sorry that i haven't updated, not that it matters since everyone knows what will happen next --

Chapter 17: Transformation

Gippal walked down the quiet and eerie hallway. He could hear a battle raging downstairs, but he didn't care. He knew the beast was the other end of the hall. His gun was ready as his footsteps drew closer and kicked the door open.

"Come on out, Beast!" Gippal yelled in the dirty room. "I know you're here."

There wasn't a sound except the muffling noise from downstairs. Gippal carefully walked around the mess until he saw a flower with only one petal left. He stalked closer and that's when he heard the growl...

"There you are!" Gippal shouted, and firing his machina at the ceiling.

It was still dark, but he saw the outline of a beast sitting on the bedpost. The beast jumped down on him, but Gippal leaped out of the way. He continued to fire, and the beast didn't make any attempt to dodge as it stalked closer to Gippal. He slowly back out into the large balcony.

Gippal looked down and saw it was a long way to the ground with spikes and gargoyles on the roof. Gippal looked back and saw the beast clearly. It looked like it didn't care if Gippal killed him, so he spoke to him.

"Do you love her, Beast?" Gippal tainted. The beast just growled, but Gippal laughed at it. "You think she'll ever care for you? Rikku is mine!"

The beast roared and leaped, which is what Gippal wanted. He easily moved aside as the beast plunged over the balcony. Gippal thought he fell to his death, but as he looked over the balcony, he saw the beast gripped onto the roof tiles, and slowly clawed his way up.

Gippal grunted as the beast tried to climb back over the edge, but it looked like the beast was too weak. Gippal grabbed the beast by it's cloak and stare at its face without fear.

"Just give up, Beast." Gippal said. The beast stared back with blue eyes. "You can't be with her. She can't live a normal life with you."

"Rikku..." The beast spoke, which caught Gippal by surprise, but he didn't care.

"She deserve someone normal." Gippal continued. "You can't give her that."

"Maybe not." It spoke again. "But she needs someone who loves her...you can't give her that."

"Shut up!!" Gippal said, and was about to fire when...

"No!" Rikku shouted from behind, and grabbed Gippal's machina.

Rikku heard a gun shot. Everything seemed quiet as Rikku saw the beast fall forward onto the balcony. Rikku had accidentally cause Gippal to shoot. Rikku continued to stare at the beast motionless on the floor, but her expression changed as she glare at Gippal.

"You beast!!" Rikku screamed and fought with Gippal for the gun.

Gippal was stronger than Rikku, but she was so infuriated, she'd never let go of the machina until she can have it. Finally, Rikku heard another set of footsteps, and both Rikku and Gippal turn to look.

"Brother!!" Both Rikku and Gippal shouted. Brother stood still, carrying an extra machina gun.

"Brother, get her off me!" Gippal ordered.

"Brother, please! Help me!" Rikku pleaded.

Brother looked back and forth between them as Rikku and Gippal pleaded and demanded his help. Finally, out of frustration he raised his gun and fired.

Rikku stood still and shut her eyes, but nothing came. Then, she felt Gippal fall to his knee holding onto his shoulder where Brother shot him.

"You betrayed me?!" Gippal shouted. Rikku took this advantage and took Gippal's machina. Both Brother and Rikku point at Gippal. Brother took a deep breath.

"I want you to leave...and never harm my family again." Brother said calmy. Gippal glared back, but then lowered his head in defeat.

Rikku turned and hugged her dear Brother.

"I'd knew you come to your scenes some day." Rikku whispered in his ear.

"Sorry it took me so long, little sister." Brother said, but then quickly moved Rikku behind him. "Rikku, watch out!" Gippal was up on his feet again with a dagger. Brother and Rikku tried to reload their guns, but Gippal was too close...

Gippal froze. He turned around and saw the beast was sitting up. Rikku noticed another small dagger stuck on Gippal's back. He slowly walked backwards until he fell over the balcony...

At first, Rikku couldn't move. Then, she noticed the beast was wounded and ran to his side as Brother watch from a distance. She sat down, but he was covered with bullet wounds. He still smiled.

"You came back." He gasped.

"I had to." Rikku simply answered. "If I only came sooner-"

"No, it's better this way. You deserve a normal life...you should go home." Tidus gasped, slowly slipping away.

"I am home." Rikku said, but she wasn't sure if he heard. "Come on! Don't give up!"

"Rikku...I'm glad to see you again." He said, and slowly droop his head.

"No!" Rikku cried. "Don't died...I love you!"

There was silence, Rikku looked up and saw the blue rose only petal fall, and it stopped glowing. But the glowing started to come from the beast. She looked down and noticed he was emerged with blue light. Brother dragged Rikku away, but Rikku didn't stop staring.

The night sky suddenly started to glow of the morning sun, and someone was standing in the beast's place. A man with golden hair and broad shoulders. Rikku was scared as the man stared at his own hands as if he'd never seen them before.

Suddenly, he turned around and the sun finally rose behind him. Rikku was shocked to see how handsome the man was, but there was something familiar about him. His eyes were the same Zanarkand blue eyes...

"Rikku..." The man smiled," it's me!"

Rikku didn't say anything, but stared with her mouth open.

"Don't you recognize me?"

Rikku slowly approached the man, but knew somewhere in her heart that he was the beast. Suddenly, she remembered the ruin portrait that showed bright blue eyes. The man before her, and the beast's had the same eyes. How could she not have noticed before...?

"It is you!!" Rikku gasped. "You look like...a prince!"

"I am." He explained. "I'm Tidus. Prince of Zanarkand. Wait, if my curse is broken, then so is everyone else! Come on." He said, excited.

He grabbed Rikku's hand and led her down the stairs to find the battle over and the Al Bheds gone. Tidus didn't see any of his servants so he led to the ballroom. At first, it was pitch black. But then, the chandelier lit up and a loud applause was heard. Tidus smiled.

Everyone was turned back to normal, and applaud him and Rikku. Tidus got so excited to see there familiar faces.

"Wakka!" Tidus shouted, and couldn't help it but give Wakka a tight hug. "You're back! I forgot how tall you were." Tidus complimented.

"And I never realized your hair was messier than your fur." Wakka joked.

"What?!" Tidus fought, but Wakka won by wrapping his arm around Tidus's head.

"Wakka, that's enough." Auron spoke. He strode into the scene with his famous red coat and sunglasses.

"Whoa! It's Sir Auron." Tidus exclaimed and tried to hug him, but Auron moved aside and Tidus fell.

"It's good to be normal." Yuna said, in a beautiful kimono. "But where's...?"

"Mama!!" Leo came running in a cute sailor outfit.

"Leo!" Yuna cried, holding her arms open for her son.

"I feel like we're missing someone..." Rikku thought. Suddenly, someone whistled.

"You hoo! Wakka!" Lulu called. She strode in with a large dress that so mimic her as a feather duster. Wakka smiled, and made his hair pointy.

"Looks like I've found my own love." Wakka smirked.

He walked up to her, and everyone gasped and applaud as he tipped her and made out in front of everyone. Rikku was embarrassed, but then Tidus held out his hand.

"May I have this dance?" He asked. Rikku blushed, but gladly took it.

"It feels like one big dream." Rikku said. Tidus smiled.

"One thing forever true!" He replied.

"I love you!" They both said.

Soon, it felt like everyone was singing...

"Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.

Ahh Ahh Ahhh...

Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.
Ahhh Ahhh Ahhhh!!"

The curtains close...

HA!! curtains closed?!

tell me what you think, next is the LAST CHAPTER