[Disclaimer: If all my other chapters were of characters that DIDN'T belong to me, what makes you think this one would?!]
Upon Silver WingsChapter 4: A Cold Fire
Yuna, Rikku and Paine all progressed down the spiraling rocks. The formations seemed endless, and every rock was like the one they'd seen before. It was tiring, and just as the third hour came to pass; their sweaty grips loosened around the once cold weapons.
"Yunie," Rikku sighed. "This is pointless." She slumped to the ground, resting both her body and her weapons on the rocky pathway. Her legs ached from the walking; burning with exhaustion as she looked up at her friends.
"We have to keep going," she replied. "Remember what we're doing this for." It was a faint memory now, but Rikku could remember her fear as Yuna had recklessly charged against the fiend. She could remember the scream of terror her body released when she saw her friend struck down, helpless to protect her.
"You're right," she paused. "Let's keep going." Paine looked at her, as though she knew every thought that she could possibly have believed. Rikku had never seen it before, but her ruby eyes masked her wisdom, shielding herself from everyone. If no one else could see through stone, Rikku had just surpassed what everyone else had failed to do. As if sensing her trespassing, Paine glanced at the path ahead.
"Listen Yuna," Paine's voice was cold, her voice; empty. It was without the sympathy that Rikku thought existed. "This place has no boundaries, how do you expect to find several souls out of the several trillion that exist?" She knew she wasn't going to receive an answer. These were questions that had no answers, only faint sparks of what could be suggestions. But suggestions weren't good enough for her.
"What do you want me to say?" Yuna was agitated. Maybe it was the frustration of everything that threatened her, or the confusion of what to do next, but Yuna's soul was growing tired; her heart was heavy. She knelt to the floor and clasped her hands.
'Please, I need your help Bahamut' she prayed. Her knees were scratched on the jaggedness of the path, but she bore the pain. Nothing would interrupt her. 'I only ask that you come to me, like you once did. Answer my prayers.'
"Yunie…" Rikku muttered. There was no response from her. "YUNIE!!!" Her voice was riddled with tension and haste, but Yuna refused to open her eyes.
"YUNA!" Paine yelled angrily. "IT'S AN AEON!" Yuna stumbled onto her back; her eyes mesmerized by the towering beast. Her lips shook in fear as the proud Aeon seemed to overlook all of the Farplane.
"Ba…" she stuttered. "Bahamut?" She reached her hand out, and a thousand memories began to ravage her. The torment of his death echoed in the cavities of her mind, driving her out of sanity. Her voice rose uncontrollably. "I'm sorry!" she cried, tears flying into the crisp air. Her voice was desolate with sadness; her entire body shook with apprehension and shock. Her violent screams began to calm, her quiet sobs like tiny drops of a scattered rain.
"Why do you bow before me?" roared an unfamiliar voice. Yuna looked up at him, her face stained with tears. She had never heard an Aeon speak, and Bahamut easily read her confusion. "My spirit speaks my heart, and both my pride and love live past death for you." His voice had a slight tranquility that a father would have as one speaks to his daughter. Yuna ran toward the edge of the path and plunged herself into the arms of the Aeon; into the arms of her friend.
"Yuna!" Paine shouted to her, but she never heard her cries. Her head was buried deep within the crystalline feathers of her once lost friend. It was something she missed so badly and her body never wanted to leave the warmth of his spirit. Just like her song had professed, that light would be her strength.
Yuna's nightmares no longer broke into her sleep. Her thoughts were of love, rather than hate. The hate for Seymour, the hate for the Sin, everything she hated seemed insignificant compared to what she loved. Her thoughts were of gain now, rather than loss. And though she missed Tidus with all her heart, she knew she would find him. She knew it.
"Yuna?" Rikku asked. Her name beckoned her out of her sleep. She could no longer feel the feathers on her skin, but the warmth of Bahamut had never left her. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see Rikku holding a dressphere.
"Where's Bahamut?" She asked. "Where is he??" Yuna was demanding but Rikku only held out the sphere.
"In here," she whispered. Yuna grasped the sphere tightly and looked into it. True enough, she could feel his spirit emanating, pulsating through her fingers. Yuna smiled, knowing that this endeavour had served her well. She looked up at her friends, and wondered, was this enough?
~To Be Continued~
OKAY! After my abandonment, I finally have another chapter of this story posted. It's all dedication people. ^_^ - DWOT