Chapter Ten
Back on Track

We used to have this figured out
We used to dream without a doubt
When nights were clear
You were the first star that I'd see
--Daughtry, "Used To"

Rikku did not rest well. No sooner had she closed her eyes than a face that she barely recognized appeared. "Mama?" she whispered in Al Bhed, looking into a face that was not unlike her own. The pretty Al Bhed lady, in fact, was close to the same age as Rikku.

The woman smiled kindly, looking affectionately upon the girl she had not seen in nearly ten years. "Sweet Rikku," she murmured in Al Bhed.

"Mama," Rikku whispered again. The woman standing before her was her mother, Lilia. Sin had taken her ten years ago, the same time it had taken Yuna's mother. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to see my girl. To tell her she is making a mistake, forgetting about love."

Rikku's eyes darkened. "Love forgot about me, Mama."

"No," Lilia told her daughter. "He still loves you, Rikku. Why do you shut him out?"

Rikku felt tears threatening. "Even if he loves me, it's not enough! He's dead already! And after we beat Sin, he'll go to the Farplane!"

"Rikku, you are afraid. I understand. But to live life in fear is not to live at all. You have love. The kind that only comes around once. Do you really want to waste what precious time you have left being scared?" Lilia asked gently.

"Mama, you dont understand. I don't think I will survive once he's gone," Rikku said softly.

"But if you already feel this way, why shouldn't you make the most of the time given to you? Either way, you will hurt. Either way, there will be pain. But this way, you will have beautiful memories. We Ec Pnit are wrong about memories being only memories. Memories can sustain us. Love, my Rikku. Be gloriously happy with the little miracles you have been given."

Then, as soon as she had appeared, Lilia vanished.

Rikku woke up with a start, to see her father standing over her. "Oh, Vydran!" she cried, falling into Cid's arms. "I just – I had a dream. About Mama."

Cid went still. Lilia had often appeared to him in dreams as well, usually when he was about to make a huge mistake with his life or the life of their children. And she always managed to get him back on track. He knew she must have done the same for Rikku.

"What did she say to you?" Cid asked her.

Rikku sniffled. "She told me – exactly what I needed to hear. I've been so stupid." The girl shook her head. "But no more! Where is Auron?"

Cid looked puzzled. "I – I don't know," he said. "Hell, no one's seen him since this mornin'."

"What? How could you lose Auron?"

"Calm down, Rikku," Cid said sternly. "He said somethin' about needin' some time to himself, and then took off somewhere."

Rikku's eyes clouded over. "He's gone, isn't he?"

Cid could only shrug. "I really don't know, Rikku. Whatever was eatin' him though, well it sure did a number on him!"

Rikku nodded, feeling so incredibly guilty right now. I didn't think I had that kind of power . . . I'm just a little girl!

"Well, we're over Macalania now, that's why I came to get you. You ready to do your ritual?" Cid asked his daughter.

Rikku nodded slowly, and looked at her weapon, Godhand. Why not? What else have I got going for me now? Rikku walked slowly out of her room and towards the hatch so she could drop down into the dense forest.

Cid watched her go, a small smile creeping up on his face. As soon as the hatch closed behind Rikku, he ran back up to the bridge. "All right, let's move!"

"Where are we going?" asked Brother.

"Who cares?" Tidus asked. "As long as it's far enough away from Macalania that there is no way we can get back before morning!"

Yuna clapped her hands with glee. Maybe it wasn't the nicest thing to do, playing this trick on her cousin – but it was the only way to bring Rikku's smile back. Little did they know that Rikku's smile wasn't the only thing at stake.

Someone's very life hung in the balance of this night, for tomorrow, they would battle Sin.

Rikku decided that it was a stupid rule that people presenting their Ultimate Weapon had to do so by themselves. The woods, which had seemed so sparkly and magical when everyone was with her, now seemed dark and ominous. She tried singing to herself, but that didn't help.

Luckily, she didn't have much trouble finding the shimmering path that led up to the ritual site. Whew, she thought to herself when she reached the peak of the path. It's a very good thing I'm not afraid of heights!

The ritual took a very long time. Longer than she expected it to. By the time it was done, she felt completely drained. She sent a signal back to the airship. "I'm done!" she said.

A burst of static, and then Cid's voice came back to her. "I'm sorry, Rikku, but we had to take a side trip to Gagazet. Some Ronso thought he saw Auron. We won't be able to get back there till mornin'. You think you can stay at the Inn for the night?"

"What?" Rikku cried. "I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"

"See you in the morning, Rikku!"

Rikku felt like crying. She had to spend the night – in Macalania of all places – alone? Gods, could her life get any worse? She trudged along until she came to the Travel Agency. Sighing, she walked in and approached the lady at the desk. "I need a room for the night," she said sullenly.

"Of course!" the lady chirped. "You aren't by any chance, Rikku are you?"

"I am . . ." Rikku said uncertainly.

"Great! There's already a room reserved for you. Fifth on the right! Sleep well!"

Rikku took a deep breath. Fifth on the right? That had been the very room that she and Auron had – Oh, well. No time to think about that now. She was so tired from that ritual. All she wanted to do was sleep.

She opened the door to her allotted room and gasped at what she saw.

Candles, dozens of them. All over the room. And petals from moonlilies and starflowers strewn over every available surface. And, most amazingly of all, Auron, standing before her, holding a lily in front of him, awaiting her reaction.