Return of Light
"MIX!"
"AUROCHS REELS!"
"FURY—FLARE!"
"FLEETING MOMENT!"
"FINISHING TOUCH!"
"BLITZ ACE!"
"SUMMONER'S ARTS!"
Tida closed her eyes and then opened her mouth to whisper, "FINAL FANTASY…" in a breathless voice.
Everything was consumed within the Light.
And seven voices all shouted in unison, "TIDA!"
* * *
"Tida…"
Tida ignored the voice; she wanted to rest just a little bit longer. She held onto the dream, avoiding reality at all costs, if possible. She sighed.
"Tida…"
The voice called to her again.
Once again, Tida disregarded the voice and pushed even deeper into her tranquil slumber, smiling as she allowed herself to believe that she had stopped the voice from disturbing her further.
"Tida, dear, you really need to wake up..."
"Go 'way!" Tida moaned, flinging her arm back to wave her assailant gone. "I'm tired. Let me rest in peace, finally. There are no more battles to fight."
"On the contrary, honey, you are not quite yet finished. You have so much more to do, so much more to give. You would… you would quit now, when you're reached the peak of your power?"
"Yes! Now leave me alone!" Tida mumbled, squinting her eyes and attempting to pull herself back to sleep.
"Yes… that's right, Tida… Come to me… Let the darkness have you…"
Tida frowned though her eyes remained closed. "Darkness? What?"
"No! Leave her alone! She walks with me!"
"Let her make her own decisions! Who could refuse such wonders as the darkness? Lose control, no regrets… only power, and she can see it… she can touch it… she can feel it… Can't you, Tida?"
"I—I don't understand. The darkness? But—"
"Yes, Tida! Lose control; let the darkness take your soul!"
"No! Tida! Don't listen! Please—Oh!"
"Hey! What did you do to her?!" Tida cried, fidgeting as sleep held onto her stringently, refusing to release her from its prison. She rolled back and forth, whimpering.
"It is of no importance to you, Tida. Listen to me now. Just let go… float free… let the darkness have you… let me take you… let me have—"
"Tida! You must listen to me, precious one! You cannot give in! Spira needs you! Do not let the darkness have you, Tida! If you go, then all of Spira will go with you!"
"Silence, wench! Choose, Tida! Choose the darkness and let it take control. Choose! Choose NOW!"
"I—I don't know! I'm—I'm confused! I don't know what to do!"
"Please, Tida, walk with me as you always have. Do not let the Shadow take you! You wouldn't let it have Chappu. Will you let it have its way with you? Tida, please, no!"
"I said SHUT UP!"
FLASH! Thunder rumbled somewhere.
Tida struggled even harder. "No! Leave her alone! Let her go! I—I won't surrender to you! I know you, Shadow! I won't let—I won't let you use me! I am not a tool!"
"You belong to ME!"
"I BELONG TO NO ONE!"
FLASH FLASH!
Tida's eyes sprang open, revealing glowing bi-colored orbs of light. She sat up, finding herself in a life-filled glen. A white dress covered her figure and her feet were bare. Half a foot of grass surrounded her; a sparkling brook and waterfall were at her left. Tida looked around in awe as butterflies and pyreflies mixed in erotic dances of vibrant colors.
"Thank you, Tida."
Tida spun her head around to her right and gasped in shock, bolting to her feet and stumbling slightly. Tida quickly righted herself and gaped with wide eyes, mouthing soundlessly.
"You're—you're!" she sputtered, struggling desperately for words—any words, even. "You're her!"
The Light smiled. "Yes, I am." The Light had taken the form of a far beyond beautiful woman with long, flowing platinum hair and silver eyes. Strands of her hair were pulled into two long pigtail-like locks at the sides, with the rest wavy and falling to the luscious grassy ground. A holy light glowed around her, both heavenly and regal at the same time. The power radiating from that aura was… inconceivable, at best.
"Oh, wow," Tida breathed, still slightly in astonishment. "It's a pleasure to, uh, meet you." Tida gave a wobbly curtsy.
The Light laughed and waved a hand. "Oh, now, there's really no need for any type of formalities. You've known me for forever, Tida. After all, you were born with me."
Confusion marred Tida's face. "What?"
The Light smiled easily. "I was awakened when you were born, and you brought me back to life… in a way. It is something that cannot truly be explained. Not even I myself know the mysteries this particular miracle holds. All I can honestly say is that you and I are connected even deeper than Spira and its people."
"Oh, well…" Tida shrugged, still confused. "Guess I'll have to puzzle it out, then. But… why am I here? What happened?"
The Light bowed her head for a moment and Tida felt a lump in her throat and terror gripped at her.
"We… we lost?" she asked fearfully.
The Light's head shot up. "Oh, no, dear, nothing at all like that."
Tida sighed with respite, feeling the panic leave her. "Thank the Light." Tida frowned thoughtfully. "Do you… do you have a name?"
The Light nodded. "Yes, I do. It's Aliciantae. In Ancient Spira, it means 'Light of the World.' But the Al Bhed refer to me simply as Ruba uv dra Mekrd. It means 'Hope of the Light'."
"Um, can I just call you Ali?" Tida said.
Aliciantae laughed and shook her head. "Of course you can, dear."
"Good. Why am I here?"
"So, what do you think of this place? Isn't it lovely?" Aliciantae said, sweeping one arm out wide in an arc to indicate the glen.
"Yeah, it's pretty. Perfect." Tida took a second to gaze around in wonder at the splendor and grandeur surrounding her. Closing her eyes, she listened to the rushing water tumbling in suicide over the waterfall's crest and the trickling brook after… Birds were chirruping somewhere in the background and a gentle breeze tugged at her hair and sending it waving like a flag in its gust. Flowers broke free from their stems and swirled around her in twirling, magical arches. Tida spun in a circle, giggling.
Tida stopped her brief dance and lowered her arms, her eyes opening. She moved her stare back to the form of the Light. "But why am I here?"
"This was once part of the Farplane, but when the Shadow began forming and then corrupting, it was separated to protect the Light. Remnants still connect to the Farplane so that souls wanting to escape the Shadow's vice may come to peace," Aliciantae explained, though her eyes were saying something else.
Tida cocked her head. "Why aren't you answering my question?"
Aliciantae looked troubled and she avoided looking at Tida for a few moments until Tida took a step forward, the grass cool on her bare feet.
"What is going on? Where is my mother?" Tida said in a tight, strained voice. Her teeth were slightly grit and her eyes were beginning to blaze with a heated fury.
Aliciantae bit her lip and sighed. "Tida, you… You have to understand—"
"I don't have to understand anything! Where are my friends? What happened when I cast my attack? Did we defeat the Shadow? What the hell is going on?!" Tida burst out, cutting the Light short as she let loose with a wild rant.
Aliciantae chose to ignore Tida's outburst and decided there was no easy way to tell the girl her fate. It wasn't fair, and she knew it. But… what was was what would be. She couldn't change it.
Aliciantae faced Tida and hardened her heart as best she could. This was going to hurt.
"Tida… you can never return. You are… you have been Chosen."
Disclaimer: All belongs to Square Enix. You people know what's mine, okay?