Return of Light
Tida's eyes fluttered open and she blinked, moaning and throwing her arm over eyes as a shield. "Who the hell opened the blinds?"
"Rise and shine, Tida. We've got a big day planned," Chappu said cheerfully, casting a shadow over Tida as he stepped in the way of the sunlight streaming in through the window. "Now get up before I result to the methods you've so kindly used on me," he threatened.
Tida groaned and rolled over, sitting up and swinging her legs off the bed. "I'm up, I'm up!" she said, flinging her hands in the air and grumbling as she staggered, half-asleep, to her washroom.
Chappu grinned and crossed his arms as she came back out a few minutes later, hair neatly brushed and face washed. His eyes followed her as she crossed to her walk-in closet and emerged, fully dressed and ready for the day.
"Set now?" he questioned.
"Shut up."
—
"Now that everyone has finally decided to join us—"—Tidus shot a glower in Chappu and Tida's direction, noting the bright pink lipstick marring the boy's face. Tidus narrowed his eyes and Tida hastily pulled Chappu's face around, taking her hand to wipe the smeared lipstick from on and around his mouth.
No one else even noticed.
Tidus cleared his throat and surveyed the rest of the people gathered in the room. "Cid has just sent word of reports of fiends surging in attacks on the villages, towns, and cities of Spira. The Crusaders are fighting back as best they can, but for how long they can hold the onslaught at bay… we don't know. But what I do know is—"
"We've got to hit the Shadow now and we've got to hit it hard," Tida cut in, standing and walking toward her father, taking her position in front of everyone as she turned to face them, hands on hips. Her eyes were piercing as she met each riveted gaze—and she looked quite terrifying in her knee-high white boots, short white skirt, sleeveless, strapless, midriff-baring blue shirt, Zanarkand necklace, and three silver earrings, two of which were dangling stars and the other a small hoop.
"The Shadow thinks it has us cornered—but it doesn't. It still doesn't realize that I've returned, and damn it, it won't until the time is right. We're going to take it down once and for all. I'm tired of running from the battle—I'm fighting, starting now." Tida's eyes flashed.
Yuna stood to her feet, her eyes matching her daughter's. "Right. We have to destroy the Shadow now. The people of Spira are depending on us and we cannot let them down. So we fight!"
A chorus of "yeahs" and the other standing answered Yuna's final cry.
"Then let's go!" Tida said, punching the air. Her hand swept back down as she pointed at Zeoron and Lulu. "You two, use your sources and see if you can sense the Shadow within it and then check throughout Spira for traces of its location. Rikku," she continued, looking the Al Bhed as the Black Mages ran off, "stock up on potions and the like. Don't forget elementals as well. Mom, you go with her.
"Dad and Wakka," Tida went on as her mother and Rikku vanished, "you two are my quickest hitters. Dad, you're really fast and Wakka, you can hit anything with World Champion. You two go practice and work on techniques. Really challenge each other.
"And Chappu," she said at last as her father and Wakka sprinted from the room, "you're going to help me."
Chappu raised an eyebrow at her and opened his mouth to say something but Tida grabbed his arm and dragged him from the room, leaving him stuttering and tripping as she walked out deliberately.
"Tida, would you stop?" he cried finally as she descended down the porch stairs and out onto the white sand Zanarkand beach. Chappu jerked his arm free. "Geez, woman! What is wrong with you?"
Tida faced him squarely, raising her chin. They stared at each other—
Tida smiled and stepped forward smoothly, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek against his chest. "I just wanted some time with you. And—"—Tida nodded her head back to the horizon—"—it's almost sunset."
Chappu's lips twitched in a smile as he put his arms around her. "And so you want a romantic sunset walk along the beach, hopefully ending with me kissing you?"
Tida's eyes sparkled. "Maybe," she said coyly, poking him in the chest.
Chappu laughed. "Come on," he said, taking her hand and pulling her alongside him. Tida giggled and hurried to catch up, strolling leisurely beside him, occasionally bumping against him and running her hand up the length of his arm as she gazed at him and then back out to the ocean.
"Are you scared?" Chappu asked after a few moments' of silent walking and swinging hands.
Tida's shoulders shrugged. "Maybe a little," she said softly.
Chappu smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. "You'd be crazy not to be. Being afraid, that shows you've got some sense in that pretty little head of yours. And putting on that facade for everyone else was a nice touch. You gave them courage, Tida. I'm proud of you."
"Thank you, Chappu. Now, if I can get everyone through this alive, my mission will be complete, my commitment to Spira done. Then it'll be a nice, quiet retirement here, with my family and friends… and my future husband." Tida smiled up at Chappu, who halted and took her other hand in his.
Chappu inhaled deeply and gazed down at Tida. "Tida, I love you. If I didn't have you, I don't know what I'd do. I love you more than anything in this world. Without you, I'd just exist and probably would have gone on the same destructive path if I'd never met you. You gave me hope. You gave me another chance in life." Chappu held her hands and brought them up to his lips, pressing kisses on the tops of both.
"I love you, too, Chappu. I can't wait to marry you and give you children," Tida whispered as he drew her closer, bending his head down.
Tida shut her eyes just as Chappu's lips touched hers.
* * *
"Got anything?" Tida asked, coming up behind Zeoron and peering over the Black Mage's shoulder at a makeshift map of Spira.
Zeoron exhaled sharply and ran a hand through her dark chocolate locks. "No!" she said in exasperation. "I can't find a damn trace of anything shadow-related!"
"Be calm," Lulu instructed sharply, opening her red eyes and gazing coolly at the younger witch. "Your anger is interfering with your channeling abilities. You must learn to control your emotions in order to find what you are so seeking."
Tida raised her eyebrows as she stared at Lulu. It was strange how this placid, wise woman could suddenly turn into a spitting cat at the drop of a pin.
"Uh—right. I'll leave the two of you to it, then. Bye!" Tida said, taking advantage of Zeoron's speechlessness to make a hasty exit.
"Tida! Come in here, please!" Yuna's voice called as Tida made her way down the upstairs hall. She paused and peeked into Rikku's room.
Both women were sitting on the bed, bottles upon bottles spread out around them. Yuna's hair was tangled and sweat marked upon her brow. Rikku's hair wasn't just tangled—it was wilder than the wind. Perspiration marked more than just her brow—it dampened the whole of her golden blond tresses.
"What's up?" Tida inquired, entering the room. She halted at the bed, looking back and forth between her mother and the Al Bhed.
Yuna sighed. "We've found a way to boost some of the element strengths, but…" Yuna glanced at Rikku, "we're all out of power."
Rikku nodded in agreement and pushed her wet hair back from her face. "Care to heal us and put us back in line?"
"Curaga, Curaga," Tida murmured as she turned to depart. "Have fun. I gotta go check on Dad and Wakka—see if they've killed each other yet."
"Bye, sweetie!" Yuna called.
Tida smiled as she practically danced down the hall and descended the stairs, giggling. She walked easily across the front foyer and prepared to knock on the training room door. She hesitated when she heard raised voices coming from inside and pressed her ear to the door, frowning.
"Damn it, Wakka! Watch where you throw that thing!"
"Hey—you watch where you launch your friggin' daggers, ya?!"
"It's my house!"
"So? I don't try to kill you in my house!"
"You don't have a house! You sold it, remember?!"
"Shut up!"
"Make me!"
"ARGH!"
Tida's eyes widened as she opened the door just in time to see Wakka lunge for Tidus. Tidus, caught off guard by the sudden movement, was instantly tackled to the ground by the enraged Besaidian. They grappled on the floor, rolling over and over and shouting insults at each other.
Tida rolled her eyes and strode forward. "Corporal Reflect!"
Tidus and Wakka both swung for the other at the same time. Fists bounced off invisible shields of protection and hit their respective owners clear on the nose, leaving both men yelling in outrage as their noses simultaneously began bleeding.
"Tida!" Tidus cried, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to stem the bleeding. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" he demanded, glowering up at his daughter as he sat, legs stretched out in a V in front of him.
"Teaching you and Wakka a lesson. Dispel." Tida folded her arms and looked down at her father, amused. She shook her head with a small sigh.
"Yeah, well, save it for someone else, ya?" Wakka muttered, his voice muffled. He'd taken a towel and wadded it up, pressing it against his nose.
"Light," Tida murmured, slapping hand to her forehead, "give me strength!"
Disclaimer: All belongs to Square Enix. You people know what's mine, okay?