Return of Light
"You call that monstrosity a landing?" Yuna practically yelled, though her voice did raise a decibel or so with each syllable. She pointed out the window while hanging on tightly with her other hand to her chair because the airship Titan was off balance.
"Well, I'm sorry that my landing doesn't suit you, Yuna! You told me to put it down, so I did! What more do you want from me?! I've been flying for two days straight!" Tidus called back, trying to claw his way up the floor toward the door so he could get off.
Before Yuna could respond, the door opened and Chappu poked his head through, grinning with his eyes dancing with laughter as he looked down at them. Behind him, husband and wife could make out the roaring laughter of Wakka and the high-pitched giggles of Rikku.
"Need a hand, Tidus, Yuna?" Chappu offered, pushing himself up.
Tidus glared. "Shut up and get me the hell outta here."
"Right-o." Chappu extended his hand down to Tidus, who stretched his arm to grasp it. Chappu's muscles strained and he managed to pull Tidus up just far enough for Tidus to grab hold of the door. Tidus tumbled out, landing in a heap at Wakka and Rikku's feet.
Rikku put her hands on knees. "Have a nice trip, Tidus?"
Tidus glowered at her. "Go to hell."
"Look—"
Tidus yelled as Yuna landed on top of him with a scream.
"—out," Chappu finished, wincing. He jumped down, hitting the ground with his boots. He held down a hand to Yuna and lifted her to her feet. The once-High Summoner dusted the back of her sapphire skirt off, mumbling an apology to her husband, who got to his feet scowling and struggling to breathe—Yuna had knocked the breath out of him when she landed.
"Where are Zeo and Lulu?" Yuna asked, regaining all composure.
Wakka shook his head. "They're already in the temple. We figured you'd want to get started right away so they agreed to go on ahead while we waited. And…" Wakka cast a look at Chappu before meeting Yuna's eyes. Rikku, too, looked at Chappu, who was busy studying the angle at which the Titan had settled itself into the ground.
"Oh," Yuna said, and then, her eyes widening. "Oh!"
"Yeah," Wakka said, nodding.
"Well… I suppose we'll discuss it at the temple. We'd best go. I don't like to keep people waiting for too long. Makes them upset with me," Yuna said, taking Tidus's arm. He smiled and the couple started forward, the guardians trailing behind them.
"What was Wakka talking about?" Tidus asked, lowering his voice enough so that only Yuna could hear. Yuna smiled and waved at a few people before answering, her voice just as low.
"Chappu and Zeoron. You know they were—are—Tida's guardians. They more than likely feel a little weird about me having them prepare for my pilgrimage. I don't know, Tidus. I want them to go with us, but…"
"But they're Tida's guardians," Tidus finished for her. He sighed and used his other hand to run through his hair, glancing around as he searched for something to say.
"I really don't know either, Yuna. Maybe… maybe they'll have something to say. Just keep walking, Yuna. Whatever happens, happens," he said at last.
Yuna sighed, but nodded.
—
"Yuna!"
Zeoron hurried forward, a warm smile on her face and her arms open to embrace Yuna. Yuna smiled and hugged the young Black Mage forcefully, kissing her cheek.
"Hello, Zeo. Lulu," she said, hugging her own guardian as well. "Congratulations, as well," she added, grinning. Lulu came extremely close, but not quite, to blushing. "Thank you."
"Hey, Zeo—Lulu," Tidus said, laughing and hugging the overly exited Zeoron who threw herself into his arms. Tidus grinned knowingly at Lulu, who actually did blush this time, and hugged her
"Lady Yuna."
Yuna almost winced. She'd been dreading hearing Chappu speak up—especially in guardian-to-summoner lingo. She forced a smile and turned to face him, clasping her hands in front her. Best to go along, she decided.
"Yes, Sir Chappu?"
Chappu's eyes were dark with seriousness, and his entire body was rigid with tenseness. He hardly blinked. "Lady Yuna, I'm sorry, but…" Hesitation. "I—I can't be your guardian."
Zeoron stepped up, raising her chin and taking up position next her friend. "Apologies, High Summoner, but I can't either. It just wouldn't be right, Lady Yuna." Zeoron bowed her head for a fraction of second in respect then brought it back up.
Yuna smiled; this she hadn't been expecting, but she was glad in a way. "It's all right. I realize it wouldn't be right to ask you two to be my guardians. You have already served your guardianship with another. I do not think it wise to ask either of to serve as a guardian to me. However, I will ask that you accompany us. You won't enter the Cloisters, but you will be nearby. You could even investigate matters, if it pleases you," Yuna said, sounding exactly like the High Summoner she was.
Zeoron's face broke into a grin and she and Chappu smiled at each other before turning beaming faces on Yuna. Zeoron dipped in a curtsy and Chappu bowed.
"We accept, Lady Yuna," they chorused.
"Good. Now, guardians, let's go. We haven't got all day!" Yuna started for the steps leading up to the Cloister. She glanced back at Zeoron and Chappu, both standing and watching.
—
The temple had long since been repaired since Tida's little "adventure" to the Chamber of the Fayth. Surprisingly, and thankfully, the glass dome hadn't been cracked in the explosion. The fayth of Valefor was still intact, and was currently awaiting the woman about to enter.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Yuna promised, turning and entering the Chamber of the Fayth. Tidus nodded and sat back against one wall while Wakka and Lulu settled together, chatting idly about the last time they'd been here so many years ago.
Yuna glanced around the torch-lit room before settling her eyes on the dome. She halted in front of it and went to her knees, clasping her hands in prayer. Light, it had been so many years since she'd done this!
But what was she supposed to pray for? It wasn't like she had come in here to pray for the aeon to beat Sin. How on Spira was she supposed to pray if she didn't even know what to pray for?
"Hello again, Lady Yuna. I've been expecting you for quite some time."
Yuna opened her eyes and unclasped her hands; head lifting sharply to look at the now hovering fayth, smiling down at her. Yuna stood to her feet carefully, eyes never leaving the fayth.
"You've been expecting me? I don't understand. How did you know I was coming?" Yuna asked, a puzzled frown masking her features.
The fayth chuckled. "We like to keep a close watch on you and your family. We feel as if we owe it to you. Even more so know with the Shadow lurking everywhere." The fayth's shady eyes darkened with hatred for the Shadow.
"Tidus had a dream. Tida told him—"
The fayth shook its head. "You're not here for that. You must pray at every temple once again, including Baaj Temple and Remiem Temple. Once you reach Zanarkand, you will acquire the article most needed to defeat the Shadow."
Yuna's body jolted. "I will? Oh, thank you for telling me! Thank you! But… What about the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth?"
The fayth's smile faded slightly. "You need not to worry about him. Yojimbo is… out of commission I suppose one might say. You need not go there, Lady Yuna. It is not safe."
The fayth smiled again. "Go in the Light, Lady Yuna. Pray for Spira, and once again call upon me should you need me. I am yours to command." The fayth gave a slight bow and waved its hand.
Yuna nodded. "I will. Thank you."
—
Tidus leapt to his feet as Yuna emerged from the chamber, smiling brilliantly. Wakka and Lulu stood as well, though not as quickly as Tidus had.
"Well?" Tidus asked.
"I must pray at every temple. Although this time, when we reach Zanarkand, I will receive the weapon to defeat the Shadow once and for all!" Yuna said, ending by clenching her fist and jamming her elbow down. Tidus grinned; it was his move after all.
"Right. Let's go tell Zeo and Chappu. They're probably strangling each other by now," Tidus said, not noticing Lulu and Wakka's headshakes.
Yuna nodded. "Yes. We've got so much to do! It'll take at least a day to reach Kilika. And then about four or five more to reach Djose! And I don't even want to think about Macalania!"
"Then don't," Tidus suggested, slinging an arm around Yuna's shoulders as they started back through the completed Cloister of Trials.
"But if I don't plain ahead, you usually screw something up."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
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