Author's Note: Once again, thank you for the reviews. Yes, Nikki, I am hurrying along with the story, but it is due to the fact I currently suffering from a severe case of INSPIRATION. I would hate to lose the motivation, which all of you have given me, by taking another pause in the story. Doing so might lead to me developing a writer's block and losing all desire to continue on with the story, as I had experienced earlier. I'm for certain you all do not wish for that to happen. Well, here it is people. I will detain you no longer. The chapter you've wished for since the story began! The climactic showdown between Tidus and Gallant! Enjoy.

Chapter 21- Darkness Falls, Part One

Gallant struggled to regain his posture as he brought himself to his knees, head dazed by the impact from Tidus's attack just mere moments ago. For the centuries he had existed after his death, never had he experienced the feeling of pain, never endured it, only forgotten it. But now, after so long, it came rushing back in a flash. Overwhelming, frightening. And his would-be prisoner was man responsible.

Yet it was not this which concerned him. No, the thought of pain did not bring him to fear even in the slightest. No, it was blood. His blood. The blood he was supposedly unable to bleed! For only mortals bled, and with his connection to Oblivion it should not have been something he was to endure! His mortality was lost a thousand years ago, along with his humanity. So why was it he seemed mistaken?

"What," Gallant paused, glancing to Tidus and brushing against his blood-covered cheek. The crimson liquid smeared across his palm. "What is this? Why do I bleed!"

Tidus only smirked, his golden hues regarding Gallant with apparent amusement. "What's the matter? If I didn't know better I'd say that was panic in your voice."

Gallant's eyes blazed in cold fury. "You, I'll make you suffer for this! No one disgraces me!"

"There's a lot more humiliation to come." Tidus declared this without doubt, fist curling in anticipation to extract his revenge. "And a lot more damage to bring to your would-be indestructible body."

"Let's see you back up those words!" The sinister, ancient being charged forward, grasping the hilt of his sword in hand from it's position on the ground. His piercing eyes darkened in rage, extending the deadly weapon with a threatening hiss as he thrust it forward at Tidus's chest. "Perish!"

Within seconds of unwanted contact of the weapon, in one graceful movement Tidus twisted himself to the side, narrowly avoiding it's pestilent tip while in mid-turn concentrating power into his closed fist, the first spark of flame signaling it's completion. "Firaga!" As Gallant began to pass by, Tidus swung powerfully with his arm, the backside of his hand crushing Gallant's face as the spell exploded upon contact, hurtling the malevolent creature back with his face consumed in fire.

Gallant screamed his suffering briefly before silenced by the smoldering heat, rolling across the ground and clawing desperately at his face to extinguish the flames.

"You stupid, stupid boy," Gallant spat hatefully as he attempted to ignore the blistering pain that spread through his body, his face scarred terribly from the attack. "I'll crush your skull into a thousand pieces!"

Tidus lowered his eyes lazily, the smirk portraying no doubt, only confidence as he responded sarcastically. "Scary."

"It's insulting enough to be wounded by a mortal, but mocked? This is unacceptable! This wasn't supposed to happen!"

"Plans usually don't go the way we want them too." Suddenly, anger flickered across his face, smirk turning into a frown. "I had planned to spend the rest of my days in happiness with Yuna, waking up to see her face and to the cheery voice of Rikku, trying to dig out as much information as she could." The golden aura dimmed mysteriously, expanding it's size as his blonde hair began to sway. "But you ruined that. Now I won't hear her voice anymore! And it's all your fault!" His scream echoed throughout the air as Tidus found himself in a dash to his foe, the only thought of killing him to cross his rage-driven mind. His movements were silent, quickening to the point he seemingly glided across the flour on his path.

"Your losses were necessary. The plans of your future cannot compare to the plans of Spira! On the road to re-creation, sacrifices must be made." Gallant heaved his body up, bolting forward at speeds even with Tidus's own. The two meet in a head-on collision, a blinding light engulfing their entities whole as their opposing powers clashed, dispersing violent gusts of wind throughout the terrain. Gallant's blade swung with his whole mind intent upon exacting his vengeance for the recent humiliation he had suffer, disappointed though undiscouraged when Tidus ducked to evade.

The courageous youth, Tidus, held his own, even though weaponless, against his threatening adversary who seemed more determined to destroy him rather than preserve his body to harness the power of Oblivion. Still, he swore within as he ducked away to avoid another attack, that never would he be belittled in such a way again. Gallant had nearly broken him in the chamber, placed him in a state of helplessness. He would never allow him that pleasure again.

With a cry of effort, Tidus swung upward with his fist, watching happily as it collided against Gallant's jaw and sending him hurtling into the air. Yet to his dismay, as he had anticipated him to once again lay upon the ground in agony, the sinister man flipped himself back, gracefully landing upon his feet. Again their eyes level, the tension between them evident by the glares they exchanged.

"It won't be that easy." His speed once more was demonstrated as he broke off into a run, sword extended and visible not, indicated by only a glisten of silver from the sunlight.

Tidus hardly managed to leap from the death that was impending, yet unable to avoid suffering a rather deep gash on his side as the sword passed through. His eyes watered in pain, body tensing as his hands pressed against his wound instinctively. A wave of dizziness hit from nowhere, and he collapsed on one knee with a deep inhale of breath.

"I see now," Gallant spoke as he slowly returned to a standing position. "You've managed to harness the power within the piece of my soul I gave you. How, I do not know. For when the creature attacked you at Zanarkand, it was my will that allowed the power to activate. In the chamber, your rage summoned forth a very small piece. And now, you've called upon it all."

With narrowed eyes, Gallant turned to face his wounded opponent. "Then there's the matter of my vulnerability. I hadn't anticipated it, but it seems in the act of sharing my existence it has left me tied to mortality like you, the mortality I believed to have left behind." A quiet chuckle passed through his lips. "A minor setback…"

Yuna awoke with a start. Her heavy eyes blurred from the slumber in which she had fallen into, lazy while she desperately sought them to adjust. Ahead, with horror upon which she gazed, the confrontation she had missed paused with Tidus slumped down with his hands clutching at a wound.

'Tidus?' She questioned confusedly, trying to recall everything that had happened. She remembered casting the numerous spells in her quest to awaken her love from his sleep, and then…darkness. She could remember nothing more. 'I must have passed out from exhaustion.'

Undoubtedly pleased with knowing Tidus had awakened, she could not help but feel some regret, for now things looked unfortunately grim. From how it appeared in her eyes, he was losing. Losing the fight which decided to Spira's future.

"I have to help," Yuna whispered while glancing hopefully to Paine, praying the warrior had somehow been healed and left with energy to fight again. But she wasn't. She lay there, breathing shallowly, while blood accumulated in a puddle around her fallen body. "Paine! Paine, are you okay?"

"I'm f-fine," Paine called back, the strain evident in her voice. "Tidus needs your help! I'll…join you soon!"

Reluctantly, Yuna stepped forward, glancing once more to her fallen comrade who nodded encouragingly, reassuring her she'd be fine. Then she broke off into a run. Extending her hand forth, the garment grid activated, consuming her instantly within a blinding glow as her body began to pulsate with familiar power that swept through her veins. She could feel the cold of darkness blanket her skin, her right hand suddenly gripping an object of great weight. Finally, it reached it's completion.

Gallant's head turned in curiosity to regard the light, frowning as it stung at his eyes. "What's this? More help, Tidus?"

Tidus only smirked as he witnessed, for the first time, the marvelous power of the Garment Grid and Dress Spheres. "I tried to warn you, jackass. Yuna's the one woman you don't want to fuck with. And now, you've done gone and pissed her off."

The glow retreated inward as the process came to a halt, the two watching interestedly as slowly the light gave birth to a figure. Yuna began to walk casually as she emerged, eyes blazing with determination while her body adjusted to the weight of the Dark Knight's armor and her arm the sword upon which she single-handedly wielded. This was her trump card, this was her last chance. But if Paine had failed, a woman of excellent swordsmanship, would she?

"You," Yuna spat hatefully while she extended her sword and aimed it at his body with a threatening glare. She had gotten over the fact this man had deceived her, leading her to believe he was an ally earlier on when he had saved Tidus. But it was nothing more than a clever ploy, to gain what she was completely unaware. And she could have cared less. "You've done nothing but bring suffering to people. I refuse to let it go one anymore!"

Gallant grinned arrogantly, oblivious to the power she possessed within this state. "Then do something about it!"

"Bad thing to say," Tidus whispered while focusing on his wound, drawing forth the magic within as he in secrecy cast a curaga spell. He felt pleased as the pain dulled while the gash slowly closed, already regaining the strength to stand.

Yuna focused and called upon the dark energies the dress sphere possessed, bending them to her will as the blade's tip began to burst with dark light, powering itself up and vibrating rapidly. "Demi," she screamed, launching the massive spell at her startled foe who was unaware she held the ability to summon it forth.

A mighty weight pressed against his body as Gallant took the full force of the spell head on, unable to react in such a short amount of time given after it's casting. He felt as though the whole of his being was contorting, expanding and shrinking again and again while he suffered in unexplainable agony. Memories flooded his mind, recalling the last time he had been struck with it. The showdown, 1000 years into the past, against Oblivion. When Zanarkand's people united to bring down the evil, back when he was weak. Yet although it was pitiful in comparison to what was cast by Oblivion itself, it still had the sufficiency to inflict massive damage. Then it was over. He wobbled as his body recovered from the attack, weakened severely as the spell had drained a fair part of his life and reawakened a part of his past.

"Curses," he groaned while struggling to remain on his feet. "I underestimated you, summoner. Rest assured I will not allow that to happen again. You had your opportunity to defeat me, and you wasted your shot. Now you'll pay."

"I don't think so!"
"What?" Gallant quickly turned to the direction of the voice in surprise, unable to react as Tidus's leg swept forward and collided against his gut. He gasped as the air was knocked out of him, leaning forward only to be knocked back as his foe's fist smacked against Gallant's face. His bottom lip exploded with blood, the force of the impact sending him skidding across the platform before coming to a halt and falling upon his back. "Aghh!"

"That's the second time I've seen you on the ground in the last 10 minutes, Gallant." Tidus laughed cockily before turning to face Yuna with a smile. "Hey."

Yuna was lost for a moment as their eyes connected once more. She was startled, no doubt, when she gazed into what was once the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen, now golden but still full of warmth. Only the purple veins that decorated his gorgeous face were disturbing, and hoped they would vanish over time. Unable to contain herself any longer, Yuna collapsed into his arms, disabling the Garment Grid and returning to her favored gunner dress sphere.

"Tidus," she sobbed, tears of joy falling down her cheeks as she nuzzled her face into his chest. "I was so scared. When your were taken, things only got worse. When w-we got here, thousands of fiends swarmed us! A-and we even lost Rikku, we lost her Tidus! Because of him we-"

'No,' a voice echoed through her mind as Yuna stood there in Tidus's arms. She felt a powerful presence wash over her, suddenly going numb as her body acted on it's own. "No."

"Huh? Yuna?" Tidus blinked as he noticed the dull, lifelessness in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

'It was you.' Again it came in a humored tone. "It was you."

"Me? What are you talking about?"

'You were the reason she had to die. That Bevelle was destroyed, that all those people were killed. "You were the reason she had to die, that Bevelle was destroyed, that all those people were killed."

Panic and confusion began to fill Tidus's tone. "Yuna, what are you saying?"

'If you weren't alive, none of this would have happened! You should have stayed gone!' It screamed in her mind, and although she was aware of her words, she could do nothing to prevent repeating it. "If you weren't alive, none of this would have happened! You should have stayed gone," she yelled, her voice echoing through the air. 'No, I don't mean this.'

'You do. Don't deny it, it's how you really feel. What you really think.'

Yuna watched sadly from within as Tidus stepped back, the hurt in his eyes so painfully clear to her. It was saddening, she could literally see his heart being torn within those pained hues. Then her body began to approach him with her consent. 'What's going on? Stop this!'

'Don't fight it. This is what you want, right? Revenge? Isn't that what you came here for?'

"I hate you!" Her voice was filled with emotion that wasn't hers, filled with the anger that wasn't meant for Tidus, but for Gallant. "I wish you had never come back! I wish you were dead! I wish you'd fade away again!"

Then Tidus stopped backing away. He was speechless, unable to respond to her words. Was this how she really felt? Did she truly want him gone?

Yuna could feel the negativity and sorrow in his heart, as though the being controlling her was allowing it. 'No, don't listen! I love you! I love you!'

Paine herself was finding it difficulty to find truth in Yuna's words, for the eyes no longer held signs of life. This wasn't Yuna, not the Yuna she had come to know. "Something isn't right." But what was going on, she could not place.

'I've suffered enough! Spira's better off, no, I'm better off, with you gone!' "I've suffered enough! Spira's better off, no, I'm better off, with you gone!" Suddenly her arms raised as she drew near Tidus who remained silent with his head down and eyes closed, face full of hurt. What was happening she didn't know, but then she saw it, the gun. 'No! No, no, no! Don't do it! Please don't do it! I'm begging you! STOP!'

'Like you said, you've suffered enough. Both you and Spira are better off without him.'

Then it happened. With everything she had, Yuna broke free of the hold the being had upon her, or the being let her go. Whatever the case, she was free. But not in time, just a second too late, to prevent her finger from pulling the trigger. The shot rang out, a thunderous bang that spread through the air within seconds. Everyone, all aboard the Celsius who watched from the monitor, to the diggers who gazed on from afar, flinched at the noise. And Yuna could only watch, her scream inaudible to her ears, as the bullet passed through Tidus's body, and slowly he fell to the ground. The expression of surprise, hurt, and betrayal upon his face like needles in Yuna's heart.

Author's Note: Bang! This is how I leave you, with the best cliffy since this story started. I hope It's made you anxious to read the next chapter, and leave a good review. Because it all ends next time! The battle comes to a close. Who will make it out alive? Will Paine manage to hold on? Will Tidus survive? What of Yuna's child? And does Gallant still intend to harness Oblivion's power? Oh, and bbychrangel, like I said, everything will work out in the end. There will be a sequel to this story, and in that sequel things will become clearer to you. That goes for you as well Nikki. I promise. Ciao!