Celsius away.

Southward, out of control, over Spira

Paine: "Grab something. GRAB ANYTHING!!"

Of course, she didn't have to yell that, except out of force of habit.

Everyone was on the ground, certain of all their deaths, as the Celsius spun and cart-wheeled through the air on a southward trajectory; as if it had been blown clear of the sky…

Lulu clutched Vidina close, and Wakka clutched Lulu.

Yuna, Tidus, Buddy, and Rikku were in another pile.

Kimhari stood firm.

There were screams.

There were tears.

And then, there was nothing…

Over Besaid

Finally, Paine and Brother had brought the Celsius back under control.

Yuna was so happy that she was still alive that she kissed Paine. She even kissed Brother, who swooned until he was kicked by Rikku.

Everyone got up, dusted themselves off, and ensured they were still alive…

… and then everything halted again.

The Fayth stepped forward on the Celsius…

Fayth: "Hello, Yuna and friends. We must ask your aid again."

"You've seen it. We can tell you how to defeat it."

"Yuna, you must summon the aeons again. However, to gain the ability this time, you must defeat Dark Yevon's aeon of the same kind. And you must do them in the same order you acquired them the first time."

"This means that the first seal you must break is the one at Besaid."

Just then, the fayth faded, as the Dark Summoners were using them not only to summon their Dark Aeons, but also to overrun the countryside with fiends.

Rikku: "So what do we do?"

Yuna, resolute: "What we did the first time."

"Honey, you're a fighter. Lulu, you're our dark mage. Rikku, our thief and alchemist. I'll heal as best I can. Kimhari will pierce and lancet abilities as before. Wakka will nail airborne beasts with his ball. Paine will use the Garment Grid to specialize…"

Rikku: "We don't have more than one?"

Brother: "Blame Shinra for that one. He broke the other two."

Shinra: "I'm just a kid… I blew it on new experiments to improve the Grids."

Kimhari: "Kimhari stand for Spira again."

Lulu, looking out the window: "Oh my God!!! They're all over Besaid. Land this thing!!"

Brother: "Not like we have a choice. All the sensors got busted in that roller-coaster ride we took!"

Buddy: "We'll do repairs as you go forward."

Yuna: "Then let's retake Besaid. And then to Besaid Temple…"

The seven went to the cargo hold and awaited the order to disembark.