Defiant
By DarkHybridChild
Rating: T/PG-13
Pairs: Alot, but main will be Tidus/Rikku. If you really wanna know all the pairs so far, look this up on Ao3 for all the ship tags.
Warnings: Uh, het, shoujo-ai, shounen-ai, swearing, typical ff style violence, magic, time shenanigans.

Notes: Sorry for not updating sooner, life and depression got in my way. I started a new FFX file for the fun of it and it reinspired me to update! I hope you all enjoy this chapter.


Groaning a little as he rubbed his ribs, Tidus slowly sat up. The Al-Bhed guards near him waved their weapons at him but he paid them no mind as he looked himself over before giving a weak stretch.

Rikku walked out onto the deck with Brother and he slowly stood up.

When the other began making motion at him, he tilted his head to the side before he slowly spoke out in Al-Bhed, purposefully making himself sound a little unsure as he asked what it was the other wanted.

Surprise lit the other's eyes as he questioned if he truly understood him. "I'm not fluent... I learned from my stays at Rin's Agencies." He answered slowly.

To that, the other gave a nod of understanding before speaking a little slower in saying if he could help out with the work, they'd be willing to compromise in getting him back to the mainland.

"Sure, no problem." Tidus answered with a smile. "Leave it to me."

Brother turned to Rikku and made a motion with his hand that she nodded at before he walked back inside the ship.

Rikku turned to him. "Glad that's over with. I was afraid he'd be a bit more temperamental." She said cheerfully.

"Huh... Is he normally that way?" Tidus asked, although he knew the answer.

"Definitely. He's an impatient, hasty kinda guy." Rikku replied before snapping her fingers, eyes lighting up as if she'd just remembered something,

"Oh, sorry. My name's Rikku, what's yours?"

"It's Tidus."

The girl smiled.

"Well then, Tidus, why don't we jump right in? The quicker we get this thing up and running, the happier he'll be. We can talk a little more after." She offered.

Laughing a little, he gave the girl a nod and hopped up onto the railing. "Sure thing, let's go!" He responded before diving down into the water.

There was a splash several moment after him and he turned to see her pointing down to the ruins beneath them. He gave a thumbs up and began to swim towards it.

Once they reached, Tidus went through the motions of activating the computer and power grid in the ruins and it wasn't long until they attracted they attention of the fiend there.

They made quick work of it, with Tidus casting Thunder on it repeatedly with Rikku lobbing a few Grenades at it.

Once it was defeated, they exited the ruin and swam further down with the searchlights, discovering the Airship in the depths below.

After Rikku did a quick survey, she motioned for them to head back up to she surface and they swam back to the ship.

After pulling themselves back up, Rikku turned briefly to him. "Wait here, I gotta go inform him of our find! I'll bring you back something to eat when I do, 'kay?"

He gave a nod at her. "Sounds good, I'll be here." He leaned against the railing of the deck.

With a small salute the girl bounded inside and it gave Tidus some time to look out over the ocean. Closing his eyes, he just let himself take in the sounds around him. It still felt a little strange, being back here all over again.

He was also surprised a little at how easy he was able to adapt quickly and make up excuses for things. It wasn't that he considered himself a good liar, on the contrary, he was typically told he was a bad one, but he wasn't really lying in some ways. He was a Summoner, and he did learn Al-Bhed mostly through Rin's Agencies.

It was simply the way he made it feel believable, then again he hadn't had to truly try to explain anything in depth yet, but... Come to think of it, perhaps Rikku would ask him some more in-depth questions since she did say they'd talk later.

Still, he wasn't going to come up with some big, extravagant tale. He could just bend the truths here and there, couldn't he? That seemed easier than trying to make something up. He gave a nod to himself. Yeah, that was better.

He heard the deck's doors opening and turned back to see Rikku walking his way with a tray of food and she offered it out to him.

"Thanks, I'm starved!"

He dug in readily, but not at the fast pace he once had, not wanting to choke again.

She still warned him to not eat too fast as she leaned against the railing with him.

"So, you said you were our there training. What would bring a Blitzing Summoner all the way out there?" Rikku asked after a moment.

"It's a Summoner's duty to travel around on their Pilgrimage, right? Though I knew the temple had fallen, as I said, I still felt it was important to pay a visit in respect. I'm also a blitzer, so making the trip out wasn't a problem. The fiends along the way just offered me more practice. I'd also heard that there was an Aeon chamber there and wanted to check it out. Turns out, there is. I made a Pact with that Aeon and was resting up to make my way out when that Fiend attacked and you guys found me." He explained, setting the tray down at his feet before crossing his arms casually, leaning back against the rail.

"Huh, really? There was an Aeon chamber there? Who would've thought. That's still strange, a Summoner all alone, though. You must be pretty strong to not have a Guardian." She replied.

He frowned a little. "It's not that I think I'm strong... I just... Never had anyone around me." He replied. A loot of hurt passed his expression for a second before he shrugged. "I didn't have any friends or anyone I considered close to become my Guardian. I've just always had to do everything on my own."

"Oh. ...Um, sorry. I didn't know. That must be pretty hard. huh?" Rikku replied a bit sheepishly, looking regretful.

"Nah. don't worry about it. Like you said, you didn't know. I'm used to people asking me why I'm alone."

"You said... You didn't believe in all of Yevon's Teachings. How come?" She asked, redirecting the topic.

"Oh, that. Well, just... Sin wasn't always here, you know? And while the Teachings say Sin came about in retribution for those Sins of our past ancestors, I have to wonder if there wasn't really another reason for it to appear. And also, while we've only found one temporary way to defeat Sin over and over again, I've always wondered if there's another way.

"I became a Summoner to test my theory, since they say it's Blasphemy to fight Sin otherwise. If I succeed, great, it mean's Spira's saved. And if I find out there's truly not another way and the Final Summoning is what must be done, then I guess again, Spira's saved for a time. And if I fail... It'll be up to the next Summoner." He explained.

Rikku's face was one of wonder and awe for a long second. "Huh... That's so different than what I'm used to hearing from the normal Believers. It soounds a lot like our beliefs. We don't think Sin is impossible to beat, nor that Machina is a Sin."

"I don't believe it is, either. Everything created should be used in moderation and with care. Maybe they did bring it on themselves with relying solely on it, but if it helps, and as long as we still use our own strength, I don't see why it can't be used." Tidus answered.

"Have you ever spoken up about this to any of the other believers?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah, and I'm always met with reprimands and scolding, but every time I do, I see a little linger of doubt in most of their eyes as if they see my reasoning, but are too afraid to let go of the teachings. And who can blame them? When we've gone so long with the belief that this is the way things are, it's scary to think there's anything else beyond. I was raised away from the main villages, so I wasn't as exposed to it all growing up." He answered.

"That's interesting... So, moving on from that for a second, where did you learn to Blitz?" Rikku asked, head tilting.

"Oh, that? My old man was a Blitzer, too. I had nothing but his back to watch when I was a kid. He was always... So arrogant and prideful, bragging how he was the best and the like. And I guess... In a way, he was. But that still didn't make it right to be that way. I followed after, not wanting to be like him, but to prove him wrong." The Summoner replied, shrugging with a loud sigh of annoyance.

"You sound like you hate your dad. Do you?"

Tidus frowned for a long moment. "...I wouldn't say I hate him anymore, but I am still damn well upset with him and have more than a few bones to pick with him." He answered.

"Is there a way you can tell him?" She asked.

He shook his head. "No, not really. ...Sin." He answered.

"Oh... Sorry." Her shoulders dropped.

"No, don't be. Besides, it's just another reason for me to beat it, right?"

"But... Doesn't risking your life like that for so many people you don't even know, for the world, doesn't that bother you? Especially when it's a world that doesn't even listen to your own beliefs?" She asked curiously.

"Well... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid, and maybe it's true that there's so many people I'll never know, but... If people don't try, if the cycle never attempts to change, then how will it? There has to be those people willing to try, and even die, to prove that there's more beyond what we think in the current moment. The people of Spira cling so desperately to Hope, because giving into Despair and Emptiness is scarier. They live and love and make the best of their lives as possible under the fear of Sin, but there's those that vow that they will change things, that they will make it safe for the others to live how they wish. The Summoners rise to give the others that Hope.

"Maybe it's borrowed time with the way it is now, but that's exactly why I want to fight Sin myself. To see if it is possible to change the way things are, if Sin can be defeated for real, permanently. Then the world would no longer need to live with that fear above them, and think of how much brighter the place would feel and look if it were, how greatly the people could rise." He answered.

Rikku was quiet for a long moment. "...I don't know why, but I want to believe you. Your words may sound like a fool's hope, but there's also so much more in it. Like I can feel your wants in it, too." She spoke softly.

"If I can inspire even a few people to believe in my cause, then that's fine by me." Tidus answered back.

"So where will you head from here?" She asked.

"I'd like to go to Luca. I know the big tournament is coming up and I'd like to see if any of the teams would be willing to let me join in. I'd like to have that as a memory for my journey." He replied.

"Well, we'll be heading to Luca soon. Our own blitz team will be participating in the tourney. I could see if our team's willing to give you a shot in joining in. We could always use talent to get us to the top, after all." She answered.

"Right on, that sound's great." Tidus responded with a broad grin. "Thanks!"

"Wait here, I'll go tell them that Luca is where you'd like to go." Rikku said before making her way back inside.

Tidus watched her go before turning back out to the sea, once again closing his eyes and expanding his senses.

There was a sensation in the back of his mind that washed over him, making the hair on the back of his neck and arms stand on end.

"Well, well, has the boy finally made up his mind?"

The voice washed through him just moments before his eyes snapped open and his grip tightened on the rail just as a crash happened against the side of the ship.

The ship rocked hard and at that moment, two other Al-bhed ran out onto the deck, tripping at the aftershock of the rocking.

"Sin!"

"Sin is come!"

Gritting his teeth, Tidus's eyes scanned the waterline.

"Beneath us! Beneath us!" One yelled.

Sin had circled and was attempting to knock the ship off balance. Others were beginning to pour onto the deck, attempting to reach the weapons that were there.

Tidus could feel himself losing balance even as he gripped the rail harder. He grit his teeth. No, he wasn't going to let things go the way they had last time.

Crash.

Another heavy hit to the ship and Tidus lost his grip and began to fall.

He could vaguely see Rikku and some of the others rushing to the place he'd once been but after a moment his eyes closed.

'Not this time, old man... I'm not gonna let you push me around!' He thought before he held his hand up towards the sky and a bright light shot forth.

A seal appeared in the sky and with a loud shattering sound, Bahamut dove through and mere moments before Tidus hit the water, the King of Dragons caught him within his claws and began to fly back upwards.

Bahamut's roar echoed in the air and as the Dragon arced around, let go of Tidus and the Summoner dropped back down onto the deck of the Ship. "I won't let you!" He yelled defiantly towards Sin.

The Al-Bhed and Rikku stared in awe at the display and the Aeon that now circled around the ship.

"Bahamut, Megaflare!" Tidus yelled loudly.

"And guys, if you can, aim for it's fin and eyes! If we deter it enough, it should go away!" He called back towards Rikku and the others.

"R-right!" Rikku said before she turned and immediately began yelling towards the others in Al-Bhed, ordering them to do just that.

Bahamut flew up into the air, the wheel behind its back spinning wildly as it charged its Ultimate Attack, drawing in a deep breath before unleashing its Megaflare in a direct collision to the upper portion of Sin's back and fin.

Tidus wasn't inactive, either. He wasn't going to stand back and not fight, either. He just wasn't going to be that type of Summoner. He raised his hand, holding it out and a bright white beam shot forth, the Holy spell striking Sin's head.

The next ten minutes were both chaotic and hectic as Sin kept ramming the ship and firing Sinspawn onto the deck.

With one final Megaflare from Bahamut, Sin let out a loud roar and backed off, beginning to retreat.

"Sin is retreating!" One of the Al-Bhed yelled.

There was a cheer from those on the ship.

Tidus let out a deep sigh before he looked up to the sky and waved his hand. "Thank you, Bahamut." He thanked as he dismissed the Aeon.

The Dragon roared victoriously before flying off through its seal and disappearing.

"Glad that's over with, is everyone alright?" Tidus asked as he turned towards Rikku.

"We've lost a few, but for the most part, we're intact. Thanks for your help." Rikku answered quietly, giving a slight smile.

There was a murmur amongst the Al-Bhed about his Summoning and strength. Tidus felt a bit embarrassed before he turned to look out at the Sea. "If it's alright with you, may I Send them? I know the Teachings are against it, but I don't care. I think everyone has the right to have their souls put to rest." He asked.

It was a Summoner's duty to guide those lost, after all. He might not know exactly how, but he could ask.

'I've never sent before, Anima... Can you help guide me?' He asked.

'It would be my Honor. Dance with your entire soul, use your spirit to connect them to the Farplane. Visualize it with your mind.' She answered in his mind.

'Got it.'

"R-really? You'd do that?" Rikku asked.

"Of course. I believe all life is important, not just specific people. You Al-Bhed fought bravely and to protect one another. It would be my honor to guide them to the Farplane, if you're okay with it." Tidus answered her with a nod.

"We've never seen a Sending before, but... If it's really okay with you... Please? I don't want their souls to become fiends." Rikku said quietly.

He nodded with understanding. "I know. Let them know, and I'll begin."

Rikku turned to the others and told them in their tongue that he was going to Send their departed.

It was met with sounds of surprise, a few murmurs of gratefulness and some even were respectful enough to give the prayer sign to him.

He bowed his head to them in response before making his way to the middle of the deck. He took a breath, holding his sword up in a salute to those who hard loft their lives, silently thanking them for their bravery before he closed his eyes and did a slow circle, drawing a circle on the ground with the tip of his blade before raising it and began to slowly spin and twirl it as he began to dance.

He really didn't know if there were specific steps or not, but he just moved how he felt he should, letting his body channel the energy he felt around them.

Soon, he felt the similar sensation he had when he'd been within Anima's chamber and quiet voices like whispers and soft cries passed through him. He was unaware of the pyreflies and light swirling and glowing around him, creating a beautiful, but somber display to the viewers.

He couldn't hear the quiet prayers and murmurs of goodbye to the fallen, but he could sense the gratefulness of the spirits as he willed the gates to the Fareplane to open, visualizing within his mind the souls being ushered past.

He danced until he felt every single one pass through and slowly came to a stop, drawing his sword back in and letting his arm lower down, opening his eyes.

His vision was blurry and it took a few blinks of his eyes to realize he'd been crying. He slowly brought his other hand up and wiped the tears away before offering a watery smile towards Rikku and the others and gave another short bow.

"T-That was... So beautiful but sad. Thank you... It was like I could feel them saying goodbye and they were at peace." Rikku said quietly, her voice serious to match the atmosphere.

"Glad I could help. Although to be perfectly honest, that was my first Sending. I'm just glad I did it right. They deserved to be at rest." Tidus asnwered.

"That was your first Sending? Have you been a Summoner long?" She asked in surprise.

He shook his head. "No, not for very long. My first stop in my Pilgrimage was the Baaj Temple." He replied.

"Oh. Still, thank you." She turned to the others and voiced up that they should return to their preparations and then get some rest before turning back, motioning at him.

"Come on inside, I'm sure fighting like that and then Sending has made you tired. You should get a little rest while we get ready to head back towards land."

Tidus gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, I could use the rest. That took more out of me than I expected."

He followed her into the ship and below decks til they reached the Cabins and she opened the door to an empty one.

"Sorry it's not much, but at least it's warm, right?" She asked, giving him a hopeful grin.

"Exactly, and that's what counts. Thanks a lot." Tidus replied before he stepped in, made his way to the bunk and sank down onto it with a stretch.

"You're welcome. Rest up!" She replied cheerfully before closing the door.

Tidus couldn't even stop the way he sank to the side and let himself lay out on the mattress.

It really had taken a toll on him, he hadn't even really noticed til just now just how heavy and drained he felt.

So this was how Yuna felt...

He brought his hand up to rest over his chest, the solemn feeling he had there weighed strong. It really had been killing her...

Taking in a deep breath, he let it out slow before letting his eyes close and let his mind settle down. It didn't take long from the mental and emotional exhaustion to catch up to his physical and pull him into a deep sleep.

For the first time in ages, Tidus wasn't plagued by dreams or nightmares.

There was only the gentle hum of the Fayth.