I decided to change the way the Farplane worked, only for story purposes. You know, you gotta do what you can for the Drama™.
Also, I'm going to try to keep the lore the same, but it gets kind of confusing towards the end of the first game, so if I mess up or change something, I'm trying to have it make sense in my head.
Also, I don't want to completely rehash the whole story the same way, except for the little change of Yuna and Tidus being married. But some of the events are going to be pretty similar and chronological. I mean, they have a path they have to go, and I really liked the story in the game. Why ruin a good thing?
The longer time goes on, the more we'll diverge. I'm hoping this story will reach into X-2's timeline, but the ending is still fuzzy. I'm not writing this ahead of time, like a smart person would. You're getting it as it comes! Whoooo!
As they reached the gate to the Farplane, Auron took a seat on the edge of the ramp.
"I can't go in." He said simply.
Rikku took up the seat next to him and took a deck of cards out of her inventory. "We Al Bhed aren't super big on the Farplane. We prefer to leave the past in the past."
"Yeah, I'm sure that's why you dig up all the Machina." Wakka muttered, before being elbowed by Lulu. "Ow!"
"Behave."
The gate to the Farplane looked like a wall of water, mirroring the side they were on.
Tidus hesitated outside, but Wakka and Lulu walked in without another thought.
"Are you coming?" Yuna asked.
"Uh yeah…"
And it felt like submerging underwater, but there was no wetness, just the sensation of moving from one world into the next.
The Farplane was vast and huge, teeming with life, despite being the land of the dead. Flowers covered the ground, and cascading waterfalls filled the sky.
The sun looked like a hole had been punched in the sky and light shone from behind. A rotting, swirling blackness gnawed at the edges, making the almost pristine world have an ominous air to it.
"Whoa." Said Tidus.
"It's so pretty," said Yuna.
"So how does this work?" Tidus asked the more experienced party members.
"It's pretty easy," Wakka walked up to a podium at the edge of the platform they stood on. "All you gotta do is touch this sphere, here. Then, all the people in the Farplane that want to see you will appear. Then you get to pick who you want to talk to, and they'll come forward, and then you can talk to them."
"Have you done this before?"
"For sure, ah? Quite a few years ago, Chappu and I were talking about an old Besaid legend, the Melonheads. It was a group of people with swollen heads that lived in the caves down by the beach. Chappu never believed they existed, but me and some of the Aurochs were sure it was true. So when Lulu and I came through on our last pilgrimage, I asked the previous leader of Besaid about it."
"And what did he say?"
"He didn't know, so he called on his predecessor, and he called on his, so on and so forth, until we got all the way back to the war."
"And?"
"And it was a bunch of bologna. It was some dumb joke from my grandfather's era."
"That's really cool you got to solve it though!" Yuna chirped. "And you got to talk to the founder of Besaid! That's amazing."
"So who's going first?" Tidus asked, glancing at the podium.
"I'll go. I'll show you how it works," replied Wakka. He confidently strolled up to the podium, but paused with his hand hovering over the sphere.
"What's wrong?"
"I just…got nervous, all of a sudden. I haven't seen Chappu since…" he swallowed instead of finishing his sentence, and then pressed his hand on the surface of the softly glowing sphere.
The air filled with hazy figures, slowly solidifying into ghostly people. Details and faces appearing as they were before they died. About fifty in total, and mostly men.
Luzzu, a crusader that Tidus had met on Besaid, and travelled with the team all the way to Mi'ihen, was among them.
"Wow," Wakka said with a little, sad chuckle. "There's more here than I was expecting." Then he spotted Chappu, and beckoned him forward.
"Hey big brodda! It's been awhile, ya?" Chappu greeted with a big smile. Though he had the proud Besaid accent and boisterous voice, his sound was airy and wispy.
"Yeah. Yeah it has." Wakka responded, without much enthusiasm.
"What's with the cold reception?! Bummed because I'm dead?"
Wakka laughed slightly, unable to help it. "Yeah. Yeah man, that's it exactly."
"Well knock it off! The Farplane isn't too bad, ya? I built a place down by the river, surrounded by flowers. We play Blitz all day, and never have to work. And the best part? No Sin! Sure, we don't eat or sleep, but we don't need to. So stop moping!"
"I just…miss you. Is all."
"Yeah, I miss you too, eh? But time is different here. Not sure how long I've been dead."
"About a year now."
"Wow, a whole year! Feels like just yesterday, but also like I've been here for eons. It's too hard to explain." He waved a hand in front of his face, changing the topic. "What are you doing in Guadosalam anyway?"
"I'm a guardian again. This time, for good. Gave up the game. It was time to get serious, you know?"
"Who this time?"
"It's Yuna, she's finally ready." He gestured behind him so that Chappu could see.
Yuna waved.
"Little Yuna is already on her Pilgrimage? Well, good luck! And I'll save you a good spot!" He laughed.
No one joined.
"Hey Wakka," Chappu grew serious. "You takin' good care of my girl?"
"He bullies me," Lulu answered.
"I do not! If anything, you're the bully!"
"You need to be bullied. You're too immature."
Chappu laughed again. "I guess I got my answer."
"If anything, I'm taking care of him." Lulu added. "But he makes sure I'm staying safe."
"Good, glad to hear it. I'd haunt Wakka if he wasn't taking care of you."
Lulu closed her eyes, and downcast her face, hiding her expression.
"I see Kimahri, and who's this dude?" Chappu gestured to Tidus.
"Your long lost twin, ya? Gotta rub some tomato in his hair, but he could be you. I gave him your sword. I think he likes it."
"Good! I certainly don't need it here. Better he use it to keep Yuna safe."
"You got it, Chappu!" Tidus gave him a thumbs up.
"I wish I could talk longer, but your time is precious. Just promise me one thing, Wakka."
"What's that?"
"Let me go."
Wakka swallowed and shook his head. "I don't know if I can do that yet, you know? For the longest time, I hoped…" he swallowed again, finding his throat too dry. "In my head, I knew you'd be here. They told me they found your body. But my heart kept hoping that they were wrong. But here you are."
"So take this as closure. I'm fine. Great actually. I have plenty of regrets," he glanced at Lulu, "but there's no one in the Farplane who doesn't have their regrets. I'll learn to live with them. Or…die with them, as the case may be. But you still have time, and hanging onto me is going to drag you down."
"Gee, when did you get so smart?"
"You learn a few things when you arrive here. Things that seemed important when you were alive suddenly aren't anymore, and you get a look at a bigger picture. But I'm spoiling it for you." He shot his arm out, giving Wakka a brotherly punch that he'd never feel. "Take care, brodda. Get Yuna to Zanarkand, and maybe coach the Aurochs again if you get back, ah? We got to win once."
Wakka laughed. "We did win! This guy," he pointed at Tidus. "He allegedly played for the Zanarkand Abes! He took us to the finals!"
"You for real? He's from Zanarkand? We played them on this side not too long ago. Great team! They got some moves I've never seen before. Kicked our butts, they did!"
Wakka laughed, a real genuine laugh since they had arrived in Guadosalam. It was heartbreaking.
"Well, you better get off the line, before we talk about Blitz for three hours."
"Yeah." He sighed, and his shoulders relaxed. "I'll see you around, ya? Next time, I might be on the other side with you."
"You better be an old man."
"No guarantees. You save me a good spot too though, okay?"
"Already did. It's blocked out and everything."
"Thanks. Well…bye Chappu."
"See you, Wakka."
And he removed his hand from the sphere. For a while, he stood there, staring at the place Chappu had been. Then he quickly wiped his face and turned to the group. "See? Easy as pie! Who's next?"
Yuna avoided eye contact and twiddled her thumbs.
"Lu? You wanna go?"
"I have no one I want to talk to." Then she considered a moment. "But, there is someone I want to see. Just to make sure they made it to the Farplane." She approached the podium, and touched the sphere.
About the same amount of people appeared for Lulu as for Wakka, with lots of the same faces, including Chappu.
After a glance over the crowd, she frowned. "A shame."
"You don't see them?"
"No. But, they could just not want to see me. I wouldn't blame them either." She removed her hand and stepped back, leaving the podium open for Yuna.
"I guess it's my turn, then."
With the determination he saw her garner when she summoned, Yuna approached the sphere, and placed her hand on it. Tidus was quick to take his place beside her, for emotional support.
Many more people appeared. Maybe 200. Maybe more. It was hard to tell.
"Famous even in the Farplane," Tidus joked.
"Hm. Many of these people knew my father, and probably would like to speak to me because of him. Or perhaps I met them once and made that big of an impact. It's hard to know. But, honestly, I don't recognize them all."
But there, in the middle, stood her parents, arm in arm, reunited in death.
She beckoned them forward.
Immediately, Lord Braska's face melted in adoration. "Is that my Yuna? My little girl?" His voice, like Chappu, had a wispy quality to it. The sound of someone speaking without vocal chords.
"Hello mother, father." She greeted with a tearful smile.
"My my child, how you have grown. How old are you now?"
"17."
"Ten years it's been then? What are you doing in Guadosalam?"
"I'm on my own Pilgrimage to Zanarkand."
Instead of beaming with pride, like Tidus expected he would, Braska frowned. "You became a Summoner? That's…a fate I had hoped to spare you from."
"You're so young," said her mother.
"I know. But, when you defeated Sin, you brought so much joy to Spira. I want to do so too. And it's not your fault, but I think everyone expects the same of me."
"I was afraid of that." Braska lamented.
"I want you to meet my guardians!" Yuna interjected, before the man could blame himself further. She beckoned Kimahri closer. "This is Kimahri Ronso. Sir Auron met him on his way back from your Pilgrimage and asked him to find me. He brought me to Besaid and stayed with me ever since."
"Glad to know Auron kept his promise to look after you." Braska smiled.
"In Besaid, I met Lulu and Wakka. They've been like family to me. They practically raised me. And Sir Auron, we met up with in Luca. He's outside, with Rikku!"
"Rikku?" Asked her mother, "your cousin?"
"Yep!"
This little tidbit of information did not escape Wakka. "Your who-what now?"
Yuna hunched her shoulders. "Um…Rikku is my cousin?"
"But…that would mean…you're Al Bhed?"
Yuna's mother spoke up. "Half. A summoner married to an Al Bhed is given no favors, even if he's widowed. So, it's not well known."
"Summoner Braska married one…" Wakka shook his head in disbelief. "What a way to learn this information…"
"You're not going to bail, are you?" Asked Lulu.
"No. Guardian through and through. Just…I need some time to process." He held his head and muttered something that sounded like, "and I said all those things."
"And who's this strapping gentleman standing next to you?" Yuna's mother asked. "I think you missed a guardian?"
"Oh! Of course. This is Tidus, Sir Jecht's son…and my husband."
THAT brought joy from the couple.
"You got married!" Her mother cheered. "That's wonderful!"
"To the crybaby?" Asked Braska, with a smug smile.
Tidus rolled his eyes. "I'm not a crybaby."
"There will be some hard times ahead of you, and having someone like a spouse to support you will help. It's a luxury I wish I could have had."
"Actually…" She clenched her hands to her chest. "There's something I need your advice on. One Summoner to another."
"Whatever you need, My Love."
Just that little nickname brought joy to the part of her heart that had desperately missed her father. "Did you ever know Maester Seymour Guado?"
He thought for a moment. "Lord Jyscal's son? I don't think I ever met him. He's half human, half Guado, right? He's a Maester now, hmm? Good for him."
"Yes, he umm…he proposed to me."
Braska laughed. "And you obviously told him you were married, correct?"
"Well, yes. But Tidus and I have only been married a few days. Well, Maester Seymour believes it would be best if we got our marriage annulled, and Maester Seymour and I wed instead."
"He said that!?" Yuna's mother gawked.
Braska, too, looked disturbed at the idea. "Why would he ask such a thing?"
"He said that…well, as a Summoner, it's my job to bring joy to Spira. And a wedding between a Maester and Summoner would be a joyous occasion."
"Sure," said Braska. "Until they find out that you broke off your marriage of love for a marriage for politics."
"That's what Auron said!" Tidus interjected.
"And that didn't convince you?"
Yuna blushed, embarrassed. "I know…I just…he's a Maester, and he only has Spira and Summoner's best interests at heart. He wouldn't have asked if there wasn't some good that would come out of it." As she said it, she wondered if she really believed that. It was what she was trying to convince herself was really happening, instead of the gut feeling that hit everytime Seymour appeared. "Would he?"
Braska shook his head. "My sweet daughter, by bringing the Calm, I had hoped that I had paved a way for you to do what you want. I'm so proud that you've become a summoner. But Spira's happiness doesn't need to rest solely on your shoulders. There's no reason you and Tidus couldn't have a more formal and public ceremony to bring joy."
Yuna looked over to Tidus, not having considered that at all.
"Yuna. As hypocritical as this may sound, promise me, you won't let anyone tell you want to do in your marriage. You and Tidus are a team now. A team not even a Maester can break up. And that's coming from High Summoner Braska."
Yuna actually wept a few tears in relief. "Thank you, father. I needed to hear that. I was so concerned about Yevon and my duties to the Temples, that I forgot my duties as a wife." She turned to Tidus. "I'm going to tell Seymour no."
Tidus deflated like a balloon, relaxed and relieved. "Thank Yevon, right?"
"And you, Sir Tidus," Braska said sternly.
Tidus straightened up.
"As her guardian, don't be afraid to tell people to back off. It's your duty. Your father was particularly talented in it. Although, best not use the same language and hand gestures he used."
"I understand." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You'd get it. Yevon isn't a thing in Zanarkand. Knowing what's appropriate and would reflect poorly on Yuna…that's something I'm trying to figure out."
"Whatever you do, once Yuna defeats Sin, it all gets overlooked, or remembered fondly. So just do what you have to."
"Yes sir!"
"Glad to hear it. Now, Yuna…there's something you should know about Zanarkand."
"What is it, father?"
Braska hesitated. "Did Auron tell you anything?"
"Um…not anything outside of my expectations."
"Hmm. And you're set on this Summoner path?"
"That's all I want."
He seemed to think better of whatever he was going to say, and instead said, "well, I suppose you'll find out when the time comes. In the end, it won't matter."
"In the end?" Asked Tidus.
Braska gave him a little look. "At the end of the Pilgrimage. It won't matter. All she needs to do is defeat Sin."
"Oh, sure. Right."
Braska reached a hand out, touching the side of Yuna's face, sending tingles over her cheek. "One last thing, my wonderful daughter. There's no shame in abandoning the Pilgrimage. I almost turned back, and most Summoners do as well. I love you, and I will continue to do so no matter what you choose."
"Thank you, father. It's a blessing to know I have your support no matter what happens."
"And Tidus' support," he reminded. "And he's tangible."
Tidus rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing affectionately.
Wiping a tear from her eye, Yuna gave a curt nod.
"Good luck, My dearest daughter."
"We'll be waiting," her mother added.
And Yuna removed her hand from the podium. She sighed, closing her eyes.
"Feel a little better?" Tidus asked.
"Yes. I had hoped talking to my father would give me clarity. And it did."
"Uh…Yuna?" Wakka spoke up.
They were both prepared for Wakka to start interrogating her about her heritage, since that had to be on the forefront of his mind. Instead, he was pointing at the place Braska had been.
Yuna looked up, and saw a Guado man. "Lord Jyscal?"
Unlike Chappu and Braska, Jyscal looked…unwell. Dead and ghostly, of course, but he looked more gray, more tormented. He crooked a finger towards her, and beckoned her closer.
Yuna leaned in, nervous that a figment could appear without anyone touching the podium.
He whispered something in her ear. Something that puzzled her.
But before anyone could ask questions, he was gone.
"What did he say?" Asked Tidus.
"I…I'm not sure. I couldn't understand him." She lied. More than anything, she wanted to deflect from the news she had received. "Tidus, would you like to try?" She gestured to the sphere.
He considered it. "It couldn't hurt right? Maybe I'll tell my mom that I got hitched. She won't believe me." He laughed as rested his hand on the sphere.
Hundreds. Thousands of people appeared.
A city's worth.
"Whoa…" said Wakka.
"Ah. Yeah…that's what happens when you and your dad are famous, I guess. All my fans want to see me." He frowned as he looked around, tears gathering in his eyes.
Children, young people in the prime of their lives, and his teammates. Friends he had eaten with just a month ago. They were all here, waiting for him.
"I…I changed my mind." He removed his hand. "I don't want to talk to anyone." The ghosts disappeared, like a bad dream.
Wakka was staring at him, jaw dropped.
"What?"
"You're for real? You're really from Zanarkand?"
Tidus chuckled. "Oh so now you believe me?"
"Kind of hard to ignore the evidence! I don't even know that many people!"
"I'm waiting for an apology."
Wakka sighed. "Fine. I'm sorry for doubting you and calling you delusional."
"Ahem."
"I'm sorry, Sir Tidus."
He smiled. "Hey, water under the bridge! Now, let's go tell Seymour the good news and get the heck out of Guadosalam!"
Lulu spoke up. "Unfortunately, there's a really bad storm in the Thunder Plains. We'll have to stay the night here."
"When is it not storming in the Thunder Plains?"
"Fine. Get struck. See if I care."
Yuna led the party out of the Farplane, back to where Rikku and Auron were waiting.
"So?" Asked Rikku. "How did it go?"
"I've decided to tell Seymour no. Tidus and I are staying married."
"Good!" She cheered, then tacked on, "Seymour's kind of an asshole anyway."
"He's still a Maester. So you shouldn't call him that." Reprimanded Lulu. "At least, not in front of others."
Wakka sheepishly approached Rikku and gave her a light rap on the shoulder with his knuckles. "Hey kiddo, I'm sorry about what I said earlier. We might disagree about things, but there was no reason for me to yell at you, ya?"
"Aww, it's okay Wakka. It's hard to fight against your whole worldview, right?"
Auron smirked at the exchange. "Let me guess. You found out about Yuna's heritage?"
Wakka might as well be as transparent as those on the Farplane. "Yeah well. Even if Yuna wasn't half Al Bhed…it was still crappy to yell at a kid."
Rikku grinned. "I'll take it!"
The group then returned to Seymour's mansion. Only to find the man in question missing.
"Lord Seymour has moved on to his temple in Macalania, as he stated you needed time to consider his offer," said Tromell.
"He didn't wait for the storm to pass?" Asked Lulu.
"Lord Seymour is not bothered by such things. But he assumed the storm and your late arrival would keep you here, and he has had two rooms prepared for you."
Tidus and Yuna shared a look. Only two rooms?
"Whoo! Slumber party!" Rikku chirped.
Auron patted Tidus' back and spoke softly. "I can see the anxiety on your face, plain as day. Lulu and Rikku will be with her. There's nothing to worry about."
"Getting separation anxiety two days into marriage, eh?" Wakka chided. "It's kinda cute."
"Lay off. I'm just…pissed with Seymour, is all." He muttered, only partly lying.
"If you are all set, I will show you to your rooms. If you will follow me."
Tidus and Yuna fell into step with one another, as was a common occurrence as of late.
"Yuna?"
"I know," she said with a sad little smile. "We should talk about it. But…I'm kind of tired. Can it wait until we have the privacy of our own room?"
That was such a gracious request, he couldn't help but honor it. "Of course. Later. But, we're good, right?"
"Only if you're okay. I wouldn't blame you if you were still mad at me."
"It's kind of hard to stay mad at you. It…kind of hurt, but I understand."
She reached over and took his hand, squeezing it. "I never want to hurt you again." This came out with so much sorrow in her voice.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
