FFX-2. Book 1: "Farplane Shadows"

Summary:

It is almost two years since the defeat of Vegnagun and the sending of Shuyin and Lenne. Yuna returned to the carefree life of a Sphere Hunter, embracing all that life had to give. However, strange dreams have begun to surface, as a dark new evil threatens to destory the whole of Spira…

Chapter I: "Whispered Memories."

Everything was silent. An overwhelming stillness resonated through the soft lush meadow which lay beneath her very feet, broken only by the faint flickering pyre-flies which danced through the sky, phasing in and out of all existence. A sudden unseen breeze swept through with such a tender touch, blowing the loose threads of her clothing, and at her light brown hair. Yuna slowly closed her eyes, this place so familiar to her, a place which was filled with a thousand words and emotions.

Her hands were slowly drawn towards her chest, finally resting over the rapid beating of her heart whilst shimmering tears fell unnoticed down her cheeks. A warm sensation began to form in the depths of her soul, somewhat easing her pain, as she began to feel the familiar presence wrap his arms affectionately around her. She did not want to speak, did not want to break this moment, but a deep understanding gradually grew.


"It's you. You were with me the whole time. I kept thinking you might be. Kept hoping … But you know, I'm not worried anymore. You will always have a place ... right here in my heart. We'll always be connected."

She did not turn to face him, knowing that it would break her heart if she did. Footsteps torn between hesitation and confidence, Yuna began to walk away from him, the soft moan of the pyre-flies filling the silent air. Just as she reached the edge of the Farplane Abyss, she heard a voice call out her name, heard the voice which called out to her heart.

"… Yuna."

She turned, her hair twirling to one side, tears merging with the meadow. She saw him, saw his face as their eyes locked gaze, saw his pain and also his joy. He began to slowly walk towards her, his entire body outlined by a soft shimmering aura of yellow light. As she instinctively lowered her gaze, he brought his hand up to touch her face.

"Yuna…" He repeated, watching as she slowly looked up. "We need you. It's here, and I don't know if we alone can stop it. Please … come back to me…"

"T-Tidus!"

Eyes filled with reformed tears, Yuna called out his name as he began to disappear before her very eyes, the pyre-flies fading into the eternal abyss…

… "Tidus!"

Her scream pierced through the dead of night, echoing around the nearby walls of the Celsius' cabin, and through the inner dreams of a sleeping Rikku and Paine. As her eyes slowly adjusted to her surroundings, sweat continued to slid down the length of her forehead, her heart beating rapidly in the confines of her chest. The last remnants of the dream began to fade before her, replaced with the concern glances of her awaken friends.

"Yunnie?" Rikku placed a hand onto her shoulder. "Yunnie, what's wrong?"

Yuna did not respond, her mind still racing. Could it all have been just a dream? Some distorted fragment of her memories? But the feelings … the emotions … it was all too real. All too real.

"You had it again didn't you?" Paine's calm and controlled voice caused Yuna to glance upwards. "The same dream that you have been having for the past few nights?"

She silently nodded. "It is."

"Then this can't just be some coincidence."

Rikku quickly broke the silence which then followed. "Did … did you see him again?"

"Y-Yes, I saw him. And now I'm almost certain." She turned to face them both. "This can't just a dream that I've been having, it's a message, a warning..."

"But of what?" Inquired Paine.

"… Of what, I do not yet know." Yuna soon fell silent once more.

Before Rikku could interject, Paine spoke up. "Then I think it's best that for now we get back to sleep. Questions can wait till the morning, and the new day may shed some more light on things."

Yuna nodded her head as both Rikku and Paine wished her goodnight before returning to their beds. She lowered her head back onto her pillow, trying to close her eyes, but the images and thoughts would still not cease. Waiting until she could hear the soft sound of their slumber, Yuna rose out from beneath her covers, heading down the spiraling staircase. Wrapping a silk robe around her body, she headed for the elevator.

A wave of fresh air hit her bare skin as the doors opened out onto the airship's deck, refreshing her very core and somewhat soothing her troubled mind. She slowly looked out at the impressive structure of Luca stadium standing there before her, so clear and so close from their place resting at the docks. The gentle roll of a midnight sea softly bobbed the Celsius up and down in time with the waves, a dark blue surface which would turn crystal by daybreak.

As she stood there, letting the wind wash all over her, an overwhelming urge to whistle began to emergence. But she didn't … she stopped herself. He was gone, Tidus was gone, and there was nothing that she could do to ever get him back. She needed to finally let him go, to not hold on to his memory so close to her heart. Maybe the dreams were nothing more than the deep yearnings of her subconscious, maybe it was herself that was keeping him from completely crossing over.

"Yuna … We need you. It's here, and I don't know if we alone can stop it. Please … come back to me…"

And yet, why was there this deep hesitation when she thought this? Why could she not stop having the same dream night after night? Sighing deeply, Yuna knew that the answers to these questions would not be discovered any time soon. Maybe the others were right - a new day would shed light … on everything. Turning, she headed back into the shelter of the Celsius, back towards the cabin.

"Please … come back to me…"

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The morning sun filtered through the large viewing window of the Celsius' bridge, bathing all those around in a gentle yet warm light. Brother stretched his tired limbs, yawning loudly, whilst Buddy began the initial preparations for take-off. On the other side of the room, Shinra continued his repairs on the spherewave detection transmitter, whilst Rikku and Paine discussed the day which lay ahead. Everyone's attention was turned upwards as the main bridge doors slid opened to reveal a now awake Yuna.

"Hey! So you're finally up!" Smiled Rikku, running towards her.

"Yes." Yuna smiled back. "I guess I really needed a good night's rest."

"Yuna!" Brother jumped down from behind the steering wheel, stopping several feet in front of her. "I heard you not sleeping well lately." He lowered his gaze to the floor, shifting his feet uncomfortably. "Anything I can do?"

"Don't even think about it!" Rikku immediately cut in.

Paine just shook her head whilst Yuna found herself laughing. Being surrounded by all her close friends could instantly drive all her troubles away. At least … for a little while. As Rikku and Brother continued to bicker amongst themselves, Paine headed over to Shinra.

"So, you've got a destination in mind?" She called back to her. "Until the transmitter is fixed, there really is nothing pressing that we can do."

"Oh don't worry." Came Shinra's distinctive voice. "I'll get it up and running again in no time."

"So, Yuna." Brother started once more, ignoring Rikku. "Where to?"

"Well…" She fell silent for a long moment, lost in deep thought. "How about we pay a visit to Besaid? It's been a while since we were last there, and it'll be good to see both Lulu and Wakka again."

Rikku smiled broadly. "Oh yeah! Wow, I wonder how big Vidina has gotten now?!"

"Ok!" Brother turned to face the viewscreen, thrusting his right arm outwards. "Besaid it is!"

The roar of the engine shook the entire ship as it suddenly came to life, reverberating everything with its resonating hum. The airship slowly pushed off from Luca's dock, speeding through the open sea before finally rising into a clear blue sky. The journey to Besaid was largely an uneventful one. Ever since the destruction of Vegnagun and the sending of Shuyin and Lenne two years before, their lives had been pretty laid back and carefree. The Calm continued throughout the whole of Spira, filling everyone with newfound joy.

Control of Spira was now in the hands of 'the Council' which was led by its three joint leaders - Nooj, Baralai and Gippal. Together they helped issue in this new chapter of peace in Spira's history, bringing the different faiths of Spira as one under a new banner. There would always be arguments, disagreements; but never would they allow anything to escalate like it had done once before.

Parting the overhead clouds, the Celsius soon came into view of the small island that was once Yuna's home, a beautiful place with golden sandy beaches and a village that was as welcoming now as it had ever been. Heading for the docks, it did not take long before the airship finally landed. Yuna soon disembarked with Rikku and Paine, walking along the familiar coastline and reaching the nearby greenness of the forest.

Though there were fewer fiends on the roadside which led to Besaid village, Yuna knew that they were still very prominent, however the appearance of the well-armed group was enough in itself to keep them at bay. As they eared the entrance gate, Rikku suddenly waved up ahead, catching sight of the two figures who were waiting both eagerly and patiently.

"Hey!" Rikku yelled, waving her arms in a wide arc.

"Lulu, Wakka!" Yuna smiled as they got closer, embracing the two in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you again."

"Eh, it's good to see you too." Grinned Wakka, taking a moment to look at her. "Geese, you've really grown up now ya? You're not a little girl any more…"

"… No, she's not. She's a blossoming young woman." Finished Lulu.

"Oh guys, stop." Yuna blushed, trying to hide her face. She turned back to see Paine standing to one side. "Oh, you both remember Paine right?"

"Of course." Lulu extended her hand towards her, which Paine accepted. "It's nice to you see again."

"So…" Rikku looked around, her gaze darting from one side to another. "Where's Vidina?"

It was Wakka who answered: "Well, when we saw your ship start to descend we got a friend of ours to look after him for a while." He glimpsed her slightly crestfallen look. "But of course you can see him right now if you want ya?"

"Of course!" Rikku answered, enthusiastically.

Lulu smiled, turning to lead the way into the heart of the village. "Then why don't we head inside?"

Though it had been some time since she had last stayed there, Besaid would always be her home. Yuna smiled at the familiar faces that she recognised, smirked at the subtle changes that had taken place in the village, and sighed at the remembrance of long forgotten memories. Her wandering gaze finally landed on the ancient temple towards the village's end.

It still hurt. She still felt the pain of it all. The Aeons had been a part of herself, and when she had to destroy them … it was like she had lost an important fragment of her soul. And above all, it would always be a constant reminder of the loss of Tidus. Yuna knew deep down inside that he would always be with her, that she meant the words she told him in the Farplane Abyss after the battle with Vegnagun and Shuyin, and yet that did not mean she didn't miss him - that she didn't want to hold him just one last time…

"Agh!"

The sudden piercing scream tore Yuna out from her reverie, shattering her immediate thoughts and forcing her to turn towards the center of Besaid. A shocked gasp rang through the surrounding group, as they witnessed panicking villagers quickly rushing to flee the scene. A dozen or so pyre-flies began to appear from thin air, quickly joining together, merging and forming to take monstrous shapes – becoming fiends.

Yuna took a single step backwards, shocked at the sight. She suddenly remembered the old lessons that Wakka and Lulu had taught her when they were once her guardians: that fiends were once living people who had died but still held onto this plane of existence, turning them into those blood lusting creatures. But never before had she ever witnessed their actual emergence like this.

"F-Fiends?!" Shouted Rikku, taken aback.

Paine motioned to the group of fiends that were still forming, while the others began to take off. "They're heading towards the temple!"

Wakka quickly turned to his side. "Lulu quickly! Get in side while we handle the fiends!"

"No." Said Yuna, her posture regaining some of its confidence. "You are needed here with Lulu and Vidina. We can handle the fiends, right guys?"

"Right!" Paine and Rikku both answered in unison.

Rikku began limbering up. "Gullwings to the rescue!"

Yuna reached for the two pistols resting silently by her belt, seeing the sunlight reflect off of the polished silver surface. She quickly held them outwards, counting the number and type of fiends, whilst Paine drew her broadsword and Rikku reached for her double knives. Seeing that they were all ready, the three quickly ran forward, heading into battle.

End of Chapter 1