Chapter Twenty Two: Part of Me for Part of You
Amanda's Ramble:
Amanda: Heyo.
Auron: Here we go again…/_9
Amanda: Shush you. On to the reviewers.
Auron's Biggest Fan: Yeah, well, it's about to get weirder. O.O Why? *shrug* I have no earthly idea. Oh, Auron said hi back, but he didn't want the whole world to know. :P
TheBlackRaveness: Me, a drug? Heh. That's kinda funny. ^-~ Anywho, please don't lose it just yet, there's still a lot more to come, ya? And yes, sticky fingers DO have to be licked. *evil grin*
Evrae Altana: o.O ßMe /.OßAuron Okay…..Heh, yeah, I patted myself on the back with the zombie thing. But, you just have to think about it logically. That would be what you would see. Heh.
Lenneth Valkyrie: Didn't you know? Aurrie's a regular little over sexed maniac! (I am not! –Auron) And don't tell Auron's a sexy bitch. Otherwise, he might realize other women want him and he'll leave me! *clings to Auron possessively*
Sulou: Well, I'm certainly glad I exceeded expectations. I, too, hate numerous grammatical errors and horrid plots, which is why I don't read a lot of the fanfiction on this website. There seems to be no pride taken in it. n_n
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Ophelia walked a few paces behind the others as they entered the large and decrepit dome in Zanarkand, her thoughts turned inward. There was a plan forming there, in the deepest corners of her mind, and she was trying hard to focus on it, bring it to light and then into action, but for now it just wouldn't gel. She sighed and glanced up, stumbling back at the diaphanous image of a woman, pyreflies swirling around her.
"What in forty blue blazes was that?" she exclaimed, when the image dissolved. Auron turned and peered at her over his glasses, a line between his brows.
"This place is like the Farplane. The essence of human memory becomes trapped here and replays itself through infinity. In other words, what you are viewing are them memories of those who have fought and died here." He looked at her oddly a moment longer, and turned, following the others. Memories? If that were so then….Wouldn't her father's memories be here as well?
She trotted up to the others, keeping pace with Lulu and Tidus, turning once more to her thoughts. She could feel Auron's gaze at the center of her back, and she wondered what was up with her sometimes guardian, sometimes lover. He seemed…Unsettled. Yes, that was the word.
Three warrior monks, or, more appropriately, what were warrior monks in their former lives, rushed out from the tumbled down columns of the open room, and at first Ophelia shrank back from their skeletal faces and rotting flesh before snapping to and pulling out a mega phoenix, throwing it at them. All three fell to their knees and exploded with pyreflies, and Ophelia pushed on, ignoring the looks of the others. Thank goodness someone hadn't done the same thing to her when she'd been hit with that zombie attack. She'd be in the Farplane with those three.
The entered a long corridor, and Ophelia felt a rush of cold air move through her before a flimy and transparent image of her father burst through her. Next came Jecht, and, finally, Auron. She watched them move on with wide eyes, not in the least surprised that they had taken no notice of her or the others. They were, after all, memories.
"As I said before," Auron said softly from behind Ophelia, startling her, "they are the memories of those who fought and died here."
"Including you?" Her voice was equally low, and the others took no notice. Auron nodded and Ophelia felt tears sting her eyes. "C'mon." She moved on quickly, not wanting to think anymore about him being dead, even though that was impossible. After all, it was a fact of, well, life.
Wakka scowled and looked around, rubbing his arms. "This place is real creepy, ya?" Lulu only rolled her eyes and moved forward, but the others nodded.
"Kimahri no like this place. Smell of death is everywhere." Kimahri wrinkled his long cat's nose and then moved on after Lulu, and one by one, the others followed, Auron and Ophelia bringing up the rear.
They reached the sanctuary, and and old and withered man, also transparent (was there no life at all here?) emerged as they stood over a very old statue of the Fayth, Yuna lamenting that there was no Final Aeon to be had from it.
"That statue lost it's power a summon long ago. That was the first of the Final Summons, Lord Zaon." His head bobbed with palsy, even in death, a fact which disturbed Ophelia more than his being an unsent. "Come. Lady Yunalesca is expecting you." He led them through double doors and into a beautifully appointed room with thick red carpet, full of light from hundreds of candles set in every crevice. Yuna stood before them all, her back straight, and her will firm. Ophelia felt the first prickling of fear and doubt, and moved further up in the group, taking her place next to her younger sister. The double doors opened and a tall woman with long lavender hair that stuck at odd angles from her scalp moved toward them, her stride purposeful.
"Congradulations, summoner. You have completed your pilgrimage. Now I shall bestow upon you that which you seek. Now choose."
"Choose?" Ophelia gave Yunalesca a skeptical look. "What do you mean, choose?"
"Why, which of the guardians will become the Final Aeon, of course." The others, with the exception of Auron, gasped, and Ophelia gripped her staff a little tighter.
"You mean, one of us has to become the summon?" She flinched under Yunalesca's piercing gaze but refused to back down. Yunalesca nodded and turned her full attention to Ophelia, moving closer and cupping Ophelia's chin in her long-nailed hand. Ophelia resisted the urge to pull away and met Yunalesca's searching gaze squarely, her eyes full of anger.
"So it has come. No matter. The cycle will still continue. Even with the Fayth of Innocence."
Ophelia, unable to stand it any longer, jerked her chin from Yunalesca's grasp, feeling stinging as the woman's nails sliced her flesh. "What are you talking about?"
"You, of course." Yunalesca leaned even closer, until she and Ophelia were almost nose to nose. "A living fayth. Of course, when it was predicted I laughed at the very notion, but here you stand before me, alive and breathing." Her gaze swept Ophelia's face once more, and Ophelia only narrowed her eyes, refusing to be intimidated. "Yes, I can see the fire within you. You are the One. Praise be, young one. You shall help exquisitely if you were to become the Final Aeon as well. Will you do as such, will you help Spira's hope?" Yunalesca placed her hands on Ophelia's shoulders and kissed both her cheeks. "Come, allow me to make you the Aeon to outshine all Aeons."
"I don't think so." Ophelia backed out of Yunalesca's grasp. "Why don't you give me some time to think it over?"
"Very well, young one. We have all the time in the world…Here." Yunalesca turned and walked back through the double doors, leaving them. Ophelia let out a long breath and turned back to the others, her eyes wide but unfrightened.
"That bitch is nuts."
"Shhh!" Wakka gave her a dirty look. "Don't say things like that, ya? Even if you're right, she's still Lady Yuna-" Three figures burst from his chest and he gazed after them dazedly as they ran up the steps leading into the room that Yunalesca had gone to. Auron (the younger) stopped and looked up at his summoner, his eyes pleading.
"Lord Braska, it is not too late to turn back. You don't have to do this!"
Braska laughed gently and laid a hand on Auron's shoulder. "I thank you for your concern, Auron, but this is my duty, as being a guardian is yours."
Auron sighed and looked down, obviously searching for the right words. "I-I don't want to see you die!" His words held so much conviction, but Braska only smiled sadly and patted his shoulder.
"I know how you feel. However, you knew this would happen when we started. You've been a true friend. Look after my girls, will you?" He turned and started up the stairs, and Auron sighed angrily, looking down at the ground before raising his eyes to Braska once more.
"There has to be another way!"
"Auron!" Jecht unfolded his arms and stepped forward, his gate sure and cocky, as always, as Ophelia remembered it. "This is Braska's sword duty to the people of Spira, right? Then, if this is it, we gotta do it." He turned to Braska and lowered his arms to his sides. "Make me the Final Aeon."
"Are you insane?" Auron's eyes widened at Jecht .
"I've been doing some thinking. I'm never gonna see my son again. I wanted to turn that runt into a star blitz player, show him the view from the top, you know? But, as far as I can see, that ain't gonna happen. So, I know I ain't gettin' any younger, so I might as well make myself useful."
Braska moved down the steps, a foot from the blitzer. "Jecht…"
"Aww. Don't tell me you're gonna try to stop me, too."
Braska smiled and shook his head. "Sorry. I thank you."
They both turned and started toward the doors. "But Sin will come back! Sin always comes back," Auron cried.
Braska turned back. "But there's always a chance that it won't."
"Hey, don't worry, Auron. I'll find a way to stop Sin, promise."
"You have a plan, then."
"I'll…Think of something." Jecht and Braska entered the doors and Auron stared at them a long moment before falling to his knees, his eyes shut tightly as though he were holding back tears. A very real blade hacked through the image once, and it faded, and Auron stood there, his katana biting deeply into the floor.
"And the cycle continued," he said, quietly.
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They stood before Yunalesca, the silence thundering. "Have you chosen? Who will it be? Who shall I make into the Final Aeon?" She paused and her gaze swept them all. "There is no reason to be afraid. Death is the ultimate release from all pain and sorrow. Once you call the Final Aeon, you life shall end, and with it, your suffering. Come now, choose."
"Might I ask something first?" Yuna's voice wavered, but she met Yunalesca's gaze levely. Yunalesca nodded in agreement and Yuna pressed on. "Even if I defeat Sin, will it come back?"
Yunalesca laughed, as though the question were silly. "Child, Sin is eternal. Your death will bring hope to Spira, but there is no way to ever end the cycle."
"That-that can't be!" Lulu's outburst shocked them all, and they turned to gaze at her. "The teachings state that Sin can be exorcized with complete atonement!"
"Will mankind ever attain such purity?" Yunalesca quipped. "Summoners journey to bring hope to Spira. They choose the person they have the strongest bond with to make the Final Aeon. I chose my husband Zaon, and our bond was true. Come, let's not waste anymore time. Who shall it be?"
"The I choose…" Yuna glance at the others, her brow furrowed. "No one." Yunalesca looked taken aback. "My father, I loved him. He died for what he believed, because he wanted to bring Spira hope, not cover the sorrow up with lies!"
"Right on!" Ophelia stepped forward next to Yuna. "The Final Summoning is a false tradition that should be thrown away. No more people dying because they're told it's what has to happen. I don't believe it. I know there has to be another way. And if I'm lucky, I'll find it."
"Very well. I cannot allow you to disrupt the balance of life and death in Spira, living fayth though you may be. You have chosen your fate, now come and accept it."
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The battle was raging on, with no hope of ending. While they were growing weak and worn down, Yunalesca showed no signs of tiring, and had transformed into a monster. Ophelia felt desperation, now that all of her summons had been badly wounded, as were the other members of the party. Auron had been hit with a powerful zombie attack, and now Ophelia got an upclose and personal introduction to how he's felt when someone he loved looked so. She would have wept, if there had been time.
She felt pressure deep within her chest, as though there were a hand inside pressing against her clavicle, clawing, trying to get out. She took a deep breath, trying to clear it, but it wouldn't lessen. What was she to do?
Finally, with a pained cry, she dropped to her knees, and felt the pressure loosen. The "hand" stopped squeezing her heart and lungs, and she closed her eyes, panting, as she knelt there on the cool floor. Amazingly, she realized, when she finally stood, she felt fully renewed, as though they hadn't been fighting this monster nigh on three hours or so. She could feel the others staring at her, but she ignored it.
"How?! How can this be?" Yunalesca's eyes widened. "How are you able to so soon?"
Ophelia raised a brow and looked down at herself, shocked. Her skin was now a pretty shade of lavender, with steaks of darker purple forming elaborate designs everywhere. She wore nothing more than a simple loincloth and a strip of pink sheer material as a tie on top, and her hair hung thick and plum, nearly to the floor. She felt the wings at her back, and brought them around, realizing they were like those of a dragon. Then, realizing what this transformation meant, turned and gave Yunalesca an evil grin.
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"Is it over?" Wakka stumbled out of the dome and glanced up at the sky, his eyes widening in fright. "Jumpin' shoopufs!"
Sin. He looked down on them with his many eyes, and Ophelia shut her own, feeling him out. Changing into…whatever it was she had had opened new talents deep within her, and she could feel his power in her very bones. Oh, this was not good. But, just as suddenly as he appeared, he turned and lifted into the air, moving through the air as swiftly as he did through water, and along his flank, came a very welcome site.
"The airship!" Ophelia laughed and took off toward the flying machina, her heart light for the first time since reaching Zanarkand. Stolen time, her mind whispered, but she quelched the thought, deciding she would be happy that there even was stolen time.
"Ophelia!" A familiar voice stopped her, and she turned back, nearly toppling over when she saw Marissa running toward her. "Thank God! Where the fuck are we?" She looked around her and then back at Ophelia. "What the hell are you wearing?"
"They're called clothes, Marissa, something you should learn about." Marissa was, as usual, clad in a skimpy little number that left nothing to the imagination. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Um, remember when you fought that thing at the park and then that wall was stretched across the place?" Ophelia nodded. "Um, I kinda followed you through it."
Ophelia stared at her a long moment. "WHAT? WHY?"
"You always get the attention!" Marissa balled her fists at her side and glared at Ophelia. "Why do you get to play little miss hero? I want to have some fun, too!" On the word fun, she glanced back at Auron, who rolled his eye and turned away.
"Fun? Fun?! You call the knowledge that I can die any moment of any day fun? You think that getting hurt in a battle is fun? Do you honestly believe, after what you've seen here, that any of this is FUN?!?" Ophelia panted, her eyes narrowed. Finally she turned to the others. "C'mon, Cid's docking the ship." She turned and walked to the airship, closely followed by the others. When she glanced back, she saw that Marissa had accompanied them and she stopped, turning to face her.
"What makes you think you're coming?"
"You-you wouldn't just leave me here, would you?" Marissa looked frightened, and Ophelia fought the urge to laugh at her. "I mean, this place is uber creepy."
"Yeah? I though you wanted to be the hero."
"You can't just leave me, please?" For the first time, Marissa looked desperate for Ophelia's help, and she savored the moment before sighing.
"Alright, but if you make so much as a peep, I'm throwing you overboard." She turned to walk up the gangplank and then turned back. "And stay away from Auron. He's taken."
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Later that night, as Ophelia snuggled against Auron, she worked over her plan in her head again, finally satisfied. It would work, even thought it would tear her apart to do it. It would make everyone else happy, though, and that's what counted.
She felt Auron stir against her and sighed contentedly as his arms tightened around her, his breath tickling her when he mumbled something incoherently against her neck. Yes, everyone would be happy…But her. Did it matter? In the end she wouldn't even remember.
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The end. At least of this chapter. More to come soon.