Tidus screamed in pain as his body fell to the flagstone floor of the massive dome

Tidus screamed in pain as his body fell to the flagstone floor of the massive dome.

"You see, Tidus… Spira was always meant to be a dead world." Kinoc explained slowly, reloading his gun.

"Well then… It's a good thing we have the Farplane, isn't it?"

Kinoc turned toward the strange voice, but his motion was interrupted by a long black blade that slid straight through his ribcage.

"Huh?" Tidus looked up as Kinoc's limp form landed in front of him with a dull crunch.

"At least you aren't cryin' this time." Jecht joked, laughing. He jumped down from his high ground, grabbing onto Tidus' hand and helping him up.

"Thanks dad." Tidus muttered, gasping. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving your sorry ass." Jecht muttered, spinning around to stab Kinoc again. The unsent Maester was knocked to the ground once more, and Jecht quickly decapitated him. The body burst into Pyreflies, leaving only open ground.

"Well, now that that's done…"

"We aren't out of this yet." Jecht muttered. "Try to keep up." With that, he darted off toward the exit from the dome.

Tidus picked up after him. His wounded leg lasted exactly three steps before he fell over again.

Slowly, he stumbled back to his feet. That was the moment he heard the creaking groan of the steel roof high above him. He looked up just in time to see a steel girder falling toward his head.

- - - - -

Auron grunted with a half-smile on his face. It was the sort of smile he wore just before he killed something that he really wanted dead. Yuna had seen it four times – against Yunalesca and against Seymour after he killed Kinoc.

Braska blocked blow after blow that Auron directed at Yunalesca. Finally, out of agitation, he turned his gaze to his oldest friend.

"Finally, you look at me, Auron."

He grunted coldly, tensing his glare, as he brought his massive blade around for another swing.

"How touching… the father, the daughter, and the Guardian, together at last…" Yunalesca's sentence was cut off by another swift shot from Yuna. Auron smiled again, finding another of his hidden ironies in the situation.

"Machina don't bother you anymore, I see…" He muttered as he bashed again and again against Braska's guard.

"You haven't changed at all."

Braska continued to block each of Auron's strikes. He sighed as Yunalesca rose to her feet again, stabbing a sharp black tentacle into Auron's back.

"This is too much for you two. If I keep distracting you, you'll die."

Auron lifted his foot, delivering a swift kick against Braska's chest. The frail man was knocked onto his back.

Spinning quickly, the Warrior-Monk rammed his sword into Yunalesca's chest. She glanced down at it as if it were a minor paper cut. The red-clad Guardian yanked his blade free, and then spun in a wide circle. His blade was stopped just an inch from her neck by Braska's staff.

Auron's body seemed to tense.

"Yuna, run!"

"But Sir Auron…"

"Go! It is a Guardian's duty to lay down his life for his Summoner. Run away!"

Yuna swallowed back a bit of bile as three more tentacles ripped open the man's back.

"No, Auron. I won't watch you die again!"

Auron grunted.

"You still don't understand. I see you've grown, though…"

The massive warrior turned in place slashing the three tentacles that attacked him from their bases. Then, with a quick dash, he charged up next to Yuna. She expected him to stop. Instead, he wrapped his free arm around her waist, picking her up in a swift motion. She knew he was strong, but his might seemed insane as he casually flipped her up and tossed her onto his shoulder.

"Sorry, Yuna, but there's not time. I'm much faster." With that, the unsent warrior charged off past Yunalesca and Braska, running deep into the ruins of Zanarkand.

Wind rushed past Yuna's hair as she hung limply.

"Auron."

"Yes?" He asked, casting a quick glance over his shoulder.

"What did Father mean when he said you would die?"

Auron sighed. "You can tell I'm not as young as I used to be…"

"What?" Yuna asked.

"Yuna, I died when I was twenty-six. In the ten years between your father's pilgrimage and your own, I aged far more than any normal man. An Unsent does not age the way a living person does. They age from guilt and emotion, rather than the passage of time."

"They?"

"Yuna, even though I looked old, I was still as strong as the day I died. Today, however, I feel my age."

"You mean…"

"I am alive."

- - - - -

Wakka sat quietly on the beach of Besaid, staring off into the distance.

"Still out here?"

"'Couldn't sleep. Been a week now…"

"'You sad, daddy?"

Wakka smiled at his son.

"No, Vid'. Just thinkin' 'bout Yuna, ya?"

"'Ya!" The little boy answered enthusiastically, not understanding the situation.

"That's my boy." Wakka muttered, ruffling the boy's brilliant orange hair.

"You're worried about them."

"'Course I am. Just 'cause I didn't come don't mean I don't care."

"We should have gone."

"'Why? We got lives now, ya? I ain't leaving him like Braska left Yuna!" Wakka realized a moment later that he was shouting.

"Daddy, who's 'Braska?'"

Wakka sighed.

"I'll tell ya when you're older."

"But I wanna' know now!"

Wakka laughed gently, before turning to Lulu.

"I'll bring him home later."

"If you're all right…" Lulu answered, walking back toward the village.

- - - - -

Kimahri rose from his bed slowly. His legs were still weary from not walking, and he was hardly in shape to fight, but he could move.

"Where… where Yuna?"

"Elder seeks Yuna again?" A tall blue figure asked. He leaned casually against the wall.

"Must see Yuna. Kimahri is Guardian. Must protect Yuna."

"Other Ronso think Kimahri is bad elder. Think we need new elder."

Kimahri turned, a growl developing in his throat.

"Yuna save Spira. Ronso will save Yuna!"

"Ronso are not Yuna Guardians. Only Kimahri."

Kimahri walked forward slowly.

"Other Ronso say these things? Kimahri thinks you do."

The other Ronso smiled.

"So Elder is not idiot…"

Kimahri slammed a fist into the other Ronso's face. A dull crunch echoed through the air as his nose broke.

"Get out. Sacred Mountain banishes you."

"Kimahri cannot banish. Kimahri is not elder."

Kimahri drew back his fist again. The other Ronso pushed his way out of the room, laughing as he went.

A tear fell down Kimahri's cheek, but it was not for the Ronso.

"Kimahri failed Yuna…"

- - - - -

Rikku sighed as she leaned back in her chair.

"Hey, pops! How's wing three coming?"

"Good enough." Cid answered.

Rikku sighed. "Good enough as in a day behind schedule?"

"You gotta give construction time, girl."

Rikku rolled her eyes.

"How's Yuna?"

Rikku's eyes shot wide. She had forgotten entirely. Somehow, the fact that her cousin and friend was in danger never crossed her mind.

"I need the Fahrenheit."

"What? We're still using it for…"

"Get the Celsius from Brother. I'm going to Besaid."

"Take a boat." Cid answered grumpily.

"This is important." The girl muttered, dashing out of the room.

- - - - -

Wakka felt the wind on his face, and slowly, he opened his eyes. The beach of Besaid was drenched in sunlight. Off in the distance, he could see the sails of the morning voyage from Kilika. He felt his son's head against his chest and he smiled.

"Mom's gonna kill me, ya?" He whispered.

Then he heard the soft whirring of spinning blades, and he turned slowly. A shadow passed over his head.

Looking up, he smiled.

"Ain't seen that in a while…"

His son shook his head quickly, looking up.

"Huh?"

"Rikku's airship." Wakka explained quickly.

Rikku leapt casually off the bow, landing with a soft splash in the ocean. With barely a minute of swimming, she reached Wakka.

"Hey, Vidina."

The little boy hid his face again.

"Come on, brudda."

"I see you haven't changed, Wakka."

Wakka smiled.

"Never will, ya?"

The horns sounded as the ship pulled into port.

"Oh, shut up!" Rikku shouted, before turning back to Wakka.

"Where's Yuna?"

"I dun know."

Rikku made a face that seemed to be sick.

"But… she's okay, right?"

"I hope so…" Wakka's voice trailed off as his gaze fell onto the dock. "No way, brudda… I don't believe 'dis."

"Huh?" Rikku turned slowly to face the ship. "Oh…" She too found herself at a loss for words.

"Daddy… who's 'da big scary guy?"

Wakka didn't answer his son. Instead, he scooped up the boy and charged up to the dock.

"Yuna!"

"Yuna!"

Yuna smiled, embracing Rikku and Wakka.

"Daddy… daddy, who's 'da scary guy? Daddy?"

Wakka looked down at his son.

"'What's this nonsense, ya?"

"Um, Wakka…" Rikku poked Wakka in the shoulder incessantly.

"Oh, come on. You're almost 's bad as…" Wakka's words died in his mouth.

The group stood in silence a moment. Finally, Rikku broke it by charging forward and wrapping her arms around the man's waist.

"Auron!"

"Sir Auron!"

Auron gave Wakka one of his famous 'screw you' grunts for using his title. Then he rammed his enormous sword through the planking of the dock and turned back onto the ship.

"Wait…"

"What's gotten into him?"

"Wakka, do you still have a bed?"

"Ya, why?"

He looked straight into her eyes, and instantly knew the answer.

"Is he okay?" Rikku asked.

"He was nearly crushed."

Tidus was half-carried off the boat by Auron, who held one of his arms slung over his shoulder.

"Where?" He asked.

"Wakka's house."

"Where?" Auron asked again. "I've only been here twice."

Yuna laughed to herself slightly.

- - - - -

That night, the original Guardians sat in a wide circle around the fire of Besaid. They were silent, and little emotion passed between them, apart from Tidus' occasional hateful glances at Wakka and Rikku.

"What happened?" Lulu asked.

"Well…" Yuna cast a glance at Auron and Tidus, but both shook their heads. "When we got to Zanarkand, we fought Seymour."

Eight eyes flinched. Three did not, and one could not have even if it wanted to.

"He escaped after a moment, and we went deeper. When we got to where Yunalesca's dead Fayth was, we found a new Fayth. A live Fayth."

No one noticed Auron's cold sigh, hidden behind his cowl.

"There was a Summoner there. We fought him, and killed him. The Aeon died as well. We went further in and found Lord Zaon. He told us that the unsent were making a new Sin. Then he caused an earthquake. We split up. I went further in and found Yunalesca. She killed Baralai and Gippal."

Lulu and Rikku gasped. Wakka lowered his eyes. Tidus and Auron shared a tight, emotionless face.

"Then she opened a portal to the Farplane and summoned my father. Only, it wasn't really him…"

"Spirit Channeling." Auron muttered.

Every eye riveted on him.

"It's an ancient Yevonite technique taught to Maesters and the strongest Warrior-Monks. It allows the user to summon and control any sent dead of their choosing."

"You can do it?" Tidus asked.

Auron nodded coldly. "But I would rather die than use it. It kills the Pyreflies used in the summoning."

"Aren't there more than enough Pyreflies in the Farplane?"

Auron sighed gently. "Yes, but that's not what is important. When someone dies, their essence… their soul, it is bound to a specific set of Pyreflies. Those Pyreflies will make up their new body for eternity. And if every one of those Pyreflies dies…"

Yuna's eyes widened slightly.

"You mean…"

"Yes. It is possible to kill an Unsent, permanently. For some rare few, there is no life after death." Auron sighed again, rising to his feet. "But this is not the time for that."

"What should we do?" Tidus asked.

Auron smiled to himself, but his face was hidden by his cowl.

"Let's go back to Zanarkand!" Rikku shouted.

"You should have been there the first time." Tidus muttered.

"Why do we always have to save the world?" Rikku asked, angry at Tidus.

He pushed himself up again, turning his back on the group.

"Where are you going?" Yuna asked him. He waved his gauntleted hand in the air, walking off into the darkness of the night.

Yuna sighed gently, laying her head in her hands.

"What to do… what to do… What can I do?"

"Lady Yuna seeks guidance?"

Yuna looked up suddenly. Slowly, Kimahri limped into sight from the darkness around the group.

"Kimahri!" Rikku rushed up, embracing him. He glanced down at her for a moment, before turning his attention to Yuna.

"Lady Yuna, Kimahri is sorry. Kimahri has failed Yuna."

"What? What do you mean, Kimahri?"

"Kimahri is no longer Ronso elder. Ronso have abandoned Kimahri."

"Kimahri…" Yuna was too shocked at this revelation to speak. Too much had happened in the past days, and now she had very little pity left.

"Kimahri understands. Where Tidus?"

"He's right…" Yuna's words died off. "I… I don't know."

- - - - -

"Why don't they understand?" Tidus shouted.

"Because they still think of Spira in terms of themselves. They aren't ready to give life up just yet."

"Auron? Why are you back here anyway?"

"I still have a duty to fulfill. I am still her Guardian."

"She isn't a Summoner anymore."

"That doesn't end my obligation to Braska."

"But…" Tidus' words were cut off by a sharp scream that echoed through the doorway of the long-abandoned Besaid Temple.

"Yuna?"

Auron didn't bother answering. He was out the door, blade in hand, before Tidus even had time to pick up Brotherhood.

"Seymour…" Wakka muttered.

Auron took a split second to analyze the situation. Wakka and Lulu were huddled around a child, completely ignoring Yuna. Kimahri was unconscious on the ground at her feet.

When did he get here?

Rikku stood, back to back with Yuna, holding two tiny knives against a pair of long, curved swords wielded by a man in a yellow robe… a surprisingly familiar yellow robe.

After that moment of analysis, he dashed forward, sliding his blade through Seymour's back. The half-Guado didn't seem to mind.

"Ah… the Legendary Guardian. Yet you lack the scent of the Farplane. How is it that you have come to be this way?"

Auron responded by bringing his blade around in another wide arc. This time, Seymour's right arm fell to the ground.

"Sir Auron!"

Auron looked around.

"You two!" He barked at Wakka and Lulu. "Help Tidus and Yuna." With that, he turned around and with a mighty kick, dove into the air.

- - - - -

Lord Zaon was surprised when his blades met solid steel.

"We meet again." Auron noted.

"You? Do you think you can beat me?"

Auron grunted, swinging his massive blade again to push the two swords away from Rikku.

"Go! I can deal with him."

Rikku nodded, turning toward Seymour.

"Well, now that there are no more distractions… let us see if you really are the greatest swordsman who ever lived."

Auron responded by reaching up to his chest. With as single quick movement, he tore his red robe entirely off. It blew away in the night-time breeze. Another flash of his hand tore off his cowl. The muscular man was left in his black breastplate, his slacks, and his steel toed boots. Casually, he slung his massive weapon over his shoulder.

"Are you insane? You can't beat me! I'm unsent. You're just another person now."

Auron glared down at the man, and for just a moment, it seemed that his dead eye moved as well.

"True power lies in the living. That is why the Unsent will never win."

- - - - -

Yuna unleashed shot after shot into Seymour's battered body, but it didn't seem to faze him. Instead, the Maester opened a single palm at her. For a moment, Pyreflies gather, before she unleashed another volley into the hand. His magic dispersed.

"Well, well, Lady Yuna. It seems that we have reached an impasse. Allow me the honor of ending this."

The Guado's hands wove through the air, before coming to rest on a long, blue spear.

Quickly, he drew it back, aiming perfectly for Yuna's head.

"Not today!" Tidus shouted, diving over Seymour's head. His perfect aim landed him directly atop the spear, and he rode it to the ground at Yuna's feet.

"Thanks." Yuna said, kissing Tidus gently on the cheek before returning to the battle.

"Well, then..." Seymour muttered, lifting a single hand into the air. "…If I must… Men, kill them."

Out of the jungle of Besaid, easily a hundred of the black-clad warriors attacked.

- - - - -

Auron glanced quickly to the side with his single eye.

"Ready to finish this, Auron?" Zaon taunted.

Auron grunted back, spiking his blade into the island soil. Then, casually, he held his right hand out into open air. Pyreflies coalesced around it, taking the form of a sword. A moment later, the steel materialized.

"No… Impossible…" Zaon muttered.

"Masamune. The sword of Lord Mihen." Taking it gently in one hand, he ripped his own blade out of the ground with the other.

From there, the duel lasted for exactly six strikes. Auron lunged out with both blades, and they were blocked by Zaon's pair. With a spin of his wrist, Auron tore one of the swords out of Zaon's grip. He brought his own sword around, spinning it over his head for force, before slamming it into Zaon's remaining blade. A moment later, he broke the guard-lock with Masamune, shattering Zaon's second sword into a million tiny pieces.

Finally, he spun both blades in circle over his shoulders, before ramming Masamune through Zaon's heart, and Auron's own nameless blade between Zaon's eyes.

Pyreflies swarmed over his hands as Zaon's body disintegrated.

"I'll be back for you on the Farplane." Auron muttered, turning toward Seymour.

- - - - -

Tidus and Yuna wore their way through the mass of foes, trying to get to Seymour.

"Oh, my!" Seymour muttered over the din of combat. "Look at this!" At first, Yuna was confused. Then the Maester held up a single hand.

"Daddy!" Vidina screamed.

All at once, the fighting stopped.

"I suggest you surrender, Lady Yuna. You will not be harmed."

Yuna slid her guns back into their holsters.

Then, suddenly, out of the sky, their salvation arrived.

Wakka stood at the far edge of the massive crowd of soldiers. Under his arm was the bladed, red ball he had been awarded for winning the Luca Championship. World Champion, it was called. Now, however, it didn't want victory. It wanted blood.

At first, the Besaid team's captain used the ball as a melee weapon, swinging it back and forth, taking massive chunks out of the men around him. Finally, he felt close enough. Slamming the ball into the ground, he jumped into the air.

The weapon bounced back up after him, as he flipped in the air.

The Supremely Magnificent Jecht Shot Mark III Yuna thought to herself.

Wakka slammed his foot into the ball.

It flew far faster than any bullet, arcing widely. When it hit it's target, there was only a dull thump, like a wad of dough hitting a wall.

Seymour looked down slowly, as the Pyreflies began to rise around him. The ball had gone clear through his chest, leaving a perfect circular hole where his heart shoulder have been.

Wakka landed just in front of Seymour. With his left hand, he snatched his falling son out of the air. With his right, he slammed a fist into Seymour's face as hard as he could.

Bone crunched audibly over the village as the bleeding Maester fell onto his back.

Wakka turned slowly. One by one, Seymour's soldiers turned their weapons toward him.

Behind their backs, another figure lifted an arm. Just a moment later, every single one of the men was caught in a massive fireball. Lulu lowered her arm.

Tidus and Yuna were left dumbfounded. Rikku giggled slightly.

"We showed them."

Wakka stood silently, staring at his son with a mix of relief and anguish. Finally he lifted his head.

"Tidus."

"Yeah?"

"Sorry, bro. I'm wit' ya from now on."

Tidus smiled slightly as a tense hand settled onto his shoulder.

"Good work." Auron whispered.

"Now what?" Yuna asked.

"We kill Yunalesca. After that, its over."