Return of Light
This chapter dedicated to my #1 fan, SoccerChick88. Thanks for excitement over my work.
Chappu bolted upright, his eyes darting around wildly in the dark. His chest heaved and a light sheen of sweat slicked his body and as he reached to run a hand through his hair, he discovered the jet-black strands were wet from perspiration.
That dream… he hadn't had it for three years, since the day he'd first found Tida and accepted his fate as her guardian, her friend…
Her lover.
Well, almost lover. Chappu only had one regret, and it haunted him day and night. He'd never really told Tida he'd love her with every part of his being… heart, soul, and mind… He'd never truly proven he'd loved her physically either. Sure, a few kisses here and there, but…
A blush abruptly stained Chappu's cheeks and part of his male ego smirked, and then was gone as suddenly as it had come. That would never happen, no matter how much he wanted.
He would marry her, of course, without hesitation—unless Tidus killed him or something. Though having not been around, Tidus was as protective of his daughter as bony cat was over the last scrap of meat. Light, if Tidus could have read his thoughts along the journey sometimes…
Chappu shook his head and thought back to the dream. It was the dream of old, the one that had prompted him to find Tida in the first place.
But something this time was different. Yes, Tida was more defined now that he knew what she looked like; she was no longer a shadowy figure reaching and calling out to him. Nirvana was no longer lurking in the background with changing images swimming around it.
Chappu heaved a frustrated sigh and rested his head in one hand as he thought. What was it about the dream that was really so different.
Suddenly, his entire body jerked as it dawned on him exactly what was so out of place—it was Tida herself!
But then, was it Tida? The girl's hair was long, down to her waist and choppy blond. Her build was similar to Tida's, with long legs and shapely curves. The clothes she had on were sporty looking. And the eyes…
Shimmering Persian blue and enrapturing sea green. Tida to the letter.
But what was she doing in the dream? She wasn't calling out to him this time. She looked almost—no, don't think on that, it'll only break your heart more… but still, she looked as though she was…
Terrified.
* * *
Morning dawned clear and the sun was shining brightly when Chappu rode into Guadosalam at noon. Sovereign stopped to let a woman walk by in front of him before stepping lightly up to the inn where Chappu dismounted.
"Rest easy, Sov," he told the chocobo, patting its neck affectionately. His eyes traveled to the stairs where so many years before he and Tida had raced up them to reunite with Spira's old heroes to battle a fiend… and where Tida had been rejoined with her mother.
Deciding checking in could wait, Chappu began heading for the entranceway to the Farplane… only to be intercepted by none other than Maester Kelio, the Maester of the Guado.
"Ah, Chappu, one of the saviors of the Eternal Calm," the Guado said, clapping his hands together. He smiled at Chappu. Chappu glanced at his tangled and stiff blue hair and nodded to him, allowing his lips to turn in the smallest of smiles though he really itched to tell the Maester to fuck off so that he could go see Tida.
"What brings you to Guadosalam, Chappu?" Maester Kelio inquired, raising one eyebrow questionably at him. Chappu clamped his mouth to keep from snapping back.
"Just a visit to the Farplane," he muttered through clenched teeth.
Maester Kelio seemed oblivious to Chappu's frustration.
"Ah, planning to see an old relative? Or a friend, I daresay?" Maester Kelio chuckled and gave the slightest hint of a wink at Chappu.
Chappu would have loved to knock the hell out of him, traditions be damned.
"Yes, sir," he mumbled, his arm now beginning to tremble as he fought to restrain himself from sinking the fist of that arm into Maester Kelio's face. He settled for pulling out his wine flask and taking a long draught as the Maester continued in speaking.
"Yes, very good. I was up there earlier seeing some of the old Guado Maesters." Kelio sighed and shook his head regretfully. "Such a chore it is, to be the first Maester of the Guados since Lord Seymour's demise."
Chappu choked and nearly bit his tongue in two. Lord Seymour? He sputtered; then quickly recovered and capped his flask, though still staring at Kelio.
"Seymour tried to destroy Spira," Chappu began, his voice tight and checked. "He killed countless people in trying to get there. At the final battle, he killed the High Summoner Lady Tida. Seymour was no lord; Seymour was a tyrant."
Kelio's eyebrows rose slightly but he chose to make no comment. He simply bowed his head to Chappu and turned, striding briskly away into the Guado Mansion. Chappu glowered after him freely this time.
Who did that bastard think he was, calling Seymour a lord? Chappu thought, scowling and rolling his eyes. He moved back to the ramp and continued his climb to the steps.
The walk to the Farplane wasn't long and Chappu soon found himself looking up at the main entrance to the sacred place. Suddenly feeling hesitant, Chappu squared his shoulders and set his jaw, eyes now dark.
He placed one boot on the first step, than another on the second. Steadily, he ascended the stairs to reach the access to the Farplane. Chappu sighed and reached one hand forward, breaking through the hazy barrier. He pushed the rest of the way in and stopped, staring around, momentarily forgetting everything as he took in the wonder of it all.
Chappu shook his head to clear it and walked the rest of the way into the Farplane. A few people were scattered around the circular holding, each viewing someone dear to them.
But Chappu ignored them. His eyes were for the girl now standing in front him through the seemingly glass shield. He placed one hand gingerly on its cool surface and stared hungrily at Tida who stood in front of him, smiling, though sadly.
"Oh Light, Tida… Light, I miss you. I love you," he whispered, unaware of the tears silently beginning to weave their trails down his tanned cheeks.
Chappu pressed against the glass, wanting nothing more than to get to her, to be with her… to touch her, to hold her, to kiss her… To never let her go again.
"Oh Light, Tida… Why does this have to hurt so much? I thought that if I came here, I'd find the strength to let you go finally. But now, seeing you again… I can't let you go, Tida. I love you, but yet I can't let you go. I know I'm being selfish, but… I can't help myself, Tida.
"Maybe I'm being stupid as well. But you're the first person who loved me that way… I was supposed to protect you, and I failed miserably. Instead of me giving my life to save you, you gave yours to save mine. It wasn't worth it, Tida. I wasn't worth it. I'm not worth much at all really, especially not the cost of your precious life.
"I should've told you more about my past. There are… a lot of things I should have told you. There was so much you didn't know about me. Most important is that I loved you with all my heart, Tida. More than—more than you'll ever know, now."
Chappu stopped closing his eyes tightly and he slammed one fist sharply onto the glass, a sob choking in his throat as he fought back against the emotions tangling up inside him, each straining to free themselves.
"Light, I love you, Tida!"
A howl escaped Chappu then, pain-filled and stretching.
But he didn't notice that Tida's image was slightly blurred, hazy and… flickering.
—
Kelio watched the boy from inside the mansion, the globe in front of him glowing with the image of Chappu filling its depths. It was flickering from color to color, showing pain, love, and anger all at once.
Kelio's eyes wavered and he waved one hand. The globe turned to clear and Kelio sighed, shaking his head. The boy was strong, yes, but could he be turned?
"Anyone can be turned, Kelio," a hissing voice countered.
Kelio dropped his glass and fell to the floor immediately, bowing to the new arrival in the room.
"My—my lord! I didn't expect you so soon!" Kelio choked, stuttering on his own words as he cowered in front of the black-shrouded figure.
"The boy is strong, Kelio. He must be brought to the Shadow," the hissing voice continued, overlooking Kelio's response to his arrival.
"And if he cannot, my lord?" Kelio's voice shook with fear.
"Then he must die."
"My—my lord! Chappu is a valuable key! Without Tida, he is easily persuaded, I am sure!"
"No matter. If he even hesitates, he must be killed. The girl has quite a bit of influence over him, even in death. Seymour was ignorant of her power, and now the boy carries quite a bit of this…" the hissing paused as the figure spat contemptuously, "love."
"Love, my lord?"
"Silence, you prat! Yes, the Light feeds on love! Turn him or kill him! The Shadow must rule!"
"Yes, my lord. It will be as you say."
"And do stop pretending to be a Guado in my presence. One Guado's mistake, and I find the entire race pitiful."
"Yes, my lord."
* * *
"Rikku, this sphere came for you a little while ago," Yuna said, handing the small blue sphere to the blond Al Bhed. Rikku's eyebrows rose slightly as she took it from Yuna.
"Wonder what it is?" Rikku said. Yuna shrugged and Rikku pushed play and set it on the table to watch. A few seconds later, Cid appeared.
"Rikku, we've got some problems back here at New Home. We're receiving words of a few—uh, uprisings in some strange places. Fiends are multiplying in some of the weirdest places. And—oh, fuck being proper. It's some pretty freaky shit, if ya ask me, kid. Those damn fiends nearly destroyed one of my new airships and I'll be damned if they do another. Get your ass back here pronto and bring Yuna and hers with ya. We've got to deal with this shit now! Do as I say!"
The sphere cut off and Rikku blinked, and then blushed crimson. Her dad had never been, ah, proper, as he put it. Yuna, however, was staring at the sphere with an amused expression.
"I'll get Tidus and Zeoron. You get Lulu and Wakka," Yuna said, her voice serious. Rikku took one look at Yuna's hard features and ran off to fulfill her orders.
Yuna, on the other hand, strode purposely for her and Tidus's bedchambers. No doubt that louse was sleeping away the day in their four-poster bed. Scowling, she burst through the doors to find a surprised Tidus bolt up in bed, looking ready for an attack.
"Yuna, what—"
"Get up!" Yuna snapped, not all her usual placid self. "Something is happening, and I've no doubts that it will turn into something bigger."
"Shadow?" Tidus was on his feet in a flash and hurriedly pulling on his clothes. Yuna paused for a moment to study his naked form before going to the closet to pack, a lazy smile gracing her lips.
Fifteen minutes later the group was gathered in the foyer, ready to leave at Rikku's word. Wakka was shooting angry glances at Lulu, muttering under his breath. The Black Mage, however, ignored him.
"Let's go, everyone," Rikku said, nodding. She slung her bag over her shoulder and opened the door, walking out into the front yard. She strode across the walkway heading for the awaiting hover bike that would carry her to the awaiting airship Titan.
Rikku shielded her eyes for the briefest of moments to glance back at her party members. Light, what next for them? Hadn't they been through enough already?
Disclaimer: All belongs to Squaresoft. You people know what's mine, okay?