Final Fantasy X: Journey
"Tida! Come on; you need your rest! Tomorrow's gonna be a big day, ya?" Wakka called, waving to get her attention.
Tida stood up on the rock and dusted herself off. "Coming, Uncle Wakka!" she called, waving back, arms stretched high over her head.
Tida jumped into a side flip and landed squarely on her feet. Grinning to herself, she broke into a full-out run, racing the night wind back to the camp.
Yuna looked up as Tida entered and smiled at her daughter, whose face was still alight with the warm glow of the silently setting sun. Tidus, too, watched Tida come into the camp and shook his head, hiding his own smile. Tida plopped down on a log seat and looked into the merrily dancing flames of Lulu and Zeoron's fire.
Moments of peaceful quiet passed before Zeoron, yawning, stood up and stretched. "I'll see you guys in the morning. I'm going to bed."
" 'Night, Zeo," Chappu said, waving one hand at her half-heartedly. He was falling asleep against the log seat, leaning back between Tida's legs.
"Maybe you should go, too, Chappu," Tida said, leaning over him and smiling softly, stroking his nose with her finger. She traced his lips lightly, eyes gentle. Chappu grinned lopsidedly back at her before nodding and moving to get up, grunting. He followed Zeoron and then moved off to the left, into the boys' tent. Tida stayed where she was, waiting. She could feel Tidus's eyes on her and she felt warm inside, blissful.
Soon, the fire had begun to die down and Tidus, Yuna and Tida were left alone sitting around the flickering flames. Tida shifted in her seat before lifting her eyes to meet her parents'.
Tidus had once eyebrow raised and her mother was clutching one of his hands, still unsure if it was really him, if he was really there. Tida smiled and a slight giggle sounded in her throat.
I'm so glad she'll be all right when I… when I go, she thought.
"I guess we've got a lot to catch up on, huh?" Tidus said, causing Tida's head to rise back up so her changed eyes met his blue eyes. She colored faintly.
"Yeah, we do… Dad," Tida said, smiling. Yuna's eyes glowed with tears and she reached one shaking hand up to brush them away, quietly scolding herself for crying over nothing.
Tidus smiled and squeezed her hand, whispering something inaudible into her ear. Yuna smiled and looked back at Tida. "Tida, one thing we wanted to say is that… that we're really proud of you, honey. You've begun your pilgrimage earlier than I did and accomplished so much more than what we did."
Tidus spoke up, "When this is over, what do you say we go back to Zanarkand and party? From what I hear, this Zanarkand never sleeps!"
Tida felt a sharp strain on her heart and she fought back the feelings. "Sure, Dad, Mom… That would—that would be great. Awesome," she lied.
"And we could play blitzball! Tida—you and Chappu could join the Zanarkand Abes! And Tidus, you and Wakka could coach the Abes! With Tida and Chappu playing, you're sure to win!" Yuna said, enthusiasm working its way into Tidus's and her spirits.
Tida grinned somewhat weakly and tried to not to show her pain at her mother's words. Silently, her heart screamed in agony and Tida felt as though the poor thing was being ripped in two—and by people who didn't know… didn't know the truth about what was going to happen… what was going to happen to her.
"Yeah, Mama, we'll win," Tida said, nodding.
"Tida…"
* * *
"Wake up, sleepyhead. We've got to go!" Zeoron shook Tida gently but when the teen didn't even snort at the commotion, Zeoron jiggled her vigorously, yelling.
Tida bolted to her feet, her eyes still filled with sleep as she looked around wildly. Zeoron fell back, laughing at her antics. Tida turned her eyes to Zeoron, a smoldering fire slowly building within the rapidly darkening orbs.
"Oh, Ti, you should have seen your face!" Zeoron giggled, pointing at Tida. Tida growled and clenched one fist, preparing to pounce on the other teen.
Tida started to spring but Chappu grabbed her from behind, hauling her away from Zeoron before a fight started and the young summoner either hurt or killed the Black Mage.
Lulu sighed and shook her head, a rueful smile sliding its way across her face. "Kids," she said, and Wakka chuckled, shaking his own head.
"Ready, everyone?" Yuna asked, one hand resting on the handle of one her guns. Tidus emerged from the tent behind her, one hand holding something he was eating and the other dragging the Caladbolg. Tidus swung it up onto one of his shoulders, grinning, and his mouth full of food.
"Dad!" Tida cried, disgusted and embarrassed. She groaned and slapped her forehead.
"What?" he said, stuffing the rest of his food into his mouth. Tidus chewed a few times and then swallowed. "So, are we all set to go kick as—butt?" Tidus said, trying to ignore Yuna's glare.
"Yes. Yes, we are." Tida said, nodding, her eyes matching Yuna's with seriousness. Swiftly, she removed her white cape. She fingered the soft material lovingly before quietly packing it away in the waterproof pouch at her hip.
"Let's go," Chappu said, moving to the bank of the Moonflow. Rikku, trying to be cheerful, pasted a smile on her face and began adjusting the aqua-lungs—more like people-bubbles—the Al Bhed had developed for going underwater. Tida slipped into hers and glanced at her parents.
I wish I could say goodbye… but then you would stop me, and Seymour would get away with his dark plan. Oh, I'm going to miss you both so much, Mama, Dad… And you, Chappu, Tida thought, pushing back the emotions and the tears that went with it.
"Weapons out!" Rikku commanded, the Godhand retaking its rightful place on her right arm, the steel talons flashing in the dawning sunlight.
Tida turned her aqua-lung on and began her slow descent, surrounded by those closest to her, into the still waters of the mystic Moonflow.
—
Tida's bubble was the first to pop above the water in the temple of the sunken city. She stepped through the aqua-lung and into the air pocket, stretching slightly. Tida glanced back over her shoulder at the others before she jerked her head in a nod and walked forward, Chappu at her side, Spirit Keeper ready to strike.
"Which way?" Tida asked, stopping as they came to a crossroads within the temple. She glanced down each of the three different tunnels, biting her lower lip. Almost as one, two pairs of arms came up behind two heads, and two legs cocked slightly. Yuna glanced between the pair, wondering if Tidus or Tida had noticed their sudden positions. She smiled secretly; why should she tell them like father, like daughter?
"We'll split up. Tida, you, me, and Zeo will take this one. Tidus, Yuna, you guys go that way. Rikku, Wakka, and Lulu, to the left," Chappu directed, his eyes already on the middle passageway.
"Be careful!" Yuna called to all before she and Tidus disappeared. The other three, too, vanished from sight down the left tunnel.
Tida took a calming breath before leading the way down the darkest of the corridors, glancing around. Chappu's eyes darted left and right, up and down as he looked sharply around for fiends or whatever else that could meet them in this forbidden place.
Zeoron walked along placidly, almost humming to herself. But then, she was a Black Mage and could more than likely burn whatever struck at her. Tida felt something wash over her and she froze in place. Chappu and Zeoron arrested, too, and each of the three was thrown in different directions.
"Chappu!" Tida cried, stretching for his hand as something powerful, something strong held her lower body immobile. She strained against, trying desperately to reach Chappu.
"Tida!" Chappu yelled. Tida grabbed his right hand in both of hers, holding on tightly to his wrist with her left hand, her own right gripping with his, almost in the form of a handshake.
For a moment, time seemed to stop. Tida smiled at Chappu, whose lips curved slightly to a simple smile. "Tida…"
A sharp jerk broke their grasp and Tida began screaming as Chappu was pulled down, down into the dark hole that had formed below them. Even farther below, almost a speck against the blackness was Zeoron, already accepting fate.
"CHAPPU!" Tida's cry was heart wrenching but there was no one to here, save Chappu.
Chappu, too, vanished into the swirling depths.
Disclaimer: All belongs to Squaresoft. Tida, Chappu, Aeon of Light, etc., are mine.