Yes, there are inconsistencies in the first chapter. That's what makes it AU. :-) Don't worry, everything's there for a reason, and all will be explained…in time. Mwa ha ha!
FFX: Still not mine.
Final Fantasy X: Apocalypse
Chapter 2: Regrouping
Dona watched from Bevelle, tapping her foot lightly on the ground--an uncharacteristic display of nerves. She scoffed slightly, realizing that she no longer cared how people perceived her. There was far more at stake than one former summoner's pride, of that she was certain.
She hated to admit it, but a very small part of her was actually jealous. A few tiny changes in circumstances, and she might have been the one seeking the Final Aeon, fighting Sin, bringing the Calm. She had been perfectly willing to sacrifice herself and her guardian to do so, more than eager to accept her fate…until the destruction of the Al Bhed Home. Then, she had witnessed the brutality of which the followers of Yevon were capable. She had witnessed the bravery of the Al Bhed people, who had sacrificed their own lives to keep Isaaru and herself alive, while their Home burned to the ground around them. Afterwards, she had given up her pilgrimage, unwilling to devote herself to a religion that allowed entire peoples to be ostracized for holding different beliefs.
But, if the circumstances had been different, would she have done what Yuna was doing? Would she have turned her back on Yevon's teachings and still continued her pilgrimage?
No, she told herself. Quite obviously not.
She laughed very softly to herself, amused at the turn her thoughts had taken. History was about to change, and here she was, having her great epiphany…
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by the sight of the Al Bhed airship soaring away. That didn't bode well; the ship had carried Yuna's party straight into Sin, surely the Al Bhed wouldn't just leave them there…then a great explosion roared through the air, and Sin's shell cracked open.
What happened next nearly caused Dona to faint with horror. Two great beings burst forth from Sin's shell, one overtaking the other, merging into it, absorbing it into itself. Dona moaned and hid her face in her hands. She'd seen the same thing ten years before, when Lord Braska brought the Calm. This, she knew, was a Final Aeon being forced to merge with Sin, and that could only mean one thing. Sin's cycle of death and rebirth would continue, only this time, there would be no way to stop it.
But I have to try.
"Uh, Lady Dona, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." She took a deep, calming breath; then she spun on her heel and marched away. "We must find Isaaru."
"Isaaru?" Barthello repeated dumbly. "I thought he was--"
"I didn't tell you to think," Dona snapped, more harshly than she intended. "I told you we needed to find Isaaru. Now, are you coming or not?"
"Coming, Lady Dona!"
* * * *
Auron watched with something close to amusement as Tidus reeled back, Cid's fist having met squarely with the boy's jaw.
"Ow!" Tidus yelped, massaging his jaw gently. "Jeez, Cid."
"YOU MISERABLE SON OF A SHOOPUF!" Cid roared, preparing himself to strike again. "You better explain what happened, and you better do it real quick, before I--"
An ear-splitting shriek suddenly filled the room. Seven pairs of hands, Auron's included, instantly flew up to cover sensitive ears. The only person who didn't cover her ears was Rikku, the only person present who was capable of such a scream. Seeing that she had everybody's attention, she ceased to scream and commenced to shout.
"Would you both shut up!"
The uncharacteristic display of anger from the normally cheerful girl shocked everyone on the bridge into silence. Rikku turned a poisonous glare upon her father.
"Why'd you do that, you big meanie?"
"He got my niece killed, that's why," Cid growled. He stared viciously at Tidus, who had found relative safety behind Kimahri.
"No, he didn't, Vydran! I was there, and it wasn't his fault. It was Seymour!"
"Seymour?" Cid's eyes narrowed. "Thought you guys killed him."
"We did!" Wakka said defensively. "Four times, ya? Yuna finally sent him."
"How could he be responsible for my niece's suicide mission when he's on the Farplane?" Cid thundered.
"He found his way back, obviously." Auron lifted a brow at the confused expression on the others' faces. "I believe it is possible. Think."
"Jyscal," Lulu said quietly. "He walked off the Farplane, handed that sphere to Yuna…"
"Who sent him right back," Tidus finished.
"What do you think would have happened to him if Yuna hadn't sent him back?"
Silence. Then, surprisingly, Kimahri spoke up.
"He become fiend," the Ronso stated gruffly.
"Unless his will was strong enough to keep him here," Auron finished.
Lulu played with her necklaces, her Onion Knight mimicking the motion, identical thoughtful expressions on each face. "Seymour had an obsession with becoming Sin."
"Yeah, there's motivation for you," Tidus muttered, kicking at the floor with his feet.
"But that doesn't explain that whole thing about the Final Aeon," Wakka pointed out. "Lady Yunalesca was the only one who could make that, and she's dead, ya? So how's Seymour gonna become the Final Aeon?"
"Yuna very strong summoner," Kimahri said, his voice a low rumble. "Perhaps she make Final Aeon."
Everybody winced at that, even Brother, whose Spiran was still quite poor. Finally, Cid slapped his hand against the wall.
"There is no way she'd turn that psychopath into the Final Aeon."
"Had there been another option, no, she wouldn't have. Unfortunately, we had no other options." Auron stepped closer to Cid, staring directly into the Al Bhed leader's eyes. "She had two choices. One was to refuse Seymour's demand and let Sin destroy Spira at that very moment. The other was to sacrifice herself, transform Seymour into her Final Aeon, and buy us time."
"Time for what?" Cid snorted derisively. "It's not like we made a plan B."
"Then let's make one!" Tidus shouted, pumping his fist in the air.
"Yeah," Rikku affirmed, copying Tidus' gesture. "That's what Yunie would want, right? So let's make a plan and do it!"
Auron peered at the two teenagers, his brow raised. Knowing Tidus and Rikku, it was possible that they already had the beginnings of a "plan B," as Cid called it, but it was more likely that they were simply running on adrenaline. They were all exhausted, and desperately in need of rest. Auron himself felt a sudden need to collapse into a warm bed and stay there for a long, long time…and he was dead.
"Auron?" Tidus prodded him. "Are you gonna help us think of something, or are you gonna stare at your belly button and contemplate the universe?"
Auron smirked behind his collar. Ten years he'd invested in raising Jecht's son, and the boy still had no respect for his elders.
"We'll discuss our options in the morning," he said at last. "For now, we rest."
With that, he turned and strode off the bridge, heading toward the small cabin the group had been assigned when they first boarded the airship. In the morning, he told himself, they would formulate a plan. When Sin reappeared, they would be prepared, and they would destroy it. They had to…otherwise, there would very possibly be no universe left to contemplate.
Radical, I know. But I figure, Yuna's smart. If Yunalesca could figure out how to create a mega-aeon, I reckon Yuna could potentially figure it out too.
Thanks to Rin, Refugee, Mugen, Sakura, Noacat, and The Angel of the Lion. Also Seymour Goddess, even though I'm already aware of my plot holes. :-) Thank you all for reviewing. Especially Rin. *basks in the warm glow of a lovely review from an excellent author*
P.S. Don't worry, I won't kill Auron. ^_^
