Final Fantasy 4

Authors note: The finale of the story is afoot and some familiar faces will make brief appearances here. I had fun writing this since it's my second Final Fantasy story and the series was great (sorry again, but it is). Review…if you want to, no one forces the reader to review, so enjoy the story.

CH.4: Slumbering beast

Brother stared out the port hole and stood there staring at the tiny points of light called stars. Spira itself was mainly consisted of land and treacherous terrain, space was a vacuum that consisted of gas giants and…well holes. His Al Bhed teachings had told him about space, never in his lifetime did he believe he'd see it. Buddy stood next to him with his mouth open and his hands on the port holes. "Machina in space…I didn't see it…"

"Father may have many ways of achieving impossible, some times even blow up in face. He is legend, but also failure." Buddy closed his mouth and turned to his friend who had been with him during the discovery of the Celsius. He knew Brother and Cid had a rocky relationship, but so did Rikku and Cid.

"He's managed to raise you right, that's worth something. I kept my relationship with my father glued together, yet in the end he still said I was his best project. Cid and you need to forget the past and work together. Hey is that Neptune?"

"All planets, yet where is Earth? Is it some legend or did Machina destroy it?" Buddy wondered about it too, but just kept the idea of Earth as a legend, not something that would rival Spira. Gippal stood beside Buddy and his green Al Bhed eye scanned the space, after a minute Gippal yawned. Brother looked at the Machine Faction leader and didn't know if he should laugh or punch his face. For the moment he remained silent.

"If we manage to destroy this slumbering beast, do you two know how we'll get out?" Buddy and Brother didn't have the heart to reveal their faith once they entered; the ship would be scratched up pretty badly and every creature in Spira usually didn't go down without a meteor attack. They would become part of the Farplane and no one would know they had died.

"Brother get your sorry Al Bhed of a butt up here and take us in!" Brother rushed up the flight of the stairs and got into the pilot chair. Flipping the 1st row of switches he started the Al Bhed rocket burn. Everyone buckled up and Brother began a final checklist. A communication came in just then:

"Before you begin your final mission I'd just like to say thanks. Your lives will be remembered and the works you have done over the years. Spira will once again be safe and thanks will not be enough for this occasion," Baralai said respectively, "if you survive this ordeal Spira is in debt to you. Shinra is too busy crying to come to the comm. sphere, so what he wanted to say was, 'go get them and come back,' so farewell Leblanc Syndicate, Gullwings, and my old friends Crimson Squad. From the Praetor of Bevelle and all of Spira, this is Baralai signing off." Nooj smiled and turned in his seat to stare at the 11 people who would be again risking their lives for Spira's safety.

"Light that fuse!" The ship reared back and Yuna could feel the ground buckle and the chair shake. Paine held onto Gippal's hand and squeezed it, Gippal squeezed back. Outside the hole grew larger until it engulfed the Al Bhed ship. It was small and the sides of the ship cracked and peeled as they sped forward. Leblanc waved her fan furiously and Logos flipped through a manual on Al Bhed language.

"Yunie why are we here again? I mean I now we're here to save Spira, but is this another dead end?" Yuna turned to face Rikku and held a strong look of determination.

"Rikku, do you know long one can dream?" Rikku shook her head. "For a long time; Tidus was just a dream as was the Fayth. This slumbering beast is ending Tidus's dream and he may never reappear again. I also know that once in we can't get out, he risked his life to save mine, now I'm returning the favor." The ship was scratched again, this time by a huge shadowy beast. Rikku gripped the arm rest tightly.

"Shields at 70," reported Cid. Buddy plotted a new course and Brother steered them between 2 rock formations. Another thump was heard and lighting dimmed. "That damn beast just knocked our reserve fuel…" Cid knew already the consequences and so did the crew. A huge paw like hand scratched the top and caused the lights to dim out.

"I don't have control! Hang on; we are in for a very rough landing." The crash sent everyone out of their safety buckles and into the darkness. Yuna groaned and could feel a trickle of blood line down her face. She crawled forward and found a body…the uniform belonged to the two New Yevon guards. Leblanc cried out in pain and Yuna crawled over to see Leblanc's arm go limp. It seemed to be broken.

"Have we landed yet?" Cold and questioning glares went to Logos who still remained in his seat. Brother raised his head from the control board and stared out the hole formed in the glass. Rikku was beside him and she herself stared at their new home. The flowery field was there and the many spirit trails in the air. Logos stood off to the side sounding bored, "great place for a beast."

"I should've done this years ago," Nooj said, "back when I was a death seeker. The pain, the exhilaration of knowing you won't return, even the smell of fear right before you fall. Those two were lucky; the death that awaits us ahead won't be so pleasant." Leblanc let out another cry as Yuna bandaged her.

"Why didn't we attack?" Paine was getting up from her upside down position and Gippal from the floor. "We had enough fire power and we didn't fire one shot, why is that?"

"Sabotage," Cid said weakly, "the two New Yevon guards were sent here to stop us. Not to be rude Meyvan, but my finger is pointing at a certain unstable Praetor. Before we left he wished us luck, so far our luck is rotten." Buddy awoke at that moment and headed to the door, which was cracked due to the ramming. Pushing it gently it tipped forward and fell into a flower patch. The moaning of the dead caused his hair to rise and his body shivers.

"Dad!" Brother rushed after Rikku and the two Al Bhed tried to pick their father up. "It must've been that crash landing," Rikku said frantically. Cid waved them away and held onto the safety railing. His face was bunched up due to increasing pain and a few cracked ribs.

"Listen…go and destroy this sleeping beauty, I'll be here when you come back." Rikku sank to her knees and Brother had his back to Cid. "Look I'll watch the ship and Rikku you listen to Brother. Now go before I chase you."

"C'mon Riku," Paine said as she led her down the ramp. Brother followed and soon the group was in the field heading to a huge bridge. One figure wore rich red clothing and the other wore swim trunks and no shirt. Yuna held her breath and Rikku stopped crying. The figure in red approached:

"The beast you seek is ahead. It knows you're here and has already sealed the hole you came in." Yuna's brain was assaulted with the sendings she performed on this man 2 years ago. He was the guardian of Lord Braska and once a great warrior…his name was Auron. The figure beside him was Jecht, father of the man she loved…Tidus. "My time here is fading and my last advice to the daughter of Lord Braska is…never let the memories of friends or foe fade…they make you stronger and prevent you from losing yourself. Cherish them and never let them go," Auron said. Jecht stepped forward uneasily.

"If anyone is hearing this I'm dead," he laughed and then felt Auron's hand smack his head. "I know…I know. Listen if you still seek…my son he is in the layer of the beast. I would have been proud to be your father in law someday…" His face was scrunched up with tears and Yuna too. "We'll be gone once you destroy it…heck I think we already are. A little blitzball in the eye never hurt anyone, except maybe my son." Auron gave Jecht another slap then the two figures vanished.

"The Farplane can only keep things alive for a few years, I'm guessing this was made during their final moments…final thoughts you could say." Gippal mentioned as the group made their way to the bridge. "Maybe we should do our own…"

"No!" Rikku stepped forward and her tears stopped and standing before the group was a determined Al Bhed. "We will live! We will find a way home! And Yunie will be with Tidus! I will not be another sleeping dream in here!" Nooj and Logos exchanged looks and were both surprised when Leblanc cheered Rikku on. Paine for once felt whole again after Crimson Squad and Gippal smiled as well.

"What are we standing here for? Let's put this creature out of its misery and live knowing we won't end up here!" Yuna was the first to break through the wavering figures of Sir Auron and Sir Jecht and crossed into another field, this one had rapid waters and a huge curled up snoring ball. By it was a shimmering figure with multiple cuts and purple eyes.

"Tidus?" The figure turned slowly and the same boyish face smiled at her. He was just as she remembered him during their last meeting. Brother stepped forward and was none too happy to see the Zanarkand blitzball player. Yuna could see this in the way his usual fluent motions became rock hard.

"How dare you leave Yuna like that with no explanation of where you're going huh! She spent her whole sphere hunting days looking for you and instead got a look alike that was dead for 1,000 years. Yuna did destroy Vegnagun and yes she did save Spira, but you won't let her live her life. Why we're here is to seal up the Farplane…not to bring you back from the dead," Brother said with a hot flare. Tidus didn't seem to be affected.

"For one I didn't know Yuna had heard my thoughts, but at least she is alive and well. I loved Yuna too much…and well at the time words weren't needed. Shuyin was here and I confronted him about using the Praetor to destroy Spira, he beat me pretty bad. After that Sir Auron said our time was almost up, what do you say to that? I watched him and my father set up recorded messages near the bridge. The monster behind me is responsible for some of Spira's nightmares. The monster is called Halminare, the dream ender."

"Then let us end it now," Nooj said. The Meyvan took a step towards the creature and the ground let loose a rumble. The monster uncurled and the scales on its back cried out in pain. Its huge monstrous claws dug at the dirt and with great strength sent a huge mound right at the group. A laser of green proportions tore through the dirt as the group turned back they could see Cid in the gunner's seat. He grinned weakly and charged the laser for another shot. Gathering her strength Yuna changed dress spheres to the feared Dark Knight. Rikku became a black mage and Paine was an alchemist. Leblanc and Nooj were to attack the back, Gippal and Logos took the scale shots, Brother and Buddy took the legs, Paine and Rikku went for the chest, and Yuna went for the head. Yuna stood there awhile trying to find the words to say to Tidus, yet all that came out was silence. The time to reunite would come later after the monster died.

"Don't hesitate Rikku," Paine advised her, "this is no machina and may put you to sleep with no hesitation." Paine switched to her warrior dress sphere and stabbed the chest. She avoided a beam from of the chest plates and did an upward arc that destroyed it. Rikku cast firaga and thundaga blowing plates away and burning holes in its skin. "We're beating it!"

"We should do this more often," Brother said. The two Al Bhed were chopping away at the many legs of the monster; each blow caused the monster to concentrate its fire on them. Buddy did a hand spring and sent an Al Bhed knife into the knee. The weight began to lean left more. Gippal reloaded his gun and fired two shots into three scales dropping them. Logos sent a whirlwind of bullets into 5 then switched. Leblanc sat down to rest.

"Noojie woojie you still haven't answered my question," she said impatiently. Nooj raised his cane to block the swinging tail and ignored her. "Love I think you need to-."

"Enough! Truth be told I find you very annoying now and wouldn't mind it if you cut the Noojie woojie for a while!" Leblanc was quiet after that and became so unstable she pushed Nooj down and did the work herself.

"Yeah…well at least I love life! I don't live life expecting every freaking minute to be my last. I expect my future to have meaning, not meaning of dangerous suicidal last minute stuff." The tail swung into her and swept her into the air; Nooj got off the ground and grinned.

"Maybe I should live more then die," he said. Using his cane he waited for the tail to come by then grabbed onto it and held on. Every tail had a weak point; it was where it connected that counted. Using every muscle in his body he lifted himself up and found the weak point. Pushing a hidden button he revealed a dagger edge on the bottom of his cane. Lifting it up he down thrusted into the flesh and bone of the tail to score a hit. The tail exploded sending Nooj down along with a screaming Leblanc. The last stage of this beast was the head; Yuna had to end it.

"You destroy me and everyone you care about dies," it said malevolently, "I kept your friend alive didn't I? Let Spira sleep knowing you did your best; I mean how much of Spira thinks you can save them again? First it was Sin, then Vegnagun, now me. Your time is being wasted."

"No, it isn't. If I destroy you, then he will be gone for good…so be it. We will always be in each other's thoughts no matter how near or far we are the Fayths will understand, and so will I. if I die here I will be reunited with him anyway, so your threats are empty." Racing forward Yuna leaped into the air as crimson fire erupted around her. Her most powerful move would not only end her life but also the hardest part of the beast to hit. 'charon' was the ability to heavily damage a foe, but at a price of life.

"Yunie no!" It was too late and soon the group witnessed an explosion even more painful to see then Vegnagun. The flesh became pyrefly and one body could be seen in slow motion falling to the ground. Her body lay in the fields and Rikku was the first to fall to her knees. Brother fell too and Buddy stood there crying softly. Nooj limped up to the body followed by Gippal, Paine, Leblanc, and Logos.

"Hey did anyone hear that?" Everyone heard the sound again and the pitch and volume matched a whistle. The lifelessness of Yuna returned to life and as he she got up she saw a figure long thought dead. In his hand he carried a ball and in his other was a sphere. Nooj and Gippal backed away as he came forward.

"I'm here," he said. Kneeling in front of her he became solid and caught off guard was pushed to the ground by Yuna. They embraced and again were together. "Yuna, I love you too." The words left unspoken during their parting, now united them.

"What are we going to do about the Praetor?" Buddy had brought their attention back to reality and the fact that the pyreflys were getting erratic. The sphere in Tidus's hand activated and revealed what looked like a conference.

"Today it is my sad duty to inform

you of the death of 12 highly

respected heroes. I took part in this

up to sabotage their weapons. I

resign my commission and hope some

day the next Praetor will keep no secrets."

"New Yevon with no Praetor? It seems like Bevelle is now with no secrets to tell." Paine along with the others went to the grounded ship to spend their final moments together. Gippal, Paine, and Nooj sat in the back and realized that with Baralai resigned they were technically the last of Crimson Squad. Cid limped over to Buddy, Brother, and Rikku; having already thought it through Cid told them a secret:

"Now I know I haven't been the best father, I mean with my work in Zanarkand or my Al Bhed curiosity. I always feared dieing alone, but knowing my family is here beside me I have one last thing to tell you. This ship has a reserve fuel line tucked away; it wasn't visible because I didn't trust those New Yevon guys, now I can reveal to you an old Al Bhed miracle, new to younger eyes." Pulling back the floor board a yellow beam emitted through and all eyes beheld a round cylinder device with Al Bhed markings. Lifting it up with the help of Tidus, Nooj, and Paine they carried it to the tank holding fuel. Lowering it in the ship shook and a red signal came on. "Let's blow this dream up!"

"You heard pops let's goose us out of here," Riku said. Brother took the controls just as the pyreflys outside began to bang against the shields. Adding more boost the ship rose faster but behind them the shadowy the beast followed. Gippal went to the gunner seat and moved the cursor over the walls until it beeped loudly. Squeezing the trigger he shot out a quad beam of lasers and held his fist up as it exploded into 4 parts. The hole was closing in a fiery ring and the ship did a 360 spin bursting into space.

"We did it…again!" Tidus got out of his seat and stared into space. Yuna stood beside him and held his hand. The hole sealed up and some pyreflys got out, it was over…for good. Spira filled the cockpit up and they couldn't help but cheer. Yuna gave Tidus a concerned look.

"After that sleep I wonder if what I have now will last. If it doesn't I want this moment between us never to end, so if I never return I'll remember it." Tidus held Yuna and kissed her long and sweetly. Nooj and Leblanc were talking in the back, Paine and Gippal were speaking of the future, Buddy sat by Brother as he talked to his father and sister, and Logos slept for the very first time in a long time.

Mission Complete