A Loving Hope Chapter 4: Ready For Love, a final fantasy x fanfic

A Loving Hope

Shakko

At last after what felt like forever Mayanaka was at the end of the bridge and boy was Tidus glad of it because his legs had begun to ache from always sitting without moving at all. The door at te end of the bridge opened but before Mayanaka walked through it he reared once but Tidus gave him another good kick in the sides that made him walk on but as soon as they entered the door closed and all Tidus could ear was the clicking of Mayanaka's hooves against the steps. When they were at the bottom of the steps Tidus took a good look down and guessed they were up about twenty stories and he wondered how they would get down until he saw a path leading down to the bottom of the tower they were in so he just guided Mayanaka to the trail down and let the horse go at it's own speed. As they were heading down Tidus glanced at Yuna who was still unconcious in his arms and he realised her breathing had become far worse than it used to be and so he made Mayanaka speed up abit by gently squeezing his legs to make the horse go a little faster. Finally they had reached the bottom of the tower where a small pool of water was Mayanaka did a slight rear and turned but continued walking (most likely not wanting another kick in the sides) it was then that Tidus noticed sixteen idols on the wall but Tidus could have sworn he had seen them before and then it it him like a tonof bricks there were paintings of them in Lord Braska's room he had remembered seeing them before Yuna had walked in he sighed at the thought of Yuna still awake but what he hadn't noticed was that Yuna had stopped breathing altogether it was just as they got to the alter at the end of the building that they were in that Tidus had noticed so with a heavy heart Tidus got off Mayanaka pulled Yuna off gently from the horses back and walked upto the alter where he put Yuna down and pulled off the cloth he had used to cover her she was wearing her skirt and white kimono top along with a pair of long handless gloves, a big yellow bow and her black boots. It was then at that moment that Tidus remembered something that Lord Sephiroth had told all the people one day because a few days before hand some men had left and never returned from there journey Lord Sephiroth had said 'That place...began from the resconance of intersecting points...They are memories replaced by ens and naught and etched in stone. Blood, young sprouts, sky-and the one with the ability to control beings created from light...In that world, it is said that if one should wish it one can bring back the souls of the dead...But to trespass upon that land is strictly forbidden.'

You took a piece of my heart
I never thought that this could fall apart
You said you fell in love
And this was more than I had ever been afraid of
Another life
Another happy ending cuts like knife
Another place, another time
Another hand to touch, another sun to shine'

Suddenly Mayanaka gave a frightened niegh and so Tidus turned around and saw what looked like shadows but they were living coming from the ground so Tidus took out the sword he had taken with him, he heard it was called Brotherhood, and pointed it at the shadows but suddenly there was aloud rumbling and the shadows disappeared into thin air then e heard some rumbling from above him. tidus looked up but had to quickly look away beause the sun got in his eyes but he heard a voice.

"Hmm? Thou possesses the Ancient Sword? So thou art mortal..." The voice said.

"Are you the Fayth?" Tidus began placing the brotherhood on his back then he continud."I was told that this in place at the ends of the world-there exists a being who can control the souls of the dead."

"Thou art correct...We are the one known as Fayth..." The Fayth said from above Tidus.

"She was sacrificed for she had a cursed fate. Please...I need you to bring back her soul..." Tidus said looking at Yuna.

"That maiden's soul? Souls that are once lost cannot be reclaimed...Is that not the law of mortals? With that sword however...it may not be impossible." The Fayth said.

"Really!?" Tidus said his hopes rising slightly.

"That is of course, if thou manage to accomplish what we askest." The Fayth answered.

"What do I have to do?" Tidus asked looking up into the sky.

"Behold the idols that aband along the wall...Thou art to destroy all of them. But those idols cannot be destroyed by the mere hands of a mortal..." The Fayth said.

Tidus looked at wall and saw the statues that he had passed to get to the alter.

"Then what am I to do?" Tidus asked looking up again his hope falling away.

"In this land there exist colossi that are incarnotions of those idols. If thou defeat thoe colossi-the idol shall fall." The Fayth said it's voice echoing in the tower.

"I understand." Tidus said going to mount Mayanaka.

"But heed this, the price you pay may be heavy indeed." The Fayth said quickly before Tidus had a chance to but his foot in the stirup.

"It doesn't matter." Tidus said walking back to the alter.

"Very well... Raise thy sword by the light...and head to the place where the sword light gathers... There, thou shall find the colossi thou art to defeat. Now be on thou way." And with that said the Fayth seemed to disappear.

'You got me deeper than deep and I'm constantly blinded
I'm running around but there's no place to hide
I start to talk in my sleep, our souls have divided
Why can't they forgive me these demons inside
Deeper than deep and I'm constantly blinded
My heart starts to shiver for I was letting up
I start to talk in my sleep, cause our souls have divided
How can it be that you're ready for love'

Tidus looked at Yuna one last time before he mounted Mayanaka and went down more steps before he reached solid ground again once there Tidus raised the sword above his head suddenly there was a beam of light coming from his sword going straight infront of him so he kicked Mayanaka softly into trot towards where the beam of light was.When they had reached the area Tidus saw a giant cliff ahead but was disappinted when he saw no way up for Mayanaka, Tidus dismounted and patted Mayanaka on the neck before starting to climb up a wall that had some ivy attached when he reached the top he saw a small gap and jumped it climbing further up he came across a fallen log which he rolled under. Finally he was near top but he couldn't see away up then he saw a ledge and decided that was the way up, when he got around the ledge he had to jump from it to the tip of the cliff after successfully climbing up Tidus walked further in but stopped when he heard a noise that made his skin crawl it sounded like thunder but Tidus knew otherwise something big was coming towards him and he was right a few seconds later a giant minotaur with a hug club in it's hand came shuffling past him but Tidus was sure it had a weakness somewhere but the question was where.

'Now how the hell am I going to fight this thing.' Tidus thought then he suddenly got an idea he raised the Brotherhood above his head and saw the light leading to the colossus' head. 'How do I get up there' Tidus thought when suddenly something he felt the wind pick up and felt something run past him, Tidus just had enough time to see a white blur run past and attack the colossi's feet with a sort of disk Tidus had never seen before. Suddenly the colossus kneeled down and the blur climbed up onto a platform on the colossus' back and sat down looking at Tidus, Tidus finally saw what the blur was, it was a a white wolf but it had strange red markings that Tidus was sure that the wolf was not a normal wolf. Then the wolf threw back it's head and howled before looking back at Tidus then it jumped up onto another ledge and waited for Tidus to make a move towards the colossus and so it sat and watched Tidus with big amber eyes.

Tidus got an idea and ran towards the colossus' feet like the wolf but he jumped and grapped onto it's fur and stabbed it in the leg the colossus kneeled down again and Tidus started to climb but he couldn't climb up the ledge but he felt something tug at the back of his shirt he looked up and saw the wolf pulling to get him up with a few more tugs he was up the wolf licked his cheek then turned around and jumped back onto the ledge it was on before. When Tidus had enough strentgh he jumped onto the fur of the colossus and continued to climb until he reached the ledge the wolf was on but this time he got up without a problem and yet again he waited but the wolf didn't go up any further instead it licked Tidus again but it didn't leave, like Tidus first thought instead it lay down and Tidus knew he would have to get to the colossus' head himself and so he stood up after petting the wolf on the head and continued his way up onto the colossus' head only to be shaken violently and after almost falling he realised why the wolf didn't want to go any further but Tidus spotted a glowing area on the colossus' head and so he stabbed there only to be greeted by a spray of black blood which Tidus immediatly spat out and stabbed again but this time the colossus roared and shook it's head again all the while black blood came out of it's wound when it finally stopped shaking Tidus stabbed with more force and then the colossus fell with Tidus and the wolf but the wolf landed gracefully on it's paws and quickly ran away in the direction of the Temple of the Fayth was but Tidus on the other hand wasn't so lucky and got black tendrils in his chest which made him fall unconsious.

'Ready for love ...

How can it be that you're ready for love ...

Time will tell
A single day had helped me break this spell
Don't want to be alone
When will I be understood when is my kingdom to come
Another boy, another life
Another happy ending, and I'll be alive
Another place, another time
Another hand to touch, another sun to shine'

Tiidus woke up to see the wolf infront of him and there was also something else but he couldn't see clearly so instead he stood up and headed for the alter where Yuna lay still with the light breeze in her hair suddenly there was a rumble and the first statue broke and then the rumbling voice of the Fayth came from above.

"Thy next foe is…in the seaside cave…it moves slowly…raise thy courage to defeat it..." the Fayth said.

Tidus just nodded and walked over to Mayanaka who had just came in and walked down the steps only to be followed by the wolf who was happy enough to trot beside Mayanaka who in turn sniffed the wolf and gave a happy whinny to the wolf who barked back and then ran off infront as if challangng Mayanaka to a race who in turn speed up aswell. Tidus was surprised by how fast the wolf was normally Mayanaka would have over taken it in a few minutes but the wolf was still in front but what really confused Tidus was that they were heading towards a forest so he slowed down Mayanaka and used the Brotherhood to see if they were going the right way but the light was all over the place but the wolf kept running and Mayanaka wanted to follow his new friend so Tidus thought about it for awhile when his stomach made a strange noise which made the wolf turn around and give him a strange look then it whinned so with a sigh Tidus let Mayanaka go to his new friend then Tidus dismounted and went to search for food but he couldn't help feeling as if he was being watched then as he started to cimb a tree there was a rustle from one of the bushes so Tidus went to check it out but was greeted by another wolf a fierce black wolf with bood red eyes. Tidus knew he was in trouble but his wolf companion attacked the black wolf and Tidus felt himself being pulled out of the way by something, then the black wolf ran away although it was a bit hard because it had an ingered paw but the white wolf howled as much to tell the forest animals that the forest now belonged to it. Tidus looked behind him to see a man dressed in unusual cloths (he ad never seen kimono tops, trousers or dresses only ever what his own people dressed in) holding his hand out for Tidus to grab which Tidus did and the man helped him up.

"It's a good thing ma cherie there has good hearing or else you would be a dead man." The man said chuckling a bit then he went upto the wolf and petted it on the head.

"Um...who are you?" Tidus asked standing still for a moment.

"Oh pardonz moi for being so rude my name is" suddenly the man was cut off by a small voice coming from the wolf's head.

"We call him the half-baked prophet 'cause that's what he is he speaks in riddles all the time." Then a small green ball started jumping on top of the wolf's head when suddenly the wolf turned it's head to the side and caught the little green ball in it's mouth then after a few minutes spat it back out. "Eww wolf drool a handsome guy like myself doesn't deserve that."

"Well my little bouncing friend maybe you shouldn't speak for Ammy when she can give you the looks that make you know what she wants to say." This only recieved the man with a lick on the hand. "Now where was I...oh yes my names Waka the sprite is named Issun and the wolf is called Amaterasu but you can call her Ammy she doesn't mind much."

"Well my names Tidus nice to meet you my horses name is Mayanaka but we should really get going I just need something to eat and then we'll be out of your hair." Tidus said climbing up the tree closest to him and then he grabbed ome of the fruit out of it before jumping back onto Mayanaka munching on his fruit while doing so.

"No hurries we'll help you furball here is always getting herself into trouble so don't worry." Issun said jumping onto Tidus' shoulder.

"Are you sure?" Tidus asked not to certain about the idea.

Amaterasu nodded her head before walking over to Tidus so Issun could jump onto her head then she turned and whinned at Waka as if asking if he was coming to then he whistled and out came a grey horse with a black mane and tail which only resulted in Amaterasu barking happily at the horse who in return whinnied softly at her before letting Waka get onto it then it walked up to Mayanaka who looked at it ears pricked.

"This is Silver Wind but you can call her Silver she's a friend of Ammy's." Waka said before Tidus could ask about the horse so Tidus just nodded before squeezing his legs and clicking his tongue to get Mayanaka to walk but instead he trotted with his tail in the air as if showing off to the mare who just shook her head and walked calmly until Amaterasu challenged both horses to a race which they happily accepted much to Tidus' discouragment remembering what happened last time but this time Amaterasu lead them to a bridge and at the end Tidus could make out what looked like a cross road one leading away from the beach and the other leading towards it when they reached it there was a large rumble like the one of the first colossus but it was enough to frighten Mayanaka and Silver Wind who both reared but Waka and Tidus kicked them to follow Amaterasu who was already a quarter of the way down only turning to look behind her.

"How did you find Amaterasu?" Tidus asked looking at Waka.

"I didn't she found me but I found out her name pretty soon after from where we come from but you wouldn't believe me even if I told you where she and I come from." Waka said eyes stuck on following Amaterasu.

"Try me I've heard alot of wack stuff from different people and I sure aswell want to know where she got those red markings." Tidus said before turning back to look at the wolf who was now on the beach.

"So you are one of the few who can see her true form most people who don't believe in Gods don't see her they only see a white wolf. Well since you can see her I might aswell tell you." Waka said sighing before looking at Tidus. "Amaterasu is a goddess turned wolf there are thirteen Gods altogether all different animals including a dragon strange things happen around Ammy which you will see most likely in this battle but don't fear her she means no harm unless you harm her or are doing something she doesn't like, like your friend the blond haired man who you found bleeding remember she was the one who attacked him but she was being protective. Well anyway she comes from the Celestial Plain or as you call it Heaven and I am the only knowen member of the moon tribe who as you can guess live on the moon." Waka said looking back at Amaterasu who was playing in the waves when suddenly she turned to what looked like a door and growled softly then the door broke open and standing in it's place was a giant bull like creature.

How can it be that you're ready for love ...

How can it be that you're ready for love …'

Mayanaka yet again whinnied and turned as if to run away but Tidus quickly forced him to gallop towards the colossus but he didn't know how to get up onto it.

"Attack the bottom of it's feet mon ami." Came Waka's voice somewhere on the other side of the colossus.

Tidus pulled out his arrows and pulled Mayanaka up behind the colossus only to find Silver and Amaterasu hovering over Waka's body Amaterasu growled and ran towards the colossus on the way past Issun jumped onto Tidus' shoulder.

"What's hapened to Waka?" Tidus asked the sprite while turning Mayanaka back towards the colossus.

"The guy got to cocky and went too close ta that thing and Silver ended up getting knocked to the ground with Waka but he rolled and hit his head off a rock lucky for him Ammy pulled him out of the way before he got stood on." Issun said looking back at Amaterasu who was jumping along the colossus back.

Tidus saw one of the colossus' weak points on it's feet like Waka said so he drew out an arrow and shoot it at the colossus then there was a crash and the colossus was lying down on the leg that Tidus had aimed at. Tidus kicked Mayanaka into a gallop and then jumped off him onto the colossus' leg. As he was climbing the colossus stood up and shook itself causing Amaterasu to be knocked against one of the walls that went down the colossus' back but she was surprisingly alright. Then Tidus saw the same blue shape that he had saw on the 1st colossus so he stabbed it in what looked like it's tail then whenever it disappeared he ran on up the colossus following Amaterasu but she jumped off the colossus' head and ran back to Waka who had started sitting up. Tidus ran to the colossus' head but the colossus started shaking it's whole body and Tidus almost fell off but held on with all his might when the colossus finally stopped shaking it's body Tidus continued until he reached it's head and again it shook it's head and body but Tidus held on for dear life and stabbed it in the head a few more times before the colossus collapsed onto the ground and again Amaterasu ran off back up the cliff and off to the Temple of the Fayth with Waka following on Silver but yet again Tidus got hit with the black tendrils and yet agan he was sent into unconsicousness.