A New Saviour
Disclaimer: I own neither Final Fantasy nor Shadow Hearts and you know who does.
Author's Note: Wow! Thank you Dragonheart7373, Mako-Magic, Harakiri, Jckidsmart, Gen, shogunmaster, Anilia Hawkeye, The Hunter, SSJ Cisco, Dragon46, and Zero-Vision for the reviews. There have been some complaints about the story following the FFX plotline too much, but that won't be like that throughout the whole story. I'm just following it until I find a good spot to start adding in the Shadow Hearts plotline. Because let's face it, Yuri still needs to go crazy and try to kill himself. So please, if you hate the FFX plot, set your mind at ease.
Sorry about Rikku's rushed entrance, I just didn't want to linger on it too much 'cause it's really not that important. Rikku's great and everything, she was just never one of my favourite characters.
-----------
Chapter 9
Once they hit shore, there was another winding path to follow through the forest. Yuri lagged behind a bit, lost in his own thoughts. He was thinking about what the masks had said about this new fusion monster. He just couldn't figure out what it could be, considering he already had six.
Every time Yuri mastered six of his monsters, the masks would try to pull a fast one on him and make him fight a stronger version of one of his existing monsters. He had defeated all they had thrown at him and now possessed six high-level fusion monsters: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Dark, and Light. What was left?
"Thinking hard about something?"
"Huh?" Yuri looked up to see Lulu.
"It's not like you to be so quiet," she commented, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Oh. Sorry. I've just been thinking about what happened with the Al Bhed and Yuna. I felt bad for not helping out."
"It's not your fault if you can't swim."
"No! It's not that . . . I just don't feel strong enough. Y'know, you got your magic, Yuna can summon her Aeons, Auron has his big ass sword . . . Wakka . . . well, he can throw a ball real good . . . I dunno, I just feel somewhat out of place," Yuri confessed.
"What do you mean? Your fusion monsters are incredible! You have their strength to add to your own," Lulu said, trying to reassure him.
"But that's the thing . . . it's still their strength. They still have a mind of their own."
"I don't understand."
"Well . . . " Yuri's mind was instantly flooded by the taunts and snickers from the four masks.
'We know of the fear and doubt in your mind every time you fuse.'
'You fear the very being that you become.'
'You fear that you will become swallowed by the darkness.'
'You fear that the beings inside you will take over and you will destroy everything and everyone you hold dear!'
Yuri shook his head. "Never mind. Forget about it," he said, forcing a grin onto his face. Lulu didn't look convinced, but she didn't say anything. Up ahead, the others had stopped as Tidus stared at something near the shore of the Moonflow.
"Hey, there's a person here!" he called out. The others hurried over. A small, female figure was lying on her stomach, unconscious. Tidus knelt down and poked her in the shoulder. "You okay?" he asked. She stirred, slowly getting on her feet.
They couldn't see her face because she wore thick goggles and what looked like a wet suit. Blond hair poked out from the helmet she wore. She unzipped the wet suit, peeling it off to reveal short, green, ruffled shorts and an orange tank top. Off came the goggles and Tidus gave a little 'eep' of recognition.
"Whew! I thought I was done for back there!" She exclaimed. "That really hurt you big meanie!" she said as she smacked Tidus in the shoulder.
"Rikku?" he asked. She nodded. "That big machina that grabbed Yuna in the water was you?!" She nodded again.
"Rikku, is that you?" Yuna asked, stepping forward.
"Yunie!" Rikku cried, running over and throwing her arms around the other girl.
"Do they know each other? And how do you know her?" Yuri asked Tidus.
"She was on the ship that rescued me when I first came here. But then Sin appeared and I ended up in Besaid. I thought she was dead!" replied Tidus. Rikku said something to Yuna, who then beckoned over Lulu. The three separated themselves from the group.
"Sorry guys, girl talk!" Rikku said as the three began talking softly amongst themselves.
"What do they mean 'girl talk'? Why can't we know what's going on?" Wakka asked. Yuri shrugged. Auron remained silent, but his stiff posture revealed his annoyance with the interruption.
Yuri watched as Rikku talked, Yuna listened and then looked to Lulu for approval, who then nodded. The three headed back over to the guys.
"What was that all about?" asked Wakka.
"I would like Rikku to become my official Guardian," Yuna announced. Auron stepped towards Rikku, who seemed to be avoiding his gaze.
"Open you eyes," he instructed. Rikku slowly opened one. "As I thought," he said simply. Rikku's back had been facing the others, so they didn't really know what it was about. However, Auron was never one to explain himself. "Let's go. Guadosalam is just ahead," Auron said as he continued on.
Yuna smiled gratefully as they followed him. Tidus struck up a conversation with the hyper little girl that had just joined them. Probably to thank her for before or something.
Once they were through the forest, they came to what looked like a cave. As it turned out, this was the entrance to Guadosalam, which was entirely inside. The ground quickly turned to stone, and the air grew cooler as the group descended. Yuri's eyes widened as he looked around.
He was instantly hit with the memory of when he, Zhuzhen, Alice, and Margarete had to go through these trials when they were looking for the White Tiger Votive Picture. There were lots of winding pathways in the underground caves, much like how this looked. However, thinking of his friends depressed him so he decided to focus on what was different about this place.
There was doors built right into the rock, which Yuri assumed were the Guado's homes. They were colourfully decorated like the signs above the doors that led to the store and inn.
"Lady Yuna! So good of you to come!" said a Guado as he rushed over to greet them. Yuri looked at him strangely, until Lulu prodded him and quietly told him not to stare. "I am Tromell," the Guado continued. "Maester Seymour has asked me to invite you to his manor, as he has something very important to discuss with you."
"With me? Alright."
"Please, follow me."
"Seymour again?" Tidus growled under his breath. "Why can't he just leave us alone?" Yuri shrugged, slapping Tidus on the shoulder.
"Why? You jealous that he gives Yuna so much attention?" he asked teasingly. Tidus opened his mouth to protest, but Yuri's loud laugh cut him off. The group followed Yuna and Tromell into a mansion, located at the heart of Guadosalam.
They were greeted with a buffet of tasty food while they waited for Seymour.
"Hey Lulu, what's the deal with Seymour?" Yuri asked with a mouth full of food. Lulu just gave him a look, and he instantly swallowed.
"Why are you asking me?"
"I dunno, you just seem to know everything, whereas Tidus and I, well, don't." Lulu let out a quiet chuckle, which caused Yuri to grin. He really liked being able to make her laugh, although he didn't know why.
"What are you wondering about?"
"Why everyone thinks he's so great!" Tidus blurted out.
"Well, for one, not everyone thinks he's 'so great'. People respect him because he's a Maester," Lulu explained. "Originally, the Guado were not the most well-liked race in Spira. However, Maester Seymour's father, Lord Jyscal, was the one who helped unite the Guado and provide the people with a better understanding of them. He even took a human wife. So as you can see, Maester Seymour isn't even a full Guado."
"Huh," was all Yuri could say.
"In case you haven't noticed, there isn't a temple in Guadosalam. Summoners usually just pass right on through on their way to the Thunder Plains," Lulu added.
"Heh, nobody want to stop and visit the great Seymour?" Tidus asked sarcastically.
"Lord Seymour is the key to our salvation," came a voice from behind him. Tidus jumped and turned to see Tromell. "He is our future, for he is the one who will bring glory to the Guado."
"Um, sure, whatever you say buddy," Yuri said, not really sure what to make of the interruption. Not much else could be said, however, as Seymour finally decided to grace them with his presence.
"Lady Yuna, so good of you to come. Please, everyone follow me, I have something to show you," Seymour said, motioning for them to follow him.
"This had better be good. We're losing valuable travel time here," Tidus muttered.
"Shut up!" Wakka hissed at him. "We have a private audience with the Maester! How lucky are we, ya? So show some respect!" Tidus just huffed and followed them.
The group didn't have to walk far as soon they were surrounded by a hologram of what looked like a Machina City. Everyone stopped, their mouths open in wonder, as the city and its people swam around them.
"Zanarkand," Tidus muttered in awe.
"Zanarkand? Your Zanarkand?" Yuri loudly asked him.
"Yes, Zanarkand. As it appeared one thousand years ago," Seymour said, smiling slyly. "She once lived in this metropolis."
"She who?" Yuna asked. Seymour just smiled at her as the scene around them changed to a bedroom where a white-haired woman sat. Yuna gasped. "Lady Yunalesca!" she exclaimed.
"Who?" Yuri asked. Seymour looked at him, with considerably less warmth then what he showed Yuna.
"Lady Yunalesca, of course you know her?" he asked, giving a superior smirk in his direction. Yuri scowled at him. That's all it took to get him on board with Tidus in the Seymour-hating fan club.
"Lady Yunalesca was the first Summoner to call the final Aeon and defeat Sin," Yuna told him. "My father named me after her."
"Which brings me to the reason I asked you here," Seymour continued, raising his hand to the scene before them. A man had entered and had embraced Yunalesca. "Even the High Summoner could not have defeated Sin without the love and support from her lover, Lord Zaon," Seymour said as the image faded away.
Once it was gone, Seymour lowered his head to Yuna's ear, whispering something that was inaudible to the rest of them. All they saw was her shocked expression and the bright patch of scarlet that appeared on her face. Seymour just smiled coolly.
"What did he just say to her?" Tidus whispered angrily to Yuri. Rikku ran over to Yuna.
"What did he say? And why is your face so red?" Rikku asked her.
"He-he asked me to marry him," Yuna stuttered. Yuri immediately grabbed Tidus' shoulder in case he tried to kill Seymour.
"She has no time for marriage. She has a pilgrimage to continue," Auron told Seymour matter-of-factly. Seymour turned to him.
"I have no intention of stopping her pilgrimage," he stated. "Of course, you don't have to decide right away," he told Yuna. "Think it over." Seymour took her hand and kissed it.
"It's time to leave," Auron said coldly, turning his back to the group and heading for the door.
"May I ask why you're still here?" Seymour asked Auron's retreating back. Auron stopped, not turning around. No one seemed to notice his posture slightly stiffened, or that the hand on his sword tensed. "Forgive me. It's just that, we Guado are sensitive to the scent of the Farplane." Auron said nothing and continued out the door, everyone following him and exchanging puzzled looks.
Once outside of the mansion, everyone gathered around Yuna, eager to hear her decision.
"Wow, a marriage proposal from a Maester!" Wakka exclaimed.
"He actually wants to marry you?" Rikku asked Yuna. Kimahri just grunted.
"What are you going to say?" Tidus asked.
"I- I'm not sure yet. It would bring the people of Spira a lot of joy..." Yuna started, trailing off. Yuri approached Lulu, who had stayed on the outside of the circle, and had been very quiet since Seymour's announcement.
"So, what do you think about all this?" he asked her.
"It doesn't matter to me either way," Lulu said simply. "Marry, and bring joy to Spira. Defeat Sin and bring joy to Spira. Either way brings the same result. I'm sure that Yuna sees it that way to."
"Yeah, but, shouldn't you marry for love?" Lulu didn't answer at first, and for a moment Yuri thought he had struck a nerve.
"I want to talk with my father first before I decide anything," Yuna announced. The others nodded. Tidus and Yuri exchanged puzzled looks.
"Hey, isn't her dad, y'know, dead?" Before they even had a chance to ask, Lulu sighed and explained about the Farplane and the Pyreflies, how they hold the memories of the dead and project their image.
So the large group followed Yuna up to the entrance, where Auron and Rikku refused to go any farther. However, the ever-curious Yuri didn't hesitate as he followed them in. A wondrous sight greeted his eyes. It seemed as if they were on a platform that was floating in a huge nothingness of clouds. There were a few people scattered around its edge, talking to what looked like ghosts.
Yuri looked over and saw Wakka talking to a guy that looked a lot like him. He assumed that it was his brother, Chappu. Yuna and Tidus were standing in front of another couple, Yuna's parents. Then he saw Lulu, standing by herself just watching the others.
"Is there no one you want to see?" he asked. She shook her head. "Everyone I need is alive and with me," she answered.
"So, you can only see people who are...dead?" The thought creeped him out a little.
"Isn't there someone you'd like to see again? Your mother or father perhaps?" Lulu asked him.
"No, I-" Yuri stopped. "Actually, there is. What do I do?"
"Just think about them. If they've passed on, the Pyreflies will call up their image." Yuri thought about the three people he didn't want to see appear. Yet slowly, three images appeared before him. First, a girl in a blue, pleated skirt with a matching blouse and jacket. Her blonde hair was pulled back into two braids and held up in a large, blue bow. Secondly, an old man with a long gray braid, beard, and a monocle appeared. He wore formal red and black robes with flames embroidered on the sleeves.
"No..." Yuri whispered. Lastly, a woman appeared in a blue miniskirt, black, lace-up top, black fishnets, and a pinkish-gray trench coat. Her blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail. The three floated in front of him, unmoving and expressionless. Yuri sank to his knees at the sight.
So it was true. It was all true. Until this point, Yuri still had some hope left. That this was all some crazy dream. Or maybe he was in another test. That he'd wake up and find himself back in his hotel room in Shanghai, and that everything would be okay. As unlikely as it seemed at times, he still had hope. Now, that all changed. Lulu had said it herself- only the dead will appear. If he was really in the far future, then they would've died by now. They would have grown old and passed on. The truth hit him like a punch to the stomach and for a moment he felt as if he couldn't breathe.
"Yuri? Are you okay?" Lulu asked him as she knelt by his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. He tried his best to stop his voice from shaking.
"I just didn't think they would appear. I wanted them to be alive. I thought that I could get back to my world and they would be there. Or they had been brought here with me, and I'd find them during Yuna's pilgrimage. But it all makes sense now. I believe what Auron told me now. I never said anything before, about not believing. I thought if I just went along with everything that it would all end eventually. But I guess I was wrong. They died a long time ago, because I really have been brought to the future."
Lulu, not knowing what to say, placed an arm around his shoulders and held him close, a gesture that surprised them both. She looked up at the three figures that Yuri had called up.
"So these are the friends that you've been looking for?' she asked softly. He nodded. "Yuri, I'm sorry." He didn't say anything, simply acknowledging her with a nod.
"Hey, you okay?" Wakka's voice broke the moment and the two stood up.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It just gets emotional, you know? Seeing your dead friends?" Yuri said, trying his best to laugh it off. Wakka nodded.
"I know how you feel. It's never easy to come here, for anyone," Wakka agreed. Yuna and Tidus approached them as well.
"I feel better now. Let's go," Yuna informed them. The others nodded and headed for the exit. Yuri turned towards the fading images of his friends, saying a silent goodbye to them before running to catch up.
As they exited, Yuri felt as if someone was following them. He turned and promptly fell over backwards in surprise. There was a Guado man trying to follow them out of the Farplane, only he resembled the images that the pyreflies conjured up. Only, instead of staying still, he was clawing and growling at them, desperately trying to reach them.
"What the Hell is that!" Yuri exclaimed.
"It's Lord Jyscal!" Lulu said, in an alarmed tone.
"Seymour's old man?" Tidus asked. "I thought he was dead!"
"Yuna, send him!" Auron commanded. Yuna stepped towards him and did as she was told. She waved her staff around and danced. Lord Jyscal faded into a cloud of pyreflies as Yuna sent him to the farplane for good.
-----------
Author: Sorry about the long wait. I hope that this chapter was worth it. Now that Yuri has accepted his situation fully, we'll be seeing less of the FFX plot. I've followed it for now because he's pretty much just been along for the ride. Now that he knows he's stuck there, then we can see more of his ideas come through, and more of the Shadow Hearts plotline come into play. Luv you all, please review!!!