Final Fantasy:  Journey

            "This just keeps getting better and better," Chappu muttered, slapping a hand over his face and pulling it down, groaning.  He ran his hand back through his hair and glanced over at Tida, who was bent over at the waist, surveying the smoking engine over Brother's shoulder.  She stood up straight and shook her head as Brother let out a violent string of curses in Al Bhed, punching one fist sharply into the machine.

            Tida turned away, hands on her hips.  She looked around at the watery debris scattered around them in the once-Al Bhed territory.  Now it was just a bunch of ruins surrounded and covered—for the most part—in water.

             "Tida!" Chappu moved toward her, jerking his head at the dilapidated temple in the distance. "Let's go ahead to the temple.  We're of no use here."

            Tida nodded and picked up her pouch, belting it around her slim waist. "Mama, Chappu and I are going ahead to the temple.  We'll be back soon."

            "Okay, sweetie, but please be careful, and don't dawdle!" Yuna called as Chappu and Tida began leaping from block to block before diving into the watery depths of the ruins.

            Tida found the entrance before Chappu did, and managed to get his attention by throwing letting of a grenade.  He nodded to her and followed her inside.

            Tida broke the surface of the water first and swam easily to the stone steps, Chappu right behind her.  She climbed up, water dripping from her hair. 

            "Not exactly a great location," Chappu murmured, squeezing water from his shirt and shaking his hair of the water that clung to the darkened strands.

            "Oh, be quiet.  Anima is one of the most powerful aeons in Spira.  Mama said he's the aeon of Seymour's mother.  She became a fayth to give Seymour her aeon.  But then she regretted it and gave the power to Mama to defeat Seymour," Tida said, looking at the doors that led to the Chamber of the Fayth.

            "Yeah, yeah.  Go on and hurry up," Chappu said, waving his hand at the doors.  Tida scowled at him and tossed her head.  She stalked through the doors.

            "Boys," she snorted.

            "Girls," he growled, shaking his head and facing away from the chamber.

            Now inside, Tida hugged herself as a shiver passed through her body, freezing her even though the chamber wasn't cold, but instead dark and gloomy.  She looked down at the Dark Aeon, bound by chains and forced to feel the pain of deeds past.  Tida's heart went out to the poor woman whose aeon was constrained.

            "Lady Tida, thank you for coming at last."

            Tida nodded to the fayth that appeared above the dome prison. "You're welcome.  I'm sorry it took me so long."

            "No apologies, please.  I don't have much time.  You must take my aeon and go with a new piece to the riddle of the Aeon of Light.  You must hurry, My Lady, time is running out!  Seymour will take over Spira; destroying everything!" the fayth cried, clasping her hands together.

            Tida nodded. "I will.  I have to, for Spira and my parents!"

            "Very well."

The Aeon of Light rests within

A place once destroyed by Sin

Take heed and hurry forward

To find and achieve your just reward

But on more guardian you must acquire

In order to cross the Sea of Fire

Inside the place where the Angel sleeps

Is where your heart will find its keep

            "Thank you.  I will go." Tida clenched her fist and turned sharply, heading back into the other chamber.  Chappu whirled around as she entered.  At once, the temple began to shake and Tida's feet left the ground.

            "Chappu!" 

            "Tida!"

            Chappu lunged, and grabbed Tida's hand.  Both were thrown together down a spiraling tunnel of endless darkness…

*          *          *

            "Ugh…" Tida groaned and rolled over.  Or tired to, at least.  Chappu's arm was thrown across her torso.  She shoved herself away from him and climbed heavily to her feet.  Something fast, wet, and cold was slamming into her from all sides.

            "Snow!" Tida cried, realizing what it was.  Her head whipped in all directions as she tried to focus on her surroundings.  Giving up, she kicked Chappu in the side.  Moaning, he sat up and opened his eyes.

            "What the—?" he blinked and rubbed his eyes.  He stared around, jumping to his feet. "Where the hell are we?  What happened?  Are you all right?"

            "I don't know, I don't know, and I'm fine," Tida said, pulling her cape tightly around her as the wind howled around them.

            "Well, we'd have to be somewhere on Mt. Gagazet," Chappu reasoned, sighing and running a hand through his hair.  Tida rolled her eyes.

            "I figured that much out.  Can we get out of here?" she said, trudging past him.  The snow was deep—reaching up to mid-thigh on her.  She stumbled in the snow and Chappu watched, suddenly panicked, as she burst into tears. 

            "No, no, no!  Don't cry; don't cry!  Please!" Chappu ran to her, pulling her shaking form to him.  He held her until she stopped crying, swiping roughly at her tears.

            "No more crying, okay?  We'll get out of here, somehow," he promised, standing with her.  Tida nodded and glanced up at the peaks around them.

            "Hey!  Who are you?"

            Chappu and Tida turned to see a figure dressed entirely in black walking toward them.  A long black jacket billowed in the wind behind them and long, dark brown hair whipping intensely. 

            As the figure neared, Tida could see the purple orbs that shone fiercely through the white snow.  It was a girl, she realized, narrowing her colored eyes.

            "What are the two of you doing way up here?" the girl asked, and Chappu estimated her to be about Tida's age, or his own. 

            "We, ah, don't really know," Chappu said, stepping protectively in front of Tida, and lying one hand readily on the Spirit Keeper.

            "Chappu?  Chappu, is that you?"

            Chappu started then felt his jaw drop. "Zeoron?  What are you—how did you—oh, wow…"

            Zeoron smiled and shrugged. "Been a while, eh, Chappu?" She stood on tiptoe and looked over his shoulder at Tida. "Who's your friend?"

            At this, Chappu's lips curved into a proud smile. "Zeoron, let me introduce you to Lady Tida, a summoner.  I'm her guardian, Sir Chappu."

            "Lady Tida?  Oh, wow!  I've wanted so much to meet you!  Please, let me be your guardian!  I'm a Black Mage…and sort of a thief," Zeoron said, pushing Chappu aside, and grabbing both of Tida's hands in her own.  Zeoron's purple eyes glowed and Tida smiled, shaking her head.

            "Looks like I've found myself another guardian," she said, nodding at Zeoron.  Zeoron squealed and threw her arms around Tida, who fought for breath.  Chappu sighed; once again, women outnumbered him.  What would Wakka say?

*          *          *

            "Zanarkand is just on the other side of this hill," Zeoron called the next day, jumping up the snow-covered bank.  She stood up straight and looked out over the grand machina city just as Tida and Chappu reached the crest.  Tida stopped and gazed at her birthplace, her home. 

            "Zanarkand," she whispered, one hand coming up to grab the symbol on her necklace and she squeezed it.  Chappu placed a hand over hers and then took it in his own, bringing it to his lips.

            "Well, let's—Oh my gosh!  Chappu, the riddle! 'The Aeon of Light rests within,

A place once destroyed by Sin'!  Zanarkand!  The Aeon of Light is in Zanarkand!" Tida cried, grabbing both of Chappu's hands and jumping up and down with excitement. "Oh, this is so wonderful!"

            Tida spun around and around, flinging her arms out. "How it's so wonderfully fantastically amazing!" she sang happily, laughing as she whirled.

            "Incredible!  How could we have been so clueless?" Chappu grabbed Tida and swung her around in the air, laughing with her.  When he stopped, Tida's arms went around his neck and she kissed him, full force.

*          *          *

            "Where on Spira could they have possibly gone?" Yuna said, putting her face in her hands.  She plopped down backward onto a rock, trying to gain her composure back.  Rikku shrugged and looked around Baaj Temple for the umpteenth time.  Wakka and Lulu were still out scouting the watery ruins. 

The airship had been repaired but remained without its passengers.  Yuna refused to leave until they figured out where Tida and Chappu had disappeared to.

            "Yuna, you don't think… No, never mind," Rikku turned away and put her hands on her hips, cocking her head as she looked to the doors.

            "Think what, Rikku?" Yuna asked listlessly, removing her hands from her face and looking at her cousin.  She sighed, and shook her hair out, spraying water from the wet strands.

            "Well, I was wondering if maybe Seymour's mother would talk to you.  She might know where Tida and Chappu went." Rikku shrugged again, and rolled her shoulders back, trying to loosen up.

            "It's… it's worth a shot," Yuna said, standing slowly, unsure.  She moved hesitantly in the direction of the doors that led to the Chamber of the Fayth, but then halted, shaking her head.

            "I can't do it, Rikku.  I've been ex-communicated." Yuna said, her voice flat.  Rikku sighed and moved to Yuna, grabbing her shoulders in her hands.

            "Yuna, you can't summon aeons.  That doesn't mean the fayth won't speak to you!  Come on!  They're helping your daughter; why shouldn't they help you?" Rikku cried while giving Yuna's shoulders a little shake.

            Slowly, Yuna nodded. "You're—you're right, Rikku.  I shouldn't give up too easily; I lost her once, and I'm not about to lose her again." Yuna squared her shoulders and stepped forward, holding her chin up.

            Yuna strode forward, confident, and looking much more like the old Summoner Yuna than High Summoner Yuna.  She paused in front of the doors as they moved to open.  Quietly, she glanced back at Rikku and gave her thumbs up, winking.  Yuna turned back and entered the Chamber of the Fayth, Seymour's mother's final resting place.

            Yuna's outside appearance might have been stable, but inside she was more nervous than she'd been when she had first talked to Tidus.  She shook her head, replacing the images of him with Tida, and her courage took over.  She knelt down, and as soon as she clasped her hands, Seymour's mother arose from the dome, nodding approvingly.

            "I was hoping you would come.  It's been a very long time, Yuna," she said, clasping her own hands together and smiling.  Yuna smiled back and got to her feet, searching for well-written words.

            "Thank you for your help.  I'm happy that you wanted to see me again," Yuna said, putting her hands behind her back.  Feeling like a young girl again, Yuna looked down at the floor, embarrassed. 

            Seymour's mother's smile widened. "It was my pleasure to help you, Yuna.  It is also why I help Tida.  The fayth feel they owe it to her."

            Yuna nodded. "I understand that, but… where is she now?  Where had she been taken?"

            The fayth sighed and shook her head. "Time is running out faster than we expected, Yuna.  We sent Tida and Chappu to Mt. Gagazet, hoping the wisdom swirling around the ancient peaks would guide her and help her answer the riddle and find the Aeon of Light before Seymour destroys Spira and the light within."

            "Mt. Gagazet?  Is she safe there?" Yuna asked, biting her lip and trying to control the fury boiling inside her blood.  Just who were they to think that they could send her daughter from her?

            "Yes.  She has figured it out.  She knows what she must do now, Yuna.  It won't be easy to acquire the Aeon of Light, but Tida is strong, like her father.  And you.  She will make it; she will save Spira from the Shadow."

            "Thank you.  I have to go; I have to join her." Yuna turned to go but the fayth's voice stopped her.  Yuna turned back, tilting her head cautiously.

            "Yuna… I can send you there, along with one other.  I can send you directly to her.  She's in Zanarkand now."

            Yuna's eyes brightened with hope. "Rikku!" she yelled, whipping around to the doors. "Come quickly!  We must hurry!"

            Rikku came flying into the chamber, Godhand raised to strike.  Yuna grabbed her cousin's wrist and squeezed.  Rikku's arm dropped and she looked at Yuna, then to Seymour's mother.

            "Good luck and goodbye, Yuna, Rikku."

            Disclaimer:  All belongs to Squaresoft.  Tida, Chappu, Aeon of Light, etc., are mine.