I cried writing this chapter. Really, I did. Because we're so close... But not quite there yet.
Enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-Four
The party set off again, down the other side of Mount Gagazet. Yuna was worried about Tidus, but he wouldn't say anything more about the strange incident with the fayth. There was no use pressing. Even though she was worried about him, Yuna couldn't help but think that Zanarkand was just ahead. The party journeyed through wet caves down the side of Mount Gagazet, and at the end of that path was Zanarkand. It wasn't nearly so far down this side of the mountain, and when they made camp for the night, they would be able to see the city. They would see the ruins. Yuna would see the ancient lost city of Zanarkand, the place where she would receive the Final Aeon. She had always anticipated this day, when she would reach Zanarkand, both excited and scared. Summoning the Final Aeon meant death. TO defeat Sin, it would cost her life. Tidus kept saying he'd find another way, and Yuna wanted to believe he could, but even so…
So close to reaching her life's goal, Yuna was afraid. Terrified.
Even so, she wouldn't give up, wouldn't stop. Never. Yuna couldn't give up.
The party made it to the exit of the cave network by sunset. Outside was a path along the base of the mountain, bare of snow. It was much warmer here then on Mount Gagazet. Yuna knew that just a little ways up the path, she'd be able to see Zanarkand. Yuna stopped, hanging back as the others continued on out into the warm sunset light. Auron stopped as well.
"They'll be upon us soon," Auron said darkly. "She had sent fiends to test our summoner's strength."
"Who is 'she?'" Yuna asked, watching Auron's face.
"Yunalesca," Auron replied.
Yuna's eyes widened. "Lady Yunalesca?"
"In Zanarkand, she awaits the arrival of the strongest," Auron explained.
"She… is still alive?" Yuna asked tentatively.
"As much as Mika and Seymour," Auron answered.
"I see." Yuna nodded.
"Lost you nerve?" Auron asked, his gaze meeting Yuna's.
"No." Yuna shook her head. "Nothing frightens me now."
"Braska would be proud," Auron said with an affirming nod.
"Then… I must not let him down," Yuna replied. I must defeat Sin. For Spira. For my father.
…
The party came out onto the slope, and Tidus was glad for some fresh air. The scent that the breeze carried was one of rock and metal, and the indistinct smell of something ancient, something long since lost that had lain undisturbed for centuries.
Zanarkand.
Yuna and Auron followed behind, coming out of the caves last. The golden light of sunset bathed the party and the rocky path they traveled on.
"Hey!" Rikku called out. "Can't we rest a little while?"
"No need," Auron replied, walking up to the front of the group. "We reach then summit soon."
"I know, that's why I want to stop for a bit," Rikku said. Her face and voice were desperate. "Soon means that… there's not much time left."
"Rikku…" Yuna trailed off. She couldn't find the right words to comfort her cousin.
"Fine," Rikku huffed. "I'll think on the way."
Rikku set off toward the top of the pathway. It rose up ahead, and from there they'd be able to see Zanarkand. Yuna followed Rikku, Kimahri and Lulu close behind. Tidus couldn't summon the will to move his feet.
"Hey, come on, let's go," Wakka said. Auron had also stayed. He was looking out at the sun, sinking slowly away.
"We are almost there, aren't we?" Tidus sighed. And I still don't know how to save Yuna.
"We've come a long way," Wakka said, watching Yuna and the others.
A soft chuckle came from Auron, who still watched the sunset.
"What's so funny?" Tidus asked.
"You remind me of myself," Auron answered simply. "Before, the closer I came to Zanarkand, the more I wondered… when we arrive, Braska will call the Final Aeon… He will fight Sin, then die. I thought my mind was made up long before. But when I stood here, my resolve wavered."
"Huh, never would've figured," Wakka said. "Legendary guardians coke sometimes, too, ya?"
Auron let out a snort. "Legendary guardian? I was just a boy. A boy about your age, actually. I wanted to change the world, too." Auron's voice took on a hard edge. "But I changed nothing. That is my story."
With those dismal words, Auron started off. Wakka followed him, and Tidus did as well. In just a few moments, they caught up with the others, who had stopped at the peak. Tidus stood beside Yuna and looked out over Zanarkand.
A city dead for a thousand years.
That was Zanarkand. The ruins of ancient skyscrapers, fallen and destroyed, covered the landscape for as far as the eye could see, bathed with the light of the dying sun. It was Zanarkand, Spira's Zanarkand. The end of Yuna's pilgrimage.
The last chapter in Tidus' story.
Tidus couldn't collect his thoughts. They kept floating up, and then slipping away through his fingers. Slipping away before he could pin them down with words.
"Yuna, I say no!" Rikku suddenly cried. "If we go down there, then you'll…"
"Rikku." Yuna cut her off. "You're a true friend, and I thank you, but… I must go… down, to Zanarkand."
"I'm not saying we shouldn't go," Rikku floundered for words. "But shouldn't we think about it some more? There's gotta be some kind of way we can save you, Yuna!"
Yuna looked down at the ground. "All my life, I knew this moment would come."
"Yunie…" Rikku sniffed, and Yuna rushed over to her, and they hugged each other. Rikku was on the brink of tears. As Yuna wrapped her arms around Rikku, something dropped out of the folds of her skirt. Tidus saw it fall and land near the edge of the cliff. It was a sphere, the kind used for recording. What's that?
"Thank you, Rikku," Yuna said quietly. "Thank you for everything."
"Don't say that, Yunie!" Rikku pulled back. "It's not over yet!"
"Tell Cid thank you," Yuna continued.
"No…" Rikku shook her head. "You can tell him yourself."
"Please…" Yuna began, but Rikku cut her off.
"Yunie, don't day that because… we're gonna see each other again, okay?"
Yuna let go of Rikku, stepping backward. She nodded to Kimahri, who stood nearby.
"Kimahri, let's go."
The party set off again, but Tidus stayed. He leaned down and picked up the sphere Yuna had dropped. Its images were fuzzy, but the voice… Yuna's voice. Tidus could see her as he listened to it, laughing smiling. He realized what this was. It was a goodbye. The recording started with the sound of waves splashing, then gave way to Yuna's voice…
"Sir Auron. Kimahri told me…when my father wanted me taken from Bevelle to Besaid… It was you who told Kimahri, right? I had always wanted to meet you someday. I am truly glad that I had that chance. Having you as a guardian was so great an honor I don't know how to thank you. Perhaps if I defeat Sin, that will be my thanks to you. That's what I'll do. Yes. I will challenge Sin. I will defeat Sin. If you are all there watching this, then I guess Sin is already gone. And so am I, I suppose. Anyway, I just wanted to say: Sir Auron, I thank you.
"Kimahri…Do you remember the first day we met? I was only seven. My father had defeated Sin, and all Bevelle was celebrating. Everyone was saying what a hero my father was. I was so happy. But when night came, it occurred to me. My father had defeated Sin and now he was dead. Now, I was all alone. I couldn't sleep, so I wandered into the town, away from the celebrating crowds. I stood on the bridge in Bevelle where my father and I had parted. Standing there, alone, I could see the fields where he had fought Sin. Then, you appeared, Kimahri. You said you were looking for the daughter of Braska, remember? At first, I was so scared. Until I realized what a gentle person you are." Yuna let out a laugh "You weren't used to talking to children. When I told you that I was Braska's daughter… you said you would take me as far from Bevelle as you could. That it was the wish of a man facing death. I think…I cried then. Because that…that was when I knew my father was dead…and I would never see him again. You just held me, without saying a word. I cried after we got to Besaid, too. When you tried to go after leaving me in the care of the temple…I held onto you, crying, 'Don't go, don't go!' And you listened, Kimahri. You stayed. Kimahri, thank you. Thank you so much. And I've always liked your broken horn.
"Wakka, Lulu: I'll never forget my days spent with you, growing up in Besaid. We always played together, us and Chappu. That's why I was always so happy, I think. And when you refused to let me become a summoner and I did it anyway… I'm sorry. I've always wanted to apologize. You know, when you tried to stop me then–really, I was happy. I could tell you really cared about me. You were like my big brother and sister. No…I think you really were my big brother and sister. What else… I love watching you play blitzball, Wakka." Yuna chuckled. "I even love it when you scold me, Lulu! Really!
"I guess that leaves…the newest guardian. Tidus. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes! You are… I am… Well, um… I'm glad…I'm glad that we met. We haven't even known each other that long, but… It's funny. So… So this is what it feels like. It's a much more wonderful feeling than anything I had ever imagined. Wonderful…but it hurts, sometimes. I wonder. I…I just want to say, thank you for everything. Maybe…maybe that's why it hurts. When I… When I think about us never being together again at all… I'm afraid. No, I shouldn't say that. I'll do that part over. Um…"
"Whatchya up to?" Tidus' voice interrupted the recording, and it stopped suddenly.
Tidus stood there, alone on the slope to Zanarkand, holding the sphere. Holding Yuna's farewell.
Yuna… I will save you. I have to. I have no clue how, but I can't let you die. I just can't.
…
The party climbed down to the outskirts of the ruins, just outside of the city of Zanarkand. They left their weapons in a pile just a little distance away, then gathered together around a crackling campfire. They all sat, leaning on the rocks, staring into the blaze. No one spoke. How could they? What would they say? So much, so long… They'd come so far. From Besaid, through Kilika and Luca. Yuna's capture during the tournament, the Aurochs' unlikely victory. The Highroad, Operation Mi'ihen. The Moonflow, riding the Shoopuf, meeting Rikku. Guadosalam, Seymour's proposal, their fateful battle at Macalania. Sin attacking, waking up on Bikanel. Searching for Yuna at Home, rescuing her from Bevelle. The Via Purifico, the Calm Lands, Mount Gagazet, and finally… Zanarkand. So far, so much, all together…
Tidus' head was full of memories. He'd laughed more, cried more, and lived more in these short months in Spira than he ever had in Zanarkand. Perhaps… he was lucky that Sin had brought him here. That his father had brought him here.
Tidus, unable to sit still, stood up and walked towards a large rock just to the side of their campsite. He passed Yuna and rested his hand on her shoulder for a few moments. She closed her odd eyes, breathing in deeply.
Tidus continued past Yuna and climbed up the rock. From there, he could see Zanarkand. The ruins were lit with the sun's last dying burst of light, thousands of pyreflies floating over the surface. This was Zanarkand, but not his Zanarkand. Tidus' Zanarkand was somewhere far away, the manifestation of the fayth's dream. It was nothing more than the memory of those who once lived in this Zanarkand. Tidus was nothing more than a memory. Nothing more than a dream.
He remembered Auron's words, when Sin was sucking them in.
"This is your story."
This is my story.
So much, so long… They'd come so far. From Besaid, through Kilika and Luca. Yuna's capture during the tournament, the Aurochs' unlikely victory. The Highroad, Operation Mi'ihen. The Moonflow, riding the Shoopuf, meeting Rikku. Guadosalam, Seymour's proposal, their fateful battle at Macalania. Sin attacking, waking up on Bikanel. Searching for Yuna at Home, rescuing her from Bevelle. The Via Purifico, the Calm Lands, Mount Gagazet, and finally… Zanarkand. So far, so much, all together…
Tidus suddenly knew what everyone needed. He turned and climbed back down the rock, determined that they wouldn't set off feeling quite so hopeless.
For perhaps the first time, laughter rang out over the ruins of Zanarkand. For nearly an hour, the party had talked and laughed about their journey. They'd come so far, all together. They had no reason to hold back. Everyone, even Auron and Kimahri, shared their memories and their experiences, all the things they remembered about their journey. They told their stories to one another, holding nothing back. And they laughed. Every one of them, at least once. It was just what they needed. The laughter they shared around the campfire would be the only thing that kept them going, the only thing that drove them onward through the ruins of Zanarkand.
"Hey! There was more, right?" Tidus said, smiling wide for the first time in a long time. "I mean like that time… uh… anyone?"
The moments of magic were over.
"I think…" Yuna said hesitantly. "I think that we should stop… maybe. For now."
The party rose and gather their weapons. The sun had already set, but they would carry on. Fiends were becoming more active as the night progressed, and they wouldn't be able to sleep. Besides, everyone just wanted to get this over with. It was time.
"Let's go," Yuna said. She had journeyed all day, but she didn't look tired. She held her staff tightly, eyes burning with resolve. Tidus knew just how she felt. Time to go.
