A/N: Oh yay! 9 reviews! hops up and down!
To Uchiha Tenshi: That's okay! I'm glad you like it so far! I'm still planning out a bit... the story might turn out tragic. But maybe not.
To Emrelle Elendal: No. 1: I HAD to get Tidus and Yuna together right away. It drives me nuts how Tidus is only in FFX-2 for a little bit. Actually what REALLY drives me nuts is the part where Shuyin and Tidus are played by the same guy. Shuyin's ebil laff makes me think of Tidus. and it's scury! No. 2: I know Cid died sob I half like Cid. But I have this tendancy to have so many characters at once that no one understands the story anymore... and then I have the tendancy to kill off almost all of my characters. But I don't think anyone else will die. probes her computer with the Toxic Fish Coolie!! stands with Toxic fish in one hand, and Lemon Stik in the other Lemon stik tee hee
To PrimaDonna49: I know a lot happened at once. But the story is going to revolve around Yuna and Aeris a LOT. Everyone's happy Yuna and Tidus are together, huh? And who knows... hehehe. ebil laff is heard followed by a moo
To skate/rpg guy: Glad you like the story. And I'm glad a lot of people like how Aeris was added in. She's my favorite!!
Chapter Five
Memories are nice, but that's all they are
The Celsius landed back in Besaid. They decided that would be the best place to get some rest. Yuna wrapped her arm through Tidus', a smile playing across her face. "Everyone'll be excited to see you," she said. I know I am!
"I'm sort of nervous," he said.
"Don't be," she grinned, pulling him along. They walked on the long path to the village while Aeris told them about her world.
"It was a place of war and hate," Aeris said sadly. "It was always so hard. Sections of cities blown up by reactors, innocent people dying because they got in the middle of a petty fight."
Rikku and Gippal looked at each other. "It's just like the Al Bhed verses the Yevonites," Gippal said.
"And when we had to destroy our own Home," Rikku stated solemnly, her thoughts tracking back to her father.
Yuna's heart dropped. She remembered that day so well. She glanced at Tidus, who seemed to remember as well. He had found out Yuna's fate. "But Aeris," Yuna said, a thought suddenly tugging at her mind. "Why do you want to go back if the place is full of turmoil?"
Aeris smiled softly. "My friends. I'm no different from you Yuna, really. We were on a journey, to stop Sephiroth. He wanted to destroy our world and bring the 'Promised Land'. And me being, well me, I was needed in the process. But my friends protected me, until the very end. I was foolish and ran ahead. I wanted to retrieve the White Materia. It could counter the Black Materia that Sephiroth had gained.
"While I was praying for it, Cloud came. He stepped onto the platform where I knelt and..." Aeris stopped. They had reached the statue where many used to pray before leaving the island. Taking in a deep breath, she walked to the railing of the small wooden fence, letting the breeze blow her dark copper hair around.
"The look in his eyes. My concentration was broken, but only for a moment. There was such anger and confusion in his face. I quickly closed my eyes, startled of the giant sword only inches from my face. He seemed to be struggling with himself. And then he fell to his knees and cried outloud." She turned slightly, facing the group.
"I heard another voice, and then..." she closed her eyes and continued, "As quickly as it had started, it was over. Sephiroth knew he had to stop me and the only way was to take my life. He had tried to manipulate Cloud and make him do it, but Cloud was too strong. So he did it himself. And I died, not even being able to give the White Materia to Cloud. I failed him. I failed them all."
Yuna watched Aeris tell her story with teary eyes. "Oh Aeris," her voice barely above a whisper.
The young woman in pink smiled slightly, a tear tracing a path down her cheek. "I know they defeated Sephiroth in the end. But I just want to go back and see them again. And Cloud..." she sighed, still keeping the smile on her face, "I know he and his childhood friend are together, and that's how it should be. Yet, I just wish I could be in his arms, one last time."
"I know how you feel," Yuna said, squeezing Tidus's hand gently.
Aeris wiped the tear from her face and grinned brighter. "Well, don't you think we ought to get going?"
"Right," nodded Rikku. "Everyone will be so excited to meet you Aeris!" the perky Al Bhed exclaimed, running ahead. She grabbed Aeris's hand and dragged her down the path with Gippal sprinting after.
Yuna looked at Paine, who seemed touched by Aeris's story. "You okay?"
Paine nodded. "I hope we'll be able to help Aeris. She sure deserves to go back, doesn't she?"
The young blitzball player took Yuna by the hand, "She deserves it all right!"
The three followed Aeris, Rikku, and Gippal down to the village. They were greeted by Lulu, Wakka, little Vidina, and a group of excited people. Almost everyone had known Tidus five years ago.
"Yo Tidus!" Wakka called out.
"Hey Wakka!" he waved back. He looked at Yuna, a little hesitant.
Yuna grinned and nodded, watching Tidus run off to his old friends.
"He's ecstatic to be back isn't he?" Paine joked, punching Yuna playfully in the arm.
"Yup. Where'd Rikku, Gippal, and Aeris run off too?"
The two searched the crowd and finally spotted the trio. They were talking with Lulu. Yuna and Paine walked to them, joining their conversation.
"So he's finally back," Lulu smiled. "You've definitely cheered up."
Yuna blushed slightly. "Well all thanks to Aeris here."
The flower girl giggled. "I just wanted to get out of the Farplane. And I know how much you two belong with each other."
Rikku was jumping around excitedly. "And we're all going to be so happy now!"
Aeris laughed. "You remind me so much of my friend, Yuffie."
Rikku stopped. "Who's that?"
"Yuffie was an extremely hyper ninja," Aeris paused, "and materia thief."
"I'm not a thief!" Rikku cried.
Gippal poked his beloved in the side. "Sure yah are! You stole my heart," he teased.
Rikku chuckled and poked an accusing finger in his chest. "You let me!"
Yuna shook her head as the couple feuded over something silly. "They were made for each other," she joked.
Aeris picked a small white flower from the ground. She looked at it, almost dreamily.
Paine raised a quizzical eyebrow, "Something special about the flower Aeris?"
"Wha?" Aeris looked up suddenly. "Oh sorry. Just thinking."
The Gullwing girls simply shrugged.
Lulu broke the short silence. "So are you planning on staying? I'm sure we could have a little party--"
"PARTY!" Rikku shrieked.
The other girls, and Gippal, backed away. Far away. They knew Rikku was a big party person.
Vidina waddled over to his mother, crying. He was just under three years old. "Mommy!" he wailed.
She picked him up, and bounced him slightly. "Something wrong?" she said, wiping his tears.
"I fell!"
Lulu shook her head, a smile playing across her face. "Well you should be more careful. Are you hurt?"
Little Vidina held out his finger. "I fell on it and it got smooshed!"
Lulu kissed it. "Is it better now?"
"Thanks Mom!" he said, struggling to get down. Lulu set him on the ground and he ran off to play with some of the other village kids.
Yuna's former guardian chuckled. "He's such a troublemaker."
"And he looks more like Wakka every day," said Paine.
Aeris let out a sigh.
"Are you okay?" Rikku asked.
She nodded. "Being here reminds me of my old friends so much..." she drifted off.
"There's an Al Bhed saying," Rikku said. "'Memories are nice, but that's all they are.' You know?"
Memories are nice... I know what it's like to want to keep those thoughts from being memories. Yuna thought to herself.
Gippal had wandered over to the guys, unknown to Rikku.
Rikku looked around for him. "He's always disappearing on me!" she scoffed. She ran off to go find him.
"So are we still going to have a party?" Paine wondered.
"I suppose," Lulu said. "It wouldn't be big. Just a bonfire and drinks."
"It'll be fun!" Yuna agreed.
"Sounds great!" Aeris smiled.
A/N: I won't be updating as fast on the weekdays. I have a lot of stuff to do but I'll do my best to get this done. I have another fic I'm working on as well so -- But I'll try! Just keep reviewing please!
To Uchiha Tenshi: That's okay! I'm glad you like it so far! I'm still planning out a bit... the story might turn out tragic. But maybe not.
To Emrelle Elendal: No. 1: I HAD to get Tidus and Yuna together right away. It drives me nuts how Tidus is only in FFX-2 for a little bit. Actually what REALLY drives me nuts is the part where Shuyin and Tidus are played by the same guy. Shuyin's ebil laff makes me think of Tidus. and it's scury! No. 2: I know Cid died sob I half like Cid. But I have this tendancy to have so many characters at once that no one understands the story anymore... and then I have the tendancy to kill off almost all of my characters. But I don't think anyone else will die. probes her computer with the Toxic Fish Coolie!! stands with Toxic fish in one hand, and Lemon Stik in the other Lemon stik tee hee
To PrimaDonna49: I know a lot happened at once. But the story is going to revolve around Yuna and Aeris a LOT. Everyone's happy Yuna and Tidus are together, huh? And who knows... hehehe. ebil laff is heard followed by a moo
To skate/rpg guy: Glad you like the story. And I'm glad a lot of people like how Aeris was added in. She's my favorite!!
Chapter Five
Memories are nice, but that's all they are
The Celsius landed back in Besaid. They decided that would be the best place to get some rest. Yuna wrapped her arm through Tidus', a smile playing across her face. "Everyone'll be excited to see you," she said. I know I am!
"I'm sort of nervous," he said.
"Don't be," she grinned, pulling him along. They walked on the long path to the village while Aeris told them about her world.
"It was a place of war and hate," Aeris said sadly. "It was always so hard. Sections of cities blown up by reactors, innocent people dying because they got in the middle of a petty fight."
Rikku and Gippal looked at each other. "It's just like the Al Bhed verses the Yevonites," Gippal said.
"And when we had to destroy our own Home," Rikku stated solemnly, her thoughts tracking back to her father.
Yuna's heart dropped. She remembered that day so well. She glanced at Tidus, who seemed to remember as well. He had found out Yuna's fate. "But Aeris," Yuna said, a thought suddenly tugging at her mind. "Why do you want to go back if the place is full of turmoil?"
Aeris smiled softly. "My friends. I'm no different from you Yuna, really. We were on a journey, to stop Sephiroth. He wanted to destroy our world and bring the 'Promised Land'. And me being, well me, I was needed in the process. But my friends protected me, until the very end. I was foolish and ran ahead. I wanted to retrieve the White Materia. It could counter the Black Materia that Sephiroth had gained.
"While I was praying for it, Cloud came. He stepped onto the platform where I knelt and..." Aeris stopped. They had reached the statue where many used to pray before leaving the island. Taking in a deep breath, she walked to the railing of the small wooden fence, letting the breeze blow her dark copper hair around.
"The look in his eyes. My concentration was broken, but only for a moment. There was such anger and confusion in his face. I quickly closed my eyes, startled of the giant sword only inches from my face. He seemed to be struggling with himself. And then he fell to his knees and cried outloud." She turned slightly, facing the group.
"I heard another voice, and then..." she closed her eyes and continued, "As quickly as it had started, it was over. Sephiroth knew he had to stop me and the only way was to take my life. He had tried to manipulate Cloud and make him do it, but Cloud was too strong. So he did it himself. And I died, not even being able to give the White Materia to Cloud. I failed him. I failed them all."
Yuna watched Aeris tell her story with teary eyes. "Oh Aeris," her voice barely above a whisper.
The young woman in pink smiled slightly, a tear tracing a path down her cheek. "I know they defeated Sephiroth in the end. But I just want to go back and see them again. And Cloud..." she sighed, still keeping the smile on her face, "I know he and his childhood friend are together, and that's how it should be. Yet, I just wish I could be in his arms, one last time."
"I know how you feel," Yuna said, squeezing Tidus's hand gently.
Aeris wiped the tear from her face and grinned brighter. "Well, don't you think we ought to get going?"
"Right," nodded Rikku. "Everyone will be so excited to meet you Aeris!" the perky Al Bhed exclaimed, running ahead. She grabbed Aeris's hand and dragged her down the path with Gippal sprinting after.
Yuna looked at Paine, who seemed touched by Aeris's story. "You okay?"
Paine nodded. "I hope we'll be able to help Aeris. She sure deserves to go back, doesn't she?"
The young blitzball player took Yuna by the hand, "She deserves it all right!"
The three followed Aeris, Rikku, and Gippal down to the village. They were greeted by Lulu, Wakka, little Vidina, and a group of excited people. Almost everyone had known Tidus five years ago.
"Yo Tidus!" Wakka called out.
"Hey Wakka!" he waved back. He looked at Yuna, a little hesitant.
Yuna grinned and nodded, watching Tidus run off to his old friends.
"He's ecstatic to be back isn't he?" Paine joked, punching Yuna playfully in the arm.
"Yup. Where'd Rikku, Gippal, and Aeris run off too?"
The two searched the crowd and finally spotted the trio. They were talking with Lulu. Yuna and Paine walked to them, joining their conversation.
"So he's finally back," Lulu smiled. "You've definitely cheered up."
Yuna blushed slightly. "Well all thanks to Aeris here."
The flower girl giggled. "I just wanted to get out of the Farplane. And I know how much you two belong with each other."
Rikku was jumping around excitedly. "And we're all going to be so happy now!"
Aeris laughed. "You remind me so much of my friend, Yuffie."
Rikku stopped. "Who's that?"
"Yuffie was an extremely hyper ninja," Aeris paused, "and materia thief."
"I'm not a thief!" Rikku cried.
Gippal poked his beloved in the side. "Sure yah are! You stole my heart," he teased.
Rikku chuckled and poked an accusing finger in his chest. "You let me!"
Yuna shook her head as the couple feuded over something silly. "They were made for each other," she joked.
Aeris picked a small white flower from the ground. She looked at it, almost dreamily.
Paine raised a quizzical eyebrow, "Something special about the flower Aeris?"
"Wha?" Aeris looked up suddenly. "Oh sorry. Just thinking."
The Gullwing girls simply shrugged.
Lulu broke the short silence. "So are you planning on staying? I'm sure we could have a little party--"
"PARTY!" Rikku shrieked.
The other girls, and Gippal, backed away. Far away. They knew Rikku was a big party person.
Vidina waddled over to his mother, crying. He was just under three years old. "Mommy!" he wailed.
She picked him up, and bounced him slightly. "Something wrong?" she said, wiping his tears.
"I fell!"
Lulu shook her head, a smile playing across her face. "Well you should be more careful. Are you hurt?"
Little Vidina held out his finger. "I fell on it and it got smooshed!"
Lulu kissed it. "Is it better now?"
"Thanks Mom!" he said, struggling to get down. Lulu set him on the ground and he ran off to play with some of the other village kids.
Yuna's former guardian chuckled. "He's such a troublemaker."
"And he looks more like Wakka every day," said Paine.
Aeris let out a sigh.
"Are you okay?" Rikku asked.
She nodded. "Being here reminds me of my old friends so much..." she drifted off.
"There's an Al Bhed saying," Rikku said. "'Memories are nice, but that's all they are.' You know?"
Memories are nice... I know what it's like to want to keep those thoughts from being memories. Yuna thought to herself.
Gippal had wandered over to the guys, unknown to Rikku.
Rikku looked around for him. "He's always disappearing on me!" she scoffed. She ran off to go find him.
"So are we still going to have a party?" Paine wondered.
"I suppose," Lulu said. "It wouldn't be big. Just a bonfire and drinks."
"It'll be fun!" Yuna agreed.
"Sounds great!" Aeris smiled.
A/N: I won't be updating as fast on the weekdays. I have a lot of stuff to do but I'll do my best to get this done. I have another fic I'm working on as well so -- But I'll try! Just keep reviewing please!