Moon Says: Here you go, next to last chapter, or at least, I hope. I am hoping the next chapter will be the omega dungeon, and then let's kill Sin. Not Really, let's not do it. Then a sequel one day. I doubt anyone really cares, though.

Words: 4, 277

Pages: lots?

Posted/Written (No Beta we Die like Tidus): 18 Oct 2022

Intervention Chapter 13

Emma was the last dome even her lover had entered before her. The sacrifice steeled herself in ice and entered without a word. All heads turned to her as everyone had stopped to wait on her to enter. The ice felt good in her vines, and it gave her the strength to walk forward with her head held high.

When she got to the front of the group, she turned around and focused on finding Yuna and locking eyes with her.

"This place doesn't just have fiends," she began, "it has memories of the past. Your test here is to fight your way through both the monsters as well as listen to those who have gone before you."

Emma paused as a thought entered her head. Should I warn her? A thousand years of people...

Yuna interrupted the other woman's thoughts, "I can handle it," her soft voice was hard.

Emma chuckled, tilting her head before she continued, a part of her warming with the confidence. "Be warned, though, of these memories. Do not let them distract you from the path you've chosen to take. Many chosen Guardians of Spira have entered these halls and the past has...influenced many."

"We understand," the female mage spoke up.

This seemed to give the needed boost to others because everyone of Yuna's Guardians gave some type of affirmation.

Emma took a deep breath before turning around and heading forward, but she had one last warning for them, "I know not what the ghosts of the past will reveal, but be ready all the same."

~Tidus~

I wasn't really surprised when we saw visions of past Summoners even though seeing a younger version of the man who was and wasn't my father was...unnerving.

That was nothing when I saw a past version of Emma...with him.

I was the only one who heard her curse when we came across a broken arched doorway that was slanted—meaning, originally, the doorway was curved on the right side, and when one went through, they were taking a path toward the left into the next room. The left side was completely destroyed, and all that remind, on the side towards us, was a half-there door. Because the left half of the doorway/wall was destroyed, there was a huge space that was just...empty. And the lot of us could see clearly

Yuna was in the front and she was the one who spoke first. "Is that...us?"

On the side away from us it seemed an almost clear version Yuna with her long hair, and on our side was Emma as she was a thousand years ago.

No one responded because as she caught sight of them, another, blurry (definitely male) figure with short hair slammed her up against the door.

Memory-Emma chuckled. "Really, here? Usually, you are so damn docile, and I have to instigate your...other side."

The male growled, and when I heard the voice, I almost stopped breathing.

~Other~

"Because you need to listen to me, and most of the time you don't unless I put you in your place," he signed though, but didn't let up on the pressure he applied to pinning her to the door. "This shit between the three of you needs to stop."

Emma stiffened, "What are you asking of me? Do you wish me to break my sister? She won't survive knowing the man she loves—"

The male interrupted her, "I don't give a fuck what you do. Tell her or don't. What matters is you end this nonsense. Either claim him or don't. I don't want to see you wallowing—"

"Me, wallow? What the fuck are you going on about? I don't wallow," then she paused before she looked away. "You...aren't..."

She couldn't finish the thought because it seemed absurd to her, but it wasn't to him. He knew her way to damn well to not know what she meant.

"Jealous? Should I be jealous that the woman I love, that I fuck, that I constantly keep together, is emotionally destroying herself over another man?"

Memory-Emma only deflated; all the fight left her. "If you were jealous, you would have demanded that I left him, not pick a side," she almost whispered.

"I don't really care if you love or fuck him. I only care that you stay alive—"

She cut him off, "I'm fine," she insisted, "All of our missions have been a success, so I don't understand where this is going."

The male slammed his right hand on the door beside her ear. "Then explain what happened to Bikani Island. It's a fucking desert now. Not even a week ago, it was a dense forest island. The two of you, fucked up. You were careless. I don't know what your sister said, but it screwed with your head, and you almost died. That triggered him and that stupid fire Fayth, and they burned the entire fucking island to the ground."

The Emma pinned to the door flinched, but he didn't stop. "Let's not forget your reaction either. He was so damn weak from that attack, that when you woke up, he got hurt. And now, Bikani Island is a fucking freezing wonderland at night. What the fuck—"

Before he could call her out by name, she put her head on his chest. "You're right," she whispered. "But is it so wrong to want to keep him and my sister? Either way, I will lose one of them..."

The short-haired male, sighed. "I get it. It's hard to be her mother and her sister. For so long, it's just been the two of you until him came in the picture. But you're going to have to choose. Right now, we can't afford distractions. The war is getting worse. We may be neutral, but we live in Zanarkand. There is only so much longer Beville is going to let you not choose a side, and they are getting desperate. They will do anything to get ahold of you especially considering the Al-Bhed will follow you."

The woman chuckled, "That's only because they're afraid of you."

"And they should be. There's a reason why the three of us are in charge of Zero-Squad," was his response but she shook her head.

"Him and I are strong on our own without the Fayth, and so are you. Don't think I don't know about Beville trying to gift you a city on your own. They fear how connected with machina. Don't ever think your beneath us," she said, raising her eyes to his.

His right hand left the door and cupped her cheek, "Then don't dismiss me. You know I'm right. Your sister has been begging Yunalesca for more training and more time on the battlefield. She's desperate to be with him. Your sister can't join Zero-Squad, she knows you won't let her. So, what links do you think she'll go to-"

Memory-Emma slammed her head bac against the door, and the figure on the other side flinched. "I know this! She isn't suited for fighting. A few weeks ago, I had to talk her out of going to Luca. It doesn't matter how much training she has; her power will never be enough to do more than summon a Fayth. She can't give Fayth anything which makes the fact she's a Summoner frustrating," the woman laid her head on the male's shoulder.

"Beville is getting worse. The Council is talking about a marriage for Yevon Jr. Master is trying to find one of her best students, but so far, the Council has rejected them. Master Yevon is going insane, and the armor isn't ready. It won't work," she whispered the last bit. "All of our planning and building, and the armor will be useless against Beville, if they use that."

The man sighed, "If it works, the armor will defend against anything Beville throws at us. There is one way we could power it, but that would involve the Zanarkand Fayth."

Memory-Emma slowly raised her head and looked at him, "What are you saying? You want me to Summon the Fayth?"

He shook his head, "I told you I would never ask what the Fayth demanded of you in exchange for her power, but I'm not blind. She accepted you; no one has ever been accepted by the Fayth. Not even Lady Yunalesca. But if you want to avoid the war, you may have to use her. And that means, you need a clear heart. Do something with your sister. Free her," and, as he leaned down to press his lips against hers, "free yourself."

The girl that looked like Yuna ran away very quickly.

~Emma~

Emma had not been prepared for that. She didn't expect to see any of her memories here. Watching it had reminded her of that meeting. She had never known her sister had been listening. It all made sense now; her sister after that had avoided her and been so damn self-destruct.

It was because she knew. She knew that Emma had been with her lover behind her sister's back. Was it really, though, if Emma was with him first?

To her sister, it didn't matter because all she saw was that her sister got something else she wanted.

Wakka interrupted her internal pity-party of one. "What the hell was that?"

Yuna looked confused as well, but her eyes were only on Emma.

Emma only sighed and didn't look at any of them. "The women Yuna and I look similar to; they fell in love with the same man. It didn't end well. Let's move on, we are close to the trial," Emma ended the conversation and moved the broken door aside before stepping through the doorway.

Unfortunately, the others couldn't let it go. The Al-Bhed girl that Emma was fond of, didn't let it go. "Wait, but the guy...he said he was Al-Bhend. Was she cheating on—"

Emma ignored her and continued on.

"She's right, the relationship isn't our business. But can we discuss the Fayth part mentioned?" Lulu questioned as she caught up with Emma.

The others did the same and stopped questioning.

~Tidus~

Well, that was eye-opening. I knew that she was with the other guy, but to know that he tried to end my relationship with Emma? I didn't see that coming. Well, that wasn't exactly true. He was only looking out for Emma's sanity. He was trying to save her by forcing her to make a choice.

Even then, I was even more shocked that her sister was right there! Shit. How did Emma not know? Was she so absorbed into her other lover?

It was clear that Emma was upset. I get it, so was I. But I think for different reasons. It's one thing to suspect the love of your life was screwing and loving another man, but to see the evidence?

Shit. That hit hard.

But considering what I had agreed to do with Emma's sister...did I have a right to judge?

More than that, though, I was pissed because he saw through her and I didn't.

Emma, on the other hand, was pissed because this was what set her sister off. This was what destroyed us all.

And Emma hadn't even known.

I left my thoughts when I heard Lulu ask about the Zanarkand Fayth.

"I don't understand. What did that dude mean she was the only one? Isn't the final Summoning the Zanarkand Fayth? What did he mean by Yunalesca wasn't accepted? Wasn't she the first to defeat Sin with the Zanarkand Fayth" Lulu continued to question.

Shit. This was probably going to get messy. How the hell did they get that out of those few sentences.

Emma was silent until she stopped at the trial entrance. When she got to the door, she turned around to look at the all. "Are you going to tell them?" Auron asked quietly, making everyone turn toward him.

"Tell us what?" Yuna asked, quieting everyone down.

Emma glared at him before she turned toward Yuna. "You do realize that conversation came before Sin was activated, yes?"

Yuna thought for a moment before nodding.

Emma continued, "Fayth are very...fond of waiting till all the damage is done before they start acting. Anyway, Yuna," the young woman stood up straighter, "Finish this trial, defeat the beast, and then enter the Chamber of the Fayth. Are you ready?"

"H-hai!" came the determined squeak.

Emma nodded and put her left hand on the wall behind her. It glowed, revealing that the wall was fake. Emma waved her hand forward and the Guardians of Yuna filed in.

This was going to be fun.

Not.

The last time I did these, we almost died.

~Emma~

Fuck these memories. Emma was no happy at all. She was happy that Yuna and her group was a smart and strong enough to beat the trial, but she was NOT happy that memories of her were popping up.

But all she could do was watch.

It was when her and her two lovers had made it through the trial.

The man she shared with her sister fell to ass, trying to control his breathing—and stop the bleeding.

Emma watched as her memory shelf collapsed her her knees and put her hands over his chest.

Once his breathing calmed, he sighed. "Thanks love,"

His fellow Guardian, a hood on this time, only chuckled, "You need to be a bit faster. You got cut by those talons one too many times."

"Tidus" growled half-heartedly, "Well, not all of us are long range fighters."

Emma shook her head at them. "I got hit a few times too; but lucky for me, I can heal why fighting. You two are useless without me."

They both turned toward her and then back at each other before the "other" shrugged. "She's right. Potions can only get you so far, but...I've got them, you don't."

"Tidus" waved him off, "I swear you like pain. I'm too tired to indulge in your masochist ways right now."

The other guy froze, and Emma laughed. "You two stop. I'm going in now," she said before she walked over to the Al-Bhed Guardian and kissed his cheek.

"Tidus" pointed at him, "I saw that! You just healed him. All that talk—"

The figures faded before the two were standing in the entry way, but it seemed different. As if it was a different time

The hooded male Guardian looked toward the door and then back at the other male, "She didn't tell you, did she?"

The blonde warrior sighed, raising his heads to fold behind his head, "She didn't tell me anything either. Whatever the Fayth said, it freaked her out."

Both were silent for a moment before the Al-Bhed Guardian spoke again, "Yunalesca and her brother both failed the Fayth's challenge."

'Tidus' snapped his head toward him in shock, "Are you serious? I thought it was just Old Man Yevon."

His partner shook his head before leaning against the wall, "That one didn't even make it down here, but his children did. Neither of them said what happened, but when Yevon found out we found the entrance to the trail, he pulled me aside."

'Tidus' narrowed his eyes, "This was when we were in Beville a few weeks ago."

The other Guardian nodded and hesitated, "He actually told me not to let her do it. He was afraid..."

The non-Al-Bhed Guardian took a few steps toward his partner. "Why the hell didn't you tell me he talked to you? If this was important, I need to know. She's my Summoner too!"

"Calm yourself, Fire boy," the Al-Bhed warned, "If you would let me finish, Yevon was afraid that our Summoner could fulfill the Fayth's requirements, and...that would destroy her. There is a reason why no one else has been accepted by the Zanarkand Fayth since she was bound."

"What does the Fayth want that would hurt her?"

"I don't know. But apparently, Yevon was worried because our Summoner is a self-sacrificing bitch, and she would fal into the trap,"

'Tidus' growled, "And what would he know? He failed—"

"Wrong," was the soft reply. "Yevon, leader of Beville, son of the great Master Yevon of Zanarakand, rejected the Fayth. And he's afraid that she won't. And the price she will have to pay...it'll destroy her," when the other went to interrupt him, the Al-Bhed raised a hand, "I know we don't trust him especially when it comes to her, I'm not stupid, but only truth came out of his mouth. Yevon knew from the moment he met her that she could give the Zanarkand Fayth what she wanted, and he thought if he was cruel with her, she'd leave."

'Tidus' snorted, "Clearly, he made a mistake. She's a masochist to the core. If the Fayth needs saving, she'll set the world on fire damn everyone."

As soon as he said those words, Emma left the Chamber of the Fayth with her hair changed. Half of it was white and the other was black.

And she looked like death.

~Emma~

Emma had never known what her Guardians talked about when they weren't with her, but to see how they saw her?

Fuck, even he saw through Yevon and she didn't? Maybe if she had known...

It wouldn't have changed anything.

Except maybe what she did afterwards...

Even after everything, that was her single biggest regret.

Yevon's fate...because it wasn't just his life that was affected.

Just a reminder that she destroys everything she touches.

The others didn't have time to dissect the memory because Yuna left them and not even three seconds later she screamed.

All the Guardians turned toward Emma, not moving, as if they were scared to go see what happened.

And they would be. Nowadays, the culture and custom is to leave all Fayth things to Summoners. Even after everything they've seen or done, they still look to someone else.

Besides, it makes more sense, considering that Emma is the guide here.

Emma only tilted her head, saying nothing.

Before anyone moved, Yuna came running out, gasping for breath and unable to speak.

Emma noted that her, her lover, and Auron did nothing. They only waited for Yuna to calm down.

Wakka growled at Emma, "What the hell is going on? She's scared! She can't even talk! Explain!"

Emma raised an eyebrow, "No. This is your journey, not mine."

Yuna finally calmed down at her words and turned toward the woman who looked like her sister in another life.

"I don't understand," the young girl stuttered, "Where is she?"

Rikku tugged on her cousin's arm, "What are you talking about, Yunnie? What's missing?"

Of course, it never occurred to any of them that the Fayth was what the girl was talking about.

Emma only tilted her head toward the door, motioning with her left hand for them all to follow.

She was expecting screams and other noisy noises, but nothing came when they entered the Chamber of the Fayth. Not one person said a word, they only observed the hole in the ground and turned toward their Guide.

Emma had always had mixed emotions looking at the hole with the Zanarkand Fayth was once sealed. Never once did she regret the deal she made, though.

"A thousand years ago, Yunalesca's heir was the last to see the Zanarkand Fayth. She was the last to make a deal for the power—"

"So, what now? This can't be right, can it? Where is the Final Summoning? There has to be more too it! Lulu was right, wasn't she? Or were we wrong all these years? Did Yunalesca defeat Sin? Did my father?" Yuna said the last bit quietly.

Emma looked at the girl with so many doubts in her head. She had made a vow to let the girl make her own choices, and to make a choice, one needed facts.

"There is a final Summoning, but if you are asking me did Yunalesca defeat Sin with it, well...I wasn't there, but if you want your asnwers, go through the portal," Emma pointed toward the back of the room.

Yuna seemed to steel herself before she nodded and headed straight for the wall. Wakka tried to grab her and hold her back, but Lulu stopped him.

Once Yuna was through, the rest followed till it was only Auron, her love, and herself still in the Chamber of the Fayth.

"I wonder if you will finally tell me," Auron started. "Ten years ago, I stood here with you, and not once did you tell us about the fate of this Fayth. Nor have you told anyone you take through Zanarkand. Will you finally tell me before we meet my killer?"

Emma looked at Auron hard before she said, "You who wish to destroy everything, want an answer out of me? Maybe you will understand that you act of defiance with have a permanent cost," she walked over to him, leaned up on the tips of her toes, and whispered something that almost destroyed every bit of defiance he had.

"You know of my role with the Final Summoning. What will you do, if you kill me and not Sin, I wonder?"

~Emma~

Even after all this time, she had never told her Guardians what the Fayth demanded of her. Her lovers knew something, but they didn't know the extent or exact details.

Not like Yevon did.

Or his lover.

Both of whom she condemned to a fate worse than death.

Because, at least, death was the end.

Emma put that in the back of her mind and focused on the death right in front of her—or, rather, the soon to be death.

The group took their time looking around them as they walked through the corridor in front of them. The kept going until they walked up stairs that led into a new, albeit familiar, room.

Yuna gasped, "This is the room from before—the vision of the past with Lady Yunalesca and the sisters."

Her tone, the breathily fangirl quality, startled Emma. A quick mental reminder of why they were there quickly dismissed it. "Yes, this is the corridor to Yunalesca's private chambers—along with her heir's chambers as well," Emma quietly confirmed why looking to the left of the room with a nostalgic longing.

Once upon a time, she actually liked going into her room—it was a safe place. Now? Just near a meeting place of the cycle of death.

"Why are we here?" Lulu questioned, "I don't understand—"

Pyireflies swirled around them all, warning of the impeding memory.

Yunalesca and her husband were standing in front of them, seeming in deep conversation before the woman turned, eyes wide looking behind them.

"What happened?" the woman asked softly, concern in her features.

The group shivered as a figure past right through them—it was the Emma lookalike, except she was wearing a blood-stained wedding dress.

"I think the better question is whose blood is that?" Yunalesca's mate asked just as softly because he could see the manic look in the young woman's eyes.

"Your brother in law," Emma replied. "If I agreed to marry the bastard, your brother agreed to keep him alive! But he lied, so I killed him."

Yuna and the others gasped, not really believing what she said.

Memory-Emma did a turnaround, "Like my wedding dress, mother-sister? He told me you chose it for me, yet you didn't bother to show up at the wedding. Probably for the best, since your brother's in pieces now."

Real-Emma sighed, this was not her best moment, and she really didn't want to see the look on her lover's face.

"I didn't show up because father activated the armor as if you didn't see the damage to Zanarkand when you came in," Yunalesca raised an eyebrow.

Memory-Emma froze, "How the hell did he activate the armor? Last time we met, none of us could find a powersource for it. How did it move, let alone destroy the damn city?"

The male Guardian only sighed, "Did you pass by the Mountain or did you come by sea?"

Emma shook her head, "I took one of the small ships that Beville has. I didn't see the mountain pass. Just tell me!"

"Father said he figure out the secret of the Zanarkand Fayth," Yunalesca said. "He knows how to turn the souls of people into power."

Emma turned away from her pseudo-parents and leaned up against the wall. "How? The Fayth didn't tell him..."

Yunalesca shrugged, "She must have. Now is the time for her to step up. For centuries, she has rejected and has refused to help Spira, but now she has too."

Emma shook her head, "She can't," came the small reply.

Yunalesca almost growled, "Enough! I won't accept anything other than her helping us. You will Summon her to fight Sin, as what's left of Spira is calling it. I know that you past her trial—"

"I can't Summon her," Emma snapped back, "You can't Summon a dead Fayth!"

Yunalesca and her Guardian, as well as everyone else, did not expect that answer.

"The Zanarkand Fayth has been trying to escape her binding for centuries. That is what she asked of me, and I figured out how to help her. You can't give without taking," Emma mumbled the last bit as she buried her face in her hands.

"I don't understand...how do you kill a Fayth?" her mother-figure asked.

Emma took a deep breath before looking up, "by taking its place."