Hey everyone, here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy! I don't own any of this, I just enjoy writing fan fiction!
"W-What do you mean?" Rikku stammered. Caius came close, only stopping when Auron stepped in front of her.
"I'm the founder of this temple. You correctly deciphered my statue text and came in, remember?" She nodded. "Oh beaut, don't feel sorry for me. I started building this temple long ago. It became The Afterlife Temple – you see, I wanted to travel a lot. But, I was killed by Bevelle's commander shortly after the war started." She continued to listen, her face unreadable. "I awoke here and was the only one for a long time. When Zaon was finally released from Sin, he couldn't cross fully into the Farplane. We caught up – he's my brother after all – and had a great time. Then, he told me exactly what Yunalesca and Yu Yevon had done. I just couldn't believe it!"
Rikku stepped out in front of Auron, a strange pull towards Caius pulling her closer to him. It wasn't against her will, but at the same time it was. "Caius, why did you target me? Our companion said that I was targeted." The young man nodded, as Caius bowed his head. They heard a sigh come from him.
"Rikku...don't freak out. Ever since you were born, I've been watching you from here." He looked up to see her eyebrows deeply furrowed, and Auron's hands tightly fisted. "Remember Yuna and Tidus? They were reincarnations of Lenne and Shuyin. Just as you and Auron are reincarnations of me and my wife, Vuhilo."
Auron walked forward, beginning to connect the dots. He put his arm around Rikku, to which she immediately clung to.
"I could never hurt you, Rikku. I just want to see Vuhilo again." He could see the empathy in her eyes, as well as the fear. Auron's eyes had softened a fraction, but they were still unreadable. He looked over at the last member, seeing his arms crossed. "We'll be approaching your world soon. I hope you learn who you are, warrior." He uncrossed his arms, a content smile on his face. "Have you gotten any memories back?"
"Yeah, a few. I'm a SeeD from Balamb Garden. But, I've been here for such a long time...Rinoa and the others are probably dead." The building stopped with a thud as a hidden door appeared, a bright light emanating from it. "Rikku, my name's Squall, by the way. Thank you. You too, Auron." Squall went through the door, and all three saw him slip into his (recently dead) body after putting a Phoenix Down on it. He was being carried away by blue uniformed soldiers. A man with a gray overcoat walked beside him, grinning sadistically.
"He made it! But how did that Phoenix Down work? I mean, he was here for such a long time."
"Take a look, Rikku." She saw the majestic red bird, Phoenix, heal him completely as he rested in his now fully restored body. Tears came down her face as the bird left, a beautiful collection of sparkling dusts in its wake. "Yes, he was here a long time, but Phoenix usually only heals and revives if the corpse has been dead a short while. His corpse must've still been warm."
"Yes, I agree, very beautiful Rikku." Caius immediately turned to the source of the voice, a wide smile on his face. Rikku collapsed as Vuhilo emerged from her, running towards Caius's outstretched arms. The two immediately hugged and kissed. The moment was ruined, however, when a maniacal laugh filled the room. "Not again. Why did you let your brother marry into this family?"
"We didn't realize how they were back then." Yunalesca appeared, her cold countenance fixated on Auron and Rikku. Auron protectively stood in front of her, as Caius did so with Vuhilo.
"So, you let the boy go? I had major plans for that one." Rikku got goosebumps from Yunalesca's voice. "You can still make it up for me, though. Just take care of those two and we'll call it even." Vuhilo and Caius began to glow, just as Jecht had, and began to transform into aeons. "You dare?!"
"Yes. This madness has gone on long enough. It's time for you to accept it's over." Zaon appeared, but didn't seem to invoke his aeon. Caius continued. "You two are reunited, as are Vuhilo and I. Let's leave this place and rest in the Farplane."
"Never! I won't rest until Sin is restored!" Yunalesca yelled, anger evident in her voice. "Our beloved city is no more, partially thanks to those two. Let's avenge Zanarkand!" Yu Yevon appeared, nodding in agreement. Masamune and Godhand reappeared, which Auron and Rikku instantly equipped.
"Spira is free once again!" Rikku yelled. "We won't let it be enslaved by Sin!" As Yunalesca came down to the floor, Auron and Rikku held up their weapons threateningly.
"Spira is free from the lies and fear you used to control it! The people will not submit to Sin again!" Auron calmly said. "It's over, Yunalesca. I won't let you hurt innocent summoners by creating the sacrifice system again." Caius and Vuhilo occupied Yu Yevon, as Auron and Rikku occupied Yunalesca.
"I'll personally pay you back for all the damage you did to me. I'm surprised you attacked me, being a fellow unsent. No matter, I will take my revenge on you. And you, girl, I will gladly kill and strand here. You will become my next unique fiend creation!" Rikku and Auron had matching glares at Yunalesca. As they got into their fighting stances, the room darkened and began to morph.
"What are you doing? Rikku won't be able to survive in this plane!" Zaon, of all people, yelled at his wife. "Hate has consumed you! I can't stand to see you like this, love." He disappeared, easily passing through the walls of the temple. Auron watched as Yunalesca pieced together what had happened, and when reality set in that Zaon had abandoned her. She immediately ran after him, her plans of revenge partially put on hold.
"Zaon! Come back!" Light returned to the temple as she tried to pass through the walls, but couldn't. Vuhilo and Caius grabbed Rikku and Auron, passing them through the temple walls with ease. They flew through the Farplane, towards the landing connection outside of Guadosalam.
"Thanks you two! I couldn't leave because Vuhilo was trapped; now that we're reunited, I can spend eternity with her."
"We're so very grateful to you two. Now, just like Lenne and Shuyin, were together at last." Vuhilo boasted. "Plus, Caius can never reenter The Afterlife Temple. He founded it, but became its hostage. Now, he's free from the torment."
"Hey, I still don't get it! Why'd you tell me it was The Lost Temple of the Farplane?" Caius looked at Rikku, shrugging his shoulders.
"Easy, beaut. Basically, when it came back from Squall's world, it landed on the Farplane. I guess defeating that monstrousity is what put it back on course. I'm glad the kid got back – he wasn't ever really dead, but he was too weak to be considered alive. Understand?"
"Not a word! How can someone be dead and alive at the same time?" Auron chuckled. "What's so funny?" She yelled.
"Rikku, perhaps its something unique to his world. Let's leave it at that, okay?" She pouted, clearly not pleased with his answer, but didn't pursue it. Vuhilo carefully put Rikku on the land, while Auron settled in front of her. He was no longer moving or looking directly at her. She saw Caius and Vuhilo fly away, coming out of their aeon forms.
"Auron?" When he didn't move and she saw pyre flies create a more stable image of him, a tear ran down her cheek. "Auron! This can't be goodbye! I'm...I'm not ready!" He didn't move, he just stared back at her.
'Rikku, I will...always be...with you. I...must rest now...' Rikku heard Auron's voice in her mind. She closed her eyes, seeing him stroking her cheek slowly. She heard footsteps and open her eyes, seeing Wakka and Lulu come up the stairs, with shocked expressions on their faces. Immediately running over, they hugged her.
"Rikku, where ya been? Everyone's been worried 'bout ya!" Rikku turned around, no longer seeing Auron's reflection. She realized that he was on the Farplane, while she was on Spira. "Rikku?"
"Is everything okay?" Lulu concerned voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Yeah...I just...wanna go home." They looked at each other, concerned. "It's been a long time since I've slept in my bed."
And that's a wrap! Epilogue will be posted soon. Please leave a review so I can know how to improve! Thanks :)
