Disclaimer: Don't own FFX

Here's a new chapter! Hope you enjoy this one and my take of it! Read & Review!

As Seymour disappeared, everyone collapsed onto the floor, taking deep breaths. Pacce came out to pass out potions for everyone to use and help bandage any wounds. After they finally caught their breath, Kimahri slowly collected the horns and put them in a bag. He swore that when he returned home, he would find each Ronso who had lost his or her horn and bury them with it if they were dead. As they were about to head out, Yuna wasn't moving. Everyone turned around.

"Something wrong, Yunie?" asked Rikku.
"He will become Sin…with my help," muttered Yuna, repeating what Seymour had said.
"Lies. Forget them," said Auron quickly, trying to dismiss the subject on hand.
"If he becomes Sin, Sir Jecht will be saved," continued Yuna, ignoring Auron.
"We're leaving," he said sternly as he turned around to walk away.
"You know something! Tell me!" yelled Yuna. Auron stopped, but completely ignored the question and remained silent.
Yuna instead ran up to her boyfriend Tidus,"Tell me!" she yelled. She stared at Tidus, knowing that he would never lie to her. Tidus hung his head in sadness.

"Yuna.. This is some-," Max tried to intervene, but Tidus rose his hand. Max looked at Tidus, but withdrew.

"Sin's…my old man," said Tidus quietly. Wakka asked him in disbelief if he accidentally hit his head during the battle. Paine and Lulu slapped him on the head for that comment.
"Sin is my old man," said Tidus a bit louder, "My old man became Sin! I don't know how or why he did it. I felt him, inside. And when I did, I knew it was true. My old man is Spira's suffering. Sorry."
Everyone was silent at this. Rikku looked at Max, asking him if it was true with her expression. Max slightly nodded, confirming it. He wasn't sure either, but he trusted Tidus.

"Even…knowing that Sin is your father… Still, you know, I must… that we must," said Yuna slowly, motioning to herself as well as Donna and Isaaru, who were still dazed at the news.
"I know," said Tidus, nodding his head, "Let's get him. I think my old man would want that."
"You would fight your own father?" asked Isaaru.
"Yeah," chuckled Tidus, "No problem there."
"Uh… 'Bout your old man… You sure this ain't some kinda bad toxin dream or something?" asked Wakka, hoping this was just his imagination.

"As far as I know, there is no toxin," said Max, "Even if there was, it's extremely weak and vanishes quickly.

"Then, what about those people who forget who they are or change their personality after coming in contact with Sin?" asked Maroda.

"That's most likely the case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's when something so stressful happens that the body and brain has to force itself to forget or to adapt to the situation to remain sane. And since Sin usually kills a lot of people, those surviving would definitely be traumatizing, seeing their loved ones dead," explained Max.

Everyone older than Pacce took a thinking pose about it. Barthello nearly had his brain fried trying to figure that out, though.
"Then, Chappu… ," stuttered Wakka, "I, uh… I think I'll just pretend I didn't hear nothing. I'm getting a little confused, ya? Why… Why'd all this have to happen?"
"We'll learn when we arrive. Soon," replied Auron in a mysterious way before walking forward again. Everyone decided it was time to proceed.

As they walked forward in awkward silence, Yuna held onto Tidus's hand. She conveyed her feelings to him just by a touch, asking if he was really alright. Tidus gently tightened his fist, telling her he was fine. Rikku was holding hands with Max, and Barthello was carrying Donna, who proclaimed that she was tired of walking for a bit. Suddenly, they encountered an amazing scene. The first thing they noticed was bodies that seemed to be embedded into the stone walls, glowing faintly light blue and flowing down from the wall into a lake. Then, they noticed a column of water rising into the heavens.

"Whoaaa," said Pacce.

"Wh-What are those?" asked Wakka.
Isaaru kneeled down to one of the bodies, examining it. Yuna quickly figured it out, though. "Those are fayth. A summoning! Someone is using these fayth! Someone is drawing energy from all of them!" shouted Yuna.
"Impossible," said Donna. "Who could wield such power on this scale?"

"You know it's true, Lady Donna," replied Isaaru. "But the true question is what could they be calling."
Rikku looked to Auron, noticing his lack of surprise, and interrogated him. "Hey, you know something, don't you? Spill the beans!"
"Look not to others for knowledge. This is your journey, too," replied Auron stiffly as he continued to walk forwad.
"Hey!" shouted Rikku, "Don't hide important information. This could help us, otherwise, Yunie might die, you know? And not only her, but any of the summoners!"
"No… Auron's right," said Tidus. Rikku looked at him in confusion.
"This is our… This is my stor... No. This is my story and Max's," said Tidus he approached the wall to study it closer. As he curiously touched it, he felt his conscious suddenly being pulled in. He heard them calling his name as he was falling down, slowly losing conscious and control of his body. Yuna was already running towards him. Barthello accidentally nudged Max into the wall, who also felt his conscious being pulled in. As he fell, he could hear Donna scolding Barthello while Rikku was running over to Max.

Feeling a cold wooden floor, Tidus slowly opened his eyes to a familiar sight he thought he would never see. It was Zanarkand! He was back home! Was Spira merely a dream, though. He felt around his body and noticed his sword was gone. As he looked around, he noticed a lack of people. Zanarkand never slept. It should've been filled with people right now, and yet, it seemed like it was a ghost town. He looked around and yelled loudly, hoping someone would respond. After 10 seconds of no reply, Tidus was beginning to feel scared. He looked towards Max's home and saw a figure running towards him. It was Max!

"Oh thank heavens I'm not alone," said Tidus as he waived to Max.

"Somethings wrong here," said Max.

"I know. It's a ghost town here. That shouldn't be possible. Also, none of my weapons are here, and I see your pouches and guns aren't either." said Tidus.

Max nodded before adding, "I woke up on the floor right in front of my house. I tried to access my lab. It wouldn't open for some reason. It's been sealed shut by unknown forces, and I can't even try to override it with my computer because that's not working either."
Tidus frowned at that and tried to open his house. Surprisingly, it opened. Tidus looked at Max, tilting his head, as if motioning Max to come in with him. Max nodded and walked in with him. They looked around to see Tidus's room was exactly the way they remembered before Sin came. As they walked around, the kid wearing purple suddenly appeared in front of them, sitting down in a corner.
"Welcome home," said the child in a creepy way.
"You…" said Tidus, surprised. Max narrowed his eyes.
"Remember me? We met in Bevelle," said the child. "Though I didn't see him there," as he pointed to Max. Tidus merely shook his head in confirmation.
"But that wasn't the first time we met," said the child, "I've known about you two for a long time. A long, long time."

"You a stalker?" asked Max, even though he felt like he should know this kid.
"I…I feel like I know you, too." replied Tidus. He looked around before asking, "Where are we?"
The child chuckled at this before answering Tidus's question, "Silly, don't recognize your own home?" He vanished into thin air again before they could ask him to clarify that. As Max and Tidus looked at each other, trying to figure this out, images of Wakka and Paine suddenly appeared, telling them to wake up.
"Wait…this is a dream," said Tidus as a lightbulb clicked inside his head.
The child ran back into the room from the front door. "Precisely," he answered.

"One extremely weird and vivid dream we're sharing," said Max with a hint of sarcasm.
" A dream? Are you crazy!?" shouted Tidus, "I don't have time to be dreaming now! We don't have time!"
The child shook his head, correcting Tidus, "You're wrong. It's not that you're dreaming. You are a dream."

"Wait, what?" asked Max. The child just ran outside again. This time, Tidus and Max quickly pursued after him. They found him outside on the upper deck, looking out to the city.

After a few moments of silence, the child talked first. "Long ago, there was a war."
"Yeah, with machina, right?" said Tidus, remembering Wakka and Lulu, along with old man Maechen lecturing about ancient history.
"Huh. Don't remember reading about war in our library," commented Max.

"That's because we didn't allow it, and it happened before this time," said the child before explaining it further, "A war between Zanarkand and Bevelle. Bevelle's machina assured their victory from the start. Spira had never seen such power. The summoners of Zanarkand didn't stand a chance. Zanarkand was doomed to oblivion. That's why we tried to save it–if only in a memory."
"What did you do?" asked Tidus warily. He knew he wouldn't like the answer, and he found it he didn't.
"The remaining summoners and the townspeople that survived the war… They all became fayth– fayth for the summoning," said the child.
"A summoning… You mean for Sin?" asked Max.
"No. I mean this place," said the child, gesturing to all around the, "A Zanarkand that never sleeps."
"What?!" shouted Max and Tidus.
"The dreams of the fayth summoned the memories of the city. They summoned all the buildings, all the people who lived there," explained the child.
"The people… What, they're all dreams? Us, too?" asked Tidus as he pointed to himself and Max.
"Yes, you're both dreams of the fayth. You, your father, your mother, everyone. All dreams. And if the fayth stop dreaming…" the child left it off there before gesturing back to Zanarkand. It suddenly disappeared, leaving only themselves on the boat, along with the pier and a few other boats. The once beautiful Zanarkand was now a desolate area.
"No!" screeched Tidus in horror.

"Son of a B-!" shouted Max.

Both of them collapsed onto their knees as the truth was laid bare to them. They weren't real. They were imaginations. Some dream off of people.
"So what if we're dreams!" Tidus snapped out, "I…I like being here." The child suddenly teleported behind them, forcing them to turn around.
"We've been dreaming so long…we're tired," the child replied, confusing Max and Tidus for a bit. "Would you two and your father… Would you let us rest? Both you two and your father have been touched by Sin. Sin, the one around whom all Spira–the spiral–revolves."
Max frowned and asked, "Aren't we just dreams?"
The child chuckled before teleporting again, this time onto the pier. "You two are more than just dreams now."
A fleeting image of Yuna and Rikku appeared now, begging them to wake up.
The child looked out into the distance, before leaving one final message, "Just a little more, and maybe… Maybe you two are the dreams that will end our dreaming at last."

"Wait! Bu-" shouted Tidus before the dream collapsed.

Max and Tidus woke up to find their heads on the laps of their respective girlfriend. Everybody else was clustered around them, worried. Even Auron seem to have concern written on his face.
"Are you all right?" asked Yuna. Rikku was stroking Max's hair. They both got up and stretched, telling everyone that they were fine, that narcolepsy had suddenly struck them at an unfortunate time. They tried to pass it off as not getting enough rest from the battle earlier, and left it there. Everyone felt something was missing, but decided not to pursue it.

As they were walking, Tidus was next to Max this time and whispered, "Think that was real? That we're just..." he left it at that.

Max shrugged his shoulders, "Don't know. I hope it's not, but if it is... how do we even explain that?"

Tidus could only shake his head as he had no idea how to tell his girlfriend that their relationship wouldn't last long due to supernatural circumstances. Not something he wanted to tell her so soon.

They all entered a cave, solving puzzles and finding ways to go through flooded areas. Maroda joined Tidus, Wakka, Rikku, Paine, and Max in swimming to find ways to navigate through the flooded areas, opening pathways. When Lulu asked Max how he was going to fight, he merely flicked a switch on his gun and showed them that his guns also had ultrasonic capabilities and use sonic waves to fight in water. It wasn't as effective as blasters or real ammo, but it still held quite a punch. Rikku was fangirling over it for a bit until Max flicked her forehead, telling her that they needed to continue on.

As they navigated through the cave, they saw a light at the end of the tunnel and could feel fresh air coming in. As they approached the exit, Auron stopped them all.

"They'll be upon us soon. She has sent fiends to test our summoner's strength," he told them all.
"Who is 'she'?" asked Yuna.
"Yunalesca," Auron replied curtly
"Lady Yunalesca? She is still alive?" asked Isaaru curiously.
"As much as Mika and Seymour. She awaits for the strongest. However, with this big of a group and three summoners, it will be interesting to see who she sends,"
"Hmph. We'll show her what it means to mess with me and Barthello. You guys of course too," bragged Donna.

Everyone chuckled at this. Some things never changed. However, each face was filled with confidence that they would pass this with no problems.

"Let's go," said Paine, taking to the frontline. Everyone nodded and walked out of the cave.

They finally walked out of the cave and took a deep breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, they didn't get to enjoy it, as suddenly, 2 huge fiends blocked their way.

"It comes!" shouted Auron, already getting ready. "She has sent two Sanctuary Keepers at us this time. Must be because of the size of our party."

Everyone got into their usual positions. However, this time it was harder as there was less room to maneuver around two of them, and they had to be careful not to be sandwiched between them.

"Let's finish this quickly," said Auron as he channeled his Overdrive energy into his sword. Taking a swig of his sake bottle, he spat the liquid onto his sword. He lifted it up high into the sky, where it glowed ominously.

"Banishing Blade!" roared Auron as he swung it down into the ground, and orbs of darkness spawned forth from the pits of his sword, all landing on a Sanctuary Keeper.

"My turn!" shouted Wakka as he channeled his Overdrive energy. He jumped up into the sky, both hands on the ball while reeling it back over his head so much that his back arched. He threw the ball down with all his might right into the other Sanctuary Keeper.

Both Keepers had their stats lowered thanks to Auron and Wakka, allowing this fight to be a little more manageable. Even when both Keepers used its deadly Mana Beam, Max was able to put up his barrier shield to block it. After what seemed like hours of fighting, the Keepers both died. Auron, however, pushed them to keep going even right after the battle, not even allowing a moment's break.

"Hey! Can't we rest a little?" shouted Rikku.
"No need," replied Auron curtly, walking forward, "We reach the summit soon."
"I know," said Rikku, "that's why I want to stop for a bit. Soon means that… there's not much time left."

Max walked up to Rikku and put his hand on her head, rubbing it affectionately before stating, "Don't worry. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. I know we'll find the answers that we're all looking for."

Rikku pouted but continued walking, running next to Yuna. If they couldn't find a way, she wanted to spend some time with her cousin before anything else.

As they continued to walk up the hill, Max and Tidus were last. Both were quietly discussing ideas about Sin and plan on how to reveal to their respective girlfriends that they weren't exactly real. Wakka and Paine called them out, telling them to hurry up. Auron chuckled before telling them his own story, of how he once walked here, and his resolve wavering before his eyes. Before he left them, he gave out one last statement that silenced them into shock.

"I wanted to change the world, too. But I changed nothing. That is my story."

They all walked the narrow path, they finally saw Zanarkand. The ancient city of machina, with cities towering into the skies. However, it was silent with desolation. The usual sound of people that reverberated through the city was empty. Only sand and wind passed through the city of Zanarkand. Max and Tidus knew that they would most likely see this scene, but in their hearts, they had hoped to see their Zanarakand, full of life. What was reality was a city dead for a thousand years. The end journey of Yuna's and all summoner's pilgrimage. Both of them couldn't put their thoughts into words, as it kept slipping away from them as they continued to look into the distance.

Rikku started to panic at the thought of nearing Zanarkand.
"Yuna, I say no!" cried out Rikku, "If we go down there, then you'll… you'll all..."
Yuna just calmly walked up to Rikku and replied, "You're a true friend, and I thank you, but… I must go…down, to Zanarkand. We all made our decision the moment we chose this path."
"I'm not saying we shouldn't go," replied Rikku quickly, looking at mostly Yuna, "But shouldn't we think about it some more? There's gotta be some kind of way we can save you, Yuna! There's gotta be another way to defeat Sin without sacrificing anymore summoners!"

Yuna hugged Rikku, showing her appreciation for worrying. Isaaru patted Rikku on the shoulder, showing thanks, while Donna merely gave a sad glance at her for once. A sphere slipped out of Yuna's sleeve, but she didn't notice it at all. Nor did anybody else except for Max, who discreetly picked it up while nobody was watching.
"Thank you, Rikku. Thank you for everything," said Yuna, as if she was accepting what was going to lie ahead.

"Not yet, Yuna," stated Tidus strongly. "There has to be another way. I know it exists. We just don't have enough information. All our answers will lie at the end."

"How can you be so confident?" asked Maroda, "I've already accepted that my brother will die even if I don't want to."

"Probably because we're stubborn," replied Max, "Part of being a blitzball player. Even if we're losing, we won't give up until the very end."
"Kimahri, let's go," said Yuna, slowly walking away. She couldn't bring herself to face Tidus right now, otherwise her doubts would come up again. She envied the fact that Rikku and Max would still have a life together after, while her and Tidus might not.

While everyone walked away, Max held Tidus back and held out the memory sphere for Tidus.

"Yuna dropped this and didn't notice. I think it might be a message or last will. Wanna see what's inside?" asked Max.

Tidus felt bad for invading Yuna's privacy, but his curiosity got the better of him and played it out for both of them to see. They heard the sound of the sea and saw a sunset.

"This was taken back at Mi'hen Highroad, near Rin's place. I recognize that sunset," said Tidus.

From the sphere, they heard Yuna giving her what would be her last words to everyone in her party during that time period. After hearing Auron, Kimahri, Lulu, and Wakka's, their names popped up.

Recording:

"I guess that leaves…the newest guardians. Max, you were always funny and the best strategist I know. I know you definitely had a hand with the blitzball game. You made sure that the Besaid Aurochs would win, along with Tidus. You brought in light and humor at just the right time. Even though I don't know you too well, I'm sure we would have, no we will become very good friends."

"As for our last guardian. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes! You are… I am… Well, um… I'm glad…I'm glad that we met. We haven't even known each other that long, but… It's funny. So… So this is what it feels like. It's a much more wonderful feeling than anything I had ever imagined. I've never felt this way with anyone before. Even when you and Max were together, I was strangely always attracted to you. Wonderful…but it hurts, sometimes. I wonder. I…I just want to say, thank you for everything. Maybe…maybe that's why it hurts. When I… When I think about us never being together again at all… I'm afraid. No, I shouldn't say that. I'll do that part over. Um…"

Suddenly, Tidus's voice rang out, "Whatcha up to?"

At this, Yuna's face looked like she was panicking before shutting down the sphere.

Recording End

"So that's what she was up to," murmured Tidus.

"You know there's only one thing to do, right?" asked Max.

Tidus grinned back, "To make sure this won't be her last chapter.

Back in Dream Zanarkand

Bahamut, the child, was sitting at the edge of the boat, staring into the distance. He felt a little guilty using Tidus and Max like this. He saw that Tidus had formed a relationship with Yuna and Max with Rikku, and didn't want to separate them just to fulfill their wishes. However, there was no choice if they wanted to stop dreaming and finally defeat Sin forever. As he hummed the Hymn of the Fayth, he felt others approaching him.

"Is there no other way?" asked a woman in her thirties who was the fayth of Anima. She was the most recent of them, and had not suffered dreaming as long as they had.

"You are naive, Anima," growled a purple-dressed Crusader who was the fayth of Ifrit. "You have not suffered as long as we have, especially Bahamut himself."

"Don't be harsh on her. She does raise a good point, even if it is naive," said a man wearing sea-faring clothes, who was the fayth of Ixion.

Yojimbo merely stood silent, watching the sea with his faithful companion.

"But still, must we separate the lovers? Is there no way to have them still exist when we are gone?" persisted Anima.

Everyone merely looked awkwardly at each other. The fayth of the Magus Sisters, three teenage sisters, just shrugged.

Suddenly, two souls came into view that made them all take caution. It was Shuyin and Lenne.

"How did you get here?" asked Bahamut curiously.

"We are original souls that existed in Zanarkand who's souls managed to escape before that certain summoning. Granted, where we died might have affected that too. Never the less, this dreamworld Zanarkand is still accessibly because of how familiar it is to us, although I'm not entirely sure I understand how it works," replied Shuyin while he scratched the back of his head. He was a man of science, after all. Summons were more of his lover's field.

"We heard about Tidus and Max. I refuse to have our reincarnations and their friends suffer the same horrible heartbreak that I suffered with Shuyin!" cried out Lenne, stomping her foot on the ground.

"Perhaps... there is a way," said a young woman wearing blue clothes, the fayth of Valefor. She had been very impressed by Tidus's speech when she had been summoned at Bikanel Island. "But, it's risky, and there is a chance that those two will never return if it goes wrong or right, depending on her mood."

"You're talking about-!" shouted Ifrit, "That's crazy!"

"It might work if they win, but that lady has a tendency to keep a strong grip on ones that are strong," warned Ixion.

"I know. But if those two's wills and hearts are strong enough, then maybe, then maybe they can keep the blessings they get and stay in Spira without needing us," said Valefor.

"Even if we do approve of this, they will still need to go away for an undetermined amount of time. It could take decades," said Bahamut.

"What are you talking about?" asked Shuyin.

"This will take a bit of explaining," said Bahamut. "You see, there is a world where light and darkness fight. Chosen warriors from different worlds come together to fight for a certain goddess, whose name is C..."

Care to guess what I'm talking about? A cookie for those who get it! I won't write about them specifically in that world, but it does play a slight role of what I'm planning. Hope you've enjoyed this chapter, hope you have a good Christmas!

Also, a side note. I'm posting two more stories! They are just one shots, but if they get good review or enough people wanting me to expand on the story, I will do it. This story, of course, will be first priority, though. Both of them are RWBY mostly based off a certain blonde male. I might do a poll to see which story is more popular.