Hello everybody. I know it's been quite a while since I updated anything, and I apologize for that. I guess I'm not very dependable, am I? Well, I could blame it on any number of things (which of course had some effect on my updating speed), but the main reason was simply another block when it came to this story. However, I finally worked out of it long enough to bring you chapter five. And to make up for my absence somewhat, this one is a little lengthier than my previous chapters, at 13 pages. So if that's any consolation to any of you, then I'm pleased.
Well, this is it. The inaugurational ceremony and events leading up to it. The chapter you've been waiting for, for way too long (3 1/2 months). Many things of great importance happen in this chapter, and I sure hope you enjoy it.
Anyway, I shall now respond to the reviews I got.
BlackDemon567: Well, not quite August, unfortunately . . . but, better late than never. Yeah, keeping Yuna in character last chapter was very difficult; I appreciate your giving me the benefit of the doubt. Thank you, and here's chapter five!
mandyfanforevr: Thank you. I agree with your statement; it is important to get this stuff in. Anyway, here's chapter five. I hope you enjoy it.
CyanideSmiles: I'm glad you enjoyed Auron's story (in the way you did). The answer to your questionmight befound in this chapter. Read on to find out!
Lord isacc: Wow, it certainly has been a long time. How are you doing, old friend? I'm glad to see you back and reading my work. I know . . . it's a little disheartening for me as well to have stopped Worlds Apart, but who knows. Maybe I'll pick it back up again someday and be spurred to finish it. And I'm quite pleased that you enjoy this story on Final Fantasy X. I hope you'll enjoy chapter five jsut as much.
bbychrangel: Well, I apologize for leaving you on the hook until November instead of August. Nonetheless, I'm glad you're enjoying my work, and here's the fifth chapter. Hopefully chapter 6 will be out in less time.
Litwolf689: Hello, fellow new reviewer. I'm glad that you also likemy work. Anyway, here's chapter five for you. Maybe some of your questions will be answered in this chapter . . . ?
blueflamingo: Well, I'm glad I was able to make you happy. Was your prediction correct? Let me know when you've finished reading this chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
ShadyShot: I hope this chapter is as good as the rest, and I'm glad you like the story. I'll try and update more often. I hope you got over the mushy parts. Anyway, enjoy this chapter.
Wow, eight reviews. . . . Well, what should I expect after stalling for 110 days? Anyway, I'm sure you're all anxious to get moving, so I won't keep you waiting. On with chapter 5!
Chapter 5: The Third Age of Mankind
It was hazy. He could already tell, and he hadn't even opened his eyes. Feeling like he had just been thrown off a storm-tossed ship, Tidus stirred from where he lay on the floor. He blinked . . . one, twice, three times. Trying to clear the fog wall resting in front of his eyes. Slowly, things came into focus. He was lying on the floor of a stone room. The walls, ceiling and floor were made of stone, and there was a huge fireplace, already adorned with wood and decorated with greenery, right in front of him. As his eyes continued to focus, his headache seemed to increase. But then, the only thing that could make his predicament worse occurred.
Bahamut appeared before him. "Care to let me fill you in?"
Tidus moaned and massaged his temple slowly before sitting up. "Where . . . am I?"
The Fayth sighed. "I'll take that as a 'yes', then," he said. "You're alive. I saved you." Tidus looked at him blankly. The Fayth gazed back. After a few minutes he said, "Do I get any thanks?"
Tidus blinked in surprise. "That's it? I ask, 'where am I', and you say that I'm alive? Why do you always have to complicate simple questions?" Tidus said, throwing up his hands in exasperation.
"Because life demands complicated answers," the fayth responded.
Tidus knew he was right. He may not have been exceedingly bright, but he certainly wasn't clueless. To supposedly have been brought back to life by a fayth, a feat which had been granted to no other mortal, certainly was a complex aspect to Tidus's life. And Tidus was certainly not going to pretend to know the reason why the Fayth made his choice solely based on what Tidus told him he felt. Now, however, what not the time to question why he was dealt the cards he was. It was just his role to play through.
"How do I know you're telling me the truth?" Tidus asked skeptically. "How do I know we aren't in some other area of the Farplane?"
"Look out the window," the boy replied.
Tidus, perplexed as to what the answer had to with his question, got up and started toward the window. Then again, the Fayth was never plainly answered an inquiry of any kind, so there was some form of bitter consistency in the whole thing. Tidus sighed, stopped in front of the window and pulled open the blinds, allowing city lights to wink back at him. Wait . . . city lights to wink back at him?
Indeed this was so. As far as he could see, ornate and beautiful buildings lay scattered in front of him. It was twilight out, and he could see the glow of lights from the buildings winking at him in what seemed to be a cheery manner. The sun had just a little feeble light left, and was drenching the city in its dim red and purple juice, giving the city a majestical look the likes of which Tidus had never seen before. Mountains lay to the left, black in the silhouette cast by the light of the dying sun. It was almost as beautiful as the Moonflow he saw back so long ago with Yuna.
"It's so pretty," Tidus sighed. "Where-" But then Tidus saw a large, towering building to the right, almost hidden from view by the confines of the window. "Wait a minute. That looks like the Temple in Bevelle!"
"Very good, my friend," Bahamut said, smiling. "You're in an inn in northwest Bevelle. Now, look up and put two and two together for me. Do you recognize that thing streaking through the sky?"
> > > > >
The airship continued on its present course for the sprawling and spiritual city of Bevelle. Yuna could see the sun setting in the bay windows behind her, and knew that they were almost going to start descending into the mammoth city. She had to have been on board this airship for at least eight hours, give or take. If she didn't get out of this ship soon, she was liable to go crazy. However, such was not the case at the moment. Yuna, rather, was musing to herself.
'Remember . . .' Yuna's conscience told her. 'Remember how it feels to smile.'
She nodded to nobody in particular as she looked around at the people in the room. Auron, sitting at the table, his expression unreadable over his sunglasses and trench coat collar. Rikku, who had just finished doing her little dance, shining like the brightest star in the night sky. Wakka and Lulu, who were smiling and holding hands nonchalantly. Belgemine, who watched with a professional smile on her face. Nonetheless, Yuna could see that the happy atmosphere that had currently filled the room was getting to Belgemine, and soon her faced relaxed, finding an uninhibited smile.
It was then that Yuna realized how peaceful it was in the room. All thoughts of apprehension and fear were momentarily gone from everybody's minds. Well, save for Auron. As per usual, he was thinking, about what . . . only he knew. His mind was forever stretched into the vast, unfriendly, unpredictable phenomenon that was the future. However, though he didn't necessarily look as cheerful as the others, his face sill personified an air of internal peace.
"Do you need some time alone?" Lulu asked, her voice breaking the silence.
Yuna shook her head slowly, and somewhat uncertainly. "I need to clean up my mess though," she gestured to the wall. "It wouldn't be right to leave it for someone else to clean."
"You need some time alone," Auron saw straight through her and ignored what she said. "Your eyes, though not of the same color, convey the same message. The eyes . . . they do not lie."
Auron quickly got up from his sitting position at the table, pushed his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose, and strode quickly out of the room, as though he were trying to escape from something. This left the others in the room with Yuna. Silently, they began to follow Auron and they too dissipated from the room. Yuna sighed, and retrieved a dish towel, broom and dustpan from the corner of the room. She worked in silence, going over what Auron had told her. It explained a lot. He was never exactly friendly with either her or Rikku. He wasn't mean or anything, just colder and more distant. And now, Yuna could halfway understand why.
'Wow, I really did quite a bit of damage to these glasses,' Yuna thought to herself with a half-smile as she now began to sweep up the shards. Indeed, the biggest piece of glass on the floor was only the size of her thumbnail.
She finished sweeping up the mess. Carrying the shards over to the trash bin, she set the broom and dustpan back in the corner. As she walked by the table where she had sat moments earlier, she picked up the damp dish towel and walked over to the mess. Crouching down, she began to mop up the spilled peppermint tea, while making careful certain that her dress did not come in contact with the spilled liquid. The wall took most of it though; it was spattered so it looked like someone had thrown paint against the wall.
"Finished?"
Yuna spun around and saw another delegate standing at the doorway, and not one she necessarily wanted to see in this situation. Dona sauntered in, a sash draped over her right shoulder. She was scantily dressed in a brown miniskirt and a brown leather vest with nothing underneath it. At first glance, Yuna thought she was wearing absolutely nothing as the color of the clothing blended so well with her dark skin. Dona also wore brown high heels.
"Almost," Yuna replied.
"I just wanted to step in and confer my congratulations," Dona said with a small smirk on her face. "You beat me. You got to Sin first, and even lived to tell us of it. And on top of that . . . you're the only person to have done so." Yuna said nothing, so Dona continued. "And now you're destined to be the President. Which leads me to question: Why would the most famous person in Spira as of this moment be doing a maid's work? Have a little accident, did we? Is my rival, after going through all this, about to . . . dare I say it, crack?" She said the last word lightly, innocently, yet mockingly.
"Was there something you wanted to discuss?" Yuna asked politely, but firmly.
Dona shrugged and leaned against the doorway. "What happened to you? The spirit of encountering the new and unexplored? The competition between us? I was rather enjoying it."
"You said it yourself, I thought," Yuna replied. "I won."
Dona seemed taken aback by Yuna's quick wit. She sighed. "True." She was silent for a minute and then said, "It's just that I don't remember seeing a shaky, depressed and tearful Yuna. I remember seeing an innocence and a sense of duty I know I could never possess. That's why I though we would make good rivals. But . . . I see none of that anymore. Instead, I see a girl who's been wrung dry by the pressures and sorrows she's placed upon herself."
Yuna sighed too. "You're right," she said. She shook her head. "You're right. But It's not as though I intentionally want to make myself feel bad. I just can't help it. You know . . . all the grief and uncertainty."
"Don't let it get to you," Dona stated flatly. "You have better things to worry about."
"I feel that . . . it's easier said than done," Yuna replied, finishing her scrubbing of the walls.
Dona said nothing, but turned away. She crossed her right leg over her left and just stood there, back facing toward Yuna. She appeared to be thinking. Yuna watched her for a moment, then went to wash out the rag and return it to its proper place. Sighing again, she went and sat back down at the table. Auron's story kept reverberating in her head. What Tidus had said to him . . . and the pain that both he and Auron had gone through. Whether Auron wanted to admit it or not, Yuna wasn't blind. She could see that the man was hiding his past for a reason, and that was probably the most insight into the man that was Auron she'd get out of him for a long time. He was not an easy person to peer into, and that was probably after years of building up his inner defenses to make it that way.
Suddenly, a voice coming through the loudspeaker interrupted her thoughts. "We're going down on Bevelle now!" Cid roared through the loudspeaker. "Strap yourselves in, kiddos!"
Yuna cast Dona a knowing look. Dona returned it. "We should go back to the lounge," she said shortly. "They have seatbelts in there." She smirked again as she and Yuna began walking toward the back of the ship once again. "Your uncle is quite the crazy pilot, Yuna. Teach him some manners."
"But he's always cheerful," Yuna said dreamily. "I think . . . we'll need someone like him more than ever in the days to come."
They walked the rest of the way to the back of the ship in silence. Reaching the area a minute or so later, they meandered around the room to find two empty seats. Yuna had found one, between Auron and Belgemine, and was just about to sit down when the ship lurched. She stumbled and was about to fall, but then a pair of strong arms caught her waist and prevented her from cracking her head on a nearby table. The arms, who she thought were Auron's, were instead blue, warm, . . . and very furry. Her facial features lit up like stadium lights.
"Kimahri!" She squealed, turning around in his grasp and wrapping her arms snugly around the Ronso. "It's so wonderful to see you again!"
"Kimahri . . . happy to see Yuna," Kimahri responded. "But . . . why is Yuna sad?"
Yuna started. Rikku, being the chatterbox that she was, must have told Kimahri about some things. "I'm not sad," she lied quickly. "Just . . . preoccupied, is all."
Kimahri just nodded and guided Yuna into her seat carefully. Just as she latched her seat belt, the ship lurched downward even more violently and Kimahri was forced to grab onto a seat-back in order to remain standing. Yuna looked around and saw that everybody else was relatively shaken up as well. Several people, including O'aka, lay sprawled on the ground. Auron, however, was clinging to the wall, not moving. His eye was showing its usual alert status, darting around the room every few seconds.
After this last lurch, Cid finally had the ship on a steady course, and now they were descending steadily (though extremely rapidly) through the sky. The ground appeared to get closer and closer with each passing second. Out the window, there were no clouds. The sun was going down, glowing beautifully as it descended behind the snow-covered mountains to the north. The sun bleached them pink, as well as anything the dying rays touched. The ship was bathed in the feeble sunlight as it got closer to the ground.
After a minute or so, they were low enough so that Yuna could gaze out the window and look at what was almost directly below them. Bevelle lay sprawled out before her. Yuna realized that it had been many, many years since she had seen Bevelle at sunset. She had also forgotten how beautiful it was. Mixed in with the lights that glowed from every building, the sunset made Bevelle look like a lost paradise. The streets were dark, but the tops of the taller buildings glowed like giant lamps flecked with gold dust. And off in the distance . . .
The former Bevelle Temple, which had been turned into the Presidential Tower in only a week loomed before her and the others, growing closer by the second. It looked even larger than it had the last time Yuna had seen it. The speediest construction project in history resulted in a lighthouse-shaped presidential tower. Surrounding the base of the tower was a framework of interconnected buildings that had remained unaltered and attached to the tower. Those were to serve as deliberation rooms and lounges, as well as the living quarters for the delegates. Basically, for Yuna and the rest of the delegates on the ship . . . it was home.
Yuna could vividly remember the last time she was here. How disgusted and sick she felt to be in that wedding dress, vulnerable as a baby bird. How overjoyed she felt when she saw the airship streak through the sky, and her guardians descending from it. How horrified she felt when Kinoc had them surrounded, guns pointed at their heads. And lastly, how she felt vindicated by saving their life when they had saved hers so many times before. But now, Yuna thought, things would be totally different. She was in Bevelle for a celebration, a ceremony to cherish, a wonderful opportunity, and to guide Spira's future.
Suddenly, the ship lurched again from the apparent need to rapidly lose speed. Yuna felt herself pressed against her seat from the kinetic forces exerted by the ship. Within seconds the ship was moving so slowly it was almost hovering in midair. And right in front of the ship, Yuna could see what awaited her outside. People were crammed onto the highbridge, cheering and waving. They were being pushed back by tower guards, keeping the red carpet leading up to the entrance of the tower clear. Wait . . . red carpet? Yuna blushed. She disliked this much royalty and attention . . . she had since she was a little girl. Her father had always told her that humbleness was one of her greatest gifts . . . but she didn't like having to feel that way so often.
"We're just about there, Your Highness," Wakka joked, earning a light slap from Lulu and a nervous chuckle from Yuna. "Really though," he continued, absentmindedly rubbing the spot on his arm where Lulu smacked him, "they're really stoked about all this, ya? I mean, look at it all. Makes you feel kinda tall, doesn't it? Like you're on top of the world, ya?"
"I think it's cool!" Rikku shouted from somewhere behind Yuna. She could hear the excitement booming in her voice. "We're famous now! I've never walked on a red carpet before!"
"I could make a killin' here, I'm tellin' ye," O'aka suddenly piped up. "Look at all those poor blokes out there, waving, dancing . . . wallets bulging . . ." He sighed in disappointment.
"In just three days, you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams," Auron said flatly. "There would be no point selling to those people."
"Yeah, but . . ." O'aka said. "There's just something about cheating people outta a few extra gil, isn't there?" Yuna mentally wondered whether or not she had picked a trustworthy candidate for trade relations.
"HAH! We're docked!" Cid's voice boomed over the loudspeaker. "Those little punks never saw us land, we got here so fast. How 'bout that!"
"And he's a delegate?" Yuna heard Dona say. "We really are going to the dogs . . ." Yuna felt a surge of indignation rise from the pit of her stomach.
"Can we get off now?" Lulu asked, looking around.
"Well, we're stopped; I don't see why not," Wakka replied, getting up and helping Lulu do the same.
Slowly, everybody else followed Wakka and Lulu's example by getting up as well. And as though they had agreed upon it silently, they all didn't move, standing motionless by their chairs. They were all gazing at Yuna. It took a minute or so for the reason to become apparent to her. They were waiting for her to go first. Setting a resolved expression on her face, she looked at everybody and nodded, and walked slowly forward and down the hallway.
The others followed suit, going at her pace. Auron was right behind her, followed by the rest of the delegates: Biran, Kimahri, Rikku, Shelinda, Maechen, Tromell, Belgemine, Dona, Barthello, Wakka, Lulu, Lucil, Gatta, Rin, and finally O'aka. All were looking either excited or apprehensive, all except for Tromell. The Guado was looking rather sulky, as though he were here against his will. He didn't wear anything fancy, but instead wore his usual Guado-style clothing. His hair stood out remarkably with that of the others. Every now and then though, he would smirk, as though he knew something the others didn't.
Yuna didn't really notice anything around her. She was too nervous. Time seemed to slow to an unimaginable crawl as she walked down the hallways of the ship toward the bridge, where they would meet up with their final delegate: Cid. She checked the inside of her dress for her notes, and sighed with relief when she felt them bite uncomfortably at her skin. Behind her, she could hear footsteps. Slow and almost haunting, she half-felt like she was taking a trip to the gallows.
The door to the bridge opened in front of her, and there stood Cid, looking positively delighted. Yuna smiled, realizing where Rikku got her bubbly personality from. He stood there until Kimahri passed by, and then took his place behind him in the line. As they slowly made their way out the door, it too opened. A Tower guard was there to escort them. When Yuna was approximately five feet away, she stopped and waited for the guard to usher her forward. When he did (it seemed to take hours to Yuna), they began to walk, slowly and purposefully, down the red carpet.
It truly was a beautiful sight. The carpet was lined with brilliant lights. The beams were actually visible, and they shot into the sky like spotlights. In between each light, flowers of every kind imaginable lined the carpet, and glowed beautifully in the light put out by the skylights. The sky, now in the twilight phase, was lit up by the sun, which was descending beyond the hills to the west. It obscured the skylights slightly, but off to the east, stars were already beginning to come out. It was as if the sky was divided in two, with day to Yuna's left and night to her right. She had never seen anything like it before in her life. The people around her seemed to be enjoying it as well.
Yuna feared that, on top of her nerves, that she would faint as well. She had clostrophobia for as long as she could remember, and the crowd on either side of her felt like it was closing in, ready to choke all the life out of her as she walked. There had to be at least a thousand people there, making tumultuous amounts of noise. Yuna decided that, in order to distract her from her nerves, she would focus on the sounds of the crowd. And as she listened, she could hear that the crowd on the left was cheering, whooping, clapping, and holding signs that said various things such as "The Eternal Calm Begins!" and "Yuna, our savior."
However, the crowd on the right, though smaller, was causing much more trouble. They were the protestors. Tower guards were carrying shields and holding out their arms to keep the protestors off the red carpet. When Yuna tuned her ears to listen to what they were saying, it only amplified the feeling of nausea and unease in the pit of her stomach. There was swearing, cat calls and jeers, shoutings of "Treason!" and "Viva Yevon!" She saw several people flip her and the others off as she passed. One man, further back, even threw a bottle at her, but it missed, knocking out a palace guard. Others rushed forward to restrain the violent protestor.
For the rest of the trip down the red carpet, Yuna bowed her head so that the crowd couldn't see her facial expression. She knew that she hid her emotions poorly, and she didn't necessarily convey certainty and stability. She didn't want the people to see her uncertainty. Auron was looking everywhere, making sure nothing else came at Yuna. He had thrown his arms out over Yuna's head when the bottle was sent her way, but since the bottle missed by at least 15 feet, it wasn't necessary.
"Yuna, get closer to me," he barked. "Now!"
Yuna didn't even pretend to question Auron's order. She fell back two steps so that she was so close to Auron that he could have given her a hug. More insults were hurled at her from the right, but they were drowned by the cheers of the crowd to her left. They were closing in on her, choking her to death . . . no they weren't. Auron had her protected. Nausea was welling up in her. She began to salivate at an alarming rate, swallowing every five seconds.
Auron seemed to pick up on her wave of nausea. He could see the cold sweat dripping down her face. "Snap out of it," he said firmly. "You're fine. A hundred more feet and you'll be in the tower."
Further back, Rikku was smiling, waving, and fighting off the urge not to jump up and down. She grinned at the supporters, urging them to clap and cheer louder. And that they did; they seemed to be having fun drowning out the protestors on the right. Lulu and the others looked as professional as could possibly be, not flinching, but smiling softly and raising a hand in acknowledgment. Tromell would have been a statue if his legs had not been moving.
Finally, the procession reached the front entrance to the tower. The guard, who had been leading them all, stepped to the left and extended his arm, inviting them all to go inside. Auron allowed Yuna to escape his protective grasp, and he nodded curtly from behind his sunglasses. She drew a deep, shuddering breath, and stepped tentatively over the threshold.
The designers wasted nothing. Whatever breath you had when you first walked in that door, was taken away by what you saw. The walls were lined with red and golden tapestries, the gold ones lining the walls aesthetically. The red ones hung from flagpoles and were tied majestically to the wall so that they draped over the walkway. They had the sign of Yevon embroidered on them. Windows were located higher up on the tower so that red sunlight streamed into half of them, making the gold tapestries glitter and the red ones more bold. The tower was basically that one room. It extended all the way up to the top; though there were side-rooms branching off the floor.
In the center of the room were the delegate chairs and the council table. The table was an entire circle encompassing the center of the room, around which the chairs were spaced out every few feet. Name plates and the city of representation were in front of each chair. Both the chairs and the table were made of solid and polished oak. To the right of the entrance where they had walked in, there was an even larger chair, padded and also made out of oak. Yuna was to be seated there.
Beforehand, every delegate had received a letter on where to sit and how to move to their seats so that there was no muss and fuss. As soon as Yuna got off the airship, she went live onto national television. She and the others were being recorded as they entered, and the TV crews had made sure there were no mistakes to be aired. And so far, everything had gone perfectly according to plan.
A well-dressed woman, no older than twenty, with silvery-gray hair and a sort of gothic-style dress stood in the center of the table area, arms rigid at her sides. She had a leather skirt and vest on with skulls adorning the belt that held the skirt to her hips. She also wore a bright, shining skull necklace. A former Crusader, Yuna mused subconsciously. As she passed, the girl's right arm snapped up and touched her forehead in a salute. Yuna nodded to the woman, who, other than that sharp movement, remained still as a statue. Yuna had been told that, as soon as he saluted, they were to break off in an orderly fashion and proceed to their respective seats. The salute was the signal. The signal to start the ceremony.
The signal to begin Spira anew.
She drew in a deep shuddering breath before coming up to her chair and sitting down in it. The chair was well-cushioned, and she felt as though the plush was going to absorb her. The chair was oak, decorated in a very intricate manner. Roses and vines had been carved along the legs and arms of the chair, and the cushions were pink, lined with gold. If it had been any more ornamental, Yuna would have observed it as a throne. However, a monarchy wasn't in the plan concerning government.
The other delegates were seated in front of her; she had a good view of them all. Both the men and the women sat up straight and looked ahead, personifying an intimidating aura of professionalism. Auron looked especially daunting, sitting behind the small placard that read Zanarkand. Tromell, in addition to looking like a virtuoso in the game of politics, also looked slightly haughty. A scowl was perched on his grizzled face, and his nose was high in the air, as though he were indignant at something somebody said. Rikku even looked professional, though she also appeared more lively than the rest. Every now and then she would fidget in suppressed excitement, and her eyes would light up every time she looked at Yuna. As though to say, "Here we go!"
By this time, reporters had flooded into the room, bustling around like a swarm of bees and setting up camcorders, podiums and microphones everywhere. All three were trained on every single person in the room, but none more so than Yuna. The woman who had been previously standing in the middle of the floor now stood in front of Yuna, a microphone in her right hand and a small bundle of cue-cards in her left. Yuna surmised that they were cards upon which notes to a speech were written. The cameraman began speaking to her, and the woman nodded curtly and straightened her leather skirt. Then, Yuna saw the man counting on his fingers.
5-4-3-2-1 . . .
"You're on, ma'am."
Yuna swallowed her saliva, which seemed to be flowing much more abundantly now.
"Good evening, fellow denizens of Spira," she had a flat, sort of sarcastic drawl that nonetheless was captivating. "Doubtless you all know why we are here today. I come to you live from the Presidential Tower in Bevelle, where, as we speak, the delegates that surround me are ready to return the world back to those who rightfully own it: the People of Spira!"
She spoke slowly and clearly, and with great gusto for having to stand still. At the end of her last sentence, Yuna and the others could hear the crowd's deafening roar of applause from outside the building. No doubt many others were responding the same way . . . well, those who were watching this broadcast. Yuna swallowed again and sighed anxiously.
"In a few moments, Yuna will be inaugurated as your president, and then give a short acceptance speech before going to work on our first government . . . in one thousand years!" More applause rang from around the building. "I know, and the delegates know, that you, the people, are looking forward to this time of peace, this time of prosperity, and the Post-Sin era of the Spiran History books!"
More thunderous applause, whistles and cheers. The delegates just clapped politely and quietly, while Yuna sat still, using every ounce of her remaining strength to fight off wave after wave of nausea that threatened to make her vomit. She hoped that she didn't look too green or sweaty.
"At this time, we would like to introduce the delegates and representatives of the respective cities. We ask the delegates to rise as their names are called." She paused, looking down her list of names.
"Representing Besaid Isle: Wakka and Lulu." Wakka and Lulu stood and bowed slightly as their names were called. Polite and quiet applause sounded from within the tower.
"Representing Kilika Beach: Dona and Barthello, natives of the island." More polite applause.
And so the list went on. Belgemine, being the only representative of Luca. Tromell being the only representative of Guadosalam. Shelinda and Maechen representing Bevelle. Cid and Rikku representing what was to be called New Bhed, the Al Bhed's new home. Mt. Gagazet was being represented by Biran and Kimahri. Even Zanarkand had an elected representative: Auron. Which, to the keen observer's eye, might've meant something. But no questioning eyebrows were raised whatsoever.
Then the speaker got down to the last two positions. "Two special divisions have been created by future President Yuna to work with the rest of the cities dealing with their specific area of expertise. Representing the Crusader Division are Lucil and Gatta, former Crusaders who played an active role in Operation Mi'ihen." Here, there was a greater volume of applause in respect for the vain yet valiant attempt to annihilate Sin.
"Finally, representing the Spiran Trade Federation are two masters and connoisseurs of trade and all its finer details: Rin of the Al Bhed and O'aka the twenty-third, Merchant Extraordinare." More polite applause.
"This is to be the government that guides us, the light that shines ahead to our future. However, Yuna can explain all this better than I. So, without further ado, let the ceremony begin."
At this point, the girl stepped aside and motioned to her right, where the only surviving Maester of the Old Age, Maester Kelk Ronso, appeared from behind a door leading to another room. He wore his old Maester robes, intricately designed cloth that was once highly desired and respected. The source of many a Summoner's dream. But now, all of that was obsolete. Nonetheless, Kelk paid no mind to it, and looked genuinely pleased as he approached Yuna. Kelk stopped to her right, and all the cameras, which had been following his every footstep and breath, now trained in on him and Yuna. Kelk motioned for her to rise with his furry paw, which she did shakily.
"Former Summoner Yuna, you have been bestowed with a great honor by the people of this fair and holy land," Kelk boomed. "You are more than just a citizen of Spira. You are the citizen of Spira. The voice that resounds from the far corners of the seas and back. The lantern that guides the lost and the confused. The beacon that guides the people, the symbol of a new and freer world. I must ask you now: do you understand the significance of your image and position?"
Yuna was silent for about two seconds before responding. "Yes . . . yes, I do."
"Do you feel prepared and equipped to take on this daring challenge of being the President of Spira?" Kelk asked.
"I do," Yuna said, with slightly more confidence. "With my friends and fellow delegates at my side, I feel prepared."
"Do you think that the people of Spira would agree with you in that you're prepared, and ready to accurately represent them and decide policy for them based on what little political experience you've had?"
Yuna was starting to get uncomfortable. Was this a ceremony or a court trial? What did she have to do to prove herself? Hopefully the questions would not continue for long. Her father had always taught her to answer all questions with total honesty and with a pleasant smile on her face. It made you seem confident and trustworthy in a fashion that others wouldn't perceive as arrogant. Yuna decided to implement that strategy.
"Before I became a summoner, I had no experience as a summoner," Yuna said slowly. "But now, as I become President, I find myself wiser than I ever was at any point on my pilgrimage. The things I saw, the people I met, and the emotions I carry . . . they all come from the heart with good intentions. I think, in all honesty . . . that's a good start to being a good president."
Kelk was silent for a moment before nodding his furry head slowly. "You have answered these questions to the best of your ability," Kelk stated. "Though the old ways have been cast aside, I was asked to use the basis for the inauguration of a new Maester as the ceremony for you. So, by the power newly given to the people, and with me as their witness, I hereby instate you as the one and only President of Spira!"
Yuna tried to hold back tears full of different riptides of emotion as she stood up, bowing and repeating her thank-yous. The crowd outside the building was making a deafening noise. The sounds of stamping, cheering, whistling and clapping greeted Yuna's ears as she approached the podium. Her speech was already placed there, and there was a little note attached to it. She recognized it as Auron's neat cursive handwriting, and, in between smiles, she bent over to read it.
Be clear. Be strong. The world watches and waits.
'Typical Auron,' Yuna thought, picking up the speech.
The approval of the waiting crowd outside was only just beginning to subside. The protestors were keeping rather quiet . . . or maybe they just couldn't be heard. The delegates all watched her silently, waiting for her to begin her speech. Rikku's face shone through the rest, grinning almost from ear to ear. Lulu was smiling politely, as were all the others except for Auron and Tromell. Auron wore an expression of deep concentration while Tromell had one of slight resentment. Yuna tore her gaze away from the Guado and focused on the delegates to his left, training her gaze on each one of them.
Yuna drew in a great shuddering breath, swallowed, and began her acceptance speech. "Today . . . is a day that will be remembered by Spira for ages to come," Yuna said, reading the first few lines of the speech and subconsciously memorizing them in order to look at the people in the room while she was talking. "Today is a day that will be told by the parents of today to their children, who will in turn pass it on to their children, all the way to the end of time itself. Today is the day where we take back our world from the demons who ruled our lives. Today is . . . the first day of Spira's liberation!" Wild and enthusiastic applause greeted this last statement.
"And I am honored that you chose me to lead the way into the New Age," Yuna said modestly. More applause. "But it wasn't just me who freed us from the chains of oppression placed by Sin. It was also the relentless efforts of summoners before me and who were traveling at the same time as I. Summoners like my father Braska. Summoners like Belgemine and Dona." She paused. "It was people who made revolutionary changes and discoveries. People like Rin, and the founder of the Crusaders." She paused again. "But we, we as in the aforementioned, can't forget those who matter most. We can't forget the reason why we fight. The reason why we sacrifice. The reason why journey." She paused again. Through observation, she had learned the correct and charismatic way to deliver a speech.
"The reason that I speak of . . . is you, the people of Spira. Your steadfastness, your vigilance, and your willingness to adapt. You stayed strong . . . supportive . . . faithful. It is your faith in us, and in each other, that kept us going. And ultimately, it is your faith in people like me, an ordinary girl from Besaid Isle, that got us here today. You're responsible for the destruction of Sin! All of you! I didn't defeat Sin. We defeated Sin!"
By this point, Yuna's nervousness and tirade of emotions had disappeared. Leave it up to Auron to write a poignant speech that would fire up not only the crowd, but her as well. Yuna was into her speech. It was all true. Some of it she didn't even realize until she read it. But Auron, as he almost always was, was right. The crowd burst into wild and enthusiastic applause, nearly screaming their approval at this last set of statements. They all knew it was true. And they felt vindicated.
"We lived in, and still live in a world where multiple voices make all the difference," Yuna continued. "Make no mistake. As president, I'm not here to act as an all-powerful ruler. I am not here to instill a monarchial government. It is my firm and extreme wish to not make every decision for you. Your representatives are not here to make every decision for you. You're here to decide for you. We voice your opinions. We are the liaisons in Spiran communication.
"Through this new system of government, we hope to accomplish more than ever thought possible. We hope to create a society in which all men and women are of equal status, have equal rights and opportunities, and are socially equal." Polite applause rang out before quickly subsiding. "Race and religion will not be a factor in deciding government policy. Let me repeat that: race and religion are independent factors in government. Let not the beliefs of one decide the beliefs of all!" Not-so-fervent applause greeted this last statement.
"I do not wish to rush into making many large and life-altering decisions," Yuna stated slowly. "But there are a few things that must happen, and must happen now. The Temples of Yevon, whose funds are ample, have now been distributed to the various peoples of representation and the government so as to allot them to projects that will be beneficial to all the people of the world. First off, I'm proposing the funding of a new Al Bhed City in a disclosed and unaltered location. The Al Bhed, who scattered once again after the destruction of Home," here, Tromell adopted a look of indignant outrage, "might regroup at the building site." Polite applause rang throughout the area.
"Other plans and policies will be revealed and discussed throughout the course of the coming months," Yuna continued. "The aforementioned was an example of some of the more imminent changes that we hope to make. And it is all possible with your help. We can give these people a home. We can give you the resources to rebuild and expand upon your cities. We can give you relief from the tyrannies of Sin. With the new system of government, and the people elected by you, we can build a new world, and a new life for each and every one of you!"
Cheers, claps, and yells pierced the night once again. Yuna was a figure that they trusted a lot more than others. As the bearer of the real truth behind Yevon and the eradicator of Sin, she was not an easy person not to trust. What Yuna said in her speech, therefore, sounded totally plausible and believable. The building of a new world and a society where all were treated fairly and equally . . . deep down inside, most of them knew that accomplishing this was almost, if not, impossible. But coming from Yuna, it sounded especially noteworthy.
"This . . . is the dawn of the third age of mankind. The power to decide the future lies in our hands. We no longer have Sin to morph our lives, and to haunt us over our shoulder like a poltergeist. We no longer have the burden of worrying who will be next to fall to Sin's wrath. Sin no longer controls our lives. So the question becomes this: what do we do with the very basic freedom of being able to choose the direction of our own lives?
"Surprisingly, this is a luxury that has been extremely limited at best, or not afforded at its worst. But now, we must be careful as we, as citizens, have more power than ever before. And with me as your president, I and my fellow delegates avow to guiding you all along the way, so that we may, truly, become–"
At that moment, what was to be the last line of her speech was interrupted by the woman who had given the opening statement whispering something in her ear. Yuna stopped abruptly in mid-sentence as she listened to what the girl had to say. Her mouth slowly opened wider and wider in shock as the girl continued to talk. The delegates watching her were growing uneasy. But then, they saw the silvery-haired girl motion to a door behind them, to which Yuna gazed. Naturally, the rest of the delegates followed suit.
Many of the delegates mouths also slowly fell open. Those who knew, anyway. For there, in the doorway, stood a boy. A young man no older than eighteen. With spiky blond hair. A toned and tan chest and build. Black shorts. A yellow shirt. And the emblem of his old Blitzball team: the Zanarkand Abes glinted off a necklace he wore. The man, as nonchalantly as possible, crossed over to where Auron was seated, frozen in his chair. He looked up at the boy with that darting, ever-watchful eye. Suddenly the boy spoke.
"I understand that this is the Zanarkand section," he said. Then, he motioned to the empty chair behind him, placed there to give the round table symmetry.
"Is this seat taken?"
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How was it? Okay? Pathetic? Should I quit right now? Or was it actually good after sitting on my desk for so long?
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