Author's Note: I felt that this chapter had to be updated as well. Chapters 76 and 77 are interconnected and you have to read them both for things to be perfect. I think this one's really sad…
Copyrights: All characters belong to Square-Enix and Disney except for Aozora, Ashita, and Yuri. The plot is mine.
Feature Song: A Thousand Words, by Jade from Sweetbox. A must listen, especially for this chapter. The lyrics explain why.
Secrets of Memories
Chapter 77: A Thousand Words
The crowd was boisterous as the minutes dragged on. Louie, Huey, and Dewey were making fast business selling snacks and drinks; those capitalist minds were always on the go. A whole variety of people were there, including refugees from a wide range of worlds. Simba's family was waiting for him to return from Atlantis while the survivors of Halloweentown were anxiously waiting for news from Jack and Dr. Finkelstein, who had gone off on an excursion to discover what new world had taken place of their beloved Halloweentown. There were other people, too, survivors from lesser known worlds and the people who originally lived in Traverse Town.
" Too many people…" Cid grumbled while one of the hired hands finished wiring the lighting.
" Hey, these people need something to boost their morale," Buddy said with a grin as he finished setting up the cameras and speakers. He had come from Spira to help Cid set up the impromptu concert; the performance was to be beamed all over the Universe by radio, screen, projector, and sphere. And stadium, as is the case of the famous stage in Luca.
" You think Yuna can do it?" Cloud questioned as he and Aerith weaved their way through the crowd. " I mean, it is a bit sudden for her, after all that shock she's had in the last few…"
" Finding Tidus could be the best thing that ever happened to her," Buddy informed. " Especially after everything she's gone through. And besides…"
"…this is typical of a summoner like Yuna," Cid agreed. " My cousin's brother-in-law would do anything to help people, and so would Yuna. More summoners choose their profession based on who they are. They are the ones willing to lay down their lives for other people."
" Oh…"
They could see Tidus weaving through the crowd, followed closely by Selphie, Yuffie, and Leon.
" What about Zexion?" Cloud wondered. Aerith tugged on his arm, then pointed at the café, which was practically overflowing with people, too.
The blue-haired young man was lounging in the chair he had designated as his ever since he came to Traverse Town. He was twirling around a wine glass of water in his fingers as he watched the crowd. He met Cloud's eye, nodded, then looked over to where Tidus and the others were clustering, up near the front.
Cloud was more than amused when Zexion's eyes suddenly widened and he dropped the wine glass. Nobody heard it shattering nor did Zexion even realize it was spreading all over the tabletop and dripping onto his lap.
What's wrong with the guy? Cloud wondered, but ended up distracted when Louie came running.
" Yuna's backstage!"
''
Cid's beaming this all over the place. Everyone's going to see it, everyone all over the world…how embarrassing…
Yuna smiled to herself, chuckled a bit. She's done embarrassing things before, like run around in a Moogle suit, but this, this was personal.
Not personal. This isn't my problem. This is everybody's problem. This is for everyone. I know it is, and that's why I've got to do this.
As before, she could sense something, a presence hovering in the back of her mind. It was glowing with sorrow and yet with approval. Was it glad she was doing this, for everyone?
" Yuna!" Buddy stuck his head in behind the stage. " You're up!"
She closed her eyes, took one last deep breath to banish the butterflies. Then suddenly the presence enveloped her. She gasped in surprise but it was gone as suddenly as it came. And with it went…fear. She was no longer afraid.
" Um…thank you?" she said aloud, tentatively.
Don't screw up, Yuna. The heart of the Universe rides upon your shoulders. Good luck.
She blinked. It talked. And not did it just talk, it spoke with the voice of a…girl, a young woman, like her.
The roar of the crowd interrupted her, just as her mind began to grasp the meaning of the presence. She knew she was up.
" Don't screw up, Yuna. You heard…her. Don't screw it up…" she murmured as she willed her feet towards the stage.
And then she was there, on the stage, out in front, looking upon the faces of the people and the creatures gathered to hear her performance and see her in person. Cameras were stationed all around the outskirts, and some were positioned on the outer rim of the stage, to capture her and send her to the other worlds.
She smiled nervously, waved, and the people roared with joy. Yuna was surprised. How could they be so ecstatic to see her, when so much was happening out there?
Because of who she was. Because of what she was about to do.
She looked around, scanned the faces, saw Tidus up in front, with Selphie, Yuffie, Leon, Cloud, and Aerith. She could see Louie, Huey, and Dewey moving through the crowds, still selling, while Zexion watched from the café, ignorant of the broken glass on the coffee table next to him and the water dripping into his lap. She saw, to her right, Cid ordering the hired hands here and there, while to her left, Buddy was readying the stereos and the speakers. And out there, she could see them, the refugees, the tired people who wanted to go back to their homes, far from war, far from the Heartless, far from the Nobodies, far from the Darkness…and then she could see them, faces hovering, mingling, melding, though they weren't there. But they were, in the hearts of the people, and the hope they carried, hope for their homes, the peace everybody wanted.
This is for you, Sora. Tidus. Riku. Kairi. Aozora. Shuyin. Lenne. Cid. Rikku. Paine. Everyone. This is for all of you, for everyone…
" Hey, everyone."
They clapped, cheered, called out her name, pumped their fists into the air. Some knew her, some didn't, and they all cheered her on. They wanted a bit of happiness, in an ominous time.
They're out there. Sora, Donald, Goofy, Aozora…they're out there, at Hollow Bastion, ready to end all of this. This is for them.
She cleared her throat, reached down automatically for the mike on her waist. Someone was directing her movements, knew better than she what to do.
Wait, where's Kairi…?" I know these are hard times for us, for each and every one of us. Some of us lost our homes, some of us our loved ones. Some of us have reunited-" she looked at Tidus "-and some of us are still waiting-" Kairi's sorrowful face came to mind "- and all of us…all of us are waiting for this nightmare to end. I thought…I thought it was best for all of us to…smile a bit. Something to brighten the mood a bit. I've never really done this, but, here goes nothing… This is for everyone."
""
I know that you're hiding things
Using gentle words to shelter me.
Your words were like a dream.
But dreams could never fool me
Not that easily.
I acted so distant then,
Didn't say goodbye before you left.
But I was listening.
You'll fight your battles far from me
Far too easily.
""
She wiped the tears from her eyes, bit her lip to keep from crying. Kairi looked up, at the overcast sky, bit back a sob as she heard Yuna's words. She sang so beautifully…and it hurt her heart so badly…
" Sora, Aozora…please be safe…please…" she whispered as the tears continued to stream down her face.
""
Yuna felt her heart strum to the beat, to the song as it came forth, poured from her heart. Each word was true, each word vibrated with emotion, as she kept singing. Then there was a shower of gold dust, and suddenly she was the watcher, the presence, as the one in her mind took her place. Long dark hair swirled, heavy beads brushed against her top, as Lenne finally came forth and opened her painful heart to the whole world.
""
" Save your tears cause I'll come back."
I could hear that you whispered as you walked through that door.
But still I swore
To hide the pain as I turn back the pages.
Shouting might have been the answer.
What if I cried my eyes out and begged you not to part.
But now I'm not afraid to say what's in my heart.
""
Words murmured around him, voices, as people gasped, and cried out in astonishment. Right before his eyes, Yuna had transformed into a woman from ages past, one he had seen before.
" Lenne!" Tidus yelled.
""
Kairi turned to the doors, stunned as the voices changed slightly, the people cried out in astonishment, and Tidus shouted a foreign name.
" Lenne!"
""
Though a thousand words
Have never been spoken,
They'll fly to you
Crossing over the time and distance holding you,
Suspended on silver wings.
And a thousand words,
One thousand confessions,
Will cradle you,
Making all of the pain you feel seem far away.
They'll hold you forever.
""
Off in the Thunder Plains, everyone gasped in awe as the hologram of Lenne held a hand to her heart and sang, unseeing, to the storm clouds that ceased to rain.
" It's not raining!"
" What's gong on?"
" What's happening?"
Rikku looked around, ready to pounce but Paine steadied her.
" Wait."
""
A huge map of Zanarkand blocked out the world. A maze of high towers and bridges, the ancient city in the mountains took hold of everyone's hearts. Tidus swallowed, stared at the place he had called home.
" Zanarkand…"
""
The dream isn't over yet,
Though I often say I can't forget.
I still relive the day.
" You've been there with me all the way."
I still hear you say.
""
Glowing spheres detached themselves from the panorama, swirled all around the jaw-gaping spectators. Voices hummed from these spheres, faces appeared from the dreams that died when Sin died.
But one came shooting from the panorama…and dove into Tidus's chest. He gasped at the explosion of fire inside, and doubled over as slow flames reached out through his limbs. It was blinding him, deafening him, made him insensible to the world.
" Tidus?" Selphie asked worriedly, turning to her friend.
He straightened up, and looked straight ahead, at the woman with the long hair on the stage. She gasped.
" Who-who are you?"
""
" Wait for me, I'll write you letters."
I could see how you stammered with your eyes to the floor.
But still I swore to hide the doubt
When I turn back the pages.
Anger might have been the answer.
What if I hung my head and said that I couldn't wait?
But now I'm strong enough to know it's not too late.
""
As she took a breather before continuing onward, Lenne looked down upon the crowd. They were foreign to her, strangers from far, far away, but she could feel they were united under one banner, under one cause, under one purpose. And she could sense the dreams floating around her, the people she once lived amongst.
Where is he?That blond man, the one she had seen several times before, the one Yuna loved, had doubled over. She watched him, wondering why. Or really, it was Yuna watching him, worried sick over his strange actions.
There was a shower of gold dust, and then the man stood up straight. They locked eyes. Lenne felt her knees go weak. But Yuna knew who he was.
Shuyin…""
Kairi buried her face in her arms, felt the hot tears stream down her face and soak her arms. She leaned against the railing, tried to regain composure, but she couldn't. Her knees shook, weakened, and she couldn't stand up. The words pierced her heart, over and over again. They taunted her, spoke to her, spoke for her, and she could do nothing more but listen.
Sora…Aozora…please, where are you? Come back…come back…""
Cause a thousand words
Call out through the ages.
They'll fly to you.
Even though I can't see I know they're reaching you,
Suspended on silver wings.
Oh a thousand words,
One thousand embraces,
Will cradle you,
Making all of your weary days seem far away.
They'll hold you forever.
""
And suddenly Yuna was standing there, the words lingering at her lips, at the mike in her hands. People were gasping, at the strange man standing where Tidus was standing, at Tidus who was sitting on the floor staring up at him, at Yuna, who had suddenly materialized before the panorama of Zanarkand, and at Lenne, who was smiling sadly at the strange man.
" I love you…" she saw Lenne mouth to the strange man, Shuyin.
" I love you, too," he whispered in return.
Tidus rose to his feet, staring at Shuyin and Lenne. Then he saw the panorama change. " Look!"
The panorama was no longer Zanarkand. It was Hollow Bastion.
Zexion, who was standing on the café and stepping on the broken glass, nearly fell over. There it was, the glaring image, shattering his mentality into a thousand pieces.
" No…"
Aerith screamed.
And a white feather fell inches from his nose.
" No!"
""
Riku jolted, dropping the radio onto the floor. It broke, sending wiring and pieces all over the floor. Ashita swore, scrambled for the pieces, but Yuri stayed him with her hand. She looked at Riku, who was trembling, shaking. Then he rose to his feet and ran out the door to the balcony.
" Riku!" Yuri yelled, running after him. Ashita, who was on his knees ready to cry over his precious radio, looked up, and then followed them.
She found him standing at the very edge of the balcony, his arms outstretched. In his left was his blindfold. He was staring out…at the white feathers falling all around them.
Yuri looked up at the sky, saw what had happened in the projection into the sky. It was Yuna, Yuna and another woman with long hair and beads, looking all around them at the white feathers falling. Behind them was a panorama, a panorama of…Old Citadel.
" That's Aozora!" Ashita shouted. " Hey, what's he doing-"
Yuri jabbed him viciously in the side with her elbow, then rushed over to Riku.
" Riku, what's wrong-"
She stared. His eyes! What was wrong with his eyes-
" He's dead, Yuri. He's dead. It's all over. He's dead…"
There, in the strange panorama behind Yuna and Lenne was a beautiful circle pieced together with stained glass. And there was Aozora, crouched in the middle of it, splattered with blood. He was holding something in each hand, was looking up at the sky, at the white feathers as they fell. Donald and Goofy were on the outer rim of the stained glass circle, defeated. Goofy was holding out a hand to catch a white feather while Donald threw his hat onto the ground.
He's dead…" You mean…" Ashita whispered, holding his side and staring up. He realized someone was missing.
"…Sora…" Yuri finished softly.
""
Kairi lifted her head up quickly, turned to the doors of Second District. Was that Aerith? What was going on?
" No!"
That was Zexion!
And then people were murmuring, crying out, weeping. Something was happening, something had happened!
" W-what's going on? What's happening?" she whispered, wiping her face with her arm. Then she froze.
Through her blurry vision she saw something white float down in front of her face. She rubbed her eyes, looked down at her feet.
Glistening, glowing, it lay where, perfect and pristine. A white feather.
" Please let it be from a bird, please…" Kairi whispered, not even wanting to think about it. " Please…please…they're safe, they're alive, they're together, they're coming back…coming back to me…please…please let it be that way…"
And another feather, next to the first. She gasped, shied away from the two feathers, then looked around.
All around her, feathers were falling. She pulled away, pressed her arms against her and muffled her cries with her fist, as she found herself surrounded by white feathers.
" No…no, no, NO!"
""
Selphie tried to tear her eyes away from the imagery but she, like everybody else, was glued to the haunting glowing circle, the stained glass image that spoke volumes and yet held its own mystery.
And then she heard Kairi scream.
" When white feathers fall," Leon sighed as he paced the rather empty Accessories Shop, " that means Sora has died. And if Sora dies, we either drown in an endless sea…or go to war. Pray it is war, if the worst comes to worst."
" No…Sora, no not you, no…"
""
Oh a thousand words,
One thousand embraces,
Will cradle you,
Making all of your weary days seem far away.
They'll hold you forever.
Oh a thousand words
A thousand words…
Have never been spoken.
Oh yeah…
They'll fly to you.
They'll carry you home
Carry you home…
And back into my arms,
Suspended on silver wings
On silver wings…
And a thousand words
Oh…
Call out through the ages.
Call out through the ages…
They'll cradle you,
Oh yeah…
Turning all of the lonely years to only days.
Only days…
They'll hold you forever.
""
" Sora…I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Kairi sobbed, falling to her knees. She looked up, at the blackened sky, as the feathers fell about her gracefully. " I'm so sorry…so sorry I never told you…"
" Kairi!"" Sora!"
" Kairi, remember what you said before? I'm always with you, too. I'll come back to you, I promise!"
" I know you will!"She slowly swept up the two feathers, held them close to her.
I'm so sorry I never told you how much I loved you. No matter what the time, no matter the distance, no matter the changes, I was always yours. Always…
The bronze eyes watched her from the back of her mind. What had happened to him?
" Whatever happens, I'll bring him back. We'll tell him everything…and maybe the rift will mend. There's always a way. Always a light. Always a hope. And we will be whole. Sora will find the Door of Light…and Peace will be ours."
She cried, cried for Sora, cried for Aozora, for Riku, for Tidus, Selphie, Wakka, Leon, Cloud, Aerith, Yuffie, Cid, Yuna, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, for everyone out there who were watching Yuna, for everyone in the Universe where her performance was being broadcast, for her home on Destiny Islands, for her old life in Old Citadel, for everyone…for the only two people she truly loved.
" I love you…forever…in my heart…"
""
Ohhh…
A thousand words…
Author's Endnote: For all of you people eager for AK moments, the next two chapters will be chock full of that. But first, a moment of silence. Either the sea will come…or it will be war. Please review. Anything will do, especially for this chapter.