Return of Light
Zanarkand was no different than normal. People milled about the streets, children joyously around, playing and screaming in delightful games of tag. Women gossiped on the subject of the latest scandal in the metropolis. Men were boasting of deeds they'd done while the elderly simply talked about the olden days, back when Sin had terrorized the lands and leaving nothing but death and destruction in its wake, thanks to a summoner and her loyal guardians.
But those days were gone; the Eternal Calm was here and a certain of group of people were going to make sure it remained eternal. Yuna led the group with Tidus had her side. Their hands were clasped together as they strolled along, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. There was no use in attracting attention to themselves; they all feared that if they did, then people might begin to wonder and become panicked. A riot might even break out.
Now that was something they didn't need.
Chappu walked along, fighting back a whistle. His hands were shoved in his pockets as he kicked up rocks on the street. Zeoron and Rikku were right behind him, Lulu and Wakka arm in arm in front. Chappu couldn't help but smile at the sights. Two children ran in front of him, shrieking and being chased by a third, larger child who brandished his fists in the air and yelled. Chappu chuckled. Oh this truly was an excellent day.
Yuna halted suddenly, tilting her head back to survey the building towering above them. The others grouped around her, staring up at the shrine: the phenomenal Zanarkand Temple.
Yuna gazed around at her friends, watching them studying the temple. She smiled and closed her eyes for a moment before hoisting her skirt and beginning the trek up the stone steps.
They entered, one right behind the other, into the brightly lit interior. The priest instantly recognized Yuna and abandoned the young man he'd been talking to and rushed to take her hands.
"Lady Yuna!" he said enthusiastically, beaming at her. "What a grand surprise! What brings you—and the rest of you—to the temple on such a fine day? Do tell me, for it has been so long since you have last been within these walls. I had hoped you would come soon."
Yuna returned the smile ad softly pulled her hands from his grasp. "Thank you for the greeting, Maranor. But I really don't have the time to talk. I must go to the Chamber of the Fayth. Please, excuse us," she said, not giving him a chance to interrupt. Hurriedly, she swept by him with the others close behind. She picked up her skirt and ascended up the stairs swiftly. Tidus pushed ahead and opened the doors, Chappu running in ahead to begin lighting up floor panels. He and Zeoron danced around the first room, correctly solving the puzzle. Wakka, Lulu, and Rikku took the second room, moving easily across the floor with speed and skill. Once, twice, thrice. Then Chappu joined in, too eager to wait.
Within moments, the riddle was deciphered and the elevator unlocked. They leapt onto it, excitement and trepidation taking over. Each one wished the elevator faster, faster though none voiced the desire. At last, it reached bottom and they skipped off, racing for the Chamber of the Fayth and then beyond, to the next place. This time, they all knew, Yuna would not enter alone.
"Yunalesca!" Yuna burst out as soon as she entered the room. "Yunalesca, we have come!" The others skidded to halts behind her, fanning out for a clear view of the fayth standing at the top of the carpeted stairs, her back to them, hands clasped at the small of her back.
The wild aqua-haired fayth turned, smiling at them and giving them warmth. She gave a small bow. "Welcome, Lady Yuna and Guardians, to the Temple of sacred Zanarkand. Welcome."
"Yunalesca, please, the weapon. Where is it?" Yuna asked breathlessly, her colored eyes alight with anticipation and longing. She couldn't waste any more time; there was no time left.
Something flickered over Yunalesca's eyes and she felt a pang of sadness for them; she knew what they were hoping, but… what they yearned for, she could not give however much she wished with all her heart she could.
"Yes, Lady Yuna, I will allow you your weapon," Yunalesca spoke softly. She held up her hands and, above her, sparkling like stars and then flashing brilliantly, Nirvana, holy Nirvana, was suspended in the air.
Yuna felt her heart plummet but she forced a tight smile, but Yunalesca could see her eyes betrayed her every emotion. Nirvana floated down into Yuna's hands and Yuna accepted it dazedly.
"This, Yuna, is your newly restored weapon. I am afraid the Nameless is of no use to you, and never would have been. As for the rest of you—save you, Chappu, and you, Zeoron—I have for you a gift that you have long needed." Yunalesca gave a sweeping wave of her arm, closing her eyes; a snap of her fingers and another gesture with the other arm.
In turn, Caladbolg, World Champion, Godhand, and Onion Knight appeared in front of its keeper and, also in turn, each one glittered and flashed in line. Tidus reached out and grabbed Caladbolg's hilt—and felt a surge of power shoot up his arm like lightning and then throughout the rest of his body.
"Fully powered, yes. The Celestial Mirror and the Crests and Sigils could only do so much," Yunalesca explained, smiling at them all. "You'll need all your strength. And you must also believe."
"Thank you," Yuna said quietly, fighting back tears. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. These were gifts, yes, but not the ones she wanted.
Yunalesca turned her head for a moment, pain rendering her. She wished to give them what that so sought, but knew it was not within her power or her right to. Damn it, she wanted to do it now!
"This is your power, Lady Yuna and Guardians. Use them all well, and your will triumph. This I believe—no, this I know," Yunalesca said, pulling her eyes back to their clearly dejected faces. She pretended the rub sleep from her eyes, when she really wiped away a tear.
"Thank you," Yuna said again, numbly. It seemed it was all she could bring herself to say.
Pity rocked Yunalesca again, but she fought it down. "You may go now, Lady Yuna. Prepare for the Final Battle."
"Yes. Good—goodbye."
* * *
Yuna was sobbing into her pillow; her cheeks flushed red and her eyes rimmed with crimson puffiness. Tidus was sitting next to her, his back against the headboard. He was simply staring straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to the heartbroken woman next to him.
"She—she was supposed—supposed to come—come back!" Yuna wailed, burying her face into her pillow as sobs continued to rack her body. She cried out for the promise that was now broken. The spirit was to be, but now… now it never would be again.
Zeoron was outside the door, sprawled out on the rug and her gaze focused on no particular part of the ceiling as tears trickled silently from her glazed lilac orbs. She was lost; there was no hope for Spira.
Lulu and Wakka were curled up together down in the sitting room on the couch, asleep, too tired and too strained to care much for crying. Both were inconsolable grief over the dashed hopes of what they'd believed Yunalesca would bring. So broken, they found nothing but sleep and even still no solace in that.
Rikku was in her own bedroom, facedown on her bed as tears soaked up the cover. She was sobbing, but nowhere near as hard as Yuna was, she knew that. It wasn't fair, she thought, it was never fair!
—
Chappu wasn't sure why he was walking along the beach; there was nothing out there for him. It wasn't quite sunset, no, not quite yet. An hour or so, maybe, and then it would be. It didn't seem real; how could it be? Was it really possible he'd just been denied of the most precious of gifts? One he'd dreamed and hoped and prayed would come back to him.
"Yeah, I sure as hell was," he muttered, taking his arm back and flinging a rock into the ocean, watching it vanish in the spray of an oncoming wave. The shell, ironically, could return to its home. Why couldn't she?
He sighed as he moved on. He was too far gone for tears or lying down in stricken grief. It was over; Spira held no more hope for him. The Spiral of Death had returned, even in the Eternal Calm. But this time, the killer wasn't Sin; instead, it was the creator of all evil.
It was the Shadow.
Chappu stopped and stared out at sea, his blue eyes glassy as tears finally began to make their damned appearance and then, just as abruptly, were gone.
The sun was setting now, a brilliant mixture of shades of pink, orange, purple, blue and… red. Like blood. Chappu couldn't tear his eyes away. It was so beautiful, but something about it had a melancholy tone to it. He finally forced his eyes away and sat down in the sand.
What now?
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