LilCheekyAngel: So very sorry about that, but if I went any longer it would have ruined it. But I hope this is better. I made sure to make it extra long.
Thunder Demon: Thank you so much. Don't worry. I plan on seeing this out to the end.
MakoAnima: Just for you. The title is a hint to this whole chap. Yeah, I think I destroyed the whole Anima thing, but I was eager to post before Monday. So it may seem a little rushed. (but I hope not)
Disclaimer: I guess I ought to do this huh? Ok, Gining does not own Auron, Rikku, Luzzu, Anima, Zanarkand... You get the idea.
--
Zanarkand, the lost city of the dead. I had hoped never to see this place again. After the defeat of Yunalesca there was no need for anyone to come here. And now we were willingly walking through it. Rikku hid her fear from Luzzu with a smile and some well placed jokes. But I could see the truth. She was terrified. She tried so hard to hide it, so I pretended like I couldn't tell.
Luzzu didn't question where she was going, only followed making sure to keep her safe. After resting they moved on. It was getting dark out and we needed to set up a more suitable camp. Besides, Rikku would have to customize another weapon for him soon. His sword wasn't doing much damage to the fiends anymore. Most were immune the death strike she added.
The dome was now in sight. It was decided that they would camp outside there for the night and enter in the morning. Luzzu took first watch to allow Rikku to fully rest. She had tried to protest, but he had insisted she needed it more then him. He moved off and stood about ten feet away from camp.
Rikku closed her eyes and drifted off. I listened to the sounds of the night, of fiends prowling and stalking. Over where Luzzu stood I could sense he was becoming bored. And a bored guard meant a sleeping guard. That was why we always watched in twos during Yuna's pilgrimage. A moment later I heard a soft thump as his body hit the ground. His exhaustion was too much for him to handle.
It was time for me to take over. Rikku was asleep unable to summon, however, the fact that she needed protected brought about my ability to come when uncalled. The light circled her as I rose and hovered three feet above her. Luzzu stirred and jumped when he opened his eyes and saw me. I stayed where I was a moment more before he understood what it was I wanted.
He moved past and lied down on his bedroll. I glanced down at my sleeping charge before silently flying to the edge of camp. I did not need sleep, they did. I watched throughout the night attacking any fiends that dared come close enough. I would not let anything happen to Rikku. Could not, she was important in the defeat of Yevon.
The next morning Rikku woke first. She was quite surprised to see me standing while she slept. I turned my head at the first sign she was awake. I nodded my head as she came close.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. "I didn't summon you. Besides, Luzzu was supposed to wake me up before he lay down." She reached a hand out and rubbed a spot on the side of my neck.
She pulled her hand back and I flew up and disappeared. When I was safely back in the recesses of her mind I spoke. "Luzzu was tired. A sleeping guard is no good to anyone." I explained.
"Oh, and here I thought it was because you cared about me."
I stuttered a moment before I was able to get the words out, but she interrupted me.
"Silly Auron. I was just teasing." She laughed softly and I found myself lost in it for just a moment.
Concentrate, Auron! You have a job to do! I scolded myself. "It's still early. You should get some more sleep before the sun rises." I advised her.
She sighed and did as I suggested. "Very well, but only 'cause you said so." Was she teasing again?
--
Rikku stood in the center of the Zanarkand dome. Her footsteps echoed as she walked, except she wasn't walking. She turned to see a familiar red-coated guardian coming up behind her.
"Auron?" She called out. "What is going on? Why are we here?"
"You don't know?" For the first time she could remember he looked surprised. Without his cowl and sunglasses she was able to see his whole face.
"Wait, what happened to your, uh...?" Unable to complete the sentence, she pointed at his face.
An eyebrow raised in contemplation. "You prefer I hide myself?"
"No no." She waved her hands in front of her wildly. "Just not used to it, that's all." She looked around once again. "This is where we had defeated Yunalesca." He nodded. "Is this where I am to find out some great secret or something?"
"Or something." Auron repeated quickly.
Suddenly Lady Yunalesca appeared from the space around them. "You have traveled well summoner. I will now bestow unto you with that which you seek."
"What? No! This isn't right. This can't be real! We defeated you! You should be in the farplane by now!" Rikku shouted. Her breath came in rapid gulps.
Auron placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "Then we shall defeat her again if we must."
She agreed and pulled out her twin daggers.
"Are you going to fight me?" Yunalesca taunted. "I don't think you should. You might end up losing love forever."
Rikku paused. Losing love? What was that supposed to mean/What do you know about love/ She shouted in Al Bhed. /You killed love with the final summoning/ Her hands gripped tighter on her daggers as she rushed in for the attack. Though in Yunalesca's place now stood Auron. She tried to stop, but the momentum she built up wouldn't let her. Her blade slashed across his chest from right shoulder to hip.
He held a hand over his bleeding chest and fell to the ground. The clattering of blades filled the air as Rikku rushed to catch him before he hit the ground.
She sat with her legs folded under her and his head on her lap. No, no, no. This can't be happening. "Cura!" She shouted. Nothing happened. "Cura!" She shouted again.
Laughter came from behind her. Evil and malicious in its sound. "I told you little one. You can't save him, he's dead." More laughter before she faded away.
"Rikku?" I rasped. "Wake up."
"Huh?"
"Wake up. Come on, wake up!" I shouted to her as loud as I was able. Something was wrong. Her heart was beating way too fast and sweat had broken out on her neck and chest. "Rikku, Get up now!"
Luzzu must have heard her moaning or something, because he was now beside her, shaking her shoulders, and yelling at her to get up as well.
I was becoming worried. This had happened once before back on the thunder plains, but not to this extent. Suddenly she sat up throwing Luzzu back. Her eyes darted around in panic. She jumped up quickly and nearly lost her footing in doing so.
"Rikku, what is the matter? What's wrong?" Luzzu asked her.
She only glanced at him before running to where I had been earlier that morning, the first time she woke up. I could feel the pull of her summoning. I appeared just as I should have. She smiled when she saw me and threw her arms around my neck. I could feel tears hit my feathers before they evaporated.
"I'm so glad, so very glad. I thought I had lost you for good." She cried.
I wondered if what she was saying had something to do with the dream she had. I could only speculate.
--
"Luzzu, wait here. Whatever is in here, I don't want you involved." Rikku commanded when they were about to enter the trials.
"Whatever is in there could be dangerous. I promised Lulu that I would look after you no matter what. And a crusader always keeps his promises." He countered.
She huffed before agreeing. "Very well, but don't say I didn't warn you." Rikku took the lead; it seemed as if she knew where she was going.
I had to ask anyway. "Rikku, you know where you are going to?"
"Not really, but something is calling me to the main dome. Just beyond the fayth chamber."
"What are you going to do once you get there?"
"Look, I don't know. All I know is I have to make it before night falls." I must confess, I was rather startled by her outburst. But I wasn't about to let her see that.
"Then I shall not bother you again." I retreated back into my small spot and said nothing more. That was where I stayed until we made it to the main chamber.
"Rikku, tell me I am not seeing things." Luzzu said from her right.
"If you are, then so am I."
In front of them stood a woman dressed in blue. It was the fayth of Anima. What was she doing here? Bahamut never told me that she was a part of this. I had to talk to her. Rikku stood too stunned to move. Even Luzzu seemed unable to move.
"Hello, Rikku." She greeted. "You have arrived. I have been waiting for you." It was soft and inviting, nothing like Yunalesca's was years ago.
"Me?" Rikku squeaked out as she brought a hand up and pointed to herself.
"Yes. I knew you would come. It was only a matter of time. You have grown stronger since you began your journey."
I grew anxious. "Call me, Rikku! Call me!" I called out to her, but it was as if she could not hear me. Ami stood so close, and I could do nothing.
"Rikku, have you found it, have you found the light?"
Luzzu glanced back and forth between the two women. I'm quite sure he was confused as to what was going on.
Ignoring the man beside her, Rikku answered Ami's questions. "I think so. But I don't understand. What is the purpose?"
"Your dreams. What do they tell you?"
The fayth knew of her dreams? They must have been the ones who sent them. "Rikku," I whispered as I tried once again to get her attention.
"Auron?" She finally acknowledged me. "I think I understand now." A small smile spread over her face. "I know what it is." She said to Ami.
Luzzu's commsphere clicked just then signaling someone was on the other end. Ami must have heard it too, for she then spoke to him next.
"Go answer it, but say nothing of what you have witnessed here." She told him gently. He nodded and left the room. "Now Rikku, call Phoenix. I believe he is eager to talk as well."
This was what I was waiting for. The light circled her as I appeared above her head. As I landed, I concentrated and changed until I was in my fayth form. "Ami." I whispered. "I'm sorry I could not save you from this punishment." I had waited many years to be able to tell her that. That was part of the shame I had to live with.
She laughed softly before speaking again. "Do not fault yourself. You could not have known what the future held. But do not worry about me. After you defeat Yu Yevon, I will be able to join my husband. He is waiting for me on the farplane."
"Then I will be there to make sure you will be happy." I would at least be able to that for her.
"No, I do not think so. We fayth have something much bigger planned for you."
"But I insist."
Rikku was silent until now. "Living in the past is futile. This is all there is." She quoted. "Remember saying something like that years ago?"
My own words were being used against me. "Yes, you are right. I have forgotten my own words. Thank you, Rikku." I stood strait up now waiting to see what Ami had to say next.
"Auron, Rikku has found her light. She has searched hard and will be rewarded when the time comes. But now I ask you, have you found yours?"
My light? I have no light. I lost it when Braska and Jecht sacrificed themselves for a false hope. I looked over at Rikku and could see the smile she still had. The innocence I wished to have. "I, I do not know." I answered truthfully.
"If you are unable to find it, then you will never be able to defeat Yevon. Search hard. When you find it, you will know that it has always been with you." Ami left us that one last statement before disappearing in a flash of light.
Luzzu came back in right after that. A grin was on his face. It faded as his jaw dropped and eyes opened wide. "Why that is Sir Auron. I thought he was resting on the farplane by now."
"Thank you Sir Luzzu the obvious. He was, but he came back because he had something left to do." Rikku answered him sarcastically.
"An unsent?" Luzzu asked, now much calmer then before.
"Sorta." A somewhat innocent expression came over Rikku. She tried to play cute, and somehow it seemed to work. "Luzzu, meet Auron. But you might now know him better as Phoenix."
I reverted back into Aeon form to back up Rikku's words. He took it rather well.
"Yes, well. Hello again."
I screeched a greeting before dismissing myself. I was no longer needed here.
"So what did Lulu want?" Rikku asked him eager to remove the spotlight from her.
"If we are able, she would like us to return to Besaid. It seems Yuna and Tidus have announced their wedding, and requested that we be there as well."
"Of course we will be there! I wouldn't miss that for the world." She raised a fist in the air and did a small hop. "Besides, we are done here. All that is left is finding Yu Yevon. And I can do that after the wedding."
I myself agreed.