Author's Note: Happy late Holidays everybody! Took some time to myself (when I wasn't working) and began some drafting work on the sequel I teased previously. Any guesses on how many additional intellectual properties I am going to be throwing in because I clearly haven't learned my lesson? Welcome to the final FFX chapter. Starting next chapter, I will be putting this story back into KH x RWBY, as they were so good to me and I feel like it just makes sense for it be the place the story will live from this point on.

~Nox

The Gullwings, reunited after the job with a new sphere in hand, and the Guardians of Light found themselves in the Temple of Besaid. Aqua's wounds were being actively treated by the local priest. From what she had learned, they were the remnant of a former religion called Yevon which had fallen apart in the wake of Yuna's Pilgrimage. A school of thought based in lies and misdoings created a mass exodus away from the faith. This turned into the new sect called New Yevon, who still preached the good things from the old religion but looked for new ways of worship. The temples were historical buildings after all. So even if their history had some shadowy corners, there was still a lot of value to the history stored within them.

Yuna had wanted to bring her new friends and allies to where it all began. The temple had been the place that she turned to when she realized that she was all alone in the world, but that she still wanted to do something for the people. Their history may have been shrouded in lies, but it still gave her the building blocks from which she saved the world. It was also a place that would be easily findable for some other people she wanted to help tell their collective story.

Dante sat with Aqua and held her hand as she winced in pain from the treatment of the deepest gashes in her skin. Soon a new face showed up. Or at least, a face new to all of the Guardians except Sora. He was much taller than Sora remembered, but the orange tidal wave haircut and suntanned skin could not be mistaken.

"What's all this about, eh?" the islander asked with a heavy accent. His tone suddenly changed when he layed eyes on Sora. It was an expression that the Guardians recognized as their eyes all collectively traveled to their leader. "You seem familiar, yeah?"

"Wakka…" Sora choked out. "But, how is this possible?"

Wakka nodded and asked, "Do you play blitzball? Maybe I saw you in Luca?"

Sora shook his head and said, "No, but you used to play blitzball off my head. At our home… on Destiny Islands."

Wakka's eyes went wide as he came to the same realization that the Gullwing Girls had days before. "Sora? I remember now. The secret place. You, Riku, and Kairi. Selphie, Tidus, and me. The storm that made you and Riku disappear."

"Tidus," Yuna said out loud. "He also existed off of Spira?"

"Oh wow," Rikku remarked out loud.

Paine gave a sigh as she said, "You lead a complicated life, Sora."

Followed shortly after his arrival, Wakka found himself standing side by side with a woman in a black dress, with a low cut top and covered with belt buckles. A dark brooding look adorned her features, until she laid eyes on Wakka and her expression softened instantly. Soon after, a large blue beast on two legs walked in, a broken horn adorned his head. He was a giant entity to be sure.

"When you said you wanted us to meet some friends," the woman in the black dress started, "I was expecting maybe two or three new faces. Not an entire pilgrimage's number of new people."

"Sorry, Lulu. You know how modest Yunie can be," Rikku said to her. "She gets in her own head about sharing information and suddenly six friends becomes 'some' with no clues about the actual number."

Yuna looked a little embarrassed and said, "I am not super modest."

"Debatable," Paine commented.

The large blue beast nodded and said, "Kimahri agrees."

The whole lot of them got a little laugh out of it as Yuna tried to explain herself, but to no avail. After an enjoyable moment, Yuna finally said, "So, I guess we should probably explain somethings."

"Or Sora and Ruby might explode with curiosity," Rikku joked.

So the group explained everything. Starting with Yuna and Kimari who told the tale of Sir Auron's dying request to take the young Yuna to Besaid. To her growing up with Lulu and Wakka. Yuna's training with the temple they all stood in at this moment to become a Summoner. Including her jobs of performing sendings and going on the Pilgrimage. Rikku and Wakka filled them in on Tidus suddenly appearing in Spira both out in the middle of nowhere and off the coast of Besaid. Wakka then described the journey to Kilika and the first encounter with Sin.

"What is Sin?" Ruby asked.

Lulu gave a dry chuckle at the question. When looked to for a reason she simply said, "There was once a time I would have chastised Tidus for asking such a question so brazenly. To think that you are all not too different from him in that regard, being from entirely different worlds. Sin was a large fish like monster that had originated over a thousand years ago. What we ended up learning two years ago was that it was crafted and summoned by Yu Yevon, the first Yevonite as far as our modern religion is concerned."

Lulu took over telling the tale as she described the destruction of Kilika, the trip to Luca, and the Al Bhed attempt to kidnap Yuna at the Blitzball Tournament. The journey north where Rikku hopped in to describe her attempt to kidnap Yuna. This ultimately led to Rikku describing the Al Bhed's attempts to keep Summoners safe. Their arrival at Zanarkand Ruins and their eventual battle with Yunalesca in light of the past that had killed Auron. Getting all of Spira to sing the Hymn of the Fayth to lure Sin out into the open. The airborne assault on Sin and the final victory. Yuna took back over at this point, emotion heavy on her voice.

"When we defeated Sin, we had to fight against what was left of Yu Yevon. Defeating him, required me to do the final sending. When I did that Tidus told me that he had to go. He began to disappear. I couldn't even touch him when I ran to him to try and stop him from leaving," Yuna explained. She did not cry, but you could tell that she would have previously. With the tale finished the group began to fragment into small units.

"It's is just so strange, y'know?" Wakka started. "I feel like I have known you my whole life, but I know that part of me has never met you before. Yeah? Just who are you Sora? Because even as I am seein' you now, you're not completely recognizable to the part of me who knew you." The look on Wakka's face was one that could only be described as frustrated but intrigued.

Sora nodded and added, "To be fair, it has been a while since we've seen each other. In any form. It is good to see you here. Can't believe that you're about to be a father." The two of them had a little moment of quiet between them before Sora continued. "Is a part of you on the islands now?"

Wakka closed his eyes and thought long and hard. "You know, I think I am," Wakka said after a moment. "Tidus and Selphie are with me at school right now. Eh, this is so weird. I need to not do that anymore."

Sora laughed and said, "Sorry about that. I can only imagine how strange that has to be."

"So where have you been then?" Wakka asked. "We don't talk about it much, but we still worry about you, yeah? Especially your mother. She still doesn't leave the house much."

Sora felt his heart crack at the knowledge. "I think I'm almost done," he said sadly. "I guess I've been trying to keep myself so positive all the time, that thinking about stuff like that has been impossible. When I can come home and stay for a while, I will tell all of you guys about where I've been."

"Makes sense, I guess. No point in telling a story that isn't over," Wakka said. "So can you still fight?" The question came with an interesting tone as Sora looked over at Wakka. The expression on his face just screamed the word mischievous. "It'd be a shame for me not to do my part in making sure you are ready to finish your job, yeah?"

Sora felt a small grin grow on his face. Wakka had always been attuned with the way people were feeling back on the island. Despite being the same age as them all, he always acted like a sort of older brother figure. Especially to Tidus, but that had never stopped him from extending it the way to Sora and his two closest friends. He must have seen how much this realization was bothering Sora, because Wakka was now wanting to distract him.

"Yeah, you could say that I can still fight. What about you old man? Getting ready to be a father hasn't softened you up at all has it?" Sora challenged back.

"Oh it is on," Wakka said as he produced a Blitzball. The two of them bounced up to their feet and made their way out of the temple.

"Picking up like they never separated," Yuna commented as she saw the two leave. "I have long wondered if it would be the same when I saw Tidus again. If I see him again." She was sitting with Rise and Lulu who were all just watching the various people interact.

"It's just like that with my Yu-senpai whenever he comes to visit us. Despite the fact that he lives so far away, every visit is just a continuation of the last one for him. He and Sora make it look so easy sometimes. I guess you could say that I'm jealous of that," Rise commented.

Lulu really looked over Rise and noticed just how young both she and Ruby seemed to be. Her eyes fell on the bandages wrapped around her hands. But she then asked, "Do you find it hard maintaining relationships with people?"

"Sometimes," Rise admitted. "I work in showbiz. So it's either that I am away, or that I'm just unreachable. But no matter how much our schedules fall out of line, Yu treats it like nothing has changed between us."

"Someone is in love," Lulu commented with a small chuckle. Rise blushed but did not bother denying it. "Does it ever bother him that you keep your hands wrapped up?"

Rise's mood dropped at the mention of her hands. She picked at the bandages and then after a moment unwrapped one. She held it out to Yuna and Lulu who both looked upon it with interest. "He hasn't seen me with them on yet. Or the new burn scars on my hands. Chances are that my showbiz career is over. Keeping me on means having to edit my hands in everything I appear in for my company," she explained to them.

"That's horrible," Yuna said incredulously.

Lulu scoffed as she said, "That doesn't surprise me. People are not known for doing what is best for the individual if it means a potential liability for the collective. Afterall, were we not all ready to sacrifice you, Yuna, for the sake of the rest of Spira? Different stakes, but the same mindset nonetheless." Yuna looked like she wanted to argue, but she could not bring herself to disagree with Lulu's ultimate point.

"Well, it isn't like I didn't make that choice on my own, knowing from the beginning what it would mean for me," Yuna replied.

Rise nodded and added, "It is the same for me. Dante and Sora warned me about the potential danger. I knew that there was a chance I could get hurt if I went with them. But I did it anyway." Yuna and Lulu looked at her curiously. She was rather mature for her age. Lulu was reminded of Yuna around that age when she first began training to become a Summoner.

"So tell me then," Lulu asked. "If you are all from other worlds, then how well do you know the people you travel with?"

Rise thought for a moment and replied, "To be honest, we've all seen each other in times of need and hurting. I think our shared job is probably the thing that has kept us all going some days. Knowing we have something to do and people who're going to be there everyday to make it happen. Getting to know each other just happens naturally over that time."

"Reminds me of him," Lulu said to Yuna.

"Tidus?" Rise asked. "He sounds important to you."

Yuna nodded and replied, "He was very important to me. A constant reminder that I was a person behind all of the ceremony. The title of Summoner had separated me from the people who were important to me. Even if they didn't mean for it to happen." Rise flinched at this description. Her mind landed on Pyrrha and to a certain extent, herself. A too fit description for the invincible girl and the teen idol. An air of isolation had always surrounded Pyrrha that had reminded her of herself when being idol consumed her life, day in and day out. That air only ever cleared when Jaune was near. So then, Tidus was Yuna's 'Jaune Arc.' Rise was glad that Ruby was not near enough to hear this conversation. Sora had mentioned that she had taken Pyrrha's death really hard.

"He sounds incredible," Rise commented with a smile. Yuna blushed deeply but nodded. Lulu covered her mouth to hide a small giggle, her hand then rested on her stomach as she seemed almost a little uncomfortable.

"It kicked," Lulu said with a small smile. Yuna and Rise both moved over to her in a haze happiness.

Ruby and Yang had taken it upon themselves to distract Aqua from the treatment she was getting to try to make her more comfortable. It was like a bad comedy duo routine, as Yang kept trying to make puns and Ruby was trying to tell a funny story from their time at Beacon. However, Aqua was grateful to them and enjoying their antics. Dante had been sent away to keep an eye on Sora since he was the most familiar with some of Sora's pain. Rikku began to lightly heckle the sisters as Paine decided to isolate herself again.

The chaos of the room calmed as Aqua finally stood up, fully bandaged. She looked to the two sisters and gave them an appreciative smile. "Thanks for being there for me," Aqua thanked them.

"Hey, after everything you did for us on Remnant, it was the least we could do," Yang replied. Aqua stepped forward and felt her left leg almost give out from under her. Yang put herself under Aqua's arm and helped her walk towards the entryway of the temple.

Rikku and Ruby followed behind them. "So," Rikku started. "How did you, Rise, and Yang all get dragged into this?"

Ruby looked over at her and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Like Aqua and Sora both have keyblades, and Dante is very obviously a thrill seeker of some kind, but you three are all like adorable girls so you kinda stick out," Rikku commented.

Ruby gave her a look and said, "Didn't you travel with Yuna on her Pilgrimage when you were like 15?"

"Well, yeah," Rikku replied.

"So why did you do that?"

"Because Yunie is my cousin. I wanted to save her from her fate. While I was not entirely successful myself, I had to try to help her, y'know?" Rikku explained.

Ruby nodded and answered, "The three of us feel the same about Sora. We've come with him because there is no other place we would rather be."

"Well when you put it like that, you make it sound super adult," Rikku replied with a small huff. "Then again, maybe you three belong here more than I gave you credit for. But now, I gotta talk some serious business. Someone here might go with you. Right? If it's Yunie, you gotta promise me she will be returned in one piece."

Ruby looked down at her leg and said, "Well to be fair this happened back on my world, so it isn't like we have had too many work related injuries yet. I think Aqua's was the first." Rikku nodded. "Besides, we're all heroes in the making. All the work we are doing here is going towards the greater good, y'know?"

"You're like 15, why do you sound so much older than me right now?"

Aqua and Yang could not help but listen to the conversation happening behind them. Aqua giggled lightly as she said, "Your sister does sound really grown up."

Yang scoffed and said, "She has always been able to do that. Even when we were kids, even though she could be childish, she never once hesitated in knowing what her destiny was going to be."

Aqua nodded. "Yang, how have you been?" she asked.

"Feeling better since I got to smack Adam around. I got so hung up on what could have happened that getting to finally take back a little bit of that power he had over me… it felt good. Like I could do anything. How about you? You still having nightmares?"

Aqua sighed and said, "I am. Most nights. But I wake up next to Dante and it… just grounds me back in reality. Every fiber of my being wants to believe that I'm under the effects of an illusion. That I am still in the Realm of Darkness. But having him there, a new face that my mind has never seen before… it calms me and makes me feel safe."

Yang thought for a moment and her mind settled on her teammates. The people who made her feel the same for some many days during their time at Beacon and the jobs they had taken as students. "I think I get it. Certainly does help that he's a silver fox, though. Would be lying if I said I wasn't the teensy bit jealous. But he's old enough to be my dad, so I can't say I am gonna fight you for him."

Aqua looked over at Yang and then forward to see Dante and Kimahri watching as Sora and Wakka had their on-going sparring match. "You know, I don't really think he's your type anyway," Aqua commented with a small smile.

"Maybe not," Yang replied with a chuckle.

"I'm glad you're here," Aqua said after a moment. "Both of you."

Yang smiled and replied, "If I can borrow a phrase from my baby sister. There is nowhere else we would rather be." The two of them grew quiet as they watched the sparring.

They then heard Dante turn to Kimahri and ask, "You guys have shaving cream around here?"

A week later the Guardians of Light found themselves in a metropolitan area. As they all came to their senses, Sora's face immediately lit up. It was clear that he recognized their new environment. Orange brick accentuated by a sun low in the sky. A single car tram on an ongoing track could be seen coming around the corner with people riding both inside and on top. Ruby immediately looked over to see Yuna in her blue dancing outfit from the day they met her.

"It's Yunie!" Ruby exclaimed. The nickname had become a habit after spending so much time around her and Rikku. She leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Yuna and hung off of her.

Yuna gasped as she caught the young huntress and gave her a hug back. "It does seem that way. Where are we?" Yuna asked.

Sora jumped up excitedly as his gaze fell upon the clock tower. "We're in Twilight Town!" Sora exclaimed as he took off down the street.

"Wait! What's Twilight Town?" Dante asked as Sora disappeared around a corner. "Well this is the happiest I have seen him since… well my world."

"Has he always been that fast?" Yang asked still processing what just happened.

Aqua nodded and replied, "I think so."

Ruby let go of Yuna and walked over to Dante, saying, "To answer your question, Twilight Town is the world that Sora's Nobody called home. It is also the place where some of his friends live."

Dante looked over at her surprised and then commented, "Oh right, your dreams about his life."

Yuna looked over in the direction she had seen him looking and her eyes fell upon the clock tower and three small figures up at the top of it. She stepped forward, pointed, and asked, "Do you think those people up there could be them?"

"Only one way to find out," Dante commented as he walked off in the direction Sora had gone. Ruby happily clung to Yuna's arm as the two of them followed. Yang lingered behind as Aqua began walking, wanting to make sure she was alright. Once satisfied that she was fine, Yang was about to follow when a taller teen in a beanie suddenly approached her.

"Where did you come from, Blondie?" he asked in a gruff tone. Arriving shortly after him was a taller, bulkier boy, a shorter more slender girl, and behind them a short figure with deep shadows over their face with bright eyes shining out from under their comically large hat for their stature.

Yang was taken aback by their sudden approach. Regaining her composure she looks at them and asks, "So, is it a common practice here for people ambush a girl after her friends have left?"

This got a small giggle out of the small one in the back. "I told you, Seifer," was all they said in a young boy's voice.

"Quiet, Vivi," the one she assumed was Seifer commanded. "You better wise up to the rules around here Blondie, or I might have to take 'disciplinary measures.' Got it?"

Yang looked unimpressed as she popped her knuckles. "Y'know? You're not the first one to call me 'Blondie.' I've never minded it until it escaped your face. So, let's make a deal. I beat that nickname out of your head until you call me 'Sir.' Or you correct yourself and use my gosh 'Yang' name. Make your choice or 'Seifer' the consequences."

A larger man with a clipboard approached and suggested, "Rather than get into a street fight, we could make this into a proper Struggle? The summer tournament is tomorrow after all. Seifer you, Rai, Fuu, and Vivi have all signed up already. Save your energy for tomorrow and fight for bragging rights for the next year?"

Yang was super ready to sign up, but she could not even guarantee that she would still be there the following day. She was about to leave when Seifer piped up again, "Really? All that big talk, and you're just gonna leave? Loser."

"She's scared, y'know?" the one called Rai chimed in.

"Embarrassing," Fuu added.

Yang clenched her fist and turned on her heel. The four teens were shocked to see that previously lilac eyes, were now red and the faintest hint of light seemed to radiate from her hair. "I'll do it!" Yang said angrily, snatching the signup board from the round gentleman. However, in her anger she decided that just in case she never got to fight him herself, she put down Sora, Dante, Aqua, Ruby, Rise and Yuna down on the list too. "My friends and I will see you in the crowd when we're on the winner's podium." Yang handed the clipboard back to the man and stormed off in the direction of her friends. After about 30 seconds, she cooled down and then said, "What did I just do?"