Return of Light

            "We've got problems."

            Yuna looked up from her book and frowned at her husband.  She snapped the book shut and stood, raising one eyebrow.  "Problems?  What sort?"

            Tidus shook his head. "Just come on.  Everyone else will be in the hall in a minute or so."

            With that, he disappeared out the doors and down the corridor toward Wakka and Lulu's rooms.  Puzzled, Yuna set her book down and followed him out.  She gave a shrug of her shoulders and moved to the stairs, descending down the grand steps and at last set foot on the main hall floor.  Tida and Chappu were already there, she found.

            Tida stroke across the floor, her knee-high white boots thumping lightly on the tiled floor.  "Mama?" she said, taking Yuna's hands. "What's going on?"

            Yuna shook her head. "I've no idea.  It's your father's doing."

            "That much I already know.  What's Dad gotten into this time, I wonder?" Tida rolled her eyes and crossed back to Chappu, who put his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

            Zeoron and Rikku entered the hall from the doors on the left, both looking confused.

            "Anyone got a clue on this one?" Rikku asked, coming to stand next to Yuna, who again shook her head.  Zeoron crossed her arms and sighed.

            After a few moments, Tidus came down the stairs, followed by Wakka and Lulu, who were frowning in annoyance and Lulu was glowering at Tidus's back.

            "Right, then," Tidus said, clapping his hands together. "I'm afraid I've got some bad news."

            Tida groaned. "What is it, Dad?"

            Tidus hesitated but then reminded himself she was grown. "Word has come that there was an attack in Luca yesterday.  Two thousand people were—were killed." Tidus exhaled loudly and ran a hand through his champagne locks.

            "Oh, Light," Yuna breathed, a hand coming up to her throat. 

            Tida closed her eyes and turned her face into Chappu's chest, fisting her hand around his shirt.  Chappu wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.  Zeoron shut her eyes and lowered her head, clenching her fists.  Rikku's knees gave way and she hit the floor on all fours with a cry of "Light, no!"  Wakka pulled Lulu to him and held her tightly, shaking his head as Lulu simply stared at Tidus.

            Tida pushed back from Chappu and swiped at her eyes. "We have to go to Luca.  We have to give them what little comfort we can provide."

            "Yes.  Seeing us should console them," Yuna quickly agreed.

            Chappu gave a small, dry laugh. "Are you sure they won't have anger for us for not being there to protect them?  They'll be looking for something solid to blame."

            "Chappu has a point.  So, we won't go in grandeur style.  Tida, I realize you have never done a sending, but I think—"

            Tida cut her father off. "I understand what I must do and I'll do it without even looking back.  These people need me, so I'm not going to stand back and watch.  I'm going to help and give it all I can."

            Tidus's eyes widened.  This couldn't possibly be his child.  His child was a young girl on the brink of womanhood.  This wasn't his child.  It seemed, instead, that his child had been replaced by, not Lady Tida, the High Summoner's daughter, but by…

            Lady Tida, High Summoner and Savior of Light.

*          *            *

            "We're there."

            "I can tell, Tidus."

            "How?"

            "The fact that you cut the engines off before we docked told me."

            "Oh.  Sorry 'bout that."

            "You haven't—"

            "Mama, Dad.  Cut it out.  Everyone else, let's get off and go help out.  Chappu—"

            "Already ahead of ya, Tida.  I'm escorting Zeo and Rikku to the stadium to help out with the wounded.  Later!" Chappu vanished out the door and Tida heard him leap off the Titan and onto the docks.

            "Right, then." Tida clapped her hands together. "Mama, you and Dad should check everywhere else for casualties.  Lulu and Wakka, the two of you had probably go around the perimeter for fiends.  I seriously doubt there's a lot of people who are able to fight off any attacks."

            "Nice strategy, Tida.  See you soon," Yuna said, kissing Tida's forehead and leaving with Tidus, who kissed her forehead as well.

            "Good luck," Lulu murmured, hugging Tida as she and Wakka departed.

            "Be careful, kid!" Wakka called back.

            Tida sighed. "And as for me," she began, turning around with her eyes falling upon the Nameless, "I'll just… get dressed…"

            Tida closed her eyes and blew out a breath.  Quickly, she spun in a circle, sweeping her arms out wide and kicking one leg out to the side and then bending it so that it formed an angle with her other leg.  Silvery streams of water jetted around her in swirls and when they died down and vanished, Tida stood wearing her traditional summoner's garb.  Soft blue skirt, white wraps for a shirt of sorts, wisps of white cloth fading somehow into silver and string less midnight black boots that, though you couldn't tell, reached to the knee.  A yellow belt fastened itself around her, tying at the back.  Her necklace glittered briefly and then—

            Tida opened her eyes just as her hair finished braiding itself tightly.  She blinked and stretched her hand out for the Nameless, taking it in her hands.  Smiling, she turned it and then tossed it, spinning, in the air and whirled around, coming back just in time to catch it.

            Tida exhaled. "Time to go do my duty." She straightened her shoulders and raised her chin before striding purposely out the door of the Titan and landing lightly, almost majestically, on the dock.

            She heard several people gasp.

            "Lady Tida!"

            "Summoner Tida!"

            "A ghost!"

            "The Shadow!"

            "Oh, Light help me!"

            Tida offered a reassuring smile and held up one hand. "Please, be calm.  I am here to send.  I mean you no harm.  Please, where may I begin?"

            One by one, looks of terror and shock evaporated, replaced by relief and mild happiness.  An older woman, probably in her 40s, stepped forward and took Tida by the arm.

            "Please, High Summoner, this way.  We've gathered close to 500 of the… ones who passed on over here.  Their families will be glad to have to you send them," she whispered in a strained voice.

            Tida's heart went out to this woman as she noticed the markings on her arm. A priestess… "I will take care of it.  Please, stay and help others."

            The woman halted and gaped at Tida for a moment before nodding. "Yes.  Yes, I will.  Thank you, Lady Tida, for your kindness."  The woman released Tida and hurried back.

            Tida closed her eyes and reopened them, starting forward again.  As she neared a large group of people, she stepped differently, so that her boots softly thudded and clanged on the metal docks.  Heads began turning to watch as she passed.  Tida kept her eyes straight ahead as she walked, drawing out the Nameless and holding it out by her side, angling the top down.

            People took steps back as she walked by, staring half in awe and half in bewilderment.  Could this stranger, this newcomer… is she, was she—could she really be Lady Tida?

            As Tida reached the edge of the dock, the water came up to meet her so that she could continue her march on its mirrored surface.  Ten feet from the dock, she stopped and…

            Danced her first sending.

            —

            "Tida!"

            Chappu hurried to Tida and caught her in his arms, lifting her and cradling her.  Tida laid her head against his shoulder and in the crook of his neck, blinking sleepy eyes.

            "Hello, Chappu," she murmured, snuggling against him comfortably.  She crossed her boot-covered ankles as she held to him loosely.

            Yuna swept to the pair and put a hand to Tida's forehead. "How many sendings did you have to perform, baby?" she asked in a quiet voice.

            "I don't know, Mama.  A lot.  There were—"—Tida stifled a yawn—"—so many people…" Tida said, struggling to keep her eyes open.

            Yuna smiled sympathetically and sorrowfully at her daughter, brushing wisps of blond tresses from her smooth face. "Go ahead and rest, Tida.  We've done all we can for these unfortunate souls." Yuna cast a melancholy look over the surrounding area with a shaking head and heavy heart. "These poor people… they never could have seen it coming."

            Tidus moved up to stand next to her and pulled her face against his shoulder, wrapping his arms around her in attempt to comfort and sooth his wife. "It's upsetting, I know.  But what more could we possibly do?"

            Chappu, now holding a tranquilly sleeping Tida, did his best to shrug but his voice was bitter when he spoke. "I don't know, but I met quite a few who would rather have kicked my ass than accept help from me.  They were pissed and a couple bastards if had the balls to yell out 'Why didn't you protect us?  Why didn't you warn us?  Why did Lady Yuna and Lady Tida fail us?'  Light, I would have loved to do some damage to those jackasses."

            Zeoron put a steady hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Chappu.  They're just hurting.  You tried to wring my neck a few days after Tida had died.  Remember?" Zeoron said, putting careful stress on the end.

            Chappu averted his eyes. "That was different," he said stiffly.

            "Yeah, whatever."

            Disclaimer:  All belongs to Square Enix.  You people know what's mine, okay?