Return of Light
"What the—?" Tida breathed, her colored orbs widening in surprise.
Everyone subconsciously took a step backward, all shifting into shock as they stared, wide-eyed, at Seymour. Tidus muttered under his breath.
Seymour's flamboyant aquamarine hair abruptly turned into midnight evil; the veins showing faintly upon his face changed into a frightening crimson that pulsed with dark blood. His faded azure robes altered themselves into deep purple, shining with the power of the Shadow. His smile, already twisted, turned even crueler than anything Tida or the others had ever seen.
Tida felt a flash of fear and nearly jumped at a hand on her shoulder. Startled, Tida jerked her head around to stare up into Chappu's cobalt eyes. Tida stepped around until she was facing her fiancé, her eyes questioning.
"I'm with you all the way, Tida," was all he said, removing his hand from her shoulder and moving up beside her, his head held high. Tida stared at him through slightly teary eyes before she squared her shoulders and faced Seymour.
"Everyone, we stand together. We fight together. No one dies," she called, transforming into her summoner's garb. The Nameless spun into her hands and Tida welcomed it warmly. "Now, let's get this party started."
Tida stepped ahead of everyone, arms held out wide. "Aeon of Light, come join the fight." Tida danced, sweeping her staff in a wide, graceful arc. She twirled easily and then halted, holding the staff at a perfect vertical angle.
Auron appeared behind her, looking only mildly ruffled. He shifted Masamune on his shoulder and pushed his sunglasses up his nose. "You'd think you'd learn to tell your own story by now."
Tida shot Auron a dirty look and swept her orbs back to an empowered dark Seymour. She faced him squarely, eyes turning murky, her blue eye nearly going black.
"Let the final showdown begin!"
Yuna sprang hurried forward to converse with Anima while Zeoron and Lulu scrambled around behind Seymour for position. Wakka moved to help guard them while they gathered energy for each magical attack.
Tidus considered his options and ran to his wife's side, holding Caladbolg tightly in his right fist. He and Yuna nodded to each other before their eyes landed on their daughter, both silently praying she wouldn't break her promise.
Rikku held herself back, mixing concoctions with incredible speed and competence. The Al Bhed woman hesitated in her plight only long enough to see what was going on before she returned to her merging.
"Chappu… you've got my back?" Tida asked Chappu, not looking at him.
"As always," he murmured, rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck muscles. Chappu glanced at her before moving in front of her as she held her arms out with a loud, carrying cry of, "HOLY!"
"Anima, now!" Yuna said. The Dark Aeon responded with Pain, the fayth of Seymour's mother taking a long-overdue punishment to her son.
"ULTIMA!"
"FLARE!"
Tidus and Chappu sprang forward as if in slow motion, Tidus gripping Caladbolg in one hand and Chappu bringing the Shattered Heart around with both of his hands.
"HA!" Chappu yelled, swinging the Shattered Heart up above his head and bringing it crashing down against the plum energy shield revolving around Seymour. Caladbolg clanged shrilly as Tidus surged ahead, pushing it forcefully into the guard, trying to bring it down.
Tidus and Chappu hurried backward while Seymour chuckled at their vain attempts to smash the Shadow's power. Seymour raised a hand.
"At least one of us should have gotten through that!" Chappu growled angrily, exchanging a quick look with Tidus. Tidus nodded, gritting his teeth.
"Maybe a special?" Tidus suggested, unsure.
Chappu shrugged a shoulder, grinding his hands on the hilt of the Shattered Heart. "It's worth a try. We've gotta bring it down so there attacks can get to Seymour. We have to try."
"Here goes—SPIRAL CUT!"
"FINISHING TOUCH!"
—
The battle raged on for hours, with neither side surrendering even an inch. Tida and Yuna were the only two unscathed—Yuna kept summoning aeons and Auron flat out refused to let Tida even say a spell or move from her position. Tida danced in place, dying to land a hit on Seymour, whose shield was beginning to crack.
As for the sword bearers, Chappu and Tidus were covered in fresh, bleeding scratches and black and blue bruises. Tidus had a long cut along one arm while Chappu had a gash on his right cheek, courtesy of one of Seymour's ghastly power surges.
Wakka was bent over at the waist, hands on knees as he gasped for air. World Champion lay at his feet while Lulu and Zeoron held hands behind him, trying to call upon more power for magic attacks. Rikku was nearby, trying to figure out some plan but nothing seemed to be working in her mind. The Godhand was gripped tightly in her right hand, but she knew better than to try and use it. She wanted to Copycat a spell, but no one was casting.
"Is this all you have? My, my. Spira's elite defeated in just a few short hours when they've spent months preparing for this assault. Such a pity," Seymour said, making clicking noises with his tongue. "It's such a grand misfortune for all of Spira. I'm afraid I'm going to have to destroy all of you now."
Tida stomped a foot. "Save it, Seymour! We're not giving up yet! Yunalesca!" Tida called, turning and staring up into the stormy gray skies.
The clouds burst apart as a beacon of light shone down, breaking into strands of color as each turned to a different person, clearly recharging each of their sources.
"Grandpa Braska!"
More light shone down as injuries were quickly healed by the High Summoner's radiating powers. Chappu touched his cheek, surprised to find the slash gone.
"Grandpa Jecht!"
Weapons sparkled intensely as repairs were made to the dented and grazed armaments held by the only people who possessed the power to use them.
"All right! Thanks, guys!" Tida called. Tida clenched her fist and jerked her elbow down, changing back into her usual attire. Auron decided not to hold her back this time as she took a few steps forward, her voice carrying extremely clear.
"Everyone, with our second wind, we will win. The Shadow will now be finished and never, ever rise again! Let's fight together!" Tida cried, punching a fist in the air.
Seymour's eyes flashed in outrage as the elders helped those the Shadow wished to destroy. "You will not win!" he screamed. "You will not defeat me! You will not!"
Seymour began a barrage of fireballs flying, one right after the other as everyone began jumping and diving out of his range and clear of the unforeseen pathways the fireballs were creating. Tida spun with a kick, knocking one fireball out of her way.
"You think you can beat us? The Shadow has no power here! All of Spira walks in the Light!" she shouted, continuing her walk forward.
"Everyone! Hit him with everything you've got!" Tida yelled.
"This is it! Decide now which ending this chapter in your story will have! Make the choice! Who will you be in your future?" Auron added.
"I will be me!" Rikku shouted, crossing her arms of her chest and closing her eyes as she called upon every molecule of energy within her being.
"I will fight!" Wakka said, spinning World Champion faster and faster on his finger, concentrating as hard as he possibly could.
"I will be victorious!" Lulu and Zeoron shrieked together in unison, an aura of black magic surrounding both of their bodies as they called upon every ounce of magical ability within each of their spirits. Their centers gleamed with the enchanted arts.
"I won't let the Shadow control me!" Chappu yelled, trembling with power as flames licked the blade of the Shattered Heart, his powering steadily but rapidly rising.
"I will protect my family!" Tidus called, stretching his right arm up into the air, Caladbolg tight within his grasp as his power levels rose incredibly.
"I will carry on!" Yuna breathed, clasping her hands around Nirvana. Holy light engulfed the High Summoner as the purity of the aeons filled her.
"I will save Spira and all my friends!" Tida finished at last, lights shining all around her as she began transferring all of her powers into one final attack.
"This will be Spira's saving light! I give all I can! Light, work you will!"
Disclaimer: All belongs to Square Enix. You people know what's mine, okay?