Return of Light
Tida's eyes fluttered opened and she yawned, blinking to clear her vision. She stretched her arms over her head luxuriously, smiling and simply lying on her pillow, reveling that she was actually here, in her bed. That she was actually alive.
Tida giggled to herself and kicked her legs before springing up and racing to the balcony doors, flinging them open. She walked out, arms spread wide as she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, savoring the wonderful feeling. Tida stepped forward and leaned on the balcony rail, staring out over the ocean. She smiled, resting her head in her hand, elbow propped on the banister.
"Hey, Tida!" A knock came on the door with a muffled voice. "You up yet?"
"Huh." Tida turned and walked back into her room. She paused, looking in her full-length mirror and touching her hair. Tida returned her eyes to the door. "Yeah. I'll be down in a minute."
"Hurry up!" Tida recognized the voice then. It was Zeoron.
"Impatient git," Tida murmured under her breath. She disappeared into her bathroom, a sudden craving for a hot bath overtaking her.
A half an hour later, Tida was sprinting down the stairs, refreshed and ready for the day. She could feel the Shadow's presence, but that could wait for now. It was confused, she knew, because of her power. Well, it wouldn't be confused for long though it was giving Tida time to rejoin with her family.
Chappu was the first person she saw. He was sprawled on in a chair, poring over some book. He was frowning in concentration and started when she came forward, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind. She kissed him as he turned to see who was behind him.
"Good morning," she mumbled against his lips.
Chappu's smile took on a contented, smug look. "Good afternoon, you mean. It's around 12:00 already. Sleep well?" he asked, suddenly shifting in his chair as he repressed recalling last night.
Tida came around in front him, sitting on the table and gripping the sides with her hands. She shrugged. "All right, I guess. I woke up a couple of times, wondering if it was real."
"Oh, trust me," Chappu began, leaning toward her, "it's real."
Tida grinned. "And how do you know?"
Chappu laughed. "Because I'm not in your bed."
Tida rolled her eyes. "Chauvinistic prat."
"You know it," Chappu said, kissing her again.
Tida broke the kiss, her eyes closed and a smile playing on her lips. Chappu studied her, his own lips curved slightly. Light, she was so beautiful.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, reaching forward to toy with a strand of her long champagne locks. It felt like silk beneath his fingers.
Tida opened her eyes to look into his. "Playing a game of Blitzball. I've missed it. You don't get much blitz action down in the Farplane."
Chappu laughed and stood, reaching down for her hand. "Come on, then; let's go play."
Tida laughed as she kicked her legs and accepted his hand with hers. She smiled as Chappu proceeded to drag her against him for a chaste kiss and then outside in the direction of the Blitzball arena.
People paused to watch the couple racing and laughing chase each other down the street, adoring every minute of. Many smiled, remembering fondly what it was like to be young and in love.
Tida was the first inside, throwing her arms out wide and spinning. "Oh, Light, I missed this place!" she breathed, stopping to smile at Chappu and clasp her hands together in front of her.
Chappu shook his head at her. "Let's blitz, shall we? And," he added, tossing her something shiny and silver, "you might need this."
Tida caught the object and grinned as she examined it and recognized it. "My necklace!" she cried, slipping it on and brushing her fingers lovingly over the Zanarkand symbol.
—
"So, how'd it go?" Zeoron asked eagerly, resting her head in her hands and looking pointedly at Tida, who rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"None of your business, Zeo. Go find your own boyfriend," Tida said, flipping her hair and giving a jerk of her head. She put her hands on her hips and cocked her head.
Zeoron smirked and stood, striking her own pose. "My, my… haven't we grown up?"
Tida gave a small laugh. "You know it."
Zeoron quirked and eyebrow; the corner of her mouth quivered.
Both girls burst out laughing and slumped over, hands resting on their knees as their bodies shook with laughter.
"Oh, Light!" Tida gasped, hugging her stomach. "I'd forgotten how much fun we had!"
"Are you kidding? We bring the house down!" Zeoron giggled.
The laughter died down and Zeoron suddenly moved forward, seizing Tida and hugging her. "I really missed you, Tida, ya know? You're my best friend!" She drew back, putting her hands on Tida's shoulders.
"When you died for all of us, I felt like maybe I'd failed. I was your guardian and I failed to protect you. I was supposed to keep you from dying and I—I didn't. Tida, I'm so sorry." Zeoron sniffed back tears and gazed at Tida.
Tida shook her head. "Oh, no, Zeo! You didn't fail! You and Chappu could never have failed me—unless you'd betrayed me or killed me yourselves—but that's beside the point." Tida took a deep breath, and opened and closed her eyes. "Zeo, you helped me to beat Seymour, the most powerful of the Shadowfiends. I couldn't have asked for more than that. Zeo—I knew I was going to have to die to save Spira, to save all of you. I made my decision; I set my will. I would die, and take Seymour with me."
Zeoron averted her eyes for a minute before she smiled and nodded her head. "Yeah, I guess you're right—you selfish whore!" Zeoron giggled and ducked Tida's grab.
"Come back here, Zeo!" Tida shouted, chasing the Black Mage at top speed.
Zeoron giggled and looked back over her shoulder as she ran. "Catch me if you can, High Summoner!" she called, springing over the couch.
Yuna and Lulu raised eyebrows as Tida leapt into the air and flipped over the sofa, landing and launching back after Zeoron.
"Don't break anything!" Yuna yelled.
* * *
"I like being back," Tida murmured, walking alongside Chappu down the shoreline away from the Palace.
Chappu chuckled. "I'm glad you like it, because I like having you back, too," he said, glancing over at her. "But do you have a plan?"
Tida heaved a sigh. "Not at the moment. But I'm thinking. Dad and I are tossing ideas back and forth. Mama's not a planner, but she has laid down the law—no one is to sacrifice themselves this time."
Chappu shrugged and kicked a shell. "I kinda like her law."
Tida nodded in agreement. "So do I. The Farplane Realm's kinda boring at times. Okay, so I won a lot of gil off of Grandpa Jecht and perfected my blitz moves, but… there was no real action. It was all dead."
Chappu stopped and stared at Tida, who rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean, so get that look off your face before it gets stuck that way and I never kiss you again."
Chappu grabbed her around the waist and pulled her quickly against him so that Tida's hands splayed across his chest. "Then I'll kiss you," he growled, seizing the back of her head and jerking her mouth to his.
Moonlight blasted through the clouds, its bright silvery beams encircling the two with a spiraling ball of light and glittery small stars. They swiftly broke apart and shaded their eyes, both Tida and Chappu yelling.
A flash and then… Tida slowly lowered her arms, started, and stared, transfixed, at her hands. Chappu followed her gaze and blinked.
Two leathery-layered black gloves masked her hands and covered her wrists with the symbol of Zanarkand emblazoned in silver on the backs of the hands. The fingers of the gloves were cut off halfway, leaving part of her skin exposed.
"Wha—?" Tida turned her hands over and balled her hands into fists, trying to figure out what in the Light had just happened—where had these gloves come from?
"Hey."
Tida looked at Chappu, who jerked his head in front of them. Tida studied him for a moment, puzzled, and then turned her head, her eyes widening.
A staff stood erect, the rod jammed down into the stand. Its silver weavings glinted in the flickering moonlight. A staff with a blue rod and golden wings flushed with pink and white. A crystal stood on top, glowing softly.
"It looks like the staff Mama described," Tida murmured, stepping closer. Chappu grabbed her upper arm and stopped her.
"Easy," he warned, his eyes shaded by the night. "Might be dangerous."
Tida pulled her arm effortlessly from his grasp. "I doubt it. The Shadow doesn't even know I'm back yet," she said, taking hold of the staff and pulling it from the sand. She spun it in her hand. "Hm. I think Mama called it the Nameless because she didn't have a name for it."
"I kinda figured," Chappu said wryly. "But what about the gloves?"
Tida lifted her other hand to view it, shrugging. "Not a clue. I think they're my weapons. I feel this power shoot through my arm when I flex it."
Chappu sighed. "Whatever. Come on." He slung an arm over her shoulders and pulled her against him. Tida leaned her head on his shoulder as they turned and began to walk back to the Palace.
Disclaimer: All belongs to Square Enix. You people know what's mine, okay?
Right, then. I really hope all of you are enjoying my story—or epic tale, whichever you prefer. lol Anyway, I've been doing some thinking and I believe that after I complete this fic, I'd kinda like to do something with Tida and FFX-2. What do you think? I have this whole idea, but… I'd like to know your opinions. Just put suggestions or whatever in the reviews. I'd appreciate it. Thanks for reading and review and tell me what you think!!
Yours truly,
Final Dreamer