Chapter 8: Unexpected Encounters

Another week had gone by, and far more quickly than I'd wanted. Tidus had managed to convince his teammates that he'd broken things off with me, using the lie I'd suggested. Going one step further, he added to it, telling them I'd left Zanarkand in hopes they wouldn't pursue hunting me down as though I were some kind of dangerous fiend.

Unfortunately that required me to become a bit of a prisoner inside that houseboat. I couldn't risk being seen now. And being confined there all day and all night was beginning to get to me.

The amount of time I had alone while Tidus was at practice had presented me with ample opportunity to call upon the fayth. Every day I'd take to my knees and pray, hoping upon hope one of them would answer my call.

That day had yet to come though. And I was beginning to wonder if it ever would.

Tidus, however, had done his best to distract me every night with his sensual kisses and lustful desires. As wonderful as those encounters were though, they'd only offered a brief reprieve from my current predicament. I needed answers. I needed something that could provide me with hope for the future. I needed to hear from Auron.

Setting the module I'd been inspecting for the hundredth time onto the coffee-table, I glanced over at the window, watching the spotlights shine out of the stadium from what I imagined had been the Abes scoring another goal. I could've watched the game on the sphere, but I chose not to—mainly because I couldn't stomach seeing those so-called friends of his again. Even though I knew they were just dreams, their betrayal had cut deep into my beloved's heart. And I had no tolerance for it.

Just then the doorbell chimed, drawing me away from my venomous thoughts. Whoever was outside must've lived under a rock, or else they would have known Tidus was busy playing at a blitz tournament tonight—that or they weren't there to see him. And that had me worried. Had someone discovered I was still living there? Or worse—been spying on us through the window?

I stood and cautiously made my way up the stairs toward the door, only planning to sneak a peek through what Tidus had assured me to be a one-sided window at the top of it when the doorbell chimed once more.

"Yuna," a deep, calm voice called from the other side—a voice I knew very well and that filled me with hope. "Open up—we need to talk."

Unlocking the latch in a hurry, I reset the passcode on the alarm system and swung the door wide-open. "Sir Auron!"

My former guardian greeted me with his usual stoic expression. But those dark eyes peering through those famous spectacles possessed an ominous sense of urgency.

"Do…you have any news? Were you able to speak with the fayth?"

"I haven't had any success calling on them," he answered, voice tainted with a tinge of regret. "And I suspect from your reaction, you haven't either. But I have stumbled upon something rather…troublesome."

Just from his wary tone, I could sense whatever he'd learned was not something I was prepared to hear. And my stomach reacted accordingly, coiling with dread.

"W-what is it?"

"I need to ask you something first."

"Um...okay."

"The device that transported you here—how does it work exactly?"

"I'm…not quite sure. But it has something to do with Farplane energy. I believe it's the main power source and what enables it to bend time."

"I see. That explains a few things."

Unfortunately, I was still stumbling in the dark and left guessing at what he'd been alluding to. "Why? What have you learned?"

"It's best if I show you." Auron then turned and gestured for me to follow. "Come, there's something you need to see."

"Wait!" I called, standing firm in the doorway, prompting him to pause and glance over his shoulder at me. "I can't leave. I can't risk being seen in public—not after what Tidus told his teammates earlier this week. They believe we broke up and that I…left Zanarkand."

"Hmph… You're afraid of what a few dreams think?"

"I'm afraid of being thrown into prison," I retorted. "They threatened to have me arrested because of what I'd done and…because I'm a mage. Have you forgotten?"

"I haven't. But they're all at the stadium in the middle of an important game. We won't be straying far from here. What I intend to show you can be seen further back in the marina. I assure you this won't take long."

Whatever Auron had wanted to show me must've been quite significant for him to insist upon me taking such a risk. And that had me even more frightened than the ramifications of being spotted by anyone.

Shutting the door behind, I followed my former guardian over to the docks and into the darkened area of the marina. The slight chill coming off the still waters of the ocean had me shivering a little. But I was certain it was mostly because of my frazzled nerves. Every step I took down the winding path of those docks, elevated the anxiety rising inside my chest to where I thought I'd just burst from it all.

Suddenly, Auron came to a stop at the end of those docks and stepped aside, unveiling a stunning aurora on the horizon, shimmering over the darkened sea and what looked like a wide, rippling wall directly underneath. The eerie sight was something between a mirage I'd expect to find in Bikanel and the majestic sky in the Farplane.

"Do you see it?"

"Y-yes. What… What is it?"

"A rift into Spira."

"What!?" Eyes wide in shock, I looked to Auron for clarification, uncertain if I'd heard him correctly.

"I was stunned when I found it. The veil I use to cross into Spira cannot be seen—it's more of a sense that I have when I'm near the edge of the dream. This, however, is visible at night and to anyone living here."

"But…how?"

"I'm not certain. It appeared just the other night. I assume it has something to do with the device that brought you here, which is why I'd asked about it."

"So, Farplane energy may have done this."

"That would be my guess. If not, then your presence here may be what's causing it."

Auron's words gave me pause. Last week, I'd mulled over a few things in bed. One of them had been how my presence in Dream Zanarkand almost seemed like a hack into the fayth's consciousness. And now, I had to wonder if there was actually some truth to it, especially since neither of us had been successful in calling upon any of them.

"Do you suppose I'm being used to…alter the fayth's dream?"

"Then a better question would be, why? Altering the dream would only serve one purpose—preventing Tidus from ever coming to Spira."

My heart froze. "But that would mean… Yu Yevon wouldn't be defeated and Sin…"

"The cycle would continue." An airy pause hung in the air between us before Auron came closer, his serious gaze adhering to mine in question. "This friend of yours who built the device—how well do you know them?"

Those doubts I'd been having about Shinra were beginning to grow more pronounced. But I wasn't sold on the idea of him wanting to destroy Spira, or for it to continue in a spiral of death. He was a scientist who wanted to advance Spira using Farplane energy. He couldn't accomplish that if Sin continued to ravage the world.

"I don't believe Shinra's goal is to reverse what we'd accomplished in the past. He was obsessed with the future…for the most part."

"Are you certain?"

"He'd mentioned more than once how he envisioned a world where magic and machina would fuse together, creating some kind of…technological utopia. And the only way something like that could be accomplished would be through harnessing enough Farplane energy that could power all of Spira. According to him, it's the only energy source capable of sustaining such a goal…and how it would probably take hundreds of years to accomplish on that scale."

"But he's already managed to harness this energy."

"Yes, it's true. And we were all stunned to discover he had when he'd unveiled the time machine to us. He'd mentioned almost a year ago how it would take generations to accomplish. So, we never expected it."

"Sounds like he didn't want anyone to know how to obtain it."

Rubbing a finger over my bottom lip, I began to ponder Auron's claim. "He'd referred to it as our planet's life-force and had been studying the data in the Farplane for some time. It's possible he'd discovered how to harness it not long after he told us about it."

"He had to have already known how to harness it when he revealed his findings. Otherwise, that device he'd built wouldn't have been possible."

"I…suppose you're right." Which meant Shinra had lied to us. And that only amplified my unease.

"So we're still left wondering what exactly it is that he hopes to achieve."

"I believe his goal is still the same, only on a grander scale. I think… I think that's why he created the time machine. So, he could find a way to hasten the process."

"And yet, you were sent into the past."

"He…hadn't been successful in sending anything into the future from what I could recall. So, I don't believe he'd perfected it just yet."

"Hmph… Or maybe he needed something from the past in order for it to work."

And that hadn't occurred to me until now. Perhaps Shinra intended to use the time machine on himself and needed one of us to learn how to transport him back. Still… What would he have been searching for? I wondered. And then it finally struck me.

"The Farplane energy he used was unstable. But there was a time when it wasn't. He must've been looking for a way to obtain a stable quantity. Maybe that's what he needs in order to move time forward."

"Then we may have our answer."

Suddenly, I remembered the module I'd left on the table back inside the houseboat and gasped—a sense of panic rising in my chest. I never had it out of my sight since arriving there.

"We have to go back. I left something important behind."

Auron lifted a brow that demanded an answer.

"It's the module that can transport me back," I went on to explain. "I need to have it on me at all times…in case they get the time machine working again."

"Show it to me."

With a firm nod, I turned and hurried back down the docks toward the houseboat—Auron's heavy footsteps following close behind.

I rushed inside once we arrived and scrambled down the steps, finding the device exactly where I'd set it before I'd left. Swiping the module off the coffee-table with a relieved sigh, I handed it over to Auron, who carefully inspected it.

"And this works how, exactly?"

"It's infused with Farplane energy as well and…somehow connected to the main device that way. But…it's not working because my cousin busted the machina before it misfired."

"I see. It would seem that Farplane energy is the driving source behind all of this. It's what that friend of yours has been obsessed with. And it's what had been used to create the machina that'd transported you here." He handed the module back to me and held my gaze. "So, it would only stand to reason that it could transport you home."

Sensing there was something more behind his words, I remained quiet, hoping he'd elaborate on whatever he'd been thinking.

"Perhaps it needs more power—a stable source to drive time forward."

I tilted my head to the side and frowned. "What're you suggesting?"

"Obtaining your own sample of Farplane energy."

Now I was completely baffled. "But…how?"

"You may not be aware of this, but Dream Zanarkand and an entrance into the Farplane all exist upon layers at Baaj Temple. There's a rift out at sea that's appeared, leading to Baaj Temple in Spira. And the veil into the Farplane there has thinned to where the living can now enter and leave as they do in Guadosalam.

"I cannot enter there for obvious reasons. But I can take you to it. Once there, I'd suggest procuring your own sample of Farplane energy and bringing it back here, so we can have it analyzed. It may be all that's needed to return you home."

My former guardian had given me some much needed hope. But the risks involved… And I wouldn't even know where to begin in trying to harness that energy source. I wasn't Shinra.

"Going to Spira at this period in time—it could lead to me ceasing to exist if I come in contact with myself."

"I can assure you that won't happen. You, and no one else you know, will be anywhere near Baaj Temple. Unless you know something to the contrary."

"No, I… I'm living in Besaid at this time and trying to become a full-fledged summoner."

"Then we have nothing to worry about. It will be a quick trip there and back."

"Tidus won't be okay with any of this."

"If he wants a future with you in it, he will."

The fact that I was seriously considering this proved how desperate I'd become. And if the fayth weren't answering our calls—I may not have much of a choice. Perhaps they'd answer me in the Farplane if their dream had been compromised.

"I'm not even sure what I'd be looking for. Shinra's data revealed how this energy was swirling all around the Farplane."

"So he claims. Energy can come in many forms. But in this instance I'd search for a flow—something visible that seems out of place from everything else there. Your friend had to have found something along those lines. The Al-Bhed may possess a wide-range of technology, but I doubt anything advanced enough to extract a hidden source from the Farplane. There had to be a point of interest—something worth investigating."

"But…that could take hours, maybe even days, of searching."

"Have you been to the Farplane before?"

"Yes, I have. I've actually been to the heart of it and inside the glen."

"Have you ever felt a pull—something drawing you in?"

Each time I'd been to the Farplane, I'd been distracted by either what I'd thought had been Tidus at the time or by fighting a colossal machina bent on destroying Spira. I never had time to feel anything, really. But now that I thought about it, there was an eerie kind of pull, tugging at me when I'd been there. I'd just never given it much thought before.

"I suppose there may have been."

"Follow it this time. Let it guide you to whatever it is. My guess would be the energy source we're looking for."

"Even still, I can't leave without Tidus knowing. He'd think I'd…left for good. And I can't do that to him."

"Then expect to answer some difficult questions."

"You know how Tidus is," I indicated, pocketing the module into my denim shorts. "You watched over him for many years. How do you think he'd react if I just up and left right now without any explanation?"

"Oh, I dunno, the word horrified comes to mind."

I gasped, shocked to find Tidus standing in the doorway, brow dipped low in an angry glower. In our rush to secure the module, Auron and I must've forgotten to shut the door. And I was worried at just how much Tidus had overheard.

"You're… You're home early."

"Yeah, the Oracles forfeited after we creamed them in the first half. It didn't help that Raines injured their team captain either. I felt kinda bad that we'd won that way, but I'm glad we did now." Slamming the door shut, he trudged down the steps and stopped beside Auron to shoot him an accusing glare. "Or else I would've been left wondering what the hell happened to my future wife."

"Hmph… You're angry."

"Ya think?"

"He's not your enemy," I tried to reason with him. "He's…trying to help us."

Folding his arms, Tidus' frown deepened into a scowl. "What—by taking you away from me?"

"It's not like that." I shook my head in protest. "I would only be gone for a few hours."

"And to where exactly?"

"This would be one of those difficult questions," Auron chimed in, tossing me an uneasy glance as he took a seat on the sofa.

"Something… Something has appeared out at sea," I began to explain. "Auron had just discovered it the other night. And he came here to show it to me."

"Okay… You gonna tell me what it is, or am I supposed to keep guessing here?"

"A rift into Spira," Auron calmly answered out of turn, earning a stunned look from my beloved that'd quickly morphed into a fit of rage.

"Seriously!?" he raised his voice, chopping the air with arm. "Do you know what'll happen to her if she goes there and she—and she runs into herself? Are you trying to get her killed!?"

"I'm trying to spare her life and secure your future together. This may be the only way of achieving that."

"What happened to the initial plan? Weren't you supposed to know someone who could fix all this and get Yuna home safely?"

Auron threw me a guarded look then shifted his attention back to Tidus. "I haven't been successful in locating them."

"So, this rift suddenly appears and you think it'll help somehow if she goes through it? What's that gonna accomplish?"

In an effort to soothe Tidus' ire, I gently laid my hand on his forearm and held his gaze. "I… I may be able to obtain something there that could help power the module."

"I thought it's not working because the main device is busted."

"That was my impression as well, but… If there's even a small chance this could work, I have to try."

"What about my memories?" he challenged. "Are we going with my plan on that now?"

I hadn't thought about that. But if we couldn't call upon the fayth, our options would be limited. Looking away, I pursed my lips and exhaled heavily. "I… I don't know…"

"Let's leap over one hurdle at a time," Auron reasoned. "First we need to see if Yuna can even obtain the energy source needed to power the module. Then we need to find someone here who can analyze it and infuse it into the device."

"What kind of energy source is she looking for?"

"One that can only be obtained at a certain location in Spira."

"Figures…" Mulling over the legendary guardian's words, Tidus shifted his jaw from side-to-side then finally relented. "Fine," he muttered, bitterly. "When do we leave?"

"Oh, um…" With an apologetic smile, I replied in a soft tone, "You… You can't accompany me there. I'm… I'm sorry."

"Why not?"

"It's…complicated."

"I don't care if it is!" he snapped. "I'm not having you go there alone!"

"She won't be alone," Auron broke in. "I'll accompany her. You'll be staying here and searching for someone who can aid us when we return—a scientist of sorts."

"No way! If she's going there then I'm going with her."

"Tidus… I'm sorry, but you can't."

His eyes narrowed at me as though I'd committed a crime. "Then you need to tell me why."

And I was anything but prepared for that conversation.

"I think it's best if I leave you two to sort this out." Auron stood and retreated over to the stairs, pausing at the base to peer at me through those low-sitting spectacles. "Talk some sense into him. I'll be back tomorrow night." He then ascended the steps to the door, opened it and left, leaving me alone to deal with...

"Were you really gonna just go with him tonight and not even tell me!?"

"No, of course not! But you would've known that if you'd actually listened to what I'd said when you showed up."

"Yeah well, forgive me for getting all riled up when I come home to hear my pregnant girl getting ready to bounce on me—and the jerk that was once my guardian convincing her to do so."

"Auron is only trying to help us."

Tidus snorted and breezed past me, heading for the kitchen. "Like he did with my old man and yours?"

"That's not fair," I refuted, chasing after him in a huff. "My father… My father died trying to bring hope to the people of Spira. And so did yours. Sir Auron never wanted them to die. He was against it when he learned the truth about the final summoning. But they chose their fate. There was nothing he could do."

Grabbing a bottle of beer out of the fridge, Tidus slammed the door shut and shot me a menacing glare. "You're saying my old man wanted to die!?"

"What he wanted more than anything was to return home to you and your mother. But he knew that wasn't possible. So, he did the only noble thing he could in hopes you'd be proud of him one day."

Tidus twisted the cap off the bottle and took a giant swig. "What—proud that he sacrificed himself for a world that wasn't his, leaving his wife behind to die of a broken heart and his only kid an orphan? Yeah… Real proud, Dad. Thanks for screwing up my life even more than before you disappeared."

Nothing could've ever prepared me for his selfish response. And it only fueled the fire raging through my veins. "Maybe he did it so his friend's daughter could grow up and have a chance at life."

"Right… Just so she could throw it all away and become a sacrifice as well one day."

That stung, leaving me almost speechless. "I… I can't believe you said that."

"It's true, isn't it? You were gonna do the same thing, until I stopped you."

"Yes, it's true." I then lifted my gaze to meet his, the sting from his words still present, and uttered in a dangerous tone, "And that didn't come without consequence."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Fighting back tears, I blew out a trembling breath and replied in a quieter, somber voice, "It means if you love someone enough, you'll do anything for them."

He stared at me for a long moment, face softening as my words sank in. "I gave up something in order to save you, didn't I?"

What was I doing? Those new hormones had taken over, clouding my judgement once more. I should've just walked away from this argument and went to bed, leaving him to stew for the night.

"I… I've already said too much." Turning to bolt from the room, Tidus latched onto my arm, foiling my efforts and gave me a gentle tug to face him.

"Yuna… What aren't you tell me?"

"It's nothing, really. I… I was just upset, that's all."

"You're lying. I can tell."

"Tidus, let go."

"Then answer my question. What did I have to do to save you?"

My stomach dropped. And my pulse was racing. Under no circumstances could I let him know the truth. He couldn't learn he was a dream.

"What you'd said earlier—it hurt because it was true. I… I was just lashing out."

"I don't believe you. You've been keeping something from me. And it has to do with this, doesn't it?"

Yanking my arm out of his grasp, I took a step back and avoided his gaze. "I already told you how you saved my life—last week in the limo."

"Mmm… I'm willing to bet there's more to it than that."

"What do you want me to say!?"

"I dunno—maybe the truth!?" Tidus took another long pull of his beer then set the bottle down onto the counter with a clunk. "If this plan you hatched with Auron works, I'm gonna need to know what happens in the future. So, you might as well tell me now."

"There's still a chance we can meet with…someone to fix your memories."

"You mean erase them."

"Yes…"

Heaving a tired sigh, Tidus rubbed the back of his neck, expression easing into a look of empathy. "What the hell happened that you're so afraid to tell me?"

"Please, stop." The anxiety swelling inside was almost too much to bear. "I can't…"

"What are you so afraid of, Yuna? Do you think I'll be mad at you—what? Just tell me."

Wet lines slid down my cheeks, and I brushed them away, sucking back a sniffle. "I can't… I can't lose you agai—"

My heart just about stopped. Daring a glance at the man I loved, I found him leaning against the counter, staring at me, brows knit, and mouth slightly agape. He'd definitely caught what I'd allowed to slip.

"Again!? What—did I die or something and come back to life?"

"I can't…" The tightness in my throat was all but asphyxiating me. "I can't do this."

I retreated from the kitchen in a hurry, only making it half-way through the living room when Tidus rushed after me, blocking my way to the steps leading to the lower level.

"I'm not letting this go. You can't run from this, Yuna." Inching closer to me, he searched my eyes for an answer. "What happened to me?"

"Tidus, please…"

His hands gently settled onto my shoulders, gaze fixed on me, pleading for the truth. "I can't help us in the future if I don't know what to expect. Yuna, please… Just tell me, already."

At this point, a half-truth would be better than him learning the real reason. I'd already let too much slip for him to accept anything less.

"You… You didn't die. But we were…separated for a time."

"Meaning?"

"After we defeated Yu Yevon, you…you were transported to another realm—somewhere I couldn't follow."

"Another realm?" His brow dipped low. "For…how long?"

"…Two years."

"What…?" he breathed in shock. "Two years?"

"I… I was devastated when it happened. I thought I'd lost you forever. I… I never moved on. Then one day, my cousin, Rikku, showed up in Besaid with a sphere that gave me hope. We thought it was a lead to where you might be. And so, I set out on another journey with my cousins and our new friends to find you. It was at the very end of that journey when you finally returned to me."

"Returned to you?" he echoed, confused. "So, you didn't actually find me."

"No, I didn't," I admitted with some regret. "You found your way back to me with the help of some very…powerful entities that felt indebted to us for all we'd done to save Spira."

"Lemme guess, these powerful entities are what Auron's been searching for to help fix things?"

"Yes. They were able to locate you and bring you back to me. So, I was hoping they could do the same with me in my situation."

"And they have the power to erase memories?"

"In some cases, they might. I'm not sure, really. But something's happened. They may be…unreachable because of a certain energy source that'd been used."

"That stuff you and Auron plan to go after?"

"It's ultimately what brought me here. And…Auron and I suspect the friend of mine who built the device may have intended to use it to…obtain something from the past."

Tidus' eyes narrowed further. "You think they're up to no good?"

"I'm not sure. I hope not. He's…just a kid. But a very…eccentric kid, who has some rather lofty goals for the future he envisions. He wants to build a technological utopia using this energy source."

"Sounds like the ravings of a mad scientist."

I gave a curt laugh, recalling how Tidus had referred to Shinra that way once before. "I believe he has good intentions but… He's trying to control an unstable energy source that no one had even known about until recently. And in my experience, once someone obtains that kind of power, it has a way of slowly consuming them until nothing is left but an empty shell of who they once were."

"And you're worried that'll happen to him?"

"I'm afraid it may have already begun."

"Yuna…" He went to cup my face in his hands, eyes swirling with emotion. "Why didn't you just tell me all this to begin with?"

"You mean, what happened to you?"

"That's right."

"Because…I was afraid you'd want to do something to change what happened. But you can't. What happened to you had to happen. It was what needed to be done in order for us to defeat Yu Yevon and…to save my life in the process. That was the sacrifice you made."

"Then I wouldn't change a thing. You should know that."

"Even if we're apart for two years?"

"Well, that part really sucks. But two years isn't forever. It's a small price to pay to have a lifetime with you after."

Relieved that he'd accepted my partial confession to be the entire truth, I released a long breath and slid his hands off my face. "Can we not talk about this anymore tonight?"

"Sure, but… I'm still confused as to why I can't go with you through that rift into Spira."

That man of mine was persistent, wasn't he? And I had to think fast if I wanted him to drop the subject. "I'm not sure what will happen if you cross into Spira before you're…supposed to. You've disappeared to another realm on me before. I can't risk that happening again. Or are you comfortable taking that risk and us…never being together?"

Tidus breathed an incredulous laugh and shook his head. "That almost sounds like a guilt-trip. But after what you'd just told me, I can see why you'd be worried. And no, I don't wanna risk our future."

"So then, you won't try to stop me from going with Auron tomorrow night?"

Raking a hand through his flaxen wisps, Tidus released a troubled sigh. "Not gonna lie—I hate the idea of you going there. From everything you'd told me—it's way too dangerous."

"The rift leads to a location in Spira where I won't be in any danger of coming into contact with myself."

"How do you know that?"

"Auron assured me. He's already gone through it and investigated."

"I'm still not sold on Auron being able to protect you there."

"I don't need his protection, not anymore. But just so you're aware, he'd never allow any harm to come to me if he could help it. My father and yours were his only real friends. Like you, he'd never say it but… He cares a great deal for you. He…treats you like a father would his son."

"I guess he did treat me better than my old man did all those years."

"Regardless of what you may think, they both love you, Tidus."

"Yeah, yeah," he waved a dismissive hand, "I get it."

With a tired sigh, I rubbed my brow and gave him a tight smile. "All of this has really worn me out. I think I'm going to turn in for the night."

"Wait—I, uh… I'm sorry about what I'd said earlier about you wanting to be a sacrifice and all."

"Well, it's not like it wasn't true. Maybe that's why it hurt so much."

"Still, I shouldn't have said it, along with a lot of other things." Drifting closer, he offered me a regretful smile and slid his arms around my waist. "Do you forgive me?"

"Mm…" I confirmed with a nod, gliding my hands up his back. "You're forgiven."

"So… Two years, huh?" Those sweet lips stretched into a devilish grin. "That's a long time to go without any action."

I giggled and shook my head. "Add eight months to that."

"You're kidding?" The stunned look on his face was priceless. "I thought you said we fell in love on your pilgrimage."

"We did. But it's not something we could be open about, let alone intimate. I was a summoner marching to her death. Becoming romantically involved with one of my guardians would've been viewed as…inappropriate."

"But marrying one of your enemies wasn't?"

I gave him a pointed look. "I told you why I did that."

"Yeah, but I'm just wondering why we weren't considered an appropriate couple."

"Well… You weren't exactly the embodiment of purity and wholesomeness those in Spira would expect to find travelling with a young and innocent summoner. There were many who called you a heathen. And even some who whispered among themselves about how you were going to corrupt me and all."

Tidus cackled in astonishment. "Yeah, well…they were right about all that."

"No," I disagreed with a slow sweep of my head. "You didn't corrupt me. You saved me…in so many ways."

That playful expression suddenly sobered. "I can't imagine going almost three years without making love to you. Even worse—not being able to hold you, or kiss you, or even see you for two of them."

"I know…"

"You're not really…tired, are you?"

A tiny smile tugged on my lips, knowing exactly what he'd wanted. "A little. But I suppose I could be persuaded to stay awake for a while longer."

"Good." Those plump lips stretched into a wolfish grin. "Because I'm gonna need to wear myself out these next few weeks, if I'm gonna even have a chance getting through the next three years."

Tidus hoisted me off the ground, and I giggled, looping my arms around his neck, ankles locking at the small of his back.

"I love you, Yuna," his voice came in a gravelly whisper, igniting a fire inside my belly as he carried me down to the lower level and into the bedroom we now shared. "And I just can't get enough of you."

In a matter of moments, we flopped onto the bed, our lips smothered in a passionate exchange while our hands worked to free each other from the articles of clothing in our way.

Not a day or night had gone by that week where we hadn't made love. It was a blissful distraction both of us had become addicted to. But in many ways it was a reminder for me of what I was fighting for. This love we shared. It was unique and powerful. And it deserved to have an always.

As we sank into the softness of the mattress, bodies joined in that sensual dance of love, I vowed to do whatever it took to ensure our future together. Even if that meant, Spira had to change a little in the process.

I was having the most wonderful dream about the future. Tidus and I were back in Spira together, teaching our little son and daughter how to blitz. It was the perfect summer day, too. We all were so happy, laughing and playing in the water.

Then suddenly the sky went dark. There was a strange pull, tugging at me—tugging me down. All the water in the ocean began to swirl and drain, sucking me and my family into an enormous whirlpool.

Water was everywhere, splashing me in the face and making it hard to see. A shrilling scream and an anguished cry followed. I'd lost sight of my children and Tidus for that matter. Everything around me was an indistinguishable blur. I was sinking—slipping under the dark, violent waters. My heart was in my throat, pulse throbbing inside my ears.

I reached out for Tidus, hoping he would spot me and pull me out of the vortex sucking me down into the bowels of torment.

But there was no one there. I was all alone.

"Teeduus!"

My eyes snapped open, and I bolted up in bed, breathing heavily. Glancing over to the spot next to me, I found the man I loved curled up on his side, still sound asleep. Tidus could be a heavy sleeper at times, but I'd thought for sure he would've been jarred awake by me calling out to him. Perhaps my scream in reality wasn't as loud as it'd been in my dream.

Combing a hand through my tousled hair, I eased myself back down onto the pillows, just in time to spot a single pyrefly whiz by my face.

I froze, horrified at the sight, then quickly turned my head to inspect my lover's sleeping form, afraid something might've been happening to him.

But there was nothing out of sorts.

The single pyrefly remained though, floating around the room, eventually heading right through the door and into the hall.

Determined to investigate further, I carefully climbed out of bed, threw on my panties that were discarded onto the floor, and scrambled to pull the nightie over my head that was draped on the edge of the hamper, before rushing out into the hall.

It was dark except for the colorful light of the mysterious pyrefly floating by the stairs, almost as though it were waiting for me.

Inching closer, the pyrefly resumed its course, going up to the next level, and I quickly followed in pursuit.

That single pyrefly led me through the living room and up the steps to the door, leading outside.

It was the middle of the night. I couldn't go chasing after it, especially in my nightdress and when I was somewhat viewed as a fugitive by a few people there. But the odds of encountering a pyrefly like this here were slim to none. It seemed sentient as well. And it was leading me to something. I was sure of it.

Against my better judgement, I unlocked the latch and reset the alarm, following the mysterious pyrefly out onto the deck of the houseboat and over to the railing at the side.

The pyrefly whizzed around me a few times then plunged overboard, lighting up the darkened waters below and displaying an image in them as though I were looking into a sphere.

Leaning over the railing, I watched as a naked woman appeared with long, white hair, flowing all around her, arms outstretched as she hovered in the air. The area she was in was familiar. That pink sky, the waterfall, and all those pyreflies—it was the Farplane.

"What is this…?" I whispered. "Why does she seem so…" I gasped, finally recognizing the woman. "Lady Yunalesca!"

Suddenly the image of the woman, who we'd vanquished on my pilgrimage, began to glow. All the pyreflies swirled around her and the landscape seemed to stretch, gravitating toward her body as though it were sucking the entirety of the Farplane into it.

"No…" I cried in an anguished whisper.

The woman grew brighter and brighter, draining the life out of the Farplane and absorbing it into her body—and from all the palm trees and buildings zipping by, all of Spira as well.

That couldn't be Lady Yunalesca. It just couldn't. We'd defeated her at the Zanarkand Ruins. She was never that powerful. There's no way she could ever become that powerful, even if Tidus and I never existed.

Just then a pair of shadowy arms sprang out of the water and grabbed me by the throat. I lost my balance and fell overboard, plunging into the water as I struggled to break free.

My attacker was a featureless form—a shadowy figure to be more precise. I had no idea what I was up against. All I knew for certain was I had to survive.

I continued to struggle in this being's grasp, clawing at its featureless face and pounding on its solid shoulders. Every second felt like an agonizing minute. And I was doing my best not to panic in this situation. But the last thing I'd expected was to be assaulted by some strange entity and dragged into the ocean.

Kicking my legs, I tried to concentrate on casting a spell. Any would do, considering the grip it had on my throat. But if I wanted to have a fighting chance, I'd have to cast something more potent than the weak thunder spell I'd done last week.

The oxygen in my lungs was quickly depleting, my legs growing weak. I shut my eyes and allowed the power to rush through my veins.

Thrusting my hands against the being's chest, I blasted it with an ultima spell. The bright blast lit up the dark waters, knocking the shadowy figure back and somewhere into the darkened depths, far enough that I was able to muster enough strength to swim away.

I broke to the surface with a gasp, gulping the cool, night air into my burning lungs. Whatever that had been wanted me dead. But…why? Why show me all that then try to kill me?

Something grabbed me by the ankle at that moment and yanked me underneath the cold, dark waters once again.

I'd barely had time to regain my strength and suck enough oxygen into my lungs before it dragged me under for what might've been the final time. Whatever this was had no intention of allowing me to live through the night. And at this rate, I was afraid it would accomplish its goal.

Arms and legs flailing, I fought to squirm out of the iron grip it had on my ankle. I was being pulled down, deeper and deeper into the darkened depths. This mysterious entity served as a deadly anvil, threatening to sink me to the bottom of the ocean with each passing second. Thankfully, it couldn't cast magic for whatever reason, so for that I was grateful.

In a last ditch effort, I blasted my attacker with holy. The spell struck in several beams of white light, penetrating the being's shadowy form and exploding it into a swarm of pyreflies.

The iron grip on my ankle was now gone, but any energy I'd conserved had been used up in that spell. I weakly kicked my legs and moved my arms, knowing full-well my efforts would probably be in vain. The surface was too far away.

My lungs began to burn and the pressure accompanying them was excruciating. Yet, I continued, fighting my way through the cold, unforgiving waters, determined to make it out.

Then suddenly a pair of arms grabbed me from behind.

No… I was so close.

The life I'd only dreamed of played out inside my mind in a rapid flash of images. There'd be no wedding. No baby in my arms. No children running around. No future for me and Tidus. Our always would be lost forever.

Unable to fight off my assailant in such a weakened state, I shut my eyes, ready to surrender to my fate.

That's when I heard a splash and felt the cool air against my face. Immediately, I began to choke and spat, desperately trying to suck in some much needed oxygen into my aching lungs.

"I gotcha, Yuna. You're gonna be okay."

Tidus!? But…how?

The docks finally came into view. And crouching at the side of them was none other than the man who served as both mine and my father's guardian.

"Get her out of there—quickly!"

"Whaddaya think I'm doing—having a leisurely swim?"

"Save the sarcasm for another time."

Tidus hoisted me up, and Auron reached out to secure me under the arms, pulling me up onto the dock, and laying me onto my side as I coughed up the excess water from my lungs.

Climbing up onto the dock, Tidus sat next to me, brushing the wet strands of hair out of my face. "We need to getcha to an infirmary."

"No…"

"You almost drowned, Yuna. We gotta make sure you and the baby are okay."

"How… How'd you…find me?"

"Auron saw you go overboard and rushed inside to get me."

"I sensed something wasn't quite right after I left. So, I returned a few hours later to investigate. During my patrol, I caught sight of you out on deck and hurried over, sensing something was amiss. By the time I'd reached the houseboat, you'd already gone over the railing and into the water."

"It's a good thing you left the door open," Tidus added, brows knitting together. "What happened, Yuna?"

"I… I w-was a-t-t-tacked." My body felt as though it was icing over and I couldn't stop trembling. "C-c-cold," I chattered. "S-so c-c-cold."

"Save your strength," Auron advised. "You can explain later."

"Yeah, we need to getcha inside and outta those wet clothes." Tidus scooped me up into his arms and began to carry me over to the houseboat with Auron in tow, hand on his Kitana as though he were ready for something to strike. "And if you won't lemme take you to an infirmary then I'm calling Doctor Gale."

And I had no intention of fighting him on it. I wasn't too worried about myself as I was for the child growing inside me. Luckily, I hadn't experienced any cramping or anything along the lines of what I'd expect to feel if I were in danger of losing the baby. But that didn't mean it couldn't happen. And I certainly didn't want to chance it.

I'd never been so grateful for Auron's keen sense of danger. If he hadn't been there, my life would've been over. And I really thought it had been. But I was curious if he'd gotten a glimpse of whatever that'd been trying to end my life. Since it'd dissolved into pyreflies, I assumed it was a fiend of sorts. Fiends weren't clever though. An unsent would be. But it didn't seem to be one of those either.

Whatever it'd been, it wasn't something I'd ever encountered before. But I had a feeling it had something to do with me being in Dream Zanarkand and Spira's life-force being messed with.