(humming the FFX To Zanarkand theme) The ruined city...a placedestroyed for a thousand years. What will happen? First, to the replies!
ShadowStar05: Not to sound like a smart-aleck or anything, but where do you think Kingdom Hearts got them from? (smirk)
desert-tiger: (chuckles at the Zanarkand thing) Wait no longer.
XxCougarxX: Yep. Smashy smashy indeed.
Iron Reaver: I'm not even gonna dignify this with a response, as we already went over this on MSN. (chuckles)
fang: If you're reading this, welcome to Destiny's Call, fang! Glad to see another new face! I do intend to do an X-2 story, only a few more chapters left in this one.
SS5Matt: I'm glad you feel this way, and I hope the soon-to-be sequel, if you read, lives up to your expectations.
Auron's Fan: (chuckles) Yep, computers can be frustrating. Anyhow. Seymour said he wanted to save Spira, by destroying it. Apparently, he feels that feeling nothing at all will be the best way to relieve the pain of the people of Spira. As for the Rikku/Ben things? Little tidbits here and there, but nothing really major until the end, probably.
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Planted by you, no doubt. (eyes narrow)
Now, without further ado, the entrance to Zanarkand!
Chapter 36—City Of Dreams
(Play FFX theme To Zanarkand)
Zanarkand. A city destroyed a thousand years ago. The city that led a war with Bevelle. The city that is partially responsible for the birth of Sin, nearly a millenia ago. The end of Yuna's journey.
Tidus and Yuna are staring down at Zanarkand from our perch on the summit. Only a short trail, leading downwards, separates us from the ancient machina city. Walking over to Rikku, I notice her looking at Yuna.
"Still thinking?" I ask her, and she looks at me, nodding slowly.
"There has to be a way." she says simply, looking from me to Yuna. "Yuna, I say no! If we go down there, then you'll..." she trails off, as the summoner turns to her.
"Rikku. You're a true friend, and I thank you, but...I must go...down, to Zanarkand." she replies, walking over to her cousin.
"And what about you, Ben?" she asks, turning to me. "You're a summoner too! What will happen to you when we get down to Zanarkand?" she says, looking at me with sorrow-filled eyes.
"Rikku...I don't really know. But whatever happens, I'll face it. I won't be scared." I tell her, looking between her and Yuna.
"I'm not saying we shouldn't go. But shouldn't we think about it some more? There's gotta be some kind of way we can save you, Yuna!" she exclaims. "And you too, Ben!"
"All my life, I knew this moment would come." Yuna says, looking at her cousin.
"Yunie..."
"Thank you, Rikku." Yuna says, dropping a small sphere beside her, which goes unnoticed to everyone except myself and Tidus. "Thank you for everything." she replies, walking over and embracing Rikku.
"Don't say that, Yunie! It's not over yet!"
"Tell Cid thank you."
"No...you can tell him yourself." Rikku says, eyes shimmering.
"Please..." Yuna begins, but Rikku cuts her off.
"Yunie, don't say that because...we're gonna see each other again, okay?"
Yuna stays silent for a moment, before nodding slowly and walking towards everyone else. "Kimahri, let's go." she says, the Ronso nodding and beginning to follow her down the trail to Zanarkand. Everyone else follows, except Tidus, who walks over to me and picks up the sphere lying on the ground.
"Do we watch it?" I ask, and he looks at me for a moment, before nodding. Turning the sphere on, Tidus and I begin to watch, the screen remaining black for a moment as Yuna's voice is heard.
(End FFX theme To Zanarkand)
(Play FFX theme Yuna's Theme)
"Sir Auron. Kimahri told me...when my father wanted me taken from Bevelle to Besaid..." she begins, the sphere fading in on Rin's Travel Agency on the Mi'ihen Highroad. Lulu is standing next to the door, and apparently Yuna is filming. "It was you who told Kimahri, right? I had always wanted to meet you someday." she continues, as Wakka walks out the shop and stands next to Lulu, arms crossed. "I am truly glad that I had that chance. Having you as a guardian was so great an honor I don't know how to thank you. Perhaps if I defeat Sin, that will be my thanks to you. That's what I'll do. Yes. I will challenge Sin, I will defeat Sin. If you are all there watching this, then I guess Sin is already gone. And so am I, I suppose." she says, Lulu walking back into the Travel Agency and shutting the door behind her. "Anyway, I just wanted to say: Sir Auron, I thank you." she finishes, as Wakka runs to the side of the agency to examine a chocobo.
"Kimahri..." she begins, giggling. "Do you remember the first day we met? I was only seven. My father had defeated Sin, and all Bevelle was celebrating. Everyone was saying what a hero my father was. I was so happy. But when night came, it occurred to me. My father had defeated Sin and now he was dead. Now, I was all alone. I couldn't sleep, so I wandered into the town, away from the celebrating crowds. I stood on the bridge in Bevelle where my father and I had parted. Standing there, alone, I could see the fields where he had fought Sin." she says, as Kimahri walks on screen with his back turned to the sphere, slowly walking across until he's off screen again.
"Then, you appeared, Kimahri. You said you were looking for the daughter of Braska, remember? At first, I was so scared. Until I realized what a kind and gentle person you are." she says, giggling again. "You weren't used to talking to children. When I told you that I was Braska's daughter...you said you would take me as far from Bevelle as you could. That it was the wish of a man facing death. I think...I cried then. Because that...that was when I knew my father was dead...and I would never see him again. You just held me, without saying a word. I cried after we got to Besaid, too. When you tried to go after leaving me in the care of the temple...I held on to you, crying, 'Don't go, don't go!' And you listened, Kimahri. You stayed. Thank you, Kimahri. Thank you so much. And I've always liked your broken horn."
The scene now changes, showing the agency from a different angle. Yuna's still holding the sphere like a video camera, as she starts to speak again.
"Wakka, Lulu. I'll never forget my days spent with you, growing up in Besaid. We always played together, us and Chappu. That's why I was always so happy, I think. And when you refused to let me become a summoner and I did it anyway...I'm sorry. I've always wanted to apologize. You know, when you tried to stop me then—really, I was happy. I could tell you really cared about me. You were like my big brother and sister. No...I think you really were my big brother and sister. What else...I love watching you play blitzball, Wakka. I even love it when you scold me, Lulu! Really!" she says, a childish edge to the last sentence.
The scene fades out again, and fades back in once again on the agency. Yuna's still recording like a camera, and this time the scene is the sunset that evening. I can see myself walk out the door of the agency and lean against the wall, watching her intently.
"Ben. In the time that I knew you, you seemed more serious than even Lulu. Yet, you were also more childish than any of us." she says, giggling after she finishes. "Kilika comes to mind, doesn't it? They said in Besaid you came from the sea, with Tidus. I wasn't sure what to think. When you introduced yourself at the party, I could tell there was something different about you. I just didn't know what. To tell the truth, I still don't. And now...I don't think I ever will. Thank you for everything, Ben." she finishes, causing me to smile.
"I guess that leaves...the newest guardian. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes! You are...I am...well, um...I'm glad...I'm glad that we met. We haven't even known each other long, but...it's funny." she says, Tidus walking out to look at her. "So this is what it feels like. It's a much more wonderful feeling than anything I had ever imagined. Wonderful...but it hurts, sometimes. I wonder. I...I just want to say, thank you for everything. Maybe...maybe that's why it hurts. When I...when I think about us never being together again at all...I'm afraid." she says, as Tidus starts to approach her. "No, I shouldn't say that. I'll do that part over. Um..." she starts, but gets cut off by Tidus' voice.
"Whatcha up to?" he asks, and Yuna turns, fumbling with the sphere as the screen goes black.
(End FFX theme Yuna's Theme)
"Let's go." I say, turning to Tidus. "We still have to find a way to save Yuna. This is not just her story. It's ours too, is it not?" I ask, smiling. Tidus nods.
"Yeah. This is our story too." he replies.
"Good. Then let's make it go how we want." I say, walking down the path leading to Zanarkand, Tidus right behind me.
"Hey! There was more, right!" Tidus says, standing up. A campfire has been made, and we're all sitting down around it now, telling stories of the pilgrimage. Memories that will never fade.
"I mean like that time...uh...anyone?" he says, fumbling for words. Yuna looks over at him.
"I think..." she starts.
"Yes?"
"I think that we should stop...maybe. For now." she says, standing up. Reluctantly he nods, and everyone goes quiet. Contemplating, I suppose. Looking around, I find a secluded area and walk over to it, pulling out my Grid as I do so. Looking on it, I can see it's almost complete. One more spell. Digging in my pockets, I pull out several spheres, and insert them into the grid, only to find out I'm missing one.
"Darn it...guess I'll just have to wait." I say, pocketing the Grid again and looking up at the sky. Zanarkand almost looks like the Farplane. Pyreflies are everywhere, floating around in the night sky like fireflies. It's almost peaceful. If it wasn't a ruined city from a millenia ago, that is.
"What'cha thinking about?" Rikku says, walking up behind me and putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Can I make a list?" I retort playfully, causing Rikku to giggle. "Seriously though...I'm thinking about what's to come. Yuna's going to get the Final Aeon. What am I supposed to do? I'm a summoner too, you know. Am I..." I trail off, looking into the distance.
"Don't even think that! We're gonna save Yunie, you know! And nothing's going to happen to you, either!" she says, defiantly.
"I can only hope so." I say, pulling out the blank sphere I bought back in Luca.
"What are you gonna do with that?" she asks, and I smile.
"Something to remember this by." I say simply, turning the sphere on, holding it in front of myself.
"To anyone who may be watching...my name is Benji. This is my story." I begin, staring at the sphere.
"I was pulled into this world, Spira, by a being known as the fayth. He claimed I could help with a summoner's pilgrimage. I accepted, and here I am. What's a summoner? Well...a summoner travels this world, gathering mighty creatures called aeons in the hope to make it here where I stand. Zanarkand. Once they do, they can acquire the Final Aeon in order to defeat Sin. Sin is a massive beast, like an enormous whale, that has plagued this world for a thousand years. It dies every 10 years, and a period called the Calm lasts for 10 years following Sin's death. Then, it comes back, and the cycle begins anew. I am a summoner as well. How, I don't know. But anyway...I'm rambling." I say, turning the sphere to face the group.
"These...these are my friends. The guy in the yellow shirt with blond hair is Tidus. He's a blitzballer from Zanarkand, a city destroyed a thousand years ago. He's brash, but won't back down from his duties as unofficial leader of the team."
"The girl in the white shirt and blue skirt, carrying a staff, is Yuna. She's a summoner, the daughter of another famous summoner, High Summoner Braska. She traveled here all the way from Besaid, to defeat Sin like her father did. She looks shy and naive, but her heart is pure, and once she makes up her mind, there's no stopping her."
"The guy with the orange hair is Wakka. He's a blitzballer too, but he's from Besaid Island, not Zanarkand. He was the leader of a blitzball team, but after winning the championship this year, he gave it up for now to be a full-time guardian. He loves someone in our little group, but I think he's too shy to admit it."
"The tiger creature is Kimahri. He's a Ronso, from Mount Gagazet. He's taken care of Yuna since she was 7, bringing her from Bevelle to Besaid. He looks fearsome, but underneath the hard exterior is a noble creature who cares for the well-being of others."
"The woman in the dress seemingly made of belts is Lulu. She's also from Besaid, and she and Wakka took care of Yuna after Kimahri brought her to Besaid. When Yuna became a summoner, Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri were her first guardians. They love her like family, and treat her like a little sister to them."
"The man in the red overcoat is Auron. He's a warrior monk who came to Zanarkand, a thousand years in the past, to bring Tidus and myself to Spira. He doesn't talk much, either. Still, he's pretty much the other unofficial leader of the team, balancing out Tidus' brashness with his calm demeanor." I say, turning the sphere to face Rikku.
"This is my girlfriend, Rikku. She's an Al Bhed, another race of people here on Spira. They're good with machina, or machines, and use them despite everyone hating them for it. She's quite possibly the most exuberant person I think I've ever known, keeping us all on her toes with her bubbly attitude. No matter what happens, she's always the person that cheers us up." I say, turning the sphere back to me.
"We're at Zanarkand now. The Hall of the Final Summoning isn't far. We're going to get the Final Aeon, and we're going to beat Sin. If...if this sphere is left unfinished, you'll know what happened. We can do it...I know we can..." I trail off, turning the sphere off and putting it back in my pocket, Rikku just watching quietly.
"Let's go." I hear Yuna say, and I walk down from where I was standing to meet back up with everyone, Rikku right behind me. Taking a last look behind me, I begin to follow Yuna and the rest of the group through the twisted, destroyed streets of the machina city.
The city is exactly what I figured it would look like. Rubble everywhere, destroyed buildings, and pyreflies. Lots and lots of pyreflies.
"Looks like the Farplane." Wakka states, looking around at the floating creatures.
"Close enough." Auron replies, as we continue to walk down the street.
It doesn't take long for us to reach what appears to be the remains of the blitzball stadium that I remember. As we approach, we see an old man standing out in front.
"Journeyer of the long road, name yourself." he says, walking up to us. Yuna steps forward to stare the man in the eyes.
"I am the summoner Yuna. I have come from the island of Besaid." she says, as the man approaches Yuna.
"Your eyes, my dear. Show me the long road you have traveled." he tells her, and she looks straight at him. He nods after a moment, speaking again. "Very good. You have journeyed well. Lady Yunalesca will surely welcome your arrival. Go to her now, and bring your guardians with you. Go."
Nodding, Yuna leads us all into the dome silently. As I walk, I take a chance to look around at the majestic area. Even destroyed, the place still holds a sense of awe about it. As we walk down the hallway, though, a pair of ghosts suddenly appear near us.
"If it might benefit the future of Spira, I will gladly give my life." the first ghost says, a young woman. Turning to the second, also a woman, she continues. "It is the highest honor for which a guardian might ask. Use my life, Lady Yocun, and rid Spira of Sin." she says, as the two simply vanish into thin air.
"What...what was that?" Rikku says, nervously stepping back to cling to my arm.
"Our predecessors." Auron replies, stepping forwards.
"She said Lady Yocun, didn't she?" Lulu asks to no one in particular, before looking at everyone. "Wait! She guarded High Summoner Yocun?"
"This dome is filled with pyreflies." Auron replies, turning to Lulu. "It's like one gigantic sphere. People's thoughts remain here. Forever." he tells her, before starting to walk down the hall once again.
As we come to another part of the hall, we're suddenly confronted by the image of a strikingly familiar boy, standing in front of a woman. A man is standing behind the two of them, and the boy appears to be on the verge of tears.
"No, Mother, no! I don't want you to become a fayth!" the boy cries, as his mother stares at him silently.
"There is no other way. Use me and defeat Sin. Only then will the people accept you." she says, the boy looking up at her.
"I don't care about them! I need you, Mother! No one else!" he pleads, the woman looking down.
"I don't...have much time left." she says, as the three of them vanish into the air.
"Hey, wasn't that..." Wakka starts, Rikku cutting in a moment later.
"Seymour?"
"Yeah, that was our favorite, or not-so-favorite, Maester turned villain extraordinare himself." I say, somewhat bitterly. Though, I don't really think anyone can blame me.
"His mother...was turned into a fayth?" Yuna asks, and I nod slowly.
"Yeah. She was." I say, as everyone slowly walks forward again.
Continuing on through the dome, we're about to enter another door when images of Braska, Auron as a young boy, and Jecht come running past us, causing Tidus to let out a short cry at the sight of his father's image.
"Hey, Braska. You don't have to do this." Jecht tells Braska, who turns to face both him and Auron.
"Thank you for your concern." he replies, Jecht nodding.
"Fine. I said my piece." he says, Auron stepping up to face the summoner.
"Well, I haven't!" he exclaims, looking at Braska. "Lord Braska, let us go back! I don't want to see you...die!"
"You knew this was to happen, my friend." Braska says evenly.
"Yes, but I...I cannot accept it." Auron replies, causing Braska to have a short laugh.
"Auron, I am honored that you care for me so. But I have come to kill grief itself. I will defeat Sin, and lift the veil of sorrow covering Spira. Please understand, Auron." Braska tells him, as the images vanish.
"Let's keep moving. We're almost there." I say, causing Yuna to give me a glance, before starting to walk again.
After a few more minutes of walking, we come across a set of stairs. Walking up the stairs, we find a door apparently leading to the Cloister of Trials, as well as the ghostly images of Jecht, Auron, and Braska once again.
"Are the Trials ahead?" Jecht asks, Braska turning to face him.
"Probably." he replies.
"Here too, huh? Gimme a break." Jecht says. "I was expecting, you know, parades and...fireworks!"
"You can ask for them after I defeat Sin." Braska says, the images vanishing once again.
"Looks like this is it." I say, Yuna turning to us.
"Everyone ready?" she asks, and we all nod for what seems to be the final time, as the door to the Trials opens.
And now, we begin the ending! It's gonna be a fun one! As always, please review!
