Chapter 4
The Magus Sisters couldn't agree on whose turn it was to carry Tidus, so again the equitably agreed to carry him together. He turned back to see Ixion galloping across the ocean surface far below. Finally they saw smoke on the distant horizon. As they got closer, it materialized in a giant smoldering cinder cone. The sides of the volcano were steep near the tip and flattened out nears the waterline. No glowing lava was visible, but it seemed to be compensating by pouring out a prodigious amount of smoke and ash.
"Do they really live here?" he shouted out loud. Sandy turned and nodded curtly. There really wasn't time for conversation; besides, the Aeons seemed to lack the ability to speak. Somehow he was able to understand them despite that. Yuna had once explained to him that Aeons were the outward manifestations of the souls of their respective Fayth. It chilled him to the marrow of the bones to consider what that suggested about Anima.
Even closer they could make out the sandy beaches and lush vegetation that was supported by the rich volcanic soil. A tall house on stilts with a thatched roof stood near the edge of the water. A small dock extended out into the water, where a dugout canoe was tethered. As the Sisters gently deposited Tidus on the sands a tan man with a mane of flaming red hair emerged from the hut. He was dressed in black pants with a yellow vest and boots while a shoulder guard decorated his arm.
"Tidus, that you?" he called in shock.
"Wakka?" wondered Tidus, genuinely puzzled as the big man pulled him into a bear hug.
"Hey Lu, we got company!" he bellowed back into the house.
By this point Ixion had waded ashore and the Aeons reverted into their human forms. An intense pale skinned woman with raven hair emerged from the hut, looking annoyed. She wore a tight-fitting black dress that emphasized her buxom figure.
"There's no need to yell," she chided, "The whole world doesn't have to hear."
"Lulu!" exclaimed Tidus, "How did you guys get here?"
"They're not Wakka and Lulu," corrected Shiden gravely.
"They're Kaji and Miyuki," added Kiri, "You knew them as Ifrit and Shiva."
"You are?" he wondered. Wakka took a step back and rubbed his head awkwardly.
"Yeah," he confessed, "Sorry about that, ya?" With that they dispersed into Pyreflies and reformed as their Fayth. Kaji was dressed in golden armor with purple trim, a purple hat and headband decorating his head. Miyuki was wearing a long blue dress, covering most of her long auburn hair in a veil.
"We apologize," said Miyuki, "It wasn't our intention to deceive you."
"You can still do that?" he wondered.
"As you know we gained power through the Celestial Weapons," lectured Shiden, "But we also gained the memories and feelings of the wielders."
"Until our bonds were severed by Sin," added Miyuki.
"So each of us carries the memory of a friend of yours," said Kiri, "Except for my sisters."
"That why you call Big Brother 'Tidus'?" wondered Hana. Kiri patted her head and nodded. The youngest Magus Sister looked at Tidus thoughtfully.
"If you're not really Shuyin, where is he?"
"I promise I'll find out," said Tidus cheerfully.
"So," ventured Mushi gleefully, "Why playing house?" Kaji and Miyuki exchanged a helpless glance.
"It's complicated," replied Miyuki sadly.
"You like each other, doncha?" guessed Hana with a grin.
"Hey!" snapped Kaji, "Don't start!" They all turned when they heard Tidus laughing.
"Its okay guys," he reassured them, "We just need your help."
"Anything," said Kaji.
"What happened?" inquired Miyuki.
"It's about Hiyoko," he began, "We need to save her."
Far away, in a distant castle, there was a clink and rattle of chains as Hiyoko, bound by her wrists, was slowly lowered into the center of the chamber. Ryuu stood on the ground underneath looking up with a tinge of regret that Kitaeru picked up on.
"We can't afford a guilty conscience, Dragon King," he stated.
"Have we fallen so far to make that a consolation?" replied the child sadly.
"I don't blame you," murmured Hiyoko faintly, "You have no more choice than I."
"I know," said Ryuu, "Although other forces may free us yet."
"Lady Yuna can't save us," retorted Kitaeru bitterly, "Nor can that so-called Guardian of hers."
"She has more courage than you give her credit for," countered Ryuu. At that Hiyoko opened her eyes suddenly.
"You've seen her?" she exclaimed, "Since the battle against Sin?" They nodded in response.
"It wasn't a happy occasion," noted the Fayth of Bahamut.
"What do you mean?" she demanded. But they remained frustratingly silent.
"That is quite enough," said Alma quietly from her throne, "You know that you brought this on yourself."
"I do," replied Hiyoko, "But it was all for him."
"I understand because he is like a son to me."
"Then why didn't you ask us to bring Tidus along as well?" complained Kitaeru.
"Tidus is already here," she said serenely as Shuyin stepped out of the shadows.
"Shuyin," breathed Hiyoko, "You really do look like him."
"You mean he looks like me," corrected Shuyin testily, "A thousand years and this imposter tries to steal my thunder!"
"That explains everything," said Ryuu.
"So she follows your orders," guessed Kitaeru.
"Good work guys," observed Shuyin with a lopsided grin, "Who am I to refuse the Fayth of Anima?"
"Alma Guado, listen to that!" screamed Hiyoko desperately. But she remained impassive.
"Nice try," said Shuyin as he kissed Alma's hand, "But she can't hear you anymore."
"Hana and her sisters were worried sick about you," she said, trying a new tack. That caught him off guard.
"So the Squirt made it?" he wondered, looking nostalgic, "That's good to hear."
"She is still waiting for you to keep your promise to her." That visibly upset him.
"I can't even keep my promise to Lenne!" moaned Shuyin, banging his fist against a wall.
"Maybe I could help," she offered. He looked up at her and then began to laugh darkly.
"I don't think so," he retorted, "You're still too loyal to that High Summoner of yours."
"Can I see her?" she wondered.
"No!" cried Ryuu, "Don't!"
"Of course you can," he said, "Mother, do the honors." At his command chains burst forth from the walls and the ceiling and wrapped around her limbs. A three pronged hook lowered from the center of the swirling void and dragged her screaming up through the Farplane Abyss. She then found herself hovering in an airless room deep underground. She saw her dark leathery wings carrying her aloft, so she was in her Aeon form. Looking around, she recognized it as the Chamber of the Fayth in Besaid. It was where she had first met Lady Yuna, the last of many High Summoners that had come here to seek her aid. How much she had been like her father, Braska.
As if to grant her wish, three women entered the room. Even in the white bustier and blue skirt with twin pistols, Lady Yuna was instantly recognizable. How much time had passed in the Farplane Abyss? A year? Ten? Accompanying her was two of her Guardians: Wakka and Rikku. However, she didn't recognize the silver-haired woman dressed in low cut black pants and top.
"Is that an Aeon?" stammered Wakka.
"Something's not right," warned Yuna warily.
"Wakka, stay back!" ordered Rikku, "It's not safe!"
Hiyoko desperately tried to speak, but all that came out was a horrible shriek. Her wings swept up and she dove into an attack. The silver-haired woman drew out a long blade encrusted with a death's head and slashed Valefor. Rikku vanished in a column of light and reappeared in a black dress with long sleeves and a violet broad-brimmed hat and matching skirt. She raised a magical staff and cast a high level Blizzard spell. Both made Valefor shriek in agony and then launched into a Sonic Wings attack that knocked Yuna back. She stood and raised her pistols with a plaintive look on her face.
"Valefor, please" she begged.
"No time for sentiments!" snapped the silver-haired woman testily.
"You're right Paine," she replied and fired off a volley of shot that pummeled Valefor up against the ceiling. The Aeon responded by slamming into Rikku.
"Owie!" she cried. She cast another Blizzard spell as Paine slashed with a second attack. Tears welling in her eyes, Yuna fired another hail of bullets and then all Valefor saw was darkness….
The wind whistled in Tidus' hair as the Cindy and Mindy carried him towards the Dark Castle. Behind him was Sandy carrying Miyuki while Kaji rode on Ixion's back.
"Yee ha!" shouted Kaji, "Giddyap!" Ixion flashed him an angry look as Miyuki covered her eyes in shame.
"Why did I ever hook up with that lug?" she wondered out loud. Sandy merely giggled.
"Well, you guys thought you were Wakka and Lulu, right?" offered Tidus helpfully. He needed something to distract him from the waiting.
"They did like each other," she agreed sadly, "But the memory of Chappu kept them apart."
"Yeah Wakka said I looked like him."
"So is there anyone who isn't reminded of someone else when they meet you?" bellowed Kaji, eager to change the subject. Tidus was stumped. The citizens of Zanarkand had always compared him to his father Jecht; while the people of Besaid thought of Chappu; now half the Fayth seemed to think of him as Shuyin.
"You have a point," he confessed. It was then that the black craggy spire appeared on the horizon. Sandy rasped her wings while Cindy chattered. Mindy helpfully buzzed her contribution to the conversation. Tidus rested his chin on a hand and waited for the translation.
"They're discussing the plan," stated Miyuki, "Speaking of which, what is it?"
"No plan," he replied with a faint grin, "We just fly in and blow stuff up." Miyuki shook her head, but with a smile.
"Sounds like the good old Tidus we know and love."
"We wouldn't want him any different, ya?" chimed in Kaji, who immediately looked guilty for reverting to a Besaid accent.
They were close enough to see the castle suspended from massive chains to large rocky spires. Swirling above it was a series of five interlocking spiraling pathways lit by the faint glow of orange flames; the Farplane Abyss. He hoped that somehow that path would lead him back to Yuna. They flew over the battlements and into a courtyard that surrounded the central keep. A pair of tall double doors stood before them, lit by the eerie green glow of will o' the wisps. The Magus Sisters dropped him to the ground and he pushed the door open, surprised to find it unlocked.
"Careful, it might be a trap," warned Miyuki, walking up to his left side.
"Of course it's a trap," said Kaji, walking on his other side.
"Let's do this," exclaimed Tidus as they pushed forward. Ahead lay a long dark corridor with a high vaulted ceiling and tall narrow windows that admitted feeble light into the marble floor. They made their way along into a central atrium.
Directly in front of them was a throne, facing the other way. He walked over and found it empty. At the feet of the staircase leading down was Hiyoko. She was lying face down on the cold stone floor. Tidus rushed down and turned her over. She groaned softly and opened her eyes in horror.
"Lady Yuna!" she shrieked.
"Easy now, calm down," said Tidus holding her close, "You're safe now."
"Oh Tidus!" she called out tearfully, "I saw her!"
"What?" he wondered, "Yuna?" A million questions raced through his brain.
"It was horrible," she continued, "She made me fight her!"
"Speaking of the Dark Queen," murmured Miyuki. It was then they heard the laughter echoing through the empty halls. It was like Tidus' voice, but the sound was somehow twisted and unpleasant.
"So I finally get to meet the imposter!" shouted Shuyin gleefully as he emerged from the shadows carrying a long narrow sword.
"Who are you?" demanded Tidus.
"You may call me-," he began, before he was interrupted by Hana.
"Big Brother!" she screamed as she rushed to embrace Shuyin, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Hey, Squirt!" he yelped in surprise.
"Hana, get away from him!" called out Kiri. Mushi scratched her head.
"If he's Shuyin, who there heck are you?" she demanded to Tidus.
"So you guys escaped the invasion of Zanarkand?" said Shuyin at he held the little sister crying on his shoulder.
"We made it as far as Remiem," explained Kiri, "We were chasing after Lenne when we got the news."
"Then we heard you guys were caught in Bevelle," added Mushi sadly.
"We had nothing left," said Hana, "So we decided to become Fayth."
"I couldn't save her," admitted Shuyin bitterly as he gently pushed Hana away. She looked up at him fearfully.
"Big Brother," she whispered as she backed away, "What happened to you?"
"We can help you look for her," offered Mushi. Shuyin shook his head.
"What's the point?" he snarled, "What's the point of anything?"
"That's enough!" shouted Tidus as he stood up, carrying Hiyoko is his arms, "Let the Fayth go!" Shuyin just scoffed.
"I will not rest until Spira has suffered as I have suffered," he vowed darkly, "But by all means try to stop me." Tidus set Hiyoko down gently and pulled out Verdigris.
"Bring it on!" he exclaimed.
"Not yet!" protested Shuyin as he held out a warning hand, "First my Aeons have work to do." He then turned and walked back into the shadows.
"Stop!" cried out Tidus running after his double. But Shuyin was long gone. He stood there for a long time and then Hiyoko walked over and took his hand.
"You're not alone," she said, "And thanks for coming after me."
"No problem," he replied with a shrug, "You would've done the same."
"It's not just because of Yuna's memories?" she asked. He shook his head in reply and she continued.
"Then maybe I can help you to see her again," she said.
Author's Notes
Ifrit: Kaji means conflagration.
Shiva: Miyuki means deep snow.