Author's Notes: Okay…it is time for an update! Yes, it has been a super long time but I had my reasons, believe me! But, now I am back and I'm here to finish this story! I'm not sure how long that will take, but it shall be done! So…before I begin with the theatrics I must clear some things up…
In the last chapter I mixed up the identities of Bahamut and Valefor! So sorry about that, but see I hadn't played the game in a super long time! I still haven't played the game again since then. I have been meaning to, but there has just been no time at all! I've just got too much school and home stuff and life guarding courses! Yikes…there is just too much on my plate! Anyways…enough with my feel-sorry-for-me rants! I'm going to just keep Valefor as the little kid in the hood. It will be easier. I'll change it eventually, but for now think of him as Valefor.
One last thing…THANK YOU to all my reviewers! I am so happy that you want to read my story! Huff…I've talked too much! So, enjoy! And don't forget to R&R!!! Okay…let's get on with the show!
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2, but I really, really wish I did. ;;
Part 7: The Breath Before the JumpYuna's eyes followed the line of the horizon, slowly observing everything ahead of her. Her eyes were wide and the intricate patterns that lay in the blue and green of her irises reflected the darkness of the sky. Thick, dark clouds had begun to spread across the skyline in the distance, coursing with deep greys and blues. The east wind picked up rapidly and whipped fiercely against Yuna's cheek making her blood rush to it and give it a red colouring. Far off, the slight sound of thunder crashing loudly in another part of Spira could be heard over the humming of the noisy wind. Yuna cocked her head up in the direction that the clatter came from and frowned.
Thunder storm, she thought, her eyebrows rising and her lips pursing. It's coming quickly.
Yuna looked across the bare red deck of the Celsius in front of her. The place looked so dismal with the sky overcastting it; it was so empty. The only thing on the deck was the statue of the silver seagull that sat poised in an endless flight. She walked up to the statue and stopped as she reached the edge where it stood. Yuna looked down at the figure that usually shone in the brightness of the sun; it's usual gleaming surface seemed too dull today. She placed her fingers on the smooth cold metal and ran them over the familiar dips and curves. She breathed in deeply and remembered the bright days when she flew on the ship. It had only been two years ago since she had been so free as a Gullwing, but it seemed more like an eternity now. For the time being, she was back on the Celsius, but the recent days were harder. Everything was so complicated, and the days didn't seem to change.
Yuna sighed as she let her hands fall languidly from the bird. The days would become easier soon. She just knew they would; she could feel it in her heart. The troubles that were plaguing her now would drift away from her just like the wind. Since the visit she had received from Valefor, a ray of hope sparked inside of her. He had re-assured her that she could achieve the answers that she was searching for, but although she had her own things to figure out, right now Zanarkand needed her more.
Valefor told Yuna that one of the Fayth wouldn't let go of the dream because of the pain he had felt and because of the people he had lost. The Fayth implored for Yuna's help for she had the connection to the dreams and the love of her friends that were necessary to help her overcome any danger. Just before Valefor left he gave Yuna a pendant that was an intricately carved heart, encasing the sign of Zanarkand. The last words he uttered were 'Love is the answer.'
After seeing him, Yuna had fallen asleep again to yet another dream. In it she saw Laji walking down the ramp at the dome in the centre of Zanarkand about to shoot Tidus with his pike-gun. This particular dream had come to her almost every night, but each time it was altered just a bit. This time she saw Nalien again, but closer to Laji with her dagger poised in a ready stance. There the dream ended, like it usually did. At first, it really affected Yuna but as time passed and she saw the dream more and more, she had started to pick up some of the details of the situation. Maybe the dream was trying to tell her something, or maybe it was a shred of the future.
When Yuna woke up, she wasn't sure if Valefor had actually come to her or if she had only dreamt that too. But, when she lifted up her hand, she realized that she was still grasping the pendant he gave to her.
Everything was confusing her more then before and more questions were forming in her mind. After the appearance of Valefor, new things seemed to make sense however so many others didn't. But amid all the thoughts, the one thing she knew for sure was that she was needed in Zanarkand and that Laji needed her to free him from his pain.
Trying to grasp everything she was told and the feelings she felt in her heart was hard enough for her to understand, but she even explained this to Tidus, Rikku, Buddy, Brother, and Shinra. No one really knew what to say, but in the end they trusted what Yuna was telling them. And so now at that very moment, they were making their way to the ruined city on the edge of Spira. They were almost at Zanarkand.
The door of the deck swished open far behind her and the slow steady approach of footsteps could be heard. Yuna turned her head from where she was gazing at the sky to look over at Tidus. His eyes were open in an almost child-like purity and a small smile curved on his lips. When he was halfway across the deck, Yuna ran up to him and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"I'm frightened," she whispered softly into his neck, where her face was buried and her eyes were closed.
"I know," he replied. He pulled away from her and placed his hand gently onto her cheek, gazing deeply into her eyes. "But you have to do this; we have to do this." Yuna looked down and nodded. She knew what she had to do, and she knew that she had to get over the feeling of being anxious and scared.
"I'll be with you the whole time." Tidus brushed his lips softly over Yuna's in a sweet embrace. "When this is over we can go back to being happy together." Yuna smiled at the thought of returning to Besaid and living quietly on her little island with Tidus there beside her. No cares would trouble them and worries plague them, and her dreams would be only of the man she loved. She dearly wanted to escape to that life at that moment instead of entering a situation that could end in the harm of her loved ones. But, she was Lady Yuna, the High Summoner and a Sphere Hunter of the Gullwings, and she would save Zanarkand no matter what was in her way.
Yuna kissed Tidus once more before turning back towards the sky. As she looked at it, her eyes fixed on a cluster of shapes that were steadily drawing closer.
"We're almost there," she whispered soundlessly into the wind as Tidus grabbed onto her hand and squeezed it tightly. The door of the deck opened once more, this time Rikku walked out and up to Yuna and Tidus standing there. She looked at them and then at the ruins ahead.
"Ready?" she said turning back to her cousin. Yuna nodded as she looked at Rikku and grabbed onto her hand too.
"Ready."
End of Part 7
So…there you go! A bit odd, I know! But I hope that you are all now informed on what is going to happen. Please, super please, tell me if this chapter is too choppy or too pompous sounding. My mom told me once that I wrote like I had a stick up my butt! Sometimes, this is true! I admit my faults! But hey, everyone has their own style and little quirks that help with that! Hehe…anyways…I would really appreciate if you told me anything you have to say! So, I hope you liked that and you want to go on! The next parts might be a bit bumpy, because this idea is actually pretty old and the particulars are starting to fade just a bit! But I'll get out all my old planning and little notes here and there and seriously devote myself to getting this done! Again thanks for all the reviews! R&R! Bye bye…