I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or Final Fantasy 10

Chapter 21

Guadosalam and the Farplane 2

The guardians just looked at Yuna who flusters as she drops her bombshell.

"Could...you say that again ya?" Wakka asked slowly. "I think I'm hearing things. Did you just say Maester Seymour asked you to marry him?"

Blushing a even deeper pink, the summoner nods her head. "He did..." She said softly as she spoke. Shocked as well, Lulu standing to the side is thoughtful as she speaks. "A marriage between a Maester of Yevon and the High Summoner's daughter, it would give people a reason to celebrate in these dark times."

"Yes...to hear the people, smile and laugh in joy and happiness. I...could not deny them that. But..."

"But your journey." Cloud said quietly. "You will continue on it."

"Yes. He has already said he wishes for me to do. He would come as well as my guardian."

Silent and thoughtful as they had all heard, the small group of men and women were quiet as they took this in. Some beginning to talk amongst themselves as Lulu and Tidus seemed to be arguing over something. Others just remained contemplative as they knew and suspected it would be something of this nature.

Quiet, Vincent speaks up to Cloud who listens and nods his head in agreement to what the man is saying. Auron doing the same, the three men find themselves following the younger men and women towards a cave entrance.

Yuna having decided she needed to go the Farplane, to help her think by looking at the images of her parents. Understanding of her desire to do so, as marriage was something to not be taken lightly, no one begrudged the young summoner from her desperate desire to be alone with her family.

Or at least the images of them...to help her settle her thoughts, so that she may think clear on what she must do.

Knowing full well, what she means, the others get up and follow her to the Farplane. Some of the others feeling her desires to talk with loved ones long gone; it is as they approach the portal that they become suspicious as what could only be an unsent emerges from within it.

Shock on their features as several people visiting, human, Ronso, and Guado alike shriek in fear. "IT'S MAESTER JYSCAL!"

In shock that this man whom had helped so many was unsent, it takes him approaching a couple who run for her to move at Auron's words. "Yuna, send him."

"But..."

"Send him now." Cloud repeated as well as he saw the figures eyes. Pain and sorrow in them, the blonde could not help but empathize with the solemn figure. "Send him...don't let him suffer."

Nodding her head, the young woman begins a very familiar dance now. Her feet light as she moves that as the torn figure sighs with eyes of thankfulness, it drops something as it fades in front of her.

Picking it up in confusion, as it seemed to be a sphere record of some kind, the young woman puts it in her sleeve for right now, before turning to the others. A turn and nod of her head towards the others from her group, whom had been reassuring the people. They accept it and those who come to talk with loved ones smile in thanks.

Ready to go herself, the young woman tilts her head curiously as only Rikku and Auron stay put.

"Rikku? Sir Auron?"

"Hn... I would rather not. I will just wait out here." The older man replied. His eyes behind the glasses calm and collected, they also seemed tired as if he was fighting something within him. Leaving him to it, the blonde girl shook her head as well.

"I would rather not as well. You see, my memories are my own. Private, and in my heart, and I want to keep there in me." She said with a warm smile that turned into a bright one only seconds later. "And besides, I can keep Auron company out here while we wait."

Said figure making a sound of no need, it mattered not as the others understood. Cloud and Vincent both going in along with the others to keep an eye on things, that when the passed through the barrier of the Farplane and Guadosalam.

They could instantly feel the familiar warmth of a dear friend emanating from all around them. Gentle and friendly, they could feel her presence in the very air.

The others, now splitting up in various places all around the platform that is raised within it, Cloud and Vincent see Tidus standing in the middle just looking around. Wakka was talking to the image of a red headed youth as Lulu watched, and Yuna?

The young woman was speaking to the floating images of a couple who she gazed at with longing. Kimahri beside her, the Ronso nodded his head as they went by. Tidus approaching Wakka, Lulu, and then Yuna, the two men watched as another image of a woman appeared before him.

One that even now they could observe as Yuna looked at him kindly, "Is she your mother?"

"Yeah..."

"She's pretty." The young woman smiled softly.

"She was wasn't she?" The blonde said quietly. "When my old man vanished... She died. She let herself waste away to nothing and ignored me. And it was his fault! No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried. She just kept dying and I hated him for it...."

A sad look crossing her features, she remains silent.

Clutching his hand into a fist in anger, at the memory of her vanishing, they were both startled as the images of another woman appeared beside them.

Turning, they see the image of a young black haired woman wearing a sleeveless black with a white trim top over black shorts. A trail of black material from the waste down, she wears black boots. Her body slender and strong, Yuna and Tidus both found themselves looking at her.

"Who is she?"

"Tifa..." Cloud whispered. Vincent currently beside Kimahri, the gunman did not turn around out of respect to those who had come. But out of the corner of his eye, he could see image of a friend long gone.

One who after everything had brought Cloud back from the brink of self-destruction...

It was then at that moment, that a warm rain fell within the Farplane. The others confused and puzzled as to what is going on, it takes a voice only within their own minds, that makes Cloud and Vincent's eyes widen.

Especially as the smiling image of a girl in a pink dress with brown hair emerges, the Farplane pulsing with a warm pure light as the water falls; even now Cloud stiffens in surprise as he feels the gentle presence surround him.

The Guado running around as they enter, working on settling the small realm down, they pay no attention to those that they were told to listen to. Yuna and the others standing there in puzzlement, for despite getting wet, this warmth seems to soothe their souls, their hearts once heavy seemed lighter in spirit.

"What's happening?" The younger blonde states in amazement as his mood lightens, the memories of his childhood fading to the back of his mind as ones of pure joy step forward of other times.

The same for others in their, people despite the Guado trying to get them out so that they can fix things find themselves remaining rather then run. Are smiling as if they had found themselves surrounded by that which they thought they had lost. Each one more then likely thinking it was from a loved one...

Only those who knew the origin of this healing rain knew better.

Vincent for the first time in ages gives a small smile as he answers Tidus's question. The blonde perplexed as was the other guardians present. The gunman simply points to the image of the girl in pink.

"It's Aerith... She's letting him know...she's here and she is with us." Vincent replied as that same presence enveloped him as well. Gentle and kind it surrounds him with its light.

As if she was saying...

You came. It's all that matters. You came...and I 'm glad.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

Short yes... But I admit I was feeling kind of nostalgic. Don't worry at least another chapter of Guadosalam and the Farplane before the Thunder plains and Macalania.