Return of Light

WARNING: SLIGHT GORE AT THE END.

            "Something's wrong," Rikku whispered, staring unblinkingly at the door at the top of the stairs.  She took a hesitant step backward before turning completely and seizing Tidus by the arm with her left hand.

            "Tidus… I feel something.  Yunie's in trouble!" Rikku's swirled green eyes shone with worry.  Tidus raised one brow as he looked down at her.

            "What?  Rikku, Yuna's fine.  See?" He pointed to the green crystal dangling from around her neck.  Rikku glanced down at it and picked it up into her hand.  Fingering it lightly, she bit her lip.

            Abruptly, the jade crystal radiated light and Rikku released it at once with a small cry; the force of the light knocked her over backwards and Tidus shouted, shielding his cerulean eyes.

            Rikku hit the floor and grunted from the impact; both of her elbows were stinging and colors were dancing in her eyes.  She pushed herself up. "Yuna!" she screamed, scrambling to her feet and racing after Tidus, who had already taken off up the stairs drawing Caladbolg out.

            Wakka and Lulu shot after the two, both having seen the bright green flash of light. 

            Rikku glanced down at the crystal as Tidus began pushing against the doors.  It was still glowing like an emerald flame.  Rikku silently thanked the Light.

            As long as the light continued to shine, life was still in Yuna.

            —

            Drip.

            Zeoron paused, turning her head to look back over her shoulder.  She shuddered; why was Macalania so creepy all of a sudden?  She shook her head, turning back around.

            Drip.  Clink.

            Zeoron whirled around, one arm flying up with her hand clutching at a glimmering fireball. "Ch-Chappu?  That's not f-funny!  You—you come out right now!" she stammered.

            Drip.  Drip.  Clink.

            Zeoron let out a half-gasp, half-yell and twisted back around, her eyes wide and darting around.  Fear crept into her mind and she took a stumbling step backward, choking down a breath.

            "Who—who's there?" she asked breathlessly, now clasping two balls of inferno.  Part of her wanted to simply cry out with a spell but the other half argued back it was too dangerous; what if she injured Chappu?  Or worse, Yuna?

            Drip.  Drip.  Drip.  Clink.  Clink.

            "Hello, Lady Zeoron.  Or perhaps, I should call you Zeo like Tida does?  No, wait,"—a dark chuckle—"did call you."  More evil laughter.

            Chills zipped up and down Zeoron's spine at a disturbingly alarming rate as trepidation completely seized her, taking hold of all of her being. 

            "That voice!  I know that voice!" she whispered, half crying.

            Zeoron's scream echoed through the temple.

            —

            "Zeoron?"

            Chappu swept his raven's wing hair out of his eyes as he stepped around a corner, glancing around for the young Black Mage.  He sighed, moving his hands to his hips.

            "Where did that little witch get to?  And why," he continued, turning to glower at the door, "aren't you opening?  I finished your stupid Trials."

            "Ah, Sir Chappu.  So… nice… to see you again?"

            "Hm?" Chappu turned slightly.  As soon as his eyes fell upon who it was, he crouched into a battle stance and the Spirit Keeper flipped into his hands.  Hatred burst fully into his shining and flashing eyes.

            "Seymour!" Chappu hissed, trembling with rage.  He longed to sink the biting edge of the Spirit Keeper between Seymour's ribs and into his cold black heart.

            Seymour smiled maliciously. "It's been a while, Sir Chappu.  Three years, I believe, since your beloved finished me off with the power of Light.  Why did you not save her from death?  Did you not love—"

            "SHUT UP!" Chappu roared, his voice bouncing back at him off the walls and ceiling of the temple. "Don't you dare talk about Tida!  She was worth a thousand of you!  A thousand thousand!" The Spirit Keeper shuddered in his hands.

            Seymour's lips curled into a delighted dark grin. "It seems I have so struck a nerve.  Forgive me." He bowed, his lazy eyes closing and then opening again to gaze at Chappu.

            Chappu growled and shifted in his stance. "What have you done with the High Summoner and the Guardian?  Where are they?" he demanded.

            "You mean Yuna and Zeo?  Why, they are alive—for now, at least.  But now, dear, dear Sir Chappu, it is your time to go." Seymour's eyes became animate as he raised one hand.  Chappu readied himself for the blow—

            A spinning spike covered ball came whizzing through the air, slicing Seymour's wrist as he opened his mouth to curse Chappu.  His incantation changed into a yell of pain and outrage as the sphere returned to its owner, who came running up behind three other people, all of whom were taking up their respective battle stances.

            "I've had enough you to last me a lifetime, Seymour.  Now where is my wife?!" Tidus shouted, pointing Caladbolg threateningly at the once Maester.

            "She is alive, Sir Tidus," Seymour said calmly, rubbing his wrist where blood was clearly showing; droplets of the crimson fluid were staining the pure white snow at his feet.

            "Damn you!" Tidus snapped, close to losing his control.  He sliced his sword through an icy stalagmite, cutting the top clean off and shattering the ice so that it flew in many different directions.  A flew shards landed at Seymour's feet. 

            "Answer me!" Tidus commanded, his chest heaving in anger.

            Seymour laughed. "You do not scare me, Sir Tidus.  You may have defeated me before, but you shall not overcome me this time.  Without your daughter, you have no Light to power over the Shadow.  This time," Seymour raised his hand, "I will be the victor!"

            Everyone screamed and dove out of the way of a black jet of Shadow flew from Seymour's hand in their direction.  Chappu pushed himself back up with the Spirit Keeper and launched himself at Seymour with a loud yell.

            "Fool boy!" Seymour spat; a wave of something unseen slammed Chappu away from him, sending him crashing hard into a wall.

            "Chappu!" Rikku rushed forward and dragged Chappu's head into her lap. "Chappu, come on!  You gotta wake up!" She slapped at his cheeks.

            Seymour laughed even more. "It's futile to fight me!  Surrender; I will make your deaths fast and painless!"

            "Seymour!"

            Yuna and Zeoron appeared behind the others, running toward the battle.  Yuna clutched her staff to her, her eyes hard and slightly burning.  Zeoron's own mysterious purple orbs were nearly black with loathing.

            "Ah, Lady Yuna.  Have you come to join the struggle?" Seymour asked.

            "No, Seymour; I have come to win!" Yuna said, flinging her arms out. "Shiva!  Queen of Ice!  Come and do my biding!"

            Seymour roared with laughter. "You cannot summon against me, Lady Yuna!  The Shadow wills it so!" Seymour chuckled on.

            "Oh, no!" Yuna gasped and Lulu let out a small wail, seizing Wakka's arm.  Wakka put himself between Lulu and Seymour, pressing his lips together in a thin line, frustration clear on his face.

            "It is over!" Seymour called, raising both his hands, his eyes wild. "I have won!"

            Blackness engulfed everything; Yuna groped around in the darkness, yelling for Tidus.  Shouts and cries filled the air; they couldn't see a thing.  Seymour's chilling laughter was louder than the screams and—

            SLASH!  CLANG!

            "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

            Yuna felt as if she was just opening her eyes.  She blinked several times, looking around and realized she was sitting on the ground.  Someone knelt behind her, placing hands on her shoulders.  Yuna started but upon seeing Tidus's face as she turned, she relaxed, one of her own hands coming up to rest on his.

            "Look!" Zeoron cried, pointing.

            Chappu's head spun around and he leapt to his feet, staring in shock.

            Seymour was lying motionless upon the bloodstained snow; his pale eyes open wide and unseeingly.  Surprise was clear on his face and in one hand he grasped a dagger he had obviously been intending to use on whatever had attacked him—no, killed him.

            But what was most strange about this scene was the watery blue sword sticking through Seymour's chest, its gleaming aqua surface flickering with light.  The red ribbon hanging from its handle blew in a nonexistent breeze while Yuna and the rest simply ogled it.

            Chappu moved forward staggeringly.  He dropped the Spirit Keeper and stretched one hand out, closing it around the handle of the familiar sword.  He jerked it out of Seymour; Seymour's body flickered and then turned into dust.  A wind came from down the hall, blowing the dust away from them.

            Not a drop of blood was on the blade.  Chappu turned it around in his hands, surveying the sword's delicate make.  He faced the others, gaining his voice back.

            "The Brotherhood," he croaked. "Her sword."

            Tidus dashed forward, snatching the sword from Chappu's hands.  He stared down at the watery sword, his eyes widening in recognition. "So it is the Brotherhood.  Could she…?"

            Tidus stopped and looked around.  Comprehension was dawning on every single face that was silently staring at the sword.  Smiles even appeared on a few.

            "Tida saved us."

            Disclaimer:  Ya'll know what's mine.  Everything is, of course, the wondrous work of Squaresoft.