Chapter Twenty-One

The steel of Auron's katana blazed forward with incredible speed, sending beams from the fluorescent lights cascading off of the cutting edge.  The blade sliced completely through the unsuspecting Crusader Guard as he turned the corner on a patrol.  Rikku dashed out from behind Auron and impaled her claws in the abdomen of the next Crusader.  He screamed out in a mixture of agony and surprise, alerting the remaining five guards.  Rikku twisted her hand inside her weapon and the fighter dropped to his knees in a clump. 

Kimahri sifted through the hallway and swiped his spear across the face of a guard who had just readied his weapon a split second too late.  The Ronso then stepped forward and plunged his spear into the guard's torso, sending his opponent to his death.  Moments later a blitzball whizzed by his head.  The blue, spiked ball skimmed Kimahri's horn and took down a guard who was reaching for his com, sending him motionless and to the floor.  Lulu then encompassed the remaining resistance in a powerful flare spell.  The screams and the blast echoed down the hallway to the bolted door at the end of the corridor.

After taking care of the business at hand, Auron proceeded up the hallway to the heavy steel doors ahead, only to quickly turn around after hearing a gunshot echo off of the hallway.  He looked backwards to see Wedge with his rifle pointed down to a Crusader, who apparently wasn't as dead as Wakka thought he was.  The Crusader was now one hundred percent dead as he had a ragged hole of flesh and blood between his shoulder blades.  Wedge then looked up at the elder monk and said: "I had to get in on the action somehow."

"Hmph," Auron replied, obviously not amused.  "Then why don't you come up here and use that rifle of yours and see if you can blast this lock off the door?"

"Sure thing," Wedge said opportunistically, moving in front of Kimahri and taking aim at the deadbolt lock on the large door blocking their path. 

A shot blasted through the hallway, moments before Auron stepped into a dark laboratory.

-----

A man in a Crusader uniform turned the corner and practically ran into the protection guards standing guard outside Luzzu's office.

"Slow down officer," another Crusader had said, approaching him cautiously.  "What's the rush?" he ordered.

"The enemy," the first guard said, now gasping for his breath.  "Infiltrated," he said heaving in his husky voice. 

"What?" another Crusader said stepping up to the scene.  "Where?"

"The lab," the out of breath guard said, doubling over.  "It was a massacre."

"The basement lab?" he questioned, glancing back towards the company of guards posted outside the door.  "Call them," he instructed pointing a finger at a pale-looking Crusader in a uniform that appeared two sizes two big. 

"Yes, yes sir," he replied, fumbling for the com.  "This is Company D calling Company Y leader, please respond."  After a few seconds of no response he tried again.  "This is Azreal of Company D, the Guardians of the Grand Marshall calling Company Y respond now." 

After a few more seconds of silence he looked to the company leader with a frightened expression on his face.  "Sir?"

"You," the commanding officer said turning back to the older Crusader who was just now catching his breath.  Stay here with Jesse, Cyan, Bruce, Cecil, Roy, and Cage," he said pointing to the perspective people.  "Protect the Grand Marshall, that is your priority. Everyone else with me," he said turning right and running towards the elevators.

The remaining guards followed the commanding officers, running down the hallway in the direction of the elevator.  Once the squadron had cleared out of sight, one of the guys who had been pointed out as Cage, addressed to the older Crusader who had alerted them to the invasion.  "So what was it like down there?" he asked casually.

"Oh, I don't know," the first Crusader replied, fully composed as if he hadn't run at all today.  "I wasn't there."

"Then how did you know that the enemy was there?" a perplexed Crusader in the back asked.

The old Crusader raised his head back, showing his face and flashing a wry grin, replied: "Because I sent them."  The man donned in Crusader apparel then seemingly produced an Al Bhed pistol out of his pockets and raised his guns directly at the guard and fired at point blank range, sending brain matter and blood against the wall.  More shots rang out as Yuna turned the corner and unloaded into two more Crusaders, sending them to the floor in a bloody mess.  Biggs and Brother emerged into view producing their rifles as well.  Two more shots were heard as two more Crusaders lost their lives.  The man who struck first turned his aim toward a scared guard fumbling for his rifle.  Cid pulled the trigger and caught the man right inside the heart.

"Good work Cid," Tidus said, stepping into view, swaying his sword casually.  "But I think you should keep that outfit.  It brings out the best in your eyes," he continued with a joking smile on his face.

"I'll think about that later," Cid replied.  "Now lets go in there and kick some Luzzu ass!"

Suddenly the grand double doors blasted off the hinges and nearly crashed into Biggs.  "Ahh," he screamed, jumping out of the way.  Tidus shielded his blue eyes from a small number of debris that came flying his way.  When he looked back at where the doors once were, a sinking feeling hit him hard in the pit of his stomach.

"You were going to do what?" a voice boomed out.  Tidus stepped forward and into the presence of Luzzu, with his grand black cape seemingly swallowing him up and his hair almost fiery red with rage. 

"Uhhh," Cid replied, picking himself up off of the ground.

"Kick some Luzzu ass!" Tidus finished for him.  Immediately he lunged forward and thrust his Brotherhood toward the sternum of the Grand Marshall.  Every bone in Tidus' body popped as his sword stopped as if it had struck a concrete wall.  Before him he saw a familiar protection grid encompass Luzzu.  He was also smiling back at the blonde warrior.  Suddenly an artic chill flowed through Tidus' body as he crumpled to the floor in a fetal position in the wake of Blizzaga.

"I give you respect for making it this far," Luzzu said stepping past Tidus as if he was a discarded play toy.  "But your journey ends here."

An array of bullets flew towards Luzzu, only to ricochet onto the wall to his right.  Yuna stood in awe as the thought struck her that she unloaded two clips at him and he reflected them all.

A bestial roar erupted through the room as Kimahri raced across the wrecked lobby at blazing speed with his spear raised high.  "No," Tidus said, still struggling for his breath.  Kimahri plunged his spear downward only to hear a snap of wood as his spear broke as it hit the protect field around Luzzu.  Kimahri roared again in disgust as he threw the wooden peg in his hands aside.  He then pummeled his fist in the direction of Luzzu's face.  Tidus grimaced hard, as he heard the sound of every bone and knuckle in Kimahri's hand shatter as if he hit a wall.  That is a sound that will haunt Tidus in his dreams for years and years to come, if he makes it out of here alive, that is. 

"You fools," Luzzu said, still with his confident grin etched across his face.  "I have more power than you can ever dream of.  And now, it will become your nightmare."

----------

A set of black pupils squinted in the darkness.  He was looking for anything; or maybe just some sign of movement.  He saw the remnants of campfires littered between the forest lines on each side.  The flickers of flames were the only things that he saw moving, other than the armored black chocobos.

"What do you think sir?" he asked his commander, turning to see his superior in his trademark blue Luca Crusader outfit.

"I think they're asleep," came his reply.  He glanced over and saw that his superior was scanning the camp area through binoculars, even though they were only fifty yards away. 

"Sir?" he questioned.

"There must not be many of them left.  We should be able to march over them like we we're marching over ants."

"But you think there all asleep?" his subordinate asked, unease coating his voice.

"Yes," he replied placing his binoculars inside his pouch.  "And we should wake them up."  He paused before continuing.  "Full charge.  Kill anything you see."   "Oh," he started again, correcting himself.  "Word has it that there are a few women fighters with them.  Make sure they're not going to harm anyone, and then take them alive.  They could bring a good price on the streets of Luca.  And you may do what you wish with them until we get back home," he said, hoping that could motivate his troops even more.  "Full charge, now!!"  

"FULL CHARGE!!" his subordinate yelled to the Luca branch of Crusaders.  With a battle cry the two squadrons of men advanced on the camp with their weapons drawn.  The first of the soldiers opened fire on the tents, ripping holes into the fabric and hopefully flesh of any napping resistance.  The other Crusaders took the idea and started slashing their swords or firing their guns at the tents and any sleeping fighter.

It was then that a laugh trickled down into the valley.  One by one the Crusaders stopped what they were doing, as they realized something was amiss.  There was no resistance.  There were no guards on patrol, and there were no soldiers staggering out of the tents bloodied and dying.  The only thing that was living seemed to be the black armored chocobos who were warking curiously at the Crusaders.  There was no one else. There was no sound, except for the deep laugh echoing down the valley. 

"Oh, shi…" the commander said as he realized his folly.  Suddenly the forest on both sides sparkled as fire from ignited gunpowder flickered within the trees.  Trapped between the two sides of dense forest and armed Al Bhed, the Crusaders dropped, as they were insects striking the windshield of an airship.

The commander, who no more than four minutes ago thought he was walking into a massacre, realized that he was indeed correct.  But he had no idea that he was leading his troops into their own bloodbath.  He opened his mouth to scream "Retreat", but a bullet impaled itself into his lower jaw, sending pieces of his head flying in various directions.

Jecht stood next to a tree close to the forest line, still safely out of sight.  His face had a smile so large that if he felt that if he smiled any more, the edges of his mouth would meet in the back and the top portion of his head would flop off.  His arms were crossed in front of him as he watched the last of the Crusaders fall to the ground.  So these are Luca's best, he thought to himself.  Not even a challenge

"Hmph," he said, turning to Abel, who was a few feet behind him perched on a tree.  "You sure we don't have any ale?"

"Pretty sure," Abel said, with an equal smile on his face.

"Because we could use a victory drink right about now."

Some soldier who was within a few feet of Jecht, obviously enthralled by the idea of a victory drink of ale, screamed out into the pre-dawn air.  Suddenly the forest on both sides of the camp exploded in a series of screams and shouts as the soldiers were celebrating victory, life, and the idea of winning this war.

-----------

Wakka was entranced.  The random assortment of computer monitors, subtle beeping, and flickering of light didn't distract him.  His gaze was fixed ahead, onto a glass enclosure that stood six feet high.  He had tears running down the stubble on his cheeks.

"Why?" he finally asked, his voice cracking and barely audible.  "Why?" he asked again.

Auron walked behind him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.  It wasn't very much, but that small gesture seemed to help Wakka in a small way.

"Lulu," Rikku said hesitantly.  Lulu's gaze was still fixed on the same thing that Wakka's eyes were: a compression chamber, with their infant son inside.  You couldn't exactly make out his features, because there was a dark element inside as well.  There was also some kind of glowing liquid encasing the two.  Even though they were partially obscured from view, Wakka could still see his son's face. 

Lulu had taken a few steps towards the glass.  She could tell, as anyone else could, that her child was dead.  She placed her hand upon the glass, as if she could almost touch him.  She had her own tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Luzzu is a sick man," Auron said in his collective stature. 

Wakka looked down quickly.  He didn't want to see it anymore.  His heart was aching so much that he felt as if it were going to explode in his own chest.  Suddenly rage swept over him.  He thrashed his blitzball to the right, not even looking at where it went.  Sparks flew as it crashed into a computer monitor.  Wakka then picked up a lab chair and started pounding the table with it.  He didn't know what he was doing, and he didn't care.  In one last act of hatred and disgust he turned and flung the chair at the wall.  It struck a power box and fire and sparks started shooting out towards them.

"Ahhh," Rikku screamed as she covered her head and knelt to the floor.  After a few seconds the flames trickled off and quit.  The monitors also dimmed and then shut themselves off.  Auron noticed that the light above the compression chamber dimmed, and then faded away.

----------------------

Pain.

Agonizing and excruciating pain.

Yuna could describe it no better, if she could speak at all.  She was curled up in a fetal position outside Luzzu's office, screaming in agony.  Bolt after bolt of high-voltage electricity poured into her body as Luzzu unleashed his fury onto her.  Another wave of Thundaga struck her and she screamed out, convulsing in the pain.  The electricity singed her hair and her clothing and created a distinct smell of burning flesh. 

She wanted to die. 

Just when she thought she could take it no more, it stopped.  She tightened up as hard as she could, expecting a fresh set of voltage to pass through her. Only it didn't.  After a few seconds of preparing her body for what was sure to be her death, she forced herself to open her eyes, although only one seemed to be responding.  After a few seconds of focusing, Yuna saw Luzzu standing menacingly over top of her.  However there seemed to be something different about him this time.  He looked afraid.  His expression showed fear for the first time ever that Yuna could ever remember.

"How?" Luzzu muttered, looking down at himself.  "How could this have?" he asked again, trailing off his thoughts. 

Yuna tried to sit up as much as she could, but pain trickled through her body and she collapsed back on the floor.  Behind her she heard Tidus' voice.

"It seems like you've ran out of gas."

Tidus staggered forward through the debris that was once a waiting office.  He stepped over something that looked like a desk chair, now mangled and twisted.  His left arm was pulled inside and was not moving.  Much of the flesh of his arm from the shoulder down had been burned off by the attack.  However, he still had the Brotherhood in his right hand, and a look of determination on his face. 

Luzzu stepped back and tried to focus his mind.  However this time it felt as if something had been ripped from him.  His power that once consumed him was gone, and it left a ragged hole in his soul.  He felt naked, scared, and he felt death bearing down upon him.

In one swift motion Tidus advanced, still holding his burned arm close.  He swung his sword awkwardly, but Luzzu quickly ducked out of harms way.  Now suddenly energized by Tidus' attack, Luzzu seemed to snap back into reality.  He turned and fled down the hallway, stepping over Yuna as he went. 

Tidus gave chase long enough until he was standing overtop of her. 

"Yuna," he whispered, kneeling down beside her.  He had to admit that she didn't look good.  Her hair was fried in many places and her skin and clothing was charred.  She had a bleeding gash that went overtop of her left eye, leaking a mixture of blood and clear liquid that oozed down her face. 

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, placing a hand on hers. 

"Yes," she replied through the pain.  "Go after him," she whispered fragilely.  Tidus gave her a reassuring smile and grabbed his sword with his good hand and ran after Luzzu. 

He ran down the hallway as fast as his injured body would allow it.  His mind was churning almost as fast as he feet were moving.  Tidus was trying desperately to find some kind of trail, or maybe a sign of where his quarry had escaped.  Without thinking he turned right at a T-junction.  His sign came in the form of a metal post about four inches in diameter that came flying from the corner and met him in the forehead. 

Tidus screamed in pain as the hit connected.  His world had turned dark with spots of hazy light.  Tidus fell to the ground in a clump.  Pain had shattered his senses and slowed down his time perception.  Slowly the darks in his vision turned into grays as his sight was trying to return to him.  He heard a shuffling noise to his right.  Tidus immediately jumped to his left, while fumbling blindly for his Brotherhood. 

As Luzzu was escaping through the hallway, he had come across a section of the hallway that was being renovated.  Something about the lighting fixture that kept shorting out.  The maintenance team had been working on it all week.  When Luzzu turned the corner away from his office and the pursuing Tidus, he had found a pile of debris that the maintenance crew had discarded.  In it was a metal pipe.  It was the same pipe that Luzzu was striking Tidus with now. 

Suddenly pain shot through his right leg as the metal rod Luzzu had found connected to his femur.  Tidus screamed in agony as he realized his mistake.  I should have stayed with Yuna, some part of his mind thought.  Slowly the realization of his own death triggered in his mind.  Without thought, he pushed that idea from his mind.  He had to find his sword.  He had to save himself.  He had to save Yuna.

His vision had cleared up some by the time Luzzu spoke to him.

"I don't know how you did it," his voice rang out with its previous collectiveness and confidence.  Gone was the moment of fear and disbelief.  "But the fact that you somehow drained me of my powers, is of little consequence now." 

Tidus tried to focus and disregard the blips in his vision.  He could see Luzzu towering above him with a smile of arrogance on his face.  He was fidgeting with the metal rod in his hand as he spoke. 

"Prepare to die Tidus!" he exclaimed as he pulled his weapon back as he was ready to strike. 

"No!!" a voice screamed from behind them.  Luzzu turned to see Yuna, struggling down the hallway.  She was crawling on her knees, as if she felt she could contribute to this battle.  He could also tell that she was weaponless.

"Don't," she pleaded to him.  Luzzu's grin widened a second before he realized his own mistake.  He turned back around in time to see Tidus lunging for his sword.  Luzzu struck as hard as he could with the little time he had, sending the metal pipe hard onto Tidus' left foot as he was crawling for his sword.

"Ahhh," Tidus yelled as he felt the impact and heard the distinctive sound of bones breaking.  With one last surge he blocked out the pain and leapt forward and wrapped his hand around his Brotherhood.   Tidus turned in time to see Luzzu thrusting his pipe in the direction of Tidus' head, hoping for the fatal blow.  Tidus raised his weapon and parried the blow and rolled out of the way.

Tidus managed to stand up, despite the horrible pain in his right leg and left ankle.  There was also a trickle of blood that was running down the bridge of his nose from his earlier hit.  However the most noticeable thing was the sudden look of resolve on his face as he drew his weapon and lashed out.

Luzzu shielded himself with his pipe and the sword clanged off of it.  Luzzu then twisted to the right and lunged out.  The hit was only a glancing blow and barely connected with Tidus' shoulder. 

Tidus grunted as he turned to face his opponent.  He swung his sword as hard and as fast as he could, putting every ounce of his being behind his blade.  Luzzu put his pipe in front of him as he tried to defend himself.

The blade sliced right through the metal rod and impaled itself in Luzzu's sternum.

The Brotherhood had found its target.  Yuna stared open-mouthed at Luzzu as he realized death was indeed coming for him today.  He broke his gaze with her and looked down to see the familiar blue-green material sticking out of his chest.  There was a pained sense of recognition on his face, as he knew that death was now upon him and that he was taking the first step toward the Farplane, if fate would allow him that kind of peace.  He then hunched over unceremoniously and slumped in the floor, never to move again.

"Tidus," Yuna screamed, trying to step toward her fiancé.  Her pain was still immense and she fell back onto her knees.  She then closed her eyes and a magic field encased her, healing her wounds but still not easing her pain.  She opened her eyes and Tidus was there, with his good arm outstretched seconds before embracing her.  She closed her eyes and felt his warm presence surround her.  Her senses were still numb from the electrocution attack, but she could still feel Tidus' arm around her. 

"Did we win?" she asked, her voice only above a whisper.

"We won Yuna," Tidus replied.  "We won our last battle."

"No more fighting," she said.  "Please Yevon, no more fighting."

"No more fighting," Tidus replied, still holding onto his wounded fiancée with his one good arm.  "It's all over," he started.  "We can live happily ever after."

"Happily ever after," Yuna replied still deep into his embrace, with a single tear trickling down her cheek.  "I like the sound of that."

"I love you."

---------

There were screams, a lot of screams. 

Tidus emerged out of the rubble that was once the wall surrounding Bevelle, tripping over a stone in the process.  He gathered himself as he looked out into the field in the early morning light.  He was holding Yuna in his right arm and he was hearing screaming. 

As he watched the scenario unfold before him he couldn't help but smile.  His army that he entered battle with almost 24-hours ago was celebrating wildly in the field.  As he looked around he saw warrior monks hugging Al Bhed and Ronso lifting up Besaid Islanders.  They were all screaming, singing the Hymn of the Fayth, and celebrating life.  By now a few civilians had joined the fray.  His smile broadened even more until he noticed a familiar figure giving Abel a high five.  His smile quickly faded, and then it slowly resurfaced as many emotions went through his injured system.  He started limping in the direction of his dad.

"You know," Jecht's voice drifted to Tidus and Yuna as they got closer.  "I thought I planned some stuff out, but you Abel, you really came through," he said slapping the ex-aide to Luzzu on the back.  "And you know what else?" he asked while turning his head.  He stopped when his face turned Tidus' direction.

"Hey boy," Jecht said, his voice lowering a few pitches.

"Hey dad," he replied.  "What are you doing here?"

"I wasn't gonna sit by and watch you have all the fun," he replied with a cocky grin on his face.  "You look like you seen some action."

"Yeah," Tidus replied.  "Luzzu was almost more than we could handle."

"Almost," Jecht replied with a little snort.  "Hey Yuna," he said, turning his gaze to the fragile-looking girl at Tidus' hip.

"Hey," she replied uneasily.  Yuna's hair and skin was still burned in many places.  Her left eye hadn't opened since their "victory," against Luzzu.  She would see a medic later, but right now she wasn't going to miss this for all of Spira. 

"Dad," Tidus started, grasping for the words.

"Yeah," he replied.

"I've asked Yuna to be my wife."

"Well congratulations," Jecht said, extending his hand.

Tidus took it cautiously and shook it firmly. 

"But ya know?" Jecht started.  "That's no surprise to me."

"Yeah well," Tidus replied.  "I just wanted you to know."

"Well I'm glad and…" his said tapering off at the end as his eyes caught something behind Tidus.  "Auron!"

Tidus and Yuna both turned to see Auron and his crew of merry men and women walking through the barrage of celebrating chaos. 

"Hmph," Auron said, responding to his name.  "I guess you couldn't stay out of this one could you?" the ever-somber monk said.

"Me?" Jecht said.  "Stay out of this?  Remember who devised this master plan huh?  Besides, I was wondering if you still carry any of that ale."

Auron smirked as he pulled up his handle and offered it over.  "Drinking again?" he asked.

"I got to toast, and that means I have to have something to toast with."

"It always seems as if you have something to toast to, Jecht." Auron said.

"We'll, this is to victory, and my son getting married," he proclaimed loudly.

Jecht turned up the handle and started chugging as Rikku and Wakka both gasped behind them.  "Uahh," Tidus started.  "Yeah," he slowly admitted to them.

"Yunie!!" Rikku said rushing up and hugging her cousin.

And there was a lot to celebrate that day…

Within an hour the dead had been buried, the souls had been sent, and the celebration had ensued, gripping the entire city of Bevelle.  This was a city free of an evil tyrant's regime, and they celebrated it like Tidus had never seen any amount of people celebrate before.  There were fires in the street, inebriated men and women dancing the alleyways and naked people running around everywhere.  Bevelle had a large portion of ale for all to be had. 

Tidus and his friends weren't so openly avid about celebrating in the streets.  Although there was just cause to be happy, there was also a lot of reasons to be mournful.  Many people had lost their lives today.  Many people are afraid of what could happen to Spira in the future.  Already high Maesters and officials had found Yuna and contacted her.  They again wanted her to lead the world.  They needed someone to trust, and Yuna has never let Spira down.

But that didn't matter to her now.

She was safely in Tidus' arms at a back wooden table in a small and sparsely populated pub.  They had been here for sometime now, all of her friends.  Whether it was sitting around the tables in the back, enjoying each other's company, or having the occasional drink, it didn't matter, because all of her friends were there.  Rikku was talking loudly to some Al Bhed, excited and still nervous about what lies ahead for them and their culture.  Wakka was dancing with Lulu up on the floor to some soft music coming out of the sphere.  Brother and Abel were two seats down discussing in two languages the great mystery that is women, with Tidus chipping in every now and then.  Biggs and Wedge were at the bar, as they were for the past hour: flirting with a couple of blonde girls who just can't believe that they were part of the rebellion.

Auron, Jecht, Cid, and surprisingly Kimahri were sitting at a nearby table passing around their seventh jug of ale.  It seemed that Jecht got louder with each jug ordered.

"I can't believe it," Jecht said for the thirteenth time that day.  "My own boy is getting married.  He's settling up."

"We know," Auron said while taking a sip of ale.  "And I think the term is settling down.  But still, I wonder how Braska would feel."

"We'll be sure to ask him."

"Easy there Jecht," Auron said in a low voice glaring back at Tidus.

"Oh, yeah," Jecht said in a hushed tone.  "But I still can't believe it you know."

If the Maesters wish Yuna to lead Spira to the Promised Land, then she may take the responsibility.  She would consider it atoning for her not grasping the position the first time around.  But either way, she can worry about it tomorrow.  Now is not the time to think of such things.  Now, as she was in the company of friends and in the arms of Tidus, the world was perfect.

She heard Jecht let out a long sigh at the next table over. 

"You about ready," he asked someone at the table in a very solemn voice.

"Yes," Auron responded.  "For good this time."

"For the first time," Jecht replied.  Immediately Jecht got up and turned to face Tidus.  "Take a walk with me boy," he said.  "Got somein' to tell you."

"Okay," Tidus said nudging Yuna to sit up for a moment so he could move.

"Go on," Jecht said after Tidus had reached his feet.

"Huh?" Tidus asked.

"Go on outside the pub, I'll meet you there in a minute."

"Sheesh dad," Tidus said.  "What's this all about?"

"You'll see," Jecht responded.

Tidus shrugged his shoulders and turned around and left the bar.

It was actually about four minutes before Jecht emerged from the door.  "You about ready to go for this walk?" Tidus asked him as he immediately stepped out into the street.

"Yeah," Jecht replied in a low tone, as if he was really unsure if he wanted to or not.  He led the way towards the edge of the city.

After a minute of walking in silence, Jecht finally found the words.  "You're gonna be happy with her."

"Yeah, I think so," Tidus replied, still unsure where this conversation and this walk was taking them.

"She's a good girl and well…you guys will be alright.  I know your wedding day will make you the happiest man in the world."

Tidus was a bit perplexed by his dad rambling like that.  Actually, now that he thought about it, they didn't really set a date.  Jecht continued.

"I know you two will be happy, but I just wished I could be there to see it, that's all."

"What are you saying dad?"

"I'm saying bye son."

A long silence ensued.  By the time Jecht spoke again they had came to the rubble that was once a city wall.

"I didn't go to the Farplane, when you defeated me," Jecht finally explained.

"What?" Tidus asked in surprise.

"I wasn't human when I died, I was still Sin, or at lest a good part of me was.  I didn't go to the Farplane, to rest in peace.  I roamed Spira, still partly human, and still partly Sin, but not really anything.  I can't describe it.  But now I'm human again.  The Fayth re-dreamt me, as they did Auron.  Poor Auron," Jecht said with a tone Tidus had never heard his dad use before.  "He's escaped the chance for never-ending happiness three times already.  That guy really deserves the eternal rest of the Farplane." 

Jecht paused again before continuing.  "And plus, seeing you and Yuna, makes me miss your mom."

There was a sudden pang of sadness at the mention of Tidus' mother.  He remembered his first time at the Farplane, seeing his mother there really surprised and yet distraught him at the same time. 

"I'm sure she's proud of you," Jecht said.  "Just like I am.  But now it's time."

He extended his hand for the second time today, and Tidus took it.  This time a handshake wasn't enough, as Tidus stepped in and embraced his father for the last time ever. 

"Take care of Yuna," Jecht said as he broke the embrace and turned to walk away.

"I will," Tidus said, tears swelling at the corner of his eyes.

"I'll check in on you from time to time,"  Jecht said as he started walking out into the late night toward the forest.  Tidus could already see the familiar forms of pyreflies dissipating around him.  Tidus swallowed hard as he watched his dad walk away into the night, never to be seen again.

A few minutes later Tidus breathed a hard sigh, as he looked downward.  He quickly composed himself as he heard footsteps clicking down the pathway.  He turned in time to see Auron, who had taken the same walk behind them.

"I'm not much for good-byes," the fatigued monk said.  "But take care of yourself."

"You too Auron," Tidus said lamely.

Auron started walking past him toward the inky blackness that awaited him. 

"Auron," Tidus said, emotion drenching his voice. 

"Yes," he replied, cocking his head around to look at Tidus in the eyes.

"It's been an honor," Tidus said.

"No young Tidus," Auron replied.  "It's been my honor."

With that Auron hiked his katana on his back and walked proudly into the darkness.  He walked as if he was a man who was going to something that he has been denied for twelve years now.  He walked as if he was a man going to eternal peace.

Tidus' eyes watched him walk the same path into the night as his watched his dad walk just a few minutes ago.  When Auron had disappeared from view into the darkness Tidus swallowed hard again, mourning friends and family gone.  As he was about to turn and walk back he heard his dad's voice drift down towards him, one last time.

"You took your damn time getting' here didn't ya Auron?"

"Shut up," Auron said in the not-to-far distance.  "Eternity with you and Braska is enough to make me want to stay here a few more years."

"What are you talkin' about?"

Auron sighed and then replied:  "Let's go home"

And that was the last Tidus, or the rest of Spira ever heard from two of the greatest guardians who ever lived.    

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Author's notes

1—It's done.  I will post again.  Just an epilogue and a FULL Author's notes, which is why I'm not saying much right now.  Anyway, you read it all, so review and tell me what you think!!  Thanks much to everyone.