Chapter 11 - Repentance/Betrayal
Dawn broke across the moonflow with an eerie silence. No one slept, save for Yuna who couldn't find the strength to carry on for the duration of the evening. After the sending, performed in silence as her remaining guardians watched on, the summoner laid down to rest.
The others were less than ready to sleep. They knew they had failed, and because of it, one of their own had to die. Rikku was given a proper Yevon burial, although an Al Bhed. Her body was washed and cleaned in the rivers of the moonflow, a sign of the impurities of life and its sins being washed away before the body was laid to rest. Lulu had dressed her in the flowers of the moonflow, the pink star lilies before she was laid quietly in her final grave by Kimarhi, Wakka, Tidus, and Felix. Then, Yuna, with a tear in her eye, sent Rikku's soul to the Farplane, to join the others who had died and were resting.
When dawn broke, Wakka was sitting by the bank next to the grave, a simple mound of dirt with a carved stone at the head which read 'Rikku, an Al Bhed slain by evil, but pure at heart, in life and in death'. He leaned forward, his arms wrapped around his knees as he watched the orange sun come up overhead.
"Hey, I always like the sunrises," he spoke aloud, "Reminds me of when I was little. I couldn't wait until the sun came up so me and Chappu could go and play blitz in the ocean. Ha ha, you probably talking with Chappu right now, ya?" He sighed, the sun now in full view, "Who am I kidding, you probably wouldn't even like Chappu, he's not your type."
"Wakka?" he heard Tidus calling. He turned to see the young guardian approaching, "You okay?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"It's hard, I know," Tidus squatted down on the other side of the grave, "Rikku's always been a great friend. I miss her a lot."
"Me too," Wakka nodded a little.
"Tidus!" they both turned to see Felix standing near the campsite with the others, "Let's go."
"One second!" Tidus yelled back, "You gonna be okay?"
"I'll be fine," Wakka assured him.
"Okay."
Tidus hopped to his feet and jogged back over to where the others were.
"We're going to Luca," Lulu announced, "We must speak with Consul Hyne before Milevan takes action against New Yevon."
"What about Wakka?" Tidus looked over his shoulder to where his friend remained motionless.
"Give him time," Yuna took Tidus's hand, "Wakka's wounded badly inside and needs time to recover."
"Oh," Tidus nodded, "I see."
"You're not going to tell him?" Felix asked.
"Tell me what?"
Yuna sighed heavily, as if the news troubled her, "We're returning to Zanarkand, Felix and I, to try and see if we can revive the fayth there. We may need it to defeat Milevan's Aeon."
"What?" Tidus was shocked, "What about you dieing when you summon it?"
"It won't kill her," Lulu interjected, "Yu-Yevon is the one who killed the summoners when he stole their final Aeon to make the new Sin. Without his doing that, Yuna will be fine. This is, all theory of course."
"Yuna, isn't there some other way?"
"I'm afraid not," Yuna shook her head, "Not this time. Milevan's Aeon, the one from the city, it's so frighteningly powerful. I could feel its power down there, and now that he has it, there's no telling what kind of havoc he will wreck. I must do this, to avenge Rikku."
"Oh," Tidus felt his heart leave his body, "I see. Then I'm going! I won't let Yuna die if I can help it! Lulu, you, Kimarhi, and Wakka go to Luca. We'll get the Aeon and crush Milevan's puny one."
"Your courage is admirable," Felix laughed, "But your enthusiasm serves you nothing. Do not underestimate your opponents."
"Hah!" Tidus laughed, giving him a fist pump, "You sound like that old geezer, Auron, giving me crazy advice."
"Did you ever listen to any of it?" Felix smiled slyly as he walked away.
* * *
The two groups separated, as planned, with the guardians heading to Bevelle while Yuna, Tidus, and Felix heading to Zanarkand once more. They traveled using the Al Bhed airship, with Zanarkand as the first stop.
"There's not much time," Felix pulled his cloak over his person as the wind from the airship leaving kicked up the dust around them.
"I agree," Yuna turned to face the dome.
"Yuna, you don't have to do this," Tidus took her hands in his, "Please, I don't want you to die."
Yuna looked at her hands, clasped with tender care by her loving friend, then to the concern in his eyes. She could feel her heart beat in her chest as he held her, his love and affection flowing through his fingers into hers.
"I must do this," Yuna spoke softly, "Only with the Aeons can we win. Tidus, I'm sorry if it hurts you."
Tidus released her hands from his grip, walking a short distance away before kicking a rock and dropping down into a crouch to think. Yuna turned to Felix who made no indication of his thoughts. Yuna inhaled deeply, the heat from the afternoon sun making her skin warm.
"Yuna, I want to be your fayth," Tidus spoke, turning his head to her.
"Oh," Yuna gasped, knowing the consequences for making that decision, "But..."
"No buts," Tidus shook his head, climbing to his feet, "I want to be your fayth."
"You'll die, you know that?" Felix offered.
"I don't care, as long as Yuna is safe."
"Tidus, no!" Yuna flung herself into his arms, crying into his shoulders, "I don't want you to leave me again."
"It's okay," Tidus whispered, stroking her hair with his gloved hand, "I love you, Yuna, and I'll do anything to protect you."
"No..." Yuna's voice trailed off, her heart sinking inside her chest.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Felix crossed his arms as the two parted, Yuna still gripping Tidus's gloved hand, "We can't bring you back from this one."
"I know," Tidus replied, his voice dried.
"Yuna, if you may?" Felix pushed the door open, leading them inside.
* * *
"I'm sorry, but Consul Hyne is in a meeting and cannot be..." the receptionist tried to choke out his usual statement, but found it hard with a snarling Ronso brandishing a large weapon breathing heavily in his face.
"We must speak with Consul Hyne immediately," Lulu repeated her opening statement, "Spira's future is at stake."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but the Consul will not see anyone right now," the man swallowed hard, the Ronso warrior growing more discontent with each passing second.
"It's quite all right," a shrewd voice announced behind them, "I have time to speak with the High Summoner's guardians."
The Consul was a stout man, dressed in a black robe. His boots clicked against the floor as he came out of the meeting room followed by other advisors. His black robe was accompanied by his jet black hair, which showed signs of receding on the sides. His beady gray eyes focused on Lulu as he walked, his hands clasped together behind his back.
"I must apologize, for the business of New Yevon is extensive and troublesome," Hyne bowed, "What brings you here without the summoner Yuna?"
"Yuna is attending to other matters," Lulu shook hands with the Consul, "But sends her best wishes. We come to speak of a situation with the Al Bhed that could create trouble for New Yevon."
"The Al Bhed?" Hyne's eyebrow perked up, "If my memory serves me correctly, the Al Bhed were instrumental in bringing about the downfall of Yevon and the maesters; an insurrection that you three participated in I do believe."
"That is beside the point," Lulu countered, fearing Hyne would not be open to their news, "The Al Bhed are planning to attack and either Luca or Bevelle is the target."
"Please," Hyne laughed, "Since I've become Consul, the crusaders guarding New Yevon has nearly doubled the numbers prior to the Mushroom Rock disaster. I seriously doubt anything the Al Bhed have can penetrate our superior forces."
"You don't understand!" Wakka pleaded, "They have an Aeon!"
"Wakka!" Lulu cursed.
"An Aeon, hmm?" Hyne saw his opportunity, "And how, would the heathen Al Bhed come into possession of an Aeon? I was led to believe all the Aeons were killed and the fayths destroyed when Lady Yuna defeated Sin?"
"Yeah, but..." Wakka felt his heart sink as he tried to find the right words to speak.
"Then, one must conclude that Lady Yuna helped the Al Bhed obtain this Aeon that you speak of," Hyne motioned to someone behind the guardians and they turned to see a group of warrior monks enter the room brandishing their machina weapons, "These guardians are accused of aiding and abetting the Al Bhed with their plans to destroy New Yevon. They are to be placed under arrest and the summoner brought before trial."
"What?" Wakka protested, "You can't do this!"
"Oh, and who's going to stop me?"
The guards approached, their weapons extended. Kimarhi roared, raring his head back and preparing to strike one of the guards down. The guard flinched, firing a shot at the Ronso. As the weapon rang out, Kimarhi's lightning reflexes allowed him to dodge the bullet. It pinged loudly against the wall, ricocheting off and nicking Hyne in the cheek.
"Damn it!" the Consul spun away from the glancing blow, dropping to a knee, "Arrest them!"
The guards readied their weapons to fire as the three guardians raised their hands in surrender. Hyne stood up, the blood running down his cheek from the grazing. Two officials were helping him to his feet, one placing a cloth where the bullet hit him and the other straightening his robes.
"I want Yuna found and brought to me," he ordered to the captain of the monks, "Dead or alive, it matters little."
* * *
The steps crackled under Felix's boots as they descended into the lowest caverns of the Zanarkand Dome.
"I don't remember coming down this low," Tidus walked cautiously next to Yuna, one hand on her wrist and the other at the hilt of his sword.
Yuna felt the same way indeed. The battle with the Spectral Keeper Yunalesca sent to stop them was a lengthy one as they descended the mythical elevator towards the chamber of the fayth, but the descent did not seem to take them as deep as they had gone.
"What are we looking for anyway?" Tidus asked, growing impatient with Felix's silence.
"I heard a story when I was a child, about the dome here in Zanarkand," Felix turned, stopping to take a piece of wood from the dusty wall and light the end to create a torch, "That the burial site for Lady Yunalesca is located under the dome, that's what we're looking for."
"But the tomb of lady Yunalesca is a legend," Yuna replied, "Does it really exist?
"That's what we're going to find out," Felix walked up to a sealed door ahead of them. He brushed the cobwebs aside and started brushing the dust away from an engraving in stone, "Yuna, here, it's written in the ancient languages. Can you read it?"
"I may," Yuna walked up to the platform, her eyes squinting in the light from the flame as she blew the dust aside, "It's very old, but it says 'Those that shall pass through this door, a great curse upon the soul, for the wrath or a thousand years lies within'. What does that mean?"
"It means we've found the tomb," Felix gripped the seal covering the door and pulled hard on it.
The seal broke off, dropping to the floor as the door began to open. Behind the door, they could see a bright light shining as the two stone doors retracted to give way to an enormous cavern. In the distance, they could see two large waterfalls rushing into the chamber from the ocean outside. Directly ahead was a platform that extended out across the darkened abyss below them. Pyreflies danced throughout the cavern as the trio walked out onto the platform.
"Whoa," Tidus awed at the size of the chamber.
"This must be the burial chamber for Yunalesca," Yuna clutched Tidus's hand as they walked a short distance across the stone platform.
"Stay on your guard," Felix drew his sword, "We are not alone in here."
"What?" Tidus drew his sword and squeezed Yuna's hand tighter, "What do you mean?"
"The story I told you about," Felix stopped as the entered the circular platform at the middle of the outcropping, "Also spoke of a beast that defended the chamber. And that scripture back there makes me nervous."
"Who told you this story?" Yuna stepped forward into a beam of light coming from the ceiling, "It reminds me of a story my mother told me once when I was young. Who are you Felix, really?"
"Yuna," Felix stuttered, trying to reply, "I...damn it! Okay, I'll tell you everything Yuna, before the end comes. I'm..."
His words were interrupted by a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down to see a large spike protruding from his chest. Felix screamed as his body was ripped into the air. From the side of the platform, a second tentacle like the one stabbing Felix appeared. It was followed by the head of a hideous demon. It reminded Yuna of the Spectral Keeper, but was easily twice as large.
"Felix!" she shouted as his body was thrown across the platform.
"Yuna, come on!" Tidus grabbed her arm and started running, "There's no time!"
They took off for the gate as the monster crawled out of the black abyss below them. The two tentacles protruded from its back, swaying back and forth in the air as it let out a monstrous howl. The monster had no arms, and was as a snake would be, crawling out of the depths of the abyss below them.
"It's Leviathan!" Yuna screamed as they reached the edge of the platform, "Yunalesca's final Aeon!"
"How can it still be alive?" Tidus asked, reaching for the door. He pulled his hand back suddenly, a massive current of water rushing up from the ground to block their exit, "Damn!"
Tidus spun around, gripping the sword in both hands. Yuna held her staff tightly in her hands as the mighty Aeon bobbed its head back and forth in front of them.
"Yuna," Tidus whispered, "I'm going to attack it, and you run. Run as far away as you can from here, okay?"
"No," Yuna shook her head, "I won't leave you to die."
"Yuna, it's better for me to die and you escape than for us to die together. Now don't argue with me and run!"
With that word, Tidus ran forward, sword ready to slash the mighty Aeon. He jumped onto a pile of rocks and leaped into the air. Tidus brought the blade of the sword down across Leviathan's right eye, slashing badly and making blood spray around the chamber as the monster flinched violently. Tidus landed on his feet, turning to see that Yuna had no moved.
"Yuna, run!" Tidus yelled before one of the tentacles from the monster smashed into his side, sending the sword flying over the edge and Tidus barely grabbing the ledge with his left hand.
"Tidus!" Yuna shouted, taking a step towards the battle.
"No!" Yuna turned to see Felix crawling along the platform, a trail of blood behind him, "You have to kill it Yuna, use magic to destroy the Aeon."
"But I only know white magic," Yuna ran to him, seeing the massive wound and turning her head away, "How can I attack it?"
"Trust in yourself, Yuna," Felix coughed, the pain making it hard to speak, "Or Spira is doomed. You have to trust in yourself!"
Yuna stood, walking towards the mighty Aeon. Tidus was struggling to hold his grip, the bloodied monster staring at him in almost a mocking manner. It raised its two tentacles over its head, preparing to bring them down for a final blow.
"Stop!" Yuna shouted at the top of her lungs.
Leviathan turned its monstrous head to face Yuna, its great body still hidden in the darkness below them. Yuna clutched her staff, holding it against her for support. The staff was given to Yuna when she first decided to become a summoner by Lulu. Lulu had told her it was a great staff she had discovered during one of her previous pilgrimages. Though Yuna had used an assortment of weapons during her pilgrimage, she still kept the one Lulu had given her. She knew one day she would need it.
"Trust in myself," Yuna whispered. She positioned the stick in front of her chest in a horizontal fashion. Relaxing her mind, she tried to come into synch with the forces of nature that were evident across Spira. To Yuna, it seemed almost mythical. She felt her mind leave her body and fly through the ceiling. It passed through all the levels of the planet until her mind was floating in the air above the ruined city of Zanarkand. A storm was brewing, one large enough to suit Yuna's needs. Her mind then rapidly descended back into her body as she was ready to attack. Leviathan reared its mighty head back, ready to tear the summoner from where she stood with its mighty jaws. Yuna simply opened her eyes and spoke, "Thundaga!"
A moment passed before the chamber began to rumble. Leviathan paused its attack, looking back and forth at the two side walls. It then turned its mighty head upwards as parts of the ceiling collapsed around it. Tidus was bringing himself up back onto the platform when he saw a bright light above them. Leviathan roared as a massive wave of energy shattered the ceiling. The immense light was followed by an awesome surge of electrical energy as the entire power of the storm flooded down from the sky, blasting Leviathan. Yuna threw her hands over her face as the bright light engulfed the mighty Aeon. When it succeeded, Leviathan twitched and gyrated before collapsing back into the darkness below the cavern.
Yuna felt her legs grow weak, followed by her falling to her knees. Tidus rushed to her, hugging her close to him and crying into her shoulder.
"Yuna, are you okay?" he whispered, rubbing her hair.
"Yes," Yuna mumbled.
"Yuna..." Felix's hoarse voice was heard behind them.
"Felix!" Yuna shrieked, seeing him crawling along the ground towards them.
Tidus ran to him and slung his arm over his shoulder before helping Felix rudimentaly to his feet.
"Look!" Tidus nodded across the platform to where a previously undiscovered light was shining against a large stone outcropping.
They made their way slowly towards the outcropping, passing across the abyss to which Yuna stopped to look once more into the darkness, then towards the hole in the ceiling, where the stars were shining through.
The stone was large, easily enough room for a person to be contained inside.
"This is it," Yuna rubbed her hands across the top of the stone, "This is Yunalesca's grave."
"Now what?" Tidus asked, propping Felix against the wall.
"There's another inscription," Yuna brushed the dust away and blew on what remained, "It says, 'Only through the death of a loved one, and the transference of their soul into a summoner's, can the seed of great power be born.' What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what it meant last time you were here, Lady Summoner," Yunalesca's voice boomed across the mighty chamber.
Yuna took a step back as the pyreflies swirled about atop the stone tomb. Yunalesca's form appeared, stepping down off of her own tomb to face the summoner.
"Yunalesca!" Yuna gasped.
"Surprised to see me?" the first summoner replied, "It is not so easy to send me to Farplane as you thought. I see you have returned for the Aeon."
"Yes," Yuna bowed, "But without Yu-Yevon to battle."
"It matters little to me why you need it," Yunalesca rolled her demon-like eyes, "All that concerns me who you will choose."
"My choice?" Yuna remembered her father's words, telling her she would have to make a choice. 'Choose between two she loves in order to save Spira'.
"I'm her choice," Tidus stepped forward.
"Very well," Yunalesca snapped her fingers and a large blue vortex appeared swirling behind the tomb, "Step into the light and you will be sacrificed. Your soul will leave your body forever, but it will not join the sea of pyreflies you see. Instead, I shall intervene, and transform you into a powerful Aeon in which to grant your summoner ultimate power."
"Okay," Tidus walked towards the light. He felt a tugging on his hand and turned to see Yuna grabbing him. He looked down before turning back and kissing her, placing his hand on her cheek and caressing the skin on her face, "Goodbye Yuna."
"Wait!" Felix shouted, the blood running down his chin, "Take me instead."
"Felix?" Yuna turned to take me.
"Is it not true," Felix choked out the words, crawling along the wall towards the vortex, "That the love created through blood is not stronger than any other love?"
"Yes, that is true," Yunalesca nodded.
"Then take me," Felix collapsed to a knee, pausing to find the words to speak through his pain, "For I am Yuna's brother."
Yuna gasped loudly, walking over to him and pulling his head up to face her. She gasped again, seeing that the contact had fallen out of his eye and they were indeed two different colors, the sign of a hybrid between the Al Bhed and a Yevonite.
"I'm sorry Yuna," Felix apologized, a tear running down his eye, "I meant to tell you earlier."
"Why?" Yuna choked, crying also, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to hurt you, Yuna, I'm sorry."
"Come along then," Yunalesca motioned towards the vortex.
"Yuna, I'm dying," Felix clutched the wound in his chest, "I saw it when you brought Tidus back from the Otherworld. I saw how happy you were to see him. I don't want you to ever lose him again."
"Come on, man," Tidus helped Felix towards the vortex, "Thanks, for everything."
"No problem," Felix looked back at Yuna. She was sitting there, crying her eyes out, "Take care of her Tidus. Don't ever let harm come to her."
"It's a deal," Tidus touched him lightly on the shoulder with his fist, the sign of traditional blitzball honor from his Zanarkand.
Felix laughed a little before falling backwards into the vortex.
"It shall be done," Yunalesca grinned wickedly before disappearing into a fervor of pyreflies along with the vortex.
Dawn broke across the moonflow with an eerie silence. No one slept, save for Yuna who couldn't find the strength to carry on for the duration of the evening. After the sending, performed in silence as her remaining guardians watched on, the summoner laid down to rest.
The others were less than ready to sleep. They knew they had failed, and because of it, one of their own had to die. Rikku was given a proper Yevon burial, although an Al Bhed. Her body was washed and cleaned in the rivers of the moonflow, a sign of the impurities of life and its sins being washed away before the body was laid to rest. Lulu had dressed her in the flowers of the moonflow, the pink star lilies before she was laid quietly in her final grave by Kimarhi, Wakka, Tidus, and Felix. Then, Yuna, with a tear in her eye, sent Rikku's soul to the Farplane, to join the others who had died and were resting.
When dawn broke, Wakka was sitting by the bank next to the grave, a simple mound of dirt with a carved stone at the head which read 'Rikku, an Al Bhed slain by evil, but pure at heart, in life and in death'. He leaned forward, his arms wrapped around his knees as he watched the orange sun come up overhead.
"Hey, I always like the sunrises," he spoke aloud, "Reminds me of when I was little. I couldn't wait until the sun came up so me and Chappu could go and play blitz in the ocean. Ha ha, you probably talking with Chappu right now, ya?" He sighed, the sun now in full view, "Who am I kidding, you probably wouldn't even like Chappu, he's not your type."
"Wakka?" he heard Tidus calling. He turned to see the young guardian approaching, "You okay?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"It's hard, I know," Tidus squatted down on the other side of the grave, "Rikku's always been a great friend. I miss her a lot."
"Me too," Wakka nodded a little.
"Tidus!" they both turned to see Felix standing near the campsite with the others, "Let's go."
"One second!" Tidus yelled back, "You gonna be okay?"
"I'll be fine," Wakka assured him.
"Okay."
Tidus hopped to his feet and jogged back over to where the others were.
"We're going to Luca," Lulu announced, "We must speak with Consul Hyne before Milevan takes action against New Yevon."
"What about Wakka?" Tidus looked over his shoulder to where his friend remained motionless.
"Give him time," Yuna took Tidus's hand, "Wakka's wounded badly inside and needs time to recover."
"Oh," Tidus nodded, "I see."
"You're not going to tell him?" Felix asked.
"Tell me what?"
Yuna sighed heavily, as if the news troubled her, "We're returning to Zanarkand, Felix and I, to try and see if we can revive the fayth there. We may need it to defeat Milevan's Aeon."
"What?" Tidus was shocked, "What about you dieing when you summon it?"
"It won't kill her," Lulu interjected, "Yu-Yevon is the one who killed the summoners when he stole their final Aeon to make the new Sin. Without his doing that, Yuna will be fine. This is, all theory of course."
"Yuna, isn't there some other way?"
"I'm afraid not," Yuna shook her head, "Not this time. Milevan's Aeon, the one from the city, it's so frighteningly powerful. I could feel its power down there, and now that he has it, there's no telling what kind of havoc he will wreck. I must do this, to avenge Rikku."
"Oh," Tidus felt his heart leave his body, "I see. Then I'm going! I won't let Yuna die if I can help it! Lulu, you, Kimarhi, and Wakka go to Luca. We'll get the Aeon and crush Milevan's puny one."
"Your courage is admirable," Felix laughed, "But your enthusiasm serves you nothing. Do not underestimate your opponents."
"Hah!" Tidus laughed, giving him a fist pump, "You sound like that old geezer, Auron, giving me crazy advice."
"Did you ever listen to any of it?" Felix smiled slyly as he walked away.
* * *
The two groups separated, as planned, with the guardians heading to Bevelle while Yuna, Tidus, and Felix heading to Zanarkand once more. They traveled using the Al Bhed airship, with Zanarkand as the first stop.
"There's not much time," Felix pulled his cloak over his person as the wind from the airship leaving kicked up the dust around them.
"I agree," Yuna turned to face the dome.
"Yuna, you don't have to do this," Tidus took her hands in his, "Please, I don't want you to die."
Yuna looked at her hands, clasped with tender care by her loving friend, then to the concern in his eyes. She could feel her heart beat in her chest as he held her, his love and affection flowing through his fingers into hers.
"I must do this," Yuna spoke softly, "Only with the Aeons can we win. Tidus, I'm sorry if it hurts you."
Tidus released her hands from his grip, walking a short distance away before kicking a rock and dropping down into a crouch to think. Yuna turned to Felix who made no indication of his thoughts. Yuna inhaled deeply, the heat from the afternoon sun making her skin warm.
"Yuna, I want to be your fayth," Tidus spoke, turning his head to her.
"Oh," Yuna gasped, knowing the consequences for making that decision, "But..."
"No buts," Tidus shook his head, climbing to his feet, "I want to be your fayth."
"You'll die, you know that?" Felix offered.
"I don't care, as long as Yuna is safe."
"Tidus, no!" Yuna flung herself into his arms, crying into his shoulders, "I don't want you to leave me again."
"It's okay," Tidus whispered, stroking her hair with his gloved hand, "I love you, Yuna, and I'll do anything to protect you."
"No..." Yuna's voice trailed off, her heart sinking inside her chest.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Felix crossed his arms as the two parted, Yuna still gripping Tidus's gloved hand, "We can't bring you back from this one."
"I know," Tidus replied, his voice dried.
"Yuna, if you may?" Felix pushed the door open, leading them inside.
* * *
"I'm sorry, but Consul Hyne is in a meeting and cannot be..." the receptionist tried to choke out his usual statement, but found it hard with a snarling Ronso brandishing a large weapon breathing heavily in his face.
"We must speak with Consul Hyne immediately," Lulu repeated her opening statement, "Spira's future is at stake."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but the Consul will not see anyone right now," the man swallowed hard, the Ronso warrior growing more discontent with each passing second.
"It's quite all right," a shrewd voice announced behind them, "I have time to speak with the High Summoner's guardians."
The Consul was a stout man, dressed in a black robe. His boots clicked against the floor as he came out of the meeting room followed by other advisors. His black robe was accompanied by his jet black hair, which showed signs of receding on the sides. His beady gray eyes focused on Lulu as he walked, his hands clasped together behind his back.
"I must apologize, for the business of New Yevon is extensive and troublesome," Hyne bowed, "What brings you here without the summoner Yuna?"
"Yuna is attending to other matters," Lulu shook hands with the Consul, "But sends her best wishes. We come to speak of a situation with the Al Bhed that could create trouble for New Yevon."
"The Al Bhed?" Hyne's eyebrow perked up, "If my memory serves me correctly, the Al Bhed were instrumental in bringing about the downfall of Yevon and the maesters; an insurrection that you three participated in I do believe."
"That is beside the point," Lulu countered, fearing Hyne would not be open to their news, "The Al Bhed are planning to attack and either Luca or Bevelle is the target."
"Please," Hyne laughed, "Since I've become Consul, the crusaders guarding New Yevon has nearly doubled the numbers prior to the Mushroom Rock disaster. I seriously doubt anything the Al Bhed have can penetrate our superior forces."
"You don't understand!" Wakka pleaded, "They have an Aeon!"
"Wakka!" Lulu cursed.
"An Aeon, hmm?" Hyne saw his opportunity, "And how, would the heathen Al Bhed come into possession of an Aeon? I was led to believe all the Aeons were killed and the fayths destroyed when Lady Yuna defeated Sin?"
"Yeah, but..." Wakka felt his heart sink as he tried to find the right words to speak.
"Then, one must conclude that Lady Yuna helped the Al Bhed obtain this Aeon that you speak of," Hyne motioned to someone behind the guardians and they turned to see a group of warrior monks enter the room brandishing their machina weapons, "These guardians are accused of aiding and abetting the Al Bhed with their plans to destroy New Yevon. They are to be placed under arrest and the summoner brought before trial."
"What?" Wakka protested, "You can't do this!"
"Oh, and who's going to stop me?"
The guards approached, their weapons extended. Kimarhi roared, raring his head back and preparing to strike one of the guards down. The guard flinched, firing a shot at the Ronso. As the weapon rang out, Kimarhi's lightning reflexes allowed him to dodge the bullet. It pinged loudly against the wall, ricocheting off and nicking Hyne in the cheek.
"Damn it!" the Consul spun away from the glancing blow, dropping to a knee, "Arrest them!"
The guards readied their weapons to fire as the three guardians raised their hands in surrender. Hyne stood up, the blood running down his cheek from the grazing. Two officials were helping him to his feet, one placing a cloth where the bullet hit him and the other straightening his robes.
"I want Yuna found and brought to me," he ordered to the captain of the monks, "Dead or alive, it matters little."
* * *
The steps crackled under Felix's boots as they descended into the lowest caverns of the Zanarkand Dome.
"I don't remember coming down this low," Tidus walked cautiously next to Yuna, one hand on her wrist and the other at the hilt of his sword.
Yuna felt the same way indeed. The battle with the Spectral Keeper Yunalesca sent to stop them was a lengthy one as they descended the mythical elevator towards the chamber of the fayth, but the descent did not seem to take them as deep as they had gone.
"What are we looking for anyway?" Tidus asked, growing impatient with Felix's silence.
"I heard a story when I was a child, about the dome here in Zanarkand," Felix turned, stopping to take a piece of wood from the dusty wall and light the end to create a torch, "That the burial site for Lady Yunalesca is located under the dome, that's what we're looking for."
"But the tomb of lady Yunalesca is a legend," Yuna replied, "Does it really exist?
"That's what we're going to find out," Felix walked up to a sealed door ahead of them. He brushed the cobwebs aside and started brushing the dust away from an engraving in stone, "Yuna, here, it's written in the ancient languages. Can you read it?"
"I may," Yuna walked up to the platform, her eyes squinting in the light from the flame as she blew the dust aside, "It's very old, but it says 'Those that shall pass through this door, a great curse upon the soul, for the wrath or a thousand years lies within'. What does that mean?"
"It means we've found the tomb," Felix gripped the seal covering the door and pulled hard on it.
The seal broke off, dropping to the floor as the door began to open. Behind the door, they could see a bright light shining as the two stone doors retracted to give way to an enormous cavern. In the distance, they could see two large waterfalls rushing into the chamber from the ocean outside. Directly ahead was a platform that extended out across the darkened abyss below them. Pyreflies danced throughout the cavern as the trio walked out onto the platform.
"Whoa," Tidus awed at the size of the chamber.
"This must be the burial chamber for Yunalesca," Yuna clutched Tidus's hand as they walked a short distance across the stone platform.
"Stay on your guard," Felix drew his sword, "We are not alone in here."
"What?" Tidus drew his sword and squeezed Yuna's hand tighter, "What do you mean?"
"The story I told you about," Felix stopped as the entered the circular platform at the middle of the outcropping, "Also spoke of a beast that defended the chamber. And that scripture back there makes me nervous."
"Who told you this story?" Yuna stepped forward into a beam of light coming from the ceiling, "It reminds me of a story my mother told me once when I was young. Who are you Felix, really?"
"Yuna," Felix stuttered, trying to reply, "I...damn it! Okay, I'll tell you everything Yuna, before the end comes. I'm..."
His words were interrupted by a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down to see a large spike protruding from his chest. Felix screamed as his body was ripped into the air. From the side of the platform, a second tentacle like the one stabbing Felix appeared. It was followed by the head of a hideous demon. It reminded Yuna of the Spectral Keeper, but was easily twice as large.
"Felix!" she shouted as his body was thrown across the platform.
"Yuna, come on!" Tidus grabbed her arm and started running, "There's no time!"
They took off for the gate as the monster crawled out of the black abyss below them. The two tentacles protruded from its back, swaying back and forth in the air as it let out a monstrous howl. The monster had no arms, and was as a snake would be, crawling out of the depths of the abyss below them.
"It's Leviathan!" Yuna screamed as they reached the edge of the platform, "Yunalesca's final Aeon!"
"How can it still be alive?" Tidus asked, reaching for the door. He pulled his hand back suddenly, a massive current of water rushing up from the ground to block their exit, "Damn!"
Tidus spun around, gripping the sword in both hands. Yuna held her staff tightly in her hands as the mighty Aeon bobbed its head back and forth in front of them.
"Yuna," Tidus whispered, "I'm going to attack it, and you run. Run as far away as you can from here, okay?"
"No," Yuna shook her head, "I won't leave you to die."
"Yuna, it's better for me to die and you escape than for us to die together. Now don't argue with me and run!"
With that word, Tidus ran forward, sword ready to slash the mighty Aeon. He jumped onto a pile of rocks and leaped into the air. Tidus brought the blade of the sword down across Leviathan's right eye, slashing badly and making blood spray around the chamber as the monster flinched violently. Tidus landed on his feet, turning to see that Yuna had no moved.
"Yuna, run!" Tidus yelled before one of the tentacles from the monster smashed into his side, sending the sword flying over the edge and Tidus barely grabbing the ledge with his left hand.
"Tidus!" Yuna shouted, taking a step towards the battle.
"No!" Yuna turned to see Felix crawling along the platform, a trail of blood behind him, "You have to kill it Yuna, use magic to destroy the Aeon."
"But I only know white magic," Yuna ran to him, seeing the massive wound and turning her head away, "How can I attack it?"
"Trust in yourself, Yuna," Felix coughed, the pain making it hard to speak, "Or Spira is doomed. You have to trust in yourself!"
Yuna stood, walking towards the mighty Aeon. Tidus was struggling to hold his grip, the bloodied monster staring at him in almost a mocking manner. It raised its two tentacles over its head, preparing to bring them down for a final blow.
"Stop!" Yuna shouted at the top of her lungs.
Leviathan turned its monstrous head to face Yuna, its great body still hidden in the darkness below them. Yuna clutched her staff, holding it against her for support. The staff was given to Yuna when she first decided to become a summoner by Lulu. Lulu had told her it was a great staff she had discovered during one of her previous pilgrimages. Though Yuna had used an assortment of weapons during her pilgrimage, she still kept the one Lulu had given her. She knew one day she would need it.
"Trust in myself," Yuna whispered. She positioned the stick in front of her chest in a horizontal fashion. Relaxing her mind, she tried to come into synch with the forces of nature that were evident across Spira. To Yuna, it seemed almost mythical. She felt her mind leave her body and fly through the ceiling. It passed through all the levels of the planet until her mind was floating in the air above the ruined city of Zanarkand. A storm was brewing, one large enough to suit Yuna's needs. Her mind then rapidly descended back into her body as she was ready to attack. Leviathan reared its mighty head back, ready to tear the summoner from where she stood with its mighty jaws. Yuna simply opened her eyes and spoke, "Thundaga!"
A moment passed before the chamber began to rumble. Leviathan paused its attack, looking back and forth at the two side walls. It then turned its mighty head upwards as parts of the ceiling collapsed around it. Tidus was bringing himself up back onto the platform when he saw a bright light above them. Leviathan roared as a massive wave of energy shattered the ceiling. The immense light was followed by an awesome surge of electrical energy as the entire power of the storm flooded down from the sky, blasting Leviathan. Yuna threw her hands over her face as the bright light engulfed the mighty Aeon. When it succeeded, Leviathan twitched and gyrated before collapsing back into the darkness below the cavern.
Yuna felt her legs grow weak, followed by her falling to her knees. Tidus rushed to her, hugging her close to him and crying into her shoulder.
"Yuna, are you okay?" he whispered, rubbing her hair.
"Yes," Yuna mumbled.
"Yuna..." Felix's hoarse voice was heard behind them.
"Felix!" Yuna shrieked, seeing him crawling along the ground towards them.
Tidus ran to him and slung his arm over his shoulder before helping Felix rudimentaly to his feet.
"Look!" Tidus nodded across the platform to where a previously undiscovered light was shining against a large stone outcropping.
They made their way slowly towards the outcropping, passing across the abyss to which Yuna stopped to look once more into the darkness, then towards the hole in the ceiling, where the stars were shining through.
The stone was large, easily enough room for a person to be contained inside.
"This is it," Yuna rubbed her hands across the top of the stone, "This is Yunalesca's grave."
"Now what?" Tidus asked, propping Felix against the wall.
"There's another inscription," Yuna brushed the dust away and blew on what remained, "It says, 'Only through the death of a loved one, and the transference of their soul into a summoner's, can the seed of great power be born.' What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what it meant last time you were here, Lady Summoner," Yunalesca's voice boomed across the mighty chamber.
Yuna took a step back as the pyreflies swirled about atop the stone tomb. Yunalesca's form appeared, stepping down off of her own tomb to face the summoner.
"Yunalesca!" Yuna gasped.
"Surprised to see me?" the first summoner replied, "It is not so easy to send me to Farplane as you thought. I see you have returned for the Aeon."
"Yes," Yuna bowed, "But without Yu-Yevon to battle."
"It matters little to me why you need it," Yunalesca rolled her demon-like eyes, "All that concerns me who you will choose."
"My choice?" Yuna remembered her father's words, telling her she would have to make a choice. 'Choose between two she loves in order to save Spira'.
"I'm her choice," Tidus stepped forward.
"Very well," Yunalesca snapped her fingers and a large blue vortex appeared swirling behind the tomb, "Step into the light and you will be sacrificed. Your soul will leave your body forever, but it will not join the sea of pyreflies you see. Instead, I shall intervene, and transform you into a powerful Aeon in which to grant your summoner ultimate power."
"Okay," Tidus walked towards the light. He felt a tugging on his hand and turned to see Yuna grabbing him. He looked down before turning back and kissing her, placing his hand on her cheek and caressing the skin on her face, "Goodbye Yuna."
"Wait!" Felix shouted, the blood running down his chin, "Take me instead."
"Felix?" Yuna turned to take me.
"Is it not true," Felix choked out the words, crawling along the wall towards the vortex, "That the love created through blood is not stronger than any other love?"
"Yes, that is true," Yunalesca nodded.
"Then take me," Felix collapsed to a knee, pausing to find the words to speak through his pain, "For I am Yuna's brother."
Yuna gasped loudly, walking over to him and pulling his head up to face her. She gasped again, seeing that the contact had fallen out of his eye and they were indeed two different colors, the sign of a hybrid between the Al Bhed and a Yevonite.
"I'm sorry Yuna," Felix apologized, a tear running down his eye, "I meant to tell you earlier."
"Why?" Yuna choked, crying also, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to hurt you, Yuna, I'm sorry."
"Come along then," Yunalesca motioned towards the vortex.
"Yuna, I'm dying," Felix clutched the wound in his chest, "I saw it when you brought Tidus back from the Otherworld. I saw how happy you were to see him. I don't want you to ever lose him again."
"Come on, man," Tidus helped Felix towards the vortex, "Thanks, for everything."
"No problem," Felix looked back at Yuna. She was sitting there, crying her eyes out, "Take care of her Tidus. Don't ever let harm come to her."
"It's a deal," Tidus touched him lightly on the shoulder with his fist, the sign of traditional blitzball honor from his Zanarkand.
Felix laughed a little before falling backwards into the vortex.
"It shall be done," Yunalesca grinned wickedly before disappearing into a fervor of pyreflies along with the vortex.
