a/n: I might not really continue this story….no one is reading it anymore. *sighs* That is my fault, damn writers block. Oh well, I left off with a cliffhanger….so, here we go!

Chapter Eight: Hope from an Angel

Sora opened his eyes, but he saw nothing. He blinked, looking around him, but there was nothing—besides the darkness of black all around him. Sora stood up, and looked down at the ground, it ripped like water, but it was still black. He looked around again, unsure of what had happened. He remembered that there was a battle, and he fell, and lost consciousness….but, from then, he didn't know what. Sora heard water dropping and turned around, seeing a woman stand behind him. She had fair skin, blue hair and golden eyes….Sora recognized her, as the woman on the painting from that dream he had. He looked at her in awe, even though she looked young she had years of wisdom in her eyes.

"So, you are Sora-sama." She said.

"Sama?" Sora asked. He shook his head. "No."

"Why do you refuse the great title of sama?" she asked. "All great Summoners have the title of sama. It shows they are respected, do you not think you should have respect from those of Spira, Sora-sama?"

Sora sighed sadly. "I haven't done anything good….I failed."

"Failed? How so?" she asked.

"I….I couldn't protect my friends." Sora looked down. "I failed Kairi and Riku…..I'm dead."

"How are you certain you are dead?" she asked. "This is not the place where souls go in Spira. This is not the FarePlanes, Sora-sama." She smiled. "I believe you haven't failed at all."  She walked up to him, placing a hand on the boys shoulder. She turned him and showed him a great Temple. Sora looked up at it, it looked like the temple that was on the island, but this was more grand and elegant.

"Where am I?"

"This is the temple of Zanarkand." She told him. "It has been in ruins for a great millennia's now, after the attacks of Sin." She lead him up the steps into the temple, and Sora did not see any of the grand statues that he had seen on the island's temple.

"Zanarkand?" Sora asked, unsure of what this was.

"Zanarkand is the home of Tidus-san, your friend." The woman said. "Long ago, when I was still young, Zanarkand was in a battle against Belleve, a nearby place." She paused. "Zanarkand was loosing, for they used summons called Aeons against the mighty technology of Belleve. The people of Zanarkand turned to their leader, Yevon, for help. Yevon feared for the loss of Zanarkand, the city of summoners, therefore he killed himself to be undead as Yevon-Ju. Yevon-Ju took the physical form known as Sin, to destroy Belleve. He didn't destroy Belleve, however, instead he destroyed Zanarkand rather than it be destroyed by Belleve. The people of Zanarkand had become Fayths, once they had died. The daughter of Yavon, Yunalesca, along with her husband Zaon, had figured that the only way to destroy Sin was to have Zaon become a Final Summon."

Sora looked up at her as her eyes clouded as she spoke of Zaon. "You….you are Yunalesca! Yuna told me of you….how you defeated Sin for the first time….all those years ago…"

Yunalesca nodded. She looked back down at Sora and bent down to eye level. "Zaon sacrificed himself to save Spira, but it was in vain. Sin was destroyed, but then Yevon-Ju used Zaon as a new Sin. Sin is only the body protection for Yevon-Ju. Since then, I've wielded myself to become the Light of Spira, to be the model for those who fight against Sin and Yevon-Ju." She paused. "I loved my father so much, that Yevon-Ju took a hold of it, and he never truly died."

Sora frowned.

"This does not mean that this sad story will echo in your quest, Sora-sama." Yunalesca comforted him. She looked around. "Do you hear a song?" Sora nodded. "After Sin defeated Zanarkand, the Fayths wanted their Zanarkand back, real or not. So they brought their dreams and memories back of Zanarkand…."

"So, then…Tidus was nothing but a dream by the Fayths?"

"Yes, he was." Yunalesca nodded. "Yet one thing that is still uncertain is that for some reason, he was able to go into your world."

"How do you know that?"

Yunalesca smiled. "I heard your thoughts when you came into that temple on the Al Bhed Island….I am the Light of Spira, I can hear the thoughts of summoners." She patted his shoulder. "I also believe that your enemy, the Heartless, are after a princess."

"Yes…the Princesses of Heart." Sora said sadly. "They captured Yuna."

"They believe she is a Princess of Heart?" Yunalesca asked.

"I think they think that….she defeated Sin." Sora said.

Yunalesca nodded. "She was able to defeat not only Sin, but send Yevon to the Fareplanes….and in doing so, she also sent her love and one of her Guards off as well." She stood and continued down the hall. "Yet the Saga of Sin is over, and now a new Saga comes."

"A new one?"

Yunalesca turned to him. "As a result of Spira being free, these ones that are out to claim the hearts of Princesses are being attracted here." She pointed to the Zanarkand sky above her. "We are in the memory of myself, how I remember Zanarkand before Yevon-Ju destroyed it. Since my father was the Ruler of Zanarkand…"

"You would be the Princess!" Sora was dawned with realization. "You are the Princess of Heart, the Light that they have been looking for! But, they can't get to you!"

"Not now that the Fayths have been gone and Zanarkand is in ruins." Yunalesca said. "Yet, they may still find a way to get to me through Yuna-sama…this is why I have brought you here, Sora-sama."

"I do not understand, Lady Yunalesca." Sora said.

Yunalesca beckoned him to her, and Sora did. She bent down to him again. "If they are able to get through Yuna-sama, they maybe able to find me. Sora-sama, I need you to be my guardian to protect me from them." She smiled. "I know you can do it. I will help you, in fact…I can be a summon for you, as long as you stay in Spira." Sora looked at her sadly. "I am the Light of Spira, the hope for these people, I cannot go where they cannot." She stood. She then handed Sora a small little light ball. "Take this, and guard it well. It is my Light."

"Where can I put it where it would be safe, Lady Yunalesca?" Sora asked.

"In your heart, carry it with you, and you'll never loose it." Yunalesca smiled. Sora found his vision blurring and then all he knew was darkness.

Donald looked down at the fallen Sora. He looked up to Goofy, who was shaking his head sadly. Rikku had her mouth covered in utter shock. Lulu bent down next to Sora. "Is he alright?"

"Sora-sama…." Lulu said softly. "Donald-san, you are studding White Magic from Yuna-sama, hai?"

"Yes, I am."

"Has she taught you the Cure spell?" Lulu asked softly.

"Yes…." Donald took the spot where Lulu had sat. He bent down beside his friend, whom seemed dead. He was pale, he was bleeding all over, and he was breathing heavily. Donald gulped. Yuna had taught him the spell, but he wasn't sure if he could speak the language properly to say it.

"Do as you can, please Don!" Rikku cried out, raking in tears.

Donald nodded and put his hand over Sora's head. "Shizuka kanaru…." A light formed from Donald's hand and around Sora. "Shizuka kanaru shiwo*!" the light dimmed and most of Sora's wounds had stopped bleeding. Donald frowned. He stood and backed away as Sora groaned.

Sora opened his eyes and weekly sat up, wincing at his broken arm. He looked up around his friends, feeling weak spiritually and physically. He gaze ended at Lulu and he smiled softly. "Spira ni kiboe no hikari wo*." He said. Lulu smiled and Rikku looked at him confusedly, understanding the language but not what he meant by it.

"Rikku-san! Goofy-san! Hurry and pick up Sora and take him inside, Khimari-domo and I shall go around and see what damage has been done…." Lulu looked around. "Where is Tidus-domo?"

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*1 – Shizuka kanaru shiwo – A saying of Yuna's from the Japanese version of Final Fantasy X. She says this when she casts Cure. It translates into "The healing brings your silence." I don't really get it…O_o

*2 – Spira ni kiboe no hikari wo – Another saying of Yuna's from Japanese FFX. She says this as she casts her ultimate White Magic Spell, Holy. It translates to "This is Spira's Light of Hope." I thought it was appropriate to use it, seeing how Sora is now the Guard of Spira's Light of Hope. ^__^