Return of Light
Her eyes opened to see a white ceiling overhead. She blinked, clearing her eyes of sleep. A yawn, and she sat up, clutching the sheet to her bare chest. The air was slightly cool and her skin prickled from it.
The aqua-haired woman was lying back in a chair next to the bed, her eyes closed and her face relaxed, giving off the feel of a peaceful dream.
She swung her legs over the bed and pushed herself to her feet, wrapping the sheet around her body. She stood unsteadily and managed to totter to the door before she stumbled and was forced to sit on the floor.
She'd forgotten how to walk. Or could be she was just so tired? Yes, tired, that was it. Her stomach rumbled. She needed energy, really. Yes, food. That was it.
The woman stirred and she opened her eyes, blinking the grogginess of sleep from her pale orbs. She looked to the bed and leapt up at not seeing the girl. Her head spun to the open door to find the girl sitting there, looking back at her with tranquil eyes, waiting. Her blond hair cascaded down her back in soft ripples, though a bit choppy at the ends.
Smiling, the woman stood and walked to the girl and helped her to her feet.
"Hungry, darling?" she asked, leading her out the door and into what the girl guessed was a—a kitchen? She shook her head as her mottled memories began dancing again but still flashing just out of her reach. There were colors, some that formed half-finished shapes of people but… she shook her head, stumbling.
"You'll remember everything. Just be patient and don't fight it," the woman soothed, helping her sit in a chair. She moved away and came back, handing her something round and red.
"Now, what is it?" the woman asked kindly.
She stared at the round object and rolled it over in her hands. It was light and smelled… delicious! Without bothering to answer, she sunk her teeth and juice dribbled from the corners of her mouth.
"An apple," she replied, though her voice was a little hoarse, as though she hadn't used it in the longest time. She chewed on the soft fruit. The woman nodded and smiled, relieved, getting up to fix a drink.
"Yunalesca."
The woman stopped and her head whirled around. "Yes?"
"That's your name, isn't it? It's so familiar, but… oh!" The girl bit her lip and frowned, frustrated at not being able to figure it all out.
"Please. You will remember in time. You've much to learn yet," Yunalesca soothed, setting a glass of water on the table and brushing back a few strands of blond hair.
"Yunalesca… can you—can you tell me my name? Do I even have one?" the girl asked, taking a small sip from the glass. Her eyes traveled up to Yunalesca's face.
Yunalesca swallowed. "Your name." She shook her head. "I can't tell you, darling. You must remember on your own—I know you don't want to hear that," she added hastily, seeing the girl's eyes darken, "but that's the way it has to be."
The girl lowered her eyes and sighed. "Well, could you at least supply me with a—a dress? Is that it?"
Yunalesca chuckled. "Yes, I think I can manage that. Can you walk now?"
In answer, the girl pushed back in her chair and stood, unwavering, the sheet draped around her elegantly, with her waist-length hair tumbling down her back with a few tresses trailing over her shoulders.
Yunalesca nodded and stood as well, leading the way back into the bedroom and to a large wardrobe against the wall. She pulled both the doors open, revealing colorful dresses, some silk and some plain cotton. There were a few with lace on the trim and collar.
"I think for today you should wear this until you start to get used to things again," Yunalesca said, removing a sky blue cotton dress carefully from the wardrobe. It was long in length, with bell-bottomed sleeves and a thin white belt around the waist. The collar was slightly V-shaped, with white running along the insides.
"It's beautiful," the girl whispered, fingering the dress lightly in her hand. Yunalesca smiled and pulled out some underclothes.
"Let's get you dressed and then we'll try to get your memories back."
* * *
"See what I mean, kid?" Cid growled, pointing to the screens that were currently showing pictures of new fiends, along with a few stats they'd figured out on the side.
"Yeah, Pops, I see. Come up with any names yet?" Rikku muttered wryly, waving one hand carelessly in the air. She turned back to Yuna and the gang.
"Anyone got a plan?" Rikku asked, holding her arms out to the sides, palms up.
Yuan shrugged with a smile and shook her head. "We don't really have enough information to form a plan. We need to know more to do more."
"We've got to do some scouting on the Shadow—and those Shadowfiends Chappu told us about a little while ago," Lulu said, stepping forward.
"Yeah. Red eyes and usually shrouded in black with the hood up, covering their face. It's pretty easy to spot, if ya ask me. All we've got to do is find out where to look," Zeoron agreed, moving up next to the elder Mage.
"Then let's get on it," Wakka said, clenching one fist. He nodded to Lulu. "You and I can go to Besaid and check out some of the shady places in town."
Lulu nodded.
"Good. Then Rikku and I will go to Bevelle and have a look around. One of us is bound to turn up something," Zeoron said, jerking her head and slinging her dark braid over her shoulder, purple eyes flashing.
"And Tidus and I will stay around just to be safe," Yuna said, turning slightly to look up at her husband's hard face, eyes filled with concentration of thought.
"Then let's go!" Rikku said, punching one fist in the air, her left leg crooking up slightly.
* * *
"I don't understand. Why would I want to attack it? It hasn't done anything to me," the girl said, staring, bewildered, at Yunalesca. Yunalesca sighed and glowered at the fiend, shifting the blame to it.
"It's a fiend, honey. You've got to kill it. Otherwise, it may kill someone else. Now come on, you've been here a month already. You've got to learn in order to remember," she explained slowly, readjusting the girl's grip on the watery blue sword she held.
"But it's—"
She never got to finish her sentence; at that moment, the fiend snarled and leapt, aiming for both women with a ferocious roar. Yunalesca yelled and stumbled back, tripping and going down.
But the girl never moved. Swiftly, she crouched and swung the sword up, catching the fiend through the middle and sending it over her head to land on the other side of where she stood. Yunalesca sat there, too stunned for words.
Finally, she found her voice. "You remembered how to defend!" she gasped, getting awkwardly to her feet, still gaping at the girl, whose eyes returned from their suddenly cold state.
"Defend? Was that what that was? Goodness, it felt so natural. Like… like I'd done it before," she murmured softly. Abruptly, she dropped the sword and went to her knees, clutching her head. Yunalesca started to rush forward but halted at a raised hand.
"No! Wait!" The girl whimpered. "Something—something's happening!"
"Wha—?"
"We fight together, or not at all!"
"The battle… yes, a battle! Zeoron! Aunt Rikku—Lulu! Uncle Wakka!"
"I call forth the Aeon of Light! Please, hear and come help us to fight!"
Her own voice.
"The Aeon of Light! Yes!"
A loving brush on her cheek. "Hey—don't give up yet."
"YUNA!"
"Mama! Dad!"
"It ends—now!"
"NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Pain. All over.
"Did you really think it would be that easy, Lady Tida? Did you really think the Shadow would be willing to give up the battle so early on? Foolish girl."
That voice.
"Seymour! The battle of Light and Shadow!"
"Tida!"
"Chappu! Oh, Light—Chappu! I love you!"
"You'll always be in mine."
Her eyes flashed open, startling Prussian blue and vibrant sea green.
"I am High Summoner Lady Tida, Savior of Spira!"
She stopped, tears filling her crystal orbs. She dropped back to her knees, a sob escaping her throat. "Oh, Chappu… Chappu, my love…"
"Your memories… they've returned," Yunalesca whispered hoarsely.
Tida shook her head sadly and picked up the blue sword: the Brotherhood, her father's old sword.
"Part of me wishes I didn't remember. I—I'm dead, aren't I, Yunalesca? I died after the battle, didn't I?" Tida laughed bitterly, wiping at her tears.
Yunalesca nodded silently, not sure what to say to comfort the poor girl.
"It's been three years, Yunalesca. I died three years ago, and the Shadow took me. We didn't really beat it. We only beat part of it, along with Seymour." Tida sighed, and lowered her head. "We didn't truly win."
"No, not really," Yunalesca murmured, unsure of what she could possibly say after that.
"Well, I know one thing," Tida said, a smirk lifting the corners of her mouth. She stood up and one hand picked up a section of the dress she had on. "Even I am dead, there's no way in hell I'm wearing a dress."
Yunalesca laughed. "No, I suppose not."
Tida's smirk deepened and she slung the Brotherhood over her shoulder. "I do think I'll keep the hair, though, for now. But in a braid would be better. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Well, then. Let's go. I've got to catch up on what's been going on—and take off this—this hideous thing!"
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