Wow, thanks to everyone who reviewed to chapter 11, even though there was only a few of you I did Love Them!!!
Luv Ya Guys
Callik:Thanks, sorry 'bout the annoying cliffy, lol.
Vash The Unholy:Aww, thanks, that's so nice! ^_^
Shy-Lil-Dreamer:Read and find out lol, it's good.
Dragon Tears Wing: Lol, alright, I'll try and hurry, just promise not to kill me lol.
SilverShadowPrincess: Well, I'm glad you decided to check my fic out and I'm flattered that even though you like a different parring you read mine! Thanks a bunch
Cookie Crumbs: Hi ya! Now it's my turn to give you a pair of Purple Boxers...look, it has Tom Feltons face printed on it and it tastes like...*drumb roll*...GRAPE!
MiNi SoRcErEsS:Lol, aww your so sweet, I'm so glad you like it and I hope you stick around even longer for the finally coming up soon...opps, that wasn't spose to slip...heh
silent-angel510: Thanks, it's coming up, don't worry.
Jack The Bandit: Oh my gosh you are so sweet! I'm so glad that you like it and I hope you review again ^_^
uNowWho: Lol, naw, Yuna's evil twin sister in FFX-2 is Tuna, just kidding, anyway...lol, Paine is awsome, actually I'm kinda getting into Rikku/Gippal fics ever since I found out that they actually dated once...it's great! Any who, loved your review (hey that rhymed)
sayinjinj7:Thanks! Glad you reviewed!!!!...!!!
Grant:Aww, that's so nice of you! I'm so glad you think that way and I hope you continue reading!
Jhaylin: Thanks, your so sweet! I don't know if it's the best you've read, cuz there are some really good stories that are un-sucky...like this story should be, anyway...yeah...thanks for reviewing your great!
daggergarnet09:Thanks for your review(s)!
Anime-freak-4life:Thanks,I'm glad ya like it!!
And thanks to everyone who reviewed to this but I forgot them! I'm really sorry and I hope you forgive me or I'll feel bad and I might be to depressed to update for a looooong time, lol, j/k.
Yes, This is the FINAL CHAPTER
Another Note: This chapter has ALOT of imformation so it is a LONG read...just forwarning you...Your eyes might be sore from reading this...just a warning.
Personal Note: I know it has ALOT of spelling mistakes but the chapter was so long I got lazy so...Deal with it...^_^
____________________________
Chapter 12-Never Say Forever
Rikku looked at Saja with a meek smile, she tried to block the shattered bits of what was a picture frame from the moody girl.
Her pale lips where pursed together into a scowl that made Rikku very uncomfortable.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?...Better yet, what the hell did you do to it?", she asked coldly, her eyes refusing to look at the shattered glass under Rikku's boots.
"Hey Buddy, how 'bout I ask the questions around here huh!",Rikku said, her face serious as she stepped over the rubble, her finger pointing at Saja accusingly.
"Wha-",Saja began.
"At, I'm asking the questions remember!", Rikku said.
"What is this hole doing in your room?", She asked.
Saja's eyes lowered to the hole.
"My ROOM!", "What the HELL!", She screamed. She rushed over to it and knelt beside it, avoiding the glass.
"There's a huge hole in the middle of my frikin floor!", Saja said again, then she looked up at Rikku, her eyes narrowed, "What did you do?".
Rikku shook her head,"Oh no, don't you blame your little escape routes on me! I didn't do it, you did! It goes all the way down to my room! But then again you know that considering you dug it!"
"I don't know what the hell your going on about but I've never seen this hole in my life! GET OUT!". Saja yelled, pointing to the door.
"Fine! But I know you did it, I don't know why, but I'll figure it out!", and with that Rikku slammed the door behind her.
"Saja's room?", She asked herself.
"I'm so confused..."
***
She followed the hall back down the stairs to her room.
She lied on her orange hammok, "Saja? Why would she dig a whole floor down just to get into my room?"
Rikku's brows drew together as she tried to think.
"This doesn't make sence!",Rikku cried frustratedly.
Suddenly her speaker box turned on.
"Rikku!", Paines voice called over the speaker.
With a sigh Rikku walked over and pushed the green button.
"Yes Captian?", She asked.
"Come into my office, there has been another message from our employer...",Paine began.
"Yeah so?"
"It involves you..."
"Me?"
"Yeah you, so get your ass down to the meeting room so I can tell you whats going on."
"Alright Alright!", Rikku said with a chuckle.
"What was that?",Paine asked,her voice playful yet demanding.
"Yes Captian."
*~*~*~
Tidus walked up the cold gray stone stairs of that lead to the Farplane.
The gaurd standing at the enterance quickly stood aside so Tidus could pass.
"Please be here!",Tidus pleaded silently before he entered the paranormal wall between living and dead.
It felt as if air had shifted between him as he stepped through the barrier.
The blue platform where people paid their respects saftly was empty, there was no one here to say hello, or goodbye to a loved one.
It was completely deserted...except for a woman, sitting cross-legged on the ground.Her long purple-gold trimmed robe drapping over her arms,legs and the hood shielding her face.
She senced his presence as he stepped forward.
"I know why your here",Her voice was like a whisper ment only for the pyreflies to hear, it melted in the air like music...but it also sent shivers down his spine, making him stop in his tracks at the unexpected feeling.
"Then you know I need your help," He said, once his composore was restored.
She looked up at him.
Her eyes were comeletly black, no Iris, no Sclera, just the pupil.
Her long hair that swept over the side of her face was the same color of her eyes and her skin was a dark olive.
"I do, and I will...but for a price,"She said, her expresion serious.
"How much?", He asked, no price was to high for Rikku's safty.
Her expresion softened, "Money holds no value in this world, This is a different kind of price,"She explained.
"What? Anything!",Tidus demanded.
"Your promise,"She said simply.
"My Promise? For what?",He asked.
She smiled,"That you will hold on after."
"Hold onto what?"
"Promise it!",She demanded, her face once again seriouse.
"I promise."
"Good...",She stood up and walked toward him, her movements gracefull.
"Hurry, Rikku could be dead by now." He said as he turned, but was stopped when he felt her long slender hand on his shoulder.
When he turned to look at her, her eyes were no longer black, but normal and pale blue.
"Love never dies...it stays with the spirit like a leach that forces you to feel the most painful yet magnificent experiance." With that she passed him to the Farplane exit.
__________
Rikku dragged her feet up the stairs to the Meeting Room and opened the door.
Paine was sitting in her chair, facing the door.
"What?",Rikku asked as she plopped into the nearest chair.
"Our employers have sent me specific orders...and I have to admit they are a bit odd," Paine began.
Rikku looked at her, wanting her to continue quickly so she could get out of here.
"Well,I have been telling our employers about you and they are quite taken with you. They asked me to take the gems we've found to Zanarkand and have you, and only you, carry them out to it, whilst the rest of us remain on the ship. The money will be given to you in exchange for the gems...",Paine finished, fighting a smirk at Rikku's gaping mouth.
"They want me...to deliver the gems....and all that stuff...weird, but I guess I could." She agreed, her voice soft and thoughtful.
"I have already sent the coordinates to our navigator, we should be at the Zanarkand enterance-"
A red light near the door began to flash.
"-now.",She finished with a smile.
****
Rikku held the silver sphere in her hand like a baby. This sphere held the gems saftly inside it's isolated core.
Once she stepped from the docking platform of the ship it quickly retracted and Rikku marched forward.
It wasn't long before she reached the enterence of the place she hadn't seen in almost 3 years...nor was she happy.
Just the sight sent a shiver down her spine.It was unnerving, the stench of death and misery filled the air and clogged her nostrals.
With a deep breath she entered the ruins of the once great Zanarkand.
It was quiet, just the occasional sound of moaning from the unsent filled the air.
Then she heard it, the jar of metal and sweak of rusting bolts under weight...but she hadn't moved. She went to turn around to see who or what was behind her but was stopped when a powerful hand grabbed her head and forced her to look forward.
Out of shock the silver ball slipped from her grip and she heard the loud 'clank' and watched it roll a few feet from where she stood.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a long needle dripping with a clear serum.She felt the prick of the needle on the nape of her neck, her eyes began to get blurry and she lost her footing. She collapsed on the floor, the impact with the ground rolled her on her back.
She looked up and she could make out the fimiliar figure,"You...", she said with a pointed figure, then she blacked out.
********
Her head was pounding and her mouth was dry.She tried to brush a strand of hair she felt on her face,but she couldn't move.
"Wha...?",She moaned and opened her eyes.Her vision slowly began to clear up as she looked to her left and right.Her hands where bound and spread by thick rope that hung from a cement arch over her head and her feet where clamped to the floor by heavy iron locks.
She looked above her at the underside of the cement arch.There were weird designs and inbetween each was one of the five gems!
Then she looked straight over her head,and her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened.
"No...", her eyes began to fill with tears,"What?...no", Her necklace was placed smoothly in a heartshaped knotch in the stone.
She pulled at her restrients but to no avail, it only seemed to make the ropes hold on tighter.
Then footsteps echoed the hall and she finaly realized she was not alone.
Resku stepped from the shadows.
"Finally, I thought this plan would never come together...",He spoke, his voice even more oily and savage than she had ever remembered.
"I told you it would work...",another voice spoke up. Rikku's eyes widened, she knew that voice...but there was no way it could be...
Raden walked up behind Resku and waved at Rikku with a smirk.
She looked unscathed...no, she was dead, Rikku was there...she watched her go down!
Raden's smirk widened at the confused look on Rikku's face.
"What, arn't you happy to see your fallen comrad?", she said coldly, her voice stung Rikku's ears.
"I-", her throat felt tight and dry as she swollowed hard.
"I don't understand!",She said softly, looking into the eyes of someone she had once called 'friend'.
"Well then let me fill in the blanks", Raden looked up at Resku, "If that's ok with you brother?"
'Brother?', Rikku thought...'What the hell...'
"Go ahead", He smiled back.
Radens attention turned back to Rikku.
"It was I who stole your necklace, Saja goes to work out ever afternoon, so, for the past month I have been slowly digging, I figured her room was the closest to yours, and if by chance you did find my hole, all the clues would point to Saja, instead of bouncy, cute, innocent Raden," She smiled and continued,"So, the night before our exploration of that cave I busted through the wall, grabbed the necklace from your neck...I now had what I needed I just needed to escape, hence my very effective dramatic exit...heh," She chuckled, Rikku's ears stung with her words.
"You bitch...", She yelled out.
"Language! The youngest of the famous first Albhed Gardian should be careful with her tounge!",Resku scolded from behind his sister.
"Why?",Rikku asked...
"Ahh, another good question, If I may again?", She asked Resku, who smiled and gestured with his hand for her to continue.
"Are you fimilliar with the Ancient Texts? And I don't mean the one's those simple minded preists keep of Yevon, I mean the actual Ancient texts, before Sin and Yevon and Summoners...I thought not.Well, they are records of a power more horrible than Sin ever was. A Power that nearly left Spira in a vortex of eternal darkness, Compared to this power, Sin is a typical feind."
Rikku listened awstruck, the words wern't sinking in...there was never a power greater than Sin, If there had been surly tales of it would have been passed around from camp fire to campfire long before now...and She would have heard of it.
"Back before magic was believed to be good there was actually peace. Ture peace. It was like a clam, only no one appreciated it as much for no one knew true pain or loss.
In these times there were a group of wise and powerful people who, together, decided the best ways to run Spira...much like the Maesters of today. Back then it was code of honor for the Maesters to remain chaste, so there desicions were not altered in any way.
However, one of the Maesters fell in love with a beautiful Alkeld woman, a race of people equivilant to the Al Bhed of today."
Raden smirked at Rikku and then continued.
"There love was forbidden and they constantly had to meet in secret,but one night they were spotted and he was sentenced to death for betraying the code.
She lived on, however, and concieved a child, who was taken and raised in secret by the Maesters.The woman began to resent everyone, for as they lived happily, she suffered daily with the loss of her lover and her child, the first darkness began there."
"She began to grow darker by the day, she felt her self slip from that reality...she began to control the minds of others and it seemed even the underworld beneither her feet trembled at her step...Until she was powerful enough to take down villiages.
When the Maesters saw her distructive power they developed a magical ritual that would banish her to an abis, there she could case no more harm.
They built an arch, and used her motive of revenge to lure her to it. There, her daughter, now 19 was tied to the arch, behind her a portal.
It was open and with a powerful magic of the combined elements the creature was pushed into the portal, but it would not close.If it remained open it would suck all of Spira inside,so finally, the maesters took the daughter and drew a blade across her wrists and pushed her in after her mother.
With her blood the portal was sealed, and all memory of the woman and daughter was wiped from the memorys of the people of Spira."
Raden finished her story with a smile as she looked Rikku over once more.
After it all sunk in, her mind was ready to blow...this story could not be true! It was a lie!
"If this is true, what do you want with me? Your not actually going to try to redo this 'ritual' and bring back this monster lady? I mean hello, she would kinda kill you as soon as she got out!"
"Wrong!", Resku said, jumping finally.
"Raden forgot to mention the best part, The womans deal with the demons, If she was brought back, the ones responsible would be granted one wish...ours is to have control of her, use her to gain control of Spira."
"Well what do you want with me?", Rikku asked, maybe she could get some real answers.
"Oh come on! Don't tell me you havn't put two and two together yet! You have the girls blood in you, you are a direct desendant! It is your blood we need to close the portal so the world isnt' sucked into it!"
Rikku's jaw dropped,she was definatly dreaming...no posible way could this truly be happening!
'Damn it!', her mind screamed, "Why does this stuff always happen to me?", she muttered quietly to herself.
"I don't know",Raden answering the retorical question.
"Let's start already!", Raden whinned, "I'm getting board and it's really really cold down here!", She complained.
"Actually, Raden, I think it is time we started.",Resku said with a smile.His dark, glass like eyes hidding the evil songs sung beind them.
"How 'bout we don't and say we did!", Rikku offered hopefully.
"I think not, Come on now, don't tell me your not even the littlest bit interested on how this all turns out?",Resku asked.
"Uh, hello, according to you I won't be living to see how it turns out, so, no I'm pretty content with how things are...me being alive."
Resku smirked,"Let's get started, shall we...",He walked up infront of the stone platform Rikku stood on and knelt in front of it.
He took his index finger and began to draw in the loose dirt.
"Aww a pretty picture, for me, your so sweet!", Rikku said with sarcastic cheerieness.
Resku finished and stepped back, admirroring his work.
It was a group of symbols, they were unfamiliar to Rikku, but she deffinatly knew what they were for...they were going to open the portal.
"Not so fast!", A familiar voice rang out, a voice Rikku hadn't heard in months.
Her eyes watered with happiness as she looked up and her eyes met with Tidus, who held a struggeling Raden in his grasp.
"Brother," She called desperatly, Tidus held a gun to her head.
"Let Rikku go or Raden's blood will fall," Lulu said behind him.
"Lulu,Wakka...Tidus," Rikku called out happily, they were looking for her...they cared.
Tidus gave her a genuin smile but then got serious, he held Raden tighter and pressed the gun against her head.
"You," Resku spat distastefuly.
"You can't stop this, no one can, and no one will!", He called out, then he started laughing, his shrill chuckles wrang out through the cave.
He was a madman.
Resku drew his own gun and aimed it at Tidus, then in a split second tilted it and fired twice...right into Raden's chest.
The wind was knocked out of her in an instant and the after shock of the bullets caused Tidus to stumble.
Raden grasped her chest and fell to her knees. The blood pouring through her fingers onto the floor.A dribble of blood fell from her mouth and she fell on her face...dead for real this time.
"Nothing will stop me...", He laughed again, his gun still aimed at his sisters body.
Everone watched in horror...he just killed his own sister.
"Damn, I thought for sure that one would work...", Tidus said softly, shaking his head.
"Now, back to buisness...", He said, lowering the gun.
"If anyone even thinks about moving I will blow her to kingdom come!", He said, gesturing his head twoard Rikku.
"I thought you needed my blood? Why would you kill me before it's my time?",She asked him, hopeing to buy time.
"I said I needed the blood from a decendant of the girl, and because you are of the same age she was and have her blood through her veins, you arn't the only one...there are others...She had two children before she died, twin girls, who married had there own kids and so on and so forth...There are only two living decendants from her, You...and her", He walked over to a large stone and pushed it back.
Rikku gasped, for behind the large stone was a small room, and inside was a bound and gaged Saja, Paine and Giha.
He reached in a pulled Saja up by her hair.
"Rikku, I'd like you to meet your blood sister," He smiled.
"What?",Rikku yelled out.
"Thats right, Saja shares the same Mother and Father with you...",He said, and threw Saja back on the ground.
"But she is 20, not close enough in age, as your are perfect in age..."
"I don't have a sister! My mom died in labor with me...", Rikku corrected him, "So you are mistaken."
Resku shook his head,"Cid is not your father you fool...Cid merely was your mother's best friend...your god father, when she died he took on the role as your father."He explained.
Rikku was in tears, he was lieing, there is no way her entire world could be spun upsidedown like this in a matter of hours.
"Impossible!", She screamed
"It is true..."
"Fine then, if it's so true what happened to my real father?"
"Simple, he died in the battle against Sin, merely two months before you were born."
Her mind was racing, surely this was a dream, no, a horrible nightmare that she would wake from any minute now.
"How...",She began as her body shook with tears,but she gulped them down to continue,"How do you know all of this?" She asked the one question that was buzzing at the front of everyones mind.
"Let's just say time has been good to me...", He said with a smirk.
"Now, enought stalling...time to get down to buisness...",He rubbed his hands together in anticipation and looked over to Tidus, Lulu and Wakka,"You three, stand with them...and remember, any 'hero' moves will earn her a bullet, you wouldn't want her blood on your hands do you...heh, I thought not."
He stood infront of the symbols he had drawn on the ground and cleared his throat.
He began to sway back and forth, humming a tune that tickled Rikku's ears.
His eyes shut and he began to sway back and forth faster.
Then he began to chant. The words tumbled from his mouth like water, the words were to old for Rikku to understand.
The symbols on the floor began to glow, and they continued to by each word that fell from his lips.
It was then that Rikku realized that the weird symbols inbetween each of the gems matched those on the floor.
Rikku's eyes widened as those symbols began to glow as well...
"It's begun," She whispered those words out of no where.
The light glowing from the symbols flew into each of the gems, causing the gems to begin to glow instead.
Suddenly the platform she was on began to creek and groan, the sound of stone scraping stone dully cast over Resku's chanting.
The stone platform turned Rikku around and stopped.Rikku looked above her head and watched as the gem's light all went out.
'Maybe it didn't work', Rikku thought hopefully, but as soon as that thought entered her mind her heart necklace shot out a beam of light directly over her.
Inside the light she felt so warm, so powerful, so safe that she wanted to cry out of happiness, not despair.
She felt like she could acomplish anything.
The light corsed through her veins, and she let out a yell as it shot forward form her body infront of her.
The light seemed to rip open the air, causing a huge hole.
Rikku's scream peirced the night.
A wind picked up around her, blowing about her hair and blowing her shirt and shorts, but it effected nothing else.
Suddenly the light rimmed hole in the air was bigger than the entire wall.
The light stopped.
Rikku fell limp, her energy drained.
She slowly lifted her head.
A woman stepped out of the hole.
Her hair was long and blond, it swept over her face and all the way down her back.
Her skin was fair and pale, her eyes a peircing, deep green.
"...Mom...",Rikku whispered into the air.
"Mommy...", Rikku called again, tears filling her eyes.
The woman walked over to Rikku and cupped her chin in her hand.
She spoke no words, but they wern't needed.
Resku's laughing was once agian heard.
"Ahh...perfect, all according to plan...I have freed you all mighty force, your are mine to control and you owe me a wish for setting you free, and I wish for control over you." He spoke, pure joy in his voice.
The woman looked at him with a scowl and put up her hand in his direction.
"Wha-", a blast forced Resku against the wall, the loud crack of his skull filled the room...Resku was dead.
The woman looked back at Rikku and kissed her forehead.
Her lips were cool and comphorting on Rikku's sweaty, clammy head.
"Daughter of mine...", She whispered in Rikku's ear,"I am truly happy..."
Wind around them picked up and Rikku realized with horror that the portal was begging to suck things in.
The woman turned around and stepped back through the portal, but it did not shut.
The bonds on Rikku's arms and legs broke and was sucked into the portal.
Tidus got up and ran over to Rikku, just as she fell to the ground.
He held her close to him and looked down at her weak body.
Her eyes were only half open.
Tears fell from his cheeks onto her face.
"Rikku,I love you...I always have and you were right...I was such an idiot, please never leave me Rikku....I love you", He whispered over and over into her ear.
"I love you,"She whispered back.
She reached up and touched his cheek, a smile on her face.
He lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss.
It was sweet and tender, the kiss she always imagined.
"I have to shut the portal..."She whispered.
"What?" Tidus looked back at the portal and then at Rikku.
"No, stay with me...dont leave me, please." Tidus begged her.
"I will always be with you..."She whispered.
She kissed him again and stood.
She took out her pocket knife and looked at him again and smiled.
'I love you', she mouthed, before she drew the blades across her wrists.
The blades stung and the warm blood dripping down her arms stung even worse.
She jumped into the portal and it closed instantly.
"Nooooo!", Tidus yelled, but no one answered.
Like that, the love of his life was gone...forever.
"Love is never gone," A voice whispered in his ear.
He turned around but no one was there.
Lulu and Wakka was helping Paine, Saja and Giha up and out of there, all had tears in there eyes.
All of the gems fell from the stone arch and shattered.
The last one to fall was his heart shaped one, and when it reached the bottom it split in half.
He picked up the blue and green half and placed them together again infront of the portal once stood.
"I love you", He said outloud and left...tears falling onto the ground in his wake.
As he left, the heart shaped stone on the ground emmited a green light...
The End
(Or is it?)
________________________________
There's the final chapter for you...was it long? Did you make through it ok?
Good...now I have one last poll for you:
Sequal?
Yes or,
No
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
Luv Ya Guys
Callik:Thanks, sorry 'bout the annoying cliffy, lol.
Vash The Unholy:Aww, thanks, that's so nice! ^_^
Shy-Lil-Dreamer:Read and find out lol, it's good.
Dragon Tears Wing: Lol, alright, I'll try and hurry, just promise not to kill me lol.
SilverShadowPrincess: Well, I'm glad you decided to check my fic out and I'm flattered that even though you like a different parring you read mine! Thanks a bunch
Cookie Crumbs: Hi ya! Now it's my turn to give you a pair of Purple Boxers...look, it has Tom Feltons face printed on it and it tastes like...*drumb roll*...GRAPE!
MiNi SoRcErEsS:Lol, aww your so sweet, I'm so glad you like it and I hope you stick around even longer for the finally coming up soon...opps, that wasn't spose to slip...heh
silent-angel510: Thanks, it's coming up, don't worry.
Jack The Bandit: Oh my gosh you are so sweet! I'm so glad that you like it and I hope you review again ^_^
uNowWho: Lol, naw, Yuna's evil twin sister in FFX-2 is Tuna, just kidding, anyway...lol, Paine is awsome, actually I'm kinda getting into Rikku/Gippal fics ever since I found out that they actually dated once...it's great! Any who, loved your review (hey that rhymed)
sayinjinj7:Thanks! Glad you reviewed!!!!...!!!
Grant:Aww, that's so nice of you! I'm so glad you think that way and I hope you continue reading!
Jhaylin: Thanks, your so sweet! I don't know if it's the best you've read, cuz there are some really good stories that are un-sucky...like this story should be, anyway...yeah...thanks for reviewing your great!
daggergarnet09:Thanks for your review(s)!
Anime-freak-4life:Thanks,I'm glad ya like it!!
And thanks to everyone who reviewed to this but I forgot them! I'm really sorry and I hope you forgive me or I'll feel bad and I might be to depressed to update for a looooong time, lol, j/k.
Yes, This is the FINAL CHAPTER
Another Note: This chapter has ALOT of imformation so it is a LONG read...just forwarning you...Your eyes might be sore from reading this...just a warning.
Personal Note: I know it has ALOT of spelling mistakes but the chapter was so long I got lazy so...Deal with it...^_^
____________________________
Chapter 12-Never Say Forever
Rikku looked at Saja with a meek smile, she tried to block the shattered bits of what was a picture frame from the moody girl.
Her pale lips where pursed together into a scowl that made Rikku very uncomfortable.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?...Better yet, what the hell did you do to it?", she asked coldly, her eyes refusing to look at the shattered glass under Rikku's boots.
"Hey Buddy, how 'bout I ask the questions around here huh!",Rikku said, her face serious as she stepped over the rubble, her finger pointing at Saja accusingly.
"Wha-",Saja began.
"At, I'm asking the questions remember!", Rikku said.
"What is this hole doing in your room?", She asked.
Saja's eyes lowered to the hole.
"My ROOM!", "What the HELL!", She screamed. She rushed over to it and knelt beside it, avoiding the glass.
"There's a huge hole in the middle of my frikin floor!", Saja said again, then she looked up at Rikku, her eyes narrowed, "What did you do?".
Rikku shook her head,"Oh no, don't you blame your little escape routes on me! I didn't do it, you did! It goes all the way down to my room! But then again you know that considering you dug it!"
"I don't know what the hell your going on about but I've never seen this hole in my life! GET OUT!". Saja yelled, pointing to the door.
"Fine! But I know you did it, I don't know why, but I'll figure it out!", and with that Rikku slammed the door behind her.
"Saja's room?", She asked herself.
"I'm so confused..."
***
She followed the hall back down the stairs to her room.
She lied on her orange hammok, "Saja? Why would she dig a whole floor down just to get into my room?"
Rikku's brows drew together as she tried to think.
"This doesn't make sence!",Rikku cried frustratedly.
Suddenly her speaker box turned on.
"Rikku!", Paines voice called over the speaker.
With a sigh Rikku walked over and pushed the green button.
"Yes Captian?", She asked.
"Come into my office, there has been another message from our employer...",Paine began.
"Yeah so?"
"It involves you..."
"Me?"
"Yeah you, so get your ass down to the meeting room so I can tell you whats going on."
"Alright Alright!", Rikku said with a chuckle.
"What was that?",Paine asked,her voice playful yet demanding.
"Yes Captian."
*~*~*~
Tidus walked up the cold gray stone stairs of that lead to the Farplane.
The gaurd standing at the enterance quickly stood aside so Tidus could pass.
"Please be here!",Tidus pleaded silently before he entered the paranormal wall between living and dead.
It felt as if air had shifted between him as he stepped through the barrier.
The blue platform where people paid their respects saftly was empty, there was no one here to say hello, or goodbye to a loved one.
It was completely deserted...except for a woman, sitting cross-legged on the ground.Her long purple-gold trimmed robe drapping over her arms,legs and the hood shielding her face.
She senced his presence as he stepped forward.
"I know why your here",Her voice was like a whisper ment only for the pyreflies to hear, it melted in the air like music...but it also sent shivers down his spine, making him stop in his tracks at the unexpected feeling.
"Then you know I need your help," He said, once his composore was restored.
She looked up at him.
Her eyes were comeletly black, no Iris, no Sclera, just the pupil.
Her long hair that swept over the side of her face was the same color of her eyes and her skin was a dark olive.
"I do, and I will...but for a price,"She said, her expresion serious.
"How much?", He asked, no price was to high for Rikku's safty.
Her expresion softened, "Money holds no value in this world, This is a different kind of price,"She explained.
"What? Anything!",Tidus demanded.
"Your promise,"She said simply.
"My Promise? For what?",He asked.
She smiled,"That you will hold on after."
"Hold onto what?"
"Promise it!",She demanded, her face once again seriouse.
"I promise."
"Good...",She stood up and walked toward him, her movements gracefull.
"Hurry, Rikku could be dead by now." He said as he turned, but was stopped when he felt her long slender hand on his shoulder.
When he turned to look at her, her eyes were no longer black, but normal and pale blue.
"Love never dies...it stays with the spirit like a leach that forces you to feel the most painful yet magnificent experiance." With that she passed him to the Farplane exit.
__________
Rikku dragged her feet up the stairs to the Meeting Room and opened the door.
Paine was sitting in her chair, facing the door.
"What?",Rikku asked as she plopped into the nearest chair.
"Our employers have sent me specific orders...and I have to admit they are a bit odd," Paine began.
Rikku looked at her, wanting her to continue quickly so she could get out of here.
"Well,I have been telling our employers about you and they are quite taken with you. They asked me to take the gems we've found to Zanarkand and have you, and only you, carry them out to it, whilst the rest of us remain on the ship. The money will be given to you in exchange for the gems...",Paine finished, fighting a smirk at Rikku's gaping mouth.
"They want me...to deliver the gems....and all that stuff...weird, but I guess I could." She agreed, her voice soft and thoughtful.
"I have already sent the coordinates to our navigator, we should be at the Zanarkand enterance-"
A red light near the door began to flash.
"-now.",She finished with a smile.
****
Rikku held the silver sphere in her hand like a baby. This sphere held the gems saftly inside it's isolated core.
Once she stepped from the docking platform of the ship it quickly retracted and Rikku marched forward.
It wasn't long before she reached the enterence of the place she hadn't seen in almost 3 years...nor was she happy.
Just the sight sent a shiver down her spine.It was unnerving, the stench of death and misery filled the air and clogged her nostrals.
With a deep breath she entered the ruins of the once great Zanarkand.
It was quiet, just the occasional sound of moaning from the unsent filled the air.
Then she heard it, the jar of metal and sweak of rusting bolts under weight...but she hadn't moved. She went to turn around to see who or what was behind her but was stopped when a powerful hand grabbed her head and forced her to look forward.
Out of shock the silver ball slipped from her grip and she heard the loud 'clank' and watched it roll a few feet from where she stood.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a long needle dripping with a clear serum.She felt the prick of the needle on the nape of her neck, her eyes began to get blurry and she lost her footing. She collapsed on the floor, the impact with the ground rolled her on her back.
She looked up and she could make out the fimiliar figure,"You...", she said with a pointed figure, then she blacked out.
********
Her head was pounding and her mouth was dry.She tried to brush a strand of hair she felt on her face,but she couldn't move.
"Wha...?",She moaned and opened her eyes.Her vision slowly began to clear up as she looked to her left and right.Her hands where bound and spread by thick rope that hung from a cement arch over her head and her feet where clamped to the floor by heavy iron locks.
She looked above her at the underside of the cement arch.There were weird designs and inbetween each was one of the five gems!
Then she looked straight over her head,and her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened.
"No...", her eyes began to fill with tears,"What?...no", Her necklace was placed smoothly in a heartshaped knotch in the stone.
She pulled at her restrients but to no avail, it only seemed to make the ropes hold on tighter.
Then footsteps echoed the hall and she finaly realized she was not alone.
Resku stepped from the shadows.
"Finally, I thought this plan would never come together...",He spoke, his voice even more oily and savage than she had ever remembered.
"I told you it would work...",another voice spoke up. Rikku's eyes widened, she knew that voice...but there was no way it could be...
Raden walked up behind Resku and waved at Rikku with a smirk.
She looked unscathed...no, she was dead, Rikku was there...she watched her go down!
Raden's smirk widened at the confused look on Rikku's face.
"What, arn't you happy to see your fallen comrad?", she said coldly, her voice stung Rikku's ears.
"I-", her throat felt tight and dry as she swollowed hard.
"I don't understand!",She said softly, looking into the eyes of someone she had once called 'friend'.
"Well then let me fill in the blanks", Raden looked up at Resku, "If that's ok with you brother?"
'Brother?', Rikku thought...'What the hell...'
"Go ahead", He smiled back.
Radens attention turned back to Rikku.
"It was I who stole your necklace, Saja goes to work out ever afternoon, so, for the past month I have been slowly digging, I figured her room was the closest to yours, and if by chance you did find my hole, all the clues would point to Saja, instead of bouncy, cute, innocent Raden," She smiled and continued,"So, the night before our exploration of that cave I busted through the wall, grabbed the necklace from your neck...I now had what I needed I just needed to escape, hence my very effective dramatic exit...heh," She chuckled, Rikku's ears stung with her words.
"You bitch...", She yelled out.
"Language! The youngest of the famous first Albhed Gardian should be careful with her tounge!",Resku scolded from behind his sister.
"Why?",Rikku asked...
"Ahh, another good question, If I may again?", She asked Resku, who smiled and gestured with his hand for her to continue.
"Are you fimilliar with the Ancient Texts? And I don't mean the one's those simple minded preists keep of Yevon, I mean the actual Ancient texts, before Sin and Yevon and Summoners...I thought not.Well, they are records of a power more horrible than Sin ever was. A Power that nearly left Spira in a vortex of eternal darkness, Compared to this power, Sin is a typical feind."
Rikku listened awstruck, the words wern't sinking in...there was never a power greater than Sin, If there had been surly tales of it would have been passed around from camp fire to campfire long before now...and She would have heard of it.
"Back before magic was believed to be good there was actually peace. Ture peace. It was like a clam, only no one appreciated it as much for no one knew true pain or loss.
In these times there were a group of wise and powerful people who, together, decided the best ways to run Spira...much like the Maesters of today. Back then it was code of honor for the Maesters to remain chaste, so there desicions were not altered in any way.
However, one of the Maesters fell in love with a beautiful Alkeld woman, a race of people equivilant to the Al Bhed of today."
Raden smirked at Rikku and then continued.
"There love was forbidden and they constantly had to meet in secret,but one night they were spotted and he was sentenced to death for betraying the code.
She lived on, however, and concieved a child, who was taken and raised in secret by the Maesters.The woman began to resent everyone, for as they lived happily, she suffered daily with the loss of her lover and her child, the first darkness began there."
"She began to grow darker by the day, she felt her self slip from that reality...she began to control the minds of others and it seemed even the underworld beneither her feet trembled at her step...Until she was powerful enough to take down villiages.
When the Maesters saw her distructive power they developed a magical ritual that would banish her to an abis, there she could case no more harm.
They built an arch, and used her motive of revenge to lure her to it. There, her daughter, now 19 was tied to the arch, behind her a portal.
It was open and with a powerful magic of the combined elements the creature was pushed into the portal, but it would not close.If it remained open it would suck all of Spira inside,so finally, the maesters took the daughter and drew a blade across her wrists and pushed her in after her mother.
With her blood the portal was sealed, and all memory of the woman and daughter was wiped from the memorys of the people of Spira."
Raden finished her story with a smile as she looked Rikku over once more.
After it all sunk in, her mind was ready to blow...this story could not be true! It was a lie!
"If this is true, what do you want with me? Your not actually going to try to redo this 'ritual' and bring back this monster lady? I mean hello, she would kinda kill you as soon as she got out!"
"Wrong!", Resku said, jumping finally.
"Raden forgot to mention the best part, The womans deal with the demons, If she was brought back, the ones responsible would be granted one wish...ours is to have control of her, use her to gain control of Spira."
"Well what do you want with me?", Rikku asked, maybe she could get some real answers.
"Oh come on! Don't tell me you havn't put two and two together yet! You have the girls blood in you, you are a direct desendant! It is your blood we need to close the portal so the world isnt' sucked into it!"
Rikku's jaw dropped,she was definatly dreaming...no posible way could this truly be happening!
'Damn it!', her mind screamed, "Why does this stuff always happen to me?", she muttered quietly to herself.
"I don't know",Raden answering the retorical question.
"Let's start already!", Raden whinned, "I'm getting board and it's really really cold down here!", She complained.
"Actually, Raden, I think it is time we started.",Resku said with a smile.His dark, glass like eyes hidding the evil songs sung beind them.
"How 'bout we don't and say we did!", Rikku offered hopefully.
"I think not, Come on now, don't tell me your not even the littlest bit interested on how this all turns out?",Resku asked.
"Uh, hello, according to you I won't be living to see how it turns out, so, no I'm pretty content with how things are...me being alive."
Resku smirked,"Let's get started, shall we...",He walked up infront of the stone platform Rikku stood on and knelt in front of it.
He took his index finger and began to draw in the loose dirt.
"Aww a pretty picture, for me, your so sweet!", Rikku said with sarcastic cheerieness.
Resku finished and stepped back, admirroring his work.
It was a group of symbols, they were unfamiliar to Rikku, but she deffinatly knew what they were for...they were going to open the portal.
"Not so fast!", A familiar voice rang out, a voice Rikku hadn't heard in months.
Her eyes watered with happiness as she looked up and her eyes met with Tidus, who held a struggeling Raden in his grasp.
"Brother," She called desperatly, Tidus held a gun to her head.
"Let Rikku go or Raden's blood will fall," Lulu said behind him.
"Lulu,Wakka...Tidus," Rikku called out happily, they were looking for her...they cared.
Tidus gave her a genuin smile but then got serious, he held Raden tighter and pressed the gun against her head.
"You," Resku spat distastefuly.
"You can't stop this, no one can, and no one will!", He called out, then he started laughing, his shrill chuckles wrang out through the cave.
He was a madman.
Resku drew his own gun and aimed it at Tidus, then in a split second tilted it and fired twice...right into Raden's chest.
The wind was knocked out of her in an instant and the after shock of the bullets caused Tidus to stumble.
Raden grasped her chest and fell to her knees. The blood pouring through her fingers onto the floor.A dribble of blood fell from her mouth and she fell on her face...dead for real this time.
"Nothing will stop me...", He laughed again, his gun still aimed at his sisters body.
Everone watched in horror...he just killed his own sister.
"Damn, I thought for sure that one would work...", Tidus said softly, shaking his head.
"Now, back to buisness...", He said, lowering the gun.
"If anyone even thinks about moving I will blow her to kingdom come!", He said, gesturing his head twoard Rikku.
"I thought you needed my blood? Why would you kill me before it's my time?",She asked him, hopeing to buy time.
"I said I needed the blood from a decendant of the girl, and because you are of the same age she was and have her blood through her veins, you arn't the only one...there are others...She had two children before she died, twin girls, who married had there own kids and so on and so forth...There are only two living decendants from her, You...and her", He walked over to a large stone and pushed it back.
Rikku gasped, for behind the large stone was a small room, and inside was a bound and gaged Saja, Paine and Giha.
He reached in a pulled Saja up by her hair.
"Rikku, I'd like you to meet your blood sister," He smiled.
"What?",Rikku yelled out.
"Thats right, Saja shares the same Mother and Father with you...",He said, and threw Saja back on the ground.
"But she is 20, not close enough in age, as your are perfect in age..."
"I don't have a sister! My mom died in labor with me...", Rikku corrected him, "So you are mistaken."
Resku shook his head,"Cid is not your father you fool...Cid merely was your mother's best friend...your god father, when she died he took on the role as your father."He explained.
Rikku was in tears, he was lieing, there is no way her entire world could be spun upsidedown like this in a matter of hours.
"Impossible!", She screamed
"It is true..."
"Fine then, if it's so true what happened to my real father?"
"Simple, he died in the battle against Sin, merely two months before you were born."
Her mind was racing, surely this was a dream, no, a horrible nightmare that she would wake from any minute now.
"How...",She began as her body shook with tears,but she gulped them down to continue,"How do you know all of this?" She asked the one question that was buzzing at the front of everyones mind.
"Let's just say time has been good to me...", He said with a smirk.
"Now, enought stalling...time to get down to buisness...",He rubbed his hands together in anticipation and looked over to Tidus, Lulu and Wakka,"You three, stand with them...and remember, any 'hero' moves will earn her a bullet, you wouldn't want her blood on your hands do you...heh, I thought not."
He stood infront of the symbols he had drawn on the ground and cleared his throat.
He began to sway back and forth, humming a tune that tickled Rikku's ears.
His eyes shut and he began to sway back and forth faster.
Then he began to chant. The words tumbled from his mouth like water, the words were to old for Rikku to understand.
The symbols on the floor began to glow, and they continued to by each word that fell from his lips.
It was then that Rikku realized that the weird symbols inbetween each of the gems matched those on the floor.
Rikku's eyes widened as those symbols began to glow as well...
"It's begun," She whispered those words out of no where.
The light glowing from the symbols flew into each of the gems, causing the gems to begin to glow instead.
Suddenly the platform she was on began to creek and groan, the sound of stone scraping stone dully cast over Resku's chanting.
The stone platform turned Rikku around and stopped.Rikku looked above her head and watched as the gem's light all went out.
'Maybe it didn't work', Rikku thought hopefully, but as soon as that thought entered her mind her heart necklace shot out a beam of light directly over her.
Inside the light she felt so warm, so powerful, so safe that she wanted to cry out of happiness, not despair.
She felt like she could acomplish anything.
The light corsed through her veins, and she let out a yell as it shot forward form her body infront of her.
The light seemed to rip open the air, causing a huge hole.
Rikku's scream peirced the night.
A wind picked up around her, blowing about her hair and blowing her shirt and shorts, but it effected nothing else.
Suddenly the light rimmed hole in the air was bigger than the entire wall.
The light stopped.
Rikku fell limp, her energy drained.
She slowly lifted her head.
A woman stepped out of the hole.
Her hair was long and blond, it swept over her face and all the way down her back.
Her skin was fair and pale, her eyes a peircing, deep green.
"...Mom...",Rikku whispered into the air.
"Mommy...", Rikku called again, tears filling her eyes.
The woman walked over to Rikku and cupped her chin in her hand.
She spoke no words, but they wern't needed.
Resku's laughing was once agian heard.
"Ahh...perfect, all according to plan...I have freed you all mighty force, your are mine to control and you owe me a wish for setting you free, and I wish for control over you." He spoke, pure joy in his voice.
The woman looked at him with a scowl and put up her hand in his direction.
"Wha-", a blast forced Resku against the wall, the loud crack of his skull filled the room...Resku was dead.
The woman looked back at Rikku and kissed her forehead.
Her lips were cool and comphorting on Rikku's sweaty, clammy head.
"Daughter of mine...", She whispered in Rikku's ear,"I am truly happy..."
Wind around them picked up and Rikku realized with horror that the portal was begging to suck things in.
The woman turned around and stepped back through the portal, but it did not shut.
The bonds on Rikku's arms and legs broke and was sucked into the portal.
Tidus got up and ran over to Rikku, just as she fell to the ground.
He held her close to him and looked down at her weak body.
Her eyes were only half open.
Tears fell from his cheeks onto her face.
"Rikku,I love you...I always have and you were right...I was such an idiot, please never leave me Rikku....I love you", He whispered over and over into her ear.
"I love you,"She whispered back.
She reached up and touched his cheek, a smile on her face.
He lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss.
It was sweet and tender, the kiss she always imagined.
"I have to shut the portal..."She whispered.
"What?" Tidus looked back at the portal and then at Rikku.
"No, stay with me...dont leave me, please." Tidus begged her.
"I will always be with you..."She whispered.
She kissed him again and stood.
She took out her pocket knife and looked at him again and smiled.
'I love you', she mouthed, before she drew the blades across her wrists.
The blades stung and the warm blood dripping down her arms stung even worse.
She jumped into the portal and it closed instantly.
"Nooooo!", Tidus yelled, but no one answered.
Like that, the love of his life was gone...forever.
"Love is never gone," A voice whispered in his ear.
He turned around but no one was there.
Lulu and Wakka was helping Paine, Saja and Giha up and out of there, all had tears in there eyes.
All of the gems fell from the stone arch and shattered.
The last one to fall was his heart shaped one, and when it reached the bottom it split in half.
He picked up the blue and green half and placed them together again infront of the portal once stood.
"I love you", He said outloud and left...tears falling onto the ground in his wake.
As he left, the heart shaped stone on the ground emmited a green light...
The End
(Or is it?)
________________________________
There's the final chapter for you...was it long? Did you make through it ok?
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