Standard Disclaimer. I do not own FFX or the characters in it. They are owned by Square-Enix. I do own this story, and my original characters. The title of the chapter is from the song "Seven Wonders" was written by Sandy Stewart and Stevie Nicks, performed by Fleetwood Mac

In the morning, they began the assault on Sin. Cid walked over to a computer panel, typed in a few commands, and a recording of the Hymn of the Fayth began playing, broadcast by the ship's machina over all of Spira. As Auron listened, he realized immediately that it was Mercy's voice soaring over all the others on the soundtrack that was now playing. Hers was the only trained voice on the ship. She must have learned the hymn in secret, and made the recording when the rest of them were busy on Bikanel with the cactaurs. He looked, and met her eyes, saw the smile lighting her face. She had done this for him, because this was his world, and he wanted to save it, if he could. His wife, singing for Spira, a place she never expected to see in this life. He had to swallow hard past the lump in this throat.

---

As they entered the Sea of Sorrows, Mercy was suddenly and completely subdued. What if she had been mistaken, all those weeks ago when she thought that she had been inside the coeurl, her spirit intact and separate? What if she had been wrong, what if she really had been the coeurl, what if she had truly been a fiend all those weeks while she waited for the fayth to pull her out? Would it matter? She scanned the 'horizon', filled with impatience to know the answer, and dread of finding what that answer would be.

"Whoa," Tidus said. "Check it out," he continued, as he pointed at the large, black, cat-like beast, at the top of one of the rapids. Mercy's eyes met those of the creature, several yards from their position, unreachable except by magic or Wakka's ball. "I don't think I've ever seen a coeurl that color. It's beautiful," Yuna sighed. "But deadly," Lulu cautioned. Wakka began to spin his weapon, preparing for an attack. Mercy put a hand on his arm. "Leave it be, she isn't attacking us. Save your energy for later." Puzzled, he tucked the ball back under his arm. Mercy continued to stare at the beast as if mesmerized. Looking closely, she could see the striped pattern in its fur, black stripes on a black ground, instead of the usual black on white or orange. Its whiskers and tail were dyed crimson, like her belt. She had done this. Her presence, her soul, protected by her will, inside the fiend's body, had done this. If Auron had given way to temptation, or if she had been unable to maintain her spirit, she would have become the fiend, in truth. And when this moment had come, now, she would have thrown herself upon his sword. She shuddered, and turned away.

---

After we disposed of the maniacal Seymour, Yuna finally was able to send him to the Farplane. After all the trouble he had caused, over the entire length of the journey, Mercy had to wonder if that was really such a great idea. Why wasn't there another option? She knew he couldn't remain an unsent. But she and Auron were supposed to go the Farplane. She sure didn't want Seymour as a neighbor, assuming one had neighbors on the Farplane. Wasn't there some other place Yuna could send the bastard? Or no place at all, just send him to nothingness? The more I learn about this Farplane the less I understand. Yuna just sent Seymour. Will he be just the same as he was here? Won't that be disruptive or something? Or does being sent change people? But I don't want us to change, I want Auron and I to be just the same as we are now! What would happen to them when they were sent?

---

That night, they settled down into their bedroll for the remaining hours, or at least, they tried to. Mercy couldn't sleep, and she doubted that Auron could, either. It was easier when they had been on watch, but they had had the first shift, and now, it was over, and the darkness closed in on the alcove they had chosen. Kimahri was on watch, prowling silently along the roadway in front of the central recess occupied by Lulu, Wakka, Rikku and himself. Yuna and Tidus were in a separate, smaller niche on the other side. She and Auron were alone.

It was, she knew, their last night in this world, win or lose. In the morning, they would face Sin, and Yu Yevon. Not simply Sin, she admitted to herself, Jecht. Auron's old friend. Tidus' old man. She just couldn't think of Jecht as Tidus' father, not really, because she had never seen him in that role. For the last ten years, Auron had been that, in all the ways that counted.

She was supposed to be dead, unsent. But it just did not fit into her beliefs, her sense of herself. She understood it, intellectually, but emotionally, it didn't register. She still felt alive. Her head, pillowed on Auron's shoulder, was a lot more comfortable than her hip, pressed into the metal of the floor through the thin mat of the bedroll. She remembered her promise to Yojimbo, the part she had yet to play tomorrow. If they won, she must allow herself to be sent, or she and Auron would be parted forever. If they lost, they would both be dead anyway, and it wouldn't matter. She began to tremble; she was afraid. Not of the battle, but of what would come after it.

Her arm was across her husband's chest, her legs tangled with his under the blankets, his arms clasping her tightly against his side. He was as awake as she, unwilling to let this last night pass in sleeping oblivion. He felt her begin to shake, and turned on his side to face her. Her eyes were wide with fear, he hadn't seen her like this in five years, since she had woken from the nightmare and realized that he could not bring her with him to Spira. And yet, here she was.

She snuggled close, to absorb the heat of his body, trying to pretend there was nothing wrong. Mercy buried her face against his chest, got her hands under his shirt to touch his bare skin. They had set aside their weapons, his armor, and their boots, but were otherwise still clothed, and now there seemed to be too many layers between them. He untied her tunic, enfolding her in his warmth. Then he shifted, and tilted up her face to meet his. "What is the matter? Tell me."

"I think I was better prepared in Zanarkand than I am now," she said, somewhat shakily. "I'm afraid that I still believe that this is all there is."

"My lady," he replied softly, stroking her face. "Your belief, or the lack of it, will not affect your ability to reach the Farplane. Yuna will send us after the battle is won. Your soul will not be able to resist the sending."

"And if we lose?" She had to ask.

"We will all be destroyed. I will be able to lead you to the Farplane. All you will have to do is follow me. Trust me," he pleaded.

"Always," she replied.

He could see the fear in her eyes, even in the dim light. He tried to think of something, anything he could to do take it away from her. He let his arm slide back around her, drawing her tight against his chest, feeling her heart beat fast, too fast, seeing her pulse leaping in her throat. He rubbed his nose against hers, trying to coax a smile from her. "It will be all right," he promised, as he kissed her, gently at first, then with increasing urgency.

She responded eagerly to his kisses, helping to pull shirt over his head and getting her arms out of her tunic. This is madness, he decided, but he had no intention of stopping. Mercy understood what was happening; we are trying to celebrate joy in the face of despair…it is all we can do. She caught Auron's face between her hands, drew him down for a long deep kiss, and whispered, "Love me."

He knew she meant both the act and the emotion together, for them they had always been one and the same. "Yes, my lady. Always."

Her fingers found the leather tie that bound his hair, and released it. She ran her fingers through the frosted midnight curtain, as they made love in the long night, found joy and wonder, and matched the beauty, again, and again.

---

In the central alcove, Lulu woke to find Wakka sitting up, staring into the darkness. When she sat up, he placed a finger to his lips and whispered, "Shh, you'll wake Rikku." Lulu pointed to a corner opposite the one where the Al Bhed was sleeping, and they shifted quietly away from the young woman to sit side-by-side in the corner the mage had indicated.

"Couldn't you sleep?" Lulu asked in a whisper.

"Nah. It didn't seem right. I just needed to think about some stuff, ya?"

"I have some things to think about, too. What do you plan to do when this is over?"

"I dunno. Help Yuna, if she needs me. Maybe go back to Besaid. What about you, Lu?"

"The same. But Yuna might not need our help. Maybe we should go back to Besaid together. What do you think, Wakka?" Lulu looked at him questioningly.

"Lu, what are you saying?" Wakka was dumbstruck.

"I'm not sure what I'm saying right now. Maybe that's it. I'm not sure what we should be to each other. But maybe, we should start from where we are now, and not from where we used to be."

"But what about Chappu?"

"I loved Chappu, but he is dead, and I am not the person I was a year ago, and neither are you. We can't go back, we can only go forward. We both need to stop living in the past."

Hope finally dawned in Wakka's eyes. "Are you saying you think maybe we might have a future, together I mean?"

"We might, if we both stop clinging to the past. What do you think, Wakka?" Lulu's hand reached out to touch Wakka's cheek.

Wakka stared earnestly into her eyes. "Lu, I would do anything for a chance at a future with you. Anything."

He slid his arm around her shoulders, and when she didn't draw away, pulled her close, until her head rested against his chest. She held herself a little stiffly at first, but when he didn't do anything except hold her, she relaxed and let her head drop into the hollow of his shoulder, and her arms stole around his waist. When his watch ended, Kimahri found them, sleeping again, Wakka's cheek resting on the top of Lulu's coiled braids, a smile on his sleeping face.

Kimahri woke them, and tried to compose himself for what remained of the night, but his catnap was disturbed by the sound of someone weeping in the dark. He sat up and discovered young Rikku curled into a ball in her bedroll, crying in her sleep. To the Ronso, she greatly resembled Yuna as a child at this moment, and Kimahri found that he could not bear to leave her in this torment. He decided to treat her as he had Yuna when she had been in this state when young; so he lifted Rikku up in his arms, girl, blankets, and all, and sat himself against one of the walls of the recess, cradling the Al Bhed against his chest and rocking her until she fell into a peaceful slumber, as though she were in truth a child again. He too, was comforted by her sleeping presence, and fell back into a light doze. His last thought was that no one should be alone this night, not Rikku, not Kimahri. Tomorrow may be good day to die, but night is too lonely in this place.

---

In the far alcove, Yuna slept with a smile on her face, spooned safely in Tidus' arms. But even in sleep, tears spilled down his face.

---

"You're late, Auron," Jecht said to his old friend.

"I know," Auron replied, somewhat sheepishly. But not too late, he thought to himself.

Jecht looked Mercy over, then said to Auron, "Not bad. You got better taste than I thought."

"Glad you approve," Auron shot back, sounding more like his usual self.

Grinning, Jecht turned to Mercy and said, "I hope you enjoyed the ride."

Surprised, Mercy replied, "It was a little bumpy, but thanks for the lift." She smiled coolly at him, not wanting to show him that he had upset her. "I watched you play a few times, back in Zanarkand. You weren't bad." Jecht started to preen a little while she paused. "But Tidus is better," she finished, deflating him completely for a few seconds.

Then he puffed out his chest again and laughed, turning back to Auron. "She must keep you on your toes." Auron wisely said nothing to this. More seriously, Jecht looked back at Mercy again. "You'll do," he stated firmly, nodding to her.

So this is Jecht, she thought. A rogue and a charmer. He knew I was there all along. I wonder which of them he did it for?

Tidus watched and listened to the banter. He thought it would help prepare him, but it…didn't. His old man finally looked straight at him and said, "Hey."

"Hi," Tidus answered back. Jecht just couldn't get over how much the kid had changed in ten years, but he still couldn't express how he really felt, so he teased him instead. "Hah! You got tall, but you're all bones! You eating right, boy?"

Tidus was silent, thinking, after ten year; that was all he could think of to say? Not that I did any better.

Mercy's breath hissed through her teeth. Auron caught her arm, just in case. Damn you, Jecht, she cursed silently. Your son needs better than this from you before you…go.

Jecht was still talking nonsense. "You've really grown," he continued to Tidus.

"Yeah, but you're still bigger," Tidus replied, cursing himself for stating the obvious, for even continuing this stupid, meaningless conversation.

Jecht had to make a joke of it. He still couldn't manage to be serious, yet. "Well, I am Sin, you know."

Tidus just wanted to get this over with. Seeing his old man again was tearing him apart. He wasn't in the mood for jokes. "That's not funny," he said firmly.

Jecht just laughed, then he finally became more somber. But when he did, he stopped being so glib; he tripped over his words, his emotions.

Jecht sputtered, "Well, then... I mean...you know. Let's end this."

Tidus choked out, "Dad?"

"Yeah?" Jecht replied, saying it as a question, but he knew what was coming. The way he'd treated the kid, there was only one possible answer. He just hoped that Auron had managed to tell the kid how he really felt, somewhere along the way. Didn't mean the kid had believed him; he just hoped the kid knew.

He hated his old man. He really hated him. Why was it so hard to hold back the tears? He had to say the words, the words he'd always promised himself he would say, if he ever saw his old man again. "I hate you."

Jecht seemed to take it in stride. "I know, I know. You know what you have to do."

Subdued now, Tidus just replied, "Yeah."

There was one last thing Jecht needed to say, almost a confession. "I can't hear the Hymn so well anymore. Pretty soon, I'm gonna be Sin. Completely. I'm glad you're here now. One thing, though…when it starts, I won't be myself anymore. I won't be able to hold myself back. I'm sorry."

Still holding back the tears, Tidus realized that this was the first time he had ever heard his old man say he was sorry. For anything. Ever. Maybe Auron had been right. Maybe his old man really had changed. But it was just too much to deal with right now. "That's enough," he cried, dismissing both Jecht's words and his own thoughts. "Let's finish this, okay?"

Mercy knew it wasn't okay, not for him, not for Auron, not even for Yuna, but that it was necessary for the job they were here to do.

Then Jecht said, "Well, then... Let's go!" in that voice that had launched a thousand interviews, back in the day, and he began his transformation into his aeon form. Now that it was too late, Tidus thought of all the things he really wanted to say, all the things he should have said, and he ran towards his father, but Jecht fell backwards over the edge of the platform before his son could reach him. The aeon that emerged from the pit had no humanity in its eyes. It was there to destroy them all. But it resembled Jecht too much for anyone's comfort.

I had been much easier for all of them to talk of killing Sin before they had seen Jecht. Now, it was impossible for any of them to forget that the man who had been speaking with them a few minutes ago was trapped inside the beast that was trying to kill them. Auron kept telling himself that if he were in Jecht's place, he would want them to relieve him of his misery and guilt as expeditiously as possibly. But his own heart bled with each blow he struck.

Tears choked Tidus' throat, but he held them back. Crying now would only interfere with his aim, and he couldn't afford that. This was his old man he was hitting. How can I do this? How can I not do this? This was what his old man had wanted all along. For him to be here right now. To put an end to this torment. The best he could do was to make it quick.

In his aeon form, Jecht hit them with all he had, but there were eight of them, and together they were very strong, and Omega's Dungeon had taught them many lessons, not least the value of working as a team. It served them well against Braska's Final Aeon. In the end, Jecht lay broken and bleeding in his son's arms, his aeon force spent and his life ebbing away. Dying, Jecht couldn't resist one final jibe. "You'll cry. You're gonna cry. You always cry, see? You're crying," but his tone was soft.

Tears running down his face, Tidus responded, "I hate you, Dad."

With as much force as he could muster, Jecht said, "Save it for later."

Placing his father's body gently on the stone floor, Tidus stood. "Right... We've got a job to do, don't we?"

Jecht spoke to him, pride clear in his fading voice, "Good. That's right. You are my son, after all."

Tidus voice shook with emotion as he replied. "You know...for the first time, I'm glad…to have you as my father." Sir Jecht, High Summoner Braska's guardian, died in his son's arms.

Grief-stricken, Yuna wanted to send Jecht, but there wasn't time, for Yu Yevon was upon them, and the fayth appeared, urging Yuna to call them. Jecht disappeared in a cloud of pyreflies, and Yu Yevon transported the party to a magical construct of his own devising; they seemed to standing on the flat blade of Jecht's sword. Yu Yevon circled the battlefield looking like some kind of malevolent comet, trailing black smoke.

Yuna summoned Valefor, and watched in horror as Yu Yevon possessed her first and most beloved aeon. She thought she saw her own expression mirrored on Valefor's face, just before Yu Yevon's spirit overcame the fayth's completely. Valefor had rescued her in Bevelle. Now it was her turn. Yuna stood shoulder to shoulder with her guardians, and brought the aeon the only release that was possible for her now. Yuna felt as though a piece of her own soul was dying, when they defeated Valefor, but she felt the aeon's release as well, and saw the aeon fold her wings in blessing as she departed. Yuna visibly drooped at the end of the first contest, drained in both body and spirit, grieving for her loss. She felt Tidus' eyes on her, his love supported her, but she felt that she needed to do this alone. She steeled her spine and summoned Ifrit, bracing her heart for the impact of watching Yu Yevon possess his fiery spirit. It was not the battle that was difficult, it was the heartbreak of losing a friend each time, as well as the almost physical shock of having the fayth ripped out of her each time she and her guardians defeated the possessed aeon. She had to keep telling herself it was the right thing to do. Some of the aeons did, as well. Shiva smiled, one last, tight, cold little smile, just before she was dismissed, and Bahamut and Yojimbo both bowed their heads in farewell. Yuna knew that this was what she was supposed to do. But she still wanted to curl up into a ball and cry at the end. Her aeons were gone.

Yu Yevon finally showed his true "face", since the only thing he had left to fight with was, himself. Mercy wasn't impressed. Yu Yevon looked like a kind of blobby purple spider, hanging in mid-air. I guess he decided he didn't need a body, as long as he had Sin. Unless he's got some pretty impressive magic up his tentacles, he's toast, she thought. Can we please toast him slowly? I'm not ready!

Then Tidus started talking, and Mercy realized that he hadn't learned nearly as many lessons from Auron as he should have about a whole lot of things, especially the ones about how to say, "Goodbye" to someone you love.

"Everyone!" he shouted, "This is the last time we fight together, okay?"

This was definitely not okay. Everyone except Auron and Mercy was completely confused.

Wakka, articulate as always, just uttered, "Huh?"

Tidus stepped forward to face Yuna, and said, "What I'm trying to say is...after we beat Yu Yevon, I'll disappear!"

Lulu as always, sought an explanation. "What are you talking about?"

Tidus looked at Yuna, and saw the wounded look on her face. He walked past her to Yu Yevon, took out his sword, and readied himself to take on Yu Yevon.

"I'm saying goodbye!" Tidus shouted back to all of them, but he faced away from the party, toward Yu Yevon.

Through this whole speech, Auron had been staring at Tidus over the top of his glasses, mentally revising his estimate of the boy's maturity downward several years. You're saying you're a coward, my young friend.

Yuna thought she finally understood what the fayths had meant, about the dream, and the dream vanishing, and the dream ending, and discovered that there must have been a few bits of her heart that had still been unbroken after the aeons, because they felt like broken glass in her chest now. Why didn't he tell me? I love him so much. They had had so little time. It wasn't fair!

Tidus couldn't stand it. He had to get this over with. He felt so guilty for not telling Yuna before, for telling her now, like this. He didn't ever want to leave, but he couldn't just stand here like this. This battle had to start, now. He struck Yu Yevon.

The battle almost seemed too easy. Over the centuries, Yu Yevon had invested too much of his power in his "armor" and had kept too little for his core self. Looking back, his daughter had been a hell of a lot harder to defeat than he was. With the demise of Yu Yevon, they had been magically returned to the Tower of the Dead where they had fought Jecht. They stared at each other in amazement. They had won. No one was sure whether to laugh, or cry. Most of them were still too stunned by the enormity of what they had just accomplished to be thinking of the future. Mercy was caught between two conflicting desires. She wanted to beat Tidus senseless for what he was doing to Yuna right now, and, she wanted bury her face in Auron's shoulder and beg him to find a way they could have just a little more time. She just wasn't ready to go. She stared at Tidus, and he could practically see her disappointment with him on her face. I thought we taught you better than that, she was thinking. The pain and grief on his face told her that she was right. She looked away.

Tidus didn't know what else he could have done. This was the way it had to be. If he had told Yuna any sooner, she might have tried to save him instead of Spira, and that…would have been wrong. He just wished he would have a chance to make this right, but he knew there wasn't any time.

Yuna knew they had saved Spira. It was over. Sin was gone. Yu Yevon was gone. They had brought the Eternal Calm. She had made the dreams of all Spira come true…at the cost of her own. But she still had one last task to perform as a summoner. She had to send Yu Yevon. She began to dance.

As the pyreflies rose all around her, she saw with stunned horror that some of the pyreflies were coming from Auron and Mercy.

"Don't stop," Auron told her.

"But I," Yuna began, not sure what she was going to say.

"It's all right," Auron tried to reassure her.

"It's time," Mercy added.

Yuna looked into the older woman's eyes, and saw that Mercy and Auron had known this would happen, and were expecting it. She remembered all the things the fayth had said about the dream, and its ending, and knew the truth, that if Mercy wasn't sent, now, she and Auron would be separated forever, because she was part of Tidus' Zanarkand, the dream that was disappearing. Tears ran down Yuna's cheeks, but she nodded her head in grief and acceptance, and Mercy nodded back, sorrow and resolution on her face. Do it Yuna, please, Mercy said in her mind and with her eyes. Wherever and whatever this damned Farplane is, I have to go there, now! Yuna resumed her dance.

Mercy turned to Lulu, and gripped Lulu's wrist and felt the clasp returned. They had not always liked each other, but there had been respect, and eventually, understanding. She saw Wakka standing behind Lulu, his hand on her shoulder, and smiled. Maybe I did help a little, after all.

She held both of Rikku's hands in hers, as the young woman bounced up and down in distress, squeezed her hands, felt an answering squeeze in return, and let go. She saw Auron thump Kimahri on the chest, a gesture of respect, friendship, an acknowledgement of secrets kept, and obligations more than fulfilled.

They stood and looked at their friends, meeting each set of eyes one more time. Last, Mercy met Tidus' eyes, smiled gently, and blew him a kiss. He made a show of catching it in his hand, and closing his fist around it, tightly. Then, he brought his closed fist to his chest, and opened his hand, pressing her last kiss into his heart.

Finally, Auron told the others, "This is your world now."

Then he turned to Mercy, and took her hand in his, and felt that her hand was trembling. He wove his fingers with hers, and let her grip his hand as tightly as she needed to. He tipped her face up to lock her gaze with his, and saw the grief in her eyes. He knew that she thought this was the end. A tear ran down her cheek. He bent, and kissed it away, then pressed his lips to hers in one final, lingering kiss. He drew her close, willing her to let go of her doubt, hoping he had enough time to convince her, before it was too late. Finally, he felt her relax against him, her free hand resting on the back of his neck as he continued to clasp the other in his own. At last, he lifted his head to look into her eyes, and ask, "My lady, do you trust me?"

"Yes, love."

"Then come with me, now."

She swallowed hard, one last time, but then she nodded firmly, and stood by his side, still clasping his hand. And letting go of everything but their love for each other, they stepped off the platform and dispersed in a cloud of pyreflies.

---

Yuna stood at the edge of the dock in Luca, and whistled. Again and again, but he did not answer. Why didn't he come? her heart cried. He promised!

Lulu sailed up the dock behind her, and said, "Yuna, it's time." Resignedly, Yuna turned and walked slowly toward the stadium. As she passed through the crowd, she thought she heard Mercy's voice, singing, and she realized that someone was playing a sphere recording of one of Mercy's concerts aboard the airship. She stopped for a minute to listen, and the music washed over her, taking her back to that last evening on the airship, when she had been so happy. She listened again to the woman's voice; surprisingly clear over the noise of the crowd.

So long ago

It's a certain time

It's a certain place

You touched my hand and you smiled

All the way back you held out your hand

If I hope and if I pray

Ooh it might work out someday

If I live to see the seven wonders

I'll make a path to the rainbow's end

I'll never live to match the beauty again

Yuna remembered how she had felt that night, sitting complacently with Tidus' arm around her, feeling sorry for the person Mercy had been singing about, the one who had found love, and had lost it. She shook her head. She had been such a fool. Now, she knew, the person she had felt so sorry for, was herself. She would make that path. She would find him. She would bring him back. Somehow, she had to find a way. She would just have to 'think of something'.

---

Auron and Mercy stood together, beside the great horseshoe waterfall that marked the visible boundary of the Farplane. Auron placed his hands on her waist, and looked into her eyes. Automatically, she rested her hands on his chest, and looked up at him quizzically, wondering why they were here. "My lady," he said, smiling down at her, "I believe we have arrived." And as he turned her slightly and gestured with his arm, misty colors fell down from the sky to reach the ground at their feet, colors born from the light overhead striking the waterfall. Dark crimson, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, midnight. Mercy threw her head back and laughed as she slid her arms around his waist, tucking herself against his side. "Yes, my love, I think you're right. We're really here." She breathed in wonder. "The rainbow's end."

The End.