Final Fantasy X: Journey
"Tida! Stay back!" Chappu yelled, drawing his sword, his eyes filling with a dark flame at the boss fiend towering over them.
"No! I won't let you fight alone!" Tida yelled, racing forward, the Brotherhood flashing into her hand as she stopped next to Chappu, eyes already flashing dangerously.
"And I won't let you fight alone!"
Tida's head snapped around and she nearly dropped the Brotherhood in shock.
"Mama!"
Yuna pushed away the urge to run to Tida and hold her close. "Let's get rid of this guy!" she said, and Tida pulled her hand into a fist, jamming her elbow down, a gesture recognized by Yuna and company.
"Get ready, pal!" Tida shouted as her mother joined on the battlefield. She raised the Brotherhood, her eyes cold and full of hate for the fiend.
Yuna pulled her guns out and twirled them on her fingers before stopping, pointing them dead at the fiend. Wakka opened the fight by throwing World Champion at the fiend.
"Lulu, Doublecast!" Tida shouted, leaping forward for a Quick Slash with the Brotherhood. Lulu immediately followed Tida's orders and Doublecasted Flare on the fiend. Rikku shot forward and spun, catching the creature's leg with Godhand.
"Chappu, attack it from behind!" Tida yelled. Chappu nodded and ran around, springing into the air.
"Armor Break!" he shouted, bringing the Spirit Keeper down onto the fiend. Yuna fired her guns repeatedly, watching Tida out of the corner of her eye. She'd really grown up in the last nine years, she noted.
For nearly fifteen minutes, nothing seemed to weaken or even faze the fiend. Tida growled low in her throat.
"Damn it! There has to be away!" she yelled.
"If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!" Rikku called back, dodging a punch thrown in her direction. Tida clenched her teeth, thinking.
Her body jerked. "Everybody stand back!"
All eyes flew to Tida, who stood with Nirvana in her right hand, arms outstretched. They all gaped at her, wordlessly. Chappu only smiled and backed away from the fiend.
"Ixion! I call to you!" Tida yelled. In a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder, the mighty Thunder Aeon appeared, rearing as another lightning bolt struck its horn.
"Go!" Tida swept Nirvana in the direction of the fiend and Ixion attacked, charging forward, his hooves pounding on the earth. The fiend screamed in protest and swiped back, catching Ixion across the side. Ixion shot back with Aerospark, and the fiend froze for a moment before going on a rampage.
Tida clenched her teeth and pointed Nirvana to the heavens. "Hear my plea, Valefor!"
The winged aeon sailed down from above and attacked the fiend across the face, blinding it. Ixion plunged its horn into the fiend's side and Valefor reared back to cast Fira. The fiend screamed in pain and Tida swung Nirvana around, dismissing her aeons. Both vanished into thin air and Tida nodded to the group of people now closing in on the fiend.
"Overdrive time!" Tida yelled, the Brotherhood reappearing in her hands. Chappu charged forward first.
"Midnight Reaper!" he shouted, the Spirit Keeper glowing with darkness.
"Thundaga Fury!"
"Aurochs Reels!"
"Mix—Trio of 9,999!"
"Volley Cannon!"
Tida watched in silence as the quintet of Overdrives charged forward and destroyed the fiend before their eyes. The fiend burst into a bunch of pyreflies and she turned then, facing her mother.
And lost it all.
"Mama!" Tida burst into tears and ran forward, forgetting that she was sixteen, that she was supposed to be strong to beat Seymour, and that everyone was counting on her. Yuna caught Tida in a loving embrace and began sobbing, stroking Tida's hair softly, rocking back forth as they sat on the ground simply holding one another.
"Mama, Mama, I'm so sorry!" Tida wailed, burying her face in her mother's shoulder.
"Shh, shh baby. It's all right. You're safe now," Yuna soothed, pressing gentle kisses against Tida's forehead and hair. She kissed a tear away. Yuna ignored her own tears; Tida needed her more than she needed her. She'd been just a child when she'd been ripped from her home and left to fend for herself in what could be a cold, cruel world.
Rikku slumped to her knees, crying at the sight of Tida. Lulu was already on the ground, tears falling from her eyes. Wakka had tears in his eyes, but they had yet to fall.
Chappu watched, smiling. Tida was home again.
* * *
"Are you sure?" Lulu asked, wide-eyed.
Yuna nodded, one arm around Tida's shoulder. "Tidus isn't there. I was shocked and screamed, and that must have brought the fiend along!"
"How could this be? First Seymour, now Tidus! What the hell's goin' on?" Wakka said, slamming his fist onto the table. Rikku jumped.
"I don't know how Seymour got out. All I know is that I'm going to send him for good!" Tida said, staring hard at the tabletop, her eyes hard. Yuna squeezed her.
"Yes, we're going to beat him together," she whispered, laying her head on top of Tida's.
"Well, Tida, looks like you gained another summoner's aide," Chappu commented, laughing. Yuna glanced at him.
"I'm not a summoner anymore," she said softly.
"Don't be too sure, Mama. I can summon, so the fayth might let you call them," Tida said, nodding toward Nirvana. "I like it. It's comforting."
"Maybe we should get you a better sword just in case, ya?" Wakka said, grinning. "I've got the perfect weapon in mind . . ."
"Wakka, do you think she can handle it?" Yuna asked, unsure.
"Of course! She is Tidus's daughter, ya know." Wakka pointed out.
"What is it?" Tida asked, looking between her mother and Wakka. "What weapon, Uncle Wakka?"
"It's Tidus's legendary weapon, the—"
"Caladbolg," Chappu cut in.
"Yeah. Hey, kid, how did ya know?" Wakka said, staring at Chappu.
"The name's Chappu, and I've read all about everything. I've heard every version of Lady Yuna's story," he said, closing his and crossing his arms.
"Your name's Chappu? You wouldn't be Nerick's son, would ya?" Wakka asked, raising one eyebrow suspiciously.
"As a matter of fact, I am."
Tida rolled her eyes. It was then she noticed what her mother was wearing.
"MAMA!" she shrieked, nearly toppling backwards as she jumped in shock. "What on Spira do you have on?!"
Yuna looked down at her clothes and smiled. "I just wanted a change."
"Yeah, but—but—but you're my mother! You can't wear stuff like—like that!" Tida sputtered, her eyes wide and scandalized.
"Oh, come on, Tida! Let your mom have some fun while she's still young!" Rikku said, clapping Tida on the back. Tida shook her head.
"She's supposed to be High Summoner Yuna, not some—some scarlet woman!" Tida burst out, clapping her hands over her head as she banged her forehead onto the table.
"She is right, you know," Yuna said. "Besides, these shorts are uncomfortable!"
Wakka roared with laughter and collapsed onto the ground, his arms around his stomach as he gasped for air. "Wo—women!"
Chappu took a quick step to the side, away from Wakka, whereas everyone else stared at him oddly, as if he'd lost his mind.
"Uh, Uncle Wakka?"
* * *
"Much better," Tida said approvingly as Yuna emerged from the Travel Agency clad in black half shorts, half skirt. It reached almost to her knees. She still had on the same shirt and Tida had added something she thought was perfect for a White Mage—a hooded robe that was white. Yuna smiled at her daughter and held her for a moment.
"I've really missed you," she whispered.
"I missed you, too, Mama."
"Hey, are you two gonna stand there all day? We've got to get Tida to Macalania Temple so she can pray to the fayth!" Wakka yelled. He waved then and went on ahead with Chappu.
Yuna and Tida sighed. Tida threw her new white cape around her and fastened it. "I guess he's impatient."
"When we first fought Seymour, Wakka took it personally," Yuna explained, taking Tida's hand in hers. Their arms swung as one as they followed after the others.
Life really was better now, now that mother and daughter were reunited—and as one.
Disclaimer: All belongs to Squaresoft. Tida and Chappu are mine.