Epilogue and Author's notes.
Yuna felt as if she was inside a dream. Her heart was pounding, sweat started to break out on her brow, and she felt cold to the touch. Everything seemed as if it were flowing in slow motion. She felt her arms and feet respond slowly to her mind's commands. Now to think about it, she barely felt her now trembling feet beneath her. It was almost as if she were floating slowly towards her destination. She casually reached her hand up and pulled a few strands of hair out of her blue and green eyes. She checked the rest of her hair, for what seemed like the fortieth time today.
Yuna swallowed hard and broke her gaze from the large double doors in front of her. She glanced to her right to find the large, blue Ronso, exactly where he was supposed to be. Kimahri gave her a small, but enormously reassuring smile. That was all she needed him to do. She returned the smile, as the large doors in front of them slowly opened in front of them. Through her numbed senses, she could hear the corresponding music in the next chamber. She slowly walked forward into the aisle, with Kimahri at her side.
There were many people on both sides of her, standing to catch a glimpse of the beautiful girl on the happiest day of her life. However, she was oblivious to everything around her. She had tunnel vision in every aspect of the words. Her gaze was focused forward on one single solitary figure, her fiancée. He was waiting for her.
Tidus was dressed as Yuna had never seen him before. Gone were the open shirts, shorts of different length, and wild and untamed hair. Instead Tidus had on a sharp black tuxedo with a gold vest showing through his jacket. His blonde hair was perfectly groomed and laying back, every strand in place perfectly. His blue eyes were locked onto the woman he loved. The Temple priest was on his right, and Wakka was on his left, being the best man. Wakka looked strangely out of place as well, with his matching tuxedo and lack of stubble on his face.
To Yuna, the walk to the Temple altar seemed to take a lifetime. When she finally got there she was convinced that she was going to fall on the step and make an idiot out of herself in front of the world. But it went without error and before too long she was standing directly in front of Tidus, her eyes never leaving his.
The priest then began to talk, but to Yuna it seemed as if the words were muffled and a million miles away. She tried to pay attention and focus on what was being said, but all she could concentrate on were the two blue orbs that were Tidus' eyes. After a few minutes she saw Tidus open his mouth and say two words:
"I do."
The sudden motion made Yuna blink and snap back into reality to catch a few more words from the priest as he shifted his attention to her.
"Sickness…….health….do……forsaking…" Were the only words she could make as she tried to pay attention. Her entire soul was still focusing into Tidus' eyes. "Take this man…..husband?"
Yuna didn't respond at first, only waiting to see if he was indeed finished. Hesitantly, she opened her red lips and repeated Tidus' words.
"I do."
Even though it came out barely above a whisper, those two words spoke volumes.
"Then I now pronounce you man and wife," the priest started. "You may now kiss the bride."
At those words, Tidus leaned in, and their lips met. Just the taste of his lips sent electricity through her body, as if she had kissed a machina battery. It was then that applause rippled through the temple and wedding bells broke out. The kiss that Yuna wished would never end finally did, and she found her way back into his eyes again.
Tidus stared long into Yuna' face, examining her expression. There was a sense of true happiness in her unique eyes as she stared back at him. At that moment, every part of his essence radiated with emotion. Everything felt right to him, as if this moment was the moment that defined what he was brought into this world for. Never before had he felt so happy, so at peace, and just so damn alive. He couldn't describe it. It was greater than any battle victory, or any blitzball win, or even being brought back to life. It was…love. Every single solitary part of him was into loving Yuna right now; and he wished that he would never have to break her gaze. Finally he brought himself out of the depths that are her eyes.
They then turned and faced the audience.
For Yuna, it was the first time she had actually seen the large gathering in the Temple. She could see everyone dressed in their best, on their feet, applauding as if there were no tomorrow. She could tell that everyone from the village was in attendance, as her gaze swept across the crowd. Her eyes started to fill with water as she looked upon the people before her, applauding her wedding day.
They both took a step forward and walked towards the door, this time as husband and wife.
"No more fighting," Tidus' words surfaced in Yuna's mind from last week's war, as she passed hundreds of smiling faces gazing at her. "It's all over," his voice continued playing. "We can live happily ever after."
"Happily ever after," Yuna remembered saying as they exited the Temple into the bright sunlight. Just the idea of a storybook ending made her shudder in delight. She realized that now, in this moment, she was living the life she wanted with the love of her life beside of her.
Always.
The end.
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Author's notes
1—Well everyone, it's done!! I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This truly was an interesting piece for me to write, and I think it turned out all right.
2—Thanks to all of the supporters along the way. I can't exactly list them all here, but if you want to know who they are, click the link that says "reviews." To everyone who posted I offer my thanks and gratitude. You guys are the reason that this story became what it is today. When I first started writing this, I was using writing as a form of therapy to cope with a plethora of things. I had no bloody idea where this was heading; I just knew I had to write. But due to the amount of feedback I received, this story took on a life of its own, and began to twist its way into a plot that I enjoyed crafting.
3—So I guess the pertinent question now is: What the hell does this all mean? Well, at one point, I wasn't quite sure. I didn't know if I wanted to commit myself to another story, with all of the effort and time it requires. But I was only fooling myself. Fanfiction is a part of my life now, so I had better get used to it. So where do I go now? I had intended to go back to my roots, and do a FFVII fic. VII is my favorite of the series, with X coming just *that* close. But a story just didn't come to me. There had been so many FFVII stories that there was not much to do anymore that wasn't overdone. The only thing I knew I would do with a FFVII story is have Sephiroth in there somewhere. But that too, has been done. I want to do something fresh, non-repetitive, and something that hasn't been overdone to the point of overkill. I thought I was doing that with this story, but Fallen Heroes seemed a bit cliché to me at times. My other ideas were a Kingdom Hearts fic, not based directly off of the game's ending, but off of Deep Dive, a real badass file you should check out at www.ansemreport.com. I even wrote a tentative first chapter. Even at one point, I thought about doing a FFVII/FFX crossover, but as a humor fic. However, I knew I couldn't be happy doing that. I also had another fic I never finished before this one, called Full Circle. I look back at it and I shudder and my own writing. I had often thought about redoing that fic since I don't like to start something I can't finish. So where does all of this lead me? None of the above!! Stay tuned; the first chapter will be posted soon…in the FFX section! Keep on the lookout. It's an endeavor that hasn't been done much at all before. (I've only seen it done once.)
4—Special thanks hereà Th Lady Shadow!! You're help on this chapter was what I needed and then some. Thanks much!! I'll have to FedEx you loads of the snack of your choice (Ummm…...maybe chocolate?) Or maybe I will just pay for your full college tuition. (Only kidding, I can't even pay for mine! Damn student loans.) Anyway, you helped more than you know. Thanks!!
SG, what can I say? You've been here for a while haven't ya? Thanks for the support and for drilling my arce when I mess up, or as you like to say, knitpicking!! People like you are the reason I decided to start this up again when I was on my hiatus. Let me know when you post your new fic. I'll be sure to support it as you have supported me. Oh, and I know you're pissed at this epilogue, by what you said in your last review. But dude I had to give this some closure…but not too much closure. You'll see what I mean later. Heh heh.
Target. Yeah, it's game over, for now. You've been there since the beginning too, before you started evolving into the all-powerful something…to being pissed off. Anyway, thanks man, it's been cool to have you on this ride.
Ichabod, you damn well had a big part in this story. That whole blitzball chapter came from your head, and it was a damned good idea. You've been a big help. Just keep on being there when my next project hits and I will be a happy man.
Trey-Loose. I don't know if you're still out there, but you reviewed the first chapter and kept an eye on this thing for a while. Thanks kid. Full college tuition to you too. (See above: JOKE)
5—And that brings this to a close. Thanks to everyone who read and did or did not review. To wrap things up, I just want you to close your eyes, and dream of a Spira where our main heroes have put their weapons up, and latch onto each other and can live happily ever after.
