"Stay here but if things get hairy take off without us." Rikku said.
"But..." Raylei frowned.
"It's ok, mom. Really..."
Raylei sighed and hugged Rikku. Once everyone said their good-byes Tidus and his guardians left the ship. They followed a sparkling path to a crystal staircase. Tidus squinted. The stairs vanished into the mist above. The summoner slipped his hand into Wakka's and they started climbing the stairs together. Lulu and Rikku also joined hands and started climbing. Rin briefly looked at Auron then started climbing by himself. Kimahri followed and Auron brought up the rear. The group found themselves on a large, circular stone platform. Tidus wasn't surprised when he heard Seymour chuckle. The summoner unsheathed his sword as the Guado emerged from the mist.
"Don't you ever give up?" Wakka growled.
"Sin has chosen me. I am part of Sin. I am one with Sin, forever. Immortal!!" The former Maester shouted.
"Sin just absorbed you." Tidus replied.
"I will learn to control it from within. I have all the time in the world. Since you were gracious enough to dispose of Yunalesca..." The Guado unsheathed a long sword. "...the only means of destroying Sin is forever gone. Now nothing can stop us!!"
"We can stop you!" The summoner exclaimed.
"By all means...summoner...try..." Seymour hissed. "You should thank me. Your death means your father's life!!"
Tidus and Seymour rushed at each other, swords ready. Rikku winced and could barely stop herself from covering her eyes as the two clashed. Sparks flew everywhere as the swords collided. Tidus pushed against Seymour's sword with all his might. The Guado leaned close, licking some of the dried blood from the side of Tidus' face. That tore it. Tidus' guardians rushed into the fray. Seymour backed away quickly, catching Tidus off balance. The blonde cried out as Seymour's blade slashed down his cheek. The summoner fell backwards into Wakka's arms. Rikku and Lulu rushed Seymour at the same time. The man kicked Lulu in the stomach, sending her flying backwards. He turned just in time to stop Rikku's Jammer from jamming into the back of his neck. He attempted to break her wrist but she kicked him right in the nuts.
"You little bitch!" He snarled.
"Bite me!" She replied, kicking Seymour in the face.
The Guado stumbled back, his nose bleeding, but he stayed on his feet. Rin struck at Seymour, his nunchaku catching the side of the Maester's head. Seymour blew Rin away with a Firaga spell. Kimahri and Auron rushed at the man. The Ronso and Seymour clashed. The long sword's blade was inches from cutting Kimahri's throat but the feline guardian did not relent. Auron raised his katana for an easy hit but Seymour saw him coming and blasted him with a Thundara spell. Lulu went to attend to Rin and Auron. Wakka and Tidus went to Kimahri's aid. The blonde flew at Seymour, distracting him from the Ronso. The sword only ended up cutting the cat's shoulder as the Guado turned. Wakka tossed his blitzball as hard as he could. It rebounded off Seymour's back with a sickening crunch. The Maester stumbled forward only to be struck backwards by a Flare spell from Lulu. Tidus knocked Seymour's sword away. It went flying into the mist somewhere. The Guado looked up at Tidus. A small dribble of blood ran from the teen's nose and he sniffed it back.
"No!" Seymour wailed pitifully.
"Send him! Now!" Auron ordered.
Tidus nodded and started sending the Maester. Seymour glared up at the boy.
"So it is you, after all, who will send me. But even after I'm gone, Spira's sorrow will prevail."
A beam of light shot through the mist and struck Seymour. The Guado exploded in a cloud of pyreflies and Tidus lowered his sword.
"Sin will be right behind you. I promise..." He mumbled quietly, sniffing more blood back.
"Tidus..." Wakka rushed to the blonde's side. "Are you ok?"
"Yes Wakka..." Tidus forced himself to smile. "I'm ok..."
The redhead forced a smile too and brushed a kiss across Tidus' bruised forehead.
"Are you two ok?" Rikku asked.
"I'm fine." Rin replied.
Auron nodded.
"Kimahri?" Lulu asked.
The Ronso nodded. "Kimahri fine."
"Let's keep going." Tidus said.
The guardians nodded and followed their summoner into the mist. It wasn't long before they found themselves in a weird mechanical...city? Tidus wasn't sure if it was a city. Neither were his guardians. They walked through the maze-like streets until they came to a long, narrow path. Cautiously they walked down the path only to find nothing but an empty square platform. Rikku was about to say "dead end" when a huge thing fell from the sky. Tidus and his friends jumped backwards as the giant object crashed onto the platform they'd just been standing on. They all looked up in awe. It was a tower. A huge one at that and it was covered in Yu Yevon symbols.
"A tower from the sky...?" Rikku murmured. Mostly to herself.
Everyone inched closer. The Yu Yevon symbol on the base of the tower started to glow and suddenly they found themselves engulfed in white light. Once the light faded they were in an entirely different place. It looked like a clearing in the Macalania Woods but everything behind the trees was just blue mist.
"Hello!?" Tidus called.
Suddenly an image of his mother appeared.
"Mother!" He cried.
The image vanished and popped up on the other side of the weird clearing. It vanished quickly again and reappeared beside Rikku.
"What is this??" Lulu asked.
Auron frowned thoughtfully. The image was holding something shiny in its hands.
"Get that thing out of her hands!" Auron called.
The group chased the image around the clearing. Finally Kimahri plucked the shiny object from Maya's hands and the image burst into pyreflies.
"What is it?" Tidus asked.
"Elixir." Kimahri replied.
"They are preparing us for the battles ahead. Testing us..." Auron said in his philosophical tone.
As if on cue an image of Aiyana started blinking around the clearing. They chased her around and got another Elixir. Then Gatta appeared. Rikku got a new Targe from him. Wakka felt like bursting into tears when an image of his brother appeared. The redhead got a new blitzball from him. Rayna was next. They received a Mega-Potion from her. Kelk Ronso was the next image the group chased around. Kimahri got an upgraded spear from the former Maester. Kinoc came next and Auron received a stronger Bracer. Belgemine, the nun who trained Tidus until a Sin-attack on Besaid ended her life, was next. Tidus got an upgraded Shield from her. They had to chase Mika's image around for quite a while before Rin finally snatched the Ether from his hands. Lastly Braska showed up. Tidus grabbed the shining object from the High Summoner's hands. The older summoner burst into pyreflies and the group felt their strength renew. Everything was silent. No one else popped up.
"Is...it...over?" Rikku panted. Out of breath from running around.
As if to answer Rikku's question the clearing started to shake and tremble. Suddenly Tidus was sucked upwards into the sky! He only managed to shout "Wak...!" before he vanished.
"Tidus!!" Wakka called.
"Eeeeek!" Rikku shrieked as she was sucked into the sky.
Lulu and Kimahri were sucked up next. Rin's head struck the ground as he was suddenly turned upside down and pulled into the air. Auron and Wakka were next. They both shielded their eyes as blinding white light engulfed them again. When the light faded they were all together again. Wakka barely had time to blink before Tidus hugged him. Everyone looked around. They were in a place that strangely reminded them all of Zanarkand. Above them was a sky full of stars. Tidus looked up at the stars then looked around again. His gaze locked on something straight ahead. Everyone looked. There was Jecht, standing with his back facing them.
"Hi Auron." He said.
"...Hi." Auron replied.
Jecht turned around. His gaze settled on Tidus.
"Shit you got big! Lookit you! You're tall and what is that? Muscle?? You've really grown..."
"Yeah...but you're still bigger."
"Well, I am Sin. you know." The man grinned.
"That's not funny."
Jecht laughed, "Well then...I mean...you know. Let's end this...summoner."
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
Tidus refused to let himself cry, "I hate you!!"
"I know, I know. You know what you have to do."
Tidus nodded and unsheathed Liquid Steel. Jecht saw his wife's favorite scarf tied to the end of his son's sword. He too, refused to let himself cry and turned away.
"I can't hear the Hymn so well anymore. Pretty soon, I'm gonna be Sin. Completely. I'm glad you're here now. One thing, though... When it starts, I won't be myself anymore. I won't be able to hold myself back. I'm sorry."
"I don't intend to hold back." Tidus informed his father, one tear slipping from the corner of his eye.
"You're right..." Jecht mumbled.
Suddenly Jecht turned and Tidus found himself wrapped in an awkward hug. The man then released his son and walked to the edge of the platform everyone was standing on.
"Well then...don't disappoint me boy!"
Jecht lifted his hands in the air and formed an energy beam. A sphere of energy formed in his chest. Wakka tried to hold Tidus back but the summoner ran towards his father. Jecht walked backwards until he fell over the edge. Tidus' eyes widened and he shook his head, stepping back somewhat. His father fell into the swirling yellowish energy below. The ground started to rumble. The summoner's guardians flanked to his sides. Suddenly, a huge flaming fist slammed down right in front Tidus. It was his father...transformed into Braska's Final Aeon!
"I promise this will be quick! Hit me with all you got, dad!" Tidus shouted.
The Aeon before them groaned and swung its massive sword around. Everyone dove for cover. The sword smashed into the ground inches from Rikku's feet. A wall of flame engulfed Tidus and his crew. Lulu fought it off with Shell and Blizzaga spells. Once the fire dissipated she double-cast Flare. Tidus cast Hastega on his group and their adrenaline increased. Auron and Rin used their Overdrives.
"I won't lose!" Tidus shouted close to tears.
The Jecht-monster moaned again and swung its massive sword at Tidus. The blonde hit the ground the sword whizzed over his head...barely. Tidus stood and performed his Overdrive. Kimahri and Wakka were behind him, using their Overdrives too. Rikku mixed up an Ultima spell and unleashed it. The Aeon glared and Rikku and there was a flash of light. The blonde was turned into a statue on the spot.
"Rikku!" Lulu cried.
Tidus turned and cast Esuna on the girl. The stone broke away and Rikku fell to the ground. Lulu administered a Hi-Potion and the girl coughed. She was ok. Another wave of fire rolled over the group. Tidus was almost constantly using his Overdrive. Suddenly Jecht shuddered, dropping his sword. The massive weapon crashed into the platform, cracking it all over as if it were made of glass. The Aeon fell and something flew from its body. The beast's body exploded in a massive amount of energy and light. Everything faded away to reveal Jecht standing there. Tidus approached his father and they hugged...awkwardly. The man sagged in Tidus' arms and he was too heavy for the blonde to hold up. He set his father down gently and kneeled beside him.
"You'll cry. You're gonna cry. You always cry. See? You're crying..."
Tidus wiped his watering eyes. "You know...for the first time, I'm glad...to have you as my father." He stood and wiped his eyes again. "You know, I should..."
"No, Tidus, there's no time!!"
The group looked up to see a massive blob of black energy circled high above the group.
"You stay away!" Rikku shouted at it.
"Tidus...you know what to do." Jecht said, his voice weakening. "The Aeons!"
Suddenly the Fayth appeared in a circle around Tidus.
"Call us!" They cried.
"Call them!" Jecht ordered.
The man convulsed and then evaporated into pyreflies. The mass of energy continued to circle the group.
"Yes..." Tidus murmured.
A surge of pain coursed through Auron's body. The man grunted in pain and lurched forward.
"Auron!" Rin cried, steadying the man. "What's wrong??"
"I...have a...confession to make..."
"What...?"
The Al Bhed backed away as a few pyreflies exited Auron's body and flew away.
"Yunalesca...killed me..." Auron ground out. More pain ripped through his body. "I am unsent but I am aging too fast. My body is shutting down...killing itself...turning me into a fiend."
Everyone was silent. Tears were pooling in Rin's eyes.
"I'm sorry...I didn't tell you..."
Rikku winced as Rin smacked Auron sharply across the mouth.
"I deserved that..." Auron said.
Rin raised his hand again. The swordsman braced himself for another slap but the Al Bhed gently touched his cheek, making Auron look at him. The blonde said nothing but he stepped forward and pressed his lips to Auron's. The older guardian clutched the back of Rin's shirt, keeping their lips locked despite the pain pounding in his veins. The kiss soon broke and Rin and Auron wrapped their arms around each other. Auron looked at Tidus over Rin's shoulder.
"Do it..."
Tidus raised his sword in shaky hands and started sending his guardian. Tears spilled down Rin's cheeks as Auron's body became less and less solid. Soon he couldn't hold onto the man anymore and hugged himself. The swordsman reached out to touch Rin's cheek one last time before he vanished in a cloud of pyreflies. Tidus' fingers felt numb and he almost dropped his sword. Lulu looked up to see the swirling mass of black energy heading straight for them.
"Here it comes!!" She exclaimed.
The blob slammed into the sword. Red energy flew everywhere. The group was swallowed up by white light once again. The light vanished and the party found themselves standing on a large stone platform in the middle of red mist. Tidus was staring up at the huge malevolent red and black blob. It flew away and he turned to face his guardians.
"Tidus!" Rikku cried.
The blonde nodded and summoned Cerberus. The mass of energy zoomed down at an amazing speed and smacked into the Aeon's body. Cerberus turned odd off-key colors as it was possessed by Yu Yevon. The guardians kept it at bay while Tidus sent the Aeon. Cerberus fell to the ground, turned into pyreflies, and the energy mass flew up into the sky once again. They repeated this process for every single one of Tidus' aeons: Ifrit, Ixion, Shiva, Leviathan, Bahamut, Anima, and Phoenix. Taking a deep breath Tidus started sending Sin. The black mass swirled and coiled about in the air like it was in pain. Millions upon millions of pyreflies appeared and started spiraling into the sky. Suddenly everything started to tremble violently. The platform started to crack beneath Tidus' feet.
"Come on!" They heard Cid's voice yell.
The group looked up to see the airship part through the red clouds. They climbed up a rope ladder onto the outside deck. Tidus continued the sending as Raylei guided the ship out of Sin.
"It's following us!" Rikku cried.
The black energy was chasing after the airship. Tidus kept sending. More and more pyreflies flew past the group. The Fayth stuck to Mount Gagazet vanished. The Fayth trapped in their stone prisons were freed and the statues cracked and dried up. The energy was still chasing them. Unafraid, the summoner kept sending. The ship had just exited Sin when the energy flew at Tidus with amazing speed.
"Tidus!!" Wakka cried.
The energy formed into a man that Tidus assumed was once Yu Yevon.
"I will not let you destroy my greatest creation!" The fiend howled.
Tidus and Yevon clashed swords once before the summoner pierced his sword right through Yu Yevon's middle.
"No...!" The former man shrieked. "NO!"
The skeletal man pushed himself off Tidus' sword and staggered towards the end of the airship. Black blood oozed all over the deck. The blonde finished the sending, his hands shaking.
"Nooooooooooo!" Yu Yevon wailed, literally exploding into pyreflies.
Sin spiraled into the ocean below and exploded in a HUGE mass of yellow energy and light. Everything shook slightly and the sound of cheers from Bevelle and its surrounding areas could be heard.
"Tidus! You did it!!" Wakka cried.
Tidus didn't answer. A shower of white sparkles encased the blonde. He'd used Curaga on himself. Rikku stepped forward.
"Tidus...?"
Drip... Rikku looked down and her eyes widened. A fat drop of blood hit the deck between Tidus' feet. The summoner's body started to tremble. He dropped his sword and crumpled to the deck.
"TIDUS!" Rikku screamed running to him.
Tidus' other guardians quickly ran to the boy's side. Rikku had scooped him into her arms as best she could. She was crying hysterically and had her hand pressed tightly against a wound. Everyone finally realized what happened. When Tidus stabbed Yu Yevon, Yu Yevon had stabbed Tidus right back. The other man's sword had cleaved Tidus' sun tattoo in half. The summoner was dying.
"Tidus!" Wakka sobbed, falling to his knees beside Rikku and Tidus.
The blonde looked over at his lover. He tried to speak but his throat was full of blood. Nothing came from his lips except for a few blood bubbles. This only made Wakka cry harder. Tears blinded Lulu as she vainly poured Potions and Hi-Potions onto the wound. Rin had his forehead resting against Rikku's shoulder, tears were running down his cheeks too. Kimahri sat in silent shock beside Wakka. Tears rolled through the Ronso's blue fur.
"Don't leave me!!" Wakka cried, hugging the summoner and Rikku. Warm blood soaked the band of the redhead's jeans in seconds. "Tidus!! Don't leave me!!"
The summoner made a choking noise and lifted one bloody hand up. He grabbed onto Wakka's forearm with the strength he had left.
"Love....you....." He murmured, more blood spilling from his lips.
"Don't die!!" Rikku cried but she knew it was useless.
"I'm sorry..." A male voice said.
The group looked up to see Jecht standing there. He walked over to the huddled group. He gently pried Wakka off Tidus and lifted the summoner from Rikku's arms. The girl's middle was covered in blood.
"No!" She cried. "You can't take him!!"
"I have to..." Jecht whispered.
The man looked down into his son's teary eyes. Tears built up in Jecht's eyes as well and he looked at Tidus' guardians.
"I'm sorry..."
"NO!" Wakka cried, lunging at Jecht. "You can't!!"
Lulu gasped as Wakka fell right through Jecht and Tidus, crashing to the deck. The redhead lay there. A pyrefly flew right by his face. Lulu and Rin went to Wakka's side. Jecht started carrying Tidus towards the end of the airship. Wakka pushed himself up onto his knees, crying. Tidus watched his lover cry until he took his last breath. A solitary tear ran down Jecht's face as his only son died in his arms. Without looking back Jecht, holding Tidus tightly in his arms, jumped off the edge of the airship into the yellow energy below. Lulu and Rin were hugging Wakka tightly afraid the redhead might jump too if they let go. Kimahri held a hysterical and near hyperventilating Rikku in his arms.
"I love you too..." Wakka whispered, his tears pooling on Rin's shirt.
"Look..." Lulu whispered hoarsely.
A small cloud of pyreflies rose up from the deck and floated Tidus' sword over to Wakka. The redhead took it and the pyreflies flew away.
-------------------------------
Rikku approached the microphone and looked around at the people that crowded the Bevelle Amphitheater. Thousands more were outside the amphitheater and millions were watching the address on spheres.
"Everyone...everyone has lost something precious." Rikku started her speech, but had to pause as a sob threatened to escape her throat.
A comforting hand laid itself on the girl's shoulder. Lulu and the rest of Tidus' guardians were gathered behind the girl. Even Wakka, who held Tidus' sword in his trembling hands. Rikku wiped her nose with a tissue and continued.
"Everyone here has lost homes, dreams, and friends. Everybody...Now, Sin is finally dead."
Despite the fact that almost everyone in the audience was crying they started clapping and cheering. Rikku looked down at Luzzu. He and the other Crusaders were locked in a tight salute. Tears were running down the man's cheeks.
"Now, Spira is ours again. Working together...Now we can make new homes for ourselves, and new dreams. Although I know the journey will be hard, we have lots of time. Together, we will rebuild Spira. The road is ahead of us, so let's start out today."
The crowd broke into another round of applause.
"Never forget those who were lost." Rikku continued. "They gave their lives for us. Auron gave his life for us. Tidus gave his life for us!!" More tears rolled down her cheeks. "Let's never forget them! Let us remember them for what they were and still are: Spira's Light!!!"
Everyone got to their feet in a standing ovation and they clapped and cheered louder than before. Rikku stepped aside and Lulu took over. The Al Bhed below the podium started to play music and Lulu started to sing.
kaze ga yoseta kotoba ni
oyoida kokoro
kumo ga hakobu ashita ni
hazunda koe
tsuki ga yureru kagami ni
furueta kokoro
hoshi ga nagare koboreta
yawarakai namida
suteki da ne?
futari te wo tori aruketa nara
ikitai yo
kimi no
machi ie ude no naka
sono mune
karada azuke
yoi ni magire
yumemiru
kaze wa tomari kotoba wa
yasashii maboroshi
kumo wa yabure ashita wa
tooku no koe
tsuki ga nijimu kagami wo
nagareta kokoro
hoshi ga yurete koboreta
kakusenai namida
suteki da ne?
futari te wo tori aruketa nara
ikitai yo
kimi no
machi ie ude no naka
sono kao
sotto furete
asa ni tokeru
yumemiru
The
End...
R&R Please.