Well well… look who's alive. First of all, I want to give you all a big huge apology for this being so late. I had a little bout of depression that took me a while to shake. Feeling better now. Then my computer had some rather nasty problems, AGAIN. Couldn't get online, then when I could I couldn't upload anything. Urgh. Again, I'm really really sorry this is late.
I hope it doesn't feel like I'm dragging out the story with this chapter. I want to assure you that this new turn of events and new 'quest', will not last long. I don't want to drag the story out and see it become boring. There's just a few more things I want to write, and then there'll be that bit I promised far too long ago, the perfect ending from FFX-2. Took me long enough. Anyway, this 'quest' business isn't going to drag on like the previous incidents in the story. It'll probably only cover one or two chapters. They'll be long chapters though, so it might take me a little while to write em. Hah. Ah… when doesn't it take me a while to write chapters. Sigh.
…
Anyway, that's all to say… Thanks everyone for all the comments.
…
I don't own FFX-2 or FFX.
…
…
Now onto the chapter.
…
…
…
…
Chapter 20
…
…
…
…
…
"So… Now what?" Paine's voice exploded in Yuna's head and knocked her out of her thoughts. Being in a temple again, looking at the entrance to the Ordeals… Brought back a lot of memories. Some she didn't want brought back and some that she almost missed. It'd been from a time that seemed so long ago now, but had been the center of her very life for most of her years. Being back in the position of completing the trials to get to the Fayth's chamber… It wasn't a very comforting feeling, even if it somehow felt right, and proper. But that was simply the years of training telling her it was right, and even after all that had happened, it was hard to tell herself all those beliefs had been lies.
"We have to go through the trials." She said, though realized it was an obvious and somewhat silly thing to say afterwards. It had been an automatic response, she'd been so enrapt in her own thoughts she hadn't been paying attention. It was also, as she remembered, almost something of a ceremony for a Summoner to say that when entering the Trials, to herself, or aloud. A reminder of her duty and a way of putting herself in the state of mind she'd nee to be in to complete the trials.
Lowering her head a little, Yuna tried to make herself smile. She should be happy, after all. This was the end, they were almost there. Soon the fiend threat to Spira would be over, and the screaming gone from her mind. Why was she upset? It was just a temple, something from her past that she didn't have to worry about anymore. It wasn't as if she was trying to acquire an Aeon to defeat Sin. No, this would be simpler than that, she hoped. They'd be out soon enough.
"And then to the Fayth!" Rikku chirped, though with a little quieter tone than normal. She too, seemed to be feeling a little out of place. Yuna felt her cousin edge closer to her, and give her a supporting smile and a pat on the shoulder. Maybe the memories had somehow shown on her face. Rikku had begged her to not go to defeat Sin during the pilgrimage, and even though that threat was long gone, the thought probably still lingered in the back of her cousin's mind. And probably another's.
Looking to Tidus, she saw the same kind of supporting smile. There was a faint glimmer of something in his eyes, that she suspected to be an old fear he was trying to hold back. Just like Rikku, he too wasn't comfortable in the situation of being in a temple again. Even with Yevon and Sin gone, there was an uneasy air around them and it felt almost wrong to be there.
'I can do this.' Yuna commanded herself, smiling and taking a deep breath.
"You've been in a temple before, Rikku?" Paine raised an eyebrow, uncrossing her arms and taking a few cautious steps towards the archway that led deeper into the temple.
"A couple." Rikku's smile ebbed slightly, as her eyes went to the archway with a look of slight uneasiness on her face. The feeling in the air was putting them all on edge, it seemed.
Paine paused, staring into the tunnel. There were lights arranged along the temple's walls, casting a dim yet steady light around the surroundings. They could see fine enough in the light, but it was dark enough to seem somewhat forbidding. Unnatural light, colors that no fire could possibly make, burning without smoke and without stop. Who knew how long the fires had been burning for. Hundreds of years, perhaps. If it was indeed a temple made when Yunalesca was still among the living… Perhaps even longer. Lighting a tunnel that led to trials that no one had set foot in for nearly a thousand years. It wasn't a very comforting thought.
"And how about you?" Paine rose an eyebrow, looking towards Tidus. Her words seemed to shake him out of a quiet daze and the uneasiness in his eyes disappeared. He made a scoffing sound and moved to Yuna's side.
"Temples are no problem. I was Yuna's guardian. I went into every temple she did." He grinned, looking to Yuna as he made a dismissing wave with his arm.
"Even though you weren't supposed to." She said quietly with a grin, recalling the first time she'd seen him, and how the entire village of Besaid had reacted to his taboo breaking.
"Hey!" Tidus frowned, a look of feigned hurt on his face. He knew perfectly well what she had meant by that, how could either of them ever forget that day?
"That wasn't my fault! I got too close to Sin. The toxins messed up my head, remember?" His look of hurt broke into an unmasked grin, as he pointed at his head. Yuna grinned back, and almost laughed aloud before a cough broke the air.
"We better get started." Paine said quietly, shaking her head with a vaguely regretful look. "It's already nightfall out there, and I was planning on getting some sleep tonight."
"Aw, way to spoil the moment! Meanie!" Rikku sniffed, kicking the ground.
"They can have their moments later." Paine rolled her eyes, though she had the faintest look of amusement on her face.
"Paine's right." Yuna nodded, still smiling at the memory of when she'd first met Tidus. "Let's go finish this."
"So what, we just go in? What about this room?" Paine asked, looking around at the various runes and glyphs that were glowing silently. They were being emitted from spheres, just like all the other temples, that were being held in stone pedestals.
"Well…" Yuna said, walking over to one of the pedestals where a bright blue sphere was, "This is a little different then the other temples." She tried to pick up the sphere, but found it was buried deep into the stone. Locked in, it seemed.
"That's odd." She said, frowning.
"What?" Rikku's head poked up beside her, peering down at the sphere. "Hey! Isn't that a sphere from Besaid?"
"I think so." Yuna nodded, giving up with her attempts to get it loose. The glyph that was glowing above it did look like the glyphs in Besaid, with the same shade of color. But why would a Besaid sphere be here? "But I can't get it out." She sighed, shaking her head. "I don't understand."
"Maybe this is just an entrance chamber." Paine looked around, to the other pedestals.
Yuna stood quietly for a moment, thinking as she looked from pedestal to pedestals. Valefor, Ifrit, Ixion, Shiva, Bahamut… Five spheres in total. The glyphs were unmistakable. All five of the most well known and recognized Aeons. But why would spheres from five different temples be here?
"Reminds me of Anima's temple." Tidus said from behind her, looking around the room and up to the shadowed ceiling. "Abandoned, in disrepair, and we had to go track down spheres from all the temples for it."
Yuna's heart nearly skipped a beat at the thought of having to travel around Spira to look for spheres again. "Well, it looks like they're all here." She turned slowly around the room, looking at each glyph. "Maybe someone already got in."
"That doesn't make any sense. The entrance was sealed, and the Ronso would have seen anyone coming out." Paine frowned, leaning against the wall near the entrance to the trials. "But does it really matter? Maybe it's just display. Let's go into the trials."
"I guess…" Yuna said softly, still staring at the spheres. Yunalesca had been inside of it. That made it hundreds of years old, because after she died 'destroying' Sin, she never left Zanarkand. So she must have come before Sin.
In those times, Summoners were mostly healers and senders, summoning Aeons only in times of great need. Only with the appearance of Sin did they become part of Yevon's religion and so highly honored. Fayth were rare, people willing to give their lives to become an Aeon, to protect Spira. Anyone who became a Fayth was highly honored, never forgotten. And yet this 'Fayth', or whatever it was, had fallen out of history.
Yuna frowned, resting her hand on her chin. Yunalesca had been the first Summoner to confront Sin, and summon the Final Aeon. Before that she had merely been the daughter of Yevon. Why would she have bothered coming to this temple? There were no records of a Fayth on Mt.Gagazat, and who went to all the trouble to hide the temple from everyone…? Maybe Yunalesca had sought to become a Fayth herself? But that didn't fit with what they had seen in the sphere. She'd been talking to someone, in the Chamber of the Fayth itself.
"It doesn't make any sense." She said aloud, softly, as she turned away and started towards the entrance of the trials.
"What doesn't make any sense, Yunie?" Rikku asked, skipping into step beside her.
Yuna shrugged a little, shaking her head. She didn't want to go through the confusing mess, not yet, not until she understood it better. "I think we'll find out soon."
Paine stepped away from the wall and turned towards the archway. Without pausing to wait for Yuna, she stepped into the tunnel, and straight into a invisible wall with a thud.
"Paine! Are you alright?" Yuna stopped dead in her tracks, Tidus nearly running into her from behind at her abrupt halt.
"Yes… but what is that?" Paine rubbed her nose gingerly, taking a step back and looking at the now glowing air. Barely visible glyphs glowed, alternating between the different five present in the room.
"A test." Yuna said as she stared at it. She hadn't seen anything quite like it before, but it wasn't really anything terribly new or surprising. Some temples had sealed pathways like this. Hidden walls in Besaid, firewalls in Kilka, lightning in the temple near the Mushroom Rocks…
"So how do we get by?" Rikku asked, tilting her head with a frown.
"Well, it isn't called the Trials for nothing." Tidus grinned, coming up beside Yuna. "We have to figure out how to turn it off. Right?"
"Yes." Yuna nodded, turning around to look back at the room where they had been standing. "The answer must be here somewhere, with the spheres."
"But they won't budge!" Rikku went over to one of the pedestals, grabbing at the sphere and having no better luck then Yuna had.
"I don't think it's the spheres. I think…" Yuna's voice trailed off, her eyes dropping to the floor. "We probably have to slide the pedestals to some spot on the floor."
"Sounds easy enough." With a long stride, Paine stood in the center of the room and turned slowly in a circle, her eyes to the floor.
"I found one!" Rikku cried, bouncing over to a spot at the floor where a small, square depression lay.
Yuna quickly strode over beside her cousin, peering down at the hole. "Yes, that looks right. But that glyph, inside of it… That's Ifrit's glyph. The pedestal right here beside it…" She waved with her hand as she stood, to the sphere that sat lodged in stone nearby. "Is Valefor's glyph."
"So, they're mixed up. All we have to do is move the stones around and into the right glyphs, right?" Tidus had already begun to move over to Ifrit's pedestal.
Without a word, Paine followed suit, searching the floor and finding another depression and looking to the spheres to see which glyph matched. Rikku quickly moved to do the same, leaving Yuna to do the same.
Peering around the floor, she located the familiar glyph of Valefor, and began to slid the pedestal across to it. As she did, it brought back a flood of memories. Valefor had been her first Aeon, her first Trial. Lulu and Kimahri hadn't helped her with the Trials, she had been expected to do them alone. And she had, rather quickly, Lulu said later. Unusually quick, for such a young summoner. Even though she'd been so nervous and excited, she'd managed to keep her head calm and work out the simple puzzles.
'That seems so long ago.' She thought abruptly, as she pushed the pedestal the final inch and into the depression. 'But it really was only a little more than two years.' She sighed, straightening and looking down at sphere. It was still glowing, but she sensed something different about it. The pedestal had sunk into the floor a little, and had probably locked.
Yuna turned around to see how the others were faring. Tidus had finished with Ifrit's, and had moved to Bahamut's. Paine and Rikku were finished the rest, standing nearby at the entrance waiting.
"Need some help?" Yuna grinned, walking over to where Tidus was shoving the stone pedestal across the floor.
"I'm fine!" He groaned, giving the pedestal another shove, sighing in relief as it clicked into place. He stretched and turned to her, grinning broadly though gingerly moving his back. "I forgot how much fun those things were to move."
"I wouldn't have called it fun." Yuna smiled a little back, dusting off her hands.
"Yuna." Paine's voice went through the air with a kind of warning. Yuna's head snapped up to look over to where the warrior stood.
The archway that had been blocked by the invisible wall, was glowing. Or more correctly, the glyphs that were in the center of it were. Each one throbbed with a glowing, unique color, then slowly began to ebb and fade into thin air. As the last glyph disappeared, Yuna came to a halt in front of the archway.
"Looks like it's clear to go now." Paine said quietly, carefully waving her arm in the air where the wall had been.
"That's one trial down." Yuna nodded, her smile fading as she began to mentally prepare herself for what lay ahead.
"Who knows how many more to go." Rikku sighed, slouching her shoulders.
…
…
…
…
….
…
…
…
…
"Now what?" Rikku frowned, tilting her head as Yuna stood in the small chamber, silently thinking. Paine stood close by, peering at the runes carved into the rock, also deep in thought.
"I'm not sure." Yuna sighed finally, turning around to face her cousin and Tidus. "I never saw anything like this before in the other trials."
"Well, we have to get this sphere, back to the middle chamber, right?" Tidus nodded, looking over to a glowing yellow sphere that was lodged into the wall.
"But if we take it out…" Paine stood up, pointing over to where a line of glowing yellow ran along the wall and into the base of a lift. "We won't be able to get back to that chamber. We'll be stuck in here."
Tidus turned away from the group and looked over the room again. There wasn't anything special about it, save the fact it had a sphere in the side of the wall and the lift where they had come down from. Without the sphere, the lift wouldn't run, and there was no sphere or holder above them to power the lift that way. So how were they supposed to get back with the sphere if they couldn't even take it? They'd been over all the areas they had opened already, but nothing seemed to be jumping out at them. The only door they'd found needed a sphere to open it.
"Well, what if we bring one of the destruction spheres down here and exchange them?" Rikku finally suggested, nodding towards the lift.
"That might destroy the lift." Paine said coldly, shaking her head.
"I don't think so." Yuna said quietly, before Rikku could retort. "The other temples, they were never really dangerous. There was never a situation where you were trapped and unable to get out. You just had to think about it, and work it out. It might take hours, but you'd never be without a exit."
"That's right." Tidus nodded, recalling the various times he'd nearly despaired while trying to get through the Trials. "There's always a way out."
"So, maybe the destruction sphere will open a new way, instead of destroying the lift?" Rikku looked from Paine to Yuna, then to Tidus, with a hopeful glint in her eyes.
"That might be it. I can't think of anything else it would be." With a sigh, Yuna nodded slowly. "Let's go get it."
"I'll go. It'll be faster." Paine quickly interjected, already heading towards the lift without waiting for a response.
"Hey! I'll come too!" Rikku cried, running after the warrior and jumping onto the lift just as it was starting to rise.
"Wonderful." Paine sighed, rolling her eyes. "Be right back." She nodded towards Yuna, as the lift disappeared into the tunnel above.
As the lift's dull hum faded away into silence, Tidus looked over to Yuna. She was standing quite still, looking as though she were deep in thought. But he could sense she wasn't unhappy, she looked energized and hopeful.
Grinning a bit, he walked over to her quietly, so quietly that she didn't even notice him. Their time together since he'd returned had been usually rushed, and on most occasions, somewhat unhappy. And if it wasn't any of that, it was that the others were always hanging around. Rikku probably meant well but it seemed to Tidus she never left Yuna alone for five minutes.
Hugging Yuna from behind he nuzzled his face into her neck. She jumped a little but relaxed right away, and he could almost see her smile.
"Feeling better?" He asked, letting her go after a moment so she could turn around to face him.
"Yes." She was smiling, a beautiful, perfect, happy smile. It was so rare to see on her face, which Tidus promised himself he would change.
"What if the sphere-" She started, but he put both hands up and shook his head rapidly.
"No! Yuna, they're gone right now. When they come back, we can talk about this whole temple mess again. But right now… Let's just forget it." Before he had the chance to hug her, she was hugging him.
"Okay." She said softly, resting her head on his shoulder as she hugged him tighter.
They didn't say anything for a moment, but finally Tidus couldn't let the silence pass by any longer. Paine and Rikku would be back soon, and he didn't want the moment to end.
"Yuna… after this is all over, what do you want to do?" He asked, almost hesitantly, trying to figure out the answer to that himself. What he wanted, what he wanted to do. He wanted to be with her, there wasn't any question in his mind about that.
She didn't say anything for a few minutes, then pulled away a little to look him in the eyes.
"I want… I want to go see Spira again. Before we go home. Just us. I want…" She paused, blinking once, hesitant. It was clear she still wasn't used to telling people what she wanted. For so many years she'd always done what everyone else wanted, and put her own life aside. "I want to leave the Gullwings, and go home. With you." Her voice lost it's strength as she finished her words, and suddenly she was hugging him again, so tightly he almost couldn't breathe properly. He couldn't tell if she was crying, but he knew she was probably close to it.
"It's okay, Yuna." He said softly, kissing her hair and closing his eyes. "We'll go home, together. I'm going to stay with you. I'll always be beside you, I promise." He whispered the words softly, stroking her hair and resting his face next to hers.
Yuna didn't say anything, but she wasn't crying either. After a long moment of embrace, she finally pulled back a little again to look up at him. She was smiling again, even if there were the glint of tears in her eyes.
"Thank you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up to kiss him softly. "I love you." She whispered a moment later, closing her eyes and again resting her head on his shoulder.
Behind them the lift's familiar hum came into the air again, announcing the return of Paine and Rikku.
Tidus gave her another hug, a quick kiss, before the two of them turned to face their companions.
"We got the sphere!" Rikku was grinning from ear to ear, as she jumped off the lift and waved the purple destruction sphere into the air. "Now all we have to-" She cut short, and narrowed her eyes at Yuna. "Wait a minute… What were you two up to?"
"None of our business, whatever it was." Paine sighed, snatching the sphere from Rikku and heading over to the wall.
"Hey! Meanie!" Rikku cried, flinging her hands to her sides in mock rage. "Hmph." She snorted and crossed her arms, turning away from all of them. "Fine! I didn't want to know anyway."
"I'm sure." Paine chuckled, shaking her head. Turning she nodded to Yuna. "Shall we?"
"Okay, let's see if this works." Yuna walked over to where Paine was standing in front of the wall with the sphere and glowing paths. Grasping the sphere, she carefully pulled it out, and with a sudden hum, the glowing lines went out. Behind them, the lift stopped humming.
"Here goes nothing." Paine carefully pressed the destruction sphere into the new hole, and stepped back.
A dull hum began as the lines began to fill with a purple glow, stretching out cross the wall until it had covered it in a ray like pattern. For a moment, it stayed perfectly still, the purple glowing almost eerily as the humming began to get higher in pitch. Then suddenly, with a high shattering sound, the sphere broke apart and with it, the wall.
When the dust cleared, a tunnel was revealed. Coughing away the dust, Tidus looked over to Yuna.
"Well, I guess that worked." She smiled a little, coughing and waving her hand in front of her face to try and clear the dust from her eyes. "Guess we go forward."
"Way ahead of you!" Rikku grinned, dashing forward with a somewhat giddy skip.
"Rikku, we should stick together!" Yuna called after her, a look of caution clear on her face. "We don't know what might be in there…"
"No problem! This place is empty." Rikku called back at them, stopped a little ways away at the end of the narrow tunnel. "I think I found what we're looking for!"
As Yuna moved with Paine to follow Rikku, Tidus held back for a minute and surveyed the area. Something didn't feel right, but it did seem clear. He couldn't hear or see anything that might indicate a fiend attack. But still… He sensed something wasn't quite right.
"Hey, maybe we shouldn't just walk in there…" He dashed after Yuna, falling into step beside her.
"Why?" She stopped, turning to him, as Paine kept going.
"I don't know, it doesn't feel right. It could be at trap." He frowned, looking around the tunnel again.
"You're right… It does feel a bit odd." Yuna said, after a moment. "But it seems fine."
"Maybe I'm just being too cautious." He sighed, shaking his head.
"No, it's okay." She smiled, resuming her walk as he followed beside her. "After what we've been through, it's understandable."
"Come on guys, hurry up! This is it!" Rikku cried, jumping up and down as the two of them came to a halt in front of her.
"What is it?" Tidus frowned, tilting his head.
"It's a sphere holder thingy, silly!" Rikku sighed, putting her hands on her hips. "I thought you knew about temples!"
"Yeah, thanks a lot Rikku. I can see it's a holder, but what's that thing behind it?" Tidus snapped, glaring a little in Rikku's general direction.
"Don't start, you two. I can't handle anymore squabbling. From anybody." Paine glared at the both of them, catching Tidus just before he tried to snap back at Rikku.
Yuna, meanwhile, was inspecting the area and ignoring all three of them. Tidus sighed and reprimanded himself. He should be doing the same, not trying to bicker with Rikku.
"You're right, Rikku. This is what we've been looking for." Yuna straightened, and smiled. "All we have to do, is push this into the wall. It already has a sphere in it, so it should power the lift. These lines on the wall… they should connect to the lift."
"And if it doesn't?" Paine raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"Don't be such a pessimist!" Rikku stomped her foot, shooting a look of daggers at the warrior.
"It should, I don't see why it wouldn't." Yuna said, shrugging. "What else can we do?"
"You have a point." Paine nodded once, reaching for her sword. "Go ahead. We should be prepared just in case." She looked to Tidus, and he too drew out Brotherhood. Something wasn't right, Paine must have felt it too. With the sword in his hand, he felt better already as Yuna began to push the column into the wall's recess.
There was an audible click as the column slid into place, then nothing. Yuna blinked and stood up, looking at the wall in front of her. As they watched, slowly, the sphere's energy began to spread along the lines, curling around the wall in a intricate, unfamiliar design. Increasing in speed it soon shot by them on the hallway's wall, down to where they had come, towards the lift. After another minute, they heard the familiar hum of the lift powering up.
"Well, we were right!" Rikku grinned, punching the air. "Score another victory for the Gullwings!"
"That was too easy." Paine muttered, looking around the room. "I don't like it."
"What do you like, Paine?" Rikku sighed, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Yunie, let's get back to the main room with the sphere!"
Yuna hesitated for a second, and Tidus could see that the doubt was in her eyes as well. She knew it was too easy just like Paine and he did. Though, there had been easy puzzles before in the temples. It seemed strange though, considering the previous ones.
Another minute ticked by, and nothing changed. The air was silent, uncomfortably silent, as even Rikku quieted and stood perfectly still, listening, waiting.
Nothing.
Tidus slowly let out a breathe he didn't realize he'd been holding. An instant later, so did Rikku, and Yuna. Only Paine remained still, though she seemed to look not quite as wary as before.
"Well, I guess there wasn't anything to worry about after-"
A loud bang broke Rikku off and made them all jump. Spinning around they turned to a wall beside them that had none of the sphere lines on it. When they'd looked at it before, it was an ordinary wall, decorated with some strange carvings.
Now it was coming alive. A rumble began to fill the air, a sound of metal against stone.
"…All?" Rikku squeaked, completing her now useless sentence as she backed away from the rumbling wall.
"What is that?" Tidus stared, backing away and dragging Yuna with him.
"I…" There was another deafening bang, and a cloud of dust erupted from the wall.
"Get out of here!" Paine shouted suddenly, giving Yuna a hard shove towards the hallway where they'd come. Tidus followed after her, looking behind to see Paine still standing in the small chamber.
"What are you doing?" Rikku screeched, halfway following Tidus, but stopping to look back at the warrior.
As they stood in the hall, the dust began to clear and the strange 'thing' was revealed. Though the design was very old, and it was covered in bits of rock and dust, it was obvious what it was…
"A Yevon Machina…" Yuna's breathe came out as a gasp, and she took a step backwards.
"A thousand year old, Yevon Machina." Paine gritted her teeth, holding her sword up in front of her. "There's no room for all of us to fight. This hallways too narrow. You two, get up there and take care of that room with the sphere. Me and Rikku will handle this."
"Me?!" Rikku squeaked, but was already pulling out her blades. "Why'd you have to volunteer me along?"
"There's no time to talk about this, Rikku!" Paine barked, jumping backwards as the Machina swung a massive arm at her. She turned her head to look at Tidus and Yuna for a single instant. "Yuna, go! We'll be fine!"
Yuna didn't need anymore urging. The sight of the Machina seemed to have shaken her a little, and Paine's argument was true. The hallway was much too narrow for them to fight too, there was barely enough room for Paine to swing her sword and Rikku to edge in from the side.
"I don't feel right leaving them…" Yuna looked behind them as they walked towards the lift, her eyes full of worry and mixed emotions. Though the Machina was large, it wasn't very fast. The two could easily dodge the attacks, and seemed to be making progress already by hacking at the things legs.
"They'll be fine." Tidus assured her, though he was a little worried himself. "Let's go take care of this Fayth."
They walked towards the lift, and the journey up to the level above was made in silence. Yuna was fidgeting, obviously still worried and anxious about what was going on. It wasn't usual for them to split up, not when there was an enemy like that. Tidus's own thoughts were mixed, he shared the same worry but also wondered if the two of them would be alright as well. Yuna was strong, and so was he, but who knew what lay behind that door. If they had to fight the Fayth, it might not be so simple as just fighting a normal fiend… and if Yuna had to go in and send it, he didn't know if it'd be safe for him to be there. What if he could get sent?
Shaking his head he tried to toss the thoughts away. They'd cross that bridge when they got to it. They still didn't know if the door would even open yet.
The lift came to a halt and the two of them stepped off, heading down one of the three tunnels towards the main chamber.
"I sure hope this works." Yuna said quietly as they walked, the sphere clutched in her hand tightly.
"It will." Tidus said quickly, grinning. She attempted a smile as well, but it seemed forced. He barely managed to stop himself from dropping his grin at the sight, and grabbed her hand. "And Rikku and Paine will be fine."
Yuna sighed a little, nodding. "I know. I just can't help worrying. We've always stuck together these last few months. Now we're separating more and more." There was a little sadness in her voice, as she looked down at the floor.
Tidus tilted his head to look at her, but her face was hidden partially by her hair. She seemed to notice his movement and looked up a little.
"But…" She started, shaking her head and attempting a smile, somehow reading the look on his face, "I'll be able to take a break. Paine is leaving soon anyway… I guess nothing lasts forever." Though she wished it could, that was clear from the look on her face. He wondered how she managed to keep up with everything, so many major changes in her life. It was something he admired about her, even if he knew she wasn't always as strong as she made everyone think.
"I'm sure Rikku will find a way to drag you back into things." He grinned after a minute, and was happy to see her respond with a muffled giggle.
"I don't doubt it for a minute."
The continued on down the hall in silence, Yuna looking a little better than she had been a few moments before.
After a few minutes of following the hallway, and walking in silence, they reached the main crossway. Stopping, Yuna peered down each tunnel, then looked to the one that led towards the sealed door.
"I guess that was the only machina released." She commented quietly, as they began to head towards the doorway. Tidus felt himself jump a little at the thought. Knowing the way things usually went, he expected another machina to show up any minute after hearing her say that.
But nothing happened. The last bit of the walk was uneventful, and the hallway seemed completely unchanged. The door was still sealed in front of them, a hole for a sphere placed in the center.
"I hope this works." Yuna said softly, and without another moment of hesitation, reached forward and pressed the sphere into the hole. There was a click, as it sealed smoothly in, and then silence. The two of them drew back from the door, watching, waiting in silence.
As they watched, glyphs on the door began to glow. Glowing trails ran along the edges of the door's frame, lighting up the tunnel with a eerie sort of yellow light.
Then the movement stopped, and the yellow continued to glow silently. For a frightful moment, Tidus worried that they'd done something wrong and that it wasn't going to work after all. But just as he was about to speak, there was a grinding sound, and the doors began to swing open, the glyphs growing brighter than normal.
When the doors had opened fully, Yuna took a cautious step forward, Tidus following closely behind. He looked around the room that they had accessed, but couldn't see anything that looked like a threat. In fact, it looked exactly like any other temple of the Fayth.
Except a few differences.
Yuna gasped a little, as she walked to the center of the room and slowly looked around.
"There's no statues…" Her voice was filled with disbelief and perhaps even fear. That truly dated how old it was, after all, and how long it had been abandoned. "There's supposed to be statues of all the High Summoners in every temple…" Her voice trailed off, as she let her hands drop to her sides.
"Yunalesca's still there." Tidus nodded, pointing up to the roof. Yuna followed his hand and tilted her head.
"Why would they go to all this trouble and then just seal it up?" She said aloud, voicing a thought he had as well.
"I guess they changed their minds." He shrugged, frowning as he took another look around the room. It was lit dimly with yellow fire, glowing unnaturally bright and in a rather strange shade. Just like with the lights they had seen earlier, the fires had probably been burning ever since the temple had been made. Knowing that no one had walked in the temple since Yunalesca, sent a shiver down Tidus's spine. It wasn't a very comfortable thought.
"This is it." Yuna's voice interrupted his thoughts, as she faced the stairs that led up to an all too familiar doorway. "I have to go and finish it." The last of the Fayth. She was going to send the last of the Fayth.
Tidus grimaced at the memories, and grabbed her arm. "We can go together, right?" He asked, looking her in the eyes, a strange sort of worry grasping at him.
"Yes." She smiled and nodded, taking her hand in hers and squeezing it. "The taboos don't matter anymore." Though he could see by the look on her face there was a voice deep inside of her that screamed against doing such a thing. The years and years of training still wanted to command her.
Tidus smiled back, and together they started walking up the stairs. He wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea of going in, it hadn't been quite a pleasant experience last time. He'd gone to rescue Yuna that time, when he'd got tired of waiting and believed she was in danger. Everyone else had been shocked, but Kimarhi had known. He'd helped open the door, and Tidus had been able to squeeze under. There he'd found Yuna out cold, and for a unpleasant instant, he believed her wounded. Maybe even… No. She'd been fine, in the end. But waiting for them outside had been soldiers, and they'd taken her away from him before he could see her wake up.
"Are you okay?" Yuna spoke softly, reaching up with a hand to touch his face. He must have looked distant, because somehow she seemed to know that something was wrong. Her eyes were concerned, her manner hesitant.
"Yeah. I'm fine." He gave her a grin. That was the past. If anyone at all, it'd be Rikku and Paine who'd be waiting for them when they got out. "Let's do it." He made a fist and pulled it down, his sort of way of giving a thumbs up that he'd learned from blitzball. She smiled, and let go of his hand to step forward to the doorway.
She slowed to a stop, and bowed in front of the doorway. Her manner had changed suddenly, into one that he remembered well. Her movements were fluid yet stiff in feeling, and as he watched she hesitatingly performed the prayer to Yevon. Another shiver ran down his back. She had to concentrate, he knew, to be able to use her Summoner powers, and it was probably easiest if she got in the same mindset that she had been in for those years, but… It seemed wrong, watching the new Yuna, not wearing her familiar skirt and bow, doing such a thing.
Standing straight she raised her hands and pressed at the door gently.
Nothing happened.
She frowned, pressing a little harder.
Still nothing.
"Yuna?" He asked, frowning.
"It's supposed to…" Her voice was so quiet and foggy with memory he barely heard her. "I did the right prayer, and the magic. It should… Hmm." She pulled away from the door. "I don't understand."
Suddenly the door began to glow, dimly at first, then brighter. As the two of them watched in a stunned silence, five glyphs played over the door, each a different color, each a obvious mark. Valefor, Ifrit, Ixion, Shiva, and Bahamut.
"This is too familiar." He muttered, watching them warily.
Yuna remained silent, watching the glyphs and peering closer at them. She seemed deep in thought, and he didn't try to disturb her.
"Hey, what's wrong?" A voice called from behind him. He turned to see Rikku and Paine walking into the room, looking the same as they did when they'd left them.
"Are you guys okay?" He asked, moving down the stairs to meet them.
"We're fine. I told you we could handle it. What's wrong with Yuna?" Paine ran over Rikku's attempt to say anything, and looked directly at Tidus.
"I'm… not sure." Tidus shrugged helplessly, looking back to see her still standing like some kind of statue.
"Hey, Yunie! What's going on?" Rikku shouted, before Paine could stop her. Tidus winced, but was surprised to see Yuna didn't even twitch.
"Yunie?" Rikku blinked after a minute, looking confused at the lack of any kind of a reaction.
A long silence hung in the air, the three of them watching Yuna as she stood unmoving, staring at the glyphs.
"Maybe she's talking to the Fayth." Said Paine suddenly, her tone quiet and wary.
Rikku yelped, looking from Paine to Yuna. "We have to help her!"
"What can we do?" Paine shrugged, shaking her head. "We wait."
"You sound like Auron." Tidus blurted out, walking back up the stairs towards Yuna. He didn't want to talk to them anymore, it wasn't making him feel any better.
"Auron?" Paine blinked, looking to Rikku.
"Weren't you listening to the story recap?" Rikku sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Yuna?" Tidus said quietly, coming up beside her.
"I…" Her voice broke the air suddenly, like a gasp of someone taking air after being underwater for too long a time. Yuna tore her eyes away from the doorway, and looked straight at Tidus.
"Oh, please, no. Why can't…" He heard her say quietly, before her eyes closed and he barely had time to catch her as she fell.
…
…
…
…
…
…
A/N: Forgive me if the last few pages of this chapter were at all rushed feeling or badly written. I think I did my best, but I can't be sure. I haven't slept in twenty four hours and I felt inspired to do this, so I gave up on the idea of sleeping and finished it off. I had to do this tonight, I couldn't let myself to let it go one more day. Next chapter will be around in two weeks, I hope. Ugh. I hope this uploads right. If there's any glaring mistakes (though I'm pretty sure they're aren't, or weren't), please tell me, I'll correct them and upload a new version ASAP.
