A/N: Ahh, it's been awhile, hasn't it? My last update was December 31, 2005. Sorry about that. My main reason is(because I just love sharing!) that I've been having trouble figuring out where I wanted to proceed. And also because I've been playing both World of Warcraft and Dragon Warrior VIII non-stop.
If you read this, please do review! I need the positive reinforcements. And if you have a suggestion about how I can improve my story, I would love to hear it!
Here is where I thank all my reviewers by name. Thanks a million guys! Bybychrange; Kitsu Kurasei; SavannahX; TgIiDgUiS; Damson; BreB; Lirael Black; Machina Maw; Warui-Usagi; JJ Chow; Claire and Litwolf689.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy X doesn't belong to me. If I owned the rights to the game than it wouldn't be anywhere near as successful as it turned out to be, that's for sure.
Angel WingsChapter Nine: Of Madness and Heroes
Light danced in front of Yuna's fluttering eyes, and her throat felt as if it were on fire. Seymour's hands, as tight as iron bands, squeezed the life out of her slender body. Yuna tried to calm herself, tried to tell herself that she needed to escape, that she couldn't afford to panic now when each moment was crucial.
Yet she couldn't make her body listen to common sense. She was scared and helpless, and her situation seemed hopeless. The room was starting to fade in and out of focus; the meaning was clear to her: her last moment was here.
Yuna tried to block out Seymour's harsh breathing; she tried not to think of how she was failing so many people. Because when she died, there would be no one there to defeat Sin as she had. Of course Dona and Isaaru might succeed, but they would do so with the help of Lady Yunalesca and the final Aeon. They would not destroy Yu Yevon as she had.
I'm sorry, Yuna thought, staring up into her husband's deranged face and trying not to feel hate for what he had become. I'm sorry I failed you all…Yuna's eyelids closed, and she could feel nothing; she was at peace. As lack of oxygen started to short-change her brain, Yuna's consciousness drifted away, far, far away…
Yuna was back again in the foreign clothes that were embarrassing to her conservative self. She walked along a beach, the warm sand heating her bare feet. She could be anywhere in Spira, true, but the comforting familiarity told Yuna she was at Besaid.
Yuna felt moisture on her cheeks and she realized with disgust that she had been crying. Yuna finally stopped walking and turned towards the crystalline water, her eyes searching.
"Tidus," She said, her voice hollow and emotionless. "I would do anything to get you back to me. If only I had another chance. If only I had known that you were a dream of the Fayth…I would have found some way, any way to keep you with me. I only hope that you can forgive me for failing you when you needed me the most."
Yuna sank to her knees and crossed her arms over her stomach and rocked back and forth. Yuna, even trapped as she was between her two selves, could feel the sadness and grief emanating off her other self.
"Tidus, I would have done anything to have saved you…"
'Anything to have saved you…' those words, whispered by her heartbroken alter ego, or whatever she was, hit Yuna like a lightning bolt. Who was she to give up so easily? She had a mission of grave importance to complete: she needed to defeat Sin, as the Fayth had told her she must. The Fayth hadn't given her another chance at her Pilgrimage so that she could go and get killed by her vengeful husband.
What would her Tidus say if he knew that she had been willing to just sit there and allow Seymour to strangle her? Tidus would be ashamed at her weakness, at her passivity in the face of danger. Tidus wouldn't have just sat there---he would have fought back!
Ifrit! Yuna called frantically, for she knew that her breathing had stopped, and she had precious few seconds before it would be too late, and her soul would leave her body and she would truly be dead. Ifrit! I need you now! Please, help me!
Pounding sounded at the door, and Yuna could sense Seymour stepping away from her still body. Yuna clung to her body, unwilling to die. Searing heat filled her, and she could sense Ifrit taking control, latching onto her soul and dragging it back into her body. Yuna gasped, her back arching against the chair and the restraints binding her to it.
Seymour howled with rage and his hands once again latched around her throat. Ifrit was ready, and her skin was as hot as lava. Seymour cried out and his hands dropped from her already abused flesh, the deranged Maestor reluctantly backing away.
"Your Guardians are here, Lady Summoner," Seymour hissed, his voice dark and dripping with hatred. "Next time you will not escape me."
Yuna closed her eyes and ignored her husband for the moment. She cast Cure on herself; the dark bruises marring her flesh disappearing under the soothing white light. She dismissed Ifrit, unsure how the Aeon had managed to help her, and how it had managed to take control of her body. However Ifrit's intervention had saved her life, and for that she was grateful.
"Yuna!" Tidus cried as he finally succeeded in breaking the door down and rushed in. "Yuna, where are you?"
"I'm right here!" Yuna called as she rose from her chair, kicking the burned ropes under the seat and out of view.
"I guess you took care of them," Lulu said, her eyes taking in Bickson and Graav who lay on the ground, unconscious.
It's probably because Seymour's possession wore off when the Maestor vanished.
"Let's go! Wakka's match is going to start soon!" Tidus said, touching her hand gently and leading her out of the room. Yuna was only too happy to go. Now she had even more to worry about: defeating Sin, saving Tidus, and destroying both Seymour's.
&&&(&&&&(((&&&&(((
Yuna clasped her hands together as she watched Tidus and Wakka swim around in the massive sphere of water. She wasn't sure whether or not the Besaid Aurochs would win; the first time she had witnessed the Tournament Wakka's team had been pitted against the Luca Goers, and had beaten them soundly. And now they were against the Al-Behd Psyches by default.
This whole day went wrong. First we were late and missed the Besaid Auroch's chance at publicity, which is probably a good thing considering how Tidus acted. Next I couldn't convince Lulu or Kimahri that Sir Auron wasn't in the marketplace, and so I still got kidnapped. And to make matters worse, it wasn't the Al-Bhed Psyches that took me--- it was Bickson and Graav! And now I have one sane, if he was ever that, Maestor Seymour out there, along with my insane husband! How am I supposed to survive?
"Oh! And Wakka shoots! He scores! It's now 4-5, and the Besaid Aurochs win! What an amazing match! It was a close game the whole time, but the Besaid Aurochs manage to win the cup!" Yuna gasped when she heard the announcer's voice. The Besaid Aurochs had won! That was wonderful!
"We have to go and find Tidus and Wakka!" Yuna cried, and Lulu nodded in agreement. Even Lulu looked happy, though one could hardly tell unless they looked in her eyes. Yuna stood and walked towards the stadium door, her heart beating wildly. Would an attack still happen?
A loud scream pierced the air and the ground shook with the force of hundreds of people trampling each other to get away from the fiends falling from the air. Yuna turned sharply, her Rod of Wisdom materializing in her hand, her eyes widening at the sight of the monsters wreaking havoc around the stadium. She didn't know where to start or whom she should help first.
"Oh no!" Lulu cried, her soft voice worried, "Wakka and Tidus are still in the water! We need to get to them!" Kimahri nodded his consent and motioned for Yuna to follow, which she did, running beside the Black Mage, who was pale but composed.
She must care for Wakka more than I thought. Lulu looks like she wants to cry; she must be really worried.
A Sinscale and Vouivre dropped down in front of Lulu, who was slightly ahead of Yuna and Kimahri. Lulu jumped back more nimbly than Yuna thought possible, and stopped beside Kimahri who had his weapon drawn.
"Oh for Yevons sake…" Lulu grumbled angrily. "We don't have time for this!"
"Calm down, Lulu, I know that Wakka and Tidus will be fine, they're resourceful." Yuna said soothingly. She knew that she was right, too; even though the match had been different, the outcome had still been the same, so that also went for Tidus and Wakka.
"Kimahri help." The giant Ronso stated before he swung his spear and easily dispatched the Vouivre.
"Quickly!" Lulu cried, grabbing Yuna's hand and dragging her along, rushing past the remaining fiend. Yuna didn't try to stop her friend; she was just as anxious as the Black Mage to get to their two missing friends.
"Do you see them?" Yuna asked, ducking instinctively as someone screamed loudly right beside her. Thankfully most of the people in the stadium were nearing the door and would be out soon, so almost no one would get harmed.
Or at least she hoped. There was nothing that she could do. It was impossible for her and her Guardians to aid everyone in the stadium. Besides, if she were to get harmed, or worse yet, killed trying to help someone, Luca's inhabitants would be held responsible.
"Come to me, Anima!" Maestor Seymour's clear voice rang over the clearing, and Yuna watched as the giant Aeon materialized beside the Guado, its eyes glowing maliciously. Anima's head lurched backwards, and its attack Pain quickly decimated the fiends causing trouble throughout the stadium.
Lulu cried out and stopped running, frozen in place. Yuna dashed over to the Black Mage and peered around her shoulder, her heart pounding furiously, dread racing through her body. Had something terrible happened? She wondered.
Yuna's hand covered her mouth, her pink sleeve brushing against her throat. She watched Tidus and Wakka limp towards them, both looking worse for wear, Tidus' features haggard, his skin nearly ashen. Wakka didn't look any better than Tidus, in fact, he appeared to be even more beaten up than the swordsman; Yuna's eyes flickered worriedly to a deep cut oozing blood on Wakka's arm.
"Are you all right?" Yuna cried, rushing forward and touching Wakka's arm, before she moved over to Tidus, her hands cupping Tidus' chin, her eyes meeting Tidus' intense cerulean eyes.
"Yeah, I guess," Wakka said, drawing Yuna's attention. "As Tidus and I were leaving, we got ambushed by some Sahagin Chief's. They were really vicious; Tidus and I used all our Potions just trying to defeat those water fiends. Just as we got out, we got ambushed again. I was knocked out for a couple of minutes, and I awoke to Tidus fighting off a Vouivre. Before I could help, he got hit." Wakka trailed off when he caught sight of the Summoner's pale face.
"I'm glad that you're both okay." Lulu said hesitantly, her face as white as Yuna's. The older woman looked like she wanted to say more, but instead she turned and watched as Maestor Seymour dismissed his Aeon.
"Yuna…" At the sound of Tidus' soft voice, Yuna turned back to Tidus. She blushed when she realized that Tidus was holding her hand, and she tried to release his, but Tidus grabbed her hand and held on tightly. Yuna's eyes fluttered closed and she tried to still her beating heart.
"Yes?" She whispered, her voice thick with so many emotions. There was so much that she wanted to say; but like Lulu, she was unable to voice her feelings. But, unlike her friend, Yuna knew what she was feeling; she just couldn't bring herself to complicate her relationship with Tidus.
She loved him with all her heart and soul. But, even though it hurt her horribly, she was wise enough to know that to reveal her feelings to Tidus would only jeopardize everything she wished to save. She didn't want to take the chance that telling Tidus she loved him would make Tidus panic, or would make Tidus believe he felt more than he truly did at the moment.
So for the moment she would bottle up her feelings and continue on with her Pilgrimage. To do more at this moment was dangerous. Later on, when she was sure that Tidus had grown to love her of his own free will, without any influence on her part, than she would revel in his embrace, and tell him how she felt.
And, if she did in fact fail, and was unable to keep Tidus from disappearing when the Fayth woke, than she would watch Tidus leave, and be able to smile, because this time, she knew for sure that Tidus truly cared for her.
$$#&((
"There you go!" Yuna said cheerfully, her mind finally at ease for the first time in what felt like eons. For the moment she would forget about collecting the gems that she needed, and even about her crazy ex-husband stalking her and her friends. She would just focus on the here and now.
"Thanks, Yuna!" Tidus said, stretching his arm experimentally. Finding that it caused him no pain, and that Yuna's cure had in fact healed his wounds, he stood up and went over to Kimahri, who was guarding Yuna and her Guardians while they recuperated. Yuna smiled at the blonde swordsman, and kneeled beside Wakka, who was sitting on the ground, trying to put on a brave face for the Summoner.
"Hold still," She said, closing her eyes and cast Cure on the Blitzer, sending her healing spell over Wakka in soothing, sparkling waves.
"YUNA, WATCH OUT!" Tidus and Lulu's combined voices reached Yuna, and the Summoner stopped her spell mid-way, staggering to her feet. She was just in time to see a giant fiend rushing towards her. She couldn't discern what had happened to her other Guardians; Wakka was trying to get his feet, but he was injured too badly to be of any help.
Yuna attempted to jump out of the way, but the fiend followed her too closely; she wasn't going to make it. Its giant claws reached for her body, ready to tear her in two. Yuna closed her eyes, not wanting to see the fiend's triumph….
Yuna gasped when she heard the fiend let out a hellish cry. She opened her eyes hesitantly, and cried out with relief when she saw who had saved her. "Sir Auron!"
Auron humphed and watched as the fiend dissolved into Pyreflies. "I'm glad that I could find you in time, Yuna." Auron said, his voice just as curt as Yuna remembered.
Yuna bowed and performed the Prayer of Yevon. "It is an honor to finally meet you." Auron nodded and turned, extending his hand and pulling Tidus to his feet. The young man laughed sheepishly.
"Yuna, I need to speak with Tidus." Auron said as soon as he saw that her Guardians were all right. Yuna watched Auron pull Tidus into the shadows before she turned to Wakka with a sigh. Thankfully neither Lulu nor Kimahri had been seriously injured during the fiends attack, and Wakka's wounds took only one minute to heal.
"Yuna." Auron said, walking over to her, Tidus following sullenly. Yuna nodded, clasping her hands in anticipation. This was the moment she had been waiting for…
"I wish to offer you my services. I would like to be your Guardian." Lulu gasped, and Yuna covered her mouth in shock.
"Truly?" Yuna said, surprised. "This is such an honor!"
"If I come with you, than HE-" Auron motioned to Tidus, who smiled wanly. "Comes as well."
Yuna bowed. "I would be delighted."
Auron nodded, pleased. "Than it is…settled." Yuna couldn't have said it better. Finally, Sir Auron had joined them. Next stop: Mi'Hen Highroad.
End of Chapter
I'm hoping this chapter was okay. I know that it was a lame place to leave off, but there wasn't too much I could do. I'm really happy, though; I finally got Auron here. I'm not very good with writing Auron, though, I don't know, it's going to be a challenge, but hey, I'm up for it.
Okay, just one thing concerning Yuna's Aeon. I believe that since Yuna already had the Aeons one time, getting them again would enable her to more fully tap into their powers. The Aeons are powerful beings; and I have always wished Squaresoft had done more with them…
See you the next chapter! And as always, please leave a review!
Kristen