I think this may have been my favorite chapter in the whole book to write. I honestly don't know why, but after this, I finally found that substantial connection to the characters. After this, everything went full throttle.
So, you should know that I've finished writing the whole FFX Novelization, I just haven't finished releasing it yet. Do you think I should just release all the rest of the chapters and call it good, or do you like this well-established weekly schedule? Leave a review or PM me letting me know what you think!
Also remember I've just started releasing my next fanfic, a reimagining or FFXII. I think you'll enjoy it, even if you haven't played FFXII. You might even enjoy it more than someone who had! Anyways, I'd love it if you came and checked it out, and I think you'd like it.
All that aside, please enjoy this new chapter of FFX, and maybe leave a review? Please?


Chapter Twenty-Five

The door at the end of the Cloister of Trials flung open, and Yuna's guardians swarmed up. Tidus, who'd been running, pressed his shoes into the floor and skidded to a halt. At the top of the stairs before the door to the fayth's chamber stood Seymour, flanked by two Guado bodyguards. Tidus' jaw tightened, and he felt his anger rising at the sight of the maester.
"Seymour!" he shouted.
"Please be silent," Seymour said curtly, keeping his back turned to the guardians. "Lady Yuna prays to the fayth."
Tidus ground his teeth. He'd had enough of being civil with this Seymour. Now he knew the truth, he wanted nothing more than to give him a solid punch.
"Make me," he snarled.
Seymour turned to look over his shoulder, locking eyes with Tidus. His violet-red eyes glinted with malice, the odd angles of his pastel blue hair giving him an eerie air. This was the real Seymour.
Seymour remained silent, turning to walk down the steps, his guards coming with him. Tidus glared back into Seymour's malevolent gaze, determined not to let this trickster scare him.
Before Seymour reached the bottom of the stairs, the door to the fayth's chamber swung open. Yuna walked out, looking less haggard than usual.
"Oh!" she let out an exclamation of surprise as she saw her guardians gathered in the room below. "But why…?"
She dashed past Seymour, down the stairs to face her guardians.
"We saw Jyscal's sphere," Tidus explained quickly. He tore his gaze from Yuna back to Seymour. He didn't trust what the maester would do next.
Auron stepped to the front of the group and faced Seymour. "You killed him," he said darkly.
"What of it?" Seymour scoffed. He turned to Yuna. "Lady Yuna, certainly you knew of these things, did you not?"
Yuna spun around to face him. She said nothing but nodded hesitantly.
"Well then, why have you come here?" Seymour asked, his red-violet eyes narrowing.
"I came…" Yuna trailed off. The fear in her eyes was instantly replaced with burning resolve. "I came to stop you!"
"I see," Seymour nodded, as though this didn't concern him. "You came to punish me, then." Seymour held out a hand to Yuna. The fear returned to her gaze, and she backed into the group of her guardians.
"What a pity," Seymour sighed, but he didn't sound remorseful. Yuna's guardians quickly closed around their summoner, and Tidus stepped between her and Seymour. No way was he letting him anywhere near her.
"Ah, of course," a sickening smile formed on Seymour's lips. "'Protect the summoner even at the cost of one's life.' The code of the guardian. How admirable." Seymour lifted one hand and made a motion to his guards.
"Well, if you're offering your lives," Seymour said, his smile remaining, "I will have to take them."
Tidus drew out his sword, the crystal-blue blade glittering in the light. He took a step closer to Yuna, determined to protect her.
"Maester Seymour," Yuna began, her voice calm and steady. "I trust my guardians with my life. But they are also my friends. I will not stand by and let them be hurt." Emotion seeped through Yuna's words, and she pulled out her staff. "I will fight you, too!"
"Alright!" Tidus called, glancing over his shoulder at Yuna.
"Maester Seymour!" Wakka called out, his voice pleading. Tidus could tell Wakka had no desire to fight a maester of Yevon. Tidus, however, could care less. If someone threatened Yuna, they were going to deal with him.
Seymour pulled out his own staff, the same sly smile on his lips.
"So be it," he said calmly.
That was it.
It was time.

Tidus sprang forward, raising his sword over his head and coming down hard on Seymour. The maester raised his staff and blocked Tidus' blade. Their two weapons locked together, and Tidus stared into Seymour face.
"I knew you were bad news the first time we met!" Tidus shouted, gritting his teeth in anger.
"Oh, my sincerest apologies," Seymour scoffed, not sounding sincere one bit. His shoved on his staff, sending Tidus flying back. This guy's tougher than he looks. Tidus dug his feet into the ground, skidding to a halt.
"Seymour!' he shouted, mostly to vent his anger. But there was more where that came from. He'd be more than happy to use that to swing his blade.
Auron came up behind Seymour, but the maester avoided his blow with a quick sidestep. The two Guado who had guarded Seymour held Wakka, Kimahri and Rikku at bay, leaving the rest to battle with Seymour.
A burst of fire materialized around Seymour for a moment, coming from Lulu. However, Seymour quickly raised some kind of magic shield, and the flames did little more than singe his clothing. Tidus rushed at Seymour again, holding his sword in both hands. He swung it with all the force he could muster, only to have Seymour lithely dodge it.
Oh, come on! Tidus panted, not letting himself slow down for a moment. Stay still for a moment, won't you?
Now standing at the top of the steps to the fayth's door, Seymour held his staff out, horizontal with the ground. Light spilled out over the floor, painting delicate shapes. Tidus knew what that was; Seymour was summoning.
Tidus leaped for the stairs, sword ready. If he could get up there to interrupt Seymour, he wouldn't be able to summoner his aeon. But it was too late.
"Feel my pain!" Seymour called. "Come, Anima!"
Tidus scrambled backward as the ground at his feet turned to dark mire. It was just like at Luca. A massive anchor chain dropped from above, drawing out the same hideous aeon that had obliterated the fiends at the Luca stadium. The horrific Anima stood, wrapped in chains, now fighting against Yuna and her guardians. Tidus doubted they could defeat it. Unless…
"Yuna!" Tidus called, jumping back from Anima. "The new aeon!"
Yuna nodded. Tidus had no idea what aeon she had obtained within the chamber, but he hoped it was one strong enough to face off with Anima.
Anima's one eye began to glow. It let out a chilling roar, and the light gathering around its eye exploded. Tidus felt heat gathering in the air around him and his eyes widened. He dived instinctively to the side, and the explosion only caught his right arm. Pain sizzled through him, but Tidus shook it off. Once Yuna finished summoning, she could heal it. Until then, he was careful not to inspect the wound. He tried to take a step, but he felt light-headed, and instead dropped to lean on his sword. Wakka, Kimahri, and Rikku had taken care of the Guado guards, and they focused on distracting Anima along with Auron. They darted back and forth, making blows against Anima's great bulk and dodging crippling explosions.
Come on, Tidus thought through unsteady breaths. We can do this!
Light formed at Yuna feet as danced. After a few moments, she crouched down, eyes closed, holding her staff vertical.
"Oh fayth, lend me strength," she whispered. "Come, Shiva."
Spikes of ice appeared behind Yuna. The jagged, crystalline shapes stood for a moment, then shattered, revealing the aeon. Shiva was a beautiful, frost-clad woman with locks of braided, dark blue hair falling around her shoulders. Yuna turned quickly to the aeon and said something Tidus couldn't hear, and Shiva leaped over her to face Anima. In an instant, Yuna rushed over to where Tidus crouched panting. She dropped down and held out her hands, and a sparkling glow enveloped him. Tidus let out a sigh as he felt his strength return.
"Thanks," he said quickly, and Yuna nodded.
Shiva faced off against Anima. Seymour's aeon was several times Shiva's size, but she seemed undaunted. Wakka, Kimahri, and Auron scattered as Shiva held a hand in front of her. Yuna stood abruptly, closing her eyes and holding out her staff.
Lulu had explained some time ago that a summoner and an aeon worked in tandem. An aeon's abilities came less from the fayth and rather from the strength of its bond with the one who called it. In other words, a summon's strength depended on the summoner.
Yuna clenched her jaw as Shiva began her attack. A wave of ice gushed out from the aeon's outstretched hand, flying towards Anima. The great spikes covered the floor, and Anima let out an eerie, echoing roar. When ice fully enveloped Seymour's aeon, Shiva calmly snapped her fingers. The ice shattered.
That was it. Anima let out one more blood-chilling roar, then began to fade away. The aeon's body turned transparent, then vanished into pyreflies. Once the cloud dispersed, Seymour could be seen standing up at the top of the stairs. His sly smile had vanished, and he watched the group with narrowed eyes. He said nothing as he stepped down the stairs.
"That power that defeated Anima…" Seymour's cold gaze fell on Yuna. "It will be mine!"
Seymour dashed forward, straight for Yuna. But, in his mad haste to reach the young summoner, Seymour had left himself open. Tidus wasn't really thinking when he swung his blade; he just knew he had to keep Yuna safe.
Tidus leaped forward and flashed his sword at Seymour's exposed side, and the crystal-blue blade came back with crimson blood covering it. Seymour stopped mid-run, clutching at the deep gash in his side. He stood for a few moments, eyes bulging, then dropped to his knees. Yuna rushed up to him, her eyes wide.
"Yuna…" Seymour gasped weakly. "You would… pity me now?"
Yuna said nothing, only stared at Seymour as he crumbled back onto the ground, unmoving.
Yuna stared in shock for a moment, then dropped down to kneel beside him. Tidus tossed his bloody sword away and rushed over to her, followed by the others. Tidus tried not to look at the blood pooling on the floor. Yuna heavily reached over and closed Seymour's blank, lifeless eyes. Seymour was dead.

The door to the Cloister of Trials swung open, the creaking of its hinges breaking the chilled silence. Tromell rushed in, flanked by two attendants. He took one look at Seymour's corpse and gasped.
"Lord Seymour!" Tromell's eyes were wide with horror. He turned to the group crouched on the floor. "What happened here?"
Everyone stood quickly. Wakka stared down at the maester's body, his gaze blank.
"What… What have I done?" he said, eyes wide.
"Wait a minute!" Tidus spun around to face Wakka. "It's not our fault at all! Seymour struck first! He's the bad guy!"
Tromell glanced over at Tidus' bloodstained sword lying on the ground, then back at the group.
"You did this?" he asked in shock.
Before anyone had time to reply, Auron turned to Yuna.
"Yuna," he said urgently. "Send him."
Yuna nodded, but Tromell interrupted before she could begin.
"No, stop!" he shouted, rushing up to the maester's body with the two attendants. "Stay away from him, traitors!" The two Guado attendants each took an arm of Seymour's corpse and began to drag him away. Tromell followed them out the door, closing it behind him with a resounding thud. The echo bounced around the room for what seemed like forever, as sullen as the silence before.
"Traitors?" Yuna whispered, dread in her voice.
Wakka's shoulders slumped. "We're finished."
"Now hold on just a minute!" Tidus called, trying to disperse the gloomy atmosphere before everyone drowned in it. "Seymour's the bad guy, right? We'll just explain to everyone what happened!"
"It won't be that easy," Auron said darkly. He had already started towards the door. "Let's get out of here." He continued on, opening the door and walking out. Tidus made sure to pick up his sword before following with everyone else.

The party rushed back through the Cloister of Trials, hurrying out the door back into the temple. A crowd had gathered in the chilly stone room, and they did not look happy.
"Please…" Yuna began, her voice shaking.
"Give us a chance to explain," Auron finished for her, stepping up to face the crowds.
"No need," Tromell replied grimly. "I already know what I'll tell the other maesters."
"Meaning…?" Auron asked.
"Lord Seymour was the leader of the Guado before becoming a maester," Tromell began, but Tidus didn't let him finish. He could already tell where this was going.
"You're not letting us go," Tidus said with a sigh.
"Let you go?" Tromell scoffed, as if the very idea amused him. "Lord Seymour would never forgive us if we did."
"Wait, wait!" Rikku spoke up, bouncing on her feet. "Jyscal's sphere! We can show it to them!"
"You mean this?" Tromell reached into his pocket and pulled out a small blue sphere, ringed in gold. To everyone's horror, he tightened his grip, crushing the glass-like substance and sending crystal-blue water rushing down his arm.
Tidus clenched his teeth. Oh, no, he did not.
"Hey!" Yuna shouted, taking a sharp step forward.
Tromell narrowed his eyes. "The Guado take care of Guado affairs."
The company of Guado and monks that had gathered in the chamber raised their weapons threateningly. Tidus tightened his grip on his own sword, the crystal blade still stained with Seymour's blood. They had beaten Seymour, but the number of people here looked overwhelming.
"Away!" Kimahri shouted, his deep voice resonating in the still, cold air. He swung his lance in a wide arch outward, causing the surrounding people to jump back.
"Run!" Auron shouted, shoving over a nearby Guado and making for the door. Everyone followed before the group of congregated people had time to recover their wits. Tidus made sure Yuna was out the door before exiting. Somehow, as always, he found himself at the back of the group. He didn't need to look back to now they were being chased. The monks had stayed in the temple, but several armed Guado had followed Yuna's party out onto the icy path that led back to the lake's surface.
"Hurry up," Auron called back over his shoulder. Tidus gritted his teeth and ran faster. Over the course of their pilgrimage, Tidus had trained himself to walk rather than swim. Now, he had to make a quick and desperate switch from walking to running.
The party burst back into the crisp, cold sunlight above Lake Macalania. The air was just as cold up there, and Tidus' lungs ached from the icy atmosphere. Please let us stop soon. Please let us stop soon.
Tidus' wish was answered. Rikku got her foot stuck in a block of protruding ice, and she toppled over, taking Yuna with her. They both let out cries as they hit the lake ice. Tidus skidded to a halt, standing over the young summoner. He faced the pursuers, sword ready. His whole body was protesting from the strain of fighting a maester and then the merciless sprint away from the temple, but he couldn't leave Yuna. As long as he could stand, she wasn't getting hurt.
One Guado lunged at Tidus, but he shoved him away with a sweep of his sword. Yuna and Rikku scrambled back to their, ready to keep running. But it was too late for that. Tidus could never remember clearly what happened next, but it was chaos. A loud cracking noise split the air, and the ground started to give way. There were sounds of splintering and screaming, and before he could collect his wits, Tidus was falling, falling…

The first thing Tidus noticed was that he was cold and wet. He lay on his back in ankle-deep water, so frigid he wondered why it wasn't frozen. The mist-laden air was silent except for the distant sound of the fayth's hymn, the same song he'd heard in the Kilika chamber of the fayth. That familiar song he knew from Zanarkand…
Tidus sat up, looking around. He seemed to be in some kind ruin. Far above him, Tidus could see the bottom of the Macalania temple. Wakka, Lulu, and Auron were sitting on pieces of rubble nearby. Wakka looked particularly dejected.
"You're awake," Auron said plainly. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think." Tidus stood up, shuddering as icy water dripped down his back. "Are we under the lake?"
"I believe so," Auron said, nodding. He stood up, looking up at the temple. "What now, I wonder."
"What now?' You act first and think later, don't you?" Tidus sighed and shook his head. "I mean, can't you be a little more responsible? We're all depending on you, you know?"
Auron glanced over at Tidus, amusement in his gaze. "A lecture?"
"No, no, no," Tidus replied with a nervous laugh. "Just a suggestion."
"You should place trust in your friends," Auron said, walking over to him. "But you can't expect someone to protect you all the time. You would do well to remember that."
"Is that a lecture?" Tidus asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It's advice," Auron replied, as calm as ever. He left Tidus with that and move over behind a large piece of rubble, where Tidus could see Rikku and Kimahri standing over something. Tidus trudged to the sulking Wakka. He'd stood up, but still looked droopy.
"Hey, Wakka, would you cheer up?" Tidus said, a little harder than he meant to. "Look, we only did what we had to do."
"It doesn't matter!" Wakka suddenly shouted, rounding on Tidus. "Don't you see? I've always walked the path of Yevon… but now, I'm a traitor. How could this happen?" Wakka turned and shook a fist at Rikku, for no apparent reason.
"It isn't Rikku's fault either," Tidus said, although he knew those simple words wouldn't sway Wakka.
Wakka heaved a sigh. "You don't know how I feel."
Tidus left it at that and went over to see how the others were doing.

Tidus walked over to where Rikku and Kimahri stood, with Lulu a little ways off. Yuna lay on a hunk of rubble at their feet, unconscious. Tidus rushed over, his instantly worried about the young summoner.
"I'm sure Yunie's oaky," Rikku said quickly, glancing down at her with a worried face. "She's breathing fine and all." Rikku looked back at Tidus. "How are Lulu and Wakka?"
"Well, Wakka's in shock. Can't blame him, either." Tidus glanced back over at Wakka and Lulu. They were talking. "And Lulu, well, she's just the same as always."
"She's so together," Rikku said with a sigh, watching Lulu calmly talking with Wakka. "All grown up, I guess."
"I guess," Tidus echoed.
Rikku let out another sigh, turning back to Tidus. "Well, just give me five or six more years."
Tidus had no desire to listen to Rikku's growing concerns. He walked over to Kimahri.
"So, Kimahri," he asked, looking up, "how do we get out of here?"
Rikku rushed over and gave Tidus a half-hearted smack on the arm. "Hey, don't change the subject!" she shouted.
"We climb," Kimahri replied to Tidus' question, gesturing upward.
"Kimahri, too!" Rikku frowned up at the Ronso. Apparently, she was feeling particularly needy.
"Only those who try will become," Kimahri rumbled, looking down to meet the Al Bhed girl's gaze.
"Huh?" Rikku furrowed her brow in confusion, frowning deeper. It was a funny expression, and Tidus had to stop himself from laughing.
"I think he means you have to work hard if you want to be like Lulu," Tidus explained.
"Oh!" Rikku nearly jumped. A chipper smile flashed over her face. "I will!"
"Kimahri thinks Rikku should stay Rikku," Kimahri spoke up, and Rikku whipped back around, her bright expression reversing to a ruffled one in a moment.
"Huh? Hey!" she scowled at Kimahri. "Are you saying I'll never be like Lulu? Kimahri!"
Rikku looked ready to take Kimahri on, although he looked almost twice her height. This time Tidus could stop himself from laughing out loud.
"How can you laugh at a time like this?" Tidus nearly jumped as Wakka appeared, shouting angrily. Tidus was about to reply when Yuna began to stir.
"Yuna!" Tidus called, rushing over and kneeling in the frigid water beside the young summoner. He took her shoulders and helped her sit up.
"Oh…" Yuna let out a breath, holding one hand to her head. "Where are we?"
"We fell through the lake ice," Lulu explained. "Are you alright?" "
"Yes." Yuna nodded, shifting to stand up. "I'm fine."
"So," Tidus began, "are you gonna tell us exactly what you wanted with Seymour?"
Yuna sighed. "I wanted to confront Maester Seymour about his father, Lord Jyscal. I wanted to convince him to turn himself in to Yevon's judgment."
"In exchange for marriage?" Lulu asked.
"Yes," Yuna nodded. "If that's what it took."
"So, what did Seymour say?" Tidus asked, glad that Yuna was finally willing to share.
"He didn't say anything. Now…" Yuna stared down at the ankle-deep water. "Now I don't even think it was worth it. I should've told you what I was going to do."
"Enough," Auron said sharply. "Dwelling in the past is futile."
"Hey!" Rikku rounded on Auron. "You don't have to say it like that!"
"You want to waste time listening to her regrets?" Auron asked, and Tidus nearly winced at the tone of his voice.
Rikku turned back to Yuna, looking defeated. "You don't have to say it like that…" she mumbled.
"Our immediate concern is Yuna's pilgrimage," Auron turned to Yuna. "Are you willing to go on?"
"Yes." Yuna nodded. "But then, do you think Yevon will allow it?"
"The fayth are the ones that give power to the summoners," Auron said firmly. "Not the temples or the teachings. If the temples try to stop us, then we will defy Yevon if we must. "
"Whoa!" Tidus eyes widened.
"I can't believe you said that!" Rikku exclaimed.
"Sir Auron?" Lulu turned to him, looking as shocked as Tidus had ever seen her.
"Count me out," Wakka said with a huff, folding his arms. "We have to atone, to make up for the sins we have committed. Of course, it's not like I ever liked Maester Seymour, ya? No way I'll ever forgive him for killing Lord Jyscal, and for trying to do us all in too, you know? But still, the bunch of us going against Yevon?" Wakka shock his head and his hands for emphasis. "No way!"
"But still," Lulu sighed, "we have transgressed and must face our punishment."
Yuna nodded. "We must go to Bevelle. We must speak with Maester Mika and explain what has happened. There is no other way, I think."
"I agree," Wakka said, nodding vigorously. Lulu nodded as well. Auron looked boiling hot.
"Sir Auron…" Yuna spoke softly, but Auron wasn't in a place to listen.
"So it is decided," Auron said curtly, turning away.
"Will you come with us?" Yuna asked tentatively.
Auron turned back to her, an amused look on his face. "I am the troublemaker, after all."
"Yeah, that's right!" Tidus jumped in. "You can always count on Auron to complicate things!"
"Yeah!" Rikku agreed. She gave a little hop. "Kimahri roars, and Auron runs off, and-"
"I never asked you to follow me," Auron said, turning around sharply to face the two.
Tidus grinned, despite their perilous circumstances. "Hey, but that's what friends are for, right?"
"Yep!" Rikku cheered, smiling wide.
Tidus wasn't just talking to Auron. He swept his gaze over the whole group, in the end settling on Yuna.
"Thank you," the young summoner said with a warm smile that Tidus returned.
"Friends, huh?" Rikku asked, a note of teasing in her voice. Tidus responded with a nervous chuckle, quickly brushing it off. Later.
"Man, how can you all act like nothing's wrong?" Wakka asked, sounding as tense as a bowstring. "Must got nerves of steel or something."
"You're too edgy," Lulu said firmly. "Listen to the hymn and calm down."
Tidus had been wondering about that. A single female voice, unaccompanied by any instrument, echoed through the cold, foggy air, endlessly repeating a single short song. A song Tidus knew form Zanarkand. A song he knew from…
Tidus turned to Yuna. "Is that coming from the temple?" he asked.
"Yes, it is Yevon's gift." Yuna made a prayer bow towards the temple. "It sooths the hearts of the faithful."
Tidus stared up at the temple. When he heard that song, he couldn't help but think about…

The group dispersed around the ruins on the lakebed, each to their own thoughts. It was agreed they'd get some rest, then look for a way back to the surface. Tidus was staring up at the temple, thinking of Zanarkand and the hymn, when Auron walked up to him.
"Jecht used to sing this song," Auron said, glancing up at the temple.
Tidus sighed. He knew that. "Yeah, over and over." He gave a half-hearted laugh. "But not this good, that's for sure."
"Another trait you share," Auron said. Tidus snapped his face towards Auron.
"Huh? What, were you listening?"
Back in Zanarkand, Tidus would think about his father. He'd sit up on the roof, staring over the sea where his father had disappeared. He'd think about how good he'd gotten at blitzball, and he wish he could show his father, show him he was worth something. He'd hum that old song he didn't know the name of that Jecht had loved, unconscious of it half of the time.
"Yesh…" Tidus sighed. "Can't I get a little privacy?"
"Your singing reminded me of Spira," Auron said, ignoring Tidus.
"Oh, right." Tidus nodded as he thought. "You're not originally from Zanarkand, are you? You were homesick?"
"Maybe," Auron admitted.
"Say, how'd you get to Zanarkand, anyway?" Tidus made sure to watch Auron's face the best he could behind the sunglasses and high collar. He'd been pondering this question since that night in the Macalania woods, and he thought he had the answer. "Sin?"
Auron was silent. No disturbing, mysterious laugh.
"Uh-huh." Tidus nodded. "I thought so." That proves it. Sin is the link between Zanarkand and Spira. Which means, if we kill Sin, I'll never be able to go home.
Tidus thoughts were interrupted not by sound, but by eerie silence.
"The singing stopped," Lulu said, glancing up at the temple.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. The thin layer of water slid off as the ground rose up, a familiar dark energy erupting in the atmosphere.
"There's something here!" Wakka cried.
"The ground!" Auron shouted.
Yuna stared down in horror. "Sin!?" she gasped.
"The toxin!" Lulu shouted, dashing over to Yuna. "Watch out!"

There was a pulse of energy, rumbling and a flash of light, and Tidus found his brain going fuzzy. He couldn't feel the ground or the cold air anymore, and he was somewhere else. Somewhere…
The blurry void that Tidus floated in was suddenly filled with a familiar presence. And then he knew it. Sin really was Jecht. For the first time, he was finally able to believe it.
"The song…" Tidus spoke aloud, the words floating away into the encompassing presence. "You were listening, too!" Something pulsed through the air, like Jecht was trying to say something. Tidus clenched his fists.
"What is it this time?"
A vision appeared before Tidus' eyes. Or maybe it was in his mind. Either way, he could see Zanarkand. The image was blurry, upside down, but it was home.
"Zanarkand…" he breathed. "You homesick, too?"
The vision changed. Now Tidus could see a cluster of blitzballs, lying on the deck of their houseboat.
"That's not your world anymore," Tidus said. "You're Sin now."
Again, the vision shifted. Now Tidus saw himself at seven years old, sitting on their balcony, staring out at the city.
"Hey, I'm older now, you know?" Tidus said. He could feel himself fading, the visions growing dimmer, like his connection to his father lost within Sin was breaking.
The vision changed, and Tidus could now see Jecht standing by the front door of their house in Zanarkand, his back to Tidus. Though the connection was breaking, fraying like an old rope, Tidus felt one emotion, a wish, a desire, thrumming strongly through the atmosphere.
"I know. You want this to end. I'll find a way. Promise."
Then the connection broke, and everything went black.