Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or X-2 or any of the characters or story surrounding it.
"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep"
-Disney (Cinderella I believe)
Chapter 2: Don't wake me up
Dreams take on many forms within the human mind. Quite literally it means a train of sights and sounds during sleep. In another sense it is a thing or goal on aspires to attain. It can be taken in a romantic where one wishes for souls to be bonded together for all eternity, fools a realist would say. It all boils down to one notion: desire. Whether that desire is lust, longing, need, a goal, a wish, a dream… Dreams in the unconscious state are often desires expressed by the host; sometimes buried deep within the recesses of their own mind. Sometimes not.
Sometimes a dream can be a warning telling you of something that has yet to come, or perhaps of something that has already passed.
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The stars twinkled merrily in the night sky, dancing as the joy of the people below reached out to them. The air was cool and crisp outside and ones breath could be seen as they exhaled. Inside, however, was warm as thousands of bodies packed together. The Blitzball stadium was as brightly lit up as she always imagined it would be. Fans crowded the stands, cheering until their voices ran hoarse. All for one person, her person.
The clock on the far wall counted ten seconds to half time as the teams inside the H2O sphere frantically hurried about in either offense or defense. Bevelle's team was behind by three points and it didn't seem to be in the cards that they would catch us as everyone was positive that that difference was about to change to four points. Because Tidus was in possession of the ball, and swimming furiously toward Bevelle's goal post. As the last three seconds began to tick by he preformed a spectacular move in true Tidus fashion. It was new as none of his fans had ever seen it before. Just as the timer buzzed the ball whizzed into the goal.
As the players exited the sphere Yuna rushed to him and overtook him in a hug. He lifted her and spun her around briefly before placing her back to the ground and resting his forehead on hers. He embraced her there for just a moment, but to the two of them it felt like an eternity.
"So this is the girl you told us about!"
"Ni—ce."
"Wish I could get me some of that."
"Guys, knock it off. Have a little respect."
The rest of the Zanarkand Abes began to swarm around them. Uneasiness pricked at Yuna and her stomach turned. She lightly bit her lip unsure of how to present herself around these boisterous strangers. The Aurochs usually treated her with silent respect, looking up to her. She could not expect that here. In this place she was not a Summoner, she was just a girl. She was just Tidus' girlfriend.
"So, you going to introduce us or what?" It was the last guy who had spoken and he offered her a comforting smile.
Tidus clasped her hand in one of his own, lacing their fingers together. There was a stark contrast she noted as she often did. His was much larger than hers, with rough calluses from wielding his sword, tanned from days in the sun. Hers, smaller, were porcelain and soft to the touch, but behind them tingled the imminent power of a Summoner.
She heard him introduce her to his teammates and wanted to laugh. He sounded shy, like he wasn't sure if they would approve or not. It was unlike him, but fitting all the same. And it was definitely cute. As they were introduced back to her she took this time to fully take in who they were. However as she gazed at the forms before her they were unclear, there were no distinguishing features about them. In fact no one she'd seen in Zanarkand was very distinct.
No!
"Hey Yuna, are you okay?" he glanced at her, worry reflecting in his crystalline blue eyes. He was there, clear, distinct, and perfect. Every last detail, just as she remembered him.
No!
Don't stop.
Please let me stay…
Everything changed then. The familiar scene she dreamed nightly of transformed from the Blitzball locker room to something unknown. Yuna whirled about sharply as she was by herself. This was new, it hadn't happened before. And where was Tidus, he had to be around there somewhere. He couldn't disappear from her life. Not again, not ever again.
Movement seemed sluggish and restrained, as if someone was trying to counter it. As her lungs began to burn she realized that she was under water. Whipping her head about she tried to find the surface. All she could see was murky, dark water. Futilely she pushed herself forward having no thoughts as to where it might lead if it even led anywhere. There was no sense of direction what-so-ever; she could have been going up, down, left, right, north, south, east, west… It was impossible to tell.
Where am I?
Where is he?
She continued to swim, lungs yearning for air, to now where in particular. An unmeasurable amount of time passed and she just suddenly stopped. Her limbs were exhausted and her mind filmy from lack of oxygen. Her head hung limply, sandy locks being tossed around by the water. It was hopeless. She was no where and he was no where.
I want to go now. I want out!
As her surroundings changed again, she sucked in a sharp breath. No longer was Yuna in the ocean of no where, now she was in some type of hallway. The floor was grated steel like the basement of an airship. It was narrow with a slightly arched ceiling with fluorescent lights installed every few feet. It gave her a cramped, trapped feeling, rousing a sense of claustrophobia she had never felt before.
In the blink of an eye someone grabbed her wrist and started running with her in tow. She was about to break free when her mind registered whom it was dragging her along. A smile broke through her worried look and she quickened her pace to keep up.
Tidus!
Heavy footfalls sounded behind them and she chanced a glance behind her. A legion of soldiers were gaining ground on them and quickly. Panic flooded her senses. Why would soldiers be following them? Were those Bevelle soldiers? They certainly that that appearance. And why were they running? These questions swirled around her head.
Then she was on the metal floor, having landed with an echoing thud. Her boot had caught the bottom of her skirt as she struggled to keep up. She wished she could just give up. Curl into the fetal position and let the soldiers overtake her. It was too hard, too much work. She had played hero enough, right? Maybe some else could finish whatever it is they were doing this time.
NO!!!
Tidus had other ideas however. He was not losing her to the likes of them even if she were to give up. They had worked too herd to be together if only in dreams. He knew how this was to work out, his conscience had filtered through this one time reality on several occasions. It wasn't a happy ending, but he wasn't about to lost time with her even on this plane.
Yuna! Snap out of it!
Tidus…?
He grabbed her arm and roughly hauled her to her feet and once again they took off down the hall. She was frightened, but knew she had to go on now. She was the hero, even if it was uninvited. And it wasn't in her nature to give up, she knew that. Even if things became difficult she had to keep going.
At the end of the hall was a wide, open room. It seemed to store a gain Machina that radiated evil vibes. No other paths lied out of the room, they were trapped. Tidus stopped wrapping her protectively in his arms as the soldiers clambered into the room after them. The front line crouched aiming their rifles in the couple's direction and those behind them followed suite while still standing. The click of the hammer being pulled back echoed audibly throughout the cavernous room.
Dear Aeons, they were going to shoot them, to murder them in cold blood in this empty room with nothing but an evil Machina as witness. Yuna clutched Tidus tightly not wanting to let go. Was this their end? He returned the embrace, stroking her cheek softly.
I'm sorry.
A tear trailed down her porcelain skin as she reached out to touch his face. She never got the chance to feel his skin beneath her again. Three distinct shots rippled through the air. Two tiny bullets, not even an inch in length struck their targets, ruthlessly tearing the couple down. They fell in opposite directions, all the while reaching for each other, to feel each other even in their final moments. And as Yuna agonized to take her last few breaths…
"Vegnagun" she awoke abruptly the name slipping effortlessly from her lips.
Her breaths came in gasps, the dream still fresh in her mind. It seemed to real be have been a dream. Yuna could actually felt all that transpired. There was still a stinging in her chest where the bulled had met its mark. Quickly she checked herself over to make sure she wasn't really injured. Her small hand pressed over her delicately, expecting to find an entry wound. Relief filled her as she found none.
So it really was a dream, even if an odd one. It was different as well. Usually her dream was a happy one. Often times it was how she imagined their time together in Zanarkand, his Zanarkand, if they had gotten the chance to go. Faces were never very distinct. They didn't have to be. He was there, everytime, perfect as always.
The last half, the dreadful nightmare she experienced was different. It almost seemed like a vision, or premonition. It was not a normal dream, of that she was sure. She shivered pulling on her robe. What did all of this mean? Was she to find Tidus only to lose him again, and her own life as well? And that Machina, it blazed evil like none other she felt. It was volatile, almost as if it breathed life and was ready to attack the nearest person. What was with the water that went no where?
So many questions unanswered.
She slipped out of the tent, padding silently down the path toward the beach. She was careful not to make a sound as she passed her Guardian's tent. Lulu was a light sleeper. She distanced herself from the main village down to the cool, sandy beach. The sky was a faded blue as Dawn threatened to overtake the lonely night. The wanes crashed lightly, receding back into the ocean, and then breaking upon the shore once again. She sat in the soft sand wrapping her white silk robe about herself.
The water always brought her a sense of tranquility. It was a deep mystery yet a caring friend at the same moment. The sand supported her, comforting and soft. And the heavens witnessed her sorrow offering nothing of solace, but loving still. It held no biased feelings for her and was true as sometimes her friends were not.
Placing her head on her knee she fought back the tears. She shouldn't cry anymore. She needed to be strong, not only for everyone else but herself as well. She would never move on if she didn't allow herself to. But did she want to? It was hard to even think of moving forward without him.
It was then that she heard it. A sharp whistle coming from the direction of the village. His whistle.
End Chapter Two.
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Author's Note: Okays, I'm not too sure about the dream sequence in this. It was a new experience for me and I didn't want to rush it as I have a tendency to do in a lot of my work. I also tried to be as detailed as possible. So you'll have to let me know what you all think. I'm all uneasy about it but put it up anyway.
And it will be a while before I can get the next one out. I want to replay the games so I have everything right, and don't mess anything up. Sorry for the cliff-hanger. Heh.
