Return of Light

            "Tida!"

             Tida sprang up from her position on the couch and whirled around, her braid swinging wide as she spun, eyes dark as Zeoron sprinted into the room, lavender orbs shining with exhilaration.  She was practically dancing in place.

            "We found it!  We found the Shadow!  It's residing in the northern ruins here in Zanarkand!  You know, the place where the most hostile of fiends hang their hats?" Zeoron cried, giggling and punching a fist in the air joyously. "I can't believe we actually found the thing!"

            Tida allowed herself a short giggle, a grin, and a shake of her head. "Zeo, calm down.  You found it; that's fantastic.  But there's still the matter of getting there.  I don't think we can handle what that place can throw at us.  That's why it's still unfinished; Mama and the others didn't and still don't have the power capabilities to destroy the fiends within that area."

            Zeoron bit her lip. "Well, we gotta try!  We just have to be careful."

            Tida shrugged, "Uh… Maybe.  I don't know."  Tida punched one fist into her palm and swung her arms back and forth, walking around the drink table.

            "It's all so confusing.  I think… I think I'm gonna go talk to Mama…" Tida frowned and turned away, exiting the room and leaving Zeoron, standing there, thoroughly bewildered.

            "Um… yeah, okay…"

            —

            "Mama?" Tida knocked hesitantly on her mother's bedroom door and peered in cautiously, moving one foot inside on the carpet as she gazed in.

            Yuna turned around from her vanity and smiled at her daughter. "Tida, come in.  What's on your mind, baby girl?" Yuna asked, turning back to her mirror and pulling a brush through her hair before giving it a few final kicks with her hands.

            Tida closed the door and crossed to the bed, climbing amidst the feathery pillows and equally downy comforter.  She sighed as she looked at her mother's reflection.

            "I don't know, Mama.  I thought I was so sure about taking the Shadow on, but now… I've got this feeling we have no idea what we're facing.  How much do we really know about the Shadow?" Tida said, her voice small and little-girl sounding.

            Yuna spun back around on her stool, shaking her head. "Oh, Tida, you're still so young.  I keep forgetting that you've missed learning a lot of things."

            Tida offered a wry smile. "I know, Mama.  Did you ever feel this way on your pilgrimage?"

            Yuna bowed her head. "Yes, I did.  It was after Bevelle."

            "After you married Seymour for Spira's sake?"

            "Sadly."

            "Gross.  Wasn't he already dead?" Tida asked, wrinkling her nose at the thought.

            Yuna leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, chin in her hands. "A decision I still regret.  They'd all come to my rescue.  And then Seymour threatened to destroy them if I refused still to marry him.  With no other alternative, I was forced to agree.  I couldn't sacrifice my friends."

            Tida stared earnestly at her mother. "And then?"

            Yuna closed her eyes, remembering. "Your father was very angry, that was clear.  Rikku was unsure of what to do and was fidgeting in place.  The ceremony was completed then and Seymour… Seymour kissed me," Yuna spat, her eyes flashing open to reveal burning blue and green orbs. "My first kiss by a man I thoroughly loathed.

            "Seymour gave the order to kill my guardians.  But I wouldn't let him.  I slipped to the balcony and jumped, calling Valefor to my aide.  The other escaped with Rikku pulling through with one of her Al Bhed flash bombs.  My aeon caught me, and I hurried to the Chamber of the Fayth as fast as I could go in the horrid wedding dress bestowed upon me.

            "Tidus found me passed out in the Chamber and carried me out… but we weren't alone.  We were taken prisoner and sentenced separately.  Lulu, Auron, Kimahri, and myself were all banished to the Via Purifico.  Your father, Wakka, and Rikku were exiled into a locked down water chamber.  We encountered and defeated the summoner Issaru and three of his aeons; they came upon Evrae Altana and finished him quite easily with a few Phoenix Downs." Yuna paused for a breath.

            "What then, Mama?" Tida queried, breathless.

            "We reunited, but we… we were trapped.  Seymour blocked the only exit from Bevelle.  Kimahri was going to sacrifice himself.  I almost let him, but at the last second turned back.  Your father told me that he'd follow me wherever I go.

            "So we went back.  We put another stop on Seymour and escaped into Macalania.  I went into the pond to be alone for a while.  Tidus… Tidus followed me.  I broke down completely in the pond," Yuna whispered, wiping at a sudden tear. "I gave up, said I wouldn't do it anymore.  He supported me.  I broke into sobs and your father took my shoulders in his hands… and kissed me…  I stopped crying.  I forgot about everything but him.  I was lost in him.  It was wonderful.  And then—"

            "Whoa!  PG rating!  PG rating!  I know what happened next!  I was sorta there, remember?!" Tida cried, sitting up abruptly and toppling backward off the bed to land in a tangled heap on the floor.

            Yuna lunged across the bed and stared, wide-eyed, down at her daughter. "You all right?"

            "I think I broke a hip…"

            —

            "Um… what are you doing?" Lulu asked her fiancé, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of him.  Inwardly, however, she grimaced.

            Wakka was standing in the middle of his room, which looked like a hurricane, a tornado, and one of the Magus Sisters' overdrives had been through it—all twice.  Clothes littered the floor, his bed, and some were even stuck to the walls.  His window was shattered, as well as his mirror.  Something unidentifiable was—was growing on the nightstand. 

            But Wakka stood in the middle, triumphantly holding up a black headband and grinning. "I found it!  My lucky headband!  I thought I'd lost it for forever!" he cried, sounding everything like a five-year-old child as he cradled it close to him.

            Lulu lost all composure—all she could do was blink.

*          *          *

            "I'm starting to hate these little gatherings…" Rikku muttered, rubbing her eyes with her hands. "They're so… cheerful…"

            "Oh, Rikku, these meetings are imperative!  We need the information provided by them in order to know what we're dealing with!" Yuna scolded her cousin.

            "Yeah, yeah," Rikku muttered, dismissing Yuna's reprimand with a wave of her hand as she rested her head in other hand, the elbow on the side of the sofa.

            Yuna frowned.  Oh, Light, I hope the Shadow's not coming into us!

            Chappu, Zeo, and Wakka were sitting across the from the two women, each content within their own thoughts although Wakka constantly touched the mysterious black headband he now wore, looking relieved each time he brushed his fingers against it.  Lulu sat beside him, still looking a little dazed at the chaos she had seen two days before.

            Tidus sighed and stifled a rather large yawn with a trembling hand.  Dark circles were beneath his wide, puffy, bloodshot eyes.  His eyes were shocking against his pale complexion and he looked exceptionally drawn and exhausted.  Every now and then, he appeared to be having little shakes, all of this from two sleepless nights and 48 straight hours of work.

            But not even he seemed as drained as his daughter.  Tida's light steps were sluggish; her normally shimmering colored eyes only half open and half alive, glassy and dulled.  Her shoulders were slumped and her knees bent in weakness.  She was shivering, but she was not sick.  Her cheeks were unnaturally crimson against a scandalously white facade.  Tida looked as if she would pass out at any moment, and Chappu was on edge, fully alert and prepared to catch her should she give out.

            "We know the location of the Shadow.  We have readied the needed weapons and medical supplies.  We don't know what the Shadow has in store for us, but I think we'll be all… all right…" Tida took a deep breath and struggled for more strength. 

            "Tida…" Yuna began, holding out a hand to her daughter.

            Tida put her own hand up in response. "No… Let me… let me finish…" She inhaled again. "We're all going to make it this time.  No one dies.  We all fight—and we all fight—fight… fight together…" Tida's knees gave out and Chappu launched from his sitting position to catch her.

            "No more speeches for you.  You need sleep," he ordered.  Yuna hurried over, pressing a hand to Tida's forehead.

            "Oh, Tida!  You've worn yourself completely out, dear.  Why didn't you sleep?" she half-scolded, fretting over the young woman.

            "Daddy didn't," Tida murmured pitifully.

            "Yes, well, we all know your father's an idiot," Yuna said, still busily fussing with Tida.

            "Hey!" Tidus cried, leaping from his chair.

            He soon regretted it as no more words came out as he passed out on the rug.

            They all just stared at him before Yuna said, "Chappu, carry Tida up to her room and put her to bed.  Wakka, Lulu, and Zeo… see if you can get my husband into our bedroom.  I'm going to go mix up something for these two.  Honestly, wearing themselves out like this…" Yuna mumbled as she walked away for the library.

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