.:Crystal Dreams:.

Chapter Two
-Faced with a Choice-

Yuna and her guardians finally set out for their final walk together, and pass the final ordeal. Everyone was quiet, and the soft tranquility of the place didn't help. Yuna and Tidus walked hand in hand, but neither could look at the other. They came upon a half-standing building where pyreflies glided through the air.

"Journeyer of the long road, name yourself," an elderly, unsent man spoke.

Yuna stepped forward. "I am the summoner Yuna, from the island of Besaid."

"Your eyes, my dear. Show me the long road you have traveled," he peered into Yuna's eyes, "Very good. You have journeyed well. Lady Yunalesca will surely welcome your arrival. Go to her now, and bring your guardians with you. Go." And with that he faded away.

Yuna drew a long breath. "Let's go." They walked through the building, seeing many apparitions and visions. Finally they came to the Chamber of the Fayth, which Yuna walked in alone. She closed her eyes as the elevator took her down. But when she opened her eyes, she saw something strange. "Nothing is here..." Yuna ran back to her friends.

"Sir Auron! Everyone!" she cried.

Everyone jumped on the elevator and hurried to the Fayth.

"This isn't a Fayth," Yuna said. "It's just an empty statue."

"That statue lost its power as a fayth long ago. It is Lord Zaon, the first fayth of the Final Summoning. What you see before you is all that remains of him. Lord Zaon is...his soul is gone," said the unsent man who had greeted them first. "But fear not. Lady Yunalesca will show you the path. The Final Aeon will be yours. The summoner and the Final Aeon will join powers. Go to her now. Inside, the lady awaits." And he disappeared through a door.

"Auron! You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" Tidus said.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell us?" the Al Bhed, Rikku, demanded.

"If I had told you the truth, would that really have stopped you from coming?" he asked, more to Yuna.

Yuna swallowed her fear. "I'm not going back."

Her Ronso guardian, Kimahri, stepped forward. "Kimahri knows. Kimahri go first. Yuna is safe. Kimarhi protect."

"Thank you Kimahri," she whispered, hurrying into the room. Slowly, everyone followed.

Before them stood a lovely woman, immersed in pyreflies. Most of them wandered away but some still remained.

"Lady Yunalesca..." Yuna said in awe.

"Welcome to Zanarkand. I congratulate you, summoner. You have completed your pilgrimage. I will now bestow you with that which you seek. The Final Summoning will be yours. Now, choose," Yunalesca gestured to the guardians, "You must choose the one whom I will change to become the fayth of the Final Summoning."

Yuna and her guardians gasped, taken aback by what she said.

Lady Yunalesca began to explain, "There must be a bond, between chosen and summoner, for that is what the Final Summoning embodies: the bond between husband and wife, mother and child, or between friends. If that bond is strong enough, its light will conquer Sin. A thousand years ago, I chose my husband Zaon as my fayth. Our bond was true, and I obtained the Final Aeon. There is nothing to fear. You will soon be freed of worry and pain. For once you call forth the Final Aeon, your life will end. Death is the ultimate and final liberation. Your father, Braska, chose this path. When you have chosen, come to me." The fist summoner to defeat Sin turned away and walked out.

A vision of Yuna's father, Tidus' father, and Auron ran past them. They watched as Yunalesca gave the same speech.

"Let me become the Fayth," said Jecht. And so it was done.

Yuna stood still, her body trembling. "I have to take one of their lives as well as mine?!" she cried inside.

"There has to be a way!" Tidus yelled. "I'm not gonna just sit here and watch Yuna, and one of us, die!" If looks could kill, Tidus would have burst into flame.

Everyone else was silent, watching Yuna.

"Yuna," Tidus said a bit calmer, "this is my story. And I want you to be with me until 'the end'. You don't have to do this."

Yuna looked at Tidus. "Is that all it is? Your story? What about my story? I want to bring Spira peace. That's my dream. I don't want to see innocent children be killed, or seperated from their families. I don't want to send the dead to the Farplane. I don't want to fall down the spiral of death but I don't have a choice!" Yuna cried.

"Yes you do!" argued Rikku. "You don't have to die for Spira! We'll find another way!"

"NO!" Yuna shouted. "I don't have a choice! I've come this far and I'm not turning back!"

"That's right," said Lulu quietly. "If one of us has to become a fayth... I volunteer."

"Me too Yuna," Wakka said.

"Kimahri help Yuna fight Sin," the Ronso guardian spoke.

Rikku and Tidus looked at each other helplessly. They knew they had lost. "Yunie," Rikku whispered, "I still don't think it's right, but I'll fight until the end for you. Even if you choose me to be the fayth."

Yuna nodded, closing her eyes. Soft sobs escaped her lips. "I just need time to think."

"We can go somewhere else on the airship," Rikku suggested, "We won't tell Pops about this."

"O-okay," Yuna stuttered. Everything was happening so fast.

The silence between the group was deafening as they walked out.

"Yuna," Auron said, pulling her away from the group.

"Yes Sir Auron?" Yuna asked.

"I'm sorry I can't offer any more service to you. My time in this world has long expired."

"What do you mean?"

Auron closed his eyes as pyreflies began to surround him.

"You're unsent?!"

"Yes. And I know your other friends will get you to Sin safely. I can't stay any longer."

Yuna nodded. "Thank you Sir Auron," she smiled slightly, "I'll always remember this."

Auron's body became immersed in mystical pyreflies, and slowly faded away.

The others watched from a bit farther off. Tidus bobbed his head once. He had known Auron was unsent for quite a while. They waited until Yuna caught up, then walked outside the building. Cid's airship was waiting outside.

Yuna put on a bright smile, and followed the others onto the giant machina ship.

"Yuna! You ain't gonna...?" Cid couldn't finish his sentence.

"I'm thinking about it," Yuna said firmly, "Can you take us to Kilika? I want to see the sunset again."

"Right!" Cid said, "To Kilika and step on it!" he yelled to Brother.